The 1st Century in the 21st Century.

The speaker stood on a makeshift platform barely twelve inches above his roaring, boisterous audience. "Who is a Prophet ?" he called out. Back came the reply : "Mohamed !, Jesus !, Marx !" . "Well I'll tell you", he continued, "Only Someone who knows the name of God can be a prophet of God", "Liar !" they shouted back in response. "Look, see, the Muslim's are afraid of hearing who is a prophet. That's why they want to drown me out". The crowed roared "Yes" and "No!", and "Jesus" with gusto. "Look, nowhere in the Q'ran does Mohamed use the real personal name of God", "Liar" they shouted again, followed by "Allah, Allah, Allah". "No Allah is not God's name, it simply means 'the God', that's not Gods personal name. Only in the Bible do we read prophets using God's personal name". "Liar!" they shouted again. Then he turned to crowd and called "What is God's real name ?" "Yahweh! Yahweh! Yahweh!" they chanted back.

And so it went on, with claim and assertion, banter, interruption, questions, chanting, good humour. Suddenly from in the crowd a woman in a headscarf reached out and touched the speaker. He stoped, looked directly at her. "Don't touch me, I am a Christian. You, a Muslim woman, you cannot touch me" Her Face fell. "Hey, don't look angry, relax, you don't have to be angry, we can relax here. Smile.. yeah that's better, you look much prettier when you smile" She turned away confused, disarmed by the speakers manner.

Speaker's Corner, Hyde Park, London. A unique place.

They noted that these men had been with Jesus.

Not long after Pentecost the Apostles were hauled up before the authorities of their day to account for their preaching in the name of Jesus and the emergence of the early Christian Church in Jerusalem.  They had just healed a man, and had been speaking to the crowds explaining how it was through Jesus that they had performed the miracle. Having been imprisoned overnight, and having had opportunity to make a defence of their actions, their accusers were led to the following observation "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus...".

So they recognised that these men had been with Jesus. What did that signify and what did they mean by that statement of the obvious ?  Were they referring to the fact that Peter and John had come up to the capital with Jesus ?  That was true.  Or that they were among the vast numbers who had followed him around Galilee ?  That was true as well.  Or maybe that they had been around Jesus just before his arrest and subsequent trial ?  That also was correct.  But none of those was what the Sanhedrin were referring to.

Unschooled, ordinary men had been transformed by three years of following their Rabbi, the Rabbi, day and night, 24x7.

Now, they behaved remarkably like him.  They did what he did.  They spoke about what he spoke about.  They went where he went.  They were opposed as he was opposed.  His mission was now their mission.

Today, when we interpret and apply this passage, we usually 'spiritualise' it. Since we can't spend time with a physically present Jesus, we say something along the lines of ah ! we too must spend time with Jesus, therefore we must pray more, dwell in him more, commune with him more and so on, and in that way we will be 'transformed' as were Peter and John.  Now all those are good and right, and we should indeed spend more time with our saviour.  But is it reasonable to make that application from this passage, even as a secondary point ?   Possibly, but it depends on whether we place the emphasis on 'communion', or on 'transformation', or both.  If we focus on transformation we will need to pull in the wider NT teaching on holiness or growth in godliness, otherwise we sell our hearers/readers short.

The Sanhedrin were pointing to men transformed by three years of 24x7 following.  So we need to ask, what is the NT equivalent for the generation who had not personally met Jesus, how did they become like Peter and John ? How did Paul and Luke, Apollos and Epahroditus become like the Jesus they had never physically met ?  And as we answer that question we may be able to answer what or where is the 2009 equivalent of 24x7 following and transformation ?

At cost, subsidised, or 'with profits' ?

At the weekend, we got to see this. The Logos Hope. Having heard about the Logos ships down the decades, and having been told that morning that one was in town (or more correctly in the harbour), I found myself driving to the Cardiff waterfront with no little anticipation. To see, in the flesh so to speak, an item of evangelistic legend, would be an opportunity not to be missed - after all they don't visit the UK very often, preferring instead to take the good news of Jesus to places with less 'chance' of hearing about Him, or so I imagine.

The ship was in the inner basin, just by the lightship restaurant. Big signs on the superstructure welcomed all aboard for no cost, and thus encouraged, we too mounted the gangplank to see what lay inside. On the main visitor deck, we found a large bookshop, a cafe, an excellent exhibition about the ship and its recent visits, and a briefing area for those who wanted the full tour (cost 2 (or 3) pounds), which alas we didn't have time for. But it was the bookshop that surprised me. It was billed by the smiling crew members as 'educational', which when translated meant it comprised about 60% christian books, 10% christian music CDs, 20% kids stuff, and the balance being general interest. There was nothing from UK publishers that I spotted, and UK authors were only represented via US publishers. The CDs were American, and the general interest stuff was anodyne in the extreme, and also American. But none of that was particularly noteworthy in itself, Logos has, after all, O.M. behind it, and that is American. No, what stuck me was the cost. Or rather, the lack of it. Bibles on sale for a few pounds, books that cost nine or twelve pounds in the UK on sale for 2.50 or 3.50. And those were not odd 'bargains', everything was priced at the same level.

So I asked myself, and I ask you gentle reader, is the UK Christian book buying public being ripped off ? Or was it all heavily subsidised ?

Whatever the answer, next time you see a Logos ship in your harbour, if you need a good book or three, step on board.

Q. What came before the font and the baptismal pool ?

Answer : One of these.  Its a 4th century Romano-British font-pool-baptistry thing.  Over a thousand miles to the North-West of Rome, a christian church situated in the port settlement of Richborough in Kent built this baptistry in their church located inside the walls of the Roman Fort.  It is big enough for one person to stand in, but not two.  It is floor or ground standing, and its shape and construction suggests that it was not much taller than this when complete, thus an adult standing in it would be thigh-deep in water were it to be completely filled.  However, it has no drain or signs of plumbing of the types associated with Roman buildings.  Which would suggest that it was either left filled, filled when needed, or not filled but used as a basin or recepticle for poured water.

Wall paintings from elsewhere in the empire show baptismal candidates having water poured over them while standing in a large bowl or hollow structure, and given its modest size and dimensions,  that would be a plausible way of using the Richborough Baptistry.  If that is the way it was used, it would add weight to the suggestion that mandating full immersion is a later innovation added to the basic act of baptism, and not an idea felt necessary by those nearer to the New Testament than we.

Rome in Wiltshire

The design of Bowood House in Wiltshire is based on the 4th century Palace of Diocletian in modern Split, Croatia. Robert Adam, the architect of Bowood, had surveyed and publicised the Roman Emperor's 'retirement' palace, which during the centuries before his survey had effectively become lost. Adam recorded the survey in his book "Ruins of the palace of the Emperor Diocletian at Spalatro in Dalmatia", published in 1764. Today, inside the public entrance, one of Adam's elevations is on display to illustrate how closely he followed the original.

Of course, the modern Bowood House is considerably smaller than Diocletian's huge complex with its accommodation for a small garrison, its numerous servants and private access to the sea. Nevertheless, Bowood still give one a feeling for the elegance of Classical Architecture, albeit mediated through 18th century eyes.

Our 'Chief of Men' 70013

This was the scene as Oliver Cromwell passed through the crowds on their way to the Thorpe Park busses.  No one looked, nobody noticed, nobody paused to see what had sounded a steam whistle.  Only the old beardies on the footbridge, and I on a deserted up platform watched as Brunswick Green and Maroon slid past.  And in those few moments, we experienced a satisfaction deeper than all the the rides in all the theme parks in the world could offer.

A good start to a Bank Holiday Weekend I think.

Should you get yourself a Mentor ?

Mentor. Its one of the words of our age.  Mentoring surfaces in management training seminars, leadership development courses, business books and periodicals, and there is even an academic journal dedicated to it ('The Mentor'  http://www.psu.edu/dus/mentor/ ) .  It is 'out there', and it is inside Christendom and inside Evangelicalism as well.  But what is it ?

Within Christian circles, some would say its a relationship that is primarily about accountability. Suggesting that a relationship between peers or near peers is agreed where one holds the other to certain standards, and together they work on the 'getting there' required to meet the standard.  Others have suggested that its focus is mainly on skills transfer or the development of existing skills or giftings.  Thus in their conception, the more experienced assists the less experienced until the later reaches a certain standard of performance.  But are those examples of Mentoring ?  They certainly meet the dictionary definition (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=mentor) of a 'wise counsellor' assisting another, so I suppose they're adequate conceptions.  But I think they don't go quite far enough.

I think the New Testament provides a more thorough and a more powerful pattern than our modern Mentor concept, useful though it is.  Consider the relationship between St Paul and Timothy.  Timothy was what we would call Paul's protoge; already a believer, he was 'discovered' by Paul as he passed through ancient Lystra, and accompanied Paul on his second major missionary journey (as recounted by St Luke in Acts 16ff).  He was present with Paul at the founding of several churches, including Corinth and Philippi, and was sent back to the later as Paul's combined messenger and ambassador during one of Paul's imprisonments (perhaps in Rome ~61AD), and finally at the end of Paul's life, he was entrusted with the care of the important but troubled church at Ephesus.

Writing to the believers at Philippi, Paul makes some illuminating comments about Timothy at the mid-point of their relationship.  "I have no one [else] like him", "as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel", and commenting on Timothy's abilities he says "[he] takes a genuine interest in your welfare", and "you know that Timothy has proved himself".  He describes Timothy as being like a son, working with the great Apostle. That would suggest Timothy learned in a familial relationship made possible by their receipt of adoption into the same family (the family of God), but worked out in the unique dynamics of elder to younger while both are engaged in a common task, that of the work of the gospel.  It sounds a little like an apprenticeship, but it has the elements of son, father and brother, and little of the master craftsman and his ignorant apprentice.  And whereas the son to father description suggest an adult child relationship, this is an adult adult relationship.  It is the adult familial context for learning that is the unique element of this New Testament 'Mentoring' that Timothy receives.

Paul has worked with Timothy, he has seen his progress, he has been there to guide and correct, and he knows the heart of the man and his worth.  At the same time the Apostle is also a brother and fellow saint, and a fellow sinner.  Timothy has been able to see Paul in triumph and adversity, in prayer, and in despair, in prison, and at liberty, preaching to thousands perhaps, and reduced to talking to his jailer. And Timothy has learned alongside Paul what it means to follow Christ and be conformed to his image, even of His sufferings.  And that is something not learned from books, or lectures, its learned from life lived with Christ followers, followers like Paul, or Silas, or Barnabus, or Peter or the other men an women who invite us to learn from them in the pages of the New testament.

So, get yourself a Mentor by all means, but make sure it is a New Testament one.

How much junk can a GSX-R1000 carry ?

Luggage. Usually, its more elegant than this. Perched where a pillion should go, we had an Oxford Tank Pack containing 3 x pairs of socks, two t-shirts, boxers, dress shirt, two piece suit, laptop, psu, two locks, security chain, spare carbon-fibre exhaust, prop stand base, large bike cover, half a dozen cable ties, mobo, a pair of trainers, a pair of shoes, and a couple of yards of blue nylon twine.

Impressive eh ?

I was there ! (but it was a long time ago)

I was present to hear what I believe was his last public sermon.  I've preached just once from that same pulpit.  I know of him, but never knew him.  Those I've known that did know him revered him and valued his counsel greatly.  In his later years, to agree with him was to assert ones own orthodoxy, and to disagree caused eyebrows to rise.

Who am I talking about ?  I'm talking about 'the Doctor', Dr Martyn LLoyd-Jones.

And now I find I am using his volume of sermons on Philippians I&II, entitled The Life of Joy. Clearly, the cover designer was engaging in a little gentle irony.  The stern-faced man in the top corner cannot possibly be living a Life of Joy can he ?  Pity.  The testimony of those who knew him well, and that of his biographer Iain Murray, would indicate that while the Doctor had gravitas, he also had plenty of Joy too.  Poor choice there Mr Cover Designer.

Look not only to your own interests.

I've been asked to preach another sermon.  Nothing surprising there I suppose, but the passage is a little more difficult than usual.  Its from Paul's letter to the Philippians, Chapter 2 and the last dozen verses.  Paul is telling his Philippian readers that fairly soon he will be sending his trusted friend Timothy to see them, so that he (Paul) may have first hand news of how they're getting along, and be encouraged thereby.  But first, immediately, Paul is sending back their own man Epaphroditus, (probably the one who carried Paul's letter to the Philippians), because Epaphroditus, in Paul's words "longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill". 

But Paul doesn't then move on to other topics, rather, he urges them to welcome Epahroditus and adds a remarkable commendation; "Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ".

Imagine being commended by perhaps the greatest hero of the Christian Faith. Imagine having the approval of the mighty Apostle and have him say of you 'honor men like him'.  But Paul is only doing what Jesus did.  Jesus called his disciples 'friends', and when he spoke of Saints long dead, he didn't call them by their failures, indeed he doesn't really name their failures, for example Jonah is not called Jonah the Nationalist or Jonah the Racist, but Jonah's preaching is compared to the Saviour's own preaching.

So one question is, how do we view one another ?  Do we see each other's labour for Christ, or do we see each others faults and failures, and build hierarchies of value among the people of God ?

And of course, Paul's commendation of Timothy and Epaphroditus serves to illustrate not only their relationship with the Apostle and the esteem he held them in, but exemplifies the principle he has laid out earlier in the letter ; "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus..."

Now, to preach that without sinking into mere 'thou shalt' moralising, that is my difficulty.

What we found at Rye, Sussex

Neglected, abandoned, controversial in its day and uncared for now, outside Rye the half a million bricks of Tower Nr. 28 stand guard against an enemy who never came.  That the enemy stayed away was because this was then the 'last word' in deterrence.  For in about 1810 when it was erected, a Martello Tower was a defense so powerful that no enemy ever sailed within range of its roof mounted artillery. Such was the power of the Martello.

Today, only the town yoof and the occasional antiquarian ventures inside to disturb the resident doves and pigeons.  Thoughtfully though, should you be inclined so to follow them, someone has left a makeshift ladder below the single entrance, just for the benefit of those who might come after.  Inside the floors are long gone, but the massive brick central column remains, and the roof above stands solid against the weather.

I think this piece of Britain's Napoleonic defences needs a little sympathetic restoration.