Annabel and I have just returned from a lovely weekend on the Blessed Isles – Lewis and Harris – where I was speaking at the Harris Bible Conference, along with Roger Simpson the Anglican evangelist (now in York but better known to Scots as the former pastor of St P’s and G’s in Edinburgh). We really did have a wonderful weekend – encouraging and … Continue reading Revival, Renewal and Reformation in Lewis and Harris
This is a short answer I recorded for FOCL…its a really important question…in this answer we think about Christian music, culture, films, awards, have I got the wrong answer? Persuasive Music Continue reading The Christian Ghetto Mentality
Book- Our Culture What’s Left Of It, the Mandarins and the Masses – Theodore Dalrymple This is a stunning book. A delight. “Dalrymple is a writer of genius: lucid, unsentimental, and profoundly honest…..He is one of the great essayists of our age” (Denis Dutton). I have no idea how I missed this book (which came out in 2005) but I am so glad I found it … Continue reading Saturday Review 4 – Our Culture, What’s Left Of It; Graham Norton; Brexit- A Love Story; Leonard Cohen; The Newport..
Each week this review looks at different aspects of culture Film: Mary Queen of Scots I have reviewed this film in more detail for the Spectator (in Australia) and will post it when they publish it next week. But for now let me summarise it in this way – This is a shallow, superficial and silly film – its not suitable for Christians (or anyone) … Continue reading Saturday Review 3 – Endeavour; Mary Queen of Scots; John Owen; Brendan O’Neill Podcast; The Bothy Band; Berties
What a night it promised to be….Chinese dancing, music and storytelling, from the largest and most successful theatre/dance group in the world. Our wonderful children had bought us tickets for the Shen Yun performance in the Playhouse Theatre in Edinburgh (it was very generous of them as even the cheap tickets were expensive- although that did not stop the large theatre being packed). We were … Continue reading Chinese Culture, Cult and Communism – Shen Yun – A Review
TV – The Scots in China This is a short two part series on the Scots in China. Neil Oliver is a marmite presenter. You either love or hate him – many people find his voice really grating. I actually enjoy his style. The whole programme was intriguing- although it skirted some of the serious issues. How did the businessmen and media people justify working … Continue reading The Saturday Review (2) – The Scots in China; The Old Man and the Gun; Logic on Fire; Romans 9 – God’s Sovereign Purpose;
The Christian Church in Wales is not in a healthy condition. The Church in Wales (the Anglicans) has gone from 90,000 members 20 years ago to 45,000 today. It’s largely dying. Ah, but what about the Welsh Revival, and all these singing chapels…..? The Presbyterian church of Wales (the heir to the Calvinistic Methodists) only has 24,000 members and is also declining. The Baptist church … Continue reading Peace in the Valleys? The Revival of the Church in Wales?
Saturday Review 1 – Stan and Ollie; Middlemarch; Les Miserables I hope to make this a regular feature – I read a lot of books, listen to many things and watch films, tv etc (when I get the time) – so each week I will try to review/reflect briefly on some of them. This week we begin with an unusual, quirky but rather good film, … Continue reading Saturday Review 1 – Stan and Ollie; Middlemarch; Les Miserables
Are you old enough to remember this ad? It’s now been changed into this video which was on all news bulletins yesterday and has been subject to a considerable amount of negative reaction (as well as those who love it). When I heard about it I was prepared to hate it and get outraged….but in many ways I thought it was excellent. There is a … Continue reading The Best a Man Can Be?
The first Quantum of the New Year is based on the predictions that I made earlier this week. You can get all the links there. Ten Predictions for 2019 – Confusion, China and Christ. You can catch up on last weeks here – Quantum 22 – 2018 – End of Year Review Continue reading Quantum 23 – Predictions for 2019
