Andy Bannister and I both spoke at CreationFest in Cornwall last summer. During this we did an interview for GodTV and so was fulfilled a long held ‘ambition’ for me. We were on GodTV….! Click the link below and enjoy! https://www.god.tv/video/uk-regional-update-2-andy-bannister-and-david-robertson/zype An Encouraging Tale- The Herald and Christianity in the Public (George) Square! The God TV Enigma – The Real Problem with God TV is … Continue reading Solas on GodTV!
Book – Mary Queen of Scots – Antonia Fraser – 7/10 Given the recent film Mary Queen of Scots – Woke Movie of the Year I thought I would read this biography by one of my favourite writers – Antonia Fraser (her book on Cromwell was very influential in my life!). This is a superb book – although Fraser is clearly biased in favour of Mary … Continue reading Saturday Review 5 – Mary Queen of Scots (Book); The Last Survivors; The Harris Hotel; Macbook Air (2018); The Magic of Boney M
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
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;
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
Nah – don’t think I’ll bother. That was my reaction when I heard about Channel 4’s drama on Brexit. It’ll be the usual ‘Brexit was all about thicko ignorant racists voting for something they knew nothing about’ narrative – and to be honest, I’m tired of the whole mess. But then I read that the Guardian hated it. This is normally an excellent recommendation for … Continue reading The Uncivil War – A Prophetic, Enlightening and Inspiring Play
In the United Kingdom (and in some other countries – notably those that used to be part of the British Empire) the day after Christmas is known as Boxing Day. This is probably because it was a day when tradesmen and servants were given ‘Christmas Boxes’ by those they served. Others think it may have been called Boxing Day because it became a day of … Continue reading Boxing Day, Babette’s Feast, Masterchef and Chrysostom on the Lusts of Luxurious Living!
As we head towards St Andrews Day (a day when the Free Church holds a day of prayer for the nation) I want to spend each day this week thinking about the state of our nation and the church within it. There is much to pray for. We begin with the Transmania sweeping out nation. “Quos Deus vult perdere prius dementat” (Those who God wishes … Continue reading Transmania
It seemed a strange request. Can you come through to Glasgow to record a documentary with us on gender? There was nothing more specific…who would I be recording it with? Is it about male/female or transgender? What was the format? The answers were,to say the least, vague. I was told that we would be there for four hours, that my ‘opposite’ would not be … Continue reading ‘Shake On It’ – An Interesting Day Recording for the BBC
