And in and out of days

Last week the Allens were off for an extended family holiday to North Wales. It was an oasis of fun, with the usual Allen activities of swimming in the sea, tramping up mountains, fishing and general noise. An excellent time was had by all. This week the children are finishing school, and then they’re let loose in various locations – York, Whitby, North Wales again, and Brittany.

Next week I’m off to teach on the ever-excellent twice-yearly residential for The Christian Ministry Training Course.  We now have twenty students enrolled. With us there are Pastors, Elders and Deacons, Church Planters, Ministry Trainees and Assistants, and a great range of others who are wanting to deepen their biblical, theological and pastoral understanding in order to be equipped for fruitful Gospel ministry.  This is a first-rate ministry training scheme, and I’m delighted to have a small part in it. This time round I’ll be teaching on the Pastor and Prayer, and leading a session on Spurgeon’s preaching. Prayers are appreciated for all of us as we learn and fellowship together.

In the next couple of weeks I’ll be posting some thoughts on a couple of Christian classics: John Flavel’s ‘The character of a complete evangelical Pastor, as drawn by Christ’, and  John Calvin’s barn-storming ‘Letter to Sadolet’. Both of these brilliant pieces demand a readership today. Stay tuned!