Dave Routledge

2006-11-29T02:54:00.000-08:00

Mending Wall
By
Robert Frost

Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it,
And spills the upper boulders in the sun,
And makes gaps even two can pass abreast.
The work of hunters is another thing:
I have come after them and made repair
Where they have left not one stone on a stone,
But they would have the rabbit out of hiding,
To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean,
No one has seen them made or heard them made,
But at spring mending-time we find them there.
I let my neighbor know beyond the hill;
And on a day we meet to walk the line
And set the wall between us once again.
We keep the wall between us as we go.
To each the boulders that have fallen to each.
And some are loaves and some so nearly balls
We have to use a spell to make them balance:
'Stay where you are until our backs are turned!'
We wear our fingers rough with handling them.
Oh, just another kind of out-door game,
One on a side. It comes to little more:
There where it is we do not need the wall:
He is all pine and I am apple orchard.
My apple trees will never get across
And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.
He only says, 'Good fences make good neighbors'.
Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder
If I could put a notion in his head:
'Why do they make good neighbors? Isn't it
Where there are cows?
But here there are no cows.
Before I built a wall I'd ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence.
Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That wants it down.' I could say 'Elves' to him,
But it's not elves exactly, and I'd rather
He said it for himself. I see him there
Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top
In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed.
He moves in darkness as it seems to me~
Not of woods only and the shade of trees.
He will not go behind his father's saying,
And he likes having thought of it so well
He says again, "Good fences make good neighbors."

Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Gal 6:2

2006-07-03T11:06:00.000-07:00

FAREWELL FRED: THE FINEST FAST BOWLER EVER TO DRAW BREATH. 1931-2006.

Fredrick Sewards Trueman, the greatest fast bowler in the history of test cricket, died of cancer on Saturday. Cricket is a love of mine, which, up until now, I have not blogged about. Over the next few days I am going to put that right.

I shed a tear on Saturday, a genuine tear; for someone who I never met, never knew and furthermore, never in the flesh saw play, the most beautiful and civilised game that God has provided man the ingredients to devise.

He was fiercely proud to have played for his country, and when he did, he gave every ounce he had. It seems ironic that such a man should die on the same day that another England team, payed thousands of pounds to do so, gave such a lack lustre and ill-disciplined performance,even being incapable of putting the ball in the back of the net from twelve yards. Fred managed to remove 300 batsmen in only 67 test matches, from twenty two yards.

I think the above picture of his graceful action speaks for itself. He was the finest exponent of a beloved game; he was also a fellow Yorkshireman. I hope that somwhere along the road he acknowledged Jesus as his saviour and is now in paradise.

God bless you Fred.

Dave

2006-06-27T04:22:00.000-07:00

Ayley Croft Update

As you can see we are making progress on refurbishing the childrens area. In the picture are Linda, who is the licensee for the hall, and Nick, my good friend and fellow decorator. The next stage will be to install the games and activities.

Please pray that God will continue to bless the work, and that He will continue to draw the people on the estate to Himself. It would be fantastic if salvation were to break out. In particular, please pray for Linda, as she is hoping to come to church on Sunday.

God bless
Dave

2006-06-27T01:25:00.000-07:00

Prayers please

As I am sure most of you know by now Adrian has shingles, which must be bad because he has even temporarily closed down his blog. I saw him on Sunday as I brought his children back from spending the afternoon with us, and whilst in good spirits, he appeared to be confined to the sofa. After telling me he had managed to watch the England game, the following exchange took place.

Adrian: "Did they play well?"

Me: "Well, they weren't at their best, but I think it was an improvement on the Sweeden game. Still, Rooney lasted 90 minutes, and showed a glimpse of what he can do. we will need to better if are to beat Brazil, Argentina or Germany, but on the whole I was.......

Adrian (interrupting). "Stop! I meant the kids. Did the KIDS play well together?"

One day he will understand.

So lets pray for our brother in his time of discomfort; It would be great to see him back to form. Meanwhile Adrian, "count it all joy", and use your "sofa time" wisely.

God bless
Dave

2006-06-22T01:28:00.000-07:00

World Cup Warnie....Round 2.

The above pictures were taken during the England v Sweeden game on Tuesday evening;
as you can see they clearly demonstrate the Prince of Blogger's interest in the beautiful game.

Several righteous and upstanding members of Jubilee Church reported hearing the following comments.

Adrian to his son Henry (30 seconds after the start of the match) ; "I thought England were playing"

Henry to Adrian: "They are Dad."

Adrian to Henry. "Where son? All I can see are a team in yellow and a team in red, and England play in white."

Adrian to anyone in earshot (after Frank Lampard shoots just wide) . "That would have gone in if the goals were a bit wider."

Adrian to Henry ( at the atart of the second half). "Oh! I get it; England keep changing the colour of their shirts; first white, then red, and now yellow."

To his credit however, he was the only person in the room who correctly diagnosed Michael Owen's injury some 48 hrs before it was confirmed by the press. With one eye on his blackberry, and the other casting a cursory glance on Mr. Owen writhing about in his agony throes, Doctor Warnie, with an air of supreme nonchalance, announced: "there goes his anterior cruchet ligament."

If only he had said something like..."Oh no! What will England do now? That Donkey Crouch will have to come on, and we will have to resort to a long ball game. Why on earth didn't Eriksson, pick Defoe or Bent instead of Walcott." (which is pretty much what everyone else in the room said. But then that is the languge of football, and one The Prince does not speak.

2006-06-13T08:26:00.000-07:00

World Cup Warnie

My friend in the picture needs no introduction to anyone who has a passing interest in the Christian blogsphere; but in case you haven't heard, he is none other than The Prince of Bloggers, Doctor Adrian Warnock, or, "Warnie" as he is affectionately known.

On Sunday he preached an outstanding sermon about there" being no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." You might think that such an amazing sermon was the work of hours of labour. Not so my friends, he compiled all his sermon notes whilst keeping one eye on the England v Paraguay game!!

Had he kept both eyes on the game he might not have had to ask Kemi (our pastor's wife) the following questions (all overheard by yours truly).

1. (20 minutes into the first half) "which way are England kicking?"
2."what is that yellow card the referee is holding up?"............that would be a yellow card Adrian.
3. (To his son Henry at half time) "Are you enjoying the game Henry? Is Rooney playing well?"

Still, if he had kept both eyes on the game we may not have blessed with his most excellent sermon. God bless you my friend, and thaks for a wonderful message.

2006-05-25T09:01:00.000-07:00

These are my friends Clive (red shirt) and Martin (blue shirt). Clive recently turned 30, or in bingo speak, "Burlington Bertie". Martin, aka, "Shortie" has just celebrated his 40th birthday. Yes, that's right "Shortie is Forty", or in bingo speak "blind 40". Incidentally ladies, they are both single, and I am sure you will agree that they are two of the most handsome men in North London. But that is not what this post is about.

No, rather I need your help. My good friend Nick, in a very clever effort to evangalise to the old folk, has come up with the idea of holding a "Bible Bingo" evening.

So what we need are biblical phrases to go with the numbers, eg. God loves you...... Seventy Two. The Holy Trinity ......number three, you get the idea.

What we need are suggestions for all the numbers between 1 and 90. So if you think you can help , we'd love to hear from you.

God bless
Dave

2006-05-12T22:06:00.000-07:00

This is me: I like cricket
This is my friend Dave: he likes the movies
This is my friend Andy: he likes inventing things
This is my friend Clive: he likes photography
This is my friend Nick: he likes squirrels
This is my friend Angela: she likes chocolate

We all love Jesus, and every Sunday we like to tell the good people of Edmonton Green in North London, about Him. We offer them free cups of tea/coffee and bars of chocolate (if we can get the box off Angela), and we pray for them. It would fantastic if you prayed for us.

Perhaps you do something similar; if so tell me about it and we will pray for you.

God bless
Dave

2006-03-27T09:58:00.000-08:00

congratulations paskie!!

You would not think so to look at him, but the gentleman in the photo would one day grow up to be a fine upstanding pillar of the community, cut his hair, finish his degree, buy expensive suits and work in the city.

Furthermore, he would have the incredible fortune to meet and marry a beautiful woman called Catherine, who would one day give birth to a beautiful baby girl called Louise.

It was my privelige to stand next to him for 40 minutes on Sunday, whilst he nursed his daughter, made cooing noises and listened to his own mother recount stories to the whole church, of how, when he was a small boy, he would stand on a chair and yell down the plug hole in the sink "are you there Jesus", having internalised the notion that Jesus is everywhere. He also entertained the idea that The North Middlesex Hospital, was in fact, heaven, reasoning that all children come from heaven and The North Middlesex Hospital is, after all, where he was born. Even today he is the holder of a fanciful imagination, as he seems to believe that Tottenham Hotspur will be playing Champions league football next season. That is just a dream; but his beautiful daughter is not.

Congratulations Dave and Catherine, you will be great parents, and welcome to the family of God Louise. You will be much loved.

God bless
Dave

2006-02-27T04:13:00.000-08:00

This is a photo of some intrepid members of Jubilee church on their annual expedition. Okay, so it was a walk by a local canal. More discerning readers will notice that the handsome young man on the right in the green wellies, is none other than The Prince of Bloggers himself, Mr. Adrian Warnock.

The point of this post?

God made us for fellowship and togetherness. The Bible tells us that we must " Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Gal 6.2. Or in this case "carry ye one another's children", as they get tired of walking.

No Man is an Island

No man is an island, entire of itself
every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main
if a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were,
as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were
any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind
and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls
it tolls for thee.

John Donne

"All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated...As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness....No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

John Donne lived the first half of his life steeped in worldly pleasures, and the second half he gave to God. Were he alive today, he would have been a figure of national prominence. He is probably more famous for his "love" poems than he is for being a Christian; so I was wondering how many more famous people are there out there (past or present) who are known more for their reputation made before they became a Christian? Indeed we may even be surprised to learn that they are/were Christian, as I was with John Donne. BTW I just love the phrase "translated into a better language."

So if you know of any , let me know. Go on surprise me.

God bless
Dave

2006-02-02T13:01:00.000-08:00

Take my Mother-in- law..............

I haven't spoken to my Mother-in-law for eighteen months...............I don't like to interrupt her!

Seriously though, I do love my Mother-in-law, and yes, that's her in the photo. Her name is Evelyn. I gave her The Bible to pose for the photograph with...and she started reading it! There are so many stories I could share about her (I will from time to time). I don't think I have ever met anyone so enthused for The Gospel. When she is not reading the Bible she is usually talking about it. It is impossible to be in her company for more than a few minutes without her making reference to either God, Jesus or The Holy Spirit. She is currently helping me with my own Bible studies. I asked if it was harder to live under Grace than the law.

I was so impressed with her answer I have decided to publish it in full. I hope you are blessed by it.

1. The law must have been impossible to keep, but is living under grace any easier?

"The Law was given by Moses, grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1 :17. The failure of the Jews to keep the law resulted in God’s provision of salvation through Jesus Christ, who came not to abolish the law but to fulfil it—Matt. 5:17. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the Gift of God – not by works, so that no-one can boast. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”.—Eph. 2 :9 & 10. The Greek word Poema for workmanship is poem, suggesting that each of us is a poem through whom God will speak and act for His good purpose.
Here is a good acronym for grace, to give the word some content when you think of it or use it:

G God’s
R riches
A at
C Christ’s
E expense

Note we have done nothing—all has been done for us; we are on the receiving end. Yes, amazingly so, as long as we recognize that immediately we are saved we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and are justified. Justification is a one-off act, and now Father God looks on us and sees us in Christ. In baptism we die to the old self and rise up out of the water into the resurrection life of Christ; now we enter into the process of sanctification, whereby we start to grow up into the image of Jesus and are changed from one degree of glory into another. This is the work of the Holy Spirit in us, which only He can do, Note again we are on the receiving end, as we submit to God He works in us to will and to do according to His good purpose –Phil 2:13. Our part is surrender in obedience to His will,note again this is the work of the Holy Spirit in us. Do we begin to really see our total dependence on our Father God who loves us so?
This is grace – salvation is a gift –we can do nothing to deserve it or earn it or merit it, but receive it. To stay in that place of receiving is to keep ourselves in God’s love –Jude 21. In John 3:3 it is written: “You must be born again” –You cannot birth yourself. In Eph. 5:18 it is written: Be filled with the Spirit – you cannot fill yourself. In Romans 12:1-2 (a very key Scripture to put into practice, see James 1:22), it is written: Be transformed by the renewing of your mind – you cannot transform yourself; and so on.
The standard of grace in the New Covenant is even higher than the law in the Old. Hear Jesus’ teaching in Matt.5:21;27; 31; 33; 38; 43 –“You have heard it said ----- but I tell you -----. Not only the outward act, but the very thought is judged by God. For this reason also we are given grace upon grace
Now that the Holy Spirit lives in us, it is this life of Christ in us that has made us alive in Him which is so pleasing to our Father; and His life in us does what we could never do in our old Adamic life when we were dead in our sins and there was no good thing in us. Now we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength –Phil.4:13. Note again we are on the receiving end! We are now co-workers with the Holy Spirit; that is we are agreeing, in our submission through obedience, to our Father’s will being done for us, in us and through us. Thus God’s Kingdom comes and His rule is increasingly established in our lives to the praise of His glory.
As children of the living God, of the seed of Abraham, we are those who are to bless others. Before we can do that we must consistently come before the Lord to worship Him and to receive from Him. Psalm 33 in The Message says that worship opens up the way to all God’s goodness. In this way we are equipped and empowered by the Spirit to bless others; what we give to bless others will be of the Spirit, whether it is love, time, money, prayers or possessions.
Remember we are in the process of sanctification! Sometimes we stumble (James 3:2), sometimes we sin (1 John1: 8-10); sometimes we are disobedient and the Lord will discipline us (Hebrews l2:4-12. Recall that wonderful Scripture in Romans 5:20 –“Where sin increased grace increased all the more”. This surely proclaims that God’s goodness far surpasses the sum of all evil, and this is our Father! Hallelujah! Let us learn to respond more and more speedily to the command in Hebrews 4:16 ---Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive (note we are on the receiving end again!) mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Psalm 46 says that God is our refuge, a very present help in trouble.
Remember that the law was given not to bring about redemption, but to point up the need for it. The law made sin even more sinful by revealing what sin is, in stark contrast to God’s holiness – Romans 5:20.Paul gives a good example in Romans 7:7-8 –“For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said , do not covet. But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire”. But God gives us this promise in Christ in Romans 6:14 ---“For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace”. When we, in obedience, and surely now we are learning more of what it means to obey Jesus’ commands out of love for Him (appropo John 14) , agree with this promise (“Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” –Amos 3:3, and receive it, the Word will then be active in us, producing the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal.5:22-23. Against these things there is no law!! Hallelujah!
Jesus is our Lord and Lord means Owner. 1 Cor. 7:23 tells us that we were bought at a price. We belong to Him, and as any owner takes responsibility for that which he owns, Jesus takes responsibility for us, and one of the things He does in that capacity is to intercede for us (Hebrews 7:24) as our great High Priest who is not unable to sympathise with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:14-16.
As we seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness all the things that we need will be added to us, Luke l2:29-31. As we recognize more and more that we are saved to live, not for ourselves, but for Christ; as we love and obey Him in the Spirit and then love others in His love, our dependence on Him to meet all our needs keeps growing, and we learn to trust Him for His supernatural provision
Grace-- receiving God’s riches at Christ’s expense – is the huge difference between this wonderful relationship with the One True God that is Christianity, and all other man-made religions. It is unique, matchless, as is the agape love from which it flows. This grace is not given to cover over our weaknesses as we go through our sanctification, rather to expose them and have them exchanged for His strength, and to receive the victory that Christ won for us on the cross. Christ never needed any victory for Himself -- He was never defeated! The victory is for us, His church, to bring the Kingdom in.

See the bearing of the cross on our sanctification: as a result of Christ’s death on the cross, believers are positionally dead to sin, so that we may live new lives (His life in us), and present ourselves to God as instruments of righteousness –Romans 6:11-13
Oh yes, it is easier to live under grace – hear Phil. 3:9 “I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God’s law but I trust in Christ to save me. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.” Romans 5:17 says “…how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
You live in His grace – you are loved, David.. Read Phil.1:6 and Jude 24."

She is also a fan of Mother-in-law jokes, so post as many as you like.....just keep them clean. If I get enough, I will judge which one I think is the best.

God bless
Dave

2006-01-15T14:17:00.000-08:00

How beautiful is your city?

" Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the lamb down the middle of the great street of the city." Rev 22:1-2.

The Bible tells us that God loves cities and that as Christians we are destined to live and serve in them for eternity.

London is my earthly city, and I truly love her. I invite readers from all over the world to tell us what is so beautiful about their city. To help me describe London I have enlisted the help of William Wordsworth

Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802

Earth has not anything to show more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:
This city now doth, like a garment, wear
The beauty of the morning: silent, bare,
Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie
Open unto the fields, and to the sky;
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.
Never did sun more beautifully steep
In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill;
Ne'er sawI, never felt, a calm so deep!
The river glideth at its own sweet will:
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!

So, if you love your city then I would love to hear about it.

God bless
Dave

2006-01-10T04:25:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone, hope all is well.

The above photo was taken in september 2005 on Waterloo bridge, London. What really struck me about him ( he did tell me his name, but I will not publish it here, although I don't think he would mind. He also gave me permission to show this photograph to others), was his reluctance to look at those from whom he was begging, no doubt he felt a sense of shame.

My prayer for him is that God will show him how much he is loved, and that he will come to salvation. God does not want his children to hide their faces like this. Christians can take comfort when hard times come; in fact we are to "count it all joy". It is not so for people like my friend in the photograph. Let's pray for him.

My church is currently engaged in a week of prayer and fasting, and among other things, we are praying for God's light to shine throughout the city of London.

It is a privilige that through the internet I can reach out across the globe and ask you to join us in prayer for this great capital city. God's word is sadly not as prevalent as it once was in our nation.

John Piper says that the most important thing we have to give the poor is The Gospel; I think he is right. The Bible says that;"for "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?"

God bless you all.
Dave

2006-01-05T10:36:00.000-08:00

The Power of Photographs

Photography and the Bible are two of my passions, and whilst I was wondering how to combine them, I came across this most sobering post by ScottyB entitled Best Photos of 2005. It consists of a collection of photographs published in Time Magazine; any attempt from me to describe them would be futile, so please just go and look for yourself.

I would also strongly recommend the sermon from John Piper, especially if you have a heart for the poor. In it Piper reminds us that, " a forgiven sinner, through the blood of Christ has a compassionate heart".

God bless
Dave

2006-01-02T08:32:00.000-08:00

How did I get here?

I have this friend you see; Preacher, Psychiatrist and prolific blogger, a true first fiddler of a man except in matters of DIY and common sense; you know the type. So it's new year's day and I am sat at my computer looking at my favourite photography website (PhotoSig) and waiting for Rolf Harris to start painting The Queen, when in bursts my friend ( he is incapable of a quiet entrance ) accompanied by his four children.
" You know what you need Dave?"
" Ear plugs?"
" No"
" what then?"
" What you need, my friend, is your very own blog."
"I do?"
" You most certainly do, and old Adrian here is gonna set one up for you." Now he is known to move in the prophetic; and I have no desire to disobey God. So following a twenty minute typing frenzy, peppered with words as close to swearing as my friend ever gets, I am the proud keeper of a blog.
" What next?" I asked.
" you blog."
" About what?"
" Anything you like "

So I suppose that is what I will do then, blog about things I like, things like The Bible, Photography, family, friends, sport, and whatever else comes to mind.

God bless
Dave

2006-01-01T11:47:00.000-08:00