Liars, Evil Brutes, Lazy Gluttons...

This week has been spent at home attempting to revise for next week's exams. Please pray for me during next week. I have exams on the book of Romans, Islam, Bible Inspiration and Authority, and Church History (1700-1850) on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Today, though, presented a chance to relax and listen to some good ministry. A group of us from Wem Baptist Church (with around 600 others) went to the Northern Men's Convention to hear teaching on Biblical manhood from the book of Titus. We certainly came away convicted that we need to be 'self-controlled' and 'devoted to doing good' and no longer liars, evil brutes or lazy gluttons! Pictured above (from the left) are Edward and Mark Towers, Noel Cardus, Pete Turnbull, David Rowe, Paul Towers, Phil Wright, yours truly, and Andy Everett. Also pictured is our illustrious pastor following the WBC minibus to Manc-land by motorbike.

Happy Birthday, Dear Benjy

Our little man reached the grand old age of two on Sunday 15 April. A small(-ish) gathering was convened and the momentous occasion was celebrated by the consuming of copious amounts of ceck (that’s Ben-ish for cake, by the way).

Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside…

On our arrival in the UK from France in Portsmouth, the Jones Family drove to Ramsgate, Kent, to spend a few days with my maternal grandparents. Containing and entertaining a four-year old and almost two-year old in a warden-controlled flat was something of a challenge. However, we enjoyed ourselves and experienced the excitement of an open-top bus ride around Thanet and an afternoon surveying dead, stuffed animals at Quex House and Museum.

Nous sommes retournés!

The Family Jones returned to the UK on Tuesday 10 April after eleven relaxing days on holiday in Brittany. The scenery on the Côte de Granit Rose was magnificent, the weather was generally fine, and the French cuisine was most definitely experienced. We stayed in a static caravan near the small resort of Ploumanac’h and had a very relaxing few stays. We also had the pleasure of visiting the Guingamp Evangelical Protestant Church for two Sunday morning services and were entertained at the home of the pastor (Emmanuel Hartiel) and his family (wife Maria, son Josef, and daughter Lydie) one Thursday evening. Once more, a great debate raged as to whose French was ‘meilleur’, Steven’s or Lou’s. I graciously admit that Lou’s French was more frequently used and more effective. However, it must be stated that it was not I who requested a ‘dirty butter caramel’ ice cream rather than a ‘salted butter caramel’ ice cream (‘beurre sale’ substituting for ‘beurre salé’).

February and March Thus Far.

At last! A lull in the tempest that has been February and March thus far has come to pass. At college the last few weeks have witnessed a flurry of essay writing and lectures. I have also received my semester one module results which thankfully will not result in any re-sits. And I finally concluded that life is simply too short for biblical Hebrew.

At church, highlights of the last few weeks have included a visit to Senior YPF from my college friend Laszlo from Transylvania. I am preaching this evening in Wem (not necessarily a highlight!) and next week at the Mereside Church in Shrewsbury. Your prayers would be much appreciated.

At home, we are very much looking forward to our holiday in Brittany in a few weeks’ time. However, we were able to take time out yesterday to have a walk around ‘The Quarry’, Shrewsbury’s municipal park, and to have picnic on the train home.

Finally, the Wolves have experienced a brilliant few weeks. They take on the Baggies today and, as usual these days, a Sunday kick-off has prevented me from experiencing victory (or, on the basis of the other two Black Country derbies this season, likely defeat). And for those of you to whom this is most relevant (and you know who you are), the Wolves are currently above Preston in the table.

Snow and more snow

After global warming dominating the news for the last fortnight, it was almost inevitable that snow would arrive at Bryntirion and in Wem. So here is my colleague Lambert from Cameroon enjoying his FIRST EVER experience of snow, along with Tim from N. Ireland and Nathan from Yorkshire. I even managed to get home in time to have a snow ball fight with the kids before bedtime.

Back to College

On Monday 5 February I returned to college to recommence my Bible studies. It was strange to be deserting Lou and the kids after being at home for the best part of two months. Nevertheless, the prospect of further study and seeing my brothers and sisters in Christ again helped alleviate the potential homesickness somewhat. After some deliberation, I have decided to carry on studying Biblical Hebrew along with modules on Redemption, the book of Romans and the Eighteenth Century Evangelical Revival. It is with some relish that I will be approaching these three modules. Please continue to pray for us as a family, especially for Lou and the kids in my absence, and for my studies, that I would grow in the knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.