Seven Days

News of the Week: Turkmenbashi dies Link of the Week: What would be if Jesus had not been? Sam Crabtree, DesiringGod Gospel-Centred MP3s: Once more with feeling... MP3s from Mark Lauterbach at CrossWay Fellowship The Gospel for the Lost Gospel Centrality 1 Gospel Centrality 2 Gospel Centrality 3 Gospel Centrality 4 Plus: Josh Harris on The Incarnation (Matthew 1)

1. Friends This week has been all about friends, hanging out with Rich & Nicky, with Piers & Carolyn last Sunday. Richard and Patricia on Wednesday and Thursday. Big meal with Jo, with Tom & Caroline on Thursday. Particularly good to see Jo home from Spain, and Tom from California. Good friends for many years. Saturday - Ginny. Nice barn in rural foggy wiltshire. Road trip. Pain-au-chocolat! 2. Team Team Days are always a highlight. This time particularly Stephen Dray on the authority of the Bible and Lyn Penson on Creeds and Confessions (Church History II). Loving to get into church history more and more. Stephen's stuff was as always great, I was particularly struck by his reference to the way we use the Bible in terms of: The Regulative Principle (Calvin/Baptists) The Normative Principle (Luther/Anglicans) i. because normally Calvin is with the Anglicans. ii. because this really shapes the way we do church. So the Regulative guys only do what Scripture commands. But the Normative guys just avoid what it forbids. Clearly a lot of overlap but this give some big room for different approaches in the gap between what is commanded and forbidden. Stephen also reminded us that there is the "Spirit-Led Principle" which covers some of that middle ground. Of course, both other groups are led by Scripture and so are Spirit-led. Need to think on this area. What do you think? 3. Mrs May's Christmas Dinner. This is team also, but warrants a mention. Amazing. See also photo of the week. 4. in-laws. A good day of conversation with the in-laws on friday. Just great. 5. Matthew Dorey Unique Christmas Cards with Stories http://www.maths.bath.ac.uk/~mapmdd/xmas2006/ 6. Mr Glover's Christmas Dinner aka, the-Father-in-law. Good food! And news of Pete's road trip... Manchester to Bristol, via Colwyn Bay. 7. Photo of the Week: The boss eats a brussel sprout for the first time in many years. The world needs to know about this! .