This is a written version of my talk at Bob Shaprles’ funeral service Readings John 14:1- Revelation 21:1-7 Preaching for Bob has always been a nerve wracking affair. I remember one of my first sermons at Bearwood Chapel. Bob scored it at elders. He gave it 2/10! God could be very “matter of fact” to… Continue reading Home, Citizenship and certainty
Category: obituaries
Bob Sharples (27th March 1962 -16th October 2026)
My good friend Bob died suddenly and unexpectedly whilst in a work meeting on Friday. Bob was an architect/planner, a manager with Sport England and an elder at Bearwood Chapel. He took great joy in each of those roles though most of all in his role as a local church leader. None of them though… Continue reading Bob Sharples (27th March 1962 -16th October 2026)
Why do I debate with others online?
A lot of what I post here consists of Bible exposition, theological writing and practical pastoral or ethical advice. This reflects that my main aim here is to provide teaching and training resources for those who want to be better equipped, particularly for urban context ministry. I also comment on current affairs as this helps… Continue reading Why do I debate with others online?
John MacArthur 1939-2025
News broke overnight that John MacArthur has died. He was pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California. MacArthur was perhaps most known in recent years for two major controversies, first there were question marks about significant pastoral and church discipline issues in his church, second his resistance to Covid restrictions. I’ve written about… Continue reading John MacArthur 1939-2025
Gaining life – a lesson from Eddie Stobart
I hadn’t realised until reading an obituary that whilst Eddie Stobart was the founder of the business empire bearing his name, it was in fact his son who was the driven business entrepreneur who built up the haulage company and turned it into a household name. Eddie Stobart clearly was passionate, there were things that… Continue reading Gaining life – a lesson from Eddie Stobart
Philip Hacking
There are perhaps three pastor-teachers who I would look back on as influential in my Christian life and particularly in my call into Gospel ministry. One was my pastor during my early 20s, the late Mike Ovey was another during and after my time at Oak Hill. Philip Hacking was the third. I actually heard… Continue reading Philip Hacking
Safe in the shadow: Timothy Dudley Smith (1926-2024).
I’m grateful for the life and ministry of Timothy Dudley Smith who has died, aged 97. https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/…/timothy-dudley-smith… Whilst people talk about the likes of Graham Kendrick and Chris Bowater as the fathers of contemporary worship,, we might consider Dudley Smith as the grandfather of it. Like many, I grew up singing his hymns and am… Continue reading Safe in the shadow: Timothy Dudley Smith (1926-2024).
Tim Keller’s legacy
We are coming up to the first anniversary of Tim Keller’s death and so this is perhaps a good opportunity to reflect on his life and contribution to the work of the Gospel. Keller planted a thriving church in New York before going on to develop a wider international speaking and writing ministry. I’m sure… Continue reading Tim Keller’s legacy
Jeremy Marshall
Yesterday, we received the news that Jeremy Marshall had died. I had the privilege of interviewing Jeremy for one of our Afternoon Tea Facebook sessions during the COVID19 pandemic. Although we didn’t get to meet in person Jeremy became a friend, someone it was a privilege to know as a brother in the Lord. He… Continue reading Jeremy Marshall
Timothy Keller (23rd September 1950 -19th May 2023)
On Friday evening the news came through that we all knew was coming but didn’t want to hear. Timothy Keller had died three years after being diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. I’ve read a number of comments from people to the effect that they’d found themselves in tears even though they’d never met him. I was… Continue reading Timothy Keller (23rd September 1950 -19th May 2023)
