One reason that I've been reluctant to enter the blogosphere is that I am concerned that blog-writing and reading only adds to a bad tendency that we today already have--a fascination with the newest, latest, and most recent.  And the newest and latest also often means that which is of only immediate value, that which is passing.  That is opposed to that which is enduring, and which has in fact endured and lasted.  We write words here which crawl along electronically and leap out through your fingers and eyes to take precious minutes and hours that the Lord has entrusted to us.  Could these small things we write really be that important?

On the other hand, I had a wonderful time today at the South East Gospel Partnership in London.  Here, I met friends old and new, and discussed Reaching, Building and Sending in the Local Church.  Simon Smallwood (minister at Dagenham), Peter Jensen (Archbishop of Sydney) and a number of others spoke.  Then I had the treat to have dinner with William & Janet Taylor (William is the minister of St. Helen's Bishopsgate here in London), Dick Lucas (who was the minister before him) and Peter & Christine Jensen.  The conversation was wonderful, encouraging, instructive and enjoyable.  As I came home, I th