More personally Alex was an assistant pastor in Dunstable for a time while I was a child at New Covenant Church. He actually dedicated me and my parents told me that when he did - he prophesied over me. Alas they can't remember the detail of the prophecy but it's an inheritance that I hold dear - knowing that such a servant of God spoke words of life over me as a baby. Sadly for us as a church he left and moved on - but this was a good thing for the country as he became (as Terry called him); "A pastor of pastors".
Mum and Dad always remembered his preaching and ministry in Dunstable fondly - the sermon that they would talk about the most is one on the Song of Solomon. Alex saw this precious book biblically as key in representing the relationship between Christ and His Church. It's exciting to find out that ministry has been preserved on his website - "Musings on the Song of Solomon". One key truth about the book, he said;
"I suspect that many people avoid preaching from it because they do not have a sufficient grasp of the overwhelming and intimate love of God for His people, there¬fore they find that they cannot get to grips with it. Or some, especially men, are afraid of appearing sentimental or super spiritual if they speak too extravagantly about God".
I think this fear is behind the "sex manual" interpretation that Mark Driscoll and C J Mahaney hold on the Song of Solomon.
There will be a memorial service for him at Westminster Chapel on the 18th June at 2pm - with worship led by Graham Kendrick - which I shall be making every effort to attend. I think it will be a glorious time of remembering his ministry!
2 comments:
Dan, just read your post re Alex Buchanan with sadness. We also remember him and Peggy fondly from his West St days. Alas he left after after disagreeing with Stanley Jebb.
He will have received a warm 'well done my faithful servant' as he arrived in His Master's presence.
I will always remember him preaching on Song of songs 2:15 "catch for us the foxes, the little foxes, that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom."
I.e. Watch out for those habits that could become problems and spoil the fruit.
Another saying I remember was "who have you told about Jesus today". He said always pray every day that the lord would give you someone to talk to.
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