The best App for your iPad
Another wonderful free resource from Crossway – the ESV for iPad.
Checked your lectionary lately?
An Episcopal blogger has noticed that some passages are mysteriously omitted from the Revised Common Lectionary used in the Episcopal Church –
“You see, during the weekdays, the RCL usually reads straight through a book of the Bible so that you can get through the entire Gospel of Luke for example in a series of daily readings. But look at what happens to Paul’s letter to the Romans between Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.”
– Story here.
Burning Down ‘The Shack’
Tim Challies reviews James De Young’s new book Burning Down The Shack:
“James De Young writes from an interesting perspective—that of a former friend, or acquaintance at least, of Paul Young. He begins his book by providing some important but little-known background to The Shack.
In April of 2004 De Young attended a Christian think tank and there Young presented a 103-page paper which presented a defense of universal reconciliation, a Christian form of universalism—the view that at some point every person will come to a right relationship with God. If they do not do this before they die, God will use the fires of hell to purge away (not punish, mind you) any unbelief. Eventually even Satan and his fallen angels will be purged of sin and all of creation will be fully and finally restored.
This is to say that after death there is a second chance, and more than that, a complete inevitability, that all people will eventually repent and come to full relationship with God…”
– Read it all.
TEC and Friends: Inclusion with Attitude
“Although TEC’s Presiding Bishop, Katherine Jefferts Schori, avoided an explicit attack on Rowan Williams in her sermon at Southwark Cathedral yesterday, it is clear that TEC and its allies are becoming more militant and that far from suggesting that the Windsor Covenant process has at last found teeth, the Archbishop’s attempt to discipline TEC only underlines its ineffectiveness…”
What is the Gospel?
The Southern Baptist Seminary has posted a 4 minute video entitled “What is the Gospel?”.
Reminiscent of both Two Ways to Live and Why Theology?, you may well find uses for it.
Vimeo members (free subscription) can download it as a 350MB/720p video file (link on lower right hand column). h/t Justin Taylor.
(They also have a neat video promo for their School of Church Ministries.)
Divorced Bishops in the C of E: another nail in the coffin?
“One of the most depressing experiences I ever had in a Diocesan Synod was the morning on which ours debated the proposals to change the Church’s regulations on the remarriage of divorcees.
Until 2002, considering the many other ‘easings’ of the Church of England’s doctrinal adherences, its position on divorce and remarriage had remained remarkably consistent with a traditionalist understanding of Scripture…”
– John Richardson wonders what else can happen once Biblical teaching is ignored.
Southwark clergy write to The Times
A letter to The Times, 12th June 2010:
“We, the undersigned clergy of Southwark diocese, distance ourselves from Bishop Schori’s teaching and presiding in our cathedral.”
“Sir, We wish to express our concern over the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church (USA), Katherine Jefferts Schori, preaching and presiding at Holy Communion in our cathedral at Southwark tomorrow. Read more
The Amazing Technicolor Multifaith Theology School
“The leftward march of liberal Protestantism is hardly news, but on occasion a development arises that serves as something of a parable of that trajectory. Such is the case this week with news from California that the Claremont School of Theology, a school historically related to the United Methodist Church, is transforming itself into a multifaith center for the training of clergy…
What this implies, of course, is that ministers, priests, rabbis, and imams, along with Buddhist and Hindu spiritual leaders, are just different varieties of clergy…”
– Albert Mohler’s latest column. (Photo: This sign on a Sydney church last week reflects similar sentiments.)
TEC’s gospel on show at missions conference
This week, TEC Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori spoke about her understanding of the gospel at the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel’s ‘Witnessing to Christ Today’ Annual Conference in Edinburgh. From an Episcopal Life Online report:
The Episcopal Church’s mission in the world is shaped by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals “as a proximate vision of the reign of God,” she said.
– Full report here. Photo: Matthew Davies.
J.C. Ryle’s legacy — 110 years on
“110 years ago today [well, yesterday – ed.], June 10th, 1900, the prolific writer, vigorous preacher and faithful pastor, John Charles Ryle died in England at the age of 83. Here are some quotes surrounding Ryle’s death and his legacy in Christian history…”
– from J.C. Ryle quotes.
Archbishop Bob Duncan and the last 50 weeks
On Tuesday, Archbishop Bob Duncan reflected on the first fifty weeks of the Anglican Church in North America – in his address to the Annual Provincial Council.
He reaffirmed that ACNA’s mission is ‘to reach North America with the transforming love of Jesus Christ’.
See his address courtesy of Anglican TV. Runs for 24 minutes.
Latest North West news and prayer points
The latest North West Network (June 2010, PDF) and Prayer Notes & Bishop’s Letter (June – July 2010, PDF) are available on the Diocese of North West Australia website.
‘Provocative’ visit to Southwark Cathedral
Statement from the CEEC, 08 June 2010:
“The Church of England Evangelical Council observe that the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church (USA), the Most Revd Katharine Jefferts Schori, is to preach and preside at the Eucharist at Southwark Cathedral on June 13. Read more
Short list announced for Australian Christian Book of the Year
The short-listed books for the 2010 Australian Christian Book of the Year Award have been announced by SPCK. They are:
A century of influence: Australian Student Christian Movement 1896-1996 – Renate Howe
Hebrews: A New Covenant commentary
– William Dumbrell
Desolate beauty – Trudy Adams
Losing my religion: Unbelief in Australia – Tom Frame
Montgomery of Tasmania: Henry and Maud Montgomery in Australasia
– Robert Withycombe
The third choice: Islam, dhimmitude and freedom – Mark Durie
The trellis and the vine: The ministry mind-shift that changes everything
– Colin Marshall & Tony Payne.
Winner to be announced in Melbourne on August 10.
Confusion reigns
Canterbury’s continuing chaos: does anyone know what is going on?
“The fallout for the Anglican Communion following the consecration of Mary Glasspool is, for many of us, becoming more confusing by the day…”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…