‘Irreconcilable’ understandings of the nature of God

John Richardson in the UK writes,

“There aren’t many things that qualify in my view as ‘must read’ articles, but this from Colin Coward, Director of Changing Attitude, is one of them. Here is a taster:

“The Church of England knows it has a crisis on its hands. It thinks the crisis might be solved by gently persuading enough conservatives to overcome their convictions and vote yes for women bishops. I am convinced the problem is far deeper than that. I think we hold dramatically different understandings about the nature of God and they are irreconcilable.”

For a rather different perspective from that of Changing Attitude: Rosaria Champagne Butterfield on DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act) and the Rock.

“Epic mini-series” coming to Australia

It’s been announced that the US “epic mini-series”, The Bible, will be screened on the Nine Network from next week. Perhaps 100 million people saw it in the US earlier this year.

It was produced by Mark Burnett (Survivor, Celebrity Apprentice, The Voice) and his wife, actress Roma Downey (starred in Touched by an Angel).

It’s a great opportunity to get the Bible into your conversations.

However, before it screens, it’s probably important to get some background.

See this article by Andy Naselli – “Three reasons I don’t enthusiastically recommend the ‘The Bible’ miniseries”. Being aware of that can help us to discuss what it portrays, and encourage our friends to read the Bible for themselves.

The Bible Society of Australia will be following the mini-series as part of their ‘Daily Bible’ email service, from Tuesday 16 July. (Image: Bible Society.)

Retirements and Beginnings

“As I write this article I am preparing to give what will most likely be my last Mid Year Conference Talk. It is a sad moment for me.

This has been a week of retirements. On Thursday my brother Peter officially retired as the Archbishop of Sydney. With him the Chancellor of the Diocese Acting Judge Peter Johns has also retired…”

– Dean of Sydney, Phillip Jensen, reflects on the changing of the guard.

‘Value Vision’ — Bishop Rick Lewers

“This is NAIDOC Week. Its theme ‘We value the vision’ reflects decisions made in the past that now are captured in legislation.

Better than a vision captured in legislation would of course be a vision captured in the heart. …

Of course, God had a vision in which He would so love this world that He would give His only Son to the world so that all who trusted in Him would not perish but have eternal life.”

– Bishop of Armidale, Rick Lewers, writes on the diocesan website.

Ten Passages for Pastors to Memorise

“Here’s one way to ~~cool down~~ warm up during a ~~sizzling hot~~ freezing July: ~~ice-cold~~ memorization to warm your heart.

Grab ~~an iced tea~~ a hot chocolate, find some ~~air-conditioned~~ cozy warm space, and put these ten passages to memory. You’ll never regret any extended time given to memorizing God’s word — especially when it’s the passages that come up again and again as particularly useful in the Christian life and in ministering to others.”

– from Desiring God (more or less).

How to pray for God’s work

How is your prayer for the Archbishop’s election going?

Dick Lucas preached from 1 Kings 18 at The Tron Church in Glasgow last month. He reminded his hearers that first of all, we must pray that the Lord will be known, and that hearts be turned back to him – a crucial prayer for Glasgow, and a crucial prayer for Sydney. Hear or see his sermon at The Tron’s website. (It starts 38 minutes into the video.) Most edifying.

It’s also a good reminder to continue to pray for the saints in the Tron, for all of these reasons.

‘The New Theist’

“When, during a conversation in a swank hotel lobby in Manhattan, I mentioned to Richard Dawkins that I was working on a story about William Lane Craig, the muscles in his face clenched. …”

– from a story on William Lane Craig in The Chronical Review. (h/t Tim Challies.)

Related: Dr. William Lane Craig and Prof. Lawrence Krauss will be debating in Sydney on Tuesday 13th August.

Moore College Library Day — 27 July

Some think of him as “the flogging parson”, but across the Tasman, he is remembered as “The Apostle to New Zealand” and a missionary statesman. In January 1814, the Rev. Samuel Marsden brought the good news of Christ to the Bay of Islands.

As the Bicentenary approaches, Moore College’s 2013 Library Day will focus on the start of Marsden’s mission.

Details from Moore College.

Update: College Principal Mark Thompson adds:

“Come to the 2013 Moore College Library Day and hear of the real Marsden and his lifelong passion to see the lost won for Christ.”

“In a few week’s time there will be a celebration of Samuel Marsden and particularly his involvement with the earliest Christian mission to New Zealand two hundred years ago this year. He will be the subject of a day conference at Moore College on Saturday 27 July. I must confess this is an aspect of the great man’s life of which I was blissfully unaware until recently.

Marsden is sometimes misunderstood and his enormous positive contribution to the cause of Christ in Australia and New Zealand overshadowed by such less than flattering epithets as ‘the flogging parson’.

Come to the 2013 Moore College Library Day and hear of the real Marsden and his lifelong passion to see the lost won for Christ. Hear too of his ceaseless efforts to overturn one of the most horrendous miscarriages of justice in those early years. Here was a man of integrity and courage who sought above all else to diligently serve his Lord.

Details of the Library Day can be found on this advertisement. See you there!”

Resources for pastors — on same sex attraction

Adrian Reynolds’ blog, The Proclaimer, at The Proclamation Trust has links to some resources mentioned at the Evangelical Ministers Assembly last week.

July pastoral message from Archbishop Eliud Wabukala

A Pastoral Message from Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, Chairman of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans –

“Here in Nairobi we are preparing with great anticipation for our second Global Anglican Future Conference, GAFCON 2013, and this is the first of what I intend to be monthly pastoral messages as we move forward together in the unfolding purposes of God.

I am confident that this great gathering of over 1,300 delegates will touch the lives of you all, whether or not you are able to be present, and will be a decisive moment in a movement which will shape the future of the Anglican Communion for generations to come.”

Read it all at the GAFCON website.

Archbishop Peter Jensen interviews on ABC Radio

Archbishop Peter Jensen was interviewed twice on ABC Radio this week –

by Richard Glover – Direct link to 12MB mp3 file – runs for 25 minutes,

and by Andrew West for the ABC’s Religion and Ethics Report – “The Peter Paradox” – direct link to 7.5MB mp3 file – runs for 16 minutes.

Fourth of July Reflections on a Changing America

“For Christians, the issue of patriotism is always complicated by our citizenship in two realms, one earthly and one heavenly. The Bible teaches that we have duties to our earthly nation, including obeying laws, paying taxes, and honoring our leaders (Rom. 13:1-7).

At the same time, we are subjects of the eternal kingdom of Christ. Jesus said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mt. 22:21). This dual citizenship presents serious complications when the civil and the divine authorities strongly conflict…”

– At Reformation21, Rick Phillips looks at America on the eve of Independence Day.

Latest George Whitefield College newsletter

In the latest newsletter from George Whitefield College in Capetown, new Principal Mark Dickson asks, “Please pray that God will enable me to continue to build upon the legacy of David Broughton Knox and David Seccombe in leading GWC to realise its vision.”