Blogging in the Name of the Lord
David Robertson, of St. Peter’s Dundee, is in Oz and speaking at this weekend’s Easter Convention at Katoomba.
The website Exiled Preacher recently conducted a brief interview. David blogs at The Wee Flea, where he has posted some observations on his first week here:
“I’m completely fascinated by people and cultures everywhere I go – for me it is part of the incredible diversity and equality with which God has endowed humanity. Made in His image we find ways of expressing creativity, beauty and love- in every culture.
Ruined by the Fall, we find ways of distorting and perverting that image – in every culture. Australia is no different. …
Observation 4 – Australian TV is rubbish.” – Read it all.
The Heart at Peace — Lent Reflections from Dr Peter Jensen – Part 7
GAFCON General Secretary, Dr. Peter Jensen, speaks about how our hearts are now at peace with God.
Citing Romans 5, he reflects that while many of us doubt this, ‘the work of the Holy Spirit is to assure us of the love of God for us.’
It’s not cricket: “Crucify him”
“In the wake of one of the most controversial weeks in Australian sporting history, Shane Warne was out in the press today and bowling this delivery,
‘You shouldn’t crucify someone unless they deserve to be crucified.’ …
Warnie’s analogy couldn’t be more fitting, because this weekend happens to be Easter.”
– writes Murray Campbell in Melbourne.
Why did Jesus die?
“There are a numbers of ways we could answer the question “Why did Jesus die?”
On the historical level, we can say that Jesus was caught between the crunching gears of apocalyptic messianic expectation, Jewish temple politics, and Roman imperial intrigue.
On the theological level, there is so much more to say. …”
– At With Meagre Powers, Dr George Athas addresses the big question of Easter.
Katoomba Christian Convention planning major redevelopment
“In one of the largest developments ever seen in the Mountains, Katoomba Christian Convention has plans for a $64 million rebuild on its premises at Cliff Drive.
Plans for the major redevelopment are now on public display with council.
They call for the demolition of several existing buildings and building of a new auditorium for public worship, a 500-seat dining hall, six eco-lodges and three eco-chalets to accommodate 390 people, a new reception building, bookshop and cafe. …
The DA is on public exhibition until April 11. It will then go to the Sydney Western City Planning Panel, rather than council, because of the size of the development.”
– See the full story from The Blue Mountains Gazette.
Related: Development application – Blue Mountains City Council.
Image: The Blue Mountains Gazette. Link via SydneyAnglicans.net.
Archbishop of Sydney Glenn Davies’ Easter message 2018
“The leader of Australia’s largest Anglican Diocese, the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has urged Christians to be talk about their faith, especially at Easter. …”
A most encouraging message. Read about it here – and you could download it from Vimeo to use in church.
Anglican cleric disciplined for entering same sex marriage
“The recent decision of the England and Wales Court of Appeal in Pemberton v Inwood [2018] EWCA Civ 564 (22 March 2018) upholds what was in effect disciplinary action taken against a Church of England clergyman, the Reverend Canon Jeremy Pemberton, on account of his entering into a same-sex marriage.
The decision is a sensible one which upholds the religious freedom of the Anglican church to operate in accordance with its fundamental religious beliefs. …
Since Australia now recognises same-sex marriage, there is now the potential for a similar case to arise in this country. …”
– Associate Professor Neil Foster comments on a development last week in the Church of England, and the possibility of similar cases in Australia.
Catch up on the talks from Nexus18
All the main presentations from Monday’s Nexus18 Conference are now available for you to watch online. A wonderful resource.
Download a PDF file of the Program – and watch the talks here.
De-Conversion
“De-conversion is the reverse of conversion. While some creep away from the faith like a gliding glacier, the de-converted are glaciers calving off, crashing into the sea with devastating effect. Read on with holy fear. …”
– Do read on. From Reformation21.
The Final Week of Jesus
Justin Taylor writes:
“Each day this week I’ll post a video on what happened during the original Easter week of April, AD 33. …
For more information, including a day-by-day guide with the complete biblical text and commentary, you could pick up the Kindle version of The Final Days of Jesus: The Most Important Week of the Most Important Person Who Ever Lived by Andreas J. Köstenberger and Justin Taylor.”
– at The Gospel Coalition.
The ‘so what’ of Easter: Part 2 – The death of death
“In part 1 we thought about how the resurrection shows Jesus’ work to be successful and effective in dealing with sin.
Here in part 2 we see how the resurrection also declares the death of death. Death is one of those things in our modern western world that people like to ignore – until a friend or family member dies.
For the majority of the human race who live in the rest of the world, however, death is often front and centre …”
– From Mike Leite at The Australian Church Record. (Image: St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.)
The ‘so what’ of Easter: Part 1
“When it comes to the resurrection of Jesus, most contemporary Christian writing has been centred on its historicity. Preaching often tends to focus on the historical details and the fact that it really happened, rather than its meaning.
As a result, the average pew sitter might have a robust apologetic in response to the historical claim of the resurrection, but be somewhat cloudy when it comes to its theological significance. …”
– At The Australian Church Record, Mike Leite doesn’t want us to miss the point of Easter.
J C Ryle on “Evangelical Religion”
“Since many religious disputes have arisen solely because there has been a lack of accurate definition, I am beginning this paper by explaining exactly what I mean by ‘Evangelical Religion’. …”
– This classic article by Bishop J. C. Ryle is always worth re-reading.
Ramon caps his lens
“A significant figure in the Australian Christian media landscape for the past 50 years has been forced to close his ministry due to ill health.
Ramon Williams, 87, whose pictures have regularly featured in Southern Cross magazine since it began, has issued his last news release from Worldwide Photos – the Religious Media Agency. …”
– At SydneyAnglicans.net Russell Powell reports on Ramon Williams’ reluctant decision to close Worldwide Photos.
Related: Ramon Williams, Australian Christian media powerhouse, decides it’s time to retire.
Moore College Graduation 2018 — Occasional Address
Dr Peter Jensen gave the Occasional Address at last week’s Moore College 2018 Graduation.
He particularly spoke to the parents of the graduates, to explain why their children had been “studying God”.
“You will be changed by the study of God. … We are getting to know God. We are relating to him, on his own terms. … And this is not something to be undertaken lightly.”
See also the Graduand interviews – with Talar and Mike.
Most encouraging, and good to share.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…