50 years on: Santa never made it into Darwin, but Christian journo Ramon Williams did

Fifty years ago, in the early hours of Christmas morning 1974, the city of Darwin was devastated by Cyclone Tracy.

At John Sandeman’s The Other Cheek, Jon Guyer at Panania Anglican Church shares some recollections from Ramon Williams, the grandmaster of Christian journalism, on his lightning trip to Darwin, a city ravaged by Cyclone Tracy.

Also see Ramon’s account of his trip to Darwin in this 2018 interview with The Rev Keith Garner at the Wesley Mission:

Top photo with thanks to Anglican Media Sydney.

Ramon has generously shared many of his photographs with us over the years and we are immensely grateful. See some of them in these posts.

New edition of “The Link” from Armidale — Dec 2024-Jan 2025

The latest issue of Armidale Diocese’s magazine The Link is now available for download form their website.

On the cover is the Rev. Julie Cook, just announced as the new Diocesan Deacon for Women.

Download your copy here (PDF file) – and do pray for the continued ministry of the gospel in the Diocese of Armidale.

Church Society announces Digital Subscriptions to The Global Anglican

From Church Society:

“We are delighted to announce that our theological journal, The Global Anglican, is now available to purchase in both print and digital subscriptions.

While print journals continue to have an important place in libraries, archives and personal collections, for many people, a digital format saves space, money and delays due to international posting. Individual issues of The Global Anglican are made available in digital format some years after their initial publication, but now we have the facility to provide this as an annual subscription for the current content. …”

– Perhaps the last-minute Christmas gift you’ve been hoping for.

(As you may be aware, The Global Anglican is edited by Peter Jensen.)

12 Fresh Ways to Read your Bible in 2025

“A new year offers a new opportunity—an opportunity to rethink and refresh the way you read your Bible.

While some have found a pattern or habit they love and will never deviate from, others like to look for new ways to read, digest, and apply the Word.

For those who may be interested in trying something new, here are a few ideas that may be worth considering. …”

– Tim Challies shares some great ideas to help you read your Bible in the coming year.

Christmas isn’t Pagan

“Growing up I was taught that the date of Christmas, December 25th, was a borrowed pagan festival. I couldn’t tell you exactly when or where, but I remember being told (more than a few times) that there were a myriad of ancient pagan festivals like Sol Invictus, Saturnalia, Brumalia, and European feasts like Yule, that also took place on the 25th of December.

‘The Christians,’ the narrative went, ‘moved the celebration of Christ’s birth to the place of these other pagan festivities in order to make it easier for converts and/or to encourage pagans to convert.’

In many ways this story made sense. …”

– Published two years ago at Gospel Coalition Canada, Wes Huff sheds some light on the alleged origins of Christmas.

Parents, Talk to your Teens about Pornography

In his The Briefing broadcast for Tuesday 17th December 2024, Dr Albert Mohler looks at why pornography is immoral and what opposition to restrictions on porn reveals.

He underlines the importance of Christian families.

Listen here.

Disney movies, Moana and the human heart

“I’ve always been a fan of Disney movies. As a child growing up in the 90s, I was there for every new release, ready to sing along to songs that would become classics.

I haven’t yet seen the new Moana movie, but I loved the first one. I loved that it was set in Polynesia; I loved the gorgeous animation; I loved that Moana was a strong, independent woman unafraid of big challenges; and I loved that Moana was one of the first Disney princesses whose storyline did not revolve around finding Prince Charming.

But as I watched, I remember thinking that something wasn’t quite right. It took me a while to work it out because the movie was so very entertaining. But eventually I figured out my discomfort …”

– Susan An analyses the problem, at The Australian Church Record.

A Devotional on the Most Glorious of Birthdays by Charles Spurgeon

“The angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. (Luke 2:10)

The birth of Christ should be the subject of supreme joy. We have the angelic warrant for rejoicing because Christ is born. It is a truth so full of joy that it caused the angel who came to announce it to be filled with gladness. …”

– Crossway has republished this excerpt from an 1976 sermon by Charles Spurgeon, plus some commentary by Leland Ryken.

(It’s to raise awareness of a new book of classic Christmas devotions.)

You can be Certain — Luke 1.26-38

“What do we do with Mary? We don’t pray to her or worship her, or claim she remained a virgin – for the very same reason we believe the virgin birth… because we trust the Bible to tell us what is true and real… and if it’s not here – in the orderly account – we don’t claim it or teach it or embrace it! But we ARE moved by her beautiful submission and surrender… and we endeavour to live with her level of trust: ‘I am the Lord’s servant, may your word to be me fulfilled.’ ”

– Bishop of Bathurst Mark Calder continues his Advent series.

Also from the Diocese of Bathurst:

“This morning Bishop Calder announced the appointment of lay stipendiary ministers for an initial period of 6 months to the parish of Nyngan – praise God for the generous sacrifices involved for Philip and Deanne Gerber.”

Why I am not Catholic

“Speaking at the Leonine Forum in D.C. recently, I was asked a friendly but pointed question: ‘Why are you not a Catholic?’ The questioner noted that in my talk I had expressed a love for the early Church Fathers, admiration for Thomas Aquinas, and an approach to ethics that resonated with John Paul II’s theology of the body.

It’s hard to answer such a question in brief compass at the end of a lecture. Many issues are important in my commitment to Reformed Protestantism: authority, salvation, the nature of the ministry, and the significance of sacraments are just a few of the more obvious. And while I am open to the criticism that Protestantism hasn’t given Mary her due, I believe the Catholic Church has given her a significance that is well beyond anything the Bible would countenance. But above all, at the current moment, Catholicism doesn’t appeal to me because of the man at the top: Pope Francis. In my answer, I did try to be respectful of my audience, but I could not help but observe that the present pope seems to be nothing more than a liberal Protestant in a white papal robe. And as a Protestant, I am acutely aware of the damage such people do. …”

– Carl Trueman writes at First Things.

Photo courtesy Grove City College.

Prepare Him Room

“We all know that Christmas is a great evangelistic opportunity. Yet with the gun going off to tie up work, attend all kinds of events, plan gatherings, buy gifts, and somehow still function after it all … how could I ever add evangelism into the mix?

Rather than tell you simply to ‘share the gospel’, I want instead to spend a moment together pondering the glory of Christmas. Because before Christmas is a time of proclamation, it is a time to make room in our hearts for adoration. And it’s from a full heart that our mouth will speak. …”

– Callan Pritchard writes with this encouragement at The Australian Church Record.

Gambling in America is Booming

In his latest The Briefing broadcast (12 December 2024), Dr Albert Mohler looks at the American gambling epidemic.

He reveals the breathtaking statistic that gambling in the USA has grown from $7 Billion in 2018 to $150 Billion projected for 2025.

Listen here.

Tragic murky mess of gambling ruining people’s lives

From The Pastor’s Heart:

“Church Leaders have welcomed the report of the trial of cashless gambling which recommends that ‘account based gambling’ be introduced in New South Wales by 2028.

There are bigger problems with gambling in Sydney and New South Wales than pretty much anywhere in the world (outside Las Vegas).

But the Clubs and Hotels industry is running a narrative attempting to discredit the trial, calling it a three million dollar waste of money.

Senior Minister of Sydney’s Wesley Mission Stu Cameron was the church representative on the inquiry panel and says while the outcome is welcome, it’s now up to the government, ‘the devil will be in the details’ and we need to keep the pressure on.”

– Watch or listen here.

Barnabas Fund: Helping the Persecuted Church

From the Profiles in Christian Living Podcast (produced by AP, the national Presbyterian online journal:

“In this episode AP talks with Ashley Saunders from Barnabas Fund who helps churches around the world who are being persecuted.

This interview is well worth your time, not only if you’d like to know how and where the money is being spent but if you’d like to bless believers who are undergoing suffering.”

– Watch or listen here.

Who were the Magi?

“In Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth we read about wise men from the east who brought gifts to Jesus. However, there is very little else said about them in the passage.”

– In this article, Tony Watkins, Fellow for Public Engagement at Tyndale House in Cambridge, explores who these visitors were and from where did they come.

Next Page →