Where was the Serious Exchange of Ideas? The American People Need More Than What Happened Last Night in the ‘24 Presidential ‘Debate’

Albert Mohler shares his thoughts on “The Debate”.

– Listen here if you’re interested.

Keith Green, Bill Hybels, and the Loss of Steeples and Bells

“I used to love Keith Green’s music and singing when I was a younger Christian. Not to say I don’t still retain some warm memories of his songs.  But in my early twenties I found him to be the one singer who spoke to me. And he was already dead by the time I first heard of him.  A big influence in my early Christian walk.

Okay I loved Larry Norman and his lyricism and irreverent attitude (I once saw him play live in Belfast and he was scarier than a paramilitary with a few pints in him). And I enjoyed early Randy Stonehill (especially the Welcome to Paradise classic).

But there was something sincere and deep and otherworldly about Keith Green. I still find myself singing those songs in my head from time to time. …”

– Here’s a thoughtful piece by Stephen McAlpine.

Lead us not into temptation

“Is not Britain an example of a nation in which the decline of self-control has led to a massive increase in the power of the State?

The permissive society of the 1960s gave permission to throw off the internal moral restraints that a broadly Christian country had encouraged. But when people cannot or will not control themselves, does that not provide a plum opportunity for authoritarians to take over? …

Today’s Book of Common Prayer Epistle reading is from the Apostle Paul’s New Testament letter to the Christians in 1st Century Galatia. It is a call to Christian people to exercise self-restraint in dependence upon God’s Holy Spirit. …”

– At The Conservative Woman, Julian Mann reflects on the Epistle for today.

Also at The Conservative Woman:

The Sunday Hymn: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus – Margaret Ashworth.

A Missed Opportunity: The Benefits of Bivocational Ministry

“Since February of this year, I have had the great joy and privilege of studying at Bible College. Initially, I enrolled to equip myself to serve faithfully as a layperson in a church – a role I greatly admire. However, after much consideration, I have decided to pursue chaplaincy work at the completion of my Diploma – rather than returning to my previous work or pursuing ordained church-based ministry (I’ll save this story for another day).

During this time, as I considered vocational ministry for myself, something has been bothering me… Why does Australia have so few bivocational ministry workers? Along with many others, I have been growing increasingly convinced that we should consider this more seriously. I am not saying this is a silver bullet to our problems, nor that I want to see fewer people in full-time gospel ministry. Rather, my question is: are we missing out on something good and helpful by failing to equip and support bivocational ministry workers?…”

– Cooper Rispin, who is studying at Moore College, wants to help us consider the value and appropriateness of bivocational ministry. At AP, the Australian Presbyterian online journal.

(You can read about Cooper, and his fellow Moore College students, in the 2024 issue of Societas.)

The Most Pro-Abortion Presidential Ticket in U.S. History

Albert Mohler gives his take on the latest in the US elections, in his The Briefing for 7th August 2024.

Related:

Jesus Is the Way to Sanity This Election Season – Daniel Seabaugh (link via Tim Challies):

“During this election season, the most important thing Christians can do is get close to Jesus, stay close to Jesus, and never take their eyes off Jesus.”

Hey Christian – Be Vexed by the Olympics Opening Ceremony. Be very Vexed.

“I just assume now that any public performance across the Western world that is staged by super smart, progressive creative designers will contain some element of blasphemy. And it should vex us. …”

– Stephen McAlpine has some thoughts about the Olympics opening ceremony.

Albert Mohler: President Biden Drops a Political Bomb

Dr Albert Mohler at Southern Seminary has released another ‘special edition’ of his The Briefing podcast to comment on the withdrawal of President Joe Biden from the Presidential race.

Obviously, his opinions are his own, but Australians who might not have been following events closely will find this a helpful overview, along with his critique of some of the positions held by candidates or potential candidates.

– Listen here. (26 minutes.)

Albert Mohler comments on the first US Presidential debate

Dr Albert Mohler comments on today’s US Presidential Debate under four headings –

“A Human and Political Tragedy: President Joe Biden’s Underwhelming Performance in the First Presidential Debate Last Night

‘Aggressive Panic’: Democrats Respond to President Biden’s Debate Performance — The Democrats are in Major (And Complicated) Crisis

Both Candidates Flopped on Abortion: Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump Disappoint on the Sanctity and Dignity of Human Life

Credibility in Leadership and Abortion: Americans Face Two Huge Issues in the Aftermath of Last Night’s Presidential Debate.”

– Whatever our interest (or lack thereof) in US politics, the Bible calls on Christians to pray for those in authority –

1 Timothy 2:1-4

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” – ESV.

Can the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans chase the snakes out of the Anglican Communion?

“Yesterday, in a monastery in the Egyptian desert, the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans (GSFA) met for their first Assembly, under their new covenantal structures. Their purpose? To reset the Anglican Communion.

In his keynote address, the current Chair of the GSFA, the Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, Archbishop Justin Badi, set out their plan. …

The Global South Fellowship of Anglicans has waited twenty-five years for the Instruments of the Anglican Communion to bring order to the divided church community, but they will wait no longer.”

– Susie Leafe writes at Christian Today.

The Assembly videos can be seen here.

An Easy Life But Hard for Faith: Lessons From New Zealand

“I am a Kenyan living in New Zealand with my family, serving as a pastor of a local church. Having lived here close to eight years, I’ve imagined what lessons the church in Africa could glean from the church in New Zealand.

To this end I aim to briefly capture the church in New Zealand’s context; highlight some of the trends that have led to the current state of things; and finally draw out a few thoughts the African church should reflect on. …”

– Mark Ambundo writes in The Gospel Coalition Africa Edition.

A Day of historical consequence

In his The Briefing for Friday 31 May 2024, Southern Baptist Seminary’s Dr. Albert Mohler reflects on the Trump trial in New York and the ‘difficult political moment’ faced by conservative Christians as the US Presidential election looms.

Listen here. And don’t forget 1 Timothy 2:1-4.

The pornographic awfulness of Eurovision

“I have been meditating recently on chapter fifteen of St Luke’s gospel which contains three well-known parables of Jesus. There is one key word, ‘lost’ which recurs five times in the chapter: the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost (prodigal) son.

These parables are generally relegated to Sunday School, and the children’s bible will show a picture of the Good Shepherd (Jesus) with a little lamb over his shoulders, surrounded by happy, smiling children.

But the true meaning of the parables is much deeper and darker, speaking as it does of the utter lostness of humanity when separated from the creator. …”

– After watching the latest iteration of the Eurovision Song Contest, Dr Tom Goodfellow reflects on its emptiness. At The Conservative Woman.

LLF Working Groups – is it just the next step on the travelator?

“The Church of England finally announced the membership of the three Working Groups that will continue the work of implementing the outcomes of Living in Love and Faith. The press release says that the role of the Working Groups is to:

‘…feed into the Programme Board, helping to shape recommendations to be presented for consideration at the House and College of Bishops ahead of bringing an outline proposal to the July meeting of the General Synod.’…”

– This piece, published a few days ago at Anglican Futures, argues that the process within the Church of England has been well organised to provide the desired result.

Inside the hidden assumption in Albanese’s ‘misinformation’ bill that undermines its entire premise

“As Claire Lehman of the Quillet puts it: ‘In universities across the world, humanities departments have, over time, come to reject the notion that there is such a thing as objective truth.’

If they are right, there is no point in any debate or discussion about either the news or our opinions of the news. …”

– At Sky News Australia, Kel Richards points out the fatal flaw in all ‘misinformation’ legislation.

Justin Welby left Spinning

Comment from Anglican Futures:

“The Primates Meeting has been wonderful,” declared the Archbishop of Canterbury in the official Press Release.

But his face at the Press Conference suggested that it had also been exhausting, which might explain why he appeared to struggle to give coherent answers when it came to some pretty simple questions. …

– Read here.

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