The God Who Does Not Wipe Out Rebels

From The Gospel Coalition, part 2 in a series of 14 talks from Don Carson about the message of the Bible:

“In this lecture, Don Carson examines Genesis 3, focusing on the Serpent’s deceit and humanity’s rebellion, which leads to shame, guilt, and broken fellowship with God.

He discusses the curses placed on Satan, Adam, and Eve, highlighting the introduction of sin and the long-term effects on creation. Carson emphasizes the need for reconciliation with God, pointing to the promise of redemption through Jesus. …”

– Listen (or read the transcript) here.

Photo: Don Carson speaking at The Next Level conference in Sydney in 2016.

I was adopted twice

“I always knew I was adopted. Growing up, my parents were open about it – they had fostered children before adopting my sister and me.

On my shelf, I kept a book titled You Are Adopted. Whenever I had questions about my identity, I would pull it off the shelf and read it, trying to make sense of my place in the world. I remember many tearful moments with my Mum and Dad, asking, ‘Why didn’t my birth parents want me? Who am I? Where do I fit in?’ …”

– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Matt Redmond speaks of his own experience, and a book (The Forgetful Prince) he hopes will help children and adults to understand the most wonderful adoption of all.

Photo: SydneyAnglicans.net.

The Problem with the King’s Gospel — David Robertson

“In a year when the Archbishop of Canterbury was forced to resign, and with continued decline in attendances in the Church of England and yet more scandals, I listened with interest to the titular head of that Church, King Charles, giving his Christmas message. Would he speak of the real challenges the Church and society are facing? Would he offer some kind of meaty message, rather than the saccharine sap we are so used to hearing? Would his message stimulate thought or provide hope to those who are in great need of it? …

I was particularly disappointed at this speech because it came only a few weeks after the King attended a church I used to belong to – St Thomas’s Anglican in Sydney – and heard a sermon from the excellent evangelical Archbishop of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel. …

We continue to pray that King Charles would come to know and love the King that his mother so clearly loved and served. We need the Good News, not the wishful thinking of a fanciful ideology which ultimately helps no one.”

– At The Wee Flea, David Robertson gives his take on King Charles’ Christmas Message.

(See the full message from King Charles here.)

Why did Saul change his name to Paul? — Tyndale House Podcast

A podcast from Tyndale House in Cambridge:

“Steve Walton and Tony Watkins discuss why Saul changed to Paul in the book of Acts.

In the book of Acts, the apostle Paul is referred to as Saul up until chapter 13, where he begins to be referred to as Paul. Steve explains how names worked in the Roman world to shed light on this name change. He also shares about some of the research he has done in the book of Acts over several years.”

– If you are reading the Book of Acts, you’ll find this most interesting. 29 minutes on YouTube.

Taking his own medicine

“Friends in Christ, Christmas Eve is the 50th anniversary of Cyclone Tracy, which hit Darwin at about 10pm, December 24, 1974. …

Boxing Day is the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami, which hit on 26 December, 2004 … It is the deadliest natural disaster of the 21st century so far. …”

– Dean of Sydney Sandy Grant reflects in the Cathedral newsletter.

Image: USGS Preliminary Earthquake Report, 26 December 2004.

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.

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