An Invitation from God
Part of the “Jesus Brings” initiative.
Are Christian Missionaries narcissistic idiots? (Quick answer: No)
“In Ann Coulter’s view, Kent Brantly should never have gone to Africa in the first place. He should have spent his time and energies saving America…”
– Albert Mohler responds to an opinion piece by columnist Ann Coulter. While the context is US-based, the command of Christ is the same.
Looming Famine in South Sudan
Anglican Aid’s David Mansfield writes:
“Anglican Aid has entered a partnership with the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan (ECSS&S) to support a project to assist communities prepare for an expected famine during the summer of 2014/15.
The expected famine is due to the inability of displaced people to plant crops.
While emergency food security will be provided by other agencies, the Church in South Sudan is assisting through a Peace Dividends Project to assist people to plant crops to provide longer term food security.…
Anglican Aid [is] suggesting people forgo a meal out and contribute the money to support South Sudan.”
Donations may be made online or by phoning 02 92841406. (Click the image for a larger version.)
How do we lose sight of the basics?
At the recent NEXUS Conference, Richard Chin spoke on how ‘gospel DNA’ can be distorted and corrupted in our ministries. His wide-ranging talk is well worth watching. See the video here.
Moore College Sunday 2014 — Watch the video
Moore College wants to encourage you to pray for the college, and they’re going to great lengths to solicit your prayers!
See their Moore College Sunday website and watch the video. (Moore College Sunday in 2014 is this weekend, Sunday August 3rd.)
5 things you can do to help Iraq’s persecuted Christian
“If you’re like us, you’ve probably felt outrage and despair reading about the situation in Iraq’s second largest city, Mosul.
Islamic militants have taken over the ancient city (traditionally called Nineveh and featured in the story of Jonah) to establish an Islamic state. In the process, they’ve demanded Christians leave, convert or die. It’s resulted in the city emptying of Christians whose families have lived there for thousands of years. They are now sheltering in mosques, churches, refuge camps in Kurdish cities without their belongings.
So far away from the situation, it’s easy to feel helpless. But there are some things you CAN do. Here’s 5 things you can do to help Iraq’s persecuted Christians…”
– Read the list of ideas at The Bible Society.
Oak Hill Commentary — Summer 2014
The Summer 2014 edition Oak Hill’s Commentary magazine is now out (just in time to enjoy during the British heatwave).
New KCC app
Katoomba Christian Convention has released an app for iOS, Android and Windows phones – to stream audio of talks, to keep up to date with coming events, and to ‘participate in our conventions’.
Available via this link.
Irenaeus on Polycarp, a disciple of John
“Here is a delightful page from the early church that you will surely enjoy.
First, the quick background. Irenaeus (c. 130-200) was a disciple of Polycarp (died c. 155), who, in turn, was a disciple of the apostle John…”
– from Books at a Glance.
Credo Magazine — George Whitefield at 300
“In a day when ears itch and truth is shown the back door, what could be more needed than men who actually preach the Word? George Whitefield (1714-1770) was one of those men.”
– The latest Credo magazine looks at George Whitefield, three hundred years after his birth.
NEXUS Conference 2014 talks
The talks from the 2014 NEXUS Conference are being posted on their website – see them here. Most encouraging.
Celebrating one giant leap for the gospel
St. John’s Cathedral at Parramatta is celebrating 200 years since Samuel Marsden’s first Mission to New Zealand at their 10:00am service on Sunday 20th July. David Pettett will be the guest speaker. (PDF flyer.)
As well, the book Launching Marsden’s Mission, edited by Peter Bolt and David Pettett, will be launched.
(Contributors include Greg Anderson, Peter Bolt, Malcolm Falloon, Michael Gladwin, Meredith Lake, Simon Manchester, Malcolm Prentis, David Pettett and Craig Schwarze.)
The Christian origins of NAIDOC week
“This week is NAIDOC week across Australia, celebrating the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’. What many don’t realise is that it was Aboriginal Christians that started NAIDOC week. Specifically, it was the initiative of an Aboriginal Christian, William Cooper, who asked the churches to start praying for aborigines on what would become known as ‘Aboriginies Sunday.’…”
– Dominic Steele writes at The Briefing.
‘Get with the Program’ — The Church of England votes to ordain Women Bishops
“Writing about the age of John Milton, the British author A. N. Wilson once tried to explain to modern secular readers that there had once been a time when bishops of the Church of England were titanic figures of conviction who were ready to stand against the culture.
‘It needs an act of supreme historical imagination to be able to recapture an atmosphere in which Anglican bishops might be taken seriously,’ he wrote, ‘still more, one in which they might be thought threatening.’
Keep that in mind as you read the news that the General Synod of the Church of England voted yesterday to approve the consecration of women as bishops of the church …
Ruth Gledhill is profoundly right about another aspect of Monday’s vote as well. It won’t stop with women bishops. ‘Now the church can move into the 20th century, although perhaps not the 21st,’ she wrote. ‘A change on gay marriage would be needed to do that.’ Well, stay tuned, as they say”
– Albert Mohler writes on what happens when bowing to the spirit of the age is more important than a serious commitment to biblical Christianity.
‘Out of step’ with the times — but not the Bible
“The Church of England’s decision to allow women bishops may represent a historical shift in attitudes in its General Synod, but to the dismay of supporters of the ordination of women, the move may hold little sway for Sydney’s Anglican community…
‘As much as we respect the Church of England, it is no longer the centre of our world,’ Bishop Forsyth said. ‘It’s not our Rome, it’s a partner church in the worldwide community of Anglicans.’…”
– from The Sydney Morning Herald.
Includes a quote from ACL President Gav Poole –
”Sydney is known around the world for its evangelical character and its holding to the authority of the scriptures,” he said. ”That’s a long tradition here in Sydney and something we have always appreciated.”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…