War Histories or History Wars?

From this week’s column by the Dean of Sydney, Phillip Jensen:

“In this last week we not only have the end of WWI to remember, but also Guy Fawkes’ failed bomb plot and Martin Luther’s courageous act that started the Reformation. The poppies may remind us of Armistice but without the bonfires and fireworks, and without any memorial to Luther – our society celebrated the absurd fun of Halloween instead.

The memory of two great acts that established the nature of our society is being lost to the tawdry commercialisation of superstition. It is why revision lessons are so important for keeping our memory fresh. …”

– Read it here.

Encountering God Together

Dr David Peterson has a new book to which we can look forward…

“In January 2013, IVP UK will publish my new book Encountering God Together. …  This paperback was written to help everyone involved in planning and leading church services think more biblically and creatively about this important ministry.” – Details here.

Reactions to the US Presidential election

“Christians must now pray for our President. As the Apostle Paul instructs us …

Christians must never see political action as an end, but only as a means. We can never seek salvation through the voting booth, and we must never look for a political messiah. Nevertheless, Christians do bear a political responsibility, established in love of God and love of neighbor. We are rightly concerned about this world, but only to a limited extent. Our main concern is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

– Al Mohler.

“If we suffer political defeat like those who have no hope but politics, we do not even commend ourselves, let alone the God who hung the moon and stars. …”

– Collin Hansen (written before election day).

 

Time for a grown-up debate on what sort of children will be allowed into the world

“Former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia John Anderson last night strongly criticized the level of public debate in Australia and Western society.

Speaking at the launch of Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: Ethics and the beginning of human life, Mr Anderson lamented the lack of understanding of what a civilized debate requires, and observed that valuable contributors to society’s understanding of complex matters are often put off by the way debates unfold in the public sphere and by the demonisation to which contributors are frequently subjected. …”

– Ian Carmichael at Matthias Media, has news of an important book by Dr Megan Best.

There’s also audio from the book launch. The book is available from Matthias Media.

Jesus’ ‘wife’ found dead!

“On September 18, the news broke of a small fragment of papyrus purporting to record words of Jesus. It contained the striking phrase, ‘Jesus said to them, “My wife …”‘ and then the text breaks off at the right hand margin. …

However, after nearly a month of scrutiny by scholars on the blogosphere, it appears that the fragment is almost certainly a fake. Here’s how that came to light …”

– Peter Williams from Tyndale House, Cambridge, summarises where things stand concerning this alleged ‘Gospel’ – at Evangelicals Now.

Has the personal evangelism ship sailed?

“It is quite correct to say that there are only two kinds of people in the world—those who in the words of Two Ways to Live are living ‘Way A’ (rebelling against God, facing his judgement) and ‘Way B’ (submitting to and trusting in Jesus, forgiven by God).

But it is also true that within those two broad categories there is a wide spectrum of difference. …”

– Tony Payne begins discussion on a topic close to the heart of many – at The Briefing.

A Mormon President?

In January, Michael Horton spoke with Adam Christing, writer and director of a documentary about a relatively unknown aspect of the life of Joseph Smith, namely his candidacy for President of the United States.

Whatever the outcome of the US elections this week, this programme gives some useful insights into what Mormons believe. Hear it via this link.

Free audiobook – What is the Mission of the Church?

This month’s free audiobook from Christian Audio in the US is What is the Mission of the Church? by Kevin DeYoung & Greg Gilbert. Get it here.

After Darkness… Light

A six minute video from John Piper for Reformation Day (October 31st). It’s a brief look at the legacy of John Calvin – as well as a reminder of the aims of Desiring God.

Christianity and the Dark Side

“The coming of Halloween is a good time for Christians to remember that evil spirits are real and that the Devil will seize every opportunity to trumpet his own celebrity…”

– Al Mohler looks at the American institution which is increasing being imported into Australia.

Australian Church Record, Nov 2012

The latest issue of The Australian Church Record is now available from their website.

This edition reflects on Sydney Synod, the Diocesan Mission, and the election of a new Archbishop.

Trust and obey?

“The survey reveals 64 percent of churchgoers agree with the statement: ‘A Christian must learn to deny himself/herself in order to serve Christ.’

Nineteen percent disagree with the statement.”

– Ed Stetzer has new research from the US.

The pain threshold

“Is the New Testament pattern of normal Christian witness, ‘Always be ready to invite your neighbour to an evangelistic barbecue’? ‘Go into all the world and get them to hear someone else make disciples’?”

– Chris Green, Vice Principal of Oak Hill College in London, has a point. Read it here.

Modernity

“Twice in the Bible we read of God ‘dwelling with us’.

The first looks back in time when ‘the word became flesh and dwelt among us’ (John 1:14) and the second looks ahead when ‘God will dwell with us’ (Revelation 1:3). We live in between the two, looking back to the first and forward to the second.

Modernity is an enticing idea. It suggests that all our hopes are located in the time that is ‘now’. But when you think about it modernity is whenever you live. When the wheel was invented it was modern times, or the dishwasher, or the iPad.

Modernity is always moving – on and on, faster and faster. Go to any electronics outlet and the products are different from just a few months back. Cameras do different things, likewise TVs, and computers. I have the sense of being left further and further behind, helpless to catch up. The machines seem to be getting more complicated. By the time I reach step 4, I have forgotten step 2. …”

– Bishop Paul Barnett suggests three responses to modernity – read it all at his blog.

Jesus Is …Beyond Fiction

“I cannot believe how often educated people pull out the claim that Jesus probably never existed. Except that it’s not PC to say so, it really deserves the title of Old Wives Tale!

Down in my neck of the woods, Gospel for the Gong has been running a ‘Jesus Is ________.’ month of mission. …”

– Sandy Grant shares some resources – as well as news of a terrific evangelistic initiative – at The Briefing.

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