From the Vault: Win, Build, Send

The YouGov poll on same-sex marriage

There’s been widespread reporting of a UK poll, with stories beginning like this one –

“Anglican churchgoers in the UK who support gay marriage outnumber those opposed to it for the first time, according to a new poll…” (Sky News Australia).

So what’s the real story?

“Last night the internet was abuzz with a YouGov poll, commissioned by the revisionist campaigner Jayne Ozanne, that was purported to show that a majority of Anglicans now supported same-sex marriage. It did no such thing…

The headlines become even more suspect when you look at the poll questions in detail.”

– Ian Paul and Peter Ould have some analysis.

Possibly the best App to help you pray

Andy Geers in the UK has updated PrayerMate to version 5.

PrayerMate is considered by many to be the best iOS and Android app to help you pray consistently and thoughtfully.

Watch Andy’s explanation of what’s new, and even consider supporting his ministry. (Andy makes his app available without charge.)

When politics becomes your religion

On the 4th January 2016 edition of The Briefing, Albert Mohler discusses an article, “What explains the Vicious Left?”, by Professor David Gelernter at Yale.

Speaking in a US context, Mohler says,

“…what professor Gelernter is arguing is that on the left, political ideas have taken the place of religious doctrines and religious truth claims, and have become ends in themselves and matters of absolute truth claims, and have become ends in themselves and matters of absolute truth claims. …

I think Professor Gelernter is absolutely right that for many on the left, politics is all that remains. It’s all they have left.”

Listen or read here. (Segment 3)

When Abortion suddenly stopped making sense

“We also thought, back then, that few abortions would ever be done. It’s a grim experience, going through an abortion, and we assumed a woman would choose one only as a last resort. We were fighting for that ‘last resort.’ We had no idea how common the procedure would become…”

– This long and disturbing article was written to coincide with the 43rd anniversary, this last weekend, of the Roe v. Wade decision in the US Supreme Court.

Since that time, 59 million babies in the USA have lost their lives through abortion. Image: National Review.

Heartbreak, Humiliation and a Death Certificate

“‘Heartbreak and humiliation’ were the opening words of the current affairs show ‘The 7:30 Report’ on the national public broadcaster, the ABC, on Thursday Friday 21, 2016. The story? The tragic accidental death of David Bulmer-Rizzi, one member of a UK same sex couple who were visiting the country.

The tragedy was compounded, the report said, by the fact that the South Australian authorities were proposing to issue a death certificate which stated that the deceased was ‘never married’. But the couple had entered into a same sex marriage under UK law…”

– At Law and Religion Australia, Neil Foster provides the legal context behind some of the media reporting surrounding a tragic death.

Change, or Die Out — Dr Andrew Cameron

“The Western world is rapidly changing. And this brings with it many challenges, particularly for Christians. So to get a better handle on these changes, I’ve started interviewing a number of Christian leaders.

What follows is an edited version of an interview I did with the Reverend Dr Andrew Cameron, who is the Director of St Marks Theological Centre, in Canberra, Australia…”

– from Akos Balogh.

Priscilla & Aquila Centre Annual Conference 2016

The Priscilla & Aquila Centre Annual Conference is coming up on Monday 1st February. Moore College Principal, Mark Thompson is speaking – and there’ll be a number of electives.

The theme? “The Christian and Submission”.

Registration for the conference closes January 22.

What they’re saying about Moore College

Here are four brief videos, with clips from Gerald Bray, Michael Horton and Kevin Vanhoozer, sharing their impressions of Moore College.

Especially useful to pass on to anyone considering studying at Moore.

Another three videos below:

Getting to know the new Dean of Sydney

Kanishka Raffel has now begun as the Dean of Sydney – he will be installed as Dean on Thursday 4th February, at 7:00pm.

David Ould took the opportunity to speak with Kanishka at last week’s CMS Summer School at Katoomba (at which Kanishka spoke).

Topics in the conversation include:

Leading mission and church growth in Perth
Thoughts about leading mission as Dean of Sydney
Preaching Acts
Welcoming immigrants
Challenges for Western Christianity
His background in Buddhism, Sri Lankan family, and his conversion to Christ.

Please be encouraged to pray for Kanishka in his new role.

Also, Kanishka will be speaking at Nexus 16 on Monday 23rd May at Village Church Annandale.

Do we need to Contextualise our Preaching?

In the latest Preaching Matters video from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate, William Taylor addresses that question.

He argues that we need better communication, rather than contextualisation, because the gospel is relevant in every culture and context. Very helpful, as always.

There’s a great quote from Broughton Knox’s book “Everlasting God”.

J. I. Packer’s rare Puritan library digitised and available online

In one of the sad attempts to deal with faithful, Bible-believing clergy, in 2008, the then Bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster issued a ‘notice of presumption of abandonment of the exercise of ministry’ to Dr J.I. Packer, and others.

As well as being a much-loved and respected theologian and preacher, Dr. Packer is a foremost Puritan historian.

“The John Richard Allison Library in Vancouver—which hosts the joint collections of Regent College and Carey Theological College—has now made available their entire rare Puritan collection to be read online for free. What a gift of modern technology to help us recover these gifts from the church of the past.

There are currently 80 Puritan authors in their collection, many of whose works were digitized from J. I. Packer’s private library.”

– Justin Taylor at the Gospel Coalition has a list of the titles and links to the digitised versions.

Prayer for the Primates’ Gathering

A good prayer to pray –

“Almighty God
to whom all will someday give an account;

instil, we pray,
within the hearts of all Primates of the Anglican Communion,
a holy fear
that they may love you and your Word
more than the approval of men;

this we ask through our only Mediator and Head of the Church,
Jesus Christ,
who evermore lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.”

– from GAFCON.

Seven reasons not to gamble

“Managers don’t gamble with their Master’s money. All you have belongs to God. All of it. Faithful trustees may not gamble with a trust fund. They have no right.”