Philippe, The Postmodern Evangelist
“Once there was a man named Philippe. He was a spiritual guide in an emerging community. One day he decided to go on a journey. So, he did. As he was walking along the road, focusing on the journey and not the destination, he found himself alongside the chariot of an African official…”
– A parody from The Sacred Sandwich. Funny but serious.
Free Audiobooks for March 2010
Christian Audio in the US is offering two free audiobooks this month – using the
1.) The Cost of Discipleship – Dietrich Bonhoeffer (using coupon code MAR2010A).
2.) Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die – John Piper (using coupon code MAR2010B).
(Note that Piper does not read his book himself – but you can listen to a sample before downloading.)
As usual, you’ll need to sign up for a free account to download the audiobooks. Start here.
Peter O’Brien on Hebrews — coming soon
From Don Carson’s preface to Peter O’Brien’s forthcoming commentary on Hebrews in the Pillar series –
“Among commentary readers Dr. O’Brien is doubtless best known for his commentaries on Paul’s prison epistles, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. The volume on Ephesians, of course, is published in the Pillar series, and it has become one of the “standard” works on that letter, not least for those preparing to teach and preach the text. Here Dr. O’Brien branches outside the Pauline corpus. The most recent six years of his life have been devoted to Hebrews, a book not always easy to understand but demonstrably important for Christians who want to know how first-century believers read the old covenant Scriptures. Such inquiry is the first step in building up a profoundly biblical theology, a profoundly canonical theology. It would be difficult to find a more helpful guide than Dr. O’Brien, or a guide better endowed with his combination of competence and genial wisdom. It is a pleasure to commend this work by a dear friend.”
– It’s worth reading all of Dr Carson’s comments, in the 77 page excerpt from the book on the Westminster Books website (PDF file).
(h/t Andy Naselli via Michael Bird. Photo: Ramon Williams.)
Update: Justin Taylor writes:
“Here’s one tried and true rule of thumb for buying New Testament commentaries: If it’s written by D.A. Carson, Douglas Moo, or Peter O’Brien, buy it. It’s never failed me yet.”
Colin Buchanan UK Tour 2010
Readers in the UK may be interested to know about Colin Buchanan’s UK Tour – starting next week.
Details here. (Don’t say you weren’t warned! Great for kids, fun for their parents. Highly recommended.)
J. Gresham Machen: Christianity and Liberalism
Reformed Audio has made available audio recordings of J. Gresham Machen’s important 1923 book Christianity and Liberalism.
Hear or download it all here. Much that is relevant today.
(Image of J. Gresham Machen: The Theologian. h/t Reformation21.)
ABC Radio spot on Christians and sainthood
Last night, ABC Radio’s PM spoke with Bishop Glenn Davies and others on the impending canonisation of Mary MacKillop. Transcript and audio here. (Photo: Wikipedia.)
Not a good sign
“Dissident Uniting Church minister Francis MacNab has posted a giant billboard over the Monash Freeway with pictures of Florence Nightingale, Martin Luther King and himself as model leaders…”
– from Barney Zwartz in The Age. All a bit sad.
‘Excited throng to welcome new Anglican bishop’
“Wollongong Bishop-elect Peter Hayward will adopt one of Australia’s biggest Anglican flocks at a packed consecration ceremony in Sydney … on April 13 …”
Prayer for Mission Area consultations
Meetings are being held around Sydney Diocese to discuss the setting up of Mission Areas to help local churches work together in their proclamation of Christ.
Please pray for the Rectors, and others invited to attend, that they will be recaptured by the joy of this task, and please pray for Bishop Ivan Lee in his chairing of these meetings.
‘MacKillop likely to become saint tomorrow’
“Mary MacKillop is likely to be announced as Australia’s first saint by the Vatican tomorrow night.
The final hurdle in the process will be a final assessment by the commission of cardinals, followed by a formal papal declaration from Pope Benedict…”
– Report from ABC News.
See also this related article by Bishop Glenn Davies last December.
Being Faithful now available for download
“Being Faithful”, prepared by the Theological Resource Group of GAFCON as a commentary on the The Jerusalem Declaration, has been released in digital form for free download.
“Being Faithful” and “The Way, The Truth, and the Life” (which was launched at GAFCON) are available as a single PDF file from the GAFCON website.
Printed versions are also available for purchase (details here).
Latest Anglicare newsletter online
Anglicare’s latest CARE newsletter is now online.
“Commencing a new year, I realise perhaps more than ever, that faith is the glue that holds our work together. Amidst all the necessary planning, thinking, meetings and sheer hard work we undertake at ANGLICARE, faith in Jesus Christ is indispensible.” – Anglicare CEO Peter Kell.
Reduce your carbon footprint for Lent — bishops
“British church leaders are encouraging people to give up their iPods for Lent, to help save the planet. The Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, and the Bishop of Liverpool, James Jones, are among those calling for a carbon fast for Lent…”
– Report from News.com.au. See the related Tearfund UK press release – and also this from Kairos (Canada) ‘Carbon Fast for Lent’.
(Lent used to be a time of reflecting on the Lord Jesus Christ and what he laid aside in order to save men and women from hell.) Photo: Bishop Richard Chartres.
Not enough sex talk?
“Gender and sexuality have caused divisions in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. Same-sex unions are upheld in some churches and not in others; the same is true for gay clergy. While there are more than 3,300 churches that affirm lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender congregants, 57 percent of Protestant clergy hardly ever discuss issues specific to the gay and lesbian community.
But according to “Sexuality and Religion 2020,” a report released this week, they probably should. …
“Religious leaders in clergy are not getting the training they need to address sexuality, and 70 percent seldom or never discuss sexuality issues,” said the Rev. Debra Haffner, director of the institute and co-author of the report.”
– Story from The Statesman in Austin, Texas.
The Religious Institute, a pro-homosexual multifaith organisation, has posted their document here. (Is this the training for clergy they had in mind?)
Update: Al Mohler comments.
C of E extend pensions to gay partners
“The Church of England has voted to extend the same pension rights to the partners of gay clergy as those now given wives or husbands, officials say…” – Story from UPI.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…