Priscilla & Aquila Centre conference registration open

‘Singleness, Marriage, Divorce, & Remarriage in Ministry’ is the topic of next year’s Priscilla & Aquila Centre conference at Moore College.

It’s on Monday 3rd February 2014. Registration opens today. Details from the College.

Euthanasia bill to be debated in Tasmania on Tuesday

Bishop of Tasmania, John Harrower, has been working hard to prevent the introduction of Euthanasia in Tasmania. See his blog.

Euthanasia: My letter to Tas MHAs 9 Oct 2013 –

“Last Wednesday I wrote the following letter to all 25 Members of the House of Assembly of the Tasmanian Parliament briefly stating my reasons for asking them to oppose the euthanasia legislation to be voted on this coming Tuesday.

Please pray that our politicians will oppose this deadly legislation.”

Also:
Depression, disability & ‘safe’ euthanasia.
A Response to Giddings & McKim’s euthanasia proposal.
Euthanasia: Pastoral Letter 3 Oct.13.

Related:
On the elimination of the suffering – Dr Megan Best.
Euthanasia lives again.

A Life Already Started Conference

“With one in three women under 40 in Australia having had an abortion, it’s a rare church that has not been touched by this issue.

For this reason, Fervr invites you to the A Life Already Started Conference.

Connect with other rectors, youth ministers, women’s workers and chaplains. Hear about the options available for women faced with an unwanted pregnancy. Get equipped to lovingly respond to and support these young women.

Valuable speakers include author Dr Megan Best, representatives from Diamond Pregnancy Support and Women’s Forum Australia, and also two women who will share their personal stories of God’s healing after abortion.”

The conference is on Saturday 2nd November at MBM, Rooty Hill – Registration: $40, includes morning tea, lunch and a free copy of Dr Best’s new book.

The Smith Lecture, 2013

The Smith Lecture (named in honour of Bruce Smith, pictured) will be held in 2013 on Thursday 24th October at the Art Gallery of NSW.

This year Prof Patrick Parkinson, will speak on “Child Sexual Abuse and the Churches: A story of moral failure?” Details here. Photo courtesy Ramon Williams.

How Pornography works

“We are fast becoming the pornographic society. Over the course of the last decade, explicitly sexual images have crept into advertising, marketing, and virtually every niche of American life. This ambient pornography is now almost everywhere, from the local shopping mall to prime-time television.

By some estimations, the production and sale of explicit pornography now represents the seventh-largest industry in America. …”

– Albert Mohler looks at understanding how pornography works in the male brain – and how that knowledge can be used in the battle against sin.

Related: The Porn-free family – Tim Challies.

Effective Gospel Ministry

In the next instalment of Preaching Matters from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate, William Taylor looks at Acts chapter 20.

Take the time to watch it here. (12 minutes.)

Garage Hymnal to release new album

“Garage Hymnal are back with a new album for 2013 titled Lowly. It is a collection of songs centred around Christ’s birth, the hope that comes through Jesus becoming human and the salvation that it brings. … The album will be officially launched on 1st Nov 2013 at St Stephens Church Hall, Newtown, NSW. Tickets are very limited, on sale now…”

Bishop of Tasmania – Pastoral Letter on Euthanasia

“Today I sent the following Pastoral Letter to all Anglican Parishes in Tasmania asking that the letter and attachments be made available to Parishioners.…

Pastoral Letter – Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2013

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

You will have learned recently that the Hon. Lara Giddings and the Hon. Nick McKim, Members for Franklin have recently introduced the “Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2013” to the Tasmanian parliament.

This Bill would allow those who meet certain eligibility criteria to be prescribed and receive a lethal injection. This Bill is a direct threat to the lives of Tasmanians, particularly the sick and elderly. This Bill embraces a philosophy of human value defined by convenience and personal capacity. It stands against the responsibility of societies and governments to implement compassionate, timely, and effective care for those who are unwell or disabled in some way. …”

– Read it all at Bishop Harrower’s blog.

“A transsexual has been helped to die by doctors in Belgium, after a series of failed sex-change operations. Nathan Verhelst, born a girl, asked for help to end his life on grounds of psychological suffering. He died in a Brussels hospital on Monday. Two doctors concluded the 44-year-old did not have temporary depression. …

Belgium legalised euthanasia in 2002. There were 52 cases of euthanasia on psychological grounds last year. … There were 1,432 recorded cases of euthanasia in Belgium in 2012; a 25% increase on the previous year’s figure.”

Bible Society Australia commemorates the 50th anniversary of CS Lewis’ death

“Bible Society Australia has launched a library of Australian resources on C.S. Lewis to celebrate the life of this great author and champion his contribution to literature and to Christianity for many years to come. …”

– from Bible Society Australia.

Getting to know Tim Challies

Many people benefit from Tim Challies’ blog. Tim was in Scotland a few weeks back, and David Meredith at Smithton Church chatted with him in the studios of Inverness TV.

St. Helen’s Training: Bible Overview

St. Helen’s Bishopsgate has posted two new videos in its ‘St Helen’s Training’ series.

These begin an overview of the Bible.

Acting the Miracle — free eBook from Crossway and Desiring God

The soon-to-be-published Acting the Miracle – God’s Work and Ours in the Mystery of Sanctification – edited by David Mathis and John Piper, is available as a free eBook from Desiring God.

via Andy Naselli.

How then shall we Tweet?

The Australian Church Record announces it will aim to help “fend off the keyboard cowards and take on the trolls” in upcoming posts encouraging godly conduct on social media.