Why did Saul change his name to Paul? — Tyndale House Podcast

Posted on December 28, 2024 
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A podcast from Tyndale House in Cambridge:

“Steve Walton and Tony Watkins discuss why Saul changed to Paul in the book of Acts.

In the book of Acts, the apostle Paul is referred to as Saul up until chapter 13, where he begins to be referred to as Paul. Steve explains how names worked in the Roman world to shed light on this name change. He also shares about some of the research he has done in the book of Acts over several years.”

– If you are reading the Book of Acts, you’ll find this most interesting. 29 minutes on YouTube.

Taking his own medicine

Posted on December 26, 2024 
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“Friends in Christ, Christmas Eve is the 50th anniversary of Cyclone Tracy, which hit Darwin at about 10pm, December 24, 1974. …

Boxing Day is the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami, which hit on 26 December, 2004 … It is the deadliest natural disaster of the 21st century so far. …”

– Dean of Sydney Sandy Grant reflects in the Cathedral newsletter.

Image: USGS Preliminary Earthquake Report, 26 December 2004.

Hoping Christmas is Good News

Posted on December 25, 2024 
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“If you regularly preach at this time and if, like me, you have been at it for forty years there aren’t too may Christmas-type verses left to preach on.

For all that, it is hard to beat the account of the announcement to the shepherd by the angel of the birth of the Lord Jesus. …”

– Short but sweet classic advice from Chappo – at The Australian Church Record.

Related:

“Do you really believe the gospel can convert your friends?” – John Chapman.

Photo: Matthias Media.

Bishop of Canberra-Goulburn’s Christmas message 2024

Posted on December 25, 2024 
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“Light in the Darkness

Even down-under, where the days are growing longer and hotter, we find ourselves drawn to the imagery of candles as Christmas approaches. That’s because light shining in darkness is a powerful picture of what Christmas can mean for us.

One of the four New Testament accounts of Jesus life, the gospel of John, doesn’t begin with the events of Christmas. There’s no Joseph and Mary, no baby, no shepherds and certainly no donkey. Instead, the gospel begins with a profound meditation and reflection on the significance of these events and how they fit into God’s purposes for humanity and the whole of creation …”

– Read Bishop Mark Short’s Christmas message from the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn for 2024. (PDF file.)

GSFA Chairman’s Christmas Message and Year-end Review

Posted on December 25, 2024 
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“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end.
Isaiah 9:6-7a.

My dear brothers and sisters,

At Christmas we celebrate the fulfillment of God’s promise. The long-awaited Messiah has come and where he is present the curse of sin is broken and the reign of God breaks in. Isaiah prophecies that ‘the government shall be upon his shoulder’ and while we shall not see its fulness until he returns in glory, wherever Christ is proclaimed faithfully we see the blessings of his kingdom. Men, women and children of every nation are born again to a living hope, sin and evil lose their power, and relationships are restored. …”

– Archbishop Dr Justin Badi, Chairman of the GSFA Steering Committee, shares this message and review.

50 years on: Santa never made it into Darwin, but Christian journo Ramon Williams did

Posted on December 24, 2024 
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Fifty years ago, in the early hours of Christmas morning 1974, the city of Darwin was devastated by Cyclone Tracy.

At John Sandeman’s The Other Cheek, Jon Guyer at Panania Anglican Church shares some recollections from Ramon Williams, the grandmaster of Christian journalism, on his lightning trip to Darwin, a city ravaged by Cyclone Tracy.

Also see Ramon’s account of his trip to Darwin in this 2018 interview with The Rev Keith Garner at the Wesley Mission:

Top photo with thanks to Anglican Media Sydney.

Ramon has generously shared many of his photographs with us over the years and we are immensely grateful. See some of them in these posts.

New edition of “The Link” from Armidale — Dec 2024-Jan 2025

Posted on December 24, 2024 
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The latest issue of Armidale Diocese’s magazine The Link is now available for download form their website.

On the cover is the Rev. Julie Cook, just announced as the new Diocesan Deacon for Women.

Download your copy here (PDF file) – and do pray for the continued ministry of the gospel in the Diocese of Armidale.

That You May Believe

Posted on December 23, 2024 
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Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30–31)

“I feel so strongly that among those of us who have grown up in church and who can recite the great doctrines of our faith in our sleep, and yet who can yawn through the Apostles’ Creed — that among us something must be done to help us once more feel the awe, the fear, the astonishment, the wonder of the Son of God, begotten by the Father from all eternity, reflecting all the glory of God, being the very image of his person, through whom all things were created, upholding the universe by the word of his power.

– In the Desiring God devotional for Sunday 22nd December, John Piper wants to encourage us to recapture the wonder which we may have lost.

Image: John Piper via Desiring God.

O Come, All Ye Wokeful! Now CAROLS are censored by Church of England so they don’t upset other faiths

Posted on December 22, 2024 
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“Priests have been told to edit popular carols this Christmas to avoid upsetting other religions.

The Church of England has been accused of ‘losing the plot’ after it urged clergy to alter Advent hymns so that congregations can celebrate the festive season ‘without causing unnecessary offence’.

Christian hymns such as O Come, O Come, Emmanuel have been singled out for depicting other faiths as being ‘outside of God’s grace’. …”

– Story from The Daily Mail.

Image from the Diocese of Birmingham website.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s 2024 Christmas message — God does not leave us alone

Posted on December 21, 2024 
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Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has released his Christmas message for 2024 — God with us in our loneliness.

Good to watch – good to share — good to play in church!

See also this post from Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net, which includes a link to the text of the Archbishop’s message (PDF file).

The Source of Permanent Joy

Posted on December 21, 2024 
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“I don’t want a fix of joy; but its permanent presence. …

What we need is not an injection of joy, but a reason for joy: the announcement of truths that, if believed and received, will build in the base of one’s soul and convictions a stone pier of joy that will remain immovable no matter what the tides and winds and storms of human existence in a fallen world.

In Luke’s Gospel, Mary and Elizabeth’s meeting is filled with loud greetings, hearty hugs and kisses, in utero leaps, and exuberant blessings. It dances with light and joy…”

– At AP, Campbell Markham turns to Luke chapter 1 for the reason for our joy.

Province of the Indian Ocean Elects Gilbert Rateloson Rakotondravelo as Seventh Archbishop

Posted on December 20, 2024 
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“The Rt. Rev. Gilbert Rateloson Rakotondravelo, Bishop of Fianarantsoa, was elected as the Province of the Indian Ocean’s seventh primate and archbishop by the provincial synod on December 14.

He succeeds Archbishop James Wong, who has led the province of eight dioceses in Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Reunion, and the Comoros, since 2017. The province, also known as the Anglican Church of the Indian Ocean, has about 505,000 members. …”

– Report from The Living Church. (Photo: Berthier Lainirina, via The Living Church.)

Church Society announces Digital Subscriptions to The Global Anglican

Posted on December 20, 2024 
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From Church Society:

“We are delighted to announce that our theological journal, The Global Anglican, is now available to purchase in both print and digital subscriptions.

While print journals continue to have an important place in libraries, archives and personal collections, for many people, a digital format saves space, money and delays due to international posting. Individual issues of The Global Anglican are made available in digital format some years after their initial publication, but now we have the facility to provide this as an annual subscription for the current content. …”

– Perhaps the last-minute Christmas gift you’ve been hoping for.

(As you may be aware, The Global Anglican is edited by Peter Jensen.)

The Astronaut who left NASA to help support healthy churches

Posted on December 20, 2024 
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“In spring 2021, Capitol Hill Baptist Church (CHBC) in Washington, DC, had nine pastoral interns. Eight were 40 years old and under. Seven were coming out of—or would head into—seminary.

And one was NASA’s former head astronaut. Pat Forrester was 63 years old. …”

– Sarah Zylstra has this encouraging story at The Gospel Coalition.

12 Fresh Ways to Read your Bible in 2025

Posted on December 19, 2024 
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“A new year offers a new opportunity—an opportunity to rethink and refresh the way you read your Bible.

While some have found a pattern or habit they love and will never deviate from, others like to look for new ways to read, digest, and apply the Word.

For those who may be interested in trying something new, here are a few ideas that may be worth considering. …”

– Tim Challies shares some great ideas to help you read your Bible in the coming year.

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