Malcolm in the Middle
Posted on February 16, 2016
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“On Friday 12 February, at the invitation of the Australian Christian Lobby, I joined a delegation to meet Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, in his Sydney office. It was agreed that we confine our remarks to the issue of the plebiscite regarding single gender marriage which will be held, in the event of a coalition victory, soon after the next Federal election. …
When the PM was asked about freedom of conscience for those in the marriage industry, florists, caterers, etc, he said that he was sure that common sense would prevail…”
– Presbyterian Moderator-General David Cook reports that he was ‘profoundly disappointed’ after a meeting with the Prime Minister last week. Read it all here.
Preaching Christ in the Old Testament — Kevin DeYoung at Preaching Matters
Posted on February 16, 2016
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Kevin DeYoung has been preaching at St. Helen’s Bishopsgate in London, and took time out to address ‘Preaching Christ in the Old Testament’ for Preaching Matters.
Archbishop Davies’ term extended
Posted on February 16, 2016
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“Standing Committee has voted overwhelmingly to extend the term of Archbishop Glenn Davies until 2020.
Without the vote, Dr Davies would have been due to retire on attaining the age of 68 years on 26 September 2018.
Dr Robert Tong moved a motion in Standing Committee on Monday, 15th February, 2016 that the Archbishop’s term be extended for another two years.
Dr Davies was elected in August, 2013.
Dr Tong told Standing Committee that the Archbishop has shown leadership in three key areas.
‘Clearly by his preaching and modelling servant leadership, he has demonstrated spiritual leadership’ he said.
Dr Tong also cited the Archbishop’s leadership in Anglican organisations within and outside of the Diocese and his leadership in the ‘public square’.
‘He is across the issues, he makes a contribution and offers leadership from his own experience and learning’ Dr Tong said.
The motion, seconded by the Principal of Moore College, Dr Mark Thompson, passed overwhelmingly and was announced to the applause of Standing Committee.”
– Report by Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Archbishop of Canterbury gives his take on the Primates’ meeting
Posted on February 16, 2016
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From the Anglican Communion News Service:
“The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has used his presidential address to the Church of England’s General Synod to update members on last month’s Primates Meeting and Gathering in Canterbury. He also gave his impression about the current state of the Anglican Communion.”
– This is Archbishop Welby’s fullest account of his understanding of what took place in Canterbury last month. Worth reading in full. Photo: ACNS.
Word-Filled Women’s Ministry
Posted on February 15, 2016
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“I think the greatest strength of Word-filled Women’s Ministry is that it takes the word of God seriously, and it takes the importance of women understanding and sharing God’s word with others seriously…”
– Jane Tooher writes at Equal But Different about the new book Word-filled Women’s Ministry from The Gospel Coalition.
27 new Deacons for Sydney
Posted on February 14, 2016
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“27 candidates from a variety of backgrounds were ordained deacons on Saturday, 13th February, at St Andrew’s Cathedral.
Led into the Cathedral by the director of Ministry, Training and Development, the Rev Gary O’Brien, he told the group, ‘You are entrusted with a wonderful message.’…”
– A good news story from SydneyAnglicans.net.
Rome Recreated (AD 320)
Posted on February 12, 2016
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At With Meagre Powers, George Athas draws attention to “a stunning animation that recreates the city of Rome as it was in AD 320—the reign of Constantine”.
Roman Catholic Vespers at Henry VIII’s Chapel Royal
Posted on February 11, 2016
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“The Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, last night led a service of Solemn Vespers in the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace in what was the first Roman Catholic act of worship for 450 years in Henry VIII’s chapel, which was the backdrop to much of the English Reformation.
The service, sung mainly in Latin, was a unique event held to mark the 500th anniversary of Hampton Court and was in recognition of the growing relationship between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic church…”
– This report from The Anglican Communion News Service.
Photo: Cardinal Vincent, Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster.
The Blood of the Martyrs is Seed
Posted on February 11, 2016
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At the Bethlehem 2016 Conference for Pastors last month, Dr Tim Keesee spoke on “The Blood of the Martyrs is Seed”, with profound reflections from 2 Corinthians 4.
Tim is, of course, the man behind the Dispatches from the Front videos and book.
“You can’t save your own life. You can only spend it. Spend it well.”
Sobering, mightily encouraging, and very much worth watching.
George Whitefield on the Homilies
Posted on February 10, 2016
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“If I may be suffered to give my opinion, the dreadful ignorance as to the fundamentals of our holy religion, that almost everywhere abounds amongst the members of our established church, is chiefly owing to our neglect of preaching and putting into their hands the grand doctrines of the Reformation, contained in these Homilies and our other doctrinal articles.”
– Quoting George Whitefield, at the beginning of Lent Church Society introduces a series of daily extracts from The Homilies. Should be worth following.
Update: Here’s the first post – Edward VI’s preface to the “Book of Homilies”.
The Book of Numbers explained with illustrations
Posted on February 9, 2016
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Here’s the latest from The Bible Project.
Very well done. (h/t Tim Challies.)
NASA center “bans the word ‘Jesus’.”
Posted on February 9, 2016
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“The name of Jesus is not welcome in the Johnson Space Center newsletter, according to a complaint filed on behalf of a group of Christians who work for NASA. …
And NASA’s behavior is quite frankly baffling. On Christmas Eve, 1968 – the crew of Apollo 8 read the Creation story as they orbited the moon. Astronauts Jim Lovell, Frank Borman and Bill Anders took turns reading from the Book of Genesis.”
– Opinion from Fox News. Related: The Apollo 8 crew read from Genesis 1.
‘Freed Australian hostage Jocelyn Elliott vows to continue work’
Posted on February 9, 2016
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“An Australian woman who was kidnapped by Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists in Burkina Faso has returned to the nation’s capital after being freed, and says she hopes to be reunited with her husband so they can continue their medical work in the African nation…”
– ABC News has this report. (Please continue to pray for the release of Jocelyn’s husband, Ken, and for their captors.)
‘New Anglican Dean of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel, installed at St Andrew’s Cathedral’
Posted on February 7, 2016
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“The new Anglican Dean of Sydney has made history. Kanishka Raffel, who was officially installed as Dean of Sydney last Thursday, is the first person from a non-European background to hold the role in the church’s history in Australia. …
Born in London to Sri-Lankan parents, Dean Raffel spent the first two decades of his life as a Buddhist before he was given a copy of the Bible while studying law at the University of Sydney.”
– The Sydney Morning Herald has this story about a Buddhist who became a Christian, and is now Dean. (Photo: SydneyAnglicans.net)
Jocelyn Elliot released by kidnappers – husband still held
Posted on February 7, 2016
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From ABC News, Sunday 7th February:
“An Australian woman has been freed after she and her husband were kidnapped by an Al Qaeda-affiliated group in Burkina Faso, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirms.
President of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou presented Jocelyn Elliott to journalists at a news conference in Dosso, south-western Niger, and said authorities were intensifying efforts to secure the release of her husband.…”
– Please give thanks for Jocelyn’s release, and continue in prayer for her husband Ken, and for their captors.
Earlier:
Family of kidnapped missionaries in Burkina Faso plead for Ken and Jocelyn Elliot’s release – Bible Society.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…