Knowing God in dementia

Posted on August 4, 2015
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Knowing God in dementia

Here’s an encouraging video from Mary Andrews College.

Mark Wormell, who lectures at the college on Ministry with Seniors, speaks about ‘Knowing God in dementia’.

Speaking of domestic abuse

Posted on August 3, 2015
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Speaking of domestic abuse

“I want to talk about four traps that await us when we try to understand and respond to domestic abuse.

They are: a tendency towards totalizing; seeing abuse as a gender issue; misapplication of the Bible; and avoiding the Bible’s teaching about men and women…”

– on the newly revamped Equal But Different website, Dr. Claire Smith writes to help Christians respond rightly to domestic abuse.

The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert — free audiobook August 2015

Posted on August 2, 2015
Filed under Resources Comments Off on The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert — free audiobook August 2015

The Christian Audio free download for August 2015 is The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield.

It’s read by the author, and the zipped mp3 version is 207MB in size.

A Clear or Cloudy Gospel? – A review of ‘The Suburban Captivity of the Church’

Posted on August 1, 2015
Filed under Theology Comments Off on A Clear or Cloudy Gospel? – A review of ‘The Suburban Captivity of the Church’

“An interesting juxtaposition of events happened to me last week. I found myself reading Tim Foster’s The Suburban Captivity of the Church at the same time as eagerly following the consultation conference of the Australian chapter of The Gospel Coalition.

Tim Foster is the Vice Principal of Ridley Theological College in Melbourne and the book has been shortlisted for the Australian Christian Book of the year award. The Gospel Coalition Australia is a local iteration of The Gospel Coalition originating in the US. Two voices labouring to see Australia won for Christ. Yet, given the difference in descriptions of the gospel were so significant, I felt it prudent to review Foster’s recent book.

The major purpose of Foster’s Suburban Captivity is ‘… to develop a theology of gospel and culture, and then illustrate how contextualisation works.’ (p. 5). …

It’s not a pedestrian read. Foster strongly denounces conceptions of the Gospel that centre upon the sacrifice at Calvary, and calls for a reconceptualisation of the Gospel around God’s wider purposes. We are told in no uncertain terms that this is the only way to break the shackles of our suburban captivity…”

– An important review by Mark Earngey, an ACL member currently studying Reformation theology and history at the University of Oxford.

Tim Foster has posted this response.

Moore College Sunday 2015

Posted on July 31, 2015
Filed under Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Moore College Sunday 2015

Many churches are focussing on Moore College for their prayers on Sunday August 2nd.

“The MCS theme this year is about partnering with Moore in prayer as we equip students to tell the world the one story worth knowing by heart – the story of Jesus.” – Read all about it.

The dangerous calling of Christian missions

Posted on July 30, 2015
Filed under Opinion Comments Off on The dangerous calling of Christian missions

“America’s evangelical Christians are facing a critical time of testing in the 21st century. Among the most important of the tests we now face is the future of missions and our faithfulness to the Great Commission. At a time of unprecedented opportunity, will our zeal for world missions slacken?

Just as doors of opportunity are opening around the world, the church seems to be losing its voice. A virtual re-paganization of Western culture is occurring around us at a velocity unprecedented in human history. At the same time, we are also witnessing the rise of militant Islam…”

– Albert Mohler reminds his readers that the dangerous nature of Christian missions is just as the Lord Jesus predicted.

Canberra & Goulburn: Pastoral Letter concerning the Redefinition of Marriage

Posted on July 30, 2015
Filed under Australian dioceses Comments Off on Canberra & Goulburn: Pastoral Letter concerning the Redefinition of Marriage

Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn, Stuart Robinson, wrote to members of his diocesan Synod in a pastoral letter yesterday:

“At our Synod in September, I am already aware that people will want to discuss either the rights and wrongs of homosexuality or the merits and problems of same-sex marriage. It is important for us to remember that there are already some limits around what such discussion can and cannot achieve, because…”

– Read it all here.

Mission Awareness Week at Moore College

Posted on July 30, 2015
Filed under Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Mission Awareness Week at Moore College

“Mission Awareness Week 2015 was held last week (20-24 July). MAW is an important event in the Moore College calendar. It is held annually in July and provides the opportunity to see what God is doing in the world, and to be challenged as to how we are going to be involved in God’s mission work…”

– Report from the College.

Two days left to have your say for NSW scripture in schools

Posted on July 29, 2015
Filed under News Comments Off on Two days left to have your say for NSW scripture in schools

“There’s only two days left to contribute to the NSW government review of special religious and ethics classes in schools.

The independent review looking into Special Religious Education (SRE) and Special Ethics Education (SEE) in NSW primary and secondary schools was announced in October last year and began in March.

Parents and carers, SRE and SEE teachers, current and former students and other interested parties are able to contribute their views here, before submissions close this Friday 31 July…”

– Report from the Bible Society. (Emphasis added. Image: Youthworks.)

Societas 2015 launched

Posted on July 28, 2015
Filed under Resources, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Societas 2015 launched

Just in time for Moore College Sunday (being observed in many churches this weekend), the 2015 edition of the Moore College students’ magazine, Societas, has been released.

It’s available online – to view or download using ISSUU – or to download as an 11.2MB PDF file from the college website.

Creation and the Christian

Posted on July 27, 2015
Filed under Theology Comments Off on Creation and the Christian

“One of the most sustained reflections on the nature of created life is Psalm 104. In this article I’d like to offer some thoughts drawn from this psalm on what it means for us to be made by God. These are not the only things that can be said about our created nature but they are very helpful in our approach to life in this world…”

– Moore College lecturer on Old Testament and Biblical Languages, Dan Wu, turns to Psalm 104 at the College’s Think Tank. Take the time to be encouraged by it.

ALP National Conference votes to enforce support for same-sex marriage from 2019

Posted on July 26, 2015
Filed under Australia Comments Off on ALP National Conference votes to enforce support for same-sex marriage from 2019

“After hours of negotiations the party’s Right faction cobbled together the numbers to amend a motion from the Left that would have forced MPs and Senators to be bound in the next term of Parliament.

Labor leader Bill Shorten moved the revised motion and pledged to introduce legislation to legalise same-sex marriage if he wins government…”

– Report from ABC News.

The Australian Christian Lobby has issued a media release –

“The same-sex marriage debate entered a new phase of intolerance with Labor voting to expel parliamentarians who advocate man-woman only marriage. In two Parliaments time, Labor MPs and Senators who vote against redefining marriage will be expelled from the party…”

Image: alp.org.au

Bishop’s Vision for the Diocese of The Murray

Posted on July 26, 2015
Filed under Australian dioceses Comments Off on Bishop’s Vision for the Diocese of The Murray

“Before the motion was passed unanimously, Bishop Ford spoke on how his vision for the Diocese may be considered.

He believed the Diocese had too many buildings and that in many small communities, it may be more effective if a group of believers met around a table to pray, study and learn…

Bishop Ford believed communication was another important area to be looked at over the next year. He thought many of our church signs were ‘appalling’, adding that it was no wonder that other people found it difficult to join us when we met in secret…”

– The Winter 2015 edition of The Murray Anglican (PDF file) reports on Bishop John Ford’s vision for the Diocese of The Murray, endorsed at their Synod in May.

West Hamilton Parish and the wilderness

Posted on July 25, 2015
Filed under GAFCON, New Zealand Comments Off on West Hamilton Parish and the wilderness

“One of our harshest critics here, a former Diocesan Manager, opined in the Waikato Times that we have consigned ourselves to the religious wilderness.