Gideons switching to the ESV
Posted on December 4, 2014
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“Gideons have distributed almost 16 million Bibles in Australia since they were established here in 1956. There are Gideons Bibles in hotels and motels, prisons, and hospitals. But this year, they’ve changed translations, switching from the NKJV to the ESV.
– Story and photo from Bible Society Australia.
Hold lightly to this world: Anne Bradstreet
Posted on December 4, 2014
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“God has given us many Christian brothers and sisters throughout history whom we can benefit from, and whom we do benefit from. They teach, challenge, and comfort us largely through the ministry of writing that lives on many years after they have died. These writings include books, sermons, tracts, songs, letters, and poetry. Many of these men and women are well known, but others are less so. One of our lesser known sisters is Anne Bradstreet.
Anne Bradstreet (nee Dudley) was born in 1612 and died in 1672…”
– Never heard of Anne Bradstreet? Now’s a good time to learn, thanks to Jane Tooher, Director of the Priscilla and Aquila Centre at Moore College.
Prayer in the English Reformation
Posted on December 3, 2014
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In the latest issue of Credo magazine (h/t Tim Challies), Gerald Bray contributes part 1 of an essay on Prayer in the English Reformation.
Take the time to read it – it starts on page 24 of the 13MB PDF file linked from this page. (Image: Moore College.)
Preaching Matters: Charlie Skrine and contextualisation
Posted on December 3, 2014
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In the latest Preaching Matters from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate, Charlie Skrine thinks through Acts 17 and contextualisation. Encouraging and helpful.
Themelios Vol 39 No 3 (November 2014)
Posted on December 3, 2014
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The latest issue of the academic journal Themelios is now available from The Gospel Coalition. As always, a wealth of material, including book reviews. (h/t Andy Naselli.)
Anderson Consecration photos
Posted on December 2, 2014
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Adam Burgan of the Diocese of the Northern Territory has shared these photos he took at Dr Greg Anderson’s consecration as Bishop on Saturday.
‘Bishops worldwide pray and fast for the climate’
Posted on December 2, 2014
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“The Bishop of Salisbury is praying and fasting today, and on the first day of every month, for a meaningful and fair agreement at next year’s UN climate talks. … Bishop Nicholas said: … “Climate change affects people of all countries and all faiths. It should be something which unites the human race. …”
– from the Anglican Communion News Service. (Photo: Diocese of Salisbury.)
A new devotional book by John Piper for Advent 2014
Posted on December 1, 2014
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John Piper’s new devotional book for Advent 2014 is now available here as a free PDF download.
Update: An audio version is this month’s free download from Christian Audio.
Grace Abounding — Tim Keesee on John Bunyan
Posted on November 30, 2014
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“Bunyan’s book has blessed the world, but in Bedford, little remains from his life and long imprisonment…”
– Tim Keesee of Frontline Missions reflects briefly on the occasion of John Bunyan’s birthday.
Greg Anderson consecrated in Darwin
Posted on November 29, 2014
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“Dr Greg Anderson has been consecrated as the sixth Bishop of the the Northern Territory. …”
– Report at SydneyAnglicans.net. Photo by David Höhne.
We understand nearly 500 from around Australia were present at this morning’s service.
Lotteries, Divorce and Australian Church History
Posted on November 29, 2014
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“At Moore College, each year the Bachelor of Divinity fourth year students have the opportunity to research and write a 6,000 word essay in Church History on some aspect of evangelicalism in Australia or Britain (post-1600).
The Church History Department first launched the online journal Integrity last year in order to share some of the quality essays written by our students with a broader audience.”
The 140 page second volume is well worth downloading from the Moore College website. Here are the papers in Volume 2 –
- The Unexpected Chaplain: Henry Fulton and Early Colonial Evangelicalism. – Tom Melbourne.
- The Response of the Anglican Dioceses of Perth and Sydney to the Introduction of State Lotteries from 1920 to 1945. – Cameron Howard.
- A survey of the Federal Methodist Inland Mission and an account of the ministry of the Rev Keith Lachlan Doust. – Katherine Cole.
- An Analysis of the Reasons for the Opposition in Tasmania in the 1850s of the Rev Dr Henry Fry and other Evangelical Anglican Clergy to their Bishop, Dr Francis Nixon. – Sam Gough.
- An Assessment of the Contribution of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney to the Debate on the Introduction of ‘No-Fault Divorce’ in the Family Law Act (1975). – Mark Wormell.
Do you proclaim the gospel on Sundays?
Posted on November 28, 2014
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“How do our church meetings proclaim the gospel story? Of course we want all our words to point to Christ. But what about the shape of the gathering, the liturgy?
If the famous dictum, ‘the medium is the message,’ carries any truth then we would do well to reflect not only on the words spoken, but also the structures and shapes to our times together. How do our church meetings proclaim the gospel story?…”
– On the Church Society blog, John Percival quotes from an article by Graham O’Brien in Churchman.
Related: Paul Helm reflects on a church service he attended recently at an Abbey.
“I was at a service at an Abbey last Sunday, an unfamiliar venue for me. When I am at a service in an strange place, such as the service in this gaunt but undoubtedly beautiful building, being a visitor I tend to try to adopt the outlook of a visitor. What impression does what goes on in the great venues of English religion give to someone, who, like me on this occasion, joins the service as a one-off?”
Aasia Bibi files appeal in Pakistan’s top Court
Posted on November 27, 2014
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“The Christian mother of five children, sentenced to death for “blasphemy” in Pakistan, has filed an appeal to the country’s top court on 24 November. After the High Court in Lahore upheld Aasia Bibi’s conviction on 16 October, this appeal is her last recourse in the Pakistani judicial system…”
– Barnabas Fund has the latest for your prayers.
GAFCON Chairman’s Advent Letter 2014
Posted on November 27, 2014
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“Despite these challenges, I am confident that our efforts are not in vain.
The crucial contribution of GAFCON to the future is that in an increasingly confused Communion it has a clear confessional basis in the Jerusalem Statement and Declaration which keeps the gospel at its heart. And where the gospel is, there will be life.”
– Chairman of the GAFCON Primates Council, Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, writes this in response to very great challenges. Read his whole Pastoral Letter for Advent 2014 on the GAFCON website.
ECUSA denied Leave to Appeal in Quincy Case
Posted on November 27, 2014
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“Today the Illinois Supreme Court posted twenty-eight pages of its recent dispositions of requests made by losing parties for leave to appeal their decision to that Court. On page twelve, at the very top, appears this brief notation:
No. 118186 – The Diocese of Quincy et al., respondents, v. The Episcopal Church et al., petitioners. Leave to appeal, Appellate Court, Fourth District. (4-13-0901)
Petition for leave to appeal denied.
What this means is that the highest court of a State has now ruled that there is no provision in the governing documents of the Episcopal Church (USA) that keeps a Diocese from withdrawing its membership in that organization…”
– Lawyer A.S. Haley is following the twists and turns of The Episcopal Church’s attempts to stop dioceses leaving.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…