The Man on the $20 note

Posted on September 28, 2012 
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“The John Flynn episode of ABC’s Compass … was on ABC Television 1’s Compass last Sunday night…”

– Gary Ware at Mount Gambier Presbyterian Church draws attention to this (somewhat secular) account of Presbyterian Missioner John Flynn. Good to learn a bit of history on the centenary of the founding of the Australian Inland Mission. Image: ABC TV.

Moore College Open Day September 29

Posted on September 26, 2012 
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“Each year Moore College holds an Open Day for you to come and meet current students and find out for yourself what Moore is all about. You are invited to Moore College Open Day 2012. The day will include a sample lecture from one of our faculty, a campus tour and plenty of opportunities for questions.”

Saturday 29 September 2012, 9.30 am – 2.30 pm. Details.

CMS Summer School 2013 registration

Posted on September 25, 2012 
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Registration for the NSW CMS Summer School is now open. Details here.

Myths about Christianity

Posted on September 25, 2012 
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On a recent episode of The White Horse Inn, Michael Horton interviewed History Professor Jeffrey Burton Russell on his new book, Exposing Myths about Christianity: A Guide to Answering 145 Viral Lies and Legends.

Worth listening to a historian’s perspective.

‘Christians in the QandA fiery furnace’

Posted on September 23, 2012 
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“It takes courage to stand up for one’s faith… even when you’re the Archbishop of Sydney confronting an audience of unbelievers and a panel of atheists on ABC’s Q & A program. …”

– Dale Stephenson of Crossway Church in Melbourne gives his take on that recent episode of Q&A – from Eternity Newspaper – at The Bible Society website.

‘Staying in His Lane’

Posted on September 22, 2012 
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“The appearance of Osteen and Chopra together was a priceless demonstration of the fact that the New Thought positive thinking philosophy that drives them both can be grafted onto either Christianity or Eastern religion. In the end, it all sounds the same. Chopra’s New Age spirituality and Osteen’s updated version of the word-faith movement end up as the same message, only with different trappings.

O’Brien then shifted the topic to homosexuality, as would be expected. …”

– Albert Mohler writes on “the total theological bankruptcy of the word of faith movement and the gospel of positive thinking”.  (Image: CNN.)

Carl Trueman on being different

Posted on September 22, 2012 
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“Every now and then I find myself reminded of just how much the world has changed. One such moment came for me on Saturday. I was up in Boston…”

– Read Carl Trueman’s witty but serious thoughts on living for Christ in a changing world – at Reformation21.

Related: When even Joel Osteen is Treated as a bigot – Justin Taylor.

The Devolution of Marriage

Posted on September 21, 2012 
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“Weddings and marriage have been in the news a lot recently. Same sex marriage and revising the wedding vows are not unrelated issues but reflect the community’s confusion about the nature of marriage and the place of weddings.

Over the last 30 years Anglican wedding services have evolved steadily away from the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. This change in theology and liturgy has undermined the minister’s ability to teach the faith and help couples to understand marriage. …”

– from Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen’s weekly column.

Forced adoptions apology

Posted on September 21, 2012 
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Media Statement from Archbishop Peter Jensen:

“As Archbishop of the Diocese of Sydney and President of ANGLICARE Sydney, I apologise and express our sincere regret for actions that have contributed to the past and ongoing distress of these mothers and their children.

In so doing, we reiterate the Diocesan apology issued through the NSW Standing Committee on Social Issues in 2000.

I unreservedly endorse the view that although policies and procedures were followed at the time, it is clear there were practices that caused emotional pain and long-term negative repercussions.

We are working to implement the recommendations made by the Senate Inquiry into Forced Adoptions. We are also currently putting into place a healing and restoration process with the women who are still experiencing emotional distress as a result of relinquishing their children.

On behalf of the Diocese, I would like express our sincere apology to mothers, fathers, children and other family members who suffered emotional pain or any kind of distress.

Dr Peter F Jensen

Archbishop of Sydney
21st September 2012.”

– Statement, with background, at SydneyAnglicans.net.

The Gospel of Jesus’ Wife? When sensationalism masquerades as scholarship

Posted on September 20, 2012 
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“The whole world changed on Tuesday. At least, that is what many would have us to believe. Smithsonian magazine, published by no less than the Smithsonian Institution, declared that the news released Tuesday was ‘apt to send jolts through the world of biblical scholarship–and beyond.’ Really? …”

– Albert Mohler at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary takes a look at the latest alleged sensation.

See also The Far Less Sensational Truth about Jesus’ ‘Wife’ – by Michael Kruger, Professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Garage Hymnal new EP launch

Posted on September 18, 2012 
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Garage Hymnal is launching their new EP, ‘Bird in a Winter Storm’ at 7:30 on Friday 9th November at St Barnabas’ Broadway.

Tickets available here.

‘XV: the Bible in 15’ — Bible overview app from Matthias Media

Posted on September 17, 2012 
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Matthias Media has released a free app for iOS 5.0 and later (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch) –

“XV helps you do two things: zoom out and see the magnificence of the ‘big picture’ of the Bible’s story, and then zoom in to focus on the life-changing detail.

So you’ll start with a zoomed-out introductory overview of the story of the Bible in 15 stages, from creation through to new creation. This will give you a framework for the next phase of the using the app: zooming in to study the detail of God’s word – understanding it better because of your new sense of how it fits into the big story.

It’s a whirlwind tour of the big breathtaking picture of creation, the fall and the history of God’s dealings with Israel, the promise of restoration, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and what is still to come—the whole story, with all its ups and downs, and with the certainty of God’s promise shining through. …”

– Read more and download link.

There are also ‘in app’ purchases, but the free module, 25 words in 25 days, nicely complements the Bible Society’s 25 Words campaign. Worth checking out.

Northwest Network, September 2012

Posted on September 15, 2012 
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Fuel for your prayers – Northwest Network (PDF) – from the Diocese of North West Australia.

Love and Subjugation

Posted on September 14, 2012 
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Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen draws out some implications of what he wrote last week:

“Sometimes people who live in a different culture only notice what is said when for them a politically incorrect word like ‘submission’ is uttered. Others have seen firsthand the horror of domestic violence and are rightly sensitised to anything that could contribute to such an awful abuse. …”

– Worth reading and passing around.

A book Packer thinks you should read three times

Posted on September 13, 2012 
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Justin Taylor at Between Two Worlds quotes J. I. Packer writing about Don Whitney’s Spiritual Disciples for the Christian Life –

“I can go on record as urging all Christians to read what Don Whitney has written; indeed, to read it three times over, with a month’s interval (certainly not less, and ideally, I think, not more) between each reading. This will not only make the book sink in, but will also give you a realistic picture of your seriousness, or lack of it, as Jesus’ disciple.

Your first reading will show you several particular things that you should start doing.

In your second and third readings (for each of which you should choose a date on the day you complete the previous reading) you shall find yourself reviewing what you have done and how you have fared in doing it. That will be very good for you, even if the discovery of it comes as a bit of a shock at first.”

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