Stay in Noah’s Ark — or get into the lifeboat?
Posted on November 15, 2013
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“I’ve just completed four years of training for ministry in the Church of England, and, God willing, have ahead of me many years of gospel ministry in the Anglican Church.
However, there seems to me to be more pressure than ever to doubt the integrity of that position. How can an evangelical who takes seriously his stewardship of revealed truth, ever with a good conscience take office in the Church of England? …”
– At The Church Society, Oak Hill graduate Matt Graham asks if it’s worth sticking with the Church of England. (PDF file.)
Related: Audio files of talks from the Junior Anglican Evangelical Conference.
What Bugged Me in Church
Posted on November 15, 2013
Filed under Australian dioceses Comments Off on What Bugged Me in Church
“Strange things happen in church but to see a cockroach cross the floor of the cathedral can distract attention from the sermon.
My first thoughts were to get up and squash the thing. But what if some bug loving attendee was offended by my callous heel? Where would be the reputation of the Bishop then?
I remained motionless, trying to get my attention back on the sermon but that jolly roach was bugging me. …”
– Bishop of Armidale Rick Lewers and the lesson from a cockroach.
Introducing Bishop Greg
Posted on November 15, 2013
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The Diocese of Newcastle website introduces recently-elected diocesan Bishop Greg Thompson to their readership.
Australian Christian Lobby welcomes defeat of NSW same-sex marriage bill
Posted on November 14, 2013
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“The Australian Christian Lobby welcomes the defeat of the NSW same-sex marriage bill 21 to 19 votes in the upper house today. ACL Managing Director Lyle Shelton said it was time for state parliaments to stop using parliamentary time to debate a federal issue. …” – Media release from the Australian Christian Lobby.
Free ESV Study Bible web app
Posted on November 14, 2013
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Crossway are giving away free access to the web version of The ESV Study Bible, in celebration of their 75th anniversary. It’s a companion module to their ESVBible.org.
Be sure to sign up before the end of November 2013 to get it free.
Rector bashed outside Sydney church (updated)
Posted on November 13, 2013
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“The Rector of Naremburn/Cammeray, Canon Rick Smith, is recovering after being bashed by a group of drunken youths at the weekend.
The incident happened at the front of the church building at 9.30 pm on Saturday night, after several youths had held up a pizza delivery boy and stolen pizzas. …”
– Russell Powell has the story at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Please pray for Rick and his family.
Update: Police media release, “Anglican minister assaulted – North Shore”, 13 November 2013.
Your spiritual appetite
Posted on November 13, 2013
Filed under Opinion, Theology Comments Off on Your spiritual appetite
“This day was the best that I have seen since I came to England.… After Dr. Twisse had begun with a brief prayer, Mr. Marshall prayed largely two hours, most divinely, confessing the sins of the members of the Assembly, in a wonderful, passionate, and prudent way. Afterwards, Mr. Arrowsmith preached an hour, then a psalm … Dr. Twisse closed with a short prayer and blessing.”
‘So wrote Robert Baillie, one of the Scots commissioners at the Westminster Assembly, about one of the best days he had in England.’
– Food for thought. Read the whole post by Jeremy Walker at Reformation21 for a challenge, and then, over at the Proc Trust, see Adrian Reynolds brief words.
(Image: University of Glasgow.)
Chapel Messages from the RTS
Posted on November 13, 2013
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Lots of helpful and encouraging Chapel Messages from the Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson (including the John Reed Miller lectures – speakers include Mark Dever, Steve Lawson, Kevin DeYoung).
Chris Edwards to be Bishop of North Sydney
Posted on November 12, 2013
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“The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, has announced that a church planter, with experience in Australia and overseas, is to be the next Bishop of North Sydney.
The Rev Chris Edwards was the founding minister of Holy Trinity Adelaide Hills, in South Australia, which grew more than tenfold under his leadership. He later led St Paul’s Anglican Church, Tervuren, Belgium and was chairman of its school. He is 52 years old.
Since returning to Australia, Mr Edwards has been the Mission Director of Anglican Retirement Villages, ARV, in Sydney.”
– Announcement via SydneyAnglicans.net.
And from Moore College:
Moore College graduate Rev Chris Edwards has been appointed the new Bishop of North Sydney. Moore’s Prinicipal Dr Mark Thompson moved the motion at last night’s Diocesan Standing Committee to confirm the Archbishop of Sydney’s appointment of Rev Edwards.
In his speech Dr Thompson remarked: “Many of us here might not know him — that’s true, he has spent 17 of the last 20 years outside of this diocese — but those of us who do will be confident that he will continue the good work done by Glenn in the northern region of our diocese.”
“He is a son of this diocese who understands us and will champion what we stand for. He values our heritage, loves our College, understands both our strengths and our weaknesses”
North West Australia could opt out of weddings
Posted on November 12, 2013
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“The Bishop of North West Australia has warned that if the state or federal governments legalize same-sex marriage, Anglican clergy in his diocese would no longer serve as marriage registrars.
The statement by the Rt. Rev. Gary Nelson follows the decision last month by the Australian Capital Territory to legalize same-sex marriage…”
– George Conger reports for The Church of England Newspaper.
Don’t go it alone!
Posted on November 11, 2013
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“It is no accident that so many of the commands given in the New Testament letters involve ‘one another’:
welcome one another; care for one another; bear with one another; forgive one another; submit to one another; admonish one another; exhort one another, and so on. Don’t judge one another, deprive one another, lie to one another, speak evil of one another, envy one another…etc, but do comfort one another, encourage one another, edify one another, and – above all – love one another.
The reason for all these injunctions is quite obvious: clearly, we need one another! …”
– William Philip at The Tron Church in Glasgow with a great reminder about the importance of church. (Photo: Russell Powell.)
At 95, Billy Graham’s ‘last’ message is the same as his first
Posted on November 8, 2013
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“Come to the Cross, by repentance and faith.” – Billy Graham’s Message.
29 minutes. Watch it and pass it on.
This is currently being shown across the United States in a national outreach as Bill turns 95.
Remembrance Day resources
Posted on November 8, 2013
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Remembrance Day is Monday November 11th.
The Defence Anglicans website has resources which may be useful for you.
Why we are contributing to Greenfields land
Posted on November 8, 2013
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Through the Sydney Synod, the Anglican churches of Sydney have resolved to work together to purchase land in ‘Greenfield’ areas.
If we don’t get in early, it will be too late to purchase land to build centres where Christ’s people can gather and be beacons of light in their new communities.
Dominic Steele at The Village Church Annandale has kindly shared this video he made for his own church. He speaks with Stuart Starr at Oran Park. It’s ideal to show in your church to help everyone get behind the vision.
Render unto Caesar or unto God? Government funding and the crisis of Conscience
Posted on November 8, 2013
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“There is truth in the claim that Sunrise Children’s Services, along with thousands of similar organizations and institutions, will have to face a hard choice: serve Caesar or serve God. This becomes inevitable once an entity becomes dependent on financial support from the government …”
– Albert Mohler writes about a local (to him) example of the crisis coming to many Christian organisations.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…