Daily readings for Advent — free eBook from John Piper

Posted on November 27, 2012 
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“Advent is just around the corner. It starts the fourth Sunday before Christmas — this year, that’s December 2 — and is a season of preparation for Christmas Day.

The team here at Desiring God did a deep dive into our thirty-plus-year reservoir of sermons and articles, and selected brief devotional readings for each day of Advent. Our hope is that God would use these readings to deepen and sweeten your adoration of Jesus this Advent.”

– free eBook, Good News of Great Joy, from Desiring God. Worth checking out.

Dysfunction Everywhere

Posted on November 26, 2012 
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“So ECUSA, through its hopelessly conflicted Disciplinary Board for Bishops, blames the Bishop for the actions of the Diocese — even though he had no vote on them to begin with, and no Constitutional power to set aside the acts of the diocesan convention. …”

– AS Haley, The Anglican Curmudgeon, weighs in on the latest from The Episcopal Church of the USA. (Photo: ENS.)

‘Liberals in disguise’

Posted on November 25, 2012 
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“A lot of people seem to be confused after the decision by the Church of England’s General Synod not to approve the consecration of women as bishops. Let us begin by establishing the facts.”

– Gerald Bray gives is take on the background to, and the fallout from, the Women Bishops vote in the Church of England, at Anglican Ink.

Chappo Memorial Service video

Posted on November 24, 2012 
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While the Memorial Service for John Chapman has now concluded, you can see the recorded video stream here.

Thanks to Ken Sandell and Audio Advice for making this available.

Order of Service (PDF).

Update: Russell Powell has a report at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Anti-Santy Ranty — Christmas resource

Posted on November 24, 2012 
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Check out this 3 minute video from Christian book distributors 10ofthose.com in the UK. You can probably think of ways of using it evangelistically this Christmas.
(h/t Gary Ware.)

Did no-one ask or care?

Posted on November 23, 2012 
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After one Sydney diocese ordination candidate met with the Archbishop’s Examining Chaplains, John Chapman asked him, “Brother, did they ask you if you put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ? Did they ask you if you are a Christian?”

This video, from the UK’s Channel 4 demonstrates why that is an important question to ask.

More thanks from South Africa for Chappo

Posted on November 23, 2012 
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Frank Retief, past Presiding Bishop of the Church of England in South Africa, gives thanks for John Chapman –

“But above all his love for Christ and the saving Gospel was always paramount. His wisdom in sharing the Gospel was a gift. We in South Africa will miss him very much.”

These words of thanks were sent to Archbishop Peter Jensen –

“Dear Peter

I am sure you have received many tributes in regard to John Chapman. I know that Des Inglesby has written to you on behalf of CESA. But I felt that I would like to add mine anyway because of the impact Chappo had on us in South Africa.

I first met him with your brother Phillip at Amsterdam in 1983. I was very naïve at that time and knew no one from Australia. I got the impression that if I hung around with them long enough I would get into trouble sooner or later. They were mischievous and insightful and to me very bold. But that connection has been one of the great blessings of my life because amongst other things they were both indeed bold for the Gospel and their humour was real, pertinent and made them both very accessible.

Chappo visited us several times. He taught our men how to preach the Gospel positively, from the text; boldly and wisely. I personally, as have others, seen him weep in the pulpit unashamed of his emotions which I thought was a great model for all preachers.

He was humble, unassuming and generous to a fault. His eccentricities only made him more loved. Our eldest granddaughter, now nine, had her very first pair of baby bootees knitted for her by Chappo. He was a remarkable conversationalist and enjoyed human company. But above all his love for Christ and the saving Gospel was always paramount. His wisdom in sharing the Gospel was a gift. We in South Africa will miss him very much.

I don’t know what you will do with this letter. I simply wanted to express to someone how much he was appreciated from my personal point of view.

Warm Christian greetings

Frank.”

See also: Dick Lucas gives thanks for Chappo.

CESA gives thanks for Chappo

Posted on November 23, 2012 
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Thanks from CESA –

“He was a true brother and friend in Christ, yet at the same time a ‘father-like’ figure”

From Desmond Inglesby, Presiding Bishop of the Church of England in South Africa.

“The Church of England in South Africa pays tribute to John Chapman, affectionately known to us as “Chappo”. We considered him as a ‘great one’ and we are indebted to him for his numerous visits to South Africa.

He was a remarkable man with unique ministry gifts. As a Christian leader, a committed Bible teacher and a passionate evangelist, his ministry influenced us in many different ways. His books are very popular and widely used in our churches.

He was a true brother and friend in Christ, yet at the same time a ‘father-like’ figure, who faithfully taught us God’s word and inspired us to know, and to make Jesus Christ known. We give thanks to God for his life, influence and service to our denomination.

We echo the words of King David “a prince and a great man has fallen in Israel this day”. (2 Samuel 3:38 NIV84)”

‘A speech that sealed the vote’ in C of E General Synod

Posted on November 23, 2012 
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“It became clear… that many were not interested in such a fundamental debate but wished to initiate a process for the appointment of women bishops in the church as soon as possible. This process takes for granted secular assumptions about justice and equality rather than asking what the Bible means by such terms.”

– described by Anglican Mainstream as “A speech that sealed the vote”, Vicar of St Nicholas’ Sevenoaks, Angus Macleay sought to bring the issue back to the text of the Bible. Read his speech here.

Now keep calm and carry on

Posted on November 22, 2012 
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“The reaction of the British media to the result in the ‘women bishops vote’ (I hesitate to call it ‘bishopsgate’ for fear of offending William Taylor) is as predictable as the vote itself was surprising. The essence of most of the commentary I have read is: the church has voted for oppression of women and has made itself irrelevant…”

– Insightful comment from Carl Trueman at Reformation21.

The women bishops vote in the Church of England

Posted on November 21, 2012 
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Dr Mark Thompson writes on last night’s defeat of the Consecration and Ordination of Women Measure in the Church of England’s General Synod:

“If it had been passed, the dissenters would be excluded even further from the life of the Church of England over the next ten years and before long, as in many parts of The Episcopal Church, acceptance of women in the episcopate would be the litmus test for ordination.”

Full text below. Read more

Thanksgiving Service for Chappo set for next Saturday (updated)

Posted on November 21, 2012 
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News from Dr Philip Selden, Diocesan Registrar –

“There will be a public Thanksgiving Service for the life of John Chapman, who died on Friday 16th November.

The service, to be led by the Archbishop, will be held at 2:30pm on Saturday November 24th at St Andrew’s Cathedral. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.”

Update from the Cathedral:
“Dean Phillip Jensen will preach. There will be a collection at the service for the John Chapman Foundation, which raises money to recruit and train evangelists. Please give generously.”

Update from Russell Powell:
Video of the memorial service will be streamed live from 2:15pm on Saturday, thanks to Audio Advice.

Dick Lucas: Judgment, Salvation, the Living and the Dead

Posted on November 21, 2012 
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As we remember Chappo, we must not forget what drove him – and what should drive every Christian.

At The Proclamation Trust, Adrian Reynolds links to this video of Dick Lucas, recorded on November 11 in Dundee. Six minutes of your time well spent.

C of E General Synod: Women Bishops measure narrowly lost

Posted on November 21, 2012 
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“Following 12 years of legislative progress and several hours of debate during the 20 Nov 2012 afternoon session of synod, the Consecration and Ordination of Women Measure failed to pass in all three houses of the Church of England’s legislative body.” – Anglican Ink.

See also: Reform statement. Church of England. BBC. The Telegraph (1). The Telegraph (2).  Comment from Reformation21. EVNews. CEEC statement.

Also on ABC Radio’s The World Today. (Note that the while the transcript of ACL President Gavin Poole’s remarks says,

“I don’t think we should be surprised when those who halt the biblical teachings in the church appear out of step with the community.”

should be

“I don’t think we should be surprised when those who hold to the biblical teachings in the church appear out of step with the community.” It does change the meaning a little. ;-)

Dick Lucas gives thanks for Chappo

Posted on November 20, 2012 
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Wonderful words from Dick Lucas, past Rector of St. Helen’s Bishopsgate:

“…we join with friends in Sydney in blessing the Lord, who has now taken John away to be with Christ in glory, for giving him to us for so long, and for such grand purposes of grace.”

–
”Many at this time will wish to pay tribute to John Chapman, alias the unique and unforgettable ‘Chappo’. Allow me, as one such, to write very personally of a dear friend, a marvellously stimulating brother in Christ, a shrewd fellow worker and, of course, a superbly gifted evangelist and teacher. John knew his special calling, and, to his final days, was energetically gospelling and offering to all the possibility of a Fresh Start. This made his U.K. visits highly desired and valued.

Looking back, I recall another characteristic of Chappo – he was a great encourager of the brethren. I saw this in Australia at ministers’ meetings where John would always be present putting new heart and humour into everyone there. On one such occasion, when I was speaking, it was initially unsettling to have him lurking in the back row, making pungent and priceless comments sotto voce, causing a ripple of amusement to spread through the assembled company. With Chappo in attendance you had to be ready for anything, at any time!

As for his visits to this part of the world, when it was reported that Chapman was on the horizon, morale soared, and requests for his services poured in – this man was a tonic to have around. When in London Chappo often stayed with me. The day would begin with my calling him for breakfast, and delighting in the sound of his tread on the stairs, as he descended from his room on the top floor, humming, whistling, or otherwise making his happy noises, finally arriving, larger than life, full of cheerful talk, ready for the fray.

We commonly say of a person of note that we shall not see their like again. In John Chapman’s case I see this to be no less than the simple truth. As for his many friends in Britain, we join with friends in Sydney in blessing the Lord, who has now taken John away to be with Christ in glory, for giving him to us for so long, and for such grand purposes of grace.”

– Dick Lucas writes at the Proclamation Trust.

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