The Father-in-law I never knew: Alec Simpson

Posted on May 23, 2011 
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“His epitaph could have been, ‘his deeds follow him ’ (Rev 14:13). Fifty-five years later Alexander Simpson’s deeds do follow him, ‘embodied’ in the older Brazilian believers converted through him and the younger ones converted through them.

Alec was forty when he died 1950 in Uberaba in the interior of Brazil having come there as a missionary from Scotland with his wife Janet in the late thirties. …”

– Bishop Paul Barnett shares this story about a life not wasted.

The story of Harold Camping

Posted on May 22, 2011 
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Robert Godfrey, President of Westminster Seminary California writes:

“If you were to drive the freeways of southern California, you would see from time to time billboards proclaiming the Judgment Day on May 21, 2011 and declaring that the Bible guarantees it. To understand these signs we must know something of the history as well as the theology of Harold Camping.

I am in a somewhat distinctive position to write on this subject since I first met Camping in the late 1950s. I learned a great deal from him then, and so I find what follows a very sad story. I pray for him that the Lord will deliver him from the serious errors into which he has fallen.…”

He sketches out Harold Camping’s drift from orthodox Christianity in a series of five articles on the Westminster Seminary California website. (Reflection on this background may prove useful in conversations this week.)

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5. (h/t Todd Pruitt at 1517.)

Five thoughts on worship

Posted on May 21, 2011 
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“There is no shortage of good books (and bad!) on the theology of worship. The best is David Peterson’s Engaging with God: A Biblical Theology of Worship (IVP, 1992). Peterson’s book is not a practical how-to on worship planning, but rather an in-depth, exegetical look at the biblical understanding of worship.

Worship, according to Peterson, is first of all a whole life lived to the glory of God…”

– so writes Kevin DeYoung at the Gospel Coalition blog.

Engaging with God is available from Moore Books (who currently have a stock reduction sale).

Unity from division: A personal account of the crisis in The Episcopal Church

Posted on May 21, 2011 
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The School of Christian Studies at Robert Menzies College is hosting an evening talk and discussion with the Rev. David Sandifer on the current situation in the Anglican churches of the United States, entitled Unity from division: A personal account of the crisis in The Episcopal Church.

Tuesday, May 31st at 7:30pm, with a discussion chaired by Bishop Glenn Davies. Details from the SOCS website.

‘Judgment day’ coming for TEC Rectors

Posted on May 21, 2011 
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In his weekly column, Bishop David Anderson, President of the American Anglican Council, outlines likely consequences of a far-reaching change to the Episcopal Church’s disciplinary canon.

“In July of this year, less than six weeks from now, the changes to the disciplinary canon (Title IV) go into full force and effect, and revisionist bishops will be able to remove parish leaders on the flimsiest of charges. Likewise, if a bishop doesn’t fully go along with Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori’s agenda, she will be able to remove the bishop on the flimsiest of charges. It no longer is required that someone has done something to damage “the church,” only that they intend to do so, or that they might do so, as determined by the Presiding Bishop.”

Read more

‘Doomsdayers put faith in Apocalypse now redux’

Posted on May 20, 2011 
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“If you have seen the billboards while driving to work, then you will know tomorrow is Judgment Day – well, that’s according to US evangelical broadcaster Harold Camping. …

But Centre for Public Christianity director John Dickson is unfazed by Camping’s warning, saying he will be enjoying a glass of wine with his wife on Saturday, and preaching a sermon on Sunday morning. And though he is relaxed about his own fate, Dr Dickson is critical of such predictions because they can cause a crisis of faith for some Christians.…”

– Story at ABC News. (Image: Family Radio.)

The End is near?

Posted on May 20, 2011 
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High profile American preacher Harold Camping is predicting Judgment Day will begin this weekend. There’s bound to coverage in Australian media.

Earlier this week, Albert Mohler posted this reminder of what Jesus teaches about such predictions.

Unveiling Grace: Wonderful news for Mormons

Posted on May 20, 2011 
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“Eight individuals… devoted, faithful Mormons, with unshakable testimonies and a sincere love for the LDS Church… now say that they have found something greater. … What could possibly cause them to abandon what they had always held near and dear?”

– Take the time to watch this 54 minute video. It’s available online and on DVD from Sacred Groves. (h/t David Ould.)

Dr Garry Williams on William Tyndale

Posted on May 19, 2011 
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Dr Garry Williams, Director of the John Owen Centre at London Theological Seminary, recently spoke at Ballymoney Baptist Church in Northern Ireland. His topic: “The Life and Death of William Tyndale: Loving God’s Word”.

The 49 minute (14MB mp3 file) talk gives an excellent insight into Tyndale’s passion to see God’s Word translated into English. Most encouraging. (via Colin Adams at Unashamed Workman.)

United Church of Canada: ‘celebrating post-theism’

Posted on May 19, 2011 
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“The United Church of Canada, which was formed 86 years ago with the grand vision to bring Protestants together “in one glorious national church,” is undergoing one of the most precipitous slides in modern religious history.

In the midst of a breathtaking erosion in its membership, the church is undertaking what some call a great experiment to redefine itself through an intense engagement with the surrounding secular world; whether it be through advocating for the environment, fighting for the rights of homosexuals to marry or taking on the cause of the Palestinians, the church has attempted to blur the boundaries between religion and the broader society.…”

– Opinion-piece by Charles Lewis in the National Post of Canada.

(As the Anglican Essentials Canada blog points out, it makes the Anglican Church of Canada “look like a bastion of orthodoxy”. Example. Photo: UCC Moderator Mardi Tindal from her Easter message.)

Egyptian Church: update

Posted on May 18, 2011 
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Bishop of Tasmania, John Harrower, has links to the latest from Egypt at his blog. Food for prayer.

Anglicare promo video

Posted on May 18, 2011 
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Anglicare Sydney has releases a 4 minute promo video highlighting a range of ministries and the foundation for their work. See it at YouTube.

A prophetic word to the PCUSA

Posted on May 17, 2011 
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In 2010 an Orthodox Arch-priest from Belarus, Siarhei Hardun, spoke plainly to the PCUSA General Assembly as they debated gay marriage and ordination. Worth watching, even if the advice was not heeded.

Justin Taylor has the story and some useful links here.  (Related posts.)

‘Sydney and Anglican: A Fresh Look at Mission’

Posted on May 17, 2011 
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A Conference “organised by a small group of like-minded Sydney Anglicans” is set for for Friday June 17th, 2011, at St. Philip’s York Street.

Details here.

Scripture — God Speaks

Posted on May 13, 2011 
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The audio files of this year’s Clarus Conference, held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, have been made available by the organisers at Desert Springs Church.

G. K. Beale and Carl Trueman — both from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia — spoke on Scripture. (h/t Justin Taylor.)

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