Supplied by a UK colleague:
#1 Andrew Wingfield
Digby on aligning with God; #2 In need or rejuvenation in your ministry?
veteran evangelist and director of Youth for Christ in Sri Lanka has some
ideas for renewal - does groaning help? #3 Archbishop Ben Kwashi on
forgiveness; #4 What happens when you Google NT Wright.
Prayers for you for the coming week.
SERMONS AND TALKS
1. Running the way of God's commandments - Andrew Wingfield Digby - St Andrew's
Oxford Audio [Ephesians 5:15-20 and John 6:51-58]
http://tinyurl.com/oevl4d6
2. The Secrets of Long-Term Freshness: A Grace Coloured Approach to Life and
Ministry - Ajith Fernando [veteran evangelist with Youth for Christ in Sri
Lanka] - FOCL video
http://tinyurl.com/ohrxtqm
Outline [pdf]
http://tinyurl.com/p7e9998
3. Unconditional love for our enemies - Archbishop Ben Kwashi
http://tinyurl.com/ptbzxty
More New Horizon talks
http://tinyurl.com/q7q33gw
4. Simply Good News - Bishop Tom Wright - Google Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEIjaHOcGFc
Commentary
5. Preaching Ideas and Commentary - Rev Peter Carrell
http://preachingdownunder.blogspot.co.nz/
6. The Sunday Readings - Rev Stephen Trott
https://laworgospel.wordpress.com/
WORSHIP
7. The bells of St. Vedast, Foster Lane in London - BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b067w16n
8. Choral Evensong Edington Priory during the Festival of Music within the
Liturgy - BBC Radio 3
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06709b6
9. Sunday Hour - BBC Radio 2
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0666tnc
10. Archived Choral services over the Summer from the chapels of King's College
Cambridge
http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/choir/webcasts.html
and St John's College, Cambridge
http://www.sjcchoir.co.uk/webcasts
and Trinity College, Cambridge
http://trinitycollegechoir.com//webcasts/listen-again/
and New College, Oxford
http://www.newcollegechoir.com/webcasts.html
PRAYER
Please pray for the persecuted church particularly in Syria, Iraq, Nigeria,
Egypt and China as well as for all displaced persons and refugees; and for the
Diocese of South Carolina.
11. Topical Prayers - Church of England
http://tinyurl.com/6wnk2pk
Syria and Iraq region: Update from FRMME
http://tinyurl.com/qgzlvkd
media summary for 27th August
http://tinyurl.com/o94wp7c
Nigeria: Muslim Herdsmen Attacks in Nigeria’s Middle Belt Show Jihadist Aims,
Sources Say - Morningstar News
http://tinyurl.com/npn3c2p
Egypt: Christian evangelist accused of ‘blasphemy’ - Release International
http://tinyurl.com/nqlyjsr
Ethiopia: Ethiopian Orthodox leaders jailed after protesting about persecution
- CSW
http://tinyurl.com/omkocnk
China: Nine arrested in crackdown against Christians as row about church
crosses continues - Antony Bushfield - Premier
http://tinyurl.com/ppvmwjn
South Carolina: The real story behind our split from the Episcopal Church
http://tinyurl.com/pus2x6t
more:
http://tinyurl.com/o38ly7h
Prayers from Lent and Beyond
http://tinyurl.com/kssn33y
CURRENT AFFAIRS
12. Sunday Programme with Edward Stourton - BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b067x8m4
Food for thought
13. The greatest challenge facing the UK Church- Steve Clifford - EA
http://tinyurl.com/qav5xds
What Kind of Faith Helped People Survive Hurricane Katrina? - Jamie Aten -
Christianity Today
http://tinyurl.com/nm5wtv3
Evangelism threatened by counter-extremism measures - EA
http://tinyurl.com/oa2lt3o
A Spiritual Battle - Major General Timothy Cross - EA
http://tinyurl.com/qgln8h2
Do we have a right to die? - Martyn Eden - Premier
http://tinyurl.com/ot438sh
Why the assisted dying bill ends human dignity, not suffering - EA
http://tinyurl.com/o2fawzc
Too Busy - Chuck Collins - CCPhoenix
http://tinyurl.com/pa42sgs
FINALLY
14. First Place - Worship Central NZ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQSHbP6IdlA
15. Iceland 4K - Eylenda Vimeo
https://vimeo.com/132602913
16. Overture: Helios - Carl Nielsen
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p030bwc6
More Proms here:
http://tinyurl.com/nwjac3
God bless you
Monday, August 31, 2015
Friday, August 28, 2015
Vote No?
Next week our Diocese goes to Synod. Other dioceses around this time will do likewise. On the books are some General Synod statutes for consideration. If passed in the Diocesan synods they will go back to GS in May 2016 for final ratification.
But at least one statute should not pass. Statute 711. And this post urges all voting synodpersons to carefully consider reasons for voting it down. Never to rise again!
Bosco Peters sets out the issues in a recent post.
It is quite fair and proper for our church from time to time to ask itself what 'authorised services' mean. It seems that for some time we have misunderstood what they mean and that, in part, is a confusion brought about by confusing current legislation.
An obvious remedy for confusing legislation is to revise or repeal the legislation. But Statute 711 goes further and revises our constitution itself.
Bosco Peters rightly warns that we should take the greatest of care when touching the constitution.
What is at stake?
(1) Whether we understand what we have already done as a church.
Already in the liturgical life of our church, we have all the flexibility we need with already authorised flexible formularies, to cope with all possible services which "would be consistent with Doctrine but not become a source of Doctrine themselves, non-controversial in nature, and follow the existing authorised liturgical Forms" (see below).
In other words, argument number one for voting down Statute 711: It is not needed.
We could go further and say that to vote for Statute 711 would be to continue to misunderstand what we have already agreed to as a church about the character of our authorised worship services.
(2) Whether we understand the relationship between authorised liturgies and common life.
The point of authorised liturgies is that they are agreed liturgies, liturgies that we have considered together in our common life (first in the Common Life Liturgical Commission, then in General Synod). In that common life we are guarded from hot-headed decisions, both by the constitution (and the 1928 Empowering Act) and by the twice round process of consideration (General Synod, local synods, General Synod again). We also talk to each other about the core of our life as a church, our worship services. In this way we build unity in the church. Ut unum sint.
Now, generally speaking, we have a long history of services occurring which are "consistent with Doctrine but not become a source of Doctrine themselves, non-controversial in nature, and follow the existing authorised liturgical Forms." We could think of Harvest Thanksgiving services, Blessing of Animals services, Christmas Pageant services, and so forth. No one has objected to those occasional services and no one - till now - have been greatly bothered to formalise them in respect of doctrine, let alone the constitution!
The difficulty is that once we start to formalise such possibilities, we open ourselves to potential doctrinal unevenness, undergirded by constitutional change.
Already - noting an addendum to Bosco Peters' post - a change to the constitution via 711 is understood as permitting Tikanga Maori going ahead with culturally appropriate rites and providing Te Reo forms of services in NZPB not yet authorised in Te Reo.
But this involves services such as Baptism and Ordinations which - in fact - would be, and should be sources of doctrine. Together we should - joyfully - approve these through our common life.
Putting it bluntly, do we want to be a church that says its Baptism service in English is a source of doctrine but its Baptism service in Maori is merely consistent with doctrine?
Is this not fostering division in our diverse church rather than holding unity and diversity in tension as one church?
In other words, argument number two for voting down Statute 711: It is a risk to our common life as one church.
But, as always, what do you think?
Sharpen my thinking ... seven days to go before the Christchurch synod.
To connect with my responses above to Statute 711, see these key (IMHO) paragraphs from two explanations given for changing the constitution via 711:
(from one) "This Constitutional provision would then provide the proper basis, which is at present lacking, for Title G Canon XIV and SLR3.
(from two) "If Statute 711 is passed (which involves the 'twice round' process), then a Canon could be enacted by General Synod to allow other liturgies to be authorised. The expectation, recorded in the notes to Statute 711, is that these would be consistent with Doctrine but not become a source of Doctrine themselves, non-controversial in nature, and follow the existing authorised liturgical Forms."
But at least one statute should not pass. Statute 711. And this post urges all voting synodpersons to carefully consider reasons for voting it down. Never to rise again!
Bosco Peters sets out the issues in a recent post.
It is quite fair and proper for our church from time to time to ask itself what 'authorised services' mean. It seems that for some time we have misunderstood what they mean and that, in part, is a confusion brought about by confusing current legislation.
An obvious remedy for confusing legislation is to revise or repeal the legislation. But Statute 711 goes further and revises our constitution itself.
Bosco Peters rightly warns that we should take the greatest of care when touching the constitution.
What is at stake?
(1) Whether we understand what we have already done as a church.
Already in the liturgical life of our church, we have all the flexibility we need with already authorised flexible formularies, to cope with all possible services which "would be consistent with Doctrine but not become a source of Doctrine themselves, non-controversial in nature, and follow the existing authorised liturgical Forms" (see below).
In other words, argument number one for voting down Statute 711: It is not needed.
We could go further and say that to vote for Statute 711 would be to continue to misunderstand what we have already agreed to as a church about the character of our authorised worship services.
(2) Whether we understand the relationship between authorised liturgies and common life.
The point of authorised liturgies is that they are agreed liturgies, liturgies that we have considered together in our common life (first in the Common Life Liturgical Commission, then in General Synod). In that common life we are guarded from hot-headed decisions, both by the constitution (and the 1928 Empowering Act) and by the twice round process of consideration (General Synod, local synods, General Synod again). We also talk to each other about the core of our life as a church, our worship services. In this way we build unity in the church. Ut unum sint.
Now, generally speaking, we have a long history of services occurring which are "consistent with Doctrine but not become a source of Doctrine themselves, non-controversial in nature, and follow the existing authorised liturgical Forms." We could think of Harvest Thanksgiving services, Blessing of Animals services, Christmas Pageant services, and so forth. No one has objected to those occasional services and no one - till now - have been greatly bothered to formalise them in respect of doctrine, let alone the constitution!
The difficulty is that once we start to formalise such possibilities, we open ourselves to potential doctrinal unevenness, undergirded by constitutional change.
Already - noting an addendum to Bosco Peters' post - a change to the constitution via 711 is understood as permitting Tikanga Maori going ahead with culturally appropriate rites and providing Te Reo forms of services in NZPB not yet authorised in Te Reo.
But this involves services such as Baptism and Ordinations which - in fact - would be, and should be sources of doctrine. Together we should - joyfully - approve these through our common life.
Putting it bluntly, do we want to be a church that says its Baptism service in English is a source of doctrine but its Baptism service in Maori is merely consistent with doctrine?
Is this not fostering division in our diverse church rather than holding unity and diversity in tension as one church?
In other words, argument number two for voting down Statute 711: It is a risk to our common life as one church.
But, as always, what do you think?
Sharpen my thinking ... seven days to go before the Christchurch synod.
To connect with my responses above to Statute 711, see these key (IMHO) paragraphs from two explanations given for changing the constitution via 711:
(from one) "This Constitutional provision would then provide the proper basis, which is at present lacking, for Title G Canon XIV and SLR3.
Title G Canon XIV could then be repealed and replaced with a new Canon which effectively authorises the kinds of activities referred to in the current Canon and SLR3. Services could be authorised by Bishops or whole Tikanga, but would have to be:
(a) Based on ‘A Form for Ordering a Service of the Word’ and/or ‘An Alternative Form for Ordering The Eucharist’ [being our existing framework for liturgical development]
(b) Not inconsistent with the teachings of the Formularies
(c) Are not themselves Formularies, unless expressly made so on using the 1928 Act procedure, and therefore do not form part of the Doctrine of the Church
(d) Will generally be suitable for occasional and non-controversial services in the life of the Church [the point is that this process is a liturgical process re the form of expression not a process for theological innovation as to content of that expression]
Aspects of these requirements are already found in Title G Canon XIV and SLR3. The 1928 Act has no relevance to such services (unless a formal proposal is adopted to make them a Formulary, which is a separate process).
Title G Canon XIV could then empower Bishops and whole Tikanga to authorise such liturgies, on that appropriately limited basis. They would then be Authorised Services for the purposes of Title D, but without confusion as to the Formularies, Doctrine and the 1928 Act."(from two) "If Statute 711 is passed (which involves the 'twice round' process), then a Canon could be enacted by General Synod to allow other liturgies to be authorised. The expectation, recorded in the notes to Statute 711, is that these would be consistent with Doctrine but not become a source of Doctrine themselves, non-controversial in nature, and follow the existing authorised liturgical Forms."
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Easter Trading Hours and what to do about them? PS Offside re Flag
Let's start with the Postscript: apparently I am offside with the whole of the Maori Anglican church on changing our flag! For my professed commitment to changing the flag, see here.
Easter Trading Hours in NZ: the debate about these has been resurrected.
(For o'seas readings: currently, with the exception of a couple of tourist areas, retail shops may not open on Good Friday or Easter Sunday. This includes garden nurseries and hardware stores, allegedly spoiling the holiday weekend for those wishing to garden or to build things in the garden. Regularly some of these stores flout the law, headlines, TV interviews spliced in with shots of people in church.)
What is a Kiwi Christian to do about these hours?
Obviously many if not all Kiwi Christians would prefer that there be no change to these hours.
First, that guarantees that many workers - not all, of course, because nurses still nurse and caregivers still care - have complete freedom to participate in services on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. This is especially important on Good Friday when some like to worship at 10 am, some at 12 noon and some at 3 pm.
Secondly, we have a keen sense that there are very few sacrosanct days for retail workers. I think I am right in saying that if these two days go, then we are left with ANZAC Day up till 1 pm and Christmas Day as the only days when shops are both guaranteed to shut and shops actually do shut rather than flout the trading laws. Is it too much for the business community to not trade on three and a half days of the year?
Yet we have to be realistic and see that the pressure to change the laws rises bit by bit and one day will not be resisted. Should we give way now? Should we - my preferred option - compromise now so there is something of a win-win?
My suggestion is that, analogously to ANZAC Day, we propose to the gummint that Good Friday and Easter Day are sacrosanct holidays until 1 pm. [UPDATED: A commenter below observes to me what I have missed, that change to Good Friday is not being considered at this time.]
I know that leaves those retail workers preferring to worship at 12 noon and/or 3 pm a bit on a limb (though rights for them to not work, without penalty, could be included in the change). But it does offer those who must buy a plant or a tin of paint a window of opportunity on both days.
What do you think?
I am asking about trading hours, not about your views on me and my infinitely flexible pragmatism :)
Easter Trading Hours in NZ: the debate about these has been resurrected.
(For o'seas readings: currently, with the exception of a couple of tourist areas, retail shops may not open on Good Friday or Easter Sunday. This includes garden nurseries and hardware stores, allegedly spoiling the holiday weekend for those wishing to garden or to build things in the garden. Regularly some of these stores flout the law, headlines, TV interviews spliced in with shots of people in church.)
What is a Kiwi Christian to do about these hours?
Obviously many if not all Kiwi Christians would prefer that there be no change to these hours.
First, that guarantees that many workers - not all, of course, because nurses still nurse and caregivers still care - have complete freedom to participate in services on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. This is especially important on Good Friday when some like to worship at 10 am, some at 12 noon and some at 3 pm.
Secondly, we have a keen sense that there are very few sacrosanct days for retail workers. I think I am right in saying that if these two days go, then we are left with ANZAC Day up till 1 pm and Christmas Day as the only days when shops are both guaranteed to shut and shops actually do shut rather than flout the trading laws. Is it too much for the business community to not trade on three and a half days of the year?
Yet we have to be realistic and see that the pressure to change the laws rises bit by bit and one day will not be resisted. Should we give way now? Should we - my preferred option - compromise now so there is something of a win-win?
My suggestion is that, analogously to ANZAC Day, we propose to the gummint that Good Friday and Easter Day are sacrosanct holidays until 1 pm. [UPDATED: A commenter below observes to me what I have missed, that change to Good Friday is not being considered at this time.]
What do you think?
I am asking about trading hours, not about your views on me and my infinitely flexible pragmatism :)
Monday, August 24, 2015
Spiritual and Sacred Links - Monday 24 August 2015
Supplied by a UK colleague:
#1 Moving sermon; #2 and 3 the psalms as prayer; #4 Vintage American [rather Baptist] preaching; #11 reports that the two South Sudanese pastors are home, but the Christians of Syria and its hinterland are in need of prayer.
Prayers too for you for the coming week.
SERMONS AND TALKS
1. Finding Grace on Highway 174 - Alfred TK Zadig Jr - St Michael's Charleston Audio (Ephesians 4:25-5:2 and John 6:35, 41-51)
http://tinyurl.com/bk8rlwk
2. The City of God [Psalm 87] - Andrew Wingfield Digby - St Andrew's Oxford
http://tinyurl.com/p6rnprc
3. Praying the Psalms, 5 talks - Cathedral Church of St Luke and St Paul Audio
http://tinyurl.com/ofjhhmv
4. Remember Jesus Christ - John Vernon McGee from 1970
http://tinyurl.com/q4ycyqb
Commentary
5. Preaching Ideas and Commentary - Rev Peter Carrell
http://preachingdownunder.blogspot.co.nz/
6. The Sunday Readings - Rev Stephen Trott
https://laworgospel.wordpress.com/
WORSHIP
7. The bells of Wells Cathedral - BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b066th2m
8. Sunday Hour - BBC Radio 2
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b064d7sz
9. Archived Choral services over the Summer from the chapels of King's College Cambridge
http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/choir/webcasts.html
and St John's College, Cambridge
http://www.sjcchoir.co.uk/webcasts
and Trinity College, Cambridge
http://trinitycollegechoir.com//webcasts/listen-again/
and New College, Oxford
http://www.newcollegechoir.com/webcasts.html
PRAYER
Please pray for the persecuted church particularly in Syria, Iraq, and Sudan as well as for all displaced persons and refugees; and for the Diocese of South Carolina.
10. Topical Prayers - Church of England
http://tinyurl.com/6wnk2pk
Syria/Iraq: 1,500-year-old Mar Elian monastery bulldozed by Islamic State in Qaryatain
http://tinyurl.com/pe8hg4t
more from Release International
http://tinyurl.com/pqfvyxf
Sudan: Freed Pastors Arrive Home from Sudan after Ordeal of False Charges, Travel Ban - Morning Star News
http://tinyurl.com/nnw7u4q
South Carolina: Prayers from Lent and Beyond
http://tinyurl.com/kssn33y
CURRENT AFFAIRS
11. Sunday Programme with Edward Stourton - BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b066th6s
FINALLY
12. The Quest - John Rutter - Choir of Jesus College Cambridge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neh3sXpJfKU
13. Patagonia - Martin Hech Vimeo
https://vimeo.com/134530201
God bless you
#1 Moving sermon; #2 and 3 the psalms as prayer; #4 Vintage American [rather Baptist] preaching; #11 reports that the two South Sudanese pastors are home, but the Christians of Syria and its hinterland are in need of prayer.
Prayers too for you for the coming week.
SERMONS AND TALKS
1. Finding Grace on Highway 174 - Alfred TK Zadig Jr - St Michael's Charleston Audio (Ephesians 4:25-5:2 and John 6:35, 41-51)
http://tinyurl.com/bk8rlwk
2. The City of God [Psalm 87] - Andrew Wingfield Digby - St Andrew's Oxford
http://tinyurl.com/p6rnprc
3. Praying the Psalms, 5 talks - Cathedral Church of St Luke and St Paul Audio
http://tinyurl.com/ofjhhmv
4. Remember Jesus Christ - John Vernon McGee from 1970
http://tinyurl.com/q4ycyqb
Commentary
5. Preaching Ideas and Commentary - Rev Peter Carrell
http://preachingdownunder.blogspot.co.nz/
6. The Sunday Readings - Rev Stephen Trott
https://laworgospel.wordpress.com/
WORSHIP
7. The bells of Wells Cathedral - BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b066th2m
8. Sunday Hour - BBC Radio 2
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b064d7sz
9. Archived Choral services over the Summer from the chapels of King's College Cambridge
http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/choir/webcasts.html
and St John's College, Cambridge
http://www.sjcchoir.co.uk/webcasts
and Trinity College, Cambridge
http://trinitycollegechoir.com//webcasts/listen-again/
and New College, Oxford
http://www.newcollegechoir.com/webcasts.html
PRAYER
Please pray for the persecuted church particularly in Syria, Iraq, and Sudan as well as for all displaced persons and refugees; and for the Diocese of South Carolina.
10. Topical Prayers - Church of England
http://tinyurl.com/6wnk2pk
Syria/Iraq: 1,500-year-old Mar Elian monastery bulldozed by Islamic State in Qaryatain
http://tinyurl.com/pe8hg4t
more from Release International
http://tinyurl.com/pqfvyxf
Sudan: Freed Pastors Arrive Home from Sudan after Ordeal of False Charges, Travel Ban - Morning Star News
http://tinyurl.com/nnw7u4q
South Carolina: Prayers from Lent and Beyond
http://tinyurl.com/kssn33y
CURRENT AFFAIRS
11. Sunday Programme with Edward Stourton - BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b066th6s
FINALLY
12. The Quest - John Rutter - Choir of Jesus College Cambridge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neh3sXpJfKU
13. Patagonia - Martin Hech Vimeo
https://vimeo.com/134530201
God bless you
Friday, August 21, 2015
The most remarkable man of the 20th century?
Bosco Peters has a lovely, thoughtful post on Brother Roger of Taize.
There are many things to ponder in this post (e.g. changing forms of service to connect with those bothering to turn up).
But the ut unum sint in me is particularly taken by these two comments:
But what is Christ-likeness if it is not being like Christ in reconciling conflicted humanity, in making peace between divided people and in breaking down barriers between separated men and women?
And was not, and is not still today, the great hallmark of Taize that it lives, breathes and prays ut unim sint, the precious prayer of Christ himself?
There are many things to ponder in this post (e.g. changing forms of service to connect with those bothering to turn up).
But the ut unum sint in me is particularly taken by these two comments:
"Brother Roger was deeply committed to the task of reconciliation – of having people of different viewpoints listen to one another respectfully and pray and work together without necessarily coming to agree with each other."
"This community of monks [at Taize] is made up of Roman Catholics, Protestants, Anglicans, and Eastern Orthodox – forming a parable of reconciliation."Here is a thought. For Christians 'person of the year' competitions and such like must be judged on likeness to Christ, not on (e.g.) power, wealth or good looks. If we were to ask who was the most Christ-like person of the 20th century, we would have more than a few competitors.
But what is Christ-likeness if it is not being like Christ in reconciling conflicted humanity, in making peace between divided people and in breaking down barriers between separated men and women?
And was not, and is not still today, the great hallmark of Taize that it lives, breathes and prays ut unim sint, the precious prayer of Christ himself?
Thursday, August 20, 2015
#ThingsJesusNeverSaid ... and something Jesus did say
There is a funny ha-ha (and funny=interesting, sorta) hashtag on Twitter: #ThingsJesusNeverSaid.
There are an infinite number of things Jesus 'never' said. Like, 'No, I am not telling you who will win the Rugby World Cup in 2015' and 'Change the NZ flag? How about changing your life first?'
So it is is easy to have fun with the hashtag and easy to make wham, bam, shame points like:
But theologically there are some things to ponder in a slower way than Tweets provide for.
Jesus never said anything, for instance, about interpreting his words and producing four different authoritative accounts of his teaching and activities. That means that what we have received as 'What Jesus said' has been already subject to a process of 'What did Jesus mean when he said?' and 'So, how will we express that meaning, not least in Greek, a language in which (arguably) he said nothing?'
But we should not run too far in that direction without acknowledging that whatever Jesus did say and whatever he 'never' said, those authoritative accounts give us plenty which we find hard to live by without worrying about #ThingsJesusNeverSaid.
Incidentally, yesterday one of the lectionary readings was Mark 5:35-43. In that reading, when we read the words 'Talitha cum' (41), I suggest we have an instance where the gospels record the actual words Jesus said and in the language he said them in. #ThingsJesusActuallySaid #AndYouCanBetYourHouseOnThat :)
There are an infinite number of things Jesus 'never' said. Like, 'No, I am not telling you who will win the Rugby World Cup in 2015' and 'Change the NZ flag? How about changing your life first?'
So it is is easy to have fun with the hashtag and easy to make wham, bam, shame points like:
#ThingsJesusNeverSaid Share out the bread and the fishes, but only among those people who are WORKING HARD AND DOING THE RIGHT THING
— Pam Smith ن (@revpamsmith) August 18, 2015
But theologically there are some things to ponder in a slower way than Tweets provide for.
Jesus never said anything, for instance, about interpreting his words and producing four different authoritative accounts of his teaching and activities. That means that what we have received as 'What Jesus said' has been already subject to a process of 'What did Jesus mean when he said?' and 'So, how will we express that meaning, not least in Greek, a language in which (arguably) he said nothing?'
But we should not run too far in that direction without acknowledging that whatever Jesus did say and whatever he 'never' said, those authoritative accounts give us plenty which we find hard to live by without worrying about #ThingsJesusNeverSaid.
Incidentally, yesterday one of the lectionary readings was Mark 5:35-43. In that reading, when we read the words 'Talitha cum' (41), I suggest we have an instance where the gospels record the actual words Jesus said and in the language he said them in. #ThingsJesusActuallySaid #AndYouCanBetYourHouseOnThat :)
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
The statistics do not lie, some Anglican churches will join the Dodo [Updated]
I am adding links at the end as further reflections come to hand ...
Sobering statistical projections here by Church Growth Modelling. (H/T a North American colleague).
I do not think that if we - by a miracle* - could gather together the relevant ACANZP stats we would be better than the CofE and likely we would lie between them and the Anglican churches in Wales, Scotland and the States. (*We have no annual stats for church attendance).
Of course stats such as those graphed in the article cannot tell us whether (say) there might be a levelling out to a self-sustaining lower-than-current attendance flatline graph. And they do not allow for revival.
But such stats raise significant and urgent questions.
Questions, for instance, about what it is that we are doing (and not doing) that contribute to decline and what it is that we are doing that contribute (in the midst of decline) to growth and thus to possible new strategies whole Anglican churches could embrace moving forward.
On the one hand I am optimistic about ways in which we can do better. For instance, striving relentlessly to preach the gospel in ways relevant to ever changing contexts. It can be done and there are churches that are doing this. Some of them are Anglican :)
On the other hand, I am worried. In Western society (at least) there is a materialism, a sense of optimism and a general good health which provides a comfortable and long-lasting equivalent to the kingdom of God. If salvation is about the whole person being well, then human life has never been better than it is in the West where a raft of human ailments have been overcome and an array of pleasant opportunities for a good life are accessible by a huge majority. Proclamation of the gospel to a satisfied society is hard, hard work.
But Church Growth Modelling goes on to analyse these Anglican situations in a subsequent post.
You can of course read that post for yourself and digest what it says. Spoiler: evangelical strength is important!
For me, here are two key sentences, as CGM suggests the CofE is in a better state than TEC, SEC, or the Welsh Anglicans:
For a much fuller analysis of the two posts, from a perspective honed by working within the CofE (but with interesting thoughts re other churches, including TEC), see Ian Paul's thoughts here.
Ian Paul adds further thoughts here.
Catholicity and covenant weighs in here.
Sobering statistical projections here by Church Growth Modelling. (H/T a North American colleague).
I do not think that if we - by a miracle* - could gather together the relevant ACANZP stats we would be better than the CofE and likely we would lie between them and the Anglican churches in Wales, Scotland and the States. (*We have no annual stats for church attendance).
Of course stats such as those graphed in the article cannot tell us whether (say) there might be a levelling out to a self-sustaining lower-than-current attendance flatline graph. And they do not allow for revival.
But such stats raise significant and urgent questions.
Questions, for instance, about what it is that we are doing (and not doing) that contribute to decline and what it is that we are doing that contribute (in the midst of decline) to growth and thus to possible new strategies whole Anglican churches could embrace moving forward.
On the one hand I am optimistic about ways in which we can do better. For instance, striving relentlessly to preach the gospel in ways relevant to ever changing contexts. It can be done and there are churches that are doing this. Some of them are Anglican :)
On the other hand, I am worried. In Western society (at least) there is a materialism, a sense of optimism and a general good health which provides a comfortable and long-lasting equivalent to the kingdom of God. If salvation is about the whole person being well, then human life has never been better than it is in the West where a raft of human ailments have been overcome and an array of pleasant opportunities for a good life are accessible by a huge majority. Proclamation of the gospel to a satisfied society is hard, hard work.
But Church Growth Modelling goes on to analyse these Anglican situations in a subsequent post.
You can of course read that post for yourself and digest what it says. Spoiler: evangelical strength is important!
For me, here are two key sentences, as CGM suggests the CofE is in a better state than TEC, SEC, or the Welsh Anglicans:
"When congregations ask for my advice on why they decline I first ask them what they believe, not what they do. Actions follow from beliefs. Perhaps the Church of England has, on average, stronger beliefs than the other three; beliefs that encourage growth."
For a much fuller analysis of the two posts, from a perspective honed by working within the CofE (but with interesting thoughts re other churches, including TEC), see Ian Paul's thoughts here.
Ian Paul adds further thoughts here.
Catholicity and covenant weighs in here.
Monday, August 17, 2015
Spiritual and Sacred Links for Monday 17th August 2015
Supplied by a UK colleague:
#1 Bishop Rennis Ponniah on why Christians should get involved with national life; #2 Anthony Billington on whether we should be ambitious; #3 Moore College on rediscovering our reformed roots in grace, faith, scripture, Christ etc; #7 Terry Waite preaches marking VJ day at Lichfield Cathedral; #8 Choral evensong from Cheltenham College Chapel; #11 please pray for the Sudanese pastors partly freed, but not to travel; #13 Aiding persecutors and it is becoming apparent that survivors of Ebola are not at the end of their troubles; #16 but some are taking things into their own hands.
Prayers for you for the coming week.
SERMONS AND TALKS
1. Our national life matters to God - Bishop Rennis Ponniah - St Andrew's Singapore Audio [Isaiah 6:1-8]
http://tinyurl.com/osk6dyl
2. Ambition and the Kingdom of God - Anthony Billington - LICC Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xraTkbOSVIw
3. Recovering the Reformation: Grace, Faith, Scripture, Christ and the Glory of God Alone - Professor Kevin Vanhoozer - 38th Annual Moore College Lecture series Audio
http://tinyurl.com/pdway2u
and video
http://tinyurl.com/pjryssh
Commentary
4. Preaching Ideas and Commentary - Rev Peter Carrell
http://preachingdownunder.blogspot.co.nz/
5. The Sunday Readings - Rev Stephen Trott
https://laworgospel.wordpress.com/
WORSHIP
6. The bells of Westminster Abbey - BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b065rv5j
7. Sunday Worship from Lichfield Cathedral marking the 70th anniversary of VJ day, the preacher is Terry Waite - BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b065rv5z
8. Choral Evensong from Cheltenham College Chapel with the Eton Choral Course choir - BBC Radio 3
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b064y420
9. Sunday Hour - BBC Radio 2
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0640wl4
10. Archived Choral services over the Summer from the chapels of King's College Cambridge
http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/choir/webcasts.html
and St John's College, Cambridge
http://www.sjcchoir.co.uk/webcasts
and Trinity College, Cambridge
http://trinitycollegechoir.com//webcasts/listen-again/
and New College, Oxford
http://www.newcollegechoir.com/webcasts.html
PRAYER
Please pray for Rev Yat Michael and Rev Peter Reith still being prevented from travelling; for the persecuted church in Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Indonesia; and for the Diocese of South Carolina.
11. Topical Prayers - Church of England
http://tinyurl.com/6wnk2pk
Sudan: Appeal against Sudanese pastors travel ban fails - CSW
http://tinyurl.com/o8ly27z
Three Christian women fined for indecent dress - CSW
http://tinyurl.com/q6m7tnw
Egypt: Egypt court reconsiders Christian's blasphemy conviction - WWM
http://tinyurl.com/oyc6g3j
Indonesia: Indonesia: Religious riot in Papua prompts church attacks elsewhere - WWM
http://tinyurl.com/oypf5ay
South Carolina: Upcoming hearing
http://tinyurl.com/pahxot8
Prayers from Lent and Beyond
http://tinyurl.com/kssn33y
CURRENT AFFAIRS
12. Sunday Programme with Edward Stourton - BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b065rv5v
Food for thought
13. UK's £2.7bn in aid to countries where Christians are persecuted - John Bingham
http://tinyurl.com/pgk5qxl
Sierra Leone Ebola village quarantine lifted - BBC
http://tinyurl.com/onu7ucj
Ebola survivors clinic opens in Monrovia - WHO
http://tinyurl.com/ovhctbl
Lamentations: A Bottle for the Tears of the World - Christianity Today
http://tinyurl.com/q8nn3eg
Joy in suffering? Seriously? Yes, seriously - St Helen's
http://tinyurl.com/nkfbcma
Trustworthiness of Clergy and Other News - BRIN
http://tinyurl.com/pz6cmyt
Summer Sun: A little taste of heaven - St Helen's
http://tinyurl.com/qa6atr5
FINALLY
14. Ave maris stella - James MacMillan - Truro Cathedral Choir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZiZqlrhHd0
15. Simplicity - Rend Collective
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKp8lpOq2ko
16. Erison and the Ebola Soccer Survivors - NYT vimeo
https://vimeo.com/134620182
#1 Bishop Rennis Ponniah on why Christians should get involved with national life; #2 Anthony Billington on whether we should be ambitious; #3 Moore College on rediscovering our reformed roots in grace, faith, scripture, Christ etc; #7 Terry Waite preaches marking VJ day at Lichfield Cathedral; #8 Choral evensong from Cheltenham College Chapel; #11 please pray for the Sudanese pastors partly freed, but not to travel; #13 Aiding persecutors and it is becoming apparent that survivors of Ebola are not at the end of their troubles; #16 but some are taking things into their own hands.
Prayers for you for the coming week.
SERMONS AND TALKS
1. Our national life matters to God - Bishop Rennis Ponniah - St Andrew's Singapore Audio [Isaiah 6:1-8]
http://tinyurl.com/osk6dyl
2. Ambition and the Kingdom of God - Anthony Billington - LICC Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xraTkbOSVIw
3. Recovering the Reformation: Grace, Faith, Scripture, Christ and the Glory of God Alone - Professor Kevin Vanhoozer - 38th Annual Moore College Lecture series Audio
http://tinyurl.com/pdway2u
and video
http://tinyurl.com/pjryssh
Commentary
4. Preaching Ideas and Commentary - Rev Peter Carrell
http://preachingdownunder.blogspot.co.nz/
5. The Sunday Readings - Rev Stephen Trott
https://laworgospel.wordpress.com/
WORSHIP
6. The bells of Westminster Abbey - BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b065rv5j
7. Sunday Worship from Lichfield Cathedral marking the 70th anniversary of VJ day, the preacher is Terry Waite - BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b065rv5z
8. Choral Evensong from Cheltenham College Chapel with the Eton Choral Course choir - BBC Radio 3
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b064y420
9. Sunday Hour - BBC Radio 2
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0640wl4
10. Archived Choral services over the Summer from the chapels of King's College Cambridge
http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/choir/webcasts.html
and St John's College, Cambridge
http://www.sjcchoir.co.uk/webcasts
and Trinity College, Cambridge
http://trinitycollegechoir.com//webcasts/listen-again/
and New College, Oxford
http://www.newcollegechoir.com/webcasts.html
PRAYER
Please pray for Rev Yat Michael and Rev Peter Reith still being prevented from travelling; for the persecuted church in Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Indonesia; and for the Diocese of South Carolina.
11. Topical Prayers - Church of England
http://tinyurl.com/6wnk2pk
Sudan: Appeal against Sudanese pastors travel ban fails - CSW
http://tinyurl.com/o8ly27z
Three Christian women fined for indecent dress - CSW
http://tinyurl.com/q6m7tnw
Egypt: Egypt court reconsiders Christian's blasphemy conviction - WWM
http://tinyurl.com/oyc6g3j
Indonesia: Indonesia: Religious riot in Papua prompts church attacks elsewhere - WWM
http://tinyurl.com/oypf5ay
South Carolina: Upcoming hearing
http://tinyurl.com/pahxot8
Prayers from Lent and Beyond
http://tinyurl.com/kssn33y
CURRENT AFFAIRS
12. Sunday Programme with Edward Stourton - BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b065rv5v
Food for thought
13. UK's £2.7bn in aid to countries where Christians are persecuted - John Bingham
http://tinyurl.com/pgk5qxl
Sierra Leone Ebola village quarantine lifted - BBC
http://tinyurl.com/onu7ucj
Ebola survivors clinic opens in Monrovia - WHO
http://tinyurl.com/ovhctbl
Lamentations: A Bottle for the Tears of the World - Christianity Today
http://tinyurl.com/q8nn3eg
Joy in suffering? Seriously? Yes, seriously - St Helen's
http://tinyurl.com/nkfbcma
Trustworthiness of Clergy and Other News - BRIN
http://tinyurl.com/pz6cmyt
Summer Sun: A little taste of heaven - St Helen's
http://tinyurl.com/qa6atr5
FINALLY
14. Ave maris stella - James MacMillan - Truro Cathedral Choir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZiZqlrhHd0
15. Simplicity - Rend Collective
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKp8lpOq2ko
16. Erison and the Ebola Soccer Survivors - NYT vimeo
https://vimeo.com/134620182
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest blogger of them all?
I am not talking about the colour of my hair when I put up myself in a purely narcissistic way for some kind of award as the fairest blogger of them all!
But recently I have been arguing with a commenter here that a change of our flag does not require some momentous event to justify the momentum for change.
Today I notice that one of our smartest media columnists, Rodney Hide, is pretty much arguing against me.
I think he is wrong.
But in the spirit of being the fairest blogger etc, I offer you the link!
But recently I have been arguing with a commenter here that a change of our flag does not require some momentous event to justify the momentum for change.
Today I notice that one of our smartest media columnists, Rodney Hide, is pretty much arguing against me.
I think he is wrong.
But in the spirit of being the fairest blogger etc, I offer you the link!
Saturday, August 15, 2015
There's still money in good news books!
Last weekend I hinted at this week being even more interesting than the interesting week I had just had. In some ways, personally speaking, it has been as I have had opportunity to have interesting conversations with interesting people, none of which should appear here because no one was being interviewed in those conversations for this blog. There is one point of wider interest I did have in mind which could be discussed, but why don't I save that till next week?
This morning's Press is very interesting because it carries a full page interview with Ron Hay, well-known local vicar (until recently) and now award-winning published author. (Page C6)
Last night Ron won a $10,000 Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Mind Body Spirit Literary Award for his book Finding the Forgotten God.
The superb interview of Ron by Philip Matthews is also carried on Stuff today. It is a great book and absolutely ought to be on the shelves of every Kiwi Christian (available for lending to non-Christian friends and family) because any other book of this kind is 99.9% likely to have come out of another country and culture.
Congratulations Ron!
This morning's Press is very interesting because it carries a full page interview with Ron Hay, well-known local vicar (until recently) and now award-winning published author. (Page C6)
Last night Ron won a $10,000 Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Mind Body Spirit Literary Award for his book Finding the Forgotten God.
The superb interview of Ron by Philip Matthews is also carried on Stuff today. It is a great book and absolutely ought to be on the shelves of every Kiwi Christian (available for lending to non-Christian friends and family) because any other book of this kind is 99.9% likely to have come out of another country and culture.
Congratulations Ron!
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Is Jesus in Calais today?
Archbishop Cranmer has an exceptional post here. It comes in the midst of controversy in England over a Songs of Praise broadcast from the cardboard church in Calais.
Here's a brief excerpt:
"“The Lord is here,” intones the vicar at thousands of services of Holy Communion week after week. Except He’s not: His Spirit might be brooding in the chocolate-box parishes of England, but the Lord is actually in Calais; walking the streets with the homeless, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, comforting the destitute and dying.
Here's a brief excerpt:
"“The Lord is here,” intones the vicar at thousands of services of Holy Communion week after week. Except He’s not: His Spirit might be brooding in the chocolate-box parishes of England, but the Lord is actually in Calais; walking the streets with the homeless, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, comforting the destitute and dying.
If the Lord were to visit the Vatican, He’d tear down the papal portraits and smash the marble statues, barking something about idols and dens of thieves. If He were to enter Westminster Abbey, He’d refuse point blank to pay a £20.00 admission fee, daring to remonstrate with the Dean about the righteousness of royal peculiars and the hollowness of the dead curating the dead. He’d attend no banquet at Lambeth Palace, nor feast on a state dinner at Windsor Castle. He’d decline invitations from princes to chat about the need for benevolence; and from prime ministers to pore over political policy.
He’d prefer instead ..."
PS On the other hand, if you are not moved by Jesus being in Calais, then I have some exciting Anglican liturgical news for you.
PS On the other hand, if you are not moved by Jesus being in Calais, then I have some exciting Anglican liturgical news for you.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Flagging an Off Topic Subject for Debate
This is not a blog devoted to NZ and its many glories (and few ignominies - don't mention Saturday night's alarming rugby loss) but there is a very odd debate occurring in NZ at the moment which sometimes feels like it is me and the PM against everyone else.
That debate is over changing out flag, which the NZ Herald reports on here. I think our flag should be changed because it includes the Union Jack which is a throwback to when we were once a colony then a dominion and generally a 'Where Britain goes, we go' nation. Those days are long gone and we should have a flag which reflects our independence as a South Pacific nation. (I go further, we should ditch the monarchy the day after the present monarch abdicates or is buried).
Hence my 150% support for our PM John Key taking the initiative in a scheme which will see us referendumise on the matter of changing the flag, and if we change, which flag we change to.
But the naysayers are grizzling over spending $26m on the exercise saying it would be spent better on school lunches. Er, say what? When $26m is spent on those lunches there will be more lunches to buy. Once we have a new flag we have the new flag for ever, or at least for a long time.
Other naysayers are saying that our soldiers fought and died under the present flag and some kind of dishonouring of their sacrifice will occur if we change the flag. Er, say what? Did 'our boys' fight for our flag? I think not. They fought for freedom, democracy and justice. They fought with Allies of many nations and many flags, not for the freedom to fly our flag in a foreign desert.
Now for sometime I have carried on the right hand side of the blog my preferred design for a new flag.
Needless to say I am thrilled to find that in an unscientific poll conducted by the Herald, that design is one of the top two preferred designs ...
Both designs have a lot going for them.
Continuity with the present flag through the retention of the Southern Cross.
Inclusion of the treasured national emblem, the silver fern, already present on many sports uniforms.
Red in the top design is also a continuity feature with the present flag.
Black in the bottom design is a nod to the colour which features in most of our sports uniforms.
Meantime, more pressing matters consume us ... the All Blacks have a shot at the theology of REDEMPTION on Saturday night with a return match against Australia. But they will need a theology of Self-Examination and Penitence if they are to learn from their errors on Saturday night past.
That debate is over changing out flag, which the NZ Herald reports on here. I think our flag should be changed because it includes the Union Jack which is a throwback to when we were once a colony then a dominion and generally a 'Where Britain goes, we go' nation. Those days are long gone and we should have a flag which reflects our independence as a South Pacific nation. (I go further, we should ditch the monarchy the day after the present monarch abdicates or is buried).
Hence my 150% support for our PM John Key taking the initiative in a scheme which will see us referendumise on the matter of changing the flag, and if we change, which flag we change to.
But the naysayers are grizzling over spending $26m on the exercise saying it would be spent better on school lunches. Er, say what? When $26m is spent on those lunches there will be more lunches to buy. Once we have a new flag we have the new flag for ever, or at least for a long time.
Other naysayers are saying that our soldiers fought and died under the present flag and some kind of dishonouring of their sacrifice will occur if we change the flag. Er, say what? Did 'our boys' fight for our flag? I think not. They fought for freedom, democracy and justice. They fought with Allies of many nations and many flags, not for the freedom to fly our flag in a foreign desert.
Now for sometime I have carried on the right hand side of the blog my preferred design for a new flag.
Needless to say I am thrilled to find that in an unscientific poll conducted by the Herald, that design is one of the top two preferred designs ...
Continuity with the present flag through the retention of the Southern Cross.
Inclusion of the treasured national emblem, the silver fern, already present on many sports uniforms.
Red in the top design is also a continuity feature with the present flag.
Black in the bottom design is a nod to the colour which features in most of our sports uniforms.
Meantime, more pressing matters consume us ... the All Blacks have a shot at the theology of REDEMPTION on Saturday night with a return match against Australia. But they will need a theology of Self-Examination and Penitence if they are to learn from their errors on Saturday night past.
Monday, August 10, 2015
Mary, Malaria, MacDonald, Migrants, Sacred and Spiritual Links - Monday 10th August 2015
A superbly thoughtful Protestant reflection on Mary in the context of Coptic Orthodoxy is here. Spoiler Alert: your prayer life might never be the same again after reading this!
Tessa and Nick in Uganda alert us to the continuing terribleness of virulent malaria.
George MacDonald is a name not much heard of these days, but you can read up on him here. He had a profound (and anti-Calvinist) understanding of the love of God.
Migrants are all the news, especially in Britain where a recent Songs of Praise spot from the tent church in Calais has been controversial. But what does the Vatican say about migrants? Here.
The following links have been supplied by a UK colleague:
#1 and #2 Vaughan Roberts has been preaching on challenges to ministry at Moore College; #3 more talks are available from Clayton TV and the Keswick Ministries site; #4 and #5 Peter Carrell and Stephen Trott give their thoughts on the Sunday Scripture readings; #6 and #7 transfiguration bells and music from the North and the South; #10 Thankfully the South Sudanese pastors have been released after a more minor conviction but it what looks like a pattern from prior cases, they are now being prevented from leaving the country. Please pray for their safety and freedom along with other persecuted Christians.
Prayers for you for the coming week.
SERMONS AND TALKS
1. Paul and Silas at Philippi [Acts 16:6-34] - Vaughan Roberts - Moore Theological College Chapel Audio
http://tinyurl.com/p3tr7d9
2. Interview and Q&A with Vaughan Roberts about coming to faith and ministry at Moore on Vimeo
https://vimeo.com/135638912
3. More Talks from the Keswick Convention 2015 - Clayton TV [see listing on left for the Keswick Lectures from Ian Randall, Mark Greene and Michael Ramsden]
http://tinyurl.com/pqa7db5
and there are more talks from the 2015 convention to download here
http://tinyurl.com/nwlqzk5
Commentary
4. Preaching Ideas and Commentary - Rev Peter Carrell
http://preachingdownunder.blogspot.co.nz/
5. The Sunday Readings - Rev Stephen Trott
https://laworgospel.wordpress.com/
WORSHIP
6. The bells of the monastery of the Transfiguration, on the Solovki Islands in Northern Russia - BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b064x4x0
7. Choral Evensong from Southern Cathedrals Festival in Salisbury Cathedral and sung by the choirs of Chichester, Salisbury and Winchester Cathedrals - BBC Radio 3
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0640ltc
8. Sunday Hour - BBC Radio 2
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b063rb0y
9. Archived Choral services over the Summer from the chapels of King's College Cambridge
http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/choir/webcasts.html
and St John's College, Cambridge
http://www.sjcchoir.co.uk/webcasts
and Trinity College, Cambridge
http://trinitycollegechoir.com//webcasts/listen-again/
and New College, Oxford
http://www.newcollegechoir.com/webcasts.html
PRAYER
Please pray for Rev Yat Michael and Rev Peter Reith released from threat of death in Sudan at a hearing on 5th August but being stopped from travelling, much as happened in the case of Meriam Ibrahim; for the persecuted church in Syria and Iraq, in China; and for the Diocese of South Carolina.
10. Topical Prayers - Church of England
http://tinyurl.com/6wnk2pk
Syria: Dozens of Assyrian Christians Kidnapped or Detained By ISIS - Christianity Today
http://tinyurl.com/pfwjj4v
Sudan: 'I'm Born Again': Sudan Frees Pastors Facing Death Penalty - Christianity Today
http://tinyurl.com/qyssqbp
Khartoum bans South Sudanese pastors from leaving - Sudan Tribune
http://tinyurl.com/nqxa2nt
All Souls Langham Place has some suggestions
http://tinyurl.com/pvzvwdr
China: China Sees Red: Christian Protest Puts Hundreds of Crosses Back in Public - Christianity Today
http://tinyurl.com/o2h6bxl
South Carolina:Prayers from Lent and Beyond
http://tinyurl.com/kssn33y
CURRENT AFFAIRS
11. Sunday Programme with Edward Stourton - BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b064x6w2
Food for thought
12. Suez Canal New Project …A New Hope for Egypt - Bishop Mouneer Anis
http://tinyurl.com/q433ml2
Gates to Goliath's city discovered - Christian Today
http://tinyurl.com/oyshffd
Religion and law round-up – 9th August - Frank Cranmer
http://tinyurl.com/pnsp8gk
They Didn't Think It Through No 19, Sunday Trading - David Keen
http://tinyurl.com/puwvlgm
Church spires in danger from corrosion, rotten timber and … woodpeckers - Guardian
http://tinyurl.com/o7o83la
FINALLY
13. Evangelism - Mark Ritchie - Soul Survivor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO4KD3r33Zo
14. The Transfiguration - Sufjan Stevens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JsaE2yZ1Rs
Tessa and Nick in Uganda alert us to the continuing terribleness of virulent malaria.
George MacDonald is a name not much heard of these days, but you can read up on him here. He had a profound (and anti-Calvinist) understanding of the love of God.
Migrants are all the news, especially in Britain where a recent Songs of Praise spot from the tent church in Calais has been controversial. But what does the Vatican say about migrants? Here.
The following links have been supplied by a UK colleague:
#1 and #2 Vaughan Roberts has been preaching on challenges to ministry at Moore College; #3 more talks are available from Clayton TV and the Keswick Ministries site; #4 and #5 Peter Carrell and Stephen Trott give their thoughts on the Sunday Scripture readings; #6 and #7 transfiguration bells and music from the North and the South; #10 Thankfully the South Sudanese pastors have been released after a more minor conviction but it what looks like a pattern from prior cases, they are now being prevented from leaving the country. Please pray for their safety and freedom along with other persecuted Christians.
Prayers for you for the coming week.
SERMONS AND TALKS
1. Paul and Silas at Philippi [Acts 16:6-34] - Vaughan Roberts - Moore Theological College Chapel Audio
http://tinyurl.com/p3tr7d9
2. Interview and Q&A with Vaughan Roberts about coming to faith and ministry at Moore on Vimeo
https://vimeo.com/135638912
3. More Talks from the Keswick Convention 2015 - Clayton TV [see listing on left for the Keswick Lectures from Ian Randall, Mark Greene and Michael Ramsden]
http://tinyurl.com/pqa7db5
and there are more talks from the 2015 convention to download here
http://tinyurl.com/nwlqzk5
Commentary
4. Preaching Ideas and Commentary - Rev Peter Carrell
http://preachingdownunder.blogspot.co.nz/
5. The Sunday Readings - Rev Stephen Trott
https://laworgospel.wordpress.com/
WORSHIP
6. The bells of the monastery of the Transfiguration, on the Solovki Islands in Northern Russia - BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b064x4x0
7. Choral Evensong from Southern Cathedrals Festival in Salisbury Cathedral and sung by the choirs of Chichester, Salisbury and Winchester Cathedrals - BBC Radio 3
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0640ltc
8. Sunday Hour - BBC Radio 2
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b063rb0y
9. Archived Choral services over the Summer from the chapels of King's College Cambridge
http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/choir/webcasts.html
and St John's College, Cambridge
http://www.sjcchoir.co.uk/webcasts
and Trinity College, Cambridge
http://trinitycollegechoir.com//webcasts/listen-again/
and New College, Oxford
http://www.newcollegechoir.com/webcasts.html
PRAYER
Please pray for Rev Yat Michael and Rev Peter Reith released from threat of death in Sudan at a hearing on 5th August but being stopped from travelling, much as happened in the case of Meriam Ibrahim; for the persecuted church in Syria and Iraq, in China; and for the Diocese of South Carolina.
10. Topical Prayers - Church of England
http://tinyurl.com/6wnk2pk
Syria: Dozens of Assyrian Christians Kidnapped or Detained By ISIS - Christianity Today
http://tinyurl.com/pfwjj4v
Sudan: 'I'm Born Again': Sudan Frees Pastors Facing Death Penalty - Christianity Today
http://tinyurl.com/qyssqbp
Khartoum bans South Sudanese pastors from leaving - Sudan Tribune
http://tinyurl.com/nqxa2nt
All Souls Langham Place has some suggestions
http://tinyurl.com/pvzvwdr
China: China Sees Red: Christian Protest Puts Hundreds of Crosses Back in Public - Christianity Today
http://tinyurl.com/o2h6bxl
South Carolina:Prayers from Lent and Beyond
http://tinyurl.com/kssn33y
CURRENT AFFAIRS
11. Sunday Programme with Edward Stourton - BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b064x6w2
Food for thought
12. Suez Canal New Project …A New Hope for Egypt - Bishop Mouneer Anis
http://tinyurl.com/q433ml2
Gates to Goliath's city discovered - Christian Today
http://tinyurl.com/oyshffd
Religion and law round-up – 9th August - Frank Cranmer
http://tinyurl.com/pnsp8gk
They Didn't Think It Through No 19, Sunday Trading - David Keen
http://tinyurl.com/puwvlgm
Church spires in danger from corrosion, rotten timber and … woodpeckers - Guardian
http://tinyurl.com/o7o83la
FINALLY
13. Evangelism - Mark Ritchie - Soul Survivor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO4KD3r33Zo
14. The Transfiguration - Sufjan Stevens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JsaE2yZ1Rs
Friday, August 7, 2015
It has been an interesting week
So a post or so below I popped in a photo from Sunday night's Induction in Timaru. Monday morning saw me on a plane for a rare - these days - visit to St John's College, where I found our students in very good heart. It was great seeing family that night and learning of a modest bit of success.
Then a two day meeting I chair annually. Back on the plane Wednesday evening. Back to Timaru on Thursday morning. This time it was the pleasure and privilege of driving Archbishop Philip Richardson to St Philip's Marchwiel for a retreat for Archdeaconry of South Canterbury clergy and lay workers.
We had a lovely time together, but the Archbishop and I missed the first day of the Anglican Schools Conference, which included a talk from international theologian Brian McLaren. Though to be fair to myself I may have enhanced the purity of my orthodoxy by not hearing him :).
Naturally we made it back with zeal and dedication (and safe driving) ... for the undoubted highlight of the conference, a dinner at the Transitional Cathedral, which featured Sam Johnson as speaker. (Sam is an old boy of one of our Anglican Schools, Christ's College).
This morning at the conference was excellent - a very encouraging presentation from Year 12 students at the conference. Regular readers here will join the dots with some other observations made here in recent posts. The future of ACANZP is in good hands!
Incidentally, part of this morning's presentation was a video I saw at another recent conference. It is brilliant and I heartily commend it to you and your church/school/Messy Church/homegroup/any Christian gathering. Cheers, World Vision for the Lord's Prayer.
It has been an interesting week in all sorts of ways. Next week might be even more interesting ... just sayin'.
Then a two day meeting I chair annually. Back on the plane Wednesday evening. Back to Timaru on Thursday morning. This time it was the pleasure and privilege of driving Archbishop Philip Richardson to St Philip's Marchwiel for a retreat for Archdeaconry of South Canterbury clergy and lay workers.
We had a lovely time together, but the Archbishop and I missed the first day of the Anglican Schools Conference, which included a talk from international theologian Brian McLaren. Though to be fair to myself I may have enhanced the purity of my orthodoxy by not hearing him :).
Naturally we made it back with zeal and dedication (and safe driving) ... for the undoubted highlight of the conference, a dinner at the Transitional Cathedral, which featured Sam Johnson as speaker. (Sam is an old boy of one of our Anglican Schools, Christ's College).
This morning at the conference was excellent - a very encouraging presentation from Year 12 students at the conference. Regular readers here will join the dots with some other observations made here in recent posts. The future of ACANZP is in good hands!
Incidentally, part of this morning's presentation was a video I saw at another recent conference. It is brilliant and I heartily commend it to you and your church/school/Messy Church/homegroup/any Christian gathering. Cheers, World Vision for the Lord's Prayer.
It has been an interesting week in all sorts of ways. Next week might be even more interesting ... just sayin'.
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Wesley Hill Wrong?
Tom Wright reviews Wesley Hill's book on Paul and the Trinity. Here is the taster first paragraph:
"Do the earliest Christian writings support the fifth-century trinitarian creeds and dogmas? A line of liberal scholarship, looking back to Socinus and even Arius, says No. Paul and the Trinity says Yes: only if we read Paul’s words in the light of later expositions of the mutual trinitarian relations can we grasp his real meaning. I declare an interest: I agree with the Yes, but not with the way Wesley Hill gets there."
"Do the earliest Christian writings support the fifth-century trinitarian creeds and dogmas? A line of liberal scholarship, looking back to Socinus and even Arius, says No. Paul and the Trinity says Yes: only if we read Paul’s words in the light of later expositions of the mutual trinitarian relations can we grasp his real meaning. I declare an interest: I agree with the Yes, but not with the way Wesley Hill gets there."
Monday, August 3, 2015
Sacred and Spiritual Links - Monday 3rd August 2015
Last night I had the privilege of leading the induction service for Josh Taylor (middle) as the new Vicar of Highfield, Kensington and Otipua. Spanky Moore was the preacher. Photo by Grant Bennett.
The links below are supplied by a UK colleague:
#1 Bishop Abraham Nhial on Christ being our food and provision; #2 Talks from the June Evangelical Ministry Assembly including from Vaughan Roberts; #3 more from the Keswick Convention; #10 prayers needed for Northern Nigeria and Pastors facing death sentences in Sudan and an ill Asia Bibi imprisoned in Pakistan and Pastor Lim in North Korea.
Prayers for you for the coming week.
SERMONS AND TALKS
1. God feeds us [John 6:1-21] together with a talk and Q&A - Bishop Abraham Nhial - Christ St Pauls Audio [Bishop of Awiel, South Sudan and a former 'lost boy']
http://tinyurl.com/pmd9s8o
2. Talk from Vaughan Roberts in 'Talks from the Evangelical Ministry Assembly Conference 2015' on the theme: “Identity Crisis: Preaching to a Confused World” - Speakers: Christopher Ash [Cornhill Training], Tim Keller [Redeemer NY], Andrew Reid [Holy Trinity Doncaster], Vaughan Roberts [St Ebbes, Oxford],Bruce Ware [Southern Baptist Theological Seminary], John Wyatt [University College, London]
http://tinyurl.com/pp292q8
3.Talks from the Keswick Convention 2015 - Clayton TV [see listing on left for Liam Goligher talks]
http://tinyurl.com/pqa7db5
Commentary
4. Preaching Ideas and Commentary - Rev Peter Carrell
http://preachingdownunder.blogspot.co.nz/
5. The Sunday Readings - Rev Stephen Trott
https://laworgospel.wordpress.com/
WORSHIP
6. The bells of St. Edward's, Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire - BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0638ry8
7. Choral Evensong from Hereford Cathedral during the 300th Three Choirs Festival - sung by the Choirs of Hereford, Gloucester and Worcester Cathedrals - BBC Radio 3
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b063dlsc
8. Sunday Hour - BBC Radio 2
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06398rj
9. Archived Choral services over the Summer from the chapels of King's College Cambridge
http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/choir/webcasts.html
and St John's College, Cambridge
http://www.sjcchoir.co.uk/webcasts
and Trinity College, Cambridge
http://trinitycollegechoir.com//webcasts/listen-again/
and New College, Oxford
http://www.newcollegechoir.com/webcasts.html
PRAYER
Please pray for Rev Yat Michael and Rev Peter Reith under threat of death in Sudan at a hearing on 5th August and for Asia Bibi very ill in prison in Pakistan; for the persecuted church in North Korea [Pastor Lim] and China: for Malaysia and for Nigeria; and for the Diocese of South Carolina.
10. Topical Prayers - Church of England
http://tinyurl.com/6wnk2pk
Sudan: Please pray for South Sudanese pastors Rev Yat Michael and Rev Peter Yein Reith whose verdict/sentence may be given on 5th August - Release International
http://tinyurl.com/nscyszj
Pakistan: Asia Bibi 'extremely sick
http://tinyurl.com/otfkme5
Malaysia: Archbishop Bolly Lapok's request for prayer for Malaysia’s welfare - Borneo Post
http://tinyurl.com/nuyqx2f
Nigeria: Pray for Nigeria with resources - CSW
http://tinyurl.com/oogk48y
North Korea: Canada pastor held in North Korea 'confesses' to trying to overthrow state - Reuters
http://tinyurl.com/pg39mqs
China: Christians and lawyers oppose cross removals
http://tinyurl.com/q8zee2f
'South Carolina:Prayers from Lent and Beyond
http://tinyurl.com/kssn33y
CURRENT AFFAIRS
11. Sunday Programme with Edward Stourton - BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b063ybdc
Food for thought
12. Soul Survivor proves the Church has a pulse - Martin Saunders - CT
http://tinyurl.com/pggnrz4
'Dying for Christianity' - Guardian quotes Open Doors
http://tinyurl.com/nr8wyy5
Evidence for the Historical Jesus: Is the Jesus of History the Christ of Faith? - Professor Gary Habermas - free pdf download
http://tinyurl.com/phty74e
and the talks can be listened to here:
under 'The Evidence For The Historical Jesus'
http://tinyurl.com/nmzzvuj
Ebola vaccine is 'potential game-changer' - BBC News
http://tinyurl.com/opwbj3f
From crime to Christianity: Jordan’s story - CEN
http://tinyurl.com/nzlfvg5
FINALLY
13. Jordan's Story - Church Army
https://vimeo.com/128117456
more
http://tinyurl.com/ooctv63
14. I am yours - St Paul's Auckland Worship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1_Vxqkxmu4
15. Church planting in New Zealand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYkuT1ohPZE
God bless you
The links below are supplied by a UK colleague:
#1 Bishop Abraham Nhial on Christ being our food and provision; #2 Talks from the June Evangelical Ministry Assembly including from Vaughan Roberts; #3 more from the Keswick Convention; #10 prayers needed for Northern Nigeria and Pastors facing death sentences in Sudan and an ill Asia Bibi imprisoned in Pakistan and Pastor Lim in North Korea.
Prayers for you for the coming week.
SERMONS AND TALKS
1. God feeds us [John 6:1-21] together with a talk and Q&A - Bishop Abraham Nhial - Christ St Pauls Audio [Bishop of Awiel, South Sudan and a former 'lost boy']
http://tinyurl.com/pmd9s8o
2. Talk from Vaughan Roberts in 'Talks from the Evangelical Ministry Assembly Conference 2015' on the theme: “Identity Crisis: Preaching to a Confused World” - Speakers: Christopher Ash [Cornhill Training], Tim Keller [Redeemer NY], Andrew Reid [Holy Trinity Doncaster], Vaughan Roberts [St Ebbes, Oxford],Bruce Ware [Southern Baptist Theological Seminary], John Wyatt [University College, London]
http://tinyurl.com/pp292q8
3.Talks from the Keswick Convention 2015 - Clayton TV [see listing on left for Liam Goligher talks]
http://tinyurl.com/pqa7db5
Commentary
4. Preaching Ideas and Commentary - Rev Peter Carrell
http://preachingdownunder.blogspot.co.nz/
5. The Sunday Readings - Rev Stephen Trott
https://laworgospel.wordpress.com/
WORSHIP
6. The bells of St. Edward's, Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire - BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0638ry8
7. Choral Evensong from Hereford Cathedral during the 300th Three Choirs Festival - sung by the Choirs of Hereford, Gloucester and Worcester Cathedrals - BBC Radio 3
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b063dlsc
8. Sunday Hour - BBC Radio 2
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06398rj
9. Archived Choral services over the Summer from the chapels of King's College Cambridge
http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/choir/webcasts.html
and St John's College, Cambridge
http://www.sjcchoir.co.uk/webcasts
and Trinity College, Cambridge
http://trinitycollegechoir.com//webcasts/listen-again/
and New College, Oxford
http://www.newcollegechoir.com/webcasts.html
PRAYER
Please pray for Rev Yat Michael and Rev Peter Reith under threat of death in Sudan at a hearing on 5th August and for Asia Bibi very ill in prison in Pakistan; for the persecuted church in North Korea [Pastor Lim] and China: for Malaysia and for Nigeria; and for the Diocese of South Carolina.
10. Topical Prayers - Church of England
http://tinyurl.com/6wnk2pk
Sudan: Please pray for South Sudanese pastors Rev Yat Michael and Rev Peter Yein Reith whose verdict/sentence may be given on 5th August - Release International
http://tinyurl.com/nscyszj
Pakistan: Asia Bibi 'extremely sick
http://tinyurl.com/otfkme5
Malaysia: Archbishop Bolly Lapok's request for prayer for Malaysia’s welfare - Borneo Post
http://tinyurl.com/nuyqx2f
Nigeria: Pray for Nigeria with resources - CSW
http://tinyurl.com/oogk48y
North Korea: Canada pastor held in North Korea 'confesses' to trying to overthrow state - Reuters
http://tinyurl.com/pg39mqs
China: Christians and lawyers oppose cross removals
http://tinyurl.com/q8zee2f
'South Carolina:Prayers from Lent and Beyond
http://tinyurl.com/kssn33y
CURRENT AFFAIRS
11. Sunday Programme with Edward Stourton - BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b063ybdc
Food for thought
12. Soul Survivor proves the Church has a pulse - Martin Saunders - CT
http://tinyurl.com/pggnrz4
'Dying for Christianity' - Guardian quotes Open Doors
http://tinyurl.com/nr8wyy5
Evidence for the Historical Jesus: Is the Jesus of History the Christ of Faith? - Professor Gary Habermas - free pdf download
http://tinyurl.com/phty74e
and the talks can be listened to here:
under 'The Evidence For The Historical Jesus'
http://tinyurl.com/nmzzvuj
Ebola vaccine is 'potential game-changer' - BBC News
http://tinyurl.com/opwbj3f
From crime to Christianity: Jordan’s story - CEN
http://tinyurl.com/nzlfvg5
FINALLY
13. Jordan's Story - Church Army
https://vimeo.com/128117456
more
http://tinyurl.com/ooctv63
14. I am yours - St Paul's Auckland Worship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1_Vxqkxmu4
15. Church planting in New Zealand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYkuT1ohPZE
God bless you