Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Have You Thanked God Today for Moe Bergeron?

Redeeming/using technology for God: Have You Thanked God Today for Moe Bergeron? – Justin Taylor:

Against the Caricature

Good point. To read between the lines mean you first have to read the lines: Against the Caricature | Chrestomathy:
"Anyone who comes away from a careful reading of the apostle Paul's teaching on marriage with the idea that the husband is 'the boss' and the wife is 'the slave' is someone not to be trusted with any text" (For a Glory and a Covering, p. 8).

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

The Queen James Bible - A Gay Bible

Revisionists always see themselves: The Queen James Bible - A Gay Bible:
The Queen James Bible is a bible translation edited to prevent homophobic misinterpretation of God's Word.


Monday, December 17, 2012

Preachers – Do You Need A Week Off?

This isn't a bad idea. Its a bit of a win win: Preachers – Do You Need A Week Off?:
Here’s how it works: you contact us and tell us about your church, and we’ll connect you with a preacher that we think will be a good fit. Take the week off and go on a vacation with your family. Or stay in town – our guys would love to take you to lunch, get your feedback on the sermon, and pick your brain on ministry. You don’t even have to pay them. An honorarium is always a blessing, but you are providing a service to them by opening your pulpit and giving them your feedback.

Why Do So Few Atheists Take Their Faith Seriously?

Not a bad point: Why Do So Few Atheists Take Their Faith Seriously? – Justin Taylor:
This is one reason why I find atheism so implausible.  If Russell could dismiss Christianity in part because he had met so few Christians who seemed to take the faith seriously, I consider atheists to be much the same. Do not tell me that we are a random bunch of atoms and then try to impose your myths on me. Do not create a morality in your own image and then try to give it some objective, transcendent status.  A random world does not give privileged status to the moral myths of an upper class English proto-hippy. Do not tell me that serial killers are morally worse than aid workers. At best, you might say that you find them personally more distasteful. If you are an atheist, have the courage to take heed of the words of Nietzsche’s Madman

Thursday, December 13, 2012

10 Misconceptions about the New Testament Canon

There is a link to each misconception which looks pretty good: 10 Misconceptions about the New Testament Canon – Justin Taylor:
Michael Kruger identifies 10 common misconceptions (or misunderstandings) about the origins and development of the NT Canon

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Free Music from Will Mackerras | The Banjo Bible

My old housemate has made a poetry CD: Free Music from Will Mackerras | The Banjo Bible:
Coming soon - the greatest story ever told, as Banjo Paterson might have told it. Hear the story of the whole Bible in rhyming verse, with metre and phrases borrowed from some of Australia's most famous bush poems - My Country, Mulga Bill's Bicycle, Waltzing Matilda, Clancy of the Overflow, The Man from Ironbark, Been There Before , Said Hanrahan, The Man from Snowy River, and A Bush Christening. 

Monday, December 10, 2012

The Purpose Driven Life a Decade Later: Rick Warren’s Resurrection

Coming soon to a church near you: The Purpose Driven Life a Decade Later: Rick Warren’s Resurrection - Newsweek and The Daily Beast:
This holiday season, a 10th-anniversary edition of The Purpose Driven Life hits stores, updated with two new chapters and scads of links to video and audio 
extras designed for the age of social media. Next month Warren will launch a nationwide church “campaign” (as he did with the first edition) that enables ministers to order DIY teaching kits to help spread the purpose-driven message within their own congregations. With this reboot, Warren aims to introduce a new generation to the Good News—perhaps even spark a “Great Awakening” among the grassroots, he notes hopefully.


Video: The Christmas Scale

Quite a good Christmas video: Video: The Christmas Scale | Communicate Jesus:

Anglican Church in Tasmania - Preaching page

Some helpful preaching resources: Anglican Church in Tasmania - Preaching page:
This resource is provided for the help and encouragement of those who are entrusted with the important task of preaching and teaching the Bible. Whether you are just starting out or an experienced preacher, preaching in church or at weddings and funerals, we believe you will find this resource helpful; it will also be useful for Bible study group leaders. We recommend that you drop in from time to time to check for updates and new modules.

Rob Bell’s Search for a More Forgiving Church

Interesting read. Its good to know that Bell's church stands for orthodoxy: Rob Bell’s Search for a More Forgiving Church : The New Yorker:
In the end, “Love Wins” did turn out to be a kind of farewell. The members of Mars Hill found themselves having to answer for their membership in a church that was suddenly notorious. Eventually, Bell decided that it would be best for everyone if he left the church he had founded; in September, half a year after the publication of “Love Wins,” he told the congregation that he would be stepping down. By the time Bell greeted his fans in Philadelphia, a few months had passed, but he was still considering his own uncertain future. He ended his talk by delivering a lesson on openness to change. “You have been gripping tightly to how it was,” he said. “You calm yourself, and you breathe deeply, and you open your palms, and you say, ‘O.K., God. Apparently, this is ending.’ ”

Friday, December 7, 2012

Convicted murderer promotes Bible Society's new campaign

Sounds like their campaign is working. And Moses was a murderer who skilled out of the country to avoid conviction: Convicted murderer promotes Bible Society's new campaign | B&T:
A champion boxer, nightclub promoter, a bikie and a convicted murderer are among 25 “unusual” characters featured in a new Bible Society Christmas campaign.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Christmas is coming...with a new take on #25words starting 1 December

This video has very much tempted me to sign up: Christmas is coming...with a new take on #25words starting 1 December. on Vimeo

The Way It Is

The Way It Is:
"The indicative mood states, declares, and asserts. It is, for this reason, the fundamental mood of language; it is the fundamental mood of history; and it is also the fundamental mood of preaching. Good preaching will always tend to operate largely, although not exclusively, in the indicative mood" (Carrick, The Imperative of Preaching, p. 15).


Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Do You Actually Read Your Reports?

I must confess I don't read every word of church reports: Do You Actually Read Your Reports? – Kevin DeYoung:
Getting no response, I upped the ante. The next month I developed a drinking problem which became evident one Sunday in the pulpit. Everybody was very nice about it, but one of the Elders had to complete the sermon. I felt that I was at the point where I needed treatment. How should I go about getting it?

Monday, December 3, 2012

World's Biggest Bible Publisher? China

I didn't guess this: Christianity Today Gleanings: World's Biggest Bible Publisher? China:
Only one company is authorized to print Bibles in China—and it appears to be taking full advantage of the opportunity.
Last week, Amity Printing Company chairman Qiu Zhonghui announced that the publisher had printed its 100 millionth copy of the Bible in July.
The milestone means China is now the biggest publisher of Bibles worldwide.