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Bag of All Sorts No. 7

12th September 2016

A Current Testimony. 

American swimmer Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, says Rick Warren’s best seller The Purpose Driven Life saved him from suicide. He suffered a crisis of identity but in 2015, in a psychological trauma and addiction treatment centre he read the book and was uplifted so much he was nicknamed ‘Preacher Mike’ by fellow patients. (Christian Post 5 August 2016.)

News from Lausanne Movement 2016.

Around 1000 young Christian leaders gathered recently from 140 nations with the theme “United in the Great Story” Testimonies and divine connections were made for global mission. Check out the movements papers and articles by googling Lausanne Movement.

A Bishop for ACC Conference.

Rev Dr Richard Condie, installed as 12th Bishop of Tasmania in Hobart will be a guest at the ACC National Conference 7-9 November 2016. Poatina, Tasmania.

Richard has been Vicar of St Judes---one of Melbourne’s biggest parishes with six congregations and more than 20 staff. He took up his position as Bishop on 19 March 2016. He is also chairman of the Confessing Movement in the Anglican Church.

Subscribe to ETHOS. Centre for Christianity and Society.

A quarterly publication that helps to integrate your faith and your life more effectively and imaginatively. It also helps you to access excellent resources. Visit the Ethos website: Click here. Another mag. published by the same organisation that used to be called The Evangelical Union is “Equip.” The September 2015 issues featured “All the way with LBGTI? The homosexuality conversation. This is helpful in-depth stuff.

Blessed Assurance Church Services.  Addressing Dementia

A dementia-friendly church service is held at St Swithun’s Church in Pymble in Sydney’s north and is designed to maximise participation by memory.

John Swinton from Scotland’s University of Aberdeen is author of “Dementia Living in the memories of God.” Swinton says, “The way we understand our identity is that we remember who we are. It is an autobiographical memory. If you ask yourself, “Who am I,” you immediately think back to a series of stories you can remember about yourself” If you start to forget who you are, you are still ‘you’ but you rely on other people to hold your memories for you. “Ritual is a powerful way of accessing memory.” For information about how to conduct a Blessed Assurance Service phone: 02 94887377.

Marriage is Special for Christians.

God’s creational ideal for marriage is seen in the Eden model. It appears God made man and woman in such a way that they complete and fulfil each other in marriage. This gender mix of male and female may occur through different friendships and ways throughout the life of a person who remains single. It is interesting to note that the law and command given to Israel to, “honour your father and mother”— was always life-giving,--they were told it would lead to longevity of life in the new land they occupied. However marriage between genders is so important that it takes priority over this and all other relationships. The tie between the complimentary genders of male and female is so strong, so enduring and special that the text of Genesis 2-24 concludes that the marriage bond of man and woman supersedes and takes precedence over the deep emotional and biological bond of a child to their parents.

It is little wonder that Christians claim that marriage is special because the Bible goes on to use this same model of marriage to describe Christ’s relationship with his followers. Christ is the husband, the church is His bride. In Revelation 19-32 Jesus describes himself as coming back to receive his bride. Obviously this analogy only works when Christian marriage is understood in light of the original Eden model.

Christians reach out to all people with compassion and especially to those who feel alone, rejected or confused by life. Christians also claim that sexuality, gender, and the biblical understanding of marriage is a special model for humankind, a moral DNA built into the creation. This means Christians reject the socio-engineering and popular cultural trends that claim to be necessary in order to liberate people and society. Christians disagree with modifying or re-defining the word and meaning of marriage, they reject diverse lifestyles and unions that regard sexual and gender fluidity, divorce and adultery as normal. Christians believe that fullness of life and best life practise is found in a living relationship with Jesus Christ where he is acknowledged as Lord of every aspect of life.--- Rev T Curnow Aug. 2016.

The detailed Vox Brief paper, “The Dangers of Redefining Marriage” by David van Gend has been in great demand. Phone Family Voice 1300 365 965.

UC Hope Network in SA.

If you would be encouraged by positive feedback and news from within the Uniting Church? If you would benefit from useful web links, seek out the regular Hope Network Newsletter. Hope Network is made up of a group of Evangelical congregations co-operating together in South Australia and headed up by Rev Ian Clarkson. Click here for their website.

Recently they pointed out that more Muslims are turning to Christ in the past 20 years than in the 1400 years of Islam. God turns temporal evil into eternal triumph in many parts of the world.

NIV Audio Bible APP

The letter to the Romans is a book that repeatedly changes the World, by changing people. Saint Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, George Whitefield, John Stott and also David Suchet. David is best known for his role as Agatha Christie’s redoubtable sleuth Hercule Poirot. David became a Christian after a conversion experience while reading Romans Chapter 8 in a Hotel Bible in 1986. Now after recording the whole Bible he has launched the NIV Audio Bible App. Listen to him read Psalm 23 and Job38-42 online at, https://soundcloud.com/hodderbooks/david-suchet-niv-bible-poetry.

Making the most of the Rest of Your Life.

For those growing older Rev John Chapman writes in a reader-friendly style. At 76 years of age, he said that if eternity was really eternity then he had the greater bulk of his life to look forward to. He says, “Is it possible to prepare for that life, or is it totally a matter of chance? These are the questions I want to address in this short book.” Chapman explains the meaning of Jesus death and resurrection and how it can affect a person’s outlook now.

An ideal gift of 57 readable size pages for any aging person. Contact Matthias Media. www.matthiasmedia.com.au

Psychic Fair and Christian Witness.

The group called The Community of Hope began in 1991 and is headed up by Rev Ross Clifford, Phillip Johnson and Rev Harold Taylor of UC background and who was former Principal of Melbourne School of Theology. This community specialise in New Age ministry, (ie they bring the gospel to searching people and show the church how to reach out to people in that context). Visit the web site: http://www.communityofhope.org.au

Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin headed up by Elizabeth Kendall.

A very up-to-date intelligence report with accounts of persecuted Christians around the world. “Researched by the European Parliament has found 200 churches or Christian places of worship are attacked every day across the world.” The figures were revealed at a special gathering at the European Parliament in Brussels aiming to tackle the persecution of Christians.  Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Church.

Ask your church to set aside November 20 as a special time to support persecuted Christians. Why not hold an outdoor church services to bring public awareness and witness? Resources available from Release International, Barnabas Fund and check out the “Love Kills Hate Campaign” web site.

Video on Marriage.

Family Voice have created a new website www.marriagereality.org.au/ They have replaced the term marriage equality with marriage reality. A clever move that makes sense. Many churches have already screened this inspiring video about James Parker who tells his story of getting into, then getting out of a homosexual lifestyle. How about your church giving it screening time? Phone 1300 365 965.

Heroes of Faith.

Today we need good models and mentors of faith who can inspire us in Christian devotion. In one book we have 55 such men and women whose lives have proclaimed Christ and inspired the faith of others. Be blessed by the stories of these contemporary saints. Each short –but-in-depth profile is a profound testimony to the belief that God is, and that God is love. Available from: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)/ phone 1300 650 878.

Christianity Explored.

This material has a striking new design. Same trusted content. Now flexible for any setting. Now easier to run this programme in just about any place. Includes Leader’s handbook and award winning DVD.  The Goodbook Company, Hotline 02 95643555

“A highly effective way to help unbelieving friends consider the claims of Christ, showing respect and consideration of honest doubts and questions.” Alistar Begg.

Reaching the next Generation.

Plug your youth into Vision180.org.au for a 24/7 on line radio and quarterly devotional magazine. Helping young people do a 180 on contemporary culture to follow Jesus. Also get youth to friend Vision 180 on face-book. Part of Vision Christian Media. Queensland.

Australian Prayer Network Newsletter.

The largest prayer network in Australia with International links. Led by Brian Pickering. The group recently posted the following notes, the first by Henry Ergas, Sydney Columnist and Professor of Infrastructure economics. University of Wollongong. Click here for the website.

Difference between Christianity and Islam, a matter of life and death.

Reaching back to a hadith (saying) of the Prophet Mohammed, Osama bin Laden himself made it clear in 1996 when he wrote in a manifesto addressed to the then US Defence Secretary William Cohen, that, “What I must tell you Bill, is that our youth cherish death as much as yours values life.”

Catholic Bishops statement in the Herald paper 16 May 2016.

“The fact is that economic decisions have been less and less favourable to families in recent years; and it may be that political decisions in future will undermine further the dignity and uniqueness of marriage as a lifelong union of man and woman.” The Bishops said, “Support for marriage and the family does not look a big vote-winner, so that even the most basic human institution, upon which the health of a society depends, can become part of the throwaway culture or at best an optional extra.”

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