November 9, 2009
OT theology. Here are the questions I answered…
To what extent is the nation of Israel the embodiement of hope helf out in the Pentateuch?
Discuss the use and significance of ‘type scenes’ in the books of the Former Prophets. Illustrate your answer with specific exampls. (I was particularly thankful for this question :) )
Discuss the theological significance of the signs in the books of Isaiah.
October 30, 2009
Can you believe its that time of year already?!
Today is the last day of college for the year. My first exam is in 11 days.
Getting ready for some pretty serious study over that time.
I have 4 exams all up and then 2nd year will be over! And (providing I pass exams) I will be half way through college! woot!
I would love your prayers over the next 3 weeks.
October 25, 2009
Join our petition and say NO for kids….
‘…Publications once considered ’soft porn’, have become more and more explicit. Now they are placed right in front of children at their eye level in milkbars, service stations and newsagents across the country! Who decided all of a sudden that it is OK for children to be exposed to pornography?…’
Say No 4 Kids gives you the opportunity to speak out and help effect change to the display laws relating to pornography, so that children and young teens aren’t confronted with inappropriate, highly sexualised imagery as they go about their daily lives.
The authority responsible for the laws relating to pornographic material and their display is the Standing Committee of Attorneys General (SCAG) Censorship Ministers. The SCAG Board is established by the Australian Federal Government, and consists of one representative from each State and Territory.
It is the aim of Say No 4 Kids to present our petition to SCAG in November 2009 when they come together for their Ministerial Conference to review the censorship laws. With your help, we intend to inform SCAG that as guardians of the next generation, we want pornographic material removed from view and access of children and young teenagers. If cigarettes can go back behind the counter, why not porn?
Please take a few minutes to look at our website and sign the online petition. Forward it to your family and friends and/or print the hard copy version (please be sure to return completed petition to P.O. Box 707, Pakenham Victoria 3810, by the end of October).
Say No 4 Kids is not affiliated in any way with any political, religious or vested interest group. We represent a diverse range of people concerned about the health and wellbeing of children and young teenagers.
Sign it here.
October 23, 2009
Over here Dave is attempting the big task of discussing male/female relationship, and particularly the role of men and women in the church, over a series of short posts.
In one of these posts he says
As complementarians we often speak about men and women being “Equal but Different”, indeed a large women-led organisation here has that name. Here’s the thing, though. The “different” part comes across negatively. “Equal” is good, but then we say “but” and so communicate to some that there’s a contrary, negative assertion coming.
But we believe that the distinct complementary roles that God has designed men and women to have are a good thing! So, my friend encourages me, we should speak of Equal AND Different. Both are good things and we should give no cause to understand otherwise.
Good discussion to have. I particularly enjoyed reading Honoria’s thoughts as she comments -
Well, I’m not sure if I like “Equal but Different” or “Equal and Different”. Feels like we are letting someone else set the agenda. The categories are a hangover from another debate, from a different context at another time.
(Maybe it’s just me and another friend at college, but) “Equal” suggests striving to be counted to be the same. Christianity isn’t about asserting yourself, but humbling yourself, being last, a servant. Emphasising “difference” is okay, but what do we gain from that? And it’s not exactly winsome, is it?
I quite like the connotations of “Complementarianism”, because it recognises the wholeness and “good-fit” of both genders, as given by God. It emphasises the harmony and reciprocity of the two genders. Each sex needs the other for fullness, for oneness.
There is MUCH to gain in thinking hard about how the genders God gives us is a gift, which enriches the church body. It’s sad and bland to press the *Blend* button on gender then say: there’s no difference. So what’s so good about the differences between genders and the fact that we have both genders in unity?
Later she very helpfully points of the need for both men and women to be thinking this issue through.
Both men and women are needed to think about doing this partnership WELL.
Complementarianism can be done badly. Towards developing a fuller Complementarianism, it may be good to see the mutual, reciprocal dynamic of the male-female relationship. How one impacts and enhances the other. (As opposed to segregation, individualism.)
May be fruitful to ask TOGETHER: (Preliminary questions: What are the Biblical distinctives for men? What do women need to understand / know about men?) How can women help men to be more godly men and fulfil their roles as men? What are the gender specific ways that men impact on wider church body? etc.
Then ask the same questions about women, again in a mixed setting.
Well said.
My experience of college thus far is that women have thought this through much more thoroughly than men (massive generalisation, I know, and apologise to those men who have thought about this). This is an issue that needs much discussion involving both men and women.
Ironically, perhaps, we seem to hear mainly from men on this issue. As Dave helpfully points out
My point was that there’s a perception that when men write on this they are only “reinforcing their status/privilege/subjection of women”.
When intelligent and articulate women write on this topic it has a far more profound impact. Our opponents can write them off as “brainwashed” but it’s a far harder claim to make.
Since I am a woman here is my 2 cents – I believe that Genesis 1-3, 1 Corinthians 11 & 14, Colossians 3, Ephesians 5 & 1 Timothy 2 clearly show the complementary nature of men and women. I believe that the egalitarian position is not only unbiblical, but it in fact takes away a woman’s right to be a woman (and a man’s right to be a man).
I am also more conservative on the issue of gender roles than most men I know. I recently got called a ‘crazy conservative chick’. It was meant as a compliment. I took it as one – proving that the statement is true.
Accuse me of hating women…. I dare you ;-)
October 22, 2009
Welcome to the UN Petition for the Unborn Child and the Family! With your help we are going to present one million names to the UN this December asking Member States to begin interpreting the Universal Declaration as protecting the unborn child from abortion.
As you know many UN agencies and many nations support the killing of the unborn child in the womb. Some even call such child killing a universal right. In fact, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights calls for the right to life! This petition calls UN Member States to return to the proper understanding of the right to life. This petition asks nations and the UN itself to recognize that a proper reading of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights must begin by protecting all life, most especially the most defenseless, the unborn child!
In early December, only a few short months away, we will present these one million names to the UN. We will present them to the Secretary General, to select Ambassadors and to the UN press. We hope to have them formally presented to the UN General Assembly.
I urge you to sign this petition and then send a note to all of your family and friends urging them to sign it, too. You can sign the petition in any one of 15 languages above!
Please help and get all of your family and friends to help, too!
Sign it here.
I signed it. So did Dave. Here’s why.
October 8, 2009
The boys at The Pilgrims Podcast have rocked my world this afternoon.
Their latest episode is the beginning of a 4 or 5 week series on pastoral care. Their guests were Rev Allen Cook and Jan Corbett-Jones. Allen worked in parish ministry for many years, then as a Chaplain at Westmead Hospital and currently serves with the Anglican Retirement Villages. Jan, a mother and grandmother, now works with Anglicare with pastoral care at the RPA. Both Allen and Jan teach pastoral care as part of the Diploma course at Moore Theological College.
Seriously this has made me wish I had the chance to re-do about a billion conversations in my life – including some very recent ones.
Allen and Jan talk to Mark and Steve about the difference between Pastoral Care and counselling, why Pastoral Care is so important, what to say and not to say, and Jan tells us why Pastoral Care is bigger than evangelism.
Listen here.
October 1, 2009
I’m preparing a sermon at the moment for chick’s chapel next week. It’s on 1 Corinthians 8 which at first I wasn’t that excited about. But after some hard work over the last few days I am loving it! Despite it’s seemingly strange subject (Now concerning food offered to idols. vs1) I believe it has a lot of meaning for us and more implications than appear at first glance. Once I have preached it I’ll most likely post it on here.
As well as my new found love of 1 Corinthians 8 I have also reaslised how sad it is for me that I don’t get to preach regularly. I’m really enjoying the preparation phase and I always enjoy a chance to speak to a captive audience, so I’m looking forward to chapel. I’m hoping to get some useful feedback so I can keep improving this skill – it’s just a shame it will probably be a year until I get another go.
But such is life!
It’s happening today – 13th Nov.
