Tuesday 22 February 2011

News flash: Christchurch hit with yet another earthquake

Christchurch, New Zealand, has been hit with yet another earthquake. 6.3 on the Richter scale, hit at 12:51pm NZ time = 10:51am Sydney time, centred 10km southeast of Christchurch, at an estimated depth of 5km. Prayers, please.

Links to news:

Monday 21 February 2011

Al Mohler on the importance of physical bookstores

I'm not surprised that Borders books are in financial trouble. They were just too expensive. And all their fancy gimmicks - Gloria Jeans cafes in the store, and staff talking to each other over wireless mics, a bit like Secret Service agents... just didn't make any difference to me. Okay, maybe I'm just a cheapskate... but that's the truth.

That said, as a thoroughgoing bibliophile, I do lament the loss of a bookstore. As Al Mohler notes in a thought-provoking blog post, physical bookstores are not just places to buy books - they're a barometer of the culture, or at least of the cub-culture that the particular bookstore is keying into.

Hmmm - better get down to the nearest Borders and see if I can snap up some cheap culture...

Saturday 19 February 2011

Resources on evangelism

The Gospel Coalition has an excellent post on church, community and personal evangelism. Church Programs vs. Personal Evangelism

Wednesday 9 February 2011

Novel wisdom 2: internals and externals

More thought-provoking narrative from Christopher Reich:
Judge spent a moment adjusting his tie and combing his hair. He pulled at each cuff, ensuring one inch of cotton protruded beyond the sleeve and no more. He’d be damned if he’s make a lousy impression. Only the Lord could see your heart, he’d been taught. Everyone else judged you by your appearance.
Christopher Reich, The Runner (Headline, 2000), page 29.

Monday 7 February 2011

Novel wisdom 1: imperialism

This is how quality fiction can be thought-provoking and character building, not just entertaining.
Everywhere Judge looked in this town he was surrounded by history and all of it had to do with war… He shook his head. War. Empire. Revenge. Scale them down and what did you have? Anger. Avarice. Pride. History was only personal grievance writ large.
Christopher Reich, The Runner (Headline, 2000), page 28.

Friday 4 February 2011

Dr Pat at the Centre for Public Christianity

My mum, Dr Pat, senior lecturer at the University of Sydney and sexologist extraordinaire, has done an interview for the Centre for Public Christianity, on - well, sex, of course. She goes through how recent sexological research affirms the healthiness of biblical sexual ethics, and gives some advice on how to keep the spark in your sex life over the long haul.

Thursday 3 February 2011

Again over at The Gospel Coalition: John Dickson has an excellent article on the historicity of Jesus.
The gospel places its head on the chopping block of public scrutiny and invites anyone who wishes to come and take a swing. The good news is that the more they “swing.” the more robust our message appears.
John Dickson holds a PhD in ancient history, is the co-director of the Centre for Public Christianity, and the senior minister of St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Roseville.

Tuesday 1 February 2011

Free resource: Don Carson overview of the Bible

Prof. Don Carson has provided an excellent overview of the Bible's storyline in this 14-part seminar, The God Who Is There, originally delivered at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis. It's an evangelistic resource because it's geared towards "seekers". But it will also teach & encourage Christians by explaining the big picture of the Bible. And the best thing is - it's all free! Just like the gospel. Thanks, Don Carson & the Gospel Coalition.