The Lord Will Come And Not Be Slow

The Lord will come and not be slow,
his footsteps cannot err;
before him righteousness shall go,
his royal harbinger.
Truth from the earth, like to a flower,
shall bud and blossom then;
and justice, from her heavenly bower,
look down on mortal men.

Surely to such as do him fear
salvation is at hand!
And glory shall ere long appear
to dwell within our land.
Rise, God, judge thou the earth in might,
this wicked earth redress;
for thou art he who shalt by right
the nations all possess.

The nations all whom thou hast made
shall come, and all shall frame
to bow them low before thee, Lord,
and glorify thy Name.
For great thou art, and wonders great
by thy strong hand are done:
thou in thy everlasting seat
remainest God alone.

- John Milton, 1648. Based of Psalms 85 and 86. Book of Common Praise (Australian Supplement).

Public Meeting Friday VI

This week hebel brings you 2004's Phillip Jensen:

The Intolerant God - Arts Faculty Based Evangelism

With Christmas and CMS Summer School coming up - this will be the last PM Friday for the next month.

Public Meeting Friday V

The talks this Friday are vintage 2008. Ian Smith, Vice Principal and Academic Dean of the Presbyterian Theological Centre gave three talks of Abraham , the Father of Faiths (an attempt to tie in with WYD). Enjoy:

Abraham, Father of Faiths: The Lord Calls (Genesis 12-13)

Abraham, Father of Faiths: The Lord Justifies (Genesis 15)

Abraham, Father of Faiths: The Lord Provides (Genesis 22)

What Matt Does When He's Bored

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Public Meeting Friday IV

Continuing from last week, today's Public Meeting Friday are the three talks that finished of Think Weeks in the first semester of 2006. Are speakers are Andrew Katay (Christianity and Philosophy), Chris Forbes (Christianity and History) and Gordon Cheng (Christianity and Politics).

Christianity and Philosophy: Synthesis, Antitheses or...

Christianity and History: Does the Historical Jesus Have a Leg to Stand on? Complete with slides.

Christianity and Politics: Turning the World Up-side Down

The Katay and Chris Forbes talks are particularly good - some of my favourites.

Fear Not...But Sanctify Christ in Your Heart

Speaking on 1 Peter 3 (particularly verses 14-15) Andrew Katay read out this quote from John Chrysostom on fear on Sunday:

"The waters have risen and severe storms are upon us, but we do not fear drowning, for we stand firmly upon a rock. Let the sea rage, it cannot break the rock. Let the waves rise, they cannot sink the boat of Jesus. What are we to fear? Death? Life to me means Christ, and death is gain. Exile? ‘The earth and its fullness belong to the Lord. The confiscation of goods? We brought nothing into this world, and we shall surely take nothing from it. I have only contempt for the world’s threats, I find its blessings laughable. I have no fear of poverty, no desire for wealth. I am not afraid of death nor do I long to live, except for your good. I concentrate therefore on the present situation, and I urge you, my friends, to have confidence...If Christ is with me, whom shall I fear? Though the waves and the sea and the anger of princes are roused against me, they are less to me than a spider’s web. Indeed, unless you, my brothers, had detained me, I would have left this very day. For I always say “Lord, your will be done”; not what this fellow or that would have me do, but what you want me to do. That is my strong tower, my immovable rock, my staff that never gives way. If God wants something, let it be done! If he wants me to stay here, I am grateful. But wherever he wants me to be, I am no less grateful."

Fields White For Harvest

Bill Dumbrell has released a new book: Fields white for harvest - An exposition of Mark, Matthew, Luke-Acts.

According to Moore Books: "Veteran Australian biblical scholar Dr William Dumbrell has applied his profound understanding of the Old Testament to the Synoptic Gospels, and the result is a one-volume commentary that gets right to the heart of Jesus' identity and message.

William J. Dumbrell (Th.D., Harvard University) was for many years Vice-Principal of Moore Theological College, Sydney where he also lectured in Old Testament. He also lectured at Regent College in Vancouver, and Trinity Theological College in Singapore. He is the author of many fine books that follow some significant biblical themes from Genesis to Revelation such as Covenant and Creation, The End of the Beginning, The Search for Order, The New Covenant and The Faith of Israel. He has also written commentaries on Galatians, Romans, and the Gospel of John in the New Covenant Commentary Series. He still teaches at several Sydney colleges and at Macquarie University, Sydney.-Editorial Review."

Church is...

"...a communion of holy men and works, in that it submits to sole rule by Jesus Christ, in whom it is founded, that it also aims to live solely in the fulfillment of its service as ambassador, that it recognizes its goal solely in its hope, which is its limit." - Barth

H/T Michael for this idea. I'm going to tag Byron and Justin and suggest they find another, one sentence quote by someone like Barth or Bruggermann on what the church is.