When Claire Smith was at school, the Christians in her year group voted her “the person least likely to become a Christian.”
Coming of age during the second wave of feminism in the 1970s, the author and theologian was a devotee of the creed that “anything a man can do, a woman can do better.”
“So for me to become a Christian was just massive,” she says as we sit in the Eternity Cafe in Sydney’s Town Hall Arcade.
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Forgiveness matters. In fact, it’s part of the bedrock of our relationships. Without forgiveness in our relational world, life would actually become unbearable: Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel The Count of Monte Cristo tells the gripping story of a man who refuses to forgive.
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Relatively little attention has been paid to biblical parallels to the wretched “I” of Rom 7:14–25. A few scholars have observed features shared with the psalms of lament, but these studies have been limited in scope and have proved inconclusive in identifying the “I.” A comparison between Romans 7 and one of the psalms of lament, namely Psalm 119, reveals a number of significant verbal and conceptual correspondences, which throw fresh light onto previously unclear aspects of the “I”’s monologue. In addition, Paul’s wretched “I” is revealed as inhabiting the same symbolic world as the Christ-believers in Rome, experiencing with them the resurrection of lament in Christ.
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Moore College gives thanks to God for the life and ministry of Dr William A. Andersen, who went to be with his Lord last Saturday. Bill Andersen lectured several generations of Moore College students in Christian education while encouraging and mentoring a number of past and current members of the faculty.
‘Bill Andersen was always an encouraging model of grace, generosity and wisdom’, said Moore College Principal, Dr Mark Thompson. ‘We are deeply indebted to his work among us and express our sincere condolences to his family.’
Former Archbishop and Principal of Moore College Dr Peter Jensen also had fond memories:
‘Bill Andersen consecrated himself to the service of Christ, whether it was on the campus of Sydney University, exercising his very considerable intellectual gifts in teaching and unashamedly supporting Christian work on campus, or in theological education both at Moore and Morling. He was a committed evangelical Christian first and foremost. He was also a wise counsellor and friend. We give thanks to the Lord for him.’
Dr Bill Salier, former Vice Principal and now Principal of Youthworks College, who had more to do with Bill Andersen than most before and during his time on the Moore College faculty, made the following statement:
‘It is with a mix of sadness and thankfulness that I note the passing of Bill Andersen. My first contact with Bill was as a Masters student at the University of Sydney in the early 1980’s. Bill was teaching philosophy of education courses at the time. I was impressed at the time by his model of Christian scholarship in a secular environment where his expertise in both education and philosophy was refracted through a Christian lens and presented with integrity, rigour, and without apology. Later at Moore College I had the opportunity to again be taught by, and to teach with Bill in a number of courses. These were wonderful times when I again experienced first hand the wonderful blend of sound and thoughtful scholarship with Christian grace that marked his teaching and personal presence. He had a wonderful sense of humour, always surprised to find himself amongst ‘the Anglicans’. I know also of his great work with Scripture Union and so many other areas where he gave generously of his time and expertise. Bill’s philosophy was very much based on the importance of persons, thoroughly informed by a biblical anthropology. He wrote extensively on this with respect to education but more importantly lived it daily in every interaction he had with others, treating people as persons with the care and respect due to them as created in the image of the God and Saviour he served. In all this he was a wonderful model of a mature Christian person, a godly scholar, and tireless worker for the glory of the Lord Jesus, that I still aspire to. He is missed, but with the joy that comes from knowing that he is now in the presence of his Lord and Saviour.’
A Thanksgiving Service for the life and ministry of Bill Anderson will be held at Gordon Baptist Church on Saturday 21 September at 12pm.
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Lionel Windsor’s article on a gospel response to the Amazon fires. This is written for The Gospel Coalition Australia.
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The Bishop Election Board in the Diocese of Bathurst has announced that the Reverend Mark Calder has been elected as the next bishop.
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