Web Site: Women's Ordination - We are listening

We are listening is a resource site for the Lutheran Church of Australia as it discusses and dialogues the issue of Women's Ordination.  
There is a considerable number of resources and documents relating to the issue of Women's Ordination, presenting both sides of the arguments as well as information relating to how best to be involved in the dialogue.
Take some time to explore the site at http://owl.lca.org.au/

Article: 12 OFTEN OVERLOOKED PRACTICES GREAT LEADERS DEVELOP THAT POOR LEADERS DON’T

12 often overlooked practices great leaders develop that poor leaders don't is a good article for leaders to reflect on...The 12 practices are:
1. MAKE COMPLEX MATTERS SEEM SIMPLE
2. FIGHT FOR CLARITY
3. REFUSE TO MAKE EXCUSES
4. THINK ABUNDANCE
5. REGULARLY SIFT THROUGH KEY PRIORITIES
6. THINK WON’T, NOT CAN’T
7. MASTER SELF-DISCIPLINE
8. THINK WE, NOT ME
9. DECIDE TO WORK FOR YOUR STAFF
10. GET STARTED EARLY
11. ARRIVE PREPARED AND ON TIME
12. PRACTICE SELF-CARE

to explore each of these practices visit here

Article: What God has Joined Together': Recovering Christian Identity Amid the Ruins of the Reformation Era

Ephraim Radner is Professor of Historical Theology at Wycliffe College in Toronto in this article argues that the Reformation, the Counter-Reformation, the Catholic Renewal and all the rest: are not only over, but their particular concerns have waned, and explores the consequences of this.   Read the article at http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2015/06/10/4252260.htm   

Article and Book: Mending a fractured church

The night before he was crucified, Jesus prayed for the unity of his followers.
And I do not ask on behalf of these only, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their word, that they all may be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, that they also may be in us, in order that the world may believe that you sent me. And the glory that you have given to me, I have given to them, in order that they may be one, just as we are one—I in them, and you in me, in order that they may be completed in one, so that the world may know that you sent me, and you have loved them just as you have loved me. (John 17:20–23, LEB)

Jesus wanted his followers’ unity to be modeled after the perfect unity of the Trinity. Just as the Father is one with his Son and Spirit, so too should we who are united to Christ by the same Spirit be unified with one another. And our unity is intended to demonstrate the truth of Jesus’ claims to an unbelieving world.

Yet what does the world see when they look at the church? Sadly, they often see a church divided. It seems we can find reasons to divide over just about anything—from serious theological concerns down to the color of the pews. To the world, they’re all just more reasons not to believe..

What constitutes a legitimate reason for division?
How can we work through lesser differences without separating from one another?
What does it really mean for the church to have unity?

Mending a Fractured Church, published by Lexham Press and edited by Michael Bird and Brian Rosner, seeks to answer such questions, looking to the Bible for examples of how to resolve disputes. Speaking to pastors, churches, and seminary students, this book provides a guide to maintaining unity without compromise.

• Andrew Malone explores some of the New Testament’s teaching about differences, discussing our call to unity despite our diversity.
• Lindsay Wilson looks to Joshua 22 for a case study in conflict resolution, drawing principles from two groups that both had a right motivation in their actions.
• Brian Rosner uses Paul’s arguments in Romans 14–15 as an example of how to work through disputable matters in the church.
• Michael Bird examines the tension in the Johannine letters between loving others, especially those in the church, and holding uncompromisingly to the Christological foundation of the church’s faith.
• Rhys Bezzant argues that the existence of disputable matters within our church is a sign of health rather than sickness.
• Peter J. Leithart discusses the many segments of the Christian church today, providing several fascinating examples of Christian movements that fall outside our traditional classification system.

This article and further information about the book Mending a Fractured church is available at https://blog.logos.com/2015/06/learning-to-deal-with-differences-in-the-church/

Video study: FLOW (For the Life Of the World)...Letters to exiles

FLOW is an engaging film series that explores the deeper meaning of Salvation.
Have you ever wondered, “What is my Salvation actually FOR?”
Is it only about personal atonement, about getting to heaven, or something that comes later?
 Is it just to have a “friend in Jesus?”
Evan Koons and his friends – Stephen Grabill, Amy Sherman, Anthony Bradley, Makoto Fujimura, John M. Perkins, Tim Royer and Dwight Gibson – explore a new perspective,”
the BIGGER picture of what it means to be “in the world, not of it. ”
This seven-part film series and companion Field Guide will help you, your friends, church or organization investigate God’s Economy of All Things – OIKONOMIA (a Greek word that has a lot to say about God’s plan for his creation, the world, and us.)
In FLOW we explore how God’s purposes are woven into every area of our lives: family, work, art, charity,education, government, recreation and all creation!
The Bible calls us Strangers and Pilgrims, living in “the now and not yet” of God’s Kingdom Come on earth.
We are also called to be salt and light, to have a transforming presence among our neighbours.
In seven 20-minute-ish episodes, you’ll learn how our lives lived on earth matter in God’s plan for the world.
Anyone familiar with the Christian faith – whether you’re Baptist or Catholic, Orthodox or Presbyterian, madly in love with your church or just about to walk out its doors – will find wonder and hope along this journey. Rediscover our passionate and imaginative callings as agents of God’s grace in every broken place.
You’ll travel a vast terrain in each episode, so you might want to watch the series more than once. There’s much to discover and ponder anew!

For more information visit their web site http://www.letterstotheexiles.com/

Illustration: Using your skills to help others in Jesus name

Recently a group of 4 young men known as 'How Ridiculous' threw a basketball ball down a dam wall 126 plus metres (or 413 plus feet) and it landed in a basketball ring...watch the video 

They have been doing some unbelievable feats for years....

check some of them out here: 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5f5IV0Bf79YLp_p9nfInRA 

While there is a lot of fun involved they do these stunts for a greater purpose:

'Since the humble beginnings of How Ridiculous, they have been passionately supporting the international not-for-profit organization 'Compassion' to see children released from poverty in Jesus' name.'

How can you use your skills and talents to help people in Jesus name???

Book: Church Refugees - Sociologists reveal why people are DONE with church but not their faith

Church Refugees - Sociologists reveal why people are DONE with church but not their faith

Sociologists Josh Packard and Ashleigh Hope reveal the results of a major study about the exodus from the American church.

There is a rising group of people called The Dones.
They are DONE with church but not their faith.

Many DONES are people who devoted a lifetime to their churches, but now they are walking away. Why?

What this study reveals may surprise you...

• Church refugees aren’t who you’d expect. Among those scrambling for the exits are the church’s staunchest supporters and leaders.
• Leaving the church doesn’t mean abandoning the faith. Some who are done with church report they’ve never felt spiritually stronger.
• The door still remains open—a crack. Those who’ve left remain hungry for community and the chance to serve—and they’re finding both.

Sifting through hundreds of hours of in-depth interviews, Packard and Hope provide illuminating insights into what has become a major shift in the American landscape.

If you’re in the church, discover the major reasons your church may be in danger
of losing its strongest members—and what you can do to keep them.

If you’re among those done with church, look for your story to be echoed here.
You’re not alone—and at last you’re understood.

AMAZON CUSTOMER REVIEWS
Patheos review
So what faith review

Article: The case for replanting...

Many congregations belonging to mainline churches are asking questions about the future...one possible option that God maybe asking such congregations to consider is replanting...
Nick Price from wiki52 explores what replanting a word and sacrament congregation is about in the article The case for replanting

Book: The doctrinal theology of the Evangelical Lutheran Church

In the contemporary Lutheran church, our rich dogmatic heritage is often forgotten. We tend to privilege Luther and other early reformers over the later tradition that developed through his reforms. The church would benefit from a thorough read of those within the seventeenth century scholastic tradition, along with the reformers, who systematized and expounded upon Luther's ideas.

Heinrich Schmid's The Doctrinal Theology of the Evangelical Lutheran Church is a concise summary of the developments of the seventeenth century scholastic theologians in the Lutheran tradition. Schmid compiles citations from the best of that tradition, including Gerhard, Chemnitz, Calov, and Quenstedt. Schmid also includes several historical notes, demonstrating how each particular doctrine has developed in the history of Lutheran theology. This book is an essential read for anyone who desires to understand the Lutheran theological tradition and how the Lutheran doctines developed.

Devotion: Charlie Charlie

A good devotion for parents and teenagers relating to Charlie Charlie the latest fad sweeping teenage circles....visit http://364daysofthanksgiving.com/charliecharlie/