The Way I See It by Kieran Modra, Andy Thurlow
What becomes of a country lad who loves daredevil adventure, only to discover that he is slowly losing his sight?
What courage does it take for him to pursue his dream of becoming an elite athlete representing his country?
Kieran Modra's inspiring story tells us about a shy country boy in a city boarding school, an adolescent struggling with his identity as he comes to terms with a disability, and the Australian athlete standing atop a dais as he accepts his gold medal.
'Kieran Modra: The way I see it is a fantastic read, which not only highlights the bravery and resilience of a boy going blind, but simultaneously traces the history and rise in popularity of the Paralympics and the progress in human understanding of vision impairment and what can be achieved with a positive can-do attitude.
Every cyclist - no, every Australian - needs to read this book to enjoy what it means to represent this wonderful country. Kieran's story is an emotional roller coaster and written with great sensitivity so the reader emerges with a deeper understanding of disability and a reminder of the power of the human spirit. A wonderful book about an extraordinary Australian athlete.' - Anna Meares, Australian Olympic, World, Commonwealth and National Cycling Champion
Kieran Modra is a member of Hallet Cove Lutheran Church South Australia
In Australia you can purchase the book from Australian Church Resources
Elsewhere visit Amazon
Some form of modern sound and lighting system can be found in almost every church today, but purchasing this equipment can be intimidating. Concordia Technology has produced an ebook to get you pointed in the right direction and to help you learn how to navigate the planning, sales, and purchasing and installation processes.
For more information about this free ebook visit here
For the love of God - Christianity is better than you can ever imagine and worse than you can ever imagine is an honest look at Christianity throughout history, whilst also responding to some of the objections people have about Christianity.
The Centre for Public Christianity - an Australian based apologetic organisation affiliated with the Bible Society has developed a movie and because there is so much content a mini series and even online clips to help Christians understand Christianity's role throughout history, both the good and the bad.
Screenings began in May and will occur based on demand....to see where you can view the film visit https://www.publicchristianity.org/documentary-screenings
The mini series will be launched online on 1 July visit https://fortheloveofgodproject.com/ to discover more about the project and when the mini series will be launched.
Rapid cultural and technological changes through the last two decades have changed the context for ministry. The development of digital social media and advances in affordable, mobile technologies have dramatically changed the way most people interact with others, communicate, organize, and participate in communities.
The Digital Cathedral is a warm embrace of the rich traditions of Christianity, especially the recovery of the pre-modern sense of cathedral, which encompassed the depth and breadth of daily life within the physical and imaginative landscape of the church. It is for anyone who seeks to effectively minister in a digitally-integrated world, and who wishes to embody the networked, relational, and incarnational characteristics of that ministry.
We are living in an age of the dechurched, people who have walked away from the church but not from faith. In Penguins in the Pews, J. Russell Crabtree examines why.
In his reflection on the responses of nearly 200,000 persons to a variety of questions, he addresses a number of topics including:
• Why is the distinction between quality and quantity both false and unhelpful?
• What makes the difference between a church that is growing and one that isn't?
• Why does a church growth "program" seem to work in some churches but not in others?
• What kind of church climate do people need to experience to both join and stay with it over the long term?
• What is church culture and how does it aid or inhibit church growth?
• When does a church need to stop focusing on surviving and shift to leaving a legacy for their community?
In The State of the ELCA, J. Russell Crabtree examines of the perspectives, experiences, and aspirations of a large cross section of members in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In his reflection on the responses of nearly 60,000 members to a variety of questions, he addresses a number of topics including:
• How does the experience of Lutherans compare with other mainline denominations?
• Which groups feel most positive and which groups feel less positive about their experience in the Lutheran church?
• What are some of the factors that make the difference between Lutheran churches that are experiencing vitality and those that are struggling?
• How are Lutherans experiencing life in their congregations over their lifecycle ranging from the teenage years through child bearing, child rearing, empty nest, and retirement?
• As they think about the future, what are the aspirations of Lutherans for their churches and how do these vary from Boomlets up through Boomers and the GI Generation?
• What are the motivating factors for giving among Lutherans and how do these differ from one congregation to another?
Get ready for a few surprises as you read the answers to these questions, but also discover Lutheran perspectives on Scripture, spiritual practices, pastoral transitions, and Synods.
The State of the ELCA ends on a positive note by summarizing interviews with the pastors of four transformational Lutheran churches, one large, one small, one more conservative, and one more progressive.
What others think
Once again, Russell Crabtree has challenged us with a call to base our planning and practice on evidence rather than pre-conceptions or anecdotal biases. This book is a must-read for congregational leaders, synod staffs, and synod councils. For those who have ears to hear it will guide us into more effective and faithful leadership." BISHOP WAYNE N. MILLER, METROPOLITAN CHICAGO SYNOD
