15 September 2014 Vol 77 No 6 Free On Request: office@nlife.com.au

‘Tell the people the full message of this new life’ – Acts 5.20b www.nlife.com.au

Anne Bybee struggled to find one thing of signifi­cance. ‘It was just this mangled rubble pile of nothing,’Bybee said. ‘I kept looking at the pile, thinking I wouldrecognise something ... anything.’

Bybee was on her third day of work as part of the Na­tional Disaster Medical System Mission Support Team,providing logistical support to the Disaster Medical As­sistance Teams who cared for rescue workers at GroundZero.

Walking the Ground Zero perimeter for about 16hours a day, she found herself almost numb. A sense ofhopelessness had kicked in as she kept staring at thispile of madness. But then, out of nowhere, she finallysaw it. Bybee stared at it for a few minutes. She noticeda worker standing nearby and asked him a question. ‘Didthey do that on purpose?’ Bybee asked. In his thickBronx accent, the man quickly responded, ‘Yeah, theyhit it with two planes.’ That wasn’t Bybee’s question. Across had naturally formed from the mangled remains ofthe Twin Towers and despite walking past this spot manytimes on the far side of Ground Zero, Bybee had some­how missed the imagery, as did the worker.‘You Are Not Alone’The image of the cross was more than a co­incidence forBybee, more than two fallen beams. It was as thoughthe Lord was speaking to her, assuring her that you canhave peace with God – peace in the midst of tragedy and

suffering – and encounter the forgiveness and deep loveof God. ‘As I was staring at that, I got a sense of peace,’Bybee said. ‘I got a very strong message: “You are notalone. I AM here”.’A Message UnfoldsThe longer she looked at the cross, the more she wasmoved. There was other material wrapped around itthat resembled the clothes that Jesus would have worn.The steam in the background represented the devasta­tion for the 9/11 families, while Bybee saw a ray of lightcoming in from the left, which was actually a stream ofwater gushing in. ‘I couldn’t move for a long time,’ shesaid. ‘I felt that message was not only given to me, butalso to the people that I was working with and in contactwith. I was just speechless.’Birth Of The Billy Graham Rapid Response TeamA ministry was born out of the ashes of 9/11. The BillyGraham Rapid Response Team deploys crisis­trainedvolunteer chaplains to offer spiritual and emotional carein the midst of disaster. In the event of an emergency,more than 1,500 chaplains in the US, Australia, Canada,and the United Kingdom stand ready to deploy with thehope and love of Christ.

Perhaps it’s one small outcome from such a giant disaster and expression of the total depravity of thehuman heart, but it’s one mighty affirmation that ‘wheresin abounds, grace abounds all the more.’ – ASSIST

THIS story was originally pub­lished on BillyGraham.org in2011 on the anniversary of the9/11 attacks, giving a glimmer ofhope found in the midst of therubble at Ground Zero – a re­minder that the Lord Jesus is al­ways with us, especially in ourdarkest hours.

The rubble pile at GroundZero was 10 stories high, yetnothing was identifiable. Threeweeks after the 9/11 attacks,and the scene in lower Manhat­tan was defined by this enor­mous mound of smoulderingdestruction.

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In The Cross Of Christ I Glory, Tow’ring O’er The Wrecks Of TimeIn The Cross Of Christ I Glory, Tow’ring O’er The Wrecks Of Time

BE kind to the shepherds of God’s flock. Some alarming statistics have justsurfaced from America, but I wonder how widely they differ from similarstatistics in Australia: 97% of pastors have been betrayed, falsely accusedor hurt by their trusted friends; 70% of pastors battle depression; 7,000churches close each year; 1,500 pastors quit each month (10% of them willretire); 80% of pastors feel discouraged; 94% of pastors’ families feel thepressure of the ministry; 78% of pastors have no close friends; 90% of pas­tors report working 55­75 hours per week.

There is no doubt about it: the ministry is a hazardous occupation. It’snot for the faint­hearted. Well might the Divinely inspired Paul write: ‘Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Doeverything in love.’ (1 Corinthians 16.13,14)

I have witnessed behaviour against ministers that is not just unChristian,but downright inhumane and unjust. When some people get a set against aminister they throw off any semblance of Christian character and behav­iour in order to get rid of him. Unsubstantiated lies and allegations, mole­hills made into mountains, opposition and obstructionism, furtive plottingand alliance building, secrecy and deception, bribery and abuse of power –all these and more are brought into play to serve the purpose of the perse­cutor. Anything goes because he must have his way. And none of thesethings ever made their way into the list of ‘the fruit of the Spirit’. Spiritfruit, in fact, is conspicuously absent, although other ‘fruit’ is much in evi­dence: ‘hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions,factions and envy’; bringing into play our Lord’s measuring rod: ‘By theirfruit you shall know them.’

There are times when a Christian needs to stand up for and stand by abrother or sister under attack, and stand up to the attacker, however wellplaced he might be and whatever masks he wears to hide his real persona.

– Bob Thomas

‘Faithful shepherds protect their flocks not only fromharmful outside influences but from the self-servingamong the sheep. Many congregations have experiencedthe intimidation of bullies within their midst. Whenleaders fail to take responsibility to shepherd the flock itis often the strong-willed, outspoken, highly opinionatedfolk who will fill the void. There will always be leaders –the issue is whether they are the leaders called andgifted by God to shepherd His flock or those who pushthemselves forward so that they can push othersaround.’ – Timothy Z. Witmer. Acts 20.28-30

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page TwoNEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page Two

VOLUME 77NUMBER 6

ISSUE DATE:15 September 2014

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Some Alarming Statistics

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page ThreeNEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page Three

MATTERS FOR PRAYERMATTERS FOR PRAYER

I HAVE previously reported that, on the advice of Hindu nationalist (Hindutva) agitators fromthe Vishva Hindu Parishad, more than 50 villages in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region had usedSection 129 (G) of the Chhattisgarh Panchayat Raj Act to ban all non­Hindu religious practice.This denial of religious liberty has resulted in a sharp rise in persecution, with Christians beingassaulted, denied access to food rations and water, and even driven from their villages. JohnDayal of the All India Christian Council reported on 22 August that, despite concerted advo­cacy, there has been no response from either the state or federal government. Furthermore,Dayal says the threat of purging Christians from villages has spread from Chhattisgarh toMadhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. If impunity persists, then so will this trend.

Further to this, Hindu nationalists are ramping up their conversion or 'ghar wapsi' (home­coming) campaigns, especially in Uttar Pradesh ahead of by­elections to be held on 13 Sep­tember. This is nothing other than religious conversion for political gain. On 26 August 72former Valmikis re­converted to Hinduism after being Christians since 1995. [Valmikis areDalits (Untouchables) who venerate the Sanskrit poet Valmiki.] A purification ceremony washeld for them inside a Seventh Day Adventist church in Asroi, in Aligarh district. [Aligarh cityis just 140km south­east of New Delhi.] Hindu nationalists had seized the church the nightbefore, removing its cross and installing a portrait of the Hindu deity Shiva. Whilst the re­conversion ceremony naturally upset local Christians, the seizure of the church and its con­version into a Hindu temple sent tensions soaring. To ease tensions, the districtadministration stepped in and removed the Shiva poster to 'a safe place', and the church'sbelongings, i.e. 'a cupboard, Christmas­lights and a single copy of the Bible', 'to a locker'. By30 August eleven Hindu fundamentalists from various Hindutva groups had been arrested oncharges of desecrating a Christian church.

When Hindus attempted to seize a church in the village of Hasayan in neighbouringHathras District on 28 August, police stepped in to prevent it. Unable to seize the church (be­longing to the Church of North India) the Hindus conducted the ghar wapsi in a private resi­dence, restoring 15 Christians to the Hindu fold. A local Hindu nationalist leader, RajeshwarSingh, said the Dharam Jagran Vivad was planning to hold a major ghar wapsi event onChristmas Day. 'It will be a big event,' he said, 'targeting almost 1000 Christians.' Another DJVmember, Khem Chandra, commented that whilst the church building 'belongs to the mis­sionaries ... the ground on which it stands belongs to Hindustan. We will not compromise onour dharti (earth).' The DJV intends to erect a temple on the site.

Whilst many re­conversions are forced, even violent, many are not. In India, when a Dalitconverts to Christianity they lose their Scheduled Caste status, along with the governmentbenefits and affirmative action the SC status affords. Consequently, many Dalit Christiansare condemned to crippling poverty. Though the government no longer views the Christiansas Dalits, everyone else does because caste is deeply ingrained in India's Hindu culture. Ac­cordingly the systematic discrimination continues but without the government compensa­tion. If the convert fails to grow in faith as a disciple of Jesus Christ, or if they feel the Churchhas let them down – maybe by abandoning them to their poverty – the economic benefits ofre­conversion can be very alluring.

India is the second­largest missionary­sending nation in the world (second only to US) withsome 83,000 missionaries (according to Operation World), most of them working cross­cul­turally within India. However, India is an enormous mission field with immense needs. If con­verts are to grow and endure, they will need strong faith, literacy and vocational skills equallyand in great measure. Of course, India needs to end its systemic discrimination – somethingDalit Christians have been fighting for in the Supreme Court for nearly a decade now. Sadly,equity is even more remote now the BJP is in power for, as a Hindutva party, the BJP is ideo­logically committed to religious apartheid. So 'Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to sendout workers into His harvest field.' (Matthew 9.38 NIV)

– Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin is a ministryof Elizabeth Kendal, author of Turn Back

The Battle: Isaiah Speaks To Christians Today

INDIA: Persecution, Poverty And InequityPLEASE PRAYFOR INDIA,THAT THELORD WILL: • awaken andsharpen the con­sciences of all those(local and interna­tional) who have in­fluence in India suchas diplomats, am­bassadors, politi­cians, journalists,educators andcelebrities, as wellas those who areleaders in businessand industry; maythey speak outagainst inequity andspeak up for thevoiceless poor andneedy (Proverbs31.8,9); may Hemagnify their voicesand bring culturalchange to India.• challenge the 21stCentury Churchabout its market­mindset that pur­sues measurable'results' for the pur­pose of attractingdonors; may she ap­preciate the moreimportant long­term daily 'plod' ofsimple obedienceand faithful servicethat moves beyondconversions to fos­tering discipleshipand facilitating en­durance.• send out moreworkers throughoutthe enormous andneedy mission fieldthat is India.

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page FourNEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page Four

WORTH CELEBRATING:WORTH CELEBRATING:

THERE is only one copy left of the first edition of Scripture Selections In Ngarrindjeri, the first part of theBible published in an Aboriginal language 150 years ago. That small book had pride of place at a celebra­tion of 150 years of Aboriginal Publishing in Adelaide last week. The Ngarrindjeri are the Aboriginal peopleof the lower lakes of the Murray River and their Bible has had a major role in preserving and now revitalis­ing their language.

The celebration began with The Old Rugged Cross sung in English, Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna (the lan­guage of the traditional owners of Adelaide), led by Nelson Varcoe, a Kaurna songwriter and singer, joinedby Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna singers, both Aboriginal and non­Aboriginal. The song brought many of the el­ements of the celebration together. God, who sent His Son Jesus to die on that old rugged cross, Gospel­centred religion in the heart language of Aboriginal people, together with joy for the work of the peoplewho recorded the language.

Tribal elders, Bible translators and their supporters gathered for the celebration at Adelaide’s Tabor Col­lege, which also marked 60 years of Wycliffe Bible translators work in Australia, an organisation whichgreatly accelerated translation work.

Representatives of the Leipzig Lutheran Mission came bearing gifts, Kaurna documents from the 1840’sincluding pages written by children, on permanent loan to the Kaurna people and lodged in Adelaide Uni­versity’s Barr­Smith Library. The University is a centre for the revival of Aboriginal languages includingKaurna and Ngarrindjeri.

Bible Society CEO Greg Clarke read from the 1864 minutes of the British And Foreign Bible SocietySouth Australian auxiliary that resolved to print the Bible in Aboriginal languages and Verna Koolmatrie, aNgarrindjeri elder described how the Bible translation program came as her people ‘were floundering andbeing dispossessed at the same time. But now,’ she said, ‘we feel blessed. We think it was a work of provi­dence.’ – John Sandeman, Editor, Eternity

150 Years Of Aboriginal Bibles

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NEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page FiveNEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page Five

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A gifted communicator and the youngest son ofa well­known Asian Evangelist, the late Dr G.D.James, Jonathan directs a task force of some 175national missionaries in 10 countries in Asia andthe Pacific and has established AEF’s trainingschools in 3 Asian countries, under the umbrellaof the Asia College of Ministry (ACOM).

Dr Castro founded Solid Rock Missions (Orphan­age, school, hospital and church) in KampongThom in Cambodia. A medical doctor and mis­sionary from Philippines serving in Cambodia, DrCastro and his wife Joy felt the great need of aloving home for the orphans and abandonedchildren.

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NEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page SixNEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page Six

CHURCH AND NATION ...CHURCH AND NATION ...

Rev Fred Nile Moves To Ban Face Coverings In NSW

Corner Shop Cannabis And Other Dopey Ideas‘NEW Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm has lost no time putting forward his party’s policies –summed up as “Do what you like as long as no­one gets hurt”,’ FamilyVoice Australia research officer RosPhillips says. ‘His trouble is that he has forgotten the last part of that sentence – “as long as no­one getshurt”. His latest policy of legalising cannabis for open sale is a case in point – the harm done, particularly toAustralian teens, would be enormous. Prestigious UK medical journal The Lancet has published a paperwhose findings point to serious health and other risks from cannabis use, and researchers from the Univer­sity of New South Wales, led by Professor Richard Mattick, found a range of negative outcomes fromcannabis use, including serious depression.’

CHRISTIAN Democratic Party leader the Rev Fred Nile moved a private member’s bill in the NSW Legisla­tive Council on Thursday 11 September, which would, if passed, prohibit the wearing of face coverings inpublic, which would include balaclavas and burqa’s etc. It follows similar bans in Belgium, France, Italy andSwitzerland. Mr Nile denies the bill is anti­Muslim, saying his concern lies with national security and theISIS threat. He stated that the recent arrest in Queensland of two men allegedly linked to terrorist groupsin Syria shows the need for his Bill.

‘We also face the new Islamic State terrorist threat, whose black uniforms for both men and women in­clude face coverings to prevent identification,’ he told the chamber. Under the legislation a person whocovers their face in public would face a $550 fine and a person who forces someone else to cover their facewould receive a $1100 penalty.

Rev Nile stressed that his bill's text does not include the words ‘burqa’ or ‘Muslim, although much of hisspeech to parliament about the plan focused on the opposition of face coverings such as the burqa andniqābs by Muslim religious groups. The plan allows faces to be covered under certain conditions, such asduring a parade or religious services. Debate on the bill was adjourned until Tuesday 16 September 2014.

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page SevenNEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page Seven

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'Vicar of Baghdad' Shares One Man's StoryOf Facing Down Islamic State TerroristsIN Iraq, the huge crisis for the Christian community continues. The enormity of it isjust beginning to sink in, says one Anglican vicar who lives and works in the region.‘At least 250,000 people have been forced from their homes, their churches, andtheir towns,’ says Canon Andrew White, known popularly as 'The Vicar of Bagh­dad.'

‘They have been persecuted in ways too awful to describe. Their children havebeen killed, mutilated, and made to suffer in ways we never thought possible. Yetin the midst of all this, G­d's glory has never left us.’ Canon White says in a post onhis Facebook page that last week ISIS (now known as Islamic State) broke into oneof the Christian homes in the area. ‘There was the father of the family with his chil­dren. The ISIS people held a sword to each of the children's necks and told the fa­ther, Yokhanna, that unless he converted to Islam they would all be killed. He looked at his children andsaid “I always want you and need you.” He could not even bear to consider that his children would bekilled,’ Canon White reports.

‘With great reluctance, he said the words of conversion. ISIS left and he phoned me crying, “Abouna,Abouna (my father) they were going to kill my dear young children, they forced me to say the words ofconversion and I said them. I love Yesua so much I will never leave my Yesua. Will He leave me now?”

‘I asked myself what would I have done if I were placed in that situation. I told Yokhanna that Yesua stillloved him and would never leave him. That Yesua would always be part of his life and would always be intheir home,’ Canon White said.

Meanwhile the Canon's work at St. George's Church in Baghdad continues, trying to help the thousandsof displaced people in the wake of the Islamic State terrorist activities in Iraq. ‘We have had to provide

everything, everything. Food, drink, mattresses,baby's cots, wheelchairs and much more. The peoplehave nowhere to stay; most have sought refuge inchurches and schools where hundreds are left tosleep on the floor. Very soon, the children should bereturning to school after their summer vacation – no­body knows if and how the schools will even be ableto open with so many hundreds of the Christians andYazeedis there.’

Following a bout with hepatitis, Canon White said:‘Today I started work properly and shared in takingthe funeral of Amelia, a wonderful lady of 102 whowas the granddaughter of Smith Wigglesworth. I gotinvolved with the family because my grandfatherwas at one time the assistant to Smith Wig­glesworth. When he died, he was given Smith Wig­glesworth's Bible. Two days before my grandfatherdied he gave me the Bible and it has been with meever since. It has come with me all around the worldand has always been a source of great inspiration tome. I do pray each day that I may see the signs, won­ders and miracles that Smith Wigglesworth saw, andby G­d's grace I do.’ – Michael Ireland,

Special Reporter, ASSIST News Service

A MAN AND HIS MISSION ...A MAN AND HIS MISSION ...

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page EightNEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page Eight

A Child’s Prayer for IraqTHE takeover of several Iraqi towns by extremist groupISIS has been devastating. Children in particular are sensi-tive to such tragedies. Mario, a regular fan of the SAT-7KIDS program Why Is That, called the studio recently fromhis home in Tanta, just north of Cairo in Egypt to pray forIraq and all the Arab countries:‘We thank You for extending Your glory to everything in ourlives, Lord. We pray for Iraq and all the Arab countries,they’re in Your hand, Lord. Let there be peace and forgive-ness, Lord, in terms of those who are doing bombings.Watch over the innocent people.

Even those killing others, You love them very much. Youwait for them that they may come back to You again, ohLord.

Lord Jesus, You said, ‘Come to Me, you who are wearyand heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’ Yes, Lord. Maywe come back to You in everything, Lord Jesus.

Whether it be a small problem or a big problem, whetherit be among nations or something material, or anything. If itbe household problems, You will be glorified, Lord Jesus.’

The innocence and goodwill of a child’s prayers are anuplifting witness during such trying times. They give hopethat God can use the next generation to shape a differentfuture for the region according to His will.

– SAT7 Report

MICAH Challenge welcomes Treasurer Joe Hockey’s announcement that Australia will, along with other countries,implement Automatic Exchange of Information on Tax Matters as part of the new global standard. Micah ChallengeAustralia National Director, John Beckett, stated, ‘The Treasurer is right to be concerned about the fairness of the in­ternational tax system, and about the ability of multinationals and high wealth individuals to avoid or evade tax.This kind of tax dodging affects all nations, including Australia. However, developing countries are hurt the mostand are robbed of the vital revenue they need to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable human development.

‘Highly conservative estimates show that poor nations lose more than $160 billion each year from just two formsof illegal corporate tax evasion, which is substantially more money than they receive annually in foreign aid,’ said MrBeckett. The Treasurer has committed to announcing Australia’s plan to implement Automatic Exchange of Informa­tion (AEOI) at the G20 Finance Ministers’ Summit in Cairns on 20,21 September. Implementing this new global stan­dard will allow countries to automatically receive information when their citizens set up bank accounts or makeinvestments in another country. International experience has shown that AEOI cuts down on tax dodging by individ­uals and corporations. With appropriate privacy safeguards, AEOI makes it easier for countries to identify legitimateinternational banking needs and what may be illegitimate tax evasion.

Micah Challenge has concerns, though, that the poorest countries may not be in a position to make use of theglobal standard and calls on the Treasurer – as chair of the G20 finance ministers’ meeting – to ensure that they areadequately supported to make use of AEOI and other measures to tackle tax dodging by multinational corporations.

CHURCH AND NATIONCHURCH AND NATION

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page NineNEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page Nine

Australia Takes Step To Tackle Multinational Tax Dodging

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Government Should Heed Calls To Settle More Refugees Fleeing Persecution – ACLLiberal Member for Longman Wyatt Roy’s call for a doubling of Australia’s humanitarian intake should be heeded, according to theAustralian Christian Lobby. Mr Roy’s call comes a week after the Coalition’s junior partner, The Nationals, voted unanimously infavour of an urgency motion seeking an increase at its Federal Council meeting in Canberra. ACL Managing Director Lyle Sheltonsaid 19,500 people had signed ACL’s on-line petition calling for an increase in the wake of the persecution of Christians.

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page TenNEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page Ten

NEWS FROM ABROADNEWS FROM ABROAD

Glimmer Of Hope For Kidnapped Schoolgirls?It’s been 150 days since the schoolgirls kidnapped in Nigeria last saw their families. Back inApril, the Islamic terror group Boko Haram kidnapped 276 schoolgirls from the Chibok villagein Borno State. Shortly thereafter, 57 girls were able to escape and make it to safety, but therest remain in captivity. However, there might be a trade in the works to bring at least 30 ofthe remaining 219 Chibok schoolgirls back home, according to reports.

Nigerian newspaper, The Nation, issued a report recently claiming a ‘secret negotiation’between Boko Haram and the Nigerian government had been made to exchange 18 BokoHaram prisoners for 30 of the Chibok captives. This exchange was reportedly stalled becauseNigeria’s government wanted all of the girls to be returned, and Boko Haram would only agree to free 30. Mean­while, Open Doors USA has been in contact with the kidnapped girls’ family members. Open Doors field workersmet with families a few months ago to pray with them and deliver letters of prayer and encouragement from Chris­tians around the world.

According to a Nigerian evangelist, 163 of the kidnapped schoolgirls are Christian. As their families cling to theLord for strength and hope, will you join them? Pray for the kidnapped schoolgirls’ safety, and pray that they are re­turned to their families soon. Pray for those who follow Christ, that their faith in the Lord will remain strong. Prayfor strength and endurance for the families of the kidnapped schoolgirls. – Katey Hearth, mmnonline.org

Please Pray For FEBC Workers In UkraineValentin Burlaka was involved in a serious car accidentwhich happened on 4 September in the Ukraine.Valentin and the wife of his nephew went to be withthe Lord soon after. There were other people in the carwho are now making a good recovery. Please pray forSvetlana, Valentin’s wife, their four sons who havefamilies, their extended families and friends. Valentinhad been overseeing the broadcast ministry in Cher­novtsy, West Ukraine as well as the broadcast to thou­sands of Slavic people in Sacramento, USA.

The first six members of an Australian work partyhave arrived in Almaty, Kazakhstan. This is the secondtrip for Graeme, James, Malcolm and David. The twonew team members are Jared and Nathan. Steve (alsoon his second trip) arrived earlier and has been sourc­ing materials and equipment so as to be ready for theteam when they arrive. The second team, Joy, David,Paul and Andrew will arrive in Almaty on 27 Septem­ber. Pray that together they will all work well as ateam and accomplish many of the scheduled tasks.May God be honoured in all they do.

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NEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page ElevenNEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page Eleven

Lebanese Christians Readying For ISIS InvasionLEBANESE believers have watched as Christians inSyria and Iraq were forced to flee their homes and vil­lages as ISIS takes more territory. Now, they’re ready toprotect themselves from a potential threat by the Is­lamic State. Rita El Mounayer with SAT­7 says theywon’t go easily. ‘When I was in Lebanon last week, I metwith many leaders and many colleagues and manyfriends at church. They were really ready to pick up armsand fight.’ Concern seems to be mounting because ISISforces overran a border town last month, killing and kid­napping Lebanese soldiers and policemen. Of course theLebanese Christians are going to protect and defend,this time with unlikely allies among the Shi’ite Muslimsand some Sunni moderates. El Mounayer adds, ‘Some­times when you don’t have law and order in a country,you can’t just open your doors to ISIS and say, “Wel­come. Kill my children and my wife”.’

– Ruth Kramer www.mnnonline.orgProclaiming A Message Of Hope, Not Hate,In PakistanDESPITE relentless persecution against Christians, aministry in Pakistan is seeking to strategically bring thegood news of salvation to some of the most hostile sec­

tions of the country. Called ‘Extending Love To Neigh­bors,’ the project was launched in mid­May with just 285Bibles at the ministry's disposal. The ministry directorsaid his group is taking a bold step of faith and trustingGod to provide all of the 2,000 Bibles they are planningto make available to their Muslim neighbors near a Tal­iban­controlled area.

‘It is one of the difficult areas to evangelise,’ the min­istry leader explained in a report to Christian Aid Mis­sion. ‘We praise God that in spite of all the hazardscaused by heat and hatred, there are those who areseeking for the written Word of God.’

Since it is illegal to evangelise in Pakistan, Bibles can­not be given out for free. They can, however, be offeredfor sale at a low cost. The ministry pays $5 per Bible andsells them for $2. Wherever the ministry's Gospel work­ers go, they find men and women whose hearts areeager to read the Word of God for themselves.

– Christian Aid Mission, ASSISTPray For Syrian BelieversThe US is entering the fight against ISIS, and a group af­filiated with al­Qaeda is closing in on a Christian town inSyria. E3 Partners is in close contact with Syrian believ­ers and asks you to pray right now about the situation.

PERSECUTION WATCHPERSECUTION WATCH

TWO pastors have been sentenced to several years in prison for‘fundraising for personal gain’ in Bhutan, a small kingdom gov­erned by a Buddhist monarchy that borders China and India inthe eastern Himalaya mountains.

The Attorney General in the capital Thimphu sentenced PastorTandin Wangyal, 30, to nearly four years in prison without bailfor committing a felony under the charge of soliciting fundsfrom the public for personal gain. Pastor Mon Thapa, 56, has re­ceived a shorter sentence of two years and four months. Alter­natively, he could pay a fine of 98,800 Ngultrum ($AU1,700)instead of time in prison.

‘I am already handed to the police now for detention,’ saidWangyal in a text message. ‘I may not be able to communicate after this [message].’ Wangyal has 10 days to submithis appeal.

‘Chances are slim,’ said a local source, unnamed for security reasons. ‘This sad development has really shakeneveryone. My mother and the other women of our church will visit Tandin’s [Wangyal] family.’ The men were ar­rested on 5 March while they were carrying a sick child to a clinic in a village. They had only arrived the previous dayafter an invitation to hold a three­day seminar for 30 Christians who came from neighbouring towns. They were de­tained under the charges of conducting a gathering for religious purpose without prior approval; showing a filmwithout certificate of approval from media authorities and for collecting ‘illegal funds.’

– www.worldwatchmonitor.org

Bhutanese Pastors ‘Guilty’ Of Fundraising For Own Gain

Thimphu, Capital of Bhutan.

MINISTER WANTEDRobinvale Church of Christ is seeking a Part Time Minister.

Robinvale is a vibrant multicultural community on the Murray River surrounded bya broad range of horticultural industries.

‘The harvest truly is plenteous but the labourers are few.’ (Matthew 9.37)Accommodation is available.

For further information and enquiry contact: Josh Boram: 0409 977 636

COURAGE IN A HOSTILE WORLD, The Story Of FamilyVoiceAustralia, by David Phillips, FamilyVoice Australia, Adelaide,2014. ISBN 9780 9924 8805. Website: www.fava.org.auSOME stories just have to be told, and the battle for righteousness’sake waged by husband and wife team David and Ros Phillips forover 40 years from their base in South Australia is one of them.David’s account of their work over the years, Courage In A Hostile

World, was launched at the recent Australasian Press Association Convention in Canberra (which by happy co­incidence was also celebrating its 40th anniversary) on Friday 5 September.

ARPA President Peter Bentley warmly commended the book, noting that it was interestingly written in the con­text of the Phillips’ own family life, ‘telling the history through stories’. Peter also praised the Phillipses as ‘key mem­bers of ARPA who have won ten ARPA awards for their publications over the years. He said that Courage In A HostileWorld was a timely book as Christians indeed faced a hostile world in which ‘so much is going on that we’ve forgot­ten how to blush.’ He described the book as ‘rivetting reading, which I couldn’t put down’.

Courage In A Hostile World is so attractively presented it could almost be a coffee table book. It tells its story com­prehensively but never tediously and is liberally illustrated. More importantly though, it provides a tangible recordof a fight against evil in so many of its manifestations, spearheaded by this couple whose dedication inspired a largenimber of other concerned people to become involved.

The book is warmly commended by former Governor General Michael Jeffery, former Deputy Prime Minister JohnAnderson, Stuart Robinson, Founding Pastor of Crossway Baptist Church, and Mark Durie, Vicar of St Mary’s Anglican Church, Caulfield, among others.

BOOKS WORTH READINGBOOKS WORTH READING

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page TwelveNEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page Twelve

EMOTIONS: Living Life In Colour, Graham Beynon, IVP, Nottingham,2012. ISBN 978 1 84474 589 0‘GOD made us to feel … When they (feelings) are good, we love them; when they arebad we would prefer not to have them. But life without feelings wouldn’t be life as Godmade it, life in colour.’ In this way the preface introduces the reader to the content ofthe book: an exploration of emotions and what the Bible has to say about their placein our life. Who has not been moved by wonderful music or beautiful literature? Whohas not been awed by breathtaking scenery? What depth of emotion are we broughtto by pain, by joy and by love in all its forms.

Beynon writes with the experience of a parish minister, and the book has real exam­ples from others and his own life. Every chapter finishes with questions for thoughtfulreflection. He addresses the positive and negative influences of emotions in our livesand how the Bible gives perspective on them. He also explains how emotions influenceour church life in our formal worship times and our everyday relationships with others.Exploring our emotional reaction to situations and other people is crucial; we must notdeny emotions nor be mastered by them. Many a church has had nasty consequencesfrom emotions being incorrectly expressed or by being ignored.

As a preacher, Beynon explores the place of emotions in sermons and our emotionalresponse to them. Beynon is careful to not give glib answers to complex situations suchas those affected by depression, but instead encourages the reader to seek further ad­vice, and he gives a short useful further reading guide at the end of the book. His lastchapter directly addresses those in ministry leadership. However, this book is not onlyintended for the church leader and should not be limited to this readership.

If one is tempted to believe that only modern day Christians are interested in thistopic in response to a growing willingness in society to express emotion then thinkagain, think of Paul himself in his letters, think of the writings of Jonathan Edwards andRichard Baxter amongst others, and ponder some helpful quotes from Spurgeon.

– Mignon Goswell

Fighting The Good Fight – Forty Years On

ARPA President Peter Bentley(right), David and Ros Phillips

(left) at the book launch.

‘Lifewithoutfeelingswouldn’tbe lifeas Godmade it,life incolour.’

Look To Jesus – In HeavenIN all your way let your eye be to Jesus who is gone to Heavenas your Forerunner.Look to Him; behold His glory there in Heaven to stir you up themore earnestly to be there.Look to Him, and observe His example. Consider how by patient continuance in well­doing, and in patient enduring ofgreat sufferings, He went before to Heaven.Look to Him, and trust in His mediation, in His blood, withwhich He has entered into the holiest of all, as the price ofHeaven.Trust to His intercession in Heaven before God.Trust to His strength by His Spirit sent from Heaven to enableyou to press on and surmount the difficulties which are in theway to Heaven.Trust in His promises of Heaven to those who love and followHim, whom He has confirmed by entering into Heaven Himselfas your Head and Representative and Forerunner.

–Jonathan Edwards, Charity And Its Fruits, in Ethical Writings,The Works Of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. 8, Ed. Paul Ramsey

(New Haven: Yale University Press, 1749/1989), 395.

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page ThirteenNEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page Thirteen

‘WHOSE FAITH FOLLOW’

Ramon A Wi l l iamsRamon A Wi l l iams

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NEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page FourteenNEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page Fourteen

ROMANS: MOMENTOUS NEWSROMANS: MOMENTOUS NEWS –– DAVID COOKDAVID COOK

PAUL uses the word ‘therefore’ on three occasions in his let­ter to the Romans to signal a pause in his argument andbegin to apply his teaching to the lives of his readers.

Having established that righteousness is both God’s re­quirement and God’s provision (3.21­26) and that this isnothing new, as demonstrated in the experience of Abra­ham (chapter 4), he comes to his first conclusion in 5.1:‘Therefore, since we have been justified through faith …’

The Benefits Of RighteousnessRighteousness as God’s provision through faith has three benefits:• We know that God is at peace with us because of what Christ has done (5.1);• We have access, by faith, into an undeserved and unconditional relationship with God, in which we stand (5.2a);• We have an assured future: the glory of God (5.2b).

Paul goes on to show how God’s love proves the certainty of that future: His love is seen in the gift of the HolySpirit (5.5) and the gift of His Son (5.6­8). The righteousness provided by God shows itself in our life in a concern forpractical holiness. Union with Jesus brings about justification and makes sanctification the necessary fruit (6.14).

The battle against the old sinful nature, outlined in chapter 7, leaves Paul with two questions: will he be con­demned by his own lack of holiness? And, does God leave us under­resourced in this battle against the sinful nature?

The first of these is answered by the next ‘therefore’ in 8.1: ‘Therefore, there is now no condemnation for thosewho are in Christ Jesus …’ Our poor performance will not condemn us because of what Christ has done. The old Mosaic Law condemned us because none of us could keep it (v3), but God sent His Son to fulfil the righteous re­quirement of the Law and to become a sin offering in our place (v3,4). ‘No condemnation now I dread’, not becauseof our record, but because of Jesus’ work.

Paul outlines God’s purpose to preserve a remnant people for Himself made up of both Jews and non­Jews. Thisremnant belongs to God because of the sovereign exercise of His mercy (9.14,15; 11.25­27). In response to thesemercies of God, Paul comes to his last ‘therefore’: ‘Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offeryour bodies as living sacrifices …’ This, he says, is the reasonable response to what God has done in adding us to Hisremnant people.

What Is The ‘Therefore’ There For? – Romans 5.1; 8.1; 12.1FORREFLECTION:How often do you take timeto reflect about God’s mercyin your life and your own response to it?

Content taken from 'Romans: Momentous News' by David Cook, published by 10Publishing, used with permission.

To Look Up Back Issues Of New LifeRight Back To August 2007

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BOOKS WORTH READINGBOOKS WORTH READING

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page FifteenNEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page Fifteen

WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN: The Book Of Daniel InBiblical Theology, James M. Hamilton Jr; Nottingham: Apollos,2014. ISBN 978­1­78359­137­4JAMES M. Hamilton Jr is Professor of Biblical Theology at the Southern Bap­tist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky. He is well­equipped to write onthe book of Daniel, for he has preached through it, lectured on it, and so thepresent volume is the fruit of much study, thought and prayer. He describesthis book as ‘an evangelical and canonical biblical theology of Daniel’. Thefocus is on how Daniel used and integrated earlier Scripture and how later bib­lical authors used what he wrote, on the evangelical assumption that Danieland other inspired authors did so correctly and with God­given insight.

Hamilton’s whole­Bible approach to interpretation is commendable, thoughhe is over­committed to one particular presentation of the Old Testament, thetripartite ordering of the Jewish Bible (Law, Prophets and Writings), overesti­mating the antiquity of this arrangement and reading too much into certainstatements by Jesus, which do not have to be understood as referring to andendorsing a particular arrangement of the Old Testament books (eg Luke24.44). No one way of ordering the books of the Bible is mandated for inter­pretation. The books of the Old Testament are inspired, but the (differing) or­ders is which they have been placed over the centuries is not.

Hamilton rightly insists on an early date for the book’s composition (C.6BC). He believes that the miraculous rescues of chapters 3 and 6 really hap­pened as described and that chapters 10­12 are genuine prediction. The resultis that the book supports our faith in God as One who can perform miracles,protects His people and directs the course of human history. Hamilton showshow Daniel fits within the wider storyline of the Bible and suggests ways inwhich this prophetic book contributes to the larger story of God’s saving pur­poses. This kind of ‘big picture’ interpretation is much needed in church life,for sermons often only focus on a brief passage and there is little specificteaching on the larger canvas of Scripture.

He finds significant links between the two halves of the book in the manyreferences to time periods and the theme of God’s sovereignty over kings,helping to unify the historical narratives (Daniel 1­6) and apocalyptic revela­tions (Daniel 7­12). In terms of structure, Hamilton sees the book of Danielorganised as a chiasm, though his suggested links between chapters 1 and 10­12 seem a little forced to this reviewer, who would see chapters 1 and 8­12as matching sections, for they form a Hebrew envelope around the Aramaicchapters (chs.2­7) which are indeed chiastically arranged as demonstratedlong ago by Lenglet.

Hamilton makes many helpful comments on the book, however his inter­pretation of the vision of Daniel 7 is less than satisfactory, for the text does notsay that the one like a son of man was ‘enthroned’. There are two enthronedfigures in Psalm 110.1, but there is only one seated figure in Daniel 7, the onewho is ancient of days. The use of ‘thrones’ (plural) in 7.9 is best viewed as asuperlative, namely the super­duper throne upon which God sits. Hamilton’sattempt to use Psalm 8 to turn the son of man into a Davidic figure is also notconvincing. Jesus is the fulfilment of both passages, but an Adamic typology ison show in Daniel 7 and in Psalm 8. At times, Hamilton mixes and merges bib­lical texts in an unconvincing way. Of course one part of Scripture is meant tobe used to interpret another part of Scripture, (Continued p.16)

‘Hamiltonrightly insistson an earlydate for thebook’s compo-sition (C.6 BC).He believesthat the mirac-ulous rescues ofchapters 3 and6 really hap-pened as described andthat chapters10-12 are gen-uine prediction.The result isthat the booksupports ourfaith in God asone who canperform mira-cles, protectsHis people anddirects thecourse ofhuman history.’

BOOKS WORTH READINGBOOKS WORTH READING

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page SixteenNEW LIFE – 15 September 2014 – Page Sixteen

GET MORE OUT OF GET MORE OUT OF NEW LIFENEW LIFELearn more about a particular article, advertisement,

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(Continued from p.15) but Hamilton’s way of doing this sometimes fails to convince this reviewer that hehas got it quite right.

He is correct, however, to refuse to equate the son of man in Daniel 7 with any of the angelic figureselsewhere in the book (eg the fourth figure in the furnace) and he resists the temptation to find pre­incar­nate appearances of Christ in the narratives of Daniel 1­6. Hamilton helpfully brings out the fact that chap­

ters 8 and 10­12 focus on the second and thirdkingdoms, demonstrating that Evangelicals areright to see the fourth kingdom as a symbol of the‘antichrist’. He also does a credible job in explain­ing the prophecy of the ‘seventy weeks’ (Daniel9.24­27), possibly the most difficult verses in thewhole Bible to make sense of.

Finally, Hamilton looks at how early Jewish writ­ings (including the Dead Sea Scrolls) interpretedthe book of Daniel, followed by its use in theGospels and Revelation, all with the aim of clarify­ing the meaning of Daniel itself. Obviously, Danielis an important source for the explanation of theperson and work of Jesus both for the present andthe future. Here, then, is a helpful new resourcethat complements the currently available evangel­ical commentaries on Daniel.

– Greg Goswell

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