Brisbane Christian News @ Brisbane Christian Chat (Queensland, Australia)


	22.10.03 - Australian Christian drama website over 1,000,000 hits. From Publisher. Justyn Walker's www.dramamission.com website has recorded over 1,000,000 hits on his site that offers free Christian drama skits. His more than 50 skits are performed every week around the world in church services, youth meetings, evangelistic gatherings and street ministry. Justyn, is also the author of the successful children's' fantasy, 'The Magician's Daughter'. This novel is an allegory similar to C.S.Lewis's 'The Chronicles of Narnia' series. Details on www.themagiciansdaughter.com. The sequel 'The Ancient Machine', and a compelling Gospel allegory will be available in stores mid November.
	16.10.03 - Bewdy, bottler, ripper mate! Aussie Bible hits 'best seller' list. From Bible Society. Bible Society NSW’s newest publication, 'The Aussie Bible (Well, bits of it anyway!)' by Kel Richards has sold over 21,000 copies since its release in August. "This a remarkable achievement", said Bible Society NSW Communication Manager, Martin Johnson. "Although The Aussie Bible is technically not classed as a book - it is only 86 pages - to have sold this many just two months after release is far beyond our expectations," said Martin. Author Kel Richards, who has published over 28 books said, "Well, stone the crows! Who’da thought it? It’s good news that so many Aussies want to read good news. And some of them might go further, and join the Jesus fan club. That wouldn’t be a bad thing for the land-down-under, now would it? Be better than a poke in the eye with a burnt stick!" Kel - a well known ABC broadcaster and journalist - has taken the story of Jesus’ life from the New Testament and re-told it in chronological order using the Aussie idiom. Familiar characters and stories such as the ‘good samaritan’ become the story of ‘a good bloke’ who took the Jerusalem Road to Jericho. "A bunch of bushrangers attacked him, stole his dough, and left him as good as dead. A big-wig from the Temple happened to pass by, took one look at the bloke, crossed the road and hurried off. Another official who was on the road that day did the same." "Then a really ordinary bloke (a grubby old street sweeper you wouldn’t look twice at) passed by and felt really sorry for him. So he used his first aid kit to patch him up, and then put him on his old nag, took him to the nearest pub, and took care of him." The feeding of the five thousand is called ‘A gigantic picnic’. "Jesus said to his team, "Come on out to the desert for a bit, so you can have some kip." (There was such a big mob hanging around they didn’t even have time for a bite to eat.) When Jesus came ashore he saw this enormous mob, and felt sorry for them because they were like a bunch of aimless sheep with no one to keep on eye on them." Bible Society NSW has also released The Aussie Bible on CD and VHS courtesy of Anglican Media. All the products are available from Bible Society NSW at 95 Bathurst Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia. For more information: Martin Johnson, Communications Manager - 02 9267 6862, 0417 028 438, MJohnson@biblesociety.com.au.
	15.10.03 - Australia's Great Cross to be dedicated in Canberra. By Nicholas Kerr. The Great Cross at the national Christian centre - the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture in Canberra - will be dedicated on Saturday, November 22. The giant cross is 25 metres high. "It looks wonderful," the centre's new director, Rev Professor James Haire, said. He took up the new position on October 1. Professor Haire recently finished his term as national president of the Uniting Church. He is also president of the National Council of Churches in Australia. "The cross is of steel, painted so that it catches the light exquisitely. It will look spectacular when it's floodlit. It's double - two pieces of steel rising into the sky, with two cross bars. It looks directly towards the chapel and, more importantly, towards Parliament House. There will also be a pool, which speaks of new life in a parched and barren land. It's also a symbol of the Christian initiation of baptism and new life." Professor Haire said the liturgy for the dedication will speak about the situation of the world. "It will deal with brokenness - reconciliation, refugees and asylum seekers, homelessness, violence and poverty - and new life," he said. "God, in Christ, on the cross chose to be with the marginalised. God, in Christ, became a refugee. God, in Christ, became poor and homeless. And it is through this that we have new life." Professor Haire said church leaders from around the country will take part in the dedication ceremony. "It will be a national occasion," he said. "We see the centre as something for the whole nation." New patron Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffery has accepted an invitation to be patron of the centre. The last two Governor-Generals, Dr Peter Hollingworth and Sir William Deane, have been patrons.
	14.10.03 - Reading For Life - Bible Week - 9-16 May 2004! From Bible League. Bible League is responding to the need to help Australians, particularly Australian Christians, to be more aware of the Word of God. "Bibles are readily available in Australia, but according to the National Church Life Survey 2001, 64% of church attendees occasionally or 'never' read their Bibles. We must do something to change this statistic," says Bob Cole International Coordinator of Bible League. Bible League is preparing to launch Reading For Life - Bible Week from 9-16 May 2004. Its aim is to heighten the awareness of Australians to the power, truth and relevance of the Scriptures for everyone today. Bob Cole says, "The greatest need in the Australian church is for people to rediscover the Scriptures. If we don't understand and love the Scriptures ourselves, then we will limit our ability to help resource believers overseas who are without the Scriptures. We also know, that one of the reasons Christianity is growing at an amazing rate in other countries is because Christians are reading, in fact devouring the Word of God! Many of the Bibles being placed today in some countries are replacements of Bibles whose pages have been worn out by enthusiastic daily reading! If only this were happening in Australia, we too would be seeing explosive growth in the church today." Rev. Hon. Dr. Gordon Moyes, AC, MLC, Patron of Reading For Life - Bible Week wholeheartedly agrees with the proposal. He says, "This is what Australia needs today! At a time when parts of the church are making some significant changes in Biblically based beliefs, where there is no plumb line for the morals and values of our society, and where youth have little hope for the future, it's time for Christians to read and study the Word of God for themselves. I urge all who read this to pray that the Bible League's planning will result in an awareness of the Word of God in our nation as never before!" Bible League believes that when Christians have a lifestyle of reading God's living Word, concern for those who do not have the Bible to read in their own language grows. Christians become active - by praying and giving, to send Bibles to brothers and sisters around the world who do not yet have a Bible to read. Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and powerful."
	10.10.03 - Connect Festival. From Good News Lutheran. Good News Lutheran Presents - the Connect Festival - 8 Days connecting families into fun, fellowship and food. 45 Horizon Drive Middle Park DAY1 Sunday 26th Oct - "This is my family, Broken for you" Special Guest Speaker Dr. Steve Stathis. 9.30am followed by a Picnic and BBQ @ Sherwood Forest park 12noon. DAY2 Monday 27th Oct - "Cards, Couch and Mr. Potatohead" DAY3 Tuesday 28th Oct - "Parenting for life" Special Guest Presenter - Peter janetzki. Parenting Workshop 7.30-9pm followed by supper $5 per family DAY4 Wednesday 29th Oct - "Football, Fellas and Fanatics" Special Guest Speaker - Tim Mander. Boy's Night Out, Mens Dinner $28 per person - Centenary Tavern. Tim is a Christian and an NRL Referee. He brings his message of faith and sport to a generation of Aussie sporting men. DAY5 Thursday 30th Oct - "Say Farewell to Superwoman" Special guest speaker - Meryem Brown. Girls Night Out, Womens Dinner $28 per person, Centenary tavern. DAY6 Friday 31 Oct - "Good News Ho-Down" Special Guest Band The BRILLIANT Burning Bush Band Band. Family Bush Dance Ho-Down 7-10pm Gold Coin Donation, food and drinks on sale. DAY7 Saturday 1st Oct - "3-2-1-GO" Youth Concert $5 7-10pm (doors open 6.45pm) food and drinks, merchandise, huge sound and lighting show, multiple video sceens, prizes and more...special guest artists - Comedian/Singer: Paul Davis; Bands: SoulFrame, Elijah; DJ/MC: Kings Palace. DAY8 Sunday 2nd Nov - "The Puzzle" Family Worship Event - Speaker Jim Strelan. 9.30am. Good News Lutheran Church - 45 Horizon Drive Middle Park, 3279 3497, church.office@goodnews.qld.edu.au, www.church.goodnews.qld.edu.au.
	07.10.03 - International Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the Persecuted Church - Sunday 9 November 2003. From Australian Evangelical Alliance Inc. "My prayer for all of them is that they will be one..." Jesus, John 17:21. That the Church is suffering in this increasingly hostile world should not surprise us. Jesus warned us that it would be this way (see John 15:18-16:4). Persecution is increasing and persecuted believers need our prayers. If ever there was a time for us to engage with the global body of Christ as ONE CHURCH, joining together in the struggle, it is now. We - the Church - are called to take up our cross and follow Christ through rejection, death and then glorification. We will do it best if we do it together as ONE CHURCH - UNITING THROUGH PRAYER. '...join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.' Paul, Romans 15:30. Join the world's largest prayer group! On 9 November this year, IDOP 2003 will be observed by more than 300,000 congregations, praying together in unity of spirit, across more than 130 nations. Resources for IDOP 2003 include testimonies and reflections from the persecuted church to help us all - as ONE CHURCH - to understand and endure suffering. To help you pray, information and Critical Prayer Requests can be obtained on a data CD. In Australia, there is a choice of 3 formats (incl. p&h and GST): Data CD @ $10 ea, Printed materials @ $15 ea, CD + Printed materials @ $20 set.