Bishop John

“… Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?…” Job 2:10

 This was Job’s response to his wife after his property was destroyed, his children killed and his own health was attacked.

 Two of the most common questions I am asked is why is there suffering? And, if there is a God who is supposed to be loving and all-powerful, then why does He allow suffering?

 The problem of suffering was raised in recent blogs I wrote:

 Ken Sande in his book “The Peacemaker: A Biblical guide to resolving conflict,” says that even though God does not take pleasure in hurtful events and is not the author of sin,

 Yet, for his eternal purposes, he sometimes allows suffering and permits unjust acts by men and women when he decides not to restrain, even though he has the power to do so…Even when sinful and painful things are happening, God is somehow exercising ultimate control and working things out for his good purposes… Knowing that he has personally tailored the events of our lives and is looking out for us at every moment should dramatically affect the way we respond to conflict.

 Hence God does not insulate us from suffering, but is with us in our suffering and accomplishes good through it. When we suffer insults, conflicts, hardships – God teaches us we need to rely on Him. When we suffer the consequences of our sins – God teaches us we need to repent. When we go through difficulties – God uses this to conform us to the likeness of Christ. – From my blog “Peace, conflict and grace.”

 Ajith Fernando, in his article “To serve is to suffer” also looks at the reality that if you are Christian who seeks to witness for the gospel of Christ (particularly in ministry) you will endure suffering.

  In a world where physical health, appearance, and convenience have gained almost idolatrous prominence, God may be calling Christians to demonstrate the glory of the gospel by being joyful and content while enduring pain and hardship. People who are unfulfilled after pursuing things that do not satisfy may be astonished to see Christians who are joyful and content after depriving themselves for the gospel. This may be a new way to demonstrate the glory of the gospel to this hedonistic culture. – From my blog “To serve is to suffer!”

I have asked some ‘guest bloggers’ to contribute to this issue and their articles will appear in the coming days.

As an enthusiast of Christian art I am excited by the recent October issue of the Tasmanian Anglican.

The magazine features the artwork of two Christian ladies who are using their art in the community to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The story of Paintings & Written Reflections on Biblical Texts features artwork by Maz Gill-Harper from her recently published book Parables of Jesus of Nazareth. One of her paintings, The Sower, appears on the front cover of the magazine.

 The Sower, from “Parables of Jesus of Nazareth'” by Maz Gill-Harper. Used with kind permission

Sculpture – ‘God has made a way’ tells of artist Rebecca Brogan’s sculpture that was rejected from two exhibitions for being too religious. Through prayer, it was finally accepted at a third exhibition, and a very happy appreciator of recycling junk and artwork (aka my wife) obtained it for outreach events.

In the October issue of the Tasmanian Anglican, which is now available online, I share some stories from my Prayer Pilgrimage around Tasmania.

In Just another log, I speak of the special gift I received of a piece of prose entitled Fiddleback, and three pieces of wood:

I started out on a wood heap. Really, just like any other firewood log. Nothing very special, just a bit of local ‘ironbark.’ It was only when split that my tortured years were revealed and the slow and stunted growth that caused my grain to be so contorted was first seen in the light of day.

It’s peculiar sometimes things of such unsightliness are missed for their true potential. With some care, all those hard years can be transformed into a thing of beauty, when planed, sanded, stained and polished. But even then, the hard years can still be seen.

You have to look intently and at just the right angle, and then you can see the highs and lows, they are quite plain, just beneath the surface, a reflection of the past. It’s a sort of parallel to a human life being transformed by the gracious hand of God. What was and now is.

It’s a bit like ahealthychurch…transforminglife.

In The shepherd’s crook, the lantern and a purple chicken, I speak of the symbol of my ministry as Bishop, the shepherd’s crook, which reflects my role to shepherd God’s people and my responsibility to live and teach the message of Jesus Christ, the light, who has come into the world. The second symbol I took was a light. As I lit the candle and placed it in the lantern it reminded me that Jesus said ‘I am the light of the world.’

The pilgrimage was also a time of ongoing learning as I learnt about chickenfeed, the purple chicken card and of course the purple chicken.

Read these stories and more in the ‘Tasmanian Anglican’ October 2010 magazine here.

A recent article from the Anglican Communion News Service, by Matthew Davies editor and international correspondent of the Episcopal News Service, reports on Archbishops appeal to government, international community as Sudan approaches referendum.

 With fewer than 100 days to go before southerners in Sudan vote on whether to remain a unified country or to separate from the north, Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul of the Episcopal Church of Sudan is making every effort to ensure that the Jan. 9 referendum goes ahead as planned and that peace holds in the war-torn country.

Archbishop Daniel  Deng and the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, who are appealing to the international community to support the people of Sudan, briefed media at Lambeth Palace on Oct. 7 ahead of a series of meetings with officials in the U.K. Government’s foreign office.

The critical issues include:

• delays in voter registration,
• tensions in the border regions,
• the future for some 4 million refugees from the south who are currently living in the north,
• If the southerners vote for separation, there is no preparation for how receive the influx of refugees from the north back to south Sudan, and
• The threat of open war.

 The Archbishop of Canterbury spoke about the danger of Sudan “sleepwalking towards disaster … if action does not continue from the international community.”

 Please join with me in praying for the people of Sudan as they approach this critical time, that the referendum will go ahead, for the Church of Sudan as they support the referendum, for peace in this country, and for other countries to stand with and support Sudan.

 Read the rest of the article here.

* Flinders Island pilot Gordon’s skills prove true  

I have greet admiration for the pilots who take us to the Bass Strait Islands. I am grateful for their skill and dedication in providing this essential service to our Islanders. A special tribute here to Gordon whose skills, dedication and humour I have had the privilege of experiencing including a flight to Cape Barren Island.

The pilot, believed to be Flinders Island Aviation Services managing director Gordon Rorison, was flying Telstra workers back to mainland Tasmania after they attended the Flinders Island Show yesterday.

See,  Island crash pilot lauded and  Seven survive Island crash.

* Jo Tiller, cake maker extraordinaire

 Jo Tiller, of Kingston, is known as Royal Hobart Show’s cookery queen for good reason.  

On the Sunday after the show the congregation of her church at Kingston traditionally eats what she has baked and prepared for the show. [Watch out for the extra attendance at St Clement’s next Sunday! 🙂 Jo also bakes Confirmation, Ordination and Church celebration cakes as part of her ministry of hospitality. ]

Classes she usually enters include cakes, fruit loaves, Victoria sandwich, melting moments, traditional shortbread, muffins, scones, and relish, jam and chutney.

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS:  Jo Tiller’s tips for people entering show cookery classes:

• If the class details “plainly iced” it means just that.

• Don’t leave lining from the bakery tin stuck to the cake.

• If entering the rich fruit cake section do not put nuts on top.

• If making a fruit cake ensure none of the fruit sticks together by lightly flouring it before adding to the mixture

See, Winning’s a piece of cake.  [Don’t you love the creativity of the sub editors!]

* The windmill at Oatlands is going full tilt, as is the Oatlands’ Community 

Yesterday I travelled to and from Launceston and both day and night saw the wonderful Oatlands’ Mill with its huge blades dominating the skyline. Congratulations to the Oatlands’ community.

The restored Callington Mill at Oatlands has created 12 new jobs for the town, with more expected to become available as flour production increases. The mill was operating at full capacity for the first time in more than 100 years yesterday, coinciding with the 10th annual Oatlands Spring Festival.

See,  Old ways bring new life.