Mark Conner Family

You and Your Father

Tomorrow is Father's Day in Australia. Unfortunately, when it comes to dads, the news is not all good. Steve Biddulph, in his best-selling book Manhood, estimates that:

    * 30% of men don’t speak to their father.

    * 30% have a prickly or hostile and difficult relationship.  

    * 30% go through the motions of being a good son and discuss nothing deeper than lawnmowers.

    * Only 10% of men are friends with their father and see them as a source of emotional support.

Those are sad statistics!

In an ideal world, we need to feel love and respect for our fathers and also receive love and respect back from them. However, maybe your relationship with your dad is not a good one. Either way, we have to come to grips with who our father is (or was), especially as men. A man’s masculinity, unconsciously and whether he likes it or not, is often based on his father’s masculinity. Your father’s mannerisms, tendencies, and even words are a part of you and are likely to emerge at any time (“like father, like son”). Who your father was matters. You must come to terms with him, his life, and why he was the way he was.

Biddulph suggests that every man has a serious conversation with his father. Find out about his childhood, his life story, his work, his decisions, and what was going on when he raised you. Find out the truth and don’t be judgmental. Break down the defenses. Get the story straight. It’s important to say, “Thanks”. Your dad may feel like he never “got it right”.

A parent has the power to crush a child’s self esteem. Few realise that, in time, a child holds the same power in reverse. Many fathers go to their grave convinced that they have been an inadequate human being. The pain of this cannot be overstated. Our need for love and approval cannot be overestimated. Maybe forgiving your father will be one of the most freeing things you ever do.

"See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse." [Malachi 4:5-6. NIV]

Yes, your natural father is the foundation of who you are. However, you are responsible to take what you’ve inherited and build upon it. Don’t be a victim by blaming others for where you are. You can’t control what has happened to you but you can control what happens
in you.
My dad never knew his father and grew up his entire life without a dad. Yet, by God’s grace, he worked through the pain of this and then did his best to become to Sharon and I the father he never had.

Thankfully we have a God who reveals himself as a father. Unfortunately, with the breakdown of marriages and family relationships today, we often develop a marred concept of fatherhood. Our natural fathers often fail in accurately presenting the character and nature of God. But no matter what our natural family situation may have been, God wants to be a perfect spiritual Father to each of us as His children. We can have a close relationship with him and know him as our 'dad' (see Matthew 11:27. John 14:6. 1 John 3:1-2).

Psalm 68:5. He is a father to the fatherless. When your father and mother forsake you, the Lord will take you up.

John 14:18. I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you.

In our Father God we have identity, acceptance, approval, relationship, a new family, and life purpose. Nothing can separate us from His love – it will never fail. He will never leave us or forsake us. He will provide for us. He watches over us – he knows the hairs on our head. His grace will be sufficient for every need. He will discipline us when we are going the wrong way. He does this because he loves us.

Think about your real dad today ..

Think about your heavenly father today too …

Mark Conner Family

Lessons from the World’s Greatest Dad (Pt.2)

Dads

3. Instruct Clearly

Father God does not leave us to figure out life by ourselves. He gives us clear instructions about every area of life and explains why his way is full of wisdom (Gen.2:15-17. Deut 30:11-20). God's words are contained in the Scriptures and they present his will and best wishes for our life. They are for our good – our ultimate benefit – not because he wants to take the fun or enjoyment out of life (2 Tim.3:16-17).

As parents, we are to instruct our children in God's way of living (Eph.6:4). We are to make our expectations clear as well as the consequences. Then we need to be consistent in following through. Instruction may be a regular structured family devotion time or it may simply be impromptu conversations as a family does life together. Often that's more powerful, as teaching takes place in the context of life's experiences (Deut.6:1-9).

Children do not respond to rules alone. They respond to relationships. You can get your children to behave by enforcing the rules but that doesn't mean you're getting their loving and obedient response. They may obey on the surface but beneath their may be anger, fear or frustration. Josh McDowell says, "Rules without relationships lead to rebellion."

One of the most powerful forms of instruction is our example – our modelling of the things we expect from our children. Kids tend to do what they see, not just what we tell them they should do. Are our lives worth imitating?

4. Discipline Lovingly

Father God is not just a loving forgiving God who is so soft that never deals with our disobedience. Because he loves us he also disciplines us when we need it (Heb.12:4-12). The Bible is filled with stories of God's children and how they were blessed when they obeyed their Father and the consequences they faced when they disobeyed God's commands.

Great dads take responsibility to lovingly discipline their children. Types of discipline change as children grow and vary for each situation. Discipline should be for defiance (intentional direct disobedience) but not for childishness. Always follow through promptly. Empty threats teach children that they can ignore warnings. Communicate the reason for the discipline. Discipline in love, not in anger. Control your emotions. There is a distinction between crushing the spirit (abuse) and shaping the will (discipline). Don't favour one child over another. Most importantly, apologise when you get it wrong.

5. Empower Fully

God the Father is not a controlling father. He is a releasing Father who wants his children to grow up and take responsibility for their lives. He desires to empower us to full maturity and to join him in his work on planet earth. We see this with Adam and Eve. He gave them a mandate to take dominion over the earth and to be responsible to populate it with their offspring.

As children grow and become teenagers and then young adults we as parents must empower them more and more – to make their own decisions and to be responsible for their lives. The degree of empowerment is determined by the maturity of the son or daughter. You're not going to let a two year old mow the lawns alone and of course, you hopefully aren't going to be still brushing the teeth of your thirteen year old daughter.

As parents, we are responsible to raise our children and teach them God's ways but as they grow and come of age they are responsible for their own choices and we have to release them to that responsibility. This doesn't mean that we don't care, or pray or seek to influence, but we have to gradually let them go (not too soon or not too late). This also means that we should not take inappropriate guilt upon ourselves as parents if our children make unwise choices. There are a lot of parents who feel that they are failures because their children are not serving God or have made unwise choices in their lives. If that's true then God the Father is a failure because his first kids blew it badly. As parents we must empower our children fully – then pray, trust God and believe that the seeds we have planted will bear good fruit in due time.

A final thought … "A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove … but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child."

Dads, you're important!

Mark Conner Family

Lessons from the World’s Greatest Dad (Pt.1)

DadsIt's that time of year when we honour all the dads – Father's Day. Let's talk about fathering and who better to learn from that the greatest father of all time. No, not me – Father God.

The God of the Bible has revealed himself as one God existing in three persons – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We have the opportunity to be "born again" spiritually into God's family. God wants to be our Father and we can be his children (John 1:12-13. Rom.8:13-17. Gal.4:4-7. 1 John 3:1-2). With the breakdown of marriages and family relationships today, we often develop a marred concept of fatherhood. All natural fathers often fail in accurately presenting the character and nature of God. But no matter what our natural family situation may have been God wants to be a perfect spiritual Father to each of us as his children.

What do great fathers do? There are many things but here are 5 important habits of every father.

1. Love Unconditionally

Our Father God is a God of love. Genuine love is not merely an emotion but a choice to act in the best interests of another person. God's love toward us is his desire for our ultimate good. What's amazing about God's love for us is that it is not based on our performance or any specific conditions we have to meet. In fact, he chooses to love us despite of our sin and our weakness (Rom.5:8-11). He is quick to forgive us when we humbly confess our sins. He is patient, long-suffering and slow to anger.

As dads we need to take a loving stance towards our children no matter what they do. Our love for them is based on the fact that they are ours. We must beware of creating a "performance based" environment that causes our children to be uncertain of our love and as a result always seeking our approval.

2. Affirm Frequently

God the Father expresses his love in a variety of ways, once of which is affirmation or encouragement (Matt.3:16-17; 17:5). On a daily basis, Jesus knew and experienced his Father's love and affirmation. He was always speaking about his Father and was able to stand against strong opposition and criticism because he knew he was doing his Father's will.

Great dads affirm and encourage your children as people – not just for what they can or can't do. Our words are very powerful (Prov.18:21. Eph.4:29-32). Don't approach parenting with the goal of correcting, disciplining and keeping your children in line. Look for where you can sincerely praise, compliment and encourage your kids. Notice and approve of what they do right. Then you can correct mistakes in a positive climate rather than continually pointing out what they're doing wrong. We all thrive under encouragement. Praise is a motivator for proper behaviour.

[Part 2]

Mark Conner Current Issues

Federal Election Reflections

VoteOn Saturday, September 7th, Australia goes to the polls to vote and to choose their Prime Minister and who will govern them for this next season. As with any election, this is an important time in the life of our nation. This coming weekend, our church will pray for the election in all of our gatherings.  Our focus will be on four aspects:

First, we need to acknowledge that God is in control. He is sovereign over all matters on earth. Ultimately, his purpose will be accomplished. He puts one leader up and takes another down. He can put it into the hearts of people to do his will. We must trust him and honor him as the God over all the earth. Our lives are not subject to luck, fate or chance. We are in the providential hands of a loving, yet holy God.

Second, as citizens in a free democratic country, we need to take our responsibilities seriously. This includes the right to vote. All followers of Christ should do the due diligence and study the policies and values of each political candidate and political party. Unfortunately, it is usually a mixed bag and therefore priorities needs to be established and sometime compromises have to be made when making choices as to who to vote for.

Third, we want to encourage Christ-followers who have chosen to become involved in the political process and arena. We have numbers of people from our church community running as candidates for a variety of political parties who have a strong faith in Christ and who seek to use that for the common good of all. That is admirable. These people need our prayers and our support. 

Fourth, no matter what, we should pray earnestly and consistently for whoever is in government, regardless of our like or dislike for them or their policies. God commands us to pray for those in leadership, because of the influence they have over our world (1 Tim.2:1-6).

The good news is that when the federal election is over, Jesus will still be Lord and the kingdom of God will continue to advance on the earth. 

Mark Conner Family

The Anatomy of a Father (by J John)


DadWith the celebration of Father's Day this coming Sunday, I thought this post by J John on "The Anatomy of Fathering" was appropriate … 

In the New Testament God is described as a father, and human fathers are to be imitators of God the Father. Fathering requires many skills and one way to think of them is in terms of parts of the body. Fathers need:

1. A Heart
Children need to be loved, with a deep caring love that is more than an emotion. Children also need to know they are loved. The Bible talks about God as a loving father, whose heart goes out to men and women.

In Jesus’ Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15), having let the rebellious son go, the father waits for his return anxiously and then runs to greet him, embracing him, restoring him back to sonship and ordering a celebration. 

2. A Brain
Fathering requires wisdom and common sense. We need to think before:

* we make decisions. Careers, jobs, voluntary commitments – all can have a positive or negative impact on children.

* we speak. With children it is all too easy to win the verbal battle but end with emotional and relational scars which take time to heal.

Heart and head need to work together.

3. Eyes
As fathers, we need to look ahead, to develop skills, disciplines and positive attitudes in our children that will still be of value in the future. We need vision to think through:

* If the Christian faith is the most important thing, are we laying down biblical foundations in our children’s lives?

* What are we doing together as a family? Are we seeking to inspire our children and instil skills and values that will endure?

We also need to look closely at our children to see with cool and compassionate eyes their gifts and deficiencies. If they show particular skills or interests – even if these surprise us – we should encourage them to develop the gifts God has given.

4. Ears
Listening to our children is important: it tells them that they are of value and it encourages them to communicate. If we listen when they are saying little of importance they are more likely to communicate with us when they have something of vital importance to say.

Listen to everything they say and pay attention to deeper meanings. Sometimes, amid shouts for ‘more pizza’, there is a cry for help or advice. The discerning listener will hear something important in the noise.

5. A Nose
Have ‘a nose for trouble’. Fathers need to discern unease even when nothing is said. The discerning father knows his child and knows, however well hidden, however deep down, whether there is happiness or gloom.

This skill of parental intuition will help you avoid either wading in and intervening when there is nothing wrong or not intervening when there is something that needs attention. Acquire that ability to sense the hidden alarm bell .

6. A Mouth
With our mouths, we both speak and kiss. We need to use words wisely – they can be tools that bless or weapons that wound. It is easy to fire off hurtful criticism; it takes care to craft words that affirm a child’s value as well as helpfully adjust their attitudes and behaviour.

7. Hands
Hands are for holding on and letting go. There are times to hold on to your child: when they are scared, want guidance or need support. To fail to supply those hands at this time is to fail big time. Yet there are also times to let go. Some parenting fails because children are let free of the parental grip when they shouldn’t be; some fail because they are never let free.

8. Feet
Parenting cannot be done from the end of a smartphone. We must be with our children when they need us and we may need to go the extra mile.

If you get a phone call from far away the best response may be to get up, go and be there with them. In a world increasingly dominated by ‘virtual’ presence, there is something tangible and effective about having a physical presence. It’s a great thing for kids to be able to say to their fathers, ‘You were there when I needed you.’

9. Guts
Successful parenting is a no-nonsense, tough business. Christian parenting makes special demands and at times fathers will have to draw lines, stand up and be counted, or be unpopular and frowned upon by friends. Any man can father a child, but it takes guts to truly be a father to a child.

10. Knees
Finally, parenting will drive you to prayer. You will need to pray for protection for you and your child, for guidance, for forgiveness and healing.

There are many things that men could boast of – a sporting record, an outstanding business career, a stunning house and gardens. Yet one of the greatest achievements is to raise children whom we can honour and who can honour us. That is a work of grace and we need to pray for that.

In conclusion, being a father to three sons and being honest, by the time we get the hang of parenting our children have left home!

Revd. Canon J.John (www.philotrust.com)

Mark Conner Travel

Word of Life Europe Conference 2013

WolI was privileged to participate in the recent Word of Life Europe Conference in Upssala, Sweden. This event is hosted by Ulf Ekman, the founder of Word of Life, a thriving network of churches based in Europe. The conference draws thousands of people from all over Europe, include over 300 Russians. Translation of the messages is available in a dozen or so languages. The conference has vibrant worship and a diverse array of speakers from the wider body of Christ.

This year, other speakers included Dr. Cho from Korea, Sullasi Kurulo from Fiji, John and Carol Arnott from Canada, Anne Chistianson from Norway, and Father Raniero Cantalamessa from Rome. Father Raniero has been the papal household preacher for the last 33 years and has an amazing story of the work of the Holy Spirit in and through his life (watch here).

It is wonderful to see what God is doing in and through his church around the world. Good days are ahead! 

Mark Conner Bible

Lessons from Noah

DinoHere's a  spin off from Fulgham's All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten - a short list of What I Learned From Noah's Ark:

 1. Don't miss the boat!

2. Plan ahead! It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.

3. Stay fit! When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.

4. For safety's sake, travel in pairs.

5. Remember that the Ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic by professionals.

P.S. On a more serious note, check out the BLOG post ORIGINS – Never Again, reflections from the story of Noah and the Ark.

Mark Conner Bible

ORIGINS – Never Again (Noah and the Ark)

NoahThe story of Noah’s ark is one of the best known stories in the Bible. Any Sunday School attending child would have heard this story – complete with flannel graph presentation and colouring page. It’s a great story: a bunch of animals on a boat with a rainbow in the sky and a lesson about God’s faithfulness. But it’s not a G-rated children’s story (like Bambi or The Lion King)! It’s actually a horrific story. The human experiment has failed and God decides to destroy everyone through a flood, except Noah and his family, along with a few animals. Nevertheless, it has generated lots of Interest, including false claims of ark discoveries back in the 1980s, as well as a number of movies and theme parks.

Genesis 6:1-8 contains a summary of the story of Noah and the flood, which is then narrated in detail through four chapters (Genesis 6:9 – 9:17). Many questions emerge from this story and the context within which it occurs, including the long human life spans before the flood (Genesis 5), the identity of the ‘sons of God’ (Genesis 6:2), as well as the ‘Nephillim’ (Genesis 6:4), the size and extent of the flood, and what this story tells us about God. Let’s work through the main parts of this intriguing story:

1. The Problem. The world that God created as ‘very good’ (Genesis 1:31) has now become ‘evil’ in every way, and in a fairly short period of time (Genesis 6:5). After the initial fall into sin (Genesis 3), violence entered God’s peaceful world (Genesis 4) and it took only ten generations for the earth to be “filled with violence” (Genesis 6:11-12). The trajectory was towards further disaster and death. Creation had completely failed with the program and purpose given to it by God. Humanity had refused God’s ways, which lead to life, and had chosen the path to death.

We should note at this stage that there were numbers of other flood stories in existence in ancient Mesopotamia before and during this time, including the Gilgamesh Epic, a literary classic from the ancient Near East, and Atrahasis, another Babylonian flood story. There are numerous similarities between these flood stories. However, one of the crucial differences is why the flood occurred. For instance, in Atrahasis, apparently the gods sent a flood because the people had become too noisy! Only the Genesis flood story gives us a moral reason for the flood – the extensive wickedness of the human race.

2. God’s Response. This story is not primarily about large amounts of water, an ark, pairs of animals and a rainbow. It brings us face to face with the God of Israel. Interestingly, what we find is not an angry tyrant but more of a troubled parent who is grieving over what has gone terribly wrong with his creation (Genesis 6:6). God’s world is heading in a direction totally opposite to his initial intentions – a road of total destruction. Here we encounter the deep pathos of God – grief, sorrow and disappointment.

3. The Judgment. God resolves to send a flood to judge the earth, using the destructive power of the water to turn back the corruptive power of evil (Genesis 6:7, 13). Humans have been behaving in a chaotic and disorderly way, so God decides to unleash chaos on them, then to create a new order with Noah and his family. The judgment of God must always be seen in perspective. The apostle Peter tells us that God demonstrated his long-suffering, or patience, during the days of Noah (1 Peter 3:20) and points out that Noah was a “preacher of righteousness” during this period when the ark was being prepared (2 Peter 2:5), no doubt warning people of coming judgment.

Arguments have gone on for decades as to whether this was a global flood or a local (regional) flood, and whether the dinosaurs became extinct because there wasn’t enough room for them in the ark. However, as interesting as these questions are, they are not the primary focus of the author of Genesis.

4. God’s Grace. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Noah appears and he is one who found favour with God (Genesis 6:8-9). He is righteous and blameless, walking closely with God. He is a model of faith who obeys God’s commands without question. Therefore the theme of the narrative is: God judges the world for human sin and violence but in his grace he continues his kingdom on earth by making a new start with Noah, his family, and the animals with him.

5. A Covenant. God made a covenant with Noah (Genesis 6:18). The God of creation is a God of covenant, forming relationship with people, and this theme persists throughout the Bible right up to the work of Jesus Christ. With Noah, God makes a new start with a new creation. Noah and his family are commissioned and blessed to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 9:7). New commandments are given and old ones are reiterated. The rainbow comes with a promise from God that ‘never again’ (Genesis 8:21; 9:15) will he cover the world with a flood. God’s purpose for creation continues. Of course, sin is not eradicated. Hope for the future still depends on God and his patience. We are not capable of saving ourselves. God resolves to stay with his creation. God did not abandon creation to the chaos of its disobedience.

Reflections

Jesus told his disciples that the last days would be very much like the ‘days of Noah’ (see Matthew 24:37-39 and Luke 17:26-27 where he highlights the unexpected coming of the flood with his unexpected coming). Let’s reflect on a few aspects of the story of Noah:

  1. The apostle Paul urges us to consider both the ‘kindness’ and ‘sternness’ (or severity) of God (Romans 11:22). No doubt, the story of Noah and the ark is a warning against disobedience and an encouragement to rely on the goodness and grace of God. On the cross, God’s righteousness and grace come together, with grace winning out, and mercy triumphing over judgment. Noah found grace, so did Abraham and Israel, and so can we. How should all of this influence how we see and relate to God today?

  2. Noah is presented by New Testament authors as an example of faith (Hebrews 11:7) and a preacher of righteousness to his generation (2 Peter 2:5, 9). In the same way, followers of Christ are called to preach good news to their generation and to be ‘salt and light’ in the world by displaying kingdom values such as love, goodness, kindness, mercy, compassion, integrity, and justice. Consider how this can be outworked in both community outreach and personal evangelism. Reflect on the different responses people may give to the good news of Jesus Christ (see 2 Corinthians 2:15-16).

  3. One of the most moving moments in this story is just as the entire creation comes to a time of feeling forgotten as the waters surge, God remembers Noah (Genesis 7:24-8:1). God’s remembering is an act of gracious engagement with his creation, an act of committed compassion. This alone makes hope and new life possible (see Job 14:13). Various floods and times of chaos can overtake our life in this world. During these times, we can feel abandoned or forgotten by God. But God remembers us (see also Isaiah 54:7). Reflect on a time when you felt forgotten by God. Then consider the promise of Romans 8:38-39.

You can listen to this entire message on Mark Conner’s teaching podcast at the Podbean web site (or on the app) or on iTunes or Spotify.

Mark Conner Current Affairs, Current Issues

Some thoughts on the current Asylum Seeker Issue (by Tim Costello)


AssAustralia's humanity is the casualty of repugnant asylum politics

Article written by: Tim Costello chief executive of World Vision Australia.

The Australian philosopher Peter Singer asks students to consider whether a person wearing new shoes and a suit has a responsibility to wade into a nearby pond, thus ruining their clothes, if they see a child in that pond having difficulty swimming.

Predictably they respond that the person has a responsibility to save the child and that the cost of the shoes and suit are no reason not to act.

In other words, you either think that people have inherent dignity and worth, or not. In the eyes of the bystander, that dignity does not depend on whether you have a personal link to the child or not.

This humanist approach sits comfortably alongside my Christian ethical viewpoint – in the parable of the Good Samaritan, the help afforded a stranger did not depend on cultural or ethnic ties.

In 21st century Australia it is disheartening to think that some in mainstream politics would choose to keep walking past the pond, as the architects of evermore oppressive policies concerning asylum seekers appear to be prepared to do.

The loss of focus on human dignity in our political debate is evident in framing the contemporary argument around refugees and boat arrivals as a "problem" to be "solved".

Rather, it should concern every Australian that there are children in our detention centres who are living unhappy lives: lives behind bars, lives that were already blighted in some way by the circumstances which pushed their families from their homes, lives that are suspended.

In a democracy like Australia, politicians take their cue from what they understand to be public opinion.

So when we as a nation, as citizens, as respondents to opinion polls are either complacent about this issue or complicit in the punitive approach to asylum seekers, we have lost something that sits at the core of a decent society. How did this happen?

On the policymakers' side, the courting of political favour through the demonising of vulnerable people is undignified, repugnant and venal.

Australia is in urgent need of a change of heart.

As head of a child-focused aid and development organisation, I am continually humbled by the hospitality I receive from refugees fleeing from unimaginable violence, instability and natural calamity.

Most recently I was invited into the tents of Syrian families who had fled across the border to Jordan.
As urban planners go to work in these giant refugee camps – in recognition that the prospects of peace and stability returning to Syria in the medium term are remote – displaced people have told me their stories.
Their hospitality crosses cultural and religious divides, as well as the fact that I am a stranger, as they tell me about their fears for the future of their children.
I have witnessed the boredom and frustration of refugee kids who simply want to be in school, because that gives them the best chance of achieving their dreams.
When the hope that resides in the hearts of children is in danger of flickering out, then that is a true humanitarian emergency. And that is why I believe we stand, as a society, guilty.

We have let ourselves conflate the issues surrounding asylum seekers with any number of anxieties we face – from budget deficits to job security. The most distracting and distorting of these perceived links has been the linking of boat arrivals with security risks.
This fearmongering sows the seeds of distrust and envy. It is the opposite approach of sitting down with someone and learning their story.
And letting fear dominate the discourse also diminishes our way of life, and our democratic ideals.
The inherent worth of human beings is just that – inherent – not subject to fashion and fickle political manipulation. This worth and dignity is denied when we as a nation ban asylum seekers from working – even in a volunteer capacity. It is holding back human industry and aspiration.
It amounts to a brazen attempt to worsen the life chances of others who weren't born in this "lucky" country.

I call on all people who agree that there is inherent worth in every person, not be embarrassed to be pro-people. To see the potential in every person fleeing conflict, disaster and persecution. To respect their quest for some semblance of personal security. And to be pro-children – to support them to imagine a better future, not a life limited by incarceration.

Perhaps it's time for an honest assessment of the drivers of this fear and anxiety in our society, directed towards those who arrive via ocean.
There is much anxiety over the economy, the budget, debt, jobs – if the media are any guide.
It's intellectually and morally lazy to allow our fears about the economy and jobs and debt, to be projected onto human bogymen in the form of asylum seekers.

A more productive approach would be to consciously and conscientiously focus on what we've got to be hopeful about in this country, and how we can welcome those who are motivated to contribute.
Our wealthy, free and culturally diverse society is something which should not be hoarded – tightly guarded, wrapped in plastic and gathering dust. It is something to be celebrated and shared.

[Source]

Mark Conner Web/Tech

Social Media Explained

Donut

Social-media is slowly creeping into all areas of the web. Even websites and services that have no social features usually place a Facebook or Google+ like button somewhere to help spread the word of their existence. Even so, it’s quite difficult to explain to someone new to the Internet, or social aspects of the web, exactly what this social media revolution is. And just as importantly, what the difference between social media services are.

That problem has now been solved by using a donut analogy. Douglas Wray posted a whiteboard breakdown of all the major social media services and explained how they differ from each other using the example of a donut. Quite fittingly he posted the image on Instagram –the photo sharing service.

The breakdown is the clearest I have yet seen of how something like Twitter differs from Facebook or LinkedIn. Twitter is for telling people what you are doing at any given moment (eating a donut), Facebook is more for sharing what you like in general (I like donuts), and LinkedIn is for sharing what you’re good at (skilled with donuts). Yet all rely on the sharing of information in different ways to remain relevant and keep people using them.

So, the next time someone asks you what social media is, or how two services differ, save this image and pull it up on your phone. They’ll understand much more quickly and you won’t be standing there trying to find examples that work to show the differences. Alternatively, memorize the donut analogy and look clever at parties.

[For Further Reading]

Mark Conner Bible, Quotes

Quotes about the Bible


B7Victor Hugo - "England has two books;  The Bible and Shakespeare.  England made Shakespeare, but the Bible made England".

"I have found in the Bible words for my inmost thought;  songs for my joy,  utterance for my hidden griefs and pleadings for my shame and feebleness"

George Mueller - "The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our life and thoughts."

D.L. Moody - "Sin will keep you from this Book.  This Book will keep you from sin."
"I know the Bible is inspired because it inspires me"

Napoleon - "The Bible is not merely a book;  it is a Living Being, with an action, a power, which invades everything that opposes its extension,  behold!  It is upon this table:  This Book, surpassing all others; I never omit to read it, and every day with some pleasure."

Charles Haddon Spurgeon - "Nobody ever outgrows Scriptures;  the Book widens and deepens with our years."

Lord Tennyson - "Bible reading is an education in itself."

Thomas Huxley - "The Bible has been the Magna Charta of the poor and oppressed.  The human race is not in position to dispense with it"

E. Stanley Jones - "The Bible redirects my will, cleanses my emotions, enlightens my mind, and quickens my total being"

Helen Keller - "The Bible gives me a deep, comforting sense that 'things seen are temporal, and things unseen are eternal'".

Abraham Lincoln - "Without Divine assistance I cannot succeed;  With it I cannot fail!"
"I am busily engaged in the study of the Bible.  I believe it is God's Word because it finds me where I am."

John Adams - "Suppose a nation in some distant Region should take the Bible for their only law Book,  and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited!   Every member would be obliged in conscience,  to temperance, frugality,  and industry;  to justice, kindness,  and charity towards his fellow men;  and to piety, love,  and reverence toward  Almighty  God …  What a Utopia,  what a Paradise would this region be."

Immanuel Kant - "The existence of the Bible, as a book for the people, is the greatest benefit which the human race has ever experienced.  Every attempt to belittle it is a crime against humanity."

George Washington Carver - "The secret of my success?  It is simple.  It is found in the Bible, "In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths."

Charles Colson - "The Bible – banned, burned, beloved.  More widely read, more frequently attacked than any other book in history. Generations of intellectuals have attempted to discredit it,  dictators of every age have outlawed it and executed those who read it.  Yet soldiers carry it into battle believing it more powerful than their weapons.  Fragments of it smuggled into solitary prison cells have transformed ruthless killers into gentle saints." 

Cecil B. DeMille - "After more than sixty years of almost daily reading of the Bible,  I never fail to find it always new and marvellously in tune with the changing needs of every day."

Jack Hayford – "The Bible is … as necessary to spiritual life as breath is to natural life.  There is nothing more essential to our lives than the Word of God."

[Source]

Mark Conner Bible, Quotes

The Bible – Michael Horton


B2“To preach the Bible as 'the handbook for life,' or as the answer to every question, rather than as the revelation of Christ, is to turn the Bible into an entirely different book. This is how the Pharisees approached Scripture, as we can see clearly from the questions they asked Jesus. For the Pharisees, the Scriptures were a source of trivia for life's dilemmas.”

Michael Horton

John 5:39-40. You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life. NLT

Jesus

Mark Conner Bible, Quotes

The Bible


Bible"The Bible is a harp with a thousand strings. Play on one to the exclusion of its relationship to the others, and you will develop discord. Play on all of them, keeping them in their places in the divine scale, and you will hear heavenly music all the time."

William P. White