Mark Conner Current Affairs

Nepal Earthquake

Nepal-earthquake-4The people of Nepal continue to grapple with the after shock of the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that shook their country last week. So far more than 5,000 lives have been lost with some remote valleys cut off from help – raising fears that the death toll could rise.

International relief and rescue teams have poured into Nepal as the scope of the devastation becomes clearer. World Vision has over 200 staff on the ground, responding to the needs of survivors – especially children. At this stage, their role is to provide survivors with clean water, food, cooking kits, temporary shelter and protection for children. Disaster management experts from around the region – including in neighbouring India and Bangladesh – are assisting with coordinating relief efforts.

I just received this update from Tim Costello, who is currently on the ground in Nepal: “It’s hard for me to describe the emotions that flood your mind and heart when you are confronted with the reality of so many lives lost, so many still missing, and millions more lives forever changed.”

“The massive destruction of roads and trails that provide the only access to remote areas near the earthquake’s epicentre is making relief efforts nearly impossible.

“Children have been separated from their parents, and many people are being forced to sleep in the streets. As time passes there is a strong likelihood that those who have critical injuries will not survive.”

Recently Tim reported, "This is the most difficult emergency I've ever attended. I've just visited a hospital that is set up to treat 5,000 patients. It’s now trying to service a population of 250,000 – many of them injured and most of whom are children in desperate need of amputations.”

Please pray for:

  • Those who are injured or have lost loved ones. 
  • Protection of the hearts and minds of children, including sponsor children.
  • The safety of volunteers and aid workers involved in the relief efforts.

If you are able to provide urgent supplies to survivors, you can make a donation to World Vision here. Latest updates are also available online.

Thank you for your prayers and support for all those affected by this natural disaster.

UPDATE: Here's a link to what has been achieved so far (1st June 2015).

Mark Conner Think About It

Re-Fuel

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Have you ever been on a long drive interstate that took a few days? One of the things I hate to do is stop for petrol. Do you know why? It’s because all of those semi-trailers, caravans, and slow pokes that I have meticulously passed are all going to pass me while I am filling up! Now, that’s annoying. I wish someone would invent a way to fill up without having to stop.

But the truth is that unless you stop and refuel you’re not going to make it. You are going to stall and be stuck by the side of the road. That’s even more annoying!

I find life is a bit like that. There is so much to do, so many people to see and so many places to go. We all get very busy and if we’re not careful we can begin burn out.

We all need to learn what it is to STOP … and to refuel … physically, emotionally, and even spiritually.

How’s your journey at the moment? Are you going strong or are you running on empty?

What do you need to do to refuel? What kind of activities fill you up and give you energy for life? Make sure you take time for those things.

Refuel … think about it.

Mark Conner Biographies, Special Events

Jack Simpson and His Donkey (an ANZAC Hero)

SimpsonThe ANZACs have a great hero called John 'Jack' Simpson Kirkpatrick who enlisted and was chosen as a field ambulance stretcher-bearer in Perth on 23 August 1914. On 25 April 1915, long with the rest of the Australian and New Zealand contingent he landed at the wrong beach on a piece of wild, impossible and savage terrain now known as ANZAC Cove. Attack and counter attack began.

During the morning hours of 26 April, along with his fellows, Jack was carrying casualties back to the beach over his shoulder. It was then that he saw the donkey, and having worked as a donkey-lad as a young boy, he knew exactly what to do.

From then on he became part of the scene at Gallipoli walking along next to his donkey, forever singing and whistling as he held on to his wounded passengers, seemingly completely fatalistic and scornful of the extreme danger. He led a charmed life from 25 April 1915 until a machine gun bullet hit him in his back on the 19 May 1915. In those 24 days he managed to rescue over 300 men down the notorious Monash Valley. His heroic feat was accomplished under constant and ferocious attack from the artillery, field guns and sniper fire. Here is what people said about him:

Captain C.Longmore, in 1933, remembered how the soldiers, “watched him spellbound from the trenches … it was one of the most inspiring sights of those early Gallipoli days.”

Colonel John Monash wrote, “Private Simpson and his little beast earned the admiration of everyone at the upper end of the valley. They worked all day and night throughout the whole period since the landing, and the help rendered to the wounded was invaluable. Simpson knew no fear and moved unconcernedly amid shrapnel and rifle fire, steadily carrying out his self imposed task day by day, and he frequently earned the applause of the personnel for his many fearless rescues of wounded men from areas subject to rife and shrapnel fire.”

John Simpson gave his life for the wounded. He was the picture of courage and we are reminded of Jesus’ saying, “Greater love has no man than he lay down his life for his friends.”

Mark Conner Special Events

ANZAC Day – 100 Year Anniversary

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Tomorrow, in Australia and New Zealand, we commemorate the centenary of ANZAC Day. 'ANZAC' stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

On the 25th of April 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the Allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula. The ANZACs landed on Gallipoli and met fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders. Their plan to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months.

At the end of 1915, the allied forces were evacuated. Both sides suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. Over 8,000 Australian soldiers and over 3,000 New Zealand soldiers were killed. What is often forgotten is that over 58,000 Turks were killed in that battle.

There are mixed emotions about ANZAC day commemorations. Some people feel it glorifies war. Our last ANZAC, Alec Campbell, pleaded on his deathbed: ''For God's sake, don't glorify Gallipoli – it was a terrible fiasco, a total failure and best forgotten''. Others say it is a fitting tribute to remember those who gave their lives and ultimate sacrifice. If you ever want to read heated differences of opinion just go to any article on ANZAC day and read the comments.

Here are some samples: 

  1. “My grandfather fought in WWII. He marched for his mates and family not the flag. Many veterans refrain from celebrations due to trauma. They are not glorifying war; they are honoring and remembering the dead. Most people you talk to celebrate it for the dead, not for nationalistic sentiment.”
  2. “My children and I stood at the dawn service this year, like previous years and think of the people we know who went to war and were damaged, or who never returned. We think of the suffering and the fear and the futility of many wars. It is a somber time for us and for the thousands around us who are all quiet and reflective. My children are of an age their ancestors were when they went to war and we remember the cost to so many families. After the service we spend time together celebrating life. They see it as their responsibility to live life well. There is no glorification of war.”
  3. “ANZAC Day is the remembrance of the futility of war (to me). Nations leaders send their young capable people to die for a badge of remembrance; how dumb is that. It is a stark reminder that humans are basically stupid and the attack on Gallipoli demonstrated that at a huge cost of lives. These days we use drones and computers while busily polluting the air we need to breathe and the water we need to drink. And we pride our intelligence.”
  4. “War is a barbarous and terrible thing, to be avoided by all possible means. It's one thing to honor the bravery and self-sacrifice of those who acted in defense of our country. It is another matter altogether to present war participation as a noble enterprise in itself or as some questionable 'proof' of our manhood and national identity. We need a national commitment to stay out of wars, especially the enthusiastically chosen kind such as Iraq.”

These few samples illustrate the strong emotions and opinions that a nation of diversity feels on this day. However, there is perhaps one thing that everyone agrees on, regardless of their differences of ideology when it comes to war, and that is the spirit exhibited by the young soldiers who went to war.

This is now known as the ANZAC spirit or legend. It represents the character qualities that Australians have seen their forces show in war. These qualities collectively make up the ANZAC spirit and include endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour, and mateship. Courage in the face of great adversity – and it is this attribute we will celebrate this weekend at CityLife as we launch our annual World Impact Week. 

Jesus calls us as his followers to show great courage in his cause – the Great Commission. It takes boldness and the conquering of fear to share good news and take it to the very corners of our globe. 

Mark Conner Evangelism and Mission, Travel

Travel

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I admire the many Christian mission workers around the world. Many of them work in some of the poorest, least evangelised and most persecuted countries in the world. 

Personally, I believe everyone should have a passport. We encourage everyone in our church to go on a short-term team to another nation sometime in their life time. It opens your eyes, enriches your faith, and makes you grateful for all we have been blessed with. Ever heard of 'first world problems'??

Here are a few quotes about travel that I love:

  • “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” St. Augustine
  • “To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” Aldous Huxley
  • “Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” Maya Angelou
  • “Please be a traveler, not a tourist. Try new things, meet new people, and look beyond what’s right in front of you. Those are the keys to understanding this amazing world we live in.” Andrew Zimmern
  • "Go into all the world and preach the gospel." Jesus
  • "You will be my witnesses … even to the ends of the earth." Jesus

Once you start to pack your bags, here are 13 travel tips.

Mark Conner Think About It

The Audience of One

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Every one of us experiences something we could call “the grandstand affect.” From a very young age, we have people watching us and responding to our choices and actions. If we do something that people like, they cheer us on. If we do something that people dislike, they frown at us or they may even boo us.

Over time, we can easily learn to play to the grandstand. We thrive on the applause so we seek to please people. We hate disapproval, so we try not to disappoint anybody.

The danger with this is that we can become addicted to the approval of others. Then when we need to make a choice that others may not approve of, we have no courage to do what we know is right.

Maturity requires us to gradually empty our grandstand. Parents, teachers, and other leaders are important people in our life and it is good to have them on the field as coaches and advisors … but we must not live for their approval.

The only person we want to leave in our grandstand is God. Live your life for the audience of One.

Think about it.

Mark Conner Think About It

Move On

Movie

Have you ever been to a really bad movie? I’m sure you have. Did you go see it again? Of course not! Did you buy the DVD? Come on … Why would you watch through something you didn’t like all over again! That would be silly.

But in reality that’s something we all do from time to time. Have you ever done something you regretted? Have you ever had someone really hurt you? Did you find yourself replaying it over and over again in your mind? Some people even replay it in high definition … in surround sound … and even in slow motion! In doing so, they relive all of the negative emotions and bring the hurtful situation to life all over again.

Don’t do that. Don’t live in the past. Don’t replay things that you regret or things that were hurtful. Forgive yourself and forgive others … then move on. Don’t live in the past. Don’t relive the pain. You can let go. Yes, it was bad. Yes, it was wrong … but you don’t have to replay it over and over again. Focus on today … and what’s coming in the future.

Move on – think about it.

Mark Conner Evangelism and Mission

Embracing our Sentness

SentHere is a recently published book I'd like to recommend - Sentness: Six Postures of Missional Christians by Kim Hammond and Darren Cronshaw.

From the back cover:

Ever wonder why people fall asleep in church? It happens. We’ve all seen it. We shuffle into rows of seats that grow more comfortable with every new fundraising campaign. We slouch down and settle in for an hour or so, as singers and storytellers and preachers and teachers take their turns filling our ears. And almost without fail, at least one of us nods off while listening to the greatest story ever told. The church was not meant to be like this. The church was meant to be on its feet, in the world, making all things new. The church was meant to be sent. Kim Hammond and Darren Cronshaw want to help us—all of us—rediscover our sentness. Dive into Sentness, and explore the six postures of a church that’s keeping pace with God’s work in the world. Rediscover the gospel that first quickened your pulse and got you up on your feet, ready to go wherever Jesus called you. Get Sentness, and prepare to get sent.

To quote one reviewer:

"The authors begin with the completely re-orienting the basis of all missional thinking: disciples of Jesus are sent vs. consuming. We cannot be receivers of God’s blessings for our own sake, but for the sake of the world. “(Spiritual) formation is not for any other purpose than for mission.” This spins spectators 180°… into missionaries. The shift could not be more radical, from “come and see” to “go and do.”

Dangerous but needed reading for the church in our time!

Mark Conner Special Events, Theology

He’s Risen! (Easter Sunday Reflections)

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Matthew tells us the story like this:

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke to the women. Dont be afraid! he said. I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isnt here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you. [Matthew 28:1-7. NLT]
 
The Christian story is founded on an empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If the tomb was not empty, then the Christian movement would have been snuffed out just by someone going and getting the body of Jesus.

There are four main theories to explain how the tomb became empty.

1. Firstly, maybe the Jewish or Roman authorities stole Jesus’ body, and the disciples mistakenly assumed he had been raised, inventing stories of appearances afterwards. The reason that this is so clearly wrong is that the authorities were trying to stop the Christian movement from growing, and if they had stolen his body they would simply have produced it.

2. Secondly, maybe Jesus did not really die, but fell into some sort of unconscious state, then revived in the tomb, and moved the stone himself. This is even more ridiculous, if you know anything about Roman crucifixion. Soldiers executed hundreds of people a year, they knew exactly what they were doing, and one could survive it, far less roll away a two-ton stone and then take out two guards.

3. Thirdly, maybe the disciples stole the body and then imagined or pretended they had seen him alive afterwards. But consider the high improbability of multiple near-identical hallucinations that would have been needed and the fact that many of the witnesses were tortured and killed for their proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection, which you would be unlikely to undergo if you had made it up.

4. This only leaves option four – that God really did raise Jesus from the dead.

From the earliest days until now, the resurrection has been central to Christian belief and practice. In fact, it is the cornerstone of the Christian faith and its strongest evidence (1 Cor.15:14).

Let's worship the risen Christ today – Jesus, Lord of all and soon coming King.

P.S. For some excellent detailed evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, I recommend these two books:

* The Resurrection of the Son of God by N.T. Wright

* The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus by Lee Strobel

Mark Conner Theology

Why Did Jesus Die? (Good Friday Reflections)

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Christmas is barely over and now it’s time to talk about Easter. No wonder little children get confused. Did you hear about the little boy who said to his mother, “Jesus has just been born and now you’re telling me He’s died!"

Over this Easter weekend, millions of Christians will reflect on what Jesus Christ accomplished through his death and resurrection over 2,000 years ago. These are believed to be 3 days that changed the world.

Good Friday – a day reflecting on the cruel death Jesus went through.

Resurrection Sunday – a day of joy and hope because Jesus is alive.

Saturday – a day between the suffering and the joy … waiting.

Different Christian traditions and individual Christians tend to lean towards one of these days. Yet, ALL three of these days are part of the Christian story … and of the journey that is our lives.

Today let’s reflect on the death of Jesus and look at the important question: “Why did Jesus die?” The death of Jesus Christ (“Christ crucified”) is part of the eternal purposes of God. It is central to our faith. No cross – no Christianity. We will never exhaust the many ways of articulating its meaning for our salvation.

The Power and Limits of a Metaphor

In answering a question or describing something or someone, we often use metaphors (or images or example). We say, “It’s like …” or “He is like …” I have been married to Nicole now for 29 years this coming June. What is she like? How would I describe her? I would say she is fun (never a dull moment in our family), an animal lover (any animal), and a very authentic person (she can be refreshingly or disarmingly honest!). Each of these illustrations is true, but none of them are adequate and even all of them together don’t tell the full story of who Nicole really is. There is so much more. Also, each of them can be pushed too far and become a distortion. She is fun but can also be serious. She is authentic, but more so when she is in an environment where she feels safe.

In a similar way, there are many models and metaphors for answering the important question, "Why did Jesus die?" Some scholars list as many as 10 different images and metaphors – all sharing a way in which humans beings can experience the saving power of Christ’s life, death and resurrection. No interpretation of the atonement is the only authentic one because no one metaphor can exhaust the significance of Jesus’ crucifixion. Even the New Testament presents multiple images to explain its meaning. As we are going to see, there was a lot going on the day Jesus died on that cross. It was much more than a physical death. Things of eternal consequence were taking place. There is a depth and richness to the meaning of Jesus’ death.

Let’s look at a number of ways Christians throughout the centuries answered this question.

1. Sacrifice. Jesus described his own pending death as a "sacrifice" (Mark 14:22-25). We have all sinned and disobeyed God's law. The penalty of sin is death and as a holy God, He must uphold justice. Yet God is also loving and so sends His Son to pay our debt. Jesus took our place as our substitute. His death was the final sacrifice for sin and now God offers us forgiveness, righteousness, and reconciliation as a free gift (see Rom.5:6-10; 8:32. Eph.5:2).

2. Ransom. Jesus also described the giving of his life as a "ransom" (Mark 10:45). Through sin, Adam and Eve turned the dominion of this world over to Satan and his forces of darkness. Jesus' death was the price paid to redeem the world from the enemy's power, from captivity to sin, and from the kingdom of darkness. Jesus is the victor over sin, death and the devil (see also Col.2:14-15. Heb.2:14-15. 1 John 3:8). His kingdom is now being established on earth. [C.S. Lewis built his Chronicles of Narnia story around this concept with Aslan's death being a ransom given in order to defeat the wicked witch and her spell over Narnia]

3. Example. Jesus' called his followers to "take up your cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34-35). His death was also an example of self-sacrificing love, showing us how to live. Jesus did not respond to violence with violence but chose not to retaliate. It was a non-violent protest against evil. His way of living is an inspiration to us and an example for us to follow (see Phil.2:3-11).

These are three of the many available "atonement theories" (atonement being a 12th century Middle English word meaning to bring at one that which was separated). Pushing the Example metaphor (sometimes called the Moral Influence theory) too far fails to deal seriously with sin and can lead to salvation through self-effort. Pushing the Ransom metaphor (sometimes called the Christus Victor theory) too far can result in glorifying Satan and giving him too much power, as one who God needs to appease. Pushing the Sacrifice metaphor (often called the Penal Substitution Theory) too far can result in a barbaric view of God as a cosmic child abuser – an angry Father being appeased by a loving Son. The truth is that God is both holy and loving, and the Son was God in human form willing offering his life for us. 

An adjective or a metaphor is not the thing. It is just an image, a window or a lens to help us look at the thing. It takes us there but it is not there. No atonement theory can ever exhaust the depths and richness of what God was doing the day Jesus died. 

Our Response

Most importantly, how will we respond? Many people saw Jesus die that day – the disciples, the crowds, the religious leaders and the Roman officials. One unnamed man, a Roman centurion, was right there. Mark tells us this: "When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, This man truly was the Son of God!" (Mark 15:39)

As a centurion, he would have seen many people die, having possibly put to death dozens, maybe hundreds, of people himself. These officials were known to be hard and brutal. He had seen others die – maybe cursing or screaming, or pouring out venom. Then he saw Jesus die. Something was different here. This was no ordinary man. He became the first person after the death of Jesus to declare, "This man (not Caesar!) truly was the Son of God!" Remarkable!

How will you respond? As you see Jesus as a sacrifice for sin, may you respond by declaring Him your Saviour. As you see Jesus as a ransom and victor over all, may you respond by declaring Him as your Lord. As you see Jesus as our example, may He become the Teacher who you follow. Jesus' death is God reaching out to us. May you reach back to him in faith and trust today.

Resources

To read more about various atonement theories, check out:

* The Nature of Atonement: Four Views. Edited by James Beilby and Paul R. Eddy

* A Community Called Atonement by Scot McKnight

* Stricken by God? Non-Violent Identification and the Victory of Christ. Edited by Brad Jersak and Michael Hardin