Monthly Archives: October 2018

Acton Institute’s 2018 Novak Award winner Professor Lucas G. Freire to deliver Calihan Lecture in Grand Rapids

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FAITH NEWSWIRE – GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (October 30, 2018) — Brazilian Professor Lucas G. Freire will deliver the 18th annual Calihan Lecture at the Acton Institute’s headquarters in Grand Rapids on the evening of Monday, November 5. Freire was awarded the 2018 Novak Award this past spring and will be the first of the recipients to give the lecture in Grand Rapids at the Acton Building. The lecture is part of the international two-day conference, Crisis in the Public Square: A Response from the Kuyperian Tradition. Advance registration is required to attend this free lecture, including dinner. The entire conference, including the Calihan Lecture, will be broadcast live online. More information at acton.org/kuyperconf.

Lucas G. Freire is an assistant professor at Mackenzie Presbyterian University in São Paulo, Brazil, and a fellow at the university’s new Center for Economic Freedom. He is also a postdoctoral fellow at North-West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa. He received his PhD in politics from the University of Exeter. Previously, he also served as a research associate with the Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics in Cambridge, UK.

Prof. Freire has commented on political and economic issues drawing on Christian thinking in the Reformed tradition. He has published on political theory and philosophy in journals such as Philosophia Reformata and Acta Academica. His current research focuses on the connection between religion, politics and economics in the ancient Near East and the biblical world. He lives in São Paulo with his wife and two children.

Named after distinguished American theologian Michael Novak, this $15,000 award rewards new outstanding scholarly research concerning the relationship between religion, economic freedom, and the free and virtuous society.

The Novak Award recognizes those scholars early in their academic career who demonstrate outstanding intellectual merit in advancing the understanding of theology’s connection to human dignity, the importance of the rule of law, limited government, religious liberty, and freedom in economic life. Recipients of the Novak Award make a formal presentation on such questions at an annual public forum known as the Calihan Lecture.

The Novak Award is made possible by the generosity of Joseph L. Calihan and family and forms part of a range of academic grants and awards available from the Acton Institute that support those engaged in serious reflection and research on the relationship between theology, the free market, limited government, and the rule of law. Details of these academic grants and awards may be found at acton.org/grants-awards.

About the Acton Institute

The Acton Institute is a nonprofit, ecumenical think tank located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Institute works internationally to “promote a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles.” For more on the Acton Institute, please visit www.acton.org.

Contact Charissa Reul at (616) 454-3080 or creul@acton.org for more information.

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SWITCHFOOT announces new album and American tour

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FAITH NEWSWIRE – GRAMMY award-winning rock band SWITCHFOOT expands on their trademark epic soundscapes and explores new themes and textures on Native Tongue, the group’s 11th full-length album set for release on January 18th (2019) via Fantasy Records. 

The band also announced the North American leg of the Native Tongue Tour, which kicks off in Asheville, N.C on February 14th. 

Tyson Motsenbocker will join SWITCHFOOT as supporting acts. 

Tickets are on sale now! 

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Inspired by the loss of a child, Kiwi author and reality TV star finds healing through writing

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FAITH NEWSWIRE – Losing a young child would rate as one of the great tragedies that anyone would face in life. For Jeff Poole, losing his son had a devastating affect on his life.

However, the kind thoughts of a friend in giving him a blank journal to write down his thoughts allowed him to not only deal with his grief, but also led to him writing a book that would be able to help others.

Kissing You Goodbye is Jeff’s story of losing his son Xander. He says, “Xander’s Godmother and a dear friend wisely gave me a blank little book. She said if the desire arose, I should write down thoughts and feelings. I didn’t use it profusely, but I did write a number of little poems, bits of prose and thoughts. Some of these I have used in the book.

“As I went through the struggles of grief, I found that there was very little from men on the subject. Most were strangely silent on the matter of child loss. It would have been helpful to have had another father to talk to who had lost a child, but I didn’t come across any in both life connections or in authors.

“It is just a simple book but my hope is that it will help people who have experienced loss, either directly or indirectly. In losing our son, our children lost their brother, our parents lost their grandchild, our siblings lost a nephew and so it goes on. It touches everyone.”

Heartbreak, even loss of faith, can be natural for those experiencing such loss, but Jeff stated that, “It took me awhile to know that God was good and that He was for me. I didn’t lose my faith in Him, but I lost my confidence in His goodness. It took me years to work through, but over time, we saw God turn difficult things around.

“We nearly lost our marriage. We nearly lost everything we had through potential bankruptcy. We have been too poor to buy food. We have gone without, but He is good. He loves me. He loves each one of us. Ultimately losing Xander has brought me closer to God.

“Losing a child changes you forever. There is always a bit of a hole. Someone is missing. It was a difficult journey, but I have journeyed through and out the other side. A strange thought that helped me survive was that over the millennia, people have lived on this earth, multitudes have lost their children and survived. If they could, so could I. I have the hope and joy of seeing Xander in heaven when I get there. I have the confidence that God is with me in every moment of my life.”

Life has moved on, and Jeff is a part of the 2018 Great Kiwi Bakeoff, the British-born TV juggernaut. It’s an elimination cooking show that, in a reality-television landscape driven with cruelty, is actually nice to people.

“My wife suggested I have a go at auditioning,” said Jeff. I have always wanted to have a go at a cooking show. I see myself as a better cook than a baker, but the GKBO has a nice feel and a great bunch of people. It was a fellow Christian on the show who really encouraged me to put the book out there. She felt it would help people.

“After reading it, she messaged me, stating, ‘Wow, wow, wow Jeff, I am in a puddle of tears! This is so incredibly moving. Thank you for writing this and for sharing your most precious story ❤️ I absolutely think this is worth sharing, please do get it published! I can imagine it like the most healing, beautiful coffee table landscape style book. This is going to touch so many lives. Wow.’”

Kissing You Goodbye is now available globally.

From Muslim to Christian, and the price paid for faith

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FAITH NEWSWIRE – When you think of becoming a Christian, it’s a pretty simple process. You believe in your heart, you pray a prayer, and with that, your life is transformed forever.

However, when a Muslim decides to convert to Christianity, it’s a whole different story.

Guryel Ali, the author of a new book titled Know Yourself Loved, has written his story in a compelling new book. He states that, “When you leave Islam for another religion, it’s important to note here the dilemma Muslim people are plunged into when they receive Jesus as Lord. It often comes with a great price tag.

“Even in Western secular societies, Apostasy in Islam is a grave matter. The religion takes this personally. It is considered a public shame for the family and community. Accepting Jesus is seen as rejecting their family and their faith. For seekers, this is a very real struggle and a heavy burden.

“In some Muslim countries, the sacrifice is even greater. They may not only lose their families, they may lose their friends, their jobs, their place in society, and in extreme cases, they may face punishment, retribution and perhaps even lose their lives.”

Ali became a Christian after having supernatural encounters. He notes that, “Many Muslims have dreams of a man in white, just like I did. Muslims revere the supernatural vision/dream, so this is a powerful witness. There is in fact a great move of God happening at the moment.

“When this happens in Muslim countries, there is an underground movement, where they become secret believers, just like there was in Communist China and Russia.”

This book is the result of 25 years of travelling in ministry singing and preaching. Whenever he shared his story, people kept asking where they could buy his book. “One of the reasons I wrote the book was to help Christians understand that Muslims are not atheists,” he adds. “On the contrary, they are children of Abraham. I go in to more detail in this in the book on this aspect and on how Christians can witness to Muslims.”

Know Yourself Loved is therefore a fascinating, true story of a Muslim born in London and raised in Australia. A powerful account of conversion from Islam to Christ, it involves a broken childhood, a teenage rebel, a dream/vision of Jesus, a search for the ‘Man in White’, uncanny coincidences and supernatural encounters along the road to find a Father.

Ali shares his extraordinary testimony with sincerity and humour. His book is one of hope and shows that, no matter the circumstances, God is within reach for anyone who is searching for Him.

God’s Love, Grace and Healing Through Nature

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FAITH NEWSWIRE – ‘Monarch Wonders’ is a book that is sensitively and delicately written. The inspirational words written will bring comfort and peace to readers.

The author states, “I regret not doing a dedication page for the book. It would be dedicated to my brother David, cousins and others who have died before their time. David passed away soon after I was drawn to the Monarch. It spoke of new Life we can have in Christ now, and more importantly, eternally. I had heard many times how the emerging butterfly gave hope and comfort to others going through grief. It now did this for me as well as much more.”

The story of the Monarch has enthralled young and old alike. The aim of this book is to help us find great beauty and healing in nature – God’s creation. Marion Robinson, the author certainly did and she wants to share her wonderful experiences in her own growth and healing.

Marion explains, “Following a serious head injury I was stopped in my tracks. I was unable to drive for a couple of years and the cognitive process had taken a battering. My sense of balance was impaired and noise, especially in shops was a problem. Every aspect of living had slowed right down.”

Hence the offshoot of this accident was Marion started paying attention to her surroundings and the life she was living. This brought to her attention the Monarchs in her garden and wherever she went. They were like a light to her, enthralling her in nature that God had created. She brought the newly laid eggs inside her home to observe their life cycle. All this drew her more towards God and she felt Him speaking clearly to her.

The author was so enthralled by what she was observing that she decided to photograph these events and began researching more about their life cycle and their beauty. However because of her injury her concentration was quite limited so most of the images and insights came over a four year period.

“So began the process of putting it together in a book form,” the author says. “First as an e-book, but it is only now, a few years later, that I have revisited it when asked to speak to a group on the Monarch Life Cycle. This led to other sharing opportunities to different audiences with the responses being very humbling. Since I believe that this is of God I should not be amazed. Hence I am now having the book published in a hard copy.”

The author maintains that the head injury was the best thing that happened to her and can only make this statement because of her close relationship to Christ. She has always been drawn to nature, as it is where she has always felt more prayerful and alive and photographing these moments has enriched this so much more.

“Capturing a seemingly fleeting moment allowed me to ponder and be awestruck at what had taken place. No more so than in the story of the Monarch Butterfly. It brought healing and new growth.”

A negative has truly been turned into a big positive for Marion. “I doubt very much that I would have slowed down so much and therefore I would have missed so many wonderful life changing moments.”

So, what inspiring revelations does the author hope that her readers will learn from reading this book? “My hope is that it is not just a book that is read once, but one that God will use to speak individually into anyone’s life as the reader reflects, ponders the amazing process that takes place and sees much of it in the images. Thus allowing God to bring hope and healing for whatever they may need at that time.

“I am truly grateful for all God has done, and continues to do in my life.”

 

 

There Is Hope for those with serious sickness

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FAITH NEWSWIRE – With the re-publishing of Robert Hillman’s 1992 book There is Hope, people with serious illness and those who care for them have a new resource to help them cope.

Dr Coral Chamberlain, who collaborated with Dr Hillman on the 1992 edition, has produced the new edition in response to many requests that this book be made available again.

“In doing so, I have done my best to remain true to Robert Hillman’s original intent and his gift for connecting with his readers,” Dr Chamberlain said.

“My hope is that, through this new edition, Robert Hillman’s words of timeless wisdom, encouragement and hope will continue to provide inspiration and comfort.”

In There is Hope, Robert Hillman presents in a balanced and simple way an approach to dealing with illness that will help readers receive all the healing possible for them in every aspect of their lives – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social.

“My main reason for writing this book is to give you hope: to encourage you to see that serious illness need not be accompanied by a sense of despair,” Dr Hillman said.

“Indeed your illness may be the beginning of real life for you. It may open up to you such vast resources of healing and wholeness that, whether or not you are cured, you will find your true self,” he said.

The first edition of There is Hope (Anzea: Sydney) was released in February 1992, just 8 weeks before Robert Hillman died as a result of cancer that was diagnosed 10 years previously. The book was an instant success: 1500 copies of the first run of 4000 sold in the first month. An additional 4000 copies were printed the same year and also sold quickly. Many readers bore testament to the blessing and help they had received. However, because the publisher ceased operations, no more reprints were available. Interest in purchasing copies of this book persists to this day, prompting the decision to revise and re-publish with Ark House Press.

Robert J Hillman BA, BD, PhD was in full-time church ministry and a popular speaker for many years. Then came the diagnosis of non-curable cancer with subsequent radical medical treatment and enforced early retirement. But this did not keep him from being involved in a caring ministry, especially the care of those who were ill. He also devoted time to writing in his latter years, in the fervent hope that others might benefit from the insights he gained during his long journey with serious illness.

Coral Chamberlain MSc, PhD is a former biomedical researcher and a writer/editor. Her role has been to bring both the first edition and this new edition of There is Hope to publication.

 

There is Hope is now available from Amazon and Koorong.