January 26, 2012

Our national undertow surfaces

20120126-210705.jpg

This morning I tweeted: ‘#AustraliaDay, like any anniversary arrives amidst strength & weakness, sorry & joy. These are acknowledged & we move on together #AusDayNSW’.

Later in the day Tony Abbott said something similar and the drama pictured (7 News) unfolded.

Australia Day must be a time we celebrate the nation we are and must be a time we acknowledge the loss and pain in our history.

Today some words were spoken, tempers stirred, and responses exaggerated.

This is nothing unusual in family gatherings where feelings run deep. And yet most families find the grace and maturity to walk away arm and arm. We must do the same.

We can’t change that we are here – black, white and many colours. We should not be ashamed that we are a remarkable nation and there is much to celebrate. We cannot hide that many have suffered and still suffer. Those who have suffered less should bear the burdens of those who have suffered more. And when the chance for healing comes, let’s embrace it.

Don’t worry about today, we’ll be ok.

Remembering
Make up your own mind…

Posted by on January 26, 2012 in News, Comment, MediaMoments, Australia, Healing, Culture and tagged , , , .

Leave a Comment

January 23, 2012

Urban neighbours bring hope, Jesus style

“It’s a fair bet that if Jesus Christ were around today, he’d be doing what the Owens are doing in Mount Druitt. They feed the poor and house the homeless. They lead the lost and counsel the conflicted.”

So writes Tim Elliot in a Sydney Magazine article about Urban Neighbourhood of Hope couple, Lisa and Jon Owen. It shows that culturally we still know instinctively what Jesus is like and that we want to celebrate it when we see it on display.

“They’re experts at unconditional love: alcoholic mums, runaway kids, petty thieves, everyone’s welcome at the Owens’ home, a four-bedroom brick house that for the past five years has been equal parts street kitchen and safe house, as well as a home for their daughters Kshama, 8, and Kiera, 7.”

Tim Elliott’s article explains: “Jon and Lisa Owen belong to a small Christian order called Urban Neighbours of Hope. Formed in Melbourne in 1993, UNOH’s mission is to relieve urban poverty by embedding volunteers in disadvantaged communities. UNOH workers take what amounts to a vow of poverty, surviving on an income from the organisation that is capped at the local poverty line, the idea being that they can better identify with their neighbours’ circumstances.”

More info and opportunity to give to UNOH

Posted by on January 23, 2012 in Uncategorized.

Leave a Comment

January 13, 2012

News recalls the absurd and points to the perfect

Sometimes the news gets the better of me either because it is shockingly bad, relentlessly tedious are downright absurd.

If ever there was a news cycle that would lead you to covert to nihilism and start whispering ‘everything is absurd’ then the past 24 hours might just do it:

  • A boy walks from his bedroom to show his mum a bullet after yet another Sydney drive-by shooting.
  • Soldiers urinate on dead Taliban fighters and say, ‘have a nice day buddy’.
  • News readers sound thankful that an Australian man only received 75 lashes while wearing a leather jacket
  • Mexican transplant staff drop a heart on the tarmac while rushing for the benefit of cameras.

This is the tip of the iceberg. I’m not even mentioning my own strange behaviour, or yours.

It reminds me that when looking for an explanation of a world where there can be so much that is beautiful, profound and wise and so much that is absurd, evil and tedious – all at the same time – the ancient texts of the Bible answer the call.

God created a good world and made human kind in his image which includes love, truth and choice. Humanity falls from the place and introduces chaos, absurdity and evil. The goodness and image of God still tarry in a world steadily succumbing to fallenness.

The dividing line for it all is a perfect life surrendered to the imperfection in all its manifest extremes. Take a hold of this life and you find a way out of the absurd.

That’s the simplistic version, but still the best…

And the moral (s) of the current news cycle – don’t rush when holding someone’s heart, keep your head down in Sydney’s suburbs, always love your enemies and never take off your leather jacket…

Posted by on January 13, 2012 in News, Comment, MediaMoments and tagged , , , , , .

Leave a Comment

January 12, 2012

Gay protest could be Court’s toughest tennis challenge

It could be a hard-fought three setter between tennis legend Margaret Court and proponents of gay marriage such as Kerryn Phelps over Court’s uncompromising views on the topic.

Dr Phelps has tweeted a call to Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu and Tennis Australia to rename the Margaret Court Arena before the Australian Open in Melbourne next week. And there has also been a call for people to protest by displaying rainbow flags at the tournament.

Pastor Court, a winner of 62 Grand Slam titles and now senior minister of Victory Life Centre in Perth, said she was ‘sad’ that her views on marriage were being brought into tennis, but that she would not be running away.

A Facebook page, ‘Rainbow Flags Over Margaret Court Arena’ has attracted 660 Likes while a recently added ‘NO Rainbow Flags Over Margaret Court Arena’ so far only has two. However many comments on the former page are actually in support of Margaret Court.

In The Australian, Ps Court explained that her views on gay marriage were based on the Bible and that she did not hate homosexual people.

“I have always said I have nothing against homosexual people,” she said. “We have them in our church. I help them to overcome. We have people who have been homosexual who are now married.

“When I spoke a month ago and stood for marriage, things came back from tennis players who probably didn’t read what I wrote. It had nothing to do with people personally or tennis players. I remember speaking to Navratilova 10 years ago on something she brought up with me and I said ‘Martina, I love you, God loves you, but a wrong doesn’t make a right’.

“I think I have a right, being a minister of the gospel, to say what it says from a scriptural side.

“I have always been a champion and always loved what I do and love tennis. I think it is very sad they can bring it into that. It is hard that they can voice their opinions but I am not allowed to voice my opinion. There is something wrong somewhere.” Read more

While Pastor Court’s views have been consistent and well-known for a long time, she spoke out on her blog in August about family and marriage and also during the gay marriage debate at the ALP Conference in December.

Related articles

Posted by on January 12, 2012 in Australia, God-spotting, News, Sport and tagged , , , , .

1 Comment

January 11, 2012

24/7 prayer and night club worship meets the world’s party capital

If you’ve read Pete Greig’s Red Moon Rising you would remember his descriptions of taking 24/7 Prayer Rooms to the clubbing districts of Europe to bring prayer, love and outreach to the thousands of young clubbers.

smh.tv has just released a documentary, God Bless Ibiza, which follows a group of young British Christians as they head to the Spanish clubbing hotspot of Ibiza. One website describes Ibiza as the ‘undisputed party capital of the world.’

The promo for the documentary reads: ‘Young, hip and radical, the team are a far cry from the sandaled missionaries of yester-year. They’re more at home in a club than a church, dance tracks are their hymns and they invoke the Holy Spirit in clubs with quasi-spiritual names like Godskitchen, Eden and Ascension. Whilst they have no problem hanging out with clubbers high on E, the team themselves have all sworn off drugs, alcohol and sex and say they get their kicks instead from supernatural experiences of God.’

If you are used to Christians copping it in the media, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by this documentary, not only for the in-depth and positive treatment the 24/7 outreach team is given, but by the groups faith and action. Prayer-walking, creative prayer spaces, worship in night clubs and genuine Christianity without a hint of religiosity.

Check out this nearly 40-minute online documentary and share it around.

Posted by on January 11, 2012 in MediaMoments, FindingFaith, Music, Film, God-spotting, World and tagged , , , , , .

Leave a Comment

January 11, 2012

Dear 2012, it’s nice to meet you

Dear 2012,

We haven’t met yet. My name is Utterance and I’m a blog. Sorry I haven’t said hello earlier but it has taken a touch of insomnia from my mate Pete to get things going this year. Um, that’s you isn’t it. This year that is. Well look, I’ve never talked to a year before so if I get a bit muddled, please forgive me.

Anyway, we have a bit in common, me (Utterance) and you (2012). Being a new year, as you are, you’d be interested to know that I pretty much began when my mate Pete made a New Year’s Resolution involving your colleague 2010. This was that Pete would write a new post on me every day during 2010.

Well he managed 266 posts which is not bad, I think 2010 was pleased, and he reflected on this here. He kept going in your other colleague, 2011, and I had my busiest ever day on August 17, 2011 when nearly 700 people dropped by to read my account of Kate Bracks winning Masterchef. Strangely enough, my most popular post of all time is to do with food as well, with 8632 people dropping in on MasterChef’s seven sins; God’s endless forgiveness.

Sorry to say there appears to be no such resolution this you, as here it is your 11th and we’ve only just met. But I’m sure we’ll get better acquainted as the year, sorry, as you progress and to help I’ll give you a bit more background.

As a blog I’m rather hard to define, deliberately so I think, which is a bit like my writer who has never been comfortable in a box, sometimes to his detriment. You know you can get further sometimes just by fitting in but he’s one of those early sixties babies who was never quite Boomer, never quite Buster and then had three Gen Y kids and so it’s all over the place.

I’m quite reflective at times, possibly a bit sentimental and even a little regretful. Please 2012, give me a slap around the ears if I go to far down that path.

I love the news – bit of the old printers’ ink in the blood  – well that would be his blood I guess as technically blogs have bytes and hits and posts but not so much of blood. But yes he was and is a journalist so there’s a newsiness to myself.

I especially like spotting God in the headlines, little signs of faith and the divine that manage to emerge in the daily dust of the world’s happenings. That’s why I might talk about Tim Tebow or job ads or Ayrton Senna or buggity, buggity, buggity or the Amazing Race.

Sydney’s a favourite, this great sprawling city of broad beaches, tense traffic, drive by shootings and colourful characters. And the occasional dead body, rainbow or pedestrian poem.

And if I try and get a little wise, a little insightful, bear with me, this too will surely pass.

So dear 2012, I hope we get along okay and catch up more than occasionally. For your part, could please slow down a little as it’s hard enough to find a moment without you being in a rush too, insomnia aside.

Oh, and as you are just at the beginning, here’s mine, it might help complete the picture of what I’m about.

Fare thee well and remember the advice I give everyone – breath, speak, breath and don’t forget to jump.

Much love
Utterance

PS Mr 2012, you can also follow my friend Pete on Twitter.
PPS Mr 2012, I’ve heard rumours that you are meant to be associated with the end of the world, something to do with Mayan calendars etc. Anyway, just to reassure you I have much higher hopes for you than that and in any case, the world won’t end until He says so.

Posted by on January 11, 2012 in Blogging, Comment, Musing and tagged , , , , , , .

Leave a Comment

December 24, 2011

Christmas leads to Easter’s mysterious Shroud

Christmas leads inevitably to Easter in Christian understanding and so it is not surprising that the origins of the Shroud of Turin are back in the news.

ABC News (US) reports, ‘Experts at Italy’s National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Development have concluded in a report that the famed purported burial cloth of Jesus Christ could not have been faked.’

The scientists are not claiming they know the origins of the Shroud’s markings, only that they could not have been medieval forgeries. Instead they report, ‘the marks could only have been made by “a short and intense burst of VUV directional radiation.”’

The New Testament written in the first century refers to burial clothes in the empty tomb of Jesus:

‘Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. (John 20:6, 7 NIVUK)’

Further it discusses the presence of angels around the Easter tomb with the appearance of lightning:

‘While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? (Luke 24:4, 5 NIVUK)’

If you believe in nothing more than the limited reach of science then you have no place for lightning-like angels, risen Lords or a baby who is God with us. You are also left with, currently, no explanation for the Shroud.

If you are undecided, then this Christmas may be your opportunity to entertain the thought of angels, virgin births and a God who loves you.

ABC News report on Shroud findings

Utterance post on 3D images from Shroud

20111224-133734.jpg

Posted by on December 24, 2011 in Comment, God-spotting, News, Religion, Science and tagged , .

Leave a Comment

December 24, 2011

Christmas unfashionable? Maybe because Jesus is missing…

The Power Index has published The Christmas Power List with, in their view, the top 10 power-mongers of Christmas – as if it is even possible for those two concepts to go together with integrity given the origin of Christmas is the birth of a baby in a stable to teenage parents.

Nevertheless The Power Index has installed Santa as number one on The Christmas Power List followed by Apple and, further down the list, the likes of The Queen’s Message, Jingle Bells (recently winning a vote for the favourite carol), and finishing the top 10 with Christmas turkey.

Actually the list was cynical and shallow, reflective of the prevailing wind over Christmas this year. It is fashionable, it would seem, to bag Christmas because of its shallowness and yet its celebration is shallow for many because they cynics have hounded away any attempt to revive its deeper meanings.

Still, for the majority who have never heard of The Power Index, goodwill prevails, giving is a thing of generosity and love, if a bit annoying at times, and they are more than happy to sing carols full of religious truth.

And for the record, God came in at number 11 on The Christmas Power List because:

“God hasn’t made it into the Top Ten, even though his son has naming rights to the ceremony. Church attendances are down, and Jesus is barely getting a mention, even though it’s his birthday we’re celebrating. Media Monitors did a survey for The Power Index of Christmas stories over the last month and could find references to God or Jesus in only 2% of them. God has hit back by sending us lousy weather for Christmas, according to the long-range forecast.”

** Meanwhile it seemed unChristmas (in the same vein as unAustralian) to remove on Friday the energetic man who cleans car windows on the corner of Johnstone and Parrmatta Road, Annandale. True, he did look particularly wild on the day, but he is a fixture on the corner and does his best to bring good cheer with Christmas trees and various costumes.

We hope it didn’t spoil his Christmas and perhaps the two young Constables involved were unaware that there are some things that transcend the law.

** When Handel’s Messiah was first performed in London in 1743, Lord Kinnoul congratulated Handel on the excellent ‘entertainment’. Handel replied, ‘My lord, I should be sorry that I only entertained them. I wish to make them better.’

It is a fine line when using the arts between producing pleasure which might be described as ‘entertainment’ and producing pleasure that might lead to the profound. Handel may have felt he had stumbled on this point, but most who hear or perform this work would find that it does indeed make them better.

Hillsong has run foul of the same suggestion with The Power Index (again) and Sydney Morning Herald, jealous I think of the the church’s success, reducing it’s Christmas activities to ‘entertainment’.

The Power Index reported that Hillsong drew 20,000 or more people to be ‘entertained’ at their Christmas pageants, and is selling a new Christmas CD, which gives them a measure of Christmas control.

“Over the weekend, the Hillsong Church put on six shows of its version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, with 20,000 free tickets handed out for the event in the Church’s Sydney heartland, Castle Hill.

“This week, the Church is targeting the punters with the release of their Christmas CD, Born is the King. The album is currently sitting in the No. 20 spot on the ARIA charts, just behind The Acoustic Chapel Sessions. Its first single has amassed 268,000 views on YouTube.”

The typical linking of Hillsong to money occurs in The Power Index article even though all their pageants are free and no one else is giving music away either (not since the heady days of Keith Green).

They did at least publish Brian Houston’s version of the purpose of their Christmas music:

“The purpose of this album – like all of our music – is to speak to the heart of people,” he said in a statement. “The Christmas story is a message of hope and love; it is about family, faith and generosity and I believe that Australians have a lot to be hopeful for this year.”

While no one will be putting Hillsong’s Christmas album on the same level as Handel’s Messiah, there is an uncanny similarity in purpose between the two…

** A Brazilian mum found hope in Christmas when her twins were born cojoined with their appearance being one body with two heads. This is how much of the media report the birth – “two-headed boy”. Refusing to be daunted it seems, their mother promptly named them Jesus and Emmanuel and was excited about taking them home.

** More enthusiasm there than among many 12-25 year old Australians in relation to Christmas. A survey by Headspace, the National Youth Mental Health Foundation, showed that one in five young people would be relieved if Christmas was cancelled.

More than 500 people aged 12 to 25 took part in the survey, and only half of them said they would be disappointed if Christmas was cancelled. One third said Christmas makes them feel worse than usual and 58% cited ‘tensions between family members’ as a key reason for feeling negative about Christmas.

Headspace CEO Chris Tanti said, ‘The survey shows that many young people believe tensions among family members increase around the holiday season.

‘Christmas is a time for giving and receiving presents, but parents should also take the opportunity to exchange the gift of meaningful conversation with their child and see how they are coping.’ (Headspace offers confidential 24-hour support.)

** No wonder people are losing hope around Christmastime when even the CEO of Headspace can only describe Christmas as ‘giving and receiving presents’. Likewise, many of the people who rang in during James Valentine’s Grinch Hour on ABC Radio’s afternoon show, were fed up with Christmas mainly because of the shopping involved. Well then, don’t shop. Or shop in moderation. Or shop in the same measure as you help the poor.

** A Tweet from 2 GB’s Natalie Peter’s attracted some retweets today as it pointed out that the Retailers Association say we will spend $1.5 billion shopping on Christmas Eve and yet The Smith Family is still 34 per cent short of its $4 million target.(This figure has been reduced to 27 per cent at time of writing).

** Finally, in many small ways this year Christmas has been represented as unfashionable, mainly in the media context. While there have always been complaints about shopping and commercialisation, this year there seems at times to be a sharper edge, calling into question the legitimacy of the whole season. Perhaps it is a sign of the reach of new atheism. Maybe, like in Cromwell’s day, there will be a call to ban Christmas. Only this time it will be the secular puritans responsible.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!

Posted by on December 24, 2011 in Australia, Culture, FindingFaith, God-spotting, MediaMoments, Uncategorized and tagged , , , , .

Leave a Comment

December 16, 2011

Not so sacred fight over school enrolment

A far-flung Catholic School became the centre of inner city ire this week when news broke that a child had been denied enrolment because her parents are a same-sex couple.

Within minutes of the story being aired by the ABC, Greens schools spokesman John Kaye was on the airwaves lambasting non-government schools in general because they weren’t subject to anti-discrimination laws. He demanded that they be made to abide by these regulations if they wanted to continue receiving 85 per cent government funding.

Leaving aside the right or wrongs of the actions of the Sacred Heart School, Broken Hill, and indeed the veracity of the claims being made against it, let’s consider for a moment who is righteous enough to cast stones in this situation.

If the well-being of the child is the real issue, as the various detractors most self-righteously proclaim, then the action of the parents in taking the matter directly to the media is highly questionable. There would have been several other options, if their concerns were in fact sincere, such as appealing to the appropriate Bishop who would have quickly offered the child a place, judging by his reaction since the story broke.

Anyone who knows small towns realises that everyone in Broken Hill now knows exactly which family is at the centre of this row, surely not an ideal situation.

Then there is the hypocrisy of John Kaye who immediately politicised the case and uses it as an excuse to push the Green agenda which is to force faith-based schools to relinquish their deeply held, ancient beliefs that are at the centre of their life and community. What he would really like is to see private schools removed altogether, or at very least, all funding for them removed. Continue Reading →

Posted by on December 16, 2011 in Australia, Church, MediaMoments, News, Religion and tagged , , .

Leave a Comment

December 16, 2011

Tebowing may yet be a word in Australia too

Tim TebowUS media commentary has been prolific for some time regarding  Denver Bronco quarterback Tim Tebow and now is nudging its way into Australian newspaper columns.

Fairfax papers’ such as The Age in Melbourne today reported how ‘America fawns over God’s anointed NFL star’ but even well-known Australian religious cynicism put barely a dent in the 24-year-old Christian grid-iron player’s almost miraculous aura.

The article describes how Tebow’s remarkable run of last quarter comeback wins even over more fancied rivals has captured the imagination of football and faith fans alike. Says The Age:

“Even Americans who have never tuned in for a Sunday afternoon game have come to admire Tebow’s humble demeanour and his religious devotion, which they say makes him an ideal role model for youngsters.

Some have been disarmed by his matinee idol looks and ripped physique. Others see him as a potent anti-abortion symbol, after hearing the now familiar story of how his mother had refused, against her doctors’ advice, to terminate her pregnancy while carrying “Timmy.” She now is one of America’s most vocal pro-life advocates.

But real superstardom for Tebow has come because of his exploits on the gridiron.”

And then there is Tebow’s typical after-touchdown celebration which sees him drop to one knee, eyes closed and head bowed in prayerful thanks. The pose has been dubbed ‘tebowing’ and while hearing American stars give thanks to God is commonplace (even those whose lifestyles belies any hint of an interest in God) Tebow’s is undoubtedly sincere and is catching on fast. Continue Reading →

Posted by on December 16, 2011 in Australia, FindingFaith, News, Religion, Sport and tagged , , , , , , .

Leave a Comment