Here’s one blog’s take on utilising, for a higher purpose, world-wide search engine interest in Wikileaks…
It’s not subtle, but then neither is Wikileaks – and at least you can still access this blog on the net.
Category: News
God makes a Google Street View appearance
Plenty of interesting things have been found on Google Street View ranging from dead bodies to hovering cars, but perhaps even God has made an appearance.
A god-like figure can be seen hovering midair above a lake in Quarten, Switzerland.
Discovered by the Gawker blog, the image is most likely to be the result of light distortion or lens flare, however blogger Max Read has questioned tongue-in-cheek whether it might have more mysterious origins:
‘Is it something on the camera lens? Or is it maybe… God and His only begotten Son? And who’s to say that God isn’t “something on the lens”, in some kind of a cosmic, metaphysical sense?’ he writes.
God can be anywhere and everywhere – even on a camera lens no doubt – which kind of reminds me of the supposed ‘how many angels on the head of a pin‘ theological debate. Still, when God appears again in the sky, the Bible suggests we won’t be left guessing…
For a few more favourite Google Street View images, visit this Sydney Morning Herald gallery.
And let’s not forget Perth’s famous hovering cars or an unusual man-made landscape in a remote part of China which appears to be a model of a larger piece of territory complete with snow-topped mountains, streams and valleys.
Share this:
The lighter side of zips, oxen and paying for sunshine
One zip and your out
The Brisbane Gabba’s bag policy has been credited as the cause for a lower than expected crowd on the fourth day of the first Ashes Cricket Test.
While most sporting venues have a bag policy which involves checks for alcohol or metal and glass objects, the Gabba has gone a step further and decreed that if your bag has more than one zipper it will be refused entry to the ground.
ABC cricket commentator, Kerry ‘Skull’ O’Keefe, said that under the one-zip policy, there were some concerns that if you had a zip on your jeans, you may be allowed to take your bag in but have to remove your pants…
When you don’t want to be as strong as an ox
The discovery of three teenagers who had been lost at sea for 61 days was described as a miracle and answer to prayer, apt descriptions indeed.
Not so apt perhaps was the description of their condition by one of the fishermen who found them. After commenting that they were very skinny, he said, ‘but mentally they were as strong as an ox.’ Mmm… faint praise?
There goes the sun
And in the same week that Here Comes The Sun (do,do,do,do) became the best-selling Beatles song on iTunes, a Spanish woman has registered the sun as her own personal property and intends to charge for its use.
Angeles Duran, 49, said she took the step after reading about an American who had registered himself as the owner of the moon and several planets.
An international agreement states no country may claim ownership of a planet or star, but it apparently says nothing about individuals.
Ms Duran now wants to charge for using the sun and give half of the proceeds to the Spanish government, 20 per cent to the nation’s pension fund, 10 per cent to research and 10 per cent to ending world hunger. The rest she’ll keep for herself… Mentally, as strong as an ox?
Share this:
Enabling churches to be more inclusive
‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ Luke 14:21
Christian Blind Mission Australia has long worked with the disadvantaged across the globe but has recently fixed its gaze on an apparent injustice closer to home.
According to a CBM, disability ministry is a growing need yet only 5 per cent of Australian churches have any intentional programs to include people with disabilities.
Inspired by Jesus’ call in Luke 14, CBM Australia has developed a program of the same name that seeks to better equip churches to meet to be more inclusive of people with a disability.
Information about the launch of the program says: ‘Luke14 is a CBM initiative aimed at equipping churches to welcome and include people with a disability. It is a process that assists churches to both reach in to improve church access and understanding, and reach out to offer support and friendship to people and families living with a disability in the community.
‘Many Australians living with disabilities aren’t a part of a caring church family, let alone involved in ministry. Luke14 seeks to help make our churches places where every person is appreciated, welcomed and encouraged to serve.’
CBM’s Luke14 will be launched with special guest speaker Therese Rein, wife of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, at St Anne’s Ryde Anglican Church Conference Centre on Thursday, November 25 at 9,30am and in Wollongong at Figtree Anglican Church on November 26 at 9.30am. Both launches are free. Check out the CBM website for details.
Share this:
Farewell institutional power, hello grassroots influence
Churches have probably lost the fight against the NSW Government’s plan to introduce ethic classes in public schools at the same time as optional special religious education.
Education Minister Verity Firth is glowingly positive about the review of the classes and while there are no plans to remove SRE, the once ‘sacred’ right to offer Scripture without competition in NSW public schools will soon be a thing of the past.
Of course this is a manifestation of a wider truth that the church has lost much of its institutional power and perhaps in the future will lose even more.
There are positives though and the main one is that if churches and Christians learn they can’t rely on a privileged institutional role in society, they may finally revert to the ancient source of Christian vitality – personal and community transformation through offering real life encounters with a living God.
This of course can’t be done any other way than through authentic relationship and engagement with people of all kinds.
Grassroots influence verses institutional authority – which one sounds more like Jesus?Read More »
Share this:
Flood of faith better than backwater of unbelief…
Western society – especially the white, European, inner city, educated elite – is little more than a secular-atheist backwater when compared to the vast ocean of faith and religious fervour that dominates most of the planet.
And this was clearly on display last week with two major events bringing God to the front pages of newspapers and onto prime time television.
Sweeping the planet from Rome was the ardour of Mary MacKillop’s canonisation which eventually overcame the most cynical media hack and had them sincerely discussing miracles, faith, worship and the value of a genuinely humble, self-sacrificial life.
Simultaneously we had the remarkable rescue of the Chilean minors and 90 point headings on major Australian dailies screaming, ‘GOD AND THE DEVIL FOUGHT OVER ME AND GOD WON!’Read More »
Share this:
Saints and murderers – beware the trappings of Christianity
The trappings of Christianity are precisely that, a trap – just ask Teresa Lewis or Mary MacKillop.
When we adhere outwardly, publicly or religiously to Christian faith but deny its inner, personal change, eventually we – and others – are snared in a trap of our own making.
What tends to happen is that the appearance of being a good Christian becomes an ever broadening disguise, hiding the real turmoil within. We would have been better to deny the appearance and be honest about the reality.
As guilt and condemnation do their insidious work, and as we have more to lose if our charade is exposed, we work harder on the exterior, becoming even more lost on the inside.
Jesus gave the simple example of the religious leader coming to pray, full of hubris, flaunting his religious superiority but in reality being further away in God’s eyes than the scorned tax collector who stood at a distance, ashamed of his wrong-doing, and seeking mercy and forgiveness.
Extreme examples in today’s world come to light with the execution of a US woman and the one-time excommunication of soon-to-be-Catholic-saint, Mary MacKillop.
Teresa Lewis was executed in Virginia on Friday afternoon (AEST) fo arranging the killings of her husband and a stepson over a $US250,000 insurance payment.
Amazingly, Lewis had the appearance of a strong Christian and even prayed with her husband in bed before getting up and unlocking the door of their home to let in the killers.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Lewis admitted her life had been marked by outrageous bouts of sex and betrayal even as she ‘hewed to the trappings of Christianity’.
‘I was doing drugs, stealing, lying and having several affairs during my marriages,’ reads a statement by Lewis. ‘I went to church every Sunday, Friday and revivals but guess what? I didn’t open my Bible at home, only when I was at church.’
Which is why a Christian life marked only by ‘meetings’ is not a true marker of discipleship. Jesus said that while we would find his presence in the company of other believers, so too among the poor, in serving others and in a heartfelt searching of our own hearts.
Mary MacKillop by all accounts was someone known for these qualities which is no doubt why she was responsible for exposing the paedophilia of a priest, and then excommunicated for her troubles.Read More »
Share this:
Even atheists are sick of new atheism…
I’ve had my share of run-ins with online atheists, ready to drive me into the ground for being a person of faith, and that’s fair enough, after-all I am sticking my neck out here, on purpose.
But it’s interesting to see that even atheists are getting sick of the new breed of aggressive atheism which spreads the message that anyone who believes in God is a moron.
Check out ‘Please God spare us the born-again atheists’ from The Punch .
Share this:
Change comes from global action and the smallest deed
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on world leaders to attend a summit in New York next week, to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, aimed at halving world poverty by 2015. Newly appointed Foreign Minister, Kevin Rudd, will be attending.
In the meantime, some good news from Britain today with these comments from British PM David Cameron in an article regarding the Pope’s visit:
‘The Holy See is a partner in pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals, which will be discussed at United Nations headquarters in New York again next week. For our part, we are totally committed to meeting the UN target of spending 0.7 per cent of our national income on aid by 2013. And we want to ensure that the money we spend goes to those who need it most. Sustainable economic development is closely linked to political stability and security. A world in which there is a yawning gap between the rich and the poor will be more dangerous and less secure for all of us.’
Come on Jules and Kev, don’t let the Brits get the jump on us!
Meanwhile in the same article, which touches on the beatification of Cardinal Newman while the Pope is in the UK, David Cameron says:
‘Cardinal Newman once said that one little deed, whether by someone who helps “to relieve the sick and needy” or someone who “forgives an enemy” evidences more true faith than could be shown by “the most fluent religious conversation” or “the most intimate knowledge of scripture”.’
Share this:
Oprah’s visit recalls other Christmas arrivals
So Oprah is coming to Australia just before Christmas, including a show at the ‘Oprah House’ on December 14.
Made me think of some other great arrivals around Christmas time and the counter-cultural nature of the Messiah’s mission – just as shocking today as it was then.
While Oprah is bringing her own audience of 300, Jesus had a few animals, shepherds and mum and dad.
Oprah is arriving on a jet plane with a crew of 150, while an unborn Jesus arrived on a donkey with no room at the inn.
Oprah will take over the Opera House with her American audience, crew and ‘thousands’ of Australian fans. When Jesus arrived at Christmas, the angels sang opera but only a shire of shepherds noticed.
Oprah’s visit is expected to be great for Australian tourism although we expect Austria may also get an unexpected boost. Meanwhile Jesus’ visit has sent people travelling all over the planet for 2000 years starting with Persian magi and including many who died for their efforts in pursuing His purpose.
Oprah no doubt will have her detractors but ‘all publicity is good publicity’ in the wild world of television. Jesus had a few detractors too and we know how that turned out.
I do love Oprah’s generosity in springing this great gift on her audience, self-serving as it may be, to a greater or lesser extent.
I do love God’s generosity in giving Jesus, the one purely altruistic act of history, which can be received freely, no strings attached. And the good news is that it is good news forever, not just for this season’s rating period…
Related Articles
- Govt caught up in Oprah fever (news.theage.com.au)
- Oprah, Down Under (chicagoist.com)
Share this:
Balancing freedoms as Bibles and bodies are burned
The threatened burning of the Qur’an by a Florida pastor created international headlines and now a Brisbane atheist has used pages of the Bible and the Qur’an to roll fake joints and smoke them.
And while journalists waste time over these peculiarly western debates, we hear nothing about the very real plight of millions of Christians, many in Muslim countries, where such freedoms are not enjoyed.
For example a young Laotian woman had her Bible burned (pictured) by villagers who believed it was causing her mother’s illness.
‘My villagers still hate me and mock me, like they mocked Jesus on the cross. It is the world’s right to hate us or to love us. But for me, I will follow Jesus.’
Many people like this young woman are assisted by Voice of the Martyrs. You might wonder why we need such an organisation in the 21st century but there are more Christian martyrs today than ever before.
VOM says, ‘In restricted nations around the world, Bibles are burned, shredded or confiscated every day. Those opposed to the gospel can destroy Bibles, but they cannot destroy the faith of those like ****’.
To read many other heart wrenching stories of the persecution of Christians – the burning of their Bibles, churches and bodies – visit Voice of the Martyrs.
We do enjoy remarkable freedoms in the west, rarely known on our planet or throughout history, very much brought about by a Christian world view that says every life is sacred and deserves dignity, freedom, opportunity and life.
This should be extended to people of all faiths and Koran burning or Bible ‘smoking’ are ridiculous parades of ego.
But there is something that would help balance the debate. Whenever we stand and affirm that Muslims, for example, should receive the same freedoms in Australia or America as anyone else, it would be inspiring to hear those voices, especially Muslims, speak up and say they would like to see the same freedoms for those persecuted for their faith in Muslim or other restricted countries.
Share this:
Miner’s faith strong, 700 metres and 17 days beneath the earth
Quote of the week:
‘Dear Liliana, I’m well, thank God. I hope to get out soon. Have patience and faith. I haven’t stopped thinking about all of you for a single moment. I want to tell everyone that I’m good and we’ll surely come out okay. God is great and the help of my God is going to make it possible to leave this mine alive.’ Mario Gomez, 63.
Mario communicated these thoughts 17 days after being trapped 700 metres underground in a small room with 32 other men, knowing it would be weeks or months before rescuers would reach them. These are beliefs not lightly held…
The reality of God and the value of faith is often discussed in theoretical terms, as if life and death are not involved. But not for Mario and his friends. Seventeen days is plenty of time for an unreal pretense to have been stripped away. And yet faith in God has surfaced loud and clear.
Interestingly, Mario’s daughter made the following comments after hearing of the note from her father:
‘No-one will be able to take this happiness away from me… I’ve never felt anything like this in my life. It’s like being born again.’
Faith tends to have that result, whenever you encounter it… even for you, today.
Related Articles
- Long wait ahead for Chile miners (bbc.co.uk)
Share this:
Dying while bringing sight to the blind
The headline read ‘Taliban massacre big-hearted team devoted to helping Afghans’ and accompanying the written report was a video featuring the widow of one those killed.
Before the video plays, on the SMH online site, it is preceded by an advertisement for electric toothbrushes.
The team killed in Afghanistan was providing basic medical care, including eye and dental care and one of the workers was a dentist who had handed out thousands of toothbrushes over the years, to children who had never seen one.
This juxtaposition reminds us of the implausible position we in the west too often take – that our wealth and freedom has no connection to another’s poverty and restraint.
This post is in honour of the six Americans, two Afghans, a German and a Briton who were slaughtered on August 8.
Many of them were Christians, most having given up their life in the west to embrace life in Afghanistan so they could be an example of kindness and goodness.
Watch the video report (minus toothbrush ad) and particularly note the response of widow, Libby Little, as she calls down God’s mercy on those who killed her husband.
Read the full statement about the deaths from International Assistance Mission, the Christian organisation for whom the team worked. This is an example of a deeply committed, intelligent, genuine Christian response to the world’s poor.
Share this:
Will we remember the world’s poor this election?
Everything from ear lobes to budgie smugglers to Mark Latham’s handshake has received media attention during the election campaign but quite a few serious issues have gone missing in action.
One life and death question for millions is this: Will Australia as a nation, and in particular, it’s would-be leaders, remember its responsibility towards the world’s poor?
When walking towards the start line of the City to Surf on Sunday I noticed one of the many homeless people who sleep rough in the city and was glad of two things – firstly that I noticed him and secondly that I can be grateful for what I have while sharing it to the best of my ability.
I’m sure many of my readers are the same, so let’s make sure our nation is committed to that path.
Check out Australian Christian Voter about how we call all put the poverty question to our politicians this Wednesday.
Share this:
Christians get moving on election action
We’ve passed the half-way mark of the election campaign and the temperature could be rising just a little.
Waking a bit groggily this morning, the result of working split night shifts so that my already insomniac tendencies are exacerbated, I heard a promo for ABC Radio’s AM in which a determined-sounding woman was telling the reporter she wouldn’t be voting for Julia Gillard because she’s an atheist and she knew ‘hundreds of people’ who had the same view.
You can check out this story at Australian Christian Voter.
As if to keep the ball rolling, the Australian Christian Lobby launched its Australia Votes website today and once again you can get a good rundown at ACV.
Finally, candidate electorate forums are up and running, check out a list of the ACL ones organised so far.
Or perhaps you would prefer the Make Poverty History/Micah Challenge variety. Learn about them here.
Share this:
Social engagement not just for the few
Scott Stephens is probably a good bloke doing a hard job, as editor of ABC Online’s Religion and Ethics portal.
But his July 19 blog post pretty much wrote off any Christian that engaged in politics (except maybe those he agrees with) and was full of stereotyping, arrogance and perhaps a slight trace of envy.
We are all good at that, if we are honest, aren’t we? So lets pray for him as on balance it is a positive thing that such a forum exists and a Christian is the editor.
His post attacking the Australian Christian Lobby, and among other things, Hillsong, gave the impression that unless you are a trendy, left-wing intellectual who reads Eureka St you shouldn’t climb the ivory tower of social engagement for fear of embarrassment.
That’s a pity because what we really want to do is educate Christians about social engagement, for the sake of the gospel, and the best way to do that is for us all to have a go, get kicked in the head a few times, learn some lessons, grow in humility and wisdom, and keep going…
Check out my response to his post.
Share this:
Election on August 28?
August 28 – the 240th day of the year; the day Charles divorced Diana and the birth date of Tolstoy. Could it be the day Australians go to the polls in 2010?
Election frenzy grips Canberra tonight with the ABC claiming Julia Gillard will announce an election tomorrow. Check out the details at Australian Christian Voter.
Share this:
Politicians fail to deliver on asylum seeker policy
Check out some comment on the asylum seeker issue I’ve made on my other blog, Australian Christian Voter.
Christians, along with just about every other section of the community, are divided about how best to respond to the arrival of refugees by boat.
The politicians have no hope of coming up with cohesive policy because they are playing to political audiences. But Christians are often not much better, sniping at each other from behind entrenched views.
If a forum of Christians across a variety of perspectives could provide a united voice, we might actually lead the nation in a prophetic way. We need national Christian leadership to do this – it’s there I’m sure but where do we find it? PH
Share this:
Mother reminds world of Justin’s Christian origins
“No 15-year-old wants to be around his mother 24/7. And no mother wants to be around her 15-year-old 24/7, either.”
Sounds like a pretty down to earth comment really and the interesting thing is that it was made by Pattie Mallette, the mother of 16-year-old pop star, Justin Bieber.
Ms Mallette has been in the news this week for reminding the world of her son’s Christian origins. In a discussion about the star’s commitment to remain a virgin until marriage, his mother said, ‘He’s expressed his desire to stay pure, and honour women, and treat women with respect. So hopefully that stays valid.’
Apart from the slightly obscene aspect of the world discussing a 16-year-old’s virginity, it is an intersting insight into ridiculous fame crashing headlong into real people in real family.
Pattie Mallette was just 18 when she became pregnant with Justin, who was born on March 1, 1994, in Stratford, Ontario. She worked low paying office jobs as she raised Justin as a single mother.
While Justin taught himself to play the piano, guitar and trumpet by the age of 12, Pattie began posting videos of his performances on YouTube with a clear strategy in mind.
It seems that she had a strong Christian faith and at some point, as many parents do, had in a very real way ‘given’ her son over into God’s hands, seeing him as a possible modern day prophet Samuel.Read More »
Share this:
Bear Grylls soon to appear on Aussie buses
Bear Grylls has been in a lot of tough places but the side of a Sydney bus might just be the toughest of all… But that’s exactly where he’ll be shortly, featured in an advertising campaign encouraging fans to discover life’s ultimate adventure, The Alpha Course. Apart from Sydney, the campaign will also run in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to coincide with the visit of Alpha’s international Chairman Ken Costa.
Bear Grylls is the star of Man vs Wild, the Discovery Channel’s most popular program and also screening Monday nights on SBS.
Recently Utterance reported that Bear is a Christian and a big fan of the Alpha Course – check out his promo for it below. As well, Alpha Australia are recommending that now is a good time to encourage friends to do the Alpha Course, especially if they are fans of Bear Grylls. Check out the Alpha Australia website for details.
utterance 
