Members of my congregation were somewhat exercised that Brazil appeared on yesterday’s list for intercessions under the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle. Within 14 hours, Australia’s Socceroos were due to play Brazil, the top contenders for the World Cup. How do you intercede for a nation with which one’s own is in contest, even only recreationally? WeContinue reading “World Cup Blues”
Author Archives: wonderingpilgrim
A Christian Peacemaker reflects at Easter
“Christ teaches us to love our enemies, do good to those who harm us, pray for those who persecute us. He calls us to accept suffering before we inflict injury. He calls us to pick up the cross and to lay down the sword. We will most certainly fail in this call. I did. AndContinue reading “A Christian Peacemaker reflects at Easter”
The Gospel of Judas
Easter must be drawing near. The media is getting hysterical over another “latest discovery” guaranteed to scuttle the Church’s battered barque once and for all. This time it is the release of info relating to the discovery of documentary fragments purporting to belong to “The Gospel of Judas”, where it is claimed that Judas, ratherContinue reading “The Gospel of Judas”
Tom Fox: martyr
Tom Fox was found dead in a Baghdad suburb a few days ago. He was one of four Christian Peace Makers Team members kidnapped three months ago. His voluntary role in Iraq was to act in liaison between detainees and their families and to escort medicines to clinics. He was always aware that such involvementContinue reading “Tom Fox: martyr”
Push-ups, Palamas and Prayer
My doodle of a Benedictine monk exercising speaks of a convergence of thoughts. My post middle-aged frame is now being subjected to regular workouts at the local gym (under the wise eye of a personal trainer, I hasten to add!) I’m also attending to the continuous development of Dayspring’s coursework in the practice of prayer.Continue reading “Push-ups, Palamas and Prayer”
A good read
How does Christian faith, based on a unique revelation, relate to other world faiths? Depending on one’s comfort zone, this might be experienced as either a stimulating question on the one hand, or irritating and threatening on the other. Within the Christian confession, there is widely accepted typology of three dominant views set out byContinue reading “A good read”
Synchronicity strikes again!
I was at a planning meeting today where the lyrics of this song were posited as evidence of the contemporary individual’s inner search for meaning (“Wake me up inside”). At the end of the day, when I opened my e-mail, there were the same lyrics in a message from halfway around the world, part ofContinue reading “Synchronicity strikes again!”
Kairos and chronos – finding the door to Narnia
A certain large cat, witch and article of household furniture continue to hold their own at the box office. The jury is still out on whether C.S. Lewis intended The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as an allegory or even analogy of the Christian kerygma. Be that as it may, I find some compellingContinue reading “Kairos and chronos – finding the door to Narnia”
Incarnation strikes retail hub
I ventured into Perth’s CBD this morning, on leave from my pulpit and looking for a church service to sneak into. For the first time, I saw the new street decorations, unashamedly and unabashedly telling the story of the Incarnation, from the Annunciation through to the Flight to Egypt. The replicas of medieval paintings enthralledContinue reading “Incarnation strikes retail hub”
Van Tuong Nguyen
A single flower in the church courtyard fountain measures the strength of community feeling over this morning’s execution of convicted drug mule, Van Tuong Nguyen. It is understated but eloquent, for indeed, community feeling is divided. Public debate, emotive as it is, lines up as retribution vs rehabilitation. The apparent rehabilitation of Nguyen, enhanced byContinue reading “Van Tuong Nguyen”
Wondering Pilgrim 