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”
Author Archives: wonderingpilgrim
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”
God’s surprises
Two weeks away from blogging is far too long! Sometimes life’s events take over, however, and there is not enough time to stop and smell the roses – that’s if you can find any. What a gift to find 24 hours to spend with my son and some ministry colleagues. We went bush – andContinue reading “God’s surprises”
Consider your verdict
My regular Sunday morning harangue evoked more feedback than usual. It involved a reversal of role for the third servant in the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30. Consider your verdict! Perhaps the parable of the talents has had a lot of airplay lately. I doubt anyone has missed the huge advertising campaign byContinue reading “Consider your verdict”
Oranges; No Lemons!
Lots and lots of oranges have been boosting some of our local church fund-raising projects. One church family decided life was not busy enough, so invested in an orange orchard near Bindoon, about 100 kms north of Perth. Since then, the whole congregation and beyond has had regular access to a healthy dose of VitaminContinue reading “Oranges; No Lemons!”
Is King’s Park a thin place?
I led a group of theologs in addressing this question earlier this week. King’s Park is a popular tourist spot overlooking Perth. It contains a large number of hectares of natural bushland, the state war memorial, botanic gardens and picnic areas. It is a place of great spiritual significance to the Noongar people. Our particularContinue reading “Is King’s Park a thin place?”
What are weasel words then?
Don Watson, author of Death Sentence of the English Language, has published Watson’s Dictionary of Weasel Words: contemporary cliches, cant and management jargon. Like a weasel sucking the yolk from an egg while leaving the shell intact, the champions of “weasel words” suck the meaning out of a word. I received my 2006 diary fromContinue reading “What are weasel words then?”
