wonderingpilgrim

Church Board Retreat

What sorts of things does a local church board discuss at it’s annual retreat? The flower roster? The need to cut the length of the Sunday morning harangues … I mean … sermons? The leaky roof? Not likely, at least not at the one I’ve been involved with today. On our agenda were: brainstorming closerContinue reading “Church Board Retreat”

Religion and republicanism in Australian politics – Eureka Street

Image via Wikipedia It’s blog-lite today as this weekend’s heavy schedule descends. Eureka Street often comes in to fill a gap at such times as it often is the medium that reflects most closely my own position (with some exceptions). I would probably want to spend some time, should it beContinue reading “Religion and republicanism in Australian politics – Eureka Street”

1 is too many

Australia’s asylum seeker detention culture is very much under scrutiny. The High Court deliberates whether it is in the government power to alleviate pressure on the system through a ‘people-swapping deal’ with Malaysia.The outcome of the case will also have an impact on some backup strategies for warehousing refugees in other off-shore centres. And inContinue reading “1 is too many”

Appealing to the ‘better angels of our nature’

As we head towards refugee Sunday, Eureka Street offers some worthy material for reflection, e.g. Improving the refugee debate – Eureka Street. It well makes the point that multiculturalism, the so called bête noir of our times is really of little account. This reflects a lunch-time conversation from which I have just emerged, where a bunchContinue reading “Appealing to the ‘better angels of our nature’”

A story in six words

“Tell a story in six words,” he says, probably guessing it can’t be done. Plutarch’s Julius Caesar did it: “I came, I saw, I conquered.” (Technically it was three words “Veni, vidi, vici.”) Descartes did it in five: “I think, therefore I am.” And such is the font of a million stories. So here’s myContinue reading “A story in six words”

What on earth are they thinking?

Why can’t our government get it right with asylum seekers who arrive by boat? The lawfulness of the disgraceful Malaysia deal is being tested before the full bench of the High Court today. This morning’s headlines in the West Australian were like a breeze of fresh air through the stench of indifference and acrimony thatContinue reading “What on earth are they thinking?”

Heady Sunday

It was a heady day today. My service this morning featured a combination of technology and human error that threatened to undo us – namely the wrong set of hymn lyrics on PowerPoint . A quick swapping of USB drives fixed that – then I inadvertently destroyed the world – knocking the globe from itsContinue reading “Heady Sunday”

Coffee Pot on-line

Permit me to indulge a little more in my railway alternate universe where I live out my childhood daydreams. I see myself at the throttle of the Coffee Pot chugging through Pichi Richi Pass in South Australia’s lower Flinders Ranges. Quirky, eh wot? Why waste a daydream on something so wheezy and small in theContinue reading “Coffee Pot on-line”

Red Dog – Movie Review

Here’s an Oz flick that literally champions the underdog! Red Dog is the monicker given to the red kelpie that mysteriously appears and adopts the good burghers of Dampier, a mining port in WA’s hot Pilbara region. It is based on a true story of the 70s, and the era is faithfully depicted. A commemorativeContinue reading “Red Dog – Movie Review”

Same sex marriage – a mugwump’s perspective

This one is hotting up for parliamentary attention next week, with both the Australian Christian Lobby and Getup! campaigning from opposite sides. It looks like it’s going to be high noon at the OK Corral as these two shape up to each other in their lobbying for support. Funny thing is that, in the past,Continue reading “Same sex marriage – a mugwump’s perspective”