wonderingpilgrim

Work is cranking up again!

The Christmas New Year hiatus, in the life of the congregation here, seems to last about three weeks. For me, this used to be vacation time, along with most of the rest of Australia. Some time ago, I decided this wasn’t the best idea. Recessed programs could have one sitting back and twiddling one’s thumbsContinue reading “Work is cranking up again!”

Discovering authenticity through vulnerability

Just stumbled upon one of the great TED talks (they all seem to have some thought provoking gems). This one hit something in my core. I found myself shouting YES all the way through as Brené Brown, a researcher in social work, shared her learning about discovering one’s true authenticity and authority through vulnerability. Look atContinue reading “Discovering authenticity through vulnerability”

Praying for Tunisia

Churches around the world who participate in the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle will focus this coming week on the North African nations of Algeria, Libya, Morocco, the Western Sahara and Tunisia. Tunisia is very much in the news right now; rioting as the result of widespread dissent has led to the sacking of the government andContinue reading “Praying for Tunisia”

Disaster & Discipleship

As one prepares for sermons this Sunday, one wonders how the lectionary will speak into the preoccupations of a community. Not only the Queensland floods (15 lives lost), but the many more lives lost in flooding this week in Brazil, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and South Africa will be not far from our minds. TheContinue reading “Disaster & Discipleship”

And now the individual stories…

Natural disaster evokes a sequence of responses from those not directly affected:- a gradual dawning of awareness – flooding in northern Queensland had already claimed 11 lives before most of us awoke to its severity. Granted it was Monday’s shock deluge that snapped many of us to attention. stunned shock as we attempt to comeContinue reading “And now the individual stories…”

Responding to Natural Disasters

After checking on family and friends in the Queensland danger zones, I now turn to a question that has arisen in several forums over the last day or two – “but this is what underdeveloped countries are facing constantly, and they don’t have the infrastructures in place to respond as we do.” On this day,Continue reading “Responding to Natural Disasters”

Fire & Flood

While Perth endures a highly- fueled bush fire season, Australia’s other natural nemesis is making it’s presence known in Carnarvon and even more devastatingly in the eastern states. Incoming news reports speak of the unfolding drama affecting thousands of people in south-western Queensland, the well populated areas from Toowoomba to Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Even though theContinue reading “Fire & Flood”

The power of words

Our morning paper’s lead story covers the Arizona shooting spree during which Congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords, was critically injured. It was Sheriff Dupnik’s comment that caught my eye – “the anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous.” He was referring to an increasingly vitriolic political debate thatContinue reading “The power of words”

What happens when we pray for others?

If you have moved beyond the idea of prayer as some sort of cosmic slot machine – where you put in a request and hope that a combination of piety, good will and divine mood will line up and discharge a favourable response – then what do you expect happens when you pray – particularlyContinue reading “What happens when we pray for others?”

The King’s Speech – a reflection

Jenny and I joined a theatre full of baby-boomers to take in The King’s Speech, an art movie that is giving the holiday blockbusters a run for their money. The tension is set when Australian iconoclasm meets the brittle straitjacket of the cultural accoutrement that had built up around the British Crown and ther establishment thatContinue reading “The King’s Speech – a reflection”