Category Archives: theology

St Valentine & Ash Wednesday – Synchronous?

Some have lamented the fact that St Valentines Day and Ash Wednesday share the same space this year. Simultaneously receiving chocolates and giving them up for Lent is doing a few folk’s heads in! Can there be anything in common with a feast celebrating romantic love and the commencement of a fast that confronts usContinue reading “St Valentine & Ash Wednesday – Synchronous?”

Mythic realities

When we avoid the popular notion of myth as a fairytale and understand it as a means for accessing deep universal meaning that can only be conveyed in symbol and story, we are getting closer to truth. When confronted with the world’s chaos and violence and ask “What does it all mean?” and we doggedly searchContinue reading “Mythic realities”

From arks to arcs

Our daily texts from Revised Common Lectionary are leading into the Season of Lent, commencing this Wednesday. Genesis 9:8-17 is the climactic postlude of the Noah story, where the ancient principle of covenant is introduced. The ark takes its place as a primary point in the Hebrew view of the “arc of the moral universe.” Continue reading “From arks to arcs”

Credentials

A new ambassador stands before the Prime Minister and formally hands over an introductory letter sealed with the mark of his own government. A hopeful business recruit emails her CV and academic record to a prospective employer. A starry-eyed couple meet over coffee, swapping life stories in an effort to test the polarities of magnetism between themContinue reading “Credentials”

Dreaming with Daniel

Daniel – press-ganged into public service for the all-powerful empire. What were his night dreams following days of soul-eating acts of policy development, implementation and administration? We get a glimpse when reading Daniel 7:9-14. I remember the years of ministry amongst public servants of all ranks and the agonising torment that some endured as they sought to expressContinue reading “Dreaming with Daniel”

Einstein, Elijah, Moses and Jesus

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Dr Martin Luther King I was intrigued to hear this favourite quote linked, in a recent conversation, with Einstein’s theory of relativity and its application to satellite navigation that depends on differences in relative space and time calculations for accuracy. As IContinue reading “Einstein, Elijah, Moses and Jesus”

Relinqishment and Succession

As my church and  I move into the twilight zone of relinquishment of a two-decade ministry and preparation for a yet unknown successor, the story of Elijah passing his mantle on to Elishah is instructive. Change of leadership simultaneously raises levels of anxiety and hope. Succession must be carefully managed. I am no Elijah and, asContinue reading “Relinqishment and Succession”

All things to all people – look for the motive!

“I have become all things to all people” – this phrase speaks of election campaigns! Suddenly politicians, normally hiding from public view, enter the catwalk,  glad-handing everywhere. Previous “no-go” districts in their electorates become the target of media focused sortees, where solutions are offered to longstanding unsolvable problems. In order to win the maximum number ofContinue reading “All things to all people – look for the motive!”

Tall poppy rights

Visitors to Australia are sometimes mystified by the Australian egalitarian penchant for “lopping the tall poppies,” i.e. ridiculing those who, by virtue of excellence in their field, may be at risk of showing a tendency to rise above the crowd either in attitude, eccentric behaviour or even failure to meet popular expectation. We quickly cut themContinue reading “Tall poppy rights”