This morning’s Eureka Street article throws out a challenge. Following the stories of heroism, resilience and community cohesion during the peak of the flood crisis. Andrew Hamilton observes that the media will follow form and find few inspiring stories to engage us in the long hard process of assessment and reconstruction. Instead, the press willContinue reading “Stories of rebuilding after the floods – Eureka Street”
Tag Archives: postaday2011
Unanswered prayers
Not a terribly good week so far. Two people within our circle of concern have died following debilitating illness, both leaving young families. Another’s grandson has received a long prison sentence. Some are wondering about the effect of long and sustained prayers for these individuals and their families. Where is God in all this andContinue reading “Unanswered prayers”
Motivational Cleanup!
Gotta cleanup the wall behind my desk. It’s full of photos, quotes, motivational stuff and prayer joggers. Some I’ll keep, some I’ll change. But what to do with this one? I would prefer to be able to say: ‘I am satiated, What is given to taste in this life, I have tasted.’ But I amContinue reading “Motivational Cleanup!”
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”
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”
Wondering Pilgrim 