Progressive Christianity and the Environent

Spotted this interesting article from the Washington Post regarding the environment from a progressive Christian perspective. It's worth while reading the whole article...

It's time for a spiritual awakening in which we turn from obsession with future salvation and begin to savor and save the world that we are in. "I came that they might have life and life in abundance," Jesus says in the Gospel of John. Early Christians believed he meant it, here and now. They taught that through Jesus the doors of paradise had been re-opened. Paradise was no longer lost at the beginning of time, or a realm that could be entered only after death or after this imperfect world was replaced by a new and better one. Paradise was all around us, in this beautiful creation, blessed by God. A fourth century Christian baptismal ritual instructed the newly baptized to open their eyes to see "this paradise before us." No less a theological giant than Augustine taught that the seeds planted in the paradise garden have been scattered throughout the whole earth, so that now Eden is everywhere.

The profession of opinion.

In my search for information about our local Labor candidate Francis Ventura, I can across this written by Andrew Bolt on his blog quoting Ventura's blog (now with no content!) ::

But the circus continues, with Ventura letting fly on the flag and the Queen, whom he rates lower than a “local community volunteer”:

I’ll put this bluntly. I oppose our current flag. I accept it for now because it is ours, but I don’t think it truly represents us.
For one, we are not British. Despite the convict past, this country is not British, like it or not. The Queen is irrelevant here. We are not an aristocracy; I would pay the Queen as much respect as I would pay anyone else. Apart from being born into royalty, she does not compare to true heroes such as William Cooper, Martin Luther King, Ghandi and all the local community volunteers who try to make this world a better place. This country will require a flag change, and we need to reject the Monarchy at the next referendum on the republic. The Republic of Australia, sounds good, doesn’t it? We have built our own nation, Britain is no longer significant.

A word to the student. The name of your hero is actually Gandhi. 

What disturbed me was the last line. It was disingenuous and condescending.

It made me wonder why a person would go on the attack over someone's spelling. It was trivial compared to the main point about the flag and republic.

I seems to me that for some people its a profession. That Bolt and the shock jocks are paid for strong opinion and in the process, just be nasty.

I don't mind stong opinion. It actually helps me contrast and form my own opinion more sharply.

The nastiness just makes me lament the world and the nature of humanity. Where is the generosity of spirit. The first commandment of loving your neighbour as yourself?

Election 2010 :: electionleaflet

Great tip for the upcoming election from Antony Green on the ABC::

Electionleaflets.org.au

Leaflets from electorates are uploaded so you can get a bit of a glimps at what the candidates and parties are up to, as well for a historical record.

For my electorate of Flinders ::

Greg Hunt is the only person with any material

"Working hard for our coasts"
and
"Greg Hunt MP"

Good to see local issues are addressed :: Hospital at Phillip Island, aquatic center at Phillip Island, and the Car Ferry at Cowes front beach.

Now where are the Greens or Labor's local policies???

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Mission as Compassion

One of the organisations which I have an affinity with is Solace EMC in Melbourne. There is a bit of interesting conversation happening on their blog about Mission and Compassion.

Mission is an outward focus -the wellbeing of others not yourself. (Life with God has a huge and primary place for every person's wellbeing and whilst we start at the place to be renewed we are inevitably urged by God to focus on "others" as well.)

Jesus' whole attitude was "missional" -focused on "other" - he was sent and sends his friends and followers in a likewise manner.

Compassion seems to be the motivator and the compass. If we can be soft hearted and full of love for the "other" then perhaps we may not go too far wrong. So practices and lifestyles that grow our hearts are vital - much more so than messages or techniques.

Loving God and loving our neighbour are the core of God's commands to us and make up the communal fabric of our life on earth. They are the same command with different faces and as all the letters of John in the NT make clear you can NOT love God and hate your brother. So service to God and the world is the same thing.

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Election 2010 :: Flinders Labor's Candidate

The Labor party now has some information on its site about its Candidate for Flinders Francis Ventnor.

 Francis Ventura is part of Julia Gillard’s team.
 

• Funding 1,000 new nurse training positions every year
• Providing 1,300 new GPs qualified or in training by 2013
• Delivering over 700 new Trade Training Centres for schools
• Increasing hospital funding by 50%.

For me this is no incentive to vote for this guy.
What does he think of local issues!

ipood

One of the reasons I can't stand Apple inc, is because of its apparent lengths it takes to sue. Sue over names or images or patents which may remotely look like thiers.

The latest I've spotted is the 'Ipood' from Sea to Summit.

From the Sydney Morning Herald.

General manager Rob McSporran said the company dubbed the trowel "iPood!" and registered it as a trademark in Australia in October 2006.
"We identified that there was a hole in the market for a sturdy poo trowel. Many cheap ones on the market are plastic and break easily and people end up leaving bits of plastic all over the place," Mr McSporran said.

"The purpose of the product is to help people be responsible, to educate people, but talking about burying your poo tends to turn people off so we had a bit of fun [with the name]."

It had been on the market for seven months before Apple's lawyers swooped, asking Sea to Summit to cancel its Australian trademark registration, withdraw applications in the US and China, and change the product name once the stock ran out....

...Mr McSporran said the company, which has 40 employees and was established 20 years ago, decided to abide by the request because they didn't have the resources to fight it.

"We have changed the name to Pocket Trowel, which is a bit boring," he said.

This story also annoys me because of the legal issues. Sea to Summit could legitimately use the 'ipood' name but chose not to fight because of going against a company with resource beyond all but a few Australian companies.
I just don't  think the legal system should be about the biggest kid on the block winning.

Election 2010: What is happening in Flinders

After been in other electorates which are marginal I'm amazed at the lack lustre performance by candidates in Flinders . I've not received any information from any of the candidates regarding how if their government would affect local issues!

What is alarming is the Labor candidate. All that I can gather is from Anthony Green's site on the ABC 

Mr Ventura is a Youth Ambassador with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission and was previously a Youth Reference Group Member on the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVIC).

There's not much information on Mr Venturas blog. Any content has mysteriously disappeared including his opinion on the Australian Flag, I actually thought his stuff on the Human Rights was really good. Its a pity to see it down.

As a voter there are numerous questions which I think are important for the Mr Ventura the local Labour candidate.

Does he live here or at Melbourne University?
Dose he know local issues? The car ferry at Cowes for example?

At this stage I'm highly sceptical.

Lets see what the next few weeks brings....

Tax office and Churches

The Tax office wants to start to monitor the tax free status of Churches and not for profit groups. 
While I think there are some legitimate reasons for this status. There are others where you just shake your head and wonder

The Above link looks at Hillsong::

The Sunday Herald Sun can also reveal Hillsong founder Brian Houston uses a not-for-profit company, Leadership Ministries Inc, to fund a burgeoning tax-free global preaching empire.
LMI and other tax-free companies in the Hillsong network provide housing, cars, overseas travel, accommodation, credit cards and other perks free of fringe benefits or income tax.
Since LMI was set up in 2001 the Houston family's relationship with the company has included:
PROPERTY deals that have earned Houston and wife Bobbie $1.3 million. The Houstons are still tenants of the waterfront properties at Bondi Beach and Wilberforce on the Hawkesbury River.
A $1 MILLION FBT-free expense account each year for five employees, including the Houstons.
FULLY funded overseas tours where Mr Houston can earn up to US$20,000 a speech in "love offerings" on the international preaching circuit.
THE refund of all GST paid by the Houstons in their pastoral duties back to LMI.
THE creation of a network of offshore Hillsong subsidiaries.
Assemblies of God pastors around Australia take 75-90 per cent of their salaries as tax-free fringe benefits.
Hillsong finance director Peter Ridley, who is also the public officer of LMI, said the pastor paid personal income tax and had "a personal salary package" of just over $300,000.

I think that for a company for a turnover of a couple of millions then the CEO should be on about $300000. If a church is in this type of market then fair enough.

But

If it is CD sales, food sales (like sanatorium), property investments or other areas which the competition has to pay full tax then something is not right.

For little Churches and local Charities these tax breaks are important. But for the bigger churches, non-for profits there needs to be scrutiny.

Egg and Spoon

Good news for coffee lovers. Phillip Island has at last a place that makes coffee which I can recomend.
The "Egg and Spoon", Settlement Rd opposite Mitre Ten. They get their coffee from a small little roaster in Trafalgar Called "Southern Addictions" which we have sourced when we are over in that part of Gippsland.

Ahh two grinders, one especially for decaf. Try finding that in any other place for coffee in Phillip Island!

Progressive Christianity :: Moving Forward

Interesting discusion on 'Jesus Creed' on progressive Christianity.

Progressive Christians believe that sacred truth is not frozen in the ancient past. While respecting the wisdom of the past, progressive Christians are open to the ways truth is moving forward in the present and future for the betterment of the world. Progressive Christianity recognizes that our sacred texts and authoritative traditions must be critically engaged and continually reinterpreted in light of contemporary circumstances to prevent religion from becoming a relic....

I've become increasingly interested in 'progressive Christianity' after reading Marcus Borg. It just makes more sence. I think it can also be shown that God and Christianity have evolved. From the oldest scriptures to the gospels and epistles. Human understanding of God and his nature has evolved. Does this stop? I don't think so.

Election 2010 :: Flinders Crash!

I was suprised to read that Adrian Schonfelder the Labour Candidate for Flinders was involved in a car crash and now the party has endorsed Francis Ventura!

From the ABC::

Earlier this week Mr Schonfelder was forced to withdraw comments he made linking Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's policies to people committing suicide.
He apologised for saying Mr Abbott's conservative religious views were "influencing people to take their own lives".
Prime Minister Julia Gillard was then urged to disendorse the candidate.

The Car crash unfortunately has made it easier for Juila...

election 2010:: Things that matter

Living in Phillip Island their are certain things which I belive the are important and should be addressed by the political powers that be.

Greg Hunt sitting liberal member is off and running. He has sent through some stuff in the mail
Adrian Schonfelder for Labour, heard nothing
Robert Brown for the Greens, heard nothing

Here is my selfish list for the election

Health:: Phillip Island. A population that fluctuate between 7-60k people. It needs some sort of 24hr medical emergency centre. Good health care for all.
Telecomunication:: Only one way to get fixed broad band, Telstra. This is not good enough.
Education:: Closest public secondary school is Wonthagi rumours of somthing at Anderson.
Environment:: As a person who is interested in getting Solar it will be interesting what the policys will be. It ranks pretty highly for me. Protecting our environment for generations to come. I also believe that Australian reliance on foreign domestic oil should be curbed for of a more green alternative.
Roads:: The Car ferry is a big issue here. I don't think the majority object to the idea. Just the current location it is planned for.
Foreign affairs :: Need to get out of Afghanistan.
Good financial management:: enough said, keep interest rates low, I've got a mortgage.

Closer to the election I'll see how the candidates line up with me election wish list.

Election 2010 :: Labours Enviromental policy

Rumours today of Labours environmental policy,  as reported by the ABC

A re-elected Labor government would ask a new "citizens' assembly" for climate change advice, under a key part of the ALP's new climate change policy set to be launched by Prime Minister Julia Gillard today.

I cannot but agree with Mr Greg Hunt our local man at Flinders who said

 Julia Gillard's proposed "citizens assembly" will fail to produce action.

The problem I see with it is that their is no actual leadership in a citizens assembly. I would rather vote for an environmental plan than somthing that 'might' happen. It's just to wishy washy for me.

The only person talking any sence in Malcolm Turnbull

"The Coalition's policy is not the ideal from my point of view I grant you that, I'd like to see a market-based solution, but I'll tell you this, it does have the potential to meet the emissions reductions targets by 2020," he said.
"The real question is the policy. Everyone knows where I stand, I've stuck to my principles on it. But the fact is, we have got a policy, Labor has nothing."

I think he is right. Labor has nothing!

Christian Brethern and Discrimination, update :: 2

Its been fairly quiet regarding the vcat hearing on the Brethern's and their refusal to let the homosexual organization 'Way Out" to use their facitlities.

I have recently read an exellent article on Jesus and ant-discrimination talking directly on the above issue.

Associate Professor Andrew McGowan is Warden of Trinity College, The University of Melbourne and uses the story of the 'Good Samaritan' to illustrate his point, the full article is from the web site 'Eureka street'

It is remarkable then that Jesus takes the clear risk of using an unrepentant Samaritan as the embodied answer to the question 'who is my neighbour'.
Of course this does not mean that Jesus agreed with the Samaritans. It suggests he might have cared less about the risk he might 'promote' Samaritanism than about the need to promote an ethic of unconditional acceptance. It suggests Christians and others in the community might be called to take risks for the marginalised, rather than religiously to carry our orthodoxies with us down the other side of the road, ignoring those in need, lest we 'promote' something we disagree with.
Gay and lesbian youth are at greater risk from suicide and mental illness than from their own sexuality. They are at greater risk from religious and other forms of exclusion than from their own sexuality. It would be good for religious people to stop seeking refuge behind exemptions, and show that their contributions to such young people could be rather more than the law requires, instead of much less.

Storm and News Limited

It appear that we will never get to the bottom of the Storm salary cap scandal.


It is amazing how the herald Sun is on the nose with this, not really reporting any of this. Not surprising considering it is owned by News Limited. Here is Hinches transcript with Peter Maher

Axed former independent Melbourne Storm director Peter Maher has hit back hit back at today's explosive Deloittes report into the club's salary cap breaches during the 2006-2010 period (report details further down the page).
Maher said he and fellow independent board directors did not co-operate with the Deloittes investigators simply because they were employed by News Limited, owner of the Storm and half-owners of the NRL.
Maher also confirmed the club would've been more forthcoming with information had the independent inquiry been funded by the NRL.
"We would have co-operated with a fully independent inquiry," Maher told 3AW a short time before he fronted a press conference. "We are not privvy to the detail of what's in that report," added Maher, before saying that he has not seen the Deloittes report and never will.
He also admitted the decision on whether to press on with a legal challenge he and other axed directors Rob Moodie, Petra Fawcett and Gerry Ryan launched against the NRL over the way it handled the club's sanctions for salary cap breaches, which included the stripping of two NRL premierships, may not go ahead.

It will be interesting when New Limited and Murdock go bust what will happen to the Rugby. (They run a very tight balance sheet) Considering that they own the and direct the whole NRL. 

NRL is now dead in Melbourne. I used to follow the Storm, now I couldn't be bothered with any of it.

Paranormal healing :: Marcus Borg

 

Currently I'm reading The Meaning of Jesus. Two Visions, by Marcus Borg and Tom Wright.

It is interesting how for a scholar, Borg is usually put in the 'liberal' side of theology. Yet he does not deny the existence of the healing and exorcism. He calls it 'Paranormal healing' and steers well away from the word 'miraculous'.
He uses the word 'Paranormal' for two reasons
1) It is not superatural intervention, the 'miraculaous'. It thus avoids the issue of why God heals some and leave others to suffer.
2) He does not believe it to be 'psychosomatic', (I believe most 'miracles today inside the Church are in this category)

In common with the majority of contemporary Jesus scholars, I see the claim that Jesus performed paranormal healings and exorcisms as history remembered. Indeed, more healing stories are told about Jesus than about any other figure in the Jewish tradition. He must have been a remarkable healer.

I look forward to how Borg looks at the resurrection...

Good bye family first...

When Mark Latham was defeated in 2004 the 'Family First' candidate snuck under the radar of all major political parties.


Yesterdays agreement by the Greens and Labour appears to mark the end of 'Family First'.

At the 2004 Senate election in Victoria, the Coalition polled 44.1% (3.1 quotas), Labor 36.1% (2.5 quotas) and the Greens 8.8% (0.6 quotas). The Coalition had a clear three quotas, Labor two full quotas, with Labor and the Greens competing for the final seat seat normally won by the left of politics. Labor's preference deal with minor parties was done to get Labor's third candidate ahead of the lead Green candidate. In the end, Labor's vote was lower than expected, and the preference deal with Family First and other micro-parties put Fielding ahead of the third Labor candidate, resulting in Labor's preferences being distributed instead and electing Steve Fielding. Fielding effectively grabbed one of the left's seats.

I can remember in 2004 there was more "Christian" motivation in the election than I've ever seen. Danny Nahlor was on the tick as was Alan Myers from Careforce. It seems with Rudd in 2007 the Labor party made a decicive effort to neurtralise the Christian partys.

In some ways I find the 'Green's' more in line with Jesus bringing in the kingdom. While tradition 'Christian' parties are about 'morals'. Its interesting.

Flinders Labour Candidate makes the news...

One of our local candidates in Flinders made the National News! 

Adrian Schonfelder is running for Labor in the safe Liberal-held Victorian seat of Flinders.
He has told a local newspaper that Mr Abbott's conservative religious views are "influencing people to take their own lives".
He singled out the Opposition Leader's religious views on sex before marriage and abortion.
Mr Schonfelder has since been forced to issue a retraction, saying he regrets any offence caused by the remarks.

Bit of a worry really...

The what do we do now question?

The Last question in Brian McLaren's book 'A New Kind of Christianity' is most importantly is "What do we do now?"

This is in many ways the most important question even if you agree with only one of the previous questions. There is then a mandate for you to change.

A few things which had me in agreement or pondering::


Keeping the balance between action and contemplation/reflection, in our life. (Ch 20)


What to do if you agree with 'A new type of Christianity', but your Church is not in this place? Some really good hints here. I like the way he gives good hints at sticking it out. (Ch 21)

Point 5, I particulary like about helping churches change.

::"Get an outside consultant":: Unfortuantely my time in the Vineyard in Australia all consultancy/mentoring was done 'in house', I think you really loose something no going outside the denomination.
::Look at 'parachurch' for an option in a denomination. I never even thought of this. Although I would think that Forge was probably in this bracket until it left Churches of Christ.
::When new people enter a Church embrace what the diversity in what they have to offer from their denomination. They most probably on want to share the things that are positive. Makes scene.


So that's "A New Kind of Christianity' all read and dusted. Would I recommend it to anyone. Nope. Its a book for people who struggles with any of these questions. But if you have it all down pat and happy with the way the world works you will probably on find this book frustrating.

The Bunny

Watching Tony Abbot the first day of the election remind me of a rabbit caught in the headlights of oncoming traffic. Staring all it could say was

"Big new tax"

"Labour, go backwards"

"No Carbon Tax under liberals"

He genuinely looked off guard sprouting the thin short crisp slogans he has been saying ever since he became opposition leader.
Mind you Julia Gillard is starting to push her slogans as well "Labour the way forward" etc etc.

Its just a shame that elections and important issues can be reduced to one liners. 

Election 2010

"Game On", as Julia whispered to Tony Abbot, in the last sitting parliament

Well I'll go with the polls and predict this one early and give it to Julia. There have been few good political poles which have not predicted the outcome of elections in the last decade.

But I'll follow along closely. My source like '07 Antony Green on the ABC::

Now what I've found interesting is the electorate which I'm in Flinders and the canditidates. Again from the ABC

The sitting member is Liberal, Mr Greg Hunt

He has been the Opposition spokesman on Climate Change since 2007, a position he is well qualified for, having completed a thesis on whether greenhouse gases are best reduced by taxes, trading rights or regulation.

It would be interesting what he really thought about the 'Carbon Tax' would he have voted for the the tax under the liberal last leader Mr Turnbull.... At this stage I think he would just say the party line. Politician talk.

Adrian Schonfelder for Labour

He was a member of the Liberal Party before joining Labor in 2003.

Interesting!

And the Greens, Robert Brown

...his credits include co-writing 'Give Me a Home Among the Gumtrees' with John Williamson.

 What more credentials do you need, perfect.

House Building :: 18

We were able to get inside for a look around. Christina walked around with a tape measure, poking it at windows for the curtains. A few little bits and pieces happening...

Feature wall Wattyls, "Rock Oyster"

Bannister, now in place.

View from the deck, namely the wetlands

Stair rail getting varnished.

The Pluralism question

The ninth question in Brian McLaren's book 'A new kind of Christianity' is the 'Pluralism question'.

Another way of asking the question is: the majority world doomed, because they do not acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.


I've always been on the same wave length as McLaren on this one. He uses 2:1-29

...people are never judged based on knowledge they don't have, and that God well bless

McLaren also takes time in writing about Jesus and his claims of John 14:6. "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Though good exegesis he makes the point that it was a message for his disciples. Not for those outside the room or the generations to come. Interesting and probably open to debate.

My belief is that if God is one of love.  He can see through the crap and into the heart, no mater what the culture.

Can we fine a better way of viewing the future

Up to the eighth question from Mclaren's 'A New Kind of Christianity' the 'Can We Find a Better Way of Viewing the Future' question.

Mclaren offers a three dimensional approach to end time. One which is expanding. As opposed to the traditional view of evangelicals: salvation and heaven or death.

So what does he mean and expanding approach?

'...there is no single fixed end point towards which we move, but rather a widening space, opening into an infinitely expanding goodness, like air and sunlight into which a tree spreads out its branches. Creation branches out into an ever-widening sphere of goodness, justice and peace...'

 Sounds good to me. It also I thinks it fits with the term ''Kingdom of God"


The other interesting thing is how we define judgement. Instead of the traditional 'Condemnation'. Instead of retributive balancing the equation. It involves 'putting things right',

"...reconciling, not merely punishing; healing, not merely diagnosing; transforming, not merely exposing; revaluing (or redeeming), not merely evaluating"

I like it, but he don't use the word 'Universalism'  or address it. (Unless I missed something)

New disipline measures for Catholic women ordination

What constantly amazes me is how backward the Catholic Church can be. It is the only mainstream Church which does not allow the ordination of women. Nine News has written about the new discipline measures that the Catholic Church has put our regarding ordination of women::

'Cases of "attempted ordination of women" will now be handled by the Vatican's doctrinal watchdog, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), a Vatican statement said on Thursday.
The new rules put attempts at the ordination of women among the "most serious crimes", along with pedophilia.
They update a 2007 CDF decree, according to which those who attempt to ordain women - and the women concerned - are subject to automatic excommunication.'

I don't think there is now much of a theological argument against women leading a Church these days. It leads me to the conclusion its all about preserving traditional power structures. Which doesn't surprise you really when you look at the era when many of the leaders grew up. Ratzinger well he was around when the Nazi's were in power, and women were definately the lesser human in every respect, except for child birth.

Faith

One of my favourite theologians at the moment is Marcus Borg. This is an excerpt from a sermon which he gave and is on the Church of Christ gadfly blog::

The Hebrew word for faith in the Old Testament is emoonah. What makes that word interesting is that it’s the sound that a baby donkey makes when it is calling for its mother. To appreciate that, you have to say emoonah so it sounds like that.…I sometimes think to myself, if you say it soft, it’s almost like braying. The point being that faith in the Hebrew Bible is like a baby donkey calling out or crying for its mother. There’s something kind of wonderful about that. There is an element…I don’t know if you want to say of desperation in it or not, but there certainly is an element of confidence also that the cry will be heard.

What I really want to emphasize…are the four meanings that faith has come to have in the Christian tradition. The first of these four is, I am convinced, a modern distortion, even as it is probably the most common meaning on the popular level. The other three are ancient and traditional and wonderfully complementary. You can have them all, but let me begin with the modern distortion.The modern distortion of faith is the one I think I learned growing up around the middle of this century. Faith as believing. Faith as believing the doctrines of the Christian tradition, faith as believing that there is a God, faith as believing that Jesus is divine, faith as believing that Jesus died for your sins, faith as believing that…and then fill it with almost anything. Faith as believing certain statements to be true.

There are a number of reasons why I say that’s a modern distortion. First of all, try to imagine what faith was like before the Enlightenment, that great period of Western history that began in the 17th or 18th centuries. Prior to the Enlightenment, in Christian culture of the Reformation or the Middle Ages and so forth, nobody had any trouble believing that the Bible came from God, that the Genesis stories of creation were true, that Jesus walked on the water and so forth. It didn’t take faith to believe any of that, that was simply part of the taken-for-granted understandings of people living in western Christendom. It’s only when those things started to be questioned that suddenly faith came to mean believing what otherwise doesn’t make a lot of sense to you. And faith came to mean what Bishop Robinson called some 35 years ago, believing 49 impossible things before breakfast.

It makes a lot of sense Borgs understanding of 'Faith'. The 'modern day' understanding of faith is something which I always struggled with and is easily equated to doubt.  I think Borg is pushing on something which is a lot more freeing than doubt. Doubt as I've come to understand it is seasonal, but this 'Faith' is forever.

No Deal, Rudd.

Interestingly their was a deal on the table on the 23rd of June, with Mr Rudd, Ms Gillard and the others in the Labor leadership group. From the 'Crickey' blog::

Oakes’s question revolved around a claim that Kevin Rudd offered to Gillard to stand aside closer to an October election if polling indicated, and senior party figures agreed, that Rudd was an impediment to Labor’s re-election, an offer Gillard rejected after being told by factional leaders that she had the numbers to topple Rudd.

So what does it all mean?

Julia was hungry, hungry for power.
Kevien was trying to get more time. Rally the troops.

Either way, I think Rudd should have been given another go. While Julia should have taken the reins second term. This in itself would have extended Labours time in power. An agreement like that seems fair. But then again these agreements have happened both sides of politics and usually backfire in someone's direction.

Denominational Distinctivness

An interesting blog from 'Christianity Today'

Amid ongoing debate over the vitality or usefulness of denominations today, CT has observed that many denominational meetings of late have debated the merits of reinforcing denominational distinctives vs. loosening them in favor of focusing on evangelism.

Its an interesting. When at the Vineyard I could see this, a lot of discussion on values/distinctiveness. In the end the values and distinctives where pretty broad. Yet I wouldn't say that the Churches reflected this.  Most really pushed the 'Ministry' stuff. Only one or two where really different.
I can understand to how a missional focus can deteriorate what is or was a denominational distinctive. Makes sense.

Post Card Forum

A mate of mine Steve Drinkall in QLD has started a 'Post Card' Forum. 

With that in mind we offer a chance for you and your friends to participate in our regular forums to kick around the things you are learning and/or questioning.  Each forum has a maximum of 30 people and is conducted in a round table discussion format that allows you an opportunity to both express your opinions and hear those of others.  These forums are helpful for you to come to with a few friends or just by yourself.

This sound a really helpful sort of space. If only there was something in Melbourne

The postcard is below::

Herman Rockerfeller, and the double life

One of the stories in Melbourne at the moment is the conviction of Herman Rockerfeller's killers. Herman Rockerfeller, was a multimillion who appeared to be the Church going family man. But he lead a double life, he was a swinger, and had other lovers than his wife.

I've meet people like this. I've meet them nursing and I've meet them in the Church.
Nursing, it comes out when there is sickness, life just catches up with them. The compartmentalisation of their differnt lives start to overlap and bang.
In the Church, often people just want a clean slate. Get rid of the double life. Confess it all. Sometimes there secret lives are just revealed by circumstance. Just like Herman Rockerfeller.

Either way people are hurt, there are always casualties, misunderstanding, trust lost forever.

It reinforces the 2nd commandment to me as spoken by Jesus::

And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’

—Matthew 22:34-40

Obviously Herman's acts negated this becasue I just can't help think of the people who loved him who are left behind with so many unanswered questions.

Open Theism and Brian Mclaren

Brian McLaren is the classic post modern guy.

Repetativley, yet rightly so he always declines been a spokesman for the 'Emerging Church'.

The other thing is how he often dodges direct questions. Recently he was asked in his question and answer section about Open Theism.

1. God does not determine the future in detail because He cannot know the future…the future simply cannot be known by anyone
I would phrase this a bit differently. I would put it in terms of these questions: What kind of relationship does God want with the universe? What kind of universe did God make?

What a postmodern classic, throwing out another question. Interestingly just like Jesus. 'Who do you think I am?"

Its Interesting Open Theism, like Mclaren writes, does run 'parallel' to the 'Emergent' movement.
After reading a lot of books from Mclaren, especially the new book 'A New Kind of Christianity', a lot of questions Mclaren asks are answered in Clark Pinnocks book "A Wilderness in God's Mercy".
Yet I would say that McLaren while giving round about answers sits in a similar position as Open Theism. Pinnock is more direct as well giving more theological support.
I can understand Mclaren not wanting to be put in a theological box and not wanting to be linked to anyone yet have something in common with everyone.

Christian Brethern and Discrimination, update :: 1

Following from my previous post.

An update on the alleged discrimitation by the Brethren run camp at Phillip Island by the ABC

The Member of 'Way out' have just given evidence::

Under the Equal Opportunity Act, some church groups are allowed to discriminate based on their religious beliefs.
But the Policy Director for the Human Rights Law Resource Centre, Rachel Ball, says all groups should be treated equally.
"The Equal Opportunity Act shouldn't contain permanent exception for a particular groups," she said.
"All groups should be subject to the same process, where if they want to discriminate, they need to justify why they need to discriminate in the case and provide a reasonable explanation for that."

I'm looking forward to reading the Brethren's defence...

Marcus Borg on the mystical experiences of God

One of my favourite theologians Marcus Borg writes on the mystical experiences of God::

My experiences were what scholars of mysticism call “extravertive” or “eyes open” mystical experiences (the other type is “introvertive” or “eyes closed”). I saw the same visual “landscape” – a forest, a room, the inside of an airliner – that I normally see. There were no extra beings, no angels.
For a minute or two (and once for the better part of an hour), what I was seeing looked very different. Light became different – as if there were a radiance shining through everything. The biblical phrase for this is “the glory of God” – as the book of Isaiah puts it, “the earth is filled with the glory – the radiance – of God. The world was transfigured, even as it remained “the same.” And I experienced a falling away of the subject-object distinction that marks our ordinary everyday experience – that sense of being a separate self, “in here,” while the world is “out there.”

Interestingly Borg's experiences are similar to my own. What I find interesting is from my Charismatic/Pentecostal background the interpretation put on these experience. For starters Charismatic/Pentecostal would not label them 'Mystical'. Maybe a 'Prophetic' dream or vision, then an interpretation would be sought.  Often for those that received it or for others.
It would be interesting how Borg had these experiences, the background the culture he was in. For me it was usually outside the 'Church' in strange places like the shower or just going for a walk. When it did happen in the Church. I always felt there was a certain amount of hype. Which now I believe is just the same as going to a great concert. (Yes this happened to me quite distinctly at the MCG during U2's Zooropa tour).

Christian Brethren and discrimination

Spotted this one on the local ABC news.

A Victorian gay youth group is taking legal action against the Christian Brethren Church alleging discrimination. The suicide prevention group, WayOut, says it was barred from hiring the church's camp grounds on Phillip Island in 2007. The group believes the church refused to do business because of its stance on homosexuality. Under the Equal Opportunity Act, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is against the law, but some exemptions exist for religious organisations. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) will hear the discrimination complaint today. Associate Professor Anne Mitchell from the Australian Research Centre for Sex, Health and Society says the camps are used to give children a break from homophobia. "Its somewhat ironic that in the process they experienced what we say is further discrimination." she said.

 I'm following this for a few reason. Its just down the road. I've stayed at there camp sites a number of time, they are excellent.
How a strong evangelical organisation is to navigate this will be revealing. It is interesting that the government is to enforce 'non discrimination.' I would think that Jesus would be non discriminatory. Must be something deeper...

The Sex question

 
The next question which Mclaren tackels in his recent book 'A New Kind of Christianity' is the 'Sex Question'.

I've always found that Mclaren skirts around the question reading his literature as well as listening to his podcasts.
In the book, I found his arguments regarding sexuality compelling for a greater need of acceptance with those different in sexual orientation than ourselves. What I find is frustrating once we come to the same conclusion as Mclaren is what do we do with it our new understanding....

Some of the things that I thought compelling::

-What do we do with people who are born with intersexuality? Children born with male and female organs?
- What do we do with people who are born with Klinefelter's syndrome? They have XXY chromosomes rather than XY or XX chromosomes.

-"Jesus' treatment of the marginalised and stigmatised requires us to question the conventional approach (To those of a different sexual orientation). We have many examples of Jesus crossing boundaries to include outcasts and sinners, and not a single example of Jesus crossing his arms and refusing to do so."

 So what would Jesus do? I think Mclaren answers this with the above quote.
-Sexualtiy had changed in the last 50 years
-homosexual sexual problems seem to be highlighted in the  Church yet heterosexual issues are just as rampant. Mclaren gives two good pages of examples on this one.
-The venom has gone out a lot of Christians regarding this topic which a larger percentage of congregations not having any issues with homosexuality.

The percentages

Working in a secular setting is interesting. After a while you get to know where people sit, if they are aware of the spiritual, their opinion on the Church, Christianity, Buddhism etc etc.

I think as a very rough guide for my co-workers

20% antagonistic toward the Church and very cynical. They usually come out when the media reveals a 'Christian Nutter'. The Bushfires in Victoria was a good example and the 'Nutter' saying  it was God's vengence... Well the ward that I was working on, if you where a Christian you hung low.
Strangely I found it is rare to find an atheist, maybe an agnostic.

60% Apathetic towards the Church. Not really wanting to go, yet thinks Churches and Christians are ok. Possibly the easiest to get into a Church community.
Yet I think there are things keeping them back, they know that they may not scrub up to perceived Christian values and doctrine.  For example they are not married yet living with a partner. They believe that Homosexuals should have the right to marriage.  Clairvoyants are ok they have actually been to a few. They don't believe in a virgin birth.
In truth there a huge amount.

20% Actually go to Church, and talk of Christian things occasionally. Yep I'm in this group, though sympathise with the %60 often.

Out of all of the groups  most are very spiritual, they understand mystery and beauty. The wonder to be alive. Maybe this is a nurses fate where often death can visit those you look after and at the end of the shift you wonder why.

Christian responses to Mr Rudd

Two Christians who I admire have given a bit of a Eulogy on Kevin Rudd's term as PM


Mark Connor gave a bit of a nice summary which I pretty much agree with, except of this bit ::

Over time, his popularity declined and he didn't deliver on a number of his promises. Was this due to an inability or lack of discipline to implement change or did he lack internal support for his change agenda? 

I'd say he is right but I'd also say that the opposition since Abbott was highly antagonistic in letting legislation through.

Tim Costello was the other resposne which I thought was really generous.

Unlike others who mocked him as out of touch, I liked having a prime minister who read theology and had a hero called Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I detected echoes of Bonhoeffer in his penultimate speech last Wednesday night in calling the ballot on. He spoke of not letting the party lurch to the Right in harshness to refugees and asylum-seekers.

 Also this which I didn't know from Costello,

Unmentioned in his list of achievements at his final press conference was one that I think is his finest legacy. He lifted our overseas aid program by more than $1 billion to date because he saw development and achieving the Millennium Development Goals of halving poverty as something that was right. Against the Howard government's refusal to budge, he took an electoral risk. He promised to lift our aid to 0.5 per cent of gross domestic product by 2015 or 50c in every $100 because this would help cut the number of hungry and absolutely poor.

Desire

The mobile phone issues after weeks of reading lots of reviews has been solved. I've brought the HTC Desire from Telstra. Here's the options and dilemmas


Google's Nexus One.

PRO's :: Can be updated any time with googles android operating system, pretty good specs.

CON's :: Vodafone plan $79, way to much, coverage including national roaming dosn't work in Leongatha!


HTC Desire 

PRO's :: The twin of the Nexus one, nearly the same phone except for HTC gui, pretty good specs, $49 cap plan pretty good, supprisingly from Telstra, best coverage in the country.

CON's :: Uncertainty of updates to 2.2 android, with Telstra

Samsung Galaxy S

PRO's:: Available for $49 from Optus, Best Specification,

CON's :: Reviews are pretty bad for Samsung's gui on it, no flash,  uncertainty of updates to 2.2 android.

There where also a lot of phones running android 1.6! This is a major downfall great spec machines yet they are using software that is out of date! eg sony expira x10.

Marketing and Christianity

One of the blogs which I follow is by marketer Seth Godin. He often gives excellent insights into modern day marketing. Why I like it is that it can often bring insights into the modern day church and how it markets itself. This I think can be illustrated by a recent post I read by Jason Cooker called 'Bonding vs Bridging :: Fear and retribution in fundamentalism'

Seth writes

Marketers... benefit when they work to make their customers dumber. The less they know about options, the easier they are to manipulate, the more helpless they are, the better they do.

 Cooker writes regarding fundamentalism at a conference he was at

There were other ways this parochialism was constantly reinforced:

• Jesus is coming back as a “dominant and domineering” savior who will wipe out his enemies
• If you do not have a strong man preaching this message to you every week then you are in danger of failing in the Christian life and should find a new church
• If you cease to believe this message then you demonstrate you never really knew God in the first place and were always bound for hell
• If you are a woman, showing too much of your body in public is a significant betrayal of your duty to represent Jesus
• “Right doctrine is the litmus test for your life”
• God’s wrath is not only satisfied by death, but by suffering too
• People who reject penal substitution and the divinity of Christ are among the most radical and perverse members of society. L. Ron Hubbard was quoted as an example, and immediately described as, “…a man who exhibited many of the markers of pedophilia.”
• You must be able to understand and agree with an abstract concept of God (the Trinity) and a specific technical role for Jesus (penal substitutionary atonement) to be saved from hell: “You can get [the question about who Jesus is] nearly right and still end up in hell.”

Seth in the same article writes about Marketing in a positive way ::

A few benefit when they make their customers smarter. The more the people they sell to know, the more informed, inquisitive, free-thinking and alert they are, the better they do.

The positive side of Christian Marketing as illustrated by Cooker ::

The gospel, on the other hand, is about Christ’s eradication of barriers. Now, the Resolved preachers would agree – but they would likely say the barrier Christ eradicates is the one between the individual sinner and God. I would say it includes that, but extends pervasively to all other barriers as well – those between men and women, between races and religions, between ideologies, between humanity and the earth, etc.

Its interesting, I was brought into faith through the whole idea of fear and guilt. In the end I nearly walked away from it all. Yet it was though redemption and love which draws me and still does to the Christian faith.

House building :: 17

Not much to report on the house front. The house is all locked up these days. We are told by the supervisor the painters are in Spotted the water tank today, collects water for the toilets, which is now compulsory for all new houses.

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Is this the reason John Howard didn't get the job...

This cracks me up every time I see it. But should it be enough to stop Howard heading the International Cricket Council?

As much as Howard has know to annoy me at time. I think he would be excellent in the job. He's passionate about the game, can get things done and has a profile like know one else has. Perfect except for the bowling.