The liberal party and the cattle in the paddock.

 

Your team is only as good as the cattle in the paddock. A lot has been made of Ballieu and his failings as a Premier, since his resignation. But I can't help think the governments issues is also about the quality of ministers. A few examples

Treasurer Kim Wells :: Victoria is now in recession, enough said.

Deputy Ryan :: Overland ex- top cop and his 'resignation' the smell continues to linger.

David Davis :: Everything about health seems to be in crisis: from fixing the problems to even worse problems. Waiting lists have blown.

Mathew Guy planning minister :: Seems to ignore planning advice, but happy to listen to Mr Rob Maclellan about planning issues down in Ventnor. Eventually through strong local protests he backs down...

Our local member Ken Smith :: Still has not replied to my email regarding a secondary School for the island.

I sort of feel sorry for Ted Ballieu, it is no wonder his fortunes faded.

He was gracious how he lead and stepped down. I liked him, his quiet ways. It was refreshing compared when you listen to to federal government. Unlike most politicians I never got the impression he was in it for power. Rather I think he thought he could make a difference.

It will be interesting how the liberals work with 'Christian' Mr Shaw from Frankston, now the king maker. A person who makes obscene gestures in parliament, alleged rortes with his tax payer funded car and his homophobia. (It is a reason you have to be very carefully with the 'Christian' label and politics, it can do more damage than good.)

He reminds me of federal politics where Peter Slipper was a ticking time bomb for the labor party....

 

Leaving Alexandria, by Richard Holloway

 

Leaving Alexandria is the biography of Richard Holloway who was the controversial bishop of Edinburgh.

There was a lot I liked about Richard Holloway probably because I could identify with his story so much. About leaving a places, the disappointments of not fore-filling others and your own expectations. Of the doubts about Christianity and God.

A friend of my wrote on his blog RC theologian, Anthony Padovano:

“A Christian is someone who wants to give his [or her] life seriously for a noble objective. If he [or she] does not wish this, he [or she] is not a Christian. Every human life given generously for a lofty ideal is filled with regret as well as with joy. One of the most difficult things to accept in such a life is our failure to have done with our lives what we longed to accomplish. In a sense, this is the one cross we want least of all, the cross we never expected, the cross which is hardest to bear. Such a cross is all the more painful for those who, in the name of the cross, were once sure their lives would make a great difference”.

I couldn't help think that this fitted well with Holloway, and myself...

Most of the book is about stories of narratives of Holloway's past. I cannot help but read and hear at the same time a rich Scottich brough. I have an uncle who can make a fairly mundaine experience into an on the edge of your seat tale as he weaves words from his mouth. Holloway is a bit like this in his book. I Enjoyed his style.

Coming of age, and ones sexuality is a dominant theme, one complicated with religion. I was surprised by Holloway's honesty with his attraction to both male and female.

There were a number of time I felt the stories fell silent. Maybe to personal...

• The theme of his sexuality came to an abrupt end with his marriage to his wife. In some ways I couldnt help think that it interrupted the flow of the book. I'm sure that marriage dosn't end all sexual issues..
• I could not help wondering how his wife would have reacted to his confessions of homosexual love earlier in his life (Even if it was only thoughts).

I found the final chapters took away from the book. Even though I agreed with Holloway's position I found the religious politics, the power plays all a bit out of context of the book. Even though they are part of Holloway's story.

 

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Is it true

One night I had a dream or maybe it was a vision or simply it came to mind. I asked my mother is the Bible true. She said emphatically.

"Yes of course"

I've pondered this for a while now. Is this the reponse that set my course so forcefully early in life?

I've heard that often in life you set off with firm ideas and then in latter years you unlearn them.

It is interesting that I feel that I'm in that place now; unlearning. When I'm secure in my relationships for my answers to be my own not what I would think others would wish to hear.

So what will I tell my children when they ask me is the Bible true?

"Yes, but..." with the knowledge that Children, young adults often feel secure when there is certainty...

 

Gary Bouma on Marriage equality

Christina's has told me one of most interesting lecturers when studying sociology was Gary Bouma; a social researcher and Anglican minister. He has written his support of marriage equality and a few statistics, which are unsurprising! Wow those pentecostals...

 

In 2007, an Australian Electoral Survey of trends in political opinion found that 43% opposed legal recognition of same-sex marriage, and that 66% of Australians declaring "no religion" favoured same-sex marriage, compared with 39% of Catholics and Anglicans, 44% of Uniting Church and 24% of Presbyterians. Meanwhile, the sustained attack on homosexuality by evangelical and Catholic Christians has resulted in high levels of opposition to marriage equality among Pentecostals and Evangelicals. Catholics, however, have the lowest rate of opposition (60% in 2009) compared with 100% of Pentecostals and 79% of Baptists.

 

The Ranch

When I was in my early 20's I went on missional training camp in America for three months, it was called the 'Ranch'. It was in many way life changing with many life long friends coming from it. What suprised me reflecting upon the experince is the amount of people who went into ministry and there life has been rather horrid since.

The main leader, CEO if you like suicided.

Another leader came back to Australia planted a church, seperated from his wife, dropped out of ministry, probably divorced now.

What is reinforced in my mind is that, bad stuff happens in equal proprotion to Christians as Non-Christians.

If you look at divorce for example, the rates are pretty much the same for Christians and non-Christians.

Life it seems to me is non-discriminating no mater what you believe. 

The Moslem fear

Had a US Christian friend who put up on their feed::

In twenty years there will be enough Muslim voters in
the U.S. to elect the President! Is this what all you Obama voters hand in mind?!

I find this ironic that this come from a Christian. Most Church growth experts report that Christian growth occours the most when there is persecution. For example Christians who are persecuted in China, or Biblically the first two hunderd of so years of the Church when it was persecuted yet the minority. A Moslem majority maybe the best for evangelism in the US.
Maybe there just isn't a confidence in there Christian belief?

As a non-Us citizen though I find it interesting that when it comes to aggression the US especially under the administration of 'Christian' George Bush are more than aggressive than most nations.

To give the benefit of the doubt. A short snippet from a feed dosn't explain much. It rises many questions. Why be afraid of Muslims? Or is it just the Extremists? Do you really think it is Obama or is it the constitution? Maybe just Republican flag waving?

Related articles

• -International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (charismatica.com)

Free Will

I'm always amused with the Christians understanding of "Free will".
On one had ‘Free will’, God setting us free with the idea that when we move and make a decision towards God it will be on our own will. That the decision will be pure and whole hearted because God has not cohersed us in any way.
The greatest example of this is in Jesus teaching of the 'prodigal son'.

Interestingly Christians are the the main legislators against freedom. Eg Euthanasia, same sex marriage, porn etc etc.
(I think its a completely differn't thing legislating from hurting and abusing others. Guns, abortion may fit into this category)
Christians appears to oppose things more from loosing a way of life, than giving freedom.

But then maybe we Christians don't have a choice....

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• Reflection on the prodigal son (slideshare.net)
• Christians Should Only Marry Christians? (unreasonablefaith.com)

How big is your God?

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I had a interesting conversation the other day. Talking to a person who goes to a Church down my way. I asked what the preaching was about this Sunday. (I think you can often remember how well a speaker is by what is remembered.)
There reply was that it was about the 'Greens' and how they are out to wreck everything Christian.
I replied that I didn't think this was true that many of the greens policy's where similar to Jesus actions. Such as looking out for the disadvantaged, renewal of the earth etc etc.
Then they laid out what they thought was their winning hand.
"But Bob Brown is a homosexual".

In many ways I'm glad I've moved on from Charismatic / Evangelical Church. The theology for me is just barrier to loving people.

I found this interesting transcript of Bob Brown when he had a meeting with the "Exclusive Brethern" regarding his senate enqurie

ON GAY RELATIONSHIPS
Bob Brown: As you probably know, I'm gay and I have a same-sex partner and that's a loving relationship.
David Thomas: But that's against, that's against — we repel it because it's against God's word.
BB: God is love, you know. It may be against a written scripture, but you know there is a lot in the scripture that would be horrified if it were brought into reality and were carried out in its literal word.
DT: We don't want to debate it … I'm just saying my reaction to it when you read Romans 1, I mean it's what happens. People get themselves so perverted and they just can't think morally.
BB: My thinking may have been like that many, many years ago. But I've realised that God has created a very diverse world in which love is a big key and hate is a very big foe. But we get ourselves into trouble when we think we can define where the boundaries are where love should be cut short.
Richard Garrett: We've got to discern, we're mixing up love and lust. Now you referred to yourself personally, it certainly wasn't my, I mean I didn't intend to bring it up at all. You're happy to, I appreciate that. My concern is when policies like that, same-sex marriages, are being put forward as it's becoming law. Government making provision for same-sex marriages, now that is completely and utterly wrong. It's against God.
BB: My view is that it is completely and utterly right and it's part of God's creation.

 Also I find it interesting his description of been a "lapsed Presbyterian" .

I would be genuinely interested in Bob Browns understanding of God. His story of been a Presbyterian then becoming a homosexual then to the leader of the 'Greens'. I'm sure that for many his story would be helpful. Especially for those Christians who because of there gender orientation have had to walk away. Often with very painful experiences.

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• The Church Needs to Stop the Hate for Gays: There, I Said It (psychologytoday.com)
• Brown 'horrified' at Wong's gay marriage stance (theage.com.au)