thinking honestly about life and faith
A university student gruffly dismissed the local vicar for ‘peddling nonsense from an old book’. Indeed the Bible is an old book and we have to admit that a great deal of nonsense, and much worse, has been propagated in … Read More »
We hear so much about ‘when we return to normal’ or ‘the new normal’. Actually we have returned to what is and has been normal for most humans. In so many ways the way of living we have lost through … Read More »
I have been immensely enjoying Meredith Lake’s The Bible in Australia: A cultural history (Newsouth books, 2018). It is so clearly written, in a very readable style. The work presents the impact of the Bible as ‘global’, in the sense that … Read More »
Tim Winton has done it again—finding a way to tell his story of young people and older people, together trying to work out what it means to be human, particularly a white, male human in this wide, dry land. The … Read More »
‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year’—according to the music blasting in the shopping mall and, yes, even in the bathroom where I might have hoped for some respite. It’s November 21st, and the commercial season called Christmas is … Read More »
Today is declared the International Day of Peace by the United Nations. So it should be—today, and every day. It’s worth thinking about this word ‘peace’ and what a day of peace might mean, or even a year of peace, … Read More »
I’ve delayed, and now in the face of new expressions of terror in the world around us, I must write—about hope. It was never more relevant. It is always relevant. The idea of ‘forming faith, hope and love’ follows the … Read More »
Yesterday was the 39th anniversary of my ordination as a Baptist pastor. After all these years, there are a few reflections I would like to share. I’m still a pastor. My initial sense of calling came when I was very … Read More »
I am puzzled by the idea of a conscience vote: simply the idea that somehow we can define some matters as worthy to be decided ‘on conscience’ while all other matters are decided by —well, what? The Australian Parliament is … Read More »
A man got on the tram this morning and remarked to his companion how quiet it was. I could not help but hear him, and realized he was right. Though the tram was full of passengers, the usual buzz … Read More »