environmental....

Is the Climate changing? Is there Global warming?
Whether what we are experiencing with the climate is cyclical or man made we certainly are confronted with some stark realities.
The Northern Ice cap is certainly diminishing. Island nations, especially in the Pacific are expereiencing extreme tides, cyclones are more devastating as the recent ones on the coast of P.N.G. and Bangladesh show.
Couple this with the obvious man made disasters like the massive oil spill off the Korean Coast and we see the damage that is happening to our planet: which is both a robust and a vulnerable place at the same time.
God has called us to be good stewards of the earth, to care for it, to delight in it. We are also called to share the resources equitably.
Against the huge things happening in places like China - one of the planet's worst polluters - our efforts may seem puny and ineffective - but we must do our bit.
We are called to be good stewards, to be faithful - in that is our peace and from a tniy seed......

The environment

Climate Change is all the talk at the moment. We have a new Government which seems to be more committed than the previous one in dealling with the issue; there is the big conference in Bali. Will nations take it all seriously or will money interests rule supreme? Indonesia which is host of the conference, "talks the talk" but the rape of its rain forests sends a very different message.

In the Church's calendar we are in the season of ADVENT. One of the themes here is the "new creation". As we await in hope for the new creation - described in both Isaiah and in the Revelation - we also need to play our part today in caring for the created order. We are responsible for the resources we use,l we are responsible for the rubbish we make - we have our responsibilities to care for, and delight in the creation - God has made us "caretakers" - are you taking "good care"?

eye for an eye?

It was refreshing to hear the reaction of the family of the victim to the punishmnet given to the 7 youths who had assaulted their daughter. There had been much criticism that the sentence - which involved supervision orders and rehab programmes was too light. The family of the girl were looking for "rehabilitation" rather than punishment. So refreshing - as a society we seem to be being drawn into the old "eye for an eye" mentality. Christian teaching points us to forgiveness and restoration. Each person must be accountable for what they have done, and where appropriate some form of punishment should be given. But at the heart of our system we should be seeking to bring about renewal, seeking to build a richer and more civil society.

Election time?

We grind along slowly to the election. Are you as sick as I am of the tedious "pre election- campaign"?
One of the things that disturbs me is the lack of vision for Australia by both parties. There seems to be an awful appeal to the "middle ground" which is about individual prosperity and has little to do with the bigger issues that confront us: environmental sustainability, equitable distribution of wealth, indigenous affairs, care of our ageing population, infrastructure development etc. When Kevin Rudd first became leader he began to articulate a vision, but that seems to have been lost in "me to-ism", John Howard swans around the country trying to buy marginal seats. There is little vision for our future offered in that process.
In the "good old days" (?) Whitlam and Keating, Killen and others all had "big pictures" to inspire us with.
Now it seems to be all reduced to froth and bubble, personalities rather than a real vision for our future?

Perhaps it is upto each of us to approach candidates and ask them hard questions about policy - make them earn our votes. Every letter, email etc to a politician is said to represent 100 votes.

It is in our hands. Democracy survives, even flourishes when ordinary people are engaged.

Go to the Party's websites, the White Pages has all the addresses of members - do your bit!!

ANSWERING A QUESTION.

This morning I listened to our Treasurer, Peter Costello, on a radio interview. Like all politicians he said what he wanted to say despite the questions that was asked. Some questions were just totally ignored and on he rattled with his "political speak". Sadly, too many politicians respond to questioning in the same way.

Is it too much to ask, as we approach an election, that we get straight answers from all our politicians?

How can we make informed choices if we are not given clear answers.

As we draw near to the Federal election I am sure that you, like me, would like to hear what vision our politicians have for our future as a nation; what is their "Big Picture"?

A good democracy is built on robust debate and integrity, not weasal words.

The lesson is for us - to answer questions honestly - and set a good example.

Hope

Recently I attended a "civil" funeral. And let me say, it was extremely well done. Great care and reverence was shown. But what intrigued me was the use of religious language and symbol whilst trying to be "non religious". There was a real sense of groping around in the dark for answers to deep questions about "life", "death", "purpose" and "the eternal". As a Christian I would have loved to have been able to jump up and say - "there is the bright light of Christ" that will illuninate and answer all your groping, all your questions.
It was not the time for that, but we must all, as we have opportunity, share the Good News with others so that they might find "The Light of Christ" and in that light find the answers to life's deep questions.

Intregrity

What did the Treasurer say at Dinner 2 years ago?
Does it really matter?
In the media discussion that followed this "event" the question of who is telling the truth and who is not rises.
If we are going to have a fair election, if we are going to have good government, if we are going to have quality media we need to have confidence that every one is telling the truth.
Of course, people will see things differently, they will give differing interpretations, but we need confidence that underneath all of this there is a basic honesty.
Sadly today, in politics and the media this basic reality seems all too often to go missing. Drivers like Opinion Polls etc seem to tempt people to lower standards.
The New Testament encourages to "speak the truth in love" - that is a great place for everyone to start.

Last Saturday 28-7 our parish was thrilled to join in on the celeberatuion of the ordination of 2 Sudanese Deacons to the Priesthood. In our Diocese we have a large and growing Sudanese Community. It is very interesting to get to know these people, to hear their stories and to assist in their resettlement. Getting to know these people helps us realise how lucky we are in Australia, as well as realising how important it is to share the riches we have with others - both here and through overseas aid programmes. Part of Jesus call to us is to love our neighbour - we are finding practical expression for this with the people of the Sudan.

Terror

Terror!
Are you worried about the way the Howard Government is using its executive power to get around the Judicial system?
It worries me that in its enthusiasm for the War on Terror the Government is too willing to abandon due process.
It is appears that Dr Haneef is at worst a tiny bit player, and, anyway, he can be well monitored by the AFP if he is out on bail.
I cannot but help wonder if it is one of those "rabbits in the hat" Howard is looking for.

Indigenous Affairs

It's a while since my last effort - I am not a great "blogger"
Do you share my concerns with the way the federal geovernment is intervening into Indigenous Affairs in the N.T.?
Apart from being heavy handed, it seems so ill conceived. Talk about policy on the run!
And why now?
These issues have been crying out for attention for a very long time.
And, until recently Federal funds have been reduced, cutting programmes that address issues of abuse, disadvantage and so on.
In such an area of desperate need we have too many levels of Government involved, to much political point scoring.
I hope that out of all of this current activity sensitive and sensible programmes will evolve that will meet the real needs of Indigenous Communities right accross Australia.

A Baby left

The story of baby Catherine highlights the sad plight of some women who fall pregnant and are not able to cope with their new situation. The Headline seen in Sydney in the Daily Telegraph highlights the unthinking reaction many people easily have. With all the support that is available these days, for a person to do this shows a very desperate situatiion that cries out for help. Not only should we be sympathetic to the plight of the mother, we must all work hard to create communities where any person is able to find the help and support they need.

Too many people still experince alienation and loneliness. As a Christian community we must always seek to be welcoming and inclusive.

Free Speech

Radio talk back hosts get a lot of freedom. But with freedom also comes responsibility. The debate this week over Alan Jones' comments re the Cronulla riots show how irresponsible he was, and sadly he has been able to thumb his nose at his critics - even getting a virtual "pat on the back" from the P.M. Yet, conversely when a Muslim cleric airs his views he is widely condemned. Their seems to be an unfair bias evident. If Alan J can have such wide freedom we can't the Mufti of Australia enjoy the same?

First effort

This starts off what I hope will be a fruitful dialogue with visitors to our site.