There are two things i would like to blog on about:
1. The Sudan. Again we are seeing acts of genocide against the Southern Sudanese - apparently with the support of the Sudanese military. Towns are being decimated, people are being murdered or driven off their land to a very uncertain future - at best finding safety in a refugee camp. How often will the world stand by and watch? We all need to urge our government to speak out - especially in the U.N. to get some real action to save these people.
2. Art or prornography?
The current debate over Bill Henson's photo's highlights the tension between art and pornography which comes up whenever provocative 'works' are displayed. Are far should artistic freedom go? It is a debate that will always be very lively. My view is that when it involves children/adolescents we must always take a conservative view, protecting the innocence of the young. Any freedom has to be balanced against responsibility. In this case art should recognise its responsibility to protect the innocent. What does the display of Henson's photos do in terms of giving permission to others to do in terms of photos?
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
Bits and Pieces
Well dear readers I am back!
It has been quite a time over the past few months.
A period of being off on sick leave, Easter and a trip to Israel, Jordan and Egypt.
My illness revolves around "burnout" - a severe reminder of the balance we all need in our lives. The importance of proper rest and recreation.
We all do well to heed the commandment "6 days shall you labour....." Sadly, so many people are under so much pressure from work, family needs etc that we sometimes lose sight of the need for rest and re-creation: we all need time "to smell the roses".
Our Easter celebrations were a time of spiritual enrichment: the great drama that unfolds from Passion [Palm] Sunday through to Easter Day calls us back to what is most important in our life: a living relationship with God - Creator of heaven and earth. Jesus' death on the cross reminds us of how far God will go to draw us into that relationship.
After Easter Judy and I led a group of parishioners and others to the Middle East.
It was an amazing experience. Walking where Jesus walked, reading the stories of Elijah on Mt Carmel, the place where he defeated the priests of Baal, and being in Jerusalem and experiencing all its holy and historical sites brings the Scriptures alive in a new and exciting way.
One also gets a strong sense of the tensions and conflict that is part of the Middle East. We felt quite safe all of the time - but you wonder if peace is ever possible in that part of the world. I am becoming more convinced that "fundamentalism" be it Jewish, Islamic, Christian or Athiest is a dangerous form of belief - it leads to intolerance and often accepts violence as a means of achieving its ends.
We all need to join in the Psalmist's longing: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and may all who love her prosper"
In the end we must take Jesus' words to heart:"love one another, even as I have loved you."
It has been quite a time over the past few months.
A period of being off on sick leave, Easter and a trip to Israel, Jordan and Egypt.
My illness revolves around "burnout" - a severe reminder of the balance we all need in our lives. The importance of proper rest and recreation.
We all do well to heed the commandment "6 days shall you labour....." Sadly, so many people are under so much pressure from work, family needs etc that we sometimes lose sight of the need for rest and re-creation: we all need time "to smell the roses".
Our Easter celebrations were a time of spiritual enrichment: the great drama that unfolds from Passion [Palm] Sunday through to Easter Day calls us back to what is most important in our life: a living relationship with God - Creator of heaven and earth. Jesus' death on the cross reminds us of how far God will go to draw us into that relationship.
After Easter Judy and I led a group of parishioners and others to the Middle East.
It was an amazing experience. Walking where Jesus walked, reading the stories of Elijah on Mt Carmel, the place where he defeated the priests of Baal, and being in Jerusalem and experiencing all its holy and historical sites brings the Scriptures alive in a new and exciting way.
One also gets a strong sense of the tensions and conflict that is part of the Middle East. We felt quite safe all of the time - but you wonder if peace is ever possible in that part of the world. I am becoming more convinced that "fundamentalism" be it Jewish, Islamic, Christian or Athiest is a dangerous form of belief - it leads to intolerance and often accepts violence as a means of achieving its ends.
We all need to join in the Psalmist's longing: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and may all who love her prosper"
In the end we must take Jesus' words to heart:"love one another, even as I have loved you."
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