Hi all,
Thanks so much for encouraging me to continue blogging with your encouraging feedback. This is my last post on blogger. The inevitable has happened and I am shifting to Wordpress.com. I've been using wordpress for the other blogs I magane and, well, I just like it better. My entire blog has been exported to a new location, archives, comments and all.
Foolishness is now located at www.markriessen.wordpress.com
I hope you continue to read and interact with my blog. Thanks again
Mark Riesen
Signing out from blogger
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Lent - part 1
We are well into lent by now and I've finally made some space to blog some thoughts and reflections on the season. I thought I'd break this into stages so if anyone wanted to have a dialogue about it I'd love to hear from you.
I have had many robust discussions with colleagues about lent, why or why it is not practised and the value of it and I can tell you that among these conversations have been passionate disagreements.
I come from a fairly conservative Churches of Christ up bringing and am currently engaged in ministry with the Churches of Christ in South Australia. I have never really been exposed to much of the traditional liturgy or rituals of the church because it has never really been a core focus of our restoration movement - that's not to say that the rituals aren't important, they just never played a major role in the life of the church I grew up in.
As I was emerging out of my final year of college I began to participate more and more in ecumenical conversations and where possible would attend services held by other denominations so I could learn and appreciate the different forms of worship and why they practised in this way. Some things I didn't quite get and others I knew wouldn't gel with me but I learned to appreciate anyway, while other worship practices enriched my Christian experience. A Church of Christ colleague of mine who was a couple of years ahead of me in college and is still a very dear friend helped me a great deal not only to appreciate different traditions but exposed me to how to recreate variations of these worship practices so our Church of Christ congregations could appreciate something of richness of alternative forms of worship.
So for the past few years I have chosen to take my congregations through the Lenten journey, each year is different and each year we learn something new about ourselves and who we are called to be. I came across a blog as lent was beginning titled - 'why Baptists don't observe lent'. I found the title intriguing so I read on. To cut a long story short I found the blog post to be short sighted and arrogant towards a tradition that might not be fully understood. The blog author referred to lent as a '40 day period preceded by the most intense gluttony and occupied with the setting aside of trivial pleasantries and followed by a return to the same old same old'. I disagree.
I have since had conversations with Baptist, Church of Christ, Uniting Church and Catholic communicants all of whom have a different reflection on why they observe lent. Yes that's right a Baptist observing lent! The author of the blog I read said that Baptist don't need lent because they repent 365 1/4 days a year (that's the bit I found arrogant) accusing all others of only repenting on the first day. My Catholic friend told me that she has spiritual practises 365 1/4 days a year and lent enables a heightened sense of the awareness of God and the journey towards Easter. I take offense at the implication that those who observe certain seasons of the church calender are merely drones who don't lead spiritual lives but hang out for ritual so they can finally receive absolution for their sinful lives.
I have also been criticized for giving something up for lent. Lent is traditionally a time of fasting. The 40 days of lent identifies with Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness. It is a time of humbling one self and a time of discernment. I have chosen to give up coffee and alcohol for lent. For those who don't know me, no I don't have a drinking problem with alcohol, however I do enjoy a beer or a glass of wine with friends once or twice a week. I was put to the test when I attended a concert with my brother, brother-in-law and a friend and they offered to buy beers for me at the bar before we went in. I kindly declined and it created an interesting conversation around the table as they drank their beer and I went without.
Many of my friends were in shock when I told them what I was giving up. It's bound to come up in conversation because drinking caffeine and alcohol is a social thing. This has no impaired my socializing but my point in doing this has nothing to do with anyone except me and God and my own spiritual development. In case people didn't realize this, both coffee and alcohol contain addictive drugs, I hear friends joke about how they 'need' a coffee or hanging out for a drink. It made me think - can I do without it and not replace it with something else? Sometimes I think i enjoy these indulgences too much so it was the obvious choice for me to set myself the challenge. At the end of the second day of having no coffee I had an amazing headache. My mum (who works in a pharmacy) told me I was having caffeine withdrawals! Now that's got to tell you something about the substances we pump into our body! After all isn't our body a temple within which the Holy Spirit chooses to dwell? My spiritual discipline for this season is to cleanse and look after my 'temple' so it may be fit for God's service. I hope that after Easter I will be able to maintain some discipline around drinking (caffeine in particular) in moderation because after all do I really need it?
So I've gone without caffeine and alcohol for 16 days now and I feel so much better for it. I feel like my body is being cleansed and my focus is renewed. I told my congregation what I was doing and how the idea of lent was to give up something we think we needed (traditionally food). Rather than replacing it with something else we repeat the words in our head, 'God is enough'. It becomes a chant that helps us identify with Jesus' 40 days of discernment in the wilderness - God is enough. It works for me because at least 3 or 4 times a day a little voice in my head says 'I need a coffee' and the voice that replies says, 'God is enough'.
In addition to giving up something I have taken up a spiritual discipline which I plan to continue in some shape or form beyond lent. I have increased the regularity of spiritual direction and have locked in weekly retreat time at a local Christian spirituality centre. My wife and i are attending a whole day spiritual Lenten retreat in a couple of weeks. I will blog about these experiences later.
I think it's arrogant and naive to be quick to criticize an old Christian ritual simply because it's old (a hangover from the middle ages is what one colleague called it) or you think it bears no relevance. For many Christians, many of whom have much more specific spiritual disciplines than me 365 1/4 days of the year, find lent a very helpful discipline to heighten their sense of connection with God. Don't disrespect the ritual just because you don't practise it or understand it.
More to come...
Shalom
Mark
I have had many robust discussions with colleagues about lent, why or why it is not practised and the value of it and I can tell you that among these conversations have been passionate disagreements.
I come from a fairly conservative Churches of Christ up bringing and am currently engaged in ministry with the Churches of Christ in South Australia. I have never really been exposed to much of the traditional liturgy or rituals of the church because it has never really been a core focus of our restoration movement - that's not to say that the rituals aren't important, they just never played a major role in the life of the church I grew up in.
As I was emerging out of my final year of college I began to participate more and more in ecumenical conversations and where possible would attend services held by other denominations so I could learn and appreciate the different forms of worship and why they practised in this way. Some things I didn't quite get and others I knew wouldn't gel with me but I learned to appreciate anyway, while other worship practices enriched my Christian experience. A Church of Christ colleague of mine who was a couple of years ahead of me in college and is still a very dear friend helped me a great deal not only to appreciate different traditions but exposed me to how to recreate variations of these worship practices so our Church of Christ congregations could appreciate something of richness of alternative forms of worship.
So for the past few years I have chosen to take my congregations through the Lenten journey, each year is different and each year we learn something new about ourselves and who we are called to be. I came across a blog as lent was beginning titled - 'why Baptists don't observe lent'. I found the title intriguing so I read on. To cut a long story short I found the blog post to be short sighted and arrogant towards a tradition that might not be fully understood. The blog author referred to lent as a '40 day period preceded by the most intense gluttony and occupied with the setting aside of trivial pleasantries and followed by a return to the same old same old'. I disagree.
I have since had conversations with Baptist, Church of Christ, Uniting Church and Catholic communicants all of whom have a different reflection on why they observe lent. Yes that's right a Baptist observing lent! The author of the blog I read said that Baptist don't need lent because they repent 365 1/4 days a year (that's the bit I found arrogant) accusing all others of only repenting on the first day. My Catholic friend told me that she has spiritual practises 365 1/4 days a year and lent enables a heightened sense of the awareness of God and the journey towards Easter. I take offense at the implication that those who observe certain seasons of the church calender are merely drones who don't lead spiritual lives but hang out for ritual so they can finally receive absolution for their sinful lives.
I have also been criticized for giving something up for lent. Lent is traditionally a time of fasting. The 40 days of lent identifies with Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness. It is a time of humbling one self and a time of discernment. I have chosen to give up coffee and alcohol for lent. For those who don't know me, no I don't have a drinking problem with alcohol, however I do enjoy a beer or a glass of wine with friends once or twice a week. I was put to the test when I attended a concert with my brother, brother-in-law and a friend and they offered to buy beers for me at the bar before we went in. I kindly declined and it created an interesting conversation around the table as they drank their beer and I went without.
Many of my friends were in shock when I told them what I was giving up. It's bound to come up in conversation because drinking caffeine and alcohol is a social thing. This has no impaired my socializing but my point in doing this has nothing to do with anyone except me and God and my own spiritual development. In case people didn't realize this, both coffee and alcohol contain addictive drugs, I hear friends joke about how they 'need' a coffee or hanging out for a drink. It made me think - can I do without it and not replace it with something else? Sometimes I think i enjoy these indulgences too much so it was the obvious choice for me to set myself the challenge. At the end of the second day of having no coffee I had an amazing headache. My mum (who works in a pharmacy) told me I was having caffeine withdrawals! Now that's got to tell you something about the substances we pump into our body! After all isn't our body a temple within which the Holy Spirit chooses to dwell? My spiritual discipline for this season is to cleanse and look after my 'temple' so it may be fit for God's service. I hope that after Easter I will be able to maintain some discipline around drinking (caffeine in particular) in moderation because after all do I really need it?
So I've gone without caffeine and alcohol for 16 days now and I feel so much better for it. I feel like my body is being cleansed and my focus is renewed. I told my congregation what I was doing and how the idea of lent was to give up something we think we needed (traditionally food). Rather than replacing it with something else we repeat the words in our head, 'God is enough'. It becomes a chant that helps us identify with Jesus' 40 days of discernment in the wilderness - God is enough. It works for me because at least 3 or 4 times a day a little voice in my head says 'I need a coffee' and the voice that replies says, 'God is enough'.
In addition to giving up something I have taken up a spiritual discipline which I plan to continue in some shape or form beyond lent. I have increased the regularity of spiritual direction and have locked in weekly retreat time at a local Christian spirituality centre. My wife and i are attending a whole day spiritual Lenten retreat in a couple of weeks. I will blog about these experiences later.
I think it's arrogant and naive to be quick to criticize an old Christian ritual simply because it's old (a hangover from the middle ages is what one colleague called it) or you think it bears no relevance. For many Christians, many of whom have much more specific spiritual disciplines than me 365 1/4 days of the year, find lent a very helpful discipline to heighten their sense of connection with God. Don't disrespect the ritual just because you don't practise it or understand it.
More to come...
Shalom
Mark
A Glimmer of Hope
A chaplain I connected really well with while I was visiting the bushfire zone in Victoria contacted me today via email with the following comments:
We had more rain this morning, which'll help to ease some of the anxiety in the areas we were in recently. Mary and I walked up near Kinglake on Tuesday - the area is one of our favourite bushwalking haunts... and amongst the black and devastation, there are blades of grass emerging... and tiny bush violets that somehow survived... and wattles that are beginning to sprout from seed... what an amazing capacity the creation has for regeneration!!
Thanks Randall.
Shalom
Mark
We had more rain this morning, which'll help to ease some of the anxiety in the areas we were in recently. Mary and I walked up near Kinglake on Tuesday - the area is one of our favourite bushwalking haunts... and amongst the black and devastation, there are blades of grass emerging... and tiny bush violets that somehow survived... and wattles that are beginning to sprout from seed... what an amazing capacity the creation has for regeneration!!
Thanks Randall.
Shalom
Mark
Friday, March 06, 2009
Churches of Christ 200 years on
This year marks 200 years since the birth and shaping of our movement, Churches of Christ as it is known in Australia otherwise known as the Disciples of Christ or the Christian Churches elsewhere around the world. 200 years ago one of our founders Thomas Campbell gave a declaration and address stating what is distinctive to our movement and the essentials for being true to the Christian faith.
I won't get into it to much now and I may come back and post a few more times on this topic throughout the year. I have mainly posted this blog to direct you to another blog I have created specifically for the purpose of celebrating this 200th year and to create dialogue and discussion around the topics that define us as a movement of Christian churches.
Please visit www.shapingidentity.wordpress.com and participate in the discussion. Once a month a different Churches of Christ minister from South Australia will post an article for discussion. The article for May was written by retired minister, Richard Lawton on 'Unity'. I've got the April gig so stay tuned.
Churches from our movement around the world and gathering for celebrations on October 4th at an event called the Great Communion. Check the ';Shaping our Identity' site for more information.
Shalom
Mark
I won't get into it to much now and I may come back and post a few more times on this topic throughout the year. I have mainly posted this blog to direct you to another blog I have created specifically for the purpose of celebrating this 200th year and to create dialogue and discussion around the topics that define us as a movement of Christian churches.
Please visit www.shapingidentity.wordpress.com and participate in the discussion. Once a month a different Churches of Christ minister from South Australia will post an article for discussion. The article for May was written by retired minister, Richard Lawton on 'Unity'. I've got the April gig so stay tuned.
Churches from our movement around the world and gathering for celebrations on October 4th at an event called the Great Communion. Check the ';Shaping our Identity' site for more information.
Shalom
Mark
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Photos from the edge
I hadn't downloaded my photo's from my phone when I posted my last few blogs so I thought I'd share some with you. Obviously I don't have a whole lot of photos from the heart of the bushfire zone because taking snaps up there would have been nothing short of insensitive. However I have some photos from 'the edge' attached with stories you might find interesting.
The above photos were taken from teh cellar door of De Bortoli Winery. Verity and I used to enjoy visiting here when we lived in Melbourne. You find it on the left of the Melba Highway as you drive out of Yara Glen. i thought I'd drop in on my way up to the relief centre on the second day I was there just to see how they dealt with that horrific Saturday. As i drove towards the cellar door i could see the smoke haze hovering over the fire burnt vineyards off in the distance. Up on the hill from the cellar door lookout you can see the entire scrub on the hill blackened. What wasn't burned in the fire was scorched by the sun on that Saturday. Staff told me they spent late afternoon dousing spot fires while a wedding reception was being held in their function room.
We drove past this old pub on the Tuesday night and I thought I'd take a quick pic as I drove back past the next day. It's on the corner of the Melba Highway/Flowerdale turnoff (Just past Kinglake). The pub was flattened by the fire, it was an icon and popular local hangout. On Tuesday night locals gathered in the carpark with beers in each hand. It was a necassary ritual for them to reclaim community and some of the normalities of life amongst so much that had been taken away.
On the Sunday before we left Melborune Verity and I visited one of her favorite spots just up the road from where we used to live, Sassafrass. We walked down one of the bushwalk paths and I was astounded at how think the growth was. It kind of set you on edge a bit knowing how quickly the fire ripped through scrub on the next range across the Yara Valley.
The next day Verity dropped me off in Upper Ferntree Gully to have coffee with a friend. Afterwards i walked down to Burwood Hwy to meet her in the car and as i walked I found myself walking the path through the Ferntree Gully fire zone that very nearly ripped through the Dandenongs on that 'Black Saturday'. It's amazing how close it got to the National park and the houses.
'One last look' says Verity as I indicated I'd like to get back down on the flats because this fire danger day was making me nervous. Verity looks out from the lookout in Olinda in disbelief at the hills across the Yara Valley still burning 16 days later.
Half an hour later we were at the bottom of the Dandenongs in Ferntree Gully among the wailing CFA sirens and seeing the smoke fo the new Upwey fire in our rearvision mirrors.
Mark
The above photos were taken from teh cellar door of De Bortoli Winery. Verity and I used to enjoy visiting here when we lived in Melbourne. You find it on the left of the Melba Highway as you drive out of Yara Glen. i thought I'd drop in on my way up to the relief centre on the second day I was there just to see how they dealt with that horrific Saturday. As i drove towards the cellar door i could see the smoke haze hovering over the fire burnt vineyards off in the distance. Up on the hill from the cellar door lookout you can see the entire scrub on the hill blackened. What wasn't burned in the fire was scorched by the sun on that Saturday. Staff told me they spent late afternoon dousing spot fires while a wedding reception was being held in their function room.
We drove past this old pub on the Tuesday night and I thought I'd take a quick pic as I drove back past the next day. It's on the corner of the Melba Highway/Flowerdale turnoff (Just past Kinglake). The pub was flattened by the fire, it was an icon and popular local hangout. On Tuesday night locals gathered in the carpark with beers in each hand. It was a necassary ritual for them to reclaim community and some of the normalities of life amongst so much that had been taken away.
On the Sunday before we left Melborune Verity and I visited one of her favorite spots just up the road from where we used to live, Sassafrass. We walked down one of the bushwalk paths and I was astounded at how think the growth was. It kind of set you on edge a bit knowing how quickly the fire ripped through scrub on the next range across the Yara Valley.
The next day Verity dropped me off in Upper Ferntree Gully to have coffee with a friend. Afterwards i walked down to Burwood Hwy to meet her in the car and as i walked I found myself walking the path through the Ferntree Gully fire zone that very nearly ripped through the Dandenongs on that 'Black Saturday'. It's amazing how close it got to the National park and the houses.
'One last look' says Verity as I indicated I'd like to get back down on the flats because this fire danger day was making me nervous. Verity looks out from the lookout in Olinda in disbelief at the hills across the Yara Valley still burning 16 days later.
Half an hour later we were at the bottom of the Dandenongs in Ferntree Gully among the wailing CFA sirens and seeing the smoke fo the new Upwey fire in our rearvision mirrors.Mark
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
'Dear Westboro Baptist Church'
I was updating my video bar to reflect some of the footage taken of the National Day of mourning service when the YouTube link I've posted below poped up in the search. I wonder what you make of it. I'm kinda scared and a little bit freaked out by it, no wonder I saw no sign of Westboro Baptist Church at the service. This cute little animated puppet is one scarey dude. Have you seen Child's Play with little Chucky?
Seriously though, how helpful do you think this is? I link this post back to my post on foolish compassion. Sure we don't agree with the inhumane and outrageous views of a small minority that call themselves Christians yet hate everyone. There is something seriously wrong here and I mean some serious pshchological issues going on there with Fred Phelps and his followers.
It's interesting that I note within myself that I think I was more fired up about 'Pastor Danny's' comments from 'Catching the Fire Ministries' than I am by Fred Phelps. I just find it hard to take that guy even remotely seriously but he explains the bushfires in Australia quite simply saying, 'God hates Australia'. Of course he links it to the film Heath Ledger stars in when he played a homosexual character, saying that Australia is full of fags and we deserve it. I know I used to get angry too but I just can't take this guy seriously enough to get angry with him anymore.
Back to this video link however. What disturbs me is the assumption of attack by Australians and the condoning of violence against anyone who aligns with this thinking. We are Australian and we are better than that...I hope. Otherwise we may be just as bad as the people of the Westboro Baptist Church.
Remember the words of Jesus to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. These are the actions I would hope we as Australians would aspire to over violence and revenge. Let's have a conversation about what that kind of love and compassion look like rather than ways in which we can hurt people who enrage us with their views and opinions.
Check the video and if you really want to see what the Westboro Baptist Church are saying you don't have to look far to find out.
Seriously though, how helpful do you think this is? I link this post back to my post on foolish compassion. Sure we don't agree with the inhumane and outrageous views of a small minority that call themselves Christians yet hate everyone. There is something seriously wrong here and I mean some serious pshchological issues going on there with Fred Phelps and his followers.
It's interesting that I note within myself that I think I was more fired up about 'Pastor Danny's' comments from 'Catching the Fire Ministries' than I am by Fred Phelps. I just find it hard to take that guy even remotely seriously but he explains the bushfires in Australia quite simply saying, 'God hates Australia'. Of course he links it to the film Heath Ledger stars in when he played a homosexual character, saying that Australia is full of fags and we deserve it. I know I used to get angry too but I just can't take this guy seriously enough to get angry with him anymore.
Back to this video link however. What disturbs me is the assumption of attack by Australians and the condoning of violence against anyone who aligns with this thinking. We are Australian and we are better than that...I hope. Otherwise we may be just as bad as the people of the Westboro Baptist Church.
Remember the words of Jesus to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. These are the actions I would hope we as Australians would aspire to over violence and revenge. Let's have a conversation about what that kind of love and compassion look like rather than ways in which we can hurt people who enrage us with their views and opinions.
Check the video and if you really want to see what the Westboro Baptist Church are saying you don't have to look far to find out.
Postcard from Rod Laver Arena
Verity and I were in Melbourne when it was decided that a memorial service would be held in the Rod Laver Arena to honour the people affected by the bushfires in Victoria. We decided, since we were in town we may as well go down to the general area and see if we might be able to get in and be part of the service. The media had hyped it up so much expecting more than 100,000 people to turn out that we thought we'd be lucky to grab a spot near a screen outside the Arena. When we showed up about an hour and a half before the service people we're literally chasing us trying to give us tickets. It seems not as many turned out as were expected but that's understandable as many people from affected communities preferred to stay where they were and watch it on the big screens. Verity and I ended up sitting directly to the left of the stage inside the Arena about 10 rows up - close to the action. It was the closest I've ever been to royalty or the Prime Minister.Now I'm not a royalist, I'm not even very patriotic but it was amazing to be in that Arena surrounded by the atmosphere that had been created. For instance, I've never been to see a live orchestra before. They were amazing! And the Australian anthem was spectacular! (now that's saying something coming from me) So there we sat with our yellow ribbon, little bell and the order of service. Symbols of our liturgy and memorial in this 'non-religious' service of remembrance where Aussies from everywhere (even a representative of the Queen) gathered to make meaning of their grief and helplessness.
I'm sure that by now most people have seen the service and if not you can find it on YouTube. So rather than give a commentary I just wanted to reflect on a couple of things I found meaningful in the service.
The welcome to country by Aunty Joy Murphy was more meaningful than maybe what many may have appreciated. A good reminder for us is that us Europeans who have taken this land and think we know how to manage it still have a lot to learn from our indigenous leaders about appropriate stewardship of the land. When she mentioned that for generations her people had managed the land with ceremonious burning every 7 years, I was heart broken to think of the wisdom we have neglected. The people of Israel had similar customs like resting the land where they rotated their crops, every 7 years, or forgiving debts every 7 years to ensure people weren't plunged into a cycle of poverty. This wisdom we have neglected is our demise. However she followed through by acknowledging that there was nothing good or ceremonious about what happened with these fires. 'The land was tortured', she said and we now bare the scars of the consequence. But hopefully we can also learn. We wish a tragic fire like this had never happened but all the ingredients were there, the heat, the fuel, the wind. Not much could have prevented such tragedy but will we now tune in to the words of the wise, those who have lived on and cared for this land for so many thousands of years. What can they teach us? Will we listen?
I was interested to see how the government would manage a non-religious service in such a spiritual environment. At times of grief the majority do look to spiritual guidance from various faith traditions. I found it interesting to note that out of 4 speakers representing religious reflections, 3 of them were Christian. I wonder if the organizers consulted inter-faith networks for a greater representation or is our government sending the message that we are dominantly a Christian country? We had no words of comfort from Muslims, Jews, Hindus or Buddhists. The sounding of the rams horn was powerful, a Jewish symbol of calling people to mourning and prayer.
As much as I resisted at the end (whether that's because I'm an Aussie male who feels the need to suppress feelings in public, or because I'm just a cynic when it comes to emotionally charged public gatherings) it was difficult to hold back tears. When Bruce Woodley and his daughter Clare began singing 'I am Australian' and the 2 Kinglake survivors Merelyn and David Carter came out to sing the new verses, you could just feel the emotional intensity rise up in the Arena and the people around you. People spontaneously jumped to their feet to stand in solidarity, and burst out in song as if this was the national anthem before they were invited to sing, it really was amazing. Then finishing with the song 'Touch', sung by Michael Paynter, everyone stood again, this time strangers were grabbing one anothers hands and putting their arms around each other. Vertiy grabbed my left hand while myself and the guy on my right resisted (it's a male thing) but you could tell we were edging subtly closer together so we were touching just so we weren't left out.
Verity outside Rod Laver in smokey Melbourne
It was an amazing day and atmosphere to be a part of. Verity and I headed straight for the train afterwards back up to the Dandenongs. We were meeting friends for lunch in Upwey. As we sat around the table on the deck eating and sharing about how Victoria make meaning of such tragedy we also lamented about the conditions that surrounded us in this dense Dandenong bush. Little did we know that the next day them and their neighbours would be evacuating from a fire in their very suburb. The past couple of days have continued to be a harsh reminder that even though the ceremony is over and the media has moved on to other stories, we mustn't be complacent about the danger that surrounds us. Maybe we can led some time to tuning in to the wisdom of those who have known our land for so long and give them the credit they deserve. Please teach us, our indigenous friends.Shalom Mark
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Smoke in the mirrors
Verity and I sat at Melbourne airport last night feeling very distracted and helpless as we waited for our plane to Adelaide and chaos broke out around our friends and previous home in the Dandenongs. We had been stay with friends in Lysterfield and spent the last couple of days with friends in Upwey so the chaos breaking out was close to home.
For our last day in Melbourne Verity really wanted to visit one of her favorite places for lunch - Olinda. We knew it was a high fire danger day so we ensured we were tuned into ABC radio for updates. We could not believe that the places we saw covered in snow only 5 months ago were now crispy dry ferns and half dead trees amongst a dense forest of struggling life, scorched by the extreme heat Melbourne has endured this summer. I remember saying to Verity how nervous I was when we drove up through the unsealed roads of Upwey to visit friends on Sunday. We lamented with our friends that day how much of a fire trap this was and what their evacuation plan was should they ever need it. They told us stories of close encounters on the Black Saturday as spot fires broke out around Belgrave and people scrambled to extinguish them.
I expressed my nerves to Verity once again as we drove to the lookout at the arboretum in Olinda that looked out over the Yarra Valley. We didn't stay long as we could well and truly see the fires still burning out on the other side of the valley. At around 2:20 we made our way down the Mt Dandenong tourist road to the lights waiting to enter Burwood Hwy at the boarder of Upwey and Upper Ferntree Gully when we heard that noise that all hills and bush residents tread and fear - the CFA sirens were wailing loud and clear.
We drove past the Upper Gully CFA to see 3 trucks waiting for crews and as we drove further down the highway CFA trucks pulled out in front of us as they raced to the affected area. We got down to the Ferntree Gully/Stud Rd intersection as we headed towards the city and there in the mirrors i could see the smoke. It's terrifying to see how fast in billowed into the sky and how close we were to it. We were on our way to Chadstone shopping centre and continued in that direction as we listened intently to the ABC waiting for them to acknowledge the fire. At 3pm they confirmed that on the opposite side of Upwey to where we were, a grass and scrub fire burned out of control. We arrived at Chadstone just after 3pm and the plumes of smoke were large and very obvious. We contacted friends in Upwey and Lysterfield to let them know about the alert issued to residents. They weren't aware of what was going on but luckily were able to action their fire plans.
While Verity went for a wander around the shops, i couldn't disengage, I couldn't relax as i realized what we had just driven away from. I kept tuning into the ABC reports and heard that a house had been lost and 2 CFA trucks burnt injuring 3 firefighters and i began to acknowledge what many Victorians must have been feeling this past couples of weeks - the total and utter sense of helplessness.
Reports were coming through the radio of the chaos that surrounded the reaction to the fire as residents evacuated. Confused and disoriented people had car accidents and were running red lights just to get off the mountain. People raced down that stretch of Burwood Hwy Verity and I know well from Upwey to Upper Gully they called 'the mad mile'. Then we began to hear that the community we once called home was being turned into a refuge with relief centres set up in Ferntree Fully, Knox and Kilsyth.
We drove up towards the Eastern Freeway to escape the chaos of the traffic trying to get from the city to the SE suburbs as people raced towards homes surrounded by smoke. As we headed up around the north of the city of Melbourne, the wind changed direction and the smoke began to blow our way. It was a reminder of what and who we were leaving behind. We were flying back west as many of our friends were caught up in the chaos and we had no idea how bad it would get. One of the announcers on ABC radio summed up our feelings well when he reflected on his own. He acknowledged that here he was in a studio in the city, while once again on a high fire danger day in Melbourne's 3 weeks of fire tragedy, people scrambled to battle and escape new fire outbreaks. He described his state of being as helpless.
What heightened the anxiety was the fire outbreaks in Dalesford and Warbuton and we wondered if this tragedy that had impacted Australia so much would unfold again. Thankfully new learning's had been actioned, conditions were not as bad and firefighters were working diligently. Yet that still doesn't suppress the feeling of helplessness for most who watch on, wait, and wonder what the outcome will be.
we continue to think of those affected by the fires in Victoria. Verity and I think of our friends who came way too close this time. we think of the people who lost their home in that fire yesterday and the firefighters injured trying to save others. We also think of that one person who yesterday lost their life in hospital due to extensive injuries received in the Black Saturday fires. It may have just been a number that clocked over from 209 to 210 in many reports but it was a valued human life just like the others who were lost.
We continue to think of Victoria as many fires still burn out of control as they head towards another extreme fire danger day on Friday. We are also aware of a heightened awareness and anxiety here in the Adelaide hills as we brace for similar conditions. may we all be aware of one another as we see out this fire season. May we be aware of the heightened sense of helplessness, grief and anger. May we have patience with each other and be gracious towards one another. And may God's comfort and love embrace all who are affected in anyway.
Shalom
Mark
For our last day in Melbourne Verity really wanted to visit one of her favorite places for lunch - Olinda. We knew it was a high fire danger day so we ensured we were tuned into ABC radio for updates. We could not believe that the places we saw covered in snow only 5 months ago were now crispy dry ferns and half dead trees amongst a dense forest of struggling life, scorched by the extreme heat Melbourne has endured this summer. I remember saying to Verity how nervous I was when we drove up through the unsealed roads of Upwey to visit friends on Sunday. We lamented with our friends that day how much of a fire trap this was and what their evacuation plan was should they ever need it. They told us stories of close encounters on the Black Saturday as spot fires broke out around Belgrave and people scrambled to extinguish them.
I expressed my nerves to Verity once again as we drove to the lookout at the arboretum in Olinda that looked out over the Yarra Valley. We didn't stay long as we could well and truly see the fires still burning out on the other side of the valley. At around 2:20 we made our way down the Mt Dandenong tourist road to the lights waiting to enter Burwood Hwy at the boarder of Upwey and Upper Ferntree Gully when we heard that noise that all hills and bush residents tread and fear - the CFA sirens were wailing loud and clear.
We drove past the Upper Gully CFA to see 3 trucks waiting for crews and as we drove further down the highway CFA trucks pulled out in front of us as they raced to the affected area. We got down to the Ferntree Gully/Stud Rd intersection as we headed towards the city and there in the mirrors i could see the smoke. It's terrifying to see how fast in billowed into the sky and how close we were to it. We were on our way to Chadstone shopping centre and continued in that direction as we listened intently to the ABC waiting for them to acknowledge the fire. At 3pm they confirmed that on the opposite side of Upwey to where we were, a grass and scrub fire burned out of control. We arrived at Chadstone just after 3pm and the plumes of smoke were large and very obvious. We contacted friends in Upwey and Lysterfield to let them know about the alert issued to residents. They weren't aware of what was going on but luckily were able to action their fire plans.
While Verity went for a wander around the shops, i couldn't disengage, I couldn't relax as i realized what we had just driven away from. I kept tuning into the ABC reports and heard that a house had been lost and 2 CFA trucks burnt injuring 3 firefighters and i began to acknowledge what many Victorians must have been feeling this past couples of weeks - the total and utter sense of helplessness.
Reports were coming through the radio of the chaos that surrounded the reaction to the fire as residents evacuated. Confused and disoriented people had car accidents and were running red lights just to get off the mountain. People raced down that stretch of Burwood Hwy Verity and I know well from Upwey to Upper Gully they called 'the mad mile'. Then we began to hear that the community we once called home was being turned into a refuge with relief centres set up in Ferntree Fully, Knox and Kilsyth.
We drove up towards the Eastern Freeway to escape the chaos of the traffic trying to get from the city to the SE suburbs as people raced towards homes surrounded by smoke. As we headed up around the north of the city of Melbourne, the wind changed direction and the smoke began to blow our way. It was a reminder of what and who we were leaving behind. We were flying back west as many of our friends were caught up in the chaos and we had no idea how bad it would get. One of the announcers on ABC radio summed up our feelings well when he reflected on his own. He acknowledged that here he was in a studio in the city, while once again on a high fire danger day in Melbourne's 3 weeks of fire tragedy, people scrambled to battle and escape new fire outbreaks. He described his state of being as helpless.
What heightened the anxiety was the fire outbreaks in Dalesford and Warbuton and we wondered if this tragedy that had impacted Australia so much would unfold again. Thankfully new learning's had been actioned, conditions were not as bad and firefighters were working diligently. Yet that still doesn't suppress the feeling of helplessness for most who watch on, wait, and wonder what the outcome will be.
we continue to think of those affected by the fires in Victoria. Verity and I think of our friends who came way too close this time. we think of the people who lost their home in that fire yesterday and the firefighters injured trying to save others. We also think of that one person who yesterday lost their life in hospital due to extensive injuries received in the Black Saturday fires. It may have just been a number that clocked over from 209 to 210 in many reports but it was a valued human life just like the others who were lost.
We continue to think of Victoria as many fires still burn out of control as they head towards another extreme fire danger day on Friday. We are also aware of a heightened awareness and anxiety here in the Adelaide hills as we brace for similar conditions. may we all be aware of one another as we see out this fire season. May we be aware of the heightened sense of helplessness, grief and anger. May we have patience with each other and be gracious towards one another. And may God's comfort and love embrace all who are affected in anyway.
Shalom
Mark
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Foolish Compassion
As everyone is well aware by now, the man charged with arson over the Churchhill fire is probably the most disliked person in Victoria. Here is yet another example of poor journalism, the court has ordered his identity be protected yet the media in all their wisdom pretty much hand him to the public on a silver platter guiding them to sites like facebook and myspace where his picture and details are in full view.
Greg Barnes who is a human rights lawyer has criticized the media saying not only have they hurt his opportunity of getting a fair trial and possibly destroying the investigation all together but he has been horrified at how this tragedy has brought out the worst in Australians. He said with every tragedy you get to see the best and the worst in human nature. While the best has been seen, yes we are seeing the worst with the reaction to accused arsonists with hateful threats of violence and suggestions on how we should treat such people.
Well I have a suggestion, how about we treat such people with compassion? I don’t mean we ignore the actions or even that they shouldn’t face justice, but no amount of revenge or hate will reverse or the circumstances or satisfy hurt and anger. Revenge is not justice, it’s just another crime.
I suggest compassion because it was to choice of Jesus to act with compassion towards people. Sure Jesus got angry at circumstances but never did he seek revenge. He urged his followers to do outrageous things like love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. Jesus’ sermon on the mount is probably the most famous yet outrageous sermon recorded in his ministry. It’s a mission statement for his ministry and his suggested way of life. While a natural reaction to anger and feelings of injustice is to react and get even, the Jesus model is quite the opposite.
Christians are called to stand for far reaching love, outrageous grace and foolish compassion. It may not make sense but it is the only alternative to a world of people who still insist of solving problems with revenge attacks, violence and getting even. In all of human history these methods we insist on are yet to be fruitful and work. So as a Christian, a follower of Jesus I join the voice of many who have gone before me and ask that you tune in to the values of the kingdom of God try a method that takes patience and understanding.
True compassion comes from a changed heart, one moved with pity for a person who finds themselves in a tragic place, either by their own doing or through some other circumstance. Have compassion and let the justice system determine the punishment.
Shalom Mark
Greg Barnes who is a human rights lawyer has criticized the media saying not only have they hurt his opportunity of getting a fair trial and possibly destroying the investigation all together but he has been horrified at how this tragedy has brought out the worst in Australians. He said with every tragedy you get to see the best and the worst in human nature. While the best has been seen, yes we are seeing the worst with the reaction to accused arsonists with hateful threats of violence and suggestions on how we should treat such people.
Well I have a suggestion, how about we treat such people with compassion? I don’t mean we ignore the actions or even that they shouldn’t face justice, but no amount of revenge or hate will reverse or the circumstances or satisfy hurt and anger. Revenge is not justice, it’s just another crime.
I suggest compassion because it was to choice of Jesus to act with compassion towards people. Sure Jesus got angry at circumstances but never did he seek revenge. He urged his followers to do outrageous things like love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. Jesus’ sermon on the mount is probably the most famous yet outrageous sermon recorded in his ministry. It’s a mission statement for his ministry and his suggested way of life. While a natural reaction to anger and feelings of injustice is to react and get even, the Jesus model is quite the opposite.
Christians are called to stand for far reaching love, outrageous grace and foolish compassion. It may not make sense but it is the only alternative to a world of people who still insist of solving problems with revenge attacks, violence and getting even. In all of human history these methods we insist on are yet to be fruitful and work. So as a Christian, a follower of Jesus I join the voice of many who have gone before me and ask that you tune in to the values of the kingdom of God try a method that takes patience and understanding.
True compassion comes from a changed heart, one moved with pity for a person who finds themselves in a tragic place, either by their own doing or through some other circumstance. Have compassion and let the justice system determine the punishment.
Shalom Mark
The media circus moves on
I was driving in Melbourne reflecting on the time we spent as chaplains in the bushfire affected areas the previous day and I switched on ABC radio to listen to any further coverage. There was an interesting topic being razed regarding media ethics, particularly in covering the Victoria bushfires. They had media ethicist Dennis Muller on to comment on how some of the stories have been covered. It was interesting when he talked about guidelines for reporting that reporters must ask themselves, is this story necessary to report in the public’s interest or is it purely to satisfy public curiosity. I find that an interesting and helpful guide in terms of my own discipline as a consumer of information.
Sadly, most of the time, media speculate, dramatize and use inappropriate emotional lures in order to get your attention, sell a story and make lots of money. While the coverage of events such as the bushfires are essential for raising awareness and support from the community I think this question needs to remain our guiding standard, Do the public really need to know this or is it purely to satisfy curiosity?
This guide may even form how we conduct our face to face conversations out of respect for those who are deeply affected. Not only are methods for sourcing information absolutely appalling but motivations for sharing information need to be checked.
Papers like the Herald Sun are nothing better than a gossip tabloid and even The Australian and The Age have let it slip a little in the frenzy of securing the most excusive story with the most shocking information. The way some have described how and where human remains have been found and who is more important than another in recognizing and name those who perished is deplorable. So far only one paper has published a public apology on their inappropriate coverage of a story. Dennis Muller wrote in to The Australian to complain on behalf of a family he was close to who perished in the fire. The Australian covered a story about them with speculative information and no actual facts. They made the bold move of publishing Dennis’ letter with an apology. Now I reckon that takes guts and integrity to do that so well done The Australian.
While callers rang the ABC during the program and shared their views (some criticizing even ABC’s coverage but most applauding their sensitivity) some were mentioning the TV media and how inappropriate they have been. Then last night I saw one of the things they were complaining about with my own eyes. Channel 10 news had a still picture of a burnt house displayed behind the news reader. As the news reader talked they had these graphics that some brilliant drongo had concocted of computer generated smoke rising from a few areas in the photo. Not only does it look tacky but have they thought about the on going trauma that causes people?
I’m critical about this because I have now spoken with survivors, volunteers and professionals and I have some idea of the effect the media is having on them. And for all of the positives that our coming from coverage with the raising of money for survivors etc, there are so many negatives with their methods and practices.
I heard stories of media personalities from all TV stations doing things like bribing Red Cross people for the red arm bands we were wearing so they would have access to restricted areas; stealing CFA uniforms and posing as firefighters so they could get in and get a good story; sneaking past road blocks and finding people who hadn’t left their burnt homes yet and badgering them for a story. If you have a problem with the way the media are covering stories, write in a complaint, stop watching their news channel and stop buying their papers, they need to learn how to display real journalism with integrity not tabloid speculative gossip.
The worst part is the way the media created a swarm of activity, they pounced on people and relief centres from day one. Channel 7’s Sunrise program did the noble thing of setting up camp in Wittlesea and even flew their weather presenter down from Queensland where she was covering the floods (because they don’t matter any more, there’s a better story down the road). Now Mel from Sunrise might put on an emotional show and maybe she was deeply affected by the devastation, but the problem that Dennis Muller raises is that media personalities are not trained for this, they are not counselors or relief workers, and they don’t have the experience to deal with these things.
So they get in peoples faces and share their stories. What we don’t see however is what all the other onlookers see, the media scrum harassing for a story like seagulls running and squawking for a chip as devastated people look on bewildered. When we were there working with the Victorian Council of Churches as chaplains, the media had disappeared and the impression we got from people was that if they came back they wouldn’t be very welcome. Not only did people survive a firestorm but then they had to endure a media storm for a full week. They have no ide the effect they have on people when they all pack up camp at once and leave the people they have exploited behind.
The media circus moves on to the next attention grabbing story. Have they learnt anything? Will they alter their practice? Only time will tell.
Mark
Sadly, most of the time, media speculate, dramatize and use inappropriate emotional lures in order to get your attention, sell a story and make lots of money. While the coverage of events such as the bushfires are essential for raising awareness and support from the community I think this question needs to remain our guiding standard, Do the public really need to know this or is it purely to satisfy curiosity?
This guide may even form how we conduct our face to face conversations out of respect for those who are deeply affected. Not only are methods for sourcing information absolutely appalling but motivations for sharing information need to be checked.
Papers like the Herald Sun are nothing better than a gossip tabloid and even The Australian and The Age have let it slip a little in the frenzy of securing the most excusive story with the most shocking information. The way some have described how and where human remains have been found and who is more important than another in recognizing and name those who perished is deplorable. So far only one paper has published a public apology on their inappropriate coverage of a story. Dennis Muller wrote in to The Australian to complain on behalf of a family he was close to who perished in the fire. The Australian covered a story about them with speculative information and no actual facts. They made the bold move of publishing Dennis’ letter with an apology. Now I reckon that takes guts and integrity to do that so well done The Australian.
While callers rang the ABC during the program and shared their views (some criticizing even ABC’s coverage but most applauding their sensitivity) some were mentioning the TV media and how inappropriate they have been. Then last night I saw one of the things they were complaining about with my own eyes. Channel 10 news had a still picture of a burnt house displayed behind the news reader. As the news reader talked they had these graphics that some brilliant drongo had concocted of computer generated smoke rising from a few areas in the photo. Not only does it look tacky but have they thought about the on going trauma that causes people?
I’m critical about this because I have now spoken with survivors, volunteers and professionals and I have some idea of the effect the media is having on them. And for all of the positives that our coming from coverage with the raising of money for survivors etc, there are so many negatives with their methods and practices.
I heard stories of media personalities from all TV stations doing things like bribing Red Cross people for the red arm bands we were wearing so they would have access to restricted areas; stealing CFA uniforms and posing as firefighters so they could get in and get a good story; sneaking past road blocks and finding people who hadn’t left their burnt homes yet and badgering them for a story. If you have a problem with the way the media are covering stories, write in a complaint, stop watching their news channel and stop buying their papers, they need to learn how to display real journalism with integrity not tabloid speculative gossip.
The worst part is the way the media created a swarm of activity, they pounced on people and relief centres from day one. Channel 7’s Sunrise program did the noble thing of setting up camp in Wittlesea and even flew their weather presenter down from Queensland where she was covering the floods (because they don’t matter any more, there’s a better story down the road). Now Mel from Sunrise might put on an emotional show and maybe she was deeply affected by the devastation, but the problem that Dennis Muller raises is that media personalities are not trained for this, they are not counselors or relief workers, and they don’t have the experience to deal with these things.
So they get in peoples faces and share their stories. What we don’t see however is what all the other onlookers see, the media scrum harassing for a story like seagulls running and squawking for a chip as devastated people look on bewildered. When we were there working with the Victorian Council of Churches as chaplains, the media had disappeared and the impression we got from people was that if they came back they wouldn’t be very welcome. Not only did people survive a firestorm but then they had to endure a media storm for a full week. They have no ide the effect they have on people when they all pack up camp at once and leave the people they have exploited behind.
The media circus moves on to the next attention grabbing story. Have they learnt anything? Will they alter their practice? Only time will tell.
Mark
Postcard from the bushfire zone
This week I am in Melbourne. I was originally here for a meeting and a ministry induction. Since they were 6 days apart I thought I would stick around in Melbourne for a while. That was until the bushfires devastated areas around Melbourne and I felt compelled to help in some way.
I got in touch with Brian Tunks (a friend and former colleague from SA) who was appointed by the Victorian Council of Churches (VCC) to co-ordinate volunteer chaplains to help counsel survivors, other volunteers and professionals working with the bushfire relief effort. I ended up joining a team made up of other ministers and chaplains volunteering their time (Some old friends and colleagues I’ve worked with before). So on Tuesday February 17th a few of us travelled together early in the morning to meet up with Brian and the other chaplains stationed at the relief centre in Yea.
The drive up there was humbling. I couldn’t believe how far south the fire had come, it didn’t take long from the beginning of our drive in Boronia to reach blackened paddocks and the town ofYarra Glen
I got in touch with Brian Tunks (a friend and former colleague from SA) who was appointed by the Victorian Council of Churches (VCC) to co-ordinate volunteer chaplains to help counsel survivors, other volunteers and professionals working with the bushfire relief effort. I ended up joining a team made up of other ministers and chaplains volunteering their time (Some old friends and colleagues I’ve worked with before). So on Tuesday February 17th a few of us travelled together early in the morning to meet up with Brian and the other chaplains stationed at the relief centre in Yea.
The drive up there was humbling. I couldn’t believe how far south the fire had come, it didn’t take long from the beginning of our drive in Boronia to reach blackened paddocks and the town of
Once we had arrived at Yea we signed in, debriefed and were split into two teams. I went with the team appointed to the Alexandra relief centre. While at Alexandra we discovered that on this day even 10 days after the fires first started, people were coming into the relief centre for the first time. They haven’t wanted or being able to leave their fire affected homes until now due to trauma, fear of looting, or fear of not being able to return to their still standing homes because of road blockages due to crime scene investigations and unsafe areas.
Even with my experience as a CFS firefighter and as a chaplain I stood there in the centre still feeling as helpless as I was when I was back in SA. You see people coming in but you don’t want to intrude or impose, yet you know many want to talk. Then all of a sudden I felt something grab my hand. I looked down and saw that a 3 year old had adopted me. He just calmly looked up at me as if he thought I needed looking after. He seemed to be alone and I tried asking him if he had any parents around. He just took me by the hand and started leading me around the centre, giving me the tour. (This was amazing because in our morning briefing when we were talking about our strengths and weaknesses in working with people I said ‘don’t put me with little kids’. It seems there is a divine sense of humor about this situation)
This child eventually led me into where all the people were seeking assistance from DHS, Centrelink, insurance companies and other government departments and this is where my conversations with people started. I felt completely humbled as I met people from Marysville, Buxton and Tagartey who had lost everything and wanted to talk about it. Then I finally got to meet the mother of this child I found out was called James. The mother, Judy rushed into the room in a panic to find James (still holding my hand) and her first reaction was a sigh of relief and she said, ‘thank goodness he’s with you’. ‘What’s going on here?’ I thought. How did I earn any sense of respect or right to even be there? I found out why when I went outside to talk with security guard Jon.
Jon called me over and wanted to chat. He had been on security at the centre for 9 days straight. After a bit of a chat he told me how much respect he had for the VCC chaplains. He said he was a
Jon also told me about what he and others had referred to as ‘cowboys’, well meaning Christians coming to fly their flag with the agenda of promoting their church and evangelizing people. I know it’s sickening, as bad as the media taking advantage of trauma victims. One story that really took the cake was the one about the 2 pastors who drove down from
Even while I was there, there were about 3 different Christian groups who shall remain nameless. All of them wearing their badges, all of them well meaning yet ill prepared, all of them flying their own banner and all of them turned away by security because they pose a hindrance rather than a help. I just felt sad because they potentially damage the relationships that have been built by the VCC with suspicious government organizations and survivors.
It was amazing to find people of such strong spirits there and such positive outlooks on the future. The government departments have done a brilliant job in processing so many people. Our role was to be there for them as well. We were chaplains to the CFA, Police, volunteers, security, survivors, government department personnel, insurance & bank reps, the works and it was a very enriching time for all.
You may realize that I use the word survivor to describe those who have lost. I do this because I came across a note on the notice board among many others which was posted for the people seeking assistance by one of the agencies. It was addressed to the bushfire ‘victims’ and someone had come along and crossed out victim and wrote ‘survivor’ above it. I thought that said a lot about the spirit of the place, it wasn’t full of victims but survivors. It reminded me of the words we posted on our screen during our service last Sunday, ‘helpless not hopeless’, but these people were showing that now 10 days on they were not entirely helpless either.
Myself and another chaplain were sent out on house calls in the afternoon. Amazingly it was one of the government departments that was originally suspicious of the idea of chaplains that sent us out. She had gained a respect and understand for what we do. So we visited people in homes still standing in Tagartey and Buxton (weren’t allowed into Marysville) It was amazing to see one house disintegrated and the other untouched. People embraced us like long lost friends.
We finished our day gathered together at a pub in Yea where we invested our money back into the local economy and enjoyed the company of other volunteer workers around us. On the way home we passed the site where the old Golburn pub used to be on the corner of the turn off to Flowerdale. It was burnt to the ground but that night there was a gathering. All the people that used to gather at the pub for drinks were getting together on this night. A whole bunch of people were pitched in the pub carpark with their beers in the dark enjoying the company they once shared in that old pub.
People all over the affected region are doing rituals just like this, the rituals are important and necessary for continuing the value community and build on their hope for the future together.
This was my day as a VCC chaplain working alongside some great people at the bushfire relief centres in Yea and Alexandra following the Black Saturday bushfires in
Shalom Mark
Friday, February 13, 2009
Responses to the bushfires
I came across a post on Mark Connor's blog which I thought I'd direct you to. Mark is the senior pastor of Citylife Church on Melbourne. Certianly a more diplomatic and insightful response to the comments made by Catching the Fire Ministries. I recomend a read and look at his related posts about how to respond. Thanks Mark
Shalom
Mark
Shalom
Mark
Thursday, February 12, 2009
God is not angry!
I was talking with a colleague yesterday and reflecting that I have been sitting on this post for a couple of days now because I wanted to be as diplomatic and concise as possible in responding to some of the actions and speeches in relation to the bushfire's in Victoria. I nearly titled my post 'STOP IT!' which about sums up my cry as thoughtless and insensitive people do and say stupid things in the wake of the greatest natural tragedy on Australian soil. So I'll do my best.
Having said that I am so comforted and encouraged by the thousands upon thousands of people making so many sacrifices to help, donate, sit with, talk to, comfort and encourage the victims of the fires. Being a former CFS member myself I am still astounded at the amount of volunteers who would give up so much of their time day and night, to put their lives on the line in the hope of saving others.
But back to the title of this blog. I was appalled to come across the article in The Age that reflected on Pastor Danny's words as he presumes to speak on behalf of God, "'My wrath is about to be released upon Australia, in particular Victoria, for approving the slaughter of the innocent children in the womb,now call on My people to repent and pray". Yes thoughtless and insensitive is my thought too. Pastor Danny from Catching the Fire Ministries, probably thinks he's doing a noble thing...I don't know, how do you get into the mind of a heartless comment like that. I went to the CFM website to see they have the full prophecy and response displayed on their front news page. I can't stomach it enough to actually post the link here. But they actually have the audacity to write in the first couple of paragraphs about the resources they're gathering to contribute to the relief effort, then they go on to explain that Victorians have brought this tragedy on themselves and that this is God's wrath, then they finish by saying, 'May God bless Australia with His rains of mercy.' So which is it Danny, is God condemning Australia or blessing Australia? GOD IS NOT ANGRY! I refrained from posting a comment on their site but I felt like saying, 'don't be surprised if the victims of the fires throw your donations back in your face.'
I can't even begin to imagine the damage this does to the great work christian organizations like the Salvation Army are trying to achieve through the grace and love of God. Yes that's the kind of God I know, gracious and loving, any kind of reflection that God is vindictive and vengeful is a very poor theology and insensitive. Stop it!
There are dozens and dozens of churches and christian denominations that have pulled together for the greater good in order to provide unified support for the tragedy that is still unfolding. This is God's intention and how God's mercy, love and grace is being expressed, through the common unity and love that Christians normally divided by difference of opinion can work together to express the love of the one true God who only wants to love us and be in relationship with us, not vindicate and destroy us. I feel like I need to apologize for those rouge insensitive theologies that do not represent the majority.
(I know I do not speak for everyone, these are my thoughts and opinions because this is my blog and I do not pretend to represent anyone other than myself. I say this because I know friends of mine who I love will take up issue with some of the things I am saying here. Happy to chat if you want).
I understand that some people have more literal views and alternative interpretations of the biblical texts and well, that might be a whole other conversation. I am normally very tolerant of theological difference and textual interpretation and often sit at tables in cafes over coffee with various colleagues and friends entering into respectful debate and dialogue over such issues. But I guess you've realized by now that Danny's comments have disturbed me . They are divisive and hurtful in an already divided and hurting context. This is not God's doing or a result of God's favour being lifted from Australia. this is the result of some twisted human act in using free choice to light a match and watch things burn. It's disgusting and we can't imagine why someone would do such a thing. Any God who would actively or deliberately allow such a thing, I really want nothing to do with. As my Old testament lecture would say 'God suffers with the suffering people'.
It's time now for the people of God to work together and show the world what God really looks like in response to a devastated people. A God who comforts the afflicted, brings hope to those who mourn, brings release to the oppressed, and proclaims Good News (funny that sounds a lot like the Jesus of the Gospels I read about).
As a footnote to all of this I'm still trying to reconcile other unbelievable news I am hearing in relation to the fires. I cannot comprehend the thought of looters going into devastated areas and helping themselves to other peoples' property. It's stealing! STOP IT! Have a heart.
And to some of my friends who have been cynical of the news coverage and the stories being aired. Stop it! Give it a break guys and let the nation grieve in the best way they know how. Yes you'll miss some of your precious programs on TV while many victims miss their precious loved ones they'll never see again. We all feel the need to identify with those who have lost, and we need the stories of hope. I know what it's like to fight large and devastating fires and stand helplessly 100 metres away from the 100+ foot flames of an out of control inferno with your heart in you mouth and your fellow crew members scrambling to do what they can. Holding the fire hose and pointing it in the general direction as it pales to insignificance, the radiant heat burns your face and you realize the limits we have to control such a monster. I know what it's like to be evacuated from a home while flames enter your property threatening to take everything (my family and I were fortunate).
As a gathered nation we mourn the tragic loss of life and the devastation of communities and we look to a God of comfort and hope as we imagine what kind of future could possibly lie ahead as come consider the possibility of rebuilding their lives.
Our gathering of churches here in the Adelaide hills where i am in ministry remember all too well what Ash Wednesday was like 26 years ago. Each church here (including the one with which I am in ministry) is responding in various ways. find out how at www.mhicc.wordpress.com
Give blood www.donateblood.com.au
Think about volunteering with a work party www.govolunteer.org.au They'll need help with the clean up in the second half of the year
We'll be posting updates on our site as to how we are responding at www.blackwoodcc.org.au
And of course give money www.redcross.org.au
Shalom
Mark
Having said that I am so comforted and encouraged by the thousands upon thousands of people making so many sacrifices to help, donate, sit with, talk to, comfort and encourage the victims of the fires. Being a former CFS member myself I am still astounded at the amount of volunteers who would give up so much of their time day and night, to put their lives on the line in the hope of saving others.
But back to the title of this blog. I was appalled to come across the article in The Age that reflected on Pastor Danny's words as he presumes to speak on behalf of God, "'My wrath is about to be released upon Australia, in particular Victoria, for approving the slaughter of the innocent children in the womb,now call on My people to repent and pray". Yes thoughtless and insensitive is my thought too. Pastor Danny from Catching the Fire Ministries, probably thinks he's doing a noble thing...I don't know, how do you get into the mind of a heartless comment like that. I went to the CFM website to see they have the full prophecy and response displayed on their front news page. I can't stomach it enough to actually post the link here. But they actually have the audacity to write in the first couple of paragraphs about the resources they're gathering to contribute to the relief effort, then they go on to explain that Victorians have brought this tragedy on themselves and that this is God's wrath, then they finish by saying, 'May God bless Australia with His rains of mercy.' So which is it Danny, is God condemning Australia or blessing Australia? GOD IS NOT ANGRY! I refrained from posting a comment on their site but I felt like saying, 'don't be surprised if the victims of the fires throw your donations back in your face.'
I can't even begin to imagine the damage this does to the great work christian organizations like the Salvation Army are trying to achieve through the grace and love of God. Yes that's the kind of God I know, gracious and loving, any kind of reflection that God is vindictive and vengeful is a very poor theology and insensitive. Stop it!
There are dozens and dozens of churches and christian denominations that have pulled together for the greater good in order to provide unified support for the tragedy that is still unfolding. This is God's intention and how God's mercy, love and grace is being expressed, through the common unity and love that Christians normally divided by difference of opinion can work together to express the love of the one true God who only wants to love us and be in relationship with us, not vindicate and destroy us. I feel like I need to apologize for those rouge insensitive theologies that do not represent the majority.
(I know I do not speak for everyone, these are my thoughts and opinions because this is my blog and I do not pretend to represent anyone other than myself. I say this because I know friends of mine who I love will take up issue with some of the things I am saying here. Happy to chat if you want).
I understand that some people have more literal views and alternative interpretations of the biblical texts and well, that might be a whole other conversation. I am normally very tolerant of theological difference and textual interpretation and often sit at tables in cafes over coffee with various colleagues and friends entering into respectful debate and dialogue over such issues. But I guess you've realized by now that Danny's comments have disturbed me . They are divisive and hurtful in an already divided and hurting context. This is not God's doing or a result of God's favour being lifted from Australia. this is the result of some twisted human act in using free choice to light a match and watch things burn. It's disgusting and we can't imagine why someone would do such a thing. Any God who would actively or deliberately allow such a thing, I really want nothing to do with. As my Old testament lecture would say 'God suffers with the suffering people'.
It's time now for the people of God to work together and show the world what God really looks like in response to a devastated people. A God who comforts the afflicted, brings hope to those who mourn, brings release to the oppressed, and proclaims Good News (funny that sounds a lot like the Jesus of the Gospels I read about).
As a footnote to all of this I'm still trying to reconcile other unbelievable news I am hearing in relation to the fires. I cannot comprehend the thought of looters going into devastated areas and helping themselves to other peoples' property. It's stealing! STOP IT! Have a heart.
And to some of my friends who have been cynical of the news coverage and the stories being aired. Stop it! Give it a break guys and let the nation grieve in the best way they know how. Yes you'll miss some of your precious programs on TV while many victims miss their precious loved ones they'll never see again. We all feel the need to identify with those who have lost, and we need the stories of hope. I know what it's like to fight large and devastating fires and stand helplessly 100 metres away from the 100+ foot flames of an out of control inferno with your heart in you mouth and your fellow crew members scrambling to do what they can. Holding the fire hose and pointing it in the general direction as it pales to insignificance, the radiant heat burns your face and you realize the limits we have to control such a monster. I know what it's like to be evacuated from a home while flames enter your property threatening to take everything (my family and I were fortunate).
As a gathered nation we mourn the tragic loss of life and the devastation of communities and we look to a God of comfort and hope as we imagine what kind of future could possibly lie ahead as come consider the possibility of rebuilding their lives.
Our gathering of churches here in the Adelaide hills where i am in ministry remember all too well what Ash Wednesday was like 26 years ago. Each church here (including the one with which I am in ministry) is responding in various ways. find out how at www.mhicc.wordpress.com
Give blood www.donateblood.com.au
Think about volunteering with a work party www.govolunteer.org.au They'll need help with the clean up in the second half of the year
We'll be posting updates on our site as to how we are responding at www.blackwoodcc.org.au
And of course give money www.redcross.org.au
Shalom
Mark
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Are we in control?
Did you know that more than two thirds of the world population live under impoverished conditions? Yet we still refer to them as the third world rather than the 2 thirds world. Impoverished means they suffer from a lack of access to meeting basic needs. Lack of basic health care (malnutrition, dehydration, death from common curable diseases), insufficient supply of clean drinking water, lack of education, lack of community sustainability and housing due to civil war, genocide and climate...and that's not even scratching the surface.
By 2015, the year the UN have committed to halving the effect of contributing factors to world poverty, it is predicted that about three quarters of the wold population will suffer from lack of sustainable living and about a quarter of the world population will live in urban slums.
Statistics are disturbing, but maybe they are not disturbing us enough. I just came across a website with an 'Earth Clock' on it. Check it out. It's scary to see all those numbers changing so rapidly. I don't know how they do it but it calculates population growth in real time. It also calculates incidents of malnutrition, HIV/aids and cancer. You can see how many species have become and are becoming extinct, deforestation and desertification statistics and more. You can look at an annual view to what the stats say for a single day. You can even click on 'NOW' and watch the numbers run and see what happens within one minute.
Now here's the part I find most disturbing. I clicked on a link that predicts population growth for as far into the future as you want to look. it starts at 10 years and you can see we've added another billion people to our population. Then if you click on the up down arrows you can go into the future one year at a time to see how huge our population is really predicted to grow. I was curious so I did. I was heading up to 50 years from now and noticed the population growth rate slowing significantly, then at the 50 year mark it peaks at nearly 8.8 billion people. The next part isn't so exciting as from then on the population begins to shrink. So if this prediction is correct we will see a negative population growth rate within our lifetime, well before the turn of the century.
In 300 years time the entire world population size is predicted to shrink to the population size of New South Wales and in 330 years time the size of South Australia's current population. In 500 years from now there will be one person left on earth. That person will last 7 years then gone. Interesting conspiracy theory? Is there maybe some element of truth to population decline and if so what is the cause? The rapture? Is Christ coming back again in 50 years and then begin to cart us off in groups over the next 450 years? What does that say about the poor one left behind? Are we going to finally tip nature over the edge with our relentless unapologetic consumption of our resources?
We don't know what the future looks like, we can predict it and we can't control it. But we can learn a few things from our past. Our history tells a story we can learn from and learning is pointless if we don;t change. So you tell me, what does our future look like?
Shalom Mark
By 2015, the year the UN have committed to halving the effect of contributing factors to world poverty, it is predicted that about three quarters of the wold population will suffer from lack of sustainable living and about a quarter of the world population will live in urban slums.
Statistics are disturbing, but maybe they are not disturbing us enough. I just came across a website with an 'Earth Clock' on it. Check it out. It's scary to see all those numbers changing so rapidly. I don't know how they do it but it calculates population growth in real time. It also calculates incidents of malnutrition, HIV/aids and cancer. You can see how many species have become and are becoming extinct, deforestation and desertification statistics and more. You can look at an annual view to what the stats say for a single day. You can even click on 'NOW' and watch the numbers run and see what happens within one minute.
Now here's the part I find most disturbing. I clicked on a link that predicts population growth for as far into the future as you want to look. it starts at 10 years and you can see we've added another billion people to our population. Then if you click on the up down arrows you can go into the future one year at a time to see how huge our population is really predicted to grow. I was curious so I did. I was heading up to 50 years from now and noticed the population growth rate slowing significantly, then at the 50 year mark it peaks at nearly 8.8 billion people. The next part isn't so exciting as from then on the population begins to shrink. So if this prediction is correct we will see a negative population growth rate within our lifetime, well before the turn of the century.
In 300 years time the entire world population size is predicted to shrink to the population size of New South Wales and in 330 years time the size of South Australia's current population. In 500 years from now there will be one person left on earth. That person will last 7 years then gone. Interesting conspiracy theory? Is there maybe some element of truth to population decline and if so what is the cause? The rapture? Is Christ coming back again in 50 years and then begin to cart us off in groups over the next 450 years? What does that say about the poor one left behind? Are we going to finally tip nature over the edge with our relentless unapologetic consumption of our resources?
We don't know what the future looks like, we can predict it and we can't control it. But we can learn a few things from our past. Our history tells a story we can learn from and learning is pointless if we don;t change. So you tell me, what does our future look like?
Shalom Mark
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Hot, hot, hot!
We are beginning the fourth day of an unforgiving heatwave here in Adelaide, South Australia and we can't yet see an end in sight. It all began on Australia Day with a top temperature recorded at 35.9 degrees Cecilius. The next day, Tuesday January 27th 2009 the bureau of meteorology (BOM) recorded 30 degrees at around 8:45am and as I type more than 48hours later, we are yet to see the thermometer dip below 30.
The top for Tuesday 27th was officially 42 according to the BOM and yesterday the 28th was our 3rd highest on record, the hottest day in 70 years, 45.7 degrees Celcius. That just seems absurd until we endured the worst sleepless night on record last night. The lowest temperature recorded before sunrise over night was 34.1! Just after midnight! It was already back up to 36.7 by 4:30am!
So my question on this fourth day of the heat wave and 3rd day of temperatures above 40 (it's already 39 degrees at 10:30am) is, will we break a record today? Will the temperature topple 46 degrees? This time yesterday it was 40.7 so not far behind.
We thought last year was bad when in March we recorded 15 days in a row over 35 degrees with 4 of those over 40. However the outlook for this week looks worse. We still have another 3 days of predicted 40 degree heat after this one but the 7 day outlook only has the temperature dropping to 38 by this time next week.
So here's my next question, one that still divides many. Have we as consumers and polluters of this planet caused such extremes? Can we as responsible citizens of this world do anything to reverse it or endure it but help it slow and recover?
My own personal answer is yes and yes. However I still don't think we have the collective will to really do anything real just yet. The Premiere of our state caused an outrage a couple of days ago when he suggested that we use air-conditioning sparingly. I actually agree, however I do understand the young, the old and the sick take priority. My wife and I haven't turned ours on for heating or cooling for 4 months until 2 days ago. It's not about saving money for us it really is about being mindful of our impact on the environment. But we had to fold and turn it on because our animals could not survive in the heat in our backyard which currently has little shade and our house was up to 40 degrees inside. (We moved the cat and the rabbits into the coolest part of the house, however my fish tank reads 34 degrees and the heater is unplugged! I'm dropping massive iceblocks into my fish pond and fish tank twice a day to keep the fish from boiling)
So what can we do to find alternatives? I struggled to bring myself to use the air-conditioning here at the office because our units are old and energy suckers. I moved my office down to a local cafe in a shopping centre yesterday and enjoyed the air down there. I'm about to move back down there this afternoon. Last evening when we arrived home we put the fan on for the animals inside then went to a neighbours to cool in the pool instead of sitting in air-conditioning at home. This evening we're going to another neighbours place to sit in their pool. Mind you the pool temperatures are between 30 and 35 degrees. It's weird!
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts that we will have more of these heatwaves more often in the near future. I even had a friend tell me there is a prediction of a 50 degree day here in Adelaide in the next couple of months (I hope not!). So how many more heatwaves will it take for us to change our ways? We need to reserve our energy for those who need it most (elderly, young and sick) and those who are able need to think twice before switching on the luxuries we take for granted.
Save the planet! Is that a corny cliche or do we need to actually take that statement seriously now?
Shalom Mark
The top for Tuesday 27th was officially 42 according to the BOM and yesterday the 28th was our 3rd highest on record, the hottest day in 70 years, 45.7 degrees Celcius. That just seems absurd until we endured the worst sleepless night on record last night. The lowest temperature recorded before sunrise over night was 34.1! Just after midnight! It was already back up to 36.7 by 4:30am!
So my question on this fourth day of the heat wave and 3rd day of temperatures above 40 (it's already 39 degrees at 10:30am) is, will we break a record today? Will the temperature topple 46 degrees? This time yesterday it was 40.7 so not far behind.
We thought last year was bad when in March we recorded 15 days in a row over 35 degrees with 4 of those over 40. However the outlook for this week looks worse. We still have another 3 days of predicted 40 degree heat after this one but the 7 day outlook only has the temperature dropping to 38 by this time next week.
So here's my next question, one that still divides many. Have we as consumers and polluters of this planet caused such extremes? Can we as responsible citizens of this world do anything to reverse it or endure it but help it slow and recover?
My own personal answer is yes and yes. However I still don't think we have the collective will to really do anything real just yet. The Premiere of our state caused an outrage a couple of days ago when he suggested that we use air-conditioning sparingly. I actually agree, however I do understand the young, the old and the sick take priority. My wife and I haven't turned ours on for heating or cooling for 4 months until 2 days ago. It's not about saving money for us it really is about being mindful of our impact on the environment. But we had to fold and turn it on because our animals could not survive in the heat in our backyard which currently has little shade and our house was up to 40 degrees inside. (We moved the cat and the rabbits into the coolest part of the house, however my fish tank reads 34 degrees and the heater is unplugged! I'm dropping massive iceblocks into my fish pond and fish tank twice a day to keep the fish from boiling)
So what can we do to find alternatives? I struggled to bring myself to use the air-conditioning here at the office because our units are old and energy suckers. I moved my office down to a local cafe in a shopping centre yesterday and enjoyed the air down there. I'm about to move back down there this afternoon. Last evening when we arrived home we put the fan on for the animals inside then went to a neighbours to cool in the pool instead of sitting in air-conditioning at home. This evening we're going to another neighbours place to sit in their pool. Mind you the pool temperatures are between 30 and 35 degrees. It's weird!
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts that we will have more of these heatwaves more often in the near future. I even had a friend tell me there is a prediction of a 50 degree day here in Adelaide in the next couple of months (I hope not!). So how many more heatwaves will it take for us to change our ways? We need to reserve our energy for those who need it most (elderly, young and sick) and those who are able need to think twice before switching on the luxuries we take for granted.
Save the planet! Is that a corny cliche or do we need to actually take that statement seriously now?
Shalom Mark
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Friends in Israel
Just thought I'd direct you to a blog I just discovered in case you're interested in another perspective on what's happening in Israel at the moment. A bunch of my friends are part of a work party in northern Israel at one of Elias Chacour's schools.
Their blog is http://nazwparty2009.wordpress.com
I enourage you to check it out and leave a comment for the team.
Shalom
Mark
Their blog is http://nazwparty2009.wordpress.com
I enourage you to check it out and leave a comment for the team.
Shalom
Mark
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