Sunday, December 03, 2006
on the jet plane
I flight up to Auckland in a few hours to do a live radio slot. Feel free to drop in and listen.
Then up early on Monday to fly to Sydney for a 3 day conference: Faith in a hyphen, exploring one of the key issues facing Christian faith and contemporary society, that of how to respond to issues of cultural and religious diversity.
I am delivering a paper Faithful Other or Guilty Other?, exploring themes of migration in relation to Jacob’s journey in Genesis 28:10-18. I am trying to read the Bible from a post-colonial perspective, using a range of literature, including the diaries of Captain Cook and Te Horeta (Maori who observed Cook’s arrival). If you’re interested you can read it here.
Hoping to catch up with Matthew Stone also. Back home late Wednesday nite, when I play host to Al Roxburgh and Andrew Menzies, as we begin to discuss the Allelon Mission to Western Culture Project and how it might shape up in Australasia.
It promises to be a stimulating week. I am praying this prayer, our Benediction for the 4 weeks of Advent at Opawa.
God,
please find me faithful in helping others
to celebrate the birth of your Son this Christmas,
Amen
)
Sounds like a very stimulating week. Hope it delivers on your expections and aspirations. Take care.
Comment by Paul Fromont — December 4, 2006 @ 6:26 am
Thinking about Christmas, I came accross my post on the alternative blue Christmas the other day when reading your site which I always find very thought provoking. Are you going to do the service this year as it is such a good idea?
I have come along way since I wrote my post, and though this is my first Christmas without my own home, I am upbeat, happy, and living life to the full.
Life has had its difficulties in the last 20 months and these still continue, but I am learning to live with them knowing that anger, bitterness, and malice destroy only the vessel they live in.
My eldest daughter was wise beyond her years when she said that what matters most is that we love each other and are together, we must show compassion and forgiveness for each other especially as Christians and at Christmas a time to love and cherish those dear to us, think of the people we hurt when we are cruel, especially young children. Life is too short to live it with regrets over your past.
One thing has not changed I remain completely honest and steadfast in my desire to do the right thing even if it means I am unpopular, or abused for doing so. This year I have had the courage to stand against two systems in the face of hefty opposition and challenge those who are supposed to uphold justice that have encouraged dishonesty in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. It is imperative that the truth never has a cost put on it and those that have positions of trust act with impeccable moral and ethical responsibility and confront dishonesty, and I will keep fighting for that in 2007 for the sake of my children who need protection for their future which has been so hugely altered.
Church has been a haven of peace and love, and I have a complete belief that God will not fail me.
I just want to encourage all those estranged from their families, or who have lost family, or who are suffering and lonely this Christmas to hang in there things will get better.
On the local Baptist Church recently was this good message.
” God promises a safe landing and not a smooth passage “.
Good luck with Opawa Christmas celebrations, and safe travelling.
Comment by Paula Weir — December 4, 2006 @ 11:19 am
got to say that im pretty peeved at myself for not paying attention to the conference and realising you were speaking. had i known i would have attended, if only for a day.
Comment by darren — December 4, 2006 @ 6:00 pm