Tag: faith

Luke | Increase our faith!

How much faith is enough? (Listen here.)

Once upon a time, John D. Rockefeller was the richest man in the world. At the peak of his wealth, he was asked by a reporter, ‘How much money is enough?’ To this he famously replied, ‘Just a little bit more!’ If only I had a bit more money, says the rich man, then I’d relax. I’d be able to slow down and take a break. I’d spend more time with my family, explore my creativity, follow my deeper calling, be more generous, give more away. Whatever. But first, I just need that little bit more. You want something from me? I’ll get back to you in a year or three. I’ll be ready then.

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Luke | All things new

Resurrection life is elusive and disruptive—and changes everything. (Listen here.)

Christ is risen! Alleluia! And have a chocolate egg. For weeks, we’ve being seeing displays of cute little bunnies, colourful eggs and images of a European spring. After a long hard winter, when all has been dark and dormant, it’s time to celebrate the resurrection. For the goddess Eostre has returned to the earth once more, bringing with her the dawn, the light, and the new life. And she is why the days are lengthening, the bunnies are hopping, the eggs are hatching and we’re all gathered here today. Alleluia! It’s Easter! Praise Eostre!

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John | The relational god

Life in the gospel according to John: what is it? Here’s my take for a second-gen Vietnamese-Australian congregation living in a secular age. (Watch on YouTube here.)

You’ve all seen them. Maybe there’s one in a house you know, or maybe at a place you like to eat pho. Maybe it’s on a shop counter, or in the corner of an office. Wherever it is, it’s a little shrine. What’s on it can vary. Sometimes it’s oranges, but at Tet, or the lunar New Year, it’s the five fruits. Usually there’s incense, often jasmine tea. There may be flowers, even an oil lamp. Perhaps a Buddha or a crucifix. And, of course, there’s the photographs of ancestors who are being remembered and honoured at these altars.

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Someone like me

So I got to write about all my favourite things — the Word, words, my old mate Jonah, faith, the church and more — in an awesome anthology, Someone Like Me. In this collection of essays by autistic writers, you’ll meet two dozen fantastic contributors including Clem Bastow, Jo Case, Fiona Wright and Jess Ho. Through our combined voices we explode white male stereotypes about autism, disrupt clinical and deficit models, and share personal stories. Maybe you’ll recognise someone you love in these pages, maybe you’ll recognise yourself, or maybe you’ll grow in empathy and understanding for the people around you. Whatever, get yourself a copy!

In bookshops from 4 March, or preorder from your favourite local bookstore now.

Luke | In the midst of life

A reflection on baptism, shared with Coburg Uniting Church. (Listen to a really terrible recording here.)

I am a Baptist, which means I have a hearty appreciation for believers baptism. So hearty, that I was 25 before I felt remotely ready to take the plunge. Given many of you were christened as infants and confirmed as tweens, I’d feel slightly embarrassed telling you how old I was, except that Jesus was thought to be about 30 when he turned up on the banks of the Jordan.

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UQP autism anthology

I’m delighted to announce that The word made flesh, a reflection I wrote on faith and autism, has been accepted for publication in an upcoming anthology by UQP. The as-yet-untitled anthology aims to disrupt clinical approaches to autism by showcasing a diversity of perspectives on the neurotype, and I’ll be rubbing shoulders with a range of awesome contributors including Clem Bastow, Jo Case, Fiona Wright and Jess Ho.

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Mark | Blind faith

Rejected by the worshipping community, blind Bartimaeus is commended for his faith. A reflection given to the delightful Rosanna Baptist Church on 17 March 2024. You can listen to a (very tinny) recording of it here.

He was slumped outside the city gate, because he wasn’t allowed to enter. Once, he had been on the inside, but not any more. Maybe he asked too many questions. Maybe he struggled to make nice. Maybe people felt uncomfortable around his disability, or his kid’s. Or maybe people’s reactions to his sexuality or gender had pushed him out.

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Psalms | Writing a psalm of thanksgiving

God’s steadfast love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1b)

When a church closes, there is much to grieve yet also much to celebrate. It is usual for some of this to be done in a formal way at the final service, through two or three people chosen to tell that community’s story. Typically, they would be minister and deacons, but of course this preferences a particular type of person and power. However, I think it would be more appropriate to make space for many different voices. Continue reading “Psalms | Writing a psalm of thanksgiving” →

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