Reflections from the belly
Christ is a priest in the order of an Indigenous creator-ancestor. Truth-telling and implications, as shared with Rosanna Baptist Church on 26 January.
On 26 January 1788, the First Fleet landed in Sydney Cove. There, Captain Arthur Phillip raised the Union Jack and claimed half the continent for his king. It marked the beginning of the disruption, dispossession and colonisation of over 300 nations, and a devastating loss of life.
Continue reading “Genesis | Bunjil & the order of Melchizedek”
‘What must I do to inherit eternal life?’ the young man asked in Matthew 19. These days, you might hear it phrased as, ‘How do I get into heaven?’ The answers come cascading down. Believe this, live that way, and don’t, whatever you do, act gay. But what was Jesus’ reply? Keep the commandments, more specifically reject murder, rape, theft and lies. Honour elders. Love your neighbours in this world now … Read here.
A reflection on the closure of the School of Indigenous Studies and, by implication, the church in this land more generally, written for Zadok Perspectives one year on from the referendum and featured on the Ethos blog. Image shows graffiti of Aboriginal flag at Camperdown Memorial Rest Park at Wiki Commons. Graffiti artist unknown.
An invitation to connect with the earth. (Listen here).
Down by the river, on a gentle bend, there is a quiet spot. You can rest there awhile and listen to the water rippling. If you turn your gaze to the sky, you will see branches. They corkscrew around, twisting and turning, bending and bowing in response to each other so that every leaf on every branch has its own space. No tree is crowding another, for they are crown-shy.
Continue reading “Genesis | Abraham and the teacher trees”
A reflection inspired by Psalm 19, shared with Flemington Ark People’s Pantry on 15 September 2024. Listen here. Links to further resources below.
There’s an ancient story, the oldest in the world, which many people know. It’s often associated with the people of the desert: the Martu, the Anangu, the Pitjantjatjara, the Yankunytjatjara and Ngaanyatjarra peoples, but others know it, too. It’s a long story, with dozens of different versions and a thousand twists and turns. The characters go by different names in different places, as does the story itself: but sometimes it’s called Kungkarangkalpa: the Seven Sisters. And, very, very, very, very briefly, one version goes like this: Continue reading “Psalms | The Seven Sisters”
As followers of Jesus, we must always interpret scripture through his lens. A response to God’s Big Picture by Vaughan Roberts, given to West Preston Baptist Church on 12 May 2024. You can also watch it here.
So I was out walking with my fifteen-year-old one dark night, when this guy got out of a car parked in the shadows and made a beeline for us. Naturally I thought, ‘A weirdo, oh help!’ Then a voice said, ‘Ali? Ali, is that you?’ and I realised it was your minister.
Continue reading “God’s bigger picture or, How to read your Bible”
Happiness is fleeting and contextual. But even in the depths of anguish, we can know joy. (Listen.)
‘It might seem crazy what I’m ‘bout to say …’: but sometimes when the sun is shining and the birds are singing and the house is cleanish and the garden’s flourishing and everyone’s cheerful and I have a bit of money in my pocket, I dance around the kitchen to Pharrell Williams’s smash hit, Happy. Continue reading “Philippians | In the depths of anguish, joy”
Because I have googled.
Because it is simply recognition,
and an advisory body on Indigenous issues.
Nothing sinister, no veto powers.
It’s legislatively arranged, thus democratic.
Adaptive. Evolving. Pragmatic. Continue reading “yes I said yes I will Yes.”
In a world racked by climate change, we need the wisdom of custodians. (Listen.)
This week, following the hottest, driest September on record, out-of-control bushfires have been raging in Victoria. Fires are also burning in New South Wales and Tasmania. Regions of New South Wales have been declared an extreme fire danger zone; and some regions of Victoria which were burning this week were flooded the very next day. Continue reading “Matthew | Called to be custodians”
In his encounter with the Canaanite woman, Jesus repeats then repents of Joshua’s policy of no mercy. (Listen.)
Good to know: Jesus’ name is the English rendition of the Greek version of a Hebrew name which in English is rendered Joshua! Yeshua – Iesous – Jesus – Joshua: they’re all the same name.
‘I’m from one of the oldest families,’ he said. ‘We’ve been here since the beginning.’ And with that he effectively erased 60,000 years of continuous living culture, just as his Irish ancestors had tried to erase the people from the land. He’s a lovely guy, straightforward and well-meaning, and totally oblivious to what he had just done. Continue reading “Matthew | Redeeming Joshua”
The following is an homage to Targum, that is, a translation of scripture interspersed with additional material and commentary. Just as the Apostle Paul quotes and reinterprets scripture for a new context, this reading of Romans 8 quotes and reinterprets his words for our context, during the hottest month on record. (Listen.)
5Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh
Indeed, they set their minds on fulfilling their own desires, whatever the cost. They treat all people, indeed all creation, as a resource to be extracted, exploited, sucked dry. Continue reading “Romans | While Rhodes burns”
Alison and the whale 
