So how about the head of ASIO saying that one of our former politicians was a foreign government asset? It was one of those announcements, in an otherwise routine speech that landed like a dead possum onto a picnic table – it had to be disposed of, but even when it’s gone its presence at all still puts you off your meal.
This week I attended the funeral of Joe Mullins. Joe died old and full of years (103 of them). He and his wife Edith (who died in 2009) had six children, and what seems to me like a bajillion grand-children and great grand-children.
1. I’m struck as I read the New Testament just how much of it is concerned with finding unity across distance.
Be it cultural distance (Jewish and non-Jewish Christians); confidence to live as a distinctive Christian minority who, nevertheless, are intelligible to the cultures around them (the so-called “stronger” and “weaker” Christians); and, of course, the mountains of passages about how to handle conflict, disagreement and sin.
A surprising thought rings out through these texts – unity within the body of Christ is deeply precious, it is worth contending for and is more important than being right. This thought is easier or harder to believe based on what’s going on around us.
Every now and again a crisis hits us that forces us to ask, “do I really believe the gospel and, if so, what does it mean for how I live?” As I’ve talked with my friends across South-East Asia over the last couple of weeks it’s hard not to see the Corona virus as one of those. I want to offer some 500-year-old wisdom for how to get through the next few weeks.
People get very touchy when you question their TV choices. Watching TV is so closely associated with rest after a difficult day for many Australians, so suggesting that there might be a bee in that particular lemonade can will either lead to resistance (e.g. “what I watch doesn’t affect me”), or will be politely ignored.
This Christmas the young people of Renew Anglican Church performed a pageant called Born is the king. If you’re interested in performing the play at your church you can purchase the script, including information for costumes and staging here.
Mary gets news she will give birth to the forever king!
Mary has a chat with Joseph about their new ‘situation’.
An accurate retelling of Mary & Joseph’s long hike to Bethlehem - possibly with out the pizza.
Struggling to find a room with a view in Bethlehem after Joseph forgets to book ahead.
The three wise men see a star in the night sky and choose to follow it.
A procession of wise men, shepherds and their sheep all follow the star to find the forever king.
Hallelujah! Our forever King, Jesus the Christ, has come to earth today.
Well done to everyone involved in bringing Born is the King to life on the Renew stage!
Every one say ‘Baaaaa’!
Friends, can we have a chat about Santa?
This year Myer launched its Naughty or Nice bauble. If you’ve not heard of it have a look at the video below. It connects via Bluetooth to a parent’s phone and they can change the bauble’s colour (green or red) based on their children’s goodness or badness in the moment. It’s a behaviour modification tool. A way of dangling the possibility of no presents from Santa in order to get the Duplo picked up and the tantrums to cease.
This is why I’m not a huge fan of Santa. Santa is the god we invent for ourselves. He’s just like, well, every other god invented in history. Allah, Zeus, Vishnu, Baal – they all see you when you’re sleeping and know when you’re awake. They all wait for us to glow green before they dispense any kindness to us.
But when Jesus entered the womb of a woman, he turned that story completely upside down. His kindness is for those whose blinky baubles are only ever red. And he doesn’t just load us up with stuff and disappear. He comes as Emmanuel, God with us. He is the gift and the giver.
Now this is, of course, no judgement on you if your family does/has done the Santa thing. But some might suggest that what I’m calling for is a de-fantasised Christmas. I disagree. God most high has become God our brother. Phenomenal cosmic powers in an eeny peeny living space. The long-hoped for Prince has come. He slayed our dragon to rescue us and redeem the land and through his sacrifice death had started working backwards. That sounds pretty fantastic to me.
grace and peace,
Steve
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