When you feel all alone

And the world has turned its back on you

Give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart

I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you

It’s hard to find relief and people can be so cold

When darkness is upon your door and you feel like you can’t take anymore

Let me be the one you call

If you jump I’ll break your fall

Lift you up and fly away with you into the night

If you need to fall apart

I can mend a broken heart

If you need to crash then crash and burn

You’re not alone

When you feel all alone

And a loyal friend is hard to find

You’re caught in a one way street

With the monsters in your head

When hopes and dreams are far away and

You feel like you can’t face the day

Let me be the one you call

If you jump I’ll break your fall

Lift you up and fly away with you into the night

If you need to fall apart

I can mend a broken heart

If you need to crash then crash and burn

You’re not alone

‘Cause there has always been heartache and pain

And when it’s over you’ll breathe again

You’ll breath again

When you feel all alone

And the world has turned its back on you

Give me a moment please

To tame your wild wild heart

Let me be the one you call

If you jump I’ll break your fall

Lift you up and fly away with you into the night

If you need to fall apart

I can mend a broken heart

If you need to crash then crash and burn

You’re not alone

I only wish I could mend a broken heart, Brian.

The following letter appeared in the letters to the editor section of August 2010′s The Melbourne Anglican.

Although Jesus said, “Whoever comes to me, I will not cast out”, he also said: “Sin no more.”

The Bible says: we must repent, that Jesus alone saves, and that those who indulge in sexual sin or who worship idols or commit adultery or are male prostitutes or practise homosexuality or are thieves or greedy people or drunkards or are abusive or cheat people – none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God – and that some of us were once like that. It doesn’t say: “Christians may continue sinning.”

If the church accepts practicing homosexuals as members or ministers, it discounts the Bible. Yet the June and July issues of TMA seem to endorse that discount, and disallow Adam and Eve as history. And yes, Adam and Eve are relevant here. Let atheist Frank Zindler explain:

“Now that we know that Adam and Eve never were real people the central myth of Christianity is destroyed. If there never was an Adam and Eve there never was an original sin. If there never was an original sin there is no need of salvation. If there is no need of salvation there is no need of a saviour. And I submit that puts Jesus, historical or otherwise, into the ranks of the unemployed. I think that evolution is absolutely the death knell of Christianity.”

The current TMA Faith/Science Interface series tends to accept Zindler’s starting assumption. And if we assume that the start of the Bible is not true, isn’t it logical to deny sin and accept homosexual practice? But if the Bible is true, shouldn’t we eject practicing homosexuals from the church?

So I challenge TMA readers to refute Zindler – either with or without defending Genesis 1-11 as real history. Those who defend Genesis as history will probably be accused of scientific nonsense, while those who do not will be accused of theological gobbledygook.

Peter Newland

Mitcham

I was concerned about the letter for a number of reasons. The chief reason is because I remember what I was like at 14, what I was like at 30. I would have been cut to the quick by the letter, and it’s appearance in The Melbourne Anglican would have lent it legitimacy and support. I was concerned enough to write this, which I put here because it will probably not appear in TMA:

I read Peter Newland’s letter to the editor (TMA, August 2010) with some interest, and not a little disquiet. I preface my comments with the observation that I heartily agree with the sentiments expressed in Bishop John Wilson’s letter – let’s concentrate on the Gospel, and building up the church.

I suspect that Mr Newland’s letter does little to accomplish either of those aims, and I’d further suggest that TMA’s publication of the letter actually works against those aims. Mr Newland may believe and express whatever views he likes, but I question the wisdom of publishing them.

Mr Newland began his letter by quoting a long list of groups who, according to his reading, would not inherit the kingdom of God. He ended by proposing the ejection of gay people from the church. He began by being inclusive, and ended by kicking gay people, and ignoring the sins of others.

My concern with the publication of this letter is that it perpetuates the view that the kicking of gay people is fine, and all part of reasonable debate. Would the letter have been run if it proposed the ejection of alcoholics? Or adulterers? I doubt it. We behave pastorally to those people. Why not gay people?

The Anglican Church has not reached a view on how it lives with the presence of gay people. It has not reached a view on how it allows those people to live out their vocation as people of God. We are in a time of respectful listening and dialogue. Mr Newland may speak, and I will respectfully hear him. I would ask, though, that both he and TMA use appropriate respect and restraint at this time. Let us have more light, and less heat.

Wendy Francis is the lead senate candidate for Family First in Queensland (no link to their website so as to avoid giving them oxygen, Google it if you want).

She would like to be elected “… to bring balance to senate” because the major parties don’t “talk about the issues that affect Australian families and children.”

Wendy obviously believes that she is speaking something her potential constituents want to hear when she makes comments like these, which appeared on her Twitter stream (they were later deleted):

Australia would never recover from legalising gay marriage. Those who advocate this are not thinking of the dramatic consequences.

Children in homosexual relationships are subject to emotional abuse. Legitimising gay marriages is like legalizing child abuse.

Gay marriage = kids with no mothers or no fathers, parent-less generation; uncontrollable depression & suicide. Is that the Aust we want?

All have a right to be homosexual, But no right to dictate to mainstream Australia or to change laws to suit their narrow agenda.

Someone has to talk about issues that affect Australian families and children. The major parties are not. I want to bring balance to senate.

Strange that I can be called a bigot for standing up for values that many people believe in yet others can deride my beliefs and that’s ok.

I’m not hurling abuse at homosexuals. I treat every person with respect. But we all have the right to stand firmly on principles.

So.

I agree that Wendy should be able to put her position. We live in a democracy, there is an election on, and she can say what she likes. But she has to wear the heat for making such obviously misguided, uninformed and offensive comments. She may genuinely believe them, and if she does, well, she does.

What she writes is wrong, and it is hurtful. Her very tone is unpleasant and belittling. Family First maintains that it is a party influenced by Judaeo-Christian values – one of those values is telling the truth and keeping a guard on the tongue.

Wendy is an example of a candidate who should never be preselected. Her speech is intemperate, and her behaviour unbecoming of someone who aspires to leadership.

What I would urge is this – do not vote Family First. Put them as your last preference. In Australia they will get funding if you put them in as your first preference, even if they don’t get elected. Do not give them a first preference. Put them last.

I also think that political parties should be willing to own up when they make mistakes. She should not have been allowed to remove the comments from her Twitter feed. If she believes them, she should stand by them.

Read more on The Age’s website.

Szechuan Fried Chicken

(Sze Chuen Jar Gai)

Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 500g chicken thigh or breast
• 4 tablespoons cornflour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp five spice powder
• 1/2 cup chicken stock
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp vinegar
• 2 tsp Chinese wine or dry sherry
• Extra 1/4 tsp five spice powder
• 2 tsp cornflour
• 1 tbsp cold water
• 1/2 cup oil
• 15 dried red chillies, seeded
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 2 tsp ginger, finely chopped
• 4 spring onions, chopped into 3cm lengths

Method

1. Bone chicken breasts. Cut meat into bite-size pieces. Mix cornflour, salt, and five spice powder, and toss chicken pieces to dust.
2. Mix stock, sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, vineger, wine, five spice powder, and pepper together.
3. Mix cornflour and cold water.
4. Heat oil very hot. Add 1/3 of the chicken pieces, and fry on high heat to brown all over. Repeat until all chicken is cooked, draining each batch on absorbent paper.
5. Pour off all but 2 tbs. of oil. Add chillies, garlic, and ginger, and stir fry until garlic is golden. Add spring onions and toss for a few seconds. Add stock mixture and bring to a boil. Stir cornflour mixture and add; stir until thickened. Add chicken and toss to heat through.

Buy (from the US) here

18 25 minute topics on six audio CDs with written guide

Through this course, explore a powerful four-fold ancient pattern found throughout life, Christian worship and many revered spiritual exercises. This pattern appears to underlie the choice of four gospels and their sequencing into the three-year Sunday reading cycles. The four gospels, when read through this lens, move beyond being separate accounts of Jesus to become a seamless spiritual guide for daily life.

In this course, the words of scripture that we know so well come alive in fresh and enriching ways. Each gospel is explored as the answer to one of life’s four great questions, matched to the particular spiritual dilemma of the early Christian community for which that gospel was originally written.

Follow renown Catholic educator Dr. Shaia on a path to an enriching understanding of the Bible’s most frequently read books as well as a deeper spiritual connection to the Church’s traditional seasons.

With this order, your will receive, free of charge, a detailed written guide on CD. The written guide, included on a special CD, includes outlines for each topic, review questions and suggested readings for further study and will arrive with your audio CDs. Using this CD, you are allowed to print and up to 7 copies of your guide. Simply insert the CD into any computer to access the file.

Topic Titles

• Gospel Study: Integrating Critical Thought and Devout Prayer
• A New Lens on the Gospels
• The Third Foundation and an Overview of the Four Gospel Journey
• Gospel of Matthew: Antioch (70s First Century)
• Gospel of Matthew: The Great Mountain and the Question of Facing Change
• Gospel of Matthew: Birth, Passion, Resurrection
• Gospel of Mark: Rome (60s First Century)
• Gospel of Mark: The Stormy Sea and the Question of Moving through Suffering
• Gospel of Mark: Opening, Passion, Ressurection
• Gospel of John: Ephesus (90s First Century)
• Gospel of John: The Glorious Garden and the Question of Receiving Joy
• Gospel of John: Prologue, Passion, Resurrection
• Gospel of Luke: From Antioch (80s First Century)
• Gospel of Luke: The Road of Riches and the Question of Maturing in Service
• Gospel of Luke: Birth, Passion, Resurrection
• A Pattern of Grace Underneath All Tradition and Practice
• Eucharist, The Church Day, The Liturgical Year, Rite of Initiation, Ignatian Exercises, Interior Castle
• The Eight Essential and Continuing Practices of Quadratos

Today would have been my brother Brian’s 38th birthday.

CS Lewis wrote a powerful (and searingly true) book about grief following the death of his wife, Joy.

In it he wrote:

Part of every misery is, so to speak, the misery’s shadow or reflection: the fact that you don’t merely suffer but have to keep on thinking about the fact that you suffer. I not only live each endless day in grief, but live each day thinking about living each day in grief. (A Grief Observed)

And also…

Talk to me about the truth of religion and I’ll listen gladly. Talk to me about the duty of religion and I’ll listen submissively. But don’t come talking to me about the consolations of religion or I shall suspect that you don’t understand. (A Grief Observed)

Esteemed progressive biblical scholar, John Dominic Crossan, makes a one-stop-only visit to Australia for four very special events in early September.

Dom’s events in Australia will address three primary questions….

1) What does it mean that, before Jesus ever existed, there was already a human being in that Mediterranean world whose titles were Divine, Son of God, God Incarnate, and God from God?

2) What is the difference in content when Caesar and Christ are both proclaimed as “Saviour of the World”–if we have only one world, why two Saviours?

3) Finally, and climactically, is the God of the Christian Bible violent or non-violent? And, if both, do we conflate those twin visions or–and how–do we decide between them?

John Dominic Crossan was born in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, Ireland, in 1934. He was educated in Ireland and the United States, received a Doctorate of Divinity from Maynooth College, Ireland, in 1959, and did post-doctoral research at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome from 1959 to 1961 and at the École Biblique in Jerusalem from 1965 to 1967. He was a member of a thirteenth-century Roman Catholic religious order, the Servites (Ordo Servorum Mariae), from 1950 to 1969 and an ordained priest from 1957 to 1969. He joined DePaul University, Chicago, in 1969 and remained there until 1995. He is now a Professor Emeritus in its Department of Religious Studies.

He was Co-Chair of the Jesus Seminar from 1985 to 1996 as it met in twice-annual meetings to debate the historicity of the life of Jesus in the gospels. He was Chair of the Parables Seminar in 1972-76, Editor of Semeia. An Experimental Journal for Biblical Criticism in 1980-86, and Chair of the Historical Jesus Section in 1993-1998, within the Society of Biblical Literature, an international scholarly association for biblical study based in the United States.

He has received awards for scholarly excellence from the American Academy of Religion in 1989, DePaul University in 1991 and 1995, and an honorary doctorate from Stetson University, DeLand, FL, in 2003.

Marcus Borg and Dom Crossan have co-authored a series of books with HarperOne, San Francisco: “The Last Week: A Day by Day Account of Jesus’s Final Week in Jerusalem” (2006); “The First Christmas: What the Gospels Really Teach about the Birth of Jesus” (2007); and “The First Paul: Reclaiming the Radical Visionary behind the Church’s Conservative Icon” (2009).

Dom’s newest book “The Greatest Prayer: Rediscovering the Revolutionary Message of the Lord’s Prayer” will be released in September 2010.

In Melbourne he will deliver a series of three day lectures and one major evening lecture. The details are as follows:

Day Lectures: Rydges on Swanston – 701 Swanston Street Carlton, VICTORIA 3053

Tuesday, August 31: Theme: The World of Jesus & Paul

Lecture 1 (10:30-12:00pm) Jewish Covenantal Justice
Lecture 2 (1:00-2:30pm) Roman Imperial Theology
Lecture 3 (3:00-4:30pm) The Power of Parable

Wednesday, September 1: Theme: Jesus & the Kingdom of God

Lecture 4 (10:30-12:00pm) The Life of Jesus
Lecture 5 (1:00-2:30pm) The Death of Jesus
Lecture 6 3:00-4:30pm) The Resurrection of Jesus

Thursday, September 2: Theme: Paul & the Lordship of Christ

Lecture 7 (10:30-12:00pm) Luke & the Life of Paul
Lecture 8 (1:00-2:30pm) Justice & the God of Paul
Lecture 9 (3:00-4:30pm) Gender & the Legacy of Paul

Major Evening Lecture: Arrow on Swanston – 488 Swanston Street, Carlton, VICTORIA 3053

Friday, September 3:

Public Lecture: 7:30pm “Divine Violence in the Christian Bible.”

Bookings here.

Congratulations to Julia Gillard, elected today as leader of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party, and consequently Australia’s first female prime minister.