This is an interesting investigation into the Gates foundation. It shows how much of it’s money is being used to invest in companies with questionable ethics. I wonder if this is that surprising based on how Gates and Buffet originally got their money. Is it all a farce?
Did you know that razor blades are now becoming a restricted item in many shops.
Is it because of the potential dangers of being cut??
No, it’s because the youth of today have begun stealing this luxury item. How dare they, just because they cost about $3 a blade for decent ones.
So now I have to ask at the counter if I want to get razor blades. Like I was getting some prohibited item. Oh the humanity of it all!
150,000 homes in Australia have 3 or more cars.. Is it just me or is this a little excesive?
We had a discusion about evangalism and social justice tonight at commy dinner. I was thinking about it walking home in the rain(I left home walking in the rain too).
The particular area I began thinking about was seeking God. I think one of God’s biggest concerns is justice. I think God cares more for the widows and orphans then we can imagine. From my reading of the Bible God spends so much time talking about social justice. The Old Testement has long passages denouncing injustices perpatrated by the people of the time. Jesus spent so much time on the fringes of the society when he was on Earth in physical form(Is that the theologically correct way of saying it Tom). Jesus said he came to save the lost. He healed the sick and reached out to the outcasts.
I wonder sometimes if we Christian’s in the West need to become outcasts if we need to lose our posesions. I think we could learn a lot if we were forced to depend on God.
When I look at the World the places I see God moving most strongly are not the affulent places. Not amoung the educated and rich. I see my God working on the fringes of society. I see God moving amoung the poor. Where their apears to be no hope there my God is.
This is the God who gave us parables about reckless abandon. The parable of the lost sheep tells of a shepard who risks the 99 safe sheep, all to find the one lost one. And when he finds them there is celebration.
What does this mean? For me I want to seek out my God and I think I have a pretty clear idea of where to look. The place which many try to avoid seeing, the fringes of society. The hopeless causes and the places of loss and suffering.
It reminds me of the “Seek Your Face” song from St John’s Darlinghurst about seeking God in the face of even domestic violence.
God truly is Merciful. He is love. He is God the great I AM.
Church, Class Wars, God Stuff, India Stuff, Poverty Sucks, Religion, Social Justice
Today was one of the most beautiful days in my life. I can’t quite explain how or why it came to be that but I’ll do my best.
Today was the wedding of Emily and Martin. It was the best wedding I have been to in my life. It made me cry a lot. But the tears were of joy not sorrow. From the moment the bridesmaids started walking down the aisle to colour blind by Counting Crows, (played acoustically by two fantastic musicians) I was sold. The day and the service were both so authentic, a true expression of love.
I am a very cynical person and yet the whole service I did not have a cynical or even sarcastic thought. Every stage of it was true to the people involved. The vow’s and prayers were honest and extremely meaningful. Declarations like “Do you want to share your life with me, all your joys and pains, all your hopes and failures with all your body, mind and soul?” Are truly moving. The way they included God also was great.
The music was well chosen. It fit beautifully with the service. The messages given were very authentic. They somehow managed to get a Catholic, an Anglican and a Uniting Church minister together to run it.
The reception was also great. It was very homely, who would of thought it being in their house and all. I loved it also. Speeches that are usually the most painful part of the wedding were good. Martin’s Mum who has come out from Peru for the wedding was particularly good. Emily of course was great and Jo was fantastic too. However Martin simply shone in his speech, sure he stumbled through it but his feeling was there for all too see. Struggling to put into words (in English his second language, though I am sure he would have had trouble in Spanish too) what is surely his great love for Emily just made it all the more real.
The variety of people who were there was also outstanding. There were people from nearly every walk of life. So good to see that happen. The food was fantastic and all were genuinely happy about the wedding (as far as I could tell). I even joined in some dancing tonight. That’s how good the night was.
Emily is a person who has greatly enriched my life. It is wonderful too see her so happy. Her journey has not been very easy through this life. She is an inspiration in her passion for justice and her love of humans particularly the outsider.
I can remember finding out a bit about Martin in Australia whilst Emily was still over in Peru. Gemma’s trip there helped us too learn a bit more about him. Then sharing with Emily in the struggles of trying to get Martin a Visa. I can still remember the joy and excitement I felt when whilst in Raxaul I find out that Martin’s Visa had been processed and accepted. The other time I really remember is meeting Martin at the airport on my return from India. It was exciting to finally see him, he embraced me a stranger as his friend.
Martin who I barely know is still one of the most kind and openhearted people I have met.
Emily and Martin may the Lord God in His power truly bless you. May you live out your days together through the joys and pains of this life. May you live up to the grand promises you made today.
I am going too stop now, though I could go on forever. But it’s past midnight so the day is over.
Church, Class Wars, General, God Stuff, India Stuff, Life, Religion, Stuff, Travel, music
I am reading an economics/business book at the momment. It’s called “The fortune at the bottom of the pyramid, eradicating poverty through profits”. It’s all about getting groups involved in serving the poor and making money doing it. Basically the poor pay a large poor penalty on some goods. Also there are a lot of them. It’s all a bit too complex for this blog post.
So far the book seems good. Let you know more when I am finished.
It is very odd starting my trip on business class. It didn’t quite feel right, but it was good. I have found KL to be very interesting. Particularly the women. I have never seen so many Muslim women in my life. I really don’t like the eye-slit only dress. What’s that called again. It feels kind of wrong to me.
Lot’s of women work in KL though and wear a variety of head dress and not. I think that women have an okay place in KL society. From my very Western view and the very short period of time I’ve spent here. So overall I don’t have any problems with it.
Odd openning the draw in the hotel and finding the Quoran instead of the old Gideons.