Lately the disparity in this world has been really getting to me.
How can God love everyone in this planet and live so many in utter poverty?
Why do the worst things seem to happen where the poorest of the world live?
How can our nation be getting so fat whilst so many go hungry?
Why do I have so many great friends whilst others are so lonely?
How can I get so comfortable living in Australia that spending money on luxuries doesn’t bother me?
I got quite angry at God tonight during/after church tonight. The sermon was on how God goes all out for the lost. I spent most of it thinking about how blessed I am but then the poor got into my head. And I began to wonder how God can be going all out for them.
In the end I calmed down and looked through my India photos on my laptop for the while. I began to really feel that God loved every individual in my photos. I also saw how God raises up people to serve those in need.
I came back to my constant comfort. The miracle of the world is that it is not a lot worse then it is. Without God working I shudder to think how crap this world would become.
God Stuff, India Stuff, Poverty Sucks, Social Justice
100,000 people a day are dying from bloody malnutrition.
This world is so messed up. How can this be. We live in the lucky country. We must do more but apathy comes all too easily.
This is all messed up.
Social Justice
After a draining few weeks, I feel like I have my passion back. In the shower I began thinking about a talk I have to give on professional service. It got me excited. I think there might be a bit of a preacher in me..
Religion, Social Justice
I’d just like to announce that I have been accepted as a Fieldworker for TEAR Australia.
In Febuary of 2006 I plan to undertake my first assignment as a IT Project Manager on a new 500 bed teaching and training hospital in North East India. It will be a 12-18 month assignment.
It is a big job for me to undertake. But I am sure I’ll get it done with a bit of help from my friends new and old, and a lot from above.
The exciting thing is that I’ll be blogging from a place where you need a special permit to be. The state of Nagaland where I’ll be based requires you to have a permit to visit. So I get extra stamps in my passport. YAY for stamps.
Announcements [A], India Stuff, Life, Social Justice, Travel
TEAR is definately a place where I fit. It is like a big extended family. Full of odd, crazy and cool people.
India’s draw is still strong on me. I enjoyed talking to people about it. The size of my next project there is still overwhelming me. I wonder if I am skilled enough to do it. It’s hard to keep it all in my head.
I feel a strong desire to travel to South Africa now too. One of the speakers at the conference was from there and she was fantastic. So articulate and humble. The projects her organisation do seem so well thought out.
How I work is also a challenge.
Incarnation ministry is a very intresting concept. It’s all about downward mobility living like the people you are ministering to. I wouldn’t mind getting an upward mobility assignment though :-). In the IT context working behind the scenes it’s hard to work out what to do in terms of downward mobility.
Interesting talk on the language of lament. I should write more about it latter.
Another good one about the church. It talked about how the church was inherintly human and that it is in its weakness that God works. Powerful stuff.
Church, God Stuff, India Stuff, Religion, Social Justice
There was no train running to the airport tonight. I had to catch a cab to central that cost $20. I managed to just make an express train to Hornsby where my Dad kindly gave me a lift home. Mannaged to write a lot down on the plane which was good. Helped me process.
South Africa is now firmly on the places that I want to vist in the next few years. So tired.. Winding down is hard.. but I am dead tired. So I think it’s time to get in bed.
Africa, Life, Social Justice, Travel
Just a quick note to say the TEAR Conference was great. So many good people. So much learning. The vibe was fantastic. That’s all for now.. Off to go on an adventure with Lesley and Jo :-).
God Stuff, India Stuff, Religion, Social Justice
I am getting sick of being assulted by Save The Children donor recruiters.. I decided it was time to do some reasearch. I have found that only 60% of the money gets through to the projects Save The Children supports. With TEAR 75% of the money gets to projects and if you include education it’s 88%.
So now I have some ammunition for the next person who tries to stop me!
God bless compulsory public disclosure.
Social Justice
http://www.washingtonpost…5080601203.html
The pirates have let the crew go through from the UN World Food Program chattered ship, which was hi-jacked about a month ago. The food from the ship will be going to the people of Somalia. This food was part of Tsunami relief. The WFP has also resumed shipments to Somalia.
Social Justice
http://www.smh.com.au/new…2748734565.html
Mr Ruddock, thanks for giving me permission to be nervous.
Apparently there are 60 terrorist who have trained by Al-Qaeda in Australia.
And yet I am not remotely afraid, nervous or alarmed. I can’t help feeling that Mr Ruddock and the PM want us to be worried and scared.
Why does our AG have to try and make people more afraid?
I wouldn’t be surprised if the government is working on some nice little laws which strip down our freedoms and rights. Which means more power for government.
Is that a good thing?
I take it back.. I am nervous.
General, Social Justice
Damn depressing but a bloody good doco. The pictures were so good.
It made me want to hit people. But I couldn’t work out who I should hit. You can’t hit everyone can you?
The cycle of povery is horrible. It is sad to think of what will become of some of the kids. Yet there is joy because it looks like some at least will make it out of brothels.
India Stuff, Poverty Sucks, Social Justice
I think I might of fallen in love with an Indian woman. Her name is Arundhati Roy and she is absolutely wonderful. Such a good writter so passionate and articulate. And beautiful too
I am going to share two quotes from her book “The algebra of infinate justice”.
“The only dream worth having is to dream that you will live while your alive and die only when you are dead”
In response to what the above quote means she writes:
“To love. To be loved. To never forget your insignificance. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all, to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never, to forget.”
Life, Romance, Social Justice
A message to the families
I can’t say anything that will help you in your grief. Mourn your loved ones.
A message to terrorists
Please go away. We don’t like you killing civilians. It’s not good.
A message to soldiers in Iraq
Please act with honour and integrity. Treat people justly please. I can’t imagine how difficult it is but please try.
A message to out leaders
Don’t do anything stupid and hasty. Look how far the hasty action surronding 9/11 got us.
A message to the media
Please give families grieving privacy.
A message to the people
Please don’t go and attack Muslim’s. That doesn’t help anyone.
A message to God
Please heal this planet of the hate that can incite such attacks. Please comfort the families and friends of the victims as they grieve. Please heal the injured quickly.
Life, Social Justice
Ran into Lesley last night in Borders. I was there meeting Howie. We went back to Lesley’s house and watched WMD(weapons of mass deception). I am a bit depressed now. Stupid media. Well done doco. Far less abrasive then Michael Moore. I enjoy Michael Moore but it’s nice to see a pukka doco.
Also got a ride in Lesley’s new car. Lot’s of fun.
Life, Social Justice
They still want to maintain complete control.
The Minister for Immigration has just been given more power. Whilst it’s a better situation now for refugees detainees, things still depend on the Minister for Immigration. Particularly for those detained 2 years plus.
I don’t think that this is very transparent.
At least the children might finally get out of detention now.
Social Justice