JoBloggs on the Song of Songs

My sister in law is blogging on the Song of Songs this week. Take a look if you're feeling brave.

Biblical Blogging

Having just spent a couple of hours wandering around the blogosphere, I came across Blogging and the wisdom of Solomon. For me, a very timely reminder that biblical principles can and should be consciously applied to all areas of our lives, including the way we read and interact via the internet.

Abdul Rahman

What follows is a letter that I sent to our Prime Minster and local MP this morning.

Dear Sir,

It has been brought to my attention that Afgan man, Abdul Rahman, is facing the death penalty for apostasy - converting from Islam to Christianity. Abandoning the muslim faith is against all schools of shari'a law and Afganistan's 2004 constitution supports this, stating that “no law can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam” (Article 3). However, the constitution’s preamble affirms that the people of Afghanistan will respect the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which in Article 18 guarantees the freedom to change one’s religion.

Surely in 2006 we cannot allow this man to be killed for converting from Islam. Islam is a religion which is very active in making converts, however, it seems that this is a one way street in which people may enter the Islamic faith but never leave it.

Mr Swan, can I ask you to take up the cause of Muslims who choose to embrace another faith? The death sentence for apostasy is part of mainstream Islam and has been since the seventh century. An outpouring of indignation and protest on this issue from those who enjoy religious liberty in the West is long overdue.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours ...

I think this is a very important issue and urge you to become involved. For more information on Abdul Rahman, click here.

The Railway Children

I love reading children's books, especially 'old-fashioned' ones. I recently came across this gem of a passage in Edith Nesbit's The Railway Children, first published in 1906:

"I say," said Peter, musingly, "wouldn't it be jolly if we all were in a book, and you were writing it? Then you could make all sorts of jolly things happen ....... Wouldn't you like to be writing that book with us all in it, Mother, and make Daddy come home soon?"

Peter's Mother put her arm round him suddenly, and hugged him in silence for a minute. Then she said:--

"Don't you think it's rather nice to think that we're in a book that God's writing? If I were writing the book, I might make mistakes. But God knows how to make the story end just right--in the way that's best for us."

"Do you really believe that, Mother?" Peter asked quietly.

"Yes," she said, "I do believe it--almost always--except when I'm so sad that I can't believe anything. But even when I can't believe it, I know it's true--and I try to believe. You don't know how I try ....."

Pet Peeve #2 : Lurking

I've had this term brought to my attention lately. Lurking. Doesn't sound nice, does it? Like some kind of perversion. But I'm a lurker. Everyday I lurk around my favourite blogs (my favourite is here) eavesdropping on other people's lives.

What does this say about me? Do I have a problem? Do I need counselling? Should I repent? Should I just get a life of my own?

I thought it was a fairly innocent activity until I heard the term. Now I wonder.

Does anyone else have a problem with lurking?

I haven't decided to give it up yet, so if you have any links for interesting places to lurk I'd love to hear of them.

Judging vs Judgmental?

I have had an interesting experience over the last couple of weeks. As I was talking with a friend about the hurt that had been caused her by a Christian 'brother', I became really frustrated that he (who is a Christian) could bring the name of Christ into such disrepute, claiming, in the aftermath, that he doesn't care about his reputation (a fact which I seriously question anyway!)

He has become hurt over people's judgment of him and his actions. I've really struggled throughout this saga to know how to react to this guy. Part of me, wants to encourage him to pull up his socks, stand apart from the world, and act more like the man God would have him be. The other part of me says it's not my business ... But that doesn't 'sit' right either...

My question is ... As Christians, do we (do I?!) have the right to lovingly challenge people about their behavior if it doesn't line up with what God asks of us in the Bible? And if we do, what does that look like? Or, should we just leave them be, and accept that we all, as humans fall short of God's standards? We all have planks in our own eyes, right?

Pet Peeve #1 : Simple vs. Simplistic

I got a letter home from school last week asking for parents to come in and do 'simplistic' cooking demonstrations. AAAAHHHHH! This one really gets to me!

In an effort to sound sophisticated people replace the word 'simple' with 'simplistic'. If something is 'simple' it is clear and uncomplicated. But if it is 'simplistic' it has been overly simplified. Dumbed down. Simplicity is beautiful. Simplism is base.

I remember a uni lecturer once saying that the widespread misuse of a word will eventually change its meaning. No! I won't accept this! Will you stand with me and fight to protect our language from such vulgar simplism?

Not such a beautiful day?

I heard the news. Sorry to Cath and the thousands of other u2 fans.

Christian Idol

As you all know, I'm a big fan of Australian Idol. I love American Idol too (why oh why did channel 10 dump it?). And if Nigerian Idol was shown in Australia, chances are I'd watch it as well. But this is way too much even for me. Check it out here or here.

Who am I?

Struggling with an identity crisis? Hear from Uncle Dietrich and take heart.

Who am I

Who am I? They often tell me
I would step from my cell’s confinement
Calmly, cheerfully, firmly,
Like a squire from his country-house.

Who am I? They often tell me
I would talk to my warders
Freely and friendly and clearly,
As though it were mine to command.

Who am I? They also tell me
I would bear the days of misfortune
Equably, smilingly, proudly,
Like one accustomed to win.

Am I then really all that which other men tell of?
Or am I only what I know of myself?
Restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage,
Struggling for breath, as though hands were
compressing my throat,
Yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds,
Thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness,
Tossing in expectation of great events,
Powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance,
Weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making,
Faint, and ready to say farewell to it all?

Who am I? This or the other?
Am I one person today and tomorrow another?
Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,
And before myself a contemptibly woebegone weakling?
Or is something within me still like a beaten army,
Fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?

Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.
Whoever I am, Thou knowest, 0 God, I am Thine!

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, March 4, 1946.