In the education research world, there was a meta-study conducted about a decade ago, analysing the world of gifted and talented education research.  It became a significant piece of research in the ongoing debate in this important area of education.  Its most contentious statement was this – that the younger the subject of the research was, the less reliable any measurements were.  One methodology that was commonly used would, in some contexts, yield moderated results that suggested 98% of Prep Grade aged students were gifted or talented when measured.  Which doesn’t really make any sense.  The meta-study concluded that many studies in the field did not adequately remove bias in the statistical calculations they undertook.

Continue reading “20190404 Family – mine, yours, and ours” →

Devotees of comedy, as delivered by online streaming services, may have encountered Seinfeld in their browsing.  Nine seasons, 180 episodes – a show “about nothing”.  Sadly, I count myself amongst those of an “older” generation who waited, week by week, across the nine years of its production for the weekly release of a new episode of this sitcom – one that was very much anchored in its time and place.

“More anything?” “More everything!” Season 4, Episode 12.  “The Airport”.  This interplay between an airline steward and an exultant Jerry Seinfeld plays out in this episode, one that explores society’s “haves” and “have nots” in the context of airline travel.

What has this got to do with prayer?  Isn’t this show the antithesis of humble living in the light of a redemptive faith in Christ?  Why the reference?

Continue reading “20190321 “More anything?” “More everything!” A template for prayer?” →

I have been immersed in Samoan culture this week, keeping company with a Samoan indigenous man “Tee”.  A Christian man with a fascinating background, deeply grounded within both cultures he has lived for substantial periods of his life, Tee has been unpacking for me the nature of family in his culture, and its many parallels to the culture of family within our Australian indigenous nations’ customs and practices.  My own journey with local indigenous friends of mine, one of whom “Bee” has been present for these conversations this week, has enlivened my thinking in terms of how we as a community explore the ways of getting back to “heart and hands” expressions of family togetherness that transcend simple genetic relationships.  We are, for each other, family who deserve respect, honour and a hearing – independent of where we’ve come from or when we first met our creator in a personal relationship.

Continue reading “20190307 Aiga faatasi e faavavau (Family together forever)” →

Job 12:7-10 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.  Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?  In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”

Inspired by our celebration of “mini-beasts” here at school this week, I got to thinking about my favourite creature that fits into the palm of a human’s hand.  Whose hand are we talking about?  Mine, yours, Andre the Giant’s?

Continue reading “20190221 Echidnas and the Glory of God” →

1 Corinthians 12:12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

On Christmas Day, like many families across Melbourne, across the nation, I participated in the “gathering of the clan” – these days, for me, it includes extras.  These “extras” are often potential clan members, attached or affianced to one of the multitude of cousins, nephews and nieces that join the gathering. Christmas Day 2018 was special for our extended family – Kris and my younger daughter, Mary, was able to come home for three weeks for the first time in three years, leaving her husband and moody pup back home in Seattle – Josh couldn’t get leave which was very sad – a hot Christmas experience awaits him some time in the not too distant future.

Continue reading “20190207 Thumbwrestling, Spanish Cooking and Chemotherapy” →

This profoundly deep statement on leadership is attributed to William Henry Johnson, a free African-American who was said to be, in modern terminology, the personal assistant to Abraham Lincoln (the 16^th President of the United States of America, who is attributed with leading the nation through the Civil War, thus preserved the Union, as well as abolishing slavery, strengthening the federal government, and modernising their economy).  There is no clear reason why Johnson said it, or when it was said; indeed, it is his only known quote.

It is profound, because it is a statement that cuts to the heart of being servant-like in leadership; it is profound because there is an acknowledgement of cost BUT no counting of the cost.

Continue reading “20181213 If it is to be, it is up to me” →

The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: “He is good; his love endures forever.” 2 Chronicles 5:13 (NIV)

The ark of the covenant arrived in the temple, built by the Israelites under the supervision of King Solomon.  It is a big moment; the ark – containing the tablets on which the 10 commandments, given by God to Moses many years before, are written – finally has a home.  Israel worshipped, giving thanks and praise to the Lord God.  In the following chapter of 2 Chronicles, Solomon speaks. He gives the credit for the temple’s completion to God.  He reminds them that Yahweh has been with them since the very beginning.

Continue reading “20181129 Bathed in God’s grace” →

Acts 2:42-43 (NIV) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.

At my church in recent months, we have been “intentionally wandering” through the Acts of the Apostles in the preaching portion of our Sunday worship services.  As I’ve listened to our pastors share their insights of the lives and times of those who made up the early church, it has struck me how the relative simplicity of New Testament Israel posed the same challenges to Jesus followers as we face in our 21^st century “post-Christian” environment.

But Acts is not squeaky clean – there’s some pretty uncomfortable narrative in this historic account as well.  It is no surprise that most instances of dysfunction in the early church source back to abandoning the approach which focused on God and his call, and moved to actions that were self-serving and self-interested.  The restatement of expectation by the apostles, and a call to confession and forgiveness became the pattern for restoration.  In healing, it was always less about the individual and more about the congregation as a “God’s kingdom on earth”.

Continue reading “20181115 We’re all on the same side” →

Ahhh, springtime – that time of year when we remember what it is like to bathe in the beauty of a warm sun and enjoy mild to hot temperatures during the day.  Oh, but when those nights hot up – then everything changes!  We get to school and people are muttering about sleepless nights.  And they’re slightly cranky, a bit “off their game”.  And, the kids … so hard to get to school … unsettled in the yard and in class.  But, holidays are coming soon – let’s “hope” we can all hold out.  And still, there’s plenty to do, lots of classes, activities, end-of-year events, celebrations, finishing up 2018, setting up 2019.  Plenty of opportunity to succeed, which means failure is close by as well.  Opportunities to fear, and opportunities for hope, grace and mercy.  As a community of Jesus followers, we know what God’s victory looks like.  Or do we.

“Blessed are the peacemakers – for they will be called children of God”. Matthew 5:9 (NIV)

Continue reading “20181101 Things are hotting up!” →

“The Sounds of Silence.”
And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence
(excerpt from the song “Sound(s) of Silence” Songwriter: Paul Simon;
First Performance: Simon and Garfunkel, 1964.)

Written five and a half decades ago, this song’s lyrics are eerily relevant to the modern-day public discourse.  Never, at any time in human history, has there been a time where more is being spoken – after all, the exponential growth in the world’s population means more conversations are happening each and every day.

Continue reading “20181019 A Series on Uncomfortable Conversations Part 3” →