tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281131942011-10-06T06:17:03.273-07:00Weekly highlights from www.fighting-fathers.com/forumFather Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.comBlogger1051100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-50908949973447798322011-04-27T06:02:00.000-07:002011-04-27T06:04:39.381-07:00

Today is Easter Sunday. The sun is out and it is a beautiful spring day in Michigan, although there is a hint of spring rain in the air.My wife and I just left church not too long ago. In the Sunday meal after the service, it was nice to see that literally every chair was taken in our church's basement meeting room as folks shared a meal. However, I must confess to not having been in a

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-43268194232300749092011-04-06T06:23:00.000-07:002011-04-06T16:47:31.272-07:00

I got wind of the fact that Greens leader, Bob Brown, was being put under pressure to bring rogue State Senate member, Lee Rhiannon, into line over her 'extremist politics', reflected in her daring to support a strategy of non-violent resistance (BDS) against the military occupation of Palestine! It appalled me to think that the Greens too would let their integrity slide for the sake of

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-77632635821013604462011-04-06T05:17:00.000-07:002011-04-06T05:22:38.432-07:00

Keith weighs in on the debate about the 'Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions' controversy in Marrickville, and uses this as a springboard to highlight broader concerns about where this 'lucky country' is heading!Anytime anyone or any organisation or government criticises Israel they are immediately criticised and pressured as anti-semitic in an obviously organised way amid vociferous denials

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-85466040086292170892011-03-04T02:07:00.000-08:002011-03-04T02:18:49.516-08:00

This is an excerpt from Father Dave's lengthy post regarding Marrickville Council's historic resolution to support the international campaign of Boycotts, Divestments and Sanctions against Israel until the Israeli government end the Palestinian Occupation. Last December our local Council - Marrickville Council - took the courageous step of voting to support the Palestinian BDS Campaign. 'BDS'

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-14336922871729017122011-02-21T05:52:00.000-08:002011-02-21T15:23:28.295-08:00

I receive emails just about every day telling me how all Muslims are out to kill us!It's hard to know where to start in responding to these emails. Should I really try to respond line by line or should I simply point out that nobody speaks for 'all Muslims' any more than anybody speaks for all of 'us' (whoever 'we' are supposed to be). The simple solution is just to hit 'delete' of course,

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-11004215884988511122011-01-08T04:09:00.000-08:002011-01-08T04:12:18.553-08:00

More Yuletide reflections from Fighting Father RobHaving just spent the past two days working at the Benton Harbor, Michigan Soup Kitchen, I find myself tired this Christmas morning. There are many things going through my head today: the recovering alcoholic who wrote/printed a short story and gave me a copy about how greatful he was to have found religion in his difficult road to sobriety. Then

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1543426083489948722011-01-08T03:20:00.000-08:002011-01-08T03:23:57.065-08:00

Reflections from Rob Burgess about Christmas, homelessness and neighbourly loveWe are in the midst of blizzard conditions here in West Michigan. A large Canadian cold front, those poor Canadians get blamed for all of our bad, winter weather, has just arrived with a vengeance. A week ago, I had dinner at my pastor's with his family, another couple, my wife, and a homeless fellow who had been

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-6141511481504844142010-10-17T23:28:00.000-07:002010-10-17T23:40:28.244-07:00

Rob Burgess shares with us a tale of his brief encounter with boxing legend Muhammad Ali, and gives us some background on Ali's perhaps lesser known humanitarian convictions and charitable works.The humanitarian side of Muhammad AliAs boxing fans, I thought you might enjoy the public service announcement below featuring Muhammad Ali. Mr. Ali has owned a home in the county where I reside for

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-53667039496153886932010-10-06T00:56:00.000-07:002010-10-07T22:13:33.284-07:00

On the subject of Stimulus, Emotion and Reaction, Dan gives us a run-down of the rational mind vs the emotional mind in terms of the decision making process.How we decideThere is failure in thinking too much, trying to be too rational, coming up with too many reasons. We are scared by options that seem equivalent, it gives us a feeling of uncertainty.Rational decisions or gut decisions? It is

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-21267972713473697112010-09-18T05:37:00.000-07:002010-09-18T06:01:08.200-07:00

In the ongoing debate about the role of moral rules in the life of faith, Agnes gives a definition of God that is centred neither in moralism NOR on any insipid view of God as a therapist.I think God just IS and I'm not sure that implementing rules to encompasses something so broad is a way of worship. I'm more inclined to believe that to see the best in who and what we experience is our way

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-5127748248795189962010-08-20T00:51:00.000-07:002010-08-23T20:31:46.363-07:00

In response to my sermon on Colossians 2:16-19 ("Life Without Rules"), Alfamax responds with his own take on observance of the law...I reckon there are a few things worth keeping in mind before throwing the baby out with the bath water.There are about 320 direct quotations of the Old Testament in the New Testament and about 1,000 inferences.Matthew 5:17-18 has to be worth keeping in mind here

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-49893424682232938842010-07-06T07:09:00.000-07:002010-07-06T07:17:01.224-07:00

In response to a robust excerpt from the "Westminster Confession" outlining the traditional doctrine of 'double-predestination' (as it is often called) Jarey snaps back with an insightful plea, very much in the spirit of Martin Luther!Contrary to the pronouncement of the Westminster Assembly of Divines, scripture plainly reveals the truth that the love of God for the world of lost sinners is

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-14139591807164071532010-02-11T17:50:00.000-08:002010-02-11T17:53:55.824-08:00

Dave is responding to a post that started with some positive news about an Iranian woman hoping to win and Olympic medal, but the broader news about Iran's role on the world stage is looking increasinly disturbing. For the full post go here.The whole scene is starting to worry me deeply. It seems that Iran is developing a siege mentality and the Western media is responding by doing all it can to

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-88565125269848799302010-02-10T15:34:00.001-08:002010-02-10T15:39:19.361-08:00

Alfamax started this thread with an article on churches that use boxing and martial arts to try to be relevant to young men. See the full thread here.Godlessness presents itself in most forms of modern living, and some of these forms are more subtle and thus more of a threat to the masses than others.There is a hierarchy of evil if you like and it can show where these things begin, however, like

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-74149237373691074632010-01-24T18:22:00.000-08:002010-01-24T18:27:36.244-08:00

Dave here replies to an issue raised by Keith, who supports freedom of religion and dialogue between all people yet asks how Christians can engage with other religious groups, given the exclusive claims Jesus made about Himself? To see the full forum dialogue, click here.I don't think all religions are basically the same (or basically anything) and my main interest in trying to encourage

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-43639538773297364162010-01-15T05:10:00.000-08:002010-01-15T05:18:23.786-08:00

This post started with Alejandro extolling the spiritual benefits of oatmeal, but now he digs deeper and reveals the nasty side of oatmeal alternatives! I don't doubt that Alejandro's findings are controversial, but they do make you think! See the full post here.In most households you will find both parents and children sitting down to breakfast and automatically filling their bowls with some

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-43343735501424803802009-12-28T04:47:00.001-08:002009-12-28T15:08:09.295-08:00

Keith continues the discussion of Naziism, and how it was that so many Germans were taken in by Hitler (see the full thread here).No discussion of opposition to Hitler would be complete without a mention of Bonhoeffer and his story. His family were highly placed in the government so he knew about the concentration camps from about 1932 and acted accordingly. His courage was amazing.I still recall

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-27352647774352260572009-12-28T04:40:00.000-08:002009-12-28T04:45:50.774-08:00

Alfamax responds to the idea that boxing is a dying sport (read full thread here).Yup, I've heard that one bandied about more times than I'd like to remember. I agree its certainly not dying, more like evolving. The reason I say that is because of the impingement of strength training methods that make use of the phosphagen energy systems of the body as opposed to the ritualistic slow road work

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-89497985977447857962009-12-05T05:58:00.000-08:002009-12-05T06:05:50.248-08:00

Some aspects of the world economy are apparently doing better, for the moment. But the unemployment rate in the U.S. is 10.2%, or 15.7 million, with no help in sight until 2012 most likely. But those numbers don't include part-time workers wanting full-time work and 'discouraged workers' who have given up hope of finding a job and tend to make the unemployment rate lower than it would otherwise

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-7368678162130310542009-12-05T05:37:00.000-08:002009-12-05T05:50:10.315-08:00

This dialogue originally started with a reflection by Rob on the Mary and Martha story of Luke 10: 38-42, where Jesus gets involved in a dispute between the two women over whether Mary should be sitting at Jesus' feet or helping with the domestic chores.Rob reflected: "What is going on here in this story? Certain commentators have said there are three spiritual paths. The first is the way of Mary

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-88217611690453886852009-10-21T20:48:00.000-07:002009-10-21T20:54:34.608-07:00

Jarey points out that part of the problem with the proposed Healthcare Reforms is the industry of litigation that has developed around around medical care in the US.Most Americans believe that the US has one of the best health care systems in the world. They want to improve the current system without reducing the quality of care for all Americans. And they know that enacting tort reform is a

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-80149069486157375062009-10-19T00:06:00.000-07:002009-10-19T00:20:49.190-07:00

This is part of Alejandro's larger post about relationships between Christians, Muslims & Jews in different times and places. See the full post here.Some Islamophobes and critics of Islam have pointed out that during World War II, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem was one of Hitler's Top supporters and there were 2 Nazi Waffen-SS divisions that were Bosnian Muslim.However these critics fail to point

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-76490289111810142652009-10-13T18:51:00.000-07:002009-10-13T19:16:51.453-07:00

This post responds to a speech given by Keysar Trad at the 'Festival of Dangerous Ideas' where he suggested that it's time polygamy was decriminalised. The essence of his argument was that while affairs are common to most marriages, at least in a polygamous relationship the 'other woman' can be given some dignity and rights.I think admitting there is an issue is crucial and for this reason I

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-2303985783448538562009-10-09T02:56:00.000-07:002009-10-09T02:59:16.771-07:00

I am by no means an expert on American politics, and I freely and cheerfully admit that I probably don't understand much of the major issues here.I do know one thing though. We have had universal health care (Medicare) in Australia for as long as I can remember, and it is fantastic. I can only surmise that the American people are opposed to this wonderful initiative because they don't understand

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-85836127162789172582009-07-12T22:01:00.000-07:002009-07-12T22:08:01.986-07:00

Dave the Journo bewails the state of public Dental Care in OzThe other day I forked out 185 bucks - for a straightforward filling.I probably could have asked for a payment extension (being on a disability pension)-but it's a small country practice and the staff liked to be paid on the day.As I parted with - to me - a significant amount of cash,I wondered what had become of Team Rudd's "Denticare"

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-63534850790091771972009-07-03T21:08:00.000-07:002009-07-03T21:10:23.299-07:00

My depression really kicked in recently (although thankfully I wasn't suicidal) and for a while there I almost lost my faith altogether. It's very annoying as although you can point to triggers there seems to be little relation to what's happening in my life and how I actually feel. My level of contentment seems to wax and wane of its own accord. It's particularly distressing as for a while there

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-26666617388232354052009-07-01T19:43:00.001-07:002009-07-01T19:46:26.666-07:00

Alfamax responds to Keith's post on Fowler's famous 'Stages of Faith' model, where different forms of faith are seen as reflecting different levels of maturity. I can't help but think that maybe we should make up a stage theory about how psychologists come to make up theories of stage theory!In many ways it's humans looking for a concrete and linear structure where none exists. Moments of

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-57994385931135190042009-07-01T19:31:00.000-07:002009-07-03T21:12:57.293-07:00

Jarey's comments on the video 'Home' - a not-for-profilt film about the problem of global sustainability. What a facinating video, a really grand tour of the earth and the people living on it. Much better than wasting an hour and a half watching the usual drivel on TV. Makes you wonder how much time and effort went into the production of it. But... As beautiful and interesting as the photography

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-44154008647178895612009-06-02T00:58:00.000-07:002009-06-02T01:00:49.649-07:00

Alfamax offers some left-of-field thoughts on whether communism actually had a positive effect on the development of gym routines and equipment in Easter bloc countries.It fairly widely known by anyone who's been around in the gym for a while that the Russians pretty much made most of the important discoveries in the area of strength training. They then went onto to refine their methods and

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-37938122762062145552009-04-08T22:25:00.000-07:002009-04-08T22:28:33.529-07:00

I wonder where the money will come from in time. What worked in the 20th century won't work into the future. I see two forces at work here, namely;An ageing population Fertility rates are falling Brink Lindsey explains... The inevitable Ponzi endgame is now obvious in the rich countries of the industrialized world. In the United States, for example, average life expectancy at birth was only 61.7

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-33215475821294775952008-12-28T06:19:00.000-08:002008-12-28T06:23:51.950-08:00

Ted responds to the suggestion that, in England, the 'charismatics' are 'the good guys'.A Very Poor Assessment! The good guys are in every kind of churchmanship over here, such as the lovely lady who leads the parishes I looked after in the Welsh/English Borderlands. The Anglican tradition isn't really, I suspect, about churchmanships. Much rather it is about serving those around us as best we

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-17040060994803620062008-12-28T05:58:00.000-08:002008-12-28T06:00:24.800-08:00

Single-celled algae can grow very rapidly in low quality water, producing biomass at 10 to 30 times the rate of terrestrial plants. They can do this mainly because the cells are immersed in a medium providing all their needs, including physical support, and so the cells have no need to build infrastructure to move materials and to support themselves.A pond 60km by 60km (less than 500,000ha) well

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-6915966424340019032008-11-27T15:34:00.000-08:002008-11-27T15:38:29.886-08:00

Forget Corn: Mushrooms May Hold Key to Energy Crisis!As unlikely as it may sound, a solution to the world's energy problems may lie in a Chinese mushroom. A Danish company's scientists in China, Brazil, Denmark and the U.S. are testing mushrooms and lichen to find one that will turn corn cobs and sugarcane stalks into biofuel. Earlier this year, record-high prices for corn and wheat undermined

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-16836520250784197002008-08-05T00:43:00.000-07:002008-08-05T00:51:16.010-07:00

The process of McDonaldisation as described by Ritzer refers to the 'process by which the principles of the fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate more and more… societies throughout the world' . These principles have come to not only dominate the fast-food industry but also all of aspects of cultural life in Australia including the spiritual life of the Anglican Church in Australia. The

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-87727365087928565612008-07-15T17:52:00.000-07:002008-07-15T17:55:40.765-07:00

For me, the theological issues are one thing, but the politics and hierarchical nuances of the ecclesiastical hallways are just ridiculous. Its a wonder there is not a symbol in the liturgy somewhere that indicates "fart here". The approval process for this symbol would have taken decades to decide, followed by another decade to agree on the form of the symbol. Then there would be another

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-57348348220719131442008-07-15T16:46:00.000-07:002008-07-15T16:56:48.435-07:00

"Wisdom has built her house and she calls to all, 'Come, eat my food and drink my wine and you will walk in the ways of understanding."-Proverbs 9:1-6 "Late last year, Congress agreed to a request from President Bush to fund a major escalation of covert operations against Iran, according to current and former military, intelligence, and congressional sources. These operations, for which the

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-22760484349320081612008-07-03T00:35:00.000-07:002008-07-03T00:36:50.610-07:00

ANY method of recovery is welcomed: be it holistic - to the traditional Alcoholics Anonymous. The cost (if you can afford it) is money well spent - if it gets the monkey off your back, and puts the cork back in the bottle - as Marshall Hall, R.I.P, one of the great pioneers of treatment for alcoholism in Australia - oft told me when I was in recovery in his clinic in Melbourne. Marshall helped

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-39670214345679938172008-07-03T00:27:00.000-07:002008-07-03T00:30:13.799-07:00

... life [is] full of fronts, coping mechanisms and fatalism. Many people never realise this is how they live their lives and that this is the reality of living in a broken world. I also think in one sense it makes it harder if people don't have an awareness of God. And if people do have an awareness and faith in God, that doesn't neccessarily mean a life of ease. In fact, it appears to be

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-34159439489510043302008-06-18T00:52:00.000-07:002008-06-18T00:56:52.455-07:00

There are several issues raised in this thread (entitled, 'doing, and not being'). The first is the issue of doing versus being. This is a big issue and it all has to do with balance. Eugene Peterson has a half day bushwalk every Monday in silence with his wife. A friend of mine gets up at 6 every morning to spend an hour with God. (She is exceptionable. It would never work for me.) Jesus goes

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-72551682302458951142008-06-18T00:28:00.001-07:002008-06-18T00:31:19.034-07:00

I have come across some 1990 and 1996 U`S Air F0rce papers (released to public) on the production of HHO from H2O. The papers refer to other public domain and patented contraptions for extracting hydrogen from water and splitting water into its hydrogen and oxygen molecules (called HHO) for use in hybrid cars as a supplement with petrol or diesel. I'm a bit skeptical but want to have a go at

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-29315044468564761402008-05-16T21:30:00.000-07:002008-05-16T21:31:26.096-07:00

I was tidying up after my youngest, who had just completed a huge project on the Egyptian Gods, (who, she tells me, are all inbred), and I stopped to have a look at the other side of the scrap paper she had written on. This is the poem I found: Speak only in truthfulness. Act only in love Live the law of love now and forevermore. Give everything, require nothing. Avoid the mundane. Do not accept

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-49418898909940064552008-05-16T06:35:00.000-07:002008-05-16T06:41:46.072-07:00

Standing on my balcony one evening, watching the city lights, I could hear the ruckus and music coming from the gay Mardi-Grass across the park. It was a new event at the time, and I wanted to get closer, to see it for myself, so I moseyed on down stairs, then over to Oxford Street. I realised there was a lot that could be done as Christians during Mardi grass, however, the event that occurred

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-53326607299929980342008-04-30T01:10:00.000-07:002008-04-30T01:12:09.656-07:00

Touching without respect is violence, a penetration into someone’s privacy and honour against his or her will. In a true encounter between persons the physical contact is based on respect for the other, and expresses some kind of affection. The different kinds of physical contact between a man and a woman and between men mutually is analogous to their different kind of friendships. Men’s mutual

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-43698958606340933232008-04-24T09:17:00.000-07:002008-04-24T09:20:38.210-07:00

After hectic political discussions within the three-party Norwegian coalition cabinet, the Minister of Immigration, Bjarne Hakon Hanssen, (Labor, Norway´s biggest Party) said last Friday that Mordechai Vanunu is welcome to Norway: " If he gets a job offer here, he will of course get a permit to stay and work in Norway". Vanunu is the nuclear whistleblower who has been Israel´s hostage since his

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-63839320481302932812008-04-03T15:16:00.000-07:002008-04-12T14:47:17.156-07:00

There was Adam and God hanging around in the garden. Adam was ok, but God seemed obsessed. Well, I think it would have appeared that way to Adam anyway. You see God kept parading animal after animal in front of Adam, and asking him the same question every time, “what will you name this one Adam”? I can picture Adam sitting there saying, “Elephant, donkey, rat, mozzie”, with an ever diminishing

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-24197397698512908762008-03-19T15:01:00.001-07:002008-03-19T15:08:12.582-07:00

The way some people feel about the Sydney anglicans is the way I feel about the evangelical traditon full stop. I say that as one having been conceived and born into it, with all the blessings, cursings and baggage that it brings.My experience of the great evangelical monolith (not individuals) is that certain arrogance that the Sydney Anglicans are being charged with. That is. having the "right

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-85467663580943104662008-02-28T03:02:00.000-08:002008-02-28T03:05:05.656-08:00

I just finished reading Hillary's memoirs.I developed a real liking for the lady in the first half of the book, but felt myself asking questions after reading the second half. The Keneth Star sham investigations of the Whitewater affair that goes on and on dominates the book. The Clinton's bought into a property development well before their presidency and it went horrably wrong due to the

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-70871727180286828262008-02-14T05:29:00.000-08:002008-02-14T05:36:39.140-08:00

I sit here with furrowed brow, pondering the gift of being a parent. Whilst allowing my mind to wonder over memories, both recent and those long past, I quizzically cock my head to one side as I come to observe that some of these memories are pictured within my mind as dusty, whilst others are quite clean. Thinking in visualisation form has no worth of revelation for me, but the idea that I have

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-21136440562773822732008-02-01T00:30:00.000-08:002008-02-01T00:34:18.078-08:00

I definately feel as parents, we have an obligation to limit choice in a society that says more choice is better. There is comfort in structure and children can certainly do without the pressure of making the right choice. Try it with a toddler, they just can't do it. Nor should they. Just because you can get it (what ever it may be - the latest and greatest) does not necessarily mean you need it

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-59777897987132110732008-01-23T00:29:00.000-08:002008-01-23T00:32:59.341-08:00

I do think that in general the differing capacities of man and woman are part of the reason for the exclusively male vocation to the clergy.Men and women have to help and serve each other and exchange their gifts : Men in general are more incline to objectivity, and therefore are more apt to help someone to evaluate and discern the growth of the soul towards God and to find the best means to

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-58617850694687233432007-12-20T09:29:00.000-08:002007-12-20T09:35:27.892-08:00

Father Dave and I have had an ongoing discussion off this forum about the state of political affairs in North America.Dave has an historical interest in the United States, as you may have discerned from his website. He is an admirer of such American figures as Robert E. Lee and Martin Luther King, Jr. Unfortunately, IMHO, the America of Robert E. Lee and M.L. King Jr. that he admires is in the

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-47872983019409186552007-12-07T06:09:00.000-08:002007-12-07T06:13:07.022-08:00

I read with interest Jo's article http://www.fatherdave.org/article/article_898.html at Father Dave's website regarding her experience with boxing and how facing an opponent in the ring offered her parallels in life to the way we deal with issues in our life. I really liked the concept that boxing forces you to focus on the now, how you will respond rather than who your ego thinks you are - that

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-28858162762167380282007-11-28T23:08:00.000-08:002007-11-28T23:20:05.886-08:00

Apartheid in Israel Palestine! Viability in Annapolis?Will Annapolis end with more than handshakes and photo ops? Is a viable Palestinian state even possible?Will the fruit of Annapolis reap justice which is the way to security and peace in the Holy Land or will we see what American Israeli peace activist and Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, Jeff Halper, Founder and Coordinator of ICAHD/Israeli

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-12083483489923187932007-11-14T07:58:00.000-08:002007-11-14T08:14:57.234-08:00

When I was in hospital, I heard the uncontrolled weeping from 'a solid citizen,' who had an extremely well-paid job, in a profession I can't recall.Anyway he looked the type of man who had his act totally together.But his sobs echoed around the slumbering ward eerily.It was 3 o'clock in the morning!When he got up, I nodded his way. He returned my greeting-with a wordless nod.He knew I kew he had

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-82775895653841828072007-11-07T17:02:00.000-08:002007-11-07T17:13:04.103-08:00

Recently when the conference of Progressive Christians decided to hold their assembly called "Common Dreams" in the heart of Sydney, it was really interesting that they should choose the old Pitt Street Church as the place to house it. That venerable old church has once more taken its place on the front lines of Australia's religious life as the place from where a new call for a reformed and

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-33937140676025379852007-10-31T22:50:00.000-07:002007-10-31T23:09:58.370-07:00

Here's a post by our resident prophet, James, about God's plan for Muslims. Is this really a prophetic word from above, or is it just the product of an over-active imagination. Either way, the author surely didn't deserve to have this article banned from other sites!I recently got a prophetic word from the Lord about His plan for Muslims. I believe Muslims are a very special people, the word

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-23709206935901124572007-10-25T03:00:00.000-07:002007-10-25T03:04:49.844-07:00

I have no problem with the people involved in the Anglican community, I've visited a number of Anglican churches many times and I've always been warmly welcomed. But what I do have a problem with is this new Connect 09 program, and how its going to burden small churches who are already struggling. I hope this is not too judgmental, if you think its judgmental please feel free to critisize and

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-46212634491486789792007-09-21T20:04:00.000-07:002007-09-21T20:17:42.234-07:00

Keith is responding to an article written by a certain 'Pastor Eddie', who argues from the Gospel of Matthew that the Old Testament practice of tithing 10% of your income continues to be a Biblical mandate.As is often the case with people who seem to want you to give them money, Pastor Eddie is quite selective in the verses that he picks to bolster his argument.To use Matthew and say that we have

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-32925122467677856012007-08-08T23:29:00.000-07:002007-08-08T23:39:29.321-07:00

Or should I ask where are we taking it?I'm currently reading a book entitled the 'The Marx - Engles Reader'. Although I've just started it, it looks to be an interesting read and hopefully I'll learn something from it. In the interest of discussion however I'll leave a piece that I found on the internet and thought was rather compelling, its called 'Why Capitalism is Evil? hopefully it might kick

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-57727229172894253632007-08-02T11:29:00.000-07:002007-08-02T11:33:22.765-07:00

the risen Christgifts Himselfto usin the MysteriesLord's Day after Lord's Dayand each timei am an infant,struggling,paper-wingedmothtoo near the blazing light,trustingonlyin His grace,His mercy.in the fear of God, and with faith and love draw near...if you say so...i tremble and my wings do not igniteas they ought, butare cuppedgentlyto His breastwhere weekly i am astonishedby the all-consuming

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-78423333085303897542007-07-25T00:45:00.001-07:002007-07-25T00:54:07.544-07:00

Father Dave’s sermon about Jesus’ surprising recruitment tactics ends where it should: at the Cross. But it doesn’t clarify much; it only confirms a mystery at the centre of our faith.Quote: "In truth, I’m really not sure why, but I think it’s got something to do with the cross, and I think it’s got something to do with the connection between love and suffering."Usually, when we hear a homily

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-7144465123513953802007-06-20T17:21:00.000-07:002007-06-20T17:24:30.377-07:00

The question "what is religion?" draws many answers. The only solid one to me is that it is about those beliefs which bind us back - the Latin root means this and it is a useful thought. This means in turn that it is not necessarily about God.The books we've been reviewing in the thread write mainly about those binding beliefs which involve God somehow. Better I think to write about belief.As a

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-38870382022477354452007-06-12T21:16:00.000-07:002007-06-12T21:18:51.074-07:00

Christopher Hitchens’ new book, subtitled “How religion poisons everything” is his personal repudiation of religion and religious belief. In it he lists his objections to faith-based religion including “the ways in which religion is a man-made wish, a cause of dangerous sexual repression, and a distortion of our origins in the cosmos.” The book follows closely on the publication of “The God

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-91046804528301180732007-05-23T09:25:00.000-07:002007-05-23T09:34:39.078-07:00

(an edited version of one of Justin's Uni papers)Since the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington there has been a significant shift in the focus of international relations. In the ten years between the end of the Cold War and the start of the War on Terror academics were searching for a way in which to define the nature of relationships between nation states. Samuel Huntington

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-86442370106754726342007-05-15T16:42:00.000-07:002007-05-15T16:58:15.537-07:00

I’m not home but in the beach resort of Sochi on the Black Sea. I’m using the computer of the local priest to participate in the forum.Responding to 'Dicko':Well, Dicko, being ‘spiritual’ and quoting texts from the Bible is not necessarily opposed to being ‘realistic’. On the contrary, if you respect the different circumstances biblical personalities were living in, you’ll find that they were

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-36387177269980571122007-05-02T00:41:00.000-07:002007-05-02T00:53:23.058-07:00

"If a man commits adultery with the wife of an Israelite, both he and the woman shall be put to death. " (Leviticus 20:10)It’s a good thing that we don’t live by this one anymore Leviticus 20:10, it would have detrimental effect on the worlds population!Dave has pointed out the fact that marriage as demonstrated in western culture acts as a type of 'social thermostat' that helps prevent

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-73839357933652394892007-04-25T10:01:00.000-07:002007-04-25T10:15:57.051-07:00

On Friday the 13th of April, 2007, Mordechai Vanunu was informed that the Israeli government has renewed all the restrictions against him, for the fourth time.Although 'freed' from 18 years in jail on April 21, 2004 for telling the world Israel had gone nuclear, Vanunu has been forbidden to leave Israel, forbidden to speak to media and to foreigners under the draconian restrictions of the

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-64032342246580970462007-04-11T08:54:00.000-07:002007-04-11T09:13:31.429-07:00

I wonder how far most athletes would go without water? Not far, eh? Is this a performance-enhancing substance?Ian Thorpe has a profile and will beat the rap, I am sure. What I am not sure about is the world doping people - Dick Pound and all his hysterical mates.Most don’t know just how restrictive the rules are. You cant even have antibiotics without permission. Ventolin is a no-no without a

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-2795708583589592372007-04-03T19:04:00.000-07:002007-04-03T19:06:12.414-07:00

In Holy Week - give it 'em straight!Billy Graham was once asked his opinion on a certain tele-evangelist. His reply has always stuck in my mind as summarising one of the great dangers of becoming mealy-mouthed over the Gospel. He thought for a few seconds and said, "He preaches a plastic cross". Greetings for this Holiest of Seasons!

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-19819132397506914372007-03-28T02:13:00.000-07:002007-03-28T02:22:16.656-07:00

It’s easy to show that neither of the extreme contrary positions, the fundamentalist nor the ‘spongy’ [ie. Bishop Spong's position] one, holds. It’s a lot harder to formulate the golden middle.The fundamentalists say the literal meaning is absolute. But as the Bible often contradicts itself, you end up believing how they interpret. Unfortunately, this is contradictory in itself, because nowhere

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-75640407262766250242007-03-22T06:18:00.000-07:002007-03-22T06:28:49.147-07:00

Stephen wrote: Bp Spong in his book "Resciung the bible from fundamentalism" talks of the inerrancy of the Bible being developed because the Reformation could hardly accept the papal infallibility against which they were so busy rebelling. So they (prodestants) elevated the scriptures to the status of the "revealed word of God". One wonders first which version of the Bible was the inerrant one

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-42098055934206918832007-03-13T23:07:00.000-07:002007-03-13T23:12:56.689-07:00

Charles Darwin described the native people of Patagonia as being ‘barbarian’, but what if Darwin himself had been born into or raised by those native tribes, could he have lived any different from the way that he was brought up?How much of an influence has Social Darwinism had on the way that people viewed and lived life in the last 100 years and does it have any influence in today’s world? If

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-53269998790575193032007-02-28T07:02:00.000-08:002007-02-28T07:06:38.886-08:00

I hold a special respect for the Archangels, Raphael, Michael, Gabriel and Uriel. I often seek their images in the icons and stain glass windows of various spiritual locations that I visit. I find they provide a good point of reference for meditation and prayer.The rabinical folk of old (and many from more recent) times also understood the realm of the angels and archangels; and knowing this I am

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-29901811111633915102007-02-20T18:02:00.000-08:002007-02-20T18:04:21.872-08:00

Men dislike church, I think, because it attempts to emasculate them and no red blooded man will put up with it. The church as a generalisation has for centuries been terrified of sexuality, because they can't control it. Augustine said Adam and Eve did it without benefit of an erection. The Catholics tried and keep trying to control it and even the women are leaving. As Dave has pointed out

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1171500716819857862007-02-14T16:48:00.000-08:002007-02-14T16:51:56.833-08:00

For a father, giving life as defined by biology is a matter of minutes, so fatherhood can't be defined just by that. Fatherhood is essentially a spiritual affair.When a child calls its father, this father is called to call to the heavenly Father, on whose behalf he is a father. And he is called to help his child also to call to that heavenly Father. Of course, that's also the case when a priest

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1170206020451517432007-01-30T17:09:00.000-08:002007-01-30T17:13:40.463-08:00

One of the problems I come across when I write sermons myself is that the sermon writer is is often so much more theologically literate than the hearer. This is a generalisation of course, but like all generalisations I think it's true most of the time. The problem is that there has been a massive amount of historical work done on the Bible in the last 50 years and the question is how much of

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1169600982024260352007-01-23T17:05:00.000-08:002007-01-24T08:29:10.770-08:00

Alpha and Omega -- Immanentizing of the Eschaton.20,000,000 BC -- Recent Epoch of geeology begins; Ice Age ends; human beings spread to all parts of the world.30,000 -- First Illuminatus, Gruad, rules in Atlantis. 20,000 -- Mythical Lloigor inhabit continent of Mu.10,000 -- Approximate beginning of agriculture. Estimated date of inscriptions on stone disks by the Dropa tribe, a diminuative people

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1166567016174578852006-12-19T14:19:00.000-08:002006-12-19T14:23:36.186-08:00

When God completed the physical creation as detailed in Genesis 1 He concluded the chapter with the words “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” So if every thing was hunky dory – why, apparently more or less immediately, did He let the serpent in on the action? (The serpent is defined in Rev. 12:9 as the devil or Satan)There are only two choices – 1) He couldn

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1165896609837875852006-12-11T20:05:00.000-08:002006-12-13T08:00:38.520-08:00

The strange thing is that God starts a dialogue with that bunch of savages. He gets close to them, too close it seems. He sometimes seems to agree mysteriously with the violent wars of men and with the jealous intrigues of women…Those Pharisees and other hypocrites who accuse Jesus of talking and eating with sinners, they should not have been surprised at all – God has been behaving scandalously

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1165331251104887752006-12-05T07:03:00.000-08:002006-12-05T07:07:31.116-08:00

I have always found prayer problematic as there is no way of knowing whether there is any point to it, particularly intercessory prayer. Jacques Ellul, the great French philosopher/theologian, published a book on it where he came to the conclusion that we pray because we are commanded to. I found that helpful.However, I try and pray every day for the people on my list. Yancey's insight about

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1164798751517792302006-11-29T03:08:00.000-08:002006-11-29T03:13:04.773-08:00

I thought it might be helpful to discuss some of the good and bad bits about nuclear energy given the current events in the Australian Commonwealth Government (Canberra). Al Gore said it, now the Oz government's own advisor has said it, nukes are expensive. My position is that nukes have their place but only for the short term; which given the cost might rule them out under my own criteria.But I

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1164123565143621362006-11-21T07:35:00.000-08:002006-11-21T07:39:25.156-08:00

I’ll share some things that I come across in book entitled ‘Status Anxiety’ by Alain De Botton. I think some of this stuff is probably worth mentioning.Dependence upon an employer to earn one’s living is a relatively modern dilemma, for instance in 1800, 20 percent of the American workforce was employed by another person but by 1900 the figure was 50 percent and by the year 2000, 90 percent, so

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1162012845225440532006-10-27T22:12:00.000-07:002006-10-27T22:20:45.256-07:00

Alex Cohn, 19, is a Jewish Israeli conscientious objector and peace activist. Alex refused to serve in the Israeli army and was jailed for five months. He now guides a youth group about militarism.He wrote the following article and stated:"The issue of refusal and the war in Lebanon also affects me personally. I chose to refuse to serve in the Israeli military when I was first inducted when I

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1161272471326064832006-10-19T08:24:00.000-07:002006-10-19T08:41:12.260-07:00

On November 15, 2005, Senator Clinton stood on the Jerusalem side of The Wall and was quoted in Ha'aretz, expressing support for The Wall because it "is against terrorists" and "not against the Palestinian people." Senator Clinton did NOT visit the Little Town of Bethlehem in Occupied Territory, to see what The Wall has done to the Bethlehem economy. But I have.On New Years Eve Day 2005, I

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1160570868360857922006-10-11T05:43:00.000-07:002006-10-11T05:47:49.986-07:00

Ice core testing in the polar regions has enabled climate analysis going back some 600,000 years. Basically a core of ice is extracted reaching hundreds of metres into the ice caps and chemical analysis of air bubbles within the ice enables an assessment of the level of carbon dioxide and the temperature at the time the ice bubble was formed. The scientists can differentiate years because the ice

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1159944220718980762006-10-03T23:41:00.000-07:002006-10-03T23:43:40.726-07:00

"Zionism" has absolutely NO imperialist aims whatsoever...it was a 19th century movement of the Jews to return to the land that the ROMAN EMPIRE called Palestine."The above is a comment on one of my posts on my blog site, where I argued against equating all Jews with Zionism.The Romans called the territory Palestine ? So the term has stood for two millenia at least. Long enough to be accepted as

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1159288485153132842006-09-26T09:28:00.000-07:002006-09-26T15:42:50.486-07:00

For me, the moral discussion about combat sports is less concerned with the fighters than with the spectators!The moral risk of combative sports is not so much in the fighting itself, as in the moral disposition of those watching it. Not the fighters, but the spectators are in urgent need of education. Young boxers have trainers, who often are good teachers of life, but the spectators, whom do

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1158104069292010132006-09-12T16:31:00.000-07:002006-09-12T22:15:03.943-07:00

A young boy travelled across Japan to the school of a famous martial artist. When he arrived at the dojo he was given an audience by the Sensei "What do you wish from me?" the master asked. "I wish to be your student and become the finest kareteka in the land," the boy replied. "How long must I study?" "Ten years at least," the master answered. "Ten years is a long time," said the boy. "What if I

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1157476245415054402006-09-05T10:02:00.000-07:002006-09-05T10:19:35.523-07:00

Some more wisdom from Father EliasFighting is communication, ending in a cry for communion of all with something that is above all. That’s what the ancient Olympics were about: one day of adoration, prayer and sacrifice, five days of competition, one last day of thanksgiving.Combat sports, more than any other sport, educate not only the fighters, but also the spectators. The way you watch is the

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1156947793912871122006-08-30T07:20:00.000-07:002006-08-30T07:26:10.113-07:00

Father Elias replies to a post reflecting on suicide amongst men:I quote: “If these men could understand their own heads, these suicide rates would drop overnight!!!!!” Well, I would say it differently. Man should understand that above his own head is something else that he will never understand fully, but he is called to be its mediator. If he seeks that mysterious reality that presides over all

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1156384157894871362006-08-23T18:44:00.000-07:002006-08-23T18:49:17.906-07:00

In the year 2000, I was a first year student in an Episcopal-Methodist Formation Program for Spiritual Directors. I knew going into the program that I would never be hanging out a shingle as a SD. I was there for the curriculum; studying the saints and ways of prayer. That is also when I began to write creative spiritual literature.Before 9/11, I did not give too much thought for another beyond

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1155684006577302262006-08-15T16:14:00.000-07:002006-08-30T07:27:50.433-07:00

Father Ted writes about our need to be aware of our own agendaElsewhere - in the War on Terror debate, I've mentioned the need to be aware of our own agenda, a point which makes web discussion usefulHowever, an unconscious piece of reading with lowered (or a different agenda) has amused me since it happened:Hard at work burning the midnight oil, and several candles at the other end from the

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1155132578448578692006-08-09T07:06:00.000-07:002006-08-09T07:13:10.570-07:00

Jeff writes on the significance of 'struggle'I think that too many people (at least here in the USA) have decided that any kind of personal conflict, struggle, or suffering must be avoided at all costs.This is why mediocrity has become such a problem in our schools, workplaces, and even churches. We simply have lost the fact that to follow Christ means to suffer/struggle/fight.It seems that God's

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1154480584886136712006-08-01T17:59:00.000-07:002006-08-01T18:04:21.516-07:00

One of our forum members comments on the 'accidental' bombing of a UN facility in Lebanon:I must be more cynical. I do think the 'accident' could have came from low down [in both senses of the word] too - but perhaps not...UN being 'forced' out, to a degree is right up their street, imo...and i havent seen any sign of military disciplination if it came from low downConvenient the gloating blair/

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1153869126361525842006-07-25T16:08:00.000-07:002006-07-25T16:12:06.376-07:00

Jeremy asks, "is the thinking that everything has an opposite just the human consciousness imposing itself on reality?"I’d say that maybe this could be right in some cases. After all we could say that light is the opposite of dark, but light can simply be measured as a degree of darkness and vice versa, you could say they are one and the same thing.However, mathematically speaking we could state

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1153272376847000962006-07-18T18:24:00.000-07:002006-07-18T18:26:16.860-07:00

Michael offers a comment on the role of bishops:With my (simple) understanding of the role of bishop I think someone with a gift and passion for ministry is wasted as a bishop.In the church I attend (Anglican, Sydney, Australia) the role of a bishop seems to be supervision of the parish ministers in their designated area. That role is a necessary part of the structure that has built up around a

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1152642148326496532006-07-11T11:18:00.000-07:002006-07-11T11:22:28.343-07:00

A post from William:... I think the whole subject of contemplation, adoration or action alludes to whole lot of things that are not really simple.One of the first questions is obviously, is the metaphor used of contemplation, adoration or action reflecting what really happens when people do not get involved? I am not convinced that it is. So why do people not get involved and is it right to

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1151450449522126252006-06-27T16:17:00.000-07:002006-06-27T16:37:32.270-07:00

A reflection by Eileen of wearewideawake.orgI once wrote an OPED and stated that Vanunu was a prophet.When he read it, he emailed me and in bold letters wrote:“DON’T CALL ME THAT!”I can't help myself, I think Vanunu is a modern day prophet.Prophet’s do NOT predict the future-as much as they point out impending doom.Vanunu pointed out that WMD are underground in the Middle East and spent 18 years

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1150277440023788092006-06-14T02:27:00.000-07:002006-06-14T02:30:40.023-07:00

A letter that came in response to the article on "Lap Goch and the American Presidency" from Dewi Evans (Director,Welsh Centre for Peace, Justice, and Controlled Aggression)dear Pastor Smith,Thank for your promotion of our national heritage sport.You may like to know the following additional data on Lap Goch:the second most used weapon, after the brochfael is the lleach , known to us as the leek,

Father Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553226939340328014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113194.post-1150277095187233982006-06-14T02:20:00.000-07:002006-06-14T02:26:11.136-07:00

A Post from Rob (from Tasmania):I got Father Dave's heads-up about this forum.He says: "Here's a reasonably sobering statistic for you:In the four days since I sent out my update on the Fighting Fathers Forum, more than 400 people have visited it! How many of those persons do you think have actually made a posting? The answer: two."I say (and I think Chauncey Gardener would agree): "We like to

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