Australia's shame. Is there discipleship in this country?

Please listen to the story of

Frank Anderson and his wife, Mary Johnny.

Who are we who live in Australia

that we can not do better than this?

Frank and Mary are not alone

Their case is not even the worst scenario.

They live in a mainstream town

Tennant Creek

where half the population are white.

I used to live there.

This sort of thing happened then.

I had no solution then -

however we have a government now

who professes to be doing something

and is failing.

Without our pestering,

I believe it will continue to fail.

The dominant values of our society

are said to be of Judaeo-Christian tradition.

The Koran, sacred book of Islam,

is connected to that tradition as well.

And this is what the Book of the Prophet Isaiah

says in Chapter 48.

This is a forceful modern paraphrase

and Yahweh is speaking:

This is the kind of fast day I'm after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I'm interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.

Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You'll call out for help and I'll say,

'Here I am.'

Australians,

just take a look at yerself

Horns of a dilemma: Diarmuid O'Murchu and The Lord's Prayer

On the horns of a dilemma
(and I don't mean the poor jailed goat)!

Over at Diarmuid O' Murchu's site I found a lovely version of The Lord's Prayer supposedly "based on the original Aramaic - source unknown". I like the prayer. It has struck a chord with me. However....

and it is a big however, Michael Booker at the National Association of Scholars site gives the background to the prayer.

Ah, caution!
I think I should bear in mind what Michael Booker has to say.

But, as a prayer, I think it's not bad. And striking a chord in me - as it undoubtedly does with others - bears witness to our thoughts on the universe, idealistic or psuedo-poetic though they be. So I pass it on here - but without the claims for the 'original' Aramaic.

The Lord’ s Prayer

(modern version by Neil Douglas-Klotz)

O Cosmic Birther of all radiance and vibration! Soften the ground of our being
and carve out a space within us where your presence can abide.

Fill us with your creativity so that we may be empowered
to bear the fruit of your mission.

Let each of our actions bear fruit in accordance with your desire.

Endow us with the wisdom to produce and share
what each being needs to grow and flourish.

Untie the tangled threads of destiny that bind us,
as we release others from the entanglement of past mistakes.

Do not let us be seduced by that which would divert us from our true purpose,
but illuminate the opportunities of the present moment.

For you are the ground and fruitful vision, the birth, power and fulfilment,
as all is gathered and made whole once again.

Bonhoeffer 4 - update

Bonhoeffer 4 update

From late last night

The four have all been charged with tresspass.

Jessica and Simon have also been charged with obstruction.

They are currently at the Rockhampton watchhouse where they will be held over night

after refusing to agree to police bail.

They will appear in the Rockhampton court tomorrow morning.
A small crowd gathered outside the watchhouse as the four were brought in.

~~~~~~

The Christian activists who spent over 30 hours on the Shoalwater Training Area during the Talisman Saber live firing exercise will spend a night in the Rockhampton watchhouse.

The four activists, Margaret Pestorius, Jarrod McKenna, Jessica Morrison and Rev. Simon Moyle were arrested this afternoon at the Shoalwater military base and charged with Trespass. Ms Morrison and Rev. Moyle were also charged with obstruction.

All four have refused police bail and will be held overnight in the Rockhampton watchhouse. They are scheduled to appear in court tomorrow (Wednesday) morning.

“We are relieved to know they are safe however we are concerned that the military failed to acknowledge that there were people on the base during the live firing stage of Talisman Saber. Clearly there were and yet the exercise was not halted. This is despite the protocol advised by Air Commander Meier who put it on the record in Parliament earlier this year that the exercise would stop if any one was found to be on the base,” said spokesperson Ms Treena Lenthall.

The four are expected to appear in court at 9.15am Wednesday 15 July.
For further information please contact Treena Lenthall 0447 851 858

Talisman Saber 09 - Bonhoeffer 4 on base - #2

Tbe Bonhoeffer 4 are at large

in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area

1.51pm update from David Pocock

Captain Christopher Hawkins of the ADF has indicated they remain unconvinced that the Bonhoeffer 4 are on the Shoalwater Bay Training Area despite photographic and video evidence (aired on television last night) clearly showing them on the base.

“We are concerned about the lack of action taken by the military regarding the four people on the base. We have grave fears for their safety as live firing has commenced at Shoalwater Bay. We call on the ADF to follow the decision by Air Commander Meier and cease the bombing while people’s lives are at risk,” said spokesperson Treena Lenthall.

Ms Julie Moyle, the wife of Rev Simon Moyle who is one of the four, also said, “ADF have had proof for more than 24 hours that my husband and three others are in Shoalwater Bay. The ADF needs to stop denying and put Commander Meier’s words into action and stop the exercises today.”

Ms Moyle and their three children will join other supporters in delivering further video footage and photographs which show that the four are on the base to the ADF. They will meet with Captain Hawkins at the Rockhampton Military Barracks at 2.30pm.

** The full transcript of Air Commander Meier’s comments in Parliament can be found here: http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/content/transcript/defence-white-paper-talisman-sabre-swine-flu-preparedness

We'll continue to keep you updated, and online video footage should be available later in the day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Networker and Melbourne Peace Activist Dale Hess

advises that yesterday's article by Barney Swartz

has gone big time -

picked up by CommonDreams.org

You can read it here.

Thoughts for troubled times - 9

This picture came from here

Therefore, God-of-the-Angel-Armies says:
"Watch this!
I'll melt them down and see what they're made of.
What else can I do with a people this wicked?
Their tongues are poison arrows!
Deadly lies stream from their mouths.
Neighbor greets neighbor with a smile,
'Good morning! How're things?'
while scheming to do away with him.
Do you think I'm going to stand around and do nothing?"
God's Decree.
"Don't you think I'll take serious measures against a people like this?

Book of Jeremiah 9:7-9
The Message

Thoughts for troubled times - 8

The picture came from here

You trust in deceptive words to no avail.

Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to false gods...

and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say

"We are saved! We are delivered!"

-only to go on doing all these abominations!

Thoughts for troubled times - 5

. ...from the least to the greatest of them,

every one is greedy for unjust gain;

and from prophet to priest,

every one deals falsely.

They have healed the wound of my people lightly,

saying, 'Peace, peace,'

when there is no peace.

Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?

No, they were not at all ashamed;

they did not know how to blush.

Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;

at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown

The Book of Jeremiah 6: 13-15

Thoughts for troubled times - 3

Whether we like it or not, one way or another, we are called to account for our actions.

It almost certainly will happen in our own lifetime.

It certainly will happen when this lifetime is oveer.

~~~~~~~~~

Your ways and your doings

have brought this upon you.

This is your doom, and it is bitter;

it has reached your very heart.

The Book of Jeremiah 4:18