pray.

Recently Colin Beaven (aka No Impact Man) posted this.

I liked it.

I have found myself in the place he describes many of times.

Sometimes to me, prayer is nothing more than throwing my hands up in the air in confusion. I like how Colin doesn't imply that prayer is more valid than a Agnostic who hopes or aspires or a Buddhist who chants. The evident truth is we're all searching, for truth, for answers, for solutions.

Check it out below...

peace

nh.

People ask me all the time what they can do to help. I have a list of things that you can find here. But there are times when it seems like nothing I can possibly do on that list or any thing else help the world. I don't mean to sound pious, as if I spend all my days trying to figure out how to help--I don't.

But there are times when I become aware of so many things that seem to be going wrong and I feel powerless in the face of it all. At that moment, there seems like there is only one thing left I can do: I pray.

I know this might offend some people. It will offend some people because the idea that prayer is an answer to the world's problems sounds weak and overly supernatural. It will offend others because the idea that prayer is a last resort instead the first sounds like an error.

But I am not talking about what other people do or should do. I am not talking about how other people or even I should do things. I am just talking about what comes naturally to me.

When it seems like there is nothing left to do, I pray. And because I pray, I feel I am doing something that is, at least, better than nothing. There is always one thing left to do. And because I pray silently and privately, and because I know some other people do so too, I feel solidarity with them.

"Prayer" is just the way of talking about what I do from my own spiritual perspective. An agnostic or atheist, at that point, might simply hope or aspire. Perhaps a Buddhist would chant.

I know that I'm risking sounding like a crackpot to some people, that I'm taking the risk of sounding irrational. But here is the thing, I think we--meaning the human race--has come to depend too much on its rationality. We have come to worship our brains when what is best about us may be our heart. We imagine that intelligence is our highest function when, in fact, that status may belong to our compassion.

So I figure I should pray. Or hope. Or aspire. I'm not saying that I should stop doing everything else, but maybe there is something to the intentionality that comes when we privately aspire, through the function of our compassion, to do something great.

Anyone want to join in?

Australia.

Today is 26th January and a day to acknowledge the original custodians of the land.

Judith Durham has penned an alternate version for of the national anthem for contemporary Australia... the link and lyrics are below.

Australia, celebrate as one, with peace and harmony.
Our precious water, soil and sun, grant life for you and me.
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts to love, respect and share,
And honouring the Dreaming, advance Australia fair.
With joyful hearts then let us sing, advance Australia fair.

Australia, let us stand as one, upon this sacred land.
A new day dawns, we’re moving on to trust and understand.
Combine our ancient history and cultures everywhere,
To bond together for all time, advance Australia fair.
With joyful hearts then let us sing, advance Australia fair.

Australia, let us strive as one, to work with willing hands.
Our Southern Cross will guide us on, as friends with other lands.
While we embrace tomorrow’s world with courage, truth and care,
And all our actions prove the words, advance Australia fair,
With joyful hearts then let us sing, advance Australia fair.

And when this special land of ours is in our children’s care,
From shore to shore forever more, advance Australia fair.
With joyful hearts then let us sing, advance . . Australia . . fair.

new.

Happy New Year!

No Impact Week

get into it!

peace

nh

upside-down.

Happy Silly Season everybody.

root.

Can all our social problems be unified?

Looking at two social problems 'Abortion' - a distinctive of the social conservatives and 'Climate Change' - a dinstinctive of the social progressives have more in common than one might imagine. I'm not trying to give these issues equal weight, but looking at something at the heart of each issue.

For a pro-choice supporter, a woman has the right to choose (before I continue I am an advocate for human rights especially those who rights have been marginilised by society, and I am not anti-abortion from state-rule, I believe we ought to address the roots of the issue of abortion, not the symptom itself). However what is lacking is reponsibility and I'm not solely referring to a woman's responsibiliy, I'm also referring to the responsibility of a man. So carelessness + lack of responsibility of both genders may lead to an abortion.

However in comparison environmental issues, namely climate change a free market and private enterprise supporter might ask the state ought to stay out of private business, claiming their own right to make decisions and perhaps pollute as they feel is neccesary. Again there is a lack of responsibility, and decisions may only benefit the pockets of the CEO. So again carelessness + lack of responsibility might lead to making capital at the expense of the environment.

Although this is only one example, is it fair to maybe argue that there is a unified cause to all our social problems??

Perhaps?

copenhagen.

here's definatley something to consider... based on the idea that climate change is human induced.

prayer.

With world leaders gathering for the United Nations conference on Copenhagen this week, I feel it's appropriate to keep them and the conference in our prayers. A prayer for world leaders is also a prayer for the Earth.

Brian Mclaren and Tim Costello have put together a prayer for Christians (and beyond) to pray.

Most gracious God, creator of all good things, we thank you for planet Earth and all creatures that share it. Have mercy on us, Lord.

Through ignorance and carelessness we have poisoned clean air and pure water. For monetary gain we have reduced verdant forests to barren wastes. In our craving for more we have plundered your beloved creation and driven many of our fellow creatures to extinction. Only recently have we begun to realize the dangerous future into which our current patterns of consumption and waste are driving us, especially in relation to Earth’s climate. Only recently have we begun to see our need to find a wiser and better way of life in the future, before it is too late and our choices are limited by the consequences of inaction.

We who join in prayer today believe the time has come, Lord. Please guide us now, our God, at this critical moment in history, to better fulfill our role as stewards of this fragile planet. Guide the leaders of nations who (will) gather in Copenhagen (on Dec. 6). Give them courage to set noble goals that reach beyond short-range political expediency, short-term economic profit, and short-sighted self-interest. Impress upon their conscience our sacred duty to bequeath to our children and grandchildren a healthy and thriving environment rather than a world in climate crisis.

If our leaders fail, Lord, if they fail to take the necessary action, they will violate both our trust and your calling to use their power for the common good. If they fail, every person will be affected, including generations not yet born. Rouse us all to action, for we are all woven together in the fabric of creation.

This is the moment, God, when a great turning of hearts must begin. So through this prayer, we of many traditions who follow Christ — joined by friends and neighbors of many faiths — unite our hearts in a cry for change. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray in the name of Christ, through whom you have given yourself to the whole world in incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection. Amen.

Conspiracy.

This is just a really good idea...

NO!

Last night when I was wondering the barren lands of the world wide web I came across this article titled 'Does the Cross mean "No"? .

It certainly was an interesting read by someone who seems to uphold the authority of scripture.

sand.

Was with Mosaic community on Sunday night - James Bryant showed us this video.



Again... theres something special about the relationship between suffering and art.

Oh - and I've finished exams for the year *sigh of relief*.

nh