RECORD.net.au - Editorials

Every nation

As fun as cultural diversity might be when it comes to combined church lunches, it’s also a point of friction.

Sacrifice

My family left Australia when I was two years old to serve our first term of mission service.

Quest for peace

Can we only find peace when we go off the beaten track? What happens when we return to our busy lives?

Reclaim the third space

It seems as our societies “grow up” our sacred spaces are shrinking.

Most of us—as average church members, without extensive medical training—are aware of fundamental health concepts, to the point where we would be ready to offer help to somebody struggling physically in certain situations. But what about somebody struggli

So far, some good

Good things come to those who wait I suppose, and here we are at the 150th anniversary of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The strength of women

Clunk! She heard the dull, metallic thud as the medical staff walked away. She tried to ask the doctors what sex the baby was, tried to find out why she had miscarried.

A tale of two movies

“All art is propaganda. It is universally and inescapably propaganda; sometimes unconsciously, but often deliberately, propaganda,” or so said American author Upton Sinclair.

War and peace

Again this year, the approach of Anzac Day is leaving me conflicted.

An ounce of prevention

When I was in Howick (New Zealand), that old graveyard beckoned me in. I’m not morbid, but there’s something oddly appealing about reading gravestones from a bygone age.

Fallen idols

I’ve got a photo of him on my computer desktop—the elite athlete at full stretch as he bounds down the track on carbon fibre springs. They called him the Blade Runner, “the fastest man on no legs”; Oscar Pistorius, the first amputee to compete in an Olymp

Too fat for church

People in the South Pacific live well. Apparently too well. According to the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO), who I suppose should know about such things, we are one of the fattest regions on earth. Really? Yes!

Outrageous

What was he thinking? Why would Moses risk his salvation for a sin-laden people like the Israelites?

Crucifixion candidates

You may not know who Woody Guthrie was, but you probably know a few of the songs he wrote and the artists he influenced. After all, it was Guthrie who wrote “this land is your land, this land is my land . . .”, and among those he influenced are Bob Dylan,

Creator’s song

Nature can inspire, refresh and revitalise. It’s like a Sabbath space, away from the hustle and bustle, disconnected from technology and connected to the Creator.

Do I even know you?

“Your uncle is a fool!”, or so wrote one of my “super fans” last month—in rather poor handwriting I must say. In fairness to my uncle, my super fan’s point was not about him, but rather that I am a fool just like my uncle.

Glad to be different

A few years ago a moderately amusing list entitled “you know you grew up in an Adventist home if . . .” was sent to me.

Cities, hope and despair

What images come to mind when you think of a city? Bright lights and bustling crowds? Historic architecture and harbourside apartments? Food, arts and culture?

Truth

It was John Lennon who sang passionately, “Just give me some truth, all I want is the truth”.

Kick in the pants

I’ve been to a lot of weddings lately. As a friend, it’s great. I get a kick out of seeing the joy and elation on the faces of people I love. But as a single man, it’s not so great, as I’m usually on the receiving end of a few kicks in the pants.

RECORD increases longevity (maybe)

I’ve been poring over the RECORD research report and the data is impressive.

More lasagne?

Lasagne. It’s the highlight of a Trinity Gardens (SA) church lunch. The locals know that you have to be quick or you’ll miss out.

Resilience

I mowed the lawn two weeks ago. Nothing remarkable, I suppose, but I always feel a sense of pride when the job is done.

Made to worship

“You and I were made to worship”—it’s a lyric from contemporary Christian songwriter Chris Tomlin. Maybe you’ve sung it at church.

Show the world

I suppose it’s showing my age, but one of my favourite Christmas songs is “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”

Where is thy sting?*

On December 13, 2009, my dad passed away. I’ll never forget the moment the phone call came through or the searing pain that pierced my heart and literally brought me to my knees.

Pacific fire

It’s no secret that I love America and Americans, and that I’m a dual citizen. But when an Aussie event is dominated to [an immense] degree by American speakers, something strikes me as a bit off.

Just be still

Part of my role is to produce a devotional column for the RECORD website. At the moment I am struggling with writer’s block and a sense of disconnection from God. I have nothing written and my brain is not functioning how I’d like it to.

Casualty of duplicity

I knew it! Yes, I know it’s ungracious to say so, but it’s the truth.

Ready for revival?

Do you know what your spiritual gift is?

Daughters of Zion

It doesn’t happen every morning. But it does happen every morning when things go to plan.

Dress shirts and promises

Seven-and-a-half months ago I got a job at RECORD.

Spare the rod; cherish the child

On a bright blue day, I took my girls along to experience the joys of Sydney’s Luna Park. And then, just like that carefree dream never occurred, something terrible happened.

Hooray for humble hypocrites

I’m a hypocrite.

Thieves and rust

I was angry. I felt violated, anxious, vexed, vengeful, helpless and disbelieving all at the same time. We had been robbed.

The accidental editor

I was appointed editor of the RECORD last month. Surprised? Not half as surprised as I am!

Filling the father gap

"A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle," or so quipped Australian activist Irina Dunn.

Strong and proud

From the ’76 convertible Cadillac El Dorado I drove when we lived in California to the Ford Mustang I rattled around in during my first year of college—until it blew up.

They’re cheering us on

It’s been said that the front pages of newspapers catalogue humanity’s failures, while the back pages—the sports pages—tell us about humanity’s achievements.

Baptizvah

Have you ever been to a bar or bat mitzvah?

God’s mysterious work

Since arriving at the Adventist Media Network, I’ve experienced so many things –big and small– that have unexpectedly contributed to our mission.

The price of prejudice

“You baby killer!” yelled the schoolboys at Julie as she walked to her Adventist school in Strathfield in 1980.

Drifting and renewal

The worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church has, in recent times, been called to earnestly seek the Lord, requesting of Him refreshing and renewal.

Gone fishing?

Those eyes. Eyes he had seen burning with fierce anger at the injustice of the world. Eyes he had seen watering with compassion, bursting with kindness.

Guts and glory

When I was a boy, I had one toy I valued over all others: Action Man.

The people perish

I recently read an article entitled “Churchgoers keen to take a pew despite their disbelief” in the Sydney Morning Herald online (January 7). It left me stunned.

Atheist’s rhetorical ruse

I [used to believe] I was the one on the right track and [atheists] would burn in hell. I’m [now] happy to say . . . I’m going to burn with you.”—Teresa MacBain, former United Methodist Church pastor, and self-proclaimed atheist convert.

Mums

In his most raw and revealing song, John Lennon sang plaintively the words, “Mother, you had me, but I never had you, I, I wanted you, but you didn’t want me...”

My family

In 1974, my father dealt with the grief of losing his mother by writing a family history.

Remembering the Anzacs

Every morning I pass my district’s four-sided war memorial. On three sides the names of those who served in World War I are etched in stone. The fourth side lists the names of those who never returned. It’s painful to read through the list and see people