As I awaited the furniture removalist van to arrive today I became glued to the TV set watching Steve Irwin's memorial service live from Australia Zoo. Looking past the impressiveness of the PM's speech and the celebrity condolences, I was moved to tears by the life and legacy of Steve. The overarching impacts on me were inspiring. Steve was known throughout the world for being real. So many of the tributes shared by those in the service or played in the service expressed his real bravery. As Kevin Costner so well shared, his bravery was not in his skillful handling of mighty creatures, but his honesty in a world so fearful and critical of honesty. He was genuine, real.Secondly, he knew his purpose in life. In one interview of Steve replayed, he shared passionately that he knew he was put on this earth for the purpose and message of conservation of wildlife. In another clip, with broken rib and busted fingers, he ecstatically announced he had achieved his mission. No doubt as he stood before his Lord and Saviour this last week (he became of follower of Jesus just one month before his passing), God would have be saying to him, "Well done good and faithful servant. You have accomplished what I asked of you." He knew his purpose, and he was passionate about achieving it.Thirdly, he was loud and far-reaching in his message. Steve purposed to educate the world on conservation and bring it to the agenda. Russell Crowe shared in his tribute that Steve's passing had been on the news in America for a full week. He said of this, "This shows, mate, that you got your message across." What a powerful statement about Steve life. He got his message across, to all corners of the globe. He got his message across, and he got it wide-spread.FInally, Steve was known to be a profoundly faithful and loving husband, father, son and friend. He was labelled a great family man and mate by so many, that they even declared that Steve had been an example for them in their own relationships. I can't think of anything more powerful. He was loving and faithful to his family and friends.Steve's life impacted incredibly on thousands of people and animals around the world. And his legacy, I admit, has imbeded into my own life. As David Wenham recited in a poem at the end of the service, it is now our turn, it is up to us to honour all he did and was about, by continuing in his work.I don't know about you, but I want to continue in his work. I want to be real, to be passionate about my purpose in life, to get my message across, and to be loving and faithful in my relationships. May God bless all those who are grieving Steve at this time.
I can't believe the devastation we allow to happen in our world!?! Only twelve or so years after the horrendous genocide in Rwanda, history is repeating. Genocide is now happening in Sudan and the Congo, and on a small scale in Zimbabwe and the international community is silent again.This has been going on for months, if not years, and I am embarrased that I have only found out about it this week. Embarrased because our national media hasn't taken it up as an issue. Emabarrased because our churches are not "speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves". Embarrased that our governments are keeping their attentions focused on our own national interests.Please join me in writing to or visiting our local federal politicians: fervently petitioning them to move our governments to put pressure on these countries that are allowing genocide within their borders. When we are silent, out hands are also stained with the blood of the innocent.
I have been undergoing the huge task of moving house this week. It is always such a draining and daunting experience. Though, the opportunity to set up a new home is always a joy for me! With getting married at the end of the year, David and I have bought a house in outer Melbourne, and are now setting it up. It is amazing the bargains you can find on eBay and smaller furniture stores when you're strapped for cash! Just awaiting the backing-loading truck to arrive...
In my Aid & Development class last night we were looking at the church's involvement and beliefs over the past 2000 years in Christian mission, with particular discussion on the relationship between evangelism and social action. It seems that both have been seen as important and revelant expressions of Christian faith, as expressed by Augustine, Basil the Great, John Crysostom, the Wesleys, Wilberforce, the Booths, Martin Luther King Jr, etc. But for some reason, that understanding changed early 20th century. Since then with WCC and Lausanne conferences and the like discussing this relationship between evangelism and social action, the debate has raged for close to a century. Surely 1900 years theology and practice, let alone the teachings and examples of Christ himself (eg. Matthew 5-7; Matthew 28:16-20; Matt 21:33-46; Matthew 25; John 4) are enough evidence to prove that both one's verbal and nonverbal message express their convictions and faith!?As we were discussing these in class, I began to ponder the third role of the churches mission: ecological action. When I was once asked why I considered the activities of the church to include environmental welfare, I replied, "God gave people three commands at the beginning of time: worship God; love people; steward the earth."When we consider the kingdom of God, surely the earth has its place. After all, Scripture does talk about giving the earth sabbatical years of rest (Torah) for the sake of nutrients and allowing the poor and animals to eat of its produce freely; and it talks about the earth groaning because of the corporate sins of the people, such as land and resource exploitation, which in turn makes the rich more greedy and the poor more oppressed. Even the concept of Jubilee as discussed in Leviticus of the Torah gives the earth a sabbath of sabbaths (50 years), and the poor get their family land back after losing it through debt, sickness or whatever.God's heart goes out the earth and poor, oppressed people, and he promises to reverse injustices at the end of time. But he also promises to judge us for our conduct. Are we, am I, living a life that reflects my faith in God? Am I, are we, showing his concern through the ethical, just, and life-giving lives we live? When will ecological action enter the debate?
On Saturday I went on a journey with a few friends across to Manly. Its time again for the Manly Arts Festival, and there are many exhibitions, etc. all happening over there this month. Our destination (other than an ice-cream shop) was the William Street Studios, Fairlight. We came to experience the Create to Advocate exhibition. You check out all the details at: http://www.smallboatbigsea.org/arts/ :
"30,000 children die each day from extreme poverty. We have the resources, knowledge and opportunity to end this shameful situation. The Make Poverty History Campaign calls world leaders to honour their commitments to the Millennium Development Goals, an eight-point plan for tackling poverty. Now it's our turn to speak up through art to Make Poverty History. Small Boat's Annual Spring Art Exhibition this year will be in partnership with Micah Challenge and Make Poverty History as part of the Manly Arts Festival. Exhibition Opening times can be found below. Selected art works will be chosen to be exhibited in Parliament House in Canberra for International White Band Day."
I was very impressed by most of the art I saw. There were genuine expressions of the plight of many impoverished people around our world. No doubt the Canberra exhibition will be bigger and better. I hope our politicians view the exhibition and respond in time for the election in 2007, increasing the aid budget towards the target they agreed to (0.7% GNP rather than the 0.3% they give now).The exhibition continues next weekend, click the link above to find out where and when.
David and I are getting married in December, which gives me great joy (as well as a lot of organising to do)! We have bought a modest house and look forward to setting up home there before flying off to live in Africa. Fortunately for us, the house is so modest that the rent that will come in will pay the mortgage!
God is always good in the ways He blesses us. But He likes us to surrender all our dreams and aspirations to Him first. I can tell you, it is much more rewarding when after letting go to God your dreams and aspirations, He brings greater and more fulfilled dreams and passions into your life!! He brings more than we could ever possibly hope for, achieve or imagine. And He does it after we have been humbled before Him and loving to towards others (less focused on ourselves).
Here is the photo of David proposing to me, after he flew to Sydney as a "surprise". He stayed at my parents (surprising them aswell) and had to hide behind the couch when I popped in for a few minutes unannounced. Too funny!
