Posted by: Clayton Fopp
on 16 September, 2011
School Chaplains have been in the news a bit recently because of the ongoing High Court challenge to the Commonwealth’s National School Chaplaincy Program. Around 2000 chaplains (called Christian Pastoral Support Workers in SA) are employed in state schools across the country, with many funded, at least in part, through the Federal scheme. In 2009 a survey conducted across the nation found that 98 per cent of school principals who had a chaplain in their school wanted government funding for school chaplaincy to continue.
While the outcome of the High Court challenge to the constitutionality of the Commonwealth program is still unknown, it seems to me that it would be a great pity for the work of our chaplains, particularly those in our local schools, to be overshadowed by the legal wrangling.
Posted by: Clayton Fopp
on 19 March, 2011
I’m sure we have all been shocked and saddened by the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, not to mention the ongoing radiation threat from damaged nuclear power plants. Coming so soon after the Christchurch earthquake last month, it is easy at times to feel overwhelmed by the human toll, the scale of destruction and the huge cleanup and rebuilding operations required.
It is good to spend some time reflecting on the enormity of these issues and how clearly they speak of a creation groaning (as in Romans 8:22) and out of step with its creator as a result of human sin. I have been struck by the number of apparently non-Christian journalists saying how if we are to learn anything from these tragic events, it’s that we are not in control in our world and that something is not right. Surely we were not made for life like this!
Well the Bible agrees. This is not the life for which God intended us, and it’s not the life in store for those who trust in God’s provision and his solution for sin. We who place our hope in Jesus look forward to the day when God himself “will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
In the meantime, we feel sad. We feel something of the weight of suffering. We may feel helpless. Probably the best thing we can do, especially at a distance, is to pray for Japan and for its people. I have some friends serving as missionaries in Tokyo; Owen and Sarah Ames have been in Japan with their family for a number of years. Earlier this week I asked them to let us know some things we can be praying for. Their suggestions are below.
Pray for a speedy resolution to the nuclear issue. Already authorities are issuing warnings about how to protect against nuclear fallout.
Pray that the ongoing aftershocks will not distress people.
Panic buying has started – no petrol, bread, candles, hardly any nappies or rice. Pray that will still be able to buy necessities.
Pray for peace of mind and that we entrust our fears to God.
Pray for protection, a sense of calm and wisdom as we hear various news reports and gain information about what essential services remain affected and what, if any, steps we need to take in every situation that arises.
Especially pray for Japan! The church is very small here, but please pray that it will demonstrate God's love as it extends helping hands to the thousands and thousands in need over these next weeks and months.
Pray for the missionaries in Japan too, that we will show God’s love and compassion to those in need and have opportunities to witness to many. Pray for those suffering the devastation and loss of life of friends and loved ones caused by both the earthquake and tsunami.
Posted by: Clayton Fopp
on 15 March, 2011
Service of Prayer and Remembrance - Japan & New Zealand Earthquakes
The events we have witnessed from Japan over the weekend have been sad and sobering. The nation is dealing with a tragedy of epic proportions, especially as a result of the tsunami triggered by the earthquake measuring 8.9. Nations and peoples around the world are responding generously and willingly with assistance and support in what is a massive recovery task ahead for the Pacific nation. Alongside this there have been many calls for prayer for this country: for its citizens, for the massive rescue and recovery effort that has begun, and for all who are dealing with the grief of loss of life and livelihoods.
Posted by: Clayton Fopp
on 17 September, 2010
David Penberthy over at the Daily Telegraph has written an interesting article that begins: my faith in atheism is being sorely tested by born-agains.
It seems the so-called "new atheists" are starting to appear deeply offensive. The once gentle conviction that there is no God, and that in an ideal world everyone would stop fighting over the supremacy of their favourite imagined deity, is increasingly becoming the preserve of aggressive loudmouths.
However my favourite line is actually this one Dawkins fired off a particularly narky text - The God Delusion - which became a best-seller and spawned an explosion in the "Up Yours, God" genre...
Posted by: Clayton Fopp
on 30 July, 2010
There's a fascinating article over at Time regarding the decision to use a very confronting 
picture of Aisha, a young Afghan woman, on the front cover of the August 9 edition.
In the piece, The Plight of Afghan Women: A Disturbing Picture, Managing Editor Richard Stengel, describes some of the process by which he decided to use the photo of Aisha, who was sentenced by a Taliban commander to have her nose and ears cut off for fleeing her abusive in-laws.
Since children would see the cover on news stands, child psychologists were consulted on what the possible impact might be. Aisha's safety had to be assured, and her emotional well-being had to be taken into account.
But I thought the most interesting comment from Stengel was this: "... bad things do happen to people, and it is part of our job to confront and explain them."
Posted by: Clayton Fopp
on 30 July, 2010
Lilydale chickens are apparently running a new marketing campaign, but sadly not in Adelaide, so we won't get to see these billboards:
I think it's just such an interesting concept! OK, so I realise that the reason lots of people don't say grace is not because their food's no good, but I still like the ad!
Posted by: Clayton Fopp
on 26 July, 2010
Over at the SMH there are some great comments on sex in our culture from two great observers of our culture.
Dr Pat Weerakoon and Melinda Tankard Reist were addressing a conference in Melbourne. Dr Pat's message, as quoted by the Herald, was that "non-religious people expected the church to be fearful, ignorant, defensive, repressed and hypocritical with only one message about sex: don't do it ... while a biblical understanding of sex was deeply positive: 'do it - God made us for it.'"
Melinda Tankard Reist's comments focussed on the "pornified" world that young girls live in. She encouraged parents to take action when they see, for example, overtly sexual and offensive T-shirts for sale in shops, intended to turn young girls into sex objects.
Posted by: Clayton Fopp
on 17 February, 2010
Our first advertisement in The Courier, "the newspaper of the Adelaide Hills since 1880" is ready to hit the presses!
Our theme for the first few months of Trinity Mount Barker is "You're Welcome" and the welcome mat features prominently in the way we're introducing ourselves to people. If you live in Mount Barker, Littlehampton, Nairne, Woodside, Oakbank or Balhannah, you will probably have already received a postcard in your letter box, and you may well have seen the posters and T-shirts around the place. The welcome mat also features in our Courier ad.
Grab your copy of The Courier on Wednesday to see it in glorious colour! Or just take a look below!
Posted by: Andy Buchan
on 17 June, 2009
Perhaps you might have caught up with the latest sports trivia – soccer player Ronaldo's price tag for transferring to Real Madrid from Manchester United (click here for the wikipedia article) of around £80 million. Then there's his pay packet...
On a seemingly unrelated note I've been studying some history lately around the New Testament time – something I thought I'd never really do actually. Something that struck me almost straight away was how similar some aspects of the Greek / Roman culture are when you compare them to our own (and Western culture generally). For instance, the obsession with the perfect human body – we too almost worship it. Great stadiums are built for entertainment and huge amounts of money is spent on them - our modern versions of arenas and gymnasiums highlight how much we seem to value the 'perfect' body. We revere sport and its athletes to sometimes an unhealthy level. When did it all become more than just a game?! Anyway – the emphasis on all that pleasure and materialism is pretty similar to our world today – worn like a badge of honour by some celebrities.
