Does violence beget peace?

I don’t know a great deal about the politics that are surrounding the conflict that is currently occurring in Israel and Lebanon, so I won’t say anything about that. However I will say that I cannot agree with the killing of people as a way of assuring a political position in ANY circumstance. Show me a war that ever brought about peace? How many wars do we have to fight in our world before we realise that killing does NOT resolve the conflicts within our conscience? Albert Einstein said “It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder.” If you want to realise the brutality of war then click here, however I warn you that these images are graphic and disturbing as they illustrate the horror that armed conflict brings upon people's lives, if they survive the bombardment.
Simon

5 things to be thankful for

Last night at church we were spending some time in groups talking about how we connect with God spiritually. Many suggestions were made and it was great to see all the different ways techniques that people used to connect with God. One, however, that stood out to me was process that one person used nightly. They would sit down each night and write on a piece of paper five things that they could be thankful for. This idea really struck a chord with me. It was simple, yet a profoundly insightful way of seeking the spiritual in our everyday experience. So, what are the five things that I was thankful for on Sunday?

1. Friendship. Having people around you who care for you.
2. Family. I had a phone call from my mum who I hadn't spoken to for a while. Great to hear from her.
3. Spirituality through sport. I love riding, and it's a time that I spend in silence and a space where I meet with God through creation.
4. My wife. She was away for the weekend and it was great to see her again on Sunday night.
5. Conversations with my wife. She is such a deep and thoughtful person and I love talking with her and sharing our life together.

So there you go! My aim is to write five things I am thankful for each day of the week. However I definitely won't be blogging them all, I don't have time, but I thought that this was at least a good start.

Encouragement is not a dirty word

It always strikes me as strange the way our Aussie culture is determined to cut down the "tall poppy". We, as Australians, tend to relate to each other (males in particular) in such a way that, if taken literally, is very damaging to the self esteem. You may make fun of your mate because he spends time with his girlfriend rather than "the boys". I'm not sure if this is a defense mechanism; "If someone else is being made fun of, then at least it can't be me". Or could it be a way of connecting with a group of people; "I've got nothing that I think I can say here, perhaps if we joke about someone then we'll all feel like we can contribute". Another possibility is that these thoughts are subconscious, and therefore are habitual. Either way, I can't help but feel a little repulsed by the negative associations we banter around as a way of having a friendship. So, I'm on the encouragement bandwagon now, but I know it'll be a struggle. I say this because I too also fall into the trap of poking fun as a way of sharing a laugh together and connecting. Sarcasm is very dangerous because the interpretation of the words used rely entirely on intonation; one slip and the joke becomes a condemnation of an individual. I'm feeling challenged to rise above the sarcasm and cynicism and be a person who encourages first. This is a call, I believe, to being an authentic person, and an authentic Christian.