rhythm+hue
My musings, writings, observations, ideas, & thoughts about God, Life, and following Jesus in Suburbia.
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Archive of "Social Justice" Category
We can create Christians so very well, what about Disciples?
Recently Wolfgang Simson was in Melbourne for a Simple Church convention - the MP3’s of the week long conference can be downloaded from here from the convention. While Wolfgang is controversial and confrontational to many in the mainstream church, there was one point that I heard, and mulled over it and must say that I agree with it 100%.
Of course there are many more things that I agree with but it was this issue that I think becomes relevant and when viewed in the larger context of consumerist church - see my mate Mark Sayers for more on that, the issue of actually creating Disciples of Jesus is central to the state of the Church today and the fact that there is even talk of consumerist christians and church. (more…)
Posted in Australia, Church, Jesus, Kingdom, Social Justice, church life, croydon, life, protest |
2 Comments »Prayers Please!
There is s small possibility that The Dining Room could take over the old Croydon Fire station! I drove past the old station that is in use until the union works out the issues at their state-of-the-art brand new multi-million dollar station and, whether spirit-led ot not, it occurred to me that this would be a perfect place for us to move to.With the space we could offer inside meals all year around and offer the space to other churches and organisations that currently feed the homeless and poor around Croydon to utilise the facilities on other nights and times. In addition, there is the oportunity to maybe offer lunches, an oppshop, a book shop and places to distribute food, as well as run the ministry from within!
So, please, if you could pray about this remarkable opportunity to provide a space for this forgotten community within the community - that the space is suitable; and if so, that we get the space; for the funds and resources to build a kitchen and space for the community; patience; wisdom and guidance for those of us leading the ministry!
Dk just texted me that there is a very good possibility that we could get the space so, please we offer this ministry to our Lord and ask his favour on it!
Posted in Holy Spirit, Social Justice, The Dining Room, Vive Cafe, croydon, prayer |
No Comments »Review of my Placement with The Dining Room
I know this a few months late but here they are anyway! DK asked me to write a couple pieces of self-review abotu my placement with The Dining Room. I must admit that I did struggle to do so, but managed to get a couple of pages out.
If anyone is interested I am posting them here for you to read.
Posted in Diploma Coursework, Personal, Social Justice, The Dining Room, croydon |
No Comments »The Dining Room and Vive cafe on Facebook!
Recently, I started a cause of Facebook for both community meals - The Dining Room and Vive Cafe - and will be setting up a beneficiary(to raise funds for the cause soon. If you’re on Facebook - take a look and please join and spread the word.
Here’s the link - http://apps.facebook.com/causes/127577?m=46064a91&recruiter_id=4242589
Posted in Facebook, Fund raiser, Social Justice, The Dining Room, Vive Cafe, Web |
No Comments »Everything is Borrowed
From The Streets - Everything is Borrowed.
“I came into the World with nothing, and leave with nothing but love. Everything else is borrowed.”
I love the lyrics and the images. While not quite the situation of a family we are helping with at the moment - it does remind me of many of the stories I am hearing and yes, it brings tears to my eyes.
Posted in Australia, Family, Social Justice, church life, human rights, lyrics, music, youtube |
No Comments »Loosing my Religion, or I believe in a Better Way
To help set the mood for this post and the title, here are a couple of songs and their amazing videos to enjoy.
The first is REM - Loosing My Religion
Secondly, Ben Harper - I Believe in a Better Way
(more…)Posted in Australia, Blogging, Church, Grace, Jesus, Personal, Social Justice, book, church planting, croydon, oikos, prayer |
No Comments »Getting over our “little kingdoms!”
I visited the VicRelief Foodbank yesterday to get inducted for the Dining Room. It was quite a humble experience, but it was something that came up in the induction that has bothered me.
The foodbank has over 700 agencies listed as being able to access the food. It came up in conversation that there are quite a few churches and agencies getting food from just the Croydon and Mooroolbark and surrounds areas. It was suggested that perhaps a group of these agencies could combine to do a “shop”, saving time, fuel, money and the staff and resources of the food bank itself. The problem is, we aren’t aware of the other churches handing food and welfare, some meal services sure, but on the whole, none of the myriad of agencies and ministries in this area know each other, let alone work for the same causes, and with the same motivation.
Even within the churches serving meals such as the Dining Room, there is fierce rivalry about days and spaces, money, food and people we serve in God’s name! This is sickening and disgraceful to say the very least.
After some thought on this, I thougt I might do a “census” of the ministries and welfare services within the area. I did one earlier for the churches in the Mooroolbark area earlier out of curiousity and disgust to find almost 15 churches in the one suburb of Mooroolbark, yet not working together in an area rife with poverty, homelessness and other social justice issues. I’ll post the PDF later when back home (on the iPhone at the moment).
It saddens me, and I am sure God, that we cannot work together in unity! Imagine the impact combined outpourings of love and resources could have on the community and imagine what impact that would have on the Kingdom! We, and I mean, those of us who profess to follow Jesus, have to get over ourselves and the need for our own little kingdoms! This means accepting others and getting over the man-made doctrines and crap we call denominations, to start outpouring the love we have been shown through Jesus!
I’ll be praying about doing this census, but would appreciate your prayers and thoughts!
Sorry for any spelling errors - using the Wordpress app on the iPhone!
Addendum: PDF of Map of Mooroolbark Churches Heres the map I mention earlier about the known churches in the immediate area.
Posted in Australia, Church, Jesus, Kingdom, Personal, Social Justice, church life, croydon, missional |
2 Comments »Sharing the heart and soul of The Dining Room
Myself, David K, and three other volunteers from The Dining Room spoke tonight at a gathering of local churches that have joined together to provide some welfare assistance as a group in their area. We were invited to speak about The Dining Room to a group of church leaders, volunteers and people who had been actively providing welfare assistance for the past ten years. (more…)
Posted in Australia, Jesus, Kingdom, Social Justice, church life, croydon, prayer |
No Comments »Channel 7 sucks… ok, maybe crass, but they stuffed up bad! (Again and again!)
I am supporter of GetUp, the social action group that rallies Australians to get together and make a statement about many issues that the Government needs to pay attention too.
GetUp organised to air a commercial urging our Prime Minister to not be silent about Tibet. GetUp raised support to produce and screen the ad during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games. The ad was professionally produced, airtime booked professionally etc, etc but….. it failed to air. Here’s what GetUp had to say about this. (more…)
Posted in Australia, GetUp!, Media, Social Justice, Television, failure |
1 Comment »GetUp!- Mandatory Detention Campaign
While there have been some fantastic bits of news about the Federal Government changing Mandatory Detention brought in by the Howard Gov’t, the opposition (gee - the old Howard gov’t) wants to block it. Please add your name to the petition urging them and the governemt to take this through to the end and end mandatory detention for immigration and assylum seekers.
This video is awesome and helps make the message clear.
Go here to sign up!
Posted in Australia, GetUp!, Social Justice, human rights |
No Comments »St. Vinnies - This Time it’s Personal - really?
You may know I have previously had a rant about the quality of the food that the local St. Vinnies hands out to those in need. However, I have just seen the latest ad campaign that they will be running and want to share it here and let you know that while I think it is great, the campaign might raise funds and tickle the tear-ducts and wallets of Mr & Mrs Aussie Consumer, but that means nothing if the services you are providing are given with the same thoughtfulness and effort that the fund raising is made with.
As a Catholic charity, I would hope that the main motivation of the group is to serve and love like Jesus - and not contribute to the bottom line of the Catholic church (or that matter any church group, I’m not trying to pick on the Catholic church especially!). (more…)
Posted in Australia, Media, Social Justice, TV Ad |
No Comments »Come On!
Hey all, please take the time to click on the lips to the right of here and support me to shut up for the Homeless! So far, I have raised $2 - can’t we do better than that! Please support this cause!
Click here - http://www.everydayhero.com.au/Neal_Taylor
Posted in Australia, Fund raiser, Social Justice, church life, human rights, missional |
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