The Creativity Within

"[T]he chief sources of variation in metrical composition reside within the norm itself. Indeed, modulation is possible only so long as the meter is respected. Only by adhering to the basic structure of the line can the poet achieve, within it, arresting or pleasing rhythms that point meaning and tone."

- T. Steele, All the Fun’s in How You Say a Thing (Athens: Ohio University Press, 1999) 39.

It’s within boundaries that we are most beautiful, creative and fulfilled, and, in a sense, most free. This is true in poetry, dance, music – and life. We have been made to live life under God and within his boundaries, and that is a beautiful way to live. It’s when we think that we will be happier free of his boundaries that we lose these things. It’s a discordant, degrading sort of freedom.

You Can Be Anti-Abortion and Pro-Women

Anti-abortionists are sometimes accused of persecuting troubled women. It's true that we do want abortion to be made a criminal act. This is because we think that aborting foetuses is killing new baby boys and girls. But it's about way more than criminalisation. We'd love to see Australia (and other countries) be the sort of place where newly conceived babies are actually treasured and protected; where Mums in crisis receive good support; where overseas travel, career advancement or buying a house aren't prioritised over children's lives.

People are against abortion because they care for the vulnerable. So the assumption that people who are against abortion don't care about distressed, confused, vulnerable Mums makes no sense. Of course, so much energy can be spent protecting babies that none is left for their Mums. This is bad and I'm sorry for it. But I don't think the answer is to forget the kids and focus only on their Mums, especially as having an abortion is often a profoundly traumatic and distressing experience for women.

Quiet Time Guilt

Thanks to Christine for this (facebook) link.

Wise Advice

I've received all sorts of wise advice, but here's some that sticks with me.

• Your relationship with God is like any relationship - you have to MAKE TIME FOR IT.
  
• Don't be modest about your godliness - for it's not your own work, it is God who is keeping and growing you.
• The key to not burning out in ministry is to have a narrow focus.
  
• It's better to be profoundly broken and weak than to put on a brave face.
  
• To die is to live!

I thank the people who God used to give me such good advice.

What advice has stayed with you?

Manners

I read somewhere recently that “sorry”, “please” and “thank you” should be the hallmarks of a Christian life. I totally agree. “Sorry”, that honest, humble and contrite confession of sin and breaking of relationship. “Please”, the humble requesting of what is the other’s to give. And “thank you”, the happy gratitude for kindness received. I’d like to teach these things to my kids – for courtesy’s sake as well.

Response to the Victorian Abortion Law Reform Bill

I wrote this as a letter to last weekend's Age and Australian. I don't think it got in.

A friend of mine who is 32 weeks pregnant found out last week that she has gestational diabetes. So she is changing her whole diet to ensure that her baby's development won't be harmed. Another friend gave birth prematurely. Her baby girl was cared for in a neonatal ward until she was well enough to go home.

We live in a country where we value and strive for the life and health of babies like these, but at the same time we are happy to allow the destruction of other unborn babies of the same age. We are repeating what we did to the Aboriginal people, declaring them not-people and seeing that as licence to destroy them. This should not be.

The Heartbreaking Task of Living Christianly

You try to live rightly each day.

At day's end you look back and know you have sinned - as you did yesterday and will always.

So you seek forgiveness, go to bed and begin another day.


This demoralising experience is different to my day. My day goes more like this:

You try to live rightly each day. It's a welcome challenge because you really do desire it.

At day's end you look back and know you have sinned - as you did yesterday and will always. Yet you know you're getting better. And you remember that God loves you dearly and only asks that you press on.

So you ask for and receive forgiveness, go to bed and begin another day, secure in your Father's care and thankful to him.


The crossover happened for me when I became a Christian. Before that I tried to live Christianly, attempting to measure up to God and never really humbling myself before him. Then I confessed my sin, gave my life over to him and was washed clean and grew to love and delight in him.