Opinion

Whilst acknowledging that the forthcoming Federal Government stimulus package must contribute to the reinvigoration of the economy and support employment, this article suggests ideas on how to spend your $900 in a way that adds to the economy in a socially-responsible or ethical way. Many Australians will use their stimulus payment to reduce their credit card bill or other debts, ...

A few reflections after three years Serving as President of the Uniting Church has been an immense privilege and blessing. Visiting the church in (almost) every corner of the country, working with church leaders and other churches on issues facing church and nation, representing the church’s views to community and political leaders, learning of the life and witness of our ...

ON THE journey through life one occasionally meets a person who inspires and motivates you to be greater than you are. I have had many such mentors, most of them much older and wiser. At one time I had the privilege of working along side a most remarkable woman called Hilda des Arts. Dr des Arts was in her early ...

THIS IS the last edition of Journey with Bruce Mullan as editor. Bruce started helping with Journey in April 2005. The new team of Bruce Mullan, Osker Lau and Mardi Lumsden started on 6 June 2005 just weeks before the paper’s deadline. The woman who helped with layout was not available as she had begun a new job so in ...

CHRISTMAS IN TROUBLED TIMES Christmas has always taken place in challenging times. The onset of the global financial crisis has meant that people all around the world are experiencing job losses, housing distress and deep seated insecurity. Threats of the collapse of many international institutions and fear of change, has made the world fragile for many. During the year, the ...

FROM THE BACKBLOCKS COMES A MESSAGE OF PEACE Prejudice and bigotry continue to flourish in the world. Year after year we witness the cycle of violence between tribal groups in Central Africa with mass killings and even more rapes. In Russia several young men have this month been sentenced for the racially-motivated murders of some 20 migrants. In Zimbabwe inter-tribal ...

Christmas is one of the most important times for the Christian church. After the time of waiting in Advent, we celebrate the incarnation—God with us. People generally, whether they come to church or not, enjoy celebrating Christ’s birth—they get to sing their favourite Christmas carols, spend time with family and friends, exchanging gifts and eating yummy food, usually to excess. ...

THE FIRST article I wrote for Journey during my current term as Moderator was entitled “On the brink”. It was a reflection on transition and new beginnings with particular reference to the story in Joshua 3 that recounts the crossing of the River Jordan by the Israelites as they entered the Promised Land. Now I’m on the brink again and ...

WHEN I was 18 years old I went on a family holiday to Papua New Guinea to visit my brother who was living in the Eastern Highlands. My parents had lived in PNG during the 1960s and 1970s and both my brother and sister were born there. We had grown up hearing about the beauty of the place, the kindness ...

IN PREPARATION for this article I came across the following insightful statement (source unknown): “I used to think I was poor. Then they told me I wasn’t poor, I was needy. “Then they told me it was self-defeating to think of myself as needy. I was deprived. “Then they told me that it was bad for my ego to think ...