Phase Coaching in Waroona, Western Australia | Local business
Phase Coaching
Locality: Waroona, Western Australia
Phone: +61 434 645 068
Address: Waroona 6215 Waroona, WA, Australia
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25.01.2022 good response to the message today...one week to go!
25.01.2022 well here comes 2012....ending my interim ministry at Bunbury 2 weeks today and still unsure what comes next...
24.01.2022 Saw a fascinating programme on the box last night about a young guy who was engaged to be married, a Blakey bloke, who had a fall, hit his head and woke up gay. Says a lot to me about the origins of same sex attraction ( in many cases if not all) and the need for a revision of traditional church views....
24.01.2022 A good example of this whole thing - the first 2 chapters of genesis....any objective reading shows that they give quite different accounts of the creation story in terms of the detail....literalists go through all kinds of contortions to try and reconcile the accounts....we now know that the 2 chapters were written at very different times (about 400 years apart!) by different authors in different settings. (The history relates to the setting up of the 2 Kingdoms of Israel an...d Judah after Solomons death and the 2 religious systems associated with them.) This information, and a sensible acceptance that these are ancient stories, probably told around campfires in the middle east millennia ago, by people with no scientific knowledge, allows us to consider the spiritual truths therein (and hence the inspiration) without getting knotted up about creationism. So much energy (and money!) seems to have been wasted in the whole creation / evolution debate based on a very questionable assumption that these accounts must be literal and historical fact! See more
23.01.2022 spending a lot of time reading and thinking these days - whilst many will not agree with me, I am more convinced that the root cause of so many of the churchs problems is rabid fundamentalism and the doctrine of absolute biblical inerrancy - the latter cannot be defended on any rational basis and is itself unbiblical! The scriptures claim to be "inspired" which I totally support - but its a huge step to jump to "inerrant" in the way that fundamentalists want to use that term. It puts the church into a corner, using increasingly strange arguments to defend an indefensible position...
23.01.2022 Just taking a side track as I read on holiday here in Phuket.....the early years of Christendom were ravaged by division and politics..ending in a 3 way split between the Western, Eastern and African churches...it doesnt paint a pretty picture historically and the situation gets worse as the story unfolds.The papacy has some particularly ugly stories... The church has always been a very human institution....The ideal of the Body of Christ is nowhere to be found.
23.01.2022 Reflecting a lot recently on the whole LGBTI debate in the church context. Once again biblical literalism results in a position whereby a group of marginalised people receives, from many quarters, a hammering from Christians. Whilst I concede that some folk may choose this "lifestyle" , I am deeply convinced that a number of people are born with same sex attraction. The jury is out on the genetic evidence but its only a matter of time before it is found. So why can the church , in the main, only offer these people compulsory celibacy or condemnation? Then on the same sex marriage debate there is a sad lack of clear thinking with dubious appeals to the "biblical" concept of marriage, which is usually a concoction of loosely connected arguments to support a preconceived view. Very disappointing.
22.01.2022 over the next little while Im going to try and unpack that last post and show that I am not ready to be burnt at the stake just yet ..!
22.01.2022 Ive been thinking about prayer recently and theres something that someone might try and explain for me.... I see lots of FB posts requesting prayers and a theme seems to be common that the more prayers the better. Prayer chains etc have the same concept. I have generally tried to comply with these, but the thought hit me recently: what kind of a God do we portray when we seem to think that the more prayers that go up the more likelihood there is of a response? Does it really make a difference whether one, a dozen or a hundred people pray for a specific item? If the prayers are there to focus us on the issue, and so possibly act to resolve it if its within our powers, thats fine. But lets not imagine that God waits to see how many will pray before He acts!
22.01.2022 observation 4: There are dozens, possibly hundreds, of biblical scholars from all denominations, worldwide, who take their stuff seriously, who spend their lives devoted to their work, men and women, who agree that a literal and inerrant view of the bible is not sustainable. This has been the case for many years - but you never hear about it in church....
22.01.2022 Preparing for the new year and a serious resolution......
21.01.2022 First of my posts on reading AcHistory of Israel by John Bright whilst on holiday. Opening sections. Bright goes into a lot of detail to set the scene for the prehistory of Israel...noting that the national identity probably did not appear until around the 13th century BC. He takes time to outline the emerging civilisations in Mesopotamia, Egypt and the region of Canaan/Palestine noting that places like Jericho have a history back to the 8th millennium BC. True history starts... around the late third millennium when writing emerges and so records are available to us...some in huge numbers. Upper and lower Mesopotamia are culturally advanced and the Egyptian dynasties likewise show great development. Around the time of the patriarchs, and Abraham in particular, the region has been through turmoil. The detail is complex but well recorded. There is no direct evidence to support the historical veracity of the patriarchal narratives in the OT, but the secondary evidence is convincing, particularly the use of names, customs and traditions which are in keeping with the contemporary writings of the period around 2000BC. The significant point for bible readers is to understand that these narratives have an historical and cultural context......reading only genesis 12 onwards one sees a very narrow set of memories, written many centuries after the events took place. One might think that Abraham and his family left the land of his father as a family unit and wandered south west towards other lands. In fact they were probably caught up in the massive tribal movements of the times involving many thousands of individuals. They came from a culture with an impressive history, a set of religious traditions and beliefs and concepts of law and order. Some of these things would inevitably find themselves influencing the formation of the early patriarchal religion. The similarities between the writings of Genesis 1-11 , for example, with texts from other early cultures, is hardly coincidental. Both Creation and Flood stories have roots in traditions that would have been known to the early patriarchs. Jumping ahead a little, Bright is keen to emphasise that the stories have strong grounds in history, even if in a broad brush sense, and we should not discount their value simply because they were recorded so late in the overall timeframe and based on oral transmission. See more
21.01.2022 saw a programme on SBS tonight about a priests struggle (catholic I think - didnt see the whole thing) to admit to his church that he was gay (and celibate)...very challenging - his sincerity was profound and his turmoil disturbing...I have to say that I am convinced that God does not hate gays, nor do I think that genetic homosexuality is a sin in the biblical sense.....not a decision I come to lightly
20.01.2022 The journey from ancient (relatively) biblical times to the modern versions of the scriptures is a fascinating one, and I suspect that few churchgoers take the time to get into the known history...for whatever reasons...and few churches teach it. This has led to a high degree of biblical ignorance (using the word in its correct context) and an environment that perpetuates a childish faith rather than an informed and "childlike" one. Over the next few posts I will try to address the elements of biblical and church history that need to be much better understood if we are to avoid the sin of bibliolatry...worshipping the bible rather than the God of the bible..
19.01.2022 Havent posted here for awhile....been doing a lot of thinking and reading. I am trying to write some sort of summary of the conclusions I have come to at this point of the journey. Hope to share them soon!
17.01.2022 My views of the media confirmed again today when listening to a session on ABC today on which I had inside knowledge....total beat up, no real factual discussion and a lot of heat with no light...disappointing
16.01.2022 observation 3: There are literally dozens of inconsistencies in the bible - and they are so plain to see - many websites will list them and show them - simple example - Johns gospel disagrees with the synoptic gospels on the timing of the crucifixion (the day) - to me its not an issue - but you simply cannot defend literal inerrancy in the light of these differences - unless you engage in some very dubious tactics!
16.01.2022 observations 2 : If an omniscient God dictated the scriptures as His final and inerrant word...they should be capable of interpretation by any reasonable Christian (who also has the benefit of the guidance of the Holy Spirit) to come to the same conclusions - no matter who is doing the interpretation...now eliminating the loonies out there, there is still a vast array of different interpretations of the scripture on pretty big issues...so that throws a big question mark into the mix for me.
14.01.2022 observation 5: (almost there) there is overwhelming evidence from many different areas of knowledge that show that parts of the bible (note, I did not say all!) are clearly myth.....and that it is not to be read as literal history in some areas - notably the creation stories. profound spiritual truth, but not a history lesson. Myth is important - provides great insights when properly understood!
14.01.2022 Just watched an SBS doco on assisted death for the terminally ill as done in Switzerland. Included video of an actual death by an English guy with motor neurone disease....looking for words to describe the impact...disturbing ( emotionally) ...dignified, profound, powerful, challenging..seemed much better than some of the sad cases I have seen this year of folk who are kept alive as long as possible by artificial means...
13.01.2022 Reading "Convictions" by Marcus Borg whilst on holiday here in Thailand......finding it a good summary of where I sit on my spiritual journey. Also reading a large volume on the History of Europe ...which is intrinsically connected to the history of the Church.
13.01.2022 Firstly, let me say that I am presenting a very broad sweep here - there are libraries of books written on these topics - I wish more church folk would read some of them as well as read their bible! Now - none of the writings of the Bible are "eye-witness accounts" of the history they present. All the OT the writings, in the main, came hundreds of years after the events they describe. In the NT the earliest gospel (Mark) was written at least 30 years after Christs death (The... earliest wrtings weresome of Pauls letters - not gospels!). So - even though oral history has a high dependability factor in these times it cannot be taken to present literal and inerrant accounts. As for the non historical writings - wisdom, poetry, etc they convey an array of gathered wisdom from different times and sources..but they are not meant to be literal in interpretation.... See more
12.01.2022 I havent posted here for ages....still on my journey of assessing so much about the traditional faith walk that I find difficult to retain in the light of so much new scholarship. Had a real "aha" moment last night when watching David Attenboroughs Galapagos show. I was grappling with the enormity of life in all its forms and wonder on this planet, when I had a profound and very personal sense of being immersed in it as a participant in its wonder .....I see that as a God moment!
12.01.2022 Once again the religious fanatics demand all kinds of violent actions totally out of step with the faith they purport to represent.....where are the moderate Muslims out protesting from the other side?
11.01.2022 Again a very broad approach to a complex issue - the first 5 books of our Bible - the Jewish Torah - are now known (with a pretty universal acceptance by scholars) to be a melding of 4 key documents written at different times with different perspectives. The key writings were made around 1000BC long after any of the events they describe, and certainly not by Moses. (Abraham is dated to about 1800BC and Moses to 1200BC - again rough figures) The 2 main strands are also the res...ult of the split of the nation into 2 Kingdoms after the death of Solomon and represent 2 views of the Jewish history written from differing emphases....you can get the detail of this in any good textbook. Hence the 2 variations on creation (see my previous post). The other 2 strands similarly were written by other authors. When we know this we can see why the amalgamated text is a bit tricky to get through and seems to have repetitions and variations...its only a problem if you want to force the text to be literally inerrant....a more informed approach actually brings it to life in a very helpful way! See more
10.01.2022 the human mind has an amazing capacity to take an idea and expand it to incredible dimensions - often abstract and complex. The end product can be a totally bizarre set of beliefs that control our behaviours....nowhere is this more evident than in politics and religion!
09.01.2022 So where to from here - how do we approach the scriptures if inerrant literalism is not the way? Well, there are some basic issues that need to be taken on board as we begin to understand how we got the bible and how it was put into its final form..some good books on this so theres a lot in the subject. I will start to summarise what I think the major points to be as I go on...
08.01.2022 and the final point before I change tack....fundamentalism seems to be very selective...and inconsistent, while the proponents quote hard line verses to back up their positions, they conveniently ignore other scriptures and so fail to live by their code...
08.01.2022 I really like this statement ..it is a pretty good summary of where i find myself at present...Progressive Christianity is a post-liberal approach to the Christian faith that is influenced by postmodernism and: proclaims Jesus of Nazareth as Christ; emphasizes the Way and teachings of Jesus, not merely His person; emphasizes Gods immanence not merely Gods transcendence; leans toward panentheism rather than supernatural theism; emphasizes salvation here and now instead of pr...imarily in heaven later; emphasizes being saved for robust, abundant/eternal life over being saved from hell; emphasizes the social/communal aspects of salvation instead of merely the personal; stresses social justice, environmental protection, and non-violence as integral to Christian discipleship; takes the Bible seriously but not necessarily literally, embracing a more interpretive, metaphorical understanding; emphasizes orthopraxy instead of orthodoxy (right actions over right beliefs); embraces reason as well as paradox and mystery -- instead of blind allegiance to rigid doctrines and dogmas; does not consider homosexuality to be sinful; and does not claim that Christianity is the only valid or viable way to connect to God (is non-exclusive). See more
07.01.2022 have to share this - reposted from a mates post - sparked a huge academic debate but I think its just funny!!
05.01.2022 speaking tomorrow on the topic of Christian Maturity....quite an interesting topic and challenging to bring it down to a few simple basics....mature head, mature heart, mature in the Spirit
04.01.2022 my observations - Firstly: whenever a tricky subject hits the headlines the right wing Christian movement comes out with a hard line view that tends to further alienate the church in the eyes of the unchurched....obviously there are some non negotiable issues for us to defend...but this isnt usually the deal - there are pronouncements about specific matters, made on the assumption of biblical absolutism...
03.01.2022 Watching Compass on ABCTV, about Anglican congregations that are joining a hybrid Catholic "Ordinariate" . Very strange.....watching small groups of elderly folk, led by ageing priests, clinging to traditions.....sadly anachronistic and practically irrelevant.
02.01.2022 Sitting at home on New Years Eve with a bit of a bug....trying to find words to express my thoughts about the recent past and commitments to the future. 2013 saw some pretty fierce debates in Christian circles on a number of topics...classically left and right wing disputes. My own journey has continued as I read and reflect as widely as I can as I enter the later season of my life. As a chaplain, watching people die has an impact on ones own inner processes..... There is a ...lot I want to say, but the summary is that in 2014 I will be less outspoken, but will try to defend my position less forcibly. I find myself continuing to be "left of centre" in my thinking...pretty evident I guess. This has been a shift over the last 5 years as I have exposed myself to new ideas and concepts, mainly from the progressive school. I am convinced that the various arguments over Christian matters mostly boil down to the view of scripture taken by the proponents. Either you see the bible as absolute and inerrant or you dont....pretty simple, but the implications are profound. After several years of reading and research I have to say that whilst I take scripture seriously I cannot take it as literal inerrant truth on all matters....so I make my position clear. This position frees me from the need to defend ideas that no longer stand scrutiny in the light of 21st century knowledge, but allows me to engage the text as a serious body of spiritual and Lifeskills wisdom. So I continue my Journey into 2014 by committing to ongoing study and growth to become a balanced human living as best I can (with my fallibility!) in the light of Christs principles and teachings. It is now much more about how I live relationally than about intellectual,cold, theological perceptions. I will always enjoy private discussion with those on a different journey, but I will no longer participate in futile public debate! God bless you on your personal journey,,, See more
01.01.2022 The traditional view of the scriptures is that God "up there" came in search of mankind and after an indeterminate time after the creation he speaks to Abraham and calls him to undertake a journey that would be the beginning of the history of the Jewish people. In recent times I have found it very helpful to read the Bible from another, complimentary perspective. As the history unfolds I think of it more as a record of the nations search for God and meaning to life....as you... read, this results in a wonderful unfolding of understanding - as the perception of "God" moves from a fairly primitive tribal deity (similar to s many others of the patriarchal period) to a powerful, transcendent God of the great prophets...."God" did not change, but mans understanding of Him certainly did...Just one important thing - you have to understand the chronology of the Bible books - they are not collected in the correct timeline order! See more
01.01.2022 Well enough negative stuff - theres heaps more but you have to read the books! Suffice to say that I do not think that an expression of Christianity that somehow denies the reality that faces people most days can survive too much longer....pretending that the Earth was created in 7 days and that God is a kind of sugar daddy in the sky does not work any more. The tough questions come when we are honest enough to address the uncertainty of our existence and what spirituality is about....
01.01.2022 Shared a tricky message this morning about what scripture says about same gender relationships. My conclusion....if it is a lifestyle choice then its a bad choice and outside Godly living, but if its an innate orientation then the church has no right to condemn....the biblical writers had no knowledge of this possibility so we cannot expect them to address it. We are left to confront it with grace and love as Christ expects us to deal with everyone else. Hats off to the serpentine church for listening and (for the most part) accepting the need to deal with such an issue.
