BOOK REVIEW by Penny Reeve Raising Tech-healthy Humans was a well-deserving shortlisted book in this year’s Australian Christian Book of the Year. Written by productivity consultant Daniel Sih, this book encourages families to pre-empt the screen/tech balance before things get… Continue Reading
Matthew 2 in the Plain English Version, a new Australian translation in English for aboriginal readers for whom English is a second third or fourth language Some wise men came to Jesus Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in Judea country. At that time, the big boss over that country was called Herod. There were some wise men in a country to the east of Judea. They always looked at the stars, and one night they saw a special star in the sky. So they went west to Jerusalem, the city in Judea country. 2 They asked the Jerusalem people, “Where was that baby born that is going to be the big boss over you Jewish people? You see,… Continue Reading
Here’s the beginning of Luke 2 in the Plain English Version, a translation for indigenous people. Luke 2: Mary had a baby boy 1-3 About the time that John was born, the biggest boss over all those countries was called Augustus.… Continue Reading
O Holy Night, the Christmas carol set to soaring music, was banned in the land of its origin, France. It has a distinctly egalitarian flavour, but the ban came when the author of the poem that forms its lyrics denounced… Continue Reading
Charles Brammall on a different Christmas Our Christmas will be lovely this year. It always is. But Christmas can make us remember who’s not there, who we’d like to be. A sibling. Or parent. A grandchild or uncle or niece.… Continue Reading
It seems as though Matthew and Luke have taken turns providing pieces of a Christmas jigsaw puzzle. Luke gives us the shepherds and Matthew, the wise men. Mary meets the Archangel Gabriel in Luke; Joseph encounters a reassuring angel in… Continue Reading
Peter Cameron, the Presbyterian minister convicted of heresy by his church, once wrote, “History tends to be written by the winners, except for the odd occasions when the victims get their versions out first.” By that standard, Cameron won. His… Continue Reading
A statement authorised by Pope Francis, which parallels discussion in the Church of England, says it is possible to bless same-sex couples, but without offering the impression of a marriage. “Fiducia Supplicans,” issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of… Continue Reading
Last Sunday, December 17, saw the first “Prayers of Love and Faith” being offered in the Church of England. These new official prayers allow LGBTQIA couples to receive prayers of blessing in local churches as part of ordinary worship services.… Continue Reading
Chiquit Torrente-Brammall on worshipful singing. (Chiquit is in the middle row, second from left – with the black, fringed hair and glasses singing Messiah at the Sydney Opera House) I haven’t truly written since the pandemic took my publishing job… Continue Reading