The reason that we are at such an impasse in Australia over religious freedom/ discrimination is simple: It’s a tale of two gospels. Competing views about good news. And as such, with so much at stake, there can be no backdown and no middle ground. Not that I would not like there to be middle […]
Author: stephenmcalpine
Christian Leader: Surround Yourself With “No Men”
This is Ollie. Ollie is one of my “No Men”. Ollie has been one of my longest term friends. A man of Christian character over a long period of time. I took this photo of him in 1999 overlooking the Dorset coastline near Ollie’s family’s holiday cottage. Ollie and his wife, Phil, had just gotten […]
The Religious Freedom Arm Wrestle
It’s time to get real. The debate around religious freedom in Australia is an arm wrestle and we’re at an impasse. Each side is straining at the other, and refusing to budge. And the reason each side is refusing to budge is that there is so much at stake. Paul Kelly nailed it […]
The Religious Are Invisible Voters To Greens Leader, Richard di Natale
A friend sat watching the Australian Senate debating the contentious anti-discrimination bill before our Parliament today. It’s been the most rushed piece of legislation that is completely at odds with the gravity of the consequences of its enactment. The furphy around the legislation as it pertained to schools, was that it was presented as a […]
Fr Rod Bower and His False Sign of The Times
There’s always a soothing (false) prophet announcing “Peace, peace” when there is no peace. It was true in Jeremiah’s time. It is true in the church today. So in light of the fact that next week the Federal Government, wedged as it is by the Opposition, and vainly fighting for its survival, is about to […]
You Can’t Tell A Better Story if You’re Not a Better Story Teller (even if you’ve got a better story)
I’ve been moved, and encouraged, by the response I have received from many of you about my last blog post about my mum’s incredible grace shown towards my dad. And people have shared their own stories of grace in the midst of trial too. I’ve written blog posts that have been read more widely, but never – […]
The Day Jesus Said “I’ve Got This”
I can, by nature, be a graceless man. I slip all too easily into either a snakes-and-ladders works-based righteousness; up when I’m doing well, down when I’m not. Or, worse, I fail to extend grace to other people. My bent towards being a chippy so-and-so, coupled with, – how shall we put it -, an […]
Eight Thoughts On My Last Week as Senior Pastor
Yesterday was my last official day as Senior Pastor at our church, Providence Church Midland. After six years as Midland pastor and two previous years working with Providence’s city congregation, we made the change at our general meeting last night. Jill and I planted in our lounge room six years ago. Now after a year […]
I’m the bad guy? How did that happen?
The incredulity on the face of recently divorced, recently fired William Foster’s face when he utters those words in the classic movie Falling Down, sums up what many Christians feel in the current cultural moment. After turning rogue and becoming vigilante for a day, railing against injustices perceived and real, Foster comes to the end […]
When The Tasmanian Toddlers Get into the Knife Drawer
The Tasmanian Toddlers, also known as the politicians that state’s lower house of parliament, have gotten into the knife drawer. And it won’t be pretty. Now there’s something cute about toddlers sitting on the kitchen floor rummaging through the Tupperware cupboard. Something cute. Something safe. Something innocent. Those little bundles of joy are in no […]