Reflection on the passionate satire of Diversity Chronicle

I don't know if all the avid readers and subscribers of the Diversity Chronicle blog know that the content is "largely satirical" (Direct quote from website disclaimer).
Recently my attention was drawn to a post declaring that our popular and well loved humble pope had stated that "All religions are true", amongst other radical changes to catholic church beliefs. Even though snopes.com  has confirmed my doubts over the legitimacy of this 'report', it still triggered many loud thoughts so I thought I would share them alongside some article excerpts here...

Pope Francis the 1st - humble and loved

God is infinite love
"...a literal hell where people suffer. This doctrine is incompatible with the infinite love of God"
- Yep His love is infinite! But I'm sorry that doesn't actually mean that you can't suffer if you choose to reject his love. His love is relational - if you don't respond then you're not accepting His love, and then, yes you can go to hell. But it's your doing, not God's doing.

 "Our church is big enough for heterosexuals and homosexuals, for the pro-life and the pro-choice!" - i certainly agree. Jesus hung out and ate and spoke with all kinds of people. Most of them weren't 'his type' - but that didn't matter. His love is for anyone who wants it :)

Asylum seekers
“Racism today is the ultimate evil in the world. When Italians, Spanish or French turn back the boats of African migrants seeking a better life, are they not like the inn keeper who told Mary and Joseph that there was no room for them and the infant Christ? These migrants are children of God and we are commanded to love them!” So now our writer friend addresses a massive issue in the media - the asylum seekers one. To accept or reject? To welcome or to turn away? I agree with the passionate stance on welcoming all - if we did indeed live in a perfect world of peace. I don't know if anyone else has opened their eyes lately but you don't have to go far - usually not even beyond your own family to see that humans are all selfish and not everyone is full of 100% good & pure desires.

A racist is not a true Christian. A racist casts aside his humanity to become a beast, a demon! He is the embodiment and personification of evil, a Satan!”

Everyone is a beautiful creation in God's image
“because Muslims, Hindus and African Animists are also made in the very likeness and image of God, to hate them is to hate God!
I agree. No matter what they've done or where they come from, or how different they are, everyone should be respected. Everyone is one of God's masterpieces :)

"All religions are true, because they are true in the hearts of all those who believe in them. What other kind of truth is there? Whether we call God, Jesus, Adonai, Allah or Krishna, we all worship the same God of love"
-And yes, each has his own form of spirituality but to reduce God to the single word of love is not adequate! He tells us who he is in a great book about himself - the Bible - and there is more. Plus, love is defined in many many ways as you will find out if you just ask a room full of people to give their definitions. How can there be any right and wrong if each is allowed to completely define his own dictionary?! Truth has to be absolute on some points and there's no denying that.

Tolerance/Intolerance
 Perhaps the most striking point of this whole article to me was the issue of tolerance/intolerance in the context of freedom to practice different faiths and infiltrate certain religions into foreign cultures. I am all for peace, openness, sharing, welcoming of foreign cultures into our land. And yet I do not welcome these things at a direct expense and cost to my own personal freedom as an australian. As the satirical 'Cardinal Arinze Account' states in response to the growing power of islamic law in his home country: "Is it racist to desire to preserve one’s own home? Why is it racist to want to preserve your own culture and a future for your people and your children? Have white people gone stupid today?” He is right. I agree.

The vibe of this article is nice but it is naive. We don't live in a world of perfect peace. And we don't live in a world where perfect peace is possible. But if we embrace Jesus and love him & others in the same way he loved us, in justice and mercy and sacrifice then we can look forward to living in a new heaven AND a new earth where peace will exist and endure, because Jesus will have come back. I think the best thing to do now is to let him know we're waiting and looking forward to that!

"Live Simply so OTHERS can simply LIVE"

I was browsing online and found this shirt a little while ago. It was advertised on sevenly and proceeds would go towards Destiny Rescue, a wonderful ministry to girls involved in sex trafficking. I was immediately drawn to it and thought 'wow! what a great slogan', I'll put my money on that!
And then... I thought more, and I thought about how ironic this situation is. Great slogan but wouldn't it be funny to spend money to add another shirt to my already-way-too-large collection of tops and wardrobe items, and tell the world they should 'live simply'? So I didn't buy the shirt.
And instead, I made a decision. I would live more simply in the clothing department: and so a week ago I wrote down a list of the essentials (plus gym gear and work uniform) and those that didn't make the cut ended up in big sacks headed for charity. I'm not saying it was easy - that's why I made the list FIRST before looking at my clothes and deciding I was too attatched!

A week in of living with less, I can tell you it's a challenge but you can always hand wash and I am thanking God that I am so blessed. I feel less cluttered in my life and I'm so glad God has shown me up just how materialised my heart had become - I had no idea til now but the feeling of surrender is great :D There's a quote somewhere out there about how you don't know how much Jesus is til He's all you've got and this totally resonates with me! I'm trying to move in that direction, step by step surrendering more of my life to my Saviour!

Sometimes one needs to put their actions a bit more where there mouth is :)

At a loose end

When you're hanging out with a friend and you're at a loose end. What I mean is you haven't planned anything and you panic because you want to do something meaningful, you know, use that time well. So at once the ideas 'food' 'outing' 'shops' pop into your head. And after some debate and googling you decide to go to a movie.You laugh at all the inuendo and crude humour, go separate ways and then when you lay in your bed at night, feel slightly uncomfortable, well more just not-quite-satisfied with yourself.
It's because you wanted to change the world. In your deepest of hearts you wanted to build God's kingdom. And what you did tonight in no way contributed.

Might not be your story but this is my story a few times over.

Wasted money when your $20 could have instead saved a few kids from the sneaky but lethal bite of a malaria-carrying mosquito. All because of haste, and fear of deviation from the social norm. What is really living anway? Is it not to take risks, to be open, to let life flow out of you exuberantly? To enable others to live more, even? I thought about this tonight. What if those 'catchups' involved a different kind of activity -- what if you could save the world in your spare time?

I think it's possible. We can continue being advocates 24/7. Watch a real movie, that educated you about other living circumstances existing in this world. Watch desert flower or the 58: film. Or write a letter to encourage a young bride widowed just a week after her marriage. Or to a persecuted christian who persevere's under torture - tell them they're an inspiration. Or cook a sweet dinner for someone who's super busy or not feeling great. Or just go for a walk (instead of eating chocolate) and appreciate the beauty of this world that we live in. The simple things. The basics of life. They need to be appreciated and to be shared more. Let love take over <3

^ This is my incredibly awesome group leader, Celeste!

She's helped run 3 fantastic training days in the lead-up to the Roadtrip;

Hanging out at Coles was the lunch time ritual

What is this Roadtrip to End Poverty?!

This blog is an outlet for my exploration of mercy, justice, advocating, and fighting for the rights of the poor. I'm launching it with biiiig action: I'm going on Oaktree Foundation's ROADTRIP TO END POVERTY!!!

This picture gives a brief overview of our big purpose:

 So pretty much, our leaders are not going to get away with half-fulfilled promises! Why? Because I, and 1000 other young Australians are putting the pressure on! We believe it's possible to end poverty and we want to be a part of making history. By roadtripping up and over the whole downunder, we're kickstarting a movement of restless people who want Australia to follow through with foreign development assistance to our neighbour countries, specifically committing 70cents in every $100 to the cause. Time is running out as we speed towards the 2015 deadline set for eradicating extreme poverty so now is the ideal time for us to connect PASSION with POWER!

A lot of things have inspired me to be part of this week's big adventure: 40hr famine experiences; Brooke Fraser; life in Africa; a series of toastmaster speeches about people who don't smile and people who don't, Isaiah 58's call to action... slowly all these separate influences & experiences have twisted into one passion that I feel flows as the deepest vein in my life: the outcome of being oxygenised by Jesus! [I like to use medical analogies; must be destined for medicine ;) ] It's been really cool to start reflecting on my journey. I'll post more when my head's clear :)

I have a dream

There's a reason why I'm starting this blog.
It's because I have a dream. I have a dream of a better world. I have a dream in which poverty is alleviated so greatly that the end of extreme poverty is within our sights, and we need only reach out a hand to grasp it.
I may sound optimistic - well that's good! yeah! Thumbs up!! Nahh, that's not what it's about. It's being empowered with knowledge. Knowing that if you're on the minimum wage in Australia, you are in the top 1% of the world's most affluent. It's knowing that if all the churches in America would just give the 10% that Jesus told them to give, poverty could, financially speaking, be eradicated within one year. Knowledge is empowerment. When we're equipped, all that is left for us to do is to reach out our hand and take hold of that tool. Nothing needs be created, only weight and wealth must be transferred.