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VOX is a quarterly magazine, looking at what's happening in Ireland and the world today and wondering where God fits in. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter @vox_ie
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VOX | Apr - Jun 2009 | 1
VOXIrish Boxing’s Golden GirlMeet award-winning sportswoman Katie Taylor
Reclaiming CharityUncovering a quiet miracle in Cambodia
Neighbours from Heaven? VOX explores the love challengeRestoring Hope
MV Logos Hope is coming to Ireland
FAITH LIFE REALITY
Issue 2 April - June 2009
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editorialSelf Preservation Newsofthedramaticcutstooverseasdevelopmentaid(seepage6)troubledmedeeply.Whatstruckmemostwasthelackofpublicityorprotest. Therehavebeenmarchesanddemonstrationsopposingthepensionlevy,educationcutsandmedicalcardchanges.Andtheseareseriousissuesformany.TherehavebeenpeaceralliesintheNorthaswefacetheheart-breakingspectreofrenewedconflict.AndthisisevenmorefundamentaltothefutureofIreland. Butwhoisspeakingupforthosewhohavenovoice?Whoisdefendingthepoorestofthepoor? Ourinstinctistoprotectourselveswhenwefeelindangerorourowninterestsareattacked–weerectbarriersandretreatintoourshellorwehitback,answeringoffencewithoffence.Thoughwedon’talwaysadmitit,welookoutfornumberone. ThosewhofollowJesusarenotimmune.Wecanmeetathreattoourlong-cherishedbeliefswithadestructivecounter-offensive.ItispossibletodefendthethingsthatarenearanddeartouswhileignoringthoseissuesthatarenearanddeartoGod. Butwhataboutissuesthatdon’taffectuspersonally?Whataboutproblemsontheothersideoftheworld? InastoryJesustold,amanwasrobbed,beatenandleftnakedandunconsciousonthesideoftheroad.Hehadnoabilitytohelphimself,novoicetocallout,noadvocate. Itwasn’tthereligiouspeoplewhocametohisaid.Insteadofseeingtheman’sproblemtheyfocusedonthereasonswhytheyshouldn’tgetinvolved. Itwasthemuch-hatedenemy,aforeignerandaheretic,whosawtheman’sneed.Themostunlikelycandidate,withtheleastconnectionorpersonalinterestinthehurtman,waswillingtoshowlove. Wherearethosewhoturnoutwardsnotinwardsintimesoftrouble?Wherearethosewhowillfighttodefendtherightsofothers-eventheirenemies?Whatpricelove,self-sacrifice,compassion,justiceandmercy?
Harshtimescallforradicalliving,revolutionaryloving.Iwonder…areweup
tothechallenge?Willwebelove’sunlikelycandidates?Oraretheinstinctsforself-preservationtoostrong?
RuthGarvey-WilliamsEditor([email protected])
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∞ VOX | Apr - Jun 2009 | 3
4 | VOX | Apr - Jun 2009
April - June 2009, Issue 2
ISSN: 2009-2253
PublisherSolasPublishing
Operations and LayoutJonnyLindsay
DirectorsTomSlattery(EvangeicalAllianceIreland)MikeMullins(OMIreland)Dr.AbimbolaAfolabi(OasisofLove)
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AllchequesshouldbemadepayabletoSolasPublishing.
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VOXmagazineisaquarterlypublication,broughttoyoubySolasPublishing,ajointprojectofEvangelicalAllianceIreland,OMIrelandandOasisofLove.
Cover DesignJosephvonMeding
VOX MAGAZINEFAITH LIFE REALITY
COVER STORIESNeighboursfromHeaven…? – VOX explores the love challenge
IrishBoxing’sGoldenGirl – Meet award-winning sportswoman Katie Taylor
RestoringHope – MV Logos Hope is coming to Ireland
ReclaimingCharity – Uncovering a quiet miracle in Cambodia
VOX INTERVIEWBigEffects – VOX goes behind the camera with Hollywood special effects man and director, Dave Roddham.
VOX VIEWSAreweIlliterate? – What happens if people inside the church don’t read the Bible?
Whoismyneighbour? – Taking a closer look at the ‘good’ Samaritan.
Havemercyonme,aslimmer!
Decentralised – when faith meets real life…
REGULAR FEATURES
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13
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16
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contents
VOX: Shorts
It’s all Greek to me
VOX: World News
Your VOX: Letters
Worldwatch
VOX: Gaelige
VOX: Reviews
Classifieds and Event Listings
VOX: P.S.
0506070819
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VOX | Apr - Jun 2009 | 5
VOX:SHORTS
Life FM celebrates first anniversary!At7amon16March,2008,LifeFMmadehistoryinIrelandasthefirstlicensedChristianradiostationbroadcasting24hoursaday,sevendaysaweek.TheteamofdedicatedvolunteerswasdelightedtoreachthemilestoneofLifeFM’sfirstanniversary. “Wewanttoofferahelpinghandwhenyou’refacingdifficulttimesandhelpshinetheLightonreallifeissuesthatinsomewayaffectallofus,”saidstationmanagerBrianDaly.“TheaimofLifeFMistoprovideaunique,family-friendlyradiostationthatreflectstheupsanddownsofreallife.” PlayingawiderangeofmusicfromThousandFootCrutchandJarsofClaytoRobinMark,LifeFMalsobroadcastscurrentaffairs,personalstoriesandlifestylefeatureswith95%ofprogrammesproducedatthestudiosinCork. Listenerscantuneinon93.1FMinCorkorlistenonlineatwww.lifefm.ie(justclick“ListenNow”).IfyouareinterestedinvolunteeringorsupportingLifeFMpleasecontacttheteam-Email:[email protected].
TopinternationalChristianrockbandsandstraight-talkingspeakersarepromisedforMAD(MakeaDifference)2009.Nowinitssecondyear,Ireland’s“hottestandhippest”ChristianconcertwilltakeplaceonSunday21JuneinGlenealy,Co.Wicklow. Theconcertfeaturestwosensationalheadlineacts–“ThisBeautifulRepublic”hot-rockingoutoftheUSandLZ7hard-rappingfromtheUK.BenCantelonandtheSoulSurvivorbandwillprovidespine-tinglingpraisewithsoulfoodfromspeakersJoshandDebsWalker. “MAD2009isin-your-facerockandreality,”saysMADorganiserTimPhilips.“Wethinkyou’lllookatlifedifferentlyafterit–lotsofpeopledidlastyear”. Registeronlineatwww.mad2009.comforspecialdiscountprices.
How would you spend €500? MAD2009isofferingthree‘MADMONEY’fundsworth€500eachtolaunchprojectswhichmakeadifferenceinIreland.Theaimistoinspireyoungpeopletofindpracticalwaystodemonstrateloveintheirlocalcommunities. Youthgroupscanenterthecompetitionbythinkingupcreativewaystospendthemoneyandmakeadifference.Thecompetitioncloseson30June,[email protected]
UNEMPLOYMENT: Thenumberofpeoplesigningonreached354,400inFebruary,bringingunemploymenttoa10-yearhighof10.4percent.Thismarkedanincreaseof87%over12months.(Source: Central Statistics Office)HOMELESSNESS: Anestimated5,000peoplearehomelessinIrelandatanyonetime.Asmallpercentagesleeproughwhilethemajoritystayinemergencyaccommodationsuchashostels.FocusIrelandwarnsofincreasingrepossessionsandproblemswithrentarrearsduringtherecessionwhichcouldleadtoariseinhomelessness.(Source: Focus Ireland)
DOMESTIC ABUSE: In2007,theWomen’sAidNationalHelplinerespondedto11,733calls.Therewere8,012incidentsofemotionalabuse,2,457incidentsofphysicalabuseand1408incidentsofeconomicabusedisclosed.Inthesameyear,593incidentsofsexualabuseweredisclosedtoHelplinesupportworkersincluding248rapes.(Source: Women’s Aid National Freephone Helpline and Support Services Statistics 2007)
Global Day of Prayer: Sunday 31 MayAllovertheworldpeoplewillgatherforprayeron31May.Thisyear,theorganisersoftheIrishprayereventareinvitingindividualsandchurchesfromaroundthecountrytojointhemforanafternoonofprayeratClonmacnoise. “Theideaistohaveahugefamilyeventwithprayerandlotsofcreativity,”sharedTimNichols,oneoftheorganisers.“Africanchurcheswillbeleadingonesection.Lastyear370cameandmanybroughtpicnics.” Prayerwillfocusonsevenkeyareasofinfluence
thatshapesociety–theEconomy,GovernmentandPolitics,Family,ChurchesandReligion,
Education,theMediaandArt,SportandEntertainment. Fulldetailsanddirectionsareavailableonlineandforanychurchesorgroupsunabletotravel,abookletofprayerresourceswillbeavailableto
downloadfromwww.prayerforireland.org
MAD 2009: Sunday 21 June
6 | VOX | Apr - Jun 2009
IS IT YOU, YE, YOUSE or YIZ ? Since‘thee’and‘thou’wentfromfashionhowdoweaddressmorethanoneperson?IfwehadwelivedinBibletimesourGreekwouldhavetoldus;wewouldhaveknownoursinglesfromourplurals. Interesting distinctions arise like when Jesus warns SimonPeterthatSatanwilltest‘you’(plural)butthenchangestoasin-gular,speakingdirectlytoPeter(Luke22:30-31). WhileourbodiesareindividuallyatempleoftheHolySpirit(1Corinthians6:19)themainideaisthattheSpiritdwellsinusasaplurality(1Cor3:16and2Cor6:16). Wecannotanalysehundredsofoccurrencesof‘You’ intheNewTestament. . .butasafeworkingruleistotakethemas
pluralsunlessobviously referringtoan individual. YoucouldalwaysdigoutanAuthorisedVersion(KJV)becausebyusing‘thou’and‘ye’itshowsthedifference. AndtheoneimportantspirituallessonisthattheNewTes-tamentdoesnotencouragetheindividualisticapproach-‘me,me,me’-butbyusingtheplural ittellsusthatwebelongtoone another in the body of Christ.We are not individual tro-phiesonGod’smantelpiece.
Warren Nelson, originally from Drogheda, Co. Louth, taught at the Irish Bible School in Co Tipperary. He now enjoys active retirement and DIY near Tullamore.
VOX:SHORTS
It’s all ελληνικά to me ::LessonsfromaGreekTeacher
6 | VOX | Apr - Jun 2009
Text as GaeilgeIrishlanguagespeakerscannowusepredictivetextingasGaeilgethankstonewfreesoftwaredesignedbyVodafoneandForasnaGaeilge.Yourphonecanpromptyoufrommorethan25,000Irishlanguagewordsandphraseswithfullgrammaticalsupport. Téacswillbeavailableacrossallnetworks.AlthoughprovidedbyVodafoneasafreedownload,Téacsisavailabletoallmobileusersbyvisitinghttp://wap.teacs.ie
Ireland OnlineTheIrishloveofonlinesocialisingcontinuestogrow.AccordingtoGoogle,BebowasthemostpopularwebsearchlastyearandFacebookwasthefastestrisingsearch.Bymid-MarchtheIrelandnetworkonFacebookhadgrownto336,573-anincreaseofover20,000injustfourweeks! 26AprilisanInternationalWebFocusDayforchurches.Checkoutawiderangeofresourcesatwww.internetevangelismday.comincluding70tipsforchurchwebsites,afreeevaluationreportforwebsitesusinganonlinequestionnaire,ideasandcreativesuggestions,warningsandpracticalhelpinavoidingdangersonline.
AidagenciesaredisappointedbytheIrishGovernment’sdecisiontoslashtheOfficialDevelopmentAssistancebudgetby€155millioninlessthan12months.Theoverseasaidprogrammewascutby€45millioninJuly2008andagainby€15mlastOctober.Thelatestcutof€95millionwasannouncedinFebruary2009. “TheglobalcrisisoriginatedintheWest,butitisthepoorestcountriesthatarefeelingitseffectshardest.Forpoorcountries,economicrecessionmeansincreasedhunger,deathanddisease,”explainedHansZomerofDóchas,anIrishumbrellagroupofoverseasaidagencies. Dóchashaspublishedareportentitled“Nowisnotthetimetoturnourbacksonthepoor”. HelenKeogh,WorldVisionChiefExecutiveandDóchas
Chairperson,commented,“TimesaretoughforalotofpeopleinIrelandbutthecurrentglobaldownturnishittingpoorercountries
evenharder.ThesituationismadeworsebyrichcountrieslikeIrelandcuttingtheiraidbudgets,preciselyat
atimewhenpoorcountriesneedtheassistancemost.” “Alotofpeople[inAfrica]can’taffordtoeatanymore,asfoodpriceshaverocketedinthepastyear.Childrensimplycannotwaitforfoodpricestocomedownorfortheworld’seconomyto
improve,”Helensaid. Almost14,000Irishpeoplecurrentlysponsor
childrenthroughWorldVisionIreland.Formoreinformation,ortosponsorachild,pleasecall014980800
orgotowww.worldvision.ie
Is this the best job in the world?AnIrishmanhasbeenshort-listedforajobasIslandCaretakerfortheGreatBarrierReef(www.islandreefjob.com).Describedonlineas“thebestjobintheworld”,thepositioninvolveslivinginaluxuriousthree-bedroomhouseonatropicalislandforsixmonths–andbeingpaid€76,000todoit! Thesuccessfulcandidatemustswim,snorkelandsail,exploretheislands,writeablogandkeepavideodiary.GeorgeKarellas,31,fromCountyMeathisoneofthefinal16selectedforinterviews. ButisthisREALLYthebestjobintheworld?Writewithyouropiniontoeditor@voxmagazine.ie
CUTS HIT POOREST OF THE POOR
VOX | Apr - Jun 2009 | 7
Anewly-publishedIrishbookletrevealsanupwardtrendinthepersecutionofChristiansworldwide. FromAfghanistantoYemen,the“ChurchinChainsGlobalGuide”lists52countrieswhereChristiansfacepersecutiontoday. “ReligiousfreedomistheCinderellaofHumanRights–leftinthecornerandignored.Intoday’smulticulturalandinterconnectedworld,itisvitaltobeawareoftherealitiesofreligiousfreedom(orthelackofit)aroundtheworld,”saidDavidTurner,NationalCo-ordinatorforIrishcharityChurchinChainsandauthorofthenewguide. Respondingtotheguide,twoSenatorshavecalledforadebateontheissueinSeanadÉireann. “Itcameasashocktomethatinmanycountriesthereisbothafailuretohaveregardforhuman
rightsandawidespreadlevelofpersecutionofChristians,”saidSenatorDenisO’Donovan(FF).“Itwouldbeappropriatethatthissmallnation,whichpridesitselfonthefreedomofspeechandreligionandhumanrights,raisestheflag.” Joiningthecallforadebate,SenatorRónánMullen(Ind.)added,“TherearepeopleintheworldsufferingpainandtortureforhavingaChristianfaithwhichwouldmatchwhathappenedinourhistory.Asacountrywithsomemoralinfluenceintheworld,weshouldmakethatissueapriority.” Designedasahandyresourceforinformationandprayer,copiesofthe“ChurchinChainsGlobalGuide”areavailable(freeofcharge)fromChurchinChains,POBox10447,Glenageary,[email protected]
VOX:WORLDNEWSNew guide highlights
PERSECUTION
It’s all ελληνικά to me ::LessonsfromaGreekTeacher
Shocking facts revealed in the “Church in Chains Global Guide”:
Over3,000ChristiansareimprisonedwithouttrialinEritrea-oneofthesmallestcountriesinAfrica.
RomanCatholicsandProtestantsarenotlegallyrecognisedinTurkey
Governmentpermits(rarelygranted)areneededtorepairchurchesinEgypt
ThereisstrongchurchgrowthinIran–despitethepersecutionfacedbythosewhoconvertfromIslamtoChristianity
Humanitarian disaster looms – Sri Lanka TheSriLankanArmycontinuesitsrelentlessmarchnorthandeastoftheisland,gainingcontrolofterritoryformerlyheldbytheTamilTigers(LTTE).TheRedCrosswarnsofhumanitariandisasterastheLTTEisholdinganestimated200,000civiliansashumanshields(UNsources).ThousandsmoreTamilfamiliessufferunhygienicconditionsinovercrowdedcampsforthedisplaced.FiveChristianNGO’shavegovernmentpermissiontoworkinthecampsandahospital.
Women fall victim to strict Islamic rule - ChechnyaPresidentofChechnyaRamzanKadyrovhastoldjournaliststhatsevenyoungwomen,whowereshotintheheadandwhosebodiesweredumpedbytheroadside,deservedtodie.Heexplainedtheyhad“loosemorals”andwererightfullyshotbymalerelativesinhonourkillings.
New TV programmes for Arab Women – Middle East and North AfricaAnewtelevisionseriesbeingpreparedbyArabVisionseekstoinspireandmotivateArabChristianwomentodemonstrateChristianvaluesintheirhomesandstandasexamplesoftheloveofChristintheircommunities.TestimoniesofwomenfromdifferentcountriesincludingLebanon,Iraq,Sudan,Jordan,Algeria,MoroccoandEgyptwillfeatureineachprogramme.(www.arabvision.org)
Eritrean Believers held captive MassarrestsofChristiansinEritreaareraisingconcernsforthewelfareofthechurch.Inthepastfewmonthsaloneover100Christianshavebeendetainedandtransferredtoamilitaryfacility,sometimesheldinshippingcontainers(right).Reportsindicatethatsomehavebeenseverelymistreatedandanumbermayhavediedfromuntreatedinjuries.Authoritiescontinuetoinsistthatthosearrestedarebehindbarsforreasonsotherthanpracticingtheirfaith.Thegovernmentstandsbehindits2004statementthat“nogroupsorpersonsarepersecutedinEritreafortheirbeliefsorreligion.”(Source:VoiceoftheMartyrs)
8 | VOX | Apr - Jun 2009
YOURVOX
INTERESTED?IreadtheCityLightsarticleinthelastissuewithmuchinterestandfeltinspiredalloveragainforsuchacause.IliveontheNorthsideofDublinbutIgrewupintheinnercity.IhavebeenwantingtodosomethingforthepeopleofDublinverymuchliketheStreetPastorsaredoingintheircounty.IwaswonderingifanyorganisationsarealreadydoingsomethingoriftherearepeoplewhowouldbeinterestedinjoiningmetosharebothloveandteawiththeunderprivilegedpeopleofDublinCity?Pleasecontactme!Michael ShlykovDublin(Ed:[email protected])
INCOMPREHENSIBLE!IwishtoexpressmydeepconcernafterreadingboththeDVDreviewofthe“DarkNight”andthe“ComingSoon”sectionofforthcomingcinemareleases,inthenewlylaunchedVOXmagazine.IwasverydisturbedtoseethataChristianmagazinehadgiven4outof5starstothefilm“TheDarkKnight”,afilmwhich“representstheepitomeofdarkness”inwhich“violence,vigilantismandgraphictorturescenespermeatethefilm”,where“thelinesbetweengoodandevilaresignificantlyblurred”… Istheconclusiontobedrawntherefore,thatyoubelieveafilmcontainingsuchcontentisadesirablefilmforbelieversintheLordJesusChrist(orindeedanyone)towatch?Mercifullyitwasnotrecommendedforchildren,butIamatalosswhyitshouldbedeemedacceptableandevenrecommendedforadults. WhyanyonewhohasanyloveofrighteousnessandofGodwouldwanttoimmersethemselvesinsuchagraphicrepresentationofevilisutterlyincomprehensibletome.*Timothy ColesMonkstownEd:Thankyouforyourcomments.Wehavereceivedseverallettersandemailsonthisissue-somewelcoming,someexpressingconcerns.YourepresentreaderswhoemphasisetheneedforChristianstostandoutfromthecrowdandnottobeshapedandinfluencednegativelybysociety.Thisisanimportantmessage! However,otherVOXreaders,inseekingtoengagewithsociety,useanincarnationalapproach–comingalongsidepeoplewheretheyare;tryingtounderstand.Whatshapesandinfluencesthewaypeoplethink?Howdoesthatreflecttheheartcryofpeoplearoundus?Howdoesthisgenerationcommunicate? AtVOXwewanttorespectandexplorebothsidesofthisimportantquestion!Let’skeeptalkingaboutthis.
INSPIRINGCongratulationsonthefirstissueofVOXwhichIreallyenjoyedreadingfromcovertocover.Iamlookingforwardtofuturearrivalsinmyletterbox. ThearticleonchildsoldiersdeeplydisturbedandmovedmeandthefeatureonstreetpastorsanddancerDonkingRongavillawereinspiring.ItiswonderfultousethemediatopublishgoodnewsabouthowGodisusingpeopletomeetrealneedsinarealworld. AboveallmayIapplaudyouforyoureditorial!IlovetheideathatVOXisaforumfordialogueandyouclearlydemonstratethatthroughoutthepages.Ishareyourbeliefthatahumblelisteningattitude,whiledeeplyrootedinourChristianfaith,willreachawidevarietyofpeopleintheircommonsearchforunderstanding.IhappilypassedonthismagazinetofriendsandIwouldencouragereaderstodothesame.Anna Stainsby Donegal
Congratulationsonyourfirstedition.Atlast,anintelligentChristianperspectiveonreallifeissuesinaqualityglossy!
John McKeeverDublin
*Edited for length.
As stated in issue 1, we will publish short letters or emails but cannot publish long letters
in full as we want to give ‘voice’ to as many different readers as possible.
Recommended length (50 – 150 words)
Email: [email protected] with “Your VOX” in the subject line or write to: Your VOX, VOX Magazine, Solas Publishing, Ulysses House, 22-24 Foley Street, Dublin 1
letters to the editor
Image: Luis Faustino
VOX | Apr - Jun 2009 | 9
Thenewspaperheadlinesarefamiliar. “Neighboursmakinglifehell for angry residents”was anarticle in theBrayPeople(Feb’09)detailingout-of-controldrinkingparties,drugtakingandvehiclessetonfire. CommentsonanIrishbulletinboarddescribehorrorstoriesrangingfromall-nightpartiestostonethrowing,trampledflowerbedsandscreamedobscenities. A Central Statistics Office report (2000) noted that of the10%ofIrishhouseholdsaffectedbynoisepollution,33%namedbadneighboursasthecause. Theseextremeexamplesaredisturbingbutthegeneraltrendtowardsisolationandindividualismisalsotroubling.ADone-gal newspaper columnist recently described her experience inthe snow. When her car slid out of control, she suffered ver-balabusefromanotherdriverwhodidnothingtohelpheroutof her predicament. The column asked about the “unfriendlyIrish”. OurlatestVOXPOPsurveyed280peoplefrom22countiesinIrelandabouttheirexperienceofthefamousIrishwarmth,hospitalityandcommunityspirit.Theresultswererevealing. While37%feltthattheIrishreputationwasstilltrue“mostofthetime”,28%(morethan1in4)feltfriendlinessonlyextendedtothosewhowerealreadypartofthecommunity–foreignersornewcomerswereexcluded!15%saidpeopledon’tseemtocareanymore. InMarch,theEvangelicalAlliancelaunchedanew“LoveYourNeighbour”campaign.“Wewanttoreversethetrendtowards
individualism,”explainedEAIGeneralDirectorSeánMullan.Intimesof trouble,peopletendtoturn inwards, lookingout fornumberone.“Thechallengeistodotheopposite.” “We recognise and applaud the hundreds of communitygroupsalreadyservingtheircommunity,”Seánadded.“ButwewanttocallforarenewedvigourbyallChristianstomakerealtheloveofChristinIreland.” Speaking at the “Love your Neighbour” launch, Prof JohnMonaghanfromStVincentdePaulrevealedthatcallsforhelptothecharityhaveincreasedbymorethan30%inthepastyear. “Sadlythetwobiggestchallengesareprovidingpeoplewithfoodandfuel,”hesaid.“Keepingthelightson,keepinghomeswarm,thisistheIrelandof2009.Noleveloffear,isolation,pov-ertyor loneliness isacceptable.Weneed towork together. Ifwearegoingtomakearealchangeweneedtoasktheawkwardquestions.Whyisitthatsomanyofourneighboursarestillly-ingonthatroad?Whatcanwedotomakesurethatchanges?” Thecampaignpromptedavariedresponse fromthemedia:“We’re in a bad-tempered and bitter national mood, and stillthisbody[EAI]thinksitcanmakeusallwarmerandkindertoeachother.‘NeverwerepeopleinIrelandmoreinneedofalittlelove,’theysaysimply.Theydohaveapoint,youknow.…Goodneighbourlinessiswhathelpseventhemostimpoverishedgetthroughacrisis.Weneedmoreofit.”-TerryProne(IrishInde-pendent26/02/2009).
If neighbours from hell bring misery can we do the opposite? VOX editor Ruth Garvey-Williams looks at the Evangelical Alliance’s new “Love your neighbour” campaign and discovers how ordinary Irish people are showing love in their communities.
The EAI’s new website www.loveyourneighbour.ie lists a range of ideas from having a cup of tea with a neighbour or colleague to organising a community event. Here at VOX, we’ve found more examples of how churches and individuals are showing love to their neighbours.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
VOX | Apr - Jun 2009 | 9
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10 | VOX | Apr - Jun 2009
LOVING THE LIBERTIES - DUBLIN JonKissellisministeratCOREChurchofIrelandinanareaofDublininnercityknownas“TheLiberties”. “Historically,ourswasacity-widechurch,butwearelocatedinacommunitywherethereisalotofneed,”Jonshared.“Ifyourbackyardisinneed,whywouldyouputyourresourcessomewhereelse?Thefirstpartisgettingtoknowthecommunity;listeningtowhatpeoplearesayingratherthansayingwhatyouthink.” CORE has developed programmes to provide a practical and compassionate re-sponse,tacklingissueslikefamilybreakdown,crime,drugabuseandviolence.AKidsClubeverySaturdayattractsupto90children.TheLibertySaintsrugbyteamca-tersforteenageboyswhileGrandma’sisaninitiativetosupportfamiliesaffectedbyHIVandAIDS. TheSolashomeworkclubworkstopreventearlyschool-leavingbyprovidingastable,home-likeenvironment.Solasalsoteacheschildrenthelife-skillstheyneedtocopewithdifficultieswithoutresortingtodrugabuseorviolence. When the church organised a ladies’ night one woman commented, “It isamazingthatyoujustcare.ItisnotwhatIexpectedfromthechurch!” “Thisisbreakingdownbarriers,”sharedJonKissell.“Peoplewanttobeloved,valued,acceptedandcaredfor.”
YELLOW BUS - CORK VisitPope’sQuayinCorkanyafternoonandyou’llseetheYellowBus–ahavenforthecity’shomelesspopulationprovidedbyChris-tianvolunteers. “Istartedworkingwiththehomeless10yearsago,”sharedJerryO’Mahoney.“Whenthebuildingwewereusingwascloseddown,wecouldn’tfindanyalternative. So instead,wemanagedtogetholdofabusandconverteditintoasoupkitchen.” Volunteersservesoup,sandwichesandcupsoftea.Thebusisasafeplacewherepeoplecan‘sleepitoff’ifdrunkorsitandchat.Theworkerstakepeopletotreatmentcentresorhelpthemtofindaccommodation.Therehaveevenbeenweddingsonboard! “The bus has helped many people who were in total despair,”Jerryshared.“Itisaplacewheretheycanfindhelpandhope.Peo-pleareblownawaythatwearedoingthisandthatweareevenoutinthecityonSaturdays,raisingmoneyforthebus!”
Afterrecoveringfromalongbattlewithanxietyanddepression,Barry Condon from Cork is helping others. With his wife Joanne,BarrylaunchedSuaimhneas(Irishforpeaceandtranquility)–asup-portgroupforpeoplecopingwithdepression. “Someone who is depressed would give a limb for peace andtranquillityintheirlives,”Barryexplained.“Godusesthethingsyougothroughtohelpothers.Iknowfrommyownlife,thatGodhasdone above and beyond what I could even imagine. I’m still im-provingandgettingbetter.Iwantpeopletoknowthereisawayouteventhough,forsome,itcouldbealife-longissue.” Suaimhneasprovidesinformation,practicalhelpandcaringsup-portwithanapproachthattacklesthewholeperson. “Weinviteguestspeakerstohelpusunderstanddepressionand
tolookatpracticalthingslikediet,exerciseandsleep,”Barrysaid.“WeencouragepeopletogototheirGPandgettherightdiagno-sis.WealsolookatcharactersintheBiblewhohavestruggledwithdepressionaswellasfamousnamesfromhistory.” AsBarrydiscoveredhimselfrecoverycantaketime,soSuaimh-neas is a long-term commitment! As well as monthly meetings,BarryandJoanneprovideon-goingsupportthroughprayer,visits,phonecallsandtextmessages. “Familymembersoftenneedsomeonetotalktoabouttheirfeel-ingofhelplessness,”Barryadded.“That’swhereJoannecancontrib-ute.” [email protected]
PEACE AND TRANQUILITY - CORK
10 | VOX | Apr - Jun 2009
VOX | Apr - Jun 2009 | 11
VOX POP COMMENTSOnline and on the streets VOX asked people: “Is ‘loving your neighbour’ a good principle for living?”
“Loveyourneighbourmeanstreatpeoplewithrespectanddignityandtheywillfeelloved.”
“It’simportantnottolosehumancontactandbeavailabletohelp/hearothers.”
“Lovingyourneighbourinmyopinionisnottoliveintheirpockets!”
“Ihaveabunchoflovelyneighbours,especiallyifthereissomeoneill,theyarethereforyou.Ihaveseenaneighbourafterhercarwasrobbed,wonderingwhichoffertotakeupwhensixneighboursleftkeysinherdoor,soshecouldborrowtheircars!”
“Itakeittomeanliveandletliveandshowrespectforothers.Ithinkitisagoodprincipleforliving.Peopleseemtolackrespect.”
“Astrongsenseofcommunityhelpstoensurethatelderlypeoplecanbelookedafterintheirownhome,childrenaren’taslikelytoturndelinquentandtheremaybebetterservices.Aneighbourhoodcanbeapowerfullobbyforchange.”
“Havinggoodfriendsthatyoucanrelyonforachat,ashouldertocryon,dinnerandalaughtogether,emergencybabysitter-andreciprocateforthemiswonderfulandmakesitmucheasiertogetonwithlife.“
“It’sabitoutdatedIwouldthink.Maybeitshouldread“respectyourneighbour”whichIwouldseeasagoodprincipleforliving.”
SUMMER CAMP – CO KERRY OnehundredchildrenattendthesummercamprunbyListowelChristianFellowshipeachyear.Over30volunteersorganisethreehoursoffunactivitieseachdayforaweek. “ThisyearourthemeisAncientRome,”sharedorganiserFidelmaWalsh.“Wealldressupincostumes.Weuseupbeatmusicsothekidslearnthesongsveryeasily.” Witharatioofoneadulttoeveryfivechildren,noonegetslostinthecrowd.Thisyearthe fun-filledeventwill includeeducational teachingaboutAncientRome,songsandBibleversesandamarketplaceof‘shops’wherechildrencandocraftstypicalofRomantimes.Thereareenergeticgamesandsports,andachancetovisit“Paul”inhisRomanprisoncellandfindoutabouttheundergroundchurchinRome. “Parents are free to come any time. Some help out with things, others stay on towatchoraskquestions,”Fidelmasaid.
LIVING SIMPLY IN TOUGH TIMES - DUBLIN Twocharteredaccountantsarehelpingpeople with financial difficulties. In re-sponsetothecreditcrisis,DavidMcCabeandPhilipStroughairofferedseminarson“LivingSimply”and“PersonalFinance”atTrinityChurchNetworkinDublin1. Forty people attended the first semi-nar inJanuary. AsecondwasorganisedatthebeginningofApril. Usingarangeofpracticalsuggestionsthesessionsalsoencouraged people to share their ownideas. ShoppingatLidlorgrowingyourownvegetables,makingyourownsandwichesforlunchorsellingthingsonEbay…par-ticipants left with a long list of practicalsuggestionsforsavingmoneyandlivingsimply. Find out more from David [email protected]
Yes,mostofthetime:
Onlywhenyouarealreadypartofthecommunity(notforforeigners/newcomers):
No,peopledon’tseemtocareanymore:
Yes,Ialwaysfeelwelcomeandvaluedinmycommunity:
No,thereisnotimeforcommunityandhospitality:
Irish people are famous for their hospitality, warmth, friendliness and strong sense of community. In your experience is this still true today?
Out on the streets and online, 280 people from 22 counties completed the VOX POP “Love your Neighbour” survey. We posed two questions:
VOX
POP
Eachsymbolrepresents5%
How well do you know your neighbours?
Reasonablywell:
Wesayhelloinpassing:
Verywell,we’regreatfriends:
Idon’tknowthematall:
We’renotonspeakingterms:
VOX | Apr - Jun 2009 | 11
www.clearmedia.ie
media production with a heart for ministry
SU Youth
Projects
K Katie’sloveforboxinghasprogressedsince the opening bell. Her first fightwasattheageof15andwashistoricinIreland,asthisnation’sfirstfemalebox-ingmatch.Sincethen,300otherwomenacrossIrelandhavefollowedKatieinlac-ing up the gloves and slipping betweentheropes. Aswithalltrailblazers,thepathhasn’tbeeneasy,butKatiehasenjoyedthejour-ney.LastyearKatiewashonouredwithboththe‘IrishFemaleAthleteoftheYear’and‘FemaleWorldAmateurBoxeroftheYear’awards.Asaresult,KatieappearedonthePatKenny‘Late,LateShow’withherdadinDecember–the“mostnervousexperienceinmylife”. Asked the source of her confidenceKatie shared, “My strength and confi-dencecomesfrommycloserelationshipto the Lord. Before going out to box IreadPsalm18:31-40.Myotherprefightroutineislisteningtoworshipmusic.AsIentertheringIfeelGodwithmeinmycorner.” Katie’s perspective on being a Chris-tian and a boxer is similar to that ofOlympic champion runner Eric Liddellof ‘Chariots of Fire’ film fame. Whenchallenged by his sister about runningversusservingGodfulltimeinChinaasa missionary, he responded, “I believeGodmademeforapurpose...butHealsomademefast,andwhenIrun,IfeelHispleasure.Towinistohonourhim.” Katie shared, ‘I believe the talent,abilityandmotivationI’vebeengivenistrulyagiftfromGod.Iamveryhumbledand feel so blessed for the life the Lordhas given me. I’m very grateful for thegiftsandtalents[God]hasgivenme.Ido
nottakethegiftsforgranted,butratherhone those gifts and abilities throughdiligenttrainingtwiceaday,sixtimesaweek.Mypreparationandperformanceismyactofworship.” StuartWeir(formallyofChristiansinSport) recently wrote, “Playing sport isas legitimateasanyotherhumanactiv-ity. IfGodcreatedeverythingincludingourability toplayandenjoysport, thatgivessport intrinsicvalue.Wecanreactby thanking God for the sporting abil-ity He has given us and go out and useitforHisglorythroughbeingintentionalabout developing our sporting talent tothebestlevelpossible.” Looking to the future, Katie is moti-vated to retain her three current titlesand she is aiming for Olympic gold inLondon (2012), joining Ireland’s onlyotherOlympicboxinggoldmedalist-Mi-chaelCaruth(1992). Despite doom and gloom about theglobaleconomy,Katielookstothefuturewithhope. “I’vegota ‘God’perspectiveof things. God, boxing, my family andfriends are important to me and that’senoughtogivemehopeandpeaceforto-day,aswellastomorrow.” With God in her corner, the futurepathforthisfightingIrishwarrioriscer-taintobepavedingold!
VOX:SPORT is written by Daniel Tabb. Born in the United States, Daniel moved to Dublin in January 2002. He is the founder and director
of “Sports Across Ireland”.
Irish boxing’s GOLDEN
GIRL
VOX:SPORTS
At the age of 10, many girls skip rope with their friends and begin liking boys. In 1996 Katie Taylor was skipping rope but she was doing it in her father’s Bray Boxing Club. And her interest in boys was hitting them and avoiding getting hit as she followed her dad (Irish champion in 1986) and her two older brothers into the ring. In so doing, young Katie became the first
“AsIentertheringIfeelGodwithmeinmy
corner.”
KATIE’S FAVOURITESThingtodo:Sharetimewithfamily& friendsoveramealFood: ChocolateSinger: BeyonceBand: SnowPatrolSport: BoxingBoxer: SugarRayLeonardAthlete: RogerFedererFootballer: RoyKeaneFilm: GoodwillHuntingTVShow: ScrubsBook: It’sNotAboutTheBike (LanceArmstrong)Heroes: PeterandBrigidTaylor (Katie’sparents)
KATIE’S TITLES & AWARDSLightweightDivisionTwotimereigningchampioninEurope2005&2007TwotimereigningWorldChampion2006&20081stannualreigningchampionofEuropeanUnion2008
2005 EircomU19FootballeroftheYear2007 / 2008 IrishSportswomanoftheYear2008FemaleWorldAmateurBoxeroftheYear
VOX | Apr - Jun 2009 | 13
Archbishop Dairmuid Martin,speaking to Bishops in Rome,described the scriptures in Ire-landas“unexplored,almostalienterritory”. 62% of Irish youngpeople do not know how manygospels there are, 52% do notknowthefirstbookof theBibleand95%don’tknowthefirstofthe10commandments.TheseweresomeofthefindingsoftheLansdowneMarketResearchsurveyconductedfortheIonaIn-stituteandtheEvangelicalAllianceIrelandin2007. InAmerica10%ofadultspolledinasimilarsurveybelievedthatJoanofArcwasNoah’swifeandastaggering82%thought“Godhelpsthosewhohelpthemselves”wasatextfromtheBi-ble. Thesestatisticsunderlinewhatmostofusknowintuitively,that Biblical illiteracy is at crisis level. The consequences forourcultureare serious. In literature,Milton’s “ParadiseLost”orDickens’“Ataleoftwocities”cannotbeunderstoodwithoutanappreciationoftheBible.IntheArts,Michelangelo’s“David”andHandel’s“Messiah”becomemeaningless. However it is within the church that Biblical ignorance isfrightening.Atpublicworship,wegivethepagenumberbeforementioning the book or the chapter and verses. Sadly this isnecessaryformembersaswellasnewbelieversandseekers. If the purpose of the scriptures is to bear witness to JesusChrist, then the moral and spiritual implications of such illit-eracyaredire. DonCarson,theCanadianNewTestamentscholar,notesthat
“earlier generations met theneeds of illiterate believerswith liturgysteeped inscrip-ture, lectionary cycles, festi-vals designed to repeat thegreatnarrativesthatstandattheturningpointsinredemp-tivehistory…Todayevenourfew remaining festivals, our
church-sponsored Christmas and Easter pageants, often havemoretodowithspaceraidersorbeingniceatschoolthattheydowithBiblicalhistory.”
Thereisnoquickfixsolution.
Trevor Morrow has ministered in Lucan Presbyterian Church for 26 years. He is a former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and was awarded a doctorate by the Univer-sity of Ulster for his contribution to reconciliation in Ireland.
‚ JOIN THE CONVERSATION…What is the consequence for Ireland if people inside the church donot know the Bible? How does a lack of biblical understanding af-fectsociety?WhyarepeoplenotreadingtheBible?Whatwouldbecontemporaryequivalentsoftraditionalliturgyandfestivalsthatweredesignedtohelpilliteratemembersofthecongregation?
Haveyoursayonthistopicbyaddingyourcommentsbelowthisar-ticlein“TheConversation”blogatwww.voxmagazine.ie.
When Pastor Harley Swiggum discovered his congregation knewsomeBiblestoriesbuthadnograspofthemainthemesoftheBible,hewrotewhathasbecomethe“Bethel”series.Itisameansofteach-ingthetotalityofscripturesothatpeoplecanunderstandtheBible’sbigpicture.Iwasdeeplyimpressedbythis.Ithasbeeneffectiveinnumerouschurchtraditionsandinmanyculturalsettings.
FromJune29–July3at theEmmausCentrenearDublinAirport,thefirstIrishclinicforBethelwilltakeplace.Itisanopportunityforchurchleadersfromalldenominationstobetrainedandinspired.For furtherdetailswritetoBethel Ireland,4HanburyLane,Lucan,[email protected]
Are we illiterate?
Trevor Morrow recommends – “The Bethel” series. He writes:
AVOID THE TEARS OF REGRET!
Advertise in VOX.
It won’t blow your budget, we promise.
See www.voxmagazine.ie for rates.
Restoring Hope! Logos Hope is coming to Ireland
At a time of global recession, threats to the peace process,risingunemploymentanddepressingnewsheadlines,ashipisonitswaytoIrelandthatisasymbolofthemessageitcarries.Logos Hope (meaning word of hope) will visit Belfast, DublinandCorkinApril,MayandJuly. Runby internationalmissionagency,OM,LogosHopewasfirstlaunchedintoserviceonFebruary19afterafive-yearreno-vation. “Ayearago,thevisitofLogosHopetoIrelandwasdelayed,”sharedOMIrelandDirector,MikeMullins.“Itwasadisappoint-mentbutnowwerealisethatGod’stimingwasperfect.Iftheshiphadcomethenpeoplewouldnothaveappreciateditsmes-sageofhope. “TheLogosHope ismore thana ship; it isa communityofpeople from different cultural backgrounds and walks of lifeworkingtogetherbecausetheyhavefoundahopeworthshar-ing.WebelievethepositiveimpactofthevisitswilllastmuchlongerthanthefewweeksLogosHopeisinIreland.” By supporting and inspiring Christians in Ireland to sharerealhopefortransformation,reconciliationandhelpintimesofcrisis,LogosHopeandhercrewhasthepotentialtobeacatalystforlastingchange.
HOPE FOR TRANSFORMATION Theshipitselfisasymboloftransformationafterundergo-ingamassiverenovationinrecentyears.Thisformerpassengerferryisnowpreparingtotraveltheworlddistributingbooksandliterature, delivering relief supplies, supporting developmentprojectsandsharinganddemonstratingamessageofhope inJesus.HereinIreland,manypeoplearelongingfortransforma-tionandchangebothintheirownlivesandinhurtingcommu-nities.
HOPE FOR RECONCILIATION LogosHope’s internationalcrewof350volunteersfrom45differentnationsisapowerfulsymbolofreconciliationanduni-tybetweenpeopleofdifferentculturesandbackgrounds.More
thaneverbefore,Irelandneedstohaverealhopeforreconcilia-tion!
HOPE IN TIMES OF CRISIS Despiterecessionandjoblosses,Irelandremainsrichincom-parison with many countries worldwide. Logos Hope will sailacrossoceanstobringdisasterreliefandpracticalhelpfortheworld’spoorestandmostdeprivedcommunities.InIrelandtheshipcaninspirepeopletogenerosityandputourstrugglesintoperspective. Don’tmissthisuniqueopportunitytovisitOM’snewestshipin action. Plan your visit to your closest port. Invite family,friendsorworkcolleaguestojoinyouortakeagroupfromyourchurch.
Theshipwillbeopentothepublic-comeandenjoy!• Haveasnackandmeetupwithinternationalcrewmembers intheInternational-Café• Joinarangeofeventsandprogrammesforallagesonboard• WalkthroughtheinteractiveLogosHopeExperience• Browsetheworld’slargestfloatingBookFair–with6,000 titlesatlowprices• Takeatourandseethedifferentareasofaship
DoyouwanttoexperienceLogosHopeaspartofthecrew?TheLogosHopePortVolunteersProgramme,“Deep”providesa1weekopportunitywiththechancetointeractwithcrewmem-bersandhelpwithpracticalworkonboard(availableinDublinorCork). Wanttofindoutmore?Checkoutwww.logoshope.ie,[email protected]@logoshope.ie. OrcontactOMIrelandLackenHouse,Rahara,Co.Roscom-mon, phone 090 6623964 or email [email protected]. Visit OMIrelandatwww.ie.om.org
LOGOS HOPE IN IRELANDBelfast: 20 April - 11 May
Dublin: 14 – 24 MayCork: 3 – 13 July
VOX | Apr - Jun 2009 | 15
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What was your motivation for getting into the film industry?WhenIwasinschool,Iwashugely influencedbyart and I loved film. At a young age I started tosculptinmyshed.IwasonaTVshowdoingpros-theticmakeup.IworkedforAardmanAnimationanddidWallaceandGromitforayear.ThenIhadastomachoperation.Theydidn’tknowifIwasgoingtosurvive. When I was in hospital I read an article aboutMissionImpossiblecomingtoLondon.Aftersee-ingthearticle,IthoughtIwouldliketohaveagoatdoingthis.Ilovedit!Iwas15atthetime,travel-lingbackandforthduringschool.Forthenext12yearsIwasinspecialeffects.
More recently, you have started getting into directing. What was the reason for this shift in role?BeforeIcametoIrelandIstartedcomingupwithideasandconcepts.Afriendofminediedfromher-oinaddictionandIwantedtodoafilmbasedonaddictionbuttoshowitfromaparticularside.Ev-eryonelooksatdrugsasanactivityforpoorpeoplebut, inreality, itstemsfrompeoplewhoarehighup in society. The movie was purely to be some-thingshowninschoolstocreateanawareness. IcametoIrelandafterthatanddidKingArthurandthenIreallywantedtogetinvolvedindirect-ing.IfoundthatIrelandwasfulloflovelypeople.Londonissocutthroat!There’shugetalentinthiscountry.IreallybelieveinthecrewhereandIwanttostartmakingmoviesinthiscountry.
Who is your inspiration? I have been fortunate enough to work withsome huge directors. Ridley Scott, in particular,has changed my life. He was my driving force inmy career. Also, when I did Saving Private Ryan,StevenSpielbergwashugelyinspiring.IwouldlovetoworkwithDanielDayLewisorDenzelWashing-ton.
Even as a young man Dave Roddham was brushing shoulders with movie legends Russell Crowe, Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks. With an impressive list of credits to his name including Mission Impossible, Black Hawk Down and Gladiator, Dave’s career in special effects has gone from strength to strength. In recent years, Dave moved from England to Ireland where he has begun to try his hand as a budding director. He won a ‘Best Action on Film’ International Film Festival award for his directo-rial debut in Fifth Street. VOX reporter Roberta von Meding met up with Dave in Greystones to chat about his work.
VOX:INTERVIEW
BIG EFFECTS
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Any actors in particular you loved working with?I worked with Heath Ledger. He always put a massiveamountofworkintohischaracters.HewasamazinginTheDarkKnight!Methodactingchangeseveryonewhentheyactoutthecharacter.
What are you working on at the moment?We’reworkingonaprojectbasedonWorldWar1.It’sallabouthowtheIrishvolunteeredtogoandfightasvol-unteers.TheCatholicIrishweregoingintothetrencheswith the Protestant Irish. What really drew me to theproject was the fact that both religions fought side byside. These guys should be remembered. They were he-roesandpeopledon’tknowaboutthem.
Is the film specifically about religious segregation?No, itwillbeanequalbalance.BothCatholicandProt-estantIrishwereveryreligiousinthetrenchesbuttherewasnoreligiousfeud.Alotofthembecamegoodfriends.Byjoiningforcesitwastheonlywaythattheycouldmoveforward.Themovieisabouthowtwosidescangotowarbonded. Themovieexploresthelifejourneyofoneman.HeisbeingguidedbyGodthrougheverythingandthere isareasonforwhathappens.
A lot of directors choose to explore the themes of faith and spirituality in their movies, particularly in times of recession. Why do you think this is? Belief definitely is a huge drive in everything. Filmmakers and actors get themselves through by believing.Inatimeofrecession,peoplewanttoseefaith inotherpeople.Everyoneneedsfaith.It’sagoodtimeforpeopletohavesomethingtobelievein.Theywantstoriesofjour-neysandpeoplebeingbroughtthoughtrials.
What role, if any, does faith and spirituality have in your life and in your career? Ithinkithasanimpactoneverything.Weallbelieveinsomething.Everythinginlifeisguidedanditisacomfort-ingthought.
Roberta von Meding graduated in 2007 from IADT and now works as an Advertising Executive for a trade publication. She lives in Greystones with her husband Joey.
“In a time of recession, people want to see faith in other people.”
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A Dangerous Messiah?
Who isBarackObama, really?Certainly,afterBush,America–andtheworld–neededchange.Certainly,too,ablackUSpresidentisafirst.Butwherewillhetakeus? BarackObamaoffershope,transformation,abrighter fu-tureforall.ForAfro-Americans,hiselectionbroughtjoyandrelief.Forothers,itendedwar-mongering,tortureanddeceit.Toeverybody,withworldfinances innose-dive, itpromisesrecovery–toastate,paradoxically,betterthanthefirst. Undoubtedly, Barack Obama is energetic, intelligent, vi-sionary. He sees great prospects for America, for the world;hehascrystal-clearideasonhowtorealizetheseprospects;andhesettoworkimmediately.HeisrescuingtheAmericaneconomy, reforming healthcare and education, bringing toanendsuchblemishesasGuantánamoBay.Heseemsmoti-vatedbycompassion,humanityandasenseofjustice. Personally,though,Isenseaproblem.It’snotjustthathe’sperhaps bitten off more than he can chew; that he favoursabortion, embryonic stem-cell research and gay rights; thathe may exacerbate hostilities in Afghanistan by sending inmoretroops;nor,indeed,thathishumanenesscouldbefalse,aployforpopularity. It’shisslogan:‘Changewecanbelievein!’ One way or another, Barack Obama has promised us allheavenonearth.NotonlywillherightallthewrongsoftheBushera,hewillmakeAmericagreatertodaythaniteverwasinthepast,eradicatingallitsvices,multiplyingallitsvirtues.That done, he will share America’s happiness with the restoftheworld.HeisaglobalMessiah,whowillsaveusalljustwhenwemostneedsaving. But can he fulfil these dazzling promises? Will the realpowers – the oil barons, the bankers, the industrialists, thearmamentmanufacturers,thosedarkpuppeteerswhopulledBush’sstrings–allowhimtocare for thepoor, thesick, theoppressed,tocreateajustandequalsociety,tobuildbridgeswith‘rogue’statesand‘terrorist’nations?Willtheyforcehimtowarforeconomicreasonsasmuchasformilitaryorpoliti-calones? What,then,ofthehope,theexpectations,thejoy?WhatifhedidseekthehoodwinkedjubilationofvainMessiahship?Whatifheletsusdown,ismalignantlyhamstrung,failsandfalls?Willweturnonhiminfury,andourfinalstatebetumul-tuouslyworsethanthefirst?Willwebecomedevilsbayingforhisblood?
Mark Edmund Hutcheson is a poet and teacher.
a closer lookWORLDWATCH
VOX READERS’ POLLVOX readers took part in our last poll online asking if they watch soap operas, and if so, which ones? Here are the results:
Why not take part in our next Readers Poll? Doyoueverfeelasifyouare‘wasting’time?Ifso,how?Thesimplepolltakeslessthan30secondstocompleteonline(www.voxmagazine.ie)WatchoutfortheresultsinourJulyedition.
David Doran, Newcastle,Co.Wicklow
Alex Horvat, Balbriggan,Co.Dublin
Philippa O’Brien, Dublin
Mrs. E. Abbott, Cavan
Trevor Gately, Dublin
DVD WINNERS!Thewinnersofthe“21stCenturyMarriage”DVDscourtesyofFocus on the Family Irelandare:
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NEIGHBOURS15%EMERDALE15%FAIRCITY5%ROSNARÚN5%
VOX | Apr - Jun 2009 | 19
20 | VOX | Apr - Jun 2009
Themusicblares,thelightsblazeandthe preacher’s face looms large from amassive video screen. The big stadiuminPhnomPenh,capitalofCambodia, ispackedfullofpeoplewhohavecometohear a famous American preacher andherworshipband.Thisisamulti-milliondollarevent,aspectaclenottobeforgot-teninanimpoverishedcountry. NowtwoyearslaterI’minCambodiawitnessingthetragicfruitsoftheirvisit.Thechurchbuildingsthatthegroupbuilthavenowbecomedilapidated; thehandpumps they installed are falling intodisrepair; and the local preachers theyinspired have mimicked their westernstyle and now demand big salaries. Themotivationsmayhavebeenrightbuttheimpactonthelocalchurchhasbeendev-astating,theworstsortofcharity. LocalmissionaryKathysays;“Weseeit all the time. Western Christians whoturn up thinking they are the answerto this country’sproblems. Theythrowmoney around and then disappear a
short while later. It discredits our wit-ness in this Buddhist country and putsthe local church in jeopardy.” It makesmedespair. There are numerous examples world-wide; from the mega-preacher in Lagoswith his private jet, to state of the artPentecostal church in Nairobi, from thesombreAnglicanhymnsinthecathedralof Khartoum to the suit-wearing Bap-tists in Sao Paulo. Time and time againwehaveexportedourculturenotChrist.WehaveimposedourwesternversionofChristianity. ‘The church is a mile widebut an inch deep’ is a comment oftenheardaboutAfrica.Andmuchofthere-sponsibilitylieswithus. However,inCambodiaaquietmiracleis taking place. Hidden from the gazeoftheworld,smallvibrantchurchesarespringing up, led by local leaders andflavoured by traditional culture. Duringthe genocide almost two million peoplewere killed, the country was devastatedandthetinyhandfulofChristiansinthisBuddhist country was wiped out. Nowless than thirty years later there are anestimated270,000Christians(2%ofthepopulation)andthecountryisbeginningtodevelop. Ispentaweekvisitingchurchleadersand Christian partners whom Tearfundisworkingalongsidetofindouthowthis
miraculous transformation had takenplace ‘The village of Pun Lu is extremelypoor’,thevillagechief,EngKeng,aBud-dhistexplains.“ButthingsarechangingnowbecauseoftheseChristians.Beforethesepeoplewerethetroublemakersofourvillage.Theywoulddrinkandcausefights.TheychangedwhentheybecameChristians,nowtheydon’tevensmoke.Idon’tunderstandit.”
Thelocalchurchinthiscommunityhasbeendemonstratingfaith inaction.Thepastorandherchurchhavebeenworkingwith their neighbours to improve theirschool, ensure all the households havecleanwaterandthatthepeopleaffectedby disability and HIV are being lookedafter.Asa result thechurch is thriving.“ManyofourBuddhistneighboursnowwanttoknowmoreaboutourfaith,”says
RECLAIMING CHARITY
“Western Christians turn up thinking they are the answer to this country’s problems.”
“Hidden from the gaze of the world, small vibrant churches are springing up, led by local leaders and flavoured by traditional culture.”
20 | VOX | Apr - Jun 2009
Bill Hybels says, “The local church is the hope of the world”. Reuben Coulter from Tearfund Ireland agrees. Writing from Cambodia, Reuben explores the impact of Western charity in a country best known for its tragic past.
VOX | Apr - Jun 2009 | 21
RECLAIMING CHARITYthe pastor Jam Rahn, “Neighbouringtownsandvillageshaveaskedustocomeand share the message of Jesus withthem.” At Tearfund we provide training forchurchleadersinCambodiatohelpthemto identify the priority needs in theircommunity and to develop sustainablesolutions. The church contributes somefinancetowardstheprojectandwepro-vide a matching contribution. Then wesupportandadvisethemasthey imple-ment it.Theresultsareamazing. InthevillageofPunLu,theschooliswellmain-tained,thehandpumpsallworkandthelocalchurchisgrowingrapidly. Thekeystothechurches’successare: Indigenousleadersshapingthechurchandensuringthatthegospeliscontextu-allyflavouredbytheculturearoundit. Supportthatisempoweringnotover-powering. Training and financial input
should not undermine the local leader-shiporthesustainabilityofthechurch. Achurchhasthegreatestimpactwhenitistransformingspirituallyandmateri-ally;addressingtheissuesofinjusticeandpovertyaswellaspreachingthegospelinitscommunity. IntheKingJamesVersionoftheBible1 Corinthians 13 says, “And now abidefaith,hopeandcharity;butthegreatestoftheseischarity.”Letusreclaimtherealmeaningoftheword‘charity’-nothand-outsandimposition,butlovefoundedinrelationship. Bill Hybels says, “The local church isthehopeoftheworld”.IagreebecauseIhaveseentheresults. At Tearfund we are serving vulner-able and marginalised people by work-ing in relationship with local churches.We are connecting churches in Irelandwithchurchesaroundtheworldso thattogether we can tackle poverty and in-justice.Tofindoutmorevisitwww.tear-fund.ieorcontactusat01-4975285.
Reuben Coulter is Chief Executive of Tearfund Ireland, a Christian relief agency working with a global network of local churches to help transform the lives of the
most vulnerable women and children worldwide.
“Let us reclaim the real meaning of the word ‘charity’ - not handouts and imposition, but love founded in relationship. “
VOX | Apr - Jun 2009 | 21
Most people like to think they “lovetheirneighbour”orare,attheveryleast,“neighbourly”. Lovingourneighbour ispretty straightforward if we can defineour neighbour ourselves; it is an alto-getherdifferentmatterifweletJesusdoitforus! Jesus’ interaction with an expert inthelawtakesusrighttotheveryheartof“neighbourlove”(readthestoryinLuke10:25-37). Twice, Jesus responds to a“test” question with his own profoundandsearchingquestion.Thefirstinter-change sets the context for the second,andbothneedtobereadtogether. Jesus’ response to the first “test”(‘Teacher, what must I do to inheriteternal life?”) issimplytoask,“Howdo
you read it?” The lawyer’s reply comesstraightfromtheOldTestament(“LoveGod…Loveyourneighbour”).Jesustellsthelawyerthatifheadoptsthelifestyleofhistheology,hewillactuallybeliving. Jesus is not talking about keepingspecificlaws,butawholeorientationoflife.Perhapsthatiswhythelawyerfeelsthe need for a follow-on question, onedesigned to “justify himself”. If he canelicitfromJesusalistofpeoplewhoare“neighbours”thenhecansayhehasdoneit (lovedthem)andhisself-justificationwouldbecomplete. However,Jesusrefusestoanswerthequestion “who is my neighbour?” In-stead, by telling a parable, he takes uswaybeyondourcomfortzoneandposesaprofoundanddisturbingquestion. Our familiarity with this story andthewidespreadassumptionthatSamari-tans are good (an assumption that isreinforced by the excellent work of theorganisation of the same name) meansthat it ispossible tomisswhatJesus is
saying.WeneedtobeawarethatinthefirstcenturyJewsandSamaritanshatedeachother;therecouldneverbea“goodSamaritan”(unlesstheyweredead!). The traveller in the story had beenbeaten, robbed, stripped and left fordead. This was significant because ifhe could not speak (he was “half dead”,at least unconscious) and had no visualmeansofidentification(hisclothesweregone),no-oneknewwhohewasormoreimportantlyfromwhatsectionofsocietyhemightcomefrom. The first two men who passed werefromtheJewishreligiousestablishment–apriestandaLevite.Theywereprob-ably going off duty but a religious manwould surely stop and help. Neither
did.WasitthelawsofJewishritualthatstopped them, or the fear of this beinga trap (this was a notoriously danger-ous stretch of road) – or just the verycommonhumanconcern“nottoget in-volved”?Wearenottold. There would have been a stunned si-lence when Jesus announced that thethirdmanwasaSamaritan–theenemy!The Samaritan does what the othersdid not do: he tends to the man’s inju-ries, takeshimonhisdonkeyandgiveshim back what the robbers had stolen.YoucanbesurethatJesuscapturedthecrowd’sattention. ThenJesusasksthecrucialquestion,“Whichofthesethreedoyouthinkwasaneighbourtothemanwhofellintothehands of robbers?” It seems that thelawyercannotbringhimselftoutterthedetestedword“theSamaritan”,ratherhesimplysays,“Theonewhohadmercyonhim.”IsthatanimplicitadmissionthatthelawyerknowshefallsfarshortofJe-sus’standardof“loveyourneighbour”?
Jesusfinishestheencounterwith,“Goanddolikewise”.Itisnotjustacommandbut an indication of the standard Godexpects for “neighbour love”. But whocanpossiblycomeneartothis? That istheverypoint–no-one,unlessofcoursetheyhaveexperiencedthedepthofGod’slove.Theparableservesasachallengetoloyaltyandlifestyle,notsimplyasagoodmoraltale. Respecting our fellow human beingsfor who they are, being a good citizenand performing acts of kindness havebiblical support. But I think Jesus istalking about something much moreprofoundhere:theradicalorientationtoothersthatknowingGod’sloveandgraceproduces.ForJesus,experiencinggraceand living graciously belong together;beingpreparedtoaskJesus’question“towhom should I be a neighbour?” is evi-dencewehaveunderstoodthat. Jesus’wordsdemandcarefulthoughtandreflection– ifwewillheedwhathesaystheywilltransformthewaywethinkandhowwelive.
Steven Singleton works at the Irish Bible Institute where he is in charge of the MA programme and also teaches Bible interpretation, ethics, spirituality and pastoral
care. Before moving to Dublin in 2007 he was pastor of Thurles Baptist Church.
“First century Jews and Samaritans hated each other; therecouldneverbea‘goodSamaritan’ (unless they were dead!)”.
KEEP REFLECTING• Whodoyouthinkofasyourneigbour?• Whoareyouunlikelytothinkofas yourneighbour–andwhy?• Howarewetemptedtobelikethe religiousmeninthestory?•Whatkeepsyoufromdemonstrating thissortof“neighbourlove”?What stopsyougettinginvolved?•Arethereparticularthingswecando tomovetowardsthegoalJesussets forus?
22 | VOX | Apr - Jun 2009
“Is ar scáth a chéile a mhaireas na daoine”
agus“Ní neart go cur le céile”
Meitheal Oibre San am atá thart is iomaí feirmeoir,a d’fhág slán lena chlann cumasach archala an imirice, nach raibh teacht aigeníosmóarchabhairclainnechuncuidiúlemórobairbaintanfhomhairnóbaintna móna. Ach tháinig na comharsain igcabhair mar thuigeadar brí an tsean-fhocailgur ‘arscáthachéileamhaireasnadaoine’.Inamsinanghátairthagadhna comharsain le chéile mar ‘mheithealoibre’, iad ag cuidiú lena chéile go fíorflaithiúil gan tóir ar íocaíocht ná aithe-antas. Thuig siad tábhacht an cheangailchomharsanachtaeathru. Maradeiranseanfhocaleile‘níneartgocurlechéile’,agusislecabhairónmei-thealoibregurtháiniganneartagusancumasleisanobairachurigcríoch.Gantuiscint agus cuidiú comharsanachta ní
bháinfíanfómhairagusbheadhanpobaluiligthíosdábharr. Feiceann muid mar sin an toradhnuair a spreagtar cléithiúnacht aguscomhoibriú i measc an phobail trímheon agus spiorad an mheitheala chothú: éiríonn leo agus bíonngachduineníosfearrasdábharr,achgoháiritheinamanghátair.
Athbheochan an Mheithil Ag tagairt don gcúlú eac-namaíochta atá os ár gcom-har faoi láthair luaigh anTaoiseach, Brian Cowen, ledéanaígobhfuilgáaríslespio-radanmheithilaspreagadhagusacho-thú ionas go mbeimis ag tacaíocht lenachéileathuair. Mar Chríostaithe ba cheart go dtu-igfeadh muid an méid sin go maith.Ar bhunús an ghrá eadrainn agus dárgcomharsan, ba cheart go mbeimis toil-teanach meitheal oibre a chothú inárgcomhsanacht, inár áit oibre, agus in
iliomad áit ina fheictear gátar.As an iarracht sin beidh an po-balníoslaidreamachanseoagussinnuiligagdéanamhnahoibrea
thapaidhDiadúinnledéanamh. Mar fhocal scoir, an féidir leat
féinsmaoineamharghátarbeaggobhfeadfaí é a sharú le cuidiú mhei-
theal oibre? B’fhéidir go bhfaighfeásmaoineamh ón suíomh idirlíon seo:
www.loveyourneighbour.ie.Tapaidhandeismásanné!
“Mar is É a bheir don chorp a bheith fite fúaite ina chéile le cabhair ó gach nasc dá bhfuil ag fónamh dó, agus, de réir mar a bhíonn gach ball ag gníomhú mar is cuí,
fásann an corp iomlán agus téann a ghrá i méid”
(Eph 4: 16)
Is léachtóir é an Dr. Cormac Mac Fhionnlaaoich i Scoil Ghnó Smurfit, Coláiste na hOllscoile, BAC.
Gaois na SeanfhocalVOX:GAEILGE
Summer Internship
“God has taught me a lot this summer, mainly that life is rarely
what we expect, but almost always better than we had hoped”
- 2008 Intern Amy Kate
July & August 2009Age 17-21
Residential camps at Ovoca Manor, Co WicklowKids clubs in the Border CountiesCSSM GreystonesDaily discipleship and trainingMUCH more!
Cost: €1000 (includes transport, accommodation, food & pocket €)
For an information pack & application form contact Rachel @ Scripture UnionE: [email protected] P: 0851243186A: 87 Lower Georges St, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin
www.scriptureunion.ie
S.U. 2009
24 | VOX | Apr - Jun 2009
T Therecomesatimeineverywoman’slifewhenshehastotakealonghardlookinthemirror,takeadeepbreathand say those three immortal words to herself… BodyMassIndex! InthelastyearIcametothatverypoint! Speakingassomeonewhodoesn’tgettoviewtheirfeetvery often it seems ironic to be on another journey. ButsomehowIhaveendedupontheolddiettrail.Andnotforthefirsttime.IhavebeendietingsinceIwasayounggirl. I joinedUnislim(for thefirst time!)at12yearsold. Idon’trememberawordthegirlsaid;Iwasjustsohungry.Iremembercominghomeafterthefirstmeetingandput-tingtheentirecontentsofthefridgebetweentwoslicesofbread. ThroughtheyearsIhavegainedandlostlotsofweight.I thought when I gave my life to Christ that I would beskinnywithinsixmonths.ButsomehowthoughIstoppedswearing and started praising, I didn’t seem to want tostopeatingandstartjogging. I’m15years intomywalkwithGodandonlyrecentlyhaveIcometorealisehowmuchHelovesmejustasIamandatthesametimelovesmesomuchthatHewantstochangeme.Notmysize,ormylooks,orevenmylevelofhealth.Hewantstochangemydependenceonfoodtode-pendenceonHim. I’vebeencomfortingmyself,fillingmyself, punishing myself, reward-ing myself, energising myself andexhausting myself with food, foryears.AndGodhasbeenaskingmetostop.AndIhavefinallygivenin. So for the last few months it’sbeenoutwiththeChocolateKim-berly and in with the Pink andWhite’s (Ednote:pinkandwhitemarshmallows set between twowafers). Who invented them bytheway?Whatahero!(Howcanthey be only 1/2 a point eachwhenaspoonofsugaris1pointandtheremustabagofsugarineachone!?) Oh and I have it on good au-thority that my feet are lovely. I lookforward to seeing them again.... every so often as I con-tinueonmyjourneytheyjustcomeintoview!
Annmarie Miles comes from Tallaght in Dublin and is married to Richard, from Wales. She works for Focus on the Family and loves to cook, sing, read, talk and eat! You can follow her low calorie blog on www.whatchurch.blogspot.com
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“I thought when I gave my life to Christ that I would be skinny within six months.”
VOX | Apr - Jun 2009 | 25
T ThispoemdescribeslifeforjustabouteveryoneIknow.Wegothroughlifeatablisteringpacebetweenwork,homeandfamily responsibilities. We collapseexhausted at the end of a dayor week and take solace fromour Christian guilt in what-everlittlepleasuresourcon-sciencesallow.Allthewhile,wewonderifwe’lleverhavethe time or motivation todorealministry. So here’s some goodnews…..God has made ourlivestorevolvearoundwork,home and family! It is moreimportant and is potentiallymorefruitfulthananythingelsewedo. Our faith is meant to be real in thecontext of normal life. That is where itcomesalive-inservingandlovingthoseGodhasplacedaroundus. Instead,thechurchtendstocreateanalternative to reality disconnected fromnormallife.Sincerebelieverssufferfromthe angst of trying to live between twoworlds:theworldofchurchministryandtheworldoflivinglife. Of course, we are ‘not of this world’.But that simply means that our centre,ourfocusandhopeisonJesus(notman)andthatourvaluesareHis. Therealministryof thechurchmustbe DECENTRALISED otherwise it mar-ginalizes and devalues the importanceofthemajorityofthehoursanddaysof
ourlives.(Centralisedministryactivitiesactually seem to take people away fromtheplacesandpeopleGodhasputinour
lives). Ifyoubelievethatyourordinary
lifeisthemostimportantplaceof ministry, you will be ableto hear Father tell you howto do it with great effect.Thinkaboutthis: theearlychurchthrivedandgrewastheyconnectedwithpeopleover meals and in homesandoverbackfences.Atthe
endofadayofcookingandworking and fetching and
livingtheyweretiredtoo.Buthere’s the difference-there was
nootherplan.
Glenda Chop describes herself as a “Free Range Believer”. She is self-employed and works in the health and fitness industry.
‚ JOIN THE CONVERSATION…How can our faith be real in the context ofnormal life? Doyoubelievetheministryofthe church needs to be‘decentralised’? Do‘centralised’churcheventstakepeopleawayfromthosetheyshouldbereachingoutto?
Have your say on this topic by adding yourcommentsbelowthisarticlein“TheConver-sation”blogatwww.voxmagazine.ie.
My top five...Web Highlights from VOX readers
www.ChristianAudio.comFreeChristianaudiobookeverymonth-somereallygoodstuff.
www.FaithByHearing.wordpress.comLotsofrubbishoutthere,thisguysiftsthroughandbringsgreatrecommendationsofmp3sermonsandlectures.
www.theologica.blogspot.com(BetweenTwoWorlds)Ausefulportofcallforaroundupofwhat’shappeningintheevangelicalworld
www.DiscerningReader.comWhatbooksareworthreading?TrustworthyreviewsofChristianbooks.
www.BibleMap.orgLinksBiblepassageswithGoogleEarth
Mark Loughridge describes himself as: Husband of one, father of three, pastor of two (churches in Donegal). Passionate about communicating the greatness of God and His love to people, and encouraging Christians to think! Hangs out at www.newlifefellowship.ie.
‚What are your favourite web sites? Send them to [email protected] and we’ll publish one “Top Five” in each issue.
Work the day, a long commuteTake-away instead of fruitTesco rush, put on the pot
Lidl needs a drive-through slot.Visit Auntie, cat to vet
Dentist calling, baby’s wetPay the lecky, homework dueNeighbour lonely, tea to do
Mammy needs the garden done Saturday a wedding’s on
Why I am a rotten Christian,Never time for Jesus’ mission?
“Our faith is meant to
be real in the context of normal
life.”
DECENTRALISATION
VOX | Apr - Jun 2009 | 25
26 | VOX | Apr - Jun 2009
VOX:REVIEWSThe Medicine - John Mark McMillan
IfeellikeIhavebeenonanendlessmoanaboutthelackofgoodmusicinthechurch.Igrewupamuesoandit’shardtofindanythingthatholdsacandletothelikesofDylan,RadioheadorTheBeatles. WhenIheardJohnMarkMcMillan’sfirstalbum“Thesonginsidethesoundsofbreakingdown”lastyearIwasforced(thankfully)toredresssomeofmyopinionsaboutwhat’sonoffer. TheCarolinaindie-rockerisbestknownforpenningtheanthemic“Ohhowhelovesus”.Hislatestofferingis“TheMedicine”,alyrical,fullbodiedcommentarywhichwillleaveyouwithsomethingtothinkabout.
“Gravity comes Like a cold cold rain To lead me to the rope again But someone is standing in my place”
“Dress us up in your righteousness Bring us in with a ring and a kiss When you walk into the room you know we can’t resist Every bottle of perfume always ends up on the floor in a mess”
Allthesoundsonthealbumareprettyorganic–noheavyprocessinghere-lotsofacousticinstruments,andlotsgoingoninthebackground,sortofreminiscentofLanois/Eno.ItgenerallymovesbetweenClassicAmericanfolkandindierockwithsometouchesoflo-fi.ImagineSpringsteen+Moby+Radiohead! Thealbumincludestensongs;andat€9.90fromiTunesit’swellworththe99cpertrack.AswithallgoodmusicittakesacoupleoflistensbutIwouldrecommend“Skeletonbones”and“TheMedicine”forafirstlisten.Anyfanofcontemporaryfolkorindierockwouldbehookedstraightaway.
Reviewed by Bob Murphy: Bob works as a web designer in Kilkenny. He makes up one half of the band “One Week of Days” - the other being his wife Jan. He also leads worship in Kilkenny Community Church.
Australia (2008) Rating:12AAvailableonDVDlateApril2009Length:165mins
Rating:
AustraliaisavisuallystunningfilmfromdirectorBazLuhrmannandstarsNicoleKidmanandHughJackman.Itissetinpre-WorldWarIIAustraliaandcentresonanEnglisharistocrat,LadySarahAshley(Kidman).LadyAshleyinheritsalargebullranchfromherlatehusbandbutisexpectedtosellherland,‘FarawayDowns’,totheentrepreneurwhoselandsurroundshersonallsides. Enterherprincecharmingonhismightysteed,orrather‘TheDrover’(Jackman)onhisranchhorse.TheirmissionistodrivethecattledowntoDarwin,andontoaBritishNavyship,thereforecoveringthecostsofherland.TheAustraliannativeleadactors
havearomanticallycomedicconnectiononscreen.Jackman’sperformancehaselementsofClintEastwood. ThesweepingshotsoftheAustralianlandscapeareaestheticallydiverse.ThesescenesactlikeacontrastingbufferbetweenthecalmoftheranchandthedemandingatmosphereofDarwin.However,thefilmcanseem,attimes,likeatouristadvertisementforthecountry.Nullah(BrandonWalters),acharacterfromthefilm,canbeseeninamarketingcampaignbytheAustraliantouristboardfromlate2008. ThisromanticepiccombinesaWildWestadventurewithaWorldWarIItragedy.BothleadcharactersovercomegreatpersonalobstaclestosaveFarawayDownsandallthattheycherish.
Reviewed by Lynda Payne: Lynda is finishing up a degree course in ‘Business and Arts management’. After graduation, she would like to use her knowledge and experience in an Event Management role within a Christian based organisation.
26 | VOX | Apr - Jun 2009
VOX | Apr - Jun 2009 | 27
What is marriage for? Two books by Christopher Ash
Marriage: Sex in the service of God IVP 2003
Inadaywhenfaithfulnessisnolongervalued,whygetmarriedatall?Whatismarriage?WhatdidGodintendwhenhegaveusmarriage?HereisabookthatdealswithquestionslikethesewithathoroughnessIhaverarelyseen. ChristopherAshcontendsthatmodernidolizationofthesexualrelationshipcontainswithinitselftheseedsofitsowndestruction.Heseesthefundamentalpurposeofmarriage-beyondtheintimacyofthecouple,theproductionofchildrenandthemaintenanceoforderinsociety-asservingGodinpartnership.Forhimthereasonforthecreationofwomanwasnotthatmanwaslonely,butthathewasill-equippedtoserveGodbyhimself. ThebookstartsbysurveyingthecurrentconfusionintheWestregardingsexualrelationships–‘thechurningofpartners’.Itthenexplores:theBiblicalandtheologicalbasisforthestudyofmarriage,thepurposeofmarriageandthedefinitionofmarriage. Itisbroadinitsscope–dealingwiththe‘hotpotatoes’ofpolygamy,contraception,infertility,submission,cohabitationforexample.Yetallisbasedonadepthoftheologicalfoundationminedfromscripture.OnemightdisagreewithsomeofAsh’sconclusions,butonecannotbeunawareofthecarefulreasonsforhisconclusions.Don’treaditunlessyouarepreparedforsomehardthinking.
Married for God: Making your marriage the best it can be
IVP 2007
Thissmallerbookbuildsonthefoundationsofthelargerworkandissuitableforengagedandmarriedcouples.Eachchapterbeginswithacurrentreal-lifesituationandconcludeswithsomepenetratingquestions. Theauthorisbothatheologianandapastor.Heisnotonlyclearbutsensitive.Thebookcorrectsself-indulgentattitudesinourculture,andcallsforajoyfulsimplicityandGod-centredlibertyinmarriage.
Reviewed by: John Tuttlebee. John has retired in Co. Clare. He came from the UK in 1981, and has worked as a biochemist, travelled with the Bible Society in Ireland, and worked in church planting with the European Christian Mission.
Are you bursting to tell people about a new book, album or movie? The VOX team is always on the look out for people willing to pen reviews. If you’re interested, get in touch today! [email protected]
VOX | Apr - Jun 2009 | 27
28 | VOX | Apr - Jun 2009
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VOX:ADS&EVENTSEvents Calendar
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MAYOvercomers Conference 200916May,DublinVisit:www.oasisoflove.ie(Seeadpage18)
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30 | VOX | Apr - Jun 2009
AOutlasting Empires
A Roman Emperor once wrote: “Nothing has contributedtotheprogressofthesuperstitionoftheChristiansastheircharitytostrangers…theyprovidenotonlyfortheirpoorbut for ours as well.” You can tell he wasn’t impressed! Everyone looked aftertheir own poor but the Christians were looking after every-body’spoor. Romehadbuiltanextraordinaryempire.Butaragtagcol-lectionofreligiousfanaticswaslookingafterthemostvulner-ablecitizensbetterthantheempirecould. Howcome?Theyweredoingwhattheirfounderhadtaughtthem–toloveGodandloveneighbour.Jesusdidnotinventtheideaoflovingyourneighbourbuthebroughtnewdimen-sionstoit.FirstherootedloveofneighbourinGod’sloveforallpeople-loveevenenemiesbecausethat’swhatGoddoes.“Hegiveshisbest—thesuntowarmandtheraintonourish—toeveryone,regardless:thegoodandbad,theniceandnasty.”(Matthew5:47TheMessage) Second Jesus gave new depth and power to the question“whoismyneighbour?”HisstoryofthegoodSamaritanan-sweredthatquestion–yourneighbourisanyonewhoneedsyourhelp,anyoneyouchoosetobeaneighbourto.Hisfollow-erstookhimliterally.Andtheyoutdidanempireincaringfortheneedy.
These days the state provides assistance for the unem-ployed, benefits for the poor, support for the marginalised.Maybe loving your neighbour does not seem important anymore. But that’s only if you measure these things economi-cally.
WhatvaluedoesabankerputonacupofwatergiveninJesusname?Tryusingit as collateral for a loan and you’ll findout. But Jesus says it has eternal signifi-cance.ThemightyRomanEmpirecrumbledthrough internal corruption and externalpressures.ButthecommunitybuiltonChristian“superstition”, on love of God and love of neighbour,thrived. Allkindsofpeoplecanbegoodneighbours-AtheistsandAnglicans, Buddhists and Baptists, Catholics and Commu-nists,MethodistsandMuslims.ButChristianloveofneigh-bourfinds itsroot inthebelief thatGod lovedusfirst. It isloveasresponse–lovebecauseyouhavebeenloved.Andthatgivesitpowertoendure. Sotheneighbouryoulovecanbeanyone–astranger,anenemy,someonewhowillneverpayyouback.Theyareloved,notforwhotheyarebut,quiteliterally,forGod’ssake. Lovingyourneighbourwon’tfixabrokeneconomy,won’tgetyouyourjobback,saveyourpensionplanorincreasethevalueofyourhouse.Butnewactsofservicecarriedoutwhenallthepressureistothinkonlyofourownneeds-theseactshaveasignificancethatcanoutlastempires–maybeevenout-lastours.
Seán Mullan has been empire building with Dublin West Community Church for the last nine years.
VOX:P.S.
VOX | Apr - Jun 2009 | 31
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32 | VOX | Apr - Jun 2009
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