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WELCOME
TO 20/20@SIGHT
Welcome
to 20/20@Sight, our space for the creative arts. Here you'll
find a selection of writing - both prose and poetry - along
with photography and graphic artwork. If you'd like to make
a submission, simply contact editor@sightmagazine.com.au.
SIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY POOL
Sight's Photography Pool is a new feature in which photographers are invited to submit images on a theme relevant to the Christian walk. We are currently looking for submissions relating to the theme of 'Summer Days'.
Last month's theme was 'majesty'. Above is GLENYS CRUICKSHANK's image.
To see our previously selected images, follow this link... |
more... |
THE BIG PICTURE:JESUS IS LIKE ACTUALLY GOD
The text to her friend read: 'Chiselled abs - bronzed skin'. Everyone knows someone who fits this description, whether it's Sonny Bill Williams, Arnold Schwarzenegger or Fabio.
And who can overlook these magnificent masterpieces of humanity! Shining with eye-catching glory, they're god-like. Some of us want to be with them, some of us want to be like them.
But perhaps the 'god-like' for you are those with creativity or power!
Steve Jobs had both and changed the world. Just a glance at all the iPhones on the train is enough to tell us all that. Maybe you'd like to be just a little bit like him?
But the reality is... we're not like these 'gods'. And even they fall short of their own divinity. So often their glory is, at best, skin deep.
To see Outreach Media's February poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |
FOR PREVIOUS:
January 2012: You have a friend request... | more... |
December 2011: Who do you want for Christmas?... | more... |
November 2011: Jesus only came for sinners... | more... |
18th January, 2012 John 8:2-11 - The lady caught in adultery
At dawn Jesus appeared in the temple courts. All the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The people brought in a woman they had caught doing an unthinkable act. They slandered her and made her stand before the group. They said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught doing something unthinkable according to our ways. Common decency demands us to shame, condemn and ostracize such a women. Now what do you say?”
How would the parables and events of Jesus' life be affected by our modern sensibilities and practices?PAUL CLARK's "modern parables"...|
more... |
WORDPLAY: GENESIS 38
It's always interesting to look at something from another angle and the Bible, with its layers and depths of meaning, always has more to reveal. This is part of a project to illustrate the books of the Bible, chapter-by-chapter, as a 'wordle', highlighting the most often used words to give another angle into what it's all about. Follow the link to see a larger version of the word cloud and let us know what insights it brings you... | more... |
This is only a partial image. Follow the link to see a larger, full version of the image... |
more... |
SIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY POOL - MAJESTY
Last month's theme was 'majesty'. Above is GLENYS CRUICKSHANK's image.
Sight's Photography Pool is a new feature in which photographers are invited to submit images on a theme relevant to the Christian walk. We are currently looking for submissions relating to the theme of 'Summer Days'.
To see our previously selected images, follow this link... |
more... |
SPECIAL - BOOK EXCERPT: FIRST FRUIT
An image of a pomegranate (Punica granatum) from JANET TILLER's beautifully illustrated book, First Fruit. The book contains a series of stunning botanical images with accompanying Scriptures... |
more... |
POETRY: TO DREAM OF SPRING
Harvest is gathered,
Fields lay bare,
Already turned to the plough.
Pheasants and partridge lose their cover.
Grain piled high in the barn,
Straw stacked for winter use.
The evening breeze, sharper, cooler,
Colours, dancing on the autumn wind.
Trees in winter silhouette,
An early morning frost,
A dusting of snow,
Cold, dark, winter evenings.
Read more of CHRIS ROE's To Dream of Spring, the last in a selection of works from In Search of Silence... |
more... |
It might seem a strange thing for a tractor to drive to worship every Sunday morning. After all, tractors don’t go very fast and they don’t like to go very far from home.
The truth is that Tony Tractor lives very close to his church in Westbrooke. A Sunday morning trip isn’t too bad. But one Sunday Tony Tractor and his friends had to go further than ever before.
Tony and the rest of the cars had just arrived at the church and were settling in, when Old Mr T started his engine. “What are you doing Mr T?” asked a curious Lin Su. Old Mr T had never started his engine during worship before.
Follow the link to find an excerpt of PAUL CLARK's book, Follow Me, one in his series of children's books known as Car Park Parables... |
more... |
THIS LIFE: SUNDAY, SUNDAY
Sitting in the church are people who believe in and follow Jesus Christ. Some are casual Christians, but most are committed and dedicated to Jesus Christ and His cause on the earth.
Christians go to church to worship God and to be encouraged in the faith, by the preaching of the Word of God. They also attend to spiritually connected with God. During the church service, the Holy Spirit is observed by his activity in and effect on the people (John 3 :8). Going to church is clearly important - especially as we face many spiritual trials, persecutions and much doctrinal questions daily (Hebrews 10: 25). You do not go to church to be unmoved or indifferent. You do not go to church to remain dormant and bored or just to hear about paying in money. And you certainly do not go to church to remain silent in songs of praise and worship.
MIKE ABEL talks about the joy of a Sunday... |
more... |
THE BIG PICTURE: GOING, GOING, GONE
Climate change is one of the biggest threats to biodiversity and species loss. With every increase in global temperature, more and more species will become extinct such as the marine turtle, the Murray cod, orangutans and ginseng, as the relief shows. The poor are more vulnerable because they are more dependant on natural resources and have lower capacity to cope.
The climate is changing and hope is fading. Fading because we are not seeing the national governments of our world be courageous enough to make the hard decisions needed to halt dangerous climate change. They're not courageous enough to step out of the political vote-scoring cycle and implement visionary, long-lasting sustainable solutions.
Have
you ever had a friend who would be willing to give up their
own life to save yours?
In our day and age it’s
hard to imagine a scenario where a friend could be placed
in such a position.
For earlier generations who lived in less
secure and comfortable circumstances, this may have been a
real and genuine occurrence.
Just today, during a time of worship and
meditation, I had a very clear vision of a dark, bloodied
battle scene. It was on a muddy and roughened terrain, loud
and fierce explosive noises ripping through the sky, bright
flashes of severe light as spotlights frantically scanned
the field, and then as an explosion of artillery tore up the
soil even more, punching holes in the earth. Shrapnel flying
through the air. Bullets ripping randomly in every direction.
Bodies lying on the ground, torn, bleeding, dismembered, some
gasping for their last breath, others still and cold.
Then, straining across the battle-zone;
a solid and strong figure, carrying a heavy load, attempting
to rush to safe cover on the horizon. Steely-gaze, fixed on
making it to protected trenches, where urgent medical attention
could be administered.
NICK HODGSON reflects on the meaning of Easter... |
more... |
CHRISTMAS
Oh yeah, Christmas - well yes, the children and the old people
need to have their festivities. So yes, I'll be there, I'll
take the day off and yes, I've got some presents - over there
in the corner - I'll be part of it. Church? Well, OK but maybe
something'll come up and I might have to miss that but I will
be there for lunch.
Really though, I know it's
something that we can't do without, I know, but I'm no longer
a child and really my mind is not really on such things -
I have to keep my mind on the job. So much to do. So much
to arrange. So much to get in order for the new year. A new
broom. A new way of doing things. Resolutions. You know. A
new year and clean start and all that.
All this Jesus in the Manger
stuff, it's not where I'm at. Not really.
Read more of BRUCE C WEARNE'S Christmas reflection...|
more... |
SHORT STORY:
INCIDENTS AT THE GATE
Dies
Solis, Ante diem III Idus Iulias, DCCLXXIV AUC, Hora IX
(Day of the Sun, 3 days before the Ides of July, 776 years
after the founding of Rome, the Ninth Hour)
The sun had passed its zenith, but its heat still made the
air shimmer above the baked earth and cobbles of the street.
Its light was blinding as it ricocheted off the white marble
of the facade and columns of the Temple towering a hundred
cubits into the cloudless blue dome of the sky. Men, with
faces hooded against the glare, hurried into the blessed coolness
of the shaded inner courts. It was the hour of prayer.
Huddled in the small pool of shadow cast
by an alcove, sat a man. His tattered garments served to emphasise,
not hide, his thin, almost emaciated form. His skeletal and
twisted legs were tucked under him so as to cause as little
offence as possible as he held out gnarled and callused hands
that also served as feet. Hopelessness was etched into the
sagging and lined face. Shame ground into fatalism by desperation
smouldered in the downcast eyes. Every day as long as he could
remember, they had carried him to the Beautiful Gate to beg
coin on which to live.
Read
more of KEVIN I. GRANT'S story Incidents at the Gate... |
more... |
COPYRIGHT
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works remain the copyright of the author.
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"While we need to acknowledge that there's a real anger, frustration and hurt that exists in some indigenous communities around Australia, we must not give in to aggressive and disrespectful actions ourselves."
-
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda speaking on ABC radio after an Australia Day incident in which, in extraordinary scenes, the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard was swept from a Canberra restaurant by bodyguards after a group of chanting protestors from the Aboriginal tent embassy descended on the building. She lost a shoe in the process which was later returned (as quoted on www.ninemsn.com.au on 26th January, 2012). For previous 'They said it'... | more... |
THIS WEEK ON THE WEB
3rd February, 2012
Ahead of the upcoming National Day of Prayer and Fasting on 19th February, organiser Pastor Matt Prater has recorded a cover of the MC Hammer rap song, Pray. To download and listen to it, follow this link (2.2 MB). For more on the National Day of Prayer and Fasting, see www.nationaldayofprayer.com.au...
For previous 'This week on the web'... | more... |
NEW! SIGHT SOAPBOX
Something that you want to get off your chest but just haven't had the opportunity? Sight's Soapbox is a new feature allowing you to have your say on a subject of your choice!
ECUMENICAL FUND HELPS SMALL FILIPINO ENTREPRENEURS
It is harvest time for strawberries in the northern Philippine town of La Trinidad, so strawberry farmer Alice Rivera will start repaying a loan extended by a Geneva-based ecumenical church loan fund.
"This is what we appreciate...we can start repaying our loans only immediately after the harvest season starts," said Rivera, who is 45. She is just one of 7,000 clients being served by the Ecumenical Church Loan Fund-Philippines (Eclof-Philippines), whose initial seed fund was provided by Eclof International, a non-profit micro-finance organisation.
Rivera, a widow and mother of a nine-year old son, has started harvesting strawberries from a 500-square-meter lot that she leases from the farm of Benguet State University, an agricultural school.
QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT HELLO KITTY'S ORIGINS; THE RETURN OF OTTO VON BISMARCK'S VOICE; AND, THE BACKWARDS TALKING GIRL...
Questions are apparently being asked about the citizenship of iconic cat cutie Hello Kitty following the publication of a new book, Hello Kitty’s Guide to Japan in English and Japanese. According to the official biography published by Sanrio, the company that owns the rights to her, Hello Kitty (real name Kitty White) was born in London.
DAVID
ADAMS writes about the odder side of life...|
more... |
BYZANTINE-ERA BREAD STAMP DISCOVERY IN AKKO SHEDS LIGHT ON JEWISH LIFE... A small ceramic stamp used to mark bakery produce may not seem like a significant archeological find, but Israeli archeologists are rather excited by such a discovery made near the northern coastal town of Akko.
In previous eras, Akko was known as Acre, and was a major Christian stronghold in the Holy Land. That is why interest has been piqued by the small ceramic stamp bearing an image of the seven-branched Temple Menorah, which was found in a controlled archeological dig at Horbat Uza just outside Akko.
The stamp dates back to the 6th century AD, a time when Akko was a Christian-dominated city under the Byzantine Empire.
One of the central themes of Jesus’ ministry on earth was unity. Prior to His crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus prayed that those who followed Him “may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me.” (John 17:20). But unity has often proved elusive, especially for the many Christian denominations represented in the small, but holy city of Jerusalem.
RYAN JONES, of Travelujah, reports in Sight's blog on the history and culture of Israel...|
more... |
OUT OF AFRICA: AN ANNIVERSARY...
Recently it was a year since we left Australia; so today it’s a year since we arrived in Malawi. I have caught myself thinking a couple of times; ‘Would I have come if I had known what I would experience here’? If I had really understood what it would mean to leave everyone and everything familiar and to adjust my life to another culture? To be constantly observed, whether in my home or out, to live my life in such a public manner? Would I have come if I had known the things I would see, dying babies, people ravaged with disease, people suffering with malnutrition?
LENA JOHNSTONE's blog about life in Malawi, Africa, where she works with the Mphatso Children's Foundation...|
more... |
NEW! THE STOREROOM: CONVERSATIONS WITH THE EDITOR... Usually we meet for lunch but on this occasion we had an early start travelling to Westminster to hear Alistair McGrath on the King James Bible. It was excellent. Then a Wycliffe Bible translator talked about his story of translating the Bible into a language spoken by 14,000.
I asked the editor what he thought about that and whether there were some languages spoken by too few people (who speak other languages) to justify the translation effort. He said that it would always be preferable for people to read it in their won tongue. I can’t imagine even having to manage with one English translation so I suppose he may be right on this occasion.
RICHARD THOMAS' sometimes weird and sometimes wonderful 'storeroom' of ideas...|
more... |
TIREDNESS, FRUSTRATION AND TRUST...
In the U2 song, Peace on Earth, Bono sings of his frustration about our constant talk of peace without it ever really happening. Peace, peace when there is no peace is the cry of the prophet he is echoing. All around we see power corrupting and people in power getting their way at the expense of those with no power. Over and over again it happens.
I have no trust in political and economic systems. Ultimately I trust more in Jesus, whose power did not corrupt and through whom our desires for power are redeemed. John Smith asked a question many years ago which is a challenge for everyone who claims to be a serious follower of Jesus. The question is this: who are your friends and who are your enemies? The point he was making is that, when you look at the life of Jesus, His friends were overwhelmingly the powerless, the marginalised and the oppressed. And His enemies were overwhelmingly the rich, the powerful and the oppressors.
NILS VON KALM'S blog on faith, life and how it all might fit together...|
more... |
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24th September, 2008: Hear DAVID ADAMS speaking to GURYEL ALI, of 96.3 Rhema FM in Geelong, talking about some of the stories featured on Sight...|
more... |
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It might seem a strange thing for a tractor to drive to worship every Sunday morning. After all, tractors don’t go very fast and they don’t like to go very far from home. 
Sitting in the church are people who believe in and follow Jesus Christ. Some are casual Christians, but most are committed and dedicated to Jesus Christ and His cause on the earth. 
Have
you ever had a friend who would be willing to give up their
own life to save yours?
In the U2 song, Peace on Earth, Bono sings of his frustration about our constant talk of peace without it ever really happening. Peace, peace when there is no peace is the cry of the prophet he is echoing. All around we see power corrupting and people in power getting their way at the expense of those with no power. Over and over again it happens.