Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Rants-Petroleum and Rice I know I work for a great organisation when the things that quietly disturb the quiet recesses of my mind are addressed. What do I mean? Well for a while now, I have been acutely aware of how rising fuel costs have driven up the *global* price of food.
You certainly know that the price of fuel has gone up as most of us drive regularly and need our cars. You may or may not know that the price of food has gone up.
If you live in a poor community, then you are certainly aware that the price of food has increased. Dramatically. There have been food riots in some parts of Africa and Asia, not unlike the beginnings of some B grade science fiction stories, as a result of rising fuel prices.
So this stuff sits in the back of my mind and I wonder what to do, what to say, feeling powerless. And the along comes an email from Sally at Tear...
You certainly know that the price of fuel has gone up as most of us drive regularly and need our cars. You may or may not know that the price of food has gone up.
If you live in a poor community, then you are certainly aware that the price of food has increased. Dramatically. There have been food riots in some parts of Africa and Asia, not unlike the beginnings of some B grade science fiction stories, as a result of rising fuel prices.
So this stuff sits in the back of my mind and I wonder what to do, what to say, feeling powerless. And the along comes an email from Sally at Tear...
The world price of rice has doubled in less than a year. Other staple foods have reached record prices. And, of course, the world's poorest people are being hit the hardest.
You can help a community help itself by investing in a rice bank.
http://www.usefulgifts.org/gift.php?type=447
Please promote this new gift
Labels: Economics, Faith, Politics, Spirituality, Tear, Theology
Posted by Stephen @ 12:47 PM 0 comments Friday, May 09, 2008
::Rants-Making sense of suffering... Having a hard time with the disaster in Burma. When the tsunami struck a few years ago, my feelings of anger, frustration and resignation were significant. My framework for coping was stressed to the limit.
This time around, the stupidity of an elite regime is simply exacerbating a situation that simply did not have to have a death toll that is as great as it is. I don't want to think about it. I want to shut it all out and cope with it in ways that are just unhealthy.
What makes the Burma situation a little more complex for me is the fact that Tear has significant partners and fieldworkers (some I know personally) who are in the midst of it all, and we are being kept constantly updated. Try as I might to distract myself, it is in my face.
I am not sure if it will help you, but I have found that some of the reflections of our partners and fieldworkers has helped my processing. You can find them here...
This time around, the stupidity of an elite regime is simply exacerbating a situation that simply did not have to have a death toll that is as great as it is. I don't want to think about it. I want to shut it all out and cope with it in ways that are just unhealthy.
What makes the Burma situation a little more complex for me is the fact that Tear has significant partners and fieldworkers (some I know personally) who are in the midst of it all, and we are being kept constantly updated. Try as I might to distract myself, it is in my face.
I am not sure if it will help you, but I have found that some of the reflections of our partners and fieldworkers has helped my processing. You can find them here...
http://tear.org.au/projects/emergencies/burma-cyclone-relief/You can also make a donation to some of Tears wonderful and faithful partners in Burma too if that helps.
Labels: Burma, Rants, Tear, Theology
Posted by Stephen @ 9:14 PM 0 comments Friday, April 11, 2008
::Notes from Baptist Union SA Myspace Camp For those of you who were gunning for the notes from the Baptist Union South Australia Easter Camp, here they are! Enjoy!
(Note: You have to click on the white box above to advance the presentation one page at a time.)
(Note: You have to click on the white box above to advance the presentation one page at a time.)
Labels: Adelaide, Culture, Gen Y, South Australia, Tear
Posted by Stephen @ 8:50 AM 3 comments Wednesday, March 26, 2008
::Itinerary-On and off road... It's getting hard to keep this thing up to date. I have spent the better part of the last week in Adelaide. I was the speaker at the Baptist Union of South Australia Easter Camp. It was a bit of a challenge speaking to people as young as 12 and up to 30ish. Try keeping a group of 170 people spanning those age groups happy!
The feedback I have gotten from Jason Hoet and his team was very encouraging. A number of people, after having a whole bunch of sessions to discuss the radical Jesus, made some kind of commitment to try and respond. In a note passed on to me, one of the campers said "thanks for the brutal altar call. It was real and painful, but I think God wants it like that".
In retrospect, I spent most of my time trying to persuade people not to respond. God calls us to enter into a broken and painful world to make a difference. He calls us not to maintain the unhealthy defence mechanisms (even the socially acceptable ones!), rather he invites us to expose our heart to even greater pain.
It's two edged. You open up your heart to pain and further wounding, means that your heart is also in a place to experience the kind of joy just not possible to dead people.
May God's grace strengthen the first time commitments, the recommitments and the three individuals who chose that night to serve the poor overseas! Looking forward to radical stories in the future!
The feedback I have gotten from Jason Hoet and his team was very encouraging. A number of people, after having a whole bunch of sessions to discuss the radical Jesus, made some kind of commitment to try and respond. In a note passed on to me, one of the campers said "thanks for the brutal altar call. It was real and painful, but I think God wants it like that".
In retrospect, I spent most of my time trying to persuade people not to respond. God calls us to enter into a broken and painful world to make a difference. He calls us not to maintain the unhealthy defence mechanisms (even the socially acceptable ones!), rather he invites us to expose our heart to even greater pain.
It's two edged. You open up your heart to pain and further wounding, means that your heart is also in a place to experience the kind of joy just not possible to dead people.
May God's grace strengthen the first time commitments, the recommitments and the three individuals who chose that night to serve the poor overseas! Looking forward to radical stories in the future!
Labels: Events, Gen Y, Itinerary, Tear
Posted by Stephen @ 4:32 PM 0 comments Friday, December 14, 2007
::Opportunity-Job going at Tear There is a *great* job going at Tear in Victoria. Check out the details here:
http://www.tear.org.au/getinvolved/staff-vacancies/victoria-young-adults-development-officer
Obviously feel free to pass it around. Posted by Stephen @ 5:23 PM 1 comments
http://www.tear.org.au/getinvolved/staff-vacancies/victoria-young-adults-development-officer
Obviously feel free to pass it around. Posted by Stephen @ 5:23 PM 1 comments
Monday, November 26, 2007
::Activism-Secret Society I have spoken to some of you about the secret society. We are starting to form for next year. If you are interested, email me asap so I can include you in on the formation process.
Labels: Discipleship, Lifestyle, Spirituality, Tear
Posted by Stephen @ 3:21 PM 0 comments Thursday, November 22, 2007
::Rants-E Invite for Tear Gift Catalogue Ever seen those trendy Avant Cards in cafe's around Australia?
Now you can send an electronic one inviting people to use the Tear Gift Catalogue online!
Go here: http://www.avantcard.com.au/SendCard.php?input=SelectCard&id=492 Posted by Stephen @ 2:32 PM 0 comments
Now you can send an electronic one inviting people to use the Tear Gift Catalogue online!
Go here: http://www.avantcard.com.au/SendCard.php?input=SelectCard&id=492 Posted by Stephen @ 2:32 PM 0 comments
Monday, October 29, 2007
::Rants-Gift Catalogue goes Green Very excited that after some incredibly hard work, the Geeks at Tear have updated the Catalogue with new *Green* gifts!
You can check out the catalogue here http://www.usefulgifts.org/ ...
Get your Christmas Shopping in early!
You can check out the catalogue here http://www.usefulgifts.org
Get your Christmas Shopping in early!
Labels: Lifestyle, Rants, Tear
Posted by Stephen @ 10:47 AM 0 comments Sunday, July 29, 2007
::Rants-Humour This is one of the funniest youtube video's I have seen in a long time. Thanks to Steve Drinkall for putting me onto it.
Posted by Stephen @ 5:11 PM 0 comments
Posted by Stephen @ 5:11 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
::Rants-Wanted: Free Music for a Good Cause Do you know (or are you in a) band that wants to donate music for free to some young documentary makers who are doing some good stuff for TEAR around environment and poor communities in the developing world?
Happy to credit you/them!
If so, send me a message with the details! Posted by Stephen @ 2:33 PM 4 comments
Happy to credit you/them!
If so, send me a message with the details! Posted by Stephen @ 2:33 PM 4 comments
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
::Rants-NepalDEEP This will be a cracker! I was a part of designing the Tear Short Term program and this trip to Nepal is part of the overall program. I can guarantee that involvement in NepalDEEP will be hazardous to your faith!
Wish I was leading it!
Keep an eye on this link for more details as they become available...
Wish I was leading it!
Keep an eye on this link for more details as they become available...
Labels: Culture, Discipleship, Lifestyle, Rants, Tear
Posted by Stephen @ 4:24 PM 1 comments Monday, March 26, 2007
::Rants-Back on Deck...
Well it is official! I am now a Bachelor, even though I have been married for 12 years. On Saturday I received the award for Bachelor in Mission Studies from Tabor College in Melbourne. I have been studying for the better part of 10 years. This is a photo of me with one of my students who also graduated on Saturday. Her name is Beth Rumble and she was better at getting the photo's out of her camera than I was. Thanks Beth.
Well, I am back on deck too, after taking three weeks off to build it that is! I had three weeks to rebuild our veranda (or deck) that had rotted all the way through, but I was back on deck last night, preaching at Ballarat Family Church of Christ. What a great community! I met so many people keen to want to do something about social change. I will look forward to developing a partnership with their church. Quite a few of them seemed keen to participate in Tear's DEEP trip to Nepal.
I will hopefully be blogging every other day or so now that I am back on deck.
Technorati Tags: Tear
Labels: Blogging, Itinerary, Rants, Tear
Posted by Stephen @ 8:32 AM 0 comments Ideas have a mind of their own, and when they get together, woa, what a party!
About Me
- Name: Stephen Said
- Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
I am National Youth Coordinator with TEAR Australia, spending most of my time helping Christian young adults come to terms with being disciples "in" Pop Culture, rather than disciples "of" Pop Culture. In addition, I am part of the leadership team of missio Dei, a faith community based in the north eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and I am a sessional lecturer with Tabor College Victoria and ACOM. Husband to Lisa and father to Harry and Noah. Founding member of the Melbourne Victory FC.
www.flickr.com
This is a Flickr badge showing public photos from Stephen Said. Make your own badge here.
Recent Comments
Gareth Williams //
10:58 AM- Stephen //
4:52 PM
- Gareth Williams //
8:37 PM
Mike //
8:33 AM- scott //
4:19 PM
- deebs //
5:54 PM
- swade //
3:52 PM
- //
5:12 PM
- The Eternal Consciousness //
12:00 AM
Translate {neurotribe.net}
:: Spanish:: Portuguese
:: Italian
:: German
:: French
:: Japanese
{neurotribe.net}
:: Control panel:: Webmail
:: Edit this sucker
When it all seems too much...
:: StrongbadLinkage
:: Planetfootball:: Soccernet
:: Teamtalk
:: The world game
:: Spurs
:: Football 365
:: BBC Football
:: The Age (Melbourne Daily)
:: hurstbridge.org.au
:: Bankwest
:: Bloglines
:: advoc8.org
:: SBS Worldguide
:: Internet movie database
:: Allmusic.com
My other blogs
:: World Cup Football News:: A-League News
:: Asian Champions League News
:: Mp3 Player Reviews
Recommended reading
:: The Shaping of Things to Come - Frost/Hirsch:: Neuromancer - William Gibson
:: The Hacker Ethic - Pekka Himanen
:: Believe in the Future - David Bosch
Misseo Dei Bloggers...
:: missio Dei Blog:: Lisa's Life
:: Missio Dei and Me
Blogs I read regularly
:: the rev:: Bevis Blog
:: Jonnybaker
:: Si johnston
:: Mark Pierson
:: Miriam Writes
:: Emergent kiwi
:: Marcus Curnow
:: TheHeresy.com
:: Barro's World
:: Biscotti brain
:: Jon Owen (UNOH)
:: Steve Chatelier
:: Flying blue sky
:: Tall skinny kiwi
:: Sivin kit's garden
:: Radical congruency
:: Prodigal Kiwi Blog
:: Waving or drowning?
:: Tempting Shortcuts
:: Backyard missionaries
:: Where have all the cool people gone?
Faith communities web sites...
:: Leanne & Ken @ City WesleyanBio...
:: The bio is here...Blogerly stuff
Vagablog - Blog from your Palmmp3mymp3 - Software I use to audioblog
Blog Search Engine
Archives
03/24/2002 - 03/31/2002 / 01/25/2004 - 02/01/2004 / 02/01/2004 - 02/08/2004 / 02/08/2004 - 02/15/2004 / 02/15/2004 - 02/22/2004 / 02/22/2004 - 02/29/2004 / 02/29/2004 - 03/07/2004 / 03/07/2004 - 03/14/2004 / 03/14/2004 - 03/21/2004 / 03/21/2004 - 03/28/2004 / 03/28/2004 - 04/04/2004 / 04/04/2004 - 04/11/2004 / 04/11/2004 - 04/18/2004 / 04/18/2004 - 04/25/2004 / 04/25/2004 - 05/02/2004 / 05/02/2004 - 05/09/2004 / 05/09/2004 - 05/16/2004 / 05/16/2004 - 05/23/2004 / 05/23/2004 - 05/30/2004 / 05/30/2004 - 06/06/2004 / 06/06/2004 - 06/13/2004 / 06/13/2004 - 06/20/2004 / 06/20/2004 - 06/27/2004 / 06/27/2004 - 07/04/2004 / 07/04/2004 - 07/11/2004 / 07/11/2004 - 07/18/2004 / 07/18/2004 - 07/25/2004 / 07/25/2004 - 08/01/2004 / 08/01/2004 - 08/08/2004 / 08/08/2004 - 08/15/2004 / 08/15/2004 - 08/22/2004 / 08/22/2004 - 08/29/2004 / 08/29/2004 - 09/05/2004 / 09/05/2004 - 09/12/2004 / 09/12/2004 - 09/19/2004 / 09/19/2004 - 09/26/2004 / 09/26/2004 - 10/03/2004 / 10/03/2004 - 10/10/2004 / 10/10/2004 - 10/17/2004 / 10/17/2004 - 10/24/2004 / 10/24/2004 - 10/31/2004 / 10/31/2004 - 11/07/2004 / 11/07/2004 - 11/14/2004 / 11/14/2004 - 11/21/2004 / 11/21/2004 - 11/28/2004 / 11/28/2004 - 12/05/2004 / 12/05/2004 - 12/12/2004 / 12/12/2004 - 12/19/2004 / 12/19/2004 - 12/26/2004 / 12/26/2004 - 01/02/2005 / 01/02/2005 - 01/09/2005 / 01/09/2005 - 01/16/2005 / 01/16/2005 - 01/23/2005 / 01/23/2005 - 01/30/2005 / 01/30/2005 - 02/06/2005 / 02/06/2005 - 02/13/2005 / 02/13/2005 - 02/20/2005 / 02/20/2005 - 02/27/2005 / 02/27/2005 - 03/06/2005 / 03/06/2005 - 03/13/2005 / 03/13/2005 - 03/20/2005 / 03/20/2005 - 03/27/2005 / 03/27/2005 - 04/03/2005 / 04/03/2005 - 04/10/2005 / 04/10/2005 - 04/17/2005 / 04/17/2005 - 04/24/2005 / 04/24/2005 - 05/01/2005 / 05/01/2005 - 05/08/2005 / 05/08/2005 - 05/15/2005 / 05/15/2005 - 05/22/2005 / 05/22/2005 - 05/29/2005 / 05/29/2005 - 06/05/2005 / 06/05/2005 - 06/12/2005 / 06/12/2005 - 06/19/2005 / 06/19/2005 - 06/26/2005 / 06/26/2005 - 07/03/2005 / 07/03/2005 - 07/10/2005 / 07/10/2005 - 07/17/2005 / 07/17/2005 - 07/24/2005 / 07/24/2005 - 07/31/2005 / 08/07/2005 - 08/14/2005 / 08/14/2005 - 08/21/2005 / 08/21/2005 - 08/28/2005 / 08/28/2005 - 09/04/2005 / 09/04/2005 - 09/11/2005 / 09/11/2005 - 09/18/2005 / 09/18/2005 - 09/25/2005 / 09/25/2005 - 10/02/2005 / 10/02/2005 - 10/09/2005 / 10/09/2005 - 10/16/2005 / 10/16/2005 - 10/23/2005 / 10/23/2005 - 10/30/2005 / 10/30/2005 - 11/06/2005 / 11/06/2005 - 11/13/2005 / 11/13/2005 - 11/20/2005 / 11/20/2005 - 11/27/2005 / 11/27/2005 - 12/04/2005 / 12/11/2005 - 12/18/2005 / 12/18/2005 - 12/25/2005 / 01/08/2006 - 01/15/2006 / 01/15/2006 - 01/22/2006 / 01/22/2006 - 01/29/2006 / 01/29/2006 - 02/05/2006 / 02/05/2006 - 02/12/2006 / 02/12/2006 - 02/19/2006 / 02/19/2006 - 02/26/2006 / 02/26/2006 - 03/05/2006 / 03/05/2006 - 03/12/2006 / 03/12/2006 - 03/19/2006 / 03/19/2006 - 03/26/2006 / 03/26/2006 - 04/02/2006 / 04/02/2006 - 04/09/2006 / 04/16/2006 - 04/23/2006 / 04/30/2006 - 05/07/2006 / 05/07/2006 - 05/14/2006 / 05/14/2006 - 05/21/2006 / 05/28/2006 - 06/04/2006 / 06/04/2006 - 06/11/2006 / 06/11/2006 - 06/18/2006 / 06/18/2006 - 06/25/2006 / 06/25/2006 - 07/02/2006 / 07/09/2006 - 07/16/2006 / 07/16/2006 - 07/23/2006 / 07/23/2006 - 07/30/2006 / 07/30/2006 - 08/06/2006 / 08/06/2006 - 08/13/2006 / 08/13/2006 - 08/20/2006 / 08/20/2006 - 08/27/2006 / 08/27/2006 - 09/03/2006 / 09/10/2006 - 09/17/2006 / 09/17/2006 - 09/24/2006 / 10/01/2006 - 10/08/2006 / 10/08/2006 - 10/15/2006 / 10/15/2006 - 10/22/2006 / 10/22/2006 - 10/29/2006 / 10/29/2006 - 11/05/2006 / 11/05/2006 - 11/12/2006 / 11/12/2006 - 11/19/2006 / 11/19/2006 - 11/26/2006 / 12/03/2006 - 12/10/2006 / 12/10/2006 - 12/17/2006 / 12/17/2006 - 12/24/2006 / 12/31/2006 - 01/07/2007 / 01/14/2007 - 01/21/2007 / 01/28/2007 - 02/04/2007 / 02/04/2007 - 02/11/2007 / 02/11/2007 - 02/18/2007 / 02/25/2007 - 03/04/2007 / 03/04/2007 - 03/11/2007 / 03/18/2007 - 03/25/2007 / 03/25/2007 - 04/01/2007 / 04/01/2007 - 04/08/2007 / 04/15/2007 - 04/22/2007 / 04/29/2007 - 05/06/2007 / 05/13/2007 - 05/20/2007 / 05/20/2007 - 05/27/2007 / 06/10/2007 - 06/17/2007 / 06/17/2007 - 06/24/2007 / 07/15/2007 - 07/22/2007 / 07/29/2007 - 08/05/2007 / 08/05/2007 - 08/12/2007 / 08/12/2007 - 08/19/2007 / 08/19/2007 - 08/26/2007 / 08/26/2007 - 09/02/2007 / 09/09/2007 - 09/16/2007 / 09/16/2007 - 09/23/2007 / 09/23/2007 - 09/30/2007 / 10/07/2007 - 10/14/2007 / 10/14/2007 - 10/21/2007 / 10/28/2007 - 11/04/2007 / 11/11/2007 - 11/18/2007 / 11/18/2007 - 11/25/2007 / 11/25/2007 - 12/02/2007 / 12/09/2007 - 12/16/2007 / 01/13/2008 - 01/20/2008 / 02/24/2008 - 03/02/2008 / 03/02/2008 - 03/09/2008 / 03/23/2008 - 03/30/2008 / 04/06/2008 - 04/13/2008 / 04/13/2008 - 04/20/2008 / 04/20/2008 - 04/27/2008 / 05/04/2008 - 05/11/2008 / 05/11/2008 - 05/18/2008 / 06/29/2008 - 07/06/2008 /
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
