While I’m mainly planning to do more reading about weakness, etc over the summer, I’ve still been thinking about it this week. I’ve had one thought as a result of talking to my pastor, Mark, and one thought as a result of watching a short clip about JI Packer.

One of the great things about doing a ministry traineeship for two years before coming to college as I did is that the ‘real’ experience of full-time ministry provides you with plenty of questions! One of my questions that I’ve raised before (here and here) is how to deal with weakness and insufficiency in ministry.

The God we don’t like.

The animation starts here.

Atheism is stridently anti-religious, but does it have anything more to offer?

It’s been all over the news. The Pope has a plan to welcome Anglicans who are looking for a more hardcore church to the the Roman Catholic Church. Last night, the 7pm Project reported on it – with surprising clarity.

Of course, there was the normal laughing about the church that went on, and let’s face it, Anglicans do provide a fair selection of fodder: from the beginnings of the church as an excuse for Henry VIII’s adultery, to its constant bickering and compromising, to its reputation for casseroles and bake sales, the church doesn’t exactly scream, ‘take us seriously!’ Maybe more of an indignant yelp.

Our Monday gym instructor just came third in the Victorian natural bodybuilding comp, qualifying for the nationals in which she will compete this weekend. It’s been fascinating watching her go from being a lean, fit looking woman down to 8% body fat and I’ve been intrigued by both the science and the discipline involved. Our class chats with her a bit about it and after bombarding her with questions this week, she offered to show us her stuff.

Someone I love and respect told me the other day how horrified she was by the claim she’d heard some other Christians make that those who did not believe in Jesus Christ were destined for Hell. To her, that was the essence of tearing relationship apart, to pass judgement on someone else like that. And it seemed arrogant. After all, why does it matter who you call the creator, she said, it’s all the same so it’s way too narrow minded to say that only the name of Jesus is good enough. It struck me again just how unpalatable the Christian message can be.

The newest addition to our pop culture corner (to your right and down a bit) is Hungry Beast.  Think Media Watch for Gen Y.  Last night we instantly accelerated it to the top of our TV schedule.  Hungry Beast brings a critical eye to the media along with a concern for image and voice and story (not just propositions, like Media Watch), and comes integrated with the full online experience.  Its concern for issues (like the war in Afghanistan and the coal industry) gives it a tone like Hack.

The Hungry Beast team effortlessly highlight the fakery and idiocy in the media but, through their parodies and self-deprecation, they acknowledge just how gleefully media-drenched they are themselves.  I’ve learnt so much from Cosmo this month.

Hungry Beast reveals a slice of savvy young Aussies who are happily immersed in the media and emerging technologies but not so easily duped.  (Pace Mark Sayers.)

The first three episodes are online.   And before Hungry Beast even went to air, they had already hoaxed the Aussie news cycle to test whether the news media can report critically.  NEWS MEDIA FAIL.  :P