‘A leopard never changes its spots’ is a false and limiting philosophy. Maxims like these constrain us to old ways and attitudes. People fail to realise their (and others’) capacity to change, beyond their maturing physical appearance. We see this playing out in the media, particularly in politics, when a person’s immaturity is rolled out decades later, implying they have not changed. Yes, they are the same person, but many of their values will have altered significantly. We continue to be presented with opportunities to see the world differently and choose whether or not to be influenced by them.

I favour a life image of a clay pot being moulded by a master potter. The clay is the same, but is in a process of refinement. Likewise, our core values tend to remain, but everything else is capable of change as learning and life experience increase. As we age, we acquire more ability to weigh perspectives from the vast array of influences accumulated over time. References to older people being ‘set in their ways’ are sweeping generalisations which undermine mature wisdom. Consider those doing further study, those actively contributing in their workplace and community for longer and others continually extending their learning and skills via online sources.
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Embrace the diversity life brings your way and add it to your experience bank. Listen and discuss with others, who see from different perspectives, to further enlarge your vision. Lane Cove Community Chaplaincy’s latest community activity, Intergen Cafe , seeks to link people inter-generationally, by exchanging wisdom and kindness weekly over coffee. Knowing someone from a different background frequently results in us seeing a whole group of people more compassionately. Let us continually welcome challenge, integrate new information and refine our thinking. Contact me for more information or to enlarge my understanding with your perspective.

I feel great today! A special accomplishment perhaps? No – but rising easily after a peaceful sleep, with a voice and no headache, provides a wonderful contrast to last week. Recovered from sickness, I am grateful for my resilient body. It’s like the difference between black and white, shadows and sunshine, bad and good. One augments the other.

Greg Sheridan’s recent book: God is Good for You. A Defence of Christianity in Troubled Times contrasts our society with and without Christian belief at its core. Sheridan challenges those who blithely reject Christianity to take a closer look. What may be lost, if we continue down the path of becoming an atheist nation? Acknowledging Christianity’s problems, well-researched Sheridan assesses the wisdom, content and history of the faith. Sheridan packs 350 pages examining a holistic Christianity lifestyle, dismissing the caricature of mere Sunday worship.

‘Being Christian doesn’t solve the human condition. People still behave badly and do evil. But they also behave well and do good. The sense of Christianity in education has become cockeyed, unbalanced, inaccurately hostile.’ (p.21)

You are invited to hear Greg Sheridan for yourself – and ask him questions – courtesy of Lane Cove Uniting Church. See details here. Our Book Club avidly discusses this book over wine and cheese, debating from our varied perspectives, each month. We are happy to make room for more people and their unique contributions. We meet every second Thursday evening of the month. Please contact me for details if you would like to join us.

‘But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.’ From The Bible, James 3:17 ESV
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Isn’t that a breath of fresh air in contrast to media hype? If you would like to activate that ideal, practice it with us at Book Club!

對比                             （譯自Karen牧師的‘Contrasts')
 
今天我感到狀況好極了！或許這是我的特別成就吧？不是嗎 － 經過一夜的安眠，聲音清了和沒頭痛，比較上星期的情況好得多。感謝我這適應強的身體，能從病中恢複過來。這對比一如黑與白，影子和陽光，壞跟好。是相互增長的。
 
Greg Sheridan最近出版的書：《God is Good for You. A Defence of Christianity in Troubled Times上神的認識對您有好處。於紛擾時代為基督教辯護》為有沒有基督教的社會作了核心的對比。Sheridan挑戰那些漠不經心地拒絕基督教者作精細點的觀察。假如我們繼續成為一個無神論的國家，有什麼會失去？承認了基督教的各類問題，經過慎密研究的Sheridan評估這信仰的智慧、內容和歷史。Sheridan在350頁裏裝入整體的基督教生活方式，剔除那漫畫方時的星期日崇拜。
 
‘作為一名基督徒并不解決人類的境況。人們依然行為惡劣和犯罪。但他們也行為良好和守法。學校教育的基督教意識已粗俗化了、失去平衡了，不正確地敵對化了。’（書本第21頁）
 
請蒞臨Lane Cove Uniting Church來聽Greg Sheridan 的講話 － 問他問題。詳情在此https://us12.campaignarchive.com/?e=&u=04dfb7608815bbaee27a45782&id=9f27b566a1。我們的Book Club讀書將會每每月作茶餘方式，如飢似渴地討論這本書，和用不同角度來辯論。我們樂意保留空間予廣泛人仕及其意見。會面時間為每月的第二格星期四黃昏。假如有興趣參與請跟我聯絡。
 
‘然而，那從上面來的智慧首先是純潔，然後是愛好和平，常存溫柔的心，願意讓步，充滿憐憫，多多行善，沒有半點偏私和野心。’聖經雅各書第3章第17節 ESV
 
這是不是媒體操作的對比？假如您願意活化那份理想，請跟我們一起在Book Club讀書會裏練習。
 
……………………..
对比                             （译自Karen牧师的‘Contrasts')
 
今天我感到状况好极了！或许这是我的特别成就吧？不是吗 － 经过一夜的安眠，声音清了和没头痛，比较上星期的情况好得多。感谢我这适应强的身体，能从病中恢复过来。这对比一如黑与白，影子和阳光，坏跟好。是相互增长的。
 
Greg Sheridan最近出版的书∶《God is Good for You. A Defence of Christianity in Troubled Times上神的认识对您有好处。于纷扰时代为基督教辩护》为有没有基督教的社会作了核心的对比。Sheridan挑战那些漠不经心地拒绝基督教者作精细点的观察。假如我们继续成为一个无神论的国家，有什麽会失去？承认了基督教的各类问题，经过慎密研究的Sheridan评估这信仰的智慧丶内容和历史。Sheridan在350页裏装入整体的基督教生活方式，剔除那漫画方时的星期日崇拜。
 
‘作为一名基督徒并不解决人类的境况。人们依然行为恶劣和犯罪。但他们也行为良好和守法。学校教育的基督教意识已粗俗化了丶失去平衡了，不正确地敌对化了。’（书本第21页）
 
请莅临Lane Cove Uniting Church来听Greg Sheridan 的讲话 － 问他问题。详情在此https://us12.campaignarchive.com/?e=&u=04dfb7608815bbaee27a45782&id=9f27b566a1。我们的Book Club读书将会每每月作茶馀方式，如饥似渴地讨论这本书，和用不同角度来辩论。我们乐意保留空间予广泛人仕及其意见。会面时间为每月的第二格星期四黄昏。假如有兴趣参与请跟我联络。
 
‘然而，那从上面来的智慧首先是纯洁，然后是爱好和平，常存温柔的心，愿意让步，充满怜悯，多多行善，没有半点偏私和野心。’圣经雅各书第3章第17节 ESV
 
这是不是媒体操作的对比？假如您愿意活化那份理想，请跟我们一起在Book Club读书会裏练习。