Simply Simon

Graduation day ... or night

Time to celebrate

She’s done it! My wonderfully intelligent spouse has just learned that her PhD dissertation has passed with flying colours. One examiner described it as "one of the best dissertations I have read," and the other as "original in its focus, ambitious in its scope, deeply ethical, reflexive and engaging."

I’m proud!

A rant (or two)

Some rants are just tiresome … better to leave the ranter in a room (preferably locked from the outside) and go and have coffee.

Then there are those rants that deserve to be heard, no matter how uncomfortable they make you feel. This and this are examples of the latter.

Required reading ...

In a new book edited by Julianne Moss and published by SensePublishers, Researching Education: Visually - Digitally - Spatially, there’s a fascinating chapter written by one of my favourite scholars in education, Brenda Holt … the fact that we share a surname is entirely coincidental!

The chapter is titled Researching beyond words: Exploring identity through photographs with metropolitan university students from rural areas.

Read the essay … buy the book!

Done, concluded, accomplished, executed, discharged, fulfilled, wrapped up, polished off ... we hope!

Just days before Christmas, my partner submitted her PhD thesis for examination. As anyone who has ventured such a thing will know, submission marks a tremendous accomplishment; even more so when the research is completed within four years while maintaining many other parts of life with equal energy. We now await the outcome. Regardless, I am immensely proud.

Part of the abstract reads as follows:

"Rural young people in Australia, particularly those growing up in small towns, are
underrepresented in universities. Named as a targeted equity group by the
Commonwealth in 1990, Australian rural young people are most often represented in large-scale national studies as socio-economically and educationally disadvantaged. Further, such research indicates that targeted university access programs created to increase their participation in higher education have had little effect.

This study is an examination of a small group of young rural women from towns of less than 10,000 who have accessed an elite higher education at The University of Melbourne. Using ethnography, self-directed photography, semi-structured interviews, focus groups and statistical data about rural women, this study’s focus is the narrated identities of this equity group as they access elite, urban university education. It will demonstrate some of the changes higher education brings to one’s identity and the survival of rural identities in the midst of an urban, global economy, as well as illustrate some of the social and geographical consequences they experience."

God Next Door

It was encouraging to see a review of God Next Door in Working Together, the journal of the Australian Evangelical Alliance.

Brian Edgar, EA’s Director of Public Theology, writes the following:

"Isn’t it ironic when the single most recognised Christian responsibility to others—‘to love your neighbour as yourself’—is generalised as a command to love everyone and has little reference to real neighbours in the same street—those who remain virtually anonymous except for the occasional greeting? And what does it mean for our understanding of ‘loving neighbour’ when churches replace locality references (like ‘West Croydon’) with more catchy names that reflect a certain ethos rather than locality? The creation of churches that are ‘regional’ or ‘city’ focused or established in less communal settings also has the effect of diminishing any focus on local communities.

If you believe that the notion of local community belongs to yesterday, then you need to read Simon Carey Holt’s God Next Door: Spirituality and Mission in the Neighbourhood (Acorn Press, 2007). Or if you want to be encouraged about the possibilities of a mission field close at hand, then you ought to read it too!

Beautifully written, easily read and full of real stories, God Next Door reminds us of how the local neighbourhood can be a place of ministry and of God’s presence. And despite trends that draw many people away from their neighbourhood into work and recreational pursuits in other places, Holt shows how life and ministry can be enriched by an intentional focus on the place and the people where we live.

Despite the trend towards the inner-city, suburbia remains the residential context for the vast majority of people and many areas that used to need to relate to the central city are now centres of activity in themselves, where people shop, work and live. If there is anything that inhibits the development of more community in suburbia, it is probably the state of mind which gives a priority to privacy; one that would rather preserve boundaries than develop relationships; one that sees neighbours as a threat to privacy, rather than an opportunity for community. Christians have the opportunity to reverse this thinking and to live the gospel within their local communities.

Choosing to engage with our neighbourhoods as places of community requires a high level of creativity and purpose, but Holt shows that the rewards are great—both for families and churches. Nurturing community in the local area is a challenging task but it ought to be seen as an intentional one for Christians: a vital part of the mission of the church."

Back

Returning to work tomorrow after a week away with my children. They are a delight. We spent time in Echuca on the northern border by the Murray River. The wetlands in the Barmah-Millewa forest were a highlight. The drive north was delightful. The rains have made such a difference. The rivers are still low but flowing again and the grasses and crops are several beautiful shades of green.

Still, we're back and another semester beckons. Three units this semester: (i) Research Methods in Practical Theology; (ii) Spirituality of Everyday Life; and (iii) Facing Crisis & Change: Worship & Pastoral Care. Hoping to start work on two new writing projects, though time may conspire against me. My partner is making great strides with her own research and hoping to wrap up the PhD this year.

Much to hope for and work toward.

Who me?

The last time I won an award was … gosh, I don’t remember! So thanks to Milton for nominating me: the Thinking Blogger Award. It even sounds impressive. I’m chuffed!

Apparently the award originated here with the intention of encouraging quality blogs that make us think. I’m certainly glad if that’s the case—though my daily tally of hits would suggest that any thinking caused by my musings is more like a ripple in a very small puddle than a wave in the sea … still, I’ll take any encouragement I can get!

According to the rules of the award, my task is now to nominate five blogs that make ME think. So here are my nominations:

Prodigal Kiwi(s): Paul and Alan across the Tasman provide a veritable stream of thoughtful, reflective and interesting posts exploring faith and life. In the world of blogs where life spans can be breathtakingly brief, these two are stayers. May it continue!

The Suburban Christian: IVP editor and author Al Hsu started this blog to coincide with the launch of his book by the same name. It’s a great book and always a thoughtful blog. Though his interests centre around discipleship in the suburbs, his blog addresses all sorts of issues related to Christian living.

Sean the Baptist: Fellow Baptist and New Testament Scholar Sean Winter teaches at Northern Baptist College in the UK. His blog provides a kind of meeting place for Baptist bloggers, a gathering of resources and a continuous (though sometimes spasmodic!) stream of thoughtful reflections.

Mr Jones and Me: A little nepotism is good for the soul! My friend Simon Moyle, Baptist minister, non-violence activist and educator, and all ‘round creative being, blogs away quietly but consistently, and often challenges me to think in new ways about the call of Jesus.

JoBloggs: Joanna does not post near enough for some of us, but whenever she does it’s always thought provoking and often challenging.

Thanks to you all for invading my head space from time to time. And if you care to, you can share the affirmation with others!

the spirit of lent?

Just what we need to get us in the Lenten mood ... crucifix lollypops!

Brings a whole new depth to the words "take up your cross" doesn't it?

You can check out these and a host of other tasty options here.

Film festival

Melbourne-based documentary filmmaker Richard Leigh, a friend of mine, has initiatied a new on-line festival for short films dealing with issues of faith. Submissions from local filmmakers are welcome.

"Campfire is an online film festival exploring matters of faith, religion and spirituality. Unlike other short film festivals, it offers a uniquely Australian perspective ... as much about discussion as it is about film. Each festival is launched with two leading essays that reflect on the meaning of the films."

If you know of anyone who may be interested, pass the word on.