Alison and the whale
Discover how Biblical stories speak into modern lives, politics and culture
Episodes
Sunday Dec 02, 2018
Apocalypse Now
Sunday Dec 02, 2018
Sunday Dec 02, 2018
School students go on #ClimateStrike while adults bury their heads in the sand. What has Jesus to say about this?
A reflection on #ClimateStrike and Luke 21:25-36, given to Sanctuary, 2 December 2018 (Year C Advent 1, C01) © Alison Sampson, 2018.
Sunday Nov 25, 2018
Revelation at Armageddon
Sunday Nov 25, 2018
Sunday Nov 25, 2018
Stories of Armageddon, Israel, Italy, and Christ the King.
A reflection on John 18:33-37 and Revelation for the Feast of Christ the King, given to Sanctuary, 25 November 2018 (Year B Proper 29, BP29) © Alison Sampson, 2018. Image credit: Alison Sampson, showing layers at Megiddo (and a stone altar for sacrifices).
Sunday Oct 28, 2018
Visions of an Angry Prophet
Sunday Oct 28, 2018
Sunday Oct 28, 2018
What might the church of the future look like? Thoughts from an angry prophet given to the Baptist Union of Victoria on the occasion of her ordination, Saturday 20 October 2018, and expanded for Sanctuary, Sunday 28 October 2018. I should add, this angry prophet is often seen laughing! Just in case you're worried.
Sunday Oct 14, 2018
Suffering: Who's to blame?
Sunday Oct 14, 2018
Sunday Oct 14, 2018
A fairly short reflection on the very big question of suffering, given to Sanctuary, 14 October 2018 © Alison Sampson, 2018.
Sunday Oct 07, 2018
A Tale of Three Donkeys
Sunday Oct 07, 2018
Sunday Oct 07, 2018
The story of Balaam and his donkey reveals just what big asses we tend to be.
A reflection on Numbers 22-24 given to Sanctuary, 7 October 2018 © Alison Sampson, 2018.
Sunday Sep 16, 2018
Holy Gossip
Sunday Sep 16, 2018
Sunday Sep 16, 2018
Is all gossip bad? Or could there be a gift in gossip?
A reflection on James 3:1-12 given to Sanctuary, 16 September 2018 (BP19; Year B Proper 19) © Alison Sampson, 2018.
Tuesday Sep 11, 2018
Soup and Stories, 8 September 2018
Tuesday Sep 11, 2018
Tuesday Sep 11, 2018
Not the usual podcast! This is a recording of me telling folktales at a small local event, totally unpolished, just as is. May these stories feed and sustain you - and may you be ready to pass them on! Two stories from Turkey: Nasreddin Hodja: The Recipe & Nasreddin Hodja: The Coat; and a story from Liberia: The Cowtail Switch.
Sunday Sep 09, 2018
Church without Boundaries
Sunday Sep 09, 2018
Sunday Sep 09, 2018
Churches and religious organisations regularly exclude people from full participation, but following Jesus means demolishing all boundaries and seeking Christ beyond the walls of the church.
A message for a congregation preparing to commit to the next twelve months, drawing from Mark 7:24-30. Sanctuary, 9 September 2018 (Year B Proper 18, BP18).
Sunday Sep 02, 2018
You are not defiled
Sunday Sep 02, 2018
Sunday Sep 02, 2018
What if Jesus's disciples were attacked, not for failing to observe ritual food laws, but for failing to demonstrate "Biblical family values"? A re-telling of Mark 7:1-23 for a region hard-hit by clergy abuse.
Given to Sanctuary, 9 September 2018 (Year B Proper 17, BP17). Image shows a detail from Emmaus (2000) by Emmanuel Garibay, found here.
Sunday Aug 19, 2018
Senator Anning vs Christo-Cannibalism and the New Community of Love
Sunday Aug 19, 2018
Sunday Aug 19, 2018
Our world eats people alive: it's how we try to build community. Jesus offers a different way.
A reflection on John 6:51-58, given to Sanctuary, 19 August 2018 (Year B Proper 15, BP15).