Hand to the Plough - Latest Comments

Re: Backpack Beds for the Homeless

Woodworking Project Plans — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 05:14:34 -0000

This is a great thing to do! It seems like a very nice project.

Re: The Thinking Theologian is back.

baz — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 19:23:20 -0000

Hey man how can I read the blog of the thinking theologian? Ive been to Hillsong in london a few times and have been getting the feeling theyre not your average church..

Re: Backpack Beds for the Homeless

adamgollam — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:46:03 -0000

This seems like a very nice project, but I sincerely hope that the government has some housing plans for the future. Homeless people are homeless because they have no other choice. They should get more help and maybe get them off the streets.
_______________________________________________
Adam Gollam - Hong Kong Hotels

Re: Housing Crisis in Australia — A Homeless man’s perspective

DBW — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 02:56:45 -0000

We are doing a Sleep On The Streets night in aid of the Homeless in Australia... please visit http://www.sleeponthestreet...

Re: Backpack Beds for the Homeless

valerian42 — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 06:09:23 -0000

This is a great thing to do! All my respect to you! I feel guilty for sleeping in my lovely tempurpedic mattress every night when there are people out there fighting on the streets each night.

Re: Micro-enterprise loans — would they work here in Australia?

julietgibugibbs — Fri, 07 May 2010 21:34:21 -0000

If it is working in New York - See Grameen Foundation, then surely it can work in Australia. The design is what matters most. Remember in the Western world, there are so many emmigrants

Re: Our Housing Crisis Day 31

Cate Bolt — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 00:00:02 -0000

Hi Neal. I think you know about our housing issues, and the fact that we became homeless because... well frankly because the current private rental system is inadequate, and quite often even corrupt. I have been debating whether or not to publish the Government's response to my Open Letter to the Prime Minister as published on my blog, and was undecided as to whether I should also publish my response to Tanya Plibersek. After reading your post, I believe I need to publish both. Stay strong, I hope something comes through for you soon.

Re: Reflection:: Forge Church Planting Weekend

Adventist Sermons — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:23:15 -0000

nice post, thanks for sharing

Re: Our Housing Crisis Day 31

Andrevan — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 21:03:55 -0000

Complex issues that you have described well. I can feel your sense of injustice coming out... awesome. Adequate housing is a basic human right, not to mention a hospitality mandate that is part of God's Kingdom. Time and time again people struggle to connect with real estate agents, that are plainly not operating for their benefit. ie they are paid by the landlord! It appears really simple to be misunderstood by an agent and then they form an opinion of you. One of the issues is that rentals keep going up, and their doesn't seem to be a cap, our free market lets this happen and our tax system encourages it ie negative gearing. In Pakenham we saw small (newer) houses like you are describing going for enormous rents, on par with bigger older properties. I'm confused, help me Neal... where are those on low incomes meant to live?? Travelling with you brother!

Re: Our Housing Crisis Day 31

annesmith — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:11:34 -0000

The truth is here and we have to face it. Hopefully things will turn out well in the end. Everybody's responsible. Good luck on all your ventures. By the way, I found the most comprehensive real estate online marketing package in Australia that will surely benefit you. Good luck!

Re: Shalom — exploring this beautiful word.

pete — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 07:46:13 -0000

website died Neal so am reformatting and reblogging will continue the shalom posts

Re: Our Housing Crisis Day 15

CrisisMaven — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 10:49:35 -0000

Thanks Neal for commenting back. It's sad story governments misread any type of "infrastructure" or concrete (in more than one sense) building as an addition to a nation's wealth. Often it is misguided money. I don't know about Australia, but in many European states the situation of the totally homeless is aggravated e.g. by the fact they are not meant to stay in a vicinity for too long and thus are driven across county borders regularly which surely makes trying to "settle in" far from easier. Many think the worst is over, but I have tried to capture the looming next (and bigger) US mortgage crisis here: Of Mortgage Brokers, ARMs, Attrition and Marathons. This bodes very ill for future homeless rates in the once so proud US.

Re: Our Housing Crisis Day 15

neal_taylor — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 08:32:00 -0000

Thanks for the comment Crisismaven! Will go have a look at your own blog.

If you read further you'll see that I spend time helping the homeless and disadvantaged so my own experiences are often tinged with understanding that it happens to many others.

I decided to document the issue as many folk do not realise the housing situation. Happy to share more if you have any questions.

Thanks mate!

Re: Our Housing Crisis Day 15

CrisisMaven — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 08:26:18 -0000

Well, I wish you all the best of luck. Came here as I research the housing crisis - but all I found was statistics, your's is a first real-life experience. Keep your faith and your heads up!

Re: Thinking Theologian, Where are You?

Seminary — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:54:54 -0000

Hey Neal, you might want to check the Reformed Theological Seminary

Re: The Thinking Theologian is back.

Seminary — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:11:32 -0000

Thanks for the re-post. Just do what makes you happy my friend. The seminary is proud to have someone like you.

Re: Awaken the Spirit — The Sacred Texts of Jesus

Jay Jeffries — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:32:41 -0000

Hi Neil, Great seeing you on the weekend. I never thanked you for the plug about the book and all your encouragement. It is getting more exciting with the Sample Chapter out. I've had some good response. The publishing world is tough tho. Anyway thanks Neil. Jay

Re: Street Swags

zac — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:25:30 -0000

hi jan Im a nudgee boy who rolls swags the man who is in charge of this is a great guy in his 60's im not to sure if you know this but all money made goes back into making more street swags and yes that means 100% of the money is put back into swags. \

the people who make street swags do not think them self first they put all others before them ... thanks and sorry i send this so late:)

Re: Call this a home?

Refinance your Home — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 03:36:57 -0000

Are they planning to build an establishments to help homeless people especially the elderly

Re: No wonder we confuse the World — A tale of the two Wynnum Church of Christ

neal_taylor — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:24:20 -0000

Thanks Celtic Son! Love your perspective! Keep 'em coming!

Re: No wonder we confuse the World — A tale of the two Wynnum Church of Christ

Celtic Son — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:58:52 -0000

Hey Neal... I get your point mate - on the whole denominational distinctives are the consequence of our inability to be Christ like, preferring our own pig-headed approach to interpretations of Scripture and history over others.

In all honesty I doubt the community cares that much... you managed to live there without knowing they'd both been there for 80 odd years, and you're a Jesus follower. Those within the churches probably care more than anyone else, and it'll give them something to debate while they wait for Jesus to turn up... at which point I think he'll piss himself laughing!!

Catchya

The Celtic One

Re: The Church and the Unemployed — are we missing something?

neal_taylor — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 07:59:58 -0000

The gap, I feel, is far greater than that of providing physical needs.

Maslow's hierarchy of needs - the base is being met, but the next level is crumbling, affecting any progress and affecting needs such as community, friendship, self-esteem etc.

Re: The Church and the Unemployed — are we missing something?

Heather — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:35:48 -0000

That sounds very similar to what was set up for the land of Israel in the OT. God obviously thought it was a good idea!

Re: The Church and the Unemployed — are we missing something?

Norman — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:56:49 -0000

In Buddhist Thailand, if you have no roof over your head or no food, then you rock up to the temple and you are provided food and shelter. The people of the village or suburb bring lots of food for the monks on a daily basis which the monks share.

Seems a simple concept, but occ health & safety would prevent the sharing of the food in Australia

Re: The Church and the Unemployed — are we missing something?

neal_taylor — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:52:03 -0000

Thanks Jermayn - think you hit the nail on the head with the comment about churches seeing the unemployed as a liability. I think this is more so with the prosperity doctrine so popular in Australia and abroad lately.

Thanks for the comment and joining the conversation here.