A few years ago I was grading a student’s paper and it was brilliant – really engaging to read, with thought-provoking and solid, nuanced analysis. It said some challenging things, but with an uncommon grace. It all seemed a rather too-large improvement for what I’d come to expect from this student, and with a little bit of digging, it turned out that the essay had rather neatly plagiarised some articles about biblical economics by Manna Gum. I spent the next few hours reading my way through their website, signed up for their newsletter and began listening to their podcast. The content and communications by Manna Gum are one of very few that I read through entirely – they are a rare voice in the Australian Christian landscape, and I’d really encourage you to check out their work and consider supporting them if you have the capacity.
Manna Gum publishes Manna Matters three times a year – it’s always a really good read (and it’s free!) – and in the freshly published August edition I was asked to do a write-up about the house we’ve built here in Fremantle. You can read the article here, and you can read the whole August edition of Manna Matters here. And if you’re ever in Perth and would like to share a meal or a cuppa and have a wander around the place, let me know and we’ll line it up!
Many thanks to Jonathan, Kim and Jacob for this opportunity and for their wisdom and encouraging example (and collating of examples!) of attempting to live out the gospel in everyday Australian life.
patmos 
Hey Son,
Great read on your house build and the thoughts behind the design elements!
You’re right; responsible care-taking of the resources God has given us, is a better way forward …so thank you for encouraging us all in that direction!
…and once in a while … we take a few liberties and go beyond simply purist motives! ?
Love,
Dad
Hey Dad,
Thanks for having a read and your encouragement – always appreciated! Regarding purist motives: I suppose I see ourselves as working in the ‘here-not-yet’ where Jesus said, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand’ and we’re looking back at creation and forwards to the time when all will be restored – when all things were pure and will be as pure as God intended or designed them to be. So our eyes are on that goal while we live, serve and work in the messy-but-beautiful ‘here’. Maybe I’m misunderstanding your point – and if so, my apologies – but that mess includes my mixed motives and my blind-spots and I had hoped some of that came through in the article as well.
Hello Clinton I will have to ask you to unsubscribe me please. I love Manna Gum and your letters but i am going brain numb – we have moved to Adelaide to be near Ben and Im still a bit unsettled. I have many hoary memories of meeting you at Surrender, Adelaide! Sometimes the Way is shadowed but the Good Shepherd knows the future. In His care, and may you be knowing the height and and breadth of his love for you and your family Ursula Clarke
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Hi Ursula, sorry for the late reply – I was overseas with a busy schedule and just playing catch-up now. That’s no worries at all, I’ve done that for you, and all the best with settling into Adelaide and all that it entails. Please give my regards to Ben – he’s a good man and a reflection of his wonderful parents 🙂