Please Explain…
The Site
The Bloodwood Tree is a meeting place for discussion on Biblical approaches to major issues faced by the Christian community. The site is run by Phil Zylstra, convenor of the Monaro Christian Forum. The Monaro Christian Forum exists to facilitate discussion between Christians of all denominations, based on the belief that if Christians live with the priorities given them in the Bible, we can again be a force to see God’s will done “on earth as it is in heaven”.
Posting a Comment
Comments are invited on all posts added to this site. The posts are put there by Phil, and unless indicated differently they are his work and interpretation. If you post a reply, please keep in mind that we’re looking here to work out together what a Christian response is to the issues raised. We want material to both reflect the priorities and character of God as given in the Bible, and to be factual and supported. Debate, disagree and question but please keep it friendly. Offensive comments will be removed, and if necessary the offender can be blocked from posting further comments.
Phil Zylstra
Phil Zylstra is a scientist involved in bushfire management in Kosciuszko National Park, and in researching bushfire behaviour. He lives with his wife (Donwen) and son (Zac). He and his family are members of the Cooma Baptist Church.
The Bloodwood tree
The Bloodwood tree is a species that has great significance to the Ngarigo Aboriginal people from the Monaro. Their name for the tree was “Boona”, which was also the name of a woman local settlers in the 19th century decided to appoint as the “Queen of the Monaro Aborigines”. Despite their impression that they were doing the local people a favour, they did not know enough to realise that she was not actually from the Monaro, that they had no actual authority to do such a thing, and that Ngarigo society did not even have a king or queen. This is a potent reminder that we need our actions to not only be well-intentioned, but to be well informed and wise.