Life Stopped, I’m Back

Almost had a month of no posts, can’t have that. It’s been a busy couple of months doing training for the Ambulance Service. So how has it been?

Process to get in
They make it hard with a big psych test followed by interviews, medical test, physical test and a whole heap of checks. Plus in your own time you need to get an LR or above licence.

First impressions
Felt like the first day of school all over again. Not really knowing anyone. Luckily I saw someone I had met during the interview process. It was handy to know at least one person just to settle the nerves a bit and break the ice with others.

Theory overload
The theoretical aspect of the course started slowly as we got all the official stuff out of the way. Come the third week and it was on. We really had to stay on top of it by being organised in our materials and our studying content.

Study
Speaking of study, I have never been the best studier. I can’t sit in a quiet room and read stuff. So having the radio on in the background worked for me. I usually had about 2-3 hrs every night so having a plan of attack was useful, 1 hr of something then a break and move onto something different.

Prac pressure
All the practical skills that were assessable were relatively easy. Performing in front of an educator proved difficult though. We weren’t up to the stage of fully back ourselves so that when an educator asked if there’s something else you would do there were some that racked their brains for further processes when a simple “I’m done” would suffice.

Exams
One thing that usually make people panic and feel like they don’t know enough to pass. Everyone had studied hard though and underestimated themselves.

Relief
I got that pass mark and handed the exam back straight away not to be seen again. Part of me wanted to go through it to see where I went wrong but it had been a tough week involving lack of sleep and high anxiety over receiving the marks back in the first place. The final exam especially had some dubious question on things we believe wasn't even covered in lectures. Everyone was a little on edge.

The Real Deal
Scary thing was that passing the final exam meant that we are all systems go to start for real on the road. For me that meant a Friday afternoon finish in class and a Saturday morning start. Probably would have preferred a day off in between but it is probably a good thing to get stuck in straight away, and not just because I have Christmas off. Knowing me I would have mulled over everything and over analysed so that when it came time to work I would have been a nervous wreck.

Life Long Friends
Not surprisingly, being stuck in an insulated environment for 8 weeks you get to make some good friends. Those that lived on campus especially were able create a firm bond.

Public Prayer Booths

Caught this story on Weekend Sunrise. Artwork meant to engage people in dialogue about prayer. On display in New York City.

Listen To Sceptics

This is an accidental follow on from the post, ‘Be Christian Not Religious.’ Accidental because I wasn’t planning to do a follow on but then I heard a certain podcast from Andrew Denton’s Enough Rope. It was an interview with musical comedian, Tim Minchin. He is a sceptic (most likely Atheist) who has a reputation of being outspoken during his shows with his thoughts on religion .

So how do we deal with such sceptics? Sometimes it is very difficult to listen to them but that is probably the best course of action. By listening and responding in a calm, confident manner you are able to learn so much more about where they are coming from. You may find that their assumptions about Christianity are completely wrong or that what they attribute as Christian characteristics are really religious characteristics. Don't get the two confused. Remember that is was religious people that killed Jesus.

With a bit of knowledge you are able to pick up the mistakes in the arguments of sceptics. Here’s what Tim Minchin had to say to Andrew Denton:

ANDREW DENTON: Let’s talk about an area that you are very confident on that you totally believe in which is religion.
TIM MINCHIN: I’m not really outspoken or raging against religious people, but when I’m on stage I talk about what I think about and I think a lot about people’s beliefs. I never got it. It’s like I’m lacking the gene that makes people think that stuff. I’m not scared of stuff we don’t know.
ANDREW DENTON: What about faith? You and religion and faith can be different things. Do you look at people with faith who have a strong set of moral principles that guide their life, who believe there’s a way to operate?
TIM MINCHIN: I’m very specific about what I’m saying. In my new show I’m talking about the Church’s treatment of homosexuality which I find abhorrent and the Church’s that sort of rather insipid thing that people do where they go, ‘Oh I don’t really believe in God, but I think we need a moral compass’ and it’s just such lazy thinking. Faith has no positive resonance for me. Faith just means I’m going to believe something in the face of all other evidence. I don’t know what that means and a moral code should come from here it’s more valuable when it comes from here.

A few points:

• “religious people” – it is wrong to refer to everyone with a faith in God as religious. Religious people are all about rules and what I can do to get into heaven. There is little or nothing to do with Jesus in the doctrine of the religious people. Jesus came down heaviest on the religious people of his day.
• “lacking the gene….” – no gene is necessary to follow Jesus, just an open heart and mind
• “treatment of homosexuality…..” – would be interesting to ask further questions to ascertain what he finds abhorrent about the church’s treatment of homosexuals. Last time I checked there was no persecution to homosexuals. At least there shouldn’t be any persecution. Churches should be about loving the person, but not the behaviour. Direct them to Genesis as the basis for your belief in heterosexual marriage as the only legal union.
• “need a moral compass” – this is one statement that I would agree with. Jesus isn’t your moral compass. This is to say that Jesus was just a good man and a good teacher. When really he is either God or a liar. No middle ground.
• “in the face of all other evidence” – what evidence would he be referring to? Perhaps Dawkins’ ‘The God Delusion’ which uses dodgy evidence. Perhaps leading sceptics to books like Lee Strobel’s ‘Case for Christ,’ or John Dickson’s ‘The Christ Files’ and see what they have to say about evidence. Or better still invite them to read a bible. NIV’s start at $5 at Koorong.
  

And who knows, by not being judgemental about their scepticism you may just change their whole attitude towards Christians. You just never know.

Mind Your Hypocrisy

For once, someone related to the “Bali Bombers” actually made a good point. He stated that if the three found guilty for the Bali Bombings are to be executed then so should the “Bali Nine”, the young Australians caught with masses of drugs on their person.

I don’t think there are many in this country who condone the death penalty, but if it is Indonesian law to sentence both types of offenses to death by shooting then why is it that we get all worked up about one case and not so much the other? Oh it’s because Australian’s were involved in the drug trafficking offenses. As for those dirty rats that killed all those Australian tourists, well they can die.

Now no one here at Hammer Time is condoning the death penalty. But one needs to be careful of having a double standard. One rule that applies to Australian’s and another rule to apply to foreigners. Anybody who commits a crime in Indonesia should know that there are serious repercussions. This is regardless of your own personal views on the death penalty.

So let’s not get sucked into the feeling of enjoyment at the demise of the three “Bali Bombers”. All that does is highlights our hypocrisy.


Update.......

• Bali Bombers are now obviously dead. Almost immediately Amnesty International Australia is on the 6 o'clock news proclaiming that this should signify an end to the death penalty everywhere. They don't condone the death penalty, of course, as that goes against their mission. But it seems convenient that they were silent on the issue while the Bali Bombers were on death row and only now speak out about the situation.
• People like to get caught in the trap of comparing crimes to justify their position on the death penalty. Three Australians are still on death row for drugs possession and trafficking charges. "But they just smuggled drugs, they aren't terrorists," would be something people might say. Under Indonesian law they deserve the death penalty. So either they should be shot like the Bali Bombers, or the Bali Bombers should live the same way you want the Australian drug traffickers to live. Simple as that, there is no argument, Sin is sin is sin.
  

Media Loves A Crisis

Ever noticed how every problem, big or small, is referred to as a “crisis” by all our news agencies?

Mortgage Crisis
USA stuffing it up for the rest of the world pretty much by giving people credit who had no means of repaying. I heard them called NINJA loans by former treasurer, Peter Costello. NINJA: No INcome, Job or Assets

Credit Crisis
Possibly a different name for the mortgage crisis. The media loves a crisis so much that they would come up with two names to describe the same thing.

Global Financial Crisis
Yes, same again. Although this refers to effect the mortgage crisis and the credit crisis are having on a worldwide scale.

Rental Crisis
Rental prices skyrocketed due to a lack of supply. City properties were virtually being auctioned off to the person who can get the most cash available in the shortest time. However, during the same time I noticed a few properties out my way that struggled for someone to lease.

Housing Crisis
Similar to rental crisis. Low supply meant that prices were high. This inspired PM Rudd to consider some housing schemes. Haven’t heard anything since the proposal.

Education Crisis
We should be getting smarter yet something isn’t working in our schools. Some might say it’s a lack of funding from the government. But perhaps it’s the “lefty” ideology that has taken over much of our school’s curriculum.

Health Crisis
Through great advances in technology we are living longer. Hence our hospitals are filled with old people hanging on to life. As soon as one is discharged another is waiting to fill their place. Elective surgery has ridiculously long waiting lists with no appearances of shortening. Debate is still rife about the effect of the changes in the Medicare levy. Anything that makes more people rely on the already overstretched state health system has got to be a bad thing.

Environmental Crisis
All the beat up about global warming keeps gaining momentum. Actually it seems to be called ‘climate change’ now that we are having some extremely cold temperatures. It's interesting to see how it is being sold to the general public and to business groups.

Confidence Crisis
This one was funny the first time I heard it. It was suggesting that due to the mortgage crisis, credit crisis and the global financial crisis we have a “crisis of confidence” that had to be rectified for our economy to avoid a slide into recession.

Dental Crisis
Apparently our dental health isn’t going too well either.

Be Christian, Not Religious

I have had it said to me that as Christians we should avoid being called “religious” even if it means gently rebuking those who label Christians as “religious.” I had never really understood why this should be the case. Although I never went to great efforts to ask questions in order to gain an understanding.

It took an experience at work with a “religious Christian” as well as the acquisition, and multiple viewings, of Mark Driscoll’s “Burn Your Plastic Jesus” talk on DVD. Perhaps I had to experience being “religious” first hand to understand what it is.

I had a colleague at work that professed to be a Christian. This being the case I thought it would be fun to work with him, as we should both be on the same page. There was the possibility to have some positive conversations that would have been encouraging to each other in our respective walks with Jesus. Boy, how far from the truth could I have been?

There was a moment when instantly I not only realised we weren’t on the same page, we weren’t even in the same book. The instant came when he rebuked me for liking clever church signs. He went on to proclaim FM 1032 as offensive because it isn’t explicitly Christian. Later he went on to preach about the methods of baptism and why his church’s way is right for about twenty minutes. Any mention of Sunday activities would get knocked on the head with his strong belief in “keeping the Sabbath holy” whatever “holy” might mean to him. I could go on forever. He was all about the rules, meanwhile forgetting about Jesus.

Mark Driscoll touched being “religious and how it is very different to how we should view Jesus.

On Religion:

• Something you’re born into – Eg: Protestant, Catholic
• About what you do – Eg: Tithe, Pray, Mission
• If you obey God then he will love you
• Results in pride or despair – Pride – ticking the boxes, self righteous, worst sin of all; Despair – tried but not any good, walk away from church

On Jesus:

• Someone you are born into – Second birth is spiritual
• About what he has done – Dying on the cross
• Because He loves you, you will/should/can obey me
• Results in love

They are not just different, they are diametrically opposed!!

So when someone asks me am I religious, I can have an answer. Perhaps, “No, I’m a follower of Jesus!”

Discussion Question

In the interests of bicycle safety try this question on friends and family. I have and the results can be interesting

Which act on a bicycle is the more stupid?

1. Not wearing a helmet at all.
2. Having your helmet dangling on the handle bars.
3. Having your helmet on your head but not strapped on.

A Typical Premise

US pop sensation, Katie Perry, was on Channel 7’s Sunrise and The Morning Show this week. She performed her number 1 smash hit, “I Kissed A Girl”, on Sunrise and later on she had a chat to Larry and Kylie on the Morning Show.

She was introduced as the daughter of two church pastors and who started her singing career in gospel music. So of course Katie was probed with questions regarding her parents approval of what she is doing.

Kylie Gillies seemed especially surprised to hear that Katie’s parents are supportive of her in whatever she does. Her father even wanted to go to Mexico to see her perform at the up coming Latin Video Music Awards.

It’s as if Kylie expected Katie’s parents to disown her since she is singing pop music with somewhat risqué lyrics and with a dress sense that could be considered provocative, especially to the overly conservative.

It is very understandable for individual Christians not being fans of her music and her videos, even her dress sense. But for parents it is a different story.

How good is it to hear that two Christian leaders have not gone down the overly legalistic route. Instead they have chosen to support their daughter no matter what. Banishing her for her choice in music would have been the easy thing to do. Supporting and loving her despite her misgivings can be hard. Yet it is what God does for us every single day.

The conclusion that Kylie Gillies came to is a typical one in the wider community, especially in the media. That Christianity is all about rules that must be adhered to at all times. Even though some pockets of Christianity live up to this expectation it is still an ignorant view. They forget that all of us, even Christians, fall short of any set of rules.

That is of course why we need Jesus.

Our Fragile Roads

Some accidents recently have exposed how fragile our road system can be. One in particular on the southbound entrance to the harbour bridge created gridlock for morning peak that lasted a few hours.

We are quick to blame the state government. Why not when they provide such an easy target. For years they have under invested in infrastructure yet still manage to gain re election. They want to encourage us to use public transport when for many it provides no better an alternative. So it’s back to using private cars. They have shown a lack of foresight when making major motorways only 2 lanes when they could have made them bigger. See how easy it is to make a claim of finding fault in the state government.

Yet, at the end of the day where does the blame game get us? Nowhere, or stuck in more traffic. While it is easy to blame someone else, it is difficult to look inwardly and consider that perhaps we as individuals are contributing to the problem.

Our road rage is becoming an issue. It is being blamed on the road congestion. A bit rich don’t you think? Time to break the cycle and make individual choices. That is choosing to behave better on the road, no matter what the circumstance. Twice I have seen driver get out of their cars to accost drivers that had wronged them, even though the incident was very minor in the scheme of things. Nothing necessitates leaving their vehicle while stopped in traffic.

Road ragers are perpetuating the problem and need to drive in a more patient manner. Do this by:

• Leave space in front of you – yes other motorists will take advantage of this space but a simple easing off of the accelerator will maintain the gap. It’s called crash avoidance space for a reason
• Drive at a constant speed – not just good for the car but more comfortable to passengers and easier to stop if needed
• Keep lane changing to a minimum - we see alot of almost crashes when two cars are changing lanes
  
• Don’t answer the phone – if it’s so important then the caller will leave a message

Focus on the big picture. What is the rush? You may just be rushing to a premature death.

So forget about the government, what are you doing?

Why Men Hate Church – Book Review

“Why Men Hate Going To Church”
by David Murrow

Despite what you might think of the title it is not the aim of this book to send men away from church. Not even to call men back to church. Rather its intention is to call the church back to them. Change the “thermostat” as Murrow puts it. After all, and you might find this surprising, men are the largest unreached people group.

Why is this the case? Well the book covers a lot of bases. None in any great detail but enough to make the reader think about their own church and their relationship with God. It will also hopefully open up channels of conversation with friends and/or people in their own church.

Men are different, and perhaps the biggest mistake our Christian sisters make is to try and change us into how they think we ought to be. Instead they should accept who we are and celebrate that we have a masculine spirit, using it to their advantage and for the growth of God’s kingdom.

Murrow gives plenty of practical methods for “changing the thermostat.” He focuses on the areas of leadership, pastors, teaching, worship, women and ministry in his chapter Restoring the Masculine Spirit in the Church.

Well worth a read for all blokes and all women who care for the spiritual lives of their blokes.

For more information on David Murrow's mens ministries check out his Church for Men website or its sister site Speaking of Men. Or you can even learn how to pray with a man without totally freaking him out. Checkout other David Murrow books at Koorong.

Let Men's Clubs Be

Anyone (especially the women) ever think why a mens only club such as the Athenaeum Club exists? Perhaps it's because men need such clubs. In the same way that men might need a mens only bible study group. Different species, different needs.

Thanks to the efforts of feminism the roles of men have become blurred. Men are confused, we need places like this where they can just be blokes.

It was some of the male members of the Athenaeum Club that alerted the media to the secret membership limitations. But haven't the women jumped on board with their "How dare they!" diatribe. A discrimination commissioner of some sort was even heard commenting on national radio about the situation. Guests on a morning television program were aghast and proclaimed their disapproval.

But ladies, let the men have their little bloke only zones. It is good for the men and good for everyone else.

Rid Yourself of Tall Poppy Syndrome

Why is it that in this country we are always so quick to cut down the wealthy in society? Whether it is in how we want taxation to be structured (i.e. higher rates for the top earners) or just general insults about their perceived ignorance of the working class issues.

It's the classic "tall poppy syndrome" where we need to bring those above us in status down to our level instead of striving to succeed. It can manifest itself as jealousy which can lead to all sorts of problems.

Malcolm Turnbull, newly elected as Opposition Leader, was for some reason compelled to sell his working class roots. But why?

He is considerably wealthy, apparently $125 million net worth. But then so is the Rudd family. So isn’t it a bit rich (pardon the pun) to label Turnbull as “out of touch” just because he has wealth.

But of course now the Labor heavies are saying it isn’t about the wealth, it’s about the attitude and values. Well at the moment Labor’s attitude is a bit on the nose.

Ever think that Turnbull is more qualified than anyone else to lead. After all he has succeeded in many occupations and business ventures. He has been a journalist, lawyer, merchant banker and also had a stake in OzEmail.

It wouldn’t have been easy to get to where he is today. Especially given his childhood. While he wasn’t hugely deprived, the son of a tradesman lost his mother at the age of 9 when she left to be with another man. By valuing his education he studied at a tertiary level in Australia and overseas. The “self made man” had to work hard to earn his wealth, we shouldn’t begrudge that.

By not appreciating what Malcolm Turnbull can potentially offer the Opposition and the country we are promoting mediocrity. Instead we should be promoting the value of education and have big goals to strive towards. Hold stories like Turnbull’s up high instead of trying to cut him down at the knees.

Celebrate success and do away with the tall poppy syndrome. No one likes negative people anyway.

A Brave Fox

Children’s author, Mem Fox, is reported as saying that society would look back on the trend of putting infants in child care and wonder "how could we have allowed that child abuse to happen". (SMH 1/9/08)

She continued:

"I don't know why some people have children at all if they know that they can only take a few weeks off work," she told a Melbourne newspaper. "I know you want a child, and you have every right to want a child, but does the child want you if you are going to put it in child care at six weeks? I don't think the child wants you, to tell the honest truth." (SMH 1/9/08)

Perhaps she is using hyperbole to make her point by calling childcare a form of abuse. But sometimes ideas need to be exaggerated for the point to be made. With the vehement rebuttal from working mums and childcare agencies I assume the point has been well made and has struck a nerve.

Working mothers feel the have no choice. They must work to make ends meet.

More than two-thirds of working mums would rather be at home with their children. But for most it is not an option because they need a job just to make ends meet. (Daily Telegraph 26/8/08)

But do the really? Angela van Boxtel feels somewhat unsympathetic to their plight

Many women don't realise it, but the very simple answer to the question of balance for working mothers is this: be happy with less. (Daily Telegraph 27/8/08)

This is coming from a woman who has four children and has made the necessary sacrifices so that her children get to grow up knowing their mother.

While Mem Fox’s call on childcare being a form of abuse is very gutsy it has more than an essence of truth. Children should grow up knowing their parents. Sticking them in childcare as early as six weeks is surely bad for the child and reeks of a lack of priorities. What higher priority is there than the child? As stated on this blog, children are a blessing and it's time to treat them like one. Childcare is a lazy option by those who are selfish and don’t want to sacrifice anything.

Fox is right. It’s as if they don’t even want the child at all.

Not Clearly Thinking

Almost all of Sydney let their hearts get carried away this week. They were swept up in the romantic notion that a whale’s life we could be saved and maintained after it appeared on our northern beaches seemingly abandoned by its mother and pod.

Unfortunately nature is tough. Abandoned baby whales die and there is nothing we can do to stop it. That’s just the way it is. A baby whale probably dies everyday, but just because Collette found her way to a suburban piece of Aussie coastline she gets a lot of attention.

One man even called for the UN to get involved, as if they would. Others were making their own concoctions of the special milk mixture that has been used to feed whales in such situations overseas. I even heard a story of someone buying 10 x 2L cartons of milk exclaiming, “this is for Colin” even though whales can’t take cow’s milk. Feels as if that this is a serious case of 'man' believing they can control every situation, not the case.

But for all those who really wanted to save the whale’s life, not one was seen with a blank cheque to hand to the NPW. Because that’s what it would have taken to save Collette. That and a lifetimes devotion to caring for the mammoth sized creature. Even then there is no guarantee of its survival.

At least common sense finally prevailed and Collette was put to sleep humanely as there was nothing we as humans could do to save it in the long term.

Now that it’s all over. A lot of people need to just sit back and start thinking with their heads as they were all emotion yet no substance.

That didn't stop the Daily Telegraph well and truly jumping on the emotion driven bandwagon with the headline "We could have done more" (23/8/08). Calls are now on for Collette's legacy to have some meaning by having a summit, bringing together whale experts from all over the world. Paid for by whom I wonder? Probably the taxpayer.

If we genuinely cared about each other half as much as they wanted to look after Collette then we would have a much better society.

Gender Inequality

Women’s groups are again complaining about gender inequalities in the workplace. The latest quibble is that women in the public service are overlooked for promotion after childbirth. While their female colleagues are receiving promotions.

Written in the Daily Telegraph (19/8/08):

....65 per cent of women who had taken maternity leave in 2000-01 had not received a promotion in the six years after taking maternity leave. This compared with the 42 per cent of women without children who had not received a promotion over the same period.

It is a biological fact women give birth to children. Also true is that the act of childbirth interrupts with one’s career. Women’s groups acknowledge this fact yet still draw on their feminist ideals to suggest that women should be able to have it all and that it is the fault of the workplace that this cannot occur.

So why is it that people are led to believe that they can have it all? That is, have the career with multiple promotions and have a happy family life. Something always has to give. We want it all, but unfortunately we can’t, it just doesn’t work. Sacrifices have to be made.

Of course this is what the feminists would hate the most, as women historically have been the main caregivers for children. This means that women have been the ones to sacrifice their career (if they had a career in the first place), while the man became the breadwinner. However, the same applies for the man. He will miss out on family life if he wants a big career as well.

The Daily Telegraph fails to ask these unpromoted women if they are happy with their situation. Perhaps they are happy as they are able to have that family life.

The big losers in all this kerfuffle about gender inequality are the kids. Children are a blessing, how about we start treating them as such. In the long run they become the losers from having a non existant parent because work was too important.

What’s Wrong With Hillsong?

Hillsong seems to cop criticism from all directions. Most of the time I think it is unfair and uncalled for. Some don’t like Hillsong because of their inclination to preach “prosperity gospel” or it’s because they are big and successful. Others simply don’t like the mere existence of Hillsong.

Most recently they have been in the news because of a program they run in some government schools. It is called ‘Shine’ and is aimed at building the self-esteem and self-image of young girls.

Doesn’t sound that bad. With all the distorted views we have of what is perfect they could surely appreciate some encouragement and a boost in self-image.

So is the program off the mark or are people’s anti Christian or anti Hillsong prejudices showing?

Underbelly - Book Review

Underbelly: The Gangland War

Andrew Rule & John Sylvester

The truth is stranger than fiction. Therefore the story of the Melbourne Gangland murders is a very strange one indeed.

It is my sort of read, small chunks in shortish chapters and just the facts. No fancy language to confuse me. However there are a lot of names to keep up with. People would come into the story and leave just as quickly, usually in a body bag.

Of course with stories like this there is the concern that it may be glorifying the fast living of the real life “gangsters.” However, how can you glorify dying at a tragically young age or ending up in jail for extremely long stints. They may have had the appearances of a good life on the outside with the big houses and nice cars, but the authors of Underbelly point out how paranoid which drove them into mental health issues. That is if the bullet didn’t get to them first.

Political Games

It’s amusing when one political party accuses another of playing political games when they criticise policies. Amusing because by accusing the other party of playing political games they themselves are playing political games. By accusing someone of playing political games they are taking attention away from the sometimes valid criticisms of policy. The public are made to think that it is bad to be critical of new policy because the critical ones are labeled as playing “political games” even though all politicians are competitors in this big bad game of…….Politics.

How To Deal With WYD Protestors

Was listening to ABC radio tonight. During their evening news broadcast there was a feature story on the few that were protesting for one reason or another in Sydney for World Youth Day. Despite this festival being for the Catholic faith most were protesting against Christianity as a whole. Some were protesting because they have felt the effects of sexual abuse by members of the clergy. This is very understandable. Although the lady interviewed would want you to think that it is Christian doctrine to abuse innocent children. Another lady was an atheist and a feminist, as if just one isn't bad enough.

I was disappointed to hear such views broadcast on national radio. But it is the ABC after all.

So how should Christians/Catholics deal with these protesters? Unfortunately my first thought was to tell them to nick off. Although when common sense prevailed I thought wouldn't it be cool to go up to the protesters calmly and start a mass open prayer session for them. Hopefully there would be some people especially good at spontaneous acts of open prayer in your group. I'm guessing that the prayees will either be freaked out and nick off quick smart or be moved by the spontaneous act and perhaps start to open their mind and their heart to the holy spirit.

Any other thoughts?

The Public Purse

A lot of people seem to be unhappy that public funds from the State govt have been spent to make sure World Youth Day pilgrims as well as the Pope and his entourage are kept safe. Many roads have been closed inconveniencing city goers all week. It has been all over the talkback radio.

The dislike of supposed misdirected govt spending is understandable. But I doubt that there was the same whinging when the 2000 Olympics were in town, or the Rugby World Cup in 2003.

Perhaps there is increased moaning because all this fuss is over a religion. One that many people probably consider as the face of Christianity as a whole. Also, a lot of fuss over an old man that most can’t relate to at all.

Face the facts, this is what the State govt does. They control the police force when big events come to town. Morris Iemma wanted these big events to come to Sydney. He succeeded in getting two of the biggest within a year (APEC & WYD), probably his only great success. So, good on the State govt for what was a smooth APEC (except for The Chaser) and for what has been a smooth World Youth Day/Week.

Nice Try

Put a few student activists together with a civil libertarian and usually chaos would ensue. Instead all you get is said student activists getting their wish and handing out condoms to young Catholics in town for world youth day celebrations.

What I guess they didn’t count on (for some reason) was that these Catholics might actually like the Pope and not be willing to accept anything from anyone wearing a “The Pope Is Wrong” t-shirt. On top of that there would be the fact that they would believe in sex after marriage which means they have little need for condoms, at least on this trip to Australia.

What resulted was a lot of “no thanks” to their kind gesture and a lot of rejected condoms still safely sealed in their packaging in bins or dropped on the ground.

At least that’s what was seen on the 6 o’clock news, and that’s all they wanted anyway, a bit of notoriety. Pity it somewhat backfired on them. I’m really starting to warm to World Youth Day.

Been Moved One Year

As of the 21st of July I would have been moved out of my parent home for one year. While I would stand by the statement that it was the best decision I have ever made, it has had its tough moments.

• Interest rates – Have increased over 2% since last year. My repayments have gone up by over $100 per fortnight. Relief is in sight it seems with no more increases but decreases are probably a long way off.
• Limitations – I have considered some options for alternate careers but one in particular that I fancied required further study. With a mortgage it just isn’t an option as I need the full time income, and could probably do without another expense.
• Chores – Some I don’t mind so much, others like ironing I would rather do without. Although lately I have just plugged into the iPod and sang up a storm with the headphones on. Apologies to neighbours who were around at the time.

Pushing Hard

There’s no doubt that NSW Premier, Morris Iemma, is under pressure. On the nose as I heard it described on radio. Opposition Leader, Barry O’Farrell, is pushing his case very hard as the possible next Premier of NSW. But there is still a long time till the next election, about 3 years actually.

Polls suggest that if there were an election tomorrow then the Labor govt would be voted out. But because the election is about 3 years away then should the opposition be pushing Iemma so hard to stand down as Premier of NSW. Of course they should push him for answers on issues, but surely in the back of their minds they are thinking that they would rather face him as leader over anyone else.

What if someone else takes over and they’re half decent? This would mean they are twice as good as Mr Iemma. But three years is a long time in politics. Just look at how quickly Kevin Rudd rose to the top.

Deputy Premier, John Watkins, seems the most capable to turn things around, but I’m told that factional divisions will prohibit any promotion on his part. Carmel Tebbutt has been sounded out too, even though she recently resigned from cabinet to look after her young son. So maybe Iemma is the best they have.

Bachelor Cooking

I cop a bit of criticism for my simple and somewhat unimaginative method of cooking. I stand by my method for 2 reasons:

1. I am a bloke – so no need to complicate things
2. I am cooking for one – a difficult enough task for anyone

My pantry comprises of a few dinner essentials

• Packets – Dinner bases as well as pasta and rice side dishes
• Jars – Pasta sauces, Indian Sauces, or any other sauce that comes in a jar. Options are endless
• Tins – Tomatoes, Baked Beans, Soups
• Frozen Veges – Seems to get added to everything I make. Never had fresh veges in my possession.

Every now and then I do a big cook up to store and freeze meals ready to take for lunch. One recent cook up involved 2 kg’s of mince and 20 meal size portions. I even invested in a separate freezer to house these meals until they get to be enjoyed.

Particular favourites include:

• Spag Bol
• Chilli Con Carne
• Butter Chicken

In the end, isn't it just great that I'm a bloke who can cook something for himself??

Getting It Eventually

Been watching BBC comedy Yes Minister lately. It was originally screened in the UK in 1980. But by the time it hit the Haynes Household it was the late 80’s / early 90’s. I remember brother Danny watching it incessantly and religiously. I was only about 10 so part of me wanted to be the annoying younger brother by not liking it and bagging it out profusely, just out of spite. Also, his laugh was so loud that it hurt my ears when I dared to step into the same room. Above all that, I just didn’t get it

I wasn’t really into politics at the time and the humour was too grown up for me. The subtleties would usually fly right over my head if I were to try and persevere with a viewing. Also the sets were very dull and dreary, but it was the 80’s.

But now, I thought I’d give Yes Minister another chance, without Danny in the room to at least give my ears a break. I’m into politics a bit more now (in case you haven’t noticed) so the subtleties sink in instead of being lost on me. Most importantly, I am finding it very funny. Probably a reason why it is so funny is that it is closer to the truth than people might think.

For a homegrown version, check out the ABC series Grass Roots. Based on the behind the scenes of a local council.

Give It Up Darcy!

What on earth is this kid doing? Is he being poorly led or is he just very stupid? Perhaps both.

A young man loses his place on the Olympic Swim team after bringing grievous bodily harm onto a former team-mate and expects someone to ruffle his hair and say, “Your not so bad kid, go on, swim your little heart out.”

He was given the boot because he brought the sport into disrepute. Perhaps it’s a bit grey as to what constitutes ‘disrepute’ and I assume that is what he is trying to prove.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has already heard one appeal. They didn’t disagree with the decision by John Coates (Australian Olympic Committee President), they merely deemed that Coates can’t make the decision on his own, it must go back to the entire AOC Executive Board. They met with Darcy and his legal team this week, only to come to the same conclusion as John Coates. Finally, some closure I thought, but no, I was wrong.

Darcy left the meeting explaining his disappointment at the decision and how there was already another appeal in the works. In fact it was in the works prior to their meeting with the AOC. Seems like they were pretty confident of a negative verdict.

On what grounds could he possibly get his dismissal overturned? Surely being intoxicated and not knowing what he was doing is not good enough to win favour. Also, who cares that he has trained for most of his life, this should count for nought.

Swimming brought us tremendous role model such as Kieran Perkins, Susie O’Neil, Sam Riley, Grant Hackett & Ian Thorpe to name a few. In one abhorrent act, Nick Darcy has changed the face of swimming forever. Instead of picturing the fine specimens of humanity mentioned above we now think of a thug who couldn’t control himself in more ways than one. If that isn’t bringing the sport into disrepute I don’t know what is.

The Issue Of Paying Taxes

Had one local preacher man point out that he wishes he could pay more taxes. His reason being that by paying more taxes we would all benefit from better government services such as schools, hospitals and roads. He acknowledged that he was in the minority by taking this view. After some discussion with Dr H I can see why he would be in the minority.

Basically more taxes would result in bigger bureaucracies, not better services. There won’t be any money left after bureaucrats have sunk their teeth. There is no incentive to produce a high quality of product as the money is not their own.

Also, if one wants to pay more tax then there is nothing stopping you. Simply open up the chequebook and make it out to ‘Deputy Commissioner of Taxation.’ All donations will probably be received with shock.

Probably a better idea would be to donate to your local school or hospital, at least your money would be better spent there. There’s even the option of falsifying your tax return to make out that you earn more. That way you will be taxed more. Or if you are lucky enough to receive a tax return, hand it back with a smile. I’m sure the ATO won’t mind.

Taxation on my income is stealing. I didn’t give them permission to take my hard earned. If I didn’t have to pay income tax I could more easily pay for private health insurance, mortgage repayments and car maintenance.

If the government was serious about easing the burden on working families they would spend less and steal less.

Smoke & Mirrors

This is the term that comes to mind when describing most of the Rudd government’s achievements thus far.

According to Wikipedia:

Smoke and mirrors is a metaphor for a deceptive, fraudulent or insubstantial explanation or description. The source of the name is based on magicians' illusions, where magicians make objects appear or disappear by extending or retracting mirrors amid a confusing burst of smoke.

In other words, Rudd is pretending to do something when really he is doing nothing. Take a gander at his latest policy initiatives.

Fuel Watch – He has had to retreat after the revelation that several government agencies oppose the idea and believe it will actually raise the price of fuel. This will not be good for the working families he claims to be assisting. He even tried to make out that the idea came from the opposition when they were in government. I don’t know whether that is true or not, but it’s not a good idea to be stealing ideas from the previous government, unpopular ones at that.

Binge Drinking – Originally I was a fan of the move to tax ‘alcopops’ because I assumed further action would come from it. But it seems now that that was his big move to tackle binge drinking. Apparently evidence has found a decrease in the sale of ‘alcopops’ and a relative increase in other forms of alcohol. So the effect of the tax is negligible when surely a change to trading hours would have a greater affect.

Inflation – Their inaugural budget was supposed to tackle this. Catchphrases like “tough but fair” and “responsible” were spat out ad nausiem by Rudd and treasurer Wayne Swan. Instead their budget still included a heck of a lot of spending. The means testing was also ‘smoke and mirrors’ when some of these welfare programs could have been turfed completely. Now that would have been tough but fair.

20/20 Summit – Purely a ‘gabfest’ resulting in not much other than Mr Rudd gaining a new friend in Cate Blanchett. The costs to the taxpayers that were announced this week were a bit off putting also.

Kevin Rudd was elected on the premise of new leadership and change. But instead we have the same old Labor government and no real change, and it seems the public service who are meant to be working for him are growing tired of him.

World Views – Book Review

A Spectator’s Guide To World Views
– Edited by Simon Smart

There are so many world views, some ridiculous, others not so much. Some intersect with Christianity while others are way out of sync. This book examines 10 of the so-called “isms” and gives the reader an understanding of what they are and how it is that they gained such a prominence in western society. Various authors have come together to put this book together, each looking at the separate world view. Outlined is its history, impact, contact & departure from Christianity as well as questions to think about and discuss as a group.

The respective authors have done the hard work so that you don’t have to while reading. For a thorough understanding of each world view there would no doubt be volumes available, but each chapter is enough for a general understanding.

Making The Switch

As their slogan goes, “Make the Switch To Vega.” Well I have answered the call of the highway billboards pleading with me to reconsider my choice of frequency.


Why? Well initially it was just for a change. I tend to go in cycles between AM and FM stations anyway. My main choices being 2GB and a mixture of MMM, 2WS, 2CBA and Mix, not so much Mix though as they tend to play too much Delta for my liking.

So this new player comes into the game and I want to hear what it has to offer. I had recently turned off from talkback, as it became a huge whinge fest with no relief in sight. Not a fan of Mikey Robbins in the mornings but for the rest of the day it is very pleasant and satisfies my need to sing loudly in the car. They might need to work on differentiating themselves further from WSFM because at the moment it is easy to interchange between both without really knowing the difference. Day after day of listening will find repetition in the play list but it’s the same at every other FM station as well.

Combating Inflation

All the talk these days is about inflation. After all, it is inflation that is causing interest rates to be increased. But is raising interest rates the only way to lower inflationary pressures? Haven’t heard much spoken about that. It’s as if the govt is very content to use the RBA as a scapegoat. They are independent from the govt, it beats being critical of something you are yourself doing.

So what else can the govt be doing? I’ve heard of a few suggestions, but somehow I don’t think either of them will see the light of day

• Increase GST to 12.5% - this would be effective as people start to tighten their budgets and spend a lot less. However a govt that does this will be committing political suicide and will probably be voted out in the following election, no matter how much they they try and convince the public that the increase is necessary for the long-term stability of the nation
• Restrict Trading – this is mainly a mode of bringing back some good old family values. With restricted trading such as no Sundays people have to spend time with their families. In effect this means that people aren’t shopping and spending money because they aren’t open. Most big retailers I’m sure wouldn’t like this though. Would also affect those people who rely on a Sunday job for a bit of extra income.

Embarking on Umpiring

This year I had decided not to play footy after having a horror year with quad injuries in which I only managed to play 3 games. It wasn’t until late in the pre season that I decided to attend a training night to become an official club umpire.

The Club Umpire program is a new initiative by the AFL in which each club needs to provide an umpire for certain grades. I like the program as it creates a manageable step for former players and others to have a go at umpiring before taking the leap and joining the umpiring squad.

I have since completed 2 games and have a new understanding and an appreciation for the job of umpiring. It is bloody hard!! So think twice before abusing match officials. Consider how you would like to cop abuse and how you would go making all the decisions. I find myself sticking up for the umpires a lot more now when watching on from the sidelines and dubious calls arise.

Yes I get some decisions wrong, but ultimately I am new to the caper and am trying my best. If everyone were to give this a go I think there would be much more respect for umpires.

He Swears But Still Delivers

Surprisingly I have become a fan of Gordon Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares, shown on Channel 9. This might seem strange to others, considering I had this to say about swearing. I still don’t like his swearing nor do I condone it.

What I enjoy watching more so is the transformation of the restaurants he is invited to attend. More often than not he is spot on with his sentiments as these kitchens are atrocious and can make you sick. Perhaps his methods are a bit strong handed, but he is passionate about food. Most of his rantings stem from the evidence he finds of a lack of quality in the food and the lack of cleanliness of the kitchen.

The people running these kitchens need a good kick up the pants to change things, some are stuck in that big a rut, while others only manage to prove their incompetence an find themselves out of a job.

Let’s face it, someone being polite about everything would not make good television.

The Time Machine – Book Review

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

I feel like I’m reading more this year than I have in my entire life. I’m trying to mix it up so it was time to go back to the classics.

Funny how the main appeal of this book was it’s length, only 90 pages, broken into 12 sections.

The story is very science fiction, which isn’t really my area of interest. I was sceptical from the start, but was willing to give it a fair dinkum crack.

I enjoyed reading it and was drawn into its story line as the professor told it to his dinner guests.

Written in 1895 it is the story of a scientist from that era traveling into the future to the year 802,701. Traveling to such a distant time allowed Wells to create an alternate imaginative reality. Although far fetched it probably will have an essence of truth. The scientist initially finds a peaceful species, called the Eloi, that can’t understand his language and are childishly afraid of the dark.

We find that they have a very good reason to be afraid of the dark as in the underground tunnels lurks the sinister Morlocks. It is this species that steals the time traveller’s machine. Most of the story is his adventures and discoveries to find and recover his machine in order to return to his own era.

Pro Tibetans Making Me Anti

It’s been all over the news, protests about China’s human rights record. All focus is on the Olympic Torch that will eventually make it’s way to Beijing.

Protesters have been vocal and physical in getting their point across. One gentleman even lunged at the torch, which scared the tiny female torch carrier to death (not literally). On Sydney radio one Australian protester said that they would do whatever it takes to get their message across. What this entails I guess we will have to wait and see when the torch touches down in Canberra.

No doubt there will be complaints of police brutality and how it was just a peaceful protest. The only way for it to be a peaceful protest is for protesters to stay clear of the torch. It’s obviously going to well protected by various authorities, and if someone dare come too close then they will be hurt. Common sense really.

But because protesters continue to act so erratically I usually end up not caring about their cause no matter how important it may be. If I don’t know much about the issue, such as what is happening in Tibet, I am not motivated to learn more about it due to the images of protesters’ ridiculous antics.

Here’s to a truly peaceful protest and then maybe a change in attitude.

Our Nation’s Capital

It’s official, I love Canberra. It’s an easy place to get around and everything feels so cruisy.

Best of all, most places to go are free.

Here’s a run down of my recent 6-day stay.

Thursday 13th March

Information Centre – very helpful first port of call

Friday 14th March

Questacon – I used to rate Questacon as a must see on any visit to Canberra. While it is still fun and interesting, the exhibits hadn’t changed much at all since my last visit over 6 years ago. It is a bit pricey to at $18 for an adult. Still worth a trip with children though.

Gold Creek – There is a lot of stuff at Gold Creek, including the miniature village at Cockington Green. We visited the old federation style shops

Saturday 15th March

Old Parliament House – Was interesting to learn that this house was always meant as a short-term purpose. It outlasted its proposed 50 year life and was going to be knocked down. I’m glad they kept it, a lot of interesting history in those walls.

Manuka – Wanted to check out where the footy is played when the AFL comes to Canberra

Sunday 16th March

New Parliament House – A beautiful place to walk around, very serene.

Old Bus Depot Markets – Very artsy but nice to walk around and check out what people are creating.

Canberra Glassworks – Next-door to the markets. People can book in to create their own piece of glasswork. Next time in Canberra I intend on giving it a go.

AIS – Just drove past this time, as it was late in the day. Somewhere to tour properly next time.

Monday 17th March

Art Gallery – A special exhibit was on at this time on landscape painting. Art usually isn’t my thing but I went into it with an open mind to perhaps find out what art I like. Funnily enough it turned out that I like Australian landscape paintings.

War Memorial – There is so much here that it needs a few visits. It’s a good thing it is free to enter.

Ainslie Football Club – Ainslie plays in the AFL Canberra. Had to check out how good it was. Very nice looking club and great food.

Tuesday 18th March

National Museum – They had the Legends of League exhibit and that’s all we checked out. The museum is full of stuff and can be overwhelming, which is why we gave the rest a miss for this trip. Luckily, this place is free to visit also, unless you wanted guided tours.

Wednesday 19th March

Big Merino – Now in it’s permanent location closer to the freeway.

The Bakery of Goulburn – Has become the must stop location when heading south. Overlooks the Big Merino.

Dealing With The Disease

Kevin Rudd is trying to deal with the issue of binge drinking, especially amongst teens. I am reminded of a statement from an ad for child sponsorship:

“The problem is so big, what can I do?......You can do plenty.”

So what can Kevin Rudd do?

• Ban alcohol all together – imagine the protests at this. Of course it will never happen because the government earns a lot in taxes on alcohol and on the sellers of alcohol.
• Raise the legal age of consumption – more likely to happen, although I’m not sure if it would make much of a difference.
• Graphic ads like those for smoking – some say the graphic ads don’t work because people still smoke. All I can say is that I won’t smoke and the ads reaffirm that stance. As far as alcohol is concerned, well surely it will at least open some eyes as too al the health risks involved with binge drinking.
• Limit late night trading for clubs and pubs – a 60 Minutes report pointed out the fact that most alcohol fuelled violence happens between 1 am and 3am. All reports of our footy stars getting into trouble seem to happen during this time frame.

What has he done?
Well not much, but he has forged links with major sporting organizations. He will also use his meeting with all state premiers to discuss some national laws for the selling of alcohol to minors.

A good start but gee, the problem is so big. Good luck to him.

Good On Holroyd Council

NSW residents surely noticed the massive stink that was stirred after a spate of school children being hit while crossing roads. Who would forget how Sophie Delezio, after recovering from her burns injuries only to be knocked over by a motorist soon after returning to school.


The NSW Govt was slow to act even though electrical genius, Peter Olsen, invented a reliable and cheap solution. You’d be forgiven for thinking that the Govt would have jumped at the chance to have a cheap solution. But no, they insist that we need a flashing light set up that costs around $30,000 each, instead of less than $1000 for the Olsen solution.

Due to this expense the NSW Govt refuses to install school zone flashing lights at all schools. They say the lights will only be installed on a "needs basis".

Apparently the schools of Holroyd Council don’t need flashing lights. This includes my old schools, Beresford Rd Primary and Greystanes High. That’s two schools on the one street. As well as that, one end of the street connects with the very busy Great Western Highway.

That didn’t stop Holroyd Council from coming up with a solution. Where others would continue to gripe and moan while waiting for the state govt, Holroyd Council put the shout out for private sponsorship of lights in their school zones. The result – all school zones in Holroyd shire have very effective flashing lights at school zones, including the one mentioned above.

Good on you Holroyd Council

Apparently I’m Mortgage Stressed

Welcome to the new buzzword courtesy of the media – “mortgage stress.” A google search will bring multiple pages of news stories, one such example is linked to this post. A definition of mortgage stress would probably say something like:

Stress that is brought on by financial constraints resulting from mortgage repayments and rising interest rates

Their formula is apparently based on whether 30% of your income is going towards a mortgage. So according to them I am mortgage stressed. Yet I don’t feel stressed about my financial situation at all.

I have a budget, a good one set up by brother Danny. Therefore I know where my money is going. Mortgage repayments are updated and finances are juggled around them. Money is allocated for essentials such as food, utilities and other expenses such as car and scooter.

So when people say they are struggling I believe that there is always more to the story that they are letting on, for example:

• Did they overextend themselves in the first place in order to get that house?
• Are they sacrificing anything in order to pay for mortgage?
• How good are they at saving money?
• How much goes onto credit cards and are these essential purchases?
• When buying food is it brand names or generics?

People have had it very good for a long time and have become too used to a standard of living. Well, newsflash, things aren’t always fantastic, Year 12 Economics would have taught people that. The border between needs and wants have become blurred.

“I’ll Live Anywhere,” says the desperate renter

A mid week open house for a pokey three-bedder in Newtown resulted in a virtual auction to become the lucky tenants. In the end the ‘winners’ offered about $100 per week above the asking rate and forked over 3 months rent in advance, as well as a bond that I assume would be approximately $1000.

This of course left those unsuccessful understandably disappointed. Some spoke to nearby news crews about their disappointment.

• “I’ll live anywhere”
• “I’m getting pretty desperate at this point”
• “I need a place in two weeks”
• “I can’t stay at my sister’s for much longer”

It was the first quote that pricked my ears the most. As what he was really saying was, I will live anywhere as long as it is close to the city. So do we really have a crisis or just a heap of selfish people that aren’t willing to step outside their comfort zone and the convenience of being close to the city for some affordable housing? There has been a unit in my building still not leased for about 3 months. If there were a crisis how come it hasn’t been snapped up. Parramatta and Wentworthville consistently have units and houses for lease. So where are these desperate tenants who will supposedly live anywhere?

Easter Show Expenses

The Easter Show is coming soon, so is Easter, and expect to hear people whinge about the price to get in and around the showgrounds. Of course TV reporters are always asking people who have already chosen to attend the Easter Show, despite the expense. If the price is such a big deal then one must vote with their feet and not go. Record crowds in previous years can make the organisers think that they can raise prices and still get the same or larger attendances. Declining attendances say the opposite and would make them rethink their pricing.

I know it’s easier said than done to say “Just don’t go.” I remember the nagging me and brother Danny performed to get ourselves taken to the show at the old Moore Park Showgrounds. In my position of singleness with no dependants it is very easy for me to say I won’t go.

But you know, any tough decision my parents made to not give me what I wanted I now very much appreciate. I was still very young when we had the recession and was very upset when Christmas wasn’t as good that year. But looking back now, I can see how mum still did her best to make sure we had something.

So harden up people and learn to say no, show some tough love if the price is just that too far out of reach.

Straight Between The Posts – Book Review

“Straight Between The Posts” by Frank Hyde with Ian Heads

I feel like I am making up for lost time. There are so many books with bookmarks implanted at various places in many of my books. This was one such book that was written in 1995 and bought me one Christmas by brother Danny. I attempted to read it for an English class the following year but to no avail. The class finished and so did my reading. The bookmark was to remain halfway for another 12 years.

I don’t know why it took me so long as it is a very easy read and just the sort of style I like. That is short chapters with largish writing. I am not one to sit down and have long reading sessions, I need small chunks so I can easily put it down and come back to it without missing a beat.

“Straight Between The Posts” is the autobiography of legendary Rugby League figure, Frank Hyde. Hyde had done it all in League starting with playing, coaching followed by refereeing, administrating and most famously, calling matches on the radio.

He was the pioneer of rugby league calling and paved the way for those that we listen to today, such as Ray Hadley. It was the largest facet of his involvement in the game that gave him so much. It gave much but he returned in spades. A man who was very grateful for his lot in life.

A great man and a great story. His passing last year was the finals chapter in an extraordinary life.

Missing The Point But Filling Seats

It was brought to my attention by Channel 7’s Sunrise and The Morning Show that Riverside Church in Victoria is starting a sermon series on sex. It is entitled “The Best Sex You Will Ever Have.” Their website features a picture of two pairs of feat poking out the end of a bed, one pair being that of the pastor the other being that of his wife.

This must have caused some controversy for Sunrise to include it in their “All Stars” segment as well as on The Morning Show where they employed the opinions of a “sexologist.”

All concerned went on to prescribe what they would like the church to say. This would include promoting safe sex practices and the inclusively of alternative lifestyles such as homosexuality. They also exclaimed how the church makes them feel guilty about their sexual pleasures.

Initially I was a little annoyed at how they clearly don’t get it and don’t have a clue about what they are talking about. But then I thought how they will probably guarantee that Riverside church will be packed to the rafters for the entire sermon series.

Congratulations to those at Channel 7 for becoming the newest Tele-evangelists.

Spoiling A Good Moment

The apology that everyone was waiting for came with much celebration and positive emotion. Although I heard it reported that some at Redfern's "The Block" watching on a big screen turned there backs and/or booed when Opposition Leader, Brendon Nelson, got up to make his reply. I think this is poor form and takes the shine off what was supposed to be an historical day, well it still is as people will hopefully forget about this rogue element.

Perhaps it wasn't Nelson's place to mention anything about a compensation fund as he is not in government, but just because he was part of the previous government does that give a free license for disrespect? I get the feeling that voting out John Howard rather comprehensively still isn't enough for some people.

Simply Christianity – Book Review

Simply Christianity – Beyond Religion by John Dickson

This reading kick that I have been on recently has allowed me to get through many of those books that have been sitting on my shelves for many years. This is one such book, having been published in 1999 and bought probably soon after.

Unfortunately though I didn’t get as much out of this book as I may have had I read it when it was bought. This is because since then I have read such books as The Christ Files by John Dickson and The Case For Christ by Lee Strobel that go into more detail than Simply Christianity.

Not to say it’s a bad book at all, quite the contrary as I rate highly anything John Dickson produces. This book has its place as a very introductory read for those adults perhaps very new to Christianity or just searching for some answers. There is even a workbook now to accompany the book for small groups or individual study.

It answers a lot of questions in a language that new Christians can understand, something John Dickson does very well.

What Crisis?

Apparently we are in an interest rates crisis and we are asked not to panic. All the focus has been on mortgage repayments putting the squeeze on families. The way people whinge, whine, gripe and moan you would think that the world is at its end. Reality is that most people really feeling the pinch have over extended on their home loan in the first place and/or went nuts on the credit card over Christmas. Now that Christmas has become overly commercialised it has become the whipping boy for those struggling to pay off those credit card bills. Not to mention all those interest free deals that makes people feel like they can afford the biggest entertainment system available. But when they can’t they are slugged with interest around 24%.

So now it’s time to stop over spending and start over saving. This might mean drastic action, such as cutting the plastic in half. Want interests rates to go down? Then it’s time to go without some luxuries and put that money into a savings account. People seem to forget that interest rates for savings accounts also go up.