sydney looks ugly

Paul Keating has made his feelings known with his infamous sense of grace and style: Sydney is ugly and over developed.



What do you think?


Maybe, but he forgets that we looked hot in the Matrix movies.

Watch this space

Christians in the Media are going on mission in December. We will be doing much planning and organising over the next month in the lead up to our time away - but all our hard work will be in vain unless God blesses our efforts and works by his mighty power to draw people back to himself. Hence we are encouraging our church, our families and our friends to join us in praying for this mission. We've set up a blog where we'll put up a prayer point each day. It perhaps needs some aesthetic adjustments, but please visit it and join us in praying this month. Alternatively, email me and we can forward you the points each day.

this time last year

This morning my editor left some extra work to do on my desk: figures for a double page spread featuring statistics from the top 100 “industry players” in Australia.

This is hardly interesting news, except for the fact that when I started with the magazine last year, this was the first ever project that I worked on. Next week will mark exactly a year at this job. I can’t believe time has gone by so fast!

So that made me think of what I was doing this time last year. On October 30th, 2005:

I was working as a waitress at a café and had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I still don’t know.
I saw my girlfriends every week and more, as opposed to every second weekend like I do now.
I was worried about being eternally unemployable and feared I would never find a job.
I was at the church where I had grown up my entire life.
I didn’t know half of the people I know now. Starting a new job and church has greatly increased my social circle.
I was completely comfortable doing things that didn’t stretch me. Challenges for this year: leading a mixed Bible study group, starting a new church, organising a large scale wedding, interviewing economists, metalworkers and laser technology specialists.
I had a boyfriend, as opposed to a fiancé.
I lived a few streets away from my boyfriend and would drop by late every Sunday night to talk about how church went. I miss living so close, but I don’t miss going to different churches.
I had given up writing my thesis, quit university prematurely and was beginning to seriously regret it. I don’t anymore.
I was good friends with people I haven't spoken to once since moving churches.
I forgot to go to my graduation. My parents still haven't quite forgotten this one!
Sam was thinking about buying me a laptop so I could have a go writing freelance articles should no job come through. He kept the laptop, declared his undying love for all things Mac and later we updated to a Macbook. Now I have the laptop and only use it to blog or check my email. I have yet to write a freelance article since leaving uni.

Where were you at this time last year?

a psalm a day

I’m reading a Psalm every day in the countdown to my wedding. Here’s a small section from my reading today:

For the LORD is the great God,
the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.

Our world cries out for God in so many different ways, yet fails to see His glory in the mountains, sea or the depths of the earth. Even though as Christians, we like to think we’re different, sometimes we can display the same short-sightedness. Israel failed to see when they cried out for a King and ignored the LORD standing before them. The Jews failed to see when they were waiting for the promised Messiah, then crucified him on the cross. We fail to see when we prostitute ourselves to our jobs, relationships or money, calling them master instead of the God who created us and brought us from darkness into light.

And then there’s me. How often do I thirst for more blessings in my life, even though I am here, right by the fountainside?

Probably good for ministry?

Guthers has a good post (click here). I sadly can't participate...

Weird.

I've noticed from our statcounter that a large number of people (sometimes 20 a day) visit this blog to see the picture I've put on the left of this post.
It seems that if you do a google image search for 'carved brown rosary' (a fairly common search it seems!) the top hit on google images is our blog. I'm not really sure why. So if you're a random visitor searching for that image, hi there.

Podcasts

Had a listen to a few podcasts today. First up was 'on the voddy', the latest episode is a video. Dave - fyi, I watched it on my phone - it worked a treat - see picture.

Then I heard what I think has been mistakenly titled 'the third worst podcast ever', from the youth leaders at Carlingford. These guys are definitely improving. Soph gets a cryptic mention, and both Geoff and Guthers confess their love for her.
I voted for a year group - are you guys reading out the emails on air?

film festivals

For those who are into films, bicycles or both, the Bicycle Film Festival starts tonight in Sydney. I didn’t realise that you could make so many movies and documentaries about the humble bicycle!


I love film festivals, but I’ve been too busy this year to properly enjoy one. I've only managed to see one screening at the Sydney Film Festival, a French movie called Gabrielle. That’s sad compared to last year, when I worked at the Festival office and got to see around five (and spot Baz Luhrmann at the swanky opening party!).

My first ever date with Sam was also at a film festival – Flickerfest at Bondi beach. We ate Oportos on the steps then watched a series of short movies in a massive pavilion under the stars (they were all great, except for this one Korean movie that was about two couples making out in different places. It’s so awkward watching people make out on screen when you’re on a first date!). During the break, we went for a walk along the sand and were so busy talking that we missed most of the next session.

Two years on, that is still a great memory for me. Maybe that’s why I like film festivals so much.

introducing God book review

David gives a review of the new Introducing God book, available at Koorong.

I haven't read the book yet, but I took part in the course early this year and it was fantastic. One of its strengths is its flexibility. Guests were able to disagree, question and think through issues within a safe and comfortable environment (over dessert and wine) making for a very effective evangelism tool in today's PoMo society.

dear Mr President

I’ve been listening to a lot of Pink lately, especially the song from her latest album called Mr President:

Dear Mr. President
Come take a walk with me.
Let's pretend we're just two people and
You're not better than me.
I'd like to ask you some questions if we can speak honestly.
What do you feel when you see all the homeless on the street?
Who do you pray for at night before you go to sleep?
What do you feel when you look in the mirror?
Are you proud? (click here for more)

It’s so common to blame the president for everything that is wrong in society. During my time as an editor for Sydney University’s campus newspaper, we would often fling accusations at Howard for everything ranging from Tampa to our involvement in Iraq. Sometimes it was warranted, as there’s a lot the president (or in our case, the prime minister) can be held accountable for. Perhaps it would be enlightening for our world leaders to hear Pink sing, “let me tell you ‘bout hard work - minimum wage with a baby on the way, rebuilding your house after the bombs took them away”.

However, Jesus said in Matthew 26:11 that humanity will always have poverty to deal with. Hardship, oppression and suffering may come from corrupt leadership, but they are also a part of living in a world that is enslaved by sin. I have great sympathy for our government, as there is no one decision that will end suffering for all. Choices have to be made and consequences have to be weighed up. They are under a lot of pressure to make calls that will benefit the majority of citizens, not just a select few.

We don’t have that burden. Instead, we have the freedom to be generous to those who are disadvantaged and suffering. Instead of always portioning blame to our president, we also need to stop and ask ourselves: what are we doing about the mother on minimum wage with a baby on the way? How are we helping those rebuilding their houses after the bombs took them away?

I love this command in Deuteronomy 15:11.

There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

This verse was such a challenge to me this morning, as very rarely do I proactively look for ways that I can be openhanded towards the poor and needy in my land. I’m so proud of my friend, who is involved the Australian League of Immigration Volunteers (ALIV) - a non-profit, non-religious organization which aims to improve the lives of children and families with Bridging Visas or living in Community Detention. Once every couple of months, she visits refugee children and reads to them, plays with them or takes them out on an excursion. I’d like to take a leaf out of her book and do the same. When we are overcome by the suffering apparent in our society, this is one response that will definitely make a difference, whether or not Mr President is listening.

To find out more about how you can volunteer with ALIV or make a donation, click here.

into the valley

I’ve temporarily given up listening to 702 in the car for Sovereign Grace’s latest album, the Valley of Vision. Each of their songs are based around prayers written by the Puritans. I’ve been meditating on the beautiful and thought-provoking words to this song:


When you lead me to the valley of vision
I can see you in the heights
And though my humbling wouldn’t be my decision
It’s here your glory shines so bright
So let me learn that the cross precedes the crown
To be low is to be high
That the valley’s where You make me more like Christ

Let me find your grace in the valley
Let me find your life in my death
Let me find your joy in my sorrow
Your wealth in my need
That You’re near with every breath
In the valley

In the daytime there are stars in the heavens
But they only shine at night
And the deeper that I go into darkness
The more I see their radiant light
So let me learn that my losses are my gain
To be broken is to heal
That the valley’s where Your power is revealed

living as a slave

A friend told me a simple story today that made my heart swoon and helped me understand being a "slave to righteousness".

In a small village in South America, a young woman was brought out to a crowd of men, shackles tied around her hands and feet. She was a sex slave and the men were there to bid - not just for her services for one night, but for ownership over her.

As the auction began and the men began to place their bids, a young but rich gentleman happened to walk past the frenzied shouting. He saw the girl, dirt in her hair and barely any clothes covering her body, and his heart was moved. He raised his hand slightly and called out a single number, the highest bid on the table.

Minutes passed and the price for the young girl was driven higher and higher. The gentleman calmly matched every offer until the price was so outrageously high that none of the other men felt that the prostitute was worth it. At last, the gentleman won his bid and the crowds left. The girl was finally his to take home and do as he wished.

Standing with shackles around her hands and feet, the girl was terrified as she watched the well-dressed stranger make his way towards her. In her entire life men only paid money for one thing. Usually the more they forked out, the higher a price she would have to pay in humiliation and subjugation. She braced herself for the worst during the journey home, shutting her eyes and refusing to even look at her new master.

But when the gentleman stopped at his home, he did a suprising thing. He took the girl out of the car and left her standing at the entrance of the house, alone. Minutes later, he returned with an axe and with one deft movement, sliced her chains in half. Her shackles fell off with a clatter and at once, the young girl was free.

When people gain their freedom, whether it's being released from a hot and stuffy classroom or taking that first step out of a prison cell, their first instinct is to run away from captivity and, as the song goes, "do what they want, any old time". As the girl looked behind her at the empty road from where she came, she considered life as a free woman. No one would take her in. No one would protect her. The only life she knew was that of a sex slave. If she were to go back towards her village, it was almost certain that she would be picked up and sold into slavery again.

Turning back again to the gentleman who had set her free, the one who had paid the highest sum possible to win her freedom, she did the only thing she felt she could. She voluntarily offered her freedom to him and spent the rest of her life as a slave to her redeemer, serving in his house for the rest of her days.

Thanks be to God, that though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were laves to sin, you were free from the control of rigteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

Romans 6:17-22

Synod - grace, women and the drought.

I've just come back from the afternoon session of the Sydney Anglican Synod. Our staff team all attended for the preliminary debate on a motion to re-open the discussion about ordaining women as presbyters. I was so encouraged by the humility and grace of many arguing against this motion. Sydney Anglicans often get bad press for their supposed arrogance and so called superiority copmlexes, but that was not what I witnessed today.

As someone who attended for the first time, it was exciting to watch the argument unfold, but it must be tiresome to those who have served on Synod for many years to again be forced to re-consider this issue. I think it is sad that a motion that has been defeated so comprehensively in the past - something like 14 times in 20 years - has again been brought to the forefront. No doubt, the issue will dominate tomorrow mornings' headlines, and will probably take away from the more important issues that Synod needs to consider.

That is why I found the grace and kindness, especially of our Archbishop so encouraging. Not one word was spoken in hot-headedness by those seeking to have the motion turned down. Their arguments were spoken in love, and with consideration for those on the other side of the debate. The Dean even sought a motion to give someone on the opposition more time on the floor to explain their argument. It is wonderful to see gentlemanly displays like this in a potentially divisive discussion.

The vote (as to whether the issue should be debated again) was taking place as I left - will keep you posted of a result.

Probably more important than this issue however was the motion that the Synod passed to take more initiative in praying about the drought. There will be much attention of the diocese to pray for God to send us rain, even in the next week. Perhaps those reading could stop for even a minute to pray that God would have mercy on Australia and send us rain.

sermon last night

Dominic gave an honest and heartfelt sermon last night on wives and husbands from 1 Peter. The podcast isn’t up yet, but click here for a sneak peek of the issues we explored as a church.

As someone preparing to get married, I was encouraged by my pastor’s honesty regarding the difficulties of married life. It was also the first time I had heard the idea of “considering your wife” taught as “living/dwelling with a woman according to knowledge”, i.e. knowing your wife so well that you provide for her a safe place to be open and honest.

Although this sounds a little like Oprah pop-psychology on first hearing, I think it makes perfect sense in light of a women’s call to voluntary yield herself to her husband’s leadership. If a man makes a woman feel safe and honoured, submission becomes a joy, not a resentful chore. Likewise, if a woman makes a man feel respected and valued, leadership becomes a privilege, not a position to abuse or a role to assume with reluctance.

Oh&S laws deny us of these pleasures...

(h/t Libby)

Difficult doctrine of the love of God

Yesterday afternoon I had a strange conversation with a lady outside our church. As I was leaving Adventure Club, there was this lady wrestling agressively with the rose bush that grows in the front garden of our church. As I watched, I realised she had no real issue with the bush - rather she was trying to get some long stemmed roses from our plant, but almost pulling it out of the ground in the process.

Sam: Excuse me, sorry to bother you, but would you mind leaving our rose bush alone? It makes it quite hard for us to keep our front garden looking nice if people take off with our flowers all the time...

Lady: (continuing to wrestle, but now with incredulous look on her face) "It's for an altar." (as if the word 'altar' somehow makes it ok...)

Sam: Ok, but you're still damaging our plant.

Lady:(now has almost broken an entire stalk off the plant) I don't think Jesus Christ would be upset at me taking these flowers. (Lady now thinks hard...) ... Jesus was all about tolerance and love.

Sam: (resisting the temptation to mention something about Jesus hating theft) Sure, but perhaps you could...

Lady: (cuts me off in mid sentence, now having achieved her goal and procured a number of free roses) Well the damage is done now, what can you do? Exit lady.

Aside from the hide of this woman to continue in her theft (despite being reproached on the spot!), this incident reminded me of the difficulty of preaching the love of God to our society. For someone to be caught blatantly stealing outside a church and then say 'Jesus is all about tolerance and love', shows just how far our society has moved from a biblical worldview of God and his character. Sure, this woman had heard of the love of God, but ideas of justice, or judgement, Lordship, even sin, would bring looks of incredulity and horror to this woman's face, and the faces of many in our society. If our society admits any God, it is a God who is a far cry from the God of the Bible. He is a God who has been purged of anything our culture finds uncomfortable. Carson writes in The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God:
"The love of God has been sanitized, democratized, and above all, sentimentalized... in short, the most energetic cultural tide, postmodernism, powerfully reinforces the most sentimental, syncretistic, and pluralistic views of the love of God, with no other authority than the postmodern epistemology itself."

Bibles in hopsitals?

Tony Abbott's website has a weekly online poll. This week the topic is whether or not Gideon's bibles should be allowed by hospital bedsides. (Click here) Not sure how much impact these polls have, but there is no harm in giving your opinion!

Coffee in the city

Simon needs some help (click here). He's a new kid on the blog - go on over and say hi, even if you don't know a place to get a good brew in the city.

Training

We've just finished our training term at Church. I read this quote today on training from Colin Marshall which I loved.

"Choosing not to do it is short-term thinking."


Enough said.

Struggles of maths tutors...

(h/t Dan P for these)

Birthday tribute.

Remember Trogdor? Well he's just celebrated his third birthday, and there is a tribute video here. Incredible how much Trogdor stuff people have made!

Emerging Church Seminar

Yes I know we've talked about the emerging church a fair bit on this blog in the past (see here), but I went to an interesting seminar on Saturday afternoon run by 'the Dean', and thought I'd share some of my reflections. (I will just point out that these are my reflections and my opinions, not necessarily those of the Dean)
There were a few things, among many, that I found helpful in understanding the emerging Church.

1. Emerging Churches are decentralised. They are removed from the traditional structures of authority, and are as such very hard to critique. It is not like the Anglican church where you can start your critique at the top and then work your way down the chain seeing how principles and beliefs of the denomination work themselves out at the grass-roots level.

2. Emerging churches are a post-modern response to modernism. This plays out in a variety of ways. Some are seeking to communicate the message of the gospel to a post-modern society around them. This should be commended and encouraged. But always in our minds should be the strong understanding that the Christian worldview is neither modern, nor post-modern, but rather Biblical. Some emerging churches are seeking to communicate with post-moderns, while others are seeking to be post-modern. Those in the second category will lose the truth of the gospel in the stormy seas of relativism.

3. Since the emerging Church is decentralised, any classification of it is ridden with generalisations. However we were given 3 broad categories into which emerging churches generally fit. Relevant, Reconstructionists or Revisionists. Those in the first category are those who recognise that society is changing, and seek to work out a medium through which to communicate the Gospel of the Lord Jesus with them in a way which is relevant to those changes. Those who are reconstructionists are those doing away with church structures they have inherited and constructing their own as they look at what the Bible says about church. The revisionists are those who not only change the structures and the medium, but who also revise the message to connect with post-moderns. This is done subtley (see point 4).

4. As with any church, a danger of some emerging churches is what they don't talk about. Especially among those who are revisionists, there may be some truth, but doctrines like judgement, penal substitutionary atonement and the centrality and exclusivity of Christ (basically much of reformed theology) are often absent from their message. There is hence an appeal to theologies such as the new perspective on Paul. This is dangerous.

My reflections on the seminar? It is important to understand what is happening in church culture, and to understand the emerging church movement. Among some emerging churches there are things for us to be wary of, and to avoid. However, this must not lead to smugness and pride on our part. A real temptation for us evangelicals is to look down our noses at those who do not share our understanding, or who are misled in one area or another. Like the pharisee, we say "I thank God that I am not like that tax collector..." rather than praying for them. Let that not be true of us.
We also have some things to learn from the emerging church. Communication is certainly one of their strengths, especially in newer mediums. We would also do well to understand post-modern culture more thoroughly, and learn how to communicate the Gospel of the Lord Jesus to that culture.

submission is not a dirty word

The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission.

John F. Kennedy

Submission has been a key word for me this weekend, after preparing a bible study on Colossians 3, reading Barabara Hughes’ Disciplines of a Godly Woman and hearing Dominic preach an insightful sermon on the concept of submission in 1 Peter 2 and 3.

The most precious and sacrosanct value to western society, even more important than peace or showing kindness to others, is the rights of an individual. It’s in this context that submission – the voluntary surrender of yourself under another person’s authority – has become a dirty word, paramount to weakness and defeat.

However, I was reminded this weekend that I follow the example of Christ, not western culture. Phillipians 2:3-11 says:

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

While on earth, Christ had every reason to demand his rightful place above every authority. If we believe that mere human beings have the right to be heard and acknowledged, then how much more does the Son of God, who did no wrong and was there at the beginning of creation, deserve?

However, in obedience to the Father’s will and out of His great love for us, Jesus willingly submitted himself to the path of the Cross. He denied his rights and made himself nothing, considering himself lower than the cruel Roman guards, the angry crowd, even the sinner dying beside him. Therefore "God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name".

I want to follow the example of Christ and live a life of submission - as a citizen of my country, an employer at my company, as a daughter, future wife, congregation member, friend and sister in Christ. There are many situations where the bible calls for submission:

In the car when the sign says 60 even though 80 seems more reasonable
With parents who ask that you have roses, not lilies, at your wedding (my parents haven’t asked for this, but I’ve heard that these things can happen and lead to many arguments!)
Taking a sickie from work because you’d rather go to the beach

Fiddling with your tax form

Asking your husband for his input before going ahead and buying/planning something

Dealing with rude sales assistants and fighting the urge to answer back

Being cut off by an aggressive driver on the road

Disagreeing with your co-leader in a ministry team

Lining up and someone pushes in ahead of you

Discussing an issue with your husband and reaching two different conclusions

Not using your words to assert your authority over others, even when it's your right to do so

Can people think of any others?

Strongbad time telling

This is classic. You can have Strongbad tell you the time. (Click here) I love the 'soothing' voice.


*Thanks for reading everyone! We've had 5000 hits in 3 months. If you read us and aren't a commenter, now is your chance to tell us you read!

The last battle

I finished reading the Chronicles of Narnia again this week. The last battle has both impressed and disappointed me each time I've read it. One thing I especially love is the picture of heaven that C.S Lewis paints throughout the book. This sentence is a favourite of mine in the final paragraph.

'And as he spoke he looked no longer to them like a lion, but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them.'

But at the same time, I've always struggled with the Calormene whose service to the pagan God Tash, is rendered as service unto Aslan.

"Not because he and I are one, but because we are opposites, I take to me the services which thou hast done to him. Therefore if any man swear by Tash and keep his oath for the oath's sake, it is by me that he has sworn, though he knows it not, and it is I who reward him. And if any man do a cruelty in my name, then, though he says the name Aslan, it is Tash whom he serves and by Tash his deed is accepted. Beloved, said the Glorious One, unless thy desire had been for me thou wouldst not have sought so long and so truly. For all find what they truly seek.

It's not pluralism, but it does sound a lot like 'inclusive-ism'. I know that Narnia is a touchy subject with some people, but is C.S Lewis right at this point?

kids on marriage

I usually delete these emails, but this one was too cute to resist.

How do you decide who to marry?
You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. (Alan, age 10)

No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with. (Kristen, age 10)

What do most people do on a date?

Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get toknow each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough. (Lynnette, age 8)

On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. (Martin, age 10)

What do you do on a first date that was turning sour?
I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns. (Craig, age 9 – this one’s my favourite)

When is it okay to kiss someone?

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that. (Curt, age 7)

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. (Howard, age 8)

Is it better to be single or married?

It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. (Anita, age 9)

How would you make a marriage work?

Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck. (Ricky, age 10)

a cleaner industry

With films like An Inconvenient Truth out in the cinemas, a lot of attention has been drawn to Australian industry* and it’s burning of fossil fuels as opposed to clean, renewable resources.

Often these companies are painted as the ‘bad guys’, when this is simply not the case. Although solar panels and wind farms are emerging as alternative energy sources, they are still costly to run and only able to generate low amounts of power, making them vastly inefficient compared to burning coal. Wind farms are also fixed to one locality (no shifting the business unless you have enough revenue to invest in another wind farm), while solar panels are apparently still very difficult to manufacture, ironically draining our earth’s resources for little return.

Small Australian companies need to make a certain amount of product in order to compete with low cost economies like China and India. Lobby groups may put pressure on them to turn to alternative fuels, but they just don’t have the ability to pour money into unknown resources and survive. Although we need renewable resources to keep this planet healthy, we also need these companies for jobs and a thriving economy.

I’m not sure what the answer is, but I think our government needs to put more money in R&D so we can develop alternate energy resources that are environmentally friendly and commercially viable. Currently, all companies in Australia are forced to comply with strict environmental clauses that limit the amount of emissions and waste they generate, with grants, incentives and management schemes available to make the process easier. There are also some great manufacturers out there like HJ Heinz who are pushing for green initiatives. The key isn’t only a total overhaul of energy resources, but also a tightening of factory processes. After all, less waste means less landfill, better maintenance means less emissions, and coolant-free processes puts less chemicals in our drains.

Many companies do their very best to be responsible in what is increasingly becoming a tough industry to compete in. We need to support them in their efforts, not attack them for failing to comply with unreasonable expectations.

*this will be the first and last time I blog about my work.

New Blog of the Month

It's well and truly October now, which means time for a new blog of the month. The decision was tough, and we'd like to make it clear that our choice has nothing to do with the fact that Dave gave me a prize on his blog today, or that we'd like the fountainside featured in the next episode of 'On the Poddy'.
That being said, we've decided that for October we'll have the feed of Dave Miers' blog 'Eternal Weight of Glory' on the right hand side of our page. Check him out - he often has great stuff to say about youth ministry, as well as a great post each week called 'prayer friday'.

Inanimationship

Inanimationship n. a love relationship with an inanimate object - whether it’s a lovely pair of shoes, must-see television show or a favourite meal to cook for dinner.

Although I wouldn’t recommend an unhealthy attachment to material possessions, I don’t think we should denigrate the small, lovely and beautiful, just because we’re all about the big and spiritual.

So here it is; my list of things I love (and reasons why it’s great to live in Sydney).

1. The little Thai takeaway shop on St John’s road in Glebe. It’s a cheaply decorated place with a garishly bright sign, but on any weeknight, queues of people flow out of the little shop and onto the street. This place is great for whenever I don’t feel like cooking and can’t afford to eat out. For just $5, you get a massive serving of either noodles, stir-fry and rice or green/red curry. My favourite? Pad See Eiw with chicken.

2. Haviana thongs. How great is cheap rubber footwear that comes in all sorts of fun colours and takes you everywhere?

3. The AGNSW. This place is well designed and has such a great collection. Giacometti is showing at the moment and even though he is famous for his elongated sculptures, I love his drawings. I hope I can find some time to see this show before it closes.

4. Campos coffee. Sam was horrified to learn that I didn’t like coffee upon our first date, so he took me to Campos on Missenden Road for our next one. After having an affogato (coffee on ice-cream – he wouldn’t let me try the flat whites as what I hated about coffee was the frothiness of the milk and he didn’t want to mar my first experience should the barista, for some reason, not be up to scratch that day. I’ve since learnt that a good coffee is silky, not frothy.), I was hooked and now I drink it everyday. The café down the road from my office has started selling Campos, so an occasional treat has now turned into my morning pick-me-up.

5. Lucas’ Pawpaw ointment. It comes in a little red tube at the chemist and I use for everything: for a rash or cut, a super moisturizer for dry skin, for a peeling nose after a cold. Plus, it’s the best lip balm I’ve ever had.

6. My sapphire engagement ring. I don’t love it because it’s flashy or expensive (it’s neither of those things), but because it’s personal.

7. My iPod. Slim and sexy, yet carries heaps of songs. At the moment I have U2, Skunkhour, The Veronicas, Joss Stone and the Black Eyed Peas doing the rounds, plus a couple of sermons.

8. 24 DVDs. It’s so much better than watching them on TV. I missed the entire last season, so I can’t wait until it comes out on DVD.

New U2 album

U2 have announced the release of a new 'best of' album (read here). As if two weren't enough, this album collates 16 old tracks with 2 new - one of which is a song recorded with Green day. Not sure if I'll buy it as I think I probably have all the songs anyway! Interesting that it's being released the same weekend as their Sydney concert.

New Strongbad emails

Strongbad's lappy has been stolen. The Compy and the Tandy feature in this one too. Pretty funny stuff. (click here)

A BIG weekend

This weekend was rather busy. Soph and I helped with logistics for the marriage enrichment weekend that our church ran. This meant being at church Friday night, then all day Saturday organising sound, powerpoint, food and washing up. It was a great conference. The church looked amazing, the speakers were full of wisdom, and it sounds like everyone who went benefited greatly.
Soph then gave her feminism seminar on Sunday afternoon at a houseparty down at the Shoalhaven, while I preached at Church on Sunday night. Late Sunday night my parents arrived home from overseas after four weeks away. Please keep praying for my family as we get ready for my grandfather's funeral this week.

his grace is sufficient

He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

World Youth Day

Those who thought Catholicism was just for old ladies in empty churches had better think again. World Youth Day is happening in Sydney in 2008 at Rosehill Racecourse, with the theme being the Holy Spirit.

A friend of mine is on the committee for WYD and says that Catholicism is currently in a process of transformation, with many young people choosing to adopt the faith as their own rather than remaining nominal. It’s not hard to see this when you check out the WYD website – they have a lot going on.

tired of talk about Y

Besides women’s issues, there is one topic that people can’t stop writing or blogging about these days in the media, and that is Generation Y.

This pithy little term seems to be an umbrella lately to sweep together everything and anything that’s right (and wrong) with youth culture: the Internet, blogs, sex, reality TV, celebrities, online music. The latest rant, it seems, is political apathy. In today’s SMH, Kate Crawford (who also happens to be my old lecturer from uni) addresses this onslaught:

The more serious problem is the attempt to brand 16- to 24-year-olds as apolitical. It's not a new claim: in fact, it's become more of a generational cliche. But there's a fundamental misrecognition at work here: researchers are looking for politics in all the wrong places.

I agree with Crawford’s assertion that politics for young people today is played out in gallery spaces and blogs, not the voting box. Whether it’s due to the free-for-all platform provided by the Internet or a general mistrust of established institutions, it’s a clear that young people are increasingly engaging with ideas and politics through these non traditional forms of media.

But sometimes I wonder if we’ve taken this “generation Y/new media” line too far. Recently, Margaret Simons wrote an essay quoting statistics from Dr Anne Dunn (incidentally, another ex-lecturer of mine) that claimed 80% of her students never listened to music radio. The essay continued to argue that old media forms - namely television, newspapers and radio - were lagging behind “new media”, i.e. the internet. Young people, so the article reads, would rather download a video grab from their computers and watch it from their mobile phones rather than read the paper or watch television.

With respect to these media professors, I don’t think this is the whole truth.

There is no doubt that new media has had a huge influence on my culture. The very fact that I am writing this in a blog is probably testament to that. However, to herald the sudden downfall of “old” television forms is overstepping the mark. If this were true, then why does print media, television and radio advertising generate much more revenue than online ads? Why bother with television shows and movies when a simple click on You Tube will do?

My generation may be in touch with new technology, but we also read the Sunday paper, stay in on Tuesday nights to watch the OC, listen to breakfast radio on our way to work and, now and then, treat ourselves to a good book or the latest copy of Vogue. I don’t think it’s necessarily a matter of one or the other. Speaking for myself, my habit is to read the SMH first thing in the morning (yes, on paper), then scan a few blogs and sites like crikey.com to add to, not replace, my media consumption.

Having sat through classes exactly like the one Dr Dunn received her statistics from, I’m sure most media students would have shown an eye-rolling familiarity with new forms. But remember, you’re talking about the most media-savvy and literate members from Gen Y (they’re also the ones mot likely to end up in the SMH waxing lyrical on this term), not everyone from this diverse and colourful group of people.

For once, I would love to see an article on Gen Y written by those who are actually a part of it, not media experts who only dwell on the cutting edge.

122 days to go...

It's now less that four months until Soph and I get married. It is starting to feel as if it's coming quite soon! One thing I'm really looking forward to about being married is having someone to share my morning coffee with every day. I don't often put up coffee photos, but this is what I start each day with, as I read the Bible in the morning. I'm looking forward to doing that with Soph too!

God looks at the heart

In 1884, Frederic Leighton painted Cymon and Iphegeneia, on display at the AGNSW. According to an ancient Greek myth, Cymon is out hunting and stumbles upon Iphegeneia sleeping in a grove by the sea. Iphegenia is splayed out in all her beauty, her white robes enshrining her body like light. She is a vision, not just for Cymon who recedes in the background of the painting, but for the spectator in the gallery who is given the chance to marvel at her beauty.

In 2004, Elle Macpherson launched a series of billboard ads for her lingerie brand, Elle Macpherson Intimates. The campaign, featuring a scantily-clad models hidden behind closed doors and through keyholes, caused an uproar. Many people felt that the overtly sexual nature of the images were more suited to plastic covered men’s magazines as opposed to public billboards (google search them if you want to see what I'm talking about; I didn't really want to put them up on this site!).

Although these two images are from two different worlds, they have a lot in common.

Both celebrate the beauty of women.
Both display that beauty.
Both visually display that beauty for a presumed viewer.

Whether it’s in a classic painting or a lingerie advertisement, one thing is clear: women everywhere are looked at and admired for their beauty. It’s in Revlon advertising, woman’s magazines, television and the movies. It was even in my childhood, the moment I put on my mother’s make-up and imagined myself as a princess (or when I was older, Brenda from 90210). Women are meant to be beautiful, looked at and admired.

A part of this natural voyeurism is how we are wired as human beings. Beauty, whether in a sunset or a pretty girl, is a gift from God. Like any good gift, we cannot help but admire and celebrate with our senses. Lord Byron knew what he was talking about when he penned these words:

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that 's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes.

But another part, a more obscure one that we may not even notice, comes from culture. From the past until today, women are judged and measured by how they look. I could give all the examples in the world, from beauty contests and concubines, but perhaps the best example is from a fellow blogger’s words:

You don't need to buy the magazine to see as it is plastered all over the covers and in full view for all to see. Also I am very much exhausted by all of the ‘What diet works for you?” shows on TV. Basically the worlds view on how we should look and where our priorities lie, it puts unbelievable pressure on women to look a particular way.

When I read those words, I understood what this person meant, because I used to be one of those women who felt the “unbelievable pressure on women to look a certain way”. I hated the way I looked while growing up, that is, until I started taking the Word of God seriously and listening to what it said.

When the prophet Samuel was sent to anoint David, God’s chosen one, as king, the Lord said to him:

“Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Beautiful women are a far cry from strapping young men fit for kingship, but God’s character is the same. He doesn’t look at people the way we do. He isn’t taken or won over by impressive looks, talent, or for a woman, beauty. God looks at the heart.

Many people get offended over pictures like the Intimates ad, yet uphold the honeyed ideal of Iphegineia as romantic, dutiful and sweet. However, both images are enslaved by the same problem. Some people say that this is an old lesson to learn, boring and over-played like a cliché, but I can't drink from this truth enough. We live and breathe a culture that is obsessed with the physical appearance of a beautiful woman, but - and these words will set you free - God looks at the heart.

Bacon and eggs

Yesterday Soph and I caught two great sermons at Church. The first was from Con Campbell at morning church, titled 'partners in crime'. Preaching from Phillipians 1, Con spoke about the difference between being "bacon and eggs", that is committed or involved in gospel ministry. If that doesn't make sense to you, listen to the sermon here.

The second was from Dominic at evening church. 1 Peter 2 calls us to live a holy life. Dominic spoke of being prepared for trials by focussing on the grace that is ours in Christ. One key challenge he put forward was ridding ourselves of slander. As a person with a criticial mind, I found this particularly relevant. to watch my words in front of others as well as in private. Listen to this one here.

The Devil wears Prada

On Friday night, I saw The Devil Wears Prada with a girlfriend from church. I have wanted to see this movie for ages and I’m glad I did. It was fabulous.

The book by Lauren Weisberger tells the story of Andy Sachs, a young girl who dreams of being a journalist and takes a job as lackey to fashion magazine Runway editor, Miranda Priestly, to help her get a foot in the door.

It was a mediocre novel - funny in the beginning, but a soupy mess at the end - so the film was a fast improvement: a witty glimpse into the flair and drama of the fashion world.

Meryl Streep is flawless in her role as Miranda, a thinly veiled caricature of Vogue fashion editor Anna Wintour. Not only is she nasty, precise and demanding, but she also displays elements of vulnerability during key moments of the film. Anne Hathaway is also fitting as Andy Sachs. I didn’t like this character much in the book as she was so self absorbed, but who could hate Mia from the Princess Diaries? Hathaway traces Andy’s slide from down-to-earth writer to neurotic fashionista with a sense of naivety and self-doubt. Unlike the character in the book, you feel for Andy in the movie and how lost she gets in the world of Runway.

But my favourite aspect of the film was the fashion. Oh the clothes. Leather slouch bags, gauzy dresses with ballerina trim, black silk and lace dresses, serillion belts teamed with crimson gowns, antique chains and over-the-knee boots. Most of the outfits would look ridiculous in our laid-back culture, but that is the charm of fashion, the fantasy world it creates.

Fashion is such a visually appealing world to me, but I must keep reminding myself that it is fleeting, and not just in terms of how quickly clothes go out of date. Although I love to look at gorgeous clothes and play with colours, far better to invest in developing a beautiful and godly spirit.

Bible Study leading is not about hugs

I've been leading a group through 'Growth Groups' over the last 5 weeks. This is a course written not only to give helpful tips on Bible study leading, but more importantly, to provide a framework of thinking for how to get the most out of small group ministry.

One aspect of this is the leadership of the group. This is a quote from this weeks' chapter:

"Leaders of Growth Groups have a direct impact on the spiritual life of the church. What goes on in those groups will shape the Christian thinking and living of its members. The Growth group leaders gets close to the group and has a lot of influence upon it."

Doing this course again has reinforced the fact that we must be serious about our Bible study groups and what goes on there. They are not simply a place for a hug while the 'real' teaching happens at church - they are an integral part of growing our church spiritually - and so should be approached seriously by those who lead them.