Shalom

2005-04-19T15:09:00.000+10:00

I have moved house!

I was heartily tired of BLOGGER's slow loading, time to update and its general temperamental outbursts.

I'm now to be found at

Shalom

Please update any bookmarks so you don't have to return here.

Still very basic, but am settling in.

2005-04-19T15:07:00.000+10:00

King Street in February
It was February. A typical February day in Sydney with the temperature in the early 30s and the humidity about 85 or 90%. The afternoon sea breeze had not yet arrived and possibly never would that day. The air was heavy and hung oppressively on everything. Those who could not escape to air conditioned bliss, or at least the comfort of a fan, were listless, overpowered by the heat and looking forward to March and the hope of some clear autumn days.

Jesus and his friends had spent the morning in the heat down near Tempe. Here the heat was aggravated by the noise of the planes landing and taking off at the nearby airport. The noise was deafening as the planes were often so low that some of them imagined they could see actual faces at the windows. Tired and cranky with the heat, they begged Jesus to let them go some place pleasant where they could relax indoors with a cool drink and some fresh seafood dish. Jesus had finally said yes, and they set off for North Sydney where there would be a variety of places to choose from. After walking along the noisy highway for a while breathing the diesel exhaust fumes from the many trucks, they decided to catch the next bus which came to take them right into the city. The bus was crowded but they piled on, heading to the Quay.

“Move down the back of the bus, pleeez!” yelled the driver. The group looked at Jesus and he nodded. They tried to obey the instructions but found themselves squashed between two students who would not move past the back door steps and the passengers who had just got on the bus. Judas turned, hoping for some more space, but the backpack swinging from his shoulder hit a seated passenger who scowled and then started muttering angrily under his breath. Jesus sighed and tried to look out the window over Peter’s shoulder. He could see some shops, so he pressed the button for the next stop. As the bus stopped, they almost fell out of it onto the footpath. At first, relieved to be out of its stifling atmosphere, they stretched. Then the complaints started. “I’m hungry,” “I’m tired.” “It’s been a long time since breakfast.” James and John started muttering angrily to each other and Jesus thought to himself that whoever had nicknamed them sons of thunder knew what he was talking about. A real thunderstorm would be welcome right now. It might cool things down in more ways than one.

They crossed the road, moving between the stationary bus and several cars. The highway had suddenly turned into King St., Newtown, where quicker progress could be made on foot than in a vehicle. Several eating places could be seen and again the bickering started. “There’s Gloria Jeans,” said one. “I really want Thai,” said another. “North Indian Diner’s up the road a bit,” was another suggestion. “How about African? Look over there!” Judas meanwhile was inspecting the menu pasted in the window of the closest shop. It was obvious they couldn’t afford to eat there. Iced coffee was $3.75 and the cheapest cake was $5.50, let alone a real meal. Multiply that by twelve and it was a tidy sum, more than was in the backpack. He’d forgotten Jesus again, make that thirteen. He muttered in Jesus’ ear.

Jesus called the group together and sent them, disgruntled, to find McDonalds. No one seemed to know that McDonalds had actually left Newtown several years before, unable to make a go of things in this area of greenies and health food freaks. He was tired and he sighed again. It was no easy job shepherding this bunch of guys who had such different backgrounds. Let alone trying to show them who he was.

He moved into the shade of the awning, not seeming to notice that he was outside a pub. Feeling the hint of cooled air coming through the door, he pushed it open, stepped inside, sat down at a table and looked around. It was then he discovered that this was probably not the usual run of the mill pub. At least, not for most of Sydney’s suburbs. Here in Newtown, pretty much anything goes as normal. Two women were kissing at one table and several of the guys at the bar were holding hands. He looked totally out of place in his top, once good quality but in need of a wash, and his dusty shorts which he had worn all week. On his feet were rubber thongs, not designer sandals. They were wearing thin, but Judas, as usual, was being careful with the money and wouldn’t let him buy another pair. Jesus sighed again. Perhaps he could find another pair in the Vinnies he had seen just up the street. It might be worthwhile looking in the bargain shop too. As he was, he was in need of a makeover from something like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.

The young guy who had been wiping tables paused as he came past the table where Jesus was sitting. “Pretty hot out there, isn’t it? You look as if you could do with a beer. Want me to get you a nice cold one?”

Jesus contemplated his answer. “You know,” he said, “If you really knew who I am, you’d ask me for a drink for yourself, instead of offering to get me one.”

The young man stared at him. “Can’t see your esky or a bottle in a BYO bag. Having me on, are you, or do you think you’re better than me? I know your type. They cross the road to avoid people like me. Won’t have anything to do with us in case we contaminate them or give them AIDS or something else nasty..”

Jesus said, “Your beers won’t stop either of us from getting thirsty again. What I can give you to drink will be different. It will spring up from inside you, bringing life of eternal dimensions.” The young man was eager to receive this drink. “I’d rather be out of this place,” he said to Jesus, although he did not realise what Jesus actually meant.

“Go and get your partner,” he was told. “I don’t really have a partner,” said the young man. “You’re right,” said Jesus. “You’ve had five before this one, and this one is also only using you.”

“Who are you? A clairvoyant? A prophet? People like me have been around a long time, but you people always say that we have to do things your way, that you are the ones with true spiritual enlightenment.”

“We certainly have the way of enlightenment and fulfilment and I’m telling you that those who are enlightened will know both spirit and truth”

“I do know that all things will be revealed to us,” said the man.

Jesus said, “I am the one who will reveal all to you.”

Just then the rest of the group burst through the doors after their vain search for Maccas. They were surprised to find him in such a place, speaking to such a person, but no one said anything to him.

©2005

2005-03-31T14:37:00.000+10:00

2005-03-28T09:03:00.000+10:00

When a basketball hoop collapsed bringing down part of a heavy brick wall, a 10 year old boy lost both arms and a leg. However,doctors are confident that reattaching the limbs has been a success.

2005-03-27T20:16:00.000+10:00

Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed!

2005-03-27T08:27:00.000+10:00

Journey through the field of life by Adrian Plass. Courtesy of Tractorgirl.

2005-03-25T06:34:00.000+11:00

Good Friday
His be the Victor's name,
Who fought the fight alone;
Triumphant saints no honour claim,
His conquest was their own.

Through weakness and defeat
He won the meed and crown;
Trod all our foes beneath His feet,
In being trodden down.

He Satan's power laid low;
Made sin, sin's reign o'erthew;
Bowed to the grave, destroyed it so,
And death by dying slew.

Bless, bless the Conqueror slain,
Slain in His victory;
Who lived, who died who lives again
In glorious majesty.

S.W.Gandy. (d.1851)

2005-03-17T21:24:00.000+11:00

Here's a handy right click add-on for an image zoom for Firefox. Right click gives zoom in/out, reset and customm zoomoptions. Images only, not text resizing.

2005-03-17T13:39:00.000+11:00

I went last night to an exhibition, cubanos, of photographs of Cuba by an friend, Chris Bray-Cotton. It is on for several days yet at the Tap Gallery,Palmer Street Sydney. Darlinghurst really. Last night was opening night and what a cross section of society. All types of people there. Chris is now a student at Armidale but was a valued member of the Arts Cell group I co-lead till her move north-west.

I would have loved to have bought several of the photographs, studies in light and character. However, even at $200-300, they were beyond my purse. I was glad a lot of peope turned up. She was nervous about the whole thing, but by the end of the evening, several of the works had little red stickers next to them and she felt happier.

2005-03-17T12:43:00.000+11:00

I bind unto myself today
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever,
by power of faith, Christ's Incarnation;
his baptism in Jordan river;
his death on cross for my salvation;
his bursting from the spic-ed tomb;
his riding up the heavenly way;
his coming at the day of doom:
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
of the great love of cherubim;
the sweet "Well done" in judgment hour;
the service of the seraphim;
confessors' faith, apostles' word,
the patriarchs' prayers, the prophets' scrolls;
all good deeds done unto the Lord,
and purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
the virtues of the starlit heaven
the glorious sun's life-giving ray,
the whiteness of the moon at even,
the flashing of the lightning free,
the whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
the stable earth, the deep salt sea,
around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
his eye to watch, his might to stay,
his ear to hearken, to my need;
the wisdom of my God to teach,
his hand to guide, his shield to ward;
the word of God to give me speech,
his heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me,
Christ within me,
Christ behind me,
Christ before me,
Christ beside me,
Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort
and restore me.
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ in quiet,
Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of
all that love me,
Christ in mouth of
friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself today
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.
Of whom all nature hath creation,
eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
praise to the Lord of my salvation,
salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Attributed to St Patrick, 377-466

2005-03-14T20:28:00.000+11:00

Did you know that over 1000 Australians are diagnosed every week withAlzheimers disease? This startling statistic was published tonight on the ABC news tonight. Australia's population is aging and this is one aspect of this. Facilities to deal with those suffering from it are very stretched. Possible causes include diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and smoking, although there is much research continuing into this. News coverage showed a room full of elderly people sitting in a circle around the edge of the room. They were playing a form of Follow the Leader and obediently stamped their feet or waved hands in the air at the leader's signal. Some were well groomed, right down to a tie and tweed sportscoat on one man. Others had the scruffy, vacant look of the advanced sufferer.

It is seven years in a couple of days since my father died of Alzheimer's at the age of 80 and I can testify to the cruelty of the disease. It is fatal and although medication can now help if it is diagnosed early enough, it cannot be stopped. My mother is now 85 and "as bright as a button" mentally. However, when he was about 70, Dad began to show signs of what would be Alzheimer's. He was an extremely intelligent man. In pre-computer days, he would regularly do the timetable for a large high school, integrating staff, subjects, rooms and pupils with almost no errors. He was always interested in horticulture and did the trade course recognised through Australia in his spare time, topping the year each time. He had no opportunity to attend Uni as he was an Intelligence Officer in the Army in World War II. He remedied this lack by gaining his degree through part time study after teaching all day.

When the disease first started, it bothered him. He would stare at his garden, willing himself to remember the name of some shrub or tree. He took to wandering at all hours of the day and night, often most inappropriately dressed. Doors had to be kept locked and the keys hidden. He would make coffee by putting the electric kettle on the stove. Obviously the brain still worked but came to the wrong conclusions. He saw friends in the flames of the wood stove and would sit and talk to these, unseen by all but himself.

Eventually my siblings and I were forced to put him in a nursing home to save my mother's health and sanity. I have seen such things as were on the TV tonight. The care was wonderful and the staff did all they could to preserve the dignity and qualityt of life of the patients but I have seen few things more pathetic than seeing Dad sitting in a room arranged much as those in tonight's newscast. Each person had some percussion instrument such as pre-schoolers would play. Maraccas, drums, cymbals. This intelligent man was keeping time to some march music by using a metal triangle with a wooden beater. I cried when I saw this.

As time went on,he was happy,even if we were not. He no longer knew us although he could speak of his childhood. Eventually he was in a wheel chair as Alzheimer's also shortens the tendons behind the knees and stops walking. This for a man who walked up to fifteen kilometres every day for years with his beloved dogs and then some more just for himself. It affects eye muscles so his eyes turned in different directions. In the last few months, he was bedridden. My most touching memeory perhaps, is of his being fed strawberry icecream by a nurse just hours before his death. She fed him with a teaspoon as I feed my baby grandchildren and carefully wiped up the dribbles. In three hours,he was dead.

And 1000 people are being diagnosed every week to a future like this.

2005-03-13T10:33:00.000+11:00

fire still burning
The blaze near me is still burning and the smell fromthe fire woke me several times last night. This is an update from the Sunday papers about it. There are still about 150 firefighters working shifts to contain the blaze in dangerous and difficult conditions. Damage has been estimated at well over $20 million.

Unfortunately, Parramatta Road is one of the main traffic arteries to and from the city and many other suburbs as well. Traffic around our suburb has increased enormously as the road is often closed. Drivers, not knowing the back routes as we do, have been shunted off the main road, and try to find a way around the blockage through some fairly narrow residential streets.

2005-03-12T08:09:00.000+11:00

big blaze

One of Sydney's biggest fires for many years occurred yesterday, although the fire brigade expects that the factory will continue burning all the weekend.

This fire happened barely ten minutes' walk from my home, and the slight valley at the back of my place was filled with appalling smoke for many hours. Brigades were called in from the central Coast, the Illawarra and also the blue Mountains, all of which are at least 80 km away. There were approximately 150 firemen working on the fire and many different appliances. The smoke was appalling and some close to the fire were treated for smoke inhalation of the toxic fumes.

Pictures can be seen here.

2005-03-11T09:27:00.000+11:00

big changes ahead

Read Sanctificarnos Robert speaks of "citizen journalism" and a Christian news agency. He envisions several different sections for this. Read more at Robert's blog,Santificarnos for advance news of some exciting developments ahead.

I was somewhat overwhelmed when I first received an email from Robert, quite a while ago now, inviting me to take part. I was even more overwhelmed when I had a look at the lineup of other contributors. I like the fact that the group represents views from around the world and that we also come from quite different Christian backgrounds. I have been reluctant to join some of the webrings and other groups which are available as they seem to me to represent purely one viewpoint. A holy huddle,if you like, safety in numbers. I've been around long enough to know that I am not threatened by views which may not be identical to mine. I've learnt that I'm not always correct. I've gained so much from reading widely, both academically and in Christian and other blogs.

I am looking forward to seeing how this new venture works out.

2005-03-04T08:54:00.000+11:00

Brag time this morning.

I found this test on spelling and word usage at Fred's this morning.

My score was 100% on each section as well it might be. I'm in the age group which scores well in that test. I was well drilled in both primary and high schools in grammar and loved studying languages. Did Latin, French and German at Uni. Have since learned NT Greek and done a smattering, mostly forgotten, of Hebrew.

What usually lets me down on my blog is my typing. Fingers don't always match my brain.

2005-02-28T20:29:00.000+11:00

I was catching up on some blogs when I found a reference to this test at the Upward Way. It is run by a group called the Worldview weekend.

It supposedly tests whether the one doing the test has a biblical worldview. Nowhere is that view actually defined, although on working through the test it is quite apparent what the correct expected answer should be. Mine did not meet their expectations in many cases. Randy notes that unless a seven day creationist view is held, then the person is labelled a socialist.

The blurb before the test suggests that young and old could benefit by doing the test, then reading some of their materials or attending some courses. The test is redone to see what "improvement" has been made.

Many of the questions are irrelevant to those who are not American citizens. A lot are asked in a "leading question" manner.

I apologise to the residents of Florida. Applicants' states are required so their scores are correlated against others from that state. I must have skewed the results for Florida.

In fact, my worldview has been somewhat dented by the fact that I had to lie to take the test. States are required,but there is no provision for those outside the USA to continue without identifying a state. Perhaps this is a case of situational ethics. I'm only joking of course before some one write me a flaming email about such things.

2005-02-28T15:11:00.000+11:00

Unfortunately, this is a horrible example of what I was talkng about in the post below. It began with the molesting of an underage girl and continued as an adulterous affair for 40 years! This was not something I had to dig up, but was on our national broadcaster today. Part of the story had been hinted at, but this is from the woman's side.

2005-02-25T15:11:00.000+11:00

It was reported in today's Sydney Morning Herald that Archbishop Jensen was prophesying a split in the Anglican communion over the ordination of homosexuals. (I could not find this on their web site.)

I leave aside my own thoughts on ordination. I realise I am in a minority here.

Who then can be ordained? When I look around I see wife beaters, child abusers, liars, adulterers, those who fiddle the books, the power hungry or foul tempered and those who like the rest of us are sinners in one way or another. I have seen reports that it is the ordination of those continuing to practise homosexuality that is wrong. All these other problems do not magically stop on ordination. There have been reports of child molesting clergy whose crimes go back many years and who have continued this disgusting path while carrying out a pastoral role.

I am not here making a judgment of any kind on homosexuality. I have given my views in the past and they are based on other points than the usual verses trotted out by both sides.

No one is perfect. That should rule out all. Why single out one in particular and in many cases sweep the rest under the carpet?

2005-02-22T13:59:00.000+11:00

a rose by any other name...
..would smell as sweet. Or so said the Bard.

This thought has obviously been adopted by our TV stations here. We've just moved out of the summer non-ratings period, so theoretically are in a time of new shows, or at least new episodes of old shows. However, there's a disturbing new trend which has been adopted by all channels, even our national broadcaster.

We no longer have "repeats." We now have "encore" performances. Not just performances, but "encore presentations." These presentations are of nothing fancy, just everyday television programmes. Does the new name reflect the hope that time in storage has somehow changed these from dandelions to roses?

Wouldn't life be better if when we stuff up yet again, we could glorify the mistake by a lovely new name, thus camouflaging that it was indeed a mistake?

Unfortunately, roses are still roses and real stinkers remain real stinkers.

2005-02-20T08:43:00.000+11:00

I know we all face struggles in relationships and in life. I find it difficult to believe that so many of them can coincide in life. I also find it difficult to realise just how much energy they take to deal with, not to mention time as well.

My little grandduaghter faced complications after her tonsillectomy and is just now starting to pick up slightly. This has caused anxiety and also more time spent in babysitting her siblings.

My nephew, whose mother died last year, has been having trouble coping with the transition to secondary school, even though he goes to a private school with a good pastoral care programme. As the one in the family with training and experience in educational matters, who had to offer help?

My sister is having a hard time with a divorce from an extremely abusive husband and the sale of her home as part of the settlement. This has obviously affected her and also my elderly mother who feels slighted by lack of attention from my sister. Relationships!

There's another baby on the way for my one of my sons and his wife. Much anticipated and a great, troublefree pregnancy. That is until last week when she was given a bolt from the blue that she has a precancerous condition. This cannot be dealt with until the baby is a couple of months old, probably around September. There is almost always a good outcome from the treatment, but it certainly was a most unpleasant surprise.

Mix in a week of entirely unexected full time work for me and life has been hectic.

2005-02-15T19:37:00.000+11:00

Perhaps I might be able to catch up with myself later this week. I've picked up some paid work supervising psych. tests for a government department and have more available later in the week. The rest of the next few days wilbe spent babysitting grandchildren. I can go weeks and weeks with alnost nothing on and then I have so much I hardly know what day it is.

2005-02-10T13:05:00.000+11:00

Saga of Cornelia RaU cont'd
There is to be a private enquiry into the holding of her in both prison and in the Baxter Detention Centre. This was announced by Senator Amanda Vanstone, the minister for Immigration, who controls detention centres. She announced it would be a private enquiry to protect the privacy of Cornelia Rau.

I had to listen twice to that bit. This from the minister whose detention centres use surveillance cameras constantly in rooms such as the one where Cornelia Rau was held so that absolutely everything she did was observed as the light is on at night as well as during the day.

I am feeling cynical today. I wonder if just perhaps there might be one or two other reasons Amanda Vanstone wants a private enquiry?

I rather liked Moir's cartoon of yesterday. He's portrayed the senator as a mother hen before and the likeness is amazing.

2005-02-08T15:14:00.000+11:00

The Tattoo's sub-title was "A salute to Australia." As such, there were several versions of Waltzing Mathilda, I still call Australia Home, We are Australian.

It was as the audience was singing the last song that I paid some attention to the words. We speak with one voice.." Not really so. It seems that the governemnt speaks with an entirely different voice to many of the rest of us.

A horrifying story broke this week of a mentally ill woman who was either imprisoned and also shut up in Baxter Detention centre. Her crime? She was mentally ill and spoke with a foreign accent. Therefore she was a danger to all. She had schizophrenia and was also bipolar. She had been reported missing by her family and little effort seems to have been made by the authorities to trace her background.There are conflicting stories about her but many state that her illness was obvious.

Amanda Vanstone, the Minister who has jurisdiction over such matters again demonstrates that she apparently has not one iota of compassion in her. She appears to think that such treatment for ten months is perfectly acceptable. It seems that we do not all speak with one voice. Many of us disagree with her.

Personally I find this a frightening tale. I do not really hold fears for my son, but can see how this could have happened to Cornelia Rau. My son has bipolar himself and sinks into some very deep holes at times. At the same time he is exceptionally intelligent with a far out sense of humour, a born mimic particularly of accents. Put all these things together and have some paranoid person hear him and what happens? As I said,I do not really have fears of the sme thing happening to him,but I can certainly understand what happened.

What is shameful is that it seems that when prison authorities had had enough, it was an easy matter to transfer her to the detention centre. Bad enough for so-called refugees who should never be there.

I am ashamed.

Some sites:
'It's torture, it's sheer torture' - Immigration - www.smh.com.au

Former police chief to head Rau inquiry. 08/02/2005. ABC News Online

Rau inquiry behind closed doors: Vanstone - National - www.smh.com.au (free registration required for this site)

2005-02-08T15:02:00.000+11:00

nostalgia
My son rang lateish yesterday afternon with the offer of a ticket to the
Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Would I like to go? What a silly question. I used to attend the Australian Military Tattoos with my grandmother many years ago, but this one was special. It is only the second time in its history that the Edinburgh Tattoo has left its home city. I'd wanted to go, but ruled it out because of the prices and here he ws with three free tickets, courtesy of his work.

I had a ball. The seats were wonderful. I couldn't quite place them on the box office plan, but they were good ones. View was good and sound was well done with a great mix. I would have liked more pipes and missed Flowers of Scotland but I enjoyed all the performances. I was brought up loving brass bands so thoroughly enjoyed the massed bands. Part way through the performance, I realised how incongruous and inconsistent I was being. Here I was lapping up the pipes which initially were to strike terror into the enemies' minds. I've been fairly vocal around here about my oppposition to the Iraq war and our participation in it. I'm not a pacifist so settled myself with that though.

A good night.

2005-02-05T20:08:00.000+11:00

I've been catching up on various blogs and see some controversies about both groups of blogs and links.

I'm listed at blogs4God but haven't joined other groupings except a group of Australian bloggers, not all Christian.

I have problems with some of the groups which seem to be aimed at raising the profiles of members. This may not be entirely true, just my observation and what I picked up from them. I don't go to these blogs often so won't comment on the motives of the members.

Other groups seem to be something of a closed circle, a retreat into familiarity. My blogroll, which definitely needs updating, covers a wide variety of opinion. I enjoy this and look forward to reading such a variety. It enriches my life and I often find myself challenged by a point of view I would not have even thought about if I had stayed in a small circle. I often disagree with what I read, but usually enjoy reading it. Some blogs I read once and don't go back. Others are bookmarked and become favourites. If I have time,I will pick two or three from the hundreds at blogs4God. Some get nomore than a glance, but I was willing to make that glance to find what they were like.

Besides, where would I go? I attend a particular church but am not an "official" member and would not want to be known as such. Other descriptions could be used and I suppose they are all partly true. I'm much more left of centre both politically and theologically than I have ever been before in my life, certainly more than many realise.

To those forming tight,often church based groups I would advise this. Look up and out. God does not limit truth to any one particular group.