Relevant Proverb

"If you have been foolish enough to be arrogant and plan evil, stop and think! If you churn milk you get butter. If you hit someone's nose-it bleeds. If you stir up anger, you get into trouble".
-Proverb 30:32

Parenting: Putting Harry Potter to Rest

The debate previously mentoned re the be-speckled Harry Potter on Phil Bakers Blog continued to 160+ comments, but I feel that at least for me it has finally allowed me to put the matter to rest in my own mind by thinking through the issues and articulating my thoughts to determine where I stand– along-side issues I have struggled with such as Sabbath observance, Baptism, the True Church, the Trinity and the Historicity of the Scriptures.

Here is my new current position:

“I think that answer lies in testing the Spirit that is behind HP (1 John 4:1-2) to determine whether its intent is to brings people to Truth in Christ. The first question should be then “Does HP point people to the True God by confessing Christ?.” HP appears to be more closely aligned with the Occult practices that both the Scriptures and the Early Church condemned. For me “it smuggles the Occult” more so than “it smuggles the Gospel”. Granted it promotes good values and virtues – but anyone who involved in the Occult will tell you that their beliefs are ultimately for ‘good’ – just ask a committed ‘Freemason’ what their fraternity “is all about”. The overt Occult themes in HP should not be neither be under- or over-played, So yes, - I think that left to its own devices - Harry Potter “will (naturally) influence (some but not all) non-Christian young people to go down a path that could eventually lead them to investigate Wicca and such things”.

Because HP is really pushing the envelope with regard to the Occult themes (more so than any other Children’s tales) we need to be really diligent and responsible over the things that we let into our minds and that of our children - and also what we are seen to be endorsing.
I will very cautiously let my own kids watch and read the books with a level of supervision as I do believe there is a fine line between the fantasy and the entry point at which one enters the Occult of which we need to be careful.

The second question should then be “CAN it be used to point people to the True God?” I believe so as “ALL THINGS can be used for good for those who love God” (Rom 8:28). Paul used the idols in Athens for evangelism (Acts 17). But having said that - I will place a caveat upon its use as a “Christian Resource” (…I abhor that term). There is always an inherent risk that the use of Harry Potter as a Christian resource will be seen to endorse or legitimize Occult practices unless this risk is explicitly managed. To use it to promote “wholesome values”, “good virtues” or “keys for living” alone is dangerous and will only leave people in their present state of darkness - unless it is used to point people directly to the True God. In Athens, Paul used the idols as springboard to point people directly to the “Unknown God” – and not to teach anything else. So in a nutshell, because of its content and the risks that I mentioned - I would be disappointed if it was used to preach anything but Christ alone.

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By the way - by coincidence - my 6 year old asked if could see Harry Potter yet...I said yes - we will watch it together this weekend.

First Class Lives #2: My Wifes Grandfather

“You have prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil, and my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever”.
-Psalm 23:5-6

My wife’s Grandfather passed away shortly before we were married, but he was a person that has left a legacy of good character and influenced many people during his time. A reputable Head Master - he achieved much and led a full life. He is still revered by his Grandchildren as THE benchmark of faith, integrity, charisma and the pursuit of excellence in learning – truly “his cup runneth over” so the above scripture was fittingly used at his funeral as a précis of his life.

Isn't it ironic that the the things that seem to matter now like the suburb you live in, how much you make in a year don't really matter when you've gone - its your character, the memories, and the values that you pass on that really matter in perpetuity.

Partly anal, and in every respect a dreamer – I hope and plan to lead a life that can be an example to my sons and the generations that follow.

Quotes: Luther on Human Values

"For indeed there are fair and glorious examples in heathendom, of many
virtues, where men were temperate, chaste, bountiful, loved their country,
parents, wives and children, were men of courage, and behaved themselves
magnanimously and generously.
But the ideas of mankind concerning God, the true worship of God, and
Gods will, are altogether stark blindness and darkness.
For the light of human wisdom, reason and understanding which alone is
given to man comprehends only what is good and profitable outwardly. And
although we see that the heathen philosophers now and then discoursed concerning
God and his wisdom pertinently, so that some have made prophets of Socrates, of
Xenophon, of Plato etc. , yet, that because they had not known that God sent his
Son to save sinners, such fair, glorious and wise-seeming speeches are nothing
but mere blindness and ignorance".

-Martin Luther

Faith Stuff: Coming to Terms With Harry Potter

Phil Baker’s Blog has possibly reached its record number of posts via its topic on Harry Potter and the Church.

Having family Members actively involved in the Occult and being exposed to its reality has had me thinking and trying to form a position on where I should stand on this matter.

I have always taken the approach that involvement in Occult practices are actively condemned in scriptures. I don’t profess to be an expert in Church history but from what I have read the early Church regarded familiarity with the Occult as anathema, in fact the didache which reads as an early Church manual clearly states:

Didiche 2:2 Thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt
not corrupt boys, thou shalt not commit fornication, thou shalt not steal, thou
shalt not deal in magic, thou shalt do no sorcery, thou shalt not murder a child
by abortion nor kill them when born, thou shalt not covet thy neighbors
goods.

Didiche 5:1 But the way of death is this. First of all, it is evil and
full of a curse; murders, adulteries, lusts, fornications, thefts, idolatries,
magical arts, witchcrafts, plunderings, false witnessings, hypocrisies,
doubleness of heart, treachery, pride, malice, stubbornness, covetousness, foul
- speaking, jealousy, boldness, exaltation, boastfulness.

Admittedly I am a fan of LOR and CS Lewis’ The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. The fantasy story of Harry Potter is attractive and admittedly I have only seen a small amount of the first movie – my son asked us to turn it off as it was “too scary” but he was five at the time.
What does scare me is the fact that it is a story of one Boy’s learning journey into the Occult. All Occults branches are progressive learning journey’s where hidden knowledge and power is revealed as the student learns and progresses (eg. Freemasonry, Anthroposophy, Witchcraft etc) .

Because the story is make-believe - I would very cautiously let my own kids watch and read the books with a level of supervision as I do believe there is a fine line between the fantasy and the entry point at which one enters the Occult of which we need to be careful.

Because HP is really pushing the envelope with regard to the Occult themes (more so than any other Children’s tales) we need to be really diligent and responsible over the things that we let into our minds and that of our children - and also what we are seen to be endorsing.

Our children and non-Christian friends often see us as the benchmark of what is right and wrong. (If you don’t believe me – just let a few swear words rip in front of your non Christian friends and just watch their reaction).

Project Management: Olympic Gold

Forgive me today I am a little boastful but today the 27th of August 2004 was the Board mandated deadline for the delivery of our DW system - and we delivered....and within budget.

When we first started 6 months ago I got alot of push-back from my team who were understandably overwhelmed with the task ahead when presented with the plan - and said that we would never make the deadline.

I challenged them to focus only on the first milestone 6 weeks ahead at the time...and they delivered. We celebrated - then the second came naturally...

Only a week ago - I was appraoched by two of my team who said that although we were close - we wont make the 27th it would have to be the 30th.

Using the analogy of the Olympics I challenged them that they would get a 'Gold' for delivering on the 27th and get a 'Silver' for a Monday delivery...I asked them to go away and think about a solution...to their credit they found a solution. Man these guys are great.

------------
While writing this I just got a call from our Consulting partner who recieved the txt message that the system had gone 'live' whilst on the flight back to Sydney - he is 'over the moon'.

This 6 months has been such a great learning journey and I am so thankful to my boss and Project Sponsor for taking a chance on me - even though I lacked the technical experience and also for him mentoring me during some early political and leadership issues.

Can't also but think that God is with me on every step of my life journey.

I have now been given a new major systems project to manage...I can't help feeling as excited as Jack Aubrey did when he first got his ship in the book "Master & Commander"...it's such a big milestone your life - you want to shout it out loud...but no-one else (understandably) seems to care!

Thought For Today: The Wisdom of Solomon

"I have seen that there is nothing new under the Sun..."
- Ecclesiastes 1:14

King Solomon obviously did not work in IT.

Natural History: Orion and Plieades

"Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the cords of Orion?” Job 38:31 (NIV)

An awe-inspiring piece of Bible trivia I picked up several years ago about this scripture was that whilst the book of Job is the earliest books of the Bible written - apparently it was only last century, in this advanced age it was discovered that within:

Orion – the cluster of stars are bound together so strongly by the gravitational forces that they remain locked in relative position to one another.
Plieades – the cluster of stars are held together but the gravitational forces are such that the stars are continually drifting away from one another but at a distance so small that it cannot be noticed without the aid of modern astronomical equipment.

I’d like to validate this with a secular source as this insight came from “Answers In Genesis” – but if it is true - it is wonderfully mysterious how the writers of the earliest book of the Bible could possibly have of know this…

Who can tamper with the gravitational forces that hold star clusters together bar God alone?

Bed Time

Its been a busy day. I'm tired - so I'm not even going to post today.

Johari Window and Ungrace

OK 10 more minutes - time for one more post...

The Johari Window is a term used by Organisational Psychologists to refer to things to things that people know about you (or see) that you are not aware of yourself.

Oneday you wake up and realise that something about you needs to change. Other people knew it, God knew it, but you didn't.

For me, I've learned lots about the concept of Grace. And conversely Ungrace. And I've also become pretty good at spotting 'Ungrace' in others.

But I have begun to see it pretty clearly now. The Ungrace of Me.

I love the concept of Dignity.

People I admire are Dignified. Kofi Anan has Dignity. My wife's Grandfather embodied statesman like Dignity.

Like the chromosomes that make up the double helix of the human gene, Dignity and Grace are intimately coupled.

I now realise that Dignity will never be part of my DNA until I first deal with 'Ungrace'.

Movies: Master & Commander

Short for time tonight - so have lifted and old comment I wrote a way back from Phil Bakers Blog which I reused to Blog attack another blog re my favourite movie (next to Men of Honour)...

I loved Master & Commander and am currently reading one Patrick O’Briens M&C Books in the series. The movie is rich with life lessons…like sacrificing one person to save the ship. And also the fantastic plutonic relationship between two male best friends (guys don’t have to be gay to have intimacy). And also dealing with pride and ambition of the captain - Jack Aubrey which puts the whole ship, and more importantly the prospect of advancing man’s learning and missing the joy of discovery of life’s wondes (ie. stopping at the Galapagos) at incredible risk in order for short term gain and ‘quick win” of capturing the prize (a ”French ship”)…also the need for order, discipline and obedience and complete faith in the Captain and many more lessons.

Sunday Take-away

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ".
-1 Cor 10

"Our thoughts are like a train - they will take us on a journey culminating in a specific destination. We must take them captive".`

Its always troubled me how theolgians can be so learned but move so far away from the Truth (Spong, Thieling, etc) - especially those in mainline Church - and cults.

Maybe the temptation to "eat from the tree of knowledge" is still alive and well. Like the Gnostics who falsely believe salvation is attainable by 'knowledge' to the few who 'understand' (as opposed to faith) - maybe these people surcumb to a form of temptation which sells out absolute Truth for the deception all truth being relative (mystisicm). The real motivation being 'pride' or 'power' .

Maybe the key to combining higher theological understanding whilst remaining in Truth is contained within this scripture. Learning in humilty, guarding our thoughts against temptation and contrasting thoughts against what the scriptures reveal of Christ.

Life Stuff: On Ageing

I feeling strangely comfortable with the fact that according to Psalm 90:10 - this is my first birthday where I must face the fact that there are possibly fewer days left in-front of me than behind me. Still feel that the best is still to come.

This is the most peaceful point (spiritually speaking) in my life - finding that I now wrestle less with consuming minor theological stuff (ie. getting it right) and am now finding peace and security in my faith. Maybe a sign of maturity - but why does it take me so long?

After a busy night hosting some colleagues from work - today was great. Being wished happy birthday by the family in bed (great hug from 6yo) and getting some really thoughtful gifts -from my family a great addition to my library - "The Times Concise World Atlas", and with true 'Lutheran' style from my generous parents-in law - a bottle of Brown Bros. Cab Sav, and a book entitled "Cabernet Sauvignon - a complete guide to the grape and the wine that it produces" . From my fantastic parents a great Opera genre CD.

Must be a conspiracy by all to transform me into an International Man of Culture. (No such luck -there is no way that I'll be trading the touring wagon in on a mafia staff car).

Character: On Humility

Humility is coming home from Quiz night with your head hung low - knowing that you did not do very well even though everyone on your table was a professional- and one even a Doctor.

For future reference it was in fact the Crimean war that occured first - not the First World War, The Boer War or even the American Civil War.

Community/Quotes: On Charity

"When I feed the poor they call me a Saint...
When I ask why the poor are poor-
They call me a communist"

-Bishop Dom Helda Camara

Life Stuff: On Tradition

After reading a quote posted on Baggas' blog it triggered me to think about tradition and post a comment. I just wanted to capture the thoughtline here.

I believe that there is nothing so life draining as uncompromising, inflexible tradition such as reptitious Church liturgy or outdated music. Dead Tradition.

Conversely, there are few momments in life that are captured quite so powerfully as traditions that celebrate life or assist with introspection or commerating a rite of passage such as the Olympics, birthdays, christmas, baptsims, thanksgiving, or teaching your kids to pray each night. Living traditions.

A wise Man once said something like "Traditions should be created to serve man - and not the other way 'round".

Good Friday its Wednesday

I had to work down at Maddington today – which is like the South Pole from where I live. This meant an extra 20 minutes or so on the train / bus trip. I didn’t read but was just thinking about the crucifixion of Christ for some reason – in particular the way he was crucified in between two thieves.

It hit me then that both of these people were both equal in their crucifixion. Both were equally shamed, convicted and equally condemned. Nothing that they could do could save them from their death penalty. None was better than the other. And both were held responsible for their own predicament. No-one had argued the case that any of them had a disadvantaged childhood and so could be excused. No absent Father, no mother with depression, no drugs, alcohol or dysfunction in the family could be blamed for causing their transgression—the buck stopped right there with them.

Maybe this is a picture of humanity. We are all the same. When it comes down to it – none of us are better than another person. Education, profession, class, creed, fame or fortune never enters into it. All hang in the open exposed in our shame and our guilt unable to do anything to shift the blame, allay the guilt or defer the penalty.

One thief would have looked to see the man on the cross next to him. When he looked he saw just that. A Man. Nothing more. A Man who too was soon to die. A fool that threw the remainder of his life away for a worthless set of ideals or a dream. A man who had delusions of being a King, in a kingdom of love. Surely this kingdom would never come in the reality of this brutish, unjust world.

Another thief looked at the same man and saw someone quite different. I don’t know what he knew or what he saw. Had he heard this man speak? Had he only heard rumors of him? Had he seen the miracles? Whatever the situation he knew enough to recognise the hopelessness of his predicament and humbly dared to beg a simple question. “Remember me when you come into your Kingdom”. He obviously had faith enough to see beyond this life, beyond the parameters of death and to recognise Christ for all who he claimed to be. To take a chance on this God Man – to take him at his word. He was promised a place in paradise. Not because of anything he did – except dare to place his faith in him. He dared to believe.

All Men are in fact equal. All Men die. God died there with them. God offered hope. Yet one Man died in and with the God Hope. The other died only with and in his own hopelessness.

I now see the scene of those three men hanging on their crosses as a picture of the delineation of humanity. It is a picture of Law and of Justice. It is a picture of penalty and of death. A picture of frailty. A picture of finality. A picture of choice. Of decision. Of consequence. Of hope. Of life. And of Love.

And of Eternity crucified to the Finite.

Olympic Observation

I have a hypothesis that there is strong positive correlation between how well a country does in the pool and the number of fatal shark attacks per capita that it has.

Parenting: Sleep Deprivation

Baby is teething. More infant induced broken sleep. Why do they always smile when you come to pick them up? Obviously so you can't get angry with them.

As a consequence - been exceptionally vague and grumpy all week. Did not feel like working today so took the team out for lunch to kill a few hours and to celebrate completion of milestone and because one of them is leaving the project! They have done well and all have deserved it. Will put in the hours on the weekend.

Off for a run - need to get some pressure out of the system and clear the mind.

Quick Comment Tonight:

Been on a software training course all day - my eyes hurt and my head is sore. :-) Also had broken sleep due to 4 month old teething and late night Olympics - so short one tonight.

Just for the record re Friday morning issue- God answers prayers and comes thru in unexpected ways.

Music: Sarah Mclahlan #2

On a previous post I mentioned that I had the opportunity to see thae amazingly talented Sarah McLachlan in concert. I have just come across a Launchcast clip of her playing "Angel" live in concert.

So if you have a broadband connection and can be bothered get a coffee, sit back an enjoy Sarah in Concert.

Olympics and Wireless Connectivity

Gone wireless and just testing the LAN. Will now be able to work, bank, email, i-surf, play and blog anywhere in the house - even in the same room where Mrs L watches TV!

What I saw of the Olympic Opening Ceremony this morning - it looked great.

I just think that the Olympics should have four medals...Gold, Silver and Bronze as well as Platinum which should be given to any Gold medal winner that beats an Olympic record. That way the athetes are competing against themselves, the other competitors - as well as past and future athletes in the same event.

Politics: Tasmania, Regime Change & Role Models

Yesterday's West Austrlain newspaper made me chuckle. Andre Malan compared the outgoing Governor of Tasmania - Richard Butler to Sir Les Patterson.

Personally, I know of few men who have risen to such an honour ;-).

Crass humour aside, I always theought Richard Butler was OK and represented Australia well when he was with the UN...obviously I'm not politically astute though.

Success: One Key Result Areas

8:17Pm Friday Night, Just got in. Kids in Bed. Boerworst Sausages now on BBQ, roast Veges in Oven, Glass of Red, Wife Watching Burkes Backyard on TV. Typical Friday night.

Quick thought - it just struck me how those men whose character I admire most by direct input into my life, some arms length input and some I will only ever read about (that is some keep themselves fit, some are shrewd with money, some are politically astute, some are great leaders) all have three things in common:

1) They are all discreetly generous
2) They all try to raise others up and help them succeed (ie teach a man to fish...)
3) All have long and successful marriages.

Work Stuff: Managing Issues

I have to mediate a resolution to an issue today which may impact the delivery of our project. Today I simply ask that God will grant me wisdom, peace, confidence and courage. I hope I'm not asking for too much!

Parenting: Milestones

Its of little consequence to the world but just want to make a note that my youngest son cut his first teeth today. Last week he started interacting by "Grrrrrring" and smiling and belly laughing.

He's not a valedictorian - and he did nothing to deserve this - but just gotta say I'm proud of him regardless. Kids are what its all about.

Project Management: Meeting Preparation

Covey advised "Begin with the end in mind"...

I've found a good way to help plan and control a Steering Committee Meeting and get the required outcome is to write the minutes of the meeting in advance.

• It helps control the agenda and flow of the meeting
• Avoid the time wasters
• Anticipate what will occur
• Get you thinking about lobbying for agreement / issue resolution before the meeting - and hence avoid any nasty surprises.
• Reduce post meeting work.

If things look really bad then try reschedule the meeting at a time that is convenient when only the "forces of light" (us) can attend and the "forces of darkness" (them) are indisposed.

Reading: Wishlist

Just Found two books that I need to rememeber for when I get through that pile..

Family: The Third and Forth Generation

I consider myself to be extremely fortunate. I've got a photograph here on my desk in my study of my first son, myself, my father and my grandfather. Four first-born sons, four generations in all, the same bloodline and possessing the same surname.

In a previous posting I metioned that I wanted to confirm that the same component of a gene is passed from Father to Son in the same way that a surname is passed in our culture. My friend who is a microbiolgist has confirmed that this is true.

My take-out of our conversation - (I am a science dunce) is that apparently the gene is made of a "Double Helix" or two chromosmes of which each contain a sequence of DNA. In males the same 'Y' chromosome containing exactly the same DNA sequence is passed from father to son as long as the generations of males remain uninterupted. If a character was given to each of the little DNA's in the sequence to spell the characters of a word - that word or name on the Y chromosome would always be the same for each sunsequent male in an ancestral lineage.

Now, its has me thinking of the importance of the male ancestral lines as mentioned in Matthew and Luke...

I'm just playing around with an idea but if this were true the same uninterupted genetic surname would possibly stretch all the way from Adam to Joseph then Adam's genetic surname was substituted for that of God at conception (ie. A miraculous Son of God 'Y' Chromosome from God and Son of Man 'X' Chromosome from Mary).

Okay, I probably sound like a "nutter", and I certainly dont subscribe to this as doctrine but the "life a man is in the blood" and there are probably a number miracles as well as natural phenomena that occurred in the miracle of Jesus birth.

Anyway, back to my own bloodline. I may not amount to much in terms of significance as a Christian in my life time but perhaps my own purpose in life is to 'begat' a generation of people who will have some level of significance. Atleast, I have been the first in my ancestral line to make a committment to Christ, I am trying to raise my own kids in the faith, my Father is warming up to it - and my Grandfather (a 'Worshipful Master' in the Freemason Lodge) whom I adore is still alive and hopefully I can work up the courage to talk to him about these things one day.

Life Lesson #4: Forgiveness and Coffee

I think I have the capacity to forgive most things...except paying $3.50+ for bad coffee. I should have known better than to have made a repeat purchase from THAT cafe.

Economics: The End of Cheap Oil

"In our Lifetime" says enconomist Robert Kaufmann, "We will have to deal with a peak in the supply of cheap oil - That peak will be a watershed moment".

I have borrowed the June 2004 National Geopgraphic Magazine from my Father-in-Law for reading on the train which had a great article entitled "The End of Cheap Oil".

Six interesting points caught my attention:

1. The world's oil addiction is hastening a day of reckoning. Humanity's way of life is on a collision course with geology—with the stark fact that the Earth holds a finite supply of oil.
2. The flood of crude from fields around the world will ultimately top out, then dwindle. It could be 5 years from now or 30: No one knows for sure, and geologists and economists are embroiled in debate about just when the "oil peak" will be upon us. But few doubt that it is coming. "In our lifetime,"
3. The abundence of oil means that for now that oil is cheap (Underpriced) - in the USA gasoline is cheaper than bottled water- making it too cheap for most people to bother conserving.
4. The cost of gasoline does not consider the true (hidden) costs of oil such as Leaking oil from refineries, macroeconic disruptions (eg unemployemnt from the true cost of oil), global warming, pollution, traffic accidents, congestion and time in traffic.
5. Canada has an abundance of non-conventional oil in tar pits.
6. Oil is a freak of geology - the product of a series of "lucky breaks" over millions of years. the first break came in a life rich ancient sea: sediments buried the organisc material raining down on the sea floor faster than it could decay. The next break: Eons later the seafloor sediments ended up at just the right depth - generally beyween 7,500 and 15,000 feet - for heat and pressure to slow cook the organic material into oil. [Sounds like a miracle or the result of a global flood or both to me].

"People should be doing something now to reduce oil dependence" says physicist Alfred Cavallo...."And not waiting for Mother Nature to slap them in the face".

It makes me think that

• The choices we make now will impact the inheritence of future generations (Ex 34:7).
• People never value things that are under priced and globally subsidised whether it be oil, water or school teachers. (The price of everything should reflect its true value and then things are to be subsidised to help those who genuinely need it ie. The widow and the orphan).
• That we may well be remembered as a cancerous, selfish, inconsiderate generation.
• We all have the power to make choices now - even simple lifestyle choices.
• The right choice always seems to require sacrifice.
• It starts with me.

• I need to 'lighten up' - OK I'm off to watch Australian Idol like the rest of the nation :-)

Marraige: Resourcefulness

I have always been a "Queen" fan. More the band than the woman. Anyhow my beautful wife turn 30 next month so I thought I would surprise her with some tickets to the Queen Tribute Concert at the Burswood theatre.

Don't tell her as it is a surprise - I bet she will be thrilled ;-)

Life Stuff: Growing Up

I am usually pretty hard on myself and the mistakes I have made in my past - up to the age of 24. But some things that I believe that I did do right include:

• Getting a job in a Bank straight out of High School, sticking it out and getting my first degree mostly part-time and paid for by the Bank.
• Leaving home at 18 and going up North with the Bank - taught me independence.
• Never getting into a defacto relationship (that is really dumb)
• Thoroughly looking at different religions and sects of Christianity without committing to any to help me make the right and informed decisions of both head and heart regardng faith.
• Finally making that decision for Christ and putting my reputation, friendships with peers and what my Father thought of me on the line.

All of these life choices have paid abundant dividends.

Ocean Stuff: Decent Swell #2

Great weekend all round with leave passes granted by Mrs L. for both days. Out at Contacio on Saturday but surfed like a dog.

Today was much better and the conditions in Perth don't get much better. Really shallow reefs all along the coast so out at Trigg carpark #2 - and had some fun.

Its good to be alive. Cant wait for my boys to grow a little older - but still not wishing their life away.

Parenting: Aspirations for the Future

My 6 yo has told me over the course of time that when he grows up what he wants to be. It's been a truck driver, Jamie Oliver, a Pastor (after seeing one speak at an infant Baptism) , a Boxer but today it was an engineer. "Why?" I asked

"So I can build a big building that people can live in. It will be shaped like a T-Rex and people will sleep in its head. Then there wil be a slide that goes down through its tail and people will get out through a hole at the end of the tail".

I wonder if there will ever be a demand for T-Rex apartment buildings.

Chracter: Growth and Faith

Finally starting to fell more secure and stronger in my "faith journey". I now only tend to fall or compromise when I'm angry, tired, under pressure or tempted.

Gratitude And Other Random Acts of Kindness

One thing I have learned is always be friendly to the bus driver when boarding or alighting a bus. A little friendliness or gratitude goes along way. As the bus route goes past our house but the stop is about 500m away - my wife can't believe how many times she hears the bus stop right in front of our house either to pick me up or drop me off. But sometimes a little genuine friendliness can get you some extra mileage - like tonight....

Left work about 7.00 tonight...caught the late train...waited for the late connecting bus - It was late...then jumped on the wrong (*non-christian sounding expletive*) one. I was the last one on the bus, before I realised I was on the wrong route (dark outside) then I asked the bus driver to drop me at the intersection of two main roads where I could walk home (about 3km).

Chatted to the guy for a few minutes and he then offered to go off his route and drop me about a 1.5km closer to home!

You know that I will never meet the guy again, but just feel indebted...not many people would put themselves out like that! I dont use religious language in every day speak (like "Praise the Lord") - in fact it makes my stomach turn - but after thanking him in a blokey-kind-of-way and then alighting the Bus and watching it drive away - I could not help but mutter under my breath an authentic "God Bless You Mate" - and genuinely meaning every single letter of it.

I trust he will reap what he has sown - A random, anonomous and unrewarded act of kindness.

Work Stuff: Delivery Just One Month Away

Things are pretty busy right now...lots of "pressure in the pipe" and aim to deliver our project on time. We enter the testing phase next week - the risky bit and we're still finalising development.

I have faith and confidence that we will deliver based on three things: 1) God 2) My Team 3) Our Partners and 4) Myself.

Funny how faith and confidence coupled with hard work, team work and delivering on time seems to keep food on the table.

Music: Chill

I must be getting older.

My tastes in music are increasingly becoming more and more "mellow". Increasingly attracted to a muic genre known as 'Chill' - Cafe Del Mar, and various compilations such as 'Coastal Chill' - which features artists such as Cold Play, David Bridie and George.

Chill may also may include some of Chris Rea's latest Jazzee Blue tunes. Or even some of the old instrumentals like Marisa played recently on her Blog like Henry Mancini's "Sally's Tomato" from "Breakfast at Tiffany's".

But "What exactly is Chill?"...I've tried to answer myself... It is something that few people can actually articulate. A google search has revealed a number of great descriptions:

"Uncomfortably cool".

"An absecnse of soul".

"Ambience".

"Chill Out Music is not a style of music, it is a fusion between several kinds of music. So you can find Chill Out in a lot of places".

From a composer - "We thought we were making psychedelic hippie music. No, it turns out it's for whisking eggs.''

"Down-tempo"

"Any genre-not-a-genre"

"Chill out isn't the same as ambient! Ambient can be moody, scary, paranoid etc, while chill out definitely can't".

"Chill out is somewhat reminiscent of pink floyd"
And my favourite:

"It's the sound of sunsets, of a spliff burning in your ashtray as you sit in your living, room, shades drawn, lights low, watching the red wine swirl in your glass. It's the sound, or soundtrack, to your life, or the life you want to have."

For me - 'Chill' can be anything that is dreamy and lazy.

Winter dinner party - red wine, lambshanks baked in curry and rosemary with sticky date pudding for dessert...then leaving the dishes for the morning. It's a Australian BBQ with friends - on warm summer night - comforted by knowing that Monday is a public holiday. Its no pressure. It's watching the lights from the night-time traffic through a window on a rainy night. Its a rainy Sunday morning reading the paper. Its a free hour in a good cafe. Its called Chill but it is warm as you're with your wife or with your friends. It's knowing you're alive and that life is good.

It's consiously being caught in a moment - appreciating God's gift of time alive.






Coastal Chill

Parenting: I'm Not Usually One For Pets...

Advertisement: Dog for free...

Quotes: On Unity

"Unity is the agreement not of minds but of wills,"
- Thomas Aquinas

Ocean Stuff: The Kelp Forests of Tasmania

The pressure is on. Recently having a baby my beautiful wife wants us to go to see her family in Tasmania during my holidays.
I loathe spending money - but one of my life goals is to dive the kelp forests of Tasmania before they dissappear. This may be my chance.
60 Minutes ran a great program on this topic last night.

"Join Charles Wooley on a fantastic trip into another world — a place of
amazing colour, extraordinary creatures and profound serenity. Charles has just
returned from the waters of south-eastern Tasmania, where he's had the unique
opportunity to swim through a great undersea forest of giant kelp that grows
only in our cold southern waters and which, until now, most Australians have
never seen. Unfortunately, it's one of those cases of not knowing what we've got
until it's gone. Having only just discovered this underwater wonderland, Charles
has learnt that it's fast disappearing — and worse, that there might be very
little we can do to save it"...

Its just another symptom of Global warming...



kelp

Politics: USA, Regime Change & Heroes

"Our loyalties must transend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means we must develop a world perspective".
Author: Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-68), African-American reverend, civil rights leader
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I spoke yesterday to my Aunt who now lives between New Jersey and Orlando Fl. A professional woman she met and married an American and emmigrated to USA about 5 years ago.

Recently she became an American citizen and it was quite an emotional event for her as it meant abdicating her primary loyaty to Australia. It got me thinking that while we can change citizenship there are about 5 key things we cannot naturally change 1) Our DNA 2) Our natural parents 3) Our Birth order 4) Our siblings 5) Our Country of Origin.

Once an Aussie always an Aussie - I reckon!

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She was also commenting on the US Election and she can now vote. Her vote will be given to George Bush. Well better George than )indirectly) Mike Moore - I believe. (Who in their right mind would want to give this man and ego boost through bringing down the Bush govt?)

I want to see Farenheit 911 - but its one movie I would not feel guilty about watching as a pirated copy on DVD....

I dont see Mike Moore as a hero at all as he profits too much from his cause (like Ray Martin and A Current Affair).

True heroes who bring about regime change are those like Jesus, Father Romero or Martin Luther King.

Ironically none profited from their cause - all seemed to die for it!