that's all stuff and nonsense

Yeah, I hate thinking about titles for these posts, so a line from a song will have to do. Anyway, just thought I'd do one of those entries where I actualy speak about what's happening.

It has been a lovely few days, was great to all be together for Christmas. We went to Matt's church on Christmas Eve which was great - the lesson focused on a few of the Old Testament prophecies about the coming Christ. (Hosea 11:1-4, Micah 5:1-5a, Isaiah 7:13-17 and Jeremiah 31:15-17). I've always been amazed (and comforted) about how many Old Testaments prophecies there are about Christ.

Boxing Day we went and saw The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, which we liked to varying degrees. As for me, I quite liked it, and am looking forward to going to seeing it and reading it with Fiona. She came down yesterday(which is great), and is staying with us until I have to go back to work on the 3rd. It will be great just having time to do very little.

I've also decided to start going to Barneys next year, which will be great. Over the past few months I have enjoyed the preaching and look forward to serving our God there.

Merry Christmas

I hope and pray that God has blessed you this Christmas. I'm currently down in Wollongong enjoying being together as a family.

I caught the editorial in the New York Times. It was a fascinating read, and in particular this quote stood out:

One of the reasons we love to hear the story of an old crank like Scrooge is that he seems to embody this cracked old world, made whole in one night by regret and repentance.

Before I go, let me again pray that God will open our eyes, ears and heart anew to story of Jesus, our saviour who came into the world to save His creation.

2005 in Review

This is a sport only entry, so feel free to skip. (There’s no penalty for missing it)

2005 - Year of the Penalty, and Fairy Tale – Arsenal, Liverpool, and Australian football fans rejoice as their ties are won on spot-kicks. (thanks Richard Hinds – SMH). Looking through the winners, it appears its time for me to remember not to make any bold predictions on sport.

The Sports story of the year is the end of Australia’s 32 absence from the Football Word Cup (though some might say after drawing Brazil, Japan and Croatia it may be a brief presence).

Other highlights of the year for me include:

- New Zealand – with the Netball, Rugby League, and Rugby Union teams all posting significant victories during the course of the year.
Honorable Mention (I): The Black Caps; who despite losing the series 2-1, managed to chase down 332 against Australia in a one day game.
- Liverpool’s comeback, trailing 0-3 to AC Milan.
- Sydney Swans – Given that I’m still not sure how Sydney beat Geelong to get to the Preliminary Final, I definitely am still surprised they are Premiers, not that I’ll complain.
- Wests Tigers – another fairytale – beating North Queensland in the Grand Final, after downing St George, and Parramatta respectively in their finals.
- It would be remiss of me to not mention the fact that England won the Ashes, In one of the more competitive series for some time.

Honorable Mention (II) – Chicago’s White Sox won the [World] Series; and Bangladesh beat Australia in Cricket; huh?

Year-End Lists

Not a lot happening really, sorry for the lack of updates. The past few weeks have mostly been spent at work. I’m [still] in the process of completing a travelogue, and will hope to post bits and pieces of that, along with some photos early in the New Year.

December usually means for me its time to review 2005. At present nominations for the Top 5 Albums of 2005 include:

Sigur Ros – Takk
Coldplay – X&Y
Bright Eyes – I’m Wide Awake it’s Morning and Digital Ash in a Digital Urn
Nichole Nordeman – Brave;
Switchfoot – Nothing is Sound, and
Jars of Clay – Redemption Songs

(A few others that I have, but haven’t listen too properly are: Third Day – Whereever you Are, Rebecca St James – If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something)

I’ve excluded She Will Have Her Way because it is a tribute to the song writing of Neil and Tim Finn by Australian and New Zealand artists. Other great albums I’ve bought this year, but not recorded in 2005:

Sarah Blasko – The Overscore and the Underscore
James Blunt – Back to Bedlam,
The Arcade Fire - Funeral,
Greenday – American Idiot
Sigur Ros – untitled or ( ) and Ageatis Byrjun.

A countdown of my favourite 10 Movies will also commence shortly. I’ve seen quite a number of films this year, some of which were silly, others serious, and still others challenging or confronting.

Good Night and Good Luck, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Shopgirl, Turtles Can Fly, In Her Shoes, The Motorcycle Diaries, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (which I think I saw an inappropriate number of times due to air travel), Little Fish, Downfall, Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith, Hotel Rwanda, Crash, Howl’s Moving Castle, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and Mr and Mrs Smith.

++

Unrelated, and definitely not with the same expectation and confidence as in 2003, my nomination for Australian of the Year is Judi Moylan: For displaying courage in her convictions, being willing to stand up or those who are weak and vulnerable in our society, perhaps risking her standing and credibility.

In Loving Memory of John Spencer

20 December 1946 - 16 December 2005

This guy's walking down the street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep he can't get out. A doctor passes by and the guy shouts up, 'Hey you. Can you help me out?' The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a priest comes along and the guy shouts up, 'Father, I'm down in this hole can you help me out?' The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a friend walks by, 'Hey, Joe, it's me can you help me out?' And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, 'Are you stupid? Now we're both down here.' The friend says, 'Yeah, but I've been down here before and I know the way out.'

A Sort of Homecoming

Well its hard to believe how fast the last four weeks has gone, and I am now home.

The trip in Brief:

• It was beautiful, wonderful, delightful to be met by my sister at Dublin Airport, staying with here there, and travelling around the States with her.
  
• London - "I've got a Shed that's bigger than this" - Loved seeing their Football, and The Woman in White. The biggest improver, quite liked it this time.
  
• I loved Washington, it feels very much like a film set in my mind, vivid recollections of West Wing, and the 1960s entailed while I was walking around the City.
• Miami, showed you the best and worse of America – poverty, riches, an enduring example of Rotisserie Evangelism and the classic tanning booth simply a block from the beach~!
• New York, instantly amazing, frustrating, yet strangely appealing
• Sigur Ros – a brilliant gig, in an amazing venue.
• U2, with my expectations it was always a danger I’d be disappointed, but the band seldom disappoint, and with two amazing sets, didn’t this time either. (the full band cover of Instant Karma, case and point)
  

And the amazing surprise when I got back was that I will be having Christmas with ALL of my family together in Australia.