More Links

Opening Address of the Sydney Writers Festival, by Andrew O'Hagan. Edited Extract, both via SMH.

Another reason to move to NZ. Here’s NZ’s ranking explained. More about the study, including the indicators used are here. It would seem that Australia’s involvement in non-UN missions is the main reason for its position (#25).

How to describe yourself using only the power of music?

Courtesy of: Wednesday Mix-Tape: In Five Songs Or Less.

We are the Beggars at the Foot of God’s Door – The Normals

And somehow we're made royalty with You,
Oh we of little faith, Oh You of stubborn grace

I find that the lyric of the song captures the reality of the Christian experience, and it is a reminder that it is only by grace that we’re saved.

I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – U2
I often think of this as a song of faith, not doubt. The restlessness of the words and the music, sit well with experience of the Christian, straining and striving to become more like Christ; longing for more people to know Christ's love, and yearning for the day when creation is restored, and there will be no more tears or sorrow.

Pokarekare Ana – Hayley Westenra
I am a New Zealander; I particularly love the country, its history and culture, and while I don’t think I’m likely to move back to New Zealand, I am quite ‘proud’ of NZ. Pokarekare Ana is a traditional Maori song, with beautiful words.

Light Gives Heat – Jars of Clay
I have been thinking about my choices for the list, and I wanted to include a song with perhaps more of a political tone. The song I've chosen is Light Gives Heat (by Jars of Clay). Jars of Clay established Blood:Water Mission, which is reaching out to those who are suffering from HIV-AIDS in Africa. Speaking personally, I believe there is much more I, perhaps, we can do here.

Travel
I saw these two pieces during the week which intrigued me.

League of top tourists.

I’ll be quite interested when the final list of the New Seven Wonders of the World is decided (does anyone know of the 7 Wonders of the Natural World).

Songs of Praise : Britain’s favourite Hymns

Courtesy of ABC TV

Lazy Sunday morning in Wollongong, and I’ve flicked on ABC’s Song of Praise, and they counted down their viewers favourite hymns.

10 Shine Jesus Shine
9 In Christ Alone
8 Guide Me Oh Thou Great Redeemer (Jehovah)
7 Make Me a Channel of Your Peace
6 Be Still, For the Presence of the Lord
5 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
4 Be Thou My Vision
3 The Day thou Gavest
2 Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
1 How Great Thou Art

Interesting list, but when we talked about it we wondered where is Abide With Me, Great is thy Faithfulness, And Can it Be, O For A Thousand Tongues and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, to name a few.

Watching this short countdown reminded me that there is a real treasure trove of great hymns that is worth looking through more than every now and again.

+++

I also stayed up last night to watch the F.A. Cup final, put simply, "great goal, boring game" [BBC]. Here's hoping the Champions League final this Thursday morning is a better game.

Mix Tape 1: Politics and the pulpit

I've done a play-list for my Politics and the Pulipit 'category'.

We are Nowhere and It’s Now – Bright Eyes // World on Fire – Sarah McLachlan (NB: You need Quicktime for the video) // Ashes of American Flags – Wilco // Lua – Bright Eyes //World Leader Pretend – R.E.M. // The New Wild West – Jewel // Crumbs from Your Table – U2 // Light Gives Heat – Jars of Clay // Please – U2 (MTV Music Awards – Live) // Wake Me Up When September Ends – Greenday // No Bravery – James Blunt // Hosea’s Wife – Brooke Fraser // Deeper Well – Emmylou Harris // What Your Grace Can Do – Clear // The Survivor – The Normals // Worlds Apart – Jars of Clay

Review: Brooke Fraser @ the basement (28 April 2007)

Been meaning to post this for a while, late last month Fi and I went (with Marty and friends) to see the New Zealand (no Australia, you can’t claim her~!!) singer-songwriter Brooke Fraser at The Basement. All in all, it was quite a enjoyable show, she wasn’t feeling too good; and said that if she ran off stage; it wasn’t us. The show was filmed for the ABC Live at the Basement series (I think its usually on about 11.30pm on Thursdays).

Brooke has quite a fresh stage presence, and was quite talkative on stage, I quite liked her comment about the fake ending (that is: the age-old routine, of going off stage; then getting the audience to make lots of noise before coming on again to play the songs you always intended to finish with). 

Her emotion filled comments before Albertine were quite moving and her performance sent a shiver up my spine. I also got a shiver when she sang Arithmetic, (which was sung by Karen during the signing of the register at our wedding).

As perhaps could be expected; there was a call to action before Albertine. She spoke about how perhaps, after going to Rwanda, she had never come back, and how likewise we had the power to make a difference.

There is a view that artists' “second CDs” tend to disappoint; to my mind, Albertine is a notable exception, growing on me each time I listen to it. The song-writing is the strength, and perhaps speaking more clearly about the Christian life than the her first CD. (I find the best examples to be: Shadowfeet, Love, Where is Your Fire?, and the C.S. Lewis Song). If you haven't yet, I would recommend checking out the CD, and (from what I’ve read) another tour (during August).

For those who are interested here is the setlist; most likely all the songs though not necessarily in the right order. 

Setlist:
// Deciphering Me // Lifeline // Love, Where is Your Fire? // Better // Seeds // Faithful // Hosea’s Wife // Without You // Hymn // CS Lewis Song // Albertine //
// Arithmetic // Shadowfeet //

Random Links

Five Seconds Ok ?!

The roots of ethnic violence
Samantha Power’s book A Problem From Hell, mentioned in the article, looks like it will interesting, but no doubt depressing reading.

Sport and Politics - update

I read on the SMH website this morning that the Australian Government has ordered that the Australian tour of Zimbabwe to be called off. It is encouraging to see the government take leadership on this issue.

Visitor ...

While posting my last post, we had a visitor on our balcony. He sat there quite contentedly (almost watching me), while I went looking for, and found my camera, then flew away to enjoy the beautiful day.





Anyway, that's all from me now. I'm off to visit some friends. It is nice to have a weekend with minimal plans, after a few quite busy (but enjoyable) weekends.

Sport and politics

In the news this week is the Australian Cricket team's tour to Zimbabwe. There are not many reasons why it should go ahead – irrespective of concerns about who will pay the fee (Given the situation, Australia could refuse to pay the fee?). Here are some comments from Henry Olonga (one of Zimabwe’s former players, who famously took the field with a black armband to protest against the government).

Governing is about leading, it would be good to see our government continue to show leadership on this issue (see this piece from The Australian).

I don’t think the decision should be left to the players to make. Ultimately the real losers in this are the young Zimbabwean Cricketers, which are already facing a badly funded and run association, and they will lose the chance to play an Australian team (perhaps minus a few of its key players).

In all honesty; Australia cancelling the tour is not really likely to cause active change in Zimbabwe; but by taking a moral stand it does draw international attention to an offensive regime.

+++

But as I write about the Australian Cricket team’s potential visit to Zimbabwe and the attention being drawn to one African regime; I find it quite sad that another African Regime in Sudan, almost escapes media attention (see my last post).

Puppies and psychology

An interesting piece in the New York Times this week: Save the Darfur Puppy. The Comments, and the article here, make interesting reading.

A few other interesting articles:
How Do You Solve a Crisis Like Darfur?
Car Washes And Genocide

Another musical challenge

I recently wrote a blog about making mix tapes, for those who want to submit playlists (that is: a list of songs), feel free to do so in the comments.
The playlists should be about 10-15 songs, and a few suggested themes are below. Maybe we can have a listening party sometime soon?

Politics and the pulpit
You’d have your political and perhaps protest songs here, or if the political sphere is not for you could also consider songs which belong in the church.

The Sad Sad songs
Compile a list of your favourite depressing songs; or the sad songs which cheer you up.

When I’m Gone
The songs you would like played at your funeral.

Lyrical Dreaming
In this one, I’m thinking the songs that contain your favourite lyrics.

Fresh / Old Tiners
Make a list of your favourite new songs, (new purchases or discoveries) or the songs you don’t grow tired of (your old faithfuls).

Like yesterday
Music is often a trigger to help us recall our memories. Create a list of songs which remind you of memorable moments in your life.

Love!?
The eternal theme, use anything here, you favourite love-songs; break-up songs, songs of longing.

Guilty Pleasures and Hidden Treasures
Songs which are your guilty pleasure; (songs that “you shouldn’t like”, but do) and the songs which you consider the undervalued gems in your collection (the Hidden treasures).

+++

I'll give you a chance to comment, then I'll post one of mine.