The choice is ours...

As I'm sure you are all aware, the Federal Election is on Saturday.

I have read a few pieces comparing each party's platform (from a 'Christian' perspective) and the links are below.

:: Australia votes [Australian Christian Lobby]

:: The Make Poverty History Report Card (This site focuses on issues relating to the Make Poverty History Campaign). [Thanks Byron].

:: Centre for an Ethical Society (about the CES)

:: Christian Values Checklist

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Personally of the above, I recommend the Australia Votes site, and the CES list above the Christian Values Checklist, simply because it compares the parties across a broader range of issues. There's a thread about the Christian Values Checklist worth a read here. I was intrigued that though the Green’s responded to the CES questionnaire they declined to respond to the one sent out by the ACL (see the ABC’s Religion Report transcripts of Nov 7 and Nov 14).

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This letter made me feel pretty sad; there's more here.

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I quite like the House of Reps calculator on the ABC Election site.

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[..] Another birthday

I was caught thinking this morning, that this time next week I’ll be celebrating my 30th birthday. Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying 30 is old (because its not); it just has sneaked up on me.

This time last year, I was preparing for my marriage to Fiona, our wedding was just over 11 months ago, and I cherish her companionship, friendship, and love as we continue to grow closer to our Lord, and each other.

This time 5 years ago, I was preparing to change churches, and move out of home for the first time (and did at the beginning of 2003), and this October, was six years at the SPRC.

This time 10 years ago, I was looking forward to seeing U2 live for the first time (and did in February 1998: their PopMart tour).

This time 15 years ago, I was settling into Australia, (we’d moved in 1990)

This time 20 years ago, well I can’t really remember anything of note (given I was 10);
though I’m looking forward to the reissue of The Joshua Tree this December. It should be noted that 20 years ago ... New Zealand were World Champions in something.

This time 25 years ago, I may have been [just] taller than my brother.

This time 30 years ago, my parents were in, or had just returned to NZ from, Canada. [what to me might have been a galaxy far far away?]

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This time next year… who knows what God’s got in store for us, but I do want to make the most of each day we have.

This time in 5 years … No; I actually don’t have a one, three, or five year plan; I never really had a list of things to do before I was thirty either, which I suppose is just as well now.

Blog-roll update

It has been a while since I’ve updated the daily reads section. I have been enjoying reading the below two blogs for a while.

:: To Live is Christ
I met George at the Staff and Post-Grads bible study group, and more recently at Word by Word.

:: Something this foggy day
I think I meet Alison in 2006 at Word by Word.

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I am now quite intrigued by Sarah Groves new CD, and the quote reminded me of the song Faith Enough, by Jars of Clay (from Who We Are Instead). I found this article quite fascinating (thanks Alison).

Contemporary Christian Music

I don't need to say that I am quite a fan of Andrew Osenga, (he was the lead singer of The Normals; now he has joined Caedmon’s Call, and he has recorded a number of solo CDs). On his site, at the beginning of the year, were two quite fascinating posts about 'Christian musicians', 'musicians who are Christians' and more broadly 'Christian Music'. I was intrigued because here was a Christian (musician), talking about the tension and relationship between the two.

The links the two posts are below, and I've elaborated on these a little below.
:: No Man’s Land :: No Man’s land II ::

[Bonus, Here's Harper's review The Morning. And while I hear Christian themes resonate through it, they are not overpowering, and its a treasure to listen to.]

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I found the posts (and comments) interesting, and I identified with a lot of the sentiments; because we often hear comments like “insert latest band name here” are a Christian band, or “x” have 'sold out' because they are trying to break into the secular market; or why does band "z" focus on playing for Christians; 'they're only preaching to the choir, don’t they remember we are called to be salt and light to the world'.

I wonder precisely what we expect 'Christian-musicians' to do with their gift – do we expect each song to be an 'sermon' or an exegesis of a passages; is there really a danger in singing parables - will people miss the point? (Is this the point of art - to communicate with those who hear?)

Personally I quite like the songs (stories) which are open to interpretation, and it’s the lyrics rather than the music which reach me. But that’s not to say I don’t like lyrics which are taken directly from the bible (eg. Third Day's Your Love oh Lord, taken from Ps. 36, I think).

Though, I am intrigued by the number of Christians who think so-called ‘Christian Music’ is, for want of a better word, daggy. Can someone quantify what makes it 'daggy'?