Good Friday - Easter Weekend.

At bible study last week we talked of our plans for the weekend. I have to confess that I am very glad that this is a four-day weekend. I am very glad for the break from work. And seriously, at this point it hasn't really entered into my mind _why_ we have this four days. I was not looking forward to Easter so that I might contemplate the reason for our hope.

:: Aside :: - Guan - a disease infected post is to come.. ;) :: End Aside ::

Deb posted a brief excerpt from an article that appeared in The Age during the week, about a church in Melbourne that was using an alternative worship styles to present the Easter Message. Thought I'd expand on my reflections a touch here, I think that there is perhaps some merit here - (IF, and only if it is framed properly)~ I think that emotion can play a valuable role in the expression and growth of our faith.

For example - the movie The Passion of the Christ, can provoke a deep a personal response to the death of Christ as an innocent. (Aside: If you were redoing the movie the Passion of the Christ - how would you emphasises the "spiritual/psychological" suffering of Christ to appease the Evangelicals?)

But there is a danger in not framing the emotional response, without giving a context, or a realisitic view of the struggles and pains of the Christian life?

Perhaps noone disputes that emotion can and should be used as servants, but if we are ruled, governed or lead solely by our emotion, this is a dangerous thing.

This was illustrated perhaps at the service I went to with my parents (at their church) this morning, didn't have a passage "preached on", or explained from the pulpit. John 19-20 was read, in stages. During the service, people came up to a wooden cross which had words - Hope, Joy, Faith, Love, and Peace, written on paper, and burned them, as they describes responses you could imagine the disciples would have had on that first Good Friday. I am sure that I couldn't sit through a service like this every Sunday, but I often think I need to hear the story afresh, anew, each Easter. Oh I intellectually know the story, but I think I need the Spirit to work that it might reasonate each year. That I would hear that wondrous story, that God became man, that God entered His creation and died, that we would not, as if for the first time.

Courtesy of the Sydney Morning Herald, some reflections on Easter, and Good Friday.

Hugh Mackay.

The Radical Challenge of Easter - Editorial Good Friday, 2005.

Some Verse

Been a while since I shared some poems. So here's one for you all. By way of background, I was sitting under a tree during the recent weekend away, a tree which perhaps I identified with a little.

the leaves, orange red,
tree, marks a heart,
weary, thirsty, frail.

Spirit.
faded, failing, futile threads.
plowing, pruning,
in season,
out of season, yeilds fruit
fruit, promises much, but brings tears.

on the waters edge, but parched
well fed, well nourished, the heart unsatisfied
the sheets won't stretch, the beds too small

oh for the stagnant stream to flow.
the dam is mine.

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The News in Brief

• No change really with work. Well I should say, that God is teaching me patience ... and that takes time.
  
• We recently had our Graduate (and Student) Bible Fellowship weekend away - great food (for the soul - thanks to our teachers, and study leaders, and body - thanks Haoran, and MD), great fellowship, and great fun (a particular thank you to among many the Scotish-Asian-Martin Luther - yes .. you did have to be there).
• I caught up with an old school friend over the weekend which was great. I can't believe I've been out of school for 10 years. And for those interested - Good Friday marks the 15th year since my family and I moved to Australia.
  
• My sister and I now have tickets to see U2 in Miami and New York (November this year).
  
• The Netball season starts after Easter, we had our first trial run on Thursday - and with a few prime draft picks, we expect to take each game a half at a time, and our season a week at a time, and give our all, win, lose, or draw.

Pain will follow Greed..

We are witnessing the first signs of the pain that will follow a decade of unprecedented greed and luxury fever in which large numbers of Australians have bet their futures in order to meet grossly inflated lifestyle expectations. They wanted it all and they wanted it straight away. This is illustrated by the fact that interest payments on household debt as a proportion of disposable income have now reached their highest level ever. ...

The Government will be under intense pressure to bail out wealthy households in financial difficulty, and it will be the prudent who will be forced to pay for the mistakes of the reckless. This should be resisted at all costs. Not only would it be profoundly unfair, it would send a message to the imprudent that government will save them from their mistakes and they are free to repeat them.

Clive Hamilton from today's Sydney Morning Herald.

The Motorcycle Diaries

went to the Dendy Monday night, and saw this film. Quite enjoyed it. But was left with a few questions.

I am not very familiar with Che Guerava. Never studied him in History, and haven’t read about him in leisure. The film gives a relatively sympathetic, positive view of his character. This is idealism? The film provides glimpses of the journey that would create a revolutionary. In particular, a resonating line for me was is it possible to feel nostalgia for a world you never knew.

Did Che betray his youth? What happened to the revolution he sought to create? Why are people passionate about him today?

Old Friends

Old Friends cannot be created out of hand. Nothing can match the treasure of common memories, of trials endured together, of quarrels and reconciliations and generous emotions. It is idle, having planted an acorn in the morning, to expect that afternoon to sit in the shade of the oak.

Wind, Sand and Stars, Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

A Shopping expedition

I went shopping after work tonight, mainly to buy presents from the staff for staff who are leaving. While I was having dinner, I saw this really awesome shirt. On it was written:

Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself. Ralph Waldo Emerson

I loved it!

While shopping I've found myself more books to read. There is a new book by Marion Maddox [God Under Howard: The Rise of the Religious Right in Australian Politics], which talks about the role of religion in Australian politics, particularly under Howard. Expect further thoughs from that. It was interesting in the last election how religion played a role similar to in American politics. With Howard, Costello, and Rudd we are seeing greater dialogue between the church members and the state. We are seeing more Christians speaking out, and this is worth a closer look. I also bought A Guide For Grown Ups: Essential Wisdom from the Collected Works of Antoine de Saint Exupery (the author of The Little Prince).

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It is always in the midst, in the epicentre, of your troubles that you find serenity

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Weekend fun ...

The weekend before last I went with Deborah and looked at the Lord of the Ring Exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, and met Ben and Lorien for dinner afterward. It was great to spend time with them.

Sunday, I went back to Wollongong to hear my brother preach. . Tuesday night I went back down to Wollongong to watch Les Miserables. (Inicidently, this will serve as a reminder, that October 8th 2005 is the Twentieth Anniversary of the premiere of the production). While I treasure the musical and the novel, I must say the musical was a touch dissappointing, I enjoyed hearing friends sing a few of the roles that mean alot to me.

Went to Bible Study on Wednesday night with some fellow graduates, we are looking at Galatians. Am in a bible study with Guan and Joe, and a few people from the netball team, which is great, I am really looking forward to spending more time being sharpened and encouraged by each of them as we study God’s word together.

Looking back, over the weekend I went the mountains to spend some time with a “few” other Godly men at MKC. It was great to spend time hearing great bible teaching, and particularly what it means to be a “man of God”. After my last post, found it refreshing that we had Vaughan Roberts, Sam Chan, and John Chapman, speaking to us on how we should look at “Work” as Christians. More thoughts to come from the convention.

The agenda for the next few weeks: I am going to Eskimo Joe [Feb 25]; Switchfoot [March 1], R.E.M. [March 31], maybe The Frames [March 30], and The Cat Empire [April 22].

If anyone’s interested in seeing The Frames, [Unfortunately it is a Wednesday night], or the second R.E.M. gig [Friday]. Let me know.

The Frames are kind of folk-rock-esque, if that means anything … maybe even an Irish type Radiohead? Apparently they got voted as the best live Irish Act. [Dethroning that small indie Irish band called U2, who’d won the previous twelve years].

This weekend was my third Sunday at Community Bible Church. Am feeling a touch better about it. I am getting to know the group a litte better, which is good.

Found this too, from one of Michael Leunig books, well worth a look.

God help us
If our world should grow dark
And there is no way of seeing or knowing
Grant us courage and trust
To touch and be touched
To find our way onwards
By feeling.
Amen

[When I talk to You – Michael Leunig]

At Work …

So, as I said I’d give work a separate post. It’s been a pretty busy start to the year. Work has been fairly hectic and am feeling a little swamped at the moment.

The SPRC where I work has undergone a little bit of staffing changes over the last few months, the acting business manager left, and the Office Manager resigned late last year. Recently we employed an acting Business Manager until our Business Manager returns from maternity leave.

But now, as the longest serving Admin person, all of the questions, and queries, come to me, which would be ok, if I actually knew anything to help. Its frustrating for him, and frustrating for me, as I am finding it hard to do my own job, but at the same time, I’m doing what needs to be done, and I guess that’s were the guilt comes in. The guilt also comes in as I feel frustrated that I’m getting asked the same questions after having already answered them, and in feeling that I’m not sure that I’m doing as much of my job as expected. A lot of the questions are process questions, and about parts of the process that I just don’t know.

Though late last week, we were doing a tender, and the acting business manager didn’t show up… which meant a lot of that work fell to me, and I got further behind on the other stuff I am paid to do. And we sent off another tender on Monday as well, which I was concerned about over the weekend.

So, I guess I just feel quite overwhelmed with the whole situation, but it is not really that bad I guess. Still, I don’t think I should feel guilty. I mean if its not my work, its not my area – even though I’ve been there as long as I have, if it doesn’t cross my desk, then I won’t know. But that doesn’t stop me from wishing I could be more helpful.

Ah well, that’s just the way it is for now.

On other fronts, I went to Community Bible Church for the first time, which was quite good. I knew a larger number of people who where attending there; the preaching was pretty much what I’m used to. I’ll keep you all posted about how it is going. Am also thinking about visiting Randwick Presbyterian and St Martins, to se what they are like. Seeing as I’m possibly only going to be there for a year (if I do enroll, and get into college).

Last night, I started going to the Graduate Bible Fellowship, and whatever happens with church I’m thinking it will be neat to keep going there. It’s a great group of people, and it will be heaps encouraging and challenging as we look into Paul’s letter to the Galatians.

And as for the rest of the week, not a lot happening, might head to Summer Fellowship tomorrow night, and for a BBQ at Stanwell on Saturday, and Wollongong for church on Sunday night as my brother is preaching again.

A tale of two movies

My week was bookended with trips to the movies, to see the new Audrey Tautou and Jean-Pierre Jeunet film A Very Long Engagement, and also one of the many new Jude Law movies Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

A Very Long Engagement

I was not really sure what to expect, but a colleague had recommended it to me. The film is the story of Mathilda (played by Audrey Tautou), who was engaged to be married to a soldier on the front line of the Battle of the Somme, Manech is one of five soldiers who were court martialed and condemned to be sent into no man’s land, each of the soldiers being guilty of self mutilation.

Mathilda explores what happened to her fiancée, with a determined optimism that he is alive, for if he was dead she would know. Through Mathilda’s optimistic, and hopeful search we learn of the indelible mark war leaves on all those who are touched by it. In the film, a few examples is the German women they met as they head out to the battlefield, and the one of the soldiers, who initially resented Mathilda’s search for Manech. After witnessing the horror of seeing his comrades blew to pieces, this is with little wonder.

The film presents a realistic view of what the trenches in World War One would have looked like, especially the recounting of why the five soldiers had been sent to no-mans-land and almost certain death. A colleague mentioned to me how the film shows us the front line during the war, and how everything was destroyed, all of life – and then we are taken to the same field later and the field is again alive – that land that was scarred experience rebirth. This contrast reminds me of the state of our world – we fallen in sin – are living in a world scared, cursed, and broken, but a world awaiting the blessings of life, of abundance, and redemption. The image is not as intense in this movie, but it is a reminder for me.

As the film winds to its conclusion and we see the strands of the various stories come together, perhaps strands that are times are hard to distinguish, we learn of another women chasing up the story, her course of action, vengeance. The two women, had two distinct responses to the news, both governed by love, one seeking to find and be reunited to her fiancée, while the other, focused on gaining vengeance on those who had a role in keeping these men’s presidential pardon secret, and who pulled the trigger to her partner.

I found the film excessively gruesome at times, in balance though it did a good job of highlighting what war is like, one of the soldiers, willing to allow his wife to bear child by another man so he would have a sixth child, and be sent home. The characters in the film were endearingly created, particularly Mathilda’s family, and their interplay with the postman is funny. I loved listening to the soundtrack, and hearing the dialogue in French as well. French is a beautiful language.

The end was beautifully done; it ended with hope, but at the same time it was not a totally resolution, it ended with Mathilda content just to ‘look at him’, in spite of his loss of memory.

A Very Long Engagement is a gem.

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Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

Decided to go to the movies on Saturday night with some friends from church. We settled, with reservations, on Sky Captain; which like Closer, and Alfie, features Jude Law. Basic premise of the film, a number of scientists have been going missing, Polly Percy [Gwyenth Paltrow], a journalist and Sky Captain, seek to find out what is happening, and of course defeat the mastermind behind it all. The sentence summary; spend your money elsewhere.

I found the action and dialogue was weak, wooden, and wearying; the plot felt predictable. The dialogue never really went anywhere, the arguments over whether Polly cut his fuel line, and the constant effort of Polly running back to get her camera, or decide she would wait to take her last picture grew to be tiring. Along with its predictability, the plot was filled with holes.

There was not really much in the film to endear it. It was akin to watching a comic book, with the film largely shot against a blue screen and relying on animation. And this didn’t really work for me. But if this intrigues you, it may be worth thinking about having a look. Though don’t expect a masterpiece. Gwyenth, Jude, and Angelina Jolie (her sum total screen time, is about as long as the time it takes to make a cup of coffee); could not save the film with their relatively ordinary acting. There’s no reason for an attraction between Sky Captain and Polly, or at least the script fails to create an emotional bond between he characters, and more problematically between the audiences and the characters.

Spend your money elsewhere.

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Wave Aid - The Tsunami Relief Concert (SCG)

Been an exciting week on a few fronts. I’ll leave work alone, because that deserves an entry all of its own. Let’s just say for now work is a source of stress, and guilt from stress. (I will come back to this).

I went out to Wave Aid on Saturday. I saw the list of bands when it came out, and just about had to pick up my jaw from the floor. It had an awesome line-up, almost a once-in-a-generation line-up.

The highlights for me:

The Finn Brothers
Yeah they played their hits, but singing Don’t Dream its Over, It’s Only Natural, and Throw Your Arms Around Me [by Hunters and Collectors], with close to 45 000 other voices was an amazing experience. It was just like, I think it is Joe's phrase, 'the group hug of the night'.

Powderfinger
First time I've heard them live, having just recently got into their music. They were awesome too. Fanning was awesome singing with ‘The Wrights’ too.

Midnight Oil
I only knew the choruses of some songs, but still it was great to see this Aussie icon, and my MP. Its hard to imagine Peter in a suit after seeing him dance (Aside: May just be me, but does his antics on stage remind anyone of Michael Stipe).

The Waifs
Not many of my group seem to rate them, but they were great. Hard to pick the words clearly but am definitely interested in hearing more from them. I think they play the Metro later this month, may be work a look.

But there was not a bad set amongst the bands, it was the most good-natured crowd that I’ve been apart of. For those who read the Herald, they’ll have known that Chuggie got a serve for the manner in which he ‘handled’ the crowd, and I’d sort of agree. It didn’t seem in keeping with the spirit of the night. Another slightly inappropriate part of the night, was the “camera operators” comments on the big screen urging women to flash, and that being followed by people around them trying to raise the girls tops. The camera operator should have stopped at that point.

I have to also say that I barely got burnt, and this is just as well as I have too often come into work sunburnt, which was probably why I was given Sun Screen for Christmas by my boss.

On Music again:
New in my CD player over December, January: Damien Rice, The Frames, Bright Eyes, and Dire Straits. I’ve borrowed CD’s from the Un Brothers, which have broadened my tastes: The Flaming Lips; The Eagles; Joni Mitchell; Sufjan Stevens; and Sunny Day Real Estate.

My broken spirit shouts, my mended heart cries out

see Psalm 25

Third Day
Hillsong – January 25 2005 (Support: Day of Fire / Rookie)

My Hope Is You
Come on Back to Me
Sing a Song
You are So Good to Me
These Thousand Hills
Come Together
Creed
God of Wonders
Love Song
I Believe
Thief
Show Me Your Glory
Took my Place
Consuming Fire
Blackbird
I Got a Feeling
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Your Love Oh Lord – You are So Good to Me

^^^

Well, I think it has been eight years, six albums since I first heard Third Day - last night was their second concert in Sydney. I went with a group from my old church in Wollongong, and was staggered with the number of people there I knew. (Most of whom I’ve not seen for some time, and were from my Mission). It is the words that have really drawn me to, and kept me interested in Third Day. On a number of their CD’s there lyrics are biblically based, for example they have written are number of songs based on passages of scripture, (Your Love Oh Lord; My Hope is You; You’re Everywhere), are a few examples.

Seeing we missed out on the first night (because it had sold out, before I knew it was on) we missed Audio Adrenaline, (I’ve not heard a whole lot of their studio stuff, but was interested in hearing them play live). We had Day of Fire, an American group, and Rookie (a band from Queensland). Was not impressed with Day of Fire, not really my style of music, the mix was too loud (maybe I’m getting old, but I felt that was an issue all night), as a result the words were lost. I found some of talking between songs theologically off. The singer talked a little about how Jesus wanted us to be victorious in life, and we could, and should overcome everything, victory = blessing = prosperity, and during he last song, he asked us to dance to drive the devil away, and claim the victory, found that really hard to handle.

Rookie, I found to be a touch better, clearer mix, and there were moments of fun, the singer connected with the audience a little better than Day of Fire. Their set included a cover of Hero (Enrique Iglesias). Though one band’s singer made the unfortunate mistake of calling Hillsong the praise and worship capital…

Then (quite soon) after Rookie, the lights went down, mist filled the arena, Third Day took the stage, and Mac Powell opened in prayer. (I liked that).

Overall impressions, I thought they were good. The band members were filled with energy and appeared delighted to be there. Mac Powell was quite talkative (his vocals are very reminiscent of the lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish), and talked a little about the songs, on the advice of Paul Coleman did the Aussie [Oi] thing, and then because it was Australia day they threatened to play the Aussie National Anthem, which turned out to actually be an AC/DC song, (which was halted quickly, with the quip, that he couldn’t sing it). The bond the band share was quite clear for all to see, even if Tai (the Bass Player) decided to try and become an Aussie citizen. But more importantly the band focused on the calling that God has given them, rather than their music or musical talent.

I have the usual fan gripes though, the setlist was a touch disappointing. I really enjoy Wire (the band’s latest album), and they only played two, possibly three, songs from it. I was delighted that we got to hear Thief, from their self-titled debut album, which remains one of my favourite songs. And there was of course the encouragement to participate as well, in the guise of trialing to hit the road with them. Both Mac, and the singer of Rookie, decided to climb on the speaker stacks (during their sets). Once Mac got up he wasn’t sure about how to get down. During I Got a Feeling, we got the members of both Day of Fire, and Rookie all come on stage to dance (read jump around together)

Kind of related to the concert, it was interesting looking at the way people responded to the music, and how the bands articulated their faith. I alluded to this earlier, but I found some of the theology off, probably more Pentecostal than what we are used to at Unichurch. Which lead me to wonder, what does it mean to share ones pulpit? Is there a big difference between what is preached to us, and what is sung?

Some of the comments between the songs were interesting; I found some of these comments alien or unnatural. Perhaps this is the product of a lack of knowledge on my part rather than error. Though to balance this off though Mac made a comment that made my night, he said that whatever we do, we are missionaries for the LORD. And that is at work, at school, on Sunday, through all of our lives. [See Ecclesiastes 9:10; Col 3:17)

In any event, it’s now my intent to spend a Sunday Night at Hillsong. I’ve got no place to comment without having been there, and I sure there are lessons we can learn by discussing with them their frameworks for ministry, perhaps with humility acknowledging that we have lessons to learn.

Library membership..

I mentioned that I went to the local library last weekend, I picked out the Martian Child to read, loosely based on other bits of writing I had seen of David Gerrold. Some brief thoughts on the book are below.

The Martian Child - David Gerrold

As I think about this book, I wonder if evangelicals would look at the book and focus on the fact that a homosexual man could adopt a child. Perhaps we should focus on this, but we should also see what lessons this teaches us. A child ignored by the world, a child maybe seen as too difficult, too damaged, and too challenging. A child needs a father, but more than a father a child needs love needs to be treated with compassion, concern and charity.

I don’t read this book as a morality tale, it is not telling me how I should live, it is not telling me to change the way I think, but it has raised the issues. Gerrold is communicating to me the story of how he raised his child. How he was able to adopt his son. It’s a realistic appraisal of his joys and struggles as he raised his Martian Child. The book is a delicate balance between autobiography and fiction.

The story recounts the emotional reactions of David as he goes through the process of adoption, how he falls in love with a picture of a child, and then as he adopts it realistically shows experiences between father and son, with an almost tender realism. Highlights are the moments where David talks with his son about adoption, the manner in which Dennis learns about jokes (particularly jokes about pickled mongoose).

The book has influenced me a touch, in a world with too many orphans, in a world with too many abused children, too many unwanted, unloved children, is it entirely appropriate to deny children a loving father. Perhaps this is a topic for another post?

I found the book an interesting read; while I am not sure that I agree with the foundations of the book, and that is a small issue. As I’ve read elsewhere, what we read, watch and listen too, do influence the manner in which we see the world. While this book has not changed what I feel, it certainly has challenged the way that I look at this.

Another point of interest was when David publicly disciplines his son in the store, and agro-grandmother appears … the concluding words a great lesson; “you have no right to interfere where you don’t know what’s going on…” I’m not so sure about interfering even where you do know what’s going on; but you would have to be sure, fairly sure, what is going on, to even consider interfering.

It is a good read, a challenging read, and a tender read. The story and characters are real, and for these reasons I do recommend, in spite of the differences of belief we may or may not have, it is a parable of fatherhood from which we should all be able to take lessons from.

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Oceans Twelve: Twelve is not the new Eleven

Ocean and his boys are back, with a new addition – Catherine Zeta Jones joins the cast as a love interest to Rusty. The movie tried too hard to recapture the feeling of Oceans Eleven. I was not a huge fan of Oceans Eleven. It was perhaps good at what it tried to do, clever in parts, but not really my cup of tea. What patience was tried with Ocean’s Eleven, found Ocean's Twelve too much to bear.

To me Catherine’s character did not add too much to the movie. Jokes about Oceans’ age, along with a look-a-like gag with Julia Roberts did not endear the film. The heist sequences especially paled in comparison to the first movie.

In reference to the plot, I found it relatively predictable; the two plot twists of the film were fairly easy to detect. For lovers of a good heist film, this is not the movie to sink your teeth into; have a look at the Ocean’s Eleven, or rent the Italian Job.

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Film of the Year:

Before Sunset

Commendations:
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Pieces of April, The Village, Goodbye Lenin (anyone: was this a cinema release during 2004), Garden State and Mean Girls.

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I reviewed Before Sunset earlier on the blog, While I was down in Wollongong we watched Before Sunrise, and one of the quotes that resonated then was ‘we are all each other's demons and angels’, and I think that’s what I like about all of the films I’ve selected on my list, they are films which reveal a little more about the human condition. They speak about who we are, and what we are like. I may not respond as the characters in any of these films, but [to some extent] the experiences I have and will have through my life are echoes of the drama of these films. And conversely, perhaps that’s why I don’t like Ocean's Twelve, none of the script resonated as closely with my experience, or perhaps what did, I found badly done. More to ponder here. What makes a good film for you??

Selective Mourning

Reading the Sunday paper this afternoon, found an interesting article today written by Hugh Mackay, which meshes beautifully with the cartoon earlier in the paper. In the cartoon we see a cricketer standing in front of the stumps, seen smashing balls all over the place, wearing a bib declaring “Tsunami Relief”, and behind the stumps the wicketkeeper “AIDS in Africa, Sudan Crisis [first slip] and Fallujah [second slip]”. The slippers are conversing – will this draw them into longer tests, or shorten their attention spans.

Mackay’s compares the response of the public to the tsunami in Asia, with the public response to the deaths of civilians in Iraq, and to that list I, like the cartoonist, would add the AIDS epidemic in Africa, and also the genocide in Darfur.

Mackay suggests that perhaps by enlarge the tsunami is seen by people to be an event that “just happened”, and perhaps something that we can relate to as we are beach-goers, many of the people who died were westerners. We have been silent on the damage from the waves in Africa, yes the damage may be minimal, but its been given no airtime. There is as Hugh Mackay asserts, a puzzling difference between the two, given that we are looking roughly 100 000 men, women and children who have died in Iraq (Yes, these are estimates). And the conservative estimates of those who will die from AIDS in Africa are staggering. To quote Hugh Mackay’s last paragraph:

Surely there is a link missing from the chain of moral argument that says I’ll be sympathetic and responsive to human suffering if no one is to blame, but I’ll keep my emotional distance if my own country has contributed to death and destruction on a large scale.

I was delighted to hear Tony Blair talk of his concern and focus on Africa. I also recall Bono who while you may or may not like his music, I feel he must be commended for the passion for Africa, relief of debt, and fighting AIDS. But it seems what struggled to have headlines in November can not buy a wisp of ink, air time at the moment.

Sunday was our National Day of Mourning. A day to focus on those who suffered because of the tidal wave, it is appropriate that we as a wealthy nation should be generous and give to our neighbors during their time of need. It’s not appropriate to make a league table and compare how much each nation gives.

How’s our attention span? Will the generosity that flowed to Asia, flow to the next global crisis that the media draws our attention too?

Shuffling the Deck ...

So, this is doing the rounds. Here's the rules ... select all your music library, and press shuffle and post the first 10 tracks. (No changes, substitutions, if it comes out, post it). So here's mine:

1. How Deep the Fathers Love - Skillet (Live Worship CD)
2. Whole Again - Jennifer Knapp [Kansas]
3. Don't Know Why - Norah Jones [Come Away With Me]
4. In A Little While - U2 [All That You Can't Leave Behind]
5. From Me to You - The Beatles [No. 1's]
6. I'm on My Way - The Proclaimers [Shrek Soundtrack]
7. Talk About Jesus - Tait [Empty]
8. Evenstar - Howard Shore [Composer, The Two Towers Soundtrack]
9. Daysleeper - R.E.M. [Up]
10. I Deserve - Third Day [Conspiracy Number Five]

Wow - this is an interesting list, while their are noticable absentee's, its a fair reflection of my tastes.

... 120 Songs

So... in today's Herald, it mentions an Apple I-Pod with memory for 120 Songs.

What would be on yours ... Your favourite 120 Songs. I'm going to think about it. Then I'll post my list. Would love to see what you all think... Email me your lists... (zeph318 [at] hotmail [dot] com).

The West Wing

It's writing like below that explains why I love The West Wing. It isn't that I agree with what's below. It expresses what people are thinking, what people feel. And the ironic thing about this soliqouy is that the President made it in the National Cathedral.

You're a son-of-a-bitch, you know that? She bought her first new car and you hit her with a drunk driver. What, was that supposed to be funny? "You can't conceive, nor can I, the appalling strangeness of the mercy of God," says Graham Greene. I don't know whose ass he was kissing there 'cause I think you're just vindictive. What was Josh Lyman? A warning shot? That was my son. What did I ever do to yours except praise his glory and praise his name? There's a tropical storm that gaining speed and power. They say we haven't had a storm this bad since you took out that tender ship of mine in the north Atlantic last year, 68 crew. Do you know what a tender ship does? Fixes the other ships. Doesn't even carry guns, just goes around, fixes the other ships and delivers the mail, that's all it can do. Gratias tibi ago, domine. Yes, I lied. It was a sin. I've committed many sins. Have I displeased you, you feckless thug? 3.8 million new jobs, that wasn't good? Bailed out Mexico, increased foreign trade, 30 million new acres of land for conservation, put Mendoza on the bench, we're not fighting a war, I've raised three children... that's not enough to buy me out of the doghouse? Haec credam a deo pio? A deo iusto? A deo scito? Cruciatus in crucem! Tuus in terra servus nuntius fui officium perfeci. Cruciatus in crucem. Eas in crucem! You get Hoynes.

[Translation from the Latin: Am I to believe those were the acts of a loving God? A just God? A wise God? To hell with your punishments! I was your servant on Earth - I spread Your word and did Your work. To hell with your punishments. To hell with you.]

One week on …

Well, its been a week since I’ve last posted. I’ve not really been up to too much since I last posted. I’ve now been back at work for a week. There is a degree of joy in returning to work. I spent Monday at the cricket, which was fun. The crowd was a touch rowdy, but it was good to spend some time with N, from Wollongong.

Since then, I enjoyed trivia on Tuesday night at one of the local pubs; Thursday night, it was movie night at my flat and we watched Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – beautiful film. Then I watched Pieces of April, and I also found that a moving film.

Today, I joined the local library. I borrowed The Martian Child, by David Gerrold. My brother is to be credited with this, as he has oft pointed me to Gerrold’s blog which has provided an insightful read at times. As did this book, its loosely based around his experiences in adopting a son as a single father. It is a moving story. I also borrowed another two books, one by Ravi Zacharias (A Shadow in Light of Jihad written after 9-11), and the other one about the history of the Australian Church.

Both should be very interesting reads, the latter providing some background for me as I think about looking at the decline of the church since 1971. The book details the influence of the Church on Australian History. The second edition was published in 2002, so it should be reasonably up to date, and the chapter on church and government will make interesting reading.

Oh, and its back to the pub tonight, for more Trivia.

Here's to the future ...

Happy New Year to you all!

Drawn From Still Waters Top 10 Albums for 2004
Number 1
Evermore – Dreams

Probably the most played, most lent, and most missed of these CD’s. Evermore are three brothers from NZ (all under 20). The CD holds together beautifully; musically and lyrically. Dreaming Pt. 1 and Its Too Late, combine for a brilliant start to the CD while Everyone (Moving on) is a great end to the album. On the CD the musicianship is tight, the melding of the keyboards, and guitars is excellent. There are wisps of Radiohead, Coldplay and U2. There is much promise in the band, and it will be worth hearing the band develop their distinctive sound. Evermore are my find of the year. I’m hoping to see Evermore live in the New Year. On the basis of Dreams as a debut offering, Evermore’s Dreams is my album of the year.

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The full list:
10: Air - Talkie Walkie
9: Mindy Smith - One Moment More
8: The Finn Brothers - Everyone is Here
7: U2 - How to Dismantle ...
6: Wilco - A Ghost is Born
5: Brooke Fraser - What to Do With Daylight?
4: Third Day - Wire
3: Interpol - Antics
2: R.E.M. - Around the Sun

1: Evermore - Dreams.

Coming Soon - top films of 2004

Drawn From Still Waters Top 10 Albums for 2004
Number 2
R.E.M. – Around the Sun

Striking sound, striking lyrics, and a striking theme make this CD a real gem. It may not blow you away the first time you hear it, but it will grow on you. Each time I listened to it, I found that it became a little dearer to me. It contains Stipe’s best lyrics for years and holds together beautifully. From the opening of Leaving New York, to the closing Around the Sun, R.E.M. created a document that for me summarises the years 2001-2004. I'm looking forward to seeing the band as they tour Australia in March 2005. See the review posted earlier in the year.

Drawn From Still Waters Top 10 Albums for 2004

Number 3
Interpol – Antics

Wow! That’s about it. The first time I listened to this CD I was in awe from start to finish. It is probably as close to a flawless album as I’ve heard this year. I’ve not quite managed to get into the lyrics enough as yet, but the musicianship is stunning. I was quite taken with this CD so I also bought their 2002 release Turn on the Bright Lights, they have been compared with Joy Division (I’ve not heard much of Joy Division), but Hands Away, and NYC are awesome, and from Antics, Exit, Evil, Narc, Take You on a Cruise and Slow Hands, are close to the best start of a CD I’ve heard. I read about Interpol on another friend’s website. For that I am quite thankful. Interpol, have a touch of Radiohead (from the Bends era) about them in sound and they share a bleakness of lyric. Perhaps not as much on Antics as on Turn on the Bright Lights.

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Yesterday while I was doing a bit of shopping I had a look at one of The OC Soundtracks. While I'm not shy in admitting that I'd not really be that keen on the show, I was staggered to see how many songs on the soundtrack I not only knew, but liked.

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Thought that I'd point out a few articles from the SMH that caught my eyes this week. Emily Maguire wrote a piece that echoes some of my feeling for this year

The frustration of it[ed: the talk on values] all is that, while our leaders are busy being horrified by disco remixes and secular school concerts, situations deserving of righteous outrage are ignored.

I've saved the article about movies and dates for future reference, should I need it. Today there is a piece about evil and the existance of God. Interested in reading tomorrow's paper now.

Drawn From Still Waters Top 10 Albums for 2004

Number 4
Third Day – Wire

Third Day continue to deliver great sounding southern rock with great insightful lyric. The CD has spent a substantial amount of time in my player through 2004. Lyrically I like this CD more than any of Third Day’s previous CDs. A number of the songs deal with being a rockstar and a Christian. Wire talks makes a striking comment about the bond between a Christian act and their fan base Oh it makes me wonder / what if I slip will they catch me / or watch me fall. Mark Lee is commenting that fame is like walking a tightrope. On Rockstar, [Powell] comments that even if he wants to be a Rock Star / he [doesn’t] have what it takes, but it doesn’t matter, because to you [I’m reading God here] he’s so much more. Other standouts are: You Are Mine [Perhaps of God’s Love], It’s a Shame [A sad song about a relationship gone wrong – you left her without leaving / you hit her without swinging], and Blind:

The more I look the more I find / You’ve led me to the truth / … / You took my heart and changed it / with your words of life / You took my eyes and opened them / And gave me sight

I am seeing them in concert in Sydney, which should be great. For fans from their first self titled CD, they will find a very similar sound to their first CD.

when words seem trite ...

It's weeks like this that really shake your faith. Knowledge of our sovergein God makes things harder not easier. 60 000 lives, a large number of these children, why? We can lay blame, we can say in this comes good, but why? Our news leads with Australians missing, and focus on a footballer. Why?

I'm not in a space to say please pray yet. My heart is out of line with my head at this point. The poem below is a lame attempt to put my heart into words.

Light a Prayer

Light a candle, say a prayer
And shed a tear for this world today
Lives swept away with the oceans tide
Hard to see the news today

Oceans apart from the tide
Can’t find the words today
Light a candle for the lives washed away
Spend a moment to pray, a moments silence on other fields

Faith swept aside by the oceans tide
My heart cries, why?
Our sea an eerie glass,
A new respect is found

Light a candle, shed a tear
another tide, of mercy, and love.
Wash away our apathy;
Restore our compassion

December 28, 2004

Drawn From Still Waters Top 10 Albums for 2004
Number 5
Brooke Fraser – What to do with Daylight

A singer-songwriter from NZ, made it into the spotlight through supporting John Mayer during his Australian tour. I read the lyric to Arithmetic on another friend’s blog, I then went to HMV’s website read a little more about the CD. Most of the comments were very favourable. My Brother gave me the CD for my birthday; a week later I went and saw her live. The concert was awesome [I must post the review], and showed a stronger voice than on the CD. I was also impressed with how open Brooke was, and how she spent time after the show talking with her fans. I get the feeling the Brooke is destined for bigger things. Her lyrics are great, and speak to me.

Wake up feeling convicted / I know something’s not right / reacquaint my knees with the carpet

and

When the years are showing on my face / And my strongest days are done / when my heart and flesh depart my place / from a life that sung your song / You’ll still be the one I want

are two examples. In places her vocal recalls to mind Jewel, Norah Jones, or Sarah McLachlan. I am very interested in hearing more from her.

.. passed the point of no return .. no looking back now.

**Limited Spoilers**

Went and saw The Phantom of the Opera yesterday. First impressions; the singing was brilliant, Emily Rossum sang the role of Christine beautifully, as did Patrick Wilson and Gerald Bulter the roles of Roaul and the Phantom respectively. Discussions with the family on the way home concerning the sympathy the audience may, or may not feel for the Phantom (For my part I believe they did this really well; one scene in particular within which the Phantom destroys a rose crying). We also commented that it was a freer medium to use, as you are able to play with more sets. The costumes and sets where fantastic. It’s a risky thing translating a well-loved musical from the stage to the screen. Chances are if you mentioned the Phantom to people they would think of Michael Crawford and/or Sarah Brightman, so anyone singing that role is going to be compared to him; Gerald Butler and the cast have risen to the task.

The highlights of the film were also the transitions from the present back to the past. They were spell-binding; you’ll have to see the film to see what I mean. The final fadeout shot of the movie is absolutely fantastic. The costumes, and the stage direction were also brilliant, Masquarade was choreographed beautifully. Highlights of the singing for mine where Angel of Music, Think of Me, Wishing you Were Somehow Here Again and the Point of No Return and Notes, as were the standards (Music of the Night, All I Ask of You, and Phantom of the Opera)

Yeah I did really love the film. It’s been a while since I saw the musical; I remember bits and pieces as we all did. It was also fun to go to the movies with my parents as we’ve done that over the past three years (for the Lord of the Rings movies) so its kind of nice to keep doing it, will see what’s on this time next year.

The movie reminded me how good the musical is. Next stop, finding and reading the novel.

.. Resume countdown

I trust that you had a blessed day with family and friends, and are recovering well from eating too much, sleeping too little, and being spoilt rotten ;). I had a great day saw family on Christmas Day, and then yesterday down to vist friends in Figtree. Much fun had by all.

So.. lets catch up on the countdown.

Drawn From Still Waters Top 10 Albums for 2004
Number 8
The Finn Brothers – Everyone is Here

Finally bought this when I read the lyrics of A Life Between Us, posted on Deborah’s blog. I’ve been a big fan of Neil Finn for sometime. Anytime I’m asked for my favourite lyricists of all time Neil and Tim Finn are on the list. Along with A Life Between Us, other standout tracks are Won’t Give In and Homesick. The chorus of Homesick: Homesick for the people that I live with / Homesick for the spirit that I’m missing / Homesick for the country that I’m living in, really grabs me. Along with Neil and Tim Finn’s voice, it was their song-writing that drew me to Crowded House.

Number 7
U2 – How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

It continues to grow on me. I’m intrigued now as I wait for the tour, and hearing what songs will be played live. My favourite tracks on the CD are City of Blinding Lights, Crumbs from Your Table, One Step Closer. I’m reminded of The Unforgettable Fire, when I listen to the CD.

Number 6
Wilco – A Ghost is Born

Another grower. Probably less consistent than Evermore and R.E.M., but this CD has its own distinctive flavour. On each listen there are more discoveries awaiting you. I love the lyric of Less Than You Think, the track also features 12 minutes or distorted noise (which detracts a little from the CD). Perhaps this is the band daring their audience to skip forward. During the CD, I’ve also at times just stopped to listen. I discovered Wilco via the Murmurs [R.E.M. fan] board.

the 5.36

Here's another quick poem. Karen may recognise it. This one was written while I was commuting to Sydney, late 2001.

blank stoney faces
silence shaken by piercing rings,
calls of "I'm on the 5.36.."
we remain silently anonymous,
in the midst of a moving crowd.

rustling pages
filled with yesterdays news
best sellers turning,
music filters from earphones,
silence dominates

going home?
the day plays back
weary hearts, and weary souls led home
minds realising the 5.36 comes to soon.

Drawn From Still Waters Top 10 Albums of 2004

Number 9
Mindy Smith – One Moment More
A recommendation from a friend in a Rebecca St James chat-room I moderate. Mindy Smith cover of Dolly Parton’s Jolene is stunning. Mindy has a strong clear voice, and has written the majority of the tracks on this CD too. I look forward to hearing more from her in future. Standout tracks: Jolene, Angel Doves, Fighting for it All. Took a while to find this CD, HMV had it in their country section. Now, don't hold that against me ;).

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May you all have a special day tomorrow, with family and friends, but more importantly, may we all be struck afresh of how God sent Jesus into the world, to took our place, by his death.

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Isaiah 9:6-7
Matthew 1:18-24
Hebrews 2:14-18

Carols at St Andrews

I went to the TBT's Carol's service last Sunday night. The lesson was interesting, he [being the infamous Dean of Sydney] titled his talk What are you looking for this Christmas?. In the lesson he contrasted the search of the Wise Men, and Herod. The wise men search to find the child to worship him. Herod search for the same child, to remove him. [From Matthew 2]

One of the striking comments made was as Philip described a picture, the picture was of a gentleman reading a story to children. The children where enraptured as he engaged with them. This is a picture of humanity. Glancing again at the picture, the man, is Adolf Hitler.

We are have the capacity for good and evil, one difference is simply the stage we are acting on.

Inpsite of moments in the sermon which I found intriguing, on the whole it was difficult to engage with the service. One of the reasons for this was during the intro to the service, the leader made comment to the song I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For. Perhaps it was this comment that threw me. I've (perhaps wrongly), seen I Still Haven't Found as a song from faith, not a song of doubt. There is a restlessness in the Christian walk, we're not looking for another answer, we're looking to be, to become what God has made us to be.

The Drawn From Still Waters Top Ten Albums of 2004

Between now and New Year's Day, I'll gradually post my favourite Albums. Today I'll begin with the honourable mentions, and number 10.

Norah Jones – Feels Like Home
A great follow up from Come Away With Me. Probably has less standout tracks, but Humble Me and Sunrise are two great tracks. Norah still does have an incredible voice.

Alanis Morrisette – So Called Chaos
Far less antsy than anything she’s recorded before. The songs are as intense as on any of her other records. Everything stands out, as does This Grudge [and those two songs are reason enough to buy the CD]. Musically this is also a little mellower than her previous CD’s.

The Frames - Burn the Maps
The most recent of my 2004 CD Purchases. Probably deserves to be higher, but seeing I've not really listened to much, its an honourable mention. Like many of the CD's on the list, this is a recommendation from the U2 website. The Frames are, I think, from Ireland. Kinda what I'd loosely describe as folk rock.

Number 10
Air - Talkie Walkie
My first contact with Air was through the soundtrack of Lost in Translation. I think it is Alone in Kyoto in the movie? They have quite a beaut sound. After reading of Joe, and Deb's fondness, I decided that I'd buy the CD, and after the first few listens I was taken by Mike Mills as well.

An Ode to 2004.. [precursor to the Christmas letter/blog entry]

In another 10 or so days we say goodbye to 2004. Memories of the year are haunted with tears; both tears of joy, and sadness.

I’d like to say that I know myself a little better now than on January 1. I know that 2004 will end differently to how it began. My usual journey to Beach Mission on December 27 will not occur. I will not be having a day off on New Year’s Day. In fact for the first time in seven years, I will actually see my parents on New Year’s Eve.

This is bittersweet.

I’m not sure that I’ve fully realised that mission will not be on this year. Last year mission was totally blessed. We had a great small team of dedicated Christian’s, God united us; God blessed us with children, and teenagers and adults who heard the gospel, perhaps for the first time. This is an awesome thing.

I will miss the fellowship with my brothers and sisters. Hmm maybe God closed this door for a reason. Maybe God will bring a new team there next year with a passion and enthusiasm to see to Gospel proclaimed. Still I can’t help but wonder if we treasured the opportunity we were given enough. People moved on, people move on every year, but we never really seemed to see more people join. I don’t know..

This would possibly have been my last mission at Fairy Meadow, having been there for 7 years, I thought one more than a break would be wise. So, maybe in the mix of this disappointment there is the kernel of belief that God maybe was telling me in the midst of all else to take a year to restore my relationship with Him. Draw deep encouragement and strength from Him over the week’s break that I have. And given the pace of the last half of the year a break over Christmas is welcome.

It has been a stressful year in relation to work too. We’ve seen a lot of staffing changes of the last three years. Come to think of it, we’ve had two Office Managers; two Business Managers, a number of senior staff come in, and go out of the doors. The New Year brings us to a new chapter; we’ll have a new Deputy (read Acting) Director, a large conference and a move to look forward to. I think it’ll be about August when I can come up for air.

And in this period of change at work, I’ll also be changing churches. Stability will be here in the form of home. I’ll be living with the G-Men for the year ahead. There’s a lot to be thankful there. In so many ways they do give me a homely feel. I argue with them, like I argue with my brother, we push each other to think. And I like that.

In relation to church; I’ve not really thought through where I’ll be going. I’m going to try out a couple, and see what they are like. I have been thinking of leaving for a while, and decided basically because though I have a lot to learn from those younger, I also have a desire to be with peers. Be with people who share my faith, and who have been going through the work related issues that I have this year. Next year, I’m heading toward 28, and those who will start going to church will be heading to 19. That’s 9-10 years difference, and that seems like a big gap.

And I guess I am also looking for a less transient church as well. And on the other hand, if I end up going to either SMBC, or Moore College in 2006, I’ll be moving and changing churches then as well. So this will either be for one or two years…

As for what I’ve been up to; trying to spend time with friends from Sydney, and friends from Wollongong. Last Sunday, I spent an awesome Sunday afternoon with one of my friends from NZ, who was visiting Australia with her husband. It was very precious time. I had coffee with them both as they left the country as well. God blesses us with friends who nurse our soul, challenge us to look to Him. These two S + U are like this for me. I treasure the time I have spent with them. S’s family and mine are good friends, well no, actually they are as family.

Over this weekend, I came down to watch the Extended LOTR films, all of them. We started Friday, and finished mid afternoon Saturday. Sunday was our Carol Service [Reflections to come..] Now there's three more days before a break that I am day by day looking forward too more and more. Though, need to say here, perhaps the standard line, that it doesn't feel like Christmas.

Next week I hope to blog reflections upon the year; some general, some on the topic of music, and film. Here are some nominations for album of the year [it’s been an excellent year for Music don’t you think, (yeah I really do think …)]

Air Talkie Walkie,
Evermore Dreams,
The Finn Brothers Everyone is Here,
The Frames Burn the Maps,
Brooke Fraser What to Do with Daylight,
Interpol Antics,
Norah Jones Feels Like Home,
Alanis Morrisette So-called Chaos,
R.E.M. Around the Sun,
Mindy Smith One Moment More,
Third Day Wire,
U2 How to Dismantle… and
Wilco A Ghost is Born.

CD’s bought that are ineligible (i.e. Live, or Best of’s):
Pearl Jam Rearviewmirror [Best of]
Aimee Mann Live at the St. Ann's Warehouse [Live, CD+DVD]
Sarah McLachlan Afterglow Live [Live, CD+DVD] and
Powderfinger These Days [Live]

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Dismantling a 21st Century Psalm

U2 // How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb [Universal]

One of the most eagerly anticipated releases for 2004, U2’s How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb was released last month. It’s been in my player for a fair proportion of the week, so I thought that the time was ripe to post some thoughts on the CD.

The impression that is resonating in my head at the moment is of the CD as a Psalm. Bono [who has written the majority of the CD’s 11 tracks], moves us through the feeling of disorientation in Vertigo, (beautifully highlighted in the video clip), through to Yahweh, which seems to provide closure. The CD deals with themes of death, love, peace.

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is close to, if not the most personal and honest song-writing Bono has done. The earnest, sincere heart of the band is out on its sleeve I feel How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is U2’s most consistent CD in terms of song writing. On the whole I would say though some lyrics seem forced the CD is still impressively strong. Finally Dismantle has more religious imagery [highlighted in the book provided with the Limited Edition] than most of their back catalogue. How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is arguably U2’s most spiritual record or perhaps second only to October. I also think the song writing is more open to interpretation than the 2000 offering, All That You Can’t Leave Behind, (although some songs were given new meaning during the 2001 Elevation Tour).

The CD features a number of beautifully moving songs – Sometimes You Can’t Make It … (they should rename this one Tough), City of Blinding Lights, One Step Closer and Crumbs From Your Table. Crumbs moves me a little more each time I hear it. I think in this song I’m hearing a plea to a church that has the capacity to do some much more, but fail to give even the crumbs from our tables. Another way to look at the song is a letter to the first world from the so-called third world. The chorus is one of the more gut wrenching in U2’s catalogue. From whatever angle you look at this song, it’s a killer, and the outro, wow. A Man and a Woman is another typically U2 love song, with the protagonist of the song, valuing love, over romance.

The CD has been strongly growing on me since the first listen. On each subsequent listen my appreciation of the musicianship and the chemistry of the band has grown – last time it was the piercing guitar in Love and Peace or Else, which must be an audio illusion to a bullet ripping the sky [Vertigo], realising The Edge sings a bit of Miracle Drug (beneath the noise, below the din), and one of the moments of the record is Bono’s beautiful emotionally charged ‘Sing you are the reason I sing’ from Sometimes You Can’t Make it On Your Own, a song Bono wrote for his father [along with One Step Closer].

And the CD finds its climax in the concluding line of Yahweh - Take this heart … and make it break. Only through the breaking of our hearts do we realise we are alive, do we know of our compassion - and concern, the breaking of who we are, to consider more than we are, to rebuild ourselves. Bono on this record has beared his soul. Dismantling the Atomic Bomb, is dismantling ourselves, dismantling what we value, dismantling what we have, and reassembling our attitude to the world. For as flashed across the screens of Zoo TV: It’s your world, you can change it; or as Gandhi said, (quoted on the booklet) ‘Be the change you want to see in the world’.

As to where the CD fit into their body of work? I definitely feel the songs on this CD will not age, and will be considered as good in 5-10 years as now, and this deserves to be considered alongside The Joshua Tree, and Achtung Baby as U2’s masterpiece.

these songs are in my eyes [and through my heart],
you’ll see them when I smile.

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.. and friends are friends forever if the Lord's the Lord of them

It has been an emotional couple of days. One thing I've learnt from my time working in a University environment, it is the transient nature. Particularly seeing as I not only work there, but have also been spending going to church there.

This, like each November is quite hard. Once exams have finished, the students gradually leave the Uni heading back to their families. While a proportion will be coming back to finish their degree, another number move on, graduating from Uni and seeking to find work in their chosen feild, and settle down into a different church.

Over the past few Sundays its been time to say, our temporary goodbyes. Last night we had a farewell for J who is leaving to head home to Singapore. It has hard to hold in tension, the knowledge that in our Fathers House we will meet again, and that there is a break of relationship.

Each of the students of Unichurch have encouraged me no end, as they continue to strive to live Godly lives, and also highlighted my own fallenness and how far I have stumbled. I thank God for each of them, and will hold them in my heart, knowing that in God's plan we will be gathered together, and share eternity with our saviour, creator and Lord.

Yesterday afternoon was also an interesting experience, out of the blue, I had a call from one of the teachers at the school I was taught at in 2001. The then Year 9's had inquired if I was attending their formal. I do have to admit that I was touched by that, unfortunately, I'm not able to go.

My thoughts since have wondered back to that year, and the struggle that I had with teaching a number of them. I wonder what they are like now, I am sure that God has continued to work His will in their lives, and that they have developed into people the school and our community can be proud of.

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Changing tack, following on from Joe's blog, I thought I'd list the CD's I've bought, listened to over November.

Interpol: Antics, Turn on the Bright Lights
Brooke Fraser: What to Do With Daylight
Wilco: A Ghost is Born
Powderfinger: These Days [Live]
R.E.M. – Reckoning, Reconstruction of the Fables, Lifes Rich Pageant
Air – Talkie Walkie
U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

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Song of the moment

Crumbs From Your Table - U2

From the brightest star
Comes the blackest hole
You had so much to offer
Why did you offer your soul?
I was there for you baby
When you needed my help
Would you deny for others
What you demand for yourself?

Cool down mama, cool off
Cool down mama, cool off

You speak of signs and wonders
I need something other
I would believe if I was able
But I'm waiting on the crumbs from your table

You were pretty as a picture
It was all there to see
Then your face caught up with your psychology
With a mouth full of teeth
You ate all your friends
And you broke every heart thinking every heart mends

You speak of signs and wonders
But I need something other
I would believe if I was able
But I'm waiting on the crumbs from your table

Where you live should not decide
Whether you live or whether you die
Three to a bed
Sister Ann, she said
Dignity passes by

And you speak of signs and wonders
But I need something other
I would believe if I was able
I'm waiting on the crumbs from your table

Words: [Bono] Music: [U2]

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Am posting this authored by my sister :)

Friday 15 October 2004: In the City of Blinding Lights

It was one of those typical Friday afternoons at work (in the office in East London), when you sit there counting down the minutes until 5.30 pm and the
weekend. I was idly checking my e-mails, when I found one from Duncan (my brother in Australia) saying that U2 were rumoured to be playing live in a carpark at the BBC studios at White City that evening, as part of the weekly Top of the Pops Programme.

Initially sceptical, I searched the net for confirmation, wondering if there was any substance to the rumour. But when I mentioned it to a colleague, she said she'd heard about it on the radio that morning.

That was sufficient grounds on which to race off after work, through the rain, to the other side of London. I was a bit dubious as to whether I'd even be able to get into the area, given what I'd heard about previous spontaneous live U2 performances. But I couldn't not try. And I couldn't believe my luck when I found myself three rows back from the front of the crowd waiting outside the gate of the carpark, peering at the stage through the bars, and (later) irritably asking the security guards inside to move when they blocked our view. We watched as those who'd been fortunate enough to win tickets to the event entered the compound. One section of the crowd tried starting up a chorus of 'I will sing ... sing a new song', but unfortuantely, despite its appropriateness, few of us ended up joining in. So we waited in relative silence (except for those desperately trying to hook up with friends on their mobile phones).

And then U2 came out. I couldn't believe how good a view we had! Bono joked that it was nice of the BBC to put on the rain for them. They launched into Vertigo and All Because of You, Bono working in some improvised 'BBC live' bits on a couple of occasions. Then he asked if we wanted them to rehearse some more. You can imagine what we said to that. After emphasising that this was the first time that these songs had been heard (live), he lead the band in the beautiful City of Blinding Lights. And then his exit line clarified to a crowd unable to believe its good luck that this had indeed just been a rehearsal, and that they would be back shortly to do the live performance.

Waiting in the rain a bit more was a small price to pay for that. When he came out again Bono made some tardis, 'exterminate pop music', joke, and then they launched (again) into Vertigo and All Because of You. Then we got about a stanza or so each of Desire and Mystery Girl [Bono being applauded when he held a particularly high note]. Bono told the Roy Orbison/Wembley story (although I couldn't really hear it), and then introduced City of Blinding Lights. He said it was about coming to New York and/or London as a kid, and about how innocence was worth so much more than experience. Coughing as he said this, he added some comment about how smoking 40 a day doesn't help. Then he talked of performing in the States after September 11, and the lights, and the sometimes tear-streaked, sometimes smiling and laughing faces of the audience, and how moved he'd been. It sounds like City of Blinding Lights is about all of this. It was certainly a very moving performance. I think the combination of his evocative description, the lyrics (e.g., 'What happened to the beauty inside of me?'), the beauty of the music (this was definitely my favourite of the new songs), and the magic of being here at this particular moment in time combined to leave me quite teary! Very moving.

It was great looking up at all the BBC employees on their balconies, hanging back at at work on a Friday evening so that they could be part of it too! Bono bade us farewell by telling us he'd see us next year. I couldn't work out what he said next to make the crowd crack up so much. But when I surfed the net at work on Monday morning, trying to relive the moment, it turns out that he'd forecasted (very plausibly, unfortunately) that it would still be raining!

I think the emotion that predominated on all the reviews I've read is one of pure and simple disbelief. None of us who were there seem to be able to come to terms with the fact that we wandered five minutes from a London tube station to stand outside a carpark for perhaps the best gig of the year - and didn't have to pay a single p for it!!!

And I'm still hugely amused that it was my brother in Australia who was the one to tell me about a U2 gig in London. But thank goodness he did! Just wish he and my Aussie friends had been there to share it with me!

***

'Some things you shouldn't get too good at Like smiling, crying and celebrity'

I might as well say it, I see it, I feel it, this town is going wrong, its turning away

Boy in the Well [Around the Sun – R.E.M, Warner]

**** [out of four]

Haunting melodies, jangling guitars and indecipherable lyrics brings my mind one of the more influential bands of the modern era – the three-piece from Athens, Georgia R.E.M. Michael Stipe is no stranger to the political scene a quick tour through their catalogue reveals songs about Vietnam, the indigenous rights and American Foreign Policy. Indeed one of my favourite lines underscores the topic of this CD – Let’s put our heads together, and start a new country up (Cuyahoga) – and R.E.M. was one band among many touring the United States with a concert promoting the candidacy of Senator John Kerry for the President of the United States.

Many of the songs from Around the Sun draw their inspiration from this theme, dealing with topics from Michael’s response to 9-11, or perhaps a personal letter to America following 9-11 [Leaving New York], the War in Iraq, and more generally the attitude of the Bush Administration in general, Stipe perhaps taking particular issue with the Administration’s refusal to sign the Kyoto Protocol?

On the CD, a number of tracks take the listeners mind to the military action launched against Iraq; in The Outsiders Stipe echoes the words of Bush; Either you are with us or you are with the Terrorists, Stipe adds his thoughts that this is perhaps too simple. On Final Straw, Stipe asks ‘look me in the eye, tell me why’. High Speed Train, Stipe, wants to go to Berlin, Kyoto or Marsielle –no doubt there is a message there for Bush. Boy in the Well again makes reference the direction his country is headed.

But for me – perhaps the saddest line is in Make it All Okay where Stipe is recounts a meeting with (it seems) a believer and in repeated lines says, Jesus love’s me fine, but His words fall flat this time, and then

If you offered me your world, did you think I’d really stay?
If you offered me the heavens, I would have to turn away.
Was it my imagination, or did I hear you say.
We don’t have a prayer between us.

Another line that stands out, a perhaps more so after our recent election – was ‘everyone is humming a song I don’t understand’.

Around the Sun is one of the stronger CD’s that R.E.M. has put out for some time. I have found with each listen the CD is grows on me a little more. Indeed given the re-election of Bush the CD has developed a new lease of life. R.E.M., tour Australia early next year, and now we know that George Bush has been re-elected it will be interesting to see how the set-lists change as the band works through their tour.

Postscript: I'm staggered by the number of reviews for the new U2 CD that have criticised R.E.M. I believe Around the Sun to be not only one of R.E.M's finer, but one of 2004's finer releases (now there's a topic for a new entry - The Drawn From Still Water Top 10 CD's for 2004), and I am disappointed by the reaction of the majority of reviewers to the R.E.M. CD.

Weekend Reflections: Let's not mention the Cricket

Moving on. The highlight of the whole weekend was going to HMV’s midnight opening to buy the new U2 CD, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, with some fellow U2-geeks. It was a great night. We meet up at Pitt St Mall. There were about 6 of us, Amanda (who runs these sites), Bryce, Andrew and Caroline, and Kathleen.

We went out to PJ O'Briens Irish pub in the City, (who told us that they would play U2, as they do every Saturday night. I think we were there for about two hours, and they played one U2 track, Beautiful Day).

It was great to spend an evening with another group of people; we had great fun talking about our various U2ey experiences, and other stuff. Oh yeah, there are even photos too.

So, after a great night of talking, we wandered over to HMV and waited, about 11:50ish we heard and saw signs of life, other U2 fans who were their to pick up their copy[ies] ;) along with I assume Kylie, and Gwen Stefani fans, as HMV were also opening for that CD release too. The speakers crackled into life and we heard kylie first, then my first taste of the new U2 CD, I think that it was A Man and A Woman, followed later by Vertigo, and then City of Blinding Lights. It was great fun as none of us had listened to the leaked CD, and a few had heard some as they were played on the radio, so we were trying work out between us what each song was.

We saw other customers get free posters as they bought the CD… well we got a compilation CD, that looked like it was burnt just as we walked into the store… jipped I say.

We posed for U2-Geek-type photo’s, then made our way home. Once I got home, yep I didn’t go straight to sleep; I placed CD in DiscMan and listened all the way through. Ahh yeahhh .. I absolutely loved City of Blinding Lights and Sometimes You Can't Make It ... on first listen. [A non-Duncan review, Dunc's review will follow soon...]

[Note: All photo's courtesy of Amanda].

Some works in progress...

Not quite sure this is finished. Mayhaps it needs polishing?

Heaven Fell Silent

Heaven was silent,
my soul in anguish
tears fall from my eyes
the world is deaf, dumb, and blind,
to the hands of creation's author

God himself is silent
relationship is broken,
My mind falls back to the rainbow,
the flood replaced by a dam

Faithfulness? One like us
our Father, creator,
creation is silent
empty in isolation

Desertion, God knows well
upon a hill, the righteous one
held to wood, by nails of love

held, weak, deserted,
our nails, His scars,
amazing mercy, rich, not free,
The silence of God breaks
through a cry,
it is finished...

[untitled]

It was the death of me
The heart you taught to write
Beat out of time; beats out of tune

It’s hard to yield; harder still to fight
The storms that beat, will pass
Though at feels like I’m at the heart

More tempting to stray
to life that has no prize
And costs your very soul

It’s hard to yield; harder still to fight
The storms that beat, will pass
Though at feels like I’m at the heart

My heart faced these trails before
My heart knows its foe
Yet this time the storm has too much

It’s hard to yield; harder still to fight
The storms that beat, will pass
Though at feels like I’m at the heart

The death of me,
My soul overcome, yet knows no other way
You called to me, My heart looks and reaches …

Its quiet now, and what it brings is everything…

So, it has been a while. An unexpected thing happened last week I turned 27.Well, not quite completely unexpected, as I have a birthday each and every year. But I have stopped and wondered where did the years since I started University disappear too?

It seems like just yesterday that I was finishing by Dip Ed, and living with my parents. Wow, I’m 27 now. I don’t feel old, that’s not really a part of it. It’s just time is continually disappearing faster than I can redeem it.

Another interesting reflection, my brother [Hola, Matt], mentioned to me that while he was in a [nameless] Christian bookshop they did not know who C.S. Lewis was. My brother gave them a little bit of help, too which the salesman commented he [C.S. Lewis] must be out of print. I mean, even the [other] bookstore at least knew he wrote The Chronicles of Narnia. This is Sad. Kids are growing up unaware of Narnia, with bookstore people unaware of C.S. Lewis.

The weekend ahead should be a blast, am heading into Sydney on and going to HMV’s midnight opening with fellow U2-Crazies to buy U2’s new CD. On Sunday I’ll be going to a colleague’s 30th Birthday party in Waverly, where we’re going to have a few games of Lawn Bowls. Will be fun…

A Lunar voyage, of Self Exploration

You Are From Neptune

You are dreamy and mystical, with a natural psychic ability. You love music, poetry, dance, and (most of all) the open sea. Your soul is filled with possibilities, and your heart overflows with compassion. You can be in a room full of friendly people and feel all alone. If you don't get carried away with one idea, your spiritual nature will see you through anything.

What Planet Are You From?

Well - of those the one that I was most struck with was You can be in a room full of friendly people and feel all alone, which is SOO totally me.

Turn off those bells and whistles..

I really love this article I found it one of the best reflective pieces I read on the anniversary of 11 September, and I'd been meaning to post this September but I just took a while to find it on my computer :).

It's Time to Turn Off Those Bells and Whistles

By Matt Richtel [New York Times]; Published: September 2002.

Put down that SkyMall catalog. You do not need a juicer that has e-mail access. While you're at it, shove your cellphone, BlackBerry and other gadgets into the sock drawer.

You can pick them up again on Thursday.

That's the day after the anniversary of the terrorist attacks, a day that, among its many facets, lets us reflect on the mixed blessing of technology in our lives.

There's no doubt that we should raise a glass to the ubiquitous silicon chip for its dedication, dependability and overall contributions on Sept. 11. Cellphone calls from 30,000 feet and more than 100 floors up let some of us hear our loved ones for the last time. The phones delivered continuing reports of heroism. They permitted those of us a proverbial million miles from ground zero to call to tell one another: that plane just crashed into my heart.

Around-the-clock news updates - on television, over the Internet and through wireless hand-held gadgets – informed us on that day that our world was falling apart, and then that it would remain intact. For a few days, the one thing that seemed almost as important to us as kin was the constant flow of news.

The trouble is, we have so often abused technology and let it dull our senses. And so, on Wednesday, consider observing a moment, if not a day, of data silence. Pull the D.S.L. connection out of that forearm vein. Listen. Slow down. Understand that whatever it is you think you need, you don't absolutely, positively need it overnight:

Do not instant anything. Your interpersonal relationships are not enhanced by setting a record for the sending and receipt of messages like "Hi. How R U," or "Insnt MssGng Is so kool!" When the urge hits for interaction, get positively medieval: write a letter. Write it on something that the old-timers called paper. Use your own font. Handwriting has personality - yours. Let "instant" be replaced by "anticipation."

Do not call your orthodontist. If this sounds odd, you may not be familiar with the cellphone orthodontist principle. It comes into play when you are addicted to talking on the phone while driving but have run out of people to call. Eventually, desperate for anyone to talk to, you phone the guy who attached your braces in junior high and say: "I love what you did with my teeth. Are you busy for the next 40 miles?"

The point is this: On Wednesday, don't call someone unless you mean it. Save your minutes for Thursday. Don't fill dead air time with empty words. While you're at it, restrict incoming calls. Turn off the ringer. That person sitting across from you at lunch deserves all your attention. Pretend that he or she is a New York firefighter. Do not once say: "Hold on. That's the other line."

Don't upgrade - anything. That empty nagging feeling you have? It's not the need for more megahertz. You will not feel any more connected to other human beings if you can see their virtual images more clearly on a new flat-screen monitor. Go outside and browse other people. Establish a wireless connection formerly known as the hug.

Don't be caught on the 24-hour news merry-go-round. The round-the-clock, rapid-fire television news format has become a potpourri of factoids, rumor and important updates about what George Clooney had for lunch. On Wednesday, pull your head off the swivel. Don't be distracted by snippets. Read one entire news article start to finish, whatever the topic. Five minutes later, make a concerted effort to remember what the heck it was about.

Don't multitask. Give your undivided attention. When you're nursing the baby, don't talk on the phone. When you're talking on the phone, don't check your e-mail messages. When you're checking your messages, don't clip your nails, browse the Web, pay your taxes, tell your mother you love her and keep running back and forth to the kitchen to see if you've received even more e-mail on your new juicer.

Don't think about tomorrow. Forget about what advances are to come and whether you're falling behind. News flash: You're behind. Get over it. Instead, think about the past - not a year ago, but long before. Think about how technology, which has evolved into incredible gadgetry like cellphones, has evolved along another path into weapons of mass destruction. Think about how to use in-person diplomacy in your own life to settle old, tired, unnecessary disputes.

If you feel angry and vengeful, don't fight it. Use your destructive energy for good: Delete an emoticon. Kill a symbol. In its place, express a real emotion - good, bad or indifferent. Find the words - not symbols, acronyms or digital era short-cuts - that mean: I love you. I miss you. I'm sorry. This Wednesday, keep it real. You can get virtual again on Thursday.

Lest We Forget

In Flanders Feilds the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

The story of the poem is recorded here. Also a link to the Australian War Memorial page with a transcript of Paul Keating's speech from 1993.

+++

The First Two Minute Silence in London (11th November 1919) as reported in the Manchester Guardian, 12th November 1919.

'The first stroke of eleven produced a magical effect.

The tram cars glided into stillness, motors ceased to cough and fume, and stopped dead, and the mighty-limbed dray horses hunched back upon their loads and stopped also, seeming to do it of their own volition.

Someone took off his hat, and with a nervous hesitancy the rest of the men bowed their heads also. Here and there an old soldier could be detected slipping unconsciously into the posture of 'attention'. An elderly woman, not far away, wiped her eyes, and the man beside her looked white and stern. Everyone stood very still ... The hush deepened. It had spread over the whole city and become so pronounced as to impress one with a sense of audibility. It was a silence which was almost pain ... And the spirit of memory brooded over it all.'

This vaguely sums up the past two months...

A little news

It seems to be getting a little too long between posts. We are closer to getting the Internet back on. Not much else has been happening, I went to a fiends 21st on Saturday last – it was a themed party, I went as a Jester [sorry no photos]. It was great to catch up with people that I haven’t seen for a while, and didn’t expect to see there either. Paul, on of the guys from my Beach Mission team was there – it was great to hear how he was going.

Sunday, had lunch with my brother, Nathan and Jasmin from my old church, good to chat, and play a board game, until I had to head on back to Sydney. Eventful Sunday afternoon trip back too, the train was running 70 minutes behind time, so I just managed to get to church before the Sermon.

The sermon was from Joshua 5-6 [One of those ones the Pastor would prefer not to preach]. We learnt that the battle of Jericho was God’s fight. It’s kind of unsettling to think of God as judge, but He is. Perhaps what should grab us is not that God destroys some, but He choses to spare anyone. God has appointed a day when all souls will be called to account before Him. The question isn’t is God on our side, but are we on His – and following on from that; what does it mean to be on God’s side; what does our allegiance look like?

Work’s also quite busy at the moment ~ we ran about like headless chooks for most of Friday trying to ensure that we did get a tender off, which with the UNSW Email Server taking the day off proved to be difficult.

The rest of the week is pretty usual – Bible Study tomorrow night, in which we’ll be looking at the final few chapters of The Revelation of John, then a dinner with the Netball team on Thursday. The weekend will be busy again too – heading out to Luna Park on Saturday, then down to Wollongong, for a housewarming, after which I’ll head back for church on Sunday.

+++

So, was also going to talk about those songs. Will begin with Lee Ann Womack’s I Hope You Dance. I only chanced upon it as my sister gave the single to me for my 23rd birthday. I think what I loved about this song was the lyric, which is such a beautiful message from one to another: Its message is simply make the most of who you are, take the chances you have.

If you get a choice to sit it out or dance/I hope you dance

The Ground Beneath Her Feet was written by Salman Rushdie, which has only recently totally grabbed me: I was driving home from a friends place, and heard the song for the first time, rendering me speechless:

For what I worshipped stole my love away, It was the ground beneath her feet

How to Disappear Completely is different in that it is not the words alone, but the atmosphere created as the words combine with the music that really grabbed me. Kid A took a few listens to get into, but now, I’d consider it as much a masterpiece as Ok Computer.

I still remember the first time I heard The Metre. I was working at the University of New South Wales, in the School of Social Science and Policy, I was listening to the Denton breakfast show, and it was September 2001. Along with a poem that Andrew Denton read [which I’ll try and find], the words really spoke to me at that time– if you measure the world by the mark that you make, welcome to the saving grace.

I bought Afterglow earlier this year; it was the first I’d actually heard of Sarah McLachlan. Sarah does have a beaut voice – but the video clip for World on Fire was brilliantly done. It’s not your typical video – with great special effects, or soft-porn (as too many are these days), the video makes a point. Watch the clip, and let me know what you think.

The world's on fire it's more then I can handle
I'll tap into the water try and bring my share
Try to bring more, more then I can handle
Bring it to the table, Bring what I am able

Hearts are worn in these dark ages
Youre not alone in these stories pages
The light has fallen amongst the living and the dying
And I'll try to hold it in, Yeah I'll try to hold it in

I watch the heavens but I find no calling
Something I can do to change what's coming
Stay close to me while the sky's falling
I don't wanna be left alone don't wanna be alone

Hearts break hearts mend love still hurts
Visions clash planes crash still theres talk of
saving souls still colds closing in on us

We part the veil on our killer sun
Stray from the straight line on this short run
The more we take the less we become
The fortune of one man means less for some

Finally, I want to post these snippets from Miserere: Wretched wretched me, but I toast life! […] I am the saint who betrayed you / now I’m the beggar who owes you […] I live in the soul of the world, lost in the depths of life.

Anyway, enough from me! Please let me know what songs or lines from songs that touch you, at the moment...