As it is in Heaven

On Saturday night we went and saw the Swedish film As it is in heaven at Cremorne. It surely does say something about a film, when it has been running for 30 plus weeks, and the theatre was close to capacity (with many people in the theatre seeing it for the second or third time).

The film is about Daniel Daréus, a successful conductor, who suffers a breakdown; and then returns to the village in which he grew up in, and he becomes responsible for the choir, and the impact this has on the village, and on him.

The characters in the film are so rich, real, and easy to relate too. During the film I laughed, and I cried, (I experienced the full range of emotions).

The film touches on many themes, hypocrisy, violence and bullying, and in someways the power of music, to transform, and heal. Pollak summerised the theme as the idea that absolute, complete love doesn't condemn.

It is an incredibly moving film; and has been lingering in my mind since I saw it. I was deeply moved by the film; (I haven’t cried in many films, but this is one of them). One I wouldn’t have minded seeing again, straight after it finished. And one I heartily recommend.

A comment one the film from the SMH

While the film was a story of a choir on one level, the only song, sung in the film is the song included below; sung in the film, by a women in an abusive relationship.

Gabriella’s Song

It's now that life is mine
I have gotten a time here on Earth
And my longing has led me here
What I missed and what I got

This is still the road I've chosen
My confidence far beyond words
That has shown a little piece
Of the sky I've never reached

till I want to feel that I live
All the time I have
I shall live what I want
I want to feel that I live
To know that I'm good enough

I have never forgotten who I was
I've just left it sleep
Maybe I have had no choice
Only the will to exist

I want to live happily, for it's me who I am
To be able to be strong and free
See how night turns into day
I am here and my life is only mine
And the sky that I thought that existed
I shall find it there somewhere

I want to feel that I've lived my life

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Flicks...

Shrek the Third **
A few good laughs, but seemed to drag a little in places, and recycled some of the earlier jokes. (No. 2 is still my favourite).

Pirates of the Carribaen: At Worlds End **
Disappointing, it just seemed done.

Avenue Montaigne (Fauteuils d'orchestre) [Orchestra Seats] ****
A warm and very human film. In some ways, it reminded me of Amelie.

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Rock 'n Roll disasters

Inspired by this article here's my top and bottom gig.

Top
Radiohead 1998, (2004 not too far behind); and tie U2, (1998 - there was something very special about that night) and Sigur Ros (Brixton, London, 2005 - it was a combination of the venue, and the music).

Honorable Mention: U2, 2005 Madison Square Garden.

Bottom:
Bon Jovi, Eastern Creek, 1995 [touring These Days].
I was given the tickets for my 18th birthday, the concert was held just after the HSC, not much went right really - it was a horrible humid and hot day, in which we lined up for ages, and you could smell, then see, the evening storm approach, it started sprinkling, and 5 minutes later it was hailing. No shelter and not much fun. Perhaps it says something that there is not much that I remember about the concert.

[Edited: corrected date]

A little bit more reading…

Stanley Fish, from the New York Times, writes an interesting article about the three recent books by Dawkins, Harris, and Htichens.

Facebook..

I recently joined – here’s an interesting piece (also from the NYT, but published in the SMH here) on Facebook. [Comments on the NYT article are here]

Australia's Cultural Diasporia

While in Canberra recently, we went to the National Portrait Gallery, which at the moment is housing Australia's Cultural Diasporia, an exhibition of photo’s by Nathalie Latham. The exhibition features photographs of people involved in the Arts, who have left Australia. I found it eye-opening that a large number of Australians who in essence leave Australia for opportunities, collegiality and perhaps recognition; but not many have have definite plans to return.

“Her portraits therefore have a double edge, being both celebratory pictures of courageous Australians going out there into the unknown, and melancholic pictures of loss, of the loss of another generation of young Australian artistic talent drawn to the lure of elsewhere.” Geoffrey Batchen

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The Moral Poverty of the West

Its almost two years since "Live 8" and it seems that nothing has changed.

To rise from the floor of poverty the victims need not only grand gestures, but a constant, willing hand that does not withdraw when politics intrudes.

See also: The G8 has forgotten its African pledge.

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Fascinating article from the Herald today, suggesting that the The biggest problem facing the world is women's rights

More Links

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

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

How to describe yourself using only the power of music?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

League of top tourists.

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

Songs of Praise : Britain’s favourite Hymns

Courtesy of ABC TV

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

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

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

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

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

Mix Tape 1: Politics and the pulpit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Random Links

Five Seconds Ok ?!

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

Sport and Politics - update

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

Visitor ...

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





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

Sport and politics

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

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

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

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

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

Puppies and psychology

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

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

Another musical challenge

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[visual dna]
Quite liked this. (thanks Little]

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Unforgettable Speeches..

I was glancing at the SMH page today, and noticed that Paul Keating's 1992 address on Aboriginal injustice is Australia's most unforgettable speech, behind "I have a Dream" (MLK) and the "Sermon on the Mount" (Jesus Christ).

This speech (also given by Paul Keating) at the funeral service of the Unknown Australian Soldier, 11 November 1993 is one of my favourites.

Update, The Age in an article on the survey laments that the art of oratory has transmuted into the routine of speechmaking.

Easter Op-eds

A few select quotes from the Good Friday opinion pages. They made quite intriguing reading today. I think the first piece challenges us to think about how we can make our churches more 'culturally-relevant' without changing the message. The second article by Melbourne Critic Peter Craven spoke about how Christian literacy is disappearing and that our culture lost something as a result. I was taken by the issue of 'truth' which was raised in the final two pieces.

I'm always blown away by the 'conclusion' to Mark's gospel, which I really identify with, as I could see myself responding in a similar manner on Good Friday, so I finished with two verses from Mark and Acts, which summarised to me the amazing transformation in the disciples; from fear and confusion to faith and certainty.

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As a report in The Age today shows, an increasing number of younger Australian Christians are seeking solace and spiritual comfort in smaller groups, away from a church that they regard as daunting and too institutional. They have a friend in Jesus, but, for them, Jesus has left the main building and is more easily sought in cafes, clubs, homes or galleries more hospitable to private contemplation and prayer.
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Even worse, we live in a culture of forgetting and any loss of knowledge of the icons of Christianity can seem like the loss of the most precious tokens in the world. Intellectuals don't come more secular and liberal — and Jewish — than the late Susan Sontag, but towards the end of her life she deplored the fact that most American art history students were not religiously literate enough to know the Stations of the Cross .... And this is more than a loss of symbol recognition. It's also a loss of a climate of feeling.
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If we knew for sure what happened, there'd be no need for faith: doubt is both the engine and the essence of faith.
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This order of truth is as relevant today as it was 2000 years ago. It offers release from the bondage of despair, a basis for hope that what we know of our lives and deaths is not all there is to either, and trust in the intrinsic value of every human being and of the ultimate purpose God has for all humanity
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And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Mark 16:8

Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. (Apostle Peter)
Acts 2:36

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"Worship" Music..

I was quite interested as Lara counted down her churches favourite songs. So I thought I'd take the time to list my favourites. Making the list was harder than I thought~! And it does change quite a bit. But as you'll see from my list, I quite like the hymns we sing at church. (Don't get me wrong I do like the other songs that we do sing, but we have been blessed with some great hymns).

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5. Be Thou My Vision
4. May the Mind of Christ
3. How Deep the Father's Love for Us
2. And Can it Be

1. It is Well with My Soul

I think that it is the story behind this song that is so amazing. I really love the third verse:

My sin, oh the bliss
of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross,
and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul

There are also a few good contemporary versions of this song (by Jars of Clay, Jennifer Knapp and Rebecca St. James)

More links ...

[via NYT]

Moral Monkeys?

On Governmental Apologies - "All I am saying is that while there may be good reasons to resist apologizing, the we didn’t personally do it and those it was done to are dead reason isn’t one of them."

Voting Christianly

Given the State Election on the 24th, and looming Federal Election this year, I've found the below few articles quite interesting reading.

:: Shock News - I’m Christian and I Vote.
:: Why we must vote Christianly - and not just for the CDP (Sandy Grant)
:: Nothing New Under the Sun; [Byron's Blog], this post and the comments make for worthwhile reading.
:: Voting Christianly (John Dickson) [on the All Saints Petersham website]

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this one is about mixed music…

So, I have been listening to a bit of new music, and felt like making a few mix CD’s, and at the same time thought that it might be interesting to hear what the readers are listening to.

I thought that we could try and make it interesting and nominate a mood (eg. fun, contemplative), theme (eg. home, spring) or style (eg. acoustic, live, loud) for the playlist. (Of course I'm open to suggestions here)

So if you are interested in being part of this leave a comment and I’ll arrange the details after a week or so depending on the level of interest.

Update

I’ve been thinking my way through the Copyright Act and 2006 Amendment. Given that under the law it seems we are able to make copies of CDs we own – I don’t think that there is a problem if I make a playlist for myself.

So I think we can each make a CD; then send it round the circle of people, and then return to the owner. Let me know if you are in under these slightly revised conditions.

More Links

On Multiculturalism… [Interesting take on multiculturalism in Canada]

A Fascinating post on "filling the void"

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Reel Life

Pursuit of Happyness: Quite enjoyed it. Though I do wonder if enjoy is the right word. It was quite a moving film. It was inspiring seeing the way Chris dealt with the cards he was given. The most moving scene for me was when Chris and his son end up sleeping in a locked toilet cubicle at a subway station and the camera focuses on a tear which runs down his face. I was left thinking it should not come to this.

As mentioned in the movie; perhaps there’s a little something in the fact that the US founding fathers wrote the ‘pursuit’ of happiness, rather than happiness (Aside: my mind recalls the poem (by Lewis Caroll) and musical of The Hunting of the Snark, also being about the quest for happiness.

Pan’s Labyrinth – I quite liked it. Well worth a look, a little violent, but at the same time it is a rich, and beautifully crafted story.

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On my list to see at present: The Queen, Music and Lyrics, The Last King of Scotland, Stranger than Fiction and Miss Potter.

Spinning Round

Added to my music player recently: Leigh Nash (she was lead singer of the band Sixpence None the Richer) Blue on Blue and Emmylou Harris Wrecking Ball (an older gem, that features songs written by Daniel Lanois, Neil Young and Bob Dylan).

I’m looking forward to new CDs from The Arcade Fire, Wilco, and maybe Interpol.

Quite enjoyed Don’t Dream Its Over at the Zoo last weekend. It was a tribute to the music from the Finn’s; they played classics from both Split Enz and Crowded House). It was quite enjoyable; with a great location, and atmosphere.

Links …

Did he really say …

“Gossip is not a trivial pastime”

Sounds like …

Random acts of kindness; and senseless acts of beauty..

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The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy; no its not the World Cup, but wow. NZ win by 10 wickets, 5 wickets (chasing 336), and 1 wicket (chasing 346).

Chasing Leather: With apologies to Bill Shankly: losing isn’t everything, it’s the only thing (Simon Barnes, from The Times, UK)

While I was unpacking the remaining few boxes I discovered an interesting article, which given the weekend's results (and New Zealand's sad demise) is perhaps timely...

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"You can lose gloriously, dramatically, heroically, unluckily, adjectly, humiliatingly, defiantly, haplessly. (NZ is particularly good at losing honorably, eg.) […] but it all adds up to the same common experience of sport: not winning. We repress the idea of losing. So much of the sporting experience is about anticipation: the sort of things we might do, when it all begins. And in anticipation, we are all champions, and the teams we follow and cheer for and cherish are always unbeatable until we are beaten. […] To say that winning in the only thing in sport is to say that Tabasco is the only thing in a Bloody Mary. The Tabasco gives you the zing and the bite, but it is not the Tabasco that intoxicates, and it is not the Tabasco that keeps you coming back for more.

Without defeat there is no victory, without losers, there is no winner. We celebrate the winners: and we do so while repressing the thought that every winner floats high on buoyancy on the tears of the losers. We should be grateful to every loser. Without losers there is no sport.

We who follow sport are hooked on the twists and turns of the narrative: the ever-changing cast of heroes and villains, the thrilling alternations of victory and defeat. It is the unexpected victory that is always the sweetest, because it came so close to defeat.

Arsenal was within a Thierry Henry miss of a wonderful win (Champions League final 2006). In 2005 Liverpool provided the miracle that Arsenal narrowly failed to deliver. Last summer England won the Ashes (seems a long time ago now), and the joy of the victory sprang from almost 20 years of unbroken defeat by Australia, and intermittent defeat by practically everybody else. Without that history of defeat, victory would have been far less sweet. Defeat is a constituent part of sporting joy.”

Summer Sport..

I really have enjoyed the Australian Open. I know, its apples and oranges, chalk and cheese, but its hard to think of a sportsman, sportswomen, or a team as dominant as Roger Federer. Some of the shots that Federer made against Andy Roddick were unbelievable. I think Federer has now won four of the last five major tennis finals (losing the fifth to Raphel Nadeal). Simply stunning. But he is more than his record; Federer is a credit to the sport, both on and off the court.

I’ve been thinking a little bit about what I’ll call the romance of sport, which I think save the suburban grounds is slowly disappearing.

If you watch a lot of Rugby League, and Rugby Union you would have seen the Video Referee for some time.

If you spend a lot of summer in front of the cricket you would be quite familiar with the use of video replays to adjudicate run outs and stumpings. It think that there has been talk to extend this to include ‘LBWs’ and ‘catches’.

If you watched any of the Australian open, you will have noticed a little bit new technology on Rod Laver Arena. Players are able to use "Hawkeye" and challenge two calls in each set.

Sadly I think with each of these “technological developments” we lose the thing what I find to be special about sport, the unpredictability of human judgment. Well I think it is at least what I love about sport, and with the quest to make the calls perfect we are now able to look at everything, sped up, slowed down, from above, from in front, and from behind.

There’s something to be said for non-competitive sport, were players more often than not are playing because they love the game and perhaps “in the spirit”.

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Thinking about the spirit of the game, players who concede points, or who walk when they are out, or mention to the umpires if they did not catch a ball cleanly seem to be quite rare. It was saddening seeing both Craig McMillan (NZL v AUS), and Mike Hussey (AUS v ENG) remain in the middle, while seemingly knowing they were out. I like to seeing batsmen walk.

I am not too disappointed with how New Zealand has gone. They pushed Australia all the way in two of the three games: losing by 2 wickets (and but for a dropped catch, and messed up runout may well have won), and 8 runs (chasing 345). Given that England have just about wrapped up tonight's game, it looks like NZ will have to win one more game to qualify for the finals. We’ll see, irrespective of these two games, hopefully they can have a good World Cup.

Musical musings

Given the boxes have reduced from about fifty down to about four (mostly mine), I thought that I’d take the time to post on my favourite music from last year. Owing to being bought quite close to my wedding, and Christmas, I’ve not been give a proper listen to Damien Rice’s 9, and Snow Patrol’s Eyes Open, though I quite like Chasing Cars.

Honorable mentions to Brooke Fraser’s Albertine (bought while we were in NZ), The Whitlams – Little Cloud, Belle and Sebastian – The Life Pursuit, Eskimo Joe – Black Fingernails, Red Wine.

(5) The Frames – The Cost

The Frames are rapidly becoming one of my favourite bands. The Frames mix quiet and intense music throughout their songs, and The Cost is a haunting album, and its worth taking a chance on. They are the band at the moment that I would most like to see play live. I didn’t go to see them when they were here at the beginning of 2005 and regret it a little. It is sad that The Frames are not more well know.

Favourite tracks: Song for Someone, Falling Slowly.

(4) Sarah Blasko – What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have

Given the success rate of second albums, What the Sea Wants… is rare, it does not only match The Overscore and the Underscore, I think it surpasses it. Sarah’s voice is well suited to the range of emotions in the songs.

Favourite tracks: Planet New Year, Amazing things, The Women by the Well

(3) Thom Yorke- The Eraser

Thom Yorke is one of those singers who’s voice you either love or hate. I am firmly in the love camp. It is his voice that holds the album together. It ties beautifully to the themes of Radiohead's recent work. I don’t think there is a weak track on the record. The record has whet my appetite for the new Radiohead CD (if rumours are to be believed – due this year)

Favourite tracks: The Clock, Harrowdown Hill, Analyse, Cymbal Rush

(2) Jars of Clay – Good Monsters

If you haven’t picked up a Jars of Clay CD since their first self-titled record, Good Monsters is worth giving a go. What has not changed is the earnest, humble, and honest songwriting. What strikes me as I listen is that the album hangs together; the themes of the album is about coming to grips with the human capacity for both incredible evil and incredible good, the love of God amidst the trials of life. With Good Monsters, I think Jars of Clay has made their most solid album both lyrically and musically.

Favourite tracks: All My Tears, Oh My God, Light Gives Heat and Mirrors and Smoke

(1) Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova – The Swell Season

It was tough the separate these two CDs. I recently have grown into a big fan of The Frames, and it was from their website that I knew this CD was being released. I first heard Falling Slowly and Sleeping?, on MySpace and was completely captivated. Each song is beautifully created. The interplay between the instruments and music creates a beautiful effect. Hansard’s voice draws you in and matches the moods of the cello and the piano.

It is an album that I love from the first to last track, and is my album of the year.

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A random shuffle (10) from 2006

Parachutes – Pearl Jam
Running – Evermore
Lies – Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
Funny Little Frog – Belle and Sebestian
Rise – The Frames
Mirrors and Smoke – Jars of Clay (featuring Leigh Nash)
Sleeping? – Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
Song for Someone – The Frames
Goodbye Alice in Wonderland – Jewel
Leave – Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

New Day Dawning

Well it doesn’t seem to long ago that I was sitting in Wollongong writing about 2005, and we have now welcomed in 2007.

2006 was a very memorable year. I started settling in to St Barnabas on Broadway. I have enjoyed working on the Network team (ministering to workers). During May last year Barneys burnt down, and since then we have been meeting in the lecture halls of Moore College. It has been a change for us all, but we are slowly adjusting. The church held a conference to look into options for rebuilding. It has been since decided that we are going to redevelop the site. It will be a great opportunity for us.

The highlight of the year is a little bit of a no-brainer. On December 2^nd this year Fiona and I were married. The eight months of our engagement disappeared quickly. We got married at St Matthias Paddington, and spent three weeks honeymooning in New Zealand.

During the first two weeks, we spent three days in Christchurch, before heading to Aoraki (Mount Cook) and Queenstown. A few highlights of the trip were our time in Aoraki (Cloud-piercer in Maori); our visit to Doubtful Sound (The Maori name Patea means Shadowlands (if you look at our pictures you will know why), jetboating on the Dart River, and a meal we had in Wellington (at Kai in the City – who served what Lonely Planet calls Maori Fusion. Loosely translated the meat was cooked traditionally and made into European styled meals.

The last week in NZ we spent catching up with my extended family; in Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland. It has been quite a busy year for our family – three of my cousins also got married, while we were in NZ we were able to attend Sharyn’s wedding.

Since being back in Australia, we spent one night in our home before having Christmas in Canberra, and we celebrated New Years in Wollongong (before returning to the nasty reality called w—k).

Postscript: Since we have been back, we (read Fiona) has spent a lot of time putting up photos that our family and friends took at our wedding. They can be found here.

Wedding Piccies

From Helen and Dug...

Bits and pieces

Just thought that I'd let you know that all is coming together for Saturday :-)
Here are a few things that I've looked at briefly during this week;

Ross Gittins on P-v-y. (more information is here)
The Picture of Spiritual life in Australia

Anyway, I'll get back to these, and some year in review posts in a little while.

Countdown...

Make Poverty History

Last year, eight concerts were held around the world with some of the worlds biggest bands and artists, including Pink Floyd, The Who, The Killers, Coldplay and U2. All took to the stage with the same goal – to make poverty history. Friday night in Melbourne a number of Australia’s biggest music artists took to the stage with the same goal to make poverty history. The gig on Friday began with members of U2 and Pearl Jam combining (U-Jam?) on stage to play a powerful, passionate and inspiring cover of Neil Young’s ‘Rocking in the Free World’.

It is a hard road; it began with music, but the music plays second fiddle to action. We have currency; our values, our voice and our vote. We have an argument, and it is with this argument we should lobby our leaders. It is saddening watching the news and coverage focusing on what protesters did and will do rather than hearing about the argument, and the issues.

From stages across the world, over the last eighteen months Bono has spoken passionately and powerfully about our potential to act and to make a difference. In the concerts he doesn’t ask money, he asked for their voice and for action. Action which begins for me, by lobbying our government to increase aid.

We can afford to, it is not about charity; it is about justice. We have been given much, and I believe we therefore should give much.

Darfur

About 13 years ago, a rock band essentially took a TV station out on tour (ZooTV tour, 1992-1993), and in a series of dates hooked up with Sarajevo and drew attention to what was happening. After realising what had happened, the world said never again. After watching the genocide in Rwanda, we said never again.

Our world is looking on a similar crisis in Darfur and is inactive again. Our leaders need currency, and courage to act. We are not helpless and should not simply watch again, we can provide currency by speaking out. Nicholas Kristof from the New York Times speaks about the current situation and gives a few ideas about what could be done. If not now, when?

... I know that this is not goodbye ...

// U2
// Sydney Nov 11, 2006, Telstra Stadium
// Support: Kanye West

// City of Blinding Lights / Vertigo (She Loves You) / Elevation (Spinning Around) / Until the End of the World / New Year’s Day / Beautiful Day (Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Blackbird) / I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (In a Little While) / Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of / Sometimes You Can’t Make it On Your Own / Love and Peace or Else / Sunday Bloody Sunday / Bullet the Blue Sky (Johnny Comes Marching Home-The Hands that Built America) / Miss Sarajevo / Pride (In the Name of Love) / Where the Streets Have No Name (All You Need is Love) / One (My Sweet Lord) ///

// Zoo Station / The Fly / With or Without You (Never Tear Us Apart-Love Will Tear Us Apart) ///

// The Saints are Coming / Desire (Not Fade Away-Gold Digger) / Kite //

It was different experiencing the Vertigo Tour in an outdoor setting. The quality of the sound was not as bad as I had thought it might be, but I guess the sound may be related to where you are. The seats were actually better than I had expected and were a great vantage point from which we saw the band get back into the cars at the end of the concert. I now get goose-bumps every time I hear Wake Up (The Arcade Fire).

The biggest difference for the Pacific Leg of the tour and perhaps no surprise is the number of songs from ‘All that You Can’t Leave Behind’ returning to the set. So far, Kite, Stuck in a Moment, In a Little While (a snippet) and Walk On (sadly not for our show) have been added to the staples Beautiful Day and Elevation), and that they are playing The Saints are Coming (a cover of The Skids song). I found it interesting that there were only four songs played from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.

One of the highlights of seeing U2 live is hearing how they combine songs (if you’ve seen the bands ZooTV and PopMart videos you’ll know what I mean), and the various snippets of other songs that Bono sings, for example he previously has included Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division) in With or Without You and Amazing Grace (in Running to Stand Still on the Vertigo Tour and previously in The Electric Co.).

A word about Kanye West, I was not that taken with him. Perhaps it was because we came in about half way through his performance, but his mix didn’t really help. Hearing him in a stadium is not the best way to be introduced to his music.

U2 opened the show with City of Blinding Lights; Bono came on stage wrapped in an Australian flag. Vertigo followed next and was an energetic affair concluding with a snippet of the Beatles’ She Loves You. Elevation was a great; from our vantage point it was awesome watching the crowd bounce around, (the song concluded with a bit of Spinning Around).

Following the combination of Until the End of World and New Year’s Day, was a strong version of Beautiful Day, finishing with snippets of Sgt. Peppers’ Lonely Hearts Club Band and Blackbird.

During the introduction to I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Bono spoke about how all the family was doing very well tonight, and I think he said the Edge’s family was at the concert. After a brief snippet of In A Little While, the band dedicated Stuck in a Moment to Michael Hutchence, and followed that with Sometimes You Can’t Make it On Your Own.

The section from Love and Peace to One; is perhaps the sermon section of the concert. Love and Peace or Else is growing on me. Bono dedicated Sunday Bloody Sunday to those who lost their lives in Bali said his prayer was that we do not to become a monster to defeat the monster. I quite liked the new arrangement of Bullet the Blue Sky. The three songs Love and Peace, Sunday and Bullet flow beautifully into each other, and a stunning Miss Sarajevo tops it off. Miss Sarajevo was dedicated to those Australians serving overseas in Iraq. Every time I hear Bono sing the part usually performed by Pavarotti, I am blown away. I have to admit, this was a song that I thought might have been dropped for our leg of the tour. But as I found in the US, people would talk or talk bathroom breaks during this song. (Note: I think it is worth buying the deluxe version of U2-Eighteen for the DVD containing Miss Sarajevo and Original of the Species alone).

The African trilogy (Pride, Where the Streets Have No Name and One), followed and flowed from the reading of the Declaration of Human rights. Where the Streets Have No Name was fantastic as always. I quite liked the beginning where flags from the African continent scrolled down the screen and ended with the Southern Cross on the screen. The effect of having the mobile phones lit during One is beautiful.

The first encore pairing of Zoo Station and The Fly was amazing (both songs I hadn’t heard last year, but were otherwise played regularly). Like during Zoo TV, words, sentences and ideas flashed on the screen. After seeing those two songs I was reminded how great it would have been to see them during the Zoo TV tour. The first encore concluded with a beautiful version of With or Without You, (though I don’t remember Bono dancing with anyone?)

The second and final encore featured U2’s recent song – The Saints are Coming, (a rough and fun version of) Desire. The concert closed with a stunning version of Kite (dedicated to Cate Blanchett and featuring Tim Moriaity on didgeridoo). Although I knew the band had rehearsed it I was still surprised to hear it closing the concert. Seeing the kite lift off as the band concluded was awesome, (and they did say they’ll be back~!)

Overall, it was an excellent show. I think next time I’ll try and get tickets closer to the stage. I was intrigued that the older songs that got the loudest reactions. Bono did seem a little quieter than usual. Another thing that I quite like about U2 is throughout their career the meanings of their songs continue to evolve and can speak to people in different ways, at different times.

Sydney was the third show on the Vertigo tour I’ve seen. Each of the shows stood out for different reasons. Miami featured an acoustic version of Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, Miracle Drug, and the most songs from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (7), Sydney had the least (4), but included Stuck in a Moment (which I had heard acoustically in the two US shows) and The Fly, and Kite. The New York show included a cover of Instant Karma, the beautiful Original of the Species and finished with Bad. But I think push come to shove, the 11.21 show in New York was the strongest and most emotional for me. For those who are interested in set lists:

Miami: 11-13-05
City of Blinding Lights / Vertigo / Elevation / Mysterious Ways / Until the End of the Word / I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – In A Little While / Beautiful Day / Miracle Drug / Sometimes You Can’t Make it on Your Own / Love and Peace or Else / Sunday Bloody Sunday / Bullet the Blue Sky / Miss Sarajevo / Pride (In the Name of Love) / Where the Streets Have No Name / One ///
// Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of / Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses / With or Without You ///
// All Because of You / Yahweh / 40.

New York 11-21-05
City of Blinding Lights / Vertigo / Elevation / I Will Follow / I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – In A Little While / Beautiful Day / Original of the Species / Sometimes You Can’t Make it On Your Own / Love and Peace or Else / Sunday Bloody Sunday / Bullet the Blue Sky / Miss Sarajevo / Pride (in the Name of Love) / Where the Streets Have No Name / One-Ol’ Man River ///
// Until the End of the World / Mysterious Ways / With or Without You-White Flag-Love Will Tear Us Apart ///
// The First Time / Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get out Of / Instant Karma! (w/ Patti Smith) / Bad–People got the Power //

Sing a new song ...

Reflections from a Sydney Anglican Pastor (Rev Stephen Shearsby) on the U2 tour.

Music

Inspired by Elsie, here’s a list of the contenders for my ‘Album of the Year’, in no particular order:

Evermore (Real Life); Jewel (Goodbye Alice in Wonderland); Sandi Thom (Smile … it confuses people); The Frames (The Cost); The Whitlams (Little Cloud); Jars of Clay (Good Monsters); Sarah Blasko (What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have); Eskimo Joe (Black fingernails, Red wine); Thom Yorke (The Eraser); Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova (The Swell Season); Pearl Jam (Pearl Jam); Belle and Sebastian (The Life Pursuit); The Killers (Sam’s Town).

(Perhaps going to show that someone spent too much money on music this year).

30 Years, 11 Albums ... 18 songs

After almost 9 years U2 are back are on our shores with the Vertigo tour, and by now have played their first show (No - I don’t want to know anything about it).

It seems quite amazing that it is almost a year ago that I saw them in Miami and New York. It is going to be interesting seeing how the indoor show is changed for the stadium show on this leg. One things for sure, there will be surprises (and perhaps a few songs from All that You Can't Leave Behind). I am going to post reviews of the three shows (Sydney 11.11; and the two I saw last year).

I’ve found it quite interesting reading about the U2 Definitive collection to be released on Nov 18. Its not likely the tracklist will keep everyone happy, but I am saddened that no songs from October, Zooropa and Pop made it.

For the record, here's a collection of songs that I would use to introduce someone to U2, while staying away from the 'hits'. (Note, the listing probably doesn't flow or fit on a standard cd..)

1. Out of Control
2. Gloria
3. Sunday Bloody Sunday (Acoustic)
4. Drowning Man
5. The Unforgettable Fire
6. Bad
7. One Tree Hill
8. All I Want is You
9. So Cruel
10. Love is Blindness
11. The First Time
12. Miss Sarajevo
13. Please / Where the Streets Have No Name (Live)
14. Staring at the Sun (Live, Acoustic)
15. The Ground Beneath Her Feet
16. When I Look at the World
17. Crumbs From Your Table

Wordplay

Last night we went to see Wordplay. It is a movie about the creation, character, and some of the characters completing the New York Times crossword, and concludes with a look at the characters competing in the Stamford Crossword competition. It is a good length film (about 90mins), and well constructed. I enjoyed the recollections of Bill Clinton, and Bob Dole who both recalled the 1996 election crossword, which was built around a clue 'Tomorrow's headline', which could read "Clinton [or] Bob Dole Elected". Not your typical film, but definitely worth a look.

Kids…

Was down in Wollongong (a while ago now) and my mother drew my attention to an article in the Good Weekend; based on an excerpt from the book Adult themes: rewriting the rules of adulthood (Kate Crawford). The article talked about attitudes to the cultural landscape around us. It was quite a fascinating read, and I am now quite looking forward to reading the book.

Staying on culture a little longer, I am quite fond of the modern adaptions of Shakespeare’s plays, even if they have their flaws. I’m looking forward to watching Shakespeare Retold (Modern interpretations of four Shakespearian plays produced by the BBC). I saw one (Much ado about Nothing) while I was in the UK last year and really enjoyed it. From memory it will be on our ABC this year too, it is worth keeping an eye out for.

The Swell Season

Glen Hansard (of The Frames) and classical pianist and singer Marketa Irglova's CD The Swell Season was reviewed by Bruce Elder in the SMH today. I can really only echo the words of the review - the interplay of the instruments and the combination of voices creates a cd of real beauty.
The standout tracks for me are: Are You Sleeping?, Falling Slowly and the instrumental The Swell Season.

Political correctness in fiction

Last weekend I also caught quite an interesting article in The Australian. Lionel Shriver (author of We Need to talk About Kevin) wrote on some of the feedback she had received about the attitudes and behaviour of characters in her novels. Given the social-political climate she wondered if authors would soon be charged because of the views of their characters.

It was quite interesting reading some people’s responses to her characters, asking why the mother in We Need to talk About Kevin was Armenian; and didn’t attend P&C meetings. She was waiting for the day her narrator would be arrested. 

As it seems there is often an enforced silence about issues (note the fuss with Martin Sheen and the Dixie Chicks, when they spoke out about the war with Iraq). It does seem to me that we should fight for the right of novelists (and other artists) to write freely. Shriver commented that writing a novel allowed her more freedom to deal with issues. 

I might leave the last word for Shriver: 

My characters are full of prejudices. My characters may not like Chinese people. My characters may believe that homosexuality is unnatural. My characters may slander Islam, or belief in crystals, or my father's Presbyterianism. My characters murder schoolchildren, plot to massacre two billion people overnight and hit their husbands over the head. My characters are obnoxious, spiteful, seething, difficult, resentful and inconsistent; and no, my characters will not always take their six-year-old kids to therapists to get help. My characters think abominations. In other words, my characters are the closest approximations I can contrive of real people.

In which the Long Weekend is mentioned.

Fi and I went down to Canberra for the long weekend. Was really quite lovely to get away for a few days, and get to spend a bit of time with her family and our friends.

We all went out to Tidbinbilla for a picnic on Saturday, which was so quiet and peaceful. One of the nice surprises was seeing a couple of Platypuses (some might say Platypi?). I have to admit I would not have known what to look for, but Fi’s dad pointed them out for us. We generally saw the ripples in the water as they came up and then dived back down.

We listened to the last five minutes of the AFL Grand Final as we were driving home. While I was a little disappointed in the loss, the Sydney Swans have had a fantastic year, and they could leave the field with their heads held high, they gave it everything, and came back to one point of the West Coast Eagles (who are worthy winners). West Coast and Sydney played out two of the closest Grand Finals in the last 30 years.

The Grand Final is also the 64th time the Swans have played a match decided by 1 point. I’m already looking forward to the first bounce next season.

Sunday morning we went to St Andrews Presbyterian Church and then Floraide with Deb which was lovely. (Deb has posted some photos on her blog and I’ll post a few later).

Sunday night, we went and saw The Devil Wears Prada. It is quite a feel-good-type-film, and I quite enjoyed it. A couple of scenes stood out, firstly one where Andrea becomes self-aware (in the context of she was made aware of what she did to her colleague by choosing to go to Paris), and secondly a line that was given to Nate (Andrea’s boyfriend), 'the phone calls you always take is the relationship you are in’, and I think this is a helpful reminder for us.

Monday morning we had brunch with Fi’s school friends, then went to do a bit of shopping (mainly clothes shopping) before heading to Manuka for lunch, and back to Floraide before starting the drive back to Sydney. It was a very enjoyable weekend.

50 Years of TV: Five shows

We recently commemorated fifty years of television. I thought I’d mark it by writing about the five shows that I found memorable. (The order resembles chronology).

Picket Fences (1992-1996) (David E. Kelley) - It is probably the first legal drama that I watched. It dealt with issues in an aptly named American small town “Rome”. I would be quite interested if the series was released onto DVD.

The X-Files (1992-2003) (Chris Carter) - Moving on to the only Sci-fi show on my list. While I quite liked it, I didn’t quite get to watch all of the nine seasons. On the whole I think the first three seasons where the best, but do plan (one-day) to finish watching all nine seasons, and see how the story arc concludes.

The Practice (1997-2004) (David E. Kelley) - Continuing on the legal theme, The Practice was set in a Boston legal practice, it dealt with a large array of contemporary issues in a serious manner. Like Picket Fences, another show I’m looking forward to the DVD box sets to come out.

The West Wing (1999-2006) (Aaron Sorkin) - No secret to anyone regularly reading this blog that The West Wing is my all time favourite TV Show. It is the most even on the list, and had it all in terms of character, dialogue, and plots. It is quite the contradiction, incredibly real in the issues and themes of the stories, and what we would like American to be.

House MD (2004- ???) (David Shore) - I am quite enjoying this medical drama, it is well scripted and acted. The show has just begun its second season - it will be interesting to see the direction the show goes. Along with Bones, it is one of my currently regular TV shows.

The honorable mentions go to Mad About You, Seinfeld, The Simpsons and Bones.

Musical Murmurings (updated)

I posted a couple of days ago about a forthcoming Brooke Fraser release. I
thought I'd make a post of a few other murmurings that had caught my ear.

Damien Rice - 9 (due November)
The Frames - The Cost (released in Ireland, due out here early 2007)
The Killers - Sams Town (released early October)
Interpol are in studio, release is slated for 2007

+++

Cheer, Cheer the Red and the white ...

I need to say something about Paul Roos. Last night the Swans beat Fremantle to make it into the 2006 Grand Final and they will play West Coast. Fantastic job! He took over the Sydney Swans late 2002, and since then, they were beaten Preliminary finalists (2003), Premiers (2005), and Grand Finalists (2006).

Another great season for the Sydney Swans, and congratulations to Adam Goodes, who won the Brownlow Medal (the Best and Fairest player for the 2006 Season).

+++

The Twilight of Atheism

I went to the Smith Lecture tonight. The Smith lecture is put on by CBF (with CASE, and The Fifth Estate), and aims to provide an opportunity for a Christian public figure to present his or her perspective on a subject relevant to the life of the city.. Our speaker was Professor Alister McGrath (Professor of Historical Theology at Oxford University), who spoke about the Twilight of Atheism. I quite enjoyed the lecture, so here are some my notes.

McGrath began by detailing three main objections to theistic faiths.

1. Religion leads to evil
2. God is a consoling delusion
3. Science has disproved God

1. Religion leads to Evil

There is a degree of truth to this statement, but question is this capacity different for other world views. It seems that intolerance has come from both theistic views (for example the Spanish Inquisition), and through atheism (Stalinism). So from the same stimulus both good and bad can come.

Freud calls religion a pathological disorder, but there is a (very complex) and tenuous link between religion and well-being. (Of 100 studies, 79 showed at least 1 positive correlation, only 1 showed a negative correlation, and the remaining 20 painted a complex picture).

2. God is just a delusion

Feuerbach (1804-72) argued that God is a projection of human longing – we invent God to fulfill a need, but this is not an argument against theistic views, as the argument works against both the theist and atheist – both the aspiration to believe (or disbelieve) is the fulfillment of a desire. (I found the comment that atheism could be a “wish to escape judgment for their deeds" (Milosz), interesting.

3. Science disproves God

Faith is blind trust, and cannot justify itself by evidence - Anything worth knowing can be proved from science (Dawkins)
Science cannot answer childlike questions of why we are here, and what does it all mean? (Medawar)

The world can be explained in both an theistic and atheistic way, nature doesn’t push either way. Science cannot answer the question of the existence of God. Darwinism is equally compatible with theism and atheism. Science it seems does not push towards atheism.

As there is no position of certainty; each individual looks for the explanation which explains the data best. For example; CS Lewis’ famous quote (paraphrased) that God is "the light by which I see all else" or Dawkins, who states that the world is exactly how we would expect if there was no good, no evil.

Post-modernity

In a sense religion is identity giving, as people begin to seek “spiritual” answers.

Some of the concluding comments, and answers to questions:

Evolution does not provide a basis for morality.
Secularism is position of faith; has no vision, suppresses the vision of others; accepts the fruit (social action, community involvement), but not the roots.
Reason can not take us all the way, we take hold of our “best fit explanation” by trust (faith).
Faith can engage with reality, and hold its own.

Perhaps not surprisingly McGrath did not provide a compelling argument to believe in the Christian God but rather argued that the position of atheism is as much a position of “faith” as Christianity.

All things considered it was quite an interesting lecture, and I’m quite looking forward to reading McGrath’s book. I’ve quite enjoyed the two lectures I’ve been to this week. I've quite enjoyed the intellectual stimulation.

... now that i have seen ... I am responsible ... faith without deeds is dead..

Albertine

I'm quite a fan of Brooke Fraser, this song, a preview from her new album due out in December, is beautiful. Her voice combines beautifuly with the rhythm of the music, and the heartfelt lyric, to show the urgency she feels. [Thanks Marty]

Sports Shorts

Well its September again, football finals time. The Sydney Swans are into the Preliminary final (against either Fremantle or Melbourne), after another 1 point win. Win or lose Friday week they've had a fantastic year. It was good to see that their form was rewarded in All-Australian selections.

The other excitement this week is the beginning of the UEFA Champions League. Am realling looking forward the seeing the best players on the field again.

Another week gone…

* Updated to include link to article on Sydney Anglicans website.

Busy, but lovely weekend – Friday night Fi and I went to King Street, and found a fantastic Vietnamese Resturant, then Saturday, I found a suit, went to the airport and said farewell to Fi’s parents (they are off to Malaysia for a holiday) and had dinner with my parents (celebrating Mum's Birthday and Father's Day), on Sunday, I got my wedding ring. :-)

Last night, I went to the CASE Seminar - Religion, terror; film: reflections on 9/11. It was a fascinating look at the place and role images have taken. Greg Clarke began by looking at the place of images in Christian thought. One of the things I was thinking about, was when Greg asked us what came to mind when he said ‘justice’ all the responses where pictures. I got thinking as Jesus often taught with images, parables. (my mind was drawn to a number of images and the "I am statements" from John’s Gospel (I am the Bread of Life, I am the Light of the World, I am the Good Shepard). Perhaps we do think in pictures?

Justine then gave a fascinating overview of how 9-11 has been seen in popular culture, and spoke particularly about United 93, World Trade Centre, The Falling Man, and the fictional War of the Worlds. Lara has posted her comments here.

Staying on 9-11 for another moment; in terms of cultural responses, I really liked the West Wing episode Isaac and Ishmael (Season 3), and how it attempted to deal with the questions and issues.

Though, I think its the French film 11-09-01 which reasonated the most with me. The film give 11 directors (from 11 nations), 11 minutes and 9 seconds and 1 frame to respond. The highlights for me were the films from France, India, US, UK

UK – centres around a Chilean man based in London penning an open letter (and parts are sung) of ‘solidarity and sympathy’ with Americans in the wake of 11-9. Telling them that September 11 is a date that they both share, as 11-9-02, would be the 30th Anniversary since the overthrow of Allende’s Government in Chile – 11-9-72, and the first since the US’s bloody Tuesday.

France – a relationship breakdown plays out in New York, with the collapse of the towers in the background. The women in the scenes is deaf, so while the TV news show footage of the planes, the women is writing a letter about how she is going to leave her partner, before he leaves here, and in the climax of the scene her partner [who acts as a tour guide for the deaf, and was working near the twin towers] comes in, covered with the dust of the towers.

US – a man, talking with his deceased wife, shows the simple things of life, then at the climax of the piece we the light comes through the window, and the flowers on the mantelpiece are seen to come alive, (at the moment, I assume the tower falls), but he also remembers or realises that his wife is dead

India – The films is centered the true story of a Middle Eastern man, living in New York, and is family. Through the course of the short film the man moves from terrorists to hero. The film highlights the fears that those of Arab descent would be living with in the time immediately after 11-9. By virtue of his appearance neighbours move from feeling sympathetic to suspicious to scared, but in the film the man runs to the scene, to help survivors. And it is with this the film concludes, beautifully spoken in a eulogy. It also highlights a negative aspect of the US.

Of the others, not many of them really stood out to this degree, as I can’t really remember the details as vividly as for the four I’ve mentioned above.

And the final of the eleven pieces is one which I found hard to watch, but it seems to be making the point that War is perhaps to man, what killing is to the snake, it is natural, and instinctive, or in another way – war will always be with us. The film showed us a man who essentially thought he was a snake. I found the film quite difficult to engage with. I really like the idea of the project, its interesting seeing how people respond to the film within the context of their cultures, and it is kind of interesting watching the different ideas used in the creation of these short films.

… a time to rebuild …

As I am sure most of my readers are aware, in the early hours of May 10 this year, St Barnabas Broadway was gutted by fire, as you may not be aware, our community had what was called a ‘Search Conference’. The conference was an opportunity for our church family to have their thoughts, and feelings heard. It seems a big ask, but it was an amazing two days, both in terms of the process, and the results.

Saturday morning was spent talking about where we came from, the history of the community of believers at Barneys. The afternoon more or less centered on who we are, focusing on our community, our ministry areas, our finances, and our opportunities, and Sunday worked towards presenting a number of briefs that could be given to an architect.

Largely because of my history background, I found the session to be amazing. Especially hearing about the ministry of Barneys, its struggles, its growth, the challenges they faced, the context we now find ourselves, but above all how God has remain constant and faithful in spite of the ebbs and flows of life.

The afternoon session we were taken through an amazing array of information, looking at the demographics of the church, the community, the usage of the building, as we did this our eyes were opened to opportunities we could pursue as we began to understand the area in which our community is located.

It is clear to me that we were blessed on Sunday, as we talked through options, opportunities, and though we came out with different options, the same purpose and principles ran through them all.

Sunday, began where I wish each and every day of my life began, at the God’s feet, in prayer, and worship. We then placed ourselves on a line according to what we thought we should do – from (1) rebuilding the building on its footprint; to (5) significant alternations, and (10) a radically new Barneys, once we had done this, we broke into groups, and spoke about where on this continuum we were, why, and what we would like to do. Each of the groups then reported back on the discussions, and we then had a list of what each point of the continuum looked like, and we could clearly see similarities in viewpoints and where our focus should be.

We had a break here, and then we had to put ourselves on the same continuum again – but while before the people seemed to be spread evenly, we had seemed to gravitate to the upper end of the scale. After this, we created groups of 12, and then worked toward creating a brief (for architects), we got to look at each of these proposals, and vote (not committing ourselves, nor making a firm decision, but an indication to the parish council where the mindset of the group was on that day).

It was a tiring, but fulfilling process, and gave me more to think about than simply what happens to the land where our rain-shelter was, but who we are as a community, and the opportunities we have to serve our God together, and I look forward to seeing where our Awesome God will take us.

y-pod

I have had this thought to post for some time. A while ago Richard Glover wrote a really interesting article speaking of the proliferation of the ipods. Here are a few select quotes:

Why are we so afraid of a few moments in which our minds can float, and thoughts can bubble up? And what are people going to watch on all these multiplying screens anyway?


Why this reluctance to do one thing at a time? It's as if we are trying to distract ourselves from some terrible realisation. As if we are trying to stave off some monster that lurks just out of view.


And new cars now come with them fitted in the back seat in order to anaesthetise the children during journeys. This had been one of the few remaining periods in which children and parents talked and interrelated - sometimes even played games and sang - so you can see why a screen had to be rushed into service to stop all of that.

Do we undervalue stillness and silence? I might be wrong, but I recollect car trips in New Zealand, and how we talked or sang as we went on long drives, and time like this is great to strengthen familial relationships.

That said, is is great having a soundtrack that you can listen to a you travel, In fact I quite often listen to music as I walk to work, or Fi and I travel to Canberra, but its great to take out those ear-phones from time to time. (If you want to see the full article let me know, and I'll try and find it).

Random Musings on Sport..

After the Word Football Cup held this year, I would have loved to have done a montage of footage of the crowds watching the match (v Croatia) at Federation Square or Circular Quay, or in the stadium as the match was played –it told a greater story than the football did. Faces went from despair to elation; and then frustration, back to despair, and then enduring the last few anxious minutes before elation and celebration.

Moving on, I think everyone remembers 1 of the 90 minutes of the Australian game against Italy. I was thinking recently that I would not want a have a video replay or coaches being able to challenge calls. Human error is part of sport. I’m reminded of the fact that the Swans may have won last years Grand Final because a West Coast player was taken out of the marking contest (illegally) and Australia may have been knocked out because of a 50-50 call. It is the romance of sport, sure its heartbreaking to lose but this is part of sport, that’s not to say I don't get frustrated during Bledisloe Cup tests, or Swan’s AFL matches, but please don’t make the referees “robotic-law-enforcers”, leave room for human error.

Been a long time..

Sorry, it does seem that activity on this blog has gone close a record low. So, let me quickly let you in on something. Fiona and I have set a date and will be getting married at St. Matthias Anglican Church Paddington on the the 2nd of December. In relation to the Wedding, the details are coming together quite nicely, and relatively stressfree.

Last night Fi and I went to a Music Appreciation night which Karen organised, the details are posted here, and we had a fun evening, and I was quite interested to hear more from some of the artists people chose.

Tonight it is off to the rain-soaked SCG to watch the Swans play the Bombers. It’s only the second game I’ve seen this year, I’m going with N. and my flatmates. It should be a good, even if a little cold and wet, night.

Another of the recent highlights was spending a weekend down in Canberra. I am actually beginning to think that I could quite easily live there – its close enough to Sydney to be able to go for the weekend, and at the same time the pace seems a touch or so slower than Sydney. The other highlight of our time there was the opportunity to catch up with Deb, and Fiona’s family and friends. It was quite a shame the weekend was as short as it was.

August will be quite a busy month for us – we have our church weekend away – we will hear a talks on leadership, which will be quite interesting. In a few weeks our church has a Search Conference, which will discuss our plans for our church. It should be quite an interesting meeting, and one that I am looking forward to.

Finally, I have to admit that I’m quite stoked that I will see U2 on my birthday with Fi and Lynley. :-)