Neither Fifi or I got teary when our last daughter, Lily Violet, started at school a few weeks ago. It was almost a relief to look forward to a more structured day with larger bits of discretionary time.
But today I got a slightly weepy call from Fifi at the shops, where up until now she had been going with our motor-mouthed Lily Violet and receiving a running commentary on each and every item of shopping and associated activity. Lily Violet, working with the limited vocabulary of a five year old, is usually able to find three things to say about every element of her life. Like a good preacher, she tells you what she is about to say, then she tells you, then she tells you what she just said. It is quite infuriating and one of the most delightful aspects of having her as our daughter.
And now I'm feeling a bit sad too.
Friday, 29 February 2008
Psalm 2
In an effort to clear heart and mind, and do a much needed rethink about ministry from a fresh angle, I've been reading Martin Luther's Table Talk in the last few days. The blessing of reading Luther is that he helps us rethink ministry and life itself by pointing back to Scripture. Here he is on one of his favourite Psalms, Psalm 2:
The second Psalm is one of the best Psalms. I love that Psalm with my heart. It strikes and flashes valiantly amongst kings, princes, counsellors, judges, etc. If what this Psalm says be true, then are the allegations and aims of the papists stark lies and folly. If I were as our Lord God, and had committed the government to my son, as he to his Son, and these vile people were as disobedient as they now be, I would knock the world in pieces.
Table Talk, "Of God's Works", CXI.
Typically violent and passionate language from the great German. But where did he get this extreme mode of speech? Read and learn:
2:1 Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”7 I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
-Psalm 2
How wonderful, too, that we can find refuge (2:12) in this Son with the rod of iron.
Thursday, 28 February 2008
Some money thoughts from Martin
Martin Luther talks money:
Covered over with the shovel. The best fate of all for grumbling sinners.
Table Talk, "Of God's works" LXXIV.
How should God deal with us? Good days we cannot bear, evil we cannot endure. Gives he riches unto us? then are we proud, so that no man can live by us in peace; nay, we will be carried upon heads and shoulders, and will be adored as gods. Gives he poverty unto us? then are we dismayed, impatient, and murmur against him. Therefore, nothing were better for us, than forthwith to be covered over with the shovel.
Covered over with the shovel. The best fate of all for grumbling sinners.
Table Talk, "Of God's works" LXXIV.
Clutter
Here's an article about clutter from today's SMH.
Which reminds me.
"Buy now and save 10%!"
"Don't buy at all and save 100%!!"
Which reminds me.
"Buy now and save 10%!"
"Don't buy at all and save 100%!!"
bucolic
This word sounds far too like 'bubonic' for my comfort. I doubt that I'll ever use it in a sentence.
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
Sydney Philharmonia—I'm in
My darling wife Fifi has been encouraging me for a while to get back into a choir. I love it, and she loves it that I love it. Her concern for my happiness is gracious and undeserved.
So, last week I just wandered in with the crowd at the Sydney Philharmonia and looked over someone's shoulder, more or less hoping I'd blend in. But some of these choir dudes are pretty sharp, and anyway Shelley who invited me had introduced me to some of them, so last night I had to audition.
It was not a friendly audition, let me say. Not like auditioning for the Victoria Chorale, where I have only the faintest memory of even having to do it, or for the Melbourne Chamber Choir, where the delightful but slightly dotty Faye Dumont told me what a wonderful sight-reading job I was doing. And although it was not unfriendly either, this was more like being hauled up in front of the judges in one of those 'You've Got Talent' things you see on the telly, except without the audience; in the back room with a small piano. (Do you remember the bit in John Safran vs God where he auditions for the Harlem Gospel Choir?) Short on time, down to business.
I was hoarse, it's been 10 years since I sang in a serious choir, so there I was with my Christian Praise hymn book in hand, slightly nervous. Cheerful hello from Brett the director, "Come through here please." No warm-ups, brisk "what are you going to sing for us?" I launched tentatively into verse one of No. 89, Thou who was rich, beyond all splendour. "Second verse please, this time would you sing out, sing operatically and give us a lot of sostenuto".
Limped through that, and we went straight into some frighteningly atonal sequences of five to eight notes at a time. "I'll play these once, then you sing them please." Half a dozen of those."Sing the bottom note of each of these chords please." Half a dozen of those. Now are there any of these hymns you don't know?—actually that's a leading question isn't it, here's what we're singing tonight, start from there please." I sing. Brett stops playing and stands up "OK, now I'm going to stand next to you, you take the bass line, I'll take the baritone, from here, 3—4—." We sing.
"Good, I'll need to listen to you again. Oh, you're in by the way, what part did you sing last week? OK, you'll need to look on again, make sure you sit at the end of the row."
Polite, to the point, and so I sight-read my way through another evening of choir. It was quite the most intense audition I've ever had. But nothing at all compared to the three young people auditioning for the part of assistant conductor. They had half an hour each, doing Brett's work for him, on some of the most difficult choral music I've seen in a very long time indeed (Poulenc's Stabat Mater).
So now we perform in about three weeks. I got my own copy of the music for the first time at the end of last night's rehearsal. For some reason I'm thinking about the badges I used to get after doing first aid tests in the Air Scouts.
I couldn't be happier!
Oh, and Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour has a glorious statement of the reason for Christ's incarnation in the second verse, so I was happy to sing it out loud and strong:
So, last week I just wandered in with the crowd at the Sydney Philharmonia and looked over someone's shoulder, more or less hoping I'd blend in. But some of these choir dudes are pretty sharp, and anyway Shelley who invited me had introduced me to some of them, so last night I had to audition.
It was not a friendly audition, let me say. Not like auditioning for the Victoria Chorale, where I have only the faintest memory of even having to do it, or for the Melbourne Chamber Choir, where the delightful but slightly dotty Faye Dumont told me what a wonderful sight-reading job I was doing. And although it was not unfriendly either, this was more like being hauled up in front of the judges in one of those 'You've Got Talent' things you see on the telly, except without the audience; in the back room with a small piano. (Do you remember the bit in John Safran vs God where he auditions for the Harlem Gospel Choir?) Short on time, down to business.
I was hoarse, it's been 10 years since I sang in a serious choir, so there I was with my Christian Praise hymn book in hand, slightly nervous. Cheerful hello from Brett the director, "Come through here please." No warm-ups, brisk "what are you going to sing for us?" I launched tentatively into verse one of No. 89, Thou who was rich, beyond all splendour. "Second verse please, this time would you sing out, sing operatically and give us a lot of sostenuto".
Limped through that, and we went straight into some frighteningly atonal sequences of five to eight notes at a time. "I'll play these once, then you sing them please." Half a dozen of those."Sing the bottom note of each of these chords please." Half a dozen of those. Now are there any of these hymns you don't know?—actually that's a leading question isn't it, here's what we're singing tonight, start from there please." I sing. Brett stops playing and stands up "OK, now I'm going to stand next to you, you take the bass line, I'll take the baritone, from here, 3—4—." We sing.
"Good, I'll need to listen to you again. Oh, you're in by the way, what part did you sing last week? OK, you'll need to look on again, make sure you sit at the end of the row."
Polite, to the point, and so I sight-read my way through another evening of choir. It was quite the most intense audition I've ever had. But nothing at all compared to the three young people auditioning for the part of assistant conductor. They had half an hour each, doing Brett's work for him, on some of the most difficult choral music I've seen in a very long time indeed (Poulenc's Stabat Mater).
So now we perform in about three weeks. I got my own copy of the music for the first time at the end of last night's rehearsal. For some reason I'm thinking about the badges I used to get after doing first aid tests in the Air Scouts.
I couldn't be happier!
Oh, and Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour has a glorious statement of the reason for Christ's incarnation in the second verse, so I was happy to sing it out loud and strong:
2. Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love's sake becamest man;
Stooping so low, but sinners raising
Heavenwards by thine eternal plan!
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love's sake becamest man.
Implanted iPhone
Timothy didn't like my implanted iPhone idea at all. But in a few years time this will be much less invasive than a hip replacement, fillings, surgery to correct eyesight or a pacemaker, and we all accept these things as being anything from useful through to necessary.
In fact, check out this artificial heart. For some reason I especially like the bit in that linked article that says "In this article, you will get an in-depth look at how this new artificial heart works, how it's implanted into a patient's chest and who might be a candidate for receiving one of these mechanical hearts. We will also compare the AbioCor heart to the artificial hearts that have failed in the past."
If you had to get one of those suckers, or pumpers, you might as well get the scaled down wireless iPhone equivalent of 5 years from now implanted along with it.
In a short while I would say that my iPhone implant idea will be able to be powered by a person's body movement.
In fact, check out this artificial heart. For some reason I especially like the bit in that linked article that says "In this article, you will get an in-depth look at how this new artificial heart works, how it's implanted into a patient's chest and who might be a candidate for receiving one of these mechanical hearts. We will also compare the AbioCor heart to the artificial hearts that have failed in the past."
If you had to get one of those suckers, or pumpers, you might as well get the scaled down wireless iPhone equivalent of 5 years from now implanted along with it.
In a short while I would say that my iPhone implant idea will be able to be powered by a person's body movement.
Two words: China, India
Ross Gittins explains why nothing we do about reigning in emissions here in Australia will make the faintest carbon smudge of difference.
London—public transport that works
Elizabeth Farrelly writes about public transport that works. The London Underground carried more than a billion people in 2006-2007, a record.
If you can live with expressions like 'peristaltic brio', it's a good article.
If you can live with expressions like 'peristaltic brio', it's a good article.
Be perfect, love your enemies
Ooh, ooh, this is very exciting everyone! AB has another blog entry up already! This one is a very challenging one about the Lord's command to 'Be perfect', with one of the applications being to love your enemies.
All the Christian in the Media people who benefitted from AB and Mrs AB's ministry will surely appreciate the effort he's putting into his blog here. I think it's great that others are able to as well.
All the Christian in the Media people who benefitted from AB and Mrs AB's ministry will surely appreciate the effort he's putting into his blog here. I think it's great that others are able to as well.
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
Found!
My mobile phone! (US cellphone)
In five years time, when the technology has advanced to the point where I'm satisfied with it, I'll be surgically implanting the then equivalent of an iPhone into my left forearm, with a wireless connection to the speaker input device implanted subcutaneously in or near my jawbone.
I will still forget things but I won't lose them. Ever.
In five years time, when the technology has advanced to the point where I'm satisfied with it, I'll be surgically implanting the then equivalent of an iPhone into my left forearm, with a wireless connection to the speaker input device implanted subcutaneously in or near my jawbone.
I will still forget things but I won't lose them. Ever.
Canadian Anglicans
Q. What happens when a liberal diocese in Canada attempts to evict a theologically conservative minister and his congregation from its own church, and replace him and them with a theologically liberal minister who believes in the ordination of practicing homosexuals?
A. Nobody turns up.
A. Nobody turns up.
Go to the ant
"Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise."
-Proverbs 6:6
And I often do, whenever I go out in the morning to play with the worm farm and the compost. The ant has all sorts of useful things to teach about time management. In fact here is a time management riddle:
Q. How did the ant eat the elephant?
A. One bite at a time.
There you are, Grasshopper... When you can snatch this wisdom from my hand, it will be time for you to leave.
However, I am a worm and not a man (Ps 22:6), so I am a little frightened of ants. Indeed, a sluggardly worm, so Proverbs 6:6 opens up an abyss of terror, on the other side of which is learning.
-Proverbs 6:6
And I often do, whenever I go out in the morning to play with the worm farm and the compost. The ant has all sorts of useful things to teach about time management. In fact here is a time management riddle:
Q. How did the ant eat the elephant?
A. One bite at a time.
There you are, Grasshopper... When you can snatch this wisdom from my hand, it will be time for you to leave.
However, I am a worm and not a man (Ps 22:6), so I am a little frightened of ants. Indeed, a sluggardly worm, so Proverbs 6:6 opens up an abyss of terror, on the other side of which is learning.
Faith-based schools
Rikk Watts has a fine letter in today's Age, answering a complaint about faith-based schools referred to yesterday.
It was the lead letter. Rikk's an interesting man, a lecturer in New Testament at Regent College, Vancouver. I heard him speak for the charismatic Christian group at Melbourne Uni in the '90s, and it was good to hear a man from a different theological perspective working hard at the detail of the text of Acts.
THE Federal Government is deeply concerned about faith-based schools ("Faith school boom creates division", The Age, 25/2). And why? Because they do not believe in evolution.
Dear me, how could their students ever become good citizens, responsible parents, capable doctors and helpful shop assistants, or design homes, plan their budgets, get their children to school and write computer programs?
The very idea that life might have a purpose and humans are not merely accidents wandering towards extinction is obviously a profound threat to our collective social cohesion and self-image.
It gets worse: they actually believe (as have, and do, large sections of humanity for millenniums) that in the long run it's healthier for a marriage not to engage in premarital sex.
One could add to this frightful list that these schools often have lower levels of violence, better classroom control, more parent input, and also teach such patently divisive attitudes as showing respect for those with whom you disagree, and loving your neighbour and even your enemy.
Normally, as an expatriate teaching overseas, I'm proud to be Australian. But this is a deeply embarrassing throwback to the Big Brother, Orwellian mentality of the old dyed-in-the-wool, lock-step leftists.
Welcome to the new, improved, non-faith-based Inquisition.
Rikk Watts, Vancouver, Canada
It was the lead letter. Rikk's an interesting man, a lecturer in New Testament at Regent College, Vancouver. I heard him speak for the charismatic Christian group at Melbourne Uni in the '90s, and it was good to hear a man from a different theological perspective working hard at the detail of the text of Acts.
Monday, 25 February 2008
Rickie Lee Jones
When he pulled off the road
Step in a waltz of red moonbeams
Said he fit an APB,
A robbery nearby
And he go for his wallet
And they thought he was going for a gun
And the cops blew Bird away
Some kids like watching Saturday cartoons
Some girls listen to records all day in their rooms
But what do birds leave behind,
of the wings that they came with
If a son's in a tree building model planes?
Skeletons,
Skeletons.
Step in a waltz of red moonbeams
Said he fit an APB,
A robbery nearby
And he go for his wallet
And they thought he was going for a gun
And the cops blew Bird away
Some kids like watching Saturday cartoons
Some girls listen to records all day in their rooms
But what do birds leave behind,
of the wings that they came with
If a son's in a tree building model planes?
Skeletons,
Skeletons.
Alcoholism
The rate of alcoholism in Australia is getting worse. Given the age of many of the people involved (young) this will be a damaging and costly problem for many decades.
Muslim Death threats against English bishop
Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali has received death threats because of comments he made about some parts of Britain becoming no-go areas for non-Muslims.
It would be good to pray for the man that, as well as being kept physically safe, God will enable him to say worthwhile things publicly about the Lordship of Jesus.
It would be good to pray for the man that, as well as being kept physically safe, God will enable him to say worthwhile things publicly about the Lordship of Jesus.
Lost
Lost my mobile phone. Lost my glasses. Somewhere in the house. The house is looking cleaner than it has in weeks.
Now where's my wallet? Where's my diary? Where's my laptop? Where are my car keys? Where's my bus ticket? Where's my USB memory device? Who am I? Why are you looking at me in that funny way?
Now where's my wallet? Where's my diary? Where's my laptop? Where are my car keys? Where's my bus ticket? Where's my USB memory device? Who am I? Why are you looking at me in that funny way?
The Law of Moses points to Jesus
I always appreciate Andrew Barry's infrequent blog posts. In this entry he explains how the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is not about the Law of Moses, but something fundamentally new—Jesus.
Here he explains an important parallel:
He never calls people back to the OT Law. He calls people to obey Him. His implicit message is in line with that of the apostle Paul - 'Don't follow Moses, instead follow me.' Don't follow the morning star when the sun has just risen. His last words to his disciples before his ascension reflect his last words in his sermon."Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20)
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." (Matthew 7:24)
Had anyone else noticed how Jesus final words in Matthew reflect his final words in the sermon on the Mount? I hadn't. Thanks Andrew.
Sunday, 24 February 2008
Why don't we rip clothes any more?
I was recently in discussion with someone who pointed to various Old Testament references to show that music (as opposed to plain old singing) really mattered and we ought to make sure we do it well in church.
I came across as similar suggestion, only this time it was someone arguing that we ought to rip our clothes in church. They point out that there are far more references to this activity in worship than there are to raising your hands, singing, or dancing. And if you do one, you ought to go the whole hog and do all.
Shouldn't you?
I came across as similar suggestion, only this time it was someone arguing that we ought to rip our clothes in church. They point out that there are far more references to this activity in worship than there are to raising your hands, singing, or dancing. And if you do one, you ought to go the whole hog and do all.
Shouldn't you?
Saturday, 23 February 2008
ricotta
Did I mention ricotta?
It needs to be fresh, though, and not swimming in a sea of its own leaked liquid.
Fresh, with a hint of saltiness, in large quantities, covered in honey, with crumpet.
Lily Violet still just wanted the weetbix, though.
It needs to be fresh, though, and not swimming in a sea of its own leaked liquid.
Fresh, with a hint of saltiness, in large quantities, covered in honey, with crumpet.
Lily Violet still just wanted the weetbix, though.
kitchen clean
OK, so, the kitchen's clean and we're ready for a bit of hospitality.
Mitcho and Helen coming 'round tomorrow night. We've been meaning to have them 'round for about four years, and it's finally happening. Sorry the rest of you who are still waiting for your invitation, we haven't forgotten and if it's not soon it will be in eternity, the heavenly banquet.
Mitcho and Helen coming 'round tomorrow night. We've been meaning to have them 'round for about four years, and it's finally happening. Sorry the rest of you who are still waiting for your invitation, we haven't forgotten and if it's not soon it will be in eternity, the heavenly banquet.
Causes of happiness
Three daughters between the ages of 5 and 10.
Sunlight.
Walking up to the shops. And back. And having the handle on one of the three bags break, and not losing any of the contents.
Cheerful people. Speaking of which, we had Greetings on the Green at the school where all three of our girls now go. A band with clarinets and drums, four serious and intent facepainted girls blowing on flutes. Food, wine, friends, and Alan describing the technical details of the operation he'd seen on TV last night, and wondering how a lady in her 70s could lose all her fingers on one hand, but the nailpolish still be intact.
She got the use of her fingers back, but Alan hadn't seen the whole show and we were wondering about the details.
I reckon that lady is pretty happy, well short-term happiness anyway. Oops, sliver of negativity creeping in there. No, she'd have to be happy wouldn't she?
Anyway, lovely late summer evening. And a lovely late summer Saturday stretching out in front of us.
Sunlight.
Walking up to the shops. And back. And having the handle on one of the three bags break, and not losing any of the contents.
Cheerful people. Speaking of which, we had Greetings on the Green at the school where all three of our girls now go. A band with clarinets and drums, four serious and intent facepainted girls blowing on flutes. Food, wine, friends, and Alan describing the technical details of the operation he'd seen on TV last night, and wondering how a lady in her 70s could lose all her fingers on one hand, but the nailpolish still be intact.
She got the use of her fingers back, but Alan hadn't seen the whole show and we were wondering about the details.
I reckon that lady is pretty happy, well short-term happiness anyway. Oops, sliver of negativity creeping in there. No, she'd have to be happy wouldn't she?
Anyway, lovely late summer evening. And a lovely late summer Saturday stretching out in front of us.
Friday, 22 February 2008
The power of forgiveness
A report in today's SMH talks about the power of forgiveness to heal.
From the article:
Mind you, the article can only argue the benefits from a secular perspective, without giving anything other than personal benefit as the reason for taking the step of forgiving, and what's more, locating the power to forgive in the will of the one forgiving. That's a shaky reed indeed!
Christians struggle to forgive others too. But they know that the source of all power to forgive comes from God, and is based on the overwhelming and infinite grace that God has shown to us in Jesus Christ. The source of our ability to forgive others is our thankfulness and knowledge of what God has done for us.
This is not easy! But without knowledge of God's forgiveness, it is close to impossible, and may even be impossible.
From the article:
Many researchers think forgiveness - a virtue embraced by almost every religious tradition as a balm for the soul - may be medicine for the body. They have shown that "forgiveness interventions" - often just a couple of short sessions in which the wounded are guided towards positive feelings for an offender - can improve cardiovascular function, diminish chronic pain, relieve depression and boost quality of life among the very ill.
Mind you, the article can only argue the benefits from a secular perspective, without giving anything other than personal benefit as the reason for taking the step of forgiving, and what's more, locating the power to forgive in the will of the one forgiving. That's a shaky reed indeed!
Christians struggle to forgive others too. But they know that the source of all power to forgive comes from God, and is based on the overwhelming and infinite grace that God has shown to us in Jesus Christ. The source of our ability to forgive others is our thankfulness and knowledge of what God has done for us.
Col. 3:12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
This is not easy! But without knowledge of God's forgiveness, it is close to impossible, and may even be impossible.
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Will we be happy?
Will we be happy and content when we can't even read about our Lord Jesus? Jean quotes D. Martyn Lloyd Jones.
I'll-Stray-Ya Post
At Matthias Media we just got a letter from Australia Post advising that the cost of posting a standard letter was about to go up from 50c to 55c.
It was posted on December 4 from Lidcombe in Sydney's inner west, and took 11 weeks to get over here to the Eastern Suburbs.
It was posted on December 4 from Lidcombe in Sydney's inner west, and took 11 weeks to get over here to the Eastern Suburbs.
The power of puritan preaching
According to Iain Murray, it was their doctrine of final judgement that underpinned the power of puritan preaching.
Infidelity
On Monday just gone Paul Sheehan had an extremely silly article encouraging bored and frustrated middle-aged women to be unfaithful to their husbands.
Today in the Sydney Morning Herald Andrew Cameron, ethics lecturer at Moore College, has a response.
From Andrew's article:
In his clarion call for "middle-aged" women to leave their arid marriages, Paul Sheehan effects the posture of gallant ally to unhappy women in the struggle against "routine, obligation, fear, guilt and the dogma of the Judeo-Christian-Islamic religious tradition" ("In praise of desire and infidelity", February 18).
But sexual politics can blind us to the obvious. Put his rhetoric of liberation on hold and consider: what would we have thought if the cardigan-wearing cynic, and the fat slob with the remote, were women? What if men were urged not to pretend they are "middle-aged", and to go forth and renew their sensuality with nubile young things?...
In an argument throughout the Gospels, Jesus attacks his contemporaries for their divorces of convenience to remarry young things, and "everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew chapter 5, verse 28). The point is not to amplify male guilt. He wants men to direct their sexual energy toward their wives, as in the ancient proverb "Take pleasure in the wife of your youth … be lost in her love forever."
and other good things!
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