The Best Song on U2's latest album HTDAAB new video.
Worth checking out if you have broadband.
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Saturday, February 26, 2005
No!, No and defintely No!
It seems West Australian's don't want extended trading hours.
I voted 'Yes' and 'No' in the referendum (Yes - extend week day trading to 9.00pm and No - to allow Sunday trading for 6 hours).
That is a surprising outcome for a scoiety that is increasingly demanding 'on-tap' convenience. Perth has also been labelled "Dullsville", and I often miss shopping time because of the hours I work.
But its a welcome outcome - all the same. People are thinking, I guess, and are saying we "dont want commerce to rule our lives", lets have and keep atleast some boundaries. Possibly, also there is an element of people wanting to protect the "under-dog" (small business) typical of the Australian psyche.
My "No on Sundays" vote is no reflection on my defining the Sabbath. The 'Sabbath' could well be a Saturday if a persons conviction is that they should keep a regualar day of rest in alignment with the times the Israelites were commanded to keep. My personal conviction is that of Romans 14, that Sabbath is any-time, spent in rest, in recreation (in the true sense of the word) or Chilling-out with God. It could be anytime.
On the other hand, it is good to keep a regular time or day - sort of like giving away a proportion or first-fruit of your income, lest we forget our top-priorities and let day to day activities (and lower priorities) tend to overwhelm us. (And admittedly, busy weekends tend to overwhelm me too). (Note to self must get finances and reflection time back in alignment with priorities).
It is not good to externally regualate or even protect a Christain lifestyle - it our behaviours should be a manifestation of the values of our hearts. However, boundaries that allow us time for work and trading, and time for leisure are not necessrily bad either.
So, I see the election outcome as positive on a number of counts.
1) We still have some boundaries with regards to our time and our commercial activities, although if this changes in the future I guess we will just have to self-regulate in alignment with our priorities.
2) And the positive for the State election - It appears that there are no Greens elected!
So for now its No!, No! and defintely No! Greens.
I voted 'Yes' and 'No' in the referendum (Yes - extend week day trading to 9.00pm and No - to allow Sunday trading for 6 hours).
That is a surprising outcome for a scoiety that is increasingly demanding 'on-tap' convenience. Perth has also been labelled "Dullsville", and I often miss shopping time because of the hours I work.
But its a welcome outcome - all the same. People are thinking, I guess, and are saying we "dont want commerce to rule our lives", lets have and keep atleast some boundaries. Possibly, also there is an element of people wanting to protect the "under-dog" (small business) typical of the Australian psyche.
My "No on Sundays" vote is no reflection on my defining the Sabbath. The 'Sabbath' could well be a Saturday if a persons conviction is that they should keep a regualar day of rest in alignment with the times the Israelites were commanded to keep. My personal conviction is that of Romans 14, that Sabbath is any-time, spent in rest, in recreation (in the true sense of the word) or Chilling-out with God. It could be anytime.
On the other hand, it is good to keep a regular time or day - sort of like giving away a proportion or first-fruit of your income, lest we forget our top-priorities and let day to day activities (and lower priorities) tend to overwhelm us. (And admittedly, busy weekends tend to overwhelm me too). (Note to self must get finances and reflection time back in alignment with priorities).
It is not good to externally regualate or even protect a Christain lifestyle - it our behaviours should be a manifestation of the values of our hearts. However, boundaries that allow us time for work and trading, and time for leisure are not necessrily bad either.
So, I see the election outcome as positive on a number of counts.
1) We still have some boundaries with regards to our time and our commercial activities, although if this changes in the future I guess we will just have to self-regulate in alignment with our priorities.
2) And the positive for the State election - It appears that there are no Greens elected!
So for now its No!, No! and defintely No! Greens.
Feel
Come and hold my hand
I wanna contact the living
Not sure I understand
This role I've been given
I sit and talk to God
And he just laughs at my plans
My head speaks a language
I don't understand
I just wanna feel
Real love feel the home that I live in
Cos I got too much life
Running through my veins
Going to waste
I don't wanna die
But I ain't keen on living either
Before I fall in love
I'm preparing to leave her
Scare myself to death
That's why I keep on running
Before I've arrived
I can see myself coming
I just wanna feel
Real love feel the home that I live in
Cos I got too much life
Running through my veins
Going to waste
And I need to feel
Real love and the love ever after
I can not get enough
I just wanna feel
Real love feel the home that I live in
I got too much love
Running through my veins
To go to waste
I just wanna feel
Real love and the love ever after
There's a hole in my soul
You can see it in my face
It's a real big place
Come and hold my hand
I wanna contact the living
Not sure I understand
This role I've been given
Not sure I understand
Not sure I understand
Not sure I understand
Not sure I understand
-Robbie Wliiiams (Escapology)
Lyrics from a song I can't get out my head.
Loyalty
My wife and I love entertaining. Rarely parties, but to have friends and colleagues over as couples for a meal, good food, good conversation and a few laughs.
Its been hectic at work, and because I have been working long hours over the summer period (I think I've missed summer this year) I took yesterday off. I helped out as parent helper (or volunteer child distractor) at my sons school. That's always fun.
The rest of the day was spent cleaning and cooking. I has my boss and his wife over last night. We have a great friendship as much as a good working relationship, so we thought it was time to honour them by way of a show of hospitality.
I slow roasted a leg of lamb, in rosemary and curry. My wife did the vegetables as only she can, as well as making a passionfuit pavlova. this was enjoyed with a couple of redbacks and a bottle of two peoples bay red (a label that is hawked by another colleague at work).
Throughout my career, I have known few better people to work for. Fair, just, family friendly, politically savvy. He has put together a great and loyal team, and created a fantastic and edifying work environment. There is low level of staff turnover as a consequence. My colleagues are simply the best.
A few things are on my mind, and some decison have to e made over the next few weeks. I have been asked to consider a position working for another a GM, a Christian, whom i also respect - moving from Business transformation to Strategy.
Its a funny thing, I wish the man upstairs would send me an email, telling me clearly which way to go.
Its been hectic at work, and because I have been working long hours over the summer period (I think I've missed summer this year) I took yesterday off. I helped out as parent helper (or volunteer child distractor) at my sons school. That's always fun.
The rest of the day was spent cleaning and cooking. I has my boss and his wife over last night. We have a great friendship as much as a good working relationship, so we thought it was time to honour them by way of a show of hospitality.
I slow roasted a leg of lamb, in rosemary and curry. My wife did the vegetables as only she can, as well as making a passionfuit pavlova. this was enjoyed with a couple of redbacks and a bottle of two peoples bay red (a label that is hawked by another colleague at work).
Throughout my career, I have known few better people to work for. Fair, just, family friendly, politically savvy. He has put together a great and loyal team, and created a fantastic and edifying work environment. There is low level of staff turnover as a consequence. My colleagues are simply the best.
A few things are on my mind, and some decison have to e made over the next few weeks. I have been asked to consider a position working for another a GM, a Christian, whom i also respect - moving from Business transformation to Strategy.
Its a funny thing, I wish the man upstairs would send me an email, telling me clearly which way to go.
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Passing Of a Writer
"As long as Nixon was politically alive--and he was, all theway to the end--we could always be sure of finding the enemy on the Low Road. There was no need to look anywhere else for the evil bastard. He had the fighting instinctsof a badger trapped by hounds. The badger will roll over on its back and emit a smell of death, which confuses the dogs and lures them in for the traditional ripping and tearing action. But it is usually the badger who does the ripping and tearing. It is a beast that fights best on its back: rolling under the throat of the enemy and seizing it by thehead with all four claws.
That was Nixon's style--and if you forgot, he would kill you as a lesson to the others. Badgers don't fight fair, bubba. That's why God made dachshunds".
-Hunter S. Thompson on Nixon (Rolling Stone 1994)
This is the writing of a notoriously dark American journalist. A man whose writing style and skill whom I could not hold a candle too.
Seemingly a melancholy, Thompson died at his own hand. Dark thoughts, dark life, dark ending. Some gifts are not to die for.
Monday, February 21, 2005
Parenting: Reunited
Truth is stranger than fiction.
The Headline in Australia today is a touching story of prominent politician (and now devout Catholic) Tony Abbott who adopted out his son about 27 years ago.
Its now come to light, that both father and son were woking closely together - unknown to each other. It could easily be story on s silver-platter for a "Touched-by-an-Angel" script-writer.
Imagine a son working so close to his Father, yet unaware of his identity. Though I guess its sort of like the question Jesus as the disciples - "who do you say I am?".
How many people exist every day so close yet so far away from their ultimate Father?
Via Baggas Blog.
The Headline in Australia today is a touching story of prominent politician (and now devout Catholic) Tony Abbott who adopted out his son about 27 years ago.
Its now come to light, that both father and son were woking closely together - unknown to each other. It could easily be story on s silver-platter for a "Touched-by-an-Angel" script-writer.
Imagine a son working so close to his Father, yet unaware of his identity. Though I guess its sort of like the question Jesus as the disciples - "who do you say I am?".
How many people exist every day so close yet so far away from their ultimate Father?
Via Baggas Blog.
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Trainspotting
I rather enjoy my twice daily train ride into the City. Its a time to talk to new people, and sometimes reaquaint with old school friends that you have not seen in the best part of a decade.
But most of all its a place to think, read and reflect.
This is time, precious time that can be used to grow. Interestibly, the majority of Sojourners aboard the train will fill their minds with lessons on 'how NOT to do life' from the tabloids. I hope they are learning too.
Oftimes, the train is so full that I don't get to read.
This morning was one of those mornings. So today, I was a more than a little presumptious and could not but help but read from the pages of a book of a young lady seated near me. (I still fell guilty, - hearing my mother's voice echo in my ears "reading over anothers shoulder is the height of rudeness").
But it was the pull quote that caught my eye:
Its funny, that this one sentence has being playing on my mind all day.
And this thought has been hung, drawn and quartered by other things that I have seen and heard. Including the lyrics of a Robbie WIlliams number "I want to live before I die" amongst other things. (Does God speak through these things I wonder or is it just the strange and random musings a distracted mind).
As trivial as it all is, I just wanted to capture the thought here.
But most of all its a place to think, read and reflect.
This is time, precious time that can be used to grow. Interestibly, the majority of Sojourners aboard the train will fill their minds with lessons on 'how NOT to do life' from the tabloids. I hope they are learning too.
Oftimes, the train is so full that I don't get to read.
This morning was one of those mornings. So today, I was a more than a little presumptious and could not but help but read from the pages of a book of a young lady seated near me. (I still fell guilty, - hearing my mother's voice echo in my ears "reading over anothers shoulder is the height of rudeness").
But it was the pull quote that caught my eye:
"If we live in the light of eternity, we cannot help but live with a different set of values".
Its funny, that this one sentence has being playing on my mind all day.
And this thought has been hung, drawn and quartered by other things that I have seen and heard. Including the lyrics of a Robbie WIlliams number "I want to live before I die" amongst other things. (Does God speak through these things I wonder or is it just the strange and random musings a distracted mind).
As trivial as it all is, I just wanted to capture the thought here.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Hot in the City
I haven't got much time to Blog at the momment...under the pump at work. Early days and late nights, but the work is stimulating.
I did not get to leave the office until 8pm...but even then it was like a furnace in the City. It was 42 celcius today (108 degrees farenheit).
And then the 4km run home from the train station...that's sheer stupidity!
I did not get to leave the office until 8pm...but even then it was like a furnace in the City. It was 42 celcius today (108 degrees farenheit).
And then the 4km run home from the train station...that's sheer stupidity!
Sunday, February 13, 2005
On Women, Mechanics and Cars
Yesterday a mate was having some work done at the Ford dealer.
A woman [Could be any woman on the planet] came in and asked for a "seven-hundred-ten".
They all looked at each other, and the mechanic asked, "What is a seven-hundred-ten?" She replied, "You know, the little piece in the middle of the engine. I lost it and need a new one. It had always been there."
The mechanic gave the woman a piece of paper and a pen and asked her to draw what the piece looked like. She drew a circle and in the middle of it wrote 710.
He then took her over to another car which had the bonnet up and asked, "Is there a 710 on this car?"
She pointed and said, "Of course, its right there."
Now click here to learn what a 710 is. (Note: You may need to scroll up a little).
A woman [Could be any woman on the planet] came in and asked for a "seven-hundred-ten".
They all looked at each other, and the mechanic asked, "What is a seven-hundred-ten?" She replied, "You know, the little piece in the middle of the engine. I lost it and need a new one. It had always been there."
The mechanic gave the woman a piece of paper and a pen and asked her to draw what the piece looked like. She drew a circle and in the middle of it wrote 710.
He then took her over to another car which had the bonnet up and asked, "Is there a 710 on this car?"
She pointed and said, "Of course, its right there."
Now click here to learn what a 710 is. (Note: You may need to scroll up a little).
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Life, Love and Mortality
This morning, I took my 10 month son for walk while I let my wife sleep-in a little longer. First stop a couple of kilometers away - a cafe where I had a shot of coffee and fed him some ‘baby-food’. Then to the beach where he could play in the sand we had a ball.
Like a baby turtle, hatched in the sand, I would place him on the beach and he would rotate and crawl without hesitation to the waters edge - leaving little tracks behind him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A few thoughts rushed through my head.
The first was that I was initially reluctant to have a second child as I never thought that my love would extend beyond my first.
This is flawed thinking. Something you cannot comprehend until you have experienced the birth of a second child.
Love divides and multiplies infinitely. Each child is loved no more and no less than another.
The second thought was that its is a privilege to have life, to give life and to share life experiences with others - particulary our children.
I thought to myself would it be preferable to have life everlasting and to enjoy life eternally but not the ability to procreate and bring others into existence to partake in what life has to offer.
Or to be mortal but have the privilege of bring another life into the world to enjoy the same experiences.
I would definitely choose the latter.
Although, we know that with the Hope that is offered beyond this life – we can have our cake and it eat too!
And just maybe, this will give us a glimpse into why the Father has created and brought beings to life, to love and to immortality.
Like a baby turtle, hatched in the sand, I would place him on the beach and he would rotate and crawl without hesitation to the waters edge - leaving little tracks behind him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A few thoughts rushed through my head.
The first was that I was initially reluctant to have a second child as I never thought that my love would extend beyond my first.
This is flawed thinking. Something you cannot comprehend until you have experienced the birth of a second child.
Love divides and multiplies infinitely. Each child is loved no more and no less than another.
The second thought was that its is a privilege to have life, to give life and to share life experiences with others - particulary our children.
I thought to myself would it be preferable to have life everlasting and to enjoy life eternally but not the ability to procreate and bring others into existence to partake in what life has to offer.
Or to be mortal but have the privilege of bring another life into the world to enjoy the same experiences.
I would definitely choose the latter.
Although, we know that with the Hope that is offered beyond this life – we can have our cake and it eat too!
And just maybe, this will give us a glimpse into why the Father has created and brought beings to life, to love and to immortality.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Charmed
Just a musing thought. I dropped my 7 yo son (Spiderboy) at school today and was walking with him to meet his new Teacher.
He asked me to race him to the school buildings. Feeling a little too ‘dignified’ to run I declined his invitation telling him that “No mate - I am in my work suit.”
He thought for a second and then, a wry grin came over his face. And then with all of the charm that only a 7 year old can muster he said—“Come on Dad, you will look like a secret agent –and that would be really cool!”.
I really love that Boy!
He asked me to race him to the school buildings. Feeling a little too ‘dignified’ to run I declined his invitation telling him that “No mate - I am in my work suit.”
He thought for a second and then, a wry grin came over his face. And then with all of the charm that only a 7 year old can muster he said—“Come on Dad, you will look like a secret agent –and that would be really cool!”.
I really love that Boy!
Sunday, February 06, 2005
On Over - Blogging
"Of making many posts there is no end, and much blogging is a weariness of the flesh" -Ecclesiastes 12:12 LCV (Latest Contemprary Version).
Think
Think
Saturday, February 05, 2005
Self Centredness
Some random thoughts on things running through my mind...
This, I find as the scariest passage in the Bible. I am no professional Bible scholar, but I do believe that this passage may be more about selfishness than about "the money".
This young man was so self-centred (self-absorbed) ie. "its all about me" - that Jesus had to recommend 'radical action'.
Like so many men that I know, and associate with, I see alot of myself in this man - a self-reliance, a level of arrogance, self-importance and a degree of inner emptiness. Most of all, this man seemed to admire his own reflection - an unrealistic image of his true-self.
Possibly this man's problem was really extreme narcissism which according to my readings is so interwined with self that it, (like perhaps homosexuality) is so incredibly hard to cure.
Though atleast ther is hope...The Bible goes on to state "27Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
17As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good–except God alone. 19You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’[d]”
20“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
This, I find as the scariest passage in the Bible. I am no professional Bible scholar, but I do believe that this passage may be more about selfishness than about "the money".
This young man was so self-centred (self-absorbed) ie. "its all about me" - that Jesus had to recommend 'radical action'.
Like so many men that I know, and associate with, I see alot of myself in this man - a self-reliance, a level of arrogance, self-importance and a degree of inner emptiness. Most of all, this man seemed to admire his own reflection - an unrealistic image of his true-self.
Possibly this man's problem was really extreme narcissism which according to my readings is so interwined with self that it, (like perhaps homosexuality) is so incredibly hard to cure.
Though atleast ther is hope...The Bible goes on to state "27Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
Friday, February 04, 2005
Clarity
Nothing quite clears the mind like a good run; a few drinks and a few laughs at the pub with some friends.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Collaboration
I’m feeling a little uncomfortably comfortable at present.
Our systems upgrade Project is running smoothly and the Team is energised and working collaboratively –we are ahead of schedule and there are no icebergs on the horizon. Meetings are fun, and we have injected some humour into each and that assists in elevating the atmosphere.
---------------------------------------------------------------
However as an organisation, we need to work less competitively and more collaboratively if we are really going to move forward. Politics, turf wars, self-interest and malice are killers of potential. Sometimes I think that the greatest threats come from the inside.
I find that Grace is best dspensed over coffee.
Our systems upgrade Project is running smoothly and the Team is energised and working collaboratively –we are ahead of schedule and there are no icebergs on the horizon. Meetings are fun, and we have injected some humour into each and that assists in elevating the atmosphere.
---------------------------------------------------------------
However as an organisation, we need to work less competitively and more collaboratively if we are really going to move forward. Politics, turf wars, self-interest and malice are killers of potential. Sometimes I think that the greatest threats come from the inside.
I find that Grace is best dspensed over coffee.
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Friendships
"The better part of one's life consists of his friendships". -Author: Abraham Lincoln (1809-65), 16th US President, Republican
Blogging is a great past-time;
And I want to say I sincerely value the friendships that I have made via this and your own Blogs...and getting to know some of you by email a little better who live in countries far away that I will not likely visit ...at least in the forseeable future. Perhaps one day we might meet.
You people see a side of me, perhaps in someways a little less fallible, and in others a little more. It is here that I anonomously express those thoughts frustrations, doubts and also those dreams about who I would like to be.
I also am grateful to God for authentic friends I see in flesh & blood, who are by nature a lot less intense than me - but alot more fun!. Some of the guy's I have known since school, or just a little later, one is as close as a Brother. They are my "best men", and also those to whom I am honoured to be a 'God parent' to their own children. These are men I know I can trust.
And of course for my soul-mate, who has enough God-given grace to put up with my insecurities and love me for all that I am. She has taught me how to accept love and to give love like no other.
You can never go wrong by marrying your best friend.
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