Stories with Bite

One Englishman is lucky to be alive while attacked by a Great White - this time in South Africa...

On the subject of Sharks and South African's - this man has to be crazy!

Also, in case you are at all interested...it seems that the only Great White in captivity at the Monterey Bay Aquarium has literally had its nose put out of joint...and is attacking other sharks in the aquarium.

Resurection

Casualties of War

"There must be (on the spot) excellent doctors, skilled in healing wounds and extracting missiles, equipped with the appropriate medicines and instruments..." Philo of Byzantium, 3d Century B.C".Via.

This morning I was reflecting on a comment made on Phil Baker’s Blog (which always provides food for thought) that people in the Church should be less focused on their own needs, and more focused on service to Christ and what they give to the Kingdom.

This is so true in our "'Its all about me' ―Consumer Culture".

However, if people in the Church are to be compared to an army of soldiers who go in "boots and all" as per the correct analogy used, (noting that "onward Christian soldier" is a a great driving analogy that somewhere in our recent history we seem to have lost) then possibly the Church could learn much from the great armies of history.

It occurred to me that one of the factors that made the Roman Army, so great was the fact that it had trained medics that would go right into the warzone caring for their fallen and wounded – those who need food or drink, those who are metaphorical Prisoners of War, those left without shelter, in the cold, sick or lonely.

"The importance of medical support in military campaigns is documented throughout the history of civilization. The Sumerians, 4000 to 2000 B.C., may have been one of the first of the world's armies to provide organized medical care to forces in the field. Chiseled into the Stele of Vultures (a monument dating to 2525 B.C.) is a picture depicting the collection of wounded and the digging of graves for those who had perished. Perhaps the Sumerians were also the first to recognize the need for surgeons to be close to the action.

There exists text documenting the complaints of soldiers that the physicians remained in the rear areas to avoid capture or harm.

It was, however, the Roman Empire that put the word "medic" in our language. The Roman's unit level medical officer was known as the "medicus" and their equivalent of today's enlisted medic was called "medicus ordinarius". The medicus ordinarious was drawn from the ranks of soldiers and trained by the Roman army. Our own armed forces traditionally train and employ technicians to care for troops in the field just as the early Romans did. Today they are called "medic, corpsman, or med tech." The simplicity of this word, medic, is underscored by the immense contributions made for their brothers and sisters in uniform. The military medic's history is richly diverse - with many tales of personal sacrifice and valor".




It’s great to send cards, emails and gift baskets, but we must take more risks, get better and perhaps a little more courageous in caring for our own casualties. We need to take risks and get out of the comfort of our base camps and into the warzone. I need to get much better at it myself.

Take time to place a call, or to personally visit, to provide meal, or baby-sit kids.

When we care for our casualties of war – we do in fact care and serve Christ himself "boots and all". (Matthew 25:34-39).

Black

Black.

It represents the Night. Death. Depression and Melancholy. It’s thought to be the colour of Evil. It is separation from light. And is symbolic of separation from life. And of oblivion.

Today is Good Friday.

A day the traditional Church typically drapes it’s alter in Black.

Powerful.

In its simplicity, one of the most powerful and moving symbols of this sombre day was several years ago when one man, John*, a tanned and burly bricklayer and active army reservist, a real man complete with tatoo’s who stood out in a congregation conspiculouly under represented with rugged masculinity, entered the small Church we were attending at the time, carrying a heavy wooden cross.

He then proceeded to hammer, four six-inch nails into the cross.

One at a time.

Bang!!! Bang!!! Bang!!! Bang!!!

Each strike of the hammer seemed to echo through my ears, and then resonate through the length of my entire body ― before reaching its final destination - etching an imprint that has been taken captive by my mind, Forever.

Lord, thank you for this Tradition. For this day.

Black.



*not his real name.

Eight

Tommorrow is our Eighth anniversary.

I have to say that I am truly fortunate to have married such a beautiful capable wife. Someone that you feel so comfortable with, and who is your best friend.

I want to celebrate. So I would like to take her to dinner at my favourite restaurant 'jacksons' (where she has never been before). It is rather expensive - and as we don't go out all that often, just the two of us, I want to do it with some level of class. (All I need now is a competent baby-sitter!). (More likely we will end up at a family restaurant though).

I was reflecting about how we are growing in our marriage of late. So now after eight years - I think I am only now learning to speak "Wife".

My wife called out to me the other day - "Darling - I've just put the cash card back in your wallet".

For the first time it clicked...what she reaaly said was "Darling - there is no money left in the Bank account, so I've just taken all the money out of your wallet".

Ahh marriage...its truly a gift from God!

Shark Attack

Sadly another Shark Attack off our coast yesterday.

Crook As A Dog!!!

My family and I have all caught the lurgy bug - I took today off to care for our 11 month old who has been flu-ish all week.

My wife has got it bow and so have I. Now my 7 yo is complaining of a stomach ache...as a family we like to share and do things together I guess.

So, normal programming will resume asap. :-)

Feeler

Quick break from writing a report - its gonna be a late night.

But listening to the best Australian album of 2004 - 'Pete Murray' - "Feeler".

Esp[ecially "So Beautiful"

Buy it!

Blogging Lite

I'm going underground (or should I say "Underwater") this week - far too much to do:

1) Finishing constructing and building a gate out of an old 'dunny' (toliet) door for our house. I love the concept of recycling and the door is over 60 years old - made of beautiful solid jarrah. It's amazing the things you can do with some thought, and some good power-tools borrowed from a brother - and an industrious wife!.

2) Back into study. Lots of reading - and will be setting up another 'Blog' dedicated solely to 'Project Management' for Business.

3) Work is really busy...lots to do this week.

4) My wife has started back at work from maternity leave...so additional help there - finally will have a little extra cash to put down lawns and gardens and things!


I have also made to stay in Business Change - rather than move to Business Strategy. I really get too much of a buzz out of getting things done and implemented...And there are some great 'leading-edge' technology Projects coming down the pipeline. I'd rather work doing something I enjoy - rather than moving for the sake of 'its time to move'.

I'm finally getting some clarity on what I need to do career-wise. And that is to focus on the implementation side of things, rather than be a 'paid-thinker'. Maybe one-day I could use these skills with o/s missions or ophanages or something. That sits well with my heart anyway. I'm open to God's leading on this one.

Riding Giants

I havent been for a surf for about three months. Summer isn't an ideal time and busy with the new house, new baby and kids sport/family committments.

Things may change soon. My eldest son is gaining confidence in the water, now comes snorkelling and has expressed an interest in surfing.

I've been waiting for this movie to be released, and it started this week, - No 1 son is keen to come and see it. Yay!!!

Whet his appetite...

Project Management: The Reflective Practioner

I have just returned from my second lecture for the semester (I am completing my Maters). We are studying philosophy in Management and looking are relativism, existentialism etc.

Fundamentally, neo-pragmatic existentialism (relativism) is contrasted with platonic (scientific) thinking.

There are enormous implications of these philosophies on behavior within organizations. The relativist is in danger of being changed by his or her environment unless they have a clearly defined and articulated set of core values (which infers that relativism is only partly correct and that there are in fact absolutes).

Upon reflection of tonight’s class:

We are to be “catalysts” or agents of change – we change the environment without those elements of our ‘self’ or our ‘absolute values’ .being changed. These things should include a virtuous value set that we aspire to be such as integrity, loyalty, care and respect, loyalty. Importantly, it may also include our set of fundamental (core) beliefs that we hold as unchangeable (assumptions and understanding regarding faith and worldview).

We must accept that there are elements of self and beliefs that will change in the ‘light’ of new information, knowledge and understanding. We must be willing to surrender our basic

We must become Reflective Practitioners’, and establish our own "Centres of Excellence" – regualrly reviewing ouselves, our practice and consistently improving the way we practice all elements of our professions.

We can be proactive in establishing patterns of behaviors for the way that we operate. Ground rules for managing the Project, being up-front and stating your beliefs (eg. I don’t drink alcohol) can help guard against compromise.

Raised Arms

I attend a contemporary Church, where most raise their arms in worship…I just don’t yet feel comfortable doing that in public.

I was raised in Lutheran Church. People did not raise their arms while the organ routinely played "A Mighty Fortress is My God". People were (hmm, hmm) 'dignified' at all times – possibly a legacy of repressed emotion in German culture. Besides ones hands are to be used for holding black hymnals!.

Call me aloof, regard me as reserved, I do worship God, no more, no less than my arm raising Christian friends.

I see the clearly His wonder and majesty in nature, in the excellent handiwork of man who is made in his image. I hear his thoughts within melodies and praise his wisdom when contemplating principles of design in economics, in biology and or naturally occuring patterns such as the Fibonacci curve.

Most of all, I see clearly His face, His Character and His presence in spending time with Children, in particular my own, - watching them as they learn and grow.

Sharing fiest-time experiences with my eldest son, with whom yesterday I swam across a kaleidoscopic reef on a pristine day, and watched his face as he looked over the 'drop-off' - deep into the abyss below.

Or seeing the joy in my eleven month old son, whose beaming smile and uninteligable sounds of joy cause my heart to race as he recognizes my face early in the morning.

And with welcome irony, he raises his arms without inhibition as a natural expression of love - and in a silent language that beckons his Father to come closer and to lift him up and take him into his own arms.

Reasons For Belief

I recently had the priveledge of writing as a guest Blogger for Marisa of SImple Games on why I believe in God.

I hope some of it makes sense!

Dreams

I was not going to blog tonight, but wanted to log a weird but vivid dream that I had last night.

I was walking through the (a) city, it was really busy. Everyone was in a hurry. I walked alongside a man, in a brown (suede?) jacket who was staring at his left hand in fear and disbelief.

His hand was covered in large sores. I felt promoted to ask the man whether I should pray for him. I felt embarrassed and scared, and hesitated for a second, but did so as I felt that I would regret it and lose the opportunity.

The man agreed and actually looked appreciative. So I prayed, (in Jesus name) and as we both watched the sores dissolved (morphed away) and his hand was cured. I remembered feeling amazed and shocked – as I have never seen a ‘miracle’…and actually did not believe myself anything would happen.

The man was obviously was excited and began jumping around and making a scene, to my shame I felt a little embarrassed, and was thanking me. I had to make a point to tell him that it was not me, but it was "Jesus who cured him" and we then parted company.

I am in clear mind, I am not spiritual, and I rarely pray in public. I’ve been wondering what it could mean.

The only thing that comes to me is the line "that we exist to give Glory to God" (from a book I am part way through called "its not about me").

Values

I'm both anal and far from perfect. I ahve written my life Vision, Mission and Values set and have some BHAG's for the future.

Just been reflecting on my values.

Each week I align my goals ('to-do' list) to my values: God, Family, Work, Finances, Recreation etc... and have found that fitness has been down the bottom of my priority list.

Over the last two months I have been reintroducing running back into my schedule - been a bit obsessive about it but plan to ease down to three times per week when I'm comfortable back in the 32" shorts. I haven't felt better in mind and energy levels for a couple years. Tend to feel much less melancholy as well.

I have now had to reschedule my weekly task list God, Family, Fitness, Work etc.

First things first.

Sometimes You Cant Make it on Your Own

The Best Song on U2's latest album HTDAAB new video.

Worth checking out if you have broadband.

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.

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.

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.