"Keeping Up With Myself..."

Beautiful Lies

2011-12-27T09:34:00.000+13:00

This week I heard a beautiful lie – Russell Norman, co-leader of the Green Party made one of the more exceptional speeches in Parliament that you’ll ever hear.

He painted an amazing portrait of what Christmas (he starts to get the speed wobbles post the Incarnation) really is. No sly digs, no stereotypes, he painted it as it is and then called us to live as a more Christian society in accord with the values reflected in the life of Jesus. Let me quote some of this beautiful lie:

The story of the incarnation of God in a baby born in a stable is remarkable even to me, an atheist, because it's a story about the distant God of the heavens coming down to live amongst us on earth.

It's a story about that god decreeing that tyranny on earth and utopia in the afterlife is not acceptable and that freedom and equality must characterise life here on earth as well as the afterlife in heaven. It's a story of the birth of new hope. The Christmas story tells us that a saviour of humanity came not as some great warrior or prince but wrapped instead in swaddling cloth — a baby born amongst farm animals, and in absolute poverty.

It’s great stuff and I don’t want you to hear any criticism of Russell Norman when I say its beautiful, but it’s a lie:

The hopes and values Jesus Christ articulated during the course of his short life are too important to belong only to Christians. They belong to us all: believers and non-believers alike. They live within us. They are embedded in our culture. They are reflected in most of the world's major religions.

These are the values that help to lay down the essential nature of what it means to be human and guide us to live a 'good' life — good to ourselves, good to one another, and good to the world in which we make our livelihoods.

A beautiful lie – that values are enough. That ideas are enough. That ideology is enough. That good intentions are enough. There is beauty in all these things but they are not full enough of truth to stand on their own.

Christmas is a time where God told the truth. Completely. Fully. For all time.

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Jesus is not a values set. He is God. Christmas didn’t just give us a guru to follow, or a teacher to learn from, or an example to emulate – as beautiful as things are. God gave himself. The life of Jesus is God telling the full truth about himself.

This is the truth of Christmas. And it’s a beautiful truth that will require us to let go of some beautiful lies.

(edited from Christmas Eve message)

Cruden Most Experienced...

2011-10-21T23:47:00.000+13:00

Thanks to some groovy stats and trainspotting, here are the records of the starting 1st V's who have or are about to play for the AB's in a World Cup final:

In order:

Andrew Mehrtens - 6
Grant Fox - 7
Aaron Cruden - 9* (including Sunday's start)

Interesting.

Top 10 For the Quarterfinals

2011-10-10T09:05:00.000+13:00

In Letterman style:

10. A forward pass missed by the ref doesn't cost the AB's a quarter final
9. There is a worse ref at this tournament than Wayne Barnes
8. Corey Jane has found the perfect pre-match preparation
7. South Africans really do blame the ref for losing games
6. The AB's are the only top qualifier in the semi-finals
5. The AB's are the only unbeaten team in the tournament
4. Eden Park
3. Graham Henry finally gets to coach a World Cup team in a semi-final
1.= South Africa AND England out in the quarterfinals

Apples With Apples

2011-09-26T17:08:00.001+13:00

So with the French put to the sword the thoughts now swing to the knock out stage and the inevitable question: can we win the whole thing? An interesting thought crossed my mind - how does the present team stack up against the team that lost the quarter final on 2007 - here's the match up

New Zealand 2007
1 Tony Woodcock           1. Tony Woodcock - is building nicely into form

2 Anton Oliver                 2. Keven Mealamu - a more dynamic player than Oliver, better lineouts

3 Carl Hayman                 3. Owen Franks - close call - the young up and comer maybe has it on defence

4 Keith Robinson              4. Brad Thorn - no contest - Thorn had another massive game on Saturday

5 Ali Williams                   5. Sam Whitelock - there on form and as good as Ali ever was

6 Jerry Collins                  6. Jerome Kaino - a more complete player and leading the defence

7 Richie McCaw (c)         7. Richie McCaw - the game has changed - but look at the stats - still great leading the team in tackles, hit ups and metres gained - he's a better captain this time round as well

8 Rodney So'oialo           8. Kieran Read - miles ahead lets hope he gets back

9 Byron Kelleher             9. Piri Weepu - has the big game temperament Byron lacked

10 Dan Carter                10. Dan Carter - has learned how to drop kick

11 Sitiveni Sivivatu         11. Richard Kahui - such different players - I like the creative solidity of Kahui

12 Luke McAlister         12. Maa Nonu - is he the most in-form back in the tournament?

13 Mils Muliaina             13. Conrad Smith - well he's a actually a centre so...

14 Joe Rokocoko           14. Corey Jane - at his best Joe was amazing but Jane is so constructive

15 Leon MacDonald       15. Israel Dagg - on a different planet

Replacements:

16 Andrew Hore             16. Andrew Hore - not at his best yet

17 Neemia Tialata           17. Ben Franks - maybe a close run thing but a difference in ticker for sure

18 Chris Jack                  18. Ali Williams - streets ahead as an impact lock

19 Chris Masoe               19. Thompson/Vito - both are better

20 Brendon Leonard        20. Ellis/Cowan - both are better

21 Nick Evans                 22. Colin Slade - a toss up here - Evans never quite stepped up, Slade has yet to

22 Isaia Toeava                22. Sonny Bill Williams - more game and makes less mistakes

Overall? A better team I think in 2011. Although to be fair that quarterfinal team had a younger Smith available (the 2011 version has bulked up and has greater physical presence) and Mils available for fullback. The selectors were so in love with Leon though they wanted to find room for both. No such sentiment this time round. Mils is dropped and Dagg is in.

Business Time

2011-09-17T11:37:00.000+12:00

So its money where mouth is time for the AB's squad - so here is my team to play every game from here, rather than the one they may pick:

1. Woodcock
2. Mealamu
3. Franks
4. Thorn
5. Whitelock
6. Kaino
7. McCaw
8. Read/Vito
9. Cowan
10. Carter
11. Kahui
12. Nonu
13. Smith
14. Jane
15. Dagg

Reserves: Hore/Afoa/Williams/Vito (or Thompson)/Weepu/Muliaina/Williams

So the justifications around the marginal selections. Whitelock starts ahead of Williams for his accuracy and workrate, but William's big game temperament and impact game gets him game time off the bench. Cowan gets in on his defence round the fringes ahead of the impact of Weepu and the better clearance but reduced physical presence of Ellis. Kahui and Jane beat out Toeva and the out of his league Guildford. Dagg gets the nod on form at full back. This is the lineup I expect the AB selectors to name.

The bench is the hard call, but I have gone for a team to win the World Cup stacked with impact players. Afoa beats out the less mobile Franks. Vito is the utility ahead of Thompson if Read is fit. Covering 6 and 8 is more important for me than covering 7 - McCaw needs to play the whole game if we are to win.

The big call is in the backs. I take the risk that Weepu will cover 1st V ahead of Slade. Again Carter must play the whole game so the substitute requirement is to cover injury not a tactical substitution. If Carter goes off injured I back Weepu over Slade to steady the ship and Cowan to tough out the full 80. Williams simply must play. He is a gamebreaker of huge talent covering centre/2nd V (and now apparently wing). Its Muiliaina who fills out the mix though as he too can cover Centre, Wing and fullback and offers stability and experience with gamebreaking ability coming in fresh. When you add in the versatility of the starting wingers there are plenty of tactical options on attack or to consolidate a winning position.

I think there are risks however you select the back reserves. The risk I take is banking on Carter finishing the game and not getting 2 injuries at halfback and 1st V. Unfortunately we simply don't have a back up 1st V who is even close to ready - and I don't think it would make much difference if it were Donald, Slade or Cruden - they are all fragile compared to the rugby nouse and experience of Weepu.

My TriNations Squad

2011-07-10T10:19:00.000+12:00

Hookers: Keven Mealamu, Andrew Hore, Hika Elliot

Props: Owen Franks, Wyatt Crockett, Ben Franks, John Afoa (Woodcock injured)

Locks: Brad Thorn, Sam Whitelock, Ali Williams, Tom Donnelly (Borich injured...is Hoeta the coming man?)

Loose forwards: Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read, Adam Thomson, Liam Messam.

Halfbacks: Jimmy Cowan, Piri Weepu, Andy Ellis.

First fives: Dan Carter, Colin Slade.

Centres: Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Robbie Fruean (Kahui goes close)
Wings: Hosea Gear, Rene Ranger, Corey Jane (Sivavatu or Ranger for the X-factor? But will Guildford get the recall?)
Fullbacks: Mils Muliaina, Isaia Toeava (Dagg injured)

The real team announced at 4pm today.

Some Women Just Aren't Maori Enough

2011-07-06T09:44:00.000+12:00

It's a recurring theme recently: religious affiliations being viewed as barriers to basic rights to participation within society. First there was John Campbell's robust (ahem) attempt to suggest Maori MP'should not have made themselves available to the Destiny Conference on account of the beliefs of the organisation. This was roundly refuted by MP's who understand the principle of access to the democratic process and the right to freedom of religion. I wonder why the pro abortion activists are not more active against those naughty Catholics and their right to life rhetoric (actually most Christian denominations). Then there was the public outcry over funding to the social services are of Destiny Church - again, what relevance does a particular belief system have where social good is being achieved? People seem to miss the point that it is precisely Christian faith that motivates many Christians to be active in the community.

And now the Maori Women's Welfare League is trying to bar Destiny members from establishing branches and Hannah Tamaki from running for the presidency. All this on the grounds that the organisation itself is non-sectarian. Which it is (and I have read the Charter which you can access at the charities register). But non-sectarian does not mean people of faith cannot be involved. It does not even mean that a group of people from the same church are barred from setting up a branch as long as anyone is allowed to join. And I've not heard anything to suggest that branches started by Destiny members are exclusive.

The irony in all this? The creed of the League is profoundly theistic in orientation! It just seems that some women aren't the right kind of Maori.

Rabbit Musings

2011-06-16T21:00:00.001+12:00

Enjoyed remembering this cool extract from The Velveteen Rabbit in cell tonight:

The Skin Horse had lived longer in the nursery than any of the others. He was so old that his brown coat was bald in patches and showed the seams underneath, and most of the hairs in his tail had been pulled out to string bead necklaces. He was wise, for he had seen a long succession of mechanical toys arrive to boast and swagger, and by-and-by break their mainsprings and pass away, and he knew that they were only toys, and would never turn into anything else. For nursery magic is very strange and wonderful, and only those playthings that are old and wise and experienced like the Skin Horse understand all about it.

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

"I suppose you are real?" said the Rabbit. And then he wished he had not said it, for he thought the Skin Horse might be sensitive.

But the Skin Horse only smiled.

We become real as we learn to love and be loved.

There but for the grace of God...

2011-05-30T15:35:00.000+12:00

It's funny (only as in the case of mockingly tragic). How easy it is to assess others' experience and firmly opine that you will never be like that. Then one day you wake up and you are that person.

Problem is none of those people are writing books about what to do...

Best served cold?

2011-05-03T08:34:00.000+12:00

What an interesting day yesterday was with announcement of the death of Osama bin Laden. Mostly I was saddened.

Saddened that it was seen as a cause for celebration by Americans who flocked to ground-zero chanting USA, USA. I thought for a moment I had been transported to an Islamic fanatic rally

Saddened that while President Obama (who I like) held back from jingoistic sabre rattling, he did view the death of bin Laden as "justice"...I get it, but there was no trial I am aware of...

Saddened by the media circus that will once again pimp human tragedy as a means of selling its viewing audience to advertisers

Saddened that a man of such promise would elect a path of such destruction - what does that to a human life?

Saddened for the people - of so many backgrounds, including Moslem, who have been killed by Al Quaeda

Saddened for the backlash that will demonstrate the insane spiral that is revenge, even revenge served cold...

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[e]

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12

I Can't Help Myself

2011-04-08T10:34:00.000+12:00

Heretic?

2011-02-19T09:16:00.000+13:00

The Tamaki show hit the headlines his week with Cultwatch's Mark Vrankovich revealing an expose on Tamaki teaching that he says went awry in 2010. Vrankovich is no stranger to Destiny-baiting despite Tamaki's disingenuous "who is he?" put down in his subsequent press release. So these 2 have history.

At issue is Tamaki's statement in a sermon in 2010:

"You must get out of your mind that, that Jesus Christ is now, ah, is still Jesus of Nazareth ... But Jesus did not come out of the tomb. The flesh Jesus died in the tomb."

Vrankovich says that this amounts to a denial of the resurrection.

Tamaki's response has been to affirm the bodily resurrection of Christ and he has done this both publicly through the newspapers and more privately with other Christian leaders.

But what is curious in all this are Tamaki's statements that the teaching under scrutiny amounted to something new that required preparation of the congregation and would disturb theologians. What's more it would require special revelation for Destiny people to "get it" because of "too many forces and too much teaching and too much backlog of religion". It seems that he was expecting a backlash and yet his actions in the media suggest he is sensitive to the thought that this new teaching might be might amount to heresy.

"Theologians would have great difficulty with me. A lot of reverends, pastors, vicars, bishops, and Pentecostal pastors would all curl right now, um, because they would have difficulty with this. The first thing they would do is that they would immediately move into a spirit of condescension. They, they would say, 'you cannot say that'."

Odd.

What Tamaki actually said - well what he says he said was:

"The body of Jesus was definitely transfigured at his resurrection into a glorified body, same body that was Jesus of Nazareth that died, but different substance."

There are many recorded instances of Jesus' bodily activity after the resurrection that suggest in some way his body changed - for example, he seems able to walk through walls!
Which is mostly what the Catholic church has taugh forever on this subject...that Jesus was not merely resuscitated or brought back to life, nor that his body was relaced but rather that it was glorified - the same body transformed.

And plenty of other theologians from all across the spectrum would say similar things. So. Am I missing something here? Well it all depends on whether what he said back then, is what he is saying he said, now! Cos he also said,

"So, so Jesus of Nazareth had to put off his flesh body, so the Christ that was always there could now be a life giving spirit."

Which does rather give the impression of a non-bodily resurrection. And may take us to the Nestorian heresy. Google it, you know you want to...

You can listen to the whole thing on Destiny's website for a small sum. Having looked at a bit of what he said and is saying now, I'm happy to take him at his word that he is not denying the bodily resurrection of Christ - I suspect he is actually a poor communicator and says things that he doesn't mean to - thats certainly how it seems to come across. And there's a lack of sophistication in these areas, simply because it is genuinely difficult to not accidentally utter heresy about the nature of Christ's divinity/humanity, because language is limiting when it comes to explain mystery.

What might be more interesting in what he said in the same message about us all being little Christs...that sounds a lot like...perhaps another post?

Maybe you don't care? Maybe its not really relevant? I just get asked a lot what do you think...so here's my thoughts so far! Disclaimer: I haven't footnoted or put links cos this is not wikipedia and you can research it yourself if you really want to..basically I'm just too lazy to do it today...

Tortilla Thriller

2011-02-17T16:34:00.000+13:00

This week I have fallen in love (perhaps again) with the tortilla. Amazingly versatile and surprisingly easy to make at home. Flour, water, olive oil and salt. A rolling pin and frying pan and you're done.

This week has been tortilla week!

Fiesta Lime Chicken - Chicken breast marinated in lime juice, liquid smoke and tequila! Flame grilled and then grilled with a salsa/mayo-based sauce, cheese and tortilla strips.

Breakfast Burrito - Ham, scrambled egg, jalapenos and cheese...

Quesadilla - Mexican pizza!

Throw away your bread and rice! Tortilla is where its at!

Tron: Legacy or Let-Down?

2010-12-22T17:24:00.000+13:00

In 1982 I was 15 and at the peek of my adolescent sci-fi/fantasy hunger, especially with the movies. The previous years offering "Exacalibur" had whet my appetite not least because it was R13 and really gory!

Then came Tron. It never really made it as a movie, I suspect cos it was a bit ahead of its time. And in a slightly ironic take on today's CGI industry, this was a movie that didn't use computers to stimulate real life, it used real life to simulate a computer world! At the time, we just thought it was awesome!

Which is where the latest movie promises to deliver - in the area of special effects. I wonder whether it will lose its Tron-ness as a result?

One area in which the followup movie is said to be similar is around the storyline...they've apparently kept to the Disney foolproof approach of not really having one. This will sit happily with the first movie...

That said, the original idea kept me and my friends talking for days about what it would be like to be in a computer! I probably won't have those conversations nearly 30 years later, but I will go see it for sure...maybe I'll review it?

To Be Or Not To Be...

2010-10-16T08:12:00.000+13:00

So it is at least ironic in this fortnight of extraordinary convergences that Paul Henry's comments regarding the (ethnically Indian) Governor General "looking like a New Zealander" has been trumped by New Zealand Indians asking whether Jacinta Lal, Miss India New Zealand (Central) is Indian-looking enough!

I have to say on the day in question, I was not offended by Paul Henry's questioning. It seemed to be he was being deliberately ironic - putting a patently absurd question that IS on the lips of the functionally racsist New Zealander, into the spotlight. The reason I saw it this way was because on the same programme Henry was overtly supportive of another New Zealander who was in the spotlight for similar reasons. This was the day that Irene van Dyk's appointment as Commonwealth flag bearer was being debated. Henry was quite clear in his view that someone like Irene who had chosen New Zealand was surely to be even more admired than someone simply born into the privilege.

I simply assumed he was having a dig at those who question New Zealanders by immigration.

Anyways, he hasn't explained himself in that way, perhaps because in causing offence he simply wanted to apologise rather than explain himself. Or maybe he is just a racsist?

For me, I am more dismayed at the wave of reaction - righteous anti racsism which erodes what I saw as an exercise of free speech albeit a provocative and satirical one. How does a person lose their job for something like that? Because of popular pressure and diplomatic pressure from one of the most rascist countries in the world (don't get me started on the caste system).

Henry's biggest problem is sometimes he is just a bit too clever for his audience. I am often criticised for using big words so I empathise and say "down with the thick"! But then the whole media machine would creak to a halt so i guess that definitely probably might not happen...

No More Holidays

2010-10-09T19:00:00.000+13:00

I have decided to never go on holiday again! It is the devil.

How else to explain the chain of events and trips to the doctor?

It started 24 hours before we were due to leave - a regular activity at church helping with set up - the back starts to tighten...and tighten until...it doesn't work anymore. I hobble home hoping that a cocktail of prayer and drugs will get me through 2 sermons! It normally works for the listeners...

That night I wake with the chills and an apparent resurgence of the annoyingly persistent viral cough that has plagued me in recent weeks. Panadol and suggestions from the other side of the bed that we will stay home produce a miracle cure (till I crash round 4pm the next day).

At the end of day 1 on holiday an innocent bruise turns out not to be a bruise at all...by day 2 I am at the Dr's in a foreign city receiving treatment for an outbreak of cellulitis the shape of Australia on my shin.

I am popping 16 pills a day to enjoy any remaining semblance of holiday!

Needless to say I spent much of the week with my feet up being waited on by family and our splendid hosts...and it wasn't a terrible holiday, but REALLY!

Obama's Declaration

2010-10-01T23:29:00.001+13:00

“I’m a Christian by choice,” the president said. “My family didn’t -- frankly, they weren’t folks who went to church every week. And my mother was one of the most spiritual people I knew, but she didn’t raise me in the church.”

The president said he “came to my Christian faith later in life and it was because the precepts of Jesus Christ spoke to me in terms of the kind of life that I would want to lead -- being my brothers’ and sisters’ keeper, treating others as they would treat me. And I think also understanding that Jesus Christ dying for my sins spoke to the humility we all have to have as human beings, that we’re sinful and we’re flawed and we make mistakes, and that we achieve salvation through the grace of God. But what we can do, as flawed as we are, is still see God in other people and do our best to help them find their own grace.”

The president said “that’s what I strive to do. That’s what I pray to do every day. I think my public service is part of that effort to express my Christian faith.”

Read the full article

Sola Scriptura

2010-09-30T10:14:00.000+13:00

Ben Witherington has a typically balanced post on Sola Scriptura on his blog. The ripe (and I guess obvious) insight is that the church existed for hundreds of years without a canon of scripture which it could be solely committed to! Thus the importance of tradition as Witherington notes. But also you'd think the same argument could be made for Reason and Experience as these early Christians grappled with the parameters of their faith.

A Perfect Balance

2010-09-29T23:00:00.001+13:00

One of my (underdeveloped) passions is cooking. I like to create, but more importantly I like to eat! I have however set myself the task of finding the perfect Pad Thai, a Thai noodle dish. So far in New Zealand the best Pad Thai money can buy is at the little Thai place just back from Eastern Beach. In Thailand, the best I have ever tasted was from a street vendor near my friend Yang's old place. Needless to say the Thai version was better than the NZ version.

But now, I have set myself a new task - cooking the perfect Pad Thai. Like most things in Thai cooking its all about balance - balancing the sweet, salty, sour and spicy...

In Pad Thai the salty is fish sauce which sounds disgusting and actually is if you know how its made...the sour is Tamarind which is not disgusting but is quite a strong flavour and hard to mask if you overdo it! The sweet accent comes from palm sugar which has an interesting taste similar to brown sugar (which isn't a terrible substitute). Pad Thai is not always served spicy but IMHO everything tastes better with chillies! Getting the balance between these ingredients is key to making the sauce which coats the noodles. Right now I have it about right...so working to refine it to perfection!

I'm sure its a metaphor for something, this balancing of extremes...

We Won 1-1

2010-06-19T09:37:00.000+12:00

Now I don't want to rain on anybody's parade...but the nation's euphoria at drawing with Slovakia underlines why I find soccer a frustrating game to watch. How is not losing a good result? Or as I like to think of it "not winning".

The number of draws at the World Cup so far is amazing. If I were a betting man: I'd back the draw.

And whether its the ball or the climate or the those annoying horns, something is acting as a leveller at this World Cup. Germany's win over Aussie was astonishing not because they won, but because it is one of the few blow outs in the pool play. Now of course they have themselves been levelled by Serbia and highlighted another factor in the levelling - the number of red cards being handed out. It's definitely been a factor.

The reality is that soccer people and even soccer refs are more concerned with "not losing" than winning. For the refs it is better to be seen as a bit over zealous with cards in order that they make it into the next round as well. For the teams, a draw is better than nothing, which it is mathematically, but a draw-mindset leads to boring and safe soccer.

So congrats to the All Whites for not losing. In a normal world cup Italy would do us by 4 or 5 goals. And likely they will to the relief of Australian fans everywhere. On the other hand, it took NZ 93mins to score a single goal against Slovakia and I don't think the 3 goals we scored against the Italians in that pre Conferation Cup game will come as easily. But maybe the levelling we are seeing at this world cup will continue and we can win through with another draw...

2010 First AB Squad

2010-05-22T22:34:00.000+12:00

Its time to start to draw some conclusions from Super 14 form, the areas we struggled in through 2009 and the need for depth for the 2011 World Cup. In some areas, its very tricky with little back up as was revealed when Dan Carter fell over last year and Maa Nonu has demonstrated this year. There have also been some big form slumps - what do you do with that? My initial thought is to treat the June tests as a bit of a one-off and play some players into form. So anyway, here it is...

Props

Ben Franks (can play both sides), Owen Franks, Tony Woodcock, John Afoa. I am over Tialata. Crockett is good around the field but is not there for the scrum. I would start Owen Franks and Woodcock, with Ben Franks on the bench. If Woodcock doesn't front up then Ben Franks gets a start.

Hookers

Keven Mealamu, Hikawera Elliot (he has the most promise...) You've got to like the attitude of a guy like Jason Rutledge but at 32 you can't pick him - de Malmanche can't throw so unless you go back to Flynn what can you do?

Locks

Brad Thorne, Anthony Boric, Tom Donnelley, Sam Whitelock (for the future)

Flankers

McCaw, Thompson, Kaino

No 8

Reid, Messam

Half Backs

Cowan, Fotuali'i (this guy is great...)

1st V

Carter, the hardest selection is for the back up - Donald and McAllister have been tried and found wanting - so you have to go to the best of the rest. So its down to Cruden and Robinson. Cruden has had the best of the selection opportunities with the Highlanders using Berquist and Hobbs as well as Robinson. So on that basis, pick Cruden now.

2nd V

Who ever you pick here is warming the bench for Nonu. But you have to have someone who is part of your long term plans in order to build depth. Ditto the above comment on Donald and McAllister. But the remainder is not great either. Bowden appeals but has been swapping the role with Bateman and Crotty all season position and is heading overseas. Stanley is solid and wouldn't be a bad option. If Toeva is fit he'd get the nod for me as he would be in my wider group. There is no standout for this role so I would go with Toeva to start as one of the likely bench players in a fully fit team, with Stanley as backup in the squad.

Centre

Conrad Smith with Toeva as back up

Wing

Joe R, Zac Guildford with Jayne as cover

Fullback

Mils, Jayne

Alright it ain't perfect but it shows the lack of depth right now in some key positions. It would help if Super 14 teams with some talent would give some of the guys a decent run. I am thinking in particular of Highlanders rotating Hobbs, Robinson and Berquist and Crusaders rotating Crotty, Bateman and Bowden. Same goes for Chiefs - give Hika a decent go so he can push for the AB's.

It would also mean the forward pack I pick would have 4 Crusaders which isn't going to hurt...still prepared to be swayed on selections...

Both Franks?

2010-05-13T10:23:00.000+12:00

Wow, could the Crusaders be parading a new look AB propping combo this weekend? Both Frank's brothers? It appeals if it can work. These boys are strong and take no prisoners. With Woodcock underperforming and Tialatte just not there for me...a double Franks option could be just what we need for the world cup...

More Musing

2010-05-12T15:15:00.000+12:00

So in recent weeks we have the Ethical Spending Bill before Parliament, seeking to regulate government sponsored investment in unethical organisations - for examples arms/munitions manfacturers, companies with a dodgy environmental record etc. The usual suspects clamouring that its not sustainable to force people to do the due diligence on ethical investment. Excuse me?

On the other hand, you have the Gambling Commission dismissing the appeal of the Dunedin-based Southern Trust against a five-day suspension of gaming-machine business imposed by the Department of Internal Affairs. The problem: when a gaming trust uses about $120,000 of charity money to renovate pokie rooms

it starts to look like a money-go-round.

Traditionally many Christian organisations have looked askance at the use of monies derived from gambling or alcohol to fund its own social programmes. It is an interesting issue given that the stated purpose of much of this funding is to ameliorate the social damage caused by abuse of these things. Not many are prepared to do the due diligence on the sources of this funding, preferring instead to rest (poor) in the knowledge of avoiding guilt by association.

It just struck me as kind of congruent and incongruent...

Maybe It's Just Me

2010-05-01T10:12:00.000+12:00

I found this week interesting:

First the leaked Law Commission report on the alcohol age leads to instantly increasing taxes on alcohol and cigaretttes
Then the biggest drug bust in a while involving the Switched On Gardener (everybody knows "switched on" means stoned right?)
Finally, The Red Door brothel gains all sorts of attention for being across the road from a school

Maybe its just me, but I'm finding some dissonance with all this:

Suddenly, its not OK to drink alcohol as an 18 year old, but it is OK to be a prostitute;
Its not OK to sell cigarettes to minors...but it is OK to sell sex across the road from the school;
Or you could turn that one around: its socially not OK to sell sex across the road from a school (in a place kids never go inside), but it is OK to sell cigarettes in a dairy across the road (which 99% will visit at some point on the way home...);
We tax cigarettes and alcohol but we prosecute cannabis growing and supply - both signal some level of disapproval and attempt to influence behaviour...
Its OK to lose a part of yourself in prostitution but not through cannabis use and only moderate lung damage is permitted from smoking;
You can sell sex without a license in some cases but you can'tt sell alcohol without one;
It is now possible to say legally "I'm just popping out for a [insert option] [fag] [shag] [flag(on)]" but not a bag...

Thank You Jesus...

2010-05-01T08:36:00.000+12:00

...for the Highlanders...

This Historian in me...

2010-04-14T15:22:00.002+12:00

...REALLY liked this:

As a historian I think I can prove that Jesus died and that he thought his death was atoning. I think I can establish that the tomb was empty and that resurrection is the best explanation for the empty tomb. But one thing the historical method cannot prove is that Jesus died for our sins and was raised for our justification. At some point, historical methods run out of steam and energy. Historical Jesus studies cannot get us to the point where the Holy Spirit and the church can take us. I know that once I was blind and that I can now see. I know that historical methods did not give me sight. They can't. Faith cannot be completely based on what the historian can prove. The quest for the real Jesus, through long and painful paths, has proven that much.

Read the whole thing.

Gone to the Dark Side

2010-04-12T11:44:00.000+12:00

I am now officially a Crusaders supporter. It is fair to say I would support ANY of the other NZ teams in the Super 14 before the Crusaders. But after this weekend's results the inevitable surrender of hope has now become reality.

The Blues remain an enigma in 2010. On the positive side, there have been more positives in 2009, but like it or not 8th with a 50% winning record is not gonna give Pat Lam any confidence in a repeat season as coach.

The Chiefs flattered to deceive with their best opening run only to blow it with a devastating losing streak.

The Hurricances and Highlanders have not been in it.

The only positive? We always lose the World Cup when we have a good season in the year before. So lets pray for miserable Super 14 form to translate in a terrible AB year followed by a World Cup win.

Memory

2010-04-09T16:21:00.000+12:00

Kristen's grandfather died this week and she has flown to be with her family. Grandpa Mo' was the rock at the foundation of this family: an uncomplicated, faith-filled man with a real gift for making a person feel welcome and cared for.

I remember my first meeting - Christmas 2002 - Kristen and I had been "dating" for a week when we arrived for the Christmas feast. As we got ready to eat Grandpa said, "I call upon my future, future son in law...[pause] Chris to say grace..." For a moment there everyone held their breath in expectation that he was not only going to ask me to say grace but that he was prophesying right then that we would be getting married. From that point on the phrase "future, future" has always reduced us to laughter.

Rhys was fascinated by his great grandfather and they would play with Grandpa's hat - Rhys has always loved snatching hats! Rhys drew a picture before Kristen left for her to take. It was a picture of Grandpa. He came into the bedroom asking, "How many fingers did Great Grandpa have missing - I thought 3?" He lost 2 fingers in an accident some years ago. Having gained the information he then returned with his amended picture and a proud reveal, "I added another finger in!"

Grandpa was a great pray-er. He prayed for his grandchildren all the time. He along with his wife Jeanne may just be the single-most dedicated pray-ers in the history of cession|community's launch and growth.

Resurrection: History & Music

2010-04-07T15:34:00.001+12:00

The historian in me liked this:

"Historical investigation, I propose, brings us to the point where we must say that the tomb previously housing a thoroughly dead Jesus was empty, and that his followers saw and met someone they were convinced was this same Jesus, bodily alive though in a new, transformed fashion. The empty tomb on the one hand and the convincing appearances of Jesus on the other are the two conclusions the historian must draw. I do not think that history can force us to draw any particular further deductions beyond these two phenomena; the conclusion the disciples drew is there for the taking, but it is open to us, as it was to them, to remain cautious. Thomas waited a week before believing what he had been told. On Matthew’s mountain, some had their doubts.

However, the elegance and simplicity of explaining the two outstanding phenomena, the empty tomb and the visions, by means of one another, ought to be obvious. Were it not for the astounding, and world-view-challenging, claim that is thereby made, I think everyone would long since have concluded that this was the correct historical result. If some other account explained the rise of Christianity as naturally, completely and satisfyingly as does the early Christians’ belief, while leaving normal worldviews intact, it would be accepted without demur.

That, I believe, is the result of the investigation I have conducted. There are many other things to say about Jesus’ resurrection. But, as far as I am concerned, the historian may and must say that all other explanations for why Christianity arose, and why it took the shape it did, are far less convincing as historical explanations than the one the early Christians themselves offer: that Jesus really did rise from the dead on Easter morning, leaving an empty tomb behind him. The origins of Christianity, the reason why this new movement came into being and took the unexpected form it did, and particularly the strange mutations it produced within the Jewish hope for resurrection and the Jewish hope for a Messiah, are best explained by saying that something happened, two or three days after Jesus’ death, for which the accounts in the four gospels are the least inadequate expression we have."

The musician in me liked this:

First, that there's a key we're playing in: that's the key of the gospel of the kingdom or dream of God. Second, that there's a rhythm we're working with: that's the rhythm of Jesus' birth, life, death, resurrection, and indwelling. Third, that there's a band leader who calls the tune and sets the rhythm: that's the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Fourth, that there's a chart, the Bible, that gives us some basic chords and notes and melodies to learn by heart and play from the heart. Fifth, that the chart makes room to improvise - that each of us has the freedom, opportunity, and even responsibility to let loose and make our unique solo contribution, always being sensitive to what the other musicians are doing and to the integrity of our song. Sixth, that there are dynamics to be respected - you don't play too loud, you don't solo too often or too long. And seventh, that there is a goal - to get people up off their seats and dancing with joy to the music of God, so they're caught up in the glorious dance, something bigger than any of us, something that enfolds all of us in God's song of celebration and love.

Always Worth A Read

2010-04-05T15:15:00.003+12:00

Tapu Misa's latest scribbling in the Herald

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/religion-and-beliefs/news/article.cfm?c_id=301&objectid=10636340

Time For Changes

2010-03-24T10:55:00.000+13:00

After the hammering by Australia its time for some changes in the NZ Test Cricket Team. Great to hear that Williamson has finally been included in the squad. Here's what I would do:

Watling - has shown enough to be given time
McIntosh - has grit and determination
Sinclair - he's been tried before but he's the form #3 - Ingram lacks the footwork against quality quicks
Taylor - play your best batsmen at #4
Guptill - potential to be truly world class
Vettori - worked OK
McCullum - a patient century - really a breakthrough innings
Williamson - select him as a bowler who can bat - hard yards on Patel, but it gives the side better balance (you could swap him for Vettori in batting places if you think Vettori would manage the tail better)
Southee - worth persevering with
Arnel - a solid test debut
Martin - who else is there with experience?

Now imagine Ryder in there at 4 or 5 for Sinclair (drop the other 2 down a place) and you've got a very well-balanced side with 3 specialist medium pacers, 2 spinners and a useful part time seamer. Why wouldn't you put that side out in any test regardless of the conditions?

My Super XV

2010-02-12T17:17:00.000+13:00

So Wynne Gray has selected his top Super rugby team from the NZ franchises since it started. He has some odd selections but some I agree with. I couldn't resist naming my own team. So here 'tis:

1. Craig Dowd
2. Sean Fitzpatrick
3. Carl Hayman
4. Ian Jones
5. Robin Brooke
6. Michael Jones
7. Richie McCaw
8. Zinzan Brooke
9. Justin Marshall
10. Dan Carter
11. Rupeni Caucaunibuca
12. Walter Little
13. Tana Umaga
14. Jonah Lomu
15. Christian Cullen

Some tough calls - close runs from Frank Bunce, Doug Howlett (who would get in if the selection criteria was changed to NZ eligible players), Olo Brown, Ali Williams and Aaron Mauger who was a grossly underrated player at all levels. Actually, 2nd V was the one position, there little depth in when I looked at players across the period in question.

Roots

2010-02-10T09:24:00.001+13:00

I loved the mini-series "Roots" when it first screened years ago. It connected with my fascination with history. But it also resonated with my own interest in my family's story - not particularly famous or noble or anything. But rather the gaining of a sense of place because of a connection to past generations. Various family members on both sides of my family have investigated the family at different times and I always loved to hear the accounts of earlier times. I have one precious video recording - interviewing my grandfather on his adventures and memories as a young boy living in Wanganui and holidaying on the West Coast of the South Island, the NZ starting point for the Jones family.

But it was the other side of the family that prompted a recent experience. My mother's family the Garlands celebrated 150 years in NZ recently. Henry and Emma Garland, pioneers in the rough but beautiful country of the Awhitu peninsula. "Awhitu" literally "longing to return". As the planning for the reunion progressed I found myself volunteering to lead the church service that was to be held in the old Awhitu Presbyterian church. Little did I know what I would discover as I began the journey of preparing.

You see, I have always felt a bit of a pioneer in my Christian faith as far as my family goes. It hasn't felt to me like I have any great heritage, but rather that I have been striking out on my own in a new direction. In the last years of her life I became aware that my maternal grandmother's faith was something very real to her and that was a welcome touchstone. But apart from that I have not felt that I stand in any great stream of heritage. Perhaps this is why I have so appreciated Kristen's family and their strong faith with its concern for the generations.

So the first thing I discovered was that my great great grandfather Henry Garland was a church planter of sorts. He is on the record as having moved the motion that confirmed the establishment of a church for the small settler community at Awhitu in 1863. I loved discovering that sense of purpose and foresight in this man, who understood that foundations needed to be laid in spiritual as well as infrastructural areas.

Then I discovered that his son George with the exhortation of his mother donated the land on which the Presbyterian church at Awhitu was built. The story is told of how the new atheist school teacher locked the doors on the school and prevented them using the school which was originally built for the dual purpose of education and faith. George and his brothers unscrewed the windows climbed in and unlocked the doors and then returned the building to its original state after service! A temporary measure until the new church was built across the road.

The records tell of family members serving the community in the church and in the important areas of education and infrastructrual development. I really valued discovering the contribution they made across the needs of their community. I wove all of this into my message for the service.

But I was unprepared for the service itself. As I stood there in this beautiful building, lovingly preserved by the generations, I became aware of a deep and abiding sense of connection to the place and all who had gone before. I wondered for a moment if I was going to be able to hold it together...it was a moment of standing in the tradition and heritage of a family that I had just discovered. I found myself experiencing that "longing to return" that was captured by "Awhitu". And it mattered that I had some spiritual roots of my own.

How Bizarre

2010-02-01T07:36:00.000+13:00

I was shocked to pick up a reference yesterday without much detail to Pauly Fuemana's death at age 40 yesterday. Pauly was the voice behind OMC, Otara Millionaire's Club (awesome name) with their one hit "How Bizarre". I had heard things didn't go so well for him after the hit - a sort of riches to rags story. There was a come back attempt a few years ago but it didn't seem to catch on.

I actually own the album (one of 4 million) and it remains NZ's biggest selling ever. Bizarre. I loved the mariachi styles trumpet and the cool strumming - sort of latin american jazz meets the Maori guitar strum.

Back in the day, I had some contact with his brother and manager Phil who also died young (41) of a heart attack. Phil was a big man with a sweet nature and he was always full of advice for our band. He had a band at the time White Boy Black which was awesome. He used to come into the music shop I worked in a bit and was always good to chat to.

Sad story really for a very talented family.

One Year Ago Today...

2010-01-08T09:01:00.002+13:00

...I posted this:

"...today some sad protestors at the ASB Tennis Classic in Auckland - protesting professional tennis player Israeli Shahar Peer's involvement - Global Peace and Justice aka John Minto, parading the so-called "developing international consensus" for a sport boycott - which right now doesn't exist so GPJ are on a limb with this one - local influence being leveraged by international tragedy through unilateral action not yet justified by international consensus - there may be a place for boycotts through sport but you do it with the accountability of international consensus when the protection of one group's rights involves the infringement of another person's rights - the sacrifice of one person's rights ostensibly for the rights of others."

Top 9 in 2009

2010-01-07T10:14:00.002+13:00

Top tens are so passe. Here's 9 of mine from 2009:

1. We welcomed Ryleigh Jeanne Carys to our family. We call her "smiley Ryleigh" because she has the biggest smile you can imagine. She is an early climber like her sister and loves to pull herself up to stand. A very good-natured child who is adored by her brother and sister.

2. Rhys turned 4. He is everything a parent could ever want in a little boy. He has a wonderful imagination and it is a joy to watch him play and interact with his environment. His latest questions alternate: tell me a story about when you were a little guy Dad and tell me a story when I was a baby. His favourite things for 2009 were Ryleigh being born, Christmas presents and being part of such a great family (his words). He is also looking forward to Granny coming to NZ for his 5th birthday.

3. Raegan turned 2. She puts the terrible in 2. I like to think of it as "spirit"! Raegan is independent and strong-minded. Some of it is her fun-loving nature which includes testing boundaries; some of it is her stubborness. She takes most strongly after one of her parents...Raegan also has a tender heart - if someone is hurt she will always make sure they are OK. She loves riding her trike around the deck....Right now her favourite question is: "why?" I'd like to say it is her thirst for knowledge but I think of it as more like a reflex...'

4. I am very fortunate to have a better 3/4 in Kristen. Life would be monochromatic without her.

5. I had the privilege of baptising Daniel.

6. I acquired a new keyboard for my birthday. After 12 years with the old one it was a bit of a wrench, but it was well worth it. I have nearly paid for it now with sale proceeds, gifts and a bit of work on the side...

7. I discovered some new things about me and worked through some old things. Some of these things have very great meaning to me.

8. We welcomed 16 new partners with cessioncommunity. I love meeting and connecting with new people who share a common excitement about what we're doing together.

9. I feel like I made a difference.

A good year. D.G.

Tickle Me

2009-12-10T23:20:00.001+13:00

I thought this up yesterday in a moment of weirdness. And then I said to myself - I bet someone already thought of this. Sure enough they did:

Tickle Me Emo.

APauled?

2009-12-01T13:07:00.003+13:00

Paul Henry's latest controverisal utterance on TV One's Breakfast has created a bit of a storm. The Human Rights Commission has received nearly 200 complaints concerning his comments on a magazine article on Susan Boyle, the singer.

The big issue seems to the use of the word "retard" which many are comparing to "nigger".

You should watch it for yourself if you feel driven to hold an opinion.

The curious thing for me is that he doesn't call Susan Boyle "a retard". What he actually says is, "She is in fact retarded." Now I'm aware its not considered appropriate to use the expression "retarded" these days, I assume because the root meaning "slow" is not considered a helpful connotation. For me, I'm not sure I find the alternatives "disability" or "special needs" to be any less patronising. But right off the bat he at least seems to use the word properly and not as a slur.

The real problem with what Henry does is that he seems to find the situation amusing, including the revelations about suffering beatings at home and school. When I saw this I assumed he thought the article was ironic. In other words, its relatively common knowledge (isn't it?) that Susan Boyle's talent is more compelling because of the wider life challenges she faces. So, the stating of the obvious as "revelations" got him to giggling. Hugely unfortunate, somewhat unprofessional and no doubt offensive to people, but I don't quite "get" the response some people have had to it. I don't think this was anything like someone being called a "nigger" on national TV.

Imperfection is Beautiful

2009-11-30T08:31:00.001+13:00

A guest post:

We put up our Christmas tree last night. Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love the decorations, the smells, the beauty of it all. To me Christmas is magical, it is the time to celebrate God's gift of love to us through His Son, Jesus. My parents did a wonderful job in making Christmas magical, not just because we were given gifts, but because of the time we were able to spend together as a family. The lead up to and the traditions of Christmas are something I will always tressure.

As I have grown up, I have turned into a perfectionist and the older I get (maybe it's the more children I have), I crave quiet, organization of my life. So last night, I wrangled all the kids to the car after church so we could go decorate the tree. After all three were buckled, I hear from the two year old, "I need to go toilet!" Amazing the hold a toilet training child has over you and how fast you move when you hear these words. Ryleigh was a this point losing the plot because she wanted to eat dinner, so I called in help from Brett to take the older two toilet and I opened a jar of baby food and fed Ryes in the car seat. It was enough to get us home.

At home, Raegan refused to get out of the car, Ryleigh began hollering for more food, and Rhys was pleading for a drink of water. After extracting the two year old and giving the baby a spoon of food in between tasks, I found a Christmas CD and put it on. Then I opened the ornament box. I love to look through the ornaments and remember who gave them to me and the memories I have of the gift giver. So as we pulled out the ornaments I tried to pass on these memeories to my children.

They were really good at listening at first and loved when I would pull out one that was theirs. Toward the end it got a little chaotic. Instead of savoring pulling out one ornament at a time, it became a free for all of pulling ornaments out of the boxes, dropping tissue paper and other packaging where ever it fell and placing ornaments on the trees. It was LOUD! The CD was not blarring but added to the noise. Raegan would open an ornment and say, "Oh my goodness! Look!" Rhys had taken any ornments that were animals and started playing with them under the tree using his imagination to create some story. Ryleigh was starting to fuss again because she was tired and wanted her night time milk and bed.

So finally every last ornament (even the ones that aren't that pretty or cute) were out on the tree and it was time to plug it in. The lights, that I weren't sure were in proper working order, but had been assured would be fine, wouldn't come on! I was gutted! It was supposed to be the "magical moment".... the moment when after all the chaos and noise, the children would stop in quiet wonder and stare at the tree. I admidt I was a bit grumpy then getting the children off to bed.

This morning, I got up with just Ryleigh and we were sitting on the floor looking at the tree. For most people it will look like an odd tree. Lots of ornaments are towards the bottom and sometimes there are even two ornaments per branch. But, as I sat contemplating the tree this morning, I realized the beauty of this tree is in its imperfection. My children had a blast decorating that tree last night. They loved seeing the ornaments from my babyhood and childhood and they loved discovering the ornaments that mommy bought for them when they were "still in my tummy". For Rhys and Raegan last night WAS magical. So now when I look at the tree this year, I will remember I have given them a bit of Christmas magic and this is the MOST beautiful Christmas tree I've ever seen!

Got there in the end

2009-11-29T22:28:00.000+13:00

Oh yeah! The AB's thrash France (the recent victors against South Africa). And so my prediction comes to completion. The All Blacks go unbeaten AND remain with a clean defensive sheet - no tries against them on the tour. South Africa didn't leak any tries on Sunday either but it didn't stop them going down 15-10. So. The All Blacks finish the season as the best team in the world. But not a great team. And the South Africans who were the best team in the world in August end with a splutter, demonstrating that it takes more than a Tri Nations win to become a truly great team.

Hope

2009-11-27T07:36:00.002+13:00

The story of Australian idol winner Stan Walker (he's a Kiwi) is an inspiring one. His family background in a self-described "Once Were Warriors" setting with an (also) self-described "Jake the Muss" father is sobering. His account of suffering sexual abuse at the hands of an extended family member is heart-breaking. Stan describes how this influenced his behaviour as a teenager in sexual and criminal activity looking to prove his manhood (puts the nature of the abuse in context).

And yet, one-by-one this family find a new focus for life - Jesus Christ. The turnaround is extreme. The image of his "hard man"father worshipping with his family was for me a profound symbol of hope as I watched the doco on TV last night.

I had an experience yesterday which I found difficult. I had lunch with a friend in a pub in Manukau. It started off great as they had the Cricket playing so we were able to watch some of it. But as we sat there we noticed a steady procession of people heading through a door into a darkened room. The pokie machines. It was 1pm in the afternoon and there were more people in there than there were in the rest of the eating area. As soon as we finished we left - it was actually just too difficult watching this play out and beyond that thinking how our lunch patronage was supporting this activity. I found it hard to connect hope to these people.

Its playing on my mind.

Playstation v Paintball

2009-11-26T23:19:00.001+13:00

So as I drove to the Paintball segment of Paul's stag, a question was in my mind: is there a correlation between the skills honed in Playstation first person shooter games and RL survival in Paintball?

It was a question with some personal interest, because I suck at Playstation, and paintball pellets hurt! Turns out that all that Playstation develops is your thumbs...

Strategy, team work, a healthy sense of self-preservation and decisive action all proved more helpful.

It's one of those sacrifices you make: suffering the stigma of being cannon fodder on Playstation so that one can actually function effectively in RL. It's just good to know that when the balloon goes up "the grey ghost" will not be the first against the wall.

I've Been Thinking...

2009-11-23T20:05:00.002+13:00

Just a few (maybe) random thoughts:

The AB's haven't had a try scored against them by a northern hemisphere team on this tour (and indeed in the last 8 games against northern opposition at home);
This side is ten times harder than the team that started tests in June this year - they are soaking up some big forwards on this tour
NZ now has an 8-4 win/loss ratio this season, including beating the Aussies four times
The team we failed to beat, South Africa, has been on a bit of a rough ride since the end of the Tri Nations, losing spectacularly to 2 England club sides - they then lost to France, bringing their test losses this year to 3 (Lions, Australia, France) against 8 wins
So...if the AB's beat France they move to 9-4 win/loss and if the Japies lose to Ireland they move to an 8-4 win/loss ratio...its unlikely, the Irish did manage to draw against Aussie

I'm just saying...

Care to Comment?

2009-11-18T07:08:00.002+13:00

I came across this interesting thought on Patrolmag.com (thanks to Rhett linking to it on FB):

As for comments, please refer to our statement here. We regret that the now-ubiquitous comment box has mostly failed as a means of productive discourse. Our content is carefully curated, and we demand a serious amount of thought and effort from our writers. It is unfair for them to face a public flogging at the hands of people who do not have to so much as identify themselves, and can undermine the authority and class of a piece in just a few inflammatory sentences. Commenting may have become a "right" in the Web 2.0 world, but its most shining accomplishment is to degrade everyone who produces and consumes information online.

It's a refreshing thought process - there is very definitely a culture of vitriolic commenting in many sectors of blogworld (not I note the the urbane but few visitors to this blog). I can't help but wonder whether the internet really is changing humanity or whether its just tapping into existing modes. Too deep for me to analyse.

One bit I liked from the extended rationale:

The internet would be a lot less barbaric place if more webmasters would stop mindlessly sticking comment boxes on every bit of content they post. (Seriously, who wants to read Mariah85747's thoughts on a Washington Post article?)

So have at it Mariah 85747!

Twilight

2009-11-17T19:07:00.000+13:00

What the?

What is a Christian?

2009-10-31T11:00:00.002+13:00

According to the World Methodist Council faith-sharing New Testament (sitting in a seminar):

A Christian is a person who believes that the living God is revealed in and through Jesus Christ, who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, who lives in obedient communion with God through the Holy Spirit and who takes his or place in the community of Christ's church.

Discuss.

Childhood Things

2009-10-28T08:22:00.003+13:00

I don't why I thought to think of one of my favourite childhood movies, The Fighting Prince of Donegal. Perhaps it was Rhys' excitement at watching Finding Nemo. But I loved this movie (a Disney movie) and back in those days (the 70's) you didn't rent movies - you waited patiently until the Sunday evening Disney show played it again. I saw it maybe 2 or 3 times but it played out many times in memory in the backyard. I was the fighting prince Hugh O'Donnell liberating the Irish from the oppression of the English.

It's movies like this that cultivated a sense of the romantic in me. I am not a big cry-er. In fact, hardly at all. But if there is something to bring a tear to my eye its moments of achievement against the odds - I will shed a tear watching Olympic medal ceremonies where Kiwis are flying high.

More than that, I sometimes wonder whether it was movies like this with grand themes of freedom, redemption and overcoming the odds that kept alive a spark of what passed for faith in those days. Not faith in anything particular, but faith in transcending the human condition - that there was something more than biological existence. The thought never entered my head because the thoughts in my head were profoundly atheistic. But I can't help but wonder at the sustaining effect of these sorts of dreams.

John 1 describes the world prior to the Word becoming flesh - Jesus:

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

The passage goes on to say that the true light was coming into the world, but meantime there was this life that was the light of men. I think of it in these terms: just enough light to see that we need more light. In other words we're not left fumbling in the dark for the light switch. There's just enough light to see the difference true light could make.

I think of films like this and the grand themes they encompass as being part of that light for me.

My Secret Affair

2009-10-23T00:02:00.005+13:00

Here she is...beautiful not hot...half the weight of my last one...slender, slim line skin...sensitive touch...mmmmmmmm

Southland Lift the Shield!

2009-10-22T23:54:00.000+13:00

Gotta love the underdogs! Southland grind out a 9-3 win over the Cantabs. Not sure what this means for Auckland now in the wider run to the semifinals. Now we just gotta make sure the Red and Blacks don't win the title! Hawkes Bay to win the rematch?

Rhett's Rugby Rant

2009-10-21T16:31:00.003+13:00

Alright, so a first for my blog, a request for a topic! From Rhett the blogless one. He's so dying to talk about Rugby online...so I will post...

First up Chris Rattue is a prize pillock. Today's article saying he will cheer the opposition in Wales on the AB tour is crazy and unpatriotic. There's a big difference between expressing a point of view about coaches and tactics and selections and turning your back on the national side. Go dropkick yourself Chris.

Moving to the most interesting part of the selection announcement, the coach reshuffle. This is how I see it:

Its a demotion for Hansen - Henry, the only coach who has actually succeeded in his specialist area of defence, moves into the trouble area of the lineouts - already his media offensive has been highly effective - lets hope his coaching is as good;

Its a demotion for Smith - he loses the backs and gets defence instead - now Smithie just work the old axiom "if it ain't broke don't fix it". The problem with Smith is he is full of great ideas but is a crap coach. Remember the flat backline anyone? I can see it now: "We are working on a new defensive strategy. Basically we are turning our backs on the opposition so that we are ready for pop kicks over the top and in a better position to chase opposition players who breach our first line of defence...we're calling it the back flatline....";

The only curious piece in this is Hansen getting the backs. Now the first point in his favour is that he was a back, despite his porcine tendencies towards front row physique. And he was coach of a successful Crusaders unit back in the day, who were masters of the counterattack. Of course if it doesn't work we can all just flush the dunny and move on...

As for the players? Kind of predictable in most areas:

Sad but expected move on Ross - lets hope he can still run when he comes out of the gym

A pleasant surprise on Messam

A shock on Delaney when everyone was picking the Manawatu lad, but the distinguishing features of age and a decent kicking game are revealing...

A big surprise with De Malmanche omitted. I'm picking this is Henry's first foray into "owning" the forwards - if I'm going to coach the lineout you better believe I am not going to pick someone who can't throw the ball in...

Ben Smith was the selectors way of making sure NO ONE got the full team right...lets hope its not another roll of the dice aka Wulf, Gear, Tuitavake etc

Guildford is rewarded for solid form and he has in Kirtonese language - "gas" - there's a novelty in recent AB sides a winger with pace...

Thats all from me - have at it Mr Snell! Or we could meet for coffee and gasbag about it all :)

Oh and while I am now officially being solicted for blog posts would anyone like me to blog about the politicisation of the family unit and a critique of aspects of rights theory especially as applied to women?

Bookworm

2009-10-15T08:36:00.000+13:00

Jesus the Word - a word so pure, so powerful, so perfect, that to speak it would be as if every word ever written, every word ever spoken, every thought conceived was but a stillborn whisper. A word so far reaching that to utter it could change everything – the past, the present, the future. A word so true, so right, that to speak it would bring something out of nothing. Now imagine that word taking for its meaning a new definition – one phrased in human flesh. A medium at once limiting in its constraints but richly expressive in the nuances it could bring to its human readership.

The Super Pastor?

2009-10-14T16:40:00.003+13:00

So a little back story - the Auckland metropolitan area is made up of a number of cities each with their own infrastructure - the plan is to combine them into a super city. Now a certain high profile pastor decided that the super city needed a super church so a bill board was made...

And now cessioncommunity's youth pastor has made this...

What the Hell?

2009-10-13T08:22:00.001+13:00

Two interesting thoughts:

"Let me sum up my thoughts: Hell is a freely-chosen identity based on something else other than God that goes on forever. But even while you disintegrate, you refuse to admit what hell is. You think that it is God who cast you in hell, but it is a self-chosen identity. There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says in the end, "Thy will be done." All that are in hell choose it. Without that self choice, it wouldn't be hell."

"...this reality, this forgiveness, this reconciliation, is true for everybody. Paul insisted that when Jesus died on the cross, he was reconciling ‘all things, in heaven and on earth, to God.’ All things, everywhere. This reality then isn’t something that we make true about ourselves by doing something. It is already true. Our choice is to live in this new reality or cling to a reality of our own making."

I Am Feeling Olympic

2009-10-12T12:55:00.002+13:00

So Rugby Sevens is an Olympic sport eh? But its not the first time Rugby has been played at the Olympics. Without googling it, who is the reigning Olympic Rugby Gold Medallist?

I'm not sure Netballs answer to Sevens and 20-20 Cricket will survive but glad we beat the Aussies!

Covenant

2009-10-06T12:38:00.002+13:00

So we have this opportunity for people to identify with cessioncommunity as partners and as part of that we invite people to enter into a covenant with us. I recently received the following slightly reworded covenant from a new recruit - I'll leave you to work out which bits were added:

Partnership Covenant/Contract/Soul-selling

I,………………………… wish to covenant with the cult of cessioncommunity as together we reach for our vision of flying away on our purple spacecraft to greater glory and
life encountering truth as we reflect and offer Christ

I will align my efforts with the Mission of the cessioncommunity by seeking to become a growing follower of Christ who grows followers of Christ. To do this I will join the community in:

• Connecting our lives to God and drawing others into that connection
(Adoration)
- Through regular attendance of the worship gathering
- Spending quality relationship time with God
- Being a 'fool' for Christ

• Living life together in authentic community (commune)

(Belonging)
Through attending a cell group at the movies or pub
Committing to "open" relationships with people - sounds like my kind of church!

• Impacting our neighbours with love
(Caring)

Living out God’s command to love my neighbour
Being a part of our corporate community influence events
Phoning noise control wherever possible
Getting drunk and trying to get others to do likewise

• Reflecting and offering Jesus Christ to others
(Drawing)

Sharing Jesus with those I’m connected to - scratch that: I don't share
Being a part of what we do together to reach others and inviting friends and family where I can

• Pursuing and encouraging life transformation
(Equipping)

Taking time to learn and apply more of the bible* to my life
Bringing all that I am and have to God from time and talents to financial and other resources - do you have change for a button?

* The "Bible" being Fashion Quarterly

Well it made me laugh!

Wordsmithising

2009-10-03T15:07:00.002+13:00

So someone sent me an email following Sunday's sermon. It was a gentle correction on something I had said:

"First, i wasn't going to say anything until i double checked, but i was pretty sure you were claiming to make up a word that i had heard...awhile back..."

Whoops! Busted!

But the truth of it was: I really had no idea the word existed...so my conclusion was:

"Wow! That’s so cool. Yes I did claim to make it up – actually I DID make it up – its just someone else made it up first – which makes me even cooler: I made up A REAL WORD! That makes me awesome, just a little late."

You can spin anything I guess :)

Letterman

2009-09-25T17:55:00.002+12:00

So John Key was on Letterman...he was kinda lame, but he's our lame right? Good on ya John!

Post Post Bureaucratic Post

2009-09-23T17:08:00.003+12:00

So back in June I posted on Post-Bureaucracy and the small problems I was having getting WOF's for vehicles. So today was interesting. I didn't (of course) fix the offending window. Why should I? I walked in (to a different place naturally) and got the WOF. No questions asked and before you ask whether it was one of THOSE places - it wasn't - it was one of the reputable places. Funny how the LTSA regs changed while I was away.

We also got Kristen's SRS light to go off. It was a little less than the $780 quoted. It turned out to be a loose wire. Not sure why the original garage couldn't have popped the steering wheel to confirm that before quoting. The garage was too embarrassed to charge so all it cost was the $50 for the computer scan.

$50 and 2 WOF's. Thats my kind of bureaucracy...

The Gospel For iGen

2009-09-16T06:52:00.004+12:00

Scot McKnight makes a great case for "gospeling" in a recent CT article. The basic premise of the article is that a generation raised on a robust diet of self-esteem may be less predisposed to accept personal responsibility for sin.

For a start McKnight exposes a constant myth:

Sometimes I think we forget that no where in the pages of the New Testament do we find what many of us heard when we were gospeled: God loves us, we are sinners, God still loves us and sent us his Son to die for our sins, and if we receive God's plan we will spend eternity with him and be empowered by grace for a new life now. I believe every line in that gospel to be true, but no one said it quite that way in the New Testament.

Just ask Jesus into your heart - it's true but its not true. Instead he points iGens to Jesus.

First with the vision of the Kingdom:

Nothing in my experience mesmerizes iGens like the kingdom vision of Jesus. One approach I use is to move through the Gospel of Luke. I begin with the preliminary expectations of Mary, Zechariah, and John the Baptist. I then focus on what Jesus wanted to bring about on earth (Luke 4:16-30; 6:20-26, and 7:18-23). Then I observe that Jesus knew the cross was the way to that kingdom (9:18-27). We move from there into the cross and resurrection, and then emerge on the other side of Easter with Pentecost and the apostolic church community (Acts 2:42-47).

He then vividly descibes the process by which community can draw someone to Christ (a far cry from the lampooning attempts of the anti-community brigade and it has to be said the "community is all" set):

Anyone who vividly sketches a community marked by justice, love, peace, and holiness has a message iGens want to hear. The self hidden behind the castle wall is now interested. And I have found that the self-in-a-castle feels shame about systemic sin, and their sensitivity to things like AIDS, poverty, and racism leads inevitably to recognizing the sin in each person. At some point in this movement to the castle door, the iGen will realize that systemic sin is linked to personal sin. Suddenly he or she feels accountable to God.

Perhaps its the inverse of the self-help guru approach that appeals to the iGen, but McKnight also sees discipleship as an attractive force with iGens:

Along with Jesus' kingdom vision, some iGens are awakened to faith by the discipleship demands of Jesus. I usually focus on the Sermon on the Mount, and not just because I'm an Anabaptist. This message of Jesus was the church's favorite and it remains a powerful sketch of a moral life that both creates a world of possibilities and—at the very core—unmasks pretence and sinfulness. Through the Sermon on the Mount, I find the self-in-a-castle lured to the castle door. In fact, rather than turning off iGens, the demand of Jesus for a life that matters and a morality that exceeds what they have experienced, is radically attractive. It challenges them to their core.

He concludes with an encouragement:

Like many young people in her generation, what finally led this student to embrace the gospel was being brought into the story of Jesus. Our task in gospeling iGens is following the example of Peter and Paul and helping them find their place—and themselves—in that remarkable story.

What I enjoyed about this article was cKnight putting some framework around some things I have observed in ministry, while still leaving room for a wide variety of responses and experiences. Not everyone is iGen in their makeup but for those who are McKnight offers some clues on reaching them. It resonates with what I see of God's grace drawing people in different ways to the point of commitment to Christ.

What was your experience? What drew you to Christ?

End of Year Tour

2009-09-14T10:53:00.005+12:00

While there is one more test to go (and therefore now is not the time to sharpen coaching knives) it IS time to begin thinking through the 30 for the end of year tour. So I've picked my team, not the one they will pick. Comment away if you've done little else but think about this and find yourself blogless...

My method is this:

Take out the injured ones
Work how who needs a rest and leave them at home
Give the performers this year a chance
Retire those who seem past it now and give some new blood a shot

In that last category? So'oialo, Thorn, Donald, Rokococo. In the 2nd category Mils.

Fullbacks - Corey Jane and Israel Dagg (lets see who comes through as the top contender)
Wings - Sivivatu, Masaga, Gear (Jane, Slade etc can fill in)
Centres - Toeava, Robert Fruean (HUGE potential) - Assumption: Smith and Kahui are not available
2nd Five - Nonu, Jayden Hayward (the most talented 2nd V on display in the Air NZ Cup) - Assumption: McAllister is injured
1st Five - Carter, Cruden, Slade (Slade has utility value as well)
Halfback - Cowan, Leonard (it would be good to have a third, but not enough space and who?)
No.8 - Read, Messum (must be given a chance to develop his huge potential)
Blindside - Kaino, Thompson (can cover 7 as well)
Open Side - McCaw, Whitelock
Locks - Ross, Boric, Eaton, Jack (to see if he's ready and to pass on experience
Props - Woodward, McIntosh, Franks, Afoa (they'll take Crockett instead of McIntosh)
Hookers - Hore, De Malmanche, Hika Elliot (got to get another go)
Alright so thats 32 :) 2 to be omitted...take out a lock, a hooker or a first five...maybe they'll prefer Slade as a fullback to Dagg which would be a shame...

I reserve the right to think some more :)

Dear Lord

2009-09-12T08:32:00.004+12:00

Please help Tony Woodcock smash John Smit in the scrums today and the AB lineout to confirm Matfield as the little girl he apparently used to be.

Amen

Personal Accountability

2009-09-09T08:29:00.004+12:00

With some Texans fearing that Obama's message to school children of personal accountability will somehow lead them to the evils of socialism, I now perform a slightly clumsy segue...

...personal accountability for the Christian! I am digging around looking for various resources for a research paper I have to write in 2010 in the area of of discipleship (thus the Dave Tomlinson trip yesterday) and today I came across an interesting source thanks to the Shapevine E-zine. David Watson is a church planter and discipler whose blog contained a very stimulating post on the different realms of personal accountability. I immediately decided to roadtest the diagnostic questions in my journaling this week which I repeat here:

1. Relationship to God

•What will I do daily to build/improve this relationship?
•What will I do weekly to build/improve this relationship?
•What special events will I participate in order to improve this relationship?
•How will I involve my family and community in this relationship?

2. Relationship to Family/Family Members

•What will I do daily to build/improve my relationships with each family member?
•What will I do weekly to build/improve these relationships?
• What special events will I participate in order to improve these relationship?
• How will I involve other family members in improving our relationships with one another?

3. Relationship to Church and Community

•What will I do daily to build/improve these relationships?
•What will I do weekly to build/improve these relationships?
•What special events will I participate in order to improve these relationships?
•How will I involve my family in these relationships?

4. Relationship to Call/Ministry

•What will I do daily to fulfill my call from God?
•What will I do weekly to fulfill my call from God?
•What special events will I participate in order to improve my fulfillment of my call from God?
•How will I involve my family in my call?

5. Relationship to Job/Work

•What will I do daily to build/improve my job related relationships (boss and those I lead)?
•What will I do weekly to build/improve these relationships?
•What special events will I participate in order to improve these relationships?
•How will I involve my family in these relationships?

6. Relationship to Self

•What will I do daily/weekly to improve/maintain my physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health?
•What will I do daily/weekly to improve my general knowledge?
•What will I do regularly for recreation and down time?
•How will I involve my family in these events

What I really appreciate from the wider article is the holistic nature of this model and you can see in the questions a deliberate attempt to relate each area to the other. You might like to join me in trying these and I'd be interested of any comments if you do. I will take one per day and journal on them.

Post The Post Evangelical Post

2009-09-08T17:04:00.004+12:00

Rev Dave Tomlinson, an Anglican vicar, and writer of The Post Evangelical is in NZ with World Vision speaking to his book "Re enchanting the Church". I was fortunate enough to take our staff team to listen, process and reflect on our own ministry context.

Tomlinson is a fascinating individual with a very interesting story - including significant periods in the Brethren, Pentecostal and house church movements and playing a part in some of the early alternative worship initiatives in the UK - "Holy Joes". He is now an Anglican priest, which I think amuses him as much as this former lawyer is amused by his own transition from atheist lawyer to pastor!

His thesis is simply this: orthodoxy has traditionally been the subject of conversation, argument and progressive revelation. He cites not surprisingly the formation of the biblical canon over many years (including Luther's attempts to get rid of James and Revelation) and the establishment of the creeds out of periods of debate and conjecture. Thus his central tenet that orthodoxy is not orthodox if it is prescribed and pre packaged. In fact he sees the pre packaged brand of orthodoxy as a distortion. In contrast he advocates for a brand of orthodoxy which he describes as “progressive orthodoxy”, an orthodoxy that is:

• Fed and nurtured by its rootedness in past events
• Shaped and energised by a dynamic interaction with the world

He defines this orthodoxy within his own tradition as an ongoing conversation between scripture, reason, tradition and experience. How very Wesleyan of him although I suspect he might a little beyond Wesley's orthodoxy! All very interesting, but nothing earth-shatteringly fresh and he didn't pause to tease out some of his more developed and controversial views beyond laying this brief foundation.

What WAS interesting was the subsequent practical stuff on connecting church to community. This was what I had come to engage. Tomlinson is convinced that contemporary western culture is more spiritual than it has ever been, and that it is not difficult to connect with this spirituality as a Christian, but that the taste of the age is not for the pre packaged version of "tick the boxes" faith with which some brands of Christianity are identified.

What I took from this was that the journey towards faith is something we need to work hard to create room for in our churches while remaining unfailingly receptive and encouraging of people actually coming to faith on whatever timetable God has in place for them. Some nuggets I will spend some time thinking on:

> The community of the church as "umbrella" - the possibility of multiple activities occurring within the broader influence of the church without these necessarily being simply funnels to the main event of Sunday worship

> The recapturing of the parish model in terms of gaining traction as a "church for the community" in more than just name - this requires some very particular activity by the pastor in particular it would seem

> Creating space for spiritual seekers to explore spirituality as part of the richest tradition of Christian spirituality

> Work on the balance between extrinsic and intrinsic faith ie from belief-based to spiritual journey (note I am glossing this as a balance rather than as a movement to an extreme)

> Work out paradigms for engagement of the "spiritual atheist" - Tomlinson contends that humanistic atheism is basically dead but that there are spiritually minded atheists who need help approaching what they see as an arid, suffocating view of God within Christianity - need to do some more thinking about this one!

> Reflect some more on Tomlinson's suggestion that churches need to find ways to become places for existential spirituality within the Christian tradition rather than merely centres for devotional worship - a challenging thought

All in all a very stimulating day which led me to think more deeply about modes for engaging the community and shaping the church for that engagement. It was great to do this with the staff team and to test out our understandings, responses and thoughts for change (as well as sneak in some Burger Fuel). Some of the very real pastoral implications of what can happen when broken people become part of the church community were worthy discussion points.

The trajectory towards getting one's hands dirty with mission, but in more than just the traditional "care for the poor" way, was the biggest takeaway - what Tomlinson was really challenging me towards was understanding the spiritual and social context in which we seek to engage people. In that sense, his evangelistic leanings were as palapable as his pastoral ones.

A Story

2009-09-01T23:38:00.002+12:00

I was christened in the Anglican church at the instigation of my nominal Anglican mother and my agnostic father. In the early years of my childhood I was “encouraged” to attend Sunday School, but didn’t enjoy it. In fact, I was a bit of a troublemaker.

As quickly as I could, I got out of the church scene and by the time my High School years arrived was a committed atheist. My early years in the church had provided me with just enough information to challenge those who held Christian views. The worst example of this very bad behaviour on my part was my sister. She had made a Christian commitment through her school Christian club and was confirmed in the Anglican Church. Unfortunately a combination of my ridicule, an overly enthusiastic Pentecostal teacher and the bad influence of friends resulted in her falling away. I still feel bad about that!

At high school, I achieved well academically and above averagely on the sporting field. I made the top rugby team at school in my second to last year – this was a defining moment – until then I had been a “good boy”! I was still pretty much a good boy, but became a pretty heavily drinking good boy! The rugby culture was to go out and get smashed after every game (I suspect in an effort to attract women!) I bought into this with my friends and it became a regular activity…

When I left school, I went to University and enrolled for a mixed arts/law degree. In that first year my school friendships seemed to become increasingly distant. I began to tire of the mindless drinking. This did not go down to well with my friends.

In the meantime, University had reunited me with an old friend – well we were going to the same educational institution again – we had remained friends, but the immediacy of my school friends had taken over to some extent. Gary was a Christian and he often invited me to various events that his youth group were running. I went along to mainly social events from time to time. I couldn’t question how genuinely nice many of these people were. They impressed me as human beings but generally puzzled me as misguided, religious fanatics...

My dissatisfaction with my previous patterns and exposure to this new group of people collided. In my private moments I admitted to myself that I wanted something more from life…I even named it as being what these people had…but realised that for me God was not in the equation.

Gary continued to persist and invited me to attend a Youth Camp – Summer Harvest (funny how I never realised that the name was referring to me!) This camp was held in the beautiful Bay of Islands in the north of NZ. Gary had sold it to me – all I had to was attend the morning meetings and I could spend the rest of the day on the private surf beach. He also dropped in that there were 1,500 people attending…a quick bit of maths and I decided the odds were appealing – 1,500 divided by 2 = !!!!!!

In the days leading up to the camp my own questions continued to surface. Until one day, the atheist prayed to the God he didn’t believe in and gave him one week to make himself known. It seemed like a very tall order so I felt pretty safe.

The camp proceeded and it was all I had hoped for…sun, sea, surf and senoritas! Problem was these nice Christian girls seemed friendly to a point, but beyond that the shutters went up…I went to the meetings and one night responded to an invitation that went something like this:

“If you want to become a Christian, stand up”

This fitted me perfectly. I wanted to become a Christian. I was attracted to the lifestyle, the sense of purpose, the focus beyond myself. But, I still didn’t believe in God. The speaker had a reputation as a bit of a Holy Spirit merchant so I hoped God would zap me. He didn’t, so I sat down. God still doesn’t perform on my command.

I was disappointed. I realised my quest was at an end. I had tried to reason my way into belief in God. I had tried to befriend my way into his Kingdom. I had tried to match my social conscience with His. And at the last I had even tried to show faith, albeit that I had none.

I ended up talking with one of the older guys that night. I recognised that the only barrier stopping me becoming a Christian was my lack of belief in God. Some barrier! I realised that all my efforts were not going to be enough. That was just the way it was.

I went to bed with a degree of peace. I had been struggling a bit with the whole thing and it had wound me up more than I realised.

I awoke the next morning. And realised I believed in God.

That morning in the meeting, I committed my life to Jesus Christ – no counsellors, no altar call – just me and Him. I told Gary whose reaction betrayed his surprise. Almost immediately another non-Christian friend who Gary had also dragged along came up to me and asked me what I thought of all this stuff. My first opportunity to witness. I said, “I guess I believe it!” His reaction displayed his surprise as well and not a little hurt at being left in the madman’s den on his own!

The day was fantastic. Everything seemed that little bit sharper. The wonder of a creation that had a Creator. I won the surf flags race at the beach. I don’t think God helped me, but the victory was all the sweeter for doing it in Him. I still treasure that moment of achievement.

I returned home and began visiting churches. Early on a wise pastor advised me to find a home church and settle down. I had 2 choices – go to Gary’s church a successful, spirit-filled Baptist church that is now the second biggest church in our area or go to the run down Methodist church with the newly appointed Youth Worker. I chose the second. I became a Youth leader very (too?) early in my walk. I grew a relationship with God.

And later this Church would become the place in which my ministry developed and after the church split, the community in which my call to full time ministry would be confirmed.

God had his reasons I guess for doing things this way. There is a verse that echoes this for me:

1 Corinthians 2

4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

I know that all I am as a person is a result of his power, not my own wisdom. As a competent, relatively intelligent individual this is an absolute starting point for me. Everything that is now me is dependent on Him first providing a way for me to know and love Him. And now that He has, my life is His.

Centre of Attention

2009-08-29T11:15:00.003+12:00

What to do with the #13 jersey for the All Blacks? Its been a problem for some years on and off - flirtations with fullbacks over the years (Muliaina and Cullen) and now with the 2 players expected to battle for the position in 2009 are out for the business end of the Tri Nations (Smith/Kahui).

There are some interesting theories out there:

Promote Nonu to centre and push Carter to 2nd V outside Donald - actually this is the one I fear the selectors will opt for - but its fatally flawed as we must have Carter at 1st V
With McAlister also out the smart choice for me is to bring Nonu back at 2nd V outside Carter and use the successful formula of 2008 - Nonu was at his best outside Carter in 2008 and was possibly the only NZer not to benefit from Carter's selection (as he was dropped)
That then leaves the centre berth - Toeva has had a couple of goes there without impressing across the whole game - he remains my choice for consistency of selection and frankly the guy still possesses a raw talent that is worth persevering with - he has had some wonderful moments alongside the woeful ones
There isn't anyone in the Air NZ Cup who is showing they are ready. If it comes down to a selection from outside the squad then I would go for Tuitivaki
The option of pulling Muliaina back to centre making room for Corey Jane is a possibility, but for me, you've still got to be working a theory for the future and that one is plainly stopgap at best - plus Muliaina's best tests have always been at fullback
I could be persuaded to push Nonu out to centre and bring Toeva into 2nd V - that way the kicking option is brought into the mix, but it seems to me to bring a double uncertainty into the mix - how will Toeva go generally? how will Nonu go at centre?

WHat may be telling are the Air NZ Cup games this weekend - Toeva is at Centre for Auckland and Nonu is at Centre for Wellington. Maybe Jamie is listening to the 3 wise men this week?

For the Cyber Junky

2009-08-28T10:05:00.003+12:00

With news breaking today that Cyber junkies can unplug at US retreat I got to wondering. My foray into Face Book this year was quite an eye opener. I had no idea people were spending so much of their lives there - some of things that I noticed:

Status updates as a cry for help
Lots of time being spent on games, quizzes etc
Chat, chat, chat
Wall conversations that were publicly viewable and sometimes shouldn't be

Lots of it is just fun and another way of keeping in touch with people. But I wondered if the sentiment from the Cyber Junkie monastics applies to more than just children:

"Computers and the Internet are also parent-sanctioned refuges for children eager to escape hard knocks that are usually part of growing up."

Not sure - perhpas like most neutral passtimes, its a matter of degree and focus - definitely a trap there for some people. I reserve my greatest scorn for posturing, self-important bloggers...

Of course what I really got wondering about was Nigel's recent retreat and his obvious technology addiction and Rhett's forthcoming retreat relative to his status as a recovering blogging addict and current Call of Duty binge killer. Just saying.

2009-08-27T23:00:00.000+12:00

"Every culture in every time offers both catalytic and corrective impulses towards Christological insight. In some cases these insights bring important correctives on the back of cultural correctives where the pendulum swings back from a position of extreme rigidity. In other cases they catalyse new ways of thinking that enrich an accumulated Christology without subtracting from the historical Jesus. On occasion, these new insights reach too far and become the basis for future correctives. However, every culture needs a freshened Christology to redeem its particular fallenness. Culture is not neutral however – so the danger is inherent where the fallen nature of culture creates God in its own image. In so doing, the historical Jesus is fatally redrawn as something less than the incarnate God. But just as Christ is the redeemer of culture, so our ‘Christologies’ must engage with cultural currents. We cannot avoid it."

Sleep is Spiritual

2009-08-24T12:53:00.003+12:00

"...I realised that - as unspiritual as it sounds - if I was going to get serious about becoming a more loving person, I was going to have to get more sleep. I have discovered I have a very hard time thinking and feeling and acting like Jesus whe I lack sleep...For some of you...the most spiritual thing you could do right now is...to take a nap."

John Ortberg, The Life You've Always Wanted.

A great truth here from John Ortberg, quoted in the context of spiritual disciplines and recognising that we are holistic beings. What happens in one part of our life affects what happens in other parts. After all, we only have one life.

I have discovered this to be very true in my own life. I am generally less likely to be Christlike after the birth of a child (this can last for some months :)) It's not an excuse for bad behaviour, but it is a reason to look to when "out of character" behaviour creeps in.

It's one of the first questions I ask in mentoring if someone appears to be badly out of sorts. A lack of sleep can flow over into so many areas of life: health, motivation, relationships, depression, energy, prayer, reading - the list goes on.

Those of you who know me well, will know that I am not a big fan of sleep. Just too much to do enjoy in life to waste it sleeping! But Psalm 127 reminds me:

2 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves.

Gay-Bashing Tornado

2009-08-23T10:30:00.002+12:00

So there was this tornado that smacked a Lutheran church in the US right before they were going to debate the issue of homosexual practice as being appropriate for ministers.

John Piper says God did it as a firm but gentle warning to Lutherans and indeed us all to turn from the approval of sin.

Read his own words here. Read everyone elses by googling Piper tornado.

By the way the insurance industry agrees with him that it was an act of God.

The legend grows.

Oh and for the record the Evangelical (?) Lutheran Church of America ignored the tornado and John Piper and voted in favour of removing the celibacy provision from their position on the ordination of gay ministers.

The Call

2009-08-22T19:19:00.002+12:00

The process of birthing a call to ministry is one I find intriguing. An unassailable truth, that is a starting point for me, is this that there is not one person for who it isn’t a reality - Everyone has a call to ministry – Ephesians 2:10

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

So we are not a factory production line job - we are an example of fine craftsmanship. We are designed to have a relationship with God – we are also designed for good works – we are designed for action with purpose – for ministry.

What I find compelling is Samuel's call to serve in a set apart way. And of course Samuel was not a pastor: he was a prophet! Some things I notice from Samuel 3:1-21

1. Samuel was already in ministry when God called

“The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli…” (verse 1)

A call to ministry will very often be associated with an insatiable desire to minister - so one test of calling is simply is there any ministry! Along with this comes fruit of ministry - again its a key qualification for ministry. If we are called in one sense or another than just trying to serve somewhere is an important next step – don’t wait around for someone to spot your talent - get serving. Its often from this process that the groundwork is laid as it was for Samuel.

2. God had to call Samuel more than once

“The Lord called Samuel a third time and Samuel got up..” (verse 8)

The process of call is part of preparation for ministry – for Samuel’s ministry as a prophet he needed to learn to hear the voice of God and to speak sometimes hard truths – what better preparation than to have to bear the news of Eli’s atonement. When you look around the scriptures there are all sorts of different calls, but all come from God:

o The Damascus Rd call – Paul wasn't looking for it, he was already pretty happy with his calling
o The Progressive call – perhaps the most common - for the thickies like me
o A Call from birth – Jeremiah 1:5 “Set apart from birth” – even Samuel: 1 Sam 1:11 “…if only you will look upon your servant’s misery and give him a son then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life.”
o The Church's call – confirmed by the church appointing you – Barnabas – starts off as a Christian who sells a piece of land and gives the momey to the apostles – subsequently we find Barnabas being appointed to a task at Antioch and then ultimately he is recruited by Paul
o The Open door Call – walking into a ministry opportunity and discovering fruitfulness

All sorts of calls, and so often we seem to need to hear it more than once! And for many they work in tandem.

3. Eli was the first to realise God was calling Samuel

“Then Eli realised that the Lord was calling the boy.” (verse 8)

The role of spiritual mentors is critical – leadership development is really just a specialised form of discipleship. Research shows the role of the spiritual mentor may be the single most important influence. It's important to look at what Eli didn’t do though – he didn’t “call” Samuel – God did - Eli simply pointed Samuel to the call.

4. Samuel gave the Lord permission to speak

“Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Giving God permission to speak into your life is important - giving God permission to take your life, well thats a whole different deal. It may not be the career path your parents chose for you…or even what you would have chosen for yourself. And its an ongoing thing - the path to following a call is all part of the process - giving God permission to provide for you is part of walking that path and for me one of the most helpful confirmations.

Well just a few musing thoughts from me from Samuel's call - one of my favourite stories.

I'm With The Band

2009-08-19T07:16:00.001+12:00

"...being a bass player is a lot like being a minister. You lay down the beat, trying to keep it solid and true. Sometimes your job is to keep it steady enough to allow others to shine, to sing, to play, and to dance, as God wants us to. Other times, it's the bass that makes it funky and adds a needed surprise. But the bass is just one part of the band, and alone, it doesn't sound like much.

For people who are drawn to music, the mystery that draws us into the bands we love the most, is that we know it's not just about the one. The notes and sounds come together, the different people play their roles, and yet what is produced transcends all that. It's like when you become a member of the body of Christ—you join a band that is way better than you are, and the next tour is always just beginning."

I'm With the Band

Times Up For the Dreadlock Boys

2009-08-17T23:19:00.000+12:00

Nonu and So'iaolo have to go for this test against Aussie. In Nonu's case its not so much that McAlister is demanding inclusion as it is about Nonu's lack of form. Another kicking option is sorely needed in this side and overall the balance is missing. Nonu appeals as an impact player in any event.

Read however has made a compelling case for inclusion against the indifferent incumbent. Its his time to stand aside, I'm afraid. Read is mobile, does the basics well and adds a touch more height in the lineout.

Corey Jane is widely expected to take Joe's place but I'm one for persevering with him if his form seems close. The coaches will be much better positioned to determine that. I won't mind either way.

Otherwise, this side picks itself.

Sunday School Ain't What It Used To Be

2009-08-16T20:15:00.002+12:00

From the mouth of the 4 year old:

Dad: What did you talk about in kids encounter tonight?
Rhys: We read a story where Jesus healed a man
Dad: Was it a good story?
Rhys: Yes but I don't want to be healed?
Dad: Why?
Rhys: I want to keep my skin
Dad: Why are you worried about your skin?
Rhys: Well, Jesus takes away your skin...

So Jesus is a flesh-eating zombie! I'm so glad for the high quality religious education he is getting (he really is)!

Both And

2009-08-15T10:42:00.003+12:00

"There has risen up a modern idea which I cannot too much reprobate, that Christ made no atonement for our sin except upon the cross: whereas in this passage of Isaiah we are taught as plainly as possible that by His bruising and His stripes, as well as by His death, we are healed. Never divide between the life and the death of Christ. How could He have died if He had not lived? How could He suffer except while He lived? Death is not suffering, but the end of it."

"Many of us find ourselves estranged from the narrow issues that define conservatives and from the shallow spirituality that marks liberals. We are thirsty for social justice and peace but have a hard time finding a faith community that is consistently pro-life or that recognizes that there are "moral issues" other than homosexuality and abortion, moral issues like war and poverty. So some folks just end up trying to save individual souls from their sins, and others end up trying to save the world from "the system." But rarely do we see that the sickness of our world has infected each of us, and that the healing of our world not only begins within us but does not end with us."

"…the more controversial implication, is that the salt and light metaphors indicate that Christians can change non-Christian society. The models must mean that, because both salt and light are effective commodities. They change the environments in which they are placed. Salt hinders bacterial decay. Light dispels darkness. This is not to resurrect the social gospel. We cannot perfect society. But we can improve it. My hope is that in the future, evangelical leaders will ensure that their social agenda includes such vital but controversial topics as halting climate change, eradicating poverty, abolishing armories of mass destruction, responding adequately to the AIDS pandemic, and asserting the human rights of women and children in all cultures. I hope our agenda does not remain too narrow."

"First, Methodism reflected, among other things, a dissatisfaction two kinds of Protestantism. First there was a doctrinaire Protestantism that would fight, defame, exclude and even kill for so-called Orthodoxy, but didn’t produce true personal and social holiness. And second was a comfortable, complacent, institutional, apathetic, lukewarm institutionalism that betrayed Jesus in equally distasteful ways. Wesley and others sought methods by which followers of Christ could actually become more Christ-like. They knew that simply assenting to the right doctrines didn’t necessarily produce right relationships with God, self, others, enemies, and creation, and so they sought to create a widely-doable method for pursuing holiness and wholeness. I think whatever this emerging thing today is, it is a desire for Christians to become more like Jesus, and for what passes for Christianity to become less of an embarrassment to its presumed founder."

Mid Term Report Card

2009-08-11T08:26:00.002+12:00

G Henry

Shows improvement in specialist area. Would benefit from coaching his coaches.

W Smith

Seems confused about basic concepts. Some unfortunate results regarding trying to play Joe into form but will avoid detention if he stops hedging about Dan. May need an early vacation.

S Hanson

Lacks the 3 R's. Restarts, Rolling and Retention. The lineout is now the key restart in the game. He has to get it right. The rolling maul found him out v France, but why oh why have we not used it ourselves? Ball retention and recycling (4 R's) is slow, slow, slow...Wayne is underperforming but is not assisted by fat Steve.

R Deans

2-0 in 2009. Has only won 3 of 8 encounters in the Tri Nations since he arrived. May achieve a pass mark yet. But not a great start.

P De Villiers

Is crazy. He must have some awesome assistant coaches. We know he has a great captain. How will the Boks fare on the road? This tournament is not won at home.

The Winner Takes It All

2009-08-10T09:11:00.005+12:00

Three stories about three different guys each trying to make a buck.

The first guy – he’s the manager in a business that’s not doing as well as it once was. The owner, who is pretty well off, blames the manager – and he asks for a full accounting of his management. Now the manager has 2 options – he can either work on the accounting or he can accept the inevitable – that he’s out of there . So he goes to a couple of the clients who owe mony to the business and he gives them a discount on their outstanding accounts – one he gives a 20% discount, the other he cuts the account in half. Now he might have been doing this to get some cash into the business, in the hope that these guys would pay their bills – but what he’s really doing is trying to create the option of a job with these clients when his own job comes to an end. Funny thing happens, the owner finds out, and instead of losing his job – the owner compliments him for acting so shrewdly.

The second guy - he's massively well off – living it up – designer clothes, gourmet food, penthouse suite. Slightly annoying though – there’s this guy that basically sits on the pavement outside his apartment begging – now the guy is clearly not well – in the sort of way that makes you want to avoid him – that sort of poverty and illness is actually a little bit frightening. Funny thing happens – they both die at the same time. The rich guy finds himself in Hell and desperate for a drink of water – he looks around for a servant, looks up and sees the begging guy and thinks – he’ll be able to get me some water. But the beggar can’t get to him and he can’t get to the beggar and so he realises he’s pretty much stuffed and so are quite a few of his friends and family if they carry on the way they are.

The third guy – he’s into horticulture – its doing really well – recessions don’t affect the basic ability of the ground to grow things right? Business is thriving for him but his plant is too small to take advantage of the production – so he increases the size of his facilities so he can make larger profits. There’s nothing dodgy about the business – all above board – but he has this awesome opportunity to really make hay while the sun is shining so he can retire early and live the good life. So he tears down the existing plant and builds the new facility, at great cost you’d think – it takes some months but he’s guessing it will be worth the effort. And then he dies.

The first man is the Shrewd Manager from Luke 16. You'd think he'd be the subject of a moral lesson from Jesus about stealing or telling lies. But instead he's used as an example of someone who uses wealth to find friends - Jesus' point is not that we can buy friendship but that people are prone to use their wealth carelessly, rather than using resources in such a way that cultivates friendship with God.

Which brings us to the second man, the Rich Man in the second half of Luke 16. Here is a man who is careless with his attention to the needs of others. He doesn't even notice the beggar sitting at his gate, does nothing to hinder him, but nor does he help him. Even in the afterlife he fails to see the beggar as a person of innate worth - rather he says him as an obvious servant for HIS needs. The beggar needed a friend in his earthly life. The rich man found himself without friends in the afterlife.

Maybe, just maybe the 2 are related :) Friendship with God and friendship with those in need?

The third man is the Rich Fool from Luke 12. He's not careless at all - in fact, he's really careful with his opportunities. After all, it's God who has made the earth fruitful and he's just reaping his Genesis 1/2 opportunity. But his caution becomes an obsession with the good life that displaces any attention he might give to the spiritual side of life and God. Bottom line says Jesus, "You can't take it with you."

So interesting to me that Jesus speaks more on wealth and resources than he does on heaven and hell. Some longer-winded thoughts here. Oh well, back to TradeMe...

Examining Examen

2009-08-07T06:16:00.008+12:00

One of the Spiritual Disciplines I am exploring at the moment is the Prayer of Examen. The Prayer of Examen creates focus to reflect and recall your day with the goal of examining how you live life in the presence of the God. By slowing down and examining your day you have the chance to find God in places you perhaps missed and to ask questions of your self where God seemed absent. There are so many ways to approach this idea which was initiated by Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. I like the 2 phased approach though the examen of consciousness and the examen of conscience. Richard Foster says it like this:

In the examen of consciousness we prayerfully reflect on the thoughts, feelings, and actions of our days to see how God has been at work among us and how respond. We consider, for example, whether the boisterous neighbor of last night was more than just a rude interruption of a quiet evening. Maybe, just maybe, he was the voice of God urging us to be attentive to the pain and loneliness of those around us. Perhaps in the glorious sunrise of this morning God was shouting out to us in his love of beauty and inviting us to share in it, but we were too sleepy or distracted to
participate.

In the examen of conscience we are inviting the Lord to search our heaats to the depths. Far from being dreadful, this is a scrutiny of love. We boldly speak the words of the Psalmist, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24). Without apology and without defense we ask to see what is truly in us.

For me, it is most natural do do this through journalling - just works for me, but you can do it any way you like. There are various questions and so forth - you can find stuff all over the net that are developments of the principle. So you can find something that sits well with you as well as find some variety if you find that helpful!

A quick note if you do search the net for help. You'll quickly comes across those who will tell you that spiritual exercises like this will send you straight to the pits of hell. Like Apprising Ministries a member of the self-appointed Reformata, Always Reforming. Just ignore them. They can appear quite compelling at times such is their rabid confidence - if you dig deep enough the wild dog comes out:

"...an example of what men like Rob Bell want your kids to return to AM presents for your some of the instruction from the “handbook” used by this Spirital Gestapo unit of Ignatius while they “were at work revitaizing” the corrupt spirituality and dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, which led to the Reformation in the first place."

Jeopardy Ecclesiology

2009-08-06T09:09:00.002+12:00

"She is a mystery, isn’t she? Still going after all this time. After the Crusades and the Inquisition and Christian cable television. Still going. And there continue to be people like me who believe she is one of the best ideas ever. In spite of all the ways she has veered off track. In spite of all the people who have actually turned away from God because of what they experienced in church…But she will live on. She’s indestructible. When she dies in one part of the world, she explodes in another. She’s global. She’s universal. She’s everywhere. And while she’s fragile, she’s going to endure. In every generation there will be those who see her beauty and give their lives to see her shine. Jesus said the gates of hell will not prevail against her. That’s strong language. And its’ true. She will continue to roll across the ages, serving and giving and connecting people with God and each other. And people will abuse her and manipulate her and try to control her, but they’ll pass on. And she will keep going..."

Piper: Out of Touch on Out of Ur

2009-08-05T09:10:00.004+12:00

The latest offering from John Piper on Out of Ur is just a little odd on the (non) use of video and drama within the worship service. To be fair, he (initially) makes it clear its an issue on which there is freedom:

"The NT isn't explicit on the use of screen...the Bible doesn't forbid it."

But he shows very little insight regarding the context of Scriptural preaching which is really quite surprising. The scriptures are full of artistic, often visual media which in context are illustrating, deepening the primary message. Whether you reference the use of pagan poetry, prophetic role plays, image-rich parables, object lessons, profane expressions - I could go on!

He is also basing his position on a positive affirmation with which I'd agree.

"I believe in the power of preaching...the Spirit-anointed exposition of Scripture, through explanations and applications of what's there."

Here's where he gets reductionist:

"I think the use of video and drama is largely a token of unbelief in the power of preaching...and to the degree pastors use this entertaining spice...its gonna backfire It's gonna communicate preaching is weak, preaching doesn't save, preaching doesn't hold, entertainment does."

"Lets have the arts in our churches but lets not squash it all into Sunday morning."

He just doesn't get it. He'd be better to own that. He's no doubt a brilliant preacher and is comfortable with the spoken word as the only communication tool in his services. Which is cool. But is it really necessary to go to this extreme? "You're perfectly free to do what you want according to Scripture, but by the way, you don't believe in preaching if you do!"

His last comment sums it up:

"Nobody is going to go to hell because of this...in the short run."

He pretends this is a non issue, but is he really saying that, with the last qualifier?

For me, I have seen the arts used unhelpfully as part of worship/preaching. For sure, I've probably done it. But no one is going to Hell in the short term or the long term because of that.

What I'm more concerned about is those who WILL discover a relationship with Christ, because the church bothered to speak their language in presenting the truth of Christ. Paul describes a principle that informs my life really well in 1 Cor 9:

19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

And I don't mean to get ad hominem with this comment but has anyone ever seen John Piper and Larry David in the same room?

Polygons

2009-08-04T23:00:00.005+12:00

At The Stream Conference on the weekend, Dr Tom Noble referenced the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. He observed that metaphor of quadrilateral might suggest that it was a polygon of equals (my words!). So he proposed a different option - a 3 legged stool with Scripture as the floor and the 3 legs as Reason, Experience and Tradition. This didn't sit well with me - simply because the focus of such a metaphor will always be on the stool rather than the floor!

So what about the idea of a house? Scripture is the foundation which supports the walls of tradition and reason along with the roof of experience.

I think that might work a little better.

Odd Thomas

2009-08-01T09:18:00.003+12:00

So, I started reading a Dean Koontz series while I was away - Odd Thomas - super ironic, writing style in a sort of suspense, horror, sci-fi, mystery blend. The main character is Odd (his first name) Thomas and he sees ghosts. Elvis being his most regular visitor. Lots of fun with some very interesting comments on Christian faith along the way. How could I resist an opening like this:

MY NAME IS ODD THOMAS, though in this age when fame is the altar at which most people worship, I am not sure why you should care who I am or that I exist.

I am not a celebrity. I am not the child of a celebrity. I have never been married to, never been abused by, and never provided a kidney for transplantation into any celebrity. Furthermore, I have no desire to be a celebrity.

In fact I am such a nonentity by the standards of our culture that People magazine not only will never feature a piece about me but might also reject my attempts to subscribe to their publication on the grounds that the black-hole gravity of my noncelebrity is powerful enough to suck their entire enterprise into oblivion.

Koontz is an author my father-in-law intoduced me to. His Life Expectancy is a book I'd highly recommend with its relentless pace, twists and suspense. But really its the ironic writing style of Odd Thomas salted with truth that makes it for me:

You can con God and get away with it ... if you do so with charm and wit. If you live your life with imagination and verve, God will play along just to see what outrageously entertaining thing you'll do next.

I don't mean to imply that I'm afraid of Death. I'm just not ready to go out on a date with him.

All I ask of Fate is that the people she hurls into my life, whether they are evil or good, or morally bipolar, should be amusing to one degree or another.... The problem is finding smile-inducing evil people, because the evil are the most humorless, though in the movies they frequently get some of the best lines.

You know what's wrong with humanity?... The greatest gift we were given is our free will, and we keep misusing it.

We can approach belief from an intellectual path, but in the end, God must be taken on faith. Proofs are for things of this world, things in time and of time, not beyond time.

BWIII For Lunch

2009-07-31T20:09:00.002+12:00

So, I don't want to name drop...but I had lunch with Ben Witherington today! The wonton soup was excellent.

Wide ranging discussion over Vietnamese...where to find good Thai food in Howick and North Carolina, Health system reform in the US, liberal theology, NT Wright v John Piper, (possibly)the worst president in US history, Mexican food, Socialism, the new reformed phenomenon, Cambridge (the NZ version), original sin, grace and a few other random offerings...

Good fun. And the wonton soup really was excellent.

Interesting article

2009-07-30T08:18:00.003+12:00

I liked this article. Brave stuff in the environment. At the heart of it:

"Nobody has a right to be ordained: it is always a gift of sheer and unmerited grace. The appeal also seriously misrepresents the notion of justice itself, not just in the Christian tradition of Augustine, Aquinas and others, but in the wider philosophical discussion from Aristotle to John Rawls. Justice never means “treating everybody the same way”, but “treating people appropriately”, which involves making distinctions between different people and situations. Justice has never meant “the right to give active expression to any and every sexual desire”.

The author has written a few books and is quite well-known I believe.

Incarnation

2009-07-26T14:24:00.003+12:00

"To understand the identity and significance of Jesus, we must tell other stories - stories that interlock and interrelate, setting the context for making sense of the theological puzzle that Jesus himself set his disciples. One of these stories concerns God's creation of the world; another tells of God's calling of Israel; a third tells the age-old human quest for meaning and significance. The story of Jesus intersects all three, ultimately to provide their fulfilment. Jesus is the focal point from which all these other stories are to be seen, and on whom all finally and marvelously converge."

"...is not a revolution attainable by incarnation. Wesley became incarnate among the poor, the labouring artisan, the powerless people."

"Incarnation: the central truth of Christianity and all religion."

"The creation of the world was a very great thing, but not so great as the incarnation of Christ. It was a great thing for God to make the creature, but not so great as for God, as for the Creator himself, to become a creature."

Holiday Stuff

2009-07-25T09:02:00.002+12:00

Such a busy time we're having here - all good though.

Last weekend we were up to Traverse City again to see the rellies and to visit Chris and Marcia's new church, The Journey. Good times for the kids again and some excellent golfing for me...from the couch. Tiger Woods on PS3, just another reason why I should never own one.

Sunday night we got home just in time to hear Chris preach at Lansing Faith. Slightly bizarre worship set from a stage filled with guitars doing bluegrass worship. It wasn't bad, just surreal. On balance I enjoyed it but mostly because it made me laugh!

This week was a little quieter at the beginning - Monday was a quiet day at home, with the exception of a long lunch with Mark Gorveatte, District Superintendent for West Michigan. Lunch at Fiesta Charra (that makes 3 times...) followed by coffee at Biggby. He's a good man.

Tuesday we spent a good few hours in Grand Rapids with Steve and Vicki Deur - friends from the Watermark plant days. Great times catching up and the time really flew by. Tuesday was Chris and Marcia's 36th anniversary so we took them out to breakfast. The service was so bad we "forgot" to tip, but the food as great!

Wednesday I spent some time with the new worship director at Lansing Faith and Chris talking through worship philosophy and systems. It was a good time sharing and I learned some stuff. As well as realising there is a lot in my head after one or 2 years of doing this stuff. After we'd finished I walked to the YMCA and did a workout - really nice facilities. Wednesday night was date night at Applebees...some nachos and some shrimp...mmmm

Thursday was a road trip to Detroit to visit Kristen's grandparents. I always enjoy visiting them. You can see where some of the heritage that Kristen brings to our family began. The evening stretched on till 1am with a mammoth game of Mexican Train...which just in case you were interested, I triumphed in...

The roadtrip continued on Friday - we visited Crossroads Village and the Huckleberry Railway in Flint, Michigan. The train ride was a lot of fun and a good decent length. We did a bunch of things including attending a short play, watching a cider press, getting hit by chunks of wood from a steam powered saw mill, riding an extreme carousel (so fasssst) and looking through old stuff. It was good fun.

Home in time for an outreach at Lansing Faith - a family movie screening - good idea which we will steal in the summer.

Today was relax day including a trip to the lake for a swim.

We're in our last days now so starting to pack - time has flown!

Michigan Update

2009-07-16T01:49:00.006+12:00

It's been a busy time since the Poets, Preachers and Prophets Conference which is still resonating.

Wednesday - a very much needed "day off" from my holiday after a busy 3 days of Conferencing...did I mention how good the Conference was? So I sat around reading, websurfing, hanging out with the kids.

Thursday - The family went to Detroit to visit Kristen's grandparents. I stayed back as I had a meeting with Phil Struckmeyer, Pastor to Impact church, cessioncommunity's partner church. So the morning was given over to some work for various non-cession things. Lunch was in a local Mexican place Fiesta Charra in downtown De Witt - a short walk. Nice to be able to eat great burritos on tap!

It was good hanging out with Phil in the afternoon and also Ryan and Angele Gerten who served with cessioncommunity back in 2005 and picked me up on the way through from Detroit. We walked through Impact's latest plant Ignite - a second presence in Lowell meeting in a strip mall. It was great to see how God had raised up a church plant team and anointed a planter from within the body of Impact - very encouraging for cessioncommunity as we seek to engage our own church planting initiatives.

Friday - We took a day trip to Potter Park Zoo - a short drive - some different animals than we are used to in the Auckland zoo - Rhys proudly wore his Auckland Zoo hat and had a ball. The day finished with ice cream on the way home - Raegan created her own ice cream sculpture all over her face!

Saturday - We caught up with Jim and Natasha Versluys who we had got to know during the Impact Student Missions trip to New Zealand in 2005. They now have 2 kids so life has changed for our families since then!

That evening Kristen and I travelled 45 mins to her High School reunion in Jackson. This was a really fun and interesting evening. Kristen had a great time catching up with old friends - 15 years is a long time in people's lives. It whetted my appetite for my 25 year High School reunion next May. Yup I'm old alright. We celebrated not having any kids with us by heading to The Parlour - the local ice cream hangout. I ordered a double cone, thinking I would get 2 scoops. What I got was 3 massive scoops - probably equal to about 6 normal scoops. It was so big it was in a bowl with the cone sticking out of it as if an after thought. This is very typical of American food - the size and how the means transcends the end...if its too big for a cone, why bother with the cone? Its like the stuffing you don't cook inside the bird which I've blogged about before. Anyways a good night out.

Sunday - We worshipped with our friends at Berkley Hills Wesleyan in Grand Rapids - BH has been incredibly faithful in supporting cessioncommunity - both for our general ministry and in helping fund children's ministry. We shared in the service about life with cessioncommunity and introduced Ryleigh to her US church family. It was the perfect day for attendance as there was a picnic afterwards which we stayed to enjoy.

Monday - The extended family + the Bowlin family gathered in Muskegon to spend the day at Michigan Adventure - an amusement and water park. The kids loved it with rides and water galore. The highlights for me were the Thunderhawk roller coaster and the Funnel of Fear tube ride. The roller coaster was just awesome, like riding in a jet fighter! The Funnel is defined by the last part of the ride - me Josh Bowlin and Chris went down together which was awesome fun but when Kristen and I went down together I discovered where the ride got its name. The last bit is virtually a straight drop - I went down backwards into the massive funnel - it was an out of control ride!

The day was only marred by Raegan blowing chunks 5 mins from home. It was a long night...with a busy day to follow...

Tuesday - We celebrated Raegan's 2nd Birthday Party a day early while everyone was around from the day before. The Bowlins came as well as Sara Dekker (our flatmate). It was a fun day by the Hinterman's private lake (OK they share it with few others...) - swimming, playing in the park and passing the parcel! Beautiful weather complete with fairy bread, fruit kebabs and hot dogs. Raegan had a great time.

So thats us so far!

Absent for the AB's

2009-07-15T15:14:00.002+12:00

So I will miss this weekend's test match at Eden Park - oh that I could be there. The team has a predicatable look about it, but some points of interest, mostly in the reserves:

Donald gets the nod at 1st V - I think this was likely given the way he was being talked up in the media - plus he gets his chance as the incumbent with a full strength side;
Cowan keeps Leonard out for the moment;
Tialata retains his role, but what is interesting is that Afoa doesn't even make the bench. Franks had a very good debut off the bench and perhaps he is seen as the guy for this role longer term;
Sivivatu replaces cousin Joe, but interestingly Corey Jane is starting - you get the sense that Toeva would have started at wing had he been fit, leaving Jane on the bench - this is a ploy for the Australian kicking game - the back 3 all have experience at full back;
Eaton is the comeback kid (predicted on this blog) covering lock and I guess the loosies;
However the loosie mix (including reserves) has an unbalanced feel for me - who will cover McCaw? Obviously Rodney will, a ploy that has not worked before. Read is being rewarded for being the most compelling of the new loose forwards but overall the balance is not assisted;

This is a pretty experienced forward pack with a ton of experience and graft with an injection of newer blood (in Kaino and Ross). It is easily the best we can do (with the exception of Tialata who needs a big one). The backline restores some combinations but the yawning hole remains at 1st V. I would have picked McAlister, simply because I think he shades Donald in all departments - kicking, passing, running and tackling - and has the greater vision. But neither of them are Dan Carter. And that sadly may be the difference.

It will be 3.30am here when the game is on. I don't think I can get it live - I have found a provider who plays it 9 hours later, but I've yet to work out how I can access that! A work in progress!

The Aftermath - Poets, Prophets and Preachers

2009-07-09T11:57:00.004+12:00

This was a very enjoyable Preaching Conference and quite timely for me. Throughout I was very grateful for the excellent grounding I was fortunate to have in this discipline, initially by osmosis from Melissa and subsequently from Paul Windsor direct. If you want to check out the live blog you can here. I am not going to summarise the content; I will simply note some of the things that stuck out for me.

Rob Bell

Bell was superb throughout. He is an excellent communicator live. Uses his body as well as his voice, all without a note in sight (uses powerpoint though). I've often wondered whether it is possible to learn from him because he is just so good - a natural if you like. But he did a great job of breaking down his approach including using previous sessions he had done as examples of his process. It not only reinforced the content but you got drawn into the process as much as the preaching. Some great moments for me:

The idea of sub-version - the telling of stories that provoke and arrest

The reinforcement of the importance of the metanarrative and the selection of beginning and end - does the story start in Genesis 1&2 or Genesis 3? A key choice to be made which affects the whole world view of the preacher and pastor

Building on the beginning of Genesis 1/2 and the ending in Revelation 21 "If you were to remove sin from the Bible, you'd have a pamphlet" - priceless

Drawing from Genesis, sin can be boiled down to (a) saying to God, "excuse me you're in my seat" or (b) looking to Creation for our wellbeing - elegant

On heaven coming to earth, "I get concerned that there will be folks who are going up somewhere while God is coming down and they'll miss each other! And it will be like, 'But I read it in the novel'"

The sermon is the continuing insistence concerning this larger story

Texts are often built around moments, movements or mystery - knowing which one can help

Everything in a sermon is related to every other part - name and know the parts

No rules other than knowing what you're doing

Tension is your friend - just know how your friend behaves!

Sermons that help people to find themselves will be focused and yet open, said and yet unsaid, defining and yet imagining, resolute and yet unresolved

Inviting people into a cathedral of words

The sermon is always about what it means to be fully human (rather than fully Christian...)

The chocolate covered turd - death by papercuts - the vulnerability of the preacher

Your identity cannot be tied up in how you are received

Rob Bell was impressive throughout with his preparedness to be personally transparent and you sensed his pastoral heart for other pastors. They had counsellors available for anyone who needed to unload any burdens they were carrying in pastoral ministry. Nice thought. This was a conference unlike any other. You felt like you were being treated as a person and not just a student.

Peter Rollins

There is no way to describe this man. He was a force of nature. Maybe it was the Irish accent or the way he scattered his written notes all over the stage while delivering a message on how we should think of knowledge within the Christian worldview (beautifully done). He came across as all over the place, but nothing could have been further from the truth. Brain the size of a planet tied to a heart of real compassion. There is an interview online here which captures the heart of what he was on about. My responses:

IKON's answer to "Alpha": OMEGA - How to exit Christianity Course (the toxic versions)

Evangelism group - goes to other religions and asks them to evangelise the group (makes sense if you think about it...)

Atheism For Lent - will only read the best critics of Christianity for Lent to be transformed by what they might say about (counterfeit) Christianity

Transformance Art - rupture, provocation, transformation eg. One time they organised people to picket their own gathering - people experienced a sense of mockery and alienation as they entered - some even joined the protestors!

When he discovered someone was writing a tract against him, he contacted the guy and met with him to help him write it!

Structures and ministers can do your believing for you - like canned laughter is not there to tell you when to laugh, its to laugh for you...

Transformation of the social self rather than the "head" self [he used a different term which I missed]

A failure to engage real transformation leads to the ironic gestures of an anemic Christianity - people who give money to the poor, but make no effort to address those parts of their lives that contribute to poverty, people sitting around Starbucks drinking coffee and talking about the evils of global corporations

The church needs to find the real site of resistance

Religious experience is not an experience - God is not an object to be experienced - he is the lense through which we truly experience

IKON is an equal offence community! We offend everyone to offend no one - I want to offend myself, to rupture myself

Preaching is not giving water, but giving salt to make people thirsty - preaching is not the bread but the aroma of bread, so that people become hungry

Christianity as violence - consider Mother Theresa whose pacifism ruptured the caste system - key = violence against systems not people

God as trauma - God as excess - conversion is radical - the infinite coming into the finite

Jesus is not a painter, he's an optician

People's Gods like their dogs, look like them

God is not the patch on our wound, he is the wound on which we try to stick our patches

Jacob demands to know God's name while he wrestles and God renames him - God names

God so loved the world he forsook heaven, he emptied himself - this is our path

I don't know how to explain my response to these sessions, other than to say, they ruptured me and I was left with a longing like never before for life with God.

He received a standing ovation at the end.

This was an excellent Conference. A really worthwhile investment of time with some good people who I got to know better as well. People from all walks of life. Mainstream contemporary alongside vibrant emerging. Lots of grassroots ministry going on around the place. A great feel to the whole event. 5 stars.

Poets, Prophets and Preachers

2009-07-05T22:24:00.003+12:00

Tonight is the opening of Poets, Prophets and Preachers: Reclaiming the Art of the Sermon in Grand Rapids, Michigan and I am going! Its a rare treat to be able to sit in a Conference setting for a couple of days. I'll be very interested to compare what there is to learn to the Kiwi-Made Preaching Conference that I was at earlier this year which was just outstanding for Kiwi preachers.

The keynote is Rob Bell and some of his topics look to be quite compelling:

Rob Bell – The Original Guerilla Theatre
throwing ourselves into this ancient, sacred art form with the absurd, naive, antiquated belief that the world needs inspiring, provocative, comforting, dangerous, healing, great sermons now more than ever

Rob Bell – The Story We're Telling
sin, salvation, business, art, justice and the importance of beginning in the beginning

Rob Bell – The Fig Tree and the Failure of Language
moment, movement, mystery, and the science of homiletical architecture (alternate title: why some sermons work and others don't)

Rob Bell – Fumbling Around with Your Radar
tools, questions, approaches, and everyday 5 minute disciplines that have helped me understand where sermons come from

Rob Bell – The One Thing I've Never Heard Someone Talk About That Has Changed Everything for Me

He's teaming up with Peter Rollins and Shane Hipps.

Peter Rollins is an emerging church Irish guy who is the coordinator of Ikon. Interested in the artsy angles here. Shane Hipps is pastor of Trinity Mennonite Church, an urban, Anabaptist congregation. He just wrote a book Flickering Pixels: How Technology Shapes Your Faith - so I'm assuming this will flavour his stuff along the lines of the medium is the message.

Should be a blast and I will blog as I go!

Poop Patrol

2009-07-04T02:11:00.000+12:00

Last night I went to work with the CIA. It was a follow up to my mission with them in December 07 This time I was really going to be up to my neck in it.

The plan? To infiltrate 9 Portaloos aka Portajohns into the Lansing Mall carpark aka parking lot. The reason? To provide spy platforms for the impending 4th of July fireworks display attended by thousands of locals.

The aptly named Ameri-cans had been delivered earlier. Our task was to turn them into counter espionage fortresses. There was all the usual - toilet paper, hand sanitiser - but we added the WMD - weapons of massive diversion - propaganda signs that said it all:

This moment of relief has been brought to you by your friends at Lansing Faith

The seats are much more comfortable at Lansing Faith

You think you feel better now; imagine how much better you'll feel when you meet Jesus

Sometimes life stinks; we're trying our best to make it better

To make sure the message got through we handed out 2000 bugs disguised as glo-sticks. Each glo stick was bugged with a lanyard branded with the Lansing Faith's website. They snapped them up.

The lines were long as person after person responded to the honey trap. Oh sweet relief.

The night finished around midnight as we returned the WMD (weapons of mass defecation) to their original status ready for pickup by the contractor. A job well done.

On the Run

2009-07-03T11:45:00.003+12:00

It is a different world here in the US. I noticed a billboard while driving to Traverse City this week:

"Michigan's toughest job. Support Michigan Department of Corrections."

Complete with knuckleduster and switchblade illustrations. There's a PR campaign right there. Leaves the NZ Police "Get Better Work Stories" line in the dust. I wasn't sure of the point of it. Was it a joke?

Then later in the trip we're driving down a wooded back road area and there's another sign:

"Do not pick up hitchhikers: Prison Area".

Now, there's a sign to fill you with confidence and generate flashbacks of any number of B grade movies.

Apparently the Governor of Michigan has proposed a scheme designed to prop up the prison system in Michigan - there have been a number of closures. Now normally this would be a good thing right, getting the prison population down? But apparently, the economic issues are not so clear and I guess its jobs for some people. So the new scheme is to ship them in from California where they have too many criminals it seems. Arnie seems keen and added, "Now, none of dis 'I'll be back' crap OK?"

Won't be long until they rename it Australia.

On the Road

2009-07-01T09:05:00.002+12:00

So today we head away for Traverse City, Michigan - the home of Kristen's Aunt and brother. Rhys and Raegan will enjoy seeing their Christmas cousins again - they have already become great friends in just a short time. We'll also check out Chris' new church - The Journey - and join them in house hunting escapades.

So you can follow where we are at, here is where Michigan is in red:

We are situated in Lansing and heading to Traverse City. We arrived in Detroit by plane. So you can see the various places - I will be at a Rob Bell Conference next week in Grand Rapids which is also where Kristen and I got married! For those that care, I have internet and am receiving email but can't get it to send - so am getting what you send but haven't been able to reply just yet.

Made It!

2009-06-30T01:26:00.002+12:00

So we made it...just...I think its a bit like childbirth...everyone hates it, but a couple of years goes by and all you can think of is how cute it would be to have a little newborn.

The LA leg was OK. At some point, kids all slept - rare that all three slept at the same time. Beginnings and endings of flights were the worst bits for the kids - waiting on the tarmac...

Managed to watch "Watchmen" which was a dark, violent experience made more manic by the constant use of the Pause button while I attended to one of the kids...Qantas did a pretty good job of the food and stuff for the kids.

Going direct to Detroit was a good call, but it was the longest 4 hours of my life with Ryleigh unsettled and Raegan wanting her Momma. Trying to keep Rae entertained involved every parental trick available.

I hadn't been feeling that well since LA. Just a low level nausea. Maybe dehydrated? Anyways the turbulence on the descent into Detroit almost caused an emergency evacuation! Every shred of willpower went into not barfing! Not so lucky on the car trip from Detroit to Lansing. Fortunately, a gift bag and rest area ensured the car stayed clean...

So then we have to deal with these hyped up, over tired kids who are having a party with their cousins with me getting the chills. An interesting night of which Kristen took the brunt. What a good mother :) Eventually, sleep arrived for all.

So here we are in a house filled with kids, and more family expected as the day goes on. Nice.

Dear Graham

2009-06-28T07:47:00.002+12:00

I am leaving the country for the start of the Tri-nations and wanted to give you my team before you go. These last 3 weeks have been a bit frustrating as players have been out with injury, but I hope you have learned something from it. There are some players who haven't made the grade and others who need to stay ahead of returning "incumbents". Anyways, I have organised the AB's team for you before I go, making some assumptions regarding injury. Here it is:

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Keven Mealamu
3. John Afoa
4. Brad Thorn
5. Isaac Ross
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Ritchie McCaw
8. Kieran Read
9. Brendan Leonard
10. Luke McAlister
11. Lelia Masaga
12. Ma'a Nonu
13. Isaia Toeava
14. Joe Rockocoko
15. Mils Muliaina

16. Neemia Tialata
17. Aled De Malmanche
18. Whichever no-name appeals to you this week
19. George Whitelock
20. Liam Messam
21. Piri Weepu
22. Corey Jane

I've gone for extra cover in the loosies because I think we'll need it against the Japies and Aussies. That leaves us lighter on the bench in the backs, but with Mils able to cover midfield and Piri a handy first V, you'll be OK. Its the forwards who risk getting munched in this series. You need to persevere with Toeava seeing as you set him up in the first place as a 19 year old. He's solid on defence and just needs to know you back him. Joe gets the chance for more work which he needs for top form and I liked the way he got involved on Saturday. You were wrong about Masaga - he will do just fine on attack and defence. You need to let Conrad, Stephen and Rodney down lightly. They are good guys but they don't have what it takes right now. I wish you'd given some older and wiser locks a bit more of a chance - with Ali gone now, we look real thin - so I'll let you have a go with that selection. But maybe its time for someone who might bring some impact off the bench? Jason Eaton would be my pick out of the Junior AB's - he has experience to go with mobility and attitude.

Best of luck.

AB or A "B" Team?

2009-06-25T08:07:00.003+12:00

Shame on you Cantabs for not snapping up the AB v Italy tickets this weekend! All I hear on the radio are whinging sheep shaggers complaining about the quality of the AB team for Italy and the 7 changes being rotation. Really? I don't think so:

Williams in for Ross - the incumbent returning from injury
Afoa in for Tialata - the reserve covering an injured player (and arguably a better player)
Leonard in for Cowan - the incumbent prior to a long term injury (and a lot better player)
McAllister in for what his name? - the reserve covering an injured player and about time too...
Toeava in for Smith - the reserve covering an injured player (and arguably a better player)
Masaga in for Jane - OK so the reserve gets a shot and he's a specialist replacing a utility
Crocket in for Woodcock - OK so its rotation here...

Isn't this AB team a better team on paper? Many have argued for Afoa (a specialist tighthead) to replace Tialata (a converted loosehead). Donald is gone, please Jesus, forever...the players coming in for injured players are not too bad eh?

Grace Anatomy

2009-06-22T07:55:00.003+12:00

So we started this new series on Sunday walking through the high points of Paul's letter to the Galatians. I've enjoyed the experience although admit to a little frustration with the whole industry of publication and speculation around some of the core concepts. Anyways, this post is not about that.

What captured me most, was the genius of grace. God is really quite perverse when it comes right down to it. He undermines those core human defaults that drive us to negotiate/mediate Him through ultimately dysfunctional lenses. I think if I'd remained an atheist I would nevertheless have retained a grudging admiration for the elegance of the properly understood Christian paradigm. A bit like Antony Flews (former atheist and now deist) has expressed admiration for NT Wright's work in describing the resurrection.

Its so counter intuitive to express this kind of view. Grace. Unmerited favour. God's elegant solution for the problem of human pride (read independence, bloodymindedness, the Fall, legalism etc etc). No Karma. No coming back as a slug.

Some of things that stuck out for me from the first chunk of Galatians:

Paul in his zeal for persecuting the church wasn't looking for a change in job description when God showed up on the road to Damascus - underlines the initiating activity of grace

Paul's gospel, like Jesus', was fundamentally one of inclusion - the definition of "the people of God" had changed to reflect the fullest expression of the Abrahamic covenant

I know people like to get tangled up in whether "faith in Christ" = the "faithfulness of Christ" and its a good discussion to have in the (w)right context. But whatever the reading, I don't think there is any doubt that Christ's faithfulness is expressed through His death and resurrection. It takes just a little faith from us to believe and trust in the fact of Christ's death; it took a whole lot more faith for Jesus to go along with that...

Abraham's faith - belief and trust in God was credited to him as righteousness - I've never wondered before what Jesus faith meant? I suppose he didn't need any extra credit.

It doesn't really matter what the nuance of the justification picture is as to whether its "not guilty" or "innocent", the key is that we walk free. Which is the whole point of Galatians. Walk free.

Anyways, it was good to dip into this letter and I only wish I was able to be more involved in this series than my leave will allow!

Post-Bureaucratic

2009-06-15T16:59:00.002+12:00

"Bureaucracy is the art of making the possible impossible"

There are days where I despair of ever achieving the simplest things in life. 2 years of fighting (successfully) the Auckland DHB and the Ministry of Health over $6,000 (oh and my rights as a NZ citizen] convinced me that we are the most overregulated and least sensible country on this earth.

Today this was confirmed in a myriad of small ways.

WOF#1

4 years ago a small triangular window in a rear car door was smashed by car thieves. I patched it up with duct tape and its been sweet ever since. Passed 7-8 warrants. Until today. The conversation went something like this:

"It's failed the warrant on the small window"
"Why?"
"Well, it doesn't meet the standard"
"What does the standard require?"
"That it has the approved glassmark on it"
"Well, yes, thats if it has glass in it. Why does it have to have glass?"
"Its a safety issue"
"So, whats the safety issue?"
"Well its like if your bumper is hanging off someone could catch themselves on it, so it needs to be fixed"
"But this is a window, not a bumper, whats the safety issue?"
"Its the law"
"So why did you and every other WOF place give me a warrant these past years?"
"I don't know why they would do that. Who gave you your last warrant?"
"You did"
"I'll check our records"
"So what does it say?"
"We gave you the last WOF"

At this point a former version of me offered a next sentence:

"So you have a choice: either you give me the WOF or I report you for giving me the last one."

Unfortunately the comment was censored before it got from brain to lips and I left without my warrant.

WOF #2

Hours later with car #2 now going through its paces.

"It failed the WOF"
"On what?"
"The SRS light won't go off"
"Is that a problem?"
"Its a safety issue"
"Whats the safety issue?"
"Its to do with the airbag"
"Is there something wrong with the airbag?"
"No"
"It doesn't seem to have deployed does it?"
"No"
"How much?"
"$780"
"To turn a light off?"

So we have 2 cars, no WOFs. For $780 thats 4 fines. I'm thinking of having WOF's every 6 months, failing it on the light but having everything else fixed so at least I can say, "its a safe care, but for this very dangerous light!"

IRD #1

Finally, I went to get an IRD number for Ryleigh. I carefully checked the requirements. One piece of ID from list A. One from list B. Birth Certificate and Drivers License. I even have photocopies as well. I head into the Post Shop.

"ID?"
"Here we go - Birth Certificate and Drivers License"
"You'll need a second ID for yourself?"
"Hang on, its one from List A and one from List B right?"
"Yes, sir"
"And I have one from list A and one from List B correct?"
"Yes"
"And thats whats required right?"
"You need 2 from List A."
"But it doesn't say that does it?"
"You need 2 from list A" [translation: you are right but I am being perverse today]

I left without the IRD number because like an idiot I don't carry my passport around with me in my own country.

Anyways, I settled for going home and spanking my children...oh crap, I forgot.

AB Team Named

2009-06-10T19:46:00.003+12:00

It took me all day to find out the AB team, as I was out and about and always just missing the sports news. So here it is, alongside the differences from [my team] selected a couple of weeks back:

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Andrew Hore
3. Neemia Tialata
4. Brad Thorn
5. Isaac Ross
6. Kieran Read [Liam Messum]
7. Adam Thompson [Richie McCaw] - comes off the bench to cover McCaw's injury
8. Liam Messam - I had Liam at 6 with Kaino at 8 - with Kaino injured the excellent Read comes in at 6 and Messum shifts to 8
9. Jimmy Cowan [Piri Weepu] - my 2 halfbacks swap places
10. Stephen Donald
11. Joe Rokocoko
12. Ma’a Nonu
13. Isaia Toeava [Richard Kahui] with Kahui injured the versatile Toeva gets a chance at centre - he has international experience in this position and won't let us down - if he plays well, can he make this position his own when Smith is fit?
14. Rudi Wulf [Isaia Toeva]- comes in to cover Toeva's shift to centre but I have to say he wasn't on my bench - he does have a better kick defence than Masaga
15. Mils Muliaina (c)

16. John Afoa
17. Keven Mealamu
18. Bryn Evans [Kevin O’Neill] - the most surprised rugby player in NZ
19. Tanerau Latimer [Adam Thompson] comes onto the bench to cover Thompson moving to the starting lineup
20. Piri Weepu [Jimmy Cowan] I guess they see Piri as the impacy guy
21. Luke McAllister
22. Corey Jane [Lelia Masaga] clearly they rate Wulf ahead of Masaga, but Wulf wouldn't have made my bench as he is not an impact player - Corey Jane won't let anyone down.

Not a bad lineup really. A good blend of experience and newbies - of course any team without McCaw, Carter and Williams is not going to be there. But when you look at it - we have 4 out of our first string tight 5 with a rookie of some potential locking the scrum with his Super 14 partner. Our loosies are good players and frankly I think its a good blend of flair, solidity and bloody mindedness! Donald has stepped up this Super 14 and is head and shoulders above the other 1st V's in NZ. The rest of the backline is either first choice or experienced contenders.

For me, the points of interest are:

How will Thompson go? I rate him (being a former loosie myself)
Could Nonu and Toeva be the surprise package? With Nonu's strength and step with Toeva's speed and swerve - if they can get it right on defence it could be interesting
How will McAllister go and will he replace Nonu or Donald?

Two Heavyweight Comebacks

2009-05-22T17:28:00.003+12:00

It warms my heart on a cold winter's day to learn that Georgie Pie may be making a comeback! I long remember post Sunday service Georgie Pie debrief sessions discussing deep and meaningful truths...Well MacDonalds say they're interested...what will it be? MacGeorgie?

Speaking of comebacks, John Hopoate is facing former heavyweight champ Oliver McCall in a boxing bout this week. While McCall wasn't a great champion, he will surely be a test for a newcomer like Hopoate. That said, Hopoate probably has the better track record with ring work...

Arrived!

2009-05-18T08:13:00.005+12:00

Ryleigh Jeanne Carys Jones arrived on 18 May @ 2.26am weighing 9lb 9 ounces. All well.

Rhys meets his newest little sister:

Raegan finally has someone smaller than her:

I sense trouble in the future: