Biblical Curse Generator

From Ship of Fools, via Morepraxis comes this brilliant Biblical Curse Generator!

"Woe unto thee, O ye whose name is but dung, for you will accidentally insult Goliath!"

"Thou shalt go on a diet of crunchy, unsweetened locusts, O thou child of Jezebel!"

"Take heed, O thou armpit of Satan, for you will fall under a speeding chariot!"

"O that thou wouldest be as welcome as a fart in the queen's bedchamber, O thou of little faith!"

Yeah, take that!

Kierkegaard - Under the spell of Good Intentions

I was preaching this morning down at Centenary UCA, and the gospel passage from Matthew 21 was an intriguing one. It tells the story on two son who are asked by their father to go and work inthe vineyard. The first said "yes", but did not go, while the second said "no", but ended up going to do the work. As always with parables, it works on a number of levels.

At first glance, it's the honesty thing. But I ran across this Kierkegaard article on the web (www.bruderhof.com) which has had my brain ticking over since.

"The good intention, the “Yes,” taken in vain, the unfulfilled promise leaves a residue of despair, of dejection. Beware! Good intention can very soon flare up again in more passionate declarations of intention, but only to leave behind even greater desperation. As an alcoholic constantly requires stronger and stronger drink, so the one who has fallen under the spell of good intentions and smooth-sounding declaration constantly requires more and more good intentions. And so he keeps himself from seeing that he is walking backwards."

How dangerous is the constantly stated good intention for those of us from the comfortable places of the world. What is stated and what is achieved? What is dreamed of, and what is really struggled for?

Saturday Sports Wrap Up

After 72 years South Melbourne/Sydney Swans win a premiership.

And after 8 years absence Johnson scores 56 in his return match. (10 fours and a 6, gotta love these small grounds).

We even managed to win so quickly that I got home to see the second half of the GF with Bruce. I wonder when Smithy will return to earth?

Breaking News - Hall free despite murderous rampage!

some people are very, very bitter...

Decoder Ring

From the band that brought us the soundtrack to Somersault comes their third album - Fractions. Decoder Ring are a Sydney based group - and I think I'm in love. All the usual cliches about soaring soundscapes and lazy summer nights apply. But this is no cheap chill-out album. Reviews have been using phrases such as "epic and universal", "dark electro and euphoric pop". I tend to think of a movie soundtrack, a little bit of Sigur Ros and a dash of Bjork, all in an Australian style. Craig and Darren, if you haven't got into this yet, you're in for a treat!

Brilliant, moody plus a bunch of great songs as well as atmosphere. But don't just take my ramblings, as Molly says, "Do yourself a favour!"

(Perhaps not barracking for St Kilda would be a start eh Molly?)

BTW - anyone in Sydney on the 21/10 - they're playing at the Metro!

Christian-Muslim Dialogue

For the last 6 months or so I've been participating in a Christian-Muslim Dialgoue group. Once a month 4 Christians, 4 Muslims and a facilitator meet in a home to discuss issues of faith, commonality and difference. It's been a really eye-opening experience in that sense of moving beyond a text book understanding of Islam, to hearing flesh and blood Sydney-siders talk about their lived Islamic faith.

On Sunday night we tackled the topic of Holy War. Now with all the media attention on terrorism, war and the so called 'Jihad', it was going to be an interesting night. Right from the start however we began to unmask some of the fallacies spread by fanatics and the populist media. For a start Jihad actually means "to endevour" or "to strive". And those who participate in Jihad are the "mujahidin". It does not mean Holy War at all.

For the Muslim members of our group last night, jihad meant for them the struggle to get up in the morning for early prayers, or to strive for a more peaceful relationship with neighbours. For them it was very similar to the discipleship struggles that I experience in trying to be authentic in following Jesus.

Further, they quoted Muhammad and other Imams who understood Jihad as establishing justice and ensuring freedom of religion for all people irrespective of their religious backgrounds.

Now I'm not naive enough to pretend that every Muslim person interprets it the same way, just as Christians manage to interpret the gospel in such diverse ways (Peter Garrett and George Bush in the same faith eh?). But to unpack some of the Qur'an in this way simply reaffirmed that special connection between the Peoples of the Book - Jewish, Christian and Muslim - cousins in the faith.

Big wraps to the Uniting Church, Catholic Church and Affinity Intercultural Foundation for pushing this idea.

Day One of Cricketing Comeback

After much nerves (and even some lost sleep) Day One of my cricketing comeback is complete! No broken cheekbones ala 1996. And only mild damage to the pride.

St Matthews Baulkham Hills C-grade is the mighty team that I'm playing with. Day One saw Captain Dave throw me the ball to open the bowling (something about being 6'3''). A bit of mixed bag - 1-30 off 7 overs. Highlights included bowling 4 wides three times (line and length all the way...) and then a tight spell in the middle couple of overs that saw me get 1-14 off 5 overs - thanks to a nice catch in the covers by Phil! We bowled them out for 138 (?), and still had 20 odd overs in the days play. We got sent in and lost one of our openers in the first few overs. I think it must have been test-out-the-new-boy day, because I then got sent in as first drop?! (have never batted there in my life?) Happy to say that we finished the day at 1-47, with me on 28 not out.

A bit of fun, a good test of the nerves and a fun group of people to hangout with. The only cloud on the horizon is that I'll be batting next week when the AFL Grand Final is on! First one I'll have missed since Adelaide beat StKilda in 1997. Ah the price of glory...

Clamour and Dissent

Frogmouth Jackson ponders where the discussion and dissent to Australia's new anti-Terrorist legislation might come from?

Thank God I'm not in London!

Bloody England. Bloody Ashes. All I can say is thank God I'm not in London. Captain Doran and I only just survived being in a pub in Clapham Junction when England won the Rugby World Cup in 2003 (2000 poms and 10 aussies). I can only imagine the carnage that would be happening now...

Yeah they may have played better cricket than us. Yeah they may have better young talent than us and yes Vaughan outcaptained Ponting. But it doesn't mean I have to like it!

Roll on Nov 26 and the AFL draft.

Bits'n'pieces

"On the journey of faith, far I have come, far I must go" - spectacular thoughts and prayers from Grace's reshaping service- see it over at Jonny's blog.

"This is the invitation of God, to move
- from comfort to insecurity
- from what we know to what we have yet to discover
- from what we are good at to what we might fail at
- from safety to a place of risk"

It's the counter side my recent thoughts on Top Ten things that make me happy - the challenge and the comfortable.

Captain Smollet has finally lost it over at Bomana Nights - see here for his twisted fairytales.

Guest Film Reviews for both the Dukes of Hazard ("Cousins. Outlaws. Thrillbillies" with a tag line such as this you know what to expect) and Little Fish are coming soon...
(who said we don't do diversity here?)

New Blogs!!

Both Jeff and Sue have started up new blogs! The fever is catching. Although I think there is a special cream for that...

I expect much wise musings, wildlife photos and righteous indignation on the state of education from Jeff (all done in mad, sporadic burst of passionate energy). And Sue should provide much wit, social commentary and of course a lovely collection of kitsch religious paraphenalia (in a tastefully designed schedule that takes a thematic approach to the world calendar).

I look forward to both providing valuable contributions to this vital world of blogging - and of course expect some special movie reviews from them soon.

BTW - beware public education man
(I thought I'd put up a picture of Sue as well, but then she has too much dirt on me anway)

Top Ten Things that make me happy

Thanks to Noddy for the tag on this one. What are the top 10 things that make you happy? Yes, yes, yes, of course world peace, an end to George Bush and global hunger and a weekend with Jessica Alba - but real things that happen already. Trying to be honest rather than how I'd like to appear to other people...

(in no particular order)

1. Watching Collingwood play footy, either live at the MCG or on tv from my couch, with Dave.

2. Family Dinner - Mum's cooking, Warrabilla Cab Sav, everyone gathered and an open fire.

3. Going to the movies at Reading with Rod and co.

4. Strong coffee, a good book and the morning sun (with U2 as the soundtrack)

5. Long discussions over a beer with the boys down at Carlingford Bowlo - (whether it's the top 5 movies of this year, trying to understand women and our relationships with them, how we think of God, laughing at each other or why the Raiders won on the weekend - it's all good)

6. Big breakfasts at Harris Farm with Geoff and Phil. (Bacon, eggs, coffee, theology, politics and a strong serve of footy)

7. Shopping with Riss

8. Photography hike's in the bush with Jeff and Nick

9. Late night whiskey (Glenmorangie at the moment), with Radiohead or Bonobo playing - the world just drifts away...

10. Crawford dinners with Sam, Kent, Mel and me (plus whoever else in within the Crawford generosity tractor beam)

The Darth Side: Memoirs of a Monster

The online journal of Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith and Servant to His Supreme Excellency the Emperor Palpatine.

I know some of you have read his earlier entries in the past, but the final entry is up, and it is brilliant. Memory, sorrow and redemption? Where was this guy when Lucas needed a decent script writer!!!!