Mahon Pool, Maroubra

Dawn at Mahon Pool, Maroubra.

Just back from Maroubra Junction Uniting Church's inaugural camp on Lake Macquarie, NSW. Plenty of time for conversation, coffee and taking in the surrounds. Steve Helman (above) contemplates the sunset.

beth turns three

Thomson Family

ps: a belated happy first birthday to our newest walker, Annabelle T!

floating down the Shoalhaven river watching the water coil writhe and flow the stones slippery and shining cicadas deafening feet dragging eyes gazing

breathe


slowly

christmas twilight

a twilight stroll on Frankston beach

Top 5 Movies for 2007

1. Once – An unusual story of two people trying to sort themselves out and bonding over their shared passion for music in modern Dublin. Beautiful in its simplicity, but way beyond clichés. Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova are both great as the lead actors, but they really soar as the creators of the music that drives this film. 4.5 stars

2. Into The Wild –Sean Penn directs this film, which is based on the true story of Christopher McCandless. Soon after graduating uni Christopher abandons all his money, possessions and connections to urban society to hitchhike his way to Alaska and live as freely and truly as he can. Incredible scenery, believable characters (given the story) and some powerful reflections on what makes us tick as humans. 4 stars

3. Hot Fuzz – Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright have written and directed possibly my favourite comedy ever. It’s a spoof on the police-action movies such as Point Break and Bad Boys, with their buddy duos and unbelievable stunts. The twist being that this time it’s set in Sandford, the nicest village in rural England. Numerous cameo appearances from some great actors such as Timothy Dalton, Edward Woodward, Jim Broadbent and Bill Nighy. Top marks for anyone who can spot the cameos from Cate Blanchett and Peter Jackson. 4 stars.

4. Transformers – even though I was never a massive fan as a kid, this movie perfects the Hollywood drive for 2 hours of pure adrenaline. Matched with the surprising humour and wit, it makes for a brilliant boys own adventure. Even though I don’t normally rate his over the top style, I tip my hat to director Michael Bay for an absolute winner on this one. 4 stars.

5. Hairspray – Broadway musical translated to the silver screen. High School in Baltimore, 1962 – soul and pop music create the canvass upon which body image, gender and racism all get a run. But above all, I came out of this film singing, dancing and smiling for a week. Now that is unusual! Surprise of the year. 4 stars


Honourable Mentions:
Babel, Notes on a Scandal, Pirates of the Caribbean III, Death at a Funeral, Pan’s Labyrinth, Blood Diamond.

Dog of the Year: Running with Scissors - apparently the book is great, but this movie is pretentious, boring and waaaay too long. Rush Hour 3 – a bit like two old uncles who are still telling the same dodgy joke after 30 years. Someone please tell them to stop!!

Check out Ray's top 5 for 2007 here. More to come soon...

family gathering in Wollongong

My God-daughter Juliet's end of year dance concert. She was brilliant (of course!)



while her brother Braddon watches on...

from the depths of the last rush of essays

Listening is a rare happening among human beings. You cannot listen to the word another is speaking if you are preoccupied with your appearance or impressing the other, or if you are trying to decide what you are going to say when the other stops talking, or if you are debating about whether the word being spoken is true or relevant or agreeable. Such matters may have their place, but only after listening to the word as the word is being uttered. Listening, in other words, is a primitive act of love, in which a person gives self to another’s word, making self accessible and vulnerable to that word.


- William Stringfellow

last days of college...

Robbie and Kathryn

Congrats to Robbie and Kathryn on the wedding last weekend at West Epping. A few photos on show, the rest over at the smugmug site.

playing with a new lens

The Otway Ranges

"The substance of belief, in other words, is not that the Bible is true, but rather that that towards which the Bible points us is true."

Douglas John Hall, "Thinking The Faith", p.120

the carlo five

would you trust these men?

Trafalgar Studio

The first of the shots from last night's recording session for the Youth Unit CD. Low moody light, grainy 1600 ISO shots, and collingwood winning (just) on the radio in the background. mmm

A comfy little studio in Annandale with a long history. Apparently it was one of the centres of the music industry in the 70's - hosting such luminaries as Cold Chisel (Khe Sahn was done there) and Air Supply. And now to add to that diversity it has seen the genius of rock god Newton and his compadres from "a thousand lights" - not to mention Rossy, Adam, Mitchell, Kent and myself. More photos on flickr.

Australian Summer

"Australian Summer" by Luke Eve, winner of the 2005 Tropfest. An incredible short film - all about hope and grief within an Australian context. I've used this is in a number of settings (worship, training and discussion groups) and it's an fantastic tool for opening up what hope might look like. Is hope an illusory promise that we never really get to, but keeps us getting up every day? Is hope the stories that we tell to make sense of life? Who gives us hope? What does it cost to offer hope to another?


Australian Summer

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new ninja music

from "the heavy"