A Record Low 37 Movies for 2025

 In 2025, I watched a recent record low of 37 movies, only one of those at the Cinema! 

I am hoping to change this up in 2026, already chalking up 8 movies for 2026! We will wait for the right film, to return to the renovated and re-opened TOWER Cinemas in Newcastle plus I hope to soon catch 'Nuremburg,' at HOYTS* while its already on afternoon screenings only - for the school holidays!

Whatever the global trend to and from the Cinema, there's certainly convenience in waiting to watch something at home and easily available. With choices on offer and ability to turn it off and come back later or do other things, depending on how it grabs your attention! Albeit with varying amounts of time after cinema release! For me, in a tiring busy year, I often couldn't commit to give up 3hrs + on a sunny day off, preferring to do a variety of things with my free time (and I love movies, always have)... At the same time I know it's counter to what I love about them - the ability to lose yourself in a cracking story and re-create yourself, by engaging in it! I suppose a day off at the Cinema, then the Gym is a big slab of a Monday or Friday!

This probably reflects on the lack of quality in Movie offerings - the plethora of prequels, sequels, copycats and poor storylines. My mantra is 'good scripts make good movies!' In many cases this is completely lacking! Even in an action film, with a transparent premise, poor dialogue can ruin an otherwise escapist fun or implausibly incredible experience! 

By contrast, I kept avoiding 'The Beekeeper' on streaming, until recently! I purposely didn't read a synopsis as Jason Statham always brings a subtly different performance to any story...:) 

This one wasn't too bad, when I finally relented (on holidays) and although the scrapes with death, fraught nature of approaching a known target and the twists and turns were predictable, the little details made for an entertaining, undemanding, yet emotional, sense of the laughably gripping challenges he faced, to eradicate the faulty spawn of the 'Queen Bee'! He's a BEEKEEPER!

"Mountainhead" HBO Film

   

SPOILER REVIEW ALERT   

   "Mountainhead" is a satirical film about  four tech billionaires (well one nicknamed 'Soup Kitchen' is only a multi-millionaire! It's a very American humour where the zingers, sarcasm and put downs are a mixed bag at best...though they do amplify the sense of detachment from reality, as the amount of food on the bench or table grows as the weekend unfolds, with three seated at a table of food for 50 people!

   'Soup Kitchen' hosts the poker weekend in the snowy mountains of Utah, at his new home called 'Mountainhead.' When they get together, they have a ritual celebrating their estimated individual wealth, in the billions (for 3 of the 4), with four hats/props they swap according to who is richest! One has launched a new AI system TRAAM which is wreaking havoc across the world, as fake videos incite violence, revolution and chaos across the world!

   Jeff's technology, offers a 'reality check' and could save the others company and reputation ,not to mention quelling the violence and his wealth skyrockets as they've gathered, while news rolls in of large scale violence and deaths. He refuses to sell the idea in a way which would benefit the other Tech heads.

   The US President is worried and they discuss the possibility of overseeing a coup to remove him. The EU plan blocking the AI technology as the billionaires shift from the all glass windowed floor to the Games Room below, after the water appears to have been cut off (with bowling alley, table games and rock climbing wall). They jokingly speculate retribution attacks, zoom into a military meeting and continue to check their social media and ponder which parts of the world we could do without! It's comedic tragedy descending into farce as three plot the death of 'Jeff,' the closest they get to 'the conscience' of the group...

   The suggested intervention is, the ability for people to say what's real and not - to stop neighbours shooting one another, riots, assignation of political leaders etc... it seems to get lost along the way, as a business deal!

   It's not a "great" film, it's clunky and doesn't meet my long held conviction -  'good scripts make good films!'  On that score the film blends beautifully tone deaf and dismissive shared humour, depicting the tech heads as detached from reality while considering themselves smarter than everyone else! One clever backdrop, the mentor, 'founder' of the four, Randall (Steve Carell) is unwell and his place in the story begins with him considering any doctor who suggests he can't be cured is "an oaf, a simpleton." 

   I think the constant phone checking and the impotence of their ideas, in the face of an imploding world, leaving them pondering how to profit from it - demonstrates the depravity of the growing wealth gap in the world, so the film has a point, sharing it pretty well, from the creative mind of "Succession!"

"Unravelling"

   To say "I've started writing my book!" is perhaps overstating things a little, but there are jargon filled musings on notepaper, a front page and a saved file. I'll be reflecting on Alan Roxburgh's image of 'unravelling' which to me is what's happening to 'church' in the decades I've experienced it. Scraps of paper might one day be crafted into unreliable opinions or history...

   I read with interest from time to time, articles akin to self help guides, surveys, critiques and divided opinion regarding so called 'fresh expressions' alongside advocacy for some genuinely inspired ideas enacted in church communities shaped like those of the last many decades. There's no doubt there is a great 'unravelling' happening across contexts like the ones I've lived in. Much exploring or debate is a 'confusion of style over substance' and arguments about generalisations or inaccuracy are just as big a waste of time as the latest 'shiny ideas.' 

   What God is up to and where we are invited to join in can happen in longer serving or new experimental ways. A key seems to be openness to listen, learn and discern. Also important is where and how we are willing to free up resources and put in our own energy. This sometimes needs agitation or complaint. 

   Inevitably some resources will be freely offered, others need a change in regulations. In my exploring of 'Fresh Expressions' in the UK I learnt about the 'rules' that were changed to allow different forms of leadership and allowing recognition of communities existence to enable help to be offered or leadership to thrive. There were good ideas and dodgy ones, things which had longevity and others a short season. They teach us the value of experiments and learnings, rather than regarding them as failures, consigning some communities 'never to try anything new.'

   We have both effective congregations and reinventions alongside resources locked up in almost empty buildings with communities of people 'happy to be left how we are.' There are communities being shaped around discernment where interests, deep yearnings, meals, art, venues and day or times are experimental.

It takes a level of advocacy to challenge adhoc maintenance of buildings, ordained ministry and resourcing, as societal and neighbourhood character changes. It's not hard to see a small church building on Sydney's north shore will yield more sale proceeds than a similar building in remote NSW. Shifting the profits needs discernment of course, but in the end it mostly needs timely action.

   Blah, blah, blah... something about space, permission and validity as three legs of the experimental stool! One way of thinking about fostering new missional shaped gathering, worship or community, presence in neighbourhood or whatever is about: creating space for the new things; giving permission, through resources, time money and support; and sometimes missing is the decision the new thing is valid, therefore encouraged to exist, not just tolerated or seen as church 'lite', something on the way to growing what already exists...

Sense of Humour, is tricky isn't it!

Sense of Humour, is tricky isn't it!
What I find humorous - dry humour, irony, clever ideas, means little to someone else... so be it! 

Some films and TV shows I cried tears of laughter, are tied to a context, and don't age well! This is my sadness over the 'Pink Panther' films, where maybe the first one is still funny!

Monty Python, many British comedies, some skit programs... Robin Williams, Ben Elton, Sarah Silverman, Sarah Pascoe, Sarah Millikan, Jerry Seinfeld and more... Above them all, Billy Connolly! Only Bob Newhart comes close...

I find Greg Davis really funny, its the self effacing humour, where he (or his mum) are the object of his comedy! Great actors and familiar faces agreeing to appear in his show 'The Cleaner' is only 'icing on the cake.' There's that one poignant human moment in every episode, which is just great story writing! 

I am entertained by endless repeats of 'Would I Lie to You' because the premise is brilliant, other people will say 'what??? I watched 'Schitt's Creek' for 5 minutes only... I expect if it had been british made it'd be different! Gavin & Stacy is great writing, I can tell, but I just never warmed to the characters... Ruth Jones 'Stella' exactly the opposite, despite the high farce needed to sustain 6 seasons!

I enjoy 'Have You Been Paying Attention' but I think it's a combination of being 'into' the news and current events. I know most of the answers before a comedian, who often also does, makes up a plausibly funny alternative! I find Mick Molloy hilarious and HYBPA is funnier when he's on... 'The Front Bar' combines my other love, sport, with humour and well meaning take downs of some stars!

'Working Dog' have my eternal admiration for their stream of very funny projects, nailing things about Australian culture and identity. I think of the subtitles to 'Australian Crawl's' James Reyne singing 'Reckless' and the immortal line "something about public transport." The mistaken name of the feature act at the end of D Gen episodes, giving us Vic Premier Joan Kerner, instead of Joan Jett.

Imagine being able to sum up our Land Rights discussion through a deadpan comedy about forced acquisition of a house near the airport or nailing our national insecurity around major achievements like the Olympics, through the crucial if not well known role of 'The Dish' near Parkes!

All this said "Optics" debuted this week on ABC TV to much fanfare and many people will love it! I set up the evening to catch the new Hard Quiz, then the new comedy. I looked forward to it, because it is a brilliant premise... the idea of comedy in the 'spin' which so dominates politics, media and personality today! Gruen is sharper and funnier, to me, others will give it a couple of episodes and rank it classic!

I found its pace and the delivery of the two lead characters annoyingly clunky and boring and co creator with them, Charles Firth's depiction of a clever idea, wooden and clumsy!

I'd love to say it got better as the episode went on, laying down the tracks for the idea, but I honestly didn't get past the first 10 minutes... It lacks the timing of 'Utopia.' Or is it, they could have written it and found better comedic actors? Maybe I'll try again at a different time of day, maybe not... enjoyit if you do!

"Unleash Greatness" Gruen ABC TV in Oz

 Fascinating in last night's episode of Gruen on ABC TV here in Oz - to hear the panel of advertising 'experts' or 'commentators' wrestling with a Private School TV advert! They felt uneasy at the message some can fulfil their potential and be 'giants' (unleashing greatness) as if suggesting other choices or lack of choice means your children can't fulfil their potential!

Their wrestle seemed to me, entirely the point! The advert was just being clear - we do better, have more resources, can afford to advertise (can't afford not to, maybe) and its about thriving when others may not - it is reinforcing economic advantage and privilege! But that's exactly the values of private schools right? That seems to be very much "on message" (to me) for Private Schools!

Their wrestle prevented some deeper look at the imaging, like all the 'giant' academics or creatives were female - the sport achiever male! A kind of subtle positive discrimination, about target audience! 

Subtle, but a choice!

Log in to watch it on iView here or catch it repeated on ABC TV in coming days! 

Check out the Peninsular Grammar advert here 

The Barney Rustle Blanket

    This week I created a huge mess inside my work satchel/messenger bag! The Crumpler 'Barney Rustle Blanket' had a handful of gold foil wrapped chocolate coins I forgot about, from last Sunday, melted and disintegrated, leaving chocolate coated pens, laptop, newsletters and coins! I have had this 'lifetime guarantee' bag for more than 20 years! It's real! I have only busted some clips on it, caught in a door edge as I walked through or run over by an office chair! I have an iPad satchel one, a larger laptop bag and backpack, but the Barney Rustle has gone the long journey of mission and vocation, symbol of engaging in the neighbourhood, listening and taking stuff I need on the road!

   I emptied the bag and put it through the washing machine cycle, hung it out to dry and 'it's rarely looked better.' All the dusty dirt accumulated through use removed. A shiny red, blue and yellow bag ready for another 5+ years of active service!

'Not Taking Sides!"

Banksy

    The challenge of 'not taking sides!' Conflict in the Middle East (a sanitised description of ongoing war, oppression and wrong relationship) has been going on my entire life! How will claims to land, territory and existence ever be truly committed to, beyond the story within the Torah?

   Nothing, nothing says the missile attack from Hamas and the death of reported 1300 Israelis in a day is OK! However a decade or more of Palestinian children's deaths is clear provocation. The story of World Council of Churches or other 'accompaniers,' news reports and history show the settlement disruption in the region despite commitments made by Israel and then Hamas is a terrorist organisation (in the tradition of the PLO).

   "Free free Palestine!" is the cry of Palestinians living in diaspora here and elsewhere and it stretches way back beyond the events of recent weeks! I still recall the wonderful spirit and atmosphere at Hunter Stadium when a group of us deliberately chose to attend Palestine's game in the Asia Cup!

   I believe the task for Christians, people following in the way of Jesus (or let me be more specific) my task, is to 'not take sides.' This means there are times of sounding like speaking out for one over another as  the story and media coverage, commentary from politicians etc plays out! The early comments from PM Albanese and the lighting of the Sydney Opera House were in my opinion, over the top!!! It is possible to condemn missile attacks without sounding as if you have no idea why they occurred! 

   
Yet, it was certainly a moment of madness from Hamas. These things are amplified and made sound even more ridiculous when we hear about 'the rules of war.' 'At least we are civilised enough to rule out certain barbarity, while 'bombing the crap' out each other,' is a pretty low bar!!!

Lastly, its always easy to be an armchair expert and perhaps the simple message ought to be: 

'IT IS TIME FOR PEACE.'

The World Needs More Santas

 Coca Cola feature in Best Ads of the Week, capitalising on their own invention of Santa Claus in RED and WHITE! This one suggesting we can be Santa... maybe there's more than holding a train or opening the half closed shop shutter?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znIyaGS5BNc

"Yes23 Needs work, but not the same blinkered Journalism!

                                                                                                                                                                         

   Last week an article appeared in the #Conservative newspapers, suggesting people coming from a 'No' perspective on the Referendum on Recognition of Aboriginal People in the Constitution and the Voice to Parliament, were increasingly reticent to voice their opinion for fear of the response and being branded racist! How ironic!

There are valid reasons to consider a NO vote:

- You genuinely believe this Constitutional change is racist or divisive

- The Constitution is not the place to reflect this reform

- You are convinced it won't deliver equity for indigenous Australians

- The separation of the 'values behind it' from how it will be established concerns you

This is different to:

- Feeling Aboriginal people get advantages and this is a 'leg up' - which by definition implies 'undeserved' or 'unjustified' special treatment (something Aboriginal people are very familiar with)

- You're  racist, with little or no appreciation of culture/story 

- When challenged you become abusive (yes I'll offer in return)

- It being about your own struggles and perceived lack of 'fairness'

- Appeal to the ideal we are all equal why divide us, the genuine case study version of a perspective shared from white privilege, whatever 'opportunities' you feel aren't open to you.
Equity is different to equality.

- You don't have 'the details' which is a distraction, where when details are offered we argue about them instead of the principle at hand eg. should it be 24 or 26 representatives when it's very existence is the main point and questions like this will vary as its effectiveness is measured. Details changeable, principle fixed as a solution generously asked for by aboriginal people themselves

- Not understanding who the few public aboriginal 'No' voices speak for

- And a few more...

   I'm reflecting on this today because I'm having some fruitful measured conversations with people genuinely open to learn or share and some idiot social media exchanges parroting memes and what are perceived to be funny quotable quotes (as above) avoiding the issues and applicable to all people, masquerading as wisdom or humour, when the quote is just about us all at some point or other...

   But even more, the same articles appeared around the plebiscite into 'Marriage Equality' and could have just had the topic 'cut and pasted,' even if the research is real! Maybe just as 'Yes' enthusiasts are invited to share generously and around enquiry, those feeling 'No' might simply offer their questions or concerns, open to hear alternative views. If that meets with threatening or negative feedback, call it out! But please, journalists, your vehicles editorial bias is showing! How about instead of 'gotcha' details questions, you ask people's perspective on the detail which exists, tell the story of indigenous people and invite them to tell it first, ask the No politicians which aboriginal leaders they have consulted with and whether, for example, being on a Mining Company Board effects your opinion on the interplay between mining permissions, traditional owners and 'The Voice.' Ask how a former Government who commissioned a 'shape of the Voice' report doesn't recall what it said!

   By all means ask about the kinds of valid reasons for 'No,' some of which are above... but don't subject us to the same 'cookie cutter' articles we've seen on previous issues. 

"We live in an Economy, not a Community!"

       It's all called 'trickle down Economics' but whichever way you describe it, "the rich get richer, the poor get the picture!" When I took up my vocation of ministry of Youth Worker I wondered if I'd ever use my Bachelor of Economics and genuine interest in the values and machinations it involves, again? 

   Slowly over the last 2 decades it became clear theology and economics would sit together in exploring the values of our western democratic societies and the nature of 'community' within them. Early on even the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," made fun of the term 'Voodoo Economics.' It's known as 'trickle down theory' or the Morrison and former Coalition Government's embrace of the idea if you offer Stage 3 Tax Cuts to our wealthiest, slash business tax rates and repeat the words 'small business' over and over then the economic benefits to corporations will ‘trickle down' to those on lower wages, unemployed or strugglers, by the invisible hand of the market economy.

   The removal of tariffs and a wholehearted pursuit of 'free trade' agreements is called 'levelling the playing field' when in fact it is more like climbing a mountain or traversing a 'mine field.' It has meant Fiscal policy (the levers Government uses) and Monetary Policy (the dollar and the role of the Reserve Bank) have become limited in what they can do to alter events. Our current 'cost of living' pressures reflect a drive to lower Taxes and less instruments available to Government to deal with issues.

   In the privatisation world, housing has become a retirement investment, so there isn't sufficient housing for everyone and it's become a chronic shortage. Just this week I learnt the Boulevarde Apartments in Hamilton are being used for social or affordable public housing the crisis is so severe. People in the 'housing and homelessness' area for 30 years find themselves advocating for 'safe car sleeping zones' as credible options, things are so bad.

   "If you have a go, you get a go!" our former PM famously said, "we are a nation of lifters, not leaners" offered the Treasurer as Government sought to strip back 'everything.' Including we learn, the Public Service wage bill in Canberra, whilst spending billions on Consultants. They'd use words like nimble or responsive, while allowing said firms to 'rort' and act corruptly. This includes auditing programs and spending on projects they recommend!

   BUT this is all just narrative around the bigger implications! We as people are regarded as part of the economy, a privatised market, where disadvantage puts you behind to begin with and then amplifies poverty, lack of education and skills. It tears the fabric of our society as we judge people harshly, when to ‘have a go' requires the resources to draw from, to get moving in the first place!

   Created in God's image, salt of the earth, we have inherent value as people and space to thrive in community which our very system crushes and makes impossible for many. It reinforces judgement against those who can't 'lift themselves up.' It creates division and causes angry people to target the vulnerable, like most recent hysteria around the 'trans community.' 

   We need to gather power to challenge the notions: everything can be privatised and equate to a dollar value; efficiency of the NDIS means it costs less; Jobseekers are bludgers; big corporations have our best interests at heart v shareholders and highly paid managers; and much more...

   Even in our economic terms I cringe every time a TV or radio journalist equates the Budget of our country with a household, regarding deficits as problematic! It's like an episode of 'Utopia!' Infrastructure built from debt leaves a legacy… 

   At the 'grassroots' of community we need to: see value in every person; regard them as having challenges and problems in need of our help; we need to strive for equity or access to resources, not the false notion of equality being 'shouted' as part of the distraction in the discussion around a 'Voice to Parliament' - an advisory body to better reflect solutions to problems in the indigenous community or ways to better capitalise,  on their natural affinities and advantages! Vote YES, to heal the scar on the soul of this country!

People are people, not economic units

Banks squeezing people for fees and interest make billions as do their managers

Government has a role in community or society, not just the economy. e.g. Squeezing TAFE in favour of private colleges - how did that work out - voodoo economics! Most went broke and now we need to reinvest in TAFE to skill our trades!

There is a place for an informed 'church' voice in the public square if we are willing to 'roll up our sleeves' and take action, not just preaching morals (or even ethics, the more accurate descriptor)!

We still need 'safety nets', public housing, public transport, services, infrastructure, roads, investment etc to cover for our natural disadvantages in a so called 'free trade' world!

Addition: a tweet today regarding small Government in Australia, preferring PWC consultants to public servants

Can we just put to bed forever the neoliberal concept of ‘small government’. #PwC scandal proves it’s all a giant rort geared to giving an elite corporate cohort a licence to print money at the taxpayer expense. It’s not more efficient, it’s corrupt. #rnbreakfast

Cafe setting Worship 'Voice' + Pentecost

    Would you believe, we held our Pentecost worship on Sunday around the Tables in the church building, used for Bill's Place Cafe and our Op Shop ($8 coffee an cake + cheap clothes and bric a brac) and I was too focused on leading and scene setting to take a single photo? Oh well!

   We had two themes" Exploring 'The Voice' to Parliament and 'Pentecost' through stories of our experiences... and a few reflections will stay with me:

- There's so much more to hearing God than preaching and stories are powerful, which I've always known

- Most stories I heard relayed reflected a supernatural element of exploring God's Spirit (I'll have to chase more conversation in search of the ordinary everyday stories which may have been shared

- Any number of people don't remember being told Pentecost meant 50th (day since Easter)

- Cafe style proved not to be a choice of style over substance and the conversations at Tables were vibrant and energetic in both building community and in exploring the themes

- As well as reinforcing that day, the 'good news' was heard in people's own language (a theme I'll expand on this coming week, instead of justifying a doctrine of trinity on a selected Sunday) but I also agree with Nadia Bolz Weber's brilliant reflection, it was heard in languages people didn't understand, so we are reminded we don't control the message and God breaks out in undisciplined, wild, spontaneous ways. I'm still not talking about pentecostal spirit language, just that God acts and speaks in ways that surprise those who would rather control the message or media! So we will celebrate the colour red at least one more week and dwell further on both themes

- Where two 'versions' of the shared breath or wind of the Spirit were shared, this is a clear invitation to reflect on our own experiences today.

- Grounded questions remain an important way to foster learning for life long discipleship e.g. Asking when people have seen us engage, explore and experience indigenous culture and story and asking about a time they've experienced God's Spirit in action are better questions than hypothetical ones about what this would be like

- Lucky I took some photos of the set up in our traditional front space to set the scene

*I almost forgot, the laughable idea a national call to a period of prayer, resourced by the UCA, sends an email with a video at 8.15am on Sunday, for use that day. I'm sure people are working hard but that takes last minute prep to a new high! But hey, what would I know...

Affirmations, Learnings and Rubbish

    Time to re-enliven my blog! Maybe an unreliable frequency of reflections on the world, sport and life! I'm thinking this week about a range of annoying things: like my reflection on Sunday 'we live in an economy not a community' which reflects the reality neo liberal 'trickle down economics' bullish*t comes from a place  of everything being dollar valued, and money, global economy and trade, deciding what is valuable... Then there is the insidious and poisonous impact of Murdoch's News Ltd legitimising 'cookers', conspiracy theorists and "right wing nut jobs" in heavily subsidised media, plus newspapers with divisive headlines, rubbish writing and a legitimising of fringe views, racism and argument as the norm!

   I'm constantly grateful for heartfelt affirmation about things I'm doing 'almost without thinking,' which is perhaps the best way to subdue yourself and focus on the 'main thing.' It's still time to  shut up more often and listen! I've been thinking again about some writing. It won't happen, I don't have the patience, though I'd like to write about mission from the standpoint of having lived through the decades we examine to describe our context. Nobody wants to read a book I would write!

   I'm learning about strategic focus, organising my workload differently and prioritising some meetings with individuals in the community. Hopefully there will be some space to plan this over a few months to meet 'the right people' to advance things we are working on. I'm learning about working with my gym sessions, dodgy back and healthier approach... as well as new ways to take space, like a stop off at the beach car park to take in the view and spend minutes not hours just recharging.

   Having written about some rubbish, the biggest is the opposition to 'The Voice!' in this country. I'll break all the 'how to talk to people' rules and suggest I have not heard a single valid reason to not vote 'YES.' I've heard plenty of talk, distractions, falsehoods, just no good reason!

   

   

40 Photos 'Elliot'

 Elliot is a design student at University who came to Newcastle from Perth to study under one of the fine Lecturers. He is also of aboriginal descent and while not an Awabakal man, he is interested in local groups and how to engage with communities supportive of 'The Uluru Statement from the Heart.'

Can we play a role in connecting Elliot with Awabakal folk or introduce him to our most ardent advocates for 'voice, treaty, truth' and Wesley Mission's Indigenous Advocate or the City of Newcastle Advocacy Team. Then this might also be an opportunity to meet with Elliot and Sean Gordon, whose design company employs indigenous people and is based at Wickham!

40 Photos 'Jazz'

 Jazz is a student at the local High School studying comparative religions and looking for people's stories to tell. Who might we suggest she contact and speak to in exploring why faith matters to people? She is a member of the Amnesty International group at her school and we have participated in letter writing in past years. Is there a chance to collaborate with the school next campaign? Could they also be invited to meet with the 'Grandmothers for Refugees' and attend their weekly Civic Park vigil Thursdays 5pm or Wednesdays first week of the month?

40 Photos 'Della'

 Della was a refugee as a child and her family are not included in the recent decision 19,000 can apply for permanent residency. They are still in limbo, unable to work or study, doing odd jobs in their neighbourhood for cash but wondering what the future holds. Who do we write to advocating for Della and her family? Can we link them up through Mosaic Multicultural Connections or Mayfields Refuge Hub?

40 Photos 'Max'

    Imagine Max, with his unique reading glasses and himalayan beanie, a performance poet from Adelaide who travels the country in a camper van, doing shows in pubs and local schools! He spends winter at the snow fields yet is sometimes quite lonely on the road. Pictured here he has been performing during the Festival of Sydney and enjoying the harbour town but wonders how many more months he will be travelling this year. Max would happily perform at events to grow community, focus on justice and making the world a better place... Do we have an event he could open or contribute to?

"40 Photos"

    Lent derived from Lencten or lengthen, refers to northern hemisphere winter and a time to spend 40 days (not counting Sundays) in the lead up to Easter - living with more simplicity as a time of reflection! Why? It mirrors Jesus heading into wilderness where he was tested... preparing for the journey to Jerusalem, which cost Jesus his life! The 'tests' were invitations to grab power for personal gain, freedom or temporary relief from circumstances (a kind of partial solution) which Jesus rejected, quoting wisdom from the ancient Scriptures to explain - instead choosing vulnerability and faith... echoing the story of Israel wandering for 40 years and failing to choose well...

Here Jesus shows 'the way...'

Here are 40 photos of people from different cultures, places, different ages. Thy invite you to use your imagination and make up their back story... What might be their name? What is their story? How do they feel about spirituality and faith? 

What would they ask about the Easter story if they had the chance?

What might God’s inexhaustible love mean in their lives and communities? 

How might a community of Jesus followers being like ‘salt’ and ‘light’ draw this out?

Contemporary Nativity Scenes 2022

   For some years I've wanted to post some images as a collection of Nativity scenes reminding us this story is all about context! The 700 year wait, the middle east tensions, this invention for the story championed by St Francis of Assisi - because as we all know:

No stable, no donkey, how many visitors from the East?, no Innkeeper, how many under 2s were slaughtered, what Census...? It goes on reminding us this literary myth where Matthew is at pains to parallel the story of Moses...

   Anyhow, there's much more to say and I'm not pulling the story down... on the contrary I'm hoping we can hear it for all it's worth! The story of God one of us, here now! God who says everyone is counted, even young girls, the poor, people from a small place, the strugglers and all of us! More to follow!

"O Little Town of Bethlehem"

Things are not what they were in Bethlehem! With Middle Eastern conflict and Israel fuelling discontent, constructing a massive wall and checkpoints, settlements and more...

Peace activists and networks have a way of cutting through...  maybe we'll sing it in coming weeks!

O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and restless sleep,
a missile glideth by
While children weep in shallow sleep
for friends who are no more
How silently, how silently
their hope has gone away
No laughter rings, no choir sings
in shepherds’ fields this day
The angels in the heavens
are hushed in sad lament
the holy child forced into exile
finds Herod won’t relent
O holy child of Bethlehem,
descend on us we pray
Your love bring down on David’s town,
drive fear and hate away
Awake the ire of nations,
let justice be restored
Rebuild the peace in silent streets
where once your love was born
O broken town of Bethlehem your people long for peace,
But curfews, raids and barricades have brought them to their knees
Yet still they long for justice, and still they make their stand.
Their hopes and fears still echo down the years
Come heal this holy land.
O holy child of Bethlehem, a royal refugee.
Your place of birth, now hell on earth, through our complicity.
The innocents still suffer, their backs against the wall.
We see the crime, the pain and death
And choose to ignore it all.
O holy streets of Bethlehem, where watch towers block our view.
With armoured cars and tanks and guns so no one can go through.
The market place stands empty. The fruit rots on the tree.
While loving families strive to build
A life of dignity.
O hopeful town of Bethlehem quite soon your day will come
When tanks go back to Israel and prison walls are gone.
Go tell it on the mountain and spread it o’er the plain
The ancient land of Palestine
A nation once again.

Interactive Christmas 2022 Station 4

 Station 4. "Photo Reflection News 2022"

Time to observe and reflect and pray about the news here and across the world for 2022!

Just a simple opportunity for you also to think of people, places you know...