Breaking News: Aung San Suu Kyi to be freed in November

From the 'I'll believe it when I see it!' department here it's being reported that Suu Kyi will be released in November [albeit after the Election she and her party are not contesting in Burma!!

Alberto Contador tests positive

Wow, this should have been bigger news on my TV sometime today!!

Check it out here... contaminated meat hey!!

'Reality' TV Stuff Up on Fox 8 for Sarah Murdoch

Somewhere between the verbal cue from the OB van and the autocue Sarah Murdoch announced the wrong winner of the public vote for 'Australia's Next Top Model'!! Conspiracy theorists can forget including Murdoch in their rumours... just an honest mistake I'm afraid!!

"What Makes Us Tick" Hugh Mackay

While I usually find Hugh's work insightful I also find it verbose [that's perhaps the pot and kettle] but I'm interested in this book spotted at my third most common source of seeing new books [the aiport]!!

Scanning the contents I think the list is a useful one and so if I can wade past Hugh's stories or examples there's probably some great truths to explore!!

While on this my second best source is the newspapers and the next book I'll have a dash it is Michael Chugg's biography... Michael is one of Oz legendary rock concert promoters whose well known for his onstage profanity in seeking the cooperation of crowds... it's actually a tactic of taking on the 'idiot' tag so the crowd get a laugh, lighten the mood and comply!! My friend Tone talks about a meeting for a cooperative venture with a room full of promoters where Chugg sat glued to his mobile phone screen for an hour but never missed a word of the arrangements despite appearing totally disengaged!! Looking up once to drop the 'f' word and then back to the phone screen, taking calls, texting etc!!

The quotable quote highlighted from the article helps make sense of this complex bloke who says "I'm at my happiest when I see a crowd of 40,000 young people having fun and feeling safe..." Oh and he was almost singlehandedly responsible for the Wave Aid tsunami fundraiser at the SGC, MCG back in 2005!!

Art & About Sydney CBD

Art meets public space is something of the theme for Art & About this September/Oct with it's focus on 'Sydney Life'!! Check it out here

I enjoyed a brief glimpse today of some of the themed statues around Macquarie St and outside the QVB!! There's more in Martin place with a ferris wheel made of bicycles and then a sound stage and festivities in Hyde Park!!

'Volunteering' as an Entry Point for Missional Activity

We recently saw the celebration here in Oz of ten years since the remarkable Sydney Olympics!! This included a bbq and celebration for thousands of the legendary volunteers who 'made' the event and our reputation that year!! I do confess to the running joke about still seeing people in the polo shirt and some certainly looked in mint condition on the news footage of the bbq!!

It reminded me of the enthusiasm aussies have for volunteering and the renewed interest on the part of lots of young adults in 'doing something that counts'!!

I'm imagining not so much that we overload already busy volunteers with more to do but that any local congregation could be a hub for galvanising locals to volunteer for a whole range of community projects, including church programs in a wider matrix of activity and in doing so automatically put the church in direct connection with the community in positive and helpful ways!!

NY Yankees v Tampa Bay Rays

Everyone knows I mix my life, sport and youth work observations here at Pumphouse... I am resting this morning doing paperwork and watching NYY v TB on the day they celebrate the life of abrasive owner, the late George Steinbrenner [even Larry David took potshots at George thrugh his characters in Seinfeld]!!

They are playing for top of the table in a four match series an it's at the NEW Yankees Stadium in the Bronx...

Anyhow I've followed them since I was a kid when all we used to see was the Finals, now it's on [3] channels all season!!

'Burn Your Name Across the Sky' Powderfinger

One of 3 or 4 absolute highlights for me from last nights show!! This could be the opening clip for my NCYC venture!!

'Why do you still have faith?' 2

I started my fireside story with the occasion when Jesus was taking 'time out' with his inner circle and enquired... 'who do people say that I?....'who do you say that I am?' I talked about having grown up in the church and always feeling the connection of a relationship with God but being confronted by this question in Year 9 confirmation... having to answer this question in a worship setting... and I was able to speak about what I believed.

I spoke about how I did spend some time away in Year 11/12 and returned to regional activities and friendship groups in 1981 after 'the HSC and a girl' imploded...

This was period of being called on as a leader, discerning a call to full time Youth Worker ministry in a surfing conversation at Forster in about 1984...

At that time I began to be exposed to lots of social justice focus and a vision for a world 'lived according to the values of God' and my place in that... including a significant shaping experience with regular visits to my Bar Beach flat from 'Peter this n That' a rough sleeper who turned up one day to wash windows [we bought hamburgers for breakfast instead] and Peter spend hours at my place watching DVDs while I worked etc etc... through to the sobering day after a clean out that he turned up wearing my clothes out of the bin he'd been sleeping in...

I shared about the challenge to make the 'God' choice and to be Jesus to Peter in the way the transformative stories of Zack, Drew and others play out in the NT... I randomly met Peter this n that in Lambton some years later... clear eyed, in a relationship, living locally and having taken the final option to sort himself out... the army!! Amazing lessons in who Jesus is and calls me to be...

I rounded off by talking about being called to leadership, using my skills, dealing with esteem issues and staying on an even keel and how my contextual gifts, love for music and creativity helped me find evidence of Jesus action in the world and that when I found myself part of that action I saw change and understood that I can still answer the question...

I finished by talking about a picture I have of Bernard Fanning behins an old fashioned queenslander smoked glass window looking in with hands out and that this is an image I draw whenever asked for my picture of 'God'... It's a picture of invitation, of watching, of looking at different parts of life and showing presence... Bernard Fanning is not JC, he just sang about him once or twice...

I ran out of time to add a final punctuation... who do I say Jesus is? as I answer the question of why I still have faith....

Friend, example, transformer, bringer of hope and inspired listener and carer offering unconditional acceptance despite our flaws!! Calling me/us to engage in God's mission of bringing hope/grace and transformation to a world [or my corner of it] in need!! God's Spirit...the 'dangerous and liberating memory and presence of Jesus' is visble to me in people, places, the arts and life everyday... because I choose to look and see and know and feel...

Powderfinger at the Sydney Ent Cent

Wow!

So many years ago I had commented that 'The Finger' could just fill the void of going out to see 'The Oils' live after they'd broken up. I LOVE music and find good loud live music transcendent at it's best!! Bands that sing about something I can relate to... about changing the world... about real emotions from genuine experiences... and/or with aussie rythm and sound are just magic!! Trouble was despite brilliant albums Powderfinger didn't our smaller venues enough, I got busy and we missed tix a few times... so it was brilliant and sad to be at the Ent Cent last night in Sydney [as opposed to the tin shed at home in Newcastle]...

There is a difference for example [for me] between that and Hillsong or bands of that ilk... I can see what they're doing but I personally don't relate to that image of God or pursuit of faith... If that's what works for others then as long as they are critique-ing the 'images portrayed' and shaping a growing discipleship then fine... !!

There was a little bit of audience singing in the classics but not too much... in the bleachers, the mixed age of the crowd meant a brilliant seated experience for all but 2 or 3 songs [sweet] and this night they saved the classic 'These Days' for the final encore. I heard 'The Metre' and a couple of other soulful numbers. There were tracks from 'Double Allergic','Odyssey Number 5','The Internationalist'

It was worth noting so little material from their final two albums and I did miss laughing at the lyric from 'All of the Dreamers'... 'when you come down to the barrio, to get a feel for the people's scenario!'

It was a great night of music enjoyed with friends and I look fwd to the iTunes live recording and the DVD!!

'Why do you still have faith?'

What a great aspect to a four week evening worship cycle!! At Queanbeyan UC last Sunday it was that week where a 'guest' is invited to share with the group gathered around the fire drum outdoors, followed by questions and food!! Actor/comedian Stephen Fry in a recent speech reminded us that cultures from the earliest times shared their stories around the fire or focus/hearth and in doing so passed on what it means to be us... I love the activity...

Tomorrow I'll post what I shared [including the extra 2-3 mins I didn't have time to finish and quite close out the story!!

My World Cup XV for 2011

Just an early start on who makes my side at the moment... I'll update these during the spring tour [even if only I'm reading this...]

1. Benn Robinson

2. Stephen Moore [only just ahead of Faingaa]

3. Ma'afu Salesi [but this spot is up for grabs]

4. Nathan Sharpe

5. James Horwill [currently injured]

6. Rocky Elsom

7. David Pocock

8. Ben Mcalman

9. Will Genia

10. Quade Cooper

11. Lachlan Turner [James O'Connor is close but needs not to kick]

12. Berrick Barnes

13. Adam Ashley Cooper

14. Drew Mitchell

15. Kurtley Beale

And my best ever Sporting Highlight

It's only missing the great work of Bruce Mcaveney or ABC radio!!

What a Day September 11 [local time] 2010

I drove to Canberra today and it meant I heard almost all of the ABC radio sport celebration of ten years since Aussies triumph in the Sydney Olympics. What a gift ANC TV and radio are as government funded media... podcasts, iView, innovative programs commercial free!!

We were lucky enough to win tix in the lottery to be there on 25th September when Cathy Freeman won the 400m sprint race... the culmination of a massive career fro Comm Games, through World Championships and finally this pressure filled race...

It was amazing to listen to the reminiscing of Ian Thorpe, the tears from Susie O'Neill as she listened to her 200m freestyle win and reflected that she'd never adequately celebrated it as it overshadowed her missing out in the 200m butterfly [Madame Butterfly remember!!]

Then Natalie Cook and Kerri Pottharst as they spoke about the mental build up and surrounding themselves with 'gold' for months... there were many more highlights, all covered today!!

Then tonight it's the Rugby Union Wallabies v All Blacks... I made it to a TV but am really tired today... hope I don't fall asleep!! I don't want to miss the Old Boys Rugby Choir whose goal I applaud.... to see the anthem sung 'straight' without harmonies and vocal gymnastics... 10,000 facebook signatures agreeing it was time to do away with Idol runners up and talent school hopefuls doing their best Mariah Carey!! Good one boys!!

Then 12 months after the amazing vibe of the Sydney Olympics came 9/11 in the US and from about 10pm tonight local time most people would be able to recall 'where they were'...

The reflective pool near the twin towers footprint should be ready by next years tenth commemoration!!

More on these things in coming entries and days!!

Gruen Transfer Selling Religion

While I was out last night at the movies I knew I'd miss an insightful episode of 'The Gruen Transfer'!! With a segment and some aweful adverts from now and the 1980s they were looking at the selling of religion... which using the "Jesus All About Life" campaign as an example, could be summed up as 'Jesus good but Church bad'.... we might strike a chord but the shopfronts would let us down!!

For OS and other readers the 'Gruen Transfer' is a great ABC TV program from Andrew Denton's creative mind and his production company 'Zapruder's Other Films.' Andrew's work always drips with irony as this program examines the world of marketing and advertising!!
The Gruen Transfer is named after an architect and describes that point at which shoppers begin to respond to the disorienting cues set up within the design of a shopping centre.
Zapruder's film is the silent colour motion footage of JFK being shot. 'It's a wicked sense of humour to be promoting 'Zapruder's Other Films' I guess!!
Anyhow I've no doubt the segment will get a run in some future input I'm able to offer somewhere... about our 'brand'!!


See the whole episode on ABC iView or podcast it in a few weeks!!

Pretty Much Sums It Up

God ability to make of us what God will... the Potter's House

Not sure I'll end up using this on Sunday night so here it is in case others need a clip at the last moment... the focus is on discipleship and the OT reference is Jeremiah and the reflection on what the potter can do in re-throwing a poorly shaped pot compared then to how God might redeem Israel... lending itself to fun with air dry clay, play doh ro at leasta reflection clip of the Potter at Work!!

The plan would be to offer this as a backdrop to 3mins of creating your own 'pot' [in playdoh on this occasion]

The clip is courtesy of youtube and the song is "Band of Gold" Seth Lakeman!!

Story Cubes

As you know I love a good story and used to enjoy making up bedtime ones for Lucy who would get to nominate what must and must not feature... courtesy of the creative and inspired Steve Taylor I bring you 'Story Cubes'...

Throw the dice and start with "Once upon a time..." and feature all nine symbols... or use one of the other methods featured.... or use the iPhone App [about $2.49]...

Steve reminds that it can be used to grow creative Biblical storytelling also... check that out here

Why Should We Care for the Poor? Social Justice Worship

On the 20th I joined in with Gordon UC Youth Group [thanks to Youth Worker Graham Baldock's invitation] to put together their 'quarterly worship' with a social justice focus and particularly looking at the question: 'Why should we care for the poor?'

We're going to put the outline and resources on our website here

It's one of those occasions where I developed new material and now know how the timing works and broadly who the young people are... so of course the next time will be better... we were just a bit pushed for time in the end...

The set up included [2] screens with data projectors, punters sitting on the floor in a semi circle, half lights off and [5] stations around the edge of the space for a planned 15-20min space...

I took a few minutes too long to explain what people were being invited into but once you start that it's hard to know where to stop... then..

1. Spoken Introduction/Call This is our worship. This is not a concert, not a game Not entertainment or an excuse to disappear… This is an opportunity to ‘make time for God’ And to reflect on social justice, Or this particular time, to ask… ‘why should we care for the poor?’ You are invited to listen, to think, to respond, to create… We will experience some thing together, be asked to talk And later to choose ‘stations’ and activities… Before finishing together… This is your time, but others time as well, Give each other the space to connect with God or to wonder… Let’s worship God…

2. "If Everyone Cared" Nickelback from youtube

3. Four Voice Liturgy

Read aloud from where you sit/stand to the rest of the group…

Voice ONE: God cares about issues of poverty and justice… This emphasis on justice flows through the Bible like a river. It’s no coincidence the Bible mentions poverty 2,100 times. This oral and written history of God’s attempts to be in relationship with humanity is filled with examples of God’s values of ‘siding with the poor or those on the edges…’

Voice TWO: Why should we care about the poor? About those who lack our choices? Through history, culture or circumstance? Is what Nelson Mandela reminds us of true? ‘That ‘injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere’… God, we give thanks for all we have…

Voice THREE: How do we contribute to poverty worldwide? Cash crops instead of food? Cheaply made shoes and t-shirts? Violence, selfishness, and consumption ahead of clean water? For those things we do or leave undone, we are sorry!! For judging others externally and settling for less, we are sorry?

Voice FOUR: What would you do, if you ruled the world? How would people know what you valued and hoped for? What would you complain about? And who would you choose? God, stir our world… Let’s think, create and pray…

[shared aloud by four punters]

4. "If I ruled the world..." vox pop clip and then discussion in 3-4s

5."What is Poverty?" we spent a few minutes with punters putting together a collage

6. Then 'What is Poverty?' clip and if we'd had time 'What is Social Justice?' clip

7. Dramatised Reading with the story of Zacchaeus...

Dramatised READING: Zacchaeus Luke 19: 1-8

NARRATOR:

It was a pretty unremarkable day in most ways really. This place is only a small town, with a long history, but you pass through here because it’s the only way to the city… It’s not unusual for a crowd to gather but the word was this character had created a stir wherever he went and the ‘usual suspects’ were out to see who all the fuss was about.

ZACCHAEUS:

You couldn’t see, I don’t know what everyone else had come to find, but there was something about him. I seriously almost fell out of the tree I’d scrambled up, when he looked up and invited himself to my place.!! I was up there for my own safety and because I couldn’t see… I didn’t even really hear what he said at first… I was too busy trying to hold on to the flimsy branch. The fact he even looked up was a huge shock! He looked straight at me, no mistake!

BYSTANDER:

Scumbag!! That’s who he is… ripping us off every tax year! Lining his own pockets… I thought someone was going to get crushed when the crowd surged forward. I didn’t hear it, but the whisper went along that the bloke asked to have lunch with that lowlife, Zack!! It’s not bad enough the Romans have ‘their foot on our necks’, but he’s financing them!! He’s the whole reason we’re poor! Jericho would be a different place without Zack! NARRATOR:
Zack hurried down from the tree, sandals flying, I think he fell down the first three branches… The crowd at first were grumpy but slowly drifted off, The disappointment was obvious! BYSTANDER:

Have you heard the rumours? What happened at that lunch? Later that day apparently Zack started giving money away. Te same crowds that jeered earlier were dancing in the streets. Is it real?

NARRATOR:
“I will give half my property to the poor. And I will now pay back four times as much to everyone I have ever cheated.” That’s what was overheard!! ZACCHAEUS: He didn’t just look at me, he really saw me… for who I am? In the face of that I really couldn’t keep cheating people the way I had been… You can’t buy self respect and I was tired of being alone in a crowd… This town will have to blame someone else for it’s troubles from now on…

8. Didn't have time to show "Teenage Affluenza" World Vision clip

BUT did speak about some Biblical stories about God's values and Jesus obvious siding with those on the edge including the poor... and how it's also our call... including the notion of how close we all are to poverty... one choice, one argument, one mishap!!!

8. STATIONS TO EXPLORE [20min]

1. Map and tealights World map on the floor/table with candles Place a candle anywhere in the world that needs our prayers. Could be infront of existing big screen or DVD Sarah McL ‘World on Fire’ on loop

2. Photo Reflection 6-8 laminated A4 photos What do these images say to you about ‘poverty’ Write a post it note response Maybe a think global act local, a prayer [stick on the wall]

3. Mural Projected on the wall The data projector image is on a bed sheet/calico Punters use fabric textas or ??? to draw what’s projected and colour in but to add comments, signature, commitments, or questions, prayers

4. Bible Passages/Snippets on canvas Writing about the ‘values’ of the Kingdom of God And how we/you might live them out…. On the canvass

5. Make Poverty History Have some $2 MPH bracelets plus photo frame scrolling images

Have fairtrade chocolate there for people to eat while they reflect on what you could do to think global act local e.g. 40hr Famine> Donate old clothes> Buy copies of Big Issue Simply Sharing Week> Lent Event> Fairtrade> soup kitchen etc

We finished with a glimpse of a world celebrating change and equality through "Dancing" Matt Harding clip

New Scooter Ramp Over the Back Steps

U2 Presale

So, I have purchased my tix to U2 in Sydney through the fanclub presale!!

Sorry I wasn't able to call around and help people join in... the fanclub is limited numbers... I have a second code that might help someone if you meant to contact me... it's all happened really quickly... either way public tix 3rd September!!

Now, like many of my friends I am horrified at the prices and Ticketek's $18 fee!!!! robbery!!

I know the RED Zone is for charity BUT $400+???

My seats are 'nosebleed' 610 area and aren't cheap... I might go 'standing' for Saturday or Sunday when announced if I'm gonna be in Sydney for work!! I hope the 'Claw' works because I didn't like their last Tour show... stage was too low and made it hard to look over lighting and peoples heads!!

So, this is my last stab... if they keep doing stadiums and it sucks then that's it for me!! If they do indoors I'll be there on a zimmer frame!!

Blake Prize for Religious Art 2010

I read in the weekend papers that Chris O'Doherty aka Reg Mombassa has entered an artwork for this years prize [it's not a new work so I'll check this story but for now here it is!

The Blake Prize is an innovative prize themed around religion & spirituality and check it out here

"Lungs" Florence and the Machine

This is an amazing album of thoughtful and catchy tunes which all evoke images of alt.worship experiences right from the first listen. It's emotional, deep and inspired!!

Part Tori Amos, ENYA and yet modern in sound, the welsh lilt creates a transcendent mood!!

I look forward to developing some experiences around several of the tracks

U2360 in Oz Stay tuned...

Maybe even todays Sunday papers will have a story....

http://www.atu2.com/news/u2-360-headed-down-under.html

http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/U2360

It's likely Ticketek will handle Sydney....

Row M Seat 30 "Scott Pilgrim v the World"

SPOILER ALERT!!
'Scott Pilgrim' comes from a 6 part series of comics drawn by Canadian Brian Lee O'Malley and the movie is poignantly and artistically great fun!! Rolling Stone magazine calls it a 'game changer' as it picks up on the arcade game motif of the film and gives us a story of a young man who is still getting over a tough break up as he dates a high schooler but falls for a girl he both sees in his dreams but finds in real life at a party!! Michael Cera is great casting in a film with a grainy independent feel and a fantasy story of adolescence/youth and relationships. I was also struck by the complete absence of adults in the film and story.
The young cast do a great job and bring their comic book personas alive with echoes of 'KIck A@%s' and also 'Juno.'The film is about the power of making the 'unselfish' choice! The premise of Scott Pilgrim having to defeat Ramona's seven evil exes sets up some fun gaming action and quirky dialogue. Music plays a key role in the storytelling which is a bit jumbled at various points!!
Some of your ecclectic young people will be checking it out and loving it!!

First Effort at a Promo Video for Our Summer/Winter Camps

Thoughtful about Work and Leadership!!

I was reminded in recent days of a few instances of seeking to collaborate with various leaders, keen brainstormers and/or colleagues from around various networks....

The instances I was reminded of roughly follow the line that a group has been invited to come together willingly to dream, plan or think out a future for some event or program and after some 'small talk' and an opening reflection the question framing our discussion is.... 'if you were part of the organising group for a Camp focused on high schoolers, running for 5 days annually around the winter time.... what would you plan, include, ask, wonder....?

On the ocassions I'm thinking of.... someone in the initial hubub... usually says "what, you mean do your job for you??????"

As a person working in the state and territory wide sphere of the Uniting Church this indicates what an unhelpful view some people have of such roles.... it's your job to do all this stuff!!

So while I could easily acknowledge:

If you don't do everything by collaboration it takes getting used to

The invitation may not have been clear

There is a real skill to igniting people's enthusiasm for plans and ideas...

But essentially, I'm wanting to advocate for and encourage and continue to embrace collective efforts... to ask people for their ideas... and to seek the gifts and skills of younger people whose voices are so often unheard in the church!!

My leadership style is to be an encourager, to try to create spaces for people to exercise their leadership and to run interference for them, to encourage good ideas and to listen hard. On top of this I have learnt more and more over the years about what does and doesn't need to happen in ministry with young people and how marginalised people would prefer us to be... the prophetic voice, the agitator for change and anyone genuinely wanting space, permission and validity for young people will eventually be 'banging their head against the wall.' It's really just a matter of how hard.... collaboration could break that down and be a force to knock over some walls!!

Quade Cooper!!

I guess the caption should be "phew, glad to see you're here!!" at the Wallabies Coogee base for training ahead of the [2] Tests at altitude coming up!!
I wasn't going to waste any blog space on Quade Cooper's reported offer from the Parramatta Eels to switch to Rugby League!! It's contract time and his manager is up-ing the ante on an offer from the Australian Rugby Union... however the Eels are silly enough to sound like they believe he's really interested... If he is then he hasn't really matured as much as it appeared.

Cooper was a schoolboy prodigy, has great skills BUT hasn't done anything in Rugby yet... hasn't even played the All Blacks!! If he's holding out for more ARU top up money then I hope they bill him for all the help they gave during his drunken robbery and then his driving offence!!

He's asking top dollar just when contracts are being reigned in with incentives boosting players earnings... just how it should be in a changeover time!!

Anyhow.... we need him so I hope it's all bluster and is resolved within the week!! South Africa here we come!!

"Curating Worship" by Jonny Baker

Inspired by the same conversation/presentation with Mark Pierson as many others of us, Jonny Baker has continued to play with the idea of worship envisaging, planning & leadership [in it's broadest sense] as being like the other uses of the term 'Curator'!!

This book is in part an exploration of that idea and then also a series of interviews/chapters from a range of practitioners!!

Steve Taylor has beaten me to the punch with a review which you can read here

Salt [Factory] small missional community

Salt [Factory] has it's own blog, Facebook space etc...

wwwsaltfactory.blogpot.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Salt-Factory/128427730504079?ref=ts

But we've had some struggles in getting a handle on who we can be and how... !!

A big part of that is me needing to give organising the time it needs...

To this end I have [2] events in mind for our next scheduled gatherings... a food and discussion night where I am hoping to book a room at 'The Joy Cummings Centre' for us to meet... because I think we will best discover all we need to know by getting on with it... modelling options, ideas etc and inviting all those who've expressed an interest but haven't all made it along yet!!

Then a movie night with [2] options to explore further... either...

'Tomorrow When the War Began' or 'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps' plus unpacking discussion... stay tune for promo material...