Just Pray

Watch out for this subversive Christian propaganda at your local cinema in the UK [oh wait, that's OK, it's been banned]. Fascinating story to see how it unfolds...

"Sometimes" Midnight Oil

One more for your Saturday morning!!

"The Golden Age" a theme song

Here's one track for Jacaranda season in Oz!!

"Golden Age"

All the screens are filled with heroes and losers
but the sky's still filled with stars
this junky palace might be on fire
til the winners lose desire
let it go let it go.

So tell me what you see
tell me what you hear
if it's the same as me it's the golden age.

Big brother tries to stitch and bend
but channel surfers find new friends
see freedom's silhouette increase
its time to claim that sweet release
let it go let it go.

I can see a purple patch of jacaranda
framed in eucalypt from this wooden floored verandah
heading past the watermark
heading for the hills
heading for the edge of time
heading for the thrills of the golden age.

Now tell me what you see
and tell me what you hear
if it's the same as me it's the golden age.

Now everybody's talking about the golden age.

Video Highlight from Gruen last night on Oz ABC TV

I saw this on Foxtel a few weeks back I think but it was the outstanding story on Gruen last night...

There's more unpacking and decorating to do But it's a start, the gear is in the room!!

Brilliant afternoon at Adamstown UCA yesterday for the launch of this clever and 'bang on' project of writing accessible Australian Carols for Christmas!! There are only some settings where using "Who's Gonna Make the Gravy" and "White Wine in the Sun" find a place and Paul Kelly's "It Must Be Christmas Tonight" now has some wonderful companion tunes and lyrics, especially for ALL ages...
The Launch was great and the resources include Kids Craft templates and ideas!! It was fantastic to be at an event where the early activity was designed so adults had to wait for kids to enjoy their participation first!! You can request a CD and Songbook and also download the whole resource here amongst Heather's other great music!!
Well done Alison Davies and Heather Price and collaborators!!

All Blacks RWC 2015 Winners

Well done All Blacks!!
Too good at the contests when it mattered...
So proud of the Wallabies efforts and threat but they just couldn't maintain the ball when they got back into the game...

I see people carrying on about the Carter field goal but that was a symbol of the Wallabies not conceding the 3 points through a penalty or not bending in that set of phases to concede a try...

Dropped balls late when the Wallabies were searching for that line break were credit to the All Blacks but the missed All Black knock on then forward pass did change the shape of the game allowing the All Blacks to set the tempo and play their field position style...

Deserved winners, but a disappointed fan!!
It's taken a long time for the ABs to correct the record from the years of trying to dismiss the World Cup as 'not all that'...

New Zealand Coach Steve Hansen's as ever measured common sense

Rugby World Cup Final v The All Blacks

Nothing to worry about!!

"In Conversation with Peter Garrett"

Thursday night's 'Newcastle Writers Festival' event at City Hall...

"Hello" Adele

From her new upcoming album due approx both November... great Welsh depth and tone, emotions and evocative images... I think she said it was her 'make up' album this time...

Storybooks

Here are the first 'spoils' from a generous leaving gift from the Upper Hunter UCAs!!
More to follow and a couple of other resources too...

Poetic as I know many wondered 'why' these stories... simple really though, they are thematically related, draw in little who won't get the central story anyhow, are not for every week and take seriously that they are stories, not just kids stories!! That's where I come from anyhow!!

Take these examples:
Rules of Summer'how things are and work' and whether the rules hold or what happens if you live them upside down
'Noah Dreary' about being happy, relationships, hopes and stuff that happens in life, like many characters we read
'Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley'about friendship, authenticity and difference
'To This Day' Shane Koyczan translating his performance poem into a book for older youth about bullying
...'Zacchaeus' anyone?

Gruen Gold on the ABC Tonight

Peter Garrett on Sunday

Hovis Bread " Don't Get Stuck Inside

Hovis Bread "As Good As It's Ever Been"

"Big Blue Sky" Peter Garrett

Catch Peter Garrett's 'Lateline' interview here
Looking forward to reading the whole book...

Going Off Early with Movies 2015

I know it's been a long year for me so far... very busy... so busy my movie viewing took a huge dive, especially at the cinema!! Here's the films I enjoyed this year from a list of about 15+ only, which is about half my average at best... I think it also speaks to the paucity of good films... I have yet to see Pixels, Oddball, Pan or the Martian so I will up mu figures in the next three weeks. I did finally see al of 'Charlie's Country' which is an important story and so simply and well told...

In no particular order'Selma' tough going but important to know the story

'Kingsman: The Secret Service' weirdly entertaining

'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' I put this off for ages and wasn't disappointed

'The Avengers: Age of Ultron' well I won't stop seeing them but they have to get some edge

'Spy' good for a laugh

'Mad Max: Fury Road' not for everyone and clunky in parts but I watched it twice

'Pitch Perfect 2' redeemed only by the final performance

'Inside Out' it was great and is a good film for any kids

'While We’re Young' It could have been such  good film and I see what they tried but didn't quite do

'Boy Choir'  still trying to work out why I liked it but it made me angry at the same time

'Terminator Genysis' mixture of the good and the bad

'Ant Man' why did this film get made again?

'Mission Impossible Rogue Nation' As good and as schlocky as ever

'The Man From Uncle' loved it though it did spend a whole film setting up 2-3 more films
I can now add 'The Martian' which I felt I shouldn't like but really did

There might be something really good that I missed but I suspect the top two in my list will end up being seen in coming weeks/months 'Hunger Games: Mockingly Pt2' and 'Star Wars VII: Force Awakens'

"Meet the Mob" UP LATE

   I am sooo excited to be heading along to "Meet the Mob" Uplate next Thursday 16th October thanks to ABC Newcastle 1233 Radio and Jill Emberson who has been doing these brilliant interviews with local indigenous people sharing their amazing stories. This will be a chance to meet some of the featured 'mob', hear some music and just enjoy the night!! Will have to work out who might enjoy coming along for the ride...

So Much Entertainment So Little Time!!

"Matilda" onstage by the brilliant Tim Minchin
Peter Garrett 'in conversation' launching his memoir
Taylor Swift at Homebush [great lyricist in her non boyfriend songs as shown by Ryan Adams]

Not a 'bad' list I guess... BUT...

What do you do if your 'partner in crime' isn't keen to head to Sydney to catch Stephen Fry OR could think of nothing worse that the vineyards on a hot humid day when Paul Kelly and his Merri Soul Sessions are in town, so you don't have a ticket and therefore so far haven't made the time for either?

Just some of the outstanding offerings that won't make the schedule I fear...

A few tasks to go but reason to be preparing well at the same time

Morisset Uniting Church

All my family, friends and colleagues are invited to my 'Induction' as Minister of the Word with the congregation at Morisset Uniting Church!!

7.30pm Friday 13th November
Morisset Uniting Church 10 Stockton St, Morisset

"Community, National, Global Reflection 2015

Just a reflection from an Upper Hunter perspective on community, national and global happenings to remind us of the exploration of where God might be active in the community

William Webb Ellis

Tony 'Indiana Jones' Abbott

"Activewear"

   I have a theory in my 'listening and observing the community' that's so vital to my vocation. If I see different young people wearing something newly random three times in a short space of time, then it may be the latest trend. e.g. bucket hats, flat brimmed snapbacks, sling bags and so on... same goes for music, food fads etc
   One such example was me asking an astute friend [maybe about 3+ years ago] what they had noticed and the response was emphatic... lots of women had been walking around the Uni, attending lectures etc in their gym clothes [activewear]!! Spot on as the trend exploded, with Lorna Jane etc
   Today, my best researcher found this clip [thanks also news ltd]... here's a celebration of this fashion phenomenon!! Gold!!

Uniting Justice Press Release

Read Uniting Justice Press Release about the Government Response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis here

"Dangerous Conversations" October 30th to November 1st

"Amazing Grace" Gurrumul and Paul Kelly

"Stuck" by Oliver Jeffers