I had been thinking about blogging on “Up in the Air” which I enjoyed a great deal (not surprising, since it was created by the same man who did two other favourites, “Thank you for Smoking” and “Juno”). There’s lots of great themes in the movie: the nature of relationships, our reason for being, the question of what is happiness & can it ever exist consistently?

Instead I decided I wanted to ask a question.

This is possibly a very stupid idea, given that my readership is maybe 5ish…

My question, for all 5 of you is “Why do you go and see movies? To turn your brain on or to turn it off?”

I know a number of people who only want to go to movies if they can guarantee at least one explosion every 10 minutes. They need action, adventure & possibly some gratuitous violence.

I on the other hand love a movie that causes me to think. I want to know what I would do in any given situation, or whether or not I agree with the philosophical presuppositions that the main character holds. Is their moral viewpoint logically consistent? Even better, does some activity in the movie cause me to ask whether I am morally or ethically consistent?

Even something like Avatar has levels to consider. Are we a culture that is getting caught up in nature worship? Is a technological societie’s ability to dominate a weaker (if more ecologically friendly) society just reflect the same kind of relationship we see in nature between, say, the Lion and its prey?

Even when a movie doesn’t ask a deep moral question, I still prefer the “Brain turned on” movies. Something that is dialogue driven, that keeps you thinking, that distorts one’s perception of time or space… It’s nice to inhabit a reality that is profoundly not mine, yet stretches my understanding of my own reality.

What gets you going in a good movie?

For mine, there are two reasons why I happily baptised my baby (actually, there are lots, but these are two big ones)

Firstly, I would say I am an advocate of the normative principle over the regulative principle. That is to say, if the Bible doesn’t prohibit something, generally I might be comfortable in doing it. The Bible doesn’t cover what it means to baptise children, and I think it is a reasonable thing to do, so away I go.

Secondly, I think there is a sense of community that we see in the Bible that we have lost in the modern day world. In the first instance you have the patriarchs of families declaring their whole family Christian & then being baptised in the Bible. Secondly, there is an expectation that the children of a person will be brought up in the tradition of their parents. Baptism for me is an expression that the child is mine, will be brought up as a Christian. Pumpkin may make a decision to go another way when she is an adult, but that is no different than any other adult who has been baptised who then choose another path.

Of course, it is also a tradition of the Anglican church & has been a traditional practice of the church as a whole for at least a millenium & most likely a fair bit more!

Anyway, I know most of my readers are more interested in the pictures (if you haven’t already seen them on facebook) so here they are!

Here we are making promises about our faith & how we intend to bring up our bub. From left to right it is Matty, Simone, Rosemary, Me, Shona & the Pumpkin.

Splash and Dash? I’d be just as happy with full emersion. Happy to baptise this way too!

Here is the pumpkin about to open a present from her Aunty Bec.

I was really happy with this pic, but have to admit that it was a fluke to have her face reflected in the bowl.

Pumpkin’s concentration on her very first sugary delight is topped only by her enthusiasm in the following picture.

A passion is born! I hope she follows in her father’s footsteps, falling in love with photography. I’ll be happy if she doesn’t inherit my sweet tooth though…

There was that big race to see which star could manage to get a million followers, a million people who wanted to know all about how much BBQ sauce they put on their steak, how long the queue was at the bank or any other kind of mindless minutiae from their lives.

I’ve always preferred actual blogs for that reason. People usually think a little more about what they’re saying and you have a delightful insight, not just into their preference in condiments, but into all those things that are important in their lives.

It was some of famous bloggers that got me interested in being online. It’s endlessly fascinating to see how the life of Wil Wheaton, has changed and grown since his early days as Wesley Crusher and Gordie Lachance)

For all of my hopes, gaining an insight into the lives of the rich and famous, I never thought I would get the chance to read a blog by the great Thomas Cranmer.

Apparently being burned at the stake in 1556 wasn’t enough to keep him down, and now he has lots of spare time to comment on politics and theology. According to Dan (who passed the link on to me) he even has an email conversation with Richard Dawkins!

Will the wonders of the internet ever end?

Hobbes: I think our actions SHOW what’s in our hearts…

Calvin: (after a moment’s contemplation) I resent that!!!

I love so much about the cartoon. I own a bunch of the collections & I re-read them every year or so. In particular, I like the fact that Bill Watterson engages with big questions about the nature of existence, art & theology. For example, the dialogue above (Watterson was quite outspoken about his thoughts on merchandising & copyright, so I won’t breach by posting the actual cartoon) really cuts to the heart of human nature!

We like to think we are good. People generally appeal to “the good inside,” but really, when you look at our actions nationally, and personally, one realises that we really are quite immoral people.

I guess it’s symmetrical to see Calvin the cartoon actually supporting his namesake’s theological viewpoint!

It made me wonder, would you want to be a part of a disorganised one?

Is your kid the bully? (She towers over other kids her age.. so it’s a legitimate fear.)

Will she just scream for 8 or so hours? (She DEFINiTELY has a good set of lungs!)

All of our fears came to nought. She forgot us before we had even left & then she played happily with other kids, charmed all of the workers & slept…. like a baby!

That has meant that I have been able to let go of that concern & worry about other things.

Fun things to worry about… like when my package of American foods will arrive?

The moral to the story is “don’t get into late night conversations with your sister on Skype, or you’re likely to buy almost anything!”

I got some cinnamon chocolate chips for her, while I got some liquid smoke (to go in “Not Quite Nigella’s ‘Bacon Jam’”), but I also had to make up a minimum purchase price, so a bottle of Habanero chili sauce, and a Dr. Pepper flavoured Lip Smacker had to be included too!

The sauce… yeah, it’s hot. And the lip balm tastes great! As for the Bacon Jam, that is coming soon (and don’t worry Al, you’ll get some sent to you… even if I don’t recieve a CD of sermons… ;) )

So there you go. It’s been a fun time for sending children out & getting packages in! I have received one or two other things, but they will get their own posts later! Meanwhile, here are a couple more pics…

Shona did a good job of hiding the fear in her eyes!

This is what it’s all about!

I’m over this cold!

One preacher in particular is currently in Haiti. He’s reporting on what he is doing there & on the devastation and needs that he sees during his time.

It’s been interesting to see his perspective, but I have to ask the question (who knows, maybe unfairly?) “Why did he go there in the first place?”

I wonder which option would have been for the greater good for people, to go himself, or to give up his spot for an extra doctor or aid worker?

Of course, there are two sides to the scenario.

On one side, by virtue of the fact that thousands of people follow him on facebook & millions of people listen to his online sermons, maybe he is opening up a whole new opportunity for people to be informed, for people to be inspired & for people to make donations that will help the haitian people.

On the other side, he could have reported all of this from home, while people who were more skilled in the area of disaster relief were able to make a physical difference in the lives of people that are suffering? COuld he not have had greater ability to mobilise people from home? Is it a sense of vain glory that says that he, personally, need to be there to make a difference?

Or am I being too harsh? Maybe this man has identified a greater need, and that is for people who are suffering tremendously to know the God who promises that those people who trust in Him have the sure hope of a future that has no weeping, loss or death?

What do you think? Should high profile people go to disaster areas, or send more “useful” people?

Wise words from Mark Dever in his book (my latest read) “The Gospel and personal evangelism”

Case in Point.

How did this fascinating little burger, chicken & pizza places come into being?

The name of the genre announces the need that has been perceived. People want food & they want it fast. “What if I don’t have 2 hours to cook anymore, because both parents work & the kids get too hungry?” Well now you can stop off on the way home & three minutes later you have a meal for the whole fam!

expeditious service was the perceived need & fast food was the answer.

BUT

In the last 5 or so years we have seen a subtle change.

As a culture we’re becoming more refined. As a byproduct of having so many options in life, expediency now has to compete with the question of quality!

There is an option that can meet my timing needs, but how do I know that I am getting the best possible product? Here our friends in the fast food industry heard the cry & they responded with verve!

Have you noticed that now, when you go into most fast food places they cry out “Made fresh to order!” Joe consumer is happy to wait for a couple of minutes if it means that they (can feel like they) are getting the best quality product.

Add to that the secondary strategy of creating “Gourmet Options” so that the consumer feels like they can chase the expedient meal & still get something “a little bit fancy.” (The SMH wrote a great article on the genius of this idea.)

One can’t help but wonder whether or not we, the consumer, approach the spiritual world like we do the culinary world?

For mine, I suspect our greater interest is in expediency rather than quality. The question being asked is “What can give me a sense of well being without impinging on the business that is the rest of my life?”

So much of the “New Spirituality” for mine, is about spiritualising day to day parts of life, not so that we might consider the profound philosophical or spiritual truths that sit at the foundation of our decision making processes, but so that we can feel like we have had an easily digestible fix that allows us to go back to the more important things like…. me.

But expedience should always be the subordinate value.

A commitment to the Christian walk takes time. Once you have ticked off Sunday mornings, the healthy Christian is most likely also looking at a mid-week bible study, possibly a camp once a year, or (OR CMS Summer School if you are keen), there are all kinds of other church ministries, and of course there is private time for Bible reading & prayer.

Being a Christian is certainly not the expedient option, but it does appeal to the great value, being that it is actually good for you!

What we find in the message of the Jesus’ death and resurrection is not just an easy option in fancy packaging, but we have an offer that God has been preparing since the dawn of time! When Christ calls his disciples to take part in communion, he is offering a meal that satisfies in a way that nothing on earth ever will.

Couldn’t we all learn from those shrewd fast foodies, which are the superior & which the subordinate values….

John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

To be honest the acccommodation wasn’t that special anyway. It was a fairly dirty & very simple cabin at the bottom of the Megalong Valley.

That said, it was roomy, and the views of the cliffs were pretty fantastic, so I really don’t have a great deal to complain about.

Added to that, the drive out of the valley up to Katoomba was a real highlight every day.

The winding roads were just lovely, filled with dense rainforest and flanked by golden sandstone. Most days we would emerge from our own little world into the thick fog of the mountain tops, souping our way through to our destination.

CMS Summer school is fantastic.

Mike Raiter was a warm & engaging speaker and the Missionaries from around the world were honest & challenging. When one can feel like one’s own ministry is so difficult, it is a new thing to meet someone who can’t even tell you the country they are serving in for fear of persecution!

I took lots of notes. I went to a number of the seminars, and I bought a couple of books while I was up there.

Of course, it didn’t hurt that we found a pub that had Leffe on tap, nor that we had Dan & Harriet, our good friends & diocesan buddies staying next door & sharing the cooking! It also helped being able to put the Pumpkin into creche & enjoy a little time for Shona & I to be adults listening to a sermon.

I’m excited at the prospect of doing the same thing each year for the next 20 or so. To let Pumpkin grow up through the different kids programmes, to listen to stories as the people we watched prepare for ministry come back on furlough.

Who knows, maybe we might even head to summer school one year as we prepare to head out on our own missionary journey?

Like I said, it’s a good programme….

I am committed to blogging regularly this year, but since I am at CMS Summer School over the next week, I don’t anticipate having internet access there. I’ll work on something special for you all!

Write me a comment while I’m gone, so I feel loved when I get back!

I remember some time ago on Al Bain’s blog, he posted a link to a Bible reading plan that he had, with the intention of smashing through the book methodically over a year.

(Here’s the one we’re giving a try)

Now I am not generally a “New Years resolution” type person, but since most of these reading plans start at the beginning of the year, I thought it would be a good thing for Shona & I to embark on.

It does always ask the question though. How does one differentiate between building a habit that might be hard at first, but you know is valuable and worthwhile, and being pharisaical in your observance of Bible reading?

For mine, I think people in the Christian world that I have observed jump quite quickly to say that anything that you have to work really hard at enforcing (that is, something that you don’t always do with an open, excited, free heart) is somehow like following the Pharisees, robbing an act of it’s joy and value.

My view is that most things of any real import take a fair bit of work. Owning a house takes 25 years or more of hard saving, gaining a wife takes months or years of hiding all of your foibles (I joke… no really I do!), should we expect that building a personal culture that sees one saturated in God’s word is something that should always be attended joyfully?

Accepting, as I do, the fact that people tend toward sin just as often as good behaviour, I think it natural that my sinful self might balk at putting the time and effort into reading the Bible, even thought I know how good it makes me feel when I am centred for the day, or I am contemplating healthy things.

I feel like I really understand Paul in Romans 7 when he says:

Rom. 7:14    We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.

So we start with our new reading schedule. So far one day down, 364 to go.

In other news (well, at least one degree of separation) starting new habits is easier to do when you can start in style. I decided that since we were in bed by 11 something last night, I would start my first night of the year in style. It started with a movie (maybe I will blog about it tomorrow) and it ended with reading my bible (surprise, surprise) and drinking a fine belgian beer!

It’s a rare indulgence, but an enjoyable one!

Al, if you’re reading, I would love to see the Bible reading chart that you had. I quite like this one, but I am not completely tied to it yet…

Do you think as a people we have lost our appreciation of blurry edges?

I think society finds itself trapped between modernist scientific expectations and a desire to embrace some kind of post-modern spirituality that is impossible to delineate.

We want straight lines, clear boundaries and obvious start-finish points.

We like much of our lives to be like our TV recorders. Half-hour slots, trim off the excess and keep it neat.

What am I going to do? When am I going to do it? How long will it take?

But there’s that still small voice that speaks to us in a place deep inside that we tend to call the heart.

It’s a voice that tells us that life isn’t like that.

The world is bigger than we can understand. So many of those things that we compartmentalise are only able to fit in their boxes because we demean and diminish them as we do so.

We know that our ability to ask the question tells us that there is more to life that its taxonomy, and it scares us!

There are those who found it tough in Bible College that we couldn’t always get our finger firmly on the pulse of God’s message at all times. Why can’t we dissect and digest Him? I thank God that I’ve come to grips with some of the fuzzy edges. When it comes to what needs to be in focus, I’m confident that God is crystal clear. Romans 10:9 tells us

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved

So sometimes, when I find myself in unfamiliar territory, I can work hard to make sure that my lack of understanding is not ignorance, but otherwise, I can just enjoy the pleasant blur that comes with being out of focus, confident that He in whom I trust sees me as clear as day.