On retreat

One of the prerequisites of working in this diocese is having to go on retreat once a year.

I don’t like being away from the wife & kids for four nights in arrow, but I have to say, I do like the opportunity to have a week without a big agenda (apart from doing church 4!times a day…).

Time to think deeply about important things. Time to read books. I’d say that there is time to chat to your peers, but it’s a silent retreat, so there isn’t even dinner time conversation (incidentally, despite the expectation of many, I really enjoy silent retreats. Reading Stuart Coulton’s “Hitting thenHoly Road has been fitting, as he speaks of monasticism, and I feel like I’ve taken a vow of silence).

I’ve allowed myself just a little time to mention why I’ll be a bit quiet this week, then I might even have some time away from the Internet!

On Micro Machines

I owned Micro Machines when I was a kid. Those things were awesome.

This is pretty cool.

<p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/64585891″>Micro Mayhem!</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/user3543932″>Stoopid Buddy Stoodios</a> on <a href=”http://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>

What to do with the movies and music?

An oldie but a goodie.

As they get older, I want to open my kids to a broader range of music.

Also, as I get older, I find myself enjoying the reminiscence that comes with pulling out those CDs I bought when I was half the age I am now.

But I’m a different guy.

I still love old school rap, and it’s not all foul mouthed…. but a fair bit of it is. I don’t love the music because of the words, but that doesn’t change the fact that a fair few of them are dodgy.

Would I be happy for my kids to hear everything I own? Would I be happy if I heard them singing along to some of the stuff? If I decide that I’m going to throw out the music that is particularly rude (there goes Rage Against the Machine’s Killing in the name…) does this mean I also have to revisit my DVDs? I really like Pulp Fiction!

Or is it important to acknowledge that these elements that we don’t like are still part of the world that we live in, and that part of becoming a discerning individual is learning what to focus on, and what to ignore with our ears?

It looks like PE can step out of the cross hairs for the moment. No rash judgements…. but no promises either.

Weeeeeeeee

Another little triptych from the weekend (thanks to my wonderful wife for the photos). They’re just getting to the age where they’re a little more robust!

Pumpkin’s B’day

OK, so it took me a week, but I’ve made it.

Pumpkin has turned 4, and that meant a trip to the zoo, as we do with each birthday! You’d think it would get boring, but you’d be wrong. Being “Zoo Friends” has been awesome. It means we can go for as little or as much time as we’d like without feeling like we have to get our money’s worth out of the trip like we would if we paid what you have to for an individual visit to the zoo. Some times we see a lot of stuff, others we visit just a little. Having the twins with us at the moment, we tend to keep the visits fairly short.

Here’s a couple of pics from the day.

goofing around in the sky train.

Don't think too hard about being 20 meters above the ground in the "sky train" (gondola) — Don’t think too hard about being 20 meters above the ground in the “sky train” (gondola)

I think I have a picture of me with these Fennec Fox ears!

You have to get one of these pics each time right?

Spoiled! (What are birthdays for?) — Spoiled! (what are birthdays for?)

We also got to enjoy some birthday celebrations a couple of days early with some cake & fun at home.

The week leading up to Pumpkin's birthday contained special surprises, like this day's breakfast in bed! — The week leading up to Pumpkin’s birthday contained special surprises, like this day’s breakfast in bed!

You can have all kinds of great presents etc. and the favourite will be a $2 PEZ dispenser that was a last minute extra when you didn't use it for something else. — You can have all kinds of great presents etc. and the favourite will be a $2 PEZ dispenser that was a last minute extra when you didn’t use it for something else.

I bet you already knew that I didn't make that cake. (I have a very talented wife!) — No one’s foolish enough to think I made that cake. (I have a very talented wife!)

So there you go.

We now have a four year old…. and thankfully 6 months before we have to worry about the next (nuclear) family birthday. But I can plan for two sibs in the next week!

Like a chook…

There are pictures to come from my chocolate making course, and also from Pumpkin’s birthday visit to the zoo.

I just have to find the time.

I preached 5 different sermons last week, and it’s looking like another busy one this week! I’ll take the bosses Wed morning service, speak at a dawn service on ANZAC day, then my usual Sunday.

Don’t worry… pics etc. will come.

Security

This is the advertisement for a local Funeral Company.

I feel a little confused…

It’s about a funeral. What is the future you’re securing?

Is it that you’re securing the future of your kids/family by making sure that they don’t have to bear the financial burden of a very expensive funeral?

Is it that you’re securing the future that you want in terms of being cremated, or buried, or being in a particular casket, or a particular graveyard?

Is it that you can feel secure that there is one thing you don’t have to worry about in the future?

Don’t get me wrong. I think preparing for this future inevitability is a wise and thoughtful thing for people to do. But is this the way to sell it? I guess it seems to me that if you’re looking for security when approaching the reality of death and the ceremonies that go with it, the best place to go would be the author of life and Lord of all creation.

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

“Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

–1 Corinthians 15:54-57