Twitter has been a real phenomenon for many people.

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](http://wilwheaton.typepad.com/), has changed and grown since his early days as [Wesley Crusher](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Crusher) and [Gordie Lachance](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand_by_Me_(film))
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.](http://archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.com/)

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?

*Calvin:* Hobbes, do you think our morality is defined by our actions, or what’s in our hearts?
*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](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Calvin) theological viewpoint!

I was reading a blog the other day & the writer had made the statement that she could “never be a part of an organised religion.”
It made me wonder, would you want to be a part of a disorganised one?

So, it’s a big day when your first child spends their first day at daycare. It’s not that we haven’t been away from “the Pumpkin.” It’s just that when one of us has been away, the other has been there to report, or at worst one of our mums has been there!

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'”](http://www.notquitenigella.com/2009/10/08/bacon-jam-your-wildest-dreams-come-true/)), 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 may attempt preaching without a voice tomorrow morning…..

I’m over this cold!

I happen to get facebook updates of certain high-profile American preachers.

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?

> As startling as it may be to those who think this way, the biblical gospel is not fundamentally about our love or our power. To be a Christian is not merely to live in love, or to live by the power of positive thinking, or to do anything that we can do ourselves. The gospel calls for a more radical response than any of these things allow for. The gospel, you see, is not simply an additive that comes to make our already good lives better. No! The gospel is a message of wonderful good news that comes to those who realise their just desperation before God.

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

It’s probably quite wrong that I spend so much time pondering the nature of fast food, but really, I think think they are one of the biggest cultural icons the modern world has! It’s interesting how subtle changes in the way that they do things can say something much bigger about our society.

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](http://www.smh.com.au/business/bull-and-burgers-mincing-their-words-20091230-lj7a.html) 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](http://www.cms.org.au/nswsummerschool) 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

I always intend to take pictures of my actual accommodation, but I rarely do.

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](http://www.bcv.vic.edu.au/AboutBCV/FacultyandStaff.aspx) 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….

Don’t fear people.

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!