Eliot and the band did a fantastic rendition of Coldplays song, “Talk” on Sunday. I was suprised that a couple of musicians in the band dont like Coldplay. Who doesn’t like Coldplay? They thought it was repetitive and that the band lacked credibility.
I encouraged them to look at the song itself, and judge that on its merits, apart from the band.

Oh brother I can’t, I can’t get through I’ve been trying hard to reach you,
cause I don’t know what to do Oh brother I can’t believe it’s true I’m so scared
about the future and I wanna talk to you Oh I wanna talk to you
Are you lost or incomplete? Do you feel like a puzzle, you can’t find your
missing piece? Tell me how do you feel? Well I feel like they’re talking in a
language I don’t speak And they’re talking it to me
(Selection from song)

It was a good finish to my message on loving others, having a distinct love.
One of the things we fail to do as humans is address conflict well. Conflict comes in may shapes, be it unsaid statements, little gripes, looks of despair or even disgust.
At some point we need to adress these things, otherwise they fester and eat us up.
What does this have to do with love?
Truly loving action is saying what needs to be said quickly, keeping short accounts. Being honest and humble with each other.

One key for me is to think it through carefully first, think about what you are going to say, how you are going to say, even the facial expression and body language you are going to use.
How is what you say going to communicate love and truth? The two are not mutually exclusive, and at the end of the day, love and the relationship with people is more important.

We have moved into our new house!
After having bought it just before Christmas, it seems strange now to have finally moved in.

The owners have moved out,
the floors have been polished, and finally the bathroom is complete.
A HUGE HUGE thank you to Jennifer, Quentin, Jeff, Jason, Rowan, Holly, Nat, Scott and Sandra (the doughnuts were great!) for all the wonderful help moving in.

The computer and study is set up, most important room in the house for me, and the kids room looks fantastic.

I am walking to church tommorow!! Walking!!!!!

Praise God for His excellent kindness and provision to us. THANKS GOD!!

No, not that John, a far more important leader here in WA.

Nine MSN Article

West Coast AFL coach John Worsfold has been forced to issue an apology to
Perth’s media representatives, after using the term
”
” during an angry exchange at Subiaco Oval on Wednesday.
“I am deeply sorry for any hurt or anguish I have caused anyone through my
statement,” Worsfold said.
“It was an extremely poor choice of words and
something I truly regret.
“It was a spur of the moment reaction, but that in
no way justifies the terminology I used.”

Well done John. That is a good statement.

In preparation for my second message in the series, “What Jesus said that changed the world” I came across a discussion and quote from Keirkegaard. I am speaking on, “love one another, by this the world will know that you are my disciples.

“Worldly love thrives on distinctions. Some want to love only the rich and powerful. Others, in the name of justice, scorn the rich and powerful, and say that only the poor and needy should be loved. Kierkegaard thinks that the Christian understands such distinctions, and does not think that one can abolish all such distinctions and establish a utopia of strict human equality. The Christian does care about injustice and rejoices that such evils as slavery have been abolished. Nevertheless, the Christian does not expect that strict equality with respect to worldly distinctions can ever be achieved. The Christian is then required to have the ability to look beyond and around all such worldly differences, to refuse to allow them to distract from the task of loving the neighbor. The rich must love the poor and the poor the rich, though what is required by love may of course be different for each. Fundamentally, love is a capacity to care for the well-being of the other and to do what one can for the other’s good, whether that be much or little in an external sense. The greatest good I can do for my neighbor is to help my neighbor become more loving! ” Kierkegaard’s Christian Ethics of Love by C. Stephen Evans

I want to be known as one of His disciples. It is not easy to love people I dont like.

Did you catch Channel Nines news last night? Worsfold’s neck vein looked like it was about to pop out and strangle someone.

His comments were certainly innapropriate, but obviously not designed to be public. It is unfortunate that they were captured on film, but perhaps more unfortunate that he chose to say them. Another example of the scrutiny the West Coast are under at the moment.
I walk past a number of people with various disabilties, including Celebral Palsy, on my way to my seat at the footy. I am sure there are a number of folk with similar disabilities that are members and go to West Coast games as well. Poor choice of words John. STORY

It seems “The West Australians” love affair with everything Blue and Gold is well and truly over, as is the Eagles strangehold and control over the print media.
I do think the front page of The West is a little over the top, but you cant deny the facts either.
I almost feel sorry for them. But not enough to cheer them on tonight, GO SAINTS!

Well, the Footy Season proper is almost upon us.
Its a clean slate for all the teams.
Go the Dockers, go the Saints!

2006 Ladder
Fremantle
Adelaide
Brisbane
Carlton
Collingwood
Essendon
Geelong
Hawthorn
Kangaroos
Melbourne
Pt Adelaide
Richmond
St Kilda
Sydney
Western Bulldogs
West Coast

After my previous experience of visiting Riverview the other week, I dropped in on my friend Steve’s work in Lockeridge.

Steve is the real deal.
Living amongst the people, sacrificial, incarnational.

No falseness about him, sincere, authentic.

Sure he’s not the Messiah, but he is trying to follow Him.

Steve works for Tear Fund but also leads a community of people who meet in Lockeridge most Sunday nights. The night kicks off with a community meal, and ends up with what might loosely be termed a church service. It is eccletic in who comes, what they contribute, what they need and also in what Steve presents. There is real love and spirituality in that place, amongst a gathering of about 12-15 people. Very different people, and it works. Just a genuine desire to be together, to welcome people in, to be a part of something.
It is refreshing to find someone who is intelligent, purposeful, yet also casual and humble. He writes this about his work, “Steve is planting a new church, which he hopes will “create a model of church that includes mission and community development””. He also writes this, “Lockridge Outreach Group started as small group from a church near-by began praying about what we could do in our lower socio-economic area. We managed to get a bread-run happening, letterboxed the area and some contacts were made, but people didn’t hang around much. We prayed, banged heads (brainstormed) and dreamed about seeing God’s Kingdom a reality in Lockridge. Two guys in the group didn’t have a place to stay, and we didn’t have a “base” in Lockridge. With God’s help we found a cheap house, and they bought it. We opened it up as a community meal and support/discussion group centre, with free bread. Since then, two years have gone by. We’ve moved into an Anglican Church building, and are now recognised as a Baptist Church “plant”. We are trying to be ecumenical in approach, and connect with other churches as well.”