Fremantle are now favourites to win the 2007 AFL premiership.
Apparently there have been some issues down at West Coast (?) and so Freo have becomes the punters favourite.
COME ON YOU MIGHTY DOCKERS!!!
And if you want to make some money, bet on North Melboure to win the spoon, and the Saints to slip out of the eight.
I reckon Geelong might be the smokey this year.
It seems West Coast have had enough of their ex captains misbehaviour, and in a similar manner to Michael Gardiner, Ben has been suspended indefinetely from the club.
I am glad. If someone has serious issues, they need to be confronted and dealt with. If he is not told by those who really care about him that his behaviour is unacceptable, it will become self destructive.
The last thing anyone wants is to see Ben hurt himself, or someone he loves.
Rumours abound, but what is very likely is that Ben has serious issues with drugs. Watch to see if the results of the drug tests he took yesterday reveal that the issue is far greater than just missing a training session.
I hope such a champion and skilled player gets the help he needs.
If I was a parent of a WC supporting child I would tell them that he had been very naughty and done some silly things, and so the club could no longer play him. Lets hope some positives come out of this.
There is a problem within our denomination.
Just about every church that is growing, is looking for a youth worker, childrens worker, family Pastor. I know one Baptist Church that has been looking for a youth pastor for 3 years with not even a sniff.
Anectodal evidence suggests that there are not many young guys/gals of serious usuable talent coming through the ranks.
When I was studying, about 12 years ago, there was a heap of us. In fact my peer group started off with six members, and although it remains at 6, they are a vastly different 6, as some have dropped off, some have retrained as teachers.
There is a LOT of dissulusionment out there about becoming a Baptist Pastor. I don’t think it is that evident amongst the present guys. Most of them that I mix with are doing exceptional work, in difficult circumstances. Underpaid, often undervalued, yet passionate about seeing the church grow.
Some of the younger potential leaders have left and started more ’emergent’ type groups. This may provoke some discussion, but is not the point of this post. But generally there is very little evidence of real conversion growth within this movement. However many left the mainstream church because all they saw happening was transfer growth. To a true missional pastor, who has integrity, that is dissapointing, but I dont think the emergent stream is the answer.
Someone asked me why there are not many good young leaders coming through and this was my answer.
We have ourselves to blame. For too many years too many Baptist Churches have been caustic places that have despised their pastors. In a recent situation I am aware of, some leaders were criticised incredibly when they tried to introduce a children’s ministry within the church. Some wrote a 10 page document detailing these folks problems. They had been at the church for 15 years! Then when they left, the same caustic folk said, “oh you cant leave, who is going to do this, and that!”
They reckon that now they have left, this incredible weight has been lifted off their shoulders.
Who on earth who want to be a pastor in such a church? It does not matter if you did get paid decent wages, why would you want to be there??
All this has been based on my speaking to other pastors. My own experience has been as follows.
I inherited a very traditional church which had many issues. BUT, after 12 years of hard slog, mistakes (on mine and others parts), we are now a great healthy church to be a part of. We are seeing real conversion growth and absolutely incredible missionary opportunities.
But it has been really really hard.
I reckon young people today, the so called Y generation, just wont put up with the stuff I and others have.
I think this is fair enough actually.
But for those of us concerned about the future of Baptist Churches, we have to keep change happening, and it has to keep happening now…….
Starting to feel human again,
still have a fair bit of back pain and nauseous feeling.
But at least I can stay awake, and am starting to eat again.
Still cant face the idea of drinking coffee, which is really awful for me.
But am drinking a lot of barley/lemon cordial.
Will be trying to get back into it at half strength this week. Love my work, dont like being sick!
Having a 3 and 6 year old really puts things into perspective.
With all the news coming out of WC headquarters, I am just so glad that for whatever reason I have brought them up in the right way.
Imagine having to justify and explain away my teams behaviour.
Imagine having to explain to them why Ben Cousins is on TV again, and why he looks so sick. Imagine having to explain to them why number 4 is always in trouble
Imagine having to explain why the captain is yelling at the nice reporter.
Winning the cup does not justify their incredibly bad behaviour.
I am glad I have bought my children up well….
Freo has had its share of problems, but nothing like the ingrained litany of drug fuelled, arrogant, we can get away with it because we are WC attitude.
Never been this sick before.
Had to go to RPH for two nights.
Staff are wonderful, food is not great, but you can’t really expect much.
Because of my contagious state, I was given an “orange” status, which meant I had my own room, with own ensuite.
I wonder if being forced to lie down for 24-36 hours did me the most good.
It sure is good to be home though, and hug my beautiful wife and family. Boy, I missed them.
Its not like going to a conference or away for a week for some legitimate reason, being apart because you are in RPH is awful.
Feeling better, but still sore in the lower stomach.