To say Ross Lyon’s appointment to the Dockers was controversial is like saying that frozen water is called ice. I spoke about it when it first happened (here).

What I said there about Lyon was that he would have to perform well with the heartless Rosich at the wheel. I stick by that.

But putting aside how he got the job for a moment, what sort of a job is he doing?
Well initial results look very pleasing. Not just because the Dockers have a healthy 3-1 win loss record, but also the way those wins have come about. The Geelong game was an exciting but hard game against last years premiers, and we won. The win against Brisbane, while boring, was at least proof that we can think our way through a team which decided to try and slow and restrict the game.
The loss against Sydney was disappointing. We did not turn up to play until the second half. But unlike some other years, the players did not drop their heads, but turned up to play and almost snatched an unlikely victory.
The win against the Saints was particularly meritorious. Freo don’t play the small Edihad at all well, but the Friday Night spotlight did not daunt us this game. A focused and most notably organised Docker outfit turned up…and ground out a win against a quality opposition in the Saints.

We can talk about injuries, the players and what they do. But there are many signs that the coach has made a significant difference to our fitness, desire and game style. All which look like bringing good results.

Just one or two hints Ross. Silvangi is a gun defender. The sooner you get him in the side the better. Dawson…..uugh. I hope he proves me wrong, and his second half on Friday was adequate. But the clangers….Grover is a far better and more reliable defender.

Interesting how God works.
While traveling around Tasmania on my long service leave I had opportunity to speak at the God’s Squad Church in Launceston. Most people will say the last thing a Pastor on long service leave should do is preach at a church. However I spoke to Melinda and she was happy for me to speak, and it sounded like fun.
It turned out to be one of the most enjoyable speaking times I have had. We met together to pray before the service. About 10 real ‘blokey’ blokes covered in tatts, leather jackets and boots….and me…praying together pre-service. A latte sipping tech head pastor from Perth. They prayed…hard and authentic. I had no access to a printer so to compound my persona issues I had to preach from my MacBook. The congregation of about 50 people in a smallish room. Great praise…and a small bar down the back (not open on Sundays).

Fortunately they were a gracious mob…and they encouraged me more than I think I encouraged them. But God worked in our midst.

Having met the blokes and then reconnected at the Mighty Mens Conference in Cuballing, one of the leaders has asked me to speak at their conference in Launceston. Challenging but encouraging. If your in Launceston, drop in on the Friday Night. And if you are the praying type, keep me and the conference in your prayers.

MMC Conference

It was great to get away for 3 days with about 180 Baptist Pastors from all over Western Australia.
Good times meeting and speaking with them all.
It was especially encouraging to see all the young people coming into leadership. So many bright and passionate young people taking on leadership roles in our Baptist Churches.

The Baptist denomination in Western Australia is strong, with a number of church plants occuring, along with many of our churches growing significantly. It is a great time to be a Baptist.

The worship times were led very well by a young team, with some experience thrown in for good measure. We also had some great times hearing stories of some of the ‘heroes of the faith’, former pastors and present pastors.

Those of us who heard about the Easter Monday special presentation on the ABC much loved and much despised question and answer show, Qanda, were at least interested in what was to be shown. Representing Christianity on one side was well known Sydney Cardinal George Bell. Known for being well spoken and intelligent representation of the Catholic Faith.
In the other corner is well known and outspoken atheist…or agnostic…depending on the time of day, Richard Dawkins.

You know what you will get with Dawkins. Acid tongue, personal attacks, appeal to the populist. Dawkins loves the crowd.

As a Baptist Pastor my cards are pretty well on the table. What I expected was a vigorous debate featuring a Christian who at least would represent the orthodox nature of my faith. It started well. Pell nailed it when he described the ridiculousness of believing that there was nothing, then it exploded. Whatever your view on evolution and the world, there is a design aspect behind what we can observe, and it will not matter to me how much you argue your point…I see the beauty and order in the universe…and it did not just happen….nor did it come from nothing. You may not like my conclusion of that pointing to a God, but you won’t convince me it is more rational or logical to think that it ‘just is’. That is to come to the same problematic conclusion that I have come to…’He is’. So then I look to faith.

What did disappoint me was how the discussion deteriorated from there. Pell disregarded the Biblical text and narrative account of Genesis, particularly the story of Adam and Eve. Why? Presumably because it seemed preposterous to him. But hardly as preposterous as believing in the Roman Catholic theology of transubstantiation. (the belief that the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Christ during the Eucharist) Don’t hear me criticizing that, what concerns me is the inconsistency.
If you don’t want to believe in the miraculous nature of the scriptures, that is your choice. But you can’t have a bet each way. You can’t pick and choose. Dawkins was quite right to point out the inconsistency of his position when it came to the issue of original sin.

While there is plenty about the biblical account that confuses me and that I don’t have answers for, there is plenty I am sure about. I don’t see that as a problem anymore than science has many questions it cannot, and will not, answer. It comes down to who is your God.

For me, believing as I do in a supernatural, interventionist God, there is no issue logically with miracles. If God created the universe, He can do what He likes. He can intersect into the laws of nature as He desires. Those same laws then kick back into effect when He has finished.

It is a shame that Qanda goes for the popular representative of Christianity, rather than finding someone that represents a more orthodox and intelligent approach to our faith.

Just as a postscript I wrote on my facebook wall… ‘Just answer the question Pell. Stand up for something. Follow your Master and be crucified if necessary”.

John 3:7-9

New Living Translation (NLT)

7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You[a] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

Truth is…does not matter who you barrack for, you would want him on your side. If you are stupid enough to fall for his tricks and he gets a free off you, who is the mug?

The supernatural occurs amongst some very ordinary circumstances.

God is not bound by the rules of nature. But after He has intersected with them, they return.

God can do anything He wants, but He does not force His will upon us. It is our choice whether we believe, follow and obey Him.