Rightful Come-uppance!

When an Australian sporting team takes it upon themselves to challenge the tradition and integrity of another nation's accepted pre-match ritual then it says to this white man that something is amiss. That is what I witnessed last night in the final of the Rugby League Cup contested between Australia and New Zealand. After both country's national anthems were sung, New Zealand lined up and performed their usual "haka" war dance. Usually any other team facing this symbolic dance will line up respectfully at a distance and allow the Kiwis this one indulgence that connects them to their cultural roots. Last week in the semi-final, the English turned their back on the haka and ignored it - another show of disrespect in my opinion. But I believe last night was just as disgraceful, if not worse! During their haka last night, the Australian Kangaroos team linked arms and, in one long line walked towards the New Zealand players in the midst of their dance. They stopped as one literally a nose hair's width from the first Kiwi's in the front line of their haka formation. I believe it was obvious that they encroached so closely to the New Zealanders that they could not freely complete their dance with the same extravagence as normal. And then, when the haka finished the Australians arrogantly just walked through the New Zealand players. Absolute bad taste!

Let me say - I am Australian and I am proud of it. Nobody rejoices more when Australia succeed on the global stage and especially so on a sporting arena. But one thing this white man cannot cop is seeing arrogance by an Australian team to the extent that it disrupts another teams ritual preparations. Especially when that other team is performing a traditional cultural display. A couple of weeks ago I wrote in this blog that the RLWC08 tournament itself was a bit of a joke as it was so one-sided towards Australia. I think the Kangaroos believed they were the only team in the competition and treated everyone accordingly. Well, as they say, after pride comes the fall and how the 'mighty' fell! A 34-20 victory for New Zealand last night is a rightful vindication for a country disrespected before the game even began and it is a rightful come-uppance to an Australian national side so inflated with individual egos that they simply didn't deserve to win. Justice was done and so be it!

Christmas is Coming!

Christmas decorations in shopping centres along with appearances by the jolly red fat man may be annoyingly early this year but one thing remains the same...The best gift we could ever receive is still Jesus and an old rugged cross!

The Most Important Question I Ever Asked God...

In the midst of walking through shadow-filled dark valleys in life this white man knows that the irrepressible question that usually pours out of our souls is "WHY?". It is a necessary question appropriate for that stage of our journey through suffering as aligned with our faith and relationship with our Creator God. Yet I believe that there is a further place along that journey where the question must change if we are to ultimately move on into the green pastures and still waters of the soul. It is the location where reflective wisdom is gained, the oasis of new perspective if you will. That is the place where I can confidently cry out to God from the deepest ravines of any valley "WHY NOT?!" When those two words can finally penetrate through the heavy pressure of your pain then surely peace comes - the kind of peace Jesus spoke of; peace not of this world, peace that this world cannot understand. And there tranquility reigns...

Reflective Art...

"He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name" Psalm 147:4

The Killer Punchline!

A man is driving down the road and breaks down near a monastery. He goes to the monastery, knocks on the door, and says, "My car broke down. Do you think I could stay the night?"
The monks graciously accept him, feed him dinner, and even fixed his car. As the man tries to fall asleep, he hears a strange sound. The next morning, he asks the monks what the sound was, but they say, "We can't tell you. You're not a monk."
The man is disappointed but thanks them anyway and goes about his merry way.
Some years later, the same man breaks down in front of the same monastery. The monks accept him, feed him, and fixed his car. That night, he hears the same strange noise that he had heard years earlier. The next morning, he asks what it is, but the monks reply, "We can't tell you. You're not a monk."
The man says, "All right, all right. I'm dying to know. If the only way I can find out what that sound was is to become a monk, how do I become a monk?"
The monks reply, "You must travel the earth and tell us how many blades of grass there are and the exact number of sand pebbles. When you find these numbers, you will become a monk."
The man sets about his task. Forty-five years later, he returns and knocks on the door of the monastery. He says, "I have traveled the earth and have found what you have asked for. There are 145,236,284,232 blades of grass and 231,281,219,999,129,382 sand pebbles on the earth."
The monks reply, "Congratulations. You are now a monk. We shall now show you the way to the sound."
The monks lead the man to a wooden door, where the head monk says, "The sound is right behind that door."
The man reaches for the knob, but the door is locked. He says, "Real funny, may I have the key?"
The monks give him the key, and he opens the door. Behind the wooden door is another door made of stone. The man demands the key to the stone door. The monks give him the key, and he opens it, only to find a door made of ruby.
He demands another key from the monks, who provide it. Behind that door is another door, this one made of sapphire. So it went until the man had gone through doors of emerald, silver, topaz, amethyst...
Finally, the monks say, "This is the last key to the last door."
The man is relieved to no end. He unlocks the door, turns the knob, and behind that door he is amazed to find the source of that strange sound.
But I can't tell you what it is because you're not a monk.

Anglo-Celtic & Norse Observances...

One of the few subjects this white man embraced during his school years was history. It didn't matter if it was Australian History, European History, Modern or Ancient History...I loved it all! Perhaps history endeared itself to me because early in my life I grasped the fact that interpreting history speaks into the realities of today and can help chart the course of tomorrow. Naturally, as a pastor, biblical history always fascinates and feeds me. Yet it isn't really bible history that has been fanning the intellectual and spiritual flame within recently. For I have been finding great joy in discovering the depth of wisdom within Anglo-Celtic and Norse history which is the major heritage of my ancestory. Epic tales from the Celts and Viking tales from the north and their amazing mythologies have led this white man deeper into his understanding of himself and the God he worships.

One such tale is the account of the Norse hero Beowulf. His story was the first-ever documented piece of writing in Old English script. The epic of Beowulf, especially as interpreted through a recent cinematic adaption is a saga of heroism, egoistic pride and ultimate downfall. For after all, the superheroic Beowulf, slayer of monsters and dragons is eventually revealed to be a mere mortal with drastic failings. A healthy reminder that at the height of pride a fall always comes.

And then there are the incredible accounts from Norse mythologies about the pantheon of gods like Odin, Loki and Thor. Their belief in the spiritual afterlife as expressed through their hope in Valhalla and even their own apocalyptic revelation of Ragnarok have eerie similarities with Christian views of heaven and the end of this age. And so on...Arthurian legend, Druid spirituality, Gaelic legends...too much to elaborate on here.

What I am saying is simply this - to touch the heart of oneself in relation to who you are in your physical and spiritual life-blood, sometimes you must return home into the history of that which you are a product of. I guess it is a way of truth to arriving at a place of 'owning' oneself and the complexity of who you are. For at that place of understanding hopefully comes wisdom, heightened self-esteem and serenity of soul. And most importantly, a closer understanding and connection with our God of Ages, revealed in and through the person of Jesus Christ.

Nature's Fury...

A terrifying storm hit SE Queensland yesterday unleashing a barrage of fury that killed one person and left massive amounts of damage to properties and infrastructures. Just another awe-ful display of nature that leaves one trembling at the true vulnerable condition of our mortality.

It causes this white man to reflect on God's reminder to Job in 38:25;

"Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,

and a path for the thunderstorm?"

Yep...God does...

Verse for the day...

The Amazing Buddha Boy!

This white man was bemused to learn of the emergence of the Nepalese young man dubbed 'Buddha Boy'. His story can be accessed by clicking on the link below:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24645114-2703,00.html

Honestly, I've seen first-hand Buddhist and Hindu religious fervour in Nepal and India. And even a story like this doesn't surprise me in the least. Because at the end of the day, some people will just believe what they want to believe. Don't think for a moment Christianity is exempt from such fanatical hysteria. I can clearly remember the sad case of a young 10 year-old American boy named Shaun Walters. His father basically would take Shaun around churches and put him up to preach as your stereotypical hellfire and brimstone tele-evangelist! Even gave the boy the title of pastor! Around 8-9 years after the original expose, a follow-up documentary of Shaun Walters revealed him as a socially retarded and mentally disturbed young man with major issues in his life. Wonder what will end up of the Buddha Boy?

Just For Laughs...

A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the freeway. Glancing at the car, he was astounded to see that the blonde behind the wheel was knitting!
Realising that she was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren, the trooper cranked down his window, turned on his bullhorn and yelled "PULL OVER!"
"NO!" the blonde yelled back,

"IT'S A SCARF!"