Monthly Archives: January 2013

Sport will let us down

In Albury-Wodonga, the weekly free newspapers used to include a column of reflections. They were written by local  ministers, or similar (authors included a local Baha’i leader, as well as someone from the local humanist society branch). I don’t know why they stopped. Equally, I don’t know if they achieved anything!

Cleaning up my computer, I found a few of mine. In the interests of recycling, I will re-release them on this blog.

Do you love sport like I do? Or do you think there is far too much fascination with games? Either way it’s impossible to miss how much we watch and talk about sports. As the footy season finishes, cricket and netball begins. And to fill in any gaps I can watch the rugby world cup too. Truly, too much sport is never enough.

We love sports to see people achieve. Lima Azimi of Afghanistan ran the women’s 100m at this year’s world championships, a first for her country. She’d never used starting blocks before, and did not own a tracksuit. What an effort!

Unfortunately, even the most skilled athlete will let us down. She will drop the ball, he will prove arrogant, the team will become angry at critics. It’s unfair to make sports people our heroes.

As a Christian, I am thankful for the one person who will never be a let-down, the man Jesus. As it’s put in the Bible ‘For me, to live is Christ.’ He performed under pressure and always loved people. He went through the pain barrier of the cross. He scored the winning goal by rising from the dead.

Knowing this makes sport so much better. I still want my team to win, but my life doesn’t depend on it.
October 2003

 


 

We’re a mixed up bunch

In Albury-Wodonga, the weekly free newspapers used to include a column of reflections. They were written by local  ministers, or similar (authors included a local Baha’i leader, as well as someone from the local humanist society branch). I don’t know why they stopped. Equally, I don’t know if they achieved anything!

Cleaning up my computer, I found a few of mine. In the interests of recycling, I will re-release them on this blog.

July does the same thing every year. The weather makes it less appealing to ride my bike. The TV makes it more inviting to watch others ride their bikes. Yes – I’m addicted to the Tour de France.

Each year I again fall for the helicopter shots of tourist sites, for the speed of fast flat racing, for the pain of riding up ridiculously long mountain roads. There’s a lot to see: fanatical fans; beautiful country; selfless teamwork; athleticism.

This year there was even the chance of an Australian winner. I hope I’m not crazy, but I tried to support Cadel Evans by riding my bike down Cadell St in Albury a few times.

Yet cycling has a problem. Drugs. Again in 2007 there were accusations of cheating and lying. Some cyclists were caught, some teams were kicked out.

There’s no excuse for cheating, but I am not surprised that people try.

These ups and downs are simply an expression of what people are like. We’re a mixed-up bunch, both wonderful and awful at the same time. I started with the Tour de France, so here’s a famous French thinker. Blaise Pascal called people ‘the glory and the shame of the universe.’

If there’s a shadow over cycling it is because there is a shadow over humanity.

Jesus also knew that we’re a mixed-up bunch. Talking about families in Luke’s gospel chapter 11, Jesus pointed out that we don’t give our children scorpions if they ask for food. Yet we are far from perfect. He said that we who are evil know how to give good gifts.

That’s certainly confused. Is there any solution?

It’s no solution to pretend everything is alright. There are drugs in pro sport. And there is failure in our lives.

It’s no solution to give up. Drug testing should continue. And we still admire those able to say sorry.

Jesus’ words point us to the real solution, prayer to God our Father. He’s the one who gives the good gifts of life and forgiveness.
August 2007

 


 

Most-clicked posts of 2012

Analytics can tell me what was most clicked in 2012. Analytics cannot tell me why these were the ones at the top of the click-list.

But here are the top three.

  1. Believe + {preposition}
    This was number three in 2011. I do not know why it crops up each month. The content: a look at how the New Testament speaks of believing.
    Posted in May 2011
  2. Church planning & numbers
    Some thoughts on church planning and the good/risk of using numbers as part of a ‘target.’
    Posted April 2012
  3. Science & the gospel introduction
    The prelude post to a series of seven on – here comes the surprise – science and the gopel
    Posted March 2012


 

Two kinds of wisdom

In Albury-Wodonga, the weekly free newspapers used to include a column of reflections. They were written by local  ministers, or similar (authors included a local Baha’i leader, as well as someone from the local humanist society branch). I don’t know why they stopped. Equally, I don’t know if they achieved anything!

Cleaning up my computer, I found a few of mine. In the interests of recycling, I will re-release them on this blog.

Wisdom can sometimes be the most foolish thing.

I saw this recently with an expert quoted in The Post. A private eye gave ‘five golden rules for cheaters to protect themselves’ from being caught. Each rule was logical, sensible, achievable. And each rule was a great way to destroy trust and relationship. Would you like to find your husband or wife memorising these rules? This is wisdom that strangles life: foolish wisdom.

The Bible book of James speaks clearly about two types of wisdom. The first is like the private eye’s five rules. The second is wisdom from God. ‘The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.’

Let’s take the first point, purity. This does not mean perfection – who could ever reach that standard? It means that if you cheat on your spouse or cheat on God you will first say sorry. The wise thing is always to ask forgiveness, forgiveness from people and from God. This wisdom will move to restore relationship, not fracture relationships any further. This is wisdom that gives life.

You know your own relationships: with God, family, friends, workmates, neighbours. With all these people, how wise are you today?
December 2003

 


 

Family fun: old & new

On holidays up north and I have a couple of photos that include a contrast in age. I could collect more… nah, I’ll share them right away.

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A five year old Joash mixes it with All Saints church building, North Parramatta. All Saints was built on land bequeathed by Samuel Marsden. If I remember the sign correctly, it was completed in 1845.

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At the Sydney Cricket Ground for the final test of the summer, we are all greeted with a new gaping hole. There is a definite absence of Noble and Bradman Stands. The temporary gap allows a fascinating contrast: the old Members’ Stand and the much newer Sydney Football Stadium. I think they provide a pleasing, and surprising, complementary image.