If Matthew Hayden was just beginning his career he would be dropped from the Australian side. That would be right, since in his last 5 matches he has failed to give Australia the start they need. As a young player he would have the opportunity to rebuild his confidence, accumulate some runs and force his way back into the side.
If Matthew Hayden was aged 25 it might be worth giving him a few more matches to get back into form. At 25 he would have another 5 or 6 years of good cricket ahead of him, so it would be worth perservering.
But Matthew Hayden is 37, and at most has only a year or two of cricket top class cricket left. Is it worth perservering for another match or two? Should he go to South Africa, and perhaps to England? NO!
If Matthew Hayden does not retire after this game and open the door for a younger player to be blooded in Sydney the selection should show him the door. Sorry Matthew, but it's time.
Should the selectors keep you in the side then put aside your pride, announce your retirement as at the end of the Test, and go out with your head held high.
For Cricket Australia the choice should be clear - either Hayden goes, or the selectors do!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
What to see in Africa?
Our African destinations are determined - Tanzania and Zambia, and we have some idea of what we will be doing for some of the time. But having got to Africa we have to opportunity to visit other places on that amazing continent.
The island of Zanzibar and Victoria Falls are two places that have been suggested, and we would not want to miss the wildlife.
What else should we make sure we experience while in Africa? Any ideas?
The island of Zanzibar and Victoria Falls are two places that have been suggested, and we would not want to miss the wildlife.
What else should we make sure we experience while in Africa? Any ideas?
Weekly Worship 1
Ringwood Salvos.
The Salvation Army is very familiar to us, and Ringwood Corps is part of our past. For 3 years we were part of that congregation but that was over 15 years ago.
Today we returned there to worship with family - so there were some familiar faces. It's holiday mode and things were a little different, but we expected that. So how was it?
Words are an inadequate substitute for any experience - but there was a connection and God 'showed up' for me. There was nothing dramatic, no 'wow' experience, more a quiet 'yes' and a gentle affirmation that things are going to be okay.
I was reminded of the importance of music in worship. Both old and new hymns affirmed that all will be well. Yesterday we shared with some families who had experienced great trauma - today we sang "Crown Him the prince of peace" and "The Heavens shall declare". Yesterday we felt the sorrow, today we were gently reminded to "Give thanks".
The message was on the Characters of Christmas - and the alliteration gets a bit tough here... but may be helpful in remembering the message. Today the focus was on the responses of four 'characters' in the nativity : Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds and the Wise Men. Why did God choose them as key players in the drama? We were reminded of their backgrounds - which are varied, but the focus was on their attitudes.
Mary - contemplation; Joseph - cooperation; Shepherds - celebration; Wise men - consecration.
The challenge: how are we going to respond when God invites us to adventure?
We were welcomed warmly, met some friends from recent and not so recent days, and enjoyed the hospitality afterwards. It was good to be there, good to share, good to be part of the Church.
The theme at Ringwood has been "Growing the church seven days a week." Worship on Sundays is often our focus ... but we worship in the way we live seven days a week, and growth in individuals and the church takes place seven days a week. God shows up always, maybe it is just that on Sundays we make time to tune in a little better.
The Salvation Army is very familiar to us, and Ringwood Corps is part of our past. For 3 years we were part of that congregation but that was over 15 years ago.
Today we returned there to worship with family - so there were some familiar faces. It's holiday mode and things were a little different, but we expected that. So how was it?
Words are an inadequate substitute for any experience - but there was a connection and God 'showed up' for me. There was nothing dramatic, no 'wow' experience, more a quiet 'yes' and a gentle affirmation that things are going to be okay.
I was reminded of the importance of music in worship. Both old and new hymns affirmed that all will be well. Yesterday we shared with some families who had experienced great trauma - today we sang "Crown Him the prince of peace" and "The Heavens shall declare". Yesterday we felt the sorrow, today we were gently reminded to "Give thanks".
The message was on the Characters of Christmas - and the alliteration gets a bit tough here... but may be helpful in remembering the message. Today the focus was on the responses of four 'characters' in the nativity : Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds and the Wise Men. Why did God choose them as key players in the drama? We were reminded of their backgrounds - which are varied, but the focus was on their attitudes.
Mary - contemplation; Joseph - cooperation; Shepherds - celebration; Wise men - consecration.
The challenge: how are we going to respond when God invites us to adventure?
We were welcomed warmly, met some friends from recent and not so recent days, and enjoyed the hospitality afterwards. It was good to be there, good to share, good to be part of the Church.
The theme at Ringwood has been "Growing the church seven days a week." Worship on Sundays is often our focus ... but we worship in the way we live seven days a week, and growth in individuals and the church takes place seven days a week. God shows up always, maybe it is just that on Sundays we make time to tune in a little better.
Weekly Worship
Meeting together...
We are part of the Church - and belong to a church.
For many years we have been involved in leading a congregation. That means planning and organising worship, and being involved in the lives of all the people who are part of that worship experience. We have been involved in the 'production' of worship experiences, seeking to help people connect with God in ways that will help them grow as followers of Christ.
For the next twelve months we will not have that responsibility, but desire to continue to meet together with the Church wherever we can. We will become 'consumers', as we seek to experience God in and through a worship experiences others have organised.
Weekly worship with the church has been part of our lives. It will continue to be part of our lives in days as we meet with other 'churches'.
We are part of the Church - and belong to a church.
For many years we have been involved in leading a congregation. That means planning and organising worship, and being involved in the lives of all the people who are part of that worship experience. We have been involved in the 'production' of worship experiences, seeking to help people connect with God in ways that will help them grow as followers of Christ.
For the next twelve months we will not have that responsibility, but desire to continue to meet together with the Church wherever we can. We will become 'consumers', as we seek to experience God in and through a worship experiences others have organised.
Weekly worship with the church has been part of our lives. It will continue to be part of our lives in days as we meet with other 'churches'.
It's time!
It's time for a sabbatical.
Why?
To take a rest from the daily demands of ministry and leadership within The Salvation Army.
To have an opportunity to experience life from a completely different perspective.
To have the time to do some things we might never do otherwise.
When?
Officially we start on January 14, 2009 - and plan to be available for an appointment in January 2010.
What?
Rest - a few weeks with family.
Exploration - travelling to the north and north west of Australia for six months
Adventure - three months in Africa.
Service - volunteering at Shukrani College (Tanzania) for eight weeks.
Observation - being able to sit back and appreciate all of God's creation.
New Experiences - choosing our own pace and space.
Where can we be contacted?
Our 'home' in Oz will be a caravan.
Location: 'no fixed address'.
Contacts: try email, or facebook, or a mobile phone (some of these will not be so great in Africa!), or follow our blogs!
How?
This year has been 20 years in the making. Our choice to take a year 'off' is unusual, but the leadership of this territory have been gracious in responding to our decision, and have done more than we asked or expected.
For the next two weeks.... finalise matters at Preston, pack and clean house, and prepare for life without a home and with few possessions, and begin blogging regularly.
Why?
To take a rest from the daily demands of ministry and leadership within The Salvation Army.
To have an opportunity to experience life from a completely different perspective.
To have the time to do some things we might never do otherwise.
When?
Officially we start on January 14, 2009 - and plan to be available for an appointment in January 2010.
What?
Rest - a few weeks with family.
Exploration - travelling to the north and north west of Australia for six months
Adventure - three months in Africa.
Service - volunteering at Shukrani College (Tanzania) for eight weeks.
Observation - being able to sit back and appreciate all of God's creation.
New Experiences - choosing our own pace and space.
Where can we be contacted?
Our 'home' in Oz will be a caravan.
Location: 'no fixed address'.
Contacts: try email, or facebook, or a mobile phone (some of these will not be so great in Africa!), or follow our blogs!
How?
This year has been 20 years in the making. Our choice to take a year 'off' is unusual, but the leadership of this territory have been gracious in responding to our decision, and have done more than we asked or expected.
For the next two weeks.... finalise matters at Preston, pack and clean house, and prepare for life without a home and with few possessions, and begin blogging regularly.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
New lenses
Already we are looking at life differently.
In two months we leave our current work and move out of the house. At work it is a matter of preparing for our successors, smoothing the way for their leadership, and removing the obsolete stuff that accumulates in a work environment. At home it is getting rid of what we don't need , packing what we want to keep, and deciding on the minimum stuff we will need to survive in 2009. For most of the year our home will be a 14' 6" (5 metre) caravan, so a lot of things have to go!
As we work through this process (slowly) it is obvious that much of the stuff we have is superfluous. It's nice to have some of the stuff, but we use it rarely and hang on to it out of habit or 'just in case'. And there are the bits that evoke precious memories.
Somehow we have come to think that these are the things of life, we have to have them, that we need them. Our desire for things, and a consumption driven economic system, has massive consequences we normally don't think about. How do we change and see things differently?
Frank Fisher wrote:
"To live sustainably we must identify and transform existing social and intellectual practices, making them consistent with sustainability. New intellectual and social lenses are needed to correct the astigmatism in our current ways of seeing." (The Age 6/11/2008 p.10)
For the moment we are looking at life and stuff differently. I wonder if this will continue beyond next year. It needs to!
In two months we leave our current work and move out of the house. At work it is a matter of preparing for our successors, smoothing the way for their leadership, and removing the obsolete stuff that accumulates in a work environment. At home it is getting rid of what we don't need , packing what we want to keep, and deciding on the minimum stuff we will need to survive in 2009. For most of the year our home will be a 14' 6" (5 metre) caravan, so a lot of things have to go!
As we work through this process (slowly) it is obvious that much of the stuff we have is superfluous. It's nice to have some of the stuff, but we use it rarely and hang on to it out of habit or 'just in case'. And there are the bits that evoke precious memories.
Somehow we have come to think that these are the things of life, we have to have them, that we need them. Our desire for things, and a consumption driven economic system, has massive consequences we normally don't think about. How do we change and see things differently?
Frank Fisher wrote:
"To live sustainably we must identify and transform existing social and intellectual practices, making them consistent with sustainability. New intellectual and social lenses are needed to correct the astigmatism in our current ways of seeing." (The Age 6/11/2008 p.10)
For the moment we are looking at life and stuff differently. I wonder if this will continue beyond next year. It needs to!
Monday, October 20, 2008
De-cluttering
It is amazing how much 'stuff' we accumulate along the way. As most of next year is going to be spent in a caravan what now fills our house will need to be relocated or removed. How do you decide what to hang on to, and what to throw out?
Lifehacker offers tips from time to time. But tips don't do the work for you.
So here's a start:
1. Do a little bit each day.
2. Eliminate eliminate unnecessary duplicates. Two pieces of similar equipment - I really only need one. Something that doesn't work properly, but still works, needs to be fixed or given the flick.
3. Get rid of the little things that have been collected along the way but haven't used in more than twelve months.
We have made a start, and a garage sale is in the works.
Lifehacker offers tips from time to time. But tips don't do the work for you.
So here's a start:
1. Do a little bit each day.
2. Eliminate eliminate unnecessary duplicates. Two pieces of similar equipment - I really only need one. Something that doesn't work properly, but still works, needs to be fixed or given the flick.
3. Get rid of the little things that have been collected along the way but haven't used in more than twelve months.
We have made a start, and a garage sale is in the works.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Changes in the church and The Book of Acts
The Acts of the Apostles is an exciting part of the Bible. For the last month or so it has been a focus of my teaching with a small group of cadets. It has been great to share with them in this journey.
Many people have trouble seeing past the amazing things that happened at Pentecost or to Paul on the road to Damascus. They (or is that we?) struggle to read the theology in the many speeches, and skip over the social dynamics behind many of the events we read about.
The Book of Acts is all about change. It is about God working in the lives of ordinary people to usher in the Kingdom of God. Read the book and you will find that change did not come easily, even for those who were trying their hardest to follow Jesus and respond to God's leading. Sometimes it took persecution to get them moving. Sometimes they fought and argued to hold on to old ways.
But Luke writes about ordinary people and their struggle to do what God asked of them. It was (and still is) easier for things that stay the same than to embrace change. Just as they struggled to embrace God-inspired change, so do we. But if they hadn't eventually responded we would not have known about the life-changing power of Jesus.
Perhaps we need to be a little less resistance to change, and a little more open to what God wants from us.
Many people have trouble seeing past the amazing things that happened at Pentecost or to Paul on the road to Damascus. They (or is that we?) struggle to read the theology in the many speeches, and skip over the social dynamics behind many of the events we read about.
The Book of Acts is all about change. It is about God working in the lives of ordinary people to usher in the Kingdom of God. Read the book and you will find that change did not come easily, even for those who were trying their hardest to follow Jesus and respond to God's leading. Sometimes it took persecution to get them moving. Sometimes they fought and argued to hold on to old ways.
But Luke writes about ordinary people and their struggle to do what God asked of them. It was (and still is) easier for things that stay the same than to embrace change. Just as they struggled to embrace God-inspired change, so do we. But if they hadn't eventually responded we would not have known about the life-changing power of Jesus.
Perhaps we need to be a little less resistance to change, and a little more open to what God wants from us.
Thanks Canon
A few weeks ago our digital camera packed it in. One minute the LCD screen worked, the next time I used the camera the LCD was a grey flickering rectangle. The camera was about four years old, and not all that expensive, but was still good for our purposes. Now it was useless.
My acquisitive technology self thought 'Great, now we can upgrade!'. The tightwad part of me thought 'That's more money that needs to be spent on something I don't want to spend money on!'. Somehow we still want a camera for next year. How else do you share your memories (and bore your friends)?
A quick internet search and a phone call revealed there was a known fault on the Canon Powershot A75 - that was our camera!
With a letter of explanation, and in hope more than expectancy, the camera was packed and sent to the Canon repair centre. Yesterday its receipt was acknowledged by a standard letter via Australia Post. What did this standard letter mean? I was not sure.
Next step, a phone call: "Yes, it is a known fault", "Yes, it has been repaired" " Yes, it will be sent back to you when quality control checks have been completed." "No, there will be no charge."
Yeah Canon! Made my day... now it's up to Australia Post to deliver.
My acquisitive technology self thought 'Great, now we can upgrade!'. The tightwad part of me thought 'That's more money that needs to be spent on something I don't want to spend money on!'. Somehow we still want a camera for next year. How else do you share your memories (and bore your friends)?
A quick internet search and a phone call revealed there was a known fault on the Canon Powershot A75 - that was our camera!
With a letter of explanation, and in hope more than expectancy, the camera was packed and sent to the Canon repair centre. Yesterday its receipt was acknowledged by a standard letter via Australia Post. What did this standard letter mean? I was not sure.
Next step, a phone call: "Yes, it is a known fault", "Yes, it has been repaired" " Yes, it will be sent back to you when quality control checks have been completed." "No, there will be no charge."
Yeah Canon! Made my day... now it's up to Australia Post to deliver.
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