Adventures in paradise 3

The week started with a walk around Granite Island with our nieces. No visit to Victor is complete unless you walk (or ride) across the causeway. Our last to the island was in June, for my brothers wedding. It was a lot warmer and much more informal this time.

For many years The Salvation Army has had a campsite at Victor. My visits to the island date back to my early teens as a camper, my early twenties as a leader, and not a few times as organiser of camps in the late 1980's. These days there are a few more stairs built in hazardous areas and the occasional safety fence, but the scenery and structures have changed little. The walk evoked a few memories, but observing and entertaining two active kids prevented too much reverie.

The rest of the week has been spent in Geelong and Melbourne. A sweltering 40 degree heat has accompanied our visit as we took the time to tidy up some loose ends in preparation for our departure to Tanzania on February 9. Early morning walks along the Barwon River have been an enjoyable aspect of this stay.

I was delighted to attend Preston Rotary Club and pick up a cheque for Shukrani College . The funds will be used to help to replace a vehicle and to sponsor a student for a years study. The club has been fantastic in its support and I have enjoyed participating in the club,and hopefully making a worthwhile contribution along the way.

Apart from dealing with details there were also the parties to prepare for - a 30th birthday, a house warming, and the anniversary of my own birth.

The heat at times has been a bit much, but it has been a clear heat, and houses, cars and most business places are air conditioned. It's not so bad when you have power and can choose to do some work or watch tennis. My own birthday celebration, however, was a candlelight affair, as much of Geelong lost power for the evening. Still, with daylight extending close to 9.00pm we were not too inconvenienced, even if we missed our on watching the Nadal/Gervasco marathon semi-final, and then end of Australia's distastrous match-up against South Africa. (Memo to the Aussie selectors: it's time for new blood guys.)

Saturday was a 'pool party'. The weather cooperated, the water was about the right temperature, and a good time was had with friends and family. Thanks Ross for your choice of celebration venues and activities.

These have also been the days when I got my identity back - a replacement license, credit card, library card - and a new wallet to put them in. All I need now is some money -).

Born Again

One of the beneifts of the internet and the iPod phenomena is being able to tap in to infomation and people you otherwise would never hear. The Center for Excellence in Preaching offers a wide range of audio sermons on podcast.

Samuel Wells offers an interesting and challenging perspective on John 3:5 and Jesus exchange with Nicodemus.

Here's a quote:

"The most curious thing about this whole exchange is that a verse of John's gospel that contains enormous mystery, wonder, and to say the least, lack of clarity, has become arguably the single most important verse in the American church. I say that because around 40% of Americans describe themselves as 'born again Christians'.

The phrase 'born again' makes a lot of people, Christian and non-Christian alike, feel uncomfortable, I think for a number of reasons.

In the first place it's become associated in the last 30 years with a particular political agenda and a set of conservative stances on controversial social issues, such as abortion and gay marriage. It's hard to believe that these issues were at the front of Jesus' mind when he struck up a conversation with Nicodemus. But such issues seem to be in the minds of those who see being born again as becoming a potential member of a political block vote. My sense is that this view is at best a caricature, and most of those among us who describe themselves as born again have a somewhat broader perspective on social issues. But there's no doubt that it's a caricature with a wide circulation.

In the second place the term 'born again' seems to be used to create a hierarchy among Christians. In certain circles its not considered good enough to believe in Christ, to be actively involved in the church, to be seeking to grow in faith and practice discipleship by searching out and standing among the people and issues closest to God's heart. All these are looked down upon unless one can narrate a conversion experience that fulfils the description 'born again'. The results is that most of the Christians feel second rate because they now faith is a matter of God's grace and can't be manufactured and so they can't make themselves have a dramatic experience while God seems to have no interest in giving them one. Again this is an exaggerated picture, but there's enough truth in it to shape many Christians live significantly.

In the third place the experience of being born again seems to displace everything else that's important about Christianity. What matters is not who Jesus is, or how Jesus lived, but not how Christians relate to one another in the church or to the neighbour or the stranger in the world. All that matters is my personal experience on a specific day in the past and my certainty that this experience gives me a passport to heaven when I die. In other words Christianity stops being about Jesus and the church and the new world breaking in, and instead becomes all about me.

That's a brief summary of why the term born again is the elephant in the room whenever the church gathers to read John chapter 3."


Samuel Wells, "Born Again" A sermon on John 3, Center for Excellence in Preaching)
To listen to the whole sermon click here

Favourite quotes

From Karl Barth:

"There may be great lawyers, doctors, natural scientists, historians, and philosophers. But there are none other than little theologians..."

(Karl Barth "Evangelical Theology" Trs. Gover Foley, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing 1979 , 77)

On other words, no matter how much we think we know about God, or about theology, we have only just begun to explore and understand.

So...keep exploring and keep learning.

Life's tough!

An early morning stroll....
across McCracken Golf Course......















down to the beach.......





























And then back via the Hindmarsh River estuary. It is a tough life!

Weekly Worship 5

Victor Harbor Salvos.

Many Salvation Army Corps across the Australia Southern Territory had worship today that was a little different. January 25 had been scheduled as the day new officers were installed. At Victor Harbor they greeted their new officers and shared in a delightful lunch afterwards.


This corps is the place where my parents worship, the corps to which they belong and in which they are still active participants. We had a sense of what to expect as we joined with them today.

The corps has all that is often associated with Salvation Army worship - a band, a songster brigade, and even some who play timbrels during the singing of choruses. The worship style and music is appropriate for a congregation where many of the key personnel are life long salvationists who have chosen to retire in this environment.

The people were friendly, the welcome warm, and the worship sincere. In speaking words of welcome to the new officers mention was made of the idyllic location, and of the needs in the wider community that are often hidden below the surface. There is certainly a work for The Salvation Army here.

As is customary with 'installations' there was the opportunity to respond, and the warmth and friendliness of the congregation was matched by the words and demeanour of the officers. We pray that the next few years will fruitful as the love of God is evidenced in the shared life of this group of God's people.

For us there was opportunity to connect with some with whom we shared in days past - ironically enough with three couples who were in ministry in Corps in Tasmania some years ago. I was caused to reflect on those with whom we share our journey. Whether a brief chat, participating in some events together (e.g. "Blood of the Lamb", Launceston, circa 1980), doing life or walking through deep valleys together, our lives are enriched because we belong to this amazing body called 'the church'. That which we share we share because of Christ, and because of Him we continue to have hope for the future and help along the way.