Learn Something New Every Dinner Party

I had the privilege of having some great company over for dinner last night and we got to talk about the internet and the web and how it all works. Surprising to say it was all a little beyond me.

I found out that we have cables in the sea that communicate as one big network to basically for a large network called the web.

The thing is that this has been going on for centuries. The image below is what the Eastern Telegraph Company had in 1901... WOW!!!


This is what we have now.


Apparently this is all cheaper than satellites!!

This image is good too

Union is a Boxing Match and League is like Pawns in Chess

Why I hear you ask?

Hear are a few thoughts.

One of the fundamentals of Union they contest for the ball whether it is the scrum, line out or ruck - at each of these points the defensive team has the opportunity to fight for the ball. As such both teams are attacking for the ball.

League is not like this at all there is no contest at the scrum, tap or play of the ball. However, in League it is more like the pawns in chess in that the target for the attacking team is to get the ball over the touch line (or in chess get to the other side of the board). While the opposition tries to stop the efforts of the attacking team or piece.

This is a simplification of both games and the analogies where not meant to insult
(just in case people take it that way).

Sexy College Culture

Below is my comment on the following post.

http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/inside-our-sexist-college-culture-and-how-to-fix-it/

___________________________________________________________________

Firstly it is important to remember is that this culture within colleges is dominate but not the entirety of the students. I am sure that there is a group of guys that are horrified by the dealings of their fellow students.

In addition this is true of the Australian Society. This attitude of sex is not deeply ingrained into Australian Culture (even global western culture)!!!

I was a male college student. I lived on campus in a co-ed college for a number of years at UQ and the behaviour of male students is no different there. Nudie runs, published sex activity, awards for the most sexually active students.

One of to things is happening here either the College Wardens are oblivious to it or they are turning a blind eye to it. Personally I believe it to be the later. It has certainly proved the old phase "What you don't know can't hurt you" WRONG!!

As a male college student I did not value it nor did I accept it. What this leaves you in college is a social outcast.

What I believe has happened in the recent years is a devaluing of sex. Sex in today's culture is for selfish gain, personal pleasure and gratification. It is not about intimacy or marriage but is more so treated as a sport. How many touch downs has the next person scored.

Sex is pleasurable.

Sex is normal.

BUT

Sex is not about self. It is special and what has been lost in our current culture is a value of sex.

As for the fix?

Not to be negative but I am not sure that it is possible. The reason is that this is so deeply ingrained into our culture and when it comes to culture it comes from each human heart. The human heart can be fixed but most people reject the fix for the human heart.

The Migration Debate

I am a migrant. I have close friends that are refugees.

I see the following debates

1. The Cause of the Refugees
2. The Processing of Refugees
3. The Intake of Refugees
4. Our Response to Illegal Migration

This is my policy.

1. The Cause of the Refugees

I firmly believe that we as Australians and as a global community need to firstly look at the root of this problem. This problem is caused by oppressive regimes, cruel leaders and civil unrest. This is where our first response should be.

Countries in this situation should be calling on the world to assist them and we should be on the look out to assist them. Regimes like Zimbabwe should NEVER have been allowed to continue by the world community and it is a disgrace that any developed nation just sits by watching.

The first response has to be the prevention of displaced peoples and that occurs by intervention or assistance.

2. The Processing of Refugees

At the end of the day most political leaders are to weak to take a stand on the cause and the UN has also not been the best example of how to act in these situations. As a result we have to deal with the current reality of refugees and it is unlikely that this will disappear in the future because there will always be evil individuals harming others.

So what do we do. We need to pour money into the UNHCR to ensure that claims are processed quickly, and transparently. But we also need to acknowledge that this is not an easy job. These people often don't have evidence of who they are and country in chaos does not have a priority on these issues. You can never assume that anyone applying for refugee status is actually a refugee.

3. The Intake of Refugees

This is simple we need to increase the number of refugees that we intake on an annual basis and in addition we should have "Emergency Intake Plans" if there is a disaster like what has happened in Sri Lanka.

4. Illegal Immigration

I think that sometimes people forget that what these people are doing is illegal. There is no if buts or maybes. They may be genuine refugees or they may not be but they are not going through the right channels (and as I said these channels need to be improved).

It is a privilege to live in Australia not a right and this is true of any country and as such they should be detained.

I think the solution of housing them in a facility that is better than most low socio-economic families live in Australia is not inhuman. Is detaining them for long periods of time desirable? NO. Again this process should be transparent and quick.

These are my unarticulated thoughts.

Chrysostom: Nothing You Can Do to Harm Me

Via Ray Ortlund:

When John Chrysostom (ca. 347-407) was brought before the empress Eudoxia, she threatened him with banishment if he insisted on his Christian independence as a preacher.

"You cannot banish me, for this world is my Father's house."

"But I will kill you," said the empress.

"No, you cannot, for my life is hid with Christ in God," said John.

"I will take away your treasures."

"No, you cannot, for my treasure is in heaven and my heart is there."

"But I will drive you away from your friends and you will have no one left."

"No, you cannot, for I have a Friend in heaven from whom you cannot separate me.

I defy you, for there is nothing you can do to harm me."

Lateline

I really enjoy lateline. Maybe I am getting too old. Have a look at this section.

God is Back

Young and Old Wisdom alike

I had a very interesting chat with wise man over the weekend and a young man that showed wisdom last night.

Why do I preface this post with that?? Because I have seen that there is a great group of guys planting a church in Sydney, which might not be the best thing.

The Wise Man’s Wisdom

The wise man spoke to me about the impact of a particular reformed evangelical group of churches that have planted some great churches but in the process have ripped out of the existing churches the switched on Christians. Leaving behind struggling churches and in turn diminish the work of the kingdom.

The Young Man Who Showed Wisdom

Interestingly this young man is normally known for the stupid things he says or does but he loves the Lord. The other night I saw the true him that has and continues to impress me. It reminded me that in spite of his youthful foolishness at times he is unlike most GenY’s – he is committed to the things that he does and sacrifice his desires for what is best for others and what is true. He raised with me that some of the uni students go to particular churches because they are more attractive – they have good music, their fun and hip, etc. The thing he loves about our church is the community and commitment to the Word of God. He expressed that he would love the music at church to be better but that there are more important things.

I love Sovereign Grace Ministries the work they do is fantastic and they hold theological doctrine and ministry philosophy, which are very similar to myself. I do hold grave fears though for them and Sydney. The reason for this is that they will steal people from other churches in Sydney to build their church both in the way of establishing a core and young Christians going to a church that has it “all together”. In addition to this I am surprised that they have chosen a non- Australian to lead the church. Australians have a specific culture and I do not see it helpful to bring a culturally unaware but ministry experienced Pastor.

I would love to hear your thoughts??

When things just don't work.

Here is a link to a post by Mikey Lynch. I am sad to hear that but not devestated and in some respects I think that it could be the right decision to focues on church planting rather than focusing on a church planting network.

AMEN

Video - Mighty to Save

Mighty to Save from Albert Martin on Vimeo.

I am enjoying this song at the moment.

Christian Debate - Listening to those that you disagree with.

Over today and hopefullly tomorrow I hope to listen to some of the debates from the Christian Book Expo in Dallas (Links to the video feeds here).

So far I have listened to part of

Does the God of Christianity Exist, and What Difference Does It Make?

Stan Guthrie moderates this panel with Lee Strobel, William Lane Craig, Douglas Wilson, Christopher Hitchens, and Jim Denison.

and the whole of

The Emerging Church

Mark Galli moderates this panel with Scot McKnight, Tony Jones, Kevin DeYoung, and Alex and Brett Harris.

I was very keen to listen to the debate on the Emerging and Emergant Church. The first 40 min is just people sharing their grips about what others on the panel had written on the issue under the gise of defining emergant and emerging.

I must say that the most impressive on the panel (to me) were Alex and Brett Harris. They at one stage lovingly 'rebuked' one of the other panel members and then went on later (@ 70:50) to talk about "astounding Biblical illiteracy" of a generation 18 to 33 year olds and parents raising children that worship a "post-modern moralistic dieism".

To be honest this is the struggle that the church continues to face - to raise boys and girls into young men and women that love Jesus and know the Bible. Parenting is the most important role I think that anyone can undertake because how that child is raised will affect (not solely though) what they do with the rest of their life.

I am going to put down a list of things that I think have affected the way children are by the time they hit 18

1. Parents are not at home - I am not saying that it is wrong for 2 parents to work but more so who is raising the kids. Casting Crowns - American Dream. In some case this is no the fault of the parents but a society that requires 2 parents to work to survive. Though from where I stand it has nothing to do with surviving but money and toys that will disappear.
2. Christian parents aren't/ don't know how to raise their kids to love Jesus - Ties back to the first point in some aspects but in addition I am not sure that parents are or know how to raise children to know the Gospel, love chewing on the Bible and stepping up to the tasks ahead of them.
   
3. Poor examples - Whether it is sports stars like Brett Stewart or Shane Warne, movie stars like Mel Gibson or Miley Cyrus, or pop music idols like Britney Spears or 2Pac. There are few good role models out there for kids and unfortunately parents in some case are either bad role models or no role model. We need people to set the standard for the kids around us.
   
4. Low expectations of teenagers - I know some may think that I am stealing the ideas of others here but long before I even know the names of Mark Driscoll, Alex and Brett Harris I was (and still am) passionate to see boys become young men. I honestly believe that there has never been a generation that we expect less of then this current one. Kids don't care - school is a joke, church is attendance and life well I don't need to aim high. What I feel I am seeing through Youth Ministry is a generation that are appathetic to life.
5. Liberalism of society / Post modernism - "It might not be what I think is right but it is ok for them I guess". Along with the fact that kids in Christian families are not bought up with a Chrisitan worldview everyone else out there is telling them just becuase it is wrong for you doesn't mean that it is wrong for me.
   

I think that I relate to this well I grew up going to church knowing that there was a God but it was all about rules to me - BE GOOD. I know that it is wordy but I like the phrase "post-modern moralistic dieism" becuase I think it fits the bill.

As a sub note I was very impressed by Alex and Brett Harris their humility and actions showed a Christ-likeness in them but this did not stop them standing for Truth.