…two things that fascinate me.
Kangaroos are just plain interesting animals…and the ones who live in the Moree Cemetary and the neighbouring golf course (because there’s always water during droughts in those two places) are beauitfully tame. And growing up, the local cemetary – which is a very short walk from my childhood home – was a great place to ride a bike, play in the water sprinklers on a hot summers day (with the kangaroos) and learn about town history. Like the fact Charles Dickens’ son died here. You already knew I was a bit weird. Sent from my Nokia E71 on 3Archive for August, 2009
We’ve come to Moree for a few days.
I might write more about that later, but for now, some views from around my childhood home. A fair bit of the landscaping was done by me. I really enjoy gardening…it’s been a long time.Sent from my Nokia E71 on 3
Earlier today, Diane and I took advantage of our 5th season (sprinter – look it up, it’s been in the news the past week or so…in Australia anyway) and visited the upper Hawkesbury and lower Blue Mountains, another of our favourite areas on the outskirts of the city.
We had lunch at an unexpectedly delightful cafe on Bellbird Hill.
Bellbirds are relatively rare, and even where they live they’re hardly ever seen, but are certainly heard.
Turns out this hill is very well named, and we enjoyed a lazy lunch in the sun listening to the unique bellbird song.
As usual, this video won’t do them any justice, but that’s never stopped me before…
Sent from my Nokia E71 on 3
Feeling like a holiday? Well, as far as value for money** to some destinations, your timing couldn’t be better.
There are loads of great travel deals available at the moment, so take advantage of them for some R&R.
Online travel company Expedia.com.au, in conjunction with foreign exchange specialist HiFX, recently produced the Expedia Foreign Exchange Index, which reveals the top 10 destinations where Australians can get the best value for money while travelling.
The top 10 countries to visit based on the index are:
- Iceland – stunning with beautiful wilderness areas
- Poland – amazing history and architecture
- Fiji – relaxing with loads of pristine beaches
- Mexico – rich and vibrant with a colourful history
- Russia – a shopper’s dream with plenty of high fashion stores
- Sweden – full of character and quaint villages
- Romania – dotted with fantastic castles
- Hungary – has 22 wine regions
- Norway – features 24 hours of daylight in the summer
- Argentina – known for tango, music and delicious barbeques.
The Expedia Foreign Exchange Index is updated on an annual basis.
** Traditionally, Iceland has been a very expensive place to visit from anywhere…let alone Australia. It’s hard to find a place on earth further away from Australia than Iceland… And yet, here it is, on top of a list of value for money destinations.
We’ve always wanted to go…but time & cash are currently fairly significant obstacles.
Oh, and wanting to visit some other people and places first 
We live in a time of unprecedented change. The sci-fi writer and futurist Arthur C. Clark noted that, “Only a century ago the poles were utterly unknown, much of Africa was still as mysterious as in the time of King Solomon, and no human being had descended 100 feet into the sea or risen more than a mile into the air.” Today, the knowledge in the world is doubling every two years — and the rate is itself increasing. Amazing new and emerging technologies, such as nanorobotics, biotech and gene technologies, offer unprecedented opportunities for progress on many fronts.
Of course, every technology has a potential down-side, and we must be wary of how far we travel down the road of hi-tech, and how fast. On the whole, though, we live in exciting – if sometimes worrying – times. Yet the future of human communities, cities and nations is not determined simply by technological advance. Neither will it be simply the product of what risk analysts call ‘low probability – high consequence’ events (such as earthquakes or tsunamis). The future of cities and communities is determined by human responses to events.
Human choices will shape the future, deciding among other things how technologies should be utilized and how we should interface with our natural environment. However, human choices don’t appear in a vacuum; they are products of our values, aspirations and fears. Because we are social beings, our values are heavily influenced by the cultures – the norms of behaviour and worldviews – of the various groups to which we belong. These cultures are shaped to a significant degree by the actions (or, inaction) of leaders.
Whether in the spheres of business, politics, economics, media, academia, religion or community organizations, leaders don’t just build structures, they are architects of culture. It’s the strength of a community’s culture that determines how that community will respond to the major challenges and questions it will face. Leaders can reshape the future of entire communities and cities, by creating positive, proactive cultures within their spheres of influence. In fact, this is the core of the leadership call: to move organisations – and through them entire communities – forward in a positive direction.
The major role of leadership is to equip people to shape the future proactively – for themselves and for the world.
If the next decade, with its fast moving technological advances and natural and ethical challenges, is to see the world become a better place for most, if not all, of its inhabitants, leaders of all stripes will need to take that role seriously and engage the future with hope and courage. If its leaders think and act in the right way, the church has the opportunity to become a landmark for communities in constant change.
We have the opportunity – indeed, the responsibility – to develop strategies that will move entire communities forward in a positive and godly direction. By building strategic, future-engaging cultures of hope in our churches, we can shape the direction of communities and entire cities.
The author of this article, Mal Fletcher, heads up Next Wave International, a communications group which is training companies, major community organizations, charities and churches to engage the future and move society forward in a positive direction.
Source: Derek Brown – rediscoveringthekingdom.info via Australian Prayer Network
In the wake of Iran’s controversial election results, protesters continue to take their dissatisfaction to the streets of Tehran.
The country responded by stiffening its deadly stance against protesters, refusing a new vote and expelling diplomats accused of spying. Their actions stepped up what could be the beginning of much worse oppression to come, says Glenn Penner of Voice of the Martyrs Canada. “Recent comments by the Iranian government and by the Ayatollah apportioning blame on foreign elements for these mass demonstrations is very concerning.”
Linking national unrest with international interference has resulted in increasing targeting of religious minorities, such as Christians. The situation for Christians worsened under Ahmadinejad’s previous term of presidency. That’s certainly going to deteriorate in the middle of this political chaos.
Iran’s population is over 71 million. 99.4% of are Islamic. The largest people group in Iran are the over 25 million Persians. The second largest group are the over 14 million Azeri Turk Azerbaijani people.
Pray for all the 94 least-reached people groups still living in Iran.
Source : Intercessors Network via Australian Prayer Network
Come join the fun of Sunday Setlists over at FredMckinnon.com, and see how churches around the world have been worshipping this week.
Something a bit different this week. Kinda.
Our church had its worship service on Saturday night because Sunday was the annual Ferragosto festival on the street where our church is, meaning we couldn’t open very easily because all parking for miles around is clogged with festival goer traffic.
However, our Ablaze Band did play on the main stage of the festival and I’ve heard that went well.
Meanwhile, I was up at the ski-fields with Diane and a few other friends for a long weekend. Rather perversely, the weather in Sydney bore a much closer resemblance to summer than winter, so I’m glad we took the opportunity to experience a little bit of real winter up in the snow.
Music
Saturday PM
1. Rock of Ages (Rita Baloche)
2. Worthy Is The Lamb (Murgida / Awesome Church)
3. Where You Go, I Go (Johnson, Mohr / Bethel)
…then following tithes, offerings, news…
4. I Walk By Faith (Chris Falson)
Dante led the team for this service, and…I’ve not had a chance to talk to him or anyone else who was at the service yet, so I’ve no idea how it went. Ha! And yes, a deliberately retro-tastic song-list this week. We do that every now and then, and it might happen more and more. If it went over well of course.
UPDATE : after our worship practice and meeting last night, I can confirm it was awesome. So more retro-tasticism to follow in the near future
So, we had a great weekend, and I reckon the team and church did back here at home too. Guess I should find out soon though, huh.
Note for Facebook readers : remember if I post a video or song, you’ll need to actually click through to my blog to see or listen. You know you want to.
Or Cantberra as it has also been known…
Here’s that ultra dodgy video as promised…full of useless facts and possible facts. And wind noise.
Sent from my Nokia E71 on 3
Canberra, the seat of our Federal Parliament, seems to be much maligned by the majority of the Australian people.
So, because we’re perverse, Diane and I really like it and visit any time we have the opportunity.
Such as today on our way home from our snow trip.
If you’re really fortunate, I might post some dodgy video* later.
Or not…
*I’m going to be getting an iPhone in the next few weeks, which should mean the tech aspects of my dodgy videos get less dodgy. All other aspects of dodginess are likely to remain unchanged, unless holding an iPhone somehow improves my sense of cinematography…
Sent from my Nokia E71 on 3
wait…didn’t we come here for the snow???
Sent from my Nokia E71 on 3
