Jesus Loves Osama

February 7, 2007
by Rodney Olsen
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Does love mean approval? If we love someone can we dissaprove of their actions?

Signs claiming that Jesus Loves Osama have been popping up in front of churches in the Australian state of New South Wales over the past week or so and they’re gaining plenty of attention.

The media has focussed on the Baptist churches that have displayed the signs but a number of other denominations have been using the same message.

While the signs may state the fact that Jesus loves everyone, it seems that they’re conveying a very different message. Many people have criticised the signs because they believe that the message they portray is that Jesus is in Osama’s corner and approves of his actions. It’s another reminder that what we say isn’t necessarily what is understood.

What do you think? While the churches are certainly putting the truth out there, the truth is open to misinterpretation when you’re using so few words to spread your message. On the other hand if the church isn’t shaking things up and causing people to think, is it really doing its job?

My regular Wednesday morning guest on 98.5 Sonshine FM is Ross Clifford is the Principal of Morling College in New South Wales and current President of the Baptist Union of Australia. Each week we chat about a range of issues relating to spirituality and belief.

Today we tackled the controversy surrounding the signs and discussed the pros and cons of such an approach.

You can listen to our conversation by clicking here or go to the Audio On Demand service to subscribe to our weekly segment so that you never miss what Ross has to say.

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Laughter's still the best medicine

February 7, 2007
by Rodney Olsen
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Each Wednesday I’m joined by Louise Kelman during my morning radio programme on 98.5 Sonshine FM.

Lou is a comedy performer who, together with her sister Suzanne, wrote a book titled Big Purple Undies. After its huge success they wrote a show based around the book and toured it very succesfully through the US.

As well as looking at a number of weird but true news stories, we tend to chat about anything and nothing at the same time.

You can click here and our very random chat from this morning.

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Driving memories

February 7, 2007
by Rodney Olsen
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Sarah’s celebrating an anniversary.

I read a post on Sarah’s blog, This is What Sed Said, this morning about her 6th anniversary of driving. 6 years ago yesterday, on her third try, she was handed the piece of paper that let her loose on our roads. Congratulations Sarah.

Her wonderful post reminded me of my early driving experiences.

I took my driving test on my 17th birthday, the very first day that I was eligible. I remember half way through the test being asked to do a three point turn. I got part way through the manoeuvre and realised that I needed to do a five point turn or drive over someone’s curb to keep it to three. I chose the curb.

At the end of the test I had no idea if I had passed or failed. The examiner turned to me and said that I was quite nervous but he thought I’d do alright. I’d passed.

Thanks Skipper.

The examiner’s name was Alan Hale. I only remember that because Alan Hale was also the name of the guy who played the Skipper in Gilligan’s Island. During the test Alan told me that his son was an apprentice chef, as I was at the time. He mentioned something regarding which Technical School his son was attending. I knew that wasn’t possible but I chose not to correct his honest mistake. Sometimes it’s best to stay quiet.

In July this year I will have been driving for 27 years. Considering that a lot of people in the blogosphere haven’t even been on the planet for 27 years this simple fact makes me feel old.

Cars I’ve owned.

My first car was a 1972 TC Ford Cortina, similar to the one in the picture. Since then I’ve owned a mid 70s 4 cyclinder Ford Transit Van, a 1978 XC Ford Falcon, a 1980 6 cyclinder Ford Transit Van, a 1976 Ford Escort, a 1980 XD Ford Fairmont and a 1991 EB Ford Falcon. You can probably see a theme here. I haven’t actually owned a car for a number of years but I drive Pauline’s car when we go anywhere as a family. Her car is a 1999 Toyota Camry.

Each of the cars I’ve owned brings back certain memories. That ’72 Cortina took me and a couple of mates across Australia and back on a month’s holiday. It also served as a taxi for a lot of other friends as did many of my other vehicles. I’ve got great memories of that Fairmont with ribbons attached being used as our wedding car. Most of the memories relate back to the people I had the pleasure of being with at the time of owning each of those cars.

Can you remember all the cars you’ve owned? What about that moment when you were told that you had passed your driver’s test? Did you think that your license was your key to freedom? How many years have you been driving?

These days I’m much happier on my bicycle but it’s still handy to have the use of a car from time to time.

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