You did what?

If you’ve already been caught once earlier in the day, why would you take the chance again?

This story at News.com.au shows that some people are determined to take stupidity to new heights.

Posted by Rodney Olsen

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Ouch!

I didn’t say anything that I shouldn’t have said.

I just stood there, hunched over, breathing deeply.

Eventually I was able to stand up and carry on.

I was bending over, looking through our CD collection last night. I found what I needed and stood up. That’s when my head made fairly heavy contact with the right hand stereo speaker which we have mounted on the wall.

It’s a fairly robust piece of equipment so I don’t think it felt the impact but my head certainly did.

It didn’t break the skin but it’s still quite sore today. I’m wondering if it might be safer for me to start wearing my bicycle helmet inside the house.

Posted by Rodney Olsen

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Freemasonry

Do you know the secret handshake?

Whenever a group of people operate in secret there’s bound to be suspicions raised. Just because they choose not to reveal everything about the way they operate doesn’t necessarily mean that what they’re doing is wrong but it does open them up to anyone who wants to make claims, true or false, about what they’re doing behind closed doors.

That seems to have been the case with Freemasons over the years. Some incredible claims have been made about them with some even claiming that they indulge in Satan worship.

So what do Freemasons believe? Where did it all begin? Should we embrace Freemasonry or are there legitimate warnings we should heed?

My regular Wednesday morning guest on 98.5 Sonshine FM is Ross Clifford who 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 Ross explored Freemasonry with all its symbolism, secret initiations and handshakes, its various levels and its belief in a supreme being.

What conclusions did Ross draw? Click here to listen to our discussion then feel free to have your say in the comments section of this post.

Posted by Rodney Olsen

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If you can't say something nice …

It takes a special kind of person to be a politician.

What thoughts flooded your mind as you read that sentence? What do you really think of politicians?

We’ve learnt to be pretty cynical when it comes to our elected representatives. “They’re just out for themselves.” “They’re all corrupt.” “They’re out of touch with the people that put them in power.” “They’re all liars.” These are the sorts of things we’re used to hearing about those in public office.

I’ve met many politicians from both sides of politics and have found that most of them are decent people who truly want to make a difference in their community. I’m sure that there are power hungry people among their number and that others have lost their way after being elected but more often than not I’m impressed by the integrity of those that serve us in parliament.

What I really don’t like about politics is the personal attacks and the name calling and it appears that I’m not alone. News.com.au is reporting that the Liberals’ attacks on Labor leader, Kevin Rudd, have had the opposite effect to what they had hoped. Instead of damaging Rudd’s showing in the polls, Labor has opened up an even greater lead over the government.

Liberal backbenchers have privately queried Government attacks on Labor leader Kevin Rudd as yet another poll showed the tactic was backfiring.

Today’s Newspoll put Labor’s primary vote at 52 per cent – a 20 year high – and dissatisfaction with Prime Minister John Howard at 50 per cent.

I know that part of the task of a politician is to show flaws in the arguments of their opposite number, but the public is pretty sick of mud slinging.

Being in an election year means that there’ll be a lot more push and shove over the coming months but I’m hoping that people of all political persuasions will have the decency to focus on the issues at hand and not try to sidetrack the debate with personal insults. Of course if someone’s integrity is truly in question we need to know about it and be given the opportunity to decide with all the relevant details out in the open, but let’s hope it’ll be a clean campaign.

There is too much at stake for us to be losing sight of the real issues.

Posted by Rodney Olsen

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Re-imagining fellowship

What does the word ‘fellowship’ mean for you?

Andrew at Tall Skinny Kiwi has a great post looking at the word and what it truly means. It might surprise you.

It seems it’s not a pleasant chat over a cup of bad coffee after all. It’s more about committing yourself to other people and connecting your life with theirs.

Check out the post and start re-imagining fellowship.

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