Ten Thousand Kilometres

November 29, 2009
by Rodney Olsen
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cadent_1.jpgI made it … and just over a month early.

By the time I finished cycling today I’d nudged my total for the year to just over 10 000 kilometres. Last year I managed to notch up 5 192 kilometres and I was hoping to get to 10 000 by the end of December. Looks like I’ve now got a bonus month.

As long as nothing major happens between now and the end of the year I should make it past 10 384 to double last year’s total.

Now I need to set myself a target for 2010. I suppose I’ve got a few weeks to think about it but maybe 12 000 would be a good target. That would mean that I need to achieve 1 000 a month.

There are certainly other goals for this year that I won’t or can’t reach but I’m more than pleased to have this one in the bag.

Have you reached any goals or targets this year? Have you started thinking about goals or resolutions for 2010?



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What's your golden ticket?

November 29, 2009
by Rodney Olsen
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goldenticket.jpgIn Roald Dahl’s book Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Willy Wonka gives away a number of gold tickets which allow a group of children and their guardians to take a behind the scenes look at Wonka’s chocolate factory. The factory turns out to be an amazing place full of surprises.

In 2005 I had opportunity to tour the Cadbury factory in Tasmania where I was able to taste many of their chocolatey delights. It wasn’t quite Wonka’s factory but it was very, very tasty.

Recently I’ve been wondering what kind of ‘golden ticket’ I’d like. Where would I like to go for a behind the scenes look? Is there somewhere I’d like to go with an Access All Areas pass?

I wouldn’t mind a golden ticket to the Tour de France. I’d be more than happy to simply be a spectator but it’d be even more exciting to go behind the scenes.

There would certainly be some media organisations that I’d like to tour.

I’m sure that there are other places that a golden ticket would be very handy.

What about you? Where would you like a golden ticket or access all areas pass to take you?



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R U OK?

November 27, 2009
by Rodney Olsen
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RUOK.jpgLosing someone to suicide is such a devastating experience. There’s no chance to talk things through and work towards a solution. It’s an event that fills the rest of your life with so many ‘what if’ questions.

It’s heart breaking to think that some people believe that death by their own hand is a better alternative than continuing to live.

R U OK? is doing something about the tragedy of suicide. They believe that something as simple as a conversation can make a world of difference. That means that you and I can do something that may save someone’s life.

R U OK? is an organisation committed to the prevention of suicide. We want to inspire all Australians to recognise they can make an immediate impact on our country’s shockingly high suicide rate by simply connecting with their friends, colleagues and loved ones. A lack of connection is a major contributing cause of many social issues, particularly suicide.

Suicide claims the lives of more Australians each year than the road toll – over 2000 people every year (Source: ABS 2007 statistics). It is the biggest killer of men and women 15-35 years old. For every person who takes their own life, it is estimated that up to 10 people make an attempt. That means each year approximately 20,000 people are directly affected.

This Sunday has been named R U OK?Day. It’s a day that reminds us to stay connected to those around us and to make sure that those we love are doing OK in the journey of life.

R U OK?Day will be held on November 29th, 2009. It is an annual national day of action that aims to get Australians, right across the entire spectrum of society, connecting with friends and loved ones, by reaching out to anyone doing it tough and simply asking: “Are you ok?”

Why start a conversation? Research shows talking about suicide with someone at risk actually reduces the chances of them taking their life. It is the one thing we can all do to make a real difference. R U OK?Day is about prevention, preventing little problems turning into big problems. So it is not just about asking those at immediate risk.

Connection is a crucial part of general health and well being to help in coping with issues such as stressful life events, mental health problems, relationship breakdowns and bereavement.

While R U OK?Day is an Australian initiative, suicide is a world wide tragedy. Who will you reconnect with today? Who needs you to ask if they’re OK today?



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Majority of Scientists Believe in a Higher Power

November 26, 2009
by Rodney Olsen
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OK, so it’s not an overwhelming majority but it is a majority, which is certainly not what some people want us to believe.

The Los Angeles Times is telling us that while the science community is less likely than the general public to believe in God or a higher power, there is still just over half their number who think there’s more to life than that which can be verified scientifically. Surveys of the general public show a 95% belief in God or higher power.

According to a survey of members of the American Assn. for the Advancement of Science, conducted by the Pew Research Center in May and June this year, a majority of scientists (51%) say they believe in God or a higher power, while 41% say they do not.

You might think that most of those admitting to a belief in God or a higher power would be leaning towards the higher power end of the spectrum when in fact 42% of scientists say that they believe in a personal God.

The research doesn’t show that those who believe in God necessarily believe that he created the world in which we live.

Today, a century and a half after Charles Darwin published “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection,” the overwhelming majority of scientists in the United States accept Darwinian evolution as the basis for understanding how life on Earth developed. But although evolutionary theory is often portrayed as antithetical to religion, it has not destroyed the religious faith of the scientific community.

But what would Darwin have said if he was surveyed on his beliefs? Charles Darwin’s original choice of career was to be a village vicar but it’s said that he lost his faith because it didn’t fit with his thoughts on evolution.

As for Darwin, his letters indicate that he was probably an agnostic who lost his faith not because his groundbreaking theory was incompatible with religion, but because of his grief after the 1851 death of his favorite child, his 10-year-old daughter, Annie. And even then, he may not have completely rejected the idea of a higher power. The concluding sentence of “Origin of Species” speaks of a “Creator” breathing life “into a few forms or into one.” The passage raises at least a little doubt as to how the father of modern evolutionary theory might have responded to the question on belief in Pew’s recent survey of scientists.

What do you think? How would you respond to the question? Is there a God or higher power watching over us? Did that God or higher power create this world or even set the process in motion? I’d love to get your thoughts in the comments section below.

Discovered via Phil Cooke.



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Defending God

November 25, 2009
by Rodney Olsen
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JoeHockey.jpgEarlier this month Joe Hockey, the federal Member for North Sydney and the Shadow Treasurer, delivered an address to the Sydney Instute titled In Defence of God.

Mr Hockey believes that those who would sneer at religious faith have it wrong.

Faith and religion have come under assault in recent times from several best-selling and high profile commentators. I want to respond to the challenge that they have posed to those of us who take a positive view about the role of faith in the advancement of humanity.

He boldly defends faith and a belief in God but his understanding of who God is and the reliability of the Christian scriptures will not please everyone.

I do think that one of the reasons why Christian faith has declined in the Western world is because of the reliance placed on a literal reading of the testaments by church leaders.

Such an approach has tangled the Christian faith in a confusion of contradictions.

By encouraging literalist analysis of the Bible many churches have inadvertently invited people to question the validity of a faith that seems to be based on questionable facts or outdated prescriptions.

He rejects the God of the Old Testament as being a God intent on revenge.

Mr Hockey’s understanding of faith is a lot more about respect for others, acts of service, moral strength and working for the greater good. His faith is noble and all inclusive yet, I believe, without a strong anchor.

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 Vice President elect of the Baptist World Alliance. Each week we chat about a range of issues relating to spirituality and belief.

Today we discussed Joe Hockey’s address and asked the question of who he believes Jesus to be. Ross recently had the opportunity to speak directly with Joe Hockey and sought clarification on his address. You can hear our discussion by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

While I don’t hold to the same understanding of faith that Mr Hockey does, I applaud his honesty and boldness in raising the issues that he has.

[audio:http://mpegmedia.sonshinefm.ws/feeds/SPI251109_1337.mp3]

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