September, 2011:

Vinyl and CD Sale

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What’s round, black and about the size of a pizza?

A vinyl album … and after over 23 years on air 98.5 Sonshine FM has thousands to clear, from Beethoven to Bowie, Keith Green to Amy Grant. There will be many old favourites as well as rare albums, some of which have never been played.

We’re selling stacks of Christian and mainstream albums and CDs at the Thornlie Christian College Open Day this Saturday. I’m looking forward to being there broadcasting live.

If you’re in the Perth area, you can grab some music history at Thornlie Christian College Open Day, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. this Saturday. You’ll find the college at 19 Furley Road in Southern River.

While you’re there you can check out the college, enjoy some entertainment and grab something to eat or drink.

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Christian Carnival Returns

Sep 12th, 2011

by Rodney Olsen.

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Would you like the opportunity to have your blog promoted? Have you published a post that you’d like read by a wider audience?

I’m having some friends drop in to my faith blog, Beyond Belief, this week for the next Christian Carnival. They’ll be visiting from all over the world and you’re invited to join us.

The weekly Christian Carnival is an opportunity for Christian blog writers to share their best posts from the previous week. The topic of the post doesn’t necessarily have to focus on Christianity but it must reflect a Christian worldview, and the writer must be Christian to qualify. You may wish to consider that the readership of the Christian Carnival will be more varied than your usual readership, and you might do better contributing a post with broad appeal.

I’ve already received a number of contributions and I’m looking forward to offering readers of Beyond Belief some great links when the carnival is published.

If you’re a Christian and you’ve never contributed before, or if it’s been a while since you have, how about having a look through your posts for this week and choosing something to contribute. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece, just a post that outlines your point of view or is designed to get others thinking. Being part of the carnival could be a great way to gain a little extra traffic at your blog.

The easiest way to get involved is to submit your article through the Blog Carnival Submission Form. Otherwise, you can email the submission address.

The deadline for submissions is Tuesday evening at midnight, Eastern (US) Standard Time. That means it’s midday Wednesday here in Perth, Western Australia.

I’ll let you know when the carnival is published at Beyond Belief.

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Buy a Cycling Jersey to Suppport Cancer Ride

Sep 12th, 2011

by Rodney Olsen.

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I’ve written here before about my upcoming Ride for Cancer

I’m about to undertake a bike ride of over 500 km from Albany to Perth to raise funds for Cancer Council Western Australia. This will be the third year in a row that I’ve cycled for this cause. I feel very strongly about it and if you’ve been effected by cancer, I’m sure you do too. The work being done by Cancer Council Western Australia is having effects right around the world through their high level research.

I’ll be joined by twelve other cyclists and each morning for a week I’ll be sharing cancer stories on the Morning Café, my 98.5 Sonshine FM radio program, before hopping onto my bike just after midday to cycle to the next town. The ride will start on the 31st of October and we’ll arrive back in Perth on Saturday the 5th of November.

The team is hoping to raise over $20 000 for Cancer Council WA. I’ve set my personal goal at $2000.

You can give directly by going to the secure Everyday Hero fund raising site set up especially for the ride. Just click the Donate Now button and select my name as the team member you’d like to support.

Buy your own exclusive jersey

Another way you can help the cause and get something for yourself is to buy a limited edition cycling jersey. These jerseys will be the same as those that the team of riders on the Albany to Perth ride will wear.

Perth Integrated Health have jumped on board as a major supporter of the Cancer Ride this year and have set up an online store for those who’d like to buy one of the limited edition jerseys. Orders close on Monday the 26th of September so you have only two weeks to order.

Follow the link to get all the details and see both the front and back views of the jersey.

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Tim Costello talks about East Africa

Sep 8th, 2011

by Rodney Olsen.

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A disaster is currently unfolding in Africa. Millions of people are in desperate need and yet we’re hearing very little about the death and suffering that is happening right now. It can be stopped if we only have the will to intervene and do something now.

Countries in East Africa, including the Horn of Africa, have again been struck by severe drought, affecting the lives of some 13 million people. Combined with massively inflated food prices, people’s access to food and water is in jeopardy. Conflict in Somalia is affecting communities’ access to food, water, health and education services.

Over many years Tim Costello has been the voice of social conscience for many Australians, having led debates on issues such as gambling, urban poverty, homelessness, reconciliation and substance abuse. He’s someone who takes the often talked about Aussie value of giving everyone a fair go and gives it a practical expression.

As CEO of World Vision Australia, Tim leads an organisation that with the support of more than 400 000 Australians, helps more than 20 million people every year. He joined me on my Morning Café radio program today on 98.5 Sonshine FM. You can hear our conversation by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

I started by asking Tim why we haven’t heard more about this massive need. Have we become hardened to the plight of others or are there other reasons for the world’s lack of action?

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Father’s Day 2011

Sep 4th, 2011

by Rodney Olsen.

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It’s Father’s Day here in Australia.

While I celebrate with my children I’m also aware that this will be my tenth Father’s Day without my own dad. Dad passed away in August 2002, just a few days before his 83rd birthday.

I really do miss dad but it’s not with an overwhelming sadness because I know he’s in a better place and I know I’ll see him again one day.

I still wish he was able to see Emily and James growing up into the wonderful young people that they’re becoming and to get to know Pauline even better.

I wish I could sit down and hear him tell me one of his stories …. again …. and again.

I look forward to a new day when we’ll catch up on everything we’ve missed over the years.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” – Revelation 21:4