On the Other Side

radiothon-2016

For many years I worked in radio at 98five. For the last three years I’ve been working for Compassion Australia.

Last week I was on the other side of the broadcast desk. After conducting hundreds of interviews during my time in radio, I was instead the one being interviewed when I dropped in to take part in 98five’s annual Radiothon. I was a guest during the breakfast program with Kirste and Morro.

If you want to hear how it all went, just click the play button on the audio player below.



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Road to Bethlehem 2016

manger

It’s just under a month until Christmas and I’m getting ready to journey on the Road to Bethlehem once again.

Travel back in time and take a journey through the streets to Jesus’ birthplace – Bethlehem. See a wise man discovering the prophecy of Jesus’ birth and enjoy the atmosphere of the marketplace. Discover the extravagance of Herod’s palace and the excitement of the shepherds as they are told of Jesus’ birth.

But watch out! Don’t get in the way of the soldiers or you may end up spending the night in prison. Be wary of the perfume salesmen in the marketplace – they won’t take “no” for an answer.

Admission is free, so take some time to enjoy the food available for purchase from the food stalls and the family entertainment in the Welcome Area.

There is plenty to do and see including Camel Rides, a Bouncy Castle, Joseph’s Workshop, Christian Bookshop, Health Assessments and much, much more!

The Road to Bethlehem 2016 will run for three nights, from the 12th to the 14th of December, at Livingston Seventh-day Adventist Church and Community Centre. It’s just opposite Livingston Market Place Shopping Centre in Canning Vale.

Our family visited the annual event for a number of years before I was invited to join the cast. This year I’ll be a wise man (no really, I will) and my son James will be a shepherd.

If you’re tired of all the usual hype at this time of year, come and revisit the true meaning of Christmas.

You can find out more or book a few tickets at the official Road to Bethlehem website.



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Soundtrack of my Life – How to Make Gravy

Soundtrack of my Life This is one of a regular series of articles highlighting some of the music that has played a part in my life. You’ll find a range of songs from old to new. Whether it’s the lyrics, the music, a time in my life, or a combination of reasons, the songs in my soundtrack are part of who I am.

If you take a good look you’ll probably find music that has been part of the soundtrack of your life too. You can also check out some of the other songs that make up the soundtrack of my life.

How to Make Gravy – Paul Kelly

We’re less than a month from Christmas and so I’ve added a heap of Christmas music into my iPod playlist. I love all the Christmas classics but Paul Kelly’s How to Make Gravy is something special. It’s a heartfelt song that brings many to tears when they hear it each year.

It’s not your usually cheery Christmas song but I think it touches on the reality of the season for many. It’s not always a happy time. Sometimes it’s a reminder of bad choices and fractured relationships.

How to Make Gravy is a four-track EP by Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly and was originally released on 4 November 1996 on White Label Records in Australia. The title track was written by Kelly and earned him a ‘Song of the Year’ nomination at the 1998 Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA) Music Awards.

It tells the story of a newly imprisoned man writing a letter to his brother, in which the prisoner laments that he will be missing the family’s Christmas celebrations. The same character appears in Kelly’s earlier songs, “To Her Door” (1987) and “Love Never Runs on Time” (1994).

The gravy recipe is genuine – Kelly learnt it from his first father-in-law. It was covered by James Reyne on the 2003 tribute album, Stories of Me: A Songwriter’s Tribute to Paul Kelly and on Reyne’s 2005 acoustic album …And the Horse You Rode in On. It has also been covered by David Miles, From Nowhere, Semicolon, Ghostwriters, Karl Broadie and Lawrence Agar. In September 2010, Kelly titled his memoirs, How to Make Gravy. On 29 September 2012 Kelly performed “How to Make Gravy” and “Leaps and Bounds” at the 2012 AFL Grand Final. – Wiki

I’d encourage you to get involved too. Let me know about some of the songs that are etched in your mind. What are the tunes that bring back a flood of memories every time their opening notes start cranking out on your stereo? Are there songs you love for their music and others that speak deeply through their lyrics? Maybe you can let me know about which Christmas songs bring back great memories for you.



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White Ribbon Day 2016

wrd-oath-2016

I could ask if you know a woman who is affected by domestic violence but instead let me say that whether you know it or not, you do know someone.

According to information from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in three women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence perpetrated by someone known to them. That means that it is extremely likely that there are women in your family, among your friends, and in your workplace who have experienced domestic violence. How can this be happening in Australia?

25 November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women also known as White Ribbon Day.

This year, we’re acknowledging the fact that men’s violence against women is everyone’s issue. Get involved and spread the word today.

In the very place where women should be able to feel safe, their own homes, many are at the highest risk.

When you look across an entire year you’ll see that on average, one woman is killed every week by a current or former partner in Australia. One in four young Australians are exposed to domestic violence. In such an amazing country, how have we allowed this to happen? Are we prepared to let this continue?

You might feel that domestic violence is someone else’s problem but with it having such a dramatic effect across our nation, it’s everyone’s problem. White Ribbon Australia calling on men, women, workplaces, young people and the whole community to uncover secrets and help stop men’s violence against women.

So, how do you know if someone you know or love if experiencing domestic violence?

Most violence against women happens in the home and other private places, so you probably won’t see it happening. Here are signs that a woman is experiencing violence and abuse:

• She often mentions that her partner is ‘jealous’ or has a ‘bad temper’.

• She is afraid of her partner and tries hard to please him.

• Her partner criticises and humiliates her in public.

• She has become increasingly anxious or depressed, has lost confidence or is unusually quiet.

• She has physical injuries (for example bruises, cuts and sprains) and gives unlikely explanations for these injuries.

• She tells you that her partner pressures or forces her to perform sexual acts.

• Her partner makes all the decisions, for example he controls the finances and tells her who she can and can’t see.

• Her children seem frightened of her partner, have behavioural issues or are withdrawn and anxious.

• She doesn’t want to leave her children alone with her partner.

• If she has left the relationship, her ex-partner calls or emails her constantly, follows her, comes to her house uninvited or waits for her at work.

I will stand up, speak out and act to prevent men’s violence against women.

Take the oath to stand up, speak out and act to prevent domestic violence. If you’re still wondering what you can do about it, spend a bit of time checking out the White Ribbon website. While you’re there, I hope you’ll also throw in a few dollars to help the White Ribbon cause.

This violence must stop. You must be part of the solution.



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Imagine Generosity

einstein

Imagination is powerful. Imagination takes us from where we are to where we could be. Imagination drives us forward to a better future.

German-born theoretical physicist, Albert Einstein, knew the power of imagination.

I am enough of the artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. – Albert Einstein

Our knowledge tells us what we have already discovered and found to be true. Imagination expands our thinking to discover what might be. It tells us that what we know so far isn’t all there is to know. Imagination says that things don’t have to stay the way they are. We can imagine a better tomorrow.

Will you dare to imagine?

Perth’s Christian radio station, 98five, is asking people to imagine.

Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-control.

Take a moment and imagine if these things permeated our community!

Imagine what impact and changes would happen in the lives of West Australians!

Will you dare to imagine?

Without imagination, our communities, our city, our state, our country and our world might be fooled into believing that this is as good as it gets. Surely we can imagine better.

98five is asking people what they can imagine for Perth but I reckon we can all imagine better for our own communities wherever we are.

What can you imagine?

I can imagine a Perth that is more generous. I don’t just mean being generous in the sense of handing over some dollars for a good cause. People in Perth are already pretty good at that. Whenever there’s an appeal for someone in need or for a cause that requires funding, the people of Perth respond in amazing ways.

There’s more to generosity.

When I look at definitions for ‘generous’ or ‘generosity’ I see phrases like, “willingness and liberality in giving away one’s money, time”, “willing to give money, help, kindness, etc., especially more than is usual or expected” and “kindness, especially in giving things to people” but I also find phrases like, “abundance, plenty” and “freedom from pettiness in character and mind”.

Yes, I think there’s always more room for being generous with our money. There are wonderful organisations such as 98five which can only operate when people are prepared to give, (You can donate right now to their Radiothon) but we need to broaden our idea of generosity.

I like the definition that speaks of “freedom from pettiness in character and mind”.

Imagine if we refused the pettiness that can sometimes entangle us and decided to think the best of others. Imagine if we refused to make our first response one of thinking badly of others but instead we considered others better than ourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. – Philippians 2:3

Imagine if we simply decided to give others the benefit of the doubt.

Imagine if we treated others with the same kindness that we’d like to experience.

Imagine if we were truly generous with our opinions of others and their motives. Sure, there would be times that we might be disappointed but surely generosity is a better starting point than cynicism and suspicion becoming our default position.

Imagine a generosity that chose to forgive rather than keep score.

Let’s decide to be more open handed with others. Let’s imagine a community that lavishes honour, love and concern on others. Let’s be generous. And yes, not everyone may ‘deserve’ that generosity but I can assure you that I am the least deserving of a God who would give everything, including his own son, to restore relationship with me. I am the least deserving, yet I am incredibly thankful.

Imagine.



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