Friday Five

February 6, 2004
by Rodney Olsen
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It’s Friday Five time.

1. What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever done?

Got way too close to the edge of the cliffs at the Great Australian Bight. (I’m terrified of heights.)

2. What one thing would you like to try that your mother/friend/significant other would never approve of?

Cycle all the way around Australia when I retire. (Not that I’ll be retiring for another 20 or 30 years.)

3. On a scale of 1-10, what’s your risk factor? (1=never take risks, 10=it’s a lifestyle)

About a six I think. I would have said seven but that was too risky.

4. What’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you as a result of being bold/risky?

I asked Pauline to marry me. She said yes.

5. … and what’s the worst?

I can’t think of anything really bad. Maybe I should start taking a few more risks.



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Birdies, Eagles and Sharing Your Faith

February 6, 2004
by Rodney Olsen
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When I attended an education conference in Singapore back in 1986, a professor from Wollongong University spoke about language acquisition (how we learn language).

He talked about three things that need to be present for a child to learn language when they start to talk.

1. They must believe they are a potential doer.

2. They must believe it will further the purposes of their life.

3. They must believe it is safe to have a go.

Are they a potential doer? A child sees that everyone around them is talking so they have no reason to believe that they can’t do it too.

Will it further the purposes of their life? When dad says, “Pass the bread please.” He gets given the bread. Neat trick. “That’d be handy for me to learn.”

Is it safe to have a go? Parents don’t normally say, “Junior, you’re putting the verb and the nouns in the wrong place in your sentences. Talk properly.” Kids know that they can approximate language and develop in their use of it in a safe environment.

I believe these three things also dictate our ability to learn in general.

I heard on the radio that some golfer had birdied 3 holes today. What the? I have heard endless stories on golf talking about birdies and eagles but they still mean nothing to me. Being immersed in the language of golf and seeing lots of it on TV sports stories hasn’t helped me to learn anything about it. Why? I don’t believe that I’m a potential doer. I don’t believe golf will further the purposes of my life. With my coordination, I don’t feel it’s safe to have a go.

Finally I come to the point. When we express our faith, either personally or in our corporate meetings, do we convey those three concepts? Do others really believe that they are a potential Christian based on what we demonstrate as being Christian? From what they see of us and our faith, do they really think it’ll further the purposes of their life to get involved with Jesus? Do we give people trying to explore our faith the license to make mistakes so that it’s safe to have a go?

I might take this one further sometime but the post is already way too long. I’d appreciate your thoughts.



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Bight Me

February 4, 2004
by Rodney Olsen
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When we cycled past the Great Australian Bight last year we stopped to have a quick look at the cliffs. I was once again reminded of one of the great lessons God taught me on one of my first visits by bike.

Many years ago on our way to Canberra by pushbike, we stopped for a quick peek. Being someone who’s afraid of heights I wasn’t too keen on getting too close to the edge.

From a safe distance back I could see a spectacular view across the ocean and some of the other cliffs.

When I finally plucked up the courage to move slowly forward I got to the edge – on my hands and knees mind you – but I got there. The view was so much better because I could look down and see the surf pounding the rocks. I could see a lizard running through the cracks in the rocks. I could look straight down and see the rock-face disappear before my eyes. I was up close to the action and the view was no longer just ‘nice’ it was breathtaking, exhilarating.

I could have thought – no that’s not for me – and to this day I would never have known what I’d missed. I would still think I’d seen the most spectacular view. It was only when I moved away from my comfort zone and got close to the edge that I realised what it was all about.

We need to move out of what’s comfortable when we serve God because it’s only when we can rely on nothing else but God that God can truly work.

As we seek to serve God we can do one of two things. Do our very best for God and hope that it’ll be good enough – or let God do his best through us – knowing that nothing less really is good enough.

It’s scary when we’re not in control and we don’t know where God will lead us next but it’s a fantastic ride.

God is calling each of us to participate in his plans for this world. Not if we feel comfortable about it but calling us to be involved – relying only on the fact that we know the God we serve – and we know that he will equip us for every task.

Are we listening? More importantly – are we obeying?



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40.6

February 3, 2004
by Rodney Olsen
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The temperature in Perth is currently just a tad under 40 degrees celsius. It got to 40.6 degrees a couple of hours ago and hasn’t moved a lot since.

I’ll go and pick up Emily from school soon and I’m sure the whole family will slump into the pool to cool down for a while. Phew.



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The Picture Doesn't Tell the Full Story

February 3, 2004
by Rodney Olsen
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Click here to create your own visited country map

I’ve seen a few of these maps around and thought I might add one.

It makes it look like I’ve travelled through the US when the fact is that I spent a few hours at Honolulu airport in transit and then several more hours wandering around aiports in San Francisco and Salt Lake City on my way to Canada.

My overseas travelling is limited to a 10 day visit to Singapore in 1986, two weeks in Canada in 1992 and two weeks in India in February last year.



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