RodneyOlsen.Net

Evidence for the Resurrection

Apr 12th, 2012

Evidence is not necessarily proof. Evidence simply helps us establish facts to help us reach a verdict.

Some evidence can be so compelling that it is serves as proof but other times the evidence is like the pieces in a jigsaw puzzle, giving us a clearer picture with every piece we manage to place correctly.

When we talk about the Easter story we can think that the idea of Jesus Christ dying then being raised from the dead is either something you blindly believe or something you reject out of hand. We may think that with the events in question being so long ago that there’s no evidence to review to make an informed decision.

The fact is that if we look at writings from the time and at the Biblical records we can find evidence that needs to be taken seriously.

My regular Wednesday morning guest on 98.5 Sonshine FM is Rev Dr Ross Clifford who is the Principal of Morling College in New South Wales. Each week we chat about a range of issues relating to spirituality and belief.

Yesterday we discussed five pieces of evidence that many Christians and sceptics agree need to be evaluated if we’re looking to come to a conclusion on the authenticity of the claims of Jesus’ resurrection.

If you’re serious about looking at the evidence just click the play button on the audio player below to hear our conversation.

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Posted in: Faith.
Tagged: Easter · Evidence · Jesus · Ressurection
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Titanic Memorial Cruise

Apr 9th, 2012

by Rodney Olsen.

1 comment

I see that a cruise ship carrying descendants of some of the people who died on the Titanic set sail from Southampton docks in southern England yesterday. The ship is retracing the doomed liner’s route on its maiden voyage 100 years ago. The Titanic Memorial Cruise is carrying 1,309 passengers which is the same number as were on the Titanic all those years ago.

Our voyage of a lifetime will sail from Southampton on 8th April 2012 the twelve night cruise on board the MS Balmoral and will follow the RMS Titanic’s original itinerary, passing by Cherbourg on the French coast before calling into the Irish port of Cobh.

Along the way they’ll visit the place where the supposedly unsinkable ship collided with an iceberg. Passengers and crew will pay their respects at a special memorial service to take place at the exact time the Titanic sank 100 years ago.

It’d be rather amazing to be on such a voyage but I imagine it’d feel a little bit eerie. I reckon everyone on board would take a little bit more notice than usual when the crew went through the safety and emergency demonstrations.

So do you think you would have joined the memorial cruise if you’d had the opportunity?

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Posted in: Life.
Tagged: England · Iceberg · Ship · Southampton · Southampton Docks · Titanic · Titanic Memorial Cruise
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Card Capers

Mar 23rd, 2012

by Rodney Olsen.

2 comments

I got a new credit card recently. I got a call from my bank when I was at Melbourne airport a few weeks ago, waiting for my flight home after the Great Ocean Road Challenge. Apparently someone in the US had tried to make a charge against my card.

Thankfully our bank’s security picked it up and so I was saved any cost but it did mean that I was without my card for a number of days until the new card arrived. I don’t use my credit card every day but it feels weird not having the option to use it if it’s needed.

It was like one of those good news bad news stories. I’ve got some bad news, someone has tried to use your credit card. The good news is that we caught them in time. The bad news is we’ve cancelled your existing card. The good news is that we’ll send you a new one. The bad news is you probably won’t get it until Wednesday next week. The good news is it arrived a day early on the Tuesday.

It’s a great feeling to know the scammers didn’t win this time. Have you ever had someone steal your credit card details? Were you able to get your money back?

Some people blame online shopping for some of the scammers getting hold of our details. Do you shop online and if so what precautions do you take? Are there some sites you avoid?

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Posted in: Life.
Tagged: Credit Cards · Online Shopping · Scams · Thieves
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Great Ocean Road Challenge 2013

Mar 22nd, 2012

by Rodney Olsen.

1 comment

It’s now over a month since I cycled in the 25000Spins Great Ocean Road Challenge for Compassion Australia. I’m already thinking of taking part next year and hoping that you might join me.

Check out the video above, which was released today, to get a better idea of what’s involved. If you’re a cyclist looking for an amazing adventure while you help release children from poverty, sign up now for the 2013 ride. You will not be disappointed.

I am so thankful for all those who contributed so generously towards my fundraising goal of $3000. I fell just $180 short. Of course, the fundraising page is still open for a short while so I’m still hopeful that a couple more people will chip in to get me over the line.

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Posted in: Cycling.
Tagged: ADRA · Botswana Orphan Project · Compassion · Compassion Australia · Cycling · Great Ocean Road · Poverty
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World Water Day

Mar 22nd, 2012

by Rodney Olsen.

1 comment

Did you know that today is World Water Day?

Water is the most important ingredient to life — we’re dependent on it for everything — so it makes sense to take one day a year to focus on the importance of fresh water and advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

While there are still more than 780 million people around the world who lack access to improved water sources, there’s some good news. It seems that the clean drinking water target of Millennium Development Goal seven has been recently achieved.

Adopted by world leaders in 2000 with a 15-year timeline, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are concrete, numerical benchmarks for tackling extreme poverty in its many dimensions. MDG 7 is to halve by 2015 (from 1990 levels) the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. And we’ve done it.
In 1990, only 76 per cent of the world’s population had access to clean drinking water facilities. By 2010, this had increased to 89 per cent. This means that over two billion people gained access to improved water sources from 1990 to 2010. At this rate, there will be universal access to clean drinking water by 2027.

So with a major Millennium Development Goal now being met is the job of providing safe, clean water for everyone on the planet in reach? This morning on my radio program, the Morning Cafe, I spoke to DJ Konz – Executive Director – Advocacy with Compassion Australia.

Compassion’s child development programs place access to clean, safe water at a priority. Through a program called Critical Interventions, Compassion tackles issues like clean water (wells and water purification systems), toilets and hygiene to provide solutions that enhance and improve living conditions for children in Compassion programs.

If you want to hear our conversation and find out what you can do to help provide clean water for more people on our planet, just click the play button of the audio player below.

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