Soweto Gospel Choir in Perth

June 17, 2008
by Rodney Olsen
2 Comments

sgc.jpgMany people consider South Africa’s Soweto Gospel Choir to be the most exciting group to emerge in world music in recent years. That claim is backed up by the fact they’ve won two Grammies.

The Choir’s repertoire reflects their faith and spiritual journey. Their latest show, African Spirit, is sung in six different languages.

Since the choir’s first international performances in Australia in 2003, Soweto Gospel Choir has become a worldwide phenomenon, performing sell-out concerts across the world and singing alongside superstars including Bono, Queen, Annie Lennox, Diana Ross, Jimmy Cliff and Celine Dion, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and others.

They’re in Perth for four concerts. Pauline and I were privileged to be in the audience for the first of those concerts last night at His Majesty’s Theatre.

It was a real pleasure to welcome a number of representatives from the choir to the studio this morning during my morning radio programme on 98.5 Sonshine FM. I had opportunity to talk to a couple of members and enjoy a live performance in the studio.

You can hear the interview by clicking on the play button of the audio player at the bottom of this post.

It was fantastic to hear them talk about their faith and the opportunities they have to talk about spirituality to such diverse audiences.



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Jesus on Trial

March 20, 2008
by Rodney Olsen
4 Comments

TheCross.jpgOver the next few days people all over the world will remember the trial, conviction, execution and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We often think of the physical suffering that Jesus endured but we rarely think through the pain of the trials that Jesus faced.

Anyone who has suffered injustice at the hands of a court will know how tough it can be to be falsely accused. In Jesus case he was put through 6 trials within a very short period of time and legal experts claim that there were 17 travesties of justice throughout the trials. There was never any hope of a fair outcome when those who were charged with upholding the law weren’t even following the legal processes.

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 current President of the Baptist Union of Australia. Each week we chat about a range of issues relating to spirituality and belief.

Ross is a former lawyer so yesterday he put his lawyer’s hat back on to look at the trials of Jesus.

If you’d like to hear what Ross has to say on the topic just click play on the audio player at the bottom of this post.



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Is Faith a Crutch for the Weak?

March 6, 2008
by Rodney Olsen
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crutch.jpgIs faith simply an invention to help the weak? Is God just a projection of our own needs? Do we simply create the god we need in our own minds?

Many people would suggest that the whole concept of God is a projection of what we feel we lack in life. If we didn’t have a loving father as we grew up we project that into the creation of a ‘loving father god’

We’ve all heard people say the ‘religion is just a crutch for the weak’ but is that really the case?

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 current President of the Baptist Union of Australia. Each week we chat about a range of issues relating to spirituality and belief.

Yesterday we looked at where the concept of faith being for the weak began and asked whether there is any validity to the argument. We also talked about whether some Christians have misinterpreted the Bible to create a ‘god’ that doesn’t line up with the God of the Bible at all.

Have a listen to our discussion by clicking the play button on the Audio Player at the bottom of this post.



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The Cross

February 20, 2008
by Rodney Olsen
1 Comment

TheCross.jpgWhat is the cross really all about?

It’s a symbol used to mark grave sites. It’s hung from gold chains around people’s necks. People sing songs about the power of the cross. Crosses decorate churches around the world but what is the true significance of the cross?

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 current President of the Baptist Union of Australia. Each week we chat about a range of issues relating to spirituality and belief.

Today we discussed the cross and looked at what the Christian Scriptures have to say about the old rugged cross.

We also touched on the current debate of whether Jesus’ death on the cross was about taking our punishment. Many people, including some Christians, have been discussing whether it is possible to love the kind of God that would sacrifice his son in such a violent manner.

Listen to the discussion by clicking play on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

Once you’ve heard what Ross had to say, please leave a comment or two with your views.



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Extraordinary Forgiveness

February 13, 2008
by Rodney Olsen
5 Comments

Burrntalive.jpgJanuary the 22nd, 1999, is a day forever etched in the memory of Gladys Staines.

It is the day that her husband Graham, along with their young sons, Timothy and Philip, were burnt alive by a group of around 50 Hindu extremists in Orissa, India, where Graham had been working with the poor, especially those with leprosy.

Gladys has an amazing story to tell of how she and her daughter were able to forgive those who killed those they loved. While their forgiveness was offered right away, the healing took a lot longer.

It is truly remarkable to think that Gladys stayed on in India for many years to continue the work that her husband had begun many years earlier. Many people have been inspired by her life and her determination to continue serving God in a land far from her home country of Australia.

I was extremely privileged to have Gladys join me during my Morning Programme at 98.5 Sonshine FM today to talk about her story which has been told in the book Burnt Alive.

If you’d like to hear from someone who found healing in forgiveness just click play on the audio player at the bottom of this post.



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