How to Save a Life

January 7, 2013
by Rodney Olsen
2 Comments

I’m often fascinated by the stories of those who’ve helped at an accident, dragged someone from a burning building or jumped into water to save someone who’s drowning. The most common response when they’re being interviewed is that they don’t think of themselves as a hero. They’re only doing they believe anyone would do faced with the same situation.

If you were walking past someone in danger you’d step in and help wouldn’t you? If you knew you could save their life wouldn’t you step up?

You may have never walked past people in developing nations who need someone to step in and save their life … but I have … and I’m hoping you’ll help me save some lives today through Compassion.

Having seen first hand, both in Haiti and Dominican Republic, how effective Compassion’s work is, I am determined to do what I can to help. That’s why from the 10th to the 12th of February I’ll once again be taking part in the 25000 Spins Great Ocean Road Challenge.

I’ll be riding 290 kilometres and battling some serious hills over three days and I need your support. By sponsoring my efforts on the challenge you’ll be releasing children from poverty. You’ll be giving children a real chance at life. Please visit my fundraising page and make a contribution. Maybe you can afford to sponsor me for a dollar a kilometre, maybe 50 cents a kilometre, or perhaps you’d just like to donate $10, $20, $50 or any other amount. My overall target is $2500 so I have a long way to go.

Please help me save some lives. Please make your donation, large or small, and then share this post in as many ways as you can so that more people will get on board and more lives will be saved. And whether you feel like it or not, I reckon that would make you a hero.



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Telling an Extraordinary Story

January 7, 2013
by Rodney Olsen
2 Comments

India

If you’ve dropped in here over the past couple of months I’m sure you know that I took a trip last month to Bangladesh and India to see the excellent work being done through SIMaid’s Girls off the Streets.

I’m amazed at the work that is being done to bring hope and healing to young women who have been rescued from human trafficking. Young women who have been sexually exploited and sold into prostitution are now growing in confidence as they learn to trust again and develop life skills that will give them a strong foundation for life ahead. Girls off the Streets is giving them a future and importantly, letting them know that they are truly loved.

If you haven’t already, let me encourage you to check out Girls off the Streets and find out how you can be part of this project which is bringing hope to those who had lost hope.

If you live in the Perth area I want to let you know that I’ll be talking about the trip and sharing some insights this Sunday morning at Southern River Church of Christ. We meet at Thornlie Christian College, Furley Road, Southern River at 10:30. It’d be great if you could make it and I’d love to share a coffee with you after the service.

If you can’t make it but you’re part of a church or other group around Perth, and you’d like to hear more, I’m looking for more places to speak up for young girls who can’t. Get in touch with me via my Contact Page so that we can arrange a time and date.



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Under Construction

January 4, 2013
by Rodney Olsen
1 Comment

cranes

I’ve just been reading the latest post at CycleGuy’s Spin. It’s titled Never-Ending and it talks about the never ending construction job that is our lives.

It reminded me of a post I wrote back in 2004 about growing up and seeing cranes across the city skyline.

When I saw huge cranes constructing huge buildings I used to think how untidy they made the city look. I used to look forward to the day when the city would be finished so that the cranes would be gone. I wanted my beautiful city to look neat and complete.

As I grew older I realised that there would always be cranes. Old buildings pass their usefulness and are replaced by new buildings. The population grows and new facilities are needed. It’s all a necessary part of progress.

I think a lot of us feel the same way about the struggles in our lives. We look ahead to the time when all the cranes will be gone, when the construction will be finished and we can enjoy a ‘neat’ existence. It’s not going to happen this side of eternity.

In every area of our lives we need to realise that the struggles and disappointments will always be there – they’re part of our progress. If we ‘put our lives on hold’ until the struggles are sorted, we’ll never learn to live.

Living is all about what we do with those setbacks, how we cope with them, and more importantly, who we turn to to help us through.

Of course there is coming a time when the cranes will be taken away and the construction will be over. For those of us who follow Jesus and take his promises seriously, a time is coming when the building will be all done and we’ll have an eternity to enjoy paradise. I’m looking forward to resting from all the building.



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Time for a Career Change

January 4, 2013
by Rodney Olsen
1 Comment

cuffs

Have you heard about the thieves in Brisbane who made three unsuccessful attempts to rob a jewellery store? They started by throwing spark plugs at the front window trying to smash their way in. Next they decided to break in via the rear doors but found themselves in the neighbouring Animal Welfare League Opp Shop.

For their final attempt, they broke into a toilet block at the rear of the connected shops and used an iron bar to hack through a wall. They expected to arrive in the jewellers, but instead landed in the local KFC, surprising junior staff and themselves. I don’t think that fried chicken is quite as valuable on the black market as jewellery.

Thankfully they’ve now been arrested but I reckon it’s a fair guess that they were in the wrong career. Not that crime is ever a good career choice.

My original career was in the hospitality industry. I did a four year cooking apprenticeship many, many years ago so I’m actually a qualified chef. There was a range of reasons that I decided it wasn’t the career for me.

I’m wondering if you’ve jumped career. What was it that made you decide to switch? Why did you leave one career and start something new?



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Mum’s iPhone Contract for Son

January 3, 2013
by Rodney Olsen
8 Comments

iphone-face-down-black

Most of us have had to deal with phone contracts but most contracts come from our telecommunications company, not our mothers.

Janell Burley Hoffman has made news around the world by issuing her 13 year old son with an 18 point contract along with his Christmas gift of a new iPhone.

Do not use this technology to lie, fool, or deceive another human being. Do not involve yourself in conversations that are hurtful to others. Be a good friend first or stay the hell out of the crossfire.

The contract is full of rules to govern the use of the phone, including a reminder that it’s mum who pays the bills and she will control the phone.

Do not text, email, or say anything through this device you would not say in person.

Most of the rules are just good common sense and would be useful for everyone who owns a smart phone. In fact, many of the rules apply to a range of areas in life and remind us that people are more important than ‘things’.

Do not text, email, or say anything to someone that you would not say out loud with their parents in the room. Censor yourself.

Rapid advances in technology often mean that good guidelines for using new technology lag behind their availability. However, this mum has reminded us that manners and simple common sense go a long way in whatever new situation we find ourselves.

No porn. Search the web for information you would openly share with me. If you have a question about anything, ask a person — preferably me or your father.

Parents around the world are hailing the contract as a return to common sense. It’s a reminder that when we hand over a new responsibility we, as parents, still get to decide how far that responsibility stretches. Just because a smart phone is full of features, it doesn’t mean that every feature should become immediately available to a young person. The contract is a great mix of compulsory rules and an encouragement to develop self-discipline.

Turn it off, silence it, put it away in public. Especially in a restaurant, at the movies, or while speaking with another human being. You are not a rude person; do not allow the iPhone to change that.

A lot of parents have been asking if they can use the contract for their own children. Janell Burley Hoffman has responded via her Twitter account, “To all that have messaged about using “the contract” in your home for your family, go for it!”

Keep your eyes up. See the world happening around you. Stare out a window. Listen to the birds. Take a walk. Talk to a stranger. Wonder without googling.

What do you think of the contract? Would you hand someone a contract like that?

Do you think that there are guidelines in the contract that we could all do well to follow? What other rules do you think should govern the use of smart phones for everyone, not just children?



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