What to do with Sundays

March 29, 2004
by Rodney Olsen
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The Pope isn’t happy with us Aussies. We’re not going to mass on Sundays.

He is quoted today as saying that our nation’s Catholics should head back to mass rather than playing or watching sports.

According to Julie King we should go back to living in the 50s. But does Julie actually believe that? Of course she doesn’t or she wouldn’t be out at a sporting fixture on a Sunday.

However, the Pope’s message found fertile ground with mother of three Julie King, who said she agreed with every word of his message.

“As a country we’re sports-obsessed. Sunday should be a family day – mass and then a baked dinner afterwards. Like it was in the 1950s,” she said.

Despite her views, she admitted the call to mass was not as strong as the call to watch her son play in his cricket team’s final.

I absolutely believe that we should set time aside to worship. But is the Pope telling us that we’re a naughty nation that should go back to mass going to achieve anything?

Surely people first need to connect with Jesus. The need to avoid a hell they don’t believe in is not a great motivating factor. It is only when they see the church as applicable to their lives that they will want any part of it. No one is obliged to attend church or mass and I wouldn’t want to see churches filled with people there out of a sense of duty anyway.

We need to go out to find those people who aren’t at church on Sundays. Not to drag them back to church, but to introduce them to Jesus.



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Friday Five

March 26, 2004
by Rodney Olsen
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It should be Friday Five time. Unfortunately, according to the site, there’s none this week.

So maybe you can answer the following five questions in the comments section below, or even on your own blog then link to it from my comments section.

1. Where were you born?

2. Where do you live now?

3. How many countries have you visited?

4. How many countries have you lived in?

5. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

As for my answers:

1. Subiaco, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia.

2. Morley, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia.

3. Singapore, Canada, The U.S. (but only in airports), India – 5 including Australia.

4. Only Australia.

5. Perth is the perfect place to live – but I’d like to travel a bit more.



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The Ethical Responsibilities of a Christian Politician

March 25, 2004
by Rodney Olsen
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James at Knowtown pointed me in the direction of this speech by Australia’s Federal Minister for Health and Ageing and the Leader of the House of Representatives, Tony Abbott.

While I can’t stand the plethora of blogs filled with political comments, I found the speech very interesting.

In it, Abbott talks about the ethical responsibilities of a Christian politician. He highlights some of the struggles of trying to live up to a range of expectations.

He talks about the abortion debate and the tradgedy of 100 000 unborn babies being destroyed in Australia every year.

Why not take five or so minutes and read through what he has to say?



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You Can't Have It Both Ways

March 23, 2004
by Rodney Olsen
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Over the past couple of weeks there have been many accusations of sexual misconduct and assault directed at AFL football players.

One of the things that has been highlighted within the media has been the prevailing attitudes towards women at AFL clubs. It has been said that many players see themselves as invincible and they see women as sexual objects.

I found it ironic that a recent report in Western Australia’s Sunday Times called for a change in culture within clubs while on page 87 of the same edition was an article titled, “Footy glamour on the road.” The article carried a photo of two fully dressed sports commentators from local radio statio 6PR next to two ‘barely dressed’ young ladies sporting skimpy bikinis.

The article says:

“RADIO 6PR is set to inject new glamour into its football coverage. The popular Footy on the Road panel show will run a Miss Football competition throughout season 2004.

Entrants will be judged each month with a final parade of beauties during the September finals series.

They will vie for a trip for two to Singapore, with $2000 spending money.

Footy on the Road kicks off next Friday at the Kardinya Tavern, with chairman Peter Vlahos and panellists Karl Langdon, Ken Judge, George Grljusich and Scott Watters.

The first Miss Football heat will be on April 30 at Woodvale Tavern. It’s not the first time the fairer sex has played a prominent role in 6PR’s footy panel shows.

In the late 1970s, when current 6PR afternoon presenter Gary Carvolth was panel chairman, Miss Football was a major attraction at the Friday lunchtime show.”

How can the culture of the game be changed to respect women if media outlets still think it’s acceptable to have scantily clad young women strutting their stuff at footy related events for no other reason than to provide eye candy for the kinds of men who gather there?



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Busy Weekend

March 23, 2004
by Rodney Olsen
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How was your weekend?

I met some cycling friends for coffee on Saturday morning then went to a Fusion seminar for a while to talk about what resources The Bible Society is making available for The Passion of the Christ.

On Saturday night we joined a number of people from our church to hear Lawrence Hirsch from Celebrate Messiah explain The Passover. It was fascinating. Lawrence is a great communicator and has a wonderful ministry.

On Sunday I preached at Cardup Christian Community. It was a small gathering but the fellowship was wonderful.

With all that and some family stuff as well it was quite a weekend.



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