It’s a Nice Building But ….

I like what the Catholic Archbishop of Western Australia has to say most of the time. I reckon he’s one of the good guys when it comes to making public statements on matters of faith.

In this morning’s West Australian newspaper he has an ad that promotes the church and the true menaing of Christmas. Great message but I was a little bemused to see that almost half the ad is a taken up by a picture of the Cathedral in Perth. Surely after 2000 years we have something better than the front of a building to symbolise our faith. Maybe they didn’t want to go with all the cliched Christmas type pics but I reckon they could have found something a little less cold. Even if the pic of the Cathedral had people in front of it welcoming others.



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What’s it all About?

I went to the city on Friday night armed with video camera. A friend and I got reactions from a number of people on their thoughts about Christmas.

It’s now professionally edited down to a 6 minute DVD we’ll show as part of our Christmas service on Thursday.

Some great comments. One guy, with a great sense of humour and a deadpan delivery, told us that he was eating up big to get into training for Christmas Day. He said, “You’ve got to know when to push, when to hold back, when to take on fluids.” He went on to explain that the fluids help to avoid dehydration and to lubricate the aesophegus. His preferred lubricant for Christmas Day is beer.

A group of three young people told us that Christmas is the same as Easter – only with chocolate. They also showed us that they had purchased a “Black Super Jesus Action Figure” at a hippie shop in Fremantle.

A young guy in a santa suit rtied to tell us that Christmas was all about free giveaways from the Vodaphone Shop. He tried to lure us into the store with a hearty Ho Ho Ho.

We even met a guy who explained how to get a free coffee at McDonalds. You simply wait until someone else finishes their cup and walks off. You then go and get the free refill, thus saving yourself $1.50.

We also had a couple of people who gave the ‘correct’ answers. We were told that “Jesus is the Reason for the Season.” I don’t know that he’d be too keen on claiming all that goes on in his name but it’s good to at least a couple of people with something Christian to say.

It’s very late notice but if you’re in the Perth area and want a dub of the DVD to show on Thursday, email me pronto and I’ll arrange it. It will be used as a springboard for the pastor’s sermon in our case but you may like to use it to add some humour and to provoke a few thoughts as part of your service.



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What's the Attraction?

Yes I know, it’s been days since I’ve posted anything. Yes, I’m into the Christmas rush period.

Something has been intriguing me recently. What is the big attraction for the non-churched with Carols by Candlelight?

I know that it’s nice to be wih family and be at an outdoor event and all that, but let’s look at it. Thousands upon thousands of people who are not interested in anything the ‘church’ has to offer for the other 364 days of the year, will turn up at a park to sing ‘outdated’ songs about a religion they don’t believe.

I find it interesting that most of our churches want the latest and greatest music each Sunday to ‘attract people’, – (Yes I know it’s not just to attract people. Many believe they are using the best methods possible to worship God.) – yet what brings people together is an event featuring music that is centuries old. Have we misjudged what people want?

I already have a number of ideas as to why these events attract people – (And some aspects still baffle me.) – but I want to hear from others. Please drop in a comment.



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I Need Love

I was very surprised this evening to hear a familiar song coming from the television. I headed into our family room just in time to see that they were using an old Sam Philips (formerly Leslie Philips) song to back an ad for perfume or something.

Strange choice of song I thought.

They were playing a couple of grabs from her 1994 song I Need Love.

I love the lyrics of the song. (By now you’ve probably guessed that I get into lyrics in a big way.)

I NEED LOVE [Sam Philips]

I left my conscience like a crying child

Locked the doors behind me put the pain on file

Broken like a window I see my blindness now

I need love

Not some sentimental prison

I need God

Not the political church

I need fire

To melt the frozen sea inside me

I need love

Driving into town tired and depressed

Like a flare the streetlight bursts an S.O.S.

Peace comes to my rescue I don’t know what it means

I need love

Not some sentimental prison

I need God

Not the political church

I need fire

To melt the frozen sea inside me

I need love



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I Think I'm Gonna Puke

I was looking at my blog and noticed the banner ad at the top of the page.

Wow – I can have a bible with my name in it over 5000 times. What a wonderful idea. We can be even more self centred than we already are. Let’s make the bible focus on us instead of God. Brilliant.



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