Bike for Bibles 2008

RedFort.JPGThis is a photo of me during a rest day on my most recent Bike for Bibles ride. It was in India back in 2005 and I’m sitting on the throne of Jahangir at Agra’s Red Fort. Over my shoulder you can see the Taj Mahal.

The throne of Jahangir was built in 1602. They sure don’t make seats to last like that anymore.

I’ve had some amazing experiences through Bike for Bibles and cycled many thousands of kilometres. My involvement started way back in 1987 with the first-ever Bike for Bibles crossing of Australia. I’ve cycled from Perth to Canberra twice, Perth to Adelaide, Perth to Sydney and Perth to Hobart as well as taking part in many rides within Western Australia.

I’ve also been overseas with Bike for Bibles on three occasions. The first time was in 1992 for the first ever Canadian Bike for Bibles. We cycled through the Rockies and it was absolutely magnificent. I battled Indian traffic in 2003 and 2005 for Bike for Bibles and would go back there tomorrow if I could.

From August 1999 to August 2004 I served as the Western Australian Bike for Bibles Coordinator for the Bible Society. After my five years service there I returned to radio.

I had the opportunity to combine my love of Bike for Bibles and radio this morning when I interviewed David Pascoe about an upcoming ride from Perth to Albany. You can find the details of the ride at the Bike for Bibles blog or click play on the audio player in this post to hear what David had to say.

[audio:http://mpegmedia.sonshinefm.ws/feeds/MOR260908_1126.mp3]

Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Bike for Bibles 2008? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.

Hot Hot Hot

chilli.jpgHow hot is too hot?

I enjoy a good hot curry but I must admit that I’m always keen to ensure that my taste buds are likely to recover within a reasonable period of time.

News.com.au has published an article titled London restaurant’s Bollywood Burner ‘world’s hottest’ curry. It talks about a curry so hot that those who sample it are left feeling dizzy or light headed. Do you think they might be taking things a little too far?

A LONDON restaurant is serving up what it hopes will be confirmed as the world’s hottest curry, with even the chef admitting it is “too extreme” to keep on the menu.

Vivek Singh at The Cinnamon Club grabbed some of the hottest chilli peppers known to man to create the Bollywood Burner, a lamb-based dish with a fierce kick.

The curry is so hot that diners are asked to sign a disclaimer confirming they are aware of the risks involved before daring to eat it.

The great thing about many of the curries I’ve eaten in India is that while they may be quite hot, they manage to maintain the flavours. It’s not about creating something that will have you screaming for a fire extinguisher, it’s about blending the spices to create something that excites the taste buds.

After two visits to India I can only remember two curries that were too hot. Several of the locals had trouble with those ones too but I managed to eat them anyway.

How about you? Do you enjoy spicy food? How hot is too hot for you? Do you see hot curry as a challenge?

If a curry is really spicy I end up with hiccups. I can usually cure spice induced hiccups with a quick drink or two and I always make sure that I eat plenty of rice and chapatis with my curry to even out the effects of the chillis and spices.



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Hot Hot Hot? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.

Five Years Ago

What were you doing five years ago? I was cycling in India.

I’ve posted this before but thought it was worth another look.

This is a video from my first trip to India in February 2003. I’d head back there tomorrow if I had the opportunity.



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Five Years Ago? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.

Extraordinary Forgiveness

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.



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Extraordinary Forgiveness? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.

Through Their Eyes

throughtheireyes.jpgAndrew Frazer is a full time volunteer staff member at Youth With A Mission, Perth.

I spoke to him last when he’d just returned from a two week documentary trip through Thailand. The focus for the trip was to highlight the horrific practice of Child Trafficking and the circumstances that allow such an industry to exist.

Since then he’s travelled to India and Nepal.

Andrew joined me a couple of days ago on The Morning Programme on 98.5 Sonshine FM to talk about a new exhibition titled Through Their Eyes.

Thousands of children continue to be bought and sold across our world. Some are forced into child labour, some are used as child soldiers and many are sold into the sex trade. It’s a horrific situation that makes millions of dollars for those who trade children while many thousands of lives are destroyed.

The Through Their Eyes exhibition will be held at the Moores Building, Henry Street, Fremantle from the 2nd to the 10th February. There’ll also be an official opening from 6:30 tomorrow evening.

The photographic display highlights the increasing problem of child-trafficking in South Asia.

All sales or donations will go directly towards protecting children at risk in South Asia.

Hear our conversation using the media player below.



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Through Their Eyes? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.