House Building ::11

Hard to see what has been happening but there is a bit of work around the place.
The rear deck beams have now been cemented in.

There is a small landing under the rear deck. That is now up.

Lastly the flooring for the second floor has now been put into place. Its a bit hard to see in the photo, but it is there.

Oz Politics 25th March, 2010

Interesting week in politics, the supposed big story was Rudd winning the health debate with Abbott. Abbott was always going to struggle with this one. He was health minister and couldn't fix it, and he had not policy!

What I see as the bigger story is Nick Minchin resigning. Sure Abbott will make it to the first election, and more chance than not loose. But after that his biggest backer Minchin will not be there. He only got to the position as opposition leader by the smallest of margins.

Feildings response

Upon last weeks post on Q&A on the ABC I couldn't help feel sorry for Steven Fielding. I was perplexed that his reply to Dawkins question 'was he a creationist?' The reply was a small 'yes' and a loud (and I paraphrase) 'lots of people are allowed to believe different things.' It was if he was rather embarassed by his answer. To be honest I would have been more interested in why he was a creationist. Even if I didn't agree, I think it would have been a better response.


Now where I have empathy with Feilding is that as a Christian there are responses that we will give that don't make much sense to people. It doesn't matter if you are a progressive liberal or a fundamentalist. Sooner or latter we will be embarrassed by our responses. Maybe it is not embarrassment rather an uncertainty? That in uncertainty we need to be honest with our selves and therefore to God.

roast log, behmor 1600, 24th march 2010

Bean:: coffee snob, "Decaf Wow"
Weight: 437gm
Weight roasted:: 373gm
Ambient temp :: 17.1c
Weight Profile ::1 pound
Profile :: P2 "c"
Time :: 21.30s
First Crack:: 8.38s
Rolling Crack::7.48s
Second crack 5.10s
Cool down:: 2.06 Happening into the cool down.
Grading, sweet maria:: 11 cs
Notes: Little lighter in weight than I would have liked, but that was all the beans left. Great smell after finishing. No oils coming through on the beans, though close! Suspect the roast never got to the cooler part of the profile so probably roasted a bit quicker than I would have liked.

Adventures in Missing the Point

This is one of the best Christian books that I have read in a while. Co-written by Tony Camplo and Brian McLaren. Mclaren is known for what he writes regarding the 'Emerging Church', while in Australia at least Campolo is known around the social justice side of the Church.

The book is divided into chapters on important subjects, such as homosexuality, truth, post-modernism etc etc. One author will write the subject and the other will respond.

It was interesting that like most of Mclarens writing I felt like I was on the same wavelength. While Campolo was at times jarring. Revealing a more fundemental (In and Australian sense) theology.
For example, Campolo wrote the chapter on environmentalism. I couldn't help feel uncomfortable about a lot with what he had to write. Especially this line

In this hierarchy of life, there is nothing wrong with sacrificing lower forms of life in order to sustain higher forms of life. Vegetarianism or vegan-ism ma be a good idea, but it is not a biblical mandate for this present age.

I felt he missed the point completely! Its been proven that there is a link between poverty and environmental damage. He didn't mention this link or if he did it was just brushed.  Just watch 'the story of stuff'.
Thankfully the reply by Mclaren was able to point out what I thought was and old style of evangelical understanding with Campolo's thinking and theology. Phew. This included the idea that Jesus came to save all of creation. Not just man.

Overall I wish that Mclaren had written the whole book. It was reminiscent of his 'Generous Orthodoxy'

House Building ::10

The rear deck went up today, also 1/2 the joists for the deck. Big beams, looked a tricky job.

roast log, behmor 1600, 22nd march x2

Bean:: coffee snob, "Brazilian pulped natural"
Weight: 500gm
Weight roasted:: 416gm
Ambient temp :: 15.6c
Weight Profile ::1 pound
Profile :: P2 "c"
Time :: 21.30s
First Crack:: 4.20s
Rolling Crack::3.45s
Second crack 2.20s
Cool down:: 2.20 Happening into the cool down.
Grading, sweet maria:: 11 cs
Notes: This is was the grading that I wanted with the first batch. One of the things I do when judging a roast is also look for the first puff of smoke. It seems to me to indicate  getting closer or in second crack. Because of the colder temperature, a shimmering from heat can look a bit like smoke. So this time I went more on time as well as listening. It was again hard to distinguish between 1st and 2nd crack. Maybe because of the difference in the beans, coming off a lot of different plantations makes the beans crack indistinguishable. I don't know just a guess.

Roast log, Behmor 1600, 22nd, March 2010

Bean:: coffee snob, "Brazilian pulped natural"
Weight: 500gm
Weight roasted:: 420gm
Ambient temp :: 16c
Weight Profile ::1 pound
Profile :: P2 "c"
Time :: 21.30s
First Crack:: 4.50s
Rolling Crack::3.45s
Second crack 2.30s
Cool down:: 2.08 Happening into the cool down.
Grading, sweet maria:: 8 cs
Notes: This is the coldest ambient temp that I've roasted with and I think you can see the delayed time. Interesting I thought it would have been a darker roast which it wasn't. You can also see that I'm not using the sweet maria rating. Rather the Coffee snobs which you can see with the picture.

House Building ::9

A fair bit of work today. The joists for the second floor were put in place.

The front deck was also put in place, for the upstairs front bedroom.

here not yet, yet, yet, yet......

The Vineyard Church is heavily defined, especially by those within it to have a 'Kingdom Theology' That the Kingdom of God is here and now, yet not quite here 'yet'. The Vineyards outward  example of this is 'Signs and Wonders'. Yet through the emerging theology this definition has been expanded to include a Kingdom of God which helps to redeem the broken, poor, and hungry. I had written about this on the Ranges blog.

Lately Jason Coker has written about this looking at  N.T Wright::

Enter NT Wright. Like Ladd, Wright lent immense academic credibility to Evangelical theology, and much of it has built upon the “inaugurated eschatology” Kingdom motif. This has had a significant impact on Vineyard leaders, who have taken Wright’s work and applied it. Where Ladd understood the Kingdom to be the powerful presence of God, Wright emphasizes the redemption of the cosmos according to God’s powerful rule. Hence, the “now” of the Kingdom means “putting the world to rights.” This re-imagines the “now” in considerably less ethereal terms, often placing it squarely in the realm of political activism.

I like the term that Wright uses "the redemption of the cosmos according to God's powerful rule" It is holistic, referring to a myriad of things including justice for those in need as well as a environmental bent.
This sort of shift I think will bring about a significant underpinning to the Vineyard.

Coker goes onto write::

There is currently a great deal of energy for participating in this kind of “now,” and I’m grateful. It is a noble and Godly work to fight for the abolition of modern day slavery, bring racial reconciliation, etc. However, I can’t help but wonder, what excesses will this lead to? What will be the “Toronto Blessing” of the social justice movements? Does it bother anyone that a shift away from the transcendent immanence of God seems to have resulted in a widespread loss of the apocalyptic intensity that so pervasively characterized Jesus’ own ministry?

I would agree with this, but it is not a theological understanding within Australian Vineyard Churches. In my opinion I'm not sure that the connection with the Kingdom as "the powerful presence of God,  the redemption of the cosmos according to God’s powerful rule."is understood. Or even if it is understood takes away from a 10-15 year old understanding of what a Vineyard Church is, and therefore best left alone.

House Building::8

The bottom story is now completed of the frame which is exciting.

At the back of the house you can see there is a fair bit of material, which looks like it is for the joists and floor for up stairs.

Lastly also a bit of work done under the house with plubming from bathroom, and toilets

Keating at his colorful best

It was like the Keating of the 90's when yesterday he gave his current assesment of the opposition.

From the Sydney Morning Herald::

Mr Keating described Mr Abbott as the "poor man's John Howard" who was regarded by many of his Liberal colleagues as their "resident nutter" when he arrived in federal parliament in 1994.
"It was bad enough having the real John Howard... at least Howard was a militant, aggressive conservative driving in reverse through the rear-vision mirror."
Mr Abbott was an "intellectual nobody and no policy ambition".
On the other hand his predecessor Malcolm Turnbull had an articulated, intelligent, moderate, thought-out conservative position.
"You wouldn't trust this mob (the coalition) with a jam jar full of five cent bits."
He described the opposition's finance spokesman Barnaby Joyce as a "junior Joh Bjelke-Petersen" who ran around making foolish economic pronouncements.

At this stage, Keatings assessment is but a colorful opinion of mine. Except I would add Wilson Tucky is still clucking away in the stalls.

This week in Politics

You can feel the rumblings of an election coming upon us. Strangely even before the election is called a debate is been arranged with Tony Abbott and Kevin Rudd. 
As I mentioned previously. I think the governments stratagy will be to do Abbott 'slowly', a reference to Keating and opposition lead by John Hewson. As time goes on the slips will add up, and as the election looms political scrutiny will increase. Abbott will loose his shine.
This was a week in example when Costello former treasurer had a poke at Abbots proposed extended maternity payments. When Abbott speaks about Rudd's 'Big new tax', Rudd will be able point out Abbott's proposed 'Big new tax' with extended maternity payments.

Lastly, our politicians at work.

Liberal Peter Slipper having a quite nap during proceedings. I wish I could do this at my work, I often feel like it.

A new apologitic

 

Brian Mclaren wrote a chapter on apologetics in a book which he co-wrote with Tony Campolo, Adventures in missing the point.
What stuck me in this chapter was much of my approach to evangelism and apologetics is already based on Mclarens points. These are::

:: Evolution already been a creation of God's
::"The bible less like evidence in a court case and more like works of art in an art gallery" A pointer to God.
:: Throwing the question's back to the questioner. Eg How would you explain good and evil without God?
:: Look for emboided truth instead of absolute truth, eg how Jesus demonstrated God's mercy.
::Instead of people coming to faith in a linear way, people will move along in a more unpredictable path. Mclaren calls in a spiral. I think the idea of a labyrinth is a better illustration. But his point is the same.

House Building ::7

Its nice to see thing going vertical. The frame is going up! So far about 1/3 of the ground floor. The bathroom, toilet, laundry and rumpus room.

Richard Dawkins and Steven Fielding

ABC's Q&a had and interesting discusion. It revealed the conservative religious nature of Family First senator Steven Fielding.

I find it fascinating that a man who is has an engineering education could be swayed over politics and religion more so than the weight of evidence with science.

You can download the episode and see him in action here.

On a positive side I found it interesting that the majority of world religious believers, did believe in evolution. Ah, I'm in good company.

John Howard's rubbish

John Howard has come out against the current government (not suprisingly), saying::

The former Prime Minister has launched a scathing attack on his successor, saying Kevin Rudd has "done nothing" in government, that the economic stimulus was "too big" and that Labor lacks the courage for reform, but he concedes Labor will probably be re-elected.

This to me is more to do with the current system::

1) The current political cyle is to short,

2) The opposition is blocking anything the goverment is trying to do.

I also suspect that the current Rudd government will not want to go to an early election because they will want to fry Abbot "Slowly". His natural conservative style will slowly reveal itself. Which to the media and the general public is not the middle ground.

Its a shame because it just reveals the limitation of our political system. Political inaction.

Athiests religion and politics

For me a refreshing blast from the media covering the atheists in Melbourne.

One interesting quote from The Age, that the convention resembled 'a religion'. I would have to agree. It seemed most similar to a Hillsong conference that would be put on in Sydney.

The other interesting thing was how the Australian media went out to ask to ask our politians what they belived in. Some mixed results.

The coalition shadow ministry; non, as I expected described themselves as atheist.
Most of the actual leaders of both party described themselfs as 'lapsed', catholic, anglican, prespitarian, etc etc. I found this a bit of a cop out. I suspect if pushed they would actually end up saying they are agnoistic. The cynical side of me says that there are votes in this. Considering that 19% of the populations call themselves atheist something is not representative...

What I found the most fascinating was Bob Browns answer. "'lapsed Presbyterian''. He could have said anything and I wouldn't have been surprised. Yet I think there is a story to be told with this answer. considering he is gay. It is a story which I would really be interested in hearing considering his passion for the environment.

Coffee Roasting Log, Behmor 1600, 15th March, 2010

Bean:: coffee snob, "Peru Cejade Selva"
Weight: 500gm
Weight roasted:: 420gm
Ambient temp :: 19.7c
Weight Profile ::1 pound
Profile :: P2 "c"
Time :: 21.30s
First Crack:: 5.2s
Rolling Crack::4.3s
Second crack 2.08s
Cool down:: 2.08 Happening into the cool down.
Grading, sweet maria:: 10-11 City+
Notes: consistently comes out a lighter looking roast. Especially compared to the brazilian pulp. Will probably turn this into a blend.

Coffee Roasting Log, Bhmor 1600, 15th March, 2010

Bean:: coffee snob, "Decaf Wow"
Weight: 500gm
Weight roasted:: 420gm
Ambient temp :: 20.9c
Weight Profile ::1 pound
Profile :: P2 "c"
Time :: 21.30s
First Crack:: 6.10s
Rolling Crack::??s
Second crack 2.55s
Cool down:: 2.00 Happening into the cool down.

Grading, sweet maria:: 10-11 City+
Notes: The is the first large amount of decaf that I've roasted. Really hard to hear a second crack. The other thing I expected was a quicker roast which didn't happen.

I'm probably going to try a different decaf next time. There isn't enough information from coffee snobs about the bean or where it is from.


Taste will tell!

Little Ripper

The other week I roasted "Brazil Pulped Natural". It is so far the best that I've roasted. A deep flavour that sits beautifly. I can now understand why it is used as a base for so many coffee blends. It gave a great crema that seemed to just blob out of the group head.

Coffee Roasting Log. behmor 1600, 11th March, 2010

Bean:: coffee snob, "Hondurus los Bancos"
Weight: 500gm
Weight roasted:: 408gm
Ambient temp :: 15.7c
Weight Profile ::1 pound
Profile :: P2 "c"
Time :: 21.30s
First Crack:: 6.02s
Rolling Crack::5.32s
Second crack 1.55s
Cool down:: 2.00 Happening into the cool down.

Grading, sweet maria:: 12 City++ Has come out very dark
Notes:: Very similar to the last roast. Although the 1st Crack came around a bit quicker.

The notes from coffee snobs green bay::

Honduras Los Bancos. This coffee is high grown, well processed, clean and washed without polishing. It produces a fair amount of chaff during roasting and the cracks are quite pronounced. In the cup it produces a clean, front palate coffee and is a good example of a quality Central American bean.

Taste will tell...

House Building ::6

After a bit of a delay 10 or so days. Things are moving again. Looks like the bearers/joists ? were put in place over the stumps today.

A bit more material on hand. left to right. More timber for the joists/ bearers. floor boards, timber columns for the deck.

Honest to God, by John Robinson

 

I've just finnished Honest to God, by John Robinson. It's been on my wish list for a while for a couple of reasons.
-A number have said that 'such and such, lost their faith because they read 'honest to God'. I hate critiquing anything with out reading the material first.
-It was one of the most influential Christian books of the last 50 years
-One of my quests this year is the exploration of liberal theology. 'Honest to God' seems to be a good start.

Some things which I immediate felt a kindred to::

"The only way I can put it is to say that over the years a number of things have unaccountably "Rung a bell"; various unco-ordiated aspects of one's reading and experience have come to 'add up'. The inarticlate conviction forms within one that certain things are true or important. One may not grasped them fully or understand why that if one is to retain one's integrity one must come to terms with them. For if their priority is sensed and they are not attnded to, then sutly other convictions begin to lose their power: one continues to trot these convictions out, one says one believes in them (and one does), but somehow they seem emptier. One is aware that insights that carry their own authentication, however subjective, are not being allowed to modify them. "

Another quote which I had felt and writen about before was about how a liberal theology may help some come to faith or at least stem the tide of those in the Church loosing their faith and communtiy::

"More over, however inadequate the Liberal theology may now appear to us, it undoubtedly helped many to hold on to their faith at a time when otherwise they might have thrown it up completely."

Then goes onto quote Bonhoeffer::

"How can Christ become the Lord even of those with no Religion"

Robinson quotes two well known liberal theologians, Tillich, Bultman and the third Bonhoeffer was a suprise. Yet when I think about it I'm not surprised. Bonhoeffers writing was sketchy outlines of books. Nothing official from Bonhoeffer.  Yet his courage and desperate situation he was always going to be a favorite to quote by anyone.

Ultimately Robinson lays himself honest saying that he does not believe in supernaturalism,  much of the content written in the bible. Ultimately for him the bible has to be looked at as myth. Yet that does not mean to Robinsion that it cannot inform and guide us.

One thing which I thought often through this book was what would Robinson think of today Pentecostal movement. The fastest growing denomination in the world. Compared to the liberal churches which are shrinking at an absolutely alarming rate...

miracles

David Hayward, who used to blog under "The Naked Pastor", has once again put up a thought provoking post. "I've never seen a miracle". The basic premise that there are plenty of miracles around us, a sun rise, reconcilliation forgivness etc. Yet the type we hear in charismatic or penticostal churches are non existent. Its a big statement to make by David, pastoring a Vineyard Church (I think) which was built on "Signs and Wonders"

But I have to come out of the closet and admit that I’ve never seen a “miracle”, like someone’s sight restored, or a limb replaced, or cancer cured, or the lame walk, or someone brought back to life (I’ll have to tell you the story some time of a guy who tried to get me to sneak into the back room of a funeral home just before the funeral was about to begin to pry open the coffin and raise the man from the dead. I weaseled my way out of that one!). Not that I don’t pray for these things to happen. And I will continue to do so. I am human and in times of great love or fear I cry out for any help at all. But I have never seen it happen.

I pretty much agree. I give a sigh of relief. That when people claim them in church settings there is a "mob" mentality to it. Where the group/congregation talks themselves into it.

Yet I don't discount miricles all together. Strangly my experience of miricles have been more dramatic outide of the church than within it. When I did my stint at palliative nursing there where a couple of amazing times of when people would be discharged from our books. Alive, and not Christians. (Oh no not the thought the devil can heal as well).

Women easier to decieve than men?

Abandoned image, wrote and quoted Mark Driscoll::

Without blushing, Paul is simply stating that when it comes to leading in the church, women are unfit because they are more gullible and easier to deceive than men. While many irate women have disagreed with his assessment through the years, it does appear from this that such women who fail to trust his instruction and follow his teaching are much like their mother Eve and are well-intended but ill-informed. . . Before you get all emotional like a woman in hearing this, please consider the content of the women’s magazines at your local grocery store that encourages liberated women in our day to watch porno with their boyfriends, master oral sex for men who have no intention of marrying them, pay for their own dates in the name of equality, spend an average of three-fourths of their childbearing years having sex but trying not to get pregnant, and abort 1/3 of all babies – and ask yourself if it doesn’t look like the Serpent is still trolling the garden and that the daughters of Eve aren’t gullible in pronouncing progress, liberation, and equality (p. 43). 

I've got to say this is an amazing bit of writing. It is just another instance where men need to lift there game.

I really struggle with Paul's writing and the way people use it. On a positive note there are some aspects where he expands on the themes of Jesus and explains them beautifully. Yet when it comes to direction on how to live life he should be firmly entrenched in the culture of Israel 2000 years ago.

I really do doubt his "Apostleship" in terms of the other disciples. He is included into this elect group on his word that he had a 'Vision'. His books have been used to divide Christians and certainly as you can see by Driscolls comments.

A lot of this stuff boils down to if you think that there is subordination within the Trinity. Do each parts, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, treat each other equally. Equality is the camp I am in. I suspect that Driscoll believes  that there is subordination.

To be honest it is difficult often to be a Christian with people who come out with things which I would say operate opposite to the nature of God. A God of love.

It disappointments me that Christians speak of other humans, God's creation with such an air of superiority, .not only morally but spiritually

It is no wonder that Christianity is loosing ground in the West.

Jamie's Italy

Christina borrowed this book from the library. After a good look through we cooked up the 'melanzane alla parmaigiana' (egg plant parma). Absolutely beautiful. Will make it again next week, but with a few tweeks. I will proabably add red wine and try to get my hands on some fresh herbs. This dish will certainly stop my wandering ways and flirting with meat.

The Book depository vs Amazon

I made a discovery of 'The Book depository' and online book store in the UK and used the service and had amazing satisfaction. So I thought I'd do a quick comparison with Amazon. The book was Honest with God, by Robinson. (note AU dollars)

Cost of book

Amzon :: $22.41

Book Depository :: $16.95

Cost of Delivery 

Amazon :: $ 11.49

Book Depositry :: Free

Delivery time

Amazon :: usually a month or two

Book Depository :: A Week!

The Winner

Yep it is The book depository. I've got to say I used to get really pissed off with Amazons offers of free delivery and to click through and find it was only for those in the US! Now a cheaper, quicker alternative!

Roasting log, behmor 1600, 3rd of Feb 2010

 

Bean:: coffee snob, "Brazil Pulped Natural"
Weight: 500gm
Weight roasted:: 262gm
Ambient temp :: 21.1c
Weight Profile ::1 pound
Profile :: P2 "c"
Time :: 21.30s
First Crack:: 5.01s
Rolling Crack::4.32s
Second crack 2.00s
Cool down:: 2.00 Happening into the cool down.

Grading, sweet maria:: 12 City++ Has come out very dark
Notes:: First Time with this roast. Coffee Snobs notes

Sun dried and screened to 17/18 this is the perfect Brazilian base to your favourite traditional blend.  It roasts evenly and produces good body and balance in the cup.  Great value in a rising market and we bought plenty of it to give CS’rs some consistency in their blends

Looks like it is more suited to blending but we will give it a crack!
Got to the second crack with about 2 minutes to spare. Was still cracking definitely on cool down. Very reminiscent of the coffee which we used to purchase at Ranges coffee for their decaf.

A beautiful Story

Mark Connors, quoted a recent small speech that Billy Graham gave. It is a beautiful story. Well crafted and a catchy finish. Much like a you find in science fiction short stories. Yet now reading it I find that Billy Graham has made some presumptions about his audience, here is the story...

‘I’m reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who  this month has been honored by Time magazine as the  Man of the Century. Einstein was once traveling from  Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the  aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he  came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He  couldn’t find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets.  It wasn’t there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn’t find it.  Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn’t find it.

The conductor said, ‘Dr. Einstein, I know who you are.  We all know who you are. I’m sure you bought a ticket.  Don’t worry about it.’

Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued  down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to  move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great  physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his  seat for his ticket.

The conductor rushed back and said, ‘Dr. Einstein,  Dr. Einstein, don’t worry, I know who you are No problem.  You don’t need a ticket.  I’m sure you bought one.’

Einstein looked at him and said, ‘Young man, I too, know who I am.  What I don’t know is where I’m going.”

:: I suppose with my work especially in palliative care I came to the conclusion that most people were not really interested in where they are going. More they were concerned about life even short would be peaceful, pain free  and there family and relationships are at peace.

:: Many people of different cultures and faiths have just as much 'certainty' as Billy Graham. 

:: In my opinion most 'Australians' have a good understanding of 'pluralism'. When reading the story most Australians would just think it is just Christian 'Fundamentalism'. It is a story which would have worked 20 years ago without living in a multicultural society: but not now.

So what do I think...Yep I think Billy is right some idea of where we are going is important. It is part of the matrix of life that within us where is a desires for the Divine, to meet, and be with our maker. What I find troubling with Billy Grahams story is the presumptions come  in an evangelical package.

Orange moon in Cowes

Summer has gone....

House Building ::5

Some happening between Thursday and today.

It looks like a bit of scaffold. I'd say this is for the second story component of the house.

A tap!