Inheritance, Christopher Paolini

 

I've finished Inheritance by Christopher Paolini and with it the the whole of the inheritance cycle of books. The book like a lot of fantasy novel builds a world with mythical creatures likes elves dragons dwarves etc. Once you read a few of these books you get to feel a bit of a theme coming through no matter who the author. Good verses bad, a dispersal of the good guys and then a final battle of some kind and the good guys get together. The inheritance cycle of books is no different in this respect.

The first couple of books were fresh but the last two dragged a bit for me. Inheritance copied a few ideas of the previous books of kidnapping, and as in all of the books there was the good guys mowing down enemy. Slash, slash slash, it got a bit tiresome in the end.

I think Inheritance was one book in the cycle to many. Inheritance cycle should have been a trilogy. Never the less I did want to see what happened in the end.

3/5

Blogsy, and photos

Since putting up my post 'Blogsy vs Blogpress', I've been supprised at the amount of searches that have hit my page looking for an answer regarding uploading photos straight from their iPad camera to blogsy app.

I'd say it is an issue...

Looking around blogsy's website I'm surprised and a little disappointed that there is no mention of this in their FAQ. Rather there are detailed instructions on how to do it from picasa or Flikr

 

Ken Smith, No coal seam exploration

Ken Smith it seems is a man of contradictions. I was sure he would be clapping his hands with glee at more development in his Bass electorate with the announcement of more coal and seam exploration. But he said no!; Strange considering::

• -He is a climate change 'Agnostic'
  
• -Supported the building and re-zoning development in Ventnor against community and council wishes.
  
• There is coal in the Bass electorate. Wonthaggi was built on it.
  

My conclusion: some alarm bell maybe ringing for him, he has had a bit of bad publicity locally lately.

(Ken is also said 'no' to a hospital in Phillip Island, a population 10-12 thousands during winter 70 thousand during peak tourist times.)

 

 

Marcus Borg, The Heart of Christianity, The heart of the matter

Marcus Borg, The Heart of Christianity, The heart of the matter

 

The last chapter of the rough summaries of my readings of the Heart of Christianity::

Borg asks the question what does it mean to 'love God with all your heart' the response is '"Practice". Loving God means paying attention to God and to what God loves"

Western Christianity has not made practice central as opposed to other religions. Borg gives two reasons

• The reformation: We are saved by "faith not works".
• Western Christianity has become more about belief than knowing God.

Purpose of Practice

Practice is about:

 

• Paying attention to God:: intentional and thoughtful
  
• The formation of Christian identity and character. The aim of deepening and transformation of character of self.
  
• Nourishment, it happens two ways often corporately as well as individually with devotional practices
• Compassion and Justice: "ethical fruits", becoming passionate about what God is passionate about
• living the way: "Being born again, opening the heart, dying to an old identity and being born into a new identity; and becoming passionate about God's passion, the life of compassion and justice in the world."
• (Gee I like this list, no mention of recruiting!)
  

The there are the practices "plural"

Being part of a Church,

• it nourishes you and stretches you. (There is some really good advice regarding choice of Church)
  

"Participation in worship is vital for Christian Formation. In worship, we internalize the tradition through liturgy, hyms, scripture readings, and preaching."

Prayer

• Prayer is central,

Borg goes out of his way to explain how he prays for petition and intercession even though he does not belive in an interventionsist God. Very interesting!

• Intercessional and petitional language feel natural; a natural way to speak if caring.
• Borg believes that these prayers have an effect; he affirms paranormal healing
• Both petition and intercession have an underlying purpose of drawing one closer to God

Meditation

"..reflecting on an image or phrase, sitting with it, holding it, remaining with it"

Contemplation

Internal silence. To sit with God. Usualy involves a mantra.

Daily discipline

A daily practice for prayer or Christian reading. Time each day set aside for God

Practices in the Dailiness of Life.

Remembering God in the course of the day/week, prayers or rituals.

 

Practicing Compassion and Justice

Compassion and Justice are God's passion, In imitating God we also participate in compassion and justice.

"Justice askes"why are there so many victims" and then seeks to change the causes of victimisation" Thus the Church and Christians are to be political in seeking social transformation.

 

And thus here ends my book reading and rambling thoughts of 'The Heart of Christianity', great book, not many theological books I can say I've read twice 5/5.

 

Marcus Borg, The Heart of Christianity, Sin and Salvation

I continue my jaunt through Marcus Borg's 'The Heart of Christianity"; the next chapter is 'Sin and Salvation'.

This is an interesting chapter as I am under the belief that we all have within us the potential to do wrong. Sin if you like. You just have to look at corrupted nations where ordinary soldiers without thinking where complicit in extermination, torture and other horrid things to people. The other thing which I can apply to myself; I can have a tendency to take the easy way even if it hurts other people, even if I don't know it. Now what does Borg say, a few thoughts

Sin

• Sin and the language of forgiveness dominates Christian 'imagination' it is 'central'. See this in the service and liturgy. Borg writes that basically you could some up that 'Something is wrong'
• Borg takes three definitions of root sin:

1. Niebuhr: "hubris" or "pride"
   
2. Tillich: "estrangement"
3. Unfaithfulness

(I could relate to 1 and 3 but I've never had that feeling that 'God' has left me or vice versa)

 

• Borg believes Christinity would be beter off to use lots of biblical images for the 'human condition' other than just 'Sin'. Eg 'in exile, blind, lost, self-centered, wounded, sick, paralyzed. In using multiple images it also expands the remedy instead of just 'forgiveness'.
• One of the other reasons that Borg preferes using multiple images for the human condition is that. The use of sin emphasises 'individual sin' as opposed to 'social sin' (In college the term I herd was 'structural')

Salvation

 

• "Salvation" like "Sin" is loaded and has multi-layers
• Salvation is overly emphasised with the afterlife:: As such a requirement of who is in and who is out. (Borg is not keen on this)
• Salvation is emphasised in the Bible for this life. OT there was no clear affirmation of an afterlife until Daniel. Previously Israel didn't believe in an OT (I wonder what Borg thinks of the term Sheol?)
• By the time of Jesus the Jewish majority believed in and afterlife
• Jesus belived in the afterlife but didn't talk about it much
• Borg writes that 'Salvation' is primariy a 'this world' experience. Broadly it is about "Wholeness" to be healed. Borg also gives a list of images of salvation found in the bible eg "Light in our darkness", "Liberation for captives", "food and drink" etc.
• There are also "Macro stories" of salvation eg the exodus from Egypt, exile in Babylon.

"Strikingly, but not suprisingly, the New Testament understanding of Jesus correlates with the macro-stories of the Hebrew Bible. Thus the storie of Jesus beocmes a story of salvation."

• Salvation is personal as well as Social. Salvation is often presented for the individual but there is also of the social a "peace and justice within the community." (I'm suprised there isn't even hinted at an 'Environmental element to all of this)

Salvation and reponse:: quoting Desond Tutu "God without us will not, as we without God Cannot" As Christians we need to be an active part of the transformation.

 

Sin, Salvation and Repentance.

 

• repentence, sin and salvation are usually all clumped together
• Repent is mainly 'resolve' not primarily "contrition". A returning to God.
• Repentence in the New and Hebrew Bible are esentially the same.

The Afterlife

 

• I found it interesting " I don't have a clue about what happens after death";(An amazing admission. I have had a friend who read this book and this section absolutely spooked him!)
• Borg writes of the history belief what happens wtih life after death for Christians, it has been varied.
• Borg ends the Chapter with an admoinismnet of 'hope', even if he is unsure of an afterlife.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mainstream thoughts

 

One of the biggest read posts on this blog is 'Todd Hunter' Anglicans not for me'. In some ways I'm a bit embarrassed that it gets so many hits, and perplexed why it does. Nevertheless, it is a reflection of what I was thinking while I was still in ministry during my time at the Vineyard. While I do agree with most of my thoughts ( I still don't get the need for vestments) I have some what softened.

Coming from a small and pokey denomination the Vineyard in Australia, there is much that the mainstream has to offer.

• If you are on the fringes of theology, the mainstream will more likely than not have a safe place for you. For example Episcopal's in the USA have quite a broad acceptance of different Christian theologies. I think I'd fit as some of my theologians of the moment eg Phyllis Tickle and Marcus Borg attend Episcopal Churches.
• Really good accountability and practices are across denominations. These practices are enshrined in constitutions, from independent audits, to double counting the tithe. Mind you there are always bad people who are always going to swindle others in any denomination. Its just that main stream procedures make it harder for it to happen and protect people if they follow correct protocol.
• External procedures for complaints grievances and harassment. Which are mandatory to be followed up.
• Social justice without the need/compulsion to convert

So yes there are some real bonuses of mainstream Churches. I would find it very difficult to go to any other independent or small denomination because of this.

 

It what I'd almost call denominational character as opposed to anointing.

 

Preliminary Trip == Shoreham Foreshore

 

This weekend we took off for a preliminary trip to the the Shoreham Foreshore Park, on Westernport. We did the trip to just to iron out any bugs we might have prior to our big trip to the Flinders Ranges in April.

All up the park was pretty basic. The amenities looked like they could do with a good refresh. No powered sites. Yet there was a charm. It was reminiscent for me of Wilsons Prom. Heaps of bird life, Koalas above us in the trees. The sites were not on top of each other as you would get in a normal caravan park. Yep I'd go back. It seems as if the park itself is still a bit of a secret!

Rate it: 7/10

 

The Volkswagen Bluemotion so far has performed pretty well, its fuel usage even pulling the podtrailer is still 5.6 literes/100km, very good really. I expect on even longer distances to be better. I actually think the computer in the Golf actually over estimates the fuel usage so I'm going to calcuate this manually on the big trip.

The other thing I was worried about was the towing and braking. I had a horrid experience with my Ford Falcon towing a small pop-up caravan which had no brakes. The podtrailer with electric brakes is really good. I don't really feel anything behind me even with sharpish braking.

 

 

 

 

Alaska, Sue Saliba

Alaska, Sue Saliba

There were three reason that I picked up this book:

1. Alaska, one of the last of the great wildernesses.
2. A continuation of my reading theme of young adult literature
3. Sue Saliba, a local to Phillip Island, who I've meet a couple of times

At first I struggled with the book, I couldn't get my head around no CAPITALS. It actually made reading difficult. I knew there was some literary reason but it wasn't until I reflected that there was some turmoil for the reader (At least myself) having not capitals; much like the main character, Mia.

Like a good movie a book which keeps you thinking about it after it has finished, is good. There were many themes which got me thinking; the idea of trying to escape a bad situation only to find that there is no escape, even thousands of miles away; compromises and what is worth fighting for and what isn't. It brought up questions in my own life, asking the same questions about what is important and how much I'd fight and how much I'd let pass by.

There where also some great quotes in the book:

"you can't have beauty without danger..."you can't have life and absolute safety"

Its very reminiscent to the quote but Whilliam Shed "A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for. "

Its a good book, like I've written; it had me thinking afterwards. It has that feel of a book where the author was deliberate with every word; a precious commodity in todays literature. Even if at time it seemed a bit flowery.

4/5

 

Dragon Keeper trilogy by Carole Wilkinson

 

I've just completed the Dragon Keeper Trilogy by Carole Wilkinson; Dragon Keeper, Garden of the Purple Dragon and Dragon Moon.

It is teenage fiction, I'm reading it because I'm catching up. Re-discovering its magic. I havn't read this age related fiction for 20 years.

What I like about this series is where it is set. China when it was ruled by emperors, and had soldiers guarding the great wall. Usually when dragons are involved they are a Tolkien world; my imagination always has me thinking of a European landscape and customs. Not eastern.

The book remined me of my childhood in Bendigo where we had the giant Sun Loong dragon which was made in China. It has triggered a bit of curiosity about Chinese Dragons and some of the legends about them. There is obviously a lot which we in the Western cultures don't know.

 

The Trilogy; It's good. I can imagine myself either reading or discussing element of it with my girls. Short chapters which are full of excitement, suspense and puzzles.

The thing that I liked most was the end, which was was left open; maybe there are still dragons out there....

4/5

Ken Smith vs Greg Hunt

I often read, and I'm amazed at the difference of opinion between Ken Smith State government representative currently in power and the speaker of the house and Greg Hunt Federal representative in opposition; in matters regarding Bass. Amazed because they are both in the liberal party!

The environment::

Ken Smith:: Climate change "agnostic"

Greg Smtih:: "Convinced" of the science.

Development Ventnor::

Ken Smith:: Happy for it to go ahead (ignoring locals)

Greg Hunt:: Actively lobbied against it.

24 Medical clinic::

Ken Smith:: From this weeks Phillip Island advertiser didn't think Phillip island needed it.

Greg Hunt:: From this weeks Phillip Island advertiser, actively meeting with locals and is fighting for a 24hr medical clinic.

It is confusing to say the least. All I can hope for is Ken Smith to retire; It would probably be best for the Liberal Party. Then maybe we can get a representative who "represents" people on Phillip Island.

iBookstore and Amazone Kindle bookstore

Yesterday I was checking out the 'Australia Lonely Planet', I got it from the library and thought that it would be a good reference. Until like all these books they go out of date.

First I checked out 'Book depository"', my first preference for a physical copy. Cost $23.65. Not bad considering this includes postage.

My next option was iBooks which is my prefered option. I'd like to keep my books in the 'Apple ecosystem' Cost $39.99, I nearly choked!

I thought I have a look at the kindle book store. Cost $16.49, a fair price.

Then there is google books. Nothing available as an ebook...

 

What is it with Apple and books? I can understand why they charge a premium for there products but when they are competing with others why can't they be at least close? Over double the price of Amazon books is just not good enough. I'll just keep looking through my borrowed copy from the library and take notes.

 

Geoffrey Blainey, A short history of the 20th Century

 

Geoffrey Blainey, A short history of the 20th Century

A few random thoughts on the book::

I like Geoffery Blainey's books. I've read a few now; I like his broad sweeps, yet his ability to pick out small details.

Beyond a doubt in my mind the most influential and shaping event was communism. Even if communism didn't last, some of the ideals did. Fair working conditions, employment, a health system for those who need it, equality between sexes. The struggle with the west brought about huge jumps in technology for weapons and space exploration.

Communism birth and life was brutal. It wasn't communisms ideas which let it down; rather corruption and power of leaders. Implementation of the ideals of communism were flawed.

It would appear to me that out of the history of humanity, the 20th Century had the most going on. It certainly had the first of the 'World Wars' where death was in the millions for the combatants as well as civilians. The worlds populations have been the greatest. Technology with the birth of computers, rockets, nuclear power, planes, telecommunication. All of these have been revolutionary. I would suspect what happens afterwards will be more 'Evolutionary'.

My only criticism would be the inclusion of the New York attacks on the twin towers. I actually think that on scale of disasters be them man made or not; it was small. The American response was large; and worthwhile reporting; but both events are outside of the 20th Century.

4/5

Blogsy Vs BlogPress

I've been writing my blog now on my iPad for a couple of months. Prior to that I just used a Macbook with Safari. The iPad has become increasingly my "PC" of choice, due to its form size and portability.

Safari:: Unfortunately with Safari on the iPad the option of uploading pictures is shaded. I have yet to find a a way around this option so that I can put photos straight from the iPad onto the blog. Otherwise just for text its alright. The other major downfall is that you need to have an active internet connection.

Blogsy App:: This is my tool of choice. Some of the positives are

• What you see is what you get (WYSIWYG) is pretty accurate
• Some niffty ways to hyperlink text
• You can write your stuff without an active internet connection
• Development appears pretty active, there is always seems a new version every couple of months

Blogsy does though have its downfalls..

• You have to upload your photos to Picarso or other photo sharing program.
• You cannot directly add your photos from your camera libary to the blog site.
• You have to allow location sharing to add a image to your blog (I find this rather intrusive)
• The development of lots of new versions means it can be a bit buggy at times.

BlogPress App::

I used a long while on my iPhone, but I found it a bit of pain to blog on a phone. But I've been using this app again since the iPad.

BlogPress main pluses for me are image management.

• You can add images direct from your iPad camera.
• They don't ask for an image location.

But it does have its problems

• hyperlinks, they are messy and complicated.
• Not as pretty. WYSIWYG isn't quite there, if at all.
• Doesn't seem to be actively developed.

So While both apps have there ups and downs I pretty much use Blogsy unless I have images. Then I use BlogPress. If there is a bit of writing, I use BlogPress to upload the photos, save as draft then move over to Blogsy.

I'm still waiting for my ideal blogging app....

 

Harvey Norman Online

At Christmas time we brought a 40 inch LCD Sony Bravia. One of the first things we do now when we buy anything is do a bit of research on the internet. Both Dick Smith and JB Hi-Fi were around the $500-600 While Harvey Norman was literally hundreds of dollars more. JB had free postage but were out of stock. Christina jumped in the car and went to Melbourne and brought the demo for $450 and it hasn't missed a beat. It is still on JB-HI web site for $598 plus free freight.

I was looking today at Harvey web site and our TV which we brought is not available online anymore. But I did notice that a lot of TV's have 'Ask for a Price' and only available in 'store'. I don't think Harvey really gets it, or even wants to be competitive on the internet. Once I see this I just look up other sites. Havey Norman has just been excluded in the mix, of where I would buy.

His complaining about the internet is a self forfilling prophesy, as he sabotages with silly pricing and not actually having the stock to purchase on line.

I have no confidence in an owner of a business who rubbishes there own product

Go Harvey!

 

Clean up Australia day, and Thin places.

Today we all went off to Clean up Australia day. It was pretty wet, all up there was seven of us including us four in our family. Our area to clean up was from the entrance of the Koala park on Phillip Island Road and Harbinson Road along the bike path.

There was quite a lot of Rubbish, we collected two bags full. Lots of odds and ends, a car headlight, hubcaps, lots of golf balls, from the mini-golf at a-maze-n-thing over the road. As expected plenty of Mc Donald's rubbish even though we are 30km away from bass the nearest store. Plenty of hyper caffeinated drink cans, 'Mother', yet no Coke! What I didn't expect to find was Bakers delight bags, there was plenty.

I had one of those 'Thin Places' experience. Just walking along in the drizzle picking up rubbish thinking to myself that even on this miserable day there is a beauty. Pondering how God made the earth and it was 'good'. That He would be happy at my very very small contribution today, my act of Worship. Caring for what God made.

Even though we had previously done this type of thing at our old Church quite, we were often the ones who were leading or instigating. This time it was just us as a family, no agendas. Strangely it did feel different. I could almost meditate/pray while I was picking up the rubbish.

One of the ironic aspects of the whole day was a little thank you from McDonalds. Maybe they felt guitly? A few people gave me some dirty looks when I accepted the card; but like the Gherkin.

 

 

Around the Garden Autumn 2012

First two lemons on the tree!

Cheery tomatoes that self seeded from last year.

Corn, a few srung up, enough kernels for a few meals

Pumpkins, yep a sucess which should produce enough pumkins to last 6 months or so.

This little fig tree hasn't grown much this year, hopeing it settles in a produces a few more leaves next year.

An ornimental addition out the front, a Californian Anemone, dosn't require much water so should go ok with the dribbles from under the deck.

Grosse lisse Tomatoes, very very yummy compared to what you get in the supermarket. Had enough for a couple of weeks but not enough for relish and sause. Again I've learnt a bit more this year and will be a bit more prepared...

 

 

 

Marcus Borg, The heart of Christianity, Thin Places,

Marcus Borg, The heart of Christianity, Thin Places.

A Few rambling thoughts and summary again on this book...

::The heart had a lot more metaphorical meaning when the bible was written than it has today. "The heart is an image for the self at a deep level, deeper than our perception, intellect, emotion and volition."

::The Closed heart ==> A human condition where the person hardens themselves, separate us and them.

:: Thin Places ==> Comes from Celtic Christianity, "...this way of thinking sees God, "The more", as the encompassing Spirit in which everything is. God is not somewhere else but "right here.". Thin places are where we actually see God ; We experience God in the world around us. (I really like this, a very strong resonance)

• Can be geographical, Borg mentions the island of Iona. (mine would probably be Wilson's promontory.)
• Arts, including music, poetry etc
• Serious illness, suffering and grief can become thin places (I've experienced this in palliative care)
• People can be thin places. Some people we can feel the presence of the Spirit upon them.

Thin Places and Christian practices

Worship in during Church is primarily a ' A thin place'. I liked Borg's answer to God requiring our 'worship'.

"I recall hearing a radio preacher talking about how "God just loves to be praised." He made God sound like a narcissist. Rather, worship has the power to draw us out of ourselves. Worshop is directed to God, but is in an important sence for us"

Other parts of a Church service which can be a thin place include

• baptism and the Eucharist
• sermons
• The bible
• liturgical words (lords prayer is a great example)
• prayer

The open heart

"The Christian life is about opening our heart to the Thin places". I say "amen" to that.

This was one of my favourite chapters. It explains why I want to seek God out. How the "thin places" give me a sence of peace. One of the blurbs on my blog is "looking for signs of beauty and redemption in the here and now". It is in many ways a prayer for the "Thin places".

 

 

Wet day in Cowes

It's a wet day in Cowes today. Lots of inside time, drinking tea, reading, and playing games with Jo.