Three Wooden Crosses

This song is a good reminder of our lives as testimonies

Rivers Of Babylon

I was asked about the song Rivers of Babylon whether it was a Christian song. I wasn't too sure of the full story and promised to blog it. Now having researched the answer, I say well yes but no. It was written by the Melodians in 1972 but is mostly famous for the 1978 Boney M version. I know my mum sung it to me as a lullaby so it is a song that has stuck with me for a long time.

Why it is Kinda a Christian song:

Well it is based off Psalm 137:1 and Psalm 19:14. Psalm 137 is a hymn sung by the Jewish people in exile in Babylon. To us I suppose we can identify- that we are kinda in exile as well- until the day we are able to join with others in God's Presence- there is a sense of expectation and loss.

Why it is Not a Christian song:

The song takes verses well and truly out of context- whilest there are large "Christian" music groups (one in particular) who do this often, I think it is enough of a departure from the original Psalm to disqualify it from being a "Christian" song much in the the same way System of a Down's "Chop Suey" is not a Christian song. But make up your own mind:

Psalm 137

¹ By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion.

² There on the poplars
we hung our harps,

³ for there our captors asked us for songs,
our tormentors demanded songs of joy;
they said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"

⁴ How can we sing the songs of the LORD
while in a foreign land?

⁵ If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
may my right hand forget its skill .

⁶ May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
if I do not remember you,
if I do not consider Jerusalem
my highest joy.

⁷ Remember, O LORD, what the Edomites did
on the day Jerusalem fell.
"Tear it down," they cried,
"tear it down to its foundations!"

⁸ O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction,
happy is he who repays you
for what you have done to us-

⁹ he who seizes your infants
and dashes them against the rocks.

Psalm 19:14 (New International Version)

¹⁴ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

David Williams

Fury apparently have signed David Williams to a 2 year deal. I'm very excited- that is huge news as there was lots of clubs chasing the one-time socceroo. If only wasn't injured along with half of the fury team he'd probably be playing again soon for the roos....

and here are some danish highlights from when he was there.

The Night Before Christmas - Brandon Heath -

Mark put me onto this video--- Have a great Christmas everyone

Avatar

Decision reached... going to see it tonight in 3d at 8:30 at reading if anyone wants to join us they are welcome to.

Smeagol vs. PC

lol oh dear... why aren't i asleep

Avatar: The Movie

I've been looking forward to seeing this movie... but the question is whether to see it in 2d or 3d first... any thoughts?

Paul Washer's Shocking Message

There seems to be a return to the shocking sort of preachers. This guy Paul Washer seems to give a welcome rebuke to the churches of today. In the little I've heard and seen of him he is attacking the False prophets of today, and challenging us to repent and believe. Now I don't know much about him but from what I understand he became known through a message he preached at a youth conference. This is a shortened version of it- set to music to make us connect more emotionally (not done by him but by some one else)

Thought provoking post

Quite an interesting post here on as Christians encouraging people who are having a tough time. I think we do it badly...

They're taking the hobbits to Isengard - Lord of the Rings

hehehehehe made me smile

Experience Milne Bay

This was where I grew up---- warning there is some cultural dress shown which includes some topless women----
I lived east of the china straits on a small island- at 3:32 you the middle of the picture I'm pretty sure thats the boat we used to travel on.

Taking your trolley back

Something that annoys me terribly is when people don't take their trolley back at shopping centres. Today I saw a lady leave her trolley against the rails of the trolley return. IN THE CARPARK SPOT NEXT TO THE TROLLEY RETURN..... honestly 2 movements and it would have been in it. Now I know sometime places don't have easy to see trolley returns but- as Christians could this be causing a brother to stumble- I know I've said a few not nice words as I've finally found a parking spot only to find a trolley in it - meaning I had to get out and move it with my car in the middle of the intersection. Poor form I say poor form. In fact it is even worse than those people who don't throw their rubbish in the bin at hungry jacks- and please before you give me some rubbish about helping people to do their jobs- following that same logic I'll go out and kill someone so the policemen have something to do...

School holidays

well its school holidays and I have made a list of thing i want to have done by the end of break

1 Clean my room

2 Establish some good habits in personal devotions and quiet time.

3 Catch up with friends especially those I haven't seen for a while.

4 Do some touch up painting at mum and dad's place.

5 Get fit

6 Lose some weight (tough at at Christmas time)

7 Read some good books both fiction and Christian

What else should I be adding to this list? What is on your list?

Play Fair

Joga Bonito is a saying which in Portuguese means Play Beautiful- This was used in an add campaign by Nike where Eric Cantona bemoaned the lack of hard, fair play in football. The adds followed some of the top names in football. Henry was one of the main guys- however recently he cheated - deliberately hand balling the ball back to a team who scored costing Ireland a place in the world cup. Hmmm Hardly Joga Bonito

NIKE: TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL (high quailty)

And since we are talking football here is a pretty good add about the rise of a young guy who ends up starring for Arsenal and the Netherlands.

Balanced view of the world cup

You may remember I posted the Australian bid video for the 2018 and 2022 world Cups here. Our main rivals to winning this are probably England and the USA here are their videos and a few others- judge for yourself a winner.

England

USA

Russia

A kinda provocative one- Israel Palestine

Caught in the Crowd

One of the ladies I work with at school showed me this video clip. Its a good sentiment but one that is too common. I also would like to believe her that she IS sorry but some of her expressions make me doubt- and I know it is just the video clip but...
I've been working on trying to do less things that I regret being passive about. It has caused me to withdraw from some circles but it is something I'm going to continue to work on.
As the quote on my phone says "Which hurts the most: saying something you wish you had not, or saying nothing and wishing you had" I vote the latter... you?

True Union

Well I couldn't sleep tonight so I thought I'd stay up for the rugby union... big mistake. Decided I like union's free flowing game. Problem is it doen't happen much- so I think I'll stick to highlights on Sports Tonight. I think Union is in a fair bit of trouble world wide- less and less people are playing and watching. Already football (soccer) is well and truly taking over Union's ranking of fourth most watched sport in australia- and if australia gets to host the world cup it will take off. The problem for rugby is they had their world cup in OZ and it didn't make much difference to player's numbers or viewers once it was over. Well how do the americans get people to watch their boring sports? Make movies about their sports with high intensity highlights, add personal touch, maybe a bit of racial inequality to make you 'connect with the people'. Well union is trying the same thing with Invictus. Three of the biggest hollywood names in Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman starring with Clint Eastwood directing. And whilest I cringe at the prospects of terrible attempts at south African accents (Mett Demon) I'm actually looking forward to this movie. And who knows it may get me watching rugby.

Mulan-I'll Make A Man Out Of You (English)

This is for Pete- (and grace and Lisa)

Attempt at a List

Nathan suggested if you can't think of what to write, Post a list- so here it goes.
Statements I hate
1. But what do you know?
2. Look I'm the doctor here leave that to me.
3. You wouldn't understand
4. One day you'll think the same.
5. You don't know what its like.

Henceforth when I hear these statements punishment will reign down like fire from heaven so consider yourself warned.
What statements do you hate