To celebrate our anniversary, we stayed at the Sofitel and througha club membership we have, had access to the Sofitel Club Lounge.
Well, well, well - very nice indeed!
You can pop up to the 30th floor anytime and get a range of teas - herbal or otherwise, hot chocolates or espresso coffees. It comes from one of those automated espresso machine which grinds the beans and heats the milk, and while I am not a big fan of them, it was one of the better ones I have used.
They also have refreshments available all day - sandwiches (very nices ones too), biscotti, fruit etc. They also have a great breakfast - buffet style, with bacon, eggs, mushrooms etc, as well as an outstanding array of danishes, cereals, fruit, nudie drinks, toast, cold meats, cheese etc.
There are some really nice big screen tv's, lovely leather lounges, newspapers, magazines, internet, chess boards and a really nice view!
It was just lovely and really added to the stay. The best thing is it is all included in your room price, which we also got at a good rate. So we would definitely recommend it!
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Monday, April 24, 2006
The power of our message
I have been thinking a lot about the power of our message.
The Christian message is incredibly complex, and also incredibly simple.
In it's complexity it provides a foundation on which to structure society - hygiene, notions of welfare, family units, education etc
In it's simplicity it say "God loves you"
I love our message. It is the power of God to change my life and my world.
The Christian message is incredibly complex, and also incredibly simple.
In it's complexity it provides a foundation on which to structure society - hygiene, notions of welfare, family units, education etc
In it's simplicity it say "God loves you"
I love our message. It is the power of God to change my life and my world.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
He must be loose out there!
"In many respects I find an unresurrected Jesus easier to accept. Easter makes him dangerous. Because of Easter, I have to listen to his extravagant claims and can no longer pick and choose from his sayings. Moreover, Easter means he must be loose out there somewhere." - Philip Yancey
Monday, April 17, 2006
The Christian paradox - In Depth - theage.com.au
My friend emailed me this article today and it provides good food for thought. Some of my comments are below the link to the article.
The Christian paradox - In Depth - theage.com.au
Essentially, the author is arguing that the church has become too self-focused and no longer promotes the idea of 'love your neighbour as yourself'.
My thoughts.
1. He is plainly coming from a communist/socialist philosophy which obviously biases his comments. He states the following "A rich man came to Jesus one day and asked what he should do to get into heaven. Jesus did not recommend that he should invest, spend and let the benefits trickle down; he said sell what you have, give the money to the poor and follow me. Few plainer words have been spoken."
He conveniently forgets that Jesus also had many rich followers of whom he didn't make the same demand, and in fact, was supported by them.
2. He promotes the idea that it is wrong and un-Christian to argue for tax cuts, on the basis that we should look after the poor with that tax money. Arguing for tax cuts means you don't care for the poor.
However, this thinking doesn't recognise that there are ways to look after the poor without taxes. I know some people think that the responsibility to look after the poor was given to the church not the state, so shouldn't even be a state concern. (I think it's both). As far as I am aware, non-Government organisations seem to be able to provide much more effective poverty relief than governments. If the author's concern is for the poor, perhaps a more innovative suggestion would be arguing for greater tax cuts for those who give generously to NGO poverty relief programs.
3. He has an obvious dislike of mega churches, which he doesn't really supply a reason for that I can see.
4. Finally, I have to say, he nearly lost me at the following statement. "And the Catholic Church, for most of its American history a sturdy exponent of a love-your-neighbour theology, has been weakened, too, its hierarchy increasingly motivated by a focus on abortion."
Could someone tell me when innocent unborn babies, and stressed, unsupported mothers who abort, lost their status as our neighbours?
Anyway - your thoughts?
The Christian paradox - In Depth - theage.com.au
Essentially, the author is arguing that the church has become too self-focused and no longer promotes the idea of 'love your neighbour as yourself'.
My thoughts.
1. He is plainly coming from a communist/socialist philosophy which obviously biases his comments. He states the following "A rich man came to Jesus one day and asked what he should do to get into heaven. Jesus did not recommend that he should invest, spend and let the benefits trickle down; he said sell what you have, give the money to the poor and follow me. Few plainer words have been spoken."
He conveniently forgets that Jesus also had many rich followers of whom he didn't make the same demand, and in fact, was supported by them.
2. He promotes the idea that it is wrong and un-Christian to argue for tax cuts, on the basis that we should look after the poor with that tax money. Arguing for tax cuts means you don't care for the poor.
However, this thinking doesn't recognise that there are ways to look after the poor without taxes. I know some people think that the responsibility to look after the poor was given to the church not the state, so shouldn't even be a state concern. (I think it's both). As far as I am aware, non-Government organisations seem to be able to provide much more effective poverty relief than governments. If the author's concern is for the poor, perhaps a more innovative suggestion would be arguing for greater tax cuts for those who give generously to NGO poverty relief programs.
3. He has an obvious dislike of mega churches, which he doesn't really supply a reason for that I can see.
4. Finally, I have to say, he nearly lost me at the following statement. "And the Catholic Church, for most of its American history a sturdy exponent of a love-your-neighbour theology, has been weakened, too, its hierarchy increasingly motivated by a focus on abortion."
Could someone tell me when innocent unborn babies, and stressed, unsupported mothers who abort, lost their status as our neighbours?
Anyway - your thoughts?
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Not just like any other
I was driving to the shops Monday night to get some groceries and heard on the radio that the Broncos were playing football on Friday night. I was immediately irritated. It's Good Friday - the day that we have off to reflect on the death of Jesus Christ, and the NRL is putting on a match. At least the AFL played Thursday night.
This 'football on Friday' thing has stuck with me for the last few days, and is still no less irritating to me.
I have been thinking about why it is so annoying to me. (In fact, the football will not be on at our place Friday night - even though we are having some people over for dinner who would probably love to watch it - and may leave in order to do so!)
This is what I have worked through. Perhaps I am over-reacting? But here's my thoughts anyway.
The reason I hate this so much, is because it is treating Good Friday just like every other day. There's football every other Friday night. But it's not every other day. It's the day we remember what Jesus went through on the cross for us.
We have a public holiday for that reason.
And while I keep hearing that we live in a pluralistic society, I don't see anyone NOT taking the public holiday because they don't believe in what it stands for.
I am also very aware that Jesus Christ is increasingly being marginalised in our society and that the days we have set aside as a society to remember or honour Him are increasingly being secularised. In fact, I even heard ads for Easter Buns the other day - what, we can't say Hot Cross Buns now?
Putting on a game of football, to make money and entertain, seems to trivialise and marginalise this day - to treat it just like any other Friday.
And I wondered - why does society treat such holy days so lightly?
Then I wondered if it is because His church have treated them so lightly.
We don't seem great at finding a balance between the extremes of meaningless rituals, or absolutely no way of marking holy moments.
We will be marking it by having a meal with people who are in the community of faith made possible by the death of Jesus. We will do something different. We will cut some things out of our life for one day, so that we are reminded this is a special day.
It is not just a day like any other.
This 'football on Friday' thing has stuck with me for the last few days, and is still no less irritating to me.
I have been thinking about why it is so annoying to me. (In fact, the football will not be on at our place Friday night - even though we are having some people over for dinner who would probably love to watch it - and may leave in order to do so!)
This is what I have worked through. Perhaps I am over-reacting? But here's my thoughts anyway.
The reason I hate this so much, is because it is treating Good Friday just like every other day. There's football every other Friday night. But it's not every other day. It's the day we remember what Jesus went through on the cross for us.
We have a public holiday for that reason.
And while I keep hearing that we live in a pluralistic society, I don't see anyone NOT taking the public holiday because they don't believe in what it stands for.
I am also very aware that Jesus Christ is increasingly being marginalised in our society and that the days we have set aside as a society to remember or honour Him are increasingly being secularised. In fact, I even heard ads for Easter Buns the other day - what, we can't say Hot Cross Buns now?
Putting on a game of football, to make money and entertain, seems to trivialise and marginalise this day - to treat it just like any other Friday.
And I wondered - why does society treat such holy days so lightly?
Then I wondered if it is because His church have treated them so lightly.
We don't seem great at finding a balance between the extremes of meaningless rituals, or absolutely no way of marking holy moments.
We will be marking it by having a meal with people who are in the community of faith made possible by the death of Jesus. We will do something different. We will cut some things out of our life for one day, so that we are reminded this is a special day.
It is not just a day like any other.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
A point to ponder...
If someone gave you $1000, and told you to spend it any way you wanted to, how would you spend it?
Friday, April 07, 2006
From a hero of mine
"I am serene. I have full awareness of what I have chosen ... If I must die, I will die. Somebody, a long time ago, did it for all of us ... I never thought it would end this way. But I am ready to face the consequences." - Abdul Rahman, an Afghan convert to Christianity, quoted in AP
On another note, I have also just found out that the Courier is running my piece on binge drinking on Monday, questioning some of the underlying assumptions we hold as a society about alcohol...
On another note, I have also just found out that the Courier is running my piece on binge drinking on Monday, questioning some of the underlying assumptions we hold as a society about alcohol...
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Joy o joy!
Well yesterday I found out some very good news. At Hillsong this year, every registered delegate gets a reserved, ticketed seat to one of the two night meetings each night! As long as you are in your seat 15 minutes before the session starts, you have your seat.... which means no lining up for two hours. Yippee! *** Ruth does dance of joy ***
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