This oughtta make Simone happy... :s



What do you think about engagement with the occult in popular culture? Especially in relation to children? Have you had to take a position in it yet?

The thing that annoys me here is that Mark doesn't actually take the time to make any reasoned argument from Scripture. He harps on about being discerning, but then doesn't take any time to carefully discuss what discernment might mean.

In the words of a funny man, "That's not an argument! That's just contradiction!".

Local sports clubs the new local church?

This was an interesting article. Firstly because of the requests being made, but secondly for the social analysis made towards the end of the article.

Cam Butler (Chaplain of the AFL Melbourne Football Club in the AFL and National Director of SCA) is claiming not only that the role of church has been usurped by sport (a tension long felt by those dealing with Kids' sport on Sundays), but also that spiritual guidance has shifted from the cathedral to the locker room.

"May I suggest that the closest thing to a pastor for most young Australians is their local club coach. The closest thing to a church, or refuge from life’s ills, for most Australians, is not the church, but rather their local sports club."

An area of struggle for many local churches is to be able to meaningfully engage with their community as a church entity. Perhaps the local sporting club is an avenue which could bear fruit for the gospel.

Gunning for the future

An interesting quote here from an ex-Arsenal employee. Paul Burgess, former groundsman (the guy who makes sure the playing surface is in top condition) of Arsenal FC has moved on to Real Madrid, and made this interesting comment about the cultures of the two clubs:

"There is a different kind of pressure here compared to Arsenal," he admitted. "There, the club is more about the future whereas at Real Madrid it is all about today. If they don't do well today there is no tomorrow, so winning is everything.

"That transcends down to the groundsman as well. Everyone at the club has to have a winning mentality and if you don't have that, then you aren't part of the make-up of the club."

Interesting to chew on, that.

Cool Chatter...

Nathan helpfully drew my attention here to the anti-cool phenomenon. This round of anti-cool attack seems to be particularly in response to Blue Like Jazz, a collection of reflections by Donald Miller. No doubt the reaction is partly due to the by-line: "Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality".

In other blog news, Al discusses 'the cool' here, firmly placing himself behind the book.

However, this 3-point post from Mikey just nails it. So nails it.

Maybe I should actually read this book...

Nah, I'm off to read some Clifford Simak.

Some more equal than others?

An very helpful angle being played here by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, author of Infidel and Nomad. Her perspective is that while individuals are equal, not all cultures are. While people all must be treated as having rights, the same ought not to be said for all cultures.

I like the fact that she cuts against the grain of a unilateral deification of tolerance in western culture. She points out that citing 'cultural tolerance' is no justification for supporting a culture that promotes human rights abuse. She'd prefer all cultures to be equally up for critique.

Now, I'm not sure I agree with everything she says, but the principle of individual rights over and against the right for a culture to exist seems to me to have something going for it. How can you claim to protect individuals and at the same time protect a culture that abuses them?

NB. This post is not a shot at any culture in particular, but a protest that we all ought to open ourselves up to the examination of others.

Education at its finest

It has recently come to my attention that not everyone has been introduced to Strongbad's emails. This should be rectified.

This is the first ever SBemail.
Some kinda robot

This is one that a friend's child from church showed me a drawing of today.
dragon

This one is especially for those child educators out there.
kids' book

Check them all here.

Oh,and this one is especially good for you fans of fine Japanese anime.
japanese cartoon

Enjoy!