A Lifetime Goal

A lifetime goal has been achieved with the full cast & crew credits listed on IMDB.com for El Heist Grande.

The film has been entered into a number of festivals in 2011 - good luck!

Study

In a way it is a surprise and a relief that Study is considered a spiritual discipline in Foster’s ‘Celebration of Discipline’. Having benefited from a good education, to study a book, or a play, or the world around me, has been ingrained as just a normal part of growing up. But Foster continues to challenge us in our Christian living by having us transform and renew our mind.
I am aware that many books or films, for example, that I read or watch are just for that moment. Once finished, I move on to the next (and for the most part, that is quite appropriate and even more than some of them deserve!) If I were intending to create my own film for instance, I would learn my craft by watching a master like Ozu or Hitchcock, scene by scene if necessary and then applying what I’d learnt. In reading Foster’s book, I have read and re-read the same chapters, understanding and interpreting what has been written so that I can better apply his insights into more godly living.
Like all the disciplines, Study is not just an object in and of itself. It is not about storing up great multitudes of knowledge or trying to outsmart the next person. The repetition, concentration, comprehension and reflection of the object of our study merely become the tools to gaining this discipline. The focus remains on knowing who we are through Jesus and living our lives for God. It is through Jesus that we come to know we are saved and are given the grace to live with humility and purpose.

6 The discipline of Confession

Confession

Confession as a Christian discipline has a bad reputation these days. We acknowledge our right to communicate directly with God : “there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Similarly we shun the legalism of confessing either because we have to or as the only means to be forgiven.
Sin is not just doing something ‘bad’ per se. Sin is the thing that breaks the relationship between man and God. Foster, in his book ‘Celebration of Discipline’ constantly reinforces to all Christians the challenge of putting their relationship with Jesus first.
My fears are universal I think: I do not wish to broadcast my failures and shortcomings to others. My brain is very clever however. By remaining mute and unspecific about my actions, I can conveniently forget what I’ve done and justify away any consequences.
Keen to try all aspects of the disciplines Foster writes about, I started with my attitude toward my sinful behaviour. Am I genuinely sorry for having caused a rift in my relationship with God? Am I determined to avoid doing so again?
Then, to a trusted friend and Christian brother, I named specific sins, out loud. Attitudes of the “heart” (such as pride, anger, sloth, gluttony etc) are equal with “things done” when it comes to dealing with sin.
My confessor enunciated that God forgives me (we have the authority : “If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven”)
What a wonderful freedom to be set free from guilt and shame. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” To walk more closely with Jesus is to experience life being fully loved and better able to love others. The challenge remains to continually place God first.

5 The discipline of Study
6 The discipline of Fasting

Fasting

Small Group is a place where I meet up with some mates from my local church. We pray together, read the bible together and encourage each other in our faith. At the moment we are reading a book together, The Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster.
In the chapter on ‘fasting’ we actually tried it out, rather than just read about it. Over the course of a normal work day, none of us ate breakfast or lunch. We met at the end of the day to break the fast; share a meal together and relate our experiences.
The point of fasting of course is not just to go hungry. Nor is there anything wrong with food or with eating. It is after all one of the very tenants of our existence! The challenge of Foster’s book is to put God first; to let nothing come between Him and us. Very easy to say, very hard to do.
During my fast, at times when I would otherwise be eating, I either read my bible or spent the time in prayer. While there was no startling revelation per se, indeed I have read my bible and prayed many times before, just the action of inviting God into times and places where I usually do not, subtly changed my perspective to be more gracious and light of spirit. Inevitably this experience left me wanting to seek God more.
During the day I found my stomach acted as a quiet (rumbly) reminder that this day was a day to seek God. An opportunity to not be distracted by routines and the often selfish living.
Foster says in his book that “fasting reveals the things that control us.” I realised today that I have an obsession with food that is controlling. Jesus says, “hunger and thirst for righteousness, then you will be filled.” I intend to fast again next week.

5 The discipline of Confession

Auskick at Docklands

Am I not the proudest dad on the planet? Both my boys, Curly and Spikes, were invited to play an Auskick game during half time of last night's Collingwood Magpies / Western Bulldogs AFL match. I won't deny that this was my childhood fantasy they were playing out however both of them had an absolute ball playing in front of 52,000 people. Good on you lads!

Sunday Night Sermon

I was invited to give the main talk at our once-a-term Sunday night church service, at St Mark's Anglican, Forest Hill. I used the doco Man On Wire as my jumping off point. Here's a transcript of what I said.

Philippe Petit, a French tightrope walker, was 17 years old in 1966. He was sitting in a dentist's waiting room in Paris when he sees an artist’s impression of the World Trade Centre in New York, construction for which is about to commence. The WTC or the Twin Towers are most infamously remembered as terrorist targets on 9/11. A long time before that however, before they are built, they will become the highest buildings in the world. Young Philippe Petit sees this picture and is captivated by them. He wants to walk between these towers. He must have this picture, this memento. But how? There is a room full of people. He sneezes, and rips the paper and runs out of the waiting room. Sure, he will have a toothache for a week, but what is pain now that he has acquired his dream?
Man On Wire, won Best Documentary at this year’s Oscars and it recounts Petit’s story. Petit has decided to conquer beautiful stages. His first is to walk between the Notre Dame towers in 1971. “Its against the law but not wicked or mean” he says. As he walks, his friends call it “a dream”
In June 1973, they break into the pylons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Meanwhile, the Twin Towers are completed. Petit takes a number of trips to New York to spy out the Towers. He sends his friend a postcard of them, and cheekily draws a wire between them. His friend recalls, “that is why they are there, for Philippe to walk across.”
After much planning, on 7 August 1974, they haul 100s kilos of equipment up 110 floors, disguised as architects and builders. It takes all night to evade guards, haul the wire between the buildings and secure it.
They are exhausted but Petit remains focussed. He says, “if I die, what a beautiful death, to die in the exercise of your passion”. He steps out onto the wire, “his face became an ageless mask; a sphinx” and he reflects : “in the middle of this madness I suddenly had hope and joy.” Over 45 minutes, Petit crosses 8 times between the Towers, 417 metres above the ground.
His friends, watching from the ground, are in raptures. His girlfriend remembers:“I saw Philippe up there, it was extraordinary, it was so, so beautiful. It was like he was walking on a cloud.” Another friend recalls : “it was magical. It was profound”
Extraordinary. Perhaps you might say, you expect this kind of reaction from your friends. They have, after all, been the whole journey with you and are experiencing an exultation of relief.
What is most striking for me in this whole story is the reaction of the Police sent up to get this crazy man off the wire, arrest him, and bring him down. These are hard-bitten New York cops. Not prone to flights of fancy. Listen to the report of Sergeant Charles Daniels, Port Authority Police : “Officer Meyers and I observed the tightrope dancer, because you couldn’t call him a walker, approximately half way between the two towers. And upon seeing us he started to smile and laugh. When he got to the building we asked him to get off the wire but instead he turned around and ran back into the middle. Everyone was spellbound in the watching of it.” “I personally figured I was watching something that somebody would never see again in the world. I thought it was once in a lifetime.”
Another policeman said, “the rigging outfit itself, its magnificent the way he did it”
Astonishing. The very men sent to arrest him, become advocates. They have nothing to gain. They simply report what they see, and are moved by it.
I highly recommend this documentary to you. You will find it in your local DVD store.

This reminds me of Jesus’ story. In Mark’s gospel, we are assaulted by an astonishing list of feats and wonders. A real boys own adventure : Jesus drives out evil spirits; he heals people; crowds follow; he calms a storm; people are raised from the dead; he feeds 5000; he feeds 4000; he walks on water.
Surely these feats means that everyone will listen to him, understand him, want to follow him? Jesus asks his friends who people think he is : some say “John the Baptist; others say Elijah; still others, one of the prophets” Peter announces him as The Christ. They know he is a great man. But do they recognise him? I don’t think so.
The folks in his hometown certainly don’t understand. “They took offense at him”. What about the Romans – the soldiers beat and mock him. The Jewish authorities want him dead. All the way through the gospel story, people are fascinated; in awe of; enraged by; and yet they never quite ‘get it’ even after his hints. “He [Jesus] began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and that he must be killed, and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him”
So how do we recognise Jesus? How do we claim to have a different experience? Unlike the disciples during Jesus’ lifetime, we have the benefit of the whole story.
Let me read some edited highlights of the end of Jesus’ life; his friends have fled; Peter has denied him; [15] "And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"
For the first time in Mark’s gospel : after 15 chapters!, it is a Roman Centurion who exclaims : "Surely this man was the Son of God!" He has nothing to gain by this revelation. He is just reporting what he sees. You see, I think it is not until we see Jesus, on the cross, do we recognise who he really is. It is not, it seems, the miracles that convert us to Jesus but recognising the kind of death that he dies.
So why does Jesus need to die? It is part of God’s rescue package for all of mankind : for you, for me, for all of our friends and family. Paul, an apostle, who comes a little time later in the bible story, says this [Rom5:6f]: “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this : While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
People have turned their back on a holy and perfect God. We do it from the moment we are born and have no means of turning and facing God by ourselves. Jesus willingly gives himself up on behalf of all people, and takes our judgement on himself. “While we were still sinners”, at our furthest from God, that is when God loved us the most : “Christ died for us”
On the cross, Jesus cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”. God has turned his back on Jesus, the perfect sin offering, because he cannot look upon such a fallen creature. Jesus dies in our place, alone, separate from God.

Here is the great miracle of God’s rescue plan however.
[16] When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"
{They have no expectation that something different has occurred.}
"But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe. He said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him."
Jesus, the human, is alive ? How is this possible. They all saw him die. It is this last, most significant act, that means that you and I can have faith in Jesus as our own personal saviour. By defeating death, we no longer have any fear of dying and becoming separated from God – Jesus has done this for us.
Firstly, God has paid for our sinfulness and secondly, [1Jn 5] "God has given eternal life, and this life is in his Son."
Philippe Petit, our French tightrope walker says : “the fact that the wire walking activity is framed by death is great, it means you have to take it very seriously”
Perhaps we could requote him and say : “Living is an activity framed by death, it means we have to take it very seriously”
What actions, what decisions do we make which will shape our future? What about our eternal future? Choosing Jesus, the creator of the universe to be our personal guide, saviour and instructor is the most crucial, the most important step we must make in living our life. What steps are you making as you consider your life? Do you choose Jesus ?

Things I Like #8 - Breakfast

While it would be true to say that ‘food’ in general is a thing that I like, especially if you are buying me lunch or my beautiful wife is cooking a loving tea. Is there a better way to start they day though than a warm, nutritrious and sweetened bowl of porridge ?

The process is simple. One cup of rolled oats, one cup of water and into the microwave for 3 minutes.









A spoonful of brown sugar and milk on top to finish if off.
This breakfast has the lowest fat / highest “fill me up” ratio of all of the cereals. Something to look forward to, every single day.

Things I Like #7 - the Gym

Four years ago, at the ripe old age of 35, I wanted to play football again. As part of that decision was the desire to improve my fitness level. Mostly that meant running and sit-ups. After one full season, the next obvious step was to join a gym. Nunawading Aqualink was an appealing choice as membership includes the use of their 50m pool and gymnasium. I now have the choice of exercising indoors, in the pool or continuing to run outside.
My aim is to do 3 aerobic sessions (of 30 min each) and two weights sessions per week. By simply "turning up and doing it" I have noticed a gradual and positive improvement to my fitness level, strength and body shape. I am measured 3 or 4 times a year and it is always pleasing to know that progress has been made.
What has taken a little longer to realise is that one of the benefits of being fitter includes keeping (a physical form of) depression at bay. Instead of feeling life is getting on top of me, I can approach my life positively and interactively.
Since my last measure, at the start of summer, my aerobic fitness has improved from 1.79 to 1.92 (watts per kg). What does this mean? I don't really know except that its better! Go boy!

Things I Like #6 - Pearls Before Swine

Dilbert creator, Scott Adams, has written his "formula" for what makes a really funny comic strip. He claims that achieving a minimum of 2 out of 6 makes for an "amusing" strip, but obviously the higher the matches, the more successful it becomes. His rules:
1) Make it cute (as in kids and animals)
2) Naughty
3) Bizarre
4) Clever
5) Recognizable (ie, you've been there)
6) Cruel

{Adams himself laments that his own comic strip Dilbert frequently only breaks even at 2 out of 6, and marvels at the conversion rate of Calvin & Hobbes, 5 out of 6, "virtually unheard of," or The Far Side, 4 out of 6, "no wonder he sold a trillion calendars"}
On this scale, Pearls Before Swine by artist Stephan Pastis consistently rates 4 out of 6. It has cute animals, some cruelty that's definitely cruel enough, some bizarre behaviour and often a clever or recognisable theme. It ranks as my favourite comic strip. You can read it here.

Meet some of the characters:
Rat is malicious and cynical and perpetually taking advantage of the naive and simple Pig.



Next door neighbours, the Crocky-diles, are dense and all the funnier because of their inept hunting of prey.



And occasionally the jokes are just sick plays on words.



Finally, sometimes Pastis breaks the “fourth wall” and inserts himself into his cartoons, often at his own expense.

Things I Like #5 - things starting with V

I picked up these limes from the Vic Market for 20 cents each (bargain), juiced them, and stored them in the freezer. They form a perfect base for my drink of choice : Vodka.
(Oh yes, I also like Victoria!)

(The kids and I had some fun with our photos. He he.)

Things I Like #4 - Crumpler bag

Sure, it makes me totally hip, trendy and modern, and sure, it highlights the blue in my eyes, but what I really like about my Crumpler messenger bag is that I can carry it over my shoulder, keep my hands free while I walk, and carry whatever I need to easily. The shoulder strap is broad enough to be comfortable, the flap is safely secured by Velcro and may be further secured by clips and the bag sits in place on my back by a simple yet ingenious third leg. I have “accessorised” it further by purchasing a wee mobile phone pocket which sits on the outside for convenient access. Totally Happening!

Things I Like #3 - The Borek Stand

What makes Thursday the best day of the week? Reading the Green Guide certainly. But what else? On Thursday I buy fruit at the Queen Vic Market, to feed the hungry monkeys at my house for the next week. For lunch I buy simply the best lamb kebab souvlaki (with garlic sauce) from the Borek stand, in the Deli. And for only $6.
The Turkish ladies who serve are the toughest and most hard working vendors on the site. They are constantly serving boreks ($2.50 each) to a pressing crowd, often 6 wide and 5 deep. They know who is next in line, who has ordered what and how much each owes. (I do not eat the boreks simply because the chilli is no good for me. Otherwise I love them too).
Having feasted there every week for a year or more, I am now greeted with a knowing smile. “Lamb garlic ?” “Yes, thank-you.” No more needs to be said. Happiness awaits.

Things I Like #2 - Risk

Another of the activities I enjoy is playing the game of global domination, RISK. A board game that combines strategy with the roll of the die. Best played with four or more, the downside to this game is the infrequency with which that number of like minded fellows can be organised in the one location to play. As such one must enjoy the opportunities as they arise and makes victory even sweeter. The attached picture is half-way through the most recent battle; my green army is amassing in North America for its eventual rout through LB's South America and on to Africa and the world! Bwahahahaha.

Hockey debut

At age 38 I have proudly made my hockey debut for Hawthorn in the summer comp. I played out on the wing to do as little damage as possible since my actual hockey skills are low-to-non-existent. I played alongside my brother who has played hockey since age 6 and he ensured I kept running to the right spot. My legs are a little sore, not having done much hard running since footy season last year. All in all though I enjoyed the outing and may play again ! Oh yes, and we lost 5-2. Que sera sera.

Things I Like #1 - Podcast

My favourite podcast is News Radio’s Star Stuff, hosted Stuart Gary. While I don’t really know my quarks from my dark matter, the technical segments (such as on gamma ray bursts, or GRBs for those in the know) are always very well explained from either Gary himself or any of his ‘go to’ experts. The program also spends a lot of time on the latest rocket launch from all round the world, whether it’s the first ever (very wealthy) tourist into space, Chinese tests, or American trips to the international space station. I find it endlessly fascinating and Gary’s enthusiasm makes for invigorating listening.
The link to the podcast is here.

In the Garden, in the Rain

On the wettest day in Melbourne in the whole of 2008 and close to the wettest day in December, ever, young Curly and I weeded under the play equipment and moved one cubic metre of tan bark to cover the ground. Timing!
The remaining two cubic metres of mulch will go on the front garden beds tomorrow afternoon, after they have had a good soak.

Op + 2

Two days after the Op and the swelling around my jaw is worse. It feels swollen in my gums too. Somewhat uncomfortable. The Neurofen however is doing a top job and the codeine is on hand (although does have an unfortunate side effect of blocking one up). Didn't sleep that well last night so will look forward to a nap this afternoon.
Darling daughter is off to her op this afternoon and she is getting a little anxious. At least she will have her mother with her to keep her company. Am applying all my distraction skills to keep her mind off things!

Surgery - one quarter of my wisdom, gone

Yesterday (Wednesday) I had one wisdom tooth removed (lower, left side) which was impacted, that is, it was growing sideways into the other teeth. As my dental surgeon said, "it won't get any better by itself and it will get infected." With that advice I elected to have it removed.
Thankfully they only operate at civilised hours so my Good Lady Wife dropped me off at Monash Medical Centre at 1030am where, with newspaper in hand, I sat down to wait my turn. I hadn't had any breakfast, let alone morning tea or drinks of water (except for one) and was more concerned at that than anything else. Thankfully (?) the nerves kicked in and it felt like the preamble to a football match. The usual worries circulated, "how much is this going to hurt?", "what if I don't wake up from the anaesthetic?".
Reading my newspaper managed to distract my thoughts and before long I was changed into my operating gown and a name tag on either wrist (in case they chopped one off?). It was another hour before I was called to the table whereupon the anaesthetist inserted a needle into the back of my hand, told me I was going to feel relaxed and a little drowsy before he sent me off to sleep ... and I don't remember another thing.
I woke up about an hour later in the recovery room. The muscles in my jaw were (are) stiff and sore and the throat dry and coarse. That is from the breathing tube so I am lead to believe. The operation itself was straightforward and is now complete. My gum was split to allow access to the tooth and I have stitches in there now to help them heal. Anti-bios and salty mouth-washes are on the diet. Last night I was quite tired and worn out and enjoyed 9 hours sleep with no interruption.
Today the swelling around my jaw is slowly getting bigger even though I am icing it every hour (see pic, left). I haven't felt nauseous from the anaesthetic (thank god) and have managed to eat 'soft' foods, ones that don't require too much chewing on my part. Thankfully I love breakfast cereal and weet-bix and rolled oats are perfect foods.
I have the rest of the week off and as much of next week as I need. I have borrowed a number of DVDs and look forward to watching as many of them as I can take plus the crick is starting again tomorrow (Aust v NZ, test #2 from Adelaide) which will no doubt aid recovery!
Diverse titles such as Fritz Lang's 1927 sci-fi classic, Metropolis (by the way I have seen a couple of Lang's other pics recently : 'M' and 'Dr Mabuse, the Gambler', and they are excellent. He has become my 'silent-era' hero along with Buster), Oliver Stone's JFK, Wim Wender's 1987 Wings of Desire and a couple of Asian shoot-em-ups, my fave HK director, Johnnie To : Exiled, and three short films packaged together : Three Extremes 2. The first one was appropriately weird and scary. This one promises no different.
My darling 10-year old daughter is having an op tomorrow to have grommits inserted into her ears and so we will be quite the pair over the weekend. We have Footrot Flat's, The Dog's Tale, to help us through. Cue Dave Dobbyn, 'Slice of Heaven, yeah".
Have you seen any of these? Let me know what you thought of them.