Funk Overnighters

It is nice when our grandkids can stay over. That means we play board games (7 Wonders), watch movies ("Castle in the Sky" & "April and the Extraordinary World"), play imagination games and stories, play on the swing at the nearby park, go to Savers Greensborough, and stop by at Greensborough Centre-view Cafe for a drink (pictured). Nice memories.

Easter 2017

We were involved in a couple of Easter celebration events with Missional Community. So we shared in large table meals exquisitely prepared. Without these times together our Easter would have been a shallow memory indeed.

Crown of Thorns baked fennel

Watching "The Passion of the Christ"

Our yearly reminder

Lego Illusions

We are amazed with what Lego has devised to partner with a sales brochure it has produced recently. With the right ap on a smart phone which can recognise the page an instant download will provide moving structures that relate to the open page. We are able to see the brochure and our kitchen table plus the moving illusion. What will marketing brains think of next?

To really appreciate what we are talking about watch our clumsy video capturing many of the illusions HERE.

Seeds of Life

Since the movie Avatar came out, Peter has a new respect for the seed puffs that float about in the summer. They represent continuing life, new life passed on in abundance from the mature trees to one day grow again in a new place. This is true also for animals. A seed of life is passed on to the next generation through mating and birth. The movie Avatar took the idea into a spiritual dimension. The floating seeds were part of an overall 'knowing'. They communicated life and brought salvation to the unsuspecting.

Leave Days End

Barb marked the end of her three weeks of leave by having her sister fly in from Tazzi for a visit. It was lovely having Madonna come and stay for the four final days. She and Barb did heaps together and went out numerous times for coffee and shopping. Sometimes other people would join them, like Peter, Dan and Kelli. We were also invited out. We fitted in a lot, even watching the DVD series Wives and Daughters. Ah yes, and a highlight was the drive to Gembrook to spend time with the Funks. It was a perfect day and a perfect way for Barb to conclude her leave. God's grace.

Leave Day Three

A blood splatted wall near the end of the movie... blood trying to engulf East Timor.

Today is remembered by the movie we watched at home: "Balibo Five", the story of how two TV journalist teams (totaling five men) were murdered by the invading Indonesian troops in 1975. Peter remembers the event of the invasion and could not understand why Gough Whitlam, as our prime minister, sat on his hands in response. Then in November 1991, two hundred and fifty young East Timorese people were slaughtered at a cemetery. At that time Peter was so upset that he vowed to send 250 crosses to that suck of a foreign minister Gareth Evans for sitting on his hands for that. Peter ended up not doing it because it was just one more thing to do in a swirling life. But the Australian government was embarrassed and so they should be. The world started to be aware of the foul smell coming out of Indonesia after that turning point.

After seeing the movie, Peter did a little historical research and found that freedom of information showed the USA actually supported Indonesia in the invasion and probably told Australia to go and sit on its hands the way it did. You see, America had just lost the Vietnam war and was against anything that looked "communist". Because one of the East Timorese parties sharing power (Fretilin) looked Marxist in their polarised view, they gave Indonesia the OK to do what it liked and to supplied most of the arms and aircraft.

Well, to cut a long bloody story short, after the Berlin Wall fell and the threat of communism evaporated and that excuse used by Indonesia fell away. America was forced to change its mind and allowed the UN to push for a referendum (1999) which went about 85% wanting to be independent. This brought more bloodshed, but eventually the UN had a force there to resolve things. In all Indonesia murdered 183,000 East Timorese out of a population of only 800,000. This story is a blight on Australia and the USA, and we are ashamed that our government could be such "crawlers" to let it happen the way it did.

Day Sixteen

At the end of this day, Piper travelled back with us to stay with us a few nights. This was as good occasion as any to decorate our Christmas tree. Piper was a very willing helper. After that Barb and Piper watched the Disney classic 'The Rescuers Down Under'. Piper really enjoyed it.

Narnian Ship

A true Narnian ship was described by C.S. Lewis as thus: Her prow was gilded and shaped like the head of a dragon with wide-open mouth. She had only one mast and one large, square sale which was a rich purple. The sides of the ship were green. As it glided along, the water reflected greens and purbles in the sunlight. Very nice.

Now a movie support company called Dragons Prow has made a full scale model for the new Narnia movie due out next year. The film set location is a coastal suburb of Brisbane called Cleveland near where Mum lives. This 'land-ship' was made to rock and pitch which will throw the acters about. Technology must be able to do the rest! The model seems to be reasonably close to the original description, even down to the dragon tail.

We heard about it when Barb's brother and sister and mum visited the location for a looksee. Chris sent us the photos. Thank you for that. The sign there said that they will be shooting till September 25 and then it will be all cleaned away. If they left it there it could have been a continual tourist attraction, especially if it could still pitch and rock. Oh well. For your eyes only, this one.

Pegs of Oz

Peter has realised that simple dolly pegs can be dressed into any number of different characters, especially if the character is particular and is based on human form. So, he made up Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion Man and the Wicked Witch of the West from craft scraps and hot glue. There has been a resurgence of interest in the 1939 movie: The Wizard of Oz. Marketing companies might not be agreeing with that, but what can stop us if we have dolly pegs! There are still more characters to join the cast, like the good Witch of the North and the Wizard even. Dolly pegs from the Joseph narrative, blogged about earlier, can be commandeered to fill some of the other roles. They are all pretty simple and fun to make.

After observing children playing with the dressed up pegs, Peter has realised that children will play just as well with these "stick people" as with manufactured toys. The more rough and the simple the better. A by-product of this may be the realisation by children that they themselves can dress up their own dolly pegs for very satisfying play.

At Last a Western

It was with great excitement (Peter's especially) that we saw our first western together in a movie theatre. A new western is rare these days. We enjoyed it thoroughly. It had a bit for everyone. It was a western with all the usual motifs, a love story with love twists, along with well constructed characters, all woven into a good and credible story.  Appaloosa scored high on our scale of appreciation, and we'll probably purchase the DVD when it is available. Occasionally during the movie, there was a steady slowing of the pace that allowed us to put aside our impatience for action and to relax into the speed and meaning of the moment. It was a great movie to unpack, and we shared in a relaxed and enjoyable discussion about it later.

Viggo Mortensen, Ed Harris (producer, director, writer and soundtrack), and Renée Zellweger.  We are grateful for the images found at: http://outnow.ch/Movies/2008/Appaloosa/Bilder/

Drawing Nemo

Piper our grandchild, has shown a keen interest in drawing and has recently drawn the story of "Finding Nemo". This collection of pictures are a gift to us from her this Christmas. Those of us who know the story well will appreciate each drawing and what it means. We think that Piper, not yet five, has drawn magnificently and creatively. See for yourself.

Marlin, Coral, the eggs and the barracuda (underneath)

Nemo (on the stingray) was going on an adventure. But it wasn't an adventure that Marlin want him to go on, because it was the drop-off and the drop-off wasn't safe.

Nemo swam up to touch the bottom of the boat (above) and a diver caught him.

After losing the boat in the distance, Marlin chances across Dory.

Marlin and Dory meet Bruce the shark.

Meanwhile, Nemo is placed in an aquarium and meets Puff and Gill.

Dory is stung amongst the jellyfish tentacles.

Marlin and Dory are saved by the sea turtles and are carried on their backs.

A whale (in the distance) moves in and swallows both Marin and Dory.

Marlin and Nemo now united and spreading the word in the tuna fish net to all unite together to help free themselves and Dory.

(Addition to the story) The stingray helping Nemo and Marlin to get back home.

Marlin and Nemo talking to each other in their home, the sea anemone.

(A conclusion deviation) The barracuda ate all the eggs, but not Nemo, and Coral escaped because she was so quick, and this his her swimming back.

Soon there were two more babies in the family!

The World of the Child.

Peter decided to review a particular toy sale brochure that he found recently in our letterbox. It was titled Australia's Biggest Toy Sale at Target (24 July to 3 August 2008). He did not go to the toy sale, but did browse through Toy Kingdom at Greensborough. There, he became aware of the huge range of toys available. One could spend half a day there and still find something new.

It is hard to make sense of it all, but he does have the feeling that the marketers are pushing the children's toy culture more than the children. People might say that marketing companies are sensitive to the movements of the market, but he thinks they actually move the market the way they wish. What they have done is also self-perpetuating, in that once a behavioural pattern is established and it is accepted as the norm, it just keeps moving in that direction.

With the electronic games waiting in the wings, toys as we know them seem to have a short lifespan. Even days after a toy is given, it may be discarded for a new novelty. Another toy. That is certainly the case when electronic games are "discovered".

If a number of children are together and all want to play with cars, or feed and change doll babies, then the game could last for hours, do much for the tired parent, and create positive communal learning experiences. If there is only one child playing with a toy or game, it may not last. The child is more often a social creature.

Parents tend to regard toys, games, TV or movies as leverage for obedience or as a child pacifier. The respite they receive for this dispensation may come at a future cost. The child's healthy development may be curtailed. A toy or game should be selected with care because it has the potential to help the child's thinking and learning process which helps to clarify and relive experiences, even to rehearse adult roles. The wrong sort of toy or game, especially the kind that carries with it set expectations on how to play (i.e. a toy Batmobile or a fashion Barbie), will restrict this learning and experimenting with life in the world of play. This world is the primary environment of the child for mental growth and advancement. The challenge the child has, but does not realise it, is the need to play with "open-agenda" toys or games, to experiment with their world.

It is believed that children do not play by instinct and have to be taught to play. Adults have an opportunity to teach children how to play well. Adults who are willing to play alongside children are readily admitted into this "play" world. This sharing at play is very healthy and the child in turn has much to teach the adult. This point can be translated into our Church environment and yet we are still to utilise this in my church. Jerome Berryman, founder of "Godly Play", has applied this principle well. We will share a wealth of learning as we play out the "good news" with children and it will be fun. At present, we are only half way there in our church provided we allow ourselves to include craft activities as a form of play.

The children of fifty years ago (Peter's generation) more often created a game out of nothing but the sticks and stones they found. They did watch movies and these indeed influenced their shared play (i.e. cowboys and Indians). The difference today is the faster pace and the greater variety of choice available to the child. Games are shorter and much more varied. Being able to maintain a sustained focus on a task is now a greater challenge for the child.

Schools play a pivotal role in preparing the child for their future years. Here the trend is to bring computer usage into the youngest classes. As the budget allows, classrooms are being equipped with computer labs and interactive white boards. These IWB's are connected to the school's intranet system and therefore also allow movies to be shown. By grade five, children are expected to have a working computer portfolio of their current work tasks and future objectives. Children have controlled access to the web and to their own email account. Learning experiences are becoming very complex and time is at a premium.

Sometimes schools are saddled with having to teach social skills to children, such as how to play fairly. Schools try to remain one step ahead of problems, by continually shuffling children's seating arrangements in class to provoke a better social culture. But no matter how well organised schools are, gangs can still form, and violent behaviours can still happen. This culture of violence is fed by "suspect" movies that children are determined to view. For example, the Batman movie Dark Knight has been promoted by fast food chains and primary school children have found ways to see it. The peer pressure to see the latest "violent" movie is just as powerful amongst the preteens.

Now as we are beginning to understand the situation, we seem to be facing a problem of massive scale. The vying for our children's attention seems to have been well and truly won by the corporations who have done their marketing research and are raking in the dollars. Open ended play seems to be no longer attractive. This latest generation of children, born into the computer age, are having their play dictated. Their parents are giving them more protection and indulging them with more material comforts that perpetuate this. Yet, we also notice how quickly a child will dispense with electronically fabricated play when s/he is given love and attention. They will respond positively to genuine interest in their personhood and are fascinated by the new world of story, play and spirituality that we adults can offer them. It is a calling of God to enter this world and play out the learning.

Modern Ark

We saw the movie "Evan Almighty" recently. We weren't really sure what we were going to see, but were pleasantly surprised. It was a modern film in the sense that there was an ecological slant for protection of this planet. That was good. Amongst a whole lot of subtle comedy motifs there was the common story motif of a father not giving time to his family and a wife carrying that burden, which was resolved somewhat by the ark project.

Different theologies came to bear as well, because the character God played a part. There was creation theology, visually helped by the latest in technical imaging to bring in a multitude of pairs of animals from all parts of the world. For that reason alone it was worth seeing the movie. Divine providence seemed to be well handled, leaving a reasonable amount of choice with the human characters, but nevertheless it was God who won out in the end, saving crowds of humans and animals and still permitting a manmade disaster.

And the ark that the family built, to biblical dimensions, was sensational in its visual dynamics and scale. It took up a row suburban blocks (the multiple mortgage commitment never posed a problem throughout the movie), and there was some fun stuff with the (patiently waiting) exotic animals during its construction. Reality just had to be set aside.

When the flood came everybody in the effected area was saved. Such was the theology of grace presented in the movie, but the tsunami-like body of water must have killed thousands in its wake as it travelled to the sea. But one shouldn't think of those things.

It was a very local flood, so the leading question had to be: Why did so many exotic (non-local) animals have endanger themselves in this way? The trip was short and their dispersion afterward was left completely unresolved. But what the heck. They were like precious gems adorning the whole visual extravagance.