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.

Men and Boys

Peter and Tyler (of High School Musical fame) shared a tent at a recent 'men and boys' camp. This was the time of the year when the men and their boys of another church got together for an outdoor adventure. This was a time for relaxed Christian fellowship shared by men, and an opportunity for their boys to fully experiment with fire.

It was Tyler's church that organised this camp, so Peter was technically a 'gate crasher' there. This was his third time for Peter and Tyler's forth time. Peter appreciates the welcome he always receives as the 'outsider' on these camps and has developed good friendships with many of the men of that church who commit to the camp. They are a great bunch of guys.

The food did not have to be airy-fairy, and the great challenge was not to burn it overly. There was plenty of fallen timber for fuel and one of the guys always brought his chainsaw. We were made!



The bonfire at right was the largest the boys made. We all learned while we were there that God was like a consuming fire [Hebrews 12:29]... jokes aside.

Resurrection Challenge

Spring is in the air and the bees are out, but there is a great storm potentially brewing. A particular eschatological (end times) focus is hanging over our world at the moment, and it misuses biblical prophesy about the destruction of the earth. Here is an absolute: Christ is risen. Another: we are not risen yet. If the dead are not already in bliss, they are at least sheltered in Christ waiting for the resurrection. Death's rule is still with us obviously.

And death will continue until Christ hands over the kingdom to God, and then death will be dispensed with. Both the living and the dead in Christ share the same hope. They also share the same peril. We (collectively) are not yet safe if the negative force of the Antichrist conquers by destroying this world. We are told in the Bible that the Antichrist is going about raging. That is to our peril.

There are those who have died who have strived against great injustice during their lives. Their efforts will have become meaningless if Antichrist thinking prevails over this world. The dead still wait for justice. If we repress the remembrance of the good that has been achieved, we unwittingly repress our future hope, and the hopes of those who follow us.

An eschatological focus on the destruction of the world, to the point of seeming to "usher in" the Great Tribulation (in excitement even) is actually playing into the hands the Antichrist thinking! The Antichrist wants to destroy this world not God, not Christ, and certainly not the Holy Spirit.

Jesus did predict tribulation but clearly said "the coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, 'Here it is', or 'There it is', because the kingdom of God is in your midst." [Luke 17:20,21]. That is a profound lesson to combine with the new reality that was created by Jesus' death and resurrection. We have only to follow Jesus in words and deeds to know what God has asked of us. The Gospels are an open guide book for all who want to be in Christ.

We are left with the sense that though Christ has won for us new life in a new reality, we still have to live and work in this world and die in this world too. If the world is going to fry (be destroyed) it will reflect a small (or large) victory by the Antichrist forces. It will not be God's plan. Though God may have given us description of tribulation in various parts of the Bible (especially the Book of Revelation), it does not become us to think and preach the damnation of the world, when Christ taught us to love, with a deep and true love, the same world. If anything, we must stand in the breach, against all Antichrist plans, to not let what has been predicted happen in our lifetime. That is our task. Are there enough of us? It may have been predicted in some measure but it is NOT what God wants. Destruction of earth does not reflect the God we worship.

Before us is the resurrection path: to be part of the body of Christ in this messed up world, to preach the good news of the kingdom of God that is already amongst us, and try to change things for good, and to fight against injustice on many levels, just as past generations have also tried to do. We owe it to our dearly departed to do this with all our heart.
Shalom.

Spring Visit

Bec, Gord, Piper and Jasper paid us a memorable visit last weekend and so it is about time that we upload some snaps of them for anyone interested. Both Piper and Jasper are going through developmental changes at a great rate of knots, as can be discerned from our earlier blogs.

They then went on to the Gembrook Retreat to help out with the work there.

Our Flagging Flag

For a long time Peter has felt concerned that Australia has not "bitten the bullet" and opted to change to our national flag design, and to dispense with the "colonial" Union-Jacked flag we have at present. After all, Canada changed their's and they have a sensational design that should last indefinitely.

Most Australians want a change to reflect our multicultural character but we just can't make a collective decision on what the change will be! There has been the occasional competition in past years but the process has stalled somewhere in the corridors power. Pity.

A few years ago Peter posted his preferred version on an internet site which is now non-existent. So here it is afresh. The concept is not super-original since some of the competition designs were similar. The design below incorporates the "Southern Cross" (Constellation Crux) in the sky, over a hot, dry land with a hint of a sunset. Hey, don't laugh! Anything is better than the embarrassment that presents our nation to the world.

High School Musical

We were invited to the Altona Civic Theatre to watch Heathdale Christian College's production of Disney's High School Musical. It was a musical about a musical. We attended the last night and heard afterward that there was not a hiccup. It was a perfect way to celebrate the fuss and fun that the week had been. The energy was apparent, and we could see that everybody, though tired from so many nights at it, was fired up for a good final effort.

We had young friends in the show, Tyler (as the basketball coach) and Alison (one of the skater dudes). We sat with their proud mum, Janet, and their younger sister Stacy. The audience was filled with the friends and family of those on stage, as one would expect for a show like this.

The Heathdale Christian College has been presenting musicals roughly every second year since 1985. Naturally, there have been strained and anxious moments, building up towards each event, but the trouble has always been worth it because it has enhanced friendship and cooperation within the school and local community. And we benefited by seeing an excellent show, a celebration of life by the young.

Gembrook

Last weekend Peter and Gord stayed two nights at the Gembrook Retreat, where they started a carpentry project. Barb and Bec with Piper and Jasper, stayed in Melbourne for some mother and daughter time.

The Gembrook Retreat is a project in progress. Most people who visit and stay at present are there as workers, bringing the place up to a 'retreat' standard. Steve and Jane, and their children, live there and are Quakers. They see this place as their ministry for city people who are searching for a 'space' to rejuvenate their spirits. The panorama shows the majestic vantage point the place has.

Steve, Gord and Peter constructed new internal walls. These walls will be trimmed and insulated by others the following weekend. This was a blessing both ways, because needed rooms were made and the workers gained skills through the challenge.




Gembrook Retreat is five minutes drive out of the town of Gembrook and overlooks a small valley with natural eucalypt growth, and over a few ridges further on is the Bunyip State Forrest. As well as the native flora, there is an large chestnut orchard that produces a massive crop each year and there are numerous deciduous fruit trees, planted by the previous owners. In the Autumn the colours are breathtaking as the picture shows.