Our local bakery is closing down for 4 weeks as the entire family travels to Vietnam to support and possibly farewell the patriarch of their family. In speaking to� one of the daughters today I was able to express my sadness over her grief and assurance that I would be praying for her and the family at this time. My disappointment increased further after realising that I’d now have to find fresh bread elsewhere for the next month.� � Our customer/ vendor relationship� has advanced over the last year with the family business helping us with donations of bread for the quarterly skatepark competition BBQ. I have shared my passion for Vietnam with her and learnt that they are Chinese-Vietnamese from the north of the country. Language is often a barrier and I am still trying to learn their names.

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I love a good, old fashioned barney. That’s what King David said just before he led the Israelites into the city of Troy inside a giant wooden horse and was subsequently beheaded by Richard the Lionheart. (I’m a bit sketchy on the details but I think that’s the gist of what happened, although, who knows, I was sick the day they did history). And it is with those words of battle ringing in my ears that I embark on this, my historic first foray into what I hope will become a quad-weekly (every four weeks) essay exploring the murkier corners of Christendom. If all goes well, I may consider making it a monthly thing.

And what better way to cut this baby’s cord - to use an inappropriate metaphor - than to let rip with a vicious diatribe against one of the most subversive, manipulative and downright evil films that the world has ever seen. Unfortunately, a legal injunction prevents me from doing so, so instead I will talk about The Da Vinci Code. The talking car movie will get its comeuppance, though, make no mistake.

The Da Vinci Code has been a cinematic phenomenon, breaking box office records worldwide and making millions of dollars for its producers through ticket sales, advertising revenue and promotional tie-ins such as McDonalds happy meals and Tom Hanks action figures. The one that spews forth quotes from the movie, such as, “Gimme a break, not another stupid anagram” and “Run, Robert Langdon, run!” is admittedly quite ingenious. The movie’s success has been so unprecedented that apparently a novel has even been released of the same name. Read the rest of this entry »

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Fantastic Resources for Students

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Here is a great resource if you want to get into WIKIs or podcasting

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I attended a two day workshop on podcasting, blogging and WIKIs on Tuesday and Thursday. Ammazing� how the face of the web contnues to change. Social-networking is the buzz word and probably has been for a number of years. Yes I now I’m behind and have much of the terminology for some time now - but resisted the push. Glad I went to the worshop, if I gained nothing else (which I did) I appreciate the resources I have gathered and a renewed enthusiasm to introduce some of this stuff to students and the faith communities I journey with. WIKIs were particularly exiciting (if you can get excited over such things) and the collorabortive approach and flat level authority/ leadership speaks volumes about how this next generation will engage in learning, community and business.

� words of the moment

• youtube
• myspace
• social networking
• tripod

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Not sure if this is a good idea - but have this nagging feeling that I should have another shot at blogging. It has been a year I think since I last tried and I must admit that I have grand plans for introducing this to my students, family and friends - none of which happened.� I seemed to get caught up in reading more than writing and this time round have told myself to read less of other people’s thoughts and begin to articulate� some of my own.�

So here we go (again) - we will see what happens.�

‘I’m driven with a mission from God. God would tell me, “George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan.” And I did, and then God would tell me, “George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq …” And I did. And now, again, I feel God’s words coming to me, “Go get the Palestinians their state and get the Israelis their security, and get peace in the Middle East.” And by God I’m gonna do it.’”

orginal post at jordoncooper.com
link to orginal article

This weeks Chronicle newspaper had the boys hitting the frontpage. That is the the tiger boys and also my boys (Joel and Clint). Yes we all had tickets to the game on Saturday, BUT unfortunately I had to go to a wedding, the boys HOWEVER got shouted by their granddad. They had a great night and can be seen here under the armpits of Benji Marshall. Well done guys – I’m shattered I missed out. GO THE TIGERS - this week the final!!

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The third NSW forge intensive is fast approaching - just recieved this blurb from Pete Horsley. The first for 2005 was held in February (Morling College), the second was combined with the annual summit in Melbourne and the third and final for this year to be held in Glebe.

It will be a great event not to be missed.

For more details and registration contact;-
Pete Horsley
Email: nsw@forge.org.au

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