Nothing kills joy like sexy or cool

Joy is the New Black.

Of course, You can make anything the ‘New Black’ if you can find a few people to nod while you say it. 

My latest post on the Sydney Anglican site HERE.

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Pic on Flickr by lancelot_milano.

Kyle, Jackie O and the smell of hell

My latest post on Sydney Anglicans, for people who don't want to comment there:

Kyle and Jackie O were suspended indefinitely from 2DAY-FM yesterday after last week’s lie detector stunt.

John Birmingham rightly asks on his Brisbane Times Blog:

In what moral universe does interrogating an underage girl about her sexual history, while she’s hooked up to a polygraph and sitting in front of a live microphone, strike anyone as anything other the basest, most grotesque and abusive form of media exploitation imaginable?

There were so many things wrong about the stunt that it is hard to know where to begin. So I read secular articles, opinion pieces, and blog comments from the Australian public to see what they said.

There are at least ten things about the stunt that smells like Hell, even to the public:

1. Placing an underage girl on the radio and interrogating her about her sexual history.
2. Doing this for the purpose of entertaining the public.
3. That her plea “I’m scared ... it’s not fair” was not enough to pull the stunt in the first instance.
4. That a mother brings her daughter to a radio station to ask her about sex and drugs.
5. That lies exist. (Why do we live in a world that has lie detectors?)
6. That this kind of stunt has happened before, and Kyle and Jackie O did not learn from it then.
7. The glib response of Kyle when after the revelation of rape: “Right, is that the only experience you’ve had?”
8. The rape itself (Police are investigating the claims.)
9. That the mother knew about the allegation a month before and still brought her in.
10. That this stunt is like so many other sordid ones that Kyle and Jackie O have done with the lie detector.

But perhaps the greatest smell of hell is what all this says about the listening public. One Blog Comment by ‘Dirk’:

YOU got what you wanted – now what? WE are the ones who endorse a gradual degradation of sensitivities…. This is what we asked for: a constant erosion of moral behaviour by clowns that push the boundaries of ethics. Everyday. … As I said – we elected a pig like him to represent our need for entertainment.

Tough words.

When it’s obvious, sin, injustice and bullying are named. And then shamed. And I’m glad that this is the case on obvious things. Like this stunt.

But Jesus said that this is true of all sin in Matthew 10:26-28:

There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

May God show mercy.

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Sydney Blogger Event on Monday 27 July (7 Days)

We originally had a Blogger event for tonight, which people are still free to go to! But I am in the middle of a move. So I'm suggesting Monday 27th July (next Monday) at 6PM at the Nag's Head in Glebe.

Free?

Sydney Bloggers CBD Lunch: Tomorrow

The Rodeoclown and I and a few others will be having lunch in Wynyard Park on Wednesday, June 10, at 1pm.

We meet below the statue of John Dunmore Lang, near Margaret St. Email me if you want my mobile number in case you get yourself lost. Also -- if it rains, come to 3 York St, on the corner of Jamison. Big Sandstone Building. Can't miss it.

Care to join us?

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Pic on Flickr by Tangelo's BlurPrints.

Sydney Bloggers CBD Lunch: June 10 Wynyard Park

The Rodeoclown and I will be having lunch in Wynyard Park on Wednesday, June 10, at 1pm.

Care to join us?

Does that Statue still exist? We could meet near it.

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Pic on Flickr by State Records NSW.

Sydney Blogger Pub Visit is on *Tonight*

We are on tonight. It's Monday May 25. We will meet from 6-8PM?

The Nag's Head on 162 St John's Road, Glebe?

I think that there are some 10-12 who are interested, perhaps more.

• Looking forward to hanging out with my friend Craig again, and talking Richard Johnson.
  
• I'm looking forward to plumbing the depths of Michael Canaris's brain.
  
• I'm looking forward to reminisicing with Ben about CMS Summer School, Moore, and other good things.
  
• I'm wondering how pyscho, dougie will be.
  
• So, I finally get to meet /Karen/, and see the person behind her profound and thoughtful posts.
  
• I'm wondering if Stephen Kryger be as positive and as constructive as his online persona? And meeting the man behind 'Communicate Jesus'.
  
• And seeing again, hopefully, Ali, the Blogger-poet.
• And Georgina, who doesn't have Bible Study tonight.
• And I'm looking forward to meeting Earngey, and not as in a mirror dimly.

Bring anyone you like (significant others, kids etc -- we were yesterday evening with ours).

Any last minutes takers?

I will bring a laptop and a remote connection, so I'm pretty sure there'll be a few live posts.

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Sydney Blogger Event Postponted until Monday

You are not going to believe this: but a few days ago, a welcoming function for Dr Laurel and me was moved from Friday Night to Wednesday Night. That's May 20. In other words, I'm now not free for the Nags Head event.

Now, you are all free to meet: to go ahead without me. No problems. But there were a lot of people not free on May 20 anyways.

I've sampled a few peeps.

New time: Monday Night May 25? 6-8PM?

The Nag's Head on 162 St John's Road, Glebe?

With the new time, is anyone in?

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Rugby League, Sexual Sin and the Holy Spirit

I blogged about these three things over HERE at Sydney Anglicans.

And I just watched the Four Corners show: Code of Silence.

I am praying for miracles: miracles of healing, and miracles of transformation by the work of the Holy Spirit.

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Over at Sydney Anglican's Blog

I also Blog over at Sydney Anglicans.

My latest post is called: "Our Hidden Baby Pain", which picks up Hugh Jackman's comment to The Sun last Thursday about Adoption.

Australian actor Hugh Jackman spoke up this week about his experiences in adopting a baby. Jackman and his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness adopted their children after suffering several miscarriages.

And I’m glad he spoke up.

I’m glad he spoke, not because I want to (or can) comment on his criticism. I’m glad he spoke because the more I move on in pastoral ministry, the more I see that people in our churches and in our communities are suffering a trinity of silent pain. And I think it’s good to talk about it.

My other Articles are:

Einfeld’s story is my story
Gingrich swims the Tiber
Allah/Christ ‘follower’ defrocked in Seattle
Post-Christian Australia: a taxi-driver’s perspective
What my friend Habbukuk tells me about the Recession

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Pic on Flickr by Pink Betty.

Sydney Bloggers to Meet on Wed May 20?

What about Wednesday May 20? From 6PM (after work)? The pub won't be full of Thursday night students, and Friday and the weekend are too complex, aren't they?

How about the The Nag's Head on 162 St John's Road, Glebe? Any bus going down Parramatta Road or Glebe Point Road should do it.

Does the night work? Would you prefer Wednesday May 27?

Speak now, because I am going away for a few days and won't pick up internet or email. I will make a decision by Monday morning.

Moffatt, Mark, Georgina and Craig S are in for that date so far...

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Sydney Bloggers to Meet

My friend Mark suggested in a comment:

Can I make the outrageous suggestion that maybe someone (Justin?) could designate a pub or park in the city and once a quarter we have a live, in the flesh, Sydney bloggers meet?

I'm happy to. But what do you all think? Would anyone enjoy a quiet ale in the city, for all the Bloggers that come from Sydney Anglican-kind-of-circles?

Mark and I would be in.

Sometimes you eat the bar, and sometimes the bar eats you.

So:

• Who is in?
• What constitutes a 'Sydney Blogger'?
• When is a good time?
• Where?

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Pic on Flickr by 'Bobesh.

Are there only Six Sydney Rectors who Blog?

Mike Jensen has a Blog roll of all the Moore students, teachers and alumni who Blog.

But is there a list of Sydney Anglican Rectors (Senior Ministers) who have personal Blogs?

I can find only these six who have personal Blogs:

1. Shane Rogerson -Minister at Cook's River Anglican
2. Michael Kellahan -Minister Roseville East Anglican
3. Dominic Steele -Annandale Anglican
4. Chris Braga - Summer Hill Anglican
5. Roger Bray - Macquarie Anglican Churches
6. Yours Truly - York St Anglican
   

(If it's not too forward, I'd like to see Dominic and Chris make comments outside of their specific contexts. They are good men who have so much to say. And Roger, mate, keep blogging, brother.)

Are there any others?

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Pic of St Philips York St by Dan Anderson.

Sermon Audio: RSS Feed. (And I'm Bloggin' with the Anglicans)

Someone asked me if there is an RSS Feed for York St online sermons. I don't really know what that means. But does THIS look like an RSS Feed?

And I just joined as a weekly Blogger at Sydney Anglican Website. See HERE. It's the Einfeld Story.

If it that works, then let me know.

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