Rachel Murray writes…
Phew – it’s over!
The Olympics have dominated so much time for so many people in the last two weeks. Television, computers, newspapers, radio, office staff rooms etc....it's everywhere. People are watching sports like they only do once every four years and sports that they would never usually blink at! Vocabulary has extended to include some new terms and new understandings. And when test rugby and league is on at the same time and we win – the nation goes into a tail spin!
I've learnt about synchronised swimming with 10 team members...why, I ask you?! And canoeing that's done with paddles and they virtually stand in the boats! There is no doubt that the Olympics have grown over the years to incorporate a wide range of sports...but tennis? Handball? BMX?
Why are we so drawn to watching this wide range of sports? Why do people give up so much of their time to be glued to it? Maybe it's about seeing what limits people can reach, which records can be broken, the potential within when pushed to extremes, the inspiration that others give us through their efforts. Or maybe there’s nothing else on. Maybe it's also fun to watch what the host country can do and show off their creative skills in opening and closing ceremonies.
It's when we as a nation are at our patriotic best – screaming at the TV as the Evers-Swindell girls win by 1/100th of a second or in exasperation as someone finishes fourth or simply doesn't make a final...I mean how dare they not keep our national pride intact and couldn't they just have gone that little bit faster, higher, stronger?! Like we could do any better!
Undoubtedly there is something about what is essentially one giant sports tournament that occurs every four years, that brings 204 countries together in one place – countries that under usual every day circumstances could be at war with each other, where tensions run high over borders, or human rights issues etc. Yet via some healthy competition in sports, the barriers of race, religion, culture, politics, economics and life in general, disappear. For a moment, just a moment, it's just sport with every nation aiming for gold but done so with a unified understanding.
The one thing that does really bother me is the amount of money spent on the games - $43 billion in Beijing! London has been told they must maintain the standards that Beijing has set but they're working on a limited budget of just over a billion dollars (they say China likely had an unlimited budget). A billion plus dollars on a massive show? You've got to be kidding....meanwhile food shortages, fuel price hikes, limited access to clean water and medicines abounds throughout the world. It does make me question our global priorities, but let me not got down that road here.
Whatever your reason for watching – hope you’ve had fun doing so...you can get some sleep now!
MONDAY 25th
Community Worship
PRIOR APPOINTMENT!
Visit the chapel anytime Monday through Wednesday for a self-guided time of prayer and reflection. Follow the instruction with the display.
TUESDAY 26th
Community Worship
11:15am-12pm
Spirit Then & Now
Matthew 12:31-32
Myk Habets
Facilitated by Russell Thorp’s Formation group
After Dinner Mints
Craig Vernall
A Carey graduate from a few years back, Craig is the senior pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Tauranga. He is also the chairperson of Assembly Council – the governing body of the Baptist Union of NZ.
WEDNESDAY 27th
Carey Prayer in the Chapel
12:40-1:00pm
Praying for the college, community, country and people.
MISSION OF THE WEEK
Mission of the week for the Centre For Intercultural Studies this week will be Christian Leaders’ Training College (CLTC) with displays and information. Make sure you take a look some time during the week from Monday.
NEXT THREE WEEKS
Enjoy the break from classes over the next 3 weeks (1-19 September)! Although the usual scheduled classes are not on, there are 5 block courses onsite (as below) and so the place will still be humming with a number of people coming from other places around the country for these. Those of you on site regularly please do look out for newer faces and help to make them feel welcome. Classes back as usual from 22 September.
Development in Preaching (1-5 Sept); Bioethics (10-13 Sept); Pastoral of Adolescents (Part 2) (11-12 Sept); Christian Spirituality 2 (Chinese) (15-19 Sept); Thematic Integrative Seminar (17-19 Sept)
COFFEE!!
Thanks to the team from Student Association with their purchase of the coffee machine in the dining room, good coffee is now an option! Make the most of the two opportunities in each week to enjoy this!
Mondays and Thursdays; 10:45-11:15am
Cost is $2 cup
JEFF TALLON
“The scientific origins of God—a response”
When Jeff spoke last Tuesday at lunch, he talked about his response to Lloyd Geering’s presentation at Te Papa entitled ‘The scientific origins of God”. This written response is available at reception if you’d like a copy. Distance students please let me know and I will email it to you.
UPCOMING SEMINAR
“Forgiveness Matters”
with Phil Halstead
Forgiveness is an enigma for many adult churchgoers who struggle with their parental relationships. On one side, they believe that forgiveness is a central Christian tenet that can help people process their parental wounds. On another side, they do not know how to forgive effectively or where to go to learn about the meanings, practices, and implications of forgiveness. And there are tools to help people understand and experience how forgiveness can positively alter one’s relationships with their parents, themselves, others and God.
Phil will be teaching at Carey in 2009 in the area of Christian Counseling and this is a great opportunity to hear from him about his research in this area of interest. He is a past student of Carey and recently submitted his PhD in theology at the University of Auckland.
Thursday 25 September
12:30-2:00pm
Light lunch included
Please RSVP by 24 September for catering to rachel.murray@carey.ac.nz or
526 6598
CURTAINRAISER SPONSORSHIPS
The ‘retreat’ that happens each year before the annual Baptist Assembly is called the ‘Curtainraiser’.
Mike Crudge is part of the organising group and says: “There are two (2) sponsorships available for this year’s Curtainraiser. If you know of someone who is heading into 'ministry' - either an intern or student, and you think it'd be good for both them and the Curtainraiser to be joining us this year, please let us know. Their $180 registration will be covered, which includes meals and accommodation but they'll need to make their own travel arrangements. We think this is a good way to encourage some new people along to the Curtainraiser, as well as showing we care for the development/inclusion of new/young people.
So if you know of someone who fits the above criteria, email goodtimes@paradise.net.nz with a brief description of what they're doing, by midday 12 September. www.curtainraiser.org.nz [self-nominations accepted]”
Bored? Baptist Historical Society Dinner might help
Mike Crudge has bought a “Table for Eight” to this dinner on Saturday 30th August. There’s good time potential in this event and Paul Windsor is the guest speaker who is usually pretty good. Mike has a few seats left at his table for $30 each – be in quick!