It has been pleasing to see once again the volunteer spirit of this country we call home come to the fore in a time of crisis… As a member of the Rural Fire Service for 15 years, I feel for those who have lost family, friends, neighbours and property over the last few weeks. It is with pride that I’ve seen members of the various emergency services (some of them colleagues) give up their time (often away from family and most of them giving up work and wages).

Unfortunately, some members of our society don’t share the same kind of spirit that this country embodies. That brings me to the gentleman who backed into my car on Thursday night, as it was parked outside my father’s Yarramba Crescent home, leaving quite significant damage to the side guard. Only you know why you didn’t leave your details but it’s a good guess that you didn’t want to pay for the damage. There are people in our society whose behaviour is worse than yours my friend, but to not take responsibility for your actions is quite dissapointing when we see the courage and determination that we’ve seen from our emergency services time and time again.

My question to you is: “Do you have the courage to admit your mistake and pay the consequences for your actions?”

This is going to smack of sour grapes but who cares. The two top football codes this year have shown the flaws in the ‘Grand Final’ system.

Without a doubt, Geelong were the best team this year. You can not deny that. They lost two games for the whole year and either got stage fright, or just had an off day. In any other football league in the world, they would’ve been crowned champions.

The Storm, well they had an off day. For the third year in a row, the finish top after the season. Yet have one premiership. Without State of Origin, they would’ve finished three games ahead of Manly and Cronulla.

Think of a new system.

Also, why hasn’t anyone picked up on the glaring errors committed by Tony Archer. There were three tries with suspect passes. Not taking anything away from Steve Menzies but how can someone receive the ball on the try line and the pass not even look forward? Now not even the commentary team picked that up. This raises the question: Are Melbourne the new Manly, the team everyone wants to lose?

I could survive for 1 minute, 16 seconds chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor

On the day before Sir Don would’ve turned 100, South Africa couldn’t even manage that. The game only lasted 37 overs. I wonder if the South African’s might donate their match payments to the crowd who turned up.

Who am I (Casting Crowns)

Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I?
That the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wandering heart.

Bridge:
Not because of who I am,
But because of what you’ve done.
Not because of what I’ve done,
But because of who you are.

Chorus:
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I’m calling,
Lord, you catch me when I’m falling,
And you’ve told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.

Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again.
Who am I?
That the voice that calmed the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.

Not because of who I am,
But because of what you’ve done.
Not because of what I’ve done,
But because of who you are.

I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I’m calling,
Lord, you catch me when I’m falling,
And you’ve told me who I am.
I am yours.

Not because of who I am,
But because of what you’ve done.
Not because of what I’ve done,
But because of who you are.

I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I’m calling,
Lord, you catch me when I’m falling,
And you’ve told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.

I am yours.

Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
‘Cause I am yours.
I am yours.

Today the sky is looking much brighter. It’s stopped raining and the clouds have cleared. I took the first few steps into the wide unknown of what is the rest of my life. The future looks brighter. Actually, it is brighter.

I feel safe and assured because I’m in your arms. You have never departed even though I sometimes took my eye off you.

The future looks brighter because you are leading the way. Keep the light bright and the path lit so I can follow in your footsteps.

Who ministers to the minister?

I was born under a wandrin’ star
I was born under a wandrin’ star
Wheels are made for rolling, mules are made to pack
I’ve never seen a sight that didn’t look better looking back
I was born under a wandrin’ star

Life can make you prisoner and the plains can bake you dry
Snow can burn your eyes, but only people make you cry
Home is made for coming from, for dreams of going to
Which with any luck will never come true
I was born under a wandrin’ star
I was born under a wandrin’ star

Do I know where hell is, hell is in hello
Heaven is goodbye forever, its time for me to go
I was born under a wandrin’ star
A wandrin’ wandrin’ star

(Life can make you prisoner and the plains can bake you dry)
(Snow can burn your eyes, but only people make you cry)
(Home is made for coming from, for dreams of going to)
(Which with any luck will never come true)
(I was born under a wandrin’ star)
(I was born under a wandrin’ star)

When I get to heaven, tie me to a tree
For I’ll begin to roam and soon you’ll know where I will be
I was born under a wandrin’ star
A wandrin’ wandrin’ star

What the British have given us, part 2.

And this is what British have given us