Read this
interesting article this morning,
"Nearly half of the more than 3,000 U.S. military fatalities in Iraq have come from towns like McKeesport, where fewer than 25,000 people live, according to an analysis by The Associated Press. One in five hailed from hometowns of less than 5,000. … Many of the hometowns of the war dead aren't just small, they're poor. The AP analysis found that nearly three-fourths of those killed in Iraq came from towns where the per capita income was below the national average. More than half came from towns where the percentage of people living in poverty topped the national average."
Nothing like sending in the poor to do your dirty work for you, go Georgie go...
As the cricket season draws to a close, last Sturday was a good one for the Barro boys, well the younger ones anyway. Rory batting for the seniors in the afternoon,made an unbeaten 52, his first 50 and was a great knock with plenty of boundries including a huge 6 and heaps of singles as well. Jack in the morning also made another 20 retired and is heading his teams batting with nearly 200 runs for the season. Roll on finals...
Just to prove that God cares about us even on Valentines Day
For God so loVed the world,
That He gAve
His onLy
BegottEn
SoN
That whosoever
Believeth In Him
Should Not perish,
But have Everlasting life."
John 3:16
Last Sunday was a real time of celebration for us at Foothills. We had a morning at our local Arboretum park here in windy FTG where we celebrated with some 80 people the 5th anniversary of Foothills Neighborhood Communities. We also had some other special things as well happening, 2 dedications, for both Jamila and Becca as well as commissioning the Dekker family as they began their apprenticeship with
UNOH.
Of course we ended with a barbie and a game of cricket in the park, reflecting on the day afterwards I thought this was a great way of celebrating 5 years of involvement in our local Ferntree Gully community, with celebrating new life and sending out of others into other missional contexts. Who knows what the next 5 weeks let alone 5 years will bring. Thanks to all who have been part of the journey at some level with us.
For some bizarre reason I was asked to bowl first change at the weekend. Bit of a shock as I‘d never bowled with a ball so shinny and new, so my 2 overs had their fair share of wides. But in amongst that I also got 2 wickets, a bowled and an LBW and they were both the openers, and I finished with 2/19 our best figures of the day, but I don’t really expect to bowl next week, I’m keeping myself for the World Cup.
Monday was my birthday, normally a day of denial, but I didn't mind this one. You see I turned 43, but most of last year when someone asked me my age I said 43, it wasn't until late in the year did I realize that I was robbing myself of a year. So now to be really 43 ain't that bad.
Helen had the day off so we went down to Knox for the day, a bit of shopping, lunch and a movie. We saw
Blood Diamonds, Some movies entertain. Some challenge the way you think, encouraging you to see the world in a different way. And some try to change the way you live. Blood Diamond does all three. I strongly urge you to see it, for me it was all the more special because of my good friend Billy in Sydney who escaped the horror of Sierra Leone, which is the backdrop for the movie.
Finished the day with family tea together, home made pad thai, massaman curry and apple and raspberry cake, now that's my idea of a birthday.
Just arrived back home after dropping Ella off at school, her second day in grade 2 at FTG North PS, Jack went off to Upwey HS today, year 8 after transferring from St Joe's, he was excited up early and up to the train station with his mates, Rory has also gone to school for his first day of year 10, Helen is at work, so normality has returned, I have the house to myself and there is peace... for a moment
Caught up on the phone the other day with an old friend
Geoff Maddock.
Geoff, his American wife
Sherry and their 4 year old son
Isaac are back in Melbourne for a few months. They live in Lexington, Kentucky where they co founded and are still involved in
COMMUNALITY, a local missional community. They are back here to check out the Australian scene and are doing some stuff particularly with
FORGE and a bit of stuff with
UNOH as well. You can hear them at
UNOH’s Discipleship Camp coming up March 2-4 in Mt Evelyn with Ash Barker and Michael Duncan. So if you’re around Melbourne make sure you check them out, if your not
read about them.
