Paul Long's Ramblings

From Colson's BreakPoint commentary. Excellent piece - no need for me to comment further The Individual and the Internet The Quest for Community November 28, 2011 Man was made to live in community. In Genesis 2, we're told it's not good for man to be alone. And in a classical world the worst punishment was to be banished from society, because you had no meaning once you were. Our founders in America created a country that respected individual rights and liberties, but always in the context of the people. And the people united in communities and associations, which secured individual rights from an otherwise all-powerful government. So you had a balance. And in the context of those communities, we prospered like no other nation on earth. Tocqeuville when he came to America praised the civic virtue of Americans -- their collective self-reliance in building hospitals, schools, churches, etc. But in recent times, not only in America but throughout the Western World, ...

Just got back from visiting some church neighbours to invite them to our Christmas BBQ. Met a very nice couple ... friendly and were happy not just to take my invitation leaflet but wanted to chat etc. Told them they made my day as it was so nice to have people willing to chat with me (a stranger). Their response? I also made their day by being willing to actually go door to door and speak with strangers and invite them to a BBQ. And the husband made this comment: "You made my day also. It's so nice to see that neighbours exist!" :-) They were surprised too (and also impressed) that as a church we did not charge people (not even a gold coin donation). It was so refreshing to talk about our jobs, our coming to NZ (they have been in NZ since 2000). our thoughts on community etc. And hobbies too ... did my trademark sponge ball routine which was much appreciated. :-) It is interesting that this couple sees the value of my magic in that it is a great way to break the ice an...

Some photos of parts of my magic show performed for our church's Light Party 2011. Thanks Liann for taking these photos! settling down for the show after games The Light Party theme for the year was "Under the Sea" One of my favourite opening games that I had not  done for 2 years Using my magic box that stores my magic for a show and doubles as a table and a close up mat if needed due to time constraints, I cut out a few effects. This is the part I love the most - picking a volunteer :-) I love this part too when I somehow "escape"  after "messing up" :-) decided to add on to my cups and water trick with  balloons Teaching how to make a simple balloon octopus Yeah! Nothing popped :-) Still surprises me how many children want to volunteer despite the fact that they could get very wet because they want a nice balloon sculpture Part two of the trick Setting up my version of a new trick added to my ro...

27 OCTOBER 2011 Dr Patrick Sookhdeo responds to critical  Guardian  article On 9 September 2011,  The Guardian  newspaper in the UK published an  article  by Mehdi Hasan, senior political editor of the New Statesman, entitled “How fear of criminalisation forces Muslims into silence”. This contained a number of specific and personal criticisms of Barnabas Fund’s International Director, Dr Patrick Sookhdeo. This is not the first time in the recent past that this newspaper has published a biased piece highly critical of Dr Sookhdeo’s work (see also  this 2009 blog post  by Andrew Brown). But on this occasion he has requested and been given the right of reply, and a shorter and significantly edited version of the article below has been published by The Guardian  today. Some points we would have liked to make had to be excluded from that piece for reasons of space or editorial policy, so we are now releasing this fuller version to our s...

A simple but challenging article  Link ...  http://christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2011-08/charity-vs-politics CENTURY BLOG Charity vs. politics? Aug 23, 2011  by  Steve Thorngate Marilyn Sewell  raises  a familiar subject: Churches almost always prefer charity to justice. Let's take, for example, the question of hunger. Churches find it easier to open a soup kitchen, rather than lobby politicians or put pressure on government to feed hungry people or help them get jobs. . . . What's wrong with this picture? To effect change, churches must move beyond charity to justice, changing the economic and political systems that keep people impoverished. Along with the fact that charity is simply easier, Sewell names three additional reasons churches often avoid pursuing justice: Charity is less controversial than politics. People fear that political advocacy will threaten a church's tax-exempt status. (It won't, unless they're endorsing candidates.) Pol...

Dr. Ng Kam Weng says is so much better than what I can manage so I will just point you to his blog posts.. Read the first link before the second http://libertysentinel.wordpress.com/2011/03/15/shhh-dont-let-neigbors-know-we-abuse-children-we-are-a-respectble-and-religious-family/ http://libertysentinel.wordpress.com/2011/03/17/malay-bibles-desecrated-by-malaysian-authorities/ I however want to add my two cents to the matter for what its worth. 1. I am glad many Malaysian Church leaders have decided to be bold and speak out and show strong leadership in correcting what I think has been letting PC and politics (as in national politics) set the tone ... I think of this episode in Acts and I leave it to you to interpret what I mean :-) Acts 16: 35-40 35 When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: "Release those men."  36 The jailer told Paul, "The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can ...

New Zealand is a beautiful and great country. Please don't let "political correctness" on personal rights end up allowing things like this! This article is disturbing! Parents 'put teens into sex work' Teenagers in South Auckland are being sent to work as prostitutes by their parents to pay for drugs, says an Auckland Council member. Sharon Stewart challenged fellow councillors this week to see what was happening for themselves during debate on a bill banning street prostitution in parts of Manukau. Mrs Stewart, who represents the Howick ward, said young girls and boys were often on the streets - some of them sent there by their parents. "Some of their parents are taking them there to get money for drugs." She told the council meeting that girls as young as 13 were working the streets and urged councillors from other areas of Auckland to join community workers and police one night. The view was supported by former Manukau City councillor Colleen B...

I am feeling sooooo tired. Clearly not enough sleep BUT strangely am feeling so "hyped up"? So much "nervous energy" :- ) = mind is kind of over stimulated - and NO, it has nothing to do with coffee. I think my adrenaline glans (?) are pumping too much into my system. Guess it is due to so many things happening all at once. The week so far has not gone exactly as I planned. Was hoping to get my next week's sermon done - and be kind of one ahead? But that's all out of the window. BUT just because things have not worked out as I planned, doesn't mean it hasn't been a fruitful and exciting week (and it's not yet over - got people to visit on Saturday and then 4 hours plus of church games in the afternoon, church service and caroling practice on Sunday, full day of running around on Monday - due to my boys last minute stuff before they fly off! On leave on Tuesday too but my list of to do things is pretty long :-) And tonight home group's closi...

Oh how I wish Malaysian politicians would learn from this! One nation with many nationalities Two-year-old Jacob Wallis has European and Maori ancestors, but his parents hope he will think of himself as simply a "Kiwi". His mother Clare Wallis, 32, is one of a "leading lights" group of 200 chosen to test each round of the Growing Up in New Zealand surveys, and comes from a Pakeha family in Pukekohe. She and Aaron Wallis, also 32, were teenage sweethearts at Pukekohe High and the fact that Aaron's grandmother was Ngati Porou was irrelevant. "He's not involved with his iwi. You tick a box on a piece of paper, I think that is a sign of New Zealand where we've all got different backgrounds," Clare says. Aaron ticked the "NZ Maori" box on his census form "because that's what my mother would do". His mother was brought up speaking te reo Maori at Te Araroa near East Cape, but Aaron understands only a few words of the lan...

Just dropped my son off to school as he has to be early for band practice for his High School senior prize giving ceremony. I do not need to be there that early so just killing some time in the office. On the left is the front of the high school invitation and on the left is HIPPY invitation. What is so cool for me is to be invited as a special guest for this - meaning I don't have to sit in the "bleachers" / benches on the balcony that is such a pain on my back. I get to sit in front. Not so exciting is that I have been asked to be in the procession (special guests). I have always felt awkward in processions :-) This invitiation might be a small thing for many but to me it is an honour to be an invited special guest as it indicates that the School recognizes me as a Pastor of a local church who has genuine interest in the affairs of the school and local community. What is a bonus is that when I got in just now, there was waiting for me a letter with another invit...

Have to quickly post up some pictures taken by Ken of the Light Party. Great turn out from the neighbourhood. Praise God! Pam - sporting as ever came dressed up according to the theme - animals Laura and team hard at work painting kids faces And adults as well ...  Just "chilling" before the official programme begins .... 5 to 8 year olds getting ready for games. It never ceases to amaze me how popular balloon swords are :-) 8 to 12 year olds getting set for their games 5 years old and under getting ready for their games A Kiwi must! Sausage sizzle! Magic show about to begin! Fancy dress competition Fancy dress competition madness Youth had to participate too ... First time I used Robbie Raccoon for a live show. Introducing my guest magician ... Jamie Wee. The gag worked well as from what I gathered, the children did not throw away my business card that was put in their "party pack / gift bag". Nice that some c...