Mum's 60th Birthday

We had been planning this day for months - and for once, it was as good as I hoped!

Jess, Mark, Waldo & I got there earlier to select wines (helped by Sue & Nigel) - such a great way to start the afternoon. The guests started turning up soon afterwards. After mingling near the foyer, we were soon escorted to our room at the end of the restaurant (with 3 walls of glass windows). The food was as good as I remembered, especially the entrees. And the staff there were absolutely amazing.

I was a little nervous about the speech, but it seemed to go well. Despite trying to make it informal so Mum wouldn't have to speak, she still came up to thank everyone - happy but emotional. Oh, and the book I made didn't fall apart!

I think everyone had a great time, most importantly, Mum - happy 60th birthday again!!!

(Btw, Mark took all the amazing photos of the day).

God on My Side

After seeing An Inconvenient Truth, this documentary didn't really seem to have a point - but that was what was great about it. It just gets you thinking without really trying to push you in a certain direction.

If you haven't heard much about it, it's Andrew Denton taking his amazing interviewing skills to a Christian Broadcasting conference in the US to find out what these televangelists are really like and to put the spotlight on 'our religion' in the same way the spotlight has been on Islam. The first I think he does well; with the second, if this is as bad as extreme Christianity gets, then it's not too bad at all (somehow, I doubt these are the equivalent 'extreme').

He really is a marvellous interviewer. He maintains such dignity without being condescending - especially when told there are sparkles on his hand (made of no material known to man). The conference seemed to have everything - personalised bibles, puppets and 3 brilliant ministers with seemingly interchangeable hair. And he did manage to find a producer who had some interesting (and rational) thoughts.

A few things did surprise me though. One was the importance of Israel to American Christians. Another was the size and power of Christians in the US (perhaps explaining support for Bush?) The biggest however was the idea of Russia backing the Muslims in the Middle East (as someone suggested, is this really the case, or just a generational Cold War idea?)

This was not the slickest documentary I've seen recently, but it's definitely interesting for Christians and non-Christians alike. And yes, of course I know not all Christians are like that!