Insight

I've been sick since Friday night (head cold) so I've had the biggest nothing weekend ever. I've literally done almost nothing for the last 3 days. Hence the more numerous blog postings.

As a result of this I've been able to finish a book I started reading towards the end of the holidays. Without holding you in suspense any longer, the book was called "The War Against Truth" written by Paul William Roberts. This guy was in Baghdad before and during the First Gulf War (1990) & was also in and around Baghdad during the beginning of & aftermath of the Second Gulf (Iraq) War (2003) While I could (& yet may) write many things about what I read, perhaps my best summary of the book is: 'If you're in a really good mood & wish to get really, really angry, then go & read this book.' I can't do justice to the way this guy describes walking through a Baghdad Hospital that has run-out of medical supplies.

Honestly reading this account has made me ashamed to be an Australian. To think that our government went along with all the lies that the propaganda machine of Bush II sold makes me incredibly angry. I can't imagine what being an Iraqi must be like. What advantage has Australia or any country gained from this (or any) war. Or more to the point, what advantage has Australia or any country gained in supporting a war that has killed so many people in such a violent way.

Thought for today.....

It's so easy to intellectualise God, to acknowledge his power without ever experiencing it, to believe in his supremacy without ever calling on him to do mighty things in our presence. We see him with our minds but not our hearts. We never embrace the power that we preach to be true. We never call on God to move mightily in our presence - to take our ounce of faith and use it to lift a mountain off its pedestal and hurl it in to the bottom of the sea!

- Nicky Cruz

I read that today. I think this bloke is onto something.....

Reading

I've come to the conclusion that I need to read more. Yes the Bible, but also books about other stuff as well. There's lots of stuff I'd like to understand, reading is about the only way I can do it.