My second night of Fringe excitement...

So I realized that I make it sound quite often on here as if I am not doing anything but playing games and having fun. I guess I figure my daily work activities are not exciting enough for a blog, but I will be sure to comment on those soon (likely when I talk about the Pastors at Hope Valley where I am working). Sufficient to say, most of my days are consumed with work. Weekends are largely free though and so are evenings. I take full advantage of this.

On Tuesday night (3/1), Jon, Katie, and I went back to the Fringe for another night of comic fun. This time we were going to see the Axis of Awesome. Perhaps you have heard of this comedy/music act? They became quite famous on youtube for their song about 4 chords which essentially made up all the best hit songs. Here is a link to this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pidokakU4I

They have become quite famous for that little skit. Their whole show was pretty darn funny though and because of the small, intimate nature of shows at the Fringe, I got to meet and talk with them a bit. Good times!

In Christ,

Chris

A very long run

Last Monday (2/28) I was very homesick. I miss my family and friends back home quite a bit and it just seemed to really catch up with me on Monday. So I decided to go for a run. Exercise is not only good for my waist line, but good for clearing my head as well. So I went for a run. As any person who wants to break a sweat would do, I decided to run uphill towards the hills that surround Adelaide. Eventually, I came across the entrance to a big hiking park on Anstey Hill. I had heard this was a good area to hike, so I forgot about my run and decided to go explore. I am so glad I did! I turned a melancholy day into an awesome adventure. (Unfortunately, I did not have my camera with me and could photograph none of it...but I will make my way up there again).

So the park was really neat with trails heading up into the hill. These trails had some gorgeous views of the city--spectacular really. They were also full of hidden terrors. Three times on my innocent hike I walked right through some of the strongest, nastiest, biggest spider webs I have ever encountered. Of course, each time I also could also see the massive spider to whom the web belonged. Ugh. I screamed like a little girl each time, flailing my arms, trying to get away from the horrible things. I am so funny sometimes. I am sure people back in the city thought someone was dying on the hill. It was "great." The rest of the time I was so stinking jumpy. I waved a big stick in front of my face to ward off any more nasty webs...I am sure I looked like such a dork. I came across an old, small quarry where, according to a nearby sign, they had held big theater performances (as the rock walls provided nice acoustics). I thought that was pretty neat. I wandered deeper into the hills and came across....A KANGAROO! Yes, that is right, my first kangaroo sighting...and no camera! It was so beautiful. What a wonderful animal. It was pretty big and came very close to me, as I had rustled it out from its weedy hiding place. I am glad I saw one finally...now I just need to see a koala!

I continued hiking and got on some very tiny, unused paths. Eventually I found an old road which I followed right into a MASSIVE, abandoned quarry (I am sure I was not supposed to be there). This thing was huge! Stone as deep and as far as the eye could see. My voice echoed off the walls of the thing and many, many feet below me there was a bunch of water that had collected at the bottom. The water was as clear and blue as you could imagine...beautiful. My goal is to go back there with a camera and dive in for a swim (but don't tell the Australians...they might deport me).

By this time it was getting late and I decided to get home. It took me some time, but I eventually came huffing and puffing back into the driveway. Jon was right at the door, wondering where I had been (I had been gone nearly three hours). It was actually kind of funny, as him and I started on a run at the same time. Whereas he returned after an hour or so, I didn't show up until much later (and everybody knows I can't run that far). So they were a bit worried about me. It was a good run though :-). One of my best.

In Christ,

Chris

I told you I would, Steve!

I need to take a brief moment to blog about Steve. Steve is awesome. Simply put, he is the coolest cat this side of the equator...no doubt. Steve also has a lovely wife, Nicole. She is a pretty cool cat herself.

Here is a picture of Steve. Bask in his awesomeness...
Actually, I love everybody I have met down here so much. They are all wonderful people and great friends. I really feel welcome. I promised Steve he would get a special post though :-).

In Christ,

Chris

Bucks Party and Cricket?

So Jon and Katie have another person living in their house. Her name is Amy and she is a really nice girl who I am glad to know. She is getting married soon and will be moving out. Her fiance is a really cool guy named Josh. Josh has taken a liking to me and for that I am grateful as I think he is great and fun to hang out with. Now, in Australia, instead of bachelor and bachelorette parties, they have Bucks and Hen parties. Last week on Friday (2/25) I was invited to Josh's buck party. I am so glad he invited me as I had a blast.

The people in Hope Valley are a really tight knit community. So many of Josh's friends have also become quick friends of mine. Thus, going wasn't very awkward for me because I knew a bunch of the guys. It ended up being a great time for me to really get to know some of them and for that I am grateful. Josh's bucks party was a weekend long party in a small town called Clayton on the banks of the Murrey River (a very wide and very long river in South Australia).

This was my first trip outside of the city of Adelaide. I saw their free ways for the first time and their gorgeous countryside. I was really impressed as we drove out there. This part of Australia is gorgeous with rolling hills, beautiful plains, and majestic Eucalyptus trees everywhere. I am so thankful that I got to see it and look forward to driving through it as often as possible before I leave. I am most definitely a country boy, so it was good to be out of the city. The town of Clayton is about the size of my hometown--Concord, MI. Jon's in-laws have a shack (their name for a cabin) there near the banks of the river (which is wide enough at Clayton to look like a lake). The river was gorgeous and the weather was perfect during the entire weekend. The shack was also very lovely and a perfect place to spend the weekend with a bunch of guys.

We arrived on Friday night with just a few people. (The actual party was going to start on Saturday.) Almost immediately Jon was working to get the boat into the water and capitalize on the gorgeous weather. Josh was also very eager to knee board. We got on the water, he and his best man, Steve, hopped on the knee boards and away we went. It was really neat. I had never seen knee boarding before (as most of my life has been spent on land and not around the water). Then, they decided I should have a go. I am not opposed to trying anything once so I hopped in and listened as they instructed me on the fine art of knee boarding. My first few attempts to get on and strapped into the board were disastrous and I am sure I provided quite a bit of amusement, but after 4-5 tries, I had it! What fun! I felt like I was flying over the water. It was such a rush. The people on the boat were pretty impressed too, as I picked it up pretty quickly and was attempting jumps and 360s within soon thereafter. I really did have a blast and I am thankful to have had good friends as teachers. When I get back home, Mr. Quick is going to have to take me on his boat so I can show him what I have learned!

On Saturday, we went back on the boat in the morning before everybody arrived. Around lunch everybody started rolling in and we had a gigantic barbecue. After playing some very funny games to embarrass the man of honor, Josh, we all went tot he Cricket oval. Can you believe it? They got me to play Cricket. I protested, of course, but they said everybody had to play. Let the world know that I suck at Cricket (although, in all honesty, I didn't do horrible). After playing for what seemed like ages, I still have no idea of the rules. My team started in the field first (there is a batting team and a fielding team). They stuck me in a spot where the balls "rarely go" (akin to left field in baseball). Yet, the first three hits all came in my direction (newbie hazing?). The worst part about fielding is that cricket players don't play with gloves. So catch the ball can really hurt and fielding a ground ball is quite difficult without. Needless to say, I made a fool of myself. But that is ok, as I had fun doing it. It took forever for my team to get off the field (and I still don't know what constituted someone being out or how many outs we needed to get). And for some odd reason we rotated bowlers (the people throwing the ball at the batters), so I had to give that a try too. What an odd motion. You are not allowed to bend your arm at all, as you would if pitching. Again...I made a fool of myself. When we finally switched to batting, I didn't do too bad. I stayed in for quite a long time and hit the ball a couple of times. As to what was really going on...I couldn't tell you, but they told me I didn't do to bad.

I can see why the Australians and English like cricket. It is a gentleman's game and a good, casual game to play among friends. I am glad to have played it and experienced it (and I reckon I will play a bit more before I leave), but on the whole it didn't appeal to me. It just seems redundant in the American context, where we have the simpler game of baseball as our casual sport. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying Cricket and Baseball are similar. I am saying they fulfill similar ends (in my opinion). Thus, I prefer baseball :-). But....who knows?....Cricket might just change my life.

After cricket, we hung out at the waterfront for the rest of the afternoon. For dinner we drove to a bigger town nearby and had dinner. I ate a Parmi. A parmi is basically chicken/beef, covered in cheese and some sort of marinara sauce. It was good, but very filling and probably not very healthy.

That evening was full of games, snacks, and Josh's embarrassment. The next day we cleaned and drove home for Church. It was a lovely weekend.

In Christ,

Chris

First Fringe Events

After my day with Brett, I had a very full evening. Jon, Katie, and I had planned to attend a couple of Fringe Festival shows while I am here. It seems only fitting as it is such a big part of Adelaide culture and...let's face it...I have not got to see too many neat shows living in Hillsdale. So last week Thursday (2/24) night, we went to two really interesting shows.

The first show was a Christian comedian. This was actually quite good, but a little uncomfortable as it was pretty much just us three an two of the comedian's good friends. How awkward is that!?! I felt bad for the guy, having to perform for an almost empty house. In his defense, however, it was a weekday night. Sitting in a room without a full audience, however, one thing struck me: What if he is not funny? I mean, in a room full of people, one person is bound to think everything that passes a comedian's lips is comic gold, but we were sitting ducks...vulnerable. It was our job to laugh regardless of how funny it was, lest the crickets drown us out. That would have been so awkward! Luckily, he was actually quite good. He had some duds, of course, but he had me chuckling most of the night. Moreover, since there were only a few of us, it was more like a comic discussion than a show. He asked our names, engaged in conversation, and just had a good time with it. I was pleased with the show.

The other show we caught was a guitar show by a member of the Hope Valley congregation. This kid is phenomenal at guitar. His name is Cameron and he is the conservatory trained guitarist of that band I mentioned awhile back, Mr. Goodnight. Well, as a solo performer, he is even more impressive. His show was entitled "A bold display of guitar" and showcased many of his original compositions. They were dark, nihilistic, progressive, stunning compositions and I really enjoyed them for the most part. A good show.

So there you have it, my first two Fringe shows. I reckon we'll attend a few more.

In Christ,

Chris

A day with Brett...

Last week Thursday (2/24) was a very interesting day. I have quickly made several friends here in Adelaide (for which I am grateful). One of these friends, Brett, is really interesting. Why? Partly because, in several regards, he is Adelaide's version of me. He loves academics, is fairly nerdy (in a good way), adores John Wesley, is not terribly fond of American history, wants to pursue a doctorate, and loves Church history. Our passions overlap quite a bit! On the other hand, Brett does have some VERY unusual views and he holds to them quite stridently...but so do I. I like the guy and wish him the best.

Anyways, Brett invited me out on Thursday to get some lunch and see his school, the Uniting College. Brett recently graduated from there with a Bachelors of Theology and is just now finishing up an honors year (which, from what I understand, is an additional year in which to do a thesis). As a fellow academic, he thought I would be interested to wander through his school (which I was). The Uniting College is quite peculiar as far as institutions go, however. First off, the whole college is contained within an old 1970's looking High School. Thus, the building is not terribly impressive. Second, the Uniting College contains the faculty of three creeds--Anglican, Catholic, and Uniting (see my post on the Uniting denomination). As such, the school is a very odd mix of doctrine and practice where students are taught by faculty from all three faiths. Were the Uniting College just a school of religious study, this would make more sense as it would allow a better exchange of information and increased discussion. The Uniting College, however, is a seminary as well. It graduates ordained ministers taught by members of 3 different creeds. This fact blew my mind. One of the Uniting Professors there explained to me the history of how this all came to be.

The Catholic, Anglican, and Uniting Church each used to have their individual seminaries. However, seeing as religious study is not particularly popular in Australia (which is very European and thus, very secular), they could not maintain their programs without joining forces. Originally, they acknowledged their differences in creed and allowed faculty members from opposing faiths to teach only basic classes (Old/New Testament, Greek, Hebrew, etc.) The upper level theology courses were only taught by one's specific denomination. As time went by, however, this structure started to break down. Classes were shared universally across the board and the college became more free with its doctrine. As of late, however, the professor explained that the Uniting Church has seen how far things have gone astray and are taking measures to correct it. I think this is good, as the thought of an ordained minister trained by faculty of three radically different confessions blows my mind. I am all for ecumenicism, but perhaps it can be taken too far.

Anyways...I did find the college very interesting. It taught me much about the religious culture in Australia. Many seminaries are very beautiful in America--they are architectural wonders, with amazing technology, huge libraries, excellent faculty, comfortable student areas, etc. The Uniting College was none of these things. It got the job done with little fanfare. Whereas in America we pour heaps of money into our seminaries, the Uniting College here in Adelaide is one of the most Spartan buildings I have seen. Perhaps this is indicative of their more secular college. In Australia, there are not many students wanting to receive religious training, not a lot of money for religious institutions, and few confessing Christians who would want to donate to the College. It is a different world. I appreciate so much more of what we have back in the states, fear the direction we might be heading in, and admire so much about the Church in Australia. Though it may be hanging on by a thread, it is hanging on. Students go, graduate, and hopefully move on to build God's kingdom. This, in the end, is all that matters.

Just to be certain: I am not condemning the college or the church here in Australia. I am merely comparing schools in American and here, learning a ton in the process. It says something very powerful about a culture when one of their foremost religious institutions is an old, small, abandoned school. It says something about what the Australian people hold dear. It says something about the resilience of the church. My heart bleeds for their cause here.

After showing me around the college, Brett took me to nearby Henley beach. This beach was gorgeous! I got myself a wonderful meat pie, an iced coffee and enjoyed the scenery. We walked around the beach, explored an old Wesleyan octagon-styled Church and had a wonderful time.

I like Brett. I think we will get along just fine. Though I must say, he didn't much take to the fact that I am a monarchist well ;-).

In Christ,

Chris

Dean and Ginny

Wow! It has been far too long since I posted on here. Turns out my days are filling up with stuff quite nicely and blogging took a back seat. I apologize. I will be caught up very soon and will do my best to stay caught up. A lot has happened in the last week-and-a-half!

On Tuesday night last week (2/22) the older, retired pastor of Hope Valley Uniting Church (where I am working) invited me over for dinner. His name is Dean and his lovely wife is Ginny. Dean is a very wise man and an immense asset to the Uniting Church denomination still to this day. I had a wonderful time talking with him and his wife (for nearly 4 hours). I look forward to learning much from them. They also fed me well--fresh fish for the win!

Dean is the father of Kynan, who is the executive pastor at Hope Valley. I will tell you more about him in a later post.

In Christ,

Chris