The official video of the ride from 25000spins.com- great scenery, excellent cinematography!
Month: February 2016
Reflection on Philippians 3:17-4:1
Scripture
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
Observation
Many live in opposition to the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction because they worship the flesh, and their minds are set on earthly things.
Our citizenship is in heaven, and our bodies will be transformed form a place of humiliation to a place of glory. Therefore we must stand firm.
Application
A christian’s allegiance is not to this world but to heaven. The people of the world pursue worldly goals and seek to maximise their personal pleasure.
As citizens of heaven, we must not merely pursue earthly desires. We have a much higher destiny in view.
To some extent we all compromise in some ways with our culture. We must not look to the world to tells us how to live. It is Christ, through the Scriptures and the conviction of the indwelling Holy spirit who directs our thinking and our actions.
For this reason we will always be at odds with unbelievers and with the culture. We can expect to be vilified and hated because God’s values are so different from those of sinful people.
Regardless, we must stand firm and, at the end of the age, we will be transformed into the glory of Christ,
Prayer
Lord, I thank you that this world is not all there is. I thank you that you have called me to eternity. Amen.
Some Thoughts From My Bike Ride
I don’t pretend that any of this is original or particularly deep, but they are things I thought about during our Great Ocean Road Adventure.
It’s Easier In A Group
One of the little known facts about cycling is that wind resistance is one of the most relentless forces to overcome. In a tightly formed group the leader takes the brunt for the whole group- when they weary they fall to the rear and the next person takes over. A group thus travels faster and further than an individual. Migrating birds learned this millennia ago.
If you are travelling in a group you have to keep your eyes on the person in front, trusting they will not brake too suddenly and that they will point to hazards such as potholes.
There is a lot that can be said about shared leadership, mutual trust and unity just in that point.
Just Keep Going
Adina, who once pedalled barefoot from Sydney to Cairns, says “You just keep turning the pedals and eventually you get there.” In any field some people are pioneers, high flyers and super achievers, but most of us get to the destination by persevering and keeping at it. As the adage says, 80% of success is just showing up every day.
Whether you are a fast rider or slow, giving up won’t get you to your destination.
That applies as much to the faith journey as it does to cycling. If you want more of God, just keep pushing in; if you have a dream, keep praying and trusting God.
Right Thinking
Much of what we do is determined by our thinking not by our ability. Elite athletes talk about being in the zone by which they mean their mind is entirely focussed on winning the game. When I started to think that it was all too hard, my body would slow down and pains would appear in all kinds of places. At one stage on the third day, I had to roar and shout at myself to get my thinking back on track.
Christians sin when they lose the plot about what is important in life. King David fell into sin when he stayed home at the time “when kings go to war.” It’s the idle times or the times when we feel deflated or perhaps too self-important that we can start to focus on our own desires and pleasures, forgetting that we were bought at a price by Christ.
Slow Down
There is a difference between travelling silently at 20 km/hr as opposed to racing along the road in air-conditioned, musically enhanced comfort at 100 km/hr. You notice more, appreciate more. reflect more.
It’s true that many of us live lives that are too fast-paced, too hectic, and with too little space to relate to others and to God in any kind of deep way.
We’ve been conditioned to believe that faster is always better and that the more we can cram into our days the more significant is our life.
We live in a big country, and to get from A to B you need to travel fast. But sometimes, you just need to enjoy the journey and immerse yourself in the creation.
Take time to pray, to read the word, to think.
People Are Important
I loved the adventure. We travelled far and saw many things. I achieved something that was beyond my normal.
But it was little moments that made this week special. Connecting with my family. Re-connecting with an old friend not seen in almost thirty years. Stopping along the way to give and receive help from fellow travellers.
We are made for others. That’s why so much of the Bible talks about relationships. Jesus said there are only two important things: Love God and love other people.
Resist Religion
I know it was right to go on this particular bike ride this time. The organisers are planning to do it again next year, but I don’t know that I will go again.
Some people do this ride every year, and it is a big part of their annual routine. There is nothing wrong with that- exercise, friendship and raising money for a good cause.
I’m not assuming that it will be part of my annual routine because we too often grab hold of something that is good and we keep doing it long after God has moved on to something else and we don’t notice.
Some things in church we keep doing because the Lord is in it. Other things we do once or twice, and then move on to something different.
When we think that our spiritual well-being depends on slavishly following a particular practice or an event then we are into religion not the Holy Spirit.
I am sure that over the coming months more and more lessons will emerge from this road trip. I am thankful to the Lord for having the opportunity to participate in an awesome experience.
Reflection on Genesis 15:1-18
Scripture
After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”
Observation
The Lord promises Abram that he will have a great reward. But Abram is worried about his lack of heirs. The Lord promises that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the sky.
Abram then asks how he can know that God’s promise to give him land will come true. The Lord tells him to get a heifer, a goat, a ram, a turtledove and a pigeon. When the sun goes down a smoking firepot and a torch pass through the carcases, acting out a covenant ceremony. So the Lord solemnly promises to give land to Abram’s descendants.
Application
Sometimes it is hard to see how God’s promises can possibly some to pass. We may feel inadequate to a task laid before us. Perhaps the promise we have been given seems impossible in any human means.
When God acted out the covenant ceremony, He was using the most solemn vow possible to say to Abram “You have my word. You will have both land and descendants.”
What seems impossible with man is always possible with God, who always keeps His promise.
Prayer
Lord, I recognise that you always keep your promises. Help me to trust you in this. Amen.
Great Ocean Road Adventure- Part 5
We left the station and went to the motel where I was able to shower, get changed and start to feel human again. Having finished the bike ride, Tuesday afternoon was down time. Time to hit the beach!
The water here is the Southern Ocean the great body of water that circulates Antarctica. It has a distinctively cold feel to it even in winter. This was another step in my life-time bucket list of entering all of the world’s oceans- only one to go.
Wednesday we started the long trek home. we passed through Ballarat where we stopped to visit our friends Rodney and Daphne Samuels.
We reached the historic town of Echuca on the mighty Murray River early in the afternoon. In the 18th century, steam boat travel was a vital means of transport through inland parts of Australia. 
From Echuca, we headed north to Hay, our overnight stop. We were keen to catch up with an old friend from our days in Hay (1984-87), David Houston. David is a grazier and staunch supporter of the church and community. He has been involved with the Dunera Museum which commemorates the POW and internment camps in Hay in the Second World War, and we thought if we went there we might find him. Sadly he wasn’t to be found.
We did a tour of Hay and found our old house and the park across the road, which had been a regular haunt when the boys were little.
We checked into the motel, right next door to the Uniting Church, and went for a walk. I looked into the church, surprised to find some activity there. The local choir were having a practice session, and who should turn up but David!
David isn’t officially a pastor, but he has overseen the church for decades. When we were there, many Presbyterians had remained separate from the Uniting Church, although David had crossed over. Since that time the Presbyterian Church has closed down, and most of the remaining people joined the Uniting. Apparently the Presbyterian building is falling down, as is the Anglican Church (once called the pro-Cathedral), and there is a high probability that the Anglicans will combine with the Uniting Church. David is trying to find a way to ensure the future of the church for succeeding generations.
Thursday we proceeded across the Hay Plains (described in the tourist brochures as one of the flattest places on earth) to West Wyalong and then to Parkes. Unfortunately the Dish was not available for playing cricket.
We arrived home in time for dinner and concluded the adventure by watching the movie “The Dish” as you do.
The Adventure was over.
Great Ocean Road Adventure Part 4
The final day of the ride was more relaxed than the first two.Only 60 km to travel on mostly flat country, and as long as we got to Warrnambool in time for the train to Melbourne, everything was wonderful.
So we headed out again in the pre-dawn darkness. It was overcast, so sunrise was more of a process than an event, but eventually we could see where we were travelling.
The first stop was London Bridge, a stunning rock formation. A few years ago the span linking it to the mainland crumbled away requiring the rescue of some tourists from the remaining outcrop.
We stopped for some time here and many photos were taken. One of the riders was 10 year old Zander riding with his dad. Although they are both very fit people who regularly do triathlons, completing this ride was a remarkable achievement for such a young child.
A few kilometres on and another stop at some more rocky sculptures at the Bay of Islands.
From here, the Great Ocean Road goes inland a few kilometres to cross dairying country. This isn’t always so pleasant. In places the smell of manure was so potent that I thought I was having some issues of my own.
Some farms have constructed tunnels under the road for the cows to go from paddock to dairy at milking time. It is quite disconcerting to see a mob of cattle heading four abreast right at the road, only to disappear into the ground.
By this stage, the fatigue was starting to kick in and it felt like my legs had lost all strength. I was fine on the flat but going uphill, even the slightest slope, seemed a huge challenge. At one stage, I literally roared in frustration and told myself out loud to keep going and don’t be such a wuss.
We regrouped at Allansford, about 10 km from our final destination at Warrnambool Railway Station. Allansford is a centre for cheese making and has quite a large cheese factory. There was some kind of agricultural Field Day happening in the show ground giving the town a festive appearance.
We stopped and rested on the green grass at the cheese factory. Some laid down, but I knew that if I did that there was a chance I would not get up again!
The fast group had been on a loop to add an extra 20 or so km just to keep them out of mischief. One of them told me that they had averaged 40 km/hr around the loop. That was about the speed I was going down Lavers Hill. These guys are definitely in a class apart.
Adina was not in that group. She was representing Bikes 4 Life, a group that takes bikes that are being thrown out in Sydney and Melbourne, refurbish them and then send them to developing countries. Their representatives in the recipient countries then teach the people how to maintain the bikes so that also helps them to develop skills as well as having their own bikes. Adina is a bit out there, as you might guess from the photo. What is not clear from the photo is that she did the ride in bare feet.
Eventually we wound our way into Warrnambool and arrived at the station, exhausted but proud of reaching our goal.
More photos can be found on my Google photos album “Great Ocean Road Adventure” and even as a video montage
Great Ocean Road Adventure Part 3
Day 2 of the ride was the one I was most worried about, although some of the old hands claimed it was easier than Day 1, being only 90 km long. The problem was that there was a big hill in the way, Lavers Hill.
As you leave Apollo Bay you travel through upwardly undulating country and end up in the valley of the Calder River which is very pretty. It is rich dairying land.
Just as you are starting to think “This isn’t too bad”, the climb gets serious.I had prepared for this by several runs up to Killarney Gap, but still found it hard going. For parts of the ride up I had to walk. It felt like my legs had no strength for the climb.
Eventually I reached the summit. The good news was that what goes up must come down again, and much of the rest of the ride was down hill. We had been warned to be careful as it is very easy to ride beyond your capability and that of your bike, resulting in nasty injuries.
The lunch break was at the Twelve Apostles, where we took various group photos.
The place was very busy with many people of Asian origin. We realised later that it was Chinese New Year. This meant that everything seemed to take a long time- the result was that I and several other riders got sunburnt.
Tim and Philip took advantage of a helicopter joy ride and flew over the ocean to get close up to the apostles and other features of the rugged coastline.
Despite the throngs, it was a relaxed stop. We still had to travel another 10 km to our accommodation at Port Campbell, but that was a quick ride on mainly flat country.
Great Ocean Road Adventure Part 2
The point of our adventure was for me to participate in a 300 km bike ride to raise money for various charities. I was riding on behalf of Compassion who do amazing things for poor people across the developing world.
In Geelong, I woke up early in order to be at the starting point with bike and travelling gear before 6 am. The adrenaline was flowing and I was about to start the ride of a lifetime. Bags were stowed in the support vehicle and off we went.
Wow! I was finally here on the first leg of a 300 km journey. We got 50 m before we hit the first red light. After a dozen of those, we finally headed out of town towards Torquay and the Great Ocean Road.
Bells Beach is a famous surfing location where the swell from the Southern Ocean hits the rugged southern coast of Australia. We stopped at the headland overlooking the beach.
From here it was on to Apollo Bay via Lorne. I stopped briefly to take this photo of the iconic Aireys Inlet lighthouse.
So the first day was done, a total of 120 km.
Dinner was at a local restaurant. I sat and chatted with Adrian, the Compassion partnership representative.
Great Ocean Road Adventure
In 2014 I saw a promotion for a charity bike ride along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road. Something in me just lit up when I saw it. The ride was organised by 25000 spins which runs bike rides in several different countries to raise money for various child-related charities such as Watoto and Compassion.
The ride leaves Geelong and roughly follows the coast line of the “bottom” of Australia for 300 km to Warrnambool.
I wasn’t able to ride in February 2015, but this February I made the decision to train hard and give it a go. The church backed me and together with some other friends and relatives donated a total of $2946 to Compassion.
So on Friday February 5th Margaret and I, together with our two eldest sons Tim and Philip headed off on a road trip of a life time.
To get to Geelong to start the ride, we had to drive about 1500 km over two days. Our first stop was at the Riverina town of Narrandera on the Murrumbidgee River.
We stayed in a cabin on idyllic Lake Talbot.
Saturday lunch was at Tocumwal, a beautiful town on the Murray River.
Two notable things about Tocumwal were the number of people riding bikes around the town and the recreational planes flying over the town.
From Tocumwal we continued our journey south, swerving to the right just before getting to Melbourne. In Geelong the boys shared a cabin, while Margaret and I stayed at a motel in the city centre close to the departure point.
In the next part I will write about the bike ride, which after all was the reason for our epic journey.
Today’s Sermon
The sermon for February 14th 2016 is now available on the New Life web-site.
In this sermon, which is based on Matthew 20:17-28, Margaret Baxter talks about carrying the baton. Click here to listen or here for the mp3
Susan Nash’s sermon from February 17th is also available. This sermon is based on Psalm 84.
New Life Narrabri 