It was a busy couple of weekends for us. Sunday before yesterday, we had a family (the Steenhofs, sans John) over for lunch at our place, together with Steve and Barbara. It was an interesting lunch. I hadn’t had a bunch all with strong young earth creationists bend, in our home for a long time. In fact, that was probably the first time. The Steenhofs in particular were interesting because other than the matriarch, the rest were all very young but young earth creationist leanings aside, they were just generally very/super conservative. The kids insisted on addressing us as Mr and Mrs Teh and their impeccable manners saw them eating everything that was offered on the table, even the chickpeas avocado and feta salad which had a large dose of parsley layered through.

Then this past Saturday, we had the Au’s over, together with Wesley. Au CL is a high ranking diplomat in an embassy here, and Wes is on the pastoral team of SBC. Again, we had an interesting interaction but less confronting than the previous mob. I guess that was confronting for me only because we’d been at St Alfred’s in Blackburn for so long, that ideas and beliefs like young earth creationist belief sounded so foreign. I had also been listening to the “Language of God” podcasts, with eminent scientists like Francis Collins. Dipping my toes in listening to and reading folks like John Lennox too, rendered the YEC view very foreign. So, to hear that theory/belief so strongly advocated, was something very different. Like I said, even confronting.

I don’t know what to make of the conservative flavour of SBC. It’s like living in a red belt American styled evangelical conservative zone. One where the views of the likes of Albert Mohler and Tim Keller – nay, John MacArthur more likely – prevail over others like NT Wright. No women in leadership or preaching roles and young earth creationist are the two that I have had to deal with to date. Perhaps I can just quietly go in and out of SBC meetings and not be too animated on any front. You know, survive.

So, these last two weekends were busy. I felt them too. I was tired, juiced out, on both Sunday evenings as we sat in front of the TV, unwinding. Last night we did that watching the auction on the home renovation show. Two of the properties were passed in. Inwardly, I thought little wonder – Daylesford is hardly the sort of area overflowing with investors pouring in north of $3million for lifestyle homes. It was probably one of the more underwhelming seasons of that show, at least in terms of financial outcomes for the contestants.

Tired as we were, we revelled in and soaked up our time with the girls. Little Abby and Little Zoe continue to fill our lives with laughter, joy and loads of love. Often, I’d just retreat to a corner and take in the wonder of seeing them. I’d be so fulfilled to see Tress looking so happy to be with them all. Those little and not so little progress we see in those two little angels – physically, psychologically, emotionally, mentally and every-thing-else-cally. I’d find myself smiling as I immerse myself in the moment. For the umpteenth time, for all the issues confronting me at work, in SBC, and living in a bush capital generally, I found myself happy. And grateful.

Oh I should also mention it was a weekend where United won again. Goals galore too. 4-2 against Brighton, who have had our measure for so long. Have we turned the corner? Certainly, the tide and pendulum appear to have turned and swung, as Liverpool lost, again, and now sit below us on the table. Calls are now “Slot out” and no longer “Amorim out”. Yes, I’m happy for this reason too, but overwhelmingly, the girls have more to do with my happiness than even Manchester United winning.

A few months ago, I saw that Samara Joy was coming to the bush capital. I said to Tress I’d like to go and she said yeah sure (or something like that), so I jumped on the tix site and got us a couple of tickets.

Last night, we went to The Playhouse at the Canberra Theatre Centre to see her. We were treated to an evening of a gorgeous, rich and melodious voice, doing vocal acrobatics with amazing skills. Accompanying her was a band on the grand piano (probably a Steinway), 4 horn players (a trombone, a trumpet and a couple of sax), a double bass guy (who showed the most fun demeanour) and the drummer, whose dexterity belies the skills he obviously possesses in spades.

What a treat, and I hope we get to see her again… some time…

Tress is away for a few days this week. She went down to Melbourne yesterday for work, and will be there till Thursday. So the little fellow and I rule the roost and although he looks around every now and then and wears that “where has she gone?” look, he’s ok and I have been pleasantly surprised that he has gone for our usual morning walks these 2 past mornings, with only very small hitches.

The other event worth writing about is of course, Trump’s triumph in sealing the deal to end the war in Gaza. It looks like a raw deal for Israel, having to release close to 2,000 prisoners, most of whom would probably create a future terror risk for Israel. I guess the release of Israeli hostages was paramount. There have been back stories that probably added pressure for Hamas to come to the table and agree on the deal but for Trump to round it all up is surely an achievement that even his most vile detractors must recognise. Alas, probably not.

I have known Trump haters who recoil even at the mention of his name. These are the same people who uttered the word “conservative” like a swear word in the sense that it made them uncomfortable to even have that word come out of their mouths. Folks who by most accounts are decent, hardworking, smart, likeable and even appear to be godly in so many ways but are so hackneyed in the liberals/progressives take on conservatives, they simply cannot see or accept that conservatives can have any good in them. Yes, these are people I knew, socialised with, shared meals with and hold high office in the church/para church communities that I belonged to.

From The Australian newspaper today:

Well, Trump fans notwithstanding, Israel and the middle east can celebrate, at least for now, the triumph of peace and the end of horrible suffering.