Little Penguins

I had never heard of the Little Penguins, the smallest penguins on the planet (only 33 cm tall), until last Saturday evening. Each night, visitors from all over the world come to Phillip Island, Australia to watch them emerge from the ocean and waddle up the beach to their burrows. The cold winter winds were blowing, but not enough to deter us from waiting on the cutest creature on earth. I was able to get within 3 feet of them, but no photography is allowed (it confuses them). So I don't have a picture to post, but recommend the official website, http://www.penguins.org.au (click on "Penguin Parade" and then watch the video). I'll never forget these little guys -they gave me quite a bit of joy that night.

Koala on Phillip Island

Cute little fellow, huh? Another great design by God.

Phillip Island

I really enjoyed feeding this little fellow on Saturday afternoon on Phillip Island, southeast of Melbourne (prounounced "Melbun," I am told). He saw the bag of "Kangaroo food" that I had and hopped right over to me and ate from my hand.

Sydney Opera House & Alps

As we approached Australia, the captain let us know that we had encountered strong head-winds on the way over and that Melbourne was covered in a morning fog. These two circumstances and the safety policies of Qantas Airlines required him to land in Sydney for re-fueling. Having a window seat on an exit row, I had a clear view of the Sydney Opera House and harbor as we were landing - an unexpected gift from God. The re-fueling stop added 1 1/2 hours to our flight, but the trip to Melbourne from Sydney also provided another spectacular view - the snow-capped mountains of the Australian Alps and the peaceful little villages and farms sprinkled throughout the Yarra Valley.

To Australia

The new book by David McCullough, “1776,” captured my attention as soon as we climbed to our cruising altitude, and wouldn't let me go until we landed at LAX. I am on my way to Melbourne at the invitation of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria to train 140 pastors and their wives in discipleship and spiritual formation. At the moment, we are about to board a Qantas 747 that will be my home for the next 15 hours, the longest flight I have ever made. I am very grateful for my exit-row seat, the poor man's first-class.

Past Loves

Last night, June 16, our literary group met to discuss our latest book, Brideshead Revisited, by Evelyn Waugh. Considered the greatest satirist of his generation, Time magazine called him "one of the century's great masters of English prose." Waugh (1903-1966) penned this classic in 1945 at the end of WWII.

Men, how many women have you loved?

Consider Waugh's insight through the voice of Lord Marchmain's mistress:

"If you live with a man you come to know the other women he has loved."

In the same paragraph, Cara (his mistress) admits that she has never met Lord Marchmain's wife and has seen her only once. Ironically, however, she says, "I know Lady Marchmain very well."

Irony for Non-Religious Parents

"Do you know last year, when I thought I was going to have a child, I'd decided to have it brought up a Catholic? I hadn't thought about religion before; I haven't since; but just at that time, when I was waiting for the birth, I thought, 'That's one thing I can give her. It doesn't seem to have done me much good, but my child shall have it.' It was odd, wanting to give something one had lost oneself" (Brideshead Revisited).

How many parents avoid a relationship with God and refuse to worship Him - until their first child is born? Why is it that we want for them what we have lost ourselves?

Modern Education

A well-written assessment of modern education from Evelyn Waugh (Brideshead Revisited)...

"The trouble with modern education is you never know how ignorant people are. With anyone over fifty you can be fairly confident what's been taught and what's been left out. But these young people have such an intelligent, knowlegeable surface, and then the crust suddenly breaks and you look down into depths of confusion you didn't know existed."

Dying Of What?

One last (and humorous) dialogue from Evelyn Waugh...

"The doctors in Rome gave him less than a year. There is someone coming from London, I think tomorrow, who will tell us more."

"What is it?"

"His heart; some long word at the heart. He is dying of a long word."

In Memoriam

Anil Tode (left), one of my translators for the last two years in Nagpur, India, died unexpectedly on Friday, June 10, 2005. Please pray for his wife, Pramodini and their two children. He will be sorely missed.

Oscar Wilde

"Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing."

- Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Grey

Tribute to David Livingstone at Westminster Abbey

Brought By Faithful Hands

Over Land And Sea

Here Rests

David Livingstone,

Missionary,

Traveller,

Philanthropist,

Born March 19, 1813,

At Blantyre, Lanarkshire,

Died May 1, 1873,

At Chitambo's Village, Ulala

For 30 Years His Life Was Spent

In An Unwearied Effort

To Evangelize the Native Races,

To Explore the Undiscovered Secrets,

To Abolish the Devastating Slave Trade,

of Central Africa,

Where With His Last Words He Wrote,

"All I Can Add In My Solitude, Is,

May Heaven's Rich Blessing Come Down

On Everyone, American, English, or Turk

Who Will Help to Heal

This Open Sore of the World."