The Spirit of the ANZACS

Monday night found us sleeping at Ben and Megan's place in Carlton again.
Megan cooked us a lovely 3 course meal on the Monday evening.
I took the rare opportunity, being so close, to attend the dawn service Tuesday morning which commenced at 6am and went for just half an hour.
The Information Centre in Bourke street informed me that it would be too early for the trams, so I went by car. Big mistake, about 40,000 people turned up and most of them in trams!!! It took me ages to park the car, and thoughI got there on time, there were too many people for me to get close enough to see - BUT, the sound was clear and I could hear every word. There were mothers and children and everybody showing respect with silence and rapt attention.
Of course, I thought about my old dad who passed on in 1981. He fought in France for 2 years and after the famous battle at Villers Brettoneux he was fighting around Morlancourt when he got hit in the shoulder by a Whiz Bang which very nearly removed most of his shoulder muscle. His wound was classified as slight although the Doctors warned him he may never be able to lift his arm above his head.




After the service I was eventually able to make my way up to the shrine itself where thousands were waiting to lay wreaths or poppies inside somewhere.



While it was too early to go back to Carlton and ask Megan to let me in, I made my way down to the South Melbourne beach, near to Mark and Val's new abode and it was just magic. There will be a lot to like about living in South Melbourne Here are a few shots around the beach. You will notice some hot air balloons if you look real close.







Later in the morning we were able to visit with Simon and Brenda in Little Lonsdale Street and I was able to walk down the street and take a look at the marchers forming to march up to the shrine in the ANZAC Parade






I was interested to see the Turkish banners at Flinders Street crossing. The Turks were the enemy at Gallipoli but had been invited to join in the march, which was great


The photos at the top of the blog are of My Dad David Holt
Peta Sue's Dad (Wounded at Pozziers) and my Uncle Cyril Ellis.
I've been reading Larry's blog, and my Dad too, who was of Wesleyan Methodist stock, had a bit of a problem with the "after march" booze up, and this many times kept him away from the march, and also the fact that most of his companions were killed in action.
But I still believe in the true spirit of Anzac, and I do not subscribe to the view of some that the whole thing just glorifies war.
A lot of our choicest young men died out there, and a lot of others almost died inside
LEST WE FORGET

Easter Sunday, and Monday

Sunday Morning Peta Sue and I attended the service at the Berwick Vineyard where one of the Elders, Noel Martin, gave a great account of the people Jesus met on the resurrection day, there was Mary Magdalene, the two on the Emmaus Road and the disciples. It was a great account.
We left there thinking to drive to Warragul to see number 4 son, Paul , but a phone call informed us that they were somewhere in Melbourne. So, what to do, we called Mark (Number one son)at New Market, they too were "not home". We rang number three son Greg,, Geelong, again, no answer. Where were they all? Then we rang number 5 son, Simon, in Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne. Simon answered and said "Where are you? We are all here! Ah Ha!
We made our way in and I placed $3.50 in a parking meter only to be informed by Paul that they did not need money on the Sunday. I was rueing the loss of my money when Greg appeared and found a ticket on his windscreen for $50. The hour limit still applied, and yes, the parking attendants were on the job. There were hardly any cars about, but, Ned Kelly is still alive and well in Melbourne! (Ned was an infamous bush ranger (outlaw)!
We went from there to New Market where Val, (as per usual) fed us very well, before our departure to sleep in Ben's bed at Carlton once again.
Monday morning we found Simon and Brenda kicking the football with their two kids in the Flagstaff Gardens, a lovely spot, just a short walk from their dwelling place.
After a sandwich for lunch at Simon's we took a tram to St Kilda and walked down Acland Street for coffee before a short doze on the beach. Walking back to MacDonald's for a senior's coffee we passed Luna Park,so I took a photo as ALB, Peta Sues Grandfather used to manage the place in the early part of the 20th century.



We caught the tram again, this time along St Kilda Road so we could get off near the Shrine of remembrance and walk to Mark and Val's new abode, just about 3 minutes walk from there



One of the balconies belong to them! (See Mark's Page)



The evening at 7.30, we made our way to the Blue Chilli in Brunswick St Fitzroy where Ben, our number 6 son, was celebrating his 33rd birthday with a few friends. It was a privilege to be present, although it took me a while to "get over" the food.
They all tell me my tastes are old fashioned!



We were both glad to get home and into our own bed.
I was up at 3am Tuesday for a cleaning job. Back to earth!

It's Friday... But Sunday's coming.

Friday morning (Good Friday) found Peta Sue and I at the Andrew's Centre.
Some of the folk from the Berwick Vineyard gathered to mark the events of that day nearly 2000 years ago when the Christ accomplished his decease at Jerusalem.
We sang some old songs as well a couple of newer ones. There was "It is well with my soul" and Keith Green's "There is a Redeemer".
Four of those present each spoke briefly about the things Jesus said while enduring his crucifixion. I was the fourth one and my job was to speak about "It is finished", and "Into your hands I commend my spirit".
After this we watched the part of the Jesus film depicting the crucifixion. Everybody was moved.
I notice that Mel Gibson's film, "The Passion of the Christ" is on TV Sunday night.
While I think that the lashing went on longer than the accounts could support, no matter how you might try, you will not be able to pretty up a crucifixion.

Unfortunately I didn't think to take photo at the Andrew's Centre until most people had gone home.


Here are my notes for my 5 minutes worth.
John 19:30 The last words of Jesus on the day of his crucifixion.
The English translation of the one word, “Teleo”, It is finished.
Just a few months earlier at what is known as the transfiguration Moses and Elijah had talked with him about his decease which he would accomplish in Jerusalem.
This decease which he was to accomplish was not in any way ordinary by todays standards.
To be shot by a firing squad, though terrifying, done properly would be quick.
To be hung by the neck until dead, done properly would also be terrifying but quick.
To be put to death in an Electric chair. Again, terrifying but quick.
To be put to death by a lethal injection, quick
To be put to death by crucifixion, terrifying, cruel and agonizingly slow.
Over and above that for Jesus the Christ, he was laden with the sins of the whole world.
It was the heaviest burden ever borne.
the father had to turn his face from him.
It was the the most painful separation ever suffered.
At about 3 O’Clock in the afternoon Jesus indicated that he would accept something to drink.
All he could do was to croak out the words “I thirst”.
I think the reason was that he had something he needed to say and he needed to wet his parched and burning throat.
After he had received the vinegar he raised his head and cried out with a loud voice
“It is finished”
Startling cry, It was a cry of victory.
I would have sobbed to myself and said It is all over. But Jesus was talking about more than the physical sufferings. My little Grandaughter Alese said after an operation a week or two back “It’s all done, Its all done”
The Holy law demanded death for the sinner, for me, for you.
We were done for.
Jesus became sin for us and put it away by the sacrifice of himself
There is nothing to equal it anywhere.
I get indignant when I hear people say, "What we need to do is study comparative religion." Well, I say again with some heat and some feeling in my spirit, Christianity is not a comparative religion, it's a SUPERLATIVE religion! Because this one saying of Jesus Christ explodes every other religion on God's earth! They are all useless when it comes to the sin issue.
In this momentous event...
I can see demons peeping out from hell as they see Jesus has gone to the cross.
I can see angels looking over the parapets of heaven,
I can see the Jews and the Romans and the Greeks. They are all at the cross!
Jesus accomplished the “mission impossible” and declared “It is finished” And as Luke has it
Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”. And having said this he breathed his last.

Unless Jesus comes back pretty quick, I too have to die, You have to die, and you, and you.
I’m saying it now, as I might be unable to say it when my time comes. But whatever, it will be all right.
The words of Jesus, Father, into your hands I commend my spirit’
A Catholic priest tells of this account
One day, I was sitting with Rodleigh, the leader of the troupe, in his caravan, talking about flying. He said, "As a flyer, I must have complete trust in my catcher, The public might think that I am the greatest star of the trapeze, but the real star is Joe, my catcher. He has to be there for me with split-second precision and grab me out of the air as I come to him in the long jump."
"How does it work?" I asked.
"The secret," Rodleigh said, "is that the flyer does nothing and the catcher does everything: when I fly to Joe, I have simply to stretch out my arms and hands and wait for him to catch me and pull me safely over the apron behind the catchbar."
"You do nothing!" I said, surprised.
"Nothing," Rodleigh repeated. "A flyer must fly, and a catcher must catch, and the flyer must trust, with outstretched arms, that his catcher will be there for him."
When Rodleigh said this with so much conviction, the words of Jesus flashed through my mind: "Father into your hands I commend my Spirit." Dying is trusting in the catcher. To care for the dying is to say, "Don't be afraid. Remember that you are the beloved child of God. He will be there when you make your long jump. Don't try to grab him; he will grab you. Just stretch out your arms and hands and trust, trust, trust."
I would like to think that I might die well, whether I do or not doesn’t really matter, because when Jesus said it was all done, it was true
Let me leave you with this one word (Out Loud)…. “Finished”

Yesterday, it was Friday
Today is a gloomy Saturday
BUT
Sunday's Coming

A Supper On A Thursday Night.

Across the church today many Christians are meeting in small groups through the week. These groups are referred to as Home Groups or Cell Groups.
Our Group met Thursday evening and we shared the Lord's Supper or Communion together.
As tomorrow would be Good Friday we thought that this supper would be taking place at about the same time as the original one that The Jesus Christ instituted all those years ago.








It was a very simple supper, just a small amount of bread and wine. The Christians often refer to this as a feast. It is certainly not a feast as far as quantity is concerned, but a feast indeed in what is implied and what takes place in the heart and mind of the participating believer.







Our hearts burned within us as after the simple supper we shared and talked around some of the many things surrounding this supper.
We talked about all sorts of things, about the two swords one of the disciples had come up with, about what was possibly going through the lord's mind as he drank from the cup that night. We talked about Gethsemane. We talked about the grace of God in forgiving every sinner who desires to be forgiven.

Before leaving for the meeting I had seen something on TV about Nelson Madela's imprisonment in that terrible prison. Nelson Madela said that the prison would break anyone's spirit had they endured it alone, but at night the prisoners were not segregated and they drew great strength from each other.

I guess that goes some way to enlightening us about the reason for scripture that says, "Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is".

The biggest problem that the world is facing is not global warming.
The biggest problem is that man is unable to get along with his brother.

The reason for this is sin, and we are all afflicted.
The Lord's Supper tells us a lot of important things if we have ears to hear and hearts to respond

The Wild Weekend

One of the really big problems in getting away for a wild weekend, (or any other outing for that matter) is to actually have everything one needs with them when once out the door. This was no exception, as I went back inside for the third time to get something or other, I "inadvertently" left my handbag on the office desk(a male hand bag rest assured), my wallet was in the handbag, which was bad enough, but far worse, so was my digital camera, and did I ever miss out on some photo moments.
Our first port of call was Little Lonsdale Street from where we joined the Simon Holt family and walked down Swanston St to a Vietnamese Restaurant called the Pho Bo Ga Mekong. We all had a Pho, (except Alese) Simon has a food blog on the place dated Feb 10. From there we dropped in on Mark and Val at New Market. We met Megan there and proceeded to Carlton where we slept in Ben's bed, happily Ben was in the Borossa Valley SA.
Saturday morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we set off for Grovedale Geelong, about an 80 minute drive from Carlton, where we crashed at Greg and Sally's place.
Older readers will be relieved to hear that we did not have a car accident, but that we just descended upon Greg and Sally's abode and settled in.
Saturday evening we found our way down to the place where Jarred works,a high class hamburger joint with poor signage. The hamburgers weren't cheap (about $9.80 each) but they did have first class ingredients and were a meal in themselves, and of course Jarred cooked them!
While I'm talking about my Grandson Jarred, I have to tell you that he appears to be what we used to call a bit of a "Dark Horse". At this point I have inserted his photograph.


Well, I went to the church that they (Greg, Sally and Jarred) attend. Sally had given me "good oil" before I went. "Sit with Greg at the sound desk and you may avoid the mandatory hug from you neighbour and also holding the hand of the person next to you at other intervals. I took her advice with great alacrity. This also placed me in the position which enabled me to have a good view of Jarred from the rear. There he was. He had placed himself next to the best looking girl in the church, and when the time came to release the other persons hand,(read for other person, "good looking girl") he would not do it!
Like I say, "He's a bit of a dark horse" this boy.
After a lunch of "Sally special" soup, we took or leave and made our way to the Ashburton Baptist Church where our number one son, Mark, was to be inducted into his new position with the Baptist Union of Victoria


This was a friendly low key affair with about 50 people attending. The ladies of the church provided a lovely afternoon tea.
After this we returned to our lovely little house at Rowville and watched a few TV programs that we had taped. It was sort of cool so I lit a little fire which soon made our room and our evening wonderful.
While some of you are still smurking about my handbag, I will include one more photo of a Holt male carrying flowers.

You can stop smurking now.

You know that you are getting old when this is the account you give of a wild weekend!

Daylight Saving is ..Off,.. Again

Evidently we have saved enough daylight for the time being.
I am sure that putting the clocks all back is a bigger job for me than it is for most people. My wife said to me this morning that I was pedantic. I'm not sure whether this was a compliment or not, I will have to look it up in the dictionary.
It could have something to do with the fact that my first move is to bring up the Greenich Mean Time site on the computer. It's a real beauty, it gives the progressive time to the second, then I start on the clocks with batteries in them. There are about 6 or 8 of them about, I wait till the second hand reaches the 60th second position, then I quickly remove the battery, next I set the hour and minute hand exactly to the new hour and the next minute and at exactly the right time indicated by Greenich, I quickly replace the battery, and whammo, off goes the clock again, at the new time and almost excatly on the second. If this is pedantic, it's great.
Next are all the other clocks, and they are to be found in all kinds of places, in the phones, on the fax, the oven, the micro wave, the sound system, the VCR and Video Recorders, even the Air Conditioning remote
, which I realise that I have omitted to alter. For all of this I have the real time.
Gone is the speaking clock which I used to have to ring and pay for the call, holding the phone to my ear to hear this cultured voice saying, "On the third stroke it shall be 11:55, at the third stroke it shall be 12 O'clock exactly" and so on until the call cut out. You will be pleased to know I'm sure, that this service is to stop after something like 30 years, (that's a guess). I did read that they found it to be five seconds out, they should refund my call money, 5 seconds indeed.



This is the clock in my office, it doesn't tell you that it is AM, that is nearly 3 in the early hours.
I am not sure that we should meddle with time, putting the clock back has upset the weather, my body clock is confused and my dog is confused. He came and peered in our lounge room window at about 5pm last night looking for his tea. They say that dogs can't see TV, I've always thought that this was a bit of a furphy, but if you could see Monty's blank look as he tries to peer through the lounge room window, you might believe this to be true.
As you read this blog, assuming that you are indeed still reading, you may even think that I too am too am a bit confused. You may be right, but it's not my fault.
I am going back to bed, but before I go, a couple of thoughts
Confucius says, "Man who runs in front of car gets tired,
But
Man who runs behind car gets exhausted"
The Bible says "Redeem the time" Is that save it or something a little different
Jesus says "I am the light of the world, He that follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life"
In John 11 and 12 He also talks about walking while you have the light.
And back in chapter 9 He says "I must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day, the night is coming when no man shall work.
Hmmm there may be more to this daylight saving business than I imagined.
I had better go to bed, I don't really want to be one of those people of the night
Goodnight