holidays!

As many of you will know, this past year has been manic to say the least.
Somehow I've made it to the end of the year without taking any holidays. But today, I am on holidays - and I'm very excited about it!!!!!
Sleep deprivation might be impacting the clarity of my verbal skills at this point in time, but nothing a good sleep won't fix. I'm blogging from Wellington airport where I've had a nine hour layover in the middle of the night.
I had planned on sleeping in the airport - I mean seriously, after Fiji, Wellington airport aint got nothing I can't handle. But as I was snoozing in arrivals at about 1am I became aware that the airport was shutting down for the night - say what? You mean it isn't like Sydney airport and they don't stay open all night?!
Thankfully the guards took pity on me when I asked if there was somewhere nearby I could go for a few hours and they let me into the cafeteria section of departures where I was able to catch a 2 hour snooze.
I can't believe how busy this place is at 4am!

But here's to being on holidays for the next 9 days.

the issue of cava

One of the big issues facing the church in Fiji is cava. It is one of those difficult issues where culture and Christianity meet.

It is a mild narcotic drink that is part of the Fijian cultural heritage. It used in welcoming ceremonies (like the one above) and as a general part of life. It is sold 24 hours a day in grog shops and is drunk by many each night. Cava is typically followed by grog sessions which last late into the night. So it isn't the cava in and of itself that is the issue, it is what follows.

Our group experienced its some of its effects first hand. Whilst travelling from Nadi to Suva on a hired bus, we discovered the driver had been out all night on the grog. It wasn't a pleasant trip with several team members having to sit behind and prod him and talk to him during the 7 hour bus ride (that should have taken 5!).

It is an issue that is dividing many of the Fijian churches. Many churches regularly practice the use of cava whilst other groups are raising up against its use.
While we try not to engage in cultural and church politics while we are there, it is easy to see the detrimental effects that cava is having on society - much like alcohol among teens and early twenties here in Australia.

what makes it so....

A facebook friend (who happens to be a real-life friend too) posed the question on his status - how corrupted by sin can a Christian organisation become before it is no longer Christian?

Good question. What makes an organisation Christian or not?