In the making

Gathered around Jesus..

2009-05-13T12:19:00.002+12:00

Just came from a class that inspired me about the way we think of Christians and church.

An author/theologian/anthropologist that we were looking at talked about two different ways that we make the definition;

- Bounded Set (think a group of people with a definite circle around them)

In this mindset, you are defined as a christian by what you believe and how you behave. It emphasizes the 'crossing the line' from non-christian 'out' to christian 'in', and the unity and similarity of all Christians (without diversity).

- Centered Set (think a group of people moving toward Christ in the center and a fuzzy line drawn around)

In this mindset, you are defined as a christian by relationship with Christ, and movement towards him. There is still a distinction drawn between christian and non-christian, however the focus is not on exclusion, but on encouraging people to follow Christ. It also recognizes the value of diversity within Christians, as we grow to be more like Christ.

This 'centered' set idea really resonates with me! As we thought more about it's implications for how we view and organize church, I felt inspired by this vision of church. This is what I long for in church:

- Defined by its centre - Jesus Christ

- A group of people gathered around Jesus to worship, obey and serve Him

- Covenant community focused on righteousness, koinonia, shalom (peace, wholeness), hesed (Loving-kindness) and mercy!

- If a community is based on those foundations, then we can be 'real' with one another, in a community of love, peace and mercy, we are free to have deep fellowship.

- Basis is relationship not works or beliefs

- No exclusions, diversity celebrated - most important thing is movement towards Jesus.

All of these things build into the church, as the Body of Christ.

And our Primary Task - to uphold Jesus in our community and lives so that he can draw all people to himself!

This vision of church is just.... WOW!

The people of God. Shalom. Mercy. Amen.

Now that's a church I can believe in.

The story of nom and om

2009-05-02T16:29:00.002+12:00

Nom and om were happy together.

Nom and om enjoyed skipping, reading books and going to the library.

One day, om and nom went to dinner together.

Om thought nom made too much noise while eating, and nom thought the same of om.

thus ended the happy friendship of om and nom.

and to this day they battle for each meal.

but om normally only wins one victory each meal.

One day, om will turn the tables on nom, and will begin to win the war.

On that day, ringing from dinner tables everywhere will be delightful sounds of OM OM OM OM OM nom.

And on that day I will rejoice with OM! For the battle has been won.

(And. Before anyone asks there is no deeper meaning to this story. I just wrote it randomly to a friend in the middle of a conversation, while musing the phenomenom (look at those noms just gloating their victory in that word) that is OM NOM NOM, and the unfairness to poor OM. Only one OM and two NOMs. One day OM will turn the tide. OM > NOM despite how it may appear.)

And this is what happens when Liz is overtired. Great.

it was I

2009-03-29T21:33:00.002+13:00

it was I
who dragged her, objecting in despair
to your feet, you to deal to her
it was I
full of pride, watched you stoop down

scratch some words in the ground
a challenge laid bare
it was I
the first to leave
eyes rimmed with tears

it was I
strolled up, self-assured yet unaware
to you great rabbi, for your counsel,
on what one should do to acquire the thing
for which I still had need

it was I
walked away, not to leave that which lay
‘neath the earth in short while
your good gift I betrayed

it was I
faced with crowds writhing, irate
washed my hands of your fate
let them all get their way

it was I
‘spite best intentions resolved to sit down, to wait
watched you lead away...

...still worse...
it was I
who laughed, spat and jeered
and when you were whipped

it was I
who cheered

E Read. (C)

Friendship is...

2009-03-24T08:16:00.002+13:00

I was thinking on my way home from uni yesterday about what friendship is, and so many of the metaphors that I used to think of just came up so short. I kept thinking 'an investment' but it seems just horrid to think of friendship as something that happens in a bank! There are elements of this idea that are true, but anyone who starts a friendship solely for what they will gain from it, will cause themselves (and their friends) great pain.

So without a metaphor, I settle for just writing...

Friendship is going on a journey without a destination in mind, and savouring every moment

Friendship is 'doing life' next to each other, for each other, with each other

Friendship is in the 'I just need a hug' moments

Friendship is the point where you like the other person more than you like yourself (and especially because they like you even still...)

Friendship is being broken together

Friendship feeds on words, silent or shared

Friendship is letting someone tell you their story by living their life

Friendship is letting someone in, to the world behind your eyes

Friendship is letting someone look for the beauty in yourself that you cannot see

Friendship comes with shared hope, and vision for the future

Friendship holds the light up for the other

Friendship shares the heart

Friendship...

6 word memoir

2009-03-20T10:01:00.002+13:00

Came across this: Six Word Memoir at one of the blogs that I follow... I thought it was pretty profound so decided to write my own.

Finding love, finding life in Him.

or perhaps

Clay Pot; God's strength in weakness.

A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall

2009-03-09T15:03:00.002+13:00

A lecturer got us to read this song today... so powerful.

A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall

Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, where have you been, my darling young one?
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains,
I've walked and I've crawled on six crooked highways,
I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests,
I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans,
I've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard,
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard,
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.

Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, what did you see, my darling young one?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it,
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin',
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin',
I saw a white ladder all covered with water,
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken,
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children,
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.

And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
I heard the sound of a thunder, it roared out a warnin',
Heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world,
Heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin',
Heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin',
Heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin',
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter,
Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley,
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.

Oh, who did you meet, my blue-eyed son?
Who did you meet, my darling young one?
I met a young child beside a dead pony,
I met a white man who walked a black dog,
I met a young woman whose body was burning,
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow,
I met one man who was wounded in love,
I met another man who was wounded with hatred,
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.

Oh, what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, what'll you do now, my darling young one?
I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin',
I'll walk to the depths of the deepest black forest,
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty,
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters,
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison,
Where the executioner's face is always well hidden,
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten,
Where black is the color, where none is the number,
And I'll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it,
And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it,
Then I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin',
But I'll know my song well before I start singin',
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.

Bob Dylan

"I'll know my song well before I start singing well"

This line challenges me so much...

What is my song? When will I know it well enough to start singing it?

and...

2009-03-08T01:13:00.001+13:00

Read these two blog posts:

"Who Cares"

"Stuff Christians Like: Confessing Safe Sins"

Empathy..

2009-03-08T00:15:00.002+13:00

"Empathy is underrated
But I wish I could feel what you feel"
Brian Platt - Gravity (one of my favourite songs at the moment, despite my dislike of 'Platt-man' )

I'm sure I've posted on this before... perhaps I have new insight, perhaps not.

Lately, I think I've become slightly 'seared' emotionally, you know like when you burn your tongue, you can't taste properly anymore, but you still sort of can.
I wonder if that's what my heart (or wherever you store your emotions) is a bit like...
So very often I get to a point where I can not open my heart to anymore stress/anguish of other people, so I cease to become emotionally involved with the situation.

I think what makes it worse, is that I don't act any different, but I know inside that I'm different towards the situation.
I still do 'What I'm supposed to do', be there, talk to them, give them a hug, and whatever .... but inside I just don't Care.

What is caring anyway? Is it doing what you can to support the person? (despite emotional detachment)
Or walking around with their burdens weighing on your heart?
Letting them drag you down, and turn you around in circles? Isn't that true caring!?!

And the terrible thing is, I can still have a heart open to positive emotions, while shutting down the empathetic part :( And that makes me feel even worse.

But.. sometimes it hits you, God just breaks your heart over something....
Several years ago at Xtend, I had a heart-break experience... God just broke my heart over the hurt, lost people in the world who are suffering from poverty, from the rest of the world looking the other way. I actually felt physical heart pain, and was bawling for hours... Not sure that I've quite reacted how I should have... but I do think that my mindset has changed.

I need God to fill me up again with his love, compassion, mercy and empathy.
I know he can... and he's the only one.

A Beautiful Mess

2009-03-01T23:19:00.003+13:00

What a beautiful mess, this is...

Just listened to a beautiful song by Jason Mraz called "Beautiful Mess".

Although it's talking specifically about a relationship... I think the truth of this song applies much broader:

"But it's nice to say that we played in the dirt
Cause here, here we are
Here we are"

Life is a dirty process... it scars, it maims, it burns, hurts, abuses sometimes even ruins...

But it's something we get to do together, next to each other, with each other and for each other.

Sometimes the flaws are what reveals true beauty.

Not sure about you guys, but when I meet someone who seems perfect, it just scares me! What's even scarier is when they still seem perfect once you've known them for years...

I think there's something beautiful about the fact that we're all flawed.

Once you come to acknowledge that, and see the beauty past, even within people's flaws, it's just priceless.

I dunno if I'm anywhere close, but sometimes, you just catch a glimpse of redemption, of the kingdom on earth. Spectacular!

2009-02-03T19:17:00.002+13:00

I figure my blog deserves an update.. for all it's patience in sitting there, and to be honest... it's always there for me. Sob.

Well plans have changed since I last graced this here page, the missions trip hasn't worked out. I'll just say it's complicated..I'm bitterly disappointed but also content. Some things God just puts a hold on.

I'm certain there are other important things that God wants me to do with my year. I plan on using the time I've got to figure out more about Him.. and about my foundations, and who I am because of them. I'm going to Laidlaw College to study for a Graduate Diploma in Theology (Pending an acceptance letter!), which I'm really excited for!

And meanwhile my world continues to change around me.. life gets confusing at times, or most of the time.

"All my days, I've been finding ways of searching for a better way,
Come what may, all my days, I'm searching for a better way back home" Better Way - Mumsdollar

Forgiveness

As I hold on
To what's gone before
I stumble along
I trip and I fall

I must learn to let go
Let the past fall away
The hurt and the pain
Only causing decay

And my heart that has bled
For far, far too long
Must truly mend,
Bleed out and be gone

What once was is over
What could be still is

And my God, oh my God
Still constant
Remains
'mongst the ruins I've made
Once they're cleared away

A stable foundation
My compass, my guide
I will search forever
To return to your side

The battles not over
It's only begun
But my God, oh my God
Still constant
Remains

And whispers to me
"Fight on for I've won!"

Your worldview doesn't compute.

2008-12-12T19:57:00.000+13:00

http://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/12/10/hot-topics-contradictions-tech-sciences_cz_lg_1211gomes.html

How very intriguing..

2008-12-08T22:28:00.002+13:00

This is the story of my Day:

It Begins...

Liz vs. Fastway couriers.

Fast way couriers: *Yells * "Hello, FASTWAY COURIERS!"

Liz "HELLO, I PUNCH YOUR FACE IN IT"S 8.30 AND I'M TRYING TO SLEEP IN"

Next comes the disappointment...

What this isn't beach weather! Oh well, park and beach instead.

* Plays on flying fox *

* Gets p p p p poker facer stuck in her head for the rest of the day *

* Shops and spends to much money *

Then she runs late ... (So, what's new?!)

* Races home *

* Phones several people Rapidly *

*Gulps down dinner *

* Runs to car and speeds *

Dance Show FTW!

* Gets disturbed by young girls dancing skanky *

* Thinks Beth is beautiful *

* Decides that white people can't hip hop *

Playing games

* Attempts to smash, in smash bro's brawl *

* Little big planet uncoordination *

And then she settles down to work...

And then comes online to bloig about it... we'll see how this 'work' goes.

LOL!

One small step for liz...

2008-12-07T02:46:00.004+13:00

One giant leap for Liz-kind.

Right now, I feel as if I'm stepping into the great unknown!

Life is changing all around me, my friends are changing, my family is changing, my situation is changing, my relationships are changing, my church is changing, and yet my God stays the same.

It's a comforting thing to come back to the fact that my God never changes, that no matter what else (crap or amazing) is happening in my life, my God is my constant shield, shelter, protector and provider.

I really don't come back to that point enough... So often I'm stressed or even excited about what's happening next in life, and I forget the one who's helping me figure it all out. When I'm stressed, God keeps on working things together so that I will turn back to him, and mostly I'm just like, "Oh, that's cool God, thanks a bunch" and then go back along with my business.

Lately I've been seeing God walking alongside me in some amazing ways, sorting out money for my missions trips.. giving me amazing developing friendships that mean so much to me! And the way that he moves me into new things in a way that I can deal with is a testament to how well he knows me.

It just makes me want to serve him more, and walk in His will. About the most inspiring thing for me lately has been seeing how he works things out for people who walk in Him. Like my mate who just got married to the absolutely perfect guy for her... she walked in God's will and found her reward.. my desire is to keep walking in my Lord, knowing that he will work through me to touch the lives of those around me, that will be my reward!

For once, a post late at night when I'm all alone in my house, that isn't melancholy!

Melon Cauli Flower

2008-09-13T00:00:00.006+12:00

Do you ever feel like your friends are constantly flaunting something that you don't have, but you can't put your finger on quite what it is?

I don't think I understand it but I think this idea describes better than anything else something that I've been feeling for a long time. I often just feel like I've never really found the place I totally belong.

I really want to find that place.

____________________________________

Somewhere amongst the dance of the stars

And the rising sun

Lies the mystery that is within me

Someplace between the breaking of waves

And the edge of the earth

Are the locks where I am the key

____________________________________________

Yet another melancholy blog post... I'm hoping this doesn't become a habit! Sorry!

Alone

2008-08-31T15:35:00.003+12:00

For starters, I apologize, this post will be a bit sad...
But sometimes that's how life is. (Just don't read it if you're feeling down already)

Sometimes I just feel so alone, I have friends, I have fun,
I come home, I put on my music, I watch movies, I talk with my family.

But then, I feel alone.

Alone is one of the most crippling emotions.

If God said "It is not good for man to be alone" then why are we left alone?

Why does our society of noise not fill the emptiness of the silence?

Why is quiet so unsettling and depressing?

Why must we surround ourselves with people who don't actually care?

Why don't WE care?

What have we come to?

When did we forget love?

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

When the leaves fall...

2008-08-24T14:29:00.009+12:00

... it's not over - everything is just waiting for the spring.

This morning I went back to bed after church, and I read this book, and I felt alive. The book tells of Julia De Smit, an ordinary girl; broken, hurting, seeking, longing, messed up and lost. She's reinventing herself, to prove that she is more than just the product of her past. She's trying to find out who she is... and making mistakes along the way.

It's a story I could really identify with and it was refreshing to read a book that didn't give any easy answers. Julia wrestles, struggles, fails and eventually finds the only one who gives us love unfailing. Sensitively written, honest and reflective; it moved me.

The most beautiful part of the book for me was in the final chapter, she finally comes to a realization of who she is, defining her life with "I am... " statements, finally settling on "I am a new creation."
It inspired me to define myself...

I am...

I am a daughter, a sister and a friend.
I am a teacher in the making.
I am a lover of life.
I am a bookworm, a muser.
I am a seeker and a finder.
I am a wildflower on a roadside.
I live in the now but not yet, embracing the tension.
I am in the making...

I am a new creation.

----------------
Now playing: Simon & Garfunkel - Blues Run the Game
via FoxyTunes

A gem from urbandictionary.com

2008-08-14T21:35:00.002+12:00

While a deeper post is in the works... I bring you this gem.

attention spam

A condition resulting in a failure to process basic facts or comprehend common knowledge, due largely to having a mind full of useless information.

eg. Kali's numerous typos were a result of her suffering from attention spam.

Otherwise known as "Liz every single day" especially after aikido - when I have epic failing at even sweeping the floor. Brilliant

2008-06-15T23:28:00.002+12:00

Nothing to say, but lots to think about.

What I will say, is that I updated my musicness list :D

Loving Stu Larsen. Gorgeous talent.

Things that I love about people..

2008-05-28T22:09:00.002+12:00

So to carry on from my previous rather negative post.

I thought I'd post to you some happiness.

These are some things that I totally love about people:

- I love how you can have personal jokes with someone, even though you're only just getting to know them

- I love people who appreciate the importance and 'weight' of music, and you can tell

- I love people who can be themselves, wherever they are, once you know them, you then know that you know them.

- People who don't shy away from struggle/dichotomy/tension.

- People who 'get' other people

- Verbal diorrhea people.. say what they think. Always sincere.

- People who make an effort

- People who let you journey alongside them

- People who understand the way the world is interlinked, and don't want to fit it all into boxes.

- When you can tell someone is awestruck.

- Not afraid to laugh or cry alongside someone else.

- People who you can talk about anything with and not feel awkward

- Randomness

Pet Peeves Ahora (Currently)

2008-05-23T19:54:00.004+12:00

So I don't have any pets.
Except my horse.

And all the peeves that I keep under my bed.

So every know and then i bring them out and play with them... thought I might bring you into this wonderful experience today. So I hope that you enjoy meeting my peeves, give them a pat, they won't bite.

NB - My Peeves tend to be not so much hates. More irritants. And they apply just as much to myself as to other people (often more!)

Peeves pertaining to people:

- Meddling and gossiping, especially when it interferes with friendships and personal issues.

- People who are really down on themselves.

- People who dish out heaps of hassling, and then can't actually deal with it themselves. This includes the people who don't actually let anyone know they can't deal with it, but just go home and have a cry about it.

- When friendships change dynamic for no real reason, or for a stupid reason.

- People who don't make an effort to understand other people.

- People who don't notice when others are getting upset.

Pet Peeves Pertaining Particularly to myself:

- My lack of self control

- The ways that I disappoint myself and don't live up to my standards.

- When I get carried away

- The lack of innocence in my mind, and the way that this comes out my mouth.

So you know.. just a few things.

They keep me company on long, cold and lonely nights.

Do you ever have days when...

2008-05-18T16:43:00.003+12:00

the only thing you can think of in reply to things people say is mean?

Or just too blunt/close to the truth?

I've been having that kinda day.

P.S. I thought I'd point out that I added a new list or two on the right hand side.

one about musics. (which i'm going to update fairly frequently!)

And one about friends blogs and other asorted amusement websites.

God protects his people..

2008-05-17T22:20:00.004+12:00

On the way home from my friends place tonight I had a very scary experience.

Now, I guess, you guys reading this, probably won't see why I found it so scary.

And, if any of you who read my blog are girls, you might understand :D

So, I was driving. Now normally when I drive at night, I lock my doors.
It's just something my momma trained me to do.

Some reason tonight, I forgot. I had just missed some traffic lights, and came to a stop, when I saw this slightly strange looking guy walking across the road in front of me.

I was the only car at the traffic light, and there was no one else around.

I was kinda like, he looks weird, but didn't care too much. I didn't want to lock my doors at this stage, in case he was actually watching me and noticed, and thought I looked scared.

So he walks across the road and stops right in front of my car, stares at me, then sorta waves blankly at me, and then has this strange grin on his face. I'm not really sure what he was tryna do or why... but he's standing there.

At this point, I wasn't really stressed, I just locked my doors and waved him away and he walked to a little bit to the side of my car and I drove forward as far as i could. I could still see him looking at me in my wing mirror.

Suddenly, I was freaked out! I just prayed "Jesus Christ protect me" again and again and again.

And the lights turned green, and I drove away...

Jesus did protect me. I don't really understand if this guy was a threat to me or not. But it sure gave me a scare... but its one of those answers to prayer that you're not really sure how much you were saved from!

There's currently a police helicopter searching that area - I can see it out my window, so maybe I was saved from something pretty bad! I really don't know.

But I'm grateful. I was protected.

Sometimes for me, having been a Christian so much of my life, I don't really know or understand what I was saved from. I only have to look around me at the utter depravity of the fallen nature of man and the world to see what I was saved from, and the purpose that I was saved for!

Actually, on second thoughts, I only need to look inside myself and how messed up I am. How tainted I am, how impure my thoughts are, my actions... my speech.

I'm so excited about the mission for me, as a member of the Body of Jesus Christ to bring 'heaven to earth' in ways that impact, reshape, redeem and offer something so much greater than the story that is lived out in society today. And the chance that I have to LIVE IN AND OUT OF that redemption story.

(Spent the day today at the 'Wineskin Talk' put on by BCNZ - with Rod Thompson and Mark Strom speaking about the church and it's mission and characteristics. Will post some more thoughts on it, once the cotton wool in my brain subsides!)

Make liz feel better day

2008-05-13T18:17:00.004+12:00

So I thought I'd have a make liz feel better by spending money, day.

So I bought 2 pairs of shoes, and some super warm slippers.

And MUTE MATH!!!!!!

Yipee. It's like been over a WHOLE week since I bought new music (on a music buying spree at the moment!)

I really need some chick singer music though... anyone want to suggest some?

I like alot of genres except like rap or hip hop. some r n b is OK. but only if it's actually good.
And I dislike much pop. But not all...

Ta for now

The pretender

2008-05-13T14:57:00.002+12:00

"honestly have you ever been honest with yourself
or are you someone else's point of view?"
Terminal - Dark

How many of us are actually who were really are?

Who are we really?

How do we know who we are if we aren't ourselves?

Maybe "yourself" is who you are when you are alone.

All of us wear some sort of mask, to conceal some aspect of ourselves:

Up yourself annoyingness to hid insecurities
Butterflies, unicorns and super happy fun times, to hide our deep inner depression
Flirtatious, attention seeking to hide how unacceptable we feel.

And so on, and so forth

What if we were really honest with ourselves and with others?

What would it mean for our friendships and relationships?

Does it mean that you always share with everyone all your struggles and all your happiness?

This sorta introductions would ensue:

Robbie: " Hi, I'm Robbie, and I'm addicted to Hillsong/Making really bad puns/sexual immorality/lying/xkcd/using words that I don't know what they mean/eating spam"

Nicholas: "Hi Robbie, I'm Nicholas and I am too (to one/any/all of the above."

R: "Er, Ok. Right this is awkward, better be on my way."

N: "Cheerio"

I'm not really sure this would be beneficial to anyone.

Haiku Time:

Sincerity gone
How do we live with ourselves?
Are we who we are?

I plead guilty

2008-05-08T15:40:00.012+12:00

Any of you who actually know me in real life, will know that from time to time (or possibly fairly frequently) I explode.

And I mean REALLY explode.

The sort of explosion that you don't even know is coming. And then all of a sudden WHAM! it hits you, scaring the living daylights from any children in the room, and the dead daylights from all of the adults.

It's the sort of explosion that makes you look across the mall in that direction, in shock.

You never quite look at me quite the same again, once you've experienced one of these explosions.

The sort of explosion that makes Sam's ears bleed.

ACHOO!!

Yes folks, that's right, I am speaking of my sneeze.

So let me break it down for you:

Past:

As a child, I will always remember my father's sneezes. There were many traumatic days where his sneeze shook the house, rattling the windows, and making me cower under my bed.

Once I had recovered from the shock I would venture timidly into the hall, possibly even tip-toeing, searching for my father. "You sneezed again daddy!" I would comment rather sheepishly (maaa). "Can't you do something about your sneeze Daddy? It's sooo scary!".

My Dad would reply " I used to say that to my father too, and then one day, ACHOO!, I had inherited my father's sneezes."

'Likely Story!' I would think to myself, still recovering from the shock. "Aha" would be all I would say outloud.

2. Present:

One day, it hit me. Just as my father said it did for him. My sneeze attracted strange looks and stares.

From that day forth, I have suffered the social consequences of an explosive sneeze.

People are constantly talking about it.
I get the strangest looks when I am out in public.
From time to time it has even caused me injury
Strangers (particularly Sam) are always trying to advise me on the controlling of my sneeze. Now I know what it feels like for parents of unruly children, to be told how to control them all the time. Especially by strange men with beanies and beards.
Shun! SHUUUUN! (is what people scream when i sneeze)
Apparently I cause ear bleeds.
I've almost given people heart attacks.

3. Future:

Anyone want to pray for my healing?

Muslims..

2008-05-03T22:08:00.002+12:00

Well, lately I've really been musing about Muslims and Muslim Converts... also about the differences between our religions and the way we worship, and our beliefs.

It has been interesting, to say the least.

I have shared several interesting conversations with friends/visiting misisonaries who've expressed various views about such topics as:

- Is Islam what you are left with if you take Christ out of 'Christianity'?

- Can a Muslim gain salvation without ever knowing the name of Jesus? (Note: C. S. Lewis seems to believe they can!)

- What should be our response to Muslim's in our communities?

And so on and so forth..

It's been something God has really been bringing before me.

Tonight I attended a meeting by author/speaker/missionary Al Janssen who spoke about the persecution of muslim background believers - Muslim converts to christianity.

It is absolutely incredible the amount of persecution that these brothers and sisters go through, in their everyday life.

Clearly, the stories are endless. And the suffering is beyond belief.

This story, while not one of extreme physical suffering, was particularly touching to me. I guess because of my love of children:

One Father told Al of his heartbreak seeing his 8 year old son grow up in these 2 worlds. When he is at school he is treated and taught as a muslim. At home he lives a christian life. In his community they know he is a christian and no-one will play with him or even talk to him.

I can only pray, that this child, and the thousands more like him, will be able to find their true identity in the empowering gospel of Christ Jesus.

Check out this website for more information, more stories, resources, devotionals, books, chat rooms etc. About the persecuted muslim believers.

Will post more response to this soon... wanna think through a few things.

Journal + Mandarin = blog

2008-04-29T23:15:00.003+12:00

Before I began to construct this here post of pure genius I went to get my journal and a mandarin.
Hence the title.

Yesterday I bought an Ocarina. It's an interesting musical instrument somewhat reminiscent of a recorder. And you zelda fans out there probably know all about it.

I so far haven't been able to get a pleasant note out of it.

And I have spent my evening reading a webcomic that I find only slightly amusing. But even still I have read 361 of them today.

Only 2 of them made me LOL.

Thanks to Rhys, on Sam's blog I found this blog

And I found this particular post to be especially Amusiling

Amusement

2008-04-27T11:46:00.003+12:00

Created by OnePlusYou

Created by OnePlusYou

Created by OnePlusYou

Ah.. so entertaining

Doubt myself

2008-04-26T02:23:00.001+12:00

It’s funny how it takes the world a million years to change itself, and it’s funny how it takes about a half an hour for me to doubt myself into the ground, without remembering to laugh it off

Quote from the music of 'cult of sincerity'

(Edit: The Payola Reserve - Antiquity)

Thoughts? I may post my musings on this tomorrow.

2.08am

2008-04-26T02:10:00.000+12:00

It's 2.08 am and I haven't even tried to get any sleep yet. Despite being utterly exhausted I'm enjoying my own quiet peaceful world of thought, musing and aloneness.

I watched the movie that Sam recommended. and very much enjoyed it.
(after wasting bandwith by loading it 3 times - it's an hour and a half long!)

I discovered lots of exciting new music here.

In particular - Some Velvet Morning
and
Cathi Bruns

And I generally sat and filled my time with computer.

And I enjoyed it :D

I hope you will start afresh with me here... reveling in life's goodness, mellowing in life's sadness, and celebrating life's freshness.

Journey and muse with me.

Please