random reflections

Trade fair: the chance to flog stuff

2010-02-23T00:43:00.001-08:00

The trade fair is part of uni o week, and is a chance to attempt to obtain stuff while business try to get you to care about what their business does.

Commonweath
Not as good as last year where a bandit fm voucher enabled me to score a free album; but still noteworthy.

To ensure I have a caffiene induced breakdown.

Perhaps useful when I'm having breakdown above. However, I don't rate it.

Syrup

Card with apparent que skipping advantages; among others. If I turn up once every 8 weeks.

The t-shirt I will wear because my friend Amy doesn't think I will. Advertises one of those notorious alcopops; with caffiene , so I don't know how drunk I am.

A handy bag where I can show the drink I want when far too drunk to verbalise it.

A lanyard to put my mobile phone in prime position when I chuck up.

Health promotion

Like Dutch biscoties. A bit dry to have alone, but with cheese, they show promise.

Vodafone
Went for a sporty theme. I got a wrist band, but what I really needed was a drink bottle.

Other than that it was medicore pens, a few lollies and an onion that was for display, not to keep.

2009-08-31T00:24:00.000-07:00

They walk in, in a trickle

"It's good for us, pastorally, to be reminded of the way the mustard seed grows."

This comment reminded on Mikey's blog me of some thing that has been on my mind (along with lots of other ideas to share on my blog).

At my old church, there was an idea of planting 100 churches, a plan for lots of people to come to christ. I as an inexperienced young person, found the growth very slow. I know reality, but I also know God's power. I wanted things to happen, with loads of people to come.

In my new church, I guess as well as in a number of circles, there is this idea that Australia will have revival ie there will be a movement where a lot of people become christians. I am told that Australia is the only continent that has not had a revival, also there is this idea that it will be lead by young people. My views on this is one of very cautious optimism (a bit of a contradicition, I know).

I also remember a evangelist say how if alot of people were going to come to christ, there would need to be a lot of leaders to help them to become disciples. In light of this idea, my previous church in putting a lot of emphasis in training up leaders at this stage would be wise.

Also to get back to the comment up above, perhaps these things happen at a slower pace than I realise.

The contrast of magazines

2009-06-23T04:20:00.001-07:00

Here is a interesting comment about the differences of magazines and how it simply would not work

Women's mags peddle food as porn, men's mags just peddle porn. If you believe these publications, women aspire to domesticity and happiness and to live happily ever after, while men aspire to debauchery with no responsibility and a happy ending. They make women feel they'll never be good enough and men feel they're not only good enough, they're better than most.

funny anon quote

2009-06-06T23:17:00.001-07:00

In discussion about some guys wearing girls jeans

"but it would smell like girl, girls have a smell"

as a christian I must hate the easter bunny

2009-04-12T17:15:00.001-07:00

and Father Christmas. This is a Christian culture thing because of the detractions to the 'real' event. I think this argument holds some weight. But what about the marshill policy of not throwing stones at the culture but making it a link. Apparently hot cross buns use to be used in pagan festivals.

it only takes 10 billion dollars to solve the water issue

2009-04-12T17:09:00.001-07:00

it seems quite doable if lots of people in the western world got together

blog spammers are annoying

2009-03-21T05:48:00.001-07:00

My last post on the angle of health advertising got a blog spam that had nothing to do with the post.

Its just irritating, no one will buy your stuff.

I could turn off the anon function to prevent this but I have decided not to do this unless it becomes a big serial problem

Technorati Tags: spam

Health promotion ads should be positive and possibly sexy

2009-03-13T16:40:00.001-07:00

A lot of ads that the government or government organisations put out are actually quite negative when it comes to health. This is probaly because the general picture of health outcomes unless major interventions take place is not that pretty. The government wishes to warn people of the bad effects of smoking and being over weight. I think this is a good thing

However with it came to the ad of eating 5+ vegetables although the message got across with some methods to do so it wasn't made to be very attractive idea. What they probaly should do is pull out the marketing tricks and advertise it as a really positive thing - as something that will make you 'feel good' but unlike liver cleansing diet pills actually has some scientific evidence to back it up. And sexiness - well doesn't that 'always sell' (used in approiate way!) it can be another outcome as a result of making healthier choices.

Camera's should have bluetooth and or wifi

2009-03-13T16:24:00.001-07:00

My mate dav tells me when I pull out my phone, camera and ipod or any of the two that one day I have all of these functions in the one. I know that will adventurely that will happen I could probaly get something now however either the camera will be really crap or it will just be really expensive - I have to wait for the price to come down.

There is however one thing that I think should happen had the manufacturers are missing it. Implimenting wifi or bluetooth into cameras - so that I can transfer the photos into my computer with ease without having to take the memory card out then forgetting that I have done so - so I take it next time I need it with very little internal memory it has. Or connecting it via cord which is just more messy in todays world.

A point of a disciple (follower of Jesus) is to ...

2009-01-18T17:54:00.001-08:00

love God

love others

enjoy God

obey the bible

share the gospel

pray all the time

read the bible

get rid of sine

encourage others

follow jesus

worship God

I actually don't have a definite answer to the heading is that disturbing. Could theologians (trained bible experts) come to a consesus or do they disagree. Is there suppose to be one main point or a collection a variation.

Too much love for calvinism

2009-01-18T17:47:00.001-08:00

For those that don't know what Calvinism is its a dude who some few hundred years ago wrote a whole lot of stuff on what he thought the bible meant on certain issues from many different passages like how good we are.

Some one at my church who is very much a Calvinist brought something to me that I thought was very disturbing. That some Calvinists would prob prefer what Calvin wrote to the bible because it is very systematic. Now Calvin was good not perfect - and we must realise that the doctrines help us understand the bible but that's not how the bible works. Like Dan Sheppard's sermon on suffering at crossroads - we work more like plants than human logic machines.

I think that it displays that bible the teaches the way it does for a reason - we learn from stories not just a doctrine dumped sermon.

Tag Preaching

2009-01-18T17:34:00.001-08:00

Is not really a variation on that running game where you run to the audience to tag someone in to preach as funny and choatic as that would be.

Its dividing up a message in to say 2-3 parts and getting two to three people to do. Our church use to do it and I think its an excellent idea to get people preaching as they only have to talk about 10mins and feel reassured they are cover by someone else.

It also maintains audience attention

building what?

2009-01-15T20:16:00.001-08:00

Question. Are you here to build God's kingdom (help people into a closer relationship to God with benefits to them and others) or trying to build your church, denomination, ministry, theological conviction instead.

This idea came party from visiting a church and someone saying 'we'll see you next week' without really specking to me or getting to know me. And just other things - where I feel people have got side tracked and feel their church is the only way. DOn't assume your right ask your self the question from time to time continuely.

Of course we use those thing to build God's kingdom

The to stab someone in the back is to ...

2009-01-14T19:23:00.001-08:00

get right behind them.

So said a funny comment about rumours that some party members were wishing to replace rees the nsw premier, they outrightly denied this and said they have for support for him

The end of civilisation?

2008-12-11T18:49:00.001-08:00

I was listening to the radio the other day and one of the members of the band system of the down was taking about how civilization would end (I was like, how is that?) From what I gather its how we live end in settled towns and cities as suppose to the indigenous which is the old way of living. I live for civilisation - I made sure they was adequate civilisation before I came to tassie. Civilisation would end due to the fact it doesn't work and creates problems - the obvous problems like war and diesease and poverty.

I then proceded to think up a new way of living. we all live in these ecofriendly dome huts situated in random parts of the world and grow our own food distance wise far away from any one else. However we would be very virtually connected by wireless internet where your two year old would be would be watching a screen to connect to his pre school teacher and other class mates. You would have your friend over for tea in a form of a planogram and she would have the same of you at her house and the work force would be a very similar idea.

Hard to say whether I go the images in my mind across but I think this form of living would have some distinct advantegoues. Firstly human diseases like colds, flu and the more serious would be less of the problem due to less human contact which is the disadvantage of civilization where every one clusters together. The second one is that die to virtual pressence of people there would be less isolation and loneliness at least technically every one could theoritically connect to nay of their friends.

There will however be problems no matter what our manner of living. It can at best on contain the problems and bring forth some benefits. someone could for example sabotage the virtual system and there will always be those people around this world won't fix that

I enjoy sarcasm

2008-12-11T18:33:00.001-08:00

I enjoy sarcasm the lowest form of wit supposedly. Now they are using the detection of sarcasm to detect whether people have a form of dementia

Desires transformed

2008-12-03T01:54:00.001-08:00

it says in the bible something along this

delight in the lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

I think it would be good to point out that the desires of someone who delights in the Lord will be different to someone who does not. Our desires will transform and we are transformed to delight in the Lord.

Its there fore possible to teach this verse well with out it sounding like extreme prosperity doctrine

loving the awkard and hard

2008-11-19T18:31:00.001-08:00

random thought the other day. I get annoyed when I have to deal with people that annoye me and seem non geinue. but then you consider God he is absolutely perfect and he loves and like us, if he could do that than me as an imperfect person could love the hard to love. This though comes from the power of God not my own strength and it doesn't mean they have to be my best friend

distressed bibles?

2008-11-19T18:25:00.001-08:00

This article points to some of the piousness of peoples attitudes to their bibles one interesting comment I like was

These days, the artificial aging of everything from leather goods to jeans is all the craze. I'm surprised the publishers aren't offering pre-distressed Bibles yet.

2008-10-17T00:16:00.000-07:00

I wrote this comment in response to Augus's post on pacifism which took a hit at the hypociritical views of some people that hold that view

You've spelled out what annoyes me about the socialist alliance. I read some of their stuff and it seemed to say lets spend no money on the military and all that money should go to health and education.

lets build this idealistic world of wonderfulness. Untill of course another country sees what we've got and decides to invade sending the dream crashing down. and only if we are very lucky will another country have compassion on us and save us becuase their government spent money to defend ourselves

I'm not supportive of being overly militantristic but in a world where things go wrong its needed. and used well the military can help others through peace keeping

The other things is everything the goverment gives money to is to some degree a botomless bucket, there is also more which can be given so the country won't be perfect esp health endless money could go to that (I'm a pharmacy student some drugs are really expensive)

2008-10-01T04:31:00.000-07:00

An ebayer giving me a comment

You are a super gentle person I have ever seen on ebay. Please forget the mistake about the feedback, just want to let you feel more comfortable.
Many thanks again.

story behind this I purchased a belt and forgot to give feedback I got kindly remeinded so ages after that I decided I better only to discover I couldn't due to ebay. So I messaged the person to let them know but that I was happy with their service.

2008-09-07T20:08:00.000-07:00

mark driscoll told the sydney anglicans a nuumber of things which you can read else where a couple of them that struck me
1 the anglicans process of traing and bringing up full time ministry works means no one plants churchs at 30 years so they fly someone from america to do it
2 the holy spirit is a he not a it- back up by Jesus in the gospels. I prevously felt unsure of this so it was good to be assured. and it places the extra importance of the holy spirit role which as some of you know I'm learning more about.
3 having too many people who are just built up scholarly - who write critisms on the only people doing things so they feel like they are doing something.
It surprised me that he only finished his theological education last year its surprising I think as he is some one who has very strong theological focus something I thought would only come after grabbing a good few years in a bible college

2008-09-07T20:04:00.000-07:00

coming from a background where teaching the bible has had a very strong emphasis and I think done the right way this is the best thing. but occasionly puzzled as to why some people may be a bit stangent in their faith while others respond so well - I believe mark driscoll has this done in this article. Its obedience - reading the bible humbly with the view of repenting where you have gone wrong (being sorry and changing your self where appriopiste)

2008-09-03T02:52:00.000-07:00

The integrity of ministry
I've pull a paragraph or two out of an article that should be posted on this blog very soon. I have to say its easy to look at those that seem to be at the top of the koorong reading list but seems to want to be there to be in the chirstian fame game but we should also weigh our own motives. and rejoice in those who do the right thing

I seek not what is yours, but you" (v. 14).

"I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls" (v. 15).

Let me address each of them in turn.

First, and without wanting to exaggerate or sound melodramatic, it grieves me to say that many in pastoral ministry today have reversed Paul's perspective. People have become to them a means to a material end. If compelled to reveal their most fundamental motive, they would concede, "I seek what is yours, not you." Fame is their aim. Power is their purpose. People are viewed as a resource for financial gain. Ministry, so-called, has degenerated into pragmatic manipulation to enhance their physical comforts and elevate their social standing.

I doubt there is anything I could say that would persuade those who are thus inclined to change their behavior. But perhaps this expression of Paul's can serve as a daily reminder to all others and a standard by which we measure our motives and deeds. As we set our agendas, cast our vision, schedule our days, prepare our sermons, and relate to those whom God has entrusted to our care, let us ever and always ask: "Am I seeking them, their souls, their greatest good, their deepest delight in God and greatest joy in Jesus? Or do I see them as a burden, an inconvenience, a mere rung on the ladder for my personal ascent to higher acclaim, recognition, and prosperity?"

2008-07-28T18:35:00.000-07:00

I am concerned abou the use of wikipedia in lectures

I know that having even a hint of wikipedia as a source in any of my assignments would give me a absolute scholarly bashing. but I note that its use has been appearing in lecturers notes

One person put up the watchful waiting procedure just to note that it is enough of a big deal . But another lecturer had wiki pictures on the lecture slides this may have been because he knows they are free to use. Time will probaly come when a lectuter using wikipedia gets in big trouble because he taught someone wrong.

2008-02-20T00:37:00.000-08:00

I read this book it is brillant I loved it. Its economics but partially a study of human behaviour. Its has a range of topics it covers from cheating teachers to how a dude did serious damage to the ku klax klan. why drug dealers live with their mum and so on

2008-02-20T00:26:00.000-08:00

A hero Fallen
A while ago Edmund Hillary died if your not a New Zealander and didn't know hes the person who climbed mount everest. I consider him a hero for four reasons.
1 He wasn't good at sport at school - there fore a real person
2 He then went to be the first person to climb the biggest mountain in the world and come down
3 Instead of being of becoming a pious idiot lving in a huge mansion he used his fame to help out the people in the himlayan area
4 I come from New Zealand and when ever someone does any thing successful we always consider them heros - then of course Australia trys to lay claim to them but that shall be a subject of another post.

2008-02-05T01:23:00.000-08:00

I am of two minds about his book. When someone first gave it to me I thought it would be a bunch of posperity doctrine rubbish. But the author instead of using the supposed power of God to wallow in the pleasures of materialism seems to use it for missions and for gospel work. As I was speaking to someone else about it I agreed with what they said that the book drwas out some good principles in that its not wrong to ask God to bless you in your ministry and we need to aske God for things this is relying n him for the power to do powerful things through you. And that you need to ask God to protect you for evil. Becaue this is what jabez did and he was considered honorable in the bible.

My concerns about the book are that as far as I believe jabez was born just after a time of trouble - whereas we live in a time of posperity do we really need to ask for more or just make more use of our posperity. THe way he brings the message across is very nieve you need to be careful how you present things to stop them being distorted. he draws to james to say we need to ask for things to get them yet it would be well balanced to mention that in james it says we may not get things because we simply want it for our own pleasure. THe thing I hate the most is that although i think it can be could to pray prays in the bible this book presents it like a magic formalar to pray rather than a priciple on how we should pray. But I would encourage you to read 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 the pray of jabez in light with what the bible says and consider it

2008-02-05T00:54:00.000-08:00

I read this on the plane over to nz it was a very good read because I really enjoyed reading it. and it was very thought provoking and really made me think about things. Like the way different churches work and the way they present the gospel. I made me think about how I have been presented the gospel ( dreadable sinners and needing to be saved) to the God loves you and wants to save and bless you to his prepective about presenting it as freedom. I think its important to consider the whole message and whole perspective not that we just very bad - we are Gods image the pinicle of creation and not just good other wise why on earth would you need the cross - we are dreadful sinners.

I just love the titles such as. The giving wa 137 and I want to use it to buy bullets and dear jesus if someone else calls me I'll be seeing you real soon. Secondly his brunt honesty- it offends somepeople I hear but it doens't really me - although he does cross the line sometimes and knows it. and just his reason for starting a church was something along the lines of he didn't like church and wanted one he like, had a wierd charsmatic moment where God told him to plant a church. Did so because he is scared of God and wants to do all he says.

THe other thing was the spitituality. I think that interms of his phophetic gift and gift of healing he uses it well to help people and aid the gospel instead of allowing it to be a distraction. Nad because he was initially a cessationalist but then hasn't become a complete sellout to all the charismatic stuff but is still careful I now offically strongly disagree with the cessation theory I was never sure of it for a number of reasons. It never says in the bible the tongues and stuff will stop so even though you may not believe it yourself I don't really think you can condemn those that do believe the holy spirit operates that way. - and don't go adding stuff to the bible. The other thing is that it happens in other churches so whats going on. Thirdly the bible gives directions on how these gifts should be used - inidicating they should be.

Having said that I would support a partial cessationist theory because - the early church may have relied more on prophetic messages because they didn't have the full bible to lean on for wisdom. Like demonic procession it may just be more common in those days. I support the use of the 'spiritual gifts' as long as its done in line with how the bible say you should use them, they are used for the maturing of the body of christ not as a distraction

2008-02-05T00:47:00.000-08:00

when on break I also read a few books. This was a plot driven keeeping reading untill it was finished book. I haven't read the other books in a while and so am a bit over it hence not getting the value out as much as what I got out of the 3 and 4th books which were my favourites. But it was a good read was better than book 5 (disappointing) and book 6 with good twists

2008-02-05T00:32:00.000-08:00

I haven't done apost in so long. so as you heard about the airplane inicident. my brother said that the screen when they came to collect me said - landing cancelled due to slight weather conditions - slight he reckons was used to bag out the pilot.

I enjoyed my break in nz to extent that I was wondering how i was going to cope with normal life again. Dad says this means I have had a long enough break. During my break I spent time being remeinded what its like to be bagged out by my sibblings esp for my aussy acent. spending time with the fmaily in general. I got a temporary tatoo in the shape of a dragon. I saw some cool statues in new plymounth. I also did some shopping in wellington and sydney on the way back.

I also meet up with an old friend which was lovely to chat it strange seeing people after 5 years esp when people I use to know from school have grown up faces. I also didi work experience at a hospital in nz it was good to know exactly what I'll be doing when I get out of uni so it was very good.

sorry about no pictures but I'll put some up here or facebook when I get them off dad.

2008-01-11T15:22:00.000-08:00

I was on my way to new zealand on the 8th. only to find I couldn't land in wellington because of the fog - the pilot tried twice then we were told we would have to fly to christchurch to refuel and seemed confident they would retry I doubted it. my doubt was confirmed.

We flew to christchurch where it took about half an hour to get my luguage due to lack of baggage handers it was about 1 in the morning at this stage. I sleeped in a hotel for a total of 2-3 hours. to catch a flight back to wellington.

The flight was late to leave and when we flew into wellington I saw fog again and thought oh no. but we fontunately landed.

This inicident was annoying (a) because when your've had a day of travelling you can't wait to see your family and get off the plane. (b) apparently planes landed 5 minutes before us and 10mins afterwards.

2008-01-05T04:15:00.000-08:00

After I read this I had to check the cover and check it agian just to make sure it wasn't created by a woman. I'm talking about the da vinci code it proposes a goddess feministic view of christianity that was apparently lost. I found it to be a interesting read with a few twists. I certainly don't take it all too seriously apart from the fact that it talks about the church in the middle ages and generally views it negative. It is probably true to an extent but we were able to come back to the true meaning by firstly having the bible written in english and secondly referring to scripts before the middle ages

2008-01-05T03:59:00.000-08:00

"hurry shut the door they're coming in"

"there's one there kill it"

"It bit me"

sounds like quotes off some c grade horror film. But really the only horror was the bruny mozzies and what a horror they were. After we gave up sitting outside after deducing there was no repellent anywhere - the people who had some left the night before. Some one came up with a bright idea of using a tent with the flaps open but the screens shut.

Even with this plenty of mozzies made their way in and I started off the new year with at least 11 mozzie bites.

I had fun inspite or maybe because of the mozzies it was a lovely time to catch up with mates and a school mate Estelle as pictured.

My new year resolutions are

To work at my arty side- continure with origami and drawing and other crafty stuff
TO consistently use my diary and todo list which will remain at my desk
To get fit again

2008-01-05T03:39:00.000-08:00

my seinfield moment

The other day my work mate and I had a conversation that was bit like a conversation on seinfield

work mate: I have to go buy a present for a boy friend
me: oh you have someone
workmate: no a guy friend
me: so a guy who is a good friend of yours.
workmate:yes
pause
workmate: me and a friend of mine have a tradition of giving each other christmas presents after christmas. My guy friends is coming along. I don't know whether to buy him a present because he won't give me a present.
me: well why are you getting him a present then?
workmate: because my other friend is getting him a present
Me: well your stuck then because you'll feel bad if you don't get him a present but if you do he'll feel bad for not getting you a present
work mate: I know!!
me: this like such a seinfield moment
Workmate: I know!!
Me: maybe get him a small present and make him feel bad
Workmate:good idea I'll write in his card I hope you feel bad now

I probaly didn't cature the funniness at the time but oh well

2008-01-01T00:37:00.000-08:00

I went surfing on boxing day or attempted to. I managed to catch a few waves the unfortunate thing was once I tried to stand up I would often become instantly unbalanced and fall off and would try and bring both legs forward instead of one - I knew what I had to do it was just hard to to it in a hurry coordinated.

I finally managed to kneel on the board. It was fanstatic I had a lot of fun and the great thing is when your wearing a wet suit you don't really feel the cold. Hopefully I 'll have the opportunity to do it again

2007-12-31T23:57:00.000-08:00

Chris recently did a post on this article and what evangelism is not in terms its not just hanging out with people which is a very good point. what stuck me about the article are the comments of evangelism being a manuplative quick sell convert people approach rather than relying on the spirit to convert people and simply telling them how they can do this process

2007-12-22T00:47:00.000-08:00

I recently read 666 and all that as pictured. I bought because I got a gift voucher from koorong last year and it ran out this year and secondly it fascinated me. Its main message is firstly that hope is something that a lot of christians don't focus a lot on a life in which perfect harmony is restored. We don't have an accurate view of what the afterlife will be like before and after the judgement day. Apocalyptic writing is purely symbolic of the struggles and forces at work the beast may be a number of things. So I'm not going to see people literally walking around with a 666 mark. ( a car outside has a sticker 333 only half evil). SOmetimes it alpplied to the times eg the lady balylon was rome as was a secret way of bagging out romans without them knowing- I'll have to get into the style if I ever live in a country without free speech. As well as debunking a few other myths like rapture. I would have liked a more thorough explanation of revelations as that was what I was expecting but it was still a very good book.

2007-12-22T00:44:00.000-08:00

More Origami. by the way if any one wants and of the designs let me know- I have all these things I made that I don't want to chuck but that are taking up space. I particulary like the tiger flower. one of my favourites is the turtle

2007-12-22T00:36:00.000-08:00

The other day I was feeling artistic so I thought I would would give my drawing skills a work out they have been long neglected. Here are some of my sketches. The brick texture came out really well. I'm probaly like the first picture the best although I don't regard any as particularly great.

2007-12-22T00:23:00.000-08:00

My mum came over to visit some time around my brithday it was nice to spend some time with her. Here are some pictures of me with a puppy of one of her friends

2007-12-04T16:00:00.000-08:00

My terrorist training

I did my bit of terrorist training last saturday night. At zone 3 to celebrate my friend Reuben's birthday. I was absolutely last in all the games though so I probaly will not be recruited so I'll continue the straight and narrow life for now.

Just to be a little more serious. We were told about how laser game places were actually held up in america as being possible terrorist training sights and shut down for a few weeks

2007-11-29T00:14:00.000-08:00

Why should you response to the poor be? It all depends on your world view.

I once heard someone say that to solve poverty we should sterilised poor people such as people in the slums of india so they can have as much *ex as they want but not allowed to procreate. This will get rid of poor people and solve the problem. This this person propsed is much like japans policy of only letting people have babies if they apply to have one and can afford one otherwise they have to have an abortion. (not sure if this is true, doesn't seem right to me). This then allows Japan to be a wealthy country with no poor people.

The liberal and democratic party leaflet states that it isoppsed to giving foreign aid and to give away other peoples money is immoral

This article by the age states that foreign aid has little impact in fixing problems, we should feel bad about our materialism the solution to poverty to democracy and free trade.

These views I find are based on a world view that finds little value in human life in general if they are not related of have nothing to offer the world. Poor people are entirely responsible for their plight. We have no obligation to help them. Our wonderful democratic country has it all we are free to enjoy that freedom with no guilt or consideration for anyone else; just indudge yourself.If we did want to help them we enforce our form of government on them or allow free trade to allow very poor wages.

Brought up with a christian background and as a christian. I almost feel guilty for my existence even though I'm poor in this nation I have the cetrelink health care card. In comparison to the rest of the world I'm rich with no responsibilities such as children. Because I was born in a western world with a western education I will probaly always have shelter and food and could travel almost any where. Why did God allow me to be born well off instead of being in some really poor country.

I feel some obigation to help other people because I'm relatively well off. I was entrenched with guilt messages from a young age such as eat you dinner because there are others in the world who are staving. Starving the full 40 hours as a 8-9 year olf in the 40 hour fmaine I don't think they let you do that any more. As a christian I am told that we are to rule the world to me that involves taking care of everything. That christ died for me when I didn't deserve it - this motivates me or should motivate me to love others. The bible frequently has references to helping out the poor in fact this is what jesus refers to at the judgement day - people that helped out the poor did it as if they were doing it for him. Then there were those that didn't.

I agree with the age article in that there are smart things we could do to alleviate poverty rather than throw money at them. But their should be compassion I've read a couple of the tear target magazines. I see how they are human rather than a problem. I see how even though what I may give may have a marginal effect as a whole it can very make a world of difference to one person giving them some joy ( idea totally form world vision marketing).

2007-11-25T02:19:00.000-08:00

I surrounded by many things on my desk a samuri hat, flower, a dog, butterfly, box, fly wallet, papercup, frog and picture frame.

what is all this. It is origami - which involves folding pretty bits of paper into objects I've been really enjoying it. I bought it for scorates its was aimed at children but that's ok because the box said it was safe for people up to 98 - too bad if your 100

2007-11-25T02:07:00.000-08:00

I celebrated my birthday with a few friends this saturday at the beach (the restaurant) it was just low key but really lovely. They couldn't however make make a red passion so I was trying look for the ingredients on the mobile google internet using my phone. The only success was chewing through my credit. Because the only thing I found was other languages, other crap and the type of passion I really wasn't looking for. But I still really enjoyed the night

2007-11-23T21:44:00.000-08:00

It was my 22 birthday recently it not like a coming of age 21st but I thinks it bona fides the adult hood. Not that you ever feel any different to the day before but I think you feel different to the year before.

I've gained a car which is great after the hard slog of saving. I worked out that I'm not really that good at orgainsiing things on a commitee ( no shortage of opinions though). I like teaching youth its very hard at the moment as I'm just starting out but I enjoy doing it and I plan to focus on it next year providing my health is ok. Got through a another half year of uni got another 3 years to go.

And I'ld like to just say thanks to everyone who mesaaged me facebook or other wise and those that gave me presents it was very lovely its nice for people to take notice. I got lindor chocolate and now caburys just doesn't seem as good - its so nice.

2007-11-19T20:44:00.000-08:00

I have just finished reading Isaiah I found it to be a very good book with the constant contrast of God's justice and grace. It is also very well written. Here is my one of my favourite passages

And it will be said:
"Build up, build up, prepare the road!
Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people."

15 For this is what the high and lofty One says—
he who lives forever, whose name is holy:
"I live in a high and holy place,
but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and to revive the heart of the contrite.

16 I will not accuse forever,
nor will I always be angry,
for then the spirit of man would grow faint before me—
the breath of man that I have created.

17 I was enraged by his sinful greed;
I punished him, and hid my face in anger,
yet he kept on in his willful ways.

18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will guide him and restore comfort to him,

19 creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel.
Peace, peace, to those far and near,"
says the LORD. "And I will heal them."

20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea,
which cannot rest,
whose waves cast up mire and mud.

21 "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."

The first time I read Isaiah I think I found it rather dry thats because I read the bible the first time in the order of the books and so read all the stories to then get slugged with alot of symbolism that I didn't understand at the time. so I read but didn't take any in.

this time I have tried reading the bible in chronological order so you read the prophecies in line with the king reigning and it breaks it up a bit I probaly understand the symbolism a bit more these days. I also generally read just a chapter. I'm not into reading the bible within a year 3 chapters I find to be too much.

2007-11-19T19:57:00.000-08:00

I'm a girl and I like top gear (picture is a zonda)

Usually car shows I imagine are largely watched only by guys I wouldn't know because I've never watched any and simply rattle on about the specifications of the cars thankfully top gear is a little different.

Top gear infuses humour into their show and it makes all the difference. who else gets some of top super cars in the world only to show how differcult it is to get them in and out of a conventional car park (they are very wide and dur to being low had differculty crossing over the gutter). Probably my favourite episode when I remember to watch it was the one where they gave the 3 presenters a very low amount of money relatively to purchase a posh or was it a Lamborghini and then they had to go through a number of challenges. But there is a number of classic moments in general such as when jeremy clarkson said "we received complaints that we don't do enough reviews on reasonable priced cars so we decided to test the cheapest posh".

My all time favourite cars with no regards to money and practicality of getting out of car parks and drive ways are

1 the zonda- fast super car, looks good

2 the lamborghini murcielago - again fast super car looks good made by lamborghini known for making crazy cars but this one is more drivable apparently have not test drven as yet

3 A maserati car I think can't remember the model but it was a super car but with double glazed windows and although not the faster car was classy

so top gear has been responsible for fueling some of my interest in cars. I wonder if guys conseder this a good thing. On one hand I know a bit about what they are on about on the other hand it might be annoying that I might know more but no danger of that yet. one good thing that could come off top gear is that a guy can watch a car show and the girl if he has one can enjoy it as well.

2007-11-17T18:33:00.000-08:00

there is this website called freerice.com which is the perfect procrastination time wasting tool. It does however claim to do some useful things amongst the time wasting. Firstly its a vocabulary game it presents a word and there is a choice of other four words to choose from. it has a grading of 1-50 I reached 25 at my peak. The second thing is if you get the word right the site will donate 10 grains of rice to a third world country.

So food for the poor and vocabulary enrichment for the rich. I decided to do an experiment just to see how valuble this rich could be or is free rice just a glorified time waster

This is how much rich you give each time you get a word right

I tried to weigh it but the weighing balance available is not accurate enough so I'l cheat and google the weight

Its approximately .05 g so if you one one word it would equal 0.5 g. SO with the price of 10kg og homebrand rice being $9.95. Each time you win you donate equivalent $0.0004975 ( caculated by dividing 0.5 by 10000 and mutilpy by 9.95). SO so donate a $1 would take 2011 words you got right and would take assuming you do a right word every 5 seconds would take 167 hours. And I'm guessing they would get their rice cheaper being bulk billed

seriously if you want to do some world good donate to onehitwonder.org most of us would earn a dollar in under 5 minutes. How ever if your purpose is to become so verbose no one can understand you of you enjoy it like I do and need to of like to do some time wasting it could also do some good because collectively the amount of people doing it adds up to being over 2 billion according to wikipedia and in taking 20,000 to feed someone it means 114 thousand people will be feed a days rice from this.

Wikipedia also raised some ethical concerns and do notice its a .com not a .org which means that the owners could be earning some cash off this as well.

so is it a glorified time waster yes. but as a time waster it is to be glorified

2007-11-17T18:27:00.000-08:00

I rambled along to the winter palace last night which wasn't as cold as the name suggests but was definity a batchelors pad with non a girlie thing in sight apart from the tasteful picture of girls on the toilet seat - I don't know why? And the microwave that weren't for 99 minutes instead of 99 seconds successfully burning a meat pie into a plate that is still used to eat off

I was a lovely night with a bit of music catching up and me having a go at how to learn drums.

2007-11-11T01:46:00.001-08:00

If you've been into Kingston lately you'll notice they've put in another roundabout at the entrance of channel court. Another roundabout, in case you didn't get it. I have come to the conclusion that the Kingborough councils solution to every traffic problem is to put in a round about.

They are effective in say redwood road where its always moderate traffic but the maccas one is bad there is always a huge build up or you get stuck because you're to the left of the built up lane.

This is to the extent that before too long we won't have a main roads anymore just a continous procession roundabouts as shown in this badly drawn paint picture. we may be lucky that with a bit of federal funding we can break up the roundabout obsessions with a bypass.

2007-11-08T01:52:00.000-08:00

I reckon its about time I do a new post its been a while I've been trudging through study trying to learn many drugs.

Just a few things to report on

onehitwonder get involved it won't cost you much a sweet dollar well techinically 1.12 the 12 cents being a transfer fee. I just think its really awesome that people that I know thought of doing this to help out those that are disadvantaged. I think it means more when you at least kinda know the people behind it.

people adding me as friends on facebook I amazed that I manage to amass more than 160 I thought 100 was a mile stone I mean its adds soo much to my self worth every time someone adds me it adds 0.02685 points to my self esteem before long I might have enough points for my self esteem to be high enough so I might be able to face the world and have real relationships with real friends and real interactions. I was nearly at that point but when the top friends label me a wallflower I was devastated and run back inside - recovery has been differcult but helped by the fact that another person has called me a top friend so I'm now at the invited to parties level. If someone else adds me as a top friend I'll be at the invited to parties level and may be able to make a full recovery

on a less sarcastic note I'm surprised that people have been still visiting my blog when I haven't written any thing I will there fore reward there perservance with more posts

also some of you may have read my post on idol here christine suggested this sermon I haven't listened to it yet but plan to http://rss.marshillchurch.org/~r/Refem/~3/167480930/ as it comes highly recommended

2007-10-16T18:43:00.000-07:00

since I'm promoting my blog I thought I had better put some interesting stuff on my blog a pharmacy mate on mine showed my this. Question is she twirling clockwise or anticlockwise click the link below

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22556678-23272,00.html

But keep looking and she'll change direction and go the other way. Apparently it happens sooner for girls and the article is wrong according to psychology there are differences in the abilites in right and left brain but only to a degree and to my memory generally a small degree. Not a total difference.

2007-10-13T23:42:00.000-07:00

Shamelessly promoting my Blog

At the moment it seems one perosn reads my blog not too hard to work out see who comments- so it's time to shamelessly promote my blog. I consulted a blog campainer
nick who doesn't have blog but reads them. The following were suggested

Add a picture - it makes people more likely to click on your profile and hence your blog

Comment heaps on peoples blogs - particularly argumentative people meaning heaps of comments

he thought about smart comments - as in linking the subject on other peoples blogs randomly to a comment on my blog- eg some spitiritually matter to my blog on the windwiper on the saab.

I came up with the following strategies

the argumentative comment idea is good but its best to ultilise on a blog that gets a lot of traffic like mikes or christines so I'l just have to wait untill a argumentative person comments start a argument and hijack their blog. ( I prob won't do this its just a joke)

use face book status to advertise

now I'll just have to figure out how to add a counter to see if the actions reap any awards

2007-09-29T22:38:00.000-07:00

I thought I would do the generic thing and blog about myers burning down and similarly up load pictures from my carmea phone not much to say realy apart from it was weird and I was walking thought myers that day at about 2 about an hour before the fire started.

2007-09-29T22:28:00.000-07:00

I was walking from uni to my car to see the most interesting site. A windscreen wiper I mean a headlight wiper on a headlight. I thought at first it must have been a volvo because I hear they sometimes have over the top safelty features but no it was a saab

2007-09-29T22:14:00.000-07:00

The Adults Toy
At a church womens night a while ago my second cousin a new born baby was brought along as was almost fought over by alot of the women waiting to have their turn with the baby. And I was told that only women over 40 have the right to hold her. I retorted that me having family ties over rides that.

Again at a engagement party about a week ago a granddad bought in his adorable one year old grandchild to have a lot of the older adults their awaiting their turn ( you must share the toys you know) completely engrossed in the child interacting with the 'toy'.

2007-09-14T01:37:00.000-07:00

I asked on my face book account on what conference of talks have been a big turning point in your life. I was interested in the reponses particualr the people that went in to a bit of detail. After I shamelessly asked people to answer in my status update.

I would just like to share mine. In 2005 I attend our youth group 203 camp done by des smith called guidance and the voice of God which was ripped of philip jensen's book although des disputes this.

Any way to me this was fundamental- I wasn't should what I was suppose to be aiming for in life - was I suppose to be a great christian missionary, endeavour to be the next prime minister, live an ordinary life, have a great career- what was God's plan for me? I learnt from this camp that no matter where I end up the ultimate Goal is godliness- whether as a 'great chirstian missionary or living the odrinary life.

the second was by peter woodcock at the 2006 mts by the glory (weight of God)it was about how we were made for his glory - and how we should do things to bring glory to God as this is what gives us our purphase and meaning in life.

so in total what I get out of these talks in total is that I was made by God to bring him glory and I do this by becoming godly. (opp way around)

2007-09-11T20:01:00.001-07:00

I have been thinking a lot on how I and I think particularly women but men certainly as well idolise their relationships not just boyfriend girlfriend ones but like your friends and family and consider this bond more important than God himself.

It's not something that really comes up because when people talk about making idols they mainly just talk about the idol of money or your job, you processions etc. because these are ovious things that people have walked away from the faith for. The only time it probably is brought up is with bf gf relationships due to people wanting to find their self-fulfilment from the one person and this back firing. But what about friends, family- these relationships are of course very important but do you find more worth in them than God.

Because relationships are important and in a Christian context is how we can encourage each other in our faith. And its not like you can take the gorge your eye out approach we all need relationships to an extent. And as mark driscol rightly pointed out the only thing that was not good was the fact that man did not have have an equal to associate with and so was alone. And this was when he had a perfect relationship with God.

One of the reasons I think this might be is because whereas we can talk directly to other people touch them and see them. but with God you read out of a book and you talk to him - it's a very different relationship and feels very distant in some ways. It was some thing a really struggled with as a young person and early christain. I suppose that although we are reconciled to God in Christ it is not as close as in the garden of eden when God would have walked with us in the Garden and we probaly won't have a relationship that close until we reach heaven. Wombat (josh) gave some practical advice of praying out loud. I haven't tried it yet - people might think I need a visit to the psych ward.

I Guess the other thing is we have to much worth in our human relationships.

2007-08-28T17:33:00.000-07:00

According to this very quick and questionally accurate personality test I have a very rare personality- probaly everyone who takes this survey has a 'rare' personality.

Your Personality is Very Rare (INTP)

Your personality type is goofy, imaginative, relaxed, and brilliant.

Only about 4% of all people have your personality, including 2% of all women and 6% of all men

You are Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, and Perceiving.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

2006-11-06T19:24:00.000-08:00

I've got till just friday when my exams are finally over and I'm free monetarily from the grip of university. I've got my hardest exam out of the way which is good. I'm really looking forward to moving into my new house this coming weekend i'm so excited. Also I shall be able to devote more time to organising my 21st which should be good.

2006-10-17T21:18:00.000-07:00

I was blogging on the msn blog but you have to sign in to make a comment which just a way for microsoft to make people have hotmail accounts to contribute which is something I do not like. I haven't been up to much apart from finishing the last week of uni. I only have a prac to do but it has alot of prep which sux.

Any way i can't be bothered writing more at this stage so bye for now