If procrastination
were an olympic event,
I would be in the zone,
top of my form,
an elite athlete.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
The cold Shoulder
why do people always leave empty boxes of tablets in the medicine chest?
Is it a sneaky was of raising hopes only to seem that
hope dashed seconds later?
Is it a sneaky was of raising hopes only to seem that
hope dashed seconds later?Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Fair Trade
Highly excited!
Tonight I am attending a meeting at citylife church regarding Fair Trade and what we as consumers can achieve by simply making informed choices on the purchases we make.
CityLife are calling it "Everyday Justice".
I shall find out more tonight. Stay posted!
Tonight I am attending a meeting at citylife church regarding Fair Trade and what we as consumers can achieve by simply making informed choices on the purchases we make.
CityLife are calling it "Everyday Justice".
I shall find out more tonight. Stay posted!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
How unseeingly faith grows
How many years has it been now since I first started my walk on the damn narrow path to Christianity. OOOH! the pain I went through. the doubt, the anger at even contemplating christianity, the despair created if I didn't follow. What a conundrum I was in.
I moved forward, it may have been painful but it was the better option than staying stagnant in pain and despair.Always, the feeling of never moving, never growing but still more at peace with my decisions lay within, ever beneath the surface. When oh when was I going to feel, smell, sense what it means to be a Christian. When was I going to have a slow, ever swelling sense of Faith built within. To know,without doubt, or at least reasonable doubt, that I did not have to do it all on my own; That faith would get me there and grace catch me.
Its not like a lightening bolt, is it? I thought it would be. There was no "wake up call", sound of trumpets or fanfare. Only the realisation that the wordsI have uttered for the last 4 or so years "I CANNOT go through that excruciating journey of pain again" are not directed at God. God did not cause mypain! I caused my pain, maybe the devil caused my pain, maybe the devil just sat back with his feet up on the coffee table because I was doing sucha damn fine job all on my little lonesome, who knows?
What I do know now is that faith grows. Silently it weaves through your inner being, bringing tears to eyes that never cried, peace to a mind that would never rest. More importantly my faith screams, yells, stamps its feet and proudly says "I will not do this again, I have felt the pain and here I stand". My anger yelled it at God. My faith screams it to the world.
I moved forward, it may have been painful but it was the better option than staying stagnant in pain and despair.Always, the feeling of never moving, never growing but still more at peace with my decisions lay within, ever beneath the surface. When oh when was I going to feel, smell, sense what it means to be a Christian. When was I going to have a slow, ever swelling sense of Faith built within. To know,without doubt, or at least reasonable doubt, that I did not have to do it all on my own; That faith would get me there and grace catch me.
Its not like a lightening bolt, is it? I thought it would be. There was no "wake up call", sound of trumpets or fanfare. Only the realisation that the wordsI have uttered for the last 4 or so years "I CANNOT go through that excruciating journey of pain again" are not directed at God. God did not cause mypain! I caused my pain, maybe the devil caused my pain, maybe the devil just sat back with his feet up on the coffee table because I was doing sucha damn fine job all on my little lonesome, who knows?
What I do know now is that faith grows. Silently it weaves through your inner being, bringing tears to eyes that never cried, peace to a mind that would never rest. More importantly my faith screams, yells, stamps its feet and proudly says "I will not do this again, I have felt the pain and here I stand". My anger yelled it at God. My faith screams it to the world.
TSUNAMI
Apparently, last night while we were out wine-ing and dining with friends having a merry old time, the East coast of Australia went on high alert for an approaching Tsunami.(Didn't even know that here in the land of Oz we had any kind of alerts for Tsunamis, let alone high ones).
How did I find out about the possible pending doom due to befall some of my children and close family members?On F A C E B O O K...... the next morning. I know technology marches forward, but HEY! a phone call would have been nice!
How did I find out about the possible pending doom due to befall some of my children and close family members?On F A C E B O O K...... the next morning. I know technology marches forward, but HEY! a phone call would have been nice!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
What ever happened to Michael Guglielmucci?
Ever wondered what happened to Michael Guglielmucci, a Pastor of Planet Shakers? I certainly have.
Just to recap, on the off chance anyone out there has forgotten the story. Michael claimed for just on 2 years to have a rare and deadly form of cancer. He wrote the song Healer, which apparently was inspired by dealing with Cancer. As it turns out, the cancer was a lie.Wonder if that makes the song a lie? I suppose if you are going to lie, at least make it grand.
So, my question is, where is he now? I don't mean geographically but mentally and spiritually, personally.
I may never know, but i am busting to find out.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Something to smile about
NOTE: NOT MY STORY!!
An older, tired-looking dog wandered into my yard.
I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home and was well taken care of.
He calmly came over to me, I gave him a few pats on his head;
he then followed me into my house, slowly walked down the
hall, curled up in the corner and fell asleep.
An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out.
The next day he was back, greeted me in my yard, walked inside and resumed his spot in the hall and again slept for about an hour.
This continued off and on for several weeks.
Curious I pinned a note to his collar: 'I would like to find out who the owner of this wonderful sweet dog is
and ask if you are aware that almost every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap.'
The next day he arrived for his nap, with a different note pinned to his collar:
'He lives in a home with 6 children, 2 under the age of 3 - he's trying to catch up on his sleep.
Can I come with him tomorrow?'
Monday, July 13, 2009
Bible Study
Never thought I would see the day when I would be doing a bible study. I had always thought bible study was for nerdy "churchies". Well make room people,scrunch on over, I'm coming in!
Book of Matthew, here I come.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Scrub-a-Dub-Dub
For the first time in the three years I have been working in retail, I didn't want to serve a customer, could NOT serve the customer for fear of gagging.
She was grotty, dirty, greasy hair with dandruff gently yet persistently falling all over her shoulders. How you have greasy hair with dandruff is beyond me. It looked like she had slept in the clothing she was wearing for at least the last couple of weeks.
It took everything I could do not to gag. I was polite but not helpful, insofar as whatever she asked for I said we didn't have. I wanted her out of the store. Pronto.
I wanted to tell her to go home, have a shower, bathe, give herself a good scrub-a-dub-dub and put on fresh clothing.
Not really showing the old Christian heart, is it? I was all up in arms about the customer UNTIL I started writing this and now I just feel disappointed in myself.
Now, What would Jesus do?
Whatever he would do, we can rule out the path I chose.
She was grotty, dirty, greasy hair with dandruff gently yet persistently falling all over her shoulders. How you have greasy hair with dandruff is beyond me. It looked like she had slept in the clothing she was wearing for at least the last couple of weeks.
It took everything I could do not to gag. I was polite but not helpful, insofar as whatever she asked for I said we didn't have. I wanted her out of the store. Pronto.
I wanted to tell her to go home, have a shower, bathe, give herself a good scrub-a-dub-dub and put on fresh clothing.
Not really showing the old Christian heart, is it? I was all up in arms about the customer UNTIL I started writing this and now I just feel disappointed in myself.
Now, What would Jesus do?
Whatever he would do, we can rule out the path I chose.
Waiting, Waiting, Waiting
Eagerly awaiting the arrival of the the book Mad Church Disease by A. Jackson.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Sometimes I just get tired,ooh so tired
Sometimes, Christians make me tired, bone weary, dog tired.
When listening to ALL to "criteria" that is spewed forth my way by some well meaning Christian I want to crawl up in bed and sleep the day away. It can be all to hard. I get tired just LISTENING to what I "have" to do in order to be a "real" Christian.
When listening to ALL to "criteria" that is spewed forth my way by some well meaning Christian I want to crawl up in bed and sleep the day away. It can be all to hard. I get tired just LISTENING to what I "have" to do in order to be a "real" Christian.
To become a Christian, what is actually demanded of Us? That we believe Jesus Christ is the saviour, that he died on the cross for us,at least as I understand it. I can't see that anything is asked of us. Not being good, not being "religious", not belonging to Church, not doing good deeds and acts,not being baptised. Non of these things are a pre-requisite to becoming what we commonly call a Christian. On a really simplistic level all you really have to say is 2 little words.
"I believe".
P.S. this particular line of thought for me is a work in progress. I type something then go away, mull it over and come back a little later and revise, edit, delete, then the process starts again. Its not going so well, incase you were wondering, what's in my head and what ends up on "paper" looks nothing the same!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
The things that make you go.....
Dragged my body out of the snuggly warm bed after an extremely late night, had only one coffee, no shower and turned down my husbands bribe of $200.00 to not attend church and went to church anyway.How good am I?? !!
At one point, the preacher was talking about christianity in a country (can't remember which remote 3rd world country unfortunately) where only .03 percent of the population is Christian, bible Christians.
A bible Christian? I had thought a christian was a christian, good, bad,pretty, ugly, bible carrying, bible whacking, tall, short, well I guess you get the picture. Your either Christian or your not.
The decision was made to email the Preacher and ask what he meant by it, because quite frankly I was mildly perplexed by it. I recieved a response back on same day, which I have listed below.
On Sunday morning I referred to bible Christians to distinguish them from members of a population who might call themselves Christians but who are only culture Christians rather than Christians because they are convinced that Jesus is the Lord. Bible Christians also implies people who accept the Word of God as the authority of their living rather than taking as their ultimate authority their own experiences or their own values or what somebody else has said, including the church. The question of authority sometimes changes what we regard to be true.
I hope this is helpful. Come back to me with any questions or criticisms if you want to.
While I understand where he is coming from, Im not sure I agree with the need to categorise Christians, each to their own opinions I guess especially when it's really not THE burning issue of the day!
At one point, the preacher was talking about christianity in a country (can't remember which remote 3rd world country unfortunately) where only .03 percent of the population is Christian, bible Christians.
A bible Christian? I had thought a christian was a christian, good, bad,pretty, ugly, bible carrying, bible whacking, tall, short, well I guess you get the picture. Your either Christian or your not.
The decision was made to email the Preacher and ask what he meant by it, because quite frankly I was mildly perplexed by it. I recieved a response back on same day, which I have listed below.
On Sunday morning I referred to bible Christians to distinguish them from members of a population who might call themselves Christians but who are only culture Christians rather than Christians because they are convinced that Jesus is the Lord. Bible Christians also implies people who accept the Word of God as the authority of their living rather than taking as their ultimate authority their own experiences or their own values or what somebody else has said, including the church. The question of authority sometimes changes what we regard to be true.
I hope this is helpful. Come back to me with any questions or criticisms if you want to.
While I understand where he is coming from, Im not sure I agree with the need to categorise Christians, each to their own opinions I guess especially when it's really not THE burning issue of the day!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
The "Discussion" rages on
Well, Well, Well.
Mention the word homosexuality within a church and see everyone run to protect and staunchly uphold their own views. Of course, this is human nature. Bible verses are wielded like weapons to pummel the opposition into the ground. I don't actually think this is what the Bible was designed for, but what do I know, I really can't say I am a shiny example to others on how to live the Christian life.
So what are my own views?
Firstly, and its a personal view, do whatever you want as long as it causes no pain to others. I can live with that!
Secondly,If you are searching for something more, I figure the church should scream with open arms "come on in, take a seat, rest a while".
For anything else, refer to rule number 1!
Mention the word homosexuality within a church and see everyone run to protect and staunchly uphold their own views. Of course, this is human nature. Bible verses are wielded like weapons to pummel the opposition into the ground. I don't actually think this is what the Bible was designed for, but what do I know, I really can't say I am a shiny example to others on how to live the Christian life.
So what are my own views?
Firstly, and its a personal view, do whatever you want as long as it causes no pain to others. I can live with that!
Secondly,If you are searching for something more, I figure the church should scream with open arms "come on in, take a seat, rest a while".
For anything else, refer to rule number 1!
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