Sausage Evangelism

I was on my way home from uni today and i was walking past that weird white shipping container at Box Hill Centro and there was a whole bunch of Chinese people giving out stuff so i went over and saw that it was just sausages so walked off, before i got about 10 metres past it this lady popped out the side and gave me one, as well as half an uncooked onion on top of it. I ate it.

She also gave me a piece of paper that had details about a church in Surrey Hills, i looked at it and told her i actually go to the Box Hill salvos down the road, she was not impressed, she had just told me all about their fantastic young people at the church and i had just blown all her hopes. She just walked off and i was left standing there eating a sausage.

Why did she go, was she on a commission cheque for how many people she could get to the church, did i call her bluff and it is another one of the churches that have no young people, is it worth fighting other churches for members, Does God even like sausages? All these questions.

I think God would commend her efforts in out reach to community, but i think the fact that she switched off after i told her i was already saved means that her heart was not in the right place.

I like the sausages idea though, that's how the Salvation Army began, William Booth said 'Feed the hungry, because no-one gets saved on an empty stomach!!!'.

Well Done my Chinese friends.

25 years and more silverware for the shelf

Congratulations to Chris and Shirl who today celebrate their 25 wedding anniversary.

25 years is a long time, i am only 21, i still have another 4 years before I can even contemplate what 25 years is like.


Congratulations Chris and Shirl,


Sorry I couldn't afford to buy any silverware for you! (i'll get you a spoon from my house or something like that)


I hope you have a good day even though you can not be together.

Being a 'Yes' man

Well what a day yesterday was!

Kids Church, 11am with the Band and songsters, Pentecost Sunday, Melbourne Football Club going down by a point (Great game, we may have lost the the game on the field but we won the trash talk off the field), Pirates of the Caribbean 3, and Jim Knaggs.

Out of all of these (even though Pirates was good) my 'play of the day' goes to Jim Knaggs with his message on being a 'Yes' Man. It was powerful, it definitely spoke to me, to shrug off the strangle hold the enemy can get on my life and to stand up and say 'Yes' to God.

It is easy to say No, there are so many ways around it

• Not today, Maybe, We'll see, I'm busy, Ask later, Give me some time, I'll think about it.

All of these mean the same thing, 'I don't want to do it, i am uncomfortable'

Uncomfortable is the way that the Devil knows he can bind me up, if i get the slightest though of what i will be seen like, that's it, I'll find a way out. If there is a way out, i will find it, ask any uni tutor i have ever had.

Stand up, step up and say 'Yes'. God is ready to lead the path and protect you in every way possible, he has already walked the path, all you need to do is have the courage to say 'Yes'.

"Yes," he replied" 1 Kings 18:8 (NIV)

"Yes," says the Spirit" Revelation 14:13 (NIV)

Even the last words in the Bible are "Yes"

"He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." Revelation 22:20 (NIV)

Send The Fire!

Lord we thank You for this day of Pentecost,

the day Your church received Power through You.

Lord we thank You that no longer do we have to

strive to obey a Spirit that is distant and out of our reach,

we thank You that You took Your Spirit of truth,

the Spirit of Jesus, and give it to all who will.

Lord we thank You for Love, the Life and the forgiving Grace

which we all can receive in Your name. Lord, help us to

draw near to You and to boldly speak for You, of You, and about You.

Lord be with us each, everyday in Jesus Name.

Send the Fire Today!

Amen.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will
be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of
the earth." Acts 1:8 (NIV)

Assignment Time

Just as Em finishes up her 4 Uni assignments, I have to start my 4 assignments. Now Em enjoys what she is studying even though sometimes she disagrees with what is being eluded, but she enjoys being a dietitian.

Me, I could not be any less interested in what I have to do for Uni. But they are worth 60% each so I have to do them. So I think there will be many more blogs to come as my outlet of frustration, stay tuned, it will be fun!

"We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are
persecuted, we endure it" 1 Corinthians 4:12 (NIV)

Grandma's Big Op

My Grandma (Dad’s Mum) went into hospital this week to finally have her hip replacement. She has been waiting in agony for about 6 months now and it has finally happened. Grandad said that she is well and didn’t have any pain during the operation and is doing well in recovery.

I wish you a speedy recovery Grandma and I will expect you to be in training for All-Black selection by next week.

A special bible Verse for Grandma from Jesus' own mouth:

"'Get up, take your mat and walk" Mark 2:9 (NIV)

For Such a Time as This.

Well some exciting things have been happening in my life, apart from the V8’s which have obviously played a big part of my week.

On Tuesday night I got back into doing a gig that I haven’t done for a while. A mate of mine has injured his neck (compressed vertebrate) so he can’t play Bari Sax for a while. Anyway last year I did this gig at the rising sun and have always wanted to be a permanent part of the band. I( started again on Tuesday night and it was great, I had all these friends from uni show up and they didn’t even know I was playing, it was great. I can see why he has hurt his back and neck though, the wooden chars and 3 hours of playing are a killer.

On Wednesday morning I was a little bit tired from the gig the night before, so I end up running about an hour late, I thought I was in big trouble. Anyway I had been praying for a little while now that God would put me in positions where I could do his work, I am a little bit nervous about starting conversations with people but that is changing, anyway I was catching the train into Uni (an hour late) and I was sitting down reading my book (General Next To God – William Booth’s Life, great book I’ll blog about it when I am done) and an old man walked onto the train platform, all the seats were full so I offered my seat and he said that he was fine (obviously he wasn’t). Anyway, he hobbled towards the train and I saw he wasn’t going to make it without collapsing. I was right, I stood behind him and sure enough, he couldn’t make the step and fell backwards I grabbed him and helped him into the train and into the seat, he thanked me for about 5 mins and I started chatting to him, he was a very funny man. It turned out he was going to Melbourne Central Station and so was I so I knew I would end up helping him out of the train too, sure enough, he fell again and I helped him out of the train, he told me he was fine and thanked me again, I wasn’t going to leave because I was sure he was gong to fall down the escalator, he didn’t need me but I got to speak to him about his wife (who he tells me is with God) and I asked his name and he told me it was ‘Pop’ as in ‘Pop Goes the Weasel’, I almost wet myself with laughter, he was the funniest old man I have ever met. He said he was a rascal and just liked to get out for the day, while he still could.

So Pop I hope you had a good day and I’m glad that God made me late so I was there to help.

“And who knows but that you have come to this position for such a time as this?” Ester 4:14 (NIV)

Vodafone Victory

What a fantastic Weekend!

Loads of shiny new cars, both on the track and off.


We started our trip off on Friday afternoon, Darryl and Brenton dropped round to my house at 3.30pm and we piled my stuff into the car, it was a very tight fit because there was the three of us and the boot was full of wood and food (the only two things really required for a weekend away) and on the backseat was the other semi-important things (tent). so i travelled the 3 hours up to the Track (may have been a little quicker due to Darryl's driving style but i can't reveal how fast we actually got Tania's car going, or Darryl may be sleeping outside for a while).


As is required on a 'boys trip' such as this the McDonald's stop was undertaken. We got to the track about 6.30 and set up the tent in absolute darkness, it was a fine effort if i say so myself, we even build a kitchen (that what you get for hanging around with builders). The camp fire was roaring within 5 mins and we had settled in for the night of campfire watching and pyromaniacy (not a real word but you understand). Sleep eventually came in small amounts after the 'doughies', illegal fireworks and stereo systems died down at around 3.30.

Rise and Shine at 7am and the fire was again roaring within 2 mins thanks to the aid of petrol and a trust match, that fire was good for that 2 degree morning. Bacon and eggs cooked on the fire (i accidentally dropped the rolls in the fire so they were a little crunchy but i have always said charcoal adds to the flavour. On to the racing, the reason we were here, the real interest.

First we watched the Formula Fords (affectionately called the mosquitoes, due to there loud 'mosquitoe-esque' sound), then the 'main game', the V8 Supercars! The noise was deafening, it was fantastic, the roar of the engines far out ways the thrill of petrol on a fire, qualifying was rough and ready, with both Team Vodafone cars not making it into the top ten (Craig 12, Jamie 20), but what a race, in the wet the cars flew out on to the track, slipping and sliding around, the race began and the wheels just spun, no-one moved for couple of seconds, but then it was on, Lowndes ans Whincup pitted early taking the rick of changing onto Slick tyres, hoping that the rain had subsided and it paid off with Team Vodafone racing to 1st and 4th positions while the others were left 4 seconds slower per lap because of their wet tyres. It was looking good for Vodafone and the on the third last lap Craig Lowndes was taken out by James Courtney and ended up being passed by almost the entire field and subsequently came in at 16th, while Jamie sat undisturbed at the front for almost half the race and taking out race 1.

I even got to meet up with the Vodafone boys and had a good little chat to the and got signatures on my hat which now proudly sits on my wall. What a day! so exciting! If anyone happened to read my article in 'Pursuit' magazine, in which i said i couldn't find anything to be passionate about, well i found it, God still takes number one, but V8 is fast gaining ground for second.

Great Food on the fire, meat, meat and more meat, just what a hard day of V8's calls for, and again the fire barrel, doughies and fireworks were a big attraction. My first day of V8 action and it was the best race since Bathurst last year, what a day.

On a side note there was a guy that proposed to his fiancee by having his proposal printed on Craig's Car, it was very romantic and I appreciate his effort, (Em said that if i did that she would have said yes too, no matter who it was that asked!)

Sunday, crunch-time, Two races, one winner at the end of the weekend, what a day, what a day, rain, sun, safety cars, smashed up cars, drunk yobbo's, lots of Coke and Chips, what more could you ask for.

Race two was hard fought, the rain, came down and the decision to change to 'wets' or 'slicks' was again the deciding factor. Even though 'Toll HSV" team is my moral enemy in V8 racing i have to say that Garth Tander was unstoppable in Race 2, he managed to hold Whincup to second even after numerous safety cars, so Garth, well done, but don't expect it again anytime soon.

After packing up the tent (and buying a new hat because i didn't want to wreck the one i had signed) we returned to the track for Race 3, the decider, with Garth and Jamie on one win each, it was set to be a good one, the weather looked ominous for most of the race but never came, it was dry for this race, it was exciting and everyone had the attitude of 'all or nothing' and that's what happened, a lot of people pushed it hard and went home with nothing, or in the case of Lee Holdsworth, in the back of an Ambulance. It was hard fought and very exciting racing, with Garth winning again, but this time it was a scrap fight to the end and Jamie wouldn't give him an inch of space, it was fantastic.

Jamie's 1st, 2nd and 2nd was enough to get over Garth by one point for the round (weekend) win, so it was Team Vodafone, No 1 on the podium.

What a weekend, thanks to Darryl and Brenton for the good food and for inviting me to their 'Boys Weekend'.

Go Team Vodafone!

My First V8 Experience Starts

I am off to the V8's this weekend at Winton Motorway up in Benalla, I don't know what to expect but i;m sure it will be cold and wet.

Lets Go Lowndesy, Hopefully it will be a good race and Team Vodaphone has a good showing.

It will be an interesting experience, i'll let you know how it goes.

There is nothing even remotely Religious about my weekend away but i know am hoping that at the end of the weekend Craig Lowndes will say these words...

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
2 Tim 4:7 (NIV)

Maybe not but I can always hope.

Have a good weekend

Red Shield Appeal

This weekend and all of next week the salvo's have their annual Red Shield Appeal, please dig deep because 'farming families suffering the effects of the drought, single mothers in serious financial crisis, young people fighting addiction and homelessness, individuals and families ravaged by domestic violence are all in desperate need, the likes that i will never understand.

I thank God for the rich blessings in my life,

Please dig deep because

'We're All In This Together'

"Give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven." Luke 18:22 (NIV)

Sunday Party

On Sunday my family celebrated!, no Melbourne didn't win (again!!!) and no we didn't find out that we actually were millionares, no, we celebrated because it was a day for Celebration. It was Mothers Day so we celebrated with Mum, Nanny, and Helen but we also celebrated because it was Nessa 18th birthday this week.

We had a lunch for the full family, Mum, Wayne, Ness, Mick, Helen, Nanny and Me. it was nice, we had quiche and then the very traditional family birthday cake for us, a big ice-cream cake.

Thankyou God for bringing my family together.

"Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." Mark 5:19 (NIV)

More Boring Teacher Stuff

Further to the ever present idea that ‘Teachers are Boring and Longwinded’, I did a gig at the Crown Palladium Ballroom last night for the ‘Education Week Dinner’.

The dinner was for all the ‘big-wigs’ of education, there were awards, and a fantastic dinner, but the speeches (and you thought my blog was boring!)

I was in at Crown at 3pm for sound check and it all went pretty well, but I didn’t leave until midnight, it was the longest boring time ever. We sat there all night and waited to play, we played about 30mins of music and the rest of the time was sitting around, I was so bored I started reading a book!

While the teachers in the ballroom were dining on warm Chicken salad, leg of lamb and chocolate mousse at fancy tables we got some cheese sandwiches on a plate, and they wouldn’t let us out to get anything else.

So by the end of the night I was tired and very hungry.

What a life I have to look forward too!

Boring Blogger

I was chatting with my lovely girlfriend about blogging yesterday, and it inevitably came down to why boggling is dying and no-one reads them.

Anyway evidently my blog is way too serious, apparently my thoughts are no what anybody wants to read. That’s ok, I really don’t care if no-one comments, I am not writing to entertain, I am writing so that I can express about my life, for myself.

So if one day someone does read my blog, Yes they may be really bored but at least they will know what I think.

So if you want an interesting, random blog about the fun and crazy side of life read Em’s blog, its quite funny, I’m sorry that I will never make it to that level of comic genius.

Nobody reads anyway so why blog?

Loneliness

Loneliness is one of the most common feeling that people experience in there lifetime.

I walk past people everyday, most are happy enough to not to talk to you but if you look at someone, just anyone in the street, as you walk past keep eye contact with them, most people wait until the last minute to look up, but they will look up, I guarantee it, just smile and keep walking.

People need contact, as a whole the world is not such an ugly place, people want to connect with others. In this world of instant messages, instant electricity and instant noodles, face to face conversation has almost died. Everyone just wants to talk to someone.

Take today for example, i was on my way to Uni, i walk to Box Hill station and go onto the platform, i find that whenever i don't have a distraction from the world, i like to talk to God. Today I asked him to guide me in my day, to do his will, so i was on the lookout for a situation in which i could speak to someone.

It wasn't more than 3 seconds into my walk along the platform when i had an elderly gentleman speaking to me, asking how my day was. He just wanted to chat.

The loneliest place in the world can be a room full of people, the feeling of isolation and alienation can only be overcome with a one to one connection with someone else.

This is the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, the one-to-one connection with Jesus that can not be distanced. Once you are one with the Holy Spirit, you are never alone, Jesus is closer to you than anyone in this world could ever be.

Jesus promised that the spirit would come upon all, you only need ask (Joel 2:28), with Jesus you will never be alone.

"Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty."
Mother Teresa

Happy Birthday Nessa!!!!!

Happy Birthday little Nessa.

I hope you had a great day even though you had a SAC at school.

Your a big girl Now!!!!!

Well that was a fast 18 years, i still remember going to the museum with Dad to see

'Pharaohs of Gold' and the coming to visit my new baby sister in hospital.

Happy Birthday Poohead, its been a fun 18 years, hopefull the next 18 will be just as fun, with less family dramas and not much more boring Uni or VCE for either of us.

What a crazy family i am part of.

Love you

Teach vs Social Work

I know it probably doesn't matter to anyone else but me, but can someone tell me why is it that universities only have one way and are always open for debate but only if it is what they want to hear.

I had my 3 hour teaching tutorial and we were talking about what our beliefs about teaching are (just a nice light topic, nothing deep about that...not!)

One of the questions was 'does teaching involve social work', my answer is yes. If you don't understand a students life, you can't understand how or what needs to be taught.

I am a bit cynical about teaching and the politics that go along with it. I believe that there have been many great teachers, but none more effective that Jesus. Jesus was no socolar, he didn't go to Uni and undergo the rubbish they have in 'teacher training'. He taught from God, he taught for God, and he was God.

I can only do two of those three, but two is better than none.

evryone is a teacher, we all pass on knowledge to others in example, in belief and particularly in action. Teaching comes from life not from a classroom.

"Set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Timothy 4:12"

Decisions

"We all have a choice to make, we all have an inner battle to fight, it just comes down to choices"

Last Night i went and saw Spiderman 3, it went for a long time and i think i had a very high expectations that didn't really deliver but i did walk away with something from it so it wasn't all a waste of time.

This line, finishes the entire movie and sums up the human condition perfectly.

We are all called upon to make decisions that shape our future, every choice we make either furthers our walk down the wrong path or sends us one more step down God's path.

I heard on the radio as good metaphor it was about our internal struggle.

If at home heater is set at 21 degrees, is that hot or cold, who decides. Some people would turn the heat up (Emma), some people would turn the heat down (Me). Who is right?

It is the same with our internal thermostat, what is the guide stick for our right and wrong?

The answer is God, his word is our solid rock, build upon it and your foundations will be unshakable. (Luke 6:46-49)

The decision lies within each of us, there are two ways, God's way or your way, you choose.

"How long will you waver between two options? If the Lord is God, follow
him, but if Baal is God, follow him." 1 Kings 18:21 (NIV)

Brian James Crocker (dec. 5/5/94)

Today is a very tough day for my Nan. Today is the day that may Poppa died 13 years ago. It was tough for me and I was only 7 and Ness was 3, it must be horrible to loose the one you love so much.

My Poppa was a great man, a school headmaster, WWII Bomber Captain, Loving family man and a great guy. Poppa died before i was old enough to really know him well enough, and that is possibly one of the top 5 things i would change in my life, i wish i had the time to know him better. If i had to model my life on the character of one man (of course with Jesus as the exception) i would choose my Poppa. I am already named after him so now i want to be like him. I have that much respect for him that if he was still here today i think i would probably have to call him 'Sir' just out of pure respect.

I miss you Poppa and I know Nanny and the rest of the family do too. I’ll see you in heaven one day, Say Hi to Jesus for me, thank him for his sacrifice and ask him if he can take control of my life, because he will do a much better job than me, ask him to make me more like you ( i know that i have asked him to already).

See you later Poppa.

We Love you.

"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up"

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

Thank you Lord for my Poppa

Happy Birthday Annie and Beth.

Happy Birthday Annie and Beth.

I hope you both have a great day and have enjoyed the first quarter of a century of your life. I hope there will be another 4 quarters to come.

Happy Birthday!

"But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and
joyful." Psalm 68:3 (NIV)

Happy Birthday Dusty

Happy Birthday Dusty

Happy Birthday mate Hope you had a great day.

See you on the court Monday.

"Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all
that is in it." Psalm 96:11

Can a Listening Ear Change the World?

What can i really say to someone who has lost everyone and everything?

What do i say to person who's life has gone at the end of a needle?

What is it that i can offer?

I wish i knew.

All i can do is be a friend, a listening ear.

Listen as if it is Jesus telling me his story.

If my ears are not for listening then why are there.

"Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path" Proverbs 23:19

Welcome Home

Welcome Home Chris,

It’s good to have you back and have the whole family turn into Psychos, all competing for your attention.

So thanks for that, I'm sure it will be a fun two weeks.

Worst Food In The World

On Saturday night the young adults of Box Hill went out for dinner together, I would say that we had about 30 people there and it was a great night.

We all had a chat and caught up on what was happening in each others life, I felt like everyone had a good night and felt included, I hope (if someone felt a little on the outer please talk to me and I will understand, because I know what it is like, please).

The only problem this night was not the fault of anyone except the restaurant, It was horrible. The food was trash and tasted like it, the service was bad and they didn’t bring the water we wanted until after we had finished the dinner.

Oh What a Night.

Teaching Rounds Are Over!!!!

It is fantastic, i have finally finished my teaching rounds

They were long, hard and i didn't like it much but i got through them.

Unfortunatly because ANZAC day was a public holiday i had to come back and make up a day, i went back on Thursdays and taught my classes (who were psychos this day) but i was glad to get it done.

Stupid me thought that i would just have to teach the classes and then i was free, No this was far from the case.

I had to stay back after scholl and write reports on my performance the talk about it with my supervisor. I didn't leave school until 5.45pm. That is a long detention.

But it is done and i made it through, Praise the Lord.

I think Jesus said it best...

"It is Finished" John 19:30