Dave

TeamVodafone No. 1 again

2007-09-22T13:42:00.000+10:00

What a weekend everywhere you look fast cars and half naked ladies.

Last weekend I took Em to her first (and I would doubt, the last) V8 Supercar Race.

We headed down to Sandown Motorway for the running of the 10th annual Just Car Insurance Sandown 500.

We started our day off nice an early and headed over to Darryl’s house (just because he has the nicest Ford we know and you can’t turn up to the V8’s in a 2 litre, 4 cylinder 1992 Toyota Camry, or a 2.4 litre, 4 cylinder Saab. The big 4 litre, V6 Ford XR6 was a much better choice.

We headed in to Sandown and had a little bit of a look around the course and the team tents and Super Transporters. We headed down to the TeamVodafone merchandise tent, little did we know this would prove to be a real turning point in Em’s life.

As we were walking out of the tent, we spot Craig Lowndes just before his autograph session; he was signing someone’s dashboard of there XR8 Ute (very nice Ute). We watched him and as he ran past the guy in front of Em put up his hand for a high five and Craig obliged, but all I saw was Em standing there, Frozen to the spot. She was within touching distance from Craig and she froze with some form of school girl crush overcoming her entire nervous system, there she was, on the spot with jaw hanging open.

After Darryl and I picked ourselves up off the floor after rolling around in laughter, Em finally found the courage to take close to 100 photos of Craig and Jamie (she thought that Craig smiled at her, I don’t have the heart to tell her it was the grid girl behind her, joking, he really did smile at her after she had made a fool of herself). I have a feeling that that story might come out at the 21st.

We got to our sets and watched qualifying and of course, TeamVodafone with the fastest practice lap and then qualifying strongly to start 5th on the grid for the all important race the next day.

Sunday, it was race day, Em’s first real day, and you wouldn’t believe it but she slept in, I was expecting her to be up at about 6am getting ready but No, as I went up stairs to go have my shower, Em runs from her room into the shower. We got away on time and even got a good park at the race track that we could quickly slip out of at the end of the race.

After Drift Cars, F-A18 fly-bys, Burnouts, Motorbikes, Grid Interviews, Grid Girls, Promotional Girl, Team Girls, Insurance Girls, Bigpond Girls, Drivers Wives and Wanna-be Drivers Wives (Em), we finally started the racing.

I won’t go into details about the race because if you cared you would already know what happened. Todd Kelly didn’t poo in his seat, Skaife didn’t race and Murphy deserved his drive-thru, but all that really matters is that Jamie and Craig won the race and have a good showing for Bathurst on October 7. I can’t wait.

All that is left to say is that ‘TeamVodafone, No. 1, again’

2007-08-31T15:03:00.000+10:00

Last night I skipped going to band and went to something I thought was far more important. I turned down 2 gig’s (one paid), 3 rehearsals and game up the only night I could have had a break this week, but it was possibly the most important thing I could have done for years and will hopefully change the course and direction of peoples lives that are very important to me.

I took a trip into the city to Richmond Assembly Of God to hear and take part in a session called ‘Bringing Home the Prodigals’. It was lead by a guy called Rob Parson who is the author of the book by the same name. It is based on the story of the ‘Lost Son’ in the bible.

It was a really good night and I really felt challenged and I know it sounds a bit cliché but I really did feel as though God was moving amongst us that night. I have every confidence that with prayer and love, together God and I will bring home my prodigals.

Just wait and see!

I'm not Dead.

2007-08-14T12:55:00.000+10:00

Yes although it has been suggested that my blog is dead i beg to differ.

I am back, i just don't have as much time as i want to do things like this, it is made extra hard by not having internet at home for a long time.

Nothing very exciting is going on at the moment, i still dislike uni, i am hardly ever at home just sitting around, and i am still really tired.

I have placements coming up again in a few weeks, which i am really not looking forward too but i have no choice, if i want to pass my course i have to go and do them.

If i think of anything to write about i'll get back to you later, until then, just remember that i am not dead and my blog will be revived soon.

Upside down, topsy-turvy life

2007-07-05T14:38:00.000+10:00

Well it has been a long time since my last blog, but my life has turned upside down since I last blogged.

Em and I broke up, the crying still hasn’t stopped but we both agreed that it was the right move for now. It’s really hard to be ‘just friends’ with someone you have loved for so long. But we are going ok, I miss her terribly but we will get through it. I would prefer her to be my girlfriend again but for now we are ‘in the friend zone’ and that’s better than nothing.

I got my results back from Uni, scrapped through (and I mean scrapped through), 50% for one of my subjects, I honestly think I would have quit if I had to do that subject again. But I got through.

I’ve moved out of home (and back in, and then out and now I’m back in with mum again, but I will see how things go at the weekend, I may try out again). I am living just down the road from where I used to be. It’s a nice house and I have control of everything, I like being a big boy and playing house by myself.

Life is going along well, it is a little bit different than before but still going along.

I have been trying to way up my options for my career and life (always a wise thing to do if you weren’t already depressed) I have been encouraged by a few thing lately, but we’ll just see where things are headed.

So I’m not sure where I am going but God is there where ever I go so it can’t be that bad.

Whatever I walk through, he is there.

Honesty

2007-06-27T13:39:00.000+10:00

Honesty- the hardest thing that this life has (maybe it’s just me). I have been alive for almost 22 years now and for most of it I have lied about one thing or another sometimes I have got away with it, sometimes not. I lied about where I was going, what I was doing, who I was with, it was an obsession, I lied and once you lie once, that lie will never die, and through it another one grows.

The lie that has had the biggest spread for me was that I went bungy jumping. This went around almost everyone I knew, until one day I just couldn’t do it anymore and I had to stop lying, it was eating me up inside, and down goes my credibility.

For me lying was my way of avoiding confrontation, avoiding what I really thought, felt and believed, basically I am a wimp that can’t confront the truth because I don’t have the guts to not be accepted or to disagree with others. If you can’t say who you are and change for others then who are you really? Do you have the right to change someone just because they are different to you.

I am a chronic liar.

There are two types of lying that I got caught up in, lying to further myself, and lying to hide (secrets). The lies may have deferred an awkward situation for a few days but all it does is just increases the pain and suffering for everyone when the lie comes out. And all credibility you may ever have had is no more and is just flushed down the toilet.

When that day comes that everything you have lied about gets found out, your life, everything you know and everything you had comes crashing down like the house built upon the sand (Matt 7).

There are many instances in the bible that speaks of lying, and I can’t find one that says that ‘a white lie is ok’. There’s no excuse, I’ve been warned and the consequences are plain to see.

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Psalm 34:13 (NIV)
For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. For the curses and lies they utter, Psalm 59:12 (NIV)

For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of all lies. John 8:44 (NLT)

There is one verse that really speaks to me about truth, I didn’t realise it until today but God gave me that verse at the exact time that my secrets became a big problem in my life, I was too proud, arrogant and stupid to act upon what God had told me, its never to late to change but the longer you leave it the higher the price you pay just because I listened to the ‘father of lies’.

Unfortunately, for me I didn’t act until too late, I have lost the thing that was most important to me and the only person to blame is me.

“But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” John 3:21 (NIV)

This could have saved me a whole lot of heartache, all I needed to do was be ready to listen and change myself.

Mistakes

2007-06-25T15:52:00.000+10:00

Why is it that the ones we love most are the ones we hurt the most? Inevitably all that happens is you just hurt yourself in the process.

Pimp My Trolley

2007-06-23T11:01:00.000+10:00

Well what an exciting night, Battle of the Sexes and 'Pimp My Trolley', it was a huge night jam packed full of fun for everyone.

The Night started off with a bit of a 'Meet and Greet' for everyone to catch up and discuss the 3 most important 'F's'- Family, Friends and Footy. After everyone had caught up with a good chat we moved into the very serious and age old question:

'Is it in fact possible, (even though highly unlikely), that females are as intelligent as males?'

So there was only one way to solve this dilemma we found ourselves in...

'Battle Of The Sexes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'

It came down to a three round playoff.

Panel of 3: 3 Manly Men verses 3 Wimp Women, in a battle of ten questions about the opposite sex. Topics covered included Make-up, Superbowl, zodiac signs, basketball, Matthew McConaughey, footy and even different forms of shower products.

Movie Charades: obviously the girls won this as the boys had to act out chick-flix, which the boys had no idea about. But the girls Had really easy one that even a 2 year old could guess, (who can act out the princes diaries, seriously).

True/false, a game of skill, agility and knowing gossip about what goes on around Box Hill Corps. I don't even need to tell you who won this game, with that many girls in one place the wealth of knowledge of everyone else's business was overwhelming, with the girls absolutely white-washing the boys.

Overall it was a strong victory to the girls, but i did notice that all challenges involved talking and gossip with a distinct lack of physical and logical activities, i think the tables would be slightly turned if actual skills were involved in this challenge.

It was then time to 'Pimp my Trolley'

The girls were divided into two teams and the boys into two teams, The idea was to take an ordinary shopping trolley and 'pimp' it to make it into the 'Phat-est' ride in town. The teams were given a trolley, spray-paint, cardboard, and tape and had to 'decorate' the trolley.

The four teams all did an excellent job and the race at the end saw 4 youngsters being pushed across the car park in trolleys. With some very strong pushers behind them, those trolleys would have broken the 40km/h speed limit in the carpark of Box Hill Salvos but fortunately police had not been tipped off.

The night ended with pizza for all and the promise of more fun for all on Sunday Night with the youth going to see 'Ocean 13' at Eastland cinemas @ 6pm Sunday instead of the meeting at church.

Hope to see you all there.

My New House

2007-06-22T11:16:00.000+10:00

It has been a while since i talked about my life, and nobody reads my blogs anyway so i think i will tell you about my new house.

If anyone didn't know, i have moved out of home. No my mum didn't finally crack it and kick me out, i was given the opportunity to move into house owned by some family friends while they are away in China for 2 and a half years.

I now live at 100 Junction Road Blackburn. It is a nice two bedroom house with a study a newly renovated kitchen and a big family room.

I am actually enjoying being on my own, i like the responsibility and the thought that i am a big boy now and can do it on my own. It has been fun.

But there have been problems,

The central heating didn't work
the fridge died and i had to trow out a lot of my new food that i had just stocked up on.

The heating was a killer, it was so cold and i couldn't bear to get up in the morning, the flood was icy, i stayed in this house of pain for a full week and a half before i could get it fixed, freezing.

The fridge required a new thermostat and so i had to get that even though it is not my fridge. i paid for it because i need a fridge.

So basically it was warmer inside my broken fridge where i was storing all my meat that was going off than it was outside the fridge, i should have just taken out the meat and left it on the bench and it would have been better off.

The house is fixed now and i am really happy in it, i can do what i want, there is always food in the fridge and it is my fault if there isn't.

I love my new house, soon i hope it will feel like home, at the moment the free cooked dinner at mum's house i working well for both of us, mum gets to see me, i get food. it is a win-win situation.

Give me a call and come on over sometime, i get very lonely by myself.

I am actaully enjoying talking to the Indians that call at exactly 6pm to tell me 'I can save 5 dollars a month with popadom communications', so someone please give me a call, i'm getting a bit lonely.

"A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables." Proverbs 24:3-4 (NLT)

What is God saying to your Corps.

2007-06-21T15:58:00.000+10:00

At Box Hill at the moment we are gearing up for a day of prayer and fasting on Sunday. We have been given some reading material to prepare for it. Today we were asked to ponder what are life at the Corps is like. See if these speak to you:

"My dear friends, don't let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith" James 2:1 (Msg)

"You are Christ's body—that's who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your "part" mean anything" 1 Corinthians 12:27 (Msg)

"If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate." 1 Corinthians 13:1 (Msg)

"a church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints" L.L. Nash

Rest In God.

2007-06-21T15:47:00.000+10:00

"This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it." Isaiah 30:15 (NLT)

The people of Israel had turned their backs on God - they had become too busy doing their own thing. God's message is to stop. Take time out to hear what He is saying to us.

Just Listen.

Day 14: In Return For Our Commitment

2007-06-16T14:34:00.000+10:00

When he arrived at the other side in theregion of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?"

Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs." He said to them, "Go!" So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.” Matt 8:28-34 (NIV)

It has taken me such a long time to understand this verse, I would say that this verse has been my biggest hurdle in the bible, I just didn’t get it. But I think I have got it now.
I see this verse as ‘people value lively-hood more than Jesus. If this is completely wrong can someone give me a clue here.

I always thought that this was one thing that Jess stuffed up, he killed these pigs and hence was kick out of town and no-one was saved.

To the owner of those pigs, Jess had just destroyed his meal ticket, he had nothing left, Jesus just killed his pigs. But Jesus had done far more than that, he had freed two men, who came to Christ, he eradicated these demons back to hell inside these pigs (pigs can swim for up to 1km if required, Jesus just sent then straight to hell).

Jesus had made his choice, he would prefer to save even just one person at the expense of an entire herd of animals. What a sacrifice for just one person, but not nearly as much as what was to come.

Day 13: Total Faith

2007-06-16T11:46:00.000+10:00

“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"

He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" Matt 8:21-27 (NIV)

Do you have complete faith in the fact that God has all control? Are you happy for God to have that control? God does all things for a reason, I can’t explain it all but there is definitely a reason. I don’t know why God allows suffering, torture and pain but is all part of a lesson God will teach and is a consequence of the downfall of mankind. We need to have complete faith that God has a plan and he has total control even when we do not.

"Everything is possible for him who believes." Mark 9:23 (NIV)

Good will carry you when it gets too tough. Give your control over to him and he will calm the storm.

One night a man had a dream.

He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.

For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand:

one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him,

he looked back at the footprints in the sand.

He noticed that many times along the path of
his life there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the very

lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it:
"LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you,

you'd walk with me all the way.

But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life,
there is only one set of footprints.

I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.

"The LORD replied:
"My son, my precious child,
I love you and I would never leave you.

During your times of trial and suffering
when you see only one set of footprints,

it was then that I carried you."

Day 12: Committing to the Cross

2007-06-16T10:26:00.000+10:00

When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."
Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead." Matt 8:18-22 (NIV)

Wow, that’s a commitment, to give up your own father and mother and follow Christ. That’s fine if you don’t like your family, but if like me you do like your family than that’s a huge call. This is the commitment that God asked of all his disciples. You must deny your family and deny yourself to follow him.

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny
himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Matt 16:24 (NIV)

I find it easier to deny myself than to deny my family. My family don’t really understand but they are getting better. It is so much easier to deny myself than to say to my family ‘No, I can’t’.

But even God himself gave up his only son for me, the least I can do is listen to his leading and give him a solid commitment.

Elton John wrote a song called ‘Sorry seems like the hardest word’; I would agree but to some people saying ‘No’ is just as hard. But as Annie taught us all in cell last year we need to know when to say two special words, thanks Annie.

Where does your commitment lie? sadly mine is hugely lacking.

Day 11: Stand Upon the Rock.

2007-06-15T14:48:00.000+10:00

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matt 7:21 (NIV)

This verse is not a great one for all the ‘Sunday Christians’ out there. Church is on one day a week for most but God is on evry second of every day of the week, you can’t walk away from him at 7:34pm on a Sunday night. As payment for your salvation he expects that you will let him into your everyday life. He just wants to let you know he is there and will be in constant conversation with you, leading your life.

God is the only solid thing in this life (to me birth and death are a little bit fussy now because God has changed the rules on that when he died for you and me)

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." Matt 7:24-27 (NIV)

Stand upon that unshakeable rock or see how you go on your own, it worked well for this house with its foundation on the sand.

Day 10: Where Do Your Convictions Lie?

2007-06-15T13:02:00.000+10:00

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that
leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and
narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it. Matt 7:13-14
(NIV)

I don’t know about you but I am attracted to big, shiny things. If those gates are shiny I will need help keeping away from them. This is a problem for a lot of people, they follow the crowd and don’t think for themselves. Don’t follow all the others when you get to heaven for the gates most will take will not lead where you might hope.

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but
inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do
people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good
tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear
bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear
good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will
recognize them.” Matt 7:15-20 (NIV)

Stay true to your convictions, what you work out with God about where the line is drawn is where you must stop. The only person that will know whether you stay true to that is you and God. To be fruitful in your lives, ministry and calling you must be in connection with God.

A tree that is not watered will not grow, a tree that doesn’t grow doesn’t produce fruit and a tree that does not produce and grow is useless and is cut down and made into firewood.

You make the call as to what your convictions are and where the line is, it’s your choice as to whether you will bear fruit or become firewood.

Day 9: Ask And You Shall Recieve

2007-06-14T16:23:00.000+10:00

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matt 7:7-8 (NIV)

As a kid did you ever ask for something while you were at the shops and your Mum or Dad would get it for you, I did and I was good at it. Back in the day my family (when we were still all together) had a great undercover carport and in summer Dad and Mum’s car were parked on the street because we set up the massive pool in the garage, this thing was the size of a proper in ground pool so all the kids from the street came over for a swim. Anyway we all got hooked on these little battery operated boats that ‘Franklin’s’ (that was the supermarket back then) stocked. They were great, you switched them on and they flew along, they were fast, and dangerous for kids of 5 to be playing with.

Anyway, I used to go shopping with Mum or Dad (never together or I had no chance) to buy the groceries for the week and I got a boat when I asked, I didn’t ask every time because I knew what mood Mum or Dad had to be in (Dad was so much easier to persuade, still is), I just asked and I received, it was great.

Sometimes the answer was no but I have forgotten all the times it was no, but I do remember the times it was yes.

Imagine if you could have that relationship with God, ask and he will provide. Well you do, if you want it and ask long enough God will answer you in someway. Like the boats it wasn’t always yes but when it was I was so happy. Thank you God for the generosity to give me another day in connection with you, for that is a true gift.

Day 8: Remove The Plank

2007-06-14T15:14:00.000+10:00

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matt 7:1-2 (NIV)

Have you ever had to deal with one of those people that are really good at picking the faults of everyone else except themselves, they are usually called hypocrites, and I know a fair few of them. In fact I would also classify myself in that category. At times I really struggle to see me own faults but can tell you most of the faults of everyone around me.

It’s not such a bad thing to see the faults of others just as long as it doesn’t scar your perception of them as people. It is ok to be cautious but not to the point of exclusion.

Being able to judge people isn’t the same as being judgmental, judgemental is where the trouble will begin. No one is perfect, and no-one will ever be so it is very unwise to be judging everyone else until you yourself are perfect. Good Luck with that.

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay
no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother,
'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in
your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then
you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. Matt 7:3-6
(NIV)

I will have to change but at least I can see my own plank. In fact I have a few planks, probably enough to build a nice pergola out of. Jesus is the one that has the power saw that can cut through all the planks in my eye, and I pray that he will for both me and you.

“Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they
kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you
is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone." John 8:7 (NIV)

Day 7: Seek the Kingdom First

2007-06-14T15:04:00.000+10:00

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be
given to you as well.” Matt 6:33 (NIV).

This verse is a carry on from day 6. God’ kingdom comes first. We need not sweat the small stuff, focus on God and all the rest will automatically fall into place, if we listen to God then all things are seen in perspective and are in control. In God’s word it says that nothing can separate us from his love:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of
God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 (NIV).

So why do we let things get in the way of our relationship with God.

This week I moved into a new house, by myself and I have been running around doing so many things that I really haven’t focused on God. It got to a point yesterday that I just had to stop and sit down and say to God, ‘I’m sorry I have made myself so busy that I have ignored you, speak to me and draw me back to your love’. He did, I still got done what I needed to get done but God was leading and showed me the next step I should take.

I wasn’t out saving souls for God but I was listening and taking the time to put God first.

Day 6: Don't sweat the small stuff

2007-06-08T17:24:00.000+10:00

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matt 6:34 (NIV)

In the verses before this one Jesus tells us not to worry about life, ‘what shall I eat’, ‘what shall I wear’, ‘what do I look like’, the answer to these questions is, ‘it doesn’t matter’.

But unfortunately it does, I am ashamed to say that I am a product of society. Today a lady came into work to do a rental on a flute, this lady was morbidly obese, this lady was not the biggest I’ve ever seen but she was by far the most awkward person I have dealt with. I really struggled to look at her and she could tell I was struggling and she looked down at the floor for most of the conversation, I really tried my best but it obviously wasn’t enough to disguise my awkwardness, I felt horrible afterwards, I’m sorry I am not who I should to be.

I understand worry and I understand stress (it had me returning to the doctor 46 times and hospital 4 times in the last 3 years), It is hard not to worry and over analysis what is not ours to worry about. The Lord is in control and will carry you when times get unbearable (read Footprints), the Lord is in control, we just have to let go of the reins for long enough for him take control.

The closest I have ever felt to God was lying there in a hospital bed, some say it’s because I was half dead, but I don’t think so, it was that I had nothing, I couldn’t do anything for myself, I had to rely on God to get me through, he was a constant companion (Em wasn’t too far behind in the companionship stakes).

Trust in the Lord and he will get you through.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”
Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)

Day 5 : Treasures in Heaven

2007-06-07T11:35:00.000+10:00

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matt 6:19-22 (NIV)

The reward of God, I have talked about it before, but again I’ll just remind you again with one word. ‘Inconceivable’.

To me storing up treasure sounds like you put it in a vault and lock it away for a certain time. Now, I rarely store up my treasure here on earth, I put them on display, (maybe I need to go back and read Day 2 again). I think that the vault idea works for me in the way I think of storing up my treasure in heaven. I locked place were ‘pirates’ can’t steal my treasure, everything a good deed is done and it is done not for the eyes of man, God takes that reward and put it in the vault. One day when I get to heaven God will open that vault put aside for me and give me my rewards.

So does my heart end up in this vault too? I don’t know, but if my heart is worthy enough to be put in that vault I guess it will be there.

I know that my heart will not actually come to heaven with me but the way I see it is this (it’s quite confusing):

We are called to have the Heart of God for his people here on Earth.

God’s heart is in heaven

I want to go to heaven

If I have God’s heart and it is in heaven then isn’t it the same heart,

So therefore my heart will be there also.

I told you it was confusing, but that’s the way I see it.

Lord give me your heart to see your world changed for you.

Day 4: Forgive

2007-06-06T17:03:00.000+10:00

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matt 6:14-15 (NIV)

Wow, if that’s not scary, I don’t know what is. Can it be anymore black and white?

If you can’t find it in your heart to forgive, God will not be forgiving of all your flaws.

Imagine being convicted of all your sins, Past, Present and Future, I wouldn’t be able to stand under the weight of all my sin, scary thought. That is why we need to be out in the world saving souls for Christ, he can’t physically go and talk to people, that is our job (Matt 28:19)

But God wants to forgive, he wants nothing more than to share an eternity with us, but we must learn to forgive also, if we are going to be like Jesus, which is the aim, we need to forgive.

Learn to love and you will learn to be like Christ.

Day 3: God's agenda, not ours

2007-06-06T15:59:00.000+10:00

"Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”
Matt 6:9-13 (NIV)

I have prayer this prayer almost every Sunday since I have been part of the band in the 11am service at church, but I actually had a decent look at it the other day, I don’t know about you but it is quite boring to me unless you mean what you are saying.

Have a look at it with me.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
Lord God, Held above everything else is your name.

your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
You rule this world, Have it all your way, restore this world to be like heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.
Provide us with all we need to survive. and not want anything more.

Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
For give our wrong doing and sin as we forgive those that have done us wrong.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one
Help us not to fall and have the courage to fight for you.

I’m glad I did that process because I can walk away saying ‘your will be done’ not mine, your will be done. Imagine that, a life totally lead by God.

Day 2: The Right Reasons

2007-06-06T11:26:00.000+10:00

"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." Matt 6:1 (NIV)

Why do we do the things we do? I must admit I am not perfect even thought I would never say it to your face, I stuff up, every week, every day, every hour and sometimes even every minute of the day. I do a lot of things to make myself feel and look better than I actually am.

But I do not always stuff up, sometimes I get things right, my mind, my heart and God’s will match up and what results is an act of selflessness.

In the verse above it says that if you do your acts of kindness to be seen by man, ‘you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.’ I don’t know about you but the rewards of man for me don’t stack up against the rewards of God. I don’t know what they are, and if I did my brain would explode because as a man on this earth I do not have the capacity to comprehend what that reward might be, (woman might because of their higher brain capacity and intelligence)

Even thought I stuff up sometimes, I’ll still try to do what I can for God and not for sight of man. Lord help me!!!!!

Day 1: One thing is needed...

2007-06-04T18:04:00.000+10:00

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Luke 10:38-42

Have you ever been told you priorities are out of order? I have, I get told it quite a lot even today by my own family.

Before God lead me to him I was a model student, did my homework, focused on perfection in everything I did and I like to think i was quite a gentleman. My priorities were in order, get through school as well as I could and be nice in the meantime.

Now, I have a new priority one that I think eclipses all others (otherwise it wouldn't be my no 1 priority), Jesus.

To people that don't know and understand Jesus, the commitment required to him by all Christians is a huge one. For me that entails, living life with God every step of the way, being the hands of Jesus that reach out to the lost the last and the least, and listening to the Holy Spirit every step of the way.

My mum couldn't understand why I spent so much time at church and neglecting my Uni work, but it was my number one priority, I wanted more of God.

This is what the story of Mary and Martha represents to some degree, Martha was working so hard to impress Jesus that she missed out on what Jesus was saying, her priority was to prepare this extravagant meal for Jesus, while Mary's Number one priority was to forsake all others and to connect with with the Lord for every second that had been given to her.

Where is you number One priority, Footy, School, Friends, Popularity or Jesus?

Spend 10 seconds and see.

Cirque Du Soleil

2007-06-02T12:40:00.000+10:00

What a show!

I went to Cirque Du Soleil last night with my family and Em. It was a party for my sisters 18th birthday. It was a really good night.

It was not all laughs and amazement though, we had some difficulties.
We didn’t know that the Collingwood vs. Fremantle game was on last night at the ‘G’ and so there was no parking anywhere and ended up parking in some place that made me leave my keys in the car (not comfortable with that at all when you have instruments in the boot of your car, it was ok they were there when I got back)

We were running late because we parked so far away, and we ‘walked’ more like ran a half marathon to the arena. Em takes a lot smaller steps than me and so she has to take about 3 for every one I take so she was virtually running to keep up.(Made it just)

We needed a toilet stop when we got there (all went well I’m pleased to report)

It was freezing; I think my nose it still unfreezing.

But it was great, people flipping and contorting their bodies, it was amazing.

My favourite was these two guys who one lies down on a chair and flips the other guy around with his legs. It was just ridiculous. It was amazing because at the end he did like 20 in a row and was just flipping like a wheel going around, it was a huge effort, I found a purpose for the leg press at the Gym!! (Just wait one day I will be able to do that.)

“People are amazing creatures”
Optus Telecommunication’s logo.

Lazy Old people

2007-06-01T17:29:00.000+10:00

What is it with young people always having to do the work? I was working today (with Em and her Gaffa tree), and it is sale day tomorrow. On Sale days companies pretend that they have all this stock that they have had out the back that they want to clear. The real story is that suppliers give huge discounts on stock if they can sell it at the sale. So really you are buying new stock that is making more profit than usual stuff. What a sham!!!

Anyway all this stuff arrives the day before and lucky me I get to ‘help’ carry it all up stairs. This means ‘Dave, can you carry this stuff upstairs while I sit and do nothing’. It is trash. The other guys here do nothing, they complain that they have back problems or disappear after moving the first box. So I end up moving all the boxes and I end up with the back problems.

Oh well, such is life, who am I to complain.

(At least I didn’t have to rip Gaffa all day!)

Sausage Evangelism

2007-05-30T14:48:00.000+10:00

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

2007-05-29T14:31:00.000+10:00

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

2007-05-28T12:45:00.000+10:00

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!

2007-05-28T10:58:00.000+10:00

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

2007-05-26T15:10:00.000+10:00

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

2007-05-26T15:01:00.000+10:00

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.

2007-05-25T10:54:00.000+10:00

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

2007-05-22T11:03:00.000+10:00

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

2007-05-17T19:18:00.000+10:00

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

2007-05-17T18:34:00.000+10:00

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

2007-05-17T18:10:00.000+10:00

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

2007-05-12T13:59:00.000+10:00

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

2007-05-12T13:53:00.000+10:00

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

2007-05-10T18:32:00.000+10:00

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!!!!!

2007-05-08T17:12:00.000+10:00

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

2007-05-07T18:15:00.000+10:00

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

2007-05-06T21:03:00.000+10:00

"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)

2007-05-05T14:46:00.000+10:00

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.

2007-05-04T15:33:00.000+10:00

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

2007-05-04T15:30:00.000+10:00

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?

2007-05-03T19:08:00.000+10:00

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

2007-05-03T12:09:00.000+10:00

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

2007-05-03T11:19:00.000+10:00

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!!!!

2007-05-02T14:58:00.000+10:00

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

Detention

2007-04-28T16:27:00.000+10:00

I even get Detention as a teacher!!

I had to stay back at school until 5.15 last night because my supervising teacher had to stay back and do work and just stuff around, and I can’t leave until she says I can go!!

I was supposed to be helping Em at 4.00 to put together some important work that she has been working on for about 2 months now and I had to let her do it all by herself, Sorry Em.

I only had 3 detentions in high school,
1. For making Ms Harie (the most disrespected fill in teacher in the school) angry and gave the whole class detention (thanks Daniel Cameron)
2. For waging PE class (I’m a Muso, although I wish I had been more sporty)
3. For aggravating another student until he threw a chair at me (sorry for that JM)

But none have been for over 2 hours.

Life in the 'Fast Lane'

2007-04-26T18:38:00.000+10:00

I have found a new saying, it keeps going over in my head, everytime i get angry, frustrated, annoyed, impatient. I feel God give me these words,

"Those who live in the fast lane, die in the fast lane"

I am really liking having this in my head, it stops me from rushing, from
wasting my life running from place to place.

I really like the idea of being able to take a step back from this hustle and bustle of life and just say 'God, lead me in your direction, in your time'.

"Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes!" 1 Samuel 12:16

"Be still, and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10

Homework!

2007-04-26T18:05:00.000+10:00

I finished school 4 years ago now and i am still being set homework! Why!!!

It is ridiculous, my supervising teacher has told me i have to go home and write out a report on a classes behaviour, due tomorrow. What is it with teachers and things due tomorrow!

I had my night all planned out, leave school (after staying back to observe a junior choir rehearsal, great fun...Not!)the home, grab my stuff and go to the gym before band rehearsal tonight at 8pm. Well i guess that's not happening, I'm writting a report on a year 7 class instead.

Hope everyone else has a good night because mine is ruined.

"The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry"
Robert Burns -To a Mouse

Anzac Day

2007-04-25T16:15:00.000+10:00

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them."

Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14:14

Mr George Baby!!!!

2007-04-25T14:13:00.000+10:00

I had a very interesting thing happen to me in class today,

Whilst teaching a year 7 music class one of the year 7 girls in the class was calling out to get my attention, i don't answer there question unless there hand is up and i will then go over too them.

This girl knew that and was calling out, I looked at her and made her put up her hand. so she did that but still kept calling out my name whist i was walking over to her. I got within about 5 steps of her and she called out 'Mr George Baby', i was stunned, i had no idea what to do, I told her that it was ok and that we will just ignore that, but i tell you what, she was embarrassed, her friends gave her such a hard time after i left.

My supervising teacher looked up in shock as well, at lunch time my supervising teacher went and told everyone in the staff room. evidently it happens all the time, but usually the kids call out 'Mum', i was the first to be called 'Baby' and i am quite proud of it too.

May people in the bible have called out:

Abraham called out 318 men (Genisis 14:14)
the angel of the Lord called to Abraham (Genisis 22.11)
Gideon called out to his troops (Judges 7:15)
David called out to Saul (1 Samual 24:8)
Jesus called his 12 desciples (Mattew 10:1)

But none of them called out 'Mr George Baby!"

"In my distress I called to the LORD; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears." 2 Samual 22:7 (NIV)

Teaching - the fall.

2007-04-25T13:03:00.000+10:00

Why is it that when you think you are up, someone always brings you down?

I am still on my teaching rounds and i taught a year 8 double classroom music class, now there are three difficulties with this:

it's a year 8 class
it's a double period
its classroom music

there was also a forth problem:

4. I only found out about it yesterday, and only got the topic last night.

it was about 70's music, i thought this would be ok because i know a little bit about the development of jazz/soul/funk music in that era. But i wasn't allowed to teach on this stuff, it had to be rock music, which i don't have a clue about, i was stuffed.

I stayed up too late last night preparing for it and i was in tears this morning, praying that it would be ok, it was, i did really well. I was thanking God and i was really excited, until my supervising teacher gave me her notes on my lesson.

The only positive feedback was that I marked the roll well. I almost cried again right in front of her (me a 6foot guy, crying because a 5 foot, seven month pregnant woman who wouldn't be able to reach my head, had told me it wasn't good)

I knew it wasn't great and i knew where i went wrong but i just wanted some encouragement, if i hadn't already thought about giving up now was the time i was ready.

I don't know maybe it will strengthen me to be bought down to earth again, but it sure hurt.

"Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor." Proverbs 18:12. (NIV)
"encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today" Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)

VCE

2007-04-24T19:24:00.000+10:00

Long hours, never-ending piles of homework, no life!

Because of my teaching rounds i was required to go along to a VCE Solo Performance (music) lecture on a Sunday, Horrible way to spend a Sunday.

10-5 non-stop aural studies, for those who don't know how that would feel try listening to Britney Spears all day on repeat, your mind swells up and it feels like your brain is so full it will soon come out of your ears.

Horrible torture, good luck to anyone facing this pain. Good Luck.

"Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body." Ecclesiastes (NIV)

Happy Birthday Mim

2007-04-24T19:05:00.000+10:00

21, it's a crazy age, big party, no real change in life. To me 21st birthdays are just a good time to reflect on life before it becomes hectic.

Miriam turned 21 on Saturday and had a English tea party for over 100. It was very Australian and social but with a tinge of Asian thrown in (much like an accurate description of Miriam should be).

Homemade spring rolls, prawn toast, little sandwiches but i didn't get any dim sims, i think the Asian got to them before anyone else.

But honestly it was a good party with many good friends and good laughs.

Happy birthday Mim, we all love you and wish you a happy day.

"We rejoice and delight in you ; we will praise you more than wine. We will celebrate with you, How right we are to adore you!" Song of Solomon 1:4 (NIV)

Stand Firm

2007-04-17T17:16:00.000+10:00

In last nights Salvo basketball games we saw a big hit, it is not often in a basketball game you see a 20 year old girl fly.

Last night, 'menacing Miriam Pho' took a huge hit on the half court line, she, in the perfect defensive position, has absolutely steam-rolled by an oncoming player, through no fault of either player, we say a huge head clash, leaving both on the ground.

So Miriam, i salute your braveness, and strength, if it were me, i would have screamed like a little girl.

I think your new nickname may have to be "Mighty-Mean-Manly-Muscular-Miriam Pho"

"Do not be afraid. Stand Firm" Exodus 14:13
"You will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear." Job 11:15

Mr George

2007-04-16T20:00:00.000+10:00

As part of my Education degree at uni, i have to go out and do teaching rounds. For this lot of rounds i am spending 10 days teaching at 'Ringwood Secondary College'.

So there were may questions i was going through in my own mind this morning:

what do i wear? (i got it wrong and got in trouble)
what if the teacher doesn't turn up? (it happened, she was half an hour late and i was left standing outside with her year 12 class)
what if the kids don't like me? (i think i did ok with the year 9 girls)
what do they call me?

I wanted to be called Dave, but evidently i have to be called Mr George. My dad is a teacher and he is 'Mr George' but his kids call him 'Muzza' why do i have to 'Mr. George' I want to be the cool teacher not the loser that follows a heavily pregnant music teacher around the school.

I like my name why can't i use it?

"God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?, Job 36:22"

Sydney

2007-04-16T19:52:00.000+10:00

Well what a weekend, it was a fantastic time of sharing in worship, singing and fellowship with a very great group of people at the Parramatta Salvation Army. Both the songsters and Big Band were ‘on fire’ and a fantastic witness for God. I had a great time, making some great new friends. Thankyou to all involved in the weekend and I appreciate all the effort that went into the preparations and organizations for this weekend, I hope to do it again soon.

God bless Parramatta.

“Let the rivers clap their hands, Let the mountains sing together for joy; let
them sing before the LORD, Psalm 98:8-9”

Toothache

2007-04-13T09:31:00.000+10:00

Have you ever had the feeling your ear is going to explode? Well I am experiencing that right now.
On Wednesday night we went out for dinner to celebrate Em’s birthday with her family, and her brother recommended the ‘Mixed Grill’, (basically a large platter of meat with one lettuce leaf to make it look like a balanced meal). It was really good but I think I bit down too hard on one of the ribs because I now have a big crack in one of my teeth, it really hurts.

Last night part of it chipped off. I can’t sleep, I can’t eat and I can’t talk properly. Although I would love to run into Jesus today, for once going to the dentist is just as exciting to me today. I am looking forward to conquering this, if Jesus can make it through the pain of the cross, I’ll make it through until 2.15pm to see the dentist today, but only just!!

"I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me.Psalm 69:29"

The week that was

2007-04-12T16:42:00.000+10:00

well, what an eventfull week it has been,
'Cause for celebarations' all around me

Jesus' Death (not so good on its own)
The atonement of the world
the Resurrection of faith and life
My girlfriends 20th birthday
The birth of the newest Collinson
Shirl restoring order to the Lewis house
so many great things

but there have also been some very scary and non-celebratory times

the scare of potensial lost fingers
the trials of a broken family at Easter
the demons lose at the hands of Hawthorn and the shattering news of David Neitz and Russel Robertsons month-ending injuries.

But i am happy, i have 'holidays' and i enjoy feeling free from uni (at least for today), and i thank God for everyday that he has given me that freedom.

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed, John 8:36"

Welcome Back

2007-04-12T16:32:00.000+10:00

Well it has been a while but, i thought that i should start again. I know that my blogging was a useless last time, so i'll try to be better, i know i won't be though. Sorry

As Michael Buble would put it "It's Time"

2006-12-30T16:35:00.000+11:00

Alright, due to increasing public pressure, it is time for me to unleash my thoughts into the unsuspecting World Wide Web.

"IT'S TIME"