Australia 3, Japan 1

So I did watch the soccer last night between Australia & Japan. But I am kicking myself now that I decided that it was too late to keep watching, and as a result I missed all the fun in the last 8 minutes when we won 3-1.

But people- let's get some perspective here. The Socceroos are not going to win the World Cup. This is only Round 1. One newspaper called this victory the 'greatest sporting moment in Australian history'. Wait a minute- what about Phar Lap? What about Makaby Deva? What about Cathy Freeman? Or the America's Cup? Stephen Bradford? My latest trip to the gym (my mother would be proud anyway...)

Training Days

The good thing about being an Anglican is that the diocese puts effort in training us in the years out of college. Today we had a training day in the city on hatch, match and dispatch (that's thanksgiving services, weddings and funerals in the Anglican context).

Funniest quote of the day:
Seminar leader: (about a groom at a wedding) 'He was the kind of guy who calls a spade a spade.'
Minister: (bluntly) 'Why? Did he work in a hardware store?'

CU Blues

I've got the Cedarville blues.

Normality Sets in

Today was a normal day. I got up early, read my Bible and prayed while I ate my porridge. Then I drove into the office, wrote an answer to a question the ladies had in Bible study (finally!), started writing a report for a grant application, started planning a 'Day Away' conference for 2 months time, decided to run a 'Challenging Da Vinci' Sunday, met up with Matt and Kylie for the afternoon, rushed home to cook dinner. Was still eating dinner while people from Bible study arrived. Bible study. Ate dinner after Bible study. Blogged.

Today Shannyn and I reminisced about the week that was Cedarville. Until next year. Can't wait.

Oh Man!

Today I spent the day taking the Cedarville team around the city and Manly (don't worry- I've swapped my day off for this week, for those of you who think I'm bludging!) It was a glorious day- the kind of day that makes you glad you are alive and living in such a beautiful city like Sydney. Sydney turned on a winner of a day...breezy on the Parramatta River but warm enough to notice the sun. The beach was inviting- the water fresh, and the company great!

Of course, I'm sad that my time with the team is coming to a close...only a few more days before their trip to Melbourne. We've had so many laughs, and shared so many good times ministering together. Its hard forming such good friendships, only to say good bye. And I still miss last year's team as well. I'm so glad I will have heaps of friends in Glory. This is yet another good reason to call heaven my Home. And may the good times continue.

Cedarville has Landed!

The 2006 team from Cedarville is finally here! This week we are hosting 15 university students from CU this week. We had a great day in church yesterday with them, and the week can only get better. Today we are all taking a much needed day off and going into the city to see the sights. If you get a chance, and if you live in the same country, head on over to church hear the team sing about Christ.

The Holy Spirit in Scripture

Today in Scripture I was teaching about the Holy Spirit. The students had to write down in their work books something about who the Holy Spirit says he is. Here's what one kid write:

'Yo! I'm the Holy Spirit! Get Down! Yo Bro! Wassup?'

I admit, I had to laugh. And then wonder about my teaching skills...

All things Kermit

Call me a weirdo, but people who have known me more recently don't realise this about me.... I have a soft spot for a certain green frog. I have followed his career for quite some time, and have grown to love the little green dude. I felt like a part of him was gone when Jim Henson died, and my favourite childhood toy was a Kermit puppet that I still have.

Imagine my surprise when my brother sent me a link showing me that you can actually buy a Kermit the Frog replica....of the original Muppet puppet. How cool would that be! My capacity for doing kid's talks in church just suddenly escalated.

The only downfall is that he costs $199 US.

Mundine Annoys Me

I just happened to be listening to the radio last night and Anthony Mundine was on the sports programme. I don't get annoyed easily, but I must say that his arrogance irritated me. Here's what he was saying about his upcoming fight with Danny Green:

"He's going to find it hard to hit me and he's going to be hit more often than he's ever been. You can't train for speed, man. Very few fighters in the world have got it, like I've got it. It doesn't matter if he is sparring Superman or the Six Million Dollar Man."

"I can defeat anybody the way I am feeling right now and that's going to start with Green. I want to reign this division and prove that I am the best of the best."

And serisously, what's with the get up dude? Definitely not Superman or the Six Million Dollar Man. More like Mr T gone formal.

Previously on Lost...

Currently Watching
Lost- Season 1

Some would call it self-induced tiredness...I reckon its just reckless fun staying up until all hours and watching Lost. So what am I blogging to you for...I'm gonna go watch this glorified-Gilligan's Island TV show. Thank goodness for sleep-ins on days off... Tootles!

The Ministry Opportunities our Government Gives us

I'm a big fan of teaching Scripture in the local public school, even if I do complain about how naughty the kids can be. This week I actually prayed that they would listen to what I had to teach them and God answered my prayer beyond what I could hope for!

In the first class, the students just fired me with questions, which I answered one by one!

Like:
· How did we get the Bible?
· Who wrote the Bible?
· How can you believe something we can’t see?
· How can Jesus be God?
· How do you know God is real?
· Who made God?

Its interesting the questions kids are asking today- very similar to the ones adults were asking years ago.

In the second class, as I taught about the resurrection, and a sweet and sincere little girl came up to me afterwards and asked ‘If I say sorry for all my sins will I go to heaven?’ So I explained the gospel to her!

Its opportunities like these to teach the gospel that our Government gives us by allowing Scripture to be taught in our NSW public schools. If you don't do it already, plan to pray regularly for future opportunities to teach Scripture in our public schools for generations to come. Who knows how many people will be in heaven on the Last Day because of School Scripture.

Sermon in Progress

983 words and counting!
(Sorry, I couldn't resist...it seems like a lot of my friends are taking me on a ride with them when they write their essays these days...just thought I'd join in the fun!)

Good things

Dark chocolate with lime is really good.
So is Pete Murray live.

What Adolf and I have in common

Drinks, Chinese food, ice cream, good friends, good family. What more could a guy ask for?

Note to self...

Note to self- don't have coffee past 8pm on a Saturday night...hello! Im still wide awake! And bouncing!

An Ideal World

In an ideal world there would only be love
and no hate.
In an ideal world happiness
would be the only fate.
In an ideal world there would be
no Kosovo or Rwanda or Iraq or Pol Pot.
Only heroes. Ones that fight crime and fly,
like Superman.
Except (of course) there would be no crime
in my ideal world.
In my ideal world
A heart would never break
or grieve or ache.
Your heart would only get
that butterfly feeling.
The kind you feel when you go down a rollercoaster,
only better.
Equations would not need parameters or constants.
K-values would be a thing of the past.
So would accusing and cheating and gossipping and lying and regretting.
And crying.
But the lessons learnt would be there.
In my ideal world
childhoods continue.
So would the 1950's.
You’d have the naivety of a 6 year old
and the wisdom of one who realises that
my ideal world is not here.
Yet.

Warning- Sermons in Progress

I've loved getting into Mark's gospel today to think about the resurrection. I don't think I appreciated enough how Mark sees that the resurrection of Jesus floods in the kingdom of God. From the start of Mark's gospel, the coming of the kingdom of God has been anticipated until the end. Mark wants us to see that the resurrection of Jesus signals a new era- the long anticipated time has arrived at last. The kingdom of God is here! And its so significant that the women leave the tomb screaming! That ending leaves me with my jaw hanging open. And I think Mark intends me to feel that way, because something momentous has just taken place. Wow.

I've also been thinking about the Garden of Gethsemane scene. Jesus is so overwhelmed by what is about to happen on the cross that it is killing him before his time. All because of our sin. And I get to preach on this tomorrow night in a local retirement village church service!

Apart from a day of trying to understand these accounts better so I can preach on them this Easter, I also went to visit an elderly retired minister who is coming to do Communion for us this Sunday. I always enjoy talking to men like him- an older man who has walked where I have, and who would have so much wisdom to offer me. Not only has this man been in ministry for much longer than me, but he was also in the war, and then finished Moore College in the late 40's. (This is a man I have heard who used to take suitable men away on weekends to talk to them about going into ministry- the original Club 5!) I found myself wishing I had more time to hear some of his stories and lessons about life in ministry. Perhaps that will make for a good afternoon tea one day soon.

Then, while in the village, I had lunch with my dear Nana. She's a sweety.

Day One- The New Church

Praise the Lord!!! Today was the public opening of the new congregation. To be perfectly honest with you (after all, its between you, me and the internet right?) I was a little nervous about how the new church would pan out. But it was SO exciting and I was pleasantly surprised when I got there that there were people there that I didn't recognise. (I arrive there late because I run 2 services on a Sunday morning.) People came to our new church! There were a few new adults (29 in all), as well as new kids (27), and most people I didn't recognise. God is good! Not that numbers are important, but its exciting to see it grow after a core group of only 13 adults. The weeks ahead will be telling, as I'm sure the numbers will settle down, but it has started off well.

The service has a nice casual feel to it. People appreciated being able to have a cup of coffee in hand while church is on. I quite like that too. It was mildly amusing when I got up to preach when I picked up the music stand and the whole top of it came off! Off to a great start. My sister came through with the goods again and played some wonderful songs for us. I wish I could sing like her. One woman even came with her pony, which was appropriate for Palm Sunday. The kids loved it.

Pray that the new families will come back and that more people will come for Easter. Pray that the sermons would be interesting, engaging, and most of all, Biblical. Pray that the families that come will know Christ. Pray that the familes who aren't saved will know Christ. Just pray, because God has answered so many of our prayers relating to this church so far, and so many are praying, and God can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine! Pray, pray, pray!!! Because God is good and His work will continue, no matter what.

Intense Orange

Someone put a whole block of Lindt Dark Chocolate (Intense Orange!) in my letterbox today!!! How nice is that??!! In next week's sermon I am going to mention my passion for good quality chocolate ice-cream.

Dark Chocolate Snob

I admit it, I'm a chocolate snob. Allow me to describe to you my experience of eating fine quality Lindt dark chocolate. My fingers gently break peel off the cardboard cover. The foil crinkles. I break the thin layer with a gentle snap. As I smell the rich, sweet scent, my mouth begins to imagine the taste. So I take a little bite at first. The combination of rich tasting smooth flavour with just enough bitterness is matched by the sweetness of it all. I take a bigger bite- this time the flavour fills my whole mouth, with a combination of liquid and solid. The taste is gorgeous! And soon there is a chocolatey-taste left on my tongue, which I wash down with a mouthful of coffee. Now for the next bite.

This was the introduction to my sermon today on being passion driven for the gospel. (Thanks Adam for the idea!) As a result, someone told me that Aldy sells similar quality chocolate at a much lower price...