The community of body-pump

My gym instructor just came over and cut and coloured my hair. Got to meet her son and talk to her for an hour and a half. I feel like I understand her a bit more.

Great hair cut too. And comparatively cheap.

sorry. no blog posts.

I've had things to write, but they would have bored you to tears.

Let me tell you now. Grab a pillow.

It's TWIST season. I'm managing some of the events. Today this has involved:

• watching the regos coming in (real-time agony - why do people leave it till the last minute*?), 
• thinking about what songs to put in the sheet music give away books (suggestions?)
• stressing about rego numbers,
• baking chic chip biscuits, 
• deciding that the numbers are actually pretty good for 2/3 events.
• writing Brisbane and Sydney schedule sheets (keeping track of who flies in when and what we all have to do when), 
• whinging to Andrew about the disappointing numbers for one of the events
• preparing a thematically arranged list of emu songs for the pastor's conference (I've been wanting to categorise all our songs for years. Imagine a database where you type in your themes and it spits out potential songs for you - then you click the link, listen and download. Easy!)
• Finding an extra 60 registrations for the concerning event. Rejoicing.

Anyway. As I said. Boring. The conference will be great though. You should come. www.twistconference.com

* I only ever register for anything at the last minute.

School Holidays

Loving them.

why...

... can child #2 hold a 10 verse psalm in his head and recite it near perfectly but not have the working memory needed to sound out an 8 letter word?

I know I know. Right brain vs left brain. Picture/concept memory vs ??? [something else]

Still. It is strange.

pt session

My sister has a personal trainer. If I could justify the cost, I'd have one too.

But while I was in Rocky I got to share Nicole's. The trainer, Michelle, worked out that since we were sisters we're probably fairly competitive. Um. Yeah. Nicole's always been fitter than me, but she gave birth 3 months ago. So we were fairly even. I could lift heavier weights, but her form was better. We did 2 sessions. Here's yesterday's.

10 burpees
20 push ups
30 squats while swinging a 6kg weight between your legs to over your head
40 sit ups
50 squats while holding 6kg weight over your head (had to squat until we hit a low bench seat)

x4

It was a race. I fatigued out on burpee #9 on round 3 but recovered by round 4. I'm hurting today.

George in 'Bare Necessities'

Back from Rockhampton

It's been a full few days. The boys and I have been staying with my sister and her 4 kids (including one of my 3 new nephews - Edmund). It's school holidays and Dance Eisteddfod week. I've learnt a lot.

Jenny and others have blogged on the Tiger Mother book? Tiger Mum? Whatever. This week I've been introduced to the Ballet Mum thing. Oh. My. Goodness. If you don't live in that world, you have no idea. One week. Two ballet kids. Four individual performances. One group performance (both kids in the same group. Phew!) Two thousand dollars worth of costumes. Six make up sessions. Private lessons. Practice, practice, practice...

It was actually kind of fun. The kids (my niece (age 6) and nephew (aged 5)) performed really well. I got to wait with them backstage before their performances. I'll post some mobile phone pics soon.

Interesting opportunity to reflect on what matters to us in bringing up our kids. Also interesting that amidst all this that our kids were desperate to get to church last night. We couldn't go in the morning because of ballet and the church we go to in Rocky has moved it's night service to the uni... Even so they were keen to go. So was I.

Rockhampton

two hour tuesday

was yesterday.

Today is Wet Washing and One Hour Wednesday.

Got to get all the clothes clean. Tomorrow the boys and I are driving to Rockhampton for a few days to see my sister and her kids (including my new nephew!) I think it will be three hour Thursday. Maybe 7-hour Thursday if I can't handle the in-car fighting.

right now...

Reading - The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict

Listening - REM's latest - Collapse Into Now

Thinking about - a song worthy of John 6

Wishing - Marketing conferences wasn't such a drag. Just register, folks, and put me out of my misery!

Watching - youtube. Best of REM.

You?

brilliant day!

Media free Monday was a hit. No whinge all day (after the initial unbelief that everything was switched off!) The kids made boardgames and we played them together. We went swimming. I did jobs.

We follow up tomorrow with Two Hour Tuesday. E-devices on between 3 and 5pm.

Media Free Monday

Before I went to the gym this morning, I unplugged the TV, removed the power board, hid the computer mouse and keyboard and took away the kids' iPod. I stuck 'Welcome to Media Free Monday' signs around the house.

When I got home at 7.30, the signs had (predictably) been altered. Joel greeted me with palm cards and a prepared speech debating 'that we should be able to play computer games.' He argued that computer games benefit both the individual and the community, asserting that they teach valuable life skills and are an outlet for creativity and that they 'enhance' friendships, giving children common interests and the chance to work together...

Micah and Nathan had already had a game of ticket to ride and were busy with lego.

Right now they are jumping on top of each other. Waiting for one of them to find me on the computer and  declare 'Media Free Monday' over.

School Holidays! Enjoy!

R.E.M. - ÜBerlin (Official)

Dumb Things #523: The Necklace Shirt

I bought this shirt the other day. It cost $7.95.

It is called a 'necklace shirt'. It comes with a necklace attached. Attached. Quite securely.

One question: washing. Gentle though our front loader may be, I'm pretty sure the necklace wouldn't survive. A hand wash probably wouldn't be great either.

So what am I meant to do? Chuck the shirt after one wear and buy another?

John 6

My favourite chapter in the whole bible right now.

It has it all.

Favourite part?

48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

blogvertorial

I think you should all come to Twist music ministry conference next month. Piper Schmiper. This conference is where it's at. Here's a letter we're sending out to people. There's Brisbane conference too. Already 100 registered for the pastor's conference (thanks Anthony!)

Dear Friends, 

As you might have heard, Emu Music is bringing songwriter and author, Bob Kauflin, to Sydney on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th October as part of TWIST Conference 2011. Bob heads up the music ministry of the Sovereign Grace Churches in the USA. His influence in contemporary church music across the world (through songs like 'O Great God' and 'Let Your Kingdom Come,' and his book and blog ‘Worship Matters’) is characterised by a deep commitment to Biblical truth and a desire to see Christians sing that truth with passion. I have not met anyone in the world as thought out about contemporary Biblical church music as Bob is. And on top of that he has an infectious love of Christ and is an inspiring leader of God’s people whether in song or when teaching.
Emu has been going 10 years now – and has had a vision from day one to equip your church with songs of the Word – both true and relevant and with a focus on Jesus and his gospel. The TWIST conferences have built on this – by taking your musos and song leaders and grounding them in a right theology of church and worship and giving them the practical skills to lead their congregations with skill and passion. This year, I believe, is our most exciting ever. And with the bonus of having Bob Kauflin we have included for the first time a Friday pastors conference – so that you can think through the issues of music and emotional response from the perspective of being the church leader. If you have not thought much about this vital ministry of the Word, or are looking for new inspiration for your services, or are maybe just frustrated with the singing in your church – then this day should not be missed.

So why I am writing? To get you to come to our pastor’s day, your musos to the music ministry training on Saturday and your whole church to our evening session on Saturday night. Faithful and engaging singing in church is the responsibility of us all. And TWISTCON11 is about encouraging all Christians to celebrate, share and remember the gospel in song. Our main event is for every member of your church and will be packed with awesome teaching, singing and response to 'the Word of Christ'.
I am so confident that your music team and church members will find TWIST to be revolutionary for their ministries in your church, that if they come back unmoved I will give them a refund!
So what and when:
Friday 7th October, 10am-3pm: Pastor’s Conference (Village Church Annandale)Saturday 8th October, 1pm-5pm: Music Ministry Training (City Recital Hall, Angel Place)Saturday 8th October, 7pm: TWIST Main Event (City Recital Hall, Angel Place) - for your whole church
Check out http://www.twistconference.com for all the other details.
Or register now: http://www.eventzilla.net/web/organizer.aspx?ClientID=201103011149

Thanks

which is better?

1. Uber-competent, personally stable (though unreflective), vaguely aware of sin, and theoretically thankful for grace.

or

2. Almost competent, personally a mess, acutely aware of sin, and thoroughly astounded by grace.

yesterday was a hellish day

7.30am - kids start arriving at our place to get picked up for music camp
8.00am - N and M go to school
8:20am - Music camp kids leave
8:30am - decide not to panic about day ahead. Breathe...
9:00am - Go hang out with friend who has beautiful new baby (this is a good bit. Not stress bit.)
11.30am - Meet good friend visiting from Mackay. Chat and drive her to her next destination (this is a good bit. Not stress bit.)
1.30pm - Decide not to stress about what needs to happen from here.
1.45pm - Go to school to see principal who needs to fill in and sign forms to for my already expired teacher's reg. Find out I need to submit all my long, medium and short term planning (!) and have her watch my lessons before she signs the forms. Try not to panic. Call the registration place to try to ask for an extension of reg. to allow for this. Try not to panic when realise this will be tricky. Curse myself and wonder how much money my formophobia will cost me this time. Decide not to think about it.
2.30pm - Start writing lesson plans.
2.45pm - Kids home from school. Need to get completely organised for school ball then take Nathan with me to watch Joel's 2 hour end of music camp concert in city, then get Joel dressed for ball and walk to ball from music camp venue (thankfully very close). Start getting Joel's costume packed up while doing afternoon tea etc.
3.10pm - Nathan declares that he has nothing to wear to the ball. I made Joel's costume weeks ago and asked Nathan but he said he didn't want one. Now he needs new clothes to wear (this is true. He does.) Start to lecture him for his pathetic disorganisation then stop, realising that I am in no position to lecture anyone on this topic.
3.15pm - Grab all ball gear and rush Nathan to shops. Buy something.
4.10pm - arrive 10 minutes late to the concert. Stress that I've missed Joel's bit. Realise I haven't. Relax.
6.00pm - Concert finishes. Try to find Joel (there are 400 kids)
6.15pm - Find Joel v. sad because he's lost his clarinet ligature. D'oh. Comfort him by saying that we'll be able to buy a new one. Don't stress etc. Walk (long distance) to car to get robed up for ball. Joel still upset.
6.30pm - Realise we don't have Joel's costume after all. Need to drive home (peak hour). Ball begins at 7. Kids are meant to arrive at 6.30. Joel increasingly agitated.
6.45pm - In traffic jam. Joel tells us that he hasn't eaten since 10am. He feels sick. Has headache and sore tummy (and many tears.) Call Andrew. Ask him to meet us with costume and food outside our house.
6:53pm - Arrive home. Grab stuff. Leave. Joel distressed. Give Nathan task of giving him food. Few lollies to start with, then bread and water.
7:10 - Arrive at ball. Throw Joel's costume on. Wack some paint on his face. Joel was so pale it looked like he already had his face painted. Hope that he survives the night. Try to look calmish.
9:00 - Arrive home. Ball was really good. Bible Study finishing at our place. Chat to people.
9:30 - 2 ladies (aged 70 and 80) leave. 80 year old slips and falls down 8 steps (concrete) landing on 70 year old. Fear the worst. Pray.
10.30 - 70 year old (dear brave woman - didn't complain at all) has broken wrist. Husband arrives to take her to hospital. 80 year old very shaken but seems to have only cuts and bruises. Andrew goes with her to medical centre (closed) then waits with her at her home for doctor to arrive.
1:30am - Andrew arrives home
3:00am - I'm awake thinking about teacher's reg. debacle and wondering why I'm so pathetic.
5:30am - Decide to do some lesson planning instead of stressing.
7:30am - Submit short, medium and long term planning for year!

Over-functioning mother? Me?

Yep.

It was round 2 of debating tonight.

I was really getting on Joel's nerves. Kept trying to make him practice some more... He was uninterested till we started talking payment... $1.50 of iTunes money per rebuttal point, plus bonuses for quality.

Unlike last time, our opposing team was really good. The parents children had written excellent talks and delivered them well.

Joel was third speaker. He chose to focus on quantity for his rebuttal. 5 points (which is too many.) He did two well.

It was close. I think they'd have won if their third speaker hadn't insulted our team.

One point.

Debating is expensive. $20 for ice-cream afterwards.

And $8.50 for Joel.

blog silence

Sorry. Mad week.

Music camp, debating, school ball, dentist...

un-co face

Lopsided mouth. Can't make this talking thing happen properly.

bass guitar

Learning to play tonight. Teaching it at school on Wednesday.

I love my job.

10 years ago...

...I slept badly because my favourite character on The Bill was killed. At 4am I was up feeding 10 week old Joel. The tele-evangelists weren't on TV. The same news was on every channel. I didn't understand. I went and told Andrew that something bad had happened. That America was under attack. He told me not to worry. That nothing had happened.

You?

Bone reading group?

I've had a reaction to the anaesthetic at the dentist yesterday.

Big ulcer where the needle went in.

Need to have more work done next week.

Am considering asking if the needle is really necesary.

blah blah blah blah

Writing an article on an event that has long since past (in my mind, anyway.)

Can we move on?

Ouch!

Not the teeth, the wallet.

twist sydney is looking for ushers

Anyone interested?

Sat 5th October. We'd need you from about midday till 9.30pm.

You'd get to wear an orange shirt.

dentist today

Don't really want to talk about it. There is something funny going on with one of my teeth. Actually, probably 15 of my teeth. Haven't been to the dentist in 8 years.

I'm expecting to be $2000 poorer pretty soon.

reading...

Bone.

Illegal Baby Names

Andrew is blogging again!

Have a look.

note to humanity: posting comments on fb event pages

Take notice facebookers. If you're invited to an event that you hope goes well and you wish you could attend (but can't), please help the organisers by not telling the whole world that you are not going. It makes it look like a loser function if all the comments on the page are people saying how they are not attending. If you feel you need to explain yourself, send a private message. If you really wanted to help you could forward the invite to any friends who might be interested. Or you could do nothing at all. That would be fine. Just don't post negative things on the event wall. Okay?

Okay.

So you have to choose a great quote by a great person, dress up as that person and give your class and all the parents a talk about the great person, the quote and what life experiences led them to say such a thing. You could choose Nelson Mandella or Princess Diana, or Winston Churchill. But you don't.
Nathan's quote? 'Germany will either be a world power or will not be at all.' Adolf Hitler.
When a teacher asked, 'So Adolf, what obstacles were put in you path?' Nathan said, 'Poland.'

choice vs equity in education

The problems we must deal with were created decades ago when we somehow ended up with a public system open to all - and a subsidised private system open to some, if they could pay. It's hard to think of a better way to create a social and academic apartheid framework of schools.

The schools that are partly resourced by fees inevitably harvest an advantaged enrolment; the schools that are free and open to all become socially and academically residualised. What we've always guessed but now know is that this system, almost regardless of teacher quality, makes it much harder to lift the achievement of kids at the bottom of the school league.

For decades we have been in denial, wrapping this arrangement up in endless and often shifting rationalisations; it's variously been about choice, competition, quality, entitlement. Choice is considered most important, despite the fact that choice of schools is really only available to those with money.

For this very reason we find that choice sits at one end of a continuum - but down the other end lies equity. This dilemma is now very important because improving equity of student outcomes can only happen if we challenge the right of some to unrestricted choice.

Loving this article about public vs private education. What do you think? Is it okay sacrifice choice for some in order to achieve equity for all?

New Song!

I'm working on a song. It still needs a final verse, and a tune, and a good edit. But I'm pleased with how it's looking so far. 10 points for whoever can pick the book of the bible I'm basing it on.


The Hour Has Come

The hour has come
The word in flesh appeared
Shining light into the darkness.
God sent his son,
Spoke into our despair,
Became one with his creation.
The Holy God
Is now made known
The hungry fed, the broken hearted whole.
The hour has come,
The great I Am is here,
Oh may every soul receive him.

The hour has come
The Son is glorified
See him lifted high, exalted.
Behold our king,
His arms held open wide,
As he draws all nations to him.
A wooden cross,
His throne of pain,
Ashamed we turn away from him.
The hour has come,
Salvation has arrived,
With a cry of ‘it is finished!’

Though night be long,
And sorrows drown the day,
There is joy tomorrow waiting.
The deepest griefs,
That tears can’t wash away,
Can be turned at morn’s appearing.
Behold his hands, his side, his feet!
Put doubts to rest, oh heart believe!
Jesus is here,
Our Lord is raised to life
Oh may every soul receive him.

sar 2011

Bone

A big thank you to my blog friends who recommended that we buy Joel a Bone comic for his birthday. Andrew's mum got him the 1,332 page one volume edition. He loves it like nothing else. Joel has never spent so long with his nose in a book. He got it on Sunday and he's almost finished it.

He's also gone back to making his own comic books. Life has meaning and purpose when you can draw pictures of little guys eating poo and swimming in a toilet.

So where do we go from here? Ideas, comic fans!

Matthew 5:31-32

 ³¹ “It was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’; ³² but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.


I've finally worked out the exception cause in Matthew 5:32! It's obvious. Jesus isn't saying that it's okay to get divorced if your spouse cheated on you (though it might be alright), what he is saying is that if you do divorce your adulterous spouse, you're not causing them to commit adultery by doing that. They've already done committed adultery without your help.


Am I right? Am I missing something?

google is a gift

So I wrote this line and I really liked it. Then I thought, 'Bet I've just copied it from some other song.' And I sat dejected.

Then I thought, 'Maybe I did make it up. I know, I'll google it.'

So I googled it. It seems that my line doesn't exist online. That means that I haven't ripped it off any hymn or published song. It is mine.

Google saved me a week of wondering and (if I had stolen it) a lawsuit.

Thank you google. May you forge ahead in world domination. Here. Have access to all my emails and private documents.

ministry life balance evening

Not sure what to make of that.

Some good bible stuff though.