Conference for the Academy and the Church

QTC is hosting the first Annual Conference for the Academy and the Church at the end of this month. The speakers and papers look good. Andrew and I are trying to work out how we can both make it along to some of the sessions. Brisbane readers should check it out.

Creflo Dollar on Matthew 11

Unfortunately, this one is for real.

'him that pisseth against the wall'

I found this sermon ages ago. Just came across it again.

[It's so bad that it couldn't be serious... surely...]

sex is trivial

An interesting discussion. Funny. Seeing sex as essentially trivial frees us up to use (or not use) it appropriately. It is not some transcendent wonder unlocking the secret soul of me.

"...If the One who, in his life, crucifixion, and resurrection defined and actualized for us the very definition of humanness, what does that say about humanness? Clearly it says that marriage, sexual activity, and bearing children do not have any central place in the definition thereof.

Let us be absolutely clear on this point. If Christ is truly the fullness and definition of authentic humanity, we must say categorically that marriage, sex, and parenthood tell us nothing whatsoever of ultimate significance about humanness. If marriage, sex, and parenthood are somehow the fullness of humanity we are forced to say that Christ, far from being the true human as the Christian tradition proclaims, was in fact, sub-human. To grant sexuality any sort of ultimacy with respect to the definition of humanness is to deny that Jesus is the true human being.

So, if we take a Christological defintion for the meaning of humanness, sexuality by definition tells us absolutely nothing about the ultimate meaning of humanness. It may, through the gracious operation of the Holy Spirit be comandeered and become in many and sundry ways a parable of the kingdom, just as many of the trivial aspects of human life are open to God’s interruption and transfiguration. But, insofar as the meaning of authentic human existence, sexuality tells us nothing. Not if we really believe that Jesus defines for us what it means to be be human. And, further to this point, only when we allow sex to be truly and wonderfully insignificant, to be trivial, will it be able to be received as a gift rather than gulpingly grasped in an idolatrous fit of fetishizing." by Halden at Inhabitatio Dei

Aaaarrrggghhhh!

Our church's website has been hacked into.

on the way to school pick-up...

... a car smashed into the back of me. I was stopped waiting to turn right off Sandgate road. It was raining. My sunglasses flew off my face and hit the windscreen. Glad it wasn't my head. Our car is still driveable - but is smashed up at the back. The other car needed to be towed. No one was hurt.

an idea

I'd like to write a set of poems or song lyrics on the planets. The sort of thing I did for jupiter (back here) I'd like to do for each of the other planets. The idea is that I spin a tale around a few (very romanticised) facts. Currently thinking about poor old Pluto. I experimented with an idea here (I know it's obscure. Ten points for anyone who worked out that it was an acrostic!) but would like to expand it into something longer. What do you think?

daddy date

Why I don't want to hear it.

• It's an Americanism.
• It's a Driscollism. I like MD. But really, if he jumped off a bridge, would you?
• The alliteration was cute the first time, but has since worn off.
• Telling everyone that you're off on a daddy date is a bit like telling us all what a great dad you are. I'm glad for you if you are a great dad, but maybe keep it to yourself so you don't make other less-awesome dads feel bad.

because

Planets should spin straight
Little is not big enough
U r not like us
The edges are dangerous
Orbits matter

sar 2009

I twisted!

It was fantastic. My 5th twist. Possibly the best. Highlights?

• Singing with 100 people who love to sing, being led by minimal (but exceptional) instrumentalists.
• Staying up late watching Andy Judd and Sarah Bailey muck around with one of my lyrics and set it to music. Amazing process. Andy played chords and Sarah made up stuff over the top. After a couple of hours we had a demo verse and a demo chorus (they didn't match so well, but it's a start.)
• Leading the songwriting elective. Was heaps of fun. Watch out for up and coming songwriters!
  
• Eating more junk food in one weekend than I've eaten in an entire year. There was chocolate everywhere.
• Being at the beautiful Port Hacking.
• Coming home to find that my blog's continued without me!
  

word combinations I don't want to hear again #1

Daddy date.

winter

I'm cold cold cold. I can't get warm. I'm sniffing and sneezing. Nothing's as fun as usual. Bring on spring. Lucky it's only a few weeks away. I feel sorry for you southerners who have this for half the year.

I am his? I am your? I don't know!

As part of my songwriting workshop material, I've written a song evaluation sheet. I think of it as the evaluation sheet from hell. Strictly for use on your own songs, not on the songs of others (if you want to keep friends). I think I should tone it down a bit before I print it off. It's brutal. Unencouraging. I wrote a lyric on the weekend and haven't until now posted it here because it badly failed the evaluation. [I sent it to my tune-man and haven't heard back. Not a good sign.]

I am his

A voice, like thunder in the night
he spoke a word, the darkness turned
the world was brought to life.
He formed us from the ground he made
and when he breathed on me I lived
so I am his

take my hands, my feet to serve
take my lips my every word
oh my maker, my redeemer I am yours
you created me in love
you have bought me with your blood
oh my maker, my redeemer, I am yours.

A ransom placed upon my soul
the price, my saviour's flowing blood
no less would pay the toll.
There is no greater love than this
he gave his life to purchase me
so I am his

A name engraved upon my heart
twice bought, now I belong to him
and can't from him depart.
Each action, every thought I give
each day, each moment lived for him
for I am his

sar 2009

My lyric suffers many inadequacies. There is a clunky turn from 'us' to 'me' in verse 1, cliche images with no tread all the way through, and some confusion about whether God is 'him' or 'you'. Worse still, I've set up a confusing two hook situation - 'I am his' vs 'I am yours'. But most deadly of all is the lack of x-factor. My evaluation sheet tells me this needs a lot more work.

kaicei-lei

how would you pronounce this name?

Nice name. Ridiculous spelling.

No Wonder

I want to be SH when I grow up*.

No Wonder

This love looks set to grow extremely tall.
I chart its weekly progress on the wall

the way my mum made pencil marks above
my sister’s head and mine. I’ve called it love

since it began, but now I have some proof -
infatuation stops before the roof

while love climbs bravely up to bash its head.
The bleeding starts. No wonder hearts are red.

Sophie Hannah

* Maybe not really. But I would like to write like her.

list of clichés

This delightful list of pop clichés, came from this really good lyric writing book. Back here I wrote a song using only cliché phrases. Actually, I didn't write it. It wrote itself. Andrew wrote one this afternoon. I think it expresses the depths of his heart. You should give it a go. Choose the cliché you like best for the first line of your chorus, then build the song aroung that line. You can't go wrong.

deep inside
hand to hand
face to face
back and forth
walk out that door
feel the pain
gotta take a chance
touch my (very) soul
heart to heart
side by side
up and down
we've just begun
can't stand the pain
give me half a chance
such a long time
take my hand
eye to eye
in and out
by my side
hurts so bad
can't take it
last chance
night and day
take your time
the rest of time
end of time
no one like you
say you'll be mine
how it used to be
it's gonna be alright
set me free
work it out
true to you
kiss your lips
falling apart
taken for granted
lost without you
safe and warm
broken heart
all we've been through
end of the line
always be true
pay the price
right or wrong
what we're fighting for
you know it's true
hold me close
forget my foolish pride
drive me crazy
all my dreams come true
all night long
rest of my life
no one can take your place
losing sleep
made up my mind
get down on my knees
end it all
had your fun
done you wrong
back to me
make you stay
asking too much
give you my heart
aching heart
want you / need you / love you
hold on
never let go
rise above
all we've done
worth fighting for
nothing to lose
losing sleep
treat me like a fool
going insane
rhyme or reason
test of time
someone like you
all my love
lonely nights
I'll get along
calling out your name
more than friends
fooling around
heaven above
break these chains
take it easy
can't live without you
somebody else
break my heart
try one more time
can't go on
keep holding on
now or never
over the hill
know for sure
hold me tight
tear me apart
play the game
see the light
O baby

when God's word is not enough

It seems that it is no longer enough just to preach God's word. To be really hip, what you have to do is package God's word up with a gems of wisdom that you've gleaned from your life. How to run your household, how to manage your finances, how to plant carrots in the garden. Now, of course, there's nothing wrong with wisdom. But when someone stands up in church to give a bible talk, that's what they should do. Give a bible talk. Tell me what the bible says and show me the applications that come out of this week's passage. If the bible gives guidelines about managing my household or finances or carrots - great, preach it. But if not, don't. Give proper attention to what is in this week's passage - even if it doesn't seem all that relevant - and then leave it there. Extra stuff, above and beyond what the passage says, is unnecessary.

I'm worried that preachers who feel they need to go beyond the passage at hand are displaying a lack of trust in God's word. There is enough punch in the bible. Our pearls of wisdom and our smooth, self-depreciating (or self-appreciating!) anecdotes detract from our preaching of God's word.

I think I might be an introvert.

I've had a fantastic weekend without my family.

The highlight? 5 hours in sizzler by myself. All by myself. A couple of hundred people moved in and out around me, but no-one spoke to me. And no-one sat at my table. I only had a few plates of food (mostly salad) over the time. After an hour and a half a waitress came and gave me mints and said thanks for coming. It was a hint to leave which I politely ignored.

I could see people looking at me curiously. Why was I by myself? What was I doing with a pencil in my hand and 3 books open in front of me? What was I writing? Why wasn't I eating? One couple felt sorry for me. I felt sorry for them. They didn't have anything to read and they had to talk to eachother.

Selfish? Maybe. But on Saturday I carefully read 5 chapters of the bible, studied about 50 hymns, listened to 2 sermons and 2 lectures on songwriting and wrote a three verse one chorus lyric. On top of that I went to the gym, took the dog for a walk and cleaned the house.

On Sunday I had a social day: church, a friend over for a long lunch, a jog, and take-away Indian and a movie with the camping widows at night.

Today I wrote my material for Twist Away next weekend. I'm running the songwriting strand.

Andrew and the kids came home at 2pm and my parents dropped in for a visit. The boys were dirty (it was very muddy and no baths or even changes in underwear had taken place over the weekend (ew!)) and so keen to tell me about how they fished a dead calf out of the river (ew) and got covered in leeches and ticks.

I'm pleased to have them home and am buzzing with the great feeling that comes from having had lots of cave time. Am I selfish? Am I an introvert?

blog off off

For me, anyway. Don't care if Nathan wins.

I'll post when I have something to say.

The number of posts has gone up...

...and the quality has gone down. Sorry, everyone, for the tedium.

part-time parenting

My parenting feels seriously part-time at the moment. I've been working quite a bit so Andrew has been doing most of the drop offs and pick ups (but I've have the kids from 3.15). Andrew is taking them camping this long weekend and next weekend I'm off to Sydney for Twist Away. I feel like I'm on a 40% custody plan. Andrew and I are hoping to see eachother at some stage. This afternoon we met at the shops for a couple of minutes while he handed the kids over.

Me? A PE teacher?

So it looks like I'll be a PE teacher next term (for 6 days spread over a few weeks). Hm. I'll be teaching dance and ball games. I can't catch a ball and definitely can't throw one. But I'm pretty good at aerobics classes. How different could dance be?

I'm taking the job because it's at the kid's school. Everyone wants to teach at their school because it's in a good area and the kids are bright and (mostly) under control. This is where I want to be long term. It's a foot in the door and I'm hoping not to blow it. But PE?

[I was also offered a music contract but said no because the days clashed with bible study and RE. It was the right thing to do, but it hurt.]

priorities

Mel and Wendy have been concerned that all the work I'm doing is impacting upon my blog. I admit that I've been thinking the same. I have to draw firmer lines to ensure that work does not become a higher priority than it should be. This is where things are really happening. Right here, online.

I'm free!

Andrew is taking the kids camping this weekend with a bunch of guys from church. I will be all alone Saturday morning till Monday afternoon.

Brilliant!

What should I do?

What would you do?

working again tomorrow

Three days in a row is probably more than I should be doing. Tomorrow I have year 2. I know the kids. They are a handful - but some are interesting. I've taught them before and have used up all my party tricks. Need to think up some more. Any ideas?

twilight pandemic

I was feeling indulgent at school today and let a year 3 girl (8 years old) prattle to me about how in love she is with Twilight hero, Edward Cullen. She told me how gorgeous he is - pale skin, dark eyes etc, all her favourite parts of the movie, how she'd love to have a poster of him on her bedroom wall, blah blah blah... I felt I needed to be patient with her, given my own recent infatuation. But year 3?!?

Last week I had to listen as year six girls read their ballads of Bella and Edward out to the class. Generally, they were pretty poor but not all that much worse than the books.

This is a pandemic. Parents, take charge!

sizzler cheese toast

Just to show I'm not so petty as to bear a grudge over certain nasty suggestions... I will link to what could be Nathan's best ever post. How to make sizzler's cheese toast.

Show your love for Nathan and go check it out. He's been feeling a little insecure of late and could do with some support.

Share the blog love.

God Unlimited samples are up

Have a listen.

which fictional man do you dream about?

I made a facebook quiz. Amazingly, it's about as dumb as all the other fb quizzes out there. Look on my profile page and you should see it.

SoO

My lounge room is a workshop again with leads going everywhere.

State of Origin is looking good, though.

What's with Colorado pants?

I put on a nicely fitting pair of size 10s. Two hours later they have grown into a baggy pair of size 20s and are down around my knees. AAARRRGGGHHH!

This is beyond a belt.

If you can't do, teach.

High jump. The shame, the embarrassment! As a student, my lack of co-ordination at this sport was profound. Twenty years has not made any difference. I can't do it.

But today I taught it. And I did okay. As well as the next non-PE teacher, anyway.

No one got hurt except me. I was adjusting the poles that held up the bar, stood in the wrong spot and it hit me in the head fox-and-rake fashion. It hurt alot and I have a considerable bruise.












My love of high jump hasn't increased.

God Unlimited

God Unlimited is here. Available June 25.

Love Ben's artwork.

little men...

...really need to talk themselves big.

strange...

My google homepage just jumped back to Friday for its record of what's happening on this blog. Wonder why...

Full full full day

6.00 - gym
7.00 - home, shower etc
7.20 - leave with kids
7.30 - chess club at school, I sit with Micah trying to teach him what the knight does.
8.40 - home, quick email/blog check, pack for rest of day, tidy up etc.
9.40 - leave for bible study
10.00 - bible study
12.30 - RE prep and lunch (church)
1.30 - teach RE at school
3.00 - go to park near library, kids play and eat
3.30 - do homework in library
4.30 - back to park for a jog
5.15 - arrive home, blog, baths
5.30 - kids watch Sunday night's Doctor Who because they have been so good!
6.15 - dinner

Blog Off!

Okay guys. Here are the rules. We need to introduce some handicaps - basically to stop Nathan from winning.

Nathan's first 50 posts don't count. Sorry they just don't. We need a little head start. So Nathan starts at -50. For the rest of us, we start at zero. Blogger with the most posts at 11.59pm on the 30th of June wins.

Wins what? Any ideas?

Oh, and any post that clearly has no point isn't counted. To judge a no-pointer, we look to the blogger's blogging history. If they wouldn't have posted it last month, it doesn't count this month.

Who's in? So far, we have Naomi, Nathan and I...

June Blog-Off!

Down here, Ben suggested that we have a month long post-off. As regular readers will know, I'm all for quantity over quality. Anyone want to join in?

The blogger who posts the most this month will win... um... [any ideas?]

Nathan - this sounds like your kind of thing. Anyone else in?

If

If I'd not nodded, smiled, agreed
made eyes and flirted shamelessly,
would you have fallen in a heap
descended into sorrow deep
or would you, shrugging to yourself,
have quickly paired with someone else?

This love we share, is it something rare
or does it grow in fields of plenty?
Was I one in a hundred years
or one in a room of twenty?
Or a room of five, if half were guys
and half too old or young,
If I'd said 'no' had you far to go
to find another one?

I'd like to claim the stars ordained
our love and life together,
but think that chance's random dance
did as well or maybe better.

sar 2009

With God, nothing is impossible...

... not even godliness.

A great post by MJ.