Not Dead Yet

Just very, very quiet....

Acutally there are lots of things I've been wanting to post about - its just getting the time that has been the problem. I will try to get these things in order, but for now you'll have to be content with the following headings, that should eventually be turned into posts...
Click the post title to continue reading...

10 Years On
Worship Leader Worship
1 Year old
What was the garden like?
Separation anxiety & our Homegroup
Worship Team Requirements
It's finally ours!
Songs for my kids
Out of the darkness
The state of the English Language
Who are we serving?

If there's a particular post you're interested in, let me know. I'll try to get to it before others.

Blessings,
pk

Some family photos

With Tante 'Nita

These were taken sometime last month, when Alice's sister, Anita was over from London.

Xander

My boy, aged three and half.

Zoe in a basket

My sweety! Even at 9 months she's turning heads!

Calvin or Hobbes?

A Bit Of Both You are 40% Calvin and 60% Hobbes

Calvin & Hobbes, like a scruffy yin and yang, are in perfect balance within you. Like Calvin, you're weird, a bit insecure, and can be a trouble-maker. But like Hobbes, you're down to earth and sensitive. It's a risk to say it here, after just a ten question test, but I'll bet you're smarter than most. Both Calvin and Hobbes are crafty, clever characters, and any one made from equal parts of each is a force to be reckoned with.

My test tracked 2 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 28% on calvin You scored higher than 54% on hobbes

Link: The Calvin Or Hobbes Test

Music

A few of my all time and current favourites. Unfortunately some of the Christian stuff I listen to regularly (like Chill Out eXeperience), they don't have listed.

Create your own at HotFreeLayouts.

Accountability

her·e·tic
Pronunciation: 'her-&-"tik
Function: noun
1 : a dissenter from established church dogma;
2 : one who dissents from an accepted belief or doctrine

Two other guys gather into my living room whilst our wives meet elsewhere; each group forming a conclave of trust as our children sleep. Tension veneered with relaxed indifference is peppered with small talk; catching-up since we’ve last met. Each us know why we were here, but none of us want to openly admit the reason for needing this, or each other, as badly as we do. Drinks are offered, cushions rearranged on suddenly uncomfortable couches, conversation draws to silence, and someone suggests we get started. Somehow I’m nominated to open us in prayer.


Click the post title to continue reading...

Lord Jesus, thank-you for bringing us here tonight, safely. We pray that you’ll watch over our wives as they meet also. Father, we offer this time to you to be made more like you. As we share our lives together, speak into us and through us. Make us more into the men you’ve created us to be. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Nervous looks dart around the room like a frightened mouse. For a second the silence continues, but finally I offer it up, ‘Ok, I’ll go…’. And so begins the fortnightly accounting of my life. The good, the bad, the ugly, the spiritual, the not-so spiritual, the victories, the down-right sinful, and all the inner workings of my thoughts and actions.

In the days before we meet my stomach turns knots, trying somehow to hold within itself all that it is about shed. My soul writhes like a snake overgrown beneath the sin enveloping it, choking and restraining it. In order to grow further, the old skin needs to come off. But the process is painful, and it takes time, and it leaves you open and vulnerable. Like picking at dry flaky scales, prayer offers some relief. It at least calms me to the process, knowing that the get-together is in itself growth towards holiness. Every time we meet, a little bit more comes away.

We start by recalling our memory verses – something we’ve chosen to teach us, build us up, or correct our thinking. One by one we recite our latest scripture, with reference, each trying to out do the others with length, complexity and flawless repetition. Even here a guy’s competitive nature is not put aside! One falter, and there are sideways glances, half encouraging, half hoping to have at laugh at your less than perfect memory. The ice broken, we move on to more serious matters.

The usual stuff is talked about. How are we treating our wives? Our children? How is our time with God, one-on-one? Are we making the best of our resources? Is our thought life in line? What’s going on at work? Nothing is forced out – I’m free to choose what I share. My guys know they can ask anything, and equally I can say, ‘Don’t go there. I don’t want to talk about that.’ But we’re here to open ourselves, to get deeply into each other’s lives. What stays hidden stays unchallenged, and easily festers, infecting the good that remains in us.

We talk things through, mull things over, and generally challenge each other and ourselves on what we do and how we think. I often feel as though my metal is not iron, but yet we seem to sharpen each other.

Eat Less, Do More

There is no way you could call me a health nut. I love coffee and chocolate way too much be called health conscious! And I don't think I've ever lasted more than an hour on any diet known to man.

I was reading today that the latest craziness in diets might not actually be good for you. Low-carb diets can be unhealthy, and, The 'Glycemic index' is questionable as a diet tool. (Thereby making low-GI diets questionable). It seems that the only "breakthroughs" made in the world of dietary science requires complex counting, careful (some might say laborious) food selection, restriction of something that you probably enjoy, and may even be dangerous!

With all that said, I've managed to lose about 10 kgs (20-25 lbs) in the last 6 months. Along with eating healthily, there is only one rule I go by:

Eat Less.
Do More.

Hardly rocket science, is it? But for some reason, simple, straight forward, easy solutions aren't really in fashion. The more complicated you make things, the better the diet is...
Bolderdash, I say.

Eating healthily is key, of course. Fruit, vegetables, grains, fish, a little meat. A little bit of everything actually. But I still enjoy chocolate, and I still get the day started with fresh coffee (preferably straight into the blood stream, but drinking it is more pleasurable!). Keep it simple. Eat less. Do more. Just walking from the bus to the office a few times a week (its about 20-30 minutes one way) is all its taken. Allow yourself to indulge. Just keep it in check.

Does it mean I'm hungry sometimes - why yes, it does! Is this a bad thing? Why no, I don't think it is. You know, after a while, your body adjusts.

I could make a lot of this, and use the analogy for all sorts of things. Prayer comes to mind. Act less. Pray more. Then surely all my works will be more in line with acts of God. But I'll resist the temptation to make this yet another religious, philosophical diatribe.

Eat Less. Do More. Its the only sure fire way I know to become healthier.

Missing home?

My old pastor (and a friend) Brian has posted more about his adjustment from expat life. He writes far more succicently than I!

Dear Brian,

I wanted to respond on your post, Missing home, but I fear my thoughts are too long, and perhaps a little too self indulgent for a blog comment.

I appreciate you sharing your journey like this – in many ways it’s validated all that Alice and I have been through. We’ve few people around us who have lived the expat life and returned to the country of origin with a certain uncertainty. Certain of what we were doing. Not quite certain why, or to what to end.

Click the post title to continue reading...Home is a funny word for me. Sometimes I laugh at the concept, sometimes I can’t stand to think about it. Sometimes I catch myself mid sentence, “When we returned home in 2003…“, and it doesn’t feel quite right. For a long time, even now, the house, suburb and city, even Australia itself, has simply been where we live. We are here, but are we really “home”?

The feeling is unique. Things are familiar and in many aspects bland, for they lack the simple adventure of living outside of what was the “home”. It’s like going one too many times to the same holiday camp. Everything is as expected, and the familiarity breeds boredom and a restlessness that robs you of the relaxation and change of scenery you so desperately need.

I envy your opportunity to return to Amsterdam. I know that even if I returned now it would not be as I remember. Our friends have moved from the places we knew them in. The rolling sea of Crossroads I’m sure I could navigate, but only by the few landmarks that remain from our time. Mostly though, there is something in my soul that needs to put Crossroads, Amsterdam, and Europe to rest. I need to see it moving on, changing and growing without me. I need resolve the loss. Sombrely, it is like visiting the grave of an important high school teacher – to finally put that part of your life behind you, say thank you one more time, and move on.

There is a certain deep theology in the expat life: to be not where you really belong – out of your depth, with only memories and faith and wit to live by. And there is still yet deeper meaning in the adjustment of returning: the profound understanding that places are places, and not really home but a sort of makeshift analogy, with emotion ascribed in an attempt to feel “at home”. I wish I could live by these words, but I’m frail, and weak minded, and have the need of some tangible sensorium to reinforce my being.

I’m glad you’ve found your home.

Blessings,

Phil

Lyrics: The Mountain

From Steven Curtics Chapman's Heaven in the Real World

This would have to be one my most loved songs. Its not just the lyrics, although they are oustanding, nor it is the music, which is fantastic. There is great interplay between the instruments and voice. They both support and complement one another. It even it has a great bass part, one I've been meaning to transcribe for many years.

No, its the heart of the song that brings me close to breaking point every time I hear it.
Click the post title to continue reading...

I guess the reason is that the heart of the song is about God's love for his people. He wants to have close, personal times with each of us, one on one. As the song says, I cherish the times up on the mountain. Those times with God where all earthly concerns diminish to vanishing point. The times where you come back having had a glimpse of Heaven, to have really experienced God closely.

And yet, those are times are not for themselves. The real purpose of going up the mountain is to go down the other side. We're headed for the valley, to the low times, to the people that don't know the what's up on the mountain.

Close times with God are great. As always though, God gives you something to do something with it. The time up the mountain is for the time down in the valley. You can't have one without the other.


I want to build a house up on this mountain
Way up high where the peaceful waters flow
To quench my thirsty soul
Up on the mountain

I can see for miles up on this mountain
Troubles seem so small they almost disappear
Lord I love it here
Up on the mountain

My faith is strengthened by all that I see
You make it easy for me to believe
Up on the mountain
Oh, up on the mountain

I would love to live up on this mountain
And keep the pain of living life so far away
But I know I can't stay,
Ohh.. up on the mountain

I said I'd go Lord wherever you lead
For where you are is where I most want to be
And I can tell we're headed for the valley (yes we are)

My faith is strengthened by all that I've seen
So Lord help me remember what you've shown me
Up on the mountain

Yeah...

You bring me up here on the mountain
For me to rest and learn and grow
I see the truth up on the mountain
And I carry it to the world far below

So as I go down to the valley
Knowing that you will go with me
This is my prayer Lord help me to remember what you shown me
Up on the mountain
Up on the mountain

I cherish these times up on the mountain
But I can leave this place because I know
Someday you'll take me home to live forever
Up on the mountain

Up on the mountain
Way up on the mountain
Yeah!

Up on the mountain
Way up high where the peaceful waters flow
Up on the mountain

Up on the mountain
On the mountain, the mountain
yoo hoo!

Oh the Heat...

Should've been posted yesterday.
Every morning I listen to the 6 am news, just before getting up, or (more likely) rolling over and getting a few more minutes shut eye... This was the beginning of the report from our local Christian station, SonshineFm

Its a few minutes past six. We're headed for a top today of 39 degrees, with the chance of a possible thunderstorm. Right now, its 27. Good morning, I'm ...

Urgh!

Seventy Times Seven...

Well, not quite. And no, its not a post about forgiveness! There is a little thing called The Sevens that has been doing the blogs 'round for a while now. Heather said she didn't know anybody who hadn't done it... Well, this'll teach her! Questions are here, find the answers by clicking the post title.

The Sevens

Seven things to do before I die
Make a CD of music for and about my family
Write and publish a novel
Build up artists within in the church
Adpot a child
Live in Eurpoe again
Make my own, quality software
Love my wife even more

Seven things I cannot do
Be consistently kind to myself
Listen to Country and Western music without laughing! (Thanks, Heather!)
Drink instant coffee
Look back without thinking "What if?"
Be totally convinced that I am absolutely right
Play a good improvised jazz bass solo
Paint or Draw

Seven things that attract me to my wife
Her smile
Her laugh
The way she cares for our children
Her incredible talent
Her humility
The way she supports and encourages me when I need it most
Her body (hey, I'm a guy!)

Seven things I most often say
(laugh!)
All-righty then!
OK.
I'm sorry.
um...
Coffee?
Have you thought about... ?

Seven books I love
The Bible (The Message Remix in particular)
The Bridge of Birds
Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software
The Inner Game of Music
Hamlet
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
The Heart of the Artist

Seven movies I could watch over and over again
Star Wars (Episode IV - renamed, A New Hope)
The Princes Bride
The Wizard of Oz
Lord of the Rings 1, 2 & 3
Being There (although I haven't seen in many a year!)
The Matrix
The Red Violin (Thanks Zoe, for introducing us to this)

Seven People I want to join in too...
Ok, this one is hard...
Brian (if he hasn't already)
Chris & Coz, by proxy I guess
Wulf
Phil (although I'm not sure he really would)
well, I got to four!
Click the post title see all the answers!

Mould Pilots Robot

At university I did an honours project in robots controlling themselves (Autonomous Robotic Control in a Dynamic Environment was the title - how droll! So, anyway, I have a minor interest in these things...

Now this is just plain WOW! (research paper) Are we one step closer to Daleks, or The Borg?

Philippians 4:8

Memory Verse time...

Finally Brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is noteworthy or praiseworthy, think about such things.

I guess like a lot of guys, I have some trouble keeping thoughts pure. That's a real admission, but before condemning me take a look at your own thought life. Is it really as true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable as you want it to be? As God wants it to be?

Anyway, that's a different topic all together! The focus of this post is trying to examine what this verse says. At first glance, it seems to be fairly restrictive - think only about those things that the have attributes mentioned above. Wow! Its hard to come up with something that has all those attributes.. I mean, almost anything could be excluded for some for lack of conformity.

But perhaps its not so hard. What happens if we think about it backwards?

Click the post title to continue reading...You'd probably get something like this...

Finally Brothers, whatever is a lie, whatever is unrespectable, whatever is just plain wrong, whatever is impure, whatever is ugly, whatever is rotten, if anything is trivial or plain, don't think about such things.

What is this telling us? I think, when we compare these two versions, they tell us something very important about our thought-lives. We need to think about positive things - things that help and encourage us. Things that build us up and support us. We don't need to think about things that tear us down, or that innately we know are "just plain wrong".

I've used the comparison of noteworthy / trivial, praiseworthy / plain here which I think is particularly helpful Of course there are other ways of negating Paul's words, and I'd appreciate a scholar's comments on what they should be!

Anyway, I think this comparison tell us that God wants us to THINK BIG! The plain, the ordinary, the insignificant - these should not be our dreams in God. But the exceptional, the extraordinary, the meaningful, the notable, these should be what we dream of. Paul encourages us to not only think of the good things that God has put before us, but the amazing things too, to allow God to inspire us to the biggest plans possible, and then some.

But I can understand why Paul puts it in the positive. It's like that old trick - Don't think of pink elephant! What do you do? Immediately you think of a pink elephant! Trying to think of wonderful things might be hard, but trying to think of loathsome things, only to reject them, isn't helpful at all!

So finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is noteworthy or praiseworthy, think about such things.

Happy Wintereenmas!

To gamers everywhere, Happy Wintereenmas!

Happy Wintereenmas!

I've never been really much of a gamer. For some reason the "Shoot! Maim! Kill! Kill! Kill!" thing I've never really seen as enjoyable. I guess its a reflection on my character and interests, but I've much more enjoyed playing adventure games - Zork or Kings Quest (back in the day) for example - to just mindlessly shooting anything that moves.

But even still, I have an appreciation of games, regardless of their genre. I've had my time of being immersed in a game to the virtual exclusion of all else. Time can certainly seem to stop whilst you're working on the latest puzzle, or wondering how to defeat the latest giant. Very easily can the world a game encompasses become your own.

Which is why I was so saddened to read this.

Click the post title to continue reading about games, and the value of life...It's a sad thing when anybody loses their life. Its very sad when they feel the need to take it.

I'm not suggesting that the games had any direct involvement in Mitch's death. However, as with anything we do, I'm sure they created a mindset that contributed to his outlook on life.

Anything you let into your mind has an effect on it. Its what you let in that helps define you who are. It determines your viewpoints, what you accept, what you don't, and what is borderline. The only problem is, and I know from personal experience, that after a while the boaderlines start moving. What was unacceptable once has now become vaguely acceptable. Not being cautious about what you let in leaves you on a very slippery slope.

If you don't already know, Jack Thompson is an outspoken conservative lawyer in America fighting the gaming industry seemingly single handedly. See the link above, about three-quarters down the page, for the comment he gave on Mitch's death. This I also find sad. Did Jack value Mitch's life? I don't think so. He used the occasion to push his own agenda.

Which, actually, is not a bad agenda to push, I think. Whilst I enjoy games there do need to be some limits. Not every game needs to graphically display all that it can. Controversy doesn't need to be the selling point - good game play and an enjoyable story were the original tickets, what's gone so wrong that we need to resort to violence and sex? I think that in many respects game companies have cheapened themselves by relying on the controversy and graphic depictions. They've taken the easy way out.

It's like the liquor industry relying on people getting drunk to sell their wares. Sure, some people do, and we all know the results. Alcohol can be enjoyed responsibly, but alcohol abused is an ugly thing. That's why there are strict controls on it, and social norms frown on giving it children. There's still that market for it - just ask any teenager - only they're not allowed to advertise with children in mind. How do we do that with games? How do we get the hardcore, graphic games into the hands that can handle them, and out of those that can't. Graphic games limited to those over 21? Bans and strict controls on advertising?

So, enjoy your games. They can be a wonderfully creative, fun experiences. Just don't let them control your life, or your thinking. You do so at your own peril.

I Am Not A Heretic!

And I've got the test results to prove it!

You scored as Chalcedon compliant. You are Chalcedon compliant. Congratulations, you're not a heretic. You believe that Jesus is truly God and truly man and like us in every respect, apart from sin. Officially approved in 451.

Actually, on the results, I apparently have Monophysitism tendencies, and influences of Pelagianism, Apollinarian and Nestorianism. Now if I only I knew what they were!

Are you a heretic?
created with QuizFarm.com

Modern Nursery Rhymes

My son's child care centre modifies the nursery rhymes we've taught him. He's often taken us off guard when he comes home with these new versions.

Sometimes they teach him things...

Twinkle twinkle traffic lights,
Standing on the corner, fairy lights.
Red means Stop!
Green means Go!
Yellow is the light if you need to wait.
Twinkle twinkle traffic lights,
Standing on the corner, fairy lights.

Sometimes its just bizarre...

Baa baa pink sheep have you any spots?
'Yes sir, yes sir, lots and lots.
One on my nose, and one on my tummy,
One on my toes, and that's not very funny.'
Baa baa pink sheep have you any spots?
'Yes sir, yes sir, lots and lots.'

Humour - A Great Blonde Joke

I'm not normally one for these types of things but this joke is really, really good.