In journalling yesterday, I read this cool passage where King David had sent some his men to tell a new neighbouring king know they could be friends - just like King David had been with the new king's dad.
However, the new young king decided it was a ploy and so sent David's men back with their beards plucked out and their robes cut off up to their buttocks, and mobilised his armies, and neighbouring armies, to fight Israel.
So, suddenly David was faced with a bit of an international incident and had to get Israel's army happening and ready to defend their nation.
However, in the midst of all this, we read "When David heard what had happened to the men, he sent messengers to tell them, “Stay at Jericho until your beards grow out, and then come back.” For they felt deep shame because of their appearance."
And I really loved the fact that David was not just not a warrior king, but a shepherd to his people. He cared about the areas they were vulnerable in, and gave them the time and space to heal and grow.
That's the type of leader I want to be.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Monday, October 30, 2006
Moment of crisis
I have an exam in 7 days.
I have just found out season 3 of Lost has started and 4 episodes are now available.
Need I say more?
Crisis, crisis, crisis
I have just found out season 3 of Lost has started and 4 episodes are now available.
Need I say more?
Crisis, crisis, crisis
Sunday, October 22, 2006
My guilty pleasure
I have a confession to make...
I love Fear Factor.
I know it's corny.
I know it deliberately
I know it shameless picks good looking women and makes them do swimsuit necessary challenges.
I know.
But i love it!
I even planned my dinner break from writing my essay to coincide with Fear Factor last night.
My name is Ruth and I'm a 'fear factor'oholic.
I love Fear Factor.
I know it's corny.
I know it deliberately
I know it shameless picks good looking women and makes them do swimsuit necessary challenges.
I know.
But i love it!
I even planned my dinner break from writing my essay to coincide with Fear Factor last night.
My name is Ruth and I'm a 'fear factor'oholic.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Great connect group
What a great connect group I am a part of!
I love those who seek truth, and question in order to understand.
What a good night tonight was - you are all legends!
I love those who seek truth, and question in order to understand.
What a good night tonight was - you are all legends!
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Continuing the "does God want you to be rich" conversation
Well first of all - great comments on the previous post which referenced the Time article.
Laura made a really good point in the comments which I have been dwelling on for a while, and I have also just returned from a conference at which one of the speakers made a comment which was rather provocative - particularly with regard to what we had been talking about.
I totally agree that we need to start giving out of the little we have. In fact, most charities like the Red Shield Appeal find that the richer suburbs are often the least generous.
One of the speakers at conference said that there is nothing we can do to help others if we don't have money/resources. I disagreed at first, but then he went on to explain... we cannot send a letter of encouragement as we need to pay for the paper and postage stamp. We cannot call them as we need to pay for the phone call. We cannot go and visit them as we need to pay for the petrol.
And I started to think he was right. While money is not the only thing necessary to help others, without it, we can't really do anything. We can't even survive ourselves in order to help others.
Even Mother Theresa would have needed financial support for her own needs - the place she lived, the sheets for her bed, the food she ate etc and also which allowed her to live and care for people, to feed them, to give them medicine and shelter....
I'm still thinking and dwelling on this and value your thoughts.
Laura made a really good point in the comments which I have been dwelling on for a while, and I have also just returned from a conference at which one of the speakers made a comment which was rather provocative - particularly with regard to what we had been talking about.
I totally agree that we need to start giving out of the little we have. In fact, most charities like the Red Shield Appeal find that the richer suburbs are often the least generous.
One of the speakers at conference said that there is nothing we can do to help others if we don't have money/resources. I disagreed at first, but then he went on to explain... we cannot send a letter of encouragement as we need to pay for the paper and postage stamp. We cannot call them as we need to pay for the phone call. We cannot go and visit them as we need to pay for the petrol.
And I started to think he was right. While money is not the only thing necessary to help others, without it, we can't really do anything. We can't even survive ourselves in order to help others.
Even Mother Theresa would have needed financial support for her own needs - the place she lived, the sheets for her bed, the food she ate etc and also which allowed her to live and care for people, to feed them, to give them medicine and shelter....
I'm still thinking and dwelling on this and value your thoughts.
Worst Slurpee ever
Tryed to get a slurpee after Fusion last night - cause when you feel like a slurpee, there's not much else that satisfies.
Maccas at Brookside couldn't sell me on - they're not allowed to at the moment cause they don't taste very good. Go figure!
So we went to the service station on Samford Rd. Big mistake.
So the moral of the story is - don't buy a slurpee from the service station on Samford Road. It's not just worth it.
Maccas at Brookside couldn't sell me on - they're not allowed to at the moment cause they don't taste very good. Go figure!
So we went to the service station on Samford Rd. Big mistake.
So the moral of the story is - don't buy a slurpee from the service station on Samford Road. It's not just worth it.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
A great approach to spiritual warefare
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Dangerous Blessings - LeadershipJournal.net
What great timing..
There is a really good article I just read today about how we deal with money and blessing!
Dangerous Blessings - LeadershipJournal.net
There is a really good article I just read today about how we deal with money and blessing!
Dangerous Blessings - LeadershipJournal.net
Monday, October 02, 2006
To those who love Roland
I need to find a temporary home for Rolly in couple of weeks so he leaves Melody alone for the 2-3 weeks he would otherwise find her VERY attractive.
If you have a doggy proof backyard, and would be interested in doggy-sitting, let me know!
If you have a doggy proof backyard, and would be interested in doggy-sitting, let me know!
And it's back
Here's a debate that doesn't go away for long....
Let's kill people who are sick, disabled, less than perfect... they are an economic, emotional and resources drain...
Whoops sorry - it's about compassion and dignity.
While in some ways I am sure that some people who jump on the euthanasia bandwagon do so out of a basic premise of what they would term compassion, they seem to lack the ability to either extrapolate what they are advocating, or to learn from past history - or even current events.
What starts as 'let's only allow euthanasia to those who are in their last few weeks, and are in terrible pain', becomes - let's allow anyone who is suffering to get doctors to help them end their life. And then, just as happened in Holland, an otherwise healthy, 26 year old woman, suffering from depression, could ask her doctor to kill her - and he did.
Those who support euthanasia - also erroneously termed 'death with dignity' are in fact being incredibly insulting to those in our society who suffer from disabilities.
Their premise is that life is unbearable and not worth living once your body fails you to a point and you have the extreme indignity of others having to look after your bodily functions.
What message does this send to those who suffer disabilities and need personal care? Is their life inherently undignified and worth ending...? Are we suggesting it is perhaps immoral for those people NOT to choose to end their life because of the pressure they place on family and friends, and the time, money and energy needed to care for them?
This could be any of us, at any time. We are only one accident away from living this way. And it is inherently wrong for someone to suggest we would be better dead, than having someone clean us.
Let's kill people who are sick, disabled, less than perfect... they are an economic, emotional and resources drain...
Whoops sorry - it's about compassion and dignity.
While in some ways I am sure that some people who jump on the euthanasia bandwagon do so out of a basic premise of what they would term compassion, they seem to lack the ability to either extrapolate what they are advocating, or to learn from past history - or even current events.
What starts as 'let's only allow euthanasia to those who are in their last few weeks, and are in terrible pain', becomes - let's allow anyone who is suffering to get doctors to help them end their life. And then, just as happened in Holland, an otherwise healthy, 26 year old woman, suffering from depression, could ask her doctor to kill her - and he did.
Those who support euthanasia - also erroneously termed 'death with dignity' are in fact being incredibly insulting to those in our society who suffer from disabilities.
Their premise is that life is unbearable and not worth living once your body fails you to a point and you have the extreme indignity of others having to look after your bodily functions.
What message does this send to those who suffer disabilities and need personal care? Is their life inherently undignified and worth ending...? Are we suggesting it is perhaps immoral for those people NOT to choose to end their life because of the pressure they place on family and friends, and the time, money and energy needed to care for them?
This could be any of us, at any time. We are only one accident away from living this way. And it is inherently wrong for someone to suggest we would be better dead, than having someone clean us.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
TIME.com: Does God Want You To Be Rich? -- Sep. 18, 2006 -- Page 1
This is a very interesting article...
I, of course, realise that the media usually has a stunning ability to misquote, quote out of context, and general do a not so great job when reporting about contemporary churches.
Worth reading though. Don't crucify Joel Osteen though - wait until you get to the small section with his interview and you may hear what he was probably really saying.... Also, the last page starts to really get to the point I think....
However, all in all, makes you think...
TIME.com: Does God Want You To Be Rich? -- Sep. 18, 2006 -- Page 1
I, of course, realise that the media usually has a stunning ability to misquote, quote out of context, and general do a not so great job when reporting about contemporary churches.
Worth reading though. Don't crucify Joel Osteen though - wait until you get to the small section with his interview and you may hear what he was probably really saying.... Also, the last page starts to really get to the point I think....
However, all in all, makes you think...
TIME.com: Does God Want You To Be Rich? -- Sep. 18, 2006 -- Page 1
Saturday, September 16, 2006
From "The Divine Conspiracy"
By Dallas Willard
God has yet to bless anyone except where they actually are, and if we faithlessly discard situation after situation, moment after moment, as not being 'right', we will simply have no place to receive His kingdom into our life. For those situations and moments are our life.
God has yet to bless anyone except where they actually are, and if we faithlessly discard situation after situation, moment after moment, as not being 'right', we will simply have no place to receive His kingdom into our life. For those situations and moments are our life.
Just so you know....
...that email circulating saying that Steve I publically become a Christian a few weeks ago is NOT true...
I guess people just wanted to hear that and so believed it...
I guess people just wanted to hear that and so believed it...
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
For those of you who were at supper with Tim Hein
I just realised something....
Jesus didn't stay on the other side of the lake!
Please ignore this post if you have no idea what I'm talking about!
Jesus didn't stay on the other side of the lake!
Please ignore this post if you have no idea what I'm talking about!
Monday, September 11, 2006
The community in which we live
From today's Courier Mail.... pg 33/34
"Dark Side of Drinking"
Some 10 percent of Australians are drinking at levels that are risky, says Professor David Kavanagh, a clinicl psychologist at the University of Queensland's School of Medicine. But is the the 18-24 year old age group that is at the greatest risk of developing an alcohol related problem, he says.
"Drinking is most common in the late teens and early 20s age group. Because it is a period of heavy drinking, these people are most at risk of going off the rails. Young people often start to drink when they feel depressed and anxious and alcohol makes them feel better. They may also start because of peer pressure."
Kavanagh does not believe that giving young people small amounts of alcohol in family settings teaches them to drink responsibly. Having easy access to alcohol increases the risk of developing problems, he says. Statistics show that of 87.5 per cent of people in the 18-24 age group who have drunk alcohol in the past 12 months, more than two-thirds of men and more than half of women drank amounts that placed them at short-term risk of injury.
"Dark Side of Drinking"
Some 10 percent of Australians are drinking at levels that are risky, says Professor David Kavanagh, a clinicl psychologist at the University of Queensland's School of Medicine. But is the the 18-24 year old age group that is at the greatest risk of developing an alcohol related problem, he says.
"Drinking is most common in the late teens and early 20s age group. Because it is a period of heavy drinking, these people are most at risk of going off the rails. Young people often start to drink when they feel depressed and anxious and alcohol makes them feel better. They may also start because of peer pressure."
Kavanagh does not believe that giving young people small amounts of alcohol in family settings teaches them to drink responsibly. Having easy access to alcohol increases the risk of developing problems, he says. Statistics show that of 87.5 per cent of people in the 18-24 age group who have drunk alcohol in the past 12 months, more than two-thirds of men and more than half of women drank amounts that placed them at short-term risk of injury.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Ritual vs revelation
I have been thinking a bit about something.
Working with songwriters, we often have conversations about not wanting to be cliched in the lyrics we write.
Leading worship for about 15 years, and leading the worship team for 6 years has also given me much occasion to think about keeping it fresh week in and week out.
What's the secret to keeping it fresh?
Are things really as cliched as we sometimes say they are?
It's about revelation. You can say God is Love and it can sound like a cliche beacuse you have heard it before. But if you have a revelation that God is love - it becomes the most meaningful, multi-layered statement in the universe....
Last week I was in a worship service and was singing and realised something was lacking. You could say I was just repeating some empty phrases.
So, because I despise empty religion and always want to worship with integrity, I knew I had to do something. So, I reached into the well of revelation my spirit had received in the last few days and let my mind respond to that. (This all took place in a matter of seconds of course)!
A freshness and meaning suddenly came alive in my worship!
It's always about revelation...
In a sense, we are responsible for the vibrancy of our worship.
We could sing the name of Jesus for hours and it still be fresh if we sing out of revelation.
Working with songwriters, we often have conversations about not wanting to be cliched in the lyrics we write.
Leading worship for about 15 years, and leading the worship team for 6 years has also given me much occasion to think about keeping it fresh week in and week out.
What's the secret to keeping it fresh?
Are things really as cliched as we sometimes say they are?
It's about revelation. You can say God is Love and it can sound like a cliche beacuse you have heard it before. But if you have a revelation that God is love - it becomes the most meaningful, multi-layered statement in the universe....
Last week I was in a worship service and was singing and realised something was lacking. You could say I was just repeating some empty phrases.
So, because I despise empty religion and always want to worship with integrity, I knew I had to do something. So, I reached into the well of revelation my spirit had received in the last few days and let my mind respond to that. (This all took place in a matter of seconds of course)!
A freshness and meaning suddenly came alive in my worship!
It's always about revelation...
In a sense, we are responsible for the vibrancy of our worship.
We could sing the name of Jesus for hours and it still be fresh if we sing out of revelation.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
A great thought (via James)
Worship
We have too long been conditioned to think that the church is to entertain us. That is not the case. Soren Kierkegaard said, " People have the idea that the preacher is the actor on stage and they are the critics, blaming or praising him. What they don't know is that they are the actors on stage; he is merely the prompter standing in the wings, reminding them of their lost lines" And God is the Audience.
It is not unusual to hear someone say; " I don't get anything out of church." MY response is " What did you give God? How was your heart prepared to give?"
If you go to church selfishly to seek a blessing, you have missed the point of worship. We go to give glory not to be blessed. An understanding of that will effect how you critique the church experience. The issue isn't, did I get anything out of it? But, did I from my heart give glory to God? Since blessing comes from God in response to worship, if you aren't blessed, it isn't usually because of poor music or preaching (though this may occasionally prove to be insurmountable obstacles) but because of a selfish heart that does not give God glory.
(The Ultimate Priority On Worship, John Macarthur, JR 1983 The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago)
We have too long been conditioned to think that the church is to entertain us. That is not the case. Soren Kierkegaard said, " People have the idea that the preacher is the actor on stage and they are the critics, blaming or praising him. What they don't know is that they are the actors on stage; he is merely the prompter standing in the wings, reminding them of their lost lines" And God is the Audience.
It is not unusual to hear someone say; " I don't get anything out of church." MY response is " What did you give God? How was your heart prepared to give?"
If you go to church selfishly to seek a blessing, you have missed the point of worship. We go to give glory not to be blessed. An understanding of that will effect how you critique the church experience. The issue isn't, did I get anything out of it? But, did I from my heart give glory to God? Since blessing comes from God in response to worship, if you aren't blessed, it isn't usually because of poor music or preaching (though this may occasionally prove to be insurmountable obstacles) but because of a selfish heart that does not give God glory.
(The Ultimate Priority On Worship, John Macarthur, JR 1983 The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago)
Monday, September 04, 2006
Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin dead | NEWS.com.au
Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin dead | NEWS.com.au
Very sad news.
My thoughts and prayers are with his wife and children.
Very sad news.
My thoughts and prayers are with his wife and children.
Churches must not play God with Caesar | Features | The Australian
This is an interesting article...
I find it a little incorrect though, from my perspectives, that he has said that churches want to play a role in politics. I think it is less that churches want to play a role, and more that Christians want to play a role in plotics/national debate. They have been automatically excluded simply on the basis of their Christian faith for a long time - while other faiths - materialism, secularism, darwinism, athiesm etc are free to engage or set public debate
Churches must not play God with Caesar | Features | The Australian
I find it a little incorrect though, from my perspectives, that he has said that churches want to play a role in politics. I think it is less that churches want to play a role, and more that Christians want to play a role in plotics/national debate. They have been automatically excluded simply on the basis of their Christian faith for a long time - while other faiths - materialism, secularism, darwinism, athiesm etc are free to engage or set public debate
Churches must not play God with Caesar | Features | The Australian
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)