We have all heard of the things they flog on ebay, from a image of Mary embedded on a toasted cheese sandwich, to the Pope’s old car. But this one is certainly up there in the interesting stakes.
A young man from Chicago is offering to go to church if you pay him. He is a editor of an Athiests newsletter, and will publish his experiences in his journal.

Here is the link Send an athiest to his local church!

Wonder if Willow Creek might get involved? Maybe Forge could go over and live next door to him for a week instead?

Continuing my devotions in the Psalms. The NLT really has come into its own in this book. Loving the freshness of reading them with this translation.

Trying to work out what is going on in David’s head.

“declare me innocent, for you know those who do right”

Imagine writing and saying that to God! How does this contrast or ‘work’ with Jesus’ statement about the two men praying in the temple? The one who was humble and beat his chest in agony over his own sinful state was commended. The one who thanked God that he was so good, was blasted. (fair nuff too!)

I suppose there are times in all of our lives where we know we are right, and can cry out our case to God. I find that difficult, because I am so aware that my feet are made of clay. Yet David did it, and we know what he got up too!

The weagles woes are continuing and the Sunday Slime has written this about the pre season derby,

“But the Dockers are likely to field a side considerably stronger than the West Coast Eagles, who have endured an injury-riddled pre-season.
Full-forward Brad Smith is out of commission for another 12 months because of a second knee reconstruction, while midfielder Chad Fletcher (collarbone), ruckman/forward Michael Gardiner (foot), David Wirrpunda (knee) and Ashley Sampi (compartment syndrome), are tipped to miss the first round of the official pre-season competition.
Beau Waters, who injured a knee when hit by a taxi late last year, is still well below full fitness. Michael Braun, on the comeback trail after knee surgery, is training solidly, but could also be rested for the Dockers encounter.”

A Docker fans opinion?

Out: Smith, Fletcher, Gardiner, Wirrpunda and Sampi

In: Boo and Hoo

A little while back, about 8 months ago, a friend who does not come to church told me that, ‘there is no way you will get a house like you want in Bedford for that price’.

I was sharing with her that we felt God was calling us to be in the area. In other words more incarnational in our approach. (I did not use those exact words, but that is what I was seeking to convey). I also shared that we would love our son to go to Inglewood pre primary. Her response was “there is no way you will get him in to that class, the kindy has 75 kids in it, and the pre primary goes down to 50. You cannot get a spot, especially not at this late stage”. (This was 8 months before!!)

On both counts she was right, there was no earthly way this could happen. She is a self confessed athiest.
Then, through some remarkable circumstances, we came to buy a house, a beautiful house, with a magnificent kitchen, in a great central street, for a very reasonable price. We paid no agent fees as it was a private sale. In fact we were the only ones who knew it was going to be for sale, and we found out through some extraordinary circumstances. To give you some idea, houses in the area we were looking at rarely get to a house open, they are normally sold within 48 hours. That is no exageration.

Then, this morning, a number of months after buying the house, after we had almost given up hope, and had enroled our son in an alternative school, the Inglewood Primary School secretary rings us up and tells us there is a suprise vacancy. After my wife had finished shreaking down the phone, we were both reminded of the conversation we had with this lady.

God is good, He won’t be mocked. Prayers offered up in His will, and for His purposes are generally answered. We are so happy to be doing what He wants, and to have it confirmed in this way. I can’t wait to see what He has in store for us next.

Now two good friends are coming to Hillsong with me!

Cant wait.
Truth is we have a stack of fun, as well as being inspired and uplifted.
Imagine four days away with two good mates!!

Now I love my coffee, but Pizza if probably my first love, good stuff, not the $5.95 specials.

The sort of pizza that Italian/Greek guy makes by hand.
Floury crust, real bacon, real herbs.

There is a great pizza shop in the middle street of Sydney, right near where we normally stay.
Anyone know anyway we should visit?

I love the place.
Sun, fishing, sitting on the porch watching the sun go down.

Getting up, throwing on the boardshorts. Plunging into the Indian Ocean.

There is nowhere like Western Australia, and for me, nowhere like Cervantes.

I will never change my mobile phone provider. Optus dont have coverage up there.
I will never change from Optus.

Time with my wife and my kids, talking, laughing, buying lollies and fresh bread from the ‘supermarket’.

Reading the west over a plate of my wife’s pancakes with maple syrup and cream, breakfast at 10am after a swim.

But most of all, my kids laughter and joy as we build the biggest most complex sand castle you have ever seen. Inbuilt bath, seat, tunnel, bridge, moat, outside wall to protect it from the incoming waves. If my son does not turn out to be an engineer or designer, or builder of somesort, I will be suprised. His ideas, for a 5 year old, well I know I am biased, but the kid is smart!

In the mother country there is a relatively new phenomenon occuring known as “happy slapping“

What it involves is a group of youths bullying another youth, all the while videoing it with their mobile phone and then distributing it amongst their friends. The bullying can and does frequently go as far as bashing, stabbing, sexual misconduct and other such things. All the while the kids are either participating or laughing.

If you devalue people so much, this is what you get. A person is only valuable if they can provide you with sick entertainment. As a parent two young children, such activity makes me physically sick. I believe that these young people doing the attack are empty, devoid of purpose, and our humanistic, egocentric, self centered and selfish society has made them this way. They are evil people, yet there are reasons why they are evil.

We Christians have to permeate the Holy Spirit’s influence throughout society. We have to see people changed one at a time.