I'm Learning

I am learning more everyday.
For example - I have learnt since getting married that my wife sheds more hair than I ever thought possible. I find it EVERYWHERE, on my clothes, clogging the drain, in our bed, clogging the vacuum cleaner head, but as of yet I haven't (that I remember anyway) found any in my food.
I have however found, on more than one occasion, a long, filthy black hair in my chinese food from the chinese shop down the road. Note to self - Do not EVER go back there.

I'm learning to overcome disappointments as I miss out on jobs that I've been applying for. I'm learning not to worry. I'm learning to keep plodding along, learning to not hate my temping jobs so much, and I'm learning how faithful God is every day. It is awesome. Praise Him!

I have also just learned something really awesome that I can't tell anyone - yet. I will as soon as I can, and I will probably post it up here.

In other news...
'Global warming' is losing the support of the public more and more everyday. Sorry Al Gore, you're going to have to find some other way to fleece the public of hard earned money to line your pockets.

The Senate race in Massachusetts is heating up. Normally this probably wouldn't be a big news story, but here's the catch. If the Republican candidate, Scott Brown wins, this would take the numbers in Senate to 59 Dem, 41 Rep. And that would be good news to me. Why? Because then the US Government would be forced to change their tactics and do things bi-partisanly. That is, treat things democratically.

The health care take over won when it went to the senate because the democrats had 60 members. Obama needed 60 votes for the take over to be passed. All he had to do was convince all democrat senators to vote 'yes' and he would have success. I'm not against that so much. However, my main problem with this is the way it was carried out. It was not a democratic process.

Knowing the republicans are generally opposed to government intrusion into the everyday choices of the public, he shut them out of talks. It became a one sided debate, aimed at bringing about the largest government takeover of the private sector in American history. Instead of transparency, these talks were held behind closed doors.

While campaigning for presidency, Obama promised to have a transparent government, have open doors talks with both sides of the political spectrum on issues such as health care, and to have c-span camera's present at all of these meetings. None of this happened. The talks resembled more of a secretive, under-cover-of-darkness campaign then a genuine, democratic process for the good of the people. Never mind the fact that only 30% of american's support the government take over of health care, and that most people actually oppose it.

So for me, anything that is going to bring democracy back into the white house is a good thing. I think it will be great to see the president faced with the challenge of working with both Democrats and Republicans, instead of just needing to do the bare minimum to get votes from his own party alone.

George W Bush (Republican) spent the majority of his presidency with a Democrat majority in both congress and the senate. He didn't have the option to do things any other way than bi-partisan. And I think that's a good thing. Not only does it mean that people on both sides of the political spectrum are better represented, it means both sides have to work together to reach the solution. And that has to be a good thing.

My life so far in 2010

It's 2010.
I'm unemployed - It really does suck. I have finished my Diploma in Civil Engineering, but when I try and use it as bait for potential employers, they generally have been telling me it's pretty much worthless. Would really have liked to know that before I spent two years and about 15 grand on getting it. Apparently going back to Uni to get my BE is the only way to get into what I want to do. I know for a fact that just a few years ago, that wasn't the case. I knew it would be harder with just a Diploma, but I didn't think I would be told by a number of Engineering Firms that its impossible.

Don't worry, I'm not depressed. I have been battered by disappointments BUT... I have faith. I believe God when He says, "I know the plans I have for you. They are for good and not disaster; to give you a future and a hope." I know that as these doors seem to close, He's moving me to the open door He really wants me to go through.

So for now, I've re-signed with a temping agency which should be able to provide me with enough work for us to pay the bills and on the days I'm not working I will be continuing my door-to-door job hunting and giving out a billion copies of my CV and praying for God to open up opportunities. Watch this space.

One thing being employed has 'helped' me with is now instead of a quick read up on the news every day, I have a lot more time to do some reading. I'm passionate about politics - not because I like to argue, but because I think it's extremely important for us to know what's going on around us in the political scene. The politicians are employed by us to make decisions for our good. So it's important to me that I know the full story about a law change that's being proposed. Or a policy change. Or what lawmakers are debating on. It's important to be informed and to really do some research into the pro's and con's.

I am a dual citizen of the USA and NZ. So I have a huge amount of interest tied up in what is going on in the USA (as well as here in NZ).

I'm watching the Healthcare Reform (or should I say Government take-over of the Health Sector) with great interest. I've been watching the global warming scam with great interest. I've been watching the media frenzy over Sarah Palin with great interest. I've been following the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan closely. I've been watching the out of control Government spending closely.

I don't like how biased the media is. I don't like how EVERY media outlet is biased, mostly left wing, but Fox, a right leaning outlet, is the only one bashed for having a biased viewpoint. I have been surprised time and again by what is reported on the news and how it is reported. I'm sick of humanity-caused climate change being reported as fact when there is less evidence for that than there is for life on mars. I don't like the direction Barack Obama is taking the USA and I don't like the way the press plays favourites with him. It seems they spend as much time praising him as they do trying to slam Sarah Palin.

This was not meant to be a rant, but I guess I got started on one. I wasn't expecting it to become a list of things I'm getting a bit "over it" about.

ANYWAYS...
I hope you are having a fantastic year so far. I am going to try and keep this thing updated fairly regularly and just say what's on my mind. It won't always be Politics. It won't always be winging and moaning (hopefully only a rare moan will make it on here). It will always be from the heart, and hopefully it will add something to your day, not take away from it.

just some questions...

Why is it that now it is automatically referred to as racism if someone criticizes President Obama? http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/16/gibbs-rejects-carters-claim-obama-critics-racist/

Why are some old people still allowed to drive when they obviously aren't capable? (foot slipped on to accelerator???) http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2872349/Car-smashes-into-Christchurch-bank

What is this world coming to when a 13 year old is caught drink driving? http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2872423/13-year-old-girl-caught-drink-driving

Why is my friend Elijah still in hospital?

Why is Niggy still not home from Afghanistan? (I miss you bro!)

What is with our fascination for finding another 'earth'? http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/2872010/Earth-like-planet-gives-hope-of-life

Why did I not get up in time to make lunch today?

What is with the lethal injection saga in Ohio? http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/2871953/Lethal-jab-halted-by-vein-trouble

What is with all the sexual abuse and incest? http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/2873457/Australian-Fritzl-raped-daughter-daily

Why have their been so many murders, assaults, stabbings, and the like in Christchurch recently?

Why am I still hungry?

Why haven't I finished my assignments?

Why am I writing this instead of writing my assignments?

Why did I think that guy at the skatepark was Tom and start hassling him when it turned out to be some random dude? And why didn't he punch me for being a dick? (Toby, you are my new friend - haha, hopefully see you again at the park soon)

I don't have answers for all these questions. What I do know is God is good, even when we are not. Even when the world looks to be in so much trouble, even when it looks grim, there is hope. I know that we may turn our backs on God and reap the consequences of that, but He is always there waiting for us to turn to Him. He is a good God, and just because an ungodly world is spiralling out of control, that will not shake my faith and hope in God, and it will only make me work harder to let my life shine His light and be an arrow pointing people to Him.

I believe with all my heart that God is good. I know that this world is not perfect. I know that there is pain, suffering, grief, poverty. I know that this stuff is not fun, or cool, or of God. But I would much rather take the hard road and have faith that God is good and claim the promises written in His word - the bible. And believe that He is the hope of the world, that He is the answer, that He is and will always be an awesome God, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords.

I would much rather do that then take the easy road and lose hope, become a person just going through the motions, letting how I feel determine the extent of my faith in God, become negative, cynical and un-joyful.
Questions, I have.
Answers, often I do not have.
But this I know - God is good, and I choose to put my faith and trust in Him. Praise God!

Thoughts on Friday 11/09/2009

once again I am realizing how easy it is to forget my blog, or put it on hold. I know its been ages since I wrote and I know that I initially wanted to write my blog every day or two. But in all honesty, I still intend to update this from time to time at the very least - I don't want to forget about it.

It's been a sad week in some respects. You may have heard about the 16 year old guy who died in a caravan fire in Edendale last weekend. His name was Matthew Kingsbury, and his family have been friends of my family since I was about 6 years old. It was so sad to hear the news, and weird to think what his family must be going through at the moment. It was weird to think about my sister, who was born around the same time as he was, and to think that he was her age. And its still crazy to think that he's not around anymore...

I hate it when people die so young and so tragically. But I know this - God is good. And I know that life does go on. And I know that we all have to die. And I know that we live in an imperfect world where there is pain and suffering in our midst. But I also know that God is a comforter, a redeemer, a healer, a provider, and a good, loving God. Even if we don't understand things that happen in life sometimes, God is sovereign, and He is God. So I pray for the Kingsbury's and friends of Matthew, and I thank God that He is Good, that even when I don't 'get it', He will never leave me or foresake me. Praise God!

On a lighter note - I have been following the Air New Zealand Cup quite closely this year (as I do every year) and for once, my boys, the Southland Stags, are doing flippin well! They are second on the table and have the chance to go top of the table tonight when they take on current top of table team, Bay of Plenty. Go the mighty Stags!!!

Sydney

Tomorrow I have an early start. I am flying out to Sydney at 6.30am which is not a good time for me considering I'll need to leave home at 4am to get to the airport on time. But needless to say I'm not too concerned about that, I'm more stoked to be going to Sydney for the first time!

God has blessed me so much. I have been given an awesome opportunity to go over to Sydney to check out C3 Oxford Falls, Change (on Wednesday night), hang out with Josh Kelsey (who runs Change) and hopefully there will be a chance in there for me to get together with some of the worship musicians to bang heads and gain some wisdom from some of the experts. It's really exciting and I am so thankful and blessed to be able to do it! I'm looking forward to whatever happens, and it is going to be awesome!

I am so thankful to be able to play a part at such an amazing church here in Christchurch, and to be part of the C3 movement. God is alive, God is good, and God is moving!

Monday!

So it's been a little while since I last posted anything. And with that I realize that my initial dream of writing a new blog every day or two has possibly died. However, I am blogging much more regularly than I used to be so I think that is a good thing. I also think if I was blogging every day most of them would be pretty lame so it could be better quality wise if I blog less frequently. Anyway, moving on...

Today is Monday. We just had an awesome Sunday at C3 Church, Christchurch. I love my church so much, its a great family to be a part of. It is awesome to see it growing in both quantity and quality. Every week it seems we have a bunch of new people and the presence of God descends in a more powerful way than before. I love it!

I was lucky enough to have been given the opportunity to preach at our evening service last night, and it was just great. Our pastor had asked me about a month ago if I would do it and I said count me in! It is such an honor to get asked to preach, and this was a big deal for me. I have preached a number times in the past at Primal and at a couple of high school christian groups, but never at Sunday church. So this was the real deal, a big deal, definitely my biggest gig. I was pretty nervous.

I preached a message that has pretty much been on my heart for a while now. The theme for our Church this month is "Supernatural" and I based my message on the concept of worship and how it ties to the Supernatural presence and power of God. I believe with all my heart that worshiping God invokes the presence of God, and the presence of God invokes the power of God. I believe it is this presence and power of God that are vital for living out our lives as Christians and helping us become more and more like Christ. I also believe that the power and presence of God active in our lives is going to draw people into the presence of God, and we're going to see miracles as we are released into a life of worship.

I think that when we worship God with EVERYTHING, not just a few songs at church, but how we live our lives, the attitude behind our actions, aligning our lives with the Bible, that we have the power of breakthrough in every area of our lives.

When we worship God in our relationships, He blesses them.
When we worship God in our finances, ie tithing, being generous, He blesses our finances.
When we worship God with our work ethic, He blesses the work we do
When we worship God with our WHOLE LIFE, He blesses our whole life.

I believe that when Christians break through into a life of worship, we are opening up the door for God to come in and do the miraculous. I'm talking healings, deliverance, salvations, breakthrough, miraculous provision and more! And I believe that this extends beyond us, that when we open up that door for God, it will impact not only our lives, but the lives of our families, friends, workmates, classmates, communities, and our world for God.

Socialism?

I wouldn't normally post something that got forwarded to me on my email, but I think this illustrates a good point. Don't start hating on me or trying to debate me because of it, just read it and think about it. I admit that it obviously was started by a staunch opponent of Obama trying to make a point, but its worth thinking about. We have seen what socialism has lead to in the past, and even if this is a made up story it is exactly how socialism (spreading the wealth) works


As the late Adrian Rogers said, "you cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."
This man is truly a genius!

An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before,
but had once failed an entire class.
That class had insisted that Obama's socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.
The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama's plan".
All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would receive an A.
After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B.
The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy.
As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.
The second test average was a D!
No one was happy.
When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.
The scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.
All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.

Could not be any simpler than that. (Please pass this on)