Raven Brings Road-kill sandwiches

In his blog, "God has a sense of humour" Tim explores the "blessing" of the Raven's home delivery to Elijah. Road Kill Sandwiches is a brilliant insight into this story that is very close to home... At last someone gets it ... Thanks Tim for this great post! My Raven aka is unmasked, sorry to disappoint anyone who thought "Raven" had anything to do with my black hair.

Jesus Christ Halloween Costume

This news article puzzles me. Why on a day that it is OK to dress up as the devil, a vampire, a witch, a smurf ... wherever your imagination takes you is it not OK to dress up as Jesus Christ? This is so crispy on so many levels. When teachers make decisions based on their own bias or prejudice they are usually the wrong ones. Way to go Superintendent James Montesano - if Jesus Christ is distracting in a classroom of devils I want to know what he was up to? Casting out the devils? Now that is a distraction that I'd like to witness. That's taking one for the team, anything to get out of class.

"PARAMUS, N.J. — Dressing up as Jesus Christ for Halloween turned out to be a problem for a northern New Jersey boy.

Alex Woinski, an eighth-grader at West Brook Middle School in Paramus, was sent home from school on Friday because of his costume.

Alex, who has shoulder-length brown hair, wore a white robe, a red sash, sandals, a fake beard and a crown of thorns.

His mother says Alex was told he could keep the costume on if he removed the beard and crown of thorns, but he declined.

Superintendent James Montesano says the district doesn't want students wearing costumes that could be distracting."

Red Letters and Rock Stars

I don't give a damn about American politics. I am an Australian but damn, I have never heard anything out there that sounds more like the reason I started this blog. A pretty good reason to get out of silence and speak ... It is a good idea to think your own thoughts and to question. Visit Everclear's website and download the free track "Jesus was a democrat"

Car crash at Hillsong's big hit Healer - Michael Guglielmucci

As we stop and rubberneck at the car crash that is Michael Guglielmucci, the Pastor who has been undone by his own fraudulent disaster of terminal cancer that just didn't exist ... I ask you to judge yourself, before you judge him.

Michael's imaginary diagnosis of terminal cancer inspired a hit song "Healer" that debuted on the Australian Aria charts at number two is a moving and inspirational song that has sparked hope in others that are battling cancer. Now before you say he has robbed the hopeless of their hope, I ask you who is your healer? I ask you who is your hope? I'm sure your answer is Jesus and I am sure that the song will continue to point people to Jesus as the source of their hope and to anchor their faith to the rock. Michael Guglielmucci cannot give hope to the hopeless, only Jesus can do that.

The irony of this situation is that by confessing his shame, Michael Guglielmucci is closer to realizing the healing of Jesus in his life than ever before. Walk in mercy.

Why don't I post during the obvious religious holidays?

Hey, I have been asked this sooooo many times. What many people fail to see is that being a preacher's kid, all the religious holidays were just "Dad going to work days" and not a "holiday" at all for my family. So I am sorry if I disappoint you now in my adult life, but hey, I am having a holiday and I do not care what you think about that.

Let there be light ... but not like this.

I don't really know what I think about this other than it is very jesus crispy. Because even if it was purely good intentioned you just have to read through the comments at the photographer's flickr stream to discover that pure wasn't on the minds of those writing the comments.

Thanks again to my fabulous friend for the tip. I'm a little scared that you find more of the good stuff.
photo credit: sepultura flickr

How Does This Preacher Getting Arrested Help The Lost?

This preacher was asked to move his evangelism efforts to another place and was not bothered for not having a permit, but in his refusal to cooperate with requests from Police he got himself arrested. Brilliant!

Gabriel ... You are not broken.

You are not broken.

You are resilient!

You may feel pain, but you will OVERCOME.


There is a tomorrow and it is much more glorious

because you are a part of it.


Live LOUD in this life.


Never leave quietly!

Lake Cargelligo, Australian Spirit in the Bush

In the middle of nowhere in central western New South Wales in Australia, you can drive and drive for hours through the red dust. Your eyes will start to drift as your mind plays tricks with your eyes over the horizon. Lake Cargelligo springs up, at the end of a T intersection you weren't expecting. Even in the worst drought we have had in Australia, the blue water of Lake Cargelligo is a welcome distraction from the red earth and heat.

A welcoming town, you will always find a friend to share a road story or find inspiration to further your journey into Australia's outback.

Lake Cargelligo is a town of many secrets and memories of the goldrush era, the Wooyeo Ball and has buried an infamous bushranger from the Frank Gardiner gang.

In the true Australian spirit of the bush, this town has shown the kind of resillience that has given the residents the strenghth to survive the drought and carry on.

Rescue

The boys from Redruth have been working hard on their debut album Rescue, due to be released later this month. You can sample some tracks from "Rescue" at the Redruth myspace page

The standout track for me is "The Lord's Prayer".

How do I live without you?

I don't really know my love. Another year lived. Another hope to come. My sweet thing, I live for the day that you come home. One day you will know that you have been with me every day, every second ... never far from my thoughts and always carried in my heart. My child I love you. xoxo

Keeping Jesus Company

I spoke on the phone with my daughter today and she said to me "Mummy, you are always with me." I replied with "yes, darling ... in your heart." She responded with "Yes, Mummy, with Jesus. Someone has to keep him company."

Dying from laughter.

Jesus Affiliate Program

This was posted under the title "The Hardest Way To Make Money Online". Obviously written by someone who doesn't know how the politics of denominations work... that 10% runs the length of the pyramid.

Elusive

Have you ever had an elusive friend? I have one that I seem to cross once every four years. Tonight, for whatever reason I sent a text message stating: "If you knew then what you know now ... Would you let your life escape you?"

I hit send without agenda.

I receive a response. Much to my amazement. "Good question". It in all likelyhood will be all I will hear from him for the next few years.

(no ... not true It was good to hear from you.)

All Good Things Come To An End

I was driving my daughter home and we were chatting along and singing along to the radio and generally having a good time. Nelly Furtado's "All good things come to an end" came on the radio and my daughter slumped into state of mellancholy complete with seven year old pout. After some coaxing and ten songs later, she said ... "It is just like that song Mum, all good things come to an end."

I found myself saying that yes that is true, because the cycle of life continues and things have to die before new things can begin. I know I was talking to myself more than to my daughter.

This year past year has been hard, but no more than I allowed. Do all good things come to an end? Only if you think you were meant to have something or someone forever. We can never own another heart or person, but are gifted with a shared journey that gives great strength and encouragement while shining a light on those areas of weakness that need to be dealt with. There is not just "one good thing", thank God, but many.

Are you from the olden days?

Children have a habit of putting you in your place whether you know it or not.

It is school holidays and I am enjoying spending time with my daughter. We were talking about dvds and videos and she commented about how dvds take up less space. I made the mistake of saying that videos were new and wonderful when I was her age. "Mummy, are you from the olden days?" Someone kill me now PLEase!!!

Enjoy your children.

1980's flashback

She who knows me too well, sent me this viral email about growing up in the 1980's and early 90's. While reminiscing about snap bracelets, spokey dokeys and Bon Jovi may have been a humorous trip down memory lane, it did spark the thought of what would be my "crispy in the 80's" list.

1. Backmasking - it really is hard to beat Queen, "another one bites the dust" ... "it's fun to smoke marijuana" I lost too many hours in my life being dragged along to these type of meetings. Rah!! Very Crispy.

2. Tammy Faye Baker. Enough said.

3. Prosperity Gospel

4. Teen Ranch - (christian camp)

5. Youth Group

6. ET was satantic ... but so was everything else that annoyed my mother ... like WHAM!

7. Television evangelists

8. Stryper - big hair, makeup and Lycra ... and a television debate with Rev. Fred Nile ... priceless.

9. Vengeance ... the christian extreme metal band who's most noted song had lyrics resembling ... "I want my head chopped off ... Salvation."

10. Demon behind every tree theology makes it easy to blame the devil for every lapse of personal judgement.

My list really isn't as fun as my girlfriend's

I don't know who the originating author of this 80's viral email... if you know let me know so I can give credit.

You Know You Grew Up In The 80's if:
1. You used to buy cassette singles… and still have some stashed somewhere…
2. You can sing the rap to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and can do the Carlton
3. Girls wore biker shorts under their skirts and felt stylishly sexy.
4. You yearned to be a member of the Baby-sitters club and tried to start a club of your own.
5. You owned those lil' Strawberry Shortcake pals scented dolls (or your sister did).
6. You know that "WOAH" comes from Joey on Blossom
7. Two words: Hammer Pants
8. You watched "Fraggle Rock".
9. You had plastic streamers on your handle bars... and spokey-dokies or playing cards on your spokes for that incredible sound effect
10. You watched "Duck Tales" (Woo ooh!)
11. It was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.
12. You (your sister, cousins) wore a ponytail on the side of your head.
13. You saw the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the big screen..and still know the turtles names.
14. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side.
16. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of it.
17. L.A. Gear....need I say more?
18. You remember reading Tales of a fourth grade nothing and all the other Judy Blume books.
19. You know the profound meaning of "WAX ON, WAX OFF"
20. You wanted to be a Goonie.
21. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. (some of us...head-to-toe)
22. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off and his cheeks shifted.
23. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.
24. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.
25. You still get the urge to say "NOT" after every sentence.
26. You remember Hypercolor t-shirts.
27. Barbie and the Rockers was your favourite band.
28. You thought She-ra (Princess of Power!) and He-Man should hook up.
29. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.
30. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying "I know you are, but what am I?"
31. You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up"
32. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates.
33. You ever got seriously injured on a Slip and Slide.
34. You have ever played with a Skip-It or Elastix
35. You had or attended a birthday party at McDonalds.
36. You've gone through this nodding your head in agreement.
37. Don't worry, be happy
38. You wore like, EIGHT pairs of socks over tights with high top Reeboks.
39. You wore socks scrunched down
40. You remember boom boxes and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were all that.
41. You remember watching both Gremlins movies.
42. You know what it meant to say "Care Bear Stare!!"
43. You remember watching Rainbow Bright and & My Little Pony Tales
44. You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha Micelli was hot.
45. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac.
46. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool...and don't even flinch when people refer to them as "NKOTB"
47. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By The Bell," The ORIGINAL class.
48. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.
49. You just sang those words to yourself.
50. You remember watching Magic vs. Bird.
51. Homemade Levi shorts.. (the shorter the better)
52. You remember when mullets were cool!
53. You had a mullet!
54. You still sing "We are the World"
55. You tight rolled your jeans.
56. You owned a bannana clip.
57. You used to (and probably still do)
say "What you talkin' 'bout Willis?"
58. You had big hair and you knew how to use it.
59. You're still singing shot through the heart in your head, aren't you!
PASS THIS ON TO ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS WHO GREW UP IN THE 80s or Early 90s!!!
ROCK ON!!!

Tech Support

I had a frustrating day today. I was trying to solve a database related problem. I trawled through the manuals and couldn't find what I was after ...so I get on the phone to the tech support. I ask a simple question, to which the response was "That is a very good question!" "Hmmm, let me see ... yes ... no ... in fact definitely no. You can't do that with our system." I looked down to the day calendar that I had written the support phone number on. I read the quote for the day and couldn't help but laugh.

"Do not rely completely on any other human being, however dear. We meet all life's greatest tests alone." Agnes MacPhail.

Shine

Ok, so I have been filing all my sad music for another time and place. There is only so much Amy Winehouse a girl can bear before life is unbearable ... and she is the one with the drugs!

When I was culling ... I found this old time fav. I believe that Mr Big had an amazing hit with this song "shine" written by Richie Kotzen. It feels good to me right now.

Depression

Some of you know that I have been battling depression for a long time now. And of all the monkeys to kick this one truely sucks. People who care about you are waiting for you to just "snap out of it" and the pressure to put on a happy face and deny what is really going on is unbearable. I have seen therapists, taken anti-depressants, read a million books ...

I had a coffee with a friend, he gave me a book ... Set Yourself Free by Shirley Smith. I know I could have thought, here we go with another book, but my meeting with my friend was so real, so honest ... I knew that he is being changed by whatever it is he is doing, and for the better.

In the meantime, so over the constant sadness and misery I started really looking at my diet. I am now making sure I get all my fruit and veges each day and taking my vitamins etc. which are easily overlooked when you live alone.

I have started to feel better.

So I started reading that book. I have just begun but I know that there is life there. I often talk a good game when inside I am desperately unhappy. I'll let you know how I progess.