Today is Shrove Tuesday (or Pancake Day) which means tomorrow will be Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.
Even though I publicly profess I am a Christian, I have never observed Lent as part of the Easter period. Friends of mine that attend non-Baptist churches (which is the only church I've been a part of so far) do observe this each year, in various ways.
You hyprocrite! I might hear some people say.
Wiki friend says:
This event, along with its pious customs are observed by Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Anglicans and some Baptists.[4][4][5][5] Lent is increasingly being observed by other denominations as well, even such groups that have historically ignored Lent, such as some Baptists and Mennonites[6]
Generally speaking, whilst fasting is the main activity observed during Lent, (e.g. only eating fish and basic foods for 40 days), others may choose to give up certain luxuries instead for 40 days, or choose to devote the 40 days to prayer, or focus on giving up their time, money and other things for the church.
I have wondered though why our particular Baptist church has historically ignored the greater part of Lent, and only observed from Palm Sunday onwards (being the last week of Lent). On the surface, one may argue that fasting is no longer required on this side of the cross (post death and resurrection of Christ) and what is most important is remembering the Lords Supper on Maundy Thursday and the Easter Triduum.
I agree that the last week of Lent is important, but why should the church as a whole not also observe the full 40 day period by undertaking some fasting, devoted prayer and commitment to the church and to God?
On what doctrine is the view based on to ignore the greater part of Lent other than the last week of it?
Might have to re-look at the constitution of our church and see what it has to say.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Please help me God
Dear Heavenly Father, I have been sad and upset in the past about many things. But now I feel a sense of deep bitterness which I know is uncalled for and not appropriate, but it hurts so much more than I have ever felt it go before. Please release me from this anguish, teach me to overcome this and still genuinely love others and be a faithful servant to you. May I be reminded that your grace is sufficient for me, that nothing in my hand I bring to you is acceptable to you, but that what you really want is for me to confess that I have sinned and failed you once again and need forgiveness that comes through Jesus Christ.
It is not my will but yours, and it probably is not for me to know what will happen in the coming days, months or years, but all you ask of me is to trust in you, in your promises, in your Word, in your justice, in your faithfulness, in your providence and in your blessings to come no matter what.
Thank you for loving me no matter how much I hurt you and still have to learn.
I pray these things to you in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord,
Amen.
It is not my will but yours, and it probably is not for me to know what will happen in the coming days, months or years, but all you ask of me is to trust in you, in your promises, in your Word, in your justice, in your faithfulness, in your providence and in your blessings to come no matter what.
Thank you for loving me no matter how much I hurt you and still have to learn.
I pray these things to you in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord,
Amen.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Whoa!!
Have just been asked (along with many others) to help cater afternoon tea for a wedding for 450-500 people!!!
However, I think another wedding I attended a couple of years ago was about 600ish so 500 is nothing to sneeze at I guess :)
What is the biggest wedding you've been to so far?
However, I think another wedding I attended a couple of years ago was about 600ish so 500 is nothing to sneeze at I guess :)
What is the biggest wedding you've been to so far?
Monday, January 16, 2012
A little bit of inconvenience
Had to take my brand new car to the assessment centre this morning. Someone backed into the front of it over the Christmas/New Year holidays. The damage does not affect the driving ability, but does inconvenience me for a little bit until it is repaired.
Am now forced to drive a mauve-coloured Nissan Micra. A pretty gutless car..............even more gutless than the Toyota Yaris!
Have had enough car hire experiences for me to suggest that you refrain where possible from driving the following cars:
Nissan Tiida
Hyundai Getz
Nissan Micra
Am now forced to drive a mauve-coloured Nissan Micra. A pretty gutless car..............even more gutless than the Toyota Yaris!
Have had enough car hire experiences for me to suggest that you refrain where possible from driving the following cars:
Nissan Tiida
Hyundai Getz
Nissan Micra
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Students and Workers
Recently I have been once again thinking about the whole study-to-work transition and how this continues to affect our relationship with God and Christian service.
I can attest to this transition in my own life and have learnt many lessons and made many mistakes.
I made the choice to commence full-time work straight away after completing my studies and earn my own income so I no longer needed to rely on my parents.
Reflecting on this choice I have some regret for what I did, as I had many friends who made the more common choice of taking a really long holiday (mostly overseas) to celebrate the end of exams, assignments and group work forever. They then started work 3 months later. Just because I never did this doesn't meant it shouldn't be done, but as I mature I've come to understand that there are dangers with what I chose and what others chose.
A common explanation heard is that when you are a student you have alot of spare time but not much money. When you become a worker you have lot of money and not much 'spare time'. As a student you have a very active social life of parties, weekends away and a new term I've learnt.........chillax. With the transition to worker we now have money, but that active social life does not reduce per se, but rather increases to the point where the $$$ spent of these parties, weekends and holidays become more extravagant and luxurious as we actually have the money to spend. For some, buying a house is on the cards so money and time is spent on repayments as well as eating out and buying the latest homewares, cooking equipment, gadgets, computers, cameras and furniture for the home. These activities increases if marriage occurs during this time.
But what happens with Christian ministry and the relationship a Christian has with God during this transition?
As a student with much spare time (unless you have a secure part-time job), some spend a significant amount of that spare time helping out in church-based or mission-minded activities such as music at church, Sunday School, youth group, beach missions, running evangelistic events and discipleship with peers or those younger than them. On top of this there are many holiday camps and conferences they can attend (with either some savings or parents expense) to serve or grow and learn more about God to challenge our desire to serve, love and honour Him in all aspects of our lives. Looking back I cannot BELIEVE the amount of stuff I was involved with!!!!!
The senior staffworker during my time at university had said- 'the zeal and real growth of a Christian mostly happens between the ages of 18 to 24.'
Once we commence full-time work, that 'spare time' for ministry automatically diminishes as suddenly work becomes our priority. What time is left is usually spent relaxing, pursuing hobbies and the 4 weeks paid annual leave is spent travelling most of the time as work is a hard, long slog.
'We deserve it' we convince ourselves. 'We work hard so why can't we enjoy life ?' The desire to serve in church-based, mission-minded areas and attending training conferences reduces as we'd much rather spend the Friday and Saturday nights socialising with our work friends, church friends or spend a girls weekend away down the coast of have a 48 hour LAN party with our mates. I'm not targeting any specific group or gender with this, as I'm as much at fault as you are for falling into this very big trap.
What has happened to that zeal?
We cannot do all social things and neglect Christian ministry, and yet we cannot do all Christian ministry and neglect social things. However, which one would God prefer we choose? What does the apostle Paul write in Philippians 3?
I say I'm busy this week as I have touch footy on Mondays, meeting up with some girlfriends Tuesday night, Wednesday I hit the gym, have dinner with my spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend Thursday as its date night, and Friday drinks with the workmates on Fridays, then Saturday I have to go do the groceries and Sunday I have church. However, what exactly am I busy with? Where is my commitment to a regular bible study group and seeking ongoing ministry training opportunities?
I say I'm busy this week as I have BSF Monday night, meeting up with David and Kevin for Tuesday night discipleship, church bible study group Wednesday night, study prep for youth group Thursday night, youth group on Friday night, Saturday there is music practice in the afternoon before young adult fellowship at night, and then I'm playing music at church Sunday morning. Why then am I so tired and burnt out?
I look forward to be enlightened and finding the answers to this at Ignite 2012.
I can attest to this transition in my own life and have learnt many lessons and made many mistakes.
I made the choice to commence full-time work straight away after completing my studies and earn my own income so I no longer needed to rely on my parents.
Reflecting on this choice I have some regret for what I did, as I had many friends who made the more common choice of taking a really long holiday (mostly overseas) to celebrate the end of exams, assignments and group work forever. They then started work 3 months later. Just because I never did this doesn't meant it shouldn't be done, but as I mature I've come to understand that there are dangers with what I chose and what others chose.
A common explanation heard is that when you are a student you have alot of spare time but not much money. When you become a worker you have lot of money and not much 'spare time'. As a student you have a very active social life of parties, weekends away and a new term I've learnt.........chillax. With the transition to worker we now have money, but that active social life does not reduce per se, but rather increases to the point where the $$$ spent of these parties, weekends and holidays become more extravagant and luxurious as we actually have the money to spend. For some, buying a house is on the cards so money and time is spent on repayments as well as eating out and buying the latest homewares, cooking equipment, gadgets, computers, cameras and furniture for the home. These activities increases if marriage occurs during this time.
But what happens with Christian ministry and the relationship a Christian has with God during this transition?
As a student with much spare time (unless you have a secure part-time job), some spend a significant amount of that spare time helping out in church-based or mission-minded activities such as music at church, Sunday School, youth group, beach missions, running evangelistic events and discipleship with peers or those younger than them. On top of this there are many holiday camps and conferences they can attend (with either some savings or parents expense) to serve or grow and learn more about God to challenge our desire to serve, love and honour Him in all aspects of our lives. Looking back I cannot BELIEVE the amount of stuff I was involved with!!!!!
The senior staffworker during my time at university had said- 'the zeal and real growth of a Christian mostly happens between the ages of 18 to 24.'
Once we commence full-time work, that 'spare time' for ministry automatically diminishes as suddenly work becomes our priority. What time is left is usually spent relaxing, pursuing hobbies and the 4 weeks paid annual leave is spent travelling most of the time as work is a hard, long slog.
'We deserve it' we convince ourselves. 'We work hard so why can't we enjoy life ?' The desire to serve in church-based, mission-minded areas and attending training conferences reduces as we'd much rather spend the Friday and Saturday nights socialising with our work friends, church friends or spend a girls weekend away down the coast of have a 48 hour LAN party with our mates. I'm not targeting any specific group or gender with this, as I'm as much at fault as you are for falling into this very big trap.
What has happened to that zeal?
We cannot do all social things and neglect Christian ministry, and yet we cannot do all Christian ministry and neglect social things. However, which one would God prefer we choose? What does the apostle Paul write in Philippians 3?
I say I'm busy this week as I have touch footy on Mondays, meeting up with some girlfriends Tuesday night, Wednesday I hit the gym, have dinner with my spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend Thursday as its date night, and Friday drinks with the workmates on Fridays, then Saturday I have to go do the groceries and Sunday I have church. However, what exactly am I busy with? Where is my commitment to a regular bible study group and seeking ongoing ministry training opportunities?
I say I'm busy this week as I have BSF Monday night, meeting up with David and Kevin for Tuesday night discipleship, church bible study group Wednesday night, study prep for youth group Thursday night, youth group on Friday night, Saturday there is music practice in the afternoon before young adult fellowship at night, and then I'm playing music at church Sunday morning. Why then am I so tired and burnt out?
I look forward to be enlightened and finding the answers to this at Ignite 2012.
Thursday, January 05, 2012
1st week
Last day of the 1st week back at work for 2012. Hope that you all had a good, healthy start to the new year.
cricinfo.com.au has been my friend these last couple of days for the match between AUS and IND. For those that still define cricket as an insect, you have absolutely no idea what you are missing out on.
I admit that I have attended the occasional T20 match myself, the main problem with T20 becoming so popular amongst those that are not keen followers of cricket but are happy for a night out at the cricket, is that cricket is just a game where you stand there and swipe at every single ball that comes at you.
What has happened is that the next generation of players seem to only be proficient (or lackthereof) at smashing and dashing, that when the more patient, classic players would leave at least 40% of the balls alone is considered 'abnormal'.
Didn't mean to turn this post into a commentary on cricket, but had to get that off my chest.
I don't think we may see the likes of Little Master, Punter, Pup and Mr Cricket play like they have been in future generations.
cricinfo.com.au has been my friend these last couple of days for the match between AUS and IND. For those that still define cricket as an insect, you have absolutely no idea what you are missing out on.
I admit that I have attended the occasional T20 match myself, the main problem with T20 becoming so popular amongst those that are not keen followers of cricket but are happy for a night out at the cricket, is that cricket is just a game where you stand there and swipe at every single ball that comes at you.
What has happened is that the next generation of players seem to only be proficient (or lackthereof) at smashing and dashing, that when the more patient, classic players would leave at least 40% of the balls alone is considered 'abnormal'.
Didn't mean to turn this post into a commentary on cricket, but had to get that off my chest.
I don't think we may see the likes of Little Master, Punter, Pup and Mr Cricket play like they have been in future generations.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Kitty
I'm a dog person, not a cat person but can tolerate them if they have a good personality.
A ginger cat (female mind you) adopted us as its new owners about a month ago. No warning or anything, just showed up on our doorstep one day and has been here ever since.
We're pretty sure it has its set house rounds as most cats do, and actually belong to the neighbours across the road. They don't seem to really care on her whereabouts though, but I guess she can always go back home when she wants to.
What I think has happened is that she has been neglected, not fed etc (she is abit on the thin side) so has made the decision to find a new home. She is a pretty little thing with no blemishes (I'd say pedigree but apparently pedigree ginger cats are all male?) and has already demonstrated her ability to catch mice under our house.
Guess it's not a bad thing then.
A ginger cat (female mind you) adopted us as its new owners about a month ago. No warning or anything, just showed up on our doorstep one day and has been here ever since.
We're pretty sure it has its set house rounds as most cats do, and actually belong to the neighbours across the road. They don't seem to really care on her whereabouts though, but I guess she can always go back home when she wants to.
What I think has happened is that she has been neglected, not fed etc (she is abit on the thin side) so has made the decision to find a new home. She is a pretty little thing with no blemishes (I'd say pedigree but apparently pedigree ginger cats are all male?) and has already demonstrated her ability to catch mice under our house.
Guess it's not a bad thing then.
Note: generic image only and not indicative of the actual Kitty.
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