Kedron

About a week ago I spent a week at camp Kedron. I was a leader for the teen camp and while i am still tired (my year 7 boys were not all the interested in sleeping) it was well worth it. Most of the leaders rocked up on Saturday night for some prep and some serious card playing. The good thing about being a Christian in this situation is that even though it was the first time I had met some of these people you know that you have something in common straight away in our mutual love of God and all he has done for us. The kids all arrived on Sunday. I was greatly encouraged by a number of the children. A couple of years ago when I was last at this camp I had this young bloke in my cabin who drove me nuts. Seeing how God had worked in his life since and his excitement as he told me about the Bible Study he had set up at his school was really cool. The guy was still a bit nuts (he kept hugging me and callin me Santa) but a great young christian man. I found many other childrens stories encouraging. One girl was telling me about being the only Christian in her group of freinds and about how she witnesses to them.
We camped out one night at Windsor and went water skiing. Hm. Not quite accurate, most kids and a few leaders went water skiing I played cards with the other leaders who were not the water baby type. The best part of this trip was in the bus singing while the musically talented kids played their guitars. On the whole it was a great camp with some good teaching and some good chances for kids to ask questions about christianity. Can not wait to go again.

Still Reading

Ok. I am still reading my bible each night, just not blogging about it. I am too lazy. Have read all of 1 & 2 Samuel, Isiaih, Galations and am now reading Matthew again.

1 Samuel 4

This chapter discusses the confrontation/battle between Israel and the Philistine's. The Israelites suffer heavy losses and lose the battle as well as the ark of God. What get from this is that God does not always answer us the way we expect him to. God listens to our prayers and answers in his way. This may not always to be clear to us. Just because I ask for something from God does not mean I will always get what I ask for. But I trust that God will do what is best for me.

This weeks challenge: To continue spending time with God and his word each day.
Something to be thankful for: A great job that I love.
Something to pray for:Patience in waiting for God to answer my prayers.

1 Samuel 2-3

I think that the simple title for these two chapters should be God hates Sin. God makes his displeasure towards Eli the priest and his sons abundantly clear. He states that those whom despise him will be disdained and those who honor him will be honored. This is something that I need to remember at all times. While I am blessed to have forgiveness through Christ this does not change the fact that God despises my sin. I need to try to bring honor to God in all things that I do. Sometimes things can come out of my mouth that I know do not bring honor to God, I need to think before I speak.

This weeks challenge: To continue spending time with God and his word each day.
Something to be thankful for: A great bible study group in which encourages me greatly.
Something to pray for:That God would remind me to think before I speak.

1 Samuel Chapter 1

I guess this first chapter is all about Hannah. More specifically about about the power of prayer and Hannah's faith. Hannah is unable to to have a child and so she prays a prayer to the Lord in her despair and promises to give any son she would bear to God. She is then blessed with a son who she names Samuel.
Personally I found this passage very encouraging. It for me is all about God knowing the faith of Hannah and listening to her prayers. The power of prayer is great and God always listens to us. While his answers may not always be what we want, he listens and cares about us. I need to remember to talk to God not just when things are hard and I need something but also when things are great and I should be thanking him for this.

This weeks challenge: To continue spending time with God and his word each day.
Something to be thankful for:Dave and Fiona's wedding, it was a great day.
Something to pray for:My unsaved friends

Challenged

Lately I have been feeling challenged as to where I stand with my faith. A series of events have had me taking a good hard look at myself. Some really good sermons, some comments from friends and a wedding have all contributed to making me realise that I have some things I really need to start doing in my life. One of those is spending some time both looking at Gods word and spending time talking with God each day. Rather than just posting rubbish on this sight I am going to put some of my thoughts in here each day about what I have read and my christian life. To anyone who might read this stuff please feel free to comment and if you see that I have have not posted in a while feel free to keep me accountable with my bible reading especially. I may decide to post other stuff from time to time also.

21 minutes and counting

Yay. 21 minutes of RFF left this year.

Great Movie Lines

Every now and then a movie comes along with a truly unforgettable line. Clint Eastwood with "Make my Day" and of course the many great lines in star wars "use the force Luke." Well on Tuesday I saw a movie with a line even better than any of these. On Tuesday I went and saw Poseiden. Just to put the line in context let me fill you in with what had occured in the movie just before the line. A packed cruise ship on new years has been hit with a rogue wave. As a result the ship is turned over and is slowly filling with water. A small group of people are trying to escape through what was the bottom of the ship. One of the group has just been impaled on a spike of metal and crushed by a falling elevator. It is this point when the line is said. One of the girls in the group says "Are things bad?" Hm. The ship is upside down and filling with water, a bloke has just died rather gruesomely and she needs to ask this question. I would love to have been the character answering this question. But alas the character in the movie responds with "Things are bad." Who wrote this? A tip. If you loved the original do not go and see the new version. The only resemblance to the original is that the boat turns upside down. The worst movie I have seen since King Kong.

Yay, Back at work.

Hm. Must be keen to be at work. Got here at 7.30. Feeling tired as (getting up at 6.30 is the middle of the night) and hope to get through pupil free day awake. Glad to be here though. As much as I enjoy the holidays, i get bored by the end of them and it is great to catch up with the mob from work. Look forward to seeing the kids tomorrow and seeing how their hols were too.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

Christmas

Well we made it to Queensland. It was a long trip but was most enjoyable. We went up the New England highway this year and although it is much longer, it is a much more pleasant drive. Two things were very noticeable though. Firstly I have never seen so much dead wildlife on the road and two there were several more police and cameras along the way. We stayed at Glen Innes overnight at the hotel we haved stayed in in the past. It is a bit expensive but a nice place. We got a room with two double beds which was a bit of a bonus. Arrived at my brothers place about 2pm. Went shopping with my sister-in-law and neice and spent two much money but that is no surprise as money tends to burn a hole in my pocket. Anyway have a merry christmas all and a happy new year.

Good News/Bad News

OK, lets start with the good news. I have a job for next year. Yay. I am back to doing RFF (release from face to face(Hm technically it should be RFFTF)). I get to take each class for about a hour a week. Love doing this job for many reasons, a it is a bit cruisey, I get to meet all the kids and hopefully I will get my own room. Do not know what I will be teaching but at this point do not mind doing anything as long as it is not music or art.
2 bits of bad news. First is the fact that I have to go Christmas shopping with day today. I hate shopping (unless I am shopping in a computer games shop) and have no idea what to buy people and dad is happy to buy crap. I will not do this.
Second bit of bad news is that I sucked at poker last night. Joined the Australian poker league last night. It is free entry and you play for points. It was my first tornament and I made a bad mistake early and never recovered. I will not make that mistake again. Going next week to play again. Hopefully one of the three of us that played will make it past the first session.

Half Day Tuesday

I must say that Tuesday has been my favourite day of the week this year. Work finishes for me at 12:30pm. This allows me to do many things with the rest of my day such as playing golf or going to the movies. Today it is the movies. I am going to see Harry Potter (at 1:15pm so I will have to rush) which I am really looking forward to as everyone I have spoken to says it is the best of the movies so far. After that I am meeting up with the mob from school to see another movie. Who knows what that will be.
Feeling a lot better today than I was yesterday. Got to bed early last night and had a good nights sleep. Woke up at six thirty and proceeded to push the snooze button 5 times giving me an extra 45 minutes in bed (why does my snooze give me nine minutes each time? Who knows). As you may have guessed sleep is very important to me.
Other than the fact that it is a half day, Tuesday is also a good day work wise. My first hour and ten minutes is spent on release and is then followed by dancing with Kindergarten. This is really cool as we have a professional dance instructor come in and teach the kids. It is a lot of fun. Testimony to this is the fact that she actually manages to get me up and dancing too. After recess I have stage 1 class (years 1 & 2) and teach them space and measurement. They are a nice bunch of kids which makes the job easier. After 45 mins I take this class up for their dancing lesson then go home. It is a bit of a cruisey day.

13 Days to go.

I am tired. Will be glad when holidays come. Not that the begining of the hols will be relaxing. First day of the hols dad and I are driving up to Queensland to spend Christmas with the family. Really looking forward to spending time with them but will be exhausted when we get there. Not impressed that school does not finish until the 22nd. This is rediculous and gives me no time to go and do my Christmas shopping.
This weekend has not helped me on the tiredness front. Had a good night Friday watching Faulty Towers with the mob from school, but following that up with cricket the next day was not a good thing. The first ball that was hit to me went straight through my legs and we spent 32 overs chasing the ball all over the place. Our batting was of its usual high standard (Ha). Stuffed my face with a big plate of Chinese Saturday night, not good for the diet.
Sunday was spent doing nothing much. Was tired all day. Ended up going down the street and wasting money on clothes although the $5 shirts were quite a bargin. Bought the new INXS CD with the new singer JD. Have never been much of a fan but got into their music during Rockstar INXS. The CD is very good and will get quite a bit of play on the car CD player.
Woke up this morning and felt as though I could sleep all day but instead am working and feeling shattered. Sure the day will improve as I wake up.

New Blog

Greetings. This is my new blog. My previous blog has become over run with my students and so I have created a new one that they will know nothing about.