Holy Spirit

Just been thinking about how good the Holy Spirit is and how sad all the controversy surrounding him is. It really upsets me that because of these controversies so many people decide to live with 2 3rds of God.

Sometimes in the game

Our network 90% of the time seems to block blog sites, but the other 10% I am free to post and read, so if I happen to be in the library when our net guradian isn't do its proper job then I can blog!

Interesting things happening on the political front. It is ridiculous of labor to refuse to pay their pledge card money and I am very pleased the Greens are not going to give them an easy out. We got away with it in the past is the most ridiculous excuse to try and conjure up for breaking the law.

I was saddened to see that Don Brash has been having an affair. I was never a huge Brash fan but it is sad to see that people who are putting themselves forward to lead a country cannot even lead their own family life. I believe this is surely an appropriate reason for Don Brash to step down. Still I guess these days affairs are considered the norm and it is a reflection of society that someone can still hold a key leadership position in the nation and openly betray those who are meant to matter to them most.
Despite my opinion I really hope Dr Brash can get his marriage sorted out.

Back in the game part2

Well so much for being back in the game! Hmmm sometimes real life takes over eh! I am now back living on Bible College campus but it appears some sys admin must have realised that BLOGs are not the devil and they are no longer banned sites! So the good news is I can now post on mine and read others!

Parachute 07 is looking good! They have some pretty sweet speakers with Joyce Myers, Christine Caine and Jurgan Matheius(sp?). Yeah I know it is more about the bands but hey I will prob end up going to hear the speakers! If anyone is thinking of making the trip up let us know if you wanna spend a couple of nights in the best city in the north island afterwards (that would be Tauranga) as I am sure a spare bed could be arranged for the right$$$$$

Anyway preaching at church tomorrow in the morning service (topic is sinner or saint) so I best go and run through once more before getting my beauty sleep!

Back in the game

Well it has been a long time between drinks (so long in fact I doubt my meager readership are still checking!) This was due to an over restictive firewall at college.

Much has happened in the last while, I have graduated, started working for IR (again) and will be doing part time work at Tauranga City Elim. Sarah and I are also going to Fiji on a mission trip in a few weeks time so it is all go

Well I am sure I will find something to rave about soon

Living the high life!

I am an avid radio sport listener and today it paid off! Through phoning in and answering a sports question I then went into the draw and won...... A trip for two to Auckland to go to the peoples choice sports awards gala dinner. This is a $280 a plate dinner with limited tickets sold! They also put us up in the Hyatt and pay for the hire of some flash gears to wear on the night. Just what a poor student needs

Oh if anyone is wondering I am taking Sarah (my wife)

Verse of the week

Job 36: 5-12

God is mighty, but does not despise men;
he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.

6 He does not keep the wicked alive
but gives the afflicted their rights.

7 He does not take his eyes off the righteous;
he enthrones them with kings
and exalts them forever.

8 But if men are bound in chains,
held fast by cords of affliction,

9 he tells them what they have done—
that they have sinned arrogantly.

10 He makes them listen to correction
and commands them to repent of their evil.

11 If they obey and serve him,
they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity
and their years in contentment.

12 But if they do not listen,
they will perish by the sword [a]
and die without knowledge.

A case for door to door evangelism?

Jehovah's witnesses claim that they need to knock on 740 doors for each convert. I am not sure if they have exagerated this to make their evangelism see more effective, but if this is accurate then it is a lot lot better "odds" then I would have guessed. I know what is true from talking to Jaydubs is that many more people are open to door to door evangelism then we may like to think. So should we all put on our shirts and ties and get door knocking?? LOL

Where have all the deacons gone?

The number of men involved in churches in NZ has said to have dropped over the past 30 years. I wonder if in part this is due to the reducing of the roles similar to that of a deacon?
A lot of the worship songs in church use particularly honeymoonish type lyrics. Personally I quite like the modern songs as a way of worship, but many men don't enjoy that as their primary way of worship.

A lot of men get their sense of worth out of being able to be of pracitcal use. Maybe its just the churches I have been to but you don't seem to see as much the guy who sits in the foyer making sure everything is ok. Or the man who is on car security during the night services. It used to be the deacons job to collect up the offering, but now I see it done by many different people each week. What does it matter who collects up the offering? If that was part of a role that was giving someone importance and enabling someone to worship God in their local church then it does matter.

Also on a side issue I am interested in what people think. Do you think contemporary church services cater more for male or female preferences? I know that even asking such a question may seem like a large generalisation but obviously men and woman are different so who is more catered to?

smoking vs fastfood

Is it strange that a lot of Christians judge smoking based on the fact that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, yet the same emphasis does not seem to be focused on unhealthy eating and lack of exercise? (I don't smoke btw just interested in what people think)

Weather

Since moving to Tauranga I have been amazed about the pride that Taurangites display in their weather. Everytime you tell people you have moved up here from Christchurch you get a response about how much you must be enjoying the warmer weather. IF this happened on the odd ocassion you would smile and nod but when EVERY SINGLE person does it too you, it begins to get slightly frustrating. It gets to the point where you have a standard answer for all these weather worshipping nutcases. Had I realised being a worshipper of the weather was a necessity for lving in Tauranga then I may have thought twice about the move.
I think I am going to get a tshirt made

YES I AM ENJOYING THE WEATHER (although it rains lots)

Cool night

A couple of weeks ago we went into town on a Friday night. I had a few too many drinks, but it was so good stopping just short of puking ... NAH Just kidding!

We went into town on a Friday night outreach equipped with a sound system, music team, BBQ sausages and coffee. Man it was an awesome night. Their was just a real peace about what we were doing. We didn't need to bible bash people, we were trusting God to bring the right people along and he did!

Towards the end of the night we had a cool discussion with a guy who had recently been divorced. It was a real God appointed moment, after I talked to him for 10 minutes my friend was able to share for about 20 minutes and ended with sharing salvation with him. The guy didn't want to commit that night because he was still hoping to get lucky but he genuinely wanted to know how to have a relationship with God.

Islamic heaven

Isn't it strange that Muslims spend their life avoiding sexual impurity and alcohol but their heaven is to be fulled with fine wines and pleasure mates. Based on all the immorality that goes on in Islamic heaven I would of thought America and western culture would literally be heaven on earth!!

God is good

After many years of wanting to go to bible college it is awesome to be here, in the time of God and at the place where God would have me be. Faith Bible college has so far been amazing! The teaching is just superb, the ministry opportunity are fantastic. But most of all I love Thursdays where we have hour of power (basically a Holy Spirit hour - although the term hour would have to be used very loosely as it is often 90 minutes to 2 hours). Each week without fail the manifest presence of God comes and ministers at that time. It is so great to be in a environment where the Holy Spirit is moving.

I would appreciate your prayers as I have been asked to share at a halfway house this Tuesday. A lot of the guys in the house are recently out of prison. I am really looking forward to the challenge although it is a bit dauniting. I am believing that God is going to mininster and move.

The end of an era

I will admit that I thought Australia would win the ashes. For the sole reason that England's Batsman would not be able to handle Warne and McGrath and while this may still be the case surely we are seeing the end of an era.

The signs that Australia were beginning to fade were evident in the test series against NZ. Sure they thrashed us in each test but their top order failed on a few occasions against a pretty average NZ attack, Gilchrist came to the rescue each time and order was restored.

ultimately this is very good for cricket. Australia will still probably be the best test team for the next year or two, but they are going to get beaten. The aura of invincibility is slowing fading away.

So this is not the end of the Australian era, it is just the end of the "Australia being untouchable" era.

As to who will win the ashes...... WHO KNOWS but it is the greatest test cricket I have witnessed

Greatest test match in modern history

Obviously i am not talking about the all blacks match on the weeked.
Surely the 2nd ashes test is the greatest test match in modern history. It had everything (except a sensational 100 from someone). Plenty of body line bowling, fast scoring, quick wickets and the most amazing finish. I will remember for a long time listening to the morning session and hearing the impossible nearly become possible only to be ripped away at the last second, that whole game encaptured everything that is good about sport

Maori pension at 60?

I see one of the Maori parties policies is to allow super ann to Maori at the age of 60 as the life expectancy of Maori is not the same as Pakeha. I watched a tv debate on this and the side against the legislation provided a very solid argument

This policy is flawed for so many reasons.

1) Superannuation is on borrowed time as it is, due to the baby boomers and the fact that elderly will soon make up a very high percentage of New Zealanders we can expect to see dramatic reductions in the amount of Super ann being paid to everyone, no people group should be expecting to live off a large government super plan, instead the government should be doing more to encourage private pensions scheme

2) Their are other races that also have a short life expectancy, but their is nothing in the policy to cater for them

3) Surely you should be trying to deal with the issues that cause a shorter Maori life span then simply accepting it as a fact and paying out super at a younger age

4) If two people have lived next door to one another and worked at the same job all their lives, one should not get to retire 5 years younger just becuase they are of a different race.

Labour to cut student loan interest

Labour have just announced

The Government will scrap interest payments on student loans held by people living in New Zealand, Prime Minister Helen Clark announced today.
She said the proposed change, which would begin on April 1 next year, would massively reduce loan repayment times.
The policy would cost $100 million in its first year, eventually rising to $300 million a year.
Miss Clark said the policy would form the second of Labour's seven pledge card election promises.
Labour's first pledge card promise is to widen the rates rebate scheme

I am a student who has just taken out a SL for course fees and I don't agree with this at all. The current system is perfectly fair with regards to course fees. I don't have to pay any interest while studying and after I stop studying I get charged interest at a low rate, plus the government already funds universities about 60%. Yes their is still an expense to studying but with regards to course fees the government is already investing thousands of dollars into each degree earned.

This new measure only benefits students after they stop studying (as they pay no interest while studying anyway). Surely the time to help them is while studying by paying a universal student allowance. I have said before and I will say it again I don't believe any government should LOAN money for living expenses.

Remove the ability to borrow for living expenses, pay a universal student allowance and keep interest on course fees once the borrower has finished studying

Work for the dole?

Should people have to work for the dole?

Yes, yes and yes!!!

I think it is vital that we establish something that once people have been on the unemployment benefit for longer then three months they should be required to perform some type of work or lose their benefit.
I think this should be the case for anyone on the unemployment benefit and anyone on the DPB whose youngest child is at school. Surely we are just encouraging a false reality by giving people something for nothing, I honestly think the people that a work for the benefit scheme would benefit would be the beneficiaries themselves.

I am tired and aren't capable of giving this the logic it deserves but post your comments anyway.

Should we tour?

I am interested in peoples opinions about whether the NZ cricket team should tour Zimbabwe? Their is a lot of pressure being put on the government to ban the cricket team from touring due to the human rights abuses in Zimbabwe and the fact that Mugabe is a patron of Zimbabwe cricket.
Currently the governments stance is that they can not stop the cricket team from touring as it was be an abuse of the NZ players human rights. They are saying it is up to NZ cricket to pull the plug. Problem is unless the government ban the NZ players from going then NZ cricket becomes liable for reimbursing the Zim team for the cost of the tour, by the time TV rights are taken into account this would be millions.

So what should happen?

My feeling is that the government should stop them from going, we can't be seen to support that regime in anyway. Although I think it is sad that the international community has done very little to stop what is going on in Zimbabwe and believe something should have been done a long time ago. It should not be left up to our sportsman to fight the political battle

Secondly the international Cricket Council should have suspended Zim from all cricket, due to the horrible conditions of this country.

I truly wonder if all the promises from the G8 will do much if we are going to fail to act in key situations like the one in Zimbabwe.

So what are your thoughts, should sports teams be used to make a political stand?

Singapore Airlines.

Sarah and I are now back safe and sound.
One of the pleasing aspects of our trip was flying Singapore Airlines. They are by far the best carrier I have ever flown on and regardless of price (within reason) I would always choose to fly with them again.
They have all the latest modcons on the plane, including about 30 movies that you can choose from, nintendo games system and a great music selection.
The real kicker though was their service, it was just fantastic. The staff are so friendly and run off their feet to keep you watered, fed and comfortable.
NZ could learn a lot about customer service from SA (in fact Singapore in general excelled in CS)