I was going to head down for a surf this morning but how do you surf a lake!?
Summer in Perth…
Sometimes its sux.
Its Summer
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Category Archives: Personal
Do I Need a Fix?
The big question for Aussie homebuyers at present is whether to fix their interest rates or not. I can keep my 6.24 variable or fix at 6.99 for three years.
It means paying an extra $1600.00 over three years if housing rates don’t increase.
I have a feeling they will…dead end movie
Fast Forgetting
Farewell Wayne
Yesterday we went to Wayne’s funeral.
Wayne was the brother of a close mate of mine who died last week when he collided with a truck while riding his motorbike.
His brother Graeme decided he was going to take the funeral – a pretty gutsy effort – and he did an amazing job. It was one of the best funerals I have been at, given the tragic circumstances of Wayne’s death. Graeme led it with real heart, honesty and courage. It was a real tribute to his bother.
In his message Graeme said “Wayne didn’t fit church – but in my opinion that probably says more about church than it does about Wayne”
As a body builder, bouncer, tatt covered all round tough guy – with a heart of gold, Wayne struggled to fit in a local church.
How come?…
It picked up on the question I found myself asking last week, “If Wayne is in heaven (which we are pretty sure of) then how can he ‘fit’ there but not fit in church?’
I don’t know about you but the more I reflect on those questions I am strongly confronted with the question of what it means to be the church”
17 Years Later
When I graduated from Uni 17 years ago my first posting was to the little country town of Wagin where I was the Phys Ed teacher for the whole school (K-10) During my time there I was involved with the Uniting Church and made some great friends. It was also a year when I got engaged to a girl I was crazy about, and then a few months later got dumped – one of the toughest periods of my life.
It’ll be great to go back and see some of the people who helped me thru one of the most difficult years of my life and share some the story of how God has led us to Brighton.
The folks in that little country church certainly kept me alive!
The Present Predicament
Last Christmas as Ellie was sitting opening her presents I had a strong sense of dis-ease. She ripped the paper off one, glanced at it then moved on to the next. (I know she’s 2 and I know this is normal.) There were so many presents she was overwhelmed. A good thing or a bad thing?
But as she was doing this I was wondering, ‘what are we teaching her?’ By giving her so much stuff – that she may never ever use or need what are we communicating to her even at this age?
I was talking with our local cafe staff about ths yesterday and we are all feeling disturbed at this problem of wanting to love our kids and give them good things without teaching them that life is about ‘stuff’.
I know this Christmas we have bought Ellie a number of gifts that she will enjoy. But how much is enough? A big part of me wants to ‘cut back’, but should a child suffer for her father’s ideals?
Then again would the child be suffering?
And then again, again… maybe her dad has too much stuff too…
Disturbed yet?
My Life
At last my life is taking a little shape.
After a year of fairly chaotic living I can look to next year and see some direction forming. I will be dividing my time between three main roles (in terms of day to day activity).
– leading the Brighton team – maybe 2-3 days (we still don’t have a name so ‘the Brighton team’ is all I can think of to call us)
– developing Forge here in WA for around 1-2 days
– teaching Phys Ed to year 6 & 7 students at Kingsway Christian College on Thursdays and Fridays
The Brighton/Forge stuff overlaps nicely and the teaching will be a good place to ‘rest’ from leadership responsibilities. As much as I enjoy taking the initiative and developing new things there are days when it becomes tiring.
I didn’t want to teach at first, but I see it as a place where I can do something that I can do easily and well and even get paid for it. I am thinking I’ll maybe even enjoy it!