"Today we have alot of missions, but not many saints"
Eugene Petterson, circa 2003
Saturday, March 27, 2004
Friday, March 26, 2004
It's not that I'm a coffee snob, I'm really not. Sure I've been known to order the odd cappucino, sometimes even with skim, but I've never had a caramel latte or double decaf soy.
However, when your 'gormet' coffee comes from a machine behind the counter (as mine just did here at UBC, Vancouver) you know things are wrong. I'm happy for machines to run autopilot systems on airplanes, internet banking, even internet dating!! But we must not let them take the role of Barrista. They simply can't cut it.
Vancouver has revitalised me. Tuesday I was off the east coast of Vancouver Island paddling past seals and sea lions while being circled by bald headed eagles. Today I'm sitting in the university cafe here at UBC, back in the main land....its a tough life.
I was blessed last Sunday to find a church. The First Baptist Church in Naniemo, Vancouver Island was where I chose to go (after a brief but intesive internet search). The evening was great. Good service and although the congregation was predominately older people, I did meet the new youth pastor - Kirk Ehrhart. A top bloke, he'd been at the church only three weeks with his wife and was looking forward to a 10 year ministry there. It was encouraging to meet those working for the kingdom in other countires.
I finished reading 1 John last week.
I've always seen the book as primarily about love. But recently I'm starting to see a different theme emerging. I'm not sure if those John was writing to were experienceing doubts (I assume they were, because...who doesn't) but John seems to be addressing the question. "How do I know that I am a child of God? How do I have certainty?"
If you do a quick scan of the book you'll find that Paul answers this question 10 times in 5 chapters!! (2:3,4, 3:16, 18, 24, 4:7, 8, 13, 5:2, 13).
His answer to the question of certainty - "We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commandments."
Our obedience and our knowledge of God seem intrinsically linked.
I guess in practice this means that if we are having trouble being obedient children, we need to get to know God better. Pretty simple realy, but kinda profound.
in Him
Craig
However, when your 'gormet' coffee comes from a machine behind the counter (as mine just did here at UBC, Vancouver) you know things are wrong. I'm happy for machines to run autopilot systems on airplanes, internet banking, even internet dating!! But we must not let them take the role of Barrista. They simply can't cut it.
Vancouver has revitalised me. Tuesday I was off the east coast of Vancouver Island paddling past seals and sea lions while being circled by bald headed eagles. Today I'm sitting in the university cafe here at UBC, back in the main land....its a tough life.
I was blessed last Sunday to find a church. The First Baptist Church in Naniemo, Vancouver Island was where I chose to go (after a brief but intesive internet search). The evening was great. Good service and although the congregation was predominately older people, I did meet the new youth pastor - Kirk Ehrhart. A top bloke, he'd been at the church only three weeks with his wife and was looking forward to a 10 year ministry there. It was encouraging to meet those working for the kingdom in other countires.
I finished reading 1 John last week.
I've always seen the book as primarily about love. But recently I'm starting to see a different theme emerging. I'm not sure if those John was writing to were experienceing doubts (I assume they were, because...who doesn't) but John seems to be addressing the question. "How do I know that I am a child of God? How do I have certainty?"
If you do a quick scan of the book you'll find that Paul answers this question 10 times in 5 chapters!! (2:3,4, 3:16, 18, 24, 4:7, 8, 13, 5:2, 13).
His answer to the question of certainty - "We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commandments."
Our obedience and our knowledge of God seem intrinsically linked.
I guess in practice this means that if we are having trouble being obedient children, we need to get to know God better. Pretty simple realy, but kinda profound.
in Him
Craig
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Well the big apple is far bigger that I imagined, its like something out of a Roal Dahl noval - Craig and the enormously huge apple
Never the less I've navigated myself around ok and am feeling at home. I few highlights:
Ordered the crab bisque from the Soup Nazi - and I got busted for not moving to the left after I had orderd (I should have know, his rules were written up above the counter!)
Saw Hugh Jackman in the broadway musical The Boy From OZ
Stumbled over Hootie and the Blowfish playing in a boarders bookstore in the city!
just to name a few.
As far as meeting people is concerned, after 2 months you get a bit tired of the whole "hi i'm from Aust. where are you from? where are you going?" conversation. I'm trying to think of a new inventive opener to start my hostel chats. If you have any thoughts, send them my way and I'll give them a try.
Tomorrow I head off to Vancouver, and will hopefully go about getting some photos of my travels on the net here, hopefully.
till then
Craig
ps I hope you like the new look page. They say a change is as good as a holiday and since most of you are at work, I thought I'd gift you with a little 'break'.
Never the less I've navigated myself around ok and am feeling at home. I few highlights:
Ordered the crab bisque from the Soup Nazi - and I got busted for not moving to the left after I had orderd (I should have know, his rules were written up above the counter!)
Saw Hugh Jackman in the broadway musical The Boy From OZ
Stumbled over Hootie and the Blowfish playing in a boarders bookstore in the city!
just to name a few.
As far as meeting people is concerned, after 2 months you get a bit tired of the whole "hi i'm from Aust. where are you from? where are you going?" conversation. I'm trying to think of a new inventive opener to start my hostel chats. If you have any thoughts, send them my way and I'll give them a try.
Tomorrow I head off to Vancouver, and will hopefully go about getting some photos of my travels on the net here, hopefully.
till then
Craig
ps I hope you like the new look page. They say a change is as good as a holiday and since most of you are at work, I thought I'd gift you with a little 'break'.
Saturday, March 13, 2004
.....it's not that Im afraid, I think it is more that I respect the personal privacy of the individual. And besides, at some point you have to step back and realise they are just another one of the millions who inhabit this earth, no one that special.
so there I was, Morgantown West Virginia, the John Mayer concert had just finished and it was a great show, with a great seat to boot! There is a whole crew of people haning outside to see when he was going to come out of the stadium to his bus. Considering my evening activity involved cramming into a rent a car and surrounded by sub zero temperatures attempting to get some sleep, I was in no rush to leave!
Before long, some bright spark realised that John and the band were already on the bus!! The problem was the security guards stopping all access to anywhere within 100m of the busses.
It was time for the Aboriginal tracker instinct in me to kick into to gear. I walked around the stadium for a while and finally discovered a flaw in the security. Coming up from a grassy knowl, I approached the busses from behind, and once within the security tape, everyone treated me as if I was meant to be there! I wandered up to the bus in which the band was relaxing. Outside was the drummer - J.J. We chatted for a while, mainly about Sydney which he is looking forward to going to in April. Then Steven, the lead guitarist (the asian guy with glasses, for those who have seen "Any Given Thursday"). He then got on board and I was left with an open door to the party bus.
.....it was at this point that I felt like I was intruding. John Mayer didn't want another fan bugging him about the show, so I stayed outside..not out of fear, but respect.
Soon after he emerged anyway. I said g'day, told him I enjoyed the show, and then when I went to have a photo with him the camera wouldn't work!!?! And that is the TRUTH.
What I can say, is that when on the road, John drinks Corona's and allows many beautiful women onto his party bus.
The night also allowed me to pick up a John Mayer US tour shirt, which is really cool. However as Bruce Springstein once sung "with every wish there comes a curse" - and that evening, sleeping in my rent a car, was without a doubt the most hellish experience of my life. I now question whether hell will be burning sulphur pits, or -10 degree metal shells.
Tomorrow I'm off to the Big Apple to visit the soup nazi, the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, and many fast speaking, fast moving americans.
till then
Craig
so there I was, Morgantown West Virginia, the John Mayer concert had just finished and it was a great show, with a great seat to boot! There is a whole crew of people haning outside to see when he was going to come out of the stadium to his bus. Considering my evening activity involved cramming into a rent a car and surrounded by sub zero temperatures attempting to get some sleep, I was in no rush to leave!
Before long, some bright spark realised that John and the band were already on the bus!! The problem was the security guards stopping all access to anywhere within 100m of the busses.
It was time for the Aboriginal tracker instinct in me to kick into to gear. I walked around the stadium for a while and finally discovered a flaw in the security. Coming up from a grassy knowl, I approached the busses from behind, and once within the security tape, everyone treated me as if I was meant to be there! I wandered up to the bus in which the band was relaxing. Outside was the drummer - J.J. We chatted for a while, mainly about Sydney which he is looking forward to going to in April. Then Steven, the lead guitarist (the asian guy with glasses, for those who have seen "Any Given Thursday"). He then got on board and I was left with an open door to the party bus.
.....it was at this point that I felt like I was intruding. John Mayer didn't want another fan bugging him about the show, so I stayed outside..not out of fear, but respect.
Soon after he emerged anyway. I said g'day, told him I enjoyed the show, and then when I went to have a photo with him the camera wouldn't work!!?! And that is the TRUTH.
What I can say, is that when on the road, John drinks Corona's and allows many beautiful women onto his party bus.
The night also allowed me to pick up a John Mayer US tour shirt, which is really cool. However as Bruce Springstein once sung "with every wish there comes a curse" - and that evening, sleeping in my rent a car, was without a doubt the most hellish experience of my life. I now question whether hell will be burning sulphur pits, or -10 degree metal shells.
Tomorrow I'm off to the Big Apple to visit the soup nazi, the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, and many fast speaking, fast moving americans.
till then
Craig
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
Yesterday I left Sth Carolina, and with it the plentiful food, relaxing environment and beautiful people. But there is a time and place for everything and its good to be back on the road.
The train ride to Washcington DC was much like the removal of a bandaid - short and painful. The train left just after midnight and arrived in Washington before midday - the perfect travel time because you sleep most of it, right? wrong!! For some reason sonn after I boarded the train some sort of flu started growing within my relaxed sth carolinan body. Maybe it was the South beckoning me to stay, or the rush and intensity of the north coming upon me? Whatever it was I experienced an evening of headaches, uncomfortable attempts at sleep and a general period of "unfun".
That aside I'm now in the nations capitol and searghing for George W. A mission which is so far unseuccesful.
Today I did spend 6 hrs at the Museum of Natural History...and loved every second. From Dinosaur skeletons to ancient Egyptian civilisations to 3d movies about insects, I couldn't get enough. The last time I had been to a museum was back in school and I went because I had to. This time I actually stopped and read each description, not because I had to fill in my work book, but beacuse I was generally intrigued. As much by the ancient Egyptian pottery as the T-Rex!
One conclusion that came to mind was how different humans really are to the rest of the natural world. Dinosaurs were around for thousands of years and peaked with eating grass and hunting each other. Humans however, created empires, built pyramids, started governments and waged wars. When you see the human on the family tree with all the other mammels, you know something doesn't quite fit. "Then God said 'Let us make man in our own image, in our likeness and let them rule over the fish of the sae and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth." (Gen 1:26)....its the only way it all makes sense.
Every now and then you get reminded of home. In Mexico it was the coastline, in LA it was with an AC/DC song, today it came through a true Aussie legend. So now I am starting a new section called:
Aussies Legends who Make it OS....
Todays award goes to the one and only, Craig Parry!!
I was reading page 3 of the Washington Post's Sport section when I come across a photo of a familiar face. And then I read it
" Parry's 6 iron shot from 176 yards bounced twice and rolled into the hole for an eagle, yesterday to beat Scott Verplank on the first play off hole of the Ford Championship at Doral in Miami"
His picture was one of a true Aussie sportsmen - arm awkwardly pumped in the air, stomach showing a slight overhang of the belt and his double chin at full expansion. I sat there and as I read I got a reminder of home, a tingle down the spine and I thought ....You bloody legend!!!
thats it for now.
in Him
Craig
The train ride to Washcington DC was much like the removal of a bandaid - short and painful. The train left just after midnight and arrived in Washington before midday - the perfect travel time because you sleep most of it, right? wrong!! For some reason sonn after I boarded the train some sort of flu started growing within my relaxed sth carolinan body. Maybe it was the South beckoning me to stay, or the rush and intensity of the north coming upon me? Whatever it was I experienced an evening of headaches, uncomfortable attempts at sleep and a general period of "unfun".
That aside I'm now in the nations capitol and searghing for George W. A mission which is so far unseuccesful.
Today I did spend 6 hrs at the Museum of Natural History...and loved every second. From Dinosaur skeletons to ancient Egyptian civilisations to 3d movies about insects, I couldn't get enough. The last time I had been to a museum was back in school and I went because I had to. This time I actually stopped and read each description, not because I had to fill in my work book, but beacuse I was generally intrigued. As much by the ancient Egyptian pottery as the T-Rex!
One conclusion that came to mind was how different humans really are to the rest of the natural world. Dinosaurs were around for thousands of years and peaked with eating grass and hunting each other. Humans however, created empires, built pyramids, started governments and waged wars. When you see the human on the family tree with all the other mammels, you know something doesn't quite fit. "Then God said 'Let us make man in our own image, in our likeness and let them rule over the fish of the sae and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth." (Gen 1:26)....its the only way it all makes sense.
Every now and then you get reminded of home. In Mexico it was the coastline, in LA it was with an AC/DC song, today it came through a true Aussie legend. So now I am starting a new section called:
Aussies Legends who Make it OS....
Todays award goes to the one and only, Craig Parry!!
I was reading page 3 of the Washington Post's Sport section when I come across a photo of a familiar face. And then I read it
" Parry's 6 iron shot from 176 yards bounced twice and rolled into the hole for an eagle, yesterday to beat Scott Verplank on the first play off hole of the Ford Championship at Doral in Miami"
His picture was one of a true Aussie sportsmen - arm awkwardly pumped in the air, stomach showing a slight overhang of the belt and his double chin at full expansion. I sat there and as I read I got a reminder of home, a tingle down the spine and I thought ....You bloody legend!!!
thats it for now.
in Him
Craig
Tuesday, March 02, 2004
The southern states have alot going for them, a few cool lakes with the pine tree edging, real friendly people with a drawn old school accent and a generally relaxed atmoshphere. However the highlight so far was being taken to "Shielieys" the states premiere BBQ 'all you can eat' resteraunt (or so I've been told).
From the moment you enter sheilieys you know your in for something good. This is primarily because the line is so long you spend the first 20 min outside. Once inside the perimeter, you find that the line is crafted (much like a rollar coaster) to weave back and forth. Mid way you pass by a basin to wash up, then some recent photos of George W Bush with the owner and then finally you pay $10 and reicieve your ticket. For such a 'famous' restraunt the interior is very.....southern. I guess they figured there was no need to waste money on the particulars when you have several hundred 'hogs' to cook. The choice of a black and white laminated floor gave it the feel of a local baber shop, but the long bench tables and plastic chairs was its salvation, giving the cluless traveller some idea that this was in fact an 'eatery'.
Then in true southern style it was pork of the bone, hash, beef, beans and carrots, all washed down with a long glass (plastic, ofcourse) of sweet tea.
They say you havent been to sth Carolina until you've eaten at Shielieys - so put me in a truck, stretch and twist my accent and call me bucky!
On Saturday morning I'm hunting ducks and deer....my final initiation.
I have finished reading through the Gospel of John, and am continuing into some of the Pauline letters this week. Saw The Passion last thursday as well. Next post I might post some thoughts, for what they're worth.
in Him
Craig
From the moment you enter sheilieys you know your in for something good. This is primarily because the line is so long you spend the first 20 min outside. Once inside the perimeter, you find that the line is crafted (much like a rollar coaster) to weave back and forth. Mid way you pass by a basin to wash up, then some recent photos of George W Bush with the owner and then finally you pay $10 and reicieve your ticket. For such a 'famous' restraunt the interior is very.....southern. I guess they figured there was no need to waste money on the particulars when you have several hundred 'hogs' to cook. The choice of a black and white laminated floor gave it the feel of a local baber shop, but the long bench tables and plastic chairs was its salvation, giving the cluless traveller some idea that this was in fact an 'eatery'.
Then in true southern style it was pork of the bone, hash, beef, beans and carrots, all washed down with a long glass (plastic, ofcourse) of sweet tea.
They say you havent been to sth Carolina until you've eaten at Shielieys - so put me in a truck, stretch and twist my accent and call me bucky!
On Saturday morning I'm hunting ducks and deer....my final initiation.
I have finished reading through the Gospel of John, and am continuing into some of the Pauline letters this week. Saw The Passion last thursday as well. Next post I might post some thoughts, for what they're worth.
in Him
Craig
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