Cool little tit bits stumbled over in the last 24 hour

Parable of the lost son

There is a tragically ironic moment early in the parable.

When the son asks for his inheritance (so he can leave the family estate) he is in affect saying to the father "I wish you were dead".

However, listen to the father's reply when the son finally returns after months/years of seperation;

"For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found"

Pick it up?

......how cool is that!

Trying to reclaim the holiday period.

Most holidays I don't really do much. I sit at home, try and catch up on college stuff and generally feel guilty for not being 'up' on everything.

But this break was different.

At 12:15pm early Monday arvo my church history essay was finished and handed in.

I then borrowed my mum's car (with cd player and cruise control!!) and headed down to Albury to spend the week with Amanda.

We've had such a great week.

• Monday night pub trivia at the Bended Elbow with the other Med students
• Tuesday night dinner in Victoria!!!
• The making of Decadent Swirled Chocolate Thickshakes
• And the singing of gospel songs around the breakfast table this morning (i did most of the singing, but you get the drift)

As usual I stayed in the trusty Railway Hotel - cheap singls rooms that come with rancid stenches free of charge.

At the same time we've been watching the news every night and reading smh.com every few hours to get the latest on the Virginia Tech disaster. Did anyone see that video the gunman sent to NBC? Just amazing (in a weird/surreal/evil kind of way).

This afternoon (in 15min) I drive back to Sydney. Sad times.

33 reasons to yearn for new creation.

Updates


The lasts week or so since my last post has been great. So much to say and I will do so in the next day or so.


After coming back from Albury last night I joined up with Nath and Ro and we had a pub dinner followed by a viewing of 300. It was a good end to a great weekend.



300



Xerxes: Imagine what horrible fate awaits my enemies when I would gladly kill any of my own men for victory.

Spartan King Leonidas: And I would die for any of mine.





This movie is beautiful. Many have already posted about the idea of honor, respect, justice and manhood.

So I have a different thought to share.


If you a Generation X'er or Generation Y'er, then you are not King Leonidas of Sparta, you are Theron thje politician.




This is what struck me.



Us children of post-modernism are bred not for battle but for doubt. We are bred to question everything - language, truth, morality, we are the kings of cynicism.



300 presents a king and 300 men, who are certain to the point of death, of one single truth - "That Spartan's will not retreat, nor will they surrender".




For many of our generation this view would be called fundamentalism, it would be seen as an unhealthy radicalism. When we can be certain of nothing we find it hard to fight for anything.




Theron, the politician is meant to be hated. His character sits on the fence, while the king dies on the battlefield.




As I watched this movie I seriously questioned my ability (as well as my generations ability) to die for anything.



After all, none of us want to be seen as 'radicals'.



But I gotta say.....it was pretty damn cool watching one!

Reflections from John 4



John 4 - great chapter, go read it here if you want.



What I realised, is that everyone thirst for something.



Everyone lives with a goal, a mission to satisfy - make money, be secure, raise good kids, have fun, be content...



Everyone thirsts.



After reading John 4, I realise that Jesus knew this too and it was no different 2000 years ago.



Jesus says, thirst for him! Be satisfied in Christ, be inspired in the Spirit of God.



Why? Because it is the only way to be truely filled.



I've known this for some time. Yet I admit that I am seem to forget, i often find another thing to crave.



What's the answer to this forgetfulness?

Christianity needs to be lived in,

it needs to surround us

and smother us,

it needs to color the way we see life, money, friends, family, work and sport.



As John 3 said; In Christ I am 'born again', a new creation.



My prayer is that I will never forget that I have the key to satisfaction - a treasure filled jar of clay.