OK, a couple of odd things for the day...
Checked my web site stats today just out of curiosity. I know you can go to blog sites on blogspot and they can give you a random blog to go to next. At least, I ASSUME that's why someone got to my blog from this one... http://eroticwrestling.blogspot.com/
Yep, someone got to my blog from a link at the eroticwrestling blog. Now, I have NOT clicked this link (I'm at work, so doing so could well get me fired given the title...) and I do not necessarily endorse what they do either, but hey, it's a wide and varied world we live in! :) My blog sure would be a let down for that poor person given the likely content in the previous blog they visited. I guess they COULD have a link to my site, but I highly doubt that... If anyone is game enough to check feel free to let me know in the comments section...
Second funny fact:
According to Google Trends - in 2006 more people searched the word "sheep" into Google from New Zealand OR the UK than put "Jessica Alba"AND "Eva Longoria" combined!!! (Number 1 and 2 in a recent FHM top 100 sexiest women poll). Australia had their priorities more in order.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
The 'Beast'
Well, we have a new blogger in our midst! That's right, the inimitable Beth! Find her blog here. It's called The Beastwood, which is frankly pretty clever, and is also a fair estimation, as she's a bit of a party animal... Just check out the photo of her moves. I do believe from memory that photo was taken during the song Golddigger... You should have seen her when the line "Get down girl go'head get down" was belting out!!!! Talkin' 'bout drop it like it's hot!
We look forward to hearing more from Betho! I've attached a permanent link to go with the other famous bloggers I know!
We look forward to hearing more from Betho! I've attached a permanent link to go with the other famous bloggers I know!
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Sport as far as the eye can see!
Ah Sport... gotta love it don't ya?
Last weekend was a sportravanganza... or something like that anyway.
Friday night kicked off with Dean, Steve and myself watching the (woeful, it must be said) St Kilda - Geelong game.
Got up Saturday morning, watched the Miami - NJ NBA game. Missed the afternoon footy game due to rehearsal. In the evening, it was chillin' in Steve's spa with him and Dusty, watching both the West Coast - Magpies, and the Hawthorn - Brisbane game (shame about that Bruce for Brown trade Freindy! That cost you a bundle!!!)
Got home at midnight, just in time to watch the FA Cup final live, which went into extra time, and then a penalty shootout. It was an incredible game, with Gerard kicking one of the most outstanding goals I've ever seen at the end to level the score.
Then it was up on Sunday morning for the Spurs - Dallas NBA game. This was followed instantly by the Port - Bulldogs game (GO Dogs!) and the day ended with the 8:30 replay of Bombers - Carlton before a well earned rest...
It was decadent. It was OTT. It was just damn wonderful!!!
And no, don't think 'poor Sharon, she is the neglected wife' - she was away for the weekend.
See, I had my excuse!
Last weekend was a sportravanganza... or something like that anyway.
Friday night kicked off with Dean, Steve and myself watching the (woeful, it must be said) St Kilda - Geelong game.
Got up Saturday morning, watched the Miami - NJ NBA game. Missed the afternoon footy game due to rehearsal. In the evening, it was chillin' in Steve's spa with him and Dusty, watching both the West Coast - Magpies, and the Hawthorn - Brisbane game (shame about that Bruce for Brown trade Freindy! That cost you a bundle!!!)
Got home at midnight, just in time to watch the FA Cup final live, which went into extra time, and then a penalty shootout. It was an incredible game, with Gerard kicking one of the most outstanding goals I've ever seen at the end to level the score.
Then it was up on Sunday morning for the Spurs - Dallas NBA game. This was followed instantly by the Port - Bulldogs game (GO Dogs!) and the day ended with the 8:30 replay of Bombers - Carlton before a well earned rest...
It was decadent. It was OTT. It was just damn wonderful!!!
And no, don't think 'poor Sharon, she is the neglected wife' - she was away for the weekend.
See, I had my excuse!
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Nath's assorted ramblings
Sorry folks, I know it's been WAY too long between drinks... No excuses. I was in Sydney last week, and very busy, but I had the week before that so no good excuses anyway!
I'm reading an interesting book at the moment called the Cross and the Crescent by Phil Parshall. Phil is a missionary in Muslim countries and this book is an interesting examination of the Muslim faith by a Christian how understands their faith, their culture, their questions doubts and belief, just as much some of us understand Christianity.
It's a fascinating read. It's not easy - he's a scholar, so the book is a little on the essay-ish side. I like that, but the style isn't going to be the easiest to read. I can however recommend the book. With all that is going on in the world - the polarisation of religious thinking and marginalisation of Muslims by the western world, this book is in my mind really important.
Lately I've been thinking I just don't really know anything much about the Muslim faith. Ignorance is not a good thing, so I set out to find out more. I wanted to do it though by getting information from a Christian source, but one that LIVES in Muslim communities, one that really does understand what they face, and what they believe.
This book is just that. It looks at the message of Islam, the Quran, the Hadith and the message of Christianity and the Bible in comparison.
I might put down some thoughts on this book over the coming weeks. We shall see. One thing is for sure - I can't read more than a few pages without having my mind go into overdrive. Phil sure makes me THINK. And that's a good thing!
Do yourself a favour, go an buy this book - I challenge you to enlarge your understanding of what others believe, in the hope that if ever required, we may better relate to them, and thereby perhaps be sensitive to them. As well, this book is primarily an evangelism tool to Muslims. This may help equip you for a conversation you never even thought you would have!
I'm reading an interesting book at the moment called the Cross and the Crescent by Phil Parshall. Phil is a missionary in Muslim countries and this book is an interesting examination of the Muslim faith by a Christian how understands their faith, their culture, their questions doubts and belief, just as much some of us understand Christianity.
It's a fascinating read. It's not easy - he's a scholar, so the book is a little on the essay-ish side. I like that, but the style isn't going to be the easiest to read. I can however recommend the book. With all that is going on in the world - the polarisation of religious thinking and marginalisation of Muslims by the western world, this book is in my mind really important.
Lately I've been thinking I just don't really know anything much about the Muslim faith. Ignorance is not a good thing, so I set out to find out more. I wanted to do it though by getting information from a Christian source, but one that LIVES in Muslim communities, one that really does understand what they face, and what they believe.
This book is just that. It looks at the message of Islam, the Quran, the Hadith and the message of Christianity and the Bible in comparison.
I might put down some thoughts on this book over the coming weeks. We shall see. One thing is for sure - I can't read more than a few pages without having my mind go into overdrive. Phil sure makes me THINK. And that's a good thing!
Do yourself a favour, go an buy this book - I challenge you to enlarge your understanding of what others believe, in the hope that if ever required, we may better relate to them, and thereby perhaps be sensitive to them. As well, this book is primarily an evangelism tool to Muslims. This may help equip you for a conversation you never even thought you would have!
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Blah
Blah... It's been a week. Sorry about that. I've been a bit sick.
Thanks to Miriam and the team for doing Sunday night for me. Sorry for dumping you in it at the last moment Miriam! heard you did a good job so thanks!
On a better note, I got Foxtel Digital installed, with IQ. Damn IQ is good! It's really pretty cool. Wasn't sure it'd be that big a deal really, but it's quite useful. Oh, and Matt and Steve, you guys were right. Sports Center rocks.
So Brad's got an interesting post going on if you are a Salvo over at his blog. He's dug up one of those never-ending issues again that is debated within the Salvos. Always fun to see who says what, see the sparks and the passion fly. It's good. Nice to see people think things are worth discussing. Nice to see some life in these issues as to me it proves the movement is alive and well. Questions are good. They make us think. Agreeing with things blindly is not Christianity, it's cult worship. And being part of any Christian movement, again in my opinion, should encourage members to soul-search. To question. To challenge things. This isn't about being a rebel or a traitor. It's about understanding what is truly important to a movement, and what isn't.
The Salvos is a young movement. Things will change. I know there are some marked differences, but in nearly 1500 years or however old it is, the catholic church has altered it's doctrines many times. Now, I know some of those changes were not made on spiritual grounds at all, and I'm not suggesting we follow suit, but I'd be surprised if all of our doctrines remain ENTIRELY as is now if we are still around in a few hundred more years... What matters to me is that we are still true to what God has called us to be.
A lot of William and Catherine Booths decisions were made because of the situation they found themselves in at the time. We need to remember that. The sacraments were a hot topic then and William wanted to be different to prove a point. This was warranted. But it does cause some interesting discussion now - over 100 years on. Why? Because it's a society based decision, not really biblical (I'm not saying it's ANTI-biblical, or contradictory in any way) just that it's not necessarily as easy to support as a position. It seemed more of a political/social decision. So to me it stands to reason that things like this, drinking, baptism and other things will be continually brought up, questioned, challenged, and in some instances changed. Indeed, the sacraments are widely practiced in Salvo churches now, so it's a case in point. That decisions I don't believe has in any way harmed the movement at all.
I once read a draft of an interview with a very prominent Salvationist. The draft was for a Salvation Army publication. At one point this person said that they thought that not drinking should be pushed as a very positive life choice, particularly because our body was God's temple, but that it shouldn't be a requirement for membership anymore. That it wasn't necessarily relevant any more to a great many Salvationists. Needless to say, the senior leaders got hold of the draft of the interview, did NOT approve it and that section was replaced with other parts of the interview that were less controversial and towed the party line better. It was interesting censorship.
I don't know if they were afraid of what this person said, or that it might look like they supported that view themselves by publishing it, or whether they just didn't want to deal with the potential backlash.
The bottom line to me is this. Don't be offended when people question the movement - when they question the choices of the movement. It DOESN'T make us rebels. It doesn't mean we don't care deeply about it. People on the outside question it. Maybe we need to question it ourselves to really work out what our own position is so we can have REAL answers... God gave us brains and sometimes we exercise them. Frankly, I'm glad Brad has exercised his. All I can say is don't shut your brain down just because a question challenges what you've always thought on an issue. You might find the question actually helps you get STRONGER on your position. Just ensure you seek God out in it and trust him to guide you through.
Jesus questioned God when he didn't like something (think garden of Gethsemene - he wanted to get God to find another way). But in questioning the decision, it actually solidified to Jesus why he had to do it. It made him stronger, not weaker.
About 6 months ago I asked a friend of mine who is also a very prominent Salvo from overseas whether they ever just questioned whether God may just not exist. Whether maybe we'd die and find we had it wrong all along... I was worried I was the only one, and that maybe it somehow meant I had no faith. He said of course he questions it. He, like I, believe it's a pretty natural process. He's one of the most amazing Chritians I've ever met. It's comforting to know he doesn't switch his brain off at the door, but rather thinks through what he believes.
Thanks to Miriam and the team for doing Sunday night for me. Sorry for dumping you in it at the last moment Miriam! heard you did a good job so thanks!
On a better note, I got Foxtel Digital installed, with IQ. Damn IQ is good! It's really pretty cool. Wasn't sure it'd be that big a deal really, but it's quite useful. Oh, and Matt and Steve, you guys were right. Sports Center rocks.
So Brad's got an interesting post going on if you are a Salvo over at his blog. He's dug up one of those never-ending issues again that is debated within the Salvos. Always fun to see who says what, see the sparks and the passion fly. It's good. Nice to see people think things are worth discussing. Nice to see some life in these issues as to me it proves the movement is alive and well. Questions are good. They make us think. Agreeing with things blindly is not Christianity, it's cult worship. And being part of any Christian movement, again in my opinion, should encourage members to soul-search. To question. To challenge things. This isn't about being a rebel or a traitor. It's about understanding what is truly important to a movement, and what isn't.
The Salvos is a young movement. Things will change. I know there are some marked differences, but in nearly 1500 years or however old it is, the catholic church has altered it's doctrines many times. Now, I know some of those changes were not made on spiritual grounds at all, and I'm not suggesting we follow suit, but I'd be surprised if all of our doctrines remain ENTIRELY as is now if we are still around in a few hundred more years... What matters to me is that we are still true to what God has called us to be.
A lot of William and Catherine Booths decisions were made because of the situation they found themselves in at the time. We need to remember that. The sacraments were a hot topic then and William wanted to be different to prove a point. This was warranted. But it does cause some interesting discussion now - over 100 years on. Why? Because it's a society based decision, not really biblical (I'm not saying it's ANTI-biblical, or contradictory in any way) just that it's not necessarily as easy to support as a position. It seemed more of a political/social decision. So to me it stands to reason that things like this, drinking, baptism and other things will be continually brought up, questioned, challenged, and in some instances changed. Indeed, the sacraments are widely practiced in Salvo churches now, so it's a case in point. That decisions I don't believe has in any way harmed the movement at all.
I once read a draft of an interview with a very prominent Salvationist. The draft was for a Salvation Army publication. At one point this person said that they thought that not drinking should be pushed as a very positive life choice, particularly because our body was God's temple, but that it shouldn't be a requirement for membership anymore. That it wasn't necessarily relevant any more to a great many Salvationists. Needless to say, the senior leaders got hold of the draft of the interview, did NOT approve it and that section was replaced with other parts of the interview that were less controversial and towed the party line better. It was interesting censorship.
I don't know if they were afraid of what this person said, or that it might look like they supported that view themselves by publishing it, or whether they just didn't want to deal with the potential backlash.
The bottom line to me is this. Don't be offended when people question the movement - when they question the choices of the movement. It DOESN'T make us rebels. It doesn't mean we don't care deeply about it. People on the outside question it. Maybe we need to question it ourselves to really work out what our own position is so we can have REAL answers... God gave us brains and sometimes we exercise them. Frankly, I'm glad Brad has exercised his. All I can say is don't shut your brain down just because a question challenges what you've always thought on an issue. You might find the question actually helps you get STRONGER on your position. Just ensure you seek God out in it and trust him to guide you through.
Jesus questioned God when he didn't like something (think garden of Gethsemene - he wanted to get God to find another way). But in questioning the decision, it actually solidified to Jesus why he had to do it. It made him stronger, not weaker.
About 6 months ago I asked a friend of mine who is also a very prominent Salvo from overseas whether they ever just questioned whether God may just not exist. Whether maybe we'd die and find we had it wrong all along... I was worried I was the only one, and that maybe it somehow meant I had no faith. He said of course he questions it. He, like I, believe it's a pretty natural process. He's one of the most amazing Chritians I've ever met. It's comforting to know he doesn't switch his brain off at the door, but rather thinks through what he believes.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Big win and bye bye
Well, it was a great weekend. Started it off on the right note with a THUMPING 115 point drubbing of the Tigers. Ahhh the sweetness of it all. And while I'm happy that he's back, it was great to see Nathan Brown under perform and Terry Wallace say it was his worst defeat as a coach... As a true doggies supporter, I'm not exactly excited when those two perform well. Ah bitterness in sport, it's a great thing isn't it? :P
Speaking of bitterness in sport. What's with Jana and Tamsyn? Just when we all thought it was over and they'd learnt to shut their mouths and get on with the business of racing we get this again. Girls girls girls! Shut it! We don't care. You are taking up valuable news space.
Brad's left home (bye Brad). So now Huey, Duey and Annie are living in Blackburn. It's a nice place, so if you haven't been there yet go and invite yourself around - everyone else does! :P
On the weekend we had out self-denial Sunday. I hope we reach the $75,000 target. It's ambitious, but it's so important to help all the work the Salvation Army is doing around the world. If you haven't given yet and are linked to the Salvos please do so - money is such an integral part of development work. There is never enough to go around.
Short and sweet today. Much work I have to do. The anger, grows within you it does... Sorry - damn I love Yoda. Speaking of Star Wars, whilst I'm no diehard fan, I stumbled across a brilliant PC Wallpaper site for Star Wars. This stuff is great, and there is lots of it! Find it here http://simonz.co.hu/wallp_eng.html
Speaking of bitterness in sport. What's with Jana and Tamsyn? Just when we all thought it was over and they'd learnt to shut their mouths and get on with the business of racing we get this again. Girls girls girls! Shut it! We don't care. You are taking up valuable news space.
Brad's left home (bye Brad). So now Huey, Duey and Annie are living in Blackburn. It's a nice place, so if you haven't been there yet go and invite yourself around - everyone else does! :P
On the weekend we had out self-denial Sunday. I hope we reach the $75,000 target. It's ambitious, but it's so important to help all the work the Salvation Army is doing around the world. If you haven't given yet and are linked to the Salvos please do so - money is such an integral part of development work. There is never enough to go around.
Short and sweet today. Much work I have to do. The anger, grows within you it does... Sorry - damn I love Yoda. Speaking of Star Wars, whilst I'm no diehard fan, I stumbled across a brilliant PC Wallpaper site for Star Wars. This stuff is great, and there is lots of it! Find it here http://simonz.co.hu/wallp_eng.html
Thursday, March 30, 2006
The Forum - go post NOW!
I've been toying with the idea of starting a forum for over 12 months now. Now, I don't need to. Lukey has one! It's a great idea, and he has some good areas to post.
The thing is, a forum works REALLY well if lots of people use it, and they post regularly. Of course, if they don't, it will die a quick and painful death. I'm a seasoned forum user and I know how interesting a GOOD forum can be. But the ONLY thing that makes a forum good is because it is active.
So I'm putting my weight behind The Forum by posting about it here.
I ask you to seriously consider doing 3 things:
1. Register for the forum. It's free, there is NO email spam ever, and it gives you a profile to use.
2. Post on it.
3. Post on it some more.
The link you need...
http://www.aokforums.com/luke/luke.html
Get cracking! It is good only if we all use it damnit!
The thing is, a forum works REALLY well if lots of people use it, and they post regularly. Of course, if they don't, it will die a quick and painful death. I'm a seasoned forum user and I know how interesting a GOOD forum can be. But the ONLY thing that makes a forum good is because it is active.
So I'm putting my weight behind The Forum by posting about it here.
I ask you to seriously consider doing 3 things:
1. Register for the forum. It's free, there is NO email spam ever, and it gives you a profile to use.
2. Post on it.
3. Post on it some more.
The link you need...
http://www.aokforums.com/luke/luke.html
Get cracking! It is good only if we all use it damnit!
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