tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327444962024-03-07T20:20:48.454+13:00Thoughts and AmusingsLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.comBlogger162125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-58095566902970344802007-12-17T19:58:00.000+13:002007-12-17T20:00:04.343+13:00WE HAVE MOVEDthoughtsandamusings is now located at <br /><br /><a href="http://www.thoughtsandamusings.wordpress.com">thoughtsandamusings.wordpress.com </a>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-82602344694875675472007-12-14T22:28:00.000+13:002007-12-14T22:45:48.158+13:00Friday Five - Rejoice EditionThose observant ones of you will notice down on the side bar that I am a revgal pals member. <a href="http://revgalblogpals.blogspot.com/">RevGalPals</a> is an online community of Women involved in ministry (or support women in ministry) and operate a blog ring. To see some of the others in the community click on next/previous/random etc. Anyway every friday our community runs this thing called the Friday five where our 'leaders' if you will ask us some questions and we answer them. So here goes........ <br /><br />------<br /><em>Can you believe that in two days we'll be halfway through Advent? Gaudete Sunday: pink candle on the advent wreath, rose vestments for those who have them, concerts and pageants in many congregations. Time to rejoice!<br /><br />Rejoice in the nearness of Christ's coming, yes, but also in the many gifts of the pregnant waiting time when the world (in the northern hemisphere, at least) spins ever deeper into sweet, fertile darkness.</em> <br /><br />What makes you rejoice about:<br /><br /><strong>1. Waiting?</strong><br />The thing at the end (after the waiting is over)<br /> <br /><strong>2. Darkness?</strong><br />Oh I sound so christianesque..... the light! And knowing that Jesus is there!<br /><br /><strong>3. Winter?</strong><br />The smell! My goodness winter smells beautiful. Ice, rain and warm fires. However I must say it is summer over here at the moment so the memories are faint......<br /><br /><strong>4. Advent?</strong><br />Time to ponder and to focus on different aspect of God and his character! <br /><br /><strong>5. Jesus' coming?</strong><br />Wow, you know it has only dawned on me this year the eschatological significance that Christmas holds in the Christian calender. Without it there is no way that we could have that hope that we have in his second coming or again be free in the freedom we have in him now due to his first coming (Romans 6-8). <br /><br />My rejoicing also comes from the fact in the knowledge that I am not yet home and it is still coming, something I have been holding onto in the darkness as of late!Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-36588443476946836642007-12-12T11:01:00.000+13:002007-12-12T11:49:54.907+13:00The middle class dilemmaInspired by Mark (commenter in the last post) and by this very good Cartoon. from <a href="http://asbojesus.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/306/">Asbo Jesus</a><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>It's interesting when you go to all the big Christian websites such as focus on the family, cross walk, Christianity today the pictures of Christians they present......<br /><br /></div><div>Is this really what we aspire to?</div><br /><br /><div>Or just what we are a part of?</div><div></div><div></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-70324404159587737552007-12-11T11:46:00.000+13:002007-12-11T18:55:35.708+13:00New Life Shootings<span style="color:#ffff66;"><em>It is said that when part of the church hurts we all hurt. Oh God might that be so. May we be on our knees for those in the west and the east , in the north and the south where violence jars the image of the peace of the Christ Child.</em> </span><br /><br /><br />On Sunday in America the church of New Life and YWAM (in 2 different places and locations) were affected by shootings.<br /><br />The shooting at New Life Church saw Matthew Murray, a former Homeschool student from a religious family (didn’t attend the church) kill two sisters and injure several others. It is here where God’s grace, mercy, wisdom and all those other words that I want to be start to glimmer despite the horror.<br /><br /><br />Murray was killed by an armed female security volunteer at the church before police arrived. The security guard was not on duty but felt the Holy Spirit urge her to take her gun that day**.<a href="http://www.boundlessline.org/2007/12/shooter-was-som.html"><span style="color:#ffff33;">HT boundlessline</span></a> Despite the shooter wearing a bullet proof vest, the guard's aim killed the shooter and in effect saved hundreds of lives as he did not get that far into the building. There were 7000 people in worship when the shooting erupted. They were safely evacutated downstairs to a basement where they stayed for 4/5 hours as the church ground was cleared of a range of smoke generating devices around the grounds.<br /><br />It is here where I am in awe of the people of New Life and God’s work in them :<br /><br /><br /><blockquote>Ashley Gibbs was getting into a car with David Harris when they heard the gunshots — a sound like someone kicking ice from the side of a car, she said.Harris said he saw the gunman, and it looked like he knew how to handle a weapon…… They stayed in the vehicle and prayed for the gunman. "It was obvious that he was in some sort of pain and going through a lot," Gibbs told "Today." "I just prayed God would bring him peace– Fox News </blockquote><br /><br />From the press conference – quotes from Pastor of New Life, Brady Boyd.<br /><br /><blockquote>... our hearts go out to the family of this young man, the attacker, he has a mom and dad somewhere, he has a family, and we want them to know that at New<br />Life Church we are praying for them. We know that there is a grieving process<br />for them as well, and we certainly are praying for that family</blockquote><br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote><p>We had a detailed evacuation plan in place given all kinds of scenarios, and had a large group of people that knew what to do, we had places on our campus that were designated as holding areas, and people were taken there immediately. People were ushered off the campus or taken to safe places. We had security details in each of those locations to keep people safe. That's the reality of our world. I don't think any of us grew up in churches where that was a reality, but today it is. So we prepared in advance for that, and because of that, although we are grieving today because of the loss of two lives, hundreds of lives were saved because of the plan we had in place. We are grateful to God for giving us the wisdom to do that and for protecting us yesterday.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p></blockquote><strong><em>** I am not one in favour of Arms control, however this is not what this post is about. The fact that this is what this woman felt she was urged to do by the HS is what is at call here. One's cultural perceptions (of arms control or any other matter) should not get in the way of allowing God to move or in being able to see God move. It is a sad day when ones cultural perceptions become moral absolutes. You may like to refer to my previous post <a href="http://thoughtsandamusings.blogspot.com/2007/05/christian-disagreement.html">on this issue</a>.... </em></strong>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-35232251931926608952007-12-09T19:38:00.000+13:002007-12-09T19:58:15.207+13:00How to get ahead in AfricaLast night I was channel flicking after a hard day at work. I landed upon a program on CNN. An eye opening program that again made me cry (I seem to do a lot of that :P)<br /><br /><br />The documentary is entitled 'How to get Ahead in Africa' a tongue in cheek title. The Program is effectively a hard look at the corruption issue that is behind a lot of the poverty issues seen in Africa. It is inherant from the highest echelons right down to the man in charge of giving out jobs.<br /><br /><br /><br />There were many things that hit home in this documentary.<br /><br /><p>1. One of the people that the journalist interviewed, who had worked for a government anti corruption agency said something to the effect of: Bob Geldof has got it wrong he shouldn't be fighting to make poverty history he should be fighting to make corruption history. </p><p></p><p>2.The fact that just because aid money is being poured into a country, does not mean it is being well spent. Sierra Lione is a prime example from this documentary. </p><p></p><p>3.If no one is held accountable at the top level then it is very hard for anyone at the bottom levels to be held accountable. </p><p><br />4. Corruption may not be as sexy a cause to fight as poverty but the consequences are just as real. </p><p><br /><br />Here is a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY3ryWOT6N4"><span style="color:#ffff00;">Link</span></a> to a clip from the documentary on youtube, those of you that read <a href="http://alphabetasaurus.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#ffff00;">Huggies</span></a><span style="color:#ffff00;"> </span>blog and my own will be very interested to know that this particular bit (like much of the documentary) was filmed in Kibera, Kenya, where the Hope Foundations, <em>100 days 100 dollars</em> money was being raised for.<br /><br />I also recommend this clip from the documentary which is on the 'made up aid agencys in Kibera' and the fight <em><strong>genuine</strong></em> aid agencys are having to get funding because they won't give in to corruption :<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jmvHAhjYgE8&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jmvHAhjYgE8&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-83085405090763280482007-12-05T21:44:00.000+13:002007-12-05T22:06:43.749+13:00The Girl who was Beautiful InsideAs some of you know I am a relief teacher (amongst other things). I also run a music school, am a youth leader and a music teacher.<br /><br /><br />Lately life has been ... how do we say this without offending those who read this..... possibly too late for that... not all 'Happy December's and beautiful rainbows as we jump over the daisies'<br /><br /><br />However over the last week I had two God encounters where God placed two people into my life who spoke over my life and fed into me a whole lot of incredibly encouraging, sometimes hard but very supportive stuff.<br /><br /><br /><br />Today I arrived home from another mind numbing day of relieving to find that one of these 'God encounter people', a woman who I had met at Church on Sunday for the first time, had written me a Card and baked me a beautiful cake. I cried. This after she listened to my story on Sunday and didn't judge me but encouraged me to keep challenging and exploring where I am with God. She even told me that she remembered my sermon from a couple of months ago and that she enjoyed it alot. This nearly made me cry as I have been feeling incredibly unappreciated.<br /><br /><br /><br />Anyway, the card, it says this on the cover: (It is a Edward Monkton if you are wanting to get this for your Girl friend :P)<br /><span style="color:#66cccc;"><em>The Girl who was beautiful inside: Such was the power of the Beauty inside her that Winter turned to Spring in her path and flowers grew in her footsteps. </em><br /></span><br /><br />Beauty<br /><br /><br />So two take home points<br /><br /><ul><li>If you have the gift of encouragement never ever think that this is a 'stupid' or not as valuable gift as something more 'out there' like preaching. We need you. Just use this gift wisely (like any spiritual gift) The gift of encouragement is not a free pass to send pointless text messages with smiley faces, flood people with dumb email forwards and hug people all day. </li><li>As a follower of Christ you are not called to fix everything. The mere fact that you want to is endearing, however sometimes when you attempt to (fix) this leaves less room for God to work and for him to speak. Sometimes the very fact that you are there just to listen is all the 'fixing' that is needed. </li></ul>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-59843668163520112122007-11-30T20:51:00.001+13:002007-11-30T21:04:31.664+13:00Prayer for novemberDear God,<br /><br />You and I haven't been talking much lately.<br />I have been pissed off with life, with people with the Church.<br /><br />God I am pissed off that the ideal isn't the reality. God I am sad that my current situation doesn't allow me freedom to be all that I can be.<br /><br />Thank you for breaking my heart once again and reminding me of the Gospel. Today I cried Lord and they were tears of joy and sadness and frustration all at once.<br /><br />Thank you for these precious children, and the ones you give me opportunity to work with.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/P8VSsW9XCrE&rel=1&border=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/P8VSsW9XCrE&rel=1&border=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />Thank you for my mission field. Thank you for reminding me that my comfort is not the purpose of my existence and that the end of the story is 'well done good and faithful servant' not 'well done home owner and owner of a university degree' <br /><br />Give me strength because I am finding the breathing and practicalities of this difficult. <br /><br />Yours Always<br /><br />LisaLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-21404894056179773872007-11-28T10:26:00.000+13:002007-11-28T10:33:46.204+13:00Joel OsteenAnyone who has speant any length of time with me in the last few months knows of my personal despisement of the preaching of Joel Osteen . However in the conversations I have had with many people lately I have been shocked by the number of Christians who don't know who he is but also bt the number of non christians who do.<br /><br />Which leads me to the fact that as a Christian you really have to know what this guy is preaching. Please watch this clip. It is most enlightening.<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/di9-PebV634&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/di9-PebV634&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />If you do not have broadband please see the article over at <a href="http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/outing-joel-osteen-a-challenge-to-the-evangelical-blogosphere"><span style="color:#ffff66;">Internet Monk</span></a><span style="color:#ffff66;">.</span><br /><br />Osteen is in a whole category of his own and you have to see it to believe itLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-81836214678136561272007-11-26T17:09:00.000+13:002008-12-10T15:33:44.199+13:00Nostalgia<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQjCMiFHvyMNQa9YCUHpsNvCITvKQP9oS8IbNAsp7kwkR4oNF7x2ysoMK2kuIV1b3PhDc7BBbMtuOpzPQaqordOd8xVwT0nrLu8XmqXS9jFhHPtHkf5t-B45caJNN7Eih1hWC/s1600-h/IMG_0323.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136998084043082306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQjCMiFHvyMNQa9YCUHpsNvCITvKQP9oS8IbNAsp7kwkR4oNF7x2ysoMK2kuIV1b3PhDc7BBbMtuOpzPQaqordOd8xVwT0nrLu8XmqXS9jFhHPtHkf5t-B45caJNN7Eih1hWC/s320/IMG_0323.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>His Brilliancy and I had a most enlightening discussion last night. Of the many things we discussed one of them included nostalgia.<br /><br />I think many worldviews including the Christian world view have a lot to do with nostalgia . For example take the person who has to sit in a particular place in their place of worship at church. There is nothing in the bible that says where people are to sit ( in fact I can’t even remember there being anything about seats) , it’s just a nostalgic traditional thing that they people have done forever and if they changed they would probably feel some pull to go back and sit in that same area the following week.<br /><br /><br /><br />I think in my worldview I have a lot of room for analysing but I have very little time for nostalgia of the ‘wasn’t-it’-great- when- we- used- to-sit-around-the-campfire- and-sing- hillsong-songs-and-talk-about-the-all-blacks-winning-the-world-cup’ type.<br /><br /><br /><br />From this discussion with His Brilliancy , I have concluded that the Christian tradition does not have a fine history of dealing with nostalgia, either swinging too far in the above light, or with the case of myself over analysing situations and not knowing how to deal with such cases of nostalgia when they strike .<br /><br />This raises two points:<br /><br />1) When does nostalgia turn into self absorption and into escapism of the reality?<br /><br />2) If we choose to suppress nostalgic moments be they bad or good (or something in between) are we prone to suppressing what God could be teaching us in the present moment? </div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-61425745831622427672007-11-22T18:03:00.000+13:002007-11-28T08:43:24.302+13:00Idealism meets realismThe last few weeks have been weeks of the cross road type. To a large extent I have been walking them by myself.<br /><br />They have been the weeks where one has to make instant decisions that affect and effect not only my life but hundreds of other peoples. (No I don't think of myself that highly it is just the type of work I am in). In doing so I have been under a bucket load of stress and have come to a few conclusions about the current situation I am in.<br /><br /><br />Sometimes I believe that we don't realise the reality of our situations until they start to break or we sense that the 'world' we live in is not all that we or others make it out to be.<br /><br /><br />Take for example the 'Christian community' mirage. In the last few weeks I have found much more of a sense of a community in my workplace with my work mates than I have with many of my church friends over the last few months. I put this down to the fact that we have a common goal, we have common challenges (in our work - which is actually a vocation) and that my workmates are some of the most diverse people you will meet who because of this are accepting and willing to listen to people.<br /><br /><br />Secondly I am in the middle of a push and pull and general congitive dissonance stage with teaching and am probably going to retrain next year to become a Montessori teacher. *<em>Be prepared big statement up coming</em>* When I first went into teaching I think I liked it because of the attention I got, but now as I see what education is and what it can do I realise that the teacher dominated classroom is not the ideal and there is much more to education than the system that I have been bought up in (even though it has taught me much). This has been a point that I have reached over the last year after watching and observing students in a variety of educational settings and while the fact that I probably have to leave here to retrain means leaving a whole lot of things I love I know that if I teach in a Montessori setting or way it will sit better with me.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-50895074174203221872007-11-20T17:29:00.000+13:002007-11-20T17:40:25.139+13:00the ideal world listIn my ideal world:<br /><br />1) People would not judge me or categorise me by what I did or my illness but would take the time to talk to me and discover what makes me tick (and would not assume that they knew this because they happened to read my blog).<br /><br />2) Church small groups would not be made and grouped purely on age. This is a stupid model and results in a whole bunch of people of vastly different spiritual levels being put into one room and being expected to learn material that may or may not be relevant to them. You wouldn’t do it at a school so why subject people to it in a church setting. No wonder people leave. <br /><br />3) Schools would not have bells that sounded like fire sirens. I mean a bell is a bell. <br /><br />4) People would get reimbursed for the actual hours they work.<br /><br />5) People would actually think about the lyrics they were singing in a worship song rather than singing it because it had ‘good music’ secondly people would learn to discern a sermon rather than just ‘listen to it’.<br /><br />6) Matthew Sinclair would be permanently in the Black Caps.<br /><br />7) Add your own number 7 as a contribution below (you have all been very quiet lately)Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-48675765048364654302007-11-16T16:14:00.000+13:002008-12-10T15:33:44.508+13:00Jesus washing the feet of the ?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CvS4vPvmP699XNazf-30a7AVU8K6Kb-PrCDbCkUiRA3tUHL9Povr84cWdrmaNT0brIC7zTbwKwjm6Zce6C-Oznb6HiiCX5kaZA1izWDT8-JuX4xGpzz8Dci0tbWKhl6yi7rQ/s1600-h/jesus+feet.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133271577143544274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CvS4vPvmP699XNazf-30a7AVU8K6Kb-PrCDbCkUiRA3tUHL9Povr84cWdrmaNT0brIC7zTbwKwjm6Zce6C-Oznb6HiiCX5kaZA1izWDT8-JuX4xGpzz8Dci0tbWKhl6yi7rQ/s320/jesus+feet.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><p>This image 'Servant to all' by Greg Boyd is the topic of some heated discussion over at <a href="http://www.thinkchristian.net/index.php/2007/11/15/feet-washing/">Think Christian</a><br /><br />What's your opinion?<br /><br />Some are of the opinion that Jesus would not was the feet of those who were not his followers while others tend to be firmly in the camp that he would because of the love for each other principle. Any thoughts?</p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-18858375251292737162007-11-15T16:28:00.000+13:002007-11-15T17:47:16.990+13:00Guest post: KJVHello, here I am again, and I'm still Tim.<br /><br />So, one thing that puzzles me sometimes is why some people and churches have a higher opinion of the King James Version of the Bible (KJV) than any other translation. One of my friends here has expressed that opinion, but I mostly came across it when I was looking for a church in Canada. Now, I don't know if more churches in Canada are like that or not; I haven't gone on the same kind of church-hunt anywhere else in the world, but more than one of the churches I went to more than once used the KJV exclusively, as far as I could tell. The <a href="http://englishbibles.blogspot.com/">Better Bibles Blog</a> currently has a poll about the standard Bible used in people's churches. The KJV is in third place as I'm writing this.<br /><br />Of course, I've sometimes tried to ask people why they use the KJV, but most of the time I don't feel like I know them well enough, so that it might seem like an impolite challenge. My friend here, though, says things like "the words have so much more <span style="font-style:italic;">meaning</span>". Really? What can that possibly mean? Is the English language as it was spoken in 1611 more efficiently expressive than the English we speak today? If you think so, then try to translate this sentence into less than five syllables of Early Modern English: <blockquote>I'm reading a blog.</blockquote><br /><br />Another of the reasons I've heard is that the KJV is what they grew up with. Now that I can understand. I have no complaint about people who feel more comfortable with what they grew up with. But it's not really an excuse for <span style="font-style:italic;">churches</span> to use the KJV, forcing another generation to grow up with a Bible in a very different dialect from their own. And also, the translation that you're comfortable with isn't necessarily the best one to read all the time. If you're so used to a particular passage that you can repeat the words without thinking about the meaning, then perhaps you should see the way someone else expresses it. (Of course, it's not bad to be familiar with the Bible, but it is bad not to think about it.) For example, whenever I read <a href="http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearchresults.php?passage1=Galatians+5&version1=31">Galatians 5</a>:22–23 in the New International Version (NIV): <blockquote>But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.</blockquote> I find myself switching off, and I have to force myself to think about what those words are actually talking about.<br /><br />One other reason that I've heard about for favouring the KJV is that it's the only inspired translation in English. I'm sorry; it's not in English. Not in the English that we speak, anyway. I don't deny that the KJV was a very important translation, as were Wycliffe's and Tyndale's previous English translations. But in the end, a Bible translation in your own language is a very valuable thing.<br /><br />Take this passage for example, from <a href="http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearchresults.php?passage1=I+Corinthians+13&version1=9">1 Corinthians 13</a>:13 in the KJV: <blockquote>And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.</blockquote> So dropping a couple of bucks in the Red Cross's annual appeal is more important than faith and hope? Well, the word that ended up being translated as "charity" there was αγαπη, or <span style="font-style:italic;">agape</span>, and according to Strong's Greek Bible Dictionary, it means: <blockquote>love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast:--(feast of) charity(-ably), dear, love.</blockquote> So perhaps it's better rendered in Modern English by the word "love" (which can include acts of charity). Funnily enough, that's exactly how it's translated in the NIV, and I'd be interested to know if any Modern English translations at all use a different word there, and why.<br /><br />Finally, I want to end with something Martin Luther said about half a millennium ago, courtesy of <a href="http://lingamish.wordpress.com/2006/10/19/martin-luther-on-bible-translation/trackback/">Lingamish</a>: <blockquote>We do not have to inquire of the literal Latin, how we are to speak German, as these asses do. Rather we must inquire about this of the mother in the home, the children on the street, the common man in the marketplace. We must be guided by their language, the way they speak, and do our translating accordingly. That way they will understand it and recognize that we are speaking German to them.</blockquote><br /><br /><><Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-37823074330667842572007-11-13T15:54:00.001+13:002007-11-13T16:07:59.041+13:00Black Caps in South AfricaToday I discussed with my taxi driver (now I want to emphasise here he is not my taxi driver he is avaliable to the general populus for a fee) about NZ terrible batting effort in South Africa. We both thought that it was actually rather terrible how the majority of our team got injuired, however besides this the top order was dreadful! Absolutely dreadful, and it was only due to the power of the bottom order (the bowlers that we got anything)<br /><br />Also I would like to say why is it that Matthew Sinclair is not in the team - in is State Championship game for CD he got 243 which is (cough) well more than what the majority of the Blacks Caps got combined in both innings!<br /><br />So with that in mind my sister sent me this wonderful post that she found off the cricket forums<br /><br /><em>Alright all you youngsters out there. Your heroes in the New Zealand cricket have written a few tips on how to bat like a black cap. These tips were written by numbers 1-5 in the black caps' batting order. (Numbers 7-11 were busy playing cricket)<br /><br />#1 Never ever move your feet. Unless you have been dismissed - then walk back to the dressing room, put on a disgusted look, and watch the bowlers score runs.<br /><br />#2 Keep your bat away from your body. This is very important if you want to be caught behind.<br /><br />#3 Don't bother getting in line with the ball. That's for losers like Ponting, Jason Gillespie and Mark Richardson<br /><br />#4 Batting for long periods of time, can give the bowlers rest. The bowlers dislike rest, they would rather be out there, bowling on flat pitches to good batsmen. So try and get out in a inept fashion<br /><br />#5 Throwdowns are great preparation for facing good quality fast bowling. </em><br /><p>Priceless.... </p><em><br /><br /></em>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-76163462722420277022007-11-12T12:01:00.000+13:002007-11-12T12:24:16.991+13:00Letters from leaversI was listening to a Rob Bell podcast the other week (one of his sermons from Mars Hill) and towards the end he said something that has had me thinking in terms of my present circumstances.<br /><br />A man came up to him and asked him what to do because his idea and the community he was working in was in tatters. The man was living in a Christian flat that was meant to be the epitome of Christian brotherhood but things were far from it and the man was at his wits end. Bell’s solution to the man was to get some bread and some drink, place it in the middle of the lounge of the flat and do communion with the flatties, asking forgiveness for all <strong>he</strong> had done wrong.<br /><br />Now while this all sounds very esoteric and all very beautiful on one level but I wonder whether it would really have reached the core of the issue. There comes a point where you have forgiven so much (77 x 7 ) and tried to understand the inner workings of certain ‘Christian communitys’ that sometimes you just have to leave before your soul dies. Healthy Christian community is incredibly important and after 5 years of being in my current church I am now moving before the insides of me drop out completely. I don't really think this is something communion can fix.<br /><br />That’ core of the issue’ thing that I mentioned above is really essential. A lot of Christian communities don’t seem to see why it is that people drop out of their little posse or are blind to the factors for the leaving if they do notice it happening. One site that seeks to remedy this is Letters from Leavers. I have been reading many of the stories there and have been both saddened and refreshed <a href="http://lettersfromleavers.com/">Letters from leavers</a><br /><br />I think they can be summed up by <a href="http://lettersfromleavers.com/blog/2007/02/22/40">this story</a>, the core of which is a call for the Christian church to LISTEN. Imagine what it would be like if we truly did listen rather just hear.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-19775874999104349072007-11-09T11:41:00.000+13:002008-12-10T15:33:44.764+13:00Coral, Christianity and Vote Boxes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvXqqwB3ddqnwX4BvWFyQKuHJaefYtDTquFfD2oazaEW4P-r4olN5ajEWFGjKjSCsZKe1SUC5iyydmQkpwFEsXWPn5KpDk2c7vCYXceQVw32jbzcAwXTrf4niyrPTY4jbzzg9/s1600-h/tokelau2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130605393578405922" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvXqqwB3ddqnwX4BvWFyQKuHJaefYtDTquFfD2oazaEW4P-r4olN5ajEWFGjKjSCsZKe1SUC5iyydmQkpwFEsXWPn5KpDk2c7vCYXceQVw32jbzcAwXTrf4niyrPTY4jbzzg9/s320/tokelau2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A couple of years ago I sat in a Pacific Island History class at university where I was told by a visiting speaker ‘that just like the rest of the world Christianity’s stranglehold on the pacific was going to soon come to an end’ At the time I nearly choked on the end of my pen and thought that was a horrific idea. However now I am not so sure and I do believe that something has to be done about the ‘Christianity’ that is practised in some Pacific Islands.<br /><br />Let me introduce you to Tokelau, population 1466, and made up of 3 islands. Most of all I want you to meet Iosua Faamaoni head of the local Congregational Church. The biggest thing happening in Tokelau lately has been the recent vote from independence from New Zealand.<br /><br /><br />On Atafu (one of the atolls) Iousa Faamaoni has just built a church. This is all well and good, except the people desperately needed a School. On top of that those who disapprove of Faamaoni are forbidden from entering the church, they’re called “the Taleban.” Also the church is firmly locked when followers are not there.<br /><br />Faamaoni, in 1992 announced that six years earlier he had sexually abused a 12-year-old. He briefly left the atoll, as the girl was to later. After asking forgiveness he was re instated to his position but as much as half of the island (with links to the girl) refuse to forgive Faamaoni for his actions. Interestingly after publicly admitting his guilt no charges have been bought against Faamaoni and even worse the LMS Church of which the Tokelauan Congegational church is a part has done very little in the matter of the sexual abuse or in getting rid of Faamaoni (evidently according to one source it would be too hard to do as he is too well supported)<br /><br />Faamaoni’s latest quotable quote: The other day just before the vote for independence, “let us above all put our love of God, our love for each other above everything else that we do. May that be our guiding light, our guiding force.”<br /><br />I pray that someone will truly wake up and answer Faamaoni’s prayer…. For the sake of a woman and a whole people.<br /><br />For more I highly reccommend <a href="http://www.michaelfield.org/tokelau%202007%20ref.htm">this link</a>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-46277863458487598882007-11-03T13:49:00.000+13:002007-11-05T15:29:15.813+13:00XXXchurch.comOne Christian book that has had a major influence on my life has been the visual addition of 'What's so Amazing about Grace' by Phillip Yancy in that book there is a page where the authors and illustrators have juxtaposed some Christian people picketing with the idea of Grace.<br /><br />I am constantly in agony at myself and at my Christian brothers when we choose to stand and shout at non Christians rather than roll up our sleeves and be Jesus in a situation.<br /><br />One organization who I think do this brilliantly (be Jesus in a situation) are <a href="http://www.xxxchurch.com/">xxxchurch.com</a><br /><br /><em>XXXchurch is the #1 Christian porn site designed to bring awareness to the porn problem. From the United States, Australia, Asia, and Europe, XXXchurch is a movement of people and ministries putting accountability to those struggling with porn and those calling porn a career."</em><br /><br />XXXchurch.com runs a Christian anti-pornography website that aims to help those who struggle with pornography. Its target are those who are consumers (including christians and non christians) and those in pornographic industry.<br /><br />Perhaps one of the key things they do (which links back to what I have said) is they hand out bibles to people who attend porn shows. (they will be attending one in Auckland next year doing this very thing). This has many 'conservative' Christians riled up, but I will let you think and pray it through for yourself <strong><em>after watching</em></strong> the two different forms of communicating Jesus to those at Porn Events in action.<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dCCRkFYh7gY&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dCCRkFYh7gY&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-14952877317602834422007-10-30T17:58:00.001+13:002007-10-30T18:15:43.922+13:00A Challenge to WomenJohn Piper is fantastic. If you haven't heard him speak or read any of his work then you have obviously been caught up in the Rob Bell phenomena or have been under a rock somewhere. Seriously. He has a very sound theology. I went to his library and found this list which is a <strong><em>Challenge to Women ,</em></strong>the list lists 15 things, the vast majority of which (barring number 15......but that is a different discussion, <em>not for below</em>) I whole heartedly support, and have been convicted by and am up for the challenge for. I have highlighted a few that I think are relevant to the demographic who read this blog. If you want to read the rest the link is at the bottom.<br /><br /><ol><li>That all of your life—in whatever calling—be devoted to the glory of God. </li><li>That the promises of Christ be trusted so fully that peace and joy and strength fill your soul to overflowing. </li><li>That this fullness of God overflow in daily acts of love so that people might see your good deeds and give glory to your Father in heaven. </li><li>That you be women of the Book, who love and study and obey the Bible in every area of its teaching. That meditation on Biblical truth be the source of hope and faith. And that you continue to grow in understanding through all the chapters of your life, never thinking that study and growth are only for others. </li><li>That you be women of prayer, so that the Word of God would open to you; and the power of faith and holiness would descend upon you; and your spiritual influence would increase at home and at church and in the world</li><li>That you be women who have a deep grasp of the sovereign grace of God undergirding all these spiritual processes, that you be deep thinkers about the doctrines of grace, and even deeper lovers and believers of these things. </li><li>That you be totally committed to ministry, whatever your specific role, that you not fritter your time away <strong>on soaps</strong> or ladies magazines or aimless hobbies, any more than men should fritter theirs away on excessive sports or aimless diddling in the garage. That you redeem the time for Christ and his Kingdom. </li><li><strong>That, if you are single, you exploit your singleness to the full in devotion to Christ and not be paralyzed by the desire to be married. </strong></li><li></li><li></li><li>That you not assume that secular employment is a greater challenge or a better use of your life than the countless opportunities of service and witness in the home the neighborhood, the community, the church, and the world. </li><li></li><li>That you <strong>develop a wartime mentality</strong> and lifestyle; that you never forget that life is short, that billions of people hang in the balance of heaven and hell every day, that the love of money is spiritual suicide, that the goals of upward mobility (nicer clothes, cars, houses, vacations, food, hobbies) are a poor and dangerous substitute for the goals of living for Christ with all your might, and maximizing your joy in ministry to people's needs. </li><li></li><li></li></ol><p>By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.desiringGod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByTopic/44/1746_A_Challenge_to_Women/">http://www.blogger.com/www.desiringGod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByTopic/44/1746_A_Challenge_to_Women/</a></p><p></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-89140061957304179012007-10-28T16:36:00.000+13:002007-10-29T17:27:56.758+13:00Ex hillsongMy thanks to digger randle for this link (digger was the youth minister off 1 vs 100 who one $98 000 the other night - well it was a few months ago now as we are ages behind here in kiwiland) Anyway, I visited <a href="http://www.diggerrandle.com/">his blog </a>and found this fascinating article from a couple of months ago form The Age in Australia regarding an ex Hillsong Member.<br /><br />A couple of quotes to whet your appetite -<br /><br /><br /><blockquote>For five years, Tanya Levin was a Hillsong insider - infatuated with the evangelical church and its leader. Then she left and wrote a book. Now she's trouble, writes David Marr.....</blockquote><blockquote>.....So Tanya Levin is a problem. She asks questions. She wants explanations. She challenges the vision of Hillsong's leadership. In short, she's trouble. ....<br /><br />.....Two years into writing People in Glass Houses, her insider's account of Hillsong, she was shown the door. "There is no debate within Hillsong," she says. "That's fundamentalism. It's not open to free thought and question, not at all....."</blockquote><br /><blockquote>".....My impressions in September of 1985 were of a bunch of nice people," Levin writes. They waved their hands and spoke in tongues. Houston preached. "Even today," she confesses, "when I hear Brian Houston's voice I feel better....."</blockquote><blockquote>....For Levin, the core lie of Hillsong is the claim that God will repay everything you give. And the longer you have to wait, the greater the return. "How do you actually stand in front of people and say if you give me your money God will give it back to you and actually sleep at night when you're taking old people's money. It's obviously the more desperate people who want to make an investment decision like that. Very vulnerable people...."</blockquote><blockquote>....Levin doesn't fit that picture. She doesn't hate. Something in her seems to yearn for those exhilarating years fighting the good fight against the devil in all his disguises right down to the voodoo beat of rock'n'roll. "We were told you can't have it because it's incantation and you're going to raise all these demons." How different things are now. Levin begins to sing some Hillsong Christian trance music: "Doof, doof, doof. Christ is the future. Doof doof doof..."</blockquote>I highly reccomend you go over and read the article <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/faith-hope-and-clarity/2007/08/05/1186252542495.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2">It is a very very good read pop on over </a>.<br /><br />This months Christianity today also has a <a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/october/44.34.html">good article </a>from a slightly different perspectiveLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-7150433241448094572007-10-27T13:59:00.000+13:002007-10-27T14:00:17.729+13:00Tick-TockChristians for some bizarre reason have a very annoying habit of turning up to events late and/ or handing important things in late. I really don’t know what this is about. I sure don’t know what the biblical principle behind it is. God help me I have tried to understand certain members of my Christian circle who think they have the right to waste an hour of my life while they turn up an hour late to events/ meetings/ gatherings. However I really don’t get it.<br /><br />Sure I can understand 5 even 10 minutes, things happen, but the ‘I’ll-be-there-when-I-get-there-Jesus-Cruisin’ ‘attitude is not just bizarre it’s a very poor witness. The other night I was out with sister (not Christian) I had arranged dinner with 3 christian friends for 6pm. The first friend arrived at 6.50. My sister was not only annoyed, but also discussed with me that my friends obviously don’t respect me very much, she was quite looking forward to the dinner but spent the whole night worried as we had ordered too much food for people who never arrived. <br /><br />There is no point in ‘evangelising’ if your whole life doesn’t show it, this means how you interact with other Christians impacts your interaction with non Christians and how you show you value others.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-74642019070453180042007-10-19T20:28:00.000+13:002007-10-19T20:43:56.197+13:00Let go of thy parachuteHello blog shadowers (which is most of you) , friends and people who drop by<br /><br />The Parachute 08 line up has been announced. Many people have commented on the lack of quality of the line up and I tend to agree visit here or here however as I grow in my Christian walk my problem lies at a much deeper issue than just the music. Here are my problems.<br /><br />1) Israel Houghton is one of the headline artists. Now while I am not going to doubt that he has sold millions of albums and he has won some fantastic awards even in the mainstream my problem lies with the theology in the lyrics he is singing. As we have discussed at this blog before (well, some of us) Israel Houghton is the one who bought us Cover the earth, and also <a href="http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/i/israel_houghton/i_am_a_friend_of_god.html">I am a friend of God</a>. Houghton is on the worship team of <a href="http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/outing-joel-osteen-a-challenge-to-the-evangelical-blogosphere">Joel Osteen</a> at Lakewood Church, Texas. While I am <strong>not</strong> one to say this makes one guilty of Osteens 'theology' *cough*, by association, I would think that if Houghton is serving in this way (as worship member) at Lakewood church it would mean he sees his theology as being able to line up with the church's. <br /><br />2) Another one of our main headliners is a band called Jonzetta (yes that’s right they are a headliner). Now I will openly admit right here in front of you the blogging public that I am in no way perfect and sin all the time. I also come from the school that says all sin is equal. However I do find this following piece of footage from Jonzetta strange to say the least (the point in question is about 40 seconds in )<br /><object height="366" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/txJD_uJCX2c&rel=1&border=0"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/txJD_uJCX2c&rel=1&border=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="366"></embed></object><br />my point being are parachute looking for culturally relevant people? Is this what spacifix and so on were preparing us for? Is culturally relevant really the angle we want to take? Or am I just being a little too precious and should Christians start swearing more (because Jesus probably would have) ?<br /><br />3) The music line up itself is debatable however if you want to discuss that go over <a href="http://parachutemusicfestival.blogspot.com/">here </a>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-56179062111900165462007-10-16T09:27:00.000+13:002007-10-16T09:28:57.868+13:00Commenting policyIt is now easier to comment thoughts and amusings visitors. I have taken off the restriction that you must be registered. So you can comment away. I know a few of you were going to comment on the post directly below so you can. <br /><br />I only ask that you use a name (you can make it up) so we know who you are!<br /><br />LisaLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-38532810887879981832007-10-15T10:17:00.000+13:002007-10-15T10:28:39.738+13:00Cultural Perceptions<a href="http://www.thinkchristian.net/">Think Christian</a> has a fantastic post courtesey UnChristian about how the 16 - 29 culture views Christianity. This is a collection of responses from both Christians and non christians (who made up the lsmaller amount of respondents 40%) interestingly these were their top 6 perceptions of Christians: <br /><br />1. Anti-Homosexual – this is toward the person not the deed – 96%<br />2. Judgmental – 87%<br />3. Hypocritical – 81%<br />4. Sheltered<br />5. Politically Motivated<br />6. Insecure<br /><br />This survey was done in America. I would say based on <strong>my</strong> interactions with NZ youth and young adults I would probably go something like this<br /><br />1. Apathetic <br />2. All like members of Destiny<br />3. Hypocritical<br />4. Sheltered<br />5. Unawareness of the world<br /><br />I'm still debating the other one .<br /><br />Anyway for those of you who like video, Unchristian have even made a very good clip which i do reccommend you watch. Especially if you disagree with me when I say that NZ christians are apathetic - <strong>hey you may even want to post a response below</strong>!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5m3Q2lDMRm0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5m3Q2lDMRm0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-48113946318182710402007-10-11T18:41:00.000+13:002007-10-11T21:10:13.097+13:00SufferingThe idea of suffering as part of the Christian faith is not that popular. In fact as a new Christian when I found out that martyrdom was a 'spiritual gift' that some Christians were 'blessed' to have in one of those 'find your gifting courses' I was incredibly reassured by a line that said that veryt few people in Gods family were 'blessed' with this gift. All joking aside, Modern day Western Christianity often has a hard time fitting suffering into its theology. Due to the incredible uprise of the Prosperity gospel it is seen as necessary for one to have 'health, wealth and success' in order for one to be a successful Christian.<br /><br />Jesus clearly taught that his followers would endure suffering most obviously his sacrifice but also read through the sermon on the mount, this <strong><em>was</em></strong> part of his call of being an obedient follower of Christ (Matthew 5)<br /><br />I wonder if Western Christians are a bit like the reciepients of the book of Hebrews.<br /><br />Some of the things the reciepients of the Hebrews had were a great liking for the Old testament ( a bit like prosperity followers) and also some deep seated conscience issues to follow the 'right way' even though had a very skewed idea on what this was (even though it was well supported with some out of context bible verses) .<br /><br />They had lost how suffering fitted into Faith and got side tracked into a whole lot of frivalous stuff (some of it with the best of intentions) that they thought would take them closer to God.<br /><br />This led the author of the book to say this to them and I think they are very good words to ponder:<br /><p><strong>Hebrews 10</strong><br /><em>32Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. 33Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.<br />35So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. 38But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him 39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.</em></p><br />I wonder when was the last time you ever heard a sermon on suffering / read an article on it?<br /><br />Have we disconnected suffering from our contemporary theology or do we only speak about it on special occasions? If suffering is a daily occasion for the persecuted church, how come we hear very little of it in the western church?Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744496.post-63936898991837586932007-10-10T17:38:00.000+13:002007-10-10T18:08:35.192+13:00SundaySunday was a dark day. It is the closest to death I have experienced and I hope it is the nearest I will at the age of 22. I had a 25 minute seizure episode that saw me rushed to A&E in an ambulance from home. It started as a normal absence seizure but turned into a massive tonic clonic (For info on these I strongly suggest you look at the link down the side rather than making assumptions). I came in and out of the seizure, I had pins and needles down one side of my body and was also seeing rainbow pulsing things (again hard to describe to anyone who doesn't have epilepsy). It was a very bizarre seizure, like having your brain having an electrical spazz and your body disconnecting and going at all angles. {I remember repeating to the Paramedics ' I'm cold' about 20 times. The paramedics had trouble getting a line into me and had to take turns before they had success, hence my sore arm (lol) }<br /><br />In fact it kind of feels like you are separated from your self. Yes very existential. Anyway I was pumped full of medicine at the hospital, however this took a while as they were some what stumped by me and were very overworked, however again may I add they were incredibly nice people. May I now add for a moment of light relief that the medical staff are just as cute as those on Greys but 10x more kind and a billion times more on to it. Then I appeared to be getting better and was wheeled into hallway as recuss was needed. Yes I was in recuss. A nurse came along and pulled out the needles out of me and as I was walking out I fainted, lost consciousness on the A&E floor (yes very dramatic am I) and had to be lifted up by medical staff. Went in and out of consciousness, and when I was in, I sometimes spent the time saying hilariously stupid delusional crap to the medical staff, Hence I spent another 2/3 hours being monitored and tested and prodded as the medical staff were totally at a loss as to what was wrong with me. I had needles, patches, monitors, blood tests galore. And it was horrific. I couldn't sleep and I wanted to, and my poor family was helpless. Things they don't show you on medical programmes :<br /><ul><li>Hospital beds are incredibly uncomfortable</li><li>Anxious family members - there was only one seat in my ER room.</li><li>Having to repeat your story 5 times. </li><li>The change over of staff at 10pm. </li><li>Nurses in crocs - never again will i make any rude remarks about crocs - any man who has medicine and picks me up off the floor can wear any type of shoes he wants!</li><li>The boredom</li><li>The long long waits for medicine and forms. </li><li>Having to be taken to the toilet by medical staff and having in to pee into a bucket </li><li>Children screaming at the top of their lungs</li><li>Old people speaking in deluded ways .<br /></li></ul>Anyway Monday too was a dark colour, navy blue, it was like living a nightmare I had very little strength and was very tired and incredibly afraid I was going to end up in hospital again, Even though I had had 10 hours sleep after being let out of hospital at midnight. Tuesday was similar but a bit better as I managed to finish my BCNZ essay. Today I am getting back to normal. However I have a new perspective on life, that only those who have been through something like this can.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12245428263009453052noreply@blogger.com4