Very thankful to a stranger this morning. Two actually. They both responded to me in a way that I definitely did not deserve…
Have you ever attacked your wife or partner? Yelled, screamed, used those angry eyes, given silent treatment or just left (emotionally or physically)? Has it ever been because of something that has happened with or to your child? A parenting issue? A dis-agreeance on what has or should happen? Me too. It is a common source of conflict in a marriage. Today I feel God wants me to share a different take on these times. Maybe when you reacted, you just experienced part of God’s heart? What? Maybe – let me explain: As I look back at my childhood, I …
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
I was worshipping today for āchurchā in our bedroom, watching a live stream. Iām hanging on my crutches, looking around at my amazing wife and children:
For my younger friends: please take note!Ā As someone who lived just for the moment, who lived it up in every way imaginable, someone whoĀ thought I was invincible, I can safely say: all good things come to an end! Sometimes itās a sooner end than you think… I knew some pretty tough people, but ended up in a coma, as slaves to a drug, locked up or dead. The sad fact is, for most of them – I wouldnāt have a clue what happened to them as I really didnāt care. Sure, everyone talked up āmateshipā – but it was …
I recently read about a few people who survived the September 11 attacks, thanks to Godās intervention.Ā Stanley Praimnath, an assistant vice president for Fuji Bank worked on the 81st floor of the South Tower. You can read more details in various places, but you likely wonāt read what could be the whole reason he survived… For instance, you will read on WIKI:Ā “When American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower, Praimnath started to evacuate from his 81st floor office in the South Tower, but he returned when the building’s security guards said the South Tower was secure, and …
This morning, we received another email from a lost soul, trying to have a joke. I really love how, when responding to people like this, we are forced to remember how we were before Jesus rescued us from our delusion: Ā “. God . . ?? So many gods to choose between , if you are that way inclined ? Not a weakness I ever would need ?. I will definitely decline your offers as I have now purchased some Devilishly Wicked headphones to blast my sweet sounds straight from the savage depths of HELL . Thanks anyway , and …
So yesterday I get a text from a private number
My wife had locked her keys in the car while down in Perthā¦
Oh No!
I canāt help but think that many of us Westerners are going to be caught out far worse than the Afghans we are seeing on TV at the moment.Ā Do I think that the Taliban are about to storm Australia? No, not even close. As calculated and deliberate as I see the political and militant arm of Islam, I think there is far more chance of something from China eventuating – but that is nothing to do with the risk I am talking about.Ā To think that we as Australians could suffer the same fate as these poor Afghans – …
Tomorrow may never come – but Jesus definitely will…are you ready?
Yesterday, I saw a glimpse of something very powerful: It was of a day that is actually coming. A day where there will be a great procession of people. A GREAT procession… It will leave the (even the pre-Covid) Olympics for dead, it will be VAST in size! The people in this procession will be from every country, every nation, every type, every tribe, every colour. In the middle of this procession, the Creator of the universe – Jesus – in human form. Every human who has ever lived on the planet – past, present and future – will be …
Recently, someone we met at church years ago, passed away. She was an incredible lady, happy, loving and full of beans. Although very slight in build, she came across as very strong and was certainly brave. She would talk to anybody about Jesus and often handed out Gospel tracts. We had only run into her once since Her husband, John, passed away – she was still full of love for her Saviour. As my parents had attended her funeral, they bought us a booklet printed by the family, chronicling parts of her life. Two parts had me riveted: 1) Angie’s …
So, the other day I had to force myself to drive the bus to get it relicensed (I’m sure I will still be taking cars over the pits at 95 if I last that long!)…Driving along the freeway, we passed a vehicle with a flat tyre & stopped to help.I hobble over on crutches & meet the guy, very thankful, saying he doesn’t have a wheel brace. After searching high & low, we discover we don’t either(!). So, standing there on crutches, next to a car with flat tyre and spare wheel I start trying to wave down vehicles with …
The other night we traveled to a Cedar meal, celebrating and remembering the Jewish Passover. It was the first time in a while I had driven due to worsening back issue.Being unable to sit and in immense pain, I knew it would be a difficult night after the drive. I was right – and didnāt arrive home until midnightā¦ Impossible to describe. But the pain, effort and immense discomfort were not the hardest part of the evening. Towards the end of the evening, I was called to the front. Guessing around 100 people who I have rarely seen, gathered around …
What a crazy year! No one would have believed that in Western countries, the police would be forcing people in and out of lockdowns. That the government would be issuing rules to ban families to see each other. That a sickness would spread through the world, reportedly causing millions to die, yet the symptoms of which often need a government purchased test from the country of origin of that said disease to be detected. The list of worldwide events this year that are incredibly significant and impact is nearly endless. But I am guessing that for many reading this, there …
Love: Without it we are nothing. If I asked āwhat is love?ā what comes to mind? Liking something – a thing or activity? Feeling attracted to a particular person? Wanting to be near someone? Being happy around them? Experiencing comfort while with them? Engaging in good conversation with them? Enjoying the same activities? Avoiding conflict / keeping the peace with someone? Is love something we can touch or taste or feel? Is it summed up by a phrase that is used sometimes: āthat person completes meā? There are many things that are common answers as to what love is, but …
Why I was thinking about drugs at church today. I was thinking this morning about how participation in an activity can make all the difference in our experience of a situation. In the setting I was in (āchurchā), it might seem very strange for my mind to be on drugs, but it was, at least briefly. My mind went to times where I have been in large groups of people, all standing around smoking drugs, playing pool, darts or whatever just having a āfunā time together. One regular picture came to mind, where I had come to a group of …
Singing a song this morning at āchurchā (front room with the family and some songs playing a recorded sermon), I was getting in āthe zoneā: You know, thinking about the One who has given us life and approaching His throne. My family present, including my sisters children, I am quite composed until very early in the first song the lyrics went: āthe fatherless find their rest at the sound of your nameā. No longer fully composed, my mind understands in part, yet again, what my soul has been experiencing now for nearly 19 yearsā¦REST! So, so thankful that my soul …
Today, as I reflect on Mothers Day it brings many mixed emotions and great memories. Lots of joy, happiness, surprises, but also disappointment, sadness and grief. I look back into my childhood and all I wanted was love and attention. I remember giving my gifts to my mum that I made at schoolā¦always wondering how would they be received? Would they be good enough? As the years went on, as a teenager who now “knew everything” and was earning money, I would look for something that was expensive enough to show her love the only way I knew how. I …
As a dad with 6 children, a big part of being a good husband and father is to model how to show love and help the children to love and honour people – especially their mother. This is an area where I have failed heaps, but over the years there has been a few ways that have stood out that have āworkedā in this regard for me. The first is receiving love from God. Donāt switch off – seriously – we have often received either only a little love while growing up or a tainted version of love. This leaves …
Last night I was thinking of a movie where a doctor was meant operate on a crook who had just killed another doctor and then tried to kill her. As could be expected, she didnāt treat him the same as her normal patients – and who could blame her? It reminded of a time when I was lying on a hospital gurney, skin missing off most of the left side of my body, the blood dried so the blanket that was on me was stuck fast. The bone in my big toe was visible – the road had ground through …
Getting better results while growing your own vegetables… This article will take a quick look at soils – one of the vital keys of getting good results from your plants. If you havenāt read the first part of this article I would highly recommend it (here) as without following the principles there, the things mentioned here will not be as beneficial. Ā To illustrate the points made in this article, we did a simple test: We filled a garden bed with two types of soil. Ā¾ was our own soil mix Ā¼ was a premium grade bagged organic potting mix …
Growing your veggies? How to save money AND get better results! A short article about soils and getting good growing results from your plants. One of the things that stuck in my mind when doing a horticultural apprenticeship at Botanic Golf was about soil. The owner (the late Theo Puik) came from a line of champion Tulip farmers in Holland and was incredibly knowledgable. Looking back, I regret not learning more from him (I was more interested in drugs, alcohol, cars and girls so he let me go). The simple rule he had for plant growth highlighted that what was …
I remember, many years ago, being in a house full of people tripping (on drugs, acid specifically). Things were getting *very* weird – furniture and fittings were getting damaged, people were falling in the pool as they thought they could walk on water and lots of screaming. Not really my type of ābuzzā so I headed out the front of the house. There was a pretty decent thunderstorm. I donāt know if it was a conversation inside about someone thinking they were Jesus but I remember thinking I wonder if there is a God. I had what is a common …
We are living in world that is rapidly changing, sometimes hour by hour. Rules and regulations from government, health and safety advice, food, work and travel is constant change. At this point in time, we have to go through a police checkpoint that is manned by state emergency service and army personnel. If we do not have written documentation from government to say we can pass, we get turned around – we are not allowed to our nearest food shops or the metro area. Public opinion has swiftly changed from that of freedom to that of quarantine (and anger at …
Isolation. Fear. Helplessness. Depression. Uncertainty. Grief. Panic. Paranoia. Despair. These things are rampant at the moment and the best advice people give is generally āremember this will passā, ‘be prepared’ or āavoid the bad newsā… But really the remedy for fear is not avoidance of bad situations. Neither is it āfaithā in the sense of believing everything will be ok. Rather it is a heart (not just a mind) connected with the One and only true God. Not the god of our own understanding, not the god of religions that say you must earn this or that by good works, …
Testing vinegar types for chilli sauce… As a follow up to our basic chilli sauce how-to (here), we thought it would be great to do a taste test to see the different vinegars can make to a recipe. We used the same recipe and the same type of chilies with 8 different types of vinegar… White White Malt Brown Malt White Wine Balsamic Apple Cider Rice Wine Top Secret, best for sauces homegrown š It was ridiculously hard to resist adding cardoon and other yummies, but we managed to keep the recipe basic: 15g superhot chillies (a poor reaper in …
Timber Cake Box Test Itās been over a year since I have been wanting to test the amazing Timber Cake Boxes. Giving truly unique results, these boxes are the perfect fir for the Sun OvenĀ® (we sell the Sun Oven as well as Timber Cake Boxes here). Today, we decided to put a quick carrot and walnut slice together and put in the Sun Oven. How to line the Timber Cake Box: First, measure the length of baking paper needed. I cut just over twice the length as the box we were using is square. (If using a rectangle box, …
Today, we had some diced meat that needed using, so I thought I would document how quick and easy it is to cook for free in the Aussie Edition Sun OvenĀ® (a product we sell and distribute here) Unfortunately, things didn’t go to plan…as per normal ? First off, the ‘recipe’ which for this one was mainly just pre- purchased sauces to make it as quick and easy as possible. The below is not an endorsement for specific brands, (though we do use and recommend a lot of Melrose products) Ingredients: Approx 2kg of beef. 2 different old curry powders …
Home Made Chilli Sauce A few quick notes on making chilli sauce and rough recipe that may give you a startā¦ We have now made a number of batches of different sauces. Some of them are incredible, though we havenāt yet got to the point of following the same recipes – just experimenting and enjoying the results! My first advice with chilli sauce is as the same for most things: just give it a go! You will find that as you experiment you will soon figure out what works and what doesnāt and what you like and donāt. 1) Base …
Below are the notes form the first time I preached at Two Rocks Baptist Fellowship. Far from a standard sermon I felt to share an overview on Repentance and Faith. It was the second in a series to set the foundational theme for discipleship A.B.I.D.E. (in Christ)
This letter reflects the truth of Godās love for you. If He could fulfil one thing, it would be that you know and experience His great love for you. He has already done a lot for this to happen: including sending His Son to die for youā¦ Hello My child, this is Me, God: your real dad. I formed you in your mothers womb, creating you just the way I wanted. With care and deliberate thought, I fashioned you. I loved what I saw and I still do. I made you to be a little like Me. Youāre made in …
The Deviant Devil-Ant! On a recent trip to pick mangos in Kununarra, I encountered what I started to call ādevil antsā, though their correct name is actually the āWeaver Antā (genus Oecophylla). These little green ants, according to Wiki: ā inflict painful bites and often spray formic acid directly at the bite wound resulting in intense discomfort.” I donāt think this is quite accurate – the bites do sting but I would say they are only around a pain level of 2-3. As a frame of reference, the the bite from the big bull ants on our property would be …
Happy Birthday Jesus – 2019 Although we were determined to be prepared for our celebration early this year, a number of unforeseen situations yet again led to us have very limited time to prepare. A serious fire threat set us back a full week and an unexpected visitor added to the time constraints. Business had to take a back seat, though we managed to get our gate decorations up in time – sort ofā¦
Or do you just want food? Matthew 15:29-39 Not many educated people would deny the birth and life of Jesus Christ. History shows clearly He existed around 2000 years ago and was indeed killed. His actions made a huge impact on His society and to those around Him – especially the miracles He performed. His fame spread far and wide – people travelled for miles to come and get the healing they could not find anywhere else. And He healed them *all*. Here and now, today, itās so easy to get discouraged when we donāt get the healing we want …
What two weeks covered in āDevil Antsā taught me… For a few years now I have wanted to volunteer picking mangos. Unfortunately, our living situation and deaths in the family have prevented it being possible. This year, finally, I left my second eldest son in charge of the business, ready to deal with any issues with the unfinished house and took my eldest son up to Kununarra. We were ready for the long, hard, hot days and early starts…
āDad Iām getting married – do you want to come?ā āAdam I never wanted children – I still donāt – please donāt contact me againā The above was a real conversation I had with my dad over the phone a week or so before I was married in 2003. It is the last time I have spoken to him – I donāt know if he is still alive, in jail or whatever. I have respected his wish and, unfortunately, I understand his desire…
Another example how ridiculous God is at a garage sale after churchā¦ I saw an office printer that I thought might be a good deal, but decided I would wait before asking him the price to get a good deal. Before I had a chance he tried to sell it to me, offering it at a song – but I was more interested in talking to him about Jesus. He shared how he used to be a drug addict and was quite sure he had found freedom. After talking for a while it was evident he had just exchanged addictions …
Thinking of doing concrete benches? Read this first! I often joke with people that when doing the rammed earth, we would be mixing large amounts just adding ingredients by hand and eye – no real measurements – then when we came to the concrete benches we were literally using drug scales and measuring 20 different products at 0.1g accuracy!! Talk about chalk and cheese. Side note: Just in case you were wondering – yes the scales used to be used for drugs. Something else Jesus has redeemed ?. I was amazed that there was an actual legitimate use for them …
For Jesus Time today I wanted to start the children off on a direction I introduced yesterday: digging a little deeper into one particular doctrine in order to bring truth to people in other religions / cults. We watched some witnessing clips with some particular cults and I explained that I would let the children choose one topic or doctrine to research and learn – like a debating exercise. While I have read lots of different material on various cults, false doctrines and methods to bring truth, I find it great advice to use this one point, ‘dam crackā method…
This photo does two things to my heartā¦ It is a photo taken just after my 9yo son & I left emergency after a very difficult night. He had suffered a serious concussion and had amnesia and a possible brain bleed. I was sick, over tired and very sore but somehow – miraculously – we had just been released. All seemed to be going well…
“Have we already been to bed dad?” This sentence was the first sign that something was wrong – very wrong. At first, I thought this child was joking, despite him knowing that health / injury is nothing to ever be joked about in this family… As I questioned him, it still seemed just like he was joking, until, after about 3 minutes he ājerkedā a little and his eyes went funny and the same sequence of questions came out. No one could act this… I called the two children who were near him when he came off his bike. I …
God promises to provide all that we need: And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 Is this a promise of financial prosperity or āblessingā? I would argue it can mean the opposite at times. Sometimes what we need is a life hardship to get our attention, to see things differently, to change our ways. Sometimes our comfort leads us to apathy or worse, neglect. A loving Father will see that and do what doesnāt feel nice for the …
Just in case it is helpful to anyone here I thought I would put a sample of an experiment template that can be used. This combines elements of a younger students science experiment with those of a research paper to introduce higher aspects to those ready. We donāt use all of the headings for all ages of children but the experiments are normally pretty good. Yesterday we trialled 3 different woks (Commercial Induction, Breville Electric and Gas) to see which was the most cost effective. Very interesting (and some would say fun)! If anyone wants one in Pages / Word …
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