Announcement

An invitation from Westchurch is extended to everyone to attend this Sunday morning. This means 10 am, an unholy hour of the morning for Varsity students, I know. However, as a tempter there will be real coffee and I believe food provided (free) afterwards. If anyone wants to turn up then we meet at Avonhead Primary School hall which is at the Yaldhurst Rd end of Avonhead Rd (the same road that ABC and St. Chris' are on).

I know I shouldn't be blogging before an exam but procrastination is the good.

Which Revenge of the Sith character are you?

Which Revenge of the Sith Character are you?
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Lemony Snickets A Series of Unfortunate Events

Anyone keen to watch this at H.o.H. this Friday evening.

On a completely different note: Apathy rising. Procrastination taking over. Ugh!

Darwin Awards

Yes, it's that magical time of the year again when the Darwin Awards are bestowed, honouring the least evolved among us. Here then, is the glorious winner.

1. When his 38-caliber revolver failed to fire at his intended victim during a hold-up in Long Beach, California, would-be robber James Elliot did something that can only inspire wonder. He peered down the barrel and tried the trigger again. This time it worked.....

And now, the honorable mentions:
2. The chef at a hotel in Switzerland lost a finger in a meat cutting machine and, after a little hopping around, submitted a claim to his insurance company. The company expecting negligence sent out one of its men to have a look for himself. He tried the machine and lost a finger. The chef's claim was approved.

3. A man who shoveled snow for an hour to clear a space for his car during a blizzard in Chicago returned with his vehicle to find a woman had taken the space. Understandably, he shot her.

4. After stopping for drinks at an illegal bar, a Zimbabwean bus driver found that the 20 mental patients he was supposed to be transporting from Harare to Bulawayo had escaped. Not wanting to admit his incompetence, the driver went to a nearby bus stop and offered everyone waiting there a free ride. He then delivered the passengers to
the mental hospital, telling the staff that the patients were very excitable and prone to bizarre fantasies. The deception wasn't discovered for 3 days.

5. An American teenager was in the hospital recovering from serious head wounds received from an oncoming train. When asked how he received the injuries, the lad told police that he was simply trying to see how close he could get his head to a moving train before he was hit.

6. A man walked into a Louisiana Circle-K, put a $20 bill on the counter, and asked for change. When the clerk opened the cash drawer, the man pulled a gun and asked for all the cash in the register, which the clerk promptly provided. The man took the cash from the clerk and fled, leaving the $20 bill on the counter. The total amount of cash he got from the drawer...$15.

7. Seems an Arkansas guy wanted some beer pretty badly. He decided that he'd just throw a cinderblock through a liquor store window, grab some booze, and run. So he lifted the cinderblock and heaved it over his head at the window. The cinderblock bounced back and hit the would-be thief on the head, knocking him unconscious. The liquor store window was made of Plexiglas. The whole event was caught on videotape.

8. As a female shopper exited a New York convenience store, a man grabbed her purse and ran. The clerk called 911 immediately, and the woman was able to give them a detailed description of the snatcher. Within minutes, the police apprehended the snatcher. They put him in the car and drove back to the store. The thief was then taken out of the car and told to stand there for a positive ID. To which he replied, "Yes, officer, that's her. That's the lady I stole the purse from."

9. The Ann Arbor News crime column reported that a man walked into a Burger King in Ypsilanti, Michigan, at 5 a.m. , flashed a gun, and demanded cash. The clerk turned him down because he said he couldn't open the cash register without a food order. When the man ordered onion rings, the clerk said they weren't available for breakfast. The man,
frustrated, walked away.

A 5-STAR STUPIDITY AWARD WINNER! (Which proves there is justice in this world.)
10. When a man attempted to siphon gasoline from a motor home parked on a Seattle street, he got much more than he bargained for. Police arrived at the scene to find a very sick man curled up next to a motor home near spilled sewage. A police spokesman said that the man admitted to trying to steal gasoline and plugged a siphon hose into the motor home's sewage tank by mistake. The owner of the vehicle declined to press charges, saying that it was the best laugh he'd ever had.

Prayer = Good

I am now moving into my exams and it would be much appreciated if people can pray for me. Since I am inherently an engineer an exam to me consists of memorising formulae. Theology has no formulae and multiple equally possible answers; its all subjective. And don't even get me started about my exegetical exam. The exams are as follows:
Theology B: Made in the Image of God Mon. 27 9:15 am
New Testament A Thurs. 30 3:15 pm
Gospel of John Fri. 1 9:15 am
Also, if any of you receive strange texts which exhibit even more insanity and randomness than is my normal wont then I am just releasing tension.
Finally, to celebrate the end of exams on Friday evening people can come around to the flat to do stuff. Maybe dvd, maybe insanity, maybe ritualistically slaughter wombats. Maybe.

The English Language sucks

I mean there is but one word for love. I know many of you have heard this before (especially those of you who have read C.S. Lewis' The Four Loves) but the Greek language has four words for love. These are agape, storge, philia, and eros. Now agape is the humbling love where the greater stoops to the lower, the best example of this is God's love for humanity. Storge is the familial and familiar love, thus the love that a child bears to its mother, a brother to his sister, a person for their country etc. Philia is brotherly love or to more commonly ascribe it, friendship. Eros, finally, is the love between a man and a woman, hence the word erotic.
Its interesting to think about for storge is a very 'soft' emotion, for example I lovemy little sister, she irritates the heck out of me but I could not see myself not loving her. Its not something that is forced or required of me but it is something that comes unthinkingly. However, (as those of you that have seen me and my bro together know) we are a lot tighter than mere storge would account for, I would say that towards my brother I bear a brotherly love or the love of a friend. This also just happened to us, we didn't just think let's become friends but we just fell into that sort of relationship :P. Furthermore, philia is less common to me than storge. There are more people I know that would fall into the category of storge than of philia. A lot of my dearest female friends would fall into the category of sisters with me than of friends. And to the full intensity of philia I would say that I could count on one hand everyone that I love in this way. However, it is interesting how philia can be so easily mistaken for eros. It is amusing when this misapprehension occurs of two guys and embarrassing when it occurs of a guy and gal. Probably because a lot of philia involves compainionship and a level of comfort in one anothers company that is beyond that exhibited to others means that to those outside it bears a lot of the characteristics of eros (especially when both people have the love languages are touch). This is probably especially true of the guy/gal philia since for whatever reason it is probably a lot less common in its fullness than the two guys, which means that when people observe its actions from the outside it appears to be eros.
Anyway those are the thoughts from a coffee addled mind...

Perfection

I think its time to drag myself out of my emotional phunk and get back to myself.

Anyway, I have recently been thinking about what perfection means. God being perfect is probably a safe doctrine to espouse, at least until what perfection means comes up. For does perfection mean mutability or immutability? Or to phrase that in non-jargonistic language can perfection encompass change or does it by definition exclude the very possibility of change? The ancient Greeks (I think Plato or Aristotle) reasoned that perfection could not change, or was immutable. If something is perfect then since it cannot change for the better (because if it could change for the better then it there would be another level of perfection higher than it) and if it changes for the worse then it is no longer perfect. In concrete attributes this clearly is logical. There is perfect knowledge which knows all and there is perfect power which is unstoppable, there is a perfect love that loves the beloved no matter what. However, for such a fluid concept as emotion is there such a thing as immutable perfection. There is a time for anger which in ferocious fire seeks to purify the beloved, however, if this anger were to continue unabated it would consume the beloved. There is a time for regret which weeps for the fate of the beloved, however, if this regret were to continue it would immobilise from any possibility of salvation.
Obviously I am talking about God here. Can God's emotions change?

US to Unleash New Weapon

US to Unleash New Weapon
Trogdor to "burninate" Iraq

U.S. President George W. Bush announced yesterday that the United States has begun use of an experimental military technology in an effort to step up its war with Iraq. Yesterday, Trogdor the Dragon was unleashed against the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.

"Trogdor will systematically 'burninate' every building in Baghdad until we hvae flushed out Saddam Hussein," announced Bush from the Oval Office. "We feel that the introduction of this new weapon will bring this war to a speedy conclusion, just like the introduction of napalm brought a speedy conclusion to the Vietnam war."

Trogdor constitutes a two-pronged attack against Iraq. He walks around crushing defenceless civilians underfoot, and after crushing ten civilians, Trogdor gains the ability to "burninate" buildings for a period of approximately ten seconds. "Saddam bad man. Trogdor burn stuff good," commented Bush, after having run out of notes prepared by his speechwriters.

Use of the weapon got off to a shaky start when Iraqi soldiers discovered Trogdor's weakness to swords and arrows. "It gets hit by one arrow and then it dies?" complained one U.S. soldier. "Doesn't it have scales or anything?"

The U.S. decision to introduce this new mythological weapon drew widespread criticism from the international community. "We are shocked and appalled at this recent turn of events," stated French President Jacques Chirac. "France will continue to work through the U.N. to rid the world of the threat posed by mythological and chemical warfare."

U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was quick to respond to criticism. "It is necessary to take these steps, as intelligence indicates Saddam Hussein is currently developing mythological weapons of his own," he replied. "Iraq may have access to a Medusa within months. We must do our part to ensure that the world is not threatened by gorgons of mass destruction.

Eigenvector

What was I thinking...

Hmmm...

I was sent wandering lost and confused down the dark chasms of my mind and despair swept over me. But in the depths I found once more my life and light Jesus Christ. He called me and renewed me again in him. Teaching me those truths which I had forgotten. He took me up in his arms and set me upon my feet again. I find that my knowledge has now increased and joy has found a new depth of meaning. I soar for the moment through the scapes of eternity. Peace has found its place once more in my soul. Again will I forget and again in the pit I will turn to You. You will never forsake me and never leave in this I can find my security no matter what the future holds. Your hesed for me is beyond comprehension. Once more before Your throne I knell and offer my life as a living sacrifice for Your service. My Lord and Saviour, Master, Friend. For Thine is the kingdom the power and the glory, forever and ever, Amen.

Life is good

Truth is inherent and darkness is invisiblity
The life that abides is forever within
And the light that endures shall overcome
Burning forever brightly sustaining
Love earnth and consumeth its desire
Death shalt forever pass away
And joy shall forevermore be
Happiness is fleeting and pain is gone
Abide forever within me
To you alone shall I turn
Redeem and transform me anew
My glorious Lord and Saviour

The Truth

You can't sleep, you're restless
and slightly obsessed with falling too deep
and malfunction, you're a virus
who's intention is fucking up something
You're a crater
on the face of a problem much greater
It's the violence, or lack thereof control
Body and soul, digging a hole
Is the blood stainless?
Enjoy the pain with accepting your grief
Are you finished?
Dumb fucking question, don't let yourself fall asleep
Ressurect the intention
Once your vision is now mass-produced,
Imagine the insults a blessing
imagine accepting the truth

Imagine accepting the truth
Imagine accepting the truth
Imagine accepting the truth
Just imagine accepting the truth
Imagine accepting the truth

The pendulum swinging
Hypnosis has taken control, now you linger
on a shadow of a doubt
Have you really figured what you're all about?
Don't trust your instincts
Just open the chamber where you keep those darkest regrets
All the things you've done wrong
Rebellious at heart all along
Is your leader a voice?
Somehow you replaced all your game with a debt
Now the payback's a bitch
Why owe your life to a bitch?
Absolutely pathetic
and regret it when told you are made of mistakes
Imagine the insults a blessing
imagine accepting the truth

Imagine accepting the truth
Imagine accepting the truth
imagine accepting the truth
imagine accepting the truth
Imagine accepting the truth

Now speak to your leader!
Now speak to your leader!

Your father who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name, deliver us from evil, deliver us from evil
Your father who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name, deliver us from evil, deliver us from evil
Our father who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name, deliver me from evil, deliver me from evil
Our father who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name, deliver me from evil, deliver me from evil

imagine accepting the truth
Imagine accepting the truth
Imagine accepting the truth
imagine accepting the truth
imagine accepting the truth

Guess who this is by?

Love ... (again)

"...it is by loving, and not by being loved, that one can come nearest the soul of another; yea, that, where two love, it is the loving of each other, and not the being beloved by each other, that originates and perfects and assures their blessedness. I knew that love gives to him that loveth, power over any soul beloved, even if that soul know him not, bringing him inwardly close to that spirit; a power that cannot be but for good; for in proportion as selfishness intrudes, the love ceases, and the power which springs therefrom dies. Yet all love will, one day, meet with its return. All true love will, one day, behold its own image in the eyes of the beloved, and be humbly glad." (George MacDonald, Phantastes, 181)

"We love because He first loved us" (1 John 4:18)

Angry is the new happy :D

I am the King of Cheese

Oh dear, over the weekend I have become the King of Cheese and Corniness. And yet I have learnt that some things whilst are cheesy and corny can at the same time be true. As Pratchett said of cliches: "The reason that cliches become cliches is that they are the hammers and screwdrivers in the toolbox of communication" (Guards! Guards!, pp. 176)

Suddenly

I feel like a bit of a 'burke' for what I wrote last night, but anyway today is another day...

I was just remembering back to the start of the year when I was down in 'Clutha. I went to hear this missionary woman with one of the people I was staying with. Anyway while we were there she uttered a prophecy over the group along the lines of that for each of us in this room this would be the year of suddenly's. I was thinking over the past year and realised that there have been a lot of suddenly's occur already in my life.
-suddenly my hair and chops of 3 and a half years are gone :P
-suddenly I have a new close friend in A.J. Its strange to think that at the start of this year I didn't even know him. Whats more since I do not make friends easily or quickly the fact that our friendship came into being so instantly (like from the minute almost that Kelly and Ruth introduced us) is very sudden.
-suddenly of all the most unlikely people I have found 'happiness and joy'. Never did I expect it or seek it and yet I thank you for so suddenly coming into my life.
-suddenly I am considering doing missions work and how best to achieve it. I know it is so Christian of me (really I had no hope being brought up in a church as the son of 2 of the founding members and then going to Bible College) but I have been inspired to actually use my degree to try and embetter the world, as opposed to joining the rat race. I pray that I will achieve this 'suddenly' and do not want to forever be a 'whitre picket fence' Christian.

I thank my Father for all these wonderous blessings that have been poured out on me thus far this year. I ask that I do not forget these or fail to see whatever more You have coming my way. I pray that in the darkness I will remember these blessings as they are and let the devil not twist them in my heart.

Love

This is going to sound stupid but it is the way that I feel at the moment.
Love is such an incomprehensible emotion it reaches down to the worthless and gives it esteem far beyond what it deserves. I look at myself and I see flaws problems and faults. I see an overgrown teenager who strives for God and yet does not succeed in fact falls far short at many times. One who is tied strongly to the world and the materialism it represents. (and more which I will not type lest I write for Africa). And yet someone has told me that I have a worth to them, that there is a value more than friendship within me. I cannot understand it. I see what people mean when they say that people are most like God when they love; incomprehensible, what is man that You love him? I cannot believe it and my mind tricks itself into seeing the darkness that it desires to see. I see them and how loving they are too everyone. Then I look at myself and think maybe I just imagined it all...
This is not a woe is me post nor is it a post of joy is the world, its just how I feel at this very moment.

Happiness = off the scale

Whale Rider

Hey all, the very last movie we have to watch for my course is Whale Rider so if anyone wishes to watch this movie it will be showing on Sunday after morning church. I would show it on a more appropriate day such as Friday or Saturday and a more appropriate time such as the evening but there are prior engagments on the aforementioned days at the aforementioned times and of course Sunday evening is completely out of the question.

Bwahahaha

Go Here!!!!!

S'truth mate

There's not as much difference between Aussies and Kiwis as I thought. This is a beautiful description of the universality of the call of the bbq.

Movie

Came a Hot Friday showing at the House of Heresy on Sunday afternoon, say about 1 pm, if anyone wants to come around.