I thought so

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Hehe sick joke of the year

Funny (def'n): the Columbia Explosion

Bugger thats really irritating I just typed a whole lot and now I have to type it all out again. Grrr... Well I have been in Brisbane for about 5 days now and man is it hot, I mean they tell you that it is but it isn't until you get here that you know what they're talking about. I left the airport at about 9 am Brisbane time and it already was at least as hot outside as the hottest day in Christchurch so far this summer. And the humidity it just is soo muggy over here. Anyway I arrived over here and had to take the train to get to the YWAM base. Now backwards Kiwi guy that I am I presumed that as in NZ they would have ATM terminals for all the major banks ie Westpac, which I had been told in NZ that I could use to get money from using my eftpos card. They didn't. I ended up having to borrow some money which my mate Jon's mother gave me to give to him so that worked out alright. The trains over here are soo cool (both literally and figuratively) there is something novel about using trains to get around a city. Anyway I got to my destination of Mitchelton safely got out of the train to find out that my mates directions were bung and ended up leaving the train station going the wrong way. Thankfully I had printed a map off of the area before I left and managed to get on the right street in short order only to find my mate sitting in a car on the side of the street. So I leapt in and got taken on a random trip to a mall with the head of one of the DTS (Discipleship Training School's). Apart from that I haven't been up to too much. Went to Southbank yesterday. It is so impressive having a manmade beach in the middle of the city that is free to use. Also went to Koorong a bookstore over here, having hugely cheaper prices on books and then having a 20% discount for YWAMers on top of that was too tempting an opportunity to pass up. Almost got taken on a random trip to Byron Bay (hippy central) but that fell through.

Ywam is very different to anything that I have experienced before, its sort of a combination between a camp, church, and Bible College with multiple languages and accents thrown in on top of that. Also it is very strange being surrounded by Christians all day every day, and Christians who are so much more Christian than us, if you know what I mean. Everyone speaks of the spirit of this and the spirit of that, and its never I want to or I feel that I will its always God wants me to and I feel God is telling me to. I feel so secularised with my language and my attitudes not that I care but it is different.

However, before I left I kinda got the impression that God was going to use this time away from my support structures and routines to do something. And anyway already one thing has happened before one of their lectures which I have sat in on we were praying in small groups when the group asked if they could pray for me, sure why not. Anyway one of the girls in the group got this image from God of a clock that was spinning out of control and that God just really wanted to slow it down. The clock, she said, represented my life. This is exactly how I'd been feeling before I'd left about my life.

Another God thing that has happened was sitting in Christchurch airport. Before I was about to get on the plane I get really worried that my pack wasn't going to get over to Oz like it was going to get lost or something. One of those irrational fears that comes upon one at times. Anyway I got my bible out of my carry on luggage and just opened it at random. It opened straight to Psalm 42 which said what should I fear my hope is in the Lord. It just really calmed down my fears and told me God had it in control.

Lastly the day after I got here I sat in on an Encouragement circle where each week the group picks a different person and they tell them what they appreciate about them. My mate thought it must have seemed kinda weird sitting in on that but it made me think about my friends and what you mean to me and what stuff is awesome about each of them.

Anyway see you in 5 days.

Jon says hi.

Brisbane

Here I come in roughly 8 hours I will be winging my way to Oz. Farewell all and I'll see you when I get back on the 27th of Jan at 2pm.

Brian Mclaren

Brian Mclaren Christian writer of such controversial books as A Generous Orthdoxy will be coming to NZ and Christchurch in particular on the 4th of March. Anyone who is interested express it here and I'll see what I can do. Apparently there is an early bird discount before the 30th of Jan but there is also a group +7 discount...

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Your Superhero Name is The Blood Mask Your Superpower is Supernatural Your Weakness is Vince Vaughn Your Weapon is Your Electro Nunchucks Your Mode of Transportation is Helicopter

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Losing faith

Firstly for anyone who is worried that the title is referring to myself don't worry I'm not (or should I say I aren't).
Secondly I find it passing strange that doing certain activities is meant to cause one to lose their faith. I mean if a mere mundane activity can cause one to lose your faith then you never had to strong a grasp on your faith to begin with. I am referring to things such as doing certain courses at University (such as philosophy or religious studies) I have even heard people comment that such a thing a Bible College causes loss of faith, also some movies are held as suspect and some activities. I think that if someone loses their faith through such a thing it is not that the thing itself causes the loss of faith but rather may be the straw that breaks the camels back. Maybe...

Also while I could possibly agree that Bible College causes a loss of faith it was not a bad thing to lose. The faith that I had I mean I think that it had has instilled in me a deeper truer faith.

I have just been thinking (as in since this morning) what is the gospel? I know what a lot of people think it is that we are all sinners and that Christ came to save us from eternal damnation. But this isn't holding water with me right at the moment.

From what little that I remember of Bridal at the moment the book of Mark starts with the words the gospel of Jesus Christ and then Christ doesn't go off saying 'you are all wicked there is no hope' rather I recall him spending more time on talking about the kingdom of God.

I am aiming to pick up my bible with this in mind. Hmmm...