Yesterday I stayed in the apartment writing my sermon all day, except at around 6:00pm when I went out to find some dinner. I ended up having a meatball sub from Subway. I was hoping for some funky Asian cuisine, but it was not to be.
Today was a normal church day.
I got really nervous before my sermon tonight before I preached. Somedays I'm not worried some days I'm packing it. Tonight was the most scared I've been in a while. More than Canberra or College, that was funny. I'm not completely sure why. A number of factors I guess. But once I got there I was fine.
It wasn't a bad sermon. I would really like to preach a teaching sermon (not evangelistic) on the passage I did tonight. So much good meaty theology in it. I'm hanging to do a meaty sermon. Of course, I don't think I'm the meatiest preacher in the world, but it's fun to go a little bit harder. People who aren't Christians often don't seem all that interested in our theology.
After Church, Anmol and Helen and I went and ate Chinese in Dee Why. How fun. Anmol and Helen paid for me. Yay for them. They're good people.
Tomorrow I'll learn Psalm 51 off by heart for my college assessment. Perhaps the faculty are trying to hint at something.
A Quick Easy Guide to Salvation
From the Maranatha Revival Crusade's book The Coming Worldwide Rapture
But if I can be serious: I can't find huge problems with this diagram theologically. But it seems a little bit simplistic and not all that relevant. I'm not sure how effective it is talking about "The Burning Black Hole of Hell"
The Belated Evolution of Tom's Facial Hair
My Beard
My Goatee
My Mo
The whole facial hair thing was kinda fun. Although, I often didn't enjoy having so much fuzz. Too many conversations about my face. People should stop looking at me. But it was fun none the less. I did get teased a lot. But that's no change from usual, just the subject matter. :)
Ryan came over last night. We watched Dogville. It was one of the most depressing films I have seen in ages. Basically it's about how horrid everyone is. It starts out nice but in the end there is no character of the film who doesn't commit some terrible attrocity.
It was also one of the most different films I've seen. It's worth watching just to see how they made it. It's like watching theatre on film. But it works real well. It was a damn good film, horrible too. We aren't nice people, we humans, and we're all deserving of the wrath of God. The sad thing in the end was that not even grace could change the hearts of the people, it was just there to be abused. The only effective measure was judgement. I feel like a bad person.
I reckon Dogville is worth a watch.
I think about the problems in my life, they're so simple and relatively harmless, and I thank God.
I preached at college today. It was the first time I've done a real preach at college. It was a little scary.
I got hot too.
Sometimes people say that talking about your day is boring. It could be. I find my days boring sometimes. Not today though. I listened to sermons on the train. That passed the time well. It was quite a different experience from listening to music. I even did the Bible readings before the sermon.
I wore my new shorts today, which was quite like wearing my other shorts except with a few more pockets. I drank Coke, Sprite and Solo too. They are good drinks.
I wonder if I talk about my feelings. Some people think I don't. I tend to agree with them. Maybe at the moment. Maybe it's about asking the right questions, maybe it's about being the right person.
I think it's more about the questions.
That's not to say that I'm bottling things up. Actually I could be. I don't think I'm saying I'm full of feelings that I really need to tell someone. I think if I need to tell someone, I do. If people want to know, I'll tell. Unless it's a bad idea to tell them. Then I don't.
In Anger Management the guy went to anger management classes even though he seemed like the most benign guy in the world. He didn't seem the least bit angry. But he was really repressing all his emotions and needed to get them out so he could truly live.
At first I thought, I don't get angry much I wonder if I'm repressing it. But I find it difficult to think of times when I have felt angry. But the guy didn't realise it, so maybe I don't.
But then I thought, the film seems to be about giving your feelings free reign. If you feel something you should act on your feelings. If you're angry at your boss, show him, if you love someone, kiss em. That kinda thing. But it's very selfish. If all we do is what our emotions tell us to do were slaves to our feelings. People only ever do what seems good at the time, and the consequences come later.
I don't think repressing your feelings is a good idea. But then again, I don't think acting on all your feelings works either. I think Doc was right when he said to Peekay, "First with the head, then with the heart." I know it desentimentalises feelings, but it also puts them in their place. Feelings should fuel the passion of our decisions, not make them for us. Feelings then serve us, and not we them.
Did I mention that it was hot today?
I just did a 1,500 assessment in one hour.
Who's the bomb?
(I bet it gets real poor marks.)
Ahh Bum
While I thought the email said:
Hi Tom
everything is due the 13 October 2004
Thanks
Tania
It actually said:
Hi Tom
everything is due the 11 October 2004
Thanks
Tania
Now everything is going to be at least a day late. And this is the same subject that I failed last semester, Children's Ministry. I think these problems are not the result of disorganisation or laziness, they are a sign from God that Children's ministry really isn't me thing.
What would you do if your house burnt down while you were in the shower?
In my childhood this was always a question that got much consideration. That and, what would happen if Jesus came back while I was in the shower? I was always horrified at the idea of having to run outside in the nude in front of all the firemen.
Anyway, this morning I have come a few big steps towards answering that question. While I was in the shower the fire alarm went off in this building. At first I thought it was my clock radio, but I remembered that I didn't have that set. As I stood in the shower and listened to the alarm I tried to decide if I should take it seriously, and if so, what should I take with me? I decided to take my mobile so I could message people and tell them of the excitement and my digital camera so I could take photos of the excitement.
When the alarm changed tone and a pre-recorded man started saying "Please evacuate as directed" I decided I would get out of the shower. I think it was the personal touch that did it. That and I couldn't properly tell what he was saying with the shower on and I was curious. I dried myself while the man continued to tell me to evacuate and I started to tell him to "Shut up, I'll be ready soon." I then went to my room to find some clothes because there's no way I'm going nude in front of a fireman. I wondered if anyone would worry if I wore the same clothes as yesterday, I decided it wouldn't be a big issue. Then it was time to find socks. Part way through finding socks I got distracted by the thought that if the building actually is burning down then that could be pretty impressive. So I headed out on to the balcony barefoot, because let's face it, looking for fire is much more exciting than looking for socks. All I saw on the balcony was other residents on their balconies looking rather bored. There were also some people in the driveway, with their boot open and a boot full of bags. Either they were taking the alarm seriously, and packing all their worldly possessions for a speedy getaway or they were paying no attention to the alarm what-so-ever and putting all their worldly possessions in harm's way.
I think it was about this time the alarms stopped.
The firemen turned up but they looked bored. The concierge walked out of the building looking bored. I looked at the flashing lights for a little while, because who doesn't like flashing lights? Then I went back to my shower and washed my hair.
I shaved too. Now I have a very silly looking goatee. I saw myself in the mirror and laughed. I won't keep it for long. But it's good for entertainment's sake.
I have discovered that it's difficult to find a Bible in the home of an athiest.
Yesterday I had a Coke party. It was good fun. I had people over to the unit and most of us commiserated about the election result. One person gloated.
I had my first drink of Coke in 145 days. It was good. And we made speeches and it was all fun.
I really like letting people in at the buzzer. When it plays crappy music and you see people on the little screen. So fun.
Today I was back at work. I did a Children's talk as an assessment for college. I didn't like it very much. But it was 60% of my assessment so even if it's crap it's done. I have to finish the other 40% between now and Tuesday.
I had a long lunch with Helen and then and almost as long meeting. Lunch with Helen is a good occurrence. We eat, and talk, and have a laugh. Life would be much less good if we didn't get along.
At Macca's tonight we tried not to laugh at various death stories. Now I'm at my pad I've had some spaghetti on toast. It was pretty dull.
There are a lot of numbers between 1 and 78. And I accidently voted the Australians Against Further Immigration higher than the Democrats, but since we were down in the 30s I wasn't too concerned.
Ruddock got number 8 on my green one.
Well I'm kinda excited. It's election day tomorrow. I love elections. I love filling out the boxes.
I went and saw The Life and Death of Peter Sellers last night with Mum, Dad and Jo. We had fun. We had dinner. I love my family. I laughed a lot and it still hurt.
I haven't seen Hannah since Monday I think. I miss Hannah, she's the best.
I joined the gym downstairs today. I got a free one week membership. Just watch out I'll be so buff next Saturday no one will recognise me.
I hung out with Rich too. We haven't hung out together for well, years. Year 10 may have been the last time we did something together. But we had fun. He doesn't seem to have changed much, but I wouldn't be surprised if actually he's changed a lot. He drives now. That's new.
We went and saw The Terminal. Jimmy joined us.
James is now asleep in the next room. I cooked dinner and we watched a dvd. One day I'm going to learn to cook things that don't come out of a jar. Perhaps, um, slice. I'll cook slice and sell it at church fete. Except my church doesn't have fetes. I'll have to rectify that situation.
Maybe we could get a polling booth put in the church and run one of those election fetes. We could sell sausages, slice and punch to all the famished voters. Because voting is an exhausting past time. Especially if you number 1 to 78 under the line.
Whenever I get an email at this computer my Grandpa's voice comes out of the speakers and says: "Hello. I think you've got some mail. You better have a look at it."
It's pretty funny, I like it. It makes me excited about getting mail. Perhaps my Grandpa was showing off to Valentina when he did that.
Why I love the CDP
Mandatory detention should continue for all persons without authority to be in Australia. Further legislation that does not impinge on natural justice should be passed to prevent the abuse of the judicial process that extends the stay of persons who have no entitlement to be in Australia.
Australia should continue to be a world leader in being a generous haven for genuine refugees through internationally supervised and orderly refugee resettlement programs.
Found here.
There are a few stories I'm looking forward to telling when they get de-classified. They will be funny, and everyone will have a good laugh at me.
I had a fun day today. Liz came to visit me today. She was my first visitor to this bachelor pad. She arrived while I was eating my Coco Pops. We scanned together, and it was fun to have company in my morning.
Rach and I went driving some more today. We went to the RTA to book a test. While Rach was talking to the RTA man about driving instructors in Taree an old man managed to fall over, flat on his back, as if he had walked into a wall, except there was no wall, right in front of the RTA. I rushed over to see if he was ok. He was. There were a few other people who also joined the huddle. The man was ok and we helped him stand up. I was pleased with myself that I rushed over to help. Usually in situations like that I assume someone else is more qualified than me, and I should stay out of it. I'm glad I didn't even if I wasn't much help in the end.
At church we had lunch with Helen, and met some of the "youth". They were fun. For the first few hours of today, I did almost no work. We made up for that in the end by doing a mail out to the whole youth group.
Pub tonight was good. I ate BBQ ribs and Lesley was there. That was exciting because it's the first time we've seen her at the pub and I think Lesley is tops.
I'm back in Chatswood now. Tomorrow I will do some college work. Yay for college work. I might visit Westfield too.
If marijuana was legal would you smoke it?
I've copped a beating over the past few days for saying I'd try it once. I wouldn't smoke it, I just thought I'd have a puff, just to say I've tried it. Some people don't like this idea. Hmm, everything is permissible...
