Had an excellent study last night, led by Peter Reynolds (lecturer at Grace Theological College). I was late since I had to drop off a bandanna accidently left in the car by a previous passenger. We started part one of a two part series looking at the Holy Spirit. One thing that struck me was the fact that the Holy Spirit works in us both intimately and personally, but not privately. ie: We should not seek for the Holy Spirit to guide us thus : "Should I move to Christchurch or not?". Rather : "Thank you that this opportunity to move to CHCH has arisen - please guide me such that I might better set my perspective on the Age to Come(which is already here, btw)". Also, the redemptive work of Christ was for the whole of creation. Therefore, the Holy Spirit, who applies the redemptive work of Christ to creation, is not simply a personal tool for our own use (which is how many Christians see Him), but rather, is applying the work of Christ to God's people personally, corporately, and also outside of the body of Christ, across the whole of creation.
Off to church with a mildy overhauled zeal. We are singing 'Heart of Worship' this morning - since I have had the concept of worship on my mind recently, as a result of some of Andrew Macpherson's sermons, and some other stuff.
You all have an excellent Sabbath. Praise the Lord.
Had an excellent study last night, led by Peter Reynolds (lecturer at Grace Theological College). I was late since I had to drop off a bandanna accidently left in the car by a previous passenger. We started part one of a two part series looking at the Holy Spirit. One thing that struck me was the fact that the Holy Spirit works in us both intimately and personally, but not privately. ie: We should not seek for the Holy Spirit to guide us thus : "Should I move to Christchurch or not?". Rather : "Thank you that this opportunity to move to CHCH has arisen - please guide me such that I might better set my perspective on the Age to Come(which is already here, btw)". Also, the redemptive work of Christ was for the whole of creation. Therefore, the Holy Spirit, who applies the redemptive work of Christ to creation, is not simply a personal tool for our own use (which is how many Christians see Him), but rather, is applying the work of Christ to God's people personally, corporately, and also outside of the body of Christ, across the whole of creation.
Off to church with a mildy overhauled zeal. We are singing 'Heart of Worship' this morning - since I have had the concept of worship on my mind recently, as a result of some of Andrew Macpherson's sermons, and some other stuff.
You all have an excellent Sabbath. Praise the Lord.
If we don't let them induce a state of terror in our minds, then they are not terrorists, and they have failed in their intended task - no matter how many bombs go off. I personally am not terrorfied, nor would I be if a situation of potential terror were to ensue. I would keep calm and, as the fire warden for this floor, would perform my building-evacuation duties without panic. (its all very well for me to say that now, isn't it??? hehe).
In other news:
- my fellow bloggers have highly recommended Sarah Jones's blog, as do I.
- party at 27 Arthur Road, Manurewa - all and sundry are invited.
- listening to Wipeout 2097 soundtrack
It is Michelle's birthday today -- we're going out for dinner tonight with family and sundry -- there is a Thai restaurant that is nice and has the added appeal of being very local (ie: its within fifteen hundred metres of our collective addresses of residence). Michelle will be entering her twenty-fourth year (she's turning 23).
Housewarming bash at our place tomorrow night. The notice has been issued with acute tardiness. So I'm not really sure who will turn up. <sigh>
I have discovered I really enjoy weeding the garden. I have pulled weeds for the past two evenings, working until dark. It really is amazing the difference it makes when you separate the undesirable plants from the desirable. I'm sure that can be used as an analogy for something, but I can't be bothered. But it really is satisfying - everyone should try it.
Sweeping and tidying produces a similar sense of satisfaction.
Hmmmm........
Carl Muir was in the house this last week (not literally, he was up from Christchurch looking for a job). It will be cool to have him up here -(Big ups, bro, if you're reading).
Theres a bit of a war going down, of course. Its interesting to see the mixed opinions and views of people even here in NZ. I don't really know what to think. I still stick to my theory - that it is all about oil. I may have lost a little of my anti-US edge, just lately - but no doubt they'll do something stupid, and I'll be back grinding my axe saying 'told you so' or stuff like that. So watch out.
In other news, mhjb (<= fixed) always has cool stuff, so check it out now.
Gotz to split, since Michelle needs to use the computer. Ya'll come back now, y'hear?
Felt a vague sense of triumph last night - was watching 60 minutes(i think it was 60 minutes) and they had a feature on the situation in the Middle East. A short interview with Donald Rumsfeld was most interesting. (You may want to read this first, if you haven't already.)
The interviewer asked Mr. Rumsfeld what he would say to people who suggested that the impending war was all about oil (or something like that). Rumsfeld did not have anything to say other than "...its just not about oil..." - he didn't have any other excuse or reason, and looked rather uneasy and sheepish(or was i reading him wrong?). Fascinating anyway. The feature went on to take a quick tour around the oilfields in northern Kuwait - on the Iraqi border. It was mentioned that due to trade embargoes restricting technology and stuff like that, Iraq was not currently able to produce anywhere near as much oil as they potentially could. So, under US control, or at least under a US-friendly democratic government, Iraq would be able to produce a significant amount of oil for US consumption. And Rumsfeld says its not about oil. Quite frankly, there is no reason for war that I can see other than to grab some oil.
I'm sticking to my theory.
They're finally here.
I apologise for the fact that despite their poor quality and miniscule size, they are still of a slighty porky file size.
You'll get over it.
If you really want to know what the place looks like, then come and visit!!!
Nite, I'm off to bed...
It read : "US: We have 'Smoking Gun'".
How ironic that is.... the US admits to holding a smoking gun? I'm sure that is so much closer to the truth than most of us imagine. Call me a conspiracy theorist, because I'll be the first to admit it. I am as cynical as the day is long when is comes to the events leading up to, and resulting from the September 11th attacks, and I firmly believe that any link (other than a mutual dislike of the US) between Iraq and bin Laden/al Qaeda is either a fabrication, or at the least, pure speculation.
The US should leave old Saddam alone - sure I'm not excusing any of his acts of inhumanity against Kuwait, the Kurds and others, but he's like Gadhafi, he's settled down somewhat in his old age. I would anticipate that Saddam's successor(s) (potentially his son(s)) could be a much worse prospect than old Saddam himself.
And as for bin Laden, don't get me started on that..... ... I feel that it is just too weird that only a few decades ago, the US, specifically the CIA, were working side-by-side with old Osama and his kin in Afghanistan, fighting the Soviets. And yet now, bin Laden lauches a major offensive against the US and becomes their prime motivation for going to war against all and sundry?? It doesn't add up.
I envisage something like this:
- bin Laden and the CIA form a strong relationship in Afghanistan fighting the Soviets back in the day. They keep in contact with each other over the years, swapping intelligence etc. Now, the US develops concern regarding the sustainablilty of their domestic oil reserves, and turns to the Middle East for a solution. Since most of the Middle Eastern countries are Muslim controlled, they are opposed(often violently) to anthing remotely US related, so any sort of peaceful negotiation over oil is simply not going to happen. The alternative is, of course, non-peaceful negotiations ie: war.
- How do you start a war without looking like the bad guy? - you get a scapegoat. The US either instigate, or at least allow the attacks on the WTC (the Pentagon attacks are another story - there is just so much dodginess and so many seemingly 'coincidental' events surrounding Sept 11 that makes it highly unlikely that it took the US by surprise - but again, another story) and then, after promises of protection and large sums of money, they ask bin Laden(as the scapegoat) to own up to the attacks, giving them an excuse to race about Afghanistan in helicopters and jeeps, establishing a US presence there in the East. Then the US fabricate some kind of a link between al Qaeda and Iraq, giving them an excuse to point fingers at Saddam, and, since they have already subdued the volitile Taleban forces in Afghanistan, the US feel that an offensive against Iraq might go unhindered, at least to an acceptable degree. Since they are now pointing fingers at Iraq, they decide to go and check out their weapons, and make sure that they are not hiding anything. Saddam doesn't want another pasting, so he's keeping his nose clean, but thats not what the US want, so they make up some story about hidden weapons of mass destruction, and when the weapons inspection teams don't find them, they declare that he must be hiding them somewhere, and so threaten war if he(Saddam) doesn't sort it out. Of course there are no weapons of mass destruction, so Saddam is now in a pickle. And it looks like the war is going ahead.
- So what I'm saying is, I wouldn't be surprised if this whole charade is all US-instigated, and is simply a bid to grab some Middle Eastern oil and give their armed forces a bit of 'target practice' in the process.
Call me cynical - but I am.
Better do some work now - you all have a great day.
.... and yes, I forgotz the camera. Again. So tomorrow, or even the next day, you shall behold our house in all its splendor.
Gotta go hang out washing - sea ewe later.
Moved everything in on Saturday, and had most of it all sorted and tidied. Finished it off yesterday, and had an unexpected semi-housewarming, with about 15 'others' who all turned up and helped us eat tacos and some very yummy banana cake from the neighbours. All watched 'The Sum Of All Fears' on DVD - based on the Tom Clancy novel of the same name. Quite scary how quickly a nuclear war might arise between superpowers given the subversive manipulation of a few Nazis. And isn't it great to know that the whole world can be saved by an historian with a dodgy back?
Well - thats mostly it for today. Might get round to getting some photos posted for ya'll to peruse - but don't hold your breath.
Thanks to those of you who would have prayed but didn't cos I never requested prayer until it was too late this morning.
Went to Pukekohe Park raceway this afternoon and got sunburned watching fast cars inefficiently burning unneccesary volumes of fossil fuel with considerable noise and smell. I love it. I just wish it could be me in drivers seat.
Feeling a bit jaded the past few days - I know the late nights haven't helped. I must confess that I've not gone to the evening service, but instead am relaxing with a cold one, and post-blog-posting I will be spending the rest of the evening with my wife.
Gotta split, ya'll.... take care...
Well, its a bit late now, isn't it.... oh well....
