The Sabbath

So I chose to not go to church this morning.
*GASP*

But you know what? It was kind of refreshing.

I love Sundays, and all they afford me in terms of time, relaxation and few demands. I like them that way. And when I am tired and it feels like a chore to go to church, it is nice to sleep in.

Now, I'm not saying that you should just not go every time you can't be bothered, because sometimes it is important to get out and just go. And God honours that.

But we need to remember Mark 2:27 "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath."
The Sabbath is a rest day. God gave it to us as a gift. Not as a law that we must follow.

We need to remember that even though to keep the Sabbath holy is one of the Ten Commandments, those commandments were given to a bunch of people who were slaves - they had to work seven days, no breaks. And then God said "Hey! I'm going to give you a day off!" They weren't thinking that it was going to be a hard thing. The Israelites would have been excited!

But we have twisted it into something that it is not.
Let's take it as what it is. A gift. A day where we are allowed to take a break, but also do what is necessary.

God of the Uncomplicated

The other night I was out at the Robert Burns pub with my local swing club crew for a bit of a dance.
The cool thing is is that once a week they have a live jazz band, which is so different to dancing to a cd, so definitely worth it!
I danced with a number of the gentlemen who were there - Lindy Hop, Blues Swing, Ceroc.
But when I came home, I noticed something - I didn't entirely smell like me anymore; I had a sort of guy smell about me. Obviously this was because I was dancing with guys, but still, I tried to figure out the significance of this:
You become like the people you hang around.
Do I really want to become like these people?
Do I really want to smell like them, to become as they are?

But the more I thought about this, I didn't like it. I like dancing. God knows this. Why would this one simple observation lead me to think that I shouldn't hang out with them?

Perhaps we just like to complicate things. To notice things and then attach BIG, DEEP meaning to them, and blow them out of proportion.
But if we take it back to the simple things - maybe God is in it, but in a more subtle way.

I love to dance - especially swing.
And I'm sure that God loves to see me dance - He gave me this talent and the Joy that comes with it.

Why do we like to complicate things? Why do we like to think that God doesn't want us to have fun and to do things we enjoy?

I don't know, but I think we need to take a step back and uncomplicate things.
God is the God of the complicated, but I know God is also the God of the uncomplicated

Whose Burdens are You Carrying? Pt 2

So last week I started sharing a bit about how God is our Burden Bearer. I still love it!

But you know what? There is more. There is always more with God.

Matthew 11:28-30 reads "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Here Jesus is telling us to come to him with our burdens. So not only is He keen to take our burdens, He is going to exchange them for something better. But I guess it is more like a parent with a child who has something that they shouldn't have. The parent has something good in their hands, but won't give it to them until the child surrenders what they have.

It is an exchange that takes place, a marvellous, marvellous exchange.

So I encourage you, take your burdens to God, tell Him all about it. And then, just rest in the notion that God will only give you as much as you can handle, and that He really is just doing the best for you.

Whose Burdens are You Carrying?

So a while ago I was attending a Preaching 101 thing at church, and it was really cool.
The thing was was that at the end of the time, we all got a chance to get up in front of 'rent-a-crowd' and preach for 5mins.
For me this was kinda awesome, I like getting the chance to get up and talk to people, tell my story a little bit, and talk about what God has been talking to me about. I guess that is also why I like to blog. So here goes:

Psalm 68:19 reads "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens."

This verse has been just circling around my head the last few weeks, and when I stumbled upon it, I was just like WOW. When I found it, I found it to be so revelatory in that that was what I was experiencing in my life - A God who bears my burdens.
While on practicum there were a number of times when it just seemed like there was so much to do, and so little time to do it. But it always got done, with me remaining sane, and not being really really freaked out about it.

Burdens can just seem to overwhelm us, to try to overtake us, so that we can't think or do anything else but look at it - we stand there dumbstruck. Whether they are in our homelife, our work, our family, in making ends meet, all these parts of the puzzle can build and build until they become an overwhelming force to knock us off our feet.

But that isn't what the Psalmist is saying here - He is saying that God, who saved us, God, who is Lord, is always here to carry our burdens for us. Not just today, not just tomorrow, but daily.

Thank you God for being amazing!

Languages and Risks

Kia Ora!
For those of you from around the globe, that last thing is Maori for hello. Presumably (or maybe not so presumably) you know that I come from New Zealand. And one of the official languages in New Zealand is Maori. The Maori are the indigenous peoples of New Zealand, and I think they are pretty cool.
But one of the other official languages of New Zealand is New Zealand Sign Language, or NZSL. With Maori, most people make some sort of effort to be able to pronounce Maori names and to understand Maori customs. But very few of us actually acknowledge that sign language is just that - a language. It has its own intricacies and idioms, but very few of us in the hearing world ever bother to learn it.
I know, I know, I haven't learnt it either (even though I want to). I have't even made the effort to go looking for where I could learn it and also to engage with non-hearers.
But don't we all do that? Don't we, who fit into the 'norm', just ignore all else who do not fit into the same category? Ever wanted to break free of the restraints of the norm? I know I have. And sometimes I do, and sometimes I don't.
But it is only ever ourselves who hold us back. It is only our minds that persuade us to do it, or to not do it. We cannot blame busyness, or our parents, or anyone.
Today I started at my new school for practicum. It was a good day, and I can see that I will be stretched and taken to the limit at times. But you know what? I am ready. Let's take a leap, do something different. This time around I can take risks, when it is my class, will I be so willing? I don't know.
But this is my challenge to you: Take a risk, get out of the norm. Wear odd socks! Be a bit of a rebel.
Then:
Tell me about it. I'd love to hear your stories!

Disney and Spirituality

So, where I am at the moment there has been a flurry of snow!
Therefore, me and my flatmates have decided to just have a movie day :D
We have watched Mulan, Wolverine, and Anastasia so far.
Since watching these things, I have come to note a common theme among Disney animated movies... There always seems to be some kind of magic, or spiritual thing that happens in the movie.
Take Mulan, for example. Mulan is helped by a magical dragon who was sent by her ancestors.
Anastasia was running away from a curse made by a (really creepy) dead guy.
Lion King, Simba talks to his dad in the sky.
Beauty and the Beast - creepy curse again.
Cinderella - Fairy Godmothers.
Aladdin - Genie
And the list goes on!

I'm not necessarily saying that this is a bad thing. It is just interesting to see how spirituality seems to be a common theme in Disney's movies, whether it takes the form of local beliefs (as in Mulan), or magic in numerous of their other movies.
I think it would be rather interesting to see how Disney's movies have impacted on a generation in regards to their spiritual lives.

So, let's take a straw poll:
Do you think Disney's movies have impacted upon your spiritual life? If so, how? If not, why don't you think so?

Reversing

Gah! I hate reversing!!
In a car that is. It is one of the things that I can do if I have to, but if I don't, I will just avoid it. *sigh*
I was reminded of this just tonight as I was at my grandparents house dropping off something for my Dad who is staying there tonight. Anyway, they have a reasonably long driveway, so I went all the way down it and then had to reverse back out of it (of course!).
Anyway, I probably would've put some lovely paint on the corrugated iron fence if it hadn't been for Mum and Dad, but I was frustrated that Mum was talking to Dad, and Dad was talking to Mum, but it felt like no-one was talking to me and telling me what was happening! Plus, it was dark, and that wasn't making it easier.
And so I have been thinking tonight that sometimes (though we don't like it!) we actually need to reflect, and 'reverse' as it were into our own lives in order to be able to move forward again. I know it is not a novel idea, but it is still a good one none the less.
Recently, I was talking to a pastoral friend of mine, and he was asking me about Vanuatu, and what the main thing was that impacted me about the trip.
You know what? I don't know what it is! I know that it was a God thing, and that He was very faithful in it, but I didn't know what to tell this person when the question was asked.
For me, Vanuatu was a long time ago, even though it was only at the start of this year!
Sometimes we really do need to take time to reflect, and to remind ourselves of the past - even the recent past! - to give us direction for the future.
That one lunch with my pastoral friends was really good for me - God timing - to remind me that what I was doing was the right thing to do to honour the dream that I have.
So reflect, look for the God timing and:
HAVE FUN!

Jehovah our Concentration

Jehovah Jireh, The Lord our Provider.

My question is, does God refer to Himself as The Lord our Concentration in the Bible?
Just looking at this week I have been doing assignments and have been terribly terribly distracted by so many things (mainly internet related....) that I am wondering if I can ask God to be my concentration.
You could say that concentration is a by-product of strength, and God certainly is our strength.
So is He, or can He be, our concentration?

We live, now, in a world full of information and entertainment, and even info-tainment (!).
But we are not called to be a part of this world, we are called to be a part of God's world. Maybe that, then, is our cross to bear as westerners, the thorn in our side, the fact that we MUST get beyond ourselves, have some self-control and forcefully sit down and get concentrated on God for a bit everyday.
I, personally, find that I cannot read my Bible in the morning or pray if I turn on my computer first. My God time in the mornings needs to be before I hit electronics of almost any kind (except for microwaves and toasters, I like breakfast!).
If I don't do it before then I can't concentrate, the world is in my head (like The Doctor) and no matter how much I want to spend some quality with God I can't.

I see why King David liked to spend his mornings with God.
And also DC Talk

What do you think?

The Uncultured Project

So I'm sitting at home, chilling because I have a sore neck.... (bah!)
And I am catching up on my blog reading (so far behind!!) and I read this:

The Uncultured Project blog

The Uncultured Project is run by Shawn Ahmed who is Bangladeshi, but lives in the US. He started the project when, instead of buying an Xbox, he decided to go to Bangladesh and use the money to benefit others by buying mosquito nets, etc. I really love what Shawn has been doing, both alone and with Save the Children, and so I have subscribed to his blog.

The link above is to his latest blog post, and I thought it was a really great read.
It is really interesting to see how many aid programmes seem to miss the boat when it comes to getting local knowledge on how communities work. I was especially wowed on Shawn's look at Orphanages.
In a Muslim country, like Bangladesh, Orphanages are the best thing for those who do not have parents, as the western way of thinking does not give the child any better opportunities than the orphanage, and may in fact be treated worse than at the orphanage.
But, should Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) follow some of the customs of the country they are entering, then fantastic things may result!

So have a read (it is a LONG read, btw), and let me know your thoughts. I would love to hear them and discuss! Plus I am on holiday, so I will happily converse with you all.

What shall I write this week...?

I think this is the question that goes through all bloggers minds when they finally sit down at their computer and go to write something. Either because it is a regular occurrence, or because they figure it has been too long between posts and they really should write a blog because they DO want to be a blogger, they just suck at it so far.
For me, I'm a little of column A, and a little of column B.
For the last couple of weeks I seem to be blogging on a Sunday. And I think that if I leave it for longer than a week, I feel bad for those of you who are regular readers (if there are any out there? Holla if you are!), and I really do want to blog and get my thoughts out there on the interweb.
But I really like Sundays. For a number of reasons actually. I think I will share these with you.

1. A day to catch up
A number of years ago when I was doing my undergrad, one of the pastors at my church encouraged us to give up our Sundays and not doing any work or homework on them. I have chosen (to the best of my abilities) to do things that otherwise get neglected: like washing, blogging, cleaning, etc. So I love Sundays as days to catch up on neglected but important things.

2. A day for friends
And since I choose to take Sundays off from study, it gives me the time and brain space to catch up with friends. For me it is important to set time aside for friends, otherwise I become a recluse who likes to watch too much tv.... Also I know that it takes brain space to engage in other people's lives, so I choose to use it! Sunday's are a great day to catch up with friends!

3. A day to just blob
If I have had a pretty big week (or just a big weekend!) I can just chill on Sunday knowing that I have done enough work in the week. I allow myself to relax. I think it is quite important to allow yourself to do nothing, to take a moment, even go so far as to have a cry or a laugh or a walk or whatever and do it for yourself. For your sanity.I am a big fan of taking time for sanity. Otherwise we would all be crazy! Or, well, more crazy than normal!

So my question to you is:
Do you have a day that you purposefully don't do much? Would you if you could? How do you attempt to keep sane?

50th Post

So, it has taken me about a year and a half to get here, but this right here is my 50th post.
And what a great way to celebrate it by saying that I have successfully completed my first practicum for teaching! Yay!
It was a great school, and it was cool to be a part of their family for those short 6 weeks, but strangely enough, I am ready to go back to some of the theory of teaching before I crack into the 2nd practicum.
I feel that it is just really good to get a solid foundation of theory before I go and apply it all. I do agree that sometimes it is good to 'sink or swim', but on many occasions, I feel, having some sort of foundation is great!
I guess it is the same with life - and I think most of life gets the balance quite good with the whole sink or swim, or foundation of theory-ness.
Being a Christian, we are called to stand on the solid foundation - the rock - Jesus Christ. And as long as we have that foundation, we are pretty much good to go with anything. Jesus knows exactly when we need to just dive in, or step off like Indiana Jones in his third movie - to just take that one step of faith that is so scary, but so necessary if we are to ever succeed in life. And other times, Jesus just lets us take a bit of a step back to understand and see where he is going to take us and let us simmer and percolate in that awesome-ness and wonderful-ness that is where he will take us.
Theory is good, practice is too, but the right mix just makes it perfect.

Live.

Only two more weeks of practicum to go. It has really gone so fast. But it has also gone slowly. Isn't that so like life? One second we are waiting sooo long for something, and the next, it is there and gone, and done.
Our life is just so fast. A blink on the radar of eternity.
So I say to you, I implore you:
Live every day. Speak Jesus into people's lives. Care.
It goes a long way.

(And don't worry, this is just as much for me as it is for any of you!)

mmmmmmmm No Occasion Cake...

So today I decided to make a cake. Actually, yesterday I decided and today I followed through.

I had no reason to bake a cake, however, I just felt like I should! And I like cake!! Don't you?

And so, in the process of making said No Occasion Cake I think I came to some conclusions, or maybe another analogy of an analogy.
1 Corinthians 3:6 says "I [that is Paul] planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow."
My version goes something like this, "I mixed the ingredients, my flatmates did the dishes, but it was the oven that made the cake rise." And like Paul and Apollos, we will all get to enjoy the cake in all its awesomeness!

I do like Paul's analogy, but cake is awesome too!

(currently)

In a Facebook convo with a friend of mine I was discussing my upcoming practicum for Teachers' College. Last Thursday most of my class (there are 90 of us) received their practicum details about which school they would be at for the 6 weeks of our first practicum.
In the course of this conversation I said something that on reflection is rather interesting and kind of highlights my character a little.
I said that I "wasn't (currently) worrying" about it, mainly because it is still 4 weeks away, and so there was no point fussing over it yet.
However, with that statement, I indicated that just because I wasn't worrying now didn't mean that I wasn't going to be worrying later as it becomes closer and closer to my practicum.
But why should I need to say that at all???
God's word tells me not to worry - Ever.
Are we ever like that at all? Even for a moment? a second?
It almost seems as if worrying is a part of human life, whether we call it worry, concern, vexation, or trouble. It is all the same thing, and God calls us to be rid of it.

And not only that, He calls us to seek His Kingdom FIRST.

He calls us to a greater thing, a greater need in this world that is falling into disrepute.
So let us not currently worry about things, and also let us not worry in future.
God help us all!
Amen :)

All before he was 24........

For an assignment at Teachers' College we have to talk about our culture and what has influenced us. So, I decided to Google my grandfather's name because I knew that he had done some pretty awesome stuff when he was a part of the RNZAF.
I came across an article about my grandfather and his receiving of a Conspicuous Gallantry Medal in 1943.
I read through the article with amazement - I am just so proud of my grandfather! I wish I could tell him so now, but he has now been gone from this earth nearly 10 years.
The thing that got me was the fact that he had performed these amazing acts to gain him this medal all before his 24th birthday. I'm currently 22 and I don't necessarily feel that I have done anything as awesome as that yet. My grandfather saved people's lives!

Well it is all just something to think about really. Very cool to find out things about your family! :D

Don't you know I'm dancing with the King!

Now if you know B.B. King, the extraordinary Blues artist, than you may well get the reference I just put into the title. If not, you should really get into Blues!! It is just the coolest thing out.
Anyway, this past weekend I went to the mighty Timaru to go to some Swing Dance workshops with SwingKatz, which my friend happens to be a part of.
So, I learnt a lot a Blues swing, as well as learnt a little bit of Lindy hop, both of which are incredibly cool and incredibly fun!
And you know what? As well as meeting some cool kids and learning some sweet moves, I also learnt something about God. I know that it has probably been said before by a bunch of people, but here I am going to reiterate this. We all know that in our relationship with God people always use the car analogy, and tell us that we should let God take the driver's seat in the car that is our life. Well, I have a different, dancey version for all of us ladies out there that love to partner dance:
We all need to stop trying to lead, and just let God do that. We need to learn to be followers. Now I know that sounds easy, but when it comes to dancing, it is sometimes hard to just be relaxed and let go about some things.

It's not as if we followers don't need to know anything either, we still need to know the basic footwork, and then let the lead do it all. If you have a good lead, they hold you and make sure you don't fall, they fix all your mistakes for you, and make you look good. Meanwhile you get to have the time of your life on the dance floor.
Now isn't that what our relationship with God should look like? We just follow, it is all God's work, and He holds us, He turns everything to good (Rom 8:28), and we represent God on this earth, so looking good should be a priority.

I dunno, this kinda blew my mind a little when I was dancing last night, so yeah, get into some dancing y'all!!

Soap Box

Teacher's College, I have decided teaches you everything that you never knew (or perhaps wanted to know?) about teaching but realised that it would have been good to know when you were going to school.
I found out why I liked school, and why perhaps others didn't.
I liked school mainly because I was good at it, but that was because the way I learn best is the common way to teach things in school. Teacher talks, I write and do some exercises with some written assessment tasks and exams. But for some other people out there, and you may be one of them, it was like what I presume hell is like, and not necessarily because of any social issues you may have had. The teachers just didn't understand you and they seemed to just be talking in another language. That's probably because they were.
Nowadays in NZ, with the advent of the new curriculum, literacy is being dealt with in every subject. And you know what that means? That teachers have to make sure that you understand the language of each subject you take, all of the confusing jargon which you memorise, put in your NCEA exams, and pass, but still have no clue what it really means.
I guess that is why I want to become a teacher. So that students can really understand and get to grips with what they are learning. To allow them to become literate in their subjects and to be able to participate in 'adult' conversation, and have well grounded opinions about things.
That's why I do Geography. It is a way to view our world, and a way to see things so that we can change them for the better. And I want to equip the next generation to be able to see that too.