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
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
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!!
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!!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Tolerance
So, about tolerance - what is with that current buzzword?
Let's have a look:
Let's begin with a dictionary definition from my fave dictionary.com
tol·er·ance
[tol-er-uhns
–noun
1.a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry.
2.a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own.
3.interest in and concern for ideas, opinions, practices, etc., foreign to one's own; a liberal, undogmatic viewpoint.
So generally we can see that tolerance is a broad idea for people to be okay with other people who differ from ourselves in many and varied ways, such as culturally, opinionally, and practically.
This, I understand.
But then I have a thought:
If so many people consider themselves to be 'tolerant' towards others, then why do they have a big problem with another persons point of view which happens to be 'intolerant' towards another person or group.
Why do people get intolerant about intolerance?
Why are you pressing your view of tolerance upon other people? Is that not being intolerant?
I just feel it is a bit of an oxymoron that's all.
Any thoughts on tolerance??
Let's have a look:
Let's begin with a dictionary definition from my fave dictionary.com
tol·er·ance
[tol-er-uhns
–noun
1.a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry.
2.a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own.
3.interest in and concern for ideas, opinions, practices, etc., foreign to one's own; a liberal, undogmatic viewpoint.
So generally we can see that tolerance is a broad idea for people to be okay with other people who differ from ourselves in many and varied ways, such as culturally, opinionally, and practically.
This, I understand.
But then I have a thought:
If so many people consider themselves to be 'tolerant' towards others, then why do they have a big problem with another persons point of view which happens to be 'intolerant' towards another person or group.
Why do people get intolerant about intolerance?
Why are you pressing your view of tolerance upon other people? Is that not being intolerant?
I just feel it is a bit of an oxymoron that's all.
Any thoughts on tolerance??
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Yoga - it's the talk of the (US) town
So apparently there has been a lot of conversation going on in the US recently about Yoga and Christianity - whether the two can or should be mixed.
Here is a link to the article in the Seattle Times
(As a side note, Mark Driscoll is the senior pastor at Mars Hill Church, which is also where Rob Bell is a pastor. Just saying, because I thought it was interesting, because I think Rob Bell is pretty amazing, and it's interesting that he works under Mark).
And here is a blog post where I heard about this at The Church of No People
Well, what now? What of Yoga?
Can we take it as just a form of exercise without thinking of it's eastern roots? Or do they carry into any form of Yoga - changed or unchanged?
To be honest, I find it interesting that Christians do yoga. This is probably mainly because I wouldn't do it. I would like to think that I could do yoga and focus on God and not be adversely affected in any way, BUT because I would worry about that, it probably wouldn't do me any good at all - because then I couldn't focus on God for worrying that I wasn't focusing on God!
But for anyone who does, who am I to judge? Paul tells us in the Bible that "everything is permissible". But then he also goes on to say
"Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved." (1 Corinthians 10:23, 32-33).
So if we find that what we are doing is leading our brother or sister in Christ astray, should we still do it?? Well, it's a matter of your conscience and not mine, for I would endeavour to quit to not let my brother or sister fall.
Now, I do not want to sound judgmental in this: I know different people see things differently - I choose not to drink alcohol, but this does not mean that I condemn all Christians who do so - it is a matter of conscience.
So what would you do? Would you consider doing yoga, or does your conscience not allow you to?
Here is a link to the article in the Seattle Times
(As a side note, Mark Driscoll is the senior pastor at Mars Hill Church, which is also where Rob Bell is a pastor. Just saying, because I thought it was interesting, because I think Rob Bell is pretty amazing, and it's interesting that he works under Mark).
And here is a blog post where I heard about this at The Church of No People
Well, what now? What of Yoga?
Can we take it as just a form of exercise without thinking of it's eastern roots? Or do they carry into any form of Yoga - changed or unchanged?
To be honest, I find it interesting that Christians do yoga. This is probably mainly because I wouldn't do it. I would like to think that I could do yoga and focus on God and not be adversely affected in any way, BUT because I would worry about that, it probably wouldn't do me any good at all - because then I couldn't focus on God for worrying that I wasn't focusing on God!
But for anyone who does, who am I to judge? Paul tells us in the Bible that "everything is permissible". But then he also goes on to say
"Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved." (1 Corinthians 10:23, 32-33).
So if we find that what we are doing is leading our brother or sister in Christ astray, should we still do it?? Well, it's a matter of your conscience and not mine, for I would endeavour to quit to not let my brother or sister fall.
Now, I do not want to sound judgmental in this: I know different people see things differently - I choose not to drink alcohol, but this does not mean that I condemn all Christians who do so - it is a matter of conscience.
So what would you do? Would you consider doing yoga, or does your conscience not allow you to?
Friday, October 8, 2010
hmmmm, life....
I always wondered about those people who start a blog, and then it just slowly the time between the posts get longer and longer.
Well, go figure, I have become one of those people, and I know exactly how it happens:
X. Life goes on, often, in a very un-exciting way.
You get up, you work/study/bum around the house, you eat, and go back to sleep again. This can go on for days, years even, without one taking notice of it. I guess that's why we journal, why we blog, (why we vlog even!), so that our life doesn't go past us without our noticing.
X. We don't appreciate the simplicity that life has sometimes.
Looking at trees, listening to the rain, or just studying something, not because you have to but because you want to. It's the simple things that make life full and whole. Without them, we would be sporadic beings lost in a void of dull.
X. And when life is 'exciting' we decide we have no time at all to write about it!
Why do we always suppose that we are too busy to do anything? One thing comes after another, but isn't that just because we live in time, and that happens to everyone? Even those who actually do seem to find the time to do the things they always wanted to do??
So let us make time to do all of those things.
For me, that's blogging, reading, talking with God, and writing poetry.
Focus on the simplicity, let God blow your mind with it.
Well, go figure, I have become one of those people, and I know exactly how it happens:
X. Life goes on, often, in a very un-exciting way.
You get up, you work/study/bum around the house, you eat, and go back to sleep again. This can go on for days, years even, without one taking notice of it. I guess that's why we journal, why we blog, (why we vlog even!), so that our life doesn't go past us without our noticing.
X. We don't appreciate the simplicity that life has sometimes.
Looking at trees, listening to the rain, or just studying something, not because you have to but because you want to. It's the simple things that make life full and whole. Without them, we would be sporadic beings lost in a void of dull.
X. And when life is 'exciting' we decide we have no time at all to write about it!
Why do we always suppose that we are too busy to do anything? One thing comes after another, but isn't that just because we live in time, and that happens to everyone? Even those who actually do seem to find the time to do the things they always wanted to do??
So let us make time to do all of those things.
For me, that's blogging, reading, talking with God, and writing poetry.
Focus on the simplicity, let God blow your mind with it.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
It's been so long again
So it has been a pretty full on number of weeks since I last wrote to all you lovely people who read this blog.
But they have been a good few weeks too. Had our exams for last term (they went pretty well, thanks for asking). And then holidays last week.
Holidays were great! Got to see a lot of people, and just chill, which is fantastic. It was so cool to see the homeland with all its lovely green-ness. Thank God for New Zealand, and all you awesome people who live in it.
I've been thinking, just now, about worship songs that we sing in church and such. Having grown up in church, I just kind of sing any song that they are playing as a worship band, and that kind of worries me now. Since coming to Bible College, I guess I have become more aware of what we are singing in church and what it means to those who sing it.
One of our lecturers in term 1 was talking about the song "Indescribable". Now, one of the lyrics of this song is "Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go?" But if that is the case, then what about all those people killed and injured from being hit by lightning? Does God want people to be hit by lightning? I don't know, because sometimes, may be He allows it to happen, as He allows so many other bad things to happen in this world. But it does bring up a good point.
Another thing that I have been thinking about was a time I was in church and we were singing "Blessed be Your Name". As far as I can gather (and I have sung this song many times, and know all of the lyrics) this song is about praising God in the good times and the bad times. The pastor got up after singing this song, with an interpretation of the bridge which says:
"You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord blessed be Your Name"
and so it was interpreted that the way this works is that God will take away your sickness, and all those things that are going wrong in your life, and then He will give you healing, and all the good things in life.
Now, don't get me wrong, I do believe that God does that in life, and there are many examples of this through history and around the world. And the interpretation used for this church service may have been appropriate.
BUT, I do not think that this is what Matt Redman meant when he wrote this song.
The bridge I think should be interpreted in context with the rest of the song, which makes it mean that no matter what comes in life, the good and the bad, it doesn't matter, because I will bless the Name of the Lord, because that is the ultimate thing! That is a powerful theme to have for a song, and I believe it is right, and God loves it when we overcome the bad and rise over it in praise for our God who rides through it all with us.
Anyway, those are two thoughts/examples on worship songs in church. Now instead of just singing, I am trying to use my head with my worship and listen to and mean what I am singing to my God. It makes worship come alive, and helps especially for us younger generation who may find ourselves in a church singing hymns.
Why don't you try it one day soon?
But they have been a good few weeks too. Had our exams for last term (they went pretty well, thanks for asking). And then holidays last week.
Holidays were great! Got to see a lot of people, and just chill, which is fantastic. It was so cool to see the homeland with all its lovely green-ness. Thank God for New Zealand, and all you awesome people who live in it.
I've been thinking, just now, about worship songs that we sing in church and such. Having grown up in church, I just kind of sing any song that they are playing as a worship band, and that kind of worries me now. Since coming to Bible College, I guess I have become more aware of what we are singing in church and what it means to those who sing it.
One of our lecturers in term 1 was talking about the song "Indescribable". Now, one of the lyrics of this song is "Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go?" But if that is the case, then what about all those people killed and injured from being hit by lightning? Does God want people to be hit by lightning? I don't know, because sometimes, may be He allows it to happen, as He allows so many other bad things to happen in this world. But it does bring up a good point.
Another thing that I have been thinking about was a time I was in church and we were singing "Blessed be Your Name". As far as I can gather (and I have sung this song many times, and know all of the lyrics) this song is about praising God in the good times and the bad times. The pastor got up after singing this song, with an interpretation of the bridge which says:
"You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord blessed be Your Name"
and so it was interpreted that the way this works is that God will take away your sickness, and all those things that are going wrong in your life, and then He will give you healing, and all the good things in life.
Now, don't get me wrong, I do believe that God does that in life, and there are many examples of this through history and around the world. And the interpretation used for this church service may have been appropriate.
BUT, I do not think that this is what Matt Redman meant when he wrote this song.
The bridge I think should be interpreted in context with the rest of the song, which makes it mean that no matter what comes in life, the good and the bad, it doesn't matter, because I will bless the Name of the Lord, because that is the ultimate thing! That is a powerful theme to have for a song, and I believe it is right, and God loves it when we overcome the bad and rise over it in praise for our God who rides through it all with us.
Anyway, those are two thoughts/examples on worship songs in church. Now instead of just singing, I am trying to use my head with my worship and listen to and mean what I am singing to my God. It makes worship come alive, and helps especially for us younger generation who may find ourselves in a church singing hymns.
Why don't you try it one day soon?
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