Wed, Jun 17, 2009

Super Ate Challenge 2009 Kick-Off

Well, it's time to kick off my Super Ate Challenge for 2009. My "Rules" are going to be a bit different this time round, it seems I have even less spare time than I did last year, and it's more erratic in it's placement, so I've decided I'll just cook 8 new dishes whenever I get the chance.

I've started off with a meal that I actually already cooked last year, but I had a craving last week to cook it again. And this time I did it all on my own, and completely from scratch.

As you can see by the photos below, it looks pretty decent and very cheesey. When I got it out of the oven and served some up, it was waaaaaay too sloppy and more of a "mush" than a pie. But after leaving it in the fridge over night it solidified much more! I am very pleased with my effort.

Tue, Jun 02, 2009

The Ice Is Getting Thinner

Sorry it's been a while since the last post. No different to usual - I've just been busy!

I have some glorious updates for you all - remember my list of new years resolutions...

• Keep a journal
• Write & record a song
• Learn how to drive manual
• Learn how to cook honey carrots, cheese sauce / white sauce & mushroom sauce
• Learn how to tie a double windsor
• Write down my dreams for a month
• Give up fast food for a month
• Finish the 'Contraption Kid' animation that I started 3 years ago
• Go hang gliding / rock climbing
• Complete Super 8 Challenge

I've now completed all the records listed in bold. So I'm slowly pushing through!

I went to Belle & Joel's wedding on Saturday morning and realised that I would need to tie my own tie up since Samara was in Gawler... so I went straight to google and quickly found a video showing me how to do it. I followed the instructions but quickly realised I wasn't getting the desired results, but I picked up enough of the basics that I decided to ignore the video and attempt it on my own in front of the mirror. And this proved successful - woohoo! I can now officially tie a double windsor knot all by myself!

I also wrote down most of my dreams for a month or so... And looking back at them now, well it's strange because I can't remember remember any of them properly and so all I have to go by is my brief notes, which don't make a whole lot of sense. A few funny examples include a dream about Eden being a kleptomaniac, a dream that I was a character from Lost and was running away through a playground when Fergus and Jordan came running at me along with a crazy kangaroo who attached us, and a dream where Phil & I were returning a canoe to the hire place at moonta and ended up evangelising to the hire guy... or something like that! Dreams are CRAZY!

Thu, May 07, 2009

Moses had a stuttering problem

I stumbled upon this today, and it's kind of interesting. It's almost like the opposite of the passage in Hebrews which goes on about who has awesome faith... this just picks out the weakness or transgressions of many major players in the Bible. Which is not something we think about often, and I guess the point of it is just to see how God does use everyone - weaknesses, life situations, sins and all.

The next time you feel like GOD can't use you, just remember...

Noah was a drunk

Abraham was too old

Isaac was a daydreamer

Jacob was a liar

Leah was ugly

Joseph was abused

Moses had a stuttering problem

Gideon was afraid

Samson had long hair and was a womanizer, Rahab was a prostitute, Jeremiah and Timothy were too young, David had an affair and was a murderer, Elijah was suicidal, Isaiah preached naked, Jonah ran from God, Naomi was a widow, Job went bankrupt, John the Baptist ate bugs, Peter denied Christ, The Disciples fell asleep while praying, Martha worried about everything, The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once Zaccheus was too small, Paul was too religious, Timothy had an ulcer...AND Lazarus was dead!

Tue, Apr 21, 2009

Law vs Grace

I was listening to Joseph Prince this morning and he mentioned something that struck me like a grandfather clock. As usual, Joseph Prince was delving deep into the awesomeness of God's grace. He compared the story of the rich man who approaches Jesus and quizzes him about eternal life, and the story of Zacchaeus the tax collector who climbed to tree so he could get a good view of Jesus. If you know the stories well enough just skip them and go straight to the point. If not, have a quick read!

Jesus and the Rich Man

Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: "Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?"

"Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "Only God is truly good.But to answer your question, you know the commandments: 'You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.'"

The man replied, "I've obeyed all these commandments since I was young."

When Jesus heard his answer, he said, "There is still one thing you haven't done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.

Jesus and Zacchaeus

Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.

When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. "Zacchaeus!" he said. "Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today."

Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. "He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner," they grumbled.

Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, "I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!"

Jesus responded, "Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man[a] came to seek and save those who are lost."

In the gospel of Luke these stories are situated one chapter after another, and I think this was not just coincedence. If you take a look at the approach of Jesus in both, you'll see 2 very different responses from each of the other characters.

Jesus essentially shows the law to the rich man. He tells him that he loves money too much. The rich man realises he will never be able to earn his way to heaven and goes away sad.

To Zacchaeus, however, Jesus shows grace. Jesus just says "Hey let's hang out!" to Zacchaeus and he complies with great excitement and joy, and then before long he's giving away half his wealth and repaying the people he's cheated in the past.

I really like this comparison. It's so easy to look at the law, realise how short we fall and to go away sad like the rich man. But when we see a perfect guy like Jesus wanting to hang out with us sinners, we're overloaded with his grace and cannot help but to follow Him. Very cool!

Tue, Apr 14, 2009

Expendable

The Italian Stallion in action. Glorious!