Australia Day

Date: 2012.01.26 | Category: Life | Response: 0

Australia is a unique place. We are a country. We are a continent. We are an island. We have people from across the globe populating this wide brown land. We have deserts. We have rainforests. We have snow-capped mountains. We have wide open plains. Many species of animals are only found here. We officially speak English, yet many people born in England find us very hard to understand.

Most facinating to me is the concept that if you live in Australia you know everyone. I don’t think people from other countries understand just how sparsely populated we are and how many people live here. In June 2009 there was an estimated 22 million people. This link points you to a picture I wanted to put on my blog but I couldn’t. It shows the  population distributionof Australia in June 2009.  On average across the whole of Australia it is about 3 people per square kilometre. We like our space.

Happy Australia Day.

A reflection on Introverts in the Church by Adam S McHugh

Date: 2011.12.20 | Category: Christian | Response: 0

A reflection on Introverts in the Church by Adam S McHugh

My husband (Dave Quinn) and I have been reading this book.  I finished my copy yesterday and after several hours of thinking on it came up with the following reflection.  I have more but this is what I’m sharing now.

Extroverts are the ones doing the solo free-wheel or singing the lead melody.
Introverts are the harmony, the bass or even the silences between the notes.
Together they are God’s gift to an unbelieving world, a song, titled “The Church”. –Larissa Quinn

Vegan/Vegetarian Nachos

Date: 2011.11.21 | Category: Life, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian | Response: 0

Last night I made vegetarian nachos, but because I’m dairy free I also had to have a vegan option for me. Here is what I did (just made it up) Serves 4 (although I had some mix leftover…lunch!)

-a couple tbsp canola oil to frypan
-about a cup or so of frozen chopped onions (I’ve given up chopping them, much rather be able to see to cook!)
-fry until start to brown, add some water and fry until nearly dry, add next ingredient and some water so it doesn’t burn. Continue to do this for each ingredient if needed.
-a small red and green capsicum sliced thinly
-2 large stalks of celery diced
-about a cup of frozen corn
-a 420g can of red kidney beans (drained)
-a large tsp minced garlic (probably about 2-3 cloves)
-cook until it all looks bright and kinda mushy!
-420g can Sanitarium Casserole Mince (or chopped mushrooms if you’re avoiding the TVP)
-a small jar mild “Old El Paso” Taco Salsa (I would prefer hotter but the kids were eating this) after emptying add third jar water to rinse out the rest of the contents and add some water to the mixture.
-simmer until heated through.
-grate cheese (about 100-150g?)
-corn chips on plates (I used about a packet of plain doritos (the green one!)
-sprinkle with cheese (dribble a bit of tahini over for vegan)
-spoon over mixture
-top with cheese (more tahini for vegan option)
-microwave each plate for 1min high (1100watt)
-spoon some sour cream on each plate (except vegan)
-can add spring onion greens if available at this stage
Enjoy!

Books, books, books.

Date: 2011.10.29 | Category: Life | Response: 0

I am often challenged by books. They are a primary source of information and growth for me. One book that impacted me greatly was Created to be his helpmeet by Debi Pearl. While it was an impressive book it failed to portray the whole marriage relationship for believers as layed out in the Bible. It only highlights the fallen state relationship. It completely ignores that fact that God created man and woman to rule over creation together and then there was the fall. After the fall was the curse of the husband ruling over the woman. Then it completely ignores the fact that we have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour we are no longer under the bondage of the curse. We are free. There is no slave, no Jew, no male, no female – we are His children.

And so I no longer recommend this book as I did earlier. I am a growing, learning, disciple of Christ. I was wrong and now I’m pleased to be free.

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve read a couple of other books. I’m happy to recommend these, as they do line up with scripture.

The first is “Moving in the Spirit” by Phil Pringle. A book that outlines who the Holy Spirit is and is not and how He can work in the life of a Christian.

The next book is “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire” by Jim Cymbala. This is kind of a biographical book about the Brooklyn Tabernacle and how calling upon the Lord is a major key to the Kingdom.

I hope you have a chance to get a hold of either of these books and read them for yourself.

God Bless.

Ask and You Shall Receive

Date: 2011.09.29 | Category: Life | Response: 0

There are so many things people ask God for, fame, riches, health and happiness. Some people seem to get those things they ask for, so perhaps we are asking the wrong questions. Or perhaps we aren’t asking the questions for the right reasons. Are we asking out of selfishness; to be known, to have things, to be comfortable and not in pain, to not be sad anymore. Or are we asking out of a heart that longs for the King of the Universe to be exalted high above EVERYTHING else in our lives? To truly be Lord. Are we asking for His will to be carried out in and through our lives, for His purposes and glory?
Perhaps we need to ask God what He wants us to ask for.

Awesome August 2

Date: 2011.08.21 | Category: Life | Response: 0

How Awesome is our God??? Totally awesome. He goes before us and lights the way. He is in all things and we do all things for His glory. He knows all things, is everywhere and is all powerful. He created us to be in relationship with us. We messed up in the Garden of Eden and we were separated from his fellowship. Through God’s only Son He has provided a way for man to be worthy to be in relationship with Him again. When Jesus died on the cross bearing our sins, He defeated death and sin no longer reigns. He came to seek and save the lost (those that don’t have an intimate relationship with the King of the Universe). He’s preparing a place for us that has many rooms in His Father’s house. We love Him because He loved us first.
THAT is totally awesome!

Awesome August 1

Date: 2011.08.01 | Category: Awesome August | Response: 0

Awesome August is about exploring how awesome our God is. 

Awesome – “profoundly reverential,” from awe + -some. Meaning “inspiring awe” is from 1670s;

~o~

Genesis 28

¹ So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed^[a] him and commanded him: “Do not marry a Canaanite woman. ² Go at once to Paddan Aram,^[b] to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel. Take a wife for yourself there, from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother. ³ May God Almighty^[c] bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples. ⁴ May he give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now live as an alien, the land God gave to Abraham.” ⁵ Then Isaac sent Jacob on his way, and he went to Paddan Aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, who was the mother of Jacob and Esau.

⁶ Now Esau learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob and had sent him to Paddan Aram to take a wife from there, and that when he blessed him he commanded him, “Do not marry a Canaanite woman,” ⁷ and that Jacob had obeyed his father and mother and had gone to Paddan Aram. ⁸ Esau then realized how displeasing the Canaanite women were to his father Isaac; ⁹ so he went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham, in addition to the wives he already had.

Jacob’s Dream at Bethel

¹⁰ Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. ¹¹ When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. ¹² He had a dream in which he saw a stairway^[d] resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. ¹³ There above it^[e] stood the LORD, and he said: “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. ¹⁴ Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. ¹⁵ I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

¹⁶ When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” ¹⁷ He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”

¹⁸ Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. ¹⁹ He called that place Bethel,^[f] though the city used to be called Luz.

²⁰ Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear ²¹ so that I return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD^[g] will be my God ²² and^[h] this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”

Winter Wisdom – Proverbs 31

Date: 2011.07.31 | Category: Winter Wisdom | Response: 0

Proverbs 31

Sayings of King Lemuel

¹ The sayings of King Lemuel—an oracle^[a] his mother taught him:

² “O my son, O son of my womb,
O son of my vows,^[b]
3 do not spend your strength on women,
your vigor on those who ruin kings.

⁴ “It is not for kings, O Lemuel—
not for kings to drink wine,
not for rulers to crave beer,
⁵ lest they drink and forget what the law decrees,
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
⁶ Give beer to those who are perishing,
wine to those who are in anguish;
⁷ let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.

⁸ “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
⁹ Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

^{10 [c]} A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
³¹ Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Winter Wisdom – Proverbs 30

Date: 2011.07.30 | Category: Winter Wisdom | Response: 0

Proverbs 30

Sayings of Agur

¹ The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an oracle^[a]:

This man declared to Ithiel,
to Ithiel and to Ucal:^[b]

² “I am the most ignorant of men;
I do not have a man’s understanding.
³ I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
⁴ Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands?
Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and the name of his son?
Tell me if you know!
⁵ “Every word of God is flawless;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
⁶ Do not add to his words,
or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

⁷ “Two things I ask of you, O LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:
⁸ Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
⁹ Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.

¹⁰ “Do not slander a servant to his master,
or he will curse you, and you will pay for it.

¹¹ “There are those who curse their fathers
and do not bless their mothers;
¹² those who are pure in their own eyes
and yet are not cleansed of their filth;
¹³ those whose eyes are ever so haughty,
whose glances are so disdainful;
¹⁴ those whose teeth are swords
and whose jaws are set with knives
to devour the poor from the earth,
the needy from among mankind.

¹⁵ “The leech has two daughters.
‘Give! Give!’ they cry.

“There are three things that are never satisfied,
four that never say, ‘Enough!’:
¹⁶ the grave,^[c] the barren womb,
land, which is never satisfied with water,
and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’

¹⁷ “The eye that mocks a father,
that scorns obedience to a mother,
will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley,
will be eaten by the vultures.

¹⁸ “There are three things that are too amazing for me,
four that I do not understand:
¹⁹ the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
and the way of a man with a maiden.

²⁰ “This is the way of an adulteress:
She eats and wipes her mouth
and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’

²¹ “Under three things the earth trembles,
under four it cannot bear up:
²² a servant who becomes king,
a fool who is full of food,
²³ an unloved woman who is married,
and a maidservant who displaces her mistress.

²⁴ “Four things on earth are small,
yet they are extremely wise:
²⁵ Ants are creatures of little strength,
yet they store up their food in the summer;
²⁶ coneys^[d] are creatures of little power,
yet they make their home in the crags;
²⁷ locusts have no king,
yet they advance together in ranks;
²⁸ a lizard can be caught with the hand,
yet it is found in kings’ palaces.

²⁹ “There are three things that are stately in their stride,
four that move with stately bearing:
³⁰ a lion, mighty among beasts,
who retreats before nothing;
³¹ a strutting rooster, a he-goat,
and a king with his army around him.^[e]

³² “If you have played the fool and exalted yourself,
or if you have planned evil,
clap your hand over your mouth!
³³ For as churning the milk produces butter,
and as twisting the nose produces blood,
so stirring up anger produces strife.”

Winter Wisdom – Proverbs 29

Date: 2011.07.29 | Category: Winter Wisdom | Response: 0

Proverbs 29

¹ A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes
will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

² When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;
when the wicked rule, the people groan.

³ A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

⁴ By justice a king gives a country stability,
but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down.

⁵ Whoever flatters his neighbor
is spreading a net for his feet.

⁶ An evil man is snared by his own sin,
but a righteous one can sing and be glad.

⁷ The righteous care about justice for the poor,
but the wicked have no such concern.

⁸ Mockers stir up a city,
but wise men turn away anger.

⁹ If a wise man goes to court with a fool,
the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

¹⁰ Bloodthirsty men hate a man of integrity
and seek to kill the upright.

¹¹ A fool gives full vent to his anger,
but a wise man keeps himself under control.

¹² If a ruler listens to lies,
all his officials become wicked.

¹³ The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:
The LORD gives sight to the eyes of both.

¹⁴ If a king judges the poor with fairness,
his throne will always be secure.

¹⁵ The rod of correction imparts wisdom,
but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

¹⁶ When the wicked thrive, so does sin,
but the righteous will see their downfall.

¹⁷ Discipline your son, and he will give you peace;
he will bring delight to your soul.

¹⁸ Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
but blessed is he who keeps the law.

¹⁹ A servant cannot be corrected by mere words;
though he understands, he will not respond.

²⁰ Do you see a man who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

²¹ If a man pampers his servant from youth,
he will bring grief^[a] in the end.

²² An angry man stirs up dissension,
and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.

²³ A man’s pride brings him low,
but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.

²⁴ The accomplice of a thief is his own enemy;
he is put under oath and dare not testify.

²⁵ Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

²⁶ Many seek an audience with a ruler,
but it is from the LORD that man gets justice.

²⁷ The righteous detest the dishonest;
the wicked detest the upright.