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Pinch + Punch // March 2011

March 1, 2011 in life with 0 Comments

I forgot to do a Pinch + Punch post for February. Ah well. It’s now the 3rd of March. Again I forgot to do a Pinch + Punch post. But I’m going to back-date this post to the 1st of March and pretend I wrote it then. Deal? Deal. February was big, and we’re now 1/6 through 2011. Here is the smashing mag desktop wallpaper I’m rocking this month. What about you?

Here’s the best of February (according to clicks) and some other stats:

This is the end of my street…

February 27, 2011 in life with 3 Comments

I snapped this photo while taking the young fella for a walk this morning. It is the end of my street. It really is an amazing location. Public transport. Cafes. Restaurants. 7-Eleven. Cycle paths. Playgrounds. Patrolled beach. Fruit shop. Schools. Hardware store. Bakery. Lake. People. Church. We don’t presume to live in such a sweet location, but are nonetheless grateful for God’s provision and the generosity of God’s people.

In Ben’s sermon today, he spoke about how the needs are obvious in places where earthquakes, famines, uprisings, poverty and injustice abound. But the needs are less obvious in affluent, comfortable, self-reliant areas like the Northern Beaches of Sydney. Yet there remains a façade hiding the deep spiritual poverty on the Beaches. It really is an area that, despite its affluence and beauty, is full of people who are “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).

I’m praying for this area from Matthew 9:37-38 – Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (ESV)

I’m also praying that however long we live in this beautiful place that we will be part of the answer to that prayer.

ps – did you stumble here looking for pimpin real estate on sydney’s northern beaches? You’ve got a deeper need than a sweet view and a lazy lifestyle. Find out more about what matters most here, here and here.

pps – the above phone pic is originally from my posterous photo blog. The boomsauce is thanks to the instagram app.

DMDC version 2.0

February 8, 2011 in life with 2 Comments

Consider this blog officially re-loaded! The plan was to launch in January, but last weekend I got distracted (in a good way) by our campaign for clean water in India. I was originally hoping to coincide with the 200,000th hit on this blog, but that happened over 6000 hits ago now. Then the plan was to have this particular post as my 1500th blog post, but I used that one last weekend to help drum up support for the water project. So…

… welcome to DMDC version 2.0!! (Technically it’s version 4.0 if you count the 2 templates from the old blogspot days.) I liked my old template, but it was time for a change, and I really like this new one. I wanted to keep some consistency with colours and general feel.

The header and sidebar photo is of the Collaroy Cinemas about a kilometre down the road from where I live. It has the old school Art Deco style with a worn sky-blue colour scheme. Rowena was keen for more colour in the actual header on this site, but I like how the black and white feel draws your attention to the colour in the individual blog posts. I still have a few more things to fix/update with the new template. So any feedback would be welcome.

This blog is no longer my primary source of income. So I won’t be doing any more design work, and I’ll be doing much less external speaking.

On my 1000th blog post I shared why I blog. Those reasons are more or less the same.

Finally, while I want to continue sharing stories like my incident with wrestling a lion or being forced to drink instant coffee, my overwhelming desire is to use this blog to point people to Jesus. Do you know him? Keep clinging. No? Check him out he’s the Saviour and King of the world!

Clean Water, Dirty Water and the Dash for Cash

January 29, 2011 in life with 1 Comment

A year ago family, friends and social network buddies all helped DMDC to raise $1741 toward safe drinking water for a community in Rwanda. This year, we are aiming to raise $2000 to help provide clean water for 601 children in India. We’re currently sitting at $1560… sweeeeet! There have been some developments today worth sharing.

  1. Nathan Campbell has offered a 250g bag of fresh coffee beans to anyone who gives $30 or more this weekend. Pretty sweet deal. He’s one of those coffee-coffee coffee-people, he has even recently launched a new coffee blog… all that’s to say, he’s got a sweet rep for sweet beans! He’s extended the offer for the rest of the weekend. MORE INFO.
  2. This evening, when the total was $1400, a generous person offered to match all other donations – up to $600. What this means is that if we make it to $2000 by midnight (Sydney time) on Sunday evening, we will actually raise $2600. Pretty sweet yeah? They wish to remain anonymous. MORE INFO.

Stoked to use the internet and social media to raise money for worthy causes.

MORE INFO or DIRECT LINK TO DONATE PAGE

At the time of publishing, that’s less than 25 hours to raise $440… easy!

MORE INFO or DIRECT LINK TO DONATE PAGE

EDIT: IN THE SPACE OF JUST OVER 24 HOURS, THIS PROJECT WENT FROM $1400 SMASHING THROUGH THE $2000 TARGET AND LANDING ON OVER $2800!!! CRAZY GOOD. THANKS AGAIN TO ALL THOSE WHO GAVE TOWARD THIS PROJECT, AND THANKS ALSO TO THOSE WHO ENCOURAGED OTHERS TO GIVE. STAY TUNED FOR FINAL TOTAL AND SPECIFICS ABOUT THE PROJECT. PEACE

Pinch + Punch // January 2011

January 2, 2011 in life with 2 Comments

I forgot to do this 1st of the month blog post. It’s now the 4th of the month. But I will backdate it and pretend I wrote it on the 2nd. Does that all make sense? (If not, re-read it slowly) Haha. With the start of the new year, comes a change in employment status. I’m no longer a full-time student, but rather I’m working full-time with St Faith’s Anglican Church Narrabeen. Boom! It’s a wonderful family to be part of, and we’ve really valued being at church here since August. Now it’s time to get my game face on.

This Pinch + Punch doesn’t have all the other fluff it normally has, just the smashing magazine desktop calendar for Jan 2011. What’s your desktop rocking this month?

DMDC – Best of 2010

December 29, 2010 in life with 0 Comments

Greetings earthlings. In 2009, I wrote 303 blog posts. This year, I have written significantly less. This is number 253. Yet readership has grown. So thanks for reading. I’m looking forward to reloading the blog in January, and will hopefully be more consistent in posting in 2011. If you didn’t know, I’m trying to raise $2000 to help provide clean water for 3 communities in India – would value your help (last year we manage $1741 for Rwanda). Below are 2 ‘best of 2010′ lists. Peaceout.

Top 10 posts according to clicks:

  1. Avatar is FernGully
  2. Free Music Friday 03 // Garage Hymnal – I Am
  3. Tribes of Sydney 2010 – Youth Subculture
  4. Plans for 2011 and beyond…
  5. I broke my toe wrestling a lion
  6. What Did You Expect?? by Paul Tripp
  7. CMS Camp MMM – Rego Opens 23 April
  8. KYCK 2010 #1 – Summary
  9. Help train a Pastor in India
  10. 15 hour, 4-Part Sermon Prep Outline – Justin Buzzard

My favourite 10 posts:

  1. I broke my toe wrestling a lion
  2. Cross Cultural Fail
  3. Today I drank an instant coffee
  4. 4 Vignettes of Tears in the Bible
  5. And then it dawned on me, I turn 30 this year!
  6. Australia: The Selfish Country
  7. Who are the Real Savages?
  8. Starbucks, Krispy Kreme and Church Growth
  9. “I AM” 8 part series
  10. 3photos: Outside Inside

It’s interesting to note that there is only overlap with one post on my list and the clicks list. It’s probably skewed a bit, some of the ones on the first list are aided by searches on google and have nothing to do with the quality (or lack thereof) of the blog post!

Clean Water for 601 Children in India

December 26, 2010 in life with 4 Comments

I’m incredibly wealthy. I have 10+ access points to clean water in my house!! One of my responsibilities as a follower of Jesus is to be generous with the much that I have been given, because not everyone has access to the resources I have on tap.

Every 20 seconds, a child dies from a water-related disease. But these deaths can be prevented by providing them with clean water. I’m partnering with Compassion Australia to help provide hundreds of children access to clean water through purification systems, rain water tanks and other water-harvesting systems.

Funds raised will be used to help fund water projects in 3 Indian towns:

  • Kehri Guan (215km NE of Dehli)
  • Rasha Farm, Gumaniwala (259km NE of Dehli)
  • Garhwali (450km N of Dehli)

Direct beneficiaries: 646 (601 children, 45 adults)

Last year $1741 was raised by readers of my blog for a project in Rwanda. I think it’s incredible to be able to use social media and a blog to raise money for something useful! This year I’m aiming for $2000. Any amount would be appreciated.

DONATE NOW. Aiming to reach $2000 by the end of January. Help spread the word…

CLICK HERE TO SHARE ON TWITTER | CLICK HERE TO SHARE ON FACEBOOK

DONATE NOW.

DONATE LATER.

Pinch + Punch // December 2010

December 1, 2010 in life with 8 Comments

I’m back and super encouraged from Vanuatu. Stay tuned for some fresh reflections and highlights in the next couple of weeks. I think I’ve got at least 5 posts in me, I’m planning to post them before the end of December. In the meantime, check out the gear from last year. While on the subject of December… wow! The year is almost over. It’s time to crack out the advent and Christmas playlists on your portable music device. Check out my 5 Christmas Albums That Don’t Suck (they’re all free + legal to download). Might be a little sporadic blogging during December, but looking forward to the re-load in January and kicking it with St Faith’s Narrabeen full-time! Peaceout compadres.

Above is my Smashing Mag December Desktop Calendar.

Here’s the best of November (according to clicks) and some other stats:

Long God yumi stanap.

Pinch + Punch // November 2010

November 1, 2010 in life with 2 Comments

Hey blog dogs. Thanks for reading this month. Guess what? I’ve finished college! Woot!! I’ve only got 3 exams and then it’s time for freedom!!! Slightly excited. Very excited to be kicking it full-time at Narrabeen in 2011. I’ll be heading to Vanuatu with Scripture Union again this year: I’ve still got 4 more blog posts reflecting on the last visit that are waiting in draft form – I’ll publish them before the end of the month. I try to pray for people who read this blog: if there’s anything specifically you’d like prayed for, leave it in the comments or contact me. My Smashing Mag desktop is from Bosnia:

Here’s the best of October (according to clicks) and some other stats:

Tres exámenes son grandes, pero podemos hacer que este equipo … vamos!

3photos: Sam Mowing the Lawn

October 19, 2010 in life with 4 Comments

Sam will often stand at the window watching me as I mow the lawn. It’s amazing to then see him imitating me as he pretends to mow the lawn! I appreciate knowing that my son is watching me, and I pray that I’d be a father worth imitating. Here are 3 pics of him “mowing” the lawn this past weekend. Pretty cute threads too!

Lawn Mowing 1

Two more below:
Continue Reading…

30 is the new 20

October 15, 2010 in life with 3 Comments

Here’s my first blog post of 2010: And then it dawned on me, I turn 30 this year! For better or for worse, that day has now come! I’m 30. I’m feeling okay. My brother reminded me though, that 30 is the new 20. So I guess that means I’ll be having a massive 21st birthday party for my 31st next year, stay tuned. Feeling young again.

I had a lovely day with Row and Sam for my birthday. i) We kicked off with breakfast at The Vespacific Cafe. ii) Sam had a sleep while Row did some admin and I read a book (this one… it’s incredible!) iii) Bike ride around the lake. iv) Picnic lunch. v) Play in the park. vi) Watched Hitch. vii) Prepped for talk on Daniel 1. viii) First night at St Faith’s Youth. ix) Hung out with Row. x) Writing blog post. A good fun day.

To help celebrate my 30 is the new 20 birthday, here are some awards:

  • Marty Feltham: first to wish me happy birthday overall winner!
  • Marty Feltham: first to wish me happy birthday via SMS
  • Steph Lentz: first (of many!) to wish me happy birthday via Facebook
  • Row & Sam Miers: first to wish me happy birthday in the flesh
  • Alison Cooper: first to wish me happy birthday via telephone
  • Luke Walker: first to wish me happy birthday via twitter
  • Ian Tyrrell: first to wish me happy birthday via email
  • Blockbuster Erina: first business to offer me freebies for my birthday
  • Soulies: First group of 3+ people to sing me happy birthday

Thanks for all the love people. Your award? Your name in (digital) print.

Pinch + Punch // October 2010

October 2, 2010 in life with 2 Comments

This normally happens on the 1st day of the month, this month it’s the 2nd. Sorry. It’s crazy crazy essay-fest this long weekend. It’s also the start of daylight savings – bring it, I look forward to Sam waking at 6am instead of 5am! In just over a week the date will be 10.10.10 – that’s pretty cool for the maths lovers; it also makes for a good date for a promotion or launch. Here’s my new Smashing Mag desktop for the month:

Here’s the best of September (according to clicks) and some other stats:

Ich kann mir nichts kreativ zu übersetzen diese Woche denken. Entschuldigt.

Plans for 2011 and beyond…

September 30, 2010 in life with 12 Comments

15 days of class. 1 essay. 3 exams. That’s it. I will be finished my Bachelor Theology at Moore College by mid-November. Yieeewwww! I really do like College: the people; the stuff I’m learning; the city; and knowing Jesus better. But I’m eagerly looking forward to starting life again. Bring it. For blog readers I don’t hang out with much in real time offline, I thought it would be good to let you know what we’ll be doing in 2011.

Thinking, praying, talking and working through the options for post-college ministry has been a time-consuming and strenuous activity! While we’ve been dreaming and scheming the whole way through college, most of the first half of this year was spent thinking through in concrete terms what 2011 would look like.

Searching for what to do and where to do it literally took me to the other side of the world!! I went on a top-secret trip in May to talk through youth ministry opportunities in… Canada!!!! It really was an encouraging and challenging time to think through if we were willing to count the cost of discipleship and really follow Jesus.

Well, we’re not going to Canada.

There were a number of really good youth ministry opportunities in Sydney. Each of which I was quite excited about!! But you can’t do everything and so after lots of thinking, praying and conversing I decided to accept the role of Youth Pastor at St Faith’s Narrabeen. It’s a good fit for us as a family and an exciting mission field.

We’ve already moved to Narrabeen and started going to church on Sundays. It is a fantastic church and we have been lovingly welcomed by a very generous group of Jesus’ peeps. I’m very much looking forward to working with the great staff team and can’t wait to start full-time in January.

The St Faith’s Youth Community is a strong group of teenagers committed to following Jesus. But there are so many teenagers on the Northern Beaches who don’t love Jesus. So I’m looking forward to encouraging young punks and their leaders in seeing their friends become Jesus’ disciples too.

There are lots of people in our age and stage of life. We’ve already had great opportunities to connect with a number – both church-goers and non-churched.

If you’re a pray-er, we’d value your prayers as we continue to make the transition into this next stage of life and ministry.

The above photo is our first family photo back in August in our new front yard!

ps Sydney FC‘s winless streak has made it easy to remain loyal to the Mariners…

Pinch + Punch // September 2010

September 1, 2010 in life with 0 Comments

Hey punks. It’s September. I was bored by the desktop calendars this month over at SmashingMag, so I found the one below over at pixel girl presents. Nice.

Here’s the best of August (according to clicks) and some other stats:

Bu, Az?rbaycan hökmü edir.

Pinch + Punch // August 2010

August 1, 2010 in life with 1 Comment

July has kinda been a blur. I’m now over the sleep deprivation from the month-long World Cup; I think Spain played well and deserved to beat the Netherlands, but I also think that Germany and Argentina played well AND also scored lots of goals. Tip for 2014 World Cup? Australia to beat Brazil in the final. Germany to beat Nigeria in the 3rd place play-off… you heard it here first! I’ve been able to speak at some great camps and events throughout the month; I’ve really enjoyed meeting lots of young punks keen to follow Jesus with their life. Irrelevanten Wörtern zu füllen dieses Absatzes ein.

July also witnessed my first broken bone, an amusing academic injury! August has now kicked off, what a beautiful day in Sydney!! I’ve got a light speaking load this month. We’ve just begun Romans at college; no exam, just an essay. I appreciate the time to learn from the book without the stress of an exam at the end. Above is my selection from a pretty lame set of August Desktop Wallpapers from Smashing Magazine.

Here’s the best of July (according to clicks) and some other stats:

Ich liebe google übersetzen!

I broke my toe wrestling a lion

July 22, 2010 in life with 10 Comments

In my former life as a sportsman, I had a number of injuries. Both ankles. Rectus femuris. Both thumbs. Lower back. Both shoulders. Out of all my injuries, I managed to never break a bone. Until last night. I broke my toe. The little one. On my left foot. I haven’t been to a doctor, but I’m confident this is more than a stubbed toe! I think I can deal with it. I’m pretty tough. The thing I can’t deal with is how I broke the toe.

Was I viciously tackled from behind by a South American while playing football? No. Did I fall off my bike while riding in the picturesque French Alps? No. Were my calculations slightly out when dropping into a 90ft half-pipe on my skateboard? No.

I broke my toe writing an essay.

Embarrassing. I know. Yep. My first broken bone is from an academic injury. How the heck can you break a toe writing an essay? Let me explain.

Continue Reading…

We interrupt this program…

July 10, 2010 in life with 1 Comment

Hello blog dogs. The last month has been hectic. Not bad hectic. Good hectic. For the last 4 years I’ve been fairly consistent in one blog post per day. The last month? Epic. Fail. That’s ok. Life isn’t about blogging, it’s about Jesus (check this out for more info: christianity.net.au)

I’m on holidays for the next week. I might get a chance to blog, or I might not!

Here’s some posts coming soon:
- final “Never be destroyed” post
- mp3s from preaching in QLD
- a letter from some Afghan Christians
- mp3s from preaching in Katoomba
- book review of “What is the gospel?”
- FIFA World Cup wrap
- a 10-part series on “Techno Youth Ministry”
- finishing of Vanuatu 09 series (long overdue!)

Hope you’re well.

Catch yo on da shizzle

(if formatting/spelling is bad, I wrote this on my mobile phone)

Pinch + Punch // July 2010

July 1, 2010 in life with 0 Comments

This is another example of a back-dated post because the end of June has been fairly hectic. It included: exams; Sam’s 1st birthday; preaching; camps; and a ridiculous number of World Cup football matches!! I’m sad that there’s only 4 games left, but very glad that I can have a bit more sleep again! If you’re planning on watching any of the final 4 games, make sure you pray at half-time for the 2 countries playing.

July is good. I’m enjoying the crisp winter weather, another camp, and looking forward to time off. Above is my choice of the July Smashing Mag Desktop Wallpapers.

Here’s the best of June (according to clicks) and some other stats:

Germany for the win!!

Moore College Exam Fest

June 15, 2010 in life with 0 Comments

Mid-year exams rock my Winter. We’re currently on StuVac at the moment. Next week it’s game time. So Moore College crew get your exam prep tweets on with this hashtag: #MooreExamFest. I figured the World Cup (pray for it) is on, lots of festivities, let’s make a festival of exam study!! (Probably the single most nerd thing I’ve ever typed!)

There were quite a few peeps who got in the action for #MTCexamcram09. It was good. Here are the 3 reasons from last year:

  1. I’m motivated to study because I see others studying
  2. There are gems among the quotes, reflections and bible verses being shared
  3. It’s a fun and maybe (?) useful way to use social media

Follow the action in the widget above or by clicking here.

3photos: Outside Inside

June 14, 2010 in life with 3 Comments

Samuel has just turned 1. Crazy, I remember when he was just this big! Lots of friends and family came over on a gorgeous Winter’s afternoon to celebrate Sam’s birthday and to also witness his baptism. Row made a delicious World Cup Mascot cake to put the icing on a lovely day. The only negative was that we forgot to give out the party bags. If you were there with kids, please come and collect a bag before we eat them all! Here are 3 photos from the morning of Sam’s special day. On the outside looking inside.

Outside Inside 1

see below for the other 2 pics

Continue Reading…
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