Category: life

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Shout out to Timmy B

Row and Sam weren’t able to come to the Riverina Youth Convention. So Tim Blomfield joined me for the road trip. The air con wasn’t working in the car – so it was crazy hot on the way down, and fairly hot on the way back. But that didn’t get in the way of good times and lots of good conversation.

My theory in taking someone was that it would be good to:

  • have company for the 10 hours of driving
  • spend informal time encouraging and training a young punk
  • have absolutely no opportunities to scoop fire (see v27)

So shout out to Tim!

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I played chicken with my host

I met my host family tonight. Lovely family. We spent about 4 hours chatting! Around midnight the family of 4 had dwindled down to 1. So it was just the father and me left. I was getting tired. But I didn’t want to be the one to break off the conversation. So in my head I thought I’d play chicken with him. Last one left standing wins.

By 1am I realised that I needed to call it off. But I couldn’t. I had to win. I thought if I just held out for another minute or two, he’d say “good night” first. He didn’t. I did. He wins. I lose. That’s okay.

I miss my family already, but here are 3 reasons why being billeted is gold:

  1. A tangible way of showing our gospel partnership
  2. A glimpse into the culture of the family, the local church and the local community
  3. An encouragement hearing of God’s work in their lives

THIS POST ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED HERE.

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Pinch + Punch // March 2010

Welcome to an exciting new monthly blog series at dmdc: Pinch + Punch! It may look like a re-branding of a previous lamely named series – but it’s oh so much more! // March isn’t too hectic at college, but I’ve got quite a few speaking opportunities. So hoping I can preach well AND work hard at college even though there isn’t much due.

I planned on trying to design a desktop wallpaper each month. Let’s be real. That’s not going to happen. So above is my favourite from the March selection at Smashing Magazine. It’s called: Haiku on Hanami. I’m not very good at poetry. But I want to be. So I’m hoping it will inspire me to greater poetic poetry poetiness. Or not.

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

If you’ve read this far – you have to leave a comment in the form of a Haiku poem. 5-7-5. Thanks.

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40 Days of Water

I just drank my first cup of coffee in 40 days. Yum. I’ve been part of a group of people involved in 40 Days of Water. How did it work? You only drink tap-water for the 40 days. You keep a tally of how much money you saved by eliminating other drinks. You give that money toward providing clean drinking water in Africa.

It’s been a hard time to do it. It’s the middle of summer. I’ve hung out for a week in Clovelly with all its trendy cafes, no coffee allowed. I’ve hung out for a week in Bellingen with all its hippie cafes, no coffee allowed. I’ve been down to Terrigal a stack of times, no coffee allowed. And I’ve been offered countless coffees from friends and family, no coffee allowed.

It was a very useful exercise. I don’t really need coffee, but I did miss drinking it. Three things happened regularly for me when saying no to non-water drinks:

  1. I realised how rich I am. I have access to whatever I want to drink, whenever I want to drink it. I have so much money that I can spend $4 on a coffee without it making too much of a financial impact!
  2. I am so rich, such that, even when I don’t buy drinks, I have beautiful, clean, tasty water flowing like a teeming river form 6 taps in my house. What privilege.
  3. It’s not that hard to be generous with even a few dollars to make a big difference in the lives of those in need.
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Adieu à Willoughby Eglise

Vous allez nous manquer! Last night we finished at Willoughby Anglican church. It really was a good year! I enjoyed leading a youth group bible study, playing guitar regularly and preaching. The highlight was the warm fellowship and encouragement of many people. We hope we were likewise an encouragement. As well as relationships, we’ll also fondly remember our time in Willoughby as the time when our first child was born.

Here’s some plans for 2010

  • We’re part of the 1030 congregation at EV Church and Rowena is in a growth group – the plan is to continue there for the time being.
  • I’ll have a bit more time for guest speaking at youth groups, camps, conferences, churches etc (this includes being available on Sunday nights). Let me know if you need a speaker.
  • This is my final year at Moore College – so we’re hoping to work out the plan for 2011 within the next couple of months!
  • I’ll continue to work as a casual youth worker with Gosford Council
  • Here are specific resolutions for 2010 I wrote on January 1.

ps – if you were wondering why the title of this post is in French, there are at least two reasons: 1) I like using google translate 2) French is sexy.

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Clean Water For An Entire Community – Only $200 To Go!

DMDC is partnering with Compassion Australia to raise money to provide clean drinking water for an entire community. Here is the original post with the plan of attack. We have now raised $1341. The target is $1541. That means only $200 to go! I’m thankful to God for the generosity of DMDC readers as well as family & friends on Facebook and Twitter.

I think it’s really cool to be able to leverage social media and blogging for good.

Want to help with the final $200?? DONATE NOW.