tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51887412024-03-08T03:06:00.436+13:00James' RamblingThoughts on Life, the Universe and Everything.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.comBlogger178125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-44725702218643897392013-04-30T23:01:00.000+12:002013-04-30T23:01:02.006+12:00Find Me There<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/album=2151534327/size=grande3/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" style="display: block; height: 300px; position: relative; width: 300px;" width="300"><a href="http://childrenofhurin.bandcamp.com/album/find-me-there">Find Me There by Children Of Hurin</a></iframe>
Two of my brothers have just released their first EP, as part of their musical project <i><a href="http://childrenofhurin.bandcamp.com/">Children of Hurin</a></i>.
<br />
<br />
The album's called '<i><b>Find Me There</b></i>' and features three beautifully pop'y folk songs.<br />
<br />
You can download it for<b> free</b> from bandcamp:<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://childrenofhurin.bandcamp.com/album/find-me-there">http://childrenofhurin.bandcamp.com/album/find-me-there</a></div>
<div>
<br />
The first track, <i>Burn this town down </i>is a passionate song, a story of isolation, of boredom, of taking issue with the world itself. <i>"A case of big city girl meets this little town"</i><br />
With a stellar chorus and just the right number of oooh's, I'm sure you'll want to listen again.<br />
<br />
<i>Find me there</i> is about freedom, reminding us all that our lives don't need to be dominated by other peoples expectations. "<i>Break the chains off your feet, because girl you are free</i>"<br />
Musically this is probably the most complex song on the album creating an addictive mix of quiet guitar riffs with boisterous choruses.</div>
<div>
<br />
<i>Fall in Love</i> has a satisfying simplicity to it, the kind of song you find yourself singing days after listening to it. As I listen now, I can't help but wish that everyone could find that special someone to share their life with.<br />
<br />
Needless to say, I'm immensely proud of what they have produced.<br />
<br />
I hope you love it as much as I do.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://noisetrade.com/childrenofhurin" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Children of Hurin - Find Me There" border="0" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfevTX_64bZa8nfFOARXwV-8l9dFbU6pLjJycOjR8CiRrJxJkkAleBUDeAQEbFnDTjKEVl0anu86G-dk7zys7G6R1qy3PyKJ-iw3IS1f2VFr-JNoHNWmoQGN6xhhCwOdPRIvGlRw/s400/COH_Album.jpg" width="400" /></a>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Oh, and if you need still more <abbr title="Children of Hurin">COH</abbr> in your life, then check out this live Youtube clip, <a href="http://youtu.be/yOuT-ZG_-IM">Ambition</a>.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yOuT-ZG_-IM" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-29464442572939044372010-06-17T18:16:00.002+12:002010-06-17T19:36:08.663+12:00Banana BreadEmma over at<a href="http://www.cravingfresh.com/"> Craving Fresh</a> posted a recipe for <a href="http://www.cravingfresh.com/2010/05/food-for-thought-fridays-dabbling-in.html">banana bread</a>, so I thought I'd have a go at making some. After I recruited expert helpers of course, don't want to have to do too much work! Only problem with the great helpers approach is they tend to help with the eating as well. Such is life!<div><div style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; ">Here's our nicely frozen, over-ripe bananas</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5Zzt55B3yjAyKO2wHycoSuta_nOYNv_SzXSfRDcl3KQE6f-0ncPIFOXHBhWBURqTkWYr0rseo1tBpyxIDC14pqXn22rlXe13cbH62wndklETGBK-8sbQPwz1VSVVKq1jLPLVZw/s1600/IMG_0596.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5Zzt55B3yjAyKO2wHycoSuta_nOYNv_SzXSfRDcl3KQE6f-0ncPIFOXHBhWBURqTkWYr0rseo1tBpyxIDC14pqXn22rlXe13cbH62wndklETGBK-8sbQPwz1VSVVKq1jLPLVZw/s320/IMG_0596.JPG" /></a> </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is Tim with some chocolate, it has absolutely nothing to do with banana bread, but serves as a reminder that chocolate is always good to have, and to eat, and then not to have. Hmmm</div><div><br /><div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNa3ElTTr5Q3LOVmFMmZ1qRJXYptKTwr-IgtlN6EI6auOFUnWnuH-gsEBcSwbRGzthSINmWM9jEDmjYagxwB1_Sw1F59JvYIIzuuNX82mtF3-ei2bVdSg00NqigNj-KjpPxiW7mQ/s1600/IMG_0597.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNa3ElTTr5Q3LOVmFMmZ1qRJXYptKTwr-IgtlN6EI6auOFUnWnuH-gsEBcSwbRGzthSINmWM9jEDmjYagxwB1_Sw1F59JvYIIzuuNX82mtF3-ei2bVdSg00NqigNj-KjpPxiW7mQ/s320/IMG_0597.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Putting the eggs in the bowl.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyN63eHaViiS-E_Q8m_Yzjtmr1OBOum_TMsOcDeDRbeKmuUGKOMuv0_LhbV9AAahtWArmr1h1ondTaeGV80GmkkK3eC6AeW45Ylv-R4xl7TghRAQHjuVMFcPnBoyWIoQzHZbUxw/s1600/IMG_0599.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyN63eHaViiS-E_Q8m_Yzjtmr1OBOum_TMsOcDeDRbeKmuUGKOMuv0_LhbV9AAahtWArmr1h1ondTaeGV80GmkkK3eC6AeW45Ylv-R4xl7TghRAQHjuVMFcPnBoyWIoQzHZbUxw/s320/IMG_0599.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER">Mixing the wet ingredients</div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3Mu-jWjRgcJOzR0LfOzuhvDttW6RpCcka_JZzcnjH6pS_ywI_ywNQuSKjxkwMpJB36g-Gz-diuR4AGRwNWHx-ugZt9Wg4-nQmNv_sVFs9bZIhrwhP5sMVfJ-o2uM2xC34JEoQw/s512/IMG_0614.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 384px; height: 512px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3Mu-jWjRgcJOzR0LfOzuhvDttW6RpCcka_JZzcnjH6pS_ywI_ywNQuSKjxkwMpJB36g-Gz-diuR4AGRwNWHx-ugZt9Wg4-nQmNv_sVFs9bZIhrwhP5sMVfJ-o2uM2xC34JEoQw/s512/IMG_0614.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Dry Ingredients</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQw5tF-3u_ULrQc8Cp81zt7qO1KQNeCXYeubq7s8ziFQqfkNcB5By0-T69mdAkRxbxx83Y-myMHhUBZVo-PN2LWF19RRawbyCmmnTeVkwH54e0CesqdBCr3GdW-5GXgITzNe7BQ/s512/IMG_0604.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 384px; height: 512px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQw5tF-3u_ULrQc8Cp81zt7qO1KQNeCXYeubq7s8ziFQqfkNcB5By0-T69mdAkRxbxx83Y-myMHhUBZVo-PN2LWF19RRawbyCmmnTeVkwH54e0CesqdBCr3GdW-5GXgITzNe7BQ/s512/IMG_0604.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The recipe page open on my computer...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XWckzRSsUUmpgtPfe6hlbH9dhyO7VSnCcHsGu74Qy-yEr2KZIoX1kwK811mnUeOw81TVRapEiwYvzYUQMX-r70XrTED2Cx42DUqI_FKawEGHaH2TFMCi_7CbGpUGXV9J8mkCpA/s512/IMG_0613.JPG"></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XWckzRSsUUmpgtPfe6hlbH9dhyO7VSnCcHsGu74Qy-yEr2KZIoX1kwK811mnUeOw81TVRapEiwYvzYUQMX-r70XrTED2Cx42DUqI_FKawEGHaH2TFMCi_7CbGpUGXV9J8mkCpA/s512/IMG_0613.JPG"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 384px; height: 512px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XWckzRSsUUmpgtPfe6hlbH9dhyO7VSnCcHsGu74Qy-yEr2KZIoX1kwK811mnUeOw81TVRapEiwYvzYUQMX-r70XrTED2Cx42DUqI_FKawEGHaH2TFMCi_7CbGpUGXV9J8mkCpA/s512/IMG_0613.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mixing the wet and dry ingredients</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmrb4FOWGUvuB55fnSTfaCA7vEjZCfb6TsA93jmxF1jJYUCUYyPh0-czo4wnBfeY6E8t2UlelIpcVzWtRuOwbL6_pUT8H0ElMPXA5ydWsa9LQx0w26dqQJe-6K8d8SyoXi3bWJg/s512/IMG_0621.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 384px; height: 512px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmrb4FOWGUvuB55fnSTfaCA7vEjZCfb6TsA93jmxF1jJYUCUYyPh0-czo4wnBfeY6E8t2UlelIpcVzWtRuOwbL6_pUT8H0ElMPXA5ydWsa9LQx0w26dqQJe-6K8d8SyoXi3bWJg/s512/IMG_0621.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Pouring the mixture into the pan</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlXctWVy4b_Wo4RvRSpm8qXdur5wX5TgMkHSFa0preOkbqsLaaPusui_Iz9BwCYBEXnJ75RojWPpdff_1SmbjG1HCrxnIZQuJmlzFsv-CA7nuGSUaQblNYFBAWARoRLOxHAjb3A/s512/IMG_0622.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 384px; height: 512px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlXctWVy4b_Wo4RvRSpm8qXdur5wX5TgMkHSFa0preOkbqsLaaPusui_Iz9BwCYBEXnJ75RojWPpdff_1SmbjG1HCrxnIZQuJmlzFsv-CA7nuGSUaQblNYFBAWARoRLOxHAjb3A/s512/IMG_0622.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">In the oven...</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXa0joLJAidreC02zQTNY-mptrtqhAwvry8e_woqc9ZY8-Eb3sE7h43u9NADuxx693v5hOQv6ZvLyphDCLM4obDov1q1m97bNLsfmv2MzQB9KO-RU-TkDVbphsOXNKfkCLyabfVQ/"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXa0joLJAidreC02zQTNY-mptrtqhAwvry8e_woqc9ZY8-Eb3sE7h43u9NADuxx693v5hOQv6ZvLyphDCLM4obDov1q1m97bNLsfmv2MzQB9KO-RU-TkDVbphsOXNKfkCLyabfVQ/" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Unfortunately I forgot the snap a picture of the finished product. But I can say it was quite tasty, tasted pretty much like banana cake to me, but sliced really well. I don't think a normal banana cake would hold together if you cut it into thin slices.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway there you go world, I can bake!</div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-12610431693740337432010-05-13T21:34:00.002+12:002010-05-13T21:51:33.031+12:00And I'm Back!An article written by my brother recently referred to me as his '<a href="http://danbrunskill.blogspot.com/2010/03/r-ecently-i-had-read-of-jeremy.html">blog mentor</a>'.<div>I thought it is really rather bad that his blog mentor hasn't written a blog post since last year.</div><div><br /></div><div>Luckily while I've been slacking off others have stepped up to the plate.</div><div><ul><li>Emma with <a href="http://cravingfresh.blogspot.com/">'Craving Fresh'</a> a cooking blog "inspiration to live and eat well" - Highly recommended!</li><li>Liz with "<a href="http://lizzieholly.wordpress.com">Lizzie Hollies Recipes</a>" another recipe blog. Less content than Craving Fresh but that <a href="http://lizzieholly.wordpress.com/2009/11/23/yummy-easy-carrot-cake/">carrot cak</a>e sounds yummy!</li><li>Daniel with <a href="http://danbrunskill.blogspot.com/">Dan's Articles</a> covering current events, his take on life, and more.</li></ul><div>Speaking of cooking blogs, <a href="http://www.digitalfishbowl.net/">Joseph</a> often claims he'd like to start one. What happened to that idea Joe?</div></div><div><br /></div><div>So, perhaps not my best blogpost ever, but it's a start.</div><div>I guess I'll have to learn the tricks of the trade from my<a href="http://danbrunskill.blogspot.com/"> mentee</a></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-88267310499853025742009-04-19T13:47:00.002+12:002009-04-19T13:52:36.384+12:00Modern Scripture...I had to share these great rewriten bible verses:<br /><br /><blockquote><strong>Psalm 141:3</strong><p>Set a guard, O Lord, over my <em>keyboard</em>;<br />keep watch over the door of my <em>send button</em>!</p><br /></blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote><strong>James 1:19</strong><br />Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to <em>read</em>, slow to <em>reply all</em>, slow to click <em>send</em>.</blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote><strong>Proverbs 10:19</strong><br />When <em>blogging is abundant</em>, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his <em>keyboard</em> is prudent.</blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote><strong>Proverbs 12:18</strong><br />There is one whose <em>comments on blogs</em> are like sword thrusts, but the <em>comments </em>of the wise brings healing.</blockquote><br /><br /><br /><blockquote><strong>Proverbs 14:7</strong><br />Don't <em>follow the Twitter feed</em> of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.</blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote><strong>Proverbs 12:23</strong><br />A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the <em>Twitter feed</em> of fools proclaims folly.</blockquote>Via <a href="http://www.joshharris.com/2009/04/scripture_for_email_blogs_twit.php">Josh Harris</a>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-85756848817874069462009-03-22T11:47:00.006+13:002009-03-22T18:44:58.369+13:003 RabbisI finished reading Scott Orson Card's <a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/825707"><span style="font-style:italic;">Speaker for the Dead</span></a> last night (actually early this morning).<br /><br />It interests me how much insight some Sci-Fi and Fantasy writers have about religion.<br />This short piece (as a chapter introduction) is very interesting...<br /><br /><blockquote><br />A great rabbi stands teaching in the marketplace. It happens that husband finds proof that morning of his wife's adultery, and a mob carries he to the marketplace to stone her to Death. (There is a familiar version of this story, but a friend of mine, a speaker for the dead, has told me of two other rabbis that faced the same situation. These are the ones I'm going to tell you.)<br /><br />The rabbi walks forward and stands beside the woman. Out of respect for him the mob forbears, and waits with stones heavy in their hands. "Is there anyone here" he says to them, "who has not desired an other man's wife, and another woman's husband?"<br /><br />They murmur and say, "We all know that desire. But rabbi, none of us has acted on it."<br /><br />The rabbi says, "Then kneel down and give thanks to God that made you strong."<br />He takes the woman by the hand and leads her out of the market. Just before he lets her go, he whispers to her, "Tell the lord magistrate who saved his mistress. Then he'll know I am his loyal servant."<br /><br />So the Woman Lives, because the community is too corupt to protect itself from disorder.<br /></blockquote><br /><blockquote><br />Another rabbi, another city. He goes to her and stops the mob, as in the other story, and says, "Which of you is without sin? Let him cast the first stone"<br />The people are abashed, and they forget their unity of purpose in the memory of there own individual sins. Someday, they think, I may be like this woman, and I'll hope for forgiveness and another chance. I should treat her the way I wish to be treated.<br /><br />As they open their hands and let the stones fall to the ground, the rabbi picks up one of the fallen stones, lifts it high over the woman's head and throws it straight down with all his might. It crushes her skull and dashes her brains on to the cobblestones..<br /><br />"Nor am I without sin", he says to the people. "But if we allow only perfect people to enforce the law, the law will soon be dead, and our city with it."<br /><br />So the woman died because her community was too rigid to endure her deviance.<br /></blockquote><br /><blockquote><br />The <a href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+8:5-11">famous version of the story</a> is noteworthy because it is so startlingly rare in our experience. Most communities lurch between decay and rigor mortis, and when they veer too far, they die. Only one rabbi dared to expect of us such a perfect balance that we could preserve the law and still forgive the deviation. So of course, we killed him.<br /></blockquote><br />- Orson Scott Card<br /><br />How's that for a thought leading in to easter? Have you ever looked at some thing Jesus said or did, and thought about what the alternatives might be?<br />Have you thought about what you might have done? Would you have had the guts to convict the sinners, but yet forgive the sin?<br /><br />JamesJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-35860072088397788892009-02-03T18:24:00.005+13:002009-02-03T22:11:20.717+13:00Information Diet<span style="font-weight:bold;" title='Homophily - The tenancy for human beings to surround themselves with people who reinforce rather than challenge their thinking.'>Homophily</span><br /><br />I watched a very interesting <a href="http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/616">video</a> last night by <a href="http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/">Ethan Zuckerman</a> who runs a site called '<a href="http://globalvoicesonline.org/">Global Voices</a>'.<br />HatTip: <a href="http://www.librarything.com/blog/2009/02/guardian-on-homophily.php">LibraryThing</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pictureperfectpose/81938785/"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/39/81938785_7755757d8a.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="Flock of Birds" /></a><br />He labeled the talk '<a href="http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/616">Building a Better Gatekeeper</a>' and explores the idea that as we get more and more of an internet culture we can find ourselves 'flocking together', or in other words surrounding ourselves with like minded people, and information.<br /><br /><br />I know this isn't really something new, people having been doing it for years, I know for myself apart from work I almost never socialize with people who aren't from Christian circles. This is largely a result of my up bringing and beliefs, I like hanging out with Christians, I know how to relate to them, they know how to relate to me. I even pride myself on the diversity of my friends given the different streams of christianity they represent. <br /><br />I'm probably not going to die because I don't talk to many homosexual gothic satanists, but perhaps my lack of diversity in my relationships could (has?) lead to me misunderstanding the world around me?<br /><br />Likewise as a New Zealander I often (even if only in my own head) criticize America for it's inward focus yet how much to I know about Kenya or Uzbekistan (Does such a place actually exist?)<br /><br />How often do we find that exactly what frustrates us in others is actually present in ourselves?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Chick Flicks</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.impawards.com/2004/posters/bride_and_prejudice.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; " src="http://www.impawards.com/2004/posters/bride_and_prejudice.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I remember watching Bride and Prejudice a while a go (Yes ladies I do watch chick flicks), I remember it because for the first time I understood Darcy's point of view from the original story. For those that don't know in the original story, Mr Darcy advises his friend Bingley not to marry a girl he has met in the country. He and She are of different classes, different cultures, different lives Marrying her would be a disaster. (not in those words but I think that's the general idea)<br /><br />Naturally, As a modern westerner of the 21st century I thought 'What a biggot'! <br /><br />However when I saw (in Bride and Prejudice) a young american man fall in love with a girl from india I thought all those same things. I could just see myself telling my friend "What do you think you are doing? Your culture is different, your religion is different, your family is different. Marrying this girl will not work!<br /><br />Same story different place, but it brings it more alive to me...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Echo Chambers</span><br /><br />I think that same kind of reaction was caused when I watch Ethan's talk, I was convicted of my own tenancy to return to the familar, to surround myself with an echo chamber, people and information that reinforces rather than challenges my thinking, my belief, my interests.<br /><br />If you are anything like me, you will vaguely remember the first time you drank coffee, I don't remember where I was or why I tasted it BUT it tasted horrible.<br />Now I love little better than a good cup of espresso, what's changed? The coffee? No, it's me. What was once disgusting has become a treat.<br />Coffee may not be a good example given its addictive nature, and less that positive side effects but the idea stands:) Just like learning to eat vegetables when you were young. They can go from a chore to a joy.*<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">A Balanced Diet</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1305/569753322_2f948ded93_m.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 159px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1305/569753322_2f948ded93_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Ethan talks about the Broccoli vs Chocolate Cake problem. Even people who really like broccoli would probably prefer a nice piece cake over a head of broccoli. We do the same kinds of things with our information needs, we read the 'chocolate cake' blogs, news stories, and friendships. Now there's nothing wrong with chocolate cake, but if we just eat cake we would probably find we are lacking a balanced diet.<br /><br />Is it the same for our information/interests/relationships? Do we need to work on developing a more balanced diet? If we do make the effort, perhaps we'll find that we really enjoy the new things we learn and new ideas we encounter? Even if it takes a little while prehaps we can add a whole new joy to our lives? Too optimistic? I don't know.<br /><br />Regardless what I have said, I strongly suggest you head over to <a href="http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/616">http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/616</a> and have a listen. Perhaps you'll be convicted too.<br /><br /><hr/><br />* However, I am still trying to learn to enjoy raw tomato at age 24.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-70427290234157527972009-02-01T12:32:00.003+13:002009-02-01T12:41:46.219+13:00Sermon QuotesWell, since it'd been such a very long time since I posted to my blog, I thought I'd better do something.<br /><br />Went to <a href="http://www.gatewaychurch.org.nz/">Gateway Church</a> in Hamilton this morning. The pastor (Don Barry) spoke about the tension between calvininsm and arminianism and why it is important for us to grapple with the paradox these theological positions create. Rather than discuss that debate, especially since I'm still rather struggling with it myself. I thought I'd share a couple of quotable Quotes from the message.<br /><br /><blockquote>Idea's have consequences. <br/> - Don Barry</blockquote><br /><blockquote>It's God's will that man chooses.<br/> - Jack Hayford</blockquote> <br /><blockquote> Pentecostalism is often guilty of having the fire without the fireplace.<br/> - Don Barry</blockquote> <br /><blockquote>If you don't like mystery, you probably won't enjoy the christan life.<br/> - G K Chesterton</blockquote><br /><blockquote>There's theology everywhere.<br/> - Don Barry</blockquote>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-85553824167269306442008-04-22T21:42:00.005+12:002008-11-14T03:26:25.456+13:00Abide<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUmvfR-jEWkjPIWs3EST5EggwEag3RtXVCLiIuh9VDZz30a1xWxEmIuyPRT1JFTkEOGUdGHVeUhglrM6_AXKeMo9ky8YY5NV6cw_SgZT8AwKLvpTuuiYNu2y_NWznqr7W7kbRmKg/s1600-h/neverending.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUmvfR-jEWkjPIWs3EST5EggwEag3RtXVCLiIuh9VDZz30a1xWxEmIuyPRT1JFTkEOGUdGHVeUhglrM6_AXKeMo9ky8YY5NV6cw_SgZT8AwKLvpTuuiYNu2y_NWznqr7W7kbRmKg/s200/neverending.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192006848154272162" /></a><br /><cite class='bibleref' title='John 15:3-5'>You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.<br />I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.</cite> - John 15:3-5<br /><br />Remain in me, and I will remain in you. <br /><br />One of most outrageous beliefs in Christianity is the idea that God the most powerful, majestic, incredible being in all the world lives 'in' us. Corinthians 3:16 says this <cite class='bibleref' title='Cor 3:16'>"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?"</cite> That blows my mind! It is one of those paradoxical statements, how can x be in y but y be in x? Yet despite this Him living in me connection, I also need to be in Him. It is still up to me to remain or <abbr title='To continue to be sure or firm'>abide</abbr> in Him. I read a commentary on John 15 today, and the main point the author made was that the focus of this passage is that we need to abide in him, the passage is about abiding, not about future judgement, or trying glean some magical formula out of connections with the world of viticulture. Jesus point is clear. Live your life for me, and I'll be part of your life. To borrow some words from Bono, "Stop asking God to bless what you’re doing. Get involved in what God is doing".<br /><br />Abide in Him, and He will abide in you. Sounds like a good deal to me, even if it does involve a little bit of pruning :)Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-19740832893574625312008-04-21T22:05:00.003+12:002008-04-21T22:56:57.967+12:00The Grapes<p>Following on from <a href="http://jambecorp.blogspot.com/2008/04/vine.html">yesterday</a> with the second verse in John 15, Jesus begins to explain what the father does as the 'gardener' or as the <abbr title='English Standard Version'>ESV</abbr> puts it 'the vinedresser'. <br /><br /><cite class='bibleref' title='John 15:2'>He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be more fruitful.</cite><br /><br />The first part of this verse scares me, would God really cut people off from the vine? Just for failing to bear fruit?<br />While this should scare us a little, we need to put it in context. It seems likely that this cutting off would refer to the judgment day, when God would say "This one was never part of the vine" <cite class='bibleref' title='Matt 7:23'>‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.’</cite> Surely if one has remained in God, he would have at least born some fruit!</p><br /><p><br />When we are connected to the vine, we WILL bear fruit. <cite class='bibleref' title='Gal 5:22-23'>But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self–control. Against such things there is no law.</cite> Think of it this way the 'fruit' or result of being in the Spirit (or in the vine) is Love, Joy, Peace etc. When we are living in the Spirit, the fruit will come, Our character has to change. Which begs the question, in your life do you see those fruit? What does that say about how connected you are to the vine?</p><br /><p><br />The second half of the verse makes a very important point, just because we have had some fruit doesn't mean we can sit back and relax till the rapture. Jesus tells us that we will be pruned. I can't imagine that being pruned is particularly comfortable. It requires us to let go of things that we want to hold on to. For example, I may be being pruned at this very moment. Right now I'd really rather be in bed going to sleep that writing this, but I know that God has called me to spend more time with His word, struggling to understand it, thinking on it, writing about it. I don't have all the answers or all the right things to say, I'll probably one day look back on my thoughts here an laugh, Yet I'm doing my best to follow my God.<br /></p><br /><p>So how do we get connected?</p><br /><p>Rico has made some good comments on what it means to be <a href='http://irrico.blogspot.com/2008/04/john-151-8.html'>"Truly Connected to the True Vine"</a> have a read of those, but as usual I have some thoughts of my own :)<br /><br />Firstly we need to remember that maintaining a connection takes effort. Think about some of the people you used to be friends with, perhaps they moved to a different city? You started going to a different church? No longer see them at Uni? <br />You may have noticed that if you want to maintain relationships with people you have to put in some effort. You have to remember to think of that person, make time for them, put them before other less important things. Easier said than done (for me at least)<br /><br />It is the same with our relationship with Jesus, many times we neglect him, forget about him, choose other much less important things over him. This is not good enough.<br /><br />Secondly, We need to stand strong. As a vine branch if I don't hold tight and build a strong connection with the vine, and hold on to the truth around me at the first storm my connection would be severed. Too many people drop their connection to the vine simply because the feel like it would be easier to let go.<br /></p><br /><p>Well I think that's me for today, I'm going to keep thinking about how to strengthen my connection to the Vine. Let's get practical what are some things we can do to cultivate this connection? <br />Blogging all this for me is one.<br />What else can you think of?<br /></p>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-90765544008862895762008-04-20T10:12:00.005+12:002008-04-20T14:29:59.994+12:00The VineA <a href="http://irrico.blogspot.com/">friend of mine</a> has challenged me to join in him in blogging his bible studies.<br />I'm taking him up on his challenge, starting, as he suggested with <a href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+15%3A1-17">John 15</a>.<br /><br /><cite class="bibleref">John 15:1</cite><br /><cite class="bibleref" title="John15:1">"I am the true vine, and my father is the gardener."</cite><br /><br />The first thing that jumps out at me in this verse are the words 'I Am'. They make me think back to <cite class='bibleref' title='Exodus 3:13'>Moses and the burning bush</cite> where Moses asks God 'Who should I say has sent me'? To which God replies "Tell them 'I AM' has sent you". Now I'm sure that the two words 'I am' were spoken regularly in Jesus' day<sup><a href='#ref1'>[1]</a></sup>, as they are now, but I does give us a reminder of Christ's deity. John's gospel picks up on this "I Am" theme by including 7 different times when Jesus says 'I Am'. <br />1. “I am the bread of life” <cite class="bibleref" title="John 6:35">(6:35)</cite><br />2. “I am the light of the world” <cite class="bibleref" title="John 8:12; 9:5">(8:12; 9:5)</cite><br />3. “I am the door” <cite class="bibleref" title="John 10:7, 9">(10:7, 9)</cite><br />4. “I am the good shepherd” <cite class="bibleref" title="John 10:11">(10:11)</cite><br />5. “I am the resurrection and the life” <cite class="bibleref" title="John 11:25">(11:25)</cite><br />6. “I am the way, the truth, and the life” <cite class="bibleref" title="John 14:6">(14:6)</cite><br />7. “I am the true vine” <cite class="bibleref" title="John 15:1">(15:1)</cite><br /><sup><a href='#ref2'>[2]</a></sup><br /><br />Just as the words 'I am' were significant in that they signify Jesus deity, the vine is also suggestive. Throughout the old testament, prophets used the image of a vine to describe Israel, the chosen people of God. By saying He is the 'True' vine Jesus is really saying that only those in him are truly children of God. You are not a child of God by growing your own vine, nor by being a branch of the right pedigree, only by being connected as a branch of Jesus, the True vine do we really become Sons or Daughter of God.<br /><br />Well that's all I've got time to write for now, but will write again tomorrow. Please feel free to comment on what I've written here, I'd love to discuss it with you all. Especially in how we can get truly connected with the 'True Vine'...<br /><br />James<br />[1] - <a name='ref1'></a>I have heard that the Greek for this is a emphatic (or forceful/notable) construction, suggesting that perhaps Jesus is saying this in a more meaningful that I might say "I am 23 years old"<br />[2] - <a name='ref2'></a><cite>Dunnett, W. M. 2001. Exploring the New Testament. Originally published: New Testament survey. Wheaton, Ill. : Evangelical Teacher Training Association, c1963, in series: Broadening your biblical horizons. Crossway Books: Wheaton, Ill.</cite>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-45371872334591172692007-09-13T14:03:00.000+12:002008-11-14T03:26:26.035+13:00Identity<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LktQT7NJwxDBAi-WcXerNgqsTpmyTvDY7Xs9jehgfxMQUtH7D5s_ECxaYVoRMiSDXK8uE5-h0xdn6cDlhDMOMR0fzQaUMnjBaA4qkrwEqI7ybMjLS70pStLmtjOGv1FWvpnhCw/s1600-h/IMG_4439.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LktQT7NJwxDBAi-WcXerNgqsTpmyTvDY7Xs9jehgfxMQUtH7D5s_ECxaYVoRMiSDXK8uE5-h0xdn6cDlhDMOMR0fzQaUMnjBaA4qkrwEqI7ybMjLS70pStLmtjOGv1FWvpnhCw/s200/IMG_4439.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114372296704725730" border="0" /></a>I was at my parents house a few weeks ago and as I got up to leave I said these words.<br />"Right, Uncle James had better go home now"<br /><br />It occurred to me at that point that neither my niece or nephew was present :) After everyone had enjoyed a short 'laugh at James' session I left.<br /><br />However since that moment I've been thinking about what I said. What would posses me to refer to myself as 'Uncle James' to my Mother, Father and Brother?<br /><br />I guess the answer is that being an uncle has become so significantly a part of my identity that I have come to think of myself in that role. This practice might sound a little strange but think about it. People like my mother have 'Mum' as their primary identity, my Grandmother thinks of her self as 'Nana', and I have (without a lot of conscious thought) taken on the identity of uncle.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtfgWLstg_6sAasCvAnDY3_aRPeZkL8QewDYztk_4VtUpPimgXmHQdaB6Y1C3F5icbV7wi9NdnRz7BUsQ3634KyanWno-D1vIp8BuWtOwxC2PmMDZozXiqir1ACfZy2L82aUbPg/s1600-h/IMG_4407.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtfgWLstg_6sAasCvAnDY3_aRPeZkL8QewDYztk_4VtUpPimgXmHQdaB6Y1C3F5icbV7wi9NdnRz7BUsQ3634KyanWno-D1vIp8BuWtOwxC2PmMDZozXiqir1ACfZy2L82aUbPg/s200/IMG_4407.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114372292409758418" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I have other identities too, for example My brother likes to call me Jeeves. This may sound strange but I love that nick name because (for me at least) if conjures up the image of the efficient servant, always striving to do that best for his master. That's an identity I try to build into my persona, into my actions. I want to be, a servant of Jesus, a servant of others, and some who helps others to achieve their best.<br /><br />Other times we take on identities that are not good for us, 'geek', 'fool'. Now I like to refer to myself as a 'professional computer geek' and I think it is important to recognise our status as sinners, in our need for God's forgiveness, and certainly at times I've been a fool. But if we take those kinds of 'names' or identities upon ourselves they can hurt us.<br /><br />Anyway, It's kind of cool to see a new part of my identity forming. When I add a new facet my identity it shows that I'm growing as a person. In the future I hope to add more, Husband, Father, Pastor (well in someways I already am), etc.<br /><br />This got me thinking, as Christians there are 'identities' we should be taking upon ourselves.<br />The first one that came to mind was that we are 'priests' (assuming you follow the prodestant view of <a href="http://www.gotquestions.org/priesthood-believers.html">the priesthood of all believers</a>). Just as I have to grow in understanding how to be an uncle to my niece and nephew (and to my other nephew who is on his way) we should learn to become and accept the identity put on us through Christ. As 'priests' we are able to pray for others, talk to God, offer ourselves as a living sacrifice etc.<br /><br />A friend of mine shared last night how they had (on a missions trip no less!) been told they couldn't prayer for people, that praying for others was for the elders! Those words had stuck with them for a long time, making them shy away from publicly praying for other believers. A vital part of their Identity was missing, I think they realise that now and are stepping into their priesthood, Exciting times!<br /><br />Can you think of other 'identities' we should take on as Christians?<br /><br />Hints: See <a href="http://catherine-eraina.blogspot.com/">Cat's side bar</a>, Matt 19:14, Eph 5:24-25 (now that's a weird one for a guy to accept!)Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-18693250244006057212007-08-14T17:03:00.000+12:002007-08-14T17:24:56.434+12:00Taken up by WonderIn an article I read today called "<a href="http://www.rzim.org/slice/slicetran.php?sliceid=1483">Taken up by Wonder</a>", Margaret Manning shares about how a friend of hers introduced her to gardening:<br /><blockquote>"She knew that gardening would introduce me to the extraordinary in the ordinary. You cannot help but begin to pay attention to the tiniest details as you garden, and in turn, begin to notice all kinds of other awe-producing details all around you. The varieties of the color green in the trees, grasses, plants and shrubs, the nuances of blue and aqua hues that shimmer on lakes and oceans, and the little creatures that share the world with us--birds, rabbits, coyotes, skunk, deer, dogs, and cats."</blockquote><br />It made me think of quote from the movie Amazing Grace, which you should see if you get the chance.<br /><br />William Wilberforce is lying in the wet grass, looking at spiderwebs, and flowers when his servant approaches, looking slightly surprised to find his master rolling around on the ground.<br /><br />The Wilberforce's explanation is fascinating (Note: this is not supposed to be word for word, I'm going from memory here :)<br />William:<br /><blockquote>"I know if isn't normal to be lying down on wet grass you know"</blockquote><br />Servant:<br /><blockquote>"It's not my place to question sir."</blockquote><br />William:<br /><blockquote>"It's God you know, here I am in the prime of life ready to embark on my career and make some of the biggest decisions in life, and all I want to do is look at cobwebs and smell flowers."</blockquote><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jambe/507250841/"><img style="margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/193/507250841_ede5715f92.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />It seems to me that Wilberforce had been captured by the beauty that God places around us every day. <br /><br />Margret Manning goes on to say:<br /><blockquote>"Indeed, the psalmist suggests that the very detailed elements of creation proclaim the glory and worship of God: 'The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of his hands!' (Psalm 19:1)."</blockquote><br /><br />When was the last time you stopped to admire a cobweb, or spent time in a garden smelling flowers. Some times we make our lives too busy to enjoy God's creation. <br /><br />Why not give it a try?Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-49929496280576445832007-08-01T16:26:00.000+12:002007-08-01T16:50:12.980+12:00Serving up the Fruit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1205/787200549_6bcf38d3be.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1205/787200549_6bcf38d3be.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>Galatians 5: 22- 23:<br /><blockquote>But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, <span class="verse-num" id="v48005023-1"></span>gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.<br /></blockquote><br />At Eastside Apo's Saturday night service this week <a href="http://clivesmit.blogspot.com">Clive Smit</a> made an off handed comment about serving up the fruit of the spirit to those around us. This shouldn't be a massive revelation, but it suddenly dawned on me, the fruit of the spirit is served up to others.<br />We (or maybe it was just me?) think of the fruit of the spirit as something we should get, something we should acquire but actually the fruit of the spirit is what we serve up to others. That doesn't mean we shouldn't try to be more filled with the fruit of the spirit, it just moves the focus not on what I should put in my life, but on how my life affects others.<br /><br />Who benefits when you show patience, love, self-control, etc? Sure there is some benefit to me in that it might grow me or save me from upsetting a friend but the one who really benefits is the person I am patient with, the person who doesn't get a tongue lashing because I showed self-control.<br /><br />No wonder there is no law against such things! The Fruit of the Spirit are first and foremost gifts to the world.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-89104604443927036652007-07-12T16:08:00.000+12:002007-07-12T16:18:38.570+12:00Leadership on the MindI was reading a little bit of <a href="http://www.lifehack.org/">lifehack.org</a> the other day and ran across this <a href="http://www.lifehack.org/articles/management/lead-follow-and-get-out-of-the-way.html">article on leadership</a>.<br /><br />The article is an interesting read, but what struck my attention was this paragraph:<br /><blockquote><p>Leadership seems to be on everyone’s minds one these days. Educators talk about “teaching leadership”, religious and charitable organizations host “leadership development” programs , businesses invest heavily in “leadership training”.</p> </blockquote>It's true isn't it? Everywhere you look seems to be someone else doing leadership training or developing leaders around them etc.<br /><br />Is this a relatively new thing? It seems that is has been around most of my life but then I'm only 22. <br /><br />Is the leadership development stuff we do today formalizing informal things from the past?<br />Is it something new that we had over looked? A passing fad?<br /><br />Any thoughts?Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-26291275605241848192007-07-08T14:31:00.000+12:002008-11-14T03:26:26.985+13:00Seeds 2 - FinancesIn my last <a href="http://jambecorp.blogspot.com/2007/05/seed-and-journey.html">blog post</a> I talked about seeds of plans that God has put in us. How they take time to grow, and often need to endure hardships to get there.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQi3F_kkJ9-04zb0evczcW2hcbbDDPwIfrorfZT9Pv-v5SR98nFGzpoy7YJPWU069DtjfnXCoDGmBWBOdHQpU4BWrM82nLKZebbg7WD1T7JoyJck6qu1LxKfvnaxGbRcioJQWnw/s1600-h/holding_money.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQi3F_kkJ9-04zb0evczcW2hcbbDDPwIfrorfZT9Pv-v5SR98nFGzpoy7YJPWU069DtjfnXCoDGmBWBOdHQpU4BWrM82nLKZebbg7WD1T7JoyJck6qu1LxKfvnaxGbRcioJQWnw/s400/holding_money.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084650293494067570" border="0" /></a> Today I want to tackle another Christian 'seed' analogy. This time it relates to finances...<br /><br />Recently Clive wrote about this in his blog series on "<a href="http://clivesmit.blogspot.com/2007/06/prepare-to-prosper-part-1.html">Prepare to Prosper</a>" by <a href="http://www.joycemeyer.org/">Joyce Meyer</a><br />Here is a quote from Joyce's book:<blockquote>"God has been showing me that many people sow without ever enjoying the harvest He would love to give them because they are not properly caring for the seed sown."</blockquote>Clearly a seed analogy there.<br />Here is <a href="http://clivesmit.blogspot.com/">Clive</a>'s Comment:<br /><blockquote>Joyce believes that a key missing element in why we don't see our financial seed (giving) come to harvest is because we have not watered our seed.</blockquote>As much as I love Clive, I'm not so sure that I agree with him (and Joyce).<br />When you plant a seed, you expect a harvest but what kind of harvest do you expect? One of the same type as a the seed you sow of course!<br /><br />Many people make the mistake that because they are sowing seeds by giving, then they should receive a financial harvest. Money for Money right?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GAA8iBzyB0IcNssoL1K_PP20WoX82aC9YutZeS4t8zC7_g-9Bj8-vcC1J1gd1VCDWzpc5CF1dDpJCxqsJRpGvLP5knIaBk9nKV7UWi3AIQQgx_4m6FTsNKBut5T9Wlz8FFj6hQ/s1600-h/tomato_seedling_lg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GAA8iBzyB0IcNssoL1K_PP20WoX82aC9YutZeS4t8zC7_g-9Bj8-vcC1J1gd1VCDWzpc5CF1dDpJCxqsJRpGvLP5knIaBk9nKV7UWi3AIQQgx_4m6FTsNKBut5T9Wlz8FFj6hQ/s200/tomato_seedling_lg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084653854021955970" border="0" /></a>I don't think so, I'm willing to be proven wrong but I think when you sow into the kingdom of God, you are doing just that, sowing into God's purpose.<br />When we give money to a church or Christian organization, It is like we have exchanged that money for some 'kingdom seed' and planted that in the ground. Our seed grows to produce some more of God's kingdom not some more cash.<br /><br />I'm not trying to say that God doesn't want to bless us, or prosper us financially. I'm just thinking that if he does that, it is probably because doing anything to further God's kingdom attracts his blessing. Not because some seed has matured and we are reaping a harvest.<br /><br />If you want breakthrough in your relationships, you need to work on your relationships, if you want breakthrough in your finances, you need to work on your finances, if you want breakthrough in your love for others, try loving others? It is no good working away in one area and expect to see God change us in another. As we know (for some reason) God likes to do things here on earth through us, he even works through us on us!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.paradise.caltech.edu/%7Ekfoltz/pics/digital_camera_pics/baden-powell_practice/pic14.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.paradise.caltech.edu/%7Ekfoltz/pics/digital_camera_pics/baden-powell_practice/pic14.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I happen to believe that giving money away makes good financial sense. It forces us to live within the money that we have because we need to use some of it to give away. I also think it makes sense to save money, earn interest, or invested it. That is planting financial seed, seed that will reap a financial harvest. As <a href="http://jamesmacpherson.blogspot.com/">James MacPherson</a> said this morning, Nigerians who want to give us millions of dollars or pyramid marketing schemes are not God's financial plan for your life.<br /><br />Have you ever heard people talking about how to find the perfect spouse? Be the perfect spouse.<br />I think that kind of analogy works here, If you want to attract the blessing of God, be the kind of person that God wants to bless. Who does he want to bless? Those he knows you will use his blessing to further his kingdom. Anyway that's a message for another day...<br /><br />I know what I have said is a little different to what we are often taught. Have a got it all wrong? Do I miss the point somewhere?<br /><br />I'd love to hear from you, just leave a comment or send me an email: <a href="mailto:james@jambe.cjb.net">james@jambe.cjb.net</a>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-68201621800399132642007-06-10T17:00:00.000+12:002007-06-10T17:08:35.913+12:00A Seed and A Journey<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jambe/505141184/"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; width: 200px;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/203/505141184_05acd10df3.jpg?v=0" alt="Thrive City Church, Hamilton" /></a><br /><p>I went to Thrive City Church in Hamilton a couple of weeks ago, The pastor Steve Jeffares was talking from the <a href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Matthew+13%3A31-32">Parable of the Mustard Seed</a>.<br /></p><br /><p>He talked about the way we as christians often tend to look at the seed God has given us. We look at the seed and compare it to others, "so and so has this great calling on his/her life, all I know how to do is cook and clean". It is easy to look at a seed and see it as insignificant.<br /></p><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/kraesmith/mustardseed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px;" src="http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/kraesmith/mustardseed.jpg" alt="A hand holding mustard seeds." border="0" /></a><p>Have you ever held a seed in your hand? Doesn't it look so small and vulnerable? But even a small seed (as in the case of a mustard seed) can grow into a tree big enough for birds to perch on. We shouldn't look on what God has given us as a insignificant job or talent. We should treasure it as a seed from God, water it, give it sunlight, and plant it in good soil.<br /></p><br /><p>We shouldn't look at what the seed looks like, instead we should look at how we are growing it.<br /></p><br /><p>I was think about seeds and this though came to mind, seeds don't turn into trees, carrots or whatever overnight. Each seed has to complete a long journey in becoming what they should be. Some seeds actually need to be <a href="http://chicagowildernessmag.org/issues/spring2007/burn.html"> near a forest fire or choked in smoke </a> before they will start to grow. As a seed is growing it must withstand storms and frosts, fires and downpours, few seeds have an easy journey. It is like that in life we all have to weather the storms of life + stay strong, stay on the journey that has been laid out before us.<br /></p><br /><p>I talked to a girl at church today who is looking for a job that uses the skills she learned in her studies. She said, "I really felt like God led me to study what I did, It is my passion, yet I can't seem to find a job that uses it. I'm starting to feel like all that study might have been a waste of time." (not an exact quote but close enough :) What came to mind? A Seed and Journey. <br /><br />Journey's aren't easy or short, if they were they won't deserve the name. Completing a journey is a great accomplishment. Of course it is hard, of course you will wonder if you have it all wrong, but stick in there, finish the race, finish the journey.<br /><br />Jesus used the analogy of plants/seed quite a lot during his time on earth, why do you think that is?<br />Can you think of other examples in the bible of people being compared to plants, trees, or seeds?<br /><br />I'd love to hear your thoughts on this...Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-68670524944677008432007-05-28T17:54:00.002+12:002008-11-14T03:26:27.206+13:00Amazon thinks I should find God!I know that humorous Amazon.com recommendations are 'old hat' but I had to share this one...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tYHbxVHpwtg/RlpvKClIdKI/AAAAAAAAAZw/mMpMgUfsVJQ/s1600-h/Amazon+Recommendation.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 530px; height: 21px;" src="http://lh6.google.com/image/james.brunskill/Rlpu-ylIdJI/AAAAAAAAAZo/s4-1YyioE8M/Amazon%20Recommendation.jpg?imgmax=720" alt="Amazon.com Recommends Finding God" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069486548840903842" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Thanks Amazon but I've already found him...Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-3186281396693680952007-05-20T15:26:00.000+12:002007-05-20T16:12:20.939+12:00Blogging explosionOver the last few weeks there has been what you could only really call a blogging explosion at my church. A number of the leaders in the youth and young adults ministries have started blogging and commenting on others blogs.<br /><br />So far we have:<br /><a href="http://clivesmit.blogspot.com/">Clive Smit</a> - South African, Youth Pastor, Leadership guru in the making.<br /><a href="http://jeremysargent.blogspot.com/">Jeremy Sargent</a> - Evangelist Extraordinaire, Leads "<a href="http://hereiamsendme.org/">Here I am Send Me</a>".<br /><a href="http://irrico.blogspot.com/">Kenrick (Rico) Smith</a> - Passionate Life Group leader, Has a personal vendetta to make sure I have a joyful life. Thanks Bro!<br /><a href="http://catherine-eraina.blogspot.com/">Cat Taylor</a> - According to her blog she's a 22year old princess! She also helps leads the girls life groups for the church's student ministry.<br /><a href="http://rachaelrickard.blogspot.com/">Rachael Rickard</a> - PA to the senior pastor, Married to the head of the production ministry. She claims sound techs wives are going to get the biggest mansions in heaven!<br /><a href="http://ryanoc.blogspot.com/">Ryan O'Connor</a> - Computer Science student, Always keen to help out somewhere.<br /><br />I'm excited to see this blogging, it great to see people I know sharing their thoughts with the world and getting feedback from others.<br /><br />I hope to see lots more posts and comments from all of you!<br /><br />Let me know if I've missed anyone... <a href="http://wyks.blogspot.com/">Wykie</a>, you need more than just photos bro...Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-64394721721471451182007-03-02T15:30:00.000+13:002007-03-02T15:33:25.644+13:00Library CogsI work for the <a href="http://www.waikato.ac.nz/library/">University of Waikato Library</a> in New Zealand. One of our goals for 2007 was to start a blog, naturally starting a blog is the easy part. Keeping it going will be a little harder...<br /><br />Anyway if you are interested in libraries, computer support, or other geeky type things check out <a href="http://librarycogs.blogspot.com">LibraryCogs - http://librarycogs.blogspot.com</a>.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-2932893526249118592007-02-14T13:58:00.000+13:002007-05-02T13:31:24.686+12:00Helpdesk, I'm having trouble with my book....I'm not usually big on posting youtube videos, but this one really had me laughing. I guess working as a computer support person in a library might make it a bit funnier...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xFAWR6hzZek"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xFAWR6hzZek" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Enjoy.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-28628831745603532442007-02-08T09:26:00.000+13:002007-02-08T11:04:13.497+13:00Julian Beever<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/images/2006/01/29/julian_beever_pavement_picasso_203_203x152.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/images/2006/01/29/julian_beever_pavement_picasso_203_203x152.jpg" border="0" alt="Julian Beever, Pavement Picasso" /></a><br />According to my web statistics a fair number of people are finding my site by searching for "Julian Beever's Life". I guess they must be discovering an old post of mine on <a href="http://jambecorp.blogspot.com/2005/08/optical-illusions-on-pavement.html">Julian Beever's optical illusion pavement drawings.</a> <br /><br />Unfortunately I don't know very much about his life, but I'm always willing to please so I'll tell you want I do know. According to his website has been making pavement drawings for over ten years and has worked in the U.K., Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Germany, the USA and Australia. Apparently he started pavement drawings to finance his travels around the globe.<br /><br />The BBC has a great article from last year on him, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/articles/2006/01/27/pavement_picasso_feature.shtml">The Pavement Picasso</a>. Which gives more information on the drawings, but not a lot about his life other than that he got started with pavement drawings while working in a Punch & Judy show in York. And that the ten years claimed on Julian's site is actually more like 15 now...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pavementpicasso/368914378/"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/109/368914378_23c9f04a3d.jpg?v=0" alt="Julian Beever doing a pavement Drawing for Aveeno in Union Square, New York"></a><br /><blockquote><em>Julian Beever doing a pavement Drawing for Aveeno in Union Square, New York</em></blockquote><br />For those who still want to know more, Eric Shackle has an interesting article, relating to Julian's recent <a href="http://bdb.co.za/shackle/articles/union_square.htm">pavement drawing in New York's Union Square</a>.<br /><br />See Also: <br />* <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfn8Dz_13Ms">Video of Julian Beever doing the union square pavement drawing</a><br />* <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pavementpicasso/sets/">Julian Beever's Flickr Photos</a><br />* <a href="http://users.skynet.be/J.Beever/">Julian Beevers Website</a><br />* <a href="http://www.impactlab.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=7567">More pavement drawing photos</a><br />* <a href="http://www.attivissimo.net/antibufala/madonnaro/artista.htm">Info about the art work and how it works</a><br />* <a href="http://www.anamorphosis.com/">ART OF ANAMORPHOSIS</a>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-80339986051690273632007-01-30T16:32:00.000+13:002007-01-30T16:39:39.504+13:00Jesus preaches more about heaven than hell!It isn't exactly surprising that Jesus mentions heaven more often than he mentions hell (at least when considering his words as recorded in the bible.) However it seems to be persistent myth that Jesus really talks about hell more than heaven! I don't know where that idea came from, but it annoys me when preachers don't bother to do the research to find out if what they say is true or not. Every time I hear some one say, the bible says more about X than it does about Y, or Jesus talks about Z 3 times more often than he mentions Q. I'm alway skeptical...<br /><br />Thanks to <a href="http://fritchie.blogspot.com">Frank Ritche</a> for doing the math.<br /><a href="http://fritchie.blogspot.com/2007/01/did-jesus-preach-about-heaven-or-hell.html">Did Jesus Preach About Heaven or Hell More?</a>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-32524982254650187382006-12-27T11:10:00.000+13:002006-12-31T19:05:27.243+13:00Luceo non UroWhile in <a href="http://jambecorp.blogspot.com/2006/08/colchester.html">Colchester England</a>, I saw a key ring bearing the name "Mackenzie" on it. Seeing as McKenzie is my middle name, I couldn't resist buying it. Yes that is right my middle name is McKenzie, it comes from my Dad's mothers maiden name I think. It seems like a bit of tradition if you look at my family history of maintaining the mothers maiden name as a middle name for the eldest son.<br /><br />Anyway, On the keyring is the Mackenzie clan motto "Luceo non Uro" which literally means "I shine, not burn". Apparently the saying came from blacksmithing or smithing in general, where one had to make sure that the metal you were working with didn't get burned, but shone in the heat. <a href="http://www.clansmithsociety.org/Badge%20and%20Motto.htm">[1]</a><br /><br />I think that is quite a cool motto when applied to life, We need to balance the hardships/heat in our lives so that we continue to grow and to shine but we also need to make sure we don't let life burn and scar us. The motto reads like it is a choice, which I think it often is. We do choose how we react to circumstances. <br /><br />Are you going to allow yourself to burn or to shine?Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-17363929878987001262006-12-15T14:12:00.000+13:002007-01-12T13:32:05.928+13:005 things Google should give us all for ChristmasLike all good ideas, more than one person has them :)<br /><a href="http://www.pandia.com/sew/334-google-xmas.html">Panda Search Engine News</a> beat me to the "google christmas presents" idea...<br /><br />Here are mine anyway:<br /><br /><h2>1. Put http:// back in the urls</h2><br />Like many avid google users I use the google personalized search feature, this has benefits in that you are able to look back at what you searched for and found, but it has the disadvantage that the link you click on in the search results isn't the real link. It redirects through google's tracking servers. <br />The problem is now that you can't look up a site then right click copy url and paste it into an email. You can select the url under the result and copy and paste that, but you have to add your own http:// to get the mail client to recognise it as a link. Since Yahoo also seems to do that same thing there may well be a very good reason for not displaying the http:// but it would be good to atleast hear it so that I can think of all the people I am helping each time I type http://<br /><br /><h2>2. Speed up google analytics</h2><br />I'm sick of waiting seeing "waiting for ssl.analytics.google.com" in my firefox status bar. It is also the reason I don't use it on my blog. I trialled it for a while but it just seemed to slow everything down. If it was me I'd go for a minimalist approach. Just get people to but a really small image on their site and record the hit at the server end. We don't need the fancy javascript stuff...<br /><br /><h2>3. Make Picasa Web Albums manageable with picasa</h2><br />When I heard about picasa web albums I was excited. This was going to mean I could create and manage albums in picasa and publish them on the web. Hoorary! The reality <br />left something to be desired. Picasa basically is just a tool you can use to upload files to picasa web, what we really need is something that will keep the same albums synchonised, eg. you say put this album on the web and as you add or remove files they magically appear in the right place on line.<br /><br /><h2>4. Add a "grab contacts" button to Gmail</h2><br />I often get emailed other peoples email addresses, or see people I need to email cc'd into an email I get. I would be great if there was an easy way to add these people into the address book.<br /><br /><h2>5. GCal Outlook Sync.</h2><br />People have been asking for this for a while, and some people have even developed some work arounds, but none of the ones I've tried work reliably for me. I think this is something google need to develop before Google Calendar really takes off in the business world.<br />Update: <a href="http://www.syncmycal.com/">Syncmycal</a> provides an excellent and free solution for this! Thanks <a href="http://syncmycal.blogspot.com/">Vaibhav</a>.<br /><br /><h2>5.5 Rest</h2><br />Have a good break, and come up with a whole lot of better ideas to do next year...<br /><br />Update: <a href="http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/xmas-list-from-pandia/#comment-92078">Matt Cutts likes my list</a>!<br />And see <a href="http://www.pandia.com/sew/335-matt-cutts.html">Pandia</a> again for a round up of blog posts on this topic.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188741.post-40514050432534576422006-12-07T09:47:00.000+13:002006-12-07T09:57:17.237+13:002007 Technology PioneersThe <a href="http://www.weforum.org">World Economic Forum</a> has just announced the technology pioneers they have invited to their annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Apparently getting to davos is every entrepreneur's dream. <br /><br />So congratulations to those companies who made it:<br /><a href="http://www.weforum.org/en/about/Technology%20Pioneers/SelectedTechPioneers/2007TechPioneers/IT/index.htm">http://www.weforum.org/en/about/Technology%20Pioneers/SelectedTechPioneers/2007TechPioneers/IT/index.htm</a><br /><br /><abbr title="World Economic Forum">WEF</abbr>, might need to hire one of these to technology pioneers to updated the titles on these pages so it doesn't display as "(untitled)" in the web browser...Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197297749926410100noreply@blogger.com0