Peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:27

I have for some time been quietly stressed about what my life will look like next year. It's that balance of having enough (whatever THAT looks like!) money coming in with as much time to do and be mission/relationship/family as possible as well I guess is the fact that I one day want my vocation, life family job, community to kind of all bleed into one as much as that could be done. I don't wont to be pulled in a million different directions yet at the same time I want a good diversity as I get restless with only one focus. I want to do things that honour my passions and sense of calling, yet I don't feel I HAVE to always be paid to fulfill all these passions and 'callings'. I then have the ugly issue of being a bit of a people pleaser, so when someone says, 'let's do this' - I am thinking, 'sure, if that would make you happy, or like me more or...', or someone comes to me and suggests, 'you would be great at this job', it pats my ego and I think, 'yes I would be wouldn't I!'.

So when I read a devotional thought today by Charles Ringma on the theme of peace, I thought it was very comforting as was the scriptural theme (above). So I thought I would type the lot out!

Finding Peace Within
Learning to Be At Home With Ourselves.

We need to come to an inner peace if our life is to be perennially productive. Such inner peace is a fruit of the way we consistently live. It is not the product of an escape from our circumstances - although we frequently think that a change in our circumstances will provide us with the answers we seek and the peace we long for.
Peace comes from being at home with ourselves. It comes from being thankful for the way God has made us and gifted us. It comes from the joy of giving and an appreciation for all that we receive. It comes from accepting ourselves and celebrating all that is good, while working on what needs to change.
Peace comes from being loved and having the satisfaction of achievement and the challenge of new goals. Peace wells up from within, but is clearly related to the way we live and the choices we make.
But it is seldom the result of much-having. It does not necessarily come with great success. Instead it is the unexpected gift. It is the surprise. It is there even when we didn't expect it. It remains even when the going is tough. And it can grow even in the midst of pain and difficulty.
If peace finds its expression in being at home with ourselves, we clearly need to stop looking elsewhere. Henri Nouwen laments the fact that "we do not trust our inner most self as an intimate place." He notes that we "anxiously wander around hoping to find [peace] where we are not." Because peace is not simply the fruit of our circumstances, it can only come from within. And it can only abide there if we are at peace with ourselves.

Charles Ringma
"Dare To Journey with Henri Nouwen"

Hope you appreciated these thoughts as I did.
Shalom

Scott

Best Shot from Down South

Christine takes a great photo. I know we all like shots of the kids being cute and all, but this one is on our desktop at home and I love it.

The South Holiday

The second part of our holiday was 3 days in the South West camping. We were a bit concerned with weather warnings all over the state, but we managed to miss the worst of it.
We were camping at Hamlin Hollow, Contos Field on Caves Road, not far up from Augusta.


We climbed through Giants cave, a self guided cave that takes about 1.5 hours, the kids loved it as much as it was a bit scary in parts where you have to get through small tunnel like bits.


We drove along the coast track from Contos to Point rd and took Point straight back to Caves Rd. This Point Rd was heaps of fun, a good 4WD track with some big water over the track and lots of ugly rocks! The kids loved every minute...so did Dad, Mum loved it, although I am aware that essentially this is her car and every time we scratched the paint or bottomed out I think she wondered if she would have her car back.

We also took the Kilcarnup track one day, now that was an amazing track - LOTS of fun! Of course I didn't buy this car because it was a 4WD, just because it was a diesel...a FUN diesel!

The showers seems to move around us mostly. We had a big tarp over the tents, which gave us extra security in case of big rain and we didn't really get any until the last night - we woke up dry.

We roasted marshmallows and had marshmallow and chocolate burritos on the hotplate on the fire.
We did a night hike looking for possums but didn't find anything but an appetite
We saw Bandicoots, Possums, Owls, roos, Kookaburras and more.

We had Simmos ice cream...HMMM

2 Days of Farming

We have had a great week of "northing" and "southing" it.
North - Badgingarra
South - Contos Field, Almost bush camping somewhere south of the Prevally turn off on Caves Road. (They do have a long drop toilet and a camp kitchen, so it's not true bush camping!)

This picture diary is of the northern part of our adventures.
We have been 'farming' for many years, since we were married in fact. We called in to this farm on our honeymoon for the first time and have been back at least 2 or 3 times a year since. Mel has been Christine's best bud for many years and she went teaching in the country and married Graham - a true blue farmer type, no bloody worries kind a guy! This is their property. We get there a new way now, much prettier than straight up the Brand Hwy. When we get to Regans Ford we turn right off the Hwy and head through Dandarrigan (I think) and then left via the scenic route, it's a great hilly road, very nice.

They are building a new house right in the middle of a wheat crop right now, it looks great!

We spend a few hours cooking up 'local' lamb chops and snags on the open fire.

We also went for a nice long hike. They have some nature reserve in their property, a big hill called Boothandarra, we found Donkey Orchids, a little cave, a few roos and lots of prickly bushes.

Thanks to the generosity of the Whites we usually load up the trailer with wood for the fire and sheep poo for the garden. So considering we used one fuel tank of biodiesel to get up there and almost home, we don't pay for heating our house nor fertalizing our garden, I'd say we had a cheep holiday, many thanks to the generosity of Mel and Graham!!

Mik lazing the day away.

Sophie inspecting the cooking...or the cook more like!

2 Weeks Leave

I have 2 weeks leave. It seems a long time since I had 2 or more weeks leave, honestly I can't pin point when it was, probably a few months ago, ho hum.
Not the point, the point is...
This is enjoyable, I like my place here in Joondalup, I am a bit of a home boy. So this first week is pretty much about me!
Day 1 (Tuesday) - Garden, Shed, biodiesel. - Kids at Mum and Dad's
Day 2 - Same. - Kids at mum and Dad's
Day 3 - Same. - Kids out with cousins
Day 4 - Same, but I promised to wash the floor. - Kids hanging out at home with friends.
Day 5 and 6 (Weekend) we are going to Badgingarra to get fire wood, sheep poo and hang out with good friends.
Day 7 (next Monday) - Garden, shed.
Day 8, 9 and 10 - Camping with family at Contos, just near Prevally, Caves Road.
Day 11 - Hang around, Forge intensive begins tonight.
Day 12, 13 Forge intensive, but I am also meant to be in Northam at a friends farm...not sure how to do both, hmmm
Day 14 - Chill read, centre myself to go back to work in the morning.

I have a list of jobs that need doing. They are pretty much run of the mill. A rattle on there car, a leaking roof, wire up the shed, relocate the bio diesel processor and the bowser. I want to install a water pump for the rain water tank. I would like to get some rocks from the farm for around my new pond (the pond was a bulk rubbish find!).

This arvo I sat out in the sprinkling rain looking at our efforts in the garden today. I felt quite satisfied. We grabbed a heap of green roof tiles from the tip and made raised garden beds. I bought some good organic compost and straw as well as a few big bags of saw dust to make paths between all the beds (as well as adding to my own compost). We installed the new pond and solar powered pump. This pond is not so we can have fish, but rather to attract more insects into the garden for cross pollination of plants. Some plants (Zucchini for example) wont grow fruit without a bee or insect (or Christine with a small paintbrush!) germinating them. Having a water feature helps create a greater and fuller life cycle or ecosystem inside our small back yard. The insects attract frogs, frogs eat slugs and bugs and mozzies. They say frogs are a healthy sign in a garden. Tonight after a drive to "dispose" of some waste product from the biodiesel production, I grabbed my head torch for a one more look over our garden work. I wandered around the new beds and walked up to the pond, what should be sitting up on the edge of one of the beds overlooking the new pond...a big shiny black frog! It was as if he was saying, "now that's what I'm talking 'bout!"

So here's to the good life!

Where have I been?

Been Slack on the Old Blog stuff, here is a quick update;

Going Where?
I have spent the last 2 weeks with Scripture Union. Camp one was with Mirrabooka High Yr 8 boys doing a selective boys to men type camp. 17 kids, lots of attitude and not all good. The last night we had to sleep out by ourselves in the bush under our own hoothchies, I was wet, very wet! The talks I did on Men as Lover, King, Monk and Warrior went well (Thanks to Mike's suggestions on this site!)
Last week's camp was a bit less intense, Winthrop Baptist yr 11's Kayaking on the Murray.

Reading What?
Reading a few books;
Mark Sayers, "The Trouble With Paris"
Rob Hopkins, "The Transition Handbook"
Henry DeWitt, "Fathering Daughters - Reflections By Men"

Watching What?
Last night watched Kung Fu Panda - Great Laugh, even some Python style humour!
Watched a 1999 flick called Pitch Black which was the first in the Chronicles of Riddick series, Vin Diesel - Good watch!

Playing With What?
My bio diesel processor...we made a batch of 50L, then 80L went great, then a batch of 150L, not so great but managed a rescue and it looks great now. Then a couple of weeks ago did a 100L batch and managed soap. Yes soap is an unfortunate bi-product of stuffing up with this process. Glycerol is one of the waste products, it is also the base product for soap manufacturing, stuff up some small element in the bio process and wham - you have litres of liquid sticky glue which is actually heavy grade soap. My mate Lance has done most of the rescuing as I have been away. It looks like we may have saved a good deal of the oil!

Enjoying What?
Loved a walk to the library and then take-a-way and movies with my family yesterday arvo.
I am also enjoying the thought of 2 weeks leave over the July school hols. 3 days at Contos camp group near Prevally/Yallingup. 2 days up at the farm, lots of days just pottering at home.

Working For Whom?
I am still full time with Churches of Christ (3 days Youth Vision Ministry Coach and 2 Days OnEARTH/GMP). The SU (Scripture Union) stuff is really to keep a hand in with youth ministry experience as well as looking at options for next year.
I will be working for SU 2 days a week next year in their Neighbourhood Outreach/Forge area as well as doing a camp a term for them in Warriuka. Hopefully I can continue doing the OnEARTH stuff as it is hotting up a little.

Looking Forward to What?
Well 2 weeks leave, then 3 days in Sydney with Youth Vision, then starting up a 14 week study (OnEARTH/Ignition) which includes 2 weeks in Halls Creek with a crew from our Church as well as some others, I am also running a weekend leaders retreat in August which looks like fun.
Finishing off our new raised garden beds out the back, fixing my dead roller door, tidying up my yard a bit and generally slowing down and reading some more.

So that is it. Been way too busy, but feel ok. Not pumped. Always dreaming too much of a quiet life in the country, working less not more. But I need to learn to be in the moment more, "be where you are".

Restless

Been restless of late.
I have had a few projects on the go that have not been instant gratification type things.
- The car purchase drove me up the creek and took weeks longer than I thought it would, but ended well.
- My 'project' in the shed has hit a block in that a pump refuses to pull the 'product' through and the company I bought it off have been too busy to help for days.
- I have been putting off the service on my scooter for $$$ reasons and today I decided to do it myself. I am no mechanic, but I thought it would be easy. I could not get the oil plug out, and even if I could the oil would have gone everywhere as the stand it right where you would put a container. So I thought I would just pull the spark plug instead, I simply could not find one! I put it all back together and will wait for another day...to take it in for a service :)
- I am building a small roof over a bit between my shed and the side fence. I went down to a friend factory who is into roofing yesterday. He had a bit, just the size of what I wanted, he was busy, so I can back today. In the past 24hours one of his workers decided upon an annual clean out...of my sheet of colourbond!
- I am floundering in what I want to read. I read Kingsolvers Animal Miracle Vegetable, recently, that was a good read. I am reading Colossians Remixed by Walsh at present, a great read. But I keep wanting to pick up a novel (like Breath by Winton or the sequel to Pillars of The Earth, World Without End...or anything) and get lost in it.
- I have course in Rockingham in the morning on how to make Biodiesel, should be good.
- Thinking about changing jobs next year and all that will mean.

Restless...

Test Drive the Beast

Ok I know, as my wife reminded me, I did not want a 4x4. I spent my driving life in 4x4's and have trashed the environment and spent enough money fixing expensive parts and replacing expensive off road tyres... but sometimes it's all just too attractive! Our church crew had a day in Gidgie yesterday and the boys went off for some male bonding ! jack ran like a dream. Thanks Dave R for the video, love your work. (Sorry about the scratches on your new car Christine :(

Finally A New Truck! (and other bits)

We are now the proud owners (after about 6 weeks of searching) of an old 1993 mint condition 3.1L Turbo Diesel Holden Jackaroo.

Tried to make our first batch of diesel Fri night and the engine/pump is stuffed - aghhh

Off to do a wedding today, went to print out the wedding certificate and put it in the printer upside down - aghhh
Went to print of all my notes for the service and the document is there and there is nothing in it, not a thing! This has never happened, obviously it happened because Word is a Windows programme. I should be using a Mac programme! Another that happened that has never happened before is that the couple I am marrying asked for a ful copy of the entire service at the rehearsal. So I had printed it off before it disappeared - I just rang the groom and he has it!! Phew!

Off

I am off for this week at a Scriture Union Camp in the South West. Carey Baptist College I think.

See ya.

Interesting Comment on Evangelism

"[...they] do not believe in evangelistic strategies, other than the pursuit to be like Jesus in his interactions with others. They do not target people or have an agenda but rather seek to love all those whom God brings to them. They do not hope for a belief change for their conversation partners as much as a life change. Because of their high level of engagement with other cultures, the sacred/secular split is overcome as they practice the kingdom in their midst, in community."

Eddie Gibbs and Ryan Bolger cited in Scot McKnights, A community called atonement (Abingdon Press, 2007).

I wonder who "they" are? I wonder if "they" look like your/my church, your community group whatever.
I wonder if "just living it out" is just an excuse for not proclaiming their faith, or if in fact their faith is so 'present' in their lives that it is open and lived as a natural part of their lives"
Challenging hey, how different is your lifestyle? Enough to make people think, wonder, ask questions, consider their own lives?

New Car...but not!

I came so close to buying a Holden Jackaroo 2000 3.0L Turbo Diesel today. I drove it Sunday. Sweet car. Everyone says they are one of the best value cars around as they never were a massive popular 4WD for no reason, bit ugly I guess.
I offered our best pending mechanic assessment, he took the offer.
My mechanic, an awesome guy who has looked after us and a few others in our community for years says..."Hmmm - Jackaroo, brilliant car, very underrated. But that engine (post 98) no end of issues, if it breaks you better own the bank!" Buy an older one pre '98.

So if you have a pre 98 post 95 Jackaroo you want to sell me 3.1L Td let me know.

Aghhhhhh - I hate car shopping.

Forge Conference Thoughts

I have been reading (and commenting) over at Allelon on a post by Andrew M about conferences. Specifically triggered by last weekends Forge festival. I though t I would post some of my thoughts here too.

I said that "I have to confess something…I came away [from the festival/conference] feeling a bit like Andrew M. I know all the cliches about getting out what you put in etc. I was feeling a bit off on the Friday before it all started, but went Friday night and loved it, Mike frost was great [a message worth getting a hold of] , catching up with some old friends was a blast!
I loved the conference being in the heart of Melbourne.
The venue was brilliant.
The electives all looked great (although not explained in much detail on the handbook. In fact this is a personal issue but I hate so many choices, I end up not choosing and going out for coffee somewhere.)
I felt the conference, (any conference for that matter) missed the point of what an organic movement is all about - organic, grass roots(y). As soon as a movement such as Forge begin to gather in a “Forgesong” style gathering (ok cynic is me) I feel we lose something of our unique underground subversive identity. I have nothing to back this up other than a feeling I had the first night I walked into conference #1 in 2006 and saw T-shirts and stick pins for sale.

So why have I continued to return after 3 years?
Same as what Hamo said - I love gathering with people of like mind and hearing stories, coffee shop stories more than up front preachy stories. Over 3 years of attending - this has been almost addictive for me, the stories. The word ‘Tribe’ is used a fair bit about these gatherings. I like that, only that it does not feel like a tribe when we assemble in the big auditorium. It feels like a church meeting, or just like a conference of the type that I used to attend almost religiously up to 8 or 9 times a year in my old mega church life."

So, What Would You Do?

I have a Mazda 626 7 seater wagon 1990, It blew a gear box (Auto) 2 months ago, I put another one it, it blew last week and I got another one (free). It needs new exhaust, and the list goes on.
I need to lose it!

I would like;
- Another 7 or 8 seater.
- A diesel (obviously so I can make my own)
- One that fits under my 1900mm garage.
- I don't have to have a 4wd.
- I don't have to have a van.
- I have $15000 max

Any clues?

I hate cars!

Speaking of Farming...

We spent Easter up at our friends place, a massive farm inland from Badgingarra, half way to Geraldton, WA.
It was classic country weekend with Go Karting Saturday and Mora speedway, sprint car championships Sunday night.
Sunday morning I was the 'guest preacher' at the little local church. We did a sunrise service and I was to see up a stations of the cross, but it was s wind we almost ran through the stations...so much for suffering for Jesus!! :)

Blog Fast

Blog fasting for Lent...apart from this one :)

Stuff We Use

Have you ever considered that caring for our planet is one of your values?
What about reducing your waste (no not your waist!!)?
Recycling? Using less?
Living in smaller communities, closer to home?
Considering the lives of the people who produce the stuff we consume in our western culture?
Do you consider 'Creation Care' a part of your stewardship?

Are these some of your values?

Then you will enjoy and maybe even be challenged by this teaching clip. (Which is being Temperamental today)

It kind of says it all, sit down take a few minutes. I think kids should watch it too, I guess tweenagers upwards.

Here is a great (or not so great) quote, quoted in the video by the commentator, it was said by Victor Lebeau, a leading post war economist-

"Our enormously productive economy demands that we make consumption our way of life, that we convert the buying and use of goods into rituals, that we seek our spiritual satisfaction, our ego satisfaction, in consumption … we need things consumed, burned up, replaced and discarded at an ever accelerating rate."

Free Fridge To Good Home

My old 480L fridge/freezer sits in my shed.
It still works, it's a Westinghouse, they work forever.
It is about 10 or so years old, we bought a new one last year as we needed more space.
It could also use a new seal around the door at some point in the future, I think it works hard keeping itself at the right temp. But keep its temp it does.
It would make itself at home in a young family or a smaller grown family of 3 or 4.

Free to someone who want to come and get it from Joondalup, Perth.

My Big Day

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Comment

I ran into an old mate in Broome briefly.
He was the head boy at Churchlands SHS the year before I rose to that prominent place of power myself :) I was on the student council under Steve's leadership.
I would have to say he was a guy with amazing sensitivity and character, a guy who was able to have a great laugh and muck around yet was able to engage with you one on one at a deep level and left you feeling listened to and understood.
Steve has an Aboriginal heritage and now works in Canberra for Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS).
But here's the thing -
Last night The Joondalup Thing had a guest speaker come, Ian Barnes from Murdoch Uni, he spoke on Global Warming and a believer's response to all this stuff. It turns out he knows Steve well and has a high regard for him.
When I mentioned that to Steve in an email this morning he replied with the comment -
"I would have to say he [Ian] is someone who I have always regarded as a mentor and role model. In fact, I believe that he is one of the finest human beings I have ever met."
What is THAT??? You don't just say that stuff! "Finest human beings ever met".
Imagine having someone say that about you?
Not that I am striving for everyone to say that about me, but imagine even if just one person in the world thought that about you, what an honour, what a compliment!

It just struck me as so profound a comment.