Hello, still here. Still going ok. We've both been a bit sick but are getting better. Today was a bit of a write off though. I got up early to make soup for our Church's 'street fair'. Ended up feeling sick and having car troubles and so I didn't make it. I sent the soup with someone else, but I felt like such a loser! I really hate that feeling of being a hassle to the person who is organising something. Anyway, I head the street fair went well, despite the rain so that's good. And Nick and I both had a good rest which was much needed. It's funny, I still feel pretty good in general... but I keep realising that I just can't do that much. It's frustrating cos one day I'll be fine but the next I'll need lots of rest. It makes me feel really unreliable.
Anyway, this week is going to be a big week of baking so I'll have to pace myself. There's three cheesecakes to make for a combined bible study dinner on Thursday and afternoon tea to make for Saturday - our baby shower. I asked for a relaxed arvo tea in the park so am hoping it goes well and the weather is nice! I'm looking forward to making and eating a mountain of scones and other yummy things! ...an afterthought... I wonder what is the best way of managing toddlers and tempting picnic food? Any suggestions?
Ooh, one last thing - we're really excited about Google wave. More on that later.
I think they call it 'nesting'
I call it buying everything under the sun. Sure, I haven't actually spent much money, but thanks to Grapevine (the college op-shop), our little Baby B is going to be very well provided for!I have bags and bags and piles and piles of baby clothes, wraps, nappies and all the bits and pieces. Now, if only I could turn the nesting instinct into actually tidying and organising! Isn't that supposed to happen sometime?
So far I seem to be stuck in the 'provisioning' stage. Trips to the supermarket are like hunter gatherer expeditions... "but Nick, we need 20 tins of tomatoes - what if we run out!" So, although they're not tidy at least the cupboards are full.
Blog update
I feel like I should update our blog. Not quite sure what though.
Nick preached on Sunday on the second half of Ezekiel 36. It was really really good. One of those sermons that has a long and difficult birth but which is better for it. Nick very strongly felt like he was preaching to himself, and I think that made it all the more authentic and moving. It felt like the preaching from home which, every time I hear it, I realise how much I miss it. And hearing about God's greatness and his mighty works... well, it made me excited about the Northern suburbs again.
Other random stuff we've been up to? Bit of Master Chef. Nick has to endure me cringing (and wingeing) at all the 'reality tv' stuff. Bit of (me) talking about ads with all this commercial tv we've been watching. And a bit of watching Talking About Your Generation.
Baby B is getting bigger and so the poking and stretching is kinda uncomfortable now. The size of the bump is not too bad yet though which is good. And that cut on my ankle is getting better so I can walk properly now. Or waddle... as the case may be :)
Yeah, that's about it really. Bit of stuff coming up but I guess I'll leave that for another post. I think something that's been lingering in both of our minds is the stuff that Nick said a few posts ago about reading the Bible because you know you need to preach the gospel to yourself. So on that note I'll finish.
Nick preached on Sunday on the second half of Ezekiel 36. It was really really good. One of those sermons that has a long and difficult birth but which is better for it. Nick very strongly felt like he was preaching to himself, and I think that made it all the more authentic and moving. It felt like the preaching from home which, every time I hear it, I realise how much I miss it. And hearing about God's greatness and his mighty works... well, it made me excited about the Northern suburbs again.
Other random stuff we've been up to? Bit of Master Chef. Nick has to endure me cringing (and wingeing) at all the 'reality tv' stuff. Bit of (me) talking about ads with all this commercial tv we've been watching. And a bit of watching Talking About Your Generation.
Baby B is getting bigger and so the poking and stretching is kinda uncomfortable now. The size of the bump is not too bad yet though which is good. And that cut on my ankle is getting better so I can walk properly now. Or waddle... as the case may be :)
Yeah, that's about it really. Bit of stuff coming up but I guess I'll leave that for another post. I think something that's been lingering in both of our minds is the stuff that Nick said a few posts ago about reading the Bible because you know you need to preach the gospel to yourself. So on that note I'll finish.
When Two Rights Make A Wrong
Guests first, of course.
Aldi chocolate coated potato chips. Not as wrong as you'd think, but it still ain't right.
Thanks to Ben, Steve and Al for being our guinea pigs. I promise there will be better food at the next friday beers!
Devotions
In the morning (or whenever) do you do your Bible reading or preach the gospel to yourself?
One is a thing you do because you know it's good to do. The other is an act calling for you to put your faith in Jesus because you're a sinner. Both involve reading the Bible.
Just as you received Jesus, keep going.
One is a thing you do because you know it's good to do. The other is an act calling for you to put your faith in Jesus because you're a sinner. Both involve reading the Bible.
Just as you received Jesus, keep going.
Dumplings and happiness
On Monday night Mikey came up and stayed with us. It was a really fun evening. Jml came over for dinner too and in honour of the occasion I made dumplings. We all stayed up far too late and had a wonderful time! Great conversation with old friends is a beautiful thing.
For those who are interested, these are pork dumplings. I use Gow Gee wrappers which are a round rice pastry. To flavour the pork I use heaps of shallot tops and ginger plus some soy sauce, rice wine and sesame oil. I add some salt and pepper and an egg and then try to marinate the mixture in the fridge for a few hours at least. I boil them then fry the bottoms a little bit. They're best dipped in sauce made up of soy and black vinegar with a tiny dash of sesame oil. I am very much a beginner when it comes to the world of dumplings, but also very much a keen learner!
For those who are interested, these are pork dumplings. I use Gow Gee wrappers which are a round rice pastry. To flavour the pork I use heaps of shallot tops and ginger plus some soy sauce, rice wine and sesame oil. I add some salt and pepper and an egg and then try to marinate the mixture in the fridge for a few hours at least. I boil them then fry the bottoms a little bit. They're best dipped in sauce made up of soy and black vinegar with a tiny dash of sesame oil. I am very much a beginner when it comes to the world of dumplings, but also very much a keen learner!
Ninjas wanted
Confession - I know nothing about html code but I decided to use this free template anyway and attempted to fiddle around with it, somewhat successfully....
... except for one small problem - it doesn't have a date stamp for each post and I can't get blogger to add one in nicely.
So if you're a ninja with these things... maybe you could take a look and tell me what I need to add in a date stamp? I've figured out one way, but it looks real ugly and it's in American date format.
... except for one small problem - it doesn't have a date stamp for each post and I can't get blogger to add one in nicely.
So if you're a ninja with these things... maybe you could take a look and tell me what I need to add in a date stamp? I've figured out one way, but it looks real ugly and it's in American date format.
A Time for Everything
Can I just say... I think 6pm is a bad time for church. It's just like, my opinion man. But seriously - peeps has gotta eat. It just ain't right ;)
More advice I've ripped off
One of the tips I've heard from a few church planters/leaders is this:
Another thing is making sure I don't just gather people around me who are like me or who will just agree with me. If I get the knowing myself right then it should make it easier to give others space to flourish and enrich the church.
Work to your strengths, staff to your weaknesses.Part of that means getting to understand how I work. I'm pretty self-reflective anyway but I've also been doing a few personality tests. I'd like to do a gifts course. Any recommendations?
Another thing is making sure I don't just gather people around me who are like me or who will just agree with me. If I get the knowing myself right then it should make it easier to give others space to flourish and enrich the church.
Church planting conference
You can now register for the Smart Planting, Right Planting conference. I think the format will work well:
Edit: it looks like we might've jumped the gun. The registration page now says 'don't register yet!'
Edit #2: Looks like it's all go now.
Join with a dozen of Australia’s proven church planters for two days in June as they share major things they have learnt in church planting and hear each reflect on a significant theological issue they had to work through.Bernie and I have just registered. Those holidays are going to be conference and baby central for me, the fundraising one is on a few days after and the baby's due the week after that. Good times.
Sprinkled through the conference will be reflection sessions where we listen in to
three church planters discuss what they have heard.
Edit: it looks like we might've jumped the gun. The registration page now says 'don't register yet!'
Edit #2: Looks like it's all go now.
It was worth it
It was a beautiful day today. Nick and I went down to Erskineville for coffee this morning and I had an awesome hot chocolate. Shenkin do a Belgian style hot choc which really tastes like proper chocolate. Yum! Unfortunately I knocked the water bottle off the table and it smashed and I ended up with quite a deep cut on my ankle. The guys at the cafe were lovely though and even bandaged it up for me.
