Taxi

Could someone please call this guy a taxi???

According to this article a Scottish football player was found drunk and sleeping in his car in the middle of a highway. He apologised, but went on to say that the reason he got drunk to begin with because of bad umpiring of his match that night!

Ugh. Take some responsibility, buddy! Why do so many people refuse to accept the consequences of their own actions and decisions?

Make the decisions and live with the consequences.

I know that I find it hard admitting that I'm wrong or saying sorry but I've been trying to do it more and more. This will come as a shock to some but indeed even I am not perfect and do at times fall short.

You make your bed? Lie in it.
Darren

Love

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

- Paul (from 1 Corinthians)

So I was thinking that we should really overcome. I'm guilty of letting some hate pass by and though I don't join in, my passive attitude is part of the problem. Considering that love never fails, we should really use it a bit more proactively. I don't really buy that love can be passive.

As my friend Michael Collins puts it "We're The Salvation Army and we wage war with love: because love never fails". Hmm.

L8ers,
Darren

Triathlon

To meet new people and an in a bid to become a better triathlete I have joined a triathlon club! I had hoped to make my return to racing in a few months time.

However, some friends decided on doing an event here in Melbourne while I am on holidays in Melbourne, and I thought I'd join them for the sprint (shorter) event. I am easily influenced, however. When my 'friends' told me that sprints are for the weak and that I'd be better doing nothing at all rather than doing a sprint,

"Sprints are for the weak, eh? I'll show you who's weak"

So tomorrow I am busting a gut doing an Olympic distance triathlon for no less than 2.5 hours! Wow - what a fun way of spending your holidays.

It did get me thinking about all the things in my life that I do half-arsed. Stuff that I'd be better off not doing rather than doing a weak effort on.

I'll try to summon the energy to write more tomorrow,
Darren

Why I go...

I go to church to see my friends. There. I said it. Some have pointed holier-than-thou fingers at people like me for having such an attitude and they'll be glad another sinner has admitted the truth.

You see, I have my own direct line to God through Jesus. I can listen to better music on my iPod. I can download better sermons on the internet. My couch is comfier than most any pew and at no less than $1/L its way cheaper to stay at home. But how could I not go when a number of my friends will be in the one place at the one time?

I've staunchly defended myself for years - 'yes, indeed, I go to church to meet with God' but I can do that whenever and wherever I want so there must be another reason.

My belief is that if I admit that I got to church because my friends are there then I'm actually siding with Jesus! I think he goes to church for two reasons. Firstly, he promised that he'd show when two or more gather together, so for integrity's sake he's gotta show. Secondly and most importantly, he shows because when a number of his friends will be in the one place at the one time, where else would he want to be?

Church in the Round

I'm on vacation in Australia at the moment. Last night I had the chance to assist leading the evening service at Box Hill Salvos - my home church.

We did it a bit differently last night. No preacher. No music. Not even straight rows! We did have a meeting lead but it was scribbled on the back of a piece of paper at 5.55pm.

I suppose it verged on a talk show! We quizzed people on their various experiences: about a recent conference some youth were at, about sharing fellowship over the regular church community tea, about their lessons learnt in growing up. Then around tables we discussed the future: what does this year hold for each of us and what are our plans to grow closer to God and serve others.

It felt authentic and real and to quote Dave Collinson, "But for those that only like church when we are facing the stage, singing songs and listening to preachers it probably wrecked their week."

Blessings,
Darren

So where was I in 2007?

I spent the most amount of my time in Vancovuer's downtown eastside.
Next to that I was at Vancouver International Airport a lot but was not tasered - not even once.
I missed a few boats.
Every Wednesday during summer I hiked the Grouse Grind . At best I clocked under 40 minutes.
I turned 25.
Visited Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Miami, Sydney and Melbourne.
Spent all year wondering 'when will my new visa arrive'. (This question not answered until 3 January 2008!)
I swam, rode and ran a lot.
Hung out with my family.
I did many an embarrassing thing but only once or twice actually got embarrassed.

Until tomorrow,
Darren

Elongated intermission

Sorry... I don't know what happened.

I think I just ran out of things to say!

Until tomorrow,
Darren

No denying the Holy Spirit

I saw a news piece last night where the interviewer really went one up on the idiot behind Blasphemy Challenge. Shame I can't remember the channel. Interestingly, the interview doesn't appear in the propaganda page of their website (he was really shut down!).

This website - Blasphemy Challenge - encourages teens ('who are particularly targeted and abused by the church through indoctrination') to upload a video to youttube denying the existence of the Holy Spirit.

I know I may seem un-moved by the whole thing... arguably lacking in zeal about doing anything about this evil... but I've just been researching the project and am exhausted from the sad experience of doing do.

Your in the name of our Lord and Risen Savour Jesus Christ,
Darren

Cowardly soldiers

Can't find the quote, but apparently William Booth is quoted as saying "The reason why evil hasn't been defeated is because God's soldiers are cowards" or something to that effect.

So I googled the keywords to try and find the quote. Couldn't find it... but did find an interesting song by John Lomax of North Carolina.

Lord don't want no coward soldiers,
Lord don't want no coward soldiers in His band,
Lord don't want no coward soldiers,
Lord don't want no coward soldiers in His band.

Hot tub crowd

Tonight is my last night in Whistler. It's quite saddening.

Every evening I've sauntered down to the hottub for a bit. The snow falling on your head is neat as your body cooks in the water. B-E-A-UTIFUL!

I've learnt that the early-evening hottub crowd is vastly different from the late-night hottub crowd. I think I stand out in that bunch.
a) Everyone there seems to enjoy A LOT of booze. As part of the lifelong covenant that I entered into with the LORD I've never had a drink and by Gods grace I never will!
b) I don't smoke! Explaining the reasons why seems a bit pointless to the other hottub people in their state of inebriation, so I stuck with 'I'm a health nut' as I positioned myself upwind.
c) Others seem a little more easy going when it comes to their words. Slandering women, skiiers other nationalities doesn't really come as naturally to me as it does others.

Pride is sin, too- and I quite like being prideful, so I generally don't broadcast sin on my blog, in order to appear more holy than I actually am. (If you want the scoop on my shortcomings you'll probably need to contact those closest to me!)

I also met a nice lady who owns a 50's diner on Granville & Helmcken in Vancouver. I said I'd go visit her store next weekend so please hold me accountable to doing so!

L8ers,
Darren

Movie

Tonight we watched Millions. It's an English film about two young boys who come into money. Each wants to do a different thing with the cash, and it turns out to be a wonderful story, complete with fantastic cinematography and a precious donkey, too.

It's clean, fun (though tense in one or two scenes) and you'll be encouraged to build water sources for villages in Africa! I uber recommend you rent it.
Darren

Walking to the gondola

I'm on location today in Whislter! Woo hoo!

This morning as we walked to the gondola, it was interesting to see how different people approach their day on the slopes. Some walk fast... very keen to get going. Others stop for a coffee along the way and take it as an easy meander.

I just thought it was interesting to see!
Darren

Joseph

Been reading the book Matthew over the last few days. Crikey.

Joseph must have had a truckload of patience, kindness and gentleness not have divorced Mary then and. Matthew says that the angel appeared in the dream while he was thinking about divorcing her. I'm glad it was him and not me because I 'discovered my fiance was pregnant' I'd be spitting chips and it wouldn't be a quiet end to the relationship, that's for sure.

God bless Joseph.
Darren

Chinatown

Today I became a tourist in my own 'hood.

In the 23 months that I've lived in Vancouver I've barely explored my neighbouring Chinatown precinct. It's right next door the downtown Eastside. My bank is there, our cinema is there, our sports fields are there but I've never really been through. My favourite was seeing two ladies my Mum's age tearing apart two live crabs at the seafood store!

It's strange to think that I know not a single word or character of Chinese language, culture or beliefs. I don't even really know much about real Chinese food (not western Chinese food like beef with black bean sauce). Living incarnationally in a completely different culture would be very difficult - much harder than the context I am in!

Big ups to our brothers and sister in Asia spreading the gospel amidst much persecution.
Darren