Merry Christmas :-)

Christmas Eve... it seems to come around so quickly, but I love the change that Christmas gives us a real specific time to focus on God becoming a man.

Think about that, God - all powerful, all creating - becomes his creation!

The only way I can liken it is that as a kid I use to build huge Lego cities... I loved Lego, and I'd spend hours putting together buildings, cars, petrol stations, boats and trucks for my little Lego men to live in.

But what kind of jump would it be for me to step out of my human world and to become a Lego man, to live amongst them, confined to their world.  How would I feel suddenly only being able to move if a human put me into motion, or clicked me into a car seat (wonders how uncomfortable those bits of Lego would be plugging into the two holes in my butt :-P).

That's what God did in Jesus though.  A jump for us to Lego men is unthinkable, but that's a good example of what Jesus did.

"Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing,taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father."

- Philippians 2:6-11

I think that sums up Christmas - let's celebrate the fact God became man, to save us, and to redeem the entire world!

Merry Christmas to you all! God Bless, and if you haven't accepted that gift of forgiveness Jesus offers, really look at how much he loves you this Christmas.

I've seen 96 out of 239 films

SUPPOSEDLY if you've seen over 85 films, you have no life. Mark the ones you've seen. There are 239 films on this list. Copy this list, then put x's next to the films you've seen, add them up, change the header adding your number, and click post at the bottom. Have fun.

( ) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean
(x ) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
( ) Boondock Saints
(x) Fight Club
(x) Starsky and Hutch
(x) Neverending Story
( ) Blazing Saddles
( ) Airplane
Total: 6

(x) The Princess Bride
(x) AnchorMan
(x) Napoleon Dynamite
( ) Labyrinth
( ) Saw
( ) Saw II
( ) White Noise
( ) White Oleander
(x) Anger Management
(x) 50 First Dates
( ) The Princess Diaries
( ) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 11

( ) Scream
( ) Scream 2
( ) Scream 3
(x) Scary Movie
( ) Scary Movie 2
( ) Scary Movie 3
( ) Scary Movie 4
(x) American Pie
( ) American Pie 2
( ) American Wedding
( ) American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 13

( ) Harry Potter 1
( ) Harry Potter 2
( ) Harry Potter 3
( ) Harry Potter 4
( ) Harry Potter 5
() Resident Evil 1
() Resident Evil 2
(x) The Wedding Singer
( ) Little Black Book
( ) The Village
(x) Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 15

(x) Finding Nemo
( ) Finding Neverland
(x) Signs
(x) The Grinch
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
( ) White Chicks
( ) Butterfly Effect
( ) 13 Going on 30 (suddenly 30 - australian title)
(x) I, Robot
(x) Robots
Total so far: 20

(x) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
( ) Universal Soldier
( ) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
(x) Along Came Polly
(x) Deep Impact
( ) KingPin
( ) Never Been Kissed
(x) Meet The Parents
(x) Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
(x) Joe Dirt
(x) KING KONG
Total so far: 27

( ) A Cinderella Story
(x) The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
(x) Dumb & Dumber
( ) Dumber & Dumberer
( ) Final Destination
( ) Final Destination 2
( ) Final Destination 3
( ) Halloween
( ) The Ring
( ) The Ring 2
( ) Surviving X-MAS
(x) Flubber
Total so far: 30

( ) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
( ) Practical Magic
( ) Chicago
( ) Ghost Ship
( ) From Hell
( ) Hellboy
( ) Secret Window
( ) I Am Sam
(x) The Whole Nine Yards
( ) The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 31

(x) The Day After Tomorrow
( ) Child's Play
( ) Seed of Chucky
( ) Bride of Chucky
(x) Ten Things I Hate About You
(x) Just Married
( ) Gothika
( ) Nightmare on Elm Street
( ) Sixteen Candles
(x) Remember the Titans
( ) Coach Carter
( ) The Grudge
( ) The Grudge 2
(x) The Mask
( ) Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 36

(x) Bad Boys
(x) Bad Boys 2
( ) Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number Slevin
(x) Ocean's Eleven
(x) Ocean's Twelve
(x) Bourne Identity
(x) Bourne Supremecy
( ) Lone Star
( ) Bedazzled
(x) Predator I
( ) Predator II
( ) The Fog
(x) Ice Age
(x) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
( ) Curious George
Total so far: 45

(x) Independence Day
( ) Cujo
( ) A Bronx Tale
( ) Darkness Falls
( ) Christine
(x) ET
() Children of the Corn
() My Bosses Daughter
( ) Maid in Manhattan
(x) War of the Worlds
(x) Rush Hour
(x) Rush Hour 2
Total so far: 50

( ) Best Bet
( ) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
(x) She's All That
( ) Calendar Girls
( ) Sideways
(x) Mars Attacks
(x) Event Horizon
( ) Ever After
( ) Wizard of Oz
(x) Forrest Gump
( ) Big Trouble in Little China
(x) The Terminator
(x) The Terminator 2
(x) The Terminator 3
Total so far: 57

(x) X-Men
(x) X-2
(x) X-3
(x) Spider-Man
(x) Spider-Man 2
(x) Sky High
( ) Jeepers Creepers
( ) Jeepers Creepers 2
( ) Catch Me If You Can
(x) The Little Mermaid
( ) Freaky Friday
( ) Reign of Fire
(x) The Skulls
(x) Cruel Intentions
(x) Cruel Intentions 2
( ) The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
(x) Shrek 2
Total so far: 69

( ) Swimfan
( ) Miracle on 34th street
( ) Old School
( ) The Notebook
( ) K-Pax
( ) Krippendorf's Tribe
( ) A Walk to Remember
( ) Ice Castles
( ) Boogeyman
(x) The 40-year-old Virgin
Total so far: 70

(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(x) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
(x) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(x) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(x) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(x) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Total so far: 76

(x) Baseketball
( ) Hostel
( ) Waiting for Guffman
( ) House of 1000 Corpses
( ) Devils Rejects
(x) Elf
( ) Highlander
( ) Mothman Prophecies
( ) American History X
( ) Three
Total so Far: 78

( ) The Jacket
( ) Kung Fu Hustle
() Shaolin Soccer
( ) Night Watch
(x) Monsters Inc.
(x) Titanic
(x) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
( ) Shaun Of the Dead
( ) Willard
Total so far: 81

( ) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
(x) Hulk
( ) Dawn Of the Dead
(x) Hook
(x) Chronicles Of Narnia The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
( ) 28 days later
( ) Orgazmo
( ) Phantasm
(x) Waterworld
Total so far:85

(x) Kill Bill vol 1
(x) Kill Bill vol 2
( ) Mortal Kombat
( ) Wolf Creek
( ) Kingdom of Heaven
( ) The Hills Have Eyes
( ) I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
( ) The Last House on the Left
( ) Re-Animator
( ) Army of Darkness
Total so far: 87

(x) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(x) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(x) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(x)Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
( ) Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
( ) Ewoks The Battle For Endor
Total so far: 93

(x) The Matrix
(x) The Matrix Reloaded
(x) The Matrix Revolutions
( ) Animatrix
( ) Evil Dead
( ) Evil Dead 2
( ) Team America: World Police
( ) Red Dragon
( ) Silence of the Lambs
( ) Hannibal
Total so far: 96

Now Add them up and... you've seen 96 out of 239 films

I am the Little Drummer Boy

Loving Christmas and all the Christmas Carols, but listening to 96.5 the other day and a version of The Little Drummer Boy really stood out.

Obviously as a drummer I like the carol, but I really listened to the words and wow!

The second and third verses are what do it for me.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum 
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum 
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum 
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum, 
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, 

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum, 
On my drum? 

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum 
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum 
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum 
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum, 
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, 

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum 
Me and my drum. 

I am so poor and unworthy, and when I play the drums many times I feel it is the only gift I can bring him.

So many times I sit back and think, I'll play my drum for him, I'll play my best for him!  

And the thought of him smiling at me, me and my drum...

That's wonderful!

Storms

We've continued to have some beaut storms up here in Queensland.

Here's a photo I got on Stafford Rd at Gordon Park in Brisbane the other week.

Yes... I went and stood in the middle of the road... busy road, probably not smart, but made for a good shot.

At Peace

I think sometimes we forget what it's like to be at peace with God's will for us.

For the past month I've had something I knew God wanted me to do... but it was big, and scary, and though I didn't 'put it off' I just took my sweet time doing it.

I did it on Friday and I woke up Saturday morning feeling completely different.  I can only put it down to being at peace with the knowledge I've done something God wants me to do.  It means big changes, and it's still a scary idea - but the peace God gave me since Saturday makes me know it will all be alright.

So if there's something God's telling you to do, no matter how big and scary it is, no matter what it will mean for your future; I can tell you that once you do it you'll have a peace that will make everything feel alright.

Don't Be Vomit

Revelation 3:14-22

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

      These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Some points on the passage;

• ~This message to the church in Laodicea comes from Jesus himself - John is isolated on an island when the vision comes to him, in which Jesus is telling an someone to send these separate churches a message... this is from the mouth of Jesus himself
• ~Laodicea was a rich industrial town, with a big textile industry producing fine cloth, and a developed medical proess with a mineral that helped with poor eyesight.
• ~Being far from a water source the towns supply was transferred via a series of aqua ducts, and by the time it arrived to the town it was luke warm.

Jesus uses the characteristics of the town to highlight specific issues in the church

• ~They are neither hot nor cold, but luke warm, which like the water in the town was able to give a sickly feeling in one's stomach.
• ~The people in the church from Laodicea believed they were rich, due to what they had, the wealth from industry and self image from knowledge - when from God's perspective they were really more of a wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked group of people.
• ~They were spiritually blind, something that would have dug deep because of the pride the people had in their ability to restore sight.
• ~They were spiritually naked, again digging at the pride the people had in their fine linen industry.

Jesus points out that the only true healing can be provided from himself.

• ~(v18)"I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see."
• ~(v19)"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."

I'm not sure if you've ever had a rough tummy bug, I'd assume most people have.  I remember when I was in Africa - I'd eaten a BBQ with some British mates, and the meat had not been quite right.  I caught some bug (Banjul Belly all the Misso's called it) and was crook for days.  What I distinctly remember though was lying on the floor of these British friend's house, feeling terrible... my stomach hurt, my head hurt, my throat hurt and I felt totally weak.  I knew I had to go home so I started walking back to my place. I can remember I couldn't even walk in a straight line and I felt faint.  Suddenly I knew whatever was inside of me needed to come out.

I threw up in the street - and instantly I felt much better. All that gunk that was in my belly, making me feel so ill wasn't there anymore.  My body knew what was making me feel sick and expelled it.

Some versions of this passage say that God is going to vomit the Laodicea church out of his mouth, because they are luke warm.  In essence the luke warmness makes God feel so ill that he will feel better by expelling that from his body.

That's a very harsh though, that we could make God feel ill.  I know in many cases I am luke warm in my relationship with him - and I strive to heat it up.

Here are 5 principals to live by which should heat up your life;

• ~Repent of any kind of sin in your life
• ~Put right any wrongs with others
• ~Get rid of any doubtful behaviour
• ~Obey the Holy Spirit promptly
• ~Proclaim a faith in Christ publically

1Year Today

12 months ago today I said goodbye to me 97 Falcon XR6 and hello to my brand new Mitsubishi Lancer.

(My final thoughts of the Falcon last year)

Well a year on and I can honestly say I haven't regretted the decision. I miss my old XR6, but the Lancer has been brilliant.  

I've spent hardly anything on servicings, the fuel economy has been simply fantastic and the Lancer is still a fun car to drive.

The Odometer clock for today was 33 999kms, so basically I've done 34 000ks in the poor thing this year, so it hasn't been taking it easy.

The Lancer has been exactly what I wanted it to be - a comfortable, reliable and cheap car.  I miss the excitement and exhilaration of driving a big powerful car, but that's something I can live without for the moment, as the more important things are certainly covered in the little Mitsubishi.

Though at the moment it is in desperate need of a wash!