Weekly Photography Assignment (and my new guitar)

This week the idea was to shoot in either of the two ISO settings on your camera.

Film speed is the measure of a photographic film's sensitivity to light. Film with lower sensitivity (lower ISO/ASA speed) requires a longer exposure and is thus called a slow film, while stock with higher sensitivity (higher ISO/ASA speed) can shoot the same scene with a shorter exposure and is called a fast film.

For digital photo cameras ("digital still cameras"), an exposure index (EI) rating—commonly called ISO setting—is specified by the manufacturer such that the sRGB image files produced by the camera will have a lightness similar to what would be obtained with film of the same EI rating at the same exposure.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_speed

On my Canon 40D that is either 1250 or 1600. I thought it was a good chance to show off my new guitar, which I got for my birthday the other week.

I turned all the lights off and used a single LED bulb torch to illuminate the guitar - took the graininess you get sometimes off high ISO shots out of the equation.

Happy Australia Day

I love living in our big brown land - the immense vastness of Australia continually leaves me in awe of God's creation.  I think Australia proves God has a sense of humour, just look at some of the animals he created to live here...

Today's the day we remember white man coming to Australia... I know for many that isn't something to be celebrated - but I think everyone can look back and agree that things could have been done differently, and today we can share this amazing nation, and proudly be Australian together!

iPod Quiz

Kate sent me this one and I thought it was pretty fun

1. Put your ZUNE/iPod/MP3 Player/etc. on shuffle.

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.

3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!

4. Tag 10 friends who might enjoy doing it.

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
"In My Own Time" (Delta Goodrem)

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
"Flame Trees" (Cold Chisel) - yeah ahhh i'm a firey environmentalist?

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
"Save My Soul" (Paul Colman Trio) - ha yes please

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
"Dear Ms. Something" (The Frugals)

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
"This is Forever" (Paul Colman Trio)

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
"My Will" (DC Talk)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
"Thy Word" (Michael W Smith) - Nice hahaha

WHAT IS TWO PLUS TWO?
"Forgive Me" (MIC)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
"Joy" (Newsboys)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"Father, Spirit, Jesus" (Casting Crowns) - different kind of 'like' I guess...

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
"Beyond Belief" (Petra)

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
"Simply Nothing" (Shawn McDonald) - when you get the meaning of that song... I really like that answer!

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"Re-Invention" (MIC)

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
"He's My Son" (Mark Schultz) - haha I swear that came up randomly on the iPod - unreal!

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
"Brighter" (Jake)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
"Take My Hand" (Shawn McDonald)

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
"Reason" (MIC)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
"Father, Blessed Father" (Newsboys) - He's not a secret!

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
"Soverign Hands" (Hillsong United)

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
"Star Hoel" (Cold Chisel)

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
"From God Above" (Hillsong United) - guess I can live with that

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
"Boys In Town" (The Divinyls) - ahhhhhhhhhhh no comment :-p

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
"The Other Side" (Soulframe)

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
"Before You Accuse Me" (Eric Clapton)

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
"God of Nations" Newsboys

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
"Where there's love" (Keith Green) - ahhh might be some truth in that!

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
"I'll lead you home" (Michael W Smith)

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
"Did you Feel the Mountains Tremble" (SonicFlood)

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
"East to West" (Casting Crowns)


Funny how some of those really hit the mark. That He's My Son one was a classic!!!

Gideon's Fleese Moment

I filled in on a mate's netball team tonight.  I use to play a lot about 5 years ago... but have only filled in once or twice in the last year.

We got thrashed... 48 - 15 or something like that.  In the last quarter everyone just wanted to go out and have a run.  Since I'd been running like a mad man all game they stuck me in GS (Goal Shooter for those playing along at home).

Now I'm in no way a even halfway decent shooter... quite simply I suck!  After my first dismal attempt at putting the ball through the hoop I kinda half heartedly whispered "God let me get one..." then laughing added; "let it be a bit of a confirmation I'm making the right choice with my plans this year".

I had 3 more shots on goal that quarter... I got the first one in, and missed the other too.

Now not looking into that too much, but one I give God the credit for having a sense of humour and humoring me... and two - it did actually make me feel a little bit more at ease.

Emotional drivel maybe... or maybe God was just giving me a pat on the back.

And maybe I should have asked him to let me score 40 points to give me a sign... then we'd have won!

Looking ahead...

Well I have 3 weeks left at work, and though I'm looking forward to finishing up, and getting out of the I.T world all together, I must admit I'm feeling a little anxious about the year ahead.

I really don't have much of a clue of what happens at Bible College. I know all my friends who go there seem to love it, and seem to have such wisdom in the faith, which is what I'm hungry for. Yet the subject content eludes me... the prospect of having to learn Greek down right frightens me... and I simply have no idea what my life is going to look like in about 5 weeks time.

Add to this trying to find somewhere to live in Brisbane so I'm closer to church, college and hopefully a new casual job and I'm about to totally revolutionise my life. That's a good thing I think, for too long have I travelled along in this rut - but like a 4WD, it's gonna get bumping driving out of the ruts!

I'm doing a lot more thinking these days, but it all feels too sporadic to form into a conscious blog post...

But I'll keep trying to share my feelings with you as I dive into this new journey.

Office Racing League

The first season of the O.R.L is ready to roar. My 'ride' is a 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX. It's running a 3amp motor on the 27hz frequency... Sweeeeeet!!!!

Remembering Harry

On my birthday I take the time to be very thankful for my life, just the simple fact that I am living.

Every year I celebrate my birthday, but also remember a friend 'Harry' who passed away on my 15th birthday.

Harry was a class mate, he had diabetes and the morning of my birthday in 1997 Harry had a fit in his sleep and choked.  As a group of 15 year olds we were all shattered, and there is still a plaque with Harry's name in the entrance garden of the West Moreton Anglican College.

So with the celebration of my birth, there will forever be the flip side of the remembrance of Harry, who passed away. His father works at the drag strip I'm a chaplain of, and I've enjoyed getting to know him, because I didn't know him at all at the time.

I can't imagine how he feels today on the 12th aniversary of his son's death.

So Harry reminds me to be thankful for the simple face of living, for breathing, and for getting to actually share my birthday with people around me.

27 Today.

What better way to celebrate your birthday than with all your good mates at Pancake Manor. Thanks to all who came :-)

No one would hurt a Sea Kitten would they?

Even if that 'sea kitten' was a beautiful Snapper, seasoned with garlic butter and a bit of lemon juice?

PETA's campaign to rename fish 'sea kittens'
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24891309-29277,00.html

Outspoken animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is using the "sea kitten" name as part of its push to restrict fishing.

"Nobody would hurt a sea kitten!" the group says on its website.

"People don't seem to like fish.

"We're going to start by retiring the old name for good.

"When your name can also be used as a verb that means driving a hook through your head, it's time for a serious image makeover."

The website features images of fish with cats' whiskers and ears. PETA is using the campaign to entice people to sign a petition calling on the US Fish and Wildlife Service to stop promoting "the hunting of sea kittens (otherwise known as fishing)"...

Opposition fisheries spokesman John Cobb was not impressed with the campaign, nor with PETA...

"It is hard to take an organisation which wants to change the name of fish seriously," he said. Many people might laugh at the sea kitten campaign, Mr Cobb said, but PETA's agenda was actually more sinister: destroying the meat and fish industries.

Haha I mean honestly... how can you even begin to take that seriously?

Weekly Photography Assignment - Favourite Photo of 2008

Over at the Digital Photography School instead of taking a photo for the assignment last week they asked us to pick the favourite shot we took during 2008.

It was a hard choice - I have a number of favourites from this year, from Top Fuel Drag cars, to sunrise over Burleigh Beach.

However below is what I finally chose. I love the children from the Watoto Children's Choir from Uganda in East Africa. They are all AIDS orphans, but the joy and passion with which they sing is inspirational.

The choir came to Whitehill in July, and I got to run around and take photos for the evening. It's actually when I decided I needed to upgrade my camera, cause my Canon 300D wasn't keeping up with the shooting I was doing.

This is my favourite photo from that night - I think it really captures the energy and vibrancy the choir puts into their performances.

The News (why I resigned yesterday)

Well I said 2009 was gonna have some changes.

For a long time I've been thinking about where my life is heading. Honestly IT work never felt like my calling to life.  Computers have always been something I was good at, but as for loving what I did, it wasn't really IT that did that for me.

So I guess for a long time I've been considering a career change - I've investigated a post graduate teaching degree and thought about different jobs round the place.

Part of my thinking has been Bible college, but I didn't want to sign up for that just cause I wanted a change from my current career.  Changing into ministry as a vocation is something you are called to, not something you just decide to do.  

I went along to a Seminar on Vocational Ministry at Malyon College (the Baptist College in Brisbane) and learnt so much, right from that point I felt the call of God to actually jump into some form of study to head towards some type of vocational ministry.  But as I wasn't enjoying work so much at the time I really wanted to be sure it was a call, not a reaction. 

Thanks to all the people I talked to during the second half of 2008, and the time I spent at Malyon at open nights, and talking to lecturers and students really helped me make my decision.

So what will I be doing?

I've enrolled in a Masters of Divinity (MDiv) focusing on the pastoral stream - aimed at those wanting to be Baptist Pastors.  Now I'm not 100% sure my goal is being a pastor at the end of this, but I know that God has given me that possibility.  The most training I'd need to do would be to become a pastor so that's what I've enrolled for - if God calls me to chaplaincy, or mission during that time that may not need as much study I'll follow his lead then.

The MDiv is a 3 year full time course, however the first year of the MDiv is actually a Graduate Diploma of Divinity meaning that after 12 months I could stop studying and leave with a GradDip. I think that may have made the decision easier, knowing that I'm really only committing for 12 months, with another decision at the end of the year.

Obviously full time study and full time work don't mix, so yesterday I handed in my resignation. That changed everything.  Suddenly my plans are all out in the open, and I've been explaining time and time again what I'm doing to everyone at work.

Also it means I can now write this blog post outlining what I'm up to.  Out of respect for work I wasn't going to be typing about plans for leaving on a public forum before I'd let them know.  Just being able to talk about it and having people now know what I'm doing makes it all feel so much more real.

Honestly I don't really know where this all leads, I know that 2009 is probably gonna be the toughest year I've encountered so far.  Quitting full time work, moving to full time study - my income will totally change, stretching my faith through learning and studying the word at a level I never have before - personally I know it's going to be a huge challenge.  I almost have this feeling that God's going to use 2009 to break me - in the sense that he's going to use that to shine himself through me even more.

It will be good in the end I know... but I'd be lying if I didn't say that I'm a little nervous about what is ahead.

God is good - and thanks to you all for your help, I hope you'll join with me this year as I jump onto this totally new direction in my journey.

Rainbow Beach, Camping, 4WDing, Towing...

Christmas and New Year

Well I've had a little holiday from blogging.

I had the week before Christmas off from work, and enjoyed spending some time getting things done that just seem to be missed when you're working all day.  Christmas was simple, just Mum, Dad, Brett and I with a web cam link to Vanessa and Andy in Canada for a little bit of time.

We just stayed home, had lunch and relaxed.  Very different to past Christmases, but good in its own way.

I went back to work for the 3 days leading up to New Years, and then on New Years Eve drove with a mate to Rainbow Beach after work.  We camped there until today, it was an awesome time hanging with 5 other blokes from City North.  One of them, Zack, is now living on the coast playing for the Gold Coast Football Club, developing skills and fitness ready for the Gold Coast's entry into the AFL League in 2011.  He's working really hard, so it was great for him to be able to relax with us for a few days (plus now in 2011 when the GC starts playing in the comp I can say I've kicked a footy on the beach with their ruckman!).

We camped with a group from the Bilowela Baptist (country town out near Emerald and Rockhamption), they had a heap of 4WDs and so we joined them yesterday in Zack's Jeep.  It was great fun cruising along the beaches and tracks.  We even pulled some dude in a Lexus onto the beach when his not quite 'offroad' 4WD got stuck in the soft sand.  

Expect photos from all this sometime soon :-)

Back to work this week - 2009 is going to be a big year, with lots of changes. I have some big news to tell you all, but will wait till mid week before I let that cat out of the bag.