Before the World began

Latest Political Compass

2005-10-01T22:05:00.000+12:00

You are a
Social Conservative (35% permissive)and an... Economic Moderate (41% permissive)
You are best described as a: Centrist
You exhibit a very well-developed sense of Right and Wrong and believe in economic fairness.
And I am the closest to the Pope!! and I am not even Catholic>

Politics

2005-09-19T14:57:00.000+12:00

I am rather disappointed about the result of the election so far. I suppose I have to accept that there are more people in NZ that are less concerned with the moral downhill slide of our society than I am but I think I secretly thought and believed that there were more people in NZ that felt like I did that society is deteriorating and we need to stop that in its tracks but alas obviously not. I am alarmed when I have spoken with Christians recently that were going to and did vote Labour and/or Greens. I was asked during blog conversation last week if I only think about myself when deciding about political parties that I support or whether I think about what is best for the country. I wish to declare that I care ALOT about what is best for the country and am concerned about what is best for my children and future generations. But unfortunately for those who support Helen and her buddies I care more about morals and families than I do about economics but in saying that the present government has made it extremely hard for small businesses to survive. It is honestly not worth their while to work hard and keep running cos they are so marginalised by the present govt with all its beauracracy. Yet without business where would our country be?

I have also seen first hand how the education department has completely lost the plot about what they should be focussing on instead of equipping schools and early childhood centres to have the freedom to educate and empower the students/kids in their care they just choke them with paperwork, paperwork, some paperwork, more paperwork and yeah of course even more paperwork. Beauracracy is scaring off some of our very best teachers as they are so tied down with all the stuff they have to do that they don't get to enjoy the satisfaction of watching their pupils be awed with the excitement of learning and discovering something for the very first time. The government needs to focus on the right things. These right things do not include - encouraging gay relationships, trying to get every mother into the workforce, allowing so many abortions thus affecting our reproduction rates in this country thus requiring so much immigration, breaking down the family unit by condoning and even encouraging thru benefits the breakups of families and not putting in place policies to empower families to work hard at staying together and trying to better themselves so they can provide a sustainable future for their children.

I do believe that we need to be concerned about the environment we live in but unfortunately if we focus only on this we will have a beautiful country that a) nobody can actually enjoy because noone is allowed access to it and b) there won't be any NZ families to enjoy it because they will have all left for better shores or families as a unit will no longer exist as such due to the way the current politicians would like our country to go.

So on Saturday after much soul-searching I had to think less about what was economically (although I think National is still the best option economically anyway - I don't have a problem with borrowing in the short-term to better our country in the long-term as this is what we all do everyday anyway) best for the country and more about what was morally and scriptually right for the country we love. I voted with my heart as well as with my head but my spirit won out in the end and I am disappointed that there were not more people who thought like me because I did think I was an average, normal middle-class New Zealander.

I am confident of one thing though God knew what was going to happen and his fingerprints are all over this country but sometimes he allows people to make mistakes so they will in the long run turn to him. Maybe things have to get alot worse for us to bend our knee in desperation to God and finally be prepared to listen to him. And the other thing I know is that it is obvious that we are getting closer and closer to Christ's return. And for that I can only say "PRAISE GOD"! Life here on earth is just a practice run for eternity so bring it on I say!!!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!

2005-09-19T14:45:00.000+12:00

I was very surprised to wake at 6.30 am to find the kids beside my bed declaring that it was snowing. Too tired after only 5 hours sleep the night before (was out at a 40th and then watching the election results) I promptly sent them back to bed without even looking out the window or even moving from my bed for that matter. (We have a rule in our house nobody out of bed before 6.45 am or preferably 7 am).

But half an hour later the radio came on and my hubby dragged himself from bed to discover after getting dressed that our property was covered and he realised there was no way he would be getting down the hill to work. He had not even stirred when the kids had come in earlier. He was kind enough, now that he was dressed, to go and get some firewood from the garage and light the fire before coming back to bed where we kept warm for the rest of the morning while the children watched a video under duvets in the lounge. WHAT a way to spend a Monday morning - can't think of anything better really!! By lunchtime Martin got up and built a snowman with the kids complete with lemons for eyes, carrot for the nose and a banana for the mouth. I LOVE snow especially from inside the house. It is so pure and beautiful to watch coming down. Another occasion when I marvel at God: every snowflake different and unique (like us), the purity of white and how when it lands on something really dirty like the driveway when there is heaps of it it covers it beautifully and takes away all the dirt (alot like Jesus' death on the cross taking away all our sin and making us as white as snow - at least for a few minutes until we mess up again.)

GOD IS GOOD!! I have really enjoyed slowing down today and spending the day indoors with my family who I love very much. I am still in my jim-jams and my hubby only had to leave for work about 45 minutes ago. Life is good right now except for my baby daughter screaming at my feet. That's not so good.

A joke in honour of Andrew Busch

2005-09-16T20:54:00.000+12:00

A priest was being honored at his retirement dinner after 25 years in the parish. A leading local politician and member of the congregation was chosen to make the presentation and give a little speech at the dinner. He was delayed so the priest decided to say his own few words while they waited. "I got my first impression of the parish from the first confession I heard here. I thought I had been assigned to a terrible place. The very first person who entered my confessional told me he had stolen a television set and, when stopped by the police, had almost murdered the officer. He had stolen money from his parents, embezzled from his place of business, had an affair with his boss's wife, taken illegal drugs, and gave VD to his sister. I was appalled. But as the days went on I knew that my people were not all like that and I had, indeed, come to a fine parish full of good and loving people.".. . Just as the priest finished his talk, the politician arrived full of apologies at being late. He immediately began to make the presentation and give his talk. "I'll never forget the first day our parish priest arrived," said the politician. "In fact, I had the honor of being the first one to go to him in confession."
Moral: DON'T EVER BE LATE. (and keep your slate clean cos you never know when it may be brought up in public!!

I'm back

2005-09-16T20:35:00.000+12:00

Hello I am back. Life has been very hectic for me of late. We have been doing the 40 days of Purpose at our church and hosting a small group here at our place. It has been excellent and I have learnt lots (maybe not so much new stuff but reminders I things I had forgotten). We have also got to know some people a whole heap better which has been good cos we have only been at our church for less than a year so had not really developed any deep or close friendships yet. I am going to blog further about some of the key points that stood out for me but not tonight.

I wanted to draw your attention to an interesting article at www.boundless.org called 'The Cost of delaying Marriage'. It is found under the 2005 articles and is very well written even if it is a little long winded. There are some good witty bits though so if you have a few minutes give it a look and just speed read through it looking for the interesting bits that will speak to you.

Also in regards to the election tomorrow please think about WWJD as you take on your democratic right to cast your vote.

I will leave you with a little poem I read.

The Christian Home

The most sacred place on earth
Originated, ordained , and blessed by God
The world's first institution
The cradle of civilisation
The child's first university
The most influential of all institution
Typical of all that is best and most enduring in civilisation
The greatest teachers of all ages have sought to magnify it
Men have sacrificed and died for it
Women have toiled and suffered for it
Now it is the World's greatest need!
(quoted from 'All the Women of the Bible' - Herbert Lockyer)

And the home is best when it shares what it has with neighbours. Simple, warm, caring, friendly hospitality.

So this weekend reach out and be warm and caring to those God has placed around you.

My cultural/ethnic history

2005-07-25T21:01:00.000+12:00

Hi, I have been giving alot of thought over the last few years to my ethnicity and what I write down when filling in forms etc. I strongly dislike the term European Pakeha as I am not from Europe and I am not Pakeha. I am of pale complexion with light coloured hair who was born in NZ. God saw fit for me to be born here. But I am just passing through the essence of my life does not lie here on earth - this is just a practice for the main event! As far as my bloodlines go I am a very mixed bag with lots of different ethnic groups involved in there some I which I can prove and some I can't. I am very tired of being put into a box and marginalised because of who I was born as.

There is a deep need these days for people to discover who they are and who they identify with but I feel that this is getting a little out of hand especially in the church. I know some people will be offended by what I am saying and I am not trying to offend just provide a different viewpoint. I believe that when we give our lives to Christ that we join his family and gain a special new identity. We should then be trying to discover what the Bible says about our identity and the culture we should be embracing should be the culture of holiness and purity.

Ironically over a month ago when my husband and I were discussing this topic we both acknowledged that we actually feel more comfortable with the Jewish culture than with our own. I wonder what God has to say on this topic and what he would have us do in regards to our cultural heritage. As has been said by numerous different people every culture and ethnic group in the world has done things that we cannot be proud of ( it is part of being human - everyone makes mistakes) so therefore shouldn't we as Christians be holding to our new Christ-focussed identity and doing everything to reflect Christ in all we say and do. 'For behold I am a new creation, the old things have passed away and all things have become new'.

Taxation according to Karen

2005-07-25T20:19:00.000+12:00

Welcome to Truth blogging!!

It is good to be back. I have spent so much time reading everyone elses blogs that I have not had the time to blog myself what with the school holidays and all. I have also rather been under the weather of late with two abscesses in two of my teeth and a touch of the flu but never mind my brain has still been ticking over. My opening line is dedicated to Banksy who is lightening up my life at present.

My hubby mentioned a couple of weeks ago that he wishes we lived in a society where those who worked hard were rewarded and those who didn't weren't but then it dawned on him that if this was to actually occur we would have some very rich members of society and some very poor so we must settle for the system this country currently runs under and that is that if you work hard you are guaranteed to be taxed heavily and if you don't work you will be looked after with the taxes of the aforementioned.

So I decided I would give my spin on how I think the country should run. Except I am concerned that if I give too much away I may just be running against Paul McMahon at the next election. I believe that where a family (2 adults and 1 or more children)3 is bringing in one income this should be split between both adults for taxation purposes. I believe those who earn $3,000 or less should not be taxed at all. The next bracket should be 19c up till $35,000, then 25c up till $60,000, 33c up to $120,000 and 50c in the dollar for all income over $120,000.

I believe it would be only right and proper to have a non income tested benefit for every mother who stays home to look after her preschoolers but if the above taxation policy were in effect this would probably not be as necessary financially but is a government endorsment of the tremendous benefit mothers make to a healthy society.

I think all visits for children under 5 to see a GP should be free irrespective of income. I think that every parent has the right to choose which school they send their children to and should not be restricted by zoning ( I know, I know this is pretty impossible) but the idea has been floated that every parent is allocated a voucher which can be used at it's school of choice - I would like to explore this option more. I believe that those who take out their own private medical insurance should get a rebate to encourage less pressure on the public hospital system. I believe less funding should be allocated towards abortions and sex change operations and other such elective procedures as these are choices that should be funded by the general tax paying public. If you wish to avail yourself of these procedures you are more than welcome to fund it out of your own pocket. At present if a local DHB runs out of their funding they cancel heart ops etc but have you heard of them turning people down for abortions based on lack of funding???

Unlike Paul, I do not believe that tertiary education should be free. I believe that it is a choice to undertake further study and you should pay for that choice and this is not a burden that the taxpayer should be carrying. Also with the tax cuts mentioned above I feel that every graduate would be in a much better position to pay back their loans once out of training and in the workforce however it would require more careful planning and budgeting than some students are currently doing to get thru with less debt. We send out child to an integrated school for which we pay more attendance dues than we would if he was at the closest school to us but this is a choice that we have made in our son's best interests and like tertiary education we pay for that choice.

I will have more thoughts at a later date but please let me know your thoughts thus far and no I have not done the figures but I am sure that if pressed I could give you areas we could save money in in order to take less from taxpayers in the first place.

Over and out!!

More poems/prayers

2005-06-23T10:46:00.000+12:00

Dear God,
Help me to do good
in the little things I am allowed to do
so I will know how to do good
when I am allowed to do bigger things

Dear God,
Help me to be brave enough to risk adventure
and wise enough to stay out of danger

Dear God,
When I don't know the right answer,
please help me ask the right question.

Please. God, stay here with me
While I stand and wait.
Someone's meant to fetch me:
Don't let them be late.

A prayer

2005-06-23T10:42:00.000+12:00

Thank you for this new day.
May I bring to it something good.
May I make of it something good.
May I take from it something good.

Today is my baby's first birthday. We are all so excited and she at least understands a little bit as she is very aware that it is all about her when we are singing. She has been sung 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' five times already today. The two older children are determined to make the day special for her. I cannot believe how fast a year has gone. I am a little sad that she is growing up too fast but there is nothing we can do to stop time.

What I am?

2005-06-22T20:01:00.000+12:00

Discovered a quiz you can do to find out what kind of Christian you are? on my friend Lynne's site so I have discovered the following:

You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan.
You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavly by John Wesley and the Methodists.

Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 82%
Emergent/Postmodern 68%
Fundamentalist 57%
Classical Liberal 57%
Neo orthodox 50%
Charismatic/Pentecostal 39%
Reformed Evangelical 32%
Roman Catholic 29%
Modern Liberal 29%

So there you go I can now say that I am not a Fundamentalist (although I did quite like that description until some strange people changed the meaning of it)!! Well I am as much fundamentalist as I am Classical Liberal which all those who know me will know all too well that I am definitely not unless maybe I have been spending too much time listening to liberals and their worldview is having a detrimental effect on me. I was also interested to know that I do not fit the classic stereotype of Charismatic/Pentecostal considering I was brought up largely in that vein and I now attend a pentecostal/charismatic church. I can also see that some of my conversations with Lynne must have been rubbing off on me too as the Emergent/Postmodern came thru rather strong also and I didn't even know what these terms meant a year ago. Oh well I don't hold to surveys that much anyway but it was interesting nonetheless.

Espresso

2005-06-15T20:01:00.000+12:00

I have started going to Expresso/Espresso at Opawa. It is a place where we can eat, have a coffee and discuss, mull over some of the questions of life we have as we travel on our journey towards or with God. There is a lovely mix of people with lots of different stories to tell that have made them who they are. It has been nice to see familiar faces and get to know new ones. It has been nice to feel safe, to have my own opinions and to be able to express these whilst listening to others and seeing the world through their little window.

I am enjoying it!! and last night I was able to take a very special friend of mine too. She is related to me but she is so much more than that - she is truely my friend. I am writing about her in the hope she will read this and feel special as a result of me blogging about her. Thank you to Steve, Lynne, Paul & Ann for taking the risk of starting Espresso and allowing us the chance to attend and grow together. Thank you for starting to restore my faith in people.

The weather

2005-06-15T19:55:00.000+12:00

I am struggling with the weather of late. I just want to have two days in a row (when I am not at paid work) when the sun is shining. I want to hang washing out and for it to feel warm when I bring it inside. Is this too much to ask? I get a little down when the weather is drab.

I have been thinking that if you read my blog I don't sound like a very happy individual but I am usually quite chipper so apologies if you think I am a serious, depressed sad little person my humour will return soon I hope!!

The Children

2005-06-11T22:14:00.000+12:00

I am sorry but this is another serious and slightly depressing post. I have been thinking alot over the last couple of months about Graham Capill's children. I just feel really sad when I think of them and I have prayed for them often.

The reason I feel this way about them is because my maternal grandfather has spent time in prison for molestation of a minor as well as other horrible charges. I have only seen him a few times in my life and he does not want anything to do with my family anyway because of the whole cult thing. At least Capill is remorseful for what he did - my grandfather was not and even claimed he did them in the name of God to help people (sick eh!). But even though I don't see my grandad, for years every time somebody at church or elsewhere talked about sexual abuse I would feel guilty because my grandad had done these awful things. Even though I have never done anything wrong I would take the guilt for the sin upon myself. About two years ago I got prayer for this and since then I no longer feel the guilt and have accepted that I am not responsible for what another human being chooses to do whether that person is my parent, husband, or adult child. Once you are an adult you are responsible for your own actions but unfortunately much of what we do does impact on other people.

So now I really feel for the Capill family who have done nothing wrong and yet now, like me, carry the stigma of someone elses sin. My heart and prayers go to them in the coming weeks, months and years as they go through life. At least for girls if we marry we can change our names thus distancing ourselves from the possibility that people will realise who we are. My heart is heavy as this whole situation has resurrected some nasty memories for me. Just felt I needed to get this off my chest and if you read this and feel anything please pray for the families affected by the happenings of yesterday.

A Christian Woman

2005-06-10T19:11:00.000+12:00

I have been stirred over the last few days by some posts made on some of the blogs I read especially a link that showed up on one of my fellow blogging friend Sharyn's site in regards to the role of a woman in the whole scheme of things. This is something that I have always had a very firm opinion on and I am grateful for diversity in our world and that we don't all have to think the same and I may not necessarily be right on this one. I know that my viewpoint will not be exactly what God would have but I do seek as a woman to live my life as I think he would like.

I feel I should give some background about my history for those who don't know me as well. I also, like Sharyn, was initially raised in a cult (not the same one though) but my parents left when I was about five and like Jo I do not have too many bad recollections of my time there. However I was then raised slightly different to majority of girls my age even though my parents were living in the world as normal and attending a charismatic church they still held to alot of their former ways of doing things. I was not allowed to wear any form of trousers or shorts. My skirts were no shorter than 1 cm below my knee, my hair was kept long and we were not to wear any jewellery or makeup. We were raised to observe modesty at all times in our dress and speech. My parents taught me that there are very different roles for men and women but I was always had it demonstrated to me that they were both very worthy roles and we were all equal in God's sight. However my Dad was definitely the head of our home yet my Mum is a very strong individual character who has an opinion and is happy to share it. I have watched my parents make decision together but I have always known that my Dad will make the final decision if one needs to be reached.

I was raised to value education and to think carefully about what occupation we would like to go into when we left school but we were also taught to value the role of wife and mother. I always wanted to get married and have babies and this was something that my mum demonstrated to me was a very high calling and not something to take lightly. How children turn out I believe is based largely on how they are parented and the values their parents instill into their lives. I totally believe that society has sold girls and woman a complete lie that to choose to submit to our husbands, stay at home and raise children and to not seek to be in charge all the time are not worth while choices. Why must the important role of supporting a husband and choosing to stay home with our children be trivalised and made to look as if it is from the dark ages? Sharyn quoted some guidelines that a particular group of woman called the Patriarch's Daughters hold to. When I read these unlike her I did not feel the same disgust or revulsion in fact I actually realised that I held to much of these beliefs.

I do believe that people should allow God to have more say in the number of children they have. I come from a family of nine children which for me is too many and I know I would not have the patience or gifting for that many however I am alarmed when I speak to Christian couples who have never and will never consult God on when and how many children to have. Should we not involve God in these decisions? I also believe that women and girls should dress modestly and that a Dad is the best one to determine what that level of modesty is for his own family. Our society has taken away the innocence of childhood through dress etc. Our girls will grow up quick enough as it is lets not speed up the process. Even Ian Grant advocates that Dads should set the standard to dress for his daughters.

I also ask myself what is wrong with staying at home under the leadership of your father until you are married but I am not saying that it is 'evil' to leave home before this time. Why has the vocation of wife and mother become so looked down upon. I heard about the NZ Womans Convention that was held last weekend in the Wellington Town Hall. It was held in commemoration of 30 years since the Feminist Movement meetings of the 70s and they discussed how far things have come for women and outlined all their objectives from that period of time and then outlined how these have all been achieved. Things like making abortion on demand accessible for all women, breaking down the patriarchal family unit, legalising same sex marriage, free access to childcare for working mums, and other things that I can't remember. It was frightening to hear all these things that I thought were bad things being gloried in as being great advances for women. When did increased abortion rates make things better for women, why is advocating that women are better off raising children on their own good for women? I feel that all of these things actually make our lives worse not better. The Ministry of Womens Affairs (or whatever it is called now) believes that women should not have to choose and if I stay home for a few years to raise my kids that when I return to the workforce that I should be able to earn the same amount as if I had never been away. This is wrong and takes away the consequences for our choices. Why should someone who stays to slog it our for years have to watch me come back to work and get the same position as them. They think they are trying to make things for women better but in fact through these changes they have successfully managed to accomplish over the last 30 yrs they have made being a woman a whole lot worse. I truely believe every female needs to reclaim our God-given role of being a wife and mother and embrace it!!

I do believe that daughters should be under their father's authority and then under their husbands not that this gives men a right to treat women badly but that we are happy in our position as women and accept that God has given our husbands an important role - that is to take care of us, direct us spiritually and be responsible for his family. I also believe that if men are taking up the leadership roles God designed them for that there would be less need for women to hold these positions. I also believe that God places special gifts and abilities in each individual and when he leads a couple together it is for a reason so that their combined abilities can benefit those around them. Therefore if God calls a man into in form of leadership I would think that his wife would also have the same calling on her life and together they would be an awesome team. I do not believe that God calls women to take up roles in leadership as the first choice but I also can see a place for women who are willing to come under the leadership of those MEN over her to take up important roles in the body of Christ.

Sadly in saying these things people may believe that I have it all wrong, that I have been deceived and that I may even be part of a cult. The only thing I didn't agree with in the principles I read was that children are better home schooled. I do believe that there are very good Christian schools that are better able to teach my children. This discussion has stemmed from comments made over at www.thepilgrimsouls.blogspot.com I am not wanting to cause offense by my comments. I am very interested in other peoples comments and feedback and as you well know I could be wrong. I am fully aware that people may be tired from discussing this issue but it has certainly stirred me up. How can so many Christians advocate feminist ways of thinking? Feminism in my opinion is not godly and not something we should be embracing.

Comment away!

A prayer

2005-06-02T13:04:00.000+12:00

This is just a little prayer I read that has stirred me:

All that we ought to have thought and have not thought
All that we ought to have said and have not said
All that we ought to have done and have not done

All that we ought not to have spoken and yet have spoken
All that we ought not to have done and yet have done
For these words, and works, pray we, O God, for forgiveness

May this go with you this holiday weekend. May we have no regrets for the words we speak and no regrets for the ones we don't speak. May our actions honor our creator, saviour and friend.

Rugby Aftermath

2005-05-29T19:14:00.000+12:00

Had a cool moment last nite. On our way back from watching the rugby final at a friend's house we told our son that if we saw anyone on the streets we would yell out the window "Go the Crusaders" and yell. He thought the whole idea was great so the first guy we saw at the lights I yelled at the top of my lungs and then went "WHOA!!!" Our son was rolling round the car in hysterics and asked if we could do it again and he could join in. So next time it was a guy on a bike and the three of us did it together. He was laughing heaps again and our two daughters in the back seat slept on oblivious to all the excitement. Great moment!

Supermarkets

2005-05-29T18:53:00.000+12:00

I am not sure what it is about me and supermarkets. Almost 3 years ago I was at Pak 'n Save with my then two kids and the younger of the two was crying and being generally naughty. I tried every conceivable way to get her to be quiet and behave and then decided to just get the shopping finished and out of there as soon as possible. Adding to this whole scenario was the fact that I had a terrible cold and felt dreadful myself. While I was packing the groceries a gentleman in his late 50s approached me and laid into me about the behaviour of my kids and what a terrible mum I was. He said "all the problems of society are caused by parents like you" and then proceeded to inform me that my kids just need more discipline. I started to cry and kept asking him what he expected me to do as I had already tried smacking my daughter. He still kept ranting and raving that I was doing a bad job of bringing the kids up. I was very distraught by this time but God placed a lovely lady from Opawa Baptist just outside the door so as I exited I ran into her loving arms and she lifted my spirits. On the way home I then managed to formulate how I would react to this situation if it occured again as I had been taken completely by surprise this time.

Well yes it did happen again and not just once. The next time was at Fresh Choice about 6 months later - also by an elderly man. This time I just told him it is very difficult to shop with little ones and if he hadn't interrupted me I might get finished sooner and out of his way. Then about a year ago it happened at Countdown and this time the lady kept following me and putting in her two bobs worth about what I could do to stop my daughter crying and kept telling her that I was a nice mum and she should be good for me. I told her that it was lovely that she thought I was such a good mum but it really was not her right to tell my children off and that she was not helping the situation.

By this time I realised that I now have no other supermarkets to shop at so I would just have to brave it. I am not sure if I have a sign on my back that says PLEASE PLEASE tell me what you think of me and how I should parent my kids. Those who don't know me will by now think my kids are brats but they are not really - just not lovers of supermarkets. I know someone who never took their under-fives shopping at all but I find that some important life lessons have been learned whilst out shopping so have persisted in taking them with me.

Anyhow yesterday I went back to Countdown and whilst waiting at the checkout I heard the lady next to me say something to my oldest daughter (the one everyone else has complained about) but since I hadn't heard what she said I let it go but moments later she spoke again so I politely turned to her and said "What did you say". She told me that she had just told my daughter to leave her baby sister alone. This time I thought stuff it I felt like a battle so I said strongly "It is none of your business". She replied with "but she was hurting the baby". I then said "Actually I told you to mind your own business, I don't know why when I come to the supermarket people think it is their right to pass judgement on me or my kids. You have no right to tell her off." She was very taken aback by this but I felt so good.

I hope it is alright to stand up for yourself like that - I certainly felt better this time than I ever have in the past. When we got to the car my daughter said "Mum why did you say to that lady 'Mind your own business" so I explained that I don't like other people growling at my kids. She had such a lovely smile on her face that I had stuck up for her and I realised that in this situation I had protected my child and it was the right thing to do.

Great morning

2005-05-28T13:29:00.000+12:00

I have just had a great morning in the sunshine with lots of other parents watching our kids play soccer. It was great to see so many kids having a go and getting into the spirit of the play and the great lessons they are learning in co-operation, sharing, encouragement, fair play and determination. I was given the honored role of picking the player of the day and since my son had won it last week it wasn't allowed to be him so nobody could accuse me of being biased. The wee boy we awarded it to scored 3 goals and kicked the ball so many times. He is not the biggest on the team but really knows how to get stuck in and give everything a go. The way his face lit up when he was praised and when he scored the goal was an enormous delight to see. The kids are all 4 or 5 years old and I love the way they clap their hands after a goal is scored and have hugs all round.
I was feeling a little down last night after a conversation I have got involved in over at www.thepilgrimsouls.blogspot.com which stirred up for me old memories. It is good I think to be brave enough to discuss these issues even if we don't always agree and I have learnt thru comments by Iain that it is important to have standards and ideals even if it is hard to explain these to those around us. Just because someone has suffered something horrible often we feel we have to shy away from any discussion on these sort of topics in respect to them. We also try sometimes to be too politically correct and it is a breath of fresh air sometimes to meet someone like Iain who is prepared to stand and put his opinions out there even if not everyone agrees with us.
I am really enjoying the sunshine today even though I am blocked up with a cold.

Lesbian Tax

2005-05-27T13:57:00.000+12:00

Just heard recently about a company that tacks 'lesbian tax' onto their quotes when they know that the said couple are lesbians. The people at this company are not Christians. Anyone brave enough to tell me what they think about this!

Comments

2005-05-26T11:03:00.000+12:00

Just thought I would let you know that I have fixed this blog so anyone can make a post - even anonymous people so Elizabeth if you are reading this blog amongst all the others you keep an eye on you are more than welcome to comment. I am really pleased the sun is shining today. I don't like dreary days.

Nice houses

2005-05-25T18:05:00.000+12:00

A new activity my hubby and I have taken up is surfing the real estate pages of NZ. Started off at us looking for something in particular but has now become looking for the most expensive homes that NZ has to offer. It's very interesting as you look at the pics of the best of the best for sale in our great country and the absolute opulance that some people live in. The interesting bit for me has been how much I don't actually desire it. Even if I had that kind of money none of it actually looks warm, inviting or really what I would want. I know that it very easy to say when there is no way I would ever have the chance to live in these sorts of home. But it has shown me that I am happy with what I have. I also know that if I had more dough than what I do there are definitely a multitude of other things I would want to spend it on and I could never live like that while there are others in such need all around us. Besides if I lived in houses like the ones I was looking at I would definitely need two cleaners, a groundsman, a nanny and two ironing boards (for the two cleaners of course).

How much alcohol is too much?

2005-05-25T17:30:00.000+12:00

Have just been watching Police 10/7. There was a sad case about an 18 yr male who was raped just outside Chch after being picked up by an unknown male in central city whilst drunk. He thought he was being dropped home and instead was taken for a long drive etc. This occured between 3 am and 4 am.

As a NZ culture we endorse drinking and seem to think that it is okay to occasionally get drunk as long as we don't do it all the time. But is it safe to get drunk and is it even safe to be out after say 1 pm? My mum used to tell me in my late teens and early 20s that anything done after midnight was probably something I shouldn't be doing. At the time I didn't really agree with her cos it was what I wanted to do but now I think she definitely had a point. How much of what we do late at night should we be doing? (including blogging). I do feel very sorry for anyone who whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs has something terrible happen to them but I do question what we bring upon ourselves. Now before you think I am getting holier than thou I am an ex-drinker who unfortunately had a bad experience whilst under the influence of alcohol and have therefore made the decision to no longer drink alcohol at all. This decision was only made after seeing the damage it did to me and those around me.

What do you think? Give me your thoughts of alcohol and the effects it has on our society and whether there are guidelines that should be upheld. What do you think about being out late at night? Personally I have found over the last year that I am fearful if we are ever out near the central city late because I am frightened I will be hit by a drunk driver or my car surrounded by a group of unruly teens.

What is Normal?

2005-05-24T07:55:00.000+12:00

Welcome to my first blog!! I have been giving some thought lately to the word 'normal' and what actually constitutes normal. You will often hear people say "but at least you're normal" or "I was surprised to hear you are a Christian cos you're so normal". What on earth does that mean.

All my life I have had an enormous desire to fit in (to be classed normal and acceptable), to stand out in the crowd for being cool or okay but not for being abnormal. I seem to have spent alot of my teenage years, in particular, striving for approval from others - for them to accept me for who I am. I am not a cool, hip, trendy chick at all. In fact I believe in comfort over and above everything. I am a strong-minded person who is not afraid to say what she thinks even if it is not the status-quo but in all that I tried to fit the stereotype of what a cool, normal person is like.

As you will probably note I am also a Christian which brings me to the word 'normal' again. Is it normal in today's society to be a Christian and in choosing this journey for myself am I even called to be normal or am I called to be different. My husband and I have just starting attending a new church and the Pastor there spoke a few weeks ago on Samson and what it meant to be a Nazarene. This was certainly something that set you apart as not at all normal. If you were a Nazarene you stood out like a very sore thumb - everyone knew who you were. Is this the way we should all be living. I feel that YES we should be different to the status-quo around us, we should stand out as unusual. Not in the clothes we wear or the way we walk but in the language we use, the graciousness we show, the way we behave, the things that catch our passion, the things we pour our hours of time into.

So that brings me back to my original question and a new one. Am I normal? Once I would have said I hope so but now I say NO I am not and I don't have to be!! I am who I am which comprises many different facets as some of those who know me will attest to. I am most importantly a daughter of the King of Kings and as that I am what he calls normal and that is what counts.