Surreality...

Two surreal experiences this week that are drawing me to blog...

The first was a live vasectomy on TV this week. My wife summoned me to watch I suspect to make me feel uncomfortable. However, the experience was more surreal than disturbing. The Dr in question performed the vasectomy using 2 mangos, 2 shoelaces, a brown paper bag and a banana. He proceeded to slice open the paper bag with his scalpel and cut the shoelaces which were inside attached to the mangos at one end and the banana at the other. He did this all with a straight face which made it simply hilarious...especially when he gave the anaesthetic which he described as a "small prick"...

The second was the sight of me working on a Habitat for Humanity building site. I love to help out with these sorts of things but I fear that my building skills take the Humane out of Humanity and put the Rehab into Habitat... Anyway, Ryan Gerten and I took 2 hours to instal a shelf into a wardrobe. We decided that if we were builders we would be poor... Funny happenings included: Ryan drilling a hole through the wall in completely the wrong place - this wouldn't have been funny if I had done it, but Ryan actually had some clue about what was supposed to happen. The Site manager accusing us of installing our shelf crooked - in fact our shelf was completely level - turned out it was the house that was out! These enthusiatic Christians wearing T Shirts emblazoned with: "The Church Has Left the Building: Gone Outreaching". I'm not saying a word. Several pastors posing for photo opps (actually we were just jealous). A fun morning.

Its the day off today on account of a 2 day seminar Friday/Saturday. Caught up on my blog reading...a nice way to waste time: haven't you got something better to do than read this crap?

Jonesbuilder

Sold

Sunday night was cool. Part 2 of "The Great Omission". A Mum, an aircraft engineer, a pastor/missionary and a speech therapist/volunteer shared about their mission/purpose in life. We then had an "unplugged" worship singing slot with stations for prayer/reflection and communion. Had a nice feel and with the dream team on vocals it sounded awesome. Piano player was a bit "off" - actually I think one of the guitars was just a touch out of tune and it put me off a little. Less was more. Check out Jean's blog for the inside story.

We had our our second community gathering for the year with a great turnout I thought (based on past apathy). Some good questions. I've yet to find my own style for these times. I want to be visionary and lead well. But I don't want to come off like a dickhead charlaton. It was cool at the end to see the whole room praying for our future. It has also been cool to receive 4 excellent nominations since then for our Oversight Group.

Yesterday saw a convergence: the sale of our house and the purchase of our new apartment both became unconditional on the same day! Its been something of a roller coaster ride these past 10 days since we listed the house with agents. We found ourselves in 3 multiple offer situations, the last of which was successful. The effect the "competition" had on the price was that we got our asking price! Thats fairly rare...

The irony is that the people who bought the place contacted us because of the ad WE put on the internet before we listed it! But we would never have got that price but for the competing offer that one of the other agents brought. So while we have to pay commission we got the money we were after and in good time too.

We went to the apartment yesterday for a final viewing before going unconditional. It had grown in our head. But never mind it will be a good next step. You'll see from the picture its cute - a Mediterranean feel. We are having second thoughts about converting the garage space back to a garage - it is such a usable room as it is and we'd likely have to remove the false ceiling if we reinstalled the garage door motor and rails.

So, we're at the point of no return. We've both admitted to a few tears already and I'm sure there'll be a few more. This house has so many memories packed into its 4 years. And yet, there has been a discernible "hand of God" in all this that encourages us to stay positive and look forward to this new chapter. Better have some parties I think to send the place off in style!

Time to head off - I'm moonlighting this morning - my brother in law has employed me as a script writer for a safety video he is shooting for a large corporate. I got him the opportunity to pitch for it through a contact and he very kindly hooked me up to write the script. So, off for a site meeting. The cash will mean that we have the missing $$$'s on the hospital bill - not that we've heard anything for weeks since my assertively drafted counter missive was dispatched!

Jonesbrief

Imagine...

The Great Omission - an excerpt from part 1...

"Imagine the moment of your creation…millions of sperm – the Great Emission, if you like - swimming vigourously towards the egg…

Now how you view life, the universe and everything will profoundly shape how you view the next step…

One sperm, one of millions successfully fertilises the egg and you are conceived, created – and it makes a difference which one, a huge difference – cos it makes the difference as to who YOU really are...

Now here’s the question: you’re one in a million whichever way you see it – do you view your life as a miracle of creation – that one in a million creation that God designed just so, right down to the ripe target of your mothers egg and the aquatic skills of your father’s sperm…

Or are you just a victim of chance? Its random. No intentionality. Life by accident. Dad, how come I got your nose?"

Yes this Sunday I turned to cheap reproductive analogies in order to create impact...I was reading an article recently about what it would be like to have an 8 second delay function as a preacher so you could censor as you go - I'm thinking that some of the people on Sunday night wished they had that function, especially those whose first thought was at the macro rather than microscopic level...

The house selling madness is underway in earnest. Lots of interest and an offer apparently coming today. Its been a bit of a roller coaster so far as we've had 2 multiple offer scenarios fall down at the last minute, including one where the couple changed their mind while the agent was phoning us to advise of the offer...

We're still working through due diligence on the apartment we're buying and trying to determine whether to go with it or not. We feel like the space fits us for the moment, but have had just a tiny bit of trouble with the financing and some well meaning advice that we should reconsider buying an apartment at all. I so much prefer the illusion of certainty in life...not sure how to process this whole thing...

Anyways much I could blog about, but feeling strangely uninspired to do so...

So, I'm gonna

Jonesboy

Kaleidoscope

Yeah, so it been a while...random rememberings and ramblings...

> We bought a house. Well thats not exactly true. We bought an apartment. Well thats not exactly true. We have signed an agreement - its conditional on selling our existing house and a few other details. Its a 2 bedroom apartment with 2 offices downstairs and a double garage which is carpeted, lined etc which can serve as a seminar room, party space etc (and a garage). We're hoping that the decreased mortgage and the usable space will be a boost for the church going forward and take some financial weight off us.

> Rhys is 6 months on Friday. We have lots of fun. I like being a Dad. I was reflecting this week on my advanced age and how for most of my adult life the dream of being a Dad seemed improbable. Its nice to be proved wrong. eAGHY00HYUJ. That was Rhys!

> I finally discovered why George Bush is responsible for New Orleans. It took a while for some to appreciate that he didn't actually create the hurricane. Still more time for others to realise the federal government is not responsible for state emergency plans. Some were surprised to discover that George did not order the packraping of women in the Convention Centre. And then the final revelation: he did not exercise mind control over those who chose to stay.

But. He still hasn't signed the Kyoto protocal. Finally nailed him.

> I did some surreal things this past week. I chaired an electoral forum in our area. Richard loves to make me do that crap. I know, I know its socially responsible. Bla bla bla. I hung out with Frank Ritchie in the Green Room on Sunday night - this was cool, being in a radio studio while live talkback is going on. I emailed him (across the desk) my deep comments. I went to the National Heads of Churches Meeting in Wellington. This continues to be a weird experience hobnobbing with the heads of the various churches. The discussions are generally interesting even if we often end up falling prey to the lowest common denomination.

> Its our natioanl elections this week. Its a case of voting for the least detrimental alternative: Labour introduced gay marriage and legalised prostitution. National is racist. The Greens want to legalise dope smoking and gay adoption. NZ First are led by a megalomaniac. ACT is THE greed party. United Future is the slut party - they'll go with anyone. Destiny has no destiny. Alliance is PC rubbish. Now maybe if I'd said this at the Election forum it would have been more interesting!

> cession's path to becoming an Established church is now in place. Feels good. More to follow.

Right. I'm off.

Jonesboy

Back on the Job

So its been a week of leave during the best weather we've had in ages in September! I love it when the seasons change on cue... I think we may have started a tradition based on the last 2 years - taking a week of leave in the week that our anniversary falls (30 August). Speaking of falls, here are the falls we went hiking to during our week of leisure. It was a fair bit of fun - we packed the boy into a back pack we purchased for the purpose (and for international travel) and did the family thing. Rhys thought it was great - I think he could have spent hours playing with the strap in the back of my hat! Check out the Photo Blog for a shot. Altogether a good time. That night we went out to dinner just the 3 of us and then Kristen and I went to a movie while his godmother came over to babysit. A nice Anniversary day.

Rest of the week we've been getting the house ready for sale - we've listed it online to try to get our best price, free of real estate fees. The more we have looked at houses, the more we have appreciated the place we have. It will be sad to leave.

Spent some of my week catching up with people, so had a good chat with Deurty on the telephonic apparatus and a very brief interaction with Nate "Dillon" Smith, who was a little shy (he's like that isn't he?) Also had a chance to catch up with Phil Struckmeyer (Impact church) which is always good. Met with Mike Yates for coffee on Wednesday to do the church planters thing - we meet fortnightly to steal ideas from each other. So a resourcing week in that respect.

All things going well, we will put in an offer on an apartment today. It will be a change! No lawns to mow...relatively spacious for an apartment with a small downstairs office area that I can use for church. Will be another interesting chapter in the whole house saga as there are still plenty of things that could close the door. I think some people are a little bemused at the whole downsizing thing, but we feel pretty sure about the process. This week we saw an amazing house that would have been pretty much as good as where we are but maybe $60K less. It would have been an easy move. But, we have been feeling for a bigger drop in the mortgage, to help us take the next step with our savings goals and also to remove finanical constraints salary-wise in the church reaching for its next steps towards established church status. The option we're looking at could also become the church office in due course. As it says in 3 Ephesians 93: "The Lord moves in mysterious ways"

Right, time to jump into this perfect Spring day! Need to wash the house down and clean up the gardens before our first "open home" at 1pm. We only just got the ad up so not expecting much this time. But our ad has been viewed 15 times already! Here's hoping...

Dial Up Future

Been pondering recently the ways in which God leads us. We've been looking for a house for a little while now. Trying to downsize. And just when we think we might be onto something, it kind of dissipates. Now I'm not complaining about that, because I see it as one of the ways God is leading us. But it IS frustrating...anyways I'm getting back into my journalling as a way of staying more connected with my own processes and what God may be speaking to me...

If I were a painter
I would consume this canvas
But I find that I can barely join the dots
So I sit, pouring myself onto a page
That I might read the black and white of me
And pull up the grey from between the lines.
I try to dial up my future
But I all I get are the intermittent pips of disconnection
It is then I recall:
A prophet is never welcome in his own mind.

I like to help people, but I am really bad at helping myself. Keeps me humble. Well, relatively.

Jonesbard

Geeked

So I hate these things. But I guess sometimes you just have to suck it up.

Age: 37

Family: I am married to the holistically beautiful and ever humourous Kristen and father to the perpetually laughing child Rhys, aged 5 months.

Religion: I was an atheist until age 19 at which point I had a miraculous encounter with God which resulted in me receiving a substantial gift of faith...I have followed Jesus Christ ever since.

Ministry: I am pastor to the cessioncommunity, a recent church plant within the Wesleyan Methodist network of churches. It keeps me out of trouble. For my sins I am National Secretary, which basically means a lot of stuff ends up on my desk...

Education/Work: Completed a BA in History and a Law degree at Auckland University. Practised law for 10 years and closed out that career with some post graduate teaching. Completed an MBA and became a pastor (yeah a common course of study for pastoral ministry...but very useful for church planting). Was bivocational (but otherwise comfortable with my sexuality) for 5 years and went full time in pastoral ministry this year. Currently completing a Graduate Diploma through Carey Baptist College.

Favourite Movies: The Sting, Chitty Bang Bang, The Fifth Element

Favourite Books: Letter to the Ephesians, Enders Game, The Life You've Always Wanted, Renovation of the Heart, Nights Dawn Trilogy

Favourite Webpages: Um none really...

Favourite Other Blog: Servant Geek Dobber until he tagged me. Deurty who I helped church plant with in Michigan. I read a fair few but tend to stream of consciousness surf rather than follow any regulars.

Extracurricular Activities: Hanging with the fam, Watching rugby, Reading, Talking with friends

If I could be anyone I would be: A better version of me

T.V character I am most often likened to: No one, although people often say I look like Nick Farr-Jones (superior Aussie half back). In fact someone said it today!

If I wasn't a Christian I would be stereotyped as: A know-it-all

Biggest Fear: Dying

Biggest Fault: Slave to my emotions

Biggest Mistake: As an atheist teasing my sister about following Christ...feeling better about her gradual re engagement of faith...

Weirdest thing I've done: Too many to name...I once played strip golf...and lost...the penalty was a nude run...I negotiated boxers but I had to carry a large wooden statue of an over endowed male figure with me as if it were the Olympic torch...

Anyways, its done. No tags. You tag yourself if you really want to keep this going.

Jonesbed

Blogging Desert

Hasn't felt like a blogging week. So I didn't...

Sunday night we started the Money For Dummies series. It seemed to go well - actually better than I expected. It was a somewhat practical message which I struggled with a bit in the preparation. I had no end of material but was finding it hard to get excited about the overarching redemptive themes (ie there really weren't any). A new person specifically commented they would be back which surprised me - not that anyone would come back, but that a messgae on money would engender that sort of engagement. This week its Debt For Dummies...

We've been house hunting recently to no avail. I'm actually starting to get frustrated with it just a bit...all these grand theories about how much we'll save with this option etc. Its been instructive so far on trying to understand God's leading in this process. A couple of times we're felt to walk away, once from the almost perfect place (well under the bedroom/price theory we were working at that time anyway). Other times we've left doors wide open to see them close in a way we feel high levels of peace about. Anyways, it will happen - I think we know we can't stay here as much as we'd like to.

Good time hanging with Jeff Fussner yesterday - Jeff is my ministerial supervisor. I'm working on a revamped schedule and he was really helpful. So my life looks great on paper right now. Actually, its also pretty good in rea life but I want my time to count more - there are also some things I hold as high priorities/values that are not in my schedule. So I'm working through how to accomplish things for the long haul. Its a good process. And its all colour coded...

Today is leadership training which I always enjoy - we've had a few defections due to illness, bereavement and work clashes. Bummer. I'm not sure how many to expect! Praying it will impact those who do make it.

Speaking of impact - the car broke down on Thursday - right at a set of traffic lights. The indicator light starts slow down! Its like a UFO was right overhead...then the car stops...so I push it round the corner into a service station and ring the AA (yeah I really felt like a drink). They come pretty quick and its the alternator which has fried. We end up having the car towed (and that ends up being for free!) So, now its like $600 to have this thing fixed on the cheap...hmmm, might go check the account for acts of God!!!

Jonesboy

"You Give and Take Away"

Its been an interesting week, with a few stories to tell.

Remember the glasses? Well it looked like they would cost me around $350 to replace - I mean they were snapped in half! Someone then made a really good suggestion: use the old lenses and just buy new frames - this seemed like a cool idea - in fact it would mean that I could get away with around $150. It felt like God had placed that person's thought in my day. Then I get another idea: maybe they could fix them? So I take them up to the store and sure enough, they can! The estimate is $30. So from $350 to $30 I was feeling pretty good. I went to pick them up yesterday, pull out my card to pay and she says, "Don't worry about it". After I pick my jaw up off the floor I thank her and she says, "I'm feeling generous!" Whats more the old frames have been straightened (I'm a bit rough on glasses), screws tightened and generally overhauled. So from broken glasses to "just like new" in one week. On a pastor's wage I can tell you that "little things" like that feel like huge blessings.

Especially this week - a week of large bills mainly on cars:

Service & Seat fixed $140
Tires $300
Warrant fees $80
Brake Pads $200

Total: $720

But it doesn't end there. Kristen needed to get a light fixed on her car and they did it for free.

But it doesn't end there. What do I find in the letter box yesterday afternoon? $250 in cash left anonymously!

But it doesn't end there. I'm checking our bank accounts yesterday evening and what do I find? A deposit of $500 has been made anonymously. Its titled "ACT II" in humourous reference to a previous anonymous (and very large) donation which is still a compete mystery to us.

So the way I look at it we're $30 in credit! That must have been for the glasses...

Jonesboy

Life Without Sky

Everything I've read about the AB's narrow loss to South Africa makes me glad that responsible (read: boring, killjoy and depressing) financial decision making to lose the satellite subscription has occurred. Saturday night was a frustrating experience as I realised that free to air coverage of the 1am NZ time game would not be replayed until 4pm the next day! That's ridiculous. So I still haven't seen it cos the VCR is broken (see responsible financial decision making above). But I think I can live without a game of dropped ball and intercepted passes.

Had an interesting Friday. First, I ventured out early to have my car fixed (see responsible financial decision making above) and thus to avoid being fined for not having held a warrant of fitness these past 5 months. Its not my fault really - every time I take it in they find something new and then we have to save to get it fixed (see...above). So I don my sunglasses and stride manfully home in the chilly morning temp, my usual glasses in my pocket. I arrive home, well at the reserve immediately adjacent and make a big mistake. Instead of walking down the reserve and up our driveway I decide to jump the fence. I forgot something. No, my athleticism had remained intact. No, it wasn't the wrong fence. No, the fence wasn't fragile. But. My glasses, the ones in my pocket, were. So I am living in a state of semi blindness. I'm very glad I didn't have to preach this Sunday! On the positive side they can be fixed for $30 rather than the $350 I priced out new ones at (see more of the above). Meantime I have learned that the old song "I wear my sunglasses at night" is not as crazy as it sounds - I can actually see much better with them on...

Then it was off for coffee with Frank Ritchie...except he didn't have coffee...we talked bollocks about a range of things sprawled out in sun draped chairs on the Auckland waterfront. I discovered I am a very narrow conversationalist. I need to get out more ;)

The afternoon I went all over the area with Jim Wood looking for potential church buildings - if anyone can come up with a solution it will be Jim - great brain that boy.

Friday night was beer and pizza with the wife, except she didn't have the beer Marcia :)

Sunday night was cool - we ran our latest cafe, featuring the BlairGilesband. Lots of new faces and a typically amazing performance from Blair and his crew. Food was fantastic thanks to our own Jean Wan and her team of chefs. Great fun. I just had re heated spring rolls and salsa for breakfast. Mmmmmm

Anyways better get into the day, I'm rambling.

Top Ten

So Rhett suggested a Top Ten album's thingie and so...

BJ's Top Ten Albums Of All Time

1. Swamp Ophelia (Indigo Girls) Stunning lyrics, amazing harmonies, huge intensity
2. Emergency on Planet Earth (Jamiroquai) Great feel, astonishing musicianship
3. Released (Nina Simone) An album that's all heart and searing lyrics
4. You Grow Closer (Aretha Franklin) Aged 16, previously unreleased and unbelievable
5. Stephane Grapelli Live in Copenhagen - the old master at his best
6. Tourist (St Germaine) Compelling, jazzy, busy
7. Best of Talking Heads - OK so this is cheating...but every song is a winner
8. Love Over Gold (Dire Straits) Guitar hero, cynical lyrics and ambience plus
9. Under the Ice (Blair Giles) Sweet vocals, intoxicating lyrics and very unique
10 = Shaking the Tree (Peter Gabriel) & Temple of Low Men (Crowded House) - Idiosyncratic and brilliant musically/lyrically v Archetypal NZ, melody plus and brilliant musically/lyrically

Now I appreciate this is not exactly a classics of rock/pop etc. And there are some songs that didn't make the list via the album that would if they were in there for the song alone - in that category I include: Rosanna (Toto), Baby Its You (Promises), Blame it On the Boogie, a personal all time favourite (Michael Jackson) and Signed, Sealed and Delivered (Stevie Wonder) I also self-imposed a rule - if this was truly going to be honest I had to own the CD - there is one album that would have made it if I owned it - Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall". Also I decided that only one album per artist was permitted so I struggled a bit there with the Indigo Girls, Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone picks. Finally, I allowed myself only one greatest hits/compilation type album - I was very tempted to include the "Commitments I" which is how great soul would have sounded way back when if the recording technology was better.

Interestingly, this reveals some things about my tastes that are probably true - I am first and foremost a soul/jazz lover but also a sucker for tight harmonies and interesting/bizarre lyrics that provoke me emotionally. It also reminded me that music is for me an emotional medium that moves me primarily at the heart level - its lyrics that move me by the way I identify with them that I gravitate to rather than those that challenge me intellectually.

And no U2.

But the Indigo Girls drop the F-Bomb on "Under the Sun" so thats OK...what?!

Jonesboogie

Bla

There's an inspirational title, formulated with every ounce of creative impulse within me...

So part II of our Simple Life series went off OK on Sunday. Got to speak on the Parable of the Rich Fool. Seemed to go OK. It is a personal topic for people hitting the whole attitude to stuff. It certainly seemed to be appreciated by some. Ryan Gerten led worship for the first time since he joined us and did a great job. Now that Ryan and Angele have actually settled properly in Auckland they are getting the chance to contribute more fully. Its going well.

This week is one of those weeks that I dread just a bit - I get squeezed in between 2 meetings that are infrequent but time consuming - and they both fall this week. In both cases I feel like the meetings are going to be time wasters as well - one because the group that has been formed (Willow Creek Global Summit) really doesn't have a job to do on an ongoing basis; the other because try as I might I can't get people to focus clearly on what is really important going forward other than on the day of the meeting. That of course leaves no time to do the really important stuff that requires preparation. It is improving, but too slowly for my taste.

Finally, a recent post on Frank's Blog asks the question of whether we need to be focusing more closely on equipping our teens with life skills that allow them to live Jesus with their non Christian friends rather than simply live life in a Christian ghetto. It strikes me that the question may be more fundamental even than that! How do we help adults do the same thing?! One thought I've been pondering relates to how we raise our kids to know God. I've been challenged by conversations with a new person in our cell group who has a distant background as a Missionary kid. She talks about how she was raised to pray to this God who would protect her, bless her and make everything turn out OK. And yet. For her it didn't. Now I know the theology of all that, but my question is this: how do we raise our kids in an environment that will prepare them for the realities of life. Sometimes when I pray for Rhys I catch myself praying for "the good life". Well that might not be his lot. What if his father dies at age 50? What if his first wife divorces him? What if his second wife dies of cancer? How will he make sense of that if his knowledge of a loving and providing God doesn't also extend to an understanding of the brutality of life? And how do you tell a kid that s*** happens without creating a cynical adult?

In Christian education, we tell kids stories from the Bible that are profoundly disturbing but we take those bits out. So Noah and the Ark becomes a story about cute animals rather than the death of pretty much the entire human race. What does a teenager do with that story when challenged to speak their faith? All they have is this slightly embarassing memory of a "fairy story" about animals that turned out to be so much more difficult to engage as an adult. Do they hide the story away from their non Christian friends and force their faith into the background at the same time?

I actually asked this question once of kids workers at ECW. I didn't get an answer. Food for thought.

Jonesblack

Sharing and Caring

In every household there are traditions and moments of great expectation. These times become ritual venues for family bonding. There is a rhythm and significance with these events lost to most outsiders and yet there is laughter, there are tears...

In our house one of these traditions is the arrival of the "Care Package". Regular visitors leaving for NZ from the US are confronted at the GR airport by a wild eyed woman wielding a bulging suitcase and accompanied by a tired looking man in bike pants. Deftly, she pins a list of the said contents to the unsuspecting traveller’s shirt front and departs. The long suffering baggage boy leaves with her, nodding empathetically, dreaming of bush-clad NZ hills, perfect for his masochistic cycling fetish.

And now by popular request - we have one of those lists, with commentary available for all to see:

> Peanut Butter – now I’m a fan of peanut butter, but there are 2 issues here for me: we have it here in NZ! In shops (translation: stores)! I am told by my wife however that it doesn’t taste as good – this is a euphemism for: “it’s not as processed here” which is a recurring culinary theme in our household. The second issue is the brand name of this peanut butter: “Jif”…in New Zealand Jif is an abrasive household cleaner ("cleans and shines without harsh scratching") used for cleaning bathroom surfaces – I’ve tried the Jif and it doesn’t clean as well as the NZ alternative, however the aroma was unique – is anyone else up for peanut butter flavoured householder cleansers? What about roast beef? Or chocolate?

> Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups – Speaking of chocolate and peanut butter brings me to this item. This is a peculiarly American phenomenon – this is how the people (mother in laws excluded) get so big over there. You take the 2 most calorific and addictive substances known to man (apart from the garlic aioli at Burger Fuel) and combine them! Instant heart attack! I’m not sure whether to offer thanks for feeding my addiction or run another 10km…actually that’s a lie: I didn’t run the 10km in the first place

> Plastic Bags – for NZ readers I need you to imagine this substance called plastic – its like glass, except its soft and pliable. You can see things through it but not as well as glass. It can be made into bags and is excellent for storing food. Apparently they were on sale.

> French Dressing – I really don’t get this one – Americans, like Kiwis, dislike the french*. So why include multiple bottles of a dressing of french origin in such a package? The answer lies in the question: its not really french. Its actually a deeply ironic jab at the french – no frenchie worth his salt and pepper would label this french dressing – its texture and taste resemble a slightly orange tomato sauce. It tastes great but its major redeeming feature lies in the knowledge that every time you consume this over-processed product you are undermining centuries of arrogant french haute cuisine! (* yes the lower case “f” was intentional)

> Liptons Onion Soup – for NZ readers I need you to imagine this substance called soup…alright, enough of the sarcasm. Apparently onion soup in NZ tastes different. It must be the ozone layer.

> Boxes - Then there’s the array of boxed ingredients – “it tastes better from a box” for those homebaking moments! Bisquick, to make biscuits which are really scones + cake, muffin and brownie mixes!

> Inside Out - My personal favourite is the stovetop stuffing mix – Yes, this is the stuffing that never sees the inside of a bird! For the serious stuffing lover, now you get to eat as much stuffing as you want – how about a little chicken with that stuffing?! Hey, forget the chicken! It’s quicker just to cook the “stuffing”!

> Finally, I would be negligent in not mentioning the clothing items that are so generously supplied for me! Last time for example I received a very well chosen shirt in one of my fave colours, black (black is the new black you know). But I have noticed how many of the items are branded “Michigan” or some variation thereof – maybe its just me, but I can’t help but think its to remind me that I mercilessly uprooted their daughter from her country of birth and whisked her away to a primitive colonial frontier…I wear them a lot anyway!

Care Packages: where would we be without them? Hmmm, a bad line - we wouldn't be in NZ would we?

Jonesbag

The Small Things

"Its the small things that count," he breathed in cliched contentment.

Rhys is down for the night - going for a record 4 nights in a row where he sleeps through till morning.

Somehow an appearance was made at the gym - it was a small workout. But the scales revealed a smaller weight that expected, a small victory for somewhat better eating.

We made pizza tonight.

Good times meeting with people yesterday one-on-one and at cell group.

Big day tomorrow - cell leader training most of the day, followed by core team meeting. Then dinner with friends.

Time to sleep. But one thought thats been chasing round my brain today:

It seems the London bombers were British citizens. That makes a difference. Obviously psychologically for the Brits. But also in law. If they had survived to go to trial they would have been charged with treason along with murder etc. Their acts were different in kind to the 9/11 deal. So, this is a new development for the world: citizens who will die for their beliefs (religious and political) and in doing so kill others from their own country. Not so much an act of war, as a treasonous protest. One assumes that where Britain is concerned this relates to their involvement in the Iraq war. I know Britain does not have a clean record in terms of involvement in the middle east historically, but I assume its recent events that have made them a target. But here, we have what is essentially a protest against foreign policy. Or is it not distinguishable from 9/11? Footsoldiers in a politically motivated, religiously fulled fanaticism that transcends national allegiences?

Seinfeld in My Head

I think I could be a reincarnation of Jerry Seinfeld. Apart from the fact that is that he is not dead, so I guess I can't be an actual reincarnation. And that I don't believe in reincarnation.

Leaving those minor issues aside, I think I might be...Jerry...or at worst George.

This fact was pointed out to me on Sunday night by a friend Dawn who was staying with us. It all started with me not grabbing dinner before church and then needing to drop Scott and Brian off at their place of abode...so I thought I'd find some food on the way home as I tuned into the Green Room [there's nothing I love more than tuning into the Green Room after a 13 hour day at church ;)]. Everything was closed except the drive through.

I hate drive through. Its the pressure. You barely have the time to read the menu and they want your order. The cars stack up behind you revving their engines in a feral way. Its impossible to hear the server and I fear deeply they'll get my order wrong. But you can hardly check the bag before driving off with all those cars salivating behind you. And then if you wait till you have driven off and its wrong you can't reverse...you have to go back through the drive through and start again. Including explaining to a person who obviously didn't hear you right the first time that they got your order wrong. Not to mention the passing over of the cash especially the passing back of change - what if I drop it? You've parked so close to the window (to avoid dropping the change) that you can't get the door open fully to pick it up. Its altogether an unpleasant experience. Even if someone else is driving, I won't order - I mean, yelling your order from the backseat is dangerous anyway, and I'm not sure I want to rely on the driver to get it right. So I avoid drive through. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Anyway as its Seinfeld awareness day, I wondered if I was the only one out there?

A good day yesterday. Caught up with the Breakfast Club boys in the morning. Had staff meeting with Ryan and Angele. Coffeed with Rhett (who unknowingly inspired another Seinfeld moment with his strawberry, cream, soy latte, de caf "coffee"). Our cell had an outreach dinner - an "umu" - a Samoan earth oven where the food is cooked on hot stones. The fare included: a huge pig, fish, potatoes, kumara (sweet potato), taro (a starchy root vegetable), banana. It was pretty cool.

Anyways, time to hit the day.

Jonesboy