Dwell by Garage Hymnal

I'm thankful for my loving, gracious and merciful God who doesn't treat me as my sins deserve.

I spent time away from you,
Turned my back away from you,
But you drew me near to you, you drew me near.

I hold you at a distance, but you wait so patiently,
Gently whisper, gently tell me what I need to hear,
You tell me what I need to hear.

You say my soul dwells in the hope of tomorrow,
I will trust you, and I will sing only,
Because my soul dwells in the hope of tomorrow,
I will trust you, and I will sing to you.

You spent time pursuing me,
You sent your Son to die for me,
You sang songs of life to me,
You sang songs.

You say my soul dwells in the hope of tomorrow,
I will trust you, and I will sing only,
Because my soul dwells in the hope of tomorrow,
I will trust you, and I will sing,
Yes, I will sing,
Lord, I will sing only to you.

Lord, you hear my selfish cries,
Lord, you read my darkest thoughts,
Lord, you see my foolish ways,
Lord, you sense my deepest fears,
Lord, you know my doubting heart,
And still you long, you long for me.
I hold you at a distance,
But you wait so patiently.

Because my soul dwells in the hope of tomorrow,
I will trust you, and I will sing.


Lyrics from here

Books and Chooks

Rory's school celebrated Book Week this week, and on Monday, all of the children (plus teachers) dressed up as a character from a book.

Of course Rory wanted to go as Thomas.

Since I knew I wouldn't be able to drive for a fair while after surgery, I needed to get a head start on it.  I told Rory, "No changing your mind."

He didn't win a prize, but had a fantastic day.  Thomas is looking a bit worse for wear though.

Later that afternoon, I made a sad discovery.  Marilyn, my White Leghorn hen, was dead behind the perch.  It seems that she must have died during the previous night and fallen off her perch.

Of course, Rory had to get on the bus the next morning and announce loudly, "Marilyn fell off her perch and broke her neck."

I'm not sure what the bus driver thought....

Quote of the Day

When you say, "There's too much evil in this world," you assume there's 'good'.  When you assume there's good, you assume there's such a thing as a 'moral law' on the basis of which to differentiate between good and evil. But if you assume a moral law, you must posit a 'Moral Law-Giver', but that's who you're trying to disprove and not prove. Because if there's no Moral Law-Giver, there's no moral law. If there's no moral law, there's no good. If there's no good, there's no evil.
What is your question?
- Ravi Zacharias

Friday Funny

WHY TEACHERS DRINK

When God is Removed From the Picture

For any readers who may not be aware, Australia will soon be undertaking a postal vote to determine whether same-sex marriage will be legalised.

This post is for Christians (like myself) who oppose any change to the Marriage Act.

It's tempting to think that if we could just come up with the right argument, we can persuade those who plan to vote yes. But any argument you come up with will just be rebutted.

You can argue that children will be affected, you can cite examples of children raised by gay couples who resent their upbringing. They will just provide examples of happy, well-adjusted (and heterosexual) children who have had two mums or two dads.

You can argue that Christians and other religions will be persecuted for their faith. They will argue that the gay community has been persecuted for a long time.

You can argue that many other cultures agree that marriage is between a man and a woman. They will argue that other cultures also have polygamy and that John Howard changed the Marriage Act.

You can argue that God created marriage when he created Adam and Eve. They will argue that God doesn't exist.

That there is the key point.

Those in favour of same-sex marriage argue that marriage is a human right, that the debate is about equality. Instead of arguing, ask them questions.

What is a human right?
Why should those things be human rights?
Where do your beliefs about justice, fairness etc. come from?
Why do you believe there is a right and wrong?
Why do you think your beliefs are right and mine are wrong?

Many people will say there's no God, but are adamant that there is good and evil, right and wrong. If there is no God then we're just blobs of matter.

The most important thing for Christians to remember is that we cannot expect non-Christians to agree with God's view and purpose for marriage. They cannot see, they are spiritually blinded. I remember when I first became a Christian, a good friend admitted that she'd been frustrated for so long, because I had so many Christian friends and I couldn't see what (or who) they were all about. I just replied, "I couldn't see, I was blind."

I didn't see because of witty, clever arguments. I came to see because God opened my eyes.

By all means, keep standing up for marriage to be protected. But don't forget to pray.

Bible Verse of the Day

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 4:4

Post-Surgery Worst Nightmare

My worst nightmare post-surgery nightmare was getting gastro. A friend visited me in Perth while I was recovering, and told me how gastro had ripped through her family recently. I thought that if I were to get gastro now, it'd be beyond horrible. Throwing up with a painful stomach...gah!

Of course, that's exactly what happened.

Late Friday afternoon, I went to have a shower in preparation for going out for dinner at a friend's house in celebration of another friend's birthday. I had had my dressings changed twice by a nurse, but this was to be the first time I'd done it myself. He nurse had recommended I do it in the shower. It was a bit painful and, while I was in the shower still, my vision started to go and I felt very faint. I called out to Duncan and he caught me before I fainted. I came to on the shower floor, dressings half off, wondering what had happened. Duncan said I'd been out of it for about 20 seconds. He helped me out of the shower and onto a chair. After a little while, I felt well enough to complete the dressing change, put on my pyjamas (having decided that as much as I was looking forward to the dinner, it was just a no-go after what had happened) and sat on the couch before going to bed. I just didn't feel well.

Then the vomiting started. It finally finished at around 1am.

Surprisingly, it didn't hurt my stomach. Coughing, sneezing and laughing had been much worse. Duncan called our local hospital to check whether he should bring me in, but they said, unless I was in pain, or the vomiting was going on and on, I should be ok.

Of course, I was completely wiped out he following day and my mum arrived to help.

Then on Sunday, Flynn got it.
My mum went home on Monday morning and Bethany from our church, who's been helping me at home arrived.
In the early hours of this morning, Rory got it.
We heard from my dad that my mum had it, too.
Now, Duncan, the man with the immune system of a mallee bull when it comes to gastro, has even succumbed.

We've all been knocked over like dominoes.

May this bug leave my family and never return!

Me Before You

I finished this book during my 'sabbatical after surgery' in Perth.  With euthanasia still a much-debated subject, this book is very relevant.  I'd also heard a review of it and thought it sounded very interesting.

The plot centres around Will, who is 35 and has been a quadriplegic for two years after being hit by a motorbike.  Feeling very depressed about all he has lost, he tries to take his own life before asking his parents to take him to a clinic in Switzerland where he can end it.  Devastated, his parents hire Lou, a 26-year-old woman, to be his personal carer and companion, with the hope she can cheer him up and show him life is still worth living (I will not reveal the ending).

While I am a Christian and strongly against euthanasia, this book helped me see just how difficult life is for people like Will, or those who are in chronic pain and terminally ill.  The last few years have been so dreadfully difficult with my mental health that I have longed to end it all on numerous occasions.  On of the upsides of my suffering is that I have become more compassionate and able to see other's viewpoints in these matters.  I agree that the argument to let someone 'die with dignity' makes sense in a worldly point of view.  To be honest, if I was in Will's situation, I would struggle to want to live, too, and I'm a Christian with the tremendous hope that Jesus brings.  Will doesn't have that hope, so I can see that his life looks bleak to him.

This book led to some...ummm....'interesting' discussions with my mum after I told her what the book was about (she is reading it now).  She is not Christian and said that if she was dying and in pain, she would ask me to take her to an overseas clinic, too.  I told her that although it would devastate me to see her suffering, her life is not mine to take, or to assist in taking.  She said, "Fine, I'll ask Tim, then."

I'm hoping to read Joni Eareckson Tada's biography to hear about how a Christian person has dealt with becoming a quadriplegic and how the hope they have in Christ has made a difference.

Ultimately I'm still very opposed to euthanasia...but I think Christians can be so and still understand why people like Will would consider it.