Rock Of Ages

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood,

From Thy riven side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure,

Cleanse me from its guilt and power.



Not the labours of my hands

Can fulfil Thy law's demands;

Could my zeal no respite know,

Could my tears for ever flow,

All for sin could not atone:

Thou must save, and Thou alone.



Nothing in my hand I bring,

Simply to Thy Cross I cling;

Naked, come to Thee for dress;

Helpless, look to Thee for grace;

Foul, I to the fountain fly;

Wash me, Saviour, or I die.



While I draw this fleeting breath,

When mine eyelids close in death,

When I saw through tracts unknown,

See Thee on Thy judgement throne,

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee.



Augustus Montague Toplady 1740-1778

Lemon Bank

Only Brazil could have a bank named "Lemon Bank"?

Jono

Jono is now old. Turning 21 today!

Excerpt From Real Issues

The smacking debate



The tragic death of 6-year-old Coral Burrows has prompted calls from the Prime Minister, Social Services Minister, Steve Maharey, and the Commissioner for Children to remove Section 59 of the Crimes Act. This section allows parents to use 'reasonable force' when disciplining their children.



But let's be clear: Section 59 does not advocate smacking; it allows for reasonable parental force, which may include smacking. Obviously, responsible parents use a range of measures, and in no way is it a licence to beat children. Moreover, there is a consistent failure among child advocates to see that family dysfunction is a cause of abuse and that smacking and violence are poles apart. There is no evidence that smacking leads to violence, and the law is quite clear about the difference between the two.



When used properly, smacking is a quick correction to bring a child's behaviour back into line; it seeks to restore the parent-child relationship affected by the child's unacceptable behaviour. If done in a context of stable and committed family relationships, it is motivated by love and a commitment to the child's best interests. As children develop, most parents naturally use it less and less.



Abuse, however, is belting, punching, or beating. It is motivated by anger, frustration, revenge or some other volatile desire to 'get back at' the child. Abuse aims to inflict pain, revenge or humiliation. It is often associated with parental neglect, dictatorial control, indulgence and incompetence, and unstable and uncommitted relationships. Making smacking illegal will criminalise responsible parents, but will do nothing to stop abusers.

Trogdor Strikes In The Night!

I had 19 fish. Now I have 18 fish and a skeleton. I found Mr Fish dead on the bottom with a hole through him yesterday. Shortly afterwards, I saw Trogdor feasting upon him. Trogdor strikes again.... with majesty!



Mum

Needs another operation, as the first one was not completely successful. Keep praying!



Question

Of interest and importance:- Do Maori deserve special privileges or have any more rights in this country due to the fact they were (debatably) the first inhabitants of New Zealand. I say no. Until this is spelt out and understood by all there will be racial disharmony in this country.



Smacking Children

I was troubled by the death of Corral. It was so sad. Unfortunately, with the death of Corral, cries for the outlawing of smacking have been heard. Bizarre. Did she get a smacked bottom and die? No; someone murdered her. The argument against smacking ones children is that it produces a violent society. Interesting! So how is it that in times past, where smacking was more acceptable, we had lower rates of murder and violent crime (and other crime) than we do now when fewer people use physical discipline. Once again stupid people are using unjustified arguments to attempt to bring about daft legislation. Give me strength!

Mum

As many of you will know, my mum had her breast cancer surgery last Wednesday, and she is doing fine. We await the results to see if everything is tickety boo. Thanks for all the prayer.



Car Accident

Some of you may also know I had a car accident on the motorway last Tuesday. God protected me from harm, and I am now back at work.... somewhat poorer, and transportationally deficient.



Alfa Romeo

Dan and me went to look at an Alfa Romeo tonight. It is a replacement for my Mazda 626. I am really thinking of buying it. I'll keep ewes posted. Thanks for helping Dan!



Mafia

Awesome night on Sunday. Heaps of the youth from church went round to Jono's, and we played Mafia. A good night was had by all! If you haven't played this game, get in touch, and I'll let you know when the next one is.





Lack of Posting

Anita has commented on the lack of posting on all blog fronts recently. In fact Dan has been the only one who really has been. What's going on? I've been too busy, but really want to get back into it. I just don't really have much to say though. Maybe I'll have an issue to bang on about tomorrow. Until then God bless ya'll.

Nice - Go Maxim

A confused risk management culture



In every area except sex education, our young people are mollycoddled by a risk management culture. According to educational psychologist, mother and former teacher, Maria Schmetzer, when it comes to sex, "Young people are left in the position of making dreadful choices as there's no rules." Speaking at a public seminar in the South Island last weekend, Mrs Schmetzer added that "Children were making decisions they were not equipped to make at their age and parents had been made to feel incapable of guiding them."



Increasingly, childhood is being politicised through demands for more child rights, advocacy and safety. Risk-taking is no longer allowed as part of childhood - except when it comes to sexual expression and experimentation.



Today's children are growing up in a sterile and politically correct ('harm minimisation') culture largely bereft of risk, and managed by more and more state regulation and rights. Empowerment and participation rights have replaced former notions of protection, the role of parents is diminished, and the difference between 'child' and 'adult' continues to shrink.



Save Mart Clothes

Jono, Alisa, and cruised to Save Mart today. Ok this place rules. I bought 4 dress shirts and a pair of nice jeans for $35. Jono got more shirts for about the same. T-shirts are about $2 or $3. We then cruise to Rebel Sports just to check out something, and found T-Shirts (which just happened to have little famous brand labels on them) for $50 and more. Haha. Sucked in. Amazing how much you can save when you step down a little bit. Don't get me wrong, our shirts and stuff aren't gross, just not necessarily labels. Jono also did an amazingly cool good deed today. Check his blog to see what he did, when he decides to post about it.



Gold Nescafe Spoon

Ok this comes in as wackyness for the week stuff. I got a letter from Nestle the other day, with a gold (coloured) metallic spoon, which they told me was so I could have the perfect coffee when I used Gold Blend. Cool man. It said that "Your friend Mr Peek" had recommended me for it. Shot Mr Peek! Awesome stuff. Why did he recommend me? Was it because I was a stirrer? Or maybe because I like coffee....?

The Hike

Absolutely amazing time. I went up the Billygoat track, which is very scenic. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Whilst up at the hut I read through II Timothy and Titus. Great books, and I was very encouraged. Shall tell you some stuff I learnt from them later. Anyways.... so much for assuming a peaceful and tranquil time would be had in preayer and meditation. There were 50-60 other people up there, so it was quite hectic, However, on the good side, I met a non-Christian guys, who was stoned (and possibly drunk by the amount of vodka he was consuming) and tried witnessing to him. he came from a Catholic background, and assumed that it was good works that save you. Well I didn't get far, but I pray that questions were left in Andrew's mind, which God will later use to bring him to his knees in repentance and faith.

Further to this, I met a Christian youth group from Warkworth up there, and was encouraged as I talked with the leaders, and shared with them.



Isn't it funny how things turn out. Here I was hoping to have heaps of time to myself and God, and what did I get? Lot's of talking with others. But it was good for my soul to get away and see the beauty of the New Zealand bush, which is God's.



God taught me many things. One thing I really remembered. On the way up, I felt rather lonely, and also felt (10 minutes into the tramp due to asthma which made me sound like a sick cow) like going back to the car and forgetting the whole excercise. See, tramping is a bit like the Christian walk. When we make our faith individual, and try to 'go it alone' we often feel depressed, and downtrodden, as there is no one to encourage us to keep going. This is where Christian friends come in. They are there to encourage us to keep going, to rebuke us when we become slack, to laugh when we laugh, to cry when we cry. And of course we do the same for them. Perhaps the Christian walk should not be done alone. Of course we do have God, but he has provided us with fellowship and a body so we can spur one another on.



On the way back, I took the Billygoat track, and as I set out, I made up my mind I would do it as quickly as I could. So I set out and blitzed the track in 2 hours. I was so stoked. The track is a '4 hour track', so I was really happy, although my heels were pretty gashed up at the end of it. (Maybe something to do with the fit of jogging that came upon me for a little way).



Letter to the Editor

Very happy today. I got another letter in to the New Zealand Herald.



Here it is:-

Thom James tells the religious to stop forcing their opinions on others, by complaining about advertisements which are offensive to their faith. Then he contradicts himself by telling us, that those who are religious should just put up with the opinions of the secular society they live in, and should adapt accordingly. Why is it ok for the 'secular religion' to impose its views on everyone, when it is not ok for Christians to speak out on issues they feel strongly about. It couldn't be double standards could it?



Once again we are being told to shut up because our views do not conform to so called 'norms'. Once again "Enough already". Now let me predict a number of atheist/secular humanists writing in and saying that secular and religion don't go together. And then cue other Christians to write in and define religion (system of faith and worship), and then tell them they are religious. Yes that is a hint already.



Wrestling

Had a great evening before Greek last night. Me Hamish, and Paul checked out this funny as wrestling game for Playstation II. It was very choice. I can't remember it's name though.