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Well, the other week I went with my Sister and Bro'n'law's church. Its a way up in Albany. For those of you wh dont know thats at the very north of Auckland. Its a very small, new church - run by a couple of their pastor friends from Dunedin City Elim. It seems like a nice little church with lots of growth. However the only problem is its a 40 minute drive to my Sister's then another 40 minute drive to their church. So again its quicker to goto Eastside in Hamilton. In case your wondering, they are planning to move up to Albany soon anyway.
However last Sunday I went with my flatmate to his local church. Manurewa Baptist. It was actually pretty cool. There were alot of people my age and the service was not too bad. Even though it wasnt as 'appo' as I am used to, I could get used to it.
I'll go back there this Sunday since they are moving into their newly renovated building.

T.

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Theology.

I have discoverd I quite like Theology. I have always liked hostory and science. I own hundreds of books regarding it all.
I went to my sister's place for dinner the other night. She and her husband preach at their local Appo church in north Auckland. I asked if I could borrow some of their books, and they have quite a few on Theology. Christian History, Bible History and many more. I like them alot more than personal accounts etc.

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I feel God is testing me. Im not happy up here in Auckland.

Dont get me wrong. I enjoy the work, I enjoy the company, I enjoy the product, I enjoy the flat, I enjoy alot of things. But I just dont feel like its home. Something is missing, Im not clear on EXACTLY what, but something...
As before, I still want to move to Hamilton. I really feel at home there. I love going there, I love my church there, I love my friends there. I have wanted to move there and have felt a 'calling' to go there for a few months now. Not so long after I started going. I have questioned wether its really God thats calling me - or something else. Its a combination of several things, faith, friendship and fellowship.
Im hungry for God, and I cant seem to feed that hunger up here. No church I have been to makes me feel 'right'.
I love the fellowship I have in Hamilton, a good, large, diverse group of christian people to be with, makes life so much better.
I have a good amount of friends there too, and am making more each week I go there.

Job oppertunities abound. I'd prefer to stay with Cat, but if it gets too bad, Ill change. Im running the branch in Hamilton this month and will make it my mission to have a good impact down there - with the hope of future (near-future) transfer. Even though Ive just moved up here, I'd move down there in a heart-beat - thats how much I feel for the place.

Of course, its up to God, Ill keep praying for guidance and direction in that area.

God bless you all.

T.

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Rubik's Cube.

I have recently aquired myself a Rubik's cube. I got it for no other reason that it was on special, I was bored and had a sudden lack of self controll. Subsequently it has sat, unused, on my shelf for a couple of weeks. Untill today that is.
Today is my first day in about 2 months where I havnt had to do anything. I wasnt moving house, working (although I did yesterday morning), having fun in Hamilton, driving somewhere etc. My flatmate is out so I can do my laundry, listen to my music up loud and generally blob about.
So out came the Cube. Now apart from pulling my sister's one apart many years ago, I have never actually played with one of these things. It is really very difficult. Being slightly technically minded I soon figured out how to move a single colour to a particular place I wanted. However trying to get them all there is quite another story. You get one line right, and in order to get another one you end up disrupting the first.
There is alot of twisting and turning, fore thought and repeating moves in reverse to achieve just one little thing. And it got me thinking - thats kind of how life is.
You know what you want to do, you know what you have to do to achieve the things you want. You can visualise the moves you have to make to get there and they sometimes dont goto plan. There is a bit of twisting and turning, along with some back-tracking and sometimes they do disrupt what you have done up to that point.
Just like the cube you need dedication, patients and of course practice makes perfect. You learn by your mistakes and keep on trying. Hope and Faith.
For my Cube, there is an online resource which guides you on how to master it. It teaches you the algorithims you need to win. For my life there is my Bible, which also guides and teaches me - on how to master my life and live stronger in God.

Inspire

Well, what as awesome weekend!!

Yet another weekend to Eastside in Hamilton. As usual I had a ball. It was fine and sunny, albeit cold in the mornings. I cant begin to describe how much I love that place, whenever I leave home for Hamilton I feel some sense of joy. Maybe its because Im going to a great church, maybe its because Im going to surround myself with great people - Im not too sure.

Inspire was great. The speakers were very very good, and I got alot from it. The worship team are great as usual. One of the lead worshipers was telling me he will lead 7 services in 3 days!! Wow.

The weather was great, I cant believe they had rain up here in Auckland, where I had bright sunshine all weekend.

Saturday was the funnest day I have had for quite some time. I got to spend it with great company, ate some good food, spend some money, have a thoroughly enjoyable time and to cap it all off - get some good Jesus time in the end.

Ive had a very inspirational weekend, and cant wait for more.

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Man, I love Eastside so much - what an awesome church to be part of. Ive just spent another great weekend down there. Not only in the presence of God, but with good friends and nice weather.
James McPheson seems to connect soo well with the crowd. I love is teachings, not exactly 'revelations' to me, but he puts them across so well and interacts with people brilliantly.
I cant wait for Inspire this coming weekend. Its going to be awesome.
As much as I want to find a church up here, I could never get tired of traveling to Eastside. I love the company, the mix of people, the teaching and the music. Its a real commitment to go, and even though I cant make it every weekend - I can only try me best.

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Well, tonight I went to Faith City Church in Manukau. It was quite a service, they have a nice band with a very gifted drummer. I enjoyed the service and the prayer/worship was pretty good. However I didnt really feel a sense of connection, like I was 'giving' during prayer but not 'receiving'. No euphoria, no real visions or anything to do with God speaking to me. It made me feel a bit discouraged. Everyone else around me was swimming in the Holy Spirit, laughing, going under, whailing, crying all the rest - but not me. I have been feeling this of late, like I havnt turned on a switch or something... I almost feel a little foolish while praying - I know I shouldnt... But I do, almost like I want to scream: C'mon God, hit me with your Holy Spirit, do SOMETHING... Please?? So you can imagine me feeling a little 'meh' afterward.

Then I mingled with some of the people afterward, getting to know some of the people there and making a couple of contacts - so I can go along to some life groups and see if I can make some friends etc. Then out of the blue a lady came up to me with one of the leaders. She was a visitor too but God had asked her to speak to me; and she told me not to give up, that God has great plans for me and even though I am feeling discouraged, I should not give up - keep on trying. Wow.
The prayed for me then and there and it was awesome.