Post-Parachute Post

Parachute was really awesome this year...as always!!
It was great to listen to so many bands express their love for God with their God-given talents and for so many people (25,000) to share the experience of hearing such awesome songs. I ended up spending quite a bit of money (mainly on food, drinks, etc) but if i don't enjoy life while i am young i will look back on my life when i'm older and have the things that i once wanted and realise that then i would have no use for them, so i enjoyed myself to the fullest. By the end of Parachute 06 i think it would be fair to say i have broadened my knowledge of christian artists and bands and am now a big fan of smaller bands like Mozelle (which unfortunetly has just broken up as each band member is heading in a different direction), Rookie, Moped, Julia Grace, etc. But also a fan of the bigger bands. Two things which were the downside of Parachute...(but you gotta go through the ruff to fully enjoy the awesome) firstly, Carrying the heavy bags over the the tent site and then back again (they may not have been so heavy when i first picked them up but they certainly were after a few minutes, and Ro-Anna never got the pleasure of starting off with her bag feeling light), and secondly, Showers were a necessity and you didn't want to waste all your time in the shower but 2mins after you got out you were sweating again.

While we (Ro-Anna, Amy, Mark, myself, and Ian Munro as well as his friend Kalvin) were in Hamiliton town on Saturday (we had gone to Ian's house to skip the shower lines at parachute) i was with Kalvin in his car and the others were in Ian's car. Kalvin took off and we drove passed them as i saw Ian open the car door for Amy and hold it open for her while she got in (what a gentleman). We turned around the corner and then had to pull over because we didn't know how to get to where we were heading. We waited...and waited...and waited. And while we were waiting a thought occurred to me. "Nice guys finish last". Ian had been the gentleman and because of it we had gotten ahead of him. I shared my thought with Kalvin and he agreed that the person who came up with that philosophy must have been a very worldly person. But then i said to Kalvin, as a wider more intracate description of the situation came into mind, that perhaps it is the case but what the philosopher failed to recognise was there is more to the journey...he only understood that nice guys come last but he didn't understand that the story continues. Because we couldn't continue without Ian the-nice-guy. So in effect, The nice guy finished first. It is just like Christians vs worldy people. Worldy people see themselves as ahead in the race. Partying, getting high, having sex, etc. But what they fail to realise is the story carries on, it goes on further than what they think and they need a christian to show them the way (or a mapbook/Bible). Furthermore, it's what they do in their life that matters, because opening the door allows them to get ahead. Giving the time, money, effort to people around them determines how far they get in life, further than they can ever see. I liked that thought. Ian arrived and we followed him to our destination.

It was a shame to leave Parachute, but my wristband will always remind me of the great memories i had, and my red sunburned face will remind me for atleast a few days how worth it parachute really was. I really, truly do reccomend Parachute to everyone of all ages, and if you set aside only a few dollars every week you will have sufficient funds for going to Parachute 07.

please note...check out the blog of one of the speakers (http://www.philbaker.com) it is on my "Others" list to the right

One thing that really challenged me was the Hope Rowanda campaign. After watching the gruesome reality of what happened in Rowanda and they showed young children who had aspiration and dreams (mentioned on the screen) and how savagely those children were murdered i really felt tears of grief rolling down my cheeks (to be honest just thinking about it now is making my eyes swell, but maybe that's because i'm tired). I really felt so helpless. To see people, inocent people go through such pain and suffering and here i was enjoying life, and could do nothing to help them, did nothing to help them. The Campaign was to raise money to build two orphanages (correct me if i'm wrong here) over in Rowanda. Mark and Darlene Zchech were oragnising the Hope Rowanda Campaign and Mark told Parachute the money they would need to be able to build these buildings. The Offering was not forced, and people gave what their hearts told them ( i did anyway) and the money was raised, infact a little more that what was needed. It made me really happy to know that atleast i was doing something about the extreme poverty so many young children now face. For that is the one of my jobs, as a Christian, to live my life loving my neighbour, to giving generously to that neighbour so that they may experience God through me.
Last night as we were all worshiping i opened my eyes and looked up into the sky. My Hands were raised among thousands of others. I thought to myself "God is here, and He is looking down on all of us now with glowing, sparkling eyes, and thinking to Himself 'These are my children, with which i am well pleased' "

Less than one day until Parachute festival!!!
i don't know if i will sleep tonight. I hope i do though, or i will be very tired at parachute.

In other news, Exam results today. I did ok. Passed everything...except possibly not accounting (not sure what i needed to pass) I didn't do spectacularily but i passed, and thus i am happy.
This year i have set up a timetable for allocating my time to studying etc. So this years results will be spectacular!...i hope.

That's it from me, i will post on Parachute when i return. And then i'm off to school again. :D

Tears

Two brothers once fought each other in the confounds of their living room. what began as a friendly slap on the back (possibly a little too hard) to diving fly-kicks upon ribs. Climbing armchairs, diving off couches, pouncing upon each other like hyenas upon prey. A living room turned warzone. Suddenly a kick too hard, and in the head. The sudden rage and hideous enmitious emotions cast away. The believed satisfaction of winning this battle was gone, in an instant, replaced with pity, compassion, regret, and love. This battle was over, it should never have begun.

Twenty years down the road two brothers stand together both within the same four walls. A fight still rages between the two. One brother filled with envy, controlled by disillusioned pride. The other tasting the the bitter sting of love, venting that pain upon his kinsman. What have they become they ask themselves, but never a question to escape their minds. Neither one nor the other will shed a tear of sorrow. It is weakness in his eyes, in his brother's eyes. In man's eyes. Time will not change any hearts. Hate never give to love. Not now, nor ever again.

Thoughts at the movies

Two movies i have recently been to watch have deeper meanings, that is if one dives deeper than, possibly, was intended by the Director.
Just Like Heaven - I saw this movie with Steve Jaegar, and afterwards Steve talked about how it related to him how a main theme was destiny. And He believed that one could not live without believing in Destiny because destiny gives purpose to life, it gives a sense of direction, something to aim to achieve. To live their Destiny. And whilst talking to steve about such things i naturally started thinking about the subject at hand and, indisputably, agree with him. The movie, though it did contain a little witchcraft/trying to abolish what he believed was a ghost, very nicely portrayed the theme of Destiny. It was not either of their choices to fall in love with each other but of a higher power. And though both of them tried to abandon each other they were unable to be seperated. I know that God has a destiny placed on each of our lives. But one thing i disagree with is the fact (or what i believe to be fact) that we do have the choice. We can follow that destiny when we know what we must do and do it, or we can say no, i'm not doing that, i want to do it my way, i'm sacred of stepping out. However it isn't so simple sometimes. Sometimes we don't know what to do, and in Just Like Heaven in the beginning both the woman and the man didn't know what to do and for that reason tried to depart each other's company. But as it is with destiny it is not so easy to toss aside and eventually you do realise that you don't find it so easy to leave someone, or something and when you do you feel like you are incomplete, unfulfilled. That is when you have to turn back to the road in which your destiny will be fulfilled from, that is when you have the choice, because it is then that you know what choice you have. To give your destiny a chance to play the cards or to take away the only thing that ever fulfill you. God has a place in every destiny, and that is why following Him is the right road to acomplish that destiny.


Fun With Dick And Jane - Is about the cruel nature of Humans that can cause others to do extreme things. For people that have so much then suddenly have so little, less infact than what was necessary to survive. From Prosperity to Poverty. It spoke to me in that, Dick invested his life on worldy riches, something he believed was so secure, but in a heartbeat he realised that his security was not quite so secure. But by then it was too late. The story ended happily but what it failed to mention is what those victors would then do with their gain. Because it would be inevitably thrown away, stolen, wasted, laundered. Years of their lives could again be used for no useful accomplishment. The reason for this is because they still invested in worldy riches, rather than kind deeds, compassionate hearts, and pious living. You see if they lived like that then they would be truly satisfied, overly contented, richly joyous.

None of those really had a particular moral, i don't even know why i started writing about them. I only wrote what can into my head, so possibly a lot of constructive feedback would be good if nothing makes sense. That way i can straighten out what i'm thinking right now, because to be honest, i don't really know what i'm thinking

Man's Best Friend (when the dog's on holiday)

Well really the title isn't very appropriate because it is me on holiday not the dog, but anyway...
what speaks personally when you sit alone in the lounge, brings memories of times that you once had, creates visions of people that for some reason are never forgotten? What sparkles emotions just from a quiet beat that touches, for a moment, in parallel, the beat of your heart? The Answer is Music. And I still listen to music i loved 2years ago, 5 years ago, 7years ago, and those songs each remind me of the circumstance i was in at the time. What i did back then, why i listened to the song, who i meant the lyrics for...
None of my new update of songs are so much these old, recalled songs, that speak personally to me. But these are songs which, though they may be old in some cases, are new to me and will one day perhaps be a memory of how i am today, because when looking back on what i was like it is easier to understand myself, things i never even knew about myself come to surface. Here is the new update.

Cutting Crew - Just Died In Your Arms Tonight
U2 - With Or Without you
Bob Sinclair - Love Generation

And of course the Parachute 06 songs...

Anberlin - Paperthin Hymn
Day Of Fire - Fade Away
Delirious - Now Is The Time
Reuben Morgan - World Through Your Eyes
Juliagrace - Tin Cars
Parachute Band - Shout
Magnify - Fill Me
Form - In Kight Of This
Mozelle - What About You?
The Valley - Sorry When You're Smiling
Thousand Foot Krutch - Absolute
Hillsong - Let Creation Sing
Robbie Seay Band - Better Days
Joy Williams - Say Goodbye


And in other matters, Rachel is up in Auckland now and her room is having new carpet put in (even inside her very jam-packed wardrobes) and everything has to be cleared out of it so i will get started on that in my spare time (not like i'm struggling to find time). And i also picked up monday and tuesday of next week to babysit some kids down in Rowley. But that's ok cos i got my thursday off work ( i figured it was too close to Parachute to do any kitchen work).
That's it it for me tonight. past 12 oclock which i guess brings it down to 8 days to go :D

Parachute 06! The Countdown..11Days to go

I can feel the adrenaline rush already...i'm getting so excited. Next year i'm hoping Opawa can get atleast 10 people.

Warwicks Birthday-Party Day was today so at 2:50pm i was rushing to reinstall the cd cover design maker on my computer (became unfunctional after the virus attack about a week ago) and after realising i wasn't even sure what to put on the cover and i could no longer remember the songs i had put on the cd i just made a quick background and gave the cd a title. "Warwick; the big 30" (it didn't seem very appropriate because there are only 18 songs on the cd). But i was already running late, and after getting stuck behind a cyclist at the bottom of the hill i thought i would turn up as people began to leave, however i chose not to beep at the cyclist and let them go in there own time. After getting to the party at Rebecca's Mother's house i realised i was one of the first guests anyway so my lateness was not duly noted. (Phew) After i thought the party was wrapping up i decided to go home, so i went home and chatted to my Great Aunty and Uncle whilst i ate a quick dinner. I listened to a good Barry White song "You're the first, the last, my everything" and stood open mouthed when my dad told me he had never heard of barry white. Sometimes i wonder what he did for his teenage years, i mean music is half my life and i'm no muso. If i can tell him who a 70s singer is then one of us has problems. I'll give him that i can't tell him half of those classical singers. Pavaroti, puchhini, umm..that dame lady...yea names like that. I do try. Anyway, i went for a drive around the port hills and then went back to Rebecca's mum's house to find guests were still around so we re-entered and i gave Warwick a second gift (as i felt inclined to) which i sure he shall treasure 'till the day he dies. :) won't you Warwick ;)
Anyway, i sit here on Msn Messenger tonight and one of my friends has changed his display name to "..Lord, I prey for the freedom of all peoples"
sure the text was misspelled but if you re-read the text without correcting the mistake it reads differently. He may not have intended to do so (infact he certainly didn't, as i asked him) but it is now read as a prayer of statement rather than want. He no longer prays for the frredom but states he preys for it. He seeks it, searches after it. He gets out into the world and fights to have it. He may not actually do this, but then again maybe he does. Subconsciously he lives a life where he, if put into a situation where he was faced with having a choice over the freedom of another, would say 'Enough is enough, let God's people go'
God's people? yes even those who donot acknowledge their father. They are still His people until the very end of their mortal lives because until that time they still have a choice of whether to accept the offer that Jesus has spread his arms to give. I think it's a good name, and it really finishes of a brilliant day. I hope others have had brilliant, shining days too.

Opawa Blogging

I just really wanted to write a post about Opawa Blogging. I have to say i really love it how people from Opawa Baptist Church blog. It brings us closer. We begin to understand that we aren't the only ones in the world who have more going on inside our head than out. Someone writes about what is happening in their life or something that is on their mind and the Post brings readers to a point where they can empathise and say "hey it doesn't only happen to me, everyone struggles" or "others feel this way too", and aswell as that people can offer advice to the person, a way they have successfully dealt with that issue in the past. But it doesn't stop there, Readers look at the comments and find this advice, this love between bloggers to help each other whatever the problem might be, and they apply that advice to their own lives even though they may not admit to struggle. The point is, just by saying what is going on in one's mind many people can benefit. And that is what i love about Opawa Blogs the most.

The reins of my life...who is holding on to them?

I was thinking about my formal post last night and how i said, and i quote "but after all this blog is about me..." and it made me wonder if it is the same for my life. Do i see myself as the protagonist, as the man centre stage? Should i not be making God the centre? I have prayed countless times asking that the Lord would take the reins of my life and lead me down the right road. But how can He do that if i do not make Him the centre, if i do not focus my life around Him? If i do not make myself number two then how can Jesus be in control? Turning from His sound advice because it doesn't sound quite like what i wanted to hear, and my way sounds so much better because it avoids taking that leap of faith, isn't letting Jesus do the deciding, it's only giving Him the reins so that I can tell Him where to lead my horses. I won't change my other post because it stands as a reminder, but if my life isn't just sitting back in the carriage enjoying the view, no matter where He takes me, then i've got some serious relaxing to do.

I came to my computer tonight to find many messages and pop-ups informing me of a very powerful virus attacking my computer. Windows believed the best way to solve this problem was to download the latest windows antivirus software which would find the virus no other spyware could pick up and then once i purchased the product it would fix my computer.

I couldn't help but think that perhaps there is a lesson to be learned in this. A moral of this story. It reminded me of the talk Amy Hay did on viruses at the OBY camp a few years ago. The Computer being us, the vessel for God's work as he sits on the computer and types out the complex formulas for the growth of the sunflowers outside my bedroom window, the labyrinthine blueprints for a 35 degree sunshine, and the intricate designs of a gentle wind. But yet through some means or another the foul stench of iniquities plagues itself into our harddrive, through our software, and into the depths of space we are unaware we have. And thus today howling winds father fires and burn so much life to nothing but black smoke rising in the sky clouding the warmth and light of the sun. Could it be that these viruses are like the propaganda of false friends? Or the misinterpretation of advice? The reality is, it doesn't matter how the virus finds it's way to us, but moreso how we strive to destroy it. Another almost irrelevant fact is by whom the viruse was sent. A friend? An enemy? A Family member? So back to the question of how to destroy a potential black plague, for this virus i find i have, i see no means to destroy nor a conclusion to even finding it. So the first thing that is imperative to do is to find which part of our lives this wreched infestation has befallen upon. Not always is this possible in this case and thus i am at a loss of what to do. This is not only upsetting to me as the computer, but also to the User. God. What is he to do? Go downstairs and watch some boring old dvd on an outdated movie that probably never hit the big screen? Listen to Creed as they scream at the top of their lungs "yea yea, somebody told me the wrong way"? You see neither of these catalyse an outcome and thus are useless both here and now and in the future. No we must enlist the help of a friend, someone who is able to use their talents of mending computers (which we don't have) to help solve the catastrophe we, and God face. You see if we give in to crowd, to purchasing the product that costs more than it costs to get the computer fixed and is without guarentee of being fixed, then we are falling subject to the virus' intent itself, for viruses were created to create the industry of antivirus software, and although it is essential to have such software these days, it is not essential to purchase something when only one programme that can track the virus, for it will be that the only purpose of such a virus is to make money for the company that is able to fix it. You can fill your trash can with the nauseating affliction of this virus simply by relying on the help of your God-gifted friends, whether they be a prayer warrior, or a computer specialist.

New Years

Went to The Family Stone movie for New Years Eve with some friends. Despite some peoples beliefs i did watch the movie i was just a little confused on the title. Yes, i thought the family was called the Stones. I was wrong. But i don't want to ruin it for other people so i won't go into the details of the movie, only say that it was a pretty good movie.

After the movie we went into town to the New Years Concert. It was good. Unfortunetly i recognised a lot of Cashmere High Students there that were quite drunk. I tried to steer clear of them all and fortunetly no conflict ever arose between them and myself. The countdown was not exactly a highlight of the night as it was so unsyncked that i couldn't even tell when it actually was New Years. The fireworks were good though. There were some really beautiful blue ones i just couldn't take my eyes off.

The next day (New Years) was fun too, only there was no digestion (night service) and it doesn't feel like sunday without it. But i found something else to do, which was quite important and made the absence of Digestion seem tonight worthwhile.

Hope everyone has an Awesome New Year where they strive to achieve their resolutions.