the world

Last Friday night at small group, we asked the question, “Who is Jesus?”

 In the space of just over an hour, this is a short list we compiled:

• constant
• always the same
• speaks/relates to where we are at
• relates to who we are
• same language, different dialect
• alive
• cuts through cultural norms
• cuts through man’s version of normal
• cuts/crosses through all cultures, generations, ages, genders, races… even today!
• the world did not influence Him
• He influenced everyone
• I Am
• He shook the place up politically, culturally, personally
• teacher
• healer
• friend
• some say best friend, but it is not as easy as saying that
• not with us physically now, but He is a part of me
• intimate yet distant
• perfect
• always forgiving
• human being
• lived on earth
• a man
• not physically attractive
• had human relationships with people
• an everyday man
• a normal Jew of the day
• a person for everyone
• direct lineage to David – a royal line
• born in a stable
• family trade was carpentry
• performed miracles
• likeable
• went to the toilet
• Jesus farted!
• got tired, hungry, thirsty, angry, cranky
• felt every human emotion
• not a stereotype
• not like the pictures or movies
• not white, American, Aussie, European, Caucasian
• life – we’re stuffed without Him
• ultimate oxymoron
• gentle as a lamb
• strong as a lion
• mentally tough
• He knew his purpose and lived each day with that in mind
• passionate to the point of not always being socially acceptable
• cleared the church (twice) from people using it for business and personal gain
• full of love
• sometimes He got angry and did something about it
• sometimes he left sadly and quietly
• loved the unacceptable – women, sick, tax collectors, prostitutes, poor
• He walked and ate and drank with them, with everyone
• struggled with stuff
• was ridiculed
• depended on God the Father constantly
• in the garden, His soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death
• His heart hurt - hurt for His friends, His people, the world
• suffered
• hope
• the fulfilment of promises, all the Old Testament prophecies
• justice
• redemption
• Jesus = Joshua (Yeshua) = The Lord saves
• from Nazareth, Galilee
• “The carpenter’s son” – this was used as innuendo, an insult against Him
• was a child, a teenager, a man
• a refugee in Egypt
• associates and can relate with every circumstance (generally, not literally)
• did not have period cramps but he suffered pain!
• knew He was going to die
• endured torture and death
• endured extreme limits of the human body – fasting from food for 40 days
• tempted in every way
• knows every aspect of me – a highly one-sided relationship at the moment
• creative – our Creator
• loved and cared for the poor
• mysterious – can’t be seen now, can’t be fully known
• still ever present
• came to serve and not be served
• has so much to tell us
• can feel so near yet so far

Is a holiday too much to ask for?

Not impressed with airlines (no naming Tiger Airways) who don’t say that their ’sale fares’ don’t include fees and taxes, therefore doubling the price and not being worthy of the ’sale’ status…

Grumpy, tired, fed up, can’t be stuffed, worldly… these are all wonderful words to describe me today!

Some ppl know exactly what they want to do in life. They make goals, 1 year plan, 5 year plan, 10 year plan… I’m not like that. I don’t even know where I’ll be mid-year… but I just trust I’ll be in the right place at the right time. I’m in the early stages of being involved in some pretty large ‘gigs’ (i use that word loosely - Paul’s originals, Floyd, my originals) for later in the year, and not sure what to do yet.

Here am I, all of me
Take my life, it’s all for Thee

Walk humbly

Work sells off decomissioned computers.

Ev has none of it.

Half an hour til end of sale, work sell 17″ Dell LCD flatscreens for $30 each!!

Ev snaps up four.

Ev passes two onto Dev+Dean.

Ev connects two to his Matrox G400 dual head video card.

All in a day’s work!

It’s been a while since I’ve picked up my axe and done a decent gig.  (Axe = keyboard - don’t be too worried, all you tree-lovers!) In October, I’ll be playing Keys 2 for Octave Theatre’s production of Songs For A New World.  Looking forward to getting back into a show with a ripping hot band and some great music.  8 shows in October - more details to come…

Thanks (or no thanks) to Jason and his 30th Nerd Party.
See the full series at http://www.flickr.com/photos/scudamor.

Exciting news: I’m having a baby today… a new acoustic guitar - a beautiful Cort Parkwood dreadnought!  Details and photos and tunes to come!

For all you financially minded blog-lovers:

Everything that goes with the celebration of a new year - etax2007, NOAs, group certificates, Centrelink CRNs & statements, et cetera.  Ultimately, that rosy little incentive at the end of hours of gathering all the right paperwork, sorting through it, putting the right numbers in the right sections - the proverbial carrot proverbially dangling at the proverbial end of the proverbial stick - the humble tax return. 

Children, all our best wishes for the “festive season”!
E&J