[beanie]

"God was manifest in the flesh." 1 Timothy 3:16

He was born in abject poverty, yet a choir of angels filled the skies with songs of His greatness. A star, that astronomers still can't explain to this day, became the compass that brough world leaders to worship at His crib.

His birth defied the laws of biology and His death defied the lows of mortality. No miracle is greater than His life and teaching.

He owned no cornfields or fisheries, yet He spread a table for 5000 and he had bread and fish left over. He never stood on expensive carpeting, yet He walked on water and it supported Him. He spoke to it and it obeyed Him. His crucifixion was the crime of crimes, yet in God's eyes no lesser a prace could've made your redemption possible.

When He died few mourned, yet God hung a black veil over the sun. Those who crucified Him never once trembled at what they'd done, yet the earth shook beneath them. Sin couldn't touch Him. Decay couldn't claim His body. The soil that was reddened with His blood couldn't claim His dust.

For over three years He preached the Gospel. He wrote no books, built no cathedrals and seemingly had no great financial resources. Yet 2000 years later, He's still the cenral character of human history, the perpetual theme of all preaching, the pivot around which the ages revolve - and the only Redeemer of the human race!

For every other job, God sent a man. But in order to rescue and renew us, God became a man. Aren't you glad?

[guitarfan01]

Amen. God rocks!

[nards]

Hey beanie,
that's awesome, really thought provoking.

[beanie]

I didn't write it, but thanks anyway

Life has been pretty sweet lately. Last week, my brother Gil was staying with me. All he did was eat and sleep. We went and saw 'Spiderman 2' which was as lame as the first. We also went and saw 'The Prince and Me' which was your typical girl falls in love with a prince movie.

Ryan, a friend of mine from Melbourne, also came over for a few days last week. It was cool just hanging with him. He and Gil got along well, so that was also nice.

Kez was on a retreat thing all weekend called 'Chrysalis'. Last night I stayed over her place and listened to all her stories. Her face was glowing. She looked incredible... Not that she wasn't already ridiculously good looking!

Last night, I also played keys at church. I wasn't really looking forward to it, even though I practiced for 90 minutes before the service. I was just feeling like I really didn't have the gifts to do it and that perhaps I shouldn't. But, I went ahead in a step of faith and did it. Had THE BEST time! The kids were all popping those streamer-popper things and jumping around with little noise making things in their mouths. Everyone was just jumping and going spaz. It was so fun! I stuffed up plenty of times, but no one noticed - everyone said I did well and worship was rad overall. I'm glad that the focus wasn't on me...

Today I worked and caught up a little with Mark, which was great. I came home and watched "Queer Eye"... I really like that show! I think gay people are a bit gross but just in need of a Saviour as the next guy. It's a pretty funny show nonetheless.

Now I'm here... Talking to more people on MSN at one time than I ever have, I think! Writing this ... Contemplating bed. Why am I so tired when I bummed around all morning and worked only a few hours!? And just before, I got told I look like Meg Ryan. What a day!

[beanie]

My name is Mary and I'm from Greenville, Mississippi
But this is where I live here in this old folks' dormitory
Every Sunday night Sarah comes to see us
And she plays that old upright
But Sarah always seems to leave us

When she plays something comes over me
Goes from my head all the way to my feet

And I wanna dance
I wanna snap my fingers all night long and dance
I wanna move around the room just like a woman in a trance
All night, I wanna dance
I wanna wrap my arms around your neck and dance
I wanna listen to the music that's been ringing in my ears
And one day I’m gonna dance my way right outta here

I had three girls and a boy but now one's gone up to Heaven
She's with her papa now 'cause he left for lack of penicillin
The older that I get I figure everyone is dying
They're all dying for a change
I know I'm dying for some action

But days like these Sunday seems so far away
So until then I'm gonna sit right here and here I’ll stay

I wanna dance
I wanna snap my fingers all night long and dance
I wanna move around the room just like a woman in a trance
All night, I wanna dance
I wanna wrap my arms around your neck and dance
I wanna listen to the music that's been ringing in my ears
And one day I’m gonna dance my way right outta here

I'd marry you, if you could dance, that's what I said
Cuz where I'm going they'll be dancing everyday




I just love this song!

[beanie]

I'm so out of it I don't even know what the date is. My computer date thing says 12 August, but if that were true... boy, I am behind.

Today was a day I'd much rather have passed laying in bed: reading, snoozing, writing, listening to music. Instead, I was beeping groceries at the checkout. I've just had 2 fantastic days off and rocked out with a few friends. One would never have imagined that THAT many *****y, whining customers could come through the one checkout in the one day! It was insane. Still, I had some nice customers, some good chats and my dad phoned me in my tea break. It was good to talk about him and take the focus off me.

It's freaking freezing! Like, 10 degrees! I can't believe it. It hardly ever EVER gets this cold here. They're thinking it might SNOW up in the hills this weekend. We get snow about once every 5 years and it like, half an inch or something! I like the cold - when it's raining and when I'm snuggled up in bed and listening to the rain on the tin roof. But walking to work and the wind makes the end of your nose chip off - not as much fun!

Dad was telling me about my brother Edwin, who's in the army. He's apparently off for 12 days on 2 days worth of food, running around in the bush pretending there's a war on... It's like, -2 degrees celsius where he is! It's training them to handle a real war situation and each other when there's no food and all. Dad says to pray that he'll find a rabbit! Who am I to complain!? My brother is freezing his nuts off and starving in a war that doesn't really exist... and I'm walking to work. Poor fella!

Anyone heard of the new young talent known as Bethany Dillon?
She is so good. She strums her little guitar and sings with a voice that's a cross between Tori Amos, Dido and Stacie Orrico. Definitely worth the $25 you fork out for her cd! Dude, she also only 15 years old! She could go out with my younger brother if she was crazy enough! She's YOUNG!

If anyone reads this, I urge you to pray. Pray that my brother finds a rabbit...










I see a generation rising up
No longer accepting lies
Running to the battlefield
And losing their lives

I see a generation rising up
No longer accepting lies
As a bad of worshipperes run to the battlefield
They're finding their lives...



A voice Calling Out
by Bethany Dillon

[nards]

Originally Posted by beanie

It's freaking freezing! Like, 10 degrees! I can't believe it. It hardly ever EVER gets this cold here. They're thinking it might SNOW up in the hills this weekend. We get snow about once every 5 years and it like, half an inch or something! I like the cold - when it's raining and when I'm snuggled up in bed and listening to the rain on the tin roof. But walking to work and the wind makes the end of your nose chip off - not as much fun!

that's cold for Aussie, but warm for NZ at this time of year.

Anyone heard of the new young talent known as Bethany Dillon?

No

If anyone reads this, I urge you to pray. Pray that my brother finds a rabbit...

Ok why would your brother want a rabbit?

[guitarfan01]

Is "rabbit" slang for something? And I've thought about getting Bethany's CD, I just don't know. I'm not sure if the pop music she makes is worth it. One gal who's is worth it, I know, is Paige Lewis, she's really good -- her CD came out about two and a half years ago under the name "Paige". God uses young people, doesn't He? I wonder why her and not me.

I'm just kidding, of course. He's got the wisdom, He's got the plan, He's got me in the palm of His hand (hey, it's a chorus or refrain to a new song, maybe -- sounds hip-hop). And He'll bring me up when it's time (that is, when I'm no longer worried about it, haha).

Galen

P.S. It's July 16, here. Oh, we're approaching the 45th anniversary of the moon landing. wow.

[beanie]

Guys... you silly guys! If you'd read the first bit properly you would have read that my brother is on a 12 day army thing with only TWO days worth of food! Thus, if he catches a rabbit, it means food and nutrience and all that good stuff!

Today, another fantasticly freezing day! I had a good one though. Worked all day. Now, I'm doing my washing and my tax return! ... Coby's coming around to visit! I haven't seen her in ages. We're planning on going to the same bible college in Melbourne. WOO! I'm real exciting.

Tomorrow, church and BAPTISMS! WOO!!!!!!!!!

[guitarfan01]

Oh, then I hope he finds a rabbit. Or better yet, two rabbits. And I hope he doesn't literally freeze his nuts off. I mean, if you have to lose your nuts, that's probably the best way to do it, seeing as how they'd be very numb at that point, so it probably wouldn't hurt nearly as much as having them crushed in some sort of industrial accident, or in a shooting accident like this guy did.

Galen

"ooh, that must hurt"

[beanie]

Well, that article was just plain freaky. The poor bugger!

Saturday night was good. Coby came around we talked about Melbourne and studies and plans for the future. Ryan rang after she left and we talked for ages. At 2, I decided it was time to sleep when I looked on my church rosters only to find out I was on church set-up that morning! So, that was a great night of 5 hours sleep.

Sunday was awesome. Banksy was back from his 7 month tennis playing adventure around Europe. His parents, who became Christians just before he left, got baptised that afternoon. They are so incredible and encouraging to me. I don't know what it would be like to all of a sudden, at 50+ years of age, come to know Christ from having not known anything of Him before! I just love watching them grow. They are so lovely.

Last night, I went to bed pretty early cos I was wrecked. Today, I worked 10-7. Tomorrow I'm working 7:30-6:30. I'm gonna die... especially if I keep wasting my sleep time on this thing! Goodnight!

[guitarfan01]

Goodnight, Bon. Much love. You are the awesome aussie chick Christian that I know... well, you and Kez.

[snowboarderTim]

yes... I'm thinking that hurt... but the dude was probably in shock and didn't feel a thing... at least I hope it worked out that way, heh.. but yes galen, I think that would be quite... painful. :s

Love ya Bonnie! I prayed for your bro, I read the post right the first time! lol...

Tim

[beanie]

I finished a whole 11 hours of work... well, 10 really, cos I had lunch and all. It went really quickly with no problemos at all. I just watched Australian Idol and some people really don't have good friends. I mean, if my friends actually allowed me to even try out, I wouldn't call them my friends. And there were people there, with heaps of friends and family urging them on, when they really sucked! It was weird...

Tomorrow, I'm working again and bumming in the afternoon. I was gonna go out, but I really just need to rest - and with Thursday and Friday off = plenty of time to go out! Woo!

I got a ginourmous (how do you even spell that anyways!?) letter from mum today and it was so good! I'd been annoyed at a few people lately, trying to put a damper on my dreams and adventures cos I "don't have the money", "you should start settling down" (rah rah rah). All along, I've been thinking, what about Abraham!

He was almost a fossil when God got him off his butt and told him to traipse around the country side. God didn't tell Abraham what he would find and what would happen when he got there... he didn't even tell Abraham, specifically, where to go. He just told him to go. Abraham didn't sit there planning out his budget and making sure his will was written and someone would look after his pets while he was gone. He just went.

God has urged me to go and I'm going. I know not where. I know not how. I don't have the money. I have the Spirit.

Christianity's foundation is faith. When it all comes down, it all comes down to faith. Faith, in essence, is stepping out into what is unknown. We wouldn't be walking by faith if we knew what was in the next step and how the next step would be provided for. Somewhere in the Bible it says that God is a God who speaks things that were nothing into being something. God is bigger than the path I walk down. If God is leading me to walk into nothing, by the time I get there it's gonna be something.

So, anyways... It's just cool, cos I'd been battling in this unmentioned war with mum and a few others (especially the dear old folks in my church back home who are so complacent despite the years of adventure and experience behind them) who seem to forget that we're to live by faith. Who cares if I haven't go the money? I don't care.

As if I don't follow and love a God who is bigger than money, bigger than my circumstances. I don't follow a God who isn't too small to provide everything I need for life. I'm in the CREATORS hands... surely that says something about adventure and faith!

[guitarfan01]

Amen, Bonnie. I love your outlook on life. It's very encouraging. Thanks for sharing it.