First day of school

My daughter has been nervous most of the holidays about going to school this year. She starts High School and will be attending our local school. The problem has been that almost all her friends are going to other larger schools. It is a dilema for parents. We want to do everything to make our kids happy while at the same time getting the best for our kids without being snobby about it. Our gut feelings have kicked in to say that where we are sending her is best for her. We really believe that she will succeed wherever she goes, but the size of the school is important. She is right into drama and we know for a fact that this school has an awesome drama teacher.

I sat down beside her this morning and chatted about standing tall and being your own person. Not allowing people to walk all over you and picking good friends and making new ones. A heart to heart. She gave me a hug and it seemed to go well. We prayed together for the day. My little girl is growing up. Does a parent ever really know what's going on inside their childs head and heart. You do the best you can and trust in the Lord. Some of it is up to them to make the very best. I like the relationship I have with my daughter, she still loves to give me hugs and loves me being around when she is with her friends. Last year she even dragged me up to dance with her at her school ball. All her friends said " You are dancing with your dad!' She replied "Yeah I like it" That's pretty special I reckon.

Love in action

This week I have had a chance to finish watching the TV series Long way Down Where Charlie Boorman and Ewan McGregor (actors) travel through Africa on Motorbikes. I had previously read the books and it was good to see it in action.

What struck me the most was yes these guys are rich and could do anything they wanted to for themselves, but they have an opportunity to make a difference. They matched their passion of motorbikes and travel to helping a people in need. Africa is still rife with HIV even though nowadays we don't hear much about it as the media has found other important money making investments. We must never forget that each of us can make a difference. One day I want to get to parts of Africa and be involved in education and changing peoples attitudes. Just look at these kids. They are Africa's future. They can do it.

I found the series inspirational. We have it too easy here. We take things for granted and we expect too much. It's one thing to have high expectations for ourselves but to expect others to give it to us I wonder. These people have hardly anything yet they are content. It makes me think anyway.

Thanks Charlie and Ewan

On a similar vein:

Read this article on the news page of my homepage this morning. It makes an interesting point about what loyalty means. On one side the country taking responsibility for its people and on the other the people being loyal to their country. A famous president once said "It's not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country" seems to fit here. I know that Americans appear to be a lot more into patriotism then the common NZer, but I think we need to be a people that do a lot more thinking and doing about serving others. I am not suggesting that we all become socialists, but it does look like this world of ours needs to see a whole lot more love in action.

Young New Zealanders say the country is a great place, but its attraction is not strong enough for them to want to stay.

The finding comes from a survey just released by the Foundation for Youth Development, and TelstraClear.

It shows nearly half of people aged between 15 and 18 see their future as being overseas.

The survey also discovered more than half are worried about what job they will get after studying and 42 percent are concerned they might not be able to afford a house.

Foundation co-founder Graeme Dingle says the survey raises concerns for the country's future.

He says it is possible to change the attitudes, if young people can be helped to feel positive about themselves.

Responsibilty vs Freedom

Didn't sleep too well last night due to the knee aching a bit more than usual, which meant it gave me time to think about things. At school this year our main umbrella idea is responsibility and trying to find ways to teach it within the curriculum. There is as an element of freedom that comes when you understand your responsibilities. If you haven't been responsible for your actions then their is a consequence which usually is of a negative nature and therefore limits your freedom. It might be that others can't trust you. If I was talking to the kids in the class, an easy example for them to understand the concept might be. "what has caused you to be at the office rather than in the class or on the sports field?" Lack of responsibility therefore less freedom.
Rules should be seen as a way of gaining freedom and learning responsibility rather than something that stops us from doing things. Why have the rules been put in place? More often than not, if the rules have be thought through responsibly than they are there so that society can be better - freedom. Of course if we don't follow them then we come into contact with chaos.
I reckon the bible and Christs teaching and the reason he wants us to follow them is the same. I choose to follow these teachings and guidelines because I want to not because I have to therefore there is freedom in that. People say there are too many rules to follow. If you see these rules as a burden rather than a help through life then of course your not going to get the best out of it. Yes freedom does come with a price, but in the case of salvation and in a relationship with a God that truly loves us I see it as a fair deal. His grace is sufficient for me and any who wish to accept it.

A reminder every year

I watch this video at the beginning of every year because it reminds me why I am into teaching. Worth a look. For everybody, not just teachers.

Ken Robinson on creativity

Post Operation

It's funny how things happen. The op went ok. I was sharing a room with another guy and we got talking about everything. It worked out that we had a lot in common. Football mainly, but lots of other aspects of life too. It got me thinking about how easy it should be to strike up conversations with complete strangers and that when you do how enriching and interesting your life can become. What stops us from doing it all the time? I reckon for me it has been a fear of the unknown or what the consequences might be.
It was in fact rather exciting because the unknown was just that unknown, but the joy and contentment gained from having the courage to step out overrides the fear. We had a bit of a heart to heart about life the universe and everything too and we had only known each other for the best part of a day. Yes the operation was a success and yes I most probably can't play football anymore,but I discovered how easy it is to let people know that one is alive and has a life worth living. So the next time you are in a situation and other people are involved but appeared to have no significance with it why not make a significant difference. It's all about relationships.

Knee reconstruction

Well it is almost D Day with the knee. Happening tomorrow at 7.30am. Wendy will take me to the hospital at 7.30 and then I am in the hands of the surgeon. All going well I should stay one night and then back home for recovery. I hope to show photos on the blog of the happenings and perhaps even some notes the surgeon gave me of what they intend to do. As I have said before I am actually more nervous about this one then last time as I know what to expect and know how well the last one went.

I had a dream the other night that I was lying down on a white sand beach and my leg was still covered with a dressing. I looked to the side and in the distance I saw a figure standing beckoning me to come to them. I gingerly stood and realised that there did not appear to be any pain in my leg, I removed the dressing and all I saw of the surgery was two or three little nicks, which was my experience last time. I turned to the figure and began to jog slowly gaining speed. I started to race, the soft breeze sliding past my face. I gained momentum and speed and my legs were running like I was young again. I was full of joy. As I ran towards the figure I raised my hands to the air calling thank you Lord Thank you Lord and as I looked to the figure it became quite clear that it was Jesus. I did not stop but ran straight to his arms and we embraced.

I thoroughly enjoyed the dream and felt refreshed and with great courage to face my experience.

Subjectivity

The human is naturally subjective. The very act of writing this could bring about debate and is subjective. I don't believe you can have total human objectivity. Our personalities, our beliefs, our experiences whether vast or shallow can bear testament to this. Therefore "what is truth?"
Well it doesn't come from ourselves. This leads me to believe in something outside our understanding and that which it is , is God.

We attempt to objectively rationalise his existance or non-existance but there we go again. It is all subjective. Where am I going with this? I respectfully and whole heartedly believe in a God, becasue I have experienced him and I don't just mean through what I see around us as this is debated and will always be debated, but rather through a touch from him in my soul. and the bible has been the teaching that has made this to be true in my life. God is into relationship, one on one and until one has experienced a relationship with God one cannot objectively or subjectively make conclusions.

I believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and he died and rose again on the third day. He did this to save me from my sin. Full of grace. I am a follower of Jesus Christ, which we say is a Christian.

Now before you subjectively or objectively judge me please experience me.

What has inspired me to write this was someone elses perspective as subjectively trying to make God logical. I don't think he can be although alot of the biblical teachings are logical.

From John - An all round nice sort of guy.