Being Pure With our Eyes

Recently i've been introduced to a program called x3watch.

I has been created by a group called XXXChurch who work at finding ways to help christians fight against pornography addictions/temptations. I have no personal experience to draw on here but the x3watch program is certainly a good, free, safeguard to help people search the net with integrity. Once it's loaded onto your computer you select an accountability partner who receives fortnightly emails containing the names and date they were visited of any suspect looking sites.

The XXXChurch also has a blog with interesting information and stories related to sexual purity (helpful for some, not so much for others i would think). I thought i would share it all with you as a resource.

1:8-19

⁸ Listen, my son, to your father's instruction

and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

⁹ They will be a garland to grace your head

and a chain to adorn your neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you,

do not give in to them.

¹¹ If they say, "Come along with us;

let's lie in wait for someone's blood,

let's waylay some harmless soul;

¹² let's swallow them alive, like the grave,

and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

¹³ we will get all sorts of valuable things

and fill our houses with plunder;

¹⁴ throw in your lot with us,

and we will share a common purse"-

¹⁵ my son, do not go along with them,

do not set foot on their paths;

¹⁶ for their feet rush into sin,

they are swift to shed blood.

¹⁷ How useless to spread a net

in full view of all the birds!

¹⁸ These men lie in wait for their own blood;

they waylay only themselves!

¹⁹ Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain;

it takes away the lives of those who get it.

I have been struck recently (again) of how the suffering of this world validates God's word and truth. The bible speaks of how the earth will groan, falling apart under the grips of sin, and we see it, don't we? As christians we feel as though we need to sell the bible in tricky ways, knowing it's power, but doubting its relevance or appeal to those who are not yet saved. As non believers we assume the bible has nothing for us, it is old and big, relevant only to years gone by. But when we look at the big picture of the bible we can see it's all happening...now. We do seek valuable things (forsaking others if need be) and our feet rush to sin. We see lives swallowed by ill-gotten gain. The bible speaks of the creator, the world he created, and the creation who turned away. We are that creation, in that world, there could be no book more relevant than the bible.

Hilarity

She draws funny pictures. Her name is Natalie Dee. I do not endorse all of her work so i shant be linking to her page...but i like these.

Loving Jesus. Loving Food

I was not born with a healthy appetite. Don't get me wrong, it's not as though i'm the type to buy a chocolate bar while i'm out and i know that chips and nuggets isn't a meal. It's more that i'm the type of girl who likes to put butter on my potatoes and mix cheese through my pasta you know? My diet choices will probably lead to extra weight, hurting joints and internal health problems. I eat the food i like, when i'm hungry. But what does loving Jesus have to do with this?

From the beginning food is something God has created for his people to eat and enjoy. There are 293 references to "food" in the bible. These include sacrifical offerings to God, provision from God, metaphors and analogies about God, commandments from God about looking after others and a couple of instructions about the consumption of food. It would be safe to say that what and how much I eat has something to do with God and his plan for his people.

The issue is food means something different everyone. We all have bodies and the need to refuel, but what it takes to do that and the affect food has on our bodies (and our mental state) varies. There are some who don’t eat enough, some who can’t afford to exercise their understanding of a healthy balanced diet, some who eat too much, some who have an air of snobbery in their eating choices, some who love fruit and vegetables and some who loathe them. There are some who eat what their parents give them, some who enjoy a long walk/run, some who are too busy to exercise, some who eat specifically for ethical reasons and some who eat very little in order to keep their appearance in check with social standards. Each of these people need to eat (and exercise?) for the glory of Jesus. For each of these people doing this will look different.

I know that I want to make Jesus look good but there are blockages in my thinking – questions and thoughts that I know apply but that I am yet to understand the answer/conclusion to.

I don’t want to be enslaved to eating the easiest, tastiest, least nutritionally helpful food I can because I know that Jesus says we are to follow him, not our own natural desires

I don’t want to be enslaved to a strict healthy eating diet because I worship Jesus, not my health or appearance

I don’t want to negatively affect community – much of community happens around food (this is not only trend but in many ways biblical)

I don’t want to be exclusive – As I said above many people I know respond to food in different ways, I don’t want my own strict (or not strict) habbits to be a stumbling block for them

I don’t want to make an Idol for myself – If we can tell what we worship by what we spend the most time, money and energy on I wonder how consuming (in all three ways) a strict healthy eating diet would be?

I don’t want to be a glutton – (Proverbs 28:7, Proverbs 23:21) The bible puts them in the same category as drunkards, thief’s and idolaters…But what does this even look like?

I don’t want to steward my money badly – How much eating out is ok? Is spending extra money (out or at home) good for the sake of health? Should I be cutting costs and doing things cheaply for the sake of using left over money generously if it means compromising health?

I don’t want to be ridiculous – It seems silly to eat things I don’t like, pretend im excited about ordering salad instead of chips and say no when someone offers me ice cream without justification…just because maybe I should isn’t a good enough reason.

I don’t want to be lazy – It takes more effort to cook healthily and to exercise regularly (or at all). Is saying no to these things lazy?

I don’t want to steward my time badly – While I don’t want to be lazy, there are a thousand other, biblically good, things I could be doing in that time.

I don’t want to mess with Gods temple/creation – our bodies are described as Gods temple where his spirit dwells (if we are believers) and as we see in Genesis, we are his creation. Therefore my body is a possession of Christs. In the same way I don’t want to cover my neighbours well kept lawn in rubbish, I don’t want to fill Gods creation/temple with it either.

BUT

I do want to say no to things that won’t help me bring glory to the name of Jesus

I do want to set a good example, of putting off my old self and putting on my new identity in Christ, for those I love and are yet to love.

I do want to have convictions. I want to know when I need to say sorry to God. I don’t want to hide behind my ignorance.

Hopefully I can deal with some of these questions over the next little while. Your thoughts would be great!

1:1-7

¹ The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

² for attaining wisdom and discipline;

for understanding words of insight;

³ for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,

doing what is right and just and fair;

⁴ for giving prudence to the simple,

knowledge and discretion to the young-

⁵ let the wise listen and add to their learning,

and let the discerning get guidance-

⁶ for understanding proverbs and parables,

the sayings and riddles of the wise.

⁷ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

If you are simple or young or wise or discerning, If you want to attain wisdom and discipline, if you want to be fair and just and right...This is for you! May God be using his spirit through his word to transform our hearts to fear him and long to do things his way.

The more we look at scripture the clearer it becomes that God’s word has incomparable value. Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16, Matthew 13 (:23), 2 Timothy 3:15, James 1:18 and 2 Timothy 2:15 all point us towards the importance of Gods word. In Gods sovereignty, I am pleased to tell you, the quality of commentary surrounding God’s word has no power on its value. The incredible saving power of the bible lives on wether I demonstrate some crazy super-knowledge and understanding of it or not. Here at The Black Crow it is not my intention to examine the “ins” and “outs” of scripture (I can point you in the direction of great bible exploration in blog or sermon form here, here, here and here are some to start with) but instead to look at the way Gods world was designed to bring him glory. While there is less of a theological focus here I’m hoping we will be spending some regular time in Gods word, because as we have seen above, well it’s beyond rad. Perhaps we will ramble through Romans or explore Ephesians at some point. Maybe we will ponder the Peters or have a collision with Corinthians. We may take a hike through Hebrews or see the sights of 1 Samuel…but for now we are going to spend some time…

Poking at Proverbs!

We’ll have a look at some Proverbs…One day I might have something super wise to say…most days I won’t but we can rest assured knowing that God’s word is living and active despite our insufficiencies. I’d love to hear your thoughts as we go about our prodding!

For Real Men.

Ben Wilson introduced me to this set of ad's last night. i must admit i did a little more than giggle. Enjoy!

now.

There are some things i am really liking about this stage of life.

I like that a day of good cleaning is day well spent. It is no longer undermined by its lack of adventure or excitement.

I like that i prefer to put my hair up because it's less likely to get in the way. This is an attitude dissimilar to that of past ages.

I like that i have internet banking and more than one bank account.

I like that i don't have to bring work home with me.

I like that I am old enough to be taken seriously and young enough to be silly.

I like that some of my dearest friends are 28 and some others are 5 and i have things in common with all of them.

I like that i now like salad.

I like that God is using me to teach those who are younger whilst also spurring on those older to teach me.

I like that i live here still. That God planted me amongst certain things and people years ago. Growing into these situations and relationships now.

I like that, God willing, i will be a wife soon.

I like that i now enjoy seeing dear children grow in obedience as well as making them giggle.

I like grocery shopping.

I like that i now understand things i didn't before...but still in time to use the wisdom.

I like that i have one hand bag that always has all my stuff in it. If i said "hey, can you please grab my hand bag from home" said person would know which one i meant. i like that.

I like that writing is now enjoyable and freeing rather then forced or compulsory (a unique post-school, pre-uni circumstance).

I like that i can shop in "HOUSE".

I like that i got a garbage bin, colander and cookbook for my birthday.

I spent some time today looking for a part for our fridge. It's all part of the stage.

Letters to the Queen.

As part of Bronte's multi media assignment she has been using text and images from old Readers Digest magazines and reconstructing them to create new meaning. As she was flipping through the pages she stumbled across a double spread entitled "Letters to the Queen". The magazine had gathered letters children had written to the Queen on one of her trips to Australia. They made me laugh.

"Dear Queen,

do you have bacon and eggs for breakfast?

Belinda"

"Dear Queen, i hope none of your granadeir guards have fainted, love from Scott"

"Is there a point at the top of your castle?

Have your clothes got buttons?

Do you get pocket money?

Kane Mcdnough"

"I love my self and the Queen and my Mum.Todd"

"Your Majesty, the Queen,

I hope you are happy and i want to be a queen like you and i got long hair

and i am pretty just like you, love from Vicki"

"Dear Queen Elizabeth,

why are you so rich? why are you so important?

Love from Matthew"

"Have they got brownies in buckingham palace?"

"Do you like living in the palace? I barrack for the Tigers, do you? love Matthew"

"Could you bring me some money because my brother has more then me. Have you got a silk cloak? if you have two silk cloaks could you please bring me one. Love Matthew"

"I hope you are well. If you are sick, take some tablets. From Jason Brodbrouk"

It's funny what we think is important as kids...In saying that i'm not sure i get it right even now. There are some months i spend more money on my clothing and extra fast growing super lengthening shampoo than the growth of the gospel. More time getting ready in the morning than time in God's word. More thought on what people are thinking of how i look than how good i am making Jesus look. While i imagine the Queen giggled at these kids sharing such contextually unimportant concerns, i wonder what God thinks of my unnecessary, unuseful and unfaithful concerns.

The renting game...

Josh and i have started looking for a place to rent. This has induced a state of new anxiety as we continually question, is now too soon, as its another 5.5 months until the wedding? What if nothing better comes along? what if it finally gets to the time we are to be married and wehaven't been accepted for anywhere yet? should we spend less money for the sake of saving, or more money for the sake of getting something thats similar-ish to what we would like?

There are, of course, no definitive answers to these questions.

After praying God would move the real estate agents to bin our application if the time is infact too soon or the unit is infact not for us, this afternoon we applied for a place and i would like to introduce it to you. I should at this stage clarify that i will not be moving into whatever rental property we acquire until we are married. For the next 5 months it shall be josh's "pad"...It is this very fact that makes the following flat so hilariously wonderful.

This is it from the front. it is not a shop. Tricky to find yes?

See the white door, a little to the left, that's it! You enter through that (now graffitied) door, down a hall way between the shops and there you find a courtyard and a little unit that you just want to snuggle up in bed with.

As you can see the wall paper is a textured, mint green, art deco-esque design and while it may appear a little much i applaud the consistency. If you're going to have delightfully old school wall paper, thank you for coving a whole hall way in the same said wall paper.Below is the bedroom (it also includes a built in wardrobe to the right of the picture). Again the wall paper has a "wo-ah" affect but lets me honest here...we all know i would wear that wall paper if i could so i won't pretend i don't tingle a little at the sight of it.

The kitchen is reasonably spacious (this photo was taken from the next room, over the counter, so there are benches,sink,stove that you cant see). The wall paper is different again but follows the same colour scheme and the cupboards are white...just sit and imagine for a moment how much worse it could be!

Along with being cheap as chips to rent and situated in a very practical location, this unit makes me do a little dance inside. We may not get it and that will be fine but each time i drive past i will smile a little knowing there is a hidden treasure chest back there that very few people know of.

Happiness

This afternoon i was debating with myself the validity of me re-starting "The Black Crow". There are two reasons i have decided to give it another go. 1, The regularity of these "self-on-self" debates makes me think it might be a good idea and 2, Cathy tagged me in a post and the power of the tag and grabbed me by the hand and gently tugged me back into the blogging arena. As far as i know i have no followers and nothing overly relevant to say but lets see how much of that we can change aye?

I was tagged to write a list of 10 things that make me happy...(here we go, in no particular order)

1. Productivity - seeing progress in both necessary and unnecessary projects and tasks.

2. Weddings - Attending them, looking at them, planning them. Included in this is my morning ritual of Ruffled, Once Wed, Green Wedding Shoes, La Belle Bride and Style Me Pretty

3. Being Helpful - Spotting things people won't ask you to do but would love it if you did. Even better is when you can spot what will make sometimes situation 100 times better even though they couldn't spot it themselves. i'm not overly good at it, but i enjoy it when my mind kicks into gear that way

4. Josh Posh M'gosh - When he leads, plays with kids, speaks the "truth in love", apologises, when he asks me to marry him (you would think this just happened once...oh no, all the time!), when he tells me he has stolen my nose and wont give it back till i say the magic word.

5. Floral - dresses, carpets, tea cups, napkins, ribbons, papers

6. B and Mumma G - they are the most interesting and crazily lovable family. Their integrity astounds me and their humour warms me.

7. The Heated Blanket - I'm cold always, it's hot always. Brilliant.

8. Photographs - It is hard to be specific here as there are obviously some that would not make it on my happiness list but i mean the type that make you melt a little inside or make the hairs on your arms stand upright. Photo's that capture everyday life in a way that allows us to view it in different light

9.P.W.K.M.A.B.T.M.A.W.H.M.U - That's an acronym for "People who know more about the bible then me and are willing to help me understand". Gods truth is so big and so perfect. Jesus is faultless and i manage to produce new ways of spitting in my creators face every day. I know he uses his people (along with his spirit) to make me more like him.

10. Spell Check - you will come to learn i am an atrocious speller and editor. I spell things incorrectly (i am overwhelmingly phonetic), leave words out, put words in the wrong places and meddle with grammar. Sorry in advance.