Last night I visited Fellowship Bible Church's young adults ministry, Inversion. Some members from their church shared the following video of how God moved them from comfortable 'Franklin TN' to 'East Nashville' or sometimes describe round these parts as the hood. The vid tells the story of how ONE family is making so much difference in this so often neglected community by living their lives out of their FRONT porch and loving on neighbours rather then hiding and living in the isolation their backyard.
What about you? How many of your neighbours do you actually know? Here for me... apart from the occasional 'gday' when you see someone actually outside we all seem to dive inside and get on with what we were doing and almost feel it'd be imposing trying to chat more.
I remember though, when I was growing up on our farm back in Hatton Vale, QLD we knew all of our neighbours...they were our friends... and most of them would live a kilometre or two away. We would borrow flour or sugar if we needed... and ride our push bikes or horses to visit them. We'd let each other know if cattle or horses had gotten out on the road... broken through back fences or where having trouble calving and lend a hand whenever we could.
I remember many years ago when I was like eight hanging out with a girl from next door down the creek and telling her about Jesus and she accepting him then and there. It was a pretty amazing experience for me.
So now, as I sit her reminiscing on the 'good old days' and reflecting on the video from 'Front Porch Ministries' I am challenged about how easy it is to become insular and oblivious to people who live 10 meters away. God commands us to 'love our neighbours as ourselves' - maybe we need to take that a little more literally and at least get to know them.
How does the Front Porch Ministry challenged you?
Front Porch Ministry
Beginners video to understanding the credit crisis
If you're anything like me... understanding the current 'credit crisis' can be a bit mind boggling... I just came across this video from Credit of Crisis. Very educational...
The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.
Blessed?
I'm in Evart, Michigan which is about a 12 hour drive north of where I live in Tennessee. Alabaster Box are leading worship and putting on a concert at one of their many winter retreats at Springhill Camp. We've been to this camp a couple of times this past year... pretty much every different season... but hands down Winter Camp rocks! Yeah I look like a complete whimp rugged up like a sore toe! It snowed all day... last count over 10inches! Most snow I've ever seen in my life! Absolutely beautiful. It's like Narnia round here. I don't think the locals really appreciate it very much hey... I was walking with some kids exclaiming how awesome the snow was and how I'd barely seen snow fall this winter... they just stared at me and didn't utter a word. Maybe they didn't understand my accent!
So my reason for blogging tonight is I really wanted to admit to the world that yes... I do completely feel blessed. A neighbour from my childhood in Australia made a comment on my facebook that really got me thinking how blessed I am to even see snow! Where I come from back home it's unheard of! It does snow in parts... but it's an expensive ski trip if you wanna find anything decent to board on. I remember the first time I got to see a 'snowflake' in real life. I was in absolute awe. I always knew 'every single one was different' and all that, but I honestly thought that you would need a microscope to see the intricacy of the flakes! Heck no! The ones that make it to the earth in tack are each beautiful, absolutely amazing masterpieces completely visible to the naked eye. I hope I never grow weary of this wonder of God's creation.
How do you feel blessed today? Have you stopped to 'smell the roses' today? Or checked out a snowflake? Or watched a wave crash so perfectly on the beach? Or seen the latest exotic one of a kind sunrise?
Pork Roast with Plum Sauce
I made Pork Roast with Plum sauce tonight! Amazing! Recipe by Paula Deen for Smithfield. I've pasted a copy of the recipe here... but I'll put in bold changes I made.
Roast Pork with Plum Sauce
This pork roast recipe is great for your family or for guests and the easy ingredients are all things you can find in your house.
Serves: 10
Cook Time: 3 Hours
Smithfield Product: Fresh Pork
Ingredients
* Roast:
1 5-pound Smithfield Pork Loin Roast Pork Butt Roast - whatever that was.
2 cloves garlic slivered
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons dried or fresh rosemary
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 1/2 teaspoons rubbed sage
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Plum Sauce:
2 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup chopped onions
1 cup plum preserves Plum Sauce from Publics in the Asian Aisle
2/3 cup water
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup chili sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
3 drops Tabasco sauce Didn't use
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Garlic salt to taste didn't use or need
Steps
To make the sauce melt the butter in a saucepan; add the onions and saute until tender. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes. Set aside. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Moisten the roast with a damp paper towel to help hold the seasonings. In a small bowl stir together the garlic salt herbs and spices. With a sharp knife make 1/2 inch deep slits in the top of the roast. Press the seasonings mixture into the slits and rub the remainder over the entire roast. Place the roast in a roaster pan and pour 1/2 cup plum sauce over it. Cover and bake for 2 1/2 hours. Uncover and roast and baste it with additional plum sauce; bake for 30 minutes longer basting 2 or 3 times until the roast is nicely browned. Serve the remaining plum sauce on the side for dipping.
I served it with roast potatoes and roast veges (Butter Nut Squash, Sweet Potato, Carrot, Capsicum (red bell peppers), Egg Plant and fresh Garlic) and Asparagus fried lightly in Olive oil with Salt and Pepper.
Delicious!
Twestival: Twittering it up for clean water in Nashville
It's a twitter thing... Twitter-er's from over 175 different cities worldwide are hanging out this Thursday, Feb 12, for an evening of fun and to raise money and awareness for charity: water.
I feel like I'm always sharing about some charity or some organisation doing something... and I too agree it can get quite overwhelming how many non-for-profits are sprouting up and wanting support... during the most hard pressing economic season.
Add @twestival to keep posted.
I've done a little research on charity: water and they seem real legit guys. You can read about founder Scott Harrison's story to make your own call.
Details and tickets available from here.
Twestival Nashville
February 12, 2009
5pm-8pm
Big Bang Dueling Piano Bar
411 Broadway
The Twestival is organized 100% by volunteers in cities around the world and 100% of the money raised from these events will go directly to support charity: water projects.
charity: water is a non profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations by funding sustainable clean water solutions in areas of greatest need.
I love what Scott Harrison's says
CHARITY:
For me, charity is practical. Sometimes easy, sometimes inconvenient, always necessary. It is the ability to use one's position of influence, relative wealth and power to affect lives for the better. charity is singular and achievable.
There's a biblical parable about a man beaten near death by robbers. Stripped naked, lying roadside - people pass him by, but one man stops. He picks him up and bandages his wounds. He puts him on his horse and walks alongside until they reach an inn. Checks him in and throws down his Amex. "Whatever he needs until he gets better."
Because he could.
The dictionary defines charity as simply the act of voluntarily giving to those in need. The word comes from the latin "caritas," or simply, love. In Colossians 3, the Bible instructs readers to "put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."
Read Luke 10:30-37
I have people talk to me who are semi wary of all this hype relating to charity and non-for-profits. The major concern I'm hearing about is whether or not once people have access to better qualities of life (stuff we take for granted like clean water and food) do these people have access to the message of Jesus? Maybe maybe not. I have noticed that many of the American charities are actually 'affiliated' with 'Christian' organisations in Africa like Living Wells International... so yes... often aid is given in conjunction with the gospel.
However... just a thought... was the 'good Samaritan' physically told the gospel in this chapter? Do you think that this selfless giving was indeed an act of Jesus' love that may have saved his physical life and possibly later lead to him inquiring of the true Saviour? Reality is no food or water = death. What's your thoughts on this... I know I've only dabbled lightly...
Also let me know if you'll join me at Twestival... I need a friend :-(
Six most impacting links about Australian bushfires
It's hard to believe this is all taking place back home in my country. Not a lot of coverage makes it to US television so I thought I'd blog a few more of the most impacting sites/videos I've come across today.
1. 36 amazing yet horrific images of Australian bush fires.
2. Victorian bushfire survivor, Sam the koala, a global star survives and allows someone to give it a couple of bottles of water. Amazing story.
3. Quick-thinking heroes saved eight families in Victoria fires by basically all piling into a river even though fires rages all four sides of them
4. Survivors incredible stories of escape... real life reality TV show.
5. Fears out-of-control fires will create massive blaze
6. Overview from the UK - International Interest
Americans are heading over to help. Fires continue and refugees may have to find new locations to house as fires continue. The unfortunately reality is the fires are not yet under control, many are still looking for lost ones and 1000's have been displaced.
Again... keep your mates in prayer. Pray for relief in the weather and for winds to die down. Pray for thousands who will be haunted by this tragedy...
Keep posted on the Australian Bush fires
Devastating bush fires in Australia...
My heart is just heavy for my fellow Aussies who have been affected by the devastating fires blazing through Australia's southern states - Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales. See map here of all the places being affected. The BBC reported tonight that this is Australia's worse peacetime disaster with more then 170 dead. It's been so hard to watch families who survived share stories of how they lost their homes and only just escaped or of friends who didn't make it. Australia battles bushfires every year... the high temperatures (46.4C) and severe winds create a recipe for disaster. Many of these people have probably previously battled fires and actually been able to saved their homes. But this fire, was ruthless and destroyed everything its way with in minutes. Many precious live lost. If you haven't seen what's going on check out a video here...
The shocking thing is too in the north part of my state, Queensland, there is massive flash flooding due to tropical downpours. God have mercy... will you pray for Australia tonight? My heart is heavy...
25 Random things about me...
So... I've been watching this go around and thought it was kinda an annoying/waste of time but then I started finding out 'Random' things about my friends and got to thinking I should see if I could think of 25 random things about me... so here goes...
1. I never had any desire to come to the United States (or the UK for that matter)... now I live here working with the Australian Christian band, Alabaster Box
2. I was homeschooled till grade four... which was pretty much illegal in Australia where I lived cause we had a public school just up the road... so I remember having to hide when visitors came
3. I got $4 an hour for my first job as a 'strapper' on a 'Spelling Farm'. Hardest, most dangerous and most physically demanding job I've ever had!
Translation: Strapper - someone who works with racehorses mucking out stables, training, lunging, riding, feeding horses. Spelling Farm - a places where racehorses have a break from racing, get broken in... have a 'spell'... have babies :-)
4. With my hard earned $4 an hour - I bought a horse for $250 that I later broke in (badly :-) ) and sold for $1150 and a $650 green, 3 cylinder Diahatsu Charade - called the 'Green Machine'. It was green frog green... almost embarrassing :-)
5. I like to weld - MIG and Stick/arc
6. When I was 8 at a camp God called me into full time ministry with Isaiah 6:8 'Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us/" Then said I "Here am I Lord, send me!"
7. I grew up on a farm... so yeah... I've mustered, de-horned, branded, needled and castrated cattle... sorry boys :-)
8. My Japanese teacher in year 9 told us to never kiss a boy till we were engaged... I've listened so far. Pity about the Japanese...
9. I was incredibly shy (SERIOUSLY!) and hand only a very small handful of friends until year 11 when I clearly remember deciding that I didn't want to be shy anymore or care what anyone thought. I decided I wanted to know everyone in my class and ended up having almost all of them rock up to my 18th birthday bash!
10. I was the only girl in my University Degree (Bachelor of Technology Education) for two of the four years.
11. I've made real butter - no use wasting cream when you accidentally over beat it!
12. I have three of the cutest nieces in the world that I love and miss so dearly.
13. I have a brother who's a genius at making stuff and putting stuff together. He can rip apart a gear box off a motor bike chuck all the bits in a bin then shake it all around and then put it back together again, ride the bike... and not have any nuts and bolts still left! (He's single too btw! Send application here... especially if you are brunette, Christian and play piano :-) )
14. I have the two of the awesomest sisters in the world - Cherie - mother of the nieces and incredible cook. Cindy - best coffee maker in Ipswich :-)
15. I had a real job once as a highschool teacher teaching mostly boys - woodwork, metal work, platics, graphics, CAD... stuff
16. I've never hit a kangaroo while driving... but had MANY near misses
17. The scar on my right arm is a battle wound from a horse riding accident I had in the middle of a 5000+ acre farm in the middle of nowhere... 120kms from the nearest hospital. I cut my head open and broke my collarbone too... semi painful experience.
18. I had to 'coach' senior field Hockey when I was a teacher... we lost every game except the one when the opponents only rocked up with half a team! I didn't get a Phys Ed degree - come on!!!
19. I grew up not being allowed to listen to music with a drum beat... now I work for a 'Christian' band... that has drums... you should check them out. I think they are ok :)
20. I love to cook and have people over for meals
21. I use to ride my horse to work... It'd take 10 mins flat gallop or 1/2 hour to walk. We HAD a car... my parents just didn't wanna get up at 6am to take me every Sat!
22. I am addicted to twitter because I love to network and keep in touch with more people then I actually know how too!
23. A kid got suspended from MY class when another teacher spotted him doing the finger to me behind my back!!! Can you believe it! Taroom boys were tough nuts...
24. Nothing excites me more then seeing a room full of young people praying and worshiping God.
25. Hmmm... I'm out... can you think of one for me?
Alabaster Box on TV today
Find out what Alabaster Box is up too this year! Steelroots is airing a recent interview they had with the band today. You might even catch a glimpse of their new wheels!
DETAILS
Interview with Steelroots at 5pm(EST)today (Feb 4).
Airs on Direct TV (channel 364) and Dish network (channel 259)
Or check local listings for the 'Inspiration Network'
Also Check out Steelroots for more details.
Let know what you think of these crazy Aussie's if you caught it!
Re airing -
Feb 6 (5pm EST)
Feb 11 (5pm EST)
Feb 13 (5pm EST)
This will break your heart...
Today I was reminded once again why I work with the Christian band, Alabaster Box and why their latest album, 'We will not be silent' has such a profound message the youth (and adults for that matter) of this generation need to hear.
I watched the youtube video below and very quickly started to tear up. We cannot be silent about seeing this... or if we can be we need a huge reality check.
How did this affect your spirit? Do you feel powerless or does it spark something inside of you that beckons you to make a difference?
This year Alabaster Box is partnering with Global Benefit.
Global Benefit was founded on the idea that there is something that you can do in your town, with your friends, or at your job or campus that will overcome the suffering and hopelessness found in places of extreme poverty or natural disaster. And it’s not hard! Just take what you already know how to do, and do it with a purpose.
We hope to partner with youth ministries and youth ministers all over the United States and further abroad to tap into public schools to show students how they can with so little make such a difference in someones life. I believe when we perform acts of justice, love, compassion humbly and sincerely people will ultimately see the heart of Jesus.
Contact me if you are interested in finding out how Alabaster Box could compliment your youth or church ministry. We want to make a difference and will do whatever it takes!
Haiti Ball, Super bowl, Gig in Alabama...
What a crazy busy weekend!
Haiti Benefit Ball rocked...
Most of us dressed up and got a little silly... I didn't have an operating camera so my pics are at the mercy of my facebook picture uploading buddies!
Stoked that the trees turned out ok... and extra stoked that someone saw our ad on craigslist and came and took them away at the end of the night to reuse!
Sunday 5am I jumped on the bus - very bleary eyed - with Alabaster Box to go to a show in Alabama. Two good friends Scott and Mandy came along for the ride. Awesome service. Many hearts challenged and encouraged in the Lord.
Sunday afternoon I dragged my feet to a superbowl party at Gabriel's house. He is the founder of Legacy Learning System. An absolute top bloke. One of the biggest and most coolest house I have ever seen in Nashville! So many of my mates were there. Saw about the last 3mins of the game - which SERIOUSLY took like 25mins to play out... I so don't get that! So I probably didn't really even see all of those 3mins... just engaged when everyone started screaming! The greatest part of the party for me was the fact that the 'hard core' superbowl watchers could watch the game - plenty of flat screens - but us social peeps could chat and not get in trouble for talking :-) The pic is of us in the cellar!
Great weekend! How was yours? Superbowl party?
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