Bickering Beauty

2008-01-07T11:47:00.000+11:00

Psalm 100 - a psalm of thanksgiving

From the Message Bible:

1 -2 On your feet now—applaud God!
Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence.
3 Know this: God is God, and God, God.
He made us; we didn't make him.
We're his people, his well-tended sheep.
4 Enter with the password: "Thank you!"
Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
Thank him. Worship him.
5 For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever.

The same Psalm from the Amplified Bible:
1 MAKE A joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come before His presence with singing!
3 Know (perceive, recognize, and understand with approval) that the Lord is God! It is He Who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]! We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!
5 For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations.

Old news - world's unsexiest woman

2007-11-05T13:19:00.000+11:00

I saved this one from the other week.

Sarah Jessica Parker named world's unsexiest woman
October 25, 2007

"But who are the unsexiest women alive? A men's magazine decided to find out.
The list, published in the latest edition of Maxim Magazine, named Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker as the No. 1 Unsexiest Woman Alive.
The magazine said Parker was the "least sexy woman in a group of very unsexy women"..."

Read more here: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/10/25/1192941199037.html

I think disappointed is an understatement.

In other news...

2007-11-02T08:37:00.000+11:00

Burmese three seek asylum in Australia

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/burmese-three-seek-asylum-in-australia/2007/11/01/1193619057700.html

"Three Burmese men waiting in a small town in Papua New Guinea after fleeing their country's military regime hope they will be granted asylum in Australia."

China still banking on Marx's teachings

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/china-still-banking-on-marxs-teachings/2007/11/01/1193619057691.html

"China has joined the World Trade Organisation and is rapidly opening its banking sector to foreigners, but when it comes to politics the teachings of Karl Marx are still top dog....
"Party members must … promote the study of Marxism which combines theory with practice," Mr Liu said. "Liberate thinking, seek truth from the facts."

Hiroshima bomber dies - with no regrets

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/no-regrets-as-hiroshima-bomber-dies/2007/11/02/1193619089989.html

"Paul Tibbets, the US pilot of the B-29 bomber Enola Gay that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, died on Thursday. He was 92 and insisted almost to his dying day that he had no regrets about the mission and slept just fine at night."

Anti-gay church fined over funeral picket

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/antigay-church-fined-over-funeral-picket/2007/11/01/1193619057661.html

"A GRIEVING father has won a nearly $US11 million ($11.8 million) verdict against a fundamentalist church that pickets military funerals in the belief that the war in Iraq is a punishment for the US's tolerance of homosexuality.
Albert Snyder sued the Westboro Baptist Church, based in Topeka, Kansas, for unspecified damages after members demonstrated at the March, 2006, funeral of his son, Marine Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq. Among the signs church members displayed at the funeral was one that read: "Thank God for Dead Soldiers"."

Piece of Eiffel Tower up for sale

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/piece-of-eiffel-tower-up-for-sale/2007/11/02/1193619089907.html

"A biggish piece of stairway from the Eiffel Tower goes under the hammer this month, expected to fetch between 15,000 and 20,000 euro ($A22,538.23 to $A30,050.98).
The 4.5m-high segment, which weighs in at 700 kilograms is part of stairs climbed in pre-elevator times by Gustave Eiffel himself on March 31, 1889, to hoist the French flag at an altitude of 300 metres."

The world's problems...

2007-11-01T09:20:00.000+11:00

"The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world's problems". - Mahatma Gandhi.

Death penalty for drug traffickers...

2007-10-31T11:59:00.000+11:00

Court sounds death knell for Bali six

Mark Forbes, Herald Correspondent in Jakarta

October 31, 2007

"INDONESIA'S Constitutional Court has endorsed the death penalty and the execution of drug offenders, dealing a severe blow to six Australian members of the Bali nine on death row.
In a split decision, the court upheld the validity of capital punishment, rejecting pleas that it breached Indonesia's constitution and international obligations. Three members of the nine-judge bench opposed the verdict....

The decision leaves the six Australians who face firing squads dependent on a last-ditch appeal to the Supreme Court, which has already upheld or imposed their death penalties."

"The only other hope for clemency is a pardon from the Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. However, his office has said clemency would never be granted to drug traffickers."

"Amnesty International condemned the decision and said it ran counter to a worldwide momentum to abolish the death penalty. "There is no evidence the death penalty provides any special protection against the drug trade or any other crime," a spokesman said."

Read the full article here: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/10/30/1193618884188.html

Image courtesy of Amnesty International:
http://web.amnesty.org/pages/deathpenalty-index-eng

Westpac Staff say "Don't make us push debt!"

2007-10-29T08:11:00.000+11:00

From today's Sydney Morning Herald:

"WESTPAC staff want the right to refuse to push financial products - such as insurance, credit cards and hefty personal loans - on customers who cannot meet their repayments.
They are demanding their new enterprise agreement severs the link between performance pay and the sale of loan and credit products, especially given the record level of household debt in Australia.

However, they are heading for a clash with Westpac, which, like all banks, increasingly requires its staff to be more entrepreneurial."

[What? According to Wikipedia (and don't we all live our lives by it?) an entrepreneur is "a person who operates a new enterprise or venture and assumes some accountability for the inherent risks" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entrepreneurial )].

"The employees are also up against the Howard Government's industrial relations laws, which prevent unions from negotiating "conscience clauses", or engaging in action, even in the community interest, that disrupts management's right to run a business."

"A union survey of members earlier this year found that more than half of bank staff across Australia felt under pressure to engage in unethical, but not illegal, sales practices."

"Dr Suzanne Jamieson, an expert in industrial law at Sydney University, said that while the law required employees to obey "a reasonable and lawful command" from their employers, bank staff could make a strong case that pushing high-risk products onto vulnerable customers was unreasonable."

Read the full story here: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/dont-make-us-push-debt-westpac-staff/2007/10/28/1193555533398.html

"A Case Manager's Survival Kit"

2007-02-23T07:40:00.000+11:00

I have recently been challenged in being joyful and thankful in my current job - meditation on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 has helped ("Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all cirumstances"). As has thinking about how I can share Christ during my day.

Now, inspired by Lydia’s Nurses Survival Kit over at Renewed Day By Day (http://lydiahayden.blogspot.com/), here’s the things that I consider most necessary in day-to-day work as a case manager. Obviously this list is not exhaustive. However in my work in aged care (yes, I case manage the over-65’s) I have found these things to be indispensable. So here we go…

1) A really BIG heart – “Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12).

Compassion for your client base is a great motivating factor in providing high quality advocacy and service to your clients. This is also a way to teach yourself to love all your clients…even the ones others may think are unloveable. It can take a lot of practice not to break down inside every time someone swears at you, tells you to ‘go away’ or when they slam the door in your face!

2) Someone with whom to debrief – “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

It can feel very emotionally draining to give of yourself all day every day in order to serve others. Learning to grow through giving of yourself is something that I’m working on. In the meantime, it is useful to have a work colleague who understands what you do and go through every single day with whom to talk about things that you’re struggling with or to rejoice with over the successes!

3) The ability to multi-task.
While the term ‘multi-tasking’ is a modern one it simply refers to the ability to manage many different projects (or aspects of the same project) that are moving forward concurrently. Case managers are required to manage a number of different ‘cases’ (i.e. clients or individual people) at the same time. At any one time you are likely to have clients who are brand new to you, some who you’ve already starting doing some work with and others who you’ve worked with for a period who will be leaving your caseload soon (i.e. your work is done!).

4) A diary and a pen (carry with you at all times).
A diary not only helps to guide you through each day and each week with some structure it also contains other useful information such as frequently used phone numbers and a calendar. Although I often commence my work week with a neatly planned out schedule by the week’s end my diary is filled with rescheduled meetings, extra tasks, and cancelled assessments. If you thrive on routine and structure perhaps case management is not the best option for you.

5) A bottle of water.
The office is air-conditioned, the car is air-conditioned, the hospitals and clinics are all air-conditioned…well you get the picture. Breathing very dry air all day makes for thirst and dry skin. For case managers a water bottle you can just grab when you go out is a necessity – especially in our Australian summers.

5) Vision.
Working with people with very demanding and complex needs in the here-and-now can cloud the bigger picture of what you are doing with the life God has given you to live out for Him. “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14). Keep your heart towards Him and follow His lead and you will not fail.

6) Time-out.
Pastors and other spiritual leaders are often advising us to take time out to spend with God, in seeking His face. I’ve found taking time out for myself in a busy day helps me to keep perspective on who I am and where I’m going. Going for a short walk or taking a few minutes to pray at ‘low’ points in my day really help to strengthen me to continue with the tasks left in my day – even when they are things that I don’t feel like doing.

7) Effective communication skills – “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19).

This one might seem kind of obvious but it constantly surprises me how much of my day is spent either on the phone or talking to people face-to-face. You need the ability to tackle any and every issue with tact and consideration of the ‘audience’ with whom you are speaking. Being able to do this effectively whilst retaining professional boundaries is something I find challenging at times and thankfully this is an area where my skills are constantly being fine-tuned. A colleague once commented that it’s useful to remember that everyone has two ears but only one mouth and they should be used in that proportion - that is, one should listen twice as much as one speaks!

8) Memory for people’s names.
This is only a small thing but it makes an enormous difference in the way you relate to people. Remembering people’s names makes them feel important and memorable. Whether this is reassuring to a client’s anxious spouse or viewed as professional by other case managers it is a useful tool that tells others that they have some intrinsic value that makes them worth remembering. It can make or break a tense case conference.

9) Ability to wear many hats and change roles many times in a day.
Need to act as a taxi driver? Asked to hold a client’s grand-daughter’s crying baby? Make a sandwich? Read mail to a blind lady? Tie an old man’s shoes? All in a day’s work as a case manager my friend.

10) A whatever-it-takes attitude.
Not only are we asked and required to do a multitude of different tasks in any given week we are also repeatedly requested to help others to do the (seemingly) impossible in this life. Kick a drug habit? Mend broken relationships? Mediate between well-meaning family members with a propensity for yelling? Improve quality of life for those with chronic mental illness? With Him all things are possible… “For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). A prayerful case manager with Christ working through you? You can help people move mountains in their lives…

Matthew 17:20-21 (NIV)
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you”.

look it's me!

2006-12-13T19:14:00.000+11:00

Restored in Him

2006-12-12T20:12:00.000+11:00

Hosea 2:6-7 (NIV)
"Therefore I will block her path with thornbushes;
I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way.
She will chase after her lovers but not catch them;
she will look for them but not find them.
Then she will say,
'I will go back to my husband as at first,
for then I was better off than now'.

Hosea 2:14-15 (NIV)
"Therefore I am now going to allure her;
I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her.
There I will give her back her vineyards,
and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.
There she will sing as in the days of her youth,
as in the day she came up out of Egypt".

My NIV Bible notes describe this part of the message of Hosea as conveying the message that Hosea had from the Lord for his people. That the Lord loved his covenant people and would take them back, however often they would wander. I am so thankful that the Lord is willing and ready to take me back whenever I stray from Him - not only myself but all who call on the name of the Lord.

The Lord has given me new life
I truly am washed clean and my brokenness is restored by Him. When I realised that my life was not just God-given but should be God-honouring my life changed. I committed my life to Christ just a few short months ago but everyday my heart truly sings and soars with God's love for me and all the amazing things that He is doing in my life.
At 23 years of age my youth was far from joyous. Now the line of Scripture I quoted above ("There she will sing as in the days of her youth") makes my heart leap for joy as I realise how joyous youth can be with Him alive in me. I am restored in Him.

One Handful With Tranquillity...

2006-07-11T19:38:00.000+10:00

"Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit" (Ecclesiastes 4:6) or the same verse from my NIV Bible "Better one handful with tranquiliity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind".

This verse relates so well to something that I have been reminded of at many turning points in my life so far. Basically that I need to be joyful with what's going on in my life right now (rather than endeavouring to chase after things that God has not put in my heart for me).

I have this verse handwritten on a yellow stick-it note next to my keyboard at work. This is a great reminder to me to do my job joyously. In case you are wondering why I'm working a job where I need to be reminded to be joyous - while I would love to stay and work a business from home, I live with my parents and it is my father's wish that I go out to work... forty hours a week!

A Time For Everything

2006-07-09T17:20:00.000+10:00

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven... He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. I know there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life... I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work... All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and turn to dust again... Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?" (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11-12, 17, 20, 22, KJV).

I've been reading Ecclesiastes every day for the past couple of weeks as I have found that it is really speaking to my heart at the moment. In the past three weeks I have attended a funeral, started a new full-time job, and moved back home with my parents. In between all of this I have also been thinking about who I am and what I am to do with my life. In other words, what has God given me to live the life He has set out for me? I'm not saying that I presume to know what God has planned for my life. However, I do know some of what He has planted in my heart and to be honest, it simultaneously frightens and excites me! Surely He has great plans such as these for all of us if only we are to seek Him in all we do?

Being Quarrelsome

2006-05-19T17:04:00.000+10:00

In Proverbs 17:14 (KJV) it states “The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with”. Or in my NIV Bible “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out”. Wow! This was a real ‘Hey, wake up and pay attention’ moment for me. Today I realized something disconcerting about myself. I’m a quarrelsome young woman and there’s no denying it. I use any verbal tactic I can muster to try and prove my point – I raise my voice, I talk over the other person, I repeat myself, I discount their opinion as ridiculous nonsense. Thus, a quarrel ensues.

On the one hand I feel really terrible about all the arguments that I’ve started or contributed to. On the other hand I’m relieved that this is something that I’m now rather painfully aware of. I don’t expect that changing this quarrel-seeking behaviour of mine will be easy. I’m ready for a challenge in holding my tongue.

However, I’ve realized that it’s not just about being able to hold my tongue when I feel the urge to seek yet another quarrel. It’s also a matter of resisting the gauntlet laid down by others who though fully aware of my propensity to quarrel, bait me with their words all the same. As it states in Proverbs 15:1 “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh words stirs up anger”. Snapping back at those who taunt me will only lead to anger and harsh words. Learning to reply with gentle words to calm my fellow quarrel-seeker is surely the better path to take? As in Proverbs 15:18 “A hot tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel”. Plus (to my utmost horror) in Proverbs 17:19 “He who loves a quarrel loves sin”. Oh my!

Having sparked an interest in what is said about quarrelling elsewhere in the Bible I undertook an online search using the keyword ‘quarrel’. What else did I find? In 2 Timothy 2:22-26 I found the most motivating passage yet (for me, that is!), “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who had taken them captive to do his will”.

Praying about these passages and with some time for quiet reflection on it I came to the following conclusions:
- Every time I resist being baited by another quarrel-seeker, I will be resisting those captives of the devil.
- That in seeking quarrels with others I am sinning against the Lord (and drawing others into sin!).
- Learning to reply to others calmly will set an example for others seeking to end their quarrelsome ways and be granted repentance from God.
- That acknowledging my propensity to quarrel I can actively take measures to avoid arguments with other people.
- In giving up my quarrelsome ways I am (as quoted above from 2 Timothy) ‘fleeing the evil desires of youth and pursuing righteousness, faith, love and peace along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart’.

My prayer in relation to being quarrelsome?
“Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I have for a long time been a quarrelsome young woman and that this is sinning against you. I ask for forgiveness and I pray that I have the strength to reply to others calmly in my pursuit of righteousness, faith, love and peace. I pray that others who seek quarrels will turn to you also in acknowledgement of their sin against you. I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen”.

Do you have anything to share on 'being quarrelsome'?