The real me...

No one can fool all of the people all of the time. Each of us, eventually, is recognized for exactly what we are - not what we try to appear to be.

John Maxwell

Why do I keep finding myself worrying about what others will think of me? Should I speak up and say what I think? What should I say? How should I dress? What should I do, for others to accept me as being 'one of them'?

We all, at times, try to decieve others into thinking we are the kind of person we think they will admire. We spend a lot of time doing what we feel is expected, or required of us by other people, and much less time finding out who we really are and who we are destined to be.

But according to John Maxwell, we will eventually be seen by others for who we really are. Eventually those bad traits and habits we try to hide will leak out for all to see. Eventually the secret thoughts and desires of our hearts will become obvious to others in our behaviour.

I think it's much more worthwhile to spend time examining myself and seeing how I can be a better person on the inside, and discovering the real me, and my destiny. Imagine how much more interesting the world would be if it were full of individuals?

Aussie Aussie Aussie...

... Oi oi oi! Seeing as it was Australia day last Thursday the 26th, I thought I'd reflect on what I love about my country. This is a little patriotic, which is unusual for me because I spend most of my time thinking about going to other places in the world, and I do often get frustrated with the fact that Australians are so blessed yet we don't share what we have with poorer people. We could do so much more to make a difference to millions of other people living in poverty, but we don't, in fact we close our minds to it and just go on living our everyday lives, getting caught up in our own little worlds and taking for granted the freedom we enjoy. I must first begin by changing myself, however, and after that I do hope to change things in this area.

But I'm ruining my patriotic post, so here you have it...

10 things I like about Australia

1. Relatively large amounts of political and religious freedom
2. Social security (Unemployment benefits, student allowance etc... without these I'd starve!)
3. Educational opportunities
4. Peace & democracy (that's two, but I'm cheating coz I want to fit in the next one!)
5. Aussie sayings! Blimey teddy...
6. A relatively non-corrupt government, police force, army etc.
7. Fish and chips on the beach
8. Pavlova on a scorching hot Christmas day
9. Aussie barbeques in the bush
10. And last but not least... AUSSIE RULES FOOTBALL! Go Cats!



A pavlova I made for Christmas Day.

5 things I'd change (off the top of my head) if I was Prime Minister of Australia

1. I'd introduce a poverty tax - middle and upper class Australians would be taxed a small percentage of their income to support poverty-reducing projects overseas.
2. There'd be tough penalties for sports stars who are involved in pub brawls, assaults etc. This sets a bad example to young people who look up to them, so they should be punished with the full force of the law instead of being shown favouritism.
3. I'd spend more money building good relationships with our neighbours overseas instead of getting involved in other countries' wars... ahem. Perhaps a bit of genuine love and concern for disadvantaged countries would go a long way?
4. I'd make tougher penalties for drug offences, particularly for drug dealers. I'd never introduce capital punishment, but I do think these things should be punished more severely, considering the many lives that are being ruined by drugs.
5. I'd do something about the rising divorce rates in our country. I believe in the institution of marriage and I would do everything I can to help people keep their families together. This is a key to improving people's health and education, and to reducing crime, suicide and drug use, and much more. The benefits of improving family life are enormous.

Science and God

Hey guess what? I finally did something this week after days of nothingness (masquerading as a recovery period from running around after kids in Warrnambool)! I made another blog! This one actually has a purpose. It discusses evidence for the intelligent design of the universe.

My motivation for making it? Seeing many many many blogs written by people who claimed to be agnostics (and really are athiests), using very little evidence to make rather rash conclusions about how the world came to be and about the futility (they think) of Christianity. I therefore, seek to put forward a reasoned argument, using scientific evidence, for intelligent design. I'm not saying I know it all, (I clearly don't), but I'm having a good go at getting some intelligent debate going.

The theory of evolution is in its dying stages. Find out why at http://fingerprintsofjehovah.blogspot.com

Big black nothing

Don't you love those days when you have the house to yourself, and the only emails you get are from hotmail? The only letters in the letterbox are bills and bank statements, and the only phone calls you get are from your librarian and the prank caller that's been hassling you for the last six months (Just LEAVE A MESSAGE mate! It's that simple...).

It's amazing how when I have nothing to do I end up doing just that. I don't even know where today went - it's all a blur of nothingness. I remember watching the news while eating tea... and I remember dialling up to write this post... apart from that, big black NOTHING.

It's good to have days like this, I think... Or maybe it's not good (think of all the important things I could have done today).

Well, I can't change it now, I guess all I can do is put an end to this pointless post and do something more important tomorrow!

The wrong side of the bed

Remember how I was meant to have my tonsils out in February? Well... my surgeon kind of died, I found out today. He died last Saturday morning, and I don't know why yet. It's pretty sad - he was a nice little Indian man, and I thought he'd do a great job of my tonsils.

Just as well he didn't die while he was operating on me.

Currently I'm on a mission find someone who'll yank my tonsils before I begin studying again. I've found a surgeon who I think will do it, I'll just have to go to Melbourne though. But that's cool, I'll go anywhere as long as they come out soon coz I've had a sore throat for ages.

Return of the blogger

Well, I'm back - after an awesome time in Warrnambool. I might blog about that later. Which means there's no point to this post... except to say I'm back!