A dog's love language

Crikey! What a night! I loaded up the bumbag full of meaty treats, grabbed my gumboots and headed out the door with Aussie to the second dog obedience class. Tonight's class was set to be very different for one important reason - the dogs were allowed to come tonight! I was prepared to have my work cut out for me - he can be a bit of a mutant at the best of times - but man oh man, talk about hard work.

Right from the moment we got out of the car he went nuts! Throwing himself up in the air, barking so all of Hamilton could hear him, making a right royal show of himself. We got into our group and everyone in the group struggled to hear the instructors because Aussie was barking so much. I was struggling just to keep a grip of his lead and stand upright on the wet grass. For my Australian friends, be assured that I defended you when the instructor came over and said "oh yeah typical loudmouth Aussie aye"

It got to the point that one of the instructors put a slip chain and her lead on him and she still struggled to keep him under control. Part of the problem is that the meaty treats I had brought with me were far less interesting than the other 3o or so dogs at the park. Both instructors tried their snacks and still he was not interested. They both kept shaking their heads saying "he's a lab, he should LOVE food, Labs live for food" So Aussie is now going to be on a complete fast every Tuesday and if that doesn't help he may miss out on Monday nights dinner too.

So they got me to take him out on his own to the middle of the park and just try and get him to concentrate on me and the food, and sitting (without being able to use voice commands). Rather tricky when the dog isn't interested in the food which is the training tool!

Then the strangest thing happened. One of the instructors and I discovered quite by chance that Aussie responded to the affirmation of a "good boy" and then he would eat the food. The food was only interesting as a reward as long as it was proceeded by rapturous praise! So I'm thinking there's 5 love languages for kids, 5 love languages for couples, 5 love languages for singles....how about 5 love languages for dogs? Aussie it would seem is "words of affirmation - followed by a nice tidbit of meat"

I am praying that the sessions will get easier than tonight - because tonight was really hard....not cool when everyone in the group has learnt one name...and its your dogs name!

the missional church

I have an essay to do...on the missional church. I've really enjoyed this paper and there is SO much conversation taking place about it. It raises a lot of questions for me and its going to be a dialogue that I'm going to need to continue as I wrestle with some things. I have found some connections with some of the frustrations I have had over the last few years with the way i "do" church. I feel like I'm standing on the beach looking at this expansive ocean. I have this desire to just run from the shore and dive into the ocean. But I'm currently just feeling the waves wash over my feet pulling the sand out from underneath my toes..... watch this space

ESKIMO LOLLIES - now what?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2348856/Eskimos-to-stay-maker-says

This article appeared on a website I check for national news each day. Later that night I was with a group of people and I mentioned the article. There were a variety of responses but the general view was that people needed to just "get over it" and it wasn't a big deal.

I attempted to explain to them that the word "Eskimo" is actually an insult and it is not the same as a Canadian eating a lolly called a "kiwi" or a German eating a lolly called a "pakeha".

Each of us now armed with the information regarding the Inuit people and the term "Eskimo" are faced with a choice. Do we ignore their view, claiming our distance from them as a people group, the harmlessness of a sweet that has been around for decades etc...or do we acknowledge that their concern is valid and ignorance can no longer be our shield?

Some would say its political correctness with a sugar rush.....let's just hope they don't go on holiday somewhere and discover something that is an insult and offensive to them.

Michael Collins & the Revolution - Tomorrow Nite LIVE

ATTENTION ALL MAKE CHANGERS.....AND OTHERS KEEN TO BE PART OF THE REVOLUTION.

South Australia are currently having their revolution camp involving Guest Speakers Michael Collins (the one and only) and Danielle Strickland (who needs no introduction).....

Think you're missing out by not being there? NO WAY!!! Check out the details below for the live online broadcast tomorrow nite (thurs)


"Thursday 23rd April 8pm EST we will be doing a live broadcast online from Revolution Youth Camp in South Australia. It will feature Nath Casey and the worship team followed by a preach by Canadian Michael Collins (guest at Make Change NZ)

You can watch it live at www.salvationarmy.org.au/sstv"

For those in NZ its 10pm

With the technology around these days there's no reason to miss out on the good stuff.

Check it out...spread the word...join the revolution

decisions, consequences & the little old chorus

It's been an interesting day as I make final preparations for Australia. I had a conversation with someone today about some decisions I have made. They were questioning whether they were the right decisions to make. I finished the conversation feeling pretty low and thinking this was the last thing I needed in my busy day & did not want to head away to minister in Australia in a head space less than positive. I've had a few hours to think and I've been reminded again that as leaders we have to be prepared to make decisions and stand by them. We must be prepared to deal with the consequences of those decisions whether good or not so good. Sometimes I think it is too easy worry so much about failing that we continue to play it safe. We need to 'own' our reasons and logic. If we believe strongly enough in something then we have to be prepared to make those tough decisions and take whatever fruit is yielded from those seeds.

I wrote in my journal earlier tonight that "sometimes I feel misunderstood, undervalued and marginalised but I guess Jesus felt and experienced those things too." But I found myself correcting my thoughts almost the moment they came out onto the page. I don't know that Jesus did FEEL those things and EXPERIENCE them. I'm sure he found himself in situations where they could have been possible outcomes if his mind was in the same state as mine. I'm sure it would have been possible for him to experience those kinds of emotions if his self image and worth was as battered as mine sometimes is.

However I don't think Jesus did feel and experience those things because his eyes were on the Father, his purpose was not in the purposes of man, but in doing whatever the Father wanted him to do. His sense of identity was not determined by what others thought, said or did towards him, but rather what the Father thought, said and did towards him.

I think I like Jesus' way better than mine. So I find myself being reminded again about identity and destiny and my desire is as the old chorus says ...

"to be like Jesus, this hope possesses me, in every thought and deed, this is my aim, my creed. To be like Jesus, this hope possesses me, his spirit helping me, like him I'll be."

overload

I've given myself a telling off. Its been way too long since I posted on my blog. Its not because I don't have anything to say...but perhaps because I have too many things and I cant decide what to blog about and what to leave floating in the recesses of my mind.

Here's where I am at today. In two sleeps I am heading to Sydney. I am going to the Australian Eastern Territory of the Salvation Army. The weekend will be spend with the youth of the greater west division at their youth councils. Then during the week I get to hang out with the paid youth workers at their annual retreat. I have the privilege of sharing some stuff with them and feel both excited and nervous at the same time.

I will then fly to Auckland and drive straight to Easter Camp which is going to be OUTSTANDING!

That is all really exciting stuff. The pain is that I have a uni assignment due on Thursday so before I get through these 2 sleeps I need to try and finish this assignment, pack (twice - Easter Camp & Aus), make sure our youth are organised for EC, make sure church is organised for next two weeks, sort the cat and dog out, sort myself out lol and finalise what I need to take to Australia.

So I feel a little overloaded. I was reflecting yesterday afternoon with God and I asked for his help to complete all the tasks that are pressing for my attention.

So today instead of aiming for a good day, I'm having a God day. I am taking myself off for some serious one on one time with God. I need his input and presence more than anything else right now. I could probably manage to complete the 'tasks' on my own.....but they would lack something. So the most important thing for me right now, is the Father's blessing.

I have so much to do today that my priority must be to STOP and PRAY.

So I'm signing off...and heading out

(and I will try and blog regularly while I am in Australia)

Hiding behind our words

I have been reading a number of blogs over recent months and I see a trend that disturbs me. Perhaps I'm not tough enough for the reality of blogging and I just need to 'harden up'. I have seen time and time again someone blog, and then in the comments people rip them to shreds, or get very personal in their attack of the person rather than stay on topic. More often than not all of this is done under the name anonoymous. I get it that not everyone will agree, and I'm not naive enough to think that people will only every say nice stuff. But I struggle to appreciate the words of those who hide behind "no name"....

I mean would they seriously speak to these people with those words face to face? Would you be so rude, or cutting or snarky if you actually saw the other person's response to your words?

I get frustrated with argument for argument sake, or protest for protest sake. If your goal is transformation or change, then by all means enter into meaningful dialogue and action. But if all you want is a cheap shot at someone else's expense, or to throw out comments without being willing to discuss then what is the value in that? There is enough of that going on in the world to plug the ozone hole! perhaps that's what's caused it in the first place...all this hot air!

I don't mean to rant, I am typing this while trying to smile.....