The Pingu Factor: November 2006

I think there is some light at the end of the tunnel..

confused

very emotional.

Last week at church until 18/2/06. Not going to see everyone for a very very long time. How sad.... I'm not going to remember anyone by the time I come back.

Hollis Hurlbut

Hollis Hurlbut - from "Lisa the Iconoclast" - Springfield town historian. He discovered the secret that Jebidiah Springfield was a pirate, not a hero, and he couldnt live with the fact that his entire life's work had been a fraud. So instead of revealing the secret to the world, he kept the secret to himself, lying to others and himself.

I think as Christian leaders we should be aware of him. Not that we will find one day that Jesus is a fraud, and God doesnt really exist at all. But I think sometimes Christians leaders have doubts about God and the gospel and they arent really willing to acknowledge the reality of these feelings, because they have given so much to ministry and to serving people. Its like.. we've given so much to the gospel that we'd be like Hollis Hurlbut if we ever found evidence that God doesnt exist. At times we'll all have doubts, and we need to be willing to address them when they arise; go back to the gospel and the reasons why we first believed.

Star activists 'don't acknowledge progress'

from smh.com.au:

Prime Minister John Howard has taken aim at rock star activists like U2 frontman Bono for failing to acknowledge how globalisation is helping lift millions of people around the world out of poverty.

Mr Howard today had terse words for "pop culture" figures who criticised world leaders for their efforts on poverty but didn't take account of how improved global trade had already done much to help millions better their lot in life.

"It's popular of course to be in receipt admonitions from leaders of pop culture, if I can put it that way, and others to do more to lift the world's poor out of their current state," he said during a keynote address to business leaders.

"Some of those commentators are not so ready to acknowledge the extraordinarily large number, the billions of people in this region and in other parts of the Asia region, that have been lifted from poverty over the last 25 years as a result of the application of the principles of innovation and globalisation."

...

He believes removing trade barriers to be a more effective way of lifting countries out of poverty than just throwing money their way.

...

"The point I was making is that the economic growth that's occurred in countries like China and other countries in the Asian region has lifted tens of millions, indeed hundreds of millions of people out of poverty.

"And in the criticism that is made of poverty, and it is a criticism and concern I fully share, there is rarely any acknowledgement of the progress that is being made in fighting poverty.

"The world has made progress yet you would imagine ... from some utterances no progress had been made at all."

It is finished

My last test was quite anti-climatic; usually when I walk out of a stressful exam and I know I passed I'm really excited but todays exam is the lamest exam I've had since the School Certificate in Year 10. "Philosopher means... (a) Lover of wisdom or (b) a wise lover....." There were 40 questions like that and I finished in 15 minutes.

So walking out of that exam wasnt that exciting. Now I feel a bit aimless, dunno what to stress about in life anymore. wow.. never have to care about marks again, or tutorial homework or studying.

24

hours until I finish uni forever!

No stress anymore, I'm pretty sure I cant fail now, I think I'm on 46/60, so just need 4/40 tomorrow..

So excited! Looking forward to my 2 weeks in Sydney; planning to meet up with some long lost friends, throw out all the notes and textbooks I've ever kept from Year 1 onwards...

Yep

Yep, I'm stressed again!

Dont know why, I'm 90% sure I wont fail tomorrow.

But I'm just so worried! What if I crash my car tomorrow on the way to the exam and I fail and I lose my job???!

I'm not good with coping with pressure...must pray.

Locked out of home...

I went out today with my Mum and she forgot the house keys! My bro has keys but he went to Brisbane today, so we have to wait til he gets back. Now I'm stuck in the library. Had to print out all my lecture notes and bought a pen. The library computers dont let you use gmail or web msn or anything.. blogger is the only way I can communicate with the outside world! I feel so unconnected..

sigh

All I want is to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. SIgh...

yay

I finished my maths test yesterday, I think I passed; I only needed about 33%, so didnt even need to pass! Sometimes once you leave a test you forget everything straight away, but when I had answered half the questions yesterday, I already started forgetting stuff. Its my last maths test ever.. no more maths ever again. When Pete mentioned at SOTE that the word of God is self authenicating, I was thinking of RSA codes, digital signiatures and authenication.. so glad all that is behind me forever!

Only got 2 more exams on Wed and Thurs, then finished forever. 5 more days!

I should probably start studying for my exams, but I spent all day watching DVDs and writing congregational prayer - I dont have any creative ideas at all :(

Another stressful night...

This is my 7th semester (out of 8th) where I've had a subject where I'm really close to failing. To think of all the sleepless nights and stressful days where I cant even eat or breathe properly, I wish I had failed back in first year. Tomorrow is my 3rd last exam and I just dont know if I'm going to pass. I really want to pass obviously, and I pray that I will but I just dont know. I am really really anxious right now, if anyone could pray for me I'd be really appreciate it. I just want to pass and be able to trust God no matter what happens.

Ordered this today

From Misc

I was going to engrave it with "yet will I hope in him", a reference to Job 13, but I opted to go with the more traditional Jesus Christ is Lord. Its going to take 2 weeks to be delivered, I'm going to have finished uni by then!