Can't think of a title

Sorry I haven't updated the blog for over a month. I have been very busy at work trying to study for GST Training conference and 2 internal training exams. It's hard to juggle things; thankfully I'm not doing CA yet (did I say that I possibly could...?)

Anyhow, it's been hard not being able to go to CBF City North (since it coincides with Group training). It's been encouraging meeting a few Christians at KPMG and praying with the former CILers. It's hard to keep things in focus when deadlines and demanding bosses come into the fray but, such are the challenges that God has placed before us.

In the last month, other than go to work, I've:

- walked across the Harbour Bridge with A and her parents for the Bridge's 75th anniversary
- watched CAAAARRRRRRLTON win the NAB Cup and rd 1 against Richmond (!!!)
- watched Sydney lose to West Coast by a point :)
- watched Arsenal slump into a heap in the English Premier League and go crashing out of the Champions League...
- bought a few more CD's - some classical - but in the Christian scene - Sovereign Grace Live (pretty good!), Paul Baloche "Greater Song" (good!), Casting Crowns "Lifesong" (very good!).
- been to an Idea of North gig
- misplace my SSO tickets (LOL!)

What am I actually doing at work? I've had a lot of people ask me this question - and in short, I work in the Trade and Customs (with smatterings of GST work) section - there are exactly 4 people in this practice and I'm obviously at the bottom. However, I've been to a couple of client meetings already and that's all been very interesting. I'm finding business writing completely different to essay writing and it's quite liberating having to only write dot points :)

I suppose I should sign off...i'm really tired...the Easter holiday has come as a much needed respite from the busyness of work...

It's begun

Well, working life has begun.

And I was warned, and I'm glad that I was warned. Full-time secular work is dangerous. It is dangerous spiritually, it is dangerous mentally, it is dangerous emotionally and it is dangerous physically.

KPMG flew us down to Melbourne for NGI- National Graduate Indoctrin...oops Induction. Every single graduate (499 in all) met at Flemington race course to be indoctrinated by the 4 blue squares - and its accompanying troupe of CEO, national managing partners in the 3 divisions of Audit, Tax and Advisory to find out how PwC are the biggest, but KPMG is the best amongst other things.

I met a lot of fellow grads, particularly in tax and at tax camp afterwards. It was good to get to know some non-Christian people and they are valuable colleagues and gospel harvest. Tax camp in particular was challenging in straddling the line between being all things to all men and having the gospel shining through us.

Work has been really hard and I'm getting really tired easily but such are the challenges that God throws at us. It makes us stronger. I had a great gospel conversation with my senior on the first day - it started with a "what's planned for the weekend?" - he lives in Caringbah which is on the same line and we talked for about 30-40 minutes on the way to the station and on the train. Do pray for him, he used to go to church but fell away.

I'm getting very tired very easily, so I've tried to do more exercise and sleeping earlier (I don't know how effective it is but it's 11:06pm and I should sleep...

The final weeks of being a gentleman of leisure...

I guess being a gentleman of leisure has its downsides. Life tends to be boring without a regular routine. I have, however, been trying to fill it up by making appointments to see doctors, optometrists, dentists (argh!) etc before I start work since I know that after I start, there's precious little time to get all that done.

It's also relaxing, playing games of Call of Duty online, playing EA Cricket, watching cricket, playing golf, catching up with friends, catching up with more friends and going to Canberra with A to see the Egyptian exhibits from the Louvre and discussing with A which mission we'll go to.

And to the Cowra-rites, it's with deep regret that I've decided not to join you guys on Breakout '08. It was a really hard decision and a lot of factors were taken into consideration. I am sad about leaving Cowra; the '07 team was a very strong, committed and servant-hearted group of people. However, because it is so strong, I believe that the future of Breakout (under the Lord) is strong and the ministry will continue to be faithful. I shall continue to pray for you guys but I'll be going to Gunnedah to serve the Lord there.

That's the latest news on the C.Lo front - i have some new glasses! Have a look - thanks to A for taking the picture - I like it!

For all you photo geeks:
Photo 1 (Black Mountain)

Metering - Matrix

Length - 80mm

Aperture - f/11

Shutter - 1/200th

Photo 2 (Portrait)

Metering - Matrix

Length - 80mm
Aperture - f/3.5
Shutter - 1/500th

Cowra, Cricket and well...not much else

Well, it's taken time to recover from my trip to the US. But I didn't get any time to do that, cos I ended up plunging into the full-on-"ness" that is Cowra Summer Breakout. Most of you probably know about it but in case you don't, it's an event run by the Presbyterian and Baptist churches in Cowra every January to promote the gospel in the town. This year I did Adeos - which is basically 18 to 80 (or 100+ as you'll find out).

A typical morning at Adeos involved washing up the team's breakfast and getting coffee ready for the parents of kids who stuck around to watch their kids learning from the very energetic Concert Time. It involved talking to mums who enjoy the great coffee served up by Morro and hopefully bringing the gospel to them. Obviously, you can't just launch straight into the gospel without having time to understand where they come from.

Talking to different people about their lives is tiring. But it's the first thing we must do if we are to present the gospel. We cannot just go through 2 Ways to Live with them. It's not loving to just ram the gospel down their throats without regard to a person's life situation. We're dealing with people here, some of whom may have had really difficult lives - only after learning about these circumstances do we gain an understanding of what aspect of the gospel is going to be their stumbling block.

The hardest thing for me was giving a talk to the people at the nursing homes, particularly at Weeroona which is a palliative care institution. But, the gospel is no less relevant at these places, if not more so since time is limited. It's hard to know how much will sink in but the Holy Spirit is powerful and only the Lord knows whether these people have accepted him or not. There were people ranging from 60-odd to over 100 (I wanted to see his letter from the Queen!!!) but in general it was a little depressing, the consequences of the Fall are all too obvious.

Will I be back next year? Still deciding and discussing with A. Prayers appreciated.