Blog, blogging, bloggers...

Did you know that in the world of blogging that it's kocher to blog about someone else's blog. So if yoou don't have anything to say for the day you just write about someone else's blog and leave a link to it! (I'm still getting the hang of this blogging thing!)

The way i found this out is that someone else has been blogging aboout my blog. You can check out their blog about my blog and then blog about the two of us blogging about each other...

This is my favourite part of her blog about me...

I think he has some pretty interesting things to say, he has a great sense of humour and great pics.

All of this got me thinnking what does 'blog' mean?

This is what I came up with...

Blog is short for weblog. A weblog is a journal (or newsletter) that is frequently updated and intended for general public consumption. Blogs generally represent the personality of the author or the Web site.

But Wikipedia notes that 'blog' can also be a verb (as per the sentence above)...

"Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning: to maintain or add content to a blog.

I wonder if it will ever become an 'adjective'??? For example, I had a blogging good time! I'm blogged! (as a result of too much time blogging)

Identity in Christ

Been thinking lately how easy it is for us to find our identity in anything or anyone other than Christ. The other day, sitting at a coffee shop, I was struck by people’s eagerness to show off their identity outside of Christ. As you can imagine at Goldberg’s these are the type of things that people project as part of their identity: the way people dressed, talked about stuff, the sunglasses we wear, even being a young single mum seems to be part of creating an identity for yourself these days. We see it most starkly at the moment in little subcultures such as the EMO crew (if you don’t know what EMO is then you are definitely getting old – check out this website for EMO info People are always creating an identity for themselves outside of Christ – which makes sense if you’re not a Christian.

But as a Christian we don’t have this luxury. Our identity is found “in Christ” and is far better than any identity we can create for ourselves. Gal 3:25-29 reminds us of this truth...

But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave* nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

The problem is that sin is essentially declaring ourselves to be independent of God and his Son Jesus and so we keep trying to create an identity for ourselves outside of Christ, through work, through marriage, the house we buy or don’t buy, through parenthood, through the clothes we wear, our leisure time, the people we hang out with. We even create an identity for ourselves through things that have happened to us in the past or things that are happening to us in the present – abuse, depression, unemployment etc. But the Bible keeps reminding us though we’re different we’re all one in Christ Jesus.

Where are you tempted to build your identity?

Getting the most of your weekend...

What makes a good weekend? I reckon generally speaking a good weekend is spent with my wife in Newcastle around the beach and coffee shops... doesn't get much better actually. The weekend just gone was very different but fantastic.

Stage 1.

A mammoth drive from Newy to Sydney to see U2 with Ray, Ray, James and Nick. Memorable experience. One of the best concerts I've ever been to for sure. The Edge is definately uber-cool!

Book review: read Bono on Bono. Interesting read and was probably the book that re-ignited my love for U2.


Disappointment: Bono was preaching all night at the concert, which I am normally a fan of, but his big point was COEXIST. He told us that Muslims, Christians and Jews were all sons of Abraham, which just doesn't fit with what the Bible says. The Bible is all for peace and equalityand people loving eavh other but it's very clear that those who are in Christ are Abraham's real sons. Gal 3:29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.


Stage 2

Breaky at the beach for Nick's birthday. Mmmm... it's always tops going out for brunch with Mum and Dad becasue you eat like kings and they foot the bill. Thanks Mum and Dad.

Stage 3

DJ Souter (often found preaching and teaching the Bible at the Gathering) and Lou got married. It was such a fantastic day. Souter and Lou are defintatley two of the most wonderful people in the world. Can you think of a better bloke than Souter? Let me know if you can, I'd like to meet him! Also a great time for catching up with friends.

Stage 4

Preaching all day long at Hunter Bible Church.

Stage 5

Blog and off to bed.

It was good to see you on the weekend if we did!!! Catch you soon.

Sam and Prue

Ted Haggard

It is a great sadness to hear Ted Haggard's confessions. This emphasises the importance of Paul's exhortation to Timothy... 16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Ted Haggard



What do you do when there is serious sexual sin in the church of God?

- pray for God's people at New Life Church in Colorado.
- pray for Ted, his family and his children. Obviously this will seriously affect his realtiosnhip with his wife, his children and God. Pray that he will be able to give up the lifestyle of homosexuality. Remember Paul's words to the Corinthians...
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
- pray for your pastor! Pray that he will be sexually pure!
- Listen to God's word and take the warnings seriously. Don't mess with sin. 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

It is worth reading Ted's statement and a letter from his wife to the women at New life Church. Obviously the media has sensationalised this event and we can easily forget that this couple are real Christian people wrestling with sin in their life.