Song Challenge 19: H. – Tool

day 19 – a song from your favourite album

I lost count of how many Tool songs I’ve included in this list.

Song Challenge

Why Twilight Makes Me Want to Quit My Job (via Existential Angst)

I think I had a similar experience when I read these novels!

However, for me, they reminded me of some of the key aspects of the Christian Gospel; in particular, the promise of a perfected immortal bodily resurrection and eternal life. 🙂

It was on my honeymoon that I realized a career change was in order.  My catalyst: the Twilight saga.   I wish I were joking — this is how it happened: It began on our flight to Dubai, the first stop on our honeymoon itinerary.  The flight from JFK to Dubai is long — I had 10+ hours of flight time ahead of me, after dinner.  Luckily, Emirates has dozens of in-flight movies, available at your seat, on command.  After a long year of late work nig … Read More

via Existential Angst

Breastfeeding in public (warning – offensive content) (via B O H O M A M A M O J O)

Excellent. Gets the point across.

Women who breastfeed are constantly indecently exposing themselves. It really is quite offensive and someone should make it stop. Look at this gal, did the modesty gene skip her? Wait…Well, this is a bad example. Let’s try again. Hmm…Just a minute. I’m sure I can find better ones than these… Eh, still not offensive enough. I’ll check one more time. That is better. LOOK AT THAT! I see about a half inch of boob. DISGUSTING. UGH. Look at that … Read More

via B O H O M A M A M O J O

Karnivool – Sound Awake

I have lost count of the number of times I’ve listened to Karnivool’s awesome album “Sound Awake” (2009 Sony EMI). My favourite song on the album seems to change according to my mood, but I particularly like “New Day” and “Simple Boy”.

So I figure that they definitely warrant a mention on here, as I find their music so beautiful, powerful and inspiring. It’s music like this that makes me feel pretty super about being an Australian (not that I didn’t feel good about my nationality already!), and it’s so exciting to hear some great melodic hard rock being made by my fellow Aussies.

I would probably describe them as being similar to Tool, but a lot happier and with Aussie accents… but I don’t want to box them in as being just an Australian answer to Tool, because Karnivool are a lot more diverse than that.

“All I Know” – Sound Awake

“Simple Boy” – Sound Awake

Karnivool’s singer Ian Kenny is also lead singer for Birds of Tokyo, another superb Australian band.

“Heard it Through the Grapevine” – Covered by Birds of Tokyo for Australian radio station Triple J.

“Wayside” – Birds of Tokyo

iTunes

 

 

 

 

First Day Of Spring – Part 2

All photos taken on mobile phone camera, 1 September 2009.

Can attack! Hehehe I’m sure it fits the garden theme, somehow.

349. Something Sketchy

Watercolour pencil on paper, 2008.

Ok, I’m pretty sure this one is watercolour pencil. It was so long ago, I can’t quite remember it… Pencils dipped in water, rather than drawing then painting over them witha paintbrush.

Question #5 – Meow

Reading this on Facebook Notes? Hit “View Original Post.”

Here’s the reader question of the day / week / month (whatever it happens to be)…

Feel free to leave an answer in the comments section. All views will be tolerated and it’s not meant to be a debate forum – just share what you think!

Are you a cat person, a dog person or both?

Questioning My Readers

Simple concept really, I’d love to hear what my readers think. I get a lot of traffic at this blog and I’d like to find out who’s reading it. So, coming soon will be at least a few quizzes / questions. Feel free to leave an answer in the comments section. All views will be tolerated and it’s not meant to be a debate forum – I just want to hear what you think!

Access it at:

https://darthmaulmakesmesmile.wordpress.com/tag/questions/

Some News For Mary – Luke 1

Luke 1:21-38

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out, wondering why he was taking so long. When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures that he must have seen a vision in the Temple sanctuary. He stayed at the Temple until his term of service was over, and then he returned home. Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children!”

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you! ” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be frightened, Mary,” the angel told her, “for God has decided to bless you! You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” Mary asked the angel, “But how can I have a baby? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby born to you will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s already in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.” Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant, and I am willing to accept whatever he wants. May everything you have said come true.” And then the angel left. (NLT)

1. What happened to Zechariah in the Temple? (Try reading “The Story Begins” first.)
2. Why was it miraculous for Elizabeth to give birth?
3. Who was Zechariah’s and Elizabeth’s son?
4. What was the difference between Mary’s response to Gabriel and Zechariah’s response to Gabriel? (see Luke 1:18-20.)
5. What will be the characteristics of Mary’s child?

The Story Begins – Luke 1

Luke 1:1-20

Most honorable Theophilus: Many people have written accounts about the events that took place among us. They used as their source material the reports circulating among us from the early disciples and other eyewitnesses of what God has done in fulfillment of his promises. Having carefully investigated all of these accounts from the beginning, I have decided to write a careful summary for you, to reassure you of the truth of all you were taught.

It all begins with a Jewish priest, Zechariah, who lived when Herod was king of Judea. Zechariah was a member of the priestly order of Abijah. His wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and now they were both very old. One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary and burn incense in the Lord’s presence. While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying. Zechariah was in the sanctuary when an angel of the Lord appeared, standing to the right of the incense altar. Zechariah was overwhelmed with fear. But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! For God has heard your prayer, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son! And you are to name him John. You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice with you at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or hard liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. And he will persuade many Israelites to turn to the Lord their God. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah, the prophet of old. He will precede the coming of the Lord, preparing the people for his arrival. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will change disobedient minds to accept godly wisdom.” Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! And now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you won’t be able to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly come true at the proper time.” (NLT)

This is the beginning of the Gospel of Luke, where he seeks to faithfully record the events of the life of Jesus.

1. Where did Luke source the information for writing the life story of Jesus?
2. To whom was Luke writing, and what was his purpose in this?
3. What was the nationality of the people in the story?
4. Why was the birth of John going to be a miracle?
5. What would John’s life achieve for God?
6. Why was Zechariah rendered mute?
7. What was the name of the angel, and where did he receive the message for Zechariah?
8. What do you think this story has to do with the coming of Jesus?

Christianity’s Influence on Western Culture

Here are links to some articles on the history of Christianity in Western culture, and Christianity’s influence on the rise of science:

http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1581/ – A review of the sociology text “For the Glory of God.” Speaking as a sociology student, it is rare to find sociological texts that accept the possibility of the objective existence of a God – any God! (2004)

http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/5584/ – According to this article, there are European moves to ban the teaching of alternative perspectives to atheistic evolution. (2008 )

http://www.icr.org/article/135/ – an exploration of the influence of evolutionary perspectives in the humanities.

Taking a Break

Hi, readers, just letting you know that I’m having an operation this weekend. As a result, I may be taking a break from blogging while I recover. I have been told the recovery will take around 2 weeks. So, please add me to your RSS reader bookmarks, and it’ll let you know when I update this blog – or check back in in a week or two!

Thanks!

Moving House

This blog has now moved to my new blog, The Amalgamation:

https://darthmaulmakesmesmile.wordpress.com/category/visual-diary/

Thanks for your support. Please update your RSS reader to:

https://darthmaulmakesmesmile.wordpress.com/feed/

A Morning At The Park

Saturday 5 January 2008 – 11.40 am

~ A Morning at the Park ~

Weather: blue sky, stinking hot, forecast 34 degrees C… oops… no… (make that) 37 degrees C (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit*).

I’m sitting under a gum tree.

The kids are playing on the playground.

Cricket practice is on at the oval.

The traffic is pumping out pollution.

* Temperature conversion at http://www.wbuf.noaa.gov/tempfc.htm.

Sad For The Whales

Friday 4 January 2008 – 2.30 pm

Thinking about whales. Maybe it’s because they’re being slaughtered in our oceans. Or because I’m reading Moby Dick. How sad they are subjected to such cruelties.

Hiding From The Sun In The Shopping Centre

Friday 4 January 2008 – 2 p.m.

Summer holidays at the shopping centre. It’s so busy and full of grumpy parents. I’m probably one of them…

Tartan Pants And Hot Weather

 

Thursday 3 January, 2008  – 6.55 pm

It’s clearly too hot to wear my beloved tartan pants.

 (Note: it’s summer here at this time of year.) 

Gothic Vampire Theatre

30 December 2007 – 11.01 pm

A day at the theatre… How emotive! How moving! ~ It makes me wonder about some Gothic romance set in a dark forest. Maybe I should write that as a play. It would probably involve a vampire in the main characters.

Chinese Restaurant

Saturday 29 December 2007 – 7.17 pm

Sitting in the car in a car park while the husband is ordering Chinese takeaway. Stinking hot summer day. So very, very hot. There’s heaps of people around, shopping for take away. Whinging kids complaining about hot chips. Others lurking around the sushi shop. The pizza shop is shut… Church was quiet tonight. Must be Christmas week.

I Wish I Were An Artist

29 December 2007, 12.20 pm.

Reading about art. Oh, how I wish I were an artist!