Water Vs Coke

WATER
1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.(Likely applies to half the world population)

2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is mistaken for hunger.

3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as 3%.

4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.

5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%., and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer. Are you drinking the amount of water you should drink every day?

COKE

1. In many states the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the trunk to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.

2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of Coke and it will be gone in two days.

3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and let the 'real thing' sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.

4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of aluminium foil dipped in Coca-Cola.

5. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.

6. To loosen a rusted bolt: Apply a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

7. To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminium foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy.

8. To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of Coke into the load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield.

maybe I need to re-evaluate my current coke consumption

Interesting

"if money doesn't grow on trees, then why do banks have branches?" Yolandi Grobler

A mile

Reminds me of some great sayings

- "walk a mile in there shoes before you pass judgment"
- "be kind, walk the second mile"
- "the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step"
- "catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn"
- "there are 1.6kms in a mile"

- "just to be the man who walks a thousand miles to fall down at your door"

"la da da da, la da da da...."

Insanity with Perfection

Preparation

People have asked me in the past how it’s possible to worship lead, sing and play guitar at the same time; so here is my thought

It’s impossible to focus on all three things all at once; something will demand your attention more than the other. You will be in auto pilot for 2 out of the 3 and one will have the majority of your attention.

Think about when you are driving a car. When you first start out, it has your full attention. Then with practice you become more competent and confident in what you are doing, that you can listen more intently to the person talking to you, or the music that’s playing or even going over the list of things to do that you have already formed in your mind. When the traffic gets dangerous or the weather gets bad, you shift your focus to your driving because it is more important.

For me it’s the same with music. I can sing and play guitar at the same time while leading people into worship, but it comes down to a lot of practice. If I don’t know the melody of the song that well, it will be my main focus and I won’t lead as well. If I don’t really know the chords to the song, my singing might not be as good and my leading will suffer as well. I need to practice the songs so well that I can sing and play on autopilot allowing me to maintain my primary focus on God and seeing people enter into a place of worship themselves.

When worship is on autopilot, I know as a leader, I’ve fallen short on the best that others could have experienced. Practice takes time, effort and skill. If I have the basics right, I allow space for God to use me to do what He really wants to do, speak into the hearts of His people.

Quote of the day

"dreaming of a better world... where chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned" Yolandi Grobler

Burning the toast

I had dinner last night with some old family down by the Strand. Throughout the conversation of the evening my Uncle John and Aunty Doreen began their little cheeky banta regarding cooking. They have an incredible knack for not only seeing the best in each other but also making light of each others "less strong" points to put it in Uncle John's words.

"Why check on the roast dear, just wait for the smoke alarm to go off.." was a comment made during the course of dinner. To an outsider, may sound like a terrible thing to say about your wife's cooking, but to see the warmth in which they smiled regarding the topic, one can understand there is a great story behind that comment and plenty of laughs to go with life.

In all things it's about relationships. Things go wrong in life, but if we can make light of each others short comings on things that aren't really that important in the grand scheme of things, it's easy to love, easy to forgive and easy to enjoy each others company.

The Real Question

Where is Jesus?

1. In front of me leading the way – John 8:12 “I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness.” Light knows of the future and can illuminate what is to come while dispersing darkness that may cloud judgment and cause you to place a wrong foot.

2. Behind as my protection and guide – John 10:14 “I am the good shepherd and my sheep know me.” Shepherds walk behind the flock providing protection from a view point that sees all things.

3. Above me – Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” His ways are higher than mine. From a mountain top you can see where you are heading, the journey required and everything is placed in perspective

4. Below me – Psalm 40:2 “He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” In God I have security for where I am right now. A strong foundation so when storms come I will not be moved. Luke 6:48

5. Beside me – Proverbs 18:24. Jesus is the friend who sticks closer than a brother. A true friend, bother and lover.

Jesus is always there. Like a friend or partner, they can be right next to you, walking along side you, sitting in the theatre with you, or even sleeping in the same bed as you, yet you can still ignore them

That never means they are not there, nor does it mean that they don’t love you, value you and care for you. He does.

It's the climb

Numbers 13:30-33 tells the story of a nation arriving at their destination, the promised land. After scoping out the land that was being given to them, they turned around and walked away to wonder the desert for 40 years until finally returning to give it another shot.

3 thoughts here.

1. It is possible to arrive at the correct destination without the character to actually plant yourself there. This re-enforces the saying, "It's not about where you are going or how fast you get there, but what you learn along the way."

2. The Israelites failed to go into the promised land inspite of having the promise from God because they lacked the faith to believe He was capable of doing it. Don't refuse the promises of God for your own life.

3. God has purchased the promise for us and He wants to give it to us. So when we arrive but make poor decisions and don't receive the promise, He is faithful and gracious to give us another opportunity to learn and to receive.

On the UP

"There is nothing wrong with going round the mountain... as long as you keeping taking the odd step up."

Stupid Quote of the Day

"Fiction writing is great, you can make up almost anything."
- Ivana Trump, on finishing her first novel

People are more important than Product

A great key in leadership to learn is that of relationships. Brian Houston puts it brilliantly; “The Leadership goal; to mix the focus & intensity needed to progress, with the spontaneity & adventure to keep it fun!” As a leader relationships work in two ways; your relationship with the people you are becoming like and your relationship with the people becoming like you. By being at Leadership College I’ve cultivated relationships with amazing leaders. Watching them and living in their pockets is positioning me in a positive atmosphere of growth, helping me to learn how to respond in different situations, achieving the vision and enjoying life in the process. However in my own life, this is an area I really want to work on. Often a persons talent can get in the way of them becoming a great leader. I am capable of getting the job done well myself but this does not grow the church. Leaders find the best in people , I need to allow others the opportunity to grow by releasing them to have a go.

I currently oversee the resource recording for my church. If I am the only person recording the messages on a Sunday the job might be done right but if something happens and I am not there on a Sunday the department fails because no one else can complete the task. I need to build a team by allowing others the opportunity to grow. This means I need to love people more than I love getting the job done right. Sometimes people will make mistakes and the product we are producing may miss the mark but if I am too controlling and never allow others the opportunity to grow, the team will never grow. This is the area I know I need to grow in the most. To become a great leader it’s important to take your talent out of the equation and love people. Having a genuine interest in seeing others fulfil God’s potential for their own life is the ultimate goal of a relational leader.

Relationships

A thought of mine while doing an assignment.

"As a leader you have two types of relationships. Those with people you are becoming like and those with people who are becoming like you."

Swine Flu Karma

There's an old saying "what goes around comes around..."

Someone should warn those little pigs, I'm havin a bacon burger for dinner tonight

:D

Thirsty much?

The human body is an incredible invention. Such an amazing and intricate design often has me just baffled at how God has just pieced it all together.

In Townsville the heat is back on and it's getting hot... dang hot, and I was reminded that the Human body can only survive about 3 days without water, got me thinking.

John 4:14 "Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

There is a wellspring in me that fills me to overflowing! A constant supply of the freshest, clearest water available. So why do I sometimes feel 'dry' thoughout the daily workings of life?

I suppose it is because I am not just a dead vessel that carries water, I am a living being. I require food, water and nurishment to sustain life physically, emotionally and spiritually.

So as much as I need to stop and take a drink on a hot day, I must be someone who constantly is taking a drink from the well.

3 days is enough to kill the human body, why would I go even a day without taking a drink from the source of life itself?

Just a thought.

Learning is knowledge with application

The old saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" has never really proven itself to be true. It is possible to learn many new things, however it is also possible to never take off the things in your life that keep you from success.

The guy who knows everything about exercise and nutrition could potentially still be overweight and unhealthy unless he removes the thoughts and habits that created that lifestyle in the first place.

Knowing how to become a better leader doesn't make you a better leader. For a husband might read many books on how to love his wife and lead a positive example for his children but without putting those life principles into practice he will never see any fruit of his knowledge.

Learning is knowledge with application

Fun of Life

"I'm having amnesia and Deja Vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before." Unknown

I read this comment and realise that true stories are always funnier than ones that are made up.

"Not all dumbs are blonde" - My mother. (AND YES I AM SERIOUS)

Join CLC!

My space

I've spent many hours over the last few days just sitting on the beach playing my guitar. In a world where sometimes things can seem to get on top of you, it's always good for you to just take some time and have "your space."

It's amazing how refreshed you feel and how your perspective can change on what is really important when your head space is clear.

Music is what really does it for me, you may be someone who reads, goes to the gym, watches a movie or heads off for a walk. Whatever it is, take the time for "your space" to keep your head space clear.

The "servant" or the "man"

I've been thinking more on the story of the "noteable woman" from 2 Kings 4 over the past few days. Later in the story the woman's son dies and she places him in the room made for the man of God and his servant. When the servant comes to see how she is she tells him "it is well," yet when the man of God comes she unloades her pain and pressure to him. Ultimately the man of God is used to bring the boy back to life.

Got me thinking, they are both representatives of God, yet there is a distinct difference between the two. The servant, while potentially a noble man of good character, is not the man the woman unloads too. He may be see as someone who "is busy" and is going to and fro getting things done, but is not someone who the woman can be on a personal level with. The man of God however is more personal with the woman and is let into her life on a deeper level.

The thought; sometimes throughout life I can be so busy "doing" things and caught up with the to and fro of life that I miss opportunities to be personal with people. While I may achieve a lot in my own mind, the potential is to be someone that others cannot relate too.

I would rather be someone that is perceived as a man of God; while things get done I still must make the time to be personal with people, genuinely interested in their lives.

Imagine how the story might have turned out if the woman never felt comfortable talking to the man of God about her problems...she would have lost something in her life of incredible value.

What are you building?

2 Kings 4:10 tells the story of a notable woman in Israel who is used to the prophet Elisha and his servant popping in and out for a meal. She determined in her life that having the man of God coming in and out of her life wasn't good enough so she build a room for him on top of her house so that when Elisha came he and his servant could stay a while.

I've discovered from helping my dad do heaps of renovations over the years that it takes 4 key things to build a room on your house; Time, Effort, Finance and Resource. Finance is required to purchase the right materials and pay the wages for the labour so that the room can be build and furnished; it takes money of the right currency.

The same is true in the spirit. If you want to build a room for God in your life, build a relationship with Him, it takes Time, Effort, Finance and Resource. The difference is the finance that is required isn't Australian dollars. It's not about how much you put in the bag or how much you transfer across the internet, it's about giving with a generous spirit and an attitude of faith. Faith is the currency of heaven. It's what you use to purchase the required materials for building a room for God in your life.

I'm a generous giver because I don't just want to build a dodgy old room with a beanbag and a hammock, I want to build God the best room, not just as a room, but the best room in my whole house. I want it to be made from the best materials, stacked up with a fridge full of Coke and Chocolate, chips and popcorn in the cupboard, a massive LCD TV with cable and free movies with the most comfortable couch and bed that money could buy! Furnish it with an en suite, whatever it takes to make it the best room in the house and give God no reason to ever need to leave!

By being generous with my money and living with an attitude of faith, I am investing and building the best room for God in my life, so He can live in a position of prominence and stay with me.

Don't have a cow man

According to American statistics from 2008, you are more likely to be attacked by a cow than by a shark.

The standards for milking cows must have dropped over the last few years.