Above all else

Tommy Tenney (Godchasers) was in town a couple of weeks ago and he gave one of the most amazing series of sermons I have ever been through. The session lasted from morning to evening. Lyn and I had actually planned to leave early to pick up our kids, but I was enjoying the sermons so much and when Lyn saw my face when we were going to leave, she asked me if I wanted to stay and of course I said yes (let me say it again - I have the best wife in the world!). I know it makes me sound like a goody-two-shoes to want to listen to a sermon, but it really was an amazing sermon. But this is the funny bit. Now, sitting down two weeks later, I can't remember what it was about. And oddly, this is EXACTLY what Tommy Tenney said would happen. He asked us (and this is the one thing I actually remember!) whether we could remember how we felt the last time we had a special encounter with God in church. Of course most of us could remember. And then he asked us if we remembered what the pastor had p...

It finally happened. I bought the Nintendo Wii over the weekend – the first time I have ever spent money buying a device whose clear purpose is to be completely antithetical to the productive use of time. Oh wait, I forgot my TV. Um, and my entire collection of “Way of the Tiger” and “Grailquest” role-playing books. And, come to think of it, my Newsweek subscription :P Anyway, the kids and I (more on the wife later) had a thoroughly enjoyable long weekend over Vesak Day, bowling, golfing, driving, violin playing (a favourite for Natalie!) and slaughtering hordes of lizardmen (a favourite for Daniel!). And all that on the free games that came with our package. I have no doubt that the package bundles all the rubbish games that no one can sell on their own, but still, it was fun. It all seems quite normal now that swinging a small wireless white stick causes Dal the Dragonslayer to mirror your action by smashing a helpless log into splinters with his giant red claw, but I think maybe jus...

Nat (in loud whisper): we're going to make a surprise for Mummy tomorrow OK? Dan (looking excited): Yah, surprise OK? Nat: follow me to the fridge Daddy... ... Nat (opens fridge): See, we're going to make breakfast for Mother's Day. We got the cream cheese and bread sticks (points out the cream cheese), and we can put the cheese on the other cheese (Kraft square slices), because, you know, we have no bread, and we have the milk, low fat Mommy, normal for me, and um, that's all. Beams at me, clearly very pleased with the plan. Me: Uh, OK. Try not to make a mess. Nat (as I switch off the light after they get into bed): Can you wake us up at, like 8 o'clock, and remind us to do it? Dan: Yah, SEVEN o'clock! Me: uh, sure. (make mental note to sleep in)

I have a question on evolution. The idea is that organisms change over thousands and thousands of years, one tiny little random mutation at a time. Take the case of the bat. The commonly held theory is that it adapts to its environment. To be more accurate, random mutations occur, and the chaps who don't get the random mutation die out. As the bat retreats further and further into the cave, it mutates more and more. Here's the thing. 1. What are the odds that a particular random mutation keeps moving along a specific trajectory to a useful purpose e.g. the development of the bat's echo directional sense? Let's say bats are 200,000 years old as a species. I'm fairly certain if I randomly chucked a lot of screws, gyroscopes and radar screens down a cave for 200,000 years, I wouldn't come up a sonar. If I were working in the cave with screws, gyroscopes and radar screens, with detailed instructions (a torchlight would help as well), I just might be able to, afte...

Heck, decided to post this up. See post below :)

Nat really loves playing Monopoly. I mean, REALLY. I don't get it. Maybe she enjoys beating me. For some reason, I consistently lose to her. We have a Disney themed set and instead of Chance cards, they're called Magic Moments or Show Time. And they must be rigged or something, because I keep getting "Hypnotized by Kaa. Pay $100." or "Caught by the dog catcher. Go directly to jail. Do not pass Go." And Nat keeps getting "Dumbo's magic feather lets you fly. Collect $100" or "Tinker Bell transports you to Go. Collect $200". RRRGGH. It does not help that Mummy does not let me fleece Nat when it comes to bartering properties :P On the bright side, Nat is starting to cotton on to the nuances of Monopoly, like, don't bother getting the properties which are too expensive, because you never have enough to build any houses. She is even starting to catch me when I try to fleece her. Me (in a fake grudging tone): OK Nat, I'll be kind....

Answers from some bursary winners in a magazine that I just read: Q: How do you think the bursary benefited you? Did you study very hard? A1: I can buy more books. Study a bit (!) A2: Don't know, I didn't study hard. I got the bursary by luck (!!) A2: I can ask mummy to buy me books. I didn't study (!!!) Classic.

I've been reading the Psalms since the New Year as part of the church program, and recently got past the super-long 119th Psalm! It seems to be that God has an odd sense of humour. The 119th Psalm is possibly the longest chapter in the Bible with 176(!) verses - certainly it's the longest psalm - and the topic is, appropriately, loving the Word. So the question that I posed to myself that day, even as I thought about all the work that needed to be done (it was a Monday!), was do I really love the Word enough to get past the psalm that goes on and on and on. And on and on and on :) I like to say that one of the most important reasons why we need to read the Word on a regular basis is to soak up the Word and its distilled wisdom until we are at saturation point. Then, whenever the world exerts pressure on us, just squeeze and righteousness gushes out. Or when a friend needs advice, just squeeze and wisdom comes out. Otherwise, all that comes out will be empty air. And everytime w...

My 6-year old daughter Nat wrote this when I wanted to update my blog and she said it was her turn to write a story. Next stop, punctuation ville :) =========== once upon a time there was a beautiful princess she lived with her mummy and daddy one day she was playing in the garden and five minutes later a witch snatched her away when her mummy saw what was happening she was very worried and scared as she ran after her when she got there the witch said if you want your child back i turn you into a snail yes or no no said them mother i don't want to be a snail then you will never see your child again bye bye then the witch plucked a flower and put it into a vase and she took the princess she snatched and put her into the flower and she said a magic spell on the flower and every day the flower will drop one petal when the flower drops all its petals the witch will lock the princess up in a tall tower and on her sixteen birthday the witch will lock the door up in the highest floor and ...