yes xan, i really did say that thing

about the ice-skating

anything for a laugh, hey?

reflection on college life

the people are great
the expectations are awful
the structure is great
the assignments are awful
lectures are grouse
fat content of the food is terrible
the building is tops
the carpet is frustrating
the fact that I'm in melbourne is brilliant
the fact that I'm in melbourne is painful and horrible and depressing and crappity crap crap
that's about it

sunday sunday sunday

today is sunday
don't worry canadans, i won't tell you what happened

but I'm tired
gee whiz, i'm tired.

blah blah blah

tappy tap tap

Jesus loves me, this i know, for the Bible tells me so.

i will stamp my foot and outright refuse to let anyone change my mind on that...
I think....

God bless you all
And God bless Paris Hilton. Bless her heart.
amen

so... like... yeah

how's it going punks?
been a struggle getting to the puters due to crazy-go-nuts amount of assignments...
in actual truth, there's only a few assignments, but I've been squeezing them into one week so I can feel relaxed and happy when i spend time with Mum!
... oh yeah, my mum just arrived in melbourne and I'm seeing her in about 35 minutes.
Should probably get outta my pajamas!!!!
it's kinda fun sitting in the college library in your p.js.
I'm probably breaking all sorts of rules!!!!

We've been doing an 'intensive' at college (a semester's worth of stuff for one entire unit, conveniently compacted into two weeks).
So my version's been an intensive-intensive, trying to get it all done in half the time.
I'm a bit ahead, but still have to do the major essay - but that's not due til after the intensive is over, in march!
bring on the all-nighters, woot!
So on the whole, I'm a stressed out, tired ball of funnage.
But I'm really, really loving it here and everyone's lovely.
My session mates are champs!
We've now all been officially assigned Corps to go to for our first semester. I'm going to Carrum Downs Corps tomorrow - that should be fun! I'm with Kim and Steve Haworth (and their cool kids) so we'll have a ball!
And then we get a free lunch!
yessssss

I love you guys,
Pray for everyone.

blessings!
-rach

Today

In-house Sunday today!
Some 'witnesses' did a mint time of worship. (Our session is 'Witnesses for Christ')
All the first years talked a bit on 'what we're leaving behind'. Lotsa tears. I went last to lighten the mood. But seriously, what am I leaving behind? Not much... yet.
All the important stuff hasn't really happened to me yet. I'm only leaving behind the ability to choose stuff - like choosing to be near my family if I start one of my own, or choosing to be around when I'm an aunty, or choosing to take on a vocation that doesn't leave half my extended family thinking I'm a bit strange...
Of course, considering that we were speaking this morning in front of all the college staff and second years, I told them I was leaving behind my dream of becoming a professional ice-skater... but that wasn't because of College - but due to the fact that I can't skate.

Frankie (Frank Daniels, Training Principal) spoke on The temptation of Jesus in the desert. Good, good stuff. He delved a bit into who Satan is, who his flunkies are and what they're all about... which was ultimately grouse 'cause Leah, Scott, Stobes and I were chatting last night about how spiritual warfare is sometimes ignored in our context.
Top job, Franko.
Also shined up a couple of old nuggets...
* I am not Jesus - so I will not be tempted in the exact same way.
* God doesn't tempt us, but He lets it happen.
* The wilderness is where you get schooled.
* Satan is not a gentleman, when you're down and out, he kicks where it hurts.
* Be on guard after spiritual high-points (ie, Jesus just had one)
* Don't blame Satan so easy - he's not omnipresent, you're probably not that special.

And here's a new nugget...
There's a little WORD-chunk that talks about how Jesus was tempted in all the points that we are. This doesn't mean the exact same temptations (I don't think Jesus wanted to hit on guys... might've wanted to just plain hit them...), 'cause points refers to 'chinks' as Franko put it. The points at which the armour on a man or woman joins... the weak spots. J-man had different weak spots to me (I don't think I'd feel seriously tempted if Satan nudged me to turn rocks into bread). I've got different weak points to Him...
BUT,
He was prodded in the same way that I am. Satan is one crafty fellow.
Comparitively, I have the IQ of a boot.

Good thing I'm on Jesus' side, hey?

Love you all

God, please bless Cameron Diaz. Please put some of Your disciples in her life and speak Truth to her through them, or hey - just set something on fire and have a personal chat - whatever! Just, please, make sure that she hears Your Word and understands Your light and love in a hugely-beyond-massive way.
AMEN

How can I apolgise for my absense?

Sorry...

is that okay?

Well, I'm in College now so I s'pose I might have some useful and almost interesting things to say once in a while.
I was going to delete this blog... I told a bunch of people that I would - not much for follow-through...
So I logged on merely to delete it and then I read the comments, those beautiful, caring comments.
NO, I WOULD NOT LIKE TO INSURE MY CAR WITH YOU OR HEAR ABOUT YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING OVER THE INTERNET...
how can i resist? I have been lured back to the blog.

So here's some thoughts on my first week (read - three days) of Training College.

* My session is SOOOOOOOOO FLIPPIN AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! God's had that one up His sleave for a bit - I reckon!
* College will be much more painful that I first thought
* College will be no where near as painful as I first thought

(this makes sense 'cause I'm figuring that College will be far more extreme in experience that I bargained for... waitwaitwait, I'm a Cadet, I don't bargain!!!!!!)

* I will grow, grow, grow! Like mould on old cheese and unwanted superfluous hair!!!

that is all for now.
God loves you all.

Many, many, many blessings

God bless Linsay Lohan and Cher. God, please show them how much You love them and how precious they are in Your sight. Bring them into REAL LIFE! Hook them up with wise spiritual people who have hearts that are completely Yours.

Yours sincerely,
Rach