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Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Friday, January 2, 2009

Sneezles

This Christmas has been one to remember for so many reasons, not least of which it was our daughters first. It was a blast catching up with friends from Canada, Melbourne and Wagga. Its also been eventful for other reasons. The last few weeks have seen me off to the emergency room twice, with significant dehydration, fever and all sorts of wierd and wacky symptoms. I have had more blood tests than O.J. Simpson.

The good news is that I have found out that I am generally disgustingly healthy, have lower cholestrol than a galapagos tortoise, but have what seems to be a case of glandular fever, with the result that I have spent the last three weeks flat on my back resting, drinking gatorade. Those of you who know me know how much I enjoy just resting, so I would personally like to thank the South African cricket team for making my recuperation more pleasant and for stopping me from going stir crazy and climbing the walls.

Thank you also to our church St Pauls who have been a God send, both in prayer and practical ways. I just couldnt help including the following poem from A.A. Milne. It sums up my last few weeks well.


SNEEZLES -A.A. Milne





Christopher Robin had wheezles and sneezles,
They bundled him into his bed.



They gave him what goes with a cold in the nose,
And some more for a cold in the head.
They wondered if wheezles could turn into measles,
If sneezles could turn into mumps.
They examined his chest for a rash,
And the rest
of his body for swellings and lumps.
They sent for some doctors in sneezles and wheezles
To tell them what ought to be done.
All sorts and conditions of famous physicians
Came hurrying 'round at a run.
They all made a note of the state of his throat,
They asked if he suffered from thirst;
They asked if the sneezles came after the wheezles,
Or if the first sneezle came first.
They said, "If you teazle a sneezle or wheezle,
A measle may easily grow.
But humor or pleazle a sneezle or wheezle,
The measle will certainly go."
They expounded the reazles for sneezles and wheezles,
The manner of measles when new.
They said, "If he freezles in draughts and in breezles,
Then PHTHEEZLES may even ensue."
Christopher Robin got up in the morning,
The sneezles had vanished away.
And the look in his eye seemed to say to the sky,
"Now, how to amuse them to-day!"

Sunday, December 30, 2007

The annual Christmas catchup thing

Dear Friends both near and far away.

G'day from Wagga Wagga.

2007 has been a year of adventure and growth!

Tim started working as a full time manager-missionary for Christian Literature Crusade, in November 2006. He spends most of his time at the Wagga Christian bookshop, ministering to people as they come in and sharing the good news about Jesus.

Ammi continues to work as a specialist audiologist with Australian Hearing in Wagga.

We were given an amazing wedding anniversary gift in the form of tickets to Circ Du Solaie in Canberra -We had a fabulous time with James and Belinda and Family. Thanks guys! We still marvel at the amazing costumes, acrobatics and contortions.

By far the best circus we've every seen.

Another wedding anniversary gift included a home cooked meal for 12 of our friends so we could catch up with many of our Canberra Friends all at once. Thank you Tim and Tegan for your generosity and hospitality.
In January my sister Veronica had a fantastic idea, she thought that it would be great to meet up in Thailand and for my 30th birthday in April. We'd go Scuba diving in the Andaman sea!

It was fantastic!
What a treat to spend quality time with Veronica and Alexis and of course Tim!
I could write volumes and if you'd like you can see some of the photos they are on our blog at www.smootherpince.blogspot.com

Unfortunately Tim had caught a bug before we left and he was not able to dive. L

We had a lovely time relaxing and we even did a Thai cooking course.

On our return we decided to become sponsor parents of a seven year old Thai boy. His nickname is Bus. It has been a great joy receiving his letters, drawings and to know that we are making a real difference in his life.

We have also been enjoying regular art classes, with some scenes from Thailand becoming our inspirations. Also see Blog

In September, Ammi went up to Coffs Harbour to complete the Abiding Life conference Seminar and the Unique self test seminar.

This was very worthwhile and rewarding. It was lovely to be at the sea again!
I had the privilege of travelling up and rooming with a friend, Sharon.
In October we travelled to Canberra and attended the CRC State conference where
Tim was Ordained as a Trainee Pastor. It was a joy and privilege to be there and to catch the vision of a "Passionate Church"

Tim now has a period of mentoring and study to equip him to pastor, with God's help of course.

Our home church is a constant source of growth and God uses them to encourage, lead and challenge us on to "be all that we already are in Christ and to show others this truth".

Tim has had an itinerant preaching ministry to some of the local churches around Wagga. It has been very encouraging and to us and them. We've loved ministering together. A highlight included spending time in Bright with the church from Holbrook when Tim was asked to be the speaker at their church camp.

We continue to do marriage preparation with couples. We have also had a very special year building each other up in our faith during our Bible Study group sessions. Thank you to Rose and Peter for hosting us and to everyone who's been a part of it. We have loved leading the group.

We are also involved with the planning of the Riverina Christian Convention (25-27 January 2008) and a Children's camp in April with the western theme of "Serve and Protect" (16- 18 April 2008)

We have had such fun telling people about our latest news. We are anticipating the arrival of a little Narraway in June next year!
So far all is going very well all things considered and we are feeling very blessed.

I have been experiencing the reality and profoundness that the children of God can call on Him for help. And surely He does listen and He does help and He is Good all the time. We will be relying on Him to guide us and strengthen us as we embark on the new adventure of parenthood.

For next year, we look forward to Tim presenting some modules at a children's ministry training event in Sydney and later again in Wagga.

We'll be treated to a visit from my Mum in June when the baby arrives!
Feel free to follow our lives and growth J on our blogsite www.smootherpince.blogspot.com

We wish you armfuls of the very best including a very Blessed Christmas and a fantastic 2008 filled with His Peace, Joy and Blessings.
We thank you for your love, prayers and support.

Much love,

Tim, Ammi + ?

Friday, December 29, 2006

Jesus is coming - look busy


What a busy time the silly season has been.
I have survived this most eventful year, taking over running the local christian bookshop, and then within a space of two months moving the bookshop to a new location, six weeks out from Christmas, and then narrowly missing losing the bookshop to a fire at the cafe in the shopping centre we relocated to.
I recently had a few much needed days off during which I picked up a set of Winston Churchills' account of the Second World War. Most of them were first editions, and being an avid reader of Churchills other works I was rather chuffed.
Needless to say the blog has been a bit quiet so I thought that it was about time to add a few thoughts on Christmas. On the tenth of December I preached on the virgin birth, (more correctly the virginal conception). I titled the talk "What do we gain from the virgin birth?"
G- Firstly, it tells us something about God. We better understand the nature of our creator through his divine agency and interventions. he is the one who reveals himself to us and among us. Furthermore the virgin birth reveals;
A- God is able
Its all about the supernatural power of God, to deny the virgin birth is to deny Gods supernatural power. Sometimes we are more comfortable with a weak God. We are sometimes so wrapped up int the idea of mans free will that we dont extend the same courtesy to God. God is a free agent. He is soveign and will and plans according to his good purpose pleasure and Glory.
Thank God that He sent Jesus. Jesus is God with skin on, therefore He can identify with our weakness, and therefore truly be our advocate.
I- God is Interested
It was GODS initiative to send his son, Mary was not involved, she was merely informed. Her response however demonstated faith.
N- God is Near
The virgin birth is the second most disputed and controvertial doctine after the ressurrection. It is also the most scary doctrine, I believe, because it tells us not only that God has drawn near.
but that God is in my space, he is in my face, and I have to decide what to do with this man/God Jesus. We see that the principle question asked in the book of John is "Who is this Jesus?" It is the most important question we can ask today.
in conclusion as Christians we have a very unique message to give to the world.
People need to know that God is able, God is interested and God is near.

Friday, December 30, 2005


Let the good times roll Posted by Picasa

The Smoothersanta and helper Posted by Picasa

Would you trust this person with your Christmas presents? Posted by Picasa

Narraway Christmas - The sea monkeys stole my money Posted by Picasa