The Big Issues - # 1

08 July, 2011

"Is it wrong to tell your kids there is no God?"

Each week I pass a billboard advertising the new show "Can of Worms" which poses this controversial question.  I have no intention of watching the show; I'm fairly certain it will just make me cranky to hear people express ill-informed opinions about various things or trying to stir up more trouble by making jokes or outrageous statements about sensitive issues for entertainment value.  However, I wanted to think through some of these things for myself.  The result is blogs like this one.

Ok. IS it wrong to tell your kids "there is no God"?  YES. I think so - and here's why:

Now, I am a Christian and firmly believe in the existance of God - but let's put that aside for now.

My main problem with this question is the wording.  No one has ever been able to prove absolutely the existance of God.  On the other hand, no one has ever been able to prove absolutely that God does NOT exist.  We are not dealing with undisputed fact, like, for example: If humans do not take in food and water they will eventually die.  Therefore, we can not KNOW that there is/is no God, we can only BELIEVE that it is so.  (That's what faith is.)

Secondly, I think it's up to the child to investigate and come to their own conclusions about the existance of God as they grow-up and experience more of the world. 

I would say, if you must say something like this to your kids, simply say "We don't believe that there is a God" but then go on to explain that some people do.  I think at this point it would be important to also teach your kids not to ridicule, put-down or discriminate against others who do believe in God because it means a great deal to them. 

“You are Greek?”

29 June, 2011

Think the father from My Big Fat Greek Wedding and re-read the title.  I find that people of a Mediterranean background are always trying to claim me for their country.  It has been happening for years.  My hair is naturally a very dark brown and I have dark hazel eyes - so I must be Italian. Or Greek.  Or Macedonian.  Or Cypriat. Right?

What amazes me is that complete strangers, always of a Mediterranean origin themselves, feel compelled to ask (or tell!) me my nationality.  During highschool I was happily sitting on the train reading when a woman asked me if I am Macedonian.  Earlier this year I was waiting for the bus near my home with an older couple who were looking in my direction.  They were clearly talking about me in their language.  The gentleman said:

"You are Greek?"

It’s been a while…

25 June, 2011

It must be four years since I last posted on this blog! Since then I've been to Europe twice, completed two Music degrees, turned 24, I have a nephew and two nieces and so much more.  

This is just a post to say "I'm back!" and I'll be writing now and then when I feel there is something I want to say.  I suppose this will be a way of letting people know what's happening with all my singing etc and any other thoughts I have about life and what I'm up to.  

If you drop by feel free to leave a comment.

Lizz b.

Lizz’s Adventures: Lizz and the Crazy Shop Assistant

11 May, 2007

I just spent $24 on an eye pencil.  Unfortunately I’m not exaggerating.  The scary thing is that the woman just about tried to sell me everything else in the shop as well.  The conversation went something like this:

Woman: Can I help you? Oh, these are great, aren’t they?
Me:  Yeah, I’m just thinking it’s about time to get a new eye pencil.  Maybe a dark one?
W: Great! As you can see, there’s “Black”,  “Onyx”,  “Charcoal”.  Let me show you.

*she scribbles all over my hand with dramatic strokes.  The colours look exactly the same.*

W: ...and the best thing is that these don’t smudge!

*she tries to smudge the lines*

W: See?
M: That’s great.
W: So which colour do you like best?
M: Um… Onyx?
W: Yes, so do I. It’s just that bit more dramatic.  That’s $24.
M: *shock*

*At this point she gets really excited*

W: Of course, now that you’ve got the black one, you’ll know that the current trend is to put on the purple [*scribbles purple*], smudge it a little [didn’t she just say it doesn’t smudge??] and then put the black over the top, see?

*I notice she’s applied this technique to her own face…badly*

M: Well, actually I’m really just after the one—
*ignores me*
W: Let me get something for you so you can get that muck off your hands!  *Haha!*

*Whips out a blue bottle and squirts it sharply at my hand*

M: [eek!]
W: This stuff is great.  You know, it’s really important to have a good make-up remover. [*hint hint*]  Would you like some? I can just—
M: I’m fine! Really!
W: Ok then, I’ll just get this pencil for y—Oh! How about a nice shadow? We have a lovely selection at the moment.
M: I’ve got mountains of the stuff, but thanks.

*Meanwhile someone over the other end of the shop is asking about the price of the Mother’s Day Pack*

W: The Mother’s Day Pack!!!! Have you gotten one for your mum yet? I’m sure she’d love—-
M: My mum doesn’t really wear that much make-up, so…
W: Are you sure?  Because it’s only—
M: No, I’m fine! Really!
W: Alright then.  We’ll just get you this—Ah yes! Would you like a sample of our primer? It contains two days worth and… [blah blah blah]
M: [this better DARN well be free!]  Yeah, ok… [whatever…I just wanna get out of here!]

FINALLY the payment!

W: Ok, so is this on savings?

I think she tried to swipe the card about 10 times.  Meanwhile I’m thinking to myself “maybe this is a sign…”  It finally worked, of course, but my GOODNESS!  I think she was still trying to sell me things when I walked out of the shop!  The crazy woman!

Marianna

11 May, 2007

This is our Biblical Studies Lecturer.  She’s mad cool and we love her to bits.  You may gather that she says “Watch this space!” an awful lot.

my name means…

04 May, 2007

E	Earthy
L	Lovable
I	Irresistible
Z	Zonked
A	Awesome
B	Brainy
E	Exhausting
T	Tender
H	Honorable
B	Brilliant
E	Excellent
I	Intense
L	Lucky
H	Humorous
A	Ambitious
R	Rounded
Z	Zippy

Name / Username:

Name Acronym Generator
From Go-Quiz.com

In a parallel universe…

29 April, 2007

this is what we imagined the teachers to look like:

For more, see the extended entry.
All pics by me.

Being Creative

19 April, 2007

At college, my friend Tori and I have this habit of scribbling away during class.  We satirise the teachers, draw little cartoons of each other with our “boyfriends” (read: seedy, old and ugly men) and generally try to make each other laugh just enough so that the lecturers don’t notice.  Once of twice we have nearly passed out laughing, and many times reduced the other to tears of hilarity.

Here is one of the latest creations from the minds of Tori and Lizz.  This page was done during our New Testament class yesterday.  Our lecturer kept making little comments that boggle the mind - and fuelled our imaginations!  All the drawings on this page are by me, with Tori contributing rather to the ideas behind the cartoons.

The first cartoon is called “To drink from a firehose”, and was inspired by our lecturer quoting that “to read the book of Mark is like drinking from a firehose”.  That is, so much information is being thrown at you in such a short space of time.

Second, we re-imagined the “Sons of Thunder”.  Two of Jesus disciples were nicknamed the Sons of Thunder, so this is where this idea comes from.  In this pic we have drawn two scary-looking boys with their younger brother.  Notice that they have matching T-shirts, like members of a club.

After the Sons of Thunder picture, we thought they should have a counterpart and came up with “The Daughters of the Snow”.  The also have matching outfits and are covered in snow.  There are four regular members of the group, and one reserve (a snowman whose wig doesn’t fit and has a rather old and too-small T-shirt!).

Lastly, Marianna (our lecturer) said something about us “all being in the school of suffering”, that is life.  She went on to say “and i don’t mean Wesley Institute, although ‘Wesley Institute; School of Suffering’ has a nice ring to it.”  As you can well imagine, we ran with that idea and created an emblem and list of courses for WI: School of Suffering.  The emblem includes pics of a cat-o-nine-tails, a noose, a bloody dagger and someone on the rack.  The list of courses reads:
WE OFFER COURSES IN THE FOLLOWING:
—The wrack - relax and stretch those limbs!
—Whipping for recreation (victims req’d)
—Developing and sustaining depression
—Bloody wounds and the most painful to inflict (practical)
—Hang, Draw and Quarter available as an elective
—Pain elective (compulsory)

* Please know that we are not making fun of suicide/self-harm/depression.  We both know first hand that these are serious conditions and debilitating illnesses.  We are simply being ironic for the purposes of entertainment.  (So don’t sue us!)

Hope you enjoy! Let me know if you wish to see more madness from us in future.  We’ll be happy to oblige!

“I’m not dead!” and Easter Stuff

18 April, 2007

Well, I knew I hadn’t posted for a while, but I didn’t realise just how long it had been.  I suppose I felt I didn’t really have anything to say.  Now, though, I’m wondering how I can summarise the last few months in one post!  Here goes…

I started back at college in the second week of February.  It was lovely to be back with all my friends again after such a long break - three months - during which time I only saw my college friends twice!  Since then I really feel like friendships are being cemented and I’m feeling more appreciated by those who I hadn’t felt close to in the past.  I guess I get into the habit of thinking that some friends are just being polite and “they don’t REALLY like me, they’re just taking pity”.  I’m thankful to be proven wrong this semester in the case of more than one person.  Thankyou to those people - you probably don’t know who you are, but thanks anyway.

Preparations are still going on for the Europe Tour.  We have all organised our passports and the paperwork has been sent off to the tour managers.  I have recently started seeing my psychiatrist again to help me prepare for the journey in terms of my anxiety issues.  I’m feeling more confident already, even after just one session. 

I got a hair cut! Hurray! My hair used to be down to my shoulders, but I got it cut up to the base of my neck.  It’s also very layered.  I like the way it works with my waves and curls. 

The biggest news of late is of Wesley’s involvement in the Easter Celebrations this year.  We, the music department/choir, took part in a Palm Sunday march from the Opera House to First Fleet Park in Circular Quay.  I was asked to dress up as a Jewish woman.  I think I was wearing a moo-moo and a bed sheet, but it was effective.

Then, on Good Friday we performed in a 45 minute production at the Wesley Mission.  Our particular part was thrilling - we got to stand there on the stage for the entire production.  Talk about amazing… It looked great, but boy was it a pain in the neck during rehearsals! 
Despite my initial attitudes towards the play (I thought it was crap…), I must admit it turned out very well and was quite a success.  The Gospel was presented after the performance and we took Communion.

(l-r) Vicki, Tori and I at the practice for the production - slowly going insane

Easter Sunday we, the choir, take part in the annual Dawn Service broadcast live from the Sydney Opera House at 7am.  This means getting to the Opera House at 4:30am for run-throughs etc!!!  4:30am…  It was tough, but the overall experience was definitely worth it.  I WAS ON TV!!!  We performed one song, “Oh the Blood” and lead the singing of the hymns.  Here are some pics from the day:

Our principal and choirmaster, David “Dr DJ” Johnston

Looking wide-awake and trés impressed


Singing “Thine Be the Glory”

Some excitement spiced up the morning when Tori and I notice that one of the cameramen was n’t looking so hot.  He was coughing and spluttering into his hankerchief, and looking very much as though he might pass out.  Then we saw him lying on the carpeted stairs looking very ill indeed.  We glanced at each other - “oh crap… the poor man is going to DIE during the filming of the service!”  That would definitely have made the top ratings!

Lizz thinks… #2

18 April, 2007

Why is it that the people whom you know to be personally insecure, seem to exude the most confidence?