New Year 2006

2005 In review:

Last Years Key Highlights & Achievements:
1) Being a Husband and Father!
2) Visit family in Tasmania and Melbourne
3) Completed two Units towards Masters Degree
4) Successful delivery of Financial System and making Senior Management.
5) Reticulated lawn down.



2005 Best Reading:
Bono, Table Talk (Luther), Strategic Procurement Management, Project Procurement Management, Prince2. Also lots of Blogs.

2005 Key Learning:

Leadership is about engendering Trust and taking responsibility. It’s less about charm, charisma or communication skills. It’s about taking initiative, taking risks and standing up for what is right. Its about speaking the Truth or taking action at critical points in history.

This is what made Jesus - and to a lesser extent Martin Luther, Gandhi, Martin Luther King and JFK genuinely great.

Sometimes Leadership does in fact mean walking alone. Or with the few. Be led by a careful study of the Truth. Be led by your conscience. Lead yourself first.

For the New Year 2006:

1) God: A) Study to better understand "Predestination & Freewill" B) Study to better understand the names of God C) Kids Baptised. D) Commit to Friday nights ‘Kids Club’ with M - if it goes ahead.
2) Family: A) Commit to having a ‘work-free’ family day each week. B) A holiday for ‘JB’. C) Celebrate ‘Thanksgiving with Family & Friends’ as Family tradition (May).
3) Professional Development: A) Excel in new role to develop team to create a sense of community, excellence, accountability and achievement B) Deliver the First Phase CRM Project by year-end.
4) Fitness: Get back into 32" Boardshorts by Mid-Feb…Again! :-)
5) Home: A) Complete front garden Garden (Fence, Paint Fence, Plants) B) Build a cabinet for TV and C) Finish M’s room.
6) Recreation: Join Scuba2 (Been putting that off too long).
7) Financial: Improve Stewardship A) Develop a Financial Plan. B) Improve Giving under Grace - “Don’t feel guilty – Get responsible.”
8) Relationships: Help organise Boss’ 50th. Resolve/close outstandings.


Character Growth: A) Better frugality: Make own lunches, buy less coffee, drink more water, ride to work with colleagues. B) Be More Thankful.

On High Standards

Been thinking through freewill, predestination, faith and some other stuff.

Funny how things come from all directions to put a picture together…like pieces of a puzzle:

Some lyrics came my way:

“I gave myself to religion...
Became a follower of the Word.
I tried so hard to live up to everything that I heard
Then I found Love...Yeah, I found Love…

Or should I say -
...Love found Me”.

-Chris Falson

Source: http://www.chrisfalson.com/uploaddsl/main.swf

Still haven’t got most of the pieces yet. Maybe I never will.

Christmas 2005

Another Christmas is over.

Enjoyed Fish & Chips on Christmas Eve with good friends.
Woken from a deep slumber at 5:30am by my 7 year old to the words “Santa has been!”..
Went a local Lutheran Church on Christmas Morning – heard a great and relevant sermon on scriptures from Isaiah and John on the birth of the Saviour who cam in both “Grace and Truth”.
Enjoyed marvellous Christmas lunch with my largish family…played Backyard cricket.
My wine collection has now increased by several bottles…hmmm.
Was given a great straw ‘Quiksilver’ hat from my brother - with a brim large enough to cover the South West of this State!
Had the inlaws for Boxing Day for a relaxed lunch and assembled a portable basketball ring for the kids.
Needless to say I have played plenty of basketball.

I have to say – I have not relaxed so much in such a long time.

Back to the grindstone tomorrow.

I trust you enjoyed the break.

Better Days

Some songs just mark the milstones of your life.

Though not a hppay one, this is one for now:

Better Days
-Pete Murray

And I saw it coming
I saw emptiness and tragedy
And I felt like running
So far away
But knew I had to stay
And I know when I'm older
I look back and I still feel the pain
I know I'll be stronger and I know I'll be fine
For the rest of my days

I've seen better days
Put my face in my hands
Get down on my knees and I pray to God
Hope he sees me through till the end

I noticed the smallest things
But I didn't notice the change
It was hot in the morning
Then it turned so cold, twas the end of the day
There was no condensation I just felt like I was in space
I needed my friends there I just turned around
They were gone without a trace.

Rather Be Diving...

Its beautiful weather outside. The Ocean is blue and clear. I also have Monday off.

Too bad I'm in here ploughing through a 350 page text book for an exam on Wednesday.

It doesn't feel like Christams.

Place Holders

Things I am grateful for with regard to my faith:

My aunt who gave me my first Bible.
Those who fought and lost their lives to get the scriptures into the hands of the lay man.
A little old Catholic scripture teacher that came to our school and had nicotine stained fingers. That showed me that Christians did not have to be perfect.
A Lutheran Pastors who spent time of a Sunday afternoon showing us how to read and interpret the Bible correctly - thank God.
The Catechism and the Lords Prayer.
My Prayer book - for when I'm stumped and lost for words.
Confirmation classes - even though I made a mockery of them at the time.
Communion.
The Cross.
Stained Glass. Sometimes.
Spirit words that just seem to talk to my heart.