Timbercrete Energy Efficient Bricks - Bulletproof!

Check this out! To see the whole article click the link above.

. . . . . . . . . . Mr Bryant said another selling point was that US testing had proven Timbercrete was, in fact, bullet proof.
"The Timbercrete blocks would not allow the penetration of AK47 and 44 Magnum bullets fired from point blank range," he said.
" They also prevented penetration of 50 calibre bullets from 20 metre range.
"Any other building material like bricks, or concrete blocks, shatter when subjected to the same testing.
"This has attracted the attention of US Navy and Army, who seek safer buildings to house personnel."
Mr Bryant said Timbercrete was being studied by the University of Southern Mississippi for a post-graduate entrepreneurial class.
Their interest was sparked by Timbercrete's ability to solve most of the shortcomings of traditional alternatives in the Gulf Coast where hurricanes frequently strike.
Also, Timbercrete is a hot contender to be used for some of the reconstruction after hurricane Katrina, because of its strength and ability to withstand flying debris.

For more information on Timbercrete bricks in Adelaide, South Australia, please email me: adelaide-south@timbercrete.com.au

Success and Switchfoot

In thinking about success, what it is and what makes us successful, I stumbled across some lyrics off of Switchfoot's coming album 'Oh Gravity'. http://switchfoot.com/oglyrics.htm
There's some thought provoking stuff here. It makes me question where I spend my time and what I put my effort into. The song focusses generally on material things - money - excess - company goals, things that the greater world say make us successful. The question is what is success in the eyes of God? How does that impact on us and our lives, what we apply our time and efforts towards? How does that reflect in how we bring up our children, what we push them to do to be a success? How do we lead them out of 'the machine'?Anyway, did Jesus ever talk about success?

American Dream (Switchfoot 2006)
When success is equated with excess
The ambition for excess wrecks us
As top of the mind becomes the bottom line
When success is equated with excess

If your time ain’t been nothing for money
I start to feel really bad for you, honey
Maybe honey, put your money where your mouth’s been running
If your time ain’t been nothing but money

I want out of this machine
It doesn’t feel like freedom

This ain’t my American dream
I want to live and die for bigger things
I’m tired of fighting for just me
This ain't my American dream

When success is equated with excess
When we’re fighting for the Beamer, the Lexus
As the heart and soul breath in the company goals
Where success is equated with excess

‘Cause baby’s always talkin’ ‘bout a ring
And talk has always been the cheapest thing
Is it true would you do what I want you to
If I show up with the right amount of bling?

Like a puppet on a monetary string
Maybe we’ve been caught singing
Red, white, blue, and green
But that ain’t my America,
That ain’t my American dream

NEW PICS, CLICK HERE!!

Laptops and Farmers Union Iced Coffee

Two passions of my life came together in spectacular form the other day while in my office and nearly destroyed quite a few years of data.

Yep you got it; my Laptop had a drink of Farmers Union Iced Coffee. Now available it seems in all states across Australia and not just the original but now in light and extra strong. Farmers Union Iced Coffee is ‘the’ drink of South Australians and apparently has the title of being the only drink to ever knock off one red and white labeled drink that ends in cola, as the highest selling drink in a capital city. I am a particular fan of this iced coffee and am trying to line up my empties so that they surround the internal circumference of the shed on one of the ledges. This is taking a certain amount of time due to lack of Iced Coffee funds and the fact that my kids love to fill them with sand or put them in the recycle bin to get money from them. I tell you, they are blocking my goal!! Anyway . . . It just so happened the other day that I did have funds for a Farmers Union Iced Coffee for lunch which accompanied my potato pie and while dutifully working in my lunchtime I somehow managed to tip Iced Coffee all over my keyboard . . . . . the end. . . . .
I now have a new laptop thanks to EIG-ANSVAR because of extra accidental cover. Woo Hoo!!!! I have also been able to access all my data due to a handy little 2.5inch USB external hard-drive case. So the moral is. . . . . If you love Farmers Union Iced Coffee and work on computers keep them away from each other or . . . . make sure you have good insurance!!

VOTE FOR LEIGH

Click on the 'VOTE FOR LEIGH' link and and vote for Leigh Cunningham in the DB Magazine Readers Awards. Leigh has been nominated in the top 5 for male artists in SA and needs our votes. We can only vote once so lets make it count.

Success

Just as a precursor for the Timbercrete blurb I'm interested in your view of success. Maybe even this question: What is the measure of your success? The answer to this question I believe will have a profound impact on your life.

Back into it

Well, bin a while, had a bit on and bin some places.
I think in the next little while I'll break some stuff down into box's seeing as I love them so much (cough cough). I guess there's been a fair bit goin on and it's easier this way, so in the near future I'll give a bit of a blurb on our recent trip east. I'll chat about the 4wding (covering the important stuff first), the Timbercrete conference, and the rest of the trip to Vic High country & Echuca.
We arrived back last night after being away for 10 days. Thanks to MR for lookin after the house, glad you had a good time, pray the millipedes didn't carry you anywhere while you were here. Just as well we still have a house in the same position actually coz some of those fellas are mighty fat and I reckon if they knew how to work together they could do some serious damage. Keep watch for the 'philosophy of the millipede' blog later on. ps, the pics page has been updated again if ya wanna check it out.
Anyway, watch this space. Glenno.

Sold, Sold and Nearly Sold

This picture speaks a thousand words, probably though I'll go on and write those thousand anyway.
This picture states a few things, firstly this is the property that we are now living on / renting, it's a small older house in the middle of vinyards and some wonderful countryside not too far from some civilisation. This picture then means we are no longer living in our other home because we sold it! For a great price too praise God!! This picture also says that the kids and the adults are having a ball and will probably (at this moment in time)never feel like living in the burbs again. We're definately sold on the rural lifestyle. Even bought myself a ride-on and as you can see, we have a cow mower next door and a resident cat for the dog to play with :) . In the near future something else will be sold and that is the block of land we are purchasing that we are likely to build a Timbercrete home on, whether we live in it though is God's decision.
So if you've been wondering why the blog hasn't been overly active then you will understand that while I hate boxing things/people and love to break them apart, unfortunately I have been bound by them in a very practical way and even as I write I am surrounded by empty and full boxes that look too much like hard work, so here I am.
It's appropriate for me to say a huge thankyou to those who have been able to help out in the big move, I think next time though removalists will be the order of the day, I think we've had enough. To Tob's, Leigh, Shane, Big Kev and Jenni, Dad's and Mum's, Beamer, Michelle and Beano, Wendy, you helped us out in a very practical way and we are hugely blessed, not just through that but through your continued friendship. Thanks heaps!! For more recent pics go to the my pics link.

Check this out

Here's a vid of the new Alpha add got it from craig Borlase's site, an author I've been reading a book of called 'The Naked Christian' Pretty darn good stuff.

Worship at Woolies

I was havin a chat to my lovely wife and this really cool chick who I'll call Ali, cause that's her name, about worship the other day but before I get to that let me go somewhere else for a second. In one of my first blogs, Religion,I wrote about how much 'religion' has affected the true views of what being a true follower of Jesus is all about. Unfortunately what has happened over time in my opinion, is that we have become followers of a Christian religion rather than just being followers of Jesus and allowing him to lead us to the kingdom of God. So . . . in large my desire for this blog site is to break down boxes of religion so that followers of Jesus may have some thoughts and discussion that can assist them to help others really know what it means to live a life of following Christ rather than religion.
So . . . getting back to worship . . . firstly can I say that the input here is really good and it has made me think as I'm sure it has others. The question I posed was whether Jesus sang, well to tell you the truth I had no idea whether Jesus sang or not and thankfully Susan pointed out that yeh He probably did. The point I was making though is this (as a question again) what do we remember Jesus for as far as His worship of God? Well certainly not his singing, when I think of Jesus and His worship of His father it wasn't his ability to sing a Guy Sabastian ballad warbling 100 million times and hitting a falsetto note that cracks glass in the name of God. Although again as Susan pointed out, he probably sang songs of worship. It wasn't His articulate words when he prayed, although we know he prayed and honored God to His fullest while doing so. It wasn't the way he read scripture and again we know that when he read he had authority like no other and was devoting everything to His father in heaven. So how do we see Jesus worship? Well I can't explain it any other way than to say that His life was worship to God. He said here John 5:19 So Jesus answered them, "I tell you the truth: the Son can do nothing on his own; he does only what he sees his Father doing. What the Father does, the Son also does. So Jesus was lead by God in all He did, never was he separated from God. Does this mean he did some things without God? No, never as He was God in the flesh. So what does this mean for us? Are we ever separated from God? Nup, his word in Romans says nothing can ever separate us from Him and His love. He's also given us his Spirit to help and guide us. So is it possible for us to worship God with our lives like Jesus did? That's what I'm aiming for. Unfortunately along the way in this path this thing called sin sometimes heads me in my direction and not God's, that's the big difference between Jesus and us huh? He was sinless. So getting back to my conversation with Teresea and Ali, I said yeh . . we can even worship at woolies. (for all those people who may not be in Australia or who have Safeway and not Woolies then it's a supermarket where you buy groceries like fruit and milk vegemite and bok choy, stuff like that) What does that look like? Well it means getting your finest musicians, a stage, a few singers on mics and leading choruses and hymns for all those happy shoppers. Sorry, I lapsed into major sarcasm. Nah, I think just being available for God to use us in Woolies. Being available and ready in whatever way that God leads us, continually lifting our eyes, hearts, hip pockets, gifts and abilities, whatever we have and using them to bring God glory to the people that God places in front of us. I think that's how I see Jesus worshipping. Now . . . . if all followers of Jesus were living lives like this everyday, what sort of a difference would that make to our world? What would it look like when we came together? Would it really matter?

Gymnastics @ Broken Hill

Well what a huge weekend!
That week of training I had did wonders for my physique as you can see, and the skills training really paid off. After never doing gymnastics, except for the occasional floor routine at Boys Brigade about 25 years ago, my balance on the pommel really came in to play, actually you'd be forgiven in thinking that I was actually an olympian from russia, go figure!
Seriously. We had a great time, the whole family went to Broken Hill for the weekend with the Funky Moves competition team. We travelled up and back in a bus with the whole team. Shannon, Kirrily and Hannah are all on the team (not me) and they did really well. This was Hannah's first comp and she even managed to come away with a medal. Kirrily has been on the team longer which really showed as she won the overall 1st medal for her grade. Shannon also did very well getting a first on the floor in her level. The comp was between about 8 clubs from country SA and Broken Hill teams.
It was great getting to know people and being a part of a totally different community of people and it has totally deepened relationship with people we didn't really know. Some more 'real' pics are available to look at on the 'my pics' link. The girls all look the same though with their hair pulled back so I hope you can pick them. Ps Brod's was ok . . . we took a footy.

Worship

I've always said that if you're struggling to figure out someone's view on the bible about something, like a church's view point on worship then look at the life of Jesus and see how they / it fits. So a question . . . . . how many times in scripture do we see Jesus singing worship to God?
Goin to BH (guess the abbreviation) for the weekend for a gymnastics comp, yep I've been workin on my Pummel horse! I'll get back to this blog after giving you some time to think about it, Catch ya, Glenno.

Is the Local Christian Church in Australia totally IRRELEVANT?

On my previous post on religion was a comment from a simply stupendous human being wondering whether the local church as it is, is actually a relevant institution to help the every day person find a relationship with Jesus. My opinion on this is going to take some time, so sit back. Firstly we need to go to what actually is the church. To do that I'll go to the word. The greek word 'Ecclesia' is the most common word used that is translated to the english word church. This word means 'a gathering of the called out ones'. Two things here, 'gathering' coming together as a group of people and 'called out' - set apart for some purpose. The word wasn't just used for Christians at the time of biblical authorship, it was also used for other groups eg the Jewish community. Another greek word translated to the word 'church' in scripture is Kuriakos which means 'belonging to the Lord' if you put these two together it does describe the Christian church well; a gathering of the called out ones who belong to the Lord.

This I believe is the church in it's purest form.

Now . . Imagine a church, like this, under persecution from the Roman empire, like death to those who call someone other than Caesar Lord. Suddenly this gathering together takes on a whole new meaning. It's about love, support, encouragement, teaching, unity and community. Actually sounds inviting, challenging, believing in something so much that you were willing to risk your life to meet together. That's cool.

How does that measure up to the local church you know?

Well, the early church was extremely simple wasn't it? Somewhere along the line some bits were added to this community that shaped it to what it is today. Most of all what I see today is the worship of church itself rather than gathering to worship God and encourage each other. By worship I don't just mean singing and music I mainly mean where our time goes. My philosophy is that where most of our time goes is what we worship. But we've become so programmed, so engrained in the processes of this church worship that we've become creatures of habit rather than people of true worship.
So . . . Does this mean that the local church is down the gurgler, has bit the bulldust, gone with the wind? Er . . . no I don't think so. There are people all over the world who have a heart for God and they are the local church. Within them is the heart of the Father whose heart yearns for the nations. Does it mean it can stay like it is? Er . . . No I don't think so!!! If the church is going to truly impact this current generation we must reinvent ourselves and get back to the simplicity of what it means to be a called out people for the purposes of Jesus Christ. If this means that the church just meets together, to encourage, to support, to love then there's a great start. How that happens? I dunno and I don't really care but lets get away with trying to build our church, lets get away with doing things just because we do them all the time, and lets be about Loving God and Loving people and lets do that together. Lets not be so concerned with who's in and lets look out!
But also, one last thing, followers of Jesus Christ need to remember that we were not saved to be confined in church walls. The ecclesia was not a place it is a people group. We are saved not to do church we are saved to love people like Christ loved and with the power of His Spirit. The Ecclesia was just the group the individuals were associated with. My marriage is with Christ not with the church, Christ is the bridegroom remember? Don't get me wrong I don't mean don't go to a local church, lets just get first things first. Love ya's

DER

Well, I have some really exciting news!!! Your comments have now been posted!!!!! Now I'm sure that you thought that it was all pointless writing all those words and having nothing come back or seen or commented on. I can assure you it had nothing to do with what you wrote that those comments weren't posted and thre is a really simple explanation . . . . MY STUPIDITY!!! There is a little box on the setup thing that tells you to moderate comments???? Did I check it??????? . . . . Nup! Have I checked it now? . . . Yep! Thanks heaps for your comments, I can see this Blog being a very healthy place for discussion if the moderator gets his Butt into gear. Love you lots, Glenno

Why Pastor's are Leaving the Local Church

Hey all,
I was given this in an email just today and it was really interesting. Now I'm not a big one for naming / boxing stuff like 'last days church' etc that you will find in the article but in essence there is some considerable truth to it and it's worth a read.
I'm interested to know your thoughts also,
Glenn

NEW WINESKINS FOR THE 21st CENTURY CHURCH

An article written by Terry Sommerville. http://www.totalchange.org/

Over the past year or so, I've been contacted by a number of friends, telling me they are no longer pastors of local churches. What's interesting is, their stories all have recurring themes.

1. Not one of them has fallen away from the faith. Some have various stages of "church burnout", but they are increasingly passionate for Jesus. Some noted a "divine discontent" about local church ministry that wasn't there ten years ago.

2. They were all growing steadily frustrated trying to fulfil the great commission in their local church. Even though they were the pastors, they kept hitting some sort of barrier to bringing about change.

3.They are all experiencing powerful moves of God in various "mini-movements" outside of the local church.

4. They grew increasingly convinced that the front line of Kingdom ministry was no longer inside the walls of their churches, but in the marketplace. (Not just businesses, but the sphere of influence Christians have in every aspect of the community)

5. Even though they encouraged their churches or denominations to embrace what God was doing, there came a point where faithfulness to God meant they had to leave the local church ministry to continue.

6. They don't know what to do right now, except some sort of work to pay the bills. But there is a great sense that something new is emerging and they don't want to miss out.

7. They continue as leaders and five fold ministers set in the body of Christ. Christians continue to seek them out for ministry!

A few years ago my wife, Karen, had a startling vision. She was standing at the edge of a great green land stretched out before her. In her arms was a bundle of rolled up maps. The Lord said to her "You might as well throw away the maps, you are going into a new land and no one has been here before."

According to revival researcher Alistair Petrie, this trend is a world wide phenomena. We are coming through an amazing transition into the last days church. There are no maps for this, only for our relationship to the Lord and each other. We are seeing some indicators of whats coming in the end times church. Let me share a few things I see developing.

1. Christianity is shifting from the head to the heart. Being "in love with Jesus" is replacing doctrinal statements as the distinctive trait of Christians in the end times church.

2. The Body Of Christ is becoming based on relationships rather than organization. Friendship is more important than membership.

3. True spiritual leadership will operate through honour rather than control.

4. God's love anointing (His presence and power in us) will replace the spiritual performance mentality (my ability in the spirit) as the source of Christian life and ministry.

5. The Great Commission is replacing the denominational "mission statement" as the believers goal. We are realizing God is not obligated to our mission statements, but always backs up His!

6. Christians are finding their individual ministries in spiritual "mini movements". These movements have become the front line for advancing the Kingdom of God. This is the beginning of the "nameless, faceless revival' prophesied so many times.

7. Local churches that facilitate mini-movements will be blessed and flourish. The vision will be "taking the Kingdom out" to change the world, rather than "bringing the people in" to grow the church.

8. The end times church will "use buildings and organizations and have events", but will never serve these idols again. Only Jesus Christ is Lord.

9. Christians again understand "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand" and communicate it with relevance everywhere.

Source: Open Heaven.com

July 2006

Spaghetti Up The Nose

Have you ever had something to eat and whatever you're eating has gone up you nasal tube the back way? Well I have and it's not a good feeling and it takes a bit of the old hacking to get it out and not choke when it does.
Well . . . tonight we had Spaghetti for tea and Brod's had that happen to him only he didn't hack it out and re-eat it, he blew it out of his nose! This was no tiny bit of Spaghetti mind you, it was about 40mm (1.5 inch's) not a bad effort and it had us in stitch's. The pic above shows the evidence.

God and Government

Hi all, click on the above link and fill in what you think.

Religion

Ok, so now I start to get serious, not that I wasn't before, but I feel I need get this started and who knows where it ends or if it will. I actually hope this to be an ongoing conversation to whoever wants to comment or check it out or even just to myself.
What is religion? The dictionary says a few things but this says to me what I'm aiming at( http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/religion) a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices.
I believe it's this religion that has caused Christianity, in its purest form, to be shunned here in Australia as just another pointless avenue to find the meaning of life.
To put it lightly if I was to get a cheese grater and grate my knuckles (trust me I've had experience) 20 times, I don't think it would bring me as much pain as I feel when I see my Saviour and everyone's Saviour, Jesus, portrayed as an institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs and practices.
In my thirty five years involved in the local church, seeing and being involved with most denominations, I have come to the point of realisation that much of what we do through the institution (speaking generally) is religion, not Christianity in it's purest form. The mere fact that we say every week that we 'go' to church points me to the fact that church is not the people but it is a place where the rules and rituals of our corrupt view of 'Christianity' is played out. By corrupt I mean this;
What if we have been served a vision of Christianity here in Australia, that is so religious, so institutionalised, that we don't actually know what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ without all the religious trimmings?
I'm interested in your view.

Leigh Cunningham

Went out on the town tonight, my lovely wife gave me a leave of absence and I ventured off into the wild and raucus city of Adelaide to a little old place called the Garage to check out me mate Leigh Cunno play a gig. It was awesome! Not only was the music hot but the whole event.
Leigh has some great pulling power and I believe God uses him in a mighty way to bring all those he has relationship with and those he doesn't, all to come together for a common cause - music and relationship. An environment like many in Australia, a smoke drenched pub where the beer flows freely (unfortunately it did cost something, but I think you get my drift) where the clatter of glasses and the chatter of conversation and laughter fills the air. People gathering from all walks of life, firefighters from Leighs work, youthworkers from Amanda's work (Leigh's wife) people from churches, guys lookin for chicks and vise versa, all together.
Leighs music cuts through the air and everyone's attention is on him but not just on him, it's mostly on the music he's singing and everyone knows the words. Everyone. and you know what they're singing, everyone. Songs to God 'you burn like a fire in my heart' 'only you knew me from the start' and 'all I want is you' as Leigh sings and prays and points his hand to the heavens.
This is salt and light to a world in need and it is beyond the walls of religious lethargy. However subtle it may come, people go home tonight a little closer to a relationship with God than when they first came and God is at work in all of them, even in a pub. I was also just reminded, if you'd like to know more about Leigh and his new cd check it out - www.leighcunningham.com

First Blog

Well, here we go, my first attempt at a Blog.
It's probably the first time, even though I've wanted to, to actually sit here and do it. So that opens up my first blurb about stuff.
Why is it that while I was in a formal ministry in a local church I had less time than I do while I'm running my own business? Is that just a myth, am I just really, really, badly organised and lack time management skills or is there an actual physical difference to my time. Bingo! Huge difference! (Not that I don't need more skills in time management) but . . . I have my nights back!
Now I need to let all those who are feeling a bit dissapointed in that comment know that this doesn't mean I didn't value the time spent with people on those many night-time duties. But fair crack of the cracker! I feel like I have my life back and it's great! Not only that but my wife and children are absolutely loving it . . .(I think :))
So . . . . The big Q . . . If the local church is all about relationship and enjoying that relationship with God, with family, with others, why is there so much expectation to be at everything and do everything for everyone that pulls at the very things that Jesus held so dear? Loving Him and loving people. To be really frank now, I think I had been so sapped of my time in in many fruitless meetings that I had forgotten how to really enjoy being with people, the whole reason I was in the position in the first place.
So now . . . 6 months later I have time to write this blurb and read other's blurbs and start to enjoy relationship once more, what I believe God has created me for. I look forward to spending more time here,
Glenno