the great september shopocalypse!

For the month of September, I have decided to begin a self-imposed shopocalypse - no shopping for a month. Yep that's right web-peeps, no buying clothes, shoes, accessories, or the like for a month. I think for the past few weeks, I've developed a bad habit for walking around during my lumch break looking for things to buy and it has to stop. My wardrobe is on the brink of exploding, and I have so many pairs of shoes I don't even think I will wear any of them out for a few years.

Tomorrow I will buy a few essentials, but come Tuesday, the shopocalypse is ON.

I wonder how long I will last...

another book bites the dust

I just finished a book last night that I had been reading since May 2007. I knew it had been a while, but over 2 years? Wow! I really do have a problem with starting and not finishing books hey? The book is called 'Tired of Do-List Christianity?' and it's written by Scott Morton who used to work with (or still does, I can't remember) with a Christian organisation called The Navigators. I found the book to be a real blessing. The book goes through different misconceptions that Christians usually hold on to - either to make them feel better about themselves or things that actually weigh them down and steal their joy.

Going through the book, there were many times where I read the misconception presented and then thought Hang on a second! That's not a misconception!. But before I could cry 'Heathen!' Morton continued to explain why it was a misconception and I, subsequently, composed myself, realised my wrong, and then settled into a state of deep conviction.

The book is very easy to read too. It has short chapters, it has a very conversational tone to it and it is quite humorous in it's delivery - yet, like I said before, it still continues to pack the punch of conviction. You may not agree with everything in the book, but I believe there's still more than enough to gain from the book to make it worth recommending.

I ♥ book sales!

I got all these books at the SCF secondhand book sale today - and all I paid was $32. Bargain. The annual book sale is held at UWA and the whole room was PACKED with all kinds of books! Most of these books came from the literature section, but there was every genre known to man available at the book sale, and I don't have to tell you that it was a great way to spend an afernoon.

I know I have HEAPS of books to read still, but books have no expiry date so this will keep me going for a while.

current reading

I'm in the middle of a few books at the moment, and all the while I am still trying to finish reading the Bible (which has been extremely slow, and not very steady :( but I only have a book and a half to go!). I'm not really good at maintaining interest in one particular book, I switch and swap, and start new books ALL the time. I wonder if I will ever fiinish any of these...

The Spiritual Man - Watchman Nee
Man, The Dwelling Place of God - AW Tozer
Pursuit of God - AW Tozer
Vanity Fair - William Thackeray
Pride & Prejudice - Jane Austen
Tribulation Force - Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins
Prayer - Philip Yancey

Not likely I reckon.

the classics

I finished reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte last week. What a great book. I actually started reading it at the beginning of the year, but stopped because there were too many difficult words hehe. After picking it up again a few weeks ago, I knocked back the whole book in a few weeks! It was such a good read and though the hard words and the occasional French made it difficult at times, the plot was interesting enough to keep me hooked.

As I read the book, I couldn't help but realise how our language has deteriorated over time. The verbal sparring between Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester is just something that is not really seen (or rather heard) these days. I'm totally guilty of this. My lazy-talk is so habitual that I don't even realise it. I thought I'd try to make a list of lazy-talk words and try to replace them with proper English.

totally = very much so
dude! = Oh dear, how alarming / interesting / fantastic!
kinda = almost as if
sif bro = I find that quite difficult to fathom
you suck = you offend me very much
I'm so dead = I believe I will be in a significant amount of danger
my stuff = my personal belongings
I'm so broke = I am in want of sufficient finances
what the? = that is really quite peculiar..
lol = hahahah you have been esteemed with a wonderful sense of humour
ummm = please allow me a moment to collect my thoughts
gross = that's rather horrid
nup = no thankyou, maybe next time
dunno hey = my apologies, I am unable to confirm your query at this time

Though it's more efficient, lazy-talk just makes me think we're getting stupider as the generations tick over. Just sitting on the bus with some high school students behind me all I could hear was 'like, she just like needs to get over it and stuff' with the f-bomb and the OMG-bomb sprinkled in between.

I think I will try to keep up the reading habit for the sake of preserving at least my own English. If at the very least I learn some new words and expand my vocabulary beyond my default of lazy-talk, I will be happy.

it's been a while...

...since the last city evangelism. But today we went out once again and it was a great experience. I was reminded of the joy of serving God, and once again reminded of His love for me. I think that's one of the best things about street evangelism, as you tell people about how much God loves them, and the sacrifices He made for them, you can't help but reflect yourself about how much God loves you.

It's good to see also that God is with our church and He is continuing to work in it by bringing new people almost every week. I honestly don't know where these people are coming from, but it is so encouraging to see new faces every week. It reminds me that God is with us and that He continues to bless us as we trust in Him!