9th day without a laptop

Yes it is true, I have survived over a week now without my laptop. Of course my posts have dropped off a bit but I will try to continue to keep posting as much as possible.

A recent comment by Jo that the only reason I lent her my laptop was so that I get her laptop for a little while is misleading. I know that she needed one more than I would due to her being first year, away for longer, etc, etc. Whereas I can still get access at work and at uni and can get around it easier. Of course there is the huge perk that I get to 'wear her laptop in' and 'put it to the test' but I mean there has to be some positives out of not having a laptop for a couple of weeks.

My Baptism

As some may know or may not know, depending on whether I told you, I was baptised last Sunday at my home church. The service went really well as I was baptised with one of my best friends and had some relatives come as a surprise. The luncheon was great - as always - and fed everyone really well. Unfortunately Jo, my sister, couldn't come back from Albury so she missed out but will get to see a video at a later date.

It was a great weekend too as Jonny came down and we got a couple of games of squash in.

Below is my Baptism Testimony which I hope you enjoy reading:

Baptism Testimony

Most of you would know that I was born in Timboon and have lived here for most of my life. I am so thankful to God for the rock-solid Christian foundations that were laid for me. My parents have raised me in a loving Christian family, instilling positive attitudes from the beginning. My grandparents are incredible role models and a huge encouragement in how they live their lives for Christ. This church has also played a huge part in building the foundations and furthering spiritual development through Sunday school, youth group, church services, prayer and more. I feel I take so much of this support for granted but I truly am thankful to God for it. (2 Corinthians 9:15 – “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift(s)!”)

When I was 7, I was doing a mailbox club lesson that Mum does (no postage costs at home) and at the end it asked whether I wanted to make a decision to accept Jesus into my life – and that was when I accepted Him into my life. Of course at the age of 7 you do not fully understand how you should follow Jesus, etc and so I kept learning more about Jesus through church, R.E., mailbox club and more. It wasn’t until I was about 15 or 16 (and in Year 9 or 10) when God really challenged me to live for Him and to follow up on my earlier decision. This was the decision to keep following Jesus or to turn away and go my own way. Obviously I chose to follow Jesus which meant that I needed to make that known at school to friends and anyone I met by the way I live.

Moving away from home to Ballarat for uni was a pretty big change and it has changed me. God has taught me more about myself and how He wants me to live for Him. Looking back on the move I can see how God was in control of it all to make everything to work out really well. This has helped increase my faith – knowing that He is always there, He listens to my prayers and that He has a plan for my life. God continues to reveal new things to me all the time and I am growing in Him. I know that if I am following His will then that is the best place to be.

There is a particular sentence in a song that I know that is very challenging and God has used it to help me let Him be in control of my life, rather than me trying to do what I think is right.

You don’t ask too much, You just want my everything – The Lads, “Call My Name”

In the last year or two, this has been God’s biggest challenge to me in giving everything to Him for His glory. At the Planet shakers conference I went to at the start of this year, God challenged me to step out in faith and to rely on Him for everything.

The reason I am getting baptised is in following Jesus’ example of being baptised by full immersion as he came up out of the water, and being obedient to Him by dedicating my life to Him. It is also a great opportunity to share what God has done in my life and can do in yours as well (and much more), only if you let Him.

I am excited at what God has planned for my life because the next year is only the beginning with Ballarat mission and then Kenya early next year. Who knows what He has planned but I don’t need to worry about that.

Hymn 849 says that I am not skilled to understand, what God hath willed, what God hath planned; I only know at His right hand, is One who is my Saviour!

Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

I will live my life for Him……..

Day #6 without a laptop

Trav posted a 'scientific' comment so it is only fair that I reply to it honestly.....

"There are 5 stages in psychological acceptance

1. Denial: "I can get by fine without a lap...sure it'd be nice to have one around for the odd thing"

2. Anger "Where's my laptop when i need it"

3. Bargaining "God if a laptop turned up in the post i would strongly consider giving my right arm to charity

4 Grieiving: Crying, sobing.....

5. acceptance. I dont have a laptop"

I would say that I am sitting at stage 1. I am living without it but find that it would be good to use it for this, that and the other. It is almost a week without it, the most I have ever not had it for would have been 2-3 weeks so I think it will be a similar amount of time, if not a little more.

Day #5 without my laptop

It is Day #5 without my laptop and I am still going well without it. Of course there are times when you think, oh boy I could use the laptop to check that file or send that email, etc, etc but the good thing is that between work and uni I have good access to the internet so that I can keep in contact with everyone.

Btw, the above image does not resemble me in any way; before I didn't have a laptop, without my laptop or when I will get my laptop back.

Day #4 without my laptop

Another day goes by and it is Day #4 without my laptop. Contrary to some reports by commentators I am coping just fine and I have nearly finished reading my first book since this challenge. I will also have time to work on a logo which has entered my mind so it is good to have some time without my laptop.

The shock, the horror....

I am back at uni now and it is O week. O week for me is just a chance to settle in, rest and relax and catch up with mates.

There is one thing that may shock you all though. Brace yourselves!!! I do not have a laptop and won't for another 3-4 weeks as I lent mine to my sister. Ok, you can pick yourself up off the floor because it isn't going to be that bad. I am using the uni computers instead and am getting by so far. It will be good because I will be able to spend more time reading those books that I wanted to read over the holidays but didn't get to because of time spent on the computer.

This is "Day #3 without a laptop" as it started from Sunday. Lets see how I get on...

Hat-trick!!!

...it's Post #3 and it is a hat-trick!!!

Well it took 2 attempts but I have finally achieved the hat-trick. The heat didn't stop this hat-trick, the Pommies didn't stop this whitewash but the thunderstorm that is nearby almost did so I better finish this post and turn the PC off.

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie - Oi! Oi! Oi!

Point Lonsdale

Post #2 of hat trick....This time last week I would have been on the annual break up retreat for my small group that I go to and yes it was a breakup for last year in this year.

It was a great weekend where we played card games (poker, scumbags and warlords, etc), we went to the beach (played cricket, swimming, snorkelling), we played volleyball, table tennis and had lots of fun. It was a great weekend and I am glad that I went, especially because I missed out on the previous years one.

Almost a hat-trick...

As you could see I blogged in 2 consecutive days and was going for the hat-trick but missed out due to helping my Dad with working on a car. This means that I will try and go for the hat-trick now. So this is post #1 of the attempt at a hat-trick!

The i-Pottie

You have heard of the i-Pod but have you heard of the i-Pottie! I wonder if this will be Apple's next innovative invention.

Thumb drive (literally!!!)

I found this picture of a USB Thumb drive and it is a literal thumb drive. I always wondered what they do with people's thumbs that get chopped off! :)

Drop it Norm!!!

Anyone seen the ad for the camera that is waterproof (and dog slobber proof)? Well this is a picture regarding the ad I found on the net. The reason it appears in this blog is a long story but to cut it short for everyone to have a sporting chance to understand it. A friend of mine, called 'Huggy Bunny', acted as Norm in a drama and doesn't like dogs so combining it all, it will be a nice surprise for him when he next visits and I am sure my top commenter will make another comment contribution.

So drop it Norm because it is VERY IMPORTANT! :)