So, I worked through the [Youthworks biblestudy book on Philippians](http://www.youthworks.net/youthworks-series-youth-ministry-bible-studies.php?c=22&d=835&e=836&f=72&w=7003&r=Y) with Caleb from youth group. It was good to go back through it, because I had preached on the book at the beginning of the year. It was also good because it’s a nice convicting book that can’t help but put things in perspective.
In particular, I got to thinking about verses 12-13 of Chapter 4.
“12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. ”
Am I really content? More importantly, is contentment something that we gain, or something that we practice?
I suspect that, being part of such a capitalistic society, we get caught up in the idea that contentment is something that we have to gain or achieve. If only I can get the right girl/boyfriend, if only I have the right car, live in the right suburb, get a degree from the right place, have the right friends, own the right brands, then I will “BE” content. It’s always something that we are aiming for, and of course, it is always something we come up short on.
What if we recognised that we’re already blessed & that we need to “Practice” contentment. I’m not saying that we should just magically be happy, but maybe, by focussing on those things that we already have, we can come to appreciate our present life more and worry about our future life less.
The things we spend our time thinking about, or chasing after, are the things that we come to value.
So, I’ve decided to start blogging about things that I am content with. What opportunities God is giving me. All of the good things that I have in my life. Some of them might be small & trivial & some might be big & meaningful, but all of them are a blessing….
OK, I’ll start off with two biggies, since they were brought to my attention last weekend…
**1: Family.**

So, I was at a wedding last weekend. My cousin Nick & the gorgeous Marika (Sorry Nick. Your picture doesn’t make it this time…). It was great to hang out with them, but it was also great to have the whole family together. My [sister](http://10ft8music.com.au/blog/takentopieces.html) was up from Wagga, and my [brother](http://goldfinchfamily.com/) from Melbourne. I also had a whole passel of cousins at the gig. I realised that I love my family!
OK, so I am not stating anything profound here, but it is still an important realisation to have. So many people constantly bicker with their families. There’s a movie currently out about the pain of having to go to family Christmases, but for me it’s a highlight of my year.
Family are an awesome thing. Rather than thinking about how I don’t get to see them as much as I’d like, I’m practicing contentment, knowing I have an awesome one!

Amy, Shona & Kristin
**2: Friends from Bible College**

So on the weekend I had my graduation ceremony for Bible college. It was great to see a whole bunch of familiar faces & catch up on old times. Of course, I don’t need to look to special events to be reminded of the good things I have. I’m lucky enough that I work 15 mins away from Dan & we have breakfast once a week.
However, Sunday was a great reminder of the great gift I had.
I only got to chat to Bainy[](http://paradoxspeak.blogspot.com/) for about 5 minutes on and off, but we talked about important stuff. Art & its relationship to ministry. Art & its relationship to life. I was challenge. I had to think deeply & hopefully I gave [Bainy](http://paradoxspeak.blogspot.com/) something to think about. I’ve also really enjoyed [his blog](http://paradoxspeak.blogspot.com/). It’s a little bit of college online…
Sometimes I feel really sad that college is over, but today I am practicing contentment, knowing that I had the opportunity to learn heaps during my time at SMBC & that I have a network of friends who continue to challenge me.

Dan performing his exam ceremony during the first year exams…
So, there’s my two… Where is your contentment today?

Words cannot describe the horror one feels when browsing Facebook, only to have your eyes assailed by pictures of your cousin wearing only a fluorescent green “mankini” (as made famous by our good friend Borat).
This was part of the manhood ritual known as the Bucks day (Or “Stags party” if you are one of our American friends). What exactly is the point of removing a guy’s clothes & then trying to remove any vestiges of dignity or maturity that a man might possess?
Of course, I don’t blame Nick. I rest assured that the clothing, the activities & the indignities were all envisaged & supplied by his “best men.”
I’ve been thinking…. Is it an attempt to make the metamorphosis more apparent. One week he is protozoic, the next week he is an advanced life form? Or is it just, as the classics say, “his last taste of freedom”? (If that were the case, why would so many bucks days be a matter of a groom having things done TO him rather than BY him?)
Either way, it did make for some interesting photos. I am sure a psychologist will have a field day with the memories I am trying to repress, having looked at them, 10 years from now.
Meanwhile, I need to clear my mind of such stuff…
It’s nice to know that I can focus on Saturday. The day when all those memories are erased in a whirl of white silk (or insert your girly bridal gown fabric name here) and black suit.
Failing that, I have SMBC Graduation to focus on on Sunday…
Failing that, here are a couple of serene pictures I took last weekend, when I helped out with the kids programme at my mate Dan’s church camp.

“Ahhh the Serenity.” Water gently lapping, a boat or two on the lake, and a giant power station whirring away in the distance…. peace, perfect peace!

I fish-eyed view of the world at dusk.

Once upon a time I might have balked at the idea.
“Why should I comment on their elections? They don’t even know who our Prime Minister is!”
But, of course, that is very ungracious. One has to acknowledge that we are a tiny country of 21-odd million on the “arse end of the world” (to quote a former prime minister, Paul Keating), while they, like it or lump it, are still the most powerful nation in the world & the biggest economic nation.
So, whether we have Kevin Rudd, Malcolm Turnbull, or even the fat kid from “Hey Dad” as the Prime Minister it doesn’t really change their world, but I think there could be some big changes in ours.
So… on to my comments.
I am happy that Barack got in. I am sure that he has a lot to offer, but I can’t help but wonder how much of our feelings are swayed by media hype.
Could any Australian really outline what any of his policies are?
Could we outline McCains?
Maybe I am getting all “conspiracy theory” in my old age, but I can’t help but feel that lots of society get manipulated. Like[ J-Moff](http://moffattnyc.blogspot.com/) noted, there seems to be a real air where you are uncool, or out of touch if you voted for or were pro-McCain.
Whether or not you like the guy, I hope everyone respects his speech after defeat. He may not be the “Cool” choice, but I respect a man who just loses the biggest moment of his life & then openly embraces the new president elect & calls the nation to get behind him & make America great.
Meanwhile, I think the next 4 years should be an interesting time. Has America voted in the best man for the job, or have they voted the most charismatic man? I guess we’ll find out….

So last weekend was our parish weekend away.
We didn’t get the numbers we had hoped for, but those who were committed were there for a good time & a good time was what we had!
It’s nice to be able to spend some time away, just chill out and have fun, and hear from God’s word. My good mate Dan gave 2 talks & a study from Jonah (not that I heard them, as I was out the back helping with the kids) which went down a treat, and his kids worker, Nena, ran the kids programme. What a fantastic time!
Anyway, it’s all hands on deck for the next week or two, with my hospital training finishing up, and a couple of sermons on the boil.
No rest for the wicked!

You shouldn’t be..
Well maybe you should. It has been over a month.
But you know I’m not like that usually right? I just need to get myself out of this blogging funk. I read other peoples blogs & I think about things to write all the time, so all I need to do is do it!
In the mean time, what a crazy ride it’s been.
Did you know that Shona is pregnant? Yeah, I know, crazy huh!!
Also, I am getting ordained next year. “Lucky they didn’t speak to me first” I hear you say! Well, I guess I am lucky aren’t I!
Anyway, maybe I will pull my finger out & write something properly in the next couple of days. In the mean time, you know I am always good for “Old Faithful,” the pictures….

This is… we’ll call her “A”, the brand spanking new daughter of Dave & Sim. She’s a gorgeous little one. We’ll have our own (maybe not a girl though) on or around April 10th!

This is what a cheeky little girl looks after 4 years. Who doesn’t love Bethy? What an awesome niece!

And here we have the male version of awesome. Tobliebobs is a funny kid!

I know I’m the heaviest I have ever been in my life.
My little bro & his wife both lost a whole heap of kilos on weight watchers, which is a nice spur, but really, I don’t know if I want to make the kind of life-changing commitment that I would have to for that. Shones & I certainly have made big changes to make sure that we are eating better quality stuff & less bad stuff, but I think there will always be a special place for food in my life. Even bad food…
At the same time as deciding that the weight is an issue, I am pretty sure that I am the least fit I have ever been. I walk around lots of places, but I really don’t do a great deal of real cardiovascular work.
Anyway, I have decided that maybe increasing my workload could be my weight loss strategy!
Why you ask?
Well, it looks like I have my own free personal trainer!
Byron is a South African guy I go to church with. Like many Saffies, he is direct, stubborn & determined. He is also mad about Mountain Biking, and only lives 8 minutes (ride) from me. Even better, there are literally hundreds of kilometers of awesome tracks behind his house!
This afternoon I went out for a ride with him. It was only 13kms (about 8 miles), but it was a LOT of up hills!
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t walk a fair bit of it. I would also be lying if I said there was a passage of time where I couldn’t talk, and it was all I could do not to spew either! That said, I would also be lying if I said that it wasn’t breath takingly beautiful on some of these ridge tops. So amazing, that you could hardly believe that you were on the edge of suburbia! Lots of national park, some nice windy tracks, and some good company.
I also remembered the best thing about Mountain Biking.
I’ll be honest, I was miserable a fair bit of the ride (physically, not emotionally) and some of the big drops scare me… I am a bit of a wus…. but MAN what a feeling about 30 minutes after the ride! The adrenaline is still pumping into the system & you get the awesome feeling of euphoria long after getting over the tiredness!
So, Byron & I are heading out tomorrow afternoon too (Remember? South African & Determined) and this time I will make sure to take along our little pocket camera & capture a little of the beauty.
Lets see if this one lasts… If I could feel as nice as I did this afternoon, I certainly hope it does!

I’m not entirely sure what the appropriate way one talks about the death of people they love on their blogs, so I have come up with a little plan…
Firstly, the story.
Last Wednesday afternoon, my Mum’s dad, known to parts of our family as “Bamma,” died at 94. There is limitless rhetoric available about “having a good innings” etc, but that doesn’t mean much to those who wish he were “still in the game.”
Anyway, I don’t really feel like the internet is the appropriate place for me to wax lyrical about Bamma. Some things really are better discussed in relationship, so instead I thought I would blog about a bunch of “Old” things that I have been enjoying recently, in honour of the old man whom I miss muchly….
1: Get the “Old Crew” together….


All of the family came up for the Funeral on Monday. On Sunday, however, we played. This included one of the “old classic” pastimes of cruising down to the beach, having a walk (and a shoulder ride, and a jump) on the beach, followed by an icecream!
You have to love Australia. Still within the bounds of Winter (I think… or are we just out of it by now? I get confused!) yet it is still nice icecream weather!!
2: Read some “Old” Books…


OK, so they are both new books that I bought, but the Calvin book is (loosely) about Calvinism, which is an old theology. When my friend Bruce pointed this book out to me, I had to have it. The second book is a collection of 145 short stories, compiled (and some written by) Dave Eggers, author of one of my favourite books, [“You shall know our velocity”](http://www.amazon.com/You-Shall-Know-Our-Velocity/dp/1400033543). Anyway, I got into short stories because of some Hemmingway and Poe that I’ve read, and they are both old, so it counts too.
3: Old foods.

I had Bible study over at my house this evening, and I enjoy cooking something nice for them. Again, they are new to me, but they are an “old classic” of the cafe scene, the humble [Friand](http://aww.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=50380). These ones were Raspberry & White Chocolate, and went down a treat!
4: The Consumption of Old Drinks

Actually, it’s not Ardbeg I am drinking, it is “Highland Park,” and it isn’t 10 years old, it is 12, but this was the only photo that I could find in my archives of Whisky. I could have taken a picture of my Highland Park bottle, but you see, the drinking is something that I am about to do, not something I have done, so I didn’t want to waste time.
Whenever I write something like “the drinking” it makes it sound like I plan on knocking back a bottle. Truth be told, I’m just going to enjoy one simple dram as I sit back & enjoy one of my old books.
Sitting, reading & enjoying a nice Whisky fits my “ode to the old man” quite nicely…

So I survived the 40-hour famine. I have to say that the not eating bit wasn’t as hard as I thought it might be. Once you don’t have breakfast, I felt like metabolism just sort of shut down. I didn’t have too many problems with hunger at all. My only real concern was that I like to eat & it is something that I do to break up the time. I would find myself bored & need to find something else to do instead of eat.
Maybe this is good training if the G-dawg wants to drop some kilos?
Of course, I am not saying that the famine was a walk in the park. The big killer, however, was the sleepover. It’s a sad reality in my life that I don’t have the sleep-deprivation stamina that I once exhibited. Come 3am, I was really starting to tire. Actually, I don’t know if it’s the stamina, as much as it is a realisation of other responsibilities & worry about my ability to carry them out.
I needed to work on my sermon on Saturday, then on Sunday I had a kids talk in the morning, followed by sitting in on a baptism class, then off to a reunion lunch, followed by a meeting for the evening church, followed by church itself, followed by dinner with a lovely couple from church. Lots of stuff to have to do back to back, when you’re tired & you don’t get to eat till 9:45 on Sunday morning.
Mother other slight miscalculation was that I thought if I finished my famine at 9:45am, that would be just in time for my kids talk. Unfortunately, I miscalculated it & had 7 minutes to go when my kids talk started. However, the kids thought it was twice as funny that I had brought in all this stuff for my little meal, and then had to sit there staring at it…
Anyway, the one down side to Sundays being a work day is that you get home, feeling like you have survived the week, but there is no weekend buffer before you start the next one. My day off, Saturday, kind of got swallowed up this week, so it’s monday morning & it’s back into the fray!
I guess that is the good thing about working for the church. It’s tiring, but it is nice to really believe in what your doing & not begrudge the little sacrifices that one might have to make to keep things going.
As a brief aside, here’s a pic that I kind of like. It’s a thin slice of kiwifruit held up against the sun.

I know it’s going to be a slow weekend.
Not because I don’t have anything to do. In fact, I am pretty darn busy the whole time, but this weekend is [40 Hour Famine](http://www.worldvision.com.au/40hourfamine/) weekend at church, and it just wouldn’t be right for me to be a youth leader & not partake in the famine myself. I thought about giving up technology or something like that for the 40, but that would be a bit soft on my part.
Why is is that when you plan something like this, a time where you would hope to spend lots of it asleep, you end up having youth sleepovers? It just makes you hungrier! Still, it should be good fun, so that will be OK.
The following is just a little fun I had with Caleb after Bible Study on Wednesday. It’s been fun & encouraging to work through the book of Acts with him, and it is also good fun to see what bicarb soda does with vinegar!

It is a long road to redemption when one lets their blog lapse. What might once have been an active and enthusiastic readership is now just web-bots trawling for information & the occasional family member ensuring that I still exist.
Still, I do mean to get back into the swing of things here on timgoldsmith.com. I know that when I am in full-swing, it is a great avenue to encourage me to be creative. I need to think outside the box!
Of course, I get to do that lots with work! We’re making some changes at the morning service at church, which means I get to do kids talks every week (I really love doing kids talks. It just feels natural) I will be preaching once a month in the morning (to supplement my preaching every second week in the evening) and I will be trying out some “Culture Spots” once a month too. Just an idea pilfered from my days at SMBC.
Creativity is a funny thing, when you’re using that side of the brain, things just start coming more naturally. When you ignore it, it ignores you! I’ve been using certain parts of my creative brain, but other parts I have been ignoring & they’ve slowly moved toward an atrophic state. Time to stretch those muscles.
Anyway, photography is another of those muscles I need to continue to stretch. Here’s a couple of pictures of new, and a couple of old…
“The Look”
Fliss & Andy got married a couple of weeks ago. I think she may have been joking with this look, but I think it’s a classic!

The bridal Waltz? Not the way I remember it!

J-Moff has used the “Wordle” thing before, so I thought I would “Wordle” the sermon I did the other week on “Our Father” the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer…

Finally, it has been a long time since I posted a shot of beer. It used to be a regular occurrence. This is taking things back to 2004. A fine beer to enjoy in Edinburgh at the “Monster Mash” Restaurant. Itself a fine establishment!