Forever Young

While i don't want to die young, or live in the desperate hypothetical illusion that I can maintain my youth forever in this life, I certainly enjoy being young, and am looking forward to that time when my youth will be perpetually renewed like the Eagle (Psa 103:5). I am grateful for the ability in my body, and the opportunity in my circumstances, to push the limits of my natural diurnal rhythms in order to create some memories that will last long after the short term pain.

Fitting then, to have exercised my youth while celebrating another year of progressing age! Last Thurs saw a bunch of classy people (and me) head out for what would be a night so much better than i had planned it was almost scary!

Ok, so here's what we did:




* Kicked off with Dinner at the Belgian Beer Cafe in the Rocks. How cool is this place!! It had atmosphere but we could still hear each other speak, stuff I'd never eaten on the menu, beers I'd never drunk on tap, and best of all I kept getting all these drinks sent to me from out of no-where and I still have no idea who by!
Apart from witnessing Lemmo's Scottish 'lady-melter' accent it was mostly good memories. Even witnessed the birth of young love, very special Mikey ;). Only thing left to do is compile our life-soundtracks and burn them for posterity. (That would be good actually...)

* Then we slid on down to the Basement for a bit of Jazz action, and they didn't disappoint. Full-body black vinyl outfits weren't what i was expecting, but it was a welcome change for Con and the boys. Can you believe I actually got one of Steve's beer bottles to take home? It makes me all goose-bumpy just thinking about it.

* We couldn't let a night like this go to waste so we ducked down to Circular Quay for a few shots (photos people), before doing the bolt to get Chels on the last train out of there. I don't think she's ever run so far in her life ;)




* But the night was still young, so what else could we do except pile over to Lisa's place for a few 'stories of luuuuv'. Wine, music, bacon & eggs, stories... suggestion, we had it all! Forever in one night. I told you this would be the stuff of dreams! Unable to let it pass us by, it was a quick trip to Maccas before...

* Sunrise at Clovelly beach - ooo yeah!! I don't know if it was the wine, the severe lack of sleep, or just Anthony's natural disposition, but I've never seen such a bunch of posers! They were loving every minute of it - the camera, the fame the flaunting... it was all i could do just to keep up!

























* Sadly, after we greeted the dolphins, it was time to say goodbye to our night, and basically to our youth for some of us (except me that is). Youth Group serenaded us on the way home, gently bringing us to rest in Newtown at 7:30am. Forever Young indeed.


Cheers to everyone for coming out, I had a seriously good night! We've got 361 days to come up with something that's going to top that for next year - good luck!

JT

Some More Details

Ok, here's the plan:

Dinner is planned for 7:30pm at The Belgian Beer Cafe. Those of us from College might aim to be on a bus at 7pm, so meet outside MAC at 6:50pm. The address is:

The Rocks
129-135 Harrington Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone (02) 9241 1775




This place is so cool! You can get a whole 'slow roasted suckling pig' and everything!! AND they have beers that cost like up to $12 - c'mon baby!! (and cheaper ones too, don't worry :) ). You can check it out here.

Then I thought we might head on down to The Basement for a bit of Jazz action. That kicks off at 9, but if we're not there till 9:30 it's no dramas. The entry for that is $15. (Definitely the cheaper option).


So cruise on out for the night if you're up for it, should be a good night! If you just want to come for part of it then feel free, it just be cool to see people.

Only thing is I think we need to book for dinner. If you could let me know either as soon as you read this, or by Wed at the latest, that'd be cool.

Cheers guys, chat to you soon,
Josh

The Planets are aligning...

Big things are happening people!!! Big things indeed...

First of all, the boys have gotten together and decided to throw me a party for my b'day next week - Con Campbell (my Greek lecturer), Mike Hammond (and ol' Mission buddy), Steve Morrison (3rd Yr student), and a few others are putting on a Jazz concert at the Basment next Thurs night (24th). And it's just for me, I'm pretty sure?... Nice of them really :)

So I'm thinking the stage is set for a bit of dinner in the city, or maybe King St (details to come), before sliding on down to The Rocks for a bit of Jazz action by 9pm. It's one of those laws of nature that you have to do something on your birthday isn't it? And they are going to all this effort, it'd be rude not to show up! (Just so you know, it's not for me at all! But don't spoil my fun).

And as if we needed any more incentive, they've gone and put our Greek 'Principal Parts' exam on the same day - what were they thinking! That's enough reason to break the study shackles and cruise on out for the evening I reckon.

So the forces are all pushing us in the same direction - food, Jazz, funky people, Thurs 24th. It even hailed yesterday - creation is groaning, we can't stop it!

This is the stuff of dreams, people. Dreams. Don't let another dream get washed away by the hail stones of life. Don't let this become another 'I wish' memory... Don't let me keep going like this - put a stop to it, tell me you're in!!!

JT

"Praise the Lord, O my Soul!"

Recently i've heard of a couple of people quietly curse the dramas that music can bring to a service. One even went so far as to say that church services would be better off without music!

Bad day? Maybe. Or maybe a drifting from Scripture.

I've been working my way through Psalms over the last, say, 2 years :\, and i hit the nineties this week. Have a listen to some of these comments about music:

"It is good to praise the Lord,
and make music to your name, O Most High...
...to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp". (Psa 92:1-3)

"Sing unto the Lord a new song,
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day". (Psa 96:1-2)

"Sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvellous things...
...Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music". (Psa 98:1-6)


And it gives good reason to praise the Lord in song, and in every other way in our lives - because he made the whole world, he has brought us out of slavery, and he will come to judge in righteousness and justice.

How could we not praise the Lord, and how could we not sing as part of that???


"How great is our God,
(sing with me) how great is our God.
All will see how great, how great
Is our God!"

JT