Thoughts from John (the disciple)

Ah, it's the first installment from me (Phil)!

So, I was reading 1 John and had some thoughts. Actually I think I had some thoughts and then read 1 John.

Anyway, this post is about teasing people. We often tease people, I think it's an Australian culture thing. We also often justify it, saying: "It's harmless fun" or "They know I'm joking."
But is it really just harmless? Does it still hurt if the person knows your joking?

The answer is yes. It does still hurt people. It works against us to create a pattern of insulting and negative and sarcastic comments. It leads our minds to think in a certain way. It's a degenerative pattern that causes hurt to other people.

One comment or a few comments may just be harmless. But when they become like second nature it is upsetting to others. It's not loving.

I have seen this in my own life and in the lives of others. For those of us who believe in Christ, this should not be:

John 13: 34
"A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

As Jesus loved us, so he calls us to love our brothers and sisters in Christ (and also we are to love all people - but I am not focusing on that here). Does this not mean we should create the most loving atmosphere possible, and with God's help, to do so?
If we can do this we will be one more step to acting as God intended.

So in conclusion: No, constant teasing is not ok, even if people do know you're joking it still wears them down. It also causes you to think more critically of other people. We need to shed the teasing and criticism to be more loving. By our love we will be known and people will seek to know the God who loves.

1 John 4: 20-21
"If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."

For a final note.
I miss my Jess, my second greatest love in life (under God). I'm visiting my Mum and Dad and she's with her family...

God bless you all,
Love your brother in Christ Jesus our Lord,
Phil.

P.S. 30 days till the wedding!!!

Not yet

BUT SOON!!! Oooh, it is so exciting getting married! And alternately horrible. The wedding is such a nightmare to plan, but thinking about life after the wedding is bliss. Thinking about it, that is. Don't all jump on me and say that it's not bliss, and I have false ideas, etc. I should write a blog about all the advice and warnings I have been given.

What has been happening? Everything! Allow me to exaggerate, I feel like doing it.

Nathan, Christel, Phil and I drove down to Melbourne on Christmas eve.

Cheesy grins, sleep and boredom reigned in the back seat. Phil and Christel found their solace in their cameras. She took these pictures.

Nathan was ready to throw us out after the 15th time of hearing

"You know what we need? We need a scary tunnel."

And later we found out we'd been quoting it wrong the whole time.

It was a good trip, but beset with exhaustion. In the days afterwards Phil and I slept more during the days than the nights (yes, exaggeration, but you already allowed me). I fell asleep within minutes while hugging Phil on the lounge. The fact he puts me to sleep is a good thing ;)

And so it was Christmas morning. Christel was rather restless that night and woke up ridiculously early, asking if it were 6 o'clock yet. It was about 5:30. 6am was the time which mum allowed us to get up at. So I sleep-walked to the loungeroom, with my similar zombie siblings (except Christel) and the Phil joined us to open our swaddling cloths. Such beautiful little presents! The majority of the presents for Phil and I were Scottish things - mum knows us so well! We were so happy with the Scottish soap. I'm going to put it in our new bathroom when I get back to Canberra.

Ooooh, yes, our new bathroom! Good news, everyone! We have found a place and have signed the lease! Pictures and a description will be in another post, otherwise this will take too long to write. It is not Murranji Street, it is 9 Cuscaden Cr, Florey. Now you can go stalking us on Google maps.

Christmas day was nicely quiet. I missed having other families over, but it was nice to celebrate my first Christmas with Phil. Praise God for him! He has been the answer to my prayers :) To think that last year I did everything and nothing with a soppy smile and a brain full of Phil and lovey-dovey thoughts, wishing that we .... Actually, I'm not sure what I wished. That I knew that he loved me? That we could be together? That we were getting married?

We spent a few days together, but then Phil flapped his arms and flew all the way to Brisbane to be with his family. I wish I could be there, but it is good to be spending time with my family in Melbourne.

I have hundreds of things to add to this, but they'll have to wait.

44

Only 44 days! Marriage is exciting! :D Well, I'm guessing it will be, I can't speak from experience yet.

Invitations have been sent out, and most things have been arranged. But who needs cake? And I can walk barefoot down the aisle, can't I? I'll just look really short next to Phil. And rehearsal dinners are overrated *googles a nearby restaurant that sounds half decent*

More exciting than the wedding, Phil and I may have found a place to live in! Praise God! 2/2 Murranji Street, Hawker. Pics and info here. A nicely sized one bedroom, with a larger sized living area and a kitchen which I won't hate being in - such a blessing! God willing we'll be putting in the application today and (also God willing) it will be accepted!! Please, please, please God!

Hope you're all going well and looking forward to seeing most of you soon! :D

Busy, busy, dizzy...

So much to do!!! Way too much. 'Tis infesting my sleep and I wake up feeling like my brain hasn't rested. I blame the wedding.

Phil would be helping me write this 'update' post, but he's in Perth. I drove him to the airport on Sunday and he had a short flight and then an awfully long flight and then he was in Perth.

On Monday Phil found out that for his last 2 subjects he received a Credit and a High Distinction!

I have been pottering along, working, deciding to make creative things, forgetting to finish said projects (or not bothering to) and vainly trying to clean up my room.

Here are some ramblings about what I've been up to recently, or what has happened to me.

Sunday I drove Phil to the airport, that wasn't too bad. Driving back from the airport to the ANU I got lost and took several wrong turns. The best one was ending up in Fyshwick (south) rather than the city (north). At least I am nice to be around when I'm lost. I roll my eyes and say, "Oh well, I can take the next exit. Silly Jess." Sometimes I giggle and monologue a lot more.

I ended up at ANU eventually and saw my housemate perform in the opera, which was awesome!

I would write more, but the bus waits for no one!

Fàilte!

We were thinking about creating newsletters to keep people updated but decided that a blog would be 'funner'. So here it is! Hopefully it shall be updated weekly-ish, but we make no promises!
Some will be both of us, some will be from Jess and some will be from Phil.

An overview of the year for us so far:

January: Phil finds out that he has been offered a Masters of Applied Statistics.
Phil decides Jess is awesome and asks her if she thinks he's awesome. She does think he's awesome, and they officially start the relationship.
Phil visits Jess and leaves 10 days of bliss later.

February: Deakin offers Jess a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Professional and Creative Writing.
Phil visits Jess again.
Phil gets back and starts Masters.

March: Can't remember. Some visits were probably in here. At least one.

April: Phil and Jess visit Phil's parents for Phil's birthday and Easter holidays. Lots of soppiness occurs. A lot of soppiness always occurs when we are together ;)
Phil and Jess love each other a lot. Phil asks Jess to marry him, with a sweet and beautiful poem, in a lovely grove of trees. Jess says yes with a hug. Apparently that wasn't enough for Phil so she says it with her mouth as well.
Plans are made for a July 2011 wedding.

May: Phil and Jess are very sad at not seeing each other for a long time. Jess decides to move up to be near Phil.
Jess transfers to the University of Canberra.

June: Jess's family and Phil go on holidays and lots of relatives, on both sides, are seen.

July: A January 2011 wedding is decided upon and a wedding dress is bought.
Jess moves up and lives with brother. Phil and Jess see each other every weekend and visit Phil's cousins/aunt/uncle/Swedish friends.

August: Phil and Jess see each other every weekend.

September: Jess has her 20th birthday and family and Phil visit.

October: God gives Jess a home, job and friends in Canberra (He already provided the fiancé). He also gives Jess a temporary desk and bed. God is very good!


So that gets you up to date for most things, except for this month! Phil finished his exams and uni for the year, and feels a lot less stressed now. Jess has collected lots of freebies from work at Lincraft and also, not a freebie but an early Christmas present from family, a sewing machine!

And lastly, here are some pictures of the sewing machine, Jess's room, and the absolutely stunning Royal Doulton vase that Phil bought for Jess. Isn't he sweet???

Bed (not so messy) and little corner of the room, which is messy.

 

Cupboard door. A picture mum drew, a poem mum wrote, and a little poster thing of me and my sister. The first things I put up in my room on the first night :)

 Really pretty material I had to buy! And the beautiful vase Phil bought :)