NEW BLOG

The very talented Neale has initiated a Blog for our Church's Youth. I think it is going to be great for the kids to get info, download permission forms, connect with leaders and peers.

Great work Neale. You are worth your weight in gold....actually you don't weight that much so you are worth.....a lot.

So go have a look, let everyone you know...know about it!

http://elthambaptistyouth.blogspot.com/

Working from home...

"My aim is to integrate my work and my family...."

Here She is...

Introducing Abigail Rose Baldwin!

Waiting, waiting

The last 4 weeks of this pregnancy has gone for nearly 3 years now...

When is enough...enough?

I heard a rumour that you could not blog for an extended period of time, then just pick up where you left off. Its called a "blog vacation (blog-cation) or a blog holiday (holiblog)... or a blog break (brog) or a...... i'm out

Actual Test answers 1

My brother send me this. It is copies of actual test answers. I only ever remember taking tests and exams very seriously, perhaps something that I do not share with these students...

and perhaps my favorite:

"How to have a Baby' class

We had our first 'How to have a Baby' class last night. For some reason they skipped the first part of 'How to have a Baby'. I guess they they figured everyone there was either pregnant or with someone who was pregnant and they probably already knew that part of the story.

So there we all were, self conscious and a bit on edge. The very start of the class, the midwife says "Lets just go around the group and introduce yourself and how many weeks pregnant you are - Lets start here...with you Paul (referring to my hand scrawled sticky label nametag). In a frenzied thought process that I suspect may have resulted in smoke being produced, I couldn't quite remember how many weeks pregnant we were. My panicked and inquisitive glances to my lovely wife were met with a look that said "what, why are you looking at me"

When time ran out and the entire room was looking to me for the aforementioned introduction and spouting forth of pregnancy information, it was then that I referred to my old friend and wingman - "humour" (at least that’s what I like to call it, Rach may disagree). "Hi I'm Paul and I not actually pregnant, but my wife is and she can tell you how many weeks pregnant we are" The response from the 'crowd' was satisfactory and I like to think that I was responsible for lightening the mood somewhat, in an otherwise tense situation. I did have a little competition from two of the other 'support partners' however, I am confident that over the next 5 weeks, I will be able to deal with them suitably.

I don't think I had prepared myself for the onslaught of pictures, diagrams, model pelvises and videos that greeted us as we walked through the doors. If I had have thought about it for a while, I would have realised that this was an educational exercise and as such certain 'learning aides' would be prolific. Once I got over the shock of such explicit graphic representations I settled in a little was OK with my environment.

Halfway through the class we had a little coffee break which in itself was hilarious. All the pregnant women made a bee-line to the toilet, all the guys went to the kitchen, each to make a cupper x 2.

After the coffee break we had more diagrams and videos before class was dismissed 2.5 hours after we started. I wonder if they could look at some sort of 'Online Learning' experience. It could be self paced, you could choose the extent to which pictures and diagrams are used. I wonder what else could be included in the online 'How to have a baby' class?

New Zealand/Old Zealand

After two weeks in New Zealand working for Dr Audio, I am back on deck in 'Aussie' (as the Kiwis call it "what's it like in Aussie?"). We were fitting out the Law Courts with new audio systems. I was there with Brother Dan and we had two weeks in Rotorua with a road trip up to Whangarei in the middle. There are so many stories to tell - from the foul and stanky stench of sulfur (turns out that was just Dan) and geothermally heated rivers to the owner of our apartment informing us that he had been taken aboard the mother ship of some aliens in 1977. Where do I begin...with some pics I think!

When you ask for a 'large latte', they don't mess around. They serve it in a bowl!

About half way through the trip we got called up north to Whagarei to help out there. It was about 7 or 8 hours drive. We felt the need for some donuts and for some reason Dan appointed himself Donut Nazi and undertook to pace the consumption of said donuts. If i had my way we would have knocked of those 12 tasty morsels in 30mins. The radio was crap so we ended up listening to music from Dans laptop with Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones. Amazing technology I tell you!

What?

Did I mention they have bowls of Latte?

Claude's Day as a Movie Star

Well, here is the obligatory ultrasound pic (or U/S pic for those 'hip' enough to be 'up' or 'down' with the lingo).

The Dr wanted to get an image of Claude's face, however Claude had other ideas. So this is the best we can do.

This is the wrong thing to say, but if you ask me, Claude looks like every other 18 week old foetus (and a little like an alien of some type).

It becomes very 'real' when you see a picture. There is a small human that is going to be totally and utterly helpless and dependent!

Can't wait!!!!

Options...

I wish I had this information previously -

Should I get a Dog or have a Child?

Dog option...

Child Option...

Either way, I figure they will end up at the RSPCA (or sold on the internet)

Baby Baldwin

If you haven't heard already, there is going to be another Baldwin as of early May 2007. Yes, Rach is pregnant! It is customary for expectant bloggers to post the ultrasound of the little tacker so below you will find said image. I must admit, I thought it would be a little higher definition, perhaps I was expecting too much. In addition I didn't realise that an ultrasound was a 'full body shot'!

We have given our Foetus/Embryo/Offspring the name 'Claude'

Newbie

Well here it is - the new Baldwin Chariot. Yes we do feel absolutely blessed! It is a 2003 Subaru Liberty Wagon.

We didn't choose the color on purpose. There were very few liberty's around, and the one that was available and in our price range happened to be the same color as Rach's squashed Lancer!

For some reason, Rach has decided that I get to drive the new car!

What do you reckon, is it a bit nice?

Rach's New Convertible

On Sunday, Rach and I came home to see that Rach's car wasn't as tall as it used to be. The insurance company classifies it as "An Act of God". I don't think they know how right they are! You see, we were wondering if we should trade Rach's car in the next month or two, before it hit 100,000kms. As it turns out, with the odometer on 90,000kms, that decision has been made for us!

No one was hurt, our neighbors were entertained for a bit and we get a new car out of it. All good if you ask me!

Spewin' - i missed it!

I was SO annoyed when I saw on this video that Jesus had already come back. I had some ideas as to what it would be like - definatly didn't realise Jesus would be wearing sunglasses....


All i can say is "Cuckoo"

Prayer

For those of you who are familiar with Myers Briggs personality test, I think this will be amusing (ripped from Steves site..thanks Steve!)
If you have done a MB personality test, comment with your type, I'd be interested if you think the prayer is on the mark!


ISTJ: Lord help me to relax about insignificant details beginning tomorrow at 11:41.23 am e.s.t.
ISTP: God help me to consider people's feelings, even if most of them ARE hypersensitive.
ESTP: God help me to take responsibility for my own actions, even though they're usually NOT my fault.
ESTJ: God, help me to not try to RUN everything. But, if You need some help, just ask.
ISFJ: Lord, help me to be more laid back and help me to do it EXACTLY right.
ISFP: Lord, help me to stand up for my rights (if you don't mind my asking).
ESFP: God help me to take things more seriously, especially parties and dancing.
ESFJ: God give me patience, and I mean right NOW.
INFJ: Lord help me not be a perfectionist. (did I spell that correctly?)
INFP: God, help me to finish everything I sta
ENFP: God,help me to keep my mind on one th-Look a bird-ing at a time.
ENFJ: God help me to do only what I can and trust you for the rest. Do you mind putting that in writing?
INTJ: Lord keep me open to others' ideas, WRONG though they may be.
INTP: Lord help me be less independent, but let me do it my way.
ENTP: Lord help me follow established procedures today. On second thought, I'll settle for a few minutes.
ENTJ: Lord, help me slow downandnotrushthroughwatIdo.
Amen.

WIN WIN WIN

I won our first game of Netball last night...... I mean, the team played really well! We won 21 to 11. Sure the opposition were all amputee pygmy midgets with emphysema and a penchant for mid game naps....BUT WE WON NONE THE LESS. Admittedly, I may have gone a little over the top after the game when I started dancing around the aforementioned sleeping midgets shrieking "LOSERS LOSERS - NAH NAH NI NAH NAH – WE ARE THE WINNERS – SUCK IT UP MIDGET BOY"


Note: I actually like midgets, some of my best friends are little people.

Laminate

You can't laminate a lollie snake....too big to get through the gap

Acronym Competition

Following a some posts on Steve's blog, I thought it might be fun to get some healthy competition going. This is how it works. I will give you some letters, your job is to tell us what they stand for.

The letters are:
PHAT

Example competition entry:
PHAT= pygmy Hunters Association of Tahiti


So, tell me, what does PHAT stand for?

Interesting....

I don't usually go out of my way to get into politics (sorry Steve, can we still be friends?), but I just couldn't dismiss this with my usual 'I don't do politics' quip.

I got an email from Wire about a survey the Democrats have on their website regarding God and government. I usually hate these things, but I don't think I could bear to hear them crapping on for the next 3 years that the 'results of our survey showed that Australians don't see any value in religion' etc etc. SO, here is the link, it is about 20 Q's, will take most people less than 5mins.


I just can't resist this opportunity...."Do the survey if you want good luck for the next 486 years. Send it to 890 people in the next 2 minutes if you love Jesus........."

What If...

At a recent Youth Hub meeting, we were talking about how our church as a community can reach Eltham High (as another community). We were talking about how in the past we have tended to segregate and neglect some parties in that community. Eg, Eltham high is largely made up of 3 groups - kids, teachers and parents. We have tended to only engage the kids (at a limited level).

The idea of 'incarnational' ministry is that we as Christians must follow Jesus' example and go into the world. And not just to go into the world, but to immerse ourselves in THEIR culture, and hang out in THEIR territory and become like THEM. We have fallen into the exact opposite of these statements.

SO.

I wonder what would be required to reach Eltham High School (as a whole) and to go to them as a community rather than expecting them to come to us!

Imagine the potential...imagine the relationships.....imagine sipping the perfect latte in heaven at at a table with a kid or parent or teacher who says "I'm really glad your church loved Eltham High otherwise I wouldn't be here in heaven enjoying this divine, never ending latte - FOREVER!!

The potential is to change the world...To change the world for the people of Eltham High....to change their eternity!