rhythm+hue
My musings, writings, observations, ideas, & thoughts about God, Life, and following Jesus in Suburbia.
-
Archive of "Personal" Category
Health Update
Well, it is now three weeks since the first sign of whatever it is I have. Currently, I have improved significantly but the doctors still can’t name the issue nor have a solution.
So, my left ankle - the swelling has gone down to where I can wear a sock and sneakers (same as the right) but where the swelling has gone down the area feels hard and solid and sore to touch. Movement is a little stiff and the top of the ankle is slightly red. It still feels like there is pressure there. Left knee aches slightly and I walk with a slight limp with the area of my leg from the knee to the ankle tight and a little tender.
My right ankle feels much better, with no swelling and some limitation of movement and a slight ache.
Right hand as of today feels like I have arthritis - the index finger and middle finger are sore to bend. A panadeine helps the pain stay away for most of the day and I must admit that I had two this morning and since they ahve worn off the pain in not as bad as it was when I awoke.
I had more tests on Wednesday for Gout and Inflammation but the doctor was away until Monday to tell me the results! Ahhh! If there is no improvement by Monday I am going to demand an ultrasound or x-ray on the ankles to have a look!
Please continue to pray for me as it is getting depressing and I have moments of absolute grief that this is still ongoing and painful. It does help me understand what other people may go through for other illnesses. Shalom!
Posted in Family, Personal, health, prayer |
No Comments »Where is Dr House when you need him?
UPDATE: Well the Doc still doesn’t know what it is but has decided to go with the gout approach, even though the uric acid levels were nowhere near being what they are when you have gout. Regardless, I will continue the medication and will be having more blood tests on Wednesday to see if the inflammatory markers and uric acid levels have changed at all. And yes, the right ankle is feeling MUCH better, although still swollen and the left has been much better, with the swelling being more of the pain than the ankle movement. Left wrist is still a little painful but all round it is healing but so slowly - whatever it is!
Thanks for your prayers and thoughts everyone!
I have been pretty quiet on here for almost two weeks and wasn’t sure if I was going to post about this but decided to as perhaps someone out there maybe able to help or this may help someone who also is on the same boat. So, what am I talking about? Regular readers here would know that I am overweight and endeavouring to change my lifestyle, so what has happened, is happening, is very frustrating.
Two weeks ago, I awoke to have my legs feel as if they had been used exhaustively the day before. You know the feeling - tired muscles, achy but in a good way. Problem was, I had not done anything remotely to warrant it. During the following day the pain in the left leg intensified and seemed to localize around my knee and ankle. (more…)
Posted in Family, Personal, life, prayer |
1 Comment »“Hollywood” - Angus & Julia Stone
Just found and enjoying these Aussie siblings. This is “Hollywood” - quite a deep song but enjoyable.
Posted in Australia, Personal, lyrics, music, youtube |
No Comments »Update on my studies - the end is in sight!
Last time I looked, I have 7 weeks of classes left! Ok, that equates to 8 weeks, as next week is Melbourne Cup week (and the third anniversary of The Dining Room - more on that later). It is hard to believe that I began this course so many months ago and with so little comprehension of the changes the course would bring in me, and my life. (more…)Posted in Diploma Coursework, Family, Personal |
No Comments »Review of my Placement with The Dining Room
I know this a few months late but here they are anyway! DK asked me to write a couple pieces of self-review abotu my placement with The Dining Room. I must admit that I did struggle to do so, but managed to get a couple of pages out.
If anyone is interested I am posting them here for you to read.
Posted in Diploma Coursework, Personal, Social Justice, The Dining Room, croydon |
No Comments »With these small arms
Unfortunately one of our semi-regular guests at The Dining Room felt the need to take his own life last week. I only found out the next day when his ex-wife came to Vive Cafe. She was heartbroken and I did what I could to console and comfort her.
But it was my three year old daughter that helped the most. She saw this lady crying and went and gave her a hug and stayed with her for a while. The relief and joy of my daughter’s show of love were evident as this brave lady left that evening.
Posted in Family, Grace, Personal, croydon, life |
No Comments »Apologies for the site down!
The site was down for a day - forgot to pay for the domain name renewal - and it was only after trying to upload the last post from my iPhone that I realised what was wrong!
Apologies to the 1 or 2 readers here!
Posted in Blogging, General, Personal, Web |
No Comments »Go in Peace John!
Sad to announce that one of the guests from The Dining Room, John Murdoch, passed away on Tuesday night on his way to The Dining Room. His mate, Brian, missed him on Tuesday and rang to find out why he wasn’t there only to be told his mate of 52 years had suffered a heart attack while waiting for the train to come to take hi to Croydon.
I should add that I had only met John last Friday at the Foothills Community “Secret Men’s Business” - where I shared a table with Brian and John and got to hear the remarkable story that these two shared.
Go peace John Murdoch of Thomastown! Shalom.
Posted in Australia, Personal, croydon |
No Comments »Loosing my Religion, or I believe in a Better Way
To help set the mood for this post and the title, here are a couple of songs and their amazing videos to enjoy.
The first is REM - Loosing My Religion
Secondly, Ben Harper - I Believe in a Better Way
(more…)Posted in Australia, Blogging, Church, Grace, Jesus, Personal, Social Justice, book, church planting, croydon, oikos, prayer |
No Comments »Little Kingdom’s Part Two
I hope you had a chance to read my rant about the different welfare agencies working in the immediate area and the ineffectiveness that this can cause in helping those who need it the most.
I met with a mate today and some of his tribe that he is travelling with today for lunch. It was a wonderful time, two of the folks were actually interns in the training program that they have initiated. It is quite exciting and lots happening. It was also encouraging to hear that a number of the churches in the area are co-operating and working together not just in welfare issues, but identifying that they share the same purposes and mission afterall, as well as are part of the same Kingdom and serve the same King!
We shared that we both are aiming to unify more of the churches to work together too. Not just the big churches but the emerging ones, the Forge inspired ones! If anything they may be working, but they seem to all be working in almost isolation and silence apart from their immediate team! How wonderful it would be to hear of the stories of others and share our own, how great it would be to shed a tear of joy or sadness with others travelling similar paths! We just have to make an effort!
I will be writing more on this as I think about it, as well as the church plant we’re undertaking in the area - but it’s not a church plant at the moment, more a church seed, and it’s not a plant we believe should grow, but a movement! More on that soon too.
Posted in Australia, Forge, Jesus, Kingdom, Personal, Politics, church life, church planting, missional |
No Comments »Getting over our “little kingdoms!”
I visited the VicRelief Foodbank yesterday to get inducted for the Dining Room. It was quite a humble experience, but it was something that came up in the induction that has bothered me.
The foodbank has over 700 agencies listed as being able to access the food. It came up in conversation that there are quite a few churches and agencies getting food from just the Croydon and Mooroolbark and surrounds areas. It was suggested that perhaps a group of these agencies could combine to do a “shop”, saving time, fuel, money and the staff and resources of the food bank itself. The problem is, we aren’t aware of the other churches handing food and welfare, some meal services sure, but on the whole, none of the myriad of agencies and ministries in this area know each other, let alone work for the same causes, and with the same motivation.
Even within the churches serving meals such as the Dining Room, there is fierce rivalry about days and spaces, money, food and people we serve in God’s name! This is sickening and disgraceful to say the very least.
After some thought on this, I thougt I might do a “census” of the ministries and welfare services within the area. I did one earlier for the churches in the Mooroolbark area earlier out of curiousity and disgust to find almost 15 churches in the one suburb of Mooroolbark, yet not working together in an area rife with poverty, homelessness and other social justice issues. I’ll post the PDF later when back home (on the iPhone at the moment).
It saddens me, and I am sure God, that we cannot work together in unity! Imagine the impact combined outpourings of love and resources could have on the community and imagine what impact that would have on the Kingdom! We, and I mean, those of us who profess to follow Jesus, have to get over ourselves and the need for our own little kingdoms! This means accepting others and getting over the man-made doctrines and crap we call denominations, to start outpouring the love we have been shown through Jesus!
I’ll be praying about doing this census, but would appreciate your prayers and thoughts!
Sorry for any spelling errors - using the Wordpress app on the iPhone!
Addendum: PDF of Map of Mooroolbark Churches Heres the map I mention earlier about the known churches in the immediate area.
Posted in Australia, Church, Jesus, Kingdom, Personal, Social Justice, church life, croydon, missional |
2 Comments »Reflections from a new Victorian drivers licence
Well, a couple of days ago my wife and I renewed our Victorian drivers licences. This gave thought and pause for reflection on a number of fronts. Do I mention that my wife was given a 25% discount for three years of exemplery driving with no tickets and fines! I didn’t mention the fact that I most of the driving! But, regardless I am proud of her and the discount!
Anyway, firstly it gave me pause to think about the past three years. Yeah, not long you might say but that was the last time I renewed my licence, or should I say that was when I changed back from a Queensland licence to a Victorian one - and the three years? Well it was cheaper than the ten years and at that time we were skint from the move back here! But that is besides the point (hey, I do have a tendency to become distracted!) - what gave me pause to think was about the period of three years. (more…)
Posted in Australia, Family, Grace, Jesus, Kingdom, Personal, Uncategorized, church life, church planting, failure, life, prayer |
No Comments »
Recent Comments