A day in the lab

Today was unlike most days in the lab, filled to the brim with dramas. We had one small acetone fire, exploding reflux reactions, leaking distillation apparatus and my very own introduction of sodium to dilute acid. Whilst attempting to demonstrate to an honours student how to cut sodium, the piece I cut flew from my scissors into a nearby beaker. I first thought it contained just methanol as it fizzed away. But then I saw it ignite. I quickly and calmly removed the can of sodium and open solvent from near the area. I turned back to see the 2 litre beaker blow apart with a huge cloud of smoke. I have experienced sodium in water but not in the confines of a beaker. The fire alarms thankfully didn't go off and I was able to reasonably explain my accident as more or less as a fluke of jumping sodium. Some videos of note: the near full range of alkali metals in water and sodium in a less explosive vessel.

I have found myself to be rather attracted to nose studs. Nothing that screams out for attention, but a small stone that draws one to dwell on the beautiful visage that bears it.

Man NT Wright is the mantis! After defending him and the reading of his material a priori, I have finally experienced his scholarship, finally finishing "What St Paul Really Said." I feel sorry for all the reactionaries who will never experience his writings and for our tradition as a whole with the push to insulate ourselves from his work. I liked this quote near the end of the book:

"The gospel of God, today and tomorrow as in Paul's day, is not something to analyze, understand, put in our intellectual pockets and go home content. It is something which, if its very truth is not to be fatally compromised, must become, as it did in Jesus, flesh and blood. That which was unveiled before an unprepared world in Jesus Christ must be unveiled again and again, as those who believe in Jesus Christ live by the Spirit and, in life as well as in word, announce the gospel to the world."

My only regret is the lack of speed with which I have read this book or any book in fact. By the time I am at the end, the ideas and thoughts from the rest of the book are rather sketchy.

Some cold and tiring Sundays I can't be bothered going to church in the evening. But each time I am blessed anew and encouraged beyond what I imagined. It is here that I have glimpses of my new life, my new calling and new direction. It is here that I often find comfort, joy and peace. I don't know what I shall do when I leave Wellington!

It can often be refreshing to see a new side of a person. After many years holding memories of annoyance, it is nice to see that he has a friendly face. Has he chilled out more, or have I done the chilling out? Or is it simply a matter of maturity that has allowed me to look past the initial plaster wall I erected all those years ago?

Substance with substance

"There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28

Tonight in the sermon it was expounded that Paul is not arguing for radical equality but radial unity. For we are all different but all united in Christ. Love and unity, we need more of these in the body as the whole. I love Substance in that it draws together people from many Christian traditions (I think the Anglicans make up a minority) to worship together and celebrate Jesus' death and resurrection in the Lord Supper. I can eat the bread and drink the wine with my fellow Anglican, Reformy, Baptist, Evangelical, Presbyterian...and sometimes Catholic because we are all one in Christ Jesus.

Radiohead, Belle & Sebastian, Beck, Mew, Snow Patrol.....

Here I come!!!!!! In belgium of all places.

http://www.pukkelpop.be/

FOCaL Conference 2006 "Church and Society after Election 2005"

The FOCAL Conference, 30 June – 1 July. FOCAL is the “Forum of the Christian Left”. The Conference involves contributions from a wide range of people, including Judy Turner (United Future), Jim Anderton (Progressive Coalition), Chester Burrows (National), and Marion Hobbs (Labour).
http://www.focal.org.nz/conference.htm

Check it out. I think I shall go to this one.

Life:
- hours with test tubes
- hours of talk
- hours of sleep
- minutes of reflection
- minutes of frustration
- minutes of anger
- seconds of light
- seconds of direction
- seconds of hope
- no breakdown....yet

We tend to address the issues of today that can be tackled with a regulative response instead of missional response.