Well it certainly has been awhile since I posted on here. So here we go.
lately I finished up my winter semester at U of C, doing well in all my classes. it was an easier semester than the fall semester, and less busy. Also I am done working at Nexen. my contract ran out at the end of April, and I have gotten a job at TransCanada Pipeline. awesome. I had an orientation yesterday and start work on Monday the 11th.
I am also playing flag football this summer on a team with some friends from my church! I start my spring semester in a few weeks, it will last til the end of June.
One of my friends from Capernwray, who lives near Edmonton, came down and we hung out for a few hours on saturday, it was great to catch up!
hmm, what else...
I finished reading "Mere Christianity" by CS Lewis, it is a great book, but it takes a while to get through as it is very deep and caused me to think alot as I read it. I would definitly reccomend it. Its nice to read while sitting on the train to/from school. I have also been occasionally listening to a podcast from Westside Kings church.
I have had many times in the last few months that I got to thinking about stuff that I shouldve written in here, but now I forget what most of them were. listening to podcasts, reading spiritual books, and sitting on transit for what seems like hours gets me to thinking often about life and spiritual things, which is defintely a good thing.
one thought from some podcasts was about science and religion. there is always a conflict with them it seems, but sometimes there shouldn't be. They are two ways of looking at things, or two different answers to the same question. One example was looking at a car. Science like the parts of the car that make it work the engine, parts etc, while religion is more like the map that is found in the glovebox. Its a map that you can follow, in different ways, and your not sure where it leads, and you don't have to follow it.
Maybe I should throw spirituality in there, because religion is often referred to as control etc, you can be 'religous' about things that may or may not be something God wants, like getting an oil change ever 5000km. it can be a good thing or bad thing. (well, I think changing your oil is a good thing to do, but you can be religous about it). As far as spirituality goes, I want to let the Holy Spirit within me have control. to let it slowly change me into the man God wants me to be. I would hope that things I do aren't just because I am religious.
One of my friends says sometimes in reference to me 'oh thats because he is religous', I'm not sure what to think of that. I would hope that things I do are because my heart and will, which are being transformed by God, want to; what I do for God shouldn't be just because that is what is what I am expected to do by religion or people around me. I do want to have an impact, but its like giving a dog a muzzle. Just controlling something, like sin, doesn't get rid of the desire or issue in the heart. if a dog wants to bite someone, putting a muzzle on it won't make it not want to. Whats wrong with just putting a muzzle on the dog? The dog will be miserable and is being forced to be good. The dog needs to change its will so that it won't have that desire.
Going back to a persons perspective, you can limit yourself from doing bad things, but if you still have that desire to do them, you won't be as happy as you could be. Can we change our will? not easily if at all, but I think God can. Jesus came and pointed to our hearts, the heart of the laws, the heart of what God wants. God wants us, completely, wants us to love him and to be with him.
So am I saying that we shouldn't try to limit our inner selfish desires? no, if we embrace our sinfulness, then basically we are saying to God, 'no, I don't want to change'. its a tough thing, and there is no line. we always seem to want to get as close to the line as we can with God/authority etc. how much can i drink before I am dishonouring to God? how far can I go with a girl? how selfish can I be? which religion is the right one? how much money do i HAVE to give to God? These are the kind of questions people ask, its sorta in our nature I guess.
It kind of goes back to the science and religion things. Maybe they are valid questions, for certain things. Science is for the concrete stuff, religion/spirituality maybe is more for thinking, discussing and hope. The bible isn't about finding more rules that we have to follow, but is open to having discussion about and thinking about the meaning behind what God wants us to get out of it. It's inspired by God, and we should look to God when reading it. It shouldn't be about listening to what someone we know says and not questioning it. It is up to you to think about what you believe and what you believe about God.
Anyways that was quite the rambling, congrats to you if you got through it. just some thoughts as I typed, I hope that maybe it got you thinking as you read it.
thanks for reading as always,
Adam
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Saturday, 28 February 2009
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Aussie schooling
ok so one of the guys i work with asked me to give some advice for a friend who is thinking of doing school in Australia
figured id post it on here, enjoy
Ahh the great land of Aus… There seem to be many law schools to choose from, that’s always good. As for location, As coming out of school a job is the first priority, the best would be to go with large centers. Victoria The coldest is melbourne, so assuming your friend is going there partially for the weather, I wouldn’t study in Melbourne. It’s a beautiful city though, large business center, lots to see around it, in the winter tho the wind comes essentially from the antartic currents and it can get chilly/cloudy/wet. Not super cold, but highs in the single digits. That said, it’s a nice big city, great transit, and a good sports city(100,000 seat stadium…). Likely good schools too.
Geelong? Well I never went there, don’t know much about it, smaller than Melbourne though, and likely not much warmer. Queensland For constant nice weather, Brisbane is probably a safe bet. Winters around 25C. Not sure in the summer as I wasn’t anywhere near at that point, but it would be hotter than sydney, I went to a place another 12 hours up the coast and they said in the summer it is unbearable. But ite Not the most exciting city though (as far as sightseeing, things to do,beaches). Decent business sector tho and not a far drive from tourist meca surfers paradise(gold coast) and the sunshine coast to the north.
Gold Coast is beautiful, close to Brisbane. Defintly a choice, expensive areas though (touristy often = expensive) Townsville and cairns, would also be hot. Too hot. You cant actually swim in the ocean there, therefore no beaches. Near rainforests and natural wonder. Again not heaps for business.
NSW Armidale….havent heard of it actually, likely one of those many towns dotting the NSW coast. Lots of beaches, not heaps of business.
Lismore…well I heard of it, think I went by it, same deal as Armidale Newcastle is alright, a small city, similar weather to Sydney but quieter. An hour or so out of the main Sydney CBD I believe.
Sydney is a great city. Its huge, the downtown is busy and pretty cool. Some big offices there. Lots of choice of schools, winters it is high teens to low twentys and summer around 30-40C. Sunny city. Great transit system and several beautiful beaches (Manly, Bondi). Plus lots to see in and around the city. Uni of western sydney puts you on the edge of the suburbs, a city on its own(cambelltown). Going to school in downtown sydney would be nice but expensive, one near a train line is the way to go, better off in the south side than the north side of the city. My step dad said its one of his top 5 cities in the world.
Wollongong - I like it for the name. its south of Sydney, you can take a train there and a Big beach town. Heaps of beaches, nice area, decently warm.
West Australia Perth, on the west coast, is isolated, Most isolated capital I think. Nice quiet town with free busses downtown and pedestrian friendly city. Some nice areas around it, a beautiful park as big as central park in new york which overlooks the city. Still had a decent business district, should be able to get a job. Some nice areas around it and a leaving point for many sightseeing/adventures in west australia. Rainy though. Not the top choice.
Fremantle is much the same, except is actually on the coast, little city, half hour from Perth downtown. ACT Canberra - don't go there, unless your friend wants to be a politician. Its cold in Canberra in the winter, very close to the snowy mountains (in the winter, this is where australians ski) highs of 0 in winter, id imagine its beautiful in the summer though…(if your friend wanted that, they could stay in Calgary).
Northern territory Darwin might be cool, I never went there (wanted to but ran out of time/money). It would be hot, but its small (think red deer or regina). Half the year its rainy the other half its HOT, 45Cish, and dry. Nice national parks and natural beauty there, not a lot of business tho.better to visit than live in likely
South australia Adelaide…don’t go there. Not much going on in Adelaide, not much to sightsee (aside from old churches), not a hotspot. Only bonus is its near kangaroo island and probably not expensive.
Tasmania Hobart - never went there, would be beatiful in the summer, lots of hiking and beauty. But cccccold in the winter. No protection from winter storms blowing from the antartic.
So that’s basically my rundown of the choices you gave. Here are Adam's top 5 cities to study in.
5. Perth (quiet, transit, not touristy, pedestrian downtown)
4. Melbourne (good business center, lots to do, transit)
3. Wollongong or Newcastle (nice weather, beaches, close to Sydney)
2. Brisbane (weather, good business sector)
1. Sydney (lots to see/do, beautiful, huge business district, easy to got to/leave, transit, weather)
Hope that helps, as for expensive, I didn’t really pay a ton of attention, there wasn’t a lot of variety. After the exchange rate, its about the same as Canada(more expensive but often cheaper dollar)
anyways thanks for reading,
Adam
figured id post it on here, enjoy
Ahh the great land of Aus… There seem to be many law schools to choose from, that’s always good. As for location, As coming out of school a job is the first priority, the best would be to go with large centers. Victoria The coldest is melbourne, so assuming your friend is going there partially for the weather, I wouldn’t study in Melbourne. It’s a beautiful city though, large business center, lots to see around it, in the winter tho the wind comes essentially from the antartic currents and it can get chilly/cloudy/wet. Not super cold, but highs in the single digits. That said, it’s a nice big city, great transit, and a good sports city(100,000 seat stadium…). Likely good schools too.
Geelong? Well I never went there, don’t know much about it, smaller than Melbourne though, and likely not much warmer. Queensland For constant nice weather, Brisbane is probably a safe bet. Winters around 25C. Not sure in the summer as I wasn’t anywhere near at that point, but it would be hotter than sydney, I went to a place another 12 hours up the coast and they said in the summer it is unbearable. But ite Not the most exciting city though (as far as sightseeing, things to do,beaches). Decent business sector tho and not a far drive from tourist meca surfers paradise(gold coast) and the sunshine coast to the north.
Gold Coast is beautiful, close to Brisbane. Defintly a choice, expensive areas though (touristy often = expensive) Townsville and cairns, would also be hot. Too hot. You cant actually swim in the ocean there, therefore no beaches. Near rainforests and natural wonder. Again not heaps for business.
NSW Armidale….havent heard of it actually, likely one of those many towns dotting the NSW coast. Lots of beaches, not heaps of business.
Lismore…well I heard of it, think I went by it, same deal as Armidale Newcastle is alright, a small city, similar weather to Sydney but quieter. An hour or so out of the main Sydney CBD I believe.
Sydney is a great city. Its huge, the downtown is busy and pretty cool. Some big offices there. Lots of choice of schools, winters it is high teens to low twentys and summer around 30-40C. Sunny city. Great transit system and several beautiful beaches (Manly, Bondi). Plus lots to see in and around the city. Uni of western sydney puts you on the edge of the suburbs, a city on its own(cambelltown). Going to school in downtown sydney would be nice but expensive, one near a train line is the way to go, better off in the south side than the north side of the city. My step dad said its one of his top 5 cities in the world.
Wollongong - I like it for the name. its south of Sydney, you can take a train there and a Big beach town. Heaps of beaches, nice area, decently warm.
West Australia Perth, on the west coast, is isolated, Most isolated capital I think. Nice quiet town with free busses downtown and pedestrian friendly city. Some nice areas around it, a beautiful park as big as central park in new york which overlooks the city. Still had a decent business district, should be able to get a job. Some nice areas around it and a leaving point for many sightseeing/adventures in west australia. Rainy though. Not the top choice.
Fremantle is much the same, except is actually on the coast, little city, half hour from Perth downtown. ACT Canberra - don't go there, unless your friend wants to be a politician. Its cold in Canberra in the winter, very close to the snowy mountains (in the winter, this is where australians ski) highs of 0 in winter, id imagine its beautiful in the summer though…(if your friend wanted that, they could stay in Calgary).
Northern territory Darwin might be cool, I never went there (wanted to but ran out of time/money). It would be hot, but its small (think red deer or regina). Half the year its rainy the other half its HOT, 45Cish, and dry. Nice national parks and natural beauty there, not a lot of business tho.better to visit than live in likely
South australia Adelaide…don’t go there. Not much going on in Adelaide, not much to sightsee (aside from old churches), not a hotspot. Only bonus is its near kangaroo island and probably not expensive.
Tasmania Hobart - never went there, would be beatiful in the summer, lots of hiking and beauty. But cccccold in the winter. No protection from winter storms blowing from the antartic.
So that’s basically my rundown of the choices you gave. Here are Adam's top 5 cities to study in.
5. Perth (quiet, transit, not touristy, pedestrian downtown)
4. Melbourne (good business center, lots to do, transit)
3. Wollongong or Newcastle (nice weather, beaches, close to Sydney)
2. Brisbane (weather, good business sector)
1. Sydney (lots to see/do, beautiful, huge business district, easy to got to/leave, transit, weather)
Hope that helps, as for expensive, I didn’t really pay a ton of attention, there wasn’t a lot of variety. After the exchange rate, its about the same as Canada(more expensive but often cheaper dollar)
anyways thanks for reading,
Adam
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