Cooking a Roast!

Right now I am sitting on the patio of my apartment looking out on the Brisbane River, with my laptop plugged in, sipping a glass of wine i got at the Yarra Valley vineyards a few weeks ago, reading a book. The scenery here is just so nice. Someone said that I'm living the good life, but really it's just a pretty life. I mean it's not that "good", yes I enjoy it, but I have no friends here. I knew that already coming here, so I don't regret it.

view from my patio

I went to another church this morning, I was late leaving my place and was rushing to get there. Had to walk 5K again to church, although I think I walked further last week. Anyways, I found this church online this week, never found it before.

little creature on the path from city to church

This church is called New Hope Brisbane. It's held inside an auditorium, i enjoyed the music a lot this week. I instantly felt that warm feeling when I stepped inside. However, I had one problem at the beginning. At the door outside they had a welcoming people who welcomed people, wrote down your name on a "My Name is.." sticker for you. However, I stood there for about 20 seconds seeing if anybody would approach me. I was also trying to cool myself off as I just walked 5K in 25 degree weather. Nobody came up to me, so I walked in. I even walked out once more to see if I could cool myself faster, then walked back in. Nothing. So I didn't feel totally welcomed, but whatever, no big deal.

Anyways, so I sat down in the auditorium as the pastor was introducing and about to pray. Then the worship started, and instantly I felt at home. One thing that I really liked though was feeling comfortable to raise my hands to God, and then something I've never heard. The worship leader, she did a little intro on why we raise our hands. To someone who comes to church for first time, or came from a more traditional church, I'd say the act of raising of hands is quite confusing to those new to it, but I found it really great that the worship leader introduces people to why we do it, it just made the atmosphere so much more comfortable for everyone.

The message was really great too, it was about "Is the Bible Reliable?". He provided several good points along with many quotes from reputable people in history. I don't know whether quotes from people really prove that the Bible is reliable, but he used logic to prove his points. For example, he showed how several historically old and significant books that were written a hundred or so years after Jesus only had less than ten original manuscripts. However, there are over 1500 copies from that time of the Bible. So his argument was if so many copies have survived the test of time, then it must be true. Given the fact that it was written by so many writers before several acts of history in Ancient Rome, and that is argued that because some of these significant happenings are not accounted for in the Bible, that it must of been written before that time, within the lifetime of the apostles or something like that. Anyways, it was more logical arguments, not bad ones I wouldn't say. Nevertheless, my point is I found it applicable to the audience.

Anyways, another good thing that I enjoyed about this church that they really showed to me how they are living out the Christian life. The events that they have just bring happiness to me because they are available. In June they have this event where they go out and help clean for some people who are just down on their luck. I found this really gives people the opportunity to serve others, and help ourselves know that being a Christian in this world is all about others, and not ourselves.

I still haven't decided where I want to go though. Both churches I've been to are quite far, I like this one I went to today, but the walk there just isn't that nice. I think I may go try one more, this other one I have to take the ferry there. It's even further, but at least there is another way of getting there. Oh, one thing that surprised me just a bit, was how willing people were to drive me to their church. Both times I was telling someone that I didn't like the walk, and they both offered to either drive me home, or drive me to the church. I was impressed. I don't want to give the impression that I don't like walking, or I'm unwilling to walk to the church. It's just I wonder why I can't find one closer to home. That's me thing, I want to find something close to my home. So I can walk there quickly, and I feel like I'm a part of the community. So I wonder why the central city does not have more churches. And all these ones just outside the city call themselves "inner city churches" when they are not in the city. That's another thing, when I hear inner-city, I associate it to neighbourhoods that are like Harlem, West Hollywood, neighbourhoods that have are not the most safe, but the church is there to reach to the people who are the most lost in this world. Perhaps I had a bad view, but anyways, inner-city here at least means "in the city", however none of these churches are even "in the city"!
So yesterday, I decided in the morning that I'd go do something I've never done. So I looked up my Frommers, knowing there was something in there. I was thinking of doing abseiling (which is rock climbing, but coming down the cliff, instead of going up). But then I went to the website, and was like, ohh, they have kayaking. Now I've done kayaking before at camps, but never officially learned. So I decided I'd cross the river to where the place is, and learn how to kayak. They didn't really teach it very well, but I got to do it which was the real thing. So I kayaked for about little more than an hour. It was so fun, and we had to steer ourselves away from the ferries that run along the same river.

river I kayaked!

Then afterwards, I'm like, I gotta do rock climbing, so i joined that too. This is real rock climbing, not indoor where you know where you gotta put your feet. This is a real cliff, and you gotta find your own holes to put your feet and hands in. It was so exciting, and when I did it for the first time, I'm thinking ok, what do I do here? Where do I put my hands and feet. I got up only a quarter of the way, but it was so exciting. I just couldn't do it. I had enough strength, but I just could not figure out what to do up there. I need to do it more. But it was so great and fun doing both those things!

wall I climbed (almost)

this is abseiling, coming from the top to the bottom.

Tonight, I am cooking a roast. I bought this pre-marinated roast at the market, and I am cooking it myself! So exciting, yes I know I didn't do the whole process in marinating it myself, but one step at a time.

my roast!

What I gotta do is find a rice cooker, ones to cook rice in a microwave. I hear they work very well, so I gotta find one. Oh, one thing they do different down here is although they eat sushi rolls, they buy them by the roll uncut, and just shove the whole roll from the ends in the mouth. No wasabi, not always soya sauce. It's so weird to not eat sushi in cut pieces, I haven't done it yet. I may try it out, I imagine it to be convenient, but it just can't be that great.

I'll update again later this week.