That Figures

I’ve been doing some work for www.figures247.com to get their website indexed in Google… so I’m hoping this might help jump start the index.  I’ve already done a Sitemap and submitted it to Google – but no luck so far – hoping they will crawl the site through my blog. 

Ready to Paint Dots - World Record On The Way

It’s been two months in the making – but www.paintadot.com is finally here. 

You can buy dots for just a dollar - paint them – invite friends to help and become a part of the biggest collaborative artwork ever in the history of the world.  Last year in Israel (2009) 28300 people stuck their fingerprints down to create a giant Israeli flag - the current world record. 

I’m looking to smash that – and I have a million dots to paint.  Can you spare a dollar for a dot – or even better you can have a large role to play and paint a whole bunch.

When the painting is finished – we will hopefully have not only a new World Record, but also have a piece of artwork to auction for charity.  The charity that has been chosen is the orphans of Kamphon Cham in Cambodia.  You can see pictures on the www.paintadot.com website.

Visit now – Paint a Dot.

SEO Work for Coopers Store

In Sydney is a wonderful family business – Coopers Store.  They specialise in timber furniture that is hand made, especially timber dining tables and timber coffee tables. 

This is the website address for Coopers Store, and below this post are some of the keywords we are seeking to optimise for.  Coopers is a great business and if you live in Sydney visit one of their showrooms, or if you love great furniture – give them a ring and get something on a truck to where you are.

Coopers Main Keywords

1. Timber Dining Room Tables


2. Coffee Tables


3. Dining Room Tables


4. Dining Rooms Table


5. Furniture Dining Room

When we first took on SEO work for Coopers Store - they did not rank in the top 100 listings in Google for any of their keywords.  Now we are proud to announce that in just one month – we have them in 15^th (Page 2) for their main keyword, Timber Dining Room Tables. 

Why the Keyword Efficiency Index (KEI) Doesn't Work Properly

The Keyword Efficiency Index is a concept developed by Sumantra Roy and used by thousands of webmasters and search engine optimization experts to try to choose more effective or efficient keywords for targeting in search results. 

The basis is that a keyword (let’s say pink elephants) is searched for X times per month, let’s say 1000 times.  The same keyword is targetted by Y number of websites (let’s say 25) and the maths looks like this.  KEI is X*X/Y.  The formula is X times itself and divided by Y. 

So in the above example Pink Elephants is searched for 1000 times a month.  1000 times 1000 is a million, divided by 25 leaves 40000 as the answer.  The answer is the KEI of the keyword. 

In another fictional illustration, the keyword Yellow Elephant is only searched for 9 times a month but 100 websites are competing for that keyword.  The maths says that 9X9=81 divided by 100 = 0.81. 

So the first keyword (pink elephants) has a KEI of 40000

The second keyword (yellow elephants) has a KEI of 0.8

The higher the number the more likely the keyword is to bring success to the one doing the research.  With this model you would focus on targetting pink elephants and ignore the yellow elephants. 

Or at least that is the theory.

What this model neglects to mention is that not all competition is equal.  If your website is competing against Facebook or Youtube for position you might not be likely to win… because they are too big.  But if your competition is the Country Women’s Club with its 3 old ladies… you have a better chance. 

Google has used a system of Ranking Pages to work out which websites are more valuable than others in terms of their power to rank.  This system scores every website page on the internet out of ten.  Ten is the ultimate score and only a few websites have that.  Zero is nothing, and a score of 1 is the median webpage score.  It goes from Zero to Ten in a hyperbolic curve where each increment is essentially something like ten times more valuable than the preceding number. 

So back to the keywords.. If pink elephants has a KEI of 40000, but all its competition has page ranks of high numbers like 8, 9 or 10, what is the chance of succeeding with that keyword.  Not much chance.

But if the yellow elephants has competition which is non existent in terms of page rank and it all has ranks of 0, what is the chance of succeeding with that keyword.  The Likelihood is almost certain.

So another factor should be included… the quality of the competition.  For this purpose we can take Google Pagerank to be that factor. 

So the revised formula could work something like this.

The Keyword is Pink Elephants (using real statistics now)

This keyword is searched for 14800 times per month.  It has 462000 entries competing for this keyword. 

Now we find out the page rank for the first ten competing websites (because you want to be on the first page) and average them.  The average page rank on the first page of Pink Elephants is 3.9 (comprised of 5 pageranks of 4, 2 pageranks of 5 and 3 pageranks of 3) 

My proposed new formula works like this

X is still the number of searches per month

Y is still the competition

Z is the page rank

A is the inverse of the page rank (10 minues Z = A)

The formula is now X (Searchs) Times A (Inverse Pagerank) Divided by Y (Competition) equals AKEI (Adjusted Keyword Efficiency Index)

So for Pink Elephants the KEI with old formula is 474

However the AKEI for Pink Elephants taking into account the fairly stiff competition is 14800 times 6.1 divided by 462000 is 0.19 – a LOT lower. 

Part of this is that we don’t multiply by itself and we only multiply by the amount left over after competition.  So if there is less competition we get to multiply by a higher amount giving an increased number to divide by. 

This new AKEI formula is more accurate. 

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Author: David Alley – Freelance Web Designer

Permalink: http://www.webtechnologyqueensland.com/why-the-keyword-efficiency-index-KEI-doesnt-work-properly

Guinness Records Gives Thumbs Down to Record

I heard back from Guinness World Records last week in regards to my website which I believe has the world’s largest webpage.  After examining www.worldsbiggestwebsite.com and considering my application they had the following to say… very sad. 

Claim ID: 3xxxxxx
Membership Number: xxxxxx

Dear Mr David Alley,

Thank you for sending us the details of your recent record attempt for 'Biggest Website Page'. We are afraid to say that we are unable to accept this as a Guinness World Record.

While we certainly do not underestimate your proposal, we do however think that this item is a little too specialised for a body of reference as general as ours. We receive many thousands of record claims every year and we think you will appreciate that we are bound to favour those which reflect the greatest interest.

Guinness World Records has absolute discretion as to which Guinness World Record applications are accepted and our decision is final. Guinness World Records may at its discretion and for whatever reason identify some records as either no longer monitored by Guinness World Records or no longer viable.

As your record application has not been accepted, Guinness World Records is in no way associated with the activity relating to your record proposal and we in no way endorse this activity. If you choose to proceed with this activity then this is will be of your own volition and at your own risk.

Once again thank you for your interest in Guinness World Records.

Yours sincerely,

xxxxxxxxxxx 
Records Management Team

The World's Biggest Website

One month ago I built what I believe is the worlds biggest website – or at least its the world’s biggest web page.  The page is over 8 square kilometres in size… 2 kilometres wide by 2 kilometres high. 

If you start scrolling it will take you over half an hour to get to the bottom or side of the site.  If you want to see the whole website page at once you will need over 100 million computer screens. 

I applied for a Guinness World Record about one month ago, and my application was received.  I was told that I would be contacted within 4 weeks.  Well, 4 weeks is up and I still haven’t heard - so it will be anyday now.  Finger’s crossed. 

The World's Biggest Website

One month ago I built what I believe is the worlds biggest website – or at least its the world’s biggest web page.  The page is over 8 square kilometres in size… 2 kilometres wide by 2 kilometres high. 

If you start scrolling it will take you over half an hour to get to the bottom or side of the site.  If you want to see the whole website page at once you will need over 100 million computer screens. 

I applied for a Guinness World Record about one month ago, and my application was received.  I was told that I would be contacted within 4 weeks.  Well, 4 weeks is up and I still haven’t heard - so it will be anyday now.  Finger’s crossed. 

Work for Rockhampton Builder

I have just finished building www.howtosucceedintoughtimes.com which is a website based on a book Scott Kilpatrick wrote.  I am also currently working on www.affordablequalityhomes.com.au which is his main building website. 

The following keywords are words I’m optimising for Scott – so I gladly use this blog post to link these words to his site:

• Rockhampton Builder


• Yeppoon Builder


• Gracemere Builder


• House and Land Packages Rockhampton


• House and Land Packages Yeppoon


• House and Land Packages Gracemere


• Build a house Rockhampton


• 
  

  Build a house Rockhampton Yeppoon



• 
  

  Build a house Rockhampton Gracemere



• 
  

  Display Home Rockhampton



• 
  

  Display Home Yeppoon



• 
  

  Display Home Gracemere.

 

 

Steps in Construction of a Brick Veneer Home

It has been said that having a new home built is almost as stressful as getting divorced.  Whilst in reality that seems unlikely, the truth is that building a new home IS a stressful experience – mostly brought on by ignorance of the processes and what to expect.  This article will help by going over steps in the construction of a new brick veneer home under Australian building conditions.

IMPORTANT POINT: No new home is a perfect creation – it was made by human beings and not by a factory.  Many people think that their “new” home will be like other new products they buy in the shopping mall and it will have no defects.  This is not true of homes becuase they are built by people and each new home has a number of minor defects.  There is no such thing as a perfect new home.  Understanding this point and expecting this will relieve a great deal of stress for anyone having a new home built.

Step One: Design: You will need a plan.  You can look at plans that a builder already has, and which are costed with prices, or you can design your own.  If you design your own it will need to be quoted.  When designing your plan, consider things such as what direction the house will face, prevailing wind direction (and where to place windows), rainwater tank location, solar Hot water System placement and other things.  Ultimately your friendly builder and draftsman will help you with some of these finer points.

Step Two: Costing: You will want to know how much it will cost.  Typically a home is costed with a “base price” which means that the house will cost this much with standard fixtures and fittings, and typically no soft furnishings, driveways or other landscaping.  You will want to obtain a list of what standard fittings and fixtures your home is costed with.  For exampe this may mean you get a standard plastic bathroom tap instead of the pretty brass fixture your wife is wanting.  Understanding what comes standard in your home means you will know what extra money you will need to spend to bring your new home to where you want it to be.  Each builder should be able to give you a document showing what is standard and what is not.  They should then be able to give you estimates for the ‘extras’ like driveways, curtains, carpets/floor-coverings, landscaping, pools, lawns, extra fancy kitchens (marble tops etc) and such.

Step Three: Pre-Contractual Agreement and Deposit:  At this point the customer will make an initial deposit (don’t forget to get a receipt) which will cover drafting, costing, soil tests, and other early incidentals.  Some builders will accept deposits as low as $1000.  This deposit is to get the ball rolling with many of the things needed before any building can take place at all.

Step Four: Finance: Most people don’t have enough cash to just buy themselves a new home – so they need financing.  At this point you will approach your bank and obtain the backing required to proceed with the project. 

Step Five: Contracts: Your soil test is back – hopefully the soil is no reactive which means the house will not cost any extra.  If the soil is Highly Reactive it can add up to 10% to the cost of your home.  Plans are now drawn up and contractual agreements are ready to be signed.  You get your lawyer to go over the detail and once you are happy with everything - sign on the dotted line.  Make sure you understand the terms and conditions that have to do with going over time with construction, and to do with unforseen circumstances.  Make sure you count rainy days that hold up construction (the builder will be counting them).

Step Six: Selection of Colours & Fixtures: Plans are now submitted to the local building authority for approval – this can take from several weeks to several months.  While this is happening, now is your time to pick the colours of everything in your home – BEWARE, this can be a big process.  Paint colour, brick colour, concrete style, tiles, bathroom fixtures, bath & toilet types, kitchen colours, roof and window colours, door types and door knob types…. the list is long.  Make sure your builder gives you a list of his suppliers and what things you need to select.  Take your time and proceed to choose everything in the home.  If you choose better quality items - this will cause the cost of your home to rise.  Also, be careful not to take too long in selecting everything because if this holds up construction (the builder can’t order if he doesn’t know what to order) – it will be your fault and you will not receive penalty delays in your favour. 

Step Seven: Construction: Building commences - and takes place in a number of stages.  As each stage is completed, there is often a building inspection and it must be approved by the local building authority before construction can continue.  Once each approval is obtained, the builder submits the approval to your financier to recieve a progress payment.  This is a part payment towards the total cost of the home.  Under a normal building contract the stages of construction are:

1. Base Stage (concreting, underslab plumbing, initial electrical, site survey and house layout etc)


2. Frame Stage (frames and trusses are erected – roof is sometimes installed along with guttering and fascia)


3. Lockup Stage (prewire electrical completed, plumbing rough-in completed.  External walls completed with all external doors fitted.


4. Pre-Paint Stage (the internal walls and doors are completed, plastering finished, and the house ready to be painted.)


5. Completion (all other jobs are finished including kitches, tiling, electical, plumbing fit-off, floor coverings etc)

Step Eight: Handover: The builder usually does his final inspections, the house is cleaned by a professional, locks are changed, final payment is made and keys are handed over.  In most houses this happens without incident, but sometimes there are disputes.  Very simply this is what usually happens… The builder will not usually hand over keys until he recieves all his money, and the owner will not usually pay until he is satisfied with the new home.  So at completion, as an owner, make a list of your final fixups and other requests, give the builder time to organise them and then make the final payment.

And… pray that your home is not being built in the leadup to Christmas…

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Reproduction of this content is permissible as long as this Footnote Remains in place and credit and links remain with their rightful owners.
Permalink: – http://www.affordablequalityhomes.com.au/steps-to-building-a-new brick-veneer-home
Website: – http://www.affordablequalityhomes.com.au
Author: David Alley, SEO Consultant, Web Technology Queensland

The following keywords are words I’m optimising for AQH P/L, the builder who hired me to write this article – so I gladly use this article to link these words to his site:

• Rockhampton Builder


• Yeppoon Builder


• Gracemere Builder


• House and Land Packages Rockhampton


• House and Land Packages Yeppoon


• House and Land Packages Gracemere


• Build a house Rockhampton


• 
  

  Build a house Rockhampton Yeppoon



• 
  

  Build a house Rockhampton Gracemere



• 
  

  Display Home Rockhampton



• 
  

  Display Home Yeppoon



• 
  

  Display Home Gracemere.

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The Best Builder in Rockhampton, Gracemere and Yeppoon

If you don’t count working as a paperboy in High School, my first real job was for Scott Kilpatrick’s Affordable Quality Homes P/L.  I started there in 1995 fresh out of school and the plan was that I would learn drafting and end up as a draftsman.  Plans didn’t work out that way however and in my first two years there I did a huge variety of work which included:

• A six week stint as a carpentry apprentice (replacing an apprentice who broke his neck)


• Sales work in several display homes in Gracemere and Rockhampton


• Wheeling big barrows of concrete around building sites


• Cleaning houses ready for handover.


• Supervising untrustworthy clients viewing their houses prior to handover (they try to change locks without paying)


• Data Entry – hours and days of it.


• Accounts Clerical work – where I saved more money by scrutinising invoices in 12 months than I earned. 


• Quasi Site Supervisor work – spending many days driving around building sites delivering gear and organising subcontractors.


• Professional Floor Sanding – I only cost $10 an hour and soon learned how to sand timber floors saving my boss a tradesman’s wage.


• Customer Relationships – handing over houses, dealing with customer requests and colour selections on new homes.


• Maintenance on new homes – changing lightbulbs, locks, installing air conditioners and much more. 


• One whole week of my life was spent popping and glueing magnets on brochures – a job I was glad to finish.


• And many more fun tasks… I think I learned a lot from Scott.

In my second year with Scott – the building industry was tight, and a number of builders were going out of business.  Scott diversified and opened a second company called Quality Relocateable Homes P/L which built houses on-site in Gracemere and then shipped them on several trucks to location in various places around Queensland.  This brought a whole new set of experiences which included travel, dealing with specialty construction and much more. 

One of my favourite (or interesting) memories was one afternoon when we were jacking up a house to put onto the back of two prime movers to send out West to Emerald or somewhere like that.  Scott had invented these amazing jacks which were big fly wheels which spun and crawled up poles gradually lifting the house slowly inch by inch.  Each half of the house had 6 of these jacks which required 6 people to operate simultaneously – me being one of them.  I had been given a shirt by KB’s Frames and Trusses and it was XL (extra large) and I didnt’ have it tucked in.  The word came - we all hit our magic buttons to start jacking and the flywheel on my jack spun.  My shirt got caught on the flywheel and wrapped right around pulling me into the jack.  I yelled loudly to stop - but the noise of all the jacks whirring meant it was a little while before everyone else realised to stop.  They all had to “wind the house down” to my level and then we all lowered further until my shirt came out.  It was covered in grease and had a “grease track” right across it.  It looked like I had been run over by a motorbike.  The main thing was that I was safe.  I tucked in my shirt - we wound up the house - and sent it on its way out west. 

Scott is an excellent builder – he lives between Rockhampton and Yeppoon, but builds houses in both places as well as Gracemere, Mt Morgan and the surrounding area.  He also has a display home in Rockhampton where you can look at plans and get prices on construction etc.  I recommend his building services. 

I enjoyed working for Scott – in total for about 7 years and did a lot of interesting things.  In all that time my esteem for Scott has grown and I highly regard him.  Now I’m working for Scott in a different kind of way – I’m building and maintaining his websites.  I have just finished building www.howtosucceedintoughtimes.com which is a website based on a book Scott Kilpatrick wrote.  I am also currently working on www.affordablequalityhomes.com.au which is his main building website. 

The following keywords are words I’m optimising for Scott – so I gladly use this blog post to link these words to his site:

• Rockhampton Builder


• Yeppoon Builder


• Gracemere Builder


• House and Land Packages Rockhampton


• House and Land Packages Yeppoon


• House and Land Packages Gracemere


• Build a house Rockhampton


• 
  

  Build a house Rockhampton Yeppoon



• 
  

  Build a house Rockhampton Gracemere



• 
  

  Display Home Rockhampton



• 
  

  Display Home Yeppoon



• 
  

  Display Home Gracemere.

 

 

What is a Website Worth?

Just for intersests sake I discovered that you can find out what a website is worth is you want to buy it.  Visit www.getwebsitevalue.com

New Multi Level Affiliate Program

I am proud today to announce the launch our new Multi Level Affiliate Program for Web Technology Queensland.  We invite users to join us in promoting our products and services to receive commission.  We also invite users to promote the program itself and earn more commission from sales that other users make. 

You can read moe about it at our Affiliate Program page or at our Frequently Asked Questions page. 

Typically when you refer a sale you will get a straight ten percent commission, and if anyone else you signup to the program refers a sale, you get 3 percent of that sale too.  And, it goes like that down 7 levels.  Potentially you could make a self supporting income from this program.  I hope it appeals to you. 

 

What Does Labor, the Liberals, the Nationals & the Greens Believe

If you are a Christian with what you consider to be biblical values, you might be surprised to see what our major political parties think.  Courtesy of Australia Christian Values who have questioned all of the major parties, here is an Australian Christian Values Checklist. 

My Sortfolio Listing

Hello World – I now have a sortfolio listing: http://www.sortfolio.com/listings/8743-web-technology-queensland

The Dangers of Sunday School

It has been long known that people learn values by observation and osmosis, rather than by specific teaching.  The education of values just helps them understand, but not to obtain those values. 

Schools, sunday schools and other places have an important part to play in the education of children, but in terms of teaching children values, – this is mostly done in the home. 

We noticed in our church many years ago that our children grew spiritually better when we cancelled sunday school.  We were in between buildings and unable to hold Sunday school for a long period of time.  So instead of sending our children out during the sunday service to a “children’s meeting” we kept them in with the “big people.”  Although this was unintentional it had the result of teaching the children to value what their parents value.

When you send a child out to his or her own thing, you are saying subtly that what the parents are doing is not important enough for the child.  Later in life the child holds the same values – “church is not for me.”  So we discovered that a sunday school, if held concurrently to a service, can teach bad values.  They learn is by osmosis. 

So for me the things that matter in youth work is:

1. The environment the youth are in,


2. The adults they are surrounded by,


3. And the values of that those adults hold. 

To produce good outcomes in young people, its the atmosphere they are surrounded by that untimately makes all the difference.  Teaching kids morals, or doing programs will only ever have a limited effect. 

The Dangers of Earned Money

Recently while listening to a financial author talk about money, he made the comment that he gives his children “pocket money” but they don’t earn that money.  BUT, they do chores despite the fact that they earn money. 

Many parents make the mistake of giving their children pocket money because they did chores and earned it.  Subconsciously this reinforces the idea that they only work to earn money.  So if the money was not there, they would not have to contribute and help the family out.  This ideas runs opposite to how families are supposed to work and help each other. 

So when something needs doing around the house and there is no financial incentive, nobody will do it.  That is now how a family should be.  Instead pocket money is given to provide the opportunity to learn how to handle money.  Also, chores are done separately because children must learn how to contribute and help out a family that they belong to.  Emphasis is placed on learning and having a good motivation through it all.

It’s also the same in church, and in the Kingdom of Heaven.  God gives us good things not because we earn or deserve them either, but so that we might learn and grow. 

Unicef Youth Forum

Today I took some time and browsed Unicef’s Voices of Youth website as part of my studies for YMIS.  The idea was to explore and see how sites like this one challenge young people to get involved in issues.

Once I logged onto the Main page there was a feature profile of a young lady from the Philippines who asked the question, “Is there too much violence on TV nowadays?”  She also asked “If so, what do you think should the people concerned to about this?”  Just reading those questions made me want to share my opinions and so I hit the reply button. 

However I was not allowed to reply without an account - so I signed up for one. 

During the signup process, where I filled out a lot of information about myself, one question was if I was willing to allow my profile to be featured.  I actually answered no, but at that point I realised, this was an opporunity for every young person to have their opinions about many issued profile in a major way for all to see. 

The Unicef website has a lot of forums, and a lot of people sharing opinions.  It is a participatory, non conventional place for young people to share their feelings and to be heard. 

Sites like Unicef help the voice of young people to be heard more readily because it gives a place for that voice to speak.  The Unicef website is significantly interesting because it has an international focus, and many young people who live under dictatorships, or repressive regimes have an opporunity to have a say despite their political boundaries. 

However, being International may also limit the usefulness of a site like Unicef’s Voice of Youth.  This is because Governments may not pay so much attention to the voices that seem to be coming from other places.  It may seem watered down. 

New Website for Diane & Ferdi Miltenburg

For many years, I’ve known Diane and Ferdi Miltenburg who have been running a house church here in Mt Morgan.  Their ministry is called HIM (Hope International Ministries) They are committed and loyal people and love the community here.  Last week I was blessed to be able to built a quick website for them while I’ve been stuck in bed with my broken foot up in the air.  The website still has some small little areas to finish off, but its nearly there.  Why don’t you pop over and check it out.  The Lord bless the Miltenburgs. 

What Exactly is an Asset?

I’m someone who has invested in property over the last 5 years and I have some rental properties.  I have always thought of my properties as being assets.  I would never have admitted this, but I would also have subconsiously seen my tenants to have been liabilities.  There are worries about how the tenants will treat the home and if the rent will be paid on time in full. 

Over the last little while I’ve come to see in fact that it is the tenant who is the asset.  Without a tenant the property itself becomes the liability.  The tenant is the who pays the rent and provides the value to me - the property itself doesn’t do that.  If there is no tenant, the property becomes an expense and a liability on my time and money. 

Sometimes things we think are liabilities are assets – and in fact, most people and most things in society, if we look at them in the proper light are assets. 

Asset Based Community Development

Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) is where we take a look at our community from the point of view of “what do we have that we can use together.”  Its a positive way of anaylysing how we can use what we have and work together to achieve ends.  Its a positive form of networking.  When we look at our communities from this light, all sorts of things are seen as assets.

For example – many people are assets.  Some people are elderly, have experienced many things and know many people.  Because of their life experiences and position these people are assets.  Connecting them with schools, churches or other community groups/projects enhances things tremendously. 

Some people are “connectors” because they connect sections of a community together by being who they are, in their position and with their influence.  In Mt Morgan these connectors are people like school Principals, church ministres, the matron of the hospital, certain business people, and believe it or not…. Ian Traynor, our postmaster. (he knows everything that goes on in town.)

Mt Morgan as a community does have needs, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics and The Australian Newspaper have had plenty to say about that… but nowhere have I read anywhere about the assets of our town.  So allow me to list a few assets that fall into the category of organisations and associations:

• Norton Goldfields – local mining company


• Rockhampton Regional Council


• 2 Schools


• 5 Churches


• Several Sporting Clubs


• Mt Morgan Promotion & Development Group


• Footbridge Corner


• The HUB – Relationships Australia


• Learning Network Queensland


• Even 4 Pubs are an asset – Providing Cheap Accomodation


• 2 Caravan Parks


• And More…

Even in a small community of just a few thousand people – it’s amazing how many things we have which are assets.  A bit of development of these resources and connecting their usefulness can results in tremendous things. 

How to Break Your Leg in One Easy Step

While playing football with some Seniors at the High School on Thursday I broke my leg.  The leg has two bones running down the inside, the Fibula and the Tibia.  Well, I had a meeting with the concrete at full speed and my fibula was the weakest link. 

As I lay in the sick bay (infirmary) at the High School I felt these strange feelings of immense gratitude and thanks to God all over me.  I knew that what was happening to me was actually very good, and that God was going to use this whole experience in a very good way.  Despite the pain I was feeling physically at the time, I must say I had a tremendous sense of well being in every other way.  When I phoned my wife to tell her that “I might have broken my leg,” she thought it sounded very strange coming from someone who sounded so “normal.” 

The ambulance came to take me away (my first time in an ambulance) and they gave me some penthrox for the pain.  This was a strange green tube that you suck on and it made me go very whoozy.  I preferred the pain to the feelings that it gave me, and I had a lot of trouble being able to think and concentrate after sucking on that. 

At the hospital I had X-Ray’s taken (shown above) which proved that my fibula was cracked all the way through.  So I have had to have my leg set in a “back-slab” which is a caste which only coves the back of the leg and the front is all covered with multiple layers of wrapping.  This is to help manage swelling in the leg.  My beautiful lovely wife agreed to paint my cast for me.  I joked that if I walked through grass I might lose my leg. 

God has been very faithful and gracious to us in all the things that have happened in our lives.  There has never been a moment where we can accuse God of any wrong doing.  Even when “bad things” take place, there is always something good that comes out of it, and there is a promise in the scriptures that confirm this to us.  “For I know that all things work together for the good of those that love God, and are called according to His purpose.”  If you love Christ and are willing to obey Him, no matter what happens to you, there will be good come from it. 

Remember Christ who died on the cross for our sins – it was undoubtedly the very best thing that has ever happened.  However in that moment, a bystander looking up at a dying man would not have been able to understand that.  So in the same way, when things happen that we don’t understand – TRUST GOD.  Good things are taking place. 

Scuba Diving at Middle Island Underwater Observatory, Great Keppel

The underwater observatory has been shut for a number of years now, but it is still there and the fish that hang around it are still there.  I was blessed to go scuba diving there last week and took a few photos.  The owner of the observatory is Tower Holdings Pty Ltd and they have plans for it along with their resort on Keppel Island.  However in the meantime – you can get a sort of a glimpse from my few photos. 

Middle Island is in a green zone, so that means no fishing, no spear fishing and no collecting specimens.  It’s a Marine National Park – and that’s a good thing because it preserves the beauty for the future. 

The photos are a little dark because I’m new at taking underwater photos.  Also, the glass on the observatory is all overgrown with algae so it makes it look like a shipwreck or something, but it’s actually a building constructed underwater.  One day in the near future it will be used again and we all look forward to that. 

Also, in the future I hope to begin a business doing underwater weddings, and I’m talking with Tower Holdings at present to discuss the use of this facility for that purpose a a viewing platform for the friends and family of the bride and groom.  Enjoy these photos. 

 

 

 

 

Finally Got a Gideons Red Bible after 20 Years

Gideons as an organisation is made up of great Christian folks who hand out Bibles for free all around the world, and here in Australia too.  They have these little tiny bibles in a variety of colours.  When I was a grade 8 student I received a little red bible, but only a few years later I had no idea where it could be.  I really wanted to get one again. 

So they have little white ones for nurses, little green ones for the army, little gold ones for doctors, and little blue ones as a general colour for everyone. 

We had a Gideon member in our church and I asked for a replacement red one, but I was told no, they couldn’t do it because the rules said I could only get a red one if I was grade 8 – they offered me a blue one.  The same thing happened again a few years ago when I asked another Gideon member.  Last week however, finally after 20 years, I got a yes on my third attempt.  God bless the Gideons for all the great work they do.

A quick quide to colours of gideons bibles. 

Congratulations to Cadbury Chocolate

A few months ago I wrote about the issue of slavery and how so much of the world’s chocolate (about 95%) is created on the back of slaves in Western Africa.  Well, today I was so happy to be in the shops and see sitting on the racks, a heap of chocolate bars with the freetrade logo stamped on the packaging.  I was so happy I bought a block of chocolate.  This chocolate was made by real humans, paid real wages, and they benefit when I eat this chocolate.  Well done to Cadbury.  I’m proud that they have taken the initiative to fix this wrong from their point of view, and I hope that other chocolate manufacturers are able to follow their example. 

God Knows Our Hearts

Over the years I’ve heard many Christians say “God knows my heart.”  Usually they say it after they make some kind of mistake and this saying is said as a kind of sentiment to reflect that “they meant well” so God won’t mind.  At times it has been used to excuse all sorts of terrible behaviour.

Anyway, I want to examine this phrase for just one moment and see exactly what the Bible has to say about “our hearts.” 

First of all 1 John 3:20 says that “God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.”  So yes, He does know our hearts.  However is this a good thing?

In Proverbs 17:3 it says that “God tests our hearts.”  So from this we can conclude that God not only knows our hearts, but that He examines them specifically.  Finally in Jeremiah 17:9 it says that “the heart is deceitfully wicked.”  In other words, our heart lies to us and cannot be trusted.  It is evil and deceitful. 

So if God knows our hearts – thats a bad thing, because our hearts are rotten to the core.  The Bible says elsewhere that “our righteousness is as filthy rags.”  So even that which is our very best, is still just junk in God’s eyes.  What we think is a pure motive still reeks of selfishness.  In fact, what the English Bible has translated as “filthy rags” is none other than “menstrual cloths” in the original intent.  Our very best effort, our purest motive… it’s just a used tampon in God’s eyes. 

So next time you make a mistake, or something doesn’t work out – don’t use the excuse “Its OK, God knows my heart.”  No – pray for grace and keep yourself humble and close to God.  There’s no future in anything else. 

Listen to my MP3 – Is Your Diamond Real? 

Finally, Proverbs 28:26 says “He who trusts in His heart is a fool.”  So don’t assume the best about yourself, don’t trust your motives.  Trust the Lord and cast yourself on His mercy. 

Fishing at Great Keppel Island

On Monday, my son and a few of my brothers and a cousin went fishing out at Great Keppel Island.  My son who is 8 had never been on a boat before and had never been fishing before either.  So it was a great day for him. 

At the beginning of the day I prayed and reminded the Lord that in Bible times he abundantly gave fish to the 12 disciples and the Bible is full of great fishing stories.  I asked if we could have some fish and particularly that my son could catch a fish.  And God answered my prayer. 

In fact it was an exceptional day’s fishing.  We fished in a Blue Zone where normally the fishing is not that good, but even so, we landed about 60 fish.  Many of the fish were good sized, but not big enough to keep.  However we were able to keep ten fish and that night we dined on oven baked stripey.  Delicious!!

As I thought about this I remembered that the Lord told us that we should “follow him” because he wanted to “make us fishers of men.”  God is more interested in people than in fish. 

I realised that if God answered an ordinary prayer for fish, He will certianly hear a prayer of effort regarding lost human beings that are all around us.  If we are faithful, we will see a lot of human fish get caught for God. 

Going Going Gone - Sold for $2.50

Recently my son painted his first piece of artwork, and I was able to list it on eBay for him.  It was purchased for $2.50 by a lady living in Cremorne in Victoria.  Titus was very excited to have sold his painting.  Also, postage was less than we estimated and so he also made an additional $1.80 there.  All up he made $4.30.  Not bad for a nine year old’s first attempt at painting.  Well done Titus. 

The Confession of a Gay Boy

In a hypothetical situation, I am approached by a 11 year old Christian church attending boy who confesses to being gay, and that he fears he will go to hell as a result.  He doesn’t want anyone, especially not his family to know.  What would you do?

We have all heard that homosexuality is an abomination to God.  However, has anyone every done a search of the Bible to see what else is an abomination to God.  Most people don’t take the time to do that.  Here are a few things which the Bible says are an abomination to the Lord: (using King James Version)

• Lying (Proverbs 6:17)


• Pride (Proverbs 6:17)


• Violence (Provebs 6:17)


• Evil Thoughts (Proverbs 6:18)


• Discord (Proverbs 6:19)


• Dishonest Business Practices (Dueteronomy 25:13–16)


• Various Other Sexual Practices (Leviticus 18:18–30)


• Prayer from a Wrong Heart (Proverbs 28:9)


• Our own Righteousness (Luke 16:15–16)

For those actually interested, here is a bible search in the KJV on the word abomination.  Even eating the wrong kind of fish is an abomination to the Lord in the book of Leviticus. 

Basically any sin is an abomination to God because as the Bible says in Hebrews 1:9 that Jesus loved righteousness and hated wickedness.  Abominations are simply things God hates, which is any sin.  We as humans tend to grade sin on a scale of really bad to not so bad, but in the end all sin is wrong and violates Gods standards.  As such, there are many people who will not find themselves in Heaven on judgement day despite them thinking so. 

So when a boy comes to me as says he has a terrible problem with being gay – this is GOOD NEWS.  It’s good because a heart that is aware of its sin is in the perfect place to receive grace from the Saviour Jesus Christ. 

Why should I be apalled when someone says He is gay but not be apalled when someone says he is a sinner?  Or apalled at my own sin?  In God’s eyes both are apalling.  But in God’s eyes both people are equally loved, and Christ died for both. 

So I can really work with someone who is concerned about the condition of their heart and wants to do something about it.  There is help for people who want help, and the grace of God is ready to flow. 

My response would be to pray for the young man, and to talk him through the issues to discover what he knows, what he believes and to help him find help in whatever way he needs it.  This boy is probably closer to heaven, than most “straight” boys of the same age.  Probably Option B is the closest option to that which I would take.  – David Alley

 

 

The Opposite of Committment

Last week my good friend John Batley and I were talking about our faith, and our church fellowship in Mt Morgan.  John said that he had been thinking about Committment to the Lord and church, and wondering why so many believers didn’t seem to be committed.  He did a google search on the opposite of committment and found this page from wordhippo.  The opposite of committment is indifference.  Makes sense. 

Chappy Week in Mt Morgan

Chappy Week is an annual event, a week every year to remember school chaplains and what they do, and to promote the work of chaplains.  This year Chappy Week is May 16 to 23. 

In Mt Morgan as part of Chappy Week, we are having a breakfast ($10 a head) to raise money towards chaplaincy, and also to promote what chaplains do in general, and in specific in Mt Morgan.  David Alley, our local chaplain at both our schools will be the guest speaker.  For information about other things happening for Chappy Week see the website – http://chappyweek.org.au/

Below is the flier reproduced for the occasion.  RSVP by Wed 19^th May. 

 

---

Mount Morgan Chaplaincy Committee

warmly invites you to

Breakfast

   7:00 a.m. Saturday

22 May 2010

Footbridge Corner/Centrelink

 Cornes Street, Mt Morgan

 

Guest Speaker:

 

David Alley

School Chaplain

Meet our Chaplains … stay informed.

                                            

 

Fine food, fellowship, facts and …

funds for Chaplaincy … fantastic!

 

 

Donation: $10.00 per person

 All proceeds aid Mt Morgan Chaplaincy

RSVP by Wed 19^th – David Alley 0429363811 or david@mtmorgan.com

 

Titus Alley - Famous Painter

My son Titus has declared to the family that he is going to be a famous painter one day.  So he decided to actually paint something to that end.  So here is his first painting – not bad for a ten year old.  If he actually becomes famous, this painting will be worth millions one day – but right now, we are selling it on eBay with a starting bid of $2.50.

Book Review - Holy Community

This book (available at Amazon) is interesting because it takes a look at Pentecost in a whole new way. The book says that before 1901 when the whole tongues and "Pentecostal" movement got underway, people viewed the Baptism of the Spirit differently. They did actually believe in such a thing, and they believed that the results of it were increased holiness and increased ability to witness powerfully. Now it seems people just equate Pentecost and the Baptism of the Spirit with gifts. 

This book explores the idea that the Day of Pentecost radically changed the early believers from disagreeing individuals to a people of Holy Community. It says that the Baptism of the Spirit can be corporate and not just individual and it tells the story of Peace Apostolic Community in Rockahmpton, Australia where exactly this happened. It also tells of other historical examples of this happening too. 

This book is a must read. You'll realise the "Pentecostals" are not as pentecostal as they think - and neither is anyone. We all need more of the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Baptism of the Spirit - Community. This book will open a window into what this all means.

How to Help At Risk Youth

“At Risk” youth are young people who are at risk of a variety of things.  They risk perhaps facing dangerous circumstances posed by the family environment they are in, or circumstances out of their control.  Or they risk missing out on opportunities for their life which normal people would receive or even expect. 

Three ways we can help youth at risk are?

1. Learn more about them


2. Model it in my/our own life


3. Manage difficult behaviours

Learn more about them

Taking the time to understand youth in general, and also individual youth will help me to be able to help them.  Understanding leads to a greater compassion which is important as a motivating factor.  Also, whilst help can be given in situations as a choice knowing its important, without understanding, or without compassion, these qualities help to make it more genuine to the youth themselves. 

Undertaking this YMIS course for me is actually a process in learning more about at risk youth.  Even though this course is only at the beginning for me, already I feel challenged and am learning many things which will be helpful in my schools. 

Model it in my own life

I’m probably surrounded by many at risk youth and opportunities to help them that I’m not aware of, but trying to take the opportunities that do present themselves helps reach out to other youth, as well as make a difference for those already being helped. 

Two years ago my wife and I fostered a boy at the Primary School we work at.  His mother was unable to care for him due to drug and alcohol problems and we took him into our home for 9 months.  As a result of this, his results in school picked up, he began to get a handle on reading and writing, his anger problem settled down and he came to know Jesus through attending church with us, and our example at home.  This is an extreme example, but we do try to help and model help when we can. 

Manage Difficult Behaviours

Discipline (the right kind) provides security and when difficult behaviour is managed well, it gives at risk youth a feeling of being cared for, and they feel safe.  Whilst this seems counter intuitive at first, it makes sense.  This is an area I would like to understand more and work better in. 

 

Book Review - Israeli Apartheid

Do you remember many years ago in South Africa there was a lot of racial tension and separation between “whites” and “blacks.”  The South African people had a name for that – apartheid.  This basically means people kept apart and one group usually mistreated. 

We were all horrified that such a thing happened in South Africa and when Nelson Mandela was released from Robben Island, he came out of that jail after 27 years with no bitterness and was able to be used by God to bring healing to that whole nation. 

Sadly, according to Israeli Apartheid, such a situation of racial separation and tension exists in modern day Israel between the Israel and Palestinian peoples. 

In South African, a lot of obvious issues were what Ben White calls “petty” where there were separate toilets, separate shops and so on.  However in this book Ben White explains that the situation in Israel is more serious.  The Israel jews seem to have all the advantages and benefits, whilst many Palestinians suffer with things like poor quality water, sewerage dumped on their land, random house demolitions, injustice in the courts and amongst other things the separation barrier that is being built to keep Palestinians out. 

This book is an eye opener, and you would have to say that Israel are doing themselves no favours when it comes to the quest for peace in the Middle East.  If they want peace they will have to try harder to be nice to their neighbours.  We have much to learn – may God give grace.  Book available at Amazon. 

The First Shall be Last and the Last Shall be Last

Not so long ago we tried to explain to our children about what Jesus said, “The first shall be last and the last shall be first.”  We decided to start rewarding proper behaviour.  So we would give out a special treat and if someone showed a little self restraint and selflessness in letting others go first, they would actually get to go first.  The children very quicly cottoned on and all started wanting to go last – so that in reality they could go first. 

In other words – they were still wanting to be first, but were getting it by trying to be last. 

When Jesus said this he was not talking about actual places in a line, but about an attitude of the heart.  Those who are willing to serve and love and give themselves up for others by putting others first, will be rewarded and honoured in Heaven.  On the other hand, those who only think of themselves “first” will find that Heaven is not forthcoming with blessing for them. 

So no matter if you are lining up first or last – if you are “thinking of yourself first” then God will make sure you are last.  So we may as well say, that if this is the case, the First shall be Last, and the Last shall be Last too. 

 

Ferdi Miltenburg on Zambia

Last Friday night at church we had Ferdi Miltenburge, a carpenter who has been to Zambia a couple of times to help build clinics and repair “hospitals” and other mercy mission work.  Ferdi also challenged us all to realise that we are missionaries too.  We are missionaries right where we live. 

However in addition to that, we are also called by Christ to be workers for the sake of the gospel to the ends of the earth also.  That means we need to take a deliberate position and ask ourselves the when, where, how and what questions about our involvment in missions.  Ferdi showed footage of a maternity ward in Zambia – and I will post this footage soon in an additional post.  Ladies Beware… after seeing this footage you might want a home birth. 

Talent Night - That's Debateable

The Youth Group of our church in Rockhampton had a talent night last Saturday and a number of very entertaining items and presentations took place.  I did a Tiny Tim impersonation of “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” with my ukelele.  It was greeted by more laughter and enthusiasm than was reflected by my “talent level.”  A good time was had by all. 

Goat Meets Great Dane

On the weekend we heard a great amount of barking coming from our yard.  When we went out to see – PRESTO – there was a goat.  My son promptly named it “Olivia.”  We have no idea where this goat came from, but it was super friendly and followed us around everywhere.  Just one small snag however – our dog had never seen a goat before and was fascinated.  He kept following “Olivia” around and for his trouble got head butted on the nose a couple of times.  Sadly, we were not able to keep “Olivia” and she has gone to the Pound. 

How to Make a False Christian

As well as being a chaplain, I’m a pastor too.  At home in my filing cabinet I have evangelistic response slips from a number of evangelistic events I have held in my home town of Mt Morgan.  Some of these slips are for kids actually in my schools.  Every single person on these slips has said the “sinner’s prayer” and been told by a well meaning believer that “You are now a Christian.” 

The sad part is that not a single person out of those 500 slips actually attends any church.  I concluded recently that there is something wrong with the way most of us believers think about evangelism and the gospel. 

So how to make a false Christian:

1. When a person asks to become a Christian enthusiastically help them say the sinners prayer repeating after you. 


2. Ask them if they were “really sincere.”


3. If they say yes, then declare them to be “a Christian.” 


4. Finally tell them that God has forgiven them all of their sins and that they are now definitely going to be in Heaven when they die. 

I guess I have realised that there are many reasons “why” a person wants to become “what they think a Christian is.”  Some people are not sincere in thier approach to God, and some people are ill informed about what is required and are thinking they are getting something different.

In both cases it’s a mistake to declare someone saved and going to Heaven because if their belief about it is wrong, or their motives are wrong, they might be still going to Hell.  In fact, telling them they are saved is like a “death sentence” because now they won’t be seeking salvation anymore.  They are what Charles Finney used to call a “False Convert.”

This brings me to this weeks Online Task.  When someone asks spiritual questions, why do most Christians respond in their usual way?  Simply because that is how they have been trained to resond.  We are often more focused on what we want to say (because it’s so important) rather than focused on hearing what the other person has to say. 

Do I think that our counselling skills would be useful? Definitely.  Taking time to listen to what people think and feel and to reflect those feelings and thoughts back to make sure we understand is a great beginning.  Then we not only have an opporunity to talk, but have a basis for our words to be valued also. 

If a young person came up to me…  I guess for me the best way to answer their question is to actually ask them some questions and to let them begin talking.  My desire would be to find out what they know, what they want, and the reason why they want that.  This would help me to decide what to tell them and where to lead the conversation.  I would also not be in a rush to “convert them.”  To me that is the job of the Holy Spirit and the little I get to say, He will use to great effect in their mind to make the changes He wants. 

So I’ve been learning how not to make false converts here in my town.  I don’t know if I’ve learned all that much actually, but I’m just glad this course, and a few life experiences thrown in are helping to make us all the people God wants us to be. 

PS Here is an interesting mp3 by Ray Comfort on False Conversion. 

 

Rockhampton Masjid & Islamic Centre

On Friday 16 April I visited the Rockhampton Mosque.  Technically it’s not a mosque because it doesn’t have minarets and some of the fancy features of Mosques in Islamic countries like Pakistan and the like. 

This visit was part of my chaplaincy at school.  We are asked as part of the YMIS youth work diploma to identify minority groups in our schools and seek to understand them.  I have identified a small number of Muslim students and I felt that attending a Mosque would give me a better understanding of their culture and religion.  I think it did.

Islam has struck me as a sombre religion and everything is very serious.  I recall during the Imam’s sermon that he said that if Muslims strove to be good that Allah “might” forgive them. 

The men I met were good men in every normal sense of the word.  They are sincere and seem to be kind hearted.  I appreciate my opportunity to visit them and the kindness shown to me.  My prayer is that the Lord will reveal himself to them and that they might find salvation and grace through Jesus Christ. 

 

DO NOT VISIT THIS PAGE

I’m guessing that you couldn’t help yourself, and somewhere you have clicked on an ad or a link that said “Do NOT Click This” or something similar. 

Curiosity can be a killer can’t it?

We all love to find out about the unknown.  A long long time ago someone was in a very similar situation – they just had to know what would happen if they did something they were told not to do. 

The ladies name was Eve and God told her she could basically do anything she wanted, but just couldn’t eat the fruit of this one tree.  So out of curiosity, or something similar, Eve did exactly what she was not supposed to do and the world descended into chaos.

It wasn’t the fruit that was the problem, it was the disobedience and deciding to refuse to do what God said.  And Eve (Adam too) wasn’t the only one, the whole world is full of people that today still don’t want to do what God says – including you. 

The Bible says that before disobedience came into the world via Adam & Eve everything was perfect – but after they ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil – they found out about evil all right – evil things became a part of our personal experience.

So in a kind of a way you were tricked into coming here.  But in another way, it was an act of disobedience on your part and you did something you were told not to do. 

Let me be very honest with you.

Disobedience to what God wants will send you to Hell, a horrible place.  Hell is not a place of fun, or time with friends.  Hell is a place of torment and pain where “the worm never dies” and where people “gnash their teeth.”  Not a nice place in other words. 

However a person who desires to follow God and obey is on a different path entirely.  One that you need to be on. 

God gave us Ten Commandments to live by and here they are in today’s language (taken from the Bible – Exodus 20)

1. God must be the most important thing in your life


2. Don’t idolize other things other than God


3. Don’t use God’s name as a swear word


4. Set aside time for God in your life - take time to rest.


5. Respect your parents and treat them well.


6. Don’t hate anybody (which is the same as murder)


7. Don’t lust after anyone (which is adultery)


8. Don’t steal things (ie downloaded movies, a pen from work)


9. Don’t tell lies (not even itty-bitty white ones)


10. Don’t be jealous or envious because other people have got good stuff. Be glad for them.

Most people fail every single commandment and yet they think that on the day of Judgement when they stand before God to explain their lives, that He will be nice to them and just “let them into Heaven.”  They will be mistaken.

If God lets everyone into Heaven who breaks these laws – Heaven will be no better than the world we are living in now.

So basically you need to change your approach to God and decide to live by His rules and standards.  You need to make God a priority in your life and start giving time for Him.  You need to begin by saying sorry to Him for the many times you have disregarded Him.

There is good news however. 

Whenever someone turns their heart in God’s direction – something wonderful happens inside of them.  It’s called conversion - and God changes them so that now they want to do what is right and they start to hate what is wrong. 

God is also very merciful to people like this and when they confess their wrongs to Him, he forgives them, and its as though they never did anything wrong in the first place. 

And even better – now this person is not headed to Hell – but as a new found freind of God’s – He wants you to be in Heaven with Him. 

Start today with a prayer

“God I ask that you would forgive me for my sins – I don’t want to do them anymore – help me to now keep my mind on what you want from me.  Take away my faults and help me.  Give me eternal life and a place with you in Heaven.  Amen.” 

If you have prayed that prayer then I would like to send you materials to strengthen you in faith.  I would also like to pray for you too.  Please send me your details so that I can be in contact with you.

Did you?

• Pray this prayer for the first time


• Not Interested Thanks

Finally – Would you consider helping out this site so that it is able to help out other people – here is how.