Preview: Flute Recital

Here is a sneak peak of what we will be performing on the weekend. This is one of the pieces that I will be playing with Caitlyn at my recital. Hope to see you there on Sunday!

Matthew.

P.S. If you want a good laugh, watch the accompanist's face at the end, or the sound guy in the background spilling his coffee. =)

My First Recital

Hi everyone,

This is my first solo recital, and it would mean so much to me if you could come and bring your friends and family along! My Diploma exam is a few weeks later, so I thought this would be a great opportunity to perform my exam program before the big day.

I promise I will try my best to make it an AWESOME afternoon, and if nothing else, there will be a scrumptious home-baked afternoon tea worth coming for!! Anthony Smith and Caitlyn Ventura will be performing some items with me so there will definitely be some great music even if I don't do well. :)

Hope to see you there with all your friends! =)

Matt.

National Day of Epic Transportational Freedom

At least that's the way I like to think of it. Anyone who knows me will be well aware of the fact that I have been eagerly anticipating this day for YEARS. And that's an understatement. I have literally been counting down the days for months, so you can imagine how shocked I was when I woke up this morning and realized that I was down to 0 days!!!

After the last minute panic of realizing my driving test was 30 minutes earlier than I thought and trying (unsuccessfully) to change the time of my pre-exam driving lesson, we left at 9:05am this morning and drove around town doing some last-minute parking and 3-point-turn practice. Then I had a lesson with a very competent and encouraging instructor which was cut short so I could return to the RTA in time to take the exam.

The exam itself went reasonably well; I wasn't nervous, but was quite stressed and felt terrible to start with. It got better, though, and by the end of the test I was feel pretty confident (except for when I had to undertake for the first time ever - in the exam!).

Fortunately I PASSED!!!!! As if that wasn't enough to send me over the moon, when I had driven over to meet Mum at the Lolly Shack, I found out that my new car was ready to be picked up!! So I received a double blessing, one of which was a totally unexpected surprise.

 Here he is; doesn't he look handsome? 

 I haven't decided on a name for him yet. Suggestions welcome!

 That's right. P PLATES!!! =)

Looking back...

on 2011 and forward to 2012!!! I copied this blog idea from Bethany's blog and added a few things of my own. :)

The Best Book I read in 2011: would have to be Personality Types by Don Riso with Russ Hudson. I came across it seemingly by chance in the library, and it has proven to be one of the most useful books I've ever read. I know some of you will think it sounds rather weird and nerdy but I can tell you that trying to understand different personalities is something we are all constantly doing whether we realize it or not. This book gives some very good insight to understanding the people around us, their way of thinking, their motivations and fears, and how to relate to them effectively.

The Worst Book I read: I hardly ever read so don't have many books to choose from, but I didn't really like a book I started to read earlier on in the year, The India Rubber Men. I can't even remember much about it except that I found it a bit dry and uncaptivating.

The Best Movie I watched: Although it wasn't actually released in 2011, we watched Tangled a number of times during the year, and I always appreciate what a good movie it is. Apart from being a very well-made film, it's relaxing and easy to watch, and despite outward appearances, a good film for the whole family. (At first I was put off the whole "Disney princess movie" idea, but surprisingly it wasn't what I expected and actually has a lot that we guys can relate to as well).

The Worst Movie I watched: The Inspector General. It's really annoying, corny, and "cringe-ful". Why people make movies like this one is beyond me. What makes things worse is half the family finds it very amusing, which means we have to see it (or at least hear it in the background) occassionally.

My Favourite Holiday: Our October holiday at Culburra Beach was not only my favourite holiday of 2011, but the best holiday of my life so far. It was fantastic to just get away from all the busyness of life and completely relax (although I was also very glad to get back into the usual routine of things in Term 4).

My Favourite Moment: Getting my L's, passing my Grade 8 Flute exam, and playing a concert as Principal Flute in the CCO, and playing bassoon in a professional orchestra all come pretty close. However, probably my favourite experience of the year was performing Handel's Messiah in Cooma. Messiah is an incredible piece of music, and when you're actually "inside" the music playing it, you experience an incredible sensation that can't be adequately described. To finish off an extraordinary day by performing the Hallelujah Chorus with a very enthusiastic 50-piece choir behind you - not to mention amazing timpani (Caitlyn) - is something you have to experience to understand. The libretto is very Biblical and uplifting, too.

My Favourite New Thing: Well if it counts as a "thing", then teaching flute last year would be my favourite. I still consider it a miracle how God has worked things out for me, and I'm SOOO thankful for everything He's done for me in 2011. Two of my students did AMEB exams (2'nd and 3'rd Grade) last year, and both did very well. The enthusiasm some of my students have is so inspiring, and I can tell you, I've learnt a thing or two from them over the past year as well! I look forward to starting next term with 12 students, and founding a Flute Ensemble to give them even more opportunities.

My Favourite Song or Album: It's kind of complicated. I consider "You Know Better Than I" from Joseph King of Dreams to be the best song ever. At the same time, When You Believe (from Prince of Egypt), is probably my favourite song, while the theme from Jurassic Park is the one I most enjoy listening to. However I've never enjoyed music quite so much as when I am playing the Dvorak Cello Concerto or Symphony No 8 or Handel's Messiah. All these pieces of music are favourites of mine, but all in different ways. As I said, it's hard to explain.

What I'm thankful for in 2011: So many things! God has been so good to me. Apart from what I've already mentioned, some of the more notable things include getting a scholarship for cheaper music lessons at the ANU, learning to drive, being in COOMA!, 6-a-side soccer, our church carols night (one of the highlights of my year, actually), and probably the thing that I've come to appreciate most; all the amazing people that have done so much for me in the past year, especially those like my family who know all my faults and see me at my worst, but still put up with me.

Achievements I have in mind for 2012: 2012 will be a BIG year in my life. I hope to get my P's, buy a car, finish school, do my Flute AMusA, audition for the ANU, start a Flute Ensemble, and finish memorizing Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).

What about you? What were your highlights of 2011, and what are you looking forward to in 2012?

Happy New Year, everyone!!!

It’s (Past) Time for a Reformation

Just thought I'd share with you all an interesting article a friend showed me. Although this article is targeted mainly at charismatics, I think there's a lot in it for e to learn, and it will definitely get you thinking. I'm not endorsing the entire content of the article, but I do think it's worth reading seriously. Let me know what you think of it:

It’s (Past) Time for a Charismatic Reformation

In honor of Reformation Day, here are some complaints I’m nailing on the Wittenberg door.
Long before there was an Occupy Wall Street, Martin Luther staged the most important protest in history. He was upset because Roman Catholic officials were promising people forgiveness or early escape from purgatory in exchange for money. So on October 31, 1517, Luther nailed a long list of complaints on the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany.

Luther’s famous 95 theses were translated from Latin into German and spread abroad. Like a medieval Jeremiah, Luther dared to ask questions that had never been asked, and he challenged a pope who was supposedly infallible. Through this brave monk, the Holy Spirit sparked the Protestant Reformation and restored the doctrine of grace to a church that had become corrupt, religious, dysfunctional, political and spiritually dead.

I am no Luther, but I’ve grown increasingly aware that the so-called “Spirit-filled” church of today struggles with many of the same things the Catholic church faced in the 1500s. We don’t have “indulgences”—we have telethons. We don’t have popes—we have super-apostles. We don’t support an untouchable priesthood—we throw our money at celebrity evangelists who own fleets of private jets.
In honor of Reformation Day, I’m offering my own list of needed reforms in our movement. And since I can’t hammer these on the Wittenberg door, I’ll post them online. Feel free to nail them everywhere.

1. Let’s reform our theology. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is God and He is holy. He is not an “it.” He is not a blob, a force, or an innate power. We must stop manipulating Him, commanding Him and throwing Him around.
2. Let’s return to the Bible. The Word of God is the foundation for the Christian experience. Any dramatic experience, no matter how spiritual it seems, must be tested by the Word and the Holy Spirit’s discernment. Visions, dreams, prophecies and encounters with angels must be in line with Scripture. If we don’t test them we could end up spreading deception.
3. It’s time for personal responsibility. We charismatics must stop blaming everything on demons. People are usually the problem.
4. Stop playing games. Spiritual warfare is a reality, but we are not going to win the world to Jesus just by shouting at demonic principalities. We must pray, preach and persevere to see ultimate victory.
5. Stop the foolishness. People who hit, slap or push others during prayer should be asked to sit down until they learn gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
6. End all spiritual extortion now. Christian television ministries must cease and desist from all manipulative fundraising tactics. We must stop giving platforms to ministers who make outlandish claims of supernatural financial returns, especially when Scripture is twisted, deadlines are imposed and the poor are exploited.
7. No more Lone Rangers. Those who claim to be ministers of God—whether they are traveling evangelists, local pastors or heads of ministries—must be accountable to other leaders. Any who refuse to submit their lives to godly discipline should be corrected.
8. Expose the creeps. Churches should start doing background checks on traveling ministers. Preachers who have been hiding criminal records, lying about their past marriages, preying on women or refusing to pay child support should be exposed as charlatans and shunned if they do not repent.
9.  Stop faking the anointing. God is God, and He does not need our “help” to manifest Himself. That means we don’t sprinkle glitter on ourselves to suggest God’s glory is with us, hide fake jewels on the floor to prove we are anointed or pull chicken feathers out of our sleeves to pretend angels are in the room. This is lying to the Holy Spirit.
10. Let’s return to purity. We’ve had enough scandals. The charismatic church must develop a system for the restoration of fallen ministers. Those who fall morally can be restored, but they must be willing to submit to a process of healing rather than rushing immediately back into the pulpit.
11. We need humility. Ministers who demand celebrity treatment, require lavish salaries, insist on titles or exhibit aloofness from others are guilty of spiritual pride.
12.  No more big shots. Apostles are the bondslaves of Christ, and should be the most impeccable models of humility. True apostles do not wield top-down, hierarchical authority over the church. They serve the church from the bottom up as true servants.
13. Never promote gifts at the expense of character. Those who operate in prophecy, healing and miracles must also exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. And while we continue to encourage the gift of tongues, let’s make sure we don’t treat it like some kind of badge of superiority. The world needs to see our love, not our glossolalia.
14.  Hold the prophets accountable. Those who refuse to take responsibility for inaccurate statements should not be given platforms. And “prophets” who live immoral lives don’t deserve a public voice.
15. Let’s make the main thing the main thing. The purpose of the Holy Spirit’s anointing is to empower us to reach others. We are at a crossroads today: Either we continue off-course, entertained by our charismatic sideshows, or we throw ourselves into evangelism, church planting, missions, discipleship, and compassionate ministry that helps the poor and fights injustice. Churches that embrace this New Reformation will focus on God’s priorities.
J. Lee Grady

Food for thought? I think so.

God is good!!

Actually, he's amazing. I would even say indescribably awesome but I guess that would be a contradiction. You get the idea, though. :)

And yes, I'm still alive!! Very much so, actually, although you may not have guessed from my lack of activity on here. I've done a fairly major re-shuffling of my imaginary priority list (it does exist, just not written down), and blogging was one of the first things to move down to the 'low priority' area. 

Another thing that got moved down the list was my rabbit breeding program. While I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and learning so much about biology and genetics (as well as the very small income generated from this hobby), I feel that my rabbits are distracting my from the things that I consider "more important" at this stage of my life. So after a lot of thought and prayer I finally decided to get out of rabbits completely. I've found a buyer for all the rabbits except 2, and have someone interested in those 2 as well. I actually feel surprisingly happy with my decision, and even now don't have any regrets at all about seeing all those years of hard work gone. At least I know their new owners, so I will be able to hear how they're going, and maybe even one day get them back again. 

It's hard to believe this year is nearly over already!! You'd think we'd used to this happening every year, but I'm sure each year goes faster than the one before. I guess now is a good time to reflect on the past year before we get thrown into yet another one! I wonder how many people can remember their New Year's Resolutions. Or how many have achieved them. I can't even remember mine (if I had any?) so I doubt that I achieved any of them.

I remember this time last year I was getting all stressed about how things were going to work out for this year; no matter how much I thought about it or tried to plan the year, I couldn't see how on earth things could possibly work out. (I'll spare you the details of specifically what I was worried about.) But now looking back I can see how this year God has bombarded me with opportunities far beyond anything I would ever have imagined or dreamed of!! Yet at the time I didn't seem to take much notice. Ironic how it's so easy to long for something so much that you don't recognize it when it's staring you in the face. I can't think of a single prayer that God hasn't answered this year - some of them in a far more wonderful way than I expected.

It's so encouraging to know all this, and to have that assurance that no matter what the future may hold, God will be right by our side giving us what He knows is best. I read a quote this morning, "God will never lead you where he cannot care for you." - W. W. Wiersbe.

What has He done for you this year?

Holidays

It's been a long time since I last posted, so I thought I'd have a bit of a ramble about how I spent my holiday just past.

The very first day of the holidays I got up at 5:30 am with Caitlyn to go to the Australian Flute Festival in Canberra. So much for catching up on some sleep. It was totally worth it though, and the Festival was an incredible learning and inspirational experience. The highlight was that we chose and bought a lovely brand new flute for Caitlyn and I almost bought myself a real piccolo that actually works (the last one worked for about a week before it ceased to be playable and was also completely irrepairable). The only reason I didn't buy it was that my teacher thought she knew of someone who could sell me a cheaper one. It was great fun trying the hundreds of different types of flutes and piccolos, though.

I spent the next 1½ days after that at the Festival as well (it is a 3-day event) before getting picked up in Canberra on Monday morning to go on a family holiday to the coast. It was a nice trip, though I didn't do any driving. We spent about 4 days staying at our grandparents' holiday house in Culburra Beach, and it was just amazing. I'm not usually a fan of holidays away from home, but I loved every minute of this one. Our family has been going on holidays to Culburra since before I was born, but it never grows old; it's a wonderful location, with a lake just down the road, an oval, park and bbq's across the road, two beaches within walking distance and a cove a short walk away. We're so thankful to be able to stay at a place like this, and find that we appreciate it more every time we go.

We spent a lot of time swimming (although the water was absolutely freezing), walking, playing games, talking, and fishing. We are terrible fisherman, and hardly manage to catch anything worth keeping, but still had a great time trying. Joseph managed to catch a baby bream by hooking it's side... I still don't know how the hook got stuck in the fish's body instead of its mouth...

After spending a few days in Culburra we went to a caravan park in a nice little coastal town called Kioloa near Bateman's Bay. This was an extended family holiday organised by Mum's parents for all of their family to spend a weekend together. It worked out very well, and everyone really enjoyed catching up with each other. We had a lot of fun playing tennis, and a bit of healthy (?!) competition was aroused in some participants...

On Sunday we headed back to Culburra, to spend the remainder of our holiday there. Feeling all fired up, we played a bit of tennis there. With the main focus on relaxing, we also did a bit more walking, talking, fishing, and went to the beach although the weather wasn't so great. One unique aspect of Venturas is that we sometimes like to have long philosophical discussions analyzing various issues in some depth. In the holidays when we're all together with Joshua it happens quite frequently. It's a lot of fun, even when we're not really serious, but just talking and getting to know each other better.

This afternoon we arrived back home in Cooma, all recharged and energized to tackle another term. It was by far the most enjoyable holiday I've had yet, but I'm glad to be back in the usual busy routine again getting things done. Fourth term is looking very promising already, and I can't wait to get started again.

How did you spend your holidays, and what are you looking forward to in the new term?