Facebook, Eat Your Heart Out!

Australia's National Portrait Gallery has launched an exciting new exhibition - Animated. It's an online exhibition of animated self-portraits, and is the first made-for-online exhibition ever produced by the Gallery.

You'll need a broadband connection or a busload of patience to view these self-portraits... but they're well worth the effort to have a look. Softie that I am, I think my favourite is Boyd Blue, by Jo Boag... but I'll see what I think next week!

View the exhibit.


Naomi

A Recipe for Change

View this inspirational video about how a small action, faithfully carried out, can change the world for the better:

A Recipe for Change

One woman, a chocolate cake and a meal of love.


Naomi

Sex and the Christian Woman

Sex.

It's something that affects every single one of us. No matter what type of life we've lived, no matter what type of life we live now. But more often than not, we're completely in the dark as to what to think about it, how to think about it, and where to start in talking about it.

Being Christian women, I'd venture to say most of us have heard the following - either direct or implied - from other Christians:

• Good Christian girls shouldn't think or talk about sex
• My sex life will be awesome, because I didn't have sex before marriage
• If I slip up and have sex before marriage, my sex life is ruined
• Don't talk about it before marriage with your boyfriend/fiance
• Sex will sort itself out just fine once I'm married
• Masturbation or touching myself is sin
• Sex isn't 'all that'
• Christian women shouldn't have oral sex/anal sex/use toys
• Men always want sex; nice girls don't
• 'Kinky' equals perversion or sexual addiction
  

I'd like to point out right here and now – that all of those statements are myths. Belief in some of them has led to some very disappointed and disillusioned Christians living a half-life when it comes to sexual intimacy with their spouses.

I realise this article and its sequels may shock some people. I know that delving into these topics can cause discomfort. That is perfectly okay, and to be expected - sex is a topic close to our hearts, and questioning our beliefs on such things is often painful.

But the fact is – we need to talk about this. If we are considering getting married, or are already married, then we need to be mature enough to handle the concept of sexuality and sexual expression. If we can talk to our partner/future spouse/spouse about finances, chores or what to do on the weekend – we can also talk about sex.

Sure, there might be some issues to consider that might not have to be considered in a topic like marital finances. But a tough topic does not justify burying our heads in the sand. So over the next few articles, I'll discuss each of those statements in a bit more detail. I'll use the Bible and real-world scenarios to help us along.

The point I'd like to leave this brief discussion with is this:

Sexuality and sexual expression is an integral aspect of our lives, given to us and blessed by God. It is not something to be ignored, ashamed about or to leave floundering in our marriages. This part of our lives and marriages is as important as finances, ministry, goals and children. And as strong Christian women, we should be doing all we can to ensure our sex lives (current or future) are as healthy and vibrant as every other part that makes us 'us'.


Sascha

Diary of a Broken Heart - pt 2

I've been thinking about the diagnosis (ie, the "you need open heart surgery" bit) and how I felt about it.

Years ago, in a previous pregnancy, I informed medical staff of my history (heart surgery when I was a toddler, only one functioning lung) and complained of excessive tiredness and breathlessness. After a few minor tests, I was told obliquely that I was a hypochondriac. No checking of medical records, as far as I'm aware. So I shrugged, and assumed that they were right.

For the years between that pregnancy and the next, I had times of unexplained fatigue. I'd be energetic one week, ridiculously tired the next. The only explanation I ever got was 'depression', since I was never anaemic. Unsurprisingly (in retrospect), I couldn't find anything to help.

So I got pregnant again, and when the hospital pregnancy clinic labelled me as high-risk, I scoffed. When the heart ultrasound showed that my heart was dangerously enlarged... well, I think I was mostly just relieved. Finally I knew that I hadn't just been a hypochondriac. In fact, the doctor looking after me described me as 'extremely relaxed' and 'possibly too laidback'. When I called her at 36 weeks and said I felt terrible, she told me to come in with an overnight bag immediately.

Wow. I'm NOT a hypochondriac!


Naomi

Guilt-free Software

For years, I struggled with a basic computer dilemma - fork out hundreds of dollars I couldn't afford, accept illegal copies cheerfully offered by friends, or go without word processing and graphics software? Thank God, there's a better way.

Open Source Software

To be exact, 'open source' software is any program whose source code is available for use by developers. Typically, though, a good open source program is one that hundreds or thousands of people have worked on. Together. Absolutely free of charge.

For a non-developer-type software user, the important points are:

• It's completely free of charge to use
• People have worked hard to make it function, so if you can afford to donate your time or money, it will be appreciated
• However, there are NO guilt-inducing "are you SURE you don't want to donate?" messages

So Where Do I Find It?

Here are information and download links for my two all-time favourite pieces of open source software:

Word Processing - OpenOffice (download it)
Graphics and Photo Editing - GIMP (download it)

In the next article, we'll look at how to accomplish basic photo-editing tasks in GIMP.


Naomi

Practicing the Presence of God - pt 1

It seems bizarre to 'practice the presence of God' as though we call him into our lives when and where we want him. But we humans seem wired to only see the physical world, by default. God being always with us is often simply a theoretical concept, no matter how much belief and faith we have in it. It's like sitting next to someone on public transport - you can make eye contact and smile (maybe start a conversation), or ignore them with the help of a pair of headphones and a book.

To me, 'practicing the presence of God' is all about learning to acknowledge and converse with a God who is always present and always interested. It's not a new concept, by any means. Brother Lawrence was drawn out on the topic centuries ago, and his ideas are still relevant today. Over the next few weeks, I'll be highlighting what I think were some of his key points in the practice of God's presence.


Naomi

Diary of a Broken Heart - pt 1

26 Days Before Surgery

My name's Naomi. I'm a christian, a wife, a mum, a writer, and... well, lots else. When I was born, I had life-threatening heart problems. Without surgery, I probably wouldn't be alive today.

I don't remember anything from that surgery or the recovery. But during my last pregnancy, I discovered that I had a leaky heart valve, and half of my heart is getting more and more enlarged. Right now, I'm waiting for open heart surgery to repair the valve.

Why the diary? Because every now and then I sit here and wonder what on earth I can expect from this surgery. I know all the medical stuff. I have an idea of how long it will take me – from a medical point of view! - to heal from the surgery. I expect to feel as though I've been hit by a bus. But I don't know what I'll go through emotionally, or the weird side effects, or what I'll be able to wear in hospital. There's a big black hole of knowledge there. So I've got a couple of hopes. One, that I'll work out exactly what it is I'm needing to know. The other, that others facing the same surgery might be able to read this diary and get an idea of what's facing them.

Naomi

Not Quite Art

ABC Australia launched a new show last week, and by some miracle, I actually stumbled across the very first show and watched it.

Not Quite Art is a show about the not-so-clean, not-so-ordered art world all around us, outside the galleries and 'cultural precincts'. Where funding is low or non-existent, and art happens almost randomly.

Sound interesting? Read more on the show's website.

Download the entire first episode from the ABC website:
Not Quite Art - Episode 1 (mp4 format)
Not Quite Art - Episode 1 (wmv format)

Or subscribe to the vodcast:
MP4 Vodcast
WMV Vodcast

To see what others are saying about Not Quite Art, including some comments from the presenter, Marcus Westbury:
Larvatus Prodeo group blog

Naomi

Hey - What's Going On?

I'm going into hospital for heart surgery tomorrow.

As I'm the editor and all-round organiser for this blogzine right now, that means everything will be on hold here for at least a couple of weeks. I suspect I'm being a little optimistic in hoping to be back here that soon... so we'll have to see how we go.

Here's a sneak preview of the offerings we hope to bring to you soon:

• Am I a Christian if I'm not a Denomination?
• Sexual Health
• Guilt-free Software

Naomi

New Title Graphic, New Poll

Feel free to comment on either via this post (use the comments link under this text).

All opinions appreciated! :-)