Month: January 2012

Brighten (and organise) your Google Calendar!

by Ben Clapton, posted in Archive, Life

I’ve been in orientation this week for my course, and one of the lectures has been on time management. I’m really wanting to make sure I get organised and ensure that I make good use of my time (especially as there is often limited time), so I’m wanting to make full use of the resources available to me.

I’ve been using Google Calendar for a while now, which is especially awesome as it now sync’s with my phone. However, with everything looking the same, I longed for the ability to look at my week and quickly glance what was class time, what was study time, when assignments were due, and – importantly – when my “personal” time was – the time where I could go and practice my violin, play a game on my computer, or squeeze in a round of golf. Continue reading “Brighten (and organise) your Google Calendar!” →

Well, I better have a Well-Being Plan

by Ben Clapton, posted in Archive, Life
The Salvation Army Training College, Melbourne

I’ve practically finished my first week of orientation at the Training College. We’ve had a lot of different orientations – to uniform, to education, to prayer and more. Yesterday, we had a session called “Coping with Change”. We have all had to go through a big change in order to come to the Training College. At a very basic level, the shift from Perth to Melbourne was a big change. We were discussing yesterday the differences in language that we share – from Milk Bars and Delis, to Stobie Poles and Power Poles and even the way we pronounce Lego.

One thing we did was to create a well-being plan that focussed on some goals in four areas – Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual. By setting goals in these four areas, we can help take control of certain areas of our life so that we can deal with the change better, but also be in a better mental state. Part of the exercise was to write down some names that we would share the plan with so that we can be accountable with it. So I’m going to share my goals with you, and post regularly on how I’m going. Continue reading “Well, I better have a Well-Being Plan” →

Melbourne

by Ben Clapton, posted in Archive, Life

Well, Liesl and I have arrived in Melbourne, and are slowly settling in, and realising that this is our home now. We’re staying at an Aunt’s place until Tuesday, so it still feels a bit like a holiday. However, we have done some things that make staying here very much a reality.
For example, one of the first things we did in Melbourne was to search for a new car. We sold our car in Perth, because we had a two door Hyundai Getz, and two door cars aren’t great when you’ve got a baby.

Continue reading “Melbourne” →

Farewell

by Ben Clapton, posted in Archive, faith, Life

Today is our last Sunday at our Church before we leave. Due to it being January, we actually had our Corps farewell on December 18. Today we will receive a farewell from the Division as well as an “official” farewell from our corps. I thought I’d share today our farewell, which was shared by Mrs Wilson, as well as Liesl’s farewell reply.

Farewell Speech to Ben and Liesl

A few weeks ago Liesl led the devotions at Songster Practice. She spoke about her life being in the ‘count-down’ phase as she was going through ‘the last time I will be doing this’ before leaving WA for the Training College… the half packed boxes a constant reminder that time was ticking away far too quickly. She expressed that her sense of excitement and anticipation was tinged with sadness because she would be leaving her church family here at Floreat. Liesl has grown up in this church since she was a baby, except for a brief period after the family moved to Morley and attended the Corps there. However Liesl’s heart was always at Floreat so she returned and became one of us again where she has been nurtured and encouraged in her faith and service for God. Those who have known Liesl would be aware of her strong conviction that God had called her into full-time ministry in The Salvation Army. Continue reading “Farewell” →

A new year, a new challenge…

by Ben Clapton, posted in Archive, Life

Well, it’s 2012. 2011 has ended, and with it a whole heap of changes have been brought about.

We’re in the midst of packing right now – we move to Melbourne in less than two weeks now. The usual routines that we have fallen into will change dramatically, with our new lives being governed by college timetables and expectations. Not only that, but we will be bringing a new child into the world in May – something that will also change our lives dramatically.

So for today, let’s look back on the year that was, and look forward to the year that will be…

Continue reading “A new year, a new challenge…” →