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Ask Dr Gav

Dr Gav is now back in business and will try to answer questions within the same week whenever possible (you can also see some of the questions and answers from the old website below).

If you want to discuss it further in person, you can approach Dr Gav himself, Amy (Dr Gav's gorgeous wife) or one of the youth leaders and we would love to chat things through.

 
What would you like to know?
  • 24/09/2008 17:21
    You said:
    dr gav! AHAHAHA! this is kate. :) im just checking out this wikked website. i'm liking it quite a lot. i like the questions, its so important that people get the chance to ask questions, n would be so helpful i reckon to do that in person too, which im sure has been going on ay? so my question for you is, HOW DO I REGISTER FOR THIS WEBSITE? so i tried registering but then im suppose to copy the word thats there but theres no word; maybe my computer is messed up. so actually dont worry about it. must be some technical issue.

    the other thing i wanted to ask you was, theres a camp in early jan (before parachute) that is for youth leaders, held in Christchurch, and i went to it last year. absolutely amazing. so important i reckon in helping me in my walk with God and knowing the importance of the Bible. we studied revelation and job! i really wanna extend an invitation to go to next year's one to the youth leaders!! because. yeah. its very transforming because of peoples faithfulness to the word. :) so yeah, can i chat with you about it? (i know i didnt have to do this on your website but yknow, i felt like leaving my mark somehow since i didnt get to register. :P) see you sunday.
    Dr Gav said:
    hey gal! thanks for the feedback! to register the code is there but it sits just above the box and you then type it into that box. I have a feeling you are looking in the box maybe and not seeing it? as for samp, I'm going to be encouraging a few of them to go to Compass which is in early Jan as well but feel free eh to get the word around and if anyone's interested that's primo! thanks heaps!
  • 21/08/2008 21:05
    You said:
    Hi Gav.
    I know this sounds weird but, you know how God made Hell, did he also make evil and Satan too? I was thinking about this verse.
    “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”
    (Col 1:16) Does all things mean evil and Satan and demons too?
    …and then look at these ones.
    “…By His spirit He [God] has garnished the heavens; His hand has formed the crooked SERPENT” (Job 26:13) because God called Satan, “…that crooked SERPENT…” (Isa. 27:1).
    God says, “…I have created the waster [ ‘destroyer’] to destroy” (Isa. 54:16).
    “Now the SERPENT was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made” (Gen. 3:1).
    Do these verses mean what they say? Is this freaky or what! And the other thing is this… “And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow… the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Gen. 2:9). Why did God make a tree with Evil in it? If he hadn’t made the tree then maybe Adam and Eve wouldn’t have disobeyed him. Why did he put a tree there in the first place or why did he just not make a tree with good in it and not evil? And also, why did God just let Satan wreck his creation, because if the fall wouldn’t have happened then there would be no hell for humans right?
    The other thing I was thinking about was this. Why didn’t God just start again when Adam and Eve stuffed up in the garden. I mean, he started again with Noah after the whole of humanity was evil. All those people would have gone to hell so why not start over at the very beginning then all those people wouldn’t be damned for ever.
    The other thing I don’t get is this.
    That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside Me. I am the Lord, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I made peace [good], and create evil: I the Lord do all these things” (Isa. 45:6-7).
    “…Hear, O earth; behold, I will bring evil upon this people…” (Jer. 6:19).
    “…Thus says the Lord; Behold, I frame evil against you…” (Jer. 18:11).
    “…so shall the Lord bring upon you all evil things, until He have destroyed you from off this good land…” (Josh. 23:15)
    “What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10).
    “…shall thee be evil in a city, and the Lord has not done it?” (Amos 3:6).
    Does God do evil like these verses say and if so why?
    The more I think about Hell and stuff, the freakier the Bible seems. Does this not freak you out as it does me or am I just getting more and more confused?
    Dr Gav said:
    Update: Just going to start putting some thought into your questions that are now in the forum so check that out. Was good to grapple with some of these questions last week - even if it was pretty quickly at times with the nature of things. I'd love though to be able to sit around and explore this together as a group as I just find myself bouncing everywhere as I try to think about it online! Are you part of a smallgroup or ???
    --------
    Hey, I'm back after being away again. Man it's so hard to catch up! We're having a question night at The Reach this weds so hope you can make it. Hopefully that will be a good chance to get into questions like the above so I'll leave my answering to this Weds. Will you be there?
  • 13/08/2008 21:45
    You said:
    Hey Gav!
    I hope you don’t mind……but I’m still confused about the whole Hell thing.
    I’m still freaked out about not knowing how to explain Hell and why God made it. I’ve heard it argued that if God knows everything, ie “knows the beginning from the end” and that Jesus was “slain from the foundation of the world”, then doesn’t this mean that before he made us, he knew it was going to go wrong and had to die for us?..... If the result of the “fall” is eternal torture for billions of people forever and ever, then God would have been better off not making us in the first place. If you were a married couple and were told via a genetics test, that if you had a baby it was going to suffer a painful deformity and feel like its skin was on fire for all its life in absolute agony, would you still choose to have a baby, let alone two, let alone billions?

    Also, I can’t get my head around Romans 1:18. because don’t we believe as Christians That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:6) I thought that there is only one way to be saved and that is to confess your sins and ask Jesus into your heart? Doesn’t trying to find God in nature sound a bit new agey or whatever? I found this article and now I don’t know what to think.

    Re Romans 1:18…….“It should be obvious to anyone who will study this passage, that if one concludes that it is possible to "get saved" by looking at creation and discovering there must be a God, then Jesus died needlessly, the Gospel would serve no purpose, and there is another way of salvation other than the Gospel. Most of the world believes there is a god based upon looking at creation. Does that save them? Is a Moslem saved because they believe in a god? Was the Roman pagan even more saved because he believed in several gods? Since when does looking at a cloud or the sunset bring one to "Christ crucified?" And if looking at creation, and determining there is a god can bring righteousness, how does that line up with many other passages from Paul that clearly declare, "There is none righteous, nay, not one." That includes those under the law (Jews) and those not under the law (all the rest of us).

    In the beginning of this incredible book, Paul states, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. If looking at clouds, trees, and stars brings us to the "gospel of Christ," then spending billions of dollars printing Bibles, tracts, supporting evangelists, and missionaries is a waste of money. Declaring "Christ crucified" would be needless, if, for example, seeing a pillowy cloud can do the same thing.

    The Scriptures declare there is no name under heaven by which men must be saved other than the Son of the Living God, Jesus Christ. Somehow, the cloud or star must reveal the Son of God to them. If this is true, then there should be thousands of civilizations around the world who have believed in Jesus Christ apart from missionaries and Bibles. Yet the ruins of ancient civilizations say, "No Jesus here." Let those who declare the "salvation through nature gospel" show us civilizations of the past who had Christianity as one of its religions as a result of looking at nature rather than through missionaries preaching the Gospel or reading the Bible. They don't exist! “….Going back to the first chapter of Romans, it should now be clear that he was not saying that people could be saved by receiving faith from looking at creation. He was locking all of mankind under the sentence of death by the act of one man Adam, and releasing all of mankind unto Life through the righteous act of one man: Jesus Christ. It is with this understanding that this Scripture s begin to make sense…”

    Also, how did people in the Old Testament times know Gods ways if they weren’t shown how to live.? I mean Israel was given the law and commandments etc but what about the rest of the world? You don’t choose to obey or disobey something you aren’t even aware of so how is that fair? What about IHC people or blind people, how do they find God in nature etc if they simply cant see it or even understand it?
    I know I probably sound annoying but everything just seems to contradict to me. I just don’t know how to argue the point that we choose heaven or hell, but most people don’t even know there is a choice to be made. After all doesn’t the Bible say that "You have not chosen Me, but I HAVE CHOSEN YOU…" (John 15:16)” and “no one can come to me except the Father which has called me draw him” (John 6:44).

    Sorry to be a pain. It’s a real struggle to get to grips with these big issues….maybe others are confused like me too. Maybe I’m over analysing things or whatever. Thanks heaps for replying.

    P.S. Hope I’m not taking up too much of your time and hogging the Doc Gav column.
    Dr Gav said:
    Wow. That is an awesome lot of thinking you're doing and good on ya for tackling the hard questions. I definitely don't mind and am stoked you are asking rather than just accepting or giving up!

    I'd really love to do two things with this if it's ok? (1) I'm going to start a forum (click here for link) on highresyouth.com and invite people to add their thoughts and I will too. That way we can really get stuck into it and break the questions down. I'll copy your thoughts from above into the forum to kick it off. I'll probably break it into 3 different pasts to reflect the different elements of your questions. If you want to add more thoughts/questions and want to stay confidential then just put them into Dr Gav and I'll paste them over.

    (2) I'm thinking of setting aside a week of youthgroup on 17 September to get into the above. We could have a whole load of debate, question and answer and exploration time. I'm not even sure whether you come to youthgroup though as your identity on this page is hidden so can you confirm if you do and whether you will be there that night and whether you would be keen to see something like this happen.

    FYI - have posted the forum now but am about to head out so will begin putting my thoughts up on the forum next week.
  • 22/07/2008 09:59
    You said:
    hey gav, i was wondering if i could get a hold of the pics/videos you have from Xtend. im making a promo video for Merr.
    Cheers, Chris
    Dr Gav said:
    No worries. Just been sorting through them. What's your postal address and I'll send you a DVD. Email it to me at g.gunston@gmail.com - thanks mate!
    PS> Is this Chris from my smallgroup or another Chris?
  • 11/07/2008 15:45
    You said:
    If most of humanity throughout all history has never heard of Jesus, then how is it fair that most people are going to hell? If most oh humanity is going to hell, then why did God create us in the first place. Hell forever, just because you were not told? how does that make God "love"?
    Dr Gav said:
    UPDATED: This is a question that bogs lots of us down at some point in our lives, particularly when we hear that millions of people have never even heard about Jesus because they live in such remote places.

    Scripture though tells us something interesting in Romans 1:18-20. It says that all humans are without excuse "for since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, (and) being understood from what has been made". This says to me that everyone has the chance to know God and our eternal life is based on what we do with what knowledge of God we have. For some, all they may know of God is of his creation or provision, while for others they may know of and have read about Jesus while others again may have actually seen or even been disciples of Jesus.

    Before the New Testament times, no one knew of Jesus because he hadn't yet come to earth. Many though were saved because of their faith in God. He provided grace through accepting their sacrifices which acknowledged that He was their God and that they desired to live His ways.

    I reckon God didn't create us to go to hell and personally think he gives us every opportunity to get to know him. The problem though lies at our end - do we make the effort to know him and the sacrifice to live His way, not ours? Or do we choose to live the way we want to and ignore our creator? In his love God gave us free will, as a result we are thankfully not robots but with choice comes consequences, in this case Heaven or Hell, God's way or the Devil's way.

    What do you think about the above?
  • 18/06/2008 19:01
    You said:
    where exactly is kumeu?
    Dr Gav said:
    It's in the Rodney District (which is part of the Auckland Region). Basically it's around halfway between Helensville and Henderson or around 30mins from Auckland City travelling along SH16. Kumeu Baptist Church which HighResYouth is part of is on Access Road in Kumeu (just past railway crossing).
  • 05/06/2008 11:51
    You said:
    i wasnt buttering up!!!

    you are just purely good looking!

    frm ur "far north friend"
    Dr Gav said:
    Hehehe, awww thanks
  • 20/05/2008 20:37
    You said:
    Gav,
    I have just hurt a friend unintentionally, but this is no odinary case. I have hurt them really badly. They know it was unintentional but that makes no difference.
    I said something when in a group with them and didn't think about what i was saying. I have found out something about them which they didnt want anyone to know but because of me, people might find out.

    I cant say anymore about what happened but i have no idea what to do. I talked with them but i dont know what they are feeling and they are very angry with me. I see them everyday and don't know how to face this. We have grown a tight relationship and now it is worse than ever. I think this might be serious, but they are the sensible type. I am scared for them. I'm so angry with myself and so very clueless about how to go about this and all normal methods don't seem any use.
    Asking for help if you can. Thanks
    Dr Gav said:
    Hey there.

    Man, that's gotta be very hard for you. It definitely sucks when we stuff up like that but it is way way worse when we don't acknowledge that and don't try to put things right. If you have sincerely apologised and tried to put things right with your friend then for now that is all you can do and good on ya for doing it. That in itself will have made a big difference, even though it might take a little while for you to see the results.

    As you said, your friend is probably pretty upset about it all and so it may take a while for their feelings to calm down. Through that time it's probably important not to heap more pressure on them but instead allow their emotions to come out and take their course. For a while they will probably struggle to see beyond the act itself - i.e. they will probably not really process your apology or your regret and determination to set it right. Hopefully, with time, those feelings will ease and your friend will be able to accept your apology and appreciate that you didn't mean for it to be this way. You mentioned that your friend is sensible so it's a pretty good bet that as they calm down and get through it they will remember how important your friendship is to them and begin to accept your apology and work to restore it.

    Unfortunately there are likely to be consequences in terms of the trust your friend will have with you and their willingness to share. It may take a while for you to rebuild those bridges and for you to prove through smaller things that you won't let your friend down again. If though your friendship is worth it then you'll be willing to take some of those hits and not give up and over time, as they friendship gets back to what it was, often it can end up going even deeper and tighter because of what you've gone through.

    One other thought, have you caught up with your friend away from everyone else in a quiet time/space and just listened to how they're feeling and accepted the blame? Are they a friend that likes receiving letters or that prefers to talk. Or do they prefer quality time or gifts or physical touch (e.g. a big hug)? Often the way that they prefer to be shown love is also the best way to apologise to them. Just a thought.

    Finally, don't forget to pray for your friend and your feelings around it all. Ask for God's forgiveness and then put it all back on his shoulders so that you aren't burdened down with all the depressing feelings that come with this. That will help you be in a better place for rebuilding that friendship as time allows. If you need another shoulder to lean on, feel free to grab Amy or I.
  • 10/04/2008 15:12
    You said:
    Who designed your website, I like it!! (Beats our 80's styled one hands down!) Jude
    Dr Gav said:
    Rob Kern who goes to our church designed the framework that it runs off. His company is called Frondiz. It's the easiest website ever to manage and develop and absolutely perfect for youthgroups, churches, schools etc. I can't rave enough about it and it's really cheap too. If you're interested in having a look one day behind the scenes and how easy it is let me know. Blessings!
  • 27/03/2008 21:08
    You said:
    why is Dr Gav so darn good looking?
    Dr Gav said:
    hmmm, can't say I've heard that one before! God's gift must come in two's in that case as my wife is beautiful! Now, the real question, what are you trying to butter me up for?
  • 21/03/2008 19:49
    You said:
    wotup?
    Dr Gav said:
    sorry bout the delay, with camp and all it has been a very crazy few weeks! Will be back to normal again from mid next week hopefully and then we can get stuck into some tough issues again! blessings, Dr Gav
  • 16/03/2008 11:42
    You said:
    Dr Gav

    Heres me going out with a non christian chick, and meself trying to be the best for the opposite. i want it to work and so does she but things seem to be coming unstuck....any ideas?
    Dr Gav said:
    Man, I think this has to be one of the most common problems we face eh. It is definitely a hard one and everyone is different to be sure. God points through the bible that this is a hard road and not one that is advised. Yes, we can convince ourselves that through a special relationship with them we may help them come to Christ but surely the reality is that we should be able to do that through a normal friendship as well? This should not be a justification for going out with someone of a different faith. Nevertheless, many of us find ourselves (including myself when I was a teenager!) going out with those that have a different belief/value system and so the question you asked is one that we need to deal with.

    In my view and from my personal experience of this, I think one of the key things is that you have set in concrete the values that you hold and the boundaries you want to work within while in this relationship. This is important even if you share the same beliefs and helps deal with the physical intimacy pressures that almost always come along. With these in place, you also need to ensure that you do not stop giving what God requires of you in terms of getting spiritual feeding, giving him your quality time, worship and fellowship etc. If the person going out with you actually cares about who you are and what has made you who you are then they will not try to get in the way of that. If they do (e.g. they are jealous of it, put the guilt trips on you for it, or simply try and pull you away), things aren't healthy and in all honesty it's probably best to go back to a friendship and step back from anything more than that.

    Assuming you have these boundaries, that they respect your beliefs and the time you give to God and living out your faith, then the next thing to work on is (1) praying for them specifically and regularly (2) providing opportunities for them to be impact by God's word and his love (3) regularly stepping out of your comfort zone to help them work through their beliefs. Within all this though, one of the most important things is that you never stop being Jesus to them. If you give up or walk away from your morals & values or water things down 'for their sake', or if your faith and deeds drop away because of this person, what does this say to them, about your faith, about the importance of your God?! The signals we send to them are that God isn't all that we make him out to be, he's not worth the sacrifice or what he calls us to.

    All in all, I think it comes back to the question, who is your first love? In any relationship, including marriage, it should be God and this has practical daily implications and sacrifices that are part of what it means to be a Christian.

    In any case, you are going to need a lot of good support and accountability around you for this road. Without them sharing the same love for God, the same reason for living, the same motivation for sacrifice, and the same hope and love, it is going to be very hard and at times very lonely. That person cannot provide you what it is that God wants to provide you through your partner. Yes, people can change and God does want that person to come to him too but, in the meantime, until that day, it's not going to be easy, and the fulfillment will not reach its potential that God wants.

    (PS> FYI, I went out with two girls that did not share my faith - they believed in many of the same things but were not sold out or have a love for God. I tried everything to make those two relationships work, and desperately wanted them to find God themselves as well. I know that what you are talking about can be really tough and what I said above is probably hard to take. I struggled with that for a number of years and argued with everyone and anyone because I loved those two. The reality is though, when I finally allowed God to choose the girl for me and found someone that shared my love for God, I began to realise what this kind of relationship can really be like and it is way way way better and worth the wait!)
  • 01/03/2008 23:45
    You said:
    If you didnt get my email... i must ask what makes one swim at a beach on an out going tide at a swollen river mouth??

    God bless
    Luke
    Dr Gav said:
    Hey Luke. Long time no news bro. Yeah, I still wonder about the logic of that day - still, without that wakeup call and god moment who knows what would be different eh! Didn't get your email mate so flick another one through - g.gunston@gmail.com. Blessings bro, Gav
  • 18/01/2008 21:32
    You said:
    1.2.3 rocket time get ready 4 boooooosters and thrust! so hop on the jesus shuttle! if anyone is wondering who this is i am SUPERGIRL aka luke 'the sexy beast' herring
    Dr Gav said:
    Supergirl ?!! Mate, that's serious counselling needed!  Looking forward to having you back again this year mate and seeing some more of those classic dramas too!
  • 18/01/2008 21:28
    You said:
    how and when did people start bcoming 'gay'
    Dr Gav said:
    that one has me curious too. I mean did someone just experiment one day, was it that they found themselves being the first person with those feelings and it just went from there and caught on or ??? On this one I'm really not sure. What's your theory?
  • 18/01/2008 21:27
    You said:
    you know wats weird? i just heard recently that snails are hermaphradites
    Dr Gav said:
    go the snail! here's a question for you, do you reckon you would rather be a hermaphradite yourself or do you reckon its better having males and females needing each other in this way?
  • 15/01/2008 09:54
    You said:
    Sorry I meant what makes a cat purr?
    Dr Gav said:
    The actual mechanism of purring is situated in the cat's voice box. A certain timing mechanism in a cat's brain transmits messages to the muscles around the voice box (a.k.a. larynx), so that the muscles open and close the air passage several times per second, or vibrate. This makes the air as it travels over the voice box vibrate also. The muscles vibrate whether the cat is inhaling or exhaling, so that's why it sounds like the purring happens continuously. - Man, I sound so intelligent saying that eh! Too bad it had to come from google  (http://dailyapple.blogspot.com/2006/06/apple-178-how-cats-purr.html). Hope that helps make you sound brainy sometime though!
  • 15/01/2008 09:51
    You said:
    what makes a cat swim?
    Dr Gav said:
    The fact that there's a dog on the shoreline scaring it to death. Go the mighty dog! Plus, I wouldn't really call what cats do swimming - it's more like 'doggy paddling' - now there's an anomonoly!
  • 11/12/2007 20:50
    You said:
    What is the best way to quit smoking?
    Dr Gav said:
    Having never smoked myself I can only comment based on what my friends have said that have successfully done so. IFrom what I've heard.  think the first step is to set yourself a target of getting down to one a day. To do that you may need to first set smaller targets like getting down to one pack, then half a pack, the 3 etc. Do it in small achievable steps and reward yourself when you do it with something yummy maybe like a bit of chocolate. Once you get down to one a day, set your target date for completely quitting by and put in place a severe penalty and reward incentive. e.g. if you fail you have to give $100 to charity or if you succeed then your family takes you out for a nice dinner or whatever. Success is based on having spent 6 weeks without a smoke while failure is even having succumbed to one in the time after the date you set for quitting by.

    It's also important in this process to have someone that holds you accountable. This person has to be strong and able to stand up to you but that is also really keen to see you succeed. Keep reminding yourself along the way of the massive upsides of succeeding in your goal - more money, better health, more attractive to the boys/girls, whiter teeth, etc. etc.

    Good ya and all the best!
    Dr Gav
  • 11/12/2007 20:49
    You said:
    If a women is pregenant and has had her belly button pierced before she was pregnant, will it stretch perminently? I have heard rumours. If she takes it out will the hole heal up?
    Dr Gav said:
    To be honest I don't have a clue on this one. This is where I think I should remove the "Dr" title eh! :-) My guess is yes, it will stay stretched based on women frequently saying that once you've been pregnant your body and particularly the skin just never de-stretches or goes back completely to how it was. An interesting on to ask around on though as I'm probably completely wrong! Personally it sounds painful but as they say, it's good to be a guy!
  • 11/12/2007 20:48
    You said:
    What is the best treatment for pimples?
    Dr Gav said:
    Check out http://www.acnetalks.com/pimple/magazine/edition/Acne-Treatment.htm . I reckon that has some pretty good stuff!
  • 05/12/2007 21:11
    You said:
    do u blieve in aliens
    Dr Gav said:
    In terms of species on other planets, I reckon we're the only humans but given God's creativity with the heavens it wouldn't surprise me in some ways if he had another whole set of planets in another galaxy with some cool creatures he just marvels at. It's a pretty amazing world eh so who knows!!! What do you reckon?
  • 05/12/2007 21:03
    You said:
    wat is ur phone numba
    Dr Gav said:
    021 346 997 (GAVIN)
  • 05/12/2007 10:34
    You said:
    hey gav..is there gonna b a snow camp this year?? :D
    Dr Gav said:
    In 2008, oh yeah! Plus we're hoping to run a mean as week long adventure camp as well if we raise enough money through the donut machine at parachute. There's heaps of new stuff next year and a calender will be out in a few weeks so keep your eyes open on the front page!
  • 04/12/2007 22:07
    You said:
    there is a guy at my work that i just met.and he seams to say all these compliments.but since i dont know him to well, i dont want to lead him on. i am a christian but i dont think that he is. is there a way that i could let him know without hurting him that i dont like him in that way. im 18 and hes 16..or maybe 17.
    Dr Gav said:
    Good question and such a common one we go through! I'm a personal believer in being upfront and honest with people and always preferred people being this with me. I reckon if you find an appropriate time (i.e. when there's just the two of you and no one else is listening in) and just say, "hey, I appreciate your friendship and just wanted to make sure that I don't send any wrong signals your way or don't give you the wrong impression so that things don't get awkward. That cool?"  That way he knows where you stand without feeling attacked or being embarrassed. Often when you can clear things early on it makes like a lot easier and i things get muddy again later you can come back and remind him of what you said earlier. If he ever does anything that makes you uncomfortable, I definitely think it's better to then deal with it straight away at that time so that neither of you goes away wondering. All the best, Dr Gav
  • 03/12/2007 17:34
    You said:
    Hey, is that "Why Me" production thing ont he home page good for kids? Say a 3 year old? Is it the story of Jesus being born or is it slightly different? It looks cool. Thanks
    Dr Gav said:
    The story tells the story of Christmas but takes the perspective of Mary so it is a little different in that angle. Click here to read more. A short promo video will be shown at church on Sunday that will give you a better idea if you're there. At times your 3-year old may not follow the story but the dance and drama will probably still hold their interest. Definitely should be good for all ages and their first performance was a big hit apparently last week! See you there!
  • 17/11/2007 00:44
    You said:
    if a guy was into you, would he tell you who he used to like?
    Dr Gav said:
    I've done some thinking on this one and I reckon that's a 50/50. See for me I've always been open with my friends about that stuff whether I liked that person or not. It was simply a normal conversation as opposed to me saying it as a way of indicating I was interested in you. In saying this, I think some guys do say these things intentionally so it really depends on that person. I've always been a personal fan of asking/telling someone up front but I know that's not the most comfortable method for most people! Toss a coin I reckon on this one! Interesting question though...
  • 12/11/2007 22:35
    You said:
    hi..
    yeah like not 2 sound all up my self lol but yeah i think that it did bring back the memories for him as well...and i think that he mite still have those feelings...like there is some sort of hope...perhaps like he wants to be friends and see what happens from there on...
    when i was friends with the guy, it kinda of affected my school work and all and because he wanted it to be a relationship and i told him soo many times until the early hours of the morning lol...and he didnt seem to get it..i think thats where i felt like he wasnt respecting me at all..and kept pushing the friendship into a relationship...so i realli had no choice except to cut things off aye..
    right now, im not ready to see him even as friends or anything ....im not sure about in the future like perhaps next year or something ...i dont realli know if id wanna fully cut things off 100%...and i dont want things to go back to how it was where he liked me and i didnt reali like him back yanno what i mean cos basically our friendship wasnt getting any better but was getting more complicated..
    sometimes i do think that cutting things off would be better, but i gues that he wont be a stranger to me since i know him...
    nah we dont see each other...wen we were friends we made plans to catch up and it was always in public or with mates...otherwise it was just sitting in his car talking, we nevva did nething.,witch was good.
    i found out somethings about him that made me think weather he was a good influence or boyfriend material and if we ever do become friends again it will only be friends never ever anything more...
    i dont think i have feelings for him but it took a while to get over him because we used to text alot..and i also think that our friendship was more of a texting one..so when i saw him in person..it was kinda werid...like i couldnt be myself..
    say if anything did happen it will take alot of work but i dont know whether its right..im not saying that hes a bad guy or anything but things realli confused me when i was hanging out with him.
    yeah the hugs and the couch things did happen...lol
    and im sure that you know the guy too...
    thanks for your help =)
    Dr Gav said:
    sounds to me like you're not keen for even the friendship at this stage so maybe it is better if you agree to stop the texting etc. and just go your separate ways for now. If the casual bumping into each other happens I would just go about it like I would with someone else I see but aren't direct friends with. I guess you will need to be careful that you don't start sending different signals too. If you do both start wanting friendship again in the future then keep the lines clear - i.e. get away from the hugs & couch times and keep things entirely 'plutonic' (sorry, I love that word - it just sounds so wrong for the sentence and yet means the right thing ). The hard side about all of this is I only am hearing your thoughts and not where he is coming from - so often males and females completely misunderstand what the other is saying. Blessings, Dr Gav
  • 12/11/2007 08:26
    You said:
    i used to be friends with this guy at the beginning of this year..but things got complicated because he wanted to go out with me but i didnt like him back in that way. i wanted to be friends with him and to hangout with him but weneva we did, i think that he took it..like it was something more. things got extremely complicated and i told him that we couldnt be friends anymore because it wasnt working out. nothing happened but i gues that we were 'seeing each other'. about 3 months ago i told him that we couldnt be friends anymore because i knew that it was going to be for the better. he still texts me occasionally and i saw him the other day. i dont know what to do because wen i saw him it brought back so much like the times we used to hang out as friends. i dont think that im ready to see him right now and i dont know when i will be. i dont know what to do? please help.
    Dr Gav said:
    Hey there.

    I fully hear you on that one, I remember that happening a few times to me and boy it can get frustrating and make things awkward eh! It's awesome though that you're willing to try and sort it out and clear things up. I guess my answer really depends on the answers to these questions:

    1) Does this guy still have those 'extra' feelings for you or do you think those have gone now and that he just wants to be friends?
    2) Do you still want that friendship, even if its going to take some hard work or would you like to just cut things off for good and go separate ways
    3) Are you naturally in the course of events going to see and be around each other (e.g. because you're in the same class, have the same friends, go to the same youth group or whatever)?
    4) Do you actually have similar feelings for him but that you don't want to be there?

    If you both want the 'plutonic' friendship, possibly the best way is to both give yourselves some agreed space, then when you are ready to face working on it again, make sure that when you hang out you are with other friends in a social hang out atmosphere (as opposed to say just the two of you going somewhere and sitting chatting late into the night).

    As you get used to that and as your friend finds way to put those extra feelings aside (it is possible, just not always easy!), then you can slowly work back to more quality time and deepening the friendship again. It's important though to then still keep conscious of avoiding the blurry line (e.g. don't start given big squeezy hugs even if they are only meant to be friendly, avoid being squished up on the couch close together etc. etc.)

    What do you think? Does that sit well? What's your thoughts on 1,2,3 & 4?

    Blessings,
    Dr Gav
  • 09/11/2007 18:57
    You said:
    Regarding the masturbating question - what if you are not thinking about anyone? Also what if you are married and one partner has a higher sex drive than the other?
    Dr Gav said:
    Update 1: Hey there...I'm working on this question as I haven't got this all figured out either and there's so many different thoughts/perspectives out there. I'll do my best to come back to you in a couple of days (say Thurs? is that ok?). It's awesome though that you're willing to think about this and seek God's perspective as it's an issue/topic I think probably 90% of us have, and the other 10% are lying to say they don't! More soon, I promise!.....Dr Gav

    Update 2: Hey again. Am still thinking over this one and doing heaps of reading. Have also got my cellgroup to look into it and have a discussion on it next week so sorry for the delay. I'm putting together a few questions that I'm going through which you may find useful in making up your mind...it's definitely not the easiest question! :-).................

    Update 3: Ok, fyi, these are the questions I'm currently thinking through (in rough order) to get an overall picture of here I stand on masturbation before I try and work out an answer to your question. Have a think through them yourself and let me know what you reckon on some of them. This is certainly a very intersting aspect of life when you really start thinking about it! Great question!

    1) Is masturbation 100% sinful – i.e. with no exceptions?
    2) What if you are married and one partner has a higher sex drive than the other?
    3) Is it possible to masturbate without having lustful thoughts?
    4) Does it make a difference if you are masturbating without thinking about anyone else or if you are thinking about your wife?
    5) Why do many single people feel guilty after masturbating yet only a few married people?
    6) Does the guilt come from society influences, our conscience, or condemnation from the Bible?
    7) Are their benefits to masturbation?
    8) What does the scripture say about masturbation specifically?
    9) What is fornication and does that include masturbation?
  • 07/11/2007 18:38
    You said:
    have you ever masturbated?
    Dr Gav said:
    (NB: I'm currently doing a lot more thinking re: your question so check out my answer on your next question...as you will see, I don't have this entirely sussed out yet - I've never really gone thinking beyond just the lustful side of it)....

    Man, that's one of those personal and uncomfortable questions eh! Yes, I have and I dare say I think it's something that 99.9% of guys have done unfortunately though that definitely doesn't make it right. The feeling of guilt from masturbating is something that cannot be escaped at the time and is in my mind a strong signal from our conscience that it's not right and is sinful. Masturbation is basically just focusing on someone's beauty and satisfying a physical desire - there is nothing good that comes from it and what God had in mind for sex is way way more awesome!

    The bible says a lot about lust (Prov 6:25 says "Do not lust in your heart after her beauty") and that shame and disgrace will come as a result. It is therefore something that we need to ask forgiveness from and work hard to stop. How awesome then is it that God promises us that his grace/forgiveness covers everything as long as we sincere ask for that forgiveness and work hard to stop that sin.

    God also says in 1 Corinthians 10: 13 that "God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it."

    Something I've found is that, if you find yourself stuck thinking wrongly about a girl/guy, if you stop and pray that God will remove that temptation, he will give you a way out and the strength you need.

    Thank goodness for God's grace though eh, otherwise who knows where I would be now!
  • 01/11/2007 15:17
    You said:
    Do you believe that adam is a metaphor for early man?
    Dr Gav said:
    The name "Adam" I think means 'of the earth' or 'from the earth' or something similar, which I guess makes sense as a name for God to give him given he was created from the dust/earth (read Genesis 1). As for him being a metaphor that's where you lose me given he was 'the' earliest man of mankind. Not sure that's that helpful but I tried!
  • 01/11/2007 15:13
    You said:
    Thanks for your help.
    Dr Gav said:
    Always a pleasure - talk about some complex questions though
  • 01/11/2007 15:13
    You said:
    do double headed babies excist?
    Dr Gav said:
    Yep, it's called "craniopagus" or  "craniopagus parasiticus". Pretty crazy eh! I wonder if you'd be twice as brainy?
  • 01/11/2007 15:10
    You said:
    have you ever
    Dr Gav said:
    no, absolutely not, never in a million years...how could you think I could have?! ....ummm, have I ever what by the way?
  • 31/10/2007 13:46
    You said:
    What is every young man's battle?
    Dr Gav said:
    Mate, you've got me with that one! In what context re talking about here? At best guess I would be saying something like lust or along those lines???
  • 31/10/2007 13:45
    You said:
    Yeah my favourite band
    Dr Gav said:
    How'd did you get onto the them?!! I'm definitely a bit more mellow when it comes to music eh...love my U2 and Matchbox 20, never really liked grunge. Have a good one!
  • 25/10/2007 12:06
    You said:
    Do you like the band King's X?
    Dr Gav said:
    Oh no, I'm thinking I'm showing my age here as I have no idea who they are! Hang on, weren't they like an 80's grunge band ?!! Not my scene but hey, each to themselves? What about you, are you a fan or???
  • 24/10/2007 14:24
    You said:
    Who is Luke Wilson?
    Dr Gav said:
    According to google images I think thi would be the guilty party. Man, he's got a worse comb-over than I used to have - ouch!
  • 24/10/2007 14:18
    You said:
    Are you a real doctor?
    Dr Gav said:
    Personally I don't think you would want me to go anywhere near you with any surgical instruments....that may give you a little clue!
  • 22/10/2007 16:55
    You said:
    What is more important - money, love, cars, clothes or books?
    Dr Gav said:
    "...and these three remain, faith, hope and love....and the greatest of these is LOVE!" I reckon you can have all the money you want but if you don't feel loved and don't love then the hole inside is never going to be filled. That would be my experience anyway. What's your thoughts?
  • 22/10/2007 16:53
    You said:
    Do you know how to do the haka?
    Dr Gav said:
    Not as well as I used to  I know the words pretty well but am a bit loose on the actions these days. I love it though and my favourite memory was watching about 50 Boys Brigade leaders from Scotland, Aussie, England, Wales, South Africa etc. giving it a go for a performance - absolutely hilarious! What about you?!! At university, our hall had our own unique haka which was awesome as we had real pride in it and it drew us together before the big competitions.
  • 07/10/2007 16:08
    You said:
    how do you know when its the right time to get baptized?
    Dr Gav said:
    Awesome question and one I think heaps of us have ask ourselves in the past!

    I think to work that out you need to think through a few questions:

    1) Do you believe that Jesus has died for YOUR sins, that he has saved YOU and that YOU have a significant role to play?
    2) Have you weighed up the cost of following Jesus - i.e. do you know what it's going to take to 'run the race'?
    3) Are you ready to publicly state that you are putting God first in your life?

    As I've said in some of my other bits on baptism (check out this page), you can think of baptism in a similar way to a marriage.
    • When you're going out with someone (sort of like being a believer but not neccessarily going full on), it's easy to just give up and turn your back on someone and get out of the relationship if it gets too hard.
    • When you get engaged (sort of like giving your life to God for the first time and then going a lot harder), you've let it be known to God and to others that you're committed and that you want this relationship to reach its potential. The reality is though you can still put out and you haven't lost too much apart from the relationship.
    • When you get married (like getting baptised), you are going the full hog and getting your close friends and family involved. You are saying that no matter what you will never give up or pull out and your friends and family have agreed to help you in that. You are sharing all your possessions, time, emotions with God and holding nothing back.
    I guess out of all of that, to answer your question on how do you know when it's the right time...well, it's when you know that you are WILLING and WANTING to do whatever it takes, to pay whatever the price and to stand firm in the good and bad because you know this is what you want to do and what is best for you and God's kingdom.

    Does that make sense? How have you found yourself answering the above? Does anything worry you about it?
  • 05/10/2007 19:31
    You said:
    Where do babies come from
    Dr Gav said:
    all I can say is "ignorance is bliss" !!!
  • 05/10/2007 19:28
    You said:
    What do u say if someone asks u if ur a hard out christian and they are non-christian. especially if u like them and u are trying to impress them.
    Dr Gav said:
    When talking with my non-Christian friends who I have known since my school years it's really funny because some of them have told me that, while they gave me lots of hassles for my faith at the time, they actually underneath it all really did respect me for it and wanted to know more. In reality it was just me who had the wrong idea that they would think I was crazy or wouldn't like me any more because of what I believed. One of them told me a few years back that she actually agreed with a lot of what I was saying, she just didn't want to admit it and wanted to try her way. In the end I think she realised that God actually makes a lot of sense on his stuff after all.

    My advice therefore would be to not deny it. If you do, you'll have to try and be someone that you're not. It won't gain you any real friends nor any long term respect or admiration. If someone doesn't look  up to you or appreciate you for the real person, the real character you are then they're not worth it.

    Instead I would say that, yep, you're a Christian and then to ask them how that make them feels or what they're now thinking. If they say that they are feeling uncomfortable with it or think you're a freak or crazy, ask them why and get into a conversation about it. You'll probably find (as I did) that if those feelings/thoughts are real, that they are based on an understanding of Christianity that is way out (e.g. I remember one of my friends thought that the bible was a strict rule book, that we sung hymns with a choir all day and that we stood in the street telling people they were going to hell). You may also find though that, as you push deeper, what they were hassling you about was a cover up so that they could look 'cool' in front of the rest of the group. Therefore try and make sure you're discussing it with them away from the peer pressures of other people.

    The most bizarre thing I have found is that, at high school, for some reason everyone tries to be the same as everyone else. We seem to think that that's the only way we'll be in with the 'in-crowd' or be cool. Underneath no one likes having to be someone they're not, it's just that very few are willing to break the mould. Yet as you leave school and go into the work force or uni, it begins to change and people actually respect you more for being different. They want to know what makes you tick, what you believe and why, and often the guys that try to be 'cool' and fit in end up being the ones that no one cares about.

    If this friend is a real friend then being open and honest with each other is going to make this an awesome relationship. Most likely it will open the door for them to share things with you too that they have been scared of sharing! If you don't start, then maybe you will only ever have a superficial relationship!

    All the best!
    Dr Gav
  • 03/10/2007 10:18
    You said:
    Has the forum gone of this website? Or am I missing something?
    Dr Gav said:
    It was temporarily removed but is back now for you!
  • 03/10/2007 10:17
    You said:
    why do cats hate that flea liquid stiff you squirt on their backs? Does it hurt them?
    Dr Gav said:
    Man, I have no idea about cats eh! You need to be a vet these days to be Dr Gav it would seem! I reckon try it on your back and if it hurts you then that probably answers your question!
  • 29/09/2007 22:05
    You said:
    why do cats constantly clean themselves?
    Dr Gav said:
    You're trying to understand the logic of cats? Man, next you'll be asking me what women want!

    I think this photo pretty much sums up the intelligence of cats and thus why they clean themselves.

    Now dogs, well, there's a specie worth talking about! 
  • 29/09/2007 22:04
    You said:
    braces vs buck teeth?
    Dr Gav said:
    Ouch, hard question. I haven't had braces but the cost as a potential parent one day freaks the heak out of me (there goes my holiday in Hawaii eh!). If I was facing having them though my biggest dilemma would be whether I could give up all those yummy chewy foods for a few years...buck teeth it is for me it would seem!
  • 29/09/2007 22:04
    You said:
    To cat flap or not to cat flap?
    Dr Gav said:
    I reckon after seeing Graeme and Chrissy's neat contraption that cat flapping is the 'way of the future'! They have this magnetic system which means that only their cats can come in and out, not sure if the magnet messes with their minds but hey, they're cats right, not intelligent dogs or something!
  • 20/09/2007 16:54
    You said:
    Dr Gavin

    no question here, just a thank you to the youth that were at the sleep over on Friday night at KBC. We were having the garage sale the next day and had all our gear setup in the hall. We had no problems with any disruption to the garage sale gear. Thanks alot to the leaders and the youth attending. It was great to see some of you at the garage sale the next day, though walking around in your pj's is pushing the boundarys of fashion. I also hope the guy with the ute that smokes a little when it starts has been able solve that problem and can also start his ute without the use of jumper cables.

    John Russell on behalf of Jireh PA and school.
    Dr Gav said:
    All credit to Matt, Jesse and the boys for their awesome movie night and sleepover. Man I was sore the next day from all the rumbles! Great times!
  • 30/08/2007 14:10
    You said:
    Just a cool little testimony video clip
    http://www.freecdtracts.com/testimony_11.htm
    Dr Gav said:
    man, that guys amazing...it begs the question how much more would we achieve if we didn't give up when we didn't receive recognition eh! Thanks heaps for this, I'm going to put together a page on stories like this soon so will keep it in mind. Let me know if you find others. Cheers!
  • 28/08/2007 20:15
    You said:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdDMpx7e-0I&mode=related&search=
    Dr Gav said:
    awesome - thanks heaps for these, will probably be showing at least one tonight so remind me to give you your small thank you prize! The campervan one is a classic - man, how would you feel!!!
  • 28/08/2007 20:08
    You said:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAfZ1N56qjY - this is pretty funny aswell as these - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3gdSHGcUU4
    Dr Gav said:
    hehehe :-) thanks heaps for these!
  • 19/08/2007 12:51
    You said:
    ok thanks! Yes i know understand that the 'Christening' would not stand in the way and I was confirmed in a 'Church Of England' church, at the age of 10, i hope that helps!
    Dr Gav said:
    Hi again. That extra bit of background helps heaps. I've done some reading on the web about baptism and confirmation in the Church of England (check out this page for baptism and this page for confirmation if you want to read what I was reading on their official website) so I'll summarise what I think your confirmation meant and what they means for being 'baptised' in a church like Kumeu Baptist.

    Baptism vs. Confirmation in the Church of England
    1) Baptism in the Church of England definitely sounds like what I described in my previous answer - i.e. done as a child, by parents, as symbol of wanting to raise you in the Christian faith and wanting the support of the church.
    2) Confirmation in the Church of England sounds like what we would call 'baptism' in a Baptist Church. It tends to be done when one is "old enough to answer responsibly for themselves, and who has received appropriate preparation. In the Church of England it has been traditional for people to be confirmed in their early teens, but there is no set age for confirmation."

    The Differences/Similarities Between Confirmation in the Church of England Versus Baptism in a Baptist Church
    The main difference I think  is not so much in why it is done or what it symbolises but instead how it is done (i.e. the style of the ceremony). In a baptist church, you would be baptised in water just as Jesus was while in the Church of England it sounds like you would have gone through the 'Book of Common Prayer'.

    There are though similarities in that it sounds like you would share your testimony (your story of how you came to faith and what has happened in your life and how God has made a difference) whether your were confirmed or baptised and people would also place hands on you and pray for the Holy Spirit to be with you, empower and guide you.

    To Answer Your First Question: 'Can you get baptised here given you were baptised & confirmed in the Church of England?'
    Yes, I believe you can. My view is that your confirmation is effectively the same as if you had been baptised in a baptist church like Kumeu.

    My question to you would be, do you feel that, at the age of 10, that you did make a conscious choice to follow God and go full on? Or was it something you just did because others were doing it or you didn't really know what it meant? If so, I think getting baptised by going through the process of understanding what it really means on a day-to-day basis and then committing your life and love to God is a great idea and something we as a church would welcome.

    If you did understand it back then but you are wanting to re-commit then I also think that's awesome and something we would support. In this instance, I think that you getting baptised here would be like someone re-committing their wedding vows after a number of years of marriage....it's not necessary as you have already made a commitment and public declaration, but it something you want to do to re-affirm where you stand, what you believe, and that you want to continue and push on even harder. That is something I think God would be proud of and that would also inspire those around you. You don't have to do that through a formal baptism but if you want to then I think that's awesome either way!!!

    Hope that helps! Happy to talk more either through this or personally!
    Blessings, Dr Gav
  • 12/08/2007 20:17
    You said:
    i do not know if i am able to be baptized, i was christened when i was a baby, then about 3/4 yrs ago i was confirmed in my old church. But i feel now that i would want to get baptized probably not in the next yr but in a few years time, But i am unsure if i can still get baptized after being christened and confirmed?
    Dr Gav said:
    Good on ya for having the courage to ask! I guess there's a few parts to answering this question and I will need a bit more info before I can give you a full answer.

    First of all, my understanding of 'Christening' is that that step is about one's parents saying to the church and to God hat they want you to be raised in the Christian faith and that they want God's support and that of the church to help them to do so. i.e. it is not a decision that you have made as much as it is one your parent(s) have made and desire you to one day make for yourself.

    Second, the 'confirmation' you speak of is understood quite differently by Protestants, Catholics, Methodists and other Christian denominations. To help me get a better idea, what 'type' of church were you confirmed in and at what age did this take place?

    Once I hear back from you I'll try and answer your question fully.

    Blessings!!!
    Gav
  • 05/08/2007 16:13
    You said:
    What would you do with $1,000,000?
    Dr Gav said:
    Probably something like....pay off the mortgage, purchase some more youth and outdoor group gear, then invest the remainder so that I can use the interest to act as my salary so that in the future Amy and I can do any community and youthwork without needing to be on salary. What about you??? Check out the new poll on the homepage!
  • 12/07/2007 21:29
    You said:
    Does having a baby hurt? would you reccomend pain relief?
    Dr Gav said:
    My understanding is that the experience varies for everyone that gives birth and I think you should definitely consult a real doctor on this one as they will be able to give you a much better understanding. If you would like to talk to someone personally and in full confidence about the experience I can recommend a couple of awesome ladies who Amy and I have found to be great in answering our questions. Just reply back to this if you would like me to put you in touch with someone (so you know, Dr Gav is anonymous so I don't know who you are through this). Blessings, Gav
  • 12/07/2007 21:28
    You said:
    Why do kangaroos jump?
    Dr Gav said:
    Did you know that Red kangaroos have been known to travel as far as 26 feet in one jump?! Unbelievable! As to why they jump, here's a few ideas:

    * Because they have so much leg power, they can jump and go much faster than running
    * Because their feet are too big. They would be tripping over them constantly! 
    * That's the way God made them and they've just had to hop ever since!

    * Scientifically speaking and to sound cool...."A physical feature that distinguishes kangaroos from other marsupials is the adaptation of the hind legs and tail for hopping. In red kangaroos,the hind legs are very large—roughly ten times the size of the small front limbs. When moving slowly, kangaroos use all four legs. When they need to move fast, they rise up on their muscular hind legs and start hopping"

    For some mediocre amusement, check out the U-Tube below or for more interesting facts and figures on kangeroos, click here
  • 12/07/2007 21:28
    You said:
    when do you want to have kids?
    Dr Gav said:
    This seems to be the flavor question of the month When we first got married, we thought about 3 years into marriage would be ideal as it would give us some time together just as a couple and also would be slightly easier financially. Recently though Amy and I were discussing it again and both felt that we would still ideally like another 4-5 years together without kids as there's so much we want to do that would be much more difficult once we have kids (though not impossible).

    Some of the factors that came into included:

    <reasons to have kids sooner>
    * Kumeu Baptist would be awesome place to have kids as there's so many in the youthgroup and church that would be awesome babysitters and encouragers/suport
    * I'd like to still be fit and healthy when my kids are teenagers and my body is feeling old already at times!
    * The house we live in now and being close to Amy's family would be really good for kids

    <reasons to have kids later>
    * Financially I have no idea how we could pay for our mortgage while living on just on youth pastor's income at this stage
    * I'm a real active person and want to do a lot more adventures which would be difficult to do once we have kids - in a similar way, Amy and I would also like to do some more travel which would be a lot more expensive and tricky with babies
    * I'm loving my youth pastor role at Kumeu but you guys certainly keep me on my toes and knacker me out, let alone with kids too!
    * We'd love to have some more time together as just a married couple first as this is a whole new awesome stage of life that we don't want to speed on by
  • 03/07/2007 15:36
    You said:
    Where do we wait 4 this answer????? Im not really into the whole technology thing you know. Fresh off the boat.
    Dr Gav said:
    The answers appear here so just keep an eye on Dr Gav. Feel free to ask any personal questions too as your are anonymous (I don't know who asks the questions) for that very reason. Blessings! - Dr Gav
  • 03/07/2007 15:34
    You said:
    Um do you like chocolate or strawberry icecream better??????
    Dr Gav said:
    Strawberry!!! mmmmmmmmmmmm!
  • 29/06/2007 19:04
    You said:
    Do you prefer train, bus, car, truck, boat, plane, bike or walk?
    Dr Gav said:
    In order of preference

    1) Train
    2) Bike
    3) Walking
    4) Plane
    5) Car
  • 29/06/2007 19:03
    You said:
    I mean for students from overseas countries thanks.
    Dr Gav said:
    Unfortunately in that case no I don't as I have only done this in Wellington previously. Usually the high schools can recommend some good places to try though. Alternaitvely you could call the Citizens Advice Bureau who should be able to help (09 833 5775 - is the massey office in the library just along from westgate). Hope that helps and sorry not to know any personally!
  • 28/06/2007 20:25
    You said:
    What are the pros and cons of going to the dentist?
    Dr Gav said:
    Are you trying to tell me something here? I've been weighing these up personally for a while as I haven't gone in about 6 years or more!!! I'm too scared now!

    Pros for going:
    1) Likely to save money in the long run
    2) Could minimise long term damage which could be much worse than short term
    3) The pain or frustrations you have now with  your teeth/gums could be fixed and over and done with

    Cons:
    1) Can hurt the pocket now when you do go!
    2) You might not be able to eat certain foods for a while or need treatments/fillings
    3) Takes time and we always seem to be running out of it
    4) They're dentists, end of story!!! :-)
  • 28/06/2007 20:24
    You said:
    Do you know a good homestay agency for West Auckland.
    Dr Gav said:
    do you mean a homestay for tourists or for students or for someone who doesn't have a home at the moment (e.g. booted out by parents)?
  • 28/06/2007 20:23
    You said:
    What is the best heating options for winter?
    Dr Gav said:
    I guess it depends on if this Is a short term or long term solution.
    - if it's just for this winter or not your house and you already have a wood fire then personally I think that the wood fire is the most economical way to go. Avoid using electric or gas heaters where possible as these are quite expensive to run. Only use them in short spurts when a fire would take too long. If your tight on money, talk to one of us at church and we'll see if someone in the church has some spare from their property that they are willing to give you.
    - it it's for your house for the long term and you have some money ($2k +) available to invest in a heat pump then this may be another way for you to go. Once installed they are fairly efficient although don't be fooled by the tv ads which are mostly very misleading! remember too that there are almost always hidden costs so allow more than what's been advertised!

    Some other key things on keeping the house warm:
    1) Draw curtains once the heat of the day starts disappearing but then draw back again when sun is able to pour in
    2) Keep doors close in bathrooms, toilets, laundries etc. to minimise any loss of heat once it's been generated. This can make a massive difference
    3) If you find a draft from a gap in a window or door, use a towel or something else that blocks the draft
    4) Take a hot water bottle to bed (Amy's favourite) - this is much more efficent that an electric blanket!

    Hope the tips help!
  • 26/06/2007 16:34
    You said:
    What should I do if I have trouble going to the toilet??
    Dr Gav said:

    (http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/c/constipation/intro.htm)


    Constipation is passage of small amounts of hard, dry bowel movements, usually fewer than three times a week. People who are constipated may find it difficult and painful to have a bowel movement. Other symptoms of constipation include feeling bloated, uncomfortable, and sluggish.

    Many people think they are constipated when, in fact, their bowel movements are regular. For example, some people believe they are constipated, or irregular, if they do not have a bowel movement every day. However, there is no right number of daily or weekly bowel movements. Normal may be three times a day or three times a week depending on the person. In addition, some people naturally have firmer stools than others.

    At one time or another almost everyone gets constipated. Poor diet and lack of exercise are usually the causes. In most cases, constipation is temporary and not serious. Understanding causes, prevention, and treatment will help most people find relief. (Source: excerpt from Constipation: NIDDK)

    Some of the possible causes of Constipation include:

    Treatments for Constipation include: Prevent of Constipation include:
    • Drink water
    • Eat fiber
    • Exercise
    • Avoid holding back bowel movement

    Check out the following sites:
    http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/c/constipation/intro.htm
    http://www.everybody.co.nz/page-65137f3f-a6a1-4f23-bbe9-26d29c8c5edd.aspx
  • 21/06/2007 17:50
    You said:
    What causes a fart?
    Dr Gav said:
    Check out http://www.heptune.com/farts.html
  • 16/06/2007 20:39
    You said:
    how long is the longest nose?
    Dr Gav said:
    check out the guiness book of records for that one - or ask Pinnochio!
  • 13/06/2007 20:05
    You said:
    What are some types of dogs that can't jump very high?
    Dr Gav said:
    Poodles! And of course Catdog fish
  • 11/06/2007 14:23
    You said:
    Do you guys have pics from the party at jo's??????
    Dr Gav said:
    Yep, we're having a few glitches with uploading photos at the moment but once that is sorted I'll be putting a load of various Reach pics up including the pool party ones. Sorry for taking so long!
  • 10/06/2007 14:48
    You said:
    Is it possible for guinea pigs and rabbits to breed? What would they make?
    Dr Gav said:

    In the fight for supremacy, I believe the guinea pig would dominate after a fierce breeding battle, thus resulting in something like the following:
  • 08/06/2007 08:39
    You said:
    Do you skateboard?
    Dr Gav said:
    Nope. Have tried a few times but need some serious teaching I think! Like blading but need to learn how to stop some day!
  • 25/05/2007 18:23
    You said:
    Do you believe it is possible for pigs to fly?
    Dr Gav said:
    Yep, there's plenty of airplanes out there to take them flying these days!
  • 25/05/2007 18:23
    You said:
    How do you stop your cat from fighting with other cats?
    Dr Gav said:
    Spin them on those office chairs that spin around...their dizziness will confuse them no doubt for a while! Otherwise, find a common enemy for them both to fight instead of each other...e.g. a mouse maybe?!!
  • 25/05/2007 18:22
    You said:
    How do you stop a rabbit from chewing the wood on its cage?
    Dr Gav said:
    You could put tiger balm or deep heat on some bits of it, that should put them off! (someone did that to my toothbrush once and it worked for me!) - NB: I take no responsibility for any harm to animals!
  • 25/05/2007 18:22
    You said:
    Were you smacked as a child?
    Dr Gav said:
    To be quite honest I can't remember! Either way, what always scared me most was dad being disappointed in me and giving me a talking to. That really hurt, especially when it hadn't been my fault (not that that was often the case of course )
  • 25/05/2007 18:21
    You said:
    Can you do the cancan?
    Dr Gav said:
    In a word, "no". Me and dancing are like chalk and cheese though I would love to learn properly one day!
  • 23/05/2007 20:16
    You said:
    is the world round or flat? how do you know?
    Dr Gav said:
    That sounds like a good ol' school project question! Are you getting me to help with your homework?!! In any case I'm 100% sure that the earth is not flat...whether it is indeed round or another similar shape I'm not quite as certain but any view from a plane or even a boat while out to sea on a nice day instantly suggests to me that it is certainly not flat. Now one could say it is simply an optical illusion but I also have yet to hear of anyone falling off one of the flat sides of the Earth!
  • 18/05/2007 18:16
    You said:
    Have you ever ridden a horse?
    Dr Gav said:
    Yep, I even used to go to a pony club I think when I was little? (memory is a bit vague on that one though!).  Definitely enjoy horse riding but still haven't done a long trek which I would like to do one day!
  • 18/05/2007 18:16
    You said:
    Does waxing hurt? have you ever tried it?
    Dr Gav said:
    Never tried it personally but from observation at what Amy says I'm 99% sure it does...at least for the first time or two! Can't say it's my cup of tea eh!
  • 18/05/2007 18:15
    You said:
    How can I get rid of body hair in funny places?
    Dr Gav said:
    hmmmm...waxing would get rid of it for about 6-12 wks but depending on the spot could be a little painful at first. 'Plucking' the hairs could be another option. Otherwise the pharmacy may have something?
  • 03/05/2007 15:55
    You said:
    hay gav itz josie here from adventure camp........ummmmm when od u think our funni fotoz will be online???????????????
    Dr Gav said:
    Hey Josie. Will try to have these up by Monday at the latest. Am hoping to work on them this afternoon so it may even be before - we'll see how we go! Great to see you found the site and "Dr Gav". What an awesome camp that was (and a great sleep last night too in my own bed!). "The Family" is such a cool bunch and you are going to go a long way in life Josie with your leadership skills!

    PS> Spread the word to the rest of the family in case they have forgotten the site address. I'll put an article on the front page now so that people knopw they're in the right place and you can keep in touch with each other through the comments.
  • 30/04/2007 17:03
    You said:
    what is treacle?
    Dr Gav said:

    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    Treacle may refer to:
  • 18/04/2007 16:29
    You said:
    Are you a real doctor?
    Dr Gav said:
    Given the amount of first aid I've been involved with recently that would be useful but no, I'm definitely not that qualified!
  • 14/04/2007 20:33
    You said:
    Would you like a baby guinea pig? :D
    Dr Gav said:
    That'd be a definite no
  • 13/04/2007 09:59
    You said:
    Dr Gav,

    I would like to support your views on dating non christians. If you take the view that dating is looking for somebody to marry and spend your life with, God said not to be unequally yoked. God has a purpose for your life. Your future husband or wife has a purpose in God's plan also. When you come togther as husband and wife, God's purpose for your lives continues and what a fantastic opportunity to walk down this path together.

    I have a lovely wife. We have been married for 17 years and I look forward to many more. My wife is a non christian. I was a christian when we were married. I didn't think that it would be a big deal. It is, but through God's grace we are doing well. I look forward to the day when my wife is a christian and comes to know God's love and Jesus as her saviour.

    I speak from experience when I say put God first in your life, read his word and pray to him. Strengthen your relationship with God. If the person you date applies these steps to there life as well you will be on solid ground. Dating a christian does'nt mean a perfect relationship or you finding your future husband or wife. It does or should mean that you have the same foundation to your life, which is an excellent place to start.

    Dr Gav, if you disagree with this, please say. I write this to help and assist and save heartache where there doesn'y need to be heartache.

    thanks

    John
    Dr Gav said:
    Awesome response John and some great wisdom in there for all of us to be sure  - good on ya for keeping your thoughts so succinct too, I think I should learnf rom that :-) Thanks heaps John!
  • 10/04/2007 14:36
    You said:
    im really confused i have just had a great experience at E.C 07! but now what do i do? i want to do something but what? where do i start? God open my eyes at a few points but not enough for me to know what to do or what to pray about or anything like that.
    Dr Gav said:
    What you have raised is both the awesome and hard thing about Easter Camp for many of us each year - God so often uses that time to challenge us or rekindle our love and desire for Him. At the same time though, he also still leaves it to us to start taking steps towards him....so, what does that mean for you and your questions???

    It means that you need to actively begin doing a few things:
    1) You need to set aside time to pray further about what God has started to lay on your heart. This will help you to give God space to answer some of your questions. Pray that He will keep adding the detail, that he will help you open your eyes to where he is guiding you. Pray that He will help you to put aside any self-centredness, shame, fear that stop you from understanding his will
    2) You need to get a leader or another strong Christian around you that you feel comfortable to talk with and to share your experiences from camp with. With that person you need to begin thinking about what are some of the practical implications (i.e. what are you going to do now) of this stuff. When you feel called to make a decision / take some actions, you should talk these through with this same person and ask them both to keep you accountable and also help you follow through with the actions.

    Amy, myself or one of the youth or church leaders are always happy to meet with you to talk these things through and to encourage you along the way. Whatever you do, don't try doing this alone - God designed the church and 'fellowship' for a reason and He too wants you to keep Him involved!!!

    I'm so excited to hear that you've allowed God to touch you this weekend...that's a blessing that so often comes from just simply spending time with Him!

    Blessings!
    Dr Gav
  • 10/04/2007 09:30
    You said:
    which do you like better - cream or cheese?
    Dr Gav said:
    cheese...mmmm, camerbert, brie,...yum!
  • 06/04/2007 13:46
    You said:
    have you ever tried horse riding?
    Dr Gav said:
    Yep, a few times and I enjoy it although I would love to go on a proper trek some day and learn to gallop! I'm not one for going slow so the normal horse riding you get at camps etc. doesn't always do it for me as much.

    Random Fact:
    Did you know that horse riding is the most dangerous adventure sport in NZ?!! It is more dangerous according to research than rock climbing, abseiling, bungy-jumping, caving etc. all added together!
  • 03/04/2007 18:06
    You said: