A girl went to her friends house and she
ended up staying longer than planned, and had to walk home alone.
She wasn't afraid because it was a small community and she lived only a
few blocks away.
As she walked along under the bike trail
Diane asked God to keep her safe from harm and danger.
When she reached the alley, which was a shortcut to her house, she decided to
take it.
However, halfway down the alley she noticed a man
standing at the end as though he were waiting for her.
She became uneasy and began to pray, asking for God's protection.
Instantly a comforting feeling of quietness and security wrapped round her,
she felt as though someone was walking with her.
When she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man and
arrived home safely.
The following day, she read in the newspaper
that a young girl had been raped in the same alley just twenty minutes after she
had been there.
Feeling overwhelmed by this tragedy and the fact that it could have been her,
she began to weep.
Thanking the Lord for her safety and to help this young
woman, she decided to go to the police station.
She felt she could recognize the man, so she told them her story.
The police asked
her if she would be willing to look at a lineup to see if she could identify him.
She agreed and immediately pointed out the man she
had seen in the alley the night before.
When the man was told he had been identified, he immediately broke down and confessed.
The officer thanked Diane for her bravery and asked if there was anything
they could do for her.
She asked if they would ask the man
one question.
Diane was curious as to why he had not attacked her.
When the policeman asked him, he answered, 'Because she wasn't alone.
She had two tall men walking on either side of her.
Amazingly, whether you believe or not, you're not alone.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Dont quit Dont quit
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.
When care is pressing you down a bit.
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns
As every one of us sometimes learns.
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out:
Don't give up though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.
And you never can tell how close you are.
It may be near when it seems so far:
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit!
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.
When care is pressing you down a bit.
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns
As every one of us sometimes learns.
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out:
Don't give up though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.
And you never can tell how close you are.
It may be near when it seems so far:
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
'...may they rest in peace, and rise in Glory...'
Yesterday my friends and I filled another pew at yet another funeral. His name was Dimitri Links and at 21 was fatally and tragically stabbed after an argument about what time a vegetable stand should pack up.
The funeral I have to accredit as one of the best I've ever been to (yes I can make a statement like this- I've been to 22 funerals), it was spirit filled like no other I've seen and glorified death for the 'step towards home' that it is. As an Anglican raised in a Dutch Reformed household, the church to me would ethnocentrically be 'happy clappy', but in this instance these 'happy' people reflected Dimitri's personality and with inspiring enthusiasm embraced death as our Orthodox churches fail to. If you are not familiar with the term 'juig', it is the act of worship in the form of joyous, rythmic dance. On this day his friends and family, and girlfriend who had been unfortunate enough to witness his murder, rejoiced in his ascension and his 'return home'. The service did not leave those attended in woeful mourning, but with the sense that he really now was, in a better place.
This morning the brother of the 'murderer' called out to me in greeting as we were in primary school together, I was torn as could be expected and my curt response was dragged out and uneasy- it did however bring me to a conclusion about death 22 funerals later:
In tragic deaths like these, as with any, people leave us when it is their time to do so. I think that when 'Ollie' died at the hand of foul play rather than a mere accident, it was his last good deed. There was little doubt around the situation that the murderer did not realise that his actions would be fatal. In death Dimitri may have changed the life of a young man previously rude and temperemental, waking him up to reality and possibly startling him into a new take on life.
The funeral I have to accredit as one of the best I've ever been to (yes I can make a statement like this- I've been to 22 funerals), it was spirit filled like no other I've seen and glorified death for the 'step towards home' that it is. As an Anglican raised in a Dutch Reformed household, the church to me would ethnocentrically be 'happy clappy', but in this instance these 'happy' people reflected Dimitri's personality and with inspiring enthusiasm embraced death as our Orthodox churches fail to. If you are not familiar with the term 'juig', it is the act of worship in the form of joyous, rythmic dance. On this day his friends and family, and girlfriend who had been unfortunate enough to witness his murder, rejoiced in his ascension and his 'return home'. The service did not leave those attended in woeful mourning, but with the sense that he really now was, in a better place.
This morning the brother of the 'murderer' called out to me in greeting as we were in primary school together, I was torn as could be expected and my curt response was dragged out and uneasy- it did however bring me to a conclusion about death 22 funerals later:
In tragic deaths like these, as with any, people leave us when it is their time to do so. I think that when 'Ollie' died at the hand of foul play rather than a mere accident, it was his last good deed. There was little doubt around the situation that the murderer did not realise that his actions would be fatal. In death Dimitri may have changed the life of a young man previously rude and temperemental, waking him up to reality and possibly startling him into a new take on life.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
When loved ones are lost
Today I lost a dear friend... He was barely 20 years old and the victim of senseless violence.
Sometimes we need comforting words to remind us that they have left us for a better place..
These words may sound familliar, but they will not fail in the quest for comfort
When I come to the end of the day,
And the sun has set for me.
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room.
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little, but not too long,
And not with you head bowed low.
Remember the love we once shared---
Miss me, but let me go.
For this is a journey we all must take,
And each must go alone.
It's all part of the maker's plan,
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick at heart
Go to the friends we know.
And bury your sorrows in doing good
deeds---
Miss me, but let me go.
Sometimes we need comforting words to remind us that they have left us for a better place..
These words may sound familliar, but they will not fail in the quest for comfort
When I come to the end of the day,
And the sun has set for me.
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room.
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little, but not too long,
And not with you head bowed low.
Remember the love we once shared---
Miss me, but let me go.
For this is a journey we all must take,
And each must go alone.
It's all part of the maker's plan,
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick at heart
Go to the friends we know.
And bury your sorrows in doing good
deeds---
Miss me, but let me go.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Dont give up, God answers prayers...
Words to remember when it seems like everything is going wrong...
By Rev. Robert H.
Schuller
When the idea is not right, God says, "No."
No-when the idea is not the best.
No-when the idea is absolutely wrong.
No-when though it may help you,
it could create problems for someone else.
When the time is not right, God says,
"Slow."
What a catastrophe it would be if God
answered every prayer at the snap of your
fingers.
Do you know what would happen?
God would become your servant, not your
master.
Suddenly God would be working for you
instead of you working for God.
Remember:
God's delays are not God's denials.
God's timing is perfect.
Patience is what we need in prayer.
When you are not right, God says, "Grow."
The selfish person has to grow in
unselfishness.
The cautious person must grow in courage.
The timid person must grow in confidence.
The dominating person must grow in
sensitivity.
The critical person must grow in tolerance.
The negative person must grow in positive
attitudes.
The pleasure-seeking person must grow in
compassion for suffering people.
When everything is all right, God says,
"Go."
Then miracles happen:
A hopeless alcoholic is set free!
A drug addict finds release !
A doubter becomes as a child in his belief.
Diseased tissue responds to treatment, and
healing begins.
The door to your dream suddenly swings
open and there
stands God saying, "Go!"
By Rev. Robert H.
Schuller
When the idea is not right, God says, "No."
No-when the idea is not the best.
No-when the idea is absolutely wrong.
No-when though it may help you,
it could create problems for someone else.
When the time is not right, God says,
"Slow."
What a catastrophe it would be if God
answered every prayer at the snap of your
fingers.
Do you know what would happen?
God would become your servant, not your
master.
Suddenly God would be working for you
instead of you working for God.
Remember:
God's delays are not God's denials.
God's timing is perfect.
Patience is what we need in prayer.
When you are not right, God says, "Grow."
The selfish person has to grow in
unselfishness.
The cautious person must grow in courage.
The timid person must grow in confidence.
The dominating person must grow in
sensitivity.
The critical person must grow in tolerance.
The negative person must grow in positive
attitudes.
The pleasure-seeking person must grow in
compassion for suffering people.
When everything is all right, God says,
"Go."
Then miracles happen:
A hopeless alcoholic is set free!
A drug addict finds release !
A doubter becomes as a child in his belief.
Diseased tissue responds to treatment, and
healing begins.
The door to your dream suddenly swings
open and there
stands God saying, "Go!"
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
So caught up...
So the Lenten fast and Easter has come and gone, and its back to work and school.
How quickly have we slipped back into our normal ways- retracted the steps taken for the Lenten period?
We live and work as human beings and we are a species opressed by our own fault, unlike the 'animals' we are not led by raw instinct and often participate in life with full, conscious decisions. But it is our fault that make us a special species, one that can acknowledge its wrongs and find a desired perfection through a state of repentance and prayerfullness.
Never forget to pray, pray for yourself and pray for people, even strangers. Dont pray selfishly, pray for His will to be done.
The Lord our God already knows what we want and need, but when we bow down humbly and ask, he knows that we have faith in Him and it is than that prayers are answered.
How quickly have we slipped back into our normal ways- retracted the steps taken for the Lenten period?
We live and work as human beings and we are a species opressed by our own fault, unlike the 'animals' we are not led by raw instinct and often participate in life with full, conscious decisions. But it is our fault that make us a special species, one that can acknowledge its wrongs and find a desired perfection through a state of repentance and prayerfullness.
Never forget to pray, pray for yourself and pray for people, even strangers. Dont pray selfishly, pray for His will to be done.
The Lord our God already knows what we want and need, but when we bow down humbly and ask, he knows that we have faith in Him and it is than that prayers are answered.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
A time for reflection
Sometimes we forget why the egg is hollow
sometimes we forget who we should follow
sometimes we need a reminder about why we should go on...
and think about the day, that God gave up his son...
"Still He Walked"
He could hear the crowds screaming "crucify" "crucify"...
He could hear the hatred in their voices,
These were his chosen people.
He loved them,
And they were going to crucify him.
He was beaten, bleeding and weakened...
His heart was broken,
But still He walked.
He could see the crowd as he came from the palace.
He knew each of the faces so well.
He had created them.
He knew every smile, every laugh, and every shed tear,
But now they were contorted with rage and anger
His heart broke,
But still He walked.
He felt alone.
His disciples had left, denied, and even betrayed him.
He searched the crowd for a loving face
And he saw very few.
Then he turned his eyes to the only one that mattered
Knowing that he would never be alone.
He looked back at the crowd...
At the people who were spitting at him
Throwing rocks at him and mocking him
And He knew that because of Him,
They would never be alone.
So for them, He walked.
The sounds of the hammer striking the spikes echoed through the crowd.
The cheers of the crowd, as his hands and feet were nailed to the cross,
Intensified with each blow.
And God's heart broke.
He had let His son walk.
Jesus could have asked God to end his suffering,
But instead He asked God to forgive.
Not to forgive him, but to forgive the ones who were persecuting him.
As he hung on that cross, dying an unimaginable death,
He looked out and saw, not only the faces in the crowd,
But also, the face of every person yet to be,
And his heart filled with love.
As his body was dying, his heart was alive.
Alive with the limitless, unconditional love he feels for each of us.
That is why He walked.
When I forget how much My God loves me,
...I remember his walk.
When I wonder if I can be forgiven,
...I remember his walk.
When I need to be reminded of how to live like Christ,
...I think of his walk.
And to show him how much I love him,
...I wake up each morning, turn my eyes to him,
......And I walk.
sometimes we forget who we should follow
sometimes we need a reminder about why we should go on...
and think about the day, that God gave up his son...
"Still He Walked"
He could hear the crowds screaming "crucify" "crucify"...
He could hear the hatred in their voices,
These were his chosen people.
He loved them,
And they were going to crucify him.
He was beaten, bleeding and weakened...
His heart was broken,
But still He walked.
He could see the crowd as he came from the palace.
He knew each of the faces so well.
He had created them.
He knew every smile, every laugh, and every shed tear,
But now they were contorted with rage and anger
His heart broke,
But still He walked.
He felt alone.
His disciples had left, denied, and even betrayed him.
He searched the crowd for a loving face
And he saw very few.
Then he turned his eyes to the only one that mattered
Knowing that he would never be alone.
He looked back at the crowd...
At the people who were spitting at him
Throwing rocks at him and mocking him
And He knew that because of Him,
They would never be alone.
So for them, He walked.
The sounds of the hammer striking the spikes echoed through the crowd.
The cheers of the crowd, as his hands and feet were nailed to the cross,
Intensified with each blow.
And God's heart broke.
He had let His son walk.
Jesus could have asked God to end his suffering,
But instead He asked God to forgive.
Not to forgive him, but to forgive the ones who were persecuting him.
As he hung on that cross, dying an unimaginable death,
He looked out and saw, not only the faces in the crowd,
But also, the face of every person yet to be,
And his heart filled with love.
As his body was dying, his heart was alive.
Alive with the limitless, unconditional love he feels for each of us.
That is why He walked.
When I forget how much My God loves me,
...I remember his walk.
When I wonder if I can be forgiven,
...I remember his walk.
When I need to be reminded of how to live like Christ,
...I think of his walk.
And to show him how much I love him,
...I wake up each morning, turn my eyes to him,
......And I walk.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Preachers Kid
I'm watching Stan Fosters' 2010 'Preacher Kid'. The storyline is basically about a Preacher's daughter who leaves her life of paternal, Christian, rule, and persues a career of being the understudy in a touring Theatre production. 'Angie' gets involved with hotshot 'Devlin' who abuses her vulnerability- and abuses her. Tonight lets pray for the people physically and pshychologically trapped by the people who claim to love them; pray for their eyes to be opened, and for when that happens that there be a path for them to take, lit by the Lords guidance.
A little something my dear friend Emile forwaded this morning
BY A 15 yr. OLD SCHOOL KID
who got an A+ for this entry
Since the Pledge of Allegiance
And
The Lord's Prayer
Are not allowed in most
Public schools anymore
Because the word 'God' is mentioned.....
A kid in Arizona wrote the attached
NEW School prayer:
"New Pledge of Allegiance"
Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene..
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all..
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks...
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong..
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles..
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen
who got an A+ for this entry
Since the Pledge of Allegiance
And
The Lord's Prayer
Are not allowed in most
Public schools anymore
Because the word 'God' is mentioned.....
A kid in Arizona wrote the attached
NEW School prayer:
"New Pledge of Allegiance"
Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene..
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all..
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks...
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong..
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles..
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Was I wrong?
In this weeks readings we prance through John from capter 7 to 11,
John 8:1-11 gives us a nice little reminder to look within ourselves and goes a little deeper than the 'plank-in-your-own-eye' theory. In this story the teachers of the law and the pharisees want Jesus to talk himself into a corner and brings before him an adulteress, the crime for which Moses taught was punishable by death through stoning. Jesus, in his manner of despondance when being tested, then tells them "Whichever one of you has committed no sin may throw the first stone at her", naturally the crowd dispersed quietly- with nobody left to condemn her, Jesus does not either, and dismisses her with fair warning to discontinue her ways.
The lesson to be learnt may be an old one, but is undoubtedly invaluable in the relations between ourselves and the people around us, and sometimes we need a little reminder. We often find ourselves condemning the acts and behaviour of others, but lets learn to look not only within them, their circumstances, their situations and upbringing, lets look inside ourselves, what would we have done? Do we know the whole story? And when we are actively involved do we step back and be the bigger person, assess our role, and ask ourselves: "was I wrong?"...Just a thought*
John 8:1-11 gives us a nice little reminder to look within ourselves and goes a little deeper than the 'plank-in-your-own-eye' theory. In this story the teachers of the law and the pharisees want Jesus to talk himself into a corner and brings before him an adulteress, the crime for which Moses taught was punishable by death through stoning. Jesus, in his manner of despondance when being tested, then tells them "Whichever one of you has committed no sin may throw the first stone at her", naturally the crowd dispersed quietly- with nobody left to condemn her, Jesus does not either, and dismisses her with fair warning to discontinue her ways.
The lesson to be learnt may be an old one, but is undoubtedly invaluable in the relations between ourselves and the people around us, and sometimes we need a little reminder. We often find ourselves condemning the acts and behaviour of others, but lets learn to look not only within them, their circumstances, their situations and upbringing, lets look inside ourselves, what would we have done? Do we know the whole story? And when we are actively involved do we step back and be the bigger person, assess our role, and ask ourselves: "was I wrong?"...Just a thought*
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Lent
The smell of chocolate bunnies and hot cross buns are fast approaching as we come to the climax of another Lenten season, I trust Lent 2011 was and is as fulfilling as any other as we remind ourselves not just of the small sacrifices we make this time of the year but of the larger sacrifices once made for us.
Palm Sunday is but a few days away, so are we ready for that wonderful journey we know as Holy Week? The stations of the cross? The re-enactment of the washing of the feet on Maundy Thursday? And the emotions as we recall the crucifixion?
The crucifixion of Christ happened a very long time ago, years which to us are far from relevant, yet all of Jesus' life that we are priveledged to know, we should use to reflect on our own.
Have you seen the images of poverty in Sudan? Kenya? Even South Africa? Do you know that it would take only 2% of the gross domestic profit of the worlds richest 10% to end global poverty.
Can you spare a 2%? As your sacrifice reminiscent of what has been done for you? Imagine what could be achieved if we all contributed a 2% of anything, our GDP, our groceries, our stationary, to a good cause...
Lets pay it forward and start a new spiritual year in the Spirit of giving with the blessings of God..xx
Palm Sunday is but a few days away, so are we ready for that wonderful journey we know as Holy Week? The stations of the cross? The re-enactment of the washing of the feet on Maundy Thursday? And the emotions as we recall the crucifixion?
The crucifixion of Christ happened a very long time ago, years which to us are far from relevant, yet all of Jesus' life that we are priveledged to know, we should use to reflect on our own.
Have you seen the images of poverty in Sudan? Kenya? Even South Africa? Do you know that it would take only 2% of the gross domestic profit of the worlds richest 10% to end global poverty.
Can you spare a 2%? As your sacrifice reminiscent of what has been done for you? Imagine what could be achieved if we all contributed a 2% of anything, our GDP, our groceries, our stationary, to a good cause...
Lets pay it forward and start a new spiritual year in the Spirit of giving with the blessings of God..xx
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