Basically, you swim a mile across Midmar dam.

What a great challenge!

You see, I don’t see myself as very sporty.  I do like taking on challenges but sometimes some of them can be very difficult for me:

Yet, I achieved this feat with the help of my brother.

I am so thankful for him.  He pushed me well and he supported me amazingly.

The whole mile he swam next to me.

Each breath I took I saw he was next to me.

He could have swam faster but he stayed by my side.

(One of the many reasons why I love him)

Reminded me of what Jesus does.  His yoke is light, I wrote about in here: Sacred Spaces 324

Jesus, thank you for my awesome brother.
I was proud of our time too.
I would be happy to complete it at 45 minutes.
My bro pushed us for 40 minutes
and we completed it at 38 minutes…

Thanks bro, for another adventure together…

Ants, they’re savages!

Stunning Strelitzia

Sneaky Shongololo

“All creatures great and small, God made them all.”

I remember how everything was so exciting and I embraced each moment knowing that it was all a blessing and a possible “once in a life time” opporutnity.

I became a travellor:

“I was biten by a travel bug, and she left me with great scars and memories” (I always thought that would make great lyrics)

In the words of Alanis Morissette (Citizen of the Planet)

“wide eyed, new ground
humbled by my new surroundings

I am a citizen of the planet
My president is kwan yin
My frontier is on an airplane
my prisons: homes for rehabilitating

Then I fly back to my nest, I fly back with my nuclear but everything is different
So I wait, my yearn for home is broadened, patriotism expanded by callings from beyond
So I pack my things nothing precious all things sacred”

Now that I am “home” I feel in some ways… that the journey or adventure is over.

1) Do I really need to settle?

2) Do I really need to be responsible?

So occasionally I will have these rants.  I need to be fair and kind to my heart.  This tension will be here for awhile.

God is patient.

Thanks for reading.

(I blog a lot, because being single and lonely (at times), I like sharing my stories and thoughts with anyone who would listen.  “If you don’t like it, what am I supposed to do, I never asked you to click and read this blog” said in Dave Matthews accent)

That’s so true!

At Youth on friday, we taught about Jesus.

However I also felt that I should invite the teens to submit photos of beautiful sceneries they have seen recently…

For the backdrop of the song words we show in the programme we use called: Easy Worship.

The response has been incredible!  My phone is busy with them sending pictures of sunrises and sunsets and other marvels of God’s world.

Made me smile…

How people are “seeing” the beauty around them!

I read my friend’s blog: the other side of the coin

I agreed with what she wrote.
We did have a chat the other day and she just didn’t get “the whole lent” thing? She suggested that “she hates religious practices.”

I confess, I got defensive.
If someone takes part in LENT, does that make them religious?
I really hope not!

I am not a fan of religion and tradition. (Well tradition, when it stifles people)

My explanation of LENT is that its a good “practice” to help one focus in their faith journey.

And we all can do with some focus, right?
So when we “give up something” for LENT, the idea is that when the craving or desire for that “thing” (that we have given up for the 40 days of LENT) comes up, we ACTIVELY turn out focus to Jesus. and use those moments to worship and express our love to Him.

Now that’s something I can do. And want to try and do as much.

There has been a few influential books in my life, but this one by Brother Lawrence: The Practice of the Presence of God I keep coming back to.

It uses the word “Practice”
And like all athletes, sportsmen (women), academics… everyone needs to PRACTICE.

And LENT is one of those good practices.
NO, we don’t NEED to do it!

YET, would it help? For many, yes it does!

So as an academic writes practice papers, as footballers practice each day.

(By the way if you are an English Teacher, reading this now, I do always get confused with: practice or practise. never know when to use each one?)

I love Jesus.
And there are little quircky things I may do to keep my eyes on Him.
And how I often look elsewhere.

I would be the first to put my hand up, to say I am a sinner. I mess up. My sins trip me up often.
HOWEVER,
I would also be the first to put my hand up, to say that I am a sinner saved by grace.

I wanted to throw this picture into this blog.
A guy from my Youth took it during his trip to Botswana:

Seriously, when I see beauty like this it SCREAMS the existence of God. A beautiful designer, a beautiful creator… who breathed me out of the dirt of the earth.

I am unworthy… but as Louie Giglio once said it:

I am because I know “I AM”

I have hurt many people
I have run from Him often
I have tripped up
BUT I will stumble forward
I will learn and relearn grace constantly.

BECAUSE, I need Him.
I want Him. and I love Him.

Why I am preaching? (And if you are still reading)

These are two songs that have constantly gripped this heart of mine:

“As I recall with my stomach turning
I was hiding away from myself, away from you
Like nothing, though something was terribly wrong
And I admit that I was only waiting for the right time
Night time, the right moment for you to look away
Though you never did, I pretended for a while
So I could walk where I don’t belong” (Blindside – Pitiful)

Jesus, He never lets go.

And this song is more recent and its about think that “we are good.”  Like those religious folks… those who live by religion… not grace and beauty and love.

THRICE – AT THE LAST
(I found it hard to select only a snippet of lyrics from this song)

“It’s a shame that some must go without,
But I was no fool to think it might be my problem.
Needy hands were reaching out;
I kept my spare change and my pride in a tight fist.

And now at the last, everything is changed in this pale light
That death has cast on all I’ve done – on all I’ve done.

I’m a good man on the whole;
Who could blame me for looking out for number one?
I never killed, I never stole;
A small indulgence now and then, so what of it?

I’m a good man.
I’m a good man.
Am I a good man?
I thought I was,
But the rewards of this life now count for naught.
My body: soon buried and left to rot.
The time’s gone, how quickly it all has passed.
My God, now I see how I’ve squandered each and every breath.

Now at the last, everything is changed in this pale light;
That death has cast on all I’ve done.

Now at the last, everything is changed in this pale light;
And looking back I am undone – I am undone.”

Thanks for reading!

Let Jesus in, I promise, He will turn your life around for the far better.

The view of life from His eyes and heart, is incredible!

I really like teaching about Jesus.
When I read from His word and see His life, I learn so much. I am encouraged and moved by the truth of Him and who He is and what he can do in our lives.

I was talking about Jesus feeding the five thousand at Youth last night.

It was humbling to see how captivated the teens were. They were focussed on what I was saying. Wow!

I just felt in that moment, God wants me to TEACH about Him.

I need to be a “tourguide in the faith” and tell the world of this incredible Jesus.

Well if they won’t listen… then maybe my friend’s pets would…

I understand the need to cling to and remember heritage. Where one comes from? Names carry weight. They tell of stories gone by.
They are reminders of identity and beacons of hope.

The ancient Hebrew culture is like that too.

Hebrew names carry big meaning.

But for me the clash is people who hold onto their “old and familiar” against a people who want to put up new reminders of their “old and familiar”

So for example I know roads by Broadway and Esplanade. They have new names. But people still call them by their old names.

The old names are in a sense a little heritage.

Yes we could join with our fellow country men and women, and except the new names.

But we too are clinging to some heritage..

And when maybe too much money is spending on trying to cling to the past instead of trying to create a better future, should we not tell ourselves..

We’re wasting money.

Another ramble..

What a great thing to be said of you: “That person inspires me!”

Just another thought..