Nope, again, not a typo. . . I did not mean to write cake and mistakenly wrote fake . . . in fact if you truly knew me, you would know that cake is not big in my life. My mom used to have to make fake cake for my birthday parties, otherwise known as ice-cream cake. Real cake, is not something I really enjoy. . . ironic because I really enjoy baking.
And for those who don't really know me, now you know a little bit more about me. . . no where was I? Oh, YES!
TIME TO CUT THE FAKE...
I had two bad experiences over the Easter weekend. The first was on Good Friday, I went out, after church with a friend in search of breakfast. We entered a shopping mall not in our normal area and where shocked to notice that 5 restaurants served Macon. Come on! There is no faking when it comes to Bacon. Just say no to Macon. This has nothing to do with religion, in this instance....I don't like the taste of Macon because I have had the real thing before. So I can't tolerate a fake. Thankfully we managed to find a restaurant that did serve bacon, after irritating 5 different restaurants' staff by walking out. And all was well in my world again.
Then later on in the weekend I was watching one of my favorite tv shows, and they based a character in the show on a South African. It has the be the worst fake South African accent that I have ever heard. It was so bad, so fake that it almost made my ears bleed. I was horrified, in fact I still don't think that I have quite recovered yet. There is nothing worse than something butchering your own accent with a bad fake.
Fake is False and therefore it is deceitful. It is not true, nor correct. It is erroneous. Now we can laugh about the funny fake experiences we encounter, like mine over the weekend, but how much of our lives are we presenting a false us?
I know that I often do it at work, and then justify it with the word "professionalism" but honestly sometimes I am faking it. Fake becomes normal in our world as we desperately try to defend ourselves, or protect ourselves. But as Christians, we are not called to walk in deceit, so where do we draw the line?
Truthfully this is a new thought for me, one that I want to explore further, but one thing that I can take heart in, is this. . . there is no deceitfulness in my God, nothing false can be found in Him . . . He is the real deal. So while we are learning to cut the fake out of our lives, lets keep pushing in to know him more, so that we can become more like him.
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Sunday, April 9, 2017
The day South African's took a stand - again
I am sure many of you follow the news, and have heard the rumblings about South Africa and its current situation. Some of you might have glossed over it and not paid much heed to it because it is a nation known for its protests, so what is one more? and sadly it is a nation who's president has frequented the news with embarrassing blunders and bad choices...so what's one more?
But it was one more too many for our nation . . . our whole nation, not just a demographic . . . so I ask you not to gloss over and carry on with your lives but take a stand on behalf of South Africa, because the time for change has to come, and SOON.
I am not necessarily debating politics here, nor am I excluding it. I am also not opening up a discussion as to whether protesting is right or wrong . . .what I am saying is our nation is in trouble, and has been for a very long time. Corruption, Crime, Bloodshed, and Chaos have ruled for too long.
What is interesting is too see that the people of the land have finally had enough. As I mentioned it was not just one demographic but the nation, the people of this land from all walks of life, races and ages took a stand. Some say 60 000 took to the streets, and others say 100 000. the number is irrelevant because many more added their voice even if they couldn't add their presence. I think it is the first time in our nation's history where it was all people from all walks of life joining together, finally the divide of racism and other factors fell and they took a stand as a nation. You will only have to google search and glance through the images to see the truth in this. This is a huge milestone in our nation, regardless of the outcome, something has finally shifted and a unity is being forged.
Another thing stood out to me, sadly not in a good way. In Durban a certain group of people decided to march on the same day as the anti Zuma protests. [actually Durban had 3 marches on the same day]. This particular group didn't need to march on the same day, and claimed it had nothing to do with the other marches, it was simply a co-incidence that it was planned for the same day. YES, none of us believed them. Regardless they were allowed to march on the same day, but in a different route and direction. Truthfully, and not to be prophets of gloom but everyone I spoke to, myself included, felt it would end badly. And it did.
As predicted this group of people arrived to march armed with sticks, golf clubs, and half bricks. Still stating they intend no harm and had no agenda against the other protesters. True to prediction, the changed course and marched in the direction of the other protest, upon arrival they proceeded to attack a small group of protesters who were still gathered. Firstly, why were they not stopped at the point they changed course? secondly why were they allowed to march armed? But its a glimpse into the corruption in this nation that is the root cause of the violence and the crime. One of their leaders was on the news saying that just because they marched with sticks doesn't show that they had any intention of being violent, that they could not have predicted it happening. this comment was closely followed by saying that regardless its not illegal to march carrying sticks.
In contrast the majority of the country marched without weapons and without causing violence, on the whole. I am sure like anywhere, there might have been a few hotheads. but on the whole a nation took a stand in peace and unity.
But the end is not in sight, there is still a long road ahead. We are all disillusioned but pro-active. No more hiding or grumbling or running, South Africa is taking a stand on behalf of our land. So I ask you to join in, in the way that is the most powerful....Stand up for South Africa by taking a stand in prayer.
But it was one more too many for our nation . . . our whole nation, not just a demographic . . . so I ask you not to gloss over and carry on with your lives but take a stand on behalf of South Africa, because the time for change has to come, and SOON.
I am not necessarily debating politics here, nor am I excluding it. I am also not opening up a discussion as to whether protesting is right or wrong . . .what I am saying is our nation is in trouble, and has been for a very long time. Corruption, Crime, Bloodshed, and Chaos have ruled for too long.
What is interesting is too see that the people of the land have finally had enough. As I mentioned it was not just one demographic but the nation, the people of this land from all walks of life, races and ages took a stand. Some say 60 000 took to the streets, and others say 100 000. the number is irrelevant because many more added their voice even if they couldn't add their presence. I think it is the first time in our nation's history where it was all people from all walks of life joining together, finally the divide of racism and other factors fell and they took a stand as a nation. You will only have to google search and glance through the images to see the truth in this. This is a huge milestone in our nation, regardless of the outcome, something has finally shifted and a unity is being forged.
Another thing stood out to me, sadly not in a good way. In Durban a certain group of people decided to march on the same day as the anti Zuma protests. [actually Durban had 3 marches on the same day]. This particular group didn't need to march on the same day, and claimed it had nothing to do with the other marches, it was simply a co-incidence that it was planned for the same day. YES, none of us believed them. Regardless they were allowed to march on the same day, but in a different route and direction. Truthfully, and not to be prophets of gloom but everyone I spoke to, myself included, felt it would end badly. And it did.
As predicted this group of people arrived to march armed with sticks, golf clubs, and half bricks. Still stating they intend no harm and had no agenda against the other protesters. True to prediction, the changed course and marched in the direction of the other protest, upon arrival they proceeded to attack a small group of protesters who were still gathered. Firstly, why were they not stopped at the point they changed course? secondly why were they allowed to march armed? But its a glimpse into the corruption in this nation that is the root cause of the violence and the crime. One of their leaders was on the news saying that just because they marched with sticks doesn't show that they had any intention of being violent, that they could not have predicted it happening. this comment was closely followed by saying that regardless its not illegal to march carrying sticks.
In contrast the majority of the country marched without weapons and without causing violence, on the whole. I am sure like anywhere, there might have been a few hotheads. but on the whole a nation took a stand in peace and unity.
But the end is not in sight, there is still a long road ahead. We are all disillusioned but pro-active. No more hiding or grumbling or running, South Africa is taking a stand on behalf of our land. So I ask you to join in, in the way that is the most powerful....Stand up for South Africa by taking a stand in prayer.
Sunday, April 2, 2017
a sketch in time - 3
Sunday Afternoons, I like to put on a podcast of something that is encouraging to my soul, and spirit... I then pull out some paper and do a quick drawing whilst listening. Nothing intense or overly detailed, in essence it is just a giant imperfect doodle . . . but it is one of my favorite ways to relax. Here are a few of my Sunday quick sketches.
Saturday, April 1, 2017
When the poopoo hits the fan
As a South African, at the moment, it is a chaotic time in my nation. I love this nation I love its people but there are aspects of life [currently] that are not likable. In fact they are downright detestable. One of those aspects is the terrible crime levels in my nation. I can't tell you how many people I personally know who have been victims of crime, or had a close neighbor/friend/family member be a victim of crime. And crime, much like disease, is not partial to one group and not another. It doesnt care about your race or even your religion. So many Christians wish it did, that we are automatically deleted from a criminals attack list just because we are Christian. But sadly this is not always the case.
For those who don't keep trend of crime in South Africa, we are not just talking smash and grabs, its violent crime, hijackings and home invasions. This nation also sadly has a high abuse rate. As beautiful as its nature is and as beautiful as most of its people are and as rich as it is in colorful culture....crime is a stain on the face of South Africa.
Our politics . . . well, what can even be said? Especially this week with so much change and upheaval caused in the ranks? if you are not from South Africa go and browse the news sights, see what happened. overnight many of our ministers where removed and replaced. it happened so close to April fools day that some possibly wondered if it was a joke. our economy is in a downward spiral as a result, our people are confused and concerned. It has sent waves of uncertainty through the land.
Durban has had its share of rubbish lately as well. The sea bit back and caused damage to local businesses on our beach front as a massive wave swept over the sands, over the promenade and into the restaurants situated there. Then a factory caught on fire, that burned for days, with a massive black pollutant cloud hovering over the city for days, affecting our environment and health. Up the hill near where i work there is a constant smell of decay, rot, sewerage and toxic fumes from a landfill.
My life itself is not a walk in the park right now. There are situations beyond my control that are causing anxiety, stress and affecting even my health. The more I try do right in these situations, the more wrong seems to happen.
There is so much that can and does happen, so much beyond our control. I work for a doctor, so often we see patients have life slap them in the face unexpectedly.
So what do we do in the midst of it?
We stand!
I know its not what we want to do, I know many of us want to either give up or run from it. But sometimes when all is said and done, all you can do is stand!
Ephesians 6: 13b .... "and after you have done everything, to stand."
And then it goes on to list the armor with which we stand firm in. Now I am not going to regurgitate a sermon we have often heard about the armor of God. But note that it mentions these word; truth, righteousness, gospel, faith, salvation, Word of God.
What I encourage you in, as the poop hits the fan and life happens, don't let it affect the things list above. Rather let the things listed above affect your circumstances. So many times we allow our circumstances to cause us to act in ways that are not righteous. We allow our circumstances to erode our faith. Taint our view of God. In our desperation to strike back and defend sometimes we taint the truth. We turn to opinion instead of His word. We are so caught up in ourselves that we stop sharing our faith, the Gospel.
Far too often we react to our situations, and allow them to consume us, instead of standing firm in what God has given us. Trust me I know that it is difficult. Life has been extremely unkind and downright horrid to me at times, to the point that PTSD took hold. but it doesn't change who God is, and what God has done for me.
When you feel like you cant stand, that is ok. That is why God is always with us. That is also why [and when] friends come into play. Don't be so proud that you don't reach out for help that is always readily available.
We all love the promises of God. Especially the nice ones. But one of those promises found in John 16:33 says, "In this world you WILL have trouble..." None of us like this promise. We kind of want to delete it. . . but Jesus doesn't stop there, he finishes it off with the best part of the promise, "...BUT TAKE HEART! I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD."
For all those struggling at the moment, including myself. I encourage you to stand firm! and take heart!
For those who don't keep trend of crime in South Africa, we are not just talking smash and grabs, its violent crime, hijackings and home invasions. This nation also sadly has a high abuse rate. As beautiful as its nature is and as beautiful as most of its people are and as rich as it is in colorful culture....crime is a stain on the face of South Africa.
Our politics . . . well, what can even be said? Especially this week with so much change and upheaval caused in the ranks? if you are not from South Africa go and browse the news sights, see what happened. overnight many of our ministers where removed and replaced. it happened so close to April fools day that some possibly wondered if it was a joke. our economy is in a downward spiral as a result, our people are confused and concerned. It has sent waves of uncertainty through the land.
Durban has had its share of rubbish lately as well. The sea bit back and caused damage to local businesses on our beach front as a massive wave swept over the sands, over the promenade and into the restaurants situated there. Then a factory caught on fire, that burned for days, with a massive black pollutant cloud hovering over the city for days, affecting our environment and health. Up the hill near where i work there is a constant smell of decay, rot, sewerage and toxic fumes from a landfill.
My life itself is not a walk in the park right now. There are situations beyond my control that are causing anxiety, stress and affecting even my health. The more I try do right in these situations, the more wrong seems to happen.
There is so much that can and does happen, so much beyond our control. I work for a doctor, so often we see patients have life slap them in the face unexpectedly.
So what do we do in the midst of it?
We stand!
I know its not what we want to do, I know many of us want to either give up or run from it. But sometimes when all is said and done, all you can do is stand!
Ephesians 6: 13b .... "and after you have done everything, to stand."
And then it goes on to list the armor with which we stand firm in. Now I am not going to regurgitate a sermon we have often heard about the armor of God. But note that it mentions these word; truth, righteousness, gospel, faith, salvation, Word of God.
What I encourage you in, as the poop hits the fan and life happens, don't let it affect the things list above. Rather let the things listed above affect your circumstances. So many times we allow our circumstances to cause us to act in ways that are not righteous. We allow our circumstances to erode our faith. Taint our view of God. In our desperation to strike back and defend sometimes we taint the truth. We turn to opinion instead of His word. We are so caught up in ourselves that we stop sharing our faith, the Gospel.
Far too often we react to our situations, and allow them to consume us, instead of standing firm in what God has given us. Trust me I know that it is difficult. Life has been extremely unkind and downright horrid to me at times, to the point that PTSD took hold. but it doesn't change who God is, and what God has done for me.
When you feel like you cant stand, that is ok. That is why God is always with us. That is also why [and when] friends come into play. Don't be so proud that you don't reach out for help that is always readily available.
We all love the promises of God. Especially the nice ones. But one of those promises found in John 16:33 says, "In this world you WILL have trouble..." None of us like this promise. We kind of want to delete it. . . but Jesus doesn't stop there, he finishes it off with the best part of the promise, "...BUT TAKE HEART! I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD."
For all those struggling at the moment, including myself. I encourage you to stand firm! and take heart!
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