Lady of Duffhaus

So we finally get the invite to the Duffhaus, albeit for our weekly Connect group meeting. Armed with a location pin Lynda and I, not wanting to be late at our first nod, set off to find the Duffhaus. 

We weren't the first to arrive, as Monique and Jesse were already there and Kerry, the Lady of Duffhaus, seen above, was putting on a pot of java to drew. Since it had been a long time since we all met for Connect, tonight we just chillaxed and caught up. Oh and did I mention that there was a thumper, yes a little brown rabbit called Daisy, that joined the Connect group for the first time.

Jesse

Lately my second favourite day is Tuesdays after Sundays of course. My least are Mondays no need to go there, and well Fridays used to be my favourite, working from home has wipe that thank goodness its Friday down to a status of Thursdays. Hump Day or Wednesday is okay along with Saturdays but it is Tuesday evenings when we get together for Connect group that makes Tuesday important to me.

Meeting on a Tuesday evening when we all tired from the start of another week, just to connect with each other and discuss Sunday's sermon, pull it apart and of course crit Jon's conversion to vegetarianism which I must say made me block out the rest of his Sunday's sermon. I mean the horror of finding out that the pastor is a no more meat, no more braai person just threw me from the left field that I didn't heard another word out of his mouth. Luckily my Connect group put me straight by saying that Jon finished his vegetarian sentence with only joking as his idea of a good meal is simply a large steak. Shoj, I was contemplating finding another flock where the sheep have teeth. Jon if you are reading this, I am sorry bru, but you can come round for some pork ribs, anytime (just to check that you were joking).

Anyways, since I am stuck in my home office most of the time, I am finding it difficult to get fresh ideas for photos so getting out on a Tuesday evening helps. Here is one of Jesse, a vegetarian of course, delicately eating a mini brownie and below an filter of me getting busted.

Whale of a Time

We arrived just before our Connect group supposed to start to find that there was no room for us. The parking was jammed packed and we could not even squeeze Lynda's car in anywhere. We were contemplating just going home when George insisted that we park outside.

Outside! We wanted inside, not outside but George twisted my arm, so we parked outside with some reservations but it was our Connect group after all. And especially after a long day at work, all we wanted was to put our feet up and relax. And what a way to relax with our Connect family.

No where to put my feet up in the large lounge with the crowds and all, it felt like we were inside the belly of a whale. Oh you could guess it by know the topic was Jonah, Nineveh, the whale, the tree, and the worm. Yip there is a worm in the story, somewhere.

Brief story line, God tells Jonah to go to an enemy city called Nineveh and tell them that because of their sin, God will destroy them in 40 days. Now Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh as was afraid of them. Just let God deal with them and leave him be. So he went in the opposite direction and boarded a ship bound for Spain to get as far away from God as possible. While out at sea God then caused a great storm and fearing for their lives the sailors threw Jonah overboard when they found out that he was running away from God. Jonah was swallowed by a large sea creature, we don't know if it was a whale or even a big fish just leave it as a whale anyway 3 days later he was spewed out back on the beach. He finally relented and went to Ninevah and told them what God had said. The shock it must have been for Jonah to see the people of Ninevah repenting but Jonah wanted none of it so he climbed up a nearby hill overlooking Nivevah to watch God destroy the city. It was hot while he waited but God saw the people of Nivevah repent and He changed his mind. While Jonah waited, God made a tree or vine grow and give Jonah shade while he waited. Then God made a worm come along and destroy the tree, and Jonah was back in the relentless sun. Jonah was not a happy camper, and God rebuked him with these words, well close enough “Jonah, why is it that you are so concerned with this tree - a mere plant which is temporal, and for which you did not labour; and yet, you evidence utterly no concern for the hapless inhabitants of Nineveh?”

Oh that was longer than I wanted.

The story of Jonah was preached on Sunday at Centre Church, and this evening we unpacked it and discussed what it meant for us. Well somehow I managed to miss the Sunday sermon due to a leak that was discovered just as we were about to set out down the hill. Lynda and Bradley managed to go while I fixed the pipe. Anyways, the story of Jonah and the whale was drummed into us at Sunday School while the tree and the worm was preached a few occasions by the brethern that I knew enough to partake in the unpacking this evening. But I felt good just listening to others give their take on the story of Jonah and what it meant for them while Lance facilitated the conversation.

Sweet Jasmine

The scent of the jasmine's purple and white flowers are so beautiful to my nose, that it is one of my favourite plants in my garden. It is a pity that it is downwind from my office as I can’t get the benefit of its fragrance unless I stand right next to it.

Captain's Log: Tuesday the 24 October 2017, the day Lynda and I join a connect group. I don't remember all the names, as I am not good at remembering names but they, the Connect Group will grow on me, and soon the names will be second nature and we are one family. Oh dear, we are the oldest ones in this new small group, what happened to my old group where I was the youngest.

I really enjoyed my old BBC Home Circle group that was held at Andy and Sandy's home in Bryanston but that is now a long way away as we have moved on to a different family, the Centre Church. And even though we have moved on, it still feels like we were always part of the same family. For it is written, that we are the sweet fragrance of the Messiah to God.

Another Goodbye

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu Tracy and Gary. Ahhh too many goodbyes this month, and this year already that I am starting to feel the pain.

Now it is Tracy and Gary’s turn although this time it is not too far as Tracy and Gary leave our home circle of friends to start and lead another home community church. Au revoir.

Alinaife

"Ohhh so that is Uncle Jerome", coos Alinaife or Ali for short, as mommy Mildred and daddy Steven introduce Ali their youngest daughter to me.

Breaking Bread

The table is set, and the year can begin. After last year’s free falling, which I haven’t heard any splat yet, if I ever get to hear it. This year I started with Love the Haters but after tonight I am going to forget about the splat and put my hope and trust in God to catch me and start this year as the Year of Rejuvenation instead of the Year of the Splat.

So yes the table is set as my Home Community Group break bread together for the first time this year, the Year of Rejuvenation.

Primitive Thanksgiving

There is something primitive about sitting around a fire in each one of us. I can only imagine this deep down warm fuzzy feeling stems from a time when our ancestors sat around a fire pit in a cave under an enormous starry sky for safety and warmth.

So on this cool summer’s evening, a group of friends gathered around a brazier for warmth and to give thanks to the Lord our God for a hard year that was full of ups and downs, but a year that God was in control.

This year has surely flown past, as we once again find ourselves at our year end dinner. For me this year was a hard one and I give thanks that deep down I can lean on the knowledge that God is in control even when my life seems out of control and heading for that crash test wall with dummy me strapped inside. My second thanks is for my son Matthew. It is his birthday today and I thank God that he has turned out to be a wonderful young man.

After our primitive yet very important giving thanks around the fire, we sat down at a well decorated table for our year end meal. Breaking bread with friends and family is a highlight in the year for me, knowing that I belong.

Christmas Dinner

With the year ending and Christmas just 5 weeks away, our Home Circle group held their Christmas dinner at Andy and Sandy’s home.

As always an awesome spread was laid out and it was a grand end to the year. The starters were followed by roast turkey, lamb, potatoes, and vegetables as the main course. And hot on its heels was dessert.

Transforming Lives

Transforming lives is what BBC is about. Here is Rob, Tracy and Gary, together after the service at BBC. These three along with others do a lot in transforming lives of those who are struggling in life to that what is pleasing in God' sight. I must clarify that they are not perfect but their hearts are in the right place.

Steven and Lebogang

Tonight, our Home Cell held their year end Christmas Party and we had a record turn out. Wow time has sure flown this year. Over a year ago I posted on Mildred and her daughter Lebogang, so now it is the father's turn which will make it my second father and daughter photograph this month. I better be careful not to start a trend here on this blog. Here is Steven, proudly holding his daughter Lebo. Wow, hasn't Lebo grown in the last 2 years.

Swimming in Peanut Butter

Do you know the feeling that you are swimming upstream but getting nowhere? Like swimming in peanut butter as Steve mentioned tonight at home group. Like swimming in sticky gooey thick viscous peanut butter. Now that is about the closest I have ever heard anyone call life. Well that is how life is sometimes and here I am trying to make sense of it all. I find myself trying to steer this life and am not doing a good job of it but as I AM stands by my side patiently waiting for me to allow Him to take the wheel, I look at Him thinking that maybe, just maybe He could do a better job at navigating this peanut butter. I know I am not the best person but I know I AM and I AM is enough for me so give me another tablespoon of peanut butter with a dash of syrup.

Mark and the Leopard

Nice title for this blog if I may say so myself. It was our biggest turnout to Home Circle tonight where us homies where outnumbered by the newbies. Yes we just about doubled in size tonight. Here is Mark sitting under the awesome painting of a leopard. I have known Mark and Sue for a long time now but it is their first time to our Home Circle, so welcome and too the other two couples.

News on Matthew, well he has been booked off school till Friday which doesn't make me happy as I believe in High School every day missed makes it harder to catch up and understand the rest. But I must relent as health is more important. For the next two days Matthew will be undergoing a battery of test at the cardiologist.

Good news from my sister Theresa, she came up from Nelspruit for a follow-up after they removed her entire thyroid just over two weeks ago because of Hashimoto's Disease. All is looking well even though her throat is still very sore and making it difficult to eat solids. The doctor said it will take up three months to heal and that she must not rush eating solids.

Thanksgiving

As the year comes to an end, the Year End Functions start. Our home group held their Christmas Dinner tonight as our last Tuesday together for the year. It is not just a year end dinner but a Thanksgiving Dinner for us. Although it has been a rocky road, we as a group have a lot to be thankful for. My three things on top of my thankful list are Health, Work and Matthew.

There were twenty of us around the Thanksgiving table and in today’s photograph are Sandy, Tracy and Gary.

Dying to Live

Wow, what a long trying day it has been today. I am barely awake while writing this post. I think that I'll will continue writing this tomorrow but for now here is Rob arriving this evening to Home Circle.

Steven

First thing I did this morning was rush to see the vampires and allow them to take the samples of my blood they need so the necessary tests can be done. I was hoping that I would have my results by this afternoon but it looks like I am only going to get them tomorrow.

Not much to say tonight other than my wait for the results. Anyway this evening I joined Home Cell at the Sim’s home. As usual another great supper was prepared by Sandy. This time she had roasted a roll of veal, roast vegetables and salad, yummy. Today’s photo is of Steven, from our Homies group who joined us.

Brenda

The new word for today is Epicurean, yip you read correctly, ep-i-cu-re-an, in simple terms lovers of the sensual pleasures that good food and good wine bring. A little close to my heart I must confess and it does't help with me being slightly portly but as I prayed earlier today, "Lord, if I can't be skinny, make my friends look fat".

I came across this word epicurean and its opposite word stoic this evening at home circle where a small group of homies studied part of Paul's journey to Macedonia. Brenda, shown above was one of small group who pull apart and debated the intricate details of this passage. Oh how easy for us to default to self gratification like the epicureans and forget that it is not about us at all.

Let them eat Amakhekhe

Tonight was our home group's turn for manning the "Under the Bridge" feeding outreach. So I left work the earliest I could and rushed over to BBC to start preparing the food parcels. Normally the food parcels consists of a large piece of polony, half a loaf of bread and a packet of crisps.

This time was slightly different as our home circle decided to each bring two pockets of oranges which allowed us to give each person who came for food two oranges each. There was quite a few oranges left over so we decided to take these later to the Hillbrow shelter. Someone also donated quite a few packs of Amakhekhe so we added one each into each food parcel. Amakhekhe are small cakes which are in between scones and cup cakes without the cup. While we packed the amakhekhe into the food parcels the words "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche" came to mind. Although misattributed to Queen Marie Antoinette, let them eat cake is exactly what we did. We gave them amakhekhe and oranges with their bread.

Dixie Toffee

I am not going to write a long post as I am about to head for bed. My day started with me not feeling 100% but I persevered and made it through Tuesday finally. My next choice was do I head home a crash early or head to the Sims for supper and home cell. Well I chose the latter and had a wonderful supper that was prepared by Sandy. But by now I was tired and struggled to keep my eyes open. Luckily there were Toffee and Dixie, the Sims' Dachshunds, who kept me awake.

Sandy

Monday has come and gone. Tuesday, what can I say about today? Nothing much can be said about today. Sophia my Vespa is still not talking to me, no not that. Ah yes, the one good thing about a Tuesday other than it is not a Monday, is that Home Circle is held on a Tuesday evening. Our small group regularly meet at the home of Andy and Sandy. Here is Sandy with her pink top, a perfect model to show Gary what my small new Canon can do in low light.