Mike Drop

 

Why am I always surprised when God does a mike drop? I mean why after so many times He has come through for me, do I still tuck the mike into my back pocket and try make contingency plans. This morning I saw this funny moment in church where Lance put the mike in his back jean's pocket just before he went up to talk. I just had to take a photo, anyways later on in the afternoon we had to go back onto our roof and do the second coat of waterproofing. Not following then read Friday's post and yesterday's post to catch up.

Anyway now that we are on the same page, God did a mike drop moment for us by holding back the rain at our house long enough for us to apply the waterproofing material and allowing enough time for it to dry before opening the heavens again. Don't get me wrong it still rained but the rain went around us and poured elsewhere while Peter played on the keyboard.

Baby it's cold outside

 

"I really can't stay - Baby it's cold outside", or that is what I am sure Lance is thinking right now. Or do you have a better saying for this meme. Baby it's cold outside.

Yes the 1 September, the first day of Spring, has for most times been cold and today has not disappointed as can be seen how warm Lance has dressed. Now where is my latte?

Only Bean Can

It has been a long week for me as I am starting to feel the tiredness catching up. Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday and this evening I found myself at Connect with family. Yip it is great just to wind down in a relaxed group of friends. Here is Lance and Dean being amazed at Beanca's balancing skills. I mean who can balance a rusk on your head while trying to drink hot chocolate? Only Bean can.

Tuff Duff

My friend Lance, aka Tuff Duff, turned 38 today. I think it is 38 or is it 39 although in this photograph he looks like a deer in front of the headlights about to hit the proverbial wall of year 40. Our Connect group gathered at his home for some "30 Seconds" as he waited at the gate for more people to arrive.

30 - Sup? The gate appears not to be working so send me a whattie and I’ll come out and open.

29 - Knock knock

28 - On my way

27 - Anyone else coming? Can I go home now?

26 - NO

25 - No to what Rome-Rome?

24 - I’m going home.

23 - Ahh but you already here Jerome. I didn't see you when Lynda arrived.

22 - Thank you for the card. Jess must have driven around all week getting the card signed.

21 - That's why we kept you out by the gate Duff.

20 - Okay how are we going to divide the teams

19 - There's 15 of us so 3 teams of 5

18 - No Kerry you on that team. 

17 - Team Duff (4), Team Red (4), Team ABD (3), and Team Millennial (4)

16 - Let the games begin

14 -  And the Team ABD are in the lead with Team Duff lagging far behind

13 - Cricketers? A bowler. Who is he? I don't know

12 -  Speak in Afrikaans or was it the other way

11 - Why does Team ABD always throws a 0

10 - Wow the crisps are flowing

9 - Team Duff draws with Team ABD

8 - Who is Brooke Shields?

7 - Milk tart served

6 - Lynda come back, your turn

5 - Team Duff wins or did the Connect just let the Birthday Boy win?

4 - Team Red comes in a sickly second. Now you can get better Kyle

3 - Give Team Millennial and Team ABD a chance to fight for last place

2 - Such a fun evening guys! So blessed to have family like you all. Rest well!

1 - TIMES UP

Breaking Bread

Last night many moons ago, Jesus and his disciples met in a small room for the seder meal, and this morning our Connect group met to break bread and have a meal in remembrance of what this day is all about, the day that Jesus gave up his life for me and you. 

Connect of 3

I left work and rushed home to start the supper so that we could get to Connect Group on time but the connect family starting sending messages that they could not make it. In the end it was just Lance, Kerry, and myself that had a small connect meeting for 3.

It was a good evening and we caught up on life.

This is Just to Say

This is just to say, no one has yet claimed responsibility for this act of terrorism against the residents of the City of Johannesburg, as we queue up at the Cresswells for our shower. We have just received a press statement from Mayor of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba, and in it, he states that the fire that damaged the substation that feeds Johannesburg’s main water pumps yesterday afternoon was an act of sabotage.

Sabotage? This is just to say that this is way more serious. This is an act of terrorism, as the US Code of Federal Regulations defines terrorism as "the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives".

The fire originated outside the transformer and it was not caused by an electrical fault. Furthermore the transformer was maliciously damaged so that it would leak oil onto the fire. This transformer supplied a large area electricity and powered the pump station that feeds approximately 40% of Johannesburg with water, as well as Rustenburg.

One word Mr Mayor - "Terrorism!"

So now we queue for our showers while Lance aka Duff shown above shares with us the 84 year old poem that Jesse just had in her exam, "This is just to say" by William Carlos Williams...

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

This is just to say, that someone ate our plums, and while I take a minute to think about it, those plums in the icebox where meant for all to share.

The Duff Intervention

We have been going to the Centre Church for some time now and we got our first dinner invite. It was a normal winter's evening and when we arrived Lance had just taken the burgers off the grill. Perfect timing. Vida and Jesse, Lance and Kerry's 2 little ones were warmly wrapped up ready for bed but they were excited as they were going to sit at the big people's table for some yummy burgers.

When we first got the nod from the Duffs, I wondered if it was an intervention but noooo it was an awesome evening with some kwel friends.

Headmaster Duff

Ahhh Headmaster Duff, demonstrating his normal during a day at the office, drinking coffee on the go. It is strange having a friend who is also a headmaster of a school, I mean he is normal in a weird kind of way. Being a friend to a headmaster goes to show my age.

I remember my headmaster, the late Mr Rowe at Port Shepstone High. I mean he cut a intimidating character to us teenagers but I am sure he too was a down to earth person just as my friend Lance who is clearly setting the example of what headmasters are actually. Human. 

I remember in my Standard 9 year (Grade 11 for the young at heart) at Sheppie, when we History students set up a protest for "Less Homework" as an experiment of crowd behaviour. Other than our class, our History teacher Ms Naude, and our headmaster Mr Rowe knew about it. It was an unforgettable protest as the teachers locked themselves in the staffroom. Thank goodness there were no cell-phones at the time and just commandeering the switchboard was all that was required in stopping the news of our protest getting out to the police. Ahh headmasters.

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.

Hidden Drummer

Come, they told me

Pa rum pum pum pum

To sing Carols

Pa rum pum pum pum

To the newborn King

Pa rum pum pum pum

Ra pum pum pum

Ra pum pum pum

But no one told me they going to hide the little drummer boy on top of the jungle gym.

Welcome to the jungle, as we sang Christmas carols under the stars at the cross roads of Malibongwe and Bellairs to celebrate our Messiah, who came as a baby into this world and to whom all knees will bend before Him. While many rushed about doing late night shopping in a world of gifts of debt, a few from Centre Church worshiped the Messiah for which this season is really all about.

Washing of Feet

Last week, I uploaded a photo of Duff's feet half in his shoes during Connect Group meeting, and as my punishment, I offered to wash his feet. Well I am not sure he expected me to carry out my offer until he saw me walk in this evening with my bowl, soap, and towels.

I am all for the servant heart, as it pleases me to serve others and I believe that as a Christian we are called to have a servant heart as opposite to what the world dictates, which is all about me me me. Not an easy thing to accomplish, noooo not the washing of Duff's feet, that was the easy part, but to strive to serve others even in times when we feel down on the inside. Well it is nice to know that his feet now smells of wild rooibos, not that I have a foot fetish, just to clear up that matter.

It is that St Francis of Assisi song that I used to sing when I was a young boy growing up in that convent in Vryheid that makes me yearn for the servant heart, oh yes for the record I did spent some time in a convent called Nardini Convent, "...grant that I may not so much seek to be console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving the we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life".

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

The Bald and the Beautiful

Okay bald you would know by now, but beautiful? Well yes beautiful.

Lynda and I have been welcomed into a beautiful family, no strings attached, the Connect Family headed by Lance and Kerry-Anne. Kerry as her friends' call her is shown above and Lance better known as Duff has his half in half out foot shown below. Okay before you ask about my foot and latex fetish, the foot photo was taken by Kyle who hosts the family get togethers with his wife Nicolene. If you are wondering why Duff's foot is being featured, well mainly because he is defiantly not like me with my foot always in my mouth; his feet are firmly planted on the ground; and because I can.

The Centre Church is the hub of a number of Connect groups and since we have started meeting on a Sunday morning, we have noticed a friendly rivalry of which is the best Connect group. Now I haven't been to any of the others but I must say that this Connect group may not be the best but it is sure the most beautiful family filled with beautiful peoples.

Now you might ask what about the not so beautiful, so let me clarify. Beauty is not an external superficial visual thing as the world sees it but rather an inside thing. As you can see by Duff's feet, we are ordinary people, not perfect but touched by God and changed to be beautiful in God's eyes.

Therefore I know I am bald and I am beautiful, not perfect but loved by God.