Freedom

We used to listen to this country singer, Kris Kristofferson, when we were little. He has this one song called me and Bobby Mgee. In the song he sys 'freedom is just another word for nothing left to loose'. I've often wondered about this statement, especially before I got saved, because I think this is one thingI have always longed for. And I think it is one thing humanity longs for. The Bible says ' It is for freedom that Christ has set us free' showing that, well, that humanity is not in a state of freedom.

I think his phrase of nothing left to loose is a component of attaining freedom (the other being free from guilt). This is nearly impossible because it seems like there is always something to loose. Even if you have lost everything on this planet, there is still one thing to lose, your life.

It is no wonder then that God requires us to lay our lives down (die to ourselves) when we become a christian, because then we have nothing left to lose. And it is just a matter of giving things to God and trusting Him for the outcome. Somehow we always manage to taint things by holding on to them like desperate housewives. Anyway, so the impossible becomes possible with God. The most beautiful part is that we gain everything. I love it! It's such upside down logic... or maybe it's right side up and what we think is right is actually upside down... ask marina :)

Yay for freedom and for peace....

So, for those who have some extra time to read and who liked Walk the line and Johnny Cash, here is an interesting fact:

Kris Kristofferson wrote a song about Johnny Cash and some other artists, singing about their rise to fame and fall to drug addiction and everything else. The song is called The Pilgrim: Chapter 33.

Then later when Johnny Cash got saved and turned his life around, he would sing a song of Kris Kristofferson at most of his concerts called 'Sunday morning coming down' to remind him about where he was and managed to get out of...

THe Pilgrim: Chapter 33
See him wasted on the sidewalk in his jacket and his jeans
Wearin' yesterday's misfortunes like a smile
Once he had a future full of money love and dreams
Which he spent like they was going out of style
And he keeps right on a changin' for the better or the worse
And searchin' for a shrine he's never found
Never knowin' if believin' is a blessin' or a curse
Or if the going up is worth to coming down
He's a poet he's a picker he's a prophet he's a pusher
He's a pilgrim and a preacher and a problem when he's stoned
He's a walkin' contradiction partly truth and partly fiction
Taking every wrong direction on his lonely way back home

He has tasted good and evil in your bedrooms and your bars
And he's traded in tomorrow for today
Runnin' from the devils Lord and reachin' for the stars
And losin' all he loved along the way
But if this world keeps right on turnin' for the better or the worse
All he ever gets is older and around
From the rockin' of the cradle to the rollin' of the hearse
The going up was worth the coming down
He's a poet...

Here is the chorus of Sunday morning coming down:

On the Sunday morning sidewalks
wishing Lord that I was stoned
'cause there is something in a Sunday
that makes a body feel alone
and there's nothin' short of dyin'
half as lonesome as the sound
on the sleepin' city side walks
Sunday mornin' comin' down

My 10 favorite movies to watch

This is in response to Dine's Blog. They are in no particular order:

1 - Miss Congeniality
2 - The devil wears Prada
3 - Grosse Point Blanck
4 - Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind
5 - Maveric
6 - 50 first dates
7 - Lost in translation
8 - Highschool music
9 - Pride and Prejudice
10 - Romy and Michelle's Highschool reunion.

I have probably watched each of these movies more than 10 times. Most of them are also my twinsister's favourite and we used to watch them together ALL the time and laugh like crazy.

I can just see all the media people in church cringing at this list. Deal with it!

I also like any musical. That is why highschool musical made it's way unto the list. It is flippen rediculous, but so much fun. I can't wait for the 3rd one to come out. Nico is preparing himself for the worst. Hehe.

Sick

I'm sick (please lots of sympathy my way) and I'm 100% sure it is flu, sore throat and aching body. On the upside I get to take a sick day tomorrow. But how is this for bad timing as I am writing a big exam on Saturday. It should be expected, though, seeing that I have pretty much gotten sick before every major exam in the last 8 years. Crazy! I'm not even going to tell my mother, because she has given me homeopathic medicine for this and always tells me I should take it, and I always don't. I don't want to disappoint her. AAAAHHH!!!!

But at least I have someone to look after me :) I would have been so miserable otherwise.

Inspiring Story about a christian in the workplace.

I'm auditing Today magazine at the moment. It is a christian magazine, and a company that forms part of the multinational Louis Group International. As you walk into the Louis Group offices at Louis Group in Century City, there is a Bible that is open at Joshua 1. It is amazing the atmosphere there. I have such a sense of God's presence there and the employees are all so friendly.

Here is an excerpt from the Louis Group News. One of the founders of Louis Group, Colia Louis and his wife just recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. The excerpt is about Colia Louis. I find it so inspiring.

"When you first meet Colia Louis, the seventysix-year-old chairman of the Louis Group, you are touched by the man’s humility. A giant in the property field, his handshake is firm and friendly, and his smile and eye contact are both welcoming and engaging. He puts you at ease and you soon realise that you are in the company of someone whom you would like to be able to call your friend. One is accustomed to finding the chairpersons of multinational companies to be distant, aloof and inaccessible. Colia is the antithesis of this. A true people’s person, one believes him, when he explains: “Life is like a puzzle; there are a number of colourful, related pieces on the table that are initially unconnected. They have no real value in their unconnected state. Only through skill, application, dedication and the natural passing of time can one select the matching pieces and fit them together into a picture of beauty.” Colia is both a collector and connector of things and people; a finder, an assembler, a doer, a creator of things of beauty. It is this special gift of wisdom and the insight of putting things together or seeing potential that sets Colia Louis apart from the crowd. He has learned the value of fitting in together as part of the Body of Christ. He understands that the work of Christ is not done by individuals but by the Body and he passes this important learning on in his role as mentor.

Colia shares his wisdom with his five sons and the members of the extended Louis Group business family. He has now entrusted the day-to-day running of the Group to his sons and other handpicked people selected for a special skill, that unique part of the puzzle that they would bring to the Group and its stakeholders. Sharing God’s gifts is a key value to Colia and to the Louis Group. Every penny of investor money is backed and exceeded by matching funds from the Group. Colia explains: “The Group and I are not spectators watching from the grandstand. We are in the scrum together, hunting for the ball with our co-investors. The ‘ball’ is information, and we need that information to conclude the deal, to score the try. You don’t get the ball if you’re merely a spectator sitting in the grandstand. You have to be an active participant in the game.” Colia exercises this same philosophy with all staff members, from cleaner to chief executive officer. Every morning you will find him doing his rounds. He greets all the staff personally – he knows their names. He is empathetic, he listens and he hears. He believes that God has given us all an equal amount of that most precious commodity of all – time. The charitable can be distinguished from the non-charitable by how they choose to use that single, equal gift. Colia will use his to help others. He will always share his time with his staff, his investors, and his family.

When asked what he would like to leave behind, Colia answers: “A legacy, a foundation, to be remembered as a good husband, father, grandfather, friend and employer.”

Sir, you have done and are all of that. You are a true ambassador of the legacy left by Jesus Christ."

African Hip Hop Indaba

It was pretty cool! What a different crowd! I think people avoided me. HAHAHA. It was so cool though to see little kids giving their all dancing. Sho! I would love to be able to do that. Abandoned dancing! Saw my friends participating and they did well. Much respect!!

A great gift

I received the coolest gift this morning. I woke up feeling like I had enough sleep and it is time to wake up, when I looked at my watch and realised I still have an hour and a half to go before my alarm goes off. AWESOME STUFF! I think I said 'YAYAYA' aloud.

Claire

To my delight I found out that my friend Claire reads my blog! Claire is too cool and I haven't seen her in a long time. She makes the best peanut butter cookies (hint hint please send me some!) She also knows a lot about plants. (Claire! Help! My plant is dying!!! Nico pretend like you didn't read that).

Trust

I have realised something about trust and God. I have actually known it for a while now, I just want to put it in writing. Trust is not something you feel, it is something you realise. We realise we can trust God as we read His word and promises. I like that. Because I know I don't always feel like I can trust God, but then I remember His promises and all the ways He has been faithful, and then I realise I can trust Him.

African Hip Hop indaba

This Saturday (August the 2nd) I am going to the Hip Hop Indaba at the Good Hope Center.
There will be some serious break dancing happening there. Tickets are R50.
I really like my 'b-girl' friends. They rock... or should I say break! Hehe.

Monday 28/7

Today I made the bold move of not taking my 3G card to work. Needless to say I had some serious withdrawel symptoms! But it was good. I got more work done and I sensed God was happy about it. But I realised my capacity to work for 8 hours is non existent! After 7 I can't anymore. How am I going to survice next year an all its overtime?

Today was the most stunning day, especially to be on a farm surrounded by green fields and dams and yellow flowers. Flip, this audit is like a gift from God!!! I went for a walk during my lunch time to pray and marvel at the awesomeness of God. I feel like I have won the lotto!

I was looking at my friend, Dine's blog, and she gets so many comments. So I decided that I should talk more about food....

We are going to watch Batman: The Dark Night tonight. I can't wait! I have been waiting the whole day. Maybe that is why I stopped working at 3:45. Hehe. Flip, if you want to feel guilty a lot, do auditing, or a job where your hours get booked to a client.

Here is a question to all my girly friends: How on earth do you keep a plant alive...? I look forward to your comments.

Friday's prayer...

Dear Lord, please can the next hour and a half just go by as quickly as possible so that it can be weekend. Thank you...

I LOVE FRIDAYS!!!

Yay for Firdays! Especially this one because it came so quickly. The only downer is that I have a running nose... Maybe an indication that I am getting sick :( Oh, well. I am still so happy it is Friday.

My day is going ok. Had a funny incident today. Ok, as the auditor I have to find invoices and do tests on them. I had my sample and spent the whole of yesterday trying to find thme. This was unbelievably frustrating, especially since I am not really suppose to do that (and my senior told me not to). The people at the client should do that. Anyway, there were a few invoices that I just couldn't find, so I asked the accountant to find them for me. She was fine with it. But it really is the biggest misson, because these people have decided to save money by reusing their lever arch files for creditors. So they bound all the invoices together with pieces of string. I don't think anyone but a fellow auditor can appreciate what a nightmare that is.

Anyway, it took her quite a while to find the invoices. While she was looking for them another lady walks in and they start talking about the auditors and how I should be looking for the invoices because that is what I am paid to do. This while I am in the room. Then they start tuning me because I have a Gauteng number plate and aren't as nice as the previous auditor, because she brought them nice food. I don't even think this lady was joking. HAHAHA. I'm just trying to be efficient and not have to work overtime.

Auditing... you gotta love it.

SO this is where I am working at the moment...

Long awaited post

This is for all those people who have been checking my blog everyday and to their disappointment nt finding a new entry. I think that would be Dine and Nico. Haha.

So I've been on a farm, in the middle of nowhere, auditing. It is so pretty here! I like being away fro mthe city a bit. The fields are so green from all the rain and its colour so intense that it makes my heart want to burst with joy. Yesterday in lunch time I went for a walk and it was so nice just to spend time with God. I'm afraid I haven't been doing enough of that with my life being rediculously busy. Bleh. I wish I could just quit it all!

Ag, I think I am getting sick. I feel very groggy this morning. And uncomfortable. Maybe it just has to do with the fact that I can't find any of the invoices I am supposed to test! How flippen frustrating!

On a ligther note, my favourite Afrikaans worshipper, Retief Burger, is coming to Cape Town! Yay. My mother said she will sponsor me for a ticket. She is too cool. It is all happening the weekend of the 5th of September.

Also the latest news is that Marina and I actuallty booked our tickets to the Middle East. Exciting days. It has been an uphill road... It is final. So final unless we willing to take a penalty of R3000. Which I am not. That is how final it is. I am excited. A little nervous, but excited. I'm excited to see God provide, open doors and guide us.

SImple stuff

I just came back from an awesome morning service and praying with Dine afterwards. I just realised things can be confusing. We will never know all the answers and our sinful nature keeps us from being perfect in this world... So let's keep things simple... just love God... Love Him with all your heart and soul and mind. Yes, even this we might get wrong and we will stumble and fall, but His big, gentle, fatherly hands will catch us and guide us in the way we should go...

God is amazing. He knows us so intimately that there is no point in pretending... He knows. And He loves us inspite of what He often sees in our lives. Isn't that the most freeing thing you have ever heard?

Lebanon vs South Africa

Okay, so Marina and I are planning a trip to the Middle East. Everyone has been warning us about safety, and I guess rightly so. So just for fun I looked up the following on the web (it is from the Irish department of foreign affairs):

South Africa:
SAFETY & SECURITY

You should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

CRIME

South Africa has a high-level of crime, including violent crime, rape and murder. While most cases occur in townships or in areas away from normal tourist destinations, no where is completely safe and visitors should exercise caution when travelling in both urban and rural environments, including most city centre areas at night. Walking at night is not advisable and many tourists consider public transport to be unsafe; private car rental is the safest option for independent travel and is favoured by most tourists. As elsewhere, please be particularly careful with personal items and valuables in markets and other places frequented by tourists.

Armed car-jacking is a serious concern throughout South Africa. Thefts and smash-and-grab robberies from vehicles are common. Drivers should keep their vehicle door locked and windows closed, and exercise caution when travelling, particularly at night and at filling stations.

Since early May there have been violent attacks on foreigners living in townships throughout SA . There have not been reports of attacks on tourists or business people and to date there has been no violence in tourist areas. Visitors are advised to exercise extreme caution and avoid travelling to townships. It would be prudent to avoid participating in organised tours of townships until calm is restored. Visitors should continue to monitor the local media for updated information.

Conclusion:

My conclusion is that I am about as unsafe here as I am there. Maybe read a bit further down about the shooting just by my block of flats. Statistics tells us that a woman is raped in South Africa every 17 seconds. This did not include the number of child rape victims. It was estimated that one in every two women would be raped . Oh my word! Ok now I'm being too serious.

Not to shun those who are trying to warn us. We do appreciate it and will be careful. We have a plan B in place in case the situation in the Middle East deteriorates.

How awesome is our God

We had homegroup today. Dine and I joined forces. It was pretty cool. I was reminded about how flippen big our God is, but more amazingly that this God, who created the universe, knows me intimately and care for every second of it. I'm secure because I am in His hands! Showee...

Lebanon

Hmmmm. I wonder if I will be on America's list of suspicious people becuase I have done so many searches on Lebanon in the last while... Don't worry America, I'm not angry. I don't think I will be traveling to America in the near future...

On a different but similar note, the other night at breakdancing they were trying to teach us something. We weren't getting it right and they said "No man, you have to kick like you are angry at something" "you guys aren't angry" I was like "ja, you are right, I am not angry at all" HAHAHA

Blogging

I would like to know what the purpose is of blogging. I think if I understood the principle behind it it would have a great chance of being sucessful....

Overkill

Flip, I'm listening to the new Coldplay cd so much that I think I'm going to kill it... It's pretty cool.


Here is a quote from Chris Martin on what the song, Viva la Vida is about...

Q magazine asked Chris Martin about the line "I know Saint Peter won't call my name" sung in "Viva la Vida". Martin replied: "It's about… You're not on the list. I was a naughty boy. It's always fascinated me that idea of finishing your life and then being analyzed on it. And it's that runs through most religions. That's why people blow up buildings. Because they think they're going to get lots of virgins. I always feel like saying, Just join a band (laughs). That is the most frightening thing you could possibly say to somebody. Eternal damnation. I know about this stuff because I studied it. I was into it all. I know it. It's still mildly terrifying to me. And this is serious."

I really wish I could talk to him about this comment...

Friends

Sho, prayer today was AWESOME!! I felt God remind me how important friendships are in the kingdom and preserving them no matter the cost to oneself. Flip, who cares about pride and being right or getting anything out of a relationship! It's a scheme of the devil to break friendships in the Kingdom so surely we must fight it at all costs!!

Ruth, my friend from Singapore, was offered a plane ticket to SA today by someone in her church. She has been trusting God to provide finances... PURE AWESOMENESS!!!!!

Coldplay's latest hit

Viva La Vida lyrics

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemies eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing:
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"

One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt, and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
Once you know there was never, never an honest word
That was when I ruled the world
(Ohhh)

It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in.
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People could not believe what I'd become
Revolutionaries Wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?



Cemeteries Of London


At night they would go walking
Til the breaking of the day
The morning's for sleeping
Through the dark streets
They'd go searching
To see God in their own way
Save the nightime for your weeping

Your weeping...

Singing
la la lala la la ehh
And the night over London, lay

So we rode down to the river
Where the tombs were stone
For the curse is to be broken
We'll go underneath the arches
Where the witches aren't the same
There are ghost towns in the ocean

The ocean..

Singing
la la lala la la ehh
And the night over London, lay

God is in the houses
And God is in my head
And all the Cemeteries of London
I see God come in my garden
But I don't know what he said
For my heart it wasn't open
Not open...

Breakdancing is not for sussies!!!

Last night I went to breakdancing. They taught us the beginnings of what will be a backspin. O my word. My lower back is covered in bruises and so sensitive that if you touched it I would scream. Beware!!!

Last night.

So I had an amazing night last night. I got to hang with Marina. Spending time with Marina can be compared to diamonds, rare and precious :) It was such a good time!!! We jammed on the guitars and she played her songs for me! We also prayed and planned our trip to the Middle East. Ooooh, I think it is going to happen. Sometimes I can't believe the words that come out of her mouth, hahaha!!!

How hectic is this....?

Yesterday morning at 4am, I was woken up by what sounded like gunshots. I then heard a motor speeding away and later on I heard Police cars. So read this:

Policeman shot dead in Tamboerskloof 7/15/2008 8:07:26 AM

A 35-year-old police officer has been shot dead in Tamboerskloof. The Inspector was pursuing a house burglar in New Church street at around 4am this morning, when there was an exchange of gunfire. The policeman was taken to hospital, but died a short while later. Forensic teams are still on the scene, searching for clues - the suspect is still at large. The officer is the second policeman to be shot dead in the past three days - over the weekend a Langa police officer was gunned down. A 22-year-old suspect will appear in court today in connection with that incident.

Too hectic!!!!

Nico

All I know about this guy is that my ability to speak english properly, disappears when I am around him :)

Profound thought #1

So I figure I can use this blog for profound thoughts, hehe. This is one I had this morning. It's too hectic.

I was listening to Isaiah 57 (Ithink) it is a prophecy about the world and how the world just wants to sleep around and follow it's own lusts. At some point it says how they 'slaugther there own children. So I always think about these things as people sacrificing their own children to the gods and I thought about how that does not happen anymore. But then I realised that it still happens big time, I mean look at the abortion stats, not to mention wars etc. It is too hectic...

Sorry for the seriousness, but that was a thought that went through my head.

Shneaky Dine

So this is for Dine, the computer boffin, who found my blog when I didn't want to tell her the name. Flippen sneaky!!!! What a nerd! HAHAHA. I still love you Dine.

Gisele

So this is for Gisele who will probably be the first to have a look at this stupid blog! The only cool thing about this blog is the name, which is a nickname Gisele gave me. You are too cool, Gisele!!! Gisele and I are constantly scheming about ways we can make money and leave our boring jobs and do something more meaningful. I think one day we will both be rich. Damn the man!

Blogs....

Flip I can't believe I'm doing this... It is because all my friends are doing it. I don't think my attempt at keeping a blog will be very succesful....