They say time flies when you’re having fun. And sometimes it seems to fly by anyway… fun or not.
Last week certainly flew by, with a lot of fun and laughter. We were privileged to be able to host a team of 6 young people (5 guys and 1 girl plus 2 very long-suffering leaders) from our home church in Worcester, England. It really was a huge joy to have them here, especially as we have known them since they were 8 or 9 years old. They threw themselves in to everything with enthusiasm and servant-hearted compassion and were loved everywhere they went.
But the week was book-ended by two sudden deaths, one at either end. As we were waiting at the airport to meet the team on their arrival, I heard that a colleague’s husband had been shot and killed, leaving behind his wife and four children. And on the morning of the team’s departure, we had news of the death of a 19 year-old young man from our local community, killed in a car accident in America the day after his wedding, along with his bride. We had met him once, only briefly, but he had left an impression on us with his good-nature, impeccable manners and charm. He had a heart to serve God and was committed to following Jesus wherever that might take him.
So, a week of highs and lows, and a reminder that we never know how many our days will be, but God has numbered each one and written them in His book. It matters far less whether we live to 99 or are taken at 19 – the only thing that matters is whether our eternity is secure in Christ.
Thanks for coming to see and serve here, guys. We loved our time with you. We’ve loved watching you grow up to be fun, crazy, delightful young adults. But more than anything else, we are so glad that you have committed to follow Jesus and trusted him with your life and with your eternal destiny. There really is no other way.
to know that, even if the staff were as surly and uncooperative as rumour has it, I was unlikely to sustain any bullet wounds. As it turned out, the wait wasn’t tooooooooooo long although the deep sighs and occasional tuts from the lady next to me showed that clearly she felt differently. I didn’t get my problem resolved. To be honest, I really wasn’t expecting to… but I did have a nice chat with a totally charming guy and he gave me a form. Is it the right form? Only time and another trip back to the gun-free zone will tell.
up for tasting, faced the onslaught of questions from college staff, families and friends of other contestants and of course… the judges. The standard of the entries was impressive with some very interesting and innovative ideas ranging from panel beating through to a language translation app. It was such a positive sight to see so many young people with viable business ideas, putting their heart and soul into trying to create small businesses.
one thing is sure… pretty much as soon as the bin goes out, the bin pickers will arrive. It takes some getting used to seeing grown men and women carefully emptying out the contents of the wheelie bin, untying the bin bags and removing anything that might be edible, reusable or have some saleable value. Some householders will chase them away, claiming that they make a mess, but I have watched many times as they just as carefully put everything back in the bin. We, and many others, pack our wheelie bin accordingly. If we have any food items that are still edible, we keep them separate and put them in a plastic bag at the very top, or even on the lid. A friend of mine has just told me that she freezes little bits of leftovers that otherwise she would bin and puts these out on bin day, and I’m starting to do that too. Anything else that might be of interest, again we put in a plastic bag separately. And the bag is usually whisked away very promptly. The early bird most definitely catches the best bin pickings. I have often seen four or five different people come and check through our bin. The organised ones have a supermarket trolley which they load up with their findings.
churned up is only a few hundred metres, we still hold to the principle of the long wait. Which is fine. You turn off your engine, get out your book or pick up your phone and catch up on your social networking. Timing is everything, but totally out of your control. Firstly, there is the timing that allows you to join the queue at the right point so that you only have one 20 minute waiting spell, rather than a 20 minute wait, followed by a bit of driving, followed by a 20 minute wait again. Secondly, there is the timing that allows you a waiting spot with a good view. Hairdressers and Indian restaurant.. not bad. False Bay with the mountains beyond, and maybe even the occasional whale in season… much better. Portaloos…oh dear, but at least you are fairly near the front of the queue.
more flesh to the bones of this story, telling us how Jesus used Peter’s boat as a mobile pulpit in order to get a little breathing space from the crowds who were gathering to listen. When he had finished preaching, he told Peter to put out into deep water and let the boats down. Peter, weary from a night’s fishing with nothing to show for it, points out that this seems a little pointless but adds: “But because you say so, I will….” The nets are filled and Peter, convinced and convicted, leaves his livelihood and follows Jesus.
f the boat. We often focus on how he then took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink, but it’s worth noting that although his faith failed him once out on the water, he was the only one to say “if you say so, I will…” in that way.
African Crossroad 