Being God's Hands and Feet

Do you know that people are God's hands and feet? I have heard this message preached at various churches, on a few occasions. God, I am sure, does not want to see anyone who is lonely or hungry or in need of shelter and He will make sure to send people who can help when He is called upon to do so. But, was I perhaps the one He first sent to someone when I may have walked on by? This is a sobering thought. It is sobering because I may have been able to help someone who I let down and I may have let God down in the process and because perhaps I failed a test God gave me. How much sooner could change happen if we all take the first opportunity to help others? When we walk past hurting people or people in need, we miss opportunity to do God's work.

As with any subject, there is more than one way to view this topic, of course. Each one of us has finite resources to call upon, whether this be money or emotional resources or safety, and sometimes helping other people may place the helper in harm's way. We cannot help everyone we see in need or we would be a wreck ourselves.

Appearance versus Judging Appearance

Should you be mindful of your appearance for others or should others accept your appearance?

I heard a brief comment from the pulpit in a church recently that you must be aware of the way you dress and the haircut that you have and the way you present yourself in general, as all of this has an effect on the way other people react towards you, and essentially to be mindful of yourself out of respect and caring for others. 

The Art of Debate

Is truth absolute? Is truth a point of view? Is truth a factor of perception?

I recently observed someone's quest for truth about a subject in the Bible. He researched the subject extensively and watched many videos by different people posing individual points of view. What struck me is how the same subject could be approached from different angles by these different people, yet using the same Bible verses to back up what they were saying. How astounding that one person could say a verse meant one thing in support of the viewpoint and another person would take the same verse and use it to show it meant a totally opposing viewpoint. It seemed to me that, in some cases, subtle word play was used to twist meaning. I wondered if I may do the same thing unconsciously in writing this blog. I write about many subjects and write from my point of view as I understand things, and someone else may totally disagree with what I write and might phrase the same topic very differently, approaching the subject from a very different angle. Who is correct and is there such a thing as correct? Are these different viewpoints what is known as individual ethics?  Might this be viewed as subtle manipulation by an author to influence an audience's point of view? Is this the art of debate, to pose a compelling viewpoint of a subject from a particular angle?

Why IS Miss South Africa 2012 White? Actually, Why Not?

I read an article today called: "Why is Miss South Africa White?". Even though I am a White South African, I found I was also surprised to read that Miss South Africa is White. Oh no, I thought, how many White contestants were there, and I hope there were many Black contestants too?! You will see the comments of the article state the same surprise as an outcry against a White person winning a beauty contest to represent an African country.

Then I wondered the following about this beauty contest, which is purely hypothetical, as I don't know who entered Miss South Africa: if Miss South Africa has 7 Black contestants, 1 Indian contestant, 1 Coloured contestant, 1 Chinese contestant, and 1 White contestant, and all are South African citizens, must one of the Black contestants win? Why should I think this should be so? And what if the Indian person or the Coloured person or the Chinese person had won instead of a Black person or a White person? (though for BEE purposes (1), these people are classed as Black) Would there still be an outcry? Why are we dividing contestants in a beauty competition into race groups? If a Black person should win, then are the other contestants token entries only who are wasting their time trying? Why must the winner of any beauty contest be chosen on the basis of her colour?

Silence Means Consent!...Does It Really?

I have been told by many people that silence means consent. Consider the following example: Imagine you are listening to a complex conversation. The person rattles off facts and figures, and you vaguely listen as you think about what you are going to cook for dinner than evening. The next day the person posts on Facebook that she is so happy she has finally found someone who agrees with her, and she names you. Huh! You don't even remember any of the conversation! Or, should you have been paying closer attention to make sure you disagree when you do, and was the onus on you to make sure to correct any incorrect facts too?

Faith is an Individual Journey (Romans 14 World English Bible)

I have many lessons of my own to learn, and I know I can sometimes be too opinionated, yet, at the same time, I am searching for my own answers and truth. I love Romans 14 and the way this chapter sums up this oft struggle, showing how the main aim should be to walk by faith, and be led by the Spirit, and allow each person his or her own journey in Christ.

This version of Romans 14 is taken verbatim from The World English Bible:

A Friend of the World, or of God?

"Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your pleasures that war in your members? You lust, and don't have. You kill, covet, and can't obtain. You fight and make war. You don't have, because you don't ask. You ask, and don't receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures. You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously"? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Don't speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge. Only one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge another?

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow let's go into this city, and spend a year there, trade, and make a profit." Whereas you don't know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. For you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will both live, and do this or that." But now you glory in your boasting. All such boasting is evil. To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin." (James 4 WEB)

Sing, Sing a Song

When I was about eleven or twelve years old, I remember hearing a song playing on the radio, and I was captivated by the voice I heard, which seemed to me somehow perfect. I hurried through to my parent's bedroom and lay on the bed and listened, spell bound. I found out that I was listening to the Carpenters and how I loved Karen Carpenter's voice. The Carpenter's songs gave me comfort over some tough times and I would later listen to their music for hours, over and over. I was saddened when I found out Karen Carpenter had died, which must have been only a short while before I discovered her singing. I became a collector of most of their CDs and records and knew most songs by heart.

One of the songs I enjoyed listening to was “Sing, Sing a Song”. The song, “Sing”, says to sing even if what you may sing is not good enough for anyone else to hear. How often do we listen to the opinions or advice of other people who tell us, for example, that we can't sing, or that we will never be good at something? Or we may tell ourselves this, not believing in our own abilities. Imagine if Karen Carpenter had decided not to sing because she was told she would never be successful or that she could not sing well enough? I am sure there may have been some detractors telling her this. Yet, the Carpenters were a very successful group. They might not have been liked by some people, but there were plenty of other people who did like them, millions in fact, including me, a teenager who loved their music when others my age were listening to a range of what would have been considered more suitable music for teenagers. Would Karen Carpenter have been a singer even if she thought she would never become world renowned? I am sure she would have carried on singing still, perhaps in a church or in smoke filled bars or at home alone.

Not everyone who sets out to be a singer may achieve any measure of success or become world famous, but the key is to follow your heart and do what you love to do and to do so in spite of opposition. We cannot know the path that lies ahead, we can only carry on walking down the road hoping we are aiming in the right direction. Use your God-given gifts with abandon and do what you love to do: Sing with joy. Paint with passion. Dance with merriment. Maybe you will be successful. Maybe you won't. You will certainly be happier when there is alignment between who you are and what you do and when you find and live your purpose. Be yourself.

The Veracity of Eye Witness Testimony

If you know there is an eye witness to a crime, would you believe the person's testimony? After all, the person saw what happened, right? What if that person was you?

Books That Breathe

Have you ever wondered at the wellspring that is creativity? How do some people write 20 or more novels, and each is unique and wonderful and gripping? Some authors write a variety of very different novels, and others may write a series. Where does such creativity come from? I have read that there are only so many types of stories, forming a general framework on which ideas hang, yet I have read books that have made me see into a breathing world of intrigue and mystery, far unlike anything I may have imagined before. For example, Robin Hobb's books. She creates dragons, and wood that is infused with life, and people who communicate with their nature counterparts, for example, wolves. I have read JK Rowlings Harry Potter books, and the characters are real people, whom one feels compassion for, and who become one's friends for the time spent among the pages, gripped by surprising adventure. Stephen King wrote The Stand, redefining future history, crafting a world on the brink of apocalypse, a virulent flu run amok, streets devoid of people and cars abandoned atop one another. And Stephen King is still writing, as are many other authors. I find such talent astonishing. Where does imagination such as this come from? And I know there may be many more stories such as this out there, perhaps not discovered by the public yet, but waiting in the minds of people, or in books poised for discovery. I may wonder and marvel, but I also know that I am thankful to people such as these, who breathe life into words. Books have been my friends, sometimes when people weren't. How I yearn to craft tales such as these. Hopefully, someday I might...

Some Thoughts on Finding Happiness

I posted this article in May on a different blog, in response to a forum discussion on the keys to happiness. This is a summary in a way of some of the content of my book:

Here are a few thoughts on ways to find happiness through the following concepts. I believe each person is different and we each need to come up with our own answers, and the real key is being who you are: (I've realised I need to exclude people in abject poverty from some of these thoughts, for example someone who may be experiencing starvation, as certain needs do need to be met)

How Does Change Happen When Rules Remain Static? (the Job Hiring Process)

I wonder...I wonder what would happen if we started to give some people a chance, instead of writing them off on paper. How do we lift people out of poverty if we reserve the same jobs for the same people and why do we often bring in new people to do work that so many who are out of work and already available would love to try doing? I have heard employers say they have received 100 resumes for a specific job, and that none of the applicants meet the criteria, and I wonder, why is the criteria so hard, and did you even speak to one of those people? If the applicants are applying for jobs, surely they must think they can do the job! Or maybe some people are not applying because they have been turned away so many times before. Imagine if we hired people based on their willingness to try. Imagine if we asked for volunteers and we actually let the ones who were eager and who stepped forward try. It doesn't take long for someone who's heart is not in something to back away. I'd love to see an experiment run where random people are hired to work for a new company, not on experience, but on willingness, and see if they float or sink--my bets are, they would come out on top. They could be street people, people out of work for years, mentally ill people--everyone has potential and something to give, and God loves every single person (not always their behaviour).

And related to this, I created a wiki, which is a page geared specifically towards collaboration by many people, to come to ingenious answers--all are free to contribute: One Vision Wiki

See related blog article: Poverty and the Job Hiring Process

Preface of My Book in Audio Format

This is an audio snippet containing the preface of my book. This was take 1, so I hope it's okay! You are welcome to give feedback. https://www.dropbox.com/s/3g8nm3jh06ac2qt/Preface.mp3

Do Not Overlook Talent in People Who Have Mental Illness

I read a news article recently that says that there seems to be a close correlation between creativity and mental illness, and in the article it says: "Lead researcher, Dr Simon Kyaga, said the findings opened the way for certain disorders to be viewed as beneficial or desirable for certain occupations. For example, the disordered thoughts associated with schizophrenia may lend themselves to projects which require focus, determination and ingenuity." And I thought, this very philosophy allies closely to the blog article I wrote about using your strengths and ignoring your weaknesses. I suspect employers may be loath to hire people who have diagnosed mental illness conditions, yet, are they missing the possible potential brain power and creativity many people with mental illness possess? I was occasionally involved in brainstorming sessions when I used to work in an office environment, and the very essence of brainstorming is to cast off the possible and mull over the impossible and totally unlikely, as, often, a totally new, amazing paradigm may be arrived at when viewing something from an unexpected angle.

If you are an employer, consider, could someone, as the article says, who has a disordered thought pattern actually be the very person you might need to solve, for example, your long standing corporate marketing problem? Think about that point, the next time you turn someone who has a mental illness down for a job. Perhaps there might even be a way to tap into this potential using somewhat non traditional means, perhaps if employers were to change their job models and to include paying for a piece of work, instead of for time spent as a hired employee? Everyone has purpose!

When Your Sense of Identity is Firm, There Is No Need to Argue

I went on a school excursion recently, and somehow got onto the subject of Christianity, when one of the moms said she belongs to a particular Christian denomination. So I asked her what she believes, and then I said, oh, I think that's the same as what I believe, we use different words--please read my book and tell me what you think. She then mentioned a few points that might be different to what I believe, or that I have been told by others, but I was able to leave the subject and go away and ponder some more. Another parent overheard us talking, and I thought I saw him start squirming, and he hurriedly left. That might have been me before, as I realised recently that I have made a huge jump: from being a Christian who wasn't too sure about God, and who almost embarrassedly acknowledged my belief, yet still harboured doubts, to someone who has no qualms talking about God, and who trusts fully in Him. I speak about God as I may speak about the weather, in a factual type of way with no thought that I may be touching on a sensitive topic.

Short Audio Snippet: Why Did I Write My Book?

This is a short audio file in which I speak about why I wrote the book Foundation Stone of Hope. 

On Being Profound

I once went to a church sermon where the Pastor said to his audience, listen to this next point, because it is profound. And he repeated himself by saying, really listen because what I am going to tell you is profound and it may change your life. And while we all stared at him, he shouted, listen to this next point because it is profound. And then he gave a wry smile and said, he has realised he often needs to point out that what he is saying is profound, or his words just go over people's heads. Why is this? Why do we need to be told something is profound? Why do we sometimes think something is profound if the media tells us it is profound? Perhaps there is too much information around, and perhaps everything people are saying is profound in some way, we have to find the parts that speak to each one of us?

Why I Trust the Man Who Glowers More than the One Who Smiles

I walk into a particular place sometimes. It's a new place I have been attending on occasion. There are lots of warmly, welcoming people. Newsletters are given to me before I walk to my seat, and the people handing them out greet me warmly and usually shake my hand. After the presentation, people stand around and shake people's hands on the way out. What strikes me is how friendly everyone seems to be. There is one elderly man who I see most weeks, but when I smile at him, his face glowers in return. I am sure he sees me, as he looks right at me, but then he ignores me and walks haltingly to his seat. I cannot be sure, but I wonder, do some of the people who smile at me, secretly dislike me on sight and wonder who I am? I say this because I am aware that I do not always give a good first impression to people, and I have learnt elsewhere that, what seems like initial friendliness, may be a front for gossip and cliques. The old man shows me I am a stranger, and that I don't know him and he doesn't know me. He will not smile at me unless he genuinely likes me and connects with me. I wonder, does he smile at anyone? I suspect he is more trustworthy than some of the people I meet who smile so disarmingly at me. What I do know is that it will take time for me to find out the undercurrents at play, the politics, and to find out what his, and others, intentions are. What may seem friendly on the surface, may not be. What may appear to be unwelcoming at first, may be a more trustworthy environment than what seems initially welcoming. The crux is whether or not the people in the seemingly welcoming environment are genuinely welcoming, or not, and whether or not this is a front for undercurrents. I know never to assume until the hand shows itself; it is a lesson hard learnt. As a saying goes, "actions speak louder than words", and I know I will have to bide my time to find out truth.

I, The Lord Thy God, Am a Jealous God

I read a comment once by someone, who replied to a Christian article and said, what does it matter if she wants to find her own spirituality--why do Christians always think that their way is the only right way? She seemed to feel Christians are pompous to follow God as they do. And she said let each person find a spiritual path that works for him or her. I am sure you will agree that this is a good sentiment--I do agree that there will be a lot more peace if we each allow each other to be who we are, and to find our own individuality and to live our own beliefs.

In All Things, God is Able

Thanks to a friend for sending me this story via email. I am not sure who wrote it, and I hope I am not infringing any copyright by sharing it (please let me know). I hope you too find encouragement and hope by reading it. This is the story I received:

Caught Between Career Choices?

Are you caught between two career choices? Sometimes you can use both of your passions to achieve your dreams.

I watched a video this morning on TED, the foremost idea leaders, showing a speech by Robert Gupta. He studied to become a medical doctor, and he loves neuroscience, but he has also always loved to play the violin, and he has always been more than passionate about his music. He has been able to use both talents to help others, as he shows that music therapy helps those whom traditional methods may be unable to. Watch his speech here: Between Music and Medicine

This is a link to the organisation Robert Gupta started to help impoverished people by the use of music therapy: Street Symphony

Why Did I Write My Book?

Below is the preface I recently added to my book--I thought context was necessary before anyone jumped in to read the content, setting the scene for the map as it were. Do you have any thoughts on this? Please comment! 

Free Speech Versus Respecting Religious Human Rights

I've been wondering, why are people still allowed to make fun of religion, and call it free speech? Why are people's religious beliefs not afforded the same anti-discrimination treatment as is now in place for most other human rights? As an example, you do not see people in wheel chairs being made fun of, just as one does not normally these days see fun being made of a specific race or nationality. It is no longer politically correct to do so. Isn't religious targeting of any religion also a form of discrimination? Though in saying this, I do not condone forceful opposition to any form of discrimination, as I believe in peace as Jesus spoke of it.

Is it harmless fun for people to make fun of something held in high regard by others, or is it conscious bullying, trying to provoke a reaction? At the same time, do not allow any violent reactions to happen, instead choose to respond peacefully, as this will ensure bullies do not have ammunition to use against you. And in the same vein, why are people still killed over their religious beliefs? Surely there should be global laws against any form of murder and persecution and discrimination? Why are people still killed for being a Christian, for example? Is it because others feel that knowing about Christianity will steal away their own religious beliefs, and erode their own culture? Ironically, this is the same concern many Christians have when they encounter other religions. We all want to hold on to the cultures and values that we know and trust.

I am a Christian, but if you believe differently, then hold on to your own beliefs. No-one can change your beliefs unless you allow them to. It is your life to live. Know what you stand for. Be yourself.

Secular Society and the Falling Away of Christianity

Have you noticed how we take so much of what is Christian society for granted, and in many ways nowadays we seem to want to give it away? What do I mean?...

Perception Versus Intention

Imagine you are a student at a school. One morning, whilst your teacher is standing in front of the class talking, you notice a bedraggled looking man wander in. His face is a mass of wrinkles, grey hair shaggy and wavy, glasses askew. He shuffles in, glaring at the ground. His hand darts out from robes of clothes, clutches a piece of chalk, and he starts writing frantically on the blackboard, mumbling quietly to himself. Your lecturer glances around as the class starts laughing, and immediately rushes for the telephone, frantically yet quietly calling for security. The security person arrives and says in a loud voice, "Sir, you need to leave now". The grey haired man turns around with a friendly expression, which soon darkens as he apprises the situation. "Sir, come with me". "But, but..." the visitor  mumbles. Then the visitor yells "Hey, don't grab me!" as security bundles him out the door. You hear his yells fading as he is marched down the corridor and out of the school. And, as just as calm returns to the room, your principal wanders in, says good morning, and asks you to watch out for Albert Einstein, who is visiting the school and who you might be lucky enough to hear explain some complex theories. Your lecturer's face turns red as he rushes out to find the visitor....

The Art of Artificial Relationships

I used to work for a large organisation, and I knew a key part of the job was building relationships. A key relationship was with my manager. Yet I never wanted to invite my manager to have a chat over coffee. Why? Well, I felt this would be schlooping, otherwise known by even less flattering names. I felt I would be compromising my integrity and ideals of accept me as I am, and I am here to get the work done. I felt I could not pretend to be nice just to earn points with my manager. Needless to say, my manager did not take a good view of me seeming to ignore her, when others were building a relationship with her. Yet, were the others using what could amount to good sales techniques to win her favour? Were they being nice to her because she was their manager, or in spite of this?

Who Do I Write To?

When I write this blog, who do I write to? I write to everyone and I write to individuals. I write to the successful, and I write to the downtrodden. I write to show a pathway to hope. I give these examples: I write to the woman who goes to work day after day, and for her life is a routine. She can barely wake up in the morning, and has to forcibly drag herself out into the cold corridor to get ready for work. Life feels like a blur, and she is thankful she manages to keep going day in and day out, but through her fog she wonders if she will be able to keep going, and desperately wants the roundabout to stop so she can rest. I write to the parents who are trying to force their teenage son to become a medical doctor. He has brilliant academic marks, and all he wants to do is to become an actor and travel the world, but his parents make sure they discourage any thoughts of the stage and drama, and he feels he needs to bow to their increasing pressure and keep slogging away at subjects that hold no interest for him. I write to the people who drift through life not feeling, and not knowing who they are, and where their talents lie. Their self esteem is a factor of acceptance by other people, and it seems wherever they turn they are excluded by a wall of isolation. If only their light of life had been nurtured when first aflame, protected from stormy gales of life's hurts, so it could shine gently and cast a warm glow, and receive sustenance when light was burning low. I write because that was all me. I write to try and show that there is a better alternative; that life is meant to be lived by everyone; that God would not want people to be excluded and hurt by other people; and that God has a plan and a purpose for each person's life. I believe God would want us to be the selves we were always meant to be, free from the enemy's grasp. And I believe that, even when our purpose seems squashed by life and circumstance, God will help give us a better way, if we follow Him and listen to His commands. Like a tree hewn down in a forest, that springs to life unbidden and sends forth new, stronger shoots, so can God give strength to those who turn to Him and ask.

"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:" (Isaiah 11:1 NIV)

Have You Considered You May Be the Face an Organisation or Social Group Is Judged By?

Have you ever been to an organisation and thought, wow, they really care! But often your experience is based on your interaction with one person, for example you feel totally welcomed by the receptionist alone, and she smooths your visit. You have never met her before yet you feel you have personalised attention. She smiles as she greets you and makes sure you have a comfortable chair, or she offers you coffee and asks how your day has been. And have you ever walked away from an organisation thinking you will never be back? Have you considered that often it is an experience with one or two people that has left you feeling this way? Are you perhaps someone who could be responsible for providing either a good or bad experience by customers at the company you work for?

Are You Placing Limits on Yourself? This Deaf Classical Music Composer Did Not!

Do you sometimes dissuade yourself from something before you have even tried, thinking it is impossible? I know I have. Yet there are examples of people who follow an unlikely path in spite of their own limitations.

I have read of athletes missing legs and arms, yet they run and swim or play football with accomplishment. I have read of musicians who play musical instruments in spite of missing key limbs, for example, a pianist who plays with only one hand, or a one armed drummer. There are blind singers, and singers who sing from wheelchairs. Beethoven lived centuries ago, yet his legacy lives on. He was a classical music composer of German descent who started going deaf later in life, and who eventually lost all ability to hear, yet he continued conducting music, and playing and composing music. How heartbreaking it must have been for Beethoven to lose his hearing! I hearken to these examples, amazed at the spirit of triumph over tragedy.

Poverty and the Job Hiring Process

I was chatting to someone recently about the job hiring process. She mentioned that she sees many candidates for interviews who are nervous, and she wishes they weren't. And I mused about how selective employers can be in even calling someone in for an interview. Hundreds of resumes (CVs) might be received, and most are immediately excluded because they do not fulfil the basic requirements of the job. And I mentioned how fleeting I think an interview is, and what a terrible basis this is to make a job hiring decision, as people are hired based on the short period of time they have to impress, not necessarily how well the person might perform over a long period of time. Yet, as the person pointed out to me, the main criteria to do well at a job are behavioural skills, and this is what is mainly evident in an interview: is the person friendly, able to manage pressure, able to answer questions posted on the fly? For her, the main character traits that are important are things like team work and building relationship, and technical skills can often be learnt, but behavioural traits can take a long time to acquire and change.

What Will This New Day Bring?

I glance out the window. There is a thread of gold beading the grey cloud. It widens, glints, and then the sun shines through, spilling liquid gold. Grey flees in haste as morning celebrates. What will this new wondrous day bring? I could have written: I am sitting here shivering. It is still mostly dark and I have to get up and get the kids ready for school. Do I have to go into the office today? What will I be asked to do today? I am dreading it! Never underestimate the power of your thoughts! There is power in a positive mindset and seeing your world differently.

Is Workplace Bullying a Subtle Form of Domestic Violence?

In domestic violence, abusers will hit their wives, or scream at them and totally try to control them, and then there is a period of making up and life returns to normalcy, and then tensions start to build and the cycle repeats. Usually violence escalates, and the only thing recommended to do is to remove the victim from the situation, if the victim sees the value of doing this, as often there is a large emotional bond and dependence on the abuser.

Getting To Know Me

I've been wondering whether you, my readers, see me in these blog posts, as each article is a tiny snapshot of my thoughts. Yet I still wonder if you know me. You can only know me by what I reveal, and I am judged by what I reveal, and if I disclose differently you might form a different picture of me than what you currently have.

I wrote a post on here called "Rediscovering Me", and then I removed most of it from this blog site, and it is now to be found in my book--I added additional information to it and I hope I haven't made the specific section incredibly boring, but thought I needed to include my own journey. Is there much to tell? Well, I see myself as quite an average person, and there is not much to tell really, but everyone has a story. I did leave some parts of my own story out, to maintain confidentiality for other people, and perhaps someday I may tell the whole story. But I do know too that it is not always necessary to tell everything, and also to leave some discovering for another day. Each time something is written, this becomes additional truth, and the present reality is therefore not always the entire truth, and each additional blog post may reveal additional context and insight. I also believe the person is not as important as the message, and my message, I hope, is that there is a better life for you out there, and you have to discover who you truly are. God bless.

Trying Out New (Emotional) Skills

Do you have a driver's license? If so, you must know what it felt like to be a learner driver. Do you remember the first time you took the wheel and drove on the open road? I do, and I remember how uneasy my driving instructor was sitting next to me, especially when a long line of cars formed behind my hesitant, jerky attempts at pulling off at a stop street. How glad I was when I was finally able to pull off in first gear without stalling the car. I am sure I revved the car too much with a heavy foot on the clutch and accelerator, but I know I finally got the car going. Driving is now second nature to me. This is akin to learning most new skills, especially emotional. At first it is difficult, and you may really struggle to transform a skill into an effortless habit. Imagine, for example, if you are someone who has kept your anger suppressed for years. You may have difficulty controlling your anger when it is first unleashed: perhaps you discover anger for the first time in a bullying situation you have previously quietly sat through many times before, and your anger rises out of control, scaring you with its ferocity. It is a new skill you are learning to use. Like the learner driver, you may not know how to "ride" your anger correctly at first and how to keep it within polite social norms. But in time you will learn to feel the anger, but not be controlled by it. You will be able to respond with intellectual thought, whilst keeping any justifiable anger simmering in the background, and be able to keep any thoughts of the bully to yourself, instead of blurting the thoughts out loud and adding ammunition to the bully's assertions about you.

Just as with the above fictional example of learning to use anger, be aware that learning to manage any new skill usually takes time and practice. Be prepared for variances when using new skills, and know you will master them in time. Soon the usage of your new skills will seem like second nature to you.

Defensiveness Talking

Have you ever sent someone something, for example, your own painting, or a book, or a forwarded email? Then you've wondered, what if the person doesn't like what I've sent? So you send a message saying, you don't have to keep the item, you can give it away or ignore it! And I suspect the other person might then wonder why he or she has been given the item, and did you really want to give it to him, and what is actually wrong with it? Or another example might be if you invite someone to coffee, and then you think she might not want to go with me! So you tell her before you've gone for coffee, and without prompting, that it's okay if you both don't go for coffee, and she might think, perhaps you don't really want to go for coffee, so in turn she says she can't make it. And in these cases your fears are confirmed. But perhaps if you just gave the item away and said nothing further, or if you just let the coffee invite stand, the person might have accepted each positively? Our fears can get in the way and confirm themselves sometime, and this might be due to our defensiveness talking.

Tipping Point--What's Below the Iceberg?

I wonder sometimes what it takes to get an iceberg to tip over. With icebergs, you see only a tiny amount of the mass of the iceberg, just that little bit sticking out above the water. What is below the point you see? The iceberg mass could be simply huge. Why do I mention this? I look around me at the parts of the world I see. Visible poverty, hungry children, homeless people. Are the poor people I see the tip of the iceberg?

When Ideas Take Flight

I read many things during the course of a day, especially through social media, or in online newspapers, or blogs I may stumble upon. How much of what I read colours the direction of my next thoughts? Do I stop and thank, or acknowledge, everyone who's thoughts I read and then use in different ways?

The Journey Towards the Olympic Games

Have you been watching the Olympic Games? I watch each evening, but I am never sure which events will be screened. A couple of days ago I saw two women British rowers win a gold medal for Britain, the first gold medal British rowers have ever won--a small slice of history in the making--the names of those two rowers will always be down as the first ones, even though there may be many after them.

Each athlete is at the Games after experiencing his or her own individual battles and triumphs. For many, just being at the Olympic Games will be a feat they will always treasure, for others they might wish they had tried that millisecond faster to make the difference between gold and silver, or silver and bronze, or perhaps bronze or losing out on a medal completely. I watch and I see races unfold, but I do not know the journey behind each athlete's appearance and result. I know I am in awe that each individual has reached this amazing point in using their talents.

One athlete who I have been watching at the Olympic Games, as I know something of his hard, yet triumphant journey, is Oscar Pistorius. I have written about him previously on this blog, and you can find his story here: Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner. He (via his agency) allowed me to use his short story in my book, and did not once ask me for any payment, and I am so grateful to him. I will be watching out for his races this coming weekend, and I am sure many others will be watching him make Olympic history. Oscar, I pray for the best for you in this coming testimony, and God bless your ongoing journey.

Where There Be Blue Gums...

I saw a lot of Blue Gum trees when I was living in South Africa. They looked like such messy trees; tree trunks reaching for the sky and limbs askew, colour the tones of grey. Bark that shredded and curled, and did not look like normal woody bark of trees growing around them. Eucalyptus leaves that tasted funny when you bit down. They were a symbol of conservation gone wrong: a displaced tree, grown quickly to provide shade, but not naturally occurring. I would normally see them stand alone, or in sheltered pockets or rows. Now I see them all around me in Australia. There are forests of Blue Gum trees. The Eucapyptus trees on top of Mount Wellington are wizened and stunted and a testament to survival in harsh mountain conditions. In many rainforests here, massive Blue Gum trees reach for the sky, forming canopies, each tree vying for sunshine. I see a forest of Blue Gums stretching for kilometres close to suburbia where I live, a haven for possums and wallabies and kangaroos. Blue Gums in Australia do not look out of place. The forests are beautiful. Why is it that in South Africa these trees seemed ugly to me, out of place in African Savannah, and here they blend in and look lovely? And now I realise, they have always been beautiful trees. Perhaps it is my own perception that has been seeing them differently in these different locations?

The Subtle Art of Bullying: I Heard You Said...

Have you ever been accused of saying something that you in reality were just a listener to? I remember numerous times when someone would come up to me and say something, and later I would hear by chance that I was accused of making that statement. For example, a particular person, call him Jim, would sidle up to me and say, "The new manager in this area is changing everything without asking and is headed for a fall", and I might have looked blankly at him and kept quiet, after all Jim is one of my superiors and I don't really know the new manager. Then a few days later I hear Jim telling someone I said the new manager is inept, and I think, "huh?".

Context Behind the San's (Bushmen's) Situation Makes a Comedy Sad

Have you ever watched The Gods Must be Crazy I or II? The first movie of the series was first released in 1980. I remember really enjoying the first movie when I watched it as a child, and it shows a glimpse of San culture and the very different worlds we live in, and it is truly a hilarious film. I received a copy of these movies, and I am wondering if I will ever be able to watch the films and laugh at the light hearted scenes, as the main characters, the San (Bushmen) are living a life lost. They are no longer a people of hunter gatherers, free to roam at will over vasts tracts of borderless land; most San have been forcibly settled into sedentary villages and have thereby lost their unique cultural heritage and wealth that is freedom. This tragedy occurred shortly before the initial The Gods Must Be Crazy Movie was made. How did something like this happen without anyone really noticing?

Are anthropological groups capturing the unique culture that older San people still have, like fireside tales, and documenting these for future generations, especially by means of video and audio recordings?--I know some writings do exist, e.g. as found on ForumBiodiversity, and I love "The Prayer Addressed to the Young Moon".

I am wondering if it is possible to start a fundraising effort for the San? I would love to buy a huge tract of land for the San, a place they can do with as they please, and this may require millions of dollars to purchase--I've seen a large farm area of the Kalahari for sale, adjoining the central Kalahari Game Reserve, for about US$5-$6 million dollars--any kind philanthropists who would be interested in buying land for the San? Or is there another solution? Is land the only requirement? I pray God shows the way.

Related blog articles
This is a link to a previous blog article I wrote about the San (Bushmen): Ode to the San

Note:  The San's story is not unique. There are many tribal people adrift in this encroaching modern world. Surely there is space for all?

Oscar Pistorius Will Run At the Olympic Games 2012!

Congratulations to Oscar Pistorius, the first double amputee to compete in the Olympic Games, London 2012! He has earned a spot in the individual 400m race, as well being part of the 4x400 metre Olympics relay team. He will also run in the Paralympics. http://www.news.com.au/sport/london-olympics/double-amputee-to-race-in-olympics/story-fndpu6dv-1226417274171

See previous blog articles about Oscar Pistorius:
Great Video About Oscar Pistorius and His Journey Towards the Olympic Games
Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner

All Who Labour and Are Heavily Burdened...

Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28 WEB)

This is a bit of free form musing from me:

Who is my blog for? Who is my book for? I have trouble answering that question. I like to think my thoughts are for everyone, but are they? I suspect my writing is targeted at people who feel they are ignored, teased, perhaps bullied by society. People who have a lot of potential, as all people do, but who don't realise it. People who might sit in what seems like a meaningless job, just living from day to day, trapped by a routine from which it seems there is no escape. People who are judged negatively on first impression, who are not taken seriously, who have travelled a hard road and where it seems barriers are formed all around them so they cannot change lanes to travel a more meaningful journey. And then I wonder, haven't we all experienced moments like this, just to varying degrees? What does it take to just be in the present moment and walk with confidence and choose the path we walk? Is it as easy as changing mindsets? Or is there also a tide of perception to change, so we can be swept along with society's tide, instead of being battered by it? What do you think? I know I have found renewed purpose and meaning for living through belief in God the Father and His Son, Jesus. What will give you meaning?

An Analogy For Living Your Purpose

I took a drive one early morning, and ended up parking my car overlooking a quiet bay. Picture gently rippling waves, a golden glow hanging low over the water, and wisps of clouds draped across the brilliant blue sky above. Small boats and yachts sway gently on the water, and a bridge spans the background. Seagulls wander around the shore on a constant quest for food. A few seagulls swim along the surface of the bay, and then dip down into the water when they spy a morsel to snatch. A runner jogs past and the seagulls pay him no mind. And I think back to a day past when I saw a seagull standing in wet sand on a beach, feet covered, waiting, and each time a wave washed over her feet, the seagull would quickly churn the loose sand into blossoming billows in the water as she flushed out sea creatures, perhaps crabs or shell fish or shell creatures. And I contrast these scenes in my mind with times I have seen seagulls squawking racous cries as they fight over rubbish being dumped, or swoop noisily over a fishing boat just landed, or when they try to grab take away food from diners at a waterfront restaurant.

I sit in my car and enjoy the scene in front of me, where seagulls are enjoying the life they were meant to enjoy. I see a few seagulls hovering anxiously just outside my car door, and I wonder if they will follow me if I get out, eager for a scrap or two of a sandwich or a chip.

How easy it is to disturb purpose! Seagulls are meant to forage for food at beaches; to fish and swim and glide on silent wings, swooping low over water, or flying high with currents, flying in joyful abandon; seagulls are not meant to be hovering over garbage waiting for a chance to swoop. How quickly purpose can be overtaken by the temptation of an easy meal.

Send That to Me In Writing

I sent off an email to a large company recently, to enquire whether or not they would be interested in stocking my book on their shelves. I received a reply back saying they only deal with specific suppliers, giving me some guidelines, so I wrote back and said I would be able to comply. The next response said to give the person a call and she would explain the purchasing process, and I thought "How wonderful. A possible opportunity." However, I felt quite deflated when I spoke to her, and she effectively said sorry, she was not interested. So why did I have to phone her to hear that? Why didn't she tell me that in an email? I have noticed that people can seem very friendly and polite in written communication, and only show their true selves in person, when their conversation is not subject to any more rigorous means of documentation than memory. Perhaps that is why someone I know insists on most communication taking place in written form, as she can be assured of the sender's politeness?

Foundation Stone of Hope

As many of you who have watched the progress of this blog will know, I decided to change my book's name from "Perception's Black Swan: Stepping Stones to Purpose" to "Foundation Stone of Hope: Everyone Has Purpose". My book was created using the content of this blog, then resynchronised and edited.

Free reading: My blog contains most of the content of the book in some form or another, and you can read the relevant articles, and more, for free on this blog. Amazon contains a comprehensive free preview of my book, which includes the first chapter.
 
Various formats of the book are available for purchase on Amazon.com and also available to purchase for iPhone: Foundation Stone of Hope on the iBookStore

God Loves You As You Are

All of you are unique. All of you have your own purpose and are valuable to the world in some way. And God loves every, single person. Whether you are old or young, rich or poor, fat or thin, beautiful or not, whether you have won ten Olympic medals, or whether you are broken hearted and lie in bed all day. God loves you, no matter what anyone else may think. You may have no friends, you may have no money, you may not work ever, you may be in prison, but you will always have God if you choose to believe in Him and call on Him. God loves you for who you are. His love for you will never fail. He loves you unconditionally. I am awed that God loves me, even with all my failings. God is spirit. God is love.

I have fear and reverence for God, as God is all powerful. God may not love some of what you do, and He may discipline you, but He still loves you. God will never turn away from you, but you may turn away from Him. Sin casts a barrier between mankind and God. If you do not feel His presence, it will be your thoughts or actions keeping you from God. When you repent with a good heart, God will be there for you when you turn back to Him again.

You never have to be embarrassed in front of God. God knows everything about you. God does not see the outer person; He looks at your heart. He is with you in the dead of night. He is with you by the light of day. God may want more for you, but He will never force you; the path you walk in life is your choice. God will always be next to you, walking right by your side when you need Him, and He will give you strength to overcome the hurts of the world. God’s great love for you will never fail.

If God loves everyone, it is a lesson for me and you to look with compassion on all people. Surely God expects this from us? I believe we should honour God’s ways and do likewise, to be true followers of God; I believe this is the real lesson for all mankind.

My Tin Shack

There are countless poor people amongst us. Here's a perspective of the life of one person who lives in a shanty, part of Soweto. I made a few last minute changes before the competition ended, and it could have been a bit better, but overall I am happy with my character. Hopefully there's enough building description! This is the 300 word piece of writing, an entry into a building description competition:

Return To The Warrior King's Abode

I decided to include a story here that I wrote recently, for an entry to a building description competition, limit of 300 words. I read the first entry by someone else, and thought "Wow, he is using a story to give the description". So I tried it too. Try to see things from different angles. Use different ways to approach subjects. You might be surprised at what you discover. This is my entry:

Bullying

I believe manipulation, including bullying behaviour, is tied in with anger and hatred. If you have been a victim of subtle exclusion and bullying, you will know the psychological torment involved. It is a form of torture, and it can take an enormous amount of time to recover and find healing and to find yourself again. To know that you were not the one at fault, and only the victim in an oft cruel plot.

The Ten Commandments

“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”  (John 1:17 KJV)

Jesus gave the world two new commandments of equal importance: Firstly, to love God with all your heart, mind and soul. Secondly, to love your neighbour (people you encounter) as you love yourself. Jesus gave the world a new higher-level concept by mentioning love, showing us in a different way why we follow the Ten Commandments. At the same time, love is a special, distinctive gift He made known to the world in a new way: God is love:

“Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:35–40 KJV)

How Easily Perception Can Offend

I've realised that the name of this blog may offend certain people, as I've been told "black swan" means something dark and provocative. How easily the best message can be tainted by bad perception. Why is this so? When you hear "black swan", what do you see? Do you see a beautiful, majestic, feathered bird, a swan that swings gracefully in pools of calm water, ripples circling away as she glides along, carrying her graceful neck aloft. Swans are beautiful birds, God's creation! A black swan event is an amazing occurrence that pushes the world into an amazing new paradigm. Perhaps it's time to change bad perception to good! Imagine if we thought of white swans in this way? Would this be possible? It could happen with the right associations in place!

The apostle Paul said in Phillipians 4:8 (KJV): "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Loneliness

Have you ever had your child tell you that she feels excluded and her friends are not playing with her? This was me when I was in Primary School, where there were occasions when I was a lonely little girl watching on whilst other children played.

My Faith: Christianity

“Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?” (Matthew 21:42 KJV)

Christianity is my faith which I am proud of, a key part of my values, and my identity. Christians are people who believe in God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, as per the Bible Gospels of Jesus. Christianity is offered as a gift. No one can make you believe, it is your decision alone. You are free to believe. If you change your mind because you feel you have difficulty believing, then that is your choice to make too. God will be available if you decide to turn back to Him again. I feel you need to come to your own understanding of what it means to believe in God. God has been my saviour and my rock in my times of trial. I have come to depend on Him, and He gives me inner strength and hope.

I believe God the Father sent Jesus, His Son, to live amongst us as a person, so we would see the glory of God. Jesus sacrificed His life so He could exchange our sin for salvation when we believe in Him—Jesus effectively buys our souls back from purgatory (Gehenna) and this is an everlasting covenant when we obey His commands. A Christian walk is a continual walk of change and obedience, and it is a difficult path to walk. The Father will freely forgive you each time you ask for forgiveness from your heart, and you should then repent and do your best not to repeat past wrongs.

Jesus is the cornerstone of the church, even though He was rejected by people when He was on earth, and had to carry His own cross on the way to His murder by crucifixion. Jesus will forevermore be victorious over death and Satan, as God raised Him up from the dead 3 days after Jesus was crucified.

In This World You Will Have Trouble

Jesus said, John 16:33 (KJV): “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation (trouble): but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Life can be tough. There are times when life hurts us, when people hurt us, and circumstance seems to come against us. You will experience sadness and loss when people leave you or hurt you, and you may also leave people behind and hurt people. I have been hurt and I have been responsible for hurt. Hurt often happens where money or power or other resources are concerned. You may feel lost and forgotten, as if you have no control, like a rudderless ship. Sometimes you then have to go where the water takes you. Adapt and move forward. Keep your mind fixed on hope and belief that things will get better, whatever you are going through.

Worrying

Jesus said, Matthew 6:34 (World English Bible): "Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day's own evil is sufficient."

Things you do cause worry, secrets cause worry, the unknown causes worry, the future causes worry. If you worry, you will know that worrying takes a lot of energy from you. Have you ever tried to stop worrying about something by saying to yourself “I must not think about that situation. I must not”? 

The Importance Of Context

Jesus said, Luke 6 (World English Bible):  "To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer also the other; and from him who takes away your cloak, don't withhold your coat also."

Someone once shared digital images on facebook with me, that included the picture of a woman in an extremely skimpy bikini, almost non-existent, alongside an olden day picture that I didn't really look at, words underneath written in Spanish. I couldn't read the words, and felt offended at seeing the image. Why would my friend be interested in such an image, and why would she think I would be interested?! What would people think of me if they saw this image on my facebook profile? I sent her a short, somewhat terse, note asking her why she sent me the image, and that I did not appreciate receiving it. To give her the benefit of the doubt, I asked her what the words meant. She wrote back saying how offended she was at my comments, and couldn't I see that there were words of courage and wisdom included on the originating facebook page, and that the bikini image just showed how much the world had changed, as previously people almost seemed to be fully dressed when they wore a swimming outfit, whereas in this modern world it's acceptable to hardly seem to be dressed - how much the world has changed!

These are a few thoughts that this event triggered:

That Little Bit Of Bad That Taints Perception

You are an employer looking for the perfect employee. You find him in the current CV you are paging through. He is perfect! The right skills, the right job experience. You can't wait to talk to him! You grab the phone, and schedule an appointment. When you meet him you are indeed impressed at his calm demeanour and impressive knowledge, and want to make him an immediate job offer. The only proviso being he is to join the team he will work with at their end of year function, a fancy dress. He arrives dressed as James Dean, and he proceeds to entertain everyone with his flamboyance. Everyone likes him. He then lights up an enormous smelly cigar, and the pungent smoke rising causes your hopes for him to flee. You abhor smoke, and this view you see of your new potential employee clashes with your values. You don't hire him.

Fact Versus Assumption

A lecturer once spent a morning teaching our group attending her training course, and then asked us to list facts we knew about her. We filled a large white piece of flip chart paper with a number of facts: friendly, assertive, married, kind, gentle, and the list went on. Our lecturer then asked us to tell her which ones of the listed "facts" were actually "assumptions". By going through the list one by one of what we thought were "facts", she told us that what we had listed were actually assumptions, things we did not know for sure, except for "married" which was indeed a fact she had allowed us to know.

Who Do You Associate With?

Jesus said, Matthew 7:1 (KJV): "Judge not, that ye be not judged."

I often hear advice that says you must only associate with those people who will build you up and add value to your life, who are positive influences to be around. What then of people who are lonely, who have no-one else, whom society has forgotten? These people may have negative attitudes, and may have behaviour problems. They are perhaps in great need and might have addictions or have mental illness. But are they any less people?

What Does Generational Poverty Look Like?

What does generational poverty look like? Consider that this type of ongoing poverty is just two steps away from all of us: Lose your job and you are in situational poverty. If you don’t claw your way out and rebound you may find yourself in generational poverty. And it is easy for children to become mired in poverty as adults if they don’t receive a solid, foundational grounding in life.

See Opportunity When A Problem Presents

What do you do when you are presented with "a problem". You go to church each Sunday, listen to amazing sermons, give to missions as you feel you can, and feel by doing so you are doing your bit to help the world. Everyone around you is blessed with family and friends, finances, jobs. Trouble seems far away.

On Teasing And Being Teased

I see you snigger as you walk by. Yes, you, the person who just passed me. Your beautiful face drawing smiles of admiration. Your shining golden tresses bouncing gently as you walk elegantly along, in heels that threaten to tip over, yet somehow make you seem poised and graceful. You take elegant strides and are gone, as you turn away from my pain, my heartache. Of this cold park bench, winter's cold chill covered by my shredded dusty blanket. My face lined with the creased wrinkles of a hard life, tears welling in the corners of my weary eyes. Do you see my pain? Do you care? Will you pay me another thought?

Strengths And Weaknesses

Strengths are things we are naturally good at, our character traits that often seem as if they come naturally to us and our gifts that we enjoy using. When we use our strengths we experience flow. What we do comes easily, naturally. Weaknesses are those parts of us akin to handicaps. We may not always be aware of all of our weaknesses, but often we are able to identify them as we feel uncomfortable when using weaknesses.

A Horse Called Justin Morgan

There are some stories that echo faintly in my memory, bound by a fragment to childhood's past. Have you ever seen the film called "Justin Morgan Had A Horse"? I watched this when I was a young child in primary school. I remember sitting on a cold hard school hall floor and watching mesmerised as the screen flickered out a beautiful story of a man and his horse, bound in previous time and circumstance. It was the eighteenth century in Vermont, the United States of America and a young colt and another horse were accepted by a school teacher as a trade to repay a debt. Perhaps the man who gave the horse up may have thought the colt was worthless as he was so much smaller than was the norm. The school teacher, Justin Morgan tried to sell his new horse on the way back to Vermont, but could not find a buyer. Justin Morgan later saw something in the horse that stood out for him, some quality that others overlooked. The horse may have been small, but he was compact and strong and beautiful. Justin called him Figure. Later the horse came to be known as "Justin Morgan", named after his first owner. History says Figure had many owners during his lifetime, often each seeing a different use in Figure. He was a versatile horse, able to run or jump or pull. This little horse went on to become the founder of a new breed of horses, the Morgan horse. It seemed that no matter which horse Figure was sired to, big workhorses or smaller racehorses horses, their offspring inherited Figure's stature and wonderful nature.

How We Sense Our World May Be Clouded By Perception

How is it that we sometimes ignore something or someone as worthless whereas someone else may instead see huge value? Might our intuition sometimes be wrong? I've heard people say we need to trust our intuition, that little voice that speaks inside us telling us when something is wrong or right or giving us some form of insight. I once attended a course on intuition and to my surprise discovered raw intuition should often not be trusted, as it may be clouded by our past and our own personal perception of events. What other examples are there where we see things through our clouded lenses of perception?

Prioritising Time In Changing Your Life's Direction

Do you want to change the path you have been following, change your life purpose? Some of you might want to do this and one critical resource that's needed is time. Where does our time go? What use are we making of our time? Are we heading towards where we want to go in life? Time is a finite resource that we must manage but often we are so busy surviving and doing that we may be unable to see a different way of doing things to shift our course and align ourselves with a new destiny. Plan the use of your time.

Sermon On The Mount (Part 1)

I recently wrote a blog article called The power of one voice (part 1) : leaving a legacy about people who bless us with the gift of their legacy. It struck me that many people today might know who some famous historical people are, but not necessarily what they stand for or what they said in person. Take the sermon included in this article as an example; these are words transcribed when Jesus gave His Sermon on the Mount. The words are over 2000 years old yet most of Jesus' words ring with a truth that's still relevant in today's world. Jesus was an amazing teacher and speaker. I believe if we all take Jesus' teachings to heart we may change perception of what it means to truly accept all people and live in peace.

Sermon On The Mount
These are short paragraphs in my own words summarising the words that Jesus spoke, but I believe what Jesus said needs no translation as His words transcend centuries. I have included Jesus' words as taken from the Bible further down in this article too.