The salt shaker of life...

so here is how the story goes as they say... I was listening to my buddy Ravi on the way to work this morning on a series called "Marching to a different drummer". he was talking about, in a nutshell, be different.

"so there we are all sitting pretty in our seats all close and snuggled up to each other looking out of our tall glass windows that surround us from bottom to top. above we look through our roof at the world outside. then suddenly one of us looks outside and sees the pot of soup on the stove top boiling away... someone shouts out loud, do you know how many of us have left and never been seen again, they have been gobbled up by the veggies inside! then someone else cries out... "what are we to do when our time comes?". then some lonely grain of salt says from the back..." I will go with pleasure, I will take the plunge into that pot of soup and get gobbled up by those veggies!" how could you say that said another... "because I promise one thing, that pot of soup will never taste the same again!"

post, what are we going to do... are we going to be just going to let this world pass us by as we sit in our salt shaker and watch the opportunities to pass us by? or are we going to be like the grain of salt that will "take the plunge" and be willing to make a difference in this world? that's the challenge that lays before us now... I like the way Mark Chanski puts it ... are you going to be the ball who gets pushed around the table? or are you going to be the cue?


be the Cue man, be the cue!!!

"Son of Man" the Movie

"The story of Jesus reclaimed as an African fable: a simple concept becomes a remarkable cinematic experience in Son of Man. This is the second installment from the collaboration of director Mark Dornford-May and the South African theatre company, Dimpho Di Kopane. The moniker means... The story of Jesus reclaimed as an African fable: a simple concept becomes a remarkable cinematic experience in Son of Man. This is the second installment from the collaboration of director Mark Dornford-May and the South African theatre company, Dimpho Di Kopane. The moniker means "combined talents," and it aptly describes the incredible creative energy on both sides of the camera. Shot against the backdrop of a violence-riddled township and with text updated to modern time, Son of Man delivers one indelible impression after another. Mary conceives the Christ child during a militia attack on a grade school, Jesus asks for the surrender of handguns from his apostles, and the angel Gabriel is a precocious child marked with simple white feathers. Equally intriguing is the melding of the crucifixion and resurrection–alluding to the fact that in today's Africa, political dissidents, as Jesus was, are conveniently made to disappear. In song and originality, the spirit of Son of Man is contagious, a life-enriching elixir for Christians and non-Christians alike who feel mired in the unyielding bigotry of fundamentalism. By modernizing one of the world's most famous stories, Son of Man creates lasting resonance and imparts a significance that is truly glorious." -- © Sundance Film Festival



This is a review from a site called www.rottentomatoes.com, before I say anything about this movie I would like to make one thing clear... I am by no means offended by the fact the movie is African. I have a serious problem with the fact that the movie has portrayed Christ as a political deliverer! the fact that people are rating this movie as good is shocking, the fact is that Christ was the saviour of those who chose to follow him, and those that do will inevitable be persecuted for their Faith.

We had a discussion with our young people the other night regarding this movie to get their feeling... a few thoughts had been passed about the room. I stand firm on the following issue... I believe that Christians have lost the impact they caould have due to the fact that we are "slack" on issues like this one that faces us now. for example when a muslim who worships and prays to a small "g" god gets upset when his god is portrayed in the wrong light how much more should we be enraged when somebody portrays the LIVING & TRUE God of this world in a dishonoring way? hence the reason for the post! how saddened are you (as a Christian) that the Gospel message has been portrayed as "an African fable". what are we doing to take a stand on what we believe to be true???? we are so easily pushed over when we are called to do the "hard things", it is so easy to just let them slide and as one of our your people pointed out... "we need to choose our fights carefully", i couldn't agree more.... this is a issue that we need to take a stand on! the question is are you, again as a Bible believing Christian, going to do or say anything about it? there is only one way this message should be shown and that is the way it is in the Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. there is only one Son of man, and he was also the son of GOD! I feel that this is an outright mockery of the Christian faith and Christian shouldnt accept this "lying down"?



one last comment from the official site: www.sonofmanmovie.com
"In the state of Judea in southern Africa, violence, poverty and sectarianism are endemic. The neighbouring Alliance has invaded to restore ‘peace’ at gunpoint. Bloody street battles accompany the neighbouring dictatorship’s incursion into its weaker satellite. Promises of a transition to open democratic rule accompany summary executions and brutal massacres. As the civil war reaches a new level, a divine child is born to a lowly couple. As he grows and witnesses the inhumanity of the world he lives in, his angelic guardians offer him an escape to the heavens. He refuses. This is his world and he must try to save it from the work of evil men and from the darkness working through them. As an adult, he travels to the capital, gathering followers from the armed factions of rebels that crisscross the land. He demands that his followers give up their guns and confront their corrupt rulers with a vision of non-violent protest and solidarity. Inevitably, he attracts the attention of the Judean tribal leaders who have struck a power-sharing deal with the aloof Governor Pilate. The Son of Man must be brought down and destroyed. It should be another simple ‘disappearance’ like any other…"

The question you really need to be asking is..." who is more important to YOU a nobody god, or the living & true God?"

more of Mozams `08 to come...

Mozams `08

wow just to start i thought this blogging thing was pretty easy, well as i am finding out... its not!i will make up for it this post i promise... Anyway back to the subject....

Mozams 2008

wow we really had an awesome time, i took a week off work and the hectic fast passed lifestyle my wife and I have to go and visit Folks up in Mozambique. we left this past Tuesday and took a slow drive up to Nelspruit for a nights stop over in a really cold (Brrrrrrrrrrr) log cabin,

We hit the border at around 10am the next morning after leaving in the freezing cold at 7am... when we arrived we got a warm welcome from the HOT HOT sun. the weather was great, much better than that of Jozi... very welcome. we stayed with the Rogers the first 2 nights that we were there, we had such a blast with the family they found the fastest rout to my heart through my stomach ; ) we by no mean would go hungry at that house. we had a really good time while with them so hospitable. it was a really loaf week, no plans but to chill!!! even the book that was taken to read was a real "no brainer" i met the Schwaders for the first time the day that we arrived, Deb had met them when she was up in November 2007. one of the highlights of the trip was going to have a picnic on the beach... I think this picture would best describe the Beach... absolutely beautiful!!!

we had a real blast collecting shells, eating, kicking a ball and watching the fisherman coming in with the catch of the day... and of course one of the big reasons for going on holiday... RELAX! I also had the chance to go with Nathan to go and see a piece of land he want to buy to build a place on instead of renting the one he is in now. we really had a good time together. its so amazing to me that two people can come from a different country and because of a common bond can "speak the same language". one of the greatest things for me was the people... i mean the people of the country. it is so amazing that two family's would give up so much to be with them. We had a great time just seeing them and trying to spend time with them in the best way we knew how. the problem is the Language... they all speak Portuguese! anyway we really had fun... it was sad to leave but we had smiles all round even from the locals... hopefully not smiles of joy because we left...

Mozams we will be back!!!