One day a young lady was driving along with her father. They came upon a storm, and the young lady asked her father, What should I do?"
He said "keep driving". Cars began to pull over to the side, the storm was getting worse.
"What should I do." The young lady asked?
"Keep driving," her father replied.
On up a few feet, she noticed that eighteen wheelers were also pulling over. She told her dad, "I must pull over, I can barely see ahead. It is terrible, and everyone is pulling over!"
Her father told her, "Don't give up, just keep driving!"
Now the storm was terrible, but she never stopped driving, and soon she could see a little more clearly. After a couple of miles she was again on dry land, and the sun came out.
Her father said, "Now you can pull over and get out."
She said "But why now?"
He said "When you get out, look back at all the people that gave up and are still in the storm, because you never gave up your storm is now over.
This is a testimony for anyone who is going through "hard times".
Just because everyone else, even the strongest, gives up. You don't have to...if you keep going, soon your storm will be over and the sun will shine upon your face again.
"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me!"
Friday, August 14, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Loosing my religion
I wrote the following more than three months ago on my Doubtful Diaries blog. Since then I stumbled upon the Matthew 11 text. I think Jesus was talking to people like me.
Here is what I wrote:
"Outside the thunder is rolling, the winds are picking up speed and the clouds have turned everything gray. On days like this in ancient times, people believed that the gods are angry.
Today we know better. Today we know that this is part of nature, no one is angry. It is just life going through growing pains.
But still we pray as if God is angry. Our prayers are filled with words of penitence, “I am so sorry” “Have mercy” “Please God forgive my sins”. Day in and day out, we plead and moan and cry. We go to church, synagogue, temple and mosque. We tithe and fast, confess and commit. We hope that we are wrong and fear that we are right, because somewhere deep in our souls the wounds of ancient superstitions are still sore, still oozing with toxic religiosity.
Somewhere in my struggle to submit to the demands of my religion I have lost Life. That’s what religion does, it sucks life out you. Instead of standing in awe of the thunder and the lightning, we run into our temples and pray to the gods for mercy.
The words from R.E.M’s “Losing my Religion” have been in my head the whole day. I got to let go of the fear. I got to let go of the superstition. To much guilt, I need a breath of Fresh Air.
It’s time to open the shutters.
It’s time to show religion the door.
It’s time to let Life in."
I wish I could have been there the day Jesus spoke the words of Matthew 11...
Here is what I wrote:
"Outside the thunder is rolling, the winds are picking up speed and the clouds have turned everything gray. On days like this in ancient times, people believed that the gods are angry.
Today we know better. Today we know that this is part of nature, no one is angry. It is just life going through growing pains.
But still we pray as if God is angry. Our prayers are filled with words of penitence, “I am so sorry” “Have mercy” “Please God forgive my sins”. Day in and day out, we plead and moan and cry. We go to church, synagogue, temple and mosque. We tithe and fast, confess and commit. We hope that we are wrong and fear that we are right, because somewhere deep in our souls the wounds of ancient superstitions are still sore, still oozing with toxic religiosity.
Somewhere in my struggle to submit to the demands of my religion I have lost Life. That’s what religion does, it sucks life out you. Instead of standing in awe of the thunder and the lightning, we run into our temples and pray to the gods for mercy.
The words from R.E.M’s “Losing my Religion” have been in my head the whole day. I got to let go of the fear. I got to let go of the superstition. To much guilt, I need a breath of Fresh Air.
It’s time to open the shutters.
It’s time to show religion the door.
It’s time to let Life in."
I wish I could have been there the day Jesus spoke the words of Matthew 11...
The Mayonnaise Jar
When things in your life seem, Almost too much to handle, When 24 Hours in a day is not enough, Remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class And had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, He picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar And proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students, If the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open Areas between the golf balls. He then asked The students again If the jar was full.. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand And poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded With an unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced Two cups of coffee from under the table And poured the entire contents Into the jar, effectively Filling the Empty space between the sand.
The students laughed. 'Now,' said the professor, As the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that This jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - God, family, children, health, Friends, and Favourite passions Things that if everything else was lost And only they remained, Your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter Like your job, house, and car.
The sand is everything else -- The small stuff. 'If you put the sand into the jar first,' He continued, 'there is no room for The pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time And energy on the small stuff, You will never have room for The things that are Important to you. So... Pay attention to the things That are critical to your happiness. Play With your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. There will always be time To clean the house and fix the disposal. 'Take care of the golf balls first -- The things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'
One of the students raised her hand And inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. 'I'm glad you asked'. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for A couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'
A professor stood before his philosophy class And had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, He picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar And proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students, If the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open Areas between the golf balls. He then asked The students again If the jar was full.. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand And poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded With an unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced Two cups of coffee from under the table And poured the entire contents Into the jar, effectively Filling the Empty space between the sand.
The students laughed. 'Now,' said the professor, As the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that This jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - God, family, children, health, Friends, and Favourite passions Things that if everything else was lost And only they remained, Your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter Like your job, house, and car.
The sand is everything else -- The small stuff. 'If you put the sand into the jar first,' He continued, 'there is no room for The pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time And energy on the small stuff, You will never have room for The things that are Important to you. So... Pay attention to the things That are critical to your happiness. Play With your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. There will always be time To clean the house and fix the disposal. 'Take care of the golf balls first -- The things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'
One of the students raised her hand And inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. 'I'm glad you asked'. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for A couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Synchronicity
Funny how different stories tend to align. In psycology this is called synchronicity. While we are busy with the Matthew 11 text, a friend on a different journey sent me the following written by a pastor he knows well:
Die Islamitiese groep al Shabaab in die suide van Somalië is tans besig om met geweld die silwer en goue stopsels in die tande van mense uit te haal. Hulle gebruik sommer die mees basiese gereedskap om dit te doen. Die Islamitiese groep sê dat silwer en goud vir mode en skoonheid is, en dit is teen die streng wette van Islam. Hulle “ontvoer” die mense teen hulle wil, en haal dan die silwer en goue stopsels uit hulle tande.
Mense is soms baie wreed in die beoefening van hulle godsdiens. Dit gebeur in alle godsdienste – ook in die Christendom. Dit is veral sleg as mense allerhande reëls afdwing op ander mense. Die Skrifgeleerdes in die tyd van Jesus was ook lief om dit te doen. Toe antwoord Jesus: “Julle wetgeleerdes! Ellende wag vir julle ook, want julle laai ondraaglike laste op die mense, en self verroer julle geen vinger om die laste te dra nie (Luk 11:46).
Christeneplaas vandag steeds allerhande laste op mense, dit wil sê hulle meet ander mense voortdurend aan die hand van godsdienstige reëls, terwyl hulle dit dikwels self nie nakom nie. Ek onthou baie goed hoe ’n dominee ’n klompie jare gelede sy misnoë uitgespreek het omdat my vriend sy kar op ’n Sondag gewas het. Maar dieselfde dominee is later in ’n buite-egtelike verhouding betrap!! En ek sal nog baie sulke voorbeelde kan gee.
Jesus het egter ’n ander boodskap gehad vir die mense wat so swaar gebuk gegaan het onder reëls. Hy het gesê: “Kom na My toe, almal wat uitgeput en oorlaai is, en Ek sal julle rus gee. Neem my juk op julle en leer van My, want Ek is sagmoedig en nederig van hart, en julle sal rus kry vir julle gemoed. My juk is sag en my las is lig.” (Mt. 11:28-30)
Monday, August 10, 2009
Rest stop
Michael Yaconelli: "Spiritual growth is not running faster, as in more meetings, more Bible studies, and more prayer meetings. Spiritual growth happens when we slow our activity down. If we want to meet Jesus, we can't do it on the run. If we want to stay on the road of faith, we have to hit the brakes, pull over to a rest area, and stop. Christianity is not about inviting Jesus to speed through life with us; it's about noticing Jesus sitting at the rest stop. While the church earnestly warns Christians to watch for the devil, the devil is sitting in the congregation encouraging everyone to keep busy doing "good things.""
Matthew 11:28-30
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. -Matthew 11:28-30
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