The Eight O’Clock
News Read this in COLOUR at www.cck.org.za
March 2015
8 am Service, Christ Church, Kenilworth
Word and Spirit Mark 9:2-9 To me the most amazing miracle is that our Creator speaks intimately and personally to us. God—who flings stars into space who creates atoms and cells, microbes and eco systems, paints glorious sunsets, releases powerful volcanoes and crashing waves—speaks intimately, personally and tenderly into my life. And the God who speaks into our lives speaks through His written Word, the Holy Scriptures. By his Holy Spirit He makes the ancient truths recorded in the written word come alive and speak freshly to us today in our context. The church of God down the ages has understood this linking of Word and Spirit as the way God reveals Himself and His will to us. Secondly, note the context of this passage in Mark’s narrative. The first chapters of Mark are all about what Jesus did—mostly miracles: walking on water, healing the sick, raising the dead, feeding the 5,000… Then at the end of chapter 8 we have the moment when Jesus asks His disciples, Who do people say I am? Who do you say I am? And Peter makes the great confession—You are the Messiah. Peter had got to the place of saying, Jesus You are Saviour— You save people from illness, from drowning, from hunger, and even death. Jesus You are Saviour. But he had not got to the place of saying, You are my Lord and Master. I will obey you whatever. Peter had defined Messiah in his own terms. Jesus has to show him what Messiah actually meant. So immediately Jesus starts to tell them that He must suffer many things and be rejected and killed (Mark 8:34ff). At this point they are up in Galilee. Jesus now turns and begins the journey back down south to Jerusalem and all that awaits Him there—betrayal, arrest, a rigged trial, scourging, whipping and crucifixion. Mark sets before his readers Jesus as the suffering servant. This marks a significant change in direction. Not just turning south but from miracles and healings to the journey towards the cross and way of suffering and beyond it—after three days He will rise again. In preparing Himself, Jesus takes His three closest disciples and withdraws to a high mountain with Peter, James and John. [What follows is the Transfiguration and the appearance of Moses and Elijah in conversation with Jesus.] What happens in this place will prepare them to move from a February 2015 Eight O’Clock News
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faith that is founded on miracles and healings and inspiring teaching (Jesus, You are my Saviour) to a faith that can face suffering and rejection and betrayal and remain faithful and true (Jesus You are my Lord). What will help you and me go deeper in our walk with the Lord? What will take us to a deep solid faith that can face suffering without getting bitter, that can confront evil without fear and go through the autumn and winter seasons of life and remain faithful, fearless? Three things I take from this passage as helpful pointers to note and to recall: * How do we hear God speak to us? * Why do we love hearing God speak to us? * What happens when we hear God speak to us? (1) How do we hear God speak to us? Lesson one: Get up a mountain. Sometimes we can do that literally, sometimes we can’t. We need to get to a place free from the distractions of everyday life and chores to a place where we can renew and refresh our vision—where we can recalibrate, set our compass, get our bearings and set our direction again. A significant thing that Elijah and Moses share is that they both met God on a high mountain. Moses goes up Mount Sinai and receives the Law from God (Exodus 19 and 34). Elijah travels 40 days and 40 nights to get to Horeb, the Mountain of God (1 Kings 19:8). Here is Jesus up a mountain preparing for the tough road He has to travel to fulfill the Father’s will and win salvation for the world. Mark tells us it is a high mountain. It is a quiet place far from the madding crowds. I recall being at a student conference in May 1976, just a few weeks before 16 June ’76. We were a group of Anglican students racially mixed (quite a subversive thing to do in those days) meeting at what was then called Turfloop University near Polokwane. Things were very tense in the country—and tense in our gathering. At one point I went out and literally climbed a hill on my own. I got to a point where I could look down on the conference centre below and the university in the distance. From where I sat they looked so small. I could see for miles— huge vistas of open landscape. The centre where we were meeting was just a small speck. The room in which we were meeting and the tension that had been so intense was an even smaller speck. I got perspective. I heard God speak to me.
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Lesson two: Read the Word and attend to the Spirit. Moses and Elijah represent Word and Spirit. God gave the Law—the Torah—through Moses. And Elijah is the great prophetic figure in the Hebrew Scriptures. Note that they are talking with Jesus. We get a picture of a conversation: Word, Spirit, Jesus. They do not stand opposed to each other. There is community and harmony. The Word of God is given. It stands firm and solid. Jesus said: It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law (Luke 16:17). He was referring of course to the Torah—the Law of Moses. It contained instructions about how to live well, how to live rightly, how to live godly lives. The full canon of Scripture, Old and New Testaments does that for us. The Spirit breathes freshly into the written word of God. The Spirit takes the ancient truths and helps us hear them in our context in our day. The Spirit breathes life into the written word so we read not only with our mind but with the eyes of the heart and hear God speak into our lives. How do we hear God speak to us? Read the Word and be attentive to the conversation between the Word and Spirit. As you read ask the Holy Spirit to come and take the written words and allow them to speak freshly into your life for this day. Lesson three: Quite simply—listen to Jesus. The voice from the cloud, the voice of God the Father, gives a simple direct instruction to Peter, James and John. Verse 7: This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him! Listen to Jesus. That is the point of our reading, our study, our prayer, our meditation. It is to listen to Jesus. So I find it helpful to pray a prayer something like this… Father thank You for Your written Word and for this text set for me to read today. Come Holy Spirit and open my mind to hear and understand the written Word. Open the eyes of my heart to receive Your prophetic word to me today. Jesus, I want to listen to You speak to me. I am here. I am attentive and listening. (2) Why do we love hearing God speak to us? Because God is so gracious. God so desires that I hear His voice that He is willing to speak again and again, even when I am stubborn, apathetic, indifferent and sometimes downright willfully deaf and rebellious, like Elijah or the Israelites. God wants to communicate with us. Graciously He tries all manner of ways to get us to listen—He will find a way. I was struck by another commonality the two figures of Moses and Elijah share. They both had a second chance. Moses gets the commandments twice because he broke the first lot in anger at what the Israelites got up to while he was up the Mountain. And notice in the 1 Kings passage—where Elijah stands at the entrance to the cave and the presence of the Lord passes by— not in the powerful wind, or earthquake, or fire but in the still small voice. Notice that even after that wonderful revelation Elijah has not moved one inch? In verse 9 the word of the Lord comes to him and says … What are you doing here, Elijah? And he replies (verse 10): February 2015 Eight O’Clock News
I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and put Your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too. Then he has this wonderful revelation of the power and gentleness of God. And then God asks him again: What are you doing here, Elijah? And guess what his response is? Exactly the same as before. He has not moved an iota. But God continues to speak to him. (3) What happens when we hear God speak to us? As we look at these passages we see a danger to avoid and an example to follow. * A danger to avoid is to respond in the way Peter does. (Verse 5) Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah. I.o.w. Let’s capture the moment. This is so amazing. Let’s build a monument. Let’s hold on to this. Mark adds by way of editorial comment that Peter did not know what to say, they were so frightened. Frightened no doubt because of the amazing sight of seeing Jesus’ clothes dazzling white and seeing Moses and Elijah. But perhaps they were also afraid that this moment would pass and not be repeated? That is a temptation we all face—to hold onto yesterday’s revelation and not be ready to receive the new. At heart it is the desire to control—to want to know the outcome. Isaiah 43:18-19: Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!... do you not perceive it? So the danger to avoid: settling for yesterday’s revelation. * The example to follow: Elijah went from there… Elijah heard God speak (1 Kings 19:15-16): Go back the way you came... anoint Hazael... anoint Jehu... and anoint Elisha… to succeed you as prophet. It took God time to get through to Elijah. He had to pull him out of his depressed suicidal state where he prays that he may die. He feeds him. He gives him rest. He pulls him out of his cave. He puts on a dramatic 3D sound and light special effects show. He speaks to him in a gentle tender voice. When Elijah finally hears, he obeys: So Elijah went from there and found Elisha… He took the first step. He started the journey. I have found this personally very helpful. Sometimes when I sit with a huge task before me. I feel like Elijah. I am all alone. This all depends on me. I can’t do this. I don't know where to start. In those moments I find it helpful to ask, what is one thing I need to do? What is the one thing I can do to indicate that I am responding in obedience to what has been revealed to me? It most cases it is one of seven things: send an email, make a phone call, make a purchase, do an EFT, take a journey, get out my journal, go up a mountain. Taking that first step sets me on a new course. What is the next step you need to take? - Duncan McLea, Parish Team Leader. (Sermon shortened. Full text on website)
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Kenred Keith Alister Clack 18 November 1928 - 28 January 2015
After Ken's funeral, I was asked to put my letter to Ken in the News. I thought long and hard about it, finally realizing that it was not private anymore. Anyway it also made me realize just how important it was to say things to one another whether one is married or not, rather than wait until it is too late, and then wish that you had said all the things that you had meant to say. We knew that this day would come, and I asked Ken, What on earth would I say about you? He answered, more than once, You can read the letter you wrote me. (I think he was still in shock that he received a letter from me at all.) Ken and I didn’t do Valentine’s day, it just so happened that I wrote the following late one evening on 14 February 2012. I realized too, that what I wrote then, had not changed in 2015. - Rose Clack
My dearest Ken Although it is the 14th Feb, this is not a Valentine’s letter. (The last one I sent was in 1954!) The thought came to me lately, What would I miss if you were not here anymore? So I thought I’d rather say it all now than when that comes when either one of us is no longer here. I would miss the laughter and companionship we share, having a shoulder to cry on and someone who comforts me when I am sad. I would miss all the courtesy you extend to me. While being quite able to open a car door, pull out a chair or open a wine bottle for myself, it always makes me feel special to have it done for me. If I feel anxious about going somewhere, you never fail to tell me that I look lovely and the best (even if the mirror shows me that you are being less than honest) and that you still love me. I would miss being in company and have you wink at me across the room. We share the same sense of humour and can collapse into helpless laughter at something quite ridiculous. I would miss holding hands, walking, sleeping or watching TV. Then one of the girls grins and I see you – or one of our grandsons has a certain expression and I see you. Lots of memories in our 55 years of marriage February 2015 Eight O’Clock News
which have been God’s gift to us, along with Jane and Elizabeth. How grateful I am to Him. Thank you and— and—my love always Rose PS Oh, I forgot, I’d miss you not putting out my medication each day!!
A Child's View of Thunderstorms A little girl walked to and from school daily. Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to school. As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with lightning. The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school. She also feared the electrical storm might harm her child. Full of concern, the mother got into her car and quickly drove along the route to her child's school. As she did, she saw her little girl walking along. At each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up, and smile. More lightning followed quickly and with each, the little girl would look at the streak of light and smile. When the mother drew up beside the child, she lowered the window and called, ‘What are you doing?’ The child answered, ‘I am trying to look pretty because God keeps taking my picture.’ - Source unknown, sent in by Belle Divaris
Worship ‘We go deeper in praise and thanksgiving when we recognise that worship is a matter of intentional choice rather than emotional response. Worship driven by human emotion will eventually become superficial— lacking the substance and depth of experience that enable the worshipper to offer the Lord praise even in the most difficult circumstances… True worship then, is not just what draws us near to God. In going deeper in praise and thanksgiving may we learn to worship continually, sacrificially and, in so doing, enable others to encounter the God who created them just for the pleasure of knowing them.’ - Capt Oliver, Salvation Army, in Chris Molyneux’s Musical Musings #2-15
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Unusual Welcome Home ! After almost three months abroad, I was really looking forward to being home for Christmas and spending time with John and my family. I arrived at OR Tambo International Airport after more than 24 hours in transit, feeling exhausted but excited at the prospect of reaching Cape Town soon. As I walked through the doors into the arrival hall, I was struck by the sense of excitement and warmth, and immediately felt tearful—probably more a result of the long journey than anything else! The next thing the music started, including a moving rendition of Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika, and I thought... WOW, this is a great way to welcome me home which immediately brightened my travel weary spirit. Thank you, South Africa, for making me realise why I choose to live in such an awesome country! As I continued towards the escalator to check in for the last leg of my journey, I suddenly noticed the recently-crowned Miss World, our very own Miss South Africa Rolene Strauss, making her way towards the exit—I was immediately brought down to earth with a bump as I realised she had arrived from London Heathrow at the same time my flight touched down from Istanbul. Needless to say, I proceeded humbly to the check-in counter with my bubble somewhat burst. The year 2015 marks for me the beginning of almost six years with the Basel Institute on Governance, an NGO based in Switzerland. Although located in Basel, I spend little time there as my job continues to take me all over the world to conduct legal training workshops on anti-corruption and the recovery of stolen assets. A fascinating part of this job is the opportunity it provides for me to travel to exciting new places which I would not necessarily choose to visit, sometimes because I barely knew of their existence prior to the training assignment. Whereas I spent many days in Egypt during the course of 2013, this changed somewhat during 2014 as I travelled to Sicily, Romania, Indonesia, Kenya, and, for the first time, Nepal and Bhutan. Bhutan, in particular, made a big impression on me and as I prepare for the third training workshop in its capital, Thimphu, towards the end of February, I am prompted to share something of my experience of this unique mountainous kingdom. According to the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (TI-CPI) of 2014 which ranks countries and territories based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived to be on a scale of 0-100, 0 means that a country is perceived as highly corrupt and 100 is perceived as very clean. The TI-CPI 2014 report ranked 174 countries and territories with Bhutan coming in at 30 with a score of 65. Given South Africa’s position at 67 with a score of 44, the level of corruption in Bhutan is, generally-speaking, relatively low. Nevertheless, even the small Kingdom of Bhutan—Land of the Thunder Dragon or Druk Yul in Bhutanese—is facing the everincreasing threat of corruption. A south Asian country, it lies hidden in the folds of the eastern Himalayas, between India in the south and China in the north. Bhutan, a purely Buddhist Himalayan Kingdom and a February 2015 Eight O’Clock News
With John and Tamara at Tamara’s in Konstanz democratic constitutional monarchy, is often revered as the Land of the Peaceful Dragon. It underwent an orderly transition from absolute monarchy to multi-party democracy in 2008, and held its second elections in 2013. Bhutan has a population of approximately 750,000, and shares with Nepal the world's greatest concentration of mountains and living heritage of Buddhism. The territory of Bhutan comprises 20 Dzongkhags (administrative and judicial districts) with each Dzongkhag consisting of Gewogs (a group of counties) and Thromdes (municipalities). Much of Bhutanese law is premised on promoting Gross National Happiness (GNH), a fundamental principle of the Constitution. The assessment of GNH was designed in an attempt to define an indicator and concept that measures quality of life or social progress in more holistic and psychological terms than only the economic indicator of gross domestic product (GDP). The term ‘gross national happiness’ was coined in 1972 by Bhutan's fourth Dragon King, who opened Bhutan to the age of modernisation soon after the demise of his father. He used this phrase to signal his commitment to building an economy which would serve Bhutan's unique culture based on Buddhist spiritual values. At first offered as a casual, offhand remark, the concept was taken seriously as the Centre for Bhutan Studies developed a sophisticated survey instrument to measure the population's general level of well-being. What I found particularly interesting was the former king’s introduction of provisions which require a mandatory retirement age of 65 for the ruling monarch for the first time in the country’s history. This and the fact that the current king, Druk Gyalpo or Dragon King, greatly loved and revered at 34 years of age and an avid cyclist to boot, can occasionally be seen cycling down the main street in Thimphu, has really endeared this isolated and unusual country to me. The Chief Justice of Bhutan provided the keynote address at the opening ceremony of our first training workshop in June accompanied by a formal Buddhist ceremony, emphasising the duty conferred by the Bhutanese Constitution to acknowledge corruption as an evil and the fundamental duty of the people to uphold justice and act against corruption. It was also a real bonus conducting our second training workshop there during the celebration of one of its most important festivals, namely Thimphu Tshechu. Festivals in the Land of the Thunder Dragon are rich and happy expressions of
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its ancient Buddhist culture. Festivals are also a big family and social occasion with citizens dressing up in their finest clothes and most resplendent jewellery of coral and turquoise. They pack picnic lunches in their traditional bamboo baskets and stay all day at the festivals which are usually held in the dzongs (fortresses) or at monasteries. On the third day of the festival, the dances performed include the Judgement of the Dead dance. According to folk tradition, this dance is based on the Bardo (Book of the dead): when beings die they wander in an intermediate state known as the Bardo which they have to cross to meet their judgement by the lord of death. Also present is the white god and black demon who, it is believed, have been with every being from birth. The dance is like a play which depicts the judgement of a sinner and a virtuous man who goes to heaven. What an interesting experience as we watched these dances, and experienced the vibrant colour and atmosphere unique to Bhutan during this period. Another memorable experience from 2014 involved a train trip I took from Zurich to Basel after giving a presentation at a conference in Sicily. I was joined by about 30 excited Spanish
Men at Work ? Rob Taylor ‘consulting’ with John McPetrie in John’s office ! (Sent in by our undercover agent in Christ Church Centre, Janice Prendergast, with an accompanying threat—Publish at your peril !)
Season of Lent The season of Lent can be such a
school children who turned out to be young singers, Antara Korai-Voces Blancas from the Music School and Conservatoire in Madrid, Spain. They were about to take part in the European Festival of Youth Choirs, one of the major gatherings in Europe for highly qualified children’s and youth choirs. At one point, and under the careful supervision of their conductor, they burst into song and even sang one of their songs especially for me when they saw how much I enjoyed their music! Fortunately, John and I were able to spend time together in Germany and Switzerland in December after he attended the CMJ Board meeting in Israel—what a privilege being able to enjoy quality time and the beauty of Lake Constance and Lake Lugano together after months apart. I really appreciate your continued prayers for us, and the wisdom to discern God’s plan for our life. Your support remains a constant encouragement, especially when I am far away from family and friends and all that is familiar. If you wish to find out more about my work as Head of Training at the International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR), a part of the Basel Institute, please do visit our website at www.baselgovernance.org. - Phyllis Atkinson February 2015 Eight O’Clock News
wonderful, soul-searching-finding-Jesus time if we will allow ourselves to let go of some of the routine tasks we feel we ‘must’ perform! Often we find they don’t have to be routine at all ! Joyce Rupp, in her book, The Cup of our Life writes, ‘Anything can be clutter if it keeps me totally absorbed in myself and unaware of what God is offering to me. So be patient with yourself as you evaluate your clutter and decide what needs to go. It takes time to sort through and discard what one has collected over a lifetime !’ So while we do this uncluttering, we need to become more aware of how we listen to God. What is He saying to us? What does He want us to do? We need to hone our listening skills so that... ‘Every time you listen with great attention to the voice that calls you the Beloved, you will discover within yourself a desire to hear the voice longer and more deeply.’ (Henri JM Nouwen)
‘O God, you constantly try to get my attention. You stir and call in the most unlikely places of my life— people and situations that I dismiss as not being able to contain Your presence. You beckon me to those corners of my inner being where I’ve yet to discover You. Open me so that I will not miss your presence today. Help me to learn how to be and to let go of my need to be swallowed in activity.’ (Joyce Rupp) - Wendy Gunn’s March Newsletter
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A Series of Miracles I have cycled for many years, mainly as a way to maintain some sort of fitness: cycling makes no impact on the environment, and is a wonderful way to explore and enjoy our beautiful Peninsula. Anyone passing over Chapman’s Peak drive on an early morning ride will agree with that! Towards the end of 2014 Rod Palmer and I agreed to try cycling together—we both needed to train for the Argus, his 18th and my 23rd. From our first ride we just clicked and became firm cycling buddies, and it wasn’t long before we were even passing some of the younger set. It all ended with a crash early on Friday 9 January when a taxi coming in the opposite direction down Claremont Main Road swung onto our side of the road and hit me head on. Fortunately Rod just managed to miss me and the taxi, and has a vivid mental picture of me splayed out on its front like Spiderman in my red cycling gear. My left hand, head and right shoulder took the greatest impact, and my hand and head broke the windscreen. The medics assessed a broken neck, and I had my first ambulance ride to Kingsbury where head to knee Xrays found no broken bones. Unfortunately the diagnosis was not correct and the break in my left hand/wrist is not healing and I now require an operation to fit some screws, followed by six weeks in plaster. I am hugely indebted to Rod for controlling the accident scene, borrowing a cellphone, calling the police and ambulance, taking care of our bikes and me, and even arranging for photos for any potential evidence. Rod, the general public, police and medics were fantastic as I lay on the road slowly becoming aware of more and more pain in my body. Two days of pain with very limited arm and leg movement, and a suspected torn left knee, eased significantly after church on the Sunday when I spontaneously got a message to swim. After getting unwound from all the strapping I managed a few tentative strokes before starting breaststroke with minimal hand movement and one leg. After some persistence the arms got stronger and the left leg moved a bit. By the end of Monday’s swim both legs and arms were working, and on Tuesday I suddenly felt the power of prayer when a nerve released in my left arm like an electric stream, and I had more feeling and less pain. Since then progress has been less rapid, but Rod and I have still managed some great rides. My left hand however has deteriorated a bit and now requires surgery and some screws, and the effects of concussion still impairs thinking for a full day’s work. Starting with the first miracle: not being killed or having a broken neck, in a head on collision at a combined speed of about 60 kph, I praise God for His hand in protecting me and for the amazing series of smaller miracles of healing that have taken place in my body since then. A huge thank you to everyone for all the prayers, I have felt the healing effect of them. We feel so at home at Christ Church, and this episode in our lives has highlighted how good it is to be part of the family of CCK. Although Jean also enjoys the other services, I personally love the rich liturgy of February 2015 Eight O’Clock News
the 8 O’ Clock service. We also enjoy having communion at each service, Jesus left us His word and the communion service as a tangible wholeness: His body, His blood and His word packaged together. - Patrick Swan
Spotted by our Roving Photographer R: Cheryl Petersen L: Michael and Lindy Rust
- Photographs by Cheryl Anderson
Gotta love us seniors During a visit to my doctor, I asked him, ‘How do you determine whether or not an older person should be put in an old age home?’ ‘Well’, he said, ‘we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the person to empty the bathtub.’ ‘Oh, I understand’, I said. ‘A normal person would use the bucket because it is bigger than the spoon or the teacup?’ ‘No’, he said, ‘A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?’ - Origin unknown, sent in by Jan & John D’Arcy Evans
Church Bulletins… Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands. Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 pm. Please use the back door - Origin unknown, sent in by Jean Swan and several others
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Moyra Shewell 15 April 1917 28 January 2015
Many of you will remember my mother, Moyra Shewell, from her numerous visits to CCK over a span of about 20 years. She slipped away very peacefully in her sleep (aged 97) just the way she wanted to, the day after I arrived in the UK. The service to celebrate her life took place in the small village church on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon where she had lived for over 30 years. It was a truly wonderful and uplifting occasion led by the very warm and welcoming rector with input from all four grandchildren, my sister and her husband as well as Dennis and I reading from Ecclesiastes 3 and John 14. The singing was lively and accompanied by the excellent partially sighted organist. It was very well attended by family and friends coming from near and far—AND the sun was shining! After the service the bell ringers using all six bells, got into full and joyous swing for almost an hour as we continued to celebrate my mother's life with a party/wake in the village pub across the road. All in all the service was just right for Mummy and it was definitely a celebration of a long and happy life. We felt very blessed by it all. Moyra and her husband Edmund, were blessed with 60 years of marriage which they celebrated with a wonderful gathering of family and friends in the same village in January 2001. - Belinda Henwood
National Health Service Changes The British Medical Association has weighed in on the Prime Minister’s health care proposals: * The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves. * The Gastroenterologists had a sort of a gut feeling about it, but the neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve. * The Obstetricians felt they were all labouring under a misconception. * Ophthalmologists considered the idea short-sighted. * Pathologists yelled, ‘Over my dead body!’ while the Paediatricians said, ‘Oh, Grow up!’ * The Surgeons were fed up with the cuts and decided to wash their hands of the whole thing. * The ENT specialists didn't swallow it, and just wouldn't hear of it. * The Pharmacologists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said, ‘This puts a whole new face on the matter…’ - Origin unknown, sent in by Belle Divaris February 2015 Eight O’Clock News
Blessings: Mary Craig How does one confront suffering? An age-old problem which we dare not solve with trite formulae and ambitious solutions. There seems to be no easy answer, nothing that will justify it. Each one must carve their own path through life's maze of pain and suffering. When she is confronted with icy knowledge from a strange doctor about her one and a half year old son, Mary reels with anguish which no words can justify. She must forge ahead, learn to live with this knowledge: ‚Of course you know he isn't normal‘. But not just disabled. With Hohler's Syndrome (gargoylism) she is unable to communicate with her son in any way. She writes: But with Paul there was nothing. If he knew us at all, it was only as a vaguely friendly presence; there was no real recognition in his awareness of us. Clumsy and awkward, Paul needs constant attention, and he is one of four young children. When stress overwhelms Mary, her path is not typical. She volunteers a few weeks of her precious time to work with concentration camp survivors. Through the spirit of these indomitable people she finds joy and blessing. In her work Mary meets Bubi, one among many survivors. His energy is contagious: Bubi's room looked out over the tree-fringed pond and what he called God's garden. 'There is my chapel, it is all that I need,' he would say, pointing to the garden. When he was well enough he would spend hours looking out at it, but when he was sad, or the pain was too acute, he turned his back on it, as though he could not bear to look on beauty. Bubi loved life in all its manifestations. 'A party,' he cried delightedly, when I turned up (unexpectedy) to see him... shortly before he died. 'We must have a party to celebrate... I could see that he was in pain, but nothing could have damped his spirits that afternoon, as he laughed and sang, and we ate our ham with dry biscuits, and toasted each other with Nescafe.' If Bubi who has lost so much can give and receive so splendidly, then perhaps (with God's help) we can overcome more than we think. (Available at Resource Centre) - Theresa Keay
Stop Press ! In a wonderful collaboration between Reach for a Dream and the International Cricket Club (courtesy of CEO David Richardson and a Bishops’ teacher) Daniel Holgate (grandson to Mary and Peter) will be flown to Australia and New Zealand in March to attend a cricket match in Aukland and then the World Cup Final match in Melbourne where he, dad David, mom Sharon and younger brother, Ethan, will sit in the President’s box. While in New Zealand, they will visit Chris and Judy’s daughter, Bronwyn, husband Village and their two girls for two nights. Photographs will follow in April News. - Judy Jenkins
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Message in a Bottle
Typewriter Art
I wonder how many of you are owners of that clever little invention, solar-light-in a bottle? We bought ours in December and found it to be such a useful item in this period of power outages we’re currently experiencing. Light! Such a precious commodity, and one that we’re even more aware of now that we can’t always count on having it when we need it. I’m intrigued at how many lessons are to be learned from the everyday things in life. I’ve been fascinated that this little light can keep going for hours in the dark after being left in the sun during the day. As I looked at the sturdy, unpretentious bottle I found parallels to the Christian life. On its own it’s an empty bottle with no light of its own. It is only able to bring light if exposed to the sun for periods of time. No exposure, no light. Just an empty bottle. It can be used for a variety of things, but that vital light will not be there. The directions state that the light will shine for the number of hours the bottle has been exposed to the sun. It captures something of the nature of the sun, its ability to bring light in dark places. It occurred to me that the measure of light in my life as a believer is dependent on the time I spend in His presence. If I’m not exposed to God, His love, His teaching; if I don’t spend time in prayer, or time listening to Him, then I’m rather like that empty jar if it’s not exposed to the sun. No exposure, no light, no usefulness, no experience of the presence of God overwhelming me with His love and grace. In spending time with God something of His character and nature becomes mine and spills over into the lives of those around me. I become a light-bearer. “You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” [Matthew 5:14-16, The Message, Eugene Peterson] Thank you, little bottle, for reminding me of a vital truth. Thank You, Lord, that You speak through the everyday things of life. Please keep my eyes open ! - Jeanette Harris
Family !
Paul Smith was born with severe cerebral palsy on 21/9/1921. He was impeded in speech and mobility but taught himself to become a master artist as well as a terrific chess player even after being devoid of a formal education as a child. When typing, Paul used his left hand to steady his right one. Since he couldn't press two keys at the same time, he almost always locked the shift key down and made his pictures using the symbols at the top of the number keys. In other words, his pictures were based on these characters—@ # $ % ^ & * ( )_. Across seven decades, Paul created hundreds of pictures. He developed techniques to create shadings, colours, and textures that made his work resemble pencil or charcoal drawings. He died on June 25, 2009, but left behind a collection of his amazing artwork that will be an inspiration for many. - Sent in by Margaret Barrett
As you go... ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine... Since you are precious and honoured in My sight. And because I love you… Do not be afraid, for I am with you’ Isaiah 43: 1-5 Editorial Team Tel.
February 2015 Eight O’Clock News
Ev Els
021 696 0336 emichael@iafrica.com
Cheryl Anderson
083 272 1530 canderson@beckman.com