In the right place at the right time.
Current mood: optimistic
Category: Religion and Philosophy

After having heard some of the comments made today regarding donating to the relief effort for the victims in Myanmar (Burma), I'm nearing the point of complete disconnection from this greedy selfish society of ours. It just isn't worth the effort anymore. People in the ever increasingly greedy UK are pleading poverty; saying poverty is comparable to wherever you dwell: In other words, they have their own affairs to deal with here, so let the Burmese take care of themselves. But are we not fellow citizens... beggars all... who depend on God equally (whether we know it and acknowledge it or not) to keep us alive? If the cyclone had hit the UK these very people would be singing an entirely different tune.

I received the following story as part of an email yesterday. I related so saved it for future reference. But having had a very similar experience today, I feel now is the time to share it:

The empty basket

When Palestine was partitioned, Maltar and his family were stranded in Jerusalem. Daily his family read the Lord's promises, such as those of Psalm 34. One day Maltar said, "Children, we finished the last of our food for breakfast. We have no money. We'll tell this only to the Lord, and I'll go out with this basket." So they prayed around the empty basket.

Maltar went to the bank, but there was still no money coming through. As he turned to go, he saw a friend from his hometown in the line. He'd left before the worst troubles and banked his money in Jerusalem. "Maltar!" his friend cried. "What are you doing here?"

"We were on holiday in our small house in Jerusalem and weren't able to get back home," Maltar said.

"Then you must be having money problems. How are you managing?"

"Fine," Maltar told him and left the bank.

His friend overtook him: "You can't be fine, Maltar, with nine kids to feed." He dropped a handful of bank notes into the basket.

The children, waiting at the gate, stared in wonder as Maltar returned with an overflowing basket. Patricia St. John in Finding God Between a Rock and Hard Place 

I needed to meet someone at 17:00 this afternoon, and on an impulse I arranged to meet my sister beforehand. What transpired deserves a mention. It was in contrast to the attitudes mentioned earlier. Sparing the details... My sole reason for being where I was at 17:00 was to meet someone. He was unable to keep the appointment because he was running late and my sister and I needed to be somewhere else by 17:45... Arriving on the platform a young South African man approached us and asked if we are South Africans (people tell us we are too nice to be Jamaicans - search me!)... It turns out he's only been here two weeks. He was in London today to meet someone about a job and his limited funds didn't stretch to covering his fares home. This person was supposed to give him the money to cover the return fare... So he was stranded in "unfriendly" London. I didn't have enough money to cover the fare, but my sister did and used her initiative. We went to the cash point. She gave him £20.00. It was the natural thing to do. He didn't ask us to help him, but because we were friendly looking he approached us... and then his story came out. Now I'm not necessarily writing this by way of sharing an experience. It's much deeper than that. I'm of the understanding that GOD PROVIDES. He knew that someone needed His help and that we would help. I went out specifically (and invited my sister along) to meet someone who had asked me to meet him at 17:00 on platform 5; and here is where we were approached: He wasn't even supposed to be there. His train departs from platform 14. Mere coincidence some would say. I say he was in the right place at the right time and so were we. I told my sister that God knew I didn't have enough money on me (although He already knew I would have willingly given him all I had) so He had me invite her along. He gave my sister the opportunity to share and experience. It was as much for her benefit as it was our new found friend's. It is never about the money when you're dealing with God, rather it is about gaining experience. And these experiences are to be expected and become common place when you are serious about Him. There's a saying: "God does not come: He sends." 

12:08 PM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Space, but not as you know it.
Current mood: refreshed
Category: Religion and Philosophy

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).

In order for individuals to advance spiritually and find spiritual refreshment it requires that we take time out: ALONE. I often joke that I should have been an astronaut... because I love space: lots of it.  And to save arguing with folks who have bought into the idea that the way towards spiritual unity is to spend as much time together... even to the extent of creating artificial situations in order to force this much sought after unity: which of itself isn't a bad thing; to stress the importance of my personal need to be alone, I liken it to Jesus going into the mountain alone, to be with his Father: If Jesus needed time out with God and we are supposed to follow his examples shouldn't we likewise take time out? Anyway, it works for me. At age nineteen, I babysat my friend's young granddaughter for an entire working week. She paid me with a thank you card and a small bookmarker with a poem. At the time I thought it was a bit mean of her considering, but even now one particular verse still stands out: "Take time to be quiet: It is the opportunity to seek God." The lesson learned? You can't put a price on wisdom. The poem in its entirety reads much like this variation: 

Take time to think-
It is the source of all power.

Take time to read-
It is the fountain of wisdom.

Take time to play-
It is the source of perpetual youth.

Take time to be quiet-
It is the opportunity to seek God.

Take time to be aware-
It is the opportunity to help others.

Take time to love and be loved-
It is God's greatest gift.

Take time to laugh-
It is the music of the soul.

Take time to be friendly-
It is the road to happiness.

Take time to dream-
It is what the future is made of.

Take time to pray-
It is the greatest power on earth.

3:19 AM - 6 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Yes, you can!
Current mood: fascinated
Category: Romance and Relationships

I am currently engaged in a series of conversations with a relevant male. The main topic is, yes, you can help who you fall in love with. I decided with his approval that this conversation is worth sharing from the male perspective: I will keep my personal opinions to myself, other than to say, I completely agree that it is possible. Whenever some older responsible adult would suggest that I get together with such and such a person, I would say: "But he's not my type." They would then say, 'but he's a good upstanding man of faith (paraphrased)'. And I'd come back with: "Yes, but I don't fancy him." Then the lecture would begin about how it is the spiritual that matters and we should look beyond the physical. I always had the last word with: "Yes, it matters that the gentleman should have some degree of spirituality (it goes without saying) but the physical matters too. God created me with the ability to be attracted to what is my type. If that didn't matter then He wouldn't have designed me this way, would He?" And so forth and so on… taking into account all possible scenarios and resulting consequences, of course.

Anyway back to the conversation. The chap I am having this conversation with gave me a really funny true experience as an example. He took a liking to a "hot" woman he knew at college, but later discovered he knew her brother. And that was the end of that. He describes her brother as a "nutter": the type who if you heard of a psycho going berserk in the neighbourhood you wouldn't be surprised to hear it was him. His knowledge of the brother was sufficient to put a dampener on his desires for the sister. That, he says, is a classic case/example of him determining who he fell in love with. He said he was thinking ahead: What if he was to inadvertently upset the guy's sister? He jokes, but he said he really was fearful of what could have happened, and it wasn't worth it. He reckons that if people thought about the worse case scenario (using their head rather than their heart) they would find themselves very capable of controlling their emotions. He asserts too (and I agree with him) that his women friends who were or are in bad relationships excuse their choice by saying you can't help who you fall in love with. He challenges them with questions like: "When was the last time you fell in love with a man who looks like Captain Hook: one eyed and hook handed with a wooden leg?" He reckons desperate women tend to end up consistently with worthless men, because these are the types of men who are likeliest to target weak women who swear they are looking for decent men but seem to keep meeting the ones who turn out to be entirely worthless and burdensome. These women are 'emotionally deficient' (usually single mothers) and are easily impressed by the good looks and the 'sweet talk' and make allowances for the behaviour… like those who knowingly fall for the serial womanisers and rationalise it to him; saying 'he treats me different to the others.' He insists to them that they will continue to attract the same type of men who prey on weak needy women until they stop making excuses and embrace the fact that you can help who you fall in love with. And finally, he tells me that the in thing these days is to be a 'player'. Very interesting hearing it from a man who admits to having indulged but is now reformed.

5:14 AM - 4 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Unmerciful friends indeed.
Current mood: blessed
Category: Religion and Philosophy

"Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so (Matthew 5:42-47)?"

It is my nature to help others, but I've lost count of the many times certain 'Christian' friends in their various ways have questioned my associations; in the sense that I would be better advised not to get involved with others who are in need of some emotional support but not of the fold. The irony is that these friends seem blissful ignorant of their own dependency. While they do not hesitate to run to me for advice or support on some personal issue or another they are quick to turn their noses up at others whose needs are not so dissimilar to theirs. While these by their attitude seem convinced that God only cares about 'Christians', I am of the understanding that I am God's child and so is everybody else. I've decided to conduct an experiment; to withdraw my support from these friends and see how they get on. Of course, should they detect the shift in my attitude and subsequently inquire, I intend to let them know that I am only doing to them what they would have me do to those for whom they have scant regard: This reminds me of a certain parable.

"Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses (Matthew 18:23-35)."

11:10 AM - 7 Comments - 3 Kudos - Add Comment

Is it time yet?
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Religion and Philosophy

Am I the only person who is excited at the prospect of a world financial crisis? Lately so many biblical examples of greed spring to mind; typically when God (through Moses) had instructed the Israelites to gather manna ONLY according to their requirements and as instructed, yet some elected to gather more and store overnight. "Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them (Exodus 16:20)." I am reminded also of the man who decided to build bigger barns in order to hoard more. "And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God (Luke 12:17-21)."  There are clues in that passage as to why people have the disposition to hoard material things, and depending entirely on whether you believe in God you will agree with my final reference; the one with which EVERYBODY is familiar: MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL. "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows... Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.(1 Timothy 6: 6-10, 17-19)." I've never understood the love of money or the need to accumulate it in excess, but I understand very well that in the real scheme of things (again depending on your beliefs), while the world revolves around it, it is of no consequence. Take money away and what are we? http://lakeworthbaptist.org/bible/av/2ti003.htm

3:46 AM - 9 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

A Nightmare On Oxford Street (and other dark tales).
Current mood: cynical
Category: Religion and Philosophy

I had the misfortune of being in Oxford Circus last Saturday; a place I deliberately avoid other than on the rare reluctant occasions when I venture there for business purposes (never EVER for pleasure). And when I do, I'm literally in and out of there. On this occasion I was with one of my friends who insisted on stopping in practically every shop we passed on the way back to the station. It was a truly mesmeric experience to be caught up in a sea of people wandering around in cold grey wet Oxford Street; complete strangers yet with one mission in mind: shopping? Men who are subjected to this by wives and girlfriends, I feel your pain! Well, as if getting caught up among the seemingly aimless masses wasn't bad enough, I couldn't believe the clothes on offer. People actually go through all that jostling to buy those? At one stage I truly believed I was in a second hand shop and asked my friend if it was the case, as the item I was looking at seemed badly designed, homemade and donated. It eventually dawned on me that this item is very much representative of what is on offer in high street shops. Now, I'm not at all up to speed with fashion as I tend to either make my clothes or buy from children's departments as and when I need them. I was being objective. It isn't a matter of personal taste, really it isn't. This to me is a clear case of The Emperor's New Clothes (http://deoxy.org/emperors.htm). These clothes are very unflattering; made of plain ugly fabrics and hideously designed, but very fashionable. I suppose because the experts say so?

This brings me to the subject of Dodi and Diana where expert and not so expert all have opinions but seemingly not much common sense. It interests me for all the wrong reasons that people everywhere have an opinion on who may or may not have had a hand in their deaths and how seriously involved they were romantically. And most of all I am interested that her close friend(s) believe they knew what was really going on with her and Dodi. I can tell you that the last people who would know the finer details of my private life (if I do indeed have one) are those who would be most disapproving; whether I care for their opinions or not. It is a fact that the people who are closest to us are sometimes the last to know what is really going on. If for example an individual is prone to illicit behaviour the last people to know are those who would frown upon the behaviour; usually close friends and relatives. It is therefore likelier that they might prefer to keep certain information to themselves and/or among those who approve or are involved in similar behaviour. So is it really so far fetched that she might have chosen to share certain personal details like the alleged pregnancy with Mr. Al Fayed knowing he would not frown upon it? His relentlessness seems to suggest more than mere obsession. Still, people continue to share their opinions in the same way they insisted that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction in choosing rightly or wrongly to support the invasion.

3:15 AM - 10 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

What If No One Ever Dies?
Current mood: thoughtful
Category: Religion and Philosophy

8:42 AM - 6 Comments - 5 Kudos - Add Comment

Priceless indeed!
Current mood: inspired
Category: Romance and Relationships

What Do You Do All Day?

A man came home from work and found his three children outside still in their pyjamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife’s car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog.
Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, and the fridge door was open wide. Dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.
He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened.
He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls.
As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pyjamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, ’what happened here today?’
She again smiled and answered, ’You know everyday when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world I do all day?’  ’Yes,’ was his incredulous reply she answered, ’well, today I didn’t do it....’

Send this page to another woman.

Priceless

3:19 AM - 17 Comments - 3 Kudos - Add Comment

The Good Samaritan?
Current mood: enlightened
Category: Religion and Philosophy

About two years ago I wrote an article, A One Sided Gospel? It dealt with the idea that if God is (as we would like to think) really just all loving, all merciful and all kind, surely He requires nothing of us other than that we take advantage of Him? I then said if we had a friend who was just all loving, all merciful and all kind, likewise we would be inclined to take full advantage of them (full article http://www.dailyom.com/library/000/000/000000355.html).

After having spent the last two weeks or so going through yet another extreme bout of necessary testing; such are required in order to advance to the next level of spiritual development, I now have a completely different perspective. I am not the same as I was yesterday. And if I was ever in any doubt, it is perfectly clear to me that not only is God a reality, but He is actively interested in bettering individuals. I speak personally in saying He knows exactly what He is doing and no matter the degree of difficulty, nothing is worth casting Him aside for. That said, the important lesson these last few days has been about friendship. I have learned first hand in the most outrageous fashion that sometimes friends who volunteer assistance do not consider your need. Rather, they see it as an opportunity to do something to make them feel good about them. The act of serving you is not about assisting you, rather it is about them giving them a boost. And frankly not only is this wrong, but it also adds greatly to your burdens as I found first hand. A true friend would take time to ask (not assume) what's wrong and would then ask you, "How can I help you?" Or else ask, "What can I do to help you?" The friend wishing to boost them will instead wade in with assistance that is of no earthly or spiritual benefit and will harass you into accepting it. That is not the mark of true friendship. God knows what the needs are. He is in the best position to provide for them. As an example, the thing that I need most of all is practical support, not empty promises. I had planned for a long hard uphill struggle, but last night around 00:30, I received a call from someone I hadn't spoken to for a while, but not for lack of trying to make contact. Finally he got back to me. And although he needed to be up at 6 am, he stayed talking until 3:30 am because he recognised that I wasn't myself. He assumed nothing. Rather, he asked. For the sake of those three hours of practical talking the forecasted uphill struggle I planned for is no longer a consideration. I know for sure (and I told him that) that God sent him to help me because he understands the situation perfectly; unlike those who would make heroes of themselves in rescuing me by their perilous methods; designed especially by their own neediness and their inability to respect the facts of my reality. They give according to their needs rather than (in this case) mine.

The Good Samaritan springs to mind, especially because Samaritans were considered the lowest of the low. The lesson being, of those who would claim to be your true friends, you will know them by the sincerity (or insincerity) of their actions.

Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain [man] went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded [him], and departed, leaving [him] half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked [on him], and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion [on him], 34 And went to [him], and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave [them] to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

4:42 AM - 4 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

I can make you think for yourself.
Current mood: impatient
Category: Religion and Philosophy

While travelling home yesterday evening, I got talking to someone who told me openly that he is receiving counselling for his gambling addiction. Without going into what was discussed, by his own admission, his life revolves around gambling and it has been the case for 30 years. After a series of questions, I got round to asking him what does he really want from life. He had no idea. I asked him, apart from gambling what matters? There is nothing except gambling. He also admitted to comfort eating. Now, I'm no expert in this field but it made me further question the role of counsellors, analysts and self help experts. Take for example the hypnotist Paul McKenna who claims "I Can Make You Thin"... "I Can Make You Rich". Surely if you can do that for people you should be able to make them think their way out of their situation? My book encourages that you think for yourself. I hope Mr McKenna will forgive me if I misjudge his motives, but I've always felt that experts who claim to know how to help people find solutions for their lives would need just write the one book. Am I cynical for saying that these experts are at least equally concerned with lining their pockets through creating a captive audience? I'm not generally in the habit of recommending my book, but last night I did because it covers things that my travelling companion needs to address in his life if he will be 'cured' of his addiction. And I mean cured. I told him frankly that unless he has something (a focus or purpose) more important than gambling to live for he will never beat the addiction. It was clear that that area hasn't been covered in counselling but I would have thought that would have been obvious to any professional; leading me to wonder: Are these professionals sincerely ignorant of this fact, or are they charlatans? He agreed that in comparison to gambling £6.99 is a small price to pay.

9:40 AM - 23 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment