Mmmm - delicious. Hair.

The Sunsilk hair products are so good, they should start a range of, umm, I'm not sure - you can't really venture too far from hair products. Anyway.

My favourite at the moment is the pink one. Not only because it's pink, but because it smells really good. I was a bit dissapointed when I realised it smelt alot like Strawberry Pops...but between that and the gold one, I just keep going back for more.

Even the guy from "Perfume" would be distracted.

Google Earth

Even though hand writing a letter may seem like a foreign idea...this might actually make it worth it!

Check this out:




Who doesn't benefit?

Pencil crayon jewellery.

I love the idea, the look and the colours!

I'm in love with a website!

Oh wow! I have always expressed my style as vintage/retro, but never had the guts to actually delve in too deeply.

In fear of being too vintage or too retro, or even, I don't even want to say it, too kitsch(!), I tend to end up playing it safe every time. And I'm fine with it - I don't like to be the one who stands out - I like being in the background.

I was looking for some crafty craft ideas and stumbled upon the website: http://www.etsy.com/

Yes - there are a lot of crazy things on it, but there are some amazing things that I love. A lot. I could build my entire planetary life around things found on this site and be in peace in that regard.

The site is a place where you can register a 'company name' and sell any home made goods anywhere in the world. It is American based, so even if you buy something from your buddy next door, it's tons of dollars you have to deal with. Not so keen on that.

We really need something like this in SA...as we're not lacking the talent. We have so many amazing local masterpieces that would keep something like this alive. Anyone keen on starting it up?

Some things I found and love:

Back to school!

It is a little surreal really, being back at my old primary school. School is fun. Unless you are a learner.

Hard to believe - by most, including me sometimes, that I am finally working again; being referred to as Miss Faller (or Mr Fellow, by the Grade R's); and running the entire school library. With books, a budget, and everything. I feel important - such a wrong reason to assume worth. But I do.

I get to wear my fancy clothes, but am still at liberty to paint my nails any colour I want!

I get to see every class in the school once a week, which can be a bit daunting, as you can't give the same speech to the 5 year olds as you do the teenagers (or almost), but in a way, that's what I love most about it too.

Many people can't handle the mundane, monotonous things, like checking 700 bar-coded cards on a computer, or sifting through the small print, but to me it is like going to that place where only a good novel can take you. I find it therapeutic.

I like the silence of the library.

I like that I can be 'teacher me' in class, and 'normal me' all the time. I think they overlap a lot!

I get to boss people around - my secret addiction I guess.

There is still a marketer/brander/event manager/advertiser in me.

And I think, that is what makes it even more special.

Oh, and by the way, the magic word, according to the Gr 2s is Dragon! Who knew!!??

Damn, it's good to be back!

CS Lewis quote

You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.

Homer Simpson quote

“Marge! There's a spider on my car keys!”

Rob Bell quote

Christian = great noun, terrible adjective.

IPL is rolling it in

My crazy interest in the IPL is most probably due to the ridiculousness of it all.

There is more money thrown around than anyone ever thought possible through betting and branding and buying players from all over the world.

Who needs match fixing these days?

Cricket is religion in India, and with the IPL being hosted in SA two years ago - I got a bit of an education regarding how it all works.

I am faithfully supporting my team - and winners of last years IPL: Super Kings.

Too legit to quit indeed.

It's a crazy schedule of non-stop cricket, that you just can't keep up with no matter how hard you try!

The first exciting part of the whole tournament is how much these teams, owned by very rich companies and celebrities, are willing to fork out in what seems to be nothing less than public human trafficking. But India give us our players back, which then makes it legal.

Here is the list of who was bought for what amount...and take note - these values are in US Dollars!!!

Player Name Country IPL Team Cost (USD)
Aaron Finch Australia Delhi Daredevils 300000
AB de Villiers South Africa Royal Challengers Bangalore 1100000
Abhimanyu Mithun India Royal Challengers Bangalore 260000
Abhishek Nayar India Kings XI Punjab 800000
Adam Gilchrist Australia Kings XI Punjab 900000
Aiden Blizzard Australia Mumbai Indians 20000
Ajit Agarkar India Delhi Daredevils 210000
Albie Morkel (retained) South Africa Chennai Super Kings 500000
Alfonso Thomas South Africa Pune Warriors 100000
Amit Mishra India Deccan Chargers 300000
Andrew McDonald Australia Delhi Daredevils 80000
Andrew Symonds Australia Mumbai Indians 850000
Angelo Mathews Sri Lanka Pune Warriors 950000
Ashish Nehra India Pune Warriors 850000
Ashok Dinda India Delhi Daredevils 375000
Ben Hilfenhaus Australia Chennai Super Kings 100000
Brad Haddin Australia Kolkata Knight Riders 325000
Brad Hodge AustraliaKochi 425000
Brendon McCullum New Zealand Kochi 475000
Brett Lee AustraliaKolkata Knight Riders 400000
Callum Ferguson AustraliaPune Warriors 300000
Cameron White AustraliaDeccan Chargers 1100000
Charl Langeveldt South Africa Royal Challengers Bangalore 140000
Cheteshwar Pujara India Royal Challengers Bangalore 700000
Chris Lynn AustraliaDeccan Chargers 20000
Clint McKay AustraliaMumbai Indians 110000
Colin Ingram South Africa Delhi Daredevils 100000
Dale Steyn South Africa Deccan Chargers 1200000
Dan Christian AustraliaDeccan Chargers 900000
Daniel Vettori New Zealand Royal Challengers Bangalore 550000
David Hussey AustraliaKings XI Punjab 1400000
David Warner AustraliaDelhi Daredevils 750000
Davy Jacobs South Africa Mumbai Indians 190000
Dinesh Karthik India Kings XI Punjab 900000
Dirk Nannes AustraliaRoyal Challengers Bangalore 650000
Dmitri Mascarenhas England Kings XI Punjab 100000
Doug Bollinger AustraliaChennai Super Kings 700000
Dwayne Bravo West Indies Chennai Super Kings 200000
Eoin Morgan England Kolkata Knight Riders 350000
Faf du Plessis South Africa Chennai Super Kings 120000
Gautam Gambhir India Kolkata Knight Riders 2400000
George Bailey AustraliaChennai Super Kings 50000
Graeme Smith South Africa Pune Warriors 500000
Harbhajan Singh (retained) India Mumbai Indians 1300000
Irfan Pathan India Delhi Daredevils 1900000
Ishant Sharma India Deccan Chargers 450000
Jacques Kallis South Africa Kolkata Knight Riders 1100000
Jaidev Unadkat India Kolkata Knight Riders 250000
James Franklin New Zealand Mumbai Indians 100000
James Hopes AustraliaDelhi Daredevils 350000
James Pattinson AustraliaKolkata Knight Riders 100000
Jerome Taylor West Indies Pune Warriors 100000
Jesse Ryder New Zealand Pune Warriors 150000
Joginder Sharma India Chennai Super Kings 150000
Johan Botha South Africa Rajasthan Royals 950000
Johan van der Wath South Africa Royal Challengers Bangalore 95000
John Hastings AustraliaKochi 20000
Jonathan Vandiar South Africa Royal Challengers Bangalore 20000
JP Duminy South Africa Deccan Chargers 300000
Kevin Pietersen England Deccan Chargers 650000
Kieron Pollard (retained) West Indies Mumbai Indians 900000
Kumar Sangakkara Sri Lanka Deccan Chargers 700000
L Balaji India Kolkata Knight Riders 500000
Lasith Malinga (retained) Sri Lanka Mumbai Indians 500000
Luke Pomersbasch AustraliaRoyal Challengers Bangalore 50000
M Vijay (retained) India Chennai Super Kings 900000
Mahela Jayawardene Sri Lanka Kochi 1500000
Manoj Tiwary India Kolkata Knight Riders 475000
Manpreet Gony India Deccan Chargers 290000
Matthew Wade AustraliaDelhi Daredevils 100000
Michael Hussey AustraliaChennai Super Kings 425000
Michael Klinger AustraliaKochi 75000
Michael Lumb England Deccan Chargers 80000
Mitchell Marsh AustraliaPune Warriors 290000
Mohammad Kaif India Royal Challenges Bangalore 130000
Moises Henriques Australia Mumbai Indians 50000
Morne Morkel South Africa Delhi Daredevils 475000
MS Dhoni (retained) India Chennai Super Kings 1800000
Munaf Patel India Mumbai Indians 700000
Murali Kartik India Pune Warriors 400000
Muttiah Muralitharan Sri Lanka Kochi 1100000
Naman Ojha India Delhi Daredevils 270000
Nathan McCullum New Zealand Pune Warriors 100000
Nathan Rimmington Australia Kings XI Punjab 20000
Nuwan Kulasekara Sri Lanka Chennai Super Kings 100000
Nuwan Pradeep Sri Lanka Royal Challengers Bangalore 20000
Owais Shah England Kochi 200000
Pankaj Singh India Rajasthan Royals 95000
Parthiv Patel India Kochi 290000
Paul Collingwood England Rajasthan Royals 250000
Piyush Chawla India Kings XI Punjab 900000
Pragyan Ojha India Deccan Chargers 500000
Praveen Kumar India Kings XI Punjab 800000
R Ashwin India Chennai Super Kings 850000
Rahul Dravid India Rajasthan Royals 500000
Ramesh Powar India Kochi 180000
Ravindra Jadeja India Kochi 950000
Rilee Rossouw South Africa Royal Challengers Bangalore 20000
Robert Frylinck South Africa Delhi Daredevils 20000
Robin Uthappa India Pune Warriors 2100000
Roelof van der Merwe South Africa Delhi Daredevils 50000
Rohit Sharma India Mumbai Indians 2000000
Ross Taylor New Zealand Rajasthan Royals 1000000
RP Singh India Kochi 500000
Rusty Theron South Africa Deccan Chargers 85000
Ryan Harris AustraliaKings XI Punjab 325000
Ryan ten Doeschate Netherlands Kolkata Knight Riders 150000
S Badrinath India Chennai Super Kings 850000
Sachin Tendulkar (retained) India Mumbai Indians 1800000
Saurabh Tiwary India Royal Challengers Bangalore 1600000
Scott Styris New Zealand Chennai Super Kings 200000
Shakib Al Hasan Bangladesh Kolkata Knight Riders 425000
Shane Warne (retained) AustraliaRajasthan Royals 1800000
Shane Watson (retained) AustraliaRajasthan Royals 1300000
Shaun Marsh AustraliaKings XI Punjab 400000
Shaun Tait AustraliaRajasthan Royals 300000
Shikhar Dhawan India Deccan Chargers 300000
Sreesanth India Kochi 900000
Steve O'Keefe AustraliaKochi 20000
Steven Smith AustraliaKochi 200000
Stuart Broad England Kings XI Punjab 400000
Sudeep Tyagi India Chennai Super Kings 240000
Suraj Randiv Sri Lanka Chennai Super Kings 80000
Suresh Raina (retained) India Chennai Super Kings 1300000
Thisara Perera Sri Lanka Kochi 80000
Tillakaratne Dilshan Sri Lanka Royal Challengers Bangalore 650000
Tim Paine Australia Pune Warriors 270000
Travis Birt Australia Delhi Daredevils 20000
Umesh Yadav India Delhi Daredevils 750000
Venugopal Rao India Delhi Daredevils 700000
Vinay Kumar India Kochi 475000
Virat Kohli (retained) India Royal Challengers Bangalore 1800000
Virender Sehwag (retained) India Delhi Daredevils 1800000
VVS Laxman India Kochi 400000
Wayne Parnell South Africa Pune Warriors 160000
Wriddhiman Saha India Chennai Super Kings 100000
Yusuf Pathan India Kolkata Knight Riders 2100000
Yuvraj Singh India Pune Warriors 1800000
Zaheer Khan India Royal Challengers Bangalore 900000

Still just as cute!!

This is Adam at Christmas time. He's now 20 months and still the best nephew ever. He is so super busy investigating, discovering, copying, jumping, chatting, and leaving so many people smiling in his path.

His latest sayings are "Happy New Year", and "Thank you very much". He knows how to put on the charm.

2010 - The year that overstayed it's welcome.

2010 ended up as more of a gap year than anything else. I really felt like I was living a student lifestyle again – depending on my parents, being able to structure my time and having no money.

As I had been officially ‘unemployed’ for the last year, I also had to make a plan to bring in some cash…leading to a very interesting year! (All legal and dignified!)

During this time I seriously had no control over my finances, work, health or life in general – leading to a BIG test of my faith, but despite all the obstacles, there were plenty miracles, one being that I am still here!

I would love to write everything about the year to give you the full experience of ‘packing up your life and moving back home’, but I’ll spare you the details (you may now collectively sigh in relief) and live it through pictures I took along the way…enjoy – or pretend to at least!

Two of many AMAZING things that happened this year need to be mentioned.

A friend of mine was in a very bad car accident, and as he doesn’t have Medical Aid, he ended up in a government hospital. It was really hard to see him in such a uncaring environment and with such little treatment. When they finally did surgery, they discovered his lower intestine had burst and his body had basically poisoned itself. The wound from the op went septic, so they literally ripped it open with no anesthetic. I have never seen anyone in so much pain in my life and his body kept going into shock with every breath he took from the pain. I saw him on a Friday evening and honestly thought he wasn’t going to make it through the night. We had all organised for people to pray for him, and just through Facebook and word of mouth, he had support from all over the world. A R100 000 cheque arrived from a guy in the UK who didn’t know him but had heard his story. By Sunday, my friend was in such a bad state that he had given up and realized that he wasn’t going to make it. Many of the prayer groups happened on Sunday night, and on Monday morning, he was completely healed. Other than the wound that needed dressing, there was nothing wrong. He could walk around and was home by the Wednesday. I’ve never seen anything like it! He is still doing really well and loving life.

I’ll try keep this one short! My uncle was diagnosed with cancer in the beginning of the year. It had spread to his lungs and was too close to his heart to be operated on. He had a bad reaction to his meds and ended up in hospital to build up strength for a different chemo. After lots of prayer from all over the world, he had a routine scan, and the cancer had cleared! He completed his radiation treatment and has recently had another scan confirming that he is in remission and only has to go for another check up in 6 months!

Sometimes it is hard to see, but God is so good all the time.

We already have exciting news about 2011! We found out the other day that Adam is going to be a big brudder (brother) as Nicki is due in June!

My exciting news is that I am starting a job at Leicester Road School (where Nicki teaches) running the library! (Who would have thought??). It is a three quarter day position, so a good job for getting back into the working world. And I’ll finally be earning a salary again which I think my parents are most excited about!

CD Review: Michael W Smith - Wonder

Hee hee – Michael W Smith still uses the words ‘momma’, ‘holdin’ and ‘wanna’ after all these years! But then again, who doesn’t like a little country talk from time to time?

What I have always loved about Michael W Smith is his simple, honest way of expressing deep truths. On his latest studio album, Wonder, the first track ‘Save Me From Myself’ is such a telling example of this. The depth of the lyrics continues throughout the album, making it as extremely personal and honest as any album could be.

There is a lot about ‘dying to self’ and ‘surrendering’, which sets a tone of worship and accentuates his assurance of true grace – something he mentioned on his SA tour.

Michael W Smith has, yet again, taken vocals and musicality to a new level, and deserves every accolade he receives – many of which I’m predicting will come for Wonder.

Personally, I really like the first two songs but find the rest of the album a bit slow. I’m not sure if it is just a matter of learning to like the others, but I do think it’s missing a bit of his rock edge.

I will still listen to it now and again – for inspiring lyrics mainly, and it will go down really well on Christmas day. If you enjoy Michael’s slower music, this is an album for you.

CD Review: Jars of Clay presents The Shelter

Jars of Clay decided to borrowed a few friends and bands and have brought us as album called The Shelter.

It has to be noted that these ‘friends’ all happen to be some of the greatest artists Contemporary Christian music has seen in recent years, such as Toby Mac, Thad Cockrell, Brandon Heath and Amy Grant to name a few. Bands include Tenth Avenue North (Mike Donehey), Fireflight (Dawn Michele), Third Day (Mac Powell), Gungor and Burlap to Cashmere.

The message throughout the album is one of community. The band makes mention of an old Irish saying, which translates: “It is in the shelter of each other that the people live”. It’s the concept of ubuntu – but this time in the western world. Nice.

The Shelter is varied enough to keep your attention throughout without moving away from the distinctive Jars of Clay sound. This album is a perfect reflection as to why the band has been around for as long as they have. It’s really great and the more I hear it, the more I love it.

I love collaborations, and I love to sing along – so this is definitely my year-end album for 2010. If you are a Jars of Clay fan, this album is a definite must!

CD Review: John Mark McMillan - The Medicine

This is the first John Mark McMillan album I have ever listened to. As you open the cover, you see the words “I’m wide awake, and there’s blood on the promenade”. Wow – I really wasn’t all that sure what to expect. Straight away I thought he was going to take this the emo, angst driven route (sigh), but fortunately he decided to keep it more introspective.

He has a unique, amazingly deep voice, which is almost enchanting. The closest I could compare him to is ‘Staind’, the deeper register on ‘Snow Patrol’ and ‘Live’, or a mature sounding ‘The Calling’. You get the idea.

The lyrics on The Medicine are poetic, deep and profound – each song is it’s own story. The tempo varies throughout, so there is a great balance between the beat assigned to each track.

An album this good is rare – go get your hands on a copy.

Keep an ear out for his single “How He Loves” – a song Jesus Culture got a hold of. It is choral and (very) catchy. I don’t know anyone who I wouldn’t buy this album for.

CD Review: Third Day - Move

There was some big talk about the latest Third Day album, which made me very keen to check it out. They are a band I like to listen to with an open mind, because there are times I love them and times I don’t love them so much.

During my first listen, I had pretty much the same reaction as I do when listening to any of their albums for the first time…I got bored. After such an incredible performance on their tour earlier this year, I really expected something a little more creative and mind-blowing to make it’s way onto the album.

Now I’m not saying it’s totally rubbish – I am a critic after all! I think that the hard-core Third Day fans will find that Move has a powerful sound and some faultless production to its advantage.
And now I feel bad – like I should say something else good. Umm – the album art is great – a real eye-catcher.

Okay, seriously – their lyrics are prayerful, which really attracts you to the album, and it really does grow on you. I was checking out a sale in a bookshop recently and could hear Mac Powell’s distinctive voice…to find myself actually enjoying what Move has to offer.

The Good and the Bad of Joburg

Today I had to deal with two realities...those guys who attempt to clean my car's windscreen at the robot regardless of my protests, and the Outsurance Pointsmen who lessen traffic and ensure afternoon the drive is as stress free as possible.

There is never a right time

It is super late.

I promised myself today (again) that I would get to bed at a decent time. I am an info addict, and can usually blame my late nights on being in search of some historical fact, scientific phenomenon, religious controversy, Twitter or Facebook.

But tonight my dilemma differs. *Searches lyrics for songs titled Dilemma*
Tonight I have a snoring cat fast asleep on my lap, and not really all that sure of how to diffuse the situation.

Cats shouldn't be disturbed. I've learned this the hard way. I know if I wake him now, he'll keep me awake all night - which means a super grumpy morning; but if I dont go to bed soon, it's also going to mean a super grumpy morning. Only, the former has a memory. And sharp claws.

Cats are cool in an awkward way. My cat would SO do this:

Gareth Cliff's Letter to the Government

I have always had a mixed opinion about Gareth Cliff. There are times that I think his social commentary has been so spot on that he should be an advisor of some sort to 'some one' who's job is, has been, and will always be too big for them. Uh-hem.

I think, if given more opportunity, he could really make a difference. I dont know him personally, but I really do believe that he has our country, it's running, and it's people close to his heart. As far as social outcry is concerned, I would place him pretty high. As do a lot of other South Africans.

On the other hand - as with any other "big mouth" who has some type of authority over said social commentary - there are times when there are words that come out of his mouth that should bar him for appearing in public at all.

Fortunately though, most the time Gareth Cliff has something to say about the state of the country, he says it really well...and here is a fine example:

Dear Government

12th October, 2010

Dear Government

OK, I get it, the President isn't the only one in charge. The ANC believes in "collective responsibility" (So that nobody has to get blamed when things get screwed up), so I address this to everyone in government - the whole lot of you - good, bad and ugly (That's you, Blade).

We were all so pleased with your renewed promises to deliver services (we'll forgive the fact that in some places people are worse off than in 1994); to root out corruption (so far your record is worse than under Mbeki, Mandela or the Apartheid regime - what with family members becoming overnight millionaires); and build infrastructure (State tenders going disgustingly awry and pretty stadia standing empty notwithstanding) - and with the good job you did when FIFA were telling you what to do for a few months this year. Give yourselves half a pat on the back. Since President Sepp went off with his billions I'm afraid we have less to be proud of - Public Servants Strikes, more Presidential bastard children, increasing unemployment and a lack of leadership that allowed the Unions to make the elected government it's bitch. You should be more than a little worried - but you're not. Hence my letter. Here are some things that might have passed you by:

1. You have to stop corruption. Don't stop it because rich people moan about it and because it makes poor people feel that you are self-enriching parasites of state resources, but because it is a disease that will kill us all. It's simple - there is only so much money left to be plundered. When that money runs out, the plunderers will raise taxes, chase and drain all the remaining cash out of the country and be left with nothing but the rotting remains of what could have been the greatest success story of post-colonial Africa. It's called corruption because it decomposes the fabric of society. When someone is found guilty of corruption, don't go near them - it's catchy. Making yourself rich at the country's expense is what colonialists do.

2. Stop complaining about the media. You're only complaining about them because they show you up for how little you really do or care. If you were trying really hard, and you didn't drive the most expensive car in the land, or have a nephew who suddenly went from modesty to ostentatious opulence, we'd have only positive things to report. Think of Jay Naidoo, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi and Zwelinzima Vavi - they come under a lot of fire, but it's never embarrassing - always about their ideas, their positions, and is perfectly acceptable criticism for people in power to put up with. When the media go after Blade Nzimande, Siphiwe Nyanda and the President, they say we need a new piece of legislation to "make the media responsible". That's because they're being humiliated by the facts we uncover about them daily, not because there is an agenda in some newsroom. If there had been a free press during the reigns of Henry VIII, Idi Amin or Hitler, their regimes might just have been kept a little less destructive, and certainly would have been less brazen and unchecked.

3. Education is a disaster. We're the least literate and numerate country in Africa. Zimbabwe produces better school results and turns out smarter kids than we do. Our youth aren't usemployed, they're unemployable. Outcomes-based-education, Teachers' Unions and an attitude of mediocrity that discourages excellence have reduced us to a laughing stock. Our learners can't spell, read, add or subtract. What are all these people going to do? Become President? There's only one job like that. We need clever people, not average or stupid ones. the failure of the Education Department happened under your watch. Someone who writes Matric now hadn't even started school under the Apartheid regime, so you cannot blame anyone but yourselves for this colossal cock-up. Fix it before three-quarters of our matrics end up begging on Oxford Road. Reward schools and teachers who deliver great pass rates and clever students into the system. Fire the teachers who march and neglect their classrooms.

4. Give up on BEE. It isn't working. Free shares for new black partnerships in old white companies has made everyone poorer except for Tokyo Sexwale. Giving people control of existing business won't make more jobs either. In fact, big companies aren't growing, they're reducing staff and costs. The key is entrepreneurship. People with initiative, creative ideas and small companies must be given tax breaks and assistance. Young black professionals must be encouraged to start their own businesses rather than join a big corporation's board as their token black shareholder or director. Government must also stop thinking that state employment is a way to decrease unemployment - it isn't - it's a tax burden. India and China are churning out new, brilliant, qualified people at a rate that makes us look like losers. South Africa has a proud history of innovation, pioneering and genius. This is the only way we can advance our society and economy beyond merely coping.

5. Stop squabbling over power. Offices are not there for you to occupy (or be deployed to) and aggrandize yourself. Offices in government are there to provide a service. If you think outrageous salaries, big German cars, first-class travel and state housing are the reasons to aspire to leadership, you're in the wrong business - you should be working for a dysfunctional, tumbledown parastatal (or Glenn Agliotti). We don't care who the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces is if we don't have running water, electricity, schools and clean streets. You work for us. Do your job, don't imagine you ARE your job.

6. Stop renaming things. Build new things to name. If I live in a street down which the sewage runs, I don't care if it's called Hans Strijdom or Malibongwe. Calling it something nice and new won't make it smell nice and new. Re-branding is something Cell C do with Trevor Noah, not something you can whitewash your lack of delivery with.

7. Don't think you'll be in power forever. People aren't as stupid as you think we are. We know you sit around laughing about how much you get away with. We'll take you down, either at the polls - or if it comes down to the wire - by revolution (Yes, Julius, the real kind, not the one you imagine happened in 2008). Careless, wasteful and wanton government is a thing of the past. The days of thin propaganda and idealized struggle are over. The people put you in power - they will take you out of it. Africa is tired of tin-pot dictators, one-party states and banana republics. We know who we are now, we care about our future - and so should you.

G

This article can be found at:
http://www.garethcliff.com/chronicles.php?articleid=791

Highlight

Honesty - By Vicky Beeching

One of my favourite articles by one of my favourite bloggers...

I was thinking today about honesty, and how it relates to our Christian spirituality. We know that God “desires truth in the inwards places of our hearts”, as the Bible says. We know we are called to live genuine, open lives, telling the truth about how we feel and who we are.

But do we?

Sometimes I visit churches, and a lot of what I experience, feels fake. A kind of spiritual cheerleading, with painted grins and music to pep you up, without having to address the more difficult elements of life and faith. Sometimes I feel like we’ve created a somewhat polished and glossy version of it all, to try and attract people.

The truth is, Jesus never tried to make following Him look attractive. He never dressed it up with cultural relevance. He didn’t bring a light show or the best coffee, and set all of that up, before he spoke to a crowd. He was honest and raw, saying that to follow Him was “laying down your life” and “taking up your cross”. Basically, He let people know that following Him would bring them deep joy, but that it would be very difficult too, and might cost them their life.

I read the slogan of a church the other day that said their mission is “to make Jesus attractive”. I don’t think that’s our calling. Jesus didn’t dress up what it meant to follow Him. He died, naked and bloody, which doesn’t sound to me like trying to be attractive to people.

I think the thing that will attract our generation to join the Church, to accept Christ, is HONESTY. Honesty about the struggles in our own lives. Honesty about OUR own doubts about God. About the parts of the Bible we find very hard to come to terms with. When we throw away our “clever Bible answerbook” replies to our atheist, agnostic or ‘not sure I’m a Christian anymore’ friends, and we let them see authenticity in our eyes, I think we’ll see a revolution in the Church.

(Let me be clear – there are many churches that I love! I’m not wanting to sound cynical. I just feel like there are some things that need to be said).

Worship leaders – how does that affect us? Do you show up at Church, put your own struggles and doubts aside, slap on your ‘stage face’ and start smiling and cranking out an upbeat song? Let’s give ourselves permission to tell the people if we’re having a hard day - it’ll help them know it’s ok if they are too.

Church leaders – let’s choose to make Jesus real, rather than making Him ‘attractive’ and trying to get people into our community by presenting a life of victory and permanent ‘spiritual high’. Let the people see your struggles and your raw authenticity about your doubts and fears.

Again, let me clarify that I’m not writing from a place of cynicism or anger. I just love Jesus, love the Church and love the lost. I want us to portray Jesus accurately, and not create a veneer that will crack, and leave a post-modern generation walking away in search of something more authentic.

Honesty isn’t just the best policy, it’s the only policy if we want to build Churches and record music that will stand the test of time, and not leave people months or years later feeling like they’ve been sold a shady second hand car that broke down on their way home.

Anyone with me?

Follow Vicky at: http://vickybeeching.com/blog/