INCLUDE ME OUT
Do we really care about others?
This quote, "Include me out," is a concise way of expressing one's intentional exclusion or desire to not participate in a certain activity or situation. It implies a choice to distance oneself from or avoid being involved in something. By using this phrase, the speaker asserts their decision to opt out and not be included, emphasizing their preference to stay away from or be excluded from a specific matter. (Samuel Goldwyn)
Rev Colin Morris was born in Bolton Lancashire in 1929. He was a minister of the Methodist Church and was sent to Zambia, then known as Northern Rhodesia, in 1956.
The event that inspired his writing of this book “INCLUDE ME OUT” (he wrote it in one weekend), was that a Zambia man had dropped dead not a hundred yards from his front door. In his stomach they found a few leaves and what appeared to be a ball of grass.
He says, “It is pointless turning up the figures of the Methodist relief Fund or Christian Aid. He died without knowing that Jesus cared for him, not in a sentimental, spiritual way, but by the offer of a square meal. It just so happened that none of Jesus’ men were around to give it to him, so he died and Jesus died with him.” (page 51)
Colin Morris turns his anger onto the church, and himself as a minister of the church, largely because they had spent so much time debating trivia regarding unity, and hours of discussion of what was the acceptable way to dispose of the left-over elements from Communion, and did not spend sufficient time reaching out to the “little people” that Jesus loved and who needed the church desperately.
He said, “There are things happening in God’s world which are such an affront to His righteousness that we cannot always contain ourselves and so explode in frustration.” Pg8
‘INCLUDE ME OUT’ by Colin Morris 1975
My question is “What am I, what are we, what are the churches doing for those that are truly suffering in our world?”
FIND PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN YOU
We all need people who are a positive influence
Mark Twain said, ‘Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.’
Why does the bible say, ’Carry each other’s burdens?’ Because one person can only carry a burden so far on their own.
American novelist John Kennedy Toole quickly discovered that. As a young writer he worked alone writing a novel in New Orleans. When it was finished, he sent it to publisher after publisher, but they all turned him down. Overcome by rejection, he took his own life. Sometime after the funeral, his mother found a coffee-stained manuscript in the attic and took it to a professor at Louisiana State University who agreed to read it. Immediately he recognised its genius and recommended it to a major publisher. After its release, John Kennedy Toole’s novel, A Confederacy of Dunces, won a Pulitzer Prize and was heralded as one of the major novels of the twentieth century.
If only he had surrounded himself with friends who knew how to share his burden, encourage him when he faced rejection, and motivate him to keep going, his life would have turned out differently.
So, the word for you today is ‘Find people who believe in you’. Encourage and support them and welcome their support in return. Spend more time with those who sharpen you and make you better, and less time with those who drain your energy, time and talent. The truth is friends who speak encouragement into your life are priceless. Their words are ’Like apples of gold in settings of silver’ (Proverbs 25:11 NIV)
WRESTLING WITH GOD
Wise words from Nikos Kazantzakis (nominated for Nobel prize in literature 9 times, wrote books and plays – well-known one: “Zorba the Greek”)
In his memoir, Report to Greco, Nikos Kazantzakis shares this story: As a young man, he spent a summer in a monastery during which he had a series of conversations with an old monk. One day he asked the old monk: “Father, do you still do battle with the devil?” The old monk replied: “No, I used to, when I was younger, but now I have grown old and tired and the devil has grown old and tired with me. I leave him alone and he leaves me alone.” “So your life is easy then?” remarked Kazantzakis. “Oh no,” replied the monk, “it’s much worse, now I wrestle with God!”
There’s a lot contained in that remark – “I wrestle with God.” Among other things, it suggests that the struggles in later life can be very different than what we struggle with earlier on. In the normal pattern of things, we spend the first-half of our lives struggling with sensuality, greed, and sexuality, and spend the last half of our lives struggling with anger and forgiveness – and that anger is often, however unconsciously, focused on God. In the end, our real struggle is with God.
But wrestling with God has another aspect. It invites us to a certain kind of prayer. Prayer isn’t meant to be a simple acquiescence to God’s will. It’s meant to be an acquiescence, yes, but a mature acquiescence, come to at the end of a long struggle.
We see this in the prayer of the great figures in scripture: Abraham, Moses, Jesus, the apostles. Abraham argues with God and initially talks him out of destroying Sodom; Moses at first resists his call, protesting that his brother is better suited for the job; the apostles excuse themselves for a long time before finally putting their lives on the line; and Jesus gives himself over in the Garden of Gethsemane only after first begging his Father for a reprieve. As Rabbi Heschel puts it, from Abraham through Jesus we see how the great figures of our faith are not in the habit of easily saying: “Thy will be done!” but often, for a while at least, counter God’s invitation with: “Thy will be changed!”
Struggling with God’s will and offering resistance to what it calls us to can be a bad thing, but it can also be a mature form of prayer. The Book of Genesis describes an incident where Jacob wrestled with a spirit for a whole night and in the morning that spirit turned out to be God. What a perfect icon for prayer! A human being and God, wrestling in the dust of this earth! Doesn’t that accurately describe the human struggle?
We would do well to integrate this, the concept of wrestling with God, into our understanding of faith and prayer. We honor neither ourselves nor the scriptures when we make things too simple. Human will doesn’t bend easily, nor should it, and the heart has complexities that need to be respected, even as we try to rein in its more possessive longings. God, who built us, understands this and is up to the task of wrestling with us and our resistance.
The classical mystics speak of something they call “being bold with God”. This “boldness”, they suggest, comes not at the beginning of the spiritual journey, but more towards the end of it, when, after a long period of fidelity, we are intimate enough with God to precisely be “bold”, as friends who have known each other for a long time have a right to be. That’s a valuable insight: After you have been friends with someone for a long time, you can be comfortable with expressing your needs to him or her and in the context of a long, sustained relationship unquestioning reverence is not necessarily a sign of mature intimacy. Old friends, precisely because they know and trust each other, can risk a boldness in their friendship that younger, less mature, friendship cannot.
That is also true in our relationship with God. God expects that, at some point, we will kick against his will and offer some resistance. But we should lay out our hearts in honesty. Jesus did.
God expects some resistance. As Nikos Kazantzakis puts it:
The struggle between God and humans breaks out in everyone, together with the longing for reconciliation. Most often this struggle is unconscious and short-lived. A weak soul does not have the endurance to resist the flesh for very long. It grows heavy, becomes flesh itself, and the contest ends. But among responsible persons who keep their eyes riveted day and night upon the supreme duty, the conflict between flesh and spirit breaks out mercilessly and may last until death. The stronger the soul and the flesh, the more fruitful the struggle and the richer the final harmony. The spirit wants to have to wrestle with flesh which is strong and full of resistance. It is a carnivorous bird which is incessantly hungry; it eats flesh and, by assimilating it, makes it disappear.
ASSESSMENT OF COUPLE RELATIONSHIP
A marital health checkup
Every marriage relationship has a combination of strengths and growth points, and the key is to be able to identify them, and constructively work with them. We need to celebrate the strengths and develop the growth points.
Please fill in the questionnaire individually without discussion at this point.
Identify which you feel are strengths and which are growth areas, in your relationship. When you have identified these, select three strengths and three growth points, that are most important to you (be aware that your partner may have different ones)
a. Communication
Able to speak about issues and feelings. - Strength / Growth Point
b. Conflict resolution
Able to talk about problems and find solutions. - Strength / Growth Point
c. Financial matters.
Able to agree on budget and financial matters. - Strength / Growth Point
d. Personality and behaviour patterns
Able to accept differences and appreciate them. - Strength / Growth Point
e. Affection and sexuality
Able to be affectionate and able to discuss sexual issues. - Strengths/ Growth Point
f. Leisure activities
Able to have a good balance of activities together and apart. - Strength / Growth Point
g. Family and Friends
We are happy with our interaction with friends and family. - Strength / Growth Point
h. Decision making and responsibility roles
We are able to discuss issues and share responsibilities. - Strength / Growth Point
i. Spiritual beliefs
We are able to respect each other’s beliefs. - Strength / Growth Point
j. Children and parenting
We agree on issues relating to having and raising children. - Strength / Growth Point
After both have completed the questionnaire, set a time where both agree is conducive and comfortable to explore each other’s responses. (avoid times that are stressed)
Take turns in sharing what each perceived as your relationship strengths. Take turns in sharing one strength at a time until you each have explored three. Delight in these strengths.
In the same way share and discuss the growth areas. Avoid blaming, accusing or any negative approach. Try to understand the thoughts and feelings of each other.
Finally have a discussion around these questions:
Did any of your partner’s responses surprise you?
Which areas did mostly agree with each other?
Which areas did you struggle to understand or agree with each other?
Which area do both agree needs immediate attention?
Set a date for progress assessment Note: at all times be gentle with each other as it takes courage to express deep feelings.
After both have completed the questionnaire, set a time where both agree is conducive and comfortable to explore each other’s responses. (avoid times that are stressed)
Take turns in sharing what each perceived as your relationship strengths. Take turns in sharing one strength at a time until you each have explored three. Delight in these strengths.
In the same way share and discuss the growth areas. Avoid blaming, accusing or any negative approach. Try to understand the thoughts and feelings of each other.
Finally have a discussion around these questions:
Did any of your partner’s responses surprise you?
Which areas did mostly agree with each other?
Which areas did you struggle to understand or agree with each other?
Which area do both agree needs immediate attention?
Set a date for progress assessment
Note: at all times be gentle with each other as it takes courage to express deep feelings.
CONTENTMENT IN A CRAZY WORLD
In a restless world chasing more, discover the quiet strength of true contentment—rooted not in what we have, but in who holds us.
Are we truly content? Advertisements constantly capitalise on our discontent, promising transformation with one more purchase. Yet disappointment follows when the results fall short. Despite material possessions and opportunities, can we say people today are genuinely content?
The World as It Is
C.S. Lewis once described the world as “half prison, half 4-star hotel.” Those expecting a hotel grow bitter; those who see it as a prison are surprised at its comforts. Much depends on expectation. Some Christians believe faith should shield them from suffering, yet the symbol of our faith is a cross. If Christ himself endured pain and rejection, why should we expect a trouble-free life? As Willy Loman put it, “some things come with the territory.” Contentment requires recognising that life is a mixture of good and evil, and by God’s grace, even hardship can be redeemed into good.
Living One Day at a Time
Jesus taught, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself” (Matthew 6:34). Strength is given one day at a time. Like manna in the wilderness, we do not receive tomorrow’s supply today. William Ward advised: release yesterday with its failures, trust tomorrow with its promises, and embrace today with its blessings. Robert Louis Stevenson wrote that every person can endure until nightfall. The call is simple: live one day at a time.
What Is Within Matters Most
We cannot control our height, voice, or temperament, but we can choose the qualities that shape our inner environment. A young girl with polio once said, “Yes, this will colour my life—but I am going to choose the colour.” She chose hope, faith, and love instead of despair.
A novelist who was blind and going deaf replied, “If the world be closed without, I will sail the hidden seas within.” Her inner life was rich and expansive. The question remains: what seas do we have within? Some discovered this during isolation in the pandemic. For some, it was a season of reflection and creativity. For others, it was boredom and restlessness. As Paul wrote from prison, real peace is determined by what we allow into our hearts: “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
The Gift of Contentment
Contentment is not smug complacency but “having one’s desires limited to what one has, satisfied.” Like a thermostat, it is not shaped by external conditions but regulates and controls the temperature. Paul said he had learned the secret of being content in every circumstance: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). Rooted in Christ, Paul could face both abundance and need.
True peace is not found in the absence of trouble but in calmness of heart amid it. As Catherine Marshall illustrated in the story of the king who offered a prize to the artist who could paint the best picture of peace. It was not the calm lake that won, but the bird nesting peacefully behind a raging waterfall. That is real peace—the kind Paul knew, the kind rooted in God.
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
TODAYS JOKES
Todays three jokes
The boss of a big company needed to call one of his employees about an urgent problem with one of the main computers. He dialled the employees home telephone number and was greeted with a child’s whisper, "Hello?"
The boss asked, "Is your Daddy home?"
"Yes," whispered the small voice.
"May I talk with him?" the man asked.
To the boss’ surprise, the small voice whispered, "No."
The boss persisted, "Is your Mommy there?"
"Yes," came the answer.
"May I talk with her?"
Again, the small voice whispered, "No."
“Well, is there someone else there?" the boss asked the child.
"Yes," whispered the child, "a policeman."
"Well then, may I speak with the policeman?"
"No,” whispered the child “he is busy"
"Busy doing what?" asked the boss.
"Talking to Daddy and Mommy and the Fireman," came the whispered answer.
Now the boss was growing concerned and just then he heard what sounded like a helicopter through the ear piece on the phone, the boss asked, "What is that noise?"
"A hello-copper," answered the whispering voice.
Alarmed, the boss nearly shouted: "What is going on there?"
In an awed whispering voice, the child answered, "The search team just landed the hello-copper!"
"Why are they there?"
There was a muffled giggle as the child said, "They are looking for me!"
Last night I dreamt I had an identical twin. This morning when I woke up I was beside myself.
My wife asked me to put tomato paste on the shopping list. Now I cant read anything.
TODAYS JOKES
Two jokes to brighten your day
What the future will be like.
“Hello, is this Gordon’s pizza?”
“No sir, it’s Google’s pizza”
“Did I dial the wrong number?”
“No sir, Google bought the pizza store”
“Oh, alright then. I’d like to place an order please”
“Okay sir, do you want the usual?”
“The usual? You know what my usual is?”
“According to the caller ID, the last 15 times you’ve ordered a 12 slice with double cheese, sausage, and thick crust”
“Okay, that’s what I want this time too”
“Mass suggested that this time you order an 8 slice with ricotta, lettuce and tomato instead?”
“No, I hate vegetables”
“But your cholesterol is not good”
“How do you know?”
“Through the subscriber’s guide. We have the results of your blood tests for the last seven years”
“You know what, I’m sick of Google, Facebook Twitter And everyone else having all my information! I am going to an island without Internet, where there’s no mobile line and no one to spy on me!’
“I understand sir, but you may want to renew your passport… It expired five weeks ago”
A guy goes to his doctor because he can see into the future.
The doctor asks him, "How long have you suffered from that condition?"
The Guy tells him, "Since next Monday."
TODAYS JOKES
Fathers day jokes
I asked my dad what he wanted for Father’s Day.
He said, “For you to finally learn how to mow the lawn properly.”“Fatherhood: where sleep is optional, patience is tested, and dad jokes are compulsory.”
“Behind every great kid is a dad who’s pretty sure he’s messing it all up.”
“Happy Father’s Day to the man who taught me how to drive, but not how to parallel park.”
Why did the dad bring a ladder to the bar?
Because he heard the drinks were on the house.Why did the scarecrow win Father of the Year?
Because he was outstanding in his field.
ENTITLEMENT?
Standing up for our rights, or just jealousy?
From the age of about 4 years old when I sat in a Church (our parents sent us to Sunday School each Sunday) the sun shone through the stained-glass window and I was spell-bound. It was a deep spiritual experience, even though at the time I just loved the moment. Going to church was always part of my life, and I thank my parents for making sure that all four of us, me and my siblings (Katy, George and Marlene) went to Sunday School regularly. Later, as a teenager I re-dedicated my life to God and now at the age of 79 still deeply believe in the love of God and he wisdom of His commandments.
But today I was challenged by the thought of God’s grace that goes above and beyond ‘fairness’ or entitlement.
Jesus explained this principle in a parable (“a narrative of imagined events used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson/an allegory”) in Matthew 20:1-16 (a summary)
“A landowner goes out 5 times during the day to hire workers for his vineyard . At the end of the day, he gives them all the same pay. Naturally the ones who worked longer complained…(as we probably would have as well) .. But Jesus explains to them that he had not cheated any of them. They had agreed to work for that price. He added that as an employer... ”Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?”
The labourers were right, it wasn’t fair, it was better than ‘fair’ it was love and grace in action. If the grumpy labourer cared about his fellow-strugglers, he would have rejoiced in their good fortune…and they could celebrate together.
But I was sobered when, on reflection, I asked myself “Marge, where do you show this same sense of ‘entitlement’? I was mortified when I realised how judgemental I was…
All over the world people have been aware that they were more than flesh and blood and that there was a Higher Power. The difference was that each in their own culture, reached out to the Divine. Who was I to judge them, and I remembered, with horror, the “Holy” wars (there was nothing, and there is, nothing ‘holy’ about war). Jesus Himself said, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1)
We dimmish ourselves when we elevate ourselves to a higher position than others, rather than seeing ourselves as part of the human race, each trying to make sense of this life. Each aware, or still unaware, of the fact that we are more than just a body and that we have an inconsolable longing for a reuniting with our Creator.
WHEN WE STRUGGLE TO PRAY
Even the saints had their spiritual struggles
An insightful article I came across …”Silence and the love of Christ” by Mother Theresa of Calcutta, India.
“It is very hard to pray if one does not know how. We must help ourselves to learn. The most important thing is silence. Souls of prayer; are souls of deep silence. We cannot place ourselves directly in God’s presence without imposing on ourselves interior and exterior silence. That is why we must accustom ourselves to stillness of the soul, of the eyes, of the tongues.
God is the friend of silence. We need to find God, but we cannot find Him in noise, in excitement. In Psalm 46:10 we read “Be still and know that I am God”
See how nature, the trees, the flowers, the grass grow in deep silence.
The more we receive in our silent prayer, the more we can give in our active life.
Silence gives us a new way of looking at everything.
We need the silence in order to touch souls.
The essential thing is not what we say, but what God says to us and what He says through us.
ANCIENT CHRISTIAN GIANTS
Be inspired by these lives…
St Augustine (354-430)
Bishop of Hippo – great doctor of the Latin Church.
Born in North Africa, son of a pagan father and devout mother.
At the age of 16 went to Carthage to complete his education in law, became interested in philosophy and abandoned his Christian heritage. Offered a professorship in Rome where he founded his own school of rhetoric.
Came under the influence of Plato and St Ambrose. After a long inner struggle, again embraced the Christian faith.
Returned to Africa and formed a religious community and in 391 was ordained as a priest.
In 34 years in this monastic community he wrote a vast number of books. Wonderful theological insights.
Thomas a’ Kempis (1380-1471)
In 1399 at the age of 19 Thomas became a monk in the Augustinian monastery where he stayed all his life. He was made Superior (A superior is the leader or head of an 'order' of religious persons) in 1429. His outer life was not significant; he lived and died a simple monk.
His inner life was deep and rich- the lasting achievement was when he edited Gerhard Groote’s diary and out of it came “The Imitation of Christ”
Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)
Born of a noble family in Spain. Belonged to a long line of nobility – he participated in the revelry of the royalty- gambling, duelling, romance..
In 1517 he did service in the army and in May 1521 received a serious leg wound from a cannonball. He underwent several surgical operations which left his right leg shorter than the left leg. Returned to Loyola to recuperate, and had nothing to do, so he read. When he read the book ‘The Life of Christ’, (Vita Christi) by Ludolph of Saxony(1374), he was converted. He also read ‘The Imitation of Christ’ by Thomas a Kempis, and stories of St Francis.
He became determined to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, disposed of all his worldly goods, and clothed himself in sackcloth.
His ship was detained for a year in Manresa (a town in Spain) and here he wrote a large portion of “The Spiritual Exercises” (1522-1524). These exercises became the standard for Jesuit retreats and are still in use today.
DEVELOPING A REALISTIC SELF-IMAGE
We can always improve ourselves ...
To be a confident person we need to have a balanced view of ourselves, not an over-inflated ego, nor an inferior complex.
1. FACTORS THAT AFFECT OUR SELF-IMAGE:
Appearances, abilities (how we view ourselves),
Significant other’s view (parents, relatives, teachers, spouse, partner, friends, etc),
Environment (where we came from, social class, school, Uni. Etc.)
Achievements or Lack of achievements. Effect of success or failure, or perceived sin (Greek word for failure is ἁμαρτία, which means "to miss the mark" or "to err")
2. APPEARANCE:
Have we recently taken a good, unbiased look at ourselves in a mirror? Someone coined the phrase “warts and all”?
We need to set aside what other’s have said about our looks, that is their opinion not yours, forget the photo’s and the comparisons. Be realistic.
Our natural reaction is to focus on the negatives and, yes, that is necessary but note them on your “to-do” list e.g. “I really need a haircut” or “that colour does not suit me”. Etc
We can look at ourselves with interest, curiosity, and affirmation.. ”this is me, how can I be the best me?”
3. ABILITIES:
What have we achieved? The TV is filled with celebrities who have achieved great things, and we stand in danger of feeling that we have contributed nothing, Fame and fortune are not the criteria for achievement. These are to be applauded, yes, but there are other hugely significant achievements that are often not recognised. What about the parents, teachers, mentors etc. of the great achievers? Unrecognised, yet significant.
4. IMPROVING OURSELVES:
Don’t criticise yourself. Be kind, compassionate, caring and realistic about yourself.
Deal with guilt. This is the prime source of self-condemnation. Note the wisdom from the bible “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purity us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9) Let it go with the determination to do better.
Acknowledge your successes and have gratitude for those who contributed to your success.
Face the future with excited anticipation.
Don’t be afraid to call on God for help (remember when the disciple Peter tried to walk on water? On his own he was sinking but with the help of Jesus he could do the impossible…walk on water!))
Realise that nothing can separate, you and I, from the love of God. (Romans 8:37-39) and develop a personal relationship with God. He is our loving Heavenly Father. God knew us and formed us before our birth (Psalm 139) God loves and values us (John 3:16, Romans 5:7 & 8)
God has plans for us (Ephesians 1:3-5)
God has an aim for our lives (John 13:34 & 35)
THE IMPORTANCE OF A FATHER’S LOVE
“From prisons to playgrounds, stories reveal the profound power of a father’s love—and how God heals where it has been lost.”
Few bonds shape life more deeply than that between father and child. A father’s role is more than providing or disciplining; it is presence, encouragement, and love. John Sanford, priest and psychoanalyst, found that children with poor relationships with their fathers, struggled broadly in life. His conclusion: money is not enough—fathers must give themselves.
The Absent Father
Karl Faus, a prison minister, observed that nearly all inmates he served had never known a father’s love. One story tells of handmade cards selling out for Mother’s Day, but none for Father’s Day. Psychologists note that children deprived of a father’s presence often face brokenness—behavioural struggles, addictions, or crime. While some rise above this, often thanks to others stepping in, the void remains profound.
The Supportive Father
In contrast, fathers who are engaged bring stability and confidence. Their support is not about simply being present but being involved—cheering, teaching, listening.
Brooks Adams once wrote in his diary: “Went fishing with my dad, greatest day of my life.” His father’s entry on the same day read: “Went fishing with my son, day wasted.” What was priceless for one was trivial to the other. Children long for their father’s presence in everyday life; nothing else can replace it.
God’s Solution
Earthly fathers are imperfect—some absent, others hurtful. Yet Scripture shows that God steps in. Through Christ, we are adopted into His family, given a perfect Father who never fails. Paul declares: “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Even for those scarred by an earthly father, God’s love brings healing and hope.
But this truth is hard for many to grasp. One woman, deeply wounded by her father, could not call God “Father” until Christ restored her view of Him. That is why fathers today bear such responsibility—to reflect, however dimly, the love of the Heavenly Father.
Two Conclusions
1. It’s Never Too Late. Regret is common: “I should have… I was too busy…” But every moment is a chance to start again. As George MacDonald wrote, each present moment is sacred.
2. Respond to God’s Love. We love because He first loved us. His love is not earned by what we achieve but given freely, here and now. Fathers are able to love, because they were loved.
A Final Story
A young cricketer, grieving his blind father’s death a day before a major test match, chose to play. His father had never missed a match. That day he scored his first century. Asked how, he said: “This was the first match my father saw me play.”
Such is the power of a father’s love. It shapes identity, memory, and future. May fathers reflect God’s love faithfully—and may those who lacked it find in Him a Father who never fails.
OUR THOUGHTS MATTER
Our thoughts shape who we are….
(from the book by James Allen “As a man thinketh”)
As I read James Allen’s book “As a man thinketh” (I guess if he wrote it today the title might be “as a person thinketh”) I was struck by these words; “A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts.”
A noble character the result of “natural effort of continued effort in right thinking”.
An Ignoble character the result of “the continual harbouring of grovelling thoughts”.
We make, or break, ourselves through our thoughts.
How would you, and I, rate our thoughts?
Creative / destructive?
Joyful / depressed?
Peaceful/ anxious?
Acceptance/regret?
Past issues Positive/ Negative
Current issues Positive/Negative
My comment, “We have the power, the ability to re-align our thoughts.
It may begin with a dialogue with ourselves;
“Why are you downcast, O my soul” ? - Psalm 43 verse 5
Our mind is like a garden – we need to:
Weed out the weeds of wrong, useless and impure thoughts. By pursuing this we discover we are more able to control and direct our lives.
“Just as a gardener cultivates his/her plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruit…” So too we need to tend our ‘thought garden’ by taking a good, honest look at ourselves, and making positive changes.
Thought and character are linked “As a man/woman thinketh in his/her heart, so is he/she” - Proverbs 23:7 King James bible
Scripture confirms the importance of our thoughts: “Finally brothers and sisters, whatsoever is true, whatsoever is honourable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if anything is excellent, and if anything is praiseworthy, think about these things.” - Philippians 4:8
OLD AGE
A realistic and humorous look at ageing.
What is Old Age? I am 78 years old, but I do not feel ‘old’ EXCEPT of course when I happen to see myself in the mirror!
However, I do recognize the reality in this stage of development which is defined as integrity vs despair. When I considered the concept of despair, I found it related primarily to times when I experienced loss of meaning. This happens thoughout our lives however, it is intensified as we grow older. I experienced this when I lost the meaningful work of my career, I struggle with the loss of physical ability to do certain things, and the sense of uselessness- inability to make meaningful contributions in society. Also, the narrowness of life that seems to be the norm in the aged. I would die of despair if my days consisted of tea parties and watching TV.
How do we deal with this? Can we maintain meaning in our lives to the very end? I believe we can.
We first need to recognize that ‘meaning’ will change shape throughout our lives. My first task was to SEE meaning in my existence. Search for it, name it. But also, the important task of CREATING meaning in my life. I may not be able to climb Mount Everest, but I can write about mountain top experiences I have had, I will never be a concert pianist, but I can appreciate music. My advice to the younger generation, and us oldies, is : Carpe Diem (seize the day). So let us.. see meaning/create meaning.
This is a funny poem I wrote on ageing……
“They say it should be fun, but so often we just feel glum!
They say it’s good to retire, but it’s just about waiting to expire!
People around us all have cares, looking at growing old gives us nightmares.
We meet to cheer each other up. But all we do is compare conditions-
Who has the most debilitating situations!
Our world gets smaller- a trip to the supermarket enthrals us.
We wander through to pick and choose and definitely avoid the booze!
Another outing is to the doctor- Whoopee! A captive audience for a few dollars,
we speak of our aches and pains, but nothing said or done brings us any gains.
The greatest delight that brings us light, is the love of family so young and bright-
Their lives are full and energy flows, but they too have their woes..
They lift our lives and give us meaning, saves us from a fit of screaming.
But God is good, He’s always there, takes us deeper beyond the care.
I guess Old Age is really OK – and that’s all I have to say.”
Marge Stathakis
WHO IS JESUS OF NAZARETH?
An interesting question….
Definitions:
Definition in: Macquarie Pocket Dictionary (1998): Christ 1. “ The anointed, the Messiah expected by the Jews.” 2. “Jesus of Nazareth: As fulfilling the expectation”
Definition: www.dictionary.com (2022). Also called Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth. Born 4? BC, crucified AD 29?, the source of the Christian religion.
Definition in: The Concise Oxford Dictionary (1990): “an expression of surprise, dismay” etc. (name of the founder of the Christian religion d.c. AD 30)”
Interjection: Sometimes Offensive. (used as an oath or strong expression of disbelief, dismay, awe, disappointment, pain, etc.)
The definitions ranges from a swear-word to a sacred deity.
After watching the movie ‘Avatar’ I was contemplating the concept and said to my son, “Can’t we see God as an Avatar of God?”
AVATAR: Definition in: The Concise Oxford Dictionary (1990)
In Hindu mythology: “the descent of a deity or released soul to earth in bodily form”
Incarnation, manifestation.
A manifestation or phase.
Jesus asked His disciples “Who do men say that I am?” (Mark 8:27) Then he asked them “But who do you say that I am? ” (Mark 8:27-30)
This is the question that we are faced with in this modern era.
We have amazing insights into the immense universe, science has made leaps on bounds in expanding our knowledge.
However, we are more than matter, more than our cognitive abilities, and as St Augustine said, “Our souls are restless until they find their rest in Thee”
Can we imagine the dilemma of our Heavenly Father, looking at us and saying, “You don’t get it! There is more to you than material matter, I have sent an Avatar of myself to tell you. I do this because I love you and you still don’t get it!”
PRAYING IN SILENCE
“Be still and know that I am God”
There is a form of prayer that I learned from Fr Thomas Keating, a Monk who came to visit South Africa from America, a number of years ago. It is called Centering Prayer and is basically a silent prayer. We were taught to choose a phrase, or a word, to still the internal dialogues in our minds. Whenever we found our thoughts wandering into various issues we could use this word, or phrase to bring us back to internal stillness. The one I chose was “be still and know that I am God”
This type of prayer is called “Centering Prayer”. We aim to focus on being open to God and not distracted by anything. We were also taught not to exceed this prayer beyond twenty minutes. I found it hard enough to be disciplined for those twenty minutes!
These are the instructions we were given: -Find a place where you will be undisturbed for approximately 20-30min.
Find a comfortable, upright posture.
Set your alarm to ring after 20 minutes, or less when you begin this form of prayer. Do not exercise this prayer for longer than 20 minutes. You could start with 10 minutes and build up to 20 minutes.
Deal with noises and distractions e.g. barking dog, by imaging that you are sitting on the bottom of the ocean or on a high mountain…. Let the noise, etc, float over you like a ship is the ocean, or a plane in the air.
Spend a few moments capturing and letting go of thoughts. Thoughts are an integral part of who we are, but say, “Not now” when doing Centering Prayer. Also deal with emotions in the same way.
What happens in this stillness is beyond thought, plans, petitions etc. It is a ‘soul journey’ beyond thought.
Choose a phrase that you can repeat to bring yourself back to stillness e.g. “Be still and know that I am God” or “Peace in the presence of God”.
Realize that it is not easy, especially in the beginning. We need to teach ourselves the skill of being still.
At the end of 20 min., in closing, you can say the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), or any phrase that will be an ‘Amen’ to this time of quiet prayer.
Occasionally, try this form of prayer, as another way of praying e.g. once a week.
IT’S ALL ABOUT CHOICES
Regardless of your poor choices, God offers a fresh start
As the saying goes, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Swapping items is a clever way of gaining something new without spending a cent. You might not always have full control over what you get in return, but that’s part of the adventure. Sometimes, you could even end up with something far more valuable than what you gave away.
Take, for example, the young man who advertised his hi-fi system, willing to swap it for an engagement ring. He had invested time and money into building a collection of records and enjoying his sound system, but falling in love meant he was willing to trade it all for a diamond ring. Why? Because it’s a question of values.
We see this every day. People drive past council clean-up piles, spotting treasures among discarded items. What’s worthless to one is priceless to another. But this principle of trading applies far beyond furniture and appliances—it’s true of life itself.
Jesus put it plainly: “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Matthew 16:26).
We can swap our character, peace of mind, or family harmony in pursuit of career success, wealth, or pleasure. A young executive embezzles funds for quick gain and loses everything. A young man rides drunk with a friend on his motorbike, crashes, and pays the ultimate price. A family once rich in faith exchanges Sundays at church for longer work hours and higher pay, only to find their home life crumbling.
Tragically, we often trade what matters most for things that cannot satisfy. And when we realise what we’ve lost, it’s too late—we have nothing left to give in exchange.
But there is good news.
God Has Provided a Way Out
God knows our weakness. He knows how easily we’re misled. That’s why He sent Jesus, who offers forgiveness and a fresh start.
The woman caught in adultery was dragged before Jesus, with her accusers ready to stone her. Yet Jesus disarmed them with one sentence: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7). One by one, they walked away. Jesus then said to her, “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Jesus gives second chances. He offers us forgiveness, renewal, and the power to live differently.
With God, All Things Are Possible
On our own, breaking free from destructive patterns can feel impossible. But Jesus reminds us, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26).
At the heart of life are the choices we make. What are we trading our time, energy, and hearts for? Is it worth it?
Even now, God stands ready to help us make better choices—choices that bring life, not loss.
“You do not have, because you do not ask God.” James 4:2
TODAYS JOKES
Two grave jokes to brighten your day
LOST THE PLOT
As a bagpiper, I play many places. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Kentucky back country.
As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost and, being a typical man, I didn't stop for directions.
I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch.
I felt bad and apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn't know what else to do, so I started to play.
And as I played 'Amazing Grace,' the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together. When I finished I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full.
As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, “I never seen nothin' like that before and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years.”
Apparently, I'm still lost...
MOTIVATION
A fellow was making his way home after spending an evening at the local bar. His way home was normally through the back of a church cemetery. As he was making his way in the dark, he fell into an open grave which had been prepared for the funeral the following day.
Unable to escape, he chose to wait until morning. Shortly afterwards another fellow came along and fell into the same grave. He too tried to get out.
After a few moments, the first fellow said to him, “welcome to my pad.” With that, the second fellow shot out of the grave and ran home. That’s called motivation.
A LOVER’S QUARREL WITH THE WORLD
Are our quarrels lover’s quarrels?
What does ‘ A lover’s quarrel’ mean?
There are two elements he mentions:-(a) It is a quarrel (‘an occasion of complaint against a person or a person’s actions),Dissatisfaction, our restlessness with things as they are and our sense of what they may be.
(b) It is a lover’s quarrel - for example; we get angry with ourselves but we don’t give up on ourselves.
Often our quarrels with other’s are not a lover’s quarrel. We write them off because of some miss behaviour. Jesus said, “Love your neighbour, as you love yourself” ... a lover’s quarrel.
Make sure your quarrel with the Church is a lover’s quarrel. We can criticize the church for its many failures but still see it’s great value. In Monica Furlong’s book “With love to the Church” she expresses her love for the church but called the Church to task for a number of things e.g. ‘”slow to celebrate, for being narrow, unkind and unworthy”. The Church has many imperfections, however, “Thank God for those people who, in spite of the imperfections of the church, encounter Christ there, and are made Christ-like by Him”
By Maurice Boyd