A Soldier’s Prayer Before Dying

This poem was found upon the body of a dead American soldier on the battlefield…

Look God-

I have never spoken to you

But now I want to say, “How do you do?’

You see God they told me you didn’t exist

And like a fool, I believed all this.

Last night from a shell-hole I saw your sky

I figured right then that they told me a lie

Had I taken time to see things you made

I’d have known they weren’t calling “a spade a spade.”

I wonder God, if you’d shake my hand

Somehow I feel that you will understand.

Funny I had to come to this place

Before I had time to see your face!

Well, I guess there isn’t much more to say

I’m sure the zero hour will soon be here

But I’m not afraid since I know you’re near.

The signal! Well, God I’ll have to go

I like you lots, this I want you to know.

Look now, this will be a horrible fight

Who knows, I may come to your house to-night,

Though I wasn’t friendly with you before

I wonder God,,if you’d wait at your door?

Look I’m crying! Me! Shedding tears

I wish I had known you these many years!

Well, I have to go now, God, Goodbye…

Strange, since I met you – I’m not afraid to die.

Four Pointers to a More Positive Life

1.      POSITIVE CHANGE THROUGH CONTEMPLATION

Positive change cannot happen without careful consideration of all the factors.

Questions to consider; What do I want to change?  Why do I want to change it?  How long have I struggled with it?  Will it not resolve itself? Why have I not changed it e.g. fear of consequences, uncertainty about the ensuing changes will bring? What change would I like to make and is it realistic?

2.      ATTITUDE

Sometimes, but not always, we can change the negatives in our lives by changing our attitude. We need to ask ourselves; “Where do I stand on the “thought-o-meter?” Do I catastrophise (lean towards the negative …”What if?”), or,  am I a “Pollyanna” ? (a smile, “I’m OK” no matter what the circumstances, but aching inside).  How realistic am I in my thinking?

Perhaps some quiet, inner reflection is necessary to discern why we are not having a positive life.. ”Why are you downcast, O my soul?” (Psalm 42:11)

3.      IDENTIFYING OUR EMOTIONAL HEALTH

A good place to start is to identify our emotional status. Do I lean towards the negative? For example - hatred, self-hatred e.g. “ why am I so weak?”, anger, jealousy, rage, intolerance, selfishness, self-pity ,resentment, unforgiveness, critical spirit…etc OR Am I a Pollyanna, oozing joy and contentment? 

Have I got unresolved, painful, issues in my life?

E.g. grief as in the loss of a loved one is part of life and this can come in many forms- through death, unfaithfulness, divorce, broken relationships. Painful costly failures e.g. business ventures . Unresolved health issues, and debilitating chronic physical pain etc

Ask yourself “Am I carrying any residual pain, consciously or sub-consciously?” What can I do to release myself from this?

Realistically, we all struggle with positives and negatives in our lives. The difference is how we handle these emotions.

4.      SOME POSITIVE POINTERS:

4.1  Take some personal time as you ask yourself some questions e.g. “What am I feeling right now?”  / “Am I normally happy, content OR is there an underlying sadness? / Do I allow various concerns or worries fill my thoughts? / Do I have joyful memories? Am I excited about the future, or, fear it?  You give dignity to yourself by acknowledging your authentic feelings remembering that no feeling is sinful…but what we do as a result can have negative or positive, results.

4.2  Recognise that you are not a helpless victim of circumstances. I love the prayer for serenity…”Lord, give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, to change the things I can, and, the wisdom to know the difference”

4.3  Take positive steps to deal with difficult, painful issues… our emotional life is like our physical issues. Sometimes we need inner healing so that we can move forward.

Some years ago, I spoke to a lady who had lost her beloved husband in death. Her home was a shrine to him even though he had passed many years before. She could not move forward. Grief is normal but prolonged grief  is unnatural. In my passing I would understand my dear ones grief but it would trouble me greatly if they were ‘stuck’ in grief and did not recall all the wonderful times we had together.

4.4  Realistically, to expect a pain-free life is unrealistic. I love the words of Jesus, He said,

 “ In this world you will have trouble, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome this world” (John 16:33)

A Simple Smile

Every morning I go for a walk down to the beach, and on my way I pass people walking their dogs, who are with their partners, or who are alone. Many of them will greet me with a ‘hi mate’ or ‘good morning’ or just a hand wave. However, many will walk past without any sort of acknowledgment that I am there. I am invisible to them.

 In South Africa there is a greeting that the Zulu’s use, namely “Sawubona’. It means ‘I see you’. It is more than just a polite phrase. ‘Sawubona’ carries the deeper meaning of recognising each person’s worth and dignity.  ‘I see you’, (meaning, you are valuable to me.)

What a difference it makes when one is acknowledged, greeted with a cheerful good morning, or even just a lovely smile. One is never fully aware of what others are going through at that given moment, so any acknowledgment can bless their day.

So, when I came across the following poem, sent to me by a friend, I decided to include it under Costa’s Corner.

                 SMILE

Smiling is infectious
You catch it like the flu
When someone smiled at me today
I started smiling too. 

I walked around the corner
And someone saw my grin
When he smiled I realized
I'd passed it on to him. 

I thought about that smile
And then I realized its worth
A single smile, just like mine
Could travel round the earth. 

So, if you feel a smile begin
Don't leave it undetected
Let's start an epidemic
And get the world infected        

A Poem by Spike Milligan

Jokes

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A woman was walking along the beach when she stumbled upon a Genie's lamp. She picked it up and rubbed it, and lo-and-behold a Genie appeared. The amazed woman asked if she was going to receive the usual three wishes.
The Genie said, "Nope ... due to inflation, constant downsizing, low wages in third-world countries, and fierce global competition, I can only grant you one wish. So ... what'll it be?"

The woman didn't hesitate. She said, "I want peace in the Middle East. See this Map? I want these countries to stop fighting with each other."
The Genie looked at the map and exclaimed, "Gadzooks, lady! These countries have been at war for thousands of years. I'm good, but not THAT good! I don't think it can be done. Make another wish."

The woman thought for a minute and said, "Well, I've never been able to find the right man. You know, one that's considerate and fun, likes to cook and helps with the housecleaning, is good in bed and gets along with my family, doesn't watch sports all the time, and is faithful. That's what I wish for ... a good mate."

The Genie let out a long sigh and said, "Let me see that Raddy map!"

---

My Dad and I were talking the other night about love and marriage. He told me that he knew as early as their wedding what marriage to my mum would be like.
The way he tells it, the minister asked my mum, "Do you take this man to be your husband." And she said, "I do."
Then the minister asked my dad, "Do you take this woman to be your wife," and my mum said, "He does."

---

She had a wedding to go to, and needed a wedding gift. 
"Aha," she thought, "I have that monogrammed silver tray from my wedding that I never use.  I'll just take it to a silversmith and have him remove my monogram and put hers on it.  Voila, one cheap wedding present."
 
She took it to the silversmith and asked him to remove her monogram and put the new one on. 
 
The silversmith examined the tray carefully, shook his head and said, "Lady, this can only be done so many times!"

---

The Absence of God

I am sure that we all have experienced the absence of God in our lives. I have experienced this many times in my life, it is a lonely, desolate place.

Lewis Smedes eloquently addresses this in his book “When Goes on Leave of Absence”. He says this “If you have lived as long as I have, you have probably found yourself, now and then, in deep trouble and you asked God to help and He did not seem to hear. You knocked at His door and nobody was home. Gone on vacation. Heaven was silent.”

Let’s take a look at some places in the Bible where God was ‘absent’  -

In the Old Testament:

1. In the Garden of Eden when Satan tempts Eve to eat from the forbidden fruit.

2. Israelites enslaved in Egypt.

3. Years of wandering in the desert.

4. King David’s moral lapse.

In the New Testament:

1. Birth of Jesus- Joseph and Mary had to flee to Egypt because Herod wanted to kill Jesus. Many babies were slaughtered.

2. The error of the Jewish religious practices e.g. the unscrupulous money-changers.

3. The temptations of Jesus…. Satan’s voice “change the stones into bread.” Etc. (Matthew 4:1-11)

4. The cry of Mary, the sister of Lazarus. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:32)

5. The agonized cry of Jesus on the cross; “My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27 v 46).  Also, King David, one of the most beloved writers in the entire bible, in the very first verse of Psalm 22, asks the same question.

You and I may have felt like asking the same question sometime in our lives: My God, my God, why, why have You abandoned me?

Two possible conclusions:

A. Like a mother or father teaching their toddler to walk would, at some point let go of the toddler’s hand so that they can build the confidence in themselves.

B.  That God is never actually absent, but that we are expecting something different from God.

There are probably many more reasons, perhaps take some time to meditate on this….

A Prayer For Those Who Live Alone and Feel Alone

I live alone, dear Lord,
Stay by my side.
In all my daily needs.
Be Thou my Guide.

Grant me good health.
For that indeed, I pray,
To carry on my work
From day to day.

Keep pure my mind,
My thoughts, my every deed.
Let me be kind, unselfish
In my neighbour’s need.

Spare me from fire, from flood,
Malicious tongues
From thieves, from fear,
And evil ones.

In sickness of
An accidental befall,
Then humbly, Lord, I pray,
Hear Thou my call.

And when I’m feeling low,
Or in despair,
Lift up my heart,
And help me in my prayer. 

I live alone, dear Lord,
Yet have no fear,
Because I feel Your presence
Ever near.  Amen.

(Author unknown)

Story of a miraculous re-uniting

Here is a summary of Marcel Steinberg’s incredible story-----

After visiting a friend, he boarded a Manhattan-bound subway for his Fifth Avenue office…he happened to sit next to a man and was struck by the features of the passenger on his left. The man was probably in his late 30s, and when he glanced up, Marcel saw that his eyes seemed to have a hurt expression in them. The man was reading a Hungarian-language newspaper, and something prompted Marvel to say in Hungarian, “I hope you don’t mind if I glance at your paper.”

The man seemed surprised to be addressed in his native language. But he answered politely, “You may read it now. I’ll have time later on.”

During the journey they had quite a conversation. Marcel learned that the man’s name was Bela Paskin and that he was a law student when World War II started, he had been put into a German labour battalion and sent to the Ukraine. Later he was captured by the Russians and put to work burying the German dead. After the war, he covered hundreds of miles on foot until he reached his home in Debrecen, a large city in eastern Hungary. He immediately went to the apartment where his family had lived. He was told that his whole family, including his wife had been sent to Auschwitz, the death camp, by the Nazis. He was devastated and felt he could not remain in Hungary and travelled to France and managed to immigrate to the United States in October 1947, just three months before he met Marcel.

Marcel remembered listening to the struggle of a young woman that he met who had been sent to Auschwitz; from there she had been transferred to work in a German munitions factory. Her relatives had been killed in the gas chambers. Later she was liberated by the Americans and was brought to America in the first boatload of displaced persons in 1946.

Marcel felt It impossible that there could be any connection between these two people, but asked, “Was your wife’s name Marya?”

He turned pale. “Yes!” he answered. “How did you know?” Paskin looked as if he were about to faint.

They got off the train and Marcel found a phone booth and called a number. He recalled “It seemed hours before Marya Paskin answered.

When he heard her voice at last, he told her who he was and asked her to describe her husband. She seemed surprised at the question but gave Marcel a description. Then he asked her where she had lived in Debrecen, and she told the address.

Marcel asked her to hold the line, then turned to Paskin and said, “Did you and your wife live on such-and-such a street?”

“Yes!” Bela exclaimed. He was white as a sheet and trembling.

“Try to be calm,” Marcel urged him. “Something miraculous is about to happen to you. Here, take this telephone and talk to your wife!”

He nodded his head in mute bewilderment, his eyes bright with tears. He took the receiver, listened a moment to his wife’s voice, then suddenly cried, “This is Bela! This is Bela!” and he began to mumble hysterically. Seeing that the poor fellow was so excited he couldn’t talk coherently, Marcel took the receiver from his shaking hands and said to Marya, “Stay where you are I am sending your husband to you. We will be there in a few minutes.”,”

Putting Paskin into a taxicab, I directed the driver to take him to Marya’s address, paid the fare, and said goodbye.

Bela Paskin’s reunion with his wife was a moment so poignant, so electric with suddenly released emotion, that afterward neither he nor Marya could recall much about it.

“I remember only that when I left the phone, I walked to the mirror like in a dream to see if maybe my hair had turned grey,” she said later. “The next thing I know, a taxi stops in front of the house, and it is my husband who comes toward me. Details I cannot remember; only this I know—that I was happy for the first time in many years.....”

(Paul Deutschman, “Great Stories Remembered”, edited and compiled by Joe L. Wheeler WW2)

The Management Methods of Jesus

By Bob Briner

1. Have a plan

2. Be prepared

3. Choose your own associates

4. To fill a key spot, pull out all the stops

5. Teach, teach, teach

6. Practice private communication

7. Establish authority

8. Insist on absolutes

9. Watch your timing

10. Handle corruption immediately

11. Don’t sugar coat

12. Get away from it all

13. Field test your staff

14. Practice good relations

15. Get good logistical support

16. Learn a little humility

17. Share the glory

18. Say “thanks”

19. Stay in touch with real people 

20. Be responsive

21. Don’t neglect public speaking

22. Prepare for tough times

23. Set priorities 

24. Beware of sycophants

25. Be a servant 

26. Learn how to rebuke

27. Be a fruit inspector

28. Stop worrying

29. Avoid grandstand plays

30. Be fair to all

31. Be a risk taker

32. Take care of the children

33. Pay your taxes

34. Let your results speak for you

35. Don’t cast your pearls before the swine

36. Be an inspirational leader

37. Prune for productivity

38. Don’t try to serve two masters

39. Remain calm in the storm

40. Settle disputes quickly

41. Evaluate constantly

42. Share corporate lore

43. Take the narrow path

44. Serve families

45. Stand up for your people

46. Prepare for your success

47. Cut your losses

48. Eat with the troops

49. Discourage position jockeying

50. Enjoy your work.

What gifts are you carrying into 2025?

As we enter 2025, we carry with us the uncertainty and fragility that have defined recent times, marked by troubles, like natural disasters and global conflicts. Yet, in the midst of this upheaval, we are reminded of the transformative presence of Jesus, "Emmanuel," who disrupts not with death, but with the promise of life in its fullness. As we reflect on this holy season and face an unwritten future, we are challenged to consider what we  intentionally pack for the journey ahead, embracing faith, hope, and purpose.

What are we packing in our travel bags for 2025.

The Magi in search of the new king born packed the normal items -- toothbrushes, star maps, tents, food. But they safely tucked away gifts of value.  They were aware they were traveling to meet the king.

These were not just indiscriminate, random gifts…each had special significance because each symbolized a special attribute of our Lord Jesus.

1. THE GIFT OF GOLD

Gold is the king of metals.  By bringing gold to Jesus they were acknowledging that He is a King.  If we acknowledge that He is king of our lives -- we are saying that everything we are -- everything we have -- belongs to Him.

What does that imply? That if God is king -- He must have first place in everything. Our decisions, work, homes, marriages, time, talent and our treasure.

“But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

2. THE GIFT OF FRANKINCENSE

Frankincense is a fragrant perfume and represents our inner being.

Thoughts-devotion-emotions.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name. Bow down to the Lord in the splendour of holiness. Psalm 29:2

This speaks about our spirituality

The Prophet Micah asks:- “With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted Lord.”?  Micah 6:6

If we are defined by what we own – that’s real poverty.

Frankincense symbolizes what is within a person. It is the fragrance of our spirituality?

Who we are, when nobody’s looking?  What fills our mind and thoughts when we’re alone?

 “as a man thinketh so is he” Proverbs 23:7

3. THE GIFT OF MYRRH

Myrrh is a bitter spice used for EMBALMING a body before burial.

It represents a picture of sorrow and suffering.

This is the supreme gift.  But strangely, it is the hardest gift to give because it is so costly.

The reason why sorrow hardens one person, and melts another, is just that one person keeps the sorrows internally, and the other offers it to God.

People generally can't face the pain of the world. Because it's too costly, you see. They strive to be blissfully unaware of the suffering in the world.

Carrying this gift takes something from you-it costs.

It involves our emotions as we become aware of their suffering – it can break our hearts.

It moves us into action using our talents. Takes time and effort.

It may mean sharing what we have with them. 

“If any of you wants to be my follower,’ Jesus told them,’ you must put aside your own pleasures and shoulder your cross, and follow me closely.” Mark 8 : 34 (LB)

How do we include that gift in our travel pack? By equipping ourselves to stand alongside people.

These are the gifts of the Magi that were so preciously tucked away in their travel bags.

Finally, packing for 2025 is the beginning of a lifelong journey-we need to be careful what we pack.

The bottom line is actually:-

If we acknowledge that Jesus is Lord, we will want to bring Him our costliest gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

How would that translate for you and I?

What will make our lives more meaningful in 2025? More money? More entertainment? More possessions? We are more than all of these! We need to turn to our Lord and Saviour and offer God our gifts.

My challenge to us:-

To trust God and put Him first in our lives whatever the new year brings.

A NEW YEAR PRAYER.

O Lord, we pray for your Spirit to lead us each step of the way this New Year. We ask that You guide our decisions and turn our hearts to deeply desire You above all else. We ask that You open doors needing to be opened and close the ones needing to be shut tight. We ask for help to pursue you first, above every dream and desire You’ve put within our hearts.

Shine your light in us, through us, over us. May we make a difference in this world, for your glory and purposes. Set your way before us. May Your kingdom come, and Your will be done in and through our lives. May we reflect your peace and hope to a world that so desperately needs your presence and healing.

To You be glory and honour, in this New Year, and always. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

New Year’s Jokes

---

A woman from the feminist movement asked this radical question:-

Have you ever imagined what would have happened if there had been three wise women instead of three wise men at the Epiphany?

1. They would have asked for directions to the stable locally instead of going to Herod.

2. They would have arrived on time and helped deliver the baby

3. They would have cleaned the stable and brought practical gifts for the family to eat – like a casserole.

4. And there would have been peace on earth!”

---

Why did the skeleton go to the New Year party alone?
Because he had no body to go with.

---

I named my dog ‘Happy New Year.’
When I call him in every night, the neighbors think I’ve lost my mind.

---

On New Year’s Eve, a man who has had too much to drink decides to walk home.
A police officer stopped the individual and inquired as to his destination.
“I’m on my way to a lecture,” said the man.
“Who gives lectures on New Year’s Eve?” mocked the officer.
“My wife,” the man replied.

What if Jesus Was Never Born?

Our eldest son had, and has, a very enquiring mind. His frequent question when he was young was    ”What if…?”

Many, many questions.

Today I ask the question…..  What if Jesus was never born?

Here are some of my thoughts and you can add yours: -

1. We would think that God is judgemental, demanding, punishing, distant, and only for the Jews.

2. We would not know the inclusiveness of God…” For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son…” John 3:16

3. We would not experience the releasing power of sins forgiven. We don’t have to live with the burden of guilt!

4. We would not have the incredible, wholesome ,life-giving  teachings of Jesus;

   • He taught us to love one another, as He loved us.

   • He taught us the value of all people, creatures and nature.

   • He commanded us to forgive.

   • Incredible ‘wisdom’ teaching e.g. Sermon on the Mount

   • His proclamation about eternal life.  ”In my Father’s house there are many mansions and I go to prepare a place for you..”

Read more in Bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)

Making Christmas a Real Celebration

What was/is your experience of Christmas? This would be very different in the different parts of the world, for instance, as a child living in South Africa I could never understand why the Christmas cards always had pictures of snow. I had never even seen snow!

What I really came to appreciate is the family gatherings we had to celebrate Christmas. In my family of origin my Dad always cooked an awesome leg of mutton and my Mother made lovely deserts and decorated the dinner table. The tradition in Costa’s family was to have a barbeque at a picnic venue with a compulsory cricket competition after lunch. I loved, and love, the Christmas Church Services. The joy, the wonder, the timeless message …                                                    

“for God so loved the world that He gave His son..” (John 3:16)

Sadly, much of the real meaning, the real joy of Christmas has been hi-jacked by the commercial world. The shopkeepers probably say “What a friend we have in Jesus”…. As they count the takings of the days leading up to Christmas. Buying gifts to celebrate the greatest gift of all is good but it has over-shadowed the real meaning.

Perhaps a good question to ask is, “How can we re-capture the real joy of Christmas?”

• One essential factor is to actually, and practically, remember what we are  celebrating! And to teach our children the meaning of Christmas and why we give gifts.

• If you are a Church-goer, attend the Christmas Service as a priority. If you are not a Church-goer, celebrate in your own way, but always remember what the celebration is about. It is about God’s way of showing how much He values His creation through the life and death of His son.

• Also, perhaps we could consider how to extract ourselves from the commercialisation of Christmas. How can we teach our children that it is not just a time to be spoiled with too many gifts?

• We spend too much, we eat too much, we even drink too much….I think we can do better! We can truly remember, and celebrate the gift of the earthly presence of Jesus with the tag       “With love from God”

CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES

Some years ago I read a book that described a Christmas Day event during World War 1 (1914) . The depth of meaning of this has lived with me ever since. I googled it and found a few articles about it:--"The Christmas truce in the trenches 1914”

German and French soldiers were on opposing  sides, both in trenches facing each other, each with the aim to destroy  who they regarded as ‘the enemy’.

Christmas day dawned and the guns were silent… slowly, from both sides of the ‘enemy’ lines men began to appear. They approached each other, unarmed, tentative…. Then the miracle happened; smiles, greetings – no animosity, anger or threat. Just joyful greetings, at first tentatively, I guess, then filled with the joy of this sacred day.

It reminded me of the Christmas Carol -

 “Hark! The herald angels sing glory to the  new-born King, peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled”

For a brief interval there was peace…

I wonder what it felt like to go back in the trenches, to pick up a rifle to shoot at the ‘enemy’ who briefly was a brother with the same Heavenly Father?

Perhaps it is time for us, all of humanity, to get out of the trenches … just listen to the news of all the wars, but also look around you- in nations, in politics, families. We need an armistice not only on Christmas day, but in all of our days. Our survival as nations, families and individuals depend on this. “Peace on earth…”  Our prayer and our aim, each one doing their part in making it happen.

A challenge today…. If you have a grudge, a hurt, a struggle with anyone, resolve that you will do your bit to bring about “peace on earth”  by reaching out in reconciliation – I do not mean you have to embrace them and include them in your life but make peace. Forgive and let go of all the negativity that has darkened your days.  You and I can “do our bit” in bringing peace on earth. And our prayer is that the various nations can do the same. Peace on earth a noble aim.

Do It Anyway…

People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centred,

LOVE THEM ANYWAY

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives,

DO GOOD ANYWAY

If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies,

SUCCEED ANYWAY

The good you do will be forgotten tomorrow,

DO GOOD ANYWAY

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable,

BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY

What you spent years building may be destroyed overnight,

BUILD ANYWAY

People really need help but may attack you if you help them,

HELP PEOPLE ANYWAY

Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth,

GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU’VE GOT ANYWAY

(from a sign on the wall of Shishu Bhavan, the children’s home in Calcutta)

A Parable explaining the deep meaning of Christmas

“Once upon a time there was a man who looked upon Christmas as a lot of humbug. He wasn’t a Scrooge. He was a kind and decent person, generous to his family, upright in all his dealings with other men. But he didn’t believe all that stuff about Incarnation which churches proclaim at Christmas. And he was too honest to pretend that he did. “I am truly sorry to distress you,” he told his wife, who was a faithful churchgoer. “But I simply cannot understand this claim that God becomes man. It doesn’t make any sense to me.”

On Christmas Eve his wife and children went to church for the midnight service. He declined to accompany them. “I’d feel like a hypocrite,” he explained. “I’d rather stay at home. But I’ll wait up for you.”

Shortly after his family drove away in the car, snow began to fall. He went to the window and watched the flurries getting heavier and heavier. “If we must have Christmas,” he thought, “it’s nice to have a white one.” He went back to his chair by the fireside and began to read his newspaper. A few minutes later he was startled by a thudding sound. It was quickly followed by another, then another.

He thought that someone must be throwing snowballs at his living room window. When he went to the front door to investigate, he found a flock of birds huddled miserably in the storm. They had been caught in the storm and in a desperate search for shelter had tried to fly through his window. “I can’t let these poor creatures lie there and freeze,” he thought. “But how can I help them?” Then he remembered the barn where the children’s pony was stabled. It would provide a warm shelter.

He put on his coat and galoshes and tramped through the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the door wide and turned on a light. But the birds didn’t come in. “Food will lure them in,” he thought. So he hurried back to the house for bread crumbs, which he sprinkled on the snow to make a trail into the barn. To his dismay, the birds ignored the bread crumbs and continued to flop around helplessly in the snow. He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around and waving his arms. They scattered in every direction - except into the warm lighted barn.

“They find me a strange and terrifying creature,” he said to himself, “and I can’t seem to think of any way to let them know they can trust me. If only I could be a bird myself for a few minutes, perhaps I could lead them to safety. . . .”

Just at that moment the church bells began to ring. He stood silent for a while, listening to the bells pealing the glad tidings of Christmas. Then he sank to his knees in the snow. “Now I do understand,” he whispered. “Now I see why You had to do it.” ”

That was A Christmas Parable written by Louis Cassels many years ago, a simple but beautiful way to explain the mystery of Christmas.

“Now I see why You had to do it” he wrote. And indeed God had to do it, had to become one of us to make us understand because despite God’s best efforts throughout all the Old Testament we still didn’t get the message.

It was the best way to express His love by coming as an innocent baby, non-threatening, not confronting but simply helpless and vulnerable. He became man and dwelt among us and we have seen the love and compassion of our God expressed so wonderfully in Jesus Christ.

God has spoken to us, the Word has become flesh and we beheld His glory. Praise be to God.

A Few Jokes To Smile About…

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“Teacher,” announced little Joey, “there’s something I can’t figure out.”

“What’s that Joey?” asked the Sunday School teacher.

“Well accordin’ to the Bible, Children of Israel crossed the Red Sea, right?”

“Right”®

“An’ the Children beat up the Philistines, right?

“Er-right.”

“An’ the Children of Israel built the Temple, right an’ the Children of Israel wuz always doin’ something important, right?”

“All that is right, too,” agreed the teacher. “So what is your question?”

“What I want to know is this,” demanded Joey. “What wuz all the grown-ups doin?”

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A man was seen fleeing down the hall of the hospital just before his operation.

“What’s the matter?” he was asked.

He said, “I heard the nurse say, “It’s a very simple operation, don’t worry, I’m sure it will be all right.”

“She was just trying to comfort you, what’s so frightening about that?”

“She wasn’t talking to me. She was talking to my surgeon!”

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An Emergency Call Centre worker in Melbourne has been fired, much to the dismay of her colleagues who are reportedly unhappy with her dismissal.

It seems a male caller dialled 000 from a mobile phone stating, “This is Jonathan Davis and I am very depressed. I am lying here on a railway track. I am waiting for the train to come so I can finally go to God.”

Apparently, “Remain calm and stay on the line,” was not considered to be an appropriate response.

Learning to Live on Earth Like Humans

I came across a quote from the poet George Bernard Shaw that captivated me, especially the last line-

“Now that we have learned to fly in the air like birds and dive into the sea like fish,

Only one thing remains-

To learn to live on earth as humans.”

Think with me…what does it mean to live like humans?

Perhaps a place to start is by looking at what inhumanity is. The Oxford dictionary describes this as: brutality, barbarousness, callousness. Can we add to those adjectives? Cruel, selfish, cold-blooded, hateful, heartless…

But before we become too judgmental of others, and ourselves, let us remember that we are not born inhumane – life can be very cruel and can turn a cute kid into someone that has lost their humanity.

What then does true humanity look like? Think of a person that you might have met in your life that has qualities that are noble, protective, true, compassionate, warm, loving, non-judgemental, not perfect but never malicious.. What impact did that person have on you?  Did you feel safe with that person?

I wonder what our present world would rate on the “humanity scale” today? Wars destroying innocent lives, and devastating countries, the inhumanity of human trafficking, youth crime, sophisticated crime cartels, domestic violence, and many more inhumane behaviours….

However, before we become too negative, let us remember that just as there is inhumanity there are many examples of extraordinary, and ordinary, daily acts of compassion, self-sacrificing endeavours to improve the well-being of others, and genuine love and care..

The bible is full of stories both types of people and all those that fall in-between but it also has given us a picture of someone that was fully human in the best sense of the word; Jesus.

Just think of His qualities as revealed when he lived on earth- he had incredible compassion, but was quite clear about behaviours that were damaging, e.g. he did not lecture the prostitute but said to her “go and sin no more”, he wept over Jerusalem, in the bible Peter, the disciple said, “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats..” He could have called on legions of angels to rescue him and destroy his enemies, but he did not. Even on the cross he said, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing!”

If we want to be truly human let us study the lives of truly great people who have lived, but most of all let us study the life of Jesus and imitate Him.

Characteristics of Self-Accepting Individuals

A person who has a strong, self-accepting attitude presents the following behavioural picture (Hamachek):

1. Believes strongly in certain values and principles and is willing to defend them even in the face of strong group opinion. Feels personally secure enough, however to modify them if new experience and evidence suggests he/she is in error.

2. Is capable of acting on own best judgement without feeling excessively guilty or regretting actions if others disapprove of what has been done.

3. Does not spend undue time worrying about what is coming tomorrow, what has happened in the past, or what is taking place in the present.

4. Has confidence to deal with problems, even in the face of failure and setbacks.

5. Feels equal to others as a person, not superior or inferior, irrespective of the differences in specific abilities, family background, or attitudes of others towards him/her.

6. Is able to take for granted that he/she is a person of interest and value to others, at least to those with whom he/she chooses to associate.

7. Can accept praise without pretence or false modesty and compliments without feeling guilty.

8. Is inclined to resist the efforts of others to dominate.

9. Is able to accept the idea and to admit to others that he/she is capable of feeling a wide range of impulses and desires, ranging from being angry to being loving, from being sad to being happy, from feeling deep resentment to feeling deep acceptance.

10. Is able to enjoy a wide variety of activities involving work, play, creative self-expression, companionship, or loafing.

11. Is sensitive to the needs of others, to accept social customs, and particularly to the idea that he/she cannot enjoy himself/herself at the expense  of others.

(Extract from REACHING OUT by David W Johnson. Prentice-Hall Inc. New Jersey)

An Amazing Miracle

An amazing miracle

In my collection of inspiring material, I came across this article by an unknown author….

“Who told you that? My father!

No way he said to him. You were born in 1925. They argued. I was there when you were born. I was 1925. Trust on this.

Eventually Sol conceded and said that he was born in 1925

He asked him one more time, “When were you born?” He said 1925.

He turned to me and said, remember, you were born in 1925.

He disappears. A few moments later I am standing in front of Joseph Managcamei, he looks at me and says, ”When were you born?”

I said in 1925. He motions me with this thumb to go to the right, to the barracks to work.

I learned a few hours later that those who were born in 1927 or later were sent immediately to the gas chambers.

I realized that this man that I met, I did not know who he was, who claimed that he was present at my birth, was literally and angel who saved my live, and here I am today, and I have a family because of that man. And then Sol said, “I did a lot of thinking; what is my wish for myself and my life? I said I had an angel who appeared at my feet in Auschwitz and took me out of death and brought me back to life.

I still don’t know who that person was, that is irrelevant, for me he was a Malak and angel and I said to myself; “I want to be an angel for other people, I want to be that angel for other people. Just like I had an angel in those bleak moments ,those dark moments in history was there for me, I want to be that angel so that other people, when they think back of the greatest moments of their lives, should know that they had an angel who was there fir them to save their lives.

(I cannot vouch that this is a true story, but to my mind it rings true and passes onto a us very real message… let’s be “angels” to those in need.)

How to Get People to Like You

Ten rules for getting the esteem of others

First: Learn to remember names. Inefficiency at this point may indicate that your interest is not sufficiently outgoing. A person’s name is very important to them.

Second: Be a comfortable person so there is no strain in being with you.

Third: Acquire the quality of relaxed easy-goingness so that things do not ruffle you.

Fourth: Don’t be egotistical. Guard against giving the impression that you know it all. Be natural and humble.

Fifth: Cultivate the quality of being stimulating and interesting so that people will want to be with you and get something from you.

Sixth: Study to get the scratchy elements, even those which you may be unconscious of, out of your personality. Expert counselling may help in this.

Seventh: Sincerely attempt to heal, on an honest Christian basis, every misunderstanding you have had or now have. Drain off your grievances.

Eighth: Definitely practise liking people until you learn to do so genuinely. Will Rogers said, “I never met a man I didn’t like”. Try viewing all people in that way.

Ninth: Nevet miss an opportunity to say a word of congratulation upon anyone’s achievement, or express sympathy in sorrow or disappointment.

Tenth: Get a deep spiritual experience so that you will have something to give to people that will help them to be stronger and meet life more effectively. They will love you for it.

(Author unknown, found a copy amongst my files)

Above all learn to love, unconditionally accept, and care for and about all people that you meet.