OK - the Dam is Broken

Right, this is it. I can't hold it back. Don't try and stop me.

I HAVE to blog about Neels and Dylan. This has been in me for AGES!

Neels:

What we can we say? Everyone knows already. An oke with a solid heart for the Lord Jesus and for the Kingdom; so much love and encouragement for everyone; hectic revelations; utter purity; and a simplicity that was the actual inspiration for my blurb on simplicity earlier this year in church. Really, still I haven't quite figured why Neels likes being friends with me. It's rather hectic. No friend has ever shown so much love to me as this oke. Neels just is hectic. Yes, (as he would say), it's the grace of God, but honour to Neels for allowing the grace to work. It is a complete and utter privelege and honour to have Neels in trip and as a friend.

Dylan:

Wow - what similar passions! On Monday night we discovered we both REALLY want to go to the Ruwenzori mountains in Uganda/DRC ("The Mountains of the Moon"). This was before the 1.30 am creambun fight in his room. Sweet cream in your leg hairs is not nice. We still want to go to the Ruwenzori though. We have such similar outdoor interests - birds in particular. It's ironic how Dylan and I have connected through similar insecurities that the Lord is dealing with. It has really bonded us as brothers. And Dylan always just shines love. Its great - even when I am feeling miff about xyz, he is so consistent emotionally. Dylan is just great. He's the friend you feel completely safe around. And God is doing great things in his life - his family, his relationships, his walk with God. It is a HECTIC privelege to be friends with this abo pioneer. I am so happy being friends with Dylan!

Okes - if you read this, I love you and am so glad Dad has given me brothers like you as accountability partners and covenant friends to do life deeply with. Love you so much.

Love Ralph

Ode to Bond Street

What a wonderful digs the Bond Street is -
The realm of the noble women
Who care and love and fuss together
In hearty jubilee -
(and love to make copious pots of tea)
- and scones are on offer too -
- on a verandah with a really great view -

It really is a wonderful house -
(Scanky cats all agree)
Its modern, and cosy, and free of louse:
But surely it's best with a great cup of tea -
(and quiet with the exception of Mrs Mouse...)
(And there's always a weary soul blessed by the enchanted couch...)

Such delectible ladies!
Such admirable pastries!
(and the realm of two Divine pussy cats)
(who occassionally exhibit shrew-rats)
This is the haven for most HP functions -
Lets hope no other digs places sanctions -
Or chase out us poor country-bumpkins!

So yay to the wonderful ladies!
Claire, Cath, Debs, Lieschie -
Who through their care make it a really great place
And Rosa and Wends - the wise and the bold
Whose spiritual depth gives the devil a cold
(and who baptise cats for reasons untold)

Wohoo and yippee!
We're invited for tea!
Grab some cream and a cuppa or two
Lets praise the Lord
for the Bond Women here told!
("and yes, we really ARE beautiful", says Candy
"You know it", agrees Cleo, "we ARE rather dandy")

(alas no photo to do utmost justice...)

Woohoo Wahaaa Yippee!!

"Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds" Ps. 149:5

We are so free! Whom the Son sets free is free INDEED! The only bondages are those we allow or bind to ourselves! Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty! (i.e. no imposters...)

I have been celebrating so much lately in response to what the Lord Jesus has done in me this year. I made a list on Saturday and spent time thanking God for each thing. I realised that if I don't, I might lose the blessing of what He has done because if it isn't internalised and made part of my "DNA", my mindsets won't change and the brokeness will have been futile. The New Testament emphasises thanksgiving and I reckon thanksgiving is what cements the work of God in our hearts and minds - it increases our heart capacity to receive the answers to our prayers and to retain the answers. "In everything give thanks". And to give thanks is only right!

I have been thanking Dad for wonderful family, friends, great place to live, life in fullness, great masters project, excellent varsity, for answering deep cries from my heart re. things in me that must change, be sorted out, be healed - and He is busy with each of these!! And stirring up long-lost passions - adventure, the wild, birding, fun - more lively, more open, more fun, more loving! (even when its cloudy...). I still have help-assistance needed (Holy Spirit here I come) but oh the thanks for the changes God is doing! Vicky's blog had a picture of a ship in the blue seas - oh flip that stirred my heart for adventure! Going to the beach with Dylberry and Mike B - what a happy and exuberant morning! (it was like a tropical island at Kenton yesterday morn). Camping at Neels and talking the most profound deep and then switching to absolutely stupid things - and laughing hysterically! Wonderful people - celebration! What a wonderful planet - flip we must evangelise more - there more people to be set free to be themselves in God, and love Dad and enjoy Him forever. Am praying for opportunity here in Botany; we live studying the 'Bible" but most of them are blinded by the Evil One to God's character in nature. Alas.

But rejoice in the Lord - "that your JOY may be full!"

Here's to EPIC ADVENTURE and CELEBRATION!~~

And summers here: heard the first Piet-my-vrou on Sat morn and shouted "YES" in bed!!! (that bird = summer. I don't usually do things like shout in bed but that's part of the changes and the REAL ME - I think :-) - God is awakening!!)

Haha - see you all at the ENLI exam (bwahahahahahahaha!)

Thanks

To the Lord - my gracious, forgiving, understanding, VERY loving, kind and generous Dad. He is very much looked up to.

Thanks Dad for the time of brokeness but thank You for bringing it to an end. Your ways are perfect and Your plans are 100% good. Please be honoured.

son

Sister Act

This is my sister Jacqui. Today (10th October) is her Birthday. She's four years younger than me (but that's not her defining quality!). She is a woman of honour and definately deserves a full blog-splurge to herself:-) Yay Jacqui!!

One of the funniest things Jacqui and I ever did as kids was jump off the roof of the outside room at home with black plastic bags on our backs in attempt to parachute down. Did it work. Well. it built really good memories! My sister is one of the most hectic, godly women I know. She has been going through a time of testing and just keeps coming out more refined and more like gold. She is faithful, loyal, very forgiving (as a brother I know this first hand), and loving. We get on like anything, and as we both have a wicked sense of humour, we know how to max it out. I can't think of any young person more committed to the Lord. And I know the Lord really values her and has some wonderful things for her. Jacqui's currently doing her internship as a biokinetisist (nooit, how DO you spell that?) at UZ in Empangeni (KZN), and is also working as a high school biology teacher and a bookkeeper at the same time. She goes to Empangeni New Covenant Church (you know it, hey) and the beach (hey).

Love you sis. Thanks for being a hectic woman and I look forwqard to seeing you grow more and more in godliness and power.

Boet :-)

The Fine Line

Hey All

What's the distinguishing mark between being self-centred versus honest and open? What's a healthy aspect in this?? When is not speaking being closed and when speaking being too much?

Group Wisdom Session No. 1...

Selah.

My Comfort. My Shelter

"You are my hiding place; you will preserve me from trouble; you will surround me with songs of deliverence. Selah." Psalm 32:7

"He has sent Me [Jesus] to bind up the brokenhearted" Isaiah 61:1

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delights in his way. Though he fall, he will not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholds him with his hand." Psalm 37:23-24

"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him" Psalm 37:7 "I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry." Psalm 40:1

"Withhold not Your tender mercies from me , O Lord: let your lovingkindness and your truth continually preserve me." Psalm 40:11

It's official: We evolved from peanuts & raisins

Life is a well-defined and highly organised complex molecular engine based on commonalities which undoubtedly point to a common ancestor with peanuts and raisins (p&r).

The following recent scientific breakthroughs unquestionably support this:

1. The purpose of something's existence is called its "raison d'etre".
2. The purpose of life is to earn peanuts, placing immense existentialist value on this hitherto phylogenetically overlooked species.
3. People are referred to as "going nuts" about something they are passionate about, supporting the existenialist point in (2) above.
4. Ancient Hindi and Sanskrit writings in the Indian subcontinent refer to exalted rulers as "Sultanas". The same term is commonly used today for historical Indian leaders in abbreviated terms.
5. That p&r are so essential on hikes is no doubt an indication of their primaeval importance in human energy management and biokinetic movement, with naturally intrinsic anatomical parallels.
6. Certain life forms are known to have a high affinity for raisins, especially when hiking on the Wild Coast.
7. Certain other life forms have an aversion to raisins but a preference for peanuts, especially when hiking in the Wild Coast.
8. The most complex life-forms have a balanced affinity for both (the proverbial "balanced diet" - yes, out with mono-hyro-dupli-carcinogated-monopolysatyrated fatty acids folks, p&r is the new margarine), especially when hiking in the Wild Coast.

These infallible tests of scientific imperialism offer indisoluble evidence of our ancestry. Let's hope our children don't eat sour grapes, and that they are not shelled short by other more primitive cultural questions (people go ape about anything these days).


Bye!

Destiny

****When you find your people you find your destiny****
(from the notes in our Destiny Camp workbook)

I have found my people... Have a lovely day everyone!
(I AM SORRY THAT YOU ARE NOT ALL IN THESE PHOTOS BUT I AM TRYING TO DO MY MASTERS IN MY SPARE TIME AND CANT UPLOAD ALL THE PHOTOS!)

(and haven't forgotten about the new theory of evolution...)