I found these at the beach in Anglesea, Victoria. Better to encounter wooden creations than the real thing!
Monthly Archives: January 2013
Gritty Grains
And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. Hebrews 11:12
Anglesea (Australia) on a Summer’s day.
Today, before one of our daughters returns to sea-less Switzerland, we went to the beach. It was 30 degrees C and we hired a boat to paddle for a while. Quite idyllic.
However, the thing I hate about beaches is the sand – it gets into everything. For God however it is an object lesson. Grains of sand remind us that His promises are boundless. He promised Abraham a family – a spiritual family. That family is now spread throughout the whole world. From that family the Messiah came. Every Christian believer is beholden to that patriarch from 4000 years ago.
So I might find sand annoying but God tells me through each scratchy grain in my shorts, that his promises are amazing. Yet I still hope the beaches by the Sea of Crystal are nice cool, manicured lawns.
Categories: christian, Christianity, Devotional, Faith, Uncategorized
Tags: Christian, Christianity, Devotion, Faith, God
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Everlasting Moments
“Everlasting Moments” is a film based on the life of Maria Larsson. It is set in Sweden at the turn of the last century when popular photography was still rare. In the midst of poverty and a violent marriage she finds a camera she had won long ago. She is befriended by an elderly owner of a photographic shop and begins to look at life and her world through a lens.
The film causes us to reflect on perspectives; not just the world through a lens, which Maria had a real knack for, but also the way we look at life, relationships and responsibilities. We may not have made the same choices as Maria but we can never deny the serious consideration she gave to her life choices.
The film also made me think how we take so much of life for granted. We live expecting luxury and wealth. Maria saw these thinks as momentary glimpses of grace – the undeserved and unexpected. This is not a film for a momentary diversion. It demands engagement. Even the small subtitles are a bit of a challenge. However, it will leave you challenged and left with more than a few questions.
Faith in the Midst of Struggle
I wasn’t going to write any more about the burglary and house fire my daughters had recently but I want to finish with two photos of posters in one bedroom that survived. They say it all!
“Be Strong and Courageous” Joshua 1:9
Categories: christian, Christianity, Devotional, Faith, Reflections
Tags: Christian, Christianity, Devotion, Faith
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Family
I was trying to think of something positive to write about. Burglary and house fires – no. An eye for an eye – no again. Family -yes. It is one of my favourite topics. Even students at school get sick of my “family” stories.
Briefly, there are two family anecdotes I want to highlight:
A while ago, and again recently (The Providence of God), I reflected on how my wife’s parents met. A few days ago their grandchildren had a reunion. Although my wife’s father has been dead for nearly 50 years, I am sure sure he would have been proud of the brood that gathered – fine young (and some less so!) people all of them. Their grandmother, who died more recently, was able to tell them how proud she was of them. The cousins had a great time remembering and celebrating the bonds they have.
My second story relates to the burglary and house fire two of my daughters had recently. (Which I am not going into!) What impressed me as a dad was how the sisters and lone brother in law went into action to help. Some cleaned, some made meals, others carried and fetched (over long distances) and each person’s shoulder was a available to lean and cry on. As a dad, it chokes me up to see the family at work like this. It is another reason for which to thank God!
So once again, I am compelled to proclaim how important family is. It is a jewel to protect, nurture and celebrate. I know for some readers your experience differs. If you have a young family, make an effort to set a foundation in which mutual care and love is a key guiding principle. In the future times will come when these bonds will be extremely important. So build them when they are young.
Categories: christian, Christianity, Devotional, Faith, Family, Reflections, Uncategorized
Tags: Christian, Christianity, Faith, family
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A Reminder to Myself from a Previous Post
This is a reminder to me to be aware of what I post as I may be called to live it out!
Categories: Bible, christian, Christianity, Devotional, Faith, Family, Photo
Tags: Christian, Christianity, Devotion, Faith, family
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Finally! A Moment.
I have finally found a moment to stop and reflect. The last few days have been spent sorting through charred remains and retrieving anything worthwhile or important. The emotions have been going through the “Elizabeth Kubler Ross cycle”. And then, some of us are starting to smell like walking fire victims!
As an exercise it reveals a lot about yourself. As we go through the rubble, the TV, fridge, washing machine or camera mean very little. The treadmill was a little more difficult because my daughter remembers the hours it took to put the thing together. But the tears flow for the lost memories of baby clothes, a cross stitch from a departed oma, cards and presents from students, toys kept for thirty years and so on – of no value to anyone but the owner. On the bedroom door of one daughter were charred quotes and passages from Scripture which all seemed very apt – that left a lump in our throats. Yes, God “will help us through the difficult times”.
Just as with a physical assault victim, this assault, although not directly physical on a person, is still real and will take time to heal. All the documents, passports, certificates, tax information will need to be replaced. This takes time. The cost is enormous: the emotional cost – trusting people, and the physical cost – for days now and for days in the future friends and family will be cleaning, scrubbing, replacing and moving things from one city to another, and then back again when a new house is found. Just to this point we have spent well over 100 man hours, and we are nowhere near the end. I haven’t included house hunting, police interviews and time on the telephone changing details and etc.
For me, as a dad, I am praying desperately not to become bitter and vengeful. This is of no help to anyone. Constantly I am seeking God’s grace and being reminded how forgiving He was of me. That is a humbling reminder. Sanctification, daily being made into Jesus, is an ongoing process. God is having to work quite hard on me just at this moment. Then again, He has had to that on many other occasions.
Categories: Family, Reflections, Uncategorized
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Travels from Ur 