WET PANTS

Come with me to a third grade classroom..... There is a nine-year-old
kid sitting at his desk and all of a sudden, there is a puddle between
his feet and the front of his pants are wet. He thinks his heart is
going to stop because he cannot possibly imagine how this has
happened. It's never happened before, and he knows that when the boys
find out he will never hear the end of it. When the girls find out,
they'll never speak to him again as long as he lives.

The boy believes his heart is going to stop; he puts his head down and
prays this prayer, 'Dear God, this is an emergency! I need help now!
Five minutes from now I'm dead meat.'

He looks up from his prayer and here comes the teacher with a look in
her eyes that says he has been discovered.

As the teacher is walking toward him, a classmate named Susie is
carrying a goldfish bowl that is filled with water. Susie trips in
front of the teacher and inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the
boy's lap.

The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to himself,
'Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!'

Now all of a sudden, instead of being the object of ridicule, the boy
is the object of sympathy. The teacher rushes him downstairs and gives
him gym shorts to put on while his pants dry out. All the other
children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around his desk. The
sympathy is wonderful. But as life would have it, the ridicule that
should have been his has been transferred to someone else - Susie.

She tries to help, but they tell her to get out. You've done enough, you klutz!'

Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the
boy walks over to Susie and whispers, 'You did that on purpose, didn't
you?' Susie whispers back, 'I wet my pants once too.'

May God help us see the opportunities that are always around us to do good...

FACING YOUR GETHSEMANE

One of the most rewarding things is to sit with people of vision, to share vision, to inspire vision and to encourage vision in others. I believe that for far too long the enemy, circumstances and even policies, have robbed the youth (particularly, but not solely) of their God-given vision.

After preaching a sermon based on Kris Allen's "No Boundaries" a few weeks back, I recently preached a follow-on message at Quigney Baptist on the aspect of 'FACING YOUR GETHSEMANE'. The message focussed on a theme that I have noticed being established in the last few months with regard to vision being rebirthed and the Spirit of God reminding His people why He created them.

The night before the most significant moment in history, the Messiah enters the Garden of Gethsemane in preparation. He was about to enter into his moment of significance, but before He could do that, Gethsemane was necessary. This is so true of where so many of us are today:

We want to step into our moment of significance, we want to make a difference, we want to step into our dream, vision and goal - but we haven't been made aware of 'the night before'.

(Before reading on, it would benefit you to read Luke 22:39-36)

Photo: Mark Odendaal - Gethsemane, May 2008

Every Christian who is preparing for a moment of significance in the Kingdom; every Christian hwo is ready to step into God's plan for their lives; every Christian who is going to move into the revaltion of God in their lives WILL face a Gethsemane experience.

This begs the question: What happens at Gethsemane?

1. SPIRITUAL BATTLES OCCUR

We will move into our destiny and start living out our vision with far less frustation if we can learn to undersatnd and recognize that there are two spiritual entities involved in our journey to significance.

On the one side is the Creator, God - originator of our vision and creator of our passion, equipping and strengthening us. On the other side as our adversary, who knows that a Christian with vision is dangerous to the kingdom of darkness. He will do what he can to ensure that we take our eye off the giver of the vision, and focus on the struggles we encounter. Herein lie the spiritual battles.

2. LONELINESS IS EXPERIENCED

People with vision talk - they share that vision. Sadly, however, there are more dream takers (people who will speak against your vision) than dream makers (people who support your vision) in this world, and often the journey to accomplishing your vision has a lonely part to it. The exciting part, however, is that the loneliness is temporal. "He gives and takes away" is true even in the journey of our vision, and a true God-given vision will always be accompanied by true Dream Makers.

3. HONESTY MUST BE EXPRESSED

In Gethsemane, things are exposed. Things of the heart, sinful things, personality flaws - all these things come out. And in the time of spirit filled Worship (John 4:23, 24) we need to be open and honest about these things before God. Jesus was real with his father: "Is there no other way?" In the same way, you and I are to be real with our Father! Hiding things, will only keep us in Gethsemane longer.

4. SUBMISSION IS REQUIRED

One of the most important parts not only of Gethsemane, but of life as a whole, is the aspect of submission. Submission firstly to God and His will (Matt 6:33) but also submission to God's delegated authority.

Jesus died for the church, he works through the church, and He will return to take the Church with Him. In the meantime - He has placed a delegated authority (the Senior Pastor, the head elder, the priest - whatever applies to your situation) as an extension of His authority. Any vision and dream needs to fall in submission to the vision of your spiritual head and delegated authority before it can come to fulfillment.

5. STRENGTH IS RECEIVED

Once we've 'passed' the four stages as it were, the most incredible thing happens. Scripture tells us the Jesus was strengthened. What really struck me about this, is that the strength He was given at Gethsemane was sufficient for the rest of His journey on earth. That same strength is made available to us.

God has given you vision - He has a plan for you. Start moving in the right direction and you are bound to face some battles. You're bound to have some friends or family not entirely support that vision. But be truthful before the Lord, share that vision with your pastor so he can counsel you, and you will soon find that what started off as a dream, idea and though, has become an incredible reality in your life.

See the Gethsemane experience as a blessing, not a curse.

SEASONS

There's a beautiful scripture in the book of Eccl that reminds us not
only that there is a season for everything (that in itself is a
beautiful comfort I'm every stage of life) but that "everything is
beautiful in it's time.

Today (Friday 29 Aug) saw the end of what has been an incredible
season for me as a presenter on Link FM radio. Each time Ive switched
that mic on over the past 3 years Ive been aware of the many people
whom I had the privilege of speaking to. It is therefore natural that
there is a sadness as I bid the station farewell.

But with each closing door God, the architect of our destiny ushers us
toward another, making every season we experience beautiful in its time.

Let that encourage you.

Being a regular social networker I'm exposed to many status updates
relating to the frustrations people face being at whatever stage of
life they're at. I challenge those people in particular to not only
accept the season, but to grow, mature and develop through it.

For everything, there is a season, and He makes everything beautiful
in its time.

M.

Sent from iPhone 3G

Maximize Your Leadership

A few weeks ago, East London was blessed with the ministry of a great 'strong man' team in the form of Team Impact. Being the co-ordinator of the event, I was blessed even more by being able to enjoy the behind the scenes ministry of integrity, passion, commitment and (relevant to this blog) - leadership.

Team Leader Shonn Keels' gift of leadership is evident to anyone who has had the privilege of sharing just a few minutes of time with him. In his latest book "Maximize Your Leadership" Shonn shares practically the many lessons he has learned in his ministry as a God-anointed leader.

I am honoured that Shonn allowed me the opportunity to read his book before it's publication, and recommend it to anyone who would like to grow practically and spiritually in their leadership. We aim to have this book available in East London shortly, but in the meantime, check out what Amazon.com has to say:

Where there is no vision, the people perish.
(Proverbs 29:18, King James Version)

Maximize Your Leadership provides powerful, essential lessons for both current and upcoming leaders aspiring to create their own visions of what the future can look like with God's help.

Shonn Keels is a former Senior Pastor with more than two decades of leadership experience who has dedicated his life equipping global leaders with the skills needed to focus on God's will and lead at greater levels. Keels shares a host of leadership essentials that include proven principles, effective tools, and stories of real-life leaders, as well as Keels' own failures, struggles, and challenges in leadership. In this book he teaches others how to:

• Communicate a vision to a crowd
• Do your best the first time
• Commit to leading out of the box
• Select the right team
• Practice the art of encouragement
• Maximize value in others

For those ready to lead with greater passion, excellence, creativity, and joy, Maximize Your Leadership provides the kind of inspirational guidance that will encourage all leaders to discover power through Christ to change the world and turn their dreams into reality.

MAXIMIZE YOUR LEADERSHIP is available at http://www.amazon.com/Maximize-your-Leadership-Shonn-Keels/dp/1440156832/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250763306&sr=1-1

LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER

This is one of my favourite pictures! I took it about 2 years back while on the beach at Kaysers. The dolphins were out playing, the sea looked beautiful, and as I closed the shutter, this dolphin happened to jump from it's natural environment, into the air, in one playful move, forever to be 'kapcha'd'.

What I love about this picture isn't only the fact that I captured this beautful creature doing its thing - but also the lesson learnt from this 'fish out of water.'

While a dolphin is indeed a mammal - being out of the water is by no means it's comfort zone. It is created with the ocean as it's home - it's niche - it's space. Yet, looking at this beautiful creative soaring above the wave, you can be forgiven for thinking that the dolphin is as comfortable OUT of the water, as it is in it. Here is the principle:

The Dolphin's comfort OUT OF THE WATER lies in the creatures confidence that its situation is temporary. Taking the fun-loving dive out of the wave, the dolphin knows that the combination of its own momentum, its desire to return to its place of comfort, and - more specifally, the law of gravity governing this entire motion, will see it returning to where it comes from - 'the deep blue'.

If only we could find as much comfort and peace, when we find ourselves temporarily out of our comfort zone. So often the 'OUT OF THE WATER' experiences - an environment of strangers, a foreign social circle, a new challenge at work, a financial speedbump - get us so focussed on where we are NOT, that we don't take in, enjoy, and thrive in where we are.

In this life, there will be challenges - it's a fact. Like death and taxes, life and circumstances will sometime send us hurtling through the waves into the great unknown. How do we respond? Do we panic? Worry? Up our dose of stress medication? Or relax in the knowledge that, despite being out of our comfort zone, two principles apply:

Firstly, like the dolphin, our challenge is temporary. While the consequences of the situation may stick around for some time, or even, for a long time, the particular circumstance is temporary. My wife and I, for example, found ourselves in a fairly awkward social environment some time ago, knowing only the hosts of a particular function. The awkward situation was temporary. The friendship we have formed with the couple sitting next to us, however, remains and has made that awkwardness worthwhile.

Secondly, we're never alone. The words of God are recorded many times in scripture: "I will never leave you, or forsake you." When He inspired those words, He knew full well that there would be times when we are out of our comfort zones - out of where we think we belong. His promise to never leave us is as true out of the water, as it is in it!

Today WILL bring with it challenges. But take comfort that the challenge is temporary, and that no challenge is bigger than the promise that you never have to face it alone!

I LOVE AIRPORTS

As I settle into my O R Tambo mugg n bean chair, switch on my laptop
and check my latest social networking feeds, I realize how many of my
contacts are in the process of doing exactly what Im doing -
travelling. What grabs my attention, however, is the general dislike
of airports. I've always been a bit of a different breed, but I can't
share the 'anti-airport' sentiment. (For the purposes of this blog
we'll pretend East London has a proper Airport)

Where else do we find such a variety of cultures, languages, ages,
races, economics, belief systems, dreams and goals? Each passenger
travelling for unique reasons.

Yet despite all the differences represented  by the thousands of
passengers who walk through our airports each day, there's an unspoken
realization that right now, right here, we're all in the same boat.

The lady sitting opposite me is travelling to a funeral. The guy on
his phone at the table near me (who clearly does this often - he
brought an extention chord so he can sit on the comfy chairs with his
laptop instead of where I'm at) is clearly on a business trip, and the
group of rather athletic looking girls in their SA tracksuits are
obviously heading somewhere on a sports tour. We're all so different,
yet we all know that regardless of the differences that separate us
right now, in 45 minutes time we'll each be allocated the exact same**
amount of space on the plane, we'll breathe the same germs, eat the
same food, watch the same cheesy safety video, struggle to hear the
same pilot over the PA system... And the list goes on.

For the next 90 minutes Ill be nothing more than 'man in seat 9D', but
as I step into that airport again, I get to choose to me myself again.
I'm no longer in the same boat as 'weird looking girl in seat 8F' or
'overweight insecure dude in seats 17 A & B'. I am reminded as I step
into the airport that I am unique!

"For we are God's workmanship [unique work of art] created in Christ
Jesus for good works [cf Jer 29:11] which HE created us in advance to
do" (Eph 2:10).

I love airports!

M.

** as it turns out we don't share exactly the same space as my seat is
clearly bigger, with more leg room than most of the other passengers,
but u get the drift...

Sent from iPhone 3G

WORLD CHANGER

After a few months of inactivity (or, rather too much activity) I've started thinking about the concept of "World Changers" for a monthly article, and thought it would be great to get some views on what your concept of a world changer is. I believe it lies completely in what exactly the term "world" means to you.

If we look at 'world' in it's larger context, we will no doubt agree that the inventors of the car, electricity, phones and the like were world changers. If we look at the arts, we will most likely agree that the Elvis's, Beatles, and most recently MJ's had a 'world changing effect'.

I'm more inclined to look at my world, however. My world is the only world I know. I have no real concept or experience of your world. I might be able to relate to your description of your world, and may even share certain parts of it - but it's your world, not mine. So when it comes to 'World Changers'- we will most likely have some different views.

But I can quite confidently say that in my world, my car guard at gym - the guy who never asks for money, but is quick to crit my lastest sermon and my dirty car - is a world changer. I can say that my wife, who has brought a whole other level of experiencing and sharing life with me, is a world changer. I can say that the person who anonymously paid for my supper is a world changer. I can say that the SA idol finalist whose contagious vibe and sarcasm allowed me to be myself this past weekend, is a world changer. I can say that my friend, studying in chiro in Durban who always has a smile on his face and who 'lives the dream' every day, is a world changer. And my list could, and does, go on! These people may mean nothing to you - but to me, they are world changers.

So the question is: who are YOUR world changers?

MICHAEL JACKSON IS DEAD

MJ is dead! This, thanks to Twitter, was literally my first bit of 'new information' today. I had no idea yet what the weather was doing, what the time was or whether or not the coffee my wife had made was Nescafe Gold, or Cafe do Brazil filter... but, I knew that Michael Jackson was dead!

In all honesty, and this statement has already shocked far too many people so I'm not going to be surpised if it brings up some emotion in you, I don't care. Rumour has it he was a musical genius and all those wonderful things - I was, and will never be a fan, so in the greater scheme of things, his death is as relevant to me as the mating habits of an egyptian dung beatle.

What does amaze me that this seems to have become the most important event in the world today! Every news channel, every radio station (except the one I work for), youtube, every second facebook status is referring to the death of the King. (I even read an article that said twitter crashed for a short while because of the flood of #MJ messages)

My comments seemed to upset some people on facebook, but heres what I'm getting at: If you're a Michael Jackson fan, honour the man. respect him. speak of his music, talk about him, mourn, take a day off work if that's what you feel you need to do.

But, if you're not a fan - why get involved in the 'disaster' that is MJ's death? Why not spend that energy doing something productive, like (as a fellow facebookers status encouraged me this morning) taking a blanket or jersey to someone on the street who must be freezing to near death in this weather.

Our response as the 'people of earth' to MJ's death says a whole lot about us - it reminds me that we're a celebrity obsessed generation, reminds me that we are at times more concerned about the happenings 'out there' than what's happening right in front of us.

I mean no disrespect to MJ fans - if my favourite artists died, I'd mourn - but this is a bitter reminder of the events of 1996 when Mother Teresa's death in the same week as Princess Di's made page 3. Something doesn't seem right.

From the mouths of babes

So anyone who has been following me even slightly on facebook or
Twitter will know I've been crazy sick for a week. My beautiful wife
whose a pre primary teacher happened to mention that to her 5 year
olds, and they decided they would all make me get well cards!!! Wow!
The world wld be so much happier if we learned more from 5 year olds!!!

THE CHRIS BROWN VERDICT

Chris Brown & Rihanna making the big news again after his plea bargain - check it out:

(REBLOGGED FROM MOMLOGIC.COM)

Reactions to today's Chris Brown plea deal have been decidedly mixed. Many believe that the singer got off too easy for the February 10 beating of former girlfriend Rihanna. What's most shocking to those following the case is that the 20-year-old Brown will serve no jail time -- only five years of probation.

We asked Robin Sax, a former Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney, if Brown was treated differently because of his celebrity status. "Of course he was," said Sax. "Anyone who says that they're going to treat a celeb like any other client is kidding themselves." What really makes Brown's punishment seem inconsistent with the seriousness of his crime, explains Sax, are the shocking pictures of Rihanna, her face bruised and beaten, which gave even the casual observer "a sense of what the actual crime was." Ultimately, Sax believes Brown has been forthright in taking responsibility for his crime. "He pleaded to a felony; he's had public humiliation. Yes, he got little better than what he would've gotten if the case had gone to trial -- but that's the nature of a plea deal."

That deal, some believe, is sending the wrong message about domestic violence -- that it's something to take lightly. Sax disagrees. She says, "The most important message will come from Rihanna herself if she takes Brown back."

REBLOG: Hayibo on 'Vuvuzela's'

Spanish star wants vuvuzelas banned, Spanish fans want Africans banned SOWETO. Just a day after Spanish football star Xabi Alonso called on FIFA to ban vuvuzela horns, Spanish fans have called on the football body to ban Africans. "They are just so black," said fan Enrique de Torquemada. "And there are so many of them here in Africa. It is very upsetting." Meanwhile South Africans have asked the Spanish to stop lisping.Alonso was widely quoted this week referring to vuvuzelas as an "annoyance" that should be banned.However, FIFA godfather Sepp Blatter has defended the horns. "South African football is all about noise, excitement, shouting and enjoyment," he said. "And sometimes goals. But mostly just noise."Alonso's South African hosts say they are taking the star's complaints seriously, despite "Xabi" meaning "doos" in the ancient San language. "Obviously as a footballer Mr Alonso is a very unique person," said Confederations Cup local organizer Sonnyboy Laduma. "I mean, it's not everyone who has a Grade 9 education, is unemployable after 35, and who spends hours every day training to kick an inflated sack in to a net, who then tries to dictate the culture of another continent."However, Laduma confirmed that Alonso was not alone in feeling that Africa needed to change to suit Spanish tastes. He said that thousands of Spanish supporters had signed a petition asking FIFA to ban not only vuvuzelas but Africans as well. "Apparently when they bought their airline tickets nobody told them that Africa is full of Africans," explained Laduma. According to fan Ignacio Tortilla, the Confederations Cup has been an "ordeal"."Wherever you look it's just Africans," he said. "Please don't get me wrong, I'm not a racist, but do they really have to be so aggressive with all the singing and smiling and hand-shaking?"Florida de Porpoise, a retired Jew-bater from Barcelona, said he would have no problem with Africans "if they only tried to be more European"."We're not asking for a lot," said de Porpoise. "Just perhaps a little hair relaxant, some cigarettes, and an overwhelming sense of the futility of hope."Meanwhile, a delegation of South Africans has asked visiting Spaniards to stop lisping. "For God's sake, English is our sixth language and we can still say 's'," said Jumpstart Moloi, who led the delegation to the Spanish embassy this morning. "It's not Nelthon Mandela, okay? It's Nelson. Nelssssson."He also appealed to Spaniards to "think long and hard" before asking locals for directions to Thanton Thquare and the thocker thtadium at Thocker Thity."Spanish is just such a freaking ugly language," said Moloi. "It's all just 'eth eth eth eth'. FIFA should do something."

CS LEWIS SONG

The only time I take a bath is when I'm sick or really exhausted. In the last 4 days I've bathed exactly four times... more than I have in the last 6 months. (Dont freak out: I shower!) As I had my forth thort provoking bath tonight, Brooke Frasers 'CS Lewis' song' drifted into my ears through my iPhone.





So there I was, in the dark, just me and the music, listening, really listening, to the words - and being touched by an incredible message: "Am I lost, or just less found..."





I'm not lost. I'm not 'less found'. I know my identity. I know my place. I know Hope - I know He's found me, I've found Him. But what about the guy I speak to so often who I know is lost... who doesn't have hope? Am I calling out enough for him to come out of hiding to be found? Am I praying hard enough? Sharing Him loud enough? Am I being Him enough? '





Brooke has challenged me tonight - and I pass on the challenge. The challenge either to call out to the ones you know are lost, or the challenge to you who is lost, to be found. Hope is coming for you... He's coming.








Check out the song on youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHpuTGGRCbY





Here are the lyrics - be blessed.



If I find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy,

I can only conclude that I was not made for here

If the felsh that I fight is at best only light and momentary,

then ofcourse I'll feel nude when to where I'm destined I'm compared



[CHORUS]

Speak to me in the light of the dawn

Mercy comes with the morning

I will sigh and with all creation groan as

I wait for hope to come for me



Am I lost or just less found?

On the straight or on the roundabout of the wrong way?

is this a soul that stirs in me, is it breaking free,

wanting to come alive?

Cos my comfort would prefer for me to be numb

An avoid the impending birth of who I was born to become



For we, we are not long here

Our time is but a breath, so we better breathe it

And I, I was made to live, I was made to love, I was made to know you

Hope is coming for meHope, He's coming

LIFE LESSONS FROM A SCORPION

There was this man who saw a scorpion floundering around in the water.

He decided to save it by stretching out his finger, but the scorpion stung him. The man still tried to get the scorpion out of the water, But the scorpion stung him again. Another man nearby told him to Stop saving the scorpion that kept stinging him. But the man said:

"It is the nature of the scorpion to sting. It is my nature to love. Why Should I give up my nature to love just because it is the nature of the Scorpion to sting?"

LESSON:

Don't give up loving even if the people around you sting.

the iTunes system

So I'd describe myself as a fairly systematic person - obviously it doesn't apply to everything, but it definitely applies to things on my technology-based devices (laptop, phone, ipod etc). Having only recently bought an ipod - I've been really impressed with the itunes system - just sucks that the itunes shop doesn't work in SA - but, on that note... I've een pretty impressed with the new nokia music shop (just putting it out there - use it, don't use it.)

So if you've been looking for a good system for managing all your music - iTunes gets the nod.

Talking about music though... where do you get YOURS from. Give your opinion on my poll. (http://marksthorts.blogspot.com for those reading this on FB)

SUSAN BOYLE? STILL NEWSWORTHY?

One of the things I have the (pleasurable?) job of doing on my daily radio show is reading the one o'clock news, supplied by (read this in radio voice) Newsflash News Agency. Today's 1 o'clock news cast carried the story of Susan Boyle, who has been named a 'singing sensation' by... well... everyone. In this story, I told the greater public of the Eastern Cape, and those listening via audio streaming and satellite radio, that "Susan Boyle has been released from the London clinic she was admitted to, and is feeling better."

So here's my question: Do YOU care?

In case you've forgotten... Susan Boyle stepped into our lives about 8 weeks ago... a fat, (am I allowed to use that term?) unattractive, single, rather simple woman who amazed the world when she opened her mouth and sang on Britain's got talent. Can she sing? YES! Does she sing well enough to earn 2nd place in one of the biggest tallent contests in the world? NO! Can we even begin to compare her to to previous winner, Paul Potts? And may I remind you that shows like this one have produced people like the incredible Leona Lewis, not to mention all the American Idol types.

Don't get me wrong, I, like 220 million other people on this planet, loved her audition. I loved seeing Simon Cowell's reaction. I loved that the under-dog got a chance. I loved that she got her few minutes (8 weeks) of fame and someone who didn't have much going for her got to enjoy the limelight for a while, and that she's been made to feel like she has value. But I feel like a hypocrite... Because, deep down I know that the only reason I've been following her story, is because she's the under-dog, because she doesn't fit the typical 'star' profile, and because a fat, ugly, single women sang pretty well and wow'd the crowd. It had nothing to do with her "incredible voice" (it's good, it's not incredible). And, I won't be buying her album when some producer takes her ''under his wing" (rumour has it, Simon Cowell's the lucky guy) and helps her release a 'pretty good' covers album.

But I digress... Susan Boyle has continued to make the news, and I ask myself, (and you -), do we really care that 'Susan Boyle has left the London Clinic to which she was admitted after coming 2nd on Britain's got talent?'

CUTTING CORNERS AT WORK?

Considering my 'funeral' related story, this may be in poor taste - but check this out:

James Hines was a giant - a 6-foot-7, 300-pound preacher and funk musician so big that after he died in 2004, a macabre rumor began circulating in this small town that the undertaker had to cut off his legs to fit him in the coffin. This week, after years of whispers, Hines' body was exhumed, and the gruesome story appeared to be all too true. The coroner's office said only that it had found "undesirable evidence," and a criminal investigation has been opened. But Hines' widow said investigators told her that his legs had been cut off between the ankle and calf, and his feet had been placed inside the casket. "It's just like pulling the scab off an old sore. I was kind of like smoothing things out. But now it's like starting all over again," Ann Hines said Thursday, two days after investigators pulled the casket from the ground, lifted the lid, photographed the contents and returned it to the earth, all without leaving the graveyard.

GUESS WHO

In light of Virgin's focus on celebrity (see post below) - this person has recently made it into international news - who do you think this is?

THE WORTH OF A LIFE

In my calling, I attend (and fairly often conduct) more funerals in a month than the average person does in their lifetime. This week I've had 2. I didn't know either of the people very well, but based purely on the attendance at the funeral's, I'm inclined to say that Tom* had a greater influence on the people around him than Koos*. See, Koos had exactly 15 people at his funeral, while Tom, had in the region of 450 - 500 people.

Having been to so many people - I've realized something. (Apart from the obvious, that we'll all die one day). The size of my funeral one day is not going to depend on how much money I have in my account, how big my business or ministry is, or how long my CV is - it's going to depend on how many people I choose to love. It's no secret that to make friends, we be a friend... to be loved, we love.

Maybe it's worth taking some time to think about your level of 'love influence' at the moment. How many people had a better day today, because YOU exist?

** Clearly not their real names.

REASONS TO GO VIRGIN

Virgin (Mobile) sends out a monthly newsletter that always ammuses me... enjoy
Mark


SHOULD WE CELEBRATE OUR LACK OF CELEBRITY CULTURE? (Matthew Freemantle)

Opinions are divided on Heat Magazine. There are those who think of it as a waste of trees and there are others who are wrong. Of course, like many of you, I am the worst kind of hypocrite. I will never buy the magazine but am thrilled when I find it on a friend’s coffee table. How cheap, I think sanctimoniously, before gawking at the ‘dodgy old photo’ of Gareth Cliff.

'We have done our best in South Africa to manufacture something resembling ‘celebrity culture’, but if we’re honest there is really not a lot going on.'
But even if it is occasionally interesting in a sordid way, how good can something be if it is best enjoyed while sitting on the toilet? There aren’t a lot of great things that are best enjoyed while sitting on the toilet. You are trying to think of one now aren’t you? Good luck with that.

Of course, this is not to say that the likes of Heat Magazine fail to address the defining questions of our time. Just last month, with the world in panic at the outbreak of the swine flu epidemic, that very magazine ran a feature on its website titled: “Piggy Flu: The Oinkers are attacking”. Now if that is not genuine, heartfelt concern I don’t know what is.
Their concern would, however, be slightly more obvious if they didn’t have a habit of running the heavy, bleeding heart features alongside the vapid, frivolous ones. It is an unnerving thing to see a “heart-wrenching” story on Oscar Pistorius next to another gasping at ‘Britney’s Tampon Malfunction’.
It’s…well, it’s inconsistent is what it is. And it’s confusing.

You’d have the same feeling if The Dalai Lama suddenly proposed to Fergie out of the Black Eyed Peas. (Which won’t happen of course, because Fergie is said to be “so happy” with Josh, said a friend close to the star)
We have done our best in South Africa to manufacture something resembling ‘celebrity culture’, but if we’re honest there is really not a lot going on. As hard as Heat has tried to tell us that our scandals are as scandalous as those in Hollywood, “Joostgate” just doesn’t quite roll off the tongue, does it?
As for paparazzi, well, we don’t have any. The photos we do see in Heat are more often than not sent in by the famous person themselves. A former Idols presenter whose name I won’t mention but whose surname rhymes with Toss is said to have emailed his holiday snaps to Heat in the hope that they would be published.
We should celebrate our dismal attempt at a celebrity culture. It is one of those things that is good to be bad at, like video games. Our uselessness goes under successes not failures. Do we really want to be like them, they who find it astonishing that “the Jolie-Pitts get their own groceries”? Of course not. Now, if you’re finished with that Heat, can you pass it over?