The test

The measure of a man's real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out." Thomas McCaulay

Lost

Today was the day I got my voice back. I've been sick for a while, nothing deadly, but just enough to slow me down. But the real killer was that for the first time ever, I fully lost my voice. Now, for someone like me, that's quite a thing. To make it worse, this weekend was our Senior Youth Summer Camp. I was kind of hoping that it would mellow me out, get me to sit and listen better to some of the kids on a bit more of a one to one basis. And you gotta beleive me, I did really try. And a few chats kind of fell into this category. But as a general rule I struggled under my thorn in the flesh. I think that tells you something about me that is a bit sad really. Anyway - it was a top camp. Phumezo was our speaker and considering that he usually gives talks in Xhosa he did a fine job. Not really any photos to speak of I'm afraid. A bit to preoccupied in being sick to get my act together with the camera. But if it helps you visualize, we had a awesome game of sardines and managed to hide about 20 people under a ground level trampoline, we almost killed a neighbours chicken, and I discovered that some of the grade 12 girls are struggling to get dates to their matric dances. Guys? honestly, what is up with that??! I guess I'm going to have to draw them a picture . . . Scott

Out

It's beautiful, isn't it? Serene, romantic, mellow.

The only thing is that qualities like serenity, romance and mellowness can't be imposed upon you. You have to choose them because you want them. That's the whole point.

So when the nuclear power station in the Western Cape is busted and they announce 50 days of rolling blackouts - it's none of those beautiful things. It simply sucks. Not to mention we missed the last CSI for the season.

This is one attempt at a solution. It was one fo the last ones in Cape Town, everywhere is sold out of everything to do with power. I feel like I'm in Beruit in the 80's.

Or Zim . . .now.

Scott

Don't be afaid

I just read one of the best things I've read in a long time. My brother's blog of Saturday the 25th. Read it because it's really good, but also because it's exactly how I feel. I was thinking about just cutting and pasting it to my blog, but that's just nasty. So do yourself a favour and go check it out at http://tubemantravels.blogspot.com Plus, the photo of Bairdy is a hoot (for you locals, he is the guy with the dog) Scott

HELL YES!!!!

On Saturday night, Leights and Kitty went to Moyo. They went for a walk across a moonlit bridge. He asked her if she would. She said yes. They're getting married. We're so happy! Well done guys and here's toa quick and smooth ride to the big day. Scott PS: the 3rd person in the photo is their waitress at Moyo - she's in there for context

The Tree

I didn't get Hayley flowers for Valentines day. In fact, I almost got her nothing. After weeks of thinking I realized I would have been better off spending weeks actually DOING something. Alas, as I was calling restaurants at 9:30pm on the 13th of Feb, some of them actually laughed at me. Humiliated, but not completely crushed, I made a late arvo trip. I came home with a tree. A tree is better than flowers because flowers die real quick. What's the symbolisms there?! No, a tree is permanent. A tree grows. A tree is life. A tree takes time. I figured that's kind of what I wanted to say about us, so I said it with a tree. Scott

Strange night no more

Tim, Chad, Darren, William and Kyle. The first grade 8 men for 2006. And as it turns out my nerves were for nothing! Great indoor soccer, festy great big gatsby with some glow in the dark fizzy drink and a game of brandings with one of those small bouncy balls Chad picked up from the shops. All in all a top start. It's Summer camp this weekend - so looks like we'll go from strength to strength. Scott

Strange Night

Taking a leaf out of my brothers recent post I wish to begin by saying . . ."Tonight's going to be a strange night . . ." I've got my first bible study with the new grade 8 boys. With nothing more than a soccer ball, R15 each for dinner and my trust co leader Joel by my side, we will step out into the unknown (literally, as I dodn't even know their names yet) and try and do this crazy thing called the grade 8 guys BS. I've been doing this for over a decade now, but to be honest, I'm still a little anxious. I'll let you know how it goes. Scott

Welcome Talia

After long hours of much hard work, Jim and Em are now jointed by Talia Joy. Top stuff! Cute kid! Much love. Scott

Monday Morning

Here is the view that greets me when I look out my kitchen window at present. Kinda cool. Scott

Cut and Chat

Order. Routine. Predictablilty. Most of our day to day existense depends on this sort of stuff. When it's taken away it becomes dangerous . . . but exciting. I courted the danger yesterday at Partners Hair Design at Cavendish. For the last 10 years I have cut my own hair. A no. 2 all over will do nicely, thank you very much. But I broke the drought and went to have my hair cut and carefully dishevelled by a professional. When I told my mum she replied - "What hair?!" But I'll ignore those kind of comments for now. I was completely lost from the start. Didn't know where to sit, who to turn to for help. I was in the chair for about 30 seconds when I was invited for a wash. It made my head tingle. Then back to the chair for the cut and chat. Then it was back for a rinse, then back to the chair for a gel. Needless to say I got up to go thinking it was all over about 3 times but I think I managed to fake it pretty well. And even though they didn't have much to work with, they did an outstanding job. There was a weird 'Seven-degrees-of-seperation" factor at work though - the girl who did my hair turned out to be the same one who cut my brothers hair when he was in town over a year ago. Wow. Thanks Dominic. I'll be back. We all need a little more danger in our lives. Scott

Goodbyes

I just read my brothers blog about saying goodbyes at airports. I'm reading him loud and clear (I was there). After 26 hours of less than average air travel I think I put my finger on what's up with that. Saying goodbye is a kind of dying. I'll leave you with that thought. Scott

The Boys

Rich Rich and Scott came over today. Tops to see the boys - seems like almost from another life time. But they- and many others - are still strong in the faith all the way from 1994. It's good that our God is gracious and long suffering. And it's also good that I've still got mates around like this. I'm taking the grade 8 boys at St James this year - could we go this far? I'm hoping so.

Scott

Blood Brothers

When you miss people by a few years, the time is usually spent with catch up. It's all you've got. You missed the moments, you can hear about them, but it's more like Uncle Bob's slide show of the Grand Canyon then a friendship. But not this weekend.

This weekend I felt comforted, strengthened and full of a joy infusion. It wasn't a mile a minute rollercoaster, more like a well prepared meal or a long cigar - or both. I now think I am ready for '06. And I've finally resolved some of those burning questions of life; How much would they have to pay you to have a large horn on your head for the rest of your life, or to become a cyclops? Or if you had 3 wishes, would one of them be to be able to breath underwater and not to get crushed by the pressure becuase you had steel skin?

So a big 'hell yes!' to Benny, Chad, Steve, Ressy and Kenny. And to Gregers, until that day my friend. Thank you brothers. The song below by Bruce doesn't speak exactly to our situation but you will know what I'm getting at.

Scott

We played king of the mountain out on the end
The world come chargin' up the hill, and we were women and men
Now there's so much that time, time and memory fade away
We got our own roads to ride and chances we gotta take
We stood side by side each one fightin' for the other
We said until we died we'd always be blood brothers

Now the hardness of this world slowly grinds your dreams away
Makin' a fool's joke out of the promises we make
And what once seemed black and white turns to so many shades of
gray
We lose ourselves in work to do and bills to pay
And it's a ride, ride, ride, and there ain't much cover
With no one runnin' by your side my blood brother
On through the houses of the dead past those fallen in their
tracks
Always movin' ahead and never lookin' back

Now I don't know how I feel, I don't know how I feel tonight
If I've fallen 'neath the wheel, if I've lost or I've gained
sight
I don't even know why, I don't know why I made this call
Or if any of this matters anymore after all
But the stars are burnin' bright like some mystery uncovered
I'll keep movin' through the dark with you in my heart
My blood brother

Pics

Reesy and Finn doing lunch

Cafe Benny

Everyone

A gigged out Chad

Rant

Just got some disturbing news from the home front. We have a troublesome neighbour. What's the trouble I hear you ask? Did she play her music too loud or use a hose instead of a bucket? No. She locked my brother in law out of our house using a chain and padlock. She incurred the wrath of Irma but that was just her starter.

Before I spring into action in a weeks time when I return, any suggestions?

Scott

The goats and a grey Sydney Sky

Big Red

Bearly coping

We spent the day at Taronga Zoo. It was expensive and reality often finds it hard to match the childhood memories. But nevertheless it was a good trip. And for lunch we had a Moroccan wrap. A big step from the days of dagwood dogs - and one to be applauded.

Scott

The Lion Returns

I have dipped into some books over the last few days and struck gold. I’ll try and deposit some of the nuggets on the blog over the next little while. I don’t want to bore you (second hand insights can get a little try hard) but as I said, this stuff is gold and will shine – even if I am its messenger.

I’m up to see Narnia any day now and I just finished reading the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. Check out this piece. (Aslan the lion has just been killed by the witch and risen, to the surprise of Susan and Lucy)

“But what does it all mean?” asked Susan when they were somewhat calmer.

“It means”, said Aslan, “that though the witch knew the deep magic, there is magic deeper still which she still did not know. Her knowledge goes back only to the dawn of time. If she could have looked back a little further, into the stillness and darkness before time dawned, she would have read there a different incarnation. She would have known that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s stead, the table would crack and Death itself would start working backwards.”

The director of the movie said that he wanted to recreate the fantasy world he enjoyed from the novel as a kid. He didn’t think C.S. Lewis had any intention of making it a reflection of the gospel. For he who has ears to hear . . .

Scott

Comfort

Today we spent time with Andrew and Liz and little Finn and Jamie out at Kellyville. There are a lot of things you could say about Kellyville, but I'll limit it to one - it was hot. 41 degrees. Instead of doing the BBQ we could have just lef the meat in the sun for 10 min.

But it was great to hang with Reesy and Liz and join with the beleivers at Kellyville Anglican. A really friendly crowd. Andrew spoke from Luke Ch 2 where Simeon sees Jesus for the 1st time. He pointed out that all that filled Simeon's horizon, why he got up in the morning, was to wait for the comfort of Israel. He recognised it's arrival in the baby King. Reesy challenged us to consider what fills our horizons as we face this new year.

So, what's it going to be? And think carefully, because much of what we rate as important is really just an impulse, and many of our 'wants' are really just needs aren't they? I'm hoping to take a leaf out of Simeon's book. I'll let you know how it goes.

Scott