Friday, May 16, 2008

Boy, did they get it wrong!

As I sit here typing the weather forecast on SABC is announcing... "No rain forecast anywhere in South Africa" while the thunder rolls outside and the pitter patter of raindrops on the roof tell me the opposite... wonder when they will stop using those apprentices over the weekends!
Not that I mind the rain although it has prevented me from taking Shrek for a cobwebs removal spin... where did this week go!
After last weekend's successful MX regional I am enjoying a slightly less stressful existence... even getting time to type a word or two on the blog!
I suppose by now you have seen the other posting of the day, the title of this one sort of reflects on this theme... It was not posted to blast or lambaste Oprah but to warn of the dangers out there. There is so many things that pose as goodness when in fact they draw you away from the daily walk with God.
While going to the shop earlier this evening L remarked how beautiful the sunset was with the gathering clouds, I was reminded how God is always providing us with what we need to survive this earthly existence. So I gave thanks while remembering so many have less than I have.
This got me thinking of a conversation I had with a shop owner today, we both agreed that a business salary package should look like a pyramid... on one side the unskilled and trainee workers, then the next level should be supervisors and then middle and upper management... the other side should be the directors... level with the average worker... Directors are usually also shareholders and often serve in other businesses boards... that means they get profit sharing from more than one source... no need for that multi million rand salary. Rather pay your workers and management more for doing a good job I say! I think big business has gotten it totally wrong with the triangular model followed by big business these days...
Oh... another guy getting it wrong is this... posted over on Megalicious Mayhem...
"'Whom are you?' he asked, for he had attended business college."
George Ade (1866 - 1944), "The Steel Box", 1898

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Beware the church of Oprah


Take a look and then wake up.
We are part of God's family through Jesus and only through Jesus.

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Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Just a thought

I was told it is high time that Vernon and Ken Lee disappear from the top of this blog, was working on a Mayday Motocross post but could not get the pic's off Moondancers memory card... it went Cyrillic on me!
What to do? So I was thinking of the last few weeks, one flat out rush and very little time to smell the roses except for the times when we both watched the sun set and rise on a new chapter in MD's life, half a century sounds a long time but when measured against Creation we are but a mote of dust, a moment in time.
That is when I realize once again that life is NOW. I am so glad to be a part of the now in all my loved ones lives but most of all glad that God is also part of my now. Without God's love and presence now is meaningless.
What the most amazing part is that with His love we are given the ability to give love without expecting anything in return, the act of giving is reward enough...
"It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing."

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Thursday, April 17, 2008

Vernon Koekemoer and Ken Lee

or how to show the world that you do not care what they think and become a national hero in the process...
We South Africans have our own counterpoint to Chuck Norris and The Hoff... Vernon Koekemoer, the one and only!
Vernon or as he is know in real life, Cassie Booyse is quite modest about it all but enjoying the ride...


Then in Bulgaria we find Valentina Hasan and her rendition of "Without You" made famous by Mariah Carey which she called Ken Lee. Watch all 3 and read the Wiki...






Both these people showed the world what a sense of humour and positive view of themselves can do, they both laughed at ridicule and in doing so have become heroes in their lifetime. We should all learn how to approach life the way they do...
So... when life seems to be getting you down or if someone laughs at one of your mistakes...
"Sing it as you feel it" Valentina Hasan 200
8

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Indescribable, updated...

If you can, get hold of "Indescribable" by Louie Giglio, this DVD is what God revealed to me as well in my life. This is just a short montage from the 40min presentation that Moondancer and I watched last night.
That God loved us small humans on this small pale blue dot so much that he sent his Son Jesus to take our sins on him on the Cross because he knows each and every one of us by name, just as he named each and every star that ever existed and that is still to form. God loves us with an indescribably huge love... bigger than the universe we know of... and that is already huge! Today's picture is from APOD 15/12/2007.
Since posting this I found the the full video, watch and be awed, humbled and blessed...
Indescribable - Louis Giglio



Indescribable - Chris Tomlin -
Composed by Jesse Reeves/Laura Story
From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
INCOMPARABLE, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

Here is the full song with a beautiful collage of images fitting to the lyrics...

After all that no quote would be fitting except... "Praise God who lives on high!"

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Monday, April 14, 2008

Efharisto

I like Latin Beat, especially if there is some good guitar work... so here are some examples with a special tribute at the end...
Exile had a hit with this song but the one I like best is from No Mercy...

No Mercy - Kiss You All Over

[via FoxyTunes / No Mercy]

When I get home babe, I'm gonna light your fire
All day Ive been thinking about you babe
You're my one desire
Gonna wrap my arms around you
Hold you close to me
Oh babe I wanna taste your lips
I wanna fill your fantasy
I don't know what Id do without you, babe
Don't know where Id be
You're not just another love
No, you're everything to me
Every time I'm with you baby
Cant believe its true
When you're laying in my arms
And you do the things you do
You can see it in my eyes
I can feel it in your touch
You don't have to say a thing
Just let me show how much
I love you, I need you, babe
I wanna kiss you all over
And over again
I wanna kiss you all over
Till the night closes in
Till the night closes in
No one else can ever make me feel the way you do
Oh keep on loving me baby
And I keep on loving you
Its easy to see when somethings right and something wrong
Well stay with me baby
And hold me all night long
So show me, show me everything you do
Cause baby no one does it quite like you
I love you, I need you, babe
I wanna kiss you all over
And over again
I wanna kiss you all over
Till the night closes in
Till the night closes in
Stay with me
Lay with me
Holding me
Loving me, baby
Here with me
Near with me
Feeling you close to me, baby
So show me, show me everything you do
Cause baby no one does it quite like you
I love you, I need you, babe
I wanna kiss you all over
And over again
I wanna kiss you all over
Till the night closes in...


Then again Bosson came along and made performed this amazing number...

Bosson - Efharisto

[via FoxyTunes / Bosson]

You make me live
I wanna say Efharisto

I'm gonna write you a song, so you'll understand
All that you see in my eyes and read in my hand
It's what I honestly feel
This time I know that it's for real
And 'til I find the right way, this is what I wanna say

Efharisto
For all the love you give
And the way you make me live
I'll say the only word I know
Efharisto
I thank the stars above
For this everlasting love
I wanna say Efharisto

You are to me like the sun
So warm in the sky
You are like sweet summer rain
As soft as a sigh

You're like the ocean so deep
Rocking me gently in my sleep
Don't know where I'm gonna start
So I just say it from the heart

Efharisto
For all the love you give
And the way you make me live
I'll say the only word I know
Efharisto
I thank the stars above
For this everlasting love

I say from my heart for your love
Efharisto
For all the love you give
And the way you make me live
I'll say the only word I know
Efharisto
I thank the stars above
For this everlasting love
I wanna say Efharisto

Efharisto
Efharisto

Both these songs make me realise that I am a very blessed guy... Thank you Moondancer... for being in my life, for sharing, for listening to my wild dreams, for being my muse and my critic, for being you... for letting me be me.
Efharisto... sounds so much more romantic than thank you don't you think?
"I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new."
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)

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Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Factor in the change

Life is about change... sometimes good, sometimes bad. It is how we handle that change that makes us winners or losers.
I was over on AD's blog and read that he and Babs had ended their relationship but are still friends, a change handled with respect and love so it seems.
Quite a few of my other blog roll friends have changed as well, some like Scully moved their blogs to invitation only, some shutting down everything, others like KatieB moving to a new town and a new career, from Moondancer and myself we wish you and B all the best, you will always have a place to stay and a place in our hearts.
Change can also be handled with communication... something I have to sharpen up on again and blogging was one of the ways I could articulate my thoughts and sort out the things that were bugging me, not that much is bugging me at present... but I think I need to start practicing again... As Autumn leaves bodes the onset of winter I will probably have more time as very cold days are not always pleasant to go riding on a bike, time and conditions will tell. I usually start suffering from bikelessness within 24 hours! I do have thermal wear...

Once again my music matches the subject by echoing the theme in the words from;
Anastacia - Seasons Change (Concert Vid)

[via FoxyTunes / Anastacia]


Cradle the weight of your life
You can survive
What lies before you
It's only a matter of time
Before the night
Turns into day
Oh, it should feel incredible, whoa..
To know you're not alone, uh
Just look in my eyes (just look in my eyes) whoa.. just look in my eyes

[Chorus:]
I said..
Happy turns to sad
Sometimes life gets bad
Things get rearranged
Nothing stays the same
It just never ends
Here we go again
One thing
Still remains, uh
Seasons seasons change

C'mon yeah seasons change
C'mon yeah seasons change
C'mon yeah seasons change

Are you scared of today?
Running away
I can see through you
Whoaoah..
It feels like an eternal haze
But it's only a faze
It's all in your mind
Oh, when you feel invisible, uh
Just know you're not alone
(c'mon, c'mon)
Just look in my eyes
(look in my eyes, huh, look in my eyes)
Just look in my eyes
Just look in my eyes

[Chorus:]

You can feel the air start to change
When you're walkin' out in the rain
And the colors inside your brain start fading
Til the winter is washed away
And nothing really feels the same
When sunlight's in your eyes
You feel alive

What I really want..
What I really want..
What I really want..
What I really want..
I said, yeah, yeah, yeah!
Yeah!

[Chorus:]

[Chorus:]

C'mon, c'mon yeah seasons change
C'mon, c'mon yeah seasons change

[Chorus:]
So as I go to get my warm top ponder this...
"There are two seasons in Scotland: June and Winter."
Billy Connolly

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Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Goodbye to a great cat...


Today was the last flight of a legendary aircraft, the
Cheetah. Currently being replaced with the JAS 39 Gripen, somehow I do not see a Griffon wearing spots...

"
April 8, 2008: The South African Air Force has retired the last of its Cheetah jet fighters, with the last fourteen of them being withdrawn from service."
This is my small salute to the machines and the men that flew them, so to all that flew with Spotty... Hamba Gahle.
They truly lived up to the Air Force motto...
Per Aspera Ad Astra wich means: Through Adversity to the stars.

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Friday, March 28, 2008

Welcome to the Iron Butt club...

Once again we did over 2000 kilos in a week... to say our bums are numb is an understatement... that being said we had an amazing seven days break and had a good time getting in touch with family again.
Rain gear in Smithfield... and all the way to Sheppie.

The bridge over the Orange River at night...

Umdlodi... at last a decent Java.

Full Moon...

Waning Moon the next evening...


Cormorant drying it's wings on the rocks...


Ballito and more coffee...

Argyle Arms... do not let the cover of a book fool you... a warm bed and good food for the weary travelers.
The Berg...

The Tree... reminds me of two other trees... One being the Easter Tree... the other was one I wrote a poem about. Putting it up down below...

Lichens pass from the other end...

Red mountains... and mountainous clouds... Moondancer taking in the view from the edge...

Almost home...
Here is the poem, not meant to be pretty but fitting with what we as Christians believe;
The Tattered Tree

The smell of Semtex frightens even the vultures.
The horror of shreds of bone and sinew hang in the tattered trees.
Inglorious, unjust, incomprehensible inhumanity.
How can one justify gaining freedom by making victims
out of the very people you claim to be standing for?

Time is supposed to fade the memory,
but today it seared my mind again just like that day!
Today another tribe is claiming to be a savior,
more evil than before they slaughter kith and kin.
They claim to be of divine ordination.

When will those blinded by worldly rights become aware...
that the condescending stance is but a weakness in the eyes of
those that contemplate the downfall of the very freedom that these rights ensconce?
That these rights are used as weapons to tear themselves asunder.

How many more of these tattered trees must humanity endure?
What must be done for peace to endure?
Then I remember another tattered Tree with it's unbearable load.
That's when I sink to my knees and pray...
This Easter once more I realized how much we have to strive to live up to the example that was show to us on that Tree... Love one another as I love you...

Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

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Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Pack your bags

Found some handy luggage for Shrek today, made to fit and with the right logo to boot. This will make those weekender's easier to do with enough room for at least 2 pairs of socks and underwear!
For longer excursions I will still have to figure out a way to accommodate two backpacks as panniers.
If all goes well we will be trying out this set up over easter in KZN. Hopefully I will get to see some of my family down there this time.
"Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of experience."
Francis Bacon

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