I have finally found a way to live just like I never could before.
I know that I don’t have much to give, but I can open any door.
Everybody knows the secret, everybody knows the score.
I have finally found a way to live in the color of the Lord.

 
I have finally found a place to live just like I never could before.
And I know I don’t have much to give, but soon I’ll open any door.
Everybody knows the secret, everybody knows the score.
I have finally found a place to live in the presence of the Lord.

This is an important question that we all have to answer at some point in our lives.  I think it is best summed up in the following verse.

1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

The Apostle Paul’s Leadership was based upon influencing those he spoke to, to embrace the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world

In today’s world there are so many voices clamoring for our attention using all the tools of what is called the information age. We are bombarded through repetitive advertising declaring our need of a plethora of modern products. Heaven on Earth can be bought by merely swiping a credit card at the local super store.

We have the superstars of Politics, Sport, Business and Entertainment all clamoring for our adulation.  Religion has also joined the throng of those demanding cultic adoration, using all the modern tools to influence this generation. 

1 Timothy 6:7/12  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out,  and having food and raiment let us be therewith content.   But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. {erred: or, been seduced}

 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Stage show Christianity has become very self-centered, in that they too are promising a breakthrough into Heaven on Earth through a monthly contribution to their coffers. 

Along with some trinkets and modern media that will give you all the tools to prosper financially.  The magic formula of the Media Moguls that promise Health, Wealth and Success has been added to their portfolios.

Philippians 1:18 What then? Notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

So back to the question we started with: Are we Christ Centered or Self Centered?

2 Corinthians 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

I often wonder how we ever manage to raise our children. Somehow they always seem to know how things should be done. The older they get the more they profess to know.  The dawning of puberty coinciding with graduation to a high school , brings the inevitable mood swings and teenage arrogance. By the time they graduate, every suggestion you make may be discounted as old fashioned.

The first job cames along and soon they are in that know it all period of the third decade of their lifespans.  You say “dont get involved”, they get involved, soon you’re bailing them out of the deep water they are about to drown in.

With ears glued to their favourite popstars, they soon adopt the total ignorance and attitude of a young idol shouting the odds at the older generation.

Luke 7:32  They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. But wisdom is justified of all her children.

Of  course some grow up as ignorant as their parents ,  saying “Give up this religous nonsense and stop preaching to us, we have heard it all”

Christ experienced the same thing two thousand years ago.  Imagine if He had listened to the company of fools shouting the odds. The only real sanity in this world filled with madness , greed, violence and arrogance would have disappeared , and any hope of the answers to the extremely important questions of life would have gone with it. 

Those amongst the generation that listened to him personally survived the destruction of the  Jewish kingdom , giving us insight into the richest  wisdom in all the world. Nearly all the rest perished in the conflagration, some managed to escape and became the outcast’s of this world.  I wonder if their offspring , have learn’t the lesson yet, that it is dangerous to fall into the hands of an angry God. It took them 1878 years to regain the permission to settle in  the land they were given by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Yet their neighbours want them out, and they face conflict all the time.

Of course young popstars may think otherwise, while they surfeit on the temporary riches, indulgences and pleasures of this life.  Irreligous behaviour reveals their ignorance of the reality of the Glorious doctrines of Christ and the glory of the eternal rewards to those who serve Him.

John 7:33  For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! 
   
    

The rods are in the Water

Run For Cover

I am watching you said the Wild Beast

Hiding in Bush

The Morning after the Night before

Want a break from it all  ,  a couple of hours from the City of Gold (Joburg) you could be watching the Game.

The Leaves are tasty when you can reach them

 
If  you visit the reserve and camp make sure the ververt monkeys dont raid your  camp site.

http://www.parksnorthwest.co.za/borakalalo/

Camp Site

Sometimes we have to get away from it all , over december 2008 we went camping.  We visited Boschkop about  45 mins from JHB  on the Vaal Dam.

A View of the Vaal Dam

The Disciples were fisherman and you have to put your rods in the water to catch some.

Father and Son enjoying it together

A Nice yellow fish

Nothing like touching a Carp

So where will you be going , or have been ?  Its on the R541 after Vaal Marina  Click on it to enlarge: