My Take On The Royal Wedding

I’ve been totally caught off guard by this whole Royal Wedding thing.

I’m not violently against all the fan fare, as are some, just surprised really. It’s like the whole world has shut down to watch. In fact I heard that one third of the worlds population are watching this wedding as we speak! THAT’S 2 BILLION PEOPLE! Crazy stuff…

I guess it makes sense. People love tradition, people love weddings, and this truly is a historical event.

My only qualm is I just wish it was a bit more real – more authentic. You can see William and Kate keep sneaking smiles between each other, but it’s reserved, measured, as if they are following some sort of protocol or procedure that’s been dictated to them.

Such beautiful hymns and amazing verses of scripture being read to millions, and yet all done in such a regimented and stylized manner. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against structure and tradition, but surely it needs to be relevant to how people actually live and speak and interact in today’s world?

Just imagine the impact this wedding could have on people if the messages and readings were related in ways that made sense to the common man. Or maybe I’ve missed something…

If this was your “Royal Wedding”, how would you do it?

Holidays And Hotels

What is it with hotel shower curtains?

I’ll admit I haven’t stayed in thousands of hotels, but it seems like almost all of the ones I have stayed in have had really crappy shower curtains. You know the ones that are a little bit porous and never quite wide enough. Even though you are super careful to make sure the curtain is inside the bath, you still end up with more water on the floor than on your body!

It can’t be a money thing surely? I mean most of these hotels have fancy linen and flat screen TVs in the room. A decent shower curtain costs a fraction of these other luxuries. Surely they could spare an extra bob or two? Or maybe go all out and put in a glass door. Or is glass to risky for the general public?

Anyway, I digress…

For the past week my wife and I have been staying at a gorgeous hotel called the Beacon Island in Plettenberg Bay. As you can see in the photo, the hotel was built on probably one of the most exquisite locations in the whole country. And (other than the shower curtain fiasco) it has been such a wonderful stay.

I heard someone say that God loves to “create space for life” and that we too are called to “create space” in our own lives, and in the lives of others.

So often our day-to-day existence becomes just that – simply existing. We give our time to and fill up our plates with so many things that seem to steal life, not create it. And so this holiday Jess and I have tried to be really intentional about doing just that.

Creating space.

For our marriage. For our friendships. For our health. For our minds and thoughts.

We’ve ordered room service, lazed around the pool, exercised, slept, had deep conversations, spent quality time with old friends, and generally just switched off and relaxed.

Now of course all this is easy when you’re on holiday. But it’s got me asking questions…

How can I “create space for life” in my everyday world? What things do I need to let go of? What things drain me? What fills me up? What do I need to be more disciplined about?

And of course, what is wrong with this stupid shower curtain?!

For Those Who Tend to Worry About Nothing

“I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.” – Mark Twain

So true.

This past week has been a bit of a roller-coaster ride for my wife and I. First she was sick and we rushed her to hospital. Then things looked like they were getting better, but suddenly she was hurried off for emergency surgery. Then, just when we thought we were out of the woods, more complications…

And so when this morning, 4 days after her discharge, she started complaining of pain my mind was already in overdrive. We were going to have to take her back to hospital. Probably another operation. This time it’s really bad.

In actual fact, it was just normal post-operative pain. But I’d allowed anxiety and worry to strangle me.

Too often in life we expend so much energy worrying about things that might never happen.

Now, some things I think we will always worry about. Our health, our children. But there are so many other things – things that in the grand scheme dont really matter that much, that I find myself wasting mental energy on. I think Jesus knew this about us. 13 times in the gospels He says these words, “Don’t worry.”

He says things like “Don’t worry about about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Mt 6:34). He tells us not to worry in times when we are under pressure (Mk 13:11) or to get stressed over the issues of “everyday life” that seem to crowd around us (Lk 12:22).

And then he says these amazing words: ”Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not! And if worry can’t do little things like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things? (Lk 12:26)

He makes a good point.

You see, worrying is a bit like a rocking chair – it gives you something to do, but doesn’t get you anywhere.

So how do we stop worrying? Well, I’m not really sure. But I know these words of Paul can bring perspective and comfort.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:6-7)

What a beautiful promise.

Lord, help me not to worry about tomorrow and to take each day as it comes. Let my petitions and praises shape my worries into prayers. And may Your peace settle upon me and displace worry in my life.

3 Reasons Why I Love My iPad 2

Now I know Apple fans (or should I say Apple disciples) can come across as arrogant and superior. All PCs are seen as inferior and Steve Jobs is referred to as the 4th person in the Trinity!

This post is not intended to be like that.

I simply have experienced the iPad as a revolutionary device that is changing the way I work and would like to share why I think it is so fantastic. I could give many more, but here are 3 reasons that stand out…

1) It just works.
Firstly, Apple products come fully charged out the box. So all I had to do was plug it in and within 30 minutes it had already synced with my MacBook and iPhone and everything was set up. All my contacts, my calendars, my email accounts, browser bookmarks, password settings, photos, music, apps – literally everything! – even my high scores on the games I play. Voila!

2) It just feels right.
The iPad 2 is small and thin. Very thin. It easily fits into a handbag (I’m obviously referring to my wife’s handbag) or can be carried in your hand. I was a bit apprehensive about the typing experience on the tablet, but I have been so surprised by how natural it feels. I can type equally as fast as on my laptop, and the hand gestures and motion controls feel so intuitive a child could pick it up. The screen is bright and beautiful, and the entire form of the device is elegant and simple – an absolute pleasure to use.

3) It’s very convenient.
Last week I attended lectures and needed to do some heavy word processing, intense web browsing, draw diagrams, modify office docs, check mail, and even edit a film. Previously I would have needed my laptop, books, bible, a power chord, my laptop bag etc etc, but this week I have simply taken my iPad in hand and it’s easily handled the whole lot! And even better, even with all this heavy use, the battery life is incredible – over 10 hours and still going strong! And no need to lug cables and chargers around with you!

Of course I could talk about many more advantages of the iPad – like the gift it is for those of us who regularly communicate, preach or present. I could talk about the thousands of applications that enhance the device and personalize it for every user. I could talk about the dream it is to read books on. But let me instead pay homage to the wise and all-powerful creator of it all.

Thank you Steve Jobs, we love you. Amen.

Hospitals and Heartbeats

Most of my experience with hospitals has been from the practitioner end. As a Physio I’ve worked in various hospitals from government to private, in South Africa and abroad.

But the last few days I’ve experienced things from a different perspective.

My pregnant wife of 27 weeks was admitted on Friday morning with severe abdominal pain, only to discover that she had a kidney stone. With the risk of early labour, our little baba was injected with steroids to strengthen the lungs, and we were given the option to wait it out and bear with the pain, or go to surgery (with further risk to baby).

My courageous wife decided to wait it out till Sunday morning. If nothing passed by then, then we’d face surgery.

So, during the long days of waiting, sitting quietly alongside her bed, walking around the cold corridors, chatting with friendly nurses, visiting the nursery, and watching others come and go, I have a new-found appreciation for hospitals.

They are places of great sorrow, but also of great joy. Places where people are at their most vulnerable and desperate. Where masks are dropped, tears are shed, prayers whispered, and new life enters the world. They are places where I think we see the best of humanity. Where trivial worries are forgotten and families are brought together.

Back in our little room, every few hours the nurses would come to check the baby’s heart-rate. They would strap on a CTG machine and the room would fill with the most glorious sound I have ever heard. The sound of our child’s beating heart. Going full ball at 150 beats per minute! The sound of new life!

Unfortunately we couldn’t avoid surgery, and last night Jess had a stent put in to her right kidney. Everything went well, and praise God baby is safe!

I am so proud of my amazing wife and the way she handled the pain. I am so grateful for all the support we had from friends and family. And I am so grateful for these places that show us our true colours.

I asked Jess how I should finish off this blog, and she said, and I quote, “Kidney stones suck!”

Say No For Freedom

I think our society hasn’t fully grasped the idea of freedom.

We are told that freedom is “the absence of external constraints”. The ability to do what we want and choose for ourselves. That’s why we resist so strongly someone else telling us how to live.

And that is part of freedom. But there is so much more to it than that!

You see, freedom cannot be defined strictly in negative terms – as simply the absence of confinement. In fact, in many cases confinement and constraint are actually a means to greater freedom.

For example, if  you are a gifted sports person, you may practice, practice, practice for years to perfect your sport. You’ll wake up early, go the gym, and eat healthy. These are all restrictions – limits to your “freedom”. There will be many other things you won’t be able to do. But… that discipline and limitation will unleash your ability that would otherwise have gone untapped.

Sometimes you have to say no now for freedom later.

Yet, when it comes to issues of morality, we think the rule doesn’t apply.

And when someone says, “The Bible teaches you can’t have sex before marriage”, our gut reaction is “NO!! You’re taking away my freedom!” But, what I have come to realise, is that the only reason God says these kind of things is because He wants us to experience MORE freedom in the long term.

It’s the difference between freedom FROM and freedom FOR, and in my opinion, freedom FROM external constraints is less vital than the freedom FOR the life you were made to live.

Why GoPro Cameras Are Awesome!

Everyone knows that people love to talk about themselves.

But that’s only part of it.

Not only do we enjoy speaking about ourselves, we enjoy watching ourselves too!

That is why GoPro cameras are so awesome. The GoPro, which Gizmodo describes as “the world’s best sports camera ever”, is a wearable HD camera that sits inside a special housing designed for sports.

So… say goodbye to hours of boring footage of your friends and family without you in it. No longer will you have to beg your wife to stand on the pier in the early hours of the morning to film you surfing. No more cheesy selfies with the double chin (see above). Simply strap this ingenious little device onto your helmet, surfboard, skateboard, bicycle, or just about anything, and enjoy hours of HD quality footage of your-truly.

Even underwater (it is a well-known fact that you look good underwater).

Hell, I say invite your friends over, plug it in to the flatscreen, and wow your guests with blow-by-blow, wave-by-wave, jump-by-jump commentary of your latest adventures!

Seriously though, GoPro’s are ridiculously cool. I want one really bad.

Check out this video if your still not convinced…