SEEDS OF PEACE -----
by Max Lucado

Never underestimate the power of a seed.

God didn't. When his kingdom was ravaged and his people had forgotten
his name, he planted his seed.

When the soil of the human heart had grown crusty, he planted his seed.
When religion had become a ritual and the temple a trading post, he
planted his seed.

Want to see a miracle? Watch him as he places the seed of his own self
in the fertile womb of a Jewish girl.

Up it grew, “like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry
and sterile ground.” (Isaiah 53:2) The seed spent a lifetime pushing
back the stones that tried to keep it underground. The seed made a
ministry out of shoving away the rocks that cluttered his father's
soil.

The stones of legalism that burdened backs.

The stones of oppression that broke bones.

The stones of prejudice that fenced out the needy.

But it was the final stone that proved to be the supreme test of the
seed. The stone of death-rolled by humans and sealed by Satan in front
of the tomb. For a moment it appeared the seed would be stuck in the
earth. For a moment, it looked like this rock was too big to be budged.

But then, somewhere in the heart of the earth, the seed of God stirred,
shoved, and sprouted. The ground trembled, and the rock of the tomb
tumbled. And the flower of Easter blossomed.

Never underestimate the power of a seed.

Does anyone remember the "song" Oh Superman by Laurie Anderson? I have just found a copy of her debut album and am listening to it now. The years may ahve passed but Oh Superman still sounds very strange!

Back in the good old days when Vinyl had no real competition for the punters cash, record companies made an effort to make covers as attractive as possible. Back then fold outs, stickkers, posters, zips, plastic fried eggs and all sorts of other bumf were used to make the packages more attractive. Today sadly D covers just dont ahve the same effect one a person!

So what are your favourite covers?

I saw this quoted on another website and thought it was pretty profound:

Christ sets His followers no tasks. He appoints no hours. He allots no sphere. He Himself simply went about and did good. He did not stop life to do some special thing which should be called religious. His life was His religion. Each day as it came brought round in the ordinary course its natural ministry. Each village along the highway had someone waiting to be helped. His pulpit was the hillside, His congregation a woman at a well. The poor, wherever He met them, were His clients; the sick, as often as He found them, His opportunity. His work was everywhere; His workshop was the world.

HENRY DRUMMOND

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."
The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."
Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.
You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.
To all of my crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers. :lovef:

As some of you may know I have a bit of a love of decent hi-fi equipment. I was going through one of the online mags when I found a review on speakers made by a company in Kloof, Natal. At near on £7000 they are a bit beyond me until I win that lottery check (and far too girlie looking) but it is good to see that products like these are coming out of SA. Take a look at these speakers Vivid Audio However at around R70 000 for the top of the range pair I cant see many people using them to play their old Jim Reeves and Bles Bridges records through.

Also, for those who realise that you listen to music with your ears and not electronic measuring devices here is a SA website for those seeking better sound quality than what CD can currently offer VinylSA

My Norton Anti-Virus will expire in a month & was just wondering whether it's worth it to re-new my subscription as I do have AVG installed as well.

I would be grateful for any advice.

I believe it was a 16-16 draw

Sure I saw a similiar thread here before but cannot find it!

Anyhow I am soon going for laser treatment for my eyes..has anyone else had this done and what was your experiences? Would love to hear it all!

I arrive there on Monday 7th/03/05 for three whole weeks. Will be thinking of you all I believe the temperatures are forecast to be in the mid to high 20'd.

Will also be doing the Garden route and wine route so hope you all have fun in the snow