TANGERINE DAYS

Surviving your Serengeti

2011-09-06T06:31:00.000-07:00

7 Skills to Master Business and Life.

A fable of Self-Discovery by Stefan Swanepoel

I chose to review this book for its title. The first chapter seems to havebeen tacked on to the main message of the book. There are 3 main characters,however the author sets a scene around a camp fire and has some interestingcast present, all seekers without jobs in an expensive upmarketcamping site. ‘Seronera’ a beautifulspot within the Serengeti was misspelt and thankfully ‘Grumeti’ was right.

The author has found an interesting way re-present good standard businessskills by linking it to the migration of Wildebeests and the animals in theSerengeti plains. He goes further and strategically pushes it as life skills.The book is a good example of - “Anenterprising person explores all options and boldly seizes every opportunity.”A quote from the book on page 75 an attribute of the enterprising NileCrocodile.

The key selling point has been publicized to the fullest - Which animal areyou? You can find this out on the website given at the end of the book or justGoogle it, that's what I did to find out more while I waited for the book tocome.

There is much to learn and re-learn from this book. I found myself reminiscingand linking what I read to my memories which made the whole exercise pleasurable. This book would be appealing  to someone who has not visited or lived in Africa or experienced a safari, I found myself lookingfor more.

I received this book at no cost. According to my agreement with www.booksneeze.com, publishers John Wiley & Sons Inc., above is my review of the book. This is my opinion it’s not influenced in anyway by the publisher or www.booksneeze.com. 

Book Review: Same Life, New Story by Jan Silvious

2011-05-22T13:24:00.000-07:00

Change your Perspective to Change your Life : A ten week bible study for women.

The synopsis on the back cover of the book is captivating: How's your life? Does it tell a wonderful story filled with grace, character, and courage? Or are you stuck in the past, struggling with regrets and fears? This certainly captivated me. The rest of the blurb at the back of the book tells you what you are about to read its going to be the truth, the whole truth and that is what you get! The language is clear and concise, its plain speaking. The introduction takes you further into what's in store for you, at no point are you in any doubt And you know this is not your usual Bible Study. It is going to bring about a change whether you want it to or not.

The devotion chapters build into the next leading you into the process of change. Each of the ten chapters begins with the story of a woman from the bible: Naomi, Leah, Rahab, Deborah, Hannah, Anna, Jehosheba, Abigail, Namaan’s Servant Girl and Elizabeth. The list of women was definitely interesting, not the usual list of ladies, they are certainly women of character who changed their future with a single or series of decisions followed by actions. You also get stories of women known to the author that authenticates and clearly illustrates a life status and how one may over come it. This book makes you want to overcome the challenge.

I have gone through the first and am into the second chapter, and am happy to pursue it further: I was specially happy to note it addresses the different ages of a woman's life from youth to the 50s plus.
The life themes are spot on: its in Chapter 2: Don't be held hostage by the Past.

I encourage every woman to get a personal copy of this book because indeed you would be underlining it as much as you do your Bible. I would also recommend it for a group Bible study to be presented in the same way the book does, allowing each woman to think for herself without imposition.

My review is late due to postal delay, I received the last mailed copy first and then the previous two! And was pleased to gift the extra copies.

I received this book at no cost. According to my agreement with www.booksneeze.com, publishers Thomas Nelson, above is my review of the book. This is my opinion it’s not influenced in anyway by the publisher or www.booksneeze.com.

Forgiving: It's not Easy

2011-03-20T10:47:00.000-07:00

This is the second time I await a book from Booksneeze.com, already have my eye on the next book I would love to have! I asked, Why would someone want to steal a Christian book anyway? then quickly came the more positive thought ... It could bless the stealer!

My first instinct is to get angry when I am hurt by words or actions, the next is to complain about it, and third is to hold a grudge. I am good at holding grudges and plotting revenge, I play the whole thing out in my brain.
Ever done that?
But it takes too long to wait for the right time to get even, and going out and starting the fight often opens a Pandora's box causing more pain and hurt, this time a rift in the relationship. I found this quite unproductive especially within the home and when the person is a parent or sibling who are going to be in your face day in day out!

I then came across RT Kendal's book Total Forgiveness, and this too after knowing the Lords prayer and mouthing the prayer thousands of times!
What I gained from the book: I was to forgive the person directly if possible and indirectly if not.
Next, do not tell anyone else about it. Now this was difficult, but managed it for a couple of occasions, only to be royally foiled one day. When a colleague insulted me in front of another, I kept quiet (a feat for one who has a biting tongue and quick to retaliate) and the other colleague then took me aside and questioned me and said I should sort it out. Well I didn't want to waste the time sorting it out, as I was happy to be alienated from this particular person! But, that isn't forgiveness either is it? So there I learned I had to forgive internally and put this behind me and not talk about it. The last point that actually got to me first was to pray sincerely for the enemy to be blessed! This was a tough one, but turned out to be easier than the other two.

More soon! Will welcome your thoughts!

Family Update 2011

2011-02-06T09:25:00.000-08:00

2010 came and went!
However it has brought an addition to our family. Aliya Menezes was born on 24th January 2011 to Floyd and Sudeshna. Floyd is Royston's younger brother.

High Lights of 2010:

Mum and I went to New Delhi for 3 days we arrived on the 1st December 2010, we flew there and back, had a lovely 2 days then Mum caught viral fever and we made a painful and long journey back. Flight delays with Go Air are the norm a delay in the journey out and the journey back had 2 delays, we reached home after midnight!
I am glad to say Mum has made a good recovery and is glorying in being lighter! She has lost some weight.

We did not send out Christmas cards and Mum made her famous Christmas cake after Christmas with help from Kyrie and Debu.

We celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary, that was a funny session, I was totally teary and Royston read his lines to the Church! Our Church hospitality group cooked the food and we served pork with bread to at least 350 members. Kyrie and the team worked all Saturday, Royston supplied them with all the ingredients and then spent the morning of Sunday ferrying it all to the Church. The background work was carried out with so much cheer we were blessed.

Kyrie found a nice job in March 2010 and enjoys it even though she has several different shifts. It is a 24/7 job. I now am a process Trainer got the post in August 2010, haven't started my actual job but will be doing so sometime this year.

We moved into Roystons family Flat 4 Anchor House in February 2010, very noisy as its on the Kondwa main road, the traffic roars like a chinese dragon by 10am every week day! Its dusty too! But, Royston and Kyrie love it, Kyrie enjoys having her own large room and bathroom. This year she contributes to the maids salary and so has a nice tidy room too! I am happy I have a little niche in the sitting room for my jewelry work. Miss the storage arrangement of the previous house though! We haven't cleared out much of what was in the flat and added our own!

Royston had a change of process and is now happy and settled in the new job. We stayed well last year with Gods grace but didn't lose much weight.

2011-01-27T14:24:00.000-08:00

Review of: On This Day in Christian History: 365 amazing and inspiring stories about saints, martyrs and heroes by Robert J Morgan, publisher Thomas Nelson

2011-01-08T14:25:00.000-08:00

The book arrived on the 1st January, 2011 right on time!

The book is what its cover states a devotional. The language and presentation is interesting in its simplicity, and allows the wealth of the words capture your heart and head.

The Book starts with: Verse by Verse about Ulrich Zwingli a not so ordinary Bishop one of many people who created an awareness of the need for change. Each story is unique and thought provoking like Mary Slessor’s story, and the scripture verses that inspired each person so varied. Reading from the back of the book and the middle noticed every page has a story about an ordinary man or woman who was born or died or accomplished something on that very day. In my opinion a good way to bring awareness of one can do and of the people of faith that have in some way changed the face and heart of Christianity not being a theologian and don’t have an interest in reading autobiographies. This book could be interesting to historians and theologians as Robert J Morgan has insightfully added some uniquely interesting people out of the ordinary.

I Received this book at no cost. According to my agreement with booksneeze.com above is my review of the book. This is my opinion it’s not influenced in anyway by the publisher or booksneeze.com.

Book Review: Out Live Your Faith By Max Lucado

2010-10-31T15:00:00.000-07:00

I stumbled via upon booksneeze.com and signed up not really believing I would get to participate as I live in India. I was overjoyed to when I received the book for free! Keeping to the agreement here is my review.
Max Lucado's books don't come cheap here but we pay the price for them because they are worth it. His simple style with insights gleaned from normal everyday encounters marks this book too like the encounter with the Traffic Policeman who illustrates Gods pardon.

Each chapter is a story in itself and so you could read the book over a period of time if you wanted to. The selections in total bring home to me the fact I am called to do just what Peter, the disciples, Jesus family, and all the early Christians did, spread the Word and take it to the ends of the earth. Live the Word and share it with the people I meet everyday. Pray for eyes that see as Jesus did, ask for wisdom, exercise my faith every day and pray, pray, pray. Look for areas to help and join with others I don't have to start something of my own. And most of all give the Gospel, do not forget that vital ingredient.

Max Lucado delights from the word go, I like the way he acknowledges all especially the line for his wife. All the words and work that goes into the book are meaningful you know the whole book was written from the heart, and covered by prayer and not Max Lucado’s alone. The Contents of the book indicates that this book contains information that will equip you to go out and Out Live Your Life as well as encourage you along the way.
One hundred percent of the author's royalties from Outlive Your Life products will benefit children and families through World Vision and other ministries of faith-based compassion.

Earrings

2010-09-15T13:52:00.000-07:00

Earrings! As most things do, it all started with a need. I wanted pure silver earring wires for my tatted jewelry. I am in India, where all the semi precious stones I enjoy are! So it was just a matter of learning the skill and sourcing material, how difficult could that be I thought!

The World Wide Web is where I got to know how. Next, sourcing the tools turned out to be a challenge, getting silver wire is the easiest, getting aluminum wire is next to impossible! I started at a little silver jewelry shop on Center Street, he offered pure silver wire cheaper than sterling silver and was curious as to why I wanted adulterated wire!

The hardware shop on MahatmaGandhi Road had a few tools. So started my search for more specialized tools which took me into Sone Maruti Chowk, Pune City … now this was amazing but it is a story for another time. The shop that sells a vast array of tools is the busiest hole in the wall, yet it did not stock the ones I needed.

The next step was shopping on the internet, but shipping costs twice as much as the price of the tool! I turned to friends, leading to networking, making new friends, and relying completely on their goodwill; thank you, you know who you are.

I invest a lot of time and money. Not making much of the latter though! Probably because I wear, not sell what I create. Besides breaking the ‘home made’ mindset is tedious. The enjoyment is boundless, the pleasure from appreciation of my work is enough. I like my creations and get bored replicating them, discipline is a work in progress! Next is the Tangerine Jewelry Store.

Books

2010-07-05T08:13:00.001-07:00

Two books that have set into my mind: Son of Hamas, Mosab Hassan Yousef with Ron Brackin and A Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers.

Son of Hamas: An incredible recount of a young man making big decisions based on simple truth. Love your enemy. Deciding to give assistance to the enemy after weighing the differences and choosing to shun the greater evil. Prison experiences in either jail could not have been less humiliating or scary. In the midst of great fear rises a David taking on an immense goliath.

A Lineage of Grace: Awesome stories of the women who against all odds had faith in the God of Abraham ... oh to have simple faith like they did and to receive the awesome rewards they received from God, to be ancestors of Jesus Christ.

2010

2010-01-04T08:37:00.000-08:00

2010 has arrived, no rapture and to be truthful I didn't prepare. Funny, the movie 2012 and Armageddon documentary, publications all subtly point to one thing, CHANGEs .

But why would it be different? We are not thinking differently, I know I am not.

Looking back I see the future.

This wooden jar has my potpourri, my type. It contains spices, flowers, leaves, moss, lemon oil, potpourri oils and cloves, cinnamon ... things I've picked up and added to during my last 2 years in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

2002 to 2005, I opened it frequently. look through the bits and remember, smell the smells of my past. The moss from the trees on the edge of Ngonrongoro Crater, the nutmeg from the spice farm in Zanzibar, the sea shell from Cape Point in Cape Town, the twig from the Table Mountain ... the leaf from Glasgow, some lemon slices I added in sometime ago here in Pune. A piece of walnut shell from Manipur, they are unusual the shell is very crinkly.
The jar contains highlights of our lives, like my mind.

Tatting: was the craft I worked with, I tatted Christmas Baubles. Made pocket money and pursued my hobby with joy. I knitted for Kyrie and I crocheted for our home. Stars for our dining table.

2003 I got a job, what a blessed event. Royston then got a job just when our money ran out! Jehovah is the God who provides. My mother had her cataract operation, sadly unsuccessful. New friends were made that have made big differences in our lives and who are dear to me.

2004 moved to Naga Christian Fellowship, a Church that has blessed us as a family and who have introduced us to the next type of Church. A whole different set of friends. New avenues were pursued.

Tatting: Jewelry now! and making some sales too.

2005 still working hard to make ends meet, always having Jehovah provide via my sister in the nick of time. My mum has another operation to remove a split lens within her eye, Jehovah was our healer.

Tatting: is still the craft. The Jewelry is still making an impact.

In 2006 I went to Glasgow for a month in November, the repercussions were immense and all personal. Jehovah was our shield and protector.

2007 was regrouping and manning different battle stations. Under Jehovah's wing.

2008 we got internet connectivity at home and Face Book brought back my past. Joyous! friends I had never thought I would ever connect with again found me! Jehovah bringing light.

2009 I turned 49 and have not been so fat as I am now. I look back and see the fragments of my connection with Jehovah my provider, my healer and my light.

Wire Wrapping Jewelry takes precedence over Tatting: Sales are better, results are quicker. Investing every penny back for better tools and knowledge.

I look to 2010, Jehovah will you take my hand?

Damian Mcginty - Bird without wings

2009-07-26T13:48:00.001-07:00

New Work

2009-04-29T13:20:00.000-07:00

This is the latest work I've done.

I've included a picture of it in progress to show how it was done.

Last of all added a wire, which made all the difference!

Tatting and Chatting

2009-03-06T07:35:00.000-08:00

This work done in the past... I am preparing for a forthcoming exhibition... very small and local. But have found it difficult getting an original pattern out. Well keeping at it. Will post pictures very soon.

Tatting Tryout

2009-01-31T14:30:00.000-08:00

Those are the bells I made from the pattern gift Marilee gave us. Working out something new and hoping for the best.

Sisal

2009-01-14T12:22:00.000-08:00

The Stalk of the Sisal that grows the seedlings is what I use as my Christmas tree! Got these lovely photos from The Lawns Hotel http://www.lawnshotel.com
Tanzania has sisal plantations. The story goes that 62 seedlings were brought and were used to start the plantations.

My stalk had seedlings in every little bracket. They started falling off as the stalk dried, they had little roots too!

This is what the plantations look like. More often the sisal plants along the borders are allowed to mature and the stalks grow nice and tall with the seedling sprouting out.

Young plants.

Harvesting.

Drying the fiber.

The stalk is fibrous too and very light. My mother carried is about a 50 meters and it was 6ft or more tall to her 4:11''. She brought it for me after making arrangements with the gardener of Mt. Carmel Convent to cut it for her. Several sisal or jute as it is called in India are growing wild on the hillside.

Each year during the monsoons, I fret over it, as am afraid it may develop mould but it comes through. Just need to dust it often. This year I shortened it by about 18 inches. I think its a manageable height now.

May you have Peace in 2009

2008-12-30T09:26:00.000-08:00

May you have PEACE, GOOD HEALTH AND PROSPERITY in 2009.

May we understand the strength and power of GOD, in a thunder storm and winter, in the quiet beauty of creation and in the calm of a summer sunset and ...
May we come to realise that insignificant as we may seem in this great universe, we are an important part of God's Plan
May He watch over us and keep us safe from Harm.
An excerpt from An Irish Blessing by Phil Coulter.

I pray that all of us will have a good 2009, that we will take the time to pray for our countries, our neighbours, our friends and family. But most of all we will pray for forgiveness and grace, that as we freely receive it from our God we will freely give it to one and all.

.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-21T11:07:00.000-08:00

Its getting chilly in Pune, just the right weather to having us feeling warm and Christmassy.

I Wish all of you a Merry Christmas.....remember as we celebrate the anniversary of Jesus birth, He came for you and me.
He came with Grace to give us Peace and Hope of a brighter future.

I am looking forward to a week of working on my tatting. For those of you interested in the Metallic threads, I can send some to you to try out. I shall work out cost of threads and postage and make that available. The thread is made of some non natural fiber, when stretched I can see strands of an acrylic kind of fiber. And it does not need to be twined with any other thread, unless that is the effect you want.

My tree is up, Photos to follow in couple of days..............Merry Christmas :)

Metallica and Blues

2008-12-16T12:36:00.001-08:00

These are the metallic threads I use. I use 2 strands and get a reasonable thickness. The best part about these threads, it is very easy to undo.

Unraveling is also easy, no tangling! The only down side is limited selection of colors.

I am looking into setting up an on line buying link.

The gold looks nice in the photo, but in clear light it is a little garish.
The pink and green have been standard for the last 2 years now.

Used a firmer hand tatting these earrings, and quite like the results. Though think it would have turned out better with a slightly thicker thread.

The blue glass beads were suddenly available after hunting for them every where!

Next Tigers eye!

Tangerine - Led Zeppelin

2008-12-06T15:16:00.000-08:00

Tangerine by Led Zeppelin, came across his song, quite good, a short song about a past love.

Tangerine Days - is what I felt when I drove down by the beach in Dar es Salaam, with the salt water mist in the air and the smell of ripe tangerines, its the smell of the air that hits you when you get off the plane. Its the smell of childhood and home.

I wanted to get the latest earrings I've done for all of you to see, but could not find it, guess Royston didnt move it out of my camera.!

This one though, is one of my attempts at tatting over wire. The branch is a Sisal tree, I use is as a Christmas tree.

Necklace and Rickshaw

2008-11-30T14:42:00.000-08:00

Kyrie and Royston inside the Rickshaw, we are in the rickshaw next to them, the drivers pulled up together at traffic lights to decide which route to take! Thought the rest of you would enjoy the photo. Traffic can be chaotic in Pune, and a dual lane road can have 4 lines waiting for lights to change, when they do, all four vehicles converge into hopefully a dual lane road.

This is a close up of a necklace still in the making, I have this idea in my mind, will be adding one more strand and will then close. Should finish it soon. Suggestions for the combination of beads and pearls on the third stand are welcome!

Forgive

2008-11-29T14:23:00.000-08:00

When we humble ourselves and confess to our Lord Jesus and our people, then can we hope and believe our land will be at peace.

I pray for the safety of the men in our Army who are putting their lives on the line to secure our safety.

A few years ago in Dar es Salaam, a group of youth from Uganda visited our church. And a young man in the group stood up, and asked us, an Indian Church in Tanzania for forgiveness. For those who don't know, during the time of Iddi Amin, all Indians in Uganda were asked to leave the country and all their property was taken away. Many tragedies took place because of that.
It was a unique experience, my daughter who was quite young and did not know anything about the incident was touched by the cry for forgiveness, and rose from her seat and went up to hug the young man and offered forgiveness.
It was awesome like the hand of God reached down to soothe His child.

Much like the truth and reconciliation movement that took place in South Africa.

As you read this, I pray you will join me and pray that our land will find peace, that you will forgive us for not being able to keep your loved ones secure.

My heart cries out to Jesus for your children, fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters who have been terrorized, hurt and killed on our soil. Pray that it wont happen again, pray for our military that they will be safe to continue secure our safety.

As Christians we must realize, we are gentiles, the Jews are our brothers, and Muslims our cousins, when all three of us learn to live in peace in Jesus, we will be free indeed....pray for this day.

Welcome

2008-11-29T13:15:00.000-08:00

This is my Treasure Chest. It is filled with earring equipment! I have been blessed with two lovely ladies, who have helped me procure them, I really appreciate them.

Hello Jane, I am honored that you are following my blog. Your tatting sites and all the work you have taken the trouble to post on the internet has led to what you see on my sites today, thank you! Be proud, the student honors the teacher!

I do appreciate both Heather and Michael, TattingChic, the other lovely ladies who follow and comment. Gives me inspiration to keep tatting.

I have got metallic threads this Friday. I will post a picture soon, the colors are gorgeous and they are good to tat with.
I use 2 squares of a mosquito repellent board to string the thread on when I separate them from the skeins, will add a photo.

Tatting and Beading

2008-11-28T08:29:00.001-08:00

These are my newest addition, a design inspired by Nina Libin and Irish Niebach. These are not for me!

These earrings on the right are part of my personal collection. I am preparing a collection for others.

These are for another! They are my version of Marilee - Yarnplayers design.

Tatting not at Standstill

2008-11-24T12:26:00.000-08:00

These were my very first attempt at Christmas baubles!
It took a little measuring but got them just right.

They are pretty even if I say it myself. I was quite proud of the collection, it was tricky using glass paints.

Then I got interested in earrings, and so put them away, also dusting was a nightmare! I've some new earrings, just waiting for Royston to help me move them from my camera to the computer!

For those who follow this blog, please see my tatting on www.eTatters.ning.com

I also got hooked on Facebook! Now we have internet connectivity at home! I am so pleased because I caught up with my first and only group of sunday school kids and my lovely nieces in Seattle, amongst others.

When I became a Christian in 1997, in Dar es salaam Tanzania, my baby Kyrie was between 9 - 10 years old, and just like the child she was she made her decision immediately! We were blessed we all made a commitment together as a family.
Some how hospitality and Sunday school became our areas of contribution then, and now I am with the networking team contributing to the quarterly news letter and Kyrie is with the hospitality team! I took up Sunday school so that Kyrie and the other kids could learn about Jesus and have fun, and we did. The kids are all young ladies and men today! It was heart breaking leaving them in 2002. So I am thankful for internet!

These are my Libin Re-makes

2008-11-06T15:05:00.000-08:00

As you can see, I have modified one to make into a longer earring and the other to get a short effect. The pattern posted on the net by Nina Libin were so good and simple to make, I went ahead and made several.
Interestingly, met a lady who liked the black earring and so will be making a set for her.

I now am the proud owner of a Nikon Coolpix digital camera, so will have some photos soon. I am working on a blue green pearl necklace on wire. I am pleased to say the earring came out well. Photos to follow....

Thanks Giving : Say thank you for yourself and others

2008-10-31T05:12:00.000-07:00

Thanks Giving: Royston said when he shared about Thanks Giving on 25/10/08 is the joy of a two year old who keeps giving what she has in her hand to you because you encourage and show your appreciation until she has nothing left, then takes it all back from you and again starts giving. That joy would be similar to the one God gets when He gives us so many things, life, the air we breathe, food, shelter and fellowship with Him.

How many times do we remember to Thank God for the air we breathe unless we some how cannot breathe, may be because somebody is threatening us and we are fearful?
How many times we are disappointed when we are not recognized for what we do for someone, is God Disappointed with us too?

I am grateful for the air that I breathe in Pune it is still good, not filled with pollution. I am grateful I am able to go to Church on Sunday and worship with everybody openly and not fear that someone will come into the Church and drive me away, drive me out of my home, and force me to live in camps. Today I remember my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, who are worshipping in the camps in Orissa. We have a young friend who is there as a supporter, he said they are cooking for thousands each day in unhygienic conditions, the despair is high and anxiety and exhaustions stops them from being able to eat to sustain their strength. PRAY for the people that have gone out to support our brothers and sisters and children in Christ. PRAY that God will hear from heaven and blanket them for the sight of inhuman people, who for a pittance would attack their own.

PRAY for INDIA that we may be a nation where we all live in harmony.

Change of Scene from Tatting

2008-10-11T04:04:00.000-07:00

Received a call from Shamine, reminding me of my earlier posts, and asking for some of those although she does like the tatting and has offered to come by and help me with the photos! Looking forward to that. Meanwhile this is let you know that I am working on something else. I have ordered Marilee's book, and then found out my sister Tessy has ordered and received it! I hope you received my message Marilee. Today I updated links to my favourite tatting sites, there are more like Ires Niebach's and Nina Libin work and Tatting Chic too, but found it difficult to add their links, so next time. Wanted you ladies to know I appreciate your work.

Up Closer

2008-09-27T06:26:00.000-07:00

Applauding my supporters.
Royston is my friend and husband and forms a formidable critic. If it does not look good he says so!

This is Kyrie my daughter, she forms one part of my support and critic. The others are Royston my husband and my Mother.

I am not wearing my creations, but my earrings are made of brass and sea glass beads and the necklace is a collection of semi precious stones with pearl as well, made by a village lady who was selling her ware outside a temple in City, Pune. She had put 2 seeds that are supposed to be auspicious, but I have removed them.

Both Kyrie and Royston encourage me and go with me shopping for new material, they also act as my translator. (For those who don’t know, my Hindi is practically non existent and with my companions constantly with me, I don’t make very much of an attempt to learn).
Today while skimming through my diary and bible in Church, I noted that I have not quite accomplished several points on my New Years Resolutions List! It helped me remember I am saved by Jesus’ Grace.

My Caramels

2008-09-27T06:08:00.000-07:00

These turned out to be stable as used wire for the tatted ring. I also found stronger old gold colored earring hooks, I used shaded cotton tatting thread in earth tones and some gold beads. The caramel stones are actually called something else and were more expensive than the other semi precious stones, but are so delicious. I have made another set using cream beads with the caramels and a simple tatted loop at the top, but didn’t take a photo, however the silk is not really durable and got caught on something and started fraying. So will be using a different thread.

Tatted Blues

2008-09-20T03:01:00.000-07:00

These are my Nina Libin adaptations, her pattern was so simple yet special. However these are all singles! The centre is a tribal pattern and I will be doing it with wire. We worship at the Naga Christian Fellowship Church, and they have colorful tribal costumes and beaded jewelry so intend to make them in tribal colors.

I have a long list of when-I-get-to-it’s, so decided to list them here for accountability!

Purple and Pink Earrings

2008-09-20T02:44:00.000-07:00

Purple and Pink Earrings

Incase you noticed, I love my prop. These earrings are a favorite, I loved the beads and they look so pretty with the black cotton thread.

I’ve got 3 colors here, purple small beads with the tatting, pink trios and a large purple, that weight the earring and keep it balanced. I am experimenting with wire in the same pattern because the swirls tend to twist from side to side.

I have been so blessed by Hills Song music Mighty to Save album this past 4 weeks! I pray that our God meets everyone of their needs. Then discovered that Desert Song is even more beautiful.

Not Tatting

2008-09-13T04:02:00.000-07:00

This is a different earring. : The stones have an opal essance but did not have any thread that would let the stones shine. So made these with wire and a lock. Working out the same with tatting.

Tatted Earrings

2008-09-04T01:16:00.000-07:00

I am still learning to set my page correctly! Always want to share every new picture. At the top are Iolite and Garnet neck lace I bought, and I made the earrings

I took a close up of my ‘blue project’ and have it as my desktop background. It looks lovely.

My technique has improved I have been visiting Elizabeth Zipay, Jane Eboral and Jon’s sites and picked up some very good tatting techniques and inspiration, thank you Ladies.

I now use a combination of techniques learnt from all of you ladies and Annie who makes necklaces and earrings. I have incorporated wire in my work and also use the crimp lock to keep the wire in shape and stable. It is easier to tat over the wire frame then to take the wire along as I noted on Iris Niebach’s video. Silk thread on wire is awesome, see my Caramel earrings.

All the material I use is from India and I have a nice collection of semi precious stones and fresh water pearls along with a host of beads. I intend to get a silversmith to make earring hooks for me.

My challenge at present is piercing a hole into the Jacaranda seeds that I have collected. I can visualize the necklace and earrings I could make with them. The problem is the seeds are very hard and smooth and a hand drill does not work, I have broken several bits so far!

I love the tatting shuttles Grizzly Mountain offers and hope to get some someday soon.

Tatted Earrings -- Photos at last!

2008-06-08T07:03:00.000-07:00

I was excited with my achievement.
These past two weeks have been exciting, I was not able to concentrate on anything else. I have more coming soon. As you will see below, all of you lovely tatters have influenced my work. I am now going to work on using the magic thread technique so that hiding the loose ends will be easier. At the moment I am fiddling with a very thin crochet hook and thanking God the metallic anchor threads are easy to manipulate.

Found some tiny beads in some interesting colors. Hope I can get the photos on for you to see soon. Thank you so much for all the encouragement!
Picked these Citrine stones below at a Rajastan trade fair, they had added deep pink stones. Dismantled the earrings to make my own. It was easy to make these as they had pierced a hole through the stones, unlike the red malachite below which does not have a hole through it and so I wrapped the wire around it!

These Jade and copper earrings were good. I finally got the earrings to fall straight. Its also due to the weight of the green jade beads. Used copper colored metallic thread and copper beads to embelish.

This Gold and blue glass beads earring were one of my sucesses after many attempts. Picked this pattern from Marilee's page 'Yarnplayers blog', thank you. Now I am struggling to get more of these blue glass beads. The earrings were admired at work and sunday service.

These earringsin Pink with blue glass beads are my current accomplishment! This pattern is picked from the Gutenberg edge pattern. Used the dimple yorkie technique for the top portion, but twisted it out and upward and added some length before attaching the hooks.

Here are the Red Malachite earrings and is my first attempt at working with wire and Needle Nose Pliers! These stones have history. Bought them at Sopa Lodge in Arusha, Tanzania while on safari in 2001, work related and fun! They were selling them by midget bucket fulls of assorted semi precious stone, only draw back they are not pierced.

Grace and Grateful

2008-05-26T02:40:00.000-07:00

Got no photos! Still working out how to get photos done quickly. I love the clarity of the photos on Yarnplayers blog page. I am proud to announce a visit from two tatters who blog. Told my husband I had arrived!
I have made some earrings using anchor metallic thread freely available here, but dont count on the colors remaining constant! I have worn them to work and church and always get good reviews, anyway I have already established a name for having unusual earrings!

I have started a project, not sure what it will be, but been browsing the net today and most likely to use it a cover for my bible. Its in blue and the pattern is from the Guttenberg site. I love the old patterns.

Grateful to all of you who have put up technique pages and videos, they have helped me.

Something else.... that has been on my mind for a while now.....
A couple of weeks ago a preacher gave the sunday teaching. A learned and talented man, liked in the community....but.....
He always projects the Indian nod as I call it. Difficult to explain it to a non Indian who may have not seen it. Anyway its neither a yes nod nor a no nod! Its a side ways kinda thing, which leaves on guessing, including me!
Comming from a non indian background, but being very much indian, I usually am quick to pick up a racial slur.... and this one always gets to me.
Sooooo... chewed on it for several days.... and yesterday, a different preacher teaching on the Adulterous Woman from the book of John Chapter 7 and 8.... commented .....Grace is costly.
And it was suddenly clear ... I go to the Naga Christian Fellowship and my membership allows all the non Indians and the Nagas to see me and feel the love I have for them and forgive the transgressions they receive from Indians.
However, I objected to a missionary mocking the people he has come to reach out to!.... So it is up to me to project love and grace to this missionary and somehow make it clear that racial slurrs work both ways. As you give it so it returns in some form or another.
Still hanging on to Jesus, I have not arrived but I am getting there....!

Tatting and Thoughts

2008-02-23T07:21:00.000-08:00

Today 2/02/08 I saw a book on Pro Life that had a picture on the back cover of a 24 weeks foetus whose arm was reaching out of her mothers womb through an incision grasping the surgeon thumb. They were operating on the foetus to correct spina bifida.
It was incredible, I could see all of her five fingers with tiny nails and her hand was smaller than the surgeons thumb nail!

This reminded me of the reason Elisha has come to India - his Aunt has a little Indian child whom she rescued from an Indian family who were going to drown her in the bath tub when she was an infant. An acquaintance who was recommended but her Gynaecologist (a woman) to have an abortion because the child had a curved spine. The young lady was not a happy person, I stopped to speak to her because she seemed sad. I did not say anything, I did not have anything to say, but offered to pray for her. However, it was visible to me that God has put upon all of our hearts the knowledge of right and wrong, and no matter how we may rationalise things we are accountable to Him.

Update: 20/2/08 Spoke to a colleague in UK who talked about Lakshmi the little girl who was operated to remove her twin conjoined to her. So here we are rushing into the 21st century with all of our baggage on our backs. We Indians are capable of great surgery, so why do we still abort our babies?
We have had a woman Prime Minister and now a woman President, but still marginalise women and their rights.

Grown Indians still live at Home:

In a conversation with an Australian missionary, the Indian stress on education and the pressure that parents put on their children was spoken of. It was also commented that parents pay for our childrens education and keep them living with us way past their teens.

The Indian youth lives at home because the state has not taken over this area of our lives like in the West. It is the parents who are in charge of the education of their children, wherever the state has taken over that area, you see a drop in the number of youth going beyond a secondary education, a break down of family values.

With our socialist back ground, education is a must for the masses. As we the people are independent of the state, we stress the need for a good education ensuring a better future.
We promote a respect for all religions and believe in God and have faith. May we Christian Indians never come to the point when we would avoid refering to Jesus and acknowledging Him for fear of encroaching on the sensitivty of another of a different faith. Let us not mock another faith but love them, for we are the salt and light of the world.
After all Abraham was an Iraqi and Jesus an Arab, if you take a good look at the map of the world Israel is in Arabia or the Middle East.

When the world was aplauding the US and Camp David became known to every corner of the earth, because of the great day when PLO President Arafat met with the US president and Israels Menachem ..... get details right. what I saw was 2 Arabs with the US president. I was not impressed at all, I had lost everything in the Gulf War and never got any compensation either. And I knew these men we only fooling the world, they had no intention of doing the right thing. I rest my case as time has proved me right.

From the corner store or Duka to the Super Market::

More supermarket has opened at the end of the street where I live, much to the disgust of the corner stores and delight of the housewives and senior citizens. The produce is fresh, clean and plentiful and packaged, and cheaper!
Those of us who know, have warned everybody to make hay now as they will soon raise their prices and once the custom goes back to the corner store, they will close up and move on down to another street.
In India and Tanzania we dont hold to the concept of the Supermarket - prices should be lower than the corner store because of the supermarkets ability to buy in bulk, ensuring bulk purchase profits. Here buying from a supermarket is a status symbol. Give me the corner store anytime for the service I receive.
We need to understand that the supermarket concept is foreign, we dont store produce, we buy what we need each day from the vegetable seller who passes our street every morning. We eat fresh produce, not stored or canned goods.

Because we are a divided people the supermarkets may linger on, unlike the story of Wallmart in Korea. They are a single people and they decided they did not like the idea of undercutting and imposing a foreign consumerism. They did not trust Walmart and so did not buy and within 6 months Walmart closed down shop and moved out!

It would be wise if we looked again at the concepts of consumerism we buy into. Already our real estate rest on unrealistic prices, that the upright are hard pressed to afford. Let us hold onto our children a little longer, it does not matter whether the West laughs, we may hold our values a few decades longer.

What will happen with the Call Centers?

It is time to wake up from the BPO (Business Proces Outsourcing ) .... get the correct word ...... dream, wake up and face reality.
Already an soft ware company has let go 500 people or less, lets leave a margin for exaggeration. Those who are non performers are now dead weight and are being pruned. The rupee has strengthened against the dollar, it is no longer lucrative to do business in India.
So what is the prediction? The industry will strengthen itself, salaries with become constant, allowing other businesses to come up the the BPO levels, and will the price of property go down? Will rents get lower now that we cannot afford the inflated rates? Or will they remain as they are and not go higher? This remains to be seen.

***In India we women have a topsy turvey kind of life. We are governed by our families and in laws, by society, and the need to be and individual.
The rich dont care whether they have a girl or a boy, but would prefer to have one of each and may succumb to an abortion to keep the status quo. The middle class and lower middle class are governed by the need for a son. The poor could not care less, they seem to have many girl children.
A woman in India is not worth her salt to her mother in law if she does not have a boy child, and commits the ultimate sin if she has 2 daughters! Here I speak of an educated professional family.
We go to work in up to date environments, but go home to an archaic system. We train our children similarly and propagate the confusion.
Even more confusing is that awareness is amongst us, I recently spoke to a man who was disappointed that his first child was a son, he said it put pressure on them to now try for a girl ... I did not understand, do you?. On the other hand another colleague said to me she wants a boy, because life is just too difficult for a girl and she would not like her daughter to suffer. Remember that most of the time it is us women who stress the need for a boy child.

Tatting

Here are my photos. The my Christmas tree is a dried sisal stalk, doesnt it look beautiful with the decorations? I include a closer look at some of my work. I have been inspired by all the wonderful tatters out on the internet. I have then developed my own style and have used only local thread. As I progress I will add more of my work for all to see.

Photos

2008-01-22T05:58:00.000-08:00

This is Kyrie dancing on the beach in Tanzania, this was taken in 2000 or 2001.

This is my sister Tessy and her son Marc, in the park in Seattle.

This is Tessy with Marc, Sarah and Daniella.
More photos will follow.

2008

2008-01-12T06:30:00.000-08:00

Closed 2007 with a bang and started 2008 with a lot of introspection and expectations are very high.

Important lessons learnt in 2007
Be dependable and forgive without leaving the hatchet sticking out.
Therefore for 2008 my resolutions are to be dependable and obedient to God, I plan to follow reading the Bible in one year and fully participate in my home, work and projects.
I fulfilled 2007 plan to get my head around to honoring God as my Father and it was so mindlessly easy that I really don’t know what I stressed and procrastinated for all these years. I failed at the losing weight plan, I made it until September and then lost it, and am onto it again.

Gods hedge of protection is incredible, I now know that God will intervene with the local police and rickshaw drivers at unearthly hours like 2 30 am. I believe that Sarah was protected while living in the King of Egypts house.

Insight, we are the generation that have provided information explosion, enhanced technology and taken consumerism to the next level, but still carry with us the age old burdens racial tensions, fear, deny women and children rights, reject being our brothers keeper. We are still busy contemplating our navels. We think as the generation before us that we know how to rear our children better, and then get shocked that our next generation cannot handle simple issues and pitfalls. Well we have handed everything to them on a platter and they have not had the opportunity to experience the pitfalls. Who wants to learn from anothers mistake? We have always wanted to make our own and believe we learn better. In 2008 let us pray for our next generation all over the world for there is still hope, there is Jesus.

New Year celebrations and the days leading up to it and Christmas were very eventful and changed my life.

Roystons timberland shoe sole expanded and came off partially due to the heat from the bonfire at Tyrannus Hall that meant a major expense for replacement. To our goodluck we managed to find the same thing at a shop for a fraction of the price we thought it would cost from the Timberland outlet, only it was made in China and the ones that were damaged were made in Chechkoslovakia there is a difference in the finished product. Royston prayed for replacement shoes. God is mindful of everything and we can go to Him for the smallest of things.

I had a fruitful meeting with Via Design on the 31 December 2007 (www.viadesign.org) for a project and spent the following days getting my home and work in perspective.
Gods faithfulness came through to me at this time, as 2007 was so busy with work that I did not give much time towards my commitment to Via Design.

Our computer is slowing dying but we are still able to watch movies and update accounts and I use it to store all my tatting ideas and photos. We are praying for a new computer in the near future.

My work is going along well and I have high hopes for 2008 which include earning more money through incentives.

2007 went by with not enough money to get through to the end of the month especially in the last quarter, which incidentally coincided with me getting a small increase in salary.
Strange isn’t it, the more you earn the more you spend? Kyrie struggled along and she paid her tithe on allowances she did not get! Now I owe her and am paying back slowly.

Tessy and her husband Deep and their daughters Sarah and Daniella along with Marc brought us much joy last year and also stepped in with help too. Which was a great blessing to me.

I was happy to sell a few baubles at a coffee shop, and learnt a good lesson that presentation is everything when you want to sell your wares.

I received a pen drive as one of my presents from Royston, so I expect to be more faithful with my blog updates. An amazing gadget the pen drive is, it helps me keep a record of the beautiful tatting patterns out there on the internet and soon I shall be able to add my work and update patterns too.

2007-06-15T07:10:00.000-07:00

Off the Cuff...

Saturday, June 9, 2007

Had a nice week off at the end of May to the 3rd of June 07.

But spent most of the time recovering from a bout of food poisoning.

Did get my Jewellery Tatting off the ground, made a simple long strand of dark and light green Jade that impressed my colleagues at work.
I am now working on colored pearls and hopefully will have photos available.
I must thank all the wonderful tatters who show their work on their bloggs. I love you guys and enjoy your work thoroughly they always inspire me.

Developed some original stuff of my own too!

For those who follow on the Call Centre news, here is some updates!

Underwriting has arrived in India! didnt take long did it (refer to my previous Blogg .. Call Centers.

Recently a colleague she was most embarrassed it was a behind her palm whisper and a point out to a red box fitted to the rear door to the office building, it is a condom dispenser and thats where the people take their smoking breaks, the vehicles are parked and the drivers hang out. So I speak to a manager enquiring on the reasoning behind the location selected to fit the dispenser and say d'you know - all over the world these dispensers are fitted in the toilets. May be this should have be titled Call Center 'collect your protection it is available at the back door.'

Birth Control and Protection: moving along the same vein... Recently got a shock of my life, a friend speaks to me of her fear of getting pregnant the man responsible was met on the internet chat site, from the very first meeting they got intimate and although they did not go all the way they were sufficiently intimate to raise valid fears. All is well now but it made me feel old. Protection never figured on either of their minds. Tell me are we behind the times in Pune or what?

So what do we have here, India telling the world that they are in the 21st century but the people on the ground have not even reached the 19th century, because, as a woman you cannot go the the pharmacy and buy protection although they are prominently displayed in the front counter because of the sleazy grins you would get from the Pharmacists assistants. Wonder whether you can get birth control over the counter?

Abstinence does not seem to be a solution. Take the numerous children born with AIDs. A local hospital has 20 children whose parents dont want them for any of these reasons, they dont have the funds to keep them alive, they dont want to take them home as other people will know, they dont want to or have the time to take care of them.

What the world needs now is prayer and the love Jesus gave, the kind He showed when He bent to draw a line in the sand and every eye in the crowd was off the naked woman and on Him.
Would you recognise Jesus today if he came by your desk and sat down for a chat with a cup of coffee for you, as the woman at the well did? and would you run to tell your friends and family?

2007 on its way.

2007-03-10T05:29:00.000-08:00

The last 6 months have been very eventful. Today is the last day of my week of leisure.

September and Octorber 2006 were spent making sales calls. Then wonder of wonders I was on the list selected to go for training. Where Glasgow Scotland.

November was spent in Glasgow with a weekend in London and 5 days in Portsmouth.
Then back to Pune, missed Royston and Kyrie a lot while I was away. Gorged on all the chocolates I brought back and met a friend on the street who warned me that I was putting the weight on big time again! Yes a good friend.
No leave until this past week because we were what they call the main group and were needed until they trained other groups and now we are almost 75 people or more.

Now, I am getting back to my Tatting, trying out new designs.
I enjoyed Autumn in Glasgow and enjoyed all the christmas decorations every where. It was nice being in a country where its ok to protray your christian back ground, there are churches everywhere in Scotland and they are not converted into anything else.
But, realised that people now want to be Politicaly correct and so its not good to be blatantly Christian. Dont say the Jesus word unless you are swearing.

Got back to Pune and the Auto Rickshaw driver wanted to charge me 200 hundred rupees! Then he got mad because my accented and bad Hindi mislead him into thinking I was a Foreigner then he thought I was a Non Resident Indian only to learn I lived in Pune.

Then started my drive nightmares: These are the horrendous drivers that take me to work and bring me home. The drivers dont always know how to read in English and therefor are not able to get to the staff addresses.
This particular driver goes to the second floor knocks on a flat door finds it locked and leaves me. I call the office and they send him back.
Another one gets directions from me to a friends home, but does not know the name on his list goes up to the wrong floor knocks on the wrong door and comes back saying she is not coming with us. She later calls asking why we have not picked her up! The guy read the wrong persons address!
And there am I blustering away because my Hindi vocab is miniscule and I cannot tell the driver off!

Tatted Seed Pearl Necklace.

2006-12-26T05:17:00.000-08:00

This a recent addition to my collection. I have a few more ideas to experiment with.

Plans

2006-10-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered how many minutes that add up to hours one spends in making plans? Plans for the future mostly?

I am a planner, I constantly make plans and I feel I should write them down especially if I get a great idea.

Well one great plan was to start a small boutique to sell my hand made baubles and let other women join me to do the same.

Then through a friend I met a lovely lady who was setting up a company that would market womens work and liked my baubles and now I have a marketer!

The news then gets better to hear that there is a larger market than we expected.

When we make plans and we entrust them to our God He some how gets it on its feet, and before you know it you need to be alert and catch up.

I shall post some pictures for you to see just as soon as this other precious friend of mine sends me the recent pictures she took of my work.

I also have great pearl strings that I have made for you to see.

Continuing the story...

2006-10-14T08:18:00.000-07:00

So I joined a call center.

And what I have discovered is that a huge group of young and not so young people gather together 24 hours a day 7 days a week and talk to thousands of foreigners living miles away.

We get just a few minutes on 15 and 30 minute breaks to eat and chat with whoever is on a break at the same time. Over a period of time you start making friends and making plans.

Relationships grow and break continuously.
Amongst all this, I have met many christian friends who cling to Jesus to help them through some of the tiring days.
Some days you get to speak to some lovely people across the world and on other days you wonder whatever happened to simple goodness.

I find it very hard to forgive some callers, especially those who are older in their 70s and 80s and are rude and racial. Makes me wonder whether they realise that they do not have much time to make peace with God.

Then you get that spot light call, where the caller is bright cheerful and enthusiastic, they want the job to get done and do not have a problem about who helps them out. They are interested in the person speaking to them and spare a minute to acknowledge them. I thank you lot from the bottom of my heart.

Where American callers are concerned ... the best people have been the African Americans, you are good and pleasant and careful not to be racial.
Spanish callers some rotten apples here, I guess you just need to spread the pain!
Indians in America, you guys are good the majority acknowledge your people, and shame on you to those who have forgoten where you come from.

British callers, now heres a bunch of people who are the great in between. You lot are supposed to have promoted english, but cannot speak it!
Imagine speaking to an English man who tells me he does not understand my language when I was reconfirming his car registration number phonetically.

Indian customer service agents, now this is the best lot...
Never have I met a more enterprising lot ... one agent whose American caller said he did not understand his language ... connected an AT&T translator to interprete from english to english!

Lets Talk about Call Centres

2006-09-23T08:10:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered where the name was derived from? ....as in phone call into a center? most likely.

Having moved from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to India, I wondered whether I would be able to find a job. The last time I was in India they were not interested.

But what do you know, the Call Centers need people who speak fluent english and without an 'indian' accent, even its an accent that you think is american....

Next Lets Talk about Call Centers....

2006-08-12T07:13:00.000-07:00

I have been chewing on this topic for a while now. And it is that time of year again, when people start losing jobs.
Wonder why it happens just before one goes on holiday or immediately you come back from one.

Being Indian by Pavan Varma

2006-08-12T06:54:00.000-07:00

I had an interesting conversation with a friend about this book.

There are different perspectives on the Indian and it is the point you begin at, that makes the difference.

My friend was most aghast at the introduction and wondered which Indian was being refered to!

I tried to explain that this book was looking at the western focal point ... no joy. However, it is his point that really made me look again.

Gujaratis and Sindhis would be a people that would strive anywhere because of their unfortunate history of displacement ... but it would be wrong to classify all Indians by them.

My friend said, Indians do not really care to compete with anyone other than themselves... and that is why you could step into a house in Mumbay, New York or London and feel at home as long as you were an Indian.

My point of view is ... how do you classify a people who do not fit your norm?

And Indian is not caucasian, asian nor african... My friend said we are brown ... and I was quick to point out that there was no such classification.

Here are a people that have aryan ancestry and are capable of competing on par with any caucasian, asian, or african.
A people who have their own version of English!

So I rest my case...

Review:

2006-05-06T07:16:00.000-07:00

While I am still figuring out how to upload an animated moon constructed by my husband. This book was given to me on a Sunday. It had been several dry weeks and although I was urged to pick up my bible and read I was procratinating as usual....God will get you always!

The Godward Life, savoring the supremacy of God in all of life... by John Piper

If life is the instinct to survive. What good is joy?
However, if we are made in the image of a holy and just God, how wonderful that He has made us to reason and to laugh.

It is an honor to tell you what a blessing John Piper has been in my life and to present to you some insights from this collection of daily readings that reminds me, that "it is all about GOD"
'its about the joy we find in God here on earth'
'its about journeying in God, to God' and it is definitely not about accomplishments.

Each daily reading brings a new insight into the supreme importance of God, but most of all highlights the interest that this great big God who formed the universe has in me, in the daily meandering of my small mind in my even smaller world...who am I that you are mindful of me...O Lord ! (Psalm 8:4a my emphasis). My Lords eyes range through out the world to strengthen my heart...when I can barely keep myself wholly devoted to Him. (2 Chronicles 16:9). John Pipers sermons led a missionary to tell me... the Lord your God is with you Sally, He is mighty to save you. He takes great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing...(Zephaniah 3:17). This is how good the joy of the Lord is and it gets better.

Of most contemporary teachers renowned for their great books, John Piper is up there with Augustine, Martin Luther and C. S. Lewis. As they do, the Author portrays sincerity and the joy to be found in God through his human frailty. The common denominator is the book of Romans. The book that has taught me much and continues to.

The Preface: Books don’t change people, paragraphs do. Sometimes even sentences. John Piper goes on to site sentences and paragraphs from books by CS Lewis, Luther and The Confessions of Augustine that changed his life. The same can be said of John Piper. Each daily reading has more than one sentence that has impacted my life, and has made me see not just the supremacy of God, but how He revels in me, the interest and joy He receives when I glorify Him in the simple things I do.

Acknowledgments:
John Piper thanks friends..... “for shepherding my four sons toward a passion for the supremacy of God”. My first thought was, wow, this pastor has actually allowed other people to minister to his children, and not only that he is actually acknowledging it and to top it all he is thanking them!

Introduction: The Teacher, the Bible, and a Godward Life...
Teaching that lasts and books that last will be the kind that "bleed the bible"....God wills that there be human teachers of his divine Word, but He wills that teachers be "full of the Word of God." The Bible should "flow from them." Their blood - their books - should be "Bibline."

I try to measure all my speaking and writing and living by this standard: does it spread the passion of the supremacy of God?
‘Lord bring the that day when someone would say about me, I see a sermon walking.’

Loving God for Who He Is:
It would be presumptuous not to thank God for his gifts (forget not all his benefits Psalm 103:2) But it would be idolatry to call the gladness we get from them - Love for God.

The essence of what loving God is enjoying all He is. (Psalm 27:4 ).
‘Enjoy God, am I enjoying God’?

Today’s Mercies for Today’s Troubles: meditation on Mathew 6:34
with every days measure of pain,He gives new mercies. this is the point of Lamentations 3:22-23
sometimes we wonder if we will have the mercy to stand in terrible testing. Yes we will Peter says in (1 Peter 4:14).

God Was Up All Night: meditation on Psalm 121:3
Christ worked for Paul all his life. (2 Timothy 4:17)
The eagerness of God to work for us is astonishing. His eyes are running to and fro, looking for opportunities to work for people who trust him (2 Chronicles 16:9)

When Words are Wind: meditation on Job 6:26
Restoring the soul, not reproving the sore, is the aim of our love.
No need to reprove people who talk against God. No need to defend God or the "Truth" from words that are for the wind alone.

Future Grace:
be obedient because you trust in Future grace not because we are grateful for what God / Jesus did for us...
(Romans 8:32) "He who did not spare His own Son but gave him up for us all (past grace). will He not also freely give us all things with Him (future grace)?

To end I pray that I have whetted your interest the book and encouraged you to get to know God, make Him supreme, master over every thing. I have included these quotes to indicate the extent of impact this book has had on me, my mind. And that the Holy Spirit will guide each one of you to that sentence that will change you.

Illegal Immigrants to America

2006-04-02T07:30:00.000-07:00

I have several issues at hand, the first being the issue with illegal immigrants in America and the lament by Tancredo that they are changing the American way!

Huh! First of all, when the May flower docked, the history books dont say much about the indegenous people being at hand to provide entry...
Therefore, every other race in America today is an immigrant.

Why I wonder such a hue and cry? Is it about jobs?

Take this for an example, the American Embassy issues the visas, the immigrant gets into the country and then the American Embassy official tars the immigrant with the illegal brush for some reason known to themselves alone. I just does not make sense.

Controversial Cartoons and levels of depravity

2006-03-18T06:52:00.000-08:00

Whenever we see a loud response to a controversey look beneath and see the reality.

The reality is, every thing we do is measured in blackand white, good or evil.
I have not got over the sight of a beautiful human being's burnt remains hanging from a noose with a loadof young men laughing in the fore ground.
Or a group of young men caught on Tv laughing at the news of an Israeli leader who has made history being in hospital suffering a heart condition.
Sadly to say that is the sight we see today of muslim youth.

Why is that a student complains about not ever having a good Easter, because they always slot in exams on those days - the students exams are on Saturday and Easter Monday!
The powers involved here would not dream of slotting any exams on a hindu holiday or holy day nor a muslim holi/holy day...would they?

So I said, that we are blessed when we suffer forJesus, to which I received a ...huh...So I asked, would you rather be persecuted forJesus... to which the answer is... yes at least I knowI am doing the right thing....So I now ask myself...what is the right thing, and why measure the weight of the injustice that we need to stand firm against...

By the way, the christians who were supposed to be reconverted, what happened we never got to hear a word in the press did we.
But let me tell you that they stood firm, and they continue to do that. A victory for Jesus is never newsworthy.Let me tell you something else...we have seen in ourlife time, yours and mine, the statues of Buddah fall in afghanistan, the mosques fall in Israel and India, as well as temples and not forgetting the churches ofEngland converted to public houses etc... and all this is as it should be...

The cartoon is just an expression of world view, out at an appropriate time, we no longer wish to pander to the arab terrorist (mind you thats the target not Islam).. who wants to pander to the terrorist? Gone are the days when an arab could walk around and flaunt his money, reverse his car onto yours and say you struck his car in the rear, or his wife illtreat an Indian maid or Sri Lankan, Eiritrean or..
We wont let them get ahead of us in anyline up be it to the ticket counter at the airport or elsewhere...And when we suspect a bomb, we will shoot without hesitation at the man who is light skinned but has black hair a mustache and beard. We will agnonise later at the fact that he was Brazillian you idiot not an arab, but there you go, how can you tell.?

The truth is that every body can say what they want,but they dont achieve much, because they are looking at shades of grey.
I tell you Christ is the truth no matter how harsh my words are and we just cannot go around it. Every knee will bow, I tell you because that is what God has said... and who can contradict ones creator?
No other religion prescribes this, so there you are.