The movie INK....

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Before I start, I've added two links sections to my blog page. There are links related to TWR, both TWR global and TWR Africa. I also feature under the TWR Global Staff list if you're interested...if not that's cool...the other link section will be favourite links that I find as I go along life's journey. AND NOW...BACK TO THE MAIN "SHOW"! :O)

There is this new movie that I’ve taken a liking too, and I know that most of my friends who have watched it DO NOT like it simply cause they don’t get it (or there isn’t enough blood and fighting…..go figure!!) Honestly, I didn’t get it the first time I watched it, but it had caught my attention enough to want to watch it again to get a better understanding and now, I’m afraid, I am hooked!!

It’s called INK. It’s an independent movie that never made the big screen, I can’t figure out why it didn’t, while others are probably glad it didn’t. It’s not a Christian movie and unfortunately it does contain bad language in the first half of the movie, but every time I watch this movie, I notice something new but the main thin is that it makes me think more about the spiritual battle that goes on around us.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” – Ephesians 6:12

We as Christians know that life isn’t hunky-dory and it’s definitely is not easy just because we’re Christian, but we have the knowledge of knowing that Christ is in control and we can put our trust in Him. A lot of the time, when life turns for bad, we have “why?” questions. I know that I wonder why my friend and colleague recently had to loose her 7 year old daughter; I’m sure she wonders why too. When life gets us down and we start asking why and doubting (at least I sometimes begin to doubt) I think we make the devil one happy person (although I’m not sure if the devil could ever be happy) because that’s what he want. He wants us to start doubting God, doubting His faithfulness to us, His unfailing love towards us.

The spiritual war is all around us and is an ongoing battle and we are told to put on the armor of God so that we can take the stand against the devils schemes. Satan will not give up any ground without a fight when it comes to doing the work of God. He will attack us. Thankfully, we have a mighty power than one can’t comprehend on our side:

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” – Ephesians 1:18-21

So take heart, for the battle has already been won. Satan is already defeated, Christ conquered the grave. “..because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” 1 John 4:4

Anyway, not to sure what the main point of this blog is about…guess this is what happens when you write something over a couple of days I guess. But I do suggest that if you can, watch Ink. (See the INK link under favourite links)

Friends...

So yeah, the soccer world cup has come and gone...the final wasnt the result I was hoping for but some things just dont work out the way we hope them too.

I've been thinking about what to write with all the stuff happening in life at the moment....although it's actually not THAT much but for me it is. The past few weeks have been rough and emotional. Some of you may know, so of you not, but I had surgery close on three weeks ago. It has been a hard emotional ride because of things leading up to the whole surgery. Recovery has been frustrating, it will take anything between 6 and 8 weeks...and I'm already frustrated with it all and I'm not even half way.

But I think the main reason for writing this blog, which I hadn't actually planned to do, was because I've realised through this how important friends are. I've realised in life, that some friends will let you down when you dont expect them too, and other friends arrive and show encouragement and care when you dont expect it.

I have an amazing group of friends at TWR who have gone the extra length to encourage me and stand by me. It's been an extreme blessing for me to realise how priveledged I am to have them and to be able to call them my friends. They each contribute differently and in various ways.

So this blog is for you guys who I'm glad to have as my friends. You know who you are. You guys totally ROCK!!

KE NAKO

Ke Nako....Wow…a week to the end of the world cup and I thought by now I would be trying to decide who to support in the final stages but yay, actually double yay, as my two teams are still in the world cup and looking strong! Netherlands and Germany … woohooo!!! I think I might even find myself in the horrible situation of having my two favorite teams in the final but that would be totally cool.

I managed to book tickets for four games and thanks to my brother, I managed to watch another two games live. It was unbelievable. The count down to the start of the games. People putting the SA flag on their cars and flags of other countries they were supporting. The vibe on the day of the opening….words can not explain it. South Africa has been unbelievable and I am proud to be a South African.

I rooted for South Africa since it is my home country, and I was extremely proud of our boys. We didn’t get far but they played well. Netherlands and Germany were my other two teams I rooted for, and then I made sure I choose a team for every game I attended.

My first game wasn’t hard to know who to root for as it was Netherlands vs Denmark. Netherlands won (2-0) that day and made the start to my world cup live games great. It was held at Soccer City! What a beautiful stadium! WOW, very impressive.

My second game was USA vs Slovenia at Ellis Park. I went with my American coworker Ryan Seal and we were rooting for the USA. It was definitely one of my most entertaining games mainly because Ryan made it entertaining, but USA sure played well. To be 2 – 0 down and come back to draw the game was unbelievable! They should have won but we won’t go there. =)

The very next evening I went to Loftus with my two brothers and oldest nephew to watch Cameroon vs Denmark. It was my first of three late night games for me. It was a good game too. Both Cameroon and Denmark lost their first games so both teams had to win. Unfortunately one team won and the other team knew they were out of the world cup. Denmark won 2 – 1 and Cameroon knew their world cup was over. After the final whistle some Cameroon players fell to the ground as reality hit them.

My forth game was Germany vs Ghana!! I was a bit bummed because I wanted to see Klose play, but he got red carded in the previous game and had to miss it, but it was still a good game and another late night. Stephan, who got to the game late, couldn’t remember where he parked his car, because he parked it, locked it and started running to the stadium….so the two of us walked round the dust trying to find his car….so the early morning, around 1:30am Stephan dropped me off at home.

Two days later I was off to another late night game. This time I was the driver as I drove my sister and a friend, Dylan, to the Spain vs Chile game. I wasn’t too sure who to root for in this game, but when a Chilian guy walked up to us and asked if we all had our tickets and us staying yes and him looking at me saying, are you sure, I realized my ticket had fallen out my pocket and freaked….then they guy pulled out a ticket and asked if it was mine. I was relieved when I saw my name on the ticket…and could have kissed the guy…

Anyway, it was a dirty game first half and we were so sure that we would have a fist fight in front of us, but thankfully there wasn’t. Spain beat Chile 2 – 1. Again, I got home after 1am.

That was supposed to be my last game but the next day my brother phoned me and said he had a spare ticket to the England Germany knockout game, was I interested? Was I interested???? What a question! I had really liked to have seen Rooney play and now was my chance. Not only that, but Klose would be playing for Germany. So my two brothers, my dad and I had a road trip to Bloemfontein for the game. It was a FANTASTIC game, and seeing Rooney playing live was special even if I was rooting for Germany. Klose scored the first goal and I was extremely happy. It was great game. We had left home at 7:30am on Sunday morning and my dad and I got dropped off at 12:45am Monday morning so it was a VERY long day for a game, but oh so worth it. It definitely became my best live game.

And so that is my update of my live games. Since its late, I’ll have to blog again another time to mention the players I really enjoyed watching play live… …in the meantime, my bed is calling.