It's not my problem!

Today we stop and remember 'World AIDS day.' For a lot of us (if we are honest) we struggle with this day, because we just don't know what to do about HIV/AIDS. Many Christians have adopted an attitude of "It's not my problem!" or "It doesn't affect the Church." Both of these assumptions are not helpful.

There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus would be ministering to the families infected and affected by HIV, if he were walking the streets of South Africa today. He reached out to the lepers, prostitutes, demon-possessed and to the 'outcasts' in his day. Just like many people infected with HIV, the 'outcasts' in Jesus' day were all treated with disdain by the religious establishment.

So then, in the present, the only way He can minister to the millions of people struggling with the disease, is through the body of Christ - mmmh, that is US. So despite our lack of resources or knowledge or ability, we have to do something!

Here is a start:
1. Name the people in your circle of influence, who are infected/affected by HIV.
2. Pray for them and their families.
3. Ask them if you could do something practical to help them.

Start small and let's see how we can all change the world.

For a really awesome blogpost and moving story about HIV/AIDS please read my friend, Dion Forster's post.

Touched by Grace,
D3LM3

Remember

At 11:11 on this the 11th day of November I will pause and Remember!

If ever there is a 'Rogue Wave' that sweeps over humanity, it has to be during times of war and conflict. My late grandfather left his family to fight in North Africa, during WW2. I am alive today, only because his life was spared - I am one of the 'lucky' ones.

I have never been to war, but I understand that millions of people have sacrificed their lives to try and make this world a better place - I am grateful for their sacrifice. However, it doesn't change the fact that, in times of war, families are torn apart, cities are destroyed, evil is let loose! And all of this in the name of 'Power' & 'Pride.' Make no mistake, in my opinion, War is only the result of the 'Pride of humanity.' Pride gives way to arrogance, which ultimately ends up in Dictatorship.

Shane Claiborne writes - "Strength and pride, men and swords ... dangerous things, aren't they?"

The tragedy is that millions of innocent people die as they are caught in the middle of the games of politicians. The past hundred years are a reminder of this! War has ravaged every continent on our globe!

I still believe that until humans turn our attention to the 'real war' that rages in our hearts, we will fight our other battles in vain. It is the 'sin' in my heart that causes me to wage war against my brother and sister. Jeremiah puts it like this:
Jeremiah 17:9 - "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"

However, today I will remember that Jesus Christ died on the cross, to stop the enemy of sin waging war on my soul. Jesus has become my victor - he fought the battle and has gained the victory for all of us. Now that is something worth remembering.

Today I will also choose to Remember...
...what my family have done for me.
...my loved ones who have passed away.
...how blessed I am to have an awesome wife and 3 fantastic sons.
...to be thankful in all things.
...to enjoy living in Freedom.
...to live today as if it could be my last.

Genesis 9:16 - "Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

Remember Grace,
D3LM3

And the Wall came tumbling down!

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the 'collapse' of the Berlin Wall. This wall stood as a reminder of separation between the Eastern Bloc and the West of Germany. Families were divided, Berlin was divided, ideas were divided.

The Berlin Wall was a classic reminder of how insane humanity can be. Just because we don't like someone, or disagree with them or think differently, our natural response is to pull away and to build a barrier between us.

I am privileged to know that in my lifetime, I have seen many walls come tumbling down, but there are still too many 'Walls' in our world.

As Ronald Reagan once said, pointing to the Berlin Wall, "Tear down these walls!"

Jesus is the best at tearing down our 'walls':
Jesus tears down walls of hate,
walls of fear,
walls of doubt,
walls of despair,
walls of pride.

May the Grace of God 'tear down' any walls in my heart and yours,

Let's live beyond the walls!
D3LM3

Hate Blogger vs. Julius Malema

So the writer of the notorious blog 'South Africa Sucks' has been arrested - I read the article in 'The Witness' newspaper today. One of the reasons given for his arrest was that with 2010 just around the corner, it is bad publicity to have a person rambling on about how bad our country is...

Now, don't get me wrong, I can't agree with all that this blogger says - some of the things are totally way out and against my own beliefs. However, I wanted to suggest that his arrest is quite ironic, especially in light of the fact, that today Julius Malema's friends have justified that Julius needs bodyguards to the tune of R300 000 per month. If there ever was a person who needed to be gagged, it is Julius Malema. His comments, on everything to do with South Africa, are ludicrous and controversial - I wonder what a good ambassador he is being for the 2010 World Cup? His comments probably reach more foreign people than the 'South Africa Sucks' blogger.

So, in the end you have one guy who airs his opinions and is arrested - leaving his wife and daughters to fight for his rights. On the other hand we have another man who can sprout forth whatever he likes and he gets protection to do it! Mmmmh, that hardly seems fair to me. Anyway, these are just my thoughts!

By the way, the Bible has something interesting to say, about why and what we say...

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." - Luke 6:45

Living in Grace
D3LM3