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4Ü #210

The Bouncy Castle

3 November 2005

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WASSUP - The Bouncy Castle

It was like being born again.
Entering a whole new world and seeing life anew.
Of course I did so in disguise; dressed as a clown with the purpose of taking some pictures.
I had the dress code and the purpose, but what happened caught me by surprise.
To enter the world of the Bouncy Castle, you must enter as a child.
This is a world of equals, your age is left outside with your shoes.
The objective is not to stand up but to fall down and to have fun falling!
A three year old eyes me up, runs at me and tackles me to the bouncy floor.
The princess and the clown tumble down with laughter that is better than any abs workout at the gym.
The screams of delight intensify as we roll into the pool of balls.
The clown becomes a beached whale while the princess claims her prize with delight.
What seemed the strangest thing of all was the adults who stood outside looking in with amusement.
Little did they know that all they needed to do was take off their shoes.
This was holy ground.
Once you've been in the Bouncy Castle it feels strange to walk again on terra firma as an adult.

Andrew

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INSIGHT OUT - When words are too many

"When words are too many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise."

Prov 10:19

When words are too many
a smoke screen appears
self justifications justify
nothing is said
bullets fly
duck or you're dead

When words are few
a treasure unlocked
life on the lips
that no one fears
a feast
for the heart, the mind and the soul

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OUTSIGHT IN - Culture

Cultura (1440)
Colere "to tend, guard, cultivate or till"
Trua (terra) the land

You can ignore it or neglect it but you can be sure your culture is growing something.
My concern is that we spend far too little time paying attention, tending, guarding and cultivating our culture.
Culture is the garden from which we grow.
Culture is the harvest of our labours.
Culture is.

Maybe that was the question. When asked,
"Mary, Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow?"

"With silver bells and cockle shells and pretty maids all in a row."

How does your garden grow?
How is your culture?

For without culture or holiness, which are always the gift of a very few, a man may renounce wealth or any other external thing, but he cannot renounce hatred, envy, jealousy, revenge. Culture is the sanctity of the intellect.

William Butler Yeats

Neglect culture at your peril.
Weeds don't need any help growing, they just grow.

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SEE YA SUNDAY - "Hot Potato issues"

This Sunday morning - 8.30am & 10.30am
We are starting a new series - "Hot potato issues"
We'll cover the three big topics that no one wants to talk about yet everyone wants to talk about; Politics, Sex and Religion.

  • Politics and Power - Nov 6th
  • Sex and Porn - Nov 13th
  • Heaven and Hell - Nov 20th

Bread & Wine - 9.45am - Weekly Communion

The Ride - 5.30pm - The best of the Minor prophets - Hosea - Juliette Bell

Sunday @ 7pm - In the Chapel

Thanks for this time to chat.

Andrew
St Columba
Where Life and Faith Meet
andrew.norton@stcolumba.org.nz

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It's free but don't steal

If this is of help to others, you are welcome to forward it. This e-mail letter is 97% original - 3% cut and paste & 100% fat free. 4U is copyright to Andrew Norton. That means you can't cut and paste it and call it your own (that's stealing). I'm happy for it to be used but please refer to the author.

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LAST WORD - Power

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.

Abraham Lincoln


© 2008, St Columba Presbyterian Church, Auckland