Where Life and Faith Meet
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4Ü #294

My little black book

20 September 2007

WASSUP - My little black book

I started my journey with a journal.
Each day writing of the sights, smells, tastes, textures, impressions and insights.
I'd have an adventure during the day and another one in the evening as I wrote of all I had seen and heard.
While waiting in an airport I wrote short stories on people watching . ..
of a dull, drab woman who had a tattoo on her ankle
a young man who dressed himself as a beauty queen while reading a 1000 page novel
and of three sisters with fine boned noses who married the same man (their husbands all looked the same, the beer pots gave them away). Of the three sisters there was a model, a bossy organizer and piggy in the middle ... you finish the story

Sadly, half way through the trip I lost my little black book.

Maybe such stories were never meant to be published?

Maybe I was the one who was being watched and written about?

It's good to be back and I look forward to our weekly chats.
Do drop me a line and let me know how things are with you.

Blessings

Andrew

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INSIGHT OUT - Doubt is not the opposite of belief

Too many people get caught up thinking that doubt is the opposite of belief and that some how doubt disqualifies their belief. Not at all! Doubt is essential for belief to exist. However, take a close look at this passage and you will begin to see another definition of doubt: one who is blown this way and that, who is tossed by the sea and who is double-minded.

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

James 1:6-8

Doubt in this case is one who is one thing one minute and then another, neither this nor that, here or there. They are all over the place in their thinking and living. They are a person who stands for nothing and is likely to fall for everything (or maybe they think they can stand for everything and yet be unable to live it). This kind of life is exhausting and unstable!

Know what you believe.

Be true to what you believe.

Live it.

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OUTSIGHT IN - Myanmar

I'm back but hopefully not the same.

Because this is a global email I will only ever speak of this land and people as truly remarkable.

The stand out for me is their hospitality and service.

Take this for example

Staying at the Nikko in Yangon ($49 US per night) I ask, "Where is the Japanese restaurant?" I'm then escorted to the other end of the hotel (about 3 minutes walk), shown into the restaurant and then introduced to the chef. The chef then introduced me to the buffet ($19 US) explaining with great detail every feature of the meal. I then returned to my friends and said, "you've gotta to see this!" Taking them to the restaurant I found the chef and then asked if he would introduce the others to the menu as he had me. The next hour and half was pure service as every catering need we had was met and exceeded!

http://directrooms.com/myanmar/hotels/nikko-royal-lake-hotel-yangon-905.htm

This was the best service I have experienced anywhere in the world! Yes I know, it was in luxurious surrounding, but it typifies the service we experienced throughout Myanmar, rich or poor the attitude was the same.

These people do not trade in time (it's worth very little); they trade their lives in service for others.

This kind of service does not come from training; it is an attitude of heart and spirit.

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SEE YA SUNDAY - How to stay on track

Continuing in our series on the Book of James, this week I'll pick up James 1:1-18.

As I read through the text my mind is very much with the people of Myanmar and what they have taught me over the past few weeks.

When life gets tough how do you stay on track (or do you get derailed?) James 1:1-18 and the people of Myanmar have much to offer that could help us all navigate tough times and trials.

I can't wait to share this message with you!

This Sunday at 8.30 & 10.30

CANVAS this week with Matt and the Crew @ 6.30pm in the Foyer.

Can't wait ... see ya Sunday

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 - Action is eloquence

Action is eloquence.

William Shakespeare

And since you know you cannot see yourself,
so well as by reflection, I, your glass
will modestly discover to yourself,
that of yourself which you yet know not of.

William Shakespeare


© 2008, St Columba Presbyterian Church, Auckland