Life and stuff / Vivo kaj aĵoj

QotD: Oh Sorry, Did I Offend You?

nobody@vox.com(Scotty) — Fri, 16 May 2008 06:39:01 +0200

Who was the last person you offended?
Submitted by May.

I am a journalist. No doubt every article I write offends a whole stack of people.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

QotD: It's Too Late to Apologise

nobody@vox.com(Scotty) — Thu, 08 May 2008 06:58:30 +0200

Has anyone ever done something so horrible to you that "I'm sorry" couldn't fix it?

Jesus said: "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." That is recorded in Matthew 6:14-15.

Forgiveness should come regardless of whether someone says "I'm sorry", or indeed even if the person is not sorry. It's not easy, because it is against human nature.

Forgiven

But that is part of why we need a new nature. The apostle Paul wrote: "Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God" (Romans 8:8). Indeed, describing life under the sinful nature, Paul said: "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out" (Romans 7:18).

That is why Jesus told Nicodemus: "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" (John 3:3). Truly yielding to Jesus as our Lord brings a change of nature that is so profound that the Bible calls it being "born again". It is being born into a spiritual, rather than fleshly, life. Jesus said: "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit" (John 3:6).

Only those who are God's children, who have been forgiven by Him through yielding to Him, can truly take to heart what Paul wrote to the Colossians: "Forgive as the Lord forgave you" (Colossians 3:13). It may be against human nature, but not against the spiritual nature that God imparts to us.

Of course, it is not always easy to yield to that nature, but we don't have a choice. God commands it. For us not to forgive is to disobey God and fall into sin. That means that the person most hurt by my lack of forgiveness is me!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

QotD: Cinco de Mayo

nobody@vox.com(Scotty) — Tue, 06 May 2008 06:17:21 +0200

Are you celebrating Cinco de Mayo?

What's that? Some kind of American mayonnaise?

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

News & Politics QotW: Election Media Coverage

nobody@vox.com(Scotty) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:46:28 +0200

The Obama and Clinton campaigns receive non-stop media attention; how do you think the press is doing with its coverage of the democratic nominee process?

LOL - it's not getting that much coverage over here. We have our own problems to worry about.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Culture QotW: Rising Petrol Prices

nobody@vox.com(Scotty) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:44:37 +0200

Will the rising cost of petrol change your winter travel plans?

Petrol price

I was not really planning to do much driving this winter, but I'll certainly think twice before going on any photo expeditions that involve more than the usual travelling distances.

On that note, we just heard today that petrol is expected to rise 50c next month, taking it to almost R9.50 - a new record (actually, any price higher than the current one is a new record).

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

QotD: Define Cheating

nobody@vox.com(Scotty) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:38:51 +0200

What is your definition of cheating?

To deceive, or to break the rules.

That's it. It could be the rules of the game of Monopoly. It could be the law. It could be God's commands.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

QotD: Won't You Be My Neighbour?

nobody@vox.com(Scotty) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:20:17 +0200

What are your neighbours like? (The ones you live near or next to, not the ones in your Vox neighborhood!)

Far too loud.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Life QotW: Fun in the Sun

nobody@vox.com(Scotty) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:45:35 +0200

How do your hobbies/activities shift from summer to autumn/winter?

They don't - every season has its beauty and is worth photographing. Although we are heading into winter now, I expect the photographic opportunities to be there!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Culture QotW: Travel Plans

nobody@vox.com(Scotty) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:43:48 +0200

What are your travel plans for this autumn/winter?

Traditionally we have gone away for a weekend every winter, usually around the minister of home affairs' birthday in July.

For reasons which those who are categorised as friends on Vox will understand, we are not going to do that this year. This year we will remain at home, wrapped in blankets against the cold and power outages.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

QotD: More, More, More

nobody@vox.com(Scotty) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 06:17:03 +0200

What would you like to do more of?

Get paid.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend