I may change the title of this blog, I may not. When I think of blogging, I have thoughts like, 'Why?' 'Is anyone going to read it?' 'Do I want anyone to read it?' "Is any of this going to bite me in the ass later?' Well, to start off, I may or may not change the title of this blog because I may or may not want anyone to read it. If I leave it as is, It will probably get no attention as it's an old blog and I'm not in Africa any more. Do you remember Encyclopedias? I do. Well, I'm already thinking of other micro-blogs that I wanna do. Look, I half hope that no one ever reads this and the following blogs, and I fully hope that I'll find some sort of motivation beyond bartending.
12 Sept 2012
3 Sept 2009
Reading can be fun!
Last night I finished reading A.W. Tozer's "Wingspread A.B. Simpson: A study in spiritual Altitude"
I know, the title doesn't seem very exciting and if you're not Steve Carlin, then you're probably asking yourself, "Who the heck is A.B. Simpson?" That's what I was asking when I was par-oozing my friends bookshelf. So, I was bored a few nights ago and I wanted to read something. I had just destroyed a fiction novel that I picked up last time I was in Lusaka and was hungry for more reading. The only reason I picked up this volume was because I've heard much about A.W. Tozer being a great writer and the other books I had either read already, or didn't look interesting enough. That should tell you how interested I was in the other selections, since I picked up a book written 66 years ago about a man that I never heard of.
Wingspread is a biography of the A.B. Simpson, who was a Canadian man born in 1843 and died in 1919. The most interesting thing about Mr Simpson was how disciplined he was and devoted to making a huge difference. He was an amazing speaker and formed a huge heart for evangelism. This brought him to post civil war Louisville, KY. He later moves to New york, NY and starts The Christian and Missionary Alliance. At 37, he becomes very sick and is told his days are numbered. He goes to a healing service and listens to the testimonies of those who were healed. He didn't want to get caught up in the enthusiasm so he prayed about it. One day, he goes on his own into the woods and kneels and prays for healing on his own. By miracle, he is healed and knows that it was The Lord. This causes him to believe and from then on teach on divine healing. Many criticized him for this.
Sorry, I didn't start this to write my own biography about this man. If you're interested, I would suggest picking up the book. It's a quick read, which is an inspiring story. I felt that I was sitting and having a coffee with A.W. Tozer as he was narrating the story because as I was reading the book it was as if I could hear his voice.
That's all.
Posted by Nic Nice at 02:11:00 0 comments
10 Aug 2009
On a lighter note: Shane & Shane
A couple years ago, I borrowed a Shane & Shane CD from a friend and at the time found it so terribly boring that I changed their name to Boring & Boring. In my mind, I labeled them as one of those dime-a-dozen christian bands that I'll never like. Still, I couldn't figure out why so many people were raving about them. Ok, fast-forward to about two weeks ago. I heard one of their songs coming from my neighbor's room (at the ark you can hear everything through the walls) and I knocked on the door and asked" what music is that?" She said that it was Shane & Shane, I was so surprised that I had to look for myself to be sure. Yes, it was Boring & Boring! My mind was racing "How could what I'm hearing possibly be that bore-you-to-tears band that I listened to years ago and cast aside as no good?" This music has, a deep sound, acoustic guitars that consist of more than GCD and EAB chord progressions. The lyrics are sung with passion. Wow, it was as if I found something new, although it was something that all these other friends of mine have already become tired of. Did I judge the band incorrectly, or did I just borrow the wrong CD? Anyway, this is my formal and public apology to Shane & Shane and the following that may be upset at how I used to think of this band that now I enjoy. Although, I've only been able to borrow one disc of 'An Evening With' By the way, Psalm 13 was what I heard from the neighbor's room, great jam.
Sorry guys. I like your stuff now.
Posted by Nic Nice at 13:02:00 1 comments
26 Jul 2009
Life and Death
A few nights ago, I was leaving the Ubuntu Campus after having dinner with Jon and Jillian. The distance to the Ark is a short 2 or 3 Kilometers (1.2-1.8 miles) but I'm driving because at night the village dogs roam in packs and can be vicious. Ubuntu doesn't have power yet, so the only lights are the headlights on the Nissan Patrol. Headed towards the hospital, I saw a man walking his bike ahead. From a distance, I saw him switch from the right side of the road to the left side of the road, which is the side people drive on here. In the bush, the "rules-of-the-road" don't necessarily apply, so I easily drifted to the 'wrong' side of the road to avoid a collision with this man walking his bike in my direction. As I was approaching him, he stopped walking and began to wave. I didn't think much of it, we were going in opposite directions and I didn't recognize him, so I just kept on keepin' on.
Minutes after I arrived at the pad, I received a phone call from Jon, He was asking if I could come and get this girl who was trying to make it to the hospital but no longer had the strength to continue. As he asked me, I recalled that there was a man visiting from Lusaka who had a Patrol and was there at Ubuntu, so I advised Jon to ask him if he could help, otherwise I would drive back out as quickly as possible. Less than 5 minutes later my phone started ringing, and immediately grabbed the keys and started out the door as I was answering the phone. When I answered, Jon told me that the other guy took the girl and her brother and I didn't need to come out and get them.
Without much more thought, I brushed the teeth and checked my email and went to sleep. The next day, I saw the guy who had taken the girl into the hospital the night before and I asked him if everything went okay. He looked at me and asked, "So, you don't know what happened?" "No what happened?" I responded. He went on saying that the girl died of heart failure and she was only 15 years old. He said that she was traveling to the hospital from far with her brother on bicycles when she couldn't continue and he went on to the hospital to get someone to drive out, but no one would and so he was heading back to her. I realized that he must've been the one I past when I was driving. Beginning to feel like maybe if I had stopped the girl might be alive, I was thinking over what had happened. When I past the guy on the road, I didn't sense that he was in distress or that there was an emergency. My thoughts went to 'what would I have done?' and I was thinking "If it were my sister, I would've stood in front of the vehicle, anything to get someone to stop and help." In my head, I started asking why didn't he do what I would've done, why did he just wave? Of course, I realize that there is a clash of two cultures here. Maybe if I were Zambian, I would've sensed the need?
Later, I was asked one of the doctors if he knew about this girl. He told me that he did and he went on the say that when she arrived there wasn't much they could've done for her, because there is no life support and such equipment that larger more advanced hospitals have. He said, if she was bleeding to death or dehydrated, they have blood and fluids.
Death here in Zambia is much more part of daily life. The life expectancy is quite lower than in the States and out here in the bush, the resources aren't as readily available to handle every medical case. Often, people have to walk 2 days to get to this hospital and may arrive too late to be properly cared for. This hospital has however, saved countless lives since it was built by the church 50 years ago. Still there is wailing almost everyday at the hospital, where loved ones are mourning the dead not far from where I stay at the Ark. I have to be careful not to become de-sensitized to this, so that I can remember that death is real and life shouldn't be wasted on meaningless activities.
Posted by Nic Nice at 01:16:00 0 comments
28 May 2009
2 May 2009
Dangerous or not?
The first time I've ever seen a Chameleon with my own eyes, was last year when I was driving and one about the length of my forearm was crossing the road. He was doing his little pimp walk and seemed to be almost the same color as the orange dirt of the road. I almost ran over him, but I managed to stop in time and was able to take him out of the road and release him in the bush. Since then, I've seen about 3 or 4 others alive, and a few dead. After telling some of my Zambian friends about my encounter with the Chameleon, they began to brush off their skin as though ants or something very undesirable was crawling all over them and they went on to tell me that these animals are extremely dangerous. I asked how they were dangerous, and some told me that if the tail of the creature wraps around your finger, you could be dismembered. Also, I was informed that when someone comes across this particular lizard that they either run away, or stone it to death. This didn't sit well with me, because these creatures only eat insects and are quit nice to see around. There certainly is a superstition about these creatures, frogs, and many other animals. The picture posted above is the smallest one that I've seen so far, and I will continue to catch and release these animals in the bush so that they have a stronger chance to survive.
Posted by Nic Nice at 05:33:00 0 comments
18 Apr 2009
The Shack
I just finished reading a book that I heard a lot about and was a little reluctant to start, but let me tell you this was one of the best fiction books that I've read in a long time. It's not even my type of book. If you haven't read this, my suggestion is get it, read it, love it. After reading this book, I think the way I understand God will be changed forever. I cried a couple times too, I will admit.
Wm. Paul Young writes an amazing story of a man whose daughter was brutally murdered, and how God helps him deal with his pain, the judgement he has of God and others, and forgiveness. This book takes God out of the box and allows us to have a more open mind, less cluttered with traditions, religiousness and more freedom. I love it.
If you want to look more into it, check out the website. www.TheShackBook.com
Posted by Nic Nice at 10:04:00 0 comments