Robben Island – A trip worth taking.

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I could feel my thoughts and emotions start drifting as I entered into a space so far  removed from my own, the maximum security prison. The cold corridors of the building sent chills down my spine…a place were education was regarded as a privilege rather than a right for the Indians, Coloureds and Blacks. They were not allowed to study politics. What made my stomach turn was that when they arrived on Robben Island they were given a card and uniform according to race.
Henri Fazzie 1965 – 1982(release date0 wrote about an experience with a young Afrikaner soldier who started teaching them carpentry and started talking to them to find out why they were in jail. He was shocked because he was told he was going to a place where ruthless killers were imprisoned, our tour guide mentioned that many young Afrikaner soldiers were brainwashed into believing that the freedom fighters/ANC politicians were killers. He said that even his grandfather taught him that black people are from the devil. The young soldier was shocked to find that all that he was taught was false. In fact many were torn between truth and loyalty as a soldier to their country and follow orders.

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Inside the prison cells they have set up information plaques written by the prisoner who stayed in it. There were also pictures of the prisoners with the DOB and DOD. Many did not make it out and died in prison because of a lack of nutrition and from the cold. Below is a write up by Billy Nair a former political prisoner 1964-1984 (release date). He mentions how cold it was. Section C of the prison was where many of them died.

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They were allowed to send letters but they were never private and were opened and investigated first. All positive letters or political info or even positive news from family was crossed out with black felt pen. They would then hold the letters towards the sun and they were called ‘window letters’. The wardens soon discovered this and then they started cutting out parts of their letters.

See below an example of the cut away letters.

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They only had one doctor a week and if you did not get a chance to see him then you had to wait. They were only given panado for every ailment and many died from the common flu.

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Above is how food was rationed according to race. This literally made me ill inside.

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This is an enlarged example of the prison ‘dompas’.  You were never called by your name but called by your prison number, which is another form of dehumanization.

What was the ‘dompas’ within South Africa at that time? This was a form of identification (pass law) which allowed non whites (Coloreds, Blacks and Indians )access to white areas and certain parts of town mostly because they were working in that specific area. If you were asked to produce your card and you did not have it you would be arrested. Colloquially, passes were often called the dompas, literally meaning the “dumb pass.”

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This is how they slept for many years on the floor with a mat. Below are pics of the actual prison of former and late President Nelson Mandela.

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The red bin in the corner was the toilet.

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Closer to political change in South Africa, changes were made in the prisons and a very successful jazz group called the ‘Roots’ started in the prison and the music was allowed to be played through the speakers of the cells. When on tour you can press the intercoms in the prison cells and one of them played the jazz sounds of the members of the group. Other prison cells would be the actual prisoner telling his story.

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Wake up church!

The poem is below this ‘thought thread’.

Sometimes I get so irrrated with the “pious pharisee type Christian”. The Christian who feels they should take it upon themselves to live in judgement of others. Can you not recognise your pride? Jesus walked with the lonely, sat with the wicked, loved people who are rejected by society. LOVE first is Christ-like…hate the sin not the person…thats broken, lost, poor…the unlovely, the confused, the hurt, the abused, the lonely…but yet my heart is grieved when I see people sitting in adorned churches with state of the art technology, fancy everthing and yet right there sitting in the church pues are people that the power of God and His love has not yet touched. Sitting in a broken world, in a broken church, and a broken state of mind…just broken.
1 Corinthians 13v2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 
Yet here we are in a church age that places value in numbers and constantly focuses on prospertity and wealth. There is nothing wrong with wealth but when the focus is money the church has lost the plot! I should not judge yep, I know…but I need to speak out. 
Exactly where are we headed. 

Awaken

Dead man’s bones
Dead man’s bones
Awake awake awaken
The church is asleep
You call yourself a Christian
But stop wait and just listen
To their cries
Your ears are shut
Your knees never hit the ground
You’re too proud

Awake awake awaken
They dying all around
Stand your ground
Don’t be afraid
He is risen
He is coming
Get your bridal garments ready
It’s one minute before midnight
You spirit knows it’s right
But your questioning mind

Won’t let you stand up and fight

Awaken church from your slumber
For you have become like dead man’s bones
Dead man’s bones

Awake Awake Awaken
Rise up before it’s too late
Your sleep has become too deep
And you no longer keep
My commands

Awaken church
Open your eyes
It’s time
To revive!

 

 

Does it matter, really?

So this poem has a deeper meaning for everyone no matter what your beliefs are, we all have an end. I may sound morbid but I’m not. If man kind would live with that in mind we may have a different world, a kinder world, a world with deeper thinkers, less material chasers, more understanding and tolerance.

 

It doesn’t matter what colour is your face
When you’re saved by His grace
We all trying to keep up with the pace
We’ve got to finish this race

It doesn’t matter what area code you’re in
Where you’re just living in your sin
Don’t give me that cynical grin

How long has it been?
You’ve got to let God in

It doesn’t matter what car you drive
Thinking you have all that vibe

Driving around like a fool…placing value in material drool
One day you will have to face your maker
Hope you wake up before that…it’s not worth it being a faker

It just doesn’t matter
Only thing that matters is what state your heart is in
That’s it
That’s all
That’s needed to fulfil your call.

So set aside all your worries and your fears…

You’ve got to know that God understands and cares

For you

But you have got to reach out

Stop living in your doubt!

Lift up your head and shout!

Worry-less…Fear-less

Stop worrying about what you don’t have and be at peace with yourself. I believe every man will have his day and I have seen this happen. You cannot runaway from it. The Bible says in Galatians 6v7 “Do not be deceived God is not mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”  Keep true to your heart and live open and honest. Be faithful and he will bless you with much. People will always have an opinion that may wind you up the wrong way but again it’s their opinion, you stand your ground and just be yourself. So many times people are scared to be themselves. Scared to let go… Scared to speak out…scared to stand up… Scared to say what’s on their mind… Scared to even believe in themselves and the God given talent that lies inside because of fear of failure. I’ve been there and I am not afraid to admit that sometimes I have been afraid of many things but the older I get the more vocal I’m becoming. You have the right to speak out.

2 Timothy 1v7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, and of love and a sound mind.”

You have the right to your own joy. You have the right to peace.

PSALM 29V11

The Lord gives strength to His people, the Lord blesses His people with peace.

One of the greatest gifts is peace. Peace in your heart and your mind. Your inner man is most important more than the outward. Don’t be afraid to be who you are called to be. Go get it in 2018!

We walk alone

Sometimes we walk alone
Entwined together with others
But your journey is your own
Don’t define yourself through others
It will eventually suffocate you
Find your own path
Laugh
Because life is short
They cannot stop your walk
You move forward
You move on
You cannot allow their choices
To overtake you
Envelope you
Stifle you
Steal your joy
Fly high
High
Don’t let them clip your wings
Let life bring
You something
New
Something
Good
Fly

To my colleagues, the faithful teachers

Sometimes as teachers
You put yourself aside
And your dreams just die
We get stuck in a rut
We forgot
We had dreams
What’s life all about
Spend some time with Him
Get on your knees
Revive those dreams
God placed inside of you
Don’t hesitate
Before you know it
It will be too late
As long as you have breath
You need to accelerate
Within you are books to be written
Words to be spoken
Songs to be sung
Paintings to be done
Its not only about the children
Yes they important
But so are you!
It’s your journey too
Far too often
You put yourself aside
Let Him be your guide
It’s not the time to hide
Let your light shine
Join them on this ride
And grow
You will have more impact
In their young lives
If you start living your own
Be alive!
Live!

Thoughts

Thoughts…
A wedding lasts for 6 to 7 hours
A strong marriage may last 40 years or more depending on God’s grace and favour which is 350000 hours
Rush into marriage and marry the wrong guy because you want to fit in to societies ways and end up broken or…. rather fit into God’s destiny. Lock into His destiny and have peace.
Most young people are fueled by a burning desire to be with someone but what are you wanting to build in your life…broken pieces or something wholesome and whole. Once the fire is gone it’s gone. Why not build something better something strong not based on the flesh but based on better Godly principles.
Do u think you are ready to take care of another human being? Make wise choices young people. It’s your life after all and you only get one chance.

Warzone

I am at war I am at war
When Paul wrote…The things I should do I do not do… but the things I should not do…I do

I understand the battle with my flesh
When my spirit says yes
But my mind won’t let me go
It’s a war zone
But I sit on my throne
I know it’s worth nothing
One day it will all be gone
No use building earthly kingdoms
When one day
I must face the Maker
Of all things

My soul wants what it can’t have
I’m not that brave
This life’s pace
This stupid race
I need to slow down
Instead I push through with my frown
Holding onto a bronze crown
My heart wants what was once young
Now it’s old, tired and weary
Feeling like life’s just getting dreary

I need you
I need you
To understand what I don’t understand

We are all the same
Trying to gain something
Trying to find peace
Speak to me again
For me…to me
And not for anyone else

The soul lays to waste
Feeling strange
Needing something
Out of reach
Out of reach
Out of time
Out of time
Out of tune
Out of tune
Mistrust
Distrust
People hurt
People love
People chase
After their own things

Be careful don’t stand on those tracks
They may run you down
People hurt
People love
People complicate
Be careful of your heart
Guard it… It says guard it
because it is the well spring of life

I am at war in my mind
Sometimes I am too kind
I am at war in my mind

I don’t want to be left behind

I am at war in my mind

Please be my guide

It’s the devils playground
We will not always be around

I am at war in my mind
Sometimes there’s a divide

Some day there will be no place to hide

So you better survive

If you want to win the prize

Open your mouth

Rise above it. Whatever it is…rise above it. This mornings message at church, reminded about the woman with the issue of blood and Zacchaeus. They did not remain in their situation they stepped out from the crowd. They made themselves known. Have you stepped out in faith? Trust Him for a miracle whatever the situation is. This morning I had two pictures one with a person who’s mouth was open and praising and the other with mouth closed, sewn up almost. Felt that God was saying the physical mouth is praising but the spiritual mouth is closed because of hurt, pain, rejection, heart break, etc. Let deep call out to deep. God wants you to raise above. Open your mouth and reach out. Step out in faith. Faith without works is dead. He has a plan for you. Believe that!

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