I Count My Blessings

One of my personal Christmas Traditions is to not listen to Christmas music until after I eat the Thanksgiving Feast. Two things happened this year that changed that for me 1) my boss was listening to Christmas music about a month ago (what am I gonna do tell him to turn it off?) and 2) It was freezing cold last week and got me in a Christmas mood (remember it's summer here). All that to say I cheated this year and started listening to Christmas music a week or so early.

Last night on the way home from Baptist Theological College's graduation service I was listening to a great Holiday Jazz CD called Christmas Songs by Diana Krall. One of my favorite CD's from last year. Our family favorite was X Christmas by Various Artists (check it out here but try before you buy). This year I have fallen in love with How Many Kings by Downhere (go to iTunes and download the single right now - I promise it will be the best buck you spend the rest of the year).

Ok, I digress - sorry about that. I'm passionate about my Christmas music.

I was listening to Diana Krall last night and the CD ends with the song Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep.

Her lyrics say:

When I'm worried, when I can't sleep

I count my blessings instead of sheep.

And I fall asleep counting my blessings.

On this Thanksgiving Day 2009 - what great advice - fall asleep counting your blessings!

I won't wait until I fall asleep to begin thanking the LORD for all He has done in me and through me this year. It might take all day - He's a great God. But, I hope the last thoughts I have are of thankfulness as I fall asleep tonight.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Don't forget to enjoy some Christmas music . . .

Little Drummer Boy

I bragged about my daughter's beauty last month, and now I want to brag about my son's skills.

Yesterday at his drum lesson, Joshuwa found out that he passed the TRINITY GUILDHALL Grade 1 Examination. In US terms it would be a 5th grade test. It is the entry level exam but at a much higher level than Joshuwa's actual age.

TRINITY GUILDHALL is a worldwide organization that judges competency in several components, such as - Sight reading, Improvisation, Rudimentary study and playing 2 pieces of music.

I share of of this because (to Joshuwa's instructor's knowledge) Joshuwa is the first pre-schooler in Africa to have earned a passing mark!

Well done my boy!

Actually, I can't brag because he doesn't have any of my genes - but I am so very proud of him.

May Josh develop a passion to praise the LORD "according to His excellent greatness!"

Happy Birthday?

Happy Birthday!
As I was drinking my 3rd cup of coffee this morning I read this headline in The Times . . .

Life expectancy now 47.

It got my undivided attention because I was born in 1962 - You do the math.

The newspaper said "Aids makes SA 'like a war zone.'" Comparatively, the life expectancy in Afghanistan is 44.

In 1990 the life expectancy in RSA was 63 and in 2005 it was 51.

Thabo Mbeki's administration was blamed for the current trend.

Also, . . . TB deaths were up 335% from 1997-2005. The "cure rate" for TB in most of RSA is 60% where the world cure rate is 85%. Kwa Zulu Natal has a cure rate of only 40%.

From 200-2007, of the more than 4,000 mothers who died while pregnant, 46% were HIV+, 12.5% were negative and 41% were not tested. That percentage is terrifying!

The health minister responded to the question "Is it reversible?" by saying certainly!

Won't you join me in praying that God would be gracious and merciful and enable this to happen for the glory of His name.

Prosperity Gospel

I found this blog to be very interesting. The video doesn't feature South Africa but it's message is not limited to the countries it covers. The health and wealth Gospel is easily found in Joburg and Soweto.

In the video, the folks in Ghana were initially asked to give $100 US Dollars.

Who can get their hands on US currency in Ghana? If they can - who can afford to give $100?

How many USD did you give last Sunday?