the silent assassin

Never confuse complacency with wisdom. Laziness is a silent assassin.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

obedience

True obedience, as was shown by Christ, was a commitment unto death_ there was no compromise.

Reuben Leigh Skewes_

Gods Love

you may not understand it, nor draw means to explain it, but you certainly can't mistake the Love of Christ. it is endless, selfless, boundless and availing to all

Reuben Leigh Skewes_

take the pressure down

pressure itself is not the problem. it's your reaction_

Reuben Leigh Skewes_

learn

Having learnt a lot, I realise, I have a lot to learn.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

stolen heart

sometimes the only thing people living on the street steal is your heart_

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

truth

sometimes it is when we cease listening that we being to hear. May TRUTH be the foundation in the winds of conversation

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

dream

dreaming is free. living the dream costs your life_

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

holes in shoes

Some have holes in their shoes, some in their spirits. When you meet a physical need, God meets the spiritual need.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

The steps of wisdom

If attaining wisdom was like climbing a staircase, I would say honesty is the first step_

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

Praise

Genuine praise to God is not a matter of lip-service, but rather a matter of humility & sincere devotion to the Lord from within.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

chin up

Toughen up, don't harden up. Challenge requires a man to be tough in the mind not hard in the heart.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

folly

folly from a wise man is no wiser then folly then from a fool. It carries greater shame in a lesser game.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

prayer

God calls us to prayer. Not childhood prayers. Not prayers to fulfill our own agendas. But the prayers of passionate men & women. Prayers that will infiltrate the hearts of a generation. Prayers that will purge the gates of Hell and turn lives around. We must not speak things from the head, but begin to declare things of the spirit. Things that liberate and break the chains of bondage.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

a world

change THE world by changing A world.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

success

For some, to wake is victory. For some, to walk is a feat. For some, to love is triumph. For all, to live by faith is success.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

The power of Generosity_

Have you ever met someone who astounded you with their generosity? People are moved by generosity. The world doesn’t understand it. It defies the natural tendency of humanity, it goes against the grain to say others are more important then self. Generosity is not based on one's economic status. It’s not the size of the bank account but rather the size of the heart. Generosity is the habit of giving without persuasion.

Here are a few thoughts on generosity I extracted from the he story of Jesus Feeding the 5000 in the books of Matthew & John [John 6:1-15 + Matt 14:13-21]

GENEROSITY HAS POWER WHEN IT COMES FROM THE HEART.

GOD REACHES THE WORLD THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF HIS PEOPLE.

GENEROSITY STRETCHES YOUR FAITH.

GENEROSITY CREATES OPPORTUNITY.

GENEROSITY HAS POWER WHEN IT IS DEVISED AND PLANNED.

GENEROSITY COMPELS CHRIST TO LOOK TO HEAVEN AND ASK GOD TO BLESS WHAT WE HAVE GIVEN. GOD’S BLESSINGS ARE ONLY EVER INCREASING!

GENEROSITY WILL BRING REST TO THE MULTITUDES.

GENEROSITY OPENS THE DOOR FOR GOD TO REACH THE MULTITUDES.

GENEROSITY WHEN LINKED WITH GOD CAN FILL THE HUNGER/NEED IN THE WORLD.

OUR GENEROSITY WILL OPEN THE EYES OF THE WORLD TO THE LOVE OF CHRIST.

respect

you cannot demand love and respect. But you can certainly give it. Yet when given, it is also received.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

unexpected blessing.

Anyone can maintain the expected. It is the unexpected that truly blesses a man.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

maths

change, its a numbers game_

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

think tank

If you invite a man to think, do not fluster if he initiates revolution. For revolution is but thought carried into action.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

reputation

Your reputation will go before you. but your character will leave the true impression.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

in it, not of it.

In a world of fear we have peace. In a world of hate we have love. In a world of heartache we have hope. In a world of death we have life.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

creative

A creative man is best left to find his cloud. For from there he can draw inspiration from other worlds

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

ulterior motives

ulterior motives appeal to the cowardly. do the right thing because it is right.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

others

We must start to believe that life can change. Not only for us. But for those that cannot even afford a life.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

change.

Making change isn't easy. it is one dirty foot in front of the other. it's cold nights outside. it's early mornings in prayer. it's working when others are playing. it's spending time with people you normally wouldn't. it's taxing on your finance and your dignity... luckily, making change it not a matter of ease, but rather a matter of calling.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

bang for ya buck!

you receive more from life by being selfless then you do by being selfish.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

tired & hungry

We all tire at days end, yet I refuse to sleep without first edifying my soul. I may go to bed physically hungry, but never spiritually.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

more.

It seems to me that the more I press into Him, the more His dream is pressed into me... The more my heart breaks in, the more it is broken for those He loves... The more i reach up, the more inclined I am to reach out... And the more i choose to love Him, the more I begin to love others.

- Laura Daphnie Jean Meers

deeds

There is a difference between having your deeds exposed by light and moving into the light to see them more clearly. depending on your intention, truth will do both.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

mixed tape_ coming soon.

What is your dream?

I have a dream. A thought. An idea. it goes a little like this...

Day after day I have consistent conversations with teens all over the world. From different schools, countries and cultures. Seemingly so different, yet all the same. The search for identity & acceptance reigns as one of the loudest cries from this generation. Who am I? What is right? what is wrong? Am I homosexual? why do I think like this? is my family weird? Where do i fit in this world? What does the bible say? Etc...

Who answers these questions? Where do these teens draw hope from? Yes we would pray it is the Bible, the church, youth and Christian friends, yet this is such a small catchment pool to rely on without being proactive to increase it. When I was growing up I would ask my leaders, but i would also search google for the answers. Lucky for me I was half witted enough to draw the good from the bad.

A few moths ago I was sitting at Starbucks reading my bible and praying and i felt God say: 'This generation is crying with questions and you sit with the answers' and then I felt challenged as to how i would answer the questions.

I believe there are two places to meet a man. In the marketplace and at his point of need. You do not look for a shell in the mountains nor for mountain cabin on the beach. This is an online generation. Google, Myspace, Youtube, Facebook and Twitter is the bread and butter of this generation. Yet we seem to overlook this overpopulated marketplace. I see no better place to meet a teens need then online.

I find people talk online more about life then in person. They are more 'open' and trusting over a flat screen then a flat white.

So this is my dream. i call it 'mixed tape.' Mixed Tape is all about you, the individual. Mixed Tape is a website being developed which will give answers airtime. Yes I believe one on one relationship is important, But the bible says that Jesus also spent time and spoke to the multitudes as well as his disciples, I am not favoring one over the other. I am passionate and personally committed to both. Mixed tape is about giving us the opportunity to answer the individual question on a bigger scale.

Imagine when a teen types a life question into google and presses enter that the first page to come up is the mixed tape website. a website with the answers. a website that not only speaks with wisdom but also with truth and love. A website devoted to the growth of this generation. Developed specifically to challenge, equip and transform a generation. A website that shares light on divorce, sexuality, abortion, relationships, God etc with knowledge drawn from professionals, mothers, grandparents, pastors, doctors, psychologists and other teens. A website which gives room for anonymous questions. Imagine a website endorsed by schools, councils and government organisations because it has proof of results. Imagine a website linked to the local church, giving churches immediate face-to-face exposure where it is needed most.

is this about a website? No. This is about the individual; this is about change, about opportunity, about helping others flourish and about being Jesus to our generation. This is about teaching a man to fish rather then giving him a fish.

It’s just an idea. a thought a dream. But for me it will not remain a dream within the confines of sleep, but rather a dream played in the light of day where it can be seen, challenged, pushed and molded to become reality.

What is your dream? begin to imagine...

value for money

Driving people to the airport takes hours of your day. Yet the conversation you make adds years of wisdom to your life.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

follow

follow the leader. lead the follower

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

more

Think more. Write more. Push more. Challenge more_ Regardless of sarcasm & opinion of others let their cliched views be your catalyst to do MORE.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

wisdom_

Wisdom is justified by its fruit

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

dream

protect your dream. others always seem to know better, but not always best.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

A revolution against self

The battle of destiny vs complacency... A revolution against self.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

silence.

When arguments arise & tempers flare some fuel it with slander, but a wise man in his silence brings solitude.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

walk the line

Even the challenge itself lays in anticipation of ur endeavor. How will you walk it out? Who will get the better end? The challenge or you?

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

an uncommon people

The fervent prayers, the steps of faith, the expectant heart in uncommon hours will result in a unexpected breakthrough in common hours.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

true life

Death annuls all but truth, for the truth gives life.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

sleep required

The divergence of having 'slept but not rested' to having 'rested but not slept' is your mind_

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

hindsight.

In sight, hindsight seems insightful, yet only true if applied to the next out of sight situation.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

end of fashion

If fashion is the reason 4 existence then we are a passionate generation! Willing to give all & go w-out to be seen as vogue_ But it is not!

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

compassion

Compassion: a tangible expression of emotion extracted from the heart of God. To be moved with compassion is to directly link your heart with Gods heart.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

Servant Heart

The true heart of a man is shown by his ability to serve.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

Honesty_

Honesty is not just how you speak to others, but also how you speak to yourself. It is a direct reflection of your inner character.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

A story of virtue.

Beauty is the handwriting of God upon the parchment of life. A story of virtue.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

love a loner

Do you remember that kid at school. no one ever spoke to him and there was always some legend about how he had killed his family with a meat cleaver...

Ok maybe that is a little over zealous. He was just a normal young guy who was socially awkward and wanted friends but was unsure how to go about it. Each lunch he would sit by him self and you and your friends would pass him, maybe occasionally throw him a smile because you felt bad. I know its true because I did it too.

Well i have developed a challenge, the 'Love A Loner Challenge'. The need for more, for change, for a better society is knit within us all. The want to change the world, to rid the world of homelessness, poverty, sickness and malnutrition. To show people love, give them opportunity and a fair go.

As a young person this is your opportunity. one person. one world. change one person. change the world. the 'Love A loner Challenge' has taken that want to change the world and broken it down into a bite size doable opportunity.

you. five days. one loner. go_

Over the next five days I challenge you to find a loner. stop, say hello, be kind, find common ground, hang out and love a loner.

compassion

Compassion: a tangible expression of emotion extracted from the heart of God. To be moved with compassion is to directly link your heart with Gods heart.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

team player

Goals common to all are achieved by all.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

one.

one world. one person. change the person. change the world.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

peppermint breath

Love the hater. It gives you a fresh peppermint breath

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

Choose to change

Every chance requires a choice. Change is a opportune choice. Choose to change.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

choose your own adventure.

The only thing that separates an adventure from a journey is the thin line of certainty. Live within reason and enjoy a journey. Live within faith and enjoy the adventure.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes 

steps_

The 2 steps I will happily take in life are the first step and the step that tests the boundaries. One initiates, one expands.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

child's play

Play life like a game of hide and seek and you will be out played by truth. Play life like a game of truth and you will have nothing to hide or seek.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

head&heart+word=

One of life's greatest challenges is aligning your head with your heart and your heart with God's Word. It is then when you truly flourish.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

carpe deum

I will take advantage of one thing. Opportunity. For it is either seized or ceased.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

rumor has it

I would rather be before the rumor the behind the rumor telling.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

vogue

Amongst the vogue of social justice remains a need greater then shelter & food. The need of salvation. this should drive our benevolence... always!

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

home sweet home

others.

May others be your passion. For when others become your passion, no matter what you do, you make a difference.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

revelation.

Revelation is more then the unveiling of a passage or the Holy Spirit giving you the answer, rather I believe true revelation is the action of us as humanity unveiling of ourselves before God. stripping ourselves down and laying bare before God. it is then that we receive true revelation.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

justice.

It is time to give our all, to lay down our insecurities and tear off our own agendas. We must slap fear in the face and stay true to our calling. Not for recognition or for status, not even for the feeling of humility. But rather because God has called us to establish justice and righteousness into our world. We must live for the thousands without hope, without love and without life.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

faith vs fear

When we evict our life of fear, we gracefully move from what was into the miracle of what can be. faith begins when fear ceases. 

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

animal instinct

To be treated like an animal and to act like an animal are two different things. You may not have social respect, but never lose self respect.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

opportunity

man may lack time, talent & money, but he will never lack opportunity.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

the church and society.

People are not against church, rather they are detached from a lifeless religion. Yet also dissatisfied with the short changed strive for personal success portrayed from society. Stuck between two worlds they cry for more, a real exchange with real results. One for another, we as the Church are that exchange, the Real God in a not so real world.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

almost

mind murder.

The mind has killed more men then any murderer could envisage. fear not the power of weapons, but the power of poor thinking.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes 

validation_

In a society where every man desires validation I cannot fathom that they purposefully ignore the validator.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

one for another

To deny justice to your neighbour is to deny justice as a concept.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

walk straight

To walk the pavers of integrity is wise, as they are set by God and do not move or cause one to stumble.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

hard head. soft heart.

Knowledge fills the mind. wisdom fills the heart.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

true friendship

Friendship is more then trust and more then faithfulness. It goes further then loyalty. True friendship is the willingness to allow the relationship to be one of self-loss.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

Anxiety.

Anxiety over the uncontrollable adversely effects that within your control.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
[Philippians 4:6]

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

the real you

Reputation is perception. Character is reality.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

build me up buttercup_

Attain not to compete against one another but rather against ones self. For one builds ego and the other character.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

choose wisely.

Integrity is a choice. Chosen by few. Admired by many.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

the test of time_

Life... If you desire speed, go alone. if you desire distance, take companions.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

the fervent prayer_

May my life be a testament to God and may my actions be followed by the forth-coming generations. May my words break chains and instill love into a hurting world. May I be challenged everyday to do more and go harder. May opportunity be my vehicle and may changed lives be my fuel.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

the sound of love_

The Word of God can only be spoken in Love. To speak the Word without Love is merely a cacophony

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

remote living

The revolution will not come from the TV screen... So stop changing the channel… Start changing the world!

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

grace_

Grace does not deny nor does it ignore. It pretends not that we are not broken, confused and airing need. Instead Grace, in the face of our failures and short comings, loves without end, redeems the lost cause and instills hope where it is no longer. We are saved by this Grace.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

exchange rate.

The words of truth exchanged between companions is the greatest of the currencies.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

paradigm shift.

Defy the given, challenge the equilibrium and accept the shift of paradigm.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

identity crisis.

If the entirety of my reality is based upon protecting my true identity, then i have missed it. Because my reality should be a reflection of my identity. Strong, God based and forever fresh.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

the arrogant few.

The admittance of self acquired wisdom is the inception of ignorance and foolishness. A trait followed quickly by arrogance.

- Reuben leigh Skewes

keep it real.

Determine not to turn life into a soapy; a popcorn munching junket of visual indulgence full of dramatised dribble. smile, keep short accounts, love others, be the bigger person and always lead by example. live it and love it.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

from others we learn.

The man who passes another and has no time to receive their smile lives in folly. For it is the wrinkle in that smile which shares wisdom, and any man who aquits wisdom forsakes growth.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

freedom fighters

those with the courage to put their hand to the sword and join the fight against injustice will find themselves with companions in every corner of the globe.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

the wisdom of companionship.

It was getting late, Ryan had been hiding for over an hour. The barley grass made my ankles itch. I had run the field in circles too many times. Where could he be? His favourite hiding spot laid bare, not even a faltering blade of grass to give evidence of his presence. ‘Reuuubbbeeen…’ I head my name being called. I knew it was mother, she always came about now. The sun had hidden behind the hills and this meant it was time for me to come inside. ‘But I can’t find Ryan! He has been hiding for over an hour!’ I explained in exhaustion. Mum hugged me, smirked and said “Ryan went home an hour ago”.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Don’t you hate shallow friendships? A recent self-evaluation concluded that many of my friendships were somewhat shallow. As much, and no doubt more so my fault then anybodies. Don't get me wrong, many friends i have which i consider deep and worthwhile, but i find too many short lived and lightweight.

I believe strong friendships are vital in life. They set the platform; sway decisions, change views and either hinder or help you develop social skills that stand the test of time through life. It is obvious we were not designed to do life alone.

Having said that, have you ever thought of the origin of friendship? Where did it come from? What does it mean? Is it just a nice feeling, people you can do life with to fill the boredom, and help you when you are in need, or is it more then that? Does friendship have a bigger meaning and role then we realise? I mean not to question every part of life, but I think it imperative that we understand the important parts.

The word ‘friendship’ originates from a German word, ‘Freund’ which is very similar to the old Dutch word ‘Vriend’. These two words literally mean ‘Love’.

An obvious thought. Friendship is love… But then what is love?

1 John 4:16 says: “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him”. A fairly straight forward statement. But what if we look at it like this? “God is friendship, and he who abides in friendship abides in God, and God abides in Him”.

Friendship is actually a cardinal part of life. A rock, a solid form on which one can build a life, career and existence. You could almost go as far as saying friendship is God in human form.

Another word for friend is ‘companion’. Your partner, associate, comrade, buddy & mate. Companion comes from an old French word ‘compagne’ Which literally means: ‘One Who Breaks Bread With Another’. Sounds vague and somewhat unusual. But not when you link it to the word Love and the Fact that God is love.

It says in Matthew 26:26: “While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and handed it to the disciples, saying, "Take this and eat it. This is my body."

So how do we apply that to our lives? Is it time to buy a bakery? Bake a few buns and pull them apart and give them to everyone we consider a friend? No! I love this verse in john 15:13 which tie the two together – ‘Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’

The fundamental basis of friendship is that God loved us so much that he sent his son Jesus to break his bread/break his body so that we may live. This means friendship is more then trust and more then faithfulness. It goes further then loyalty. True friendship is the willingness to allow the relationship to be one of self-loss. Where you are willing to loose your life so that another may gain, putting yourself in a position of venerability, not in vain but with purpose and love, because it was Jesus who first showed the first sign of true friendship.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

holiday christianity

Bam! You scream, growl and whimper. Hopping away in severe pain, your knee slightly jarred and your toe is trembling. Your hand is faltering and searching for a surface to lean and balance against. It was a nice morning. Mrs Scriven’s homemade fruitcake had complimented your tea nicely. You had dropped the wife and kids at friend’s homes and returned the late DVD’s. The sprinkler was watering the lawn and the morning was now yours to enjoy. Time to lie down, put your feet up, relax and not think, and you hadn’t, not until this toe stumping moment. Suddenly every discussion from last Christmas is vividly recurring in your mind. You had promised your wife several times that you would fix the skirting and move the cement bags from the patio renovations. But you hadnt done it and now you pay the consequence.

The entire 2 weeks before Christmas you worked so hard to extend the patio because the in-laws were invading the Christmas break. It seems to be the same every holiday. the family is coming, so you clean, extend, plant, remove and re decorate half the house. So much effort goes into the portrayal of a pain free existence. But behind the façade lives a somewhat normal and slightly dysfunctional family.

Why do we do this? Fake life. Give our best when others are observing, in the hope they admire our standings and surmise we are established, happy and complete. Are we scared of normality? or is it, we are unsure of what normal is? is it that we live a slightly complacent life and the only opportunity to break that complacency is with a renovation or expansion every 6 months?

I often wonder how many people live holiday-to-holiday, conference to conference, opportunity for prayer to opportunity for prayer in their spiritual lives. Never really using their given space, time and function to its full ability. Rather, they compartmentalise their spiritual growth into quarterly calendered dates, and the only time they work on their spiritual lives is when they are on show, when the pastor is coming for dinner or when they are meeting with their mentor.

I wonder how many DIY Christians are building without a permit, ignoring the given guidelines for life. Jumping from one quick fix to the next hoping it’s a short cut to their destiny. hoping that maybe this spiritual extension will give them enough buzz till the next opportunity.

I find it unusual that the only time we remember what we had promised ourselves those many years ago is when we stump our spiritual toe on the corner of the bench called life. The determination of a new years revolution to read the bible more, prayer longer and worship harder is short lived because the thought is easier then the action; Our promises to give more and love more is overwhelmed by excuse after excuse; Life is full, I was tired, the kids needed me, Oprah was on.

I don’t want Easter to be the first time I’ve worked on my spiritual life since Christmas and the last time I work on it before next Christmas. I certainly don’t want my walk with God to be a façade which I quickly clean and rearrange when the family is coming and it is on show.

I determine each morning to thank God for his new mercies and fill my mind with Gods Word and my heart with His Love. Every opportunity I have in my day I strengthen my foundation, I stretch my beliefs and I challenge my convictions.

If the entirety of my reality is based upon protecting my true identity, then i have missed my calling. Because my reality should be reflection of my identity. Strong, God based and forever fresh.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

seven eleven.

Your day just like every other. Your drowsy shadow traces each step. Finally home, you trudge through the door and down the photo hung hall. A dimly lit tunnel of memories, a memorial to family friends and life. Your house, your home. A familiar sight, with an accustomed smell.

Feeding your hunger your sole determination. You grasp the cold steel handle and creak open the gateway to a chilled and fresh fulfilment, a cove of delight and satisfied cravings, your hideaway from reality. Food, your medication and sedative.

Your long drawn days and sequential late nights have shown lack within your fridge. No dairy for your coffee and no bread for your butter. Your spoon has too many times scrapped the underbelly of the blue ribbon box. And your quick fix chocolate draw is nothing but paper and wrinkled tinfoil.

You hit the ground running. 7/11 in sight. Suddenly your dreary day falls into insignificance, you need not care for your inner feelings because you know within 2 minutes your safe place will be bound by reach.

He stares at you. Like he does every time. A long bewildered look, like a possum in the headlights. A silent cry, beckoning, gasping, wanting and seemingly somewhat helpless. 3 times this week he has looked the same.

Cash in hand you look through his need at the Cadbury chocolate stand behind him. Blankly and without cause you portray your need. Chocolate and chocolate now. Wait you cannot for the sweet taste and the theobromine to hit the blood stream. He scans, you pay. Transaction over.

2 years you have frequented the 7/11. Milk, Petrol, Bread, Icecream & slurpies your weekly addition. Have you ever actually asked his name? Wondered who he is or what he does? Yes you have noticed he is somewhat unkempt, but aren’t we all at times.’

Yes, you have a life too, and he has never asked how you are, or what you do. So why should you even begin to enquire about his empty stares and dirty clothes. What are the scars on his wrist anyway!? What is he? Emo? You pick up your short term sedation bar. Time to go home, Neighbours is about to begin.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Quite the emo example, but prudent to thought. So many times I have neglected the need and want for 'life' from others and replaced it with the need and want for instant gratification for myself.

Too often i think we attempt to turn life into a soapy, a popcorn munching junket of visual indulgence and create life size drama from bite size chocolate bars. Yes the above story is made up and yes it is rather played up, but how easily is it adapted to our own lives.

I know personally the countless times I have every right to be self focused, keep my head down and burrow in self pity. but we are not called to do so.

I love that we can walk in alignment with the Holy Spirit. each moment of each day, an opportunity to listen, learn and to possibly change a life.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

twitter

http://twitter.com/reubenskewes

a little bit of craig

the opportune moment.

I was stuck at a busy T-intersection. The sun bore down like a Greek orthodox grandmother. Stiff and heavy breathed. The seconds passed by slower then grains of sand through a clogged hourglass. My mind could not fathom the thought process of the person in the vehicle before me. 2 minutes of earnest waiting seemed like 2 weeks. Why she could not put petal to the metal and quarter the circle I know not. Every muscle in my body was tense. My fingers were sore from tapping, my upper lip cramped and my patience thinned. Every millimeter of my voice box ached from holding frustrated words within. So many breaks in traffic. It was like watching your baby sister play 'Frogga' on the 'Nintendo' your best-friends uncle gave you when he upgraded. You can see the gap so clearly. It is as though time slows and you are focused on the gap. You time it perfectly and you cross the road in your mind. But alas she cannot see the gap and yet again you wait another 2 minutes of seamless eternity.

Why do we get frustrated sitting at T intersections behind slow minded drivers, or deep down build rage when we miss the green and hit tomato red at the traffic light? Is it the diminishing time in our day? The adage of time is money and money makes the world go round. So to lose that time means you lose the money and your miscalculation at the lights makes the world stop spinning? Is it that we have become such a need and want 'right now' society that if we have to wait, it is not worth it? Is it that we rule our own lives so well we treat ourselves like royalty and expect the same treatment from others?

I believe not. I believe we try and circumvent our frustration by blaming it on time, blaming it on need or ego. If you were to remove time from the equation and destroy the inner wants of instant gratification, maybe take a step aside from what you need for one moment and look again at the T intersection scenario. The only thing left standing is opportunity.

As I sat behind the women at the T intersection, all that sat before her and I was opportunity. Gap after gap in traffic went past but she refused to seize the moment. I was not upset because she was wasting my time. I waste enough of my own time to blame it on her. The sole reason of my frustration was that deep down sense that inner whirlwind that need to see others successfully grasp an opportunity by the head and run with it. It is built within us all. The need for more. To grow. To change. To advance. so to witness opportunity after opportunity fall breathlessly to the ground hurts even the onlookers to a situation.

Humanity is built on individuals. Individuals within communities. Communities who work together for a common good. So to see another individual in absence of opportunity hurts the greater community.

When those before us miss their opportunities we miss ours. It took me a very frustrated 2 minutes in a hot car to view differently the concept of 'before you get your own vision, you must serve another mans vision'. I understand the concept very well having served other men’s visions for many years, but 2 minutes today shone a new light upon the old proverb.

I could not receive my opportunity to turn the corner until she accepted her opportunity. Here’s not to say we cannot make change and accomplish anything with our lives until those before us do, no, we must encourage those before us to take their opportunity. For each individual within the community is working for the common good. When one man flourishes we too flourish. So in helping her see the gap in the traffic. Giving my all to see her succeed I then was able to step up to the plate, having watched the traffic from another perspective, take my swing at the opportunity given and hit it out of the ball park as I had already guaranteed it in my soul having watched it pass second by second. The opportunity waited. It was now or never.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

Valentines Cost Cutters.

ECONOMIC CRISIS IS HITTING ALL FACETS OF LIFE.... 

blogger to published writer

I was honored when Kasey Mac Editor of Enhance Magazine gave the tick of approval for an article I wrote months ago 'Floating Rib Syndrome' to be Published in the current edition of 'Enhance'. 

Totally unaware that she has even seen any of my writing I was very surprised when asked if they could run the piece. 

So purchase yourself the latest version of Enhance Magazine and track down my story. 

There is a possibility that they may publish more. This has certainly been a lovely opportunity and I look forward to the option of writing more and working with Kasey, Bel and the Enhance team. 

Certainly a dream beginning to come to fruition! 

the unveiling of Revelation

have you ever pondered on the word 'Revelation'?

You will often hear preachers and leaders speaking on receiving a revelation from God. 

What is a revelation?  a sudden idea? and uneducated guess? a farce? a cliche saying? I love to think of a revelation as an uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. 

The word revelation is made up of two words. 'Revel or Reveal' and 'Ation' The meaning for the verb reveal is obvious. to reveal something. to unveil and expose. sounds somewhat similar to revelation doesn't it. So why use the word revelation? I believe it is the suffix tacked on the end that makes the difference. Ation. Ation is the result or product of action. To receive a revelation it requires action. a deliberate change of motion from oneself. 

The original meaning of the word 'revelation' comes from the late latin word 'revelare'. 

A used to describe that which was 'stripped down and laid bare'. An amazing coincidence or perfect platform to receive a revelation. you decide...

I think too often we chase the preacher, mime all the actions and look for uplifting reactions from those around us. We are consumed with public performance and neglect private devotion when needing a revelation from God. 

A Revelation demands that we in our private devotion, strip down our identity issues, let go of our insecurities and dispose of grudges and past hurts. we are summonsed to lay bare before Christ. Like He was stripped down and laid bare before humanity. The greatest revelation. 

So what is a revelation? Yes it is the uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. Yet I believe it is more then the unveiling of a passage or a new found idea or the Holy Spirit giving you the answer, rather I believe true revelation is the action of us as humanity unveiling of ourselves before God. stripping ourselves down and laying bare before God. it is then that we receive revelation. 

hope for the hopeless.

There is hope in every situation.
check this fantastic website
'www.iamsecond.com'

you cant go past personal experience

Brian Welch - Ex member of band 'KORN'