Hansie Movie

So on friday afternoon i watched the movie, 'Hansie', about Hansie Cronje, the former SA cricket captain, who meant so much to the SA nation as a sporting hero, but whom fell to temptation of satan and money.

 

It was a really awesome movie that brought back many memories of his rise and fall. What stood out in the movie was his faith, particulalry after his fall. It once again showed me how important faith is to an individual and should be to a sportsman. Once he realised that God forgave him and he forgave himself, hs life started improving and the relationships with friends and family improved. Unfortunately Hansie died a tragic death in a flying accident.

 

So do yourself a favour and go watch the movie. It is an inspiration. Pay particular interest to his faith and the faith of others around him. Also listen to the quote, early on in the movie, of Eric Liddle from the Chariots of Fire story. I will share that in a future post.

 

So happy watching.

SB

MY DECISION

I received this as part of an email over the last few days. It is so important to look at our outlook on life. This is really important on a day to day basis. Our daily outlook on life is crucial in how we live each day, our decisions about life, our handling of situations, how we interact with others and how serious should I be in life. So for sportsmen it is important how we go to training or competition, our outlook on tough sessions, how we interact with fellow compeitors and in particular our interaction with coaches.

 

So enjoy the read. You will be motivated and challenged on your daily outlook. Thanks Byron for the mail.

 

 

MY DECISION
Adapted by Natale Roelofse, SCAS

An 92 year old, poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, shaved perfectly and with his hair fashionably coifed (even though he is legally blind) moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window. "I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight year old having just been presented with a new puppy.

"Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait." "That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up".

"I have a choice: I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes are open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life. Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!"

What an incredible story! What a lesson to learn. Everyone reading this will agree that it is so strikingly simple that it almost hurts! Where do we stand on this? Isn't it true that we are more in control of what is happening around us, on how we decide how it will be? Every single action counts. Isn't this the way Jesus wants us to be; wants us to live by? The good part is always there. The decision is ours. He too is always there, but it depends on us whether we allow Him near us, into our lives. 2 Corinthians9:6 "He who sows sparingly, but he who reaps sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will reap bountifully." What are we sowing?

He ended off with "Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing".

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.

4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

Questions
1. What was you 'decision' this morning? And how did it affect you already?
2. What is the most significant 'decision' you can make today?
3. Should you make any changes in your life on this topic?
4. Who will these changes affect mostly, directly and indirectly?

World Class player & Budha???

So yesterday driving around the city I saw a newspaper headline saying 'World class flyhalf kicking for Budha'. So of course I was intrigued and dissapointed. So went to the shops to check out the newspaper and was very dissapointed when i read that the English World cup winning flyhalf, Johnny Wilkenson, believes his new found calmness and strength.

 

My prayer is that he can rather turn to Jesus. That he can realise that his talents, the numerous sporting talents he has been blessed with, come from God and no where else. That he can rather find strength in the Lord Jesus, and that He may become Johnny rock and salvation.

 

Lord, be with him and show yourself to him. May you guide him to salvation and blessed him abundantly.

 

SB

Being a Fire!

So last weekend we went on a church camp with Eastside. During the camp a fire relit itself and all the men went to put it out before it spread and got too close to the tents. When i got to the fire it set a tree alight right in front of me. Those red/orange flames were amazing. What was even more amazing to me was the power of the flames and the fire. As it got bigger the heat and power felt like someone had hit me on the chest. The power was incredible. What was also incredible was how quickly the fire spread through the dead grass, bushes and trees.

 

This made me think about the song, 'Jesus be the Centre'. In that song we sing - 'Be the fire in my heart, be the reason that I Live, Jesus, Jesus'. Here we are asking Jesus to be that strong and powerful fire. The fire that I experienced last week. To be that fire that totally consumes and spreads through us. Like another song where we sing 'All consuming fire, fan into flame, a passion for your name'. My prayer is that we can experience God like this fire. That it can be all consuming and that we can become that flame that spreads through the world!

God Bless

SB

Opening Prayer & Scripture

A big well done to the organising committee for a swim meet I am at. It is not often that this happens at a sporting event and the first time that I am at a swim meet where they have opened the event with a bible reading and prayer. It was really great to see this happen. Nice one guys!

SB

When people are threatened by your faith

Others could often become threatened by your faith. Threatened because they either dont have the same degree of faith and or faithfulness or they dont believe in the Lord God almighty, whom sent his one and only son to come and die on the cross for our sins.

Recently I heard a story whereby a manager / administrator rudely told an athlete to remove an inspirational God inscription from her hand. This inscription stood as a confirmation of her faith, a reminder of why she is competing, a reminder that she is not competing for herself or anyone else BUT rather for the Lord Jesus Christ.

All I can say is guys keep going. Know why and for home you compete as an athlete and as it stands in 1 Corinthians 16 verse 13 "Stand firm in faith".

God bless

SB

Ruan Pienaar & Talent

Was watching a local TV station's rugby show last night and they profiled Ruan Pienaar a world cup winning Springbok player. Something that stood out for me was the following:

• that the heavenly Father has given and blessed him with talents that he needs to use
• that it is a priveledge to be able to run out onto the rugby field every weekend
• that it is how he plays and uses his talents
• and that it is how he stands up every time he gets knocked down that is important.

 Amazing to hear this from a young, already well established and well achieved sportsmen. Keep that faith Ruan!

 

May your faith as a sportsmen be firm and may you praise God for the talents He has blessed you with as a sportsmen and often role model to many!

God Bless

SB

Jesus is King

Was at a local SA bank the other morning and while i was waiting they had a framed memorabelia of the 2007 Super 14 rugby final between the Sharks and the Blue Bulls where the Bulls won in the final minute.

Part of the framing included pictures of during the game and of the victorous team posing after the game. Situated right in the middle of that picture was Jaco VD Westhuizen not wearing his bulls uniform but rather a white t-shirt with 'Jesus is King' written on the front! Once again it reminded me of the fact and that Sportsmen around the world compete for Jesus! Amazing! Go for it! Spread the word to all ends of the world!
God Bless
SB