Author: Andrew (Page 17 of 43)

Dead and Useless?

17 October 2010 / Andrew

James said, “What good is it, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?

Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, ‘Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well’—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.”

This is a photo of Charles Mareu talking to a resident of Wailea Settlement in Suva. Charles & Tina don’t have much, and yet they don’t talk about compassion and caring for the poor, they live it.

Their faith is proved real.

Their faith is alive!

This morning I asked God to convict people as we talked at CBC about being compassionate.

Instead He convicted me.

Deeply.

364|365 Dead End

1 October 2010 / Andrew

The tedious drive from Auckland turned into an expedition of sorts as I tried new ways home. Unfortunately heading down unfamiliar roads without a map can easily lead to a dead-end.In one such dead-end as the road narrowed I spotted a small cemetery and paused to take photo 364. Strolling around the bleak relics of other peoples memories for loved ones, I stumbled across this
gravestone for Olive.

‘Beloved wife of Thomas Nicol, Died 17 August 1907, Aged 23. Thy will be done’.

I wondered if Olive and Thomas were distant relatives of mine, then pondered how she might have died at such a young age. I thought about how unlikely it was that anyone remained alive that remembers
Olive.

Driving back out of the dead end road I resolved again not to let my life be a dead end.

I’m not so much worried if people don’t remember me in a 100 years time, but more worried if people will remember me for what I have done in the last 10 years, or perhaps more importantly, will
they remember me for what I will do in the next 10 years of my life.

Days 361 to 363

21 September 2010 / Andrew

361|365 Nephew – My Uncle Terry left a legacy in my life. He was an awesome uncle. His legacy is that I might be an awesome uncle to my nephews and nieces. (picture of Thomas and Jayden having fun)

362|365 The Mount – Back in Tauranga again and whenever I am there the ocean pulls me to it, just as gravity ultimately draws this bird back to earth. Jim and I used to talk about living in Tauranga and how if we lived there we probably wouldn't go to the beach as often. We were right, Jim now lives in Tauranga, and I live in New Zealands largest inland city. I go to the beach more often than he does.

363|365 Cows – The 365 project of a person living in the Waikato would simply not be an accurate picture of life, without a picture of a cow. I noticed today that it has the number 361 one, maybe I should have taken this photo two days ago.

Days 353 – 360

18 September 2010 / Andrew

353|365 Beaten – Kyla's team (Rototuna Green) about to do the post game 'three cheers' after losing the playoff for 3rd/4th to the Te Rapa Dragons, who wait to shake hands.

354|365 Nothing – Almost no photo. An average photo of nothing for an average day of nothing

355|365 Salt Air – Love the beach, love the salt air, it invigorates me and ignites my grey matter and helps me think and helps me pray.

356|365 Flood – Beyond the picnic table, completely below the water is the jetty I often sit on and have my lunch. You can see a picture of the same spot in my Day Zero picture

http://www.andrewnicol.net/2009/09/0-365-the-photo-that-started-it-all.html

357|365 Growing Up – This is Kyla in her school production (Jacob her cousin is in the background). As I sat and watched I realised that my Daughters are growing up. Very very scary!

358|365 Moon – Not a great shot, but the moon always amazes me.

360|361 Bubble – Some people live there life in a bubble. Not saying Keren does though.

359|365 Lightning – Huge lightning and thunder storm on Friday night in Hamilton. Love my new camera made this shot easier to the point of cheating.

347|365 My Dad – A poem by Talia read at Fathers Day Service at CBC.

11 September 2010 / Andrew

347|365 My Dad – A poem by Talia (8) written and read at Fathers Day Service at CBC.

'Have you ever seen a grey haired man walking down the street?

Perhaps in work clothes going to buy himself a treat?

Well I have!

Did he look… Awesome, Amazing, Friendly, Competitive, Comforting and Special?

That’s my Dad!

Have you ever seen a brown eyed Man driving over the speed limit?
Are there Daring, Disguised Police eyes staring at him by the Minute?

Well I have!

That’s my Dad!

My Dad is like a treasure, a best friend, an amazing Dad. He is worth more to me than 1,000,000 gold coins because he’s my Dad.'

Awesome poem Talia, Thank You.

Empty | Winter Blues

18 August 2010 / Andrew

Met, know and have heard of bundles of people, lately who are not themselves. Thy feel flat, down and maybe a little bit empty. Much of it I’m sure is the winter blues.

Well, if you are one of those people I have a solution. At this time of year the playgrounds are practically empty. No kids, particularly during the day.

So head down to the park, why not take a friend. Then forget that you’re meant to ‘behave’ like a grown up and jump on a swing.

Swing.

Breathe.

Smile.

Laugh.

It will be the wackiest thing you have done in ages, but I guarantee some of the winter emptiness will disappear.

329|365 Colours

18 August 2010 / Andrew

Picture a day without colour
No colour in buildings or things we wear
No colour in paint for art to smear
No colour in the sun or sky above
No colour in stuff we love
Picture a day without colour
And rejoice that today
However grey
Is filled with colour!

[329|365 – I love how colourful schools have become]

328|365 Water

17 August 2010 / Andrew

Just over the summit of the Kaimai Ranges,
as you’re headed to Hamilton from Tauranga, is a small almost unnoticed
lay-area that conceals a natural fresh water spring. With the road on one side
and native New Zealand bush on the other, a pipe is linked to the ground and
from it fresh water flows.

There has been substantial rainfall
recently and the pipe can’t contain the volume of water coming from this
natural purifier and it bubbles up from the rocks around it.

Beautiful crisp, cold, clear water.

Uncaptured, it runs off to join a stream
and make its way to the ocean.

Meanwhile almost a 1000 million people
worldwide have no access to clean-water.

How lucky I am to have been born in
this beautiful, abundant country.

327|365 Learning

16 August 2010 / Andrew

This whole school and education thing seems to work. Jayden basically start school in June and has progressed from reading one work, his name, to reading little books. He is really proud of his achievements and I’m really proud of him.

In the initial stages of learning something new we make huge progress, really quickly. As time progresses’ learning gets harder, more complex and takes more discipline. Then it requires huge amounts of brainpower, and before long most adults quit learning altogether.

Maybe it’s time to return to the basics of learning. Find something new, something completely different and explore it. To make huge progress really quickly. To enjoy learning again.

326|365 Spring is almost here

15 August 2010 / Andrew

I love spring because the days are growing longer.
I love spring because the rain will
eventually clear.
I love spring because of the vivid colours.
I love spring because of the new growth.
Spring is almost here because the birds
have returned to our trees and our first trees are in blossom.
Bring on spring I say.

Author: Andrew (Page 17 of 43)

Dead and Useless?

364|365 Dead End

Days 361 to 363

Days 353 – 360

347|365 My Dad – A poem by Talia read at Fathers Day Service at CBC.

Empty | Winter Blues

329|365 Colours

328|365 Water

327|365 Learning

326|365 Spring is almost here

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