Aronne Adam Bell (fearfully and wonderfully made)

Our grandson Aronne was born on the 1 May 2008 at 5.26am. He weighed 3.365kg and was 50cm long(tall?). Yip those are the stone cold facts. But they really say so little about all that has been before and all that is to come. The creation and formation of a new life is just staggering to think about. This was a hugely anticipated event not only by all of us and of course especially mommy and daddy but also anticipated by God. He creates life, He ordains and controls everything but He wants us to work in partnership with Him. So it is when He gives us the incredible gift of a new born baby that we have this amazing opportunity to shape and mold a life. And now Lisa and Donovan have entered into this new partnership with Him for and on behalf of Aronne.

Do you know when something so incredible happens that you don’t really know how to react just in case you look like a fool. Kinda like walking around with your jaw on the floor in amazement and going around saying something intelligent like, “Huh, duh…” The psalmist says it so beautifully when he uses the phrase, “you knit me together in my mothers womb”. The whole incredible way, two cells join and form one new cell, the messages carried in the DNA coding, the formation and joining of a million nerves from the brain with a million optic nerves from the eye and man you could just go on and on. Just blows your mind. And then of course this tiny being has a soul. He has thoughts, feelings and emotions…..phew. And most amazing of all Aronne is totally unique. There has never been anyone like him, there is no one like him in existence now and there will never be anyone like him in the future (oh yes this applies to every human ever born, including YOU!) Truly, going back to David the writer of that Psalm, Aronne (and YOU!) is wonderfully and fearfully made.

When God wants to do something really big on this planet for His glory He often starts with something really small, like the creation of a baby from two tiny cells. Just like He did when Jesus was born to save all those who would accept His FREE GIFT of Salvation.

So where was I when Aronne was born. Sound asleep (typical male huh) until my cell phone went off and Allie told me of the momentous arrival. However I had been blessed by being with friends who understood exactly what was happening. We had been covering Lisa and Aronne in prayer from the moment we arrived at our camp and first thing that Thursday morning we had an intimately awesome time of prayer thanking and praising God for His wonderful gift, given with his grace, mercy and love.


For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
(Psalm 139:13-16 by David)

LoCTY!!!!

Father and Son

Hi Everyone,

So about a week and a half ago Matthew and I went on a Father and Son camp which was organized by Grant Hopkins from the Durbanville Methodist church.

The only reason we got to go is because God really wanted us to. We went with three very good friends of mine, Peter, Clint and Grant W and their sons. If it wasn’t for God’s love working in my friends hearts we would never have been able to get there.

You see one of my friends told us about the camp, another paid for us and then another one drove us there. So all I had to do was get my pride sorted out to accept God’s blessings that He was holding out to me, waiting for me to accept His love. Of course I have this pride thing so wrapped and sorted by now that it really ain’t any problem I’m so goooooood at dying to self I just do it and feel no pain what so ever. Yeah right, who am I trying to convince here, me or you! Of course you know the first person we deceive is always ourselves. So I wrestled and grappled with my pride even after I’d said yes to all the graceful and loving offers of my friends and finally came to a place of peace and acceptance as Jesus and the Holy Spirit just prepared my heart and spirit to enjoy this day and a half camp.

Aren’t we all so like that. God is constantly holding out His hand through the death of His son, Jesus Christ offering us untold blessings, salvation, adoption, fellowship, glorification, never to cry again, to live in heaven in perfection without sin for eternity, peace, mercy, hope, love, grace……..I could go on but I hope you get the picture. And then what gets in the way, yup you guessed it our pride. I mean we can sort out our own lives and we know exactly what is going on and we have everything planned and every contingency covered. We know exactly what is going to happen during the course of any day, we know what is going to happen to us in the future……..yeah right…. how foolish we are.

So Clint came to pick us up with his boys Luke and Cane on Wednesday at about 3.30pm and we headed off to Rocklands just outside of Simonstown. For an action packed time of fellowship and for us dads to enjoy our sons and for our sons to enjoy their fathers. It was such a blessed time. We played indoor soccer (till 10pm at night, until the dads legs almost dropped off), indoor cricket, swimming (brrrrrrr!!), climbed on the climbing wall, went for a hike, a treasure hunt, saw penguins and baboons, worshipped, braaied, super tubed, visited the Navy Museum.

The most amazing thing was just the time we spent with each other. Matthew only really asked me one thing, to play indoor soccer with him. As tired and aching as my body was I always tried my best to say yes. Although sometimes I initially said no, then there were always a few ‘good’ friends around to convince me to play.

The other awesome thing is that while we were on the camp my step-daughter gave birth to her son Aronne Adam Bell. So I got a call just after 6am from Allie on Thursday morning telling me that I’m a grandpa. Needless to say the guys really pulled my (sore) leg on that fact. Didn’t get me out of playing any indoor soccer though.

I realized God so much wants to just spend time with us. If we accept Christ as our saviour we are adopted as sons and daughters and God is our Father. Right now God just wants to spend time with you. We most of the time don’t really see all the opportunities He gives us.

If you want a quick look into God the Father’s heart go read Luke chapter 14 verses 11 to 31, where Jesus tells the parable of the prodigal son. Charles Dickens refers to it as the greatest short story ever told.

Here is a version of that story done in song by John Waller.

Still Calls Me Son

I drug his name through godless places
And I've known shame that no child of his should know
I've seen pain on broken faces
Beyond all thought of hope
I was just too far from home
Still I always wondered when I closed my eyes


After all I've done
Could he run to me?
Would he kiss my face?
Could he even look at me?
After where I've been should he take me back?
I would understand I've disgraced him
But it would be amazing
If he still calls me son


With nothing left for me to bring him
I left my pride and turned my heart toward home
I saw my home on the horizon
And from a distance I saw my Father
Watching for his own with forgiving eyes


After all I'd done
He just ran to me
Then he kissed my face
He would not let go of me
After where I'd been
He just welcomed me
I didn't understand
But he put his robe on me
It was so amazing
That he still called me son


One day as I breathe my last
And I know my days on earth have ended
When every hour is spent
I will close my eyes in amazement
And I'll hear angels
They'll be singing Amazing Grace

Cause he will run to me
And he will kiss my face
He will not let go of me
After where I've been
He will welcome me
I won't understand
How he'll put his robe on me
It will be amazing
That he'll still call me son
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
When he calls me son
I once was lost but now I'm found
Cause he calls me Son

Go listen to the song at www.myspace.com/johnwaller

Trying music video of a song for the first time.Probably work a lot better for users with really faster/broader connections. Might not work too well for South African users. Also might link to other so called related videos which might not be so good. Checked this once or twice but don't know to tweak the html code 100% yet. Just don't play the other "related" videos if they come up. Just please give me feedback.



LoCTY!!!

PS. A huge thank you to Grant H for organizing this camp and for the fellowship of all the other dads and their sons.

Greetings(2) Update

Hi Everyone

Well finally I have completed uploading all the stuff I could find that I have written since about 2004. I actually finished doing this last weekend on the 26 April eventually posting 38 articles from the 10 April to the 25 April. I tried to get as close to the original date of writing as possible.

I have noticed that I’m missing some stuff that I have written, so if any of you out there have got anything I’ve written and don’t see it on the blog , please email it to me. Thanks!

I thought now all I need is to have writers block and totally freeze up and not be able to write anything. I’m not the kind of person who writes something everyday. I kinda write as I’m inspired to write mostly by His Holy Spirit and out of a knowledge that I serve a wonderful creator who loves me more than I can comprehend.

The past week has been hectic, which is great ‘cause that gives me lots to write about. Last weekend Allie went away on a ladies camp at the Rocklands Centre. She was blessed by the fellowship and teachings. I took two days leave in order to tie in with the public holidays and then have the whole week off. Monday evening I taught at our mens group and was blessed by the fellowship. Tuesday I spent the day with one of my best friends, Paul Finaughty, we had been trying to get together for about two years now. Crazy hey, but I’m sure you know just how fast life whizzes by. We had such a wonderful time just talking and talking to each other. Then on Wednesday spent packing for Father Son Camp and then went to watch Matthew at rugby practice, first time I had this opportunity to watch one of his practices. Then Clint and his boys came to pick Matthew and myself up at about 3.30pm. Then we were off to Rocklands Centre for the Father Son Camp. We crammed in as much as we could from Wednesday 3.30pm to Friday 11.30am. Then on Thursday morning (5.25am) Lisa my step-daughter gave birth to Aronne Adam Bell, our grandson!

So I will be writing about the happenings of the past week and some other matters that have been laid on my heart. Got some pics of the Father Son Camp as well as of Aronne so will be posting those as well, this will be a first for me but hey now I can do it.

So hope to be writing and posting more soon.

LoCTY!!!

PS Here is a rocket song for Christ, which I just felt like adding to this post. Enjoy it!(14 June 2008)



I love You Lord
I worship You Lord, always
So thankful Lord - You saved my life
You saved my life today

Let me be a shining light for You
Let me be a joy to You always
Let me be a shining light for You
Let me be a joy to You always

No superman
I'm no hero
I'm just a man in Your eyes
But through Your son I've overcome
The father of all lies

Greetings

Hi I've finally decided to take the plunge and start a blog. Probably haven't done it before 'cause I've always been wondering is anybody really interested in what I have to say and ja the other thing, there are probably like a zillion blogs saying the same things I'm saying. However the main reason for me doing this, is one of love for you, yep you, don't look around or behind you. I really mean YOU! 'Cause you are really, really special and unique and YOU are much loved.
Well I've been writing little pieces since about 2003/04 and been emailing them to my friends, colleagues and family just to share , uplift, encourage and amuse. Well anyways I hope that's wot it does for them.
First off I'm just gonna post all my emails over time onto my blog, those are the ones that I have manged to save and keep. I have lost some of them due to hard drive crashes and changing PCs over the last four years or so. Yeah I know that sounds like a bit of a cop out but I've really been wanting to put them 'up' somewhere just to share them.
I'm like really new at this and at the moment I'm just kinda stumbling along so I do hope I will improve over time.
Please feel free to comment any which way you want even it's just to comment on my spelling or grammar. I really don't mind. However currently as a husband, father, in full time employment, owning our own house, serving in the church in Mens Ministry and Youth Church I don't have an incredible amount of spare time so forgive me if I don't answer you.
Oh yes by the way LoCTY means Love of Christ To You. Its just kinda something that God gave to me as an idea to use a few years ago. Please feel free to make use of it if you want.
LoCTY!!!!

Where The Love Lasts Forever

Precious Saints!!!!!

I’m gonna make an attempt at trying to convey to you some of what took place this past Alpha weekend.

Yes it was another Alpha Holy Spirit weekend away. Now you might quickly say, “Oh well that’s just another Alpha weekend, you know we have so many of them these days, just boring humdrum kinda stuff, yeah I suppose you’all (say that with a real Texan drawl) will have a mighty fine time with God.” Thank GOoDness God’s ways and thoughts are so way above ours and that He is new every morning.

So first up was the training for the team and the pilgrims in the week leading up to the weekend, training overseen by God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirt. So God allowed a car engine to catch on fire, arguments with crabby neighbours, family tensions, some of the team members were all over the place putting their foots in their mouths and oh yes how about a good dose of physical ailments that suddenly cropped up, tummy bugs and mysterious pains that doctors could not identify and I’m sure there were others that I have not heard of yet.

Of course this is to get us all to the point were we will stop trying to do things in our own strength and start leaning on our Almighty God’s limitless strength. So that we would cry out to Him in prayer and say “Please, please……Jesus…..we don’t have the answer.” You’d think some of us would have gotten the point by now but hey we’re sheep, we are oftentimes just so stoooopid.

Eventually we all ended up at Manyano Centre, Paarl to spend time with God to seek His face and to try our best to be in the centre of His will. When I got to Manyano I could almost tangibly feel the prayers of the Saints. Those there at the centre and those praying at home for us it was kinda like walking into a cloud of God’s love, you could at first kinda feel it but not see it. However if you started to look with your heart you would see it in the acts and ways of the people there.

For me personally I was totally blown away and humbled at how God used me, to encourage, teach, facilitate and to shine His light of love. During the Holy Spirit ministry session on Saturday afternoon, His Holy Spirit just let me know and feel the hurts of those I prayed for. It was surreal, it was almost as if I wasn’t really there but at the same time I was so focused. Actually it’s impossible to explain. I still tried to manipulate who to pray for as the people stood awaiting their turn. I of course wanted to pray for the people in my group, people that I’d gotten to know and felt responsible for but God kept on giving me all these other people. I could almost imagine Him stroking me on my head and saying, “There there my little lamb, no this is the one to whom I want to extend my invitation of grace, mercy and unfailing love through you.”

After this intense period of prayer and ministry I was totally drained, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I was literally prayed out. I gave everything that I had. This was not that I was doing it in my own strength but ‘cause I was just so trying my best to open my heart to Him and do things His way and not my own way. This can sometimes be a huge battle . After supper I just went for a walk to be on my own and to speak to Allie on my cell. After that I had a fifteen minute power nap and was revitalised enough to go to the one hour praise and worship session which continued my revitalisation. It is such a blessing to worship God in song, even with my broken and mostly out of tune voice. After that I was involved in some prayer but I realised then that I was still ‘prayed out’. So I asked for and received some wonderful prayer then I knew it was time to take a shower and get to bed. After the shower I just sat and chatted to a good friend of mine, we don’t get too many opportunities to speak to each other so we made the most of it. Then off to bed at about 12.30am. Much earlier then my previous bedtime of 4.30am.
Of course the weekend had to come to an end. And we all went home on Sunday afternoon. Most of us just wanted it to last forever. This special time of God’s love. One of our team members said that God bows heaven down to us when we pray; it really felt like that this weekend. However Jesus is coming again and then the love will last forever for all His children just like the song below.

Sooooo much else happened it is really quite easy to write a book about it, yep just another weekend of God changing lives for all eternity.





Your mercy found me,
Upon the broken road,
And lifted me beyond my failing,
Into Your glory,
My sin and shame dissolved,
And now forever Yours I'll stand

(Pre-Chorus)
In love never to end,
To call You more than Lord,
Glorious friend.

(Chorus)
So I throw my life upon all that You are,
'Cause I know you gave it all for me.
And when all else fades,
My soul will dance with You,
Where the love lasts forever.

Your mercy found me,
Upon the broken road,
And lifted me beyond my failing,
Into Your glory,
My sin and shame dissolved,
And now forever Yours I'll stand

(Chorus)

(Bridge)
And forever I will sing,
Lord forever I will sing,
Of how You gave Your life away,
Just to save me,
Lord You saved me.

(Chorus)

Lord, where the love lasts forever.
I will be with You,where the love lasts forever.
I will sing to you, where the love lasts forever.
I will dance with you, where the love lasts forever.

LoCTY!!!!!!

Dog Day Morning, Afternoon, Evening and Late Evening

Precious Saints !!!!!!

It must have been roughly about seven months ago one Saturday morning when Allie bought home a little ‘bundle of joy’. The bundle of joy in question was a four month old female puppy who is a cross between a dachshund and some kinda terrier. I was not impressed! This really put a major damper on my weekend, my sinusitis had been playing up again and I was not a happy chappie. Of course I loved animals……as long as they did not permanently live in MY home.

I had on numerous prior occasions laid out a very careful and thoughtful explanation as to why we couldn’t get a dog. It went something like this. Allie would ask, “Do you think we could get a dog for Matthew?” I would answer, “No!” Allie again, “Why not?” I would answer, “Don’t want to!” This would go on for a little while until Allie would give up. See a perfectly logical argument from me. Fellow men you would understand and agree to this line of reasoning.

This puppy then totally baffled me with her self promotion/marketing strategy. She proceeded to poo and wee all over the place and chew up our telephone cable, slippers and anything else that was within reach of her jaws. She also howled right throughout the night and kept us all awake. At one stage I tossed her in the bathroom and closed the bathroom door. She then proceeded to tear up the bath mat into shreds while howling even louder then before. I mean didn’t she know that she had to impress me and win me over. Eventually Allie put her in the bed with us. I was horrified, but at least she stopped howling and we could all get some much needed sleep. The next day Allie was in tears ‘cause no one wanted this little puppy. She was going to take her back to the Animal Welfare. I thought GREAAAAT! Now we can get rid of her and life will return to normal. But when I opened my mouth to speak these words came out, “Just give her a chance, let’s just keep her for a little longer and see what happens.” Aaaaargh what was I saying? Then Matthew who had not shown much interest in the little doggy also asked his mom to keep her.

Well we kept her and Allie named her Pixie and then I woke up to the fact that our Lord was teaching me a huge lesson through this little puppy. She seemed to ‘scratch’ in the areas of my life which I try to keep hidden. Through her I had to take another look at who I am, my selfishness and my heart condition (no not the physical but the emotional) and my relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ and my relationships with everyone else. You know when you take a long hard look deep inside your soul you find a whole lotta garbage there. The thing is God already knows exactly who you are but He wants you to have the courage to tell Him, honestly and openly. So He will continuously work in your life refining you and making you more available and more teachable so that you can be used by Him which ultimately gives Him glory.

So as I type this Pixie is sitting at my feet, all content as she gives me her unconditional love. And boy you must see the welcome I get whenever I walk in through the front door, her tail knocks against the skirting board and sounds like a machine gun going off, she is so excited she shakes all over. I tell you something I feel like a king when I get a greeting like that. And ja at some time in the early hours of the morning she climbs into bed with us and crawls down to sleep at our feet.

So how is God teaching you in your life at the moment? Mebbe you haven’t even noticed. Mebbe He’s using that crabby neighbour of yours, possibly that irritating work colleague, your financial situation which currently stinks, Eskom(!!!!???), a relationship that has fallen apart………there are a myriad of ways…..just open the eyes of your heart! The eyes of your heart are your spiritual eyes.

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. (Romans 5:3-5)

My Desire Lyrics
Artist(Band):Jeremy Camp

You want to be real, you want to be empty inside
You want to be someone laying down your pride
You want to be someone someday
Then lay it all down before the king

You want to be whole, you want to have purpose inside
You want to have virtue and purify your mind

You want to be set free today
Then lay it all down before the King

This is my desire, this is my return
This is my desire to be used by You

You want to be real, you want to be empty inside
And I know my heart is to feel You near
And I know my life
It's to do Your will
It's to do Your will

This is my desire, this is my return
This is my desire, to be used by You
Oo yea
This is my desire, this is my desire
To be used by You

All my life I have seen
Where You've taken me
Beyond all I have hoped
And there's more left unseen

There's not much I can do to repay all You've done
So I give my hands to use

This is my desire, this is my return
This is my desire, to be used by You
Oo yea
This is my desire, this is my desire
To be used by You

LoCTY!!!!!

NB. Thank you all so much for your prayers, support and encouragement in response to my last email ‘God’s Hug’. Adam is doing well now and appears to be fully recovered. What a blessing it is to be part of the Body of Christ!

God's Hug

Precious Saints!!!!

So there I was on a Wednesday morning at work feeling grateful that our son’s (Adam my step son actually) operation on his lung was successful. He seemed to be starting on his way to recovery. Today he was going in for a checkup after coming out of hospital this past Monday. Then a phone call from Allie. Adam had to go back into hospital and had to have a further procedure done to him as his lung had pulled out of position again. Oh God what now, why are you allowing this to happen?

A little bit later after I’d transferred the funds to the hospital to effect payment, yeah no money no treatment, no matter how much pain. Ever heard of the Hypocritical Oath? I then sent out a prayer request for Adam. All of a sudden I had this all consuming feeling of loss, it was really crushing and I didn’t now how to deal with it. Eventually I went to the toilet and just wept before God and cried out to Jesus to have mercy on Adam. He is still so young and he wants to do so many things to give you glory oh Jesus, have mercy.

When I came back to my office I sent out a prayer request(for myself) to some of my close friends and phoned one of them and my buddy just encouraged me. Shortly after that one of my colleagues came by to pick up an account which had to be paid. He asked me how I’m doing and (still feeling quite shattered and fragile) I told him about Adam. He listened and commiserated with me. Then just as he was walking out of the office he turned back and said, “I think I must give you a hug.” So he came back and gave me a solid hug. I felt like it was God saying, “Don’t worry whatever happens its all part of my plan. I love you and I love Adam too with a love you cannot even imagine you are my children.” I was just quietly blown away by my colleagues show of love and the way God worked through him to touch my heart.

Well that evening we went to visit Adam in hospital along with a few friends and my buddy Clint also came along. Just before we left we prayed for Adam and Clint prayed for our family. Adam is such a witness to me of quiet and powerful faith as he praises God through all this.

Just know this sometimes it’s just a listening ear, a smile, a handshake, a hug, a prayer, it may seem such a little thing to you, you may even feel self conscious or stupid doing these little acts of kindness but it is probably just the thing that God wants you to do at the time.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10)

Here is a song 4 U by Jeremy Camp. His first wife died of ovarian cancer when she was 23 and he 22. He subsequently remarried and now has two young daughters. In this song he reflects on the journey that God has taken him on so far.

Beyond Measure (Jeremy Camp)

The fog has finally cleared to see,
The beautiful life you’ve given me
To feel the breeze of my newborn’s gentle breath
With one to walk hand in hand,
To share this life that you have plannedIt’s like a storybook with dreams
That are meant to see every next step is an extraordinary scene

[CHORUS]
I know that I’ve been,
Given more than beyond measure,
I come alive when,
I see beyond my fears,
I know that I’ve been given more than earthly treasure,
I come alive whenI’ve broken down and given you control

I’ve faced a great tragedy,
But have seen the works of what you bring
A display of faith that you give,
I don’t know if I will ever understand
The depth of what it is you’ve done inside,
But I know that I won’t find any worth apart from you
Everything that I have
Has been given so unselfishly
And shown that even when I don’t deserve
You always show the fullness of your love

LoCTY!!!!!!!