Easier.

I was feeling very sad. Hopeless.

I knew that people living with HIV were social outcasts, because they would die very quickly. I was in shock. I was now in that group. I asked myself, now what? Where will I get drugs? Will I marry, have kids? I couldn’t sleep.

I walked along the railway line in Kibera thinking it would be best to be killed by a train. That would be the end and people would say that Charles died because he was hit by a train, not Aids. It would be an easier way to die.

Its easy to ‘categorize’, ‘generalize’ and ‘comparmentalize’ our perceptions of people. Especially when we don’t understand them.

Someone once explained the ability to have compassion as “being able to put yourselves into the shoes of the sufferer, and feeling the pain he feels”.

I think this is so important as we relate to those around us, especially if they are less fortunate than us.

My parents were never divorced, but I have a number of friends who do. I have a particularly close friend, who now has 3 women claiming the title ‘mama’ in his life. He was willing to open and let me into his family history and share with me how it feels and struggles. I think the conversation we had was one of the more meaningful and substantial conversations we ever had. Thanks, friend.

I don’t have any friends who have HIV, and I’ve always wondered, what would I ask him about his sickness? Not that I can’t have a normal conversation with him, but I really want to get an insight into his life? to understand his struggles, if any. To discover what gives him joy, if any. To share his outlook on life. To prepare myself that I may intercede at the throne of grace more intelligently. I want to listen, learn and feel.

So when I came across this photo journal, and the title for this entry was ‘Easier’, I tried putting myself into his shoes, they fit easily, but I could not keep them in. I had to remove them. The sting was too sharp. I was at a loss of words. Helpless.

And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:34)

Lord Jesus, give me the grace to love You do. Help me to be filled with compassion, as You were.

Photo journal: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/05/africa_my_life_with_hiv/html/4.stm

Received this in the email:

Emergency Telephone Numbers
These are more effective than 911
When -
You are sad, phone John 14
You have sinned, phone Psalm 51
You are facing danger, phone Psalm 91
People have failed you, phone Psalm 27< /A>
It feels as though God is far from you, phone Psalm 139
Your faith needs stimulation, phone < /B>Hebrews 11
You are alone and scared, phone Psalm 23
You are worried, phone Matthew 8:19-34
You are hurt and critical, phone 1 Corinthians 13
You wonder about Christianity, phone 2 Corinthians 5:15-18
You feel like an outcast, phone Romans 8:31-39
You are seeking peace, phone Matthew 11:25-30
It feels as if the world is b igger than God, phone Psalm 90
You need Christ like insurance, phone Romans 8:1-30
You are leaving home for a trip , phone < /I>Psalm 121
You are praying for yourself, phone Psalm 87
You require courage for a task, phone Joshua 1
Inflation’s and investments are hogging your thoughts, phone M ark 10:17-31
You are depressive, phone Psalm 27
Your bank account is empty, phone Psalm 37
You lose faith in mankind, phone 1 Corinthians 13
It looks like people are unfriendly, phone John 15
You are losing hope, phone Psalm 126
You feel the world is small comp ared to you, phone Psalm 19
You want to carry fruit, phone John 15
Paul’s secret for happiness, phone Colossians 3:12-17
With big opportunity/ discovery, phone Isaiah 55
To get along with other people, phone Romans 12
ALTERNATE NUMBERS
For dealing with fear, call Psalm 47
For security, call Psalm 121:3
For assurance, call Mark 8:35
For reassurance, call Psalm 145:18
ALL THESE NUMBERS MAY BE PHONED DIRECTLY.
NO OPERATOR ASSISTANCE IS NECESSARY.
ALL LINES TO HEAVEN ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY.

How are they [brought] into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. (Psalm 73:19)

It is easy to forget that we hardly know what the next moment would bring. We don’t normally realise the folly of assuming the next moment comes in the tone of the current moment. We assume that things will happen in an expected manner, and in accordance to what we have planned.

These pictures tell the reality of this…

Life as they thought they knew it, changed. In a moment.

One moment, the mirth of wedding bells. The next, the thunder and roar of destruction and despair.

What a stark realization, friends, especially if you are not saved from your sins.

Don’t think death and destruction are far away from you. You really don’t know. The Lord Jesus stands today, ready to save. Forgiveness of sins is available. The door to heaven is open. Jesus WANTS you to have forgiveness. Question is, do you?

For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Cor 6:2)

Please don’t delay getting saved.

Read this on mwtb.org

It lists some creative ways of how gospel tracts can be used.

It has always baffled me why so many Christians like to keep tracts, and treat them like souveniers or bookmarks. C’mon! Tracts are not for the saved, its for the lost. So lets get inspired to give out those tracts. Feel free to add your own ideas on how to put tracts into the hands of those who are yet to ’saved from the wrath to come’.

No matter where or how you choose to distribute tracts, we have these suggestions:

1. Obey all local ordinances. (Some areas or stores, including the US Post Office, have prohibited the distribution of literature). This also includes littering, etc.
2. Leave at least two copies of a tract so someone will feel better about not taking the last one. Plus you’ll double the number of souls witnessed to!
3. Most importantly, ask God to use you, seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit for each tract placed, and then pray for the Lord of harvest to bless it.

1. Leave in phone booths.
2. Put in greeting cards.
3. Leave at roadside rests.
4. Put on car windows in parking lots.
5. Leave on sitting areas of shopping malls.
6. Pass out door to door.
7. Pass out to fellow campers.
8. Tack up on bulletin boards.
9. Put in pockets of used clothing given away.
10. Leave in dressing rooms of clothing stores.
11. Pass out at parades, festivals, and special events.
12. Leave in city parks on benches, etc.
13. Put in helium-filled balloons.
14. Leave at funeral homes.
15. Leave in newspaper machines.
16. Hand out at stadium entrances, etc.
17. Put in sealed bottles in the ocean.
18. Mail out to names in a telephone book.
19. Leave in laundromats.
20. Give to attendants at parking garages, etc.
21. Leave in motel rooms (in the drawers, telephone book, etc.)
22. Leave in glove compartment of car you test drive.
23. Place in six-packs of beer, or in toilet tissue rolls in grocery stores.
24. Include in bills paid by mail.
25. Slip in pump handles at self-serve gas stations.
26. Hand to store employees, check-out clerks.
27. Leave in returned library books.
28. Put in magazines in waiting rooms.
29. Put up tract racks in stores, beauty parlors.
30. Put in correspondence to prisoners, etc.
31. Leave in bank where deposit slips are.
32. Leave in zip code book in post office.
33. Leave in restrooms at restaurants, etc.
34. Leave with (generous) tip in restaurants.
35. Give to hospital and nursing home patients.
36. Leave on tables at flea markets.
37. Hand out at zoos, picnic areas, beaches.
38. Leave on seats on bus, cab, airplane, etc.
39. Leave in locker at “Y” or health club.
40. Pass out on busy street corners.
41. Put in mouth of vending machines.
42. Pass out at schools after dismissal.
43. Leave in cafeteria at work, school.
44. Leave for newspaper boy, milkman, etc.
45. Put in each box or bag of merchandise sold.
46. Put in airport lounges, bus terminals, etc.
47. Send to relatives of deceased in obituaries.
48. Send to parents in birth announcements.
49. Give to students at Vacation Bible School and Sunday School.
50. Rent booths at fairs for tract displays.

What would you add?

A colleague sent me this

15 WAYS TO NEGATE THE RECENT FUEL PRICE INCREASE*
by TV Smith

Improve your vehicle’s fuel consumption - by as much as 40% - by changing the way you currently drive. There is a catch, though. You’ll no longer qualify as a Malaysian driver…
Link to this artcle:
1. Pump More Here & Pump Less There
Don’t wait until your car senget one side before inflating your tyres. Low tyre pressure forces your engine to work and drink harder. Driving on underinflated tyres also reduces the life of the tyres. A lose-lose situation.

2. Dig Your Nose
Digging your nose is more economical than gunning your engine while waiting at traffic lights. Jack rabbit starts cost you even more. Never floor the pedal unless there’s an express bus looming in your rearview mirror. Learn how to accelerate (and brake) smoothly for better fuel efficiency.

3. Pay It Again Sam
You may be using an alternative toll-free road as a sign of protest or as a means of saving money. If the the old route is perpetually congested and longer, you may end up burning more fuel than the toll saved. Sad but often true.

4. Go Look Stop
Are you one of those who frequently get stuck behind a stalled vehicle, crash into road humps or potholes? If you look further than 3 meters while driving, you can better anticipate obstacles and avoid fuel guzzling start-stop situations. Good reason not to tailgate too.

5. Make Up Your Mind
I don’t know if it’s kiasuness or indecisiveness that makes people drive with the other foot riding the brake pedal. A slight touch might not be noticeable to you but it strains the engine, wears out your brakes prematurely and confuses the poor driver behind. Make sure your handbrake is down all the way too.
Link to this artcle:
6. Get Rid Of Freeloaders
The less passengers the less weight. The less load the better the fuel economy. If you want to car pool, pool the cost. Clear your boot by removing unutilised items like golf sets, prams, barbecue sets, scuba gear, etc.

7. Bear With Crow **censored**
Park your car under the shade wherever possible. The hotter your car interior becomes, the harder the air-conditioning needs to work later, the more fuel the engine consumes as a result. The hot sun also increases fuel loss through evaporation.

8. Stay Safe & Save
Fuel consumption jumps dramatically after a certain speed. Keeping to the speed limit saves you more than traffic fines. Driving at 120 kph, rather than 100 kph, may increase fuel consumption by another 25 percent. The dangers of speeding far outweigh the travel time saved.

9. Get A Life
Stop pissing off your neighbours in the mornings and do yourself a favour. Most modern cars have no chokes or carburetors, so there’s no need for long, noisy engine warm- ups. Hard revving a cold engine kills it faster than driving it.

10. Let The Bugger Go
There’s no need to catch up with an offending driver just to show a finger or fist. You end up either paying more for fuel or a hefty hospital bill.

11. Learn From Your Mistakes
If your wife or girlfriend says she needs to pop into a warehouse sale for a quick look-see, find a parking spot and turn off the engine. Long idling wastes fuel and pollutes the environment.
Link to this artcle
12. Don’t Be A Drag Queen
Remove that empty showoff roof rack or that ugly ill-designed Ah Beng spoiler as it causes unnecessary drag. Smoking with your windows down at cruising speed also increases drag. Newer cars (except the Juara) are aerodynamically designed for fuel efficiency. Stop adding unnecessary external accessories such as jutting elbows.

13. Meter The Meter
Keep track of your car’s fuel consumption by monitoring the odometer or tripmeter. A sudden drop may mean mechanical problems. Timely oil change and other maintenance can save you significant amount of fuel.

14. Try A Different Nasi Lemak
All petrol are the same except for the additives and advertising. Contrary to what most Malaysians believe, you can mix your fuel. There’s really no need to waste fuel by driving out of the way just to fill up your favourite brand and redemption card.
Link to this artcl
15. Get A New Boss
Use online banking or find a better employer. Stop driving to an ATM every hour just to check whether your salary is in.

*Your mileage may vary

What would you add to this list?