The least of these

The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:40


Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,
when it is in your power to act. Proverbs 3:27

The Bible has a lot to say about our responsibility towards those who are struggling. For a start, just check out Deuteronomy 15:7-18, Leviticus 25:35-43, Psalm 41:1, Psalm 112:9, Prov 31:9, Jer 22:16, Matt 19:21 and Matt 25:34-45 (see also Matt 6:1-4 and 1 Cor 13:3).

Who are 'the least of these' in our world today? There are definitely still people who are sick, blind, in need, oppressed, homeless, orphaned, widowed and in distress.

God has given us a responsibility to help these people. We might not consider ourselves all that rich, but if you have money in your pocket right now, you are richer than 75% of the people on the planet. If you have money in the bank, you are wealthier than 94% of the people on the planet. That's a fairly big reality check, ain't it?

But what are we to do? As a student with no job or government benefits, how can I afford to do anything? Where there's a will, there's a way!

In my travels I have found some free, quick and simple ways to make a difference in someone's life, and ultimately in the world:
* Feed the world's hungry
* Provide health care for children
* Help underprivileged woman in America

Some other free ideas:
* Help kids to become literate
* Feed animals in shelters
* Save the rainforest
* Donate your old belongings to the Salvos or St. Vinnies

With a little organising...
* Celebrate Christmas or birthdays with Oxfam or Worldvision

For a small cost...
* Give a person the gift of sight
* Make a one-off donation to help rescue children or help in emergencies
* Give to missions through your local church

The best ideas of all:
* Give your time...
* Give your love...
* And pray for the people in need around us (who might not necessarily be 'poor')

Examen

Exams are finally over and the end of the semester has come (well, almost for the secondary and primary students!). At this point, I'm thinking about a different kind of 'exam' word. Examen is a word of Latin origin, meaning a critical investigation or inspection of something, and in a religious sense, a daily reflection on our walk with God. I'd like to encourage all of us, amid our relaxation and refreshing, to reflect on the half-year that's been.

What is the thing I am most thankful for this past half-year?
This reminds us to be grateful. The support of close friends and family has been much appreciated this extra-busy semester.

What is the best thing that happened to me this past half-year?
This reminds us to look at the positives. My 21st birthday was great, made special by all my friends and family. Exciting opportunities also became available.

What was the best thing I did for someone else this past half-year?
This isn't boasting about our great deeds, but perhaps a gentle reminder to make sure we are seeking others' needs above our own. I did a few things, but I want to do so much more.

What did I do well this past half-year?
This reminds us to see the growth and achievement in our lives. I survived this past semester! I managed to hand in all my work on time.

What did I do not-so-well this past half-year?
This is not beating ourselves up; it is identifying our struggles. Things were often out of balance a bit for me, and some areas of my life didn't get the attention they deserved.

Did I develop any bad habits this past half-year?
This reminds us to develop good habits and be on the look out for bad ones. I developed bad habits of time-wasting and neglecting important things, like my health routine.

What do I need to change in the next half-year?
This reminds us to set goals. I need to work harder at implementing my home-physio program, I need to have greater motivation, and I need to work at the delicate balance between social, personal and work time.

Hero in a half-shell

Turtle power!
Courtesy of Trav's blog, another quiz for procrastination.

You scored as Donatello, You are intelligent and peaceful...maybe you should consider going into a different line of work. Even though you are friendly, you should try to fit in with other more often. Donatello 68% April O'Neil 64% Leonardo 61% Raphael 46% Mater Splinter (The Rat) 46% Michaelangelo 29% Which teenage mutant ninja turtle are you? created with QuizFarm.com

Held together with sticky tape

Gaffa tape is like the Force; it has a dark side, a light side, and it binds the universe together.

Sticky tape is one of the most useful inventions. Car parts, electrical cords, crafts, school projects, emergency home renovations... It holds everything together.

Recently, I was the one being held together with tape! My physio taped the offending part of my back (I think it's a rib), and I'm amazed at how effective it was! I felt like one of those athletic people with strapped knees, ankles or shoulders. I'd never quite understood why people would continue to play such physically endangering sporting activities, when the respective body parts are obviously already under much stress and/or injured. But it's an amazing science! How the humble sticky tape holds us together I don't quite know, but I could breathe properly for the first time in a week!

What's the most important thing sticky tape is holding together in your life?

Making a World of Difference

I saw a really good promotional DVD recently, called Making a World of Difference. It contains the thoughts and experiences of people from various walks of life, with the recurrent theme of how language learning impacts our lives in positive ways. School students, uni students, bilingual children and parents, radio broadcasters, lawyers, chefs, viticulturists, translators and musicians - all have been touched by foreign languages and cultures.

I really needed to see this. After having a bad run of luck with LOTE at my prac schools, the disillusionment presented in my methodology class, and the general lack of regard for languages by fellow students, I was doubting why I ever threw my lot in with the obviously last-decade, unappreciated LOTE bandwagon. Seeing this DVD reminded me that it's ok to be passionate about this, that it still is something important worth fighting for, and that there remains a need for bilingualism in the world today.

Any comments would be much appreciated...
- What do you think of bilingualism or the study of other languages?
- Does it have a place in today's English world?
- What's your experience (I can handle it if you want to dis LOTE)?
- Am I crazy for being passionate about languages???

Tenth week "It's almost over!"

Sorry I'm a little late publishing the final semester post: week ten. For me, this week has been a great feeling of "it's almost over." Prac is over (which was a very educational and even enjoyable experience), exams are looming, and there is a lot of catch-up. How frustrating when you just can't be productive!

As I contemplate the end of the semester, I wonder...
1. How much of our present-focus is stolen by us wishing away things, holding out for the end of something without enjoying the journey there, and making ourselves useful along the way?
2. How many of us are tempted to just give up, when we are so close to the finishing line? Earlier in the semester, I talked about persevering in the race.

Faithful readers, do you relate to either of these?

Steff the Chef - Zapped Pears

Another delicious recipe from Steff's kitchen!

An elegant and fancy dessert turned quick and simple. Here's what you do:

Recipe:
1. Core and peel pears.
2. 'Poach' in the microwave with a little butter and sugar.
3. Serve with chocolate sauce and icecream.

Ratings:
Taste: 8/10
Difficulty: Easy-peesy-lemon-squeezy
Presentation: Impressive Dinner Party Quality

Chef's Note: Normally you'd do all sorts of fancy French things to the pear, like add cinnamon and cook in something a little more refined than the microwave, and you'd make your own chocolate sauce... But this is a great variation for a quick treat.