shinewriter

C R A S H
By Stephen Clover

The car kept coming. I peddled faster. It wouldn’t stop. I could see the bonnet coming closer. Frantically I tried to escape. Crash. I was flung into orbit. Only then did I hear the screeching of tyres on the road. Next I hit the tarseal and skidded along on my rear end. When I stopped I was in the middle of a roundabout.

Cars were buzzing around me. People came out of no-where to assist. In my dazed state I tried to answer their questions. I didn’t know where I was, let alone who I was. Two burly policemen carried me off the road.

I had no broken bones but my backside was sore. My leg was going numb and I had pins and needles in my toes. The ambulance arrived. I was able to slowly get in. The nurse pricked my finger.
“Ouch!, what are you doing , I asked ?
“Taking a diabetes test, she replied.
“I was hit by a car, not an ice cream truck”, I informed her. We laughed.

At the hospital doctors and nurses took care of me. They put a giant plaster on my behind then sent me home. I know I’m lucky to be alive . I’m blessed to be able to enjoy life. Riding the bike now has been an ordeal but by Gods grace I can fight my fear.

The person driving the car that hit me paid for my bike to be repaired. They also gave me a box of chocolates and a bag of apples. Being grateful that I’m still here to eat them I was able to forgave her.

A week or so later I was able to sit down again; comfortably. All through this ordeal I have been constantly reminded of the goodness of God and his people. I would like to add that if you are one of those who assisted me or know someone who did please except this as my thanks.

The Circus

by Stephen Clover

With Christmas looming up on the horizon our thoughts are filled with who is going to get what. Our house is a blended family. That is to say that between us my wife an I have 11 kids and 39 grandchildren. I suppose it is no surprise that I find myself thinking about the circus.

If I was in such an organisation what part would I play? With all our children could I be the ring master? Crack the whip and everyone jumps for joy. I don’t think so. Some of my children are of the opinion that I wouldn’t hurt a fly.

Maybe I can be a clown and have the grand kids crawl all over me. No, I’ll wait until I retire for that option. Perhaps I could ride a big white horse. What about being a lion tamer? Now they would take notice when I crack the whip. Sounds like fun but their bad breath would only upset my equilibrium, and I’m to nervous to be a knife thrower.

What part would I play in the circus. Well it’s a toss up between a tightrope walker and a juggler. I know how to balance a cheque book and I just love haggling at garage sales.

What about you? What part would you like to play? Suppose we leave the circus analogy and go to church. Do you sit in the pew and doze away? Are you a participator or spectator? What can you do? Seems there is a lot.

Next time there is a working bee get on down and help out. Do something constructive at church. Instead of painting your home this Christmas check out God’s house. If the paint is fresh check the gardens. God has weeds too.

If your new to a fellowship get on the door shaking hands and giving out notices. You’ll soon make friends. Still not sure, go talk to an elder or your minister. They will be happy to help you find your place.

J. O. Y. is True
by Stephen Clover

I once worked in a supermarket. Because of my kitchen experience and food handling certificate they placed me in the delicatessen. The smell of all those hams and salamis was over powering to say the least. When it was my turn on front counter a customer came over wearing the most revolting tee shirt I have ever seen.

“Gee Lord,” I thought quietly to myself. “What sort of person would wear a shirt coloured like that?” On Christmas morning I got my answer. When I opened my present out came the very same tee shirt.

It is true that God has a sense of humour. But it is even truer that he uses circumstances to teach his children the finer points of life. So what are you saying brother Steve. Are we going to end up as badly dressed as you? I hope not.

Since I’ve been married I’ve come of that list thankyou very much. But what we really need to bridle is our thought life. This week I’ve been meditating on joy. During this time an old Sunday school chorus came into my mind. It goes like this. Ya ready . . . to the tune of jingle bells.
J. o. y , j. o. y, this must surely be, Jesus first, yourself last, and others in between

But to have true joy you need

Jesus
Over
You

First time in a New Church
by Stephen Clover

Recently Hine an I were reflecting on our life together. We have now been married twenty years. To our horror we discovered that we’ve lived in a different house for each year. This includes places like Christchurch, Wellington, Timaru and Hamilton. Then there is good old Temuka, Wanganui, or have they decided on Whanganui.

I write this from Invercargill my wife is a little hesitant. But then I’ve lived here three times. Over the years we’ve come up with a fail safe formula. It’s to do with finding a church home.

Now the first time in a new congregation people crawl all over you. You are the flavour of the month. It does get a bit sickening at times. But deep down we love it.

The following Sunday things are a lot quieter and we can get on with our father’s business. We listen to the sermon and find a few cracks. By now we’re are getting confident so a mid week meeting is a must.

The third Sunday has arrived and we are cooking with gas. We’ve made some friends an are on first name terms. It is now time to pray it through and wait on the Lord.

Then we arrived in Invercargill. My third time and Hine’s second. We had been to four churches already and were getting a little tired. At ICBC
they had just begun a six part series titled ‘Living Your Faith’. Six dynamic sermons. Each geared up to give the believer some strong keys in Christian development.

Six sermons over six weeks, Sunday morning and night. In the evening another Minister looked at that weeks topic from a different perspective. Messages about, Behaviour, Service, get the idea. Then there was Word, Prayer, another about Spirit. Incarnation brought the series to a close. But not quite. A seventh week brought a summing up.

Members of the congregation were invited to step up the front and give their opinions. Something I found interesting. Most churches I’ve been in we usually do that at home over lunch. Usually with a mouthful of food. Hence the expression ‘roast parson’.

In spite of all these new experiences Hine and I were most impressed. I’ve been a Christian for twenty five years. Even I learnt something.

But yes, we stayed and so we shall until God is ready to take us out on another adventure. It is always fun wandering around God’s vineyard. And it’s all worthwhile when He is holding your hand.

Employee Theft

Why on earth would anyone want to steal from their employer?  Welfare is the next step down because your are going to lose your job. Everyone else is doing it you say. It’s not really stealing. Oh yes it is.

Sadly it does not stop there. Running personal errands on company time is in the same category. What about employees who are late. Then there are those who leave early to beat the freeway traffic. Theft of company time is not good.

Then there is the giving out of unauthorised company discounts. Your close friends and family members get a cut in price. Don’t do it. It’s theft.

So what can the employer do about this problem. Security camera’s are the answer. They are mounted up on the wall in plain sight. With digital technology pictures can be in the owners p.c. in minutes. But there is one little flaw.

Staff have worked in your business for years. They have worked out the angles and guess what. They’ve found a blind spot. You see it is like this. When you have uncovered a crime of theft and plugged the gap thieves don’t stop. What we call a career criminal will look for another way to steal from you.

Here’s how we remedy this. We bring in the secret camera. I once worked in a restaurant. Each Monday it was my job to rotate the fries in readiness for an incoming order. Three Mondays in a row there were hollows in the row that were only noticeable when I rotated stock.

I went to the store owner and told him of my concerns. In the wee hours of the morning when the restaurant was closed he had a security expert install a hidden camera. This was focused on the freezer door. Within a week four supposedly trusted staff members were before the court on theft charges. Lost their jobs. Two of the culprits were managers.

Now the restaurateur owned a total of seven eating establishments. He placed a hidden camera in them also and 12 people found themselves with no job and a criminal conviction. Theft is not worth it. Don’t do it.