Silence is broken, no word is spoken

Photo from www.fotolia.com

Merry Christmas to you all

Photo from www.flickr.com

As once again we prepare to celebrate the joy of the
miracle of the birth of our Lord Jesus, and as we relive
this holy day may we be seen, as were the shepherds
to be glorifying and praising God, thus showing the
true and only meaning of this blessed season.

Galatians 4verse4-5 says, “When the time had fully come,
God sent forth his son, born of woman, born under the law,
To redeem those who were under the law, so that we might
receive adoption as sons.”
He really is a God of Grace.
Over the years and especially in these more modern times,
the sheer wonder of this act of Grace has been overshadowed
by the emphasis placed by society upon the commercial aspect
of Christmas and mankind has done its best to drown the beauty
of the voices of the Angels and the Heavenly Host by the jarring
noise of cash registers and tills as shops make money during the
Christmas season.
Just as God sent his son into the world, “when the time had
fully come,” so I believe that the time has fully come when
emphasis should be placed upon the true meaning and spirit
of Christmas and water down on the commercialization of
this blessed day.

Let’s start by jolting our memory to the events leading to the
birth of Jesus. In the midst of all the troubles, injustice, lust
and greed that filled a harsh world, the angel of the Lord
appeared to Mary, a young unwed peasant girl and made the
startling announcement that by the power of the Holy Spirit
she would give birth to the Son of God. Then appearing in a
dream to Joseph, the man engaged to be married to Mary, the
Angel said, concerning the child, “-----you are to give him the
name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Centuries have gone by since then and despite all that fickle,
wilful man has done to deny and disobey Christ, he is still
the same and only Jesus who as God incarnate, was born in
a humble stable in Bethlehem and who came to save his people.

Just as it was in the years preceding the Advent of Christ so it is
now that the world still displays evidence of injustice, oppression,
and waywardness that causes many sensitive hearts to
recoil in horror. Year after year we are assailed by news items and
incidents of a dreadful nature, and time and time again we experience
the viciousness of man as he tramples over all and sundry in order to
attain his selfish desires. We would all have given up hope altogether
had it not been that as each year draws to its close, the blessed celebration
of Christmas reminds us that Jesus came into the world to save his people
from sin – a calling to which he has remained faithful throughout the ages.
Christmas is a constant reminder to us all that, notwithstanding all that we
may be called upon to endure and all that threatens our society and the way
of life we cherish, Jesus Christ is the same Lord of Life who came to save
his people and as he has done through the ages, will continue to do so.
So although the future may appear bleak we should not lose hope. Instead
we need to put our faith and trust in Jesus the Savior of the World and
especially during this Christmas time, absorb the Love, Joy, Peace and Hope
he so freely gives us to equip us for our journey through life.

In the midst of the gloom that surrounds us in the world stands that shining
beacon of Love-the Light of the World- inviting us to step out of the darkness
and to put our trust in him as we make our way along the pathway of the future,
guided by the Light of Life. We need to cling to the assurance that nothing can
ever separate us from God’s love which is in Christ and this assurance should
enable us to trudge through life with a confidence born only of our personal
experience of the Savior.

May God’s peace, love and happiness be with you all, this Christmas and always.

Music is the best thing that ever happened to humans

Photos from www.fotolia.com

In one of my previous articles about Peace, I mentioned
that music is the best thing that ever happened to humans.
It sure is to me. When I listen to some music I enjoy, I
feel it flowing through my veins to the centre of my heart
and the effect that boomerangs on my whole being is to
make me feel relaxed, put me in a good state of mind,
remind me of happy moments in my life & organize my
thoughts so that I have peace of mind and happiness.



Music that kills you softly (literally) as it sings out
loud your life experience.

There are songs that if I listen to make me think that they
were sung especially for me. These are of the same kind as
the one Roberta Flack was talking about when he sang the
song, Killing me softly with his song, whose words I have written below.

Chorus
Strumming my fate with his fingers, singing my life with
his words, killing me softly with his song x2, telling my
whole life with his words, killing me softly with his song.
I heard he sang a good song, I heard he had a
style and so I came to see him, listen for a while and
there he was this young boy, a stranger to my eyes.
Chorus
I felt all blushed with fever, embarrassed by the crowd,
I felt he found my letters and read each one out loud,
I prayed that he would finish but he just kept right on.
Chorus
He sang as if he knew me, and all my warts and all.
And then he looked right through me as if I wasn’t there
And he just kept on singing, singing three words songs.
Chorus





The Hollies kill me softly with their song, “He ain’t heavy, he
is my brother.” He sings a part of my life in this
song when he sings,
The road is long, with many a winding turn, that leads us to who
knows where, who knows where.
But I am strong, strong enough to carry him, he ain’t heavy, he
is my brother, so long we go.
His world is my concern; no burden is he, to bear,
We will get there, but I know
He ain’t heavy, he is my brother.
This really touches my life because it reminds me of the
last day I saw my mother before she had a heart attack and she was
saying to me Seby my daughter as you can see I am sick. I pray to
God everyday that he lets me live at least until my last born child
Emlyn finishes at university and is working and therefore
self-sufficient. I told her not to increase her blood pressure worrying
about Emlyn because he ain’t heavy, he is our brother and his welfare
is our concern and will never be a burden for us to carry.
She eventually had a heart attack & died a week after this conversation
and ever since then this song kills me softly every time I hear it.

Music that makes you think of and long for the one you love.
There are lots of songs about love, each portraying the “color
of love” (song by Billy Ocean) as seen through the eyes of the
composer or the singer. Listening to each of these many love
songs makes you realize the “power of love.” (song by Celine
Dion) After listening to a number of such songs you will agree
with Ijahman that love makes the world go round as he sang
in his song, "Two sides of love."
As you listen to the love songs you feel a stirring from
deep down your heart, you feel the rhythm of your heart,
(Rhythm of my heart by Rod Stewart) an
intense longing for the one you love.

The love song that makes me ponder in awe of the immense love
that it depicts is the song, “When I see you smile,” by Bryan Adams
which goes like this,

Sometimes I wonder if I would make it through,
Through this world without having you,
I just wouldn’t have a clue,
Sometimes it seems like this world is closing in on me,
And there is no way of breaking free,
And then I see you reach for me,
Sometimes I wanna give up,
I wanna give in,
I wanna quit the fight,
But then I see you baby,
And everything alright,
Everything is all right

CHORUS
When I see you smile,
I can face the world, Oh-oo
You know I can do anything,
When I see you smile,
I see a ray of light, Oh-oo
I see you shine right through the rain,
When I see you smile,
Baby when I see you smile, at me

Baby there is nothing that this world would ever do,
Which the touch of your hand can’t do,
Its like nothing I ever knew,
And when the rain is falling,
I can feel it ,
Its here with me now,
I wanna ask you baby,
Its all I ever need, its all I ever need
CHORUS
Sometimes I wanna give up,
I wanna give in,
I wanna quit the fight,
But then I see you baby,
And everything seems so right,
Everything is all right, so right
CHORUS
Smile at me
This song makes me long for my soulmate Dumi because
when I hear his voice,I see a ray of light and I can face the
world.
The other love songs that testify of the sweetness of love
and touch my love cord are the following,
1. Because you loved me by Celine Dion
2. Flying without wings by Westlife
3. I believe I can fly by R. Kelly
4. My love is your love by Whitney Houston
5. In my time by Teddy Pendegrass
6. Let me be your Hero by Enrique Iglesias
7. Endless Love by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross
8. Dont Know much by Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville
9. You are still the one by Shania Twain
10. Queen of my Heart by Westlife

Music that makes you cry with sadness
There are sad songs that make you want to cry not with
joy but with sadness. I guess it is such songs that Billy Ocean was
talking about in his songs, "Sad songs to make you cry."
What makes you sad might be the words being sung or the song
might remind you of some sad moments in your life.

The song whose words makes me want to cry with sympathy for
the little girl in the song is the song, "Coat of many colors," by
Dolly Parton which goes like this,

Back through the years I go wandering once again;
Back to the seasons of my youth;
I recall a box of rags which someone gave us
And how my mama put the rags to use
They were rags of many colors and every piece was small
And I didn’t have a coat and it was way down in the fall
Mama sew the rags together, sewing every piece with love,
She made my coat of many colors,
that I was so proud of.
As she saw she told me stories from the Bible she had read,
About the coat of many colors Joseph wore,
and then she said perhaps this coat would bring you good luck and
happiness
And I just couldn’t wait to wear it and Mama blessed it with a kiss
My coat of many colors that my mama made for me
Made only from rags but I wore it so proudly
Although we had no money, I was as rich as I could be
in my coat of many colors, my mama made for me.
So with patches on my breeches and holes in both my shoes
and my coat of many colors I hurried on to school
just to find the others laughing and making fun of me
and my coat of many colors my mama made for me.
Although I couldn't understand it, for I felt I was rich
and I told them of the love my mama sew in every stitch
and I told them of the stories mama told me while she sew it,
and how my coat of many colors was worth more than all their clothes.
They didn't understand it, and I tried to make them see,
One is only poor if he choose to be.
Now I know we had no money but I was as rich as I could be in my coat of
many colors, my mama made for me.
Made just for me.

Then there is the song, "Water runs dry" by Boys II men that make me
want to cry because it reminds me of the sad moments in my past marriage
that led to my divorce. I would listen to it night after night as I slept alone
pondering on how to run away from my life threatening ex-husband.
The words in the song that eventually urged me to take a leap out of the
marriage and continue in my pursuit for happiness go like this,
"Some people work things out but some just don't know how to change. 
  Lets not wait till the waters run dry, we might watch our whole life passing by."
I didn't want to watch my whole life pass by in an unhappy marriage so I moved
on.

Then there are those love songs that make you want to cry with empathy
as they tell of unrequited love, betrayed love, hurt love or rejected love.
You end up feeling the hurt that the singer will be singing about, which
is why you might end up crying. Below is a list of a few of such songs.
1. Nothing compares to you by Sinead O'Connor
2. How am I supposed to live without you by Michael Bolton
3. I will always love you by Whitney Houston
4. Think Twice by Celine Dion
5. Fool Again by Westlife
6. How could an angel break my heart by Toni Braxton
7. Who is holding Donna now by El DeBarge
8. Jesse paint a picture by John Denver
9. Living next door to Alice by Smokie
10. Unchained Melody by Elvis Presley

Music that induces happiness into you
There is music that evokes happiness and erases all stress
from you and makes you feel like dancing, like stepping,
this is the type of music R Kelly was talking about when he
said, “What is it that, can come and take away all your stress?
Music,” in his song , “Happy people.”


The music that always manages to take away all the stress from me
is the song, “The world’s greatest” by R. Kelly which states clearly
just how great God is. It makes me feel happy as I start to remember
all the good things that God has done for me in my life and all the
things I appreciate in life that he created, for example nature. He
is, indeed, an awesome God.
The world's greatest song goes like this,

The world’s greatest, God, the world's greatest

I am a mountain ,I am tall tree,
Ohhhh I am swift wind,sweeping the country,
I am a river down in the valley,
I am a vision and I can see clearly,
If anyone asks you who I am,
Just stand up tall,Look him in the face and say,

CHORUS 
I am that star up in the sky,
I am that mountain big, up, high,
Hey I made it,
I am the world’s greatest,
And I’m that little bit of hope,
Lean my back against the ropes,
I can feel it , I’m the world’s greatest

I am a giant, I am a negro,
Ohhhh , I am a lion, down in the jungle,
I am the magic band, I am the people,
I am a helping hand,
Ohhhh, I am a hero,if anyone asks you who I am ,
Just stand up tall look him in the face and say
CHORUS


Music that makes you ponder about life
There is music that has loads of meaning and teach you
about life. This type of music makes you sit down and start
to think about what is being sung.
Here is a list of songs that make me ponder about life.
1. The living years by Mike and the Mechanics
2. If tomorrow never comes by Ronan Keating
3. The greatest love of all by Whitney Houston
4. The storm is over by R. Kelly
5. What a wonderful world by Rod Stewart and Stevie Wonder
6. My love by Julio Iglesias and Stevie Wonder
7. Loving Pauper by Gregory Isaacs
8. The Great Pretender by Queen
9. Save the best for last by Vanessa Williams
10. Going to the Chapel of love (Wedding songs album)
11. Leaving on a jet plane by Janis Joplin/Chantal Kreviazuk

Yeah, music is the best thing that ever happened to humans.
It brings love, peace and happiness.

THE BEAUTY OF NATURE (Part 3) GAME VIEWING IN ZIMBABWE

All photos are from www.flickr.com
MATUSADONHA NATIONAL PARK
Situated on the shores of Lake Kariba, Matusadona National Park
occupies a lakefront wilderness which is home to a multitude of
animals, among them elephant, black rhino, buffalo, eland, sable and
roan, impala, girraffe, and hyena. 
Waterbucks are at home on the floodplains where hippo graze
at night. Crocodiles lurk and lie in wait, and the air is alive with
expectancy.

It provides the adventurer with a scenic combination of wildlife
roaming grassy plains, and secluded bays and inlets which are
home to a plethora of animals and birds.

Matusadona is famous for the dramatic sight of viewing
a combination of wildlife & a sunset over the lake - one of
the most beautiful sights in Africa.
PEACE reigns at Matusadonha as nature takes its course
against a backdrop of wildlife.
The photographs below tried to capture the beauty of watching
animals over sunset or sunrise, over a bright full moon or on a
misty morning.





Game Viewing from a houseboat at Matusadona National Park .
This really captured the unique beauty of the experience at
Matusadonha.



Here yellow fades to orange and orange bursts to reds, crimson and
black, while the silent whisper of night creeps up from behind a lone
elephant. This is hauntingly beautiful.. nature in its full glory.


Impala on a misty morning, just look at how the animal blends
in with the surroundings. The bushes, the grass, the mist and
the impala, they just look perfect together.



A giraffe silhouetted against the sunset, a stunning rendition,
 showing off the powerful natures of Earth and creature
 when they merge. So beautiful that it almost looks surreal.



A beautiful sight  at Matusadonha as the glowing moon shines
across a cloud speckled sky when a hyena is sniffing around for
 a scent that can lead it to prey. Who said moonlight was not as
beautiful as sun light.



MANA POOLS
A trip to the lower Zambezi's great wildlife reserve at Mana Pools
is for travellers who wish to see Africa untamed and truly wild, to
live in nature and to be more than a mere observer. For this is
Africa at her best, a remote wilderness in an exquisite corner of
Zimbabwe - a place of solitude, a meeting place of man and the
great beasts, a place of water, big trees and big sky.

Mana Pools is ranked as one of Africa's outstanding wildlife
reserves. Set against a backdrop of hills and with magnificent
trees creating a park-like effect, it deserves its designation as
a World Heritage Site. The riverfront scenery is exceptionally
grand. Here, the wide Zambezi flows steady, but a series of
meandering waterways wind through grassy flats and low lying
islands. During the winter months it has the highest concentration
of game in the entire continent. Mighty herds of elephant and buffalo
are drawn to the sweet Zambezi waters, followed by lion, hyena, kudu,
nyala,impala and a multitude of game.

Paddling in a canoe down the Zambezi at Mana Pools is one of the most
unique safari experiences in Africa - coming close to great herds without
feeling like an intruder, warm African sun beating the brow, the beauty
of great raptors soaring and circling above, the stillness, serenity and awe.


What is so striking at Mana Pools is the LOVE the different couples
of animals and birds show to each other, which is what the photographs
below captured.

Witnessing the LOVE-in-action by animal couples at Mana Pools leaves
you agreeing with I-Jah-Man in his song, "Two sides of love," when he
says, "Love makes the world go round, how sweet is love, it blooms as it
pleases."




A sublime portrait of intimacy is shown by these buffalo dream
lovers. This is so sweet, lovers sleeping tight, holding on to each
other. This is a cosy kind of love.



"Honey please can you message  my back in that special way of
yours that makes me feel relaxed and peaceful. Yes, like that,
Ummmm!!!!" the lioness seems to be saying to the lion.
This is heart-warming love.



Love is in the air for these elephants seen here touching & feeling
each other in their own special way. This is beautiful love.


Zebras exploring each other's bodies. "Honey how does it feel if I
touch you here and like this." This is love in action.



The kiss on the beak that says, "I love you babe, and am happy
you are by my side at this moment in time." This is lovely love.



GONAREZHOU
THE glorious Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe sweep southwards
and slowly give way to the lowlands and the wildlife reserve of
Gona-re-Zhou - a wild, rugged "place of elephants". Among
Zimbabwean conservationists, Gonarezhou enjoys a long-standing
reputation as one of the most interesting wilderness havens in the
country.
The park is home to some of the most unusual species of game, such
as Lichtenstein's hartebeest, nyala and suni antelope, and its wooded
bushlands house a healthy population of elephant. Other animals include
giraffe, buffalo, zebra, waterbuck, roan, sable and impala, followed in
their paths by the predators, lion, leopard and hyena.

Gonarezhou has always been appreciated as much for its wilderness
atmosphere as its wildlife. There is a diversity of terrain, from mopani
tree savanna and acacia woodlands to riverine forests and fine old baobab
trees.

What is so interesting at Gonarezhou is the HAPPINESS exuded by the
animals as they play with each other in their natural habitat

The experience will leave you feeling so happy having caught on the
HAPPINESS from the animals, you know how HAPPINESS is contagious.




 
Happiness abounds as these elephants swim and bath each other
or is that making love in the river. What ever it is, the elephants
are showing that they feel at home in their habitat and are happy.




Side by side, through thick and thin forests, this is reason enough
for these zebras to be happy to be at Gonarezhou National Park.


 
The wild, untamed beauty of these two animals as they shared
some quality time together gripped me by my throat for a second,
(literally!) No wonder they look so happy.




Even the most powerful predator of them all gets time away from
the hustle and bustle of hunting for prey and gets down to the 
basics of relating to the finer issues of life, like love and happiness. 




Happiness is an attitude that makes even the most mundane things
in life like eating food together very enjoyable. Look at those
corkscrew antlers, God is the best artist ever.


 
HWANGE GAME RESERVE
A short flight from Victoria Falls is Hwange National Park., one of
the great nature reserves of Africa which boasts one of the largest
concentration of elephant in Africa, as well as kudu, sable, roan, eland,
antelope, zebra and waterbuck. Also present are large populations of
buffalo, giraffe, rhino and zebra. The abundance of prey attracts the
full spectrum of predators - some 25 species - including lion, leopard,
wild dog and hyena. Birders and twitters will delight at the 400 species
of feathered friends which grace the park.

The greater portion of the reserve is managed as a wilderness camp area
which is only accessible to visitors staying in small, exclusive lodges. It
is here in these camps, that the wildlife lover will have a true wilderness
experience and come face to face with the great diversity and quantity of
Hwange's wildlife.

An early game drive, to watch as the sun rises on another day in Zimbabwe
while the great creatures begin their daily quest for food and water will
enable you to observe the wonderful CO-EXISTENCE exihibitated by the
different animals and birds as they share life in Hwange Wildlife Reserve.

The CO-EXISTENCE experience at Hwange leaves you wondering if
humans are indeed more civilised than animals.






 
Coexistance in practice, as this girraffe tries to belong to the same
level of height as the wildbeast by bending its front legs so that it
doesn't tower too high above the wildbeast and make it feel inferior.


  
The birds are saying to the buffalo, "Hey fellow Hwange citizen
even though we have different political views concerning life
in our mutual habitat, it's nice to co-exist in harmony despite our
differences." Note that this is Hwange Game Reserve, not the 
Garden of Eden.


 
Elephants and egrets taking a leisurely walk together in the Hwange
wildlife reserve. The elephant could easily trample on and crush the
egrets if it so chooses but it doesn't because its small brain knows that
there is no point in doing that, so it opts for the joys of co-existance
instead. This is an amazingly beautiful shot. The elephant, the egrets,
and those beautiful mountains behind. Wonderful!!!





  
It sure is sweet, how one of the most dangerous mammals, the
crocodile, is posing no danger at all to the egyptian geese. Look
at how the geese don't look worried at all. Co-existance at its best.




    
An antelope having a leisurely trot within the environs of its home
in the Hwange National Park. Look at how beautiful it looks with
birds perched on its back. The kind of oneness and neighbourliness
between birds and animals potrayed by that photograph is a common
feature at Hwange , which shows how the animals have mastered the
harmony of co-existance

THE BEAUTY OF NATURE (Part 2) Nyanga

The beautiful pictures below were taken by Jerry H. and can be found on this link, http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimcontracts/sets/72157619386536108/

Nyanga is a natural lure for the nature-lovers.
Sublime relaxation await the nature-lover at Nyanga which is in
the beautiful Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, what with its
majestic granite peaks, verdant valleys, prolific birdlife, trout fishing
and fine golf courses. It is also the birthplace of rivers and cascades.
Adding to the attractions are leisurely walks over hill and dale,
hikes along mountain paths with each bend opening up to another
magnificent vista, horse and pony trekking and of course, the deeply
satisfying enjoyment of trout fishing in the crystal clear streams and 
bubbling brooks.
This narrow sliver of high country at altitudes up to 6 000 feet which
sweeps along glorious mountain ranges on Zimbabwe's eastern border
with Mozambique, is ideal for those who want to relax and enjoy
crisp mountain air.
Its peace inducing capabilities are second to none.




This view at Troutbeck Inn in Nyanga is a paradise for nature-lovers,
 with its stunning combination of a lavishly green  mountain, lush 
forests with  exotic plants and a breathtaking water spot which has a 
carpet-like green lawn at its banks.  This you will  agree with me is 
nature at its best.





 Mutarazi Falls, the second tallest waterfall in Africa. It
plunges some 762 metres into deep-forested gorges, where rock
pools abound and beckon.
The top of the Falls is a camp site. If you love this photograph
then seeing the Falls in reality will make you gasp in awe.




The second drop of Mutarazi Falls which plunges gracefully into
the Honde Valley. The area around the falls is a small National
Park. Looking at it makes me sing the song, "What a wonderful
world ," by Rod Stewart.



This looks like heaven on earth to me, what more can I say, this
most beautiful place has made me speechless with its beauty.
You can view and experience it at the Blue Swallow Lodges at
Troutbeck Inn in Nyanga.


A magnificent  view of the Pungwe Falls which is 243metres high 
and which flows down into the Honde Valley.



Susurumba Mountain is not only a lovely scenic place to view, it
is yours to climb if you are into mountain climbing.



A spectacular view across the Udu Dam with flat topped, thorny,
Umbrella (Acacia) trees at the banks of the river and a beautiful
mountain in the background. Such is the beauty of nature in
Nyanga.



Sunset over the Udu Dam which is situated on the road to
Inyangombe Falls, close to the main Inyanga road.  
This is beautiful.


  
The upper end of the Mare Dam, which is a trout fishing spot with
Mount Inyangani the highest mountain in Zimbabwe in the
background.


 
This is a private cottage  in Nyanga which is far from the madding
crowd and surrounded by nature in the form of granite kopjes and
fir trees, with little dams on mountain streams on the other side.


 
Natural savanna trees can be viewed across the Mare dam and their
reflection in the water make a sight that seems to be out of this
world.




The Inyangombe swimming pool which has an unused low level
bridge above it and is situated in the Inyanga National Park, is a
popular picnic spot. The pool has a pleasant beach and picnic
area, with clean, invigoratingly cold mountain
stream water to swim in.




If you know beauty when you see it then you will agree with me
that this is it, in fact this is more than beautiful, it is splendid
beauty. Its all yours to view and experience if you book into
those lovely Blue Swallow lodges at Troutbeck Inn.




For those who do fishing, Nyanga Lake is waiting for your fish baits
hooked on your fishing rods.