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Posted on July 6th, 2008 by Flaps.
Categories: Uncategorized.
13thFLOOR in Moz. Moz as in Moz-quito. Moz-ambique. Moz-t awesome experience! … Okay I’m out of puns.
Bottom line: After 6 months of prep by Colin, Juan, Phindi and Surine many relationship were built, a 550 seater theater in Maputu was rented (at next to nothing) and our two teams were there. Now you may ask, how do these poor people afford to attend a theater? Our shows were free. And people streamed in. Our shows were translated in Portugese, so we had subtitles! (Viva 7de laan!) We did 4 shows 4 nights in a row. At the end I ministered in Portugese! (Just kidding - I spoke in tongues) (Just kidding again - I had an interpreter preaching along). On the last night we ‘imported’ a Portugese worship band to join us - it was insane - see below!
I realised you hardly need marketing - we can spend 3 months in this place - do the same shows 3 times a week - reach out in the community the rest of the week - have full houses every time we perform - build long term relationships. It’s so simple - There’s just no money! All we need is investors that can keep our team alive while they are there (and pay Petrol - nowadays a more challenging investment!)
The average Mozamibican salary is R700. Most of them live of what they get from their little booth, selling oranges or what not.
When we initially planned ministry in Africa we thought, ‘this is very different’. And in a way it is. Yet it is so much the same. The teenagers also dress trendy and try and look cool. Even though they live in a shack. Teenagers are teenagers. They laugh. They cry. And we connected with them, by the grace of God.
I’ll write some more thoughts on Moz. This was just a quick update. Thanx to God for supplying th 50grand we needed a week before the time! (God never late..)
R4000 was stolen from us at the border and we used one tank/vehicle more petrol than anticipated! (Do the math - 70 litre tank - 6 vehicles) - pray that we meet budget somehow! Sow
I invite all who read this blog to sow into this Mozambican ministry, now and for future. God Bless you.
Posted on June 15th, 2008 by Flaps.
Categories: New Thoughts.
I was watching Comrades today. 89km. Some Russian guy took the honours and broke the ‘Up’ record. The same Russian guy broke Bruce’s ‘down’ record last year. I have to say when I watch these people killing themselves on the road, I miss being there. Something I need to look at for next year - perhaps to run it again. (I’ve done 3, for those of you who don’t know)
But I’m just thinking of the whole concept of records. As a little boy Santa Clause gave me a Guinness book of World Records. (Actually I’ve always thought it might have been my mother). I loved this book. I found it fascinating. Tallest man. Fastest whatever. Today it’s actually quite ridiculous. Biggest tea bag. Oldest male ballet dancer. Most T-Shirts worn (155)…
The men’s world record for the 100 meter has been improved upon eleven times since the introduction of electronic timing in 1968, never being surpassed by more than 0.05 s at a time. The current men’s world record of 9.72 s is held by Usain Bolt of Jamaica, set at the Icahn Stadium in New York on 31 May 2008 at the Reebok Grand Prix.
You think no one cam improve on it. Then someone does.
So what’s the point of a record? What if you are the best in the world at something? I guess it’s cool. But most of us know that the satisfaction is probably limited. Now I guess something positive to take out of the existence of records, is that something pulls us towards doing better. Even if you don’t break the record, the presence of the record might have pulled you towards your record.
And that brings us to a value many of us say we adhere to, that of excellence. Excellence is not perfection. Excellence is simply our best. And I believe ‘giving our all’ is quite a Godly principle.
Part of my subtle longing to run Comrades again may lie in the fact that that is one of the few areas in my life I recall really being pushed to my limits. And it probably wasn’t even my limit. I think as we move on in life, and in the name of ‘balance’, we are in danger of not always giving our best.
I think we need to hold ourselves accountable towards each other. Never living only half a cup. And pushing ourselves towards excellence. I think that’s all I’m thinking right now…
But I think the concept of records has more to chew on. Any thoughts.?
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Posted on June 10th, 2008 by Flaps.
Categories: Me, Cricket, Rugby, Golf....
Here are the pics as promised!
Posted on June 6th, 2008 by Flaps.
Categories: Me.
The first two weeks In June is officially my holiday for the year. Normally every December I would work until just before Christmas on our USA ministry and then we start again January 1st with the South African ministry!
This year God provided us with a wonderful house in Boggomsbaai - near Mossel Bay (for those who don’t know). I was a bit worried because I was told nothing happens in Boggomsbaai, that there would be no people on the beach etc etc. My general idea for holiday is busy busy people people fun fun party party.
Well we’ve been here 5 days. Here is the report:
In short, I am reminded that sometimes everything really needs to stand still in order to rest the soul. And resting the soul is necessary in this crazy world. I think God glories in times like these.
Glorious.
Posted on May 18th, 2008 by Flaps.
Categories: New Thoughts.
A murderer laid hands on my unborn kid this week! I knew I would get your attention this way. At our weekly Friday morning breakfast for business men we were ministered to by three convicts from Pretoria Central Prison - two of them convicted murderers. The one, Pastor George, has been there for 20 years!
I have not experienced such an anointed ministry in a long while. These three gentlemen, accompanied by numerous wardens, call themselves The Gospel of Joy. Rudy plays electric guitar. Lucky does sound, plays keyboard, and sings at the same time. And Pastor George sings. All three of them shared and ministered. And no juicy stories about ‘I was bad and God made me good’. Just simple worship songs and simple honest sharing of God’s word. These men prayed for us and for our families, encouraged us to be close to our kids, and urged us to walk an intimate walk with God. They reminded us of our authority in God.
They were free.
I was so humbled by these men. Here I am. A free man. But I don’t think I bring a tenth of what they do to the kingdom.
Amanda stopped by to bring me something and when Rudy met her and saw she was pregnant he immediately started praying for her. With so much love. Peace. Joy.
My statement earlier about them being murderers is obviously grossly unfair. Because in a way they have paid for their deeds. I mentioned to a friend that actually these men ‘deserve’ to be free, yet they are ‘filling space’ which could be filled by some other robber or thief, who is being acquitted with a warning, ‘because our prisons are full’! My friend then replied, ‘yes, and some of these business men sitting here this morning should actually be inside…’
But regardless of who should actually be where, here we were together, sharing a room, breakfast, and God’s presence together. And we were one.
And I definitely felt the less holy man. As Paul says, surely I am the worst sinner of all. Is God’s grace not for all of us? Yes. Yet so many times we discriminate or judge based on people’s deeds or mistakes of the past.
Thank God He is not like that. Because if He were like us, I would be lost.
So what am I to take out of this?
To always remember we are all equal before him.
To appreciate the physical manifestation of our freedom and live fully in the spititual freedom we so often take for granted.
To respect all men - also criminals.
(I know what your immediate thought is… some criminals don’t deserve respect. Well, do you…?)
My new friend Rudi
Posted on May 13th, 2008 by Flaps.
Categories: New Thoughts.
I find wrestling so gross. I can’t believe people watch WWF. But they do. This blog however is not about belief. Rather about sweat.
I often thought of the whole ‘wrestling with God’, ‘Jacob gets a limp’ thing. But this morning Hennie got me thinking when he spoke to our staff on the subject. Something that struck me again is that wrestling is quite an intimate thing. Which explains why wrestling the opposite sex is so much fun! And why wrestling your Blue Bull neighbour is not. (Unless you’re a she..) I’m deviating again.. Focus…
Okay, so my point is. It’s quite an intimate thing - so wrestling God, (struggling/weight transferring/standing up against) iseverything about being intimate with God. I realised I am actually quite lazy. My wife would battle with God for hours and days ’sorting out some issue’ with God. My natural tendency is to say, ‘Well God is God. He knows what He’s doing. I’m not going to argue him.’ But I realised today that I might be losing out, and should probably jostle Him now and then…
The other interesting point Marisa made in this discussion is that when you wrestle sweat rubs off - odour is transferred. Gross. But there’s so much truth in this statement.
I’m still chewing on it.
Posted on May 10th, 2008 by Flaps.
Categories: New Thoughts.
Obedience is often seen as adhering to the rules - which is probably an accurate definition.
However I think there is more to it. I see my 16 month old son to be quite obedient. But not because he adheres to the rules of the house. More because of his daily reaction to small requests, suggestions, instructions, and even commands that result out of our natural interaction between each other.
It’s a lifestyle of ‘obedience’ out of relationship rather than ‘doing what the book says’.
I find this quite challenging with God. As an ‘adult’ Christian (Can u ever be that? But I’ve known God for 20 years), I tend to make many decisions out of experience and a spiritual common sense. Which I believe is right. God didn’t make us puppets.
Yet I know there’s room for me to have a more ‘daily interactive relationship’… of obedience.
I am journeying.
Posted on May 3rd, 2008 by Flaps.
Categories: New Thoughts.
A friend of mine spent 2 days in Zimbabwe last week - and this is what he wrote… This is a phenomenal piece of writing and something I feel we should all be aware of and be praying for. It’s an easy read (with some disturbing graphics) and should take you 10 minutes to work through.
It’s hard to believe this is a reality in the world we live in. That people are losing their lives because of what they stand for… and that this is happening a couple of hours drive away from us. The scary thing is how ignorant we are towards that which doesn’t touch us directly.
Over the last couple of weeks I have a renewed awareness to take spiritual responsibility, or maybe I should say ‘co-responsibilty’, towards what happens in and around our country.
And I still have hope for South Africa.
Please read the document and let’s open a discussion!
Posted on May 1st, 2008 by Flaps.
Categories: Me.
I love this country.
I recently attended a summit of 450 Christian leaders in South Africa.
I love the logo - and I love what it stand for. A lot was said in these 2 days but more importantly all of us were simply humbling ourselves before God and asking ‘God what are you saying to us about this country?’
One thing I am thinking about is ‘the power of the few’ - Jehoshephat prayed to God, : “We are powerless…we don’t know what to do…but our eyes are upon Thee.” (2 Chronicles 20:12). POWERLESS is a word that I think summarises what many people feel about South Africa. But if the few of us who believe in this country stick together, trust God for divine deliverance, and most importantly, choose to make a difference, even if we think ‘what difference will it make’… then I believe we will see God’s mighty hand in this country. In fact I believe we’re seeing it already - just look at the ridiculous Might Men statistics. Is that not revival? How then can we see that and say we do not have hope?!
As for myself I believe I can contribute to change in South Africa, and I’m committing myself to the cause.
Together the 450 leaders drew up a declaration of intent. Most of you will probably not read it but I’ll post it under this blog for those who are interested! If the FEW commit to this declaration, we WILL SEE CHANGE.
Posted on May 1st, 2008 by Flaps.
Categories: Uncategorized.
National Initiative for the Reformation of South Africa (NIRSA)
DECLARATION OF INTENT
FINAL DRAFT
We, the 450 participants in the National Initiative for the Reformation of South Africa, meeting on April 22-23, 2008 at the Birchwood Conference Centre in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, representing different areas of leadership in all domains of South African national life, hereby declare afresh our commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord, Saviour and Coming King. We reaffirm our confidence in the Bible as the inspired Word of God and as our supreme authority in all matters of life and faith. (cf. 2 Timothy 3: 16 -17).
We have come together with great urgency at a mere few weeks’ notice, and sometimes a few days’, out of deep concern for the grave state of South African society to seek God’s way forward for us as both church and nation. We acknowledged and felt constrained as we met in the spirit of Jehoshaphat to pray: “We are powerless…we don’t know what to do…but our eyes are upon Thee.” (2 Chronicles 20:12). We sought to submit ourselves to Almighty God and to the rule of God’s ways and Kingdom.
We have celebrated the power and sovereignty of our God in both creation and history. We have sought to see His face afresh and to turn our eyes upon Jesus. We have come afresh to the foot of the Cross and this has humbled us and brought us to a new place of repentance for our sins, whether personal, church or national. It has also led us to see in new ways that our sins, failures and disunities as Christians have diminished our authority to speak prophetically with one voice to either the nation or the government. We have sought to repent of this. We seek in the light of God’s mercy and forgiveness to move forward positively both as a NIRSA fellowship, a network of committed believers, and as an informal Christian coalition committed to reformation of South Africa. We thank God for a rebirth of hope, faith and confidence and renewed vision of what our nation can be under God.
Acknowledging the foundations laid by past and present Christian initiatives, building on those foundations and committed to strengthening existing initiatives without compromise for God’s standards and Word, we issue a prophetic and urgent call to Church, Government and society at large,
• to apply themselves with all diligence to the reformation and renewal of South African society
• to commit themselves to finding effective solutions to community and national problems
• to apply themselves with intentionality to more effective nation building.
Accordingly, from within our various churches, organizations, associations, groupings and work places:
1. We resolve to remain prayerfully committed to one another for the journey forward.
2. We resolve to renew our commitment to prayer for our country and its leaders and to support both current and new prayer initiatives in our land which call on God for a revival which manifests both personal conversion and societal transformation.
3. We resolve to move forward with the current and where necessary expanded NIRSA leadership, which includes the Advisory Council and the Executive, to develop and maintain the current and already established NIRSA network.
4. We resolve to develop a NIRSA media desk that conveys reactions and interactions to unfolding issues and developments in our country and region that purpose to be Christian in view and biblically based.
5. We resolve to celebrate freedom of the press as an essential pillar of any just society, and to encourage, support and strengthen all Christian media professionals, in whatever medium, to influence with ever greater effectiveness all programming and messages, and to publicise and communicate the good done by Christians and all South Africans.
6. We resolve to support and to agree with the basic fundamentals of credible journalism that purpose to communicate truth with integrity, while exposing corruption, championing justice and communicating hope.
7. We resolve to call for a rolling out all across our land of new initiatives of
• Evangelism which stresses the new birth in Christ,
• Bible reading,
• Bible teaching,
• Discipleship focused on our role and responsibility as Christians in the life of our community and nation.
8. We resolve to communicate by assorted NIRSA delegations our national concerns to:
a. The President and Deputy President of South Africa
b. The heads of South Africa’s political parties
c. The leadership of the church in South Africa as well as their related associations, such as SA Council of Churches, The Evangelical Alliance of SA (TEASA), SA Christian Leadership Assembly (SACLA – (possibly NIRSA could be a sub-project of SACLA)), and others.
In all this we would be seeking to understand the issues and burdens all these leaders are carrying, and how we, the wider Body of Christ, may help them build this nation.
9. We resolve, via assorted NIRSA delegations, to visit Cabinet Ministers and relevant portfolio committees to lobby for the application of biblical principles to current and future issues in all sectors of life. For example, the Ministers of:
• Education (e.g. Biblical sexuality, religious education and moral instruction, as well as encouraging parents and educators to operate in partnership to give children an excellent education within a biblical framework along with adequate life skills to prepare them for responsible adulthood.)
• Health (e.g. Properly trained and remunerated medical staff with a respect for the dignity and welfare of those in need of health care; Infant mortality; the sanctity of life – especially the unborn and the elderly; responsible stewardship of existing medical facilities and equipment in both hospitals and clinics.)
• Housing (e.g. the Biblical ideal of every family having their own home; to ensure sufficient land is available for new housing, and to hold government accountable in this regard.)
• Land Affairs (e.g. responsible and just management of the land reform process.)
• Safety and Security (e.g. upholding the rule of law; adequate protection of citizens.)
• Justice and the Judiciary (e.g. In particular to have legal authorities register our resolve to be heard in the Constitutional Court and to endeavour to assist the court in the amicus curiae capacity whenever we believe it to be appropriate; severe sentences to be passed on public officials involved in corruption or any criminal offences; ensuring the law does not favour the criminal over the victim while acknowledging and protecting the rights of both and that the judiciary dispenses justice without prejudice or favour, ensuring adequate protection for witnesses.)
• Environment Affairs (e.g. conveying the Biblical understanding of ecology, stewardship of the environment and responsible dominion over creation)
• And others as may arise
10. We resolve to protect and advance our democracy by encouraging every citizen to engage in the affairs of this nation and to hold government and public officials accountable to the people. We therefore support any initiative that increases voter registration and voter participation in local and national elections, and urge all citizens to make their voting responsible, informed and based on an understanding of the issues and encouraging Christians in all political parties to bear faithful witness.
11. We resolve to call for the highest standards of integrity and biblical ethics in business practice, first within the Christian community and then in the broader society, thereby ensuring that the economy is built on a morally trustworthy foundation. And we will embrace any initiative which promotes and furthers this aim.
12. We resolve to motivate and encourage entrepreneurs and business people to impact the market place by founding enterprises, creating wealth and employment, and by living with integrity and generosity. Accordingly, we urge business leaders, starting with the Christian ones, to convene a major summit and consultation on job creation and the eradication of poverty.
13. We resolve to support any good governance initiatives that are true to biblical principles.
14. We resolve to develop, empower and release servant-hearted leaders for all areas of society and accordingly will support and encourage all leadership development and training programmes that produce high quality leaders who will impact both this and the next generation.
15. We resolve to develop NIRSA think tanks and working groups while working with similar existing groups, with the purpose of grappling with biblical positions, values and principles relating to issues arising in all sectors of society.
16. We resolve to call every citizen, Christian or not, to play their part in reducing crime and stopping violence by:
• Responding to cries for help,
• Stepping forward as witnesses,
• Reporting crime,
• Participating in community self-watch programmes,
• Supporting and encouraging neighbourhood, local and national initiatives such as Community Policing Forums, Police Reserves, Business against Crime etc.,
• Supporting and serving the local police in prayer and other appropriate ways.
17. We resolve to call on all South Africans to seek out and expose systemic corruption and organized crime.
18. We resolve to support all housing initiatives that will effectively move us towards everyone living in a home in South Africa.
19. We resolve to support current and new initiatives out of the church in tackling and eliminating the HIV/Aids pandemic.
20. We resolve to hold faithfulness in marriage and sexual abstinence before marriage as the only effective way to stop the HIV and AIDS genocide of the human race and sexual violence and note that the Bible holds men primarily responsible for upholding these virtues. We also honour all mothers in their sacrificial roll and celebrate the increasingly significant roles generally of woman in society.
21. We resolve to affirm to one and all that both the Bible and history conclude that nations without solid family units providing a safe, loving, nurturing environment are no longer sustainable and in imminent danger of demise. Therefore we affirm the sacredness of marriage and the biblical ideal of fathers and mothers in binding covenants of intimacy and faithfulness, raising children with love, security, respect, trust and understanding.
22. We resolve to encourage all pastors and church leaders to challenge and teach their membership what it means in biblical terms to be good citizens in this African context.
23. We resolve to continue to work within and between different sectors of the Body of Christ towards unity, thereby focusing on what unites us, while continuing to dialogue respectfully and in humble submission to God and His Word about the things on which we disagree. We believe, as Christians, that if we are not concerned for the growth and well being of all the churches in our area and beyond, we know nothing of the Spirit of God.
24. We resolve to seek new and practical Christian obedience and discipleship at all levels in living out our citizenship and responsibilities positively in this land and region, with everybody “doing their bit”.
25. We resolve to encourage all young Christians and our extraordinary younger Christian leaders to go for it and put their best shot at making a real difference in this. We celebrate the great thing God is doing amongst so many young people. We also urge on younger leaders a major NIRSA Youth consultation to look at the nation’s needs, challenges and opportunities from the young person’s perspective.
26. We resolve to pray for Zimbabwe and as a matter of urgent concern to send a delegation to the Zimbabwean Church leaders, to pray with them, and to urge on them a NIRSA-type gathering and if need be, help them to mount one. We also call on Christians in the other nations of Africa to do the same.
*** *** ***
We determine to be a united prophetic church that is neither servant nor master of society or government but their compassionate conscience; a church that works with transparency, integrity and accountability to its own tenets and the God we proclaim; a church that is committed to discipling and releasing the body of believers to their full service of both God and society.
Having said all this, we want to declare that we will be persistent about our Christian role in this society, we will persevere in the face of opposition and we refuse to back down about our vision for a prosperous, safe, healthy and godly nation. To this, under our Lord Jesus Christ and with the help of His Spirit, we commit ourselves.
We likewise call on our Lord to bring forth His Word for us:
“Fear not… for the battle is not yours but God’s….take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the Lord on your behalf.” (2 Chronicles 20: 15, 17)
Finally, we remember with thanksgiving our Lord’s word: “… without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5) …“All power in Heaven and on earth is committed to me… and lo, I am with you always, even to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 18, 20)
Birchwood Conference Centre
April 23rd 2008
_______________________________________________________
