Little Drummer Boy

I bragged about my daughter's beauty last month, and now I want to brag about my son's skills.

Yesterday at his drum lesson, Joshuwa found out that he passed the TRINITY GUILDHALL Grade 1 Examination. In US terms it would be a 5th grade test. It is the entry level exam but at a much higher level than Joshuwa's actual age.

TRINITY GUILDHALL is a worldwide organization that judges competency in several components, such as - Sight reading, Improvisation, Rudimentary study and playing 2 pieces of music.

I share of of this because (to Joshuwa's instructor's knowledge) Joshuwa is the first pre-schooler in Africa to have earned a passing mark!

Well done my boy!

Actually, I can't brag because he doesn't have any of my genes - but I am so very proud of him.

May Josh develop a passion to praise the LORD "according to His excellent greatness!"

Happy Birthday?

Happy Birthday!
As I was drinking my 3rd cup of coffee this morning I read this headline in The Times . . .

Life expectancy now 47.

It got my undivided attention because I was born in 1962 - You do the math.

The newspaper said "Aids makes SA 'like a war zone.'" Comparatively, the life expectancy in Afghanistan is 44.

In 1990 the life expectancy in RSA was 63 and in 2005 it was 51.

Thabo Mbeki's administration was blamed for the current trend.

Also, . . . TB deaths were up 335% from 1997-2005. The "cure rate" for TB in most of RSA is 60% where the world cure rate is 85%. Kwa Zulu Natal has a cure rate of only 40%.

From 200-2007, of the more than 4,000 mothers who died while pregnant, 46% were HIV+, 12.5% were negative and 41% were not tested. That percentage is terrifying!

The health minister responded to the question "Is it reversible?" by saying certainly!

Won't you join me in praying that God would be gracious and merciful and enable this to happen for the glory of His name.

Prosperity Gospel

I found this blog to be very interesting. The video doesn't feature South Africa but it's message is not limited to the countries it covers. The health and wealth Gospel is easily found in Joburg and Soweto.

In the video, the folks in Ghana were initially asked to give $100 US Dollars.

Who can get their hands on US currency in Ghana? If they can - who can afford to give $100?

How many USD did you give last Sunday?

Man weds four brides simultaneously

Milton Mbhele showed up for his wedding today in a white limousine -with four brides.

South African law recognizes traditional polygamous marriages - even President Jacob Zuma has three wives. Yet while polygamy remains common among several tribes including the Zulus and Swazis, simultaneous weddings are rare.

Milton Mbhele, 44, tied the knot pledging his undying – and equal – love. Milton said that marrying all four was better than committing to one and then cheating on her, “It doesn’t help to have 1 wife and 30 girlfriends . . . it will drain you – you will end up with no money.” He also said that marrying all four on the same day saved costs. The brides were each honored with their own wedding cake. He spent R150,000 (and 32 cows) on the event. Mbele claimed that this is “The day I have been waiting for all of my life.” Mbhele has 11 children (7 of them with the 4 brides).

You're late!

I was honored to be invited to preach at Troyville Baptist Church in Joburg's inner city last Sunday morning.

As I walked into the sanctuary I was told - "we should have started 5 minutes ago." I am highly event orientated so I was deeply hurt . . . but, I have a very good excuse.

As I approached the church (according to my GPS) it was obvious I had to "make a plan." The GPS informed me that I needed to turn left at the end of the street. As I stopped at the stop street (stop sign) I noticed the street to the left was closed. There was a guard rail across the entire street. As I started forward (now looking right - searching for options) my front left tire disappeared and the car came to a crashing halt. I felt as though I rose about a meter in the air. Low and behold - I had driven into a hole (literally a manhole).

It seems as though someone had taken the manhole cover to the scrap yard to sell the metal for cash. Needless to say that left a hole in the middle of the street! The cover is not there but the hole is not missing - I FOUND IT!

Soon after I planted the car a lady walked by and (bless her heart) instead of laughing at me she prayed aloud - "In the name of Jesus - send some men to help get that car out of that hole." Within seconds, literally, before she stopped praying 6-8 big boys came up to the car and lifted the front end out of the hole. Praise the LORD! Since they were there very quickly we were only 5 minutes late to church.

Hey, have you seen the most beautiful girl in the world?

Seems like that was a country song when I was growing up (listening to Rock & Roll).

I know I am biased, but I wanted to share the most recent picture of Ruth Anne. It was taken as she went on her 1st date ("that wasn't really a date"). Last week she went to her school's Matric Farewell (prom).

The boy didn't deserve her company but being as compassionate as I am - I felt sorry for him and I didn't want him to have to go alone. [I asked over 60 girls to homecoming one year so I know 1st hand the pain involved].

Anyway - it seems like she had a good time dancing the night away with Yo-yo (or whatever his real name is). They want to go out again but JK and I can't find a movie that we all want to see. And probably won't for another 3-5 years.

Any tips for fathers of dating daughters would be much appreciated!

TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL N THE WORLD BEFORE YOU SURF!!!

On the Road Again

Yesterday, in Soweto, I had two interesting encounters both involving the drivers of vehicles. Both reminded me that "truth is in fact stranger than fiction."

As soon as we arrived in Soweto a small car pulled up where we were standing. Seems like a small group of white folks stand out and are fun to chat with. Anyway the car was decorated with stickers announcing that it was used to teach students how to drive. It is a very common sight in Joburg. The car had a big red L stuck on the back window. The reason I share this story is because we chatted for several minutes and eventually the driver got out to chat. When the driver (teacher) got out of his car at 9:30 a.m. he was holding a large bottle of beer in his hand.

I think JK and I will use a different teacher to help RAH get her license.

After an hour or so of handing out Challenge Newspapers and sharing the Gospel we came upon a young man being pushed in a wheel chair. We chatted to him and his group for several minutes. A half hour later - several blocks away - we saw several folks from this group fighting as they walked down the street. Another long story! When our day was done - as we waited by the car for a few of our team to finish - another car pulled up and stopped to chat. The man in the drivers seat (Sibosiso) was fairly antagonistic. He demanded to make an appointment with me. He wanted me to come by and discuss his religion. He promised me that once I understood his religion I would run from mine to his. AINT GONNA HAPPEN CAPT'N. As we exchanged phone numbers I suddenly realized that the three folks in the back seat were the 3 people who were fighting a few minutes earlier. Then- and to to my great surprise I realized that the driver was the very same young man they were pushing in the wheel chair an hour before.

I have seen so many things in Soweto that I am usually not surprised - but, yesterday I was shocked not once but twice!