The new website www.africastories.org did a story on our soccer tournament in Dobsonville.

I think you will enjoy it.

I Count My Blessings

One of my personal Christmas Traditions is to not listen to Christmas music until after I eat the Thanksgiving Feast. Two things happened this year that changed that for me 1) my boss was listening to Christmas music about a month ago (what am I gonna do tell him to turn it off?) and 2) It was freezing cold last week and got me in a Christmas mood (remember it's summer here). All that to say I cheated this year and started listening to Christmas music a week or so early.

Last night on the way home from Baptist Theological College's graduation service I was listening to a great Holiday Jazz CD called Christmas Songs by Diana Krall. One of my favorite CD's from last year. Our family favorite was X Christmas by Various Artists (check it out here but try before you buy). This year I have fallen in love with How Many Kings by Downhere (go to iTunes and download the single right now - I promise it will be the best buck you spend the rest of the year).

Ok, I digress - sorry about that. I'm passionate about my Christmas music.

I was listening to Diana Krall last night and the CD ends with the song Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep.

Her lyrics say:

When I'm worried, when I can't sleep

I count my blessings instead of sheep.

And I fall asleep counting my blessings.

On this Thanksgiving Day 2009 - what great advice - fall asleep counting your blessings!

I won't wait until I fall asleep to begin thanking the LORD for all He has done in me and through me this year. It might take all day - He's a great God. But, I hope the last thoughts I have are of thankfulness as I fall asleep tonight.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Don't forget to enjoy some Christmas music . . .

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!

Fast Food

I took a friend to eat at McDonalds last week. 

One of the nice things about living in a huge international city is the availability of "American" fast food. Maybe I should have put food in parenthesis. I digress . . .

After finishing my Quarter Pounder With Cheese I made polite conversation as I waited for my friend to finish his meal. It took him forever. Actually, he never finished. After an extended period of time he packed the rest of his burger and chips in a bag to take it home with him. I was surprised because I knew he could have consumed all of his meal faster than I finished mine.

Eventually he told me that he was taking some of his food home - not to have something to eat later - but as a "trophy" to show off. His family and friends would never believe he ate at the golden arches if he didn't bring something home to prove it. 

I take so many things for granted. Honestly, I never really enjoy Mickey D's. It is a lot more fast than it is food. So to have a friend who cherishes the experience illustrates how good I have it.

I need to stop taking "little things" like McDonalds for granted.

Thank God for Quarter Pounders With Cheese!

RED CAKE

I love Raspberry Zingers! 

They are so good that I never considered Twinkies to be in the same league with the wonderful red snack coated in coconut. 

I admit I also have a soft-spot for Sno Balls. 

I was thrilled the other day - on the way to Soweto to have Bible study with a friend - when I saw "Red Cake."

My mouth watered as I stood in line with my purchase!

Words can not express my utter disappointment. The African version of raspberry zingers is horrible! Not that is tastes bad - it doesn't. The fact is - it doesn't taste. That's the point. It looks beautiful, all red and coconut covered . . . but there is no flavor to be found or enjoyed! 

Janna Kay says "there is absolutely no taste - it's like water. It is a waste of calories."

Even though she considers Snickers bars to be sin - her opinion is absolutely correct.

That leads me to make another observation. 

Snickers bars are not sin - Red Cake is sin! 

That is to say, Red Cake is just like sin in that it looks really appealing. It looks like it would be worth whatever it costs, but in the end it leaves you frustrated. It does not satisfy, in fact it leaves you wishing you had not spent the time or the money or the energy. 

I need a Milk Tart!

 

Famous Missionary

Every wonder which missionary you are most like?

The Missions Mandate blog has a fun quiz which I enjoyed taking.

I encourage you go to the following link and take the quiz.

Let me know what you think.

Famous Missionary Quiz

Sushi

Joshuwa turned 7 this week. 

As per our family tradition, Joshuwa got to pick the restaurant where we celebrated his special day. We headed to the Cape Town Fish Market so he could eat his favorite meal - SUSHI.

I DON'T LIKE SUSHI.

In fact, I don't enjoy any seafood at all. Nevertheless we headed to CTFM because it had a conveyor belt which continually rotated with different kinds of sushi, giving Josh ample choices. Needless to say he had a great time and I enjoyed the meal - because I saw him enjoying himself. I tried the vegetarian sushi and it was good - but not great. The meal took a decidedly upward turn when the conveyer belt brought dessert  . . . I helped myself to brownies! That was a mind changing selection. I actually enjoyed the experience.

I DON'T LIKE SUSHI - I LOVE IT!

Vote

Wednesday 22 April is Election Day

South Africa is tasked to elect its next president. 

The ballot is interesting in that it offers the ability to vote for any one of 40 parties. There are the more well known parties such as ANC - African National Congress and COPE - Congress of the People and DA - Democratic Alliance.

But they are joined by others such as "A Party" - "KISS - Keep it Straight and Simple" - "SAPP - South African Political Party" 

I would ask you to join me in praying that the elections would be free, fair and without incident. Please pray for the Independent Electoral Commission. 

Christian

I have been meditating on this text from Acts 11:26 [ESV].

"And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians."

The ESV Study Bible says this "probably reflects a label applied by the unbelieving public."

Today, the term Christian continues to be given to believers just as it was in the early church. But, I see the title being given exclusively from within the body of Christ, which is substantially different. For a brother in Christ to "observe my life" and say that I am a Christian is gratifying. But, for an unbeliever to "observe my life" and say that I am a Christian is abundantly more gratifying. In fact Matthew 5:16 [ESV] says it gives "glory to [my] Father in heaven."

My goal for 2009 is to have an unbeliever call me a Christian! It is my desire to live as salt and light - so that someone from outside the body of Christ would testify to the fact based on what he observes from my life. To the glory of God!

 

Table Mountain

Thought I would share some pictures I took while  on holiday with my parents in Cape Town.

Robben Island is where many political prisoners were held during apartheid including Nelson Mandela and Jacob Zuma.

Cape Point is the southern most part of the continent where the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean meet.

Hout Bay is where we stayed. You can see the kids playing in the Ocean.

The last picture is of Table Mountain (with a table cloth) from the V&A waterfront.

There is a lot of beautiful creation in that part of our world. It was awesome to see the creative work of our God!

How Loud Are You?

This question goes out to all the RADi8ers from MK Camp.

Are You Speaking Loud Enough?

In the car today, RAH played  Speaking Louder Than Before by Jeremy Camp from the same titled CD. The message is the same as the one I shared at Camp. Here are some of the words . . . 

We are the light to reach this word.

We are the salt preserving these souls.

Lets show them all the love that we've received.

We are, we are in desperation.

We need to reach this generation.

                         We are speaking louder than before.

                      We need to be the image of Christ, to show love and serve at all times.

                     We can make a difference in this land.

                     The need is real can't you feel this call to revolution?

                     My beating heart is breaking for them.

                    That's why I'm speaking up that's why I'm speaking now.

                    I'm asking you the same question I am asking myself

                    Are You Speaking Loud Enough?

Sangoma Salvation

I shared in a recent blog that sangomas are, at times, overwhelming.

Here is a God is good all the time story!

Yesterday I received a phone call from Aaron (the pastor of the Good News Baptist Church in Braamfisherville, Soweto). He asked if I could do a baptism for him today. I was thrilled, but confused why it had to be on a Thursday. He related the story of Elizabeth, an ex-sangoma, who was saved earlier this week when her sister shared the Gospel with her. Elizabeth said she could not wait several weeks to be baptized. Her excitement was contagious and I was honored to be a part of the special occasion.

Please pray for her as she grows in her faith! 

Sangomas on my street

On Saturday, as we walked the streets of Soweto, a sangoma passed us on the street. A sangoma is most clearly explained as a witch doctor. When I mentioned the sangoma to Janna Kay the person we were walking with said "they are everywhere." I asked them to clarify the word "everywhere." They pointed to each finger on one hand while naming a name. Then they started over. Finally they said to me there are 8 on my street. I was shocked! Honestly, it took away my breath. I was trying to grasp this so I asked them - how many houses are on your street? After a very short pause they said "20." I am still finding the answer very difficult to understand. 

8 of the 20 houses on this person's street are inhabited by sangomas! That is 40%. 

Can you imagine if almost every other house on your street was home to a witch doctor? Unfathomable!

That could be a major reason why we struggle to plant churches in Soweto. 

Your prayer are greatly appreciated. You can find my weekly prayer requests at our WGET blog. 

Red Bakkie Chapter 2

To keep up with the saga of crime and evangelism in Soweto see the WGET Blog link.

Red Bakkie

On the Second Saturday of every month members from 3 local churches go into Soweto to hand out evangelistic newspapers and the Gospel of John. We are working in an area called Thulani or Snake Park where we have started a Bible study. Today we had almost 20 people (half were teens!) participate in the outreach. 

As we returned to the vehicles after our ministry we noticed that the church van had been broken into.  A purse was stolen and the ignition was broken. 

We did not have a rope or chain to tow the van back to church and it appeared that we were stuck. The problem was simple - we couldn't take the people home and come back with a chain to tow the van because the van wouldn't be there when we returned. But, "Someone knew someone" who could help. Sure enough in a few minutes a red bakkie stopped and offered to help. Within 2-3 minutes the van was running and we were about to head back to the church when someone pointed out that they saw a red bakkie speed away from our vehicles as we approached them after our ministry. Let me see if I have connected the dots correctly.

1) While we're doing ministry someone breaks into our church van and tries to steal it.

2) Our prayers are answered when a man with the ability to hot wire a van just happens by.

3) The man drives a red bakkie - the same vehicle that was seen at the scene of the crime.

if I am not mistaken . . . the guy that tried to steal our van helped us hot wire it so we could get home.

The same thing makes you laugh makes you cry!

Taxi!

This is a picture of Karabo. Our new church in Thulani (Snake Park) meets in his mom's house.  He is pretending to be a taxi driver - complete with honking the horn and yelling for passengers. He even used the specific local hand signals.  

 Taxi driving may not be such a desirable occupation for this young man.  Last week, in one location, the police in Joburg arrested over 100 taxi drivers for deliberately breaking the rules of the road.  One of the local papers, The Sowetan, ran this headline, "Defiant taxi drivers tell cops they will break all rules of the road to make money."  Explaining the new hardline policy, Sergeant Mabaso told The Sowetan, "We will push this campaign until they comply."  Mduduzi Xulu, a taxi driver, was also quoted in the article saying, "We won't stop.  The police won't be here forever."

One wonders how long this operation will have to continue to be successful. 

Forever?

#36

I was trying to find the schedule for the World Baseball Classic when I stumbled upon the IBAF World Rankings.

I am thrilled to see that the team I coach, ZIMBABWE, is ranked #36. We received this ranking based on our 4th place finish in ABSA tournament in December of 2007.

Please pray for me as I share my baseball knowledge and the Good News about Jesus Christ with the team. 

More importantly, many people are starving to death (including Baptist pastors) in Zimbabwe. Please pray that God would provide for the players and coaches and their families. Please pray that God would restore "the bread basket of Africa" to its previous position as provider! It would take a miracle - but my God can do it!

Run Rufus Run!!!

My daughter is an athlete. Here, in South Africa, that means she competes in track and field. Last week she ran the 800m and the first leg of the 400m relay for her school team.

She won both races! 

She didn't get those genes from me - I only run to the fridge during commercials.

Although I love to brag about my little girl - and I am  - I also share this to make a point.

You see, she ran the last lap of her 800m faster than her first lap. She won the race so I am not being critical, yet one must ask - what if she ran faster in the initial lap? To what extent would her time have improved? Better said "did she save too much?"

I'm not asking so much about her race as I am my life . . . 

Am I putting off until tomorrow anything which I could and should be doing today? Is my pace to slow? 

Who do I need to share Jesus with? 

Who do I need to serve?

The questions are limitless, but the point remains - what am I waiting for?

Run father run!

Thank You

Janna Kay and I took advantage of an opportunity to bring Christmas to 4 orphans last year. Our paths crossed through a pastor in Soweto.  Honestly, we didn't do very much. We gave them some food for a nice meal, gift certificates and new school clothes.  

We received thank you letters from them this week. They said . . .

"I don't know what to say. I'm happy and I love you."

"PLEASE keep helping kids like us."

"You made us look like we have parents. "

"You made us want to be somebody in life."

"We wish you can do to other people not only to us."

"I won't forget what you did for us."

"You know after all you did for us I realized that God loves me." 

I share their thoughts with you to motivate you to be involved in the life of someone less fortunate than you. I encourage you to commit to someone through Easter week. 

I believe that God blesses us so that we will be a blessing to others and that He will be glorified. I encourage you to find someone to whom you can show the love of God. 

It is not difficult but it is very rewarding!

Midmar Mile

I made it into the Guinness Book of World Records!

Last weekend I took part in the largest open water swim since the days of Noah.  Over 16,000 of us swam a mile from one end of the Midmar dam to the other - including 13 olympians!!!

I swam in 41:02 - only the 681st man to finish in my heat - so I am not bragging!  In fact, a 70 year old man swam the mile in under 38 minutes.

I would have finished in the top 500 and broke 40 minutes if I had trained harder.  Truth is, I swam last year and I "knew I cold do it" so I didn't train as hard as I did last year.  I didn't drown but honestly didn't enjoy most of the swim.

As I thought about the swim, I was reminded of Paul's letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 4:7) where his command to Timothy is "train yourself for godliness."

It begs the question - am I training hard enough to be godly?

I have done godly things before so surely I can do them again . . .

I am not suggesting any kind of works righteousness - I know that I am only godly because Christ died for me and lives in me.  But, I am asking the LORD to search me and show me where I need to work harder at godliness.

Like swimming a mile - godliness doesn't just happen.  Like Paul says, we have to train for it.

Oat a meal

It's Sunday morning and Joshuwa interrupts my devotional to ask for more oatmeal. We have the instant kind so it's no big deal. Except he wants chocolate and we only have "cardboard flavored" (OK - the box says creamy natural). 

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to add a scoop of Nutella to make my son's day! 

After breakfast is served I hear a chant from the other room.

"My Dad Is The BOMB!!! My Dad Is The BOMB!!! My Dad Is The Bomb!!!"

Here's my point. The devotional I was reading (#16 in Whiter Than Snow by Tripp) suggests we should be praying for prosperity. Tripp says, "When God prospers people who are living for Him, they use that blessing to serve Him all the more, and He gets glory and in this He finds great delight."

It was easy to make oatmeal for Josh. And his special request did not frustrate me - in fact, I enjoyed giving him something special. When he received it he praised me with a really cool song. 

I think I am going to ask God for something special this week so that He gets glory and great delight!

Affliction

This year our church is reading through the Psalms. I have been using my thoughts on the Psalms to guide a Bible study I lead on Tuesday mornings with Eric. My friend has an incurable disease and lives in a shack behind his mother's house in Dobsonville, Soweto. 

We started our last Bible study by sharing verses (from the reading plan) that were especially meaningful to us. Eric shared the following four verses, all from Psalm 119.

v67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.

v71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.

v75 I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

v77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.

Now you know why I love going to Soweto every Tuesday morning. Please pray for Eric - that he would be healed, or if God chooses not to heal him; that he might be used to minister to the many other HIV+ people in Soweto.

Pondering

Pondering . . . funerals always make me do that.

On Saturday we buried a co-worker. It was a nice service, one which I felt honored his life and celebrated his ministry.

On Sunday I was reading [providentially] chapter 15 of Paul Tripp's  Whiter than Snow.  

He says when we get older we change from being astronauts to becoming archaeologists. We move from launching into unknown worlds to digging through our past. And when we do, we "will be forced to conclude that we are flawed human beings." 

Tripp then offers some great advice  . . . we don't have to beat ourselves up, deny our failures, be defensive about our weaknesses, or rewrite our histories (to make ourselves look better). 

He concludes "our hope is not in the purity of our character or the perfection of our performance." 

Obviously our only hope is in the atoning blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Good advice while pondering after a funeral. 

Top 5

I read 42 books last year.  

The 5 books I enjoyed the most were (in the order which I read them) . . . 

1) Spurgeon  by  Arnold Dallimore

A great biography on the "Prince of Preachers."

2) The Reason for God  by  Tim Keller

An apologetical classic.

3) Written in Stone  by  Philip Graham Ryken

Best book I have read on the 10 commandments.

4) Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Livingstone and Stanley  by  Martin Dugard

I visited Victoria Falls with my in-laws and this book gave me a greater respect for the  missionary who found the falls.

5) The Mission of God  by Christopher J H Wright

Long - but worth it. A fantastic look at missions throughout the Word of God.

My mother-in-law gave me 6 books by Brad Thor. I have loved reading about his hero Scot Harvath. The language is a little rough at times but the story lines are fantastic.