10 Year Pin

We attended our Cluster's Spiritual Retreat last week. It was a great time of fellowship. I really enjoyed the preaching and prayer times.

It was a special retreat as Ruth Anne, Janna Kay, and I were recognized for having served with the IMB for 10 years. JK and I received these pins.

Only one IMB family has been in Joburg longer than we have, so we have had a pretty good run. Janna Kay was giving me a hard time because 10 years is the longest I have ever held a job.

I am thankful that the LORD has seen fit to use us here in Joburg for the past 10 years. As a strategy leader for our work in Joburg I can not imagine being "through" in the next 10 years!

Please continue to pray for our family and our city.

I just finished reading my pastor's book - Breaking the Islam Code. I highly recommend it.

In the words of Mark Driscoll - "If you love Jesus and Muslims, you will love this book."

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! 

#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!