I am employed!

Today I signed on at UNISA as a part-time lecturer in the Department of Systematic Theology and Ethics! I've been praying for this day since I first set foot on the UNISA campus. I can remember asking God, that if it is in God's will, if God would mind steering me to a place where I could be employed at this university. That was 12 years ago, but I remember it like yesterday. Every time I drove past UNISA, I prayed that prayer, not demanding anything of God, but merely expressing an inner desire.

Working at a university is not easy. I don't expect it to be, but I'm willing to give it my best. My contract is for 10 hours per week and will last until December. There is a possibility that it will be renewed, but I won't stress about that now. I'm just enjoying the moment! The 10 hours per week is luckily not a big issue. I will merely replace my informal writing time with more focused and directed (and payed) work.

Please celebrate today with me.

Counseling

Counseling is a big part of my work. I enjoy it. There is something very meaningful in being asked and allowed to travel with folk as they try to make sense of their identities and/or situations.

I am very thankful to be studying psychology. My ministerial training did not cater sufficiently to empower me for counseling and so I chose to empower myself. Like all things, it is a skill that one will never be able to master. During the past month I have come to realize how valuable the training has been. It has helped me to identify times when people would rather have sympathy than help. It has helped me to identify underlying psychological problems that can be successfully treated by professionals. Most of all, it has helped me to counsel without getting emotionally involved - some may object to this, but it is essential when you have to counsel different people with different needs in a short space of time and still treat your family with care and affection.

People try to take ministers and the church for a ride and I have learnt to be very honest and direct with people who think they can manipulate their way to easy handouts. And so, a drug dealer got the fright of his life when he heard some home truths ala Dr Phil. A lady who wanted sympathy, but no healing left empty handed, perhaps with a bit of a kick under the jack.

But counseling is also difficult. What do you say to the mother of one of our confirmees who died in a car accident on Monday? Let me rephrase, how does one listen? Listen we did. No answers. No quick fixes. No meaningless images of her son gaining some wings and resting in the arms of Jesus. No. Hopefully by listening and by sharing empathy, she experienced Jesus losing some wings and sitting with her. Not that I am Jesus.

I think the time is drawing near for me to go for some counseling myself. Going to the shrink should be as natural as going to the toilet. Everyone has to offload sometime - excuse the image.

Matt is doing great.

Today we went to Dr. Dansky for Matt's six-monthly heart checkup. It is always an anxious time. Although we know that he is doing well, there is always the hidden fear that things may not be as it seems. This time we were once again blessed with good news. There is a feeling of relief when seeing a real doctor looking at Matt's history on paper, looking at today's test results, looking at Matt, shaking his head and saying that this boy is doing remarkably well for someone with such a complex heart condition. If you want, do a Google image search of Transposition of the great arteries (TGA), VSD, ASD, PDA, Upstairs-Downstairs Ventricular orientation to see what is going on in our boy's heart. You may have to search each condition seperately as it is very rare for these things to all hit one individual at the same time.

 

Our Matt is now 4 and doing great. After spending the day in Johannesburg (and envying my friend Dion who only has to pass two cars on the way to the beach) we witnessed a beautiful sunset. We told Matt that Jesus made it especially for him. We prayed and gave thanks.

When granny goes to court

A little something from Beryl's blog.

Virtues

What makes a good minister? I don't know, but I have some ideas. These are not the only virtues required to be a good minister, but Im sure it counts for something.

Today I marked a trial service. On the panel was a minister with 40 odd years experience, a local preacher with over 50 years experience, a theology professor, a well recognized local preacher and me. As we gave feedback to the minister in training, our comments were shrugged off as "old-fashioned", "out of date" and "not where modern people are". And so I thought: A sign of a good minister, no, let's go further, a good human being is to adopt a teachable attitude.

I had to learn this the hard way. Coming into the ministry I wanted to change the world and wanted to get the "training" out of the way as soon as possible so that I could get on with business. Then I worked in Ventersdorp, Soweto and the streets of Johannesburg and slowly discovered that the world didn't fit into my pocket. I met Tim Attwell, who although is a library on legs, is always willing to listen and able to express appreciation for perspectives other than his own. I remember sitting next to my friend Rory Dalgliesh at the Synod which recommended us to be ordained. Rory knew my journey. I turned to him and said "I don't know if I am ready to be ordained." I'll never forget his words. He said "Wes, at the start of your journey when you wanted to save the world you weren't, but now you are".

I know I am not always teachable, and I pray that people will point out when I build my kingdom based on my own arrogance. But I felt cheated today. I might as well have stayed in bed, because this was not a learning experience for this person. It was just another hurdle on the road to ordination.

To be a good minister, one needs to be teachable. If you aren't, you can't listen. If you can't listen, you can't serve.

Raising boys - Shares in the ER.

Visiting the Emergency Rooms is synonymous with raising boys. Well, Nathan has somehow avoided them - don't know how, because he is the much more daring one!

Matt bust his left big toe open, and he did a very good job of it. And so, it was another trip to the emergency rooms thinking that he would need stitches. Luckily he didn't, but they cut off a whole flap of skin, which looks gross and is pretty painful.

What astounded me most was my little 4 year old's confidence! Sitting in the waiting room, he was getting a bit impatient with the delay in his medical treatment. He stopped the first nurse that walked past and said: "Excuse me, I have an appointment. (then pointing to a bare wrist added...) I have to fly to Scottburgh in twenty six hours (he is actually flying down to Durbs with his granny in two weeks time). Can you fix my toe now, please.". Somehow we jumped the queue and he found himself on a bed. He then proceeded to tell the doctor (a very pretty one at that) how his toe should be fixed. After bandaging the toe, he looked at it, looked at the doctor and said: "I think my toe is broken, can you give me some crutches, please?".

The staff then burst out laughing.

On Monday he is going for his six-monthly heart check-up. I hope he will be as entertaining.

God bless you all, especially if you have boys.

Most unfortunately funny wedding announcements

When I saw this (and others) I laughed so much I fell of my chair. Some are a bit riske', but have a laugh. Click here.

Methodism in Southern Africa.

Dear friends,

The time has arrived! Dr. Dion Forster and I have been working on a book about Methodist mission. The title of the book is Methodism in Southern Africa: A celebration of Wesleyan mission. Contributors to this book include Rev. Dr. Stanley Mogoba, Rev. Dr. Gavin Taylor, Rev. K.K. Ketshabile, Prof. Joan Milllard-Jackson, Rev. Gcobani Vika, Rev. Dr. Sol Jacob, Rev. Peter Grassow, Rev. Kevin Light, Rev. Dr. Dion Forster and myself.

This book explores different forms of mission that have found expression in Southern African Methodism and we hope that it will contribute towards our continuous search to be effective agents of the Good News. It is an "easy read" book, and so, is accessible to lay and clergy alike.

I include a link to the order form which can be used to order copies from Upper Room Ministries. The official launch of this book will take place at Synod 2008, but you will most likely be able to get your own copy before then by using this form. All proceeds of this project will be going to EMMU (Ministerial Students Fund), so the more copies we sell, the more work can be done in assisting our ministers in training. Please note that whether you order 1 copy or 50, the postage remains the same.

To download the order form, click here.

So, I haven't updated for a while...

Sorry, I didn't give blogging up for Lent, so this is going to be a bit of a newsletter in bullet form.

1. Happy Easter everyone. This week is always a bit crazy. We had wonderful services during Holy Week and the congregation is traveling the Lenten journey with a deep sense of renewed, or should I say re-awakened awareness of the meaning of Easter.

2. God blessed me with 4 DVD players packing up in the space of 3 days. My first DVD player crossed into the eternal, luckily still under guarantee. So, I took it back to Hi-Fi Corp, paid in a bit of money to get a relatively good machine (with 5.1 surround sound). I hooked it up, only to be greeted with "white noise" (TSSSSSHHHHHHHHHH for those who don't know what that is). So, I took it back and got another one. Same thing. So, I took it back to get another make. Same thing. It just so happens that Hi-Fi Corp load the same software on the "Warfedale" and "Sansui" machines. I Googled the model numbers to find that these machines do not even feature on these brands' stock lists. Wonder why? So, now knowing that it was a software problem, I checked all the DVD players and Googled them. Now I have a Philips (a real one) and it works just fine - touch wood.

3. Dion and I worked on a book about Methodist Mission which will be launched in a couple of weeks' time. I'll keep you informed on developments.

4. I am now appointed as a part-time lecturer in Ethics at UNISA! I am so happy about this! For one, I will now get some research funding for each article published in an accredited journal. Back to my computer!!!

5. My family is doing well. Please pray for Nats. Please pray for me. Our family is strong and intact, but as individuals, we are taking a bit of strain at the moment.

Until next time, enjoy Easter, buy selectively at shops, buy our book, enroll at UNISA and pray for us.

God bless.

How disappointing!

I read the article below, thinking "WOW, a visitor in lingerie and a mac!". Then I discovered it wasn't the kind of mac that I was thinking about. DARN, this had potential!

See the article here.

Los Angeles - Lily Allen visits male friends wearing just sexy underwear and a mac.

The Smile singer - who recently split from Chemical Brothers star Ed Simons - loves the look on her pals' faces when they see her standing outside their home in skimpy lingerie.

Lily, who was recently dropped as the face of lingerie label Agent Provocateur, said: "Agent Provocateur is good for turning up at a male friend's house in a mac with underwear underneath.

"It is something I have grown to like. The stockings, the suspenders - you've got to have the full kit.

"It works for me anyway. I get turned on by myself and I love the expression on their faces. Pure panic!"

The 22-year-old star also admits she often spends days browsing the internet for the perfect underwear set.

Lily added to Britain's Glamour magazine: "My retail therapy is buying pants. I have been on the Bodas website all day.

"They look attractive and they feel nice. More practical than Agent Provocateur." - Bang Showbiz.com

Wish I had more fingers.

I know, this blog is not being updated as it should. I have been typing away everywhere but here.

So far, I finished a chapter for our book on mission (to be published VERY soon), translated a prayer book (of which I received the first copies yesterday), finished a chapter for Dion's Zeitgeist (chapter on truth), writing a chapter for the UNISA ethics textbook, writing two Lenten devotions books, two advent devotion books, an article for TSSA in June, considering an article for the SATS conference...

Meanwhile Nathan started walking, UNISA psychology assignments are creeping closer, avoiding a nervous breakdown, and trying to keep away from being moved at the end of the year!

Please pray for me. I love writing and I love where I am at the moment. Hope that doors will open locally.

Cheers. Please buy my books!

Confused.

By the way, with this post I'm passing the 200 posts mark.

A member of our congregation popped in seeking guidance. I met with him and after our session escorted him to his car. He then piped up with the question: "Moruti (minister in Sotho), do you work here (at the church) full-time?", to which I responded: "Yes", not quite knowing where this was going.

So, he tried again: "Moruti, do you work here the whole day?", and my answer was again "Yes.". So he tried again: "You work here and you have a PhD?". As soon as I responded with another "Yes", he burst out laughing and looked at me in disbelief. I must admit that I was a bit stunned by his response. Who did he expect to find at the church to help him with his problem? The Easter Bunny?

He went on: "Don't you teach or lecture?" and I told him about my work at John Wesley College. "How much do they pay you?" "About R60 per month". "Hahahahahahahahaha".

Ouch.

He then climbed in his Volvo 4X4, reminding me in passing that in the modern world one should earn enough to retire at 50.

And so I returned to my office, writing articles, chapters for books, sermons, bible study material, an order of service for Sunday, listening to old ladies complaining about the speed of the ceiling fans in the church and waiting for the next person to arrive seeking counseling. Later, I'll climb in my small Atos to fetch my son from school and then take him to gymnastics, which we can barely afford, but which he loves.

Do I mind? No.

A nice house R2mil, a nice car R300 000, feeling fulfilled - priceless.

Makhulu swim

I'm starting to get the hang of this.

Today I swam the Makhulu swim (1km) at Leisure Lakes, Midrand and finished it in just over 26 minutes. It was a much better swim than Midmar (1 mi) which I finished in 52 minutes two weeks ago.

I think this is the last open water event for the year that I will be able to attend. Can't wait to do it again.

I don't get it...

Read the story here.

A judge declined to give a killer a life-sentence, because the killer came from a "disadvantaged background".

HUH?

Does this say that people who are poor and/or have a poor education and/or... are by nature immoral people?

When should a person be fully accountable for their actions, when they have a degree?

Can someone please explain this one to me?

11519

It's been a busy weekend...

Yesterday I presided at a good friend's wedding. Here's a picture of Matt.


After the wedding, Matt, my Mom and I drove down to the Drakensberg and slept at Catepillar Catfish Cookhouse. Excellent place.

This morning I swam the Midmar mile (my race number was 11519).


I swam it in 52 minutes. Not a good time, I know. I freaked out about 200m into the race, called the lifeguard and held onto his paddle-ski while I cleaned my goggles. I then told him that even if I drown, he is not allowed to take me out of the water. And so I took a deep breath, braved the choppy water and finished the race. I'm thrilled!



We then jumped in the car and spent the rest of the day at uShaka Marine World (my favourite place at the sea).

We then dropped my mom at DBN international airport. My sister-in-law happened to be the pilot of her plane. Matt and I proceeded to Scottburgh where we will stay at the family flat until Wednesday.

Now I must go sleep.

Article published

Here it is. One of the articles stemming from my thesis is published in HTS (Hervormde Teologiese Studies) Volume 63, no 4, November 2007.

The colour is a bit peachy, but hey, my name is in there!

ZZZZzzzzzz

Look, I enjoy our annual ministers' summer school. It is a wonderful time to catch up on friendships, a time of constructive thinking. BUT, it doesn't help if there is a snorer in the dorm.

I literally did not sleep last night. I had to listen to the monotonous tones of a person snoring in B-flat minor for about 5 hours without fail. Thank heavens I have some movies loaded on my Powerbook, so I watched Michael Moore's "Sicko" again. What a movie! You can see the similarities between the American and South African Health Care industries very clearly.

I am now sittng in a lecture by Prof. Klaus Nurnberger. What he has to say is very interesting, but if I don't carry on typing, I will fall asleep.

Here we.............mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

From the Mail & Guardian

Legal concerns over treatment of church refugees
Johannesburg, South Africa
03 February 2008 07:36

Click here for the original site.

There are serious legal concerns over the treatment of immigrants who were arrested this week at the Central Methodist church in the Johannesburg CBD, the Legal Resource Centre (LRC) said on Saturday.

Detainees were apparently delayed in receiving medical and legal assistance, appeared to have been physically mistreated and were allegedly asked for bribes by police, said LRC director Janet Love.

She also said the LRC was concerned at the vagueness of charges brought against the detainees and the apparent lack of preparation by the prosecution and police before their first court appearance.

The LRC was appointed as legal representation for the detainees after the church -- known as a haven for Zimbabwean refugees -- was "raided" by police on Wednesday night. More than 300 people were arrested and held at the Johannesburg Central police station.

Love said legal representatives were told the church offered shelter and basic sustenance on a nightly basis to homeless people, including many immigrants and asylum seekers.

The LRC was asked to consult those arrested and, if they so requested, seek their release on bail.

Love said a team of lawyers that went to the police station where the accused were held found a nurse from Médecins sans Frontières trying to get access to the cells to determine the health status of the detainees.

"Extensive delays were experienced in obtaining access to the police cells in order to consult with the detainees. Initially access was refused but, after three telephone calls and the threat of an urgent application to the high court being lodged, it was eventually agreed that we could consult with the detainees in groups of no more than six at a time."

Love said various junior police officers indicated that a number of the detainees might be transferred directly to Lindela repatriation centre without appearing in court.

Warrants
She said that at the court, LRC lawyers found a clerk preparing 19 warrants for detention -- known as J7 forms. LRC lawyers apparently found that 12 forms had already been completed, indicating that "no bail" had been granted, despite the fact there had been no bail application yet.

When queried about this, the clerk said it was "an error" and prepared new forms. "However, only 15 of the 19 prisoners appeared."

Love said that when the defence team requested permission to consult the accused, the magistrate first denied this because she said there was not enough time and then again denied it because she said there was no interpreter -- "this despite the fact the accused had said they did not need interpretation".

The magistrate finally allowed a "five minute" adjournment to allow the defence to consult with the accused.

During this consultation, all the accused waived their right of interpretation and indicated that they wanted to apply for bail.

Love said the prosecution allegedly did not know the specific wording of charges under the Immigration Act, saying only that the charge against the accused was for "being illegal" under section 49 of the Act.

According to Love, the prosecutor said she opposed bail but could not proceed with the bail hearing because the investigating officer was not there.

Love said the magistrate allegedly spoke to the accused in an "aggressive manner", sometimes repeatedly asking whether an accused spoke English or Shona with "increasing aggression and loudness".

"The defence counsel objected to this procedure on the basis that all the accused had indicated that they wished the proceedings to be conducted in English. These objections were not acknowledged."

Postponement
A postponement to the matter until Monday was eventually granted, despite fierce opposition by the defence. For example, one accused was due to have an operation on a scrotal hernia on Monday.

Love said the postponement put the liberty of the accused at stake, and that it had been indicated to the counsel in chambers that the matter should be postponed because "the officers of the court wished to go home to be with their families".

She also said LRC lawyers were allegedly variously by the magistrate to "sit down -- I don't want to hear you any further", before the magistrate apparently "simply started doing paperwork on the bench when defence arguments were being made".

LRC said other lawyers had been contacted to help with the court appearances on Monday.

On Friday, Central Methodist Church Bishop Paul Verryn said the detainees had been denied adequate food and water.

He said the people arrested were in exile in South Africa from African countries, particularly Zimbabwe, and they were allegedly assaulted and their property destroyed during the raid.

Verryn said that although the police were looking for criminals in the building, "they themselves became the perpetrators of criminal action". -- Sapa

Some clever protest signs

Creepy Album covers

How's this? Ministers sure have a bad reputation when it comes to this sort of thing! Choose another title, PLEASE!!!