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!!!

Ray of Hope

Many have levied criticisms against Bishop Paul Verryn and the Central Methodist Mission community's approach to the harboring of refugees. On the church's website Paul had the following to say. I am deeply moved by these words. (Cross-post from Steven's blog - thanks Steven)

There is abundant precedent in the history of two millennia of the Christian Church's existence of the Church being used as a shelter for the destitute and vulnerable in society. For instance, during the second world war, about 450 000 people stayed for a night or five years at Central Hall in downtown London . Throughout Africa the Church has stood as a symbol of hope to those devastated by war, disease, poverty and any number of natural disasters. Ultimately the Church expresses a preferential option for the poor and marginalized of society.



For the past twenty years, Central Methodist Mission has quite specifically been engaged in a ministry to the homeless on the streets. This ministry has included a feeding scheme, primary health attention, a support group, counseling, advocacy and searching for appropriate job opportunities. The prevailing value is that we show compassion, but do not create dependency; we engage the fundamental humanity in all people and refuse to stigmatise people because they are poor. These are not heroic principles, they are fundamental to an understanding of our faith. In fact, it would be ludicrous to imagine that you call yourself Christian and sustain an immovable prejudice against another human being for whatever reason, whether it be that they come from another country or are of a different age or gender. This was the foundation of the Church's critique of apartheid. This does not mean that as Christians we have succeeded in winning the struggle against these evils. They can domicile themselves subtly in all of us.



When the tragedy of displacement for people from all Africa became more evident in South Africa it was a natural and obvious imperative for the members of Central Methodist Mission to engage the challenge as part of its ongoing ministry to the inner city. To say ‘no' to those asking for shelter when there is no alternative available would be to deny our reason for being. It would present a Christian community with a contradiction which would belie the essence of the gospel. This does not mean that all who call themselves members of Central Methodist Mission applaud the approach and enjoy the “invasion” of their posh church premises. Despite the fact that they may never have lifted a finger to dust a pew, their unhappiness has been vitriolic and intolerant.



A recent anonymous letter to our Presiding Bishop captures well the fact that xenophobia and racism belong to the same stable.

The letter was a shameful exposure of violence, prejudice and deceit and all in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ. Let us not pretend that some of the instruments for massacre and unrelenting hatred are not evident in our rainbow South Africa .

What should the Christian response be to the marginalized?



I would be the first to recognize that the building is overcrowded. I am also concerned about the cleanliness and hygiene of the building. I am deeply worried about whether a building that was never designed for this present condition will survive. Health, nutrition, warmth and safety are constantly on the agenda of committees that have been meeting every week to ten days. The murder that took place earlier this year has deeply traumatized us all. We have always tried to ensure careful conflict resolution strategies, insisting that to talk will lead to better resolution of differences. Every person that stays in the building is registered on a database which captures next of kin, educational qualifications and skills. Each person is told the following is not permitted in the building:



* No drinking of alcohol
* No smoking of anything
* No fighting
* No stealing
* No illegitimate sex ( married persons are accommodated in a separate area).



All persons staying in the building, are required to keep the place clean and worship every day.



If a resident chooses not to observe these valued principles they are evicted. These rules have emerged from our experience of what creates problems in community. In some respects they are not unlike the commandments. We have more than 25 people who constantly monitor the sustaining of these disciplines. They themselves are subject to the rules even though they may not always succeed in keeping them. Furthermore, it would be an absurdity to imagine there is no conflict. It would be even more bizarre to think that more than 500 people can co-exist without stealing taking place. But considering the strain of the circumstances the results are remarkable.



Not to put too finer a point on the fact, it is important to note that as soon as one crosses the threshold of a church, nationality ceases to matter. Any reader of the New Testament will quickly discover that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile, male nor female, bond nor free. Therefore, what politically is called an asylum seeker, in the church is a member of the family. We are reminded that the first refugees in Central were in fact South Africans. They may not be running from an exploitative dictator, but they are refugees from poverty and hopelessness in the country of their birth.

Is there a building out there?





This is a unique moment in the Church's history in the inner city, this is a unique moment for South Africa in its relation to its mother, Africa . We cannot underestimate the honour of needing to care for those seeking refuge at our hands. Amongst the people that we host are school principals and teachers, accountants, mechanics, plumbers, carpenters, financiers, people with careers in marketing, journalists, politicians, people from the medical professions to name a few. This is a chance for us to provide hope for families who have been completely dispossessed in their homelands. If recent figures released are accurate then one in four of the Zimbabwean population is now in South Africa and the impact of our caring responsibly could produce no less than a small miracle for our context. It is not a matter of skilled labour stealing the jobs of South Africans. It is an opportunity for South Africans to be skilled by people who have an experience of building a nation free of colonialism and oppression. In fact, the skills that have been driven into this country miraculously match exactly what is needed in our present economy.



Some of the most amazing giftedness has emerged in the building. We have a ballroom and Latin American dancing class. We have supported a group of journalists in establishing a website and office in Braamfontein. We have a fly fishing project in the building. We would like to establish a firm of accountants; sewing and cooking projects are underway and several of the group are engaged in a farming project near Randfontein for the District Women's Manyano Organisation. We have established a registered clinic in the building and hope to launch a computer ABET centre.



Many dreams are in the pipeline. Obviously the intention is for individuals to gain independence and economic sustainability as soon as possible so that measurable contributions can be realized in an inner city that is exploding with potential and vitality.



Although people who enter our building think that they are simply seeking a shelter or needing a blanket or wanting a plate of food or requesting start up finance, in fact they are engaged in a profound confrontation of the status quo which says that the poor are irrelevant and the dispossessed have nothing of value to offer. In fact the Mission stands in sharp contrast to capitalist mindset and seeks to overthrow a precarious economic paradigm.



Ultimately a nation can be judged on what realistic hope it offers to its poorest people.

How can we be more effective?



What is the Christian response to the marginalized?
Is there a building out there?
How can we be more effective?

BBC Video/Audio: SA church raid Zimbabwe refugees

Bishop Paul Verryn from the Central Methodist Church in Johannesburg has given his account of the raid.
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Click here

Stop the madness!

On saving electricity, Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica suggests: "Go to sleep earlier so that you can grow and be cleverer."

On legalizing prostitution, MP George Lekgetho: “It is one of the things that would make it [the tournament] a success because we hear of many rapes, because people don’t have access to them [women],”

On Zimbabwe: Silent diplomacy for years, then raiding Central Methodist Mission without a warrant, arresting all destitute people seeking shelter.

On the electricity crisis: Government chooses to spend R60 billion on weapons at the same time that it is warned about the looming energy crisis.

And then there is the Zuma quote which I blogged on Sunday.

The news is so freaky, I wouldn't be surprised if I wake up tomorrow morning to hear that Bafana Bafana managed to win a game.

Here's my desk

Ok Gus and Dion, here's my desk.

It is not always this messy. This is what it looks like while I'm writing, hence all the books on the desk, otherwise it is tidy - promise!

On my desk is my iMac G4, Lexmark laser printer and PowerBook G4.

Have a good day.

SA Politics explained

Thanks Pete, this is helpful!

Bushisms - it's contagious!

Zuma said: "People like Bishop Tutu, a few others, might have their views. I respect him," he said in the interview. "My understanding is that clergy people are there to pray [and not] take political stances."

This coming from a recently "ordained" minister.

EEIIIISSSSHHHHH!

A wonderful prayer

Here is a litany for Sunday. I found this very helpful website: http://www.gbod.org/worship/lectionary/

We can't do everything, but we can love.
We can't speak the final word, but we can love.
We don't quite feel like we belong, but we can love.
When better days are a faint memory, still we can love.
When we don't have the answers, still we can love.
When we can't agree about gay and straight, still we can love.
When we feel awkward and restless, still we can love.
We're frustrated with the constraints of youth and aging, but we can love now.
We let petty irritations trip us up, but we can love.
We choke on our faith songs, but we can love.
We limp in our worship and service, but we can love.
We are embarrassed at how messy our lives are, but we can love.

God has a sense of humour

Ok, this week I'm a bit slow in preparing my sermon, but I almost fell off my chair reading the Old Testament LECTIONARY reading.

Isaiah 9:1-4

"The people living in darkness have seen a great light..."

I can't wait. This should be entertaining.