The Judas Syndrome

Charles Spurgeon said something to this effect, to his students: “When you are in the ministry, look at the person who is closest to you, the person you trust the most. This is the person who will betray you.” I once thought that Spurgeon was being unnecessarily cynical. I found out, however, that this may be quite unbelievably true. OBSERVATION: This is not as though I am now a paranoid minister! I think it would be true to say that I minister as though Spurgeon had never spoken -- except that I would now not be surprised. Thanks to http://creativecounterpart.wordpress.com/ for the photo.

Sneaky Design

I received the prize today (for electronic design) that I previously blogged about: a sophisticated device which measures inductance, capacitance, and resistance (an LCR meter). I thought I would throw the ultimate challenge at it -- a small halogen bulb (see photo). Such bulbs have both inductance AND resistance, and both are so low that either could represent an impossible challenge. My new meter thought for several seconds, then reported: “Low Resistance and Inductance: Resistance 0.4Ω, Inductance 0.2μH.” OBSERVATION: VERY clever! Well done to the designers, Peak Electronic Design Ltd.

Fifteen Years

Today I completed fifteen years of ministry at Sea Point Evangelical Congregational Church (though I’m not about to go anywhere). The Church has changed. The Church has grown. The suburb is a different place. God saved me from resignation two or three times. It’s a good Church to be at. See http://thomasscarborough.blogspot.com/2009/02/after-graveyard.html.

Alfred Basin Sunglow

Here's a photo of the Alfred Basin in the setting sun, yesterday evening. This is situated 2.5km (1.6 miles) north of our Church. The mountain in the background is Devil's Peak. The photo is unaltered. Click on it to enlarge to VGA. Thanks to our secretary G. for the suggestion of "Sunglow".

BB Metal Detector

One of my better-known electronics feats was the design of the world’s simplest self-contained metal detector (see diagram). This is based on the Beat Balance (BB) principle -- also one of my inventions. The design shown here, despite using just five components (not counting on-off switch), offers sensitivity way beyond that of Beat Frequency Operation (BFO). If well adjusted, it will pick up an old English penny at 150mm (6”). Briefly, BB uses two search oscillators, and each search coil modifies the frequency of the ad­ja­cent oscillator through inductive coup­ling. This sets BB apart from BFO, which uses a single search oscillator and a reference oscillator. It also sets it apart from Induction Balance (IB) which uses one "transmit" oscillator and a "receive" circuit. OBSERVATION: This design is bas­ed on two extremely sim­ple in­ver­­ter oscil­lators (also my original design). Their outputs are then mixed, creating an au­dible beat frequency in crystal earpiece X1 (note that this is not the same as a high impedance ear­piece). The circuit is tuned with VC1, an ordinary AM tuner. For details on the construction of search coils, see http://thomasscarborough.blogspot.com/2008/05/bfo-metal-detector-2.html. Attach the coils to the circuit via balanced (figure-8) mic­ro­phone cable, with the cable's screens going to the coils’ Fara­day shields and -12V (negative). The coils may be bound to a rigid plate with cable ties, and should overlap each other by up to one-third (experiment for best sensitivity -- this requires meticulous movement of the coils before binding). It makes some 20% dif­fer­ence to the metal detector’s sensi­tivity “which way up” coil L2 is. Flip L2 to find the side which offers best per­form­ance. An improvement could be made to the stability and sensitivity of the circuit by using a regulated power supply. You may enlarge the diagram by clicking on it. Once again ... happy hunt­ing!

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NOTE: You may re-publish this design, on condition that you acknowledge the designer (Thomas Scarborough) and this blog (http://thomasscarborough.blogspot.com).

Symbolic Change

Yesterday was a significant day for the Church -- and yet the event that made it significant seemed the most natural thing to do. Through a unanimous vote of the Church, our eldership (which includes me) became two-thirds Black. We elected these elders because of the high regard in which they are held throughout the Church. OBSERVATION: Our Church was previously situated in a White group area, although it did have a modest Black component, due mostly to migrant labour. However, I cannot see that this could have happened ten or fifteen years ago (and it didn’t). This points to a kind of integration that has taken time, which needed to be deep and wide, and which gives me joy. The election was symbolic, in the good sense of the word. The photo shows one of our new elders, C., on the right.

Emergent Launch: Cons

Following on from the "pros" of Cape Town’s InVia Emergent Church launch, here is what I experienced as two “cons”: 1. The Church claimed to be “inclusive”, “crossing borders”, “releasing the Church across culture ... across all domains”. It was not about “a privileged inner circle”, and so on. Yet attendance appeared to be 100% White Afrikaans-speaking, and, by far, made up of affluent young adults (see the photos -- and InVia’s website at http://www.invia.org.za/). For an impression of society as I know it, see this blog. And 2. InVia’s self-description was one of “inclusiveness". It rejected “exclusion” and “in/out” dualisms (including Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Jew). Yet at the same time, InVia rejected other Churches’ “obsessions”, people’s “laughable” outlooks on life, denominational conceit, and so on, with much of the censure being too vague to make out precisely who was intended, e.g. “religion”, "pseudo-truth", “exclusivity”. This was a strong accent of the launch. OBSERVATION: Personally, I felt confronted with too many contradictions here. This "real" Church seemed to be too "unreal" for me -- yet nobody seemed to notice.

Emergent Launch: Pros

Following on from yesterday’s post re Cape Town’s InVia Emergent Church launch: the venue was first class, the Church very well equipped, the music ministry superb, the presentation excellent throughout. I received a personal, and personable, welcome from the minister himself. Coffee was served in a pleasant courtyard. There was the sense of emotional transparency, a dismissive attitude to “accustomed” religion where “words run ahead [of praxis]”, and a strong emphasis on “the [a] heart of worship” (I am translating from Afrikaans). Everyone received the Church’s new Manifesto. The immediate impression was one of a dynamic style -- while not Pentecostal. And the emphasis was on an "invitational" gospel. OBSERVATION: At first I wondered what was “emergent” about this. More in the following post ...

Emergent Launch

Tonight I attended the launch of InVia, a new Emergent Church in Cape Town (see photo) -- or more accurately, a replanted Emergent Church. The service was held at the exclusive Reddam House, about 2km/1.3mi from our Church. For a launch, it was fantastic. There was a rapt audience of nearly 100, and the service and everything surrounding it was very well prepared. I’ll bring a more detailed report in two coming posts, in which I describe both pros and cons (according to me).

Bigamy

I thought twice about posting this -- however, the story is about public acts, and the Church’s actions are fairly straightforward. Recently, a married man in our Church, a faithful Church member, married another wife, at a large celebration -- without informing his current wife, who is also a faithful Church member. This was simply illegal -- not to speak of the destruction it caused. I negotiated a voluntary settlement/closure between the husband and wife no. 1, after he had abandoned her. Today, the Church decided to suspend his membership. OBSERVATION: However, his membership was not terminated, since there could be a chance of “bringing him back to repentance”. The Church elders will now ask to see him.

Earth Hour

I accused wife M. of smoking out the planet during Earth Hour, with candle smoke. However, the hour did present me with the opportunity, nay necessity, of opening a bottle of Peroni to serve as a candle holder. OBSERVATION: M., being Swiss, made Gries for supper (three Internet dictionaries find "Gries" untranslatable).

A Wife's HIV

A pretty young wife came to see me. She was dressed in a summer frock, with a miniature pullover over her shoulders. She said that, when she got married, many years ago, she had gone for an HIV test. She was negative. But several months ago, she discovered that her husband was unfaithful. This was beyond doubt (among other things, he confessed to me). At about the same time, she developed symptoms of AIDS. She went for another HIV test, and she tested positive. I said, “Are you sure it couldn’t be you?” She said, “I am sure. I love him. There has been no one else.” I asked to see the husband. He accused her of having had many boyfriends. But all he could come up with was suspicions of what might have happened that he didn’t know of. OBSERVATION: What a tragedy. I told her that God has a personal plan for her, and in His wisdom it is perfect. I think I know what is going on here, although I can’t see behind the curtains of people’s lives. All will be revealed at the end of time.

Handwriting

Handwriting, so they say, is a window on the soul. The photos show two identically sized/placed sections from our Church Visitors’ Book. The one on the left is about sixty years older than the one on the right. What does this say about the soul of visitors then and now?

Moral Failure

Why do ministers suffer moral failure? My postgraduate research, which has sought to find clues in leaders’ published works, suggests that it is linked to the feeling of being overwhelmed. But that feeling doesn’t come from nowhere. My research suggests that it comes from the sense of a loss of influence. OBSERVATION: Therefore character is more likely to crumble when influence fails. Take a look what happens in the chapter which immediately precedes the story of “David and Bathsheba” in the Bible, which would appear to confirm this. This is surely not good news for popular models of leadership which have “influence” at the core.

Two Church Launches

This coming Sunday, there are to be two public launches of new Churches in our “Atlantic Area” -- an area of about 9km²/4mi² just west of Cape Town’s city centre (see photo). These are InVia (see http://www.invia.org.za/), and Point Community Church (see http://pointcommunitychurch.wordpress.com/). A third Church, Joshua Generation (see http://www.joshgen.co.za/), was very recently launched in the area. The Churches' affiliations are (respectively) Emergent Church (which is amorphous), Church of England, and Cosmo City Church. The websites, all three (or so I think), give the impression of a holistic faith on the one hand, mono-culturalism on the other. OBSERVATION: There are 20-30 Churches in our area, which seems popular for new Churches. Over the years, a few have established themselves here, e.g. the Old and New Apostolic Churches, while a few established Churches have disappeared, e.g. the Baptist and Full Gospel Churches. Thanks to http://www.bergoiata.org/ for the photo. See also http://thomasscarborough.blogspot.com/2008/11/atlantic-area-churches.html.

NOTE: I wasn't aware of the launch of Cape Town International Baptist Church in the area, taking place on the same day! Note that Point Community Church (see the comments) describe what I call their "launch" as a test of venue.

"Insurance Policy"

You’ll probably have heard of employees, partners, flatmates taking out “insurance policies”. Due to the closeness of the relationship, they have access to personal and often damaging information, and may keep this to use it as a lever in time to come. The most recent case I had to do with was a Church member who received a significant housing subsidy. One of the conditions was that she should receive a minimal income. Her income, however, rose above the minimal. Her flatmate broke into her locked drawers, and obtained evidence to prove this. OBSERVATION: This was the flatmate’s “insurance” against being evicted -- and she should have been evicted, but she had that “power”. I advised our member to bravely break that bondage, and I would give her all the support I could (but she didn't). See also “Protection Money”: http://thomasscarborough.blogspot.com/2009/03/protection-money.html.

Arranging An Agenda

Here’s how an agenda looks at one of our leadership meetings, in broad outline. The estimated emphasis we place on each section is in brackets, as a percentage (see image). This differs markedly from my previous Church, where I spent ten years. There, the agenda tended to be crowded with “business”. It was a case of “never again”. OBSERVATION: The percentages may vary, depending on circumstance and time of year. “Spiritual matters”, at our last meeting, included our intern’s progress, our Youth ministry, spiritual portfolios, items in Church, missions and evangelism, our teaching ministry, and the nomination of elders.

"Oh Man!"

The story is told of a ministerial intern/trainee who responded to people’s confessions with “Wow!” I wouldn’t guarantee the truth of the story, though. Our own intern, after a session is through, may respond: “Oh man!” OBSERVATION: This would seem an appropriate response, given some of the things we hear: violence, betrayal, AIDS, bribery, and so on. In the photo, he’s showing children images on his camera.

Sung Amen

There’s a nice tradition that started in our Church almost by chance. I was flipping through our hymn book when I came across a variety of sung Amen’s at the back -- a section we never use. I suggested that our Church choir (see photo) could sing one or two at the end of the service. But rather than using the book, they picked their own. One of them runs like this: “Thank you Jesus, Amen [English]. Dankie Here, Amen [Afrikaans]. Siyabonga Amen [Xhosa]. Hallelujah Amen.” OBSERVATION: They sing an Amen whenever they are called upon to sing a hymn during the same service.

Benefits Of Three Wheels

Here's what my three-wheel pickup has that a car does not. Driving my pickup, you feel the wind and get spattered with the rain -- and you smell the restaurants as you drive by. You can hear the gears churning, and the piston pounding, and feel the bumps on the road. In short, you feel alive! You can talk to passers-by without winding down the window. Young women in Porsches and Ferraris turn their heads to look. You don’t need to slump down low into the seat -- you just slip in and slip out. It’s easy to lift it out of the mud, and you can crank-start it if the battery goes flat. You pay a third for petrol. It will carry half a ton. It has a tiny turning radius. You can slip through narrow gaps on roads and pavements, and park it almost anywhere (see photo). And with four reverse gears, it will beat a car hands down in reverse! OBSERVATION: This post was inspired by cyber-friend Jenny (Carpenter’s Shoes), who fails to recognise the incomparable merits of my pickup.

Resurrection Now

I met this morning with Q. In better times a competent entrepreneur, he had been evicted, his partner had left him, his agency hadn’t paid him ... and that was only part of it. Trembling, he said he was truly at the end of the road. I said, “Jesus Christ was crucified, dead, and buried. But God raised Him from the dead.” I said, “That’s the way God routinely works with us, too. He takes us to the place where every human option is exhausted. Paul, too, trusted in ‘God who raises the dead’ [2 Cor 1:9].” I gave him a few recent examples of this in my own ministry experience.

"Protection Money"

You'll probably have heard of "protection money". This is money that one pays on a regular basis to racketeers who promise to "protect" your business. If you don't pay the money, you can guess what happens to the "protection". A local restauranteur, a Swiss citizen, was approached by such racketeers. He was outraged. He was hopping mad. He refused to pay the money. They shot him dead. OBSERVATION: Has our Church experienced anything like this? Not a protection racket, but here's one thing we've encountered: http://thomasscarborough.blogspot.com/2007/08/businessmans-threat.html.

Seasons Refreshing

One of our Church’s small groups called on me for input tonight. Three of the group were involved with our Church Youth. Could they, they asked tentatively, shut down the Youth Group for one night? They were growing weary. I said, “Shut down the Youth for a whole month if you need it. The criterion is that you should be spiritually refreshed. You daren’t get worn down. This is the criterion throughout the Church.” OBSERVATION: Leading our Youth might be described as low-level warfare. The photo shows weekly Youth devotions in the Sanctuary.

Sea Point Sunset

I took this photo of the setting sun on my way home tonight, standing on our Sea Point (our suburb) promenade. Behind me is a towering wall of high-rise buildings. You may click on the photo to enlarge to VGA. The photo is unaltered.

The Call

What is the call? It occurred to me today that I haven’t considered what my own definition of the call is -- although I have studied “the call” as part of my postgraduate studies. I would consider my call to be the eye of faith which sees God at work. That, combined with the fact that I AM where I am. OBSERVATION: It’s not about time -- time past (“I received a call”), or time future (“I have a vision”). A past call may be questioned, and a vision may destroy one. The “eye of faith” may be tested, but the call will only fail where the “eye of faith” has already failed. Something like that.

Friendly Taxi Drivers

There would seem to be an adversarial relationship here between taxi drivers and the general driving public (an understatement, surely). However, this does not apply when I’m driving my three-wheel pickup. This morning I stopped next to an “African taxi” at the traffic lights/robots. The driver wound down his window, turned off his thumping music, and said, “Good morning! That’s a nice THING!” (referring to my vehicle). I said, “It’s useful, too.” OBSERVATION: But when I drive a car, it’s an altogether different relationship. It’s back to playing “chicken” -- for which, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_(game).

Error Of Judgement?

Was it an error of judgement? You be the judge. One of our members was involved in immoral behaviour -- publicly so -- in fact unlawful behaviour which did tragic harm. I easily reached consensus with our (nominated) elders as to how to proceed on this: to take certain recommendations to a members’ meeting. At my Minister’s Bible Study tonight, I informed those who were there that we would be putting this to the members next week. My purpose was to give people the opportunity to think it through first. OBSERVATION: One of the group came to me afterwards and said that I should not have raised this issue outside of the members’ meeting. I believe his reasoning was that the issue might (by divine intervention) be resolved before then. Was he right?

Missionary Guardian

Visitors to our Church commented yesterday that we do not have a mere "token" multiculturalism in the Church. OBSERVATION: Apart from being informed by faith, I think it has much to do with my upbringing on remote islands, in the mission. I came to believe that that “primitive” culture was superior to my own. This may in large part be attributable to a native, Temeeti, whom the missionary society appointed effectively to be my guardian as my father (an itinerant missionary) travelled from island to island, village to village. (The photo shows me on Beru atoll, sometime in the 1960’s. The spots on the photo are typical heat/humidity damage).

Average Post Reader

It’s interesting that the average person who looks in to my blog reads (or scans) three or four pages at a time (about 50 posts), at about 2 minutes per page (10 or 15 seconds per post). OBSERVATION: This would seem to suggest that the average reader is not looking in too often, and takes a fairly good look when they do.

Sponsoring Tickets

Our intern P., on his arrival in Cape Town, immediately auditioned for the Philharmonic Choir. He has quickly made friends in the Church, and these friends have been keen to attend the Philharmonic performance. But mostly they are poor (as many of our congregants are), i.e. they cannot afford the cheapest tickets. One of them wanted to drive past the Town Hall, and wanted to see the entrance to the Town Hall -- she was so excited at the prospect of attending the performance. A wealthy member kindly sponsored several tickets, and I hear that several more may be sponsored. OBSERVATION: The cost is R70 a ticket ($7 / €5). Thanks to http://www.worldofstereoviews.com/ for the 3-D photo(s) of the Cape Town City Hall, taken around 1900. Click on it to enlarge. It’s easy to view this in 3-D. See http://thomasscarborough.blogspot.com/2008/11/cape-town-harbour-3-d.html to find out how.

Starry-Eyed Others

Dion Forster writes on his blog about the apathy, inertia, and cynicism in people’s attitudes to the general corruption of our society (Thursday, March 19). While I can’t judge how Dion means this, I often sense an attitude of superiority on the part of people who assume that the masses are oppressed because they will not ... [take your pick as to how they should respond if it were not for them]. In my experience, I would consider that it is the masses who have developed the shrewdest responses to the ills of society, and it is starry-eyed others who think they should respond otherwise. OBSERVATION: Wisdom to the people. Having said this, however, the activists may have the shrewdest responses within their own contexts or “placements” in society. (The picture shows one of history's most famous activists. Do you know who he is?)

Counselling Confusion

Life as an urban minister can be so chaotic. Here’s an example from last week. I needed to get four people together (this included me) to negotiate a solution to a serious problem. But person no. 4 was missing. I started with three of us -- but in the meantime I realised that I needed input from an attorney. I walked out of the counselling session, to ask our secretary to get an attorney's advice -- only to walk into another counselee -- and his parents. I said to him, “Stick with the [written] guidelines I gave you. I've been praying for you.” I went back into counselling. After a while, I decided to see whether person no. 4 might be waiting on the street. I walked onto the street, only to be confronted with someone at the gate who was troubled by a theological problem. I gave him a “telegram” answer. Back in counselling again, person no. 4 turned up. We needed to recap. The phone rang -- our secretary put me through to an attorney. The attorney would need to get back to me. We got on with counselling. After a while, I heard our secretary outside the door. She had a message from the attorney. But the moment I walked out of the door, I walked straight into another counselee. I said, “I’m sorry, this will take a long time.” I made an appointment for another day. Even after I was through (two hours, and a successful resolution), someone was waiting to consult me on a Church matter. OBSERVATION: Many days are like this.

Parking A Cruise Liner

This cruise liner (the “Black Watch”) came very close to a local hotel. I took this photo at the Waterfront tonight, 2.5km (1.6 miles) north of the Church. I would estimate that the bow came within two metres/yards of a lamp outside the hotel. The captain must have enjoyed parking this one!

Angels And Demons

In theology, the “excluded middle” refers to the tendency of Western Christians to believe in a “cosmic” God on the one hand, and a personal God on the other -- yet not in the “middle” between the two, which is God’s personal interventions, and the reality of angels and demons. I tasked our intern with finding out what was the case in our own congregation. He discovered considerable diversity. Some considered e.g. that God moves even the rain and the wind, or that evil is caused by evil spirits, while others considered e.g. that evil is in the mind, or that God accomplishes all that He needs to through Christians. OBSERVATION: I notice this tension even on our Church leadership. I would think my own affinity lies closer to the included middle (it wasn't always so). The excluded middle, in my view, leads to unnecessary problems and anxieties in a Church, through a loss of faith perspective. Of course, in all things, balance.

Unashamedly Ethical?

Here’s something that has me puzzled. There is a new movement in South Africa called Unashamedly Ethical. This seeks to sign up “unashamedly ethical” people. The first commitment I need to make when I sign up is that I will be “entirely truthful in everything I say”. They say (entirely truthfully, we take it) that an "Electronic Directory will go live 31st of January 2009”, containing such commitments. OBSERVATION: But where is the Directory? (See http://www.unashamedlyethical.com/directory.html).

NOTE: Click on "comments" below to read significant input.

Sunday School Thank You

Several months ago, our Church provided a small, poverty-stricken Sunday School on the Cape Flats with Bibles for every child. It was a nice surprise when we heard that the whole Sunday School wanted to come across to us and say thank you. So they were with us this morning -- and their wriggly liveliness (seen in the photo) spilled over into the spirit of our morning service. They sang four short choruses, and a solo.

Dead On Arrival

A Church member called me to tell me that her husband, F., had collapsed, apparently with a heart attack, and the ambulance had taken him to hospital. F. had turned in to a petrol/gas station, since he said he didn’t feel well. He said he needed to lie down on the back seat -- but he collapsed next to the car/automobile. I went to the hospital. I found him laid out in an ambulance, dead. A paramedic said, “You know him?” I said, “Yes, I’m his minister.” I was distressed to see him dead. The paramedic said, “Take off his wedding ring and watch.” I said, “Please, you do it. You have the experience.”

Peddling God

I drove around the corner near my home, and saw a neighbour on the corner. I stopped and said, “Good morning!” He said, “Still peddling God, are we?” OBSERVATION: He peddles motor cars/automobiles -- not that I pointed this out to him!

Small Wedding

The smallest possible wedding is five people: the minister (marriage officer), the bride and groom, and two witnesses. This evening I conducted a wedding with nine. It was an older couple -- a happy wedding. Our intern P. played bard (see photo) and court photographer, and made a presentation of a Bible to the groom, which he all did with aplomb. OBSERVATION: The photo is for all P.'s women admirers out there. In South Africa, a minister may be a state marriage officer, which I am.

What Is Emergent Church?

I have studied under leading representatives of “emergent Church” -- though I myself am not emergent. What is emergent Church? I think one will be in a position to understand everything if one understands just this: emergent Church is a theological development of emergent evolution (not the same as Darwinian evolution). This is why both carry the term “emergent”. That which is emerging is essentially “heaven on earth”, often referred to as “shalom”. Teilhard de Chardin once described the "persistent march of the Kingdom of God" towards "point Omega". Compare this then with Chuck van Engen (one of my professors at Fuller Theological Seminary), who writes of the “impelling force of the Kingdom of God” towards "the anticipatory focal point”. Both of these statements speak of an emergent shalom. Teilhard de Chardin, incidentally, serves as an interesting link between emergent evolution and emergent Church, as he still wrote a great deal in terms of emergent evolution. OBSERVATION: Once this is understood, many things fall into place: emergent doctrine of the last things (eschatology), emergent teaching on salvation (soteriology), emergent study of the Church’s mission (missiology) and so on. Note that “emergent” is not to be confused with “emerging”, although Brian McLaren considers that “there’s nothing that bores me more” than the difference between the two.

"Smoke This"

It seems a good way to end a turbulent and tragic day with the words of ex-pastor Steve Brown (pictured) in response to accusations that, as a pastor, he was not living in the real world: “You don’t know anything about the real world, you twit! I see more of the real world in a day than you’ll see in a lifetime ... Put that in your pipe and smoke it!’” OBSERVATION: See http://test.poopedpastors.org/ for the full text. And he's only talking about the pastoral side.

Rogue Rottweiler

A Rottweiler had been tormented by a young boy, who had regularly thrown stones at it from a wall. A young boy in our Church, who looked much like the boy who had tormented the dog, was at a braai/barbecue with his parents and their friends. The Rottweiler pounced, and ripped the boy’s face open. He needed about sixty stitches. His father needed stitches, too, after he dived onto his son to protect him. His mother, when I saw her, was white in the face. She stood like a statue at the door to the operating theatre, her full body in a T-shirt soaked with blood from top to bottom. OBSERVATION: The boy was stitched up nicely, but could have traces of his injury all his life. The Rottweiler (controversially) “lived to see another day”. (Thanks to http://www.rottweilertraining.homestead.com/ for the photo).

Peaceable "As A Rule"

I had a meeting today with a young husband and wife. She said that her husband had rejected her -- even though they never fought. This she said she didn’t understand. However, the story turned a corner when her husband told his side. He had the scars to prove it -- here, there, there, there. And stitches, too. I said to her, “I thought you never fought!” The way she explained this was that, as a RULE they never fought, and besides, the injuries weren’t that fresh. I said, “I never knew you had such a temper!” She peeped at me from behind her fingers, and smiled. OBSERVATION: So next time you see your pretty girlfriend or fiancée, see if you discern an evil glint in her eye!

Freak Accident

A young boy regularly threw stones at a Rottweiler from a wall. A young boy in our Church, about the same size as the other boy, was at a braai / barbecue with his parents and friends -- exposed to the Rottweiler. The Rottweiler pounced, and ripped the boy’s face open. He needed about sixty stitches. I met his mother at the operating theatre. She was white in the face. She stood there like a statue, her full body in a T-shirt soaked with blood from top to bottom. OBSERVATION: The boy was stitched up very nicely, but could have traces of his injury all his life.

Groupie Wife

Wife M. says: “Have you got a new blog entry? I’m going to look at it RIGHT now! I’m going to become a groupie.” OBSERVATION: The trouble with groupies is that they may also say things like: “You must reformulate it!” and, “We can always introduce an Erratum to your blog.” (I can see a reformulation of THIS post coming up -- and it’s surely headed for the Erratum FAST)!

There's No Discouragement

I stumbled across a website tonight that introduces itself with these words: “I’m no longer a pastor but I haven’t been away from it for so long that I’ve forgotten: The discouragement ...” (http://test.poopedpastors.org/). OBSERVATION: I was talking about another minister with wife M. this week. I said, “He’s cynical about ministry.” She said, “Which you only are if you don’t see God everywhere.” I agree with M. Ministry is about what God is doing, and there can never be cause for disenchantment in that.

Leading Services

Every month-and-a-half or so, a Church member leads our whole service (excluding the sermon). This morning our secretary and I were running through the people who would do this over the rest of this year. She read out our current list. I said, “Let’s draw in some new people.” (I aim to do this all the time, in every area of the Church). I went through our whole Church list. There were two people I considered to be suitable -- given a training run. I., on the left of the photo (a pastor’s son), immediately indicated his willingness. We also asked T., in the centre, from whom I have not yet heard. I know that this would require courage of T., but I believe her to be capable. (That’s me on the right). OBSERVATION: There once was a proposal that we should do this once a month, but this was not accepted.

Good Friday Service

Here's a complete Good Friday service. Click on the image on the right to view the text (it’s about 130k). OBSERVATION: On Good Friday morning, we follow this set service which is generally quite well attended. Wife M., who is also an ordained minister, has led this several times -- it is her favourite service. Although it is merely a service of readings, hymns, and prayers, this is not the way that it comes across. It usually is a moving service, and has some people in tears.

Office Jokes

We like joking at the Church office. Our secretary G. previously worked for a well known dramatist (Percy Sieff), so she has the knack. An older member of the congregation walked in this morning, having lost her Bible -- but she couldn’t remember where. G. suggested, “Maybe you threw it out the window in a rage.” I said, “One does become forgetful. It's a good sign that you noticed that you lost it -- in more ways than one.” OBSERVATION: Fortunately it’s a good-humoured congregant. Unfortunately she didn’t find her Bible.

Christian Unity

It’s been a while since I’ve shared what I’m preaching on. At the moment, it is a series on Philippians -- the “Letter of Joy”. I have now reached the beginning of Chapter 2, on Christian unity. It is interesting to note (as I will in my sermon) that, of four reasons that Paul gives for Christian unity, three are about God’s relationship to us, and only one about our relationship to each other. This puts issues such as my doctrine or my practice in second place. OBSERVATION: A flock has sheep of different kinds -- all the more so in a melting pot like ours. Some bleat in different ways. Some wear different coats. Some are “awkward sheep”. Yet they all belong to the flock, given that certain things are true about God’s relationship to them. (In theological terms, this may be called “positional unity”).

Tenebrae Service

As we approach Easter, interest in a post titled “Tenebrae” has been rising. Here, therefore, is a complete Tenebrae service. Click on the image on the right to view the text (the file is small, about 25k). OBSERVATION: This service is held on the eve of Good Friday, as darkness falls. We begin with a simple meal, e.g. soup and rolls, then we move to the sanctuary for the service. It is a service of readings, and begins with readers seated at the altar, each with his/her own candle. In our Church, it is a small occasion, with about a third of our usual congregation participating. However, it is always warmly appreciated. For a visual impression, see also http://thomasscarborough.blogspot.com/2008/03/tenebrae-service.html.

A Punctual Man

Our Canadian intern P. is a punctual man. He is punctual in more ways than one: not a second late, not a second early. The photograph is taken from my vestry desk, looking out through the Church foyer, and onto the street. In this photo, one sees P. about ten seconds before his weekly appointment with me, to discuss his programme, and his progress. OBSERVATION: One can tell that it’s about ten seconds, as this is the time remaining for him to climb the stairs to my vestry to arrive -- to the second -- on time. I have long wondered about a convenient method of setting my vestry clock. This might be it.

Gambling Reverend?

A man saw me in a local Internet Café (I needed a faster connection). He said, “Reverend, I didn’t know you play the machines!” I said, “It’s not a gambling den, it’s called an Internet Café.” This seemed to have him mystified, so I explained: “You can send letters on those machines, and search for information.”

Another Prize

So much for asking an Australian editor to withdraw one of my designs (see yesterday’s post). Not only has the design been published, it has won a prize. I despair. OBSERVATION: Thanks to Silicon Chip Publications Pty. Ltd. and Peak Electronic Design Ltd. for the prize -- a very nice piece of test equipment. (See also http://thomasscarborough.blogspot.com/2008/11/prize-for-ingenuity.html).

Berg River Mouth [2]

And for REALLY good measure, here'a another photo of the Great Berg River mouth. This photo, too, is completely unadjusted -- although it looks great if one uses Microsoft Office Picture Manager's Auto Correct. It was taken well past sunset, so a passing fishing boat is a blur. Click on the photo to enlarge to VGA.

First Sermon

Our Canadian intern P. preached his first sermon (as intern) recently. On his fortnightly blog, we have it from the intern himself: “Yes, I did have the opportunity to preach for the first time at our church. I would have said it went well, my supervisor [that's me] would have said otherwise, and beings as he's the one calling the shots ... we'll go with his opinion.” OBSERVATION: P. is here for training, and that’s what we’re going to do. Where there is any lack, we’ll make it good. He’s due to preach again in July. In May, he’ll be leading a service for the first time. For his full report on the sermon -- and more -- see http://petergoestoafrica.blogspot.com/.

Ministry? No Thanks

A deaconess sent me an e-mail yesterday: “I would not be a Minister for anything in the world!” This comment has me somewhat mystified -- I can only guess what she means. OBSERVATION: There is no doubt that ministry is one of the most “hazardous” professions in the world (see http://thomasscarborough.blogspot.com/2009/03/chances-of-survival.html). Personally, I think that “the eye of faith” is required for ministry, more than anything else. Lose that for half a day, and you could be endangered. Like Peter on the waves.

The Boys Are Hungry

Someone once said to me, “Be careful, the boys are hungry out there.” This refers to the theft of ideas on the Internet. If I have what I believe to be a winning electronic concept, I may develop several embodiments of the same. So last year I designed a “Super Simple Counter”. Embodiment A was published in a British magazine, Embodiment B was published on this blog (see http://thomasscarborough.blogspot.com/2009/01/simple-counter.html), and Embodiment C was due to be published in Australia. Yet before Embodiment C could be published, someone "borrowed" Embodiment B, and had this published in Australia (the "borrower" has duly been paid for his efforts). I wrote immediately to my Australian editor: “May I withdraw [Embodiment C]?” The reason is that I wouldn’t want Embodiment C to be seen as a copied concept (a copy of the copy)! OBSERVATION: Sometimes there are “straight copies”, and sometimes there are minor modifications -- as simple, sometimes, as substituting equivalent parts. In this case, my design was creatively modified, although it was plain to see that it was a copy. See http://thomasscarborough.blogspot.com/2007/09/disco-craze.html for a visual example of a copy of one of my designs. It’s not the same, but you'll see that it’s a copy.

Tough With Members

Though it’s my day off today, I consulted first thing with an attorney, then called a member who is engaged in actionable behaviour (not against me, thank goodness). He failed to turn up for an appointment with me yesterday (which is not the actionable part -- perhaps it should be)! I said this morning, “I want another appointment with you. If you don’t turn up, you could have an immediate interdict against you [which he could -- though not if my mediations work].” Wife M. overheard the conversation, and said, “You’re getting tough with your members!” OBSERVATION: This is a case which richly deserves toughness. However, the detail can’t be revealed here.

The "Cape Town Way"

Here’s another entertaining story about service the “Cape Town way”. My garage had taken a whole ten days to replace the starter button on my vehicle. They returned the old starter button. I tested it. There was nothing wrong with it. So what did they fix? Then I only had the vehicle back for three days, when the throttle cable snapped. I wheeled it down a hill to a workshop (lucky it was close to a worskshop). The workshop did a temporary fix, and said that it “might” get me home. But this didn’t add up. I had just recently asked my garage to replace the throttle cable. When I quizzed them about it, they revealed that they refused to deal with the supplier, because the relationship had broken down. So I contacted the supplier myself. I transferred the money, and the supplier sent me the cable by Speed Services courier (overnight delivery, so-called). Fifteen days later, I tracked down the cable (my vehicle, all the while, still going on the fix that “might” get me home). The Post Office showed me proof that they had sent me two notices to collect the cable -- yet I hadn’t received either of them. Not much longer, and my cable would have gone down the black hole called "Unclaimed". OBSERVATION: Now I dread to have the cable replaced, and I dread not to. It could be another ten days, or I could be left standing on the road! The photo shows my Beauty Past Compare parked above the Granger Bay slipway last week.

Berg River Mouth

For good measure, here's another photo of the Great Berg River, north of Cape Town (see Laaiplek Harbour, yesterday). This photo is also unadjusted, just as I took it. It was taken at sunset, from the north bank. You may click on it to enlarge to VGA.

Millennialism

A friend of mine, a college president in the Global North, was interviewed for the post of seminary professor in the Global South. But he was rejected on the basis of his millennial views. Is millennialism that important? It is. In fact, the whole “divide” between Global North and Global South might be said to be about millennialism. OBSERVATION: Premillennialists believe that humanity is doomed. Postmillennialists believe that the world is getting better. That’s to put it very simply indeed.

Nominated Elders

Nominations for Church elders closed today (see yesterday’s post). There were three nominations, yet only two were valid (consent had not been obtained from one of the nominees). In the photo, J., on the left, is our present Honorary Church Secretary, while C., on the right, has until now been a deacon. Our Church Constitution states that elders “devote their full attention to the spiritual well-being and future spiritual planning of the Church”. If they are elected, J. and C., together with me, will represent our full Church Eldership. OBSERVATION: Both J. and C. have a deep Biblical spirituality. Both have shown themselves to be encouraging and upbuilding. Both have held steady in times of crisis. Both are held in high regard throughout the Church. Yes, that’s a woman elder you see (the reasons are theological).

Harvest Festival

We held our annual Harvest Festival service today. After the service, we distributed the produce among the poor -- firstly among poor families in our own congregation (we'd made up a list of fifteen). Here, our Canadian intern P. is looking on as goods are parcelled up for distribution. (I told him to observe what we do). OBSERVATION: We triple-booked him after the service today. Shortly after this photo was taken, he joined me (late) for counselling, then he joined a music team (late) for a practice. I am training P. in the art of chaos and confusion. Soon we hope to have him juggling seven appointments at once.

Laaiplek Harbour

This photo shows Laaiplek Harbour (north of Cape Town) just after sunset. I have left it altogether unadjusted, just as I took it. In fact, this photo earned joint second place in a local photo competition. OBSERVATION: The photo is taken from the grounds of the Laaiplek Hotel. You may click on it to enlarge to VGA.

Nomination Anxiety

At our last leadership meeting, we discussed the nomination of elders. The goal was consensus. There was immediate consensus over my No. 1 candidate, but my No. 2 candidate was not accepted. My No. 3 candidate passionately (comically) refused nomination, but my No. 4 candidate was accepted. One deaconess sent me a "secret message" across the room -- how about X.? I gestured her back: no, hold back. Anyway, there clearly was anxiety that someone in the congregation might nominate someone unsuitable (which is quite possible). What would we do then? I spelled it out: “We are talking about the interests of a whole Church here. If one person is likely to compromise that, we won't spare one person's feelings at the expense of the whole Church. Then we need to tackle it, in private, or even before the whole Church.” OBSERVATION: However, I perceived that a spiritual issue needed to be addressed as well. I said: “God’s hand will be upon the election of new elders. We should rest assured.”

Indecipherable Minister

At least five mother tongues are represented on our Church leadership. This week I used a string of words in our monthly leadership meeting that had people stopping me for explanations. One deaconess just put her woolly head down and shook it. Some of my indecipherable words were “slick”, “smother”, "content [noun]", and “professional [adjective]”. OBSERVATION: Try explaining these on the spur of the moment! Thanks to one of my favourite dictionaries, http://www.ldoceonline.com/, for the definition top right. (I do try to speak perspicuous, or should I say pellucid, English).

Crime Collage [2]

Here’s a collage of material damage in and around the Church. From top left, clockwise: a battered down door, a stolen wheel, a hacked out copper pipe, and a missing garden plant. OBSERVATION: This is a small, random sample. This collage would be much bigger if one would include all that could be included. Someone asked me whether it doesn't get me down. I said no, it doesn't.

Crime Collage

Here’s a collage of crime photos that I’ve taken in the recent past. From top left, clockwise: an arrest in progress, an attempted murder, a street fight, and a thug under arrest. OBSERVATION: If I’d been quick enough with my camera, there would have been plenty more!

"Drugs Hook"

I met with O. this morning, a young man who holds a key position in a casino. Some gangsters had got the "drugs hook" into him, and were terrorising him daily. He didn't want to "trade on" his position at the casino, he wasn't in a position to go to the police, and he suspected that the casino had him under surveillance. He was panicked and tearful, and said he couldn't take any more. OBSERVATION: This was a complicated situation. I wrote down various spiritual and practical priorities for O., and said I want to see him next week. One of the more obvious needs was a fixed point for his heart.

Not "Nine To Five"

A recent post on a local Wiccan blog describes how a Wiccan named Satyr did about fifteen readings in four days, and “ended up feeling totally drained and had to ask friends to send some energy my way”. That’s three to four readings a day, and just over half a week’s worth. OBSERVATION: Strangely, many ministers don’t seem to recognise this dynamic. Pastoral involvements can be draining -- and it needn’t even be three or four a day. Even those ministers who are keenly aware of the dynamic may not recognise it in time to forestall exhaustion. Ministry doesn’t work like “nine to five”.

Financial Uncertainty

Tonight our Church leadership focused strongly on finances. Our treasurer noted that, if there had been no unbudgeted expenditures, we would have ended the past financial year with a balanced budget. He said, “Whoever calculated our last budget is a genius!” This is amazing, I think, considering the financial crisis which hit the Third World as early as the beginning of 2008. However, the Church made one unbudgeted expenditure: a settlement with the minister (see http://thomasscarborough.blogspot.com/2009/03/sabbatical-negotiation.html). This resulted in a 5.5% deficit. Also, projected income for the coming year is not looking good. Such losses could not be sustained, said our treasurer. Our bank account could be empty sooner that we thought. I said, “We need to take this seriously. However, for the past ten years, every year, we have come through fine. Some of those years, we predicted major deficits, and they didn’t happen. Ten years ago, we owed R50,000 to the bank. Now we have R100,000 in the bank. One bad year, given the circumstances of our world, is not cause for alarm. We might have another bad year, too. But we’ll come through fine.” OBSERVATION: The Church always comes through fine in the end. And I’m thankful for a treasurer who is thinking ahead, and has his heart in his work.

Peeping Moon

Our secretary and I are both snap-happy (we take a lot of photos). Out of hours, we occasionally send each other examples of our art. She took this one recently of the moon above our suburb. She titled it “Peeping Moon”.

Relating Faith To Values

In evaluating an academic paper recently, I put forward two possible approaches to the relationship between faith and values. I used these simple examples: Approach No. 1: I believe in God’s perfect will for humanity. Therefore I believe in observing His commandments. Therefore I don’t steal; or, Approach No. 2: I believe in the power and the love of God. Therefore I know that God will provide perfectly for my needs at the perfect time. Therefore I don’t steal. OBSERVATION: Notice that Approach No. 1 does not require an interventionist God. Perhaps for this reason it is a view that is more typical of the Global North. This is a very important subject, yet Christians are often all at sea when asked to relate faith to values.

Un-Neighbourly

A woman in our congregation fled her home when she couldn’t take any more of the neighbours. I received a request to mediate. Discussing the situation yesterday with someone who is involved, he said to me: “I’ve appealed to their [the neighbours’] good nature. They don’t HAVE any. He’s on tik [crystal meth]. They’ve threatened to throw her over the balcony. When they’re on drugs, reasoning is out the window. What I’m scared of is they’ll really do it.” OBSERVATION: This is a situation that the authorities have failed to address with any effect. Unfortunately, such ineffectiveness means that the quality of good people’s lives is degraded.

Finances That Work

I gave our intern the assignment this week: find out why our Church’s finances “work”. There are several Churches in the neighbourhood of which this is not the case. For example, our neighbouring Church was recently seeking to stop the electricity being turned off. OBSERVATION: While we have been under pressure in the present economic climate (and we have many poor members), our finances are still “working”. In general, I’d put sound finances down to this: 1. solid spiritual foundations (finances are firstly an indicator of spiritual health), 2. a constituted Church (which equals member confidence), 3. well ordered finances (e.g. monthly statements, a Church budget), 4. transparency and accountability (e.g. regular audits, reporting to members), 5. a Planned Giving Scheme, efficiently run, and 6. congregational control. And perhaps I should add: we receive rentals from our properties which account for about a third of our income. I have no doubt that such measures work. We saw the finances go up significantly as we applied such principles one by one. (See also http://thomasscarborough.blogspot.com/2008/04/my-beginnings.html).

Snacks

Here’s a small section of our Youth last week (see photo). This is at the close of Youth, when we feed them snacks. We are looking for a bulk supplier of snacks at the moment -- the size of our Youth has exceeded the bounds of the small scale. OBSERVATION: Snacks, I think, are not unimportant in the scheme of things.

Smacking Small-Fry

I met with a bank consultant recently. I said, “It must have been tough, starting out in Sea Point [our suburb].” She said, “Terrible! If you’ve worked here, you can work anywhere!” She said, “After Sea Point, all my customers will be SMALL-fry! I’ll just do THIS!” (with this, she motioned with her hand as though she were smacking people). OBSERVATION: This was a surprising (and entertaining) little exchange. It seemed quite out of character for a demure bank consultant. Watch out for her at your local branch -- she might get stationed there!

Granger Bay Slipway

I called in at the Granger Bay slipway this morning (see photo), situated 2.4km (1½ miles) north of our Church. It is the only such slipway in the greater Cape Metropolitan area. Snoek (a tasty perch-like fish of the Southern Hemisphere) were selling for R12 to R20 (about $1 to $2).

Imprecatory Prayer

My Minister’s Bible Study group told me that it had been too long since I had set them an assignment. They enjoyed assignments, they said. Therefore, last week, I gave various members of the group different kinds of prayer to pray today: adoration, confession, imprecation, thanksgiving, intercession, petition, and dedication. OBSERVATION: There was some disagreement in the group about imprecation (imprecatory prayer). Anyway, one of the group took this on, and tonight she prayed passionately against the bands of rapists in the Congo DRC. All in all, I was very pleasantly surprised with the prayers. They were good.

Secretary With Panache

I received this e-mail this morning from our minutes secretary. I thought that such panache deserves to appear on my blog. Quote: “Although I e-mailed the Minutes to you on 12 February and put a copy on your desk they still have not come back to me. Young man, you know that if you do it at the last minute and I have to run around changing them and copying them at an inconvenient time I am going to be CROSS!” OBSERVATION: Full marks for clarity of expression here. I said that I have put them at the top of my list.

Super Simple SONAR

My electronics posts have been popular. Here, therefore, is a “super simple” SONAR (designed by me). SONAR stands for SOund NAvigation Ranging. It is a technique which is used to determine the distance and direction of objects by acoustic means -- usually in water, but also in air. The SONAR described here has the most basic functionality -- it simply reports the existence of an object up to a few metres’/yards’ distance. It would, for example, shriek when a reversing vehicle approached a wall (X1 and X2 would be mounted just far enough apart NOT to shriek until the vehicle was near the wall). Or X1 and X2 would be mounted on opposite sides of a closed door -- thus the circuit would shriek when the door was open. Or X1 and/or X2 could be placed underneath an item, to shriek when the item was lifted. OBSERVATION: The circuit relies on acoustic feedback. IC1 is a sensitive amplifier. Both X1 and X2 are piezo sounders (discs, mounted in plastic housings) without internal electronics. X1 functions as a "microphone", X2 as a "speaker". Ideally, X1 and X2 will be identical, to encourage feedback at their resonant frequencies. Piezo tweeters may also be used, although these are expensive. C2 determines gain (amplification). First try the circuit without C2. If C2 is, say, 10μ, the circuit’s sensitivity will be greatly increased. C3 is necessary to limit output current. The circuit would ideally be run off a 12V DC plugpack power supply. You may click on the circuit to enlarge it. Click on the "Electronics" category top left to follow the electronics trail on this blog.

NOTE: You may re-publish this design, on condition that you acknowledge the designer (Thomas Scarborough) and this blog (http://thomasscarborough.blogspot.com).

Cruel Counsel?

There is a local drug rehabilitation programme (and probably many more) which insists that those being rehabilitated must be completely transparent with significant people in their lives. So I happened to be a significant person. A young man recovering from serious crystal meth/tik abuse entered a local brothel (he had to tell me this), he walked into a room and sat down on the bed. A prostitute (he knew her) walked in in her underwear. He didn’t use her. She gave him a pipe, and held him as he smoked meth/tik. For the first time in two months, he had smoked. OBSERVATION: Is this “brute honesty” an effective approach? I don’t know. For the young man concerned, it was clearly painful to confess this to me.

A Bit Fed Up

“Urban ministry live and unplugged” was my vision for this blog -- a tactful, yet reasonably faithful portrayal of urban ministry in Southern Africa. I confess that I am bit fed up with the tension of walking the line between “tactful” and “faithful portrayal” (I am harping on the same old string)! OBSERVATION: I’m not sure whether anyone has the same kind of content on an urban ministry blog. I can’t think of anyone. The blog “postmission” in Cyprus might come close at times. RIP the post which was removed today. Incidentally I have only once “had” to delete a post, and this was because of a breach of government (cabinet) protocol -- there’s a difference between appropriateness and rules.

Album Launch [2]

Mine might have been the only “roving camera” at the launch of JPre’s new album yesterday (other cameras were not moving around). I sent him some photos via e-mail. He replied: “The pictures are amazing!” For good measure, here’s one more. OBSERVATION: The female singer is Justine Josias, recently voted No. 2 (the top female performer) on the TV programme Supersterre (Superstars).

Why We Listen To God

Our deaconess G., addressing the congregation this morning, must have given us the ultimate reason why we listen to God. She told the congregation how she had accepted the advice of an older deaconess. Then she said: “Please, people, let’s listen to our elders. And listen to God. He is an Elder. Nobody knows how old He really is.” OBSERVATION: There you have it. It puts the theologians to shame.

Album Launch

I called in at the Cape Town Waterfront this evening to be there for the launch of JPre’s new album, Listen Up! This was after winding my way through a huge traffic jam caused by the world’s largest individually timed cycle tour. JPre spotted me at the back, and said to the crowd: “My Reverend is here. My Church is here.” OBSERVATION: The hill in the background is Signal Hill. Our Church is 2.5km (1.6 miles) away, just off the right of the photo.

Irregular Times

Wife M. said to me the night before last: “Your irregular times at night are a real problem!” This refers above all to supper times, which tend to be “action time” in ministry. This is no doubt the lament of many a minister's wife. Many duties can only be carried out around that time. OBSERVATION: Mostly I am home before 7:00 p.m. (and I should mention that I dutifully inform M. when I’ll be out or in)!

Setting Up Mentoring

I set up our intern P. with a mentoring relationship today. The difference between the counsellor and the mentor might be described like this: the counsellor will help one to gain insight, while the mentor will give one experience. The person P. will be mentoring is in a fairly typical situation: intelligent, yet psychotic, the hospital system is overloaded, and personal counselling is all but unavailable. OBSERVATION: This is throwing P. in at the deep end, but he’s here precisely to gain experience. I believe that such relationships are God-ordained.

Stardom

JPre has made a comeback with his new album Listen Up. The photo shows an article from this weekend's newspaper. The new album includes duets with Jennifer Hudson and Jermaine Jackson. Nelson Mandela once jived to his music, and the moment was broadcast around the world on CNN and Sky News. OBSERVATION: JPre has had a lesser known confidant -- me. He is hosting our Church’s Canadian intern. Well done, JPre.

Cost Of A U.S. Degree

In 2004, I started a postgraduate “distance” degree through Fuller Theological Seminary. The cost for the entire degree, in South African terms, is approximately a quarter of a million rands ($25,000 / €20,000), if one includes required reading, mandatory seminars in L.A., and so on. This may seem fairly standard to Americans, yet it is, needless to say, a breathtaking sum over here. By way of comparison, the second half of my postgraduate degree, which I am completing over here, is cheaper than a single course at Fuller (a postgraduate degree at Fuller comprises eighteen courses). OBSERVATION: Viewing the cost from the African side, I was amazed at the cavalier attitude that many Americans had to their studies when paying such a high price. I was, incidentally, awarded a one-third bursary. The photo shows a seminar with Ryan Bolger at Fuller.

Youth Poses

When our Youth see me with a camera, they often like to pose (see photo). OBSERVATION: Usually, I'll have the photo developed for them. This photo was taken last night.

Leadership Backlash

Leadership backlash is an important ministry concept which seems little known -- although it is better known among long-serving ministers. It is the strange phenomenon of receiving (often) complete and unqualified support in moments of crisis, which may include unanimous resolutions, only to be followed by severe negative reactions, if not the disintegration of a leadership team. I have experienced aspects of this several times in ministry, and once, I have experienced “full backlash”. OBSERVATION: At the time of the “full backlash”, an experienced minister warned our leadership that this could happen. Two of them (who shortly after resigned through backlash) were very angry that he suggested the possibility. I have never understood how backlash is remedied, and have never read of anyone who has. However, steady, plain-spoken, consultative leadership may help.

Striplings And Saplings

I am struck by how often Christian ministry and leadership blogs are run by students still in seminary, or inexperienced in ministry. There are erudite posts on praxis, trends, theologians, and more -- and, a little surprisingly, such blogs may have large followings. It seems to me much like schoolboy suitors, who talk about it precisely because they are new to it. OBSERVATION: The positives are that these blogs are a rich source of current ideas, and the comments (if they are not deleted!) may offer valuable input and debate. There are notable exceptions to the “genre”, which seem far more convincing to me for their realism, examples being cyber-friend Jenny (http://carpenters-shoes.blogspot.com/), and our own pastoral assistant/intern (http://petergoestoafrica.blogspot.com/).

Flower Market

Earlier this week, I passed the famed Cape Town flower market. Freshly cut flowers have been sold here weekdays for more than a hundred years. You can click on the photo to enlarge to VGA. OBSERVATION: A tourist writes on the Internet: “I couldn't believe all the beautiful flowers at the market in Cape Town. I bought bunches and bunches and put them all over my hotel room!”

Lausanne III Parallel Conference

Here’s an encouraging announcement with regard to Lausanne III, the congress on world evangelisation to be held in Cape Town in 2010: “The CCC [Consultation of Christian Churches] plans to host a parallel conference for church leaders in Cape Town where [you] will also be able to hear some of the international Lausanne speakers.” OBSERVATION: Depending how this is done, it could be more exciting than the real event -- or not. For local reservations about Lausanne III, see http://thomasscarborough.blogspot.com/2009/02/passing-ball.html.

Marsh Close-Up

This is a photo of my favourite marsh on the Great Berg River, at close range (the entire marsh is vast). You can click on the photo to enlarge to VGA. The photo combinbes submerged vegetation, partially submerged vegetation, and full growth (but still very “marshy” -- you wouldn’t try walking there).

Cheerful, Unflappable

Here’s another photo from our Church supper last week. This is our “chief caterer”, N. Just as important as her superb catering skills is that she is ever cheerful and unflappable. OBSERVATION: Rather someone cheerful and unflappable than someone competent -- yet she is both. We've tried the reverse, and don't wish to repeat it!