FIFA And Us

Key municipalities in South Africa -- soon to host the Soccer World Cup -- have had to introduce FIFA-approved by-laws. According to our local newspaper, we are being "subjected to almost draconian rules and regulations". The carrying of weapons is banned, and the vandalising of property, abusive language, obstructing people ... (for the complete list, see the newspaper notice on the right -- click to enlarge). At our Church, the regulations have already changed the scene. Alas, will things ever return to normal?

Sick About The Children

A young wife and mother, N., took in two foster children. Then the state, as sometimes happens, decided to take them back. She was distraught. She promised them faithfully that she would pray for them every day, and she promised to call them every Sunday, or she didn't love them. But the state decided to cut off all contact from the start. N. couldn't keep her promise -- and she was sick about it. This is where a minister could make a difference. I spoke to a government official, and tried to put a human face on it. It worked -- and N. gained weekly contact with the children.

Sea Point Suburb 3D

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This is our suburb in 3-D, taken from the top of Lion's Head, about 700m/700yds above sea level. Table Bay is in the background, and Robben Island. Some people are unable to get the 3-D effect -- however, most are. OBSERVATION: Here’s how to “see” the 3-D. Lazily squint your eyes so that the two images overlap and finally snap together. Then focus. Your eyes need to be on the level -- that is, the effect won't work with your head cocked. You may enlarge the image by clicking on it, which will enhance the 3D effect (it's about 100k).

Sharing Church Property

It takes a lot to keep an urban Church going -- that is, just to keep it sitting on its plot of ground amidst the city high-rises. Then, an associate Church joins you -- as in our case. We began by asking them for a nominal contribution -- partly in the interests of a good thing. Today our Property & Finance Committee met to discuss what would be a more equitable arrangement. Our Church spends well over R10,000 ($1,500/€1,100) a week. But how to estimate what an associate Church should contribute? It was our Church treasurer who considered: "How much does it cost us just to be here?" I went over the figures myself this evening, and considered that a very conservative estimate would be 20% of the above amount (it could be twice that, depending). At the moment, our associate Church contributes less than 2%. What, then, would be equitable? We meet again next week, with our associate Church.

Unpredictability

We had, in our service this morning, a typical urban situation. A group was to render a musical item -- yet all but one dropped out due to shift-work. In this case, however, the remaining member, T. (pictured), decided to go it alone. Well done, T. She sang a mesmerising song in Chichewa, then explained it in English. People were enthused by her piece. OBSERVATION: I use various strategies to try to get around this urban instability, although I don't always succeed. It's the art of running a structured Church where predictability is not there.

About Resignation: Second Attempt

My second attempted resignation happened five years into my present ministry (I am in my seventeenth consecutive year here now). We had endured a harrowing change of denominational status. Details apart, the battle was won, yet I was seriously worn down. Soon after, a whole half of our leadership handed in their resignations. On the surface of it, they stated that they no longer endorsed Congregational Church polity. In reality, I think that they were disillusioned by seeing me depleted, and were impatient for change. I went to hand in my resignation to the person designated to receive it, yet (again -- see a previous "resignation" post) I couldn't find them. Another providential intervention. OBSERVATION: Looking back, in this case I was blind to the real support I had as minister, which I came to realise in time. Also, if I could have seen just a year into the future, I would have had no concerns about the resignations from our leadership. God provided new leaders "on the turn". All in all, within a short time, all our troubles were behind us, and we were "flying high". My less obvious weakness at that time was my lack of appreciation for God's sovereignty over His Church, and with that, an overestimation of my own centrality to it all.

Church: Eagle's Eye View

For good measure, here's another photo from our climb this morning: that's my climbing companion P. This really needs to be seen in VGA to appreciate the giddying height from which it is taken (for which click on the photo). Beneath is the suburb of Sea Point, with a small yellow circle around our Church. In the background is Table Bay.

Attributing People's Appreciation

I feel greatly loved and appreciated in my congregation -- and I think that I am -- in spite of my various flaws, which people seems to graciously overlook -- or forget. I attribute this to two things, and this is of course my own personal view, or speculation. Firstly, I seek to lead the congregation to the God who gives life and joy -- that is what they find through my ministry, yet not from me. Secondly, I seek to promote ministry by the members, and I know that this, too, is the source of life and joy -- yet again not from me.

Cruel Girls

The girls, they were cruel, on our mountain climb this morning. They romped ahead, then waved and shouted from the heights in sing-song unison: "Happy birthday, Thomas!" That's my third climbing companion, P., in the foreground.

"Big Zero" Birthday

I made it to the top of our nearby peak, Lion's Head, this morning -- for one of those "Big Zero" birthdays. I had three climbing companions, and I was so glad that they joined me. We set out in the chilly early morning. We saw the moon set, and the sun rise, and I got some magnificent photos (some to appear on this blog). The photo shows our deaconess E. and elder C. looking down on the city from the summit. OBSERVATION: They could have done it all over again on the same day (I not).

Salvation Counselling

This one's not for more sensitive readers. A young woman came to see me in my vestry. She said: "I broke up with my boyfriend. I tried to kill myself. I took an overdose. I swallowed a whole heap of tablets. But I vomited it all up. I'm pleased I didn't succeed, for the sake of my daughter. I still slept with him, but we didn't get back together." OBSERVATION: In this case, my approach was mainly "salvation counselling" -- less so tackling the moral perspectives. I think the distinction is important.

Pretty Face

This one's just a pretty face. I took the photo in the isolated village of Goedverwacht, about 160km/100mi north of Cape Town. I had stopped my three-wheel vehicle on the narrow main road, and this girl was fascinated by it. I asked her for her photo. You may click on it to enlarge to VGA.

Memorial Service

I conducted a service yesterday for a murdered congregant (see a recent post). There was a sense of deep disappointment and outrage. I read parts of the Commination. One of the family wrote a poem: "O My Africa, so vast, so majestic so cruel ..." OBSERVATION: This was different to two previous services I held for murder victims, where it was as if people felt (with scorn, and grief): "Well, it's what we expect of this time and place. It's more of the same."

About Resignation: First Attempt

Despite the appointment of a secretary (see my previous "resignation" post), about six years into my first ministry I suffered an acute stress reaction, which is a variant of post-traumatic stress (see Wikipedia). This led to my first resignation attempt (a little different to the intention of the previous post). I had now suffered a nervous collapse, which was nightmarish -- and I was deeply disillusioned with my leadership. It seems a strange contradiction -- I was at my lowest at the high-point of my career. In fact, when I told our leadership shortly before this that I was in distress, one of them said to me: "Whatever you are doing, Thomas, just keep doing what you are doing!" I wrote out my resignation, and went to hand it in. Except that I couldn't find the man who was designated to receive the resignation. That was providential (as was my next resignation attempt, soon to be described). OBSERVATION: Looking back, there was one major mistake in my thinking. Yes, I was "finished" -- yet a capable minister wasn't the requirement. Faith was the requirement -- and I didn't have it. During a lengthy absence from the Church due to burnout, the congregation in fact grew in size. I was greatly surprised. Nonetheless, from this time on, I felt that my ministry in this Church was nearing its close. And so it was. At the end of ten years, I took a call to my present Church.

Summit Preparation

We have a series of steps in our area (see photo). I have been walking these steps in preparation for my summit attempt on Saturday, my birthday. Wife M. says: "Take your cellphone in case you get stuck on the steps." OBSERVATION: I do trust that she is joking!

Advantages Of Visitation

Pastoral visitation, I wrote recently, is not mission-critical. However, it has great advantages. Here are the advantages that I experience as being most important: 1. Visitation is a continual spiritual encouragement to the minister -- the minister receives much. 2. It feeds the spiritual programme of the Church -- much is revealed in visitation that contributes to the programme. 3. It keeps a minister in touch with the real world -- particularly in a diverse congregation such as ours. 4. It often represents useful ministry. And 5. it contributes much towards good-will in the Church.

About Resignation: First Intention

This post is about the first time I intended to resign my ministry. It happened in my previous Church, half way through a ten-year ministry. I wrote out my resignation, and entered a Church Meeting with the resignation in my pocket. The Church had experienced five-fold growth (our Sunday congregations, that is), and I couldn't cope. It was crazy. I told our Church leadership that we needed a secretary -- but they turned down my proposal unanimously. For the first time in my career, therefore, I bypassed our leadership, and went to the Church Meeting. The Church Meeting voted in favour of the secretary -- and nobody knew about the resignation in my pocket. OBSERVATION: Looking back, I would now be more forthright with my leadership -- in particular, less "proposal-centred", and more personal, passionate, and (cordially) combative about the matter. I would also, now, consider organisation, planning, and keeping pace with administration to be a lot less critical to the well-being of the Church. God's Kingdom is not so much about getting things in order as about the movement of the Holy Spirit. And I would be more single-minded about preserving my peace. However, I would still view this as a very tough situation. The proposal to appoint a secretary was absolutely the right one, and proved itself in years to come.

About Resignation

This blog is about to take a dismal turn. Not really. Over the next few days, I intend to describe my attempts and intentions at resignation from ministry (four of them -- in the past, that is -- there is no intention to resign now). This is not intended for any sympathy, but to reveal what caused the events, how I overcame them, and how I reflect on them now -- for the sake, I hope, of being useful to others. OBSERVATION: According to one US survey, 57% of ministers would resign today if they could. Resignation, therefore, is highly topical. If I were a minister in the USA, my own chances of survival at this stage of my career would lie around 15% (see Chances Of Survival). I believe one's chances would be better, though, in Southern Africa.

Facebook And Privacy

More than a year ago, on this blog, I considered that there were issues with Facebook and privacy (see Facebook: My Reservations). Finally the Washington Post, the Times of London, and eminent technology journos have caught up with the avant garde opinions here expressed. They should have read this blog.

Distress In Writing

Not surprisingly, a minister often sees notes that were written in some distress. It's interesting how handwriting reflects distress at the very point where something painful is recalled. The example on the right describes the tragic death of a close friend, with the handwriting getting into a bit of a jam with the name of the friend (centre).

Membership Testimonies

Although it is not required, applicants for Church membership may sometimes volunteer a brief testimony on our application form. One person wrote about their Christian conversion: "It was a joyous occasion that set me free from the grey depression that goes with living without God." Another wrote: "[It was] a feeling of release, forgiveness, a new start." And another wrote: "[He] gives me the security to live my life in all circumstances, be it good or bad, because he is my rock and my saviour and my very best friend."

The Best Microcosm

Here's another photo of our suburb, Sea Point -- our Beach Road in the morning mist. Here are two things our suburb is famous for: it's the restaurant capital of the world (the most restaurants per square kilometre/mile), and it's the drug capital of Southern Africa (the largest percentage of arrestees testing positive for drugs). It has also been called "the best microcosm of humanity you could hope to find".

Property Maintenance

We have a huge Church property, and are always behind with maintenance. That's natural, given the challenge that we have -- so long as we don't neglect some ruinous defect. OBSERVATION: In my old suburban Church, we were always "up to the minute" with repairs -- I needed a mind-shift for the way we operate here. The photo shows a man at work on our windows this month.

Administrative Mornings

Every so often, I have an administrative morning. The largest tasks tend to be these: 1. Working through notes, files, and correspondence on my vestry desk. 2. Reviewing personal notes and condensing these into a to-do list. 3. Planning forthcoming services -- orders of service and special items. And 4. preparing a list of things for our secretary to implement. OBSERVATION: There is a fair amount of detail involved such mornings. Items 1 and 2 above will typically mean reviewing around 100 pages, and the to-do list will typically end up 50-100 items long. The photo shows our Canadian intern last year, assisting me on an administrative morning -- my various notes in the foreground.

Wife M.: The Long And The Short Of It

Here's "the long and the short of it" re wife M. -- my first update in a month. Around November-December, her bone marrow failed, through cancer. She was very poorly indeed. Speaking generally about this illness, the outlook is not good, and it is disputed whether its course can be changed. Perhaps it can. Perhaps not. However, there is no doubt that the condition of the patient can be lifted. The question at any given time, then, is whether M. is experiencing a real improvement or just a lift, and vice versa. Therefore this is a confusing time, and it is hard to give anyone a true answer as to what the situation is. Over the past months, M. has received a number of radical treatments, with blood transfusions when she was critically low. This week, surprisingly, it was found that her "vital signs" had significantly improved. Just before that, they plummeted. At the moment, M. says: "I'm feeling brighter," and people are able to see it. One might compare her condition to that of someone who has flu -- at best, a bit of an effort to get by -- at worst, barely functioning at all.

Then And Now

.I took the photo on the left in 1991, at the Landesmuseum in Zürich. It is son M. in the picture, aged 5. He very much wanted that photo, and I lifted him up there. Today he sent me the photo on the right. He is now working at the Eidgesnössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) in Zürich, to earn some money for studies at Durham University later this year. 21 Nobel laureates have worked or studied at the ETH, including Albert Einstein.

Why Be A Member?

I consider that there are at least four reasons why people should commit to Church membership. Here is how I/we put it on our pew slip: 1. It is the will of Christ that Christians should find their place in the Body (1 Pet 2:5). 2. It is good to be counted as a Christian by publicly committing to a Church [where else is one "counted"?] 3. In an area where there is much change [our suburb], members form the stable core of our work [that is, we do need members]. And 4. It really does help you become one of the family, and to find a place to serve.

Elevating Dissent?

One would think that the Internet would make one more weltoffen ("open to the world"). However, it has been argued that the opposite may be true. One need merely click on the next blog and look at the blog-roll, the links, the followers to see the "enclosedness" of it all. More significant, perhaps, is that social psychology shows that a single ally reduces social conformity nearly 80% (a classic study being Asch 1951). In the context of the Church, this would seem to mean that the Internet (blogging in particular) may significantly elevate dissent within the Church -- whether that of ministers or members.

Small-Talk

Part of the fun of a tycoon's birthday party (see a recent post) is the change in small-talk. Here are some of the talking points of the party I recently attended: how to assemble a machine-gun, what's going down at the Ports Authority, how the new Maserati compares, the ins and outs of the speaking circuit, pedigree puppies, yachts on the French Reviera ... OBSERVATION: This is different, too, to the small-talk one hears at "executive" functions (executives are wannabes). I took the photo across one of the tables at the party.

Morning's Highlight

I'll blog about the highlight of my morning. This young Zulu woman (here leading the singing in Church this morning) offered to climb our nearby peak with me on my birthday, Saturday. Some have said that it is the most impressive hike in the world, with a 360-degree path turning around the mountain to the top. OBSERVATION: There could well be others by Saturday. But it's by no means a given that I'll make it. Last time I tried, I failed. See Birthday Ambition.

Sunday Sermon

I am preaching on the book of John at the moment. In my sermon this morning, I touch on an age-old theme. On the one hand, don't minimise sin. Don't say it doesn't matter. That is the way of the world. On the other hand, don't merely damn it. Don't be unmerciful. That, too, is the way of the world. Rather, seek to redeem, to restore, to be the pastor to those concerned. "Be on their side". OBSERVATION: Related to this is the doctrine: Christ will judge the living and the dead, yet He came into the world to save sinners.

DRC Napier

Here is another photo of the DRC (Dutch Reformed Church) Napier, not far from the southern tip of Africa. It was built in 1838 -- the same year that the Boers crossed the Vaal River. The visibility of the Church is like this by design. Originally, all this land was owned by the Church -- and sold subject to conditions. You may click on the photo to enlarge to VGA.

Top Posts

A question at our recent leadership meeting was: has there been an interest in our Church's evangelistic booklet on the Internet? The answer is definitely yes, a strong interest. For instance, according to Google, it is the no. 2 post on this blog. I think deservedly so. Although I played a large part in its development myself, I think the contribution of the Church was first class. You may download the booklet free from Evangelistic Booklet. OBSERVATION: The no. 1 post on this blog is my SONAR design. The no. 3 post suggests improvements to my Matchless Metal Locator, elsewhere on the Internet. And my no. 4 post calls for adequate definition in Christian leadership theory.

Drink Or Prostitution

A deaconess came to me on Sunday morning: "There's one of our members who will drive me either to drink or to prostitution! Do you know which member I'm talking about?" I took a guess -- the wrong one! She gave me a run-down. Then she said: "So if you see me on the Main Road here in a short skirt, you'll know why!" OBSERVATION: Actually, it's not a member. It's an adherent (a "friend of the Church").

"No Other Practice"

I have various approaches to reducing conflict in the Church. While I can't claim always to have succeeded, during the past decade our Church has been remarkably peaceful and harmonious -- in spite of major changes and challenges. One of my strategies -- among a raft of strategies -- is one that the apostle Paul used: "If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice" (1 Cor 11:16). In other words: "We have a common policy. As long as that is in place, let nobody stir the pot." That includes the minister. The minister is merely a guarantor of common policy. OBSERVATION: In fact, in speaking of "practice", Paul was using a wider word than "policy".

Birthday Ambition

At our monthly leadership meeting last night, I announced my ambition to climb our nearby peak, Lion's Head, for my birthday on the 29th May. There was laughter all round. OBSERVATION: I do hope that this was not "Sarah's laugh" -- the laugh of unbelief. Perhaps it might reassure people that I intend to climb it in the early morning. That way, a rescue helicopter should be able to reach me before nightfall. Thanks to www.yourcapetown.com for the image.

Obstructing Corruption

I asked one of our members, a young woman, whether she needed to deal with corrupt practices at work. She said: "Oh yes. But it stops dead with me." OBSERVATION: In fact this young member is critically placed in a network, and happens to make a significant difference simply by being uncorrupted herself. There is sometimes the notion that one needs to do something special to change society for the better. Not necessarily. From my experience, though, this young woman is fortunate that her good behaviour doesn't have a price tag. Her personality might help.

Tycoon's Birthday

A Ukrainian tycoon invited me to his (lavish) birthday party tonight. I proposed a toast -- then, in keeping with Ukrainian custom, I invited tributes from the floor. The final tribute was by his wife (pictured). I asked him: "What do you wish for the year to come?" He said: "I don't make wishes! Reality is sometimes better than wishes! I wait for the wishes to come."

Did A Deal

I did a deal. For more than a decade, a well known company has been manufacturing my electronic designs -- about ten of them, either as kits or complete -- and I have been collecting royalties. However, in recent years I designed nothing new for them, royalties dwindled, and the payment/collection of royalties became tedious. So I made a proposal that I exchange all present and future royalties for the return of the copyrights. This was accepted today. OBSERVATION: This means that I can put these well proven designs to publishers, and my electronics "career" has a new lease of life.

Visitation

There's an old Congregational booklet on the duties of a minister. It states that visitation is optional. That looked strange to me, in my early ministry -- but now I hold that visitation is not "mission critical". One shouldn't think it is. Elsewhere on this blog, I list my Strategic Emphasis. Routine visitation receives low priority -- although crisis intervention (which may involve visitation) has high priority. This does not mean that routine visitation is unimportant -- it means that it is not of strategic importance. OBSERVATION: My wish would be (if it were possible) to visit the whole congregation in a year. At the moment, due to circumstance, my visitation is limited. From time to time, I tell members that they need just say the word, and I shall come to see them.

Bantry Bay

I visited a member tonight in our neighbouring suburb, Bantry Bay (see photo). It is described as an "exclusive" suburb. It is the most wind-free area of Cape Town. I had told our member that I'd been for a walk there. She said: "Then why didn't you visit me?" Tonight I did -- while walking.

Near Death Experiences

I was surprised to discover that I have recorded only one Near Death Experience (NDE) on this blog. During my years of ministry, I have heard about a dozen such experiences -- perhaps because I was primed to their existence early on, therefore picked up on things that people were telling me. In fact, there are at least two people in our congregation today who have had NDE's. OBSERVATION: The NDE's all seem to have much in common, and people tend to be adamant that it was real. Those that I have heard were out-of-body experiences and/or encounters with Christ.

A Lover's Lover

A woman in our Church had a lover -- who had another lover. That is, she had a love-rival. She sought advice, whether she should have a child by her man, to cement their love. The counsel was no -- this was not a "famous" idea. However, she went ahead and did it all the same. Then her love-rival followed suit, and there were two babies by the same man. The good news is, however, that she saw afterwards what she should have seen before, and she truly reformed her life. Or I should say, she came to love the Lord. A big part of that was the acceptance of the Church -- of her, though not her sin.

Faith To Survive

A young Korean student gave his testimony tonight, in my Minister's Bible Study group. He said: "I was an atheist. I was conscripted into the Korean army. But the army was destroying me. Every Sunday, they sent us to places of worship: Christian, Buddhist, and so on. I chose Christian. There I found [he searched for the word] peace. It enabled me to survive. Because of this, I believed in God." OBSERVATION: In fact this is a "genre" of testimony that one often encounters in urban ministry: "I believe because I found that I cannot survive without faith in a living God."

Envisioning A Garden

About ten years ago, son M., then in his early teens, envisioned the garden of our manse cascading with daisies. When he planted the first few feeble sprigs, it didn't look promising. But here it is, as it looked sometime before he left for studies in Europe earlier this year. I applied false colours to enhance the daisies.

Perception And Reality

Perception and reality didn't meet, at our Church's recent Mini-Market. I reported just over a week ago how members told me "this doesn't work". And yet this year's Mini-Market showed an 80% improvement over the previous year. I said in Church (jokingly): "I'd like to know what people were complaining about!" Wife M. commented: "It's like that every year." OBSERVATION: For the record, we're going to look at ways we can better approach our full potential. The photo shows some of our helpers this year.

A Thousand Better Qualified

I had lost my confidence for ministry, in my early ministry here. Among other things, I had encountered energetic opposition. A Church consultant said to me: "There would be a thousand people better qualified for your job -- but you are the only one the Lord has anointed." He added 1 Sam 24:6: "The Lord forbid that anyone should stretch forth his hand against the anointed of the Lord." OBSERVATION: At that time, I had just begun to understand this notion. I now hold it in strengthened form. Anointing (or rather, grace through one who is not qualified) is paramount in ministry.

Religious Freedom

Tonight we had an executive director of the World Evangelical Alliance's International Institute for Religious Freedom over with his wife. The institute has a multi-disciplinary approach to persecution: theological, sociological, pastoral, and so on. Wife M. (a co-director, and executive editor of the institute's academic journal) has been emphasising the pastoral aspect of persecution as being of crucial importance, and has without doubt left an imprint in this regard. The photo shows executive director Dr. Christof Sauer. In fact I once was a fellow-student with the other executive director, Prof. Dr. Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher.

Pastor Vacation Survey

Here's an "arresting" report on Pastor Burnout Statistics. Among other things, 75% of pastors (presumably US pastors) "report severe stress". But then there's a small quiz (see image) -- a Pastor Vacation Survey. Are they serious? The maximum holiday/vacation they admit is four weeks a year. As if that's the outer extreme. Until last year, I had seven weeks per annum. Since then, it's been ten. In my previous Church, I had seven. My ex college principal recommends up to twelve. The famous Charles Spurgeon had more -- as did the renowned Isaac Watts -- among others.

Sunday Formula

I have a Sunday formula. I only realised how important it is to me when it came apart a few times. Here's the formula. Every Sunday, I seek to have the priesthood of believers (ministry by members) on three levels: LEVEL 0 (Ground Level), where there is member participation with little original input: reading the notices, taking readings in Church, and so on. I introduced this in my first year in this Church. LEVEL 1, where members have brief personal input: presenting a song, introducing a set prayer, and so on with a few sentences of their own. I introduced this during the past five years. And LEVEL 2, where members have significant personal input: leading the Sunday prayers, giving a testimony in Church, et cetera. I introduced this on a monthly basis more than ten years ago, but have greatly increased it in the past five years. OBSERVATION: It's at Level 2 that things tend to unravel -- particularly in a chaotic, African urban environment such as ours. Most recently, I blame myself for not having had a Plan B in place as I often do.

Presbyterian Interior

This is a photo of the interior of our local Presbyterian Church. I posted a photo of the exterior a few days ago. The occasion is the125th Commemorative Birthday Service of the Cape Town Highlanders on the 9th May 2010. I took this photo from the upper gallery. The photo is in XGA if you click on it (about 160k). You may view various local Churches on this blog by clicking on "Local Churches" at the top left of this page.

Member Murdered

Regrettably, on Friday, one of our congregation was murdered. She was a selfless, kind, cultured, faithful woman who routinely asked me: "How are you, Reverend?" (typically, it's the Reverend who asks others how they are). She was strangled in a high security apartment, with no signs of forced entry. The flat had been ransacked, although it is not clear whether anything was taken (it was obvious that there were valuables that had not been taken). The photo is from Church files.

Mennonites

We were privileged to have Mennonite (anabaptist) missionaries Andrew and Karen Suderman in our service this morning. They are based in Pietermaritzburg (the east of our country). After the service they briefly joined me and the elders for an "informative chat". Steve Hayes recently blogged about them at Tshwane Peace Network. They seem to have taken to their new mission field with enthusiasm. You may click on the photo to enlarge to VGA.

Strained Charity

Over recent months and years, we have needed to tighten our charity policy, due to various pressures, not least the number of people seeking help. During the past week, however, I came under extraordinary pressure, even under our new policy. For instance, a family couldn't afford food and were hungering. A couple couldn't pay the rent and were facing eviction. Another congregant needed to travel on compassionate grounds, but didn't have the fare. And so on. OBSERVATION: Our charitable fund was over-burdened, and I have no answer. I can only be sympathetic, pray for people, and do what I can.

Shredded Carpets

It's a mystery, but it's happened under my ministry. Everywhere you look, our Church carpets have got shredded -- as you see in the photo. There wasn't a single shredded bit when I started here. There wasn't a single shredded bit before my ministry (for decades). I remember the first shredded bit we patched up. OBSERVATION: So what is it? Changed habits of worshippers? The carpets' natural sell-by date? Increased traffic? Different shoes?

Complexity Theory And Church

Complexity is a popular notion in Church leadership theory today. One Church leadership theorist puts it simply and clearly as follows: "The church is a complex system ... Complex systems appear to be self-organizing." The trouble is, though, the emphasis on self-organising. I have called it "faith in complexity". If it's not that, then it seems to come close. OBSERVATION: The "complexity theorists", I think, are right insofar as the Church is a bit of a disaster when it comes to wanting to run it, organise it, influence it, steer it, control it. However, I take the view that the Church is divinely directed, not self-organising. That, said one theologian, is what preserves ministers from worry. For interest, here is a "classic" statement of complexity theory and Church: Complexity Theory as Model and Metaphor for the Church.

Apoplectic Changes

Our Church was a fairly formal place when I arrived. I ruined that. I was joking recently that, if some people were still around, they might suffer apoplexy at what they saw today. Here's what they would see that they didn't see then: Up to a third of the congregation walking in late. Deacons attending without ties (or even collars). The Queen's English has pretty much suffered a fatality. Non-English languages are peppered about. The order of service gets changed impromptu. One will occasionally see political symbols among congregants (a no-no back then -- for instance, we've seen the hammer and sickle a few times). There may be clapping, laughing in Church now. Some raise their hands in worship. Half of the old memorial plaques have been moved, and we have large notice-boards up now. There's frequent congregational participation in services. And various things besides. There are more people now, too. OBSERVATION: I think I've just proved that chaos is the secret to Church growth. However, in spite of what I've said, one might still call our Church "traditional". The photo shows our worship team (it's in VGA if you click on it).

Nothing Is Impossible

Not seldom in ministry, I come across situations which are complete dead ends -- completely without hope -- not a shred of it -- then God intervenes. Recently I counselled a young woman in such a situation -- and the impossible happened. While I don't feel free to reveal the details, here is a snippet of an e-mail that she sent me today: "Through prayer, nothing is impossible ... What a miracle ... Thanks to you and the Lord our God."

Historical Misfortune

The photo on the right shows the sensational "Skuldmonument" ("Debt Monument") outside the Dutch Reformed Church in Nieuwoudtville, about 400km/250mi north of Cape Town. In 1909, the congregation had saved a massive £11,300 to pay the builder -- of which £8,000 mysteriously disappeared. Suspicion fell on the Church treasurer. The congregation raised the required sum again, in three years. The monument states (in Dutch): "To the High God alone all honour. In memory of the unforgettable years 1911-1913, in which this congregation wrestled down its debt of £11,000, incurred largely through misfortune." The names of the elders and deacons of that time follow. In a handout to visitors, the Church states rather cryptically: "It was said that [the treasurer] was buried in Nieuwoudtville, but somebody spotted him in [Namibia]. In his coffin they found a dead pig." OBSERVATION: You may click on the photo to enlarge to 180k. You may see the Church itself at Nieuwoudtville Church.

Revolver Relationship

A young woman, a member of the Church, called me in distress. She whispered: "Please come! H. has lost it! He's threatening me with a gun!" (H. being her husband). When I got there, H. was standing in the dining room, the gun next to him on a counter. He was extremely agitated and upset. When he saw me, he immediately put the gun away in a cupboard -- and I sought to bring calm to the situation. OBSERVATION: This happened some time ago -- and while it's a simple enough blog post, the incident affected me deeply. The couple reconciled. Love conquers all.

Feeling vs. Choosing

I am preparing my Sunday sermon tonight. One of the verses I shall cover is John 7:17: "If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching is from God ..." While this would seem to apply above all to salvation, I am also applying it to the Christian. Too many Christians feel like attending Church, or feel like giving, or feel like serving -- or perhaps not, depending how they feel in the moment. We need Christians who live by choice, not feeling. OBSERVATION: I frequently come across this in ministry. People have given their lives to Christ, yet have not made the choices which anchor them. This is something I repeatedly emphasise in ministry.

Good Deed

Here's my good deed for the day. I rescued this bird (finch, I think) from the maw of our cat. It was exhausted. I set it in a hedge outside. OBSERVATION: I had to let it go. One needs at least half a dozen to make a pie.

Rheumatic Fever

Rheumatic fever may be a sly, vicious illness. Recently I developed symptoms of it. I first really paid attention to it this week, when my heart started dropping beats -- all the more frequently as the hours wore on. As of today, I am being treated for rheumatic fever -- a two-month course of antibiotics. OBSERVATION: Not everyone can catch rheumatic fever. One needs to be genetically predisposed to it. (Three years ago it put me in Intensive Care -- see ICU).

NOTE: Within a day, the antibiotics greatly relieved my distress. When I say "dropping beats", one out of five wouldn't "fire".

Refreshed From Fatigue

I had last week off. I had my first new counselling session this Tuesday. The session was tense, with a lot at stake -- but I felt alert, relaxed, clear-sighted, and fully capable of taking the strain. Compare that to the last session before my break. I felt aversion to the strain, I kept losing the thread completely, I felt that the big picture was clouded. OBSERVATION: Fatigue in ministry is very real. These two counselling sessions certainly show the contrast. But that "weary" session was not lost. The counselee came back to me, took my hand with both hands, and said, "You were a very great encouragement to me." As I see it, God works despite me.

Presbyterian Church

To further expand the gallery of Churches on this blog, this is St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church at the edge of Cape Town's city centre. The Church was founded in 1828. OBSERVATION: It is possible that this is the only "complete" photo of the Church on the Internet. For a little about the minister, see my post Presbyterian Minister. You may click on the photo to enlarge to VGA.

"The Advocate"

In a comment on this blog, Steve Hayes asks after the new songs we have selected for worship. Here's one of them (on the right), by Charitie Lees Bancroft (1841-1923). You may click on the image to enlarge (it's about 90k). Although the hymn is well over 100 years old, it seems surprisingly contemporary, and has seen a great revival in recent years. One may view the lyrics together with the music at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeeIM_7YVmM

Victory Over Fat

In our Church foyer, we have a very large mirror. I happened to walk in as a woman was showing off her figure to two friends. Looking sideways into the mirror, she said loudly: "I asked God to take away my fat belly, and look at me now! He made me overcome!" At this point, they all noticed me, and it ended in giggles. OBSERVATION: Well done to the lady concerned. She is now merely "ample" -- "shapely" -- but not "fat"!

Singing New Songs

We decided this year to learn four new songs during the year -- "bravado" is perhaps the term for this in a Congregational Church. I don't know who chose them, but both for content and for "catchiness" they are first class. L. (on the right of the photo), even though she attends another Church, comes to teach us. She has great talent -- one needs to witness it to appreciate it. She teaches us a song in our pre-service singing, then she leads the same song sometime during the worship proper -- and her presence really adds something special to the worship. OBSERVATION: For interest, the young woman on the left is a Youth leader in our Church, and the young woman in the centre our "worship deaconess".

Elim Interior

On Sunday I posted a photo of the Elim Moravian Church, near the southern tip of Africa. Here is its interior -- taken from the same angle. The spartan pews are arranged around three sides of the pulpit. OBSERVATION: Elim is 16km/10mi east of Baardskeerdersbos, where the Church has similar pews -- except that the Church there is Dutch Reformed, not Moravian (see DR Church B'Bos). The Church in Baardskeerdersbos was built two years earlier. Again, you can enlarge this to VGA.

House Of Sin

A wife in our congregation ran a check on her husband's credit card (I don't know how that is possible). A "house of sin" showed up. She called the place, and demanded to know whether her husband had been there. They refused to discuss the matter. The enraged wife insisted that her husband drive her there -- which he did. She demanded to know whether he had been there. They said, "Ma'am, we don't know this man. And even if we did, policy forbids us to tell you."

Foamtograph

I took this photo this evening in our suburb, Sea Point. Our secretary calls it a "foamtograph". In fact, I thought I was about to be enveloped in foam for my efforts. We have many small bays, and it was just this one that was all foam. You may click on the photo to enlarge to VGA.

I Sue

Last year, for the first time in my life, I sued someone. I won -- and was awarded costs, too. However, the other party refused to submit to the court's ruling. It went to a second round. I won again -- this time with a warrant of execution (not the old-fashioned kind of execution). Finally, today, the other party offered a settlement. My attorney wrote: "Take it." And I will. OBSERVATION: This was not mere suing. The other party had me in a bit of a trap, and I needed a legal judgement to get me out of it. See Invasion for an example of where I relinquished my rights. (My attorney is the wife of our city's deputy mayor).

Postal Strike

I confronted my postmaster this morning. I had been reliably informed (see a previous post) that his postal service had taken the decision to conceal a postal strike, and to receive mail at the counter as if it was "business as usual". Through the strike, I lost six bound theses -- two still unaccounted for today. But my postmaster flatly denied it. So I asked the assistant at the counter, who had received mail during the strike: "Did you inform customers of the postal strike?" She was dumbfounded -- and that seemed to say it all.

Disturbing Soldiers

I took this photo yesterday. Disturbing soldiers at their post I was. OBSERVATION: My best photo in this "genre" is of a police officer ordering me to shut down my camera at the scene of an attempted murder. I haven't (yet) put it on my blog. You may click on the photo to enlarge to VGA.

Highlanders Service

This morning I attended the 125th Commemorative Birthday Service of the Cape Town Highlanders (see photo) at our nearby Presbyterian Church. Some observations: It was a well organised event, well paced, and there was a good atmosphere (apart from the officer who ordered my three-wheeler off the parade ground -- the ultimate low point)! However, it was obvious -- to me anyway -- that in this majority-Xhosa service there was no Xhosa participation and no Xhosa content -- apart from the chaplain's words in Xhosa: "Hello ... I don't speak Xhosa." I found the sermon to be "values driven" rather than "Lord centred". The topic was "Commitment". OBSERVATION: This is unlikely to be a reflection on the Church itself, which hosts this event once a year.

Mother's Day Rose

I attended a neighbouring Church this morning. They gave a rose to every mother in the congregation. After the service, this woman was standing more or less as you see her, even before I asked her for a photo -- clearly pleased with her rose. You may click on the photo to enlarge to VGA.

Elim Church

This is the historic Church of Elim, near the southern tip of Africa -- built in Cape Dutch style. The granite stone between the two windows in the foreground says (in Dutch): "Built to commemorate one hundred years of the existence of Elim 1 August 1824-1924." This is followed by Psalm 103:2. OBSERVATION: I applied some false colours here, to enhance the contours. You may click on the photo to enlarge to VGA.

Loss And Gain

With wife M. being seriously ill, I haven't been up to the usual supervision in the Church, the usual pastoral care, the usual discipline, the usual attentiveness and attention to detail -- and I have battled weariness. Wife M. commented that, firstly, I should remember that God knows that the demands upon me have changed, and He knows how to bless His Church. He doesn't need me to be on form. Secondly, she said, what may seem to be losses in some ways, God may use for great gain and blessing in other ways. OBSERVATION: I don't consider that I am a minister who needs to keep a grip on everything, yet I realise in this situation how efficient I have been when on form.

Christ Or Jesus

There are two ways that the Christian leader may view Jesus Christ: as the Object of faith, or as the Model of leadership. Prof. Martha Stortz makes the distinction between Christ and Jesus (see Stortz's Response to Gula, a very interesting academic paper). Dietrich Bonhoeffer made the distinction between having faith and seeking sainthood, and he wrote: "I would rather have faith." OBSERVATION: Stortz points out: "The demands of an ethic of imitation promise burnout" -- and I think she is right. Christian leadership author Leighton Ford (the brother-in-law of Billy Graham) saw the problem. He wrote in his 1991 book: “How can the leadership of Jesus be good news for us? If we are not what he is, then is his leadership not a model of despair?” (Perhaps it doesn't need to be an either-or -- but the distinction should be clear).

Try, Try, Try ...

Winston Churchill famously said, "Try, try, try again." The first time I wrote a Greek exam, I obtained 33%. This was not bad -- compared with my second attempt. For that, I obtained 28%. I asked my friends to help me -- and apparently over-compensated for the failures of the past. On my third attempt, I obtained a distinction, which I think meant 80%-plus at the English college concerned (in South Africa, a distinction is a ¾ score). OBSERVATION: So, don't judge yourself by your beginnings.

Mini-Market

Our Church had a Mini-Market this morning. The stall-holders were telling me, though, that this doesn't work in winter. However, the used clothing stall was overrun, and the cakes sold like ... well, hot cakes. Somebody called our deaconess E. (on the right of the photo) "Ouma" -- or "Grandma". She said, "People call me everything. I don't mind."

Mothering (Or Not)

A Church member volunteered in the kitchen on a camp. Her daughter M. was one of the campers. Young M. used a "rope slide", lost her grip, hit the ground and broke her foot, and rolled into a pit. About the first thing she said from the pit was: "My mother must not come!" OBSERVATION: So much for mothering. Happy Mothering Sunday! (Mother's Day).

The Devil

I minister in a multicultural congregation, and have enjoyed the "corrective" of cultures which have roots other than my own rationalistic, Western culture. It has enriched me -- and all of us. With this in mind, over the years I have come to feel quite at home with talk of the devil and spiritual beings. It almost seems to me now that the rationalistic view is a strange, minority view -- a curiosity of other shores. In my own Church, it surely is! (the post was prompted by Ryan Peter).

Bureaucratic Chaos

Last week I helped a young woman in our Church with a seminary application. But the paperwork was "something else". It started with a wrong surname on a crucial qualification of hers -- so we needed to get various papers together and set this straight with an affidavit. However, that opened a Pandora's Box. The date on her birth certificate was wrong -- therefore they'd issued a new birth certificate. However, the new one didn't have her name on it. Not only that, but her mother's first name was missing from the certificate -- and so, too, was the name of her father. We turned to her parents' marriage certificate. Her mother's ID number was missing, and her father's ID number was four digits short. OBSERVATION: And that is not the whole story. Happily, the affidavit worked, and she was accepted this week.

Maori Language

Of all things, I have been studying the Maori language this week. I am surprised at its affinity to the language of the islands where I lived as a child: I-Kiribati. Here are some examples of I-Kiribati/Maori: aine/wahine (woman), ika/ika (fish), wa/waka (canoe), mate/mate (dead), tabu/tapu (taboo) -- and so on. This is not information I have come across before. The languages are separated by 5,000km/3,000mi of ocean.

Can Fix Can't Drive

The workshop completed its overhaul of my vehicle today (see a previous post). But they reported: "We can't drive it! We don't know how! We don't want to ruin it trying! Could you send someone over to give it a test run?" The photo shows my vehicle just south of South Africa's great salt pans -- see the road sign in the background (you may click on the photo to enlarge to 40k).

Urban vs. Suburban Church

I have been in urban and in suburban ministry. I discussed the contrasts with a minister with similar experience. Here's what we considered characteristic of urban ministry vs. suburban, and you might wish to add your own (just reverse each item and you'll have what is more typical of suburban ministry):

URBAN MINISTRY: 1. rich and poor tend to live on top of one another, 2. there is a greater cultural mix, 3. Churches have a much higher turnover, 4. their finances tend to be unpredictable, 5. there are many hindrances to visitation, 6. there is much social trauma, 7. more people depend on the Church to break their isolation, 8. more people turn to the Church for help, 9. there is a greater requirement for a radical gospel, 10. there is more chaos in Sunday services, 11. small groups depend more on the Church premises, 12. one not seldom encounters malicious people, 13. the poor tend to be aggressive, 14. young adults tend only to pass through, 15. the youth tend to be difficult to handle, 16. loss and damage through crime is common, and 17. Church planting is more precarious.

Why the above sounds so negative, I'm not sure, because my happiest ministry has been under these circumstances -- although I would gladly do without some of the above!

The Trials Of Larnin'

I've had some trying moments during my postgraduate studies. I stumbled upon one of them this week in old course notes. It had been a frustrating semester in the USA, and students were asked to evaluate the course. I asked: evaluate, how? perhaps according to the aims of faculty: 1. SUPPRESS LEARNER-LEARNER DIALOGUE ON CRUCIAL THEOLOGICAL ISSUES, 2. WALK ON STUDENTS' STATED THEOLOGICAL ROOTS, 3. OBFUSCATE THE CRISIS IN THE NORTH AMERICAN CHURCH, 4. SUPPRESS VARIETY IN THE REQUIRED READING, and so on (I had fourteen theses -- a little short of Luther, I admit). I was fed up. OBSERVATION: Faculty politely suggested that I might wish to continue (quote) "outside of this degree program". My academic mentor wrote to them: "I am very disappointed ..."

If We Could Vanish

Our accountant queued for hours, three days in a row, seeking help from the government on my salary package -- and presumably that of other staff, too (her dedication is impressive). The third day, she was told to come again the next day. Online help was not to be found. The regulations are enormously complex, and every year they change. OBSERVATION: If a well established Church like ours, with a qualified accountant and a competent treasurer, cannot figure it out, and spends days of person-hours trying, what about the thousands of less well equipped Churches? I am told of several Churches which "went underground". They vanished off the government's radar. But ours is such a monstrosity in the middle of a hectic suburb. It would be rather hard for us to vanish.

Youth Leaders/Helpers

We have Youth leaders and we have Youth helpers. Our leaders (three of them) put policy in place and make decisions. Our helpers mostly help to keep control -- but they also take on some of the roles of leaders. All of them are very dedicated -- and deal so patiently with the Youth. I am amazed. OBSERVATION: From experience, we have found that we need about one leader/helper per five children, or things begin to unravel. The photo shows a Youth helper taking a photo of the Youth on his cell-phone.

Optimistic Assessment

Last week, I noted briefly that a philosophy paper I wrote was "not selected". That's a simple statement of fact -- yet enormous effort had gone into the paper. It was a strong paper, according to prior peer review (or academic "screening"). Why did it fail? I can see three reasons: 1. I risked a high chance of rejection (as best I know, 20:1 -- but I wouldn't want it otherwise), 2. I used specialist terminology, in an environment where "super-specialist" terminology was favoured (in other words, not the best "fit"), and 3. I probably omitted bridging arguments in my paper -- a failing I tend to be particularly good at. All in all, I consider this to be an optimistic assessment (rather than there being reason to be pessimistic). Therefore, I have by no means given up on the paper. OBSERVATION: What is a bridging argument? Take these sentences: "Joe was drunk. Drunk people are unsteady on their feet. That is why Joe fell." The bridging argument is the sentence in the middle. Most people would not miss it if one took it out -- but academics would!

Kiddie Culture Clash

A minister friend had an unusual problem of "clashing cultures" in his Church. It was a predominantly "European stock" congregation -- then there was a major influx of African children in the Youth. These children did what they do in their kiddie culture: if others get in the way when playing ball, well, thump them. It's part of the fun. This caused an outcry from parents who had raised their children to believe that there are rules to games. OBSERVATION: I haven't heard how this one ended.

Conjuring Trick

Over the years, I have designed several electronic conjuring tricks. The most popular was my ESP Conjuring Trick, which has gone into production in at least two versions. However, I have long had in mind a more basic version of this trick. Here it is. It informs the conjurer what is inside a box through (ow!) heat. To describe it simply, the conjurer invites someone to place two objects in a box, or one or the other or none at all -- and to close the box. The conjurer places his or her hands on the box (touching crucial studs), pauses for a while, and announces what is in the box. Here is the vital information (click on the image to enlarge). The trick is activated when two moist (licked) fingers touch both Studs A and B on the outside of the box. S1 and S2 are reed switches which are closed when items (hiding magnets) are inserted into the box. If, when the trick is activated through Studs A and B, both S1 and S2 are closed, R7 heats up after about 15 seconds. If only S1 is closed, about 20 seconds. If only S3 is closed, about 25 seconds. If neither reed switch is closed, R7 never heats up. R7 is the vital part -- a 2W 38R (38 Ohm) resistor. Since the circuit runs off 9V, R7 is slightly underrated, so heats up when TR2 conducts. R7 is closely joined to Stud C on the outside of the box, so that heat flows quickly to the stud, and this is felt by a finger. Note, however, that the characteristics of resistors vary, and the value of R3 may need to be increased or decreased to vary the heat (that is, the time that current flows through R7 may need to be varied), or another 2W resistor may need to be tried for R7 (or even 1.5W or 1W, if the value of R3 is much reduced -- R7 should not be allowed to be hot for more than a second). Some care will be needed in placing studs and in routing wires (note that hinges can be used to conduct current). OBSERVATION: The components in this design can all be replaced by equivalents, but IC1 must be a CMOS version of the 555 timer, or Studs 1 and 2 will fail to function. S3 may be a tilt switch, but it is really shown just as a reminder that the circuit needs to be switched off somehow after use. If the trick is well made, it will be inscrutable. One might think of variations, too, such as an arrow pointing any one of four directions inside the box.

NOTE: For now, I am keeping this design exclusive to this blog -- but feel free to link to it.

Treasure-Hunting

I was treasure-hunting today with visitors to our shores, at a wreck site in our suburb. We found several small things, such as the old clasp on the right (probably 110-120 years old). Our most exciting piece was a live bullet.

Types Of Refugee

Very many refugees have attended our Church, or have simply sought help or counsel from us. In my experience, they tend to fall into three main categories: 1. those whose families back home have entered dire straits economically, and wish to make money to rescue them, to pay for food, medication, schooling, and so on, 2. those who flee as a result of intimidation, war, press-gangs, persecution, famine, or other dire circumstances, and 3. those who come here to "make a stash", invest, and go back home to fulfil their ambitions.

Kept Woman

I met with an (ex) kept woman in my vestry -- a beauty of poise and intelligence. She said, "I had everything that money could buy. I was spoiled rotten. Then suddenly, my man left me. I was left in a home that I couldn't pay for. I was unemployed. I didn't have a career. I didn't have money even to pay for food. I had his child. And I was devastated." At the same time, however, she said that this turned out to be a very great blessing from God, as she came to know Him, and it set her feet on a firm path. It was a precious exchange.

Fun Pickup

I'm without my Bajaj pickup for a week. It's having a major overhaul. I so enjoy driving it. It provides me with great fun. But sometimes it's an aggravation, too. Like needing an overhaul far away from home (it's hard to find anyone who will do it). I took the photo somewhere far north of Cape Town. You'll see the photo in VGA if you click on it.

Stake-Out

We had a quiet morning at the Church last Sunday. No screaming, no harassment, no squalor, no disruption. Inexplicably, a police patrol van was staking out the entrance to our street. The photo was taken through our Church doors.

Peltier Device

It was a busy day today -- yet in between I experimented briefly with a Peltier device (pictured). These convert power to heat and cold. And the purpose? I was designing a conjuring trick, and was thinking on how objects hidden in a sealed box could be revealed to the conjurer. I had already tried neural signals, successfully. These are relatively data-intensive (in transferring data from inside a box to a conjurer), but a little complex to implement. A Peltier device offered far less data-transfer -- but great simplicity -- and, like neural signals, complete inscrutability. The device communicates of course through tactile sense.