Contemplating Wheels

I took the first step today to consolidate my finances to buy some new wheels (three wheels, that is)! But it could take me a while. There are three options in South Africa. The Bajaj (which I now drive) is fun and fuel-efficient, but it is no longer in production. The Tuk Tuk is powerful and fast, but it is expensive, and fuel-hungry, and has doubtful backup. The Mahindra (bulkier than the other two, shown above right) has a good reputation, and a good support network. It has a 440cc single-cylinder diesel engine, and doors. It is slow, though, and needs frequent servicing. All in all, I'd favour the Mahindra.

Fornication

A Church member asked me yesterday: "What's wrong with fornication?" -- as if to say that she couldn't see (all of) the point. I said: "I'll give you some examples from my counselling experience" -- and I portrayed some features of real-life situations (in fact, see one of yesterday's posts). She said: "I didn't realise there's a whole big picture! You should make the congregation aware of that!" OBSERVATION: In fact, issues such as fornication are so often dealt with from the perspective of theoretical rather than practical theology, which seem like two different worlds.

Glamourising The Past

It is interesting how past ministers of this Church have been ... shall we say glamourised. Our Church's official history describes our first minister (pictured) as "a great man in every respect ... he hallowed everything he touched." It concludes: "During his 7 years' ministry ... 77 new members had been added." OBSERVATION: Recently, a member of our Church died. It occurred to me that, several years ago, he was the 100th new member to be added under my ministry. Perhaps someday I, too, will be glamourised ...

Youth Posing

Our Church Youth like to pose for my camera. Often I'll give them a copy of the photo later. I took this photo tonight -- you may click on it to enlarge to VGA. OBSERVATION: Portraits like this one usually work better without a flash -- but the risk is blurring.

Technorati Authority

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Rankings are fickle. However, it is pleasing to note that my blog, at the moment, has far and away the highest Technorati authority among South African Religion blogs. Today it stands at 444, with the nearest contenders being in the 100's. (Technorati authority is regarded as the benchmark of a blog's authority).

Not Guilty?

A young woman took an overdose -- yet lived to tell the tale. She told me what a complete ******* her lover had been -- and no doubt she was right. I said: "What about you? Don't you have a few things to apologise to God for?" She said: "Me? Like what? It was him who messed it all up!" I said: "Let's start with the overdose. You don't think you need to apologise to your Maker?" She was quiet. I suggested a few other things, too. I'm not sure she could see it.

Filling Up

This one's "just a pretty picture". I took this photo from the back of our Church in June last year, with an Olympus camera. The photo shows the Church filling up nicely for a winter Sunday -- with the front middle pews always the last to be occupied. It also shows our informal worship team leading choruses before the service. And it shows our Canadian intern (bearded, in front of the organ pipes), who returned home last December. This photo was taken at 9:54. The service begins at 10:00, and the Church continues to fill up until about 10:15 ... or is that 10:55? You may click on the photo to enlarge to VGA.

Functions Of Christian Leadership

A fellow South African blogger asked me a question that I understood as follows: "What are the functions of Christian leadership?" Some might say "competencies" or "characteristics". I'll list my fellow blogger's suggestions in ordinary letters below, and my suggested additions in capitals:

. . FAITH
. . POINTING
. . FACILITATING
. . Leading
. . Feeding
. . Nurturing
. . Comforting
. . Correcting
. . Protecting
. . LOVING
. . SERVING
. . ADMINISTERING

OBSERVATION: Many such lists exist -- inter alia by Barna, Clinton, Engstrom, Munroe, Stanley, Wofford. However, the list you see here is different, and I think it is more typically Southern African. It is different like this: I would think it tends to focus more on the divine, more on the task, less on image or ideal, and less on moving others.

Linguistics

I'm writing a paper at the moment with heavy linguistic content (my Master's thesis had heavy linguistic content). It is about denotation -- or the definition of words. This might seem an ordinary theme, but it carries with it important corollaries. A central theme of my paper is that people continually defy the definitions of words. For instance, consider the sentences: "She bought a house. The karma was bad." What does a house have to do with karma? According to the dictionary, nothing. Why does one link the karma with the house at all? One wouldn't link the sentences if one read, say: "She bought a house. The engine was bad." Why, then, does one intuitively understand (or not) such sentences? (I don't have opportunity to go into the corollaries here, never mind the intricacies).

Linux Adoption

Being a user of the Linux operating system (the image shows the Linux mascot), it's interesting to note that ever more Linux users look in on my blog. The figure is now 23% of readers -- although this could be influenced by various factors. However, if this is any reflection of reality, then Windows is surely in trouble. OBSERVATION: Statistics suggest around 10% Linux users worldwide, about the same as Windows 7 (see Linux Adoption for an in-depth discussion). Interestingly, IBM now advocates Linux.

Self-Preservation vs. Service

Thinking still on the last post, it is a difficult tension, to try to help all-comers who turn to the Church for counsel or assistance, while protecting one's time and energies for work which is of more central importance in ministry. To make the matter more awkward, people frequently turn up for help just when one thinks: "That's it for today. My counselling is done. My meeting's over. I'm finished." Then, add to this the volume of people needing help, and the fact that, if it isn't managed, it may turn into chaos and even riot (see Street Mentality as an example). OBSERVATION: I tend to give all-comers an abbreviated "don't waste my time" kind of counsel and assistance: five or ten minutes of sincere input where others might receive an hour. And in spite of busyness and weariness, I (try to) tell myself: "Where else could one serve like this?"

Receiving Without Giving

A young man, an "occasional" congregant, came to the Church this morning to ask me for counsel and help. I said: "You don't come to Church. You couldn't care less about the Church. Then you come when you want to extract something from us. How does that add up?" He looked stunned. He said: "No, Father. They put me away. Sixty days." OBSERVATION: I guess that piece of information was intended to restore his reputation. This time round, I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

"When Men Shall Revile You ..."

A Church member came to see me last week in my vestry. She hadn't been to Church, she said, partly because she had been mocked on the street corner outside the Church, on her way to Church. This Sunday, our Honorary Church Secretary reported that she, too, had experienced this -- however, in this case, a friend of the mocker had interrupted: "Moenie met haar mors nie! Sy's 'n groot kerkmens! Sy's kwaai!" (Translated: "Don't mess with her! She's a big Church person! She's vicious!") OBSERVATION: Dig it? Nobody messes wid our office-bearers.

Standing Before Kings

A young woman wanted to emigrate, to find a better life. I advised her that she didn't need to emigrate, she was in a perfect space to apply herself and improve herself. I quoted Proverbs 22:29: "Do you see a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings. He shall not stand before mean men." I didn't hear from her in a long time. I was curious. I contacted her place of work. They said: "She isn't here any more. She went studying. She became a translator. She travels abroad now, to translate for touring groups." (She learnt Korean).

Church Growth

Generally speaking, in the West, the Church is "holding" or in decline. In South Africa, while statistics are patchy, those that one can come by show that the Church scene is volatile, and that there is, in many areas, rampant growth. The table on the right represents the most recent national statistics, comparing the 1996 and 2001 censuses (you may click on it to enlarge). OBSERVATION: Our Canadian intern asked me last year: "Do you think that this is transferable?" In other words, would our ways work in the West? Having close contact with the Church in North America and in Europe, I think that yes, it would be transferable -- if Westerners could overcome their pride in their failing ways.

NOTE: For a post on this post, see Khanya.

Truant Congregation

While I was on leave, our congregation dwindled. (It seems back to normal now). I could tell that this unsettled our leadership. I mentioned it to a retired minister. He e-mailed me: "My congregation always disappeared when I went on leave. Going on leave is a win win situation. If no one comes to church in your absence, they welcome you back with open arms, saying that they cannot do without you, and you feel loved. If the congregation keeps up while you are away, they welcome you home saying that you obviously have done a good job, for the people keep up the ministry while you are away."

Snooker Champ

Here's another picture of our youngest Youth member. She is just three years old, and already a champ at snooker. (Not only can she pot the balls, but she knows the rules of play).

Church Meeting

This morning I chaired our Church Meeting -- the highest executive of the Congregational Church, and the place where Congregationalists believe that Christ Himself (quote) "imparts their findings". The meeting was full, which was a nice surprise -- and both old and young attended. Wife M. summarised the state of the Church with the words: "God is alive. God is at work." Everything has been humming -- except, however, our finances, which have taken a plunge. It has also been an unsettling time past, due to wife M.'s uncertain health. No major votes were taken, but there were some informal proposals of the kind that can be quite significant -- such as utilising our Church garden as a kind of urban-space coffee shop.

Congratulations, Sister

There are a number of groups we give "favoured status" on our Church premises. One of these is the Maryland Literacy Programme. Sister Marina (pictured) was Executive Director of the programme for 34 years. Today she retired, due to failing energies, and an Acting Director was appointed in her place. She was sunning herself in our Church garden while the meeting continued inside -- and I asked her for a photo. OBSERVATION: Under her directorship, 13,000 adults learnt to read and write in English, Afrikaans, and Xhosa. Sister Marina is great fun. Congratulations, Sister, on your retirement, and a job well done.

Cloud Computing

With Linux Ubuntu, I do what is called cloud computing. There's a folder on my computer like any other -- except it has a twin, somewhere out there in the "cloud". The twin folders are continually in sync. OBSERVATION: So if a bomb were to hit my office, I could (after brushing myself off) pick up exactly where I left off, with another computer. Ubuntu cloud computing (called Ubuntu One) is free for up to 2GB of files. One could in fact put everything in the cloud -- at a price.

Loving Care

Recently, I posted about a teenager, T., who was in a coma for a week or more. As minister, I was one of the few who was allowed to see her. At her bed, they kept watch over her round the clock. Two things surprised me. T. had been wheeled in unconscious, so those who kept watch (nursing sisters) didn't know her -- yet they treated her as though they were her own mother. Also, she was completely unresponsive -- yet they spoke to her continually as if she were wide awake. OBSERVATION: I was impressed by what I saw. The hospital is the Vincent Palotti. T. has since made a good recovery.

Harassment

I have been harassed -- I mean systematically, illegally harassed -- not the usual "it was a harassing day" kind of thing. I contacted my attorney today. What should I do? She wrote: "I suggest that you don't do anything and peacefully get on with your life. I will do a letter to them, telling them that they are not allowed to speak to you." OBSERVATION: Actually, this does not trouble me much. I am fairly used to harassment -- and as you see, I have a reassuring attorney. Many people, however, do get rattled by this kind of thing. I took the photo of "ruffled feathers" on a farm east of Cape Town.

Language Student's Request

I had a glad moment this morning. Earlier in the week, a Korean language student asked me whether he could lead the prayers in Church on Sunday, before he returned to Korea. I said: "Meet with me at the Church, and we'll run through it." Our session this morning was a revelation. Among other things, he thanked God for his salvation in our Church (I didn't know this) -- and, as is often the case with "previously unchurched" prayers, he filled it with fresh spiritual phrases. We worked on the grammar and pronunciation.

A Case Of Corruption

Demands for bribes often happen in situations of pressure -- where somebody really needs something. It happened to a Church member this month, and she was distressed. I called someone in (fairly high) authority. His personal assistant said to me: "Could you e-mail him?" On this point, however, it was no way, I've tried that before. (Depending on what one is dealing with, one may be imperilling oneself, not to speak of others, and there's ministry to get on with). The man in authority gave me a call. He asked me: "Who asked for the bribe? A member of the public, or one of our officers?" (an interesting question -- it was one of their officers). He asked me for our Church member's details. I said: "I can't do that without her permission." He said: "Then please pass on my personal telephone number to her." OBSERVATION: So far, so good. I avoided becoming ensnared, I protected our member's identity, and I might have facilitated a solution.

Ubuntu Installation

During the night, I upgraded to the latest LTS (major) version of Linux Ubuntu. The installation (a half-gigabyte download), together with upgrades for a host of applications, was trouble-free and gratis -- however, it knocked out my printer. This was solved by deleting the printer and re-installing it. The new version of Ubuntu, on my computer, boots up in 23 seconds, and generally has a quicker feel to it. This version should especially appeal to those who like garish appearances -- but this can quickly be changed with a right-click on the screen. OBSERVATION: I continue to be impressed with Linux Ubuntu. In my view, it is streets ahead of Windows. It makes my desk-work simple, slick, and without incident. The image shows the official Ubuntu DVD. I bought an unofficial one incidentally -- which was a dud.

Dread Of Events, Fear Of God

In my Minister's Bible Study, I tend to alternate between New Testament and Old. This week, we started Exodus. We noted how the events of this chapter were driven by deep spiritual orientations. The chapter specifically states that some of the characters were motivated by the dread of events, others by the fear of God. God personally blessed those who feared Him. OBSERVATION: In my counselling experience, the dread of events vs. the fear of God are powerful driving forces, and determine people's behaviour, and indeed their blessing.

Red'huys Interior

This is the interior of the Dutch Reformed Church Redelinghuys, seen from the main entrance. The design of this Church is quite close to that of the DRC Aurora. But it lacks the elegance. Redelinghuys is a village about 200km/125mi north of Cape Town. You may click on the photo for VGA resolution.

To Do Or Not To Do

I decided this morning that a minister should definitely not draw up to-do lists. The only problem is, I have not yet thought of the alternative. In my first week back from my winter leave, I plunged with enthusiasm into tasks which obviously needed attention -- not least pastoral care. In my second week, I have such an impossible to-do list, it seems like putting one's foot straight into a bog. See also Administrative Mornings.

The Wife's Progress

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Back in December, wife M. was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer. Here's the latest update -- looking back to December. The main benchmark as to how the patient is doing is her haemoglobin. For four or five months, despite radical interventions (such as chemotherapy), M.'s haemoglobin kept dropping to less than half of what it should be -- which was very serious. However, during the past two months, her haemoglobin has stabilised at around two-thirds of what it should be -- no small thanks to "hard medication". This also means that M. is managing better at this time. The photo shows M. on a picnic last month.

Unseen Influence

It's sometimes the "unseen" members of the Church who may have a major impact on the Church. An example is M., a young husband and father who died last month (on the right of the photo). I am able to trace about a dozen members and adherents in our Church to him -- and yet he himself was completely self-effacing.

Near Death Experience

Two months ago, I noted that I was surprised how few near death experiences (NDE's) I had recorded on my blog. So far, only one -- out of about a dozen I have heard. Here is another. D. was a good-looking young woman in her 30's, who had had a series of heart attacks and strokes. They "brought her back" from a heart attack, and I visited her in hospital. She said: "I met Jesus Christ. I was overwhelmed by His love. It was incredible. I didn't want to go back. But He said I had to go back. Why did He reject me? Does He have something for me to do here? What am I supposed to do?" She made a temporary recovery, and died.

DRC Redelinghuys

Here's another local Church -- the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC, or NGK) Redelinghuys, about 200km/125mi north of Cape Town. On the 26th of December 1872, J.N.L. Redelinghuys donated 300 morgen (600 acres) of land for the building of this Church, and it was dedicated on the 5th of October 1918 by the "local preacher", D.J. de Villiers. OBSERVATION: From another angle, this Church is perfectly symmetrical. Photos are awkward, as the Church is surrounded by trees. Coming soon: the interior.

Beyond Surprise

A woman came to see me with a woman friend. She wanted to describe her situation from the very beginning -- which she did at a good pace. Then she arrived at a part where they had "removed her woman's parts". She said: "Here, Reverend, look!" and exposed herself from the waist down. I said: "I don't need to see what they did to you! Your story is good enough." OBSERVATION: I'm beyond being surprised in this Church. For a similar incident, see Topless.

Theology Of Suffering

In my recent visit to VOX City Church (pictured), Lead Elder J.D. Senkbile said: "I want us to be a Church that has a theology of suffering ... The prosperity gospel is huge here." He made a distinction between "what you're doing" and "who you are". You can modify your behaviour, he said, without there being a change to "the very fabric of who you are". Suffering, he said, enables us to change fundamentally, while experiencing the power of the resurrection. And once we understand it, we'll "do it well -- with peace and joy". Quoting John Piper, he said that there is a special need for pastors to suffer.

Blog Run Dry

Nearly two weeks ago, I pledged not to blog unless I had put in half an hour's research and writing first. I had a good run. If one counts my blog posts since then, I studied up to two hours each day. The strategy worked. But now I have no more research and writing to back up more posts. Back soon!

Clever Cat

Our cat learnt something. As a kitten, she was found abandoned in Grassy Park, one of Cape Town's tough neighbourhoods. For the first two years of her life, she fought to kill. She would shred one's hand if one tried to "play fight". Just over the past month or two, she has retracted her claws when she fights. One only feels her soft paws now. Clever cat. The photo shows her on my office desk.

Naming Sources

Someone informed me that a member of staff had breached staff protocol. I spoke to our member of staff. He said: "You have to name your sources! This is illegal! I know your sources!" and so on. I said: "It's not our policy to name sources, and that's the bottom line. What matters is that I'm not relying on sources now -- I'm talking to you." OBSERVATION: If you want to put the cat among the pigeons in the Church, name sources. It multiplies problems. I consider that one needs, where possible, to reduce things to the parties who are directly involved. This particular situation quickly settled down. (Incidentally I do not have any charge of staff matters, but will sometimes address them on an informal basis where this could be helpful).

Tithing: SA Data

Following a recent post on tithing, here's a table which shows the state of tithing in South Africa (you may click on it to enlarge -- it's 41k). It represents "Proportion of income actually given by the respondents to God, by denomination," and is taken from Dr. Reuben van Rensburg's 2002 doctoral dissertation Tithes and Offerings in the South African Context: The Bible and Reality. OBSERVATION: It's interesting to note that more than two-thirds of these denominations have a majority of members who tithe. Statistics which stand out: 83% tithe on gross income in the Apostolic Faith Mission, while none tithe on any income in the Roman Catholic Church! My own Church would fall under "Independent Churches".

Hospital Muddle

I went to visit a woman in hospital -- but the hospital couldn't find her details in their system. The woman at the desk said: "She must have been sent home." I said: "Maybe you've lost her in the building." The woman at the desk said: "Ooh no! We would never do that!" Afterwards I found the patient at home. They had sent her home because, when she was meant to be admitted, they couldn't find her details in their system! OBSERVATION: This was a minor situation. See also No Patient List.

Church Tourism

Many Christians, when on holiday/vacation, seem to take a holiday from the Church. I have a personal "policy" when on holiday: attend (better, become involved in) the local Church there. So during my recent Winter Break, I attended many Churches. OBSERVATION: I took this photo in a Church in Kampong Cham, Cambodia, where I once became involved. The Church was full, with mostly young people. They sang so heartily that one's ears rang. I met Kampong Cham's first Christian, too. It's a false-colour image so the musicians stand out.

Free From Conflict

Christian leadership guru Bobby Clinton states: "I would guess that most leaders spend the majority of their time and energy dealing with conflict." Yet in our Church, there has been no conflict during the past decade (which came into the open, or became a "Church matter"). The answer as to how we achieved this is multi-faceted, but I would include the following points: 1. We sought to see all things in terms of exalting Christ (see the comments under Tithing: SA Data for a live example), 2. We helped people feel secure about how issues are handled (i.e. no need for power plays), 3. I took decisive action where I saw potential trouble-spots, 4. I rejected leadership models according to which Church leaders have an influential role in the Church (which is the Spirit's role), and 5. our membership is restricted to confessing, active Christians. OBSERVATION: In a typical year, I estimate that I spend less than 1% of my time on conflict. This is liberating for ministry. (Again, not that there haven't been "collisions" behind the scenes).

No Guns

They "promulgated a new law" at our Church Youth tonight: "No Guns Allowed!" One of the Youth had hurt another with a toy gun (he hit him with it). A Youth leader explained to the Youth that love and kindness lie at the heart of the gospel. OBSERVATION: I took the photo tonight of our youngest Youth member. She is three years old, and by the looks of it, a future champ.

Boer In Exile [2]

I referred in a recent post to the Boer in exile: "We have been a disobedient volk, therefore we are in exile, yet our grandchildren will inherit the promises." I asked a "genuine Boer" (a retired farmer) what the talk was about. He held up his two palms. He said: “Put a Bible in this hand. Put the book of unfolding history in this one. What do you see? Snap!” Could he explain it to me? However, he would refer only to the situation of exile, not to the Boer. He said (referring specifically to Blacks and Coloureds): “Their world will crumble.” The same week, I asked an Afrikaner businessman about this. He seemed to know about it -- but he said: “These are the End Times! There are no promises for our grandchildren!”

Back A Step ... ?

Being at a complete loss as to what to put on my blog this morning (or rather, which of many subjects to choose), this is another photo from my "Big Zero Birthday Climb". This is P., one of my climbing companions, on the summit of Lion's Head (669m/2195'). The prankster in me wants to say: "Back a step ... and just one more ..." OBSERVATION: P. is one of our Church's Youth leaders. You may enlarge to VGA by clicking on the photo.

Talking About Tithing

Last month, our Church leadership asked me to preach on tithing -- which I shall do this coming Sunday. This against a background of about a 12% decline in our Church's finances. This may not seem much, but it means that our bank balance has dropped by tens of thousands in a short time. The core of my message is that one's tithe is "holy [or tabu] to the Lord" (Lev 27:30). Tonight I said at a leadership meeting that I consider the problem in our Church to be a spiritual one, as no other problem would really seem to stand out. One of our leadership said: "But you know how it is, Thomas. People hear you for a week or a month, then they fall back into their old ways." I said: "I don't see that this is about me motivating people. This is about the Holy Spirit speaking to people's hearts and convicting them." OBSERVATION: In 2005, we saw a similar decline in our finances, and similarly addressed it from a spiritual point of view. The response restored our finances. I still remember thanking -- and thanking -- people for their response.

HIV/AIDS In The Church

I am an urban minister in Africa. I need hardly say, therefore, that my ministry may have to do with HIV/AIDS. While I do not deal with HIV/AIDS “regularly”, it is more common in my ministry than heart attack or stroke or even cancer. It has been called a “wasting disease”. This is true – but only sometimes. It also takes young adults in the prime of life, through opportune infections that kill them suddenly. OBSERVATION: I am aware of several people in our Church who have HIV/AIDS at present – although they may not know that I know. It needs to be borne in mind that, often, those with HIV/AIDS are people who have committed wholeheartedly to Christ and to the Church, and I love them.

Boer In Exile

I was puzzled, on my Winter Break, by the recurring theme of The Exile among rural Afrikaners. It went something like this: we have been a disobedient volk, therefore we are in exile, yet our grandchildren will inherit the promises. Did this represent a theology? Was it merely in my imagination? Was this a metaphor for the Fall? OBSERVATION: I did a search on the Internet, and found the same: "Op die oomblik is die Boer in ballingskap te danke aan sy eie ongehoorsaamheid aan die Almagtige se woord" (these words are quoted many times). Yet the language is highly symbolic. What does it mean? I asked a "genuine Boer" -- also an Afrikaner businessman. Coming soon: what they said.

Hot In Egypt

This post refers not to the heat in Egypt, but to the keen interest that there is, in Egypt, in this blog. At the moment, Egyptian readers have risen to 16% of total readership. This exceeds all of North America combined -- and all of Europe combined. The graph is provided by www.amatomu.com.

My "Serious Seat"

I had an appointment last night with a mother -- about her daughter. Unexpectedly, the daughter turned up. I said to the mother: "I need my Serious Seat!" (behind my vestry desk). But we agreed that I would see the mother first. So I said: "No, I don't need my Serious Seat" (we talked across the vestry floor). However, a second session involved the daughter. Then I took to my Serious Seat. OBSERVATION: I try to assess how serious to be with people. There are some very tough people in the city -- but this daughter seemed to be more of a softie.

DRC Vredenburg

Here's the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC, or NGK) in Vredenburg, just over 100km/60mi north of Cape Town. The Church was dedicated on the 10th October 1875 -- the town then being no more than a hamlet. The same year, the town was renamed Vredenburg (Peace Town) in place of Prosesfontein (Litigation Town). The spire was a fairly late addition to the building. You may click on the photo to enlarge to 270k.

Recovery

Four months ago, I reported that a teenager in our Church (pictured) was critically injured in one of those reckless acts of youthful bravado (she was not responsible for what happened). I walked into the hospital being oblivious of her condition. I was deeply shocked when I saw her. I walked out of Surgical Intensive Care and cried more or less for the rest of the day. She was in a coma for a week or more. But today was the young woman's first day back at school. Her mother said to me: "God is truly wonderful." The school gave her an average grade for time lost.

My Own-Goal

Waiting for me on my vestry desk this morning was a 'resignation' from our Church. But this one is a classic. I enjoyed the humour of the situation. It read: "We are returning to [name of the Church], and you helped us make the decision!! A sermon on 'Scruples' put our 'differences' with our old church into perspective. We took a break because of a matter of scruples. These, over time, are seen clearly (thanks to you and your guidance) and are simply silly 'scruples'." OBSERVATION: As they say: oy vey! I summarised that fateful sermon here: Scruples.

Back To Work

I return to work this morning after a month's Winter Break. During the past month, some "big things" have happened in people's lives. I shall be giving those priority, beginning today. Tomorrow I shall catch up with the Church office, and spend some time at my vestry desk to draw up a personal priority list. The next day, I have a leadership meeting, which may need to consider some major issues. That will require thought and preparation. A further priority for the week is my Sunday sermon, and various aspects of Sunday's service. No doubt, too, there will be a list of surprises for me.

VOX: Pros And Cons

Yesterday I attended VOX City Church, a Church plant in the city centre. The pros: The venue was nice (though unusually situated), the preparation was first class, the content was well balanced, the Lead Elder knew how to preach, the emphasis was on Christ, and personally, I think they are doing good work that will bear lasting fruit. Any cons should be seen in this context. The cons: There is an enormous investment of resources and energy in this Church, for which I did not find a more specific motivation (but the general motivation is there). Also, I find that such emerging Churches (not emergent -- a narrower term) tend to distance themselves from Church the way it's (sometimes) become, yet unwittingly tend towards similar characteristics. In this case, it was a "formal informality": on the surface of it informality, underneath formality -- in my view, because people may be trying too hard -- natural, perhaps, for new beginnings. OBSERVATION: Take a look, by way of contrast, at my Winter Photo 39, where one sees an "informal formality". It's a formal Anglican service, where the priest has a "couldn't care less" attitude (jumping off the altar without a second thought), while caring very much, if that makes sense.

Fashionably Late

Steve "Khanya" Hayes comments on the "fashionable lateness" I mention in my previous post. Here's what I photographed last month in a Uniting Reformed Church (URC, or VGK). At the top, they're singing one hymn, at the bottom, another -- and the congregation has grown by about a quarter. OBSERVATION: I find that foreign visitors are not seldom disturbed by this typically South African behaviour (which we hardly notice). It happens in our Church, too. See Sunday Traffic.

VOX City Church

I attended VOX City Church tonight -- a Church plant in Cape Town's city centre. They meet in a small, attractive theatre in a loft. On a good day, they may have 30 in attendance. All young(ish) people tonight, the Church made a favourable first impression. Lead Elder J.D. Senkbile of the USA said to me: "People arrive on time, or fashionably late." Tonight, it was fashionably late, without exception. I took the photo at starting time. I shall share some further impressions in a future post.

Presbyterian Sermon

This morning I attended a nearby urban Church -- the Presbyterian Church. I attended the small, early Afrikaans service -- its character was "old Reformed" (a later service is in English). Rev. Natalie van Rooyen preached on the Good Samaritan. The story is about compassion, she said, but also illustrates how all of us (reflecting various characters in the story) are victims by nature, victims of sin, caught -- and we don't want to hear it. However, THE Good Samaritan the Lord, surprises us in Jesus Christ, "remains busy with us", and even grants us "excitement" about it. For a little more on this Church, see Presbyterian Church.

Writing Papers

There must be zillions of words out there. Writing academic papers is about casting one’s eye across all those zillions of words, and selecting and putting in order just a few of them, with precision and proof. The more integrative one aims to be, the more difficult. It seems like focusing all the light of the sun on a cloudy day into the tiniest and most elusively exact spot. At the moment, I am working on my third academic paper this year. OBSERVATION: However, until now, although I have hundreds of articles in print, and have served as an editor and consulting editor, I have had only one academic paper published, at Yale. It was in the field of gnomonics – telling the time by the sun: the position of the earth, the sky, the sun, the position of you and me, and trigonometry ...

Noon Day Gun FX

.Here's an experience I didn't know one could have in Cape Town. Everyone knows the Noon Day Gun -- a cannon which jolts the city with a mighty bang every day at noon. Last week I took wife M. for a picnic directly below the Table Mountain “amphitheatre” above the city (pictured). The Noon Day Gun went off – then the echo rolled off the amphitheatre. It sounded like a jet aircraft passing overhead. OBSERVATION: Perhaps someday soon, hundreds of thrill seekers will be up there waiting to experience the same. They'll call it the Scarborough Effect. Thanks to www.capetown.travel for the image.

New Look

It's not a fair world. Women can change their looks every fortnight (some in our Church will put their whole heads under the razor and no one seems to notice), while if a man changes his appearance, it becomes a major point of controversy. So here is the cause of much fuss -- my new look. Will I keep it? Won't I? The photo was taken at the farm, by the fireplace.

Lukewarm Christians

I can understand those who are committed to Christ and committed to the Church, sometimes passionately, yet at the same time have deep failings and flaws. I cannot understand Christians who are lukewarm -- who attend once in a while, or show little interest in spiritual disciplines. What do they think they are doing?

Berg River Sunrises

.My stay on the farm now behind me, and my Winter Break nearing its end, here are some photos I took of sunrises on the farm -- overlooking the Berg River wetlands. Many mornings, the sunrise seemed completely different. Here are three of them -- it's almost exactly the same scene -- taken over a period of about a week. OBSERVATION: I have not altered the photos, with the one exception that I adjusted for exposure, as I nearly always underexpose my photos when taking them. You may click on the photos to enlarge to 300k.

Encounter With The Queen Of Spain

On my way out of a high-class restaurant today, on an estate, I typically wasn't looking where I was going, and almost walked smack into the Queen of Spain. One of her suits put his hands together as if in Indian greeting, and thumped me. Wife M. saw it. She said: "You invaded her space." OBSERVATION: I ask you. I don't get such treatment at the lower-class restaurants I frequent.
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NOTE: A Catholic priest since sent me a depiction of the event (above right). I'm not sure whether the onlooker is meant to be Her Majesty or wife M.

Recognition, Alas

I am continually amazed by the level of recognition a minister has (perhaps I should say, a long-serving minister). I called in at an Internet Café in the country, about a hundred miles from town. I was bearded (I don't usually have a beard), I was wearing a tattered jersey/pullover, and I spoke Afrikaans. A man unknown to me took my payment. He said, “Thank you, Reverend.” I was ... surprised.

The Milky Way

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I took this photo of the Milky Way this week, which (I am told) is all the more impressive in the Southern Hemisphere. This was taken about 150km/100mi north of Cape Town -- a 60 second exposure with a Leica pocket camera. OBSERVATION: See whether you can see the Southern Cross, pointing south -- only visible in the Southern Hemisphere, and featured on various national flags. It's on the upper right of the photo. Some village lights are creating a haze at the very top left.

Writing And Blogging

I have made a personal resolution -- to "tie in" each blog post with half an hour's research and writing. That is, each blog post you see here will be backed up by half an hour's academic work at least -- although the academic work won't reflect on the blog, if you follow. Simply, I won't post unless I've studied. OBSERVATION: I am currently writing (attempting to write) a paper on Aristotle's insights into word meaning. I believe that Aristotle (384-322 BC) had valid insights which are fundamentally at variance with modern theory, and have important consequences. I am not a fan of papers that get "lost in eddies".

Winter Photo [41]

Of all the Churches I have visited, I would think the Dutch Reformed Church in Aurora (about 200km/125mi north of Cape Town) is hard to match for its elegance and craftsmanship. This is a photo of one of the upstairs galleries -- and shows my Leica camera at its best. I recently posted other photos of this Church.

Winter Photo [40]

Whoops, small mishap. This truck was carrying many tons of gravel. With my camera ever at the ready, I had to get a good shot of this. I asked the driver what had gone wrong. He said he had unhitched the load from his truck, and the weight of it had punched a hole in the road. We stood together and looked at it -- and laughed. (The people whose wall it fell on won't be laughing).

Winter Photo [39]

This is the Anglican congregation at Steenberg's Cove (St. Helena Bay), here singing a hymn. See whether you can spot the priest. A clue: he's facing the back of the Church -- going walkabout in the middle of the service and saying things like: "How are the grandchildren?" You may enlarge the photo to VGA by clicking on it. OBSERVATION: This Church meets every Sunday, yet is served only every second Sunday by a priest.

Winter Photo [38]

I returned to the infant's grave that I blogged about yesterday – and found another – a larger gravestone lying flat on the ground. I cleared away a lot of debris, and again used a large mirror to cast sunlight on the headstone at a sharp angle. I'm not sure how much of the inscription can be made out – I have published the photo in fairly high resolution (1.2MB) to improve anyone's chances of deciphering it. If that says “Carosini” on the headstone, then this was a member of one of the leading families of the area (the Berg River mouth).

Winter Photo [37]

Here's a Church photo that doesn't deserve to be on my blog -- the exterior design is awful. It's the Anglican Church at Steenberg's Cove, where I attended yesterday. For a start, the apexes of the windows are both pointed and curved and (off the photo) square. Not to mention the apex of the door, which doesn't match (off the photo) that of the other doors -- or of the windows. Then there's the degree of the roof vs. that of the windows and doors ... and that's just the start of my complaints. OBSERVATION: Anyway, I do like the Church bell. I think it has class. It's the old gas cylinder hanging from the dead tree. This Church was dedicated in July last year.

Winter Photo [36]

Mark “Because He Lives” Penrith asked me about a gravestone I found in the bush. It was in fact an infant's grave, not a toddler's as I supposed. Returning to the area last week, I carried a large mirror with me into the bush, to cast sunlight on the gravestone at a sharp angle. If you enlarge the photo by clicking on it (it's 350k), you should be able to read the inscription in full. Coming soon: another find.

Winter Photo [35]

I was intrigued by what appeared to be bullet-marks in the front glass at the Laaiplek Dutch Reformed Church (DRC or NGK, see photo). Notice also the scatter-marks around that dent. It appeared to me to be bullet-proof glass.

Church Segregation

I spoke to a Dutch Reformed Church (DRC or NGK) member in the country yesterday. He said, "You will never, ever find a Dutch Reformed Church turning a Black person away. We will treat them with the utmost warmth and courtesy. But membership? That is where we draw a firm line." OBSERVATION: If this is true, it is a very deep misunderstanding of the Christian faith, in that we are united by justification by faith. This DRC member drew a line right down the middle of that. Is it true, what he said? I have seen no evidence (in our villages) that it is not.

Winter Photo [34]

On my last Winter Break, I happened upon this riot. Protestors had laid siege to the police station in Nieuwoudville. I asked some locals what they thought about the safety of the situation. One of them said: "They're posturing. They're really as harmless as flies." So I got some close-up shots of the action (with the police cowering inside their compound -- until backup arrived).

Winter Photo [33]

A simple Church will have simple “facilities”. Just for interest, this is the Gents of the URC Redelinghuys. It contributes to the whole picture of the Church. I like the stylish little curve of the roof.

Winter Photo [32]

This is the interior of the URC in Redelinghuys. The pews are reminiscent of those in Elim and Baardskeerdersbos (B'Bos), elsewhere on this blog. The drape on the pulpit says (in Afrikaans): “Thus says the Lord.”

Winter Photo [31]

I visited this Uniting Reformed Church (URC, or VGK) in Redelinghuys on Sunday, an isolated town some 200km/125mi north of Cape Town. I asked a Church elder if I could take photos. He said: “But Sir, this is a simple Church!” Then he added: “But Sir, that's all right, too.” The Church was built in 1936. It meets every Sunday, but is served by a minister only once a month. One sees the Church bell on the far right. Again, this is in VGA if you click on it. Coming soon: the interior.

Winter Photo [30]

I took this photo at an intersection on my last Summer Break, near the southern tip of Africa. I was amused by the sign of a bed (on the left), in the middle of nowhere. I stayed there to read and write.