Friday, August 30, 2013
Sound All Round
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Piano
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Backward In Communicating
By today, my study -- which was a complex place -- has been reduced to a mere netbook and router -- an echoing cavern. With my office in transition -- not to speak of my whole house -- I need to apologise for having been backward in getting in touch with people. I hope that time will remedy this.
Theology: Moving Up
Wife E. is studying second year theology. The material they give her seems much, much denser than what I had in my second year. I have said that there are only two things that change as one moves up through one's theological studies: the amount one has to study, and the obscurity of the words they use. OBSERVATION: By the time one reaches Master's level, they may give one more to work through than is humanly possible -- and teach one techniques to cope with that.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Five Strong Women
This is one of my favourite photos of my wedding early this year -- five strong women -- colourful women -- all now my family (my wife, too, is in this mix). You may click on the photo to enlarge to 250k. They took charge of catering -- together with other younger members of the family.
Solar Lighting
It was good to see my self-designed, automated solar lighting still going on my plot today, on day 12. It would have failed on day 1 or 2 if there had been something badly wrong with it. OBSERVATION: I confess that I like my own design, and am thinking of replacing a few functions in my home, piecemeal, and see how far it goes.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Holy Trinity Church
Yesterday evening E. and I worshiped at Holy Trinity Church Gardens, an evangelical Anglican Church in the City Bowl (pictured). The photo shows about half of those present. OBSERVATION: There were a number of things I liked here: among them the toned down contemporary music, the simple order of service, the intention to be faithful to Scripture, and the diversity of the congregation. Spot wife E.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Mammogram
A nursing sister was showing new recruits how to do a mammogram. She asked for a volunteer. They all said they were too shy. She said: "Too shy?! What do you think I am?! Just watch!" She herself took a mammogram -- and, in the presence of the recruits, discovered cancer, stage one. Her husband said to me: "Gods genade!" (God's grace).
Sharp Sword
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Content
There is much debate about what attracts people to Churches. If I speak for myself, it is content. Strangely, I don't come across this (often) in the literature. What kind of content? Content that lets God's Word speak for its (radical) self rather than truisms or notions in vogue -- and content that focuses on ... content, rather than immaterial aspects of a text. This applies not only to sermons, but also to hymns, prayers, fellowship, and so on.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Camp Swampy
Donkey Sentences
I had another small piece published this week -- on Donkey Sentences.
The original donkey sentence is: "Every farmer who owns a donkey beats it." So what is remarkable about this sentence? In school one was taught that "it" should refer back to the donkey. But here we have farmers in the mix -- and several donkeys it seems -- all referred to as "it". Therefore, there is a problem with classical grammar. There isn't a problem with the sentence. It is snags like this that sometimes reveal a lot.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Bridesmaid
No Justice
On Tuesday night, Dr. Alex Boraine said: "If there is no hell, it's imperative that justice should take place now." This is a common view, although I am not certain it is his personal view. But in urban ministry, I have found that justice mostly doesn't happen -- that is, justice as the solution to injustice -- nor does it offer hope. There's "nowhere to go" with the notion. This would suggest further that it is naive to think of justice as the solution to injustice. The world is worse than we think. OBSERVATION: This is not to say that there isn't any value in notions of justice, or that we don't 'hunger and thirst' for it. See also Stressor: Helplessness.
Rural Road Block
This is a rural road block, South African style. I took the photo near the old mission station Suurbraak (or Zuurbraak), on my way back from ministry in the Karoo. This is a link between the barren "inland" route the R62 and the national road the N2, through Suurbraak.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Computers As Constructs
I blogged "in passing" about an article that I wrote on computers as constructs. In the meantime, the article has emerged from complete obscurity, and is easy to find on Google. This is not to be taken for granted, with the very many people who are interested in how one constructs computers, not computers as constructs. My article takes a stab at science and technology: Your Computer Is A Construct. OBSERVATION: Society members were hugely helpful in improving this piece.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Faith Seeking Answers
Hand Grenades
This morning I handed over two large hand grenades to a Sea Point Police Captain. The police were at a bit of a loss as to what to do with someone walking in with hand grenades (I put them in a box, so as not to be dramatic), but they decided to take my details and work out later what to do. The grenades were found by the sea near St. James Road Sea Point -- very old grenades made of thick, brittle metal with large grooves in them, ignited by a fuse.
Petromax Lamp
Monday, August 19, 2013
Non-Verbal Communication
One of the greater cultural challenges of entering into a relationship with a woman of largely Xhosa origins was what I might call non-verbal communication. I couldn't see how this might be overcome. There is still some of it that puzzles me, yet I have learnt more of it by now than I had hoped. OBSERVATION: Interestingly, it has opened up another world for me. I now find it easier to interpret many people of Xhosa background. (Those of European origins tend to set great store in articulation).
Gabriel de Jongh
This was a serendipitous moment. I attended a Church last night of which my father had been a minister, and discovered that he had commissioned (as a gift) this painting for the Church, by the celebrated artist Gabriel de Jongh. I didn't know of this painting -- but I did/do know of another he commissioned (also as a gift for a Church), by the celebrated artist Arthur O'Mant. Yesterday, they put up the De Jongh (see the photo) for me to photograph. You may click on the photo to enlarge. I may also put up this painting 'pure' on this blog.
Accomplishments Of A Lifetime
Clearing out a house after many years, it is astonishing how much one can accomplish in a lifetime. Discovering a box of Pascal: I learnt that language. A pile of hundreds of sermons: I prepared and preached all those. A regenerative receiver: I designed and built that. A file full of memberships: I facilitated all those. And so on. OBSERVATION: At the same time, one wonders with hindsight what one could have done with greater focus. And yet, by God's grace, many tributaries flow into a river.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Building St. David's
In 1986, we built St. David's Congregational Church in Port Elizabeth. The big debate was: First build a church? or first call a minister? St. David's decided first to call a minister, which was me. Two years later, we built this church -- which in turn led to a rapid increase in attendance. One also sees the construction of Cassia Gardens Retirement Village in the background. The chairman of the Building Committee was Roy Speed. I believe these photos are "exclusive". You may click on them to enlarge to 600k.
Catering For Surprises
With my wife's gregarious background (culturally), it is astonishing how fast she can accommodate, say, ten surprise visitors for dinner. She will co-ordinate it all (seemingly) effortlessly, on the turn. OBSERVATION: This makes her a great asset in the Church, too. I have seen her do much the same for a hundred people. (In my own culture, one generally doesn't have surprises in the first place).
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Heavy Moving
It was a day of heavy moving today -- and so it will be tomorrow. We are moving (literally) tons of stuff from the manse / rectory at the close of my ministry here (see Gargantuan Task). I said we may be headed for abandon ship -- just abandon what remains. That's son M. and brothers-in-law Jomo and Jonathan in the photo, who did the lion's share of the work today, with a pickup and a large trailer.
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POSTSCRIPT: We estimate that we moved eight tons in two days.
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POSTSCRIPT: We estimate that we moved eight tons in two days.
Denotation vs. Connotation
I had a magnificent 100 words published today, on the subject of Denotation vs. Connotation. I have been invited to write more expansively on the subject, so this is a foretaste of things to come. Generally, linguists try to slice denotation and connotation cleanly in two, while I say it can't be done -- and will explain (I hope) why it can't be done. I take an original approach to the why (I think). OBSERVATION: The subject has important implications. If it didn't, I wouldn't be bothered.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Popularity Rising
My urban ministry blog has never been as popular as it has been since I "retired" from urban ministry -- the graph showing traffic since 2007. But it will still be about urban ministry, as I have spent most of my career in urban ministry, and continue to minister in the city -- though mostly in the country.
Believable
One of the best things one might do in a crisis situation is simply to believe the counsellee. Not seldom, he or she has been talking for some time, yet no one has believed him or her: “It's not that bad.” “No, really?" “You can cope.” And so on. OBSERVATION: Of course there are those who have ulterior motives as counsellees, who may not be telling the truth. Yet that doesn't detract from the above.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Three-Wheeler In Motion
Ministry Changes
Moving house presents an unusual opportunity to survey the entire sweep of one's ministry / ministries -- the trends, the seasons, the changes. Something that becomes very obvious is that, in my earlier ministry, I was very, very thorough about administration -- also "spiritual administration" -- which was not so much the case in later years. The early emphasis proved to be too taxing, but it was important. I would now seek a way to return to it without needing to be as meticulous as I was.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Analemmatic Sundial
On Call
I said to my new pastorate in the Karoo that I am on call -- I am not just a Consulent Minister who checks in as per calendar. On call has a special twist to it in this case of course, as it is in ... the Karoo. I am pleased that they consider me also to be on call for prayer and support. I am glad to be on call.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Vicissitudes of Electronics
Last week I designed a solar regulator that costs 66c (US 7¢) per Watt. That compares very favourably with R175 ($17.50) for 25 Watts, on offer in the city, which is ten times the price. However, a number of things are crucial to such a design -- not least the voltage of the solar panel. The shop informed me that the panel put out "17.2 volts maximum". But as soon as the sun came out, I could feel that this was badly wrong (heat). I double-checked. The manufacturer claimed that the panel put out "17.2 volts at maximum power. 22.2 volts open circuit". That's a very big difference -- and it seemed to explain my troubles. I adjusted the circuit. But I could see that even the manufacturer was wrong, as the voltage floated up and up, well beyond 22.2 volts -- under load, never mind open circuit. OBSERVATION: I find that, in science, practice frequently diverges from theory.
Legacy And Afterglow
In the USA, I was taught the notions of 'legacy' and 'afterglow' in spiritual leadership theory -- very common notions. One builds a legacy, one retires (in one piece), then experiences the afterglow. Or one becomes a casualty. I felt uncomfortable with these notions at first, yet now feel sure that they are wrong. I have a paper lined up on the subject -- if I should ever get to it. (I have many things lined up).
Solar System
The photo shows me wiring up a solar system (of my own design) last night. The lamp is a part of it. What I have tested so far is regulator, lights, auto night-light, alarm, and inverter (the inverter not my own design) -- however, I haven't yet tested the regulator under full sun -- that's where the sparks and smoke appear! OBSERVATION: My best guess is that a useful solar power plant could be done for R100-R150 ($10-$15), although this one cost me R400 retail ($40). So why are people not using solar power? Note, however, that this is Mickey Mouse compared to powering a whole house "as normal" off the sun. The lamp, incidentally, is a beauty -- a 1.5W super-efficient Osram lamp (80 lumens -- more or less equivalent to 80 candles).
EPE Magazine
I have a four-page spread (a design) in the latest EPE magazine, the no.
1 UK magazine for electronics technology. That's the September 2013
edition. It is titled: Wind-Up Flashlight -- Let There Be Light! (which is the first time I have seen the word "flashlight" used in a British magazine). The design uses every trick in the book to obtain maximum light from a ten-second wind.
Monday, August 12, 2013
Potholed Road
This is the long and potholed road, somewhere near Caledon, 120km / 75 mi east of Cape Town. Click on it to enlarge. My vehicle is fairly good with potholes -- both in hitting them and avoiding them. And a tip for three-wheel drivers: Don't let your front wheel get in a gully. A back wheel is OK.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
In Demand
Even with my old ministry behind me, and a new, more tranquil one just begun, I am in more demand for ministry than I can accommodate. But I have needed to devote much time to my own transition. I wish, though, that I were able to give my full attention to every ministry request. And to every friendly invitation.
Suuranys Pass
To the best of my knowledge, this is the first photo on the Internet of the Suuranys Pass -- a pass about 10km / 6mi long, which runs from Suuranys Farm (behind the camera) to Assegaaibos near Kareedouw, in the Eastern Cape -- described by travel writer Thomas Bulpin as "spectacular". That's my vehicle on the left. You may click on the image to enlarge to 300k.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Watt Around The Clock
If you have a wood cabin, you need an alarm. If you need an alarm, you need power. But our country plot doesn't have power. So yesterday I designed a 1 Watt solar system -- that is, it will deliver 1W around the clock. This is not much, but it is enough to power an alarm, to charge mobile devices, to light up a room at night, and so on. My 1 Watt system cost R400 ($40) today. A 5W pre-built system costs R1,400 ($140). To power a whole house "as normal", however, would run into hundreds of thousands of rands. OBSERVATION: If my design proves itself, it should pay for itself with the sale of the copyright.
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NOTE: I since modified the design so that one can parallel modules, adding 1W each time -- as one can afford. And I proved in the interim that 1 Watt will potentially power light mains devices.
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NOTE: I since modified the design so that one can parallel modules, adding 1W each time -- as one can afford. And I proved in the interim that 1 Watt will potentially power light mains devices.
Friday, August 9, 2013
Flooding
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Mr. Delivery
I made a delivery to our country plot today, to store away items -- one of the main reasons that I bought a plot with (as yet hardly habitable) wood cabins. A police officer got hopping mad at me for carrying too large a load -- but let me off. On the return journey (with empty pickup) he wagged his finger at me from the side of the road. There was widespread flooding east of Cape Town today.
Bequests
Throughout my ministry / ministries, I have both privately and publicly encouraged people to remember the Church in their will. This might seem like wishful thinking -- however, I have found that up to 15-20% of annual income (more typically 5-10%) may be traced back specifically to my prompting -- a significant amount.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Flashback 1982
Judging by the motorbike, this was 1982 -- my last year as a theology student (for a while), and the time of my first pastorate -- a Church Plant in Cape Town. The Church Plant was supported by my nearby home Church -- mainly by seconding members to the work. In case you missed it, that is / was me. You may click on the photo to enlarge to 125k.
Recruiting Oneself
Vocation For The Ministry
The Independent Press (Congregational Press) once put out many useful booklets -- on being a minister, a deacon, a member, a secretary, a church -- and so on. Yesterday I read Vocation for the Ministry (unavailable today, although it is catalogued) by Peter Barraclough. On the first page, he states: "The Ministry is a searching, testing vocation, which soon reveals his weakness to a man. Many of us would have given it up before now; indeed, we might never have undertaken it, if we had thought mainly in terms of our own suitability or capacity. But a constraint was laid upon us, a call was heard; and we responded to it in the conviction that Christ knew better than we did. This outlook is not strange or naive; it derives from the first principles of our faith."
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Banquet
Psychometric Test
In 1996, someone sponsored psychometric testing for me with the esteemed Thomas International. I forget the circumstances -- I rediscovered the report this week. It summarised: "All in all, he is a tough, serious-minded individual who can direct others. A most conscientious worker, amiable but not social, with a desire for results ..." OBSERVATION: This could have changed a great deal, as this was 17 years ago. The report follows with recommendations as to how to get the best from such a worker. In general, I doubt that such recommendations receive much attention.
Monday, August 5, 2013
Sundial Surveyed
Sunday, August 4, 2013
The Little Karoo
This weekend E. and I commenced a Consulent Ministry in a town in the Little Karoo -- (die Kleinkaroo, in Afrikaans) -- a semi-desert (pictured). It is the only English-speaking Church in town. Small and struggling, there were twice as many people there as we were first told to anticipate. Privately and publicly we sensed a real spiritual desire, in a Church that has long been without a shepherd.
Friday, August 2, 2013
Bubbling Under
It's good to see (last time I checked) that my article on Anselm is "bubbling under" the top 10 on Google (if one Googles a general 'Anselm's Ontological Argument'). It is a subject on which there is "an enormous literature", thus little chance of being noticed. OBSERVATION: I completed the article seven years ago, as an appendix to an assignment for Fuller Theological Seminary -- yet didn't have the confidence to know that it was a good one, and it lacked "the flow" at the time. An external examiner commented only: "How does this relate to your main argument?"
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Bishop's Bridge
Kwaai Bridge
Some stories from here must seem like lunacy elsewhere in the world. A new neighbour of mine in the country -- a bishop -- entered my property without my knowledge or consent, with a team of workmen, to build a large bridge over my river. Surveying some massive logs that he had laid, he told me that once he had completed his bridge, he would plough an access road through my trees. His team, at the same time, were puzzled. They said that this was no bridge to carry cars / automobiles. But a bishop is not easily to be influenced -- so I asked the police what to do. They said that this was not something that interested the police -- I should speak to the municipality. The municipality said, don't engage with the bishop, file a report -- we'll deal with it through an inspector. OBSERVATION: "Kwaai" in Afrikaans means something like: "That's severe." (A bestselling book was Bridge On The River Kwai).
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