Friday, August 30, 2013

Sound All Round


I had my three-wheel pickup serviced today by a minister friend. This is him at work inside the cab -- photographed from the outside. I said: "It's a great vehicle!" He said: "It's an awful vehicle!" What is not in doubt, however, is that my vehicle has taken a great pounding, and is still sound all round. The only real problem is rust. You may click on the photo to enlarge to VGA.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Piano


One of the last major items to leave our home was ... the piano. It was a Broadwood -- arguably the best of British pianos. We gave this away to family.

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

In packing up our household, I have needed to pack a lot of artefacts from the mission in the 60's. This includes shark-tooth swords. Today I was careless, grabbing a packet of artefacts -- and stabbed myself with a sword (pictured). They are as sharp as razors. OBSERVATION: We once had a guest who absent-mindedly tapped one on his knee in conversation -- and cut his knee. You may click on the photo for more detail.

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

You gets what you pays for. I was the first to register an interest in a plot for which there subsequently was a huge demand. One winter storm later, and it seemed apparent why we had such a beautiful bargain. It is the one plot which is the "village sink", with up to five streams converging on it. And judging by the high-water marks, we ain't seen nothin' yet. Wife E. rightly says, I think, that if we build we'll have to build on stilts. Son M. said, on seeing the land swamped for the first time, that he'll soon be bragging to his friends that his dad bought a river. But it is beautiful -- and quite unique. See also Flooding.

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

A. (pictured) was the bridesmaid at my sister-in-law's wedding -- then at mine. I took this photo behind the scenes at my sister-in-law's wedding -- it reflects the anticipation and excitement -- perhaps a little anxiousness. A. is a trained evangelist with rich experience, and is at the moment training as a teacher at the famed Kwasizabantu. You may click on the photo to enlarge.

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

I attended the book launch, this evening, of Prof. John de Gruchy's Led Into Mystery: Faith Seeking Answers In Life And Death -- theological reflections following the death of his son -- with contributions by his wife Isobel. Associate Professor Suellen Shay and Dr. Alex Boraine (pictured) gave deeply thoughtful impressions of the book. OBSERVATION: I also had an interest in "observing" the book launch -- how it was done. I like to be both participant and observer.

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

 
Clearing out our garage, I was moving some things that hadn't been unpacked since the mission in the 60's. On Sunday I found a Petromax storm lamp in its original box -- marked SCARBOROUGH BERU (a tiny atoll in the South Pacific). These old Petromax lamps are now advertised between R2,000 and R7,000. Realistically, this one would be worth R3,000 ($300). Its light output is equivalent to 400 Watts. When I pulled off the protective paper, I remembered the insides of it -- amazing what detail one can remember nearly fifty years later.

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.

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

It's the first video that I've posted. It's one thing writing about journeys in a three-wheeler -- quite another to witness one in motion -- from the inside out. This is a mere two-second clip of my Mahindra three-wheeler on the road between Tesselaarsdal and Caledon today, through the windscreen.

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

I wonder how many people take an interest in the analemmatic sundial in our urban park (pictured). The last time I tried it, I obtained the time to within two minutes. With an analemmatic sundial, the gnomon (which casts the shadow) moves with the seasons. The fact that the gnomon doesn't move with a common garden dial explains why such dials are often inaccurate.

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.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Flooding

I was excited to see, instead of one stream flowing on our plot yesterday, four streams, converging in a rumbling river. I have never seen a stream on the left before. Our little wood cabin (pictured) was cut off. The photo was taken with aperture priority, which best captures the flow.

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

My father was a recruitment officer for the famous London Missionary Society (LMS). You may click on this newspaper clipping (early 1960's) to enlarge. But he was unable to recruit anyone for a post in the Central Pacific -- until my mother said: "Charles, can't you see? God is calling you." And so our family, myself included, relocated to the Pacific.

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

Our visit to the Karoo over the weekend concluded with a banquet (pictured). It was held at a restaurant literally in the middle of nowhere -- a monument to the human imagination, someone said. The cost was R80 ($8) per couple, for a lavish main course -- typical Karoo fare which delighted the wife. The fisheye photo is in Technicolor. You may click on it to enlarge.

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

Last week I received a new sundial from Austria. The time is indicated here (see the photo) by the spot of sunlight on the inner ring (9:15 am). OBSERVATION: This dial is elegantly crafted -- easily fitting into the palm of one's hand. Also, it is far more versatile than its historical forbears -- being a universal dial. However, the instructions fail to explain solar time -- an important omission. Standard time could easily be incorporated into this design -- although it may come at some additional expense (Cape Town's 9:15 am solar time is 10:01:18 am South African Standard Time). And having designed a dial myself (which was journal published), I would think there would be a better idea for the gnomon (the thing which casts the spot of sunlight). I am going to study this sundial carefully. As far as I can see, it keeps fairly accurate time -- I'd say potentially to within 5 minutes.

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


Having had a desperately busy day, all I can offer today is a wide-angle photo of the Bishop's Bridge (see the previous post). One may click on this photo to enlarge to a magnificent 140k.

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).