Sunday, November 30, 2014

Death And Doctors

Something I sense has changed a great deal during the course of my ministry of 30+ years is doctors' willingness (or not) to give frank prognoses or to be straightforward about death. One can understand that they would not wish to be wrong -- anyway, this is about the change. I sense that there is a greater tendency for doctors to say today: "We'll move him to Hospice until he's better," or: "I'm a doctor because I'm an optimist," or: "We'll postpone her operation and reassess." OBSERVATION: However, I sense that it is not only doctors who have changed, but patients and their families, too. It may be far more difficult for doctors to broach prognoses or death today. The course of diseases, too, has of course changed. (This post is about a tendency, by no means universal amongst doctors).

Tree Fern

Being on the hop for most of the day today, I took this photo in the garden of a high-class home where I attended a large luncheon. It is of a tree fern. This represents the buds of a frond. You may click on the image to enlarge.

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Coil-Gun

Many years ago, I designed a coil-gun (the principle is illustrated on the right). It was a popular design, although as it stands it needs small but significant improvements (see below). My original design is at Magnetic Gun. The reason for this post is that, at the moment, a student is building it as a project, and is close to the exciting (or terminal) switch-on. OBSERVATION: When my design was first published, it may have been the only hobbyist design "out there". My usual publishers would not publish it, for safety's sake -- but it is harmless. The original design really needs a Zener diode in place of R4. There are ways, too, in which one could greatly beef it up: among other things MOSFETs in place of the bipolar transistors, a magnetic slug, and separate capacitors for each MOSFET.

Friday, November 28, 2014

Admonitions

This one's a re-post: "Over recent months, as minister, I have received no small number of messages from members, along the lines of the following (I received this one last week): 'We need to exercise more discernment when it comes to people causing trouble. As Christians we need to be the light of the world, to shine for everyone to see, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness. These are also the qualities by which we are able to recognise what comes from the Lord or what does not.'" OBSERVATION: Generally speaking, I think that member awareness of such things tends to be good, although member resolve frequently does not match it.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Deforestation

I took this photo today of deforestation in South Africa, near Bot River, east of Cape Town. I remember this as a dense forest. OBSERVATION: However, South Africa has deforestation remarkably well under control, considering all its challenges. There's a comprehensive report at South Africa: Forest Information and Data. You may click on the photo to enlarge to 160k.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Poverty And Tolerance

I move between what I call "two worlds". My own culture has some tendency to be intolerant, arrogant. My other culture has some tendency to be tolerant, gracious. This  manifests itself in all kinds of ways. The acceptance of me, for instance. What happens if a drunk walks into a reception. What happens if a child gets dirty. What happens if a person talks too long. And so on. I asked someone why this was, and the answer surprised me: "Because we are poor."

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

A Terrible Beauty

W.B. Yeats wrote the line: "A terrible beauty is born." The photo on the right has a magical kind of beauty about it, yet at the top one sees the stitches of my briefcase, ransacked and ditched in the river. At bottom right, one sees some of my papers under the water. OBSERVATION: Last week, about two-thousand sheets of personal papers were stolen. Thousands more are as yet unaccounted for, presumed stolen.

Sea-Change

In my ministry, I have presided over sweeping cultural change. This post is about the ministerial policy which lay behind it:  a) There was no “target audience”, b) there were no favourites (perhaps rather, all were favourites), c) I was scrupulous in treating each person equally, and d) all were equal spiritually. This last is, in my view, the most important -- bearing in mind that in my own tradition it means "ministry by members". I attribute such change to d) above all. OBSERVATION: I consider that cultural change is not in one's own hands. It is not of one's own doing. The Church is not into social engineering. We follow where the Spirit leads. If there is diversity, then it is of the Lord.  And it needs to be noted that sweeping cultural change is only possible with broad support, and an accumulation of many and varied votes in that direction.
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NOTE: In view of a special interest in this post, there was a shift from approximately 5% non-European office-bearers to 55% over two decades of my ministry, there typically being 20 to 30 office-bearers at any given time.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Changed Scene

Failing anything better to post tonight, here are comparison photos of our plot before and after the worst flood in living memory. The cabin at the top of the photos amazingly survived the flood, although the flood waters reached it. The perennial river on the right of the photos changed course.  It no longer flows there. The river on the left of the photos is seasonal: it is drying up in the photo on the right.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Stunning Exodus

I've posted on this before -- however the trends have accelerated. Within this year, I estimate that about 60% of active members of our Church in the Karoo have permanently left town. This is a stunning exodus of English speakers, not least for its impact on the only English-speaking Church in town. Another minister, with bilingual services, now fills the Church, while I remain consulent minister on paper. I cannot imagine the reason for the exodus, other than a change in the political landscape.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

NG Kompleks

My photographing of local Churches continues. This is the Nederduits Gereformeerde (Dutch Reformed) Kompleks in Jeffrey's Bay, a large and thriving Church on the south coast of Africa. It would seem to me to be a pleasant cultural sanctuary.  At the same time, it aspires to "making a difference" in the community, and has a powerful ministry of compassion. Dutch Reformed Churches are traditionally Calvinist: a Calvinism which historically developed a special local character. You may visit the Church on-line at ngkjeffreys.co.za

Friday, November 21, 2014

Best Public Services

As a minister, I have had a fairly wide experience of public services in South Africa. I consider that some really shine, and I'll name the police services, the municipal services, and home affairs in particular. While I could name others, it would be on the basis of fewer experiences. At the bottom of my list are the postal services and (the worst) the health services. However, with regard to health services, I consider that it is the services which are wanting, not the personnel. OBSERVATION: There is great variation within South Africa. My experience will by no means be the experience of all. And in most things, one needs patience. South Africa is not as efficient as some parts of the world.

Searched

It has been a week as seldom has been. Among other things, my personal papers were searched. The police called it a "gentle" intrusion, two large bolts having been expertly dismantled, and two locks gently opened. An estimated one-thousand personal papers were taken, in a briefcase. An estimated one-thousand personal papers besides, also in a briefcase, were sifted and dumped in a river. A box of personal letters was also searched, but not taken. Papers of my late wife Mirjam, stored next to mine, were left alone. Papers of my son, nearby, were also left alone. Valuables were opened up, too, but were left alone: for example, a compound microscope, and a CD collection. OBSERVATION: In a case like this, one opens a case with the police. This means that, if papers surface somewhere, or information contained in them, people will have some explaining to do. Sometimes police will hesitate to open a case, due to (next to) nil value of the goods, but it is essential.
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NOTE: Thanks to a blog reader who notes that I should give thanks -- meaning I think that God's blessing is in the midst of such things. And a postscript: thousands of papers more are as yet unaccounted for.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Poorly Son

Son M., for some time, has been poorly, and this morning underwent an operation -- in a hospital just a few blocks from my home. He is able to whisper the word "elephant", which means that all must be fine. I should be taking him home tomorrow, as all has gone according to plan. Here he is -- as we once knew him (click on the photo to enlarge to 60k).

Part IX: Pseudo Ethics

I handed in Part IX today, on schedule, of A New Metaphysics. In the nature of things, this will in due course be seen as a mere draft. It is widely taken for granted today that it is impossible to derive an “ought” from an “is”.  The philosopher David Hume's (supposed) insight has taken hold. Yet what does one do then for value? One grasps for fact. Yet fact cannot provide value. Part IX sketches, I hope, the dynamic. OBSERVATION: This has had a lot to do with theology. At the core of Bishop Lesslie Newbigin's theology lay the realisation that "It is a world of facts without value, and a world of values which have no basis in facts." This affects, in particular, the Theology of Community, which has rubbed off all over the world, without necessarily taking root. (I do not follow Newbigin's approach).

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

The Dop (Tot) System

I have close experience of the demise of the dop (tot) system on farms in South Africa. It might be more true to describe it as payment in commodities, since it was not only the dop. The evils of the system are plain to see. At the same time, many labourers grieve over its passing. Paradoxically, a restructuring of wages, intended to propel farm workers into the present, has brought discontent.  Everything is now calculated, tabulated, assessed: accommodation, water, transport -- even the old commodities. OBSERVATION: I think that much could be remedied by a little kindness, to make up for the sense of loss.

Resignation Pending

It seemed simple, to me. Last year I resigned from urban ministry, subject to the fulfilment of agreements. In keeping with this, my resignation was undated, and we filed memoranda that I was to "resign on condition all finalised". After this I was presented with several "final settlement agreements" (see the image). However, none of these agreements was signed (one of them was signed only by me). "This condition (for my resignation) was not met," wrote an attorney last month. And the Department of Labour advised: "Explore civil proceedings". I have not done so, although it has been difficult. See also My Resignation, posted last year.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Dangerous Solar

I was working today on a regulator for a large solar panel (which "evens out" the voltage which is tapped from the panel). For some of us who grew up with solar cells, we remember when these were electronics not electrics, so it is easy to forget how things have changed today. It is downright dangerous to play with solar power now the way that one played with it then. The panel I was working with today has a sign on the back: WARNING Electrical Hazard.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Earthed Professor

I was asked in a group last week: "Who had the greatest impact on you, spiritually?" It would be so easy to do someone injustice for the impact that they had, yet the person who first came to mind was a professor, Herbert Jantzen, now 92. One finds him on Wikipedia. He taught us Christianologie -- yet lecture after lecture, he came down from the intellectual heights to challenge us on the heart level. Have you experienced the conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit? Have you trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation through faith?

Elephant Bird Egg

This is a rare photo, not only of son M., but of an elephant bird egg compared with a chicken egg (needless to say, the chicken egg is on the left). Elephant birds became extinct comparatively recently, during the age of exploration. They looked like giant, stocky ostriches. You may click on the photo to enlarge.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Urban vs. Suburban Ministry

Someone asked me today the difference between sustaining an urban Church and a suburban Church. My answer today (it may change) was that the turmoil in African urban people's lives is such that a typical suburban ministry will not adequately address the urban need. Therefore one cannot smoothly transfer a suburban ministry to an urban Church. OBSERVATION: However, the same might apply in reverse. Urban ministry might "come on too strong" for a suburban Church. But notice the "Catch 22" here. A Church might be a mix of urban and suburban people.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

City Bible Study

Tonight I conducted a Bible study for a group in the city centre called TNT (Twenties 'n Thirties). The text which was assigned to me is arguably the most difficult in the Bible. Hebrews 6: those who cannot be brought back to repentance. Usually this is interpreted as those who were part of the Church yet "missed the boat". There was some good input.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Desert Road Difficulty

Just for fun, here's a 23-second video of me negotiating a desert road after rains, in my old Indian three-wheeler, a Bajaj -- at Gannabos, near the ghost-town Brandkop. The first time I encountered this, from the other direction, I walked it first, to decide how I'd get across.

Distraction

One of my weaknesses as a young minister was distraction. I would have purposes in mind, from which I could be completely distracted, particularly where emotional events were involved. Decades later, while I still blame myself for some distraction, I have the ability to forge ahead no matter what the (potential) distraction. OBSERVATION: What brought about the change? This is hard to say. What comes to mind is a deeper understanding of faith.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Bringing The Lord Into Disrepute

I wrote to a Church elder today about wretched rumours: "It is a great pity that certain persons have, in my view, brought the Lord's goodness into disrepute, apart from Christian ministry, and last in line, myself." I wrote this spontaneously, but it reflects what I think about maligning a minister, particularly where it is undeserved. What I mean about bringing the Lord's goodness into disrepute is that it is the Lord who does good things -- wonderful acts of grace -- through minister and ministry, even though it is an unworthy office occupied by an unworthy person.

The Mark Of A Calling

The mark of a true calling from God may be that it seems impossible, or daunting. Or retrospectively, that it wasn't me who achieved it, but God. There are many examples in the Bible. Paul makes it explicit:  we are not competent, or sufficient, qualified, adequate (2 Corinthians 3:5). I myself have continually experienced this in ministry, and in writing. OBSERVATION: If it doesn't require faith in God, it may not be a calling. Conversely, the world tends to say that one requires someone competent for the task.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Comet Landing Live (Not)

The European Space Agency (ESA) is at this time broadcasting live a landing on a comet more than 500 million kilometres from earth, somewhere beyond the orbit of Mars. The broadcast unfortunately is not able to reach Southern Africa, due to a lack of bandwidth. In other words, the ESA has set the bandwidth too high to reach us. This is typically human. Having technology is one thing, using it is another. The photo is a spacecraft "selfie", orbiting the comet.

Ladder Principle

Here is the principle of a ladder I designed for our cottage in Tesselaarsdal, demonstrated by a cat. This short video shows that, with a back-rest, a ladder is so much easier to climb. I can't remember where I learnt that. Perhaps through climbing cage ladders. See also Lounge-Kitchen.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Part VIII: Ethics

Today I handed in (click here) Part VIII of my New Metaphysics, which lays the groundwork (we hope) for a new ethics. I think that Part VIII should prove that there is yet hope for ethics in metaphysics. Part VII, a transitional chapter which introduces the theme, was a tough one conceptually. I rewrote it twice. OBSERVATION: The journal Philosophical Investigations has provided me with a space to develop the project. I consider that Part VIII was the last of the major hurdles to a new metaphysic, with the possible exception of things eternal. The project today passed 10 000 words.

Me and Myles Munroe

Two days ago, Myles Munroe was tragically killed in an aeroplane crash. He featured strongly in my MTh thesis, and I sent him a copy (I cited him about sixty times). He was a classic "transformational" leader, which is a distinctive type of leadership which John Maxwell once summed up as "Leadership is influence." Apart from this, I noted that Munroe's writing was characterised by the use of specifically Christian concepts in a general theory of leadership, and that he downplayed the role of the divine in Biblical leadership. Several (academic) discussions of Munroe have appeared on my other blog.

Christian Transformational Leadership

In 2009, I developed the first full definition of Christian Transformational Leadership in my MTh thesis, based on empirical research: Christian Transformational Leadership is leadership which is distinctly Biblical or Christian, whereby the character and vision of the leader ensure that he or she will be influential (transformational) and persuasive, to achieve shared goals through sound strategy. OBSERVATION: Secular Transformational Leadership differs from Christian Transformational Leadership in two significant respects: a) it is not distinctly Biblical or Christian, and b) it does not major on vision. An interesting observation:  it seemed impossible to tell whether secular or Christian transformational leadership came first. The earliest transformational theory I identified was that of Ted Engstrom (pictured) of 1976, and his was Christian. Burns and Bass came after that.

Monday, November 10, 2014

The Suurveld

This is a typical Suurveld scene in the spring (translated: sour heath). I took it last week. Apparently "sour" refers to the sour, hard type of grass which grows there. I would have thought it refers to the sour aloes and succulents, which to this day are sources of food and medicines. I do not know the extent of the Suurveld. It is in the Eastern Cape. You may click on the photo to enlarge to 230k.

Winning Formula

Several years ago, in debate with postgraduate students, I was asked to summarise a Church's "winning formula". I said that the winning formula, firstly, was of the Lord, and therefore it was a mystery. But to this I said that I would add a) a clear vision of Jesus Christ, b) a simple, straight-talking Biblical message, c) taking on any "root of bitterness", and d) practising the priesthood of believers (ministry by members). OBSERVATION: Recently another minister said that this formula will first empty a Church, then bring about deep change and renewal.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Sin: Act II

There was an actuality programme on South African TV last week which surely was an unintended classic. An elderly Black couple had been defrauded of a large sum of money, yet the fraudster denied any wrongdoing. The actuality presenter was ever so deferential towards the fraudster, and gave him the benefit of the doubt, so that he could have proved he was the gentleman he wasn't. But what happened next, in Act II, revealed the fraudster. OBSERVATION: Sin is so often the same. In Act I, sin may be denied. But during the course of Act II, namely the acts which follow Act I, the sinner proves the sin. (Act II may usually be avoided or very much mitigated, I think, through healthy spiritual responses).

Porcupine Plucking

Porcupine meat is coveted in the country (the Cape Porcupine may easily weigh 20kg / 50lbs). I took this photo yesterday, of the remains of porcupine plucking in South Africa's Suurveld. The porcupines are of course put in the pot, their stomach being used for medicinal purposes. They are a protected species, but are widely regarded as pests, in particular for destroying crops. You may click on the photo to enlarge to 320k.

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Solar Post Mortem

This weekend, I replaced the "power plant" of one of my solar power systems, in a home. It failed after fair service -- but that wasn't good enough. The problems, in this case, were easy to identify. Most importantly, my system was over-taxed. I had estimated usage on the basis of people switching lights on and off as needed. Instead, they switched them on and off all together, and there was over-usage which led to sulfation. So I upped the battery capacity and upped the charge voltage and current. OBSERVATION: This is typical of solar power. It's not an exact science. In this case, the human habit of lighting candles in several rooms at once led to the relatively early demise of the system. (This serves as a caution, too, against "cheapie" solar systems which skimp on battery capacity or panel power, or tempt one to over-use the system).

Farmer's Funeral

This week I attended a popular farmer's funeral (pictured). He was loved and admired by farmers and labourers alike. He was, I think, both a product of his times and a very progressive man. On the one hand, his labourers lived in hard circumstances. On the other hand, he poured money into the education of their children. Today, looking back, this made a crucial difference to the course of the children's lives. According to one farmer, if the farm school needed anything, he would drop his farming immediately to attend to it.

Friday, November 7, 2014

Other World

I am spending a few days in my "other world", now posting from an RDP (Reconstruction and Development Programme) house. It is a great tumult here this evening, with many children playing in the dusty streets -- while wealthier suburbs tend to be deserted in the evening. In the morning, the township is quiet, except for cocks crowing. People have a gentler spirit in the townships, and they have thought for others. At the same time, many people experience hardship. South Africa is an extraordinary mix of cultures.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Church-Like Lodge

When I see something that looks like a Church, I often try to find out what it is (or was). Some of the stories are on this blog. Earlier today, in Mossel Bay, I saw a Church-like building. My first guess: Congregational, maybe Methodist. In fact it is a lodge, and always was a lodge: St. Blaize Lodge No. 1938, established in 1881. It is a member of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of England. The lodge meets once a month.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Eager Readiness To Believe

In a recent sermon, I quoted some insightful words by the famous commentator Matthew Henry: “Eager readiness to believe what others say, has ever proved mischievous. The whole world was thus ruined at first.” He says: go to the Saviour first, and go to God's Word. That is, pause with the Lord first.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Last Words

I am in the fortunate position of knowing the last words of my father, and of my father's father. My father's father: "Look! There's the vicar! There's my mother!" (both at the time deceased). And my father: "How God has blessed me!"

What Is Congregationalism?

I have been asked many times:  What is Congregationalism? I shall speak here of policy -- I omit the crucial practice of ministry by members. With this in mind, my answer would run something like this: it is a direct democracy under the Word and the Spirit. You start with a Body of people who are Bible-based and Spirit-filled, and all of them are equal in authority. No one has any kind of precedence because of status or wealth or culture or influence or force of personality -- or any of those "human" things. With this in mind, "pure" Congregational Churches hand all decisions to the members -- however, many hand some responsibility (usually not much) to a full leadership -- but never less than the full leadership. That is, you don't have officers or experts, inside or outside the Church, or any person assuming any control, over anything. There is a good summary of this in (click here) Wikipedia. OBSERVATION: Yet this is merely a technical description of Congregational policy. There is the spirit also. In my heart I would say that Congregationalism equals the humble distribution of decisions among all of the members. It is a listening -- a loving listening -- by all of the members -- or where this applies, by all of the leadership -- to one another and above all to the Word and the Spirit. As they do this, all of the members are taken into each other's trust, in every way, and all of the members wait upon each other. Wikipedia comments: "This requires lay people to exercise great charity and patience in debating issues with one another and to seek the glory and service of God as the foremost consideration in all of their decisions."

Similarity Index

As I did myself, several years ago, wife E. submits her seminary assignments on-line. There is one big difference now. Almost instantly, one receives a similarity index, which indicates what percentage of one's work matches anything else that is out there. Matches are highlighted with different colours for different categories. E.'s work is highly original, yet there are always matches: Scripture verses and quotations in particular. OBSERVATION: The surreal video clip is of heat convection in my coffee as she comments on an assignment.

Monday, November 3, 2014

God's All-Seeing Eye

God's "All-Seeing Eye", or the Eye of Providence, is well known from the US$1 bill. In my experience, the all-seeing eyes of God are a fairly marked theme among Church members of African origin -- yet feature little among members of European origin. In my Inbox, as an example, I have e-mails from two Church leaders: "He does see everything," and: "God almighty can see." Psalm 7:9 seems to express the idea.

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Pseudo-Random Lamp

It's been more than half a year since I put an original electronic design on my blog. The credit for conceiving the idea goes to electronics editor and friend Alan Winstanley. The circuit (pseudo) randomly switches a 12V lamp inside one's house, every ten minutes or so, so that there is the impression of activity. That is, it deters (one hopes) would-be thieves. OBSERVATION: A few notes: LP1 is ideally a LED device, otherwise one is wasting a lot of power. TR1 will easily handle 10 Watts (up to 43 Watts with a suitable heat sink). A supply decoupling capacitor would be a good idea: say 100μ (positive to positive, negative to negative). The make of IC is not critical: any CMOS 4093 IC will do. C1 and C2 should be in good condition, since charge current is small. The circuit itself uses next to nil power, so everything will depend on the power which the lamp draws: the Wattage divided by two. Perfectionists might put a 10k resistor between 1C1 pin 10 and TR1's gate. You'll see that the design uses British conventions. You may click on the image to enlarge.

Stoep Lamp

Yesterday I hung an automatic stoep / veranda light at our cottage (pictured). A R14 / $1.40 ceramic-coated bowl serves as a lampshade, with a high-tech 12V bulb inside. Purpose-made lampshades may easily cost R500 / $50. A special South African touch is the chain I attached to prevent (we hope) thieving. I previously bought a ceramic-coated pan and lid for the purpose, to use the lid. However, it being rather stylish, wife E. rescued it for the kitchen. OBSERVATION: Yesterday I wired an on / off / automatic switch to the lamp. I couldn't decide afterwards what the "on" position was for if the light switches on automatically in failing light.

Surprising Judgements

The various public bodies in South Africa are a mixed bag. Some are poor, others excellent. I have found that the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHCR) is in cracking good shape. Yet their judgements may surprise. Most recently, I sent the SAHCR an exchange between me and another public body, which concerned me, which involved some fairly prominent people. Instead of a straight verdict, they judged that, in sending them this exchange, I had reported corruption, and they advised me what to do next.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Thanks For The Memories

It may be "thanks for the memories" as far as my three-wheeler is concerned (pictured, today). The traffic police today banned me from the freeway / highway. They are probably right (sometimes they err). The other drivers are dangerous. OBSERVATION: I have driven thousands of kilometres / miles on the freeway, as far north as Lambert's Bay and as far east as Woodlands (near Tsitsikamma). "Vijoenshoop" -- the place name in the photo -- is typical of unique South African place names (insofar as something unique may be typical)!