In Conversation

I took this photo earlier in the week, of a final-year student (left) in discussion with a lecturer (right). This would be a good one for some captions! I obtained such a "roomy" shot with a wide-angle 18 mm prime lens. OBSERVATION: One can buy a similar shirt as the final-year student is wearing on Amazon*.

*This is an Amazon affiliate link. I earn a commission, at no cost to the buyer. 

What a Minister Does

What does a minister really do? In an average Church -- say, with a Sunday congregation of about 100 -- the minister will be deeply involved in (not necessarily in charge of):

• Church administration
• governance meetings
• Church finances
• Church properties
• pastoral counselling
• crisis call-outs
• Church charity
• Sunday services
• weddings and funerals
• music ministry
• social events
• damage control
• staff matters
• membership classes
• Church newsletters
• Church reports
• correspondence
• inter-Church relations
• community issues
• Bible studies
• mentoring, and
• groups oversight 

In fact, considerably more. OBSERVATION: Under the best of circumstances, it may seem too much -- yet with faith in God it can be done, and one has the privilege of seeing God wonderfully at work.

Rousing the DSD

Here's an interesting one. On 25 February 2025, I submitted a formal complaint, in terms of §18 of the Manual of Faith and Order, to the Uniting Presbyterian Church (UPCSA). They ignored it, repeatedly. I put this to the Department of Social Development (DSD), with whom the UPCSA are registered. I said that the UPCSA's reporting channels were out of order. The DSD said that I should come on over, and we would talk. I exercised my right to refuse a verbal discussion, and insisted on written communications. Among other things, this was too important for a verbal discussion. But the DSD refused a written response. Therefore I referred them to the Public Protector (PP). The Public Protector called me today (a public holiday)! The DSD were "not co-operating", they said, and they were now considering a subpoena. Could I help them with a last attempt to rouse the DSD? OBSERVATION: And the UPCSA's reporting channels, to this day, remain inert. But we may be getting somewhere ...

Seminary Provost

I took this photo earlier this week of our Seminary provost, or principal, CEO. I obtained such a "roomy" shot with a wide-angle 18 mm prime lens. You may click on the photo to enlarge. 

POSTCRIPT: You can buy a similar shirt on Amazon*.

*This is an Amazon affiliate link. I earn a commission, at no cost to the buyer. 

First Year Student

I took this photo last night of a first-year student in class. In the late 1800's, Xhosa King Sarili introduced imported German roller-printed cotton fabric to the kingdom. Women began adopting these brightly patterned fabrics, eventually creating the iconic umbaco—a heavy cotton fabric traditionally featuring black geometric braids and patterns, paired with vibrant beadwork. OBSERVATION: Women's clothes evolved, too, to signify their age, social standing, and marital status. You may click on the photo to enlarge.

I Surely Was Tired

I am effectively teaching full time at Seminary -- which is accredited university-level courses -- and I am essentially creating the material from the ground up. By the time Semester break came along just over a week ago, I was not merely worn out -- I was close to burnt out. Wife E went away for a weekend retreat. She left home in the morning, and I fell asleep at lunch time -- and I slept until the evening and through to the morning and through all of the next day and through the next night -- waking up only briefly in between. And I said to myself, "I surely was tired." OBSERVATION: I try to pace myself -- yet even with deliberation, than can prove difficult.

Not Quite in Control

As will be seen, I have monetised my blog with ads. I hope that they are not too intrusive. Incidentally the various ad networks have very different approaches to monetisation. I was accepted by three networks -- and chose Clean Ads. That was after discovering that there are some shocking practices out there. I felt safe with Clean Ads. OBSERVATION: Clean Ads, though, does not give the blogger personal control over ad placement. Rather, they place the ads for you, on request. For the first time in nearly 20 years, I have not quite been in full control of my blog.

Seminary Censorship

I have been registered at six seminaries in my life -- now I am a faculty member of a seventh. It has been interesting to see the various seminaries' censorship policies, which vary a great deal. Today I entered the seminary library, only to see this sign. OBSERVATION: My first reaction was that certain books must be contaminated. In fact this announces that certain books "may promote or contain unorthodox theology" -- with yellow stickers marking the suspect books. I checked my own book (Everything, Briefly). I didn't find a sticker!

3 Million Views

My blog has just passed three million views. Recently, however, some analysis showed that many of these views are non-human. They are bots. For what it is worth, most of my views in the last week have come from the USA, India, and Bangladesh.

Ransom for a Phone

Wife E took a minibus taxi to work (usually she drives to work). Her phone vanished. She was searching her mind all day as to what she might have done with it. I said, It was a skelm, in the taxi! They stole it! Apparently the skelm sold the phone -- an iPhone 12 -- for R5,000. The buyer offered it to me for R5,000. I easily bargained him down to R2,500. E's employer said, bargain him down to R500! Unfortunately, I do not have amazing bargaining powers. I bargained him down to R2,000. We arranged a rendezvous -- Woodbridge Island lighthouse -- I paid him the money -- he was wearing dark glasses -- and I got the phone. OBSERVATION: I asked him, Why did you buy a blocked phone? He said, The seller said that the battery was flat. I checked the battery. It was 33% charged. But E was over the moon to have her phone back.