No more “we” and “them” - Sermon delivered on 1 June 2008 at Lobatse Congregation.
Scripture: Luke 15:1-2
Before Andrew Jackson became the seventh president of the United States, he served as a major general in the Tennessee militia. During the War of 1812 his troops reached an all-time low level in morale. As a result, they began arguing, bickering, and fighting among themselves. It is reported that Jackson called them together on one occasion when tensions were at their worst and said, "Gentlemen! Let's remember, the enemy is over there."
The problem of the soldiers not being able to recognize the true enemy, is not a new one. And it is surely not limited to warfare. We often find this phenomenon in the Church also. People are unable to work together, because they are not focused on who the true enemy in the church is.
We normally would look at the parables in Luke 15 through the lens of lost individuals in the church. But if we look closely at the reason for Jesus telling the three parables, it seems as if these parables are all about unity in the church. Yes, even amongst Jesus’ followers on earth, there were serious divisions.
In Luke 15:1-2 we see how Jesus accepted the tax collectors and “sinners”, and how he was criticized for welcoming sinners, and eating with them. The first reaction from the Pharisees and teachers of the law was to mutter and complain about Jesus’ actions. Jesus was actually implicated as defiling himself with eating in the presence of these people. To eat from the same table as the “heavens” were viewed by the Pharisees and teachers of the law as a defiling act, and not fitting a rabbi like Jesus was viewed to be.
It is also noteworthy that this division is accentuated by the Pharisees and teachers of the law referring to the tax collectors and “sinners” as “them”. This is surely a distinction that is still alive and well in the church of Christ as we know it today. We may confess that all Christians belong to one body, but in practice people will be very quick to distance themselves from one another.
The most interesting aspect of this division, was that it was not primarily even between different cultures. It was mainly a division of people who have viewed themselves to be better than others, a division of people being stingy in their faith, wanting to have Jesus Christ just for themselves. It was a division where even the followers of Jesus would refer to the church as “them”, because of people that were not willing to really become one with them.
We do not always realize how entrenched this way of thinking is still prevalent in the church in 2008. Perhaps the poor will still hide away in the back of the church like in James 1:1-5, or the women and the men will still sit in separate blocks of the church, as we found in the temple in Jerusalem, and even in some African congregations today. We have moved away from that trend in our congregation, but in a lot of congregations the elders and deacons will still sit in the front pews of the church, separated from the rest of the congregation.
Even yesterday, after the bazaar, a member phoned me and asked: “How did you do with the bazaar?”. I still do not know precisely whom he referred to by talking of “you”, but it is just so typical of church members not taking ownership of the church, by viewing themselves as separate from the body of Christ in Lobatse, and for that matter, from any true Christian church on the planet.
But we also have to take the positive out of these to verses. Despite the negative attitude of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, the tax collectors and sinners still came to listen to the message. Yes, the new and vibrant message of Christ made all the difference. That was what people came to hear.
As we proceed with our journey into Luke 15, it is important that we do not keep standing still at the reasons for people not coming to church. It is important that we do not use up all our time and energy to ask for all the reasons that my neighbour may sit in church today. No, dear friends, it has become time to realise that we are together as a church to focus on God’s Word for us, and to realise how much we do need his Word and his love in our lives.
But listening to God’s Word every Sunday is not enough. James 1:24 compares a person who only hears the Word, without any transformation in his/her life to a person looking in the mirror, and walking away without doing something to himself. Yes, it is true that some church members may only be coming to church to hear how good they are! And beware the pastor who tries to convince them otherwise!
No, dear friends, listening to God’s Word also requires us to be able to go and do. To make a difference around us… To walk out of here and view the world around us from a different perspective. To look at our brothers and sisters in the light of Galatians 3:28, which states: There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
There is the story of an old rabbi whose followers listened to him through the night, and at one stage asked him when daybreak is coming. His answered that the break of day has arrived when two people look at each other and realize that they are brothers! Yes, dear friends, we must ask ourselves continuously if the day is there yet for Lobatse congregation. We must ask ourselves if we can really look at one another, and recognize the brother in your neighbour.
Did you ever wonder why geese are always flying in a V? Research has proved that geese flying in such a formation would fly almost 70% further than would normally be possible if they tried to do it alone. Furthermore it is reckoned that the “honk-honk” you hear when they fly over your head, is always coming from those at the back of the “V”, and encourages those at the front to keep up the pace.
Isn’t it sad that we in the church often think that we can serve God better alone? Without the interference, or gossip, or negative attitude of “them” who is sitting in the front pews? Isn’t it sad that the voices coming from behind, or the back seat drivers are often discouraging all the time, and often not willing to take their turn when they have to take the lead.
A last feature of these geese is that they would never leave a goose that has fallen sick, or become tired behind. No, they will leave one or two geese behind to look after it, and help it to catch up after it has recovered. But this part of the message we leave for next Sunday…
May God help us to walk out of here, and recognize the brother or sister in our fellow congregants!
AMEN!
Acknowledgements:
Charles Swindoll, Hope Again, Word 1996, p. 45.
James S Hewett, ed ILLUSTRATIONS UNLIMITED p125-6
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
To really feal at home!
Sermon delivered on 24 October 2008 at Lobatse, Botswana.
There is a story told of a person who moved into a new town, who asked his neighbour about the nature of the surrounding community. His neighbour who was a wise old man, answered him with a question… “How were the people where you came from?”. The newcomer answered that they were not nice at all. They were backstabbers, gossipers, liars, etc. Well, the old man interrupted, the people here are just like that.
The clever people say that we are moving more and more into a global village. That means that people are moving around more and more, and are moving in and out of different societies. Although this tendency is supposed to make people more relaxed with one another, getting used to change, it seems that just the opposite is happening…
The front pages of every newspaper in South Africa, and I hear, in the world is full of bloody pictures of foreign people being attacked, because they are not welcome in South Africa… Earlier this week I heard of about 400 people that died and about 16 000 people that fled due to this violence. Even yesterday I met a man in Gaborone who was on his way back to his village near Harare. He went to South Africa for an operation, but his life was not safe due to the attacks on foreigners.
But unbelievable as it may seem, this tendency of shunning newcomers is also present in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, and was part of it for centuries. Not only the young Joseph, but also the leader Moses, as well as his wife Sipporah at a later stage, and even King David were pushed out to the fringes of society in their lives. Not to talk about the newly converted Paul, the Greek and Roman Christians, or Jesus Christ himself in the society of his time.
And therefore I believe that it is probably true that some, or even most of you may not feel perfectly at home in the church this morning. Some or most of us might be put of by someone else in this church who makes you feel unwelcome. Perhaps some of you have been aggrieved by me, or a previous pastor. Perhaps you feel that you are not even recognised in the church and in the congregation. You are not one of the “important people in the church.” Perhaps some of you will feel that the church was not there for you when you were going through difficult times.
But you know, brothers and sisters, that here in Psalm 84 we read that the sons of Korah does not only feel welcome, but finds a dwelling place in the house of the Lord. The house of the Lord is also their house, and they feel at home there. They are prepared to walk many kilometres to enter into the house of the Lord, and feel his presence there. But what is the difference in their lives? Why are going to church so often a cross to the Christians today, in comparison with the Levites in Bible times?
Is it because the sons of Korah were priests, and they were supposed to enjoy being in the temple? Is it because of the fact that they only had a temple in Jerusalem, and that going there was a big occasion? Is it because going to the temple meant that they would meet up with old friends, and have a happy time together?
No, dear friends, they were excited because of the presence of God! Yes, in the temple they had a special time to just cut them of from all their other activities, and dedicate time to God in his presence. In the temple they were able to come together and praise and worship him. In the temple they were able to pray to him without other hindrances.
But there is still more to it. In the temple they found access for everybody, without discrimination. Even the sparrows and the swallows found a place in the temple (vs 4). Yes, in the temple God did not favour anybody. Even the young of the swallow finds a place in the temple. Yes, all the children are very welcome there, and find a home in the temple.
So where have we gone wrong? Why are people looking upon the church with apathy, sometimes even with enmity in their hearts? In the first place we have lost perspective about going to church. Going to church is not a meeting with people, but a meeting with God. Johan Cilliers has written a book called “die uitwissing van God op die Kansel”, or the “annihiliation of God on the pulpit”, whereby he showed how pastors are not focusing on God and His word in the church service, but on mere human relationships. It is also true that going to church is more that who we are going to meet outside the church building, than the special meeting with God inside the building.
If we look for God, and to worship Him above all, we will find him, (Proverbs 8:17), if we come to church to meet up with the Lord, we will feel at home, and we will be able to really enjoy the atmosphere. We will experience God as the living God (vs. 3), who longs to assist us in our problems (Isaiah 30:18).
The second reason why church is not a pleasure anymore to so many Christians and even outsiders, is that we do not realise how much we have to be thankful for. We often look at the 20% that is still lacking in our lives, instead of thanking God for the 80% (and more!) that He has already given us! Like the ten lepers (Luke 17:12-19) we often forget to thank God for everything we received from Him.
In Psalm 84 the sons of Korah is full of praise for what the Lord has done for them. They realise that the Lord is the reason for the blessings in their life (vs. 5,13). They also experience the power that they find in the Lord, (vs. 6,8), as well as his protection, his grace, and his glory, as well as all His gifts and blessings (vs 12).
Last, but not least, people do not experience the joy of church because they have become stingy. We do not share what we experience with others. Immediately when we exit the church, we would start talking about the sport events of the past weekend, or exchange the week’s gossip news. In stead of reaching out to the newcomers in church that Sunday, we would gather together in our little clicks with our own private discussions.
When our focus is on God and the way he graciously hands out so many gifts to us, then our attitude towards other church members, and newcomers will also change. In this regard verse 7 is so beautiful: “As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.”
In Botswana, which comprises mostly of desert, rain is very precious. Amongst the Batswana you will often hear the name: Motlalepula, which means: “the one who came with/brought the rain”. Just yesterday evening, when I went to deliver something to a congregation member, it started raining, whilst we are currently in the middle of winter. I asked the lady: “But where does the rain come from?”. “You must have brought it” she answered.
If we really look up to the Lord, and gather regularly in His presence to renew our strenght, we may know that he will also use us to touch others, and bring rain and prosperity to others whilst we go to and throw to church.
I conclude with the story of a community in this area who went to pray for rain in a time of severe drought. When they passed an atheist sitting on his porch, he asked them where they are going. “We are going to pray for rain”, they answered. He looked at them and asked: “Do you know how bad it can be in this area when it really starts to rain?”.
So the Lord answered them and the rain came down heavily for almost a month. Then they felt that the rain was too much, and they decided to pray that the rain will stop. When they passed the atheist on the porch again, he asked them again where they were going. They answered that they were on their way to pray that the rain will stop. He looked at them and asked: “Do you know this country when it stops raining?”.
Yes, dear friends, our dissatisfaction with the church is often the result when Christians do not count their blessings. When we stand at the temple porch, we often do not know what it must be like to live in houses without God. To live in families who have nothing to really live for. We do not know what it is like to have nowhere to go to in times of need. May God help us to really realise what we have, before we may come to times, like in our neighbouring Zimbabwe and even for some in South Africa, when we have nowhere where we can feel at home!
AMEN!
Bibliography:
Cilliers, A. 2001. Wat is die storie met die Kerk? Kaapstad: Lux VerbiCilliers, JH. 1996. Die Uitwissing van God op die Kansel. Kaapstad: Lux Verbi
There is a story told of a person who moved into a new town, who asked his neighbour about the nature of the surrounding community. His neighbour who was a wise old man, answered him with a question… “How were the people where you came from?”. The newcomer answered that they were not nice at all. They were backstabbers, gossipers, liars, etc. Well, the old man interrupted, the people here are just like that.
The clever people say that we are moving more and more into a global village. That means that people are moving around more and more, and are moving in and out of different societies. Although this tendency is supposed to make people more relaxed with one another, getting used to change, it seems that just the opposite is happening…
The front pages of every newspaper in South Africa, and I hear, in the world is full of bloody pictures of foreign people being attacked, because they are not welcome in South Africa… Earlier this week I heard of about 400 people that died and about 16 000 people that fled due to this violence. Even yesterday I met a man in Gaborone who was on his way back to his village near Harare. He went to South Africa for an operation, but his life was not safe due to the attacks on foreigners.
But unbelievable as it may seem, this tendency of shunning newcomers is also present in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, and was part of it for centuries. Not only the young Joseph, but also the leader Moses, as well as his wife Sipporah at a later stage, and even King David were pushed out to the fringes of society in their lives. Not to talk about the newly converted Paul, the Greek and Roman Christians, or Jesus Christ himself in the society of his time.
And therefore I believe that it is probably true that some, or even most of you may not feel perfectly at home in the church this morning. Some or most of us might be put of by someone else in this church who makes you feel unwelcome. Perhaps some of you have been aggrieved by me, or a previous pastor. Perhaps you feel that you are not even recognised in the church and in the congregation. You are not one of the “important people in the church.” Perhaps some of you will feel that the church was not there for you when you were going through difficult times.
But you know, brothers and sisters, that here in Psalm 84 we read that the sons of Korah does not only feel welcome, but finds a dwelling place in the house of the Lord. The house of the Lord is also their house, and they feel at home there. They are prepared to walk many kilometres to enter into the house of the Lord, and feel his presence there. But what is the difference in their lives? Why are going to church so often a cross to the Christians today, in comparison with the Levites in Bible times?
Is it because the sons of Korah were priests, and they were supposed to enjoy being in the temple? Is it because of the fact that they only had a temple in Jerusalem, and that going there was a big occasion? Is it because going to the temple meant that they would meet up with old friends, and have a happy time together?
No, dear friends, they were excited because of the presence of God! Yes, in the temple they had a special time to just cut them of from all their other activities, and dedicate time to God in his presence. In the temple they were able to come together and praise and worship him. In the temple they were able to pray to him without other hindrances.
But there is still more to it. In the temple they found access for everybody, without discrimination. Even the sparrows and the swallows found a place in the temple (vs 4). Yes, in the temple God did not favour anybody. Even the young of the swallow finds a place in the temple. Yes, all the children are very welcome there, and find a home in the temple.
So where have we gone wrong? Why are people looking upon the church with apathy, sometimes even with enmity in their hearts? In the first place we have lost perspective about going to church. Going to church is not a meeting with people, but a meeting with God. Johan Cilliers has written a book called “die uitwissing van God op die Kansel”, or the “annihiliation of God on the pulpit”, whereby he showed how pastors are not focusing on God and His word in the church service, but on mere human relationships. It is also true that going to church is more that who we are going to meet outside the church building, than the special meeting with God inside the building.
If we look for God, and to worship Him above all, we will find him, (Proverbs 8:17), if we come to church to meet up with the Lord, we will feel at home, and we will be able to really enjoy the atmosphere. We will experience God as the living God (vs. 3), who longs to assist us in our problems (Isaiah 30:18).
The second reason why church is not a pleasure anymore to so many Christians and even outsiders, is that we do not realise how much we have to be thankful for. We often look at the 20% that is still lacking in our lives, instead of thanking God for the 80% (and more!) that He has already given us! Like the ten lepers (Luke 17:12-19) we often forget to thank God for everything we received from Him.
In Psalm 84 the sons of Korah is full of praise for what the Lord has done for them. They realise that the Lord is the reason for the blessings in their life (vs. 5,13). They also experience the power that they find in the Lord, (vs. 6,8), as well as his protection, his grace, and his glory, as well as all His gifts and blessings (vs 12).
Last, but not least, people do not experience the joy of church because they have become stingy. We do not share what we experience with others. Immediately when we exit the church, we would start talking about the sport events of the past weekend, or exchange the week’s gossip news. In stead of reaching out to the newcomers in church that Sunday, we would gather together in our little clicks with our own private discussions.
When our focus is on God and the way he graciously hands out so many gifts to us, then our attitude towards other church members, and newcomers will also change. In this regard verse 7 is so beautiful: “As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.”
In Botswana, which comprises mostly of desert, rain is very precious. Amongst the Batswana you will often hear the name: Motlalepula, which means: “the one who came with/brought the rain”. Just yesterday evening, when I went to deliver something to a congregation member, it started raining, whilst we are currently in the middle of winter. I asked the lady: “But where does the rain come from?”. “You must have brought it” she answered.
If we really look up to the Lord, and gather regularly in His presence to renew our strenght, we may know that he will also use us to touch others, and bring rain and prosperity to others whilst we go to and throw to church.
I conclude with the story of a community in this area who went to pray for rain in a time of severe drought. When they passed an atheist sitting on his porch, he asked them where they are going. “We are going to pray for rain”, they answered. He looked at them and asked: “Do you know how bad it can be in this area when it really starts to rain?”.
So the Lord answered them and the rain came down heavily for almost a month. Then they felt that the rain was too much, and they decided to pray that the rain will stop. When they passed the atheist on the porch again, he asked them again where they were going. They answered that they were on their way to pray that the rain will stop. He looked at them and asked: “Do you know this country when it stops raining?”.
Yes, dear friends, our dissatisfaction with the church is often the result when Christians do not count their blessings. When we stand at the temple porch, we often do not know what it must be like to live in houses without God. To live in families who have nothing to really live for. We do not know what it is like to have nowhere to go to in times of need. May God help us to really realise what we have, before we may come to times, like in our neighbouring Zimbabwe and even for some in South Africa, when we have nowhere where we can feel at home!
AMEN!
Bibliography:
Cilliers, A. 2001. Wat is die storie met die Kerk? Kaapstad: Lux VerbiCilliers, JH. 1996. Die Uitwissing van God op die Kansel. Kaapstad: Lux Verbi
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Sermon on 18 May 2008 Religion can be dangerous!
Sermon delivered on Sunday 18 May 2008 in Lobatse.
There was the story of the old farmer that very seldom, or never came to church. But after he bought himself a brand new bakkie, the pastor was surprised to see the old man in church every Sunday! After a while the pastor asked the farmer why he suddenly stepped up his attendance. He answered that the salesman at the garage told him that he had to take the bakkie for a service regularly, and that is precisely what he is doing.
Although this is often told as a joke, it is sad that many church members and churchgoers are not much better of than that old man. They have been going to church for years, but for the wrong reasons. And therefore they often could not understand why the church is so boring to them! They just could not comprehend why they do not get anything out of the church service!
There is a story of a brilliant student who just attended one meeting during the year, and still got 95% in the exams. When the professor asked him how he managed to do so well he replied: “If it was not for that one class, I could have had 100%!”. In the same way that this student viewed the professor’s classes to be a waste of time, and even to be detrimental, some people who call themselves Christians, will even become adversaries of their local church. They will scorn the pastor and the church, for amongst other, the following reasons:
Some will say that the churchgoers are like witch-hunters who just wait for somebody to put a foot wrong. They will live by a list of do’s and don’ts, and even view God as a God of wrath who is pointing with his finger towards man like an angry father. Whenever somebody would fall into sin, they start gossiping, without making an effort to assist such a person to realize his sin and to stand up straight again.
Such people will complain that the pastor is always stepping on their toes when he preaches. There is the joke about the little boy who was asked what the pastor preached about. He answered that the pastor talked about sin. His mother asked him what the pastor said about sin. He said that the pastor surely did not like it!
Some people will also say that churchgoers are being puffed up, ready with all the answers, without really listening what the questions are. An example of these people are often found in the call-in programs on radio, where people are even cut-off for their insulting language, and for quoting a lot of Bible verses, just condemning, instead of also proclaiming God’s grace.
A third reason why people often scoff the church, is because religion often makes people to do stupid things. If we think of the South-American evangelist, Jones, who poisoned and killed 9000 church members with cyanide, the long battle between the Catholics and protestant in Northern Ireland, it is a pity that church leaders can sometimes motivate people to do the most stupid things in the “name of Christ”. We often find today that people are encouraged to abandon all medicine and medical treatment, because “God will heal them”.
The psychologist Sigmund Freud alleged that religion is enslaving people. He said that religion is making people slaves of church laws, that it takes away their creativity, and freedom of behavior. According to him everybody who is thinking “out of the box” is seen to be a liberal in the church.
Yes, brothers and sisters, if we do real introspection about our local congregation, and our church in Botswana, then we must acknowledge that we are not blameless in this regard. Also in the DRCB Lobatse these ways of being church are often visible. And therefore I believe that we must take a fresh look at Colossians 2 again.
In the letter to the Colossians it is evident that this letter is also directed against people who are also ruling the church by human regulations. People are warned against witch-hunters who judge people by what they “eat and drink”, and the way that they celebrate religious festivals (vs 16). People are warned against them who seem humble, but who “puff themselves up” by keeping unspiritual and idle notions (v. 18).
People are also warned not to do stupid things. In verse 23 it says that these people have a self-imposed worship, a false humility and a harsh treatment of the body, but that that does not help to nourish the spirit of a Christian. The Colossians are warned against those who take them captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world (vs. 8).
But what are the principles of the true church? From verse 2 and 3 it is clear that Jesus Christ is at the centre of our faith. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of our faith. Furthermore Jesus is the Cornerstone from where we must build our faith, being rooted in him (vs. 6&7). In Christ’s death and resurrection we have received deliverance from every worldly power, and we received redemption for our sins at the cross. Christ is the reality of the being of the church, not only a shadow. He is the Head of the church, and the whole body comes together in Him (vs. 17, 19).
Therefore we need to do introspection, and ask Christ to take hold of our lives, and to give everything to Him. Therefore we need to claim his redemption over our whole lives, and look up to him as the Saviour in everything we do. Let us therefore look again at our lives as Christians. Let us make sure that we have the discernment of Christ and the Holy Spirit, to really follow God (1 Cor 2:12).
AMEN!
There was the story of the old farmer that very seldom, or never came to church. But after he bought himself a brand new bakkie, the pastor was surprised to see the old man in church every Sunday! After a while the pastor asked the farmer why he suddenly stepped up his attendance. He answered that the salesman at the garage told him that he had to take the bakkie for a service regularly, and that is precisely what he is doing.
Although this is often told as a joke, it is sad that many church members and churchgoers are not much better of than that old man. They have been going to church for years, but for the wrong reasons. And therefore they often could not understand why the church is so boring to them! They just could not comprehend why they do not get anything out of the church service!
There is a story of a brilliant student who just attended one meeting during the year, and still got 95% in the exams. When the professor asked him how he managed to do so well he replied: “If it was not for that one class, I could have had 100%!”. In the same way that this student viewed the professor’s classes to be a waste of time, and even to be detrimental, some people who call themselves Christians, will even become adversaries of their local church. They will scorn the pastor and the church, for amongst other, the following reasons:
Some will say that the churchgoers are like witch-hunters who just wait for somebody to put a foot wrong. They will live by a list of do’s and don’ts, and even view God as a God of wrath who is pointing with his finger towards man like an angry father. Whenever somebody would fall into sin, they start gossiping, without making an effort to assist such a person to realize his sin and to stand up straight again.
Such people will complain that the pastor is always stepping on their toes when he preaches. There is the joke about the little boy who was asked what the pastor preached about. He answered that the pastor talked about sin. His mother asked him what the pastor said about sin. He said that the pastor surely did not like it!
Some people will also say that churchgoers are being puffed up, ready with all the answers, without really listening what the questions are. An example of these people are often found in the call-in programs on radio, where people are even cut-off for their insulting language, and for quoting a lot of Bible verses, just condemning, instead of also proclaiming God’s grace.
A third reason why people often scoff the church, is because religion often makes people to do stupid things. If we think of the South-American evangelist, Jones, who poisoned and killed 9000 church members with cyanide, the long battle between the Catholics and protestant in Northern Ireland, it is a pity that church leaders can sometimes motivate people to do the most stupid things in the “name of Christ”. We often find today that people are encouraged to abandon all medicine and medical treatment, because “God will heal them”.
The psychologist Sigmund Freud alleged that religion is enslaving people. He said that religion is making people slaves of church laws, that it takes away their creativity, and freedom of behavior. According to him everybody who is thinking “out of the box” is seen to be a liberal in the church.
Yes, brothers and sisters, if we do real introspection about our local congregation, and our church in Botswana, then we must acknowledge that we are not blameless in this regard. Also in the DRCB Lobatse these ways of being church are often visible. And therefore I believe that we must take a fresh look at Colossians 2 again.
In the letter to the Colossians it is evident that this letter is also directed against people who are also ruling the church by human regulations. People are warned against witch-hunters who judge people by what they “eat and drink”, and the way that they celebrate religious festivals (vs 16). People are warned against them who seem humble, but who “puff themselves up” by keeping unspiritual and idle notions (v. 18).
People are also warned not to do stupid things. In verse 23 it says that these people have a self-imposed worship, a false humility and a harsh treatment of the body, but that that does not help to nourish the spirit of a Christian. The Colossians are warned against those who take them captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world (vs. 8).
But what are the principles of the true church? From verse 2 and 3 it is clear that Jesus Christ is at the centre of our faith. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of our faith. Furthermore Jesus is the Cornerstone from where we must build our faith, being rooted in him (vs. 6&7). In Christ’s death and resurrection we have received deliverance from every worldly power, and we received redemption for our sins at the cross. Christ is the reality of the being of the church, not only a shadow. He is the Head of the church, and the whole body comes together in Him (vs. 17, 19).
Therefore we need to do introspection, and ask Christ to take hold of our lives, and to give everything to Him. Therefore we need to claim his redemption over our whole lives, and look up to him as the Saviour in everything we do. Let us therefore look again at our lives as Christians. Let us make sure that we have the discernment of Christ and the Holy Spirit, to really follow God (1 Cor 2:12).
AMEN!
Friday, May 9, 2008
Pentecost 2008 Messages
Preek gelewer op Sondag 4 Mei – Lobatse Gemeente, Botswana
Skrifgedeelte: Efesiërs 4:25-Ef. 5:5.
Tema: Laat die Heilige Gees glimlag!
Daar word vertel van die seuntjie wat elke keer die teenoorgestelde gedoen het van wat sy pa hom gevra het. Elke keer as sy pa wou hê dat hy iets vir hom moes doen, het hy gevra: Moet asseblief nie vir my dit of dat doen nie. Dan doen die seuntjie presies wat sy pa wil hê, juis as gevolg van sy hardkoppigheid. Dit het lank so aangegaan, totdat sy pa op ‘n dag vir hom gevra het om nie ‘n glas water vir hom te gaan haal nie. Hy was flink oppad om dit te gaan doen, toe hy skielik snap wat sy pa met hom doen, en hy vassteek, en sê: “Ek sal nie!”
Maar weet julle, liewe vriende, wanneer ‘n mens vir die eerste keer na hierdie laaste gedeelte in Efesiërs 4 kyk, dan lyk dit op die oog af vir ‘n mens of die Here vir ons ‘n klomp moenies voorskryf. Moenie vloek nie, moenie steel nie, moenie kwaad word nie, moenie verbitterd wees nie, moenie humeurig wees nie. As ‘n mens op hierdie manier na die teks kyk, dan kan die Bybel vir ons net ‘n negatiewe lat word waarmee al die sondes gestraf moet word. Dink maar aan die kwaai juffrou Rottenmaier in die Heidi-verhaal vir wie almal bang was.
En daarom glo ek dat ons nie vanoggend moet vassteek by die negatiewe deel van Christenskap nie. Ons moet ook op hierdie eerste Sondag van ons pinksterweek vir mekaar gaan afvra – WAT LAAT DIE GEES VAN GOD GLIMLAG? Op watter manier kan ons God regtig gelukkig en tevrede maak?
- Hoe laat ons die Gees glimlag?
1. Praat onder mekaar die waarheid
2. Voorsien self in jou lewensonderhoud, en gee aan die armes
3. Praat net wat goed en opbouend is volgens die eis van omstandighede
4. Wees goedgesind en hartlik teenoor mekaar
5. Vergewe mekaar
- Hoekom doen ons dit alles? Omdat ons in liefde lewe, en soos Christus sy lewe as ‘n offergawe gegee het, ‘n offer wat vir God aanneemlik was, moet ons ook bereid wees om ons lewens op te offer.
Ons maak onsself dikwels so ONVERSTAANBAAR vir die wêreld. Ons optrede op in die kerk en ons optrede in die week PAS NIE! Wat pas by ons? Dank aan God.
Die seuntjie wat altyd die teenoorgestelde gedoen het, het later ‘n predikant geword.
As ons teenoorgestelde van stroom, wêreld doen moet ons onthou dat daar plek in die koninkryk van die hemel is vir rebelle (Dink maar aan Job, Johannes die doper, seuns van die Donder, Simon die Seloot, Petrus.) Angus Buchan as ‘n REBEL, wat uiteindelik die Here begin dien het, en kyk watter vrug dit vandag dra. ‘n Paar naweke terug het 60 000 man die “Mighty Men Conference” op sy plaas bygewoon!
Doen saam skuldbelydenis as gemeente
Genadige God,
Ons bely dat ons in gedagtes, woorde en dade teen U gesondig het;
Deur dit wat ons gedoen het,
En deur dit wat ons nagelaat het om te doen.
Ons het U nie liefgehad met ons hele hart,
En ons naaste nie liefgehad soos onsself nie
Wees ons genadig, ter wille van U Seun Jesus Christus
Vergewe ons, vernuwe en lei ons,
Sodat ons vreugde in U kan vind,
En kan wandel op U weg,
Tot eer van U heilige Naam.
AMEN.
Weet dat jy die Heilige Gees en God die Vader wel kan gelukkig maak! Ons kan dit duidelik sien in Sefanja 3:16-19:
16 Daardie dag sal daar vir Jerusalem gesê word: Moenie bang wees nie, Sion, moenie jou hande moedeloos laat hang nie!
17 Die Here jou God is by jou, Hy, die krygsman wat red. Hy is vol vreugde oor jou, Hy is stil–tevrede in sy liefde. Hy jubel en juig oor jou:
18 Ek maak dié bymekaar wat treur, ver van die feestelikheid af, dié wat uit jou uit kom en ter wille van jou die smaad gedra het.19 Ek gaan nou optree teen almal wat jou verdruk het, Ek gaan die kreupeles help, die verstrooides bymekaarmaak en die vernedering wat hulle moes ondergaan, in eer verander, in roem oor die hele aarde.
Sermon at Pentecost celebration in Lobatse on 11 May 2008.
Scripture: Eph 5:18-20, 1 Cor 2:12-1 Cor 3:4.
As a student I remember going to the Eastern Transvaal, South Africa, on outreach teams. It was wonderful times, and we were a jolly bunch, always laughing and joking. Sometimes the dullest joke would make us cry of laughter. On these tours we often took a translator, Simon, who was a few years older than us. Although Simon was a Ndebele, and not an Afrikaner, like the rest of us, Simon could understand Afrikaans very well. Often when we broke out into laughter, Simon would stand amused on the sideline.
One day we asked Simon why he didn’t laugh with us – was it the cultural gap? No, Simon (who was a few years older than we were) said, he was also like that when he was a student and a few years younger, but nowadays he is more subdued as he grew older. He did not find our jokes so funny anymore.
Unfortunately religious experience seem to work the same way in many Christians’ lives. After really making a decision for the Lord in their lives, they are normally very enthusiastic about their faith, just to fade away into adulthood, and eventually become lifeless Christians, who is more of a stumbling block to the gospel and a disgrace to Christianity than anything else. In our tour through Botswana we came upon a guy who previously was a vibrant Christian youth leader at university, but who has backslided into an armchair Christian who did not have any witness in his surroundings anymore.
We can often see that isolated situations, especially here in the vast, outstretched Botswana has that effect on people. Almost like a log pulled from the fire, we gradually become lukewarm, until we are ice cold, and burnt out. But should we just merely accept this process? Is this all that there is to serving the true, living God?
Looking again at our passages in Ephesians 5 and 1 Corinthians, it seems to me that the problem often is that we aim to get more of the Spirit. Most of us can think back of Spiritual experiences in our lives when we really gave our lives to Jesus Christ, or when we felt the presence of the Lord in a special way, or when we were overwhelmed by what the Lord is meaning to us. But after some time this feeling seem to fade away, because we can’t seem to keep the Spirit alive in our lives…
But if we closely study 1 Cor 2&3, we see that the big problem is not actually us not getting enough of the Spirit, but the Spirit not getting enough of us! If we look closely at these verses, we see that 1 Corinthians speaks of people being in three different phases. The first, referred to in verse 14: The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
In the first place it is clear that there are people without the Spirit of God. Although the Spirit of God works in every person, persuading him to become a child of God, the Spirit is only entering our lives ones we are born again by God’s Spirit, and when our spirits are renewed by God. These people will never understand the power of God’s Word unless they submit to the Spirit, speaking in their lives, and answer to Jesus’ knock on the door of their hearts.
In 1 Cor 3:1-3 Paul refers to believers that are still infants in Christ, and that are still worldly. These are people who are not able to digest the solid food that God wants to give them, but must still drink milk like babies. These are the people who are still behaving like the world, often quarreling and being jealous upon one another. A lot of Christians often fall in this category. This does not mean that they need more of the Spirit, but that the Spirit needs more of them…
Yes, they must be prepared to give more of their lives to the Spirit. They must open the closed areas of their lives, so that the Spirit may come in and renew it. Then they will be able to dig deeper into the Bible and understand more about what the Lord wants them to be and what the Lord wants them to do.
One can compare this to someone entering an old room. When Ananda and Reinette renovated the apartments for their new coffee shop, they found a room that was totally forgotten. It was even closed up totally, and they had to break in a door into the apartment to access it. Think how it must have looked after not being lived in for years! But when the light shone in, they were able to clean it, and make it useable for their shop.
What happens to us when we keep certain areas of our lives locked up, barred from the influence of the Holy Spirit? We will always be hampered, kept back by stumbling blocks. We will stay babies, unable to learn more, and to digest solid food in our lives. We will always feel that we lack something. Although it may probably be the Holy Spirit lacking something in our lives!
If we allow the closed compartments in our lives to be opened, we will experience a wonderful change. We will see that we will start speaking the words of the Spirit, with spiritual truths coming from our mouths in spiritual words. We will experience clarity in our judgement, and be able to see what the will of God is for our lives. We will have a hunger to learn more of the Word of God, and will sense the need to be instructed and taught every day.
I must also make a confession today… During the past year I have also allowed certain areas of my life to be closed up from the Holy Spirit. This also pulled me down into a state where I was not able to shine towards others with the Spirit’s light in me. During my silence time in the Oscar tour, a verse in Luke 11:35: “See to it, that the light within you is not darkness.”
I just realised how important it is to open up all areas of my life to the Lord, and to make sure that His light shines through me. That I had really surrender all to him, and allow him to make me a vibrant instrument in his hand. Do not feel alone when you experience the light in you become dark… Even Paul had to encourage Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:6,7 “6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self–discipline.”
Is it not interesting that the image of a fire, of light is used again here. The same image is used at the day of Pentecost when the tongues of fire appeared on top of the apostle’s heads. Yes, the Holy Spirit in us makes us shining, vibrant tools in the Lord’s kingdom!
In which of the three phases mentioned earlier are you? Only you will know where you really stand. Only you will know whether it is necessary to open the front door, the entrance of your life to the Triune –God, or whether you must also go and open that secluded room to the Lord. Or whether you must just fill the urge in you to live as a light of the Spirit by making yourself available to be taught and to be used to shine in Lobatse, Botswana, Southern Africa, and to the ends of the Earth!
AMEN!
Skrifgedeelte: Efesiërs 4:25-Ef. 5:5.
Tema: Laat die Heilige Gees glimlag!
Daar word vertel van die seuntjie wat elke keer die teenoorgestelde gedoen het van wat sy pa hom gevra het. Elke keer as sy pa wou hê dat hy iets vir hom moes doen, het hy gevra: Moet asseblief nie vir my dit of dat doen nie. Dan doen die seuntjie presies wat sy pa wil hê, juis as gevolg van sy hardkoppigheid. Dit het lank so aangegaan, totdat sy pa op ‘n dag vir hom gevra het om nie ‘n glas water vir hom te gaan haal nie. Hy was flink oppad om dit te gaan doen, toe hy skielik snap wat sy pa met hom doen, en hy vassteek, en sê: “Ek sal nie!”
Maar weet julle, liewe vriende, wanneer ‘n mens vir die eerste keer na hierdie laaste gedeelte in Efesiërs 4 kyk, dan lyk dit op die oog af vir ‘n mens of die Here vir ons ‘n klomp moenies voorskryf. Moenie vloek nie, moenie steel nie, moenie kwaad word nie, moenie verbitterd wees nie, moenie humeurig wees nie. As ‘n mens op hierdie manier na die teks kyk, dan kan die Bybel vir ons net ‘n negatiewe lat word waarmee al die sondes gestraf moet word. Dink maar aan die kwaai juffrou Rottenmaier in die Heidi-verhaal vir wie almal bang was.
En daarom glo ek dat ons nie vanoggend moet vassteek by die negatiewe deel van Christenskap nie. Ons moet ook op hierdie eerste Sondag van ons pinksterweek vir mekaar gaan afvra – WAT LAAT DIE GEES VAN GOD GLIMLAG? Op watter manier kan ons God regtig gelukkig en tevrede maak?
- Hoe laat ons die Gees glimlag?
1. Praat onder mekaar die waarheid
2. Voorsien self in jou lewensonderhoud, en gee aan die armes
3. Praat net wat goed en opbouend is volgens die eis van omstandighede
4. Wees goedgesind en hartlik teenoor mekaar
5. Vergewe mekaar
- Hoekom doen ons dit alles? Omdat ons in liefde lewe, en soos Christus sy lewe as ‘n offergawe gegee het, ‘n offer wat vir God aanneemlik was, moet ons ook bereid wees om ons lewens op te offer.
Ons maak onsself dikwels so ONVERSTAANBAAR vir die wêreld. Ons optrede op in die kerk en ons optrede in die week PAS NIE! Wat pas by ons? Dank aan God.
Die seuntjie wat altyd die teenoorgestelde gedoen het, het later ‘n predikant geword.
As ons teenoorgestelde van stroom, wêreld doen moet ons onthou dat daar plek in die koninkryk van die hemel is vir rebelle (Dink maar aan Job, Johannes die doper, seuns van die Donder, Simon die Seloot, Petrus.) Angus Buchan as ‘n REBEL, wat uiteindelik die Here begin dien het, en kyk watter vrug dit vandag dra. ‘n Paar naweke terug het 60 000 man die “Mighty Men Conference” op sy plaas bygewoon!
Doen saam skuldbelydenis as gemeente
Genadige God,
Ons bely dat ons in gedagtes, woorde en dade teen U gesondig het;
Deur dit wat ons gedoen het,
En deur dit wat ons nagelaat het om te doen.
Ons het U nie liefgehad met ons hele hart,
En ons naaste nie liefgehad soos onsself nie
Wees ons genadig, ter wille van U Seun Jesus Christus
Vergewe ons, vernuwe en lei ons,
Sodat ons vreugde in U kan vind,
En kan wandel op U weg,
Tot eer van U heilige Naam.
AMEN.
Weet dat jy die Heilige Gees en God die Vader wel kan gelukkig maak! Ons kan dit duidelik sien in Sefanja 3:16-19:
16 Daardie dag sal daar vir Jerusalem gesê word: Moenie bang wees nie, Sion, moenie jou hande moedeloos laat hang nie!
17 Die Here jou God is by jou, Hy, die krygsman wat red. Hy is vol vreugde oor jou, Hy is stil–tevrede in sy liefde. Hy jubel en juig oor jou:
18 Ek maak dié bymekaar wat treur, ver van die feestelikheid af, dié wat uit jou uit kom en ter wille van jou die smaad gedra het.19 Ek gaan nou optree teen almal wat jou verdruk het, Ek gaan die kreupeles help, die verstrooides bymekaarmaak en die vernedering wat hulle moes ondergaan, in eer verander, in roem oor die hele aarde.
Sermon at Pentecost celebration in Lobatse on 11 May 2008.
Scripture: Eph 5:18-20, 1 Cor 2:12-1 Cor 3:4.
As a student I remember going to the Eastern Transvaal, South Africa, on outreach teams. It was wonderful times, and we were a jolly bunch, always laughing and joking. Sometimes the dullest joke would make us cry of laughter. On these tours we often took a translator, Simon, who was a few years older than us. Although Simon was a Ndebele, and not an Afrikaner, like the rest of us, Simon could understand Afrikaans very well. Often when we broke out into laughter, Simon would stand amused on the sideline.
One day we asked Simon why he didn’t laugh with us – was it the cultural gap? No, Simon (who was a few years older than we were) said, he was also like that when he was a student and a few years younger, but nowadays he is more subdued as he grew older. He did not find our jokes so funny anymore.
Unfortunately religious experience seem to work the same way in many Christians’ lives. After really making a decision for the Lord in their lives, they are normally very enthusiastic about their faith, just to fade away into adulthood, and eventually become lifeless Christians, who is more of a stumbling block to the gospel and a disgrace to Christianity than anything else. In our tour through Botswana we came upon a guy who previously was a vibrant Christian youth leader at university, but who has backslided into an armchair Christian who did not have any witness in his surroundings anymore.
We can often see that isolated situations, especially here in the vast, outstretched Botswana has that effect on people. Almost like a log pulled from the fire, we gradually become lukewarm, until we are ice cold, and burnt out. But should we just merely accept this process? Is this all that there is to serving the true, living God?
Looking again at our passages in Ephesians 5 and 1 Corinthians, it seems to me that the problem often is that we aim to get more of the Spirit. Most of us can think back of Spiritual experiences in our lives when we really gave our lives to Jesus Christ, or when we felt the presence of the Lord in a special way, or when we were overwhelmed by what the Lord is meaning to us. But after some time this feeling seem to fade away, because we can’t seem to keep the Spirit alive in our lives…
But if we closely study 1 Cor 2&3, we see that the big problem is not actually us not getting enough of the Spirit, but the Spirit not getting enough of us! If we look closely at these verses, we see that 1 Corinthians speaks of people being in three different phases. The first, referred to in verse 14: The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
In the first place it is clear that there are people without the Spirit of God. Although the Spirit of God works in every person, persuading him to become a child of God, the Spirit is only entering our lives ones we are born again by God’s Spirit, and when our spirits are renewed by God. These people will never understand the power of God’s Word unless they submit to the Spirit, speaking in their lives, and answer to Jesus’ knock on the door of their hearts.
In 1 Cor 3:1-3 Paul refers to believers that are still infants in Christ, and that are still worldly. These are people who are not able to digest the solid food that God wants to give them, but must still drink milk like babies. These are the people who are still behaving like the world, often quarreling and being jealous upon one another. A lot of Christians often fall in this category. This does not mean that they need more of the Spirit, but that the Spirit needs more of them…
Yes, they must be prepared to give more of their lives to the Spirit. They must open the closed areas of their lives, so that the Spirit may come in and renew it. Then they will be able to dig deeper into the Bible and understand more about what the Lord wants them to be and what the Lord wants them to do.
One can compare this to someone entering an old room. When Ananda and Reinette renovated the apartments for their new coffee shop, they found a room that was totally forgotten. It was even closed up totally, and they had to break in a door into the apartment to access it. Think how it must have looked after not being lived in for years! But when the light shone in, they were able to clean it, and make it useable for their shop.
What happens to us when we keep certain areas of our lives locked up, barred from the influence of the Holy Spirit? We will always be hampered, kept back by stumbling blocks. We will stay babies, unable to learn more, and to digest solid food in our lives. We will always feel that we lack something. Although it may probably be the Holy Spirit lacking something in our lives!
If we allow the closed compartments in our lives to be opened, we will experience a wonderful change. We will see that we will start speaking the words of the Spirit, with spiritual truths coming from our mouths in spiritual words. We will experience clarity in our judgement, and be able to see what the will of God is for our lives. We will have a hunger to learn more of the Word of God, and will sense the need to be instructed and taught every day.
I must also make a confession today… During the past year I have also allowed certain areas of my life to be closed up from the Holy Spirit. This also pulled me down into a state where I was not able to shine towards others with the Spirit’s light in me. During my silence time in the Oscar tour, a verse in Luke 11:35: “See to it, that the light within you is not darkness.”
I just realised how important it is to open up all areas of my life to the Lord, and to make sure that His light shines through me. That I had really surrender all to him, and allow him to make me a vibrant instrument in his hand. Do not feel alone when you experience the light in you become dark… Even Paul had to encourage Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:6,7 “6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self–discipline.”
Is it not interesting that the image of a fire, of light is used again here. The same image is used at the day of Pentecost when the tongues of fire appeared on top of the apostle’s heads. Yes, the Holy Spirit in us makes us shining, vibrant tools in the Lord’s kingdom!
In which of the three phases mentioned earlier are you? Only you will know where you really stand. Only you will know whether it is necessary to open the front door, the entrance of your life to the Triune –God, or whether you must also go and open that secluded room to the Lord. Or whether you must just fill the urge in you to live as a light of the Spirit by making yourself available to be taught and to be used to shine in Lobatse, Botswana, Southern Africa, and to the ends of the Earth!
AMEN!
Angel Botswana dedication message - 1 May
Message delivered on 1 May at the Angel dedication ceremony in Gabs.
Scripture:
Ecclesiastes 2:22-26
T.D. Jakes, a well known TV personality talks often about the 80%/20% principle. Jakes explains that we are often chasing after the 20% we don’t have, instead of maintaining and being thankful for the 80% we do have. Our life often becomes one big rush, whilst we never have time to really get down and relax. And even when we are doing nothing, we often worry.
But this is surely not a new phenomenon. If we carefully read Ecclesiastes 2, it becomes clear that the author of this book was a very wealthy man, but also a very empty man. He often had to confess that all his efforts to find happiness and peace in this world were meaningless. In the verses concerned, especially verse 22, he refers to the “toil and anxious striving” with which man labours in this world as being in vain.
In the networking business the temptation is often to go flat-out for the outstanding 20% of clients, and the remaining 20% of stock we need to get special discounts. Often we must just sit down and see everything in perspective.
1. In the first instance we must realise that everything comes from God’s hand. What you have achieved up to now, is something that you owe only to Him. Also what may happen in future, is solely dependant on him.
2. In the second instance it is important that man must find satisfaction in his work. Work must not be the means to an end alone, but we must also find satisfaction in doing our work and our business.
3. Thirdly we must know that the earnings from our work and our business will not be enjoyed, unless we view it to be from the hand of God. Someone who views all his profit as result of his own labour, has many sleepless nights about his belongings not being safe enough.
It is evident from the above that it is so important to dedicate our business and everything we do to the Lord. But what does that mean to hand everything over to the Lord. We can find some direction in this regard from a well known philosopher-psychologist Abraham Maslow. Maslow reckoned that mans needs are divided in material needs, the need for security, for social acceptability, and for acknowledgement. Maslow’s theory posed that only a person who saturated these needs in his own life, has the possibility to make a difference to others.
As Christians we need to know that we have to really hand all our worries and sleepless nights concerning our needs over to our one and only Saviour, Jesus Christ. God the Father is the one who will care for us. And we can also know in this time of Pentecost that the Holy Spirit is there to motivate us and comfort us in the difficult times, and to give us wisdom.
Last, but not the least, is the importance of the right employees in your business. King David makes a categorical choice in Psalm 101, stating that he does not want a house full of deceit. David is prepared to keep corruption and falsehood from his city by not accepting evildoers in his council. He chose his consultants and associates very wisely.
It is therefore important that in dedicating this business today to the Lord, that one must know that all must work together towards the integrity and the good name of Angel Jewels, but above all towards our integrity as children of God before others in the society we live in.
AMEN!
Scripture:
Ecclesiastes 2:22-26
T.D. Jakes, a well known TV personality talks often about the 80%/20% principle. Jakes explains that we are often chasing after the 20% we don’t have, instead of maintaining and being thankful for the 80% we do have. Our life often becomes one big rush, whilst we never have time to really get down and relax. And even when we are doing nothing, we often worry.
But this is surely not a new phenomenon. If we carefully read Ecclesiastes 2, it becomes clear that the author of this book was a very wealthy man, but also a very empty man. He often had to confess that all his efforts to find happiness and peace in this world were meaningless. In the verses concerned, especially verse 22, he refers to the “toil and anxious striving” with which man labours in this world as being in vain.
In the networking business the temptation is often to go flat-out for the outstanding 20% of clients, and the remaining 20% of stock we need to get special discounts. Often we must just sit down and see everything in perspective.
1. In the first instance we must realise that everything comes from God’s hand. What you have achieved up to now, is something that you owe only to Him. Also what may happen in future, is solely dependant on him.
2. In the second instance it is important that man must find satisfaction in his work. Work must not be the means to an end alone, but we must also find satisfaction in doing our work and our business.
3. Thirdly we must know that the earnings from our work and our business will not be enjoyed, unless we view it to be from the hand of God. Someone who views all his profit as result of his own labour, has many sleepless nights about his belongings not being safe enough.
It is evident from the above that it is so important to dedicate our business and everything we do to the Lord. But what does that mean to hand everything over to the Lord. We can find some direction in this regard from a well known philosopher-psychologist Abraham Maslow. Maslow reckoned that mans needs are divided in material needs, the need for security, for social acceptability, and for acknowledgement. Maslow’s theory posed that only a person who saturated these needs in his own life, has the possibility to make a difference to others.
As Christians we need to know that we have to really hand all our worries and sleepless nights concerning our needs over to our one and only Saviour, Jesus Christ. God the Father is the one who will care for us. And we can also know in this time of Pentecost that the Holy Spirit is there to motivate us and comfort us in the difficult times, and to give us wisdom.
Last, but not the least, is the importance of the right employees in your business. King David makes a categorical choice in Psalm 101, stating that he does not want a house full of deceit. David is prepared to keep corruption and falsehood from his city by not accepting evildoers in his council. He chose his consultants and associates very wisely.
It is therefore important that in dedicating this business today to the Lord, that one must know that all must work together towards the integrity and the good name of Angel Jewels, but above all towards our integrity as children of God before others in the society we live in.
AMEN!
Monday, May 5, 2008
Botswana tour with Oscar
Day 1 – Friday 4 April
We started our tour at Metloyane, a small village, around 60km from the Ramatlabama Border, where we ministered to about 50 Afrikaners, Coloureds and Batswana with wonderfull feedback. Although the people were not many, it was a good opportunity to gear up for the rest of the tour, and to test all the equipment.
Day 2 – Saturday 5 April
We experienced a wonderful open-air meeting in the evening at Danie and Connie Smit’s farm near Lobatse. We also had quite a few visitors from Word to Africa Mission, and all of us were encouraged.
Day 3 – Sunday 6 April
After rising early, we left for Lobatse to Jwaneng, and ministered to around 100 people at a Joint service between 3 churches in Jwaneng. After the service we rushed off to Mahalapye, to find a full little church of wonderfull Afrikaans people there. We had several people returning from a marriage enrichment course, and it was definitely a climax to their weekend. An old man also devoted his life to the Lord, and we know that the angels rejoice at every soul that is saved for God.
Day 4 – Monday 7 April
We were disappointed after being turned down by the chaplain at the prison, but we had a wonderful meeting with Rev. Phillip Sello, at his office at Botswana Railways. In the evening we had a full little church again, ministering in English. Amongst the audience were also some Zambian theological students. Around 10 people gave their lives to the Lord, and the booklets “the way to God” were received with joy.
Day 5 – Tuesday 6 April
Again we are disappointed in not being able to minister to the people at Makaleng, due to a Rev. Moyo’s sister who died in Mafeking. We did however, spend the day fruitfully in moving to Pahalapye, being welcomed by Mike and Marthie de Beer. We visited Serowe, and met with Ziggy, a school mate from Johannes’ wife Elzeth there. Ziggy and her husband Chris are ministering there with ELCSA, and are struggling to put up an orphanage there. We also met pastor Jim, who is ministering at the prison in Serowe, but could unfortunately not arrange a meeting there. We also met Hilton Freeman, one of the old stalwarts in Botswana, and he shared some of Botswana’s rich history with us. Due to the weather we could not proceed with our open-air service.
Day 6 – Wednesday 7 April
We had a wonderful meeting with Nelia Bailey in the morning, and we were inspired by the new evolving church being founded by them, called the “Potter’s house of Unity” for Aids orphaned cjildren. The weather cleared up, and we were able to have a wonderful meeting in the evening in front of Pahalapye Spar. Although the gathering was not large, we had an interested audience, with Ronel and Marius even joining us all the way from Mahalapye. The booklets were received with joy by several onlookers afterwards.
Day 7 – Thursday 8 April
We move on to Francistown, where we had some accommodation difficulties due to an event that was cancelled. We praise the Lord for Rudi and Loureen Alberts, who provided us with a roof over our heads and much hospitality for three days. Oscar had a great time photographing the most beautiful ducks, swans, dogs, and all the other children of the farm(being birds, goats, sheep, geese, cows, etc.).
Day 8 – Friday 9 April
Alas! An open door at the prison! We thank the Lord for Allan Rootsey and Chaplain Nicholas Chakalisa, who arranged for us to minister at the prison for Illegal immigrants and asylum-seeking refugees in Francistown. We also visit Claris van der Merwe, a missionary in Francistown. All the prisoners committed their lives to Christ and received a EHC booklet ”The way to God”. The inmates were from all over Africa : Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Chad, DRC etc. [The Prison warden amazingly even knew Oscar’s music as he had a CD of Oscar!]
Day 9 – Saturday 10 April
We set off for Bobonong, 250km away from Francistown, being the most eastern visit on our tour. Although we did not find a big audience their (a sum total of 2), we were able to minister to Pastor Phillip, enrich the security officer at the school, and talk to some Chinese business people about the Lord. We also found some matching Cowboy hats, and a Chinese kettle for our camping at Bobonong at the local Chinese store. We came to the realization that this tour is not about big audiences, but being where the Lord wants us to be, and even putting up equipment just to “lift His name on high”.
Day 10 – Sunday 11 April
We had a wonderful morning service where Oscar ministered at an emerging Afrikaans Congregation of Pastor Chris Viljoen at Digger’s Inn. Several people committed their lives to Christ. Johannes also met some acquaintances from his previous tour. After the service we had to rush to Pandamatenga, and despite a road full of dreadful potholes for about 100 Km and Elephants passing in front of us, we reached Pandamatenga safely and in time. We only ministered to about 25 people there, due to parents having to take their children back to school. It was however, a wonderful meeting, with a very positive response and a great encouragement for the local church.
Day 11 – Monday 12 April
We moved to Kasane early, to make the most hay while the sun shines. The Lord blessed us with a wonderful experience between the elephants on a game drive, and also an unforgettable sunset cruise on the Chobe river. We concluded the day around a crackling camp fire on the banks of the Chobe, with the hippo’s snorting in the background. It was a blessed day off for us to relax.
Day 12 – Tuesday 13 April
We struggled to get the right information for a transfer to Vic Falls, but by the Lord’s grace we managed to enter the Zimbabwean border with our vehicle and all the equipment. Although amazed by God’s awesome creation at the Fall’s, we also came under attack from our spiritual enemy in the sense of a rip-off for the hiring of raincoats [about R30 for two raincoats use for one hour and R50 for a 500m coke which we obviously refused to pay!]. The wild Chacma baboons which accompanied us on the pathway by the falls were a little more amicable! After visiting the falls the Lord granted us a quick pass through the Zimbabwean border at Kazangula, as well as the Botswana – Namibian border at Ngoma. Oscar is pleasantly surprised to meat a fellow-worker from Radio Pulpit at the Namibian Border. Although we only ministered to a handful of Christians on that evening, it was one of our most blessed meetings. Oscar did not only meet Annemarie, who previously gave him accommodation when he ministered in Gobabis, but three of the school girls who attended the service were very encouraged. The next morning Oscar got a thank-you letter from one of the girls, thanking him for his coming to Katima, and witnessing that the light of the Lord is now in her heart.
Day 13 – Wednesday 14 April
We have a lovely performance at Zambezi private School. Even the Indian Children who were not allowed by their parents to attend Christian meetings, sat outside listening to Oscar’s message. After the meeting the children was lying on the mat, reading the “way to God” booklets which were handed to them. After the meeting at the school we proceeded 320 km onwards to Shakawe, at Drotsky’s camp site. It was wonderful to fall asleep in our tents, hearing the hippo’s grunting in the background…
Day 14 – Thursday 15 April
Woken by the bright, clear singing of the Heugling’s Robbin, we proceeded towards Maun. After having some lovely spare ribs together with the warm DRCB Congregation, we ministered to around 20 Afrikaans people. The number of young, enthusiastic people present were remarkable. The response to the performance was very positive, and the people were clearly motivated to renew their vigour for the Lord. We ended the evening with the wonderful whistle of the Pearl Spotted Owls in our ears.
Day 15 – Friday 16 April. The next morning we set of for Boro prison, but were disappointed when there was a misunderstanding concerning the time. We offered to come the next morning, and the offer was accepted. In the evening we visited the Methodist Congregation with Rev. Alex Stein and his lovely wife Ems. We were accepted with warm hospitality, and had a wonderful night of fellowship with about 40 people of the congregation.
Day 16 – Saturday 17 April. After not being able to go to the Boro Prison on the day before due to a misunderstanding concerning the time, we managed to have a wonderful meeting with the prisoners in the morning. Not only did we have an exceptional reception, but the response to the invitation to accept the Lord was amazing. More than 75% of the prisoners had the guts to stand up before their inmates, come forward and accept the Lord.
In the afternoon we proceeded to the DRCB Congregation in Ghanzi. After a warm welcome from Rev. Hennie Basson, and his Wife Engela, we proceeded to Gerhard Botha’s farm where we were pleasantly surprised at the number of people who turned up in the coldish evening air. After a lovely performance on a big lawn with the full moon shining down upon us, we were treated to tannie Marie’s koeksisters and coffee.
Day 17 - Sunday 18 April
The Sunday started with a well-attended service in the school hall, since the church was being renovated. The congregation of Ghanzi was really motivated and inspired by Oscar’s vibrant singing and a message from Johannes. We decided to stay another day at Ghanzi, and we did see some Botswana lions, cheetas and wild dogs at Tautona Lodge. We were able to spend a lovely evening with at potjie at the Peacock family. We also learned everything about drilling and the Morama plant there.
Day 18 – Monday 19 April
Our prolonged stay at Ghanzi was surely a divine intervention. The chaplain of the prison allowed us into the prison on very short notice, and we had a lively time of singing and sharing the gospel with the prisoners. Almost 90% of them came forward to give their hearts to the Lord. We also handed them some Bibles. The smiling faces that we left behind, will stay imprinted in our minds for a long time.
In the evening we only met with two men at Kang, but had a stimulating conversation with them. Although not able to meet all the people at the ward in Kang, we realized that we had a divine appointment that evening. We ended the evening with a wonderful meal at Kalahari Rest Lodge.
Day 19 – Tuesday 20 April.
We woke up to a wonderful sunrise, and were treated with a game drive through the game farm. At lunchtime we had a wonderful time with about 50 of Johan and Bill’s workers at Kang Ultra Stop, and about seven of them committed themselves to the Lord Jesus. Oscar handed everyone of them a cassette, and we trust that the seed sown there will bear multiple fruit. Afterwards we proceeded to Kakhea, where we were received warmly by Boeta and Claudine Maree. In the evening we had a full house at the Lutheran Church in Kakhea, and we had the first opportunity to test out the generator. After the meeting we had to tell the people that they can leave and that we were finished, even after closing with a prayer. It became clear to us that there was a real hunger for the gospel in the Kalahari.
Day 20 – Wednesday 21 April.
After a quiet morning at Kakhea, we moved on to Kokotsa, about 45km to the south. Oscar felt more and more at home, as it became clear that more and more people are speaking Afrikaans. Although the new church premises of the DRCB has already been fenced, we met in the Lutheran church again. It was clear that oom Hendrik Titus and the new moruti (Setswana for pastor) of the Lutheran church had a good relationship. Although the audience at Kokotsa was not participating as we were used to, we can ascribe it mainly to the fact that Oscar’s performance was most probably a first to them. After the service the people also left reluctantly, but with gratitude for what the Lord has done for them.
Day 21 – Thursday 22 April
Thanks to the cooperation of Jannie and Heather Strumpfer, we enjoyed a lovely few days at Cornwall Safari’s Ranch. We were able to build up some energy, as the approaching weekend’s program was quite hectic. We also had some lovely time reading and discussing God’s Word, and experiencing his revelation in the wonderful nature around us.
Day 22 – Friday 23 April
In the evening we had a lively (sometimes too busy) concert with the people of Werda. Due to a wedding nearby, the attendance was not as expected, but we nevertheless had a fruitful meeting.
Day 23 – Saturday 24 April
The next morning evangelist Paul Stander picked up Johannes to attend their bazaar, and it was wonderful to see how the people are really standing together to do something for themselves.
In the afternoon we proceeded to Tsabong where we were surprised to see that the Church is finished, and that the manse at the back is also almost finished. We praise the Lord for his providence in this regard.
In the evening we worshipped with the people of Tsabong. The participation was wonderful, and the people again felt that it ended too soon. We also enjoyed the braai meat and pudding afterwards.
Day 25 – Sunday 25 April
The night was a little bit short, because we had to be at the border at 6h00. Eventually we only passed the border at 6h25, and the 25th rally stage of the Tour de Botswana took off. Oscar drove magnificently on the wings of Rev. Fouche’s prayers, to arrive at Askham (290km of bad dirt road) later, at 9h15. Although the service started a wee bit late, it was nonetheless a blessing. It was probably a first for the farmer community in Askham, and the feedback was overwhelming. We praised the Lord for His guidance and miracle working care in bringing us safe to Askham.
After a delicious boere-lunch at the Fouche’s, which included the traditional leg-of-lamb, we moved on back into Botswana, to Bokspits.
Our outreach at Bokspits can surely be described as one of the most rewarding on our tour. Not only did everybody listen very attentively, but the response of the people was overwhelming. Oscar again sowed several cassettes and videos of his performances, and the children were thrilled to be part of such an occasion. We were granted a lovely overnight facility only 2 km’s from the Trans-Kgalagadi Cross-Border Park by Kruger and Johanna du Toit. We will never forget the wonderful silence and the clear night sky with the bright stars overhead. We went to sleep with the song “how great thou art” still ringing in our heads.
Day 26 – Monday 26 April
Waking up to the sun shining on the red dunes of Struizendam, we ventured into the Park for a quick glance at the game and the scenery there. We were stunned however, by a very bad road and a puncture on top of that. The wonderful scences of Springbok, Gemsbok, Hartebeest, Wildebeest, Ostrich, Eagles, Secretary birds, Ludwig and Kori Bustards, as well as several Goshawks, did overshadow our negative experience with the road. Although we were not able to have our final meeting at Struizendam due to communication problems, we closed the day with a wonderful meal and hospitality at Bokspits.
Day 27 – Tuesday 27 April
We left Botswana early with a greatful heart for a wonderful month in this beautiful country. After taking a photo at what is literally the South-Western corner of Botswana, we proceeded to Upington, where I set of back for Lobatse, and where Oscar proceeded to his wife and children in Mossel Bay.
We give all the glory to God for this opportunity, and once-in-a-lifetime experience. We trust that the Lord will bless Botswana and his people, and will make sure that the seed that has been sown, will grow abundantly!
We started our tour at Metloyane, a small village, around 60km from the Ramatlabama Border, where we ministered to about 50 Afrikaners, Coloureds and Batswana with wonderfull feedback. Although the people were not many, it was a good opportunity to gear up for the rest of the tour, and to test all the equipment.
Day 2 – Saturday 5 April
We experienced a wonderful open-air meeting in the evening at Danie and Connie Smit’s farm near Lobatse. We also had quite a few visitors from Word to Africa Mission, and all of us were encouraged.
Day 3 – Sunday 6 April
After rising early, we left for Lobatse to Jwaneng, and ministered to around 100 people at a Joint service between 3 churches in Jwaneng. After the service we rushed off to Mahalapye, to find a full little church of wonderfull Afrikaans people there. We had several people returning from a marriage enrichment course, and it was definitely a climax to their weekend. An old man also devoted his life to the Lord, and we know that the angels rejoice at every soul that is saved for God.
Day 4 – Monday 7 April
We were disappointed after being turned down by the chaplain at the prison, but we had a wonderful meeting with Rev. Phillip Sello, at his office at Botswana Railways. In the evening we had a full little church again, ministering in English. Amongst the audience were also some Zambian theological students. Around 10 people gave their lives to the Lord, and the booklets “the way to God” were received with joy.
Day 5 – Tuesday 6 April
Again we are disappointed in not being able to minister to the people at Makaleng, due to a Rev. Moyo’s sister who died in Mafeking. We did however, spend the day fruitfully in moving to Pahalapye, being welcomed by Mike and Marthie de Beer. We visited Serowe, and met with Ziggy, a school mate from Johannes’ wife Elzeth there. Ziggy and her husband Chris are ministering there with ELCSA, and are struggling to put up an orphanage there. We also met pastor Jim, who is ministering at the prison in Serowe, but could unfortunately not arrange a meeting there. We also met Hilton Freeman, one of the old stalwarts in Botswana, and he shared some of Botswana’s rich history with us. Due to the weather we could not proceed with our open-air service.
Day 6 – Wednesday 7 April
We had a wonderful meeting with Nelia Bailey in the morning, and we were inspired by the new evolving church being founded by them, called the “Potter’s house of Unity” for Aids orphaned cjildren. The weather cleared up, and we were able to have a wonderful meeting in the evening in front of Pahalapye Spar. Although the gathering was not large, we had an interested audience, with Ronel and Marius even joining us all the way from Mahalapye. The booklets were received with joy by several onlookers afterwards.
Day 7 – Thursday 8 April
We move on to Francistown, where we had some accommodation difficulties due to an event that was cancelled. We praise the Lord for Rudi and Loureen Alberts, who provided us with a roof over our heads and much hospitality for three days. Oscar had a great time photographing the most beautiful ducks, swans, dogs, and all the other children of the farm(being birds, goats, sheep, geese, cows, etc.).
Day 8 – Friday 9 April
Alas! An open door at the prison! We thank the Lord for Allan Rootsey and Chaplain Nicholas Chakalisa, who arranged for us to minister at the prison for Illegal immigrants and asylum-seeking refugees in Francistown. We also visit Claris van der Merwe, a missionary in Francistown. All the prisoners committed their lives to Christ and received a EHC booklet ”The way to God”. The inmates were from all over Africa : Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Chad, DRC etc. [The Prison warden amazingly even knew Oscar’s music as he had a CD of Oscar!]
Day 9 – Saturday 10 April
We set off for Bobonong, 250km away from Francistown, being the most eastern visit on our tour. Although we did not find a big audience their (a sum total of 2), we were able to minister to Pastor Phillip, enrich the security officer at the school, and talk to some Chinese business people about the Lord. We also found some matching Cowboy hats, and a Chinese kettle for our camping at Bobonong at the local Chinese store. We came to the realization that this tour is not about big audiences, but being where the Lord wants us to be, and even putting up equipment just to “lift His name on high”.
Day 10 – Sunday 11 April
We had a wonderful morning service where Oscar ministered at an emerging Afrikaans Congregation of Pastor Chris Viljoen at Digger’s Inn. Several people committed their lives to Christ. Johannes also met some acquaintances from his previous tour. After the service we had to rush to Pandamatenga, and despite a road full of dreadful potholes for about 100 Km and Elephants passing in front of us, we reached Pandamatenga safely and in time. We only ministered to about 25 people there, due to parents having to take their children back to school. It was however, a wonderful meeting, with a very positive response and a great encouragement for the local church.
Day 11 – Monday 12 April
We moved to Kasane early, to make the most hay while the sun shines. The Lord blessed us with a wonderful experience between the elephants on a game drive, and also an unforgettable sunset cruise on the Chobe river. We concluded the day around a crackling camp fire on the banks of the Chobe, with the hippo’s snorting in the background. It was a blessed day off for us to relax.
Day 12 – Tuesday 13 April
We struggled to get the right information for a transfer to Vic Falls, but by the Lord’s grace we managed to enter the Zimbabwean border with our vehicle and all the equipment. Although amazed by God’s awesome creation at the Fall’s, we also came under attack from our spiritual enemy in the sense of a rip-off for the hiring of raincoats [about R30 for two raincoats use for one hour and R50 for a 500m coke which we obviously refused to pay!]. The wild Chacma baboons which accompanied us on the pathway by the falls were a little more amicable! After visiting the falls the Lord granted us a quick pass through the Zimbabwean border at Kazangula, as well as the Botswana – Namibian border at Ngoma. Oscar is pleasantly surprised to meat a fellow-worker from Radio Pulpit at the Namibian Border. Although we only ministered to a handful of Christians on that evening, it was one of our most blessed meetings. Oscar did not only meet Annemarie, who previously gave him accommodation when he ministered in Gobabis, but three of the school girls who attended the service were very encouraged. The next morning Oscar got a thank-you letter from one of the girls, thanking him for his coming to Katima, and witnessing that the light of the Lord is now in her heart.
Day 13 – Wednesday 14 April
We have a lovely performance at Zambezi private School. Even the Indian Children who were not allowed by their parents to attend Christian meetings, sat outside listening to Oscar’s message. After the meeting the children was lying on the mat, reading the “way to God” booklets which were handed to them. After the meeting at the school we proceeded 320 km onwards to Shakawe, at Drotsky’s camp site. It was wonderful to fall asleep in our tents, hearing the hippo’s grunting in the background…
Day 14 – Thursday 15 April
Woken by the bright, clear singing of the Heugling’s Robbin, we proceeded towards Maun. After having some lovely spare ribs together with the warm DRCB Congregation, we ministered to around 20 Afrikaans people. The number of young, enthusiastic people present were remarkable. The response to the performance was very positive, and the people were clearly motivated to renew their vigour for the Lord. We ended the evening with the wonderful whistle of the Pearl Spotted Owls in our ears.
Day 15 – Friday 16 April. The next morning we set of for Boro prison, but were disappointed when there was a misunderstanding concerning the time. We offered to come the next morning, and the offer was accepted. In the evening we visited the Methodist Congregation with Rev. Alex Stein and his lovely wife Ems. We were accepted with warm hospitality, and had a wonderful night of fellowship with about 40 people of the congregation.
Day 16 – Saturday 17 April. After not being able to go to the Boro Prison on the day before due to a misunderstanding concerning the time, we managed to have a wonderful meeting with the prisoners in the morning. Not only did we have an exceptional reception, but the response to the invitation to accept the Lord was amazing. More than 75% of the prisoners had the guts to stand up before their inmates, come forward and accept the Lord.
In the afternoon we proceeded to the DRCB Congregation in Ghanzi. After a warm welcome from Rev. Hennie Basson, and his Wife Engela, we proceeded to Gerhard Botha’s farm where we were pleasantly surprised at the number of people who turned up in the coldish evening air. After a lovely performance on a big lawn with the full moon shining down upon us, we were treated to tannie Marie’s koeksisters and coffee.
Day 17 - Sunday 18 April
The Sunday started with a well-attended service in the school hall, since the church was being renovated. The congregation of Ghanzi was really motivated and inspired by Oscar’s vibrant singing and a message from Johannes. We decided to stay another day at Ghanzi, and we did see some Botswana lions, cheetas and wild dogs at Tautona Lodge. We were able to spend a lovely evening with at potjie at the Peacock family. We also learned everything about drilling and the Morama plant there.
Day 18 – Monday 19 April
Our prolonged stay at Ghanzi was surely a divine intervention. The chaplain of the prison allowed us into the prison on very short notice, and we had a lively time of singing and sharing the gospel with the prisoners. Almost 90% of them came forward to give their hearts to the Lord. We also handed them some Bibles. The smiling faces that we left behind, will stay imprinted in our minds for a long time.
In the evening we only met with two men at Kang, but had a stimulating conversation with them. Although not able to meet all the people at the ward in Kang, we realized that we had a divine appointment that evening. We ended the evening with a wonderful meal at Kalahari Rest Lodge.
Day 19 – Tuesday 20 April.
We woke up to a wonderful sunrise, and were treated with a game drive through the game farm. At lunchtime we had a wonderful time with about 50 of Johan and Bill’s workers at Kang Ultra Stop, and about seven of them committed themselves to the Lord Jesus. Oscar handed everyone of them a cassette, and we trust that the seed sown there will bear multiple fruit. Afterwards we proceeded to Kakhea, where we were received warmly by Boeta and Claudine Maree. In the evening we had a full house at the Lutheran Church in Kakhea, and we had the first opportunity to test out the generator. After the meeting we had to tell the people that they can leave and that we were finished, even after closing with a prayer. It became clear to us that there was a real hunger for the gospel in the Kalahari.
Day 20 – Wednesday 21 April.
After a quiet morning at Kakhea, we moved on to Kokotsa, about 45km to the south. Oscar felt more and more at home, as it became clear that more and more people are speaking Afrikaans. Although the new church premises of the DRCB has already been fenced, we met in the Lutheran church again. It was clear that oom Hendrik Titus and the new moruti (Setswana for pastor) of the Lutheran church had a good relationship. Although the audience at Kokotsa was not participating as we were used to, we can ascribe it mainly to the fact that Oscar’s performance was most probably a first to them. After the service the people also left reluctantly, but with gratitude for what the Lord has done for them.
Day 21 – Thursday 22 April
Thanks to the cooperation of Jannie and Heather Strumpfer, we enjoyed a lovely few days at Cornwall Safari’s Ranch. We were able to build up some energy, as the approaching weekend’s program was quite hectic. We also had some lovely time reading and discussing God’s Word, and experiencing his revelation in the wonderful nature around us.
Day 22 – Friday 23 April
In the evening we had a lively (sometimes too busy) concert with the people of Werda. Due to a wedding nearby, the attendance was not as expected, but we nevertheless had a fruitful meeting.
Day 23 – Saturday 24 April
The next morning evangelist Paul Stander picked up Johannes to attend their bazaar, and it was wonderful to see how the people are really standing together to do something for themselves.
In the afternoon we proceeded to Tsabong where we were surprised to see that the Church is finished, and that the manse at the back is also almost finished. We praise the Lord for his providence in this regard.
In the evening we worshipped with the people of Tsabong. The participation was wonderful, and the people again felt that it ended too soon. We also enjoyed the braai meat and pudding afterwards.
Day 25 – Sunday 25 April
The night was a little bit short, because we had to be at the border at 6h00. Eventually we only passed the border at 6h25, and the 25th rally stage of the Tour de Botswana took off. Oscar drove magnificently on the wings of Rev. Fouche’s prayers, to arrive at Askham (290km of bad dirt road) later, at 9h15. Although the service started a wee bit late, it was nonetheless a blessing. It was probably a first for the farmer community in Askham, and the feedback was overwhelming. We praised the Lord for His guidance and miracle working care in bringing us safe to Askham.
After a delicious boere-lunch at the Fouche’s, which included the traditional leg-of-lamb, we moved on back into Botswana, to Bokspits.
Our outreach at Bokspits can surely be described as one of the most rewarding on our tour. Not only did everybody listen very attentively, but the response of the people was overwhelming. Oscar again sowed several cassettes and videos of his performances, and the children were thrilled to be part of such an occasion. We were granted a lovely overnight facility only 2 km’s from the Trans-Kgalagadi Cross-Border Park by Kruger and Johanna du Toit. We will never forget the wonderful silence and the clear night sky with the bright stars overhead. We went to sleep with the song “how great thou art” still ringing in our heads.
Day 26 – Monday 26 April
Waking up to the sun shining on the red dunes of Struizendam, we ventured into the Park for a quick glance at the game and the scenery there. We were stunned however, by a very bad road and a puncture on top of that. The wonderful scences of Springbok, Gemsbok, Hartebeest, Wildebeest, Ostrich, Eagles, Secretary birds, Ludwig and Kori Bustards, as well as several Goshawks, did overshadow our negative experience with the road. Although we were not able to have our final meeting at Struizendam due to communication problems, we closed the day with a wonderful meal and hospitality at Bokspits.
Day 27 – Tuesday 27 April
We left Botswana early with a greatful heart for a wonderful month in this beautiful country. After taking a photo at what is literally the South-Western corner of Botswana, we proceeded to Upington, where I set of back for Lobatse, and where Oscar proceeded to his wife and children in Mossel Bay.
We give all the glory to God for this opportunity, and once-in-a-lifetime experience. We trust that the Lord will bless Botswana and his people, and will make sure that the seed that has been sown, will grow abundantly!
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