I met God at a Coffee shop

GKSA Sinode 2012 & 20 sterf

2012-01-07T12:12:00.000+02:00

Ek sit tans by die algemene sinode van die gereformeerde kerke in Suid-Afrika (GKSA) En luister hoe verskillende besluite geneem word en hoe mense voel oor hulle geloofsbelewing. Ek raak bewus dat diversiteit nie n gevaar is nie maar eintlik die toekoms is. Maar daar is ook baie vrese vir diversiteit en vryheid.

In dieselfde asem kan so 'n sinode of kerklike vergadering 'n eiland word wat kort-kort terug geruk moet word deur nuus soos "Over 20 churchgoers, mourners gunned down in Nigeria"

Mag ons onthou dat ons geloof gevaarlik is...

Free Audiobook - Knowing God by J.I Packer

2012-01-03T21:55:00.000+02:00

Each month Christianaudio.com gives away a free audiobook to download. This month it is the book of J.I Packer - Knowing God.

Download the book here and tell me what do you think of it?

Alan Hirsch - Missional Library

2012-01-03T16:49:00.000+02:00

Alan Hirsch must be one of my favorite thinkers on the topic of being missional. I can really recommend his books on this topic, but to make it easier he posted a short summary on each book and how it all fits together in a bigger plan.

(Original Post was on Google+)

Why I do the things I do

~Alan Hirsch

Many people ask me whether there is some reason and logic of my various writings or whether they are random reflections on various subjects related to the missional church. Given that with the publication of The Permanent Revolution in February, Ihave completed my “library” of missional books, I thought that it is well worth explaining the rationale for my authorship to this stage. So for those who are interested, this is how it goes….

Buy at Amazon

Shaping of Things to Come, The: Innovation and Mission for the 21st-Century Church
- The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st Century Church is really a foundational book and is considered seminal in setting the incarnational-mission conversation in the West. It really is scaffolding with which we can go about reconstructing our way of being along missional lines. It covers areas of incarnational mission, messianic spirituality, and innovative leadership, but redesigns these clearly along missional lines. I believe that the ideas therein are as valid as ever, and Baker is drafting a second, fully updated, edition as I write, so look for it. However, it is worth saying that it was written to help church planters to think like missionaries in the West as the assumptions behind the more formulaic church growth type approaches were no longer valid in our context. This has proved more and more true as we have advanced into the 21st Century. I have to admit that we (Mike and I) never expected the established church would take it seriously. The intended pioneering audience, along with the keen sense of urgency with which we wrote the book, can explain the overly revolutionary tone of the book…an element I correct somewhat in my later work On The Verge.

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The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating the Missional Church
- I consider The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating the Missional Church to be my centerpiece book…in many ways my magnum opus. The heart of this book is what can be called a “phenomenology of apostolic movement.” In other words, what factors come together to generate high impact, exponentially explosive, spiritually vibrant, Jesus movements in any time and context. Because of its systematic and somewhat comprehensive nature (it identifies a system of six elements called mDNA arranged in a dynamic system) it acts as the organizing ideas that guide the rest of my writings. As I have become more and more convinced of the validity of the core ideas laid down in this book I committed myself to elaborate on these in the six books that follow. Readers of my other works should always have this as the guiding reference work.

ReJesus: A Wild Messiah for a Missional Church

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- The book ReJesus: A Wild Messiah for a Missional Church (with Mike Frost) is all about the central and definitive role that Jesus plays in all movements that claim his name. It is a serious elaboration of the element (called an mDNA) in The Forgotten Ways which I tagged as ‘Jesus is Lord!’ In this serious book we explain why we believe that it is primarily Christology that must define the core nature, purpose, and mission of the church. We are a messianic movement after all. Therefore all renewal must in the deepest possible sense involve a recovery of the role and significance of Jesus for discipleship, spirituality, theology, community, and mission.

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Untamed: Reactivating a Missional Form of Discipleship (Shapevine) - My book Untamed: Reactivating a Missional Form of Discipleship (with my beloved wife Deb) takes a somewhat different approach to the standard spiritual disciplines or teaching the ‘heads of doctrine’ approach to discipleship and formation. While not denying the validity of these, we suggest that certain things, ideas, and relationships intrude themselves into the God-relationship and block our capacity to be all that Jesus intended us to be. We believe that by identifying these hindrances, and moving beyond them, opens us up to becoming impactful followers of Jesus. Essentially it is an anatomy of modern idolatry and an exploration of what we call Shema spirituality—understanding the nature of dynamic monotheism, loving God with all that we are, and our neighbors as self. This book elaborates on the mDNA of discipleship and disciple-making. It is designed to be very accessible to Christians wanting to grow in their love of God.

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Right Here, Right Now: Everyday Mission for Everyday People (Shapevine) - Right Here Right Now: Everyday Mission for Everyday People (with Lance Ford) is pretty much as the title suggests. As an elaboration of the mDNA of incarnational mission, it is a very practical book about how to get (and stay) engaged in everyday mission and make a Kingdom difference in the various arenas of life. Anyone should be able to read and engage the ideas in this book. In many ways it aims at activating the whole people of God (and not just leadership) into the missional equation. This is a huge missing piece in terms of movement dynamics.

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The Permanent Revolution: Apostolic Imagination and Practice for the 21st Century Church (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) My latest offering, - The Permanent Revolution: Apostolic Imagination and Practice for the 21st Century Church is the book that focuses on the nature of ministry and leadership within (and for) apostolic movements. Coming out in Feb 2013, the book focuses on apostolic leadership in particular, but it does so within the broader context of fivefold gifting complex set out by Paul in his foundational work on ecclesiology…Ephesians. It's a big book in every way; weighty in content, unavoidable in its logic, and provides a strongly dissenting alternative to the prevailing forms of leadership in the church. It is likely to be a pretty controversial but will hopefully recalibrate the way we think about, and do, ministry and leadership in the 21st Century. It correlates to the mDNA of apostolic environment in The Forgotten Ways.

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On the Verge: A Journey Into the Apostolic Future of the Church (Exponential Series) My book On the Verge: The Future of the Church as Apostolic Movement, written with mega-church, multi-site, church planting movement leader Dave Ferguson, is all about organizational dynamics and change particularly as it relates to established, and relatively successful, forms of contemporary church (although it is by no means limited to them.) The book is thoroughgoing exploration of the nature of paradigms and paradigmatic change, change management and process, innovation of new forms and ideas, and of creating movement dynamics in large and complex systems. This is at least in part an elaboration on the mDNA of Organic Systems.

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Faith of Leap, The: Embracing a Theology of Risk, Adventure & Courage (Shapevine) - The Faith of Leap: Embracing a Theology of Risk, Adventure & Courage (once again with Mike Frost) started as a project to simply elaborate the mDNA of Communitas—that form of togetherness/communality that happens in the context of an ordeal, danger, risk, and challenge. But we soon realized that it meant that we had to look more deeply at the nature of adventure, risk, and courage and how it changes the equation of church, discipleship, spirituality, leadership, and yes…even our most basic theology. Its an exciting book with huge implications for how we ought to think of ourselves and how we should act in the world.

Buy at Amazon

The Forgotten Ways Handbook: A Practical Guide for Developing Missional Churches - And lastly, but by no means least, there’s The Forgotten Ways Handbook: A Practical Guide for Developing Missional Churches. Written with the help of my old friend and collaborator Darryn Altclass, this book is meant to be as thoroughly practical as the primary text The Forgotten Ways is theoretical. It is a literal cornucopia of suggestions, ideas, practices, and possibilities that can embed missional ideas and a movemental ethos in local churches and organizations. Designed for group work and discussion, it is a great compliment to both the primary text and On The Verge.

I think that with the aboveoutput, I have produced the necessary material that God has commissioned me todo at this stage of my life. Iwholeheartedly believe that the form of the church that will advance the causeof Jesus in the 21st (and reverse the decline of the church at thesame time) is that of the apostolic movement with all its spiritual dynamismand missional energy. But ourimaginations have become so captive to a more static and more regulated form ofthe church. All these books, read individually, but especially when takentogether, present a comprehensive, alternative, primal, vision of the church asa dynamic, high-impact, spiritually authentic, and sustainable, people movementin the Way of Jesus our Founder.
Alan Hirsch
Sunday, January 1, 2012.

Seven Billion: Are You Typical?

2011-12-02T11:14:00.001+02:00

This year Was a year of big things like being part of 7 billion people living on earth. What does it mean to be part of a group like that? Am I one of the typical persons? Am I normal? This video made me think...

Just maybe we must get over ourself and see the bigger picture. I must really start to love the 'Others', those who are not like me. If loving God means to love others then this is a good time to live in.

How does this affect you and how does it challenge you?

What would you do to have a home? - Millicent's house

2011-11-17T10:55:00.001+02:00

Where are you siting while reading this? Probably in or near your home. What did you do to have that home? Not the house but the home?

Millicent has never had a house of her own to call home and Marike reached out to make that dream come true. Now you can help her in doing just that. Please read the story, share it with others or get involved... Celebrate the fact that you have a house to call a home

For the whole story read here:

So the time has finally arrived where we can give Sophie and Millicent a home!

God is good and after a lot of struggle prayer God provided a house that will soon be a new home. The house in a informal setting in Nelmapius and belonged to an old woman in Millicent’s church that passed away. The house just needs some paint and love.

So how does it work?
It is all happening this weekend. We would like to invite you to come and be a part of it. We need your help.

We are all meeting on Saturday (19 Nov) at Bravo’s at 8 am to leave from there to Nelmapius to Millicent’s new house. We plan to be done by 4pm. You do not need to commit for the entire day, if you can only stay for 2 hours it will still be appreciated.

Things we still need

We got most of the furniture, but still need a few things. If you have some of it lying around, please contact Mariké.

2 single beds
2 double beds
Bedding

People we still need

We need 2 ‘bakkies’ to help us transport the furniture
We need someone to go and buy the paint; we will provide money for it.
We need a person to take responsibility of buying refreshments for the housewarming.

What we are going to do:

We want to make the children’s room fun and paint creative stuff on the wall.
We want to make a garden, so if you want to show some muscle or want to help out with the garden, please bring along a gravel and other gardening tools.
We are going to paint the inside walls of the house.
We are going to transport all the furniture and move it into Millicent’s house.

This is just a brief outline of the day. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mariké. Hope you are as excited as we are.

Please reply to this e-mail if you would be able to help or if you have any of the above mentioned things we still need.

Afterwards will celebrate with Millecent and her family and have a small housewarming. You are also invited to come and party with us

Thank you so much

To get involved please contact: Marike Kruger (0761908910)

17 things about Coffee ...

2011-11-07T09:23:00.000+02:00

Free kindle book

2011-10-11T20:10:00.001+02:00

From The Garden To The City: Free Today for Kindle

Hoekom volg jy Jesus?

2011-09-27T22:26:00.001+02:00

Die afgelope week is ek met 'n baie basiese vraag maar 'n kern en diep vraag gekonfronteer. 'n Goeie vriendin het dit vir my gevra nadat ons oor die Koninkryk van God gepraat het. En wonder soms hoekom ek nie hierdie vraag eintlik meer hoor nie. Ek kan die vraag met my kop antwoord en ook met my hart, maar die vraag is uit 'n diep plek gevra en dit is wat my gekonfronteer het. Ek kan net oor die vraag dink en probeer antwoord uit dieselfde diep plek. Nou wonder jy seker wat is hierdie groot vraag?

Die vraag is: Hoekom volg jy Jesus?

Ek moet waarsku, moet dit nie te vinnig antwoord nie. Ek wou te vinnig antwoord. Ek wou sê want ek glo. Ek glo wat? Ek wou sê want ek is verlos. Maar gaan dit dan oor my? Ek wou antwoord dat ek so groot geword het, maar ek het dan verander. Hoekom volg ek Jesus?......

Nadat ek na 'n paar oomblikke van asemskep en in my hart rondgrou kon ek net sê: want Hy het my oorweldig. Sy wese het my betekenis gegee. Hy het my met sy heiligheid gekonfronteer en is aantreklik op dieselfde oomblik. Sy liefde het my oortuig dat Sy realiteit iets is wat die moeite werd is om in te glo. Ek weet ek gaan nog baie keer val, nog baie keer seerkry, nog baie ander seermaak en nog baie leer. Al wat ek weet is dat ek so naby Jesus wil loop en leef dat as Hy beweeg ek sal beweeg en wat vir Hom belangrik is vir my belangrik sal wees.

Dit is maar net die begin van my antwoord...

Hoekom volg jy Jesus?

Die stryd tussen missionêre en missional word gewen deur liefde

2011-09-27T14:49:00.001+02:00

Die afgelope tyd dink ek baie oor die verskille tussen terme wat in teologie gebruik word. Twee wat op die oomblik baie aandag geniet in gemeentes wat meer missionêre aksies wil hou en dan gemeentes wat probeer verander om meer missionaal te wees. Wat is hierdie goed en hoekom wil mense dit doen?

Voor ek nou ook in dieselfde slaggate val en in die detail in gaan kan ek die verskil in een sin opsom. Missionêre is wat 'n kerk doen, missionaal is wie 'n kerk is. En nou kan daar sekerlik baie argumente vir en teen so 'n eenvoudige definisie wees (skryf dit gerus as kommentaar hieronder). Wat my die afgelope tyd egter in my lewe plat trek is die geloofsfamilie wat ek op kerkplein en buite kerkgeboue ontmoet. Hierdie familie konfronteer my in my wese om te leef wat ek bely. Dit is 'n goeie konfrontasie en 'n harde een. Dit roep my om my definisie van liefde en van die missie van die kerk te herdenk.

Hier is my rou denke hieroor...
Ek het gedink ek moet uitgaan en evangeliseer, die groot opdrag is mos GAAN! en toe is ek gekonfronteer met "wat is die evangelie?" hierna is ek gevra wat is liefde en of het ek my geloofsfamilie wat nie soos ek is nie lief? Het ek vir Donavon wat op kerkplein bly lief? Het ek vir my familie wat honger is, dors is, huisloos is, seer is, selfs indie tronk is lief? Dalk is ons, nee my, probleem nie missionaal of missionêr nie, maar eerdernet liefde vir ander. Hoe ver is ons dat ons liefde vir mekaar sien as sending? Op hierdie oomblik dink ons tradisionele kerke dat die groot opdrag in Matt 28 is en dat ons moet "gaan", ek raak meer oortuig dit is eerder "volg my in liefde"

Hiermee wil ek dan bely dat ek lief is vir Jesus en daarom figure ek uit hoe om ander ook lief soos Hy my lief het. En ek bely ek sukkel hiermee...

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ONCE YOU READ THIS YOU WILL UNDERSTAND!

2011-07-15T20:16:00.000+02:00

Author: Unknown

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.ONCE YOU READ THIS YOU WILL UNDERSTAND!

A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door.

It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls,
career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear
across the country in pursuit of his dreams.

There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think
about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He
was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The
funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old
newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

"Jack, did you hear me?"

"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought
of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack
said.

"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you
were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his
side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.

"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said..

"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make
sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.

"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in
this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching
me things he thought were important...Mom, I'll be there for the
funeral," Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to
his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no
children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to
see the old house next door one more
Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like
crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time.
The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories.

Every picture, every piece of furniture....Jack stopped suddenly.

"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.

"The box is gone," he said

"What box?" Mom asked.

"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I
must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever
tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack
remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser
family had taken it.

"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I
better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died Returning home from
work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature
required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post
office within the next three days," the note read.

Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old
and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The
handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his
attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his
car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an
envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.

"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack
Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was
taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack
carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold
pocket watch.

Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched
the cover. Inside he found these words engraved:

"Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser."

"The thing he valued most was...my time"

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and
cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his
assistant asked.

"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.

"Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"

The Entrepreneur's Guide to Coffee Shop Etiquette

2011-07-13T17:37:00.000+02:00

The Entrepreneur's Guide to Coffee Shop Etiquette

Bybelgenootskap: Mediavrystelling ivm eBybels

2011-05-27T16:17:00.004+02:00

BYBEL IN NUWE FORMAAT BESKIKBAAR

*Hierdie is die persverklaring soos deur Bybelgenootskap uitgestuur.

Die Bybelgenootskap van Suid-Afrika het so pas die e-boekmark betree met die beskikbaarstelling van 'n hele aantel e-Bybels.

Ongeveer 550 jaar gelede het Johannes Gutenberg deur die druk van 'n Bybel die die boekdrukkuns aan die wêreld voorgestel. Digitale ontwikkeling die afgelope aantal jare het daartoe gelei dat e-boeke reeds vir miljoene mense in die wêreld hulle eerste keuse is om boeke te lees en inligting te stoor.

Hierdie neiging begin ook merkbaar in Suid-Afrika toeneem. Daarmee saam besit al hoe meer Suid-Afrikaners nie net 'n rekenaar nie, maar ook een of ander toestel waarmee hulle e-boeke kan lees. Dit sluit in 'n verskeidenheid e-lesers, slimfone en tabletrekenaars.

Die e-Bybel is ‘n elektroniese weergawe van die bestaande gedrukte Bybel. Die Bybelgenootskap se Bybels is in die sogenaamde epub-formaat beskikbaar gestel en dit kan op 'n rekenaar of enige ander

toestel wat dié formaat kan hanteer, afgelaai word.

'n Deel van die Bybelgenootskap se missie is om te verseker dat die Bybel in geskikte formate beskikbaar is en dit sluit e-Bybels in. "Die Bybelgenootskap probeer om tred te hou met nuwe ontwikkelinge. Soos dit vir ons belangrik is om in die behoeftes van lesers wat steeds die gedrukte Bybel verkies, te voorsien, is dit ook belangrik om die Bybel beskikbaar te stel aan diegene wat toenemend hulle leesstof in 'n elektroniese formaat verkies," sê ds Gerrit Kritzinger, Uitvoerende

Hoof van die Bybelgenootskap.

E-Bybels in sewe Suid-Afrikaanse tale, Afrikaans, Noord-Sotho, Suid-Sotho, Tsonga, Tswana, Xhosa en Zulu, kan tans by die aanlynboekwinkel, www.kalahari.net afgelaai word. Die prys is R68,95 per eksemplaar.

Kontak: Mims Turley

Tel: 021 910 8705

083 255 5765

Dear John Piper

2011-02-26T22:24:00.001+02:00

This is a short answer to the endorsement by John Piper of the blogpost by Justin Taylor, titled Rob Bell: Universalist?
Read the post here

Dear John Piper.
I read the post and see all the attention. I am not for or against Rob Bell, but after reading the post I feel ashamed by the way the critic is given. My problem is that the harsh comments are uninformed and based on a trailer video that acts as promotion for the book. The writer did not read the book (as he himself states) but that doesn't stop him from giving critic on something he didn't read. I honor your opinion very much, but think this post and the endorsement of it, is not in the character of Jesus.

Hoeveel weet jy van Facebook foto's?

2011-02-15T19:15:00.000+02:00

Heel eerste n belydenis. Ek het so lanklaas geblog dat ek amper vergeet het hoe. Maar sonder om enige iets te belowe, hier is n post oor facebook se foto's.

Hoeveel word Facebook se foto's regtig gebruik en deur wie? Mashable het in n goeie blogpost bietjie inligting gegee. Lees die blogpost hier.

Ek wonder hoe hierdie inligting en die gebruik van foto's deur gemeentes en onrganisasies gebruik kan word om iets van Missional living te vertel en hoe om Jesus te volg. Enige voorstelle?

Hier is die visuele voorstelling van die info.

Book review: Outlive your life by Max Lucado

2011-01-04T20:59:00.000+02:00

Title: Outlive your life

Author: Max Lucado

ISBN: 978-0-8499-4668-4

“You were made to make a difference” is bold statement to make as a subtitle for Max Lucado’s newest book entitled Outlive your life. I must confess that this is my first book of Max Lucado and what a treat it was. He takes you on a time travel through the first chapters of Acts while showing the implications for today. What difference can one person make? That was the question in my head while taking up the challenge to read the book. After reading the first chapter on the opportunity of a lifetime and that God has already given what is needed, the following word griped my heart and imagination: “The problem is not in the supply; the problem is in the distribution. God has given this generation, our generation, everything we need to alter the course of human suffering.”

Max makes it simple to understand the time of acts and that it was not easy to follow Jesus in that time. But he also makes it clear that we don’t have any excuse to do the same. The principle of hospitality is still true. It still means the love for a stranger. We must start to think not only outside the box but outside our comfort zones. We have to open our doors, but even more so we have to open our hearts. I have to open my heart. Max helps to do this by opening my eyes to those around me. He teaches to not look trough people by to look into them, deep into them. In his own words: “There is something good about taking time to see a person.” And then not to label them because labeling people relieve us of responsibility.

After reading the book that challenges me to think further than my own life, to make a difference, to outlive my life, I can only think of one word. Grace. Not the receiving part of grace but the giving part of grace. To life grace is to outlive your life. He ends his book with words that will stay true for ever. “None of us can help everyone. But all of us can help someone. And when we help them, we serve Jesus. Who would want to miss a chance to do that?”

Let us outlive our life. Start being the difference.

Thank you Booksneeze for providing me with this complementary book.

Buy it at Amazon:

8/10

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Bereikbaarheid en beskikbaarheid

2010-11-26T16:15:00.000+02:00

Net n vinnige deel van gedagte oor bereikbaarheid en beskikbaarheid. Wat is die verskil tussen die twee? Tegnologie het ons bereikbaarheid baie verhoog en dit moontlik gemaak om ook daardeur meer beskikbaar te wees. Dink net aan n telefoon. Eweskielik kan enigeiemand jou enige plek in die hande kry. Jy is nou bereikbaar. Maar is jy altyd beskikbaar? Ek is verseker nie altyd beskikbaar nie soos mense al geleer het. Die feit dat ek bereikbaar is deur n foon nommer, 'n gmail epos en chat en op mxit is en op skype en op facebook en twitter en .......... beteken nie ek is ook op daardie stadium beskikbaar nie. Ek verkies om altyd bereikbaar te wees maar selde beskikbaar. Ek wil eerder beskikbaar wees vir my direkte omgewing. Dalk moet ons eerder praat van selektiewe beskikbaarheid. Want ons is selfs in n gelselskap beskikbaar vir sekere mense en op die selfde oomblik nie vir ander mense nie. In n wêreld waar bereikbaarheid net gaan toeneem moet ons dalk ernstig met mekaar praat oor om ook daarmee nie net beskikbaar te wees nie maar eerder seleketief beskikbaar. Sal graag wil hoor wat jy dink?

Ontdek die geheim: Emmaus die musical

2010-10-22T21:29:00.004+02:00

Ek kom nou net vanaf 'n musical wat my sommer baie verras het, nie dat ek min verwag het nie.

Emmaus die musical wat deur NG Lynnwood aangebied word (22&23 Okt 2010), gaan oor die ontekkingstog wat die twee Emmaus reesiger beleef. Hulle, CP (vertolk deur Dirk van der Merwe) en Lea (vertolk deur Liesel Harris), se worsteling en vrae na die groot teleurstelling na Jesus se dood, word uitstekend uitgebeeld. Ek kon baie daarmee vereenselwig, veral die verlange na hulle vriend, meester en Koning. Jesus (soos vertolk deur Leon Gropp van CH2 en Vertikaal) het ook ons as gehoor gelei deur die Sondag waarop baie dinge verander het. Nooit het ek gevoel of iets gedwing word nie en die teks het lewe gekry. Die ander karakters, BB (Saskia Breedt) en Olivier (Jurgens Joubert) het die ekstra dimensie van die verhaal ingekleur en ook gesorg vir n paar oomblike van lag.

Wat my aangegryp het met die musical is die realiteit van die verhaal rondom Emmaus. Dit het die realiteit van my verhouding met God weer wakker gemaak en my laat besef dat na daardie Sondag niks meer dieselfde kan wees nie. God stap 'n pad met elkeen van ons en daardie dag was dit die dag met die twee emmausganger. Nou stap hy die pad met my en leer ek elke dag meer en meer van Hom. Ek ontdek elke dag iets wat my meer laat wil weet van hierdie man van Nasaret en sy geheim van die koninkryk. Die geduld wat Jesus daardie dag gehad het met CP en Lea is ook die geduld wat hy vandag met my het. En dan gebeur die oomblik van broodbreek so gereeld. Klein oomblikke in ons lewens is soos daardie oomblik wat hulle besef het die vreemde besoeker is hulle Jesus! Hy is nie weg van ons af nie, Ons vra dalk net die verkeerde vrae. Ons worstel, Maar ons raak nie stil en worstel by Hom nie. En dan wanneer ons dink ons weet ne meer nie, dan wys Hy Homself. Dan ontdek ons opnuut die geheim! Hy is Koning! Hy het ons lief! Hy is met ons! en Hy kom weer!

Op daardie oomblik het my trane weer geloop. Ek verlang na daardie dag....

The Future of the book

2010-10-20T15:23:00.003+02:00

I've stumbled upon this video that just shows that the way we will interact with stories will change in the not so far future. How can the Church use this and what does it mean when looking at the way we read the Bible? Just asking... Any ideas ?

The Future of the Book. from IDEO on Vimeo.

Boek resensie:Telling Youself the Truth

2010-10-16T21:32:00.000+02:00

Boek resensie deur Ben Fourie:

Telling Youself the Truth

Skrywer: William Backus / Marie Chapian

Die boek is geskryf om jou te help leef saam met die een person met wie jy jou hele lewe mee moet saam leef --- Jouself.

Elkeen van ons het onbewustelik ‘n opinie van onsself wat onsdenke en dade bepaal. Daardie opinie kan wissel van baie positieftot baie negatief. Hoe ons onsself beleef word deur verskeipersepsies beïnvloed. Sommige selfs vanaf ons jonkste kinderjare .Verder speel insidente wat plaasgevind het gedurende onsopvoeding ook ‘n belangrike rol oor hoe ons oor onsself dink envoel. In alle gevalle het ons ‘n onbewustelike wanbegrip van wat ons onsself wysmaak , en wat ‘n direkte invloed op ons aksies enreaksies het. Ook word ons denke en dade negatief beïnvloed deurhierdie wanbegrippe (onwaarhede) wat ons onsself wysmaak.

Die boek is ‘n uitstekende hulpmiddel om sulke onwaarhede teidentifiseer wat ons denke beïnvloed tydens depressie , woede , angs of wanneer ons so maklik ander persone oordeel. Dr. Bachusbly egter nie net by die identifisering nie, maar bied ook praktieseoplossings aan om die onwaarhede in waarhede te omskep. Aangesien Dr Bachus beide ‘n teoloog en Christelike sielkundige ismet ‘n meestersgraad in teologie is hy deeglik toegerus omsinvolle en praktiese kennis met die leser te deel. Die skryfstyl isook maklik verstaanbaar.

Hier is Bybelsgefundeerde leesstof wat elkeen behoort te leesaangesien elke leser baie sal baadvind by die inligting wat daarin vervat is.

Ben Fourie

A Story of an unknown friend

2010-10-04T16:55:00.000+02:00

I recieved this story and wanted to share it here.

Thought about Matt. 25 while reading it.

I sat, with two friends, in the picture window of a quaint restaurant just off the corner of the town-square. The food and the company were both especially good that day.

As we talked, my attention was drawn outside, across the street. There, walking into town, was a man who appeared to be carrying all his worldly goods on his back. He was carrying, a well-worn sign that read, "I will work for food." My heart sank.

I brought him to the attention of my friends and noticed that others around us had stopped eating to focus on him. Heads moved in a mixture of sadness and disbelief.

We continued with our meal, but his image lingered in my mind. We finished our meal and went our separate ways. I had errands to do and quickly set out to accomplish them. I glanced toward the town square, looking somewhat halfheartedly for the strange visitor. I was fearful, knowing that seeing him again would call some response. I drove through town and saw nothing of him. I made some purchases at a store and got back in my car.

Deep within me, the Spirit of God kept speaking to me: "Don't go back to the office until you've at least driven once more around the square." Then with some hesitancy, I headed back into town. As I turned the square's third corner, I saw him. He was standing on the steps of the store front church, going through his sack. I stopped and looked; feeling both compelled to speak to him, yet wanting to drive on. The empty parking space on the corner seemed to be a sign from God: an invitation to park. I pulled in, got out and approached the town's newest visitor.

"Looking for the pastor?" I asked.

"Not really," he replied, "just resting."

"Have you eaten today?"

"Oh, I ate something early this morning."

"Would you like to have lunch with me?"

"Do you have some work I could do for you?"

"No work," I replied. "I commute here to work from the city, but I would like to take you to lunch."

"Sure," he replied with a smile.

As he began to gather his things, I asked some surface questions. Where you headed?"

" St. Louis."

"Where you from?"

"Oh, all over; mostly Florida."

"How long you been walking?"

"Fourteen years," came the reply.

I knew I had met someone unusual. We sat across from each other in the same restaurant I had left earlier. His face was weathered slightly beyond his 38 years. His eyes were dark yet clear, and he spoke with an eloquence and articulation that was startling. He removed his jacket to reveal a bright red T-shirt that said, "Jesus is The Never Ending Story."

Then Daniel's story began to unfold. He had seen rough times early in life. He'd made some wrong choices and reaped the consequences. Fourteen years earlier, while backpacking across the country, he had stopped on the beach in Daytona. He tried to hire on with some men who were putting up a large tent and some equipment. A concert, he thought.

He was hired, but the tent would not house a concert but revival services, and in those services he saw life more clearly. He gave his life over to God

"Nothing's been the same since," he said, "I felt the Lord telling me to keep walking, and so I did, some 14 years now."

"Ever think of stopping?" I asked.

"Oh, once in a while, when it seems to get the best of me But God has given me this calling. I give out Bibles. That's what's in my sack. I work to buy food and Bibles, and I give them out when His Spirit leads."

I sat amazed. My homeless friend was not homeless. He was on a mission and lived this way by choice. The question burned inside for a moment and then I asked: "What's it like?"

"What?"

"To walk into a town carrying all your things on your back and to show your sign?"

"Oh, it was humiliating at first. People would stare and make comments. Once someone tossed a piece of half-eaten bread and made a gesture that

certainly didn't make me feel welcome. But then it became humbling to

realize that God was using me to touch lives and change people's concepts of other folks like me."

My concept was changing, too. We finished our dessert and gathered his things. Just outside the door, he paused. He turned to me and said, "Come Ye blessed of my Father and inherit the kingdom I've prepared for you. For when I was hungry you gave me food, when I was thirsty you gave me drink, a stranger and you took me in."

I felt as if we were on holy ground. "Could you use another Bible?" I asked.

He said he preferred a certain translation. It traveled well and was not too heavy. It was also his personal favorite. "I've read through it 14 times," he said. "I'm not sure we've got one of those, but let's stop by our church and see" I was able to find my new friend a Bible that would do well, and he seemed very grateful.

"Where are you headed from here?" I asked.

"Well, I found this little map on the back of this amusement park coupon."

"Are you hoping to hire on there for awhile?"

"No, I just figure I should go there. I figure someone under that star right there needs a Bible, so that's where I'm going next."

He smiled, and the warmth of his spirit radiated the sincerity of his mission. I drove him back to the town-square where we'd met two hours earlier, and as we drove, it started raining. We parked and unloaded his things.

"Would you sign my autograph book?" he asked. "I like to keep messages from folks I meet."

I wrote in his little book that his commitment to his calling had touched my life. I encouraged him to stay strong. And I left him with a verse of scripture from Jeremiah, "I know the plans I have for you, declared the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you; Plans to give you a future and a hope."

"Thanks, man," he said. "I know we just met and we're really just strangers, but I love you."

"I know," I said, "I love you, too." "The Lord is good!"

"Yes, He is. How long has it been since someone hugged you?" I asked.

"A long time," he replied

And so on the busy street corner in the drizzling rain, my new friend and I embraced, and I felt deep inside that I had been changed. He put his things on his back, smiled his winning smile and said, "See you in the New Jerusalem."

"I'll be there!" was my reply.

He began his journey again. He headed away with his sign dangling from his bedroll and pack of Bibles. He stopped, turned and said, "When you see something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?"

"You bet," I shouted back, "God bless."

"God bless." And that was the last I saw of him.

Late that evening as I left my office, the wind blew strong. The cold front had settled hard upon the town. I bundled up and hurried to my car. As I sat back and reached for the emergency brake, I saw them... a pair of well-worn brown work gloves neatly laid over the length of the handle. I picked them up and thought of my friend and wondered if his hands would stay warm that night without them.

Then I remembered his words: "If you see something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?"

Today his gloves lie on my desk in my office. They help me to see the world and its people in a new way, and they help me remember those two hours with my unique friend and to pray for his ministry. "See you in the New Jerusalem," he said. Yes, Daniel, I know I will...

Development through technology

2010-09-29T06:17:00.001+02:00

This week I visited Swaziland and while I was there I was wondering how one could do social development through the use of technology. How would you think it will be possible?

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.0

Boek Resensie: The Jesus Creed - Deur Scot McKnight

2010-08-17T23:58:00.000+02:00

hierdie is n boekresensie deur Ben Fourie

Titel: The JESUS Creed

Skrywer: Scot McKnight

Die JESUS belydenis:

Markus 12 v 30 & 31

“ Jy moet die Here jou God liefhê met jou hele hart en met jou hele siel en met jou hele verstand en met al jou krag.”

Die tweede is: “Jy moet jou naaste liefhê soos jouself.” Geen ander gebod is groter as dié twee nie.”

Die geestelik gevormde mens het God lief deur Jesus te volg en ander lief te hê.”

‘n Geestelik verrykende boek wat gelowiges help om ‘n duideliker perspektief te kry van hoe om basiese Christenskapbeginsels uit te leef. Die skrywer verduidelik presies wat bedoel word met: “hele hart”, “hele siel”, “hele verstand” en “al jou krag”. Dit is Bybelsgefundeerd en kan as Bybelstudiemateriaal aangewend word.

Die boek lees besonder maklik, is verstaanbaar en dit is moeilik om neer te sit. McKnight se siening van hoe die gebruik van tafels aangewend kan word as hulpmiddel om die Jesus-belydenis tot uitvoering te bring kan dalk ‘n lewendige gesprek uitlok oor “geslote” of “oop” nagmaalstafels.

Die manier waarop ons Bybel lees word ook in die boek breedvoerig behandel en insiggewende riglyne word verskaf.

Alles in ag genome is dit ‘n boek wat soekende gelowiges kan help om ‘n meer sinvolle geloofslewe te lei.

Kyk gerus ook hierdie Video:

Die Revolusie van Liefde

2010-08-12T14:18:00.000+02:00

EK het 20 Junie 2010 die geleentheid gehad om by Gereformeerde Kerk Linden te gaan praat en die tema was Die Revolusie van Liefde. Hierdie tema is op die oomblik my lewens tema en vorm baie van hoe ek dink.

Luister gerus die aanbieding hier

Mootkamp 2010

2010-08-05T15:52:00.000+02:00

In Junie was ek op die Mootkamp vir my tweede keer en het ons die tema "Jou Geloofsrevolusie". Min het ek regtig besef wat hierdie tema gaan inhou. Ons het vir drie dae saam met die groepleiers gekamp en die voorbereiding van die kamp gedoen. En daarna van die vrydag tot vrydag gekamp met n groep skoolverlaters.

Wat hierdie kamp besonderlik gemaak het was dat alles n geloofsrevolusie was. Ons het die eerste dag begin met n uur se Ysbrekers en Kenmekaar en daarna in die diepkant ingespring met n sessie oor die realiteit van oorlog deur n x-rekkie. Die saterdag het ons gepraat oor die stryd teen die geeste in die lug en die aand oor vervolging. Die Sondag oggend het ons n vervolging sumilasie (LockedUp) gedoen wat deur Geopende Deure aangebied is. Hierdie was vir almal n geloofsrevolusie op sy eie, aangesien elkeen gekonfronteer was met wat ons regtig glo. Die dag is afgesluit met n herontdekking van wie Jesus is deur 12 stasies in Matteus deur te loop en bloot tekste te lees en stil te word en daaroor te dink. Die laaste stasie was die groep bymekaar en het ons as Kerk bymekaar gekom en die res van die kamp hiermee afgeskop. Dit was nie die einde nie maar n begin van iets groter.

Die res van die week het ons deur die teks in Efesiers wat handel oor die wapenrusting gewerk en elke dag was die geloofsrevolusie net meer konkreet. Elke dag is daar gepraat oor die feit dat ons moet wakker word en besef iets if verkeerd en on moet opstaan en werk in die koninkryk.

Die afsluiting van die kamp was n teken dat ons almal as vreemdelinge daar aangekom het maar as meer as vriende daar wegstap. Ons was werklik familie. Soos ek nou terugdink aan Mootkamp sal ek dalk nog later n Bolgpost of twee moet skryf oor wat gebeur het. Nou om te dink aan Mootkamp 2011.

Sluit hier aan om op hoogte te bly van wat gebeur op mootkamp: http://www.facebook.com/mootkamp
En as jy al op mootkamp was hier is n groep vir Mootkamp Alumni

Boek Resensie: The Principle of the Path - Andy Stanley

2010-07-28T17:20:00.000+02:00

Boek resensie: The Principle of the Path

Skrywer Andy Stanley

Verfrissende riglyne om mense, maar veral jongmense te leer hoe om Bybel-gefundeerde lewensbesluite te neem. Die boek handel oor die belangrikheid van regte besluitneming op alle vlakke van die samelewing, veral in die jong volwasse stadium van hul lewe. Dit is in gemaklike trant geskryf en is maklik verstaanbaar. Andy Stanley toon ‘n ryke kennis van wat die mens se besluitneming beïnvloed. Verskeie Bybelse karakters word gebruik om sy standpunte te verduidelik. Uitreksels uit die lewens van Salomo en Dawid word breedvoerig ingespan om die noodsaaklikheid van regte of verkeerde besluitneming te illustreer. Die toepassing van die riglyne sal help om nie net geestelike besluite te vergemaklik nie maar kan ook toegepas word op finansies, verhoudings, huwelike, opvoedkunde, ens.

Hierdie boek kry 8/10

Koop dit gerus by www.cumbooks.co.za

Resensie deur: Ben Fourie