Danie's Bible Blog

God of Wonders Report

2012-02-15T01:46:00.001-08:00

We had 806 people gather together to praise God for 21 years of blessings, and God’s faithfulness through trials. Our worship services over the weekend was a personal highlight for me, with our team (That’s us up there), relishing in playing and singing with 800 other souls. Seeing so many old faces was so encouraging, and made me realise just how blessed we are to be part of this amazing church.

Read some of the reports here:

http://www.icochotnews.com/?q=node%2F1852

http://www.ctcoc.co.za/node/732

The whole group of us released balloons with invitations to the church, personal dreams for the year and answered prayers attached to it. With the wind blowing south east, I’m sure lots of people in the north westerly direction from our venue received a lot of prayers and invitations.

One of two more pics. Currently our church is running a series:

See you there.

Great Event at Church

2011-12-13T10:29:00.000-08:00

So, our church is 21 years old! This event is going to be a fantastic event of worship, and meeting up with old faces to thank God and those who sacrificed so much for our congregation in the last 21 years, and the team who planted the church here.

33 Trips around the Sun

2011-08-25T00:57:00.001-07:00

So, today I celebrate the 33rd completion of my journey around the sun. It’s a pretty significant year this is, as Jesus lived 33 years more or less, before proving to the world that he was not from it. 33 years in which he completely and utterly put God’s stamp on earth. The one who wouldn’t believe Jesus after the 33 years he gave, would never believe. As an accused personality one is left wondering: what is my mark? And the obvious answer is: nothing like Jesus’s.

If I look back over 33 years I can only see what God has done for me, and not the other way around. I have what I don’t deserve, and I didn’t get what I surely deserved. God is good, and 33 years on, I realise still, that I am not. If I didn’t understand the I am saved by grace and God’s work, I would be very discouraged now. I am discontent about my life as a Christian, but in a healthy way. In a spiritually ambitious way. I want to become less than I’ve been.

I’m blessed, and 33 years into my journey, I feel blessed even more than ever. God is good. I am so grateful he brought me to being.

Take a moment with God

2011-08-09T01:30:00.001-07:00

I’m learning, like I probably have a hundred times, that being with God consistently in my thoughts and prayers, and not just with my quiet times, is the most effective and best way to get to know God. This way I get to take him into my every detail and innermost thoughts. In my quiet times I can explore certain thoughts at length, pour out my heart and really connect with God, but often in my day, I have thoughts and realisations that are forgotten by the next quiet time, and I miss an opportunity to praise, thank or honour God, or learn from it, or use the Bible to address the situation. We forget the Bible is applicable to every and all situations and decision in life. The Bible is designed and purposed to be useful:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God^[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

I don’t have a radio in the car that I use for work, and that proves to be a good thing. I pray more easily, since there are no distractions. I see Table Mountain as I’m coming down the highway, and I can praise God. I pray for kids, my wife’s day at work, my challenges at work, the government, and all these considerable facets to my life, while in the car, sometimes. That while with a radio, I probably would’ve been fed a steady diet of worldliness instead.

Creating ‘little’ sanctuaries right through our day just enriches the spiritual walk so much. It is something that the mystics understood, during the dark ages, although they through the baby out with the bathwater and stopped interacting with the world, and letting their light shine. They created in themselves sanctuary for their thoughts on God. And insight is borne out of these times. See the Psalmist’s realisation:

Psalm 119:99 (NIV)

⁹⁹ I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes.

Recently I signed up for a Bible reading plan , where portions of Scripture are daily emailed to you, and by the end of one year, you have read the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice. While I was doing a shoot last week in a corporate office, I had about half-an-hour of down-time between sets, and I went out to a R&R section of the building, overlooking Cape Town harbour and Table Mountain (ok, we’re lucky with that here in Cape Town), and read the Scriptures for that day on my BlackBerry. With smart-phones, i-pads, laptops and internet, not being able to read our Bible daily is becoming less and less excusable. Audio bibles and the like are also available for mp3-players. Every night, when the light in our room is turned off and my wife dozes off, I take my phone and read the Scripture for the day, if I haven’t had already that day. This helps me close out the day properly, in my opinion.

Discipline is ultimately the thing here, not necessarily as in schedule, but the discipline to direct our thoughts to what is important. I fail almost daily, but my walk is getting better and better, and closer to God.

Creationist Evolution

2011-08-01T22:04:00.001-07:00

http://www.factandfaith.co.za/dvd.html

Another angle on the Creationist Evolution theory. I haven’t had a look at at it, but will. By South African zoologist, Dr. Michael Jarvis. Have a look, and check back, as I’ll hopefully give my thoughts soon.

The Flood and Dinosaurs

2011-07-18T23:37:00.001-07:00

Here is a very interesting article! If you have been wondering about the flood, dinosaurs and the like, read this for some fresh insight. It’s amazing to note how simple the arguments that SUPPORT the Bible are, and how complicated scientific arguments tend to get. This is probably a blow to the evolutionists, and the Creationists are probably cheering. I believe that either model, or a mix of both could be likely, but without a doubt I believe that God is Intelligence and Intent behind Creation, and it was brought into being by his powerful Word, through Christ.

Hebrews 1:2 NIV

^…but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

So herewith the article as you’ll find it at Holypop.com

http://www.holypop.com/?subject=Dinosaurs

The Word and Resources

2011-07-10T13:16:00.001-07:00

The latest series at our church. Today we looked at the Word of God. It just inspired me to dig deeper and deeper again! Download the sermon by Werner Vos HERE:

We meet:

10 July – 21 August
Sunday mornings
9:30am at Parow High School, c/o Toner and Voortrekker Roads, Parow, Cape Town.

Now for some more resources that I’ve found on the web, that makes bad Bible study even less excusable:

Online bibles, commentaries, resources, audio bibles etc.

Online bibles, commentaries, resources, audio bibles etc. Also maps, lexicons, Greek etc etc.

Great community, online bibles, but runs and syncs with mobile phone app. Completely free.

The Call

2011-06-18T13:45:00.001-07:00

Ephesians 4:1 (NIV)

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

I don’t wish to add anything. This is just such a challenging, but purifying call!

Just Sit Tight

2011-06-07T00:39:00.001-07:00

If today, I had to give a title to Psalm 37, that would be my choice. Maybe tomorrow something else would stand out, but today, it seems that the overwhelming message is that: just sit tight.

Herewith a couple of highlights from this incredible Psalm:

Ps 37:1-2, 7,9-10, 12-15, 20, 28, 32-36, 38 – Don’t mind the wicked.

Basic thought: just hang on, don’t be bothered about the success, intimidation, audacity or bashfulness of the wicked, just sit tight, eventually they fall. Don’t be found thinking that they have the better idea. Don’t be thinking that cutting corners on righteousness, forsaking goodness or being anything but faithful will get you anywhere. Just hang in there, they won’t.

Ps 37:3-7, 11, 16, 18-19, 23-31, 37, 39-40 – The righteous survives.

Basic thought: God notices. He knows. And he cares. The righteous lives a life of little concern, lightness, patience and ultimately blessing and joy. It makes it clear that worldly wealth is not where it’s at, but rather contentment in a relationship with God. Consider this:

¹⁶ Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;
¹⁷ for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous.

A little with righteous contentment and God on our side, than the wealth of many wicked people. That’s amazing. So, when you look at your situation today, be reminded that if you are in a saved relationship with the Lord, nothing really matters much else. You’re where it’s at, and in your life you will see for yourself. If you’re not, and you are putting a lot of stock and security in your relationship with the world and currency, rethink your position.

Also, just a quick reminder that our congregation is hosting another great series:

You can access the sermons from the site, which should be up every Sunday, a couple of hours after the service. You can download them for free.

Your first love

2011-05-18T00:16:00.001-07:00

This is a topic I fall back on every now and again. It is probably one of the most important things you’ll ever pay attention to. In fact, the most important.

For several reasons:

Deut 6:⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (NIV).

This passage is precluded by the Shemah, (Hear Oh Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One), Which makes it quite clear. There is one God, and you should love him with everything. The axis of your relationship with God, is based on this, completely.

Matt 13: ²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.

This is possibly one of the most important lessons I can ever learn. In living a more “privileged” life (read: having a car, clothing, food and a place of shelter – that is more than 85% of the world), the tactic of Satan is diversion. Simply get something else to take away my focus from God is number 1, and it’s enough to shipwreck my faith. This is honestly one of the toughest things for me as a businessman, father and husband. It’s not so much wanting to get rich as “surviving”, that often gets us. The deceitfulness of “just having enough to get by”, which takes our faith in God (Matt 6:25-33) and puts it squarely in Mammon, the god of money.

Rev 2:⁴ Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. ⁵ Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place.

Having God in the absolute numero uno position as a church or as an individual is a salvation issue. There is no way getting around this. Now before you get all judgemental on the Ephesians (a church which according to tradition could have been as big as 50 000 members in total, including satellite congregations at the end of the first century), see what Christ said about them before issuing the warning above:"

Rev 2: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. ³ You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

The were all but apostate. This church was ready, steady and go. They persevered under trial, worked, endured under trial for Christ’s name (something us Westerners can’t fully associate with) and have stayed faithful. How do you do compared to this? But see, Christ notices this, and appreciates it, but he wants to be NUMBER 1. Nothing else matters, by way of speaking.

There are a myriad of Scriptures making just this point. Some good is no good if God is not the first love.

Conclusion? I need to seriously, seriously readjust my measure of my life and doctrine. I am in a worse place than the Ephesians. I need to learn the true meaning of first love still. And God willing, I will.

It’s ok not to have something to say…

2011-04-28T14:37:00.001-07:00

or does that sound strangely like an excuse for not posting a meaningful article in a while!

I’ve been reading and studying the Scriptures, and especially through the Easter period (I attach no formal or theological significance to the practise of Easter, but any excuse to remember my Lord’s sacrifice and heart is a good one), I really took a lot from the Gospel of Luke. If there is anything that I can share today, then it is:

Take a week and finish the Gospel of Luke. Do share your thoughts.

Hope is not a girl’s name only

2011-04-02T12:49:00.001-07:00

The hope that we have: something we don’t often share about. We fall into the trap of “reaching out”, “preaching”, “teaching” and nominally “sharing our faith”, but truly sharing our faith is telling others of the hope that we have. Currently this is a great series at our congregation (you can download the sermons from the site), and it reminds me of one of the biggest spiritual tools anyone can have in life; that of hope.

As a teenager being bogged down by depression, and as a young adult battling through the last wisps thereof, as an artist finding my way in a difficult industry, as a young socially inept person learning the ways of social life and reaching out to others, and as a sinner battling the tenacious nature of my ancestry, I have come to realise that hope is what often gets me through the night, by manner of speaking.

Hope is a knowing that whatever I’m in now, is temporary. It’s a sense of greater good and the inevitability of improvement, or at least perspective. When I struggle with sin, it’s knowing that Jesus did not die to let me lose the battle, but he overcame to death so that I may too. The hope I have lies in that one day I would’ve overcome. The faith and knowledge I have is that Jesus is making it possible. To me that is not hope. That is knowing and faith. Hope is the forward-looking aspect of spirituality.

1 Cor 13:13

http://www.youversion.com/bible/asv/1cor/13/1

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Hope is one of the three greatest spiritual gifts: faith, hope and love. In my opinion I’ll divide them like this: Love being the one of most substance. Faith the one of basic necessity. Hope the one of joy. For this I have no doctrinal or theological reasoning, it’s purely perceptive.

Hope is what gives me joy in trials, and joy in suffering, it gives me joy in the future, contentment and lightness. Through hope, by faith in God’s nature, I can experience the fullness of God.

The resurrection of Christ is the knowledge that I have of God’s power and plan, and the hope that I have is to share in that on the last day, shedding the clutches of death forever, to live in my Lord, forever.

The Intent of the Church

2011-03-04T12:14:00.001-08:00

The church, we know, is the body of Christ. Some might even have realised through cursory readings of Colossians and Corinthians that the body of Christ, the church, and the indwelling Spirit of God, represents God to the world. By looking at the church, the world should be seeing Jesus. Letting our light shine etc. I think, most of us grasp that. But isn’t it great when you read a Scripture and there is a bit of an a-ha! moment? Ok, maybe this is common knowledge for some of you reading, but for me it is just a great confirmation of God’s plan for his people in the body of Christ, the Church.

Ephesians 3:10-11 (New International Version, ©2011)
10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The manifold wisdom (according to immediate context, the mystery of Christ) and the knowledge of God should be made known by the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. Wow, I don’t even grasp the whole concept, but what is clear, again, is that the church is no social club. Being the body of Christ is not symbolism. We are his hands and feet, his mouth and vessel. The job set out for us is huge, if only we are humble enough to follow God’s instruction, instead of our own. We’re here to make God’s manifold wisdom known, by knowing him, living in him, and him acting through us. No individual Christian is up to the task of making the wisdom of God known, but as a unit, the church is fullfilled, and Christ and his mystery is shown in action and in teaching. And who is the target? RULERS AND AUTHORITIES IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS. The church is on the offense. We’re not here to shrink and die. We’re here to charge.

Wow. And here people still think church is a get-together and a sing-along.

What’s on at my church

2011-02-17T23:50:00.001-08:00

There isn’t a great many congregations that make more effort in preparing relevant, inspiring, challenging and life-applicable sermons and series’s than the ministry staff at www.ctcoc.co.za . Also, being part of the awesome FFW (Facilitating Focused Worship) team, puts me in touch with just how much effort and zeal is behind the desire to get God’s Word presented to the world and put everyone in touch with the saving grace of Christ.

Our worship service: before you think we’re a loaded church with a massive awesome building and pro sound and stage people. Think again. That is a school hall. Apart from the lights (which we installed), every piece of equipment is set-up on a Sunday morning before church, the seats packed etc. The band and worship team arrives almost 2 hours before the service to be ready to warm up, set up and get ourselves spiritually minded.

Come interact with our Worship team at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=51620861879 on facebook. I also write some of the worship material for church, and you can grab it, for free, right here by digital download: www.danienel.bandcamp.com .

I’ve been a member of the www.ctcoc.co.za since 1997. I can, without a single doubt, say that the Lord has used these disciples in my life, to miraculous effect. I had never in my wildest dreams foreseen the changes in my life I would see by the power of God, and his disciples in my life, the Word they share with me and his Holy Spirit changing me. I had indeed been rescued. I thank God every day of my life for my family here.

Acts 2:42-47 (New International Version, ©2010)

The Fellowship of the Believers

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

This is what we’re about.

Ps 103

2011-02-14T00:17:00.001-08:00

When life, or just your very self, pressed down hard, Psalm 103 is a great message. Especially if you have a day where the worldly notion of guilt, or worldly sorrow, I find this message sets me straight. I can’t earn my repentance. I can’t earn God’s forgiveness. I can’t be just the right amount of contrite to be okay with him. It’s his grace. But more than that, God understands.

Psalm 103:13-14 (New International Version, ©2010)

¹³ As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
¹⁴ for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.

Now, when I’m particularly hard on myself, it’s even harder to accept that God can understand. It does not mean he excuses, it does not mean he justifies my actions (he has justified me despite my actions through Christ!), but it does mean that he has insight. He knows the why and the how.

Psalm 103:9-10 (New International Version, ©2010)

⁹ He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
¹⁰ he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.

Make no mistake. God cannot be taken for a fool. Do not think he cannot get angry or annoyed. God is not a jelly blubber authority with no backbone. Justice is God. Consequence is necessary, but so often if you veer towards the side of not taking God seriously, you sin. But then, you often only see God as angry, because you own sinfulness is so obvious. It is inspiring to know that my God does not always accuse. He does not delight himself in annoyance, but rather mercy. In fact, the consequences we face often don’t match the arrogance of our deeds. This is amazing. He is compassionate towards me, though I struggle to be.

Read the verbs in Ps 103. Think about and rejoice.

…forgives… heals… redeems… crowns… satisfies… works… made know his ways…

Sometimes…

2011-02-07T06:17:00.001-08:00

It’s probably better to step out of teaching mode and into sharing mode. Today I just feel like talking a bit. If you struggle to bear with me, check back next time.

It’s been a long time since I just sat down and wrote. And not write on photography (as I do on my work blog every week), trying to ultimately get people to like me and use my services, share or teach from my spiritual lessons and bible studies, here, or now and again on my music review blog or very irregularly on my blog-novel to get my ideas about being a novelist satisfied, or about my music, or like most of the last two years, writing my thesis in lieu of my B.Tech degree in Photography, exploring the influence of micro-stock images on commissioned photography.

I remember, about 11 years ago, owning an ancient typewriter, (way before I had my first laptop), and sitting down every evening after coming home from ministry or work, and sitting down and banging out some 1 page essays or poems. Therapy, I tell you. Then I read Julia Cameron’s Book, The Artist’s Way, and learned of a practise called “day pages”, where you just sit down for half-an-hour, and punch out whatever comes out of your mind. Truth, fiction or rubbish, it didn’t matter, because you could only read it six months later. I did that for a while, but my handwriting is rather intense, and tiring! Once I got a pc, I took to type my prayers now and again. But the problem I have, is that everything I’ve been writing the last couple of years, including songs, are structured, with intent. I think, today, I just want to wax. Share, think, …wax philosophically. It doesn’t matter if you follow or not, I think you’ll have to excuse my bit of self-indulgence.

Why is it necessary? I’m a guy. My heart and emotions are locked up in solid concrete boxes, and allowed only through certain doors. And the odd window when I get really angry. It’s not that I hide them, it’s just that they’re solid-state, where most women, and some guys, have more fluid emotions, or better abilities to express them. I need this type of exercise to get to know myself. As you can see, it’s taken me three paragraphs of explanation, justification and analysis to get to the point where I can wax. You catch my drift?

It’s been frustrating being me in various instances. I'm not easily changed. I have things figured out, in my mind, and it takes earthquakes, black holes and seismic activity to change them. This is largely due to my struggles with pride, as I’ve shared recently. But also, I don’t get stuff that easily. I rely on my own instinct too much? Too little prayer goes into who I am? Probably. Frustrating is what the results are, anyways. I can imagine my wife must be a tad overwhelmed. It also seems that the intensity with which I feel things, unfortunately the negative things, can be quite weighty. I can express my anger, frustrations, doubts and fears with much vigour, but the positives like romance and compassion is not always easy to come by. But that’s luckily not the whole picture. I’m joyful, calm, serene and peaceful quite comfortably.

Thing is, I want to be more fluid and change more. I know this happens only through the Holy Spirit. Yet the Holy Spirit thrives on faith. I cannot doubt that God changed me, for that will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. But I’m hopeful. I have always felt that I will be completely different from what I am now, one day. To me not changing is not an option. 2 Cor 5:17 tells me that’s the way it needs to be anyways.

But it seems changing might not come easy, since I’ve spent the last how many paragraphs discussing, and not waxing. But ok, I’m trying to get direction. Maybe next time.

Nothing-man

2010-12-13T13:13:00.001-08:00

Wow, so since my last post I’ve been around a couple of blocks, just to end up at ground zero. What I love about a relationship with Christ, and life for that matter, is how everything returns to the simple, basic concepts, ultimately. It reminds me of the saying of Zen: “When you enter into the understanding of life through Zen, mountains are mountains, and valleys are valleys. As you grow in knowledge mountains are no longer mountains and valleys are no longer valleys. Then, as you reach enlightenment, mountains are once again mountains, and valleys are valleys.”

Now, the thing with Christ is, you’ll do way more cycles than that, and your knowledge and insight will grow way beyond the selfishness of Zen enlightenment, if you only keep searching. I have realised a truth that I was faced with, very early on in my decision-making process of coming to Christ. That of Luke 9:23-26. I have blogged on this before, but it has just revisited my in a big way. As is often the case in the Scriptures, it came by way of the mouths of good Christian brothers, caring enough to address my short-comings. As the Word states:

Proverbs 27:5-6 (New International Version, ©2010)

⁵ Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.

⁶ Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.

Without going into too much detail, as it was multi-faceted, let’s just say that my lack of advisors, my independence, self-sufficient and ‘quick to listen and slow to speak’-spirit has become rather obvious to those around me, and enough so that the fruits of mediocrity that such arrogance brings, have also been evident to more people than I’d like to admit. But more than that, I was challenged to chase down the root of this issue, and see where it might lead me, as it’s easy to say all the right things about me being “proud”, “prone to self-sufficiency”, “habitually self-motivated”, but not understanding the underlying cause: I don’t need God.

Wow, you might say, that’s hard. I’ve come to a shocking realisation that humility and brokenness is not something you are towards or in the presence of someone. Humility is what you are, because you understand who you are (not). You understand that left to your own devices ultimately, the Kingdom and will of God will not benefit by your existing, and that only with God active in me, gracefully allowing me to exist even, can any good come from me being here.

In my life, the things that became evident is how I didn’t take well to following instructions on things that I don’t particularly have a good track record on. I felt somehow embarrassed by following instruction and submitting myself, and surrendering myself, to the outcome of following another’s insight. Thus, I was always adding my own thumb-print, and sometimes even completely kidnapping, thoughts and ideas of others, to imprint my identity on them. In all honesty, I was afraid to admit that I couldn’t do a better job.

I learned in this time that the words “pride” and “self-sufficiency” doesn’t have very real spiritual or emotional connotations for me. I did recognise however, that the following statements made me very uncomfortable, and I avoided in my everyday life.

I am wrong. Completely. Even if I might have been right about some detail, it does not make up for the fact that in the big picture, I am wrong.
I don’t know how to do it. I have never been able to do it right, and I need you to show me how.
I need help. And I mean it. I plan to follow your instructions, and not personalise it to such an extent that what I do cannot be recognised as your advice any more.
My insights are not necessarily very accurate.
This is completely my fault.
I cannot do anything alone.

Now, these thoughts and ideas are well documented in Scripture, and especially Proverbs. But do you know where the penny dropped for me in a significant way?

⁴⁵ When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. ⁴⁶ I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.⁴⁷ “As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. ⁴⁸ There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. ⁴⁹ For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. ⁵⁰ I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

I always had this picture of Jesus just being completely self-confident (intellectually I agreed that he relied on the Father), but that he just acted in accordance with his knowledge and amazing character. I never actually cottoned on to the realisation that Jesus really was humble. Shocking!! Why? I never considered that he asked the Father what to say and how to even say things. In the past I would look at Matthew 23 and just figure Jesus by calculation and superior wisdom just knew now the time was right to give the Pharisees and teachers of the law a dressing down. I didn’t consider that Jesus was so humble as to ask God how to speak to them, what to say and how to say it. Thus, when someone looked at Jesus, he didn’t see Jesus, but the Father! Jesus’s will never got in the way of the Father’s will. Jesus’s identity was never imprinted on that of the Father’s work. When you saw Jesus, you saw the Father, because Jesus completely submitted his being, identity and life to the Father. When you look at a nail knocked into wood, you don’t consider it the work of the hammer, but that of the carpenter. In the same way Jesus did not take credit for the accomplishments of God, thus, if you saw him, you saw the Father. Jesus was in all aspects a vessel.

Empty. A hosepipe doesn’t not give water it’s characteristics, it merely is a conduit. Without water, it has no claim to any of the qualities of water. A hosepipe without water cannot water anything. It is plastic or rubber. Without water, it doesn’t even have any connotation or purpose in gardening.

What am I saying?

I want to be nothing. Completely nothing. So Jesus can be something in me. I don’t want my identity to be Danie. I want my identity to be Jesus. I want my personality to get out of the way of Jesus, not in the way of Jesus. I want no-one to remember what I did, just remember that Jesus did something. Seeing how completely choked up I am as a vessel, an artery for God, with the cholestrol of self-importance, laziness, selfishness, worldliness and ungodliness, I realise, that only Christ can make me useful. I have nothing to pride myself in. All that is is but the grace of God. And it makes me peaceful. It makes me light. I was not created to be anything but a vessel. And it’s the most freeing realisation in the world.

Humble - like children

2010-11-15T13:10:00.000-08:00

Matthew 18:2-3 (New International Version)

² He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. ³ And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

It's interesting how, when you try and help another person get closer to the Lord, the very things you point out to them, also get's highlighted in your own character. A friend, who myself and a couple of brothers are helping with his relationship with God, has been challenged on pride, in some incarnations in his life. Also, we did a study just to discuss how to be aware of pride in your own life, what it can manifest as, etc etc. Basically the idea of the study is to open one's eyes to your own pride, and to be on the lookout for it in future times.

Well, as these things go, the next morning, while praying, it just became very apparent to me that I am so prideful! I realized a couple of things:

I don't like asking for help, because I find it hard to accept that I can't accomplish things on my own.
I don't like having to give credit to another for my "accomplishments".
My temper is rooted in pride.
Etc etc.

So, I set out to gain conviction on the danger and utter sinfulness of pride. I must confess that I hadn't in quite a while, almost avoiding the topic! I wonder where that came from..., but I guess pride is a good place to start looking!

A great book, that I have read before, but has the amazing ability to cut you deeper every time you read it, is "A prideful soul's guide to humility", co-authored by Thomas Jones and Michael Fontenot. I can highly recommend this book, by the way.

Anyways, so right in the introduction do I get stuck on the Scripture above. Now, I have to admit that in the past I found this passage rather discouraging actually..., the reason being that I seemed to have always read that if we aren't like children already, we've got little chance of spiritual success...and salvation seemed kinda far-off in this context. How I missed the cardinal detail, where Jesus says "unless you change and become", I'm not sure, but all I know is that I had a rather bright light-bulb moment.

The Lord understands that we are (present tense applies!) proud. However, he is not happy with anyone being content with remaining proud, but expects our lives to be marked by a continual drive towards humility, from a more prideful place.

Well, again I have to confess that addressing my pride has not been at the forefront of my spiritual ambitions. Neither has becoming like a child in faith. Well, amen, I repent. All of us should, but I'll focus on myself for now.

What it takes to set up a church service

2010-09-13T01:26:00.001-07:00

So this is what it takes for our congregation to set up church on a Sunday morning and have a service. On this particular day, Michael Burns was preaching, from the US.
It’s awesome to see how a bunch of volunteers can pull of a really professional set-up and have an amazing time of worship and then break it up afterwards. You’ll see the worship ministry (aka FFW) also practising and rehearsing. We have toilet-cleaners etc etc. It’s amazing what goes into something as simple as a church service.
Jeremy, who did the video and editing, used to work for me – so I’m mighty proud of what the man has done!
Get to know us at http://www.ctcoc.co.za/ .

Great resource

2010-08-26T03:23:00.001-07:00

I discovered this on BlackBerry as an app, but available to all types of smart-phone devices, and also online through your desktop.

Reading plans, journals, community etc etc. Especially handy as a BlackBerry app.

Danie’s Evolve Plan

2010-08-17T11:46:00.001-07:00

To my shame, the one Christian characteristic that my life seems to have lacked for years have been fluid, noticeable change (from my vantage point, anyways). Initially, in the first couple of years, there were absolutely awe-inspiring changes, that could only happen by the power of God and someone who believes in it.

Since, it’s almost as if changes has happened so organically, it can be equated with the continental drift. Sure, after a long time, radical change is noticeable. Maybe it’s not the process that is what I’m getting at – because glacial speed change tend to be irreversible, but my heart’s attitude towards change. Setting that continental drift into motion. The starting point. The big bang of change. My willingness. My fear of a different me. I know it sounds stupid, but it’s also true that someone wise once said that when it hurts more to stay the same then it does to change, is when you change. Now see, I’m not keen to wait till it hurts so bad any more. I’ve set out on the road to voluntary change. Change by conviction and not consequence only. Change by God.

My whole plan is based on the bedrock and context of ‘no change is permanent without the Holy Spirit’. Whatever I achieve, is because of the Holy Spirit enabling me to do so, motivating and strengthening my resolve. This is not a self-help. This is fitting the jet-engines (Holy Spirit) and setting a course (Bible). The rest is pilot training – God being the pilot, me learning as co-pilot to steer the controls (and for the pedantic among you – this metaphor has flaws, so please be gracious).

I have never done well with sudden radical demands for change. When I became I Christian, so much change took place in such a small spate of time, that it can only be ascribed to the power of God. Naturally, when challenged, I have a maternal attitude to change. Once the challenge is conceived, it can take 9 months to give birth to action.

So, I’ve realised I have to play to my strengths, instead of trying to Winston Churchill myself into suddenly being different, but how can I take my phlegmatic melancholy nature, and optimise it for permanent, radical change. Pep talks had not gotten me into action, really, ever. Nothing permanent. But meditative, habit-forming consideration and moderate, relentless action-taking, have however had huge impact on my life. I’ve spent months and honestly, years considering this. And always it was hard to gauge my progress.

Then, in the most unlikely place, I found a quantifiable, measurable area of change in my life, that could serve as test for the rest of my life, and as metaphor. Something I detest, am not known for, and really needed to change. And has grounds in the Word and the will of God. I found my yellow canary. I found….. DIY.

Why DIY? Well, it takes discipline, planning, action. The downside of refusing to do it is negligent, it costs money, it costs respect, it has its roots in ingratitude, laziness and quite honestly, plain ungodliness. It doesn’t mean all Christians should be handy-men. It means if there is something to be fixed or done around the house, and it irks your wife especially, fix it, get it fixed or just DO SOMETHING about it. Then, make it a habit. If you’re not sure about the Biblical necessity, then study Proverbs for a month. Then take a look around your house. Then read the letters of Paul. And take a look around your house. I believe Jesus was a carpenter for more than just hereditary reasons. It showed me something about being a man.

Also – since things have started changing for me - I also realised that change begets change. Repentance brings a harvest of righteousness, and as is the nature of harvests, it gives more than you put in. I now quite enjoy doing chores, planting vegetables, and living a lot more gratefully. I look after my belongings, with less attachment, but more appreciation. I get more respect from my wife, and myself! I walk around with a sense of accomplishment, and I can read the proverb that speaks about the sluggard whose field is full of thorns and thistles, without shrinking and seeing if anyone read it and looked at my house.

Herewith, a synopsis of my plan of evolution:

DO WHAT YOU CAN, NOW.

If you have 1 minute, tighten a screw. If you have 10, drill a hole. If you have 40 minutes, mow the lawn. Don’t wait for half-days and full days. A lot can be accomplished in a small amount of time. Avoid absolutist thinking. If you have 5 minutes to read your Bible, don’t put it off because you don’t have 30. Read for 5. If you have 2 minutes to pray, don’t waste it because you don’t have 20. You will be amazed how the shackles of inefficiency starts dropping from your shoulders. I aim for 1 DIY/gardening chore per day. Even if it is only moving a pot or watering a plant. I fixed number plates to my wife’s work vehicle today. Yesterday I planted a lavender bush. The day before I replanted a palm into a bigger pot. After 1 week, you realize you’ve accomplished a lot.

AIM FOR 10% IMPROVEMENT, THEN COMPOUND IT/SET AN ATTAINABLE, REPEATABLE, MINIMUM GOAL

Unless you’re Winston Churchill or rather choleric by nature, you will not change if the goal is daunting. Break it up into manageable pieces. I started with 1 DIY chore per week. I’m on 1 a day by choice. Money: I’ve decided to save 10% on EVERYTHING I spend money on. Simply because the cheaper option isn’t always only 10% cheaper, I’ve saved a lot more, and have also learned to say no to myself more. Instead of trying to start with 1 hour prayer per day, start with 10, and make it great. Throw your whole being into it. Do it for 2 weeks. You’ll want more. Go to the gym for a 15minute businessman’s workout 3 times per week. As you get fitter, you’ll want more. The habit tends to compound itself.

DON’T STOP MOVING

Action beats inaction. Even if it seems like you’re making no difference to your garden, don’t stop. The prayers will change you. In hindsight you’ll see that, wow, in 2 weeks I have changed. The surest way to hit nothing is to aim at it.

MEDITATE, THINK, TALK, PRAY, READ, STUDY

Fill your mind with thoughts on change and the things you wish to change to. Study just enough to see the sin, then study the virtue. It’s much more inspiring to study the goal than the flaw. If you’re ill-disciplined, like me, study out the lives of the disciplined, like Daniel, read Ecclesiastes, Proverbs 1-3, and the sermon on the mount. Draw pictures of it, and ask for it. The Holy Spirit wants to bear his fruit in you.

New Series at our Church

2010-08-12T07:29:00.001-07:00

Just a note on a new series starting at my church:

Interesting Atheism/God article

2010-08-07T01:47:00.001-07:00

Atheism: A Falsified Hypothesis

Atheism: A Falsified Hypothesis. An essay by Brian Colon, a member of the ARS board. www.KnowItsTrue.com 4/28/2010

Atheism: A Falsified Hypothesis by Brian Colón
Several Atheists like to complain that Theism, unlike Atheism is unfalsifiable. If this is true, then it means that Atheism can be proven false, Theism cannot. Many Atheists consider this to be a strong point for Atheism and a weak point for Theism. The problem is, since Atheism CAN be proven false, then IF it IS proven false, then Theism (its negation) would necessarily be proven true. When there are only two possible answers for a proposition, and one of them is proven false, then the other is necessarily true. Consider the question "Does God Exist?" There are only two possible answers, "yes" and "no". If the answer "no" was proven false, then the only alternative answer remaining is "yes". (MP3 Audio | RSS | iTunes)

The way I choose to show Atheism false is by showing the self contradictions contained within the Atheistic worldview. Logically speaking, if a proposition contains necessary consequences that are themselves self-contradictory, then the proposition cannot be true. For example, there are no living corpses, there are no unemployed employees, and there is no dehydrated water.
According to a few famous Atheists, here are a few necessary consequences of Atheism. There is no God; there is nothing but the physical world (Dan Barker – Protest sign at the Washington State Capital). Humans are nothing but machines that generate DNA (Richard Dawkins – The God Delusion). Morality is based on the consensus of human beings (Gordon Stein – “The Great Debate: Does God Exist?”). If this is true then it would be impossible to account for things such as moral absolutes, laws of logic, or human dignity; three things that we all understand to be indisputable.
Moral Absolutes
Every Atheist I've ever met believes that murder and rape is evil. But what is evil? I thought all that exists is matter. Is there anything evil about matter? Does the knife care that someone used it to kill someone? Of course not. Perhaps evil is just something that we experience as decreasing our happiness. Wouldn't that mean that since the rapist increases his happiness by raping people, then raping people would be considered good for him? Who's to say that the rapist's moral judgments are flawed and ours are not?
Once an atheist woman told me that she heard that her co-worker was cheating on his wife with another woman from the office. She told me that she was outraged at how immoral he was and how she lost all respect for him. I asked her “What was so wrong with what he did?” Why does the fact that he’s married make the act of sex with another woman immoral? She simply said “Its just wrong!” I agree, but I’d like to know why it’s ultimately wrong given the Atheistic worldview.
Laws of Logic
Consider the law of “excluded middle” which says that a proposition is either true or false, there is no third option. What is the ontological foundation of this law? Is this law just a result of the chemical functions in our brain? If so then how is it universal? Is the law material? Of course not! Laws of logic are immaterial abstract entities, the very things that cannot exist if the only thing that exists is matter.
Dan Barker, in a debate with Dr. James White, attempted to refute this argument by saying that “logic is not a thing.” Well if by thing he means a physical object then I would agree with him. The problem is that he already said that things are all that exist. So according to Dan Barker there is no logic.
Human Dignity
Why do people put on a lab coat and argue that people are simply evolved animals, and then say that we shouldn't treat people like animals? If all that exists is matter, then that would mean that we are nothing but matter as well. If that’s true then why do we believe that humans are worthy of respect? In a debate with Paul Manata, Dan Barker asserts that human beings are no more important than broccoli. I find it very interesting that the piece of broccoli known as Dan Barker thinks that other certain pieces of broccoli are worthy of love and respect, as if they were something more than just broccoli. Every single day we all treat each other with respect and dignity, and we all know that those who disrespect people ought not to do that. This is true for Theist and Atheist alike. Humans really are worthy of respect. This is inexplicable on the Atheistic Worldview.
Conclusion
The Atheist is able to recognize moral absolutes, laws of logic, and the dignity of human beings, three things that cannot exist given the worldview of the Atheist. So the question is, why is the Atheist contradicting his/her own worldview? The answer is obvious, because as we’ve seen, the proposition "God doesn't exist" entails impossible consequences.
There is however, another worldview that is capable of accounting for the very things that the Atheist cannot account for, namely Christian Theism. On Christian Theism moral absolutes make sense because God is provided as the absolute moral standard. Immaterial, timeless, transcendent entities such as the laws of logic make sense because they can be grounded in an immaterial, timeless, transcendent God. Human dignity makes sense because humans are created in the image of the only being worthy of honor and praise, God.
Atheism is inadequate and incapable of explaining our experience of the world around us. Atheism therefore cannot be true. This is why I conclude that the best proof for the existence of God is the impossibility of the contrary.

Go see Doug’s Website for resources

2010-08-07T01:30:00.001-07:00

Douglas Jacoby’s website is a great place to find some answers. I’ve had many interesting hours spend reading articles from this resource.

Herewith a video introduction to his site.

How God knows me

2010-07-19T09:18:00.001-07:00

A friend forwarded this to me today. Beautiful.

My Child,
You may not know Me, but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise.
Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are being numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27
In me, you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:27-28
For you are My offspring.
Acts 17:28
I know you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you, when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in My book.
Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth, and where you would live.
Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in you mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me.
John 8:14, 42, 44
I am not distant and angry, but I am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16
And it is My desire to lavish My love on you.
1 John 3:1
Simply because you are My child, and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect Father.
Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive, comes from My hand.
James 1:17
For I am your provider, and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts towards you are countless as the sand on the seashore.
Psalm 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you with all My heart, and all My soul.
Jeremiah 31:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek Me with your heart, you will find Me.
Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in Me, and I will give you the desires of you heart.
Psalm 37:4
For it is I, who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20-21
For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to My heart.
Isaiah 40:11
One day, I will wipe every tear from your eyes.
Revelations 21:3-4
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth.
Revelations 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you as even as I love My Son, Jesus.
John 17:23
For in Jesus, My love for you is revealed.
John 17:26
He is the exact representation of My being.
Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you.
Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died, so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression of My love for you.
1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32
If you received the gift of My Son Jesus, you received Me.
1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever seperate you from My love again.
Romans 8:38-39
Come home, and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is... will you be My child?
John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-24
Love,
Your Dad
Almighty God