tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-266156462024-03-07T23:16:06.103+02:00Rock in the Grass (Pete Grassow)biker, writer, runner, reader, reflector, objector,
believer, receiver.Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.comBlogger653125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-35585305689860925782019-08-03T15:11:00.003+02:002019-08-03T15:14:35.345+02:00I have a New Website<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a new website! I spent a lifetime expressing myself in words: through sermons, articles, books, teaching series, and daily thoughts. I have begun to collect some of this together in one place : take a look at this brand new website located under my name. www.<a href="mailto:petegrassow@co.za">petegrassow.co.za</a><u5:p class=""></u5:p><o:p></o:p></div>
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I am resuming writing on my blog, which has been moved over to the website.<u5:p class=""></u5:p><o:p></o:p></div>
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You can also sign up on the site to receive it via email. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIs7rTXsnGZFTrdqjwRrMKP05mi3BsetTOGBrqhiQAcYfwDQkl65TWSZeKjCGzmO3J5m-qLegyS3r6ciuUA-MfACuW4jhaLm3HDljUgtf1tkugj-qG3QmxWEzOlRJZPordLjyJg/s1600/10250144_10152124549999472_2671012281412097916_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIs7rTXsnGZFTrdqjwRrMKP05mi3BsetTOGBrqhiQAcYfwDQkl65TWSZeKjCGzmO3J5m-qLegyS3r6ciuUA-MfACuW4jhaLm3HDljUgtf1tkugj-qG3QmxWEzOlRJZPordLjyJg/s400/10250144_10152124549999472_2671012281412097916_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-24231085945155377382017-12-08T12:24:00.001+02:002017-12-08T12:28:37.833+02:00Advent<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><em><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #6a6a6a; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-style: normal;">We are in the season of Advent: </span></b></em><em><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #6a6a6a; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-style: normal;">this</span></em><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> is
derived from the Latin word meaning "coming" and is the season for celebrating
the coming of Jesus into our world. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Those who would insist that we “make
Christmas great again” have missed the point of Christmas – it was never about the
coming of greatness! Jesus did not come in majesty and power, but instead came as
a baby into a poor family who existed on the edges of society. </span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let us use this
Advent season to care for the poor, the neglected and those people who give
birth to their children in stables. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-66802775977023308292017-03-07T15:23:00.001+02:002017-03-07T15:23:35.098+02:00A Lenten Discipline<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We are in
the period of our Christian calendar known as Lent. This is a time of spiritual
preparation for Easter, and many Christians use some form of “fasting“as a
reminder of this 40 day journey. Some people choose to abstain from a beloved
addiction (such as chocolates or coffee or Facebook) as their spiritual
discipline. Others choose to begin something new as an aid to their journey,
such as a particular daily prayer, or a specific spiritual practice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI72SXHQNMnfu2-98xUGeK0hQ9ER9oTapqm53L3OQCfGWB4_CxEeH6YxgJ3iXczPa6U4S8T1lJS4zYnwTNNql9ebjPAiaRNRFfp-u0c33-Y1UvLfRV3vJSawX8xzjsEe_XGuLQ3g/s1600/Royal-Blue-Overalls7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI72SXHQNMnfu2-98xUGeK0hQ9ER9oTapqm53L3OQCfGWB4_CxEeH6YxgJ3iXczPa6U4S8T1lJS4zYnwTNNql9ebjPAiaRNRFfp-u0c33-Y1UvLfRV3vJSawX8xzjsEe_XGuLQ3g/s1600/Royal-Blue-Overalls7.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For many
years it has been my custom to mark Lent by choosing a spiritual practice. This
year I have been convicted that being called to be a Methodist Minister does
not mean more privilege than those who follow the call of Jesus in other ways.
We all serve in the Lord’s Vineyard at the pleasure of the Owner of the Vineyard.
(Matthew 20: 1-16). In order to keep this reminder alive, I am choosing to wear
overalls for the period of Lent. Clothing can often become ways of demonstrating
power and privilege – and so I will be taking off the clothing of privilege and
dressing in the clothes of a worker. This is my reminder that I am a labourer
in the vineyard of the Lord. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When you see
me wearing overalls during lent, please do not see this as disrespect for you.
Instead, please see this as part of my journey in being a faithful servant of
God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-45166845460604248882016-02-12T07:22:00.002+02:002016-02-12T07:22:23.461+02:00<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px;">Comment by Richard Poplak on the President's State of the Nation Address last night:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px;">"Jacob Zuma spoke at length about economy. He did not mention firing his finance minister. He spoke about the platinum sector. He could not bring himself to utter the word “Marikana.” He spoke about the “demon of racism”, even promising to inaugurate an anti-racism day. He said nothing about systemic, structural racism. He mentioned the maligned, rotting state owned enterprises. He claimed they were doing just beautifully." </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px;">(</span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px;">http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-02-12-trainspotter-sona-2016-behold-the-zombie-apocalypse/#.Vr1puVR97IW) </span></span>Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-55695678533924339492015-10-22T10:38:00.000+02:002015-10-22T10:38:22.620+02:00#Fees Must Fall<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">I
am part of a Methodist tertiary educational institution - and we are one of the
very few tertiary institutions open today. Everywhere across the country tertiary
education is on strike. I have a daughter studying at UCT,</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">and a niece studying at Wits University. I
also have friends who teach at Stellenbosch University, Pretoria University, University
of KwaZuluNatal and the University of South Africa. As I listen to them, the
one common theme is that tertiary education is frustratingly expensive. And
that people are unable to pay the increases for next year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">These
increases are for a number of reasons, including a weakening economy, a steady decrease
in Government funding, and the resultant difficulty of funding an educational
institution in our South Africa context. I should know, because we are
struggling with this issue here at our seminary. And our students - like
students elsewhere - are also feeling the pain of increased financial pressure.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At
the same time, allow me to offer one comment:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
find it sad that it takes study fees to mobilize people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
have had xenophobic attacks on foreigners in Durban – and no University
Students protested<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
have seen corruption and dishonesty amongst our politicians – and no university
protested<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Our
communities experienced women raped and children murdered – and nobody
protested.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But
the moment something touches our pockets, then we are on fire:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
is tragic that it takes self-interest to mobilize us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
the light of this I turn to Jesus for guidance: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Mark 3:31</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Then his mother and his
brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. <span style="color: teal;">32</span> A crowd was
sitting around him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers
and sisters are outside, asking for you." <span style="color: teal;">33</span> And he replied, "Who are my mother and
my brothers?" <span style="color: teal;">34</span> And looking at those who sat around him, he
said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! <span style="color: teal;">35</span> Whoever does the will of God is my brother
and sister and mother." <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus
is not saying that his mother and his brothers and sisters are not important.
What he is saying is that those who follow him ought to show the same
compassion that they have for their immediate family for others in their
community. Self interest is when we care
for our own family’s needs to the exclusion of others. God-interest is when we
are willing to make the whole community our family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So
let us protest the increase in fees – but only after we have protested the
plight of other poor people in our community! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-45681807131864652802015-09-18T17:04:00.000+02:002015-09-18T17:04:11.653+02:00Will you go where you are sent?<div class="MsoNormal">
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<i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sermon preached to the Seth
Mokitimi Methodist Seminary<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10.0pt;">16 September 2015<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">John 21:15 – 22 <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Truly, truly, I say to you, when you
were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when
you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and
carry you where you do not want to go."</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> (John 21:18) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Every
Methodist Minister is asked this one question: “Will you go where you are
sent?” This question is asked when a candidate offers for the ministry, this is
again posed as one of the conditions of ordination, and this is an implied
question every year when the Bishops meet in a stationing committee. The tradition
of being willing to go wherever the Methodist Conference sends you is drawn
from the ancient monastic vow of obedience – a vow rooted in the Biblical
conversation between Jesus and Peter at the lakeside in John 21.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNiVM1k89dDmp3F3IoB9yvAACAJjtrhkTgkh9EXRgtG-A8UV4CnaiazuXV38BGb0pe5MtE5KwI1_9vtVdNFgll-1fsDK2eV7KbUtdD4jXmJXPNWNGGWQ99m37Lf-r-r4lyLTDhKw/s1600/obedience.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNiVM1k89dDmp3F3IoB9yvAACAJjtrhkTgkh9EXRgtG-A8UV4CnaiazuXV38BGb0pe5MtE5KwI1_9vtVdNFgll-1fsDK2eV7KbUtdD4jXmJXPNWNGGWQ99m37Lf-r-r4lyLTDhKw/s320/obedience.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
story of John 21 takes place after the resurrection of Jesus, and therefore
after the appearance of Jesus at the tomb and later in the upper room. This is
no longer a conversation about the good news of resurrection, and about
reassuring frightened disciples. Instead this is a conversation about what
comes next……<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus
speaks to Peter:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Peter do you
love me?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yes Lord</span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Then feed my
sheep<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Here
is a threefold repletion: “</span><i style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">If you love
me, then feed my sheep</i><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here
is the commandment to become a servant of God. In essence, the commandment is
to show love through caring and service. And then to make his point, Jesus says
these words to Peter: “Will you go where you are sent?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Well
– not exactly those words, but close enough:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Joh 21:18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were
young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you
are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry
you where you do not want to go."<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To
paraphrase this – <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Peter:
when you were young you went wherever you decided was best: but as you mature
into a Christian leader, you will need to be willing to go wherever you are
needed – even if this means going where you do not want to go! Now - will you
go where you are sent?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
sounds really heroic to stand on the floor of a church Synod and commit oneself
to going where you are sent: but as time passes we all begin to think we know
best. We become important and powerful
in the church. We become Senior Ministers, and Superintendents, and Bishops. And
with this comes the temptation to become powerful:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
are consulted by business leaders and politicians<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
are invited to conduct state funerals and very important weddings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
exercise power over who can come to Holy Communion and who cannot<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
exercise power over who can be baptised and who cannot<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Most
frightening of all: we even think we have the power to decide who God loves,
and who God does not love!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
is at this point that the health of our souls demands that we surrender our
power ….. before we use this power to become destructive!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
best way to surrender our power is to remember that we are under the discipline
of those who have been placed in leadership over us: In fact nobody should have
spiritual authority unless they are under authority. The tool the church uses
to remind us that we are under authority is this question: “Will you go where
you are sent?” And more importantly – will you do the work that is asked of you
by your local leadership, or Superintendent / Bishop / Presiding Bishop?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Just
when I think I am a person of status and power, I meet a poor, struggling
outcast on the margins of society who asks me to kneel down and care for her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Will you go where you are
sent?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Just
when I think that I am an important and powerful preacher – the Superintendent
phones me and asks me to take a service in a very unimportant little community.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Will you go where you are
sent?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Just
when I think I am an important and powerful Superintendent – the Bishop phones
and asks me to go into another circuit and chair a very difficult meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Will you go where you are
sent?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Just
when I think that I am a very important Chaplain at a Seminary – the Presiding
Bishop phones me and tells me that he is moving me out of the seminary...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Will you go where you are
sent?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Apostle Peter’s reaction to this question reflects his human frailty: He looks
over his shoulder and sees John sitting next to Jesus and says “But Lord what
about him?” Is this not true of all of us? When we are asked to be obedient –
we look around to see if anyone else is being asked to make the same sacrifice.
And we might say something like “Lord this is unfair – what about him / what
about her? They are getting a better deal than me!!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Will you go where you are
sent?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
way we test whether we are willing to surrender our power to God’s plans is by
asking this one simple question:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Will you go where you are
sent?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-72704609378583309252015-08-15T12:12:00.001+02:002015-08-15T12:12:24.297+02:00Failure<div class="MsoTitle">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">“…the goose pimples of rejection run up and down your spine.” –
Alexander Solzhenitsyn <a href="file:///C:/Users/peterg/Dropbox/Failure.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">[1]</span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></a></span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">I have failed – and have
spent the last two months licking my wounds.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">I entered the 2015
Comrades Marathon, run on 31 May. This is an annual 90km road race between
Durban and Pietermaritzburg that has to be completed inside of 12 hours. I last
ran it ten years ago – my 12th run - and upon finishing it I said I would never
again run it. But this year was the 90<sup>th</sup>
edition of the race, and the whisper of the challenge saw me entering the race
again. I worked hard, running 1200km of training between January and May. I ran
two marathons, and three ultra-marathons and when race day came I felt that I
was ready to prove my mettle. I set off at sunrise along with approximately 17000
other runners as we wound our way from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. And this uphill
run became a mental ‘uphill’ for me – because I had a bad day and every step
became an effort. I found myself running with the 12 hour ‘bus’ of Vlam
Pieterse, which carried me to the halfway mark. However, when they pulled away
from me on the Inchanga hill I knew that it was all over. I dejectedly walked
all the way up this painful hill, found some momentum on Harrison Flats, but was
pulled off the road at the Umlaas Road cutoff – 57km completed but 30km short
of the finish. I felt relieved and deeply disappointed. I had struggled all the
way and was glad to stop, but had never before had I failed to finish this race
– in fact <i>any</i> race. I had worked so
hard at preparing for this race, and I felt the crushing weight of failure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">This has given me an
opportunity to reflect on how I feel about failure.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">Let me begin by
saying it as it is: <i>I do not like
failing!</i> Since I was a child I have been acutely aware of the feelings
associated with failure: shame, embarrassment, humiliation and inferiority –
what Solzhenitsyn has so evocatively described as that moment when </span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">“…the
goose pimples of rejection run up and down your spine.” </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;"> The
reason I know this so intimately is because these feelings have often visited
me: I was a reserved child who hung back and hoped that someone else would be
asked to speak/play/run/shine, just in case I failed to do it well. To make
matters worse, I did not attend schools big enough to have many winning teams. I
played rugby for the teams that got beaten by other schools, and got thrashed
by the tennis teams of the bigger schools. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">I have found two
conflicting reactions to attempting anything that has a prospect of failure:
the one choice is to avoid doing anything that might cause me to fail. However,
in contrast, maturity has produced a stubborn streak in me that whispered “try
it” when a challenge was presented. It is not that I lost my aversion to failure,
but rather the greater debilitation of the knowledge that I did not try, has
motivated me to face my fears. So when I did my compulsory military service I volunteered
to do the Physical Training Instructor’s course, precisely because it was tough
and I feared it. When my friend Alan began postgraduate studies I again heard
the aggravating whisper of the difficult endeavour and enrolled for further
study. And when a friend mentioned that he was running the Comrades Marathon, I
knew that I would have to do it – in order to pacify that internal challenge. To
my amazement I discovered that I could rise to these challenges. Truth be told,
I have generally succeeded beyond what I deserved or believed myself capable of.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">This is not to say
that I have never failed. I failed my Biblical Hebrew exams – twice! Which
means that I graduated from seminary two years after my class. I have lost many
league tennis matches, and come at the back of many road running events. A big
one was when I applied for a position that I really, really wanted – and was
turned down. I have learned that the fear of failure does not go away. It sits
out there as a beacon that mocks me, entices me, and sometimes seduces me. Which
brings me to my most recent failure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">It has taken me some
time to recover. My running shoes mostly collect dust in the corner. I have
been back on the road – but now have niggling injuries. It is therefore easier
to stay in bed in the morning. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%;">I have just seen that the theme
for the 2016 Comrades Marathon is<i> </i></span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #545454; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">IZOKUTHOBA - IT WILL HUMBLE YOU.</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #545454; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Ironically I was
humbled this year! So do I put my hand up to be humbled again next year? Right
now I do not have an answer for this question. <span style="background: white;">It is in this space that I hear the echo of Winston Churchill’s
observation that </span></span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #545454; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">"Success is not
final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;"> </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">This reminder of the impermanence of both success
and failure challenges me to embrace my journey through life as an adventure,
rather than a competition. It is this that is drawing me out of my self-imposed
hibernation. It is this that now enables me to think of trying new things. So
here is my resolve:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJ_ztEPOHs6JtaptYPOmLm-tMe3bfJpBM-yxkvJX08_8iDrC2kvhrJjaMevhHQlJ1vtbfa80lQqcxLAGcai24ReEW0_g-5uqv2Au-p6Hl9F57Me5zgr4c9NQr9M4F0d9KWJDyug/s1600/Failure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJ_ztEPOHs6JtaptYPOmLm-tMe3bfJpBM-yxkvJX08_8iDrC2kvhrJjaMevhHQlJ1vtbfa80lQqcxLAGcai24ReEW0_g-5uqv2Au-p6Hl9F57Me5zgr4c9NQr9M4F0d9KWJDyug/s320/Failure.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">I will
continue to choose to live a curious life, something that might lead me to attempt
difficult things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">I
will continue to risk the possibility of failure by trying things that frighten
me or stretch me beyond my current experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">I
will continue to embrace the opportunity to learn new things – even if it mean falling
flat on my face and learning how to get back onto my feet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;">Throughout my struggle with the vicissitudes of
success and failure I have treasured the encouragement of Alexander
Solzhenitsyn. He is a man whose writings and life embodies the courage to rise
above the rejections of life: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%;">"Live with a steady superiority
over life ...<br />
don't be afraid of misfortune, and do not yearn after happiness: it is, after
all, the same: the bitter doesn't last forever, and the sweet never fills the
cup to overflowing.<br />
It is enough if you don't freeze in the cold and if thirst and hunger don't
claw at your insides. If your back isn't broken, if your feet can walk, if both
arms can bend, if both eyes can see, if both ears hear, then whom should
you envy? And why?<br />
Our envy of others devours us most of all. Rub your eyes and purify your heart
- and prize above all else in the world those who love you and who wish you
well. Do not hurt them or scold them, and never part from any of them in anger;
after all, you simply do not know: it might be your last act ... "<br />
</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 125%;"><br />
- Alexander Solzhenitsyn: “From Island to Island” <i>The Gulag Archipelago</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 125%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/peterg/Dropbox/Failure.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Meiryo; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> Alexander Solzhenitsyn: “From Island to Island” <i>The Gulag Archipelago</i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-36372210004365701712015-07-14T23:06:00.000+02:002015-07-14T23:06:20.599+02:00The Black Methodist Consultation – from a white perspective.<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAt4unqw4j-kFpVrqlYMYz9Coz4H-yUuuoxSQDBpMIutfgZQzjxWVCSSyp4dA9IzcSXY7wuegncokBY91gz7cffrIESq3P67-7CSsyYgF35qKI_vw5w4S5JXhVk7pJrcICoOEIg/s1600/BMC.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAt4unqw4j-kFpVrqlYMYz9Coz4H-yUuuoxSQDBpMIutfgZQzjxWVCSSyp4dA9IzcSXY7wuegncokBY91gz7cffrIESq3P67-7CSsyYgF35qKI_vw5w4S5JXhVk7pJrcICoOEIg/s1600/BMC.png" /></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I am part of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. There is
a black caucus within my church called The Black Methodist Consultation, which has
just met in Johannesburg. These are some of my random thoughts about an
organization that has nothing to do with me, but at the same time has
everything to do with my church. Its 2015 programme notes that the “<i>BMC exists for the Transformation of the
MCSA into a truly African Church (in character, doctrine, ethos, identity and
practice) by challenging and equipping Black Methodists to contribute
meaningfully, actively and intelligently in the MCSA given the context of
Africans</i>”.<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/BMC.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The BMC was founded in September 1975 in response to a Methodist
Church that “<i>was a mirror image of the
apartheid society in which it laboured</i>”.<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/BMC.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Despite a black majority of members, the MCSA was dominated by a white clergy,
white administrators and white financial muscle. In the words of the BMC: “<i>The BMC then had to deal with issues that
negatively affected the majority of the people called Methodists</i>”.<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/BMC.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
This year it celebrates 40 years of a history that has succeeded in ensuring
that the MCSA now has a majority black leadership: the MCSA has a black Presiding
Bishop, black General Treasurer, black Lay Leader, and a majority of black Bishops,
Superintendent Ministers and Circuit/Society Stewards. It must be acknowledged
that the BMC has succeeded spectacularly in transforming the MCSA from a white
led church to a black led church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I do not for one minute think that this is the end of the
road. There is still much work to be done in transforming our theological reflection
and practice to represent an African context. The MCSA is captive in many parts
to a western, materialist theology that is driven by wealth and glamour: we
honour those ministers who are good fundraisers; we choose to hold our
conferences and conventions in places of glitz and glamour; and we want to see
our leaders dressed in the garments of the powerful. We also betray our own African
roots by so easily singing songs written in other parts of the world, while
ignoring our African rhythms and idiom. We still need to engage the split spiritual
personality of our members who are Methodist by day, and African Initiated Church
by night. This includes the way we use traditional cultural practices at home, but
hide them from our Methodist community as if being African was not acceptable
in the Methodist Church. This practice also
leads us to adopt anything from our culture into our spiritual practice without
thorough theological interrogation – precisely because we do not allow the MCSA
into this part of our lives. So I look to the BMC to help us to reflect on how
we become a “truly African Church”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That said – I am wondering if the BMC has been too successful
in the work it has already done. What I am seeing emerge is not a black-led
church. I am seeing a black Methodist Church. White members of the MCSA are a
dying breed – literally! We are getting older and greyer, with our younger
white membership dwindling to insignificance. Some of this attrition is a
reflection of the general ageing of Christian Churches in our country: in
general we as the MCSA are becoming older. But in addition to this, younger
white members are leaving – some to other churches, and some to no church at
all. Simply put: white people do not feel like they belong. They feel excluded
from the MCSA, because the ethos of the MCSA has become black. It does so by
using uniforms, rigid collective organisation, black caucuses, and
organisational conventions. This is essential to black spirituality, but means
nothing to white identity. So I am experiencing ‘white flight’ from my church: some
white colleagues have joined other churches, and some are leaving for other
countries. Those who stay have disinvested from Synods and Conference: they
choose not to engage in debate, but instead grumble together on their own google
websites. White members have withdrawn into white local church, and leave the
national church to the black majority. So we struggle to get any white members
to leave their local church meetings and go to Synod or Conference. And we have
no white candidates for the ministry. In fact we have had no white candidates
for the past three years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now this is perfectly acceptable if we have decided that the
MCSA is to be a black church. In some ways it feels like we have done so. The
Presiding Bishop and the General Secretary of the MCSA have just visited the
BMC as if it is an official gathering of the MCSA. This is the non-statutory caucus
that makes decisions for our church. What puzzles me is why the black voices –
who dominate the church – need the BMC to help them to be heard in the church.
The annual Conference of the MCSA is a black majority voice! It is not necessary
to mobilise against white oppression, because the whites are leaving. I predict
that within 20 years the existing loyal white members will have died, and the
next generation will have moved elsewhere because they find no space in the
MCSA. In my experience black Methodists do not care whether we lose all our
white members or not. And why should they? For 140 years black members were oppressed
by white members before we had our first black President of Conference. I have
sympathy for the fact that the black agenda right now is about occupying
positions of power and influence in the MCSA. I am tempted to adapt Steve Biko’s
famous phrase and hear the new slogan: “White man you are on your own”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So should I dream of finding ways to help white people find a
home in this church? Should I form a White Methodist Consultation to help us
find identity? Because our culture and race really do affect the way we think
and behave, and those who make the claim “I am not racist” are often the most
racist of all! It is only in acknowledging my race/culture/history that I can
authentically engage people who are not like me. But a caucus of ‘white
Methodists’ fills me with horror, because I cannot bear those insensitive,
self-righteous white members of my church who demand that the MCSA must run
according to ‘their’ norms. I cannot stomach the white members who use their
wealth to patronise poor black churches; and I hate the way my white colleagues
make absolutely no effort to understand their black colleagues – or to support
them in their work. I want no truck with those white members who whine about ‘the
good old days’ and complain about their loss of privilege. I abhor those white
people who sneer at the way black people practice their faith, and who keep
telling our black leadership how to do things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What I am reaching for is how to define my church. I embrace
the fact that I live in a black majority country in a black majority church. However,
when I encourage young white people to enter the ministry of the MCSA, do I
tell the prospective candidates that they must learn how to ‘do church’ like a
black person – or find another denomination. I cannot help thinking of the way St Paul
dreamed of a church where in Christ there is no Jew or Gentile, slave nor free…….
And dare I say it: neither black nor white? I am reminded of the John 17 prayer of Jesus that
his disciples should be one. Should we as the MCSA not be an example to our
country of a “one and undivided” people? Surely one contribution we can make to
bring healing to our land is for us to model a community who respects, cares
about and loves one another – irrespective of race and culture?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/BMC.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
The 2015 programme – to be found at http://methodistbmc.yolasite.com/resources/BMC2015_resources/BMC%202015%20Information%20Brochure%20-%20PRODUCT%20-%20SERVICE%20-%20FINAL.pdf<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/BMC.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Cited from the 2015 programme<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/BMC.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
From the 2015 programme.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-88653566729605632372015-05-16T13:47:00.002+02:002015-05-16T13:47:26.933+02:00A Time for Everything<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">The Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary had our Graduation today.<b> </b>This is the devotion I used: </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">Ecclesiastes 3:1</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"> For everything
there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -18pt;">2</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -18pt;">a time to
be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is
planted; </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -18pt;">3</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -18pt;">a time to
kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -18pt;">4</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -18pt;">a time to
weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -18pt;">5</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -18pt;">a time to
throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and
a time to refrain from embracing; </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -18pt;">6</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -18pt;">a time to
seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -18pt;">7</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -18pt;">a time to
tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -18pt;">8</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -18pt;">a time to
love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">Moreover: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">there is a time to come to seminary and a
time to leave seminary<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">a time to learn and a time to put learning
into practice <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">a time to make much noise in chapel and a
time to be silent<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">a time to work in the garden and a time to
watch the plants grow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">a time to ride in the seminary vehicle and a
time to walk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">a time to eat seminary food and a time to eat
KFC<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">and</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"> there is a time to study and a time to
graduate; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">Ecc 3:14 I know
that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor
anything taken from it; God has done this, so that all should stand in awe
before him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-79706022162596550572015-04-05T22:54:00.000+02:002015-04-05T22:54:41.154+02:00Holy Week 2015<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This past week I have shared in the life of the Goodwood
Methodist Church. I was invited to teach at their Holy Week services, and found
myself deeply enriched.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is a working class community of people of various
generations, life experiences, and cultures. These people are the ‘salt of the
earth’: generous, hospitable and spontaneously spiritual. I count myself
privileged to have been allowed to share in this life of this community. I made
new friends, renewed old friendships, and was refreshed by the wonder of God at
work in the lives of people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLhOFTuWJCM4QSCJzchM_Aor_6YdJYSBIYnbV_OQLW9fuL2XefihNKLCAnvsJhu__IYnqkAg1MeUmligGbWoTy8YQ0mW27W7K1yghLZ0H3ZJYb786MR4p61QFRmmPJGHUOPS6TA/s1600/cape+Korean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLhOFTuWJCM4QSCJzchM_Aor_6YdJYSBIYnbV_OQLW9fuL2XefihNKLCAnvsJhu__IYnqkAg1MeUmligGbWoTy8YQ0mW27W7K1yghLZ0H3ZJYb786MR4p61QFRmmPJGHUOPS6TA/s1600/cape+Korean.jpg" height="76" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What
makes this congregation especially interesting is that the </span><a href="http://www.capekoreanchurch.org/wizhome/menu_1.html" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cape Town Korean
Church</a><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> joined us for the week.</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> This raised the unique
challenge of being inter-culturally sensitive in a way that allowed for unity
while not imposing uniformity. The Holy Week Services included the Korean
Church choir leading us in an anthem, Pastor Lee leading prayers in Korean, and
the reading of the Bible in Korean while English words were displayed on the
screen. This morning’s service was enriched by the Korean choir leading an Easter
Cantata which, while sung in Korean, was a moving testimony to our shared faith
in Jesus Christ. What I found particularly poignant was the way the Goodwood Methodist
people rose to their feet in enthusiastic applause when the choir offered their
concluding bow of greeting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Easter is a moment when
our common faith in Jesus enables us to simply be human together. And I am
grateful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-9710008716591881492014-12-21T21:08:00.000+02:002014-12-21T21:08:42.268+02:00When God Breaks in ... each one is remembered!<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Advent Four </span></i><i><span style="color: teal; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">21/12/2014</span></i></div>
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<i style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Sermon preached at</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Prestbury Methodist Church 9am and Wesley Methodist
Church 6pm<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Isaiah 49: 8-16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Luke 1:26-38 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Isaiah 49:15 I
will not forget you. 16 See, I have
inscribed you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Luke 1:30 The
angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with
God.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Introduction:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUShpx0OlhRFYxGCqIHv00orT4PXGBYz5l2mWqVJyvsaWYldrOVSRMHUAuk0qHaGhnLrt-A7c-JyB6rPZRtUnNjcf4ymRVvXLrhKP6Y0Ff0PAiYAwTlfzThqLuq1-_63vymRcuA/s1600/advent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUShpx0OlhRFYxGCqIHv00orT4PXGBYz5l2mWqVJyvsaWYldrOVSRMHUAuk0qHaGhnLrt-A7c-JyB6rPZRtUnNjcf4ymRVvXLrhKP6Y0Ff0PAiYAwTlfzThqLuq1-_63vymRcuA/s1600/advent.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Q:
If you want to remember to do something – and you really, really do not want to
forget it: what do you do? Who writes on your hands?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.........
Today I want to speak about God writing on his hands!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
have two stories – one from Isaiah and the other from Luke – both of which tell
us of a God who does not forget his people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The first story</span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> takes place in 580BC. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Nebuchadnezzar II colonised the children of Israel.
Their leaders were taken off to Babylon, while the peasants stayed behind to
produce crops for their new rulers. Apart from building his empire, Nebuchadnezzar
began building the </span><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Etemenanki ziggurat.
This was a seven story, 91 meter high monument of gold, silver and precious
stones. He was determined to be remembered by this building – and so he put his
name on the doorway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">n time the Jewish leaders in exile were offered leadership posts in the Babylonian
government, and they began to live more comfortably – so much so that when they
were offered an opportunity to return home, many chose to stay in Babylon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">All this time the poor worked the land to make
Babylon wealthy – and prayed for God to rescue them from their corrupt rulers.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">The Prophet Isaiah responds by assuring the
children of Israel that God had not forgotten them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Isa
49:14</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> But Zion
said, "The LORD has forsaken me, my Lord has forgotten me." <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><i>Isa
49:15</i></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><i> Can a
woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her
womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">When God breaks in – each person is remembered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<b style="line-height: 16.8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Fast forward five hundred years</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; line-height: 16.8pt;"> and we find the children of Israel have new
rulers. But not much else has changed: this time it is the Romans who rule
them, and the Roman soldiers who collect the taxes from the poor. Something
else that had not changed were the politicians – the leaders of the people
co-operated with the Roman rulers: the Chief Priest was appointed by the
Governor; and King Herod was appointed by the Emperor</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One
other thing that had not changed was the desire of the King to build a monument:
King Herod embarked on an ambitious project to rebuild the temple. </span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Herod
employed 1000 priests as masons and carpenters in the rebuilding, and the new
Temple was finished in a year and a half. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">But the poor continued to struggle : </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Herod taxed them for his
building projects, and the Romans took their fish and wheat to feed the army
and the people of Rome<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Again
we discover the intervention of God. Luke tells us that an Angel of God
announced that God was breaking into history:
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Luk 1:30</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> The angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here
is the thing – who was Mary?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Not
who do we now know her to be, but who was she in her time? The reality is that
she was a 16 year old girl from a forgotten village in a forgotten province.
But she was not forgotten by God – in fact God even knew her name!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
God breaks in – each person is remembered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So
how does this touch our lives today?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Well
– it seems that some of this story is very familiar:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">These
are stories of kings who embark on building projects to show their importance <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">–
Nebuchadnezzar built a Ziggurat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Herod
built a temple<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Anyone familiar with a story of our
chief ruler building a monument to himself?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">These
are stories of politicians who become comfortable – <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Jewish leaders who are carried off into exile begin to enjoy their status<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Leaders of Israel in the time of Jesus look more and more like the Romans<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
seems to me that political leaders do not change much through history – and we
still see people who use their positions to look after themselves and their
friends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
see the corruption, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> and the crime, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> and the poverty,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> and nations going to war, and Ebola, and Aids
and it is easy to become despondent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But
the story of Isaiah and of Luke reminds us that God does not forget us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hear
the Good news: Christmas is coming – God will break into our history once
again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let
me return to the words of Isaiah: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<i><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Isa
49:15</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Can a
woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her
womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Isa 49:16</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> See, I have inscribed you on
the palms of my hands</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">This takes me back to the image I introduced at the
beginning – “writing on our hands”. Isaiah says that our names are written on
the palms of God’s hands! Can you see your name written there: every time God
looks at his hands he sees your name. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">He can never forget you because he knows you by
name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
is the Good News of our faith: but I will fail the Gospel if I stop here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
am asking us to remember that when God looks at his hands, yours is not the
only name there: there are other names too! Sometimes we reduce our faith to “Jesus and
me” and forget that we are called to live in community. This is not only the community
of the church, but also the human community. Our challenge is to remember other
people in the same way that we are remembered by God. John 3:16 tells us that “God
so loves <i>the world</i>...” This includes everyone.
We cannot pick and choose whose names are engraved on God’s hands: everyone’s names
are there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Christmas
celebrates a God who breaks into our history and remembers us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Perhaps
we can demonstrate this by sharing God’s love with others. Let us give gifts as
a sign of the love of God: but here is my challenge: to give a gift to someone
who will not give one in return! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">God
bless us all – and may we be God’s breakthrough into the lives of other people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-68424152249388098072014-12-16T23:32:00.001+02:002014-12-16T23:32:12.049+02:00A Day of Reconciliation<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Today
is a national holiday in South Africa. This public holiday is rooted in two
different (and separated) sections of our community:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For
white Afrikaners December 16 was the day set aside to celebrate an 1838 victory
in battle against the Zulu leader </span><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dingane_kaSenzangakhona">Dingane
kaSenzangakhona Zulu</a></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.
Afrikaner leaders were convinced that God had given this victory in exchange
for a<i>Voortrekker </i>vow to keep this day
sacred as a holy day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
day marked the 1961 founding of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umkhonto_we_Sizwe" title="Umkhonto we Sizwe"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Umkhonto we
Sizwe</span></a></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">(Spear of the Nation), the armed wing of the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_National_Congress" title="African National Congress"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">African National Congress</span></a>. As white
South Africans celebrated an ancient victory over black people, this became a
day that many black South Africans renewed their commitment to overthrow white
minority rule. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHztSylE-6-BkNuxfxyva-fgoMJLsMZqnzUJtTtuGO8MX3_6IVxLfT5LanhOrJVqPJRUa4ubQFayLHLRhh3r1-KPDA9xFCl0ul8ds5ESXEE-dze9bVCdHyQJmfuQRAj7bG5FrNA/s1600/reconciliation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHztSylE-6-BkNuxfxyva-fgoMJLsMZqnzUJtTtuGO8MX3_6IVxLfT5LanhOrJVqPJRUa4ubQFayLHLRhh3r1-KPDA9xFCl0ul8ds5ESXEE-dze9bVCdHyQJmfuQRAj7bG5FrNA/s1600/reconciliation.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
becomes a difficult day for the new South Africa: two such different meanings
make this an emotionally divisive day. Those who proposed the new list of
national holidays chose this as “The Day of Reconciliation” – but we continue
to be a nation divided by race, privilege and history. A New Constitution, or a
majority governing party, or tough minded determination cannot force people to
be reconciled to one another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
am convinced that the Christmas story offer us the only real hope of
reconciliation. Christmas begins as a story of betrayal and shame... and ends
with reconciliation. Joseph, a righteous young man is betrayed by Mary his fiancé. She is
pregnant and he knows it isn‘t his child. He is shamed as a man and as a
faithful Jew. Yet he sets aside his personal beliefs and chooses the tougher
route – the route of reconciliation. This is not romantic, and is extremely deliberate.
And this is only possible because God is in it: as Matthew 1:23 points out – “</span><i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Emmanuel," which means,
"God is with us."</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
then becomes the hope for my South African nation – and for every nation in
need of reconciliation; this is the hope of divided families, and of individuals
who are divided one against another: <i>Emmanuel</i>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
God is with us we are enabled to embrace the gritty task of reconciliation. The challenge of Christmas is for us to be
reconciled to one another. Reconciliation is the real meaning of this Advent season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-88417852075298498452014-12-16T00:05:00.001+02:002014-12-16T00:05:10.350+02:00Advent Three<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHfYhxHiEdwjrmlvM7h_cKXhNdoWoVEUFaMAeEIboc8p4V0GLG7ESsTrmsj7HfQjgJIejEJBKAWsfA5ZeDjfXXahgxuh-RU5-Hj8rzWQYknYWhNLfsR-lx_V3OGOhGS4NIrnyiw/s1600/IMG_102329358946729-710351.jpeg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHfYhxHiEdwjrmlvM7h_cKXhNdoWoVEUFaMAeEIboc8p4V0GLG7ESsTrmsj7HfQjgJIejEJBKAWsfA5ZeDjfXXahgxuh-RU5-Hj8rzWQYknYWhNLfsR-lx_V3OGOhGS4NIrnyiw/s320/IMG_102329358946729-710351.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6093188974092505522" /></a></p><div><div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">With warm regards</span></div><div style="font-size:10px"><br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; font-style: italic;">Pete</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;">Rev Dr Peter Grassow</span></div><div style="font-size:10px"><br></div><div style="font-size:10px">Sent from Samsung Mobile</div></div></div>Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-40656798501324547402014-11-30T21:26:00.000+02:002014-11-30T21:27:17.459+02:00Advent One<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBPo_J6ADjh1tLkQCo70PobyoWwjobhszBaUbrz51IKaAMHIZCF144SfW0-7VtNIRfUQ4nGLaB-QDbfVe0JTin84rn9PraX_3di3G2w2jm2uDa9-Pg0W850HX5X4gL2cdHje0XQ/s1600/IMG_86536268525175-737460.jpeg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBPo_J6ADjh1tLkQCo70PobyoWwjobhszBaUbrz51IKaAMHIZCF144SfW0-7VtNIRfUQ4nGLaB-QDbfVe0JTin84rn9PraX_3di3G2w2jm2uDa9-Pg0W850HX5X4gL2cdHje0XQ/s320/IMG_86536268525175-737460.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6087582010645688274" /></a></p><div><div></div><div><br></div><div>May today be a sign of hope as we begin a new Christian year. </div><div><br></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">With warm regards</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; font-style: italic;">Pete</span></div><div style="font-size:10px"><br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;">Rev Dr P Grassow</span></div><div style="font-size:10px"><br></div><div style="font-size:10px">Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary</div><div style="font-size:10px"> from Samsung Mobile</div></div></div>Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-4643069452304921362014-11-23T20:50:00.000+02:002014-11-23T20:50:58.117+02:00Judging between sheep and goats<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.textweek.com/prophets/ezek34.htm"><span style="color: #666699;">Ezekiel
34:11-24</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.textweek.com/mtlk/matt25c.htm"><span style="color: #666699;">Matthew
25:31-46</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Introduction</span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Today is the last Sunday in the Christian year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Next Sunday is Advent Sunday – which is the day we begin our
journey towards Christmas. It is a new year, with the anticipation of the birth
of a Saviour. Generations of Christians have used today as a moment to look
back on the year – and to be reminded about our faith in God. It is at this
moment that our church fathers ask us to turn to a story of a shepherd and a
flock of sheep and goats. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is one story – told by two people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It was first told by Ezekiel – who was a prophet to the children
if Israel 600 years before Jesus. Ezekiel tells of sheep who jostle for food - </span><i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Ezekiel 34:18</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Is it not enough for you to feed on the good
pasture, but you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture? When
you drink of clear water, must you foul the rest with your feet? <span style="color: teal;">19</span> And must my
sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have fouled
with your feet? <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ezekiel stands at the junction between the old and the new:
He speaks to the chaos that was left after the Babylonians had invaded Judah
and carried off their leaders. These leaders were fighting over the available
resources – and the stronger pushed the weaker aside. Ezekiel castigates the
leaders for being too busy enriching themselves to pay attention to the people.
These are shepherds who failed their flocks. But God is not blind to this......
God will no longer rely on these shepherds. They have behaved like greedy sheep
and so God will step in as the New Shepherd of this traumatised flock.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Ezekie 34:20</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Therefore, thus says the Lord
GOD to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. <span style="color: teal;">21</span> Because you
pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your
horns until you scattered them far and wide, <span style="color: teal;">22</span> I will save my flock, and they shall no
longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">God sees the fat sheep who push the weaker ones aside.... and
so the shepherd chases off the bullies so that the others can feed as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">600 years later Jesus goes back to this story.......<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Just like Ezekiel - Jesus lives in a world where the leaders
of Israel enrich themselves at the expense of the people: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">King Herod collaborates with the Roman Emperor in order to
keep his position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The merchants of Jerusalem collaborate with the Romans to set
up a lucrative trade in fish and wheat, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Joseph Caiaphas, in exchange for his appointment as High
Priest by Governer Valerius Gratus,
persuades the people that it is the will of God to obey Rome <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And so Jesus reminds the people of his time of the story told
by Ezekiel: He says that God is again judging the leaders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Matthew 25:32</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> All the nations will be
gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd
separates the sheep from the goats, <span style="color: teal;">33</span> and he will put the sheep at his right hand
and the goats at the left. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And how does God decide who sits at the right and who sits at
the left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Mat 25:41</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Then he will say to those at
his left hand, 'You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire
prepared for the devil and his angels;<span style="color: teal;">42</span> for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I
was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,<span style="color: teal;">43</span> I was a stranger and you did not welcome me,
naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not
visit me.'<span style="color: teal;">44</span>
Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or
thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of
you?' <span style="color: teal;">45</span>
Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it
to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus speaks to Herod, and the greedy merchants, and the
religious leaders. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He says that when they enrich themselves, and ignore the
poor, the strangers and the sinners in prison – they will not be blessed by God
but instead will be judged by God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So the words of the Bible echo though history: both Ezekiel
and Jesus tell us that when some sheep become rich, and fat, and comfortable
because they pushed others into the darkness – the Shepherd of the Sheep will
intervene.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I wonder what God is saying to us today?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At the ending of 2014 – what would God say to South Africa?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Are there people who are rich and comfortable at the expense
of the poor, and the sick and the strangers? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I suspect that Jesus would say to Herod – “Pay back the
money”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I suspect that Jesus would say to the leaders – instead of
hanging out in the Parliament shouting insults at each other – fix our
electricity, and pave our roads and care for the poor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus might say to the religious leaders – stop asking for money
on your television shows, and walk the streets alongside the people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I wonder what he might say to you and me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As I read the Bible I hear God asking if we are like the fat
sheep who push the weak aside:In this past year – did we have compassion for
the weak, and the widows and the strangers. Were we willing to be generous, and
compassionate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And if I am honest – really search deep inside myself – I
must acknowledge my own selfishness. Most often I make sure that I am OK first.
While it is tough to admit it (because I
know that Jesus expects me to love my neighbour as myself) but it seems that I
am hardwired to love myself before I love my neighbour. It is here that take us
back to the story of the Shepherd and the sheep. ...... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Eze 34:15</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> I myself will be the shepherd of
my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD. <span style="color: teal;">16</span> I will seek
the lost, and I will bring back the strayed....<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is the Good News: We have a Shepherd who can save us
from ourselves. God is the shepherd who will rescue the sheep that stray – and
who will help us be the kind of people he wants us to be. We do not struggle
alone!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is the good news of Christmas – a shepherd will be born
who will show us a new way to live. Next Sunday offers an opportunity to begin a
spiritual journey towards Christmas. Let us begin Advent with new anticipation.....
This is not just about food and presents, but is rather about the chance to make
a new beginning!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let us pray for a renewed heart: for ourselves....... and for
our families............and for our country.............and for our world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-67231662773477189862014-09-07T19:53:00.002+02:002014-09-07T19:53:49.072+02:00The Greatest in the Kingdom<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Matthew 18:15-20</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWJBrMMeb4_no5rgKqA3q59heGoM5U3bzgDojW0whyphenhyphenw-0ObzaOhBKyba0qoZIgHMIrspDrXhZz7m-j_q6wCV1IyFeFz-IUE_XkfcoR7Lyw-Jvj_jHyKKcl70DxMfPFmeQTCJTbQ/s1600/Picture1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWJBrMMeb4_no5rgKqA3q59heGoM5U3bzgDojW0whyphenhyphenw-0ObzaOhBKyba0qoZIgHMIrspDrXhZz7m-j_q6wCV1IyFeFz-IUE_XkfcoR7Lyw-Jvj_jHyKKcl70DxMfPFmeQTCJTbQ/s1600/Picture1.png" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Gospel of Matthew is written at a time
when there was deep conflict in the Christian Church:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
was all about culture:</span> <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Some
from a Jewish background were insisting that all new followers of Jesus must
follow Jesus the Jewish way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Others,
who were not Jewish, wanted to contextualize the teachings of Jesus into their
own Greek, or Roman cultures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And
this conflict was painful – two centres of faith were emerging: one in
Jerusalem and the other in Rome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Matthew’s
Gospel is an attempt to find answers: we are taken to a moment when the
disciples of Jesus were faced with internal division: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<b><i><span style="color: maroon; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Mat 18:1</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> At that time the disciples
came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of
heaven?" <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Why
did the disciples ask this question?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Clearly
they had been arguing about their status!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Look
at the way Matthew sets up this story...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<u><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Matt
16</span></u><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">: Jesus
tells Peter that he is key to the mission of Jesus: you are <i>Petros </i>– and on this rock I will build
my church. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Think
how this would have made the rest of the disciples feel?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">One
is singled out for special recognition.......<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<u><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Matt
17</span></u><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">: Jesus
takes three disciples up the mountain to pray:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Who
were they? Peter, James and John. As they go up the mountain I see the other
disciples looking at each other and feeling left out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">How
do think the others felt.... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">So
Jesus makes his selection and leaves the rest behind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">To
make matters worse – the disciples who had remained behind tried to cure a man
of epilepsy and they failed. And we read that Jesus rebukes them for their lack
of faith. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
disciples now come to Jesus to settle their argument “<i>Who is
the greatest amongst us?</i>” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jesus
recognises this and so instead of answering their question he addresses their
conflict.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">When
you are in disagreement .... here is how you solve it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Mat 18:15</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> "If another member of the
church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are
alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Mat 18:16</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> But if you are not listened
to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed
by the evidence of two or three witnesses. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Mat 18:17</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> If the member refuses to
listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen
even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Meet
with the person....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Which means
that we do not meet with everyone else but the person concerned and discuss the
character of that person!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Take
others to help solve the dispute<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Bring
in the church leadership<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Both of
which involves the person concerned and does not meet behind that person’s back</span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Treat
the person as a Gentile and a tax collector: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Which begs
the question – “what does this mean?”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Note that this is not rejection or banishment
..... remember that Jesus had special compassion for Gentiles and Tax
Collectors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">He
visited them and prayed with them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Remember Zacchaeus? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And the Roman official’s
daughter?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And the Canaanite woman?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Here
is the point:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">We
do not have permission to stop talking to someone <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">We
do not have permission to divide from another person. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">We
do not ever have permission to give up on someone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">So
the challenge is for us to find our essential unity in the challenge of Jesus
to solve our conflicts instead of running away from them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Internationally – Israel and
Palestine need to keep talking, calling in outside mediation, speaking to each
other “like tax-collectors” if necessary – but never reaching a place where
they stop talking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">At a national level –
Jacob Zuma needs to sit down with the Public Protector and resolve his dispute
with her instead of avoiding her questions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">In our own community – we commit
to solving our conflict, talking, talking, talking, and talking some more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-63278923761013079912014-08-25T23:23:00.001+02:002014-08-25T23:23:40.716+02:00You are PeterI have not posted here for some time....<br />
But seeing that Sunday's lectionary reading was about this amazing chap called Peter - here goes with my sermon from yesterday: This was preached at 9am at the Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary.<br />
<br />
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<span style="color: teal; font-family: "Arial Black","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">A New Name<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Mat
16:13</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Now when
Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Mat
16:14</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> And they
said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others
Jeremiah or one of the prophets." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Mat
16:15</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> He said
to them, "But who do you say that I am?" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Mat
16:16</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Simon
Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Mat
16:17</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> And Jesus
answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood
has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Mat
16:18</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> And I
tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates
of Hades will not prevail against it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Mat
16:19</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> I will
give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will
be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in
heaven." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Mat 16:20</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Then he
sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Introduction: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">How<b> </b>many of us have our name in the Bible? I am privileged to be one
of this group – bearing the name of Peter, a close disciple of Jesus: Today I
am inviting us to reflect on the story of the naming of Peter - the name given to
Simon, Son of Jonah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Simon
lived in Bethsaida with his brother Andrew, his wife and mother in law. He was
a fisherman who, like his brother Andrew, and his friends Philip, James and
John, had all decided to follow Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Today’s
story comes at a turning point in the ministry of Jesus. Matthew Ch 14 tells
how King Herod silenced John the Baptist because of some very pointed preaching
about the values of the Kingdom of God. Jesus takes time out to recover from
this tragedy, and when he returns he takes up where John has left off. Only
instead of sermons – he puts the values of this Kingdom into practice. Matthew
15 tells of Jesus rebuking the Pharisees for failing the people; he then goes
to the people on the fringes of society where he prays for a Canaanite woman, embraces
the outcast and the unclean, and feeds the crowds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jesus
now turns to Peter and asks him if he has understood his mission...”Who do you
say that I am?” This is is about how Peter understands the identity and
purposes of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
is a good moment to pause: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
am inviting us to imagine that we are standing in front of Jesus – and he asks
us “ Who do you say that I am?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
suspect some of us might answer:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">You
are my personal saviour.... the one who rescues me from my sin and gives me
purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">You
are the one who has called me to follow you into the ministry.....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">BUT<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I wonder if we sometimes have other answers:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">You
are the one who must answer my prayers: when I pray “In the Name of Jesus” I
expect to get my way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">You
are the one who will help me find status, and authority and power: Jesus gives
me religious and social superiority.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">You
are the one who I will look to when I need religious entertainment: when I need
a break from life I will turn on God TV for a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
is the moment for us to be challenged by Peter’s answer .....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“You
are the Messiah”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> you are the promised one of God ... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> you are the one who owns my life
....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">There
is no half-way here / no lukewarm answer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
is absolute commitment<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
is not about getting something from Jesus and is instead about offering total loyalty
to Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">and
in reply Jesus says to him<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
see potential in you: you are the foundation for the new movement I am
beginning. I will call you <i>Petros </i>– a
rock: a foundation stone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Now....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jesus
was not stupid. He knew that Peter was not perfect.....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">But
he saw the potential of what Peter could become. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
then is the good news of our faith: God looks beyond our failures and
shortcomings and sees the potential for what we can become. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Here
is my question: If Peter had been standing in front of us what would we have
said to him:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“You
have a short temper”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “You promise stuff that you do not
deliver on.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “You have a big mouth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jesus
knew those things.... but he saw the potential: “you are Peter and on this rock
I will build my church.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">So
if anyone feels inferior, or inadequate – hear the whisper of the Spirit of God
saying .... “You are more than a Simon...you are my Peter”! God sees potential
in us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">But
I would fail us if I did not point out the moment of challenge to us all: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Just
like God sees beyond our failings to our true potential – so we are challenged
by Jesus to look for potential in the people around us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
suspect that we often see each other’s faults before we see the human potential
that lies within. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
challenge of this week is to look beyond the Simon.... and to discover the
Peter in the people we meet <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">When we encounter a tired,
grumpy shop assistant – will we see the mother who is caring for her family?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">When we meet an old man struggling
to park his car – will we see a father and a grandfather who is loved by his family?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">When we see man on television
pleading for peace in Gaza – will we see someone who pleads for justice for his
community?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">When we see poor miners who
are pleading for wages – will we see men and women who generate wealth for our nation
at the expense of their health and their families? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Let
me sum up.....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Invitation has been</span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">: to offer Jesus our
absolute commitment: “You are the Messiah”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This was followed by a Challenge:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> to show our commitment by
looking for the potential in the people around us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
answer lies with you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-78176900096198881652014-05-17T21:14:00.001+02:002014-05-17T21:14:48.325+02:00All you need is Love<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><b><i>Today was graduation at the Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary where I teach. I was asked to lead the opening devotions, and so I read the following, drawn from </i></b></span><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><i><span style="color: maroon; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">1Corinthians 13:1-13</span></i></b><i style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">If I get a diploma or
a degree from SMMS and have not love, I am nothing more than an empty braggart;
if I get academic colours and an academic gown and have no love, I gain nothing
more than some fancy dress; if I gain all the knowledge in the world – and know
how to reference footnotes and bibliographies, and am able to publish clever
articles in Journals and Books – and I have no love, I am nothing more than a
noisy wordsmith stirring up clever words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;">Love is patient and kind
towards those who do not know as much as I do; Love drives us to share what we know
so that others are empowered with the knowledge; Love desires education for
all, a sharing of our knowledge with the weak and marginalised, and the
education of women, children and the lowest workers in society.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">For a time will come
when old age causes all our learning to escape us; and when new knowledge
replaces all we have learned; and when younger, brighter minds surge ahead of
us; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">The fact is that we
do not know all there is to know, and we shall never cease learning new things
and discover the unimaginable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">While academic knowledge
has great value, and life skills are vitally important: when everything that
makes sense in our lives is over – one thing of value shall remain: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">And that one singular
attribute is to Love and be Loved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-34499780934131348962014-05-07T23:56:00.000+02:002014-05-07T23:56:21.187+02:00Voting for 20 Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSRheMf7VEVkJ3dgsQv0DFhBhsH4xzk4e4PpMwI7mZ4EhEIJwkUo4Fys1Wnw_xv_8zTQYXaa38L3HocHOyPPfy0-WaYJHVbjINDydQZ1hdadKvbSMp2eRzJRLeOUCQN-x6Fey9A/s1600/SouthAfricaVotesLogo2-01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSRheMf7VEVkJ3dgsQv0DFhBhsH4xzk4e4PpMwI7mZ4EhEIJwkUo4Fys1Wnw_xv_8zTQYXaa38L3HocHOyPPfy0-WaYJHVbjINDydQZ1hdadKvbSMp2eRzJRLeOUCQN-x6Fey9A/s1600/SouthAfricaVotesLogo2-01.png" height="128" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Today I voted
for the 5</span><sup style="line-height: 115%;">th</sup><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> time as a South African citizen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was
eligible to vote for five elections before this – but these were elections that
excluded black South Africans. I as a white South African believed that participating
in the racist structures prevented justice for black people, and therefore I
could not in good conscience vote for this system. Instead I committed my
energy to changing the system to include all our citizens. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was
therefore with great sense of liberation that I participated in our first
democratic elections in 1994. I was a community monitor for the Independent
Electoral Commission in the Helderberg Basin. I celebrated the way the whole community
pulled together to vote – Strand, Rusthof, Lwandle, Macassar, Somerset West and
Sir Lowry’s Pass turned out with joy and enthusiasm. I voted for the first time
in my life, and proudly voted for my political heroes in the African National
Congress. While I have been exceptionally moved by the leadership of Nelson
Mandela, I also acknowledge my deep regard for people such as Steve Biko,
Trevor Manuel, Joe Slovo, and Kader Asmal. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em><span style="background: white; color: #545454; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Since then I
have watched as the ANC has lost the great leaders of our nation. Some have
moved on to retirement, while others have moved on to other roles. Now I watch
with great sadness as this once great liberation movement has crumbled into a kleptocracy
that closes ranks around thieves and self-serving opportunists. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As I look
back over the past 20 years, my confidence in our political leadership has
waned. I feel like I have gone back to the politics of my youth, where the
political leadership used their office to serve their own narrow interests. I
see little difference between the posturing of PW Botha and Jacob Zuma. Both claimed
to have done no wrong, and used state security systems to protect themselves.
For this reason I no longer vote for the ANC. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Neither do I
vote for the Democratic Alliance. I
cannot stomach the thought that it eagerly absorbed the voters and leadership
of the National Party. Neither do I like the way Helen Zille tries to project
herself as an anti-Apartheid fighter for freedom. While her work for the Black Sash is admirable,
she has not lived and worked amongst the poor in a way that allows her to claim
the platform as their spokesperson. This too is political opportunism. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So I voted
today. I voted because the right to vote is a precious gift that was won at the
cost of the energy and lives of our political heroes of the past. But today I
registered my protest at the present political leadership. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I continue
to be hopeful for our future. The fact is that we have a young democracy, with
regular, peaceful elections and a strong system of civil accountability in the Constitutional
Court and the Public Protector. I await
the results of these elections with interest, happy that nothing will stay the
same. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-52843468122396175482014-04-20T09:04:00.000+02:002014-04-20T09:04:21.357+02:00Sunrise<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
alarm rang at 4:45am. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqwkwvSXtqC98eqD_bll0Tjlo7esi1kgJwJ6TsT2gxqTiDXgBMIEPSFmRtgCsOyez4crW6hlS9XN-C9rrxyuEewFCooh9j8cWcuKqSKVP80pc9I7xlDf8u3c8P-sHpfS8mZoI4g/s1600/IMG_4613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqwkwvSXtqC98eqD_bll0Tjlo7esi1kgJwJ6TsT2gxqTiDXgBMIEPSFmRtgCsOyez4crW6hlS9XN-C9rrxyuEewFCooh9j8cWcuKqSKVP80pc9I7xlDf8u3c8P-sHpfS8mZoI4g/s1600/IMG_4613.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">No
one else in the house moved... only I was up. I dressed with scattered intent,
and sleepily drove my way through the silent city streets. The mist-darkened
sky reflected the glow of the street lamps back at my passing vehicle. Finding
a parking place I joined other huddled figures as we made our way to the edge
of the playing field of a local school where we set up deck chairs, or perched
on the school’s wooden benches. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The clergy people gathered around a small
wooden table as they arranged the sacramental offering for the morning, while the
technician fussed over his portable sound system, ensuring that the microphones
and speakers were correctly placed. And then we cracked into life as Rev Diane
welcomed us all to a sunrise service on Easter Sunday. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I had
joined a motley collection of people who gathered to watch the sun rise. We
were united by our faith’s conviction that just as the light will conquer the
darkness, so Jesus will conquer fear and death. Along with many, many other
Christ-followers around the world, we sang Easter hymns, read from our sacred
scriptures and prayed together. This was not the glamour and glitz of a
well-organised “special event”. It was just a few people singing off-key,
praying from the heart, and sharing hot-cross buns and instant coffee</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
many ways this is the stuff of my faith. While I do not deny my satisfaction at
the conclusion of an efficient, well strategized and technically excellent
service of worship, this morning takes me back to the essence of my faith: the
reminder of Jesus that “<i>where two or
three are gathered in my name, I am there among them</i>” (Matthew 18:20). I found my faith revived through fellowship
with other Jesus-followers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
I am grateful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6H_SBo-pG2sdmnnnV7hlz__LEkA_1pNwID1hkssXgHa3V_tkxskV_RJXLndI5NGkL6pX-ri0N4SerYOSRDAobkaXwGaKvLMz26eOmP8PV81Yy4PN7HMS4eNNJBuv484oe-fqSoA/s1600/IMG_4612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6H_SBo-pG2sdmnnnV7hlz__LEkA_1pNwID1hkssXgHa3V_tkxskV_RJXLndI5NGkL6pX-ri0N4SerYOSRDAobkaXwGaKvLMz26eOmP8PV81Yy4PN7HMS4eNNJBuv484oe-fqSoA/s1600/IMG_4612.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-63632457805383340302014-04-14T12:01:00.001+02:002014-04-14T16:06:23.026+02:00A Wedding M<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">y daughter Jess married Greg.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So
much is contained in this simple sentence – and I have spent the past week
thinking about this. I have decided to mark this milestone in my life by
recording it as a blog. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rFoMfDemxViXEiR_HQktC_jrwFNGiJtXuysrZa33Rvv03qUtCXwq4Kgk8bSEpd83rRJima2dY6gywt9Xuk3b9gZbtOzcxYbgnCfKSCw-XkkqxT2e3_8HhGAkjbo7spb7yCQybA/s1600/10167962_10151959345691717_4104216431615614130_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rFoMfDemxViXEiR_HQktC_jrwFNGiJtXuysrZa33Rvv03qUtCXwq4Kgk8bSEpd83rRJima2dY6gywt9Xuk3b9gZbtOzcxYbgnCfKSCw-XkkqxT2e3_8HhGAkjbo7spb7yCQybA/s1600/10167962_10151959345691717_4104216431615614130_n.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">My
first reaction to the wedding was joy at the evident happiness of both Jess and
Greg. They both positively glowed with contentment throughout the celebrations.
In addition to our delight at welcoming Greg into our son-less family (or was
it Greg’s family welcoming a daughter into their daughter-less family?) was the
arrival of Amy, our youngest daughter. She is teaching English in Japan, and took
leave to join this celebration.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
ceremony took place in the </span><a href="http://www.goodshepherd-protea.org.za/who-are-we-2/"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Church of the Good
Shepherd-Protea</span></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">,
a stone chapel across from the entrance to </span><a href="http://www.sanbi.org/gardens/kirstenbosch"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Kirstenbosch Botannical Gardens</span></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> in Cape Town. This
Anglican Church resisted the removal of its members under the notorious Group
Areas Act, and these resilient members continue to offer sacred space to the wider
community. My colleague </span><a href="http://za.linkedin.com/pub/kevin-needham/17/364/a41"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Kevin Needham</span></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> officiated at the
wedding. He has been both a personal friend, and a friend to the family for
many years. I am grateful that he could
share this event with us as he adds enormous value to our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Greg’s
bestmen - all members of his </span><a href="http://nomadicorchestra.com/"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">band</span></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> - played the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_of_Denmark%27s_March"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Trumpet Voluntary</span></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> on their brass
instruments for Jess’s entrance. Jenny and I walked in with her and I loved the
relaxed informality of the occasion. Kevin helped make everyone feel welcome,
and the music was great. Jess and Greg shared vows that Kevin had helped them
design, and at the appropriate moment Jenny and I stood up and answered the
question of “Who gives this bride?” with an affirmative “We do, with all our
love”. And before I was ready for it, Jess and Greg were pronounced husband and
wife and we were outside the church blowing bubbles over them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">They
then led the way across the road to the </span><a href="http://www.sanbi.org/shops-venues-services/kirstenbosch-manor-house/weddings-and-special-event-packages"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Kirstenbosch Manor House</span></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> for afternoon tea. This
consisted of tea and coffee organised by </span><a href="http://www.oways.co.za/"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">O’Ways
Tea Cafe</span></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">,
who offer the best tea and coffee in Cape Town. Mingwei offered expert advice
on tea, while Sandson was the ever obliging barista. This was accompanied by
cheese and biscuits and cake – all gluten-free to cater for my family’s gluten
allergy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Greg’s
brother Adrian made a speech on behalf of the Abraham’s family, and I offered
words from our side of the family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Here
is what I said:</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Jess & Greg</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Speeches
at weddings can be hard... Not only for the one making the speech – but also
for those who have to endure them. I am therefore not going to make a speech:
but instead i will tell three stories: two about Jess & one about Greg.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let
me tell you about <b>Jess soon after she
was born in 1988</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
had her baptised at the Historic Methodist Church in the centre of Somerset
West. This was a community service where all the Methodist Churches of the
region had come together: English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa. Jessiw was baptised by Charles Villa-Vicencio
– who read the scripture passage today. Charles turned this into a community
celebration. He carried her down the aisle holding her above his head like a
trophy. And everybody cheered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Charles
asked Jenny and me if we would bring her up with good moral and religious
values, and if we would teach her how to serve her community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Wwll Charles – we did our best. She is a mature
young woman who serves the community as a teacher; she is loving and
compassionate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jess:
we are proud of you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I will Tell you
about Jess at school. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
wanted our children to learn two things: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">to
learn to love reading <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">to
learn to love music.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
so we bought many, many books. We read our way through the whole Harry Potter
series. We also bought them each a recorder. Then we began piano lessons –
which Jessica hated! The day came when Jess came home and announced: “I don’t
want to play the piano. I want to play the saxophone”. We knew nothing about
the sax – except I have a friend who plays sax for a jazz band called N2. And I
often played KennyG around the house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So
we found a second hand sax – and I acknowledge Merwina Taljaard who left us
some money in her will to do this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jess
was disappointed with this instrument, because all the other kids had shiny
instruments but hers was dull. It was probably 60 years old, and had been
played in a Cape Minstrel band for many years. But she felt better after we
took it to be serviced and discovered that shiny instruments are not the same
as good instruments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So
she went to UCT music school with the sax as her instrument... and as they say
in the classics: the rest is history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The third story</span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> flows out of this:
Jess began to talk about Greg. Well it was Greg and Harm and Lincoln. Then it
became Greg. Greg this and Greg that. Then Greg’s first visit. This was on Wednesday 10 September 2008:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
quote from my personal journal entry of that day: .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Jess
brought Greg home, which produced very mixed feelings in me. She likes him
because he is gentle... It is hard to be a father and to allow her space to
grow. I understand that I must step back and allow her space to grow – but I do
not want to see her getting hurt!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlRWUMz-MY6xM9jwLsHfSOxQlk3q-aG1l6aotu9B2EqaBDxWZS0o-DIm50WBQdHMMFy9Cuge8XUOtq-xJ838v0RtROqxG3Aj-MmNvSn6bwC1v-pJaOVlt_m4ATL4aXipu-8VHfQ/s1600/in+the+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlRWUMz-MY6xM9jwLsHfSOxQlk3q-aG1l6aotu9B2EqaBDxWZS0o-DIm50WBQdHMMFy9Cuge8XUOtq-xJ838v0RtROqxG3Aj-MmNvSn6bwC1v-pJaOVlt_m4ATL4aXipu-8VHfQ/s1600/in+the+car.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Greg:
Jenny & I want to thank you for being gentle and kind to Jess.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You
have given her courage when she has struggled<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
you have calmed her down when she got stressed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jenny
and I want to wish you both the very best for your future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
will be supporting you all the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You
have all our love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-17871718808022336992014-01-23T21:50:00.000+02:002014-01-23T21:50:40.467+02:00The Partner<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">I
deeply appreciate my running partner. Mark is the one who keeps me running. Because
I know he will appear at my gate, he gets me out of bed every morning. He
offers me ridiculous stories, laughter, and equal measures of courage and
sarcasm to keep me mobile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVeJP39Gjn0Cy9udBohrUkm2Hz6mWRTk2ee4qhtdIjS_GscaAvnTYl0tiMSwe0ft3L5CSLHl3yLYNorHwypPEGDU2htg1YMRhM9M2ZUsfBiISmEHwTBVc9gpcgZ0MXlV8-TGMn6g/s1600/Maritzburg_Marathon_2012-_Maritzburg_Marathon_2012-1062222_DSC_0341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVeJP39Gjn0Cy9udBohrUkm2Hz6mWRTk2ee4qhtdIjS_GscaAvnTYl0tiMSwe0ft3L5CSLHl3yLYNorHwypPEGDU2htg1YMRhM9M2ZUsfBiISmEHwTBVc9gpcgZ0MXlV8-TGMn6g/s1600/Maritzburg_Marathon_2012-_Maritzburg_Marathon_2012-1062222_DSC_0341.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So
when I woke up at 5am this morning, despite feeling tired and wishing that I
could burrow back under the covers, the impending arrival of my running partner
led me to pull on my running kit and head for the back door. Dash, the Springer
Spaniel, looked eagerly in my direction and I nodded: “Let’s go boy”. Despite
my heavy mood, he rushed out the back door to the gate. I placed the lead on
him and we both looked down the road in the direction of Mark’s home. Nothing!
The road was empty. No sign of him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
I peered down the empty road, the realization hit me – today is Thursday. Mark
and I had spoken a week ago about running the time trial with the club on
Thursday afternoon. So he was safely ensconced in his bed while Dash and I
stood in an empty road. We looked at each other, and returned to bed. We would
run this evening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Postscript:</span></b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;"> I sent my faithful,
dependable, </span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">indispensable</span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;"> running partner a message at 5pm to confirm our run
at the time trial. He answered: “Not today – I had a hard day and will not make
it”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Aaargh. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">(I did run the time trial)</span></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-37724725363992049122013-12-26T21:42:00.000+02:002013-12-26T21:42:20.174+02:00Being right or being good?<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jpinsatx"><b><span style="background: white; color: #3b5998; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">John
JP Patterson</span></b></a> writes</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Hmmm... A lot of us Christians, rather than being
followers of Jesus, we’re defenders of religious certainty. And having
certainty about what is and isn’t true, good, and holy is actually not faith,
it’s just certainty. And certainty regarding matters of faith isn’t Christian.<br />
<br />
So we end up acting like jackasses, kicking and galloping and trolling around
like we own the place. All the while bellowing scripture and unfounded
statistics…<br />
<br />
We can’t love people when we’re intoxicated with certainty. We can’t serve
people with a pure heart if we’re burdened by certainty. We can’t be anything
remotely close to “Christ-like” when we’re certain beyond a shadow of a doubt
that we know what’s up regarding God.<br />
<br />
Why? Because we’re too busy defending our rightness to be kind, thoughtful, and
good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">reposted from https://www.facebook.com/jpinsatx<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-2525827553804628872013-12-14T18:37:00.001+02:002013-12-14T18:37:23.233+02:00Acts 1:1 I wrote the former account, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after he had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 To the same apostles also, after his suffering, he presented himself alive with many convincing proofs. He was seen by them over forty- day period and spoke about matters concerning the kingdom of God. 4 While he was with them, he declared, "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait there for what my Father promised, which you heard about from me. 5 For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 6 So when they had gathered together, they began to ask him, "Lord, is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He told them,"You are not permitted to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth." 9 After he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and cloud hid him from their sight. 10 As they were still staring into the sky while he was going, suddenly two men in white clothing stood near them 11 and said,"Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven." 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called the Mount of Olives (which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away).
<br>
<br>The enduring cry throughout our Christian history is "Jesus will come back again". This is the hope that draws Christian communities together and the motivation for Christian living. Christmas is the time when we re-visit this hope. Let us pray once again for Jesus to be with us.
<br>Sent via my BlackBerryPete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26615646.post-82025599448076450252013-12-10T17:00:00.001+02:002013-12-10T17:00:44.267+02:00The Last Great Liberator of the Twentieth Century<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Fcnwrs6FzWzW71OnejaYgRPCk1zhiXdihY5tzDOaAmGoqu9KSPX_3jTQKfHOYx2WNsjyA-ewbOiq_qg8LXE2yKum2dUWN91OO8b8cWCm-Hu15d-drOofOZBJwgZoIdmREEinJQ/s1600/mandela_last.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Fcnwrs6FzWzW71OnejaYgRPCk1zhiXdihY5tzDOaAmGoqu9KSPX_3jTQKfHOYx2WNsjyA-ewbOiq_qg8LXE2yKum2dUWN91OO8b8cWCm-Hu15d-drOofOZBJwgZoIdmREEinJQ/s1600/mandela_last.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I am sitting in front of the television watching the public
celebration of the life of Nelson Mandela. And it is overwhelming:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am moved to tears by the way people have queued
from 4am to catch transport to the stadium; I am moved by their willingness to
sing and dance in the rain; I am moved to see the ”rainbow nation” represented
here – people of all corners, cultures and creeds of our country have come,
This gives me hope. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am moved by the many, many world leaders who
have come to join us for this service; these are powerful people who lead
enormous economies – coming to a small country to pay tribute to one of us.
These are leaders who also would not ordinarily be in the same room together. I
am moved by the sight of Barak Obama shaking hands with President Castro of
Cuba! And of the Prime Minister of England sharing the same platform as Robert
Mugabe. This gives me hope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am moved by the speech of Barak Obama. He was
welcomed as a “son of Africa” and responds by asking the leaders of our world
to live up to the legacy left by Madiba: “There are too many leaders who claim
solidarity with Madiba’s struggle but do not tolerate dissent from their own
people.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This gives me hope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am moved when I see the leaders of my Methodist
Church officiating at this event. I grew up in an era that gave the Dutch
Reformed Church prominence at every national occasion – so it feels good to see
my colleagues leading this service. But at the same time I am acutely aware of
how a church that enjoys the favour of the ruling party can easily become a
tool that is used to suggest God’s preferential favour for this party. I must
therefore note my disquiet at the way we invited Jacob Zuma to speak at the
farewell of Ivan Abrahams; and the way we allow a senior Methodist Minister to
be a chaplain to the ruling political party. I not as hopeful. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am moved when I switch between channels and
discover that in addition to the South African TV channels, CNN, BBC, Sky News,
Al Jazeera, CCTV, CNBCA, EuroNews, RaiItalia, and ITV are all screening this
event. I am startled to see how much of an international figure he is. I am
moved to tears when I discover that people from all over the world are watching
this event – including my daughter who lives in Japan. That said, I am dismayed
that CNN should label the speech of Barak Obama as the ‘highlight’ of the event
– before speeches by other world leaders or before the sermon. The commentators
then ignored the speakers who followed, choosing instead to comment on Obama’s
speech.This American-centred view of the world is the reason that I struggle
with the United States of America. It is an imperialistic view that diminishes
the contribution that America could make to our world. I am not as hopeful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was
aggrieved at the ill-discipline of the crowd, but this has been taught to them
at recent political rallies and trades union meetings. I thoroughly enjoyed
Desmond Tutu’s ability to hold a crowd – and impose order. It might have been
better for him to have been the preacher because he has the charisma and feel
for the crowd - but it would have been very difficult for anyone to preach, with
the sermon coming in as speaker number 16! That said, I was disappointed that
the sermon had no Christian content. It was a generic eulogy of Madiba, using
the image of Elijah’s passing of the mantel. But no hope in Jesus was
offered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
memorial is over and people are streaming homeward. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And I am
thankful for the leadership of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“We promise
God that we are going to follow the example of Nelson Mandela” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com1