Malihambe! continues to spread...

The Malihambe! Bible Series continue to grow and touch lives...

2011 saw the publication of one new title, and several translations...

Firstly, book 1 in the Malihambe! Living Spiritually Series, A Simple Rule for Life by Neil T Oosthuizen, came out in isiZulu early in the year.

This little book examines the Methodist Rule of Life, a "rule" for daily living published by John Wesley in the 1740s:
1. Do no harm;
2. Do good; and
3. Stay in love with God.

A practical look at the Rule of Life, the book includes questions for personal reflection and / or home group study.

Already a best-seller in English, it looks as if the isiZulu translation is set to go the same way. Praise God.

The Afrikaans translation of Malihambe! Reading the Bible in Southern Africa today (volume 1 in the Malihambe! Bible Series) was released at the World Methodist Conference in Durban in August.

This book is now available in Afrikaans, English, isiZulu and seTswana.

The isiZulu version of volume 33, The Book of Good News - a commentary on the Gospel of Mark, was also released at the WMC. To the best of our knowledge this is the first "real" Bible commentary published in isiZulu!

This commentary is now available in English and isiZulu.

Neil did a six-week teaching course based on the companion Bible Study at the NG Kerk Aasvoelkop in Northcliff, Joburg, in the middle of the year.

As a last gasp for the year, Africa Upper Room Ministries published The Book of Hymns (1) - a commentary on Psalms 1-72 at the end of November. While only out for a month, this book is already garnering favourable reviews.

It is planned to have the isiZulu translation, and volume 2, out by the middle of next year.

A busy year on the publishing front... and three new titles due to come out early next year...

Praise God for the fulfilment of His vision... and for people who see it in their hearts... and enable it to unfold before their eyes...

WAKE UP! THE YEAR IS NEARLY OVER...

Oh wow! Only 4 blogs in 12 months... and two of them don't count as "blogs"... how embarrassing! Well... here goes the correction to that... and an attempt to make sure that I set aside time each week to do a little musing... and share those thoughts with all the world (thanks to both my readers).

You just go to love some Christians!!!!

I still haven't found what I'm looking for!

After three incredible months of 2011 I can identify with vintage U2...

The year seems to have flown by in a blur of busy-ness, doctors, medical tests, and writing...

It's not that I've lost faith or anything... it's just that sometimes I'm not quite sure what my life-purpose is (phew, sounds so... like... wow!)...

Certainly not questioning my calling as an ordained minister in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa - I firmly believe that I'm where God wants me to be right now. Trinity is still challenging, fun, and a real Family.

I have had quite a health shock... at 50 realised I'm not quite as immortal as I thought. All sorts of health hassles. The three main ones are:
~ being "pre-diabetic", which means my blood sugar level is far too high, but not at the level when they diagnose it as "daibetic". This does mean that I can lower it to acceptable levels with a very strict "diabetic" outlook on my food intake and my lifestyle. Getting into the groove now, but really struggled in the beginning with not having any "nice" snacks, rusks, white bread and syrup, etc. Blood sugar is dropping slowly... yay!
~ having a hiatus hernia, with all the reflux, discomfort, and pain that goes with it. Once again, a huge lifestyle change... in what I eat and in how and when I eat. I've had to give up coffee and tea! Thankyou, I feel for me too!
~ the main concern at the moment is my vocal cords. While I've been struggling with them for some time, they kind of "packed up" in mid-January. Saw an ENT who put me on to complete voice rest for two weeks. Interesting. Firstly, how difficult it was to just be quiet, especially when in a group of people (I eventually withdrew from all meetings, gatherings, etc). Secondly, sitting in a worship service and not being able to join in the singing and prayers, etc. Thirdly, of course, being in worship at Trinity, but not preaching. Having to cancel appointments, and get others to fulfil "my" weddings, etc. And, finally, the very real prospect that I may not regain my voice sufficiently to continue in the ministry "of Word and Sacrament" (thats the term on my ordination certificate).

Thirdly, while the vision of the Malihambe! series burns even brighter than before, I'm really struggling to get to grips with finishing off the commentary I'm working on now (Psalms 1-72). Been reflecting on my writing... on it becoming more central in my ministry. Tricky.

Phew... enough for one rant. I've spent some time unpacking each of the above... will need to write/type them down sometime soon.

Until then... God has a plan (Jeremiah 29:11)...

Shalom.

HEAT - how we can stop the planet burning

Heat - how we can stop the planet burning by George Monbiot (Lomdon: Penguin Books, 2007)

"... almost all of us have agreed that climate change, in Tony Blair's words, is 'the single most important issue that we face as a global community'. We have also agreed to do nothing about it." (page ix)

Monbiot is an incredible person... highly educated... exceptionally intelligent... no nonsense... and committed to keeping the world a place worth living in. He has tackled big business, governments and military machines. And now he turns his incredible mind to global warming.

Typically Monbiot, this book is well-thought out, well-researched, and well-written. Needed in the often hysterical and emotional discussion around how well our planet is. In his usual hard-hitting style, this book will leave you feeling decidedly unwell.

Simply put, the world must reduce carbon emmissions by 90% by 2030, or climate change will be unmanageable, and will change the planet we live on irrevocably. He tackles individuals, questioning the amount of power our houses waste (all coal-based), wasting electricity, the amount of climate damage we are doing with our cars, and our need to fly carbon-spewing jetliners across the globe. He questions big business's need to be physically "big", and the way they do business. He discusses alternative forms of energy, as well as the world-wide business of trading carbon-offsets.  Simply put... cut our lifestyles... or continue to kill our planet. 

I found this book fascinating... frightening... challenging... really made me question just how committed I am to saving our planet. Phew!

Buy it... borrow it... beg for it... but read it!

"But my main objection is this: that in order to deliver a carbon cut of the size I have discussed, everyone will have to limit their emmissions, either today, or, in the poorer nations, in the future. There is no choice to be made about whether to abstain from flying or to help poorer people buy better light bulbs. We must abstain from flying and help poorer people buy better lightbulbs. Buying and selling carbon offsets is like pushing the food around on your plate to create the impression that you have eaten it." (page 212).

The LORD bless you and keep you

One of two small silver amulets, dating from
the 7th century BCE, found in the
Ketef Hinnom tomb complex above the
Hinnom Valley in Jerusalem, Israel. A piece
of leather or cotton was threaded through the
middle, and it was probably worn around
the neck

One of the cool (I suppose I'm showing my age by daring to use that word in cyberspace!) things about the internet is the way that it allows ministry to transcend geographical distances. Let me explain where this unbelievable profound comment comes from...

Brenton Prigge was an ordained minister in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. Deeply gifted in music and song-writing, he has been writing new words to old tunes for years. This means that every Wednesday or Thursday I get an e-mail with a hymn especially written for the theme of the lectionary readings for that Sunday. The words are put to an old hymn tune, so there's no copyright hassles, and most of the older folk in the congregation will know the tune immediately. I praise God for Brenton's gifting and ministry.

A while ago Brenton and his family moved to Oz... but that hasn't stopped the new hymns arriving every week (although, by his own admission, not that many over Christmas and New Year... in fact, none). You can find Brenton's resources on http://www.newhymn.com/.

I've just received this week's New Hymn (Light). however, this week we got a "bonus" - a song written by Brenton. The song is called "Blessed", and is based on the Aaronic Blessing in Numbers 6:24-26:
“The LORD bless you
   and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you
   and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you
   and give you peace." (TNIV)

I must admit to quite liking the Message's version:
God bless you and keep you, 
God smile on you and gift you,
God look you full in the face
      and make you prosper.

You can see Brenton's song on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIfLtRPP51k, and download words and music from his website.

Written in early Hebrew,
the tiny scroll contains
the text of Numbers 6:24-26

Watching the video, and singing along to the ancient words, I got thinking about how I, and those around me, use words. Perhaps a simple question - how often do I speak words of blessing into someone's life? Let's be real here... I'm pretty quick to think words of "unblessing" about someone, and. while I would never say some of the things I think, my response is often horrendously negative, or painfully sarcastic. Ouch, it hurt to write those two clauses!

Now I really don't mean becoming horribly "Christian" and "plastic" (I was recently greeted by a friend with the words "Be blessed!" While I understand where he is coming from, and appreciate the thought, what a meaningless statement!). But what about the words I use so freely? At least his greeting was positive and uplifting.

Just a thought...

You/ve just got to love this girl!

The Citizen, Wednesday 12th January 2011

Ireland's Saint - The Essential Biography of St Patrick

Ireland's Saint - The Essential Biography of St Patrick, by J B Bury, Edited with Introduction and Annotations by Jon M Sweeney (Brewster, Massachusetts: Paraclete Press: 2008).

Bury published his landmark commentary on St Patrick in 1905. Sweeney has left the original text as is, but has added a useful Introduction, as well as a whole lot of side-bars, in which he explains the historical background, political context, and quotes other biographers and historians, as well as quoting St Patrick's Confession (a brief reflection on his life published by him just before his death). 

Patrick was born in the English village of Bannaventa in 389. As a young  man Patrick was kidnapped by Irish invaders, and carried off to Northern Dalaradia in Ireland. Having escaped, he spent several years in France, where he became a monk. Returning to England he asked permission to return to Ireland, as he felt God wanted him to bring his captors to salvation in Christ. Patrick served in Ireland for the rest of his life, establishing the Church in several areas. Of course, the legendary  story we all know is that he chased all snakes out of Ireland (which can't be proved either way). He died in the late 5th century (the traditional date is 493, which would make him 120 years old, the same age as Moses!), and was buried in Saul.

I really enjoyed the book, although Bury's strange English was a bit tiring at times. Interesting to see a different take on evangelising and "church planting", from another era. Found Patrick's commitment and stick-ability inspiring.

"There is a sun we see that rises for us each day, but it will not rule or continue its splendour for ever, and all who adore it alone shall suffer miserably. But we who believe in and adore the true sun, Christ, who will never perish, and do His will, know that Christ will abide forever, reigning with God the Father Almighty and with the Holy Spirit, before the ages, and now, and for ever and ever. Amen." The conclusion to St Patrick's Confession (pg. 189).

Christmas has come... and is still coming...




Rebekah, some guy in a red suit, Tara Lynn and Simon

  I know its already 2011... so "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!"

The build-up to Christmas was a little "busy", as was the week-end (what with five services)... but what a blessed Christmas it was... sharing the celebration with my immediate family... and my Church Family here at Trinity. And I got a really cool t-shirt and CD for Christmas... as well as a whole lot of other neat stuff (spoilt rotten, I am!).

Once again Christmas was a time of quite serious reflection for me. Struck afresh, as I am every year, I suppose, by God's incredible love and the stupendous way that that Love was given to us. Oh so creative!



Nativity set from Old St Paul's Church, Wellington, New Zealand
A gift from my friend Maurice :-))

 
Struck this year by the response of the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20). having seen the Christ-child they:
~ worship - the only honest response to Jesus, I suppose. How can I make this more of a focus in my life... in every aspect of my life... this year?
~ witness - they can't help but tell others. And yet at times I seem so reticent to share my faith-experience with others... a major challenge for 2011.
~ wonder - they leave the stable filled with wonder and awe. How easily I lose that as the pressures and "things" of each day tumble in.

And so, time to get showered and shaved before Church this morning. I must admit to really looking forward to sharing in worship today (I'm leading the worship at the 9.00am, Cecil is preaching; and I'm doing both at the 10:30am. I'm also doing communion in the evening service: Dayne is preaching, and Audience of One is playing - generally a fun day... I really do have the best job in the world... except maybe a pro racing driver).

2011... here I come! Well, actually... here we come (Matthew 28:20)!