Psalm 100: 1-2 : Juig tot eer van die Here, almal op aarde! Dien die Here met blydskap! Kom voor Hom met gejubel!

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Artikel in JUIG!

Ons sê baie dankie aan die redaksie en skrywer Johan Kriel, vir ‘n treffende artikel in die Januarie 2011 uitgawe van JUIG! Op besondere wyse het Johan die essensie van die boek raakgevat en uitgelê. Dit is goed dat NG Kerk se Diversiteitsforum, Kerkbode en Kletskerk ook genoem word, asook die moontlike doleansie-pad. Die waarskuwende toon kom ook baie sterk na vore. Ons is die Here dankbaar vir die wonderlike blootstelling in ‘n wyd-gelese tydskrif soos JUIG!

Terug na die Bybel!

Kort en kragtige aanlyn-boekie, lees maklik en vinnig, hier:

http://www.glodiebybel.co.za/boeke-m/219-terug-na-die-bybel-johan-kriel.html

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Die Trojaanse perd in die NG kerk, omstrede boek...

Omstrede boek oor kerk bekend gestel
2010-12-02 00:27

K aren Ebersohn
’n Omstrede boek oor teologiese veranderinge in die kerk en die ingrypende implikasies wat dit het op sake soos die gesag en die gebruik van die Bybel, homoseksualiteit, saambly en die huwelik, het pas verskyn.
Die boek, Die Trojaanse Perd in die NG Kerk – die kanker van evolusie en liberalisme, is deur ’n groep besorgde lidmate en predikante uit die NG Kerk saamgestel.
En ja, die boek is dalk omstrede en sal mense skok, waarsku die skrywers.
Drs. Henrietta Klaasing, met ’n doktorsgraad in teologie, en Hennie Mouton, ’n ingenieur van Pretoria, is die samestellers en medeskrywers.
Mouton sê die boek is om NG lidmate te kry om na Bybelse waarhede terug te keer.
“Daar word gekyk na hoe die ommekeer in Skrifbeskouing ook nie Skrifkritiek en Skrifgebruik onaangetas gelaat het nie. Dit het tot gevolg dat Bybelwaarhede soos die opstanding van Christus, Sy maagdelike geboorte, Sy Godheid en selfs Sy plaasvervangende sterwe, verloën word.”
Hy sê die vrae kan gevra word of die hart van die evangelie nie uitgeruk is nie.
“Die liberale aanslag het verdoemende gevolge op vele terreine. Die hantering van homoseksualiteit word in die boek bespreek as voorbeeld van die gevolge van verkeerde besluite aangaande Skrifbeskouing.”
Mouton sê met postmodernistiese liberalisme bedoel hy dit is die verskynsel dat die Bybel nie meer as die Woord van God beskou word nie. Ook dat daar predikers in die kerk is wat vrae het oor Jesus as Verlosser.
“Die boek kan dalk sommige mense skok. Ons bespreek voorbeelde soos evolusie en homoseksualiteit en noem die name van mense wat dit verkondig. Maar ons doel is nie om mense sleg te sê nie, ons heg ook verwysings aan en staaf ons motiverings.”
Hy sê hulle glo ook nie die hele NG Kerk hou hom met dwaalleer op nie.
“Maar daar is beslis sommige leraars en professors wat daarmee besig is, soos dié wat twyfel of Jesus werklik opgestaan het. Ons glo hulle is besig met dwaalleer.”
Oor hoe die boek ontstaan het, sê Mouton, die skrywers is almal mense wat gereeld deelneem aan gesprekke oor kerksake.
“Ons het reeds soveel inligting oor ’n verskeidenheid onderwerpe versamel en het besluit om dit in boekvorm uit te bring.”
Die ander skrywers is ds. Gideon Aggenbag, ’n emeritus-predikant, mnr. Daniel Louw, ’n ingenieur, ds. Jan Louw, NG predikant op Secunda, dr. Koos Visser, ’n mediese spesialis, en ds. Hanan Viljoen, emeritus-predikant.
Vir meer inligting of bestellings besoek die webtuiste, www.glodiebybel.co.za.
- Volksblad

Monday, December 27, 2010

The gospel is for ALL who believe...

1Corinthians 1:18 – 21: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Geleentheid op RSG!


Ons het geleentheid gekry om ons saak op RSG te stel vanoggend. Webwerf se naam: www.glodiebybel.co.za is duidelik gegee. "Mag U Naam geheilig word, U Koninkryk kom, U wil geskied geskied!"

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Die wyse manne : vreemdes maak Baba Jesus Koning

As mens aan die wyse manne dink , is dit hoofsaaklik net dat hulle uit die Ooste gekom het, en dat hulle kosbare geskenke met simboliese betekenis vir Baba Jesus gebring het – maar wie was hulle regtig, en hoe het hulle geweet van die Koning wat gebore wou word? (Lees verder onder kommentaar)

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

'Kanker' bedreigt Zuid-Afrikaanse kerk

Ons boek word ook nou in Nederland bespreek!

De Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk (NG-Kerk) in Zuid-Afrika wordt bedreigd door een " Trojaans paard". Dat schrijven verontruste kerkleden en enkele ex-predikanten in het onlangs verschenen boek ' Het Trojaanse paard in de NG-Kerk; Kanker van evolutie en liberalisme'. (Lees verder onder kommentaar)

DEEDS NOT CREEDS??

It seems as if one of the current buzz-term in church circles is “deeds not creeds” . Recently Rick Warren said "We need a reformation not of creeds but deeds". This rings a familiar bell with the WCC’s “Doctrine divides, service unites”.

I cannot go along with the term “deeds not creeds”. All non-Christian religions place a high premium on deeds. Angry gods must be appeased with offerings of some kind. (Read on under comments)

Monday, December 13, 2010

Having people in strategic places

“It is not what you know, but who you know” is often said in the business world. I don’t know the origin of this, but it seems as if it now also applies in some churches. (Read on under comments)

Saturday, December 11, 2010

OUR BOOK, "THE TROJAN HORSE..." IS NOW READ IN CANADA...

Dr Byl is well known in Reformed and scientific circles in Canada and all over the world and has kindly given us exposure on his blog:

http://bylogos.blogspot.com/2010/12/trojan-horse-in-south-african-reformed.html

Thank you ever so much Doctor, this kind gesture is highly appreciated by our whole team!

Friday, December 10, 2010

BOEK “KWAADWILLIG” – sê WIE???

Jackson sê “Boek “kwaadwillig” wat NG kerk kap oor Bybel” (lees hier:
http://m.news24.com/beeld/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Boek-kwaadwillig-wat-NGK-kap-oor-Bybel-20101210 )
DIE BOEK IS BESKIKBAAR BY AUGUSTINE BOOKROOM, PRETORIA (645 Rudolf Street, Constantia Park, Pretoria) http://www.augustine.co.za/home.php

Thursday, December 9, 2010

CS Lewis-juweeltjies

Twee juweeltjies uit die stuk ( http://orthodox-web.tripod.com/papers/fern_seed.html )
(ek weet nie wie op daardie blad is verantwoordelik vir die swak Engels nie!):

I am a sheep, telling shepherds what only a sheep can tell them. (CS Lewis)

They (the liberals) claim to see fern-seed and can't see an elephant ten yards way in broad daylight. (CS Lewis)

Friday, December 3, 2010

Die Trojaanse perd in die NG kerk, omstrede boek...


Omstrede boek oor kerk bekend gestel
2010-12-02 00:27

K aren Ebersohn
’n Omstrede boek oor teologiese veranderinge in die kerk en die ingrypende implikasies wat dit het op sake soos die gesag en die gebruik van die Bybel, homoseksualiteit, saambly en die huwelik, het pas verskyn.
Die boek, Die Trojaanse Perd in die NG Kerk – die kanker van evolusie en liberalisme, is deur ’n groep besorgde lidmate en predikante uit die NG Kerk saamgestel.
En ja, die boek is dalk omstrede en sal mense skok, waarsku die skrywers.
Drs. Henrietta Klaasing, met ’n doktorsgraad in teologie, en Hennie Mouton, ’n ingenieur van Pretoria, is die samestellers en medeskrywers.
Mouton sê die boek is om NG lidmate te kry om na Bybelse waarhede terug te keer.
“Daar word gekyk na hoe die ommekeer in Skrifbeskouing ook nie Skrifkritiek en Skrifgebruik onaangetas gelaat het nie. Dit het tot gevolg dat Bybelwaarhede soos die opstanding van Christus, Sy maagdelike geboorte, Sy Godheid en selfs Sy plaasvervangende sterwe, verloën word.”
Hy sê die vrae kan gevra word of die hart van die evangelie nie uitgeruk is nie.
“Die liberale aanslag het verdoemende gevolge op vele terreine. Die hantering van homoseksualiteit word in die boek bespreek as voorbeeld van die gevolge van verkeerde besluite aangaande Skrifbeskouing.”
Mouton sê met postmodernistiese liberalisme bedoel hy dit is die verskynsel dat die Bybel nie meer as die Woord van God beskou word nie. Ook dat daar predikers in die kerk is wat vrae het oor Jesus as Verlosser.
“Die boek kan dalk sommige mense skok. Ons bespreek voorbeelde soos evolusie en homoseksualiteit en noem die name van mense wat dit verkondig. Maar ons doel is nie om mense sleg te sê nie, ons heg ook verwysings aan en staaf ons motiverings.”
Hy sê hulle glo ook nie die hele NG Kerk hou hom met dwaalleer op nie.
“Maar daar is beslis sommige leraars en professors wat daarmee besig is, soos dié wat twyfel of Jesus werklik opgestaan het. Ons glo hulle is besig met dwaalleer.”
Oor hoe die boek ontstaan het, sê Mouton, die skrywers is almal mense wat gereeld deelneem aan gesprekke oor kerksake.
“Ons het reeds soveel inligting oor ’n verskeidenheid onderwerpe versamel en het besluit om dit in boekvorm uit te bring.”
Die ander skrywers is ds. Gideon Aggenbag, ’n emeritus-predikant, mnr. Daniel Louw, ’n ingenieur, ds. Jan Louw, NG predikant op Secunda, dr. Koos Visser, ’n mediese spesialis, en ds. Hanan Viljoen, emeritus-predikant.
Vir meer inligting of bestellings besoek die webtuiste, http://www.glodiebybel.co.za/.
- Volksblad

Monday, November 22, 2010

Gereformeerde Kerk worstel ook oor Skrifgesag, evolusie.

Hersien leer oor gesag van die Bybel (‘n berig van Neels Jackson, in vandag, se Beeld)
Die leer oor die gesag van die Bybel moet hersien word. So reken mnr. Marinus Wijnbeek, Wetenskaplike wat nou in Nederland bly, in ‘n debat oor skepping en evolusie in Die Kerkblad van die Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika.

Prof. Paul Krüger van die Teologiese skool Potchefstroom meen dat die saak van die skepping en evolusie “waarskynlik dié strydpunt van die 21ste eeu gaan word in die geledere van tradisioneel-konserwatiewe of evangelies-gesinde kerke” . Dit het dié potensiaal omdat dit nou verweef is met Skrifbeskouing en beskouing oor sonde, verbond en verlossing. (Lees verder onder opmerkings)

World’s biggest statue of Christ


The biggest statue of Christ has just been unveiled in Swiebodzin, Poland. The builder of the monument, father Sylwester Zawadzki does not hide his emotions. "I'm just overjoyed. It's one of the greatest moments of my life", he said.

Asked about the conception of the idea, father Sylwester Zawadzki said, "It was an idea of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I was only to erect it."

The whole monument is more than 50 meters tall, where the mound that it stands on is 16 meters high. On top of the 33-meter tall statue there is a golden crown. Total weight of the statue is 440 tons. It can even been seen from the German border, which is 90 km away.
For more info, read here: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/poles-gather-for-consecration-of-gigantic-statue-of-jesus-christ-109677344.html

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Gegote en gesement....moet nog net iewers opgerig word.  :)))

Thursday, November 18, 2010

BE SUPREMELY JOYFUL!

Blessed and happy and enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous (in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!

Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous --with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account.

Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Ampl Bible, Matt 5:10-12)

JEHOVAH JIREH (Genesis 22: 8;14)

Mag God vandag vir jou wat hier lees, vandag Gen 22 verse 8 en 14 se Jehovah Jireh wees, "the God who provides for all (repeat: ALL) UR needs and wants" - mag jy vandag níks ontbreek nie (Ps 23 :1)

Monday, November 15, 2010

Bring die ou-ou tyding, altyd, oral!

“Die hele kerk bring die hele evangelie na die hele wêreld” – leuse van die eerste Lausanne-kongres, 1974

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Ancient of days / Blessings and honour

(Beautiful song by Ron Kenoly)
Blessing and honor, glory and power,
Be unto the Ancient of Days.
From every nation, all of creation,
Bows before the Ancient of Days.
(Read on under comments)

Friday, November 12, 2010

Stay true to who you are in Christ....

Many things may happen that may give you reasons to redefine yourself. You may be tempted to believe lies about yourself, that you have somehow lost your identity along the way. Don’t believe those lies! Cling to the Biblecal truth that you are unique and precious in God’s sight....

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

How to fill our hearts with God's words

Hebrew words “Siyach” or “Hagah” : Both these words involve reciting, reading and vocalizing the words of God so that as we hear the sounds of God’s words, our hearts become full of their content. (Read more here: http://healingcodesinfo.com/uploads/misc/Siyach%20and%20Hagah%20(2).doc)

Influencing people

“The very essence of all power to influence lies in getting the other person to participate” Harry Overstreet

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

The nature of God

The nature of God is a circle of which the centre is everywhere and the circumference is nowhere.
Empedocles , ancient Greek philosopher (490 BC – 430 BC)

Friday, November 5, 2010

God's glory

A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell. C. S. Lewis

Feelings follow behaviour

"The rule for all of us is perfectly simple. Do not waste time bothering whether you 'love' your neighbour; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him".
C.S. Lewis: Mere Christianity

Sunday, October 31, 2010

HIDE ME BEHIND THE CROSS

HIDE ME BEHIND THE CROSS
(Gold City song)
Lord as I seek to serve You
May you find in me what’s pleasing to Your heart
I leave my will at Calvary
Taking on a nature, humbled by Your scars (read on...)

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Are the SHARKS going to win?


We have a rugby team called the SHARKS - today is Curry Cup finals, between the Sharks and Western Province ... anybody's guess who the winner wil be....

Friday, October 29, 2010

Halloween - Not for Christians!


Why? October 31st holiday that we today know as Halloween has strong roots in paganism and is closely connected with worship of the enemy of this world, Satan. It is a holiday that generally glorifies the dark things of this world, rather than the light of Jesus Christ, The Truth.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

How God loves us

But God will look to every soul like its first love because HE is its first love. Your place in heaven will seem to be made for you and you alone, because you were made for it—made for it stitch by stitch as a glove is made for a hand. CS lewis

"Even so I send you...” (John 20:21)

“The WHOLE church takes the WHOLE gospel to the WHOLE world"

– Motto of Lausanne I, 1974

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

The heart of evangelism


The heart of evangelism is loving people into the kingdom through genuine friendships where God’s grace is exemplified through our lives - Chris Smith (read more here: www.byhisgrace.cc/harvest)

“Life is real! Life is earnest!”

Tell me not in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou are, to dust thou returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

(Read the whole poem by H W Longfellow under “Poetry”)

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Chilean miner’s T-shirt

When Alex Vega, Bible in hand, emerged from the capsule, he proudly displayed his shirt . In front was the phrase "¡Gracias Señor! Thank you Lord.“ phrase "¡Gracias Señor! Thank you Lord.“ On the back it reads another sentence that says: “In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him… For Him is the honor and glory", which corresponds to verse 4 of Psalm 95. (Read on and read the whole story here: http://www.immanuelsda.org/article.php?id=105 )

Saturday, October 23, 2010

How God reveals Himself

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deutr 29:29)
According to the Bible, there are a number of ways through which God has revealed Himself to man through the ages, e.g. by speaking directly (like to Noah and Abraham), dreams (like Jacob) by telling people to write down His words as a general message (the prophets) and also through nature (Ps 19). In “reformed speak”, we usually talk about general (through nature) and specific revelation (the Bible). What has struck me about the quoted verse, is that some things are revealed, and some not and also that there is purpose in the revelation. How privileged we are, to have such intimate knowledge about the Living God!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

"The greatest disgrace in Christian history?"

"The Episcopal Church is the greatest disgrace in Christian history and it is being led down the path by so called Christian leadership." (
Lausanne III conference, read more under comments, and also read here: http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=13415 )

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Arabic algorhythms

Did YOU know this? “Called the Hindu-Arabic numerals, the numbers were first invented by the Indian mathematicians, subsequently, the numerals were adopted by the Persian mathematicians in India, and passed on to the Arabs further west. From there they were transmitted to Europe in the Middle Ages. The use of Arabic numerals spread around the world through European trade, books and colonialism. Today they are the most common symbolic representation of numbers in the world.”
Read more here:
http://www.shirleyshannon.com/Blog/2010/06/the-beauty-and-intelligence-of-arabic-algorithms/

Lausanne III – massive congress on evangelism in SA

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA—The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelism, Cape Town 2010, began on Sunday evening with a multimedia, music, and dance presentation welcoming the 4,000 participants from 198 nations to Africa.

Keep track here: http://www.lausanne.org/cape-town-2010

Thursday, October 14, 2010

“He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother...”

In an 1918 publication by Ralph Waldo Trine titled "The Higher Powers of Mind and Spirit" he relates the following anecdote: "Do you know that incident in connection with the little Scottish girl? She was trudging along, carrying as best she could a boy younger, but it seemed almost as big as she herself, when one remarked to her how heavy he must be for her to carry, when instantly came the reply: 'He's na heavy. He's mi brither.'" (Read here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/He_Ain't_Heavy,_He's_My_Brother) The Hollies lyrics under comments

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Theological implications of human evolution

(From BYLOGOS, here: http://bylogos.blogspot.com/2010/10/evolution-of-calvin-college.html )

"Following mainstream science, Drs. Harlow and Schneider presume that humans did not originate from a single pair 6000 years ago but, rather, from a population of about 10,000 interbreeding individuals living in Africa about 150,000 years ago. Consequently, Dr. Harlow (and Dr. Schneider) favour the view that "Adam and Eve are strictly literary figures—characters in a divinely inspired story about the imagined past that intends to teach primarily theological, not historical, truths about God, creation, and humanity." (read on... )

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Saved! Gered!


Praise the Lord, o my soul.. the first mineworker is rescued... tears are streaming down my cheeks as I recall the little boy clutching his father’s legs... it must be old age that I am so moved by something happening on the other side of the earth....

Loof die Here, o my siel.... die eerste mynwerker is gered! Trane stroom oor my wange - ek sien die hele tyd die huilende seuntjie wat sy pappa se bene vasklou.. ai, moet die ouderdom wees , dat iets aan die anderkant van die aarde my so diep raak.....

Monday, October 11, 2010

"Teleportation"

I learned a new word today, thanks to a friend, Yf, who is part of our team on another blog. If we become too many on planet Earth, he suggested that we could "teleport" some to Goldilocks, the newly discovered planet which looks as if it could support life.

According to Wikipedia (here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleportation) ‘Teleportation' is the transfer of matter from one point to another, more or less instantaneously. Teleportation has been widely utilized in works of science fiction and fantasy.

Proudly South African! SA’s role in Chilean rescue

S-Africans, buy today’s Citizen and share my pride and joy – “we” played an important role in the rescue of the mine workers: Murray and Roberts, a mining engineering company played a large role (and continues playing a role) in the rescue of the 33 trapped miners ... also mentioned in the editorial....

Read full story here: http://www.citizen.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=131992&catid=80:breaking-news&Itemid=132

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Einstein and evolution

Albert Einstein, Jewish mastermind who endowed science with the theory of relativity, when asked whether there was a Creator or not, responded with this reply, "For every design, there is a Designer"

Albert was not extremely religious, but even he could not reject the fact that our universe could not have come to existence without intelligent design. Could it be that his reason for this stance was because he fully understood the complexity of our universe?

Friday, October 8, 2010

"Los Heroes de Chile”

According to the Mirror: “The 33 Chilean miners trapped underground for two months could be freed within 10 days, the country's president said yesterday. Rescuers estimate a relief tunnel could reach the men, trapped 2,300ft beneath the Atacama desert, within the next two days. They have been there since August 5. President Sebastian Pinera said his government is "very close" to freeing the miners and he hopes to be there to see the rescue before leaving on a trip to Europe” - - this would be an answer to many prayers!!!
(Read more here:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/10/06/chile-miners-33-trapped-workers-free-in-10-days-115875-22612301/)

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Is there life on other planets?

The newly discovered “Goldilocks” , a planet which may support some or other form of life, has revived this age-old question. It is also addressed under the topic “Aliens and Christians” by Prof. Dr John Bijl here: http://bylogos.blogspot.com/2010/10/aliens-and-christians.html
(Read on)

Monday, October 4, 2010

A Forest Hymn

( poem by William Cullen Bryant )


The groves were God's first temples.
Ere man learned
To hew the shaft, and lay the architrave,
And spread the roof above them,---ere he framed
The lofty vault, to gather and roll back
The sound of anthems; in the darkling wood,
Amidst the cool and silence, he knelt down,
And offered to the Mightiest solemn thanks
And supplication. For his simple heart
Might not resist the sacred influences,
Which, from the stilly twilight of the place,
And from the gray old trunks that high in heaven
Mingled their mossy boughs, and from the sound
Of the invisible breath that swayed at once
All their green tops, stole over him, and bowed
His spirit with the thought of boundless power
And inaccessible majesty. (Read on under comments)

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Christian Poetry/ Christelike Poësie

If You Think You are Beaten

(By:Walter D. Wintle
If you think you are beaten, you are.If you think you dare not, you don't.If you'd like to win but think you can't,It's almost certain you won't.Life's battles don't always goTo the stronger or faster man,But sooner or later, the man who winsIs the man who thinks he can.

Are you suffering from affluenza?

The term is said to have been coined by Oliver James (born 1953) is a clinical psychologist.
According to Wikipedia (here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affluenza) it is an “illness” with the following symptoms:
1. The bloated, sluggish and unfulfilled feeling that results from efforts to keep up with the Joneses
2. An epidemic of stress, overwork, waste and indebtedness caused by the pursuit of the American Dream
3. An unsustainable addiciton to to economic growth.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

"Waiting for superman" - in USA schools....

It seems as if we in South Africa are not the only ones with under-achieving schools. The USA has the same problem. A documentary film “Waiting for superman” has recently been made on the issue. What the film seems to advocate is widespread reform of the public school system, ranging from longer school terms to more stringent accountability standards for teachers.

Read more here: http://www.umportal.org/article.asp?id=7171

It seems as if the movie is causing quite a storm.... : http://talkingunion.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/grading-waiting-for-superman/

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Antisocial personality disorder

People with APD (Antisocial personality disorder ) make life very difficult for others. they are rigid and tend to respond inappropriately to problems, to the point that relationships with family members, friends, and co-workers are affected.
Read more here: http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec07/ch105/ch105a.html

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

"WAITING ON GOD": Book by Andrew Murray

There is free download of this precious book here: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/murray/waiting.txt

This is the table of contents (Bible study for 31 days):

1. The God of our Salvation.--Ps. 62:1

2. The Keynote of Life.--Gen. 49:18

3. The True Place of the Creature.--Ps. 104:27, 28

4. For Supplies.--Ps. 114:14, 15 (Read on under comments)

Waiting on God... verses from Psalms

Psa 27:14: Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Psa 130:5-6: I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Waiting on God... why is it so difficult?

Abraham wanted an heir. He got impatient and tried to “help” God... with farreaching effects, even for today.

Bob Sorge’s book: “The fire of delayed answers” has some wonderful teaching on the subject.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

"I believe in the Man crucified for the sake of love..."

A line from Johansson's hymn "I'm always on the move." (Dankie Ingrid!)

I'm always on the road to a distant destination
beyond what we call time and space.
This goal gives me courage gives me strength give me inspiration
to meet the years that I now have before me.

So whatever I do whatever I will take me to
I'll never let go
about this invisible hand of the Lord stretched me.
No, whatever I do whatever I will take me to
I will never let go
about this invisible country which is called heaven. (Read on)

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Three wise monkeys


"See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". (Read here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_wise_monkeys)
In many interpretations it can be seen as a way to avoid spreading evil. Do not listen to evil things so they do not influence you. Do not read things that are evil or look upon evil things so they do not influence you, and lastly do not repeat verbally evil things so they cannot be spread about.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Bless the Lord!


There are so many things to thank God for......

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Kinderwet in Suid-Afrika

Om deel te wees van ‘n baie jong demokrasie, het voordele. Een daarvan is die besondere kinderwet wat vanjaar in SA van krag geword het, na baie jare van intensiewe navorsing. Dit bring ’n nuwe bedeling vir kinders waarin hul beste belange deurgaans vooropgestel word.

Maatskaplike werkers is veral dankbaar dat die wet gebruik kan word waar kontak met kinders as straf deur die ander ouer weerhou word of enige ander wyse gebruik word om een van die ouers te boelie, en kinders gebruik word om die ander ouer se wense te vervul, hoe onregverdig ook al.

My Pa is die Koning van die heelal jy weet!

(Uit Danie Botha se lied: My Pa is die Koning)

My Pa is die Koning van die heelal jy weet .... ek is die Koning se kind, ja dit maak my 'n prins (prinses)...


Jy glimlag so breed as jy my vriendelik groet
Jy lyk tog so selfversekerd
Met die wêreld aan jou voete
Voel jy soos 'n reus,
bly die lewe 'n fees

As teëspoed jou tref, dan skeel dit jou min
Dit lyk of jy dans as jy loop
Ek kon dit nooit verstaan nie
Ek moes die antwoord hê, en toe hoor ek jou sê:

Refrein:
My Pa is die Koning van die heelal jy weet
En kom wat wil ek sal dit nooit vergeet
Die wind kan waai, die berge kan val
Hy't gesê Hy voorsien en Hy sal
Ek's die Koning se kind, ja dit maak my 'n prins
My lewe is Christus, selfs die dood is 'n wins
Vir niks is ek bang nie, dit sê ek jou nou
My Pa is die Koning onthou

Hoe moes ek nou voel, ek wens ek was jy
Maar ek's net 'n gewone ou
Dit klink onregverdig
Om 'n koning te hê vir wie jy Pa kan sê

Toe't jy my genooi, jy sê kom luister nou mooi
Hoe kan jy tog so gou vergeet?
Ons is mede erfgename
En toe ek my kon kry, to sê jy vir my:

Refrein:
Jou Pa is die Koning van die heelal jy weet
En kom wat wil jy moet dit nooit vergeet nie
Die wind kan waai, die berge kan val
Hy't gesê Hy voorsien en Hy sal
Jy's die Koning se kind, ja dit maak jou 'n prins
Jou lewe is Christus, selfs die dood is 'n wins
Vir niks is jy bang nie, of wat sê ek nou
Jou Pa is die Koning onthou

Saturday, September 18, 2010

“We're going to name her Hope!”

Desperate people, in desperate circumstances, but still hopeful .... This story is SOOO inspiring!
A baby girl has just been born to the wife of Ticona, one of the 33 men who have been trapped underground for more than40 days after a mine in northern Chile collapsed. A rare piece of good news among all the bad, when Esperanza Ticona was born, weighing nearly 7lbs and measuring almost 19ins long.

'Tell her to change the name of our daughter... and give her a long-distance kiss!' Ticona said as the other miners shouted: 'We're going to name her Hope!'

Segovia, Ticona’s wife, told Chile's Canal 13 network that she had exactly the same thought about her name.

'She was going to be named Carolina Elizabeth, but now her name will be Esperanza Elizabeth".

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1311881/Hope-trapped-Chilean-miners-mans-wife-gives-birth-baby-Esperanza.html#ixzz0ztJaCr5t

Friday, September 17, 2010

God’s special love for children – “millstone around the neck ... Woe!”


After the death of my husband and first born son in an aeroplane crash, I had to raise my other four children by myself. God’s special love for children encouraged me tremendously.

Just picture that in your mind’s eye: a person about to jump into the sea, a great millstone around the neck... where does this image come from?

Few places in the Bible have a better description of God’s profound love for children than Matthew 18. After calling a little child to them and placing him in their midst, Jesus talks about the importance of children. Amongst the things He said, was this (verse 6): “... whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in and acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin (that is, who entices him or hinders him in right conduct or thought), it would be better (more expedient and profitable or advantageous ) for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be sunk in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world for such temptations to sin and influences to do wrong! ” [Amplified Bible].

It also taught me not only as a mother but also as an educator about the care that should be taken in educating children. We were taught that for those hours that another person's child was placed in your care, you are "in loco parentis" : in the place of that child's parent.

What a privilege, but, on the other hand: what a responsibility...

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Almost a Thousand Scientists Dissent from Darwin!

Dr Don Boys says that almost a thousand major scientists dissent from Darwin, here: http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/22722

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Being a “cheerleader”


Most sports nowadays have cheerleaders to keep the spirits high, motivate and urge teams to give their utmost.

We all need cheerleaders to encourage us along life’s journey. As Christians we are so fortunate to have fellow-Christians to help us along and through difficult times. As it says in Hebrews 12:1:

“Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (who have borne testimony to the Truth), let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us”.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Burning "sacred" books....

The plans of building a Muslim mosque near Ground Zero still makes waves. A Florida pastor is so upset that he threatened to burn the Koran. The burning of “sacred” books as a significant act is not new – we read about it in Acts 19 verse 19. Some people in Ephesus burnt their books on sorcery after Paul’s preaching convinced them of the truth of Christianity.

And here in South Africa a Muslim threatens to retaliate and burn a Bible, should the Florida pastor carry out his threat....

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Lack of ethics the tragedy behind Chile’s mining tragedy?

It seems as if the mining company’s greed in a way caused this tragedy. When making money is more important than securing the safety of workers ... this is what happens. Vitims of a ruthless drive for profit...
Read more here: http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/sep2010/chil-s03.shtml

Sunday, September 5, 2010

The Word of the one true and living God

The Bible, the Word of the one true and living God, is the truth and the only source of truth that convicts of sin, warns of judgment, saves the sinner, purifies, cleanses, matures the believer and gives the hope of eternal glory. (John McArthur)

Saturday, September 4, 2010

The importance of HOPE

Hope. "Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air, but only for one second without hope." (Hal Lindsey)

"Take from a man his wealth, and you hinder him; take from him his purpose, and you slow him down. But take from man his hope, and you stop him. He can go on without wealth, and even without purpose, for a while. But he will not go on without hope," is what C. Neil Strait said.

Film actor Christopher Reeve said: "Once you choose hope, anything's possible."

Hope Quotes here: http://www.great-inspirational-quotes.com/hope-quotes.html

At CAMP HOPE - waiting for 33 miners to be rescued

33 miners were trapped in a mine in Chile’s Atacama Desert. A camp, called Camp Hope, has been set up for relatives where they can stay until Christmas, when rescuers hope to get the miners out.
A rescue shaft 26 inches in diameter (the size of a bicycle tyre) is being bored, so that men can be lifted through this hole. It is expected that it could take three to four months to complete this rescue shaft.
In the meantime two other narrow shafts had been bored, through which food is lowered. call long thin cargo capsules called"doves", are used to supply the miners with everything from basic supplies of water, food and medicines to telephone lines, mini-video projectors and games and most important: letters from family and friends.
Read full story here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/chile/7969542/Camp-Hope-families-wait-in-Chiles-Atacama-Desert-for-trapped-miners.html

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

“Kreasionisme”-gogga maak bang!



Dit lyk my die sogenaamde “kreasionisme” gogga is besig om oral evolusionisme-baba’s bang te maak, van koerante, webblaaie tot blogs... Daar word selfs gepraat van “die gevare van kreasionisme!” Tot in die Europese parlement! ! (http://assembly.coe.int/main.asp?link=/documents/adoptedtext/ta07/eres1580.htm)
Drogbeelde van hul eie verbeelding...

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Are you tired, worn out?

There are answers to your fatigue - in creation....
Isaiah 40 28-29 says: "Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
he gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless."

Walter Brueggemann comments as follows: “Creation not only works for the powerful, the mighty, and the knowledgeable. It works as well for the faint, the powerless, the hopeless and the worthless. It works by giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater. It works so that strength is renewed. It is creation that precludes weariness and faintness, and invites walking, running and flying.

Evangelical concern may derivatively raise the issue of our terrible disorderedness that issues in unseemly anxiety and in inescapable fatigue. It is a good question to raise in a local parish; Why so driven, so insatiable, so restless? The answer, in this doxological tradition, is that our lives are driven because we are seriously at variance from God's gracious food-giving program.

And where there is a variance and a refusal to trust: youth are faint and weary,
the young are exhausted,and there is little liberated flying or exhilarated running. (Isaiah 40.30)”

Monday, August 23, 2010

Burning issues in the church today

Burning issues in the church today
“The biggest debate in the church today is not about what is true, but what
teaching should be allowed. We believe a lot of different things. People
in the same local church congregation often have different views on lots of
things. There is even more diversity in the same denomination. People grow
up in churches and adopt different beliefs to their parents. Should they be
thrown out or silenced? Who should be allowed in the pulpit? Who should be
allowed to publish in church magazines and newspapers? If we hear something
with which we don't agree in the pulpit should we keep quiet or object? And
does this really all matter?” – Philip Rosenthal ( For this very informative article, please log onto: http://emergingthreat.blogspot.com/)

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

The arrogance of scientism


What is “scientism”? When claims are made that the use of the scientific method is the only mode of reaching knowledge, that it is superior to any other method and these claims reach the levels of an ideology, one can talk of scientism.
Where on earth does the idea come from that science alone has all the answers to the world and its reality? That it is superior to and is the most authoritative of all other ways of understanding the universe? People who see science as the absolute access to “the truth” apparently believe only in what can be identified by the five senses, that which can be measured or calculated in some or other form.
Their reality poses a single dimension, limits reality and disregards a multitude of other realities. One is thankful for those universities that still have departments of social and behavioural “sciences” instead of merely calling them “the humanities”.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Read your Bible diligently, because....

"The Bible should be studied with the Bible" (J Vernon McGee)

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Do all roads lead to God?


Because of racial tensions and looming religious wars all over the world, the interfaith or ecumenical movement is gaining momentum.( Read here: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/apr/05/interfaith-movement-gains-new-strength/)
They try to advocate the idea that all roads lead to God. So that is the question: do all roads lead to God? How do we as Christians see this statement: “All roads lead to God”?

Friday, August 13, 2010

When my compass reading is totally wrong...


God’s words of pure, eternal truth
Shall yet unshaken stay,
When all that man has thought or planned,
Like chaff has passed away. —Anon.

The first point of wisdom is to know the truth; the second, to discern what is false.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

“We were made by God and for God”

You will enjoy the new insights that Rick Warren has, with his wife now having cancer and him having 'wealth' from the book sales. This is an absolutely incredible short interview with Rick Warren, 'Purpose Driven Life ' author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California .
In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said:
People ask me, What is the purpose of life?
And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were not made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven. (Read on)

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Answers to spiritual questions – Where and how?

One of the key characteristics of postmodernism is to deny objective truths. They seem to be obsessed with the idea of uncertainty. This uncertainty is flaunted like a medal – as if it is something to be proud of. Quite contrary to the Bible, which says amongst others, that the truth will set us free.....

Fluitspeler fluit lustig voort.

In ‘n artikel ”Stomme aanvaarding skep ruimte vir afgode” in vandag se RAPPORT speel mnr. Izak du Plessis maar weer die eentonige deuntjie van verdagmakery teen die NG kerk en gebruik hy die geleentheid om sy eie “kerk” te adverteer terwyl hy persone in die kerk diskrediteer. Iewers in die artikel sê hy: “Om sin van geloof te maak vir die tyd waarin ons leef, is dit nodig dat ons ewig soekende sal bly en vrae sal vra” - die hooftema van die artikel gaan oor vrae en antwoorde. Met die vra van geloofsvrae en soeke na antwoorde het ek nie ‘n probleem nie. Waarmee ek wel ‘n problem het , is hóé mens soek en wáár mens soek na antwoorde. (lees verder)

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

My Rock! My Fortress!

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength in whom I trust. Psalm 18:2

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

I Surrender All


(Song, lyrics by Judson van Deventer)
1. All to Jesus I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
o Refrain:
I surrender all,
I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.(Read on)

Monday, July 26, 2010

Why Women Cry


A little boy asked his Mom, "Why are you crying?"
"Because I'm a woman," she told him. "I don't understand," he said. His Mom just hugged him and said, "And, you never will." Later the little boy asked his Dad, "Why does Mom seem to cry for no reason?" (Read on)

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Faith and reason debate II

Some time ago we wrote on this blog about this debate here: http://henrietta-henriettahelpcom.blogspot.com/2010/06/faith-and-reason-debate-with.html

and also here: http://onsgeloofgesprek.blogspot.com/2010/06/faith-and-reason-debate-with.html

DVDs and CDs on these debates are now available (http://www.antwoord.org.za/node/247)
Some interesting comments on the debate can be read here: www.antwoord.org.za/node/233

Monday, July 19, 2010

He Changed my life - Josh McDowell

From: The New Evidence that demands a verdict
And: More than a Carpenter

Thomas Aquinas wrote, “There is within every soul a thirst for happiness and meaning.” As a teenager, I exemplified this statement. I wanted to be happy and to find meaning for my life. I wanted the answers to three basic questions: Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? These are life's tough questions. I would estimate that 90 percent of people age forty and younger cannot answer these questions. But I was thirsty to know what life was about. So as a young student, I started looking for answers. (Read on under comments)

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

Do you know that how you see Jesus determines what you receive from Him? If you see Jesus as your healer, you will receive healing. If you see Jesus as your refuge and fortress, you will receive protection. (Joseph Prince)

Mark 8:29
29He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”

Friday, July 16, 2010

Oldest written document ever found in Jesusalem

A tiny clay fragment, dating from the 14th century BCE that was found in excavations outside Jerusalem’s Old City walls, contains the oldest written document ever found in Jerusalem, say researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The find, believed to be part of a tablet from a royal archive, further testifies to the importance of Jerusalem as a major city in the Late Bronze Age, long before its conquest by King David, they say.
Read more here: http://www.bridgesforpeace.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=6990

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Truth or Tolerance?

Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetle wrote a book, “The New Tolerance: How a cultural movement threatens to destroy you, your faith, and your children” (1998).

A bit more than ten years later, and “tolerance” is again becoming the buzz word, the politically correct word. One of the latest meanings is tolerance towards all values, all beliefs, all lifestyles, all truth. Christianity’s claim to be the only way to God is especially seen as intolerant. Should Christians exchange what they see as truth, for the “new tolerance”?

Thursday, July 1, 2010

How do you like your coffee ?



How do you like your coffee ?
“... like I like my woman: Strong and sweet”? Read here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopi_Luwak
Most expensive coffee in the world, they say .... Baie dankie maar ... hou verby, Doris Day...

Understanding the works of God....?

We understand nothing of the works of God unless we take it as a principle that He wishes to blind some and to enlighten others (Pascal)

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

How strict are you with your children?

A 16-year old teenager ‘s father is too strict – she may live on her own.
In a watershed decision, a Western Cape High Court judge has allowed a city teenager to live semi-independently of her strict parents after she applied to be emancipated from them.(Read on)

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Doumas doubts

Very interesting posting on Dr. John Bijl’s blog. (Read here: http://bylogos.blogspot.com/2010/06/doumas-doubts.html)

Dr. Bijl says: “The prime issue is biblical authority”. So true, and it is fuelled by “scientism” – idolizing science. The spectacular progress that natural sciences has made in the last few centuries have led to immeasurable arrogance of their followers. Interest in science is carried to such extremes that it almost becomes a belief.

My Jesus, my Savior

(My Jesus, my Savior - one of my favourites by Michael W Smith)

My Jesus, My Saviour,
Lord there is no one like you,
All of my days, I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love.(Read on)

First called "Christians" in Antioch...

Still on the topic of Christians...

Acts 11: 26: “And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch”. One commentary explains: ... meaning “Christ’s people”. “Christ” was a mere personal name in gentile ears, whereas to the Jews it meant”Messiah” and they would not have called the followers of Jesus “Messiah’s people” ...

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Húlle is nie Christene nie?

Johan Theunissen van Bronkhorstspruit skryf in Beeld vandag:
Mense wat oor God twyfel, is nie Christene – ‘finish’ en klaar!
Lees hier: http://www.beeld.com/MyBeeld/Briewe

Friday, June 18, 2010

The meaning of the word “Christian”

(In a way this is a continuation of the previous post ) . The word Christian is derived from the word Christ. In the Bible we read of Christ Jesus, or Jesus Christ. The word is derived from the Greek word “Christos”, which means anointed. It has the same meaning as the Hebrew word “Messiah” . This means saviour, the one who comes to save. (Read on)

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Can a Christian deny the virgin birth?

And deny the resurrection. And Christ’s ascension. And... and... and... Of course this will bring us to the definition of a Christian – who is a Christian? A loose definition would be: “A follower of Christ”. But that is too wide. Then people who believe in Jesus as a historical figure and admire his ways and life, may also call themselves Christians (Read on).

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Hoeveel fluitspelers is daar nog in die NG kerk?

In die artikel “Reis sonder ‘n goeie einde” (Beeld, 15 Junie 2010. Lees hier: http://www.beeld.com/In-Diepte/Nuus/Reis-sonder-n-goeie-einde-20100614 ) as antwoord op Neels Jackson se artikel oor Ds. Izak du Plessis gebruik Ds. Andries Louw die beeld van die fluitspeler van Hamelin wat kinders weglok. Dit is besonder toepaslik, want is dit nie juis wat op die oomblik in vele NG gemeentes gebeur nie? (Lees verder)

Friday, June 11, 2010

How private my faith...?

Can I really say: “My faith is my own business?” Even without considering what the Bible says, this statement is untenable. My beliefs permeate my whole being, the way I see things, the way I say things, the way I do things. And it DOES matter, especially when one is a leader.

The Bible has lots to say about the matter. One metaphor of belief is that it should be like a light that shines for all to see. (Mat 5:14-15). Another that one’s faith is like salt- the moment one takes a mouthful of saltless food, it is noticed... Mark 8:38 states that one should not be ashamed of one’s faith and in Rom 1:16 Paul says that he is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ...

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Keep the Gospel Clear!

Keep the issue clear:
• The issue is sin, and Who is going to forgive it.

Keep the direction clear:
• It is from the Giver to the recipient. The gift of righteousness is given when you believe.

Keep the requirements clear:
• It is salvation through FAITH. There is nothing more!

— Charles Ryrie

On the right track?

Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there (Will Rogers)

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Faith and Reason debate with Spangenberg and Wolmarans

For William Lane Craig’s summary of the Faith and Reason debate held in South Africa recently read on.....

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Dynamite!



The word dynamite is related to the word dunamis, which is used a number of times when the Bible talks about Godly power. We read for instance in Ephesians 1: 19 and 20 about “ ..... the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power (dunamis) in and for us who believe... (v 19)... which He excerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him.. in the heavenly places (v 20). “His dynamiac, methonic, hyperballistic power, His incomparably great power!” The power at work in us is resurrection power! We share in Christ’s victory over sin and death – praise God!

Friday, May 28, 2010

Fulfillment in life

... is discovering our own uniqueness in Christ and using our gifts and talents to edify others and to glorify the Lord (Neil Anderson)

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Life in the Spirit

"He (the Holy Spirit) brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard: affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity; we develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshall and direct our energies wisely. " The Message, Gal 5:22

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Celebrating the outpouring of the Holy Spirit...

Yes, that's tomorrow. In Rom 8 the Spirit and what He does is mentioned several times. "The resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a child-like "What's next, Papa?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are." (from Rom 8, The Message).

Friday, May 21, 2010

Run to God!

Don't assume that you know it all. "Trust God from the bottom of your heart". The Message Prov 3:5

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Promises of God

Whatever God has promised gets stanped with the Yes of Jesus - 2 Cor 1:20, The Message

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Freedom

Freedom does not just lie in the excercise of choice; it ultimately lies in the consequences of those choices. If I rob a bank, even the fear of being caught would mean the loss of my freedom

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Saved and sanctified by faith

We are saved by faith and are being sanctified by faith. We are neither saved nor sanctified by how we behave but by how we believe (Gal 3:2)

Monday, May 17, 2010

The sufficiency of God's grace...

When Paul realized this, he said: "... I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strenght moving in on my weakness." (2 Cor 12:8, The Message)

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Dealing with issues

Embrace your uniqueness. Embrace GOD!

Friday, May 14, 2010

Overcoming pain and weakness...

One would think that the best way of overcoming these, would be to fight them - not so: the best way is to embrace them.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Ascension Day blessings...

Stretching His arms, Jesus lifted His scarred hands. "...while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven." (Luke 24:51). Oh how sweet, how heartwarming, the knowledge of these very last actions of our loving Saviour!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Introspection does not illuminate...

Biblical understanding does not come by introspection. Only the Spirit of God can illuminate our minds to grasp Biblical Truths. "In Thy Light we see light" ( Ps 36:9)

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Unregenerated man.,

Without regeneration by the Holy Spirit, man's understanding is darkened.,

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Faith and Reason conference

Op 12 Mei is daar 'n debat tussen professore William Lane-Craig en Michael Lacona van Amerika aan die een kant, en professore Sakkie Spangenberg en Hansie Wolmarans aan die ander by Tukkies se Musaieon saal om 7 pm. Toegang R20 by die deur.
Lees meer hier: http://www.antwoord.org.za/node/211

Tot wederzien....


Dankie Liza! Terwyl ons so vreemde tale praat:

Tot wederzien, tot wederzien.
Eens kom ik weer terug.
Dus wees niet bang het duurt niet lang.
De tijd verstrijkt zo vlug.
Tot wederzien, tot wederzien.
Al weet ik niet wanneer.
Maar niet getreurd wat opgefleurd.
Wij zien elkander weer.

Bon Voyage

GENIET DIT EN KOM VEILIG TUIS!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

“Once saved, always saved”?

Is it possible for a child of God to sin in such a way that he/she falls from grace? What does the Bible teach?

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Revival in the time of Andrew Murray

In 1860 Andrew Murray accepted a call to pastor the church at Worcester. His induction to the church coincided with a revival and missions conference made up of 374 South African ministers. The conference was planned for the specific purpose of encouraging spiritual revival and recruiting new workers and missionaries for the Dutch Reformed churches of South Africa.

Shortly after the conference, a meeting of young people was held at the church on a Sunday evening. It was at this meeting that the Spirit of revival unexpectedly broke out. The meeting moved along as expected, until an unassuming 15-year-old black girl stood up to pray. Mr. Murray’s associate, J. C. deVries, was overseeing the prayer meeting and gives us an eyewitness account of these extraordinary events. "On a certain Sunday evening there were gathered in a little hall some sixty young people. I was the leader of the meeting, which began with a hymn and a lesson from God’s Word, after which I prayed. Three or four others gave out a verse of a hymn and prayed, as was the custom. (Read more)

Andrew Murray- (1828-1917), South-African Dutch Reformed leader, author of devotional writings



Andrew Murray was born on May 9th, 1828 in a Dutch Reformed parsonage in South Africa. In 1838, at the age of ten, Andrew left home with his brother John to study in Scotland. The two brothers were ordained at The Hague on Andrew’s twentieth birthday, leaving soon afterwards to begin their work in South Africa.
After ordination in 1848 he served pastorates at Bloemfontein, Worcester, Cape Town, and Wellington. He helped to found what are now the University College of the Orange Free State and the Stellenbosch Seminary He served as Moderator of the Cape Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church and was president of both the YMCA (1865) and the South Africa General Mission (1888-1917), now the Africa Evangelical Fellowship. (Read more)

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

“Wasteful efforts”?

The action of the woman we read about in Mat 26, who poured an alabaster box of very precious ointment on the head of Jesus, was called wasteful by the disciples. In the same way, one can talk about the actions of David and three of his mighty men (2 Sam 23) as wasteful. (read on)

Mighty men

Angus Buchan’s massive Mighty Men Conference (250 to 300,000 men camping for a whole weekend) has been the talk of the town in SA lately. The term "Mighty Men" refers to brave men, followers of King David, mentioned in 2 Samuel 23 ( and also in 1 Chron 11). There we read about thirty brave men, some named, some unnamed. Three of them must have been exceptionally brave, because their names are given: Jashobeam, Eleazar and Shammah. (Read on)

Monday, April 19, 2010

Heart Cry...


Burning Heart conferences, to commemorate the 1860 (" Andrew Murray" ) Revival in South Africa - read more and be inspired, here:
http://www.heartcrysa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29

Sunday, April 18, 2010

“VAT VLAM” HERLEWINGSFEESTE 2010


Die “Vat vlam”-herlewingskonferensies staan gehou te word op 18 Mei te Moreleta Park Gemeente en ook in die NG Kerk moedergemeente te Worcester. Tydens Pinkster 2010 herdenk ons die 1860 herlewing wat in die tyd van Ds Andrew Murray begin het. Die doel is om God te dank vir dit wat Hy doen en gedoen het, maar ook om Hom opnuut te vertrou vir herlewing in sy kerk.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Lawsuit against demotion for support of Intelligent Design

How free are we to express our beliefs?
A man has filed a lawsuit against being demoted for his support of ID. Read more here: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/discrimination-lawsuit-filed-against-nasas-jet-propulsion-lab-for-harassing-and-demoting-supporter-of-intelligent-design-90948099.html

Sound economic wisdom...

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving." (Read on)

Thursday, April 15, 2010

As precious as pearls.


The Truth that the Almighty has given us is precious. It is the pearl of great price, a priceless gift that is worth more than all the riches of the universe. Because it is precious, it is rare.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

!Kung bushmen of the Kalahari

Read more about them here: http://abbott-infotech.co.za/tribes%20in%20the%20kalahari.html)

Sunday, April 11, 2010

The power of words

Prov 18: 21: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue... “
“Why is propaganda so much more successful when it stirs up hatred than when it tries to stir up friendly feeling?“ Bertrand Russell.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Reformed Academics and evolution, once again...




Dr Byl, like a watchman and blowing the trumpet (Eze 33:3) on this important issue!
(Read at: http://bylogos.blogspot.com/2010/04/reformedacademic-endorses-evolution-2.html)

Politics in the time of Jesus.

In the time of Jesus, the Jews were a minority who suffered under the rule of the powerful Roman Empire. The Jews were waiting for some strong figure, a messiah, to overthrow the Roman Rule and free the Jews from their dominance. Josephus talks about the four sects of Judaism in the early years of Christianity. These were the Sadducees, the Pharisees , the Essenes and a fourth mixed group, who were seen as the “revolutionaries”. The Zealots (remember Simon Selotes in Luke?) and the Sicarii were among this last group (read on)

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Ten reasons why evolution is dangerous...

Read more here: http://yinkahdinay.wordpress.com/2010/01/22/ten-reasons-why-evolution-is-dangerous-and-evil/

Revenge, retaliation

Revenge, retaliation – these are the words uttered by his supporters, after the brutal murder of Eugene Terre’Blanche , leader of a right-wing party in South Africa. How should we as Christians treat such a horrendous deed?

Monday, April 5, 2010

Please change your mind!

Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. – GB Shaw

Groei jy, of gly jy?

Die opstanding het nut. Só word verklaar by die antwoord van vr 45, Sondag 17, in die NGB. (Lees verder)

Sunday, April 4, 2010

The Lord is risen from the dead!

Light’s glittering morn bedecks the sky(John Neale)

Part I
Light's glittering morn bedecks the sky;
heaven thunders forth its victor cry;
the glad earth shouts her triumph high,
and groaning hell makes wild reply. (Read on)

Die Heer het waarlik opgestaan!

Triomf, triomf Immanuel! Triomf, die Heer het opgestaan! Die laaste vyand is verslaan, Geen mag hou Hom gebonde. Wie in Hom sterf, sal met Hom leef . (enkele reëls uit ou Gesang 149)

Saturday, April 3, 2010

O Hoofd Bedekt met Wonden...

O hoofd, bedekt met wonden,
beslaan met smart en hoon,
o hoofd, ten spot ombonden
met ene doornenkroon,
eertijds gekroond met stralen
van meer dan aardse gloed,
waarlangs nu drupp'len dalen:
'k breng zeeg'nend U mijn groet!

Songs for Passover


Ah, Holy Jesus
( Johann Heermann).
Ah, holy Jesus, how hast Thou offended,
That man to judge Thee hath in hate pretended?
By foes derided, by Thine own rejected,
O most afflicted.

Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon Thee?
Alas my treason, Jesus, hath undone Thee.
’Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied Thee.
I crucified Thee. (Read on)

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Good books on Genesis

Prof. Dr . John Byl suggests some good (and warns against some not so good) books on Genesis, here:
http://bylogos.blogspot.com/2010/03/good-books-on-genesis.html

How blessed can one be?


Kinders, skoonkinders, kleinkinders - HOE geseënd kan mens wees?

Garden wedding... under the chuppah


My last-born, Lilli and her husband, Jurie Verster, celebrate their wedding at Shady Acres, Potchefstroom.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Count your blessings...

Count Your Blessings
Ephesians 1:3
Words by Johnson Oatman, Jr., 1856-1922
Music by Edwin O. Excell, 1851-1921
Verse 1
When upon life's billows You are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged Thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings Name them one by one,
And it will surprise you What the Lord hath done.

Chorus:
Count your blessings Name them one by one.
Count your blessings See what God hath done.
Count your blessings Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings See what God hath done. (Read on)

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

"Your children are not your children..."

Another Kahlil Gibran poem:

On Children

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you. (read on)

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Pain

And a woman spoke, saying, "Tell us of Pain." (Read on under comments)

Accommodation Error

The theological principle of Accommodation is that God, while being in his nature unknowable and unreachable, has nevertheless communicated with mankind in a way in which humans can understand and respond.

Prof John Byl discusses different kinds of accommodation in an article here: http://bylogos.blogspot.com/2010/03/accommodating-error.html (Read on under comments)

Saturday, March 20, 2010

“Hoofstroommens” Hoffie Hofmeyr vat Julian Müller aan

WONDERLIK om te weet mens is nie stem roepende in die woestyn nie! In BY van Beeld, vandag , nie elektronies beskikbaar nie (lees verder)

Friday, March 19, 2010

Famous Jerusalem Synagogue Rebuilt

The Hurva Synagogue in Jerusalem's Old City, which has already been destroyed and rebuilt once in its 300-year history, has been restored once again. Ynet reported that on Monday [March 15], the new Hurva, located in the Jewish Quarter, was inaugurated. While the Jewish people were excited to see the synagogue rebuilt, following decades of lying in ruins, Hamas used the synagogue as a call for Palestinians to riot, which took place earlier this week, according to www.JerusalemOnline.com news. (Read on under comments)

Monday, March 15, 2010

Evolution’s onslaught on christianity world wide?

The Dutch Reformed Church is not the only church that is suffering from an onslaught of evolutionists. Those who are interested, can read here:
http://bylogos.blogspot.com/2010/03/dubious-dutch-connections.html

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Mother Teresa's Daily Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Help me to spread Thy fragrance everywhere I go.
Flood my soul with Thy spirit and love.
Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that all my life may only be a radiance of Thine.
Shine through me and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel Thy presence in my soul.
Let them look up and see no longer me but only Jesus.
Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as You shine, so to shine as to be a light to others.

Mother Teresa's Daily Prayer

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Happy birthday, Ernie!


May God abundantly bless you on your 42nd birthday, may His lovingkindness enfold you all as you celebrate this day (Ps 42:8). May the words of Is 42:3 be true throughout this new year.

Friday, March 12, 2010

What do YOU think of Jesus?

First we have to look at how God reveals Himself to us. It is said that God reveals himself to man by general revelation (nature) and by his Word (specific revelation). And then there is a third way, which is often forgotten: through Jesus Christ “God ... hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son... (Heb 1:1-2).

In Matthew 16:15 Jesus asks his disciples “Who do you say I am?” So now we can also ask the question : what do I think of Jesus, the one through whom God reveals himself to us?

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Father-child relationship


Very few human relationships can as aptly be used to show how God relates to us, and how we should relate to Him, as a father/child relationship does.

God as Father is not a New Testament concept. Take for instance in Psalm 10:14 , where God is called the Father of the fatherless.

The most well-known place where Jesus addressed God as Father, is in the Lord’s Prayer (Mat 6:9), where He also teaches us to call Him so. In Mark 14:36 He uses a term of endearment, "Abba"", like the word “Daddy” in addressing God. This echoes in Rom 8:15 where Paul says we cry “Abba” Father when we call on the Holy Spirit.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Calling God “Father”

“I dared to call Him Father” is a book on the fascinating true story of Bilquis Sheikh, a Muslim woman who became a Christian. Why was it a DARING act to call God “Father”? Unlike Christianity, Islam does not have a separation between Father, Son and Holy Spirit and simply views God as the unique creator and ruler of the universe, so calling God “Father” is unthinkable for them.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Wordless song


Wordless song within the waters,
whales draw breath and dive and sing.
Hymns no human tongue can offer
set the ocean echoing.
Wordless singers wake our wonder;
what can human voices bring?
We will offer words for praising
God the Maker of all things.

Wordless song in early morning,
songbirds sing as day draws near.
Carols publishing their presence
please the waking human ear.
Wordless singers claim their places,
with a flag of song unfurled.
We will sing the name of Jesus,
word of joy that claims the world.

Wordless song within the forest,
wolves are howling in the night:
haunting psalms outside the circle
cast for us by campfire light.
Wordless singers, like the Spirit,
on whose pleading we rely.
Let us dare to name the yearning
in the Spirit's wordless cry.

--Richard Leach, 1994

Bad habits and how to break them....



For a while, I want to focus on bad habits and how to deal with them. First we have this habit, and then the habit has us...

This Chinese proverb says it all:
"First the man takes a drink; then the drink takes a drink; then the drink takes the man”.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

The love of Jesus for us...

“Who can measure this love? Christ gave up the comfort, joys and adoration of heaven to be sullied by the soil of Earth and to carry the sins of sinners. His bearing of agonizing pain through beatings, nails in His hands, the spear in His side, the thorns on His head all exemplify the measure of His love” (Spirit filled Life Bible).

Close-up....

Thanks for the beautiful flowers, Ernie!

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Man’s need to connect with others


Of course man’s deepest longing is for God ( as was said in the previous posting). But man also has a need to connect with others, for community and intimacy, relationship and impact rather than self-esteem, as is often said. Larry Crabbs says there is healing for ourselves and our relationships in connecting with other people (please also read the posting on one anothering).

Man’s deep longing for God

According to Larry Crabb: “Each of us has what I like to call a Hollow Core in our personality, a central part that is empty but yearns to be filled”. This “innermost being” is either a place which is filled by the spirit of God, or it becomes “a monstrous power that relentlessly contols the core direction of our lives.”

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

“One anothering”...

No man is an island, a wise man once said. It echoes one of the Bible’s important messages, namely “one anothering”. "Love one another," "bear one another's burdens," "submit to one another," and "encourage one another”, are phrases which underscores this message.

Heaven's letters....


Heaven's letters cannot be read by earthly eyes....

Monday, March 1, 2010

Praise releases blessings and satisfaction

Psalm 63: 1-5: This is not a silent prayer (v 3). The fruit is affirmed relationship with God( v 1). The Psalmist utters deep intensity of feeling and gratitude (v 4). The result is that his personal needs will be met (v 5).

Praise God whatever your circumstances are – remember that praise may even open prison doors! (Acts 16:25-26)

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Can We Trust Published Scientific Data?

Sometimes physical scientists are very presumptuous in claiming their “science” as if it is the only “science” there is. Very often they also claim that their “truth” is the only truth there is. But the question is: can we really trust published scientific data?
(Read more here, just scroll well down: http://bylogos.blogspot.com/)

There is always a time and a place for righteous anger.


In our personal, day to day, lives when we see any form of injustice, it makes us mad inside. There are so many examples of injustice that we can’t count them. Some simple examples are when we see a bully beating up on a young kid, when we see a thief stealing an old woman’s purse, when we see a group of girls being catty and mean to another girl at recess, when a husband beats up his wife. The list goes on and on. The Lord God has wired us in such a way that most healthy human beings are angry inside when we see evil and injustice being done to someone.

This is called righteous anger. We are angry at evil and injustice, just as Jesus was angry that day in the temple when he saw all the injustices of people selling sacrifices at inflated prices.

The purest form of love : agape

“AGAPE denotes an undefeatable benevolence and unconquerable goodwill that always seeks the highest good of the other person, no matter what he does. It is the self-giving love that gives freely without asking anything in return, and does not consider the worth of its object. (Spirit-filled Life Bible)

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Prayer, the breathing of our soul...

Praying is not merely “talking to God” , or making a list and laying it before God...

Prayer can be seen as soul-breathing in more than one way. Just as we can’t live without breathing in and breathing out, our souls need to in- and exhale.

Friday, February 26, 2010

"Sissy" attitudes?

Do modern men (and women, for that matter) have “sissy” attitudes?

Modern man wants to be able to manage the world around him; he wants to understand the universe; he wants to know how he can achieve all his goals in this one life; how to order his personal life in such a way that he is in full control. As soon as this perfect little boat is rocked , modern man trembles.

What I see, is the following: as soon as the going gets tough and he is no longer in control, modern man becomes desperate.... (Of course that is to say, if you don't find your strength in God)

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Pill-popping society...


Watched Dr Phil on TV yesterday (in South Africa, we are WAY behind the actual date of broadcast!). Was about the mind-boggling increase in people abusing over-the-counter as well as prescription painkillers. I wonder why there is this massive increase in the number of pill-poppers?

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

On faith


Faith is a higher faculty than reason and intelligence must follow faith , never precede it and never destroy it (Thomas Kempis).

What is life worth?

What is the value of a human life? Considering Who the Giver of life is, the value of that gift is immeasurable! (Anon)

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Our love tanks - filling them the right way

The more we love God, the more we will love those around us. So the secret is loving God, and loving Him more and more. How do I get to love God more and more? By having a relationship with him, that is, spending time with Him. We can start with two things: glorifying God and thanking Him (Rom 1:21).

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Empty love tanks!


Many people are trying to fill their empty love tanks with all kinds of stuff – not knowing that God created man with a space only He Himself can fill...

Thursday, February 18, 2010

A morning-glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books. ~Walt Whitman

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

What am I worth?

Your worth consists in what you are and not in what you have - Thomas Edison

Glory be to God!


GLORY be to God for dappled things—
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough;
And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim.

All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
Praise him.

From the poem “Pied Beauty” by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–89).

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Heaven on earth...

Heaven on earth is a choice, not a place that you must find - Wayne Dyer. Hemel op aarde is 'n keuse wat jy maak, nie 'n plek wat jy moet vind nie - Wayne Dyer.

Monday, February 15, 2010

God and the big bang

If God was clever/mighty enough to cause the whole of creation by the Big Bang, isn’t it reasonable to say that He was clever/mighty enough to create it like it is written in Genesis?

Sunday, February 14, 2010

What is COURAGE?

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to STAND in the face of fear" (Anon.)- Like the young boy David did when he faced all the wild animals as a shepherd and when he fought against and the giant Goliath ...

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Have lunch with God...

...... bring chips! (Read on under comments)

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Love is... yet some more...

“Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.” Noelle – age 7
“Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.” Tommy – age 6

Love is... and then some more...

A group of 4 to 8 year-olds were asked the question, “What does love mean?”

Below are their answers:

“When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.” Rebecca- age 8

“When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.” Billy – age 4

“Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.” Karl – age 5

“Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.” Chrissy – age 6

“Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.” Terri – age 4

“Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.” Danny – age 7

“Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss” Emily – age 8

“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.” Bobby – age 7 (Wow!)

“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,” Nikka – age 6
(we need a few million more Nikka’s on this planet)

“Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.” Noelle – age 7

“Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.” Tommy – age 6

“During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn’t scared anymore.” Cindy – age 8

“My mommy loves me more than anybody . You don’t see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.” Clare – age 6