Blessed to be a blessing: August 2020

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Tried, Tested, and True

Blessing very often follows on the heels of suffering or struggle. Have you ever noticed that? Take the life of Joseph. Abused and rejected, sold into slavery, falsely accused, incarcerated, forgotten…then exalted to the right hand of the most powerful monarch at that time.

The same is true for many biblical characters like Job, Moses, David, Ruth, and yes…even Jesus himself. With the exception of Jesus, none of the other suffering saints knew for sure that they would be vindicated, much less exalted. These characters were not immune to the usual emotions of exasperation, vexation, despondency, and despair. They asked many questions and wondered if God had forgotten them or if they had been deluded or deceived (cf. Psalm 73).

And yet, even in the midst of feelings of hopelessness and anguish, these men and women persevered in their belief that in spite of their adverse circumstances, God was and is who He said He was and is…a good, kind, loving, merciful, faithful, gracious, and righteous Father who knows very well what we are made of, and that we are feeble and fragile at best (cf. Psalm 103: 13-18). They persevered in their faith in the promises of one who never lies (Numbers 23:19), knowing that even though we are subject to the trials of life in a fallen and broken world, He would in His time and in His manner, work all things together, both the good as well as the bad, for the good of those who are His beloved children (Romans 8:28).

There are many tragedies unfolding all around us at the present time. The pandemic has ravaged people on so many different levels. Unemployment, redundancy, poverty, and starvation are current realities in many countries across the globe. Opportunists have taken full advantage of the lockdowns and have lined their own pockets with money earmarked for the destitute. Political dialogue, already well known for its inevitable divisiveness, has been taken to a whole new level of malicious and violent extremism. The news media are on a gory feeding frenzy.

Can anything good come out of this intense and sorrow-filled chaos?

Whenever I have been faced with an impossibly difficult situation, such as this present time, I have always found great comfort in the Eucharist. The Eucharist reminds me of the God who loves the world so much that He was willing to give His beloved Son as a substitute for those who were trapped in a horror far worse than this pandemic. The Eucharist reminds me that though I was once dead in my trespasses and sins, God has given me life through the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Eucharist reminds me that while I was still an enemy of God, Jesus died for me on the cross. In this I find my peace and contentment. It is enough. Come what may, I have an inheritance kept safe for me in heaven…no rust can destroy it and no thief can steal it away.

Louise and I still face many challenges here…new challenges as well as the old. But in the scheme of things, they are but little foxes…and yet little foxes that could potentially ruin this part of our Lord’s vineyard. We are still dealing with the aftermath of the lockdown restrictions and probably will be for some time to come. Planning is difficult as no one knows how the covid-19 virus may remanifest itself in the future. But we have applied the tried and tested hiking rule to life…just keep on putting one foot before the other and plod on.

Louise has now completed the eight Explore Correspondence Course modules offered by my alma mater, George Whitefield College. We are all very proud of her for persevering even in spite of the many medical and other challenges we have faced these past few months. She is also committed to the local feeding program in Villiersdorp.

I am still recording my Sunday sermons and as well as teaching a class on the Gospels on Sunday evenings. The sequel to Breakfast on the Beach is also keeping me out of mischief. In many ways, this has been a most productive time for writing, research, and studying.

We are exploring ways to train people in the J-Life material via electronic media. I must confess I have been challenged in this area…the “white-noise” level has increased tremendously in the past few months…my dear extrovert brethren, deprived of their usual social outlets, have taken to the cyberwives and the number of emails, tweets, WhatsApp messages, and zoom chats have escalated to an alarming level. I believe there is more “noise” in my life than ever before! I am beginning to exhibit an allergic reaction to my phone.

We have been invited to participate in a training program in Namibia next year in April and May. Please join us in prayer for this possibility. We are still waiting for the licensing of our camping trailer which we use when we travel instead of hotels or B&B’s.

Thankfully our children and grandchildren are all doing very well…we are grateful to our Lord for holding them in the palm of His hand. Louise’ mum can’t wait to get out of isolation! She keeps asking us where we will go once the Nursing Home allows her to freely come and go again.

Please continue to pray for our health and our safety. We love you all and pray for you all daily.

Many blessings, cyberhugs, and love

Johann and Louise

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Never stop asking questions

Amram looked at Peter and John in a way that indicated that there was something more on his mind. “May I ask you another question?” He asked.
“You may ask as many questions as you please, Amram,” Peter said laying a hand on the young man’s shoulder. “In fact, I hope you will never stop asking questions. Life is a journey and we will never know all there is to know. When we stop asking questions, we stop learning…we stop growing…in a certain sense, we stop living.”

In my new book, FOR US, FOR OUR CHILDREN, FOR THE WORLD, I follow the life of Simon Peter through the book of Acts, adding stories taken from the writings of the Early Church and plausible tradition. In some parts I have taken the liberty to fill in a few gaps in the biblical narrative with fictitious characters to develop the story line and to introduce the reader to some theological propositions. In one such story, I have created a Samaritan messenger from Philip to the community in Jerusalem asking them to visit after the positive Samaritan response to the preaching of the Gospel. His name is Amram. After quite a bit of discussion in which Amram explains what they were taught by Philip leading up to their baptism into Jesus, I have Amram ask about the identity of the Holy Spirit. This quotation is from the bridge between the two theological discussions.

Sunday, August 9, 2020

The Principles of Multiplication in Discipleship

From FOR US, FOR OUR CHILDREN, FOR THE WORLD...this is the sequel to Breakfast on the Beach. This scene takes place after the murder of Stephen and the persecution of believers in Jerusalem, spearheaded by Saul.

“It is because we neglected to move out from Jerusalem into Samaria and to the ends of the earth…that is why God has sent us persecution.”

“How can you say such a thing, Thomas?” Peter was clearly shocked.

“Didn’t Jesus tell us that we were to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth?”

“Yes, but…”

“But what? We have been disobedient…and now we are paying the price.”

“Thomas! Our brothers and sisters are being tortured as we speak. To suggest that this is the will of our Lord is unkind…unkind to them and unkind to us. Jesus told us we would be persecuted. This is no punishment…this is the consequence of our preaching.”

“Besides, the word has gone out to the ends of the earth.” Philip added. “Many of those who were added to our community on the day of Pentecost took the message with them when they returned home. There are small communities getting together in many places…like the one in Damascus. I have heard reports about a certain disciple by the name of Ananias who holds regular meetings in his home.”

“But it us, Philip…we are the sent ones, remember? Jesus called us apostles. But I have not been sent anywhere. Since Pentecost, I have not been outside the walls of Jerusalem. There are people to the East of us who have never heard the truth. Alexander did not conquer the world by staying in Greece. And look at the Romans now. Their empire is expanding because they keep moving outwards, further and further. They could have stayed in Italy, but they did not. We will not disciple the nations by staying in Jerusalem either.”

“Thomas…” the apostles all rose as Mary walked in. She had heard the discussion as she approached the room. “Thomas, do you not remember that Jesus said that they would do to us what they did to him? If they persecuted him, they will persecute those who follow him. It is the hatred of the truth that has brought upon us this horror. Since the day my son…since the day Jesus was born, he never punished anyone for tardiness…think back on the years you walked with him. He disciplined you, yes…he even corrected me at times when I clearly misunderstood his mission…but did he ever hurt anyone of you…or anyone else, for that matter?”

“Forgive me, Mary…I…”

“You are distraught…like the rest of us,” she interrupted. “But this is not the time for us to be divided…this is the time for us to be united and to stand together…to face this together. Remember, Jesus taught us that a divided kingdom will not stand. The enemy wants to divide us so that his servants might defeat us…we must not give him so much a fingerhold in our midst.”

“Forgive me…you are right.” Thomas stammered. “I am distraught. On my here, I witnessed the temple guards dragging a few of our brethren to the prison…but I could do nothing…I am so angry…I…I…”

“We have all seen things we could not have imagined, Thomas,” Peter said putting his arm around his friend. 

“We all hear the cries of those they torture…” Andrew added.

“It is the times of silence that disturbs me most,” John said. “These men can be so very cruel…when there is silence, I wonder what they are doing to our brethren.”

“But in one sense, Thomas is right,” James said. “He is right in saying that we do need to be more mindful of the needs of those who were not represented here at Pentecost. Perhaps it is time for us to begin planning on taking the message of deliverance to those who are in total darkness.” 

“Yes,” Peter said letting go of Thomas and sitting down. He was very aware of the heavy burden laid on his shoulders. How could he direct people to do that which might very well lead them into danger? “We need to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit…he is the one who must lead us. It is not for us to make such decisions on our own.”

“But we dare not move at present,” Andrew began to say.

“And so we must spend our time in prayer and preparation,” James added.

“But we must continue to teach our own disciples here…we must not neglect them.” Peter reminded them. “We need to do with them what Jesus did with us. We must tell them what he did…what he taught us…we must train them, equip them…so that they may be enabled to do what we do. We need to duplicate ourselves…multiply ourselves.”

“That’s the first command ever given by God to humanity.” Andrew said excitedly.

“I don’t follow,” Peter said, looking up at his brother.

“Don’t you remember. After God created Adam and Eve, he told them to be fruitful and to multiply…”

“Yes…yes, in many ways what Jesus commanded us to do is the same as what God told Adam and Eve to do…to be fruitful and multiply and to fill the earth….we are to make disciples of all the nations, even to the ends of the earth.” Peter replied.

“But we must also remember that Jesus chose twelve of us out of the crowds…he taught them all, yes…but he took us and taught us more…he took us deeper.” John said.

“And out of the twelve, he went even deeper with you three…” Andrew said, pointing at John, James, and Peter.

“Yes, and he expected us to tell you what we had seen and heard…what we had learned…” James added. 

“So, what are you all saying?” Peter asked.

“I think…if I may sum up what everyone has said,” Andrew replied, “…what everyone is saying is that yes, we must get the word out to the ends of the earth…the crowds, in Jesus’ case…but we must do so by equipping others to do the work of the ministry…to spread the word and to do the others things necessary, like feed the poor and take care of the needy. If we can duplicate ourselves in others…”

“That’s what Jesus meant when he said we would do greater things than he did…he was only one person and could only be in one place at a time.” James added.

“But then he multiplied himself in us…in the twelve and the women too.” John said.

“And then after the resurrection, we were one hundred and twenty…” Andrew added.

“And now…now the word has gone out to so many places through those we discipled after Pentecost…” Peter said.

“And continues to go out through those scattered because of the persecution…” Thomas said. “I think I am beginning to understand.”

“And that is why we cannot neglect to teach and to train our disciples well…few is more…” Peter concluded.

“Peter,” Matthew interjected. “In the light of everything we have spoken about, I believe we need to write down what we learned…if this persecution has taught me anything, it is that our lives hang in the balance every day. If we do not commit to writing what we know, it may all be lost for posterity. We may not be alive to teach anyone…”

“I have been writing everything Peter teaches us…” 

“Mark!” Peter smiled. “Come inside…don’t stand there in the doorway.”

“I…I did not wish to intrude…” Mark stammered, “but mother sent me to call you for refreshments.”

“A faithful messenger and a faithful scribe!” Matthew said, ruffling his hair.

“Please…don’t…” Mark pleaded, retreating.

“Have you been taking notes?” Peter enquired.

“Yes, and I have been copying them out at night…they are not very neat…I scribble.”

“But that is a wonderful start!” Matthew said. “May I see your notes?”

“Of course…but they are Peter’s sermons…”

“Peter?” Matthew looked at him enquiringly. “May I…?”

“Of course…but I think we all need to discuss what we can remember…” Peter said.

“So that we don’t leave anything important unwritten…” John added.

“Exactly,” Matthew said.

“I think Mary will be waiting for us,” Mary reminded them. “Shall we?”

The apostles made their way to the door. Mary had started serving them in the courtyard since they were using the upper room for their meetings.

“I didn’t know you were writing down my sermons,” Peter said coming alongside Mark.

“Are you angry…?”

“Angry? No! On the contrary…I only wish that others had been as industrious. You thought about doing something we have only begun to discuss now. Your notes will be very helpful to others…if you don’t mind sharing them?”

“I’d be honoured…but I do want them back.”

Peter was about to ruffle his hair, but then remembered that the young man did not appreciate it, so he resisted.

“Thank you for not ruffling my hair,” Mark said, smiling.

“Unfortunately, you have very ruffleable hair…”

They both laughed.