by Henry | Apr 16, 2018 | General Blog
by Henry | Apr 25, 2016 | General Blog
Proposal. There is a desperate cry to help with humanitarian needs and ministry to the refugees, from various organisations and centres in Europe. This project has a three-fold purpose. 1. Physical humanitarian assistance and involvement. 2. Viability assessment for future teams from South Africa. 3. Facilitation and networking. 1. Physical, practical humanitarian involvement. My first goal will be to become involved practically with humanitarian work and assist in the ministry to gain experience and insight into what is being done and what is needed in order to lend significant assistance. Samaritans Purse is doing extensive humanitarian work in Greece and other locations, http://www.samaritanspurse.org/disaster/refugee-crisis-in-europe/ http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/voyage-to-a-second-life/ There is a South African couple, the Van Niekerk family who works in Macedonia and they are also asking for help. The help they need is hands on assistance to deal with the day-to-day activities in ministry and physical humanitarian help to the refugees. I foresee spending at least 10 – 14 days in practical hands-on humanitarian relief work. Other organisations I will connect with who are involved are Serving In Mission, International Baptist Convention and independent workers. 2. Viability assessment for future teams from South Africa. To investigate the long-term possibilities for South African volunteer teams to help with humanitarian and ministry work among the refugees and immigrants in Europe. To evaluate and determine as far as possible what would be needed and what logistical arrangements with which organisation will best work for South Africans to help. If feasible, this could result in longer-term opportunities to take volunteer groups from South Africa to assist. I aim to assess how to help into the future....
by Henry | Jul 23, 2015 | General Blog
“It is easier to say sorry than to get permission.” How often I hear people use this as an excuse to justify getting things done their way. Then follows a very lame and insincere apology. Sadly I have to confess to being guilty of this bad attitude at times. But there are issues around this attitude. It shows theological misunderstanding of the Biblical understanding of leadership, submission, repentance and forgiveness. God appoints leaders and God brings sorrow into our lives in order to bring us to repentance and restoration. Repentance is a turning away from sin and turning to God. Sorrow, that leads us to repentance is a deep realisation that what I/we have done is wrong, we are on the wrong path and need to bring about a change in attitude, because we have sinned against God (Psalm 51:4). Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” Firstly we need to face the fact that it is God who appoints people to leadership and calls us to submit to those in leadership and to be accountable. When we don’t, for various reasons, we could well be defying God. There may be times when we have ungodly leaders and directives, and we may be faced with a decision, do we obey God or man. But those are the very difficult exceptions and not the norm. When government and leaders clearly defy the absolute rule...
by Henry | Jan 2, 2015 | General Blog
John Bunyan’s famous book “Pilgrim’s Progress” is all about the journey towards the Celestial City. The story tells about all the obstacles and problems and blessings “Christian”, and his fellow travel companions face. If you have not read this story, get a modern translation and put this at the top of your MUST read list for this year. Reading Psalm 121 as the first Psalm for the year yesterday is filled with such promise. It is a Psalm of accent. Meaning that as the Israelites of old travelled along the pathways up to Jerusalem they sang this song of trust in God’s protection as they travelled. Read it. Looking to God for help in every aspect of our lives, trusting him for every outcome of every situation is core to our journey up to the “Celestial City”. We need to embrace the presence of God in every aspect of our walk. What lies ahead this year is beyond our knowledge. Take hold of the promises whatever the challenges might be. And when we get side tracked, return to his word, his guidance, his protection, his forgiveness, his grace and his mercy and love. You may have some new years resolutions, or like me you may have a TO DO list that is scary, challenges I have no idea how to deal with or cope with. But as we move up into the new year, look up to God, remember Psalm 121 in the dark times and be...
by Henry | Jun 2, 2014 | Uncategorized
2 Chronicles 25 What do we learn about King Amaziah? Many simply read past these historical records without much thought as to what we can learn. This young king started well even if at first he did not do it with his whole heart. He established his kingdom with justice and did not go on a wild massacre as some others did in order to establish his kingdom. Here is the first lesson to learn and challenge to face, do we follow the Lord with our whole hearts? But let us give this young king some credit if only initially. When he had raised an army and paid out a large some of money for the mercenaries, he listened to prophet. When told to send the mercenaries away he asked about the money he had spent on the Israelite troops. Note well the man of God’s response in verse nine. Do we trust God in the same way? When we have made bad investments or spent money on ungodly efforts or things and realize this is not good, do we cut our loses, trusting God and move away? Do we trust God fully? Even good ‘things’, if these ‘things’ take our eyes and lives away from trusting God, they should be discarded. Ultimately however, as the king did not start out ‘whole heartedly’, he lost his way. Something happened and he stopped trusting God as he was led astray to worship other gods. He worshipped gods who could not even help the people who initially worshipped them, how absurd. When the man of God confronted him again, his response was...
