Is your hair falling out? Are your joints getting loose? Don't despair! There's someone who loves you!

Have you ever felt unloved, not worthy, just not good enough?

Well, then maybe today's podcast is for you! It is based on God's view of you as it can be found from scripture. The Bible is full of wonderful affirmations of who God has created us to be!

The link for this message comes from that wonderful story, "The Velveteen Rabbit". Here is a short excerpt:

The Skin Horse had lived longer in the nursery than any of the others. He was so old that his brown coat was bald in patches and showed the seams underneath, and most of the hairs in his tail had been pulled out to string bead necklaces. He was wise, for he had seen a long succession of mechanical toys arrive to boast and swagger, and by-and-by break their mainsprings and pass away, and he knew that they were only toys, and would never turn into anything else. For nursery magic is very strange and wonderful, and only those playthings that are old and wise and experienced like the Skin Horse understand all about it. "What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?" "Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real." ?Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit. "Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt." "Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?" "It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand." ? from The velveteen rabbit by Margery Williams

You can download the sermon notes here (in MS Word format):

Sermon notes.doc

You can download the MP3 audio rile here (about 9MB's):

scast9.mp3

And, of course, I always value your comments and feedback. Simply click on the comments link below to leave a comment. Or, you can send an email to digitaldion@gmail.com

God sanctioned vandalism!

Doing things that are out of the ordinary seem to appeal to my non-confirmist sensibilities!

One of my favourite passages in the Gospels is the account of the four friends who decide to smash a hole in someone else's roof so that their friend can be brought to Jesus for healing. John Maxwell's, in his book "Think on these things", asks the question "What kind of person would be brave enough to bust a hole in someone else's roof?" (this is my rough paraphrase).

This sermon was inspired by that question. I hope it will encourage you to be more than just ordinary. I hope that you will find in it something of value to help you in finding your true created purpose and reason for being.

Click here to download the sermon notes in MS-Word format:

Sermon notes.doc

Click here to download the MP3 file: (about 8MB's)

scast8.mp3

As always, would value feedback! Simply click on the link below or send an email to digitaldion@gmail.com

I believe in 47. Do you?

I once had a student who wrote an essay about Fibonacci's principle and the effects of harmonics in religious music. It was done as part of an interesting first year course I tutored called "An Introduction to the Study of Religion" at Rhodes University.

I found the essay (written by a Doctoral student in Music, who was doing the ISR course for non degree purposes) extremely interesting. Fibonacci was a mathematician who discovered that the ratio between sets of numbers was often repeated in nature. The Fibonacci numbers are: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89.... etc. Interestingly enough this ratio can be observed in most aspects of nature including things such as the proportions of flowers, shells, human limbs, and even the cycles of modern stock markets! Of course this student showed how the ratio between octave scales revealed this natural design element in creation, and as such had the capacity for a 'holy' or 'spiritual' effect.

So, what about 47!?

I came across an interesting article the other day about a strange group of persons who believe that the number 47 (not just the number 42 - check the link if it doesn't make sense) has some special, mystical, meaning.

I read the wiki entry about it. It seems to make sense! I'm a 47-ian now! I believe! It is a special number!!! Well sort of! You can read all about it here:

47

Amont other things. Here are a few points of interest about the religous number, peace be upon it.

Forty-seven is also:

* the number of miracles performed by Jesus listed in the New Testament
* the code for international direct dial phone calls to Norway.
* the model number of the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt WWII fighter bomber
* the number of the French département Lot-et-Garonne.
* the number of mountains in "the 47" High Peaks of the Adirondacks.
* the number of samurai involved in the famous historical Ako vendetta; sometimes referred to as the 47 Ronin.
* the number of bullets that killed Pancho Villa in 1923.
* the model number of the AK-47 assault rifle.
* the year AD 47, 47 BC, and 1947.

And here are a few more interesting facts (follow this link to the wiki):

According to a joke by Rick Berman (the co-creator and executive producer of several Star Trek series), "47 is 42, corrected for inflation". This explanation is referenced in a Sev Trek cartoon.

Eventually it spread outside of Star Trek; 47s have been spotted in The Simpsons, Law & Order, NYPD Blue, Threshold, Alias, Lost, Scrubs, and The West Wing.

47 also has been placed in video games in the same deliberate way for almost 20 years. Examples include Earl Weaver Baseball (the batter's uniform number is 47), Hitman (the name of the main character is 47), and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (HK-47).

In 1998, Japanese electronic musician Takako Minekawa released the album Cloudy Cloud Calculator, which featured a song about the number 47 entitled Kangaroo Pocket Calculator. The song repeatedly states that "47 is a magical number. 47 plus 2 equals 49. 47 times 2 equals 94. 49 and 94. 94 and 49. Relationship between 47 and 2, is magic" and eventually concludes "Isn't it a coincidence?"

No, it's not deep, it's just silly! Love and blessing for 2006!

non c'e' vita senza liberta

I came upon this lovely little picture... I have an old 1978 Vespa PX 200E. I feel free on it.

The graffiti reads

Without freedom there is no life!

The picture is from a Vespa set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leighrowan/63183529/)

A blessed Christmas to all!

I pray that the miracle of the birth of our Saviour will present each of us with joy and blessing for the year ahead!

Below is an Advent sermon that I preached at Bryanston Methodist Church some weeks ago. It is an exegetical approach to John 1, seeking to highlight some lesser focussed upon implications of the miracle surruonding the Christ event.

It states that the coming of Christ shows us:

1. Christ, the first and powerful Word of God, is the source of all that is.

2. That the Christ event helps us to face what we choose to deny.

3. That truly engaging life requires some re-definition, sacrifice and courage.

The following quote from the sermon inspired me a great deal:

The spirit of Christmas needs to be superseded by the Spirit of Christ. The spirit of Christmas is annual; the Spirit of Christ is eternal. The spirit of Christmas is sentimental; the Spirit of Christ is supernatural. The spirit of Christmas is a human product; the Spirit of Christ is a divine person. That makes all the difference in the world. -- Stuart Briscoe in Meet Him at the Manger. Christianity Today, Vol. 41, no. 14.

Click here to download the full text of the Sermon in MS Word format:

Sermon.doc

Are you a frustrated democrat?

I am on leave! What a glorious state to be in. Being on leave means that I have some time to think. That may sound like a strange statement for a person who is employed in an academic post. My time seems to be occupied with far more menial and functional tasks than real thought. I write things, I organise things, I work with people. These are all functions that require quite a bit of time and energy, and sadly, not that much thought.

Anyhow, I am on leave and I have taken to thinking. As Megan's grandfather used to say "sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits".

Over the last year I have had the good fortune to be privy to many meetings and encounters with varying arrays of the spectrum that is the people called Methodists. I have sat in meetings with Bishops, trained Circuit Superintendents, attended Conferences and SYNODS, preached in local congregations, visited with ordinary members, and listened to the stories and complaints of a wide variety of people, powerful and the supposedly disempowered. One of the most common complaints, among those who have power, and those who believe they have none, has to do with the governance of the Church. Many bemoan the disfunction of our 'democratic' system of making decisions. Debates such as those on the equalisation of stipends and Church's response to persons of a same-sex orientation exemplified and showcased the will and methods of those who make and enforce these decisions.

Most Methodists are under the false impression that these processes are democratic. I think that in large part this misunderstanding of our system of governance is a significant cause of much of the frustration among both the members and elected officials of the Church. Here is a common definition of democracy. Democracy is,

"government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives"
(http://www.opb.org/education/coldwar/berlincrisis/glossary/)

The key here is governance by the people.

I am not aware of many active democracies in the world today. Certainly the self proclaimed evangelists of democracy, the United States of America and the United Kingdom, are very far from allowing the voice of the people to dictate the laws and policies of their respective governments! In fact quite the opposite is true. These two powerful nations have a very dictatorial and authoritarian system of rule.

Noam Chomsky (http://www.chomsky.info/), famed MIT professor, suggests that the form of governance most common in the USA and UK is what is commonly known as a polyarchy. This term, which describes a particular political theory, was espoused and articulated by Robert Dahl. A polyarchy

"has seven attributes: 1) elected officials; 2) free and fair elections; 3) inclusive suffrage; 4) the right to run for office; 5) freedom of expression; 6) alternative information; and 7) associational autonomy. Essentially this means politicians making decisions, with ratification by the public." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyarchy)

The key here is the phrase "politicians making decisions, with the ratification by the public".

It would seem to me that a true democracy breeds servant leaders, persons who's desire is to find creative and efficient ways of enacting the will of the people. Whereas polyarchies breed masters, persons who try to find ways to have their will enacted in creative ways by the people.

I could be wrong. However, if I am right it is no surprise that there are many unhappy servants, and unhappy masters, in what should be a servant organisation... Perhaps we should strive to elect more servants and expose more masters - that is, if we do truly want democracy?

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Tillich, Anselm or God forbid, Karl Barth! Have you ever wondered!?

A good friend of mine, Wessel, sent me a link to the following fun website. It is a quick quiz that tells you what Theologian your own theology most resembles. He is one of the best theologians I know. His score was pretty accurate. Follow this link to do the quiz. I would love to hear some results, so if you do the quiz send me an email and let me know!

http://quizfarm.com/test.php?q_id=44116

Here are my results (Good Lord, Charles Finney and Jonathan Edwards!):

You scored as Paul Tillich.

Paul Tillich sought to express Christian truth in an existentialist way. Our primary problem is alienation from the ground of our being, so that our life is meaningless. Great for psychotherapy, but no longer very influential.

Paul Tillich 80%
Jurgen Moltmann 73%
Anselm 73%
Friedrich Schleiermacher 67%
Augustine 60%
John Calvin 53%
Charles Finney 40%
Martin Luther 33%
Jonathan Edwards 27%
Karl Barth 20%

See, I told you I was sick...

The comedian Spike Milligan is rumoured to have the following inscription on his tombstone, "See, I told I was sick..."

Since reading the blog of a friend in ministry earlier this week I have been thinking about, and praying for, ministers who are under extreme pressure, even facing burnout. I have felt this way in the past. Praise God I am not there now.

Being in ministry can be complex, since one's 'work' is so closely linked to one's faith. One of the common feelings among ministers is that one's work is never done. Long before I was born, and long after I die, there will be people with needs, struggles, and concerns. God's love for people, and longing to be in relationship with people, is always the same. So, there is never a time when one could sign off on ministry, believing that the 'work' is complete.

For those in Churches, please watch for the signs of burnout and exhaustion in the persons who are called to serve you. Love them, listen to their cries for help and assistance, help where you can, and of course pray for them.

Sticks and stones....

The internet is an amazing place! It is truly a postmodern marvel! On the net people think and let think (well at least there is not very much that can be done if someone feels differently to you!)

I have been having some problems accessing my blogger account using the NetFront web browser on my Palm OS Clie. So, I decided to download Eudora Internet Suite 2.1. Imagine my surprise when I saw these words printed at the bottom of the download page:

"You are prohibited from downloading the installers on this page if you are located in Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria." (http://www.eudora.com/products/unsupported/internetsuite/download/ accessed 9 November 2005, 14h20).

I had to read if a few times just to see whether my eyes weren't fooling my brain! Yup, it is true. Can you imagine them trying to enforce this ludicrous statement? I can just picture little plump North American balding men in late middle age with pocket protectors and thick spectacles scanning the IP addresses of every attempted download, zapping every Cuban and Iraqi who tries to download the install file. Heck, I say if an Iraqi or Cuban citizen can afford a Palm after all that America has done to them, they should be rewarded with a free upgrade and unlimited lifetime support!

I am reminded of that saying which was so common on my school playground, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me". Words, nothing but words...

During the darkest days of Apartheid in South Africa we considered it a duty and honour to break the oppressive laws of the Apartheid Regime. We would deliberately dissobey the governments' edict to keep white and black persons separate. We worshiped together, prayed together. I encouraged the members of my congregation not to pay their taxes since their money was keeping fellow Christians enslaved and impoverished. If the law is wrong it cannot, in fact it must not, be obeyed!

If there is anyone from Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria who needs this software you are welcome to email me. I'll be happy to get a copy to you! Oppressive laws are meant to be broken.

The last time I had to apply for a Visa to get into the US it took about 6 hours, long interviews and answering many questions about things I had said and written... Let's see how long it takes next time I have to go! I know you're watching. I don't mind. Anyone, from anywhere, is welcome to download anything from my site.

(Image from www.fodors.com/wire/archives/welcome.gif)

Spirituality podcast 7 - 4 November 2005 - scast7.mp3 (11MB)

This is a sermon that I preached on Stewardship Sunday at Bryanston Methodist Church last week Sunday. It is that one Sunday of the year that just about every minister I know hates! There is nothing quite so difficult as preaching on money! Strangely enough this sermon has very little do do with money. In fact it has much more to do with a life of true devotion to God. In particular it draws some insight from the Levitical principle of offering God our 'first fruits', that which is best and most precious to us. For some that may be money. However, for very many I think it has to do with making time for God and others, service, humility, true intimacy, depth, true change and a real relationship with God, self and the world.

I hope you find something of value in it. Please do keep the feedback coming! Either post a comment here, or send an email to digitaldion@gmail.com.

I got some positive feedback from the last sermon that I posted here. Thank you for that.

It seems that I am not getting much time to set up my podcasting rig in order to record anything that may be of actual spiritual value or academic interest. However, with the request for more sermons I decided to record this sermon on Sunday evening called "First things first".

PS. Please do forgive the fairly poor sound quality. I have not had a chance to do any post production.

Download the MP3 here scast7.mp3

outcomes based education....

William Morris, one of the most famous sons of the City of Oxford, a bicycle repairman, motor-car manufacturer, and later Lord, once commented,

"The value of an education is not what you put into a man, but what you get out of him"

This kind of gives new meaning to the term 'outcomes based education'...

Today I had the singularly disturbing task of having to motivate for the discontinuance of some students who wanted a great deal more than they were prepared to put in to their training. It breaks my heart. God calls, the Church affirms this call, and then in good faith places the money of faithful people on the line to train these called ones. Some of them simply don't understand the sacrifice made by the poor so that they can have the privilege of an education.

Once again I am reminded that with great privilege comes great responsibility. I love this Church, a creation of God, I love its work and hope for the greatest success in its mission, to be used by God to heal and transform society. I love it because God loves it. I love it when it is easy to serve. And, when it is not easy to serve, I am grateful that I love it.

Leading versus simply obeying...

My friend Graham Power once shared a pearl of wisdom with me. He said that what gets to most leaders is not the busyness or the demands of the work that needs to be done, but the pressure of bearing the responsibility. He said "Just about any person can perform tasks, and do that pretty well. But not everyone can take responsibility for the choices that need to be made". I have found this to be so true.

Being a servant of Christ in ministry is often extremely challenging. I found the following quote quite inspiring as I read it this evening. German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche spoke of the difference between leadership (what he calls 'commanding') and obedience in the following manner.

"Commanding is more difficult than obeying. And not only because the commander bears the burden of all who obey, and that this burden can easily crush him. But in all commanding there appeared to me an experiment and a risk; and the living creature always risks himself when he commands"

Taken from Zohar and Marshall's exceptional book 'Spiritual Capital', (London. Bloomsbury, 2004:142).