Below is a guest blog by Ang Benjafield, wife to gavin, mom to Caleb and Judah. Check out all that she is talking about below by checking out the Recycle Swop Shop's facebook page...but only after you've read the blog!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Recycle-Swop-Shop-Cape-Town/274245865920062
"I went to Recycle Swop Shop this morning to take photos for our social media campaign. I’m not one of the regular volunteers. But standing there, snapping away at faces, seeing the huge need and people living with great lack, it was impossible not to roll up my sleeves and get my hands dirty.
I helped a lady from the community of DuNoon hand out soup to the mothers and kids who were there. Ladies who bring recycling are given tokens after their bags have been weighed, and one of the tokens is a food token. With a food token, they are able to ‘pay for’ a cup of soup and a bread-roll. It’s not an ideal system; where hungry moms and kids queue without being able to eat until their bags are weighed. But it’s a system that works.
While serving soup, my heart broke. I became acutely aware of the overwhelming need in this community. Even with all our efforts and the enormous impact that Swop Shop is making… it’s not enough. Children cry with hunger, and moms share cups of soup and one bread-roll between several little ones. I must admit; I turned a blind eye when the odd bread-roll or cup of soup went, without a food token, to some of the frail-looking, horribly thin moms with babies on their backs.
But what I cannot get my head around, what has stayed with me all morning, is the fact that these people aren’t ‘somewhere in Africa’. They are here, 5km away from leafy suburbia. Is it possible that people living so nearby can be so ignorant of the need that exists just over-the-bridge? I know it is. I am one of them…
We must be able to do more. In our community of Tableview there are businesses; and families who can get involved. There are so many churches in this area, and why does the church exist, if it is not to love? To show compassion, and kindness. Jesus even said that it is true love when we love those who cannot repay us. There is a whole community in need of love, and education and help, and they are right here. Only ten minutes away.
It just takes a little, from many, to cause a lot of change. Many need to get involved. Many need to help, if we are to see the lasting impact of love in this community.
And while we wait for the help of many, still doing all we can: we hope. Hope that our efforts will create awareness. And that awareness will spark compassion. And that compassion will lead to action."
-Ang Benjafield
Friday, October 28, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
The Head and Heart of Revival
Below is an extract from the journal of John Wesley, the great revivalist of the 18th century. In this portion he speaks of his "lights on" moment- his new birth in Christ. Every story of grace coming alive in a heart get's me excited and reminds me of what we are called to. We preach for heart transformation, not mere mental assent.
"In the evening I went unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.
I began to pray with all my might for those who had in a more especial manner despitefully used me and persecuted me. I then testified openly to all there what I now first felt in my heart. After my return home, I was much buffeted with temptations, but I cried out, and they fled away. They returned again and again. I as often lifted up my eyes, and He "sent me help from his holy place." And herein I found the difference betweenthis and my former state chiefly consisted. I was striving, yea, fighting with all my might under the law, as well as under grace. But then I was sometimes, if not often, conquered; now, I was always conqueror.
The moment I awakened, "Jesus, Master," was in my heart and in my mouth; and I found all my strength lay in keeping my eye fixed upon Him and my soul waiting on Him continually. Being again at St. Paul's in the afternoon, I could taste the good word of God in the anthem which begun, "My song shall be always of the loving kindness of the Lord; with my mouth will I ever be showing forth thy truth from one generation to another." Yet the enemy injected a fear, "If thou dost believe, why is there not a more sensible change?" I answered (yet not I), "That I know not. But, this I know, I have 'now peace with God.' And I sin not today, and Jesus my Master has forbidden me to take thought for the morrow."
Wesley, Journal of John Wesley, http://www.ccel.org/ccel/wesley/journal.vi.11.xvi.html
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Strong medicine
Below is a guest blog by Nick Davis, a pastor, a pioneer and a preacher who has shaped my journey profoundly. Check out more of him at http://nicksblog3ci.blogspot.com/
This must surely be one of the most defining verses of the Bible. In it we have the intersection between heaven and earth. In heaven, is the Lord. In heaven is all power, glory, goodness, provision, purity, fullness, peace and joy. On earth there is chaos amongst men. On earth there is an overflow of cruelty, fickleness, poverty, misery, worry and sadness.
What is the intersection point? Who can deliver us from the storms in the world and in our own hearts?
In a word – JESUS. Jesus, the One who took on human form, who walked among us, who suffered and died. Jesus, who takes away our sins. Jesus, who brings us back to the Father. Jesus, who intercedes for us. Jesus, who baptizes us in power. Jesus, who provides for us. Jesus, who ever intercedes for us Jesus, our high tower. Jesus, in whom every promise of God is “YES”. Jesus, our Man in Glory.
Jesus IS "the Rock that is higher than I". On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.
And how do we come to Jesus? How do we approach Him? By faith. By believing he exists, and that he rewards us with all we need as we ask and seek and knock. Too many Christians now leave the asking and seeking to their pastors or the “zealots”. To this, Jesus has spoken and said to each one of us, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving Me”. It is the Lord you are serving! Your life belongs to him, is wrapped up in him. Do you not know this? This is spiritual milk, that you no longer live but Christ lives in you. You have been seated in Christ at the Father’s right hand. Why do we forget? Because we do not think on these things. Why? Because we have become busy with other things, worldly affairs, temporary matters – stuff that is inconsequential compared to the Glory of God in Christ.
“We have lost the aura of glory, the mood of joy, the air of expectation.” - D Salochi
Can you get it back? Of course. Of course you can. Of course.
“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” - James 4:4–10.
Strong words. But strong medicine is needed in the face of all the…chaos, cruelty, poverty, misery, worries and sadness. And in their place, the Holy Spirit can and will raise up in you, through your humility, what is already overflowing from heaven – power, glory, goodness, provision, purity, fullness, peace and joy. Believe it! Only believe.
“Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the
LORD!” - Psalm 31:24.
This must surely be one of the most defining verses of the Bible. In it we have the intersection between heaven and earth. In heaven, is the Lord. In heaven is all power, glory, goodness, provision, purity, fullness, peace and joy. On earth there is chaos amongst men. On earth there is an overflow of cruelty, fickleness, poverty, misery, worry and sadness.
What is the intersection point? Who can deliver us from the storms in the world and in our own hearts?
In a word – JESUS. Jesus, the One who took on human form, who walked among us, who suffered and died. Jesus, who takes away our sins. Jesus, who brings us back to the Father. Jesus, who intercedes for us. Jesus, who baptizes us in power. Jesus, who provides for us. Jesus, who ever intercedes for us Jesus, our high tower. Jesus, in whom every promise of God is “YES”. Jesus, our Man in Glory.
Jesus IS "the Rock that is higher than I". On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.
And how do we come to Jesus? How do we approach Him? By faith. By believing he exists, and that he rewards us with all we need as we ask and seek and knock. Too many Christians now leave the asking and seeking to their pastors or the “zealots”. To this, Jesus has spoken and said to each one of us, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving Me”. It is the Lord you are serving! Your life belongs to him, is wrapped up in him. Do you not know this? This is spiritual milk, that you no longer live but Christ lives in you. You have been seated in Christ at the Father’s right hand. Why do we forget? Because we do not think on these things. Why? Because we have become busy with other things, worldly affairs, temporary matters – stuff that is inconsequential compared to the Glory of God in Christ.
“We have lost the aura of glory, the mood of joy, the air of expectation.” - D Salochi
Can you get it back? Of course. Of course you can. Of course.
“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” - James 4:4–10.
Strong words. But strong medicine is needed in the face of all the…chaos, cruelty, poverty, misery, worries and sadness. And in their place, the Holy Spirit can and will raise up in you, through your humility, what is already overflowing from heaven – power, glory, goodness, provision, purity, fullness, peace and joy. Believe it! Only believe.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
The burning ones
Just sitting behind the sound desk at Life Changers, with my foot tapping and my heart singing along with the first band of a marathon worship session today. It's the 12 hour Burn Worship Event that has swung into town (or at least into Tableview). The whole concept of these days are to create space where we gather around the simplicity and at the same time profound nature of worship and "burn" together. Running with the concept that was birthed from an idea from friends of ours in America, they describe these moments as something like this:
Whether it is the quieter "soaking" times like today at the Burn is, or if it's at 100 miles an hour moments such as last night, the sound of worship over the Mother City is becoming louder and stronger than ever. Old and young alike, rich and poor, black and wide, the atmosphere is changing!
Add your voice to the sound.
The crazy thing is that last night, I lead worship at Cape Town United, our combined youth event that stretches across the city. We had somewhere between 800 and 1000 teenagers going absolutely crazy...the screaming voices, the crowd surfing bodies, the dancing feet were just the outward expression of what God is doing in our city. The tide of extravagant worship is rising!The world around us is crying out to know and feel the presence of God. We
are a grassroots movement that plants furnaces of vertical worship and prayer
around the world. We are creating a dwelling place for God's Presence
Whether it is the quieter "soaking" times like today at the Burn is, or if it's at 100 miles an hour moments such as last night, the sound of worship over the Mother City is becoming louder and stronger than ever. Old and young alike, rich and poor, black and wide, the atmosphere is changing!
Add your voice to the sound.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Truth or Dare Conference (Zimbabwe)
Back from Zimbabwe and here are5 photo's of our time there with the Dae2Serve team and conference. Check ot this link for more photo's...
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150357387840786&id=684965785&ref=notif¬if_t=feed_comment#!/media/set/?set=oa.10150273116413565&type=1&closeTheater=1
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150357387840786&id=684965785&ref=notif¬if_t=feed_comment#!/media/set/?set=oa.10150273116413565&type=1&closeTheater=1
Friday, August 5, 2011
A haitian parable
An old parable told by a Haitian pastor.
"A certain man wanted to sell his house for two thousand dollars. Another man wanted to buy it very badly, but he was a poor man and didn't have the full price. After much bargaining, the owner agreed to sell the house to the man for one thousand dollars. But the reduced price came with a stipulation. The owner would sell the house, but he would keep ownership of a large nail protruding from over the front door.
Several years later, the original owner decided he wanted to buy the house back. Understandably, the new owner was unwilling to sell. As a result, the origial owner went out, found the carcass of a dead dog in the street, and hung it from the nail he still owned. Soon the house became unlivable, and the family was forced to sell to the owner of the nail".
The Haitian pastor concluded the story: "If we leave the devil with even one small peg in our life, he will return to hang his rotting garbage on it".
"A certain man wanted to sell his house for two thousand dollars. Another man wanted to buy it very badly, but he was a poor man and didn't have the full price. After much bargaining, the owner agreed to sell the house to the man for one thousand dollars. But the reduced price came with a stipulation. The owner would sell the house, but he would keep ownership of a large nail protruding from over the front door.
Several years later, the original owner decided he wanted to buy the house back. Understandably, the new owner was unwilling to sell. As a result, the origial owner went out, found the carcass of a dead dog in the street, and hung it from the nail he still owned. Soon the house became unlivable, and the family was forced to sell to the owner of the nail".
The Haitian pastor concluded the story: "If we leave the devil with even one small peg in our life, he will return to hang his rotting garbage on it".
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Everyday, every moment, is spiritual (guest blog by Malcolm Herbert)
Luke 17:20 Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, Luke 17:21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.”
This verse shows that there is no separation between the secular and sacred. The Kingdom of God is within me, 247. The invisible Kingdom in us, makes the Kingdom visible to the world.
When we keep the secular and the sacred separate, like in a religious system, the result is we are able to live a double life.
Jesus did not separate the 2, and He lived and displayed utter freedom, and yet everything he did fitted perfectly into His Father’s will. In His freedom and perceived rebellion against the religious system of the day, He never sinned or disobeyed His Father. Get rid of the religious Spirit in our lives, live free.
Jesus changes our hearts, and the Holy Spirit takes up residence. So, every day, God walks this earth wherever we go. God’s presence moves around the earth with His people. So, going to church is a ludicrous notion. We are, permanently, and always, the church, wherever we are.
And we are all still growing into maturity. Every time that I think I have peeled off a layer of religion in my own heart, I just find more. Which is why this message has been burning on my heart.
(Malcolm Herbert)
This verse shows that there is no separation between the secular and sacred. The Kingdom of God is within me, 247. The invisible Kingdom in us, makes the Kingdom visible to the world.
When we keep the secular and the sacred separate, like in a religious system, the result is we are able to live a double life.
Jesus did not separate the 2, and He lived and displayed utter freedom, and yet everything he did fitted perfectly into His Father’s will. In His freedom and perceived rebellion against the religious system of the day, He never sinned or disobeyed His Father. Get rid of the religious Spirit in our lives, live free.
Jesus changes our hearts, and the Holy Spirit takes up residence. So, every day, God walks this earth wherever we go. God’s presence moves around the earth with His people. So, going to church is a ludicrous notion. We are, permanently, and always, the church, wherever we are.
And we are all still growing into maturity. Every time that I think I have peeled off a layer of religion in my own heart, I just find more. Which is why this message has been burning on my heart.
(Malcolm Herbert)
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