From Neo's conversation with The Architect it seems that when the matrix was created the architect considered it perfect but the one factor that had led to its imperfection was simply the human one. (That in itself creates a problem. Were there still some free people who were missed? Did Zion already exist - otherwise how could humanity cause so much difficulty?) Interesting that he's called The Architect - an architect is someone who designs, never actually builds (never mind create!). Isn't it also interesting that up to that point the Matrix has been reloaded 6 times - presumably the seventh was intended to be perfection (maybe ultimately it was - I got a bit confused by the ending?). (I also find it interesting how religious a place Zion is - it's not exactly Christian (!) but it's certainly very religious with its temples etc.)
Compare this to the biblical account of creation. God created man innocent and perfect and if conditions had remained the same then presumably the human race would be perfect today - but just mechanically so - just like the machine world, neither good or bad in itself. But it's plain that both Adam and Eve were created with the possibility of rebellion. On the surface this seems quite a risky move by the Creator. Could it possibly be that the last thing that God wanted was a closed mechanical world which was entirely pre-determined and where human beings would be little more than automatons? But to allow them to make a genuine choice - effectively either to continue to acknowledge God as Creator and Sovereign or to rebel i.e. to become disobedient - to make themselves the centre rather than their Creator.
This was the great pressure point that Satan sought to exploit. The command that God gave could have been many things but ultimately the whole future of mankind turned on a choice. Would man believe God or Satan? Well we know the outcome - not only did man rebel and elevate himself to the place of God (i.e. self rules OK; the “de-goding” of God; I am the master of my fate etc.). there are many aspects to the temptation - the temptation to the senses; the temptation to be like God; the temptation to think that God was holding back something good from mankind. Adam and Eve made their choice and so the perfection was marred and the whole created cosmos was put out of joint and remains so to this day. But the amazing outcome of this is that God didn't do what to us must seem the obvious (Matrix - style) thing - wipe out Zion and start again - although it came close in the days of Noah when evil had almost entirely snuffed out good. The point about the history between the fall of Adam and Eve and the Flood is to illustrate the infectious nature of sin and evil and its spread in the world when it is unchecked. In the very first generation we find Cain murdering Abel and from that it was totally downhill until we read these words in a modern translation / paraphrase - God saw that human evil was out of control. People thought evil, imagined evil—evil, evil, evil from morning to night. God was sorry that he had made the human race in the first place; it broke his heart. God said, "I'll get rid of my ruined creation, make a clean sweep: people, animals, snakes and bugs, birds—the works. I'm sorry I made them”. But Noah was different. God liked what he saw in Noah (AV says simply that Noah found grace in God's eyes). This is the story of Noah: Noah was a good man, a man of integrity in his community. Noah walked with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. As far as God was concerned, the Earth had become a sewer; there was violence everywhere. God took one look and saw how bad it was, everyone corrupt and corrupting—life itself corrupt to the core." (The Message)
Like Noah, in every generation there were those (sometimes a handful) who freely chose to worship the true Creator and live in accordance with His character and design. Those who chose to own Him as their God did so acknowledging their rebellion and disobedience and trusting in His promises of mercy and grace. An important aspect of their worship and praise was that it flowed from hearts that are free to worship - they were not automatons nor did they live in a deterministic world ruled by fate. They lived in a world which they know has a great future in which they will play a part. They have a solid hope and a purpose. They leave this world confident in the One who said "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me shall never die."
Not only did not God wipe out His creation and start again but neither did God abandon this fallen and marred world to destroy itself but rather chose to enter it in the person of His Son. The Gospel of John tells us that "He came to His own.... He became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the One and only full of grace and truth." - God entering His marred and now imperfect creation in order to redeem it - to literally buy it back by His death. He didn't send a powerful being or angel, but came Himself in the person of His Son. In doing so he didn't merely act at a distance but bound himself to the fate of mankind. If He (the Bible describes him as the second Adam) succumbed to the power of temptation and evil then mankind would have no hope or future. The good news is simply that he did not and so ensured the glorious future of all who would put their trust in Him.
The true Neo - Jesus, God with us, the One, the Saviour of the world entered into the realm of time. He didn't use violence to do battle with evil but overcame evil with good. In the greatest battle of the cosmos He withstood the onslaughts of evil and died in apparent weakness. But in that dying He conquered death and hell and the forces of evil. Weakness turned out to be the greatest power in the cosmos. The scriptures call Him “The Second Adam” for, in contrast to the first Adam, in spite of all the temptations that he faced, He never weakened. The key to His resistance lay in His absolute obedience to the Father who had sent Him. Every choice set before Him was resolved in the same way -obedience to the Father's will and purpose. So where Adam failed, Jesus triumphed.
There are many parallels between the first film of The Matrix and the life of Jesus - a kind of allegory. It seems that the writers deliberately chose names to echo biblical characters. There are lots of references to these online (a whole genre seems to have grown up around the parallels etc.). But there is only one real story and the allegory falls far short. It may not seem as exciting a story to today's generation but when someone sees it and understand something of the wonder of it, it is truly the greatest story ever told - and it's true. If there is a modern day problem of choice it comes down to the oldest one on record - self or God - who rules, who is in control. And this is an individual choice because though we talk of groups and nations and even civilisations and their destinies, ultimately each person lives as an individual before His Creator in His Creation.
It is interesting that the architect identified hope as the "quintessential human delusion". But if hope is based on the promises and word of the Creator then it is more than just a "hope against hope" which is no hope at all. If the Creator's revealed character and His actions in this world convince a person that in Him is to be found their highest good; that He is the Benevolent One in whom there is no malevolence; that He offers salvation and redemption to those who by nature want nothing to do with Him, then that hope is built on a firm, unshakable foundation. And if the Creator's action in this world in entering His creation and taking to Himself a real human body and soul and living among those who He had created and being willing to demonstrate his unfailing and unconditional love by giving His life for theirs, then again hope is not just a vain, futile fancy but built on the solid ground of the love of the Creator. Flash
Friday, July 23, 2010
Matrix - scene with the Architect
I understand the conundrum that the problem of causality poses. The whole issue of the freedom of the will and causality goes back to the simple question which has no easy answer. Do we live in a world which is wholly deterministic - i.e. everything that happens is always governed by circumstance and the laws of nature, or is there really freedom of choice - are we free to shape our own destiny. Most people prefer to think the latter if they ever think about it at all. There is something innate in us which hates the thought of being the product of time and chance; of blind fate; of being unable to shape our destiny; of living in a closed mechanistic universe. Early science would lead us to the conclusion that everything is governed by fixed laws - that the universe is a closed system - that is until the study of atomic physics began to look at the quantum world of the atom where simple physical laws no longer apply!
Neo is faced with the choice of either accepting the mechanistic world of the architect and effectively returning to what must prove to be the oblivion of the source or continuing to believe that his destiny is to live as a free man. The final words of the architect are significant. "Hope - the quintessential human delusion - at the same time your greatest strength and your greatest weakness." The architect views hope as a delusion, but to live without it is not to live at all. The opposite of hope is despair and nobody can survive long in despair. Yet the architect recognises that hope is a source of strength as well as weakness. To live in a closed, mechanistic universe is to lose all hope, all sense of destiny.
St Paul knew this when he wrote his epistles. He saw the importance of three essential human elements - faith, hope and love and also saw that love is the greatest of these three. Love is the true anomaly that lies at the foundation of human reality. It is the unexplainable element in all our lives. We encounter it; we are sometimes showered with it - unasked for and maybe even unwanted, but we cannot but be affected by it. It's illogical, unreasonable, unpredictable, and powerful. It springs up in us or upon us at the most inconvenient times. It forms us and shapes us and influences us and it is unquestionably the most glorious and puzzling aspect of our lives. To know that we are loved, to love someone, to be in love - what wonder, beauty and glory and grace is this! (It is a huge part of Neo's experience and a huge influence on his actions).
Hope is built on the foundation of love - "hope springs eternal in the human breast" someone wrote. Love engenders hope. Hope does not fix itself upon the present but it looks forward to the future. To become reality true hope as opposed to false hope must be built on a secure foundation. Neo refused to accept the mechanistic closed world of the architect. His love for Trinity and her love for him plays an important part in what he is and does and thinks. Hope is not a delusion to Neo - it's based on solid foundations and ultimately proves not a weakness but his greatest strength. It gives him purpose.
This is where the third element of St Paul's trilogy comes in - Faith. (Incidentally notice that science has no category for any of these three - as far as science is concerned they are just indefinable human emotional responses). To have faith in someone is to a) believe that they exist and b) trust what they say and c) act upon it. That is precisely what you find in the scriptures. In Hebrews chapter 11 the writer says simply "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." In a different translation it says "The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see." and also "It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him." And in regard to the latter the major theme of the bible is that God is love and that he both created and cares enough to respond. His love motivates everything that he does.
So if we a) believe in God and b) trust what he says and c) act upon it then we truly have faith and to have faith is to have hope and purpose.
So what does God have to say? First and foremost, he created us and he loves us. We were created to be at one with Him and He at one with us - this is the position of greatest blessing / happiness / joy - to know that we love and are loved. How can this be when we are so totally 'other'? We don't really want him - we view him as being an inconvenient nuisance - why do we have to choose between believing Him or disbelieving Him? Why should it be such a point of importance? Isn't it better just to push the whole business to the back of our minds and live for the moment, the day, the immediate pleasure?
That's what King Solomon tried to do. He wrote a book called Ecclesiastes ("the seeker - one who is on a quest") and in one way it's a bit of an anomaly in the Bible. It doesn't have much to say about God - it's mostly about trying to live without God. He sees life as just being "under the sun" - in other words he's a materialist living in a closed mechanistic universe - fate rules and the conclusion is that everything is pointless - the product of time and chance. "I returned and saw under the sun that—the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favour to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all". And yet he acknowledges that "He (God) also has planted eternity in men's hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy]" The implication is "What a nuisance that we have this sense of the divine and destiny and purpose - why can't we just be left to enjoy the moment - live for whatever pleasure we can get without having to worry about morality, sin, guilt, judgment, responsibility. If we party hard enough we can push it all to the back of our minds - but when we are alone with our thoughts...............
So the choice comes down to 1) accept the closed world of the machines and live in despair and no purpose 2) accept that there is a Creator and that he is pure love (not the dispassionate architect seeking only perfection of the matrix with no anomalies) and live in faith, hope and love. A Creator who is transcendent above his creation and yet cares enough about it to love all the anomalies and to do something about their plight - because he has entered his creation and demonstrated his love for those who accept their anomalousness (new word?) - Jesus, Emmanuel (God with us) demonstrating what God is like and faced with the ultimate choice of saving his own life or of giving it in order to save a world of God-hating, rebellious anomalies he chose to die. And his death was not in vain for dying in apparent weakness, seemingly at the mercy of the evil in this world, he conquered evil and death and its power and rose again triumphant to ascend to the throne of the universe.
This world is broken and marred in so many ways - and almost all of them because of man's selfishness and greed. But it has a glorious future! Even now we see hints of the glory of the Creator in the wonders of creation. Now we see the (imperfect but real) beauty and glory of what men and women were intended to be in those who have put their trust in their Creator and found their lives transformed by his love and power - men and women with purpose and destiny who have discovered the truth of God's love and kindness and live in its light acknowledging that they deserve nothing but guilt and condemnation but have found mercy and have not been dealt with as they deserve. Acknowledging that there is nothing about them which has in any way contributed to their peace and joy in believing but rejoice in the grace (the undeserved favour) that has been and continues to be shown to them by a God who loves them. This is what makes life in this world so wonderful. To be loved with everlasting love. Flash
Neo is faced with the choice of either accepting the mechanistic world of the architect and effectively returning to what must prove to be the oblivion of the source or continuing to believe that his destiny is to live as a free man. The final words of the architect are significant. "Hope - the quintessential human delusion - at the same time your greatest strength and your greatest weakness." The architect views hope as a delusion, but to live without it is not to live at all. The opposite of hope is despair and nobody can survive long in despair. Yet the architect recognises that hope is a source of strength as well as weakness. To live in a closed, mechanistic universe is to lose all hope, all sense of destiny.
St Paul knew this when he wrote his epistles. He saw the importance of three essential human elements - faith, hope and love and also saw that love is the greatest of these three. Love is the true anomaly that lies at the foundation of human reality. It is the unexplainable element in all our lives. We encounter it; we are sometimes showered with it - unasked for and maybe even unwanted, but we cannot but be affected by it. It's illogical, unreasonable, unpredictable, and powerful. It springs up in us or upon us at the most inconvenient times. It forms us and shapes us and influences us and it is unquestionably the most glorious and puzzling aspect of our lives. To know that we are loved, to love someone, to be in love - what wonder, beauty and glory and grace is this! (It is a huge part of Neo's experience and a huge influence on his actions).
Hope is built on the foundation of love - "hope springs eternal in the human breast" someone wrote. Love engenders hope. Hope does not fix itself upon the present but it looks forward to the future. To become reality true hope as opposed to false hope must be built on a secure foundation. Neo refused to accept the mechanistic closed world of the architect. His love for Trinity and her love for him plays an important part in what he is and does and thinks. Hope is not a delusion to Neo - it's based on solid foundations and ultimately proves not a weakness but his greatest strength. It gives him purpose.
This is where the third element of St Paul's trilogy comes in - Faith. (Incidentally notice that science has no category for any of these three - as far as science is concerned they are just indefinable human emotional responses). To have faith in someone is to a) believe that they exist and b) trust what they say and c) act upon it. That is precisely what you find in the scriptures. In Hebrews chapter 11 the writer says simply "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." In a different translation it says "The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see." and also "It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him." And in regard to the latter the major theme of the bible is that God is love and that he both created and cares enough to respond. His love motivates everything that he does.
So if we a) believe in God and b) trust what he says and c) act upon it then we truly have faith and to have faith is to have hope and purpose.
So what does God have to say? First and foremost, he created us and he loves us. We were created to be at one with Him and He at one with us - this is the position of greatest blessing / happiness / joy - to know that we love and are loved. How can this be when we are so totally 'other'? We don't really want him - we view him as being an inconvenient nuisance - why do we have to choose between believing Him or disbelieving Him? Why should it be such a point of importance? Isn't it better just to push the whole business to the back of our minds and live for the moment, the day, the immediate pleasure?
That's what King Solomon tried to do. He wrote a book called Ecclesiastes ("the seeker - one who is on a quest") and in one way it's a bit of an anomaly in the Bible. It doesn't have much to say about God - it's mostly about trying to live without God. He sees life as just being "under the sun" - in other words he's a materialist living in a closed mechanistic universe - fate rules and the conclusion is that everything is pointless - the product of time and chance. "I returned and saw under the sun that—the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favour to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all". And yet he acknowledges that "He (God) also has planted eternity in men's hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy]" The implication is "What a nuisance that we have this sense of the divine and destiny and purpose - why can't we just be left to enjoy the moment - live for whatever pleasure we can get without having to worry about morality, sin, guilt, judgment, responsibility. If we party hard enough we can push it all to the back of our minds - but when we are alone with our thoughts...............
So the choice comes down to 1) accept the closed world of the machines and live in despair and no purpose 2) accept that there is a Creator and that he is pure love (not the dispassionate architect seeking only perfection of the matrix with no anomalies) and live in faith, hope and love. A Creator who is transcendent above his creation and yet cares enough about it to love all the anomalies and to do something about their plight - because he has entered his creation and demonstrated his love for those who accept their anomalousness (new word?) - Jesus, Emmanuel (God with us) demonstrating what God is like and faced with the ultimate choice of saving his own life or of giving it in order to save a world of God-hating, rebellious anomalies he chose to die. And his death was not in vain for dying in apparent weakness, seemingly at the mercy of the evil in this world, he conquered evil and death and its power and rose again triumphant to ascend to the throne of the universe.
This world is broken and marred in so many ways - and almost all of them because of man's selfishness and greed. But it has a glorious future! Even now we see hints of the glory of the Creator in the wonders of creation. Now we see the (imperfect but real) beauty and glory of what men and women were intended to be in those who have put their trust in their Creator and found their lives transformed by his love and power - men and women with purpose and destiny who have discovered the truth of God's love and kindness and live in its light acknowledging that they deserve nothing but guilt and condemnation but have found mercy and have not been dealt with as they deserve. Acknowledging that there is nothing about them which has in any way contributed to their peace and joy in believing but rejoice in the grace (the undeserved favour) that has been and continues to be shown to them by a God who loves them. This is what makes life in this world so wonderful. To be loved with everlasting love. Flash
The Honesty of Old Testament Bloggers
If you can just remain simply honest in what you write then it will be of value both yourself and others.
It has always been of great personal interest and comfort to me that the bloggers of some 3,000 years ago (the psalmists) poured out as much (if not more) complaints to God as they did praise. Their blogs are still a comfort and inspiration to many. Men and women who have shaken their fists in the face of God have ultimately found peace and hope in believing.
Some examples..........
Psalm 69
Save me, O God,for the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in the miry depths,where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me.
I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched.
My eyes fail,looking for my God.
(Blog by King David)
Final example of many - Psalm 130
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins,O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,and in his word I put my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning,more than watchmen wait for the morning.
O Israel, put your hope in the Lord,for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.
(By an Anonymous Blogger - but feel free to put your name in wherever you read "Israel")
You are not alone!
Flash
It has always been of great personal interest and comfort to me that the bloggers of some 3,000 years ago (the psalmists) poured out as much (if not more) complaints to God as they did praise. Their blogs are still a comfort and inspiration to many. Men and women who have shaken their fists in the face of God have ultimately found peace and hope in believing.
Some examples..........
Psalm 69
Save me, O God,for the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in the miry depths,where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me.
I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched.
My eyes fail,looking for my God.
(Blog by King David)
Final example of many - Psalm 130
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins,O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,and in his word I put my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning,more than watchmen wait for the morning.
O Israel, put your hope in the Lord,for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.
(By an Anonymous Blogger - but feel free to put your name in wherever you read "Israel")
You are not alone!
Flash
LOTR - The Ending
IMHO, one of the mega failings of the film compared to the book is the ending. In the book after the happy ending in Gondor etc. the hobbits return to the Shire to find that its been ravaged by ruffians and half-orcs and the inhabitants of Hobbiton are living in fear of 'Sharkey', who turns out to be Saruman still accompanied by the still enslaved Wormtongue. His interference has completely upset the peace and tranquility of the shire. Sam says "This is worse than Mordor - much worse in a way. It comes home to you as they say, because it is home, and you remember it before it was ruined." The hobbits have fought in the greatest battles of Middle Earth and now they must fight an equally (if not more) important battle to rid the shire of the evil that has disturbed its peace. But now they fight as those who know that good must overcome evil and as those who have been energised by victory.
But Sam's words have even deeper significance because whether we believe it or not there is within every one of us a distant echo of a memory of what this world as a whole was like before sin and evil marred its beauty and peace. We too are called to battle for its return but we can never do this without the knowledge and assurance that the greater battle, the defining battle and triumph of good over evil has been fought and won. Like the shire, in the absence of good, evil will corrupt and spoil and disturb and mar. As Frodo says to one of the ruffians who are causing trouble, "I see that you're behind the times and the news here... your day is over, and all the other ruffians'. The Dark Tower has fallen and there is a King in Gondor. Isengard has been destroyed and your precious master is a beggar in the wilderness." That should speak volumes to all who know that there is a King upon the throne of the universe who has triumphed over evil once and forever and as for those who perpetuate evil in this world - their days are numbered. Flash
But Sam's words have even deeper significance because whether we believe it or not there is within every one of us a distant echo of a memory of what this world as a whole was like before sin and evil marred its beauty and peace. We too are called to battle for its return but we can never do this without the knowledge and assurance that the greater battle, the defining battle and triumph of good over evil has been fought and won. Like the shire, in the absence of good, evil will corrupt and spoil and disturb and mar. As Frodo says to one of the ruffians who are causing trouble, "I see that you're behind the times and the news here... your day is over, and all the other ruffians'. The Dark Tower has fallen and there is a King in Gondor. Isengard has been destroyed and your precious master is a beggar in the wilderness." That should speak volumes to all who know that there is a King upon the throne of the universe who has triumphed over evil once and forever and as for those who perpetuate evil in this world - their days are numbered. Flash
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Ffald y Brenin 3 The Chapel
This simple "beehive" chapel preserves at its heart the outcrop of rock on which it's built. It is a special place, a place where a rhythm of prayer is perpetuated - morning, noon and night and a place where the presence of Jesus has been made manifest according to many testimonies. It is is place from which prayer for Wales and our nation rises daily. Roy Godwin describes it as a "thin" place, a place where the veil between an ever-present heaven and earth is often drawn aside. It is a simple, peaceful place - a place of light. 
Ffald y Brenin 2 The High Cross
The lane leads to a promontory which overlooks the valley on which there is set a simple wooden cross which is at the centreof this picture.
What a wonderful spot to stop and meditate and pray - which we duly did.
There is a simplicity about this place which is truly wonderful
Flash
Ffald y Brenin 1
On the evening of my daughter's wedding I fell into conversation during which the book "An Outpouring of Grace" by Roy Godwin was mentioned. The book had obviously had a profound effect on the person who I was talking to and the following morning I found myself googling it and sending for a copy. Having read the book I can recommend it to anyone who is interested in what God is doing in a comparatively remote community in the North of Pembrokeshire. Ffald y Brenin (The Sheepfold of the King) is a Christian Retreat Centre situated high above Cwm Gwaun (Meadow Valley) just south of Newport on the edge of the Preseli Hills National Park. The story of how Roy and Daphne Godwin came to Ffald y Brenin to become leaders there is in itself a glorious testimony to God's leading but the testimony of what God has been doing at Ffald y Brenin since that time is simply amazing. You can find details of the centre on-line but I really recommend you read the book. As it happened my wife and I were on long planned holiday in Pembrokeshire and we decided to drive up to Ffald y Brenin one morning. It was a reasonably good day with a cool wind but dry. We made our way up through the lanes and through the wonderfully named Maenclochog (Bell Stone) and down into the beautiful Gwaun Valley. Turning up the steep drive we climbed up the winding road to the group of buildings and wonderful gardens which are Ffald y Brenin.
The Buildings in the photos above are the main residential block and the wonderful beehive chapel can be seen at the rear - see next post for the interior.
This is the original farmhouse at Ffald y Brenin.
More about Ffald y Brenin to come.
Flash
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The thing that amazes me about the Gospel
I must confess that as a Christian I am often beguiled, fascinated and also frustrated by the great (?) theological debates of the moment. We have the New Perspective - every adherent of which has to carefully specify exactly where he or she stands in a range of views on the poor old Apostle Paul and his theology. Then the same thing seems to apply to Jesus. Should we be part of one of three quests for the historical Jesus (nothing but the latest quest will do!)
On reflection I realise that I have never met more appealing Christians than those of my mother's generation - not only in belief but also in practise. I believe it was G.K. Chesterton who said, "Christianity has not been tried and found wanting, it has been found difficult and not tried." I have been blessed to meet may Christians during my life who have not only tried, but with God's help have succeeded in literally shining the truth of the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ into the world in which they lived. That world was mostly what would today generally be called 'mundane' - but against this grey and often dark background they shone - they radiated!
How could they do that without ever having known about the New Perspective on Paul or the Third Quest for the historical Jesus? It does not take much reflection to realise that in the fires of the reformation, the revivals of the 19th century, the early to mid 20th century, men and women of comparatively little means and education were transformed by the simple message of a Saviour who had come down from heaven's glory to live among men and through His sinless life, sacrificial death and resurrection made it possible for them to not only know forgiveness of sin and release from guilt, but to enjoy fellowship with their Creator both in this life and the next.
This is the glory of the gospel - the transforming power of truth believed and lived. I thank God that in my family history I know of a mother saved through the Pentecostal movement of the 1940's and a grandfather saved in the 1904 revival. I know of older generations who, in the 17th century worshipped in a cave before a relaxation in legislation allowed them to meet in a small chapel in a valley many miles from their homes.
I think of the days of Daniel Rowland of Llangeitho in Cardiganshire (1713 - 1790) when hundreds, even thousands of Welsh people would walk to what must have seemed the middle of nowhere to hear the good news of what God has done and to be transformed by that message.
And so, when I hear of the 'Third Quest for the historical Jesus' and the 'New Perspective on Paul', I think of my ancestors who did't have the benefit (?) of modern day theological thinking and thank God for what Thomas Scott in 1814 called "The Force of Truth". "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes" Romans 1: 16
Flash
On reflection I realise that I have never met more appealing Christians than those of my mother's generation - not only in belief but also in practise. I believe it was G.K. Chesterton who said, "Christianity has not been tried and found wanting, it has been found difficult and not tried." I have been blessed to meet may Christians during my life who have not only tried, but with God's help have succeeded in literally shining the truth of the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ into the world in which they lived. That world was mostly what would today generally be called 'mundane' - but against this grey and often dark background they shone - they radiated!
How could they do that without ever having known about the New Perspective on Paul or the Third Quest for the historical Jesus? It does not take much reflection to realise that in the fires of the reformation, the revivals of the 19th century, the early to mid 20th century, men and women of comparatively little means and education were transformed by the simple message of a Saviour who had come down from heaven's glory to live among men and through His sinless life, sacrificial death and resurrection made it possible for them to not only know forgiveness of sin and release from guilt, but to enjoy fellowship with their Creator both in this life and the next.
This is the glory of the gospel - the transforming power of truth believed and lived. I thank God that in my family history I know of a mother saved through the Pentecostal movement of the 1940's and a grandfather saved in the 1904 revival. I know of older generations who, in the 17th century worshipped in a cave before a relaxation in legislation allowed them to meet in a small chapel in a valley many miles from their homes.
I think of the days of Daniel Rowland of Llangeitho in Cardiganshire (1713 - 1790) when hundreds, even thousands of Welsh people would walk to what must have seemed the middle of nowhere to hear the good news of what God has done and to be transformed by that message.
And so, when I hear of the 'Third Quest for the historical Jesus' and the 'New Perspective on Paul', I think of my ancestors who did't have the benefit (?) of modern day theological thinking and thank God for what Thomas Scott in 1814 called "The Force of Truth". "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes" Romans 1: 16
Flash
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Back on the Blog again
To cries of "Oh No!" and "Geroff" I fell compelled by some inner instinct to blog again. It's been a while and I am fully aware that nobody has missed me out there in ciderspace (feels right even though I know it ain't right). Ah well, dat's da cidermen's loss! This blogging feels so unnatural to me. Hard to believe I tend to be a private, nay annually retentive kinda guy (that is I hate to see all these years going by so quickly) and so to share my world view with cidermen involves some major effort. Having said that, I have never been accused of being dumb, rather the opposite. Unlike some linux scripts I don't have a non-verbose mode.
So celebrate (or indeed mourn) with me the decision to once again inflict myself and my thoughts on an uninterested and indeed, largely uncaring audience and just go look for something more interesting. I may have misread this recently but I believe I saw somewhere that there are now over 6,000,000 bogs (was that a Freudian slip) flying around out there in ciderspace and so I proudly take my place as 6,000,001 on the list of (someone's) favourite blog.
I suppose that begs a question. What does it take to be a blog that wins an award? What does one (as our Queen would say) have to do to attract the attention of one of the many institutions that give away such awards? I have given this issue at least a minute's thought and have decided that whatever that winning element is, I neither have it nor do I not intend to pursue it. I will be content with comparative obscurity.
So let me nail a few colours to the mast. Those who may have read previous posts (if they are still alive and have their sight) know that I am one of those rarities in a postmodernist world - a committed Christian. This is not a matter of taking up a position either for against anyone, but a matter of deep and serious personal conviction. However, I admit immediately that I am not immune to the desire to share this conviction. For 32 years of my life I consciously rebelled against such a commitment - and the 30 years that have since gone by haven't been years of simple, uncomplicated faith either! But as I grow older I am more and more thankful that (in the word of Thomas Scott, a contemporary of John Newton and much influenced by him) I have felt the "Force of Truth".
In one of the great scenes of the gospel of John, Jesus stands before Pilate and testifies, "To this end was I born, and for this came I into the world, to bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice." To this stunning statement Pilate replies, "What is truth?" (John 18:37-38). It is plain that this question wasn't intended to be taken seriously - in fact, that reply sounds very (post) modern and will no doubt be the response of many (or few) that read this. It is rhetorical and sceptical and the implication is plainly that there no such thing as absolute truth (I am reminded of the Manic Street Preacher's album "This is my truth, tell me yours" - truth has become simply what I happen to believe. But the fact remains, Jesus claimed to be the truth and He also claimed that if we knew the truth it would set us free - truly free. No one could have been more surprised than I to discover (and go on discovering more and more as the years go by) that His claim was justified absolutely.
"Believe what you want", you may reply, "but don't expect me to agree with you!" And there's the rub. I don't expect you to agree with me. But I truly wish that you would at least hear what Jesus has to say. You can (like I did constantly for all of 32 years) want to hear nothing which will disturb or interfere with my worldview and lifestyle, but I will be (literally) eternally grateful that there came a second in a minute, in an hour, in a day, in a year, in my lifetime when in spite of my active reluctance I saw that glint of truth in an old, old story which involved a cross and an unjust execution and an empty tomb that signalled an ending and a beginning. It signalled the ending of an alienation and the beginning of a reconciliation; the ending of an enmity and the beginning of a personal, living relationship with an offended God, who had never ceased to love those who had offended and had done something about the situation through the sacrifice of His Beloved Son, our Saviour and rescuer, Jesus Christ. That glint I saw was just that - a glint. But just as a miner,seeing aglint of gold will put a deal of effort into digging deeper, so with all those who catch a glint, a glimpse, a whisper, a hint. The digging exposed a narrow vein of truth which became a treasure store of limitless worth - but then that is for me to tell and you to find.
I can imagine at least the follwing reactions to this.
1. "Let's get outta here - let's find an interesting blog". I wish I could say "Go in peace", but I guess that's an oxymoron from God's perspective.
2. "The guy's nuts!" I ain't arguing! But at least permit me to apply that description to myself for all the years whan I had no inkling of the wonder of God's truth.
3. Hmm. "I wonder if there isn't something in this claim of Jesus to "absolute truth". Beware reader - you are in serious danger of thinking for yourself. But fear not, for the combined forces of postmodern rationalist thinking will quickly dispel all such wondering and lull you back into a sense of calm indifference and if postmodern rationalist pressure fails then rely upon it, distraction and busy-ness will never fail.
But if, when you are alone (in the sense that you have given yourself time to be still and without distraction), a sense of your finitude and perhaps "a horror of great darkness" should steal upon your heart as you ponder the great questions of life and personal meaning and purpose, then whisper (or shout) a prayer / challenge / cry /invocation to a God who not only hears, but answers and you too will in His time feel the force of truth. Flash
So celebrate (or indeed mourn) with me the decision to once again inflict myself and my thoughts on an uninterested and indeed, largely uncaring audience and just go look for something more interesting. I may have misread this recently but I believe I saw somewhere that there are now over 6,000,000 bogs (was that a Freudian slip) flying around out there in ciderspace and so I proudly take my place as 6,000,001 on the list of (someone's) favourite blog.
I suppose that begs a question. What does it take to be a blog that wins an award? What does one (as our Queen would say) have to do to attract the attention of one of the many institutions that give away such awards? I have given this issue at least a minute's thought and have decided that whatever that winning element is, I neither have it nor do I not intend to pursue it. I will be content with comparative obscurity.
So let me nail a few colours to the mast. Those who may have read previous posts (if they are still alive and have their sight) know that I am one of those rarities in a postmodernist world - a committed Christian. This is not a matter of taking up a position either for against anyone, but a matter of deep and serious personal conviction. However, I admit immediately that I am not immune to the desire to share this conviction. For 32 years of my life I consciously rebelled against such a commitment - and the 30 years that have since gone by haven't been years of simple, uncomplicated faith either! But as I grow older I am more and more thankful that (in the word of Thomas Scott, a contemporary of John Newton and much influenced by him) I have felt the "Force of Truth".
In one of the great scenes of the gospel of John, Jesus stands before Pilate and testifies, "To this end was I born, and for this came I into the world, to bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice." To this stunning statement Pilate replies, "What is truth?" (John 18:37-38). It is plain that this question wasn't intended to be taken seriously - in fact, that reply sounds very (post) modern and will no doubt be the response of many (or few) that read this. It is rhetorical and sceptical and the implication is plainly that there no such thing as absolute truth (I am reminded of the Manic Street Preacher's album "This is my truth, tell me yours" - truth has become simply what I happen to believe. But the fact remains, Jesus claimed to be the truth and He also claimed that if we knew the truth it would set us free - truly free. No one could have been more surprised than I to discover (and go on discovering more and more as the years go by) that His claim was justified absolutely.
"Believe what you want", you may reply, "but don't expect me to agree with you!" And there's the rub. I don't expect you to agree with me. But I truly wish that you would at least hear what Jesus has to say. You can (like I did constantly for all of 32 years) want to hear nothing which will disturb or interfere with my worldview and lifestyle, but I will be (literally) eternally grateful that there came a second in a minute, in an hour, in a day, in a year, in my lifetime when in spite of my active reluctance I saw that glint of truth in an old, old story which involved a cross and an unjust execution and an empty tomb that signalled an ending and a beginning. It signalled the ending of an alienation and the beginning of a reconciliation; the ending of an enmity and the beginning of a personal, living relationship with an offended God, who had never ceased to love those who had offended and had done something about the situation through the sacrifice of His Beloved Son, our Saviour and rescuer, Jesus Christ. That glint I saw was just that - a glint. But just as a miner,seeing aglint of gold will put a deal of effort into digging deeper, so with all those who catch a glint, a glimpse, a whisper, a hint. The digging exposed a narrow vein of truth which became a treasure store of limitless worth - but then that is for me to tell and you to find.
I can imagine at least the follwing reactions to this.
1. "Let's get outta here - let's find an interesting blog". I wish I could say "Go in peace", but I guess that's an oxymoron from God's perspective.
2. "The guy's nuts!" I ain't arguing! But at least permit me to apply that description to myself for all the years whan I had no inkling of the wonder of God's truth.
3. Hmm. "I wonder if there isn't something in this claim of Jesus to "absolute truth". Beware reader - you are in serious danger of thinking for yourself. But fear not, for the combined forces of postmodern rationalist thinking will quickly dispel all such wondering and lull you back into a sense of calm indifference and if postmodern rationalist pressure fails then rely upon it, distraction and busy-ness will never fail.
But if, when you are alone (in the sense that you have given yourself time to be still and without distraction), a sense of your finitude and perhaps "a horror of great darkness" should steal upon your heart as you ponder the great questions of life and personal meaning and purpose, then whisper (or shout) a prayer / challenge / cry /invocation to a God who not only hears, but answers and you too will in His time feel the force of truth. Flash
Friday, February 09, 2007
a video experiment
While we were at the orphanage at rehoboth last year the kids sand to us after we had had the most amazing brai (barbeque) on the last Sunday we were there. For those interested .... (be warned - this is like the song that never ends!
A Second Day of Snow!!
Sorry folks - you have to endure the robin pic. The snow almost vanished by last evening but much to the delight of my wife (who is not working today and so will spend most of the morning happily playing in the stuff) it's unexpectedly snowing again! Wow - two days of snow in a winter! Global warming - what global warming?
Thursday, February 08, 2007
The annual Day of Snow
Today the annual snowfall happened in South Wales, U.K. to my wife's absolute delight and glee - I tend to have a Scrooge-like mentallity towards it personally born out of too many bad experiences with the treachorously slippery nature of the stuff. Anyway it was an opportunity to tale some Christmas card pics of robins in the garden and our cairn terrier fighting his way through to his "piddling tree". He looks suitably disgusted and a fast shutter speed was required to conceal his shivers. Here's some pics. Be suitably horrified or enjoy! Flash
Friday, January 05, 2007
2007
I've just realised how boring this blog has become - it needs some graphic input to spice it up a bit. I've neen busily beavering away at a family history project over the winter and one bit of it is almost complete - hope to publish it on a website soon. I know it won't be of interest to the world but it still amazes me how interlinked families get and how out of nowhere you find some distant cousin umpteen times removed who has some invaluable bit of info about your family or vice versa. This business certainly appeals to the "private detective" instinct - and it's really addictive. The problem is that you can get the tree trunk done fairly quickly but then you get caught up in the branches and Here's a picture I took in Cardiff just before Chritmas - this guy with stilts was about 10 ft. tall and I happened to be following him as he was walking to his pitch. He overtook a mother and little girl and promptly frightened the life out of the little girl.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
A Filler
I know that I haven't posted for ages and it's annoying me too! Readers who live in UK will know that we're experiencing a heat wave - and being so unused to such a phenomenon we're all strugging - well I am anyway. I chose July as the month to rip out the old bathroom and install the new and boy has it been tough! I've finally resorted to getting up really early (it helps that Sian's been on an early shift for two weeks) and getting as much as I can done by lunchtime or just after and then collapsing for a few hours until the evening brings the solace of being able to sit out the back of the house and gaze at the hills cooled by a hint of a breeze if we're lucky.
However these summer morningspresent a far more subtle and almost overwhelming temptation. The only way to avoid it is to refuse to go outside. The temptation of course is to sit in the cool shade a while the morning away with a good book taking frequent breaks to just drink in the fresh morning air with the added bonus of fresh cut hay in the field over the fence. (the odd cup of coffee doesn't go amiss either). Evenings are great too in a different way - but ah the mornings. But I musn't think about it or there'll be no tiling done tomorrow.
There is lots of good news from George and Anne Marie in Rehoboth and I will provide an update soon.
I have also decided (most people would probably say it's a decision long overdue) that this blog is boring - there's a distinct lack of pictures etc. so something must be done about it. That too is now at the end of a long list of "to do" items. Flash
However these summer morningspresent a far more subtle and almost overwhelming temptation. The only way to avoid it is to refuse to go outside. The temptation of course is to sit in the cool shade a while the morning away with a good book taking frequent breaks to just drink in the fresh morning air with the added bonus of fresh cut hay in the field over the fence. (the odd cup of coffee doesn't go amiss either). Evenings are great too in a different way - but ah the mornings. But I musn't think about it or there'll be no tiling done tomorrow.
There is lots of good news from George and Anne Marie in Rehoboth and I will provide an update soon.
I have also decided (most people would probably say it's a decision long overdue) that this blog is boring - there's a distinct lack of pictures etc. so something must be done about it. That too is now at the end of a long list of "to do" items. Flash
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Update and some Boring News
Well, a week and a half has gone by and we've had to get feet back on the ground and get back to day to day stuff. We were so thankful for the fine weather when we got back which gave us a chance to get the marathon clothes wash out of the way. It has also given us time to reflect and pray and to give thanks - not least for all you wonderful people out there who have been kind enough to pray and contribute.
We have kept in touch with George and Anne Marie by phone although they're very busy at present. Rock Harbour Church from Southern California (site at http://www.rockharbor.org/) currently have teams in Rehoboth and they're busy carrying out the Care and Compassion ministry in Block E as well as school visits in connection with the "Choose to Wait" programme which seeks to encourage and inform teenagers about the dangers of HIV / AIDS and advocates a biblical approach to sex before marriage. They have a container on route which should arrive Monday filled with clothing and other commodities for the poor people of Block E as well as clothes etc. for the Ark. To read more about their mission to Rehoboth go to http://www.rockharborinnamibia.com/ They are also helping to support the garden project and I know that George is excited about the fact that they are bringing some mechanised implements for the cultivation of the new ground as well as shade netting etc. Pray for the teams as they serve in Rehoboth as well as the safe arrival of the container.
Great news about the borehole - George rang me Wednesday to let me know that the drilling team had turned up on Tuesday night. I think he was pretty nervous at first since the drilling equipment was pretty ancient and bits kept on breaking - so not a lot of sleep for George that night! But they started drilling on Wednesday mid day and soon cleared out the borehole. The clay plug that had formed wasn't so very large after all. There appears to be plenty of sweet water in the borehole - verified by Anne Marie who sampled it and pronounced it good. So the drilling team returned the following day to make the top section wider down to the rock bed and install the PVC casing which will prevent any further blockages occurring. As I write (Saturday) I know that George will be installing the submersible pump and I hope to hear later today that they've commenced pumping which will be cause for great celebration and thanksgiving. George has promised me some photographs.
I have decided to take the plunge and rent some server space to set up a web site so that I can actually put up some of the hundreds of photographs that I took in Rehoboth as well as other personal stuff. I do have some photographs of the garden project on line on a temprary site and you're welcome to look at them. I put them up quickly in order to show the progress to a Dutch Church who are also supporting the project. Corry van Noordenne, one of their members, is a Dutch teacher who gives up her summer break to volunteer at the Ark. She helps teach the children but was also interested in the garden project. You can see the gallery that I hurredly created at http://home.btconnect.com/jonesdip/reho_evergreen/
It is important to realise that it's winter in Namibia and the night-time temperatures often sink to below freezing so the current crops are mainly root vegetables - beetroot, carrots, onions, lettuce, cabbage etc. Come August there will be a rash of planting - particularly of sweetcorn which grows very well in this area and in the space of a few months produces a profitable crop.
I will get on with the web galleries asap. Flash
We have kept in touch with George and Anne Marie by phone although they're very busy at present. Rock Harbour Church from Southern California (site at http://www.rockharbor.org/) currently have teams in Rehoboth and they're busy carrying out the Care and Compassion ministry in Block E as well as school visits in connection with the "Choose to Wait" programme which seeks to encourage and inform teenagers about the dangers of HIV / AIDS and advocates a biblical approach to sex before marriage. They have a container on route which should arrive Monday filled with clothing and other commodities for the poor people of Block E as well as clothes etc. for the Ark. To read more about their mission to Rehoboth go to http://www.rockharborinnamibia.com/ They are also helping to support the garden project and I know that George is excited about the fact that they are bringing some mechanised implements for the cultivation of the new ground as well as shade netting etc. Pray for the teams as they serve in Rehoboth as well as the safe arrival of the container.
Great news about the borehole - George rang me Wednesday to let me know that the drilling team had turned up on Tuesday night. I think he was pretty nervous at first since the drilling equipment was pretty ancient and bits kept on breaking - so not a lot of sleep for George that night! But they started drilling on Wednesday mid day and soon cleared out the borehole. The clay plug that had formed wasn't so very large after all. There appears to be plenty of sweet water in the borehole - verified by Anne Marie who sampled it and pronounced it good. So the drilling team returned the following day to make the top section wider down to the rock bed and install the PVC casing which will prevent any further blockages occurring. As I write (Saturday) I know that George will be installing the submersible pump and I hope to hear later today that they've commenced pumping which will be cause for great celebration and thanksgiving. George has promised me some photographs.
I have decided to take the plunge and rent some server space to set up a web site so that I can actually put up some of the hundreds of photographs that I took in Rehoboth as well as other personal stuff. I do have some photographs of the garden project on line on a temprary site and you're welcome to look at them. I put them up quickly in order to show the progress to a Dutch Church who are also supporting the project. Corry van Noordenne, one of their members, is a Dutch teacher who gives up her summer break to volunteer at the Ark. She helps teach the children but was also interested in the garden project. You can see the gallery that I hurredly created at http://home.btconnect.com/jonesdip/reho_evergreen/
It is important to realise that it's winter in Namibia and the night-time temperatures often sink to below freezing so the current crops are mainly root vegetables - beetroot, carrots, onions, lettuce, cabbage etc. Come August there will be a rash of planting - particularly of sweetcorn which grows very well in this area and in the space of a few months produces a profitable crop.
I will get on with the web galleries asap. Flash
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Catch up Blog No. 3
Tuesday 27th June - the dreaded day dawned when we had to get packed up ready to leave. We have spent such a wonderful time here in Namibia and we are genuinely reluctant to go home. I collected Bex early from the Ark where she had taken some of the girls to school at 6 a.m. I was really pleased that Auny Nellie's husband Koos had waited at the Ark to see me - he was on his way to work at Windhoek. He had been such a help at the garden with the borehole and I was really pleased to see him again before we left. Then we got the packing out of the way and called at the Ark for some final photographs and farewells - some pretty tearful! Having said our farewells and prayed we headed for Windhoek for some last minute shopping and then got to the airport around 4.45 which gave us time to return the car, check in and relax before the flight. I shall pass over the flight in relative silence, because while I don't mind flying in the least, I hate long flights and particularly long night flights - I find it impossible to sleep. We arrived in Gatwick at 5.45 and having freshened up and consumed some coffee we caught the Reading train at 7.55 getting to Cardiff at 11.30. That concludes the detail, but I hope to post some impressions of aspects of the experience in the next week or so and also provide some links to some of the photographs I took. So thanks again to all who prayed for us and supported us during what turned out to be a wonderful experience. Flash
Catch up Blog No. 2
Sunday morning Sian and I went to church with George - to the Gospel Mission church to be precise. Sian soon got into the worship which was lively to say the least. Twenty minutes of "I have decided to follow Jesus" with the repeated chorus "No more turning back" all to a wonderful swinging rhythm, was quite an experience followed by a joyful conga to an Afrikaans song. Then we enjoyed a slow but beautiful song about enjoying the presence of the Lord. The service was in Afrikaans but a young man sat next to me and a young lady next to Sian and they interpreted for us. The young man's name turned out to be Llewellyn (very Welsh!) and they both did a marvellous job.
Afterwards we went to the Ark where we enjoyed a traditional Sunday afternoon Braai (Afrikaans for barbecue) the highlight of which was for me the wonderful Roosterbrod (roast bread) prepared by Aunty Nellie and cooked on the barbecue. We were very privileged to share this Braai with all our friends - thank you George and Anne Marie and all who made this possible. After eating I had to play the organ for the kids and this was rounded off with all the children singing for us. This was wonderful - they all have such natural rhythm and enthusiasm. We finally left for the lake after sundown having had a wonderful day.
Monday - just one last full day. We spent some time discussing the future of the garden and the priorities and made arrangements for George and the family and Bex's friends to come to the lake restaurant for a meal in the evening. On our way South the previous week I had noticed a sign for "Tropic of Capricorn." It didn't dawn on me until later that this sigh actually marked the Southern tropical line. So Sian and I drove down to take a photograph. It was a bit further than we had thought but we did it. On our way back I was driving along when something disturbed a flock of birds in the bush to the left of the road (locally known as tarantal (?) - a bit like a large pheasant. All of them managed to get off the ground quite quickly except for one who failed to make it and smashed into the windscreen. Thankfully the windscreen was made from toughened safety glass and although it crazed, it didn't completely shatter. A phone call established that no hire company provided insurance against damaged windscreens in Namibia due to the high proportion of gravel roads. Again, thankfully the windscreen was only badly crazed in the centre so I could drive it to the airport ok the following day.
We spent a very enjoyable evening at the lake restaurant and also met the owner of the resort and his wife Helena. Helena has been very kind to us during our stay at the lake. After dinner, George and Anne Marie came back to the house. Flash
Afterwards we went to the Ark where we enjoyed a traditional Sunday afternoon Braai (Afrikaans for barbecue) the highlight of which was for me the wonderful Roosterbrod (roast bread) prepared by Aunty Nellie and cooked on the barbecue. We were very privileged to share this Braai with all our friends - thank you George and Anne Marie and all who made this possible. After eating I had to play the organ for the kids and this was rounded off with all the children singing for us. This was wonderful - they all have such natural rhythm and enthusiasm. We finally left for the lake after sundown having had a wonderful day.
Monday - just one last full day. We spent some time discussing the future of the garden and the priorities and made arrangements for George and the family and Bex's friends to come to the lake restaurant for a meal in the evening. On our way South the previous week I had noticed a sign for "Tropic of Capricorn." It didn't dawn on me until later that this sigh actually marked the Southern tropical line. So Sian and I drove down to take a photograph. It was a bit further than we had thought but we did it. On our way back I was driving along when something disturbed a flock of birds in the bush to the left of the road (locally known as tarantal (?) - a bit like a large pheasant. All of them managed to get off the ground quite quickly except for one who failed to make it and smashed into the windscreen. Thankfully the windscreen was made from toughened safety glass and although it crazed, it didn't completely shatter. A phone call established that no hire company provided insurance against damaged windscreens in Namibia due to the high proportion of gravel roads. Again, thankfully the windscreen was only badly crazed in the centre so I could drive it to the airport ok the following day.
We spent a very enjoyable evening at the lake restaurant and also met the owner of the resort and his wife Helena. Helena has been very kind to us during our stay at the lake. After dinner, George and Anne Marie came back to the house. Flash
Catch up Blog No. 1
I'm sorry there's been such a gap but I hope that everyone will understand that our last few days in Rehoboth were busy and since we've been home it's surprising how little time I've had to update this blog. I think I last wrote on the Thursday before we left Reho and now I guess I'll have some difficulty remembering the detail - but here goes anyway. Thursday was a quieter day. We chilled at the lake in the morning and went to Reho for supplies and a look around later. It was a chance just to catch up on a few things although I did look in at the garden.
Friday also started slowly. In the afternoon I was at the garden helping get the armoured cable from the main supply point into the building. Albertus the electrician has done a good job of getting the wiring installed and it only remained to get hold of a three phase switch to terminate the main cable. However, something of an anticlimax when we found that there was no supply coming from the meter. Reho Electricity were on the scene and I left them puzzling over the problem. I later learned that a healthy tap on the back of the earth trip switch had cured the problem - ah well!
Friday was a lot cooler and as evening drew on it got pretty nippy (or nobbling in Bex-speak!) at the lake. George, Anne Marie, Jennifer and Suzette joined Sian and myself for a prayer meeting while Bex headed off for a weekend of fellowship with all her friends at the Ark. It got so cold that we had to get a quilt for the girls but then all the cold was forgotten as we had a wonderful time of prayer and communion together. The guys working at the lake have a room one side of us and there were also guests along the row from us and whether they spoke Afrikaans or English they certainly would have known that we were praying and probably what we were praying. It was a wonderful, blessed time and will remain a very precious memory for Sian and I.
Saturday, Sian and I went to Windhoek to see if we could do some shopping for a few family presents etc. Sigrid, the Dutch volunteer at the Ark came with us and we had a very pleasant morning including breakfast at the Mug and Bean - an Americal style diner in Windhoek. We got a bit of shopping done but most of the shops closed at one so we had lunch and drifted back. On the way back we made a bit of a diversion up into the hills which were very beautiful. Baboons are a regular sight on a certain section of the Windhoek / Rehoboth road and when we stopped to video them, I saw a warthog. Sian is not so sure that I saw a warthog but I am adamant that I did - so there! No video evidence I'm afraid so you'll all have to take my word for it! Flash
Friday also started slowly. In the afternoon I was at the garden helping get the armoured cable from the main supply point into the building. Albertus the electrician has done a good job of getting the wiring installed and it only remained to get hold of a three phase switch to terminate the main cable. However, something of an anticlimax when we found that there was no supply coming from the meter. Reho Electricity were on the scene and I left them puzzling over the problem. I later learned that a healthy tap on the back of the earth trip switch had cured the problem - ah well!
Friday was a lot cooler and as evening drew on it got pretty nippy (or nobbling in Bex-speak!) at the lake. George, Anne Marie, Jennifer and Suzette joined Sian and myself for a prayer meeting while Bex headed off for a weekend of fellowship with all her friends at the Ark. It got so cold that we had to get a quilt for the girls but then all the cold was forgotten as we had a wonderful time of prayer and communion together. The guys working at the lake have a room one side of us and there were also guests along the row from us and whether they spoke Afrikaans or English they certainly would have known that we were praying and probably what we were praying. It was a wonderful, blessed time and will remain a very precious memory for Sian and I.
Saturday, Sian and I went to Windhoek to see if we could do some shopping for a few family presents etc. Sigrid, the Dutch volunteer at the Ark came with us and we had a very pleasant morning including breakfast at the Mug and Bean - an Americal style diner in Windhoek. We got a bit of shopping done but most of the shops closed at one so we had lunch and drifted back. On the way back we made a bit of a diversion up into the hills which were very beautiful. Baboons are a regular sight on a certain section of the Windhoek / Rehoboth road and when we stopped to video them, I saw a warthog. Sian is not so sure that I saw a warthog but I am adamant that I did - so there! No video evidence I'm afraid so you'll all have to take my word for it! Flash
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Apology
I'm afraid I've not been able to keep up the blog over the last few days at Rehoboth - we were so busy and the slowness of dial up connections make blogging a challenge. However, this is just a short message to say that we are home back in the UK safely after what was a very long and tiring journey - thanks to Beci Sherms for her kindness in volnteering to taxi us from Cardiff Station - and I'll fill in the detail of our last days at Rehoboth over the next few days. Thanks for your patience and prayers. Flash and Madge.
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