To be or Not to be... this is the question

Huge question, still not completely answered, or rather answered but not satisfied with all the answers…

ARE ALL CALLED TO BE DISCIPLES?

Can we just be followers of Jesus? Is it possible to be one without being the other? What is our responsibility to discipleship? Internal values certainly influence one’s output. Similarly internal values influence one’s response to calling to be disciples. Wow, what an interesting evening we had. Everyone searching scriptures to substantiate what it is we believe and for that matter scriptures to disprove what we have been taught . Ai, what a great time! Needless to say, we all have homework – find scripture that dictates whether all are called to be disciples and find scripture that calls all to be believers but not necessarily disciples, and what it the difference – Really?

It was felt that we as a group are not doing enough skin contact two deeds, and the following was decided. Alison offered to coordinate the box of goodies to be taken to the charity shop for the orphans. More explicitly the charity shop that Oliver is running.

And then Paulien will get back to us regarding details on veggie gardens in Cosmos City.

So yes we will be armed with our research and will watch a DVD or two next week.

Jaco Facilitates -

The venue will happen….

What does it mean to live in the Spirit?

Alison took the group to Romans 8:1 – 17 and asked what strikes us in that scripture? The mindset to choose and re-route thoughs so that it comes in line withe the HS. Looking at V15 we see a progression from children to heirs to co-heirs and finally to suffering. What does it mean to live in the Spirit? You won’t live in the Spirit until you need to. Up till that point, if you hear what God has to say it will only get in your way.

Alison took a closer look at 1 Corinthians 9:22b I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. The message remains but the package changes. 4 steps to going that way:(1) put shoulder to the wheel (2) join a caravan (3) use telescope vision (4) world view prayer life. Then the next 3 steps apply: (1) Catch the vision (understanding God’s vision for missions (2) Integrate the vision (contemplate, taking risks), (3) Obey/specialize the vision (God said – make the break)

It was interesting that there was a general consensus that God has been stripping people of familiar religious pillars and the few that remain were also very unstable…..correct.


India briefing dates
The first meeting is going to be held on Saturday 22 August from 2- 4pm at the base. The next one is on 19 September and the last on 3 October – venues and times to be announced. You are welcome to contact Aldi on 0832087022.

Language Learning 101....

Language learning…. 101 - AKA make lotsa new friends!!!!

Amazing to see that there are just so many closet language helpers all over the place. They fall out of their cupboards to get to anyone willing to take the time of day to talk to them. What an absolute privilege to have attended the first session on VulaVula language course on Saturday. I am so psyched to be doing this.I have also discovered that there are many variations to just a simple thing such as 'greeting'! Another discovery is that the people on the street, mix their languages! So Fastening seat belt , getting ready for an incredible ride, discovering the nuances of the greeting of "hello'.

How is your serve?

The evening was led by Jean-Pierre. We discussed servanthood and the importance for us to be serving. We can have all the knowledge in the world but without serving other we do not have love and, well, you know the rest of 1 Cor 13.

JP played us portions from the book 'Irresistable Revolution' by Shane Claiborne. The book is about an authentic Christian life. In Shane's view, he is an ordinary radical in the truest sense of the word, returning to the roots of Christianity by living as Jesus did and doing "small things with great love."
Quotes that stood out:
It's not the parts of the Bible I don't understand that worries me but those that I do understand.
Live like you believe in heaven and hell
Live as if what you're saying is true.
We've eliminated the need for miracles.

We need to live like Jesus lived. We need to serve others. Why are we not doing it? Are we too busy to spend time with the poor because we are trying to prevent becoming poor ourselves. What needs to change for us to become servants?

Moral law vs ritual law

The evening was led by Jaco and we discussed moral law vs ritual law.

Jesus did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill the law. In short, moral law is the law that must be kept at all times. It is the reason for the ritual law and it still in force today. We must continuously strive to find out what the moral law is, and if our understanding of it is correct (another reason for missions).

Ritual laws are the cultural traditions around the moral law. It is also based on worldview. One should try to keep the ritual law together with the moral law as this is the form of identification with the culture. But if you have to choose between moral and ritual law, choose the moral law.

We prayed for Mario who left for Malaysia on Thursday. He will do YWAM's DTS there. He shared his experiences in preparation for going and what God is doing in his life. We were all encouraged by him.

some pictures