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February 12, 2013

Observing Lent 2013

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, God, heart journey, prayer, writing — Tags: , , Leave a comment

This year, I am committing to prayerfully write each day during this season of Lent (the time leading up to Easter). For many, Lent is characterized primarily by FASTING. This is appropriate, as this discipline is helpful for intentional soul-searching and repentance – clearing out more/new space for God to operate in our life. For me, the giving up comes in the time each day to be spent on this practice of writing. I believe it is one way to cause me to stop and consider, to reflect, to give God room to speak. I have also recently come to realize that there is a strange fear/blockage in me around writing. A friend suggested that I can best allow God to speak into that fear by actually going into it, by writing. And the first question probably must be, what do I fear about writing? And why?

I am aware of the power of words – both to build up or tear down. What words will come as I enter this journey of prayerful writing? I take this on slightly apprehensively, but hopeful. I look forward to what God will do in and with me in this season. Are you doing (or not doing) anything for Lent?

October 24, 2012

Mid-trip update

by arthurstewart — Categories: South Africa, Updates, usaLeave a comment

A few reflections upon the mid-way point of my trip around the USA, following Jesus and seeing what God just may do at any particular moment (in no particular order):

1. Being away from home has given me the time, space, and distance to see the things I love the most about life and ministry in Cape Town… moves of God, passionate Jesus-followers, a complex city in need of ongoing transformation, amazing friends. I suppose stepping back, and in many cases speaking of such wonders, gives words to things I have only taken notice of in my heart.

2. I live where I am. This was, in fact, a reason to leave Cape Town for a while – to remind me that there are also amazing friends and moves of God happening across this planet. While I am home in Cape Town, that’s my focus. You know this because if you live in Cape Town you get my attention & if you don’t, you only hear wisps on the wind of what I’m up to because I lack the discipline to stop and share the stories to my broader audience. And so, while in USA now, the same is true. I am here. I haven’t done well at telling who I am with, where I am, etc. Please forgive   – the days have been so full, full of God and amazing moments, seemingly without rest to process and share. In a way, its a testimony to just how amazing God is – changing lives, living in shared moments, filling laughter and tears alike. But admittedly I need to say more so you can see these things too!

3. Wherever two or more are gathered in Jesus’ name, he is there. I’ve had coffee with a pastor, lunch with a friend of a friend, spent hours in conversations, answered questions about the nature of God, shared dinner with another fellow traveler, met with a man about to embark on a missionary journey of his own, walked neighbourhoods, prayed life and hope with saints, reconnected with old friends, made new friends, have been reminded of parts of my past I had forgotten, discovered mutual friends, seen family, shared about South Africa with college students, sat with friends in distress, and have thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it (remember, I am slightly introverted)! But this is not wearing, it is life-giving – shared moments of the Kingdom of God, definitely changing me, and likely others along this Way. Jesus continues to fill my days.

4. I love what God has allowed us to be part of in Cape Town. That is as much true of ministry as just plain life. I am happy my kids are happy. I am settled knowing my wife feels more settled. We are in a good place. I’m reminded of that in every story I tell here, recounting how we moved and have spent the past 2+ years making a new home. Its not perfect and isn’t always easy. But it is good! We have been blessed with friends who have welcomed us into their lives, and they are amazing lives. And I continue to be amazed at how many of you pray for us, follow along with our pictures and stories, are indeed in this with us. I am greatly encouraged.

5. Things are definitely stirring – opportunities, connections, possibilities for the next few years. In some ways I can see seeds being planted, but I’m not sure what they will grow into, or when. I find myself smiling and wondering a lot. What is God up to here, with this person, with that idea? I don’t know, but live in anticipation of the day when life bursts forth from the ground. Perhaps some of these are closer to appearing than I might expect. All very mysterious, I know, but all I can see right now is movement, so I hesitate to give name to anything… yet.

6. Traveling around the country by myself and meeting with lots of people has been pretty easy (see #3 above). Not having my family with me to share in the experience and talk about what God has done in the day is difficult. It is also strange to be back in California without Melissa and the kids. I just miss them.

7. I have lived an amazing life so far! I suppose this jumps out because I have been with so many people from different parts of my past on this trip. O, if you could see the threads I am seeing, you would undoubtedly share in my awe at the hand of God over the years. It has been so good, and so healing, to look back over the years with friends. Even today I was reminded of some things I have not thought of in years. I feel like God is helping me reclaim promises, memories, and even unrecognized hurts from the past. Powerful stuff.

8. Although I don’t feel like any specific thing has become more clear (yet), I do feel so much more focused on God. I’m ok with that. I came into this trip believing I needed to go where God led and connect with the people God had for me. So far, this has been nothing short of amazing. I think God loves me enough to organize this trip only for my own sake, knowing its been exactly what I needed to grow my trust and put myself in a place of listening and depending on Him. I also think this trip is about a lot more than me, and hope I am leaving a trail of encouraged hearts behind me…

thank you friends for praying for me
thank you Jesus for loving me more every day

let’s see where the second half of this trip takes us!

October 3, 2012

The Fear of the Lord Tour – USA 2012

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, travel, usaLeave a comment

There is this feeling inside me about my upcoming trip to USA. The best way I can describe it is to use a somewhat enigmatic but I believe powerful phrase from the Bible – “the Fear of the Lord.”

I gave a talk on this not too long ago, so will spare you the sermon here. But this phrase intrigues me. As it is used in scripture, it carries much more meaning that fear as we use it in modern english (essentially terror). Rather, it conveys a sense of awe, expectancy, uncertainty, trepidation, anticipation… For me, it’s the feeling of going on a roller coaster – I think I will like it, I am not sure exactly what will happen, and I am just a tiny bit scared – but excited.

The fear of the Lord, for me, says “I know God is good, and unpredictable, and I am not sure exactly what will happen, but I am expectant and looking, so let’s see…”

The disciples of Jesus are described in the Book of Acts as living this way – everything was new, life was uncertain, they were figuring it out as they went, God was showing up in amazing ways – the fear of the lord.

In Proverbs 1, we are told “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Being afraid of God doesn’t lead to wisdom! Rather, acknowledging our need, letting go of control, looking for God’s leading, staying on our toes – that “fear of the Lord” positions us to hear God and know what to do – and that’s true wisdom. Wisdom isn’t knowing how to make a perfect plan. Wisdom is knowing anything can happen today and we’ll take it as it comes with God in response.

Someone praying for me today reminded me of James 1:5 – If you need wisdom, if you want to know what God wants you to do – ask him and he will gladly tell you. In the moment, as you go, when it is needed – coming from living in the fear of the Lord.

This is what my trip to USA is about:
God has said to go.
I am going.
God has said to connect with people.
I am connecting with people.

I don’t know all the whys or what’s of this trip yet.
Every day is not arranged but I’m at peace with what is organized and what may open up as I go.
I believe God will show me when the time is right (which may not even be in the moment!)
This is somewhat exciting to me, and somewhat terrifying.
I think God is wanting to show me some things, tell me some things, remind me of some things, and birth some new things.
It is stretching my faith.
It’s how I want to live – asking God and responding.

I commit myself to living this trip in the fear of the Lord.

Amen!

September 24, 2012

Iain’s ballet debut

by arthurstewart — Categories: KidsLeave a comment

Iain started ballet a few months ago and has really taken to it. He and Mairin were both in their dance school’s production of Beauty and the Beast. Iain played Chip the Teacup in half the productions and Le Fou (Gaston’s sidekick) in the others. We all preferred the role of Le Fou as it had better choreography (check out Iain’s jumps!) and comedy – playing to Iain’s strengths :)

 

 

September 13, 2012

power flowing through me

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, God — Tags: , Leave a comment

Today I led a retreat for a ministry leaders cluster from a local church. You know what, I LOVE doing this sort of thing!
Talking with the point person before to get a feel for what they want from the day.
Praying and asking God for ideas.
Planning.
Praying.
Waking up in the morning excited, going over my notes.
Meeting the team involved.
Praying together,
asking questions to help them share where they are on the day, what God is saying to them about their ministries, and church
hearing their hearts
speaking encouragements and words from God
seeing ideas formed before my eyes
becoming excited with them about what God is stirring
and trusting that great things will come from a day spent with God together

Its fun, but exhausting.
It’s not exhausting because I don’t like it, however.
It’s exhausting because on a day like this, God’s Spirit wells up in me, giving me wisdom and words
breathed out to bless his people
using all of me, drawing from my experiences and understanding,
everything spent for God’s glory
power in me, through me
Like Jesus when he knew someone was healed from touching him,
because he “realized the power had gone out from him” (Mark 5:30).
Like an athlete who has given ALL on the field.

I am made for days like this.
Thank you Jesus for letting me serve you this way!

May 15, 2012

Happy Anniversary Melissa

by arthurstewart — Categories: MelissaLeave a comment

I love the way you can make something from nothing,
a meal, a container, a family
because you see the real possibilities for us.

I love your warmth-
not showy or dramatic,
but comforting, genuine, and always when needed
(and its needed quite often)

I love that you can’t sit still-
you are a woman of purpose and action,
faith expressed in deeds… often unseen.

I love your persistence,
staying with it until it is done right:
and thank you for always getting it right.

I love you as a mother
believing in and nurturing the best in our children,
showing them God’s love every day.

I love watching you with those on the edges,
helping and serving the overlooked, the forgotten, the downtrodden, the small:
none insignificant in your eyes or heart.

I love you for standing by my side after all these years
putting up with my weaknesses and errors
forsaking all others
having and holding
in sickness and in health
in good times and bad
for richer or for poorer
and we’ve got many more years to go!

I love you more every day
think about you constantly
believe in you
cherish you
and thank God for you, my most precious gift.

Happy anniversary Melissa

March 6, 2012

my firstborn (a post from Melissa)

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, Kids — Tags: , , 2 Comments

Two weeks ago, Arthur started Grade 8- the first year of high school, in South Africa.  A significant moment in the heart of a mother, releasing her child another step out into the world.  I am so proud of my son!  Arthur continues to amaze me with his ability to enter into new activities and environments with a positive and confident attitude.  I guess the reason I am amazed is that I remember myself as shy and hesitant with new things and new people.  Actually, I still am, but I have learned how to appear confident- at least, I think I do!

I suppose Arthur’s confidence comes from both who he is and lots of practice entering new places and meeting new people.  Over the past 13 years, Arthur has grown up among many communities of people.  I feel the need to write it all out and process a bit for myself- so if your are interested, your are welcome to listen in, or just skip down to the final paragraph….

His first two years, we lived in Pasadena, CA (close to Los Angeles) in a small apartment on the property of Foothills Community Church where his Dad worked. Arthur Paul (dubbed AP by the pastor’s son, Ben) was loved and cuddled by lots of church friends.  At five months of age, Arthur Paul joined me at Pasadena Day Nursery (a crèche) where I worked.

In 2000, our family of three became a family of six when we shared a house with the Ramages: Tim, Jennifer and their son Josh in San Gabriel (ten minutes drive south of Pasadena).  For those two years we hosted a weekly Bible study group (aka Carne Asada night…wow, do I miss being able to buy pre-marinated flank steak and a huge package of tortillas and chips!)  Josh was five months older than AP, and our other good friends, Brandon and Judy’s daughter, Anya was just a few months younger than AP.  What fun we had with our firstborns as we celebrated birthdays, dressed them up for Halloween, and took day trips to Disneyland or the beach!

By 2001 when Iain was born, the Ramages had also had their second son, Koby.  Our family became eight and we all decided it was time for our families to move apart.  We rented a beautiful house in Altadena (five minutes drive north of Pasadena) for the rest of that year.  In 2002 we said goodbye to many good friends from around Pasadena and moved an hour and a quarter drive away to Oxnard, CA to join NieuCommunities.  There we joined a whole new group of people who became friends- the Grafs, Warkentins & McDonalds, along with Nathan, Jason, Andy, Megan and our new church family at The Bridge.

In May of 2003, a few months before Arthur’s fifth birthday, our family moved to Pretoria, South Africa.  Thankfully, God provided an immediate best friend for AP- Kyle Ward, the son of our new teammates.  With Kyle by his side, Arthur learned Afrikaans at Kleine Einstein Klueterskool (day care- Kindergarten) so that he could play with a whole new set of friends!  At pre-school he learned about rugby, Blou Bulle pride and a few other important things like pre-reading, writing and maths.

In Grade 1 Arthur started “big school” at Northridge Primary.  A new beginning with peers, since all of his Kliene Einstein buddies attended an Afrikaans instruction primary school.  Thankfully, Arthur and Kyle remained close with lots of fun together at our home away from home, Pangani.

NieuCommunities (NC) gatherings at the 100 year old beautifully renovated B&B called Pangani, consisted of swimming, making a mess in the kitchen and calling it “lemonade,” braai-ing, climbing the wall to touch the electrified fence, DSTv watching, getting bitten by a spider while trashing Oupa At’s records, worship and prayer. During these years in Pretoria, Arthur had lots of extended family- the NieuCommunities staff: Jostina, Bryan & Daleen, Sean & Debbie, Luc, Doug, Sarah, and Barbara.  And the 60+ twenty-something, apprentices he and the rest of the Pangani kids, came to know and love over the seven years Arthur and I worked with NieuCommunities (a 10 month Christian life and ministry internship/missional community).

Also during these years, Arthur led his brother and sister in his quiet, confident way as they had opportunities to experience life outside Pangani’s predominantly white neighborhood in Pretoria North where people of color, and home language other than Afrikaans traveled into and out of for work.  Our friends Jonas, Valrey, Motlope, Jostina and Caroline invited us into their homes and life in the township of Hammanskraal.  AP played soccer with two bricks set up for a goal, ate pap and shaba, walked to the tuckshop for 1.5 liter glass bottles of cool drink, attempted wheeling a full 10 liter container of water from the tap to a friend’s house, and helped to paint said friend’s tin house a brilliant, bright blue!

He also engaged people and explored places such as the Voortrekker Monument, various churches in the inner city of Pretoria, concerts at the botanical gardens in Pretoria and Johannesburg, church and museums in Soweto, rugby and soccer matches, played at the Pret Plaas, game drives through Pilanesburg, swimming at Sun City and life “out in the bush” at the Breet’s house- Pangani Pori.

In July of 2009 the NieuCommunities/Pangani chapter of our family’s life came to an end.  AP again led the way forward for his brother and sister, after a weighty goodbye to both peers at Northridge and significant friends who had become close, as family.  I was anxious as I watched my kids courageously pack up their lives to move to Fresno, CA, the city we traveled to for weeks at a time over the previous seven years when we came back to the States to visit Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts and Uncles and friends.

Having turned 11 in August, 2009 Arthur started his third new school and we moved into our eighth house.  The city of Fresno, with family and many friends was familiar, but had never been home.  Arthur, along with Iain and Mairin, missed life in Pretoria, friends at Pangani and school.  At Hamilton Elementary they learned new school yard games, new clothing styles (no uniforms or short hair cuts!), dropped the South African accent and speaking Afrikaans altogether.  The kids didn’t have to lug all their books and stationary back and forth from school each day and they were served both breakfast and lunch in a cafeteria every school day- for free!!

Arthur navigated all of these new experiences and people with maturity, admitting, through tears, that he missed his friends who knew him well.  Since he was now submerging with another new group of peers at school and a culture he hadn’t lived in since he was five, I was so grateful for the friendships with the Ramages, Shireys, Portelas, and Velez’ kids (and parents) he had established on previous visits.  Another significant factor was the love and care of Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts and Uncles who finally had the opportunity to give their love and attention to Arthur, Iain, and Mairin while living in the same town.

June 2010, World Cup in South Africa! And another new beginning: another new house, a fourth new school and another new culture- Cape Town is a long way away from Pretoria, my bru…a new accent & slang, eating gatsbys and enjoying Halaal hot dogs with Muslim friends.  Thankfully, some things never change, Arthur is an avid book reader and there are many libraries all over the city to quench his thirst!  And again, the Lord provided a new set of friends.

Now, Arthur has begun Grade 8 at Westerford High School.  He has a cell phone and a set of house keys.  He walks ten minutes to and from school each day- all by himself!  He’s playing water polo, is taking guitar lessons and has joined the choir.  He takes responsibility for his homework and making new friends.  He is chatting with girls on Facebook and turned his face so I could kiss his cheek goodnight.  He gives me “that look” when I am treating him like a child instead of the handsome young man he is.  I am so proud of my firstborn!

 

originally posted here on 26 Jan 2012, but so good that I wanted to put it on our family’s blog. will also appear in our next email update…

February 19, 2012

Dead Silence or Pregnant Pause?

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur — Tags: , , Leave a comment

If you are ever responsible for running meetings, group discussion, or prayer times OR if you ever take part in times like this, you have undoubtedly found times when there is silence.

During one such occasion recently, I was reflecting on the difference between Dead Silence and a Pregnant Pause…

Dead Silence Pregnant Pause
It is quiet It is quiet
People are thinking “I can’t wait until this is over” People are thinking, “I can’t wait to see what will happen”
There is a sense of boredom There is a sense of anticipation
It’s awkward It’s exciting
The air is dry The air is electric
We are moving away from something We are moving toward something
No one is participating Everyone is participating

 

How do you tell if you are experiencing Dead Silence or a Pregnant Pause? What is your reaction in either case?

January 11, 2012

Stewart5 picture site

by arthurstewart — Categories: Melissa, Updates — Tags: , , Leave a comment

Melissa is really good about taking and posting pics of our family. She created a companion site to this one on shutterfly. I recommend you check it out and subscribe to receive updates when she does updates there.

http://stewartdot5.shutterfly.com

 

December 28, 2011

year-end update (and check out the new website theme!)

by arthurstewart — Categories: Updates — Tags: , , , , , 2 Comments

As we close out 2011, we are thankful for so many things. After relocating to Cape Town the previous June, this year was about settling in. School relationships, houses, ministry opportunities – submerging into the spaces God had opened up. We thank God for being so present during this transition. We thank God for His consistent and sometimes surprising provision. We thank God for introducing us to so many “people of peace” (Luke 10:5-6) here in Cape Town – those who have welcomed us, been open to the Gospel, and connected us to ways and relationships where God is at work. We thank God for allowing us time with our families who have visited and enabling us to stay well connected to several family members currently battling with significant illness. Finally, we are thankful that God continues to love and grow us as a family and each of us individually as we live seek Him.

I have also been reflecting a bit over these past weeks on the nature of our work. So much of it is helping others discover and live out whom God has created them to be – salvation, freedom, discipleship. As such, the tangible results we see are not “ours” to claim as they come to fruition in others. Yet we know God has used us to play a crucial role. And there is something so healthy about this – not being able to call the work of God as our own. God sees this work and says, “well done.”  AND this year we have been blessed by so many others who have seen our lives and ministry and joined us with Amen!

In this update, I want to point to a few milestones from the year that I think you will be excited to hear as a friend who has been interested in our lives and ministry. These are some of the things we’ve been involved with that may not have appeared in other newsletters or updates, but are significant and indicative of the ministry we are involved with here. So, family updates and things we’ve been learning will appear elsewhere…

Get-togethers with Jesus friends

I’ve written quite a bit in other places (esp. at http://differentchurch.wordpress.com) about the need for different types of churches to reach people here in Cape Town. What I haven’t written a lot about is the church we have been planting this year. It really came about as God’s burden on our hearts for something to help people experience God in life-giving ways intersected with several people who desired the same. A few key people wanted refreshment in their own walks with Jesus and were not part of local churches for various reasons. There are also others who have little or bad experience with formal church, but still have a spiritual hunger for something. We’ve prayerfully got things going this year – meeting every-other-Sunday in homes. We’ve spent a lot of time this year on stories – sharing our own stories, wrestling with Bible stories, listening for God in action stories. Pretty simple really! A significant part of this group is children and it’s been quite a joy to incorporate each of them into experiencing God. Just recently, one of the moms wrote about how refreshing it was to sit outside and talk about God together in the midst of the creation with children coming in and out of the conversation, playing, and experiencing God’s people gathered in such a normal and beautiful way. As we move into 2012, we feel God calling us to now increase the intentionality and give more opportunities to help one another’s discipleship. I promise to write more about this church plant in upcoming months.

The Incubator at The Warehouse

I’ve done a lot of work with The Warehouse (http://warehouse.org.za) this year – a local ministry helping churches address issues of poverty and injustice. I sent a communication a few months ago with quite a bit of how I am helping The Warehouse. Something that has been developing more recently is my work with the Incubator. The Incubator is a Warehouse strategy to help churches identify responses to specific needs in their community – part “research and development” and part “birthing room” – we help churches get their own projects and ministries up and running. This can be through training, helping churches connect with other churches or resources, or assisting in the systemic/logistical needs of these ministries. Churches here often lack the experience or resources to do all this themselves, so we are able to come alongside them as they serve. My role is primarily to help with training, discerning next steps with these ministries in their growth, and finding the ways the Warehouse can bless them most. Currently, we are helping nurture church-based ministries for orphans and vulnerable children, those who have experienced trauma, high-risk youth, an informal settlement, and teen mentoring. You can read more about these here: http://www.warehouse.org.za/index.php/site/overview/C3

Fusion

Fusion is one of the ministries in The Warehouse Incubator. Fusion is a ministry to high risk youth in one of Cape Town’s largest townships called Mannenberg. Drug abuse, cyclical poverty, and gangs are a normal part of life for those who grow up in Mannenberg. The Fusion team are working in the community to find new possibilities for young people with Jesus (http://www.warehouse.org.za/index.php/site/articles/C16). During the past several months, I have had the privilege of working with The Fusion team to better understand what church can look like for the teenagers they are reaching. What are churches to do with gangsters and drug addicts? How can they as a team live as a different kind of community that is attractive and healthy for those they are working with? How can they model and call others to a way of following Jesus that is a beautiful alternative to the life many of these high-risk youth have experienced? This team is living and working in a very hard environment and I have loved talking, praying, and walking with them. They are living out Jesus’ mission here I trust they are doing so a little more effectively and healthily as a result of my training with their leadership.

Missional Cape Town

Cape Town needs a movement of churches – passionate followers of Jesus, seeking God’s Kingdom and living and sharing the Gospel. In a city this diverse, that will take lots of churches, especially those willing to go out, to minister with, to be among – rather than sit and wait for others to show up on Sunday morning! I am fortunate to know a number of people who have heard God’s call and want to start new expressions across the city. We have begun to meet monthly for training, connecting, and supporting one another. It’s actually been so much fun to get together with like-minded missional leaders and we are asking God has we can do more this upcoming year. There hasn’t been a network like this up until now, so I believe it’s significant though only in early days. One of the guys is blogging his journey with church here: http://www.unlearning.co.za I am also working more intensely with St. Peter’s Church in Mowbray (http://www.stpetersmowbray.org.za) – a very old church with a new vision for reaching it’s neighbourhood. I LOVE helping a church that wants to be renewed and have been meeting with the church leaders to figure out what that looks like for them. Melissa has also recently become involved in helping those working with children. St. Peter’s also provides us local accountability, prayer, and backs our missionary work here in Cape Town.

Grip Birkman

While we were working with NieuCommunities, we started using a tool called the Grip Birkman Blueprint to help people understand their spiritual gifts, interests, styles of working, and needs. It’s a really helpful way of self-understanding AND allows individuals to know how they fit and work well with others (whether it’s their church or workplace). A few years ago, Melissa and I went through the training to asses and coach others in the process. In October, we introduced this at The Warehouse. Melissa walked each staff person through their report, asking questions and drawing out their own understandings. I then took the staff through several team-building teachings and exercises together. It has been fun to see light bulbs come on – as individual staff come to see different facets of how God has made them and desiring to better serve in their teams and the organization as a whole. It has also been helpful, as we’ve begun to give no work assignments to staff, giving new opportunities combinations of people based on what they love and are well suited to do.

Thank you for partnering with us this year. Your support and prayer have helped enable us to serve God here in Cape Town. It has been an amazing year and we are looking forward to what God has in store for 2012. We are glad to have you seeking the Kingdom right here with us. Thank you so much!

Arthur for the Stewart5

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