Stewart 5

Here’s a good article about a story in the news here in South Africa.  It’s about a township, Khutsong, that was moved from one province (Gauteng) to another (Northwest).  Problem is, people in the township (there are about 250,000 residents) opposed the move (read the article for all the reasons why), and voted accordingly .  However, local officials pushed through the move anyway.  That happened a while ago, but the actual transfer took place at the end of March.

Now, they’re rioting in Khutsong.  Businesses have been disrupted.  Schools are closed.  You can barely get in and out of the area because of road blockades.  Now what?  Who is going to swallow their pride and back down?

I don’t advocate violence or robbery.  BUT, I think there is something good about the fact that local people aren’t just letting their “representative government” make decisions that aren’t reflective of their wishes.  Even if you don’t agree with the methods being used, at least people are doing something about it.

Join me in praying for resolution in this situation.

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When I was in Rwanda, I was humbled by the number of people I met who have seen needs and taken action. We are blessed to have quite a few friends in South African who do the same. Too often, I see needs and start making a plan. Sometimes I even get around to doing something.

I want to be quicker to action. I don’t think that means you don’t ever think. But when you think so much that you don’t do anything, what good is it? The world is changed by people who act. God help me to move faster and more often. God help us all.

Some who are doing it: Pastor John in Kigali &  Pastor Jane with her daughter (l) and Diana (r)

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At the Amahoro conference, my friend Trevor Ntlhola was talking about racism and reconciliation ( podcasts are becoming available as Graeme has time to post them). At one point, Trevor had this indictment against the colonial/western missionaries who brought Christianity to the continent…

“The white missionaries taught us that God loves us. They didn’t tell us that THEY loved us.”

Does the content of our good news match the “delivery”?  If not, the message is impotent, isn’t it?

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I can’t stand “that’s just how it is” as an answer.

usually, it really means

• i’m too lazy to do anything about it
• don’t question the status quo
• i have no hope of anything different…ever, and neither should you

So, when I take in an electronic device that is covered for repair under warranty, and it is going to take a really long time to get fixed (for no explainable reason), don’t tell me “that’s just how it is.”

Forgive me if I use this petty example to jump off onto big ones, because this attitude bugs me:

Sorry you don’t have electricity in your tin house and it’s 0 degrees, that’s just how it is

I can’t find your file. No medical treatment for you. that’s just how it is

Sure, people in the Sudan are killing droves of people, including all the civilians caught in the crossfire of war, but that’s just how it is

WHY? Why is that how it is? Can’t we do something about it? I want to hear what you hate hearing “that’s just how it is” about…

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When I was in Rwanda in 1995, people were not talking about the genocide from the year before. It was too recent, people were still numb, many were in refugee camps. It’s different now. So, there are memorials, you read about the lasting ramifications in the newspaper, etc.

While there last week (in the midst of the Amahoro conference), a question kept running through my head, a question that I can’t answer, a question that makes me confused and mad:

How could anyone who follows Jesus participate in this, or allow it to happen? Frankly, I wonder how ANYONE could participate in this or allow it to happen. But I am especially frustrated that the Church didn’t make a difference at the time.

I don’t expect answers, but this question is on my heart and I feel like I need to get it out…

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Quote from the wall at the Genocide Memorial in Kigali.

My time back in Rwanda (and the Amahoro conference in Uganda) were shaping beyond what I can put into words at this point. My heart and mind are again undone, in the best of ways. I believe this will be one of those moments in my life I will look back on as a major turning point. I hope to share the resulting journey through this website in the upcoming weeks.

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Good news - webmaster JD fixed the site so we can now put pics in our posts again!

Bad news - for some reason, you can’t register and/or add comments. You probably already knew that though. I just found out. Working on it…. And I thought there weren’t any new comments because you didn’t care

So, in the meantime, I will go ahead, for Peter’s sake since he can’t put a comment on himself, and mention that Liverpool beat Chelsea last night on penalty kicks. Enough said about that. (btw, tonight’s match between Manchester and AC Milan should be a great one).

UPDATED just hours later…. fixed!  So, comment away friends.

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