Stewart 5

We are leaving tomorrow for America!  In the midst of packing and cleaning, wanted to update you on a few things (in a very pragmatic & list-filled fashion):

Schedule:
Dec 1-8    Ohio
Dec 9-13    LA then SD for meetings
Dec 13-17    SoCal.
Dec 18-26    Fresno
Dec 27-Jan 1    SF & Oregon
Jan 2-11    Fresno
Jan 11-15    Arthur & Melissa in SoCal
Jan 16-17    Fresno
Jan 18-20    Ventura
Jan 21-23    Family Fun before we leave
Jan 24        Fly back to South Africa

Events, etc. – take note!
•    Speaking at Foothills Community Church, Pasadena on Dec. 14
•    Arthur Birthday something in Fresno on Dec. 26
•    Speaking at Wesley UM Church, Fresno on Jan. 4
•    Speaking at Friends Community Church, Fresno on Jan 11
•    Goodbye open house or party in Fresno on Jan 17
•    Likely speaking at The Gathering’s Social Justice Night, Ventura on Jan 18
We will also have 2 open houses in Fresno that have yet to be scheduled.
For details on any of the above, please contact us.  Would love to see you.

Still need:
•    A place to stay in SoCal Dec 13-17.  Bear in mind that we are a family of 5
•    Someone to host an open house in SoCal Dec 13-17
•    A car for our family to use during the CA part of our trip (Dec 9-Jan 23), or at least while in SoCal – OR – a little money to help us rent a car.
•    Recommendations for a place to stay by LAX on Jan 23.  We have to be at the airport at 5:00 AM on Jan. 24
•    Extra cash you have sitting around to help with the costs of our family’s trip.  Here
If you can help with any of these, please let us know.

We really are looking forward to seeing you.  Thanks to all who have offered a meal or expressed an interest in getting together.  We will be working out those details once we are in Ohio.  More to come…

Please pray for our family as we travel Sunday into Monday.

See you soon!
Arthur for the Stewart5

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So, evern though Robert Mugabe lost the election, then he promised to transition out, then said he would share power with the opposition, there is NO new government in Zimbabwe.  Can’t anyone do something about this?  It’s not a matter of stepping in and imposing an outside will.  Really, it’s just getting the dictator to do what he said he would do.

The worse news is there is an outbreak of cholera in Zim.  Cause: unclean water.  I’ve seen the pictures of sewage where there shouldbe drinking water.  The other day, we received an alert notice about travelling to the north of South Africa. They are worried that people are bring cholera in.  Seems that there have been a number of cases in SA in that area.

There is no food.  Schools are having to close

God, intervene.

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There is a parable that Jesus gives in Matthew 21:28-32 that has been on my heart again recently.  He tells the story of a man who makes a request of his two sons, asking about the appropriateness of their different responses:

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’

‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

“Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

On a first reading, it would appear that Jesus gives two response options and the Pharisess choose incorrectly so Jesus chastises them.  One might believe that Jesus indeed favors the response of the second son – the willing heart.  Those bad Pharisees, always choosing the “do what is right, forget about your heart.”  Willingness is preferred to obedience?

HOWEVER

Look at the broader context in which we find the parable.  Before this parable, we find:

• Jesus clearing the temple (v 12-17) – turning the place of connecting with God into a place of personal profit
• Cursing the fig tree (v 18-22) – judgment for not fulfilling one’s intended purpose
• Answering questions about his authority (v 23-27) – God being the source of authority, not human institutions

After this parable:

• The parable are the parable of the tenants (v 33-46) – questions of ownership (God or us) and receptivity to God’s instructions
• The story of the wedding feast (12:1-14) – God’s open invitation and responding in obedience

Invitations. Receptivity.  Obedience/responsibility.  God’s authority.

I wonder if Jesus isn’t actually saying the Pharisees chose the “wrong brother”?  Look again at WHY he yells at them…

“…John came to show you the way of righteousness and you didn’t believe.  The tax collectors and prostitutes did and even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”

You have had several chances to hear from God and respond, yet you continue in your wrong ways and don’t believe.  You are the temple and fig tree who live religiosity and aren’t living as God would desire for you.  You have made this more about you than God.  You are not listening to the Father.  Is that like one of the brothers, or both?

I think Jesus is actually judging the Pharisees as wrong NOT because the brother they chose, but because they are not even true to their own response.  They chose the obedient (but without heart) brother.  But they have not been obedient to the Father themselves.  You have not repented… Jesus is simply holding them to the standard they have set for themselves, something he does often in the Gospels.

Note that Jesus DOES NOT SAY THEY ARE WRONG IN THEIR CHOICE.  Based on the teachings surrounding this parable, I would propose that throughout this section Jesus is advocating a willing heart that responds in obedience.  Which son did what the father wanted?  Neither.

What do you think?

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Listening to the news this morning, a reporter in the Kenyan village where Barack Obama’s father was born was describing how jubilant people are there, “people are playing drums.  everyone’s in the streets.  no one is working.  even the chickens are running around in excitement.”  The president has declared tomorrow a public holiday in Kenya.

The US election is the ONLY thing in the news here today.  It is interesting to see people’s interest in the US election.  First, because South Africans have a generally positive perspective on America.  Also, because they know – and I believe this is true with most of the world – that the US President matters to everyone.  I think this is lost a bit on those of us actually from the United States.  People around the globe care who the US President is.

There are the obvious reasons – does this new guy want to nuke us or give our country money?  But deeper than than, it seems that what happens in the US actually affects others.  The recent financial crises is a case in point.  Also, the global village cares far more about the US President’s foreign policy than if he going to raise taxes.  They look with different lenses.  I know we all have perspectives and things that are important to us that come into play on days like this.

Mr. President – my trust is not in you, nor chariots, but in the Lord.  But you have inspired many, including me.  Congratulations.  Lead us well.

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This is a head’s up to let you know that we will be visiting America in December and January and would love to see you!

December 1-8: Ohio visiting family, meeting “Baby Anthony,” and acclimating
December 9 – January 23: California & southern Oregon.

We will send more specific details as we have them – where we will be speaking, when we will be in which cities, etc.  Would be great to see you while we are in the neighborhood.  We have lots to share about what God has been doing here with NieuCommunities South Africa and us. And, we look forward to telling you more about what God is opening up in the near future that you can be part of with us…

For now, we are wondering if you:
•    Have a cell phone we can use?
•    Have a car (for 5 + luggage) we can use?
•    Can get us into Disneyland at a discount?  Will be Mairin’s first time as a non-infant!
•    Can help us stay at the Disneyland Hotel for a discount?
•    Would want to have a meal (Mexican is always a treat), coffee, or visit with us?
•    Have space for us to crash at your place in southern California?
•    Would be willing to get some people together at your house to hear more about our ministry?
•    Can financially help us with this trip ($7000+ for the plane tickets alone).  Click here

I know you have a lot going on today.  Have you voted yet or are you going to tomorrow?
And, in front of all of you, I say HAPPY BIRTHDAY ED!  I love you and we are looking forward to being with you soon!

Please respond to any/all of the questions above.  We’d love to hear from you on these on anything else.  More to come ?

Arthur
for the Stewart5

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