Stewart 5

Is it possible to get unbiased news?  Or, should we just call a spade a spade - all news is filtered, selected, and given from some perspective.  If we acknowledge this, we must be more critical of what we are presented with.

Here is an excellent article about how “news” is often presented in South Africa, especially as it betrays certain commonly-held misconceptions and slants.

For those of you who are unaware, it’s pretty popular in SA, especially in the media, to paint a negative picture of the country.  Not sure exactly why that is, but here are a couple of my guesses:

1. South Africa has an inferiority complex.  Unlike America, who generally thinks she is best and every and all things, SA most often minimizes its achievements and points out its many faults.
2. Because of its long isolation from the rest of the globe, there is a major, “grass is greener on the other side” feel.  And, if all you know about the rest of the world comes from TV, of course it all looks better.
3. Ambivalence in the media toward the average South African.  Seems that journalists here are generally more educated, well off, and liberal than the average populace.  So, there is a tendency to look down on, and even denigrate, life as most people live it.

Would love your thoughts on media bias & the negative tone of SA journalism.

Comments(3)

On the weekend, somewhere between 500-1000 displaced refugees were moved to a temporary camp about 10 minutes north of where we live.  A few of us went yesterday (Wednesday) to assess the situation and see if we might be able to help or join with others who are doing something.

The place is horrible.  Too many people in too little space.  Various nationalities, no food, no services.

Complicating matters is the fact that the South African government has setup a series of army tents which the people refuse to use.  Several stated to me, “South Africans have done this to us.  The same police who protect us during the day are the ones who are burning our homes at night.  They are all the same.  We don’t trust them.  We will only accept help from the UN.”  The refugees also believe that the government-provided camp is South Africa’s way of rounding them all up and keeping track of them.  Many fear that they would actually be in more danger by staying there.

So, while the government-provided camp sits empty, everyone camps in the mud, with a few tents, in an adjacent field.  They are threatening and attacking those who do stay in the government camps.  There are also rumors of trouble within the refugee camp itself - various political factions from other nations vying for power even here.  The camp is housing people from Somalia, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Angola (and others, but those are the nationalities of people I spoke with yesterday).

I heard on the news this morning that there was trouble in the camp last night and that police were firing rubber bullets - not sure why.  There is also a hunger strike taking place.  Article from today’s news about the camp.

Yesterday, I came home stunned.  Several people told me, “I would rather go home to die than to die here.”  These are people from countries like Somalia that have been at war for years.  And they think that would be a BETTER option.  South Africa, how did it come to this?

Help us God.  Kingdom come.

Comments(11)

not going to bother sounding pretty, just wanted to pass along an update on how NCSA has been corporately addressing the needs of the refugees here in SA. Many of our people are taking personal action as well:

Much prayer. Together and individually, we give this to God and demand that He respond. He is…

We have invited a friend and his wife (refugees from Zim) to live in one of the rooms at Pangani, at least for a few weeks. Considering how we can make space for others.

Money given to NCSA to help with refugees has been directed to some people building houses for refugees

Several of us are talking to others who are helping refugees - looking for ways to partner & help.

We have money which we are giving to others who are working with refugees to provide food, shelter, etc.

If you would like to contribute financially, we can receive your money and forward to appropriate services and people working to make a difference. If you are interested in helping, email me.

Comments(1)

responding to the crises in Zim, and the resulting influx of refugees here in SA, we are:

• connecting with, learning from, and sharing resources with like-hearted people around us, especially in Pretoria
• helping others understand the reality of these refugees, knowing their stories, knowing their names
• opening our home for refugees
• asking everyone to consider housing refugees - providing safe and caring environments - Church, here’s an opportunity to love
• praying for peace in Zim and for God to care for all of those in need

Join us! This is just the basic idea of what we feel God is saying to us. Please pray for us and the people of Zimbabwe. We all need God’s love and power.

When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

Comments(1)

My friend Andrew just came back from Zim. Here’s a bit of what he experienced.

Note: there are some hard to look at pics. That’s torture.  That’s Zimbabwe.

Pray for Zimbabwe. Pray for us as we feel God is calling us to be involved in different ways.

zimbabwe

Comments(3)

Would love for all of you to consider this - great opportunity to seek God’s Kingdom.  Please pass on the info as well…

The Pentecost Project is an experiment towards a more true and loving economy. Recently, the U.S. Congress passed an economic stimulus package that the President then signed. Beginning in May, most Americans will receive a rebate check that they are being encouraged to go out and spend in order to stimulate America’s sagging economy.

What if, instead of becoming greater consumers, we encouraged people to move towards an even better economy, an economy of abundance? What if, instead of accumulating more stuff, we encouraged people to give things away? What if, instead of the possibility of making a down payment and opening new credit, we encouraged people to pay down their debt?

Why the connection to Pentecost? On the day of Pentecost, after the Spirit descended on the apostles, and after Peter’s fiery preaching and the conversion of 3,000 people from all nations and races, the book of Acts goes on to tell us,

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47, NIV)

Later, in the 4th chapter, we learn,

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. (Acts 4:32-35, NIV)

In this Spirit, we undertake the Pentecost Project: invest in others, share possessions, reduce debt.

http://pentecostproject.wordpress.com/

Comments(3)

Drew this with pastels on Tuesday to capture a bit of what God has been teaching me about listening, how God is changing me as a listener, and what God is leading me toward…

A lot of it has to do with exploring my own heart with God.  So, the flames, heart connectors going vertically.  And then the connecting to other hearts is because I believe that as I listen more to my own heart and what is going on, I will be able to listen to others better as well. I will be able to hear with compassion. My heart will become a place of invitation to others.  I need that connection.  I need to ask/listen to others more, to ask for advice, to know what’s going on inside others.  I want to connect with other hearts, not just for what I have to offer, but what I have to gain.

Around are odd shapes and colors.  And a bunch of black.  This represents the noise and distraction I am surrounded with, bombarded with.  One thing I have learned for sure is that I must be selective and intentional to hear the right and important things.  If these heart connections are what is important to me, then I have to make time and space.

These word don’t really capture all that is in that picture.  But maybe just enough to give the idea.

From my heart.

Comments(2)

For some random reason, it was discovered yesterday that women hug differently than men.  In giving front-to-front hugs, women apparently hug each other with one arm going around their friend’s side, and the other arm OVER THEIR FRIEND’S SHOULDER!  This is bizarre.  Basically, women hug one another diagonally.  Has anyone else noticed this???  We tried - and verified - this with all of the women in our community.

Men, of course, hug in a normal fashion.  Both arms straight across and around (forget all the back-slapping and homophobic side-hugs).  One guy is always taller, even if only slightly, so it works out fine.

What gives?  Can anyone explain this difference?  I wish I had a picture to demonstrate what I mean, and hope the descriptions above are adequate for you to picture this and hopefully offer some thoughts on this gender-based difference in hugging.

Comments(5)

There are apparently two types of people:

1. People who “like having 4 seasons” - generally people NOT from southern California.  These are the people that move to SoCal and say, “I miss having seasons.”  Or, who move FROM California and say, “I’m looking forward to having 4 seasons again”
2. People who prefer one perfect season all the time (like in Southern California)

I am wondering - seriously -  what separates these people?  Is there something fundamentally different about each type?  Is there something deep, something that reveals values or personality, about each type?  There must be something, because we all fit firmly in one of these two categories.  Let’s see if we can figure this out.

Please respond with:

• Your preference - one great season OR 4 different ones
• WHY do you prefer this?

No need to debate the weather in SoCal.  The point is, do you like 1 season or 4?  Heck, I suppose there are even people who would take winter all the time as their season…

Comments(6)

In NieuCommunities, our second posture of a developing leader is “Submerging.”  We believe that Just as Jesus incarnated and lived among us, we are called to the ministry of presence where God has put us.  With our apprentices, we have specific assignments, readings, etc. to help them think about and do this intentionally.  And, we as a staff team are always in the process of going deeper into lives and culture as well.  On occasion, you get signs that this is happening….

Today, as I finished my run, I walked into the corner market near us where we buy our Sunday paper every week, the occasional ice cream bar, and random items we realize too late that we need when making dinner.  A family runs the shop, and their kids are about our age.  So, we usually chat when we’re in there.  Anyway, we aren’t always so prompt at picking up our Sunday paper.  There have been a few times when we have gone in after noon, and they have been sold out.  The biggest loss in this is that the TV guide comes in the Sunday paper…

So, I walk in and grab a paper.  I go to the counter and ask if they will put it aside for me, and I will go home, get my money, and come back for it.  Just want to make sure we get a paper.  They tell me, just take it.  I assure them I will come back and pay as soon as I get home.  No worries, they respond.  Come in and pay whenever.

You know you are doing ok living in a place when they let you buy things and just come back and pay whenever.

Comments(1)