As you pray -10 September 2007

We thank God with Jerusha Olsen and the True Love Waits team for all the opportunities that they are getting to spread the abstinence message. The response is tremendous.

The other Sunday, 2 September, evening was special. TLW had a live one hour programme at Ukhozi Radio, the biggest (5-6 million listeners) national public broadcaster in South Africa. Hearing comments by the listeners warms the heart.

Thank you for all the prayers for the 2007 Christians for Truth Annual Conference which started on Friday and ended yesterday. As I listened from my room I was reminded of Oom Lang Piet's popular expression when he is blessed, "Dis 'n fees, broer" (It's a feast, brother).

For me there were two clear challenges; one's personal relationship to the Lord and being an honourable vessel in the Lord's hand, ever ready to champion His cause. May the Lord grant us the grace to be near to His heart.

There was much rejoicing when Zwelandile Ngidi and Nokuthula Ngema got engaged at KwaSizabantu yesterday. We wish them God's blessing.

We shall also be thinking of Mario Rocha as he crosses over to the USA to visit his family and the brethren.

Ernst and Renate Heckel fly to Germany today for the wedding of Ulrich Heckel and Lydia Moses on Saturday. Our thoughts are with the families and the brethren as they prepare for the day.

The Autumn Europe Preaching Tour begins this coming weekend in France already. Our prayers will accompany Rev Erlo Stegen, Onkel Friedel and the team from South Africa as they leave for Europe

It was good to hear from Didier Schott in Paris. He requests prayers for their school. The new semester has begun, there is much work and not enough personnel.

As I have mentioned before, Didier has a special ministry amongst the African brethren in Paris. He will appreciate our prayers for a meeting next week at Bobigny where they will be discussing Christian education and the possibility of assisting schools in Africa.

Human heart

So, the leading world class Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti was buried on Saturday. He is being mourned the world over.

When Pavarotti performed with the other two top class tenors, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras as 'The Three Tenors', he stood out with his flamboyance that made the audiences to hang on his lips.

Even in the sombre atmosphere the media could not resist commenting about the 'Big Man's' size. One commentator quipped, "He never missed a meal.''

Whilst praise was heaped on Pavarotti I was reminded of an incident that saddened me. Pavarotti was as always performing at his best when he failed to reach a high note. For that one mistake his adoring audience booed him. I just thought to myself, "Oh, the human heart!"

" The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)