As you pray -13 March 2009

My dear friends

Again, thanks for your prayer support for my team of carers. This week they got a welcome boost.

Susanna Schneider's brother, Joel, who in previous times has been a valuable member of the team is visiting South Africa together with his family for four weeks. He  offered to help with physiotherapy, an area where he is very good.

A young nurse, Pauline, a daughter of our Paris friends,  Louis-Bernard and Veronique Bouzerand, is visiting South Africa for a few months. Imagine our team's excitement when she walked into our house to join them.

Thank God with us and keep praying.

Those of you who are following the progress of the restoration of the auditorium on the KSB website will agree that God is glorifying Himself in a marvellous way.

My sister-in-law Sindi was part of a group that was taken by Onkel Erlo for a tour around the new auditorium. When Onkel Erlo asked them if after seeing the new auditorium they still wanted the old one. Their answer was "No." Why "No?" "No" because our gracious God is giving us something far better than what we lost. To Him belong our gratitude and praise.

Peter  Rice was elected chairman of the Association of Christian Broadcasters at the ACB Conference this week. This adds to his responsibilities at Radio Khwezi and elsewhere. He will value your prayer support.

Mario Rocha requests our prayers. Once again, he is on the way to Mozambique to assist with some crucial registrations for Doctors for Life's Zavora Clinic.

It was good to hear from our Senegal missionary friends, Jose and France-Lise Oliveira, from the ministry 'Mission Inter Senegal.' They report that the spiritual work is growing. On the other hand, they have had health challenges that have forced them to take some weeks off for a time of restoration in the USA. Let us remember them in prayer.

Our prayers are with Juerg Laederach and the brethren in Paris. Juerg has been invited for services in Paris this weekend.

Missing the point

Whilst listening to the sermon on Sunday it occurred to me how easily one can sit through a blessed message - and miss the point. Two illustrations came to mind.

The worm

A minister that had a ministry amongst alcoholics beamed with joy when he got a brainwave for his next sermon.

That day he brought in two glasses, two bottles with some liquid and a worm on either sleeve of his clerical garb. To make sure that his audience followed him he explained each step as he went along. He poured alcohol into the first glass and then dropped in the one worm. The poor thing shrivelled and died within a short time. Thereafter he poured in water into the second glass and drops in the other worm. The worm swam around happily.

The minister then asked the men, "What does this say to you?" He expected sighs of, "My poor intestines. O wretched man that I am ...?"

One man raised his hand boldly and announced with glee, "This tells me that I have no worms in my stomach."

He missed it.

Technology

One day in 2008 a man entered Mr Ernie Engelbrecht's Breland Spar shop in Dalton with the aim of 'walking away with some unpaid for goodies.' He helped himself and hid the items the best he could. Unknown to him, a security video camera recorded every move he made.

As he was walking out he was confronted about his theft, True to the fallen nature of Adam's race he denied the charge. Then they played back to him the whole scene as recorded by the camera. They expected him to hang his head in shame and admit that his sin had found him out. Instead, he expressed his amazement at the advances of modern technology.

He too missed it.

Have a blessed weekend.

Pressing on!

In His love

Fano Sibisi