CAPE TOWN UNITED

I know.  I am a horrible blogger.  Though well intentioned my dedication to blogging has been less than sufficient.  Yet, I'm back and hopefully more committed than ever!  With that, let me pose a few questions . . .

What do you think would happen if a church united in Jesus name?

What about an entire neighborhood uniting to make Jesus known?

What if an entire city united to champion the cause of Christ?

It seems impossible, but what if followers of Jesus everywhere laid down their differences, and with one voice sought to shout and sing and proclaim that Jesus is the King to everyone around who would listen?

I know a group of high school students from all over the city of Cape Town, South Africa that have done just that...they have UNITED, and I'm believing there's no limit to what God might choose to do through their unified efforts!

Check out this 2 minute clip from CAPE TOWN UNITED:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn_U8jTpp6A

Body Parts

The other day I was having a coffee at one of my favorite local spots and I noticed a man coming down the escalator carrying a box of parts - body parts.  It happened fast but I think I saw an arm, a few legs, and a foot protruding from the top.  I didn't get to look close enough, but I'm sure I heard a head bobbling around on the bottom of the box. 

I thought to myself, it's not everyday you see a man walking down the street with a box of parts.  I wondered where he might be going or what he might be doing with the many parts he was carrying?  What was the purpose for all those parts?

Of course, these were manikin parts, just to clarify. 

The man with the box of parts reminded me of a problem I often wrestle with, a problem Os Guinness calls, "privatization."  Guinness writes, "Beyond question, the private sphere in modern life represents incredible freedom.  More people can choose more, do more, buy more, see more, and travel more than ever before.  The results may be chaotic or regrettable, but in opening up for us a world of our own, the private sphere provides an unprecedented chance to think and act independently." (The Call, p.156)

The problem is that we weren't created for independence but interdependence - many parts but one body.  One purpose.

Guinness suggests we divide our lives into two parts - public and private.  I think we divide our lives into many parts.  We have our work life, our family life, our social life, our church life, our friends, our hobbies . . . one life divided into many parts.

I suppose the many parts of our lives aren't so bad as long as they work together towards the same goal.  Abraham Kuyper once commented, "There is not one square inch of the entire creation about which Jesus does not cry out, 'This is mine!  This belongs to me!'"  Whether it's our work or family or friends or church activities - it's all God's.  Many parts with one purpose.

Are there certain parts of your life reserved for certain things?  

I'm working towards one life lived for one purpose - GOD.  It's a daily thing.  I'm not there yet.  I'm learning it doesn't happen over night.  It's a process that involves a repeated return to the foot of the cross and the persistant chorus of your life to be, 'Not my will, but yours be done.'

Under Cover

If the blessing, providence and goodness of God in your life were like a cover, and you were given a choice to remain under cover or venture beyond . . . which would you choose?

I had a great time preaching at Common Ground Church in Cape Town on Sunday.  Common Ground is where my wife and I call "home" these days - our church family.  During my soccer career I enjoyed away games, but nothing could compare to a home match. That's what Sunday was for me, a home match!

Here's a link to the message.  Week 3 of a 6 week series looking at "The Promise," and the life of Abraham:

http://www.commongroundchurch.co.za/content/uploads/sunday%20talks/2011/ThePromise/ThePromise_26JUNE2011_RondeboschAM_Aaron.mp3

~SDG

Ireland TREC video

AIS Ireland just posted this short video featuring our time at Belfast Bible College last month.  Enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150199823526599

~SDG

SUBVERTING THE KINGDOM

I live in a 12-unit apartment complex with my wife Ginny.  We love it.  A few weeks back I was speaking with our security guard Eric.  I'm not sure how many teeth Eric has all together but I'm almost certain he should have more.  I really like Eric.  I'm always learning something new about him.  For example, Eric was in an unfortunate incident the other day and his finger got badly cut.  Though he almost lost the finger that got cut, he may still have more fingers than teeth, I'm not sure.  Regardless, the finger was not looking good several days later so I told Eric we needed to take him to the doctor.  "Oh no," he said..."Eric doesn't need that man, Eric has done the work!"  He then proudly displayed the mangled finger he had sownen together with his wife's needle and thread.  I told Eric he should become the team doctor for his favorite soccer team, Orlando Pirates.  I think he thought I was being serious.

Eric loves Pirates so much that he tries to convince everyone to love them too.  He's like a Pirates evangelist.  I'm sure the Orlando Pirates aren't Eric's only purpose in life, but it made me think, what would someone blog about me?  What about my life speaks to other as a theme?   What is the message my life proclaims about what I believe and why I am here?

I think of Jesus as a fairly straightforward guy.  As I read the scriptures his message and life purpose seem clear.  Yet, not everyone feels the same.  In Luke 23 an angry religous mob complained to the authorities about Jesus.  They weren't happy because they said they "found this man subverting the kingdom."  

It was a valid complaint.  

Jesus was a subverter.  

He came to turn the kingdom of man upside down.  He opposed the social norm and worked to counter act the ways of the world.  

The people accused Jesus of attempting to subvert the kingdom they lived within.  Would people accuse you of something similar?  It seems that if the spirit of God lives in us, we are here with that same purpose - to subvert the kingdom and proclaim the eternal kingdom here and now.

I've decided, that's what I want to be, a subverter.  What about you?

~ SDG

A "Competition" for Glory

The past 8 days I've been hanging out with my great friend Rob who leads a mighty and life changing work.  Rob directs the Northern Ireland office of Ambassadors in Sport.  It's fair to say that Rob is crazy, in a wonderful sort of way.  Rob dreams up ridiculous things and then convinces other people to be invovled.  I respect that.  

For example, last year Rob convinced over 30 people to ride bikes across the whole of the African continent to raise money and awarness for the development of Hope Academies (see http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/kicking-crime-11069702) in disadvantaged communities.  

We passed these guys somewhere on the road near Ballymena, Ireland!

The past 8 days Rob and I have literally traveled to every corner of Northern Ireland to speak about the work of Ambassadors and to challenge people to consider how they spend their lives in light of the grand scope of eternity.  Along the way we saw more than a few sheep, several cows crossing the road and rain - lots of it.  

It was a cool trip.  I think God used us to light some fires, encourage some folks and hopefully, call a few into a relationship with Jesus for the first time.  That said, I feel I must share in this public space a dilemma I encountered in one meeting.  In all my years, I've not encountered this type of issue prior.  I wonder, what would you do if someone had the most horrifying gas you've ever heard, in a room full of high school persons?  Would you stop what you were discussing to acknowledge that gas, or, would you persevere, pretending you did not hear this horrible noise despite the mass hysteria it elicited amongst the crowd?

I kept going pretending I didn't hear what sounded to me like a bomb exploding in an art museum.  In retrospect I'm not sure that I made the right decision?

I must admit, upon branding this blog "A competition for glory" I had not thought of the physical implications.  I suppose one would not necessarily consider things of that nature when branding a blog.  That was probably my mistake.  Needless to say, I'm am now aware that in Ireland the competition for glory is indeed alive.  

A final thought.  It turned out that the someone who had the horrible gas was in fact a 32 year old group leader.  I wasn't too sure what to do with that information, but there you have it.  This expirience is now off my chest and I can move on.  

~ SDG

Anonymity or notice?

Something like 65 million people pass through London Heathrow airport every year - today I am one of the multitude.  I'm currently sipping a VERY average Americano on a stylish worn brown leather couch at Caffe Nero...somewhere amidst the millions.  I haven't seen anyone I know, yet.  I don't expect to.  Strangely, that excites me more than it probably should.  

Anonimity is a strange thing; at times it has a peculiar allure.  At least it does for me.  It seems to provide an opportunity to sit in the shadow land of society and chose to engage, or simply just be.  That makes me think, if this is how life is meant to be lived - anonimous? Or, is the tempting call of anonimity countercultural to our intended existance? 

My favorite band in college, Cademons Call, had a folky type sound.  One of their songs was about life in San Francisco.  One stanza went something like this:

I love anonymity and I 

love being noticed

just the same as anybody else

Years ago I told you how I love to be alone 

These days I'd be perjuring myself

That has always resonated with me because of the seemingly opposing dichotamy I adore; anonimity and acceptance.

The more I read about how life in the Kingdom of God is supposed to be, the more I'm compelled to seek a life in community instead of the often prefered anonimity.  Paul explained the people of God as a body, one body in fact. He wrote, "You are the body of Chirst, and each one of you is a part of it."  That suggests that we weren't so much created for a life of independance but of interdepandence:  GOD + ME + EVERYONE ElSE = LIFE.

Often I wish the equation was God + Me = Life.   Sometimes, I must confess, I wish the equation featured ME alone.  But the Kingdom life is one based on a synergy of interdependant parts working together to produce more than they would on their own.  

As I've passed through Heathrow this morning I've been anonomous. Yet, I'm moving towards Belfast where I'll spend the next 9 days proclaiming the Kingdom life that is much grander than life on my own.  I'll do this in community.  I think that's how it was always meant to be.

~SDG

p.s.  If you are in the Belfast, Northern Ireland and want to come say hello here's where I'll be the next few days:

1) Edenderry CE, Saturday 14th May, 8:00pm 

2) Granshaw Presbyterian Church, Sunday 15th May, 11:00am 

3) Portrush Presbyterian Church, Sunday 15th May, 7:00pm 

4) Carnmoney Presbyterian Church, Friday 20th May, 7:00pm • Boys Brigade service

5) The Well, Saturday 21st May, 7:00pm 

6) Ballysally Presbyterian Church, Sunday 22nd May, 11:00am 

7) Edenderry Presbyterian Church, Sunday 22nd May, 7:00pm