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Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 8:59AM 
Next year we'll be hosting the GDOP from Cape Town where it all began 10 years ago. See http://www.gdop2010.com for more details.
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Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 8:50AM 
We joined a number of local Christians to pray for the city. An experience of a lifetime, that's for sure!
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Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 8:40AM
I came across the lovely old Vespa in a mall that was fatefully named 'The Twin Towers' in Hong Kong.
Isn't this bike lovely? I think it is a VBL 150 Sprint.
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Saturday, June 13, 2009 at 7:15PM I spend a great deal of my time engaging with people of very diverse theological and faith perspectives. From the most social justice oriented (activists for justice and social transformation) to some of the most mystical and spiritual (these include monks such as the Benedictine brothers and sisters, and the 24/7 prayer houses and 'boiler rooms' that are springing up across the world). Then there are the wonderful sisters and brothers whose approach to the scriptures and doctrine of the Christian faith are as varied as their spiritual practices - orthodox Christians in Africa, Europe and Asia, Catholics, Pentecostals, Evangelicals and members of the so called 'mainline' denominations.
Flannery O'Conner said, "What people don’t realize is how much religion costs. They think faith is a big electric blanket, when of course it is a cross."
The first Sunday after Pentecost is dedicated to the commemoration of all the saints. The writer to the Hebrews lists all that the saints have gone through and the blood they shed and then says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us." Our commemoration of All Saints teaches us at least two things:
1. We are called to be saints. Saintliness is not an abnormal or exceptional state: it is, on the contrary, the normal flowering of every Christian life. This call to holiness is address to each of us. Saint Paul addressed his letters to the faithful in Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Phillipi and Collosae as saints. Do we have the will to follow Christ when it is costly? That’s why the Flannery O'Conner quote hits me. I want the electric blanket of doing what I want, when I want, with who I want. I read today (Matthew 5:42) "Give to him who begs from you..." I can almost 100% guarantee the Lord is bringing me my homeless today. Will I respond like a man who thinks faith is an electric blanket or like a man who believes that faith is a cross?
2. We don't believe that we are the Church without those who have gone before us. If those who have died are non-existent (as many describe death) than how is it that Moses and Elijah were speaking with Jesus on the mountain of transformation? Jesus has trampled down death by death and bestowed life to those in the tombs. Those who have died are alive in Christ. We remember the departed and they remember us.
1 Corinthians 1:2 To the Church of God, which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Why remember all the saints? Because they are us, we are them.
All Saints Sunday readings in the Orthodox Church: Hebrews 11:33-12:2 and St. Matthew 10:32-33, 37-38; 19:27-30
Saturday, June 13, 2009 at 10:25AM 
In about 15 minutes we'll be leaving to fetch Megie from the airport. She left Korea 20 hours ago (stopping in Hong Kong and Johannesburg)... Then, the weekend begins!
Here's the 'official communication' to that fact... (filled in triplicate of course ;-)
I got this great form and many others from the Bureau of Communication!
Long live corporate oppression by 'the man' (or maybe not!!!)
Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 8:56PM This evening after I had put the kids to bed and done the dishes I sat down to scan through my the RSS feeds of my favourite blogs. I came across this very interesting post.
The lecture (which you will need broadband to watch) is quite superb! I don't agree entirely with everything that Dr Sapolsky says about the relationship between cognitive and social evolution, the biological functioning (and pathology) of certain brains and the relationship of these factors to religion. However, it is fascinating to see these concepts tied together in this manner. There is little doubt that persons with schizotypal personalities are more open to religious stimuli (whether they internally created or triggered by external factors). However, that such stimuli are indicators of a form of abnormality or pathology is a matter of some debate!
I find many things that are regarded as fairly normal to be quite absurd - and in many cases quite unhealthy and even indicative of some form of pathology... The general propensity towards transcendent belief is not one of these.
Anyway, here's the lecture. I'd love to hear your feedback.
Stanford's Robert Sapolsky, one of the most interesting anthropologists I've heard lecture, gives us 90 minutes on the evolutionary basis for literal religious belief, "metamagical thinking," schizotypal personality and so on, explaining how evolutionarily, the mild schizophrenic expression we called "schizotypal personality" have enjoyed increased reproductive opportunities.
Sapolsky on Religion (Thanks, Avi!)
Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 8:49PM 
I am frequently bemused at what I remember from my childhood. There are many things I have forgotten! But, there are a few strange things that I remember because they are so vivid (sometimes because they were very good experiences, at other times because they were bad experiences).
One thing I remember is my late dad teaching me to ride a bicycle. My mom and dad were divorced when I was 2 years old. We would visit my dad on certain holidays - this particular holiday must have been around Christmas and it was in Zimbabwe. I can remember that I got a bicycle for Christmas, one of those really little ones that small children get that you can remove the training wheels from. Since I had already been riding a cousin's bike for a week or two with training wheels my dad decided to teach me how to ride my new bike without training wheels. This was quite a feat! So, he first got on the bike and showed me how to do it. I can remember that he was large on the little bike, and that has he peddled his knees knocked against the handlebars and brakes. It was a good day.
Today Courtney, Liam and I put a swing in the tree in our back yard. I think it is important to build memories with your children. We bought the swing on the way back from dropping Megie at the airport - she is currently on a 20 hour flight to Korea.
The swing itself is quite simple, yet very effective for its purpose. It is simply two pieces of very strong rope (nylon if I am not mistaken), and a car tyre that has been cut so that it makes a seat.
We climbed into the tree, fastened the ropes and started swinging straight away (even though it was very cold and wet in Cape Town today!)
I love my kids, I give thanks to God for them each and every day! I'm sure we'll look back on this photo in years to come and laugh at the silly clothes we wore, but remember that swing with fondness.
Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 5:19PM I got back from Hong Kong yesterday (5 June). It was such an amazing trip to be at the international broadcast for the Global Day of Prayer and then to move on to the Call2All conference.
We flew back from Hong Kong at midnight and arrived in South Africa yesterday just before noon. Then it was a quick shower and off to a short meeting (Megie was at work and the kids were at school, so I thought I'd make the most of the spare time).
Today Megie left for Korea where she is attending the arrangements committee meetings for the Lausanne Congress on World evangelisation - we were almost there together, but I am here with the kids and have also got some other meetings here in Cape Town this week. I rejoice that she has the opportunity to travel (I frequently feel guilty that I get to see so much of the world while she keeps the home fires burning).
So, I am feeling a little bit pressed, having returned from just short of two weeks away, with quite a lot on my plate for this week, and missing Megie already! Courts and Liam are a great source of blessing and joy! However, I do pray that I am able to give them as much time and attention as they require this week!
So, the long and the short of it is that I will write some news on the Call2All and Global Day of Prayer trip as soon as I have some time - it may well be that I fit some time in tonight once the kids get to bed, but it may only be later in the week.
Family first!
As a little teaser here's a photo I took of Hong Kong from Victoria Peak with my little 'point and shoot' Sony Camera. Isn't it a lovely city?
Sunday, May 31, 2009 at 4:20AM 
We arrived in Hong Kong on the 28th of May to prepare the last few things before the Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost Sunday (31 May 2009).
This year is the first time in the 9 year history of this mementos event that every single one of the world's 220 nations registered events to form a part of the day of prayer. I feel that this is a truly historic and significant event in history - what humbles me most is the thought that this incredible movement that will involve well over 400 million people worldwide was started by a Methodist lay person (Graham Power) on the Southern tip of Africa - you can read the whole story of GDOP in Graham's book 'Not by Might, nor by Power'.
The first Global Day of Prayer event (then called Transformation Africa) was held at Newlands Rugby stadium in 2001 when Graham Power felt convicted by the Lord to call together all the Christians in that city for a day of repentance and prayer (in keeping with 2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, pray, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land".
The events that take place across the globe started as the dateline hit 31 May (the start of Pentecost begins in Tonga and Fiji and then moves through the time zones to Hawaii - a total of about 20 hours of daylight). During this time people gather in events ranging in size and character. Some of the events are quite similar to the first Newlands event - they are large stadiums in which Christians gather to worship, pray around specific prayer pointers, and be inspired and united in cause to seek God's blessing and transforming power for their cities and nations. In other places where this may not be possible people meet in Churches, some meet in homes, and in some places in Africa and India there are massive open air gatherings (the largest reported gathering was in India where over 500 thousand persons are reported to have attended a single event). Most nations have numerous events taking place - for example in South Africa there are 347 towns and cities that have registered events of various sizes.
The only request from the Global Day of Prayer organisers is that the events are eccumenical in nature (i.e., that they represent a broad scope of Christian heritage). The reality is however that GDOP does take on a different character in each geographical region (in North America it tends to be predominantly supported by mainline evangelical Christians, in South Africa it is much the same, in North Africa it is predominantly Orthodox believers, in Latin America there is a mix of evangelical and Catholic Christians, in Asia it is the mainline and evangelical Churches etc.) Second, the organisers ask that the Prayer for the world be said at each event at some point during the proceedings (I have put a copy of the prayer below for your interest - I would encourage you to pray through it today so that even if you're not joining in a large event perhaps you and your family might join the hundreds of millions of Christians in praying for renewal and transformation of the earth?)
We have been anchoring the Global Day of Prayer from different geographical locations for the last few years (last year was in Israel, this year we're in Hong Kong and China, and in 2010 we shall be returning to Cape Town, South Africa, where it all began in 2001). We set up a studio at an event (such as the one in Hong Kong this afternoon) and then bring in live feed from events and gatherings across the world that gets broadcast on GodTV for a period of about 8-12 hours. It is wonderful to catch a glimpse of the Christian Church in its variety and uniqueness across the globe! This year the primary feeds will come from Brazil, Hong Kong and the Ivory Coast with other inputs from Russia, North America and South Africa.
Please join me in giving thanks to God for His grace and mercy, thank God for the many faithful believers who have been fasting and praying for the last 10 days, for the many millions that will gather to pray for the world today, and for the many hundreds of thousands that will participate in the '90 days of blessing' that follow today. Please also thank God for Graham, his faithfulness, courage and sacrifice in bringing to Global Day of Prayer to reality and for the impact that his courage and love has had on the lives of so many individuals and communities across the globe as they have sought and found God's blessing.
Here is the Prayer for the World:
"They lifted their voices to God with one accord..." - Acts 4:24Almighty God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Together with believers all over the world,
We gather today to glorify Your Name.
You are the Creator of heaven and earth.
There is no one like You, holy and righteous in all Your ways.
We submit to Your authority as the King of the universe.
We pray with one voice to enthrone You in our hearts
and to honour You before the world.Lord God, You alone are worthy of our praise and adoration.
Our Father in heaven,
Thank You for loving the world so greatly.
You gave Your only Son, Jesus Christ,
to die on the cross for our sins
so that we could be reconciled to You.
We are grateful to call You Father and to be called Your children.
Nothing can separate us from Your love.Thank You Father, for adopting us into Your family because of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Lord Jesus Christ,
You alone are worthy to open the scrolls of history,
for You were slain and have redeemed us to the Father by Your blood.
We confess that You are Head of the Church
and Lord of all heaven and earth.
May people from every tribe and language become Your followers
so that Your blessing brings transformation among all peoples.
Let Your kingdom be established in every nation of the world
so that governments will rule with righteousness and justice.
And may Your Name be great, from the rising of the sun to its setting.Jesus Christ, You are the Saviour of the world and the Lord of all.
Father of mercy and grace,
We acknowledge that we have sinned
and that our world is gripped by the power of sin.
Our hearts are grieved by injustice, hatred and violence.
We are shamed by oppression, racism and bloodshed in our land.
We mourn all loss of life in murder, war and terrorism.
Our homes are broken and our churches are divided by rebellion and pride.
Our lives are polluted by selfishness, greed, idolatry and sexual sin.
We have grieved Your heart and brought shame to Your Name.
Have mercy on us as we repent with all our hearts.God of mercy, forgive our sins. Pour out Your grace and heal our land.
Spirit of the living God,
Apart from You, we can do nothing.
Transform Your Church into the image of Jesus Christ.
Release Your power to bring healing to the sick,
freedom to the oppressed and comfort to those who mourn.
Pour Your love into our hearts and fill us with compassion
to answer the call of the homeless and the hungry
and to enfold orphans, widows and the elderly in Your care.
Give us wisdom and insight for the complex problems we face today.
Help us to use the resources of the earth for the well-being of all.Holy Spirit, we need Your comfort and guidance. Transform our hearts.
Lord Jesus Christ,
Because You were dead, but are now risen,
and the Father has given You a Name above all names,
You will defeat all powers of evil.
Tear down strongholds and ideologies that resist the knowledge of God.
Remove the veil of darkness that covers the peoples.
Restrain the evil that promotes violence and death.
Bring deliverance from demonic oppression.
Break the hold of slavery, tyranny and disease.
Fill us with courage to preach Your word fearlessly,
and to intercede for the lost faithfully.Almighty God, deliver us from evil.
King of Glory,
Come and finish Your work in our cities, our peoples and our nations.
We lift our voices in unison with believers from Africa and Asia,
from the Middle East and Europe, from North and South America,
and from Australia and the Pacific Islands—together we cry:Lift up your heads, O you gates! Be lifted up ancient doors so that the King of glory may come in!
As Your deeds increase throughout the earth,
and as Your blessings abound to all the nations,
they will seek You, asking, “Who is this King of glory?”Together we will answer:
He is the Lord Almighty! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
Come fill the earth with Your glory as the waters cover the sea.
The Spirit and the Bride say:Amen! Come Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at 7:31AM Sunday, May 24, 2009 at 9:31PM 
In the previous post I wrote about the great ride that I did this morning. It was a 40km ride in the Hottentots Holland and Helderberg Mountains (all on Lourensford farm). Here's a google image of the route (on the left). And if you have Google Earth installed on your machine you can open this file to see the exact route (and how slow I rode in most parts!) Lourensford_ride_05_Apr_09.kml
I enjoy these times - first, the exercise does me a world of good! I can feel my leg strengthening with each ride. And of course it also helps me to release a lot of stress. Second, it is an opportunity to bear a subtle and worthwhile witness to Christ among a group of guys who have not been in contact with Christianity or the Church in some time. Each time I ride I always seem to end up riding with a different person who opens up, shares some of their hopes, dreams, aspirations and struggles, and I have a chance to offer a listening ear, an open and affirming heart, and of course the hospitable love and hope of Christ. I have spoken (when I have breath!) with guys about their marriage relationships, we've talked about struggles at work, the death of loved ones, and in some instances just had a good laugh.
These are valuable opportunities for ministry, and their valuable times for me to grow and live out my calling to serve Christ and those whom Christ loves.
In an earlier post (last week) I wrote about managing stress, struggle and hardship from the perspective of neuroscience (the science of the brain). You can read about that perspective here.
That post came from the recognition that I have a deep and significant need for an active, lived, spirituality - a relationship with Jesus that helps me to gain some control over myself, and some perspective on my life.
Today's ride was necessary - over the next two weeks we shall have quite a busy time in the Forster household!
Later this week I shall be leaving for Hong Kong for the Global Day of Prayer (which takes place on 31 May 2009 - this year EVERY SINGLE nation in the world will be involved! So do look out for us on GodTV where we will be anchoring our broadcast from the Hong Kong GDOP stadium event. It is estimated that approximately 400 million Christians from the world's 220 nations will participate on Pentecost Sunday! What a remarkable thing to think that a Methodist lay person, Graham Power, initiated the world's largest prayer gather. We hear so many wonderful stories of communites that have been united and transformed through their participation and preparation in the GDOP. Out of this have come millions of projects (mostly concentrated on the 90 days of blessing that follow Pentecost) which have built schools, fixed hospitals, created jobs, and done a host of other social transformation projects!) Indeed, I give thanks to God for this incredible event, and for the small part that I play as chaplain to the Global Day of Prayer.
So, do check back here (and also follow my twitter stream @digitaldion) for photos, news, and updates on GDOP and the Call2All conference from Hong Kong.
I will arrive back from Hong Kong on the 5th of June, and then Megie (my darling wife!) leaves for Korea for the central committee meetings of the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization. It is an opportunity of a lifetime for her! We almost ended up there together since Graham Power (whom I serve as chaplain) and our team were to be there (Graham is the director of the arrangements committee for the next Lausanne Congress on World evangelization, and I serve on the Theological Working group). But, because of other pressures back in South Africa we decided not to go (it would have meant two weeks away from the office). But, Megie, who is the project manager, is going.
So, spare a prayer! From the 6th-13th of June I'll be flying solo with the kids. Fortunately I have no travelling to do during that week. And, I've managed to shift my evening meetings and find some good friends who'll help with fetching the kiddies from school.
It is important to create an environment for our children in which they feel (and know) that they are cared for, that their lives are a priority, and that their needs come first in our family. Yet, at the same time it is important for me as a husband to create every opportunity for Megan to show her full gifting and potential in the great work that she's doing!
So, this weekend has been almost entirely spent on family things. We've made sure to get as hands on as we can with our kids and their programme for the weekend. Megan and I have also made quality time to be together (something that is important when I travel so much). We watched two movies together and enjoyed each other's company on both Saturday and Sunday evening.
At the end of the day I have come to realise that the best joy in life comes from very good planning, and enough space for spontaneity and quality!
We love each other, we love our children, and we love the opportunity that we have to serve Christ in different ways!
PS. today we went to the 'Spur' for lunch, and who should we run into? Gus, Heather and Zach! Such special friends! This week Gus will be doing his final assessments for Ordination, so please do spare a prayer for him!
Have a great week, and remember that your work can be worship if you choose to do everything to the glory of Christ and the blessing of others.
Sunday, May 24, 2009 at 5:21PM
