The launch of CVC media - A fresh approach to Christian Media

Today I had the incredible joy of attending the launch of CVC media in Durbanville (UPDATE, Roger - the link I found is for 1Africa.tv, and the CVC staff picked up on my post and sent me the link to CVC Media's main page).

I was impressed by their HUGE vision (to reach 1 billion people with the Gospel through new media)! They're already a long way towards that goal. Moreover, their fresh approach, and attention to excellence was magnificent to see. These people get it!

In order to effectively share the gospel one needs to add value (so, here in Africa they have schools, farms, clinics etc.) and have a broad based approach (short wave radio, internet streaming, satellite audio and video, and FM stations). Their content is also fantastic, aiming at a younger demographic through care, excellence, and relational follow up through email, text messages and social networking. They have thought of everything. Their approach seems to be more than just a 'hit and run' media venture.

I am impressed! I can see them making a huge impact across the world (they have stations on every continent). Speaking in this picture is Bob Edmundson (not sure of the spelling), a Christian businessman from the UK - his speach was energetic and challenging. He is the primary funder.

I have the joy of knowing Oliver Raper who is the manager for Southern Africa, and Jonathan Haller who was my Program Director at RadioPulpit in Pretoria and is now the program director at CVC / 1Africa. Keep your eyes on these folks! They are going to do great things!

A fantastic weekend in Mosselbay!

Life can be pretty busy in 'Forsterdom' (as Janet so aptly describes our clan)! Between family responsibilities, Church and ministry commitments, and of course work we are always on the go!

This weekend, however, our good friends Cois and Corne invited us to their place in Mosselbay (Diaz strand to be exact). What a fantastic weekend we've had! Cois and Corne, who are also in ministry, realy know how to kick back! We lazed, relaxed, chatted, watched DVD's, surfed the web, and swam in the heated pools. Of course the Springbok victory over the All Black was a cherry on top!

I haven't felt this relaxed in ages!

Good friends, good times!

Cois and I spent a lot of time talking about our various faith traditions and theological perspectives. Cois was an AFM pastor, and of course I am a Methodist. Cois has three degrees (two in theology and one in psychology). He is a deep thinker with a sharp theological mind! Their perspective on life and ministry is challenging and refreshing. I find it an inspiration! I look forward to being challenged to grow in new ways as our friendship develops in the years to come. Of course I also hope to share some of my passion for social justice and the depth of our historical spiritual heritage with him.

Now, however, we're on our way back to Somerset West. The kids are sleeping. Courtney starts school tomorrow. Megie's client load is at full capacity! So she will be busy. I've also got quite a lot on my plate! Please pray for me as I continue to settle into my new post - I am struggling to fin the time and space to write.

More evidence... Giving away your books for free sells more copies

After reading Cory Doctorow's book 'Little Brother' (see the link from boingboing), I was convinced by his argument that there is both virtue and profit in giving away one's books. So, as you may recall, I put all my books on the web for free download.

I am pleased to report that since I've been giving away my books for free there have been two extremely valuable reactions. First, more people are reading what I write, and so I have had some wonderful conversations, been challenged, inspired, and met many likeminded people. Second, I have sold many more copies of my books than I thought I would.

But, here's more evidence that giving your books away for free increases circulation and sales.

Neil Gaiman and his publisher have published the results of their free online release of his novel American Gods earlier this year -- the conclusion? Giving away ebooks for free sold books: The Indies [ie. independent booksellers -- Neil] are the only sales channel where we have confidence that incremental sales were driven by this promotion. In the Bookscan data reported for Independents we see a marked increase in weekly sales across all of Neil’s books, not just American Gods during the time of the contest and promotion. Following the promotion, sales returned to pre-promotion levels.

The ABC's of New Media... How much of a Geek are you!?

Janet sent me this ABC chart of new media and technology... I am HAPPY to say that I can list EVERY single one of the letters of the Alphabet by its corresponding technology! ha ha! How many can you list?

PS. Having an incredibly relaxed weekend in Mosselbay with our friends Cois and Corne.

Here's a challenge for Pretoria weather... Zeta park se *&%

My friend Wessel posted a great picture of his son playing at one of my favourite places in the Pretoria area, Zeta Park. I remember spending quite a few winters days there lying on a blanked trying to get some reading done for my then incomplete doctorate while little Courtney played on the slides, jungle gyms and swings... Wessel is quite right. Pretoria does truly have the BEST weather out there! See Wessel's post here for more details: http://wesselsplace.blogspot.com/2008/07/fun-at-zita-park-and-update-on-bertie.html

BUT

Wes, this is my hangout... It's a little bit sandy, and it can be a bit wet... There are no swings or jungle gyms... BUT, it is Cape Town ;-)

I miss you my friend! Blessings,

Dion

Liam on the beach.

Courtney, my beach princess (Heck, she is growing up WAY too fast!)

That's me in the nappy... Not really, it's Liam and Megie. Oh and Charlene, here are some more photos of the kiddies!

Sometimes we forget...

My students used to get tired of me reminding them that our task is not only to help persons to find forgiveness from their personal sins, but also to the whole cosmos to be liberated from structural sin...

Here's a reminder again:

Sin and evil are concretely expressed not only in individuals, but also in structures.

- Tito Paredes
director of Centro Evangelico Missiologico Andino Amazonico

What a twitter feed would look like during 'dawn of the dead' (other Zombie movies are available ;-)

I thought this was quite funny! What do you think a twitter feed would look like during a Zombie attack (and YES, of course they..... do exist (not really, but who cares... Dawn of the dead was hilarious!)) Click this image to enlarge it.

Oh, and follow me on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/digitaldion

Reasons to be thankful!

I have many reasons to give thanks... Here are just two of them. Charlene and I chatted today and she asked me to post a photo or two of Courtney and Liam to the blog... Well, here are my darlings. They are both doing so well in our new surroundings.

Please continue to pray for our family!

This does not please God!

Today I am teaching a half day class on 'new media' at Media Village in Kalk bay. The drive there from Somerset West takes one along some of the most spectacu;ar scenery in the world! The ocean and the dunes are truly a sight to behold. Today is a cold, wet, stormy day in the Cape.

As lovely as bature is, so depraved is human nature along this route! This picture shows a sea of impoverished humanity living in shacks made of thrown away cardboard, sheet metal and plastic. I can only imagine the suffering - no warmth, no food, no medicine, no electricity, no sanitation.

God is not pleased by this!

When people ask me why I gave up the aclaim of my teaching post to do the work I do now I need only show them this photograph of Khayelitsha (a Xhosa word meaning 'our new home'). Yesterday I chaired a meeting where we solicited a substantial sum of money (well over a million rand) for this community. The money will be used to create jobs, feed people, offer basic medical care and education. I believe God is pleased with that! That is the work of ministry - establishing justice, equity, and suffieciency through generosity and grace!

Please pray for them, and for me.

A lovely service in Paarl - what I miss about preaching

Megan, Courtney, Liam and I have found a wonderful home at Coronation Ave Methodist Church here in Somerset West. I appreciate our Pastors Philip Buckland and Steven Lottering - I am always encouraged and uplifted by the services they lead.

This morning, however, I preached at the Paarl Methodist Church at the invitation of my friend Angus Kelly - see http://www.gruntle.co.za it was fantastic to be there! I left Somerset West in the dark, and arrived in Paarl in the heave Cape rain! But, it was wonderful! Angus and Heather are blessed with a wonderful congreagation who are hoapitable, welcoming, involved in their Church, and wonderful to worship with.

I realised just how much I miss regular preaching (like I used to do at Bryanston Methodist Church most weeks). I am over the 'numbers' thing. I have served in enough large Churches to know that it is not the size of the congregation that counts, but their sincerity and love for our Lord. Bryanston was blessed with both (numbers and sincere love).

Sure I have been preaching and speaking somewhere every week in the last 3 months... But, there is someting very special about jouneying with a group of people that you know and love. At Bryanston I would think of the people I know, those whom I had visited in their homes (and even some in their places of work), seen in hospital, prayed with, and sought God's direction, help, and wisdom for - that 'Pastoral' background made the messages so much more meaningful. There is a depth to the Gospel that comes to the fore when it is birthed in a real world pastoral context.

That's what I miss... Getting to know people, and searching for God's words of challenge and encouragement for their lives (and mine)... There was an intensity and a depth to my preparation, I longed to hear what God would have me say to them, and then I would enjoy weaving together words and concepts, parables and pictures that would inspire, encourage, challenge, and even rebuke.

I miss that weekly discipline!

iPhone 3G mania in New York... You couldn't make this stuff up!

Yup, I would CERTAINLY join this line! It's worth a week's leave ;-)

You couldn't make this stuff up and it could only happen in New York but engadget is reporting that a line has already started outside the Fifth Avenue Apple Store. The iPhone 3G won't go on sale for a week but there is photo documented proof that at least 10 people are already in line to guarantee they can pick up the new iPhone next week. We haven't heard any word on lines forming near podcast co-host Matt Miller's home in Washington but no one's heard from him for a few days. He usually waits until the night before to camp out for an iPhone though.

Well done guys! You've earned your 'Apple credentials' - the Lord is reserving a special place for you in heaven! As an aside, I can almost guarantee that most of these people are assistants and interns for people like Leo Laporte and Kevin Rose....

WP jou lekka ding!

Western Province Rugby... Whether we win or loose against the Cheetahs today does not truly matter in the big scheme of things... As Thomas Aquinas used to say 'quid ad eternitatum?' [what is it in the face of eternity?]

Victory is not a measure greatnes when you're God's own Rugby team!! ;-)

Today I am going to Newlands in Cape Town again to watch Western Province play the Cheetahs... My father in law (and in love), my daughter, and my friend Pete Grassow - http://rockinthegrass.blogspot.com - are coming along, and today we have the privelage of being in 'the Box'!

update: The outcome of the game was a score of 9 to Western Province and 3 for the Cheetahs. Not the most exciting match in the world (that was last week against the Bulls!), but it was great to be there! Courtney, Pete and my dad enjoyed the box - good food and a good red wine!