Pentecost - power to change!

This pentecost I have been challenged, once again, that the purpose of faith is to love God, and the purpose of religion is to serve God's will of transforming the world.

This quote from Karl Barth was quite challenging in that regard:

"The Holy Spirit establishes the righteousness of heaven in the midst of the unrighteousness of the earth and will not stop or stay until all that is dead has been brought to life and a new world has come into being." - Karl Barth, from his book The Word of God and the Word of Man

As an undergraduate in Theology at Rhodes University our Systematic Theology Professor (Brian Gaybba, an expert in pneumatology who wrote the book The Spirit of Love) would pray the following liturgical prayer at the start of each lecture:

V - Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.

R - And kindle in them the fire of your love.

V - Send forth your spirit, Lord, and they shall be created.

R - And thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray,

O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of your faithful; grant that in the same Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.

This prayer has often been a source of encouragement and strength when facing challenging tasks and difficult people.  So, today I want to encourage you that we have a task, the task is transformation.  It is a difficult task, but we do not face it alone.  God empowers us by His Spirit, the Spirit of Life, truth and love.

When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.

- Acts 4:31

Let us be filled with God's Spirit that we may have joy in proclaiming God's loving word with boldness.

CVC Media - 1Africa interview for 'Transform your work life'

This video interview was conducted by Xena Lee from 1Africa / CVC Media for our book 'Transform your work life: Turn your ordinary day into an extraordinary calling'.  

Why should you take Jesus to work?  Does God automatically bless Christians in their work life?  How do you share Christ's love in a tough environment?  How can you be a Christian at work without alienating others?

Watch this short video to get some insight into the book, some of the ideas that we discuss and consider in 'Transform your work life' and to get some practical insights and inspiration for your work life.

Transform your work life - turn your ordinary day into an extraordinary calling from Dion Forster on Vimeo.

Thanks for all of the prayers and support!  Let's keep praying that more people will find ways of discovering blessing and becoming a blessing in their work life and their workplace.

The launch of my new book - Transform your work life

Yesterday we launched 'Transform your work life' at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) as part of the Global Day of Prayer 2010 conference. We were in the main ballroom and had about 400 people attending. It was so fantastic to have Megan, Courtney and Liam there! Megie's parents also attended the launch. Ed Silvoso, Brett Johnson, Al Caperna, Steve Johnstone, Graham Power, Anja Morkel and I spoke at the event.

The book has already been selling well! I am humbled and grateful! I believe that we sold over 500 copies during the week (it certainly felt like I signed 500 copies!!!)

It also launches in Malaysia on Sunday! And will soon be available in Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Taiwan, and Indonesia - it is being translated into Indonesian, Chinese and Portogeuse. We are concluding the deals for the US and Brazil. How cool is that!? Thanks so much to everyone who has played a part in this special project please be praying with us!

Look here for the Malaysian copy:

http://canaanland.com.my/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=27449

And here for South Africa:

http://bit.ly/transformwork

God bless, and please keep praying that the message and testimony encourage and help many Christians to find blessing and be a blessing their workplace and their work life!

Methodist Church launches an iPhone app - now that's missional thinking!

The Methodist Church of Britain has just launched an iPhone app - the application is available for free from the iTunes store and works on the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad (in fact the screen grab that you'll see in this post comes from my iPad - I have it expanded to double size to fill the iPad screen).

I think this is a marvelous, missional, idea!  In a context where persons are far more likely to want to structure their encounter with the Christian faith around their available time and location this is just another wonderful means of adding value to people's lives!  Don't get me wrong, I am still convinced that people need community and places of real connection (such as that offered by a local congregation).  But, we have to be honest - in Britain there are fewer persons who will want to make a faith connection through their local Church, than those who may be willing to receive a daily prayer and some reflection upon scripture on their phone (to read wherever they are).

The application is quite simple - it has a 'Spirit' section which has one part that offers prayers chosen from the Methodist prayer book and another section that offers thoughtful reflections upon sections of scripture.  The other part of the application offers news (naturally with a Christian, Methodist, and UK slant).

I think this is a great idea!  It even got some international news coverage!  We need more forward thinking like this in denominations across the world!

Tip of the hat to Thomas for sending me the link about this story at the BBC website.

Do you use a devotional application on your computer or phone?  Do you have any others to recomend?  Do you know of any other Churches or Christian groups that are offering similar outreach tools on creative technology platforms?  I'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback!

Otium Sanctum - Holy Leisure

One of my favourite passtimes is mountainbiking! Heck, I love spending a few hours riding my mountainbike in the mountains around my home - I am particulalry blessed that I live in Cape Town (Somerset West). About 800m from my home we have Lourensford farm - one of the stages of the ABSA Cape Epic. Then we have some magnificent trails in the Helderberg (about 2km from my front door). And, if I want something a little more adventurous my friends and I put our bikes on the racks and drive the 20 minutes to Elgin, Grabouw (Oak Valley or Lebanon) for another two of the Epic stages.

Hills, climbs, downhill, single-track and scenery!

It is a wonderful way to celebrate God's incredible creative power! I also find it to be a great way to connect with guys who would never darken the door of a Church! We can chat, offer one another support and find companionship and meaning for life's journey.

The monks of the 13th century spiritual communities called such activities that mixed praise, service to others, and personal relaxation "otium sanctum" [holy leisure].

This post contains a few picture from my ride on Lourensford this morning with my friends Graham Power (with whom I wrote my new book 'Transform your work life: Turn your ordinary day into an extraordinary calling' see http://bit.ly/transformwork (Graham is the chairman of the Power Group of Companies see http://www.powergrp.co.za and the founder of the Global Day of Prayer http://www.globaldayofprayer.com for details), and Dawie Spangenberg a friend from
Somerset West who runs Central Weighbridge Company.

Good times, good friends, great cycling!

God's beauty in nature! What a sunrise!

This beautiful sunrise scene was what greeted me this morning as I left for a cycle. So beautiful! The Cape has incredible sunrise and sunset scenes at this time of the year!

Lord, I love your work!

The Bible and the Bulls!

In the Bible there is only one thing that should be done with a Bull (Blue bull or other), it should be sacrificed for the Lord!

Ha ha! I'm so looking forward to being at Newlands Rugby Stadium this afternoon to watch the Rugby match between the Stormers and the Blue Bulls!

Are there any Western Province supporters out there!?

Let's hope for a great victory this afternoon!!

Transform your workplace and your work life!

In one of the early George Otis DVD's on Transformation (simply called Transformation) there is a challenging statement made by a pastor in one of the segments.  The pastor says something along the lines of 'One day when I stand before God at my life's end God is not going to ask me how I pastored my Church.  No, God is going to ask me how I pastored my community'.

Of course that is entirely true!  Christians have responsibility not only for the Church and for other Christians, we are sent as salt and light into the world!  

Our responsibility is to bring the love and blessing of Christ to bear on every situation, particularly those most difficult situations of all - bringing Jesus into your work place!  I frequently hear Christians saying that they are afraid, embarrassed, or ill equipped to bring Jesus into their work life and their workplace in a creative and effective manner.  This is not surprising!  So much of what we model about ministry is pointed towards ministry in the Church or through the Church (and of course that has to do with the Church building, its structures and groups). However, one day when you stand before the Lord He will ask you how you loved, cared for and transformed the people and structures that you faced for most of your waking hours each day!  

If you're looking for some fresh and creative ideas with which to carefully and sensitively engage difficult people, challenging situations, or uninterested colleauges then chapter 8 of our book 'Transform your work life:  Turn your ordinary day into an extraordinary calling' is just what you're looking for! In that chapter Graham and I share a practical, effective, means of reaching your colleagues, clients, and of course the company and structures of your work life for Christ and His Kingdom.  The method that we share is simple enough for any person to apply (without needing to have an incredible knowledge of the Bible, Christian theology, or being able to counsel others!)  We share a few testimonies about how people have applied this method to reach individuals and even a whole industry!

Copies of 'Transform your work life:  Turn your ordinary day into an extraordinary calling' are now available online at www.christianrepublic.co.za

Order you copy today and discover how you can transform your ordinary day into an extraordinary calling!

Once you've ordered your copy of 'Transform your work life' pleasevisit our facebook page and share your testimony of how God is using you in your work life. Your story could encourage others to discover the joy and blessing of being used by God in the 9-5 window! Also feel free to share any requests for prayer or help, or interact with the authors.

God bless! Dion

Satire on Sunday Church Services

Yup, I've been to a few of these kinds of services, they simply seem to miss the point!  Watch the video below - it's funny!  But, also quite sad!

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

I am thankful for people like John van de Laar and his ministry 'Sacredise' that helps Churches and Christians to engage effectively in worship that doesn't get stuck 'fluff' and 'performance'.  

Of course I appreciate well directed worship.  I love contemporary music and have often encountered God in such settings.  However, I have an equal affinity for liturgy, silence, and simple worship.  I suppose the point is that it should be about God first, then an encounter between the community and God, and somewhere right towards the bottom of the list should be 'personal taste' in style and music.

(from @Scott McKnight)

Not for sale!

This incredible PSA video (called 'New arrivals')was created by the team from Media Village.  It is so powerful, and a perfect short video to show in your Church or ministry gathering to raise awareness about modern day slavery and human trafficking.  

South Africans, in particular, should pay attention to this important issue - we have heard so many reports of children being kidnapped and sold into sex work in the lead up to the Soccer World Cup.

Well done Shane, Saskia, Graham and Di!

I'd love to hear your feedback, and if you show the video in your Church or Youth gathering please let us have some feedback!

Spotted in the wild! Sharing some personal excitement (and fun).

Forgive me for one more post about my new book 'Transform your work life:  Turn your ordinary day into an extraordinary calling'.  

I just wanted to share a little piece of personal excitement (and family fun) with you!

Before today I had not seen a copy of the book in print!  Yup, that's the truth!  Naturally I had seen the digital proofs, but I had not seen a 'hard cover' copy of the book before today.

I had a meeting with a friend with whom I do some coaching - after the meeting I was walking past Wordsworth bookshop in the Somerset Mall when I thought 'I wonder if they have copies of my book on the shelf'.  So, I walked up to the sales assistant and asked her.  She had a look in her catalogue and sure as you know it, they had a few copies that had arrived just this morning!

So, I picked one up.  I was grinning from ear to ear as she rung up my purchase.  I was looking over the cover, checking the print quality (which is very good by the way!  The book has a hard cover with a gloss colour printed interior!) I handed her my credit card and her eye caught my name, she looked at the book's cover and then asked 'Do you know the author?'  I just smiled and said, 'yup, I've met him before'!  ha ha!  It was very cool.

Well, this evening Megie, Courtney, Liam and I went out for a burger to celebrate the new book and so we stopped in at another book shop (Exclusive Books in the Somerset Mall).  I walked over to the Christian Books section and there it was!  'Transform your work life' spotted in the wild!  So I quickly asked Courtney and Liam to stand in front of the shelf and I snuck a photo with my iPhone.  Another cool memory - take a look at the blue cover just above Courtney's head in the attached photo.

Lastly, I wanted to mention that if you order a copy of the book from Christian Republic you will receive a free leather bound journal!  I'm not sure how long this promotion lasts, so don't miss out!  The price is the same (R109.00, plus R20 counter to counter overnight shipping).

Once you've bought your copy please leave me some feedback on the book.  You can either do so on the discussion section on this blog, or you can join the 'Transform your work life' facebook page.

God bless you!  Please join me in praying that this book will offer encouragement, inspiration and fresh perspectives to Christians in their work life.

Transform your work life is for sale at Christian Republic!

Copies of 'Transform your work life:  Turn your ordinary day into an extraordinary calling' are now available online at www.christianrepublic.co.za

Order you copy today and discover how you can transform your ordinary day into an extraordinary calling!

Once you've ordered your copy of 'Transform your work life' please visit our facebook page and share your testimony of how God is using you in your work life.

Your story could encourage others to discover the joy and blessing of being used by God in the 9-5 window!  

Also feel free to share any requests for prayer or help, or interact with the authors.

God bless! Dion