Pages
Search

Follow me on ResearchGate

Follow me on ResearchGate

Entries by Prof Dion Forster (1891)

Tuesday
Jul222008

Conclusive proof that Benny Hinn performed a 'miracle' according to experts - Hayibo!

A friend tweeted the following story today. It comes from hayibo.com (hayibo is an African word that exclaims surprise, disbelief, and shock).

If ever you were sceptical that Benny Hinn (well known for his hairdo, lovingly called a Hinn-doo) cannot perform miracles, then here's some conclusive, expert, proof!

Benny Hinn performed miracle in Johannesburg say experts

JOHANNESBURG. Religious and scientific experts say there is strong evidence that American televangelist Benny Hinn performed a "genuine verifiable miracle" in Johannesburg on the weekend. According to the experts, Hinn and his colleagues made thousands of dollars disappear from the bank accounts of worshipers, before making the money reappear in offshore accounts.

Hinn's followers say there is nothing supernatural about the movement of funds from South African to American banks, but veteran observers of paranormal events are adamant that a verifiable miraculous event took place.

The miracle was widely publicized over the weekend by News24.com, which reported that Pastor Todd Koontz, one of Hinn's on-stage colleagues, told worshippers that God would turn them into millionaires or billionaires within twenty-four hours if they donated $1,000 by credit card.

According to News24.com, hundreds of worshipers mobbed the stage with their credit cards after Koontz told them that the window of opportunity for the blessing was only two minutes.

This morning investigators from the Vatican, as well as representatives of the scientific community, agreed that a miracle had taken place.

"A fool and his money are easily parted, but this was something special," said head investigator, Cardinal Dante Purgatorio.

Psychologist Gunter Glibb agreed.

"To make that many adults behave in such a profoundly silly manner, to hand over thousands in return for a 120-second shot at being written a cheque by some sort of imaginary heavenly cashier – something more than idiocy, ignorance, naivety and greed was at work here."

The South African organizers of the weekend's gathering could not be reached for comment on the alleged miracle, but hotel staff said that they had last been seen checking out in the early hours of Sunday morning, "giving each other high-fives and lighting cigars with smoldering R200 notes".

Meanwhile journalists at all of South Africa's major media stables are eagerly waiting to hear from any person who became a millionaire or billionaire twenty-four hours after making their donation to Hinn's Miracle Crusade.

According to a leading Johannesburg editor, three worshipers have come forward so far.

"The first two were a couple who got an email from the widow of a Nigerian prince, promising them $200 million if they sent a $500 administration fee," he said.

"Ag shame, they were pretty stoked, and they'd already sent the money, so we didn't say anything."

He said the third had been a Ms Frillypanties Mazakadza, who said she had been given $600 million at work the day after attending the Crusade.

However it was quickly established that this had been a tip at the Harare coffee shop where she works as a waitress.

It pains me that true Christ followers should be lumped in the same boat as people like this...

For those of us who feel, and act, differently to this person. Let us work to display the true healing and transformative power of Christ in the world. Let us feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and spread Christ's love, acceptance, and forgivness through simple acts of sacrifice and witness.

Sunday
Jul202008

Watching the Rugby in style! Go Bokke

Yesterday we watched Rugby in style!

Pity we lost to the Ausies.

Great to be at Dawie and Isebel's place.

Saturday
Jul192008

A lovely afternoon in Kalk bay Harbour

Lovely scenery, good company, and a few minutes to relax. Kalk Bay harbour, Cape Town.

Saturday
Jul192008

Just a gentle little reminder.... Books and more books, and all for a great price!

Yes, I know that this is selfish promotion! But, I'm doing it for the kids... My kids that is! Braces, school fees, food, college fund... ha ha!

Just a gentle little remind that all of my books are for sale! However, they are ALSO for free!! You can download copies of all of my books for FREE here.

But, if you want actual paper copies (aaaahhhh nice to hold, nice to read... ;-) then check out the links below.


    Please click HERE to order my books (or, see the links below). E-Book versions can be purchased at a reduced price from Mobipocket.com (simply follow the link).

Saturday
Jul192008

A rocker is born! Baby superstar with a Mullet second to none!

A few years ago when I was in London I went to the Disney shop and bought my daughter, Courtney, a 'High school musical' microphone. It plays two of the songs from the show, and you can sing along.

Liam absolutely LOVES the Mic!!!!

However, don't you absolutely LOVE Liam's Mullet!? I think it is so cool! It scores at least an 8 on http://www.ratemymullet.com

Well done boy! Dad is proud of you!

Getting ready to watch the Boks play the Ausies in a few hours. Then I am taking a visitor from New Zealand for a drive around the Cape peninsula (Simonstown, Cape Point, Table Mountain etc. etc.)

Friday
Jul182008

Sunset at Strand beach - a ride on my BMW 650GS

All I can say is that it is great to live in the Cape, and it's great great to be back on my bike. My fast is over... So a Kentucky twister at sunset will be just fine!

Friday
Jul182008

Lost enthusiasm... When Methodists used to be called 'enthusiasts'

For the past three years or so I have been doing a little show on Radio Pulpit called 'The ministry and me'. As I've looked back through the topics I've spoken of I am able to see where my own theological leanings are located. I have spoken most frequently of my belief that the core of the Gospel is to establish the Kingdom of God. This was the mission of Jesus Christ (Luke 4:34), and so it should also be the mission of the Church and the response of every sincere Christian disciple. When Jesus speaks of this mission he quotes from the Prophet Isaiah. Jesus himself sees the work of establishing the Kingdom as the work of mercy, justice, generosity, and grace (Luke 4:18-19).


The second most frequently presented topic, which is closely related to the first, is that of passion, enthusiasm, and courage! I have tried my best to encourage ministers and servants of Christ to do their very best to not only do the work of establishing the Kingdom of God, but to do so with passion, excitement, commitment and courage!

My experience is that persons are most frequently persuaded by passion and commitment, rather than learning and facts.

I'm not sure how many know that Methodists were once known as part of a collective called the 'enthusiasts'? In 'A History of Christian Theology: An Introduction' By William Carl Placher I found the little piece of amusing wisdom... Enthusiasts were known for seeing visions, hearing voices and crying out in revival services... Others regarded enthusiasts as those who went to Church too frequently or read their Bibles too often! Ha ha! How the contemporary understanding of the word enthusiasm has changed! In those early years enthusiasm was considered a bad thing....

Today I would venture that the opposite is true... Somehow the contemporary Church lacks a measure of enthusiasm. Contemporary Christians lack enthusiasm for the things that matter... Well, this was just a thought!

"Keep justice, and do righteousness, for My salvation is about to come, and My righteousness to be revealed." Isaiah 56:1

Friday
Jul182008

Happy birthday Mr President! Nelson Mandela is my 'bag' baby!

Today Nelson Mandela turns 90! Happy birthday Mr President! We thank God for your courage and integrity.

Nelson Mandela is my 'bag' (holder) baby.... This is a picture of Gus and Heather's 'plastic bag holder'. Viva Madiba, viva!

Thursday
Jul172008

Seeing the Kingdom of God in imperfect form...

I am something of a perfectionist... Well to be honest I am an idealistic perfectionist!  I often don't do things if I don't think they'll work as they should.  I will hold back on decisions or actions if I think that they may not be perfect.


Today I sat with a friend in my office.  He is a minister of a struggling Church here in Cape Town.  He shared with great passion his love for his people, and his commitment to his ministry.  Yet, the truth is that not everything is perfect.  After he left I thought quite a bit about imperfect Churches...  And imperfect Christians (like myself).  

I know that excellence in ministry is a high ideal!  It is to be praised and celebrated where it can be found.  But maybe, just perhaps, God does not need perfection to work!?  Well, that's no maybe!  God can work through imperfection!

This little quite inspired me.

People must not only hear about the kingdom of God, but must see it in actual operation, on a small scale perhaps and in imperfect form, but a real demonstration nevertheless.

- Pandita Ramabai Indian Christian and reformer

I guess the point is that one should strive for perfection, but act anyway, because God may just use imperfection to display God's gracious Kingdom.

Wednesday
Jul162008

An incorruptible seed - some Kenyan wisdom

Jesus sowed his seed in our hearts, then off he went.... He knew things would not be ideal. There were the birds and the droughts, the weeds and the insects, the parasites and the blights. But there was also the power of the seed itself.

- Joseph G. Donders teacher and chaplain at the University of Nairobi, Kenya

Wednesday
Jul162008

A view of the Helderberg Mountain from my daughter's school

As the title says.... Heck I love living in Somerset West! Another winter's day.

Have a great one!

Tuesday
Jul152008

Rethinking Asimov's 3 laws of robotics - clever machines in a not so clever world.

I love science fiction! I particularly love it when it bears some close semblance to reality (or a possible reality). Isaac Asimov's 3 laws of robotics have been the basis for much contemporary entertainment (the Matrix, I Robot, and HAL 2000 and AI are but a few of the movies that have draw upon his superb thesis on robotics and sentience).

The original laws stated:

  1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
  2. A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
  3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
Sensible stuff... Well, here's something that is quite hilarious! If one watches just one or two episodes of Stark Trek you can see why there was a need to update Asimov's laws! Clearly no self respecting robot would be seen dead (or alive) acting in accordance with the 3 original simplistic laws!

Huh, looks like Isaac Asimov's 3 laws of robotics have been expanded tenfold by the thoughtful Something Awful guys:

# A robot must tip its hat in the presence of a lady human being, except where such a display would be construed as a come-on by a jealous male human being, who then might pose a difficulty to the Third Law.

# A robot may not act in such a fashion as would make dogs obsolete, because dogs are less expensive than robots, and robots should be reserved for science things.

# A robot, when given contradictory orders by two human beings, and assuming those orders do not violate the First Law, must decide which order to follow based on which human being has a deeper voice.

# A robot, specifically a big, wide robot, may not pretend to be a refrigerator and then make a scary noise when a human being opens it.

Asimov's 30 Laws of Robotics [ somethingawful.com, thanks Coop ] from boingboing.net