Back from Moz

According to my watch, today is thursday the 28th of April. I'm on holiday so I haven't really been keeping track of these things. At this moment I am at the Wish Cafe in melville drinking coffee by the embers of a log fire. It is a cold and crisp autumn morning. The sun is shining for a change though and it is quite a nice day.
I'm feeling the cold a bit more than usual because I've just come back from mozambique on Tuesday. After all that scuba diving and snorkeling and beach life I'm feeling a bit too mellow to work.
In fact, I'm feeling a bit too mellow to write this blog. I have the feeling I might flake out halfway through. Besides, I'm not sure what I'm writing about. I have to start work on my assignments soon, but I think I'll go home for that.

Scuba diving on Manta Reef in Tofo (inhambane) was great. We saw a bunch of mantas, including a giant manta, a school of 35 devil rays, a HUGE turtle (which we got within 2m of), a number of large honeycomb morray eels, potato bass, scorpion fish, lion fish, and many schools of other things. the visability was only about 7m but we saw a great deal and it was great to be down there again. I still haven't seen a whale shark, but still hoping. We also did a bunch of free diving and I managed to bruise the tendons on the arch of my left foot pretty badly by using fins that were far too small. Didn't have a choice though - I could never swim that far without fins. (about 800m or more)

anyway, I think I should go home now. I'm bored and kinda sick. Picked up some sort of flu or something and its clogging up my brain.

Sons of Korah is a pretty good band incidentally.
(Psalm 103:1-5 Who will save you)

some lines I wrote last night... title pending

Oh the green lands
The wild fields call my name
Fire-wind begs and beckons
Oh the storm that draws me!
Chasing, wooing, pursuing,
Long-lost lover of loneliness born
Bloods of a feather
The long flight has worn
Carried on lips of a thousand faces
Known by none, yet pursued by all

Lost may see you
In mirror-eyes with rubble-tears
There between fallen towers
Sits the child who dreams no flowers
Yet his sleep is a blessing,
His wake only curse.
Alone he sits and humbly stares
Lower than the beggar or peddler of wares
Alone at birth, alone at nurse,
Alone in the rubble, alone in the hearse

Wild winds called me, told me his name
Wild winds showed me this life's futile game.
Wrenched was my heart and drawn was my hand,
Yet did I not move - He stayed in the sand.
The bones of a multitude, fleshless, diseased
All I wrote was an epitaph,
For the very
Least
Of
These

Isn't God amazing??

Hey all (though I doubt you are very many as yet :P). How is the world doing?
As for me myself and I, this year is going brilliantly.

As if the amazing grace of God wasn't good enough, He has given me so much more. I asked for a job and what did He do? He gave me THREE! :D
I am now an official employee of the university of johannesburg, a reporter, and a private tutor.
My bike was also fixed today, and I have a great friend and brother from YWAM back up here. Gonna have some great times I'm sure :)
Oh yes, I also have a study grant of R50k from the government for this year!
This evening a shop in pretoria e-mailed me asking me to park my bike there so that it can be sold. I have no idea how they benefit, but it is free. Perhaps it draws customers. Anyway, I couldn't get my bike out there so they asked me to e-mail a photo and details of the bike and they said they would advertise it for me!
How awesome is that?
I'm praying that soon I will be able to buy a car and a wee little 250cc to run around with. (Car for road trips)

It is kind of strange that this all happened today.
On saturday night I was out with said friend (from YWAM) and we were talking about how we are blessed to be a blessing and what our tithes should really be doing (tithes go to the house of God right? And He doesn't live in houses made by human hands right?). So I told him I wanted to help one of our mutual friends with her rent as she is living in a really nasty place right now. He agreed that it was a good idea and thinks he would like to help too.
So before my tithe on the study grant would be R5000 for the year... Now I can almost double that!!! She can move into a better place now. :) (Most of my tithe goes to a savings for this kid's education in Malawi though)
As it is her birthday soon, I have decided to go over and present the plan as a birthday present to her this sunday. :D

SUPER stoked!
Being a blessing is just waaaaay awesome hey? :P
Hope all you guys get the chance to do the same.

An e-mail forward that really raised my hackles

MEDIA CENSORSHIP AND PRO-CHOICE HYPOCRISY

It would appear that prayer and the mentioning of God and the terms "killed by abortion" are not allowed in the classifieds. Freedom of the press apparently does not apply to pro-life obituaries.

Every year, since abortion was legalised in South Africa, Africa Christian Action has placed obituary notices in the classified columns of newspapers throughout the country. Many newspapers have included the obituary notice, year by year, without any problem.

Censored

However, the two largest daily newspapers in Cape Town, The Cape Times and The Argus have consistently refused to include the obituary notice. The wording of the apparently offensive obituary notice is as follows: "All babies killed by abortion since 1 February 1997. Africa Christian Action mourns the one million babies whose lives have been tragically cut short since the legalisation of abortion on demand. May God have mercy on South Africa."

Offensive

Several years ago, the Editor of the Cape Argus, Chris Whitfield, refused to place the advertisement in the Deaths column in the classified section, because it "regards this as a space for private messages, one which is used by people to commemorate their loved ones." Whitefield also claimed that the refusal to place the obituary notice was because they "thought it was inappropriate to include such a message amongst those notices placed by grieving families and friends" and that the notice may be "offensive" to some readers. The classifieds department also refused to place the notice under the personal column, because they considered the notice "too controversial".

Hypocrisy

At the time the International Co-ordinator of the Christian Action Network, Taryn Hodgson, pointed out that this was hypocritical of the Cape Times and the Argus as their classifieds regularly contain truly offensive material such as advertisements for "safe and pain free" abortions and strip club and escort agency advertisements. It has been well proven that many of these escort agencies are nothing more than brothels, hubs for drug dealers and some have been shown to be involved in trafficking women from Eastern Europe.

Human Trafficking

The Editor of the Cape Times was also given Affidavit testimonies from young girls straight out of high school who had been lured deceptively by job offers for "Receptionists" and "Trainee Masseuses" and then found themselves trapped in prostitution. Yet the Cape Times and the Argus have continued to allow the exploitative owner of two of these "massage parlors/escort agencies" brothels to deceptively recruit young girls desperate for employment through the "Career Times Classifieds".

All Babies

It was also pointed out that the "births section" often contains a message from Baby City congratulating all parents on the birth of their precious babies. In letters to the Editor and on radio programmes I have asked whether the Argus would refuse an obituary notice to "the unknown soldier" on 11 November, in remembrance of all those soldiers who fell in WW1 and WW2?

Are Babies not Being Killed?

"Is the Argus or the Times suggesting that aborted babies are not real people and therefore not worthy of being listed under their Deaths section?" asks Taryn Hodgson "Are they suggesting that pre-born babies killed by abortion are not 'loved ones'? Relatives of the pre-born babies killed, especially the mothers are indeed grieving now. In fact the Argus and Cape Times have also refused specific obituary notices for named babies of relatives who have been victims of abortion.

Grief

Researchers show that most women who have had an abortion suffer from grief, depression, nightmares and even suicidal thoughts, for many years after the abortion. We want to be able to encourage these women to find healing and forgiveness in Christ.

Freedom of Speech

Freedom of Speech is undermined when newspaper Editors censor obituary notices and refuse to give appropriate media coverage to the hidden holocaust of one million South African babies killed by abortion.

Promises

After the controversy engendered by our radio programmes and media release on the Cape Times and Argus censoring obituary notices for victims of abortion, the Argus Editor, Chris Whitfield, contacted Africa Christian Action and promised that they would be able to place a obituary notice in memory of aborted babies in the personal column.

Too Explicit

However, when Taryn Hodgson of Africa Christian Action attempted to do that this year, the Cape Argus classified personnel stated that the Independent Newspapers finds the wording "too explicit" and that the Advertising Authority Regulations prohibit the use of phrases "babies killed by abortion" and "may God have mercy on South Africa". The Classifieds Advertisement Supervisor further stated that such an "explicitly worded opinion regarding abortion is not allowed in an advert"!

Fabricated Regulations

When the Christian Action Co-ordinator asked to see these requirements in writing, the Classified Advertising consultant was not able to send them to her. On contacting the Association for Communication and Advertising for confirmation that such restrictions exist, they informed her that it would cost R684 to have the wording of the obituary checked by their lawyer!

Missing

When Taryn checked the Advertising Standards Authority website she could not find any regulations pertaining to wording on deaths, or the mention of God.

Dishonest

Considering that other Newspapers in South Africa, such as Die Burger and The Citizen, have had no problem in publishing similar notices commemorating the babies in their Deaths column, it would seem that the Cape Times and Argus personnel were being disingenuous.

Invitation to Debate

The Editors of the Cape Times and Argus were invited to take part in a discussion on Media censorship and pro-choice hypocrisy on Christian Action's weekly Salt and Light Radio program me on Radio Tygerberg, Tuesday night, 1 February at 9pm. However they declined to participate.

Freedom of Religion

Taryn Hodgson, the Co-ordinator of Christian Action, observed that the consistent refusal of the Cape Times and the Argus to place any message in memory of the babies killed by abortion in their classifieds, seemed to be a violation of the Constitutional Right to Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Speech.

Does Abortion Not Result in Death?

She asked: "in saying that babies killed by abortion is an opinion, is Independent Newspapers suggesting that babies killed by abortion are not real people, or are they suggesting that they are not really killed?"

Inconsistent

The Independent Newspapers and ASA regulations seem hypocritical when sexually explicit adverts that objectify women, and advertise women-exploiting brothels, are tolerated daily in the classifieds of these newspapers.

News Blackout

Since Nelson Mandela signed the Abortion on Demand Legislation on 1 February 1997 over one million babies have been killed in South Africa, legally, with tax-payers money. To mark that tragic anniversary the Christian Action Network organised a funeral procession through Cape Town in memory of the one million babies killed by abortion, who have never had a funeral. Marchers carried Christian flags and Crosses and were led by a hearse. A 6m billboard trailer brought up the rear of the march with full colour pictures of pre-born babies and the words Abortion kills babies and "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves" Proverbs 31:8.

March to Parliament

Outside the main gates of Parliament over 120 Christians, including numerous pastors from different denominations, and 2 members of Parliament, prayed the Psalms, Prayers of National Repentance and a Scriptural Imprecatory Prayer Proclamation. Participants at the Prayer Rally called on the nation and government leaders to Repent of the national sin of abortion and warned of God's Judgment if they do not Repent. A woman who had had an abortion testified at the Prayer Rally about the terrible psychological after-effects caused by her abortion, but also of the forgiveness and healing she had found through Repentance and Faith in Jesus Christ.

Countrywide Actions for Life

On Sunday numerous congregations observed 30 January as Sanctity Life Sunday. Other pro-life demonstrations and Prayer rallies have been held throughout the country, including in Boksburg, Potgietersrus, Durban and East London. Yet, this tragic landmark of over one million babies being killed by abortion was completely ignored by the Cape Times and Argus newspapers.

Pro-Abortion Journalism

Some years ago, after I had been interviewed by a journalist concerning the bombing of our mission station in Sudan, I asked: "Why is it that the Argus continually publishes pro-abortion articles, and ignores pro-life events, such as the Life Chains and the National Day of Repentance?"

The answer was astounding: "Well, we're pro-choice."

"Yes, I understand that, but surely it is your intention to report events and present the facts, without fear or favour, from both sides?"

She smiled and shrugged her shoulders: "Well, I'm pro-choice. Every journalist that I know is pro-choice, and, well, I guess, we are just biased!" she grinned broadly.

That was a remarkable honest statement, but there is no doubt that most of the print media is pro-abortion.

Double Standards

That may not be much of a surprise to anyone. However, what is a surprise to us is that those who condemn censorship and hypocrisy could be so blatantly guilty of censorship and hypocritical double standards.

Dr. Peter Hammond

Frontline Fellowship

P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725

Cape Town South Africa

Tel: 021-689-4480

Email: https://studentmail.uj.ac.za/owa/UrlBlockedError.aspx

Website: https://studentmail.uj.ac.za/owa/UrlBlockedError.aspx

quotes by R.L.Stevenson from his work "virginibus puerisque"

'(of hope and faith) In the first, he expects an angel for a wife; in the last, he knows that she is like himself- erring, thoughtless, and untrue; but like himself also, filled with a struggling radiancy of better things, and adorned with ineffective qualities'

'And yet, when all has been said, the man who should hold back from marriage is in the same case with him who runs away from battle. To avoid an occasion for our virtues is a worse degree of failure than to push forward pluckily and make a fall'

'that doctrine of the excellence of women, however chivalrous, is cowardly as well as false. It is better to face the fact, and know, when you marry, that you take into your life a creature of equal, if of unlike, frailties; whose weak human heart beats no more tunefully than yours'

Acryllic pallette knife painting I got this morning

Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you!

funny story

Right. So I was just sitting and thinking, and I remembered this little indian guy on the plane coming up. He was probably in his late thirties but quite short. He sat next to me on the flight, occupying the middle seat. He was very nervous and fidgeted all the time, particularly during take off and landing. When we landed he held his head in his hands and appeared to be praying quite fervently.
I found this sort of amusing, but I wouldn't, most likely, have remembered it if it was not for the... Incident... On the ground.

As we were walking into the terminal, I was following fairly close behind him when he suddenly pauses mid-stride. I nearly. Walked into him. As he paused he bent slightly forward, clearly not aware that I was a few centimeters behind him, and let rip a rather loud, high-pitched fart and then proceeded on his merry way.

I found this really funny, but that may just be my lavatorial mind. :P