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• To whom do you want to entrust your future: The Lord, yourself or Satan?
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More from Diocesan Council
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New members
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Society opens doors
To whom do you want to entrust your future: The Lord, yourself or Satan?
At this time of the year we often find ourselves wondering what the coming year will bring, writes Lawrie Wilmot.
Some things that lie ahead are decided for us, some not; some we look
forward to, some we don’t, some things can be anticipated, while
many others are simply unknown to us. We know that once we are born
anew in Christ, we will be going to be with him in heaven when we die,
and that everything that happens from today until then is within his
knowledge and control. However, there are many areas in our lives where
prior knowledge of events or results would be invaluable, and it is
here that the temptation lies.
For the Christian who is resolute in continuing to trust God, even when
he is apparently not there or doesn’t care, this is no temptation
at all; but for anyone who is not born anew in Christ, or who feels
that God could, or should, reveal more about the future, the temptation
is very real. Why is it that we humans have the desire to know who or
what is going to be coming into, or happening, in our lives'. I believe
that the underlying reason, whatever the desire may relate to, is about
control - just who, or what, is going to control my life and shape my
destiny. The fact about God, whether we know it or not, is that he is
eternally omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent, which means that he
knows all, is all powerful, and is with us all the time.
Notwithstanding all this, however, one of the devil’s most
persuasive thoughts that he planted so devastatingly successfully in
Eve’s mind in the Garden of Eden was, “... you will be like
God” Gen 3:4. This thought has tempted many so successfully down
the ages, unfortunately, because the conclusion our minds so swiftly
come to is that, if we can be like God, we can control our own
lives, deciding our own goals, objectives, and ultimately,
destiny. This is precisely what the many ways of supposedly showing
what lies ahead rely on for,
their attractiveness. The subtle, unspoken message that “If you
do this, or believe that, or follow this ritual, or practice that
discipline, then whatever you want to know will be revealed, and
whatever you want to have will be yours.” It is all lies! God
tells us in his Holy Word, that it is all lies, and forbids us to have
any contact with such things. In fact, he describes all such things,
and the people who practise them, as “detestable”. He
warned his people, the Israelites, that, “because of these
detestable practices, the Lord your God will drive out those nations
before you” Deut 18:9-13.
In what guises do all these ways of supposedly knowing or
determining the future currently appear? Publishers have found that
often all that is needed to revive flagging sales of a book is to use a
new cover and more up-to-date language, while the basic message is the
same.
Bondage to Satan
So too with Satan. He gets people in bondage to him through involvement
in such forbidden things; they publish the books and magazines which
propagate them, change the title or the cover, and update the wording,
and sales continue to climb. I took a walk around three well known book
shops recently; and these are some of the titles I saw:
“Palmistry”, “Horoscopes”, “Love
Horoscopes", “White Magic”, “Astrology by
Numbers”, “Sacred Drumming”,” The Art of Wiccan
Healing”, and packs of Tarot cards. Just about every magazine
aimed at the women’s market will have a horoscope column, as does
our English language daily newspaper here in Port Elizabeth.
How this works
The ways in which these things work fall into two categories: those
that offer direct knowledge of the future, as they see it, and those
that set out rituals by means of which forces, or so-called divine
beings, can be contacted, who will either offer to manipulate the
future for the devotee, or give prior knowledge of it. Horoscopes,
divination, fortune telling, ouiji boards, palmistry and astrology all
fall into the first category; magic (white or black), witchcraft (or
wiccan as it is known in the UK), sacred drumming, seances and
superstitious practices, all fall within the latter. Yes, being
supersticious does supposedly offer a form of control over events. Do
you really think something good will happen if a black cat crosses your
path? How ridiculous! The Bible tells us to avoid all such things
completely, and if we have been, or are, involved with them (reading
our daily ‘What the stars foretell’ column is involvement,
even if we see it all as amusement), to repent of such things, and to renounce both them, and the devil, who is behind them.
We need to know that such things exist. After all, forewarned is
forearmed. But please, don’t become fascinated by them, because
Satan has a way of drawing us away from the pursuit of Godly things, to
involvement with his evil and deceptive ways.
In conclusion, therefore, let's finish where we began. Turn only to the
Lord and his Word for guidance. The Lord reveals to us only those thing
which he in his wisdom knows that we need to know. If he is silent
about something, please continue to trust him. He loves us and wants
the best for us all. Bless you all, and may the Lord continue to guide,
inspire and
empower us all as we walk with him into the future.
More from Diocesan Council
Training for Ministries
David Grobbelaar, making his ‘maiden speech’ at Diocesan
Council representing ‘Training for Ministries’, reported
that a Sunday School
training programme under Sharon Nell had been launched, which covers:
• Child evangelism;
• Child development;
• General skills; and
• Lesson preparation.
He reported that Nicolette Leonard, the youth chaplain, was having
difficulty getting youth leaders together, due to poor attendance at
the meetings. David also reported that the lay ministers’
training under Shane Fraser will be going through a change, due to the
adoption of a new programme devised by Mike McCoy. The key areas
covered are:
• The Bible;
• CPSA Code of Conduct;
• Theology of ministry;
• Anglican ethos; and
• Anglican liturgy.
The course includes knowledge, values, and skill development.
David ended his report by asking that Iindaba publish monthly articles on this portfolio.
NMMU chaplain's report
The report of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU)
chaplain was tabled by Musa Daba, recently appointed University
Chaplain by Bishop Bethlehem. He reported that there was a wide and
plentiful harvest to be reaped at the University, and said his ministry
was not only to Anglicans, and that he was available to all. His
first service there was attended by 70 young people, and the average
Sunday attendance is between 40 and 50. He does not have an office yet,
but, he is working on it!
Trusts Board report
Charles Qoto tabled the Diocesan Trusts Board report. He mentioned that
the transfer of the old St Peter’s Site in South End to the new
owner, Obbligato Property Trust, had not yet been finalised. (The
transfer was successfully made in mid-October - ed). Charles also
reported that the Parsons Vlei Property Development Committee was still
looking at various options. (A presentation to the Archdeacons and
members of the Trusts Board was made by Blueprint Consulting in
mid-October. More on this in the next Iindaba - ed). The Trusts Board
also reported that the NMMU will help to update church property
valuations.
Haven report
The report of the House of Resurrection Haven was tabled in the name of
the matron, Maggie Williams. She reported that in the period May to
August 2005, they had 23 admissions; 14 deaths; 6 discharges; 46 people
counselled; 6 people with HIV counselled; and 53 people trained. She
said that the Haven offered four courses; home-based wellness
management and care; HIV/AIDS in the workplace; HIV/AIDS for social
workers; and HIV/AIDS for peer educators. She reported that the
finances were adequate at present, thanks to funding from the
Department of Health and the National Lottery Fund.
Finance Committee report
The Diocesan Secretary/Treasurer, Keith Rae, presented the Diocesan
Finance Commit-tee proposal for the 2005/2006 Diocesan budget, which
included a 6.53%, increase in the basic clergy stipend from R4 900 per
month to R5 220, with a service bonus increase of 5% from R40 to
R42 per year of service. He reported that the estimated general
expenditure for the new fiscal year would be R6 956 016. Also tabled by
the Finance Committee was the travel allowance, raised from R3 000 per
month to R3 100 per month, an increase of 3.3%. However, this
might need to increase due to the rising price of petrol. The
‘Pink Sheet’ parish accounts were also included in the
report, showing that 26 parishes were up to date with their
assessments; three were 1 – 2 months overdue; three were 2
– 3 months overdue; and nine were more than three months overdue!
Clergy widows serve
Diocesan Council was wonderfully cared for by the people of St
Mark’s – the venue, the tea and eats, and the super lunch.
Among the women helping were Maureen Crosbie, widow of Ken, and Avril
McGrath, widow of Henry. Alwylene Allwright, wife of the rector, was
also there.
New members
We belong - Nomhle Williams (left), a lay minister at St
Ninian’s, handed eight young women their certificates of
membership to the Mary Magdalene organisation.
Society opens doors
When the Anglican Franciscan Third Order met at the end of August, the
international Chapter voted enthusiastically for the inclusion of The
Order of St Francis from the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil as
part of its Province of the Americas.
The meeting was held at the Franciscan International Study Centre in
Canterbury, UK. The Third Order numbers around 3 000 members
world-wide, some 2 200 of them in its European Province. The
Order’s members seek to live out their Christian
discipleship, inspired by the way of St Francis and St Clare of
Assisi.
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