My whacked out ideas about Church? As first published on http://paul-barnard.blogspot.com/2010/09/my-whacked-out-ideas-about-church.html

Where did I get my wacked out ideas about Church? About how ministry is suppose to work, about what is important? This week I was amazed at the idea of church I grew up with. No more than, that I was taught in my years in the Church and in seminary.

What happened? I had the privilege to spend this weak with 9 individuals from different parts of the world. Two of us from South Africa(Devon is from Soweto), one from Egypt, one from Ethiopia, one from Nigeria, one from Tanzania. Two from the USA, one from Thailand and one form Germany. What a challenging group? Each one of us from a different denomination and cultural background. But most of all what a amazing spiritual experience! We came together at Mabalingwe, a Game Reserve in the Limpopo to talk and think about the relevancy of church and what is happening in the world. What a glorious experience!
To the horror of the guys from Africa, Germany and Thailand we started talking about everything happening at our churches. One cannot help but to boast a little bit about everything happening at our church even if this boasting is neatly cloaked in holiness. To our disdain they reacted in horror and not in the awe we expected. Instead of praising us they have asked the following questions which I would like to cover the next few weeks.
1. How many of your congregation is really active? – My whacked out idea of congregation!

1.1 What is your understanding of active members?
1.2 Where is the focus of your congregation?
1.3 How do we help our people to be “not relevant?”

1.4 What can we do to make a difference?

2. How do we demonstrate our faith in the community? – My whacked out idea of ministry!

2.1 What do we call ministry?
2.2 How do we as leaders demonstrate this ministry?
2.3 How do we help our people to be “not relevant?”
2.4 What can we do to make a difference?

3. How do we worship? – My whacked out idea of worship!

3.1 What is our aim in worship?
3.2 How much of worship takes place at church?
3.3 How do we help our people to be “not relevant?”
3.4 What can we do to make a difference?

I will try to convey something of the conversations during the following weeks. Feel free to comment and partake in the discussions.

Romeine Reeks

Vir die wat belangstel hier is die skakels na die preke van die Romeine reeks. Jammer dat ek dit nou eers opsit ek weet daar is van julle wat lankal daarvoor vra. Julle is welkom om in gesprek met my te tree oor die preke. Jy kan die preke aflaai by http://paul-barnard.blogspot.com/2010/08/romeine-reeks.html

Die tema van die reeks is “Laat God jou verander. Wil jy?”

Rom 1:1-17 Dr. Paul J Barnard ‘n Kragtige verandering

Rom 3:21-31 Ds. Hannes Theron Waarom verander?

Rom 5:1-11 Dr. Paul J Barnard en Ds. Hannes Theron Vrug van verandering

Rom 6:1-14 Dr. Danie O’Kennedy Dood vir die sonde, maar lewend vir God

Rom 7:1-25 Dr. Paul J Barnard Mense met sonde

Rom 8:1-17 ‘n Ander lewe deur die Gees

Rom 8:31-39 Niks kan my skei van Christus

Rom 10:5-17 Verander vir ander

Rom 12:1-8 Laat God julle verander

Rom 12:9-21 God se liefde verander ons

Rom 14:1-23 Maak die sirkel groter

Rom 15:1-13 Die evangelie is vir alle mense

The morning I met Jesus at the Petrol station. As first published at http://paul-barnard.blogspot.com/2010/08/morning-i-met-jesus-at-petrol-station.html

Today I had to go to a seminar in Belville, on my way there I realised that I need gas urgently. I was on reserve and my motorcycle can only go 20km on the 1litre reserve gas. I took the off ramp to Kuilsrivier hoping to find a Petrol station. I was relieved as I pulled into the station and I was in a bit of a hurry, not wanting to be late for the seminar. The attendant helping me was a man with the name “Happy”. Trying to make small talk I commented on his name, saying Happy are you happy? He looked me straight in the eyes and I was shocked as I saw the sorrow staring back. He softly said “Nee meneer” No sir. I could not help but ask what is wrong. Tears started to whelm up in his eyes and he said even more softly “hulle het my kind doodgemaak laas maand” they killed my son last month. We were staring at one another and as the tears rolled down his face I could feel the warmth as my own tears started to roll down my cheeks. At that moment I was so aware of God’s love for this guy that I got off my motorcycle and gave him a real bear hug. The sobs seems to force themselves out of his body as he was trying to hold back. I took him by the arm and we walked to the station office. We found the owner and as I started to explain what has happened and the fact that I am a Pastor, he interrupted with relief telling me that he is a Christian and how worried he is about Happy. He asked me to talk to Happy, and said we could use his office.

Thus we ended up in the office, me and Happy with the owner serving us Coffee and biscuits. Happy told me about the pain of his loss. How his whole life was brought to a sudden stop. He also told me about his mother and her devotion to God. How she was always praying for him and his brothers. He was the only one who never gave his heart to the Lord, his older Brother who died in Taxi crash knew the Lord. His brother just younger that himself who died at the age of 24 in hospital of a sickness knew the Lord. Their youngest brother who died at the age of 12 of a sickness knew the Lord. His brother two years older than himself, his only living brother knows Christ. He told me that his son did not know Christ and then he started to sob uncontrollably. I was dumbstrucked by his story, a story of pain and suffering which is not unlike the story of many Africans. We sat there for an hour and a half as he spoke. My amazement was growing as I realised that he is building up his story to a point where he wants to give his heart to the Lord. I said nothing,(and this is very difficult for a pastor) he just kept on speaking and speaking. It was as if the pain was draining through his mouth and the best I could do was to keep my mouth shut.

Then suddenly he said “Pastoor ek moet regmaak met God” Pastor I must sort out my life with God. At that moment the Owner of the station stuck his head around the door to ask if we needed anything. I said yes he must join us for a moment. I told him that Happy wants to give his heart to the Lord, Johan the owner was very excited until I told him, that he must help Happy give his heart to the Lord. Johan said, he didn’t know how. I told him and Happy to kneel with me and then told him to lead Happy in the sinners prayer. I explained to them the sinners prayer and then Johan prayed the sinners prayer with Happy. All three of us were overwhelmed and ending up embracing one another. I also explained to Johan that he needed to take Happy under his wing and start a process of discipleship with him.

I now have a appointment with Johan and Happy once a month for a hour and a half to help them on the way ahead in their ministry at the Petrol Station. Johan insisted that I do not pay for my tank of petrol and said that each month when I visit I must make sure the tank is empty. If I help fill their tanks he would fill my bike’s tank.

As I drove off I realised that I met Jesus at the Petrol station He was waiting for me, Happy and Johan. How many times have I missed Him before because I was in just to great a hurry to to talk to people around me.

What do you worship? God or your personality? – as published on http://paul-barnard.blogspot.com/2010/08/what-do-you-worship-god-or-your.html

I generally do not like to generalise but sometimes you can’t help but see some patterns. Our personalities have a major effect on how we experience the world, one another an even God.
Some personalities, lean toward a rules based, black and white theology that allows them to easily decide who is right and wrong and who to fight, who is with them or against them. If you disagree with them, you are their enemy. No you are THEE enemy. But are you their enemy because you are wrong about theology, or because they have subscribed to a theology that helps them feel comfortable within the way they view the world? In other words, is this God’s fight, or their own? If they weren’t Christians, wouldn’t they just manifest their personalities in some other fight, some other black-and-white way of viewing the world? For these people rules define who they are. Control is very, VERY important. In a church service, things(Liturgy) must be done in the correct way and the Sermon must give clear and definite answers.

My Prison Miracle as published on http://paul-barnard.blogspot.com/2010/08/my-prison-miracle.html

While I was still studying theology I worked at the Prison Service in Pretoria during the nights to pay for my studies. I had the wonderful opportunity to work permanent nightshift from 1992-1994. The nightshift started at 22:00 and ended at 06:00 which meant that we had very little contact with the inmates. Me and one of my friends decided that we wanted to share the gospel with those around us. The problem was that the inmates was not interested in talking to the guards and especially not about religion. Then one night we realised that if we were busy talking to one another in hushed voices while standing in the hallways outside the cells, the inmates would press up against the bars to try and listen in on our conversations. We then came up with the idea to move from the one cell to the next standing outside and sharing Romans 5 with one another. We would make turns to tell the other in a hushed excited voice: “I have read the most amazing piece of scripture” Then we would take out a Bible and read Romans 5 in a hushed voice. We could see how inmates where pressing against the bars straining to hear. After finishing we would move to the next cell and start again.

Huweliksvoorbereidings kampe

Huweliksvoorbereiding

Die besluit om te trou is waarskynlik een van die grootste besluite wat ‘n mens neem, aangesien dit twee mense lewenslank aan mekaar verbind. Dit kan een van die wonderlikste ervarings wees of dit kan ’n nagmerrie wees.

Geen huwelik is gewaarborg nie! Ons almal leef met vrae en benoudhede. Daarom is dit belangrik om voor die tyd te gesels oor die belangrike dinge. Deesdae lees ons dat ongeveer 58% van huwelike eindig met egskeiding. Ten minste 15% van die ander is ongelukkig. Iemand het eendag gesê dat as dit so moeilik is om gelukkig getroud te wees dan kry sy die jammer wat ongelukkig getroud is! Dit is genoeg om enige persoon twee keer te laat dink. Goeie kommunikasie en verstaan van mekaar se verwagtings saam met 'n  intieme verhouding met God gee egter hoop. Die Huwelik is God se droom en maak die lewe net soveel meer besonder. Tydens die Huweliksvoorbereidings kamp wil ons saam werk om kwesbaarhede (rooi ligte) te identifiseer en bevredigend deur werk tot albei partye vrede daaroor het.

Daar is ‘n maksimum van 5 paartjies per naweek en die gesprekke vind plaas op ‘n gemaklike manier. Dit is nie net geleenthede waar julle toegespreek word nie, maar waar julle aktief deelneem aan die gesprek.

Ons gaan stilstaan by die volgende

· Die belangrikheid van “commitment”

· Hoe om julle verskille te identifiseer en te waardeer.

· Die kuns van kommunikasie

· Konflik hantering

Die belangrikheid daarvan om tyd saam te spandeer en om julle vriendskap te versorg.

· Om seker te maak die ander voel geliefd

· ‘n Goeie seksuele verhouding

· Om te gesels oor julle drome

1. Kommunikasie. Dit is belangrik dat paartjies die belangrikheid van kommunikasie sal verstaan, maar ook hoe dit deur persoonlikheid, familie geskiedenis en omstandighede beïnvloed word.

2. Commitment. Commitment gaan oor die hart van ‘n huwelik waar paartjies kies om hulle lewens so in te rig dat die ander persoon altyd eerste kom. Dit beteken ook dat daar gekyk word na wat het julle van mekaar nodig.

3. Konflik hantering. Konflik kan ‘n huwelik vernietig of dit kan ‘n huwelik sterk maak. Daar word gekyk hoe woede hanteer word, verskille gevier word, kyk na die soek van oplossings. Daar word ook gekyk na wat vergifnis werklik is.

4. Hou die Liefde lewendig. Hier gaan gekyk word wat nodig is binne julle huwelik sodat julle nader na mekaar kan groei.

5. Gedeelde waardes en lewens doel. Alhoewel die verskille gevier moet word, moet die paartjie doelgerig iewers heen op pad wees. Julle gaan genoeg tyd kry om oor die toekoms te praat tov. Kinders, diere, finansies en geloof.

6. Mediese. Danette hanteer ook die mediese geskiedenis van die paartjies en gee ook meer inligting oor voorbehoedmiddels.

Myers-Briggs Persoonlikheids toets. Voor die naweek gaan jy geleentheid he om die gratis Myers-Briggs persoonlikheid stoets te doen wat ons dan gedurende die naweek gaan hanteer.

Waar: Avondrood

Die foto is van die voorstoep van die huis geneem.

Wanneer: 10-12 September, 1-3 Oktober en 22-24 Oktober

Kostes: R400 pp vir die naweek, ingesluit verblyf, kos en materiaal.

Bespreek gou BEPERKTE aantal plekke beskikbaar

Die Huweliksvoorbereidings kursus is ontwikkel deur Dr’s Paul en Danette Barnard. Hulle het die kursus die afgelope paar jaar in die Kaap aangebied waar dit van krag tot krag gaan.

Paul is voltydse Familiepredikant by Helderberg gemeente en het ook sy Doktorale studies in pastoraat voltooi by Princeton. Danette is ’n Mediese dokter en boonop nog ma van drie woelige seuns.

Vir meer inligting skakel Paul Barnard by 0823749520 of stuur e-pos aan paul@nghelder.co.za

Bikers Egpare Kerk Naweek 24-26 September

Hi almal, hierdie die nuutste info en planne vir die naweek waaroor ons gesels het vir die NG Helderberg Bikers Church uitstappie die naweek van 24 tot 26 September. Die skool sluit daardie Donderdag en die Vrydag is ‘n openbare vakansiedag.
Ek sal nog finale kostes vasmaak, maar dit lyk asof ons sal wegkom met verblyf vir ongeveer R450 per person, insluitende minstens een aandete (skaapbraai en wynproe in Rawsonville reeds vasgemaak en ingesluit). Ek onderhandel nog oor Swellendam se aandete (ek kyk na tradisioneel Portugees) en ontbyt. Ontbyt in Rawsonville sal selfsorg wees… maw koffie en beskuit.
Plekke sal beperk wees tot maksimum 14 mense. Ek sal besprekings neem met deposito van R250 per persoon omdat plekke beperk is en ek 50% moet vooruit betaal. Indien iemand kanselleer nadat deposito reeds betaal is, sal daardie persoon iemand in sy/haar plek moet kry voordat die deposito terugbesorg sal word.

Bevestig asb per e-mail na my met elke bespreking sodat ek kan sekermaak dat daar nog plek beskikbaar is.
Ek het reeds bevestiging van:
· Paul en Danette Barnard;
· Nico en Leonie Taljaard;
· Daar is dus nog net 10 plekke beskikbaar… moenie te lank wag nie. Bespreek vandag nog.
Day 1: Somerset West to Swellendam – 261 km
Het onderhandel tans met Swellengrebel Hotel in Swellendam vir verblyf, aandete en ontbyt. Kyk gerus op die webblad by http://www.swellengrebelhotel.co.za/

Die roete neem ons vanaf die kerk, oor Gordonsbaai, Kleinmond, Hermanus, Stanford, Napier en Bredasdorp na Swellendam. Ons sal in Hermanus by die ou hawe stop vir brunch/middagete, brandstof, bene rek ens.

Day 2: Swellendam to Rawsonville – 319km
Ek het vasgemaak met Danie se swaer in Rawsonville vir die berghuis op die wynplaas Avondrood. Ons het daar verblyf en ook ‘n skaapbraai en wynproe ingesluit in die prys. Kyk gerus na die webblad by http://www.avondrood.co.za/

Ons sal seker nie te vroeg ry nie. Ek voorsien dat ons ontbyt eet, oor Barrydale na Montagu ry en daar stop vir petrol, koffie of tee ens. Volgende ry ons agter die berge na (amper by) Touwsrivier en daarvan agter Matroosberg om na Ceres. Van daar verder na die oornagpunt by Rawsonville.

Dag 3: Rawsonville to Somerset West – 117 km
Die bikers wat nie saamgaan nie vertrek vanaf die kerk gewone tyd en kry ons by die “kerk”. Ons hou kerk by Hoërskool Gimnasium se sportgronde… op die hoofpaviljoen van die rugbyveld of dalk selfs by die taal monument… ek sal nog met die skool bevestig of ons die paviljoen kan gebruik.

Die roete neem ons oor Du Toitskloof pas, deur Paarl na Hoërskool Gimnasium se sportgronde. Ons sal seker ongeveer 9-uur die oggend daar moet wees vir die diens saam met die ander bikers.
Ons ry verder en eet brunch by Simonsig Wine Estate. Vir die wat verder wil ry is daar altyd die pad oor Franschoek, Franschoekpas, Grabouw en Sir Lawry’spas, maar ek dink die passasiers sal dalk by die huis wil kom om nog bietjie skoon te maak en rus.

Groete
Nico Taljaard
ntaljaard@ackermans.co.za
0829056230
0219001049