Reconciliation

December 16th in our country. To many in South Africa, Dec 16th is a day to remember their forefather's promise to keep this day holy. To others it is a day to relax and spend with family.
16 December in South Africa is a public holiday because of a major battle in our history. This year the Nobel Peace prize was awarded to Barack Obama.What he had to say in his acceptance speech about the issues around war and peace is worth considering.
PRESIDENT OBAMA TALKS WAR, PEACE - President Barack Obama evoked the concept of the ''just war'' on Thursday when he accepted his Nobel peace prize, nine days after sending 30000 more US troops into battle in Afghanistan. He promised to use the prize to "reach for the world that ought to be''. President Obama became the first sitting US president in 90 years, and the third ever, to win the prize - some say prematurely. He and his wife, Michelle, whirled through a day filled with Nobel pomp and ceremony. Mr Obama delivered a Nobel acceptance speech that he saw as a treatise on war's use and prevention. "I face the world as it is," he said, refusing to renounce war for his nation or under his leadership, saying that he is obliged to protect and defend the US. "A non-violent movement could not have halted Hitler's armies. Negotiations cannot convince al-Qaeda's leaders to lay down their arms," Mr Obama said. "To say that force is sometimes necessary is not a call to cynicism, it is a recognition of history." The President specified the circumstances in which war is justified: in self-defence, to come to the aid of an invaded nation, or on humanitarian grounds, such as when civilians are slaughtered by their own government, or when civil war threatens to engulf an entire region. "The belief that peace is desirable is rarely enough to achieve it." He also spoke bluntly of the cost of war, saying of the Afghanistan build-up he has just ordered that "some will kill, some will be killed". "No matter how justified, war promises human tragedy.'' Mr Obama emphasised the importance of alternatives to violence, such as diplomacy and tough sanctions, to confront nations such as Iran or North Korea, which defy international demands to halt their nuclear programmes, or those such as Sudan, Congo or Burma, which brutalise their citizens. The US President was in Oslo for only 24 hours and missed the traditional second day of festivities, including a banquet. This miffed some in Norway, but reflects a White House that sees little value in extra pictures of the President, while his poll numbers drop at home, taking an overseas victory lap while thousands of US troops prepare to go to war and millions of Americans remain jobless. In awarding the prize to Mr Obama, the Nobel panel cited his call for a world free of nuclear weapons, for a more engaged US role in combating global warming, for his support of the UN and Multilateral Diplomacy, and for capturing the attention of the world and giving people "hope''. But the Nobel committee made its announcement in October when he was not even nine months on the job, recognising his aspirations more than his achievements. "I am at the beginning, and not the end, of my labours on the world stage," Mr Obama said. "Compared to some of the giants of history who have received this prize, my accomplishments are slight."

Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”

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What precious metal do we read about in Malachi? Malachi 3:3 says:
'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed..
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'
He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire , remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
Submitted by Pastor Robert

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Is this part of prophecy?

MANDELA LEADS GLOBAL ELDERS COALITION TO HALT CLIMATE CHANGE
Please read this in light of the scriptures at the end of the passage.
AFRICA: MANDELA LEADS GLOBAL ELDERS COALITION TO HALT CLIMATE CHANGE (www.allafrica.co.za, 20091102) - As the world prepares for the historic climate change negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark in December, The Elders, a group of eminent global leaders brought together by former South African President, Nelson Mandela, have told world leaders that nothing short of a decisive, ambitious, binding and effective deal would be expected from the meeting. The group said urgent help is also needed for millions of families who are already suffering hunger and hardship, and to reduce the risk of conflict due to the effects of extreme weather patterns linked to climate change. Elders' Chair, Archbishop Desmond Tutu said: "No one is immuned - rich, poor, developed and developing countries. We are all in this together. I will probably be spared the worst effects of climate change but I'm worried for our children's future and for the millions of people who are already being impoverished and displaced." The Elders urged all heads of government to attend the talks in Copenhagen and reach an ambitious, fair, effective and binding agreement in which they agree to a two degree Celsius target as the outer limit of global temperature increase that humankind can tolerate. They also agreed that global greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by at least 50 per cent by 2050 to stop further global warming. The Elders group also agree that the G8 and other industrialised countries must accept their historic responsibility for the vast majority of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, and commit to emissions cuts of 25-40 per cent by 2020, and at least 80 per cent by 2050, relative to levels in 1990, backed by verifiable national action plans. They insisted that the big emerging economies should reduce their emissions through national action plans that are measurable and verifiable. They also want industrialised countries to provide the majority of financial support of at least 100 billion euro a year to help developing countries - particularly the poorest and most vulnerable - to shift to low carbon prosperity and adapt to the damaging effects of climate change that are already taking place. Former Prime Minister of Norway and UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Climate Change, Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, said: "Coming generations expect that today's leaders will see the opportunities and take responsibility for a low-emission, sustainable world. We urge all leaders to take action to safeguard our common future; one that requires a new level of shared commitment, based on common, but differentiated responsibilities."

Please read Psalm 46. We have no need to fear if the mountains disappear or shake and the waters roar. The Lord of Hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.

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Hearts for the Harvest.

Hearts for the Harvest. Checking our spirits.
There are today spirit men (inner man) that are alive in the things of God. Busy kneeling and standing for the things of the kingdom of heaven. We praise God for such but sometimes our spirits gets discouraged and one of three things or more happens.
1. We either get so discouraged in our spirits that we sit there doing nothing even if we know we are called to work for God and even if we are aware that it’s time for harvest.
2. We can even go beyond being discouraged and get so hurt in our spirits that all we do is lie on our spirit beds and tuck ourselves in. We get so ill in the spirit that we only care for the state of our spirit and nothing else seems to matter at that time.
3. We can go further beyond being ill in our spirit and even die a spiritual death, so that as we move around we are completely unaware of the things going on while the enemy is busy causing havoc in the world.
I encourage you today and for the future, be strengthened in the inner man. That you rise up from your spiritual seat and get on with the gifts and calling of God in you. Ephesians 3v16-19 & Ephesians 1v17-23
If you are hurting in your spirit take heart for the Father’s love is there to cause healing in your inner man that you may stand up again with no shame or pain but with the joy of the Lord that gives you strength. Ephesians 3v19 & John 15v11
If your spirit was dead to the things of God, I’m praying that you like Lazarus arise at the call of Jesus Christ and start to shine again for Jesus. May you not be ashamed, but bold knowing that it’s time for you to work in the field, for the harvest is ready. John 11v43
Let’s arise and shine and use our gifts for the Glory of the Kingdom of God!
Thanks to Beatrice Sande/Manyiyo
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Inspiring testimony about God's faithfulness for the small things in our lives. Testimony by Gail.
“Our God is indeed a wonderful Redeemer and Restorer, not only of big things, but also of the small things which He knows are important to us little humans.
About a year ago I was rushing from chapel to get to class on time and somewhere between the church and the school my red pencil case fell out of my basket. When I realized later it was gone I retraced my steps, asked all over the place, to no avail. The pencil case and stationery would not have been such a loss, but inside it was my memory stick, and on the memory stick was not only several years of work, but the photographs of the early months of our baby’s life, which I had not yet developed, or backed up anywhere else – that was a devastating loss! I always carry my memory stick in my handbag, but that particular day was the first time I’d stuffed it into my pencil case in my rush! Apart from the fact that I felt really techno-stupid, I grieved the loss of those memories! I covered all possible bases to find it, but the days became weeks and then months and nothing turned up. I handed the pain to the Lord every time I felt a pang of loss. One morning in September my day unraveled fast when I got a call from school to say the Matric prelim paper my students had already started writing had a printing error on it and I needed to get there immediately. I had a feverish little girl at home who wouldn’t let me out of her sight, so I just rushed up to school with her under one arm and the corrected papers in the other hand, feeling totally unprofessional! As I was returning to my car in the church car park, one of the security guards came careering across in a golf cart, hailing me to stop. My first thought was “Now what have I done wrong?” Imagine my surprise when he said he had something that belonged to me! Yes, the next day he returned to the school reception my red pencil case with my memory stick and every last pen inside! He had picked it up long before, and held on to it, not knowing who it belonged to. That morning I happened to walk across the car park with Abi while he was on his beat, and he recognized us from a more recent photo on the memory stick! Wow! Once again God reminded me that He really does work all things together for the good of those who love Him – even our mistakes! What a faithful God have I!” Read more!

When the Morning Star
Rises in Our Hearts By Francis Frangipane 

It is noble that we should fight for our nation and heroic that we stand against evil. Yet, lest we despair at what seems like slow progress, let us also keep our eyes on the bigger picture. There is a day coming when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Beloved, even before that day of Christ's return, our Father has many spiritual breakthroughs awaiting the overcoming church. He will present to His Son a church radiant, clothed in Christ's character and power.
The Morning Star
The day of the Lord, like the dawning of any calendar day, does not burst forth abruptly. It is not pitch black at 5:59 a.m. and then, suddenly, bright morning the next minute. The night sky gradually recedes, rolling back from the approaching light of day. In the process of time transitioning from night to day, another event occurs: before the dawn breaks, the morning star begins to shine on the eastern horizon. It is a faithful herald of the coming day.
This unique morning "star" is not an actual star at all, it is the planet Venus. In the morning it is situated in our sky above the eastern horizon, appearing at the right place and at the right time to "see" the sun and announce to those in darkness, the day is soon at hand. The morning star is a small, yet brilliant preview of the light which is about to come.
The picture of the morning star serves well the biblical image of what God seeks to do with the true church at the end of the age. Concerning the end times, listen well to Peter’s words:
"So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts" (2 Peter 1:19).
Peter’s statement is weighty, providing inspired vision concerning one dramatic phase of end-time events. Peter speaks of the "morning star" rising in the hearts of God’s people before the Lord returns. Remember, the significance of the morning star is that it appears as a herald while it is still night. It can’t be seen during the day. But here, Peter tells us that before the millennial "day [of the Lord ] dawns," in anticipation of Christ’s return, the morning star shall rise in our hearts!
You see, there is a glory coming for the overcomer at the end of the age. When I say "glory," I mean the living presence of Christ in us will increasingly manifest through us. As Paul wrote, "For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh" (2 Cor. 4:11). 
I am talking about the actual, substantial life of Jesus being "manifested in our mortal flesh." I know some of us are caught up with the issues of our lives, but we need to keep our eyes on the vision of where God is taking us! I also know some will distort what I’m saying. But, simply, at the end of the age, God has purposed to reveal Himself through His people.
So, when we speak of the morning star, we are not referring to some New Age doctrine but the actual spiritual "wattage" of God’s presence increasing. We know that such luminescence does not emanate from ourselves; it comes from our union with the Lord Jesus, and it is worked in us through the Holy Spirit as we grow into full conformity with Christ’s words.
Yet, there is something to heed here. Over and over again, Jesus warned about His followers becoming preoccupied with the world or weary in the battle. Let us remember, it is to those who overcome that Jesus says, "I will give him the morning star" (Rev. 2:28). And then He says that He Himself is the "bright morning star" (Rev. 22:16).
A day is coming before the rapture, before the second coming of Jesus Christ, when those who follow Christ will be positioned, like the morning star - in the right place at the right time - and they will herald Christ’s return. They will come from every nation, people, tribe and tongue, yet they will be one, for Christ will have given them His glory (John 17:22). 

I am not saying we won’t sin; temptation will always be in our world. Yet, if we stay true to Christ, if we don’t allow ourselves to be swallowed up in the cares and issues of this age, a time will come when the presence of the Lord Jesus, like the morning star, will rise and be visibly seen upon us. At that time, the word of Isaiah the prophet shall be fulfilled, which says,
"Arise, shine ; for your light has come, 
And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 
For behold, darkness will cover the earth 
And deep darkness the peoples; 
But the Lord will rise upon you 
And His glory will appear upon you. 
Nations will come to your light, 
And kings to the brightness of your rising."
- Isaiah 60:1-3


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Heavens "call center". This article made me consider the number of "call" (prayers) that our Father receives each day. I am sure that he tells his angels to also treat each call as if it was the most important one and not to close the call early. I would like to hear your comments on this article.

YOUR CALL IS IMPORTANT TO US (www.thestar.co.za, 20091014) – President Jacob Zuma. During the election campaign we committed ourselves to promote effective two-way communication between South Africans and the government. We said we needed to change the way the government relates to the people, not as a slogan but in practical terms. We undertook to stay in touch with the people, listen to their needs and respond. One of the response mechanisms we promised was a presidential hotline, to enable citizens to raise their concerns directly with the Presidency. The launch of the hotline and public liaison service on a pilot basis on September 14 took the government to a new level in terms of communication with the public to improve service delivery. We have found ourselves engaged in an unprecedented, massive conversation with the nation. The hotline got 312 137 calls from people between September 14 and October 8. This excludes faxes and e-mails. My e-mail address, president@po.gov.za, is overflowing. We got 27 000 calls on day one - nearly 2 500 in the first hour, hitting 7 000 by the third hour. This service was clearly long overdue. There are three levels of interaction. The Presidency has 21 hotline and public liaison staff, backed by 50 call centre agents at the State Information Technology Agency (Sita), and 43 public liaison officers in the nine offices of the premiers and the 34 national departments responsible for follow-ups. For the staff, every hour is spent listening, recording, responding and even counselling countless people in distress. Many callers have spent months, even years, trying to get their problems resolved, to no avail. I met the 43 public liaison officers from national departments and provinces as well as the 21 Presidency call centre staff on September 14 and warned them that the work would be emotionally draining. I said they were the face of the government and should project the caring government we want to be. On 6 October I visited the 50 staff members at Sita and shared the message with them as well. They have all handled their work professionally, as evidenced by the letters and e-mails of gratitude we get from citizens who have been helped. The excitement of it all is to see people's problems resolved and to see the frowns turn to smiles. The intention is to introduce a culture of taking people seriously, regardless of their station in life. When citizens call a government department they must be treated with courtesy and be helped as soon as possible. Common queries and complaints relate to housing, and access to water and electricity. There are many inquiries about unemployment, which take the form of requests for help to find jobs or to overturn dismissals as well as to report corrupt practices. There are various inquiries regarding access to grants, special pensions, access to IDs or allegations of corruption in the social grants system - something that the government has been attending to for years. Many young people contact the centre to seek help with outstanding school or university fees. There are also many cases relating to abuse of power by government officials. The service is clearly helpful to people who had no way of ever accessing authority to get help. The hotline staff was contacted late one night to help an elderly woman sleeping on the bench at Moroka Police Station in Soweto. She had nowhere to go. The Department of Social Development was contacted and she was moved to an old-age home the next day. A woman complained about a police station, where she opened a case against a stalker. The police had claimed that it was not a serious matter. After intervention from the presidential call centre, the police are now investigating. As the government we undertook to take cases against women and children seriously and this must be done. A man whose RDP house had been attached by a bank e-mailed the presidential call centre, which negotiated with the bank. The house was about to be auctioned off, but now the family have their home back. The man will pay back the money, and is receiving debt counselling. A man called about burst sewerage pipes in his area - these were fixed a day after his call. Most of the people who call the hotline or send letters want the inquiries to remain confidential. This limits our ability to share our many success stories with the public. The functioning of the presidential call centre is continually being improved on the basis of lessons learnt so far. One of the greatest challenges has been the high volume of calls, which meant that people have not been able to get through. Our technical teams are looking into this. Callers spend at least 20 minutes on the phone explaining their predicament. Our staff has been instructed to treat each call as if it was the only one - they are not allowed to drop callers before the end of the conversation. That reduces the number of calls they can take. The presidential hotline and public liaison service do not replace the existing hotlines and public liaison facilities of departments, provinces or municipalities. It is intended to be used as a last resort where other systems have failed. There are various call centres in the government. They need to be improved to reduce the pressure on the presidential hotline, to enable it to deal with cases that provinces or departments were not responsive to. Among some of its immediate benefits, the presidential hotline has already helped to re-awaken public liaison as a key function across the government. The numerous government departments across all spheres already perform functions similar to those carried out by the new public liaison function at the Presidency, but there was no co-ordination and integration. Now, public liaison officers across the government are beginning to form a strong network, sharing experiences and best practices and working together towards the common goal of making the government more responsive to people's needs. The presidential hotline will also be used for monitoring and evaluation. Through the inquiries and complaints that we get, the government will be able to spot patterns in relation to service delivery problems so as to make more informed decisions about the nature of the interventions required. The long-term solution is that the public service needs to change the way it works, as well as its attitude towards the public. We have started meeting senior public servants to explain our vision and what change we expect. I met school principals in August and the police in September. I will meet various other categories of public servants such as health professionals, social workers, local government practitioners and others. We want them to know that the people come first in everything we do, and we want excellence. There is no place for complacency, cynicism or excuses.

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