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Month: August 2011

Maandag 29 Aug: Leierskap in `n tyd soos dié

Die grooste revolusie van die laaste dekades was sekerlik die “stil” revolusie wat die individu bemagtig het … Masjiene te kompleks om te verstaan Netwerke te kompleks om te bestuur Organisasies te veeleisend om te bestuur Kliënte te veeleisend om te bevredig… dit is...

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Verder geluister: Joh 3: 1-16

By ‘n onlangse konferensie in Berlyn het Ian Nell en Johan Cilliers saam ‘n “paper” aangebied oor sosiale en religieuse ontwikkelinge in SA. Ian het ‘n breër oorsig gegee deur te kyk na die sogenaamde “reconciliation barometer” van die “Institute for Justice and Reconciliation” en “transformation audit”. In die tweede deel van die artikel (wat hierby aangeheg word) gee Johan ‘n baie insiggewende analise van die NG Kerk as ‘n “case in point”.

 Ian is van oordeel dat Johan se analise op al die gevare dui van ‘n “eng verstaan” van Joh 3:16. Hy dink agter Nikodemus se verhaal sit hierdie selfde “enklawe mentaliteit” en voordat ons nie daarin gaan slaag om hierdie mentaliteit te deurbreek nie, gaan ons sukkel om veral Joh 3:16 geloofwaardig vóór te leef!

(Daar is twee vorige Leesrooster riglyne: Johannes 03_1-17.doc en Johannes 03_1-17.htm - Kyk ook na die Seisoen van Luister PP 2003)

 SEEKING A SAFE HAVEN

The Dutch Reformed Church: a case in point

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Vrydag 19 Aug: Bedien die kerk “flou sop”?

Miskien moet ek nog iets sê oor die hele debat oor die doop. Graag wil ek weer bevestig dat ek ’n oortuigde voorstander van die kinderdoop is . Tog moet ons die volgende byvoeg. Ek dink ons is in die moeilikheid omdat ons ons verbondsteologie goedkoop gemaak het. Is...

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Camino ervarings Ewald Schmidt

Ewald het die Camino gaan stap en sy ervarings vasgele op 'n blog, hierdie is sy voorlaaste inskrywing lees gerus meer oor sy ervarings op die Blog Camino de Sandiago Ek het op my Bucket List die droom gehad om genoeg van die Camino de Santiago te loop, dat ek die...

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Baptism in the Early Church

Baptism in the Early Church – History, Theology, and Liturgy in the first Five Centuries – Everett Ferguson

Reviewer: Marius Nel
Everett Ferguson’s magnus opus is a comprehensive historical study of the doctrine and practice of baptism in the first five centuries of Christianity. Ferguson’s focus is primarily on early Christian literary sources, though he also pays attention to the depictions of baptism (mostly of Jesus) in various art forms, as well as to the architecture of a number of surviving baptismal fonts and baptisteries. He attempts to be as complete as possible for the first three centuries and “representatively comprehensive” for the fourth and fifth centuries (xix). The primary strength of Ferguson’s excellent study is its comprehensive focus on all the available primary literature, while also surveying (chapter 1) and engaging (in numerous footnotes) the relevant secondary literature on baptism.

Part One covers the antecedents to Christian baptism. Ferguson begins with a discussion of Greco-Roman pagan washings for purification and the role of water in the Mystery Religions (chapter 2). He concludes that while the use of water as a means of purification was common in the religious activities of Greeks and Romans it did not fulfill the same religious role as in Christianity (25). Washings for example, were a preliminary preparation for the initiation into the Mystery religions, while it was the center of initiation into the church (29).

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Pastor peer groups

What is required to help congregations grow?

Johan Kotze stuur vir my hierdie interessant artikel oor hoe ons mekaar kan help

A study finds that pastors are more effective leaders when they spend time in Christian community with their peers, writes David L. Odom.

January 18, 2011 | Pastors, denominational officials and lay leaders fret over the numbers — attendance, baptisms, new members and the like. Why do some congregations grow and others decline? What kinds of leadership cultivate thriving congregations? Perhaps more important, what can pastors and their supporters do to cultivate such leadership?

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Mode! Mode! Mode!

In SA is daar meer as 10 miljoen jongmense in die ouderdomsgroep 10-19 jaar. En dít is natuurlik ‘n uiters voordelige en winsgewende mark vir die mode industrie om op in te speel en verhoudings mee te bou.

13-15 jariges in ons land spandeer ‘n gemiddeld van R318.09 van hul eie geld op klere elke maand. En hiermee saam beweer ma’s dat húlle 80% van die kinders in hierdie ouderdomsgroep se klere koop. Dít bevestig net hoeveel geld in huishoudings maandeliks aan klere op tieners spandeer word!

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Maandag 15 Aug: Welvaartsbelasting?

Reaksie op Emeritus Aartsbiskop Desmond Tutu se versoek om “welvaartsbelasting” Graag reageer ek soos volg op onlangse persberigte in die verband. Soos in die geval van biskop Tutu se uitspraak, is dit uiters belangrik dat ook hierdie opmerkings in konteks en as...

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