- The Finnie family in Blighty, December 2021
- Dean and Paula pastor The Gathering together
- The Gathering
- Baptisms at The Gathering
- Preparing to serve at The Gathering's Soup Kitchen
- Soup Kitchen Welcome To 2022 lunch
- Serving hands - the heart of The Gatheirng
- Thankful Thursdays
- HOPE Home Based Care Team
- Gathering Ground
- Staying fit as a family
- The Helderberg - The prettiest of the mountains we face
Occupy St Paul's!
I feel I should make some things clear at the outset. Firstly, I support the Occupy London protest and think it has a very simple and valid message that the City and govt need to listen to.
Neighbourhood Watch CNP Style
It is so exciting to see again two of the HOPE Home Based Care team taking the lead in Chris Nissen in the fight against crime. All of these ladies are loved in the community and we are proud of them. In particular go Anne and go Aunty Poppy!!
After just 4 months, yes 4 months! I have 99% of movement back. The scar is diminishing and the swelling is almost gone. The surgeon reckons it will be a while longer before it's all normal again but he's really happy with my progress.
I've been cycling again for the last three weeks and generally carrying on as if nothing happened and barely notice my wrist anymore.
Ernest Update
Ernest was discharged from Hotties yesterday (Monday) and went home with his family. He was much stronger than he was on Sunday afternoon, sitting up, moving his arms and able to speak a little. Please continue to pray for healing for Ernest.
Here's To The Future!
Bandana Day
Macassar Update
Holiday Time
Dean got to ride with his boys again which they all love and Paula got some well deserved peace and quiet with a good book and cup(s) of coffee.
One of the real joys of this holiday has to be the fact that we park the car on arrival and don't use it again until it's time to go home. Bliss!
Celebration
It was such a privilege to be back in Macassar, even if it was for just one morning.
Celebration Build Up
20 Years Today
On the one hand I can't believe the time has flown so quickly, one has to wonder where it all went. On the other hand it's gone quite slowly as we've done some amazing things in that time, been to some incredible places and met some truly amazing people.
Having spent over heal of our marriage serving in mission has also been fantastic! We met through the Real Life Mission in Sevenoaks way back in 1985
Thankfully as we turn 20 today we're just starting out on another new adventure. Thank you Lord!
Celebration Time!
Come meet with God through a Holy Spirit-filled meeting where the focus will be to draw near to Him.
Please join us if you're in the area or pray for the event and our outreach prior to it if you're not able to join us.
Time To Take Our Ball Back!
On My Way Home
If I've not managed to speak to you during this flying visit to Blighty please don't be offended or take it personally as it's been quite a hectic time with lots of meetings etc.
England's Burning
Alternative Views
There are five alternative ways of viewing blogs though I think the mosaic way is my favourite.
Follow the link to see for yourself: Mosaic View
The Ladies Strike Again....
We love this sort of thing... you only have to flick through the local rag and see your amazing Chris Nissen women doing yet more good work!
We're making the most of the glorious weather by spending lots of time out in the garden having fun with the boys.
Saturday was spent soaking up the lovely sunshine in the garden, teasing Rosie and playing on the junglegym followed by a cracking braai (BBQ) at Chris' house in Macassar. We also invited Chris and Bubbles over which was a lot of fun.
The Day Joel Smuggled His Camera To School
We're also not sure how he got away with taking photos in class without getting caught by the teacher but all credit to the boy for getting away with it!
Here's a few of his efforts involving some of his best friends.
World Cup Fridays
As we gear up for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand all school children in South Africa are allowed to wear rugby tops to school on Fridays.
Joel and Eli were really chuffed to get their Springbok tops this morning as they had been really disappointed having been told in no uncertain terms that football shirts would not be acceptable.
Gardening Bits
Following a difficult week it's lovely to be able to lay the current mess aside and enjoy a beautiful Cape winter's Saturday.
It's also great to have Michael back again working his magic in the garden. Michael is feeling much better after his recent heart attack and everybody including Rosie the dog is delighted to see him again.
Friends In Pain
Peter was a great guy who rarely asked for anything and on the few occasions when he did you knew he was desperate. Peter was part of my men's bible study group in the community and together we spent many many hours trekking around in a vain attempt to obtain his ID book.
The 'cast' is off and now I have to wear a splint for driving etc. but otherwise the Doc wants me to keep exercising and moving the wrist.
So now I have an impressive souvenir that has left my boys speechless which is a very rare thing!
It's great to feel free again even if it feels a little vulnerable.
Something For The Weekend Sir?
Dean + Ice Skating = Trouble
On Wednesday I joined Eli's class as a helping/responsible parent on their ice skating trip to Grand West ice rink. We had a great time and a lot of fun was had by all. Eli took to the ice like the proverbial duck to water and was very pleased with himself. I on the other hand didn't have such a good time of it and came home with a rather splendid souvenir!
Don't Look Back
His main passage was Luke 9: 59-62 "He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.""
International Day Of The African Child
The children were protesting against being forced to learn in Afrikaans, demanding instead (and not unreasonably so) to be educated in their own languages.
Father's Day
The school had gone to town in making the hall look great with muffins, coffee and chocolates galore for the dads. The children performed a great array of pieces from songs and poems to dances and jokes.
All the children did really well but I was particularly proud of my boys!
World Blood Donor Day
When my younger brother was dying from Leukaemia he was often asked "What can I do for you?" His response was always the same "Give blood!"
Blood was literally my brother's lifeline.
To not give is simply selfish! To not give because you're scared of needles or some other rubbish is simply pathetic!
Ask yourself one question. When I'm sick or hurt and need blood, who's going to give it to me?
Miles 4 Smiles Assembly
Dean had the privilege of attending the Miles 4 Smiles assembly at the boys school this morning.
We love how good the school is at getting involved in stuff but the way they get involved in this particular charity is quite amazing. Between the children in this picture they raised just over R34,000 (£3100) which will be used by Operation Smile for corrective surgery for children with cleft palates.
And The Winner Is...
Both boys loved dressing up and Eli went as an Alien who Loves Underpants. He was particularly pleased with his costume, as he got to fulfill a bit of an ambition by wearing a pair of underpants on his head to school. What made it even better for him was the fact that the teachers loved it!
Well it truly paid off for Eli as he was presented with the prize for best book week costume in the junior school.
The World's Clean Again
We remain so thankful to God for His healing work in Eli’s eyes. We have known for a long time that he has been experiencing sight difficulties but had not realised the extent until the first round of testing when he was just 3 years old. It was explained to us that not only does he quite serious myopia but he also had a stigmatism which meant that his retinas were shaped like rugby balls. The odds were truly stacked against him.
Flying Thing
I think it might be a hornet but am not too sure. Whatever it is I was surprised to see it out on a cold winter's morning.
Aunty Poppy
Don't Go Camping Tomorrow!
So Harold Camping and his sect have come up with a convoluted mathematical formula to determine exactly when the day of judgement will be.
For the whole week they were given a 'reading buddy' from a higher year and every time the bell sounded they had to Drop Everything And Read (DEAR), grab their buddy and go for it - how cool is that! Each day there was a quotation competition for the kids to have a go at guessing and winning a prize (Joel was thrilled to win on Thursday when he guessed the quote from Charlotte's Web!) and they also ran an all-week photo competition with various staff and pupils hiding behind their favourite titles!
Exhausted!
Tonight's choice, after mummy had already read the next chapter of Charlie And The Chocolate factory, was Charlie Cook's Favourite Book which is a classic Julia Donaldson tale which goes full circle to end where it began.
Hmmm, think I need to join my boys in the land of nod, accompanied of course by a good book.
Miles for Smiles
Celebrations
Then came the highlight of the week for Eli as Jo had promised to be his bunk buddy one night. Still don’t think Eli can believe that she actually did stay over in his bunk bed – lots of laughs!
Royal Treatment
Helderberg On Fire - Yet Again!
After the horrific fires of two years ago when just about everything on the Hottentots Holland mountains was burnt between Gordon's Bay and Jonkershoek we'd have hoped we might have learnt our lessons. Apparently not!
Word locally is that the Erinvale estate had a 'controlled' fire earlier in the week and today's fire is a result of a flare up from the controlled fire. So much for controlled, if it's true.
I May Be Wrong
I kind of thought that if one genuinely seeks restoration of friendship then one needs to acknowledge that friendship has broken down. If one acknowledges that friendship has broken down one needs to acknowledge that one played a part in that breakdown. If one acknowledges that one had a part to play in that breakdown then one needs to express a degree of sorrow or remorse for their part in that.
Surely then, if one then sits there and claims "I feel I have nothing to apologise for!" then clearly one is not genuinely seeking restoration.
As I say, I may be wrong, but I'm very open to discussing it. Share your thoughts in the comments box below.
Sans Enfants
The high just gets higher as today we're off for two nights without the boys. We're sloping off to our favourite retreat in Pringle Bay whilst the boys will be in the very capable hands of
I'm also looking forward to a meeting on Friday. Whilst it's not a meeting I particularly want it should be a time of laying to rest a lot of the nonsense of the last few months.
To top it all off I've been invited to preach again and am really looking forward to it on Sunday. That'll be twice in a month which is a bit of a novelty.
Bring it on!
Heroes Of The Faith - Pt 3
Let me start by telling you a bit about these guys...
Blog Stuff
After the recent relaunch of the blog and it's integration into Facebook I knew I'd have a better idea of how many folk were reading the blog and roughly where and how the blog was being read.
Tea On The Beach
This is definitely becoming a favourite family activity, but what's not to enjoy about a stunning beach, breathtaking views and one's favourite peeps in the whole wide world to share it all with?
The perfect end to a great day.
Amazing Morning!
This morning was about exactly that as no sermon was planned but folk had been asked to spend time seeking God with a view to sharing this morning. How good it was to see a willing flow of folk bringing some amazing testimonies, words and encouragements. What a joy to hear so much of how God is moving in the lives of folk and extending his kingdom in Mitchell's Plain.
Labour Of Love In Action
If you're in SA and can help, either contact Alfred directly or give me a shout.
The original article in Grabouw Ads can be found here.
-
►
2022
(129)
- Dec (5)
- Nov (8)
- Oct (4)
- Sept (3)
- Aug (5)
- Jul (2)
- Jun (8)
- May (19)
- Apr (44)
- Mar (19)
- Feb (6)
- Jan (6)
-
►
2021
(72)
- Dec (1)
- Nov (5)
- Oct (4)
- Sept (1)
- Aug (6)
- Jul (3)
- Jun (4)
- May (5)
- Apr (26)
- Mar (9)
- Feb (4)
- Jan (4)
-
►
2020
(170)
- Dec (10)
- Nov (1)
- Oct (7)
- Sept (15)
- Aug (20)
- Jul (29)
- Jun (27)
- May (29)
- Apr (23)
- Mar (8)
- Jan (1)
-
►
2017
(59)
- Dec (1)
- Nov (3)
- Oct (5)
- Sept (2)
- Aug (3)
- Jul (7)
- Jun (16)
- May (6)
- Mar (6)
- Feb (4)
- Jan (6)
-
►
2013
(64)
- Dec (7)
- Nov (4)
- Oct (2)
- Sept (4)
- Aug (1)
- Jul (4)
- Jun (6)
- May (3)
- Apr (26)
- Mar (2)
- Feb (1)
- Jan (4)
-
►
2012
(99)
- Dec (9)
- Nov (7)
- Oct (5)
- Sept (5)
- Aug (7)
- Jul (1)
- Jun (6)
- May (16)
- Apr (26)
- Mar (7)
- Feb (3)
- Jan (7)
-
►
2011
(96)
- Dec (9)
- Nov (5)
- Oct (11)
- Sept (4)
- Aug (6)
- Jul (7)
- Jun (7)
- May (9)
- Apr (10)
- Mar (6)
- Feb (4)
- Jan (18)
-
►
2010
(151)
- Dec (17)
- Nov (13)
- Oct (9)
- Sept (10)
- Aug (17)
- Jul (13)
- Jun (16)
- May (14)
- Apr (15)
- Mar (4)
- Feb (10)
- Jan (13)
-
►
2009
(149)
- Dec (20)
- Nov (19)
- Oct (20)
- Sept (17)
- Aug (5)
- Jul (18)
- Jun (19)
- May (13)
- Apr (4)
- Mar (6)
- Feb (5)
- Jan (3)
-
►
2008
(158)
- Dec (22)
- Nov (12)
- Oct (11)
- Sept (10)
- Aug (5)
- Jul (15)
- Jun (11)
- May (17)
- Apr (16)
- Mar (18)
- Feb (8)
- Jan (13)
-
►
2007
(179)
- Dec (12)
- Nov (15)
- Oct (18)
- Sept (21)
- Aug (9)
- Jul (7)
- Jun (16)
- May (10)
- Apr (11)
- Mar (26)
- Feb (17)
- Jan (17)
-
►
2006
(198)
- Dec (24)
- Nov (23)
- Oct (20)
- Sept (6)
- Aug (26)
- Jul (21)
- Jun (8)
- May (16)
- Apr (11)
- Mar (13)
- Feb (14)
- Jan (16)