The most beautiful race ...

After a 20 hour bus ride over night and the sacrifice of time, money and leaving the family in Joburg, I arrived in the mother city with the beautiful Table Mountain looming majestically over the city. I walked thru the streets, passing the Kasteel and made it to the Good Hope Centre, where my buddy and fellow runner Graham fetched me. A lovely drive to Silvermine, a pleasant meal with the Foxtons and their extended family and then back to Newlands where we slept over. Having strained my hamstring on Wednesday it was stretching, deep heat and much prayer. Imagine not being able to run, although I knew coming that that might be my reality this time. I awoke from a dream that it was 6:08 and I was still in Joburg... but praise the Lord I was still very much in Newlands with the sound of the pa and music already playing from a few blocks up. Dressed, stretched and nervously walked to the start. Lighten up Jono, said my two buds but it was hard. The atmosphere was amazing and I just got to the start in time and in doing so stubbed my foot on the pavement and felt the hamstring jab with pain... Oh well let me start the race, run a km or 2 and turn round and support. My dream wasn't going to happen... but as I ran very slowly and carefully with much prayer I found myself at the 3km mark and just couldnt turn back now. Felt so strong apart from the leg and had to hold back. At about the half way mark the crowds were awesome, the sun was up, and I was still going and passing many ailing runners. Up the hilly section comfortably with crowds shouting, 'go Jonathan!' as our names were largely displayed. If I can keep going slowly, then I should be able to limp to the finish line in time before the terrible cut off gun. Coming into the final stadium section the atmosphere was magical, like so many comrades I had watched, 'go Jonathan, just a few metres to go', the strangers shouted and clapped and finally the finish line! The feeling of accomplishment and joy, the grabbing the medal and the thankyou prayers! So grateful to have run, and yes I could have done it way quicker but there is a next time....
So much of running like the race of life. What a privilege to be running God's race with a personal relationship all the way. How He carries us and does miracles for us. How the crowds cheer and as we approach the finish where the Father waits in glory for us, the great crowd of witnesseses cheer. So many have gone before me. Whether we run in sprinting, or with a limp and clutching our hamstrings, God assures us that by His grace we will make it!
To those of you who have raced a long distance and know what I mean, or those who haven't, the real thing that counts is how are you running the race of life, who with, and will the Father be awaiting you with a smile and reward, or are you off the course only to miss the finish line?
I am living it... the most beautiful race in the world...vasbyt...dont quit!!!!

Vrededorp

For those wanting to walk with us in this journey of Jozi Kidz Mobile, here is the progress. We have been praying and researching the area which is actually called Vrededorp. It was in the 40's a multicultural area but the Nats forceably removed the black folk in the late 40's. Beyers Naude who pastored a church there refused to go along with this and was kicked out of the NG Kerk! Now having driven around it, it is back to multicultural!!! So we could be reaching all kinds of kids. Quite an Islamic community too. Yesterday we checked out the schools and the parks and prayed some more. One of our elders without us knowing, has been looking for a building for a Global Leadership Institute, only to find it in Vrededorp! God is so in this and has drawn us to this area for sure. So we could be coming at this community from many fronts. Our team is going to go and check out a ministry that uses Lego in Potch first and then decide on our approach. Been costing a mobile sound system this morning, and just getting excited. Gabi and Joey both sick today and we sense an attack is on us, so really urge you to pray if you do. More to report soon...

The Irresistible Revolution

That's the name of a very trendy looking covered softback by Shane Claiborne, that i was given for my birthday. Made an interesting and somewhat challenging read. Went from thinking this guy is a flipping communist to you know what he has a point! He certainly challenges the church to what we are doing for and with the money we have, our buildings, vision and many other things that the church allows. Keeps bringing it back to scripture and making you think, so what did Jesus say and mean? Going to give it to my buddy Chris to read and see what he thinks, and I know my buddy Andy Bruce would enjoy it. Landa Cope might have some other ideas. So good for thinking people. If we are Jesus's disciples we have to be challenged to live more like He did and would. Like the Jubilee idea of matching rand for rand to the poor when a church starts a building campaign, and then only if a bigger building is really needed. Think he supports the poor maybe too far, and doesn't look at their own responsibilities, but blames a lot of big reasons. Not so sure macro issues are all that to blame, when individuals need to apply Biblical principles too. Can kind of see two sides and life is complex. Well... on and back to David Watson on discipleship... and I think we are making progress at His People and Jozi kidz

Back to Basics...potential Jozi Kidz Mobile

Having run thru a particular inner city area with the guys on Saturdays, our hearts have been drawn to seeing the area transformed. The Wednesday prayer group of men are talking and praying about some big projects to uplift the area. My focus is obviously the children and I put it to our full time team yesterday. They are all excited and we went there to just look around. A lovely sight awaited us, a park with the backdrop of the city skyline, a school and a bunch of little kids from the community. Now to look at how God wants us to break into the area and what the ministry needs to look like. Time to pray!

Powerful Word... check it out

Yesterday I landed on one of those passages of the Bible that just jumps out as a now word from God. Check it out, I think it was particularly for us at Jozi Kidz but is relevant to anyone too. 2 Chron 15:1-9

1. The Lord is with us when we are with Him- apply that to yourself
2. We are priests to teach the Word and help kids see the True God
3. God allows global and national turmoil to shake people to their need- I don't think we need it as much as other people we know and nations we pray for
4. We must be strong and persevere for our work shall be rewarded.
5. Prophecy encourages- and our kids need a lot of it!
6. We must remove idols from our lives- apply individually
7. We must build up the altar- which I believe is worship- worship must be central to all we do at Jozi Kidz
8. Promise that large numbers will come our way because they will see that God is with us!!!- so prepare