Reaching men for Jesus isn’t only a dream of mine…

Reaching women is equally important! However, we must work with what we’ve been given, and God has given me a burning passion to, a) see men saved, b) see these men walking consistently with the Lord and being the husband, father, brother and friend that God designed them to be.

Tall order… nah, not if you know that God is anointing you for the task!

So let me begin; those of you who know me, know that I’m not your stereo-typical pastor, I don’t fit the mould that some have of pastors. I’m a bit down to earth and a bit like a hard boiled fruit sweet; hard on the outside but with a sweet, soft centre! It’s a combination that I believe makes me very useful to God as He seeks to grow His Kingdom through reaching men and, in turn, their families.

When I arrived in South Africa, I felt a growing passion to reach men but the early days weren’t the time that the Lord wanted to release me for such a pursuit – it was a time to build me. Now I find myself at the Jordan River with God, about to enter the Promised Land.

Last year (November) God made a way for me to visit the UK and meet up with a guy called Carl Beech, the international director of a group called CVM (Christian Vision for Men), http://www.cvm.org.uk/index.php

CVM are having a massive impact in the UK and now around the world; they are seeing men reached with the gospel message. Lives are being changed globally. How exciting is that?!

When I met with Carl we discussed my dream of being used by God to impact guys in South Africa with the gospel message. Carl, like me, was very excited about this possibility. Since then God has been leading us to embark upon launching CVM SA. The main aim of this group will be to take new ground for the Kingdom of God in South Africa with respect to men. There is a lot of work to be done in setting up such an active group, and I trust the Lord to provide all the wisdom, resources, and finances to make it happen.

My next step is to look at setting up the organisation, share the vision with others around the country, and get on with the task of resourcing local churches to reach men for God.

I’ve been invited to go back to the UK in late June 2012, to spend time with Carl and the team, to learn from them and to be further equipped to make this exciting ministry a success here in South Africa.

God is the enabler, the anointer and the provider. If you would like more information about CVM SA or feel that you would like to support this ministry to men in South Africa, both financially and through prayer, or with your own time and skills, please make contact with me. You can do so through facebook or you can email me directly at mlk307@gmail.com

Please share this post with family and friends.

God bless you and thank you for your time.

Mark Knight

ANC 100 years old...

So, yesterday was the day that the African National Congress (ANC) celebrated 100 years as a movement for the people.
Many have thought that such a big party/celebration was in poor taste with so many people in South Africa having to struggle with well below the acceptable living standards for such at time as this.
However, I don't today want to add to the many voices that have already spoken about such a thing.
What I want to ask is what are the ruling party thinking today, having seen thousands of people gather for the song and dance and then leave when President Jacob Zuma addressed those assembled?

100 years ago, a group of good, solid men and women got together to fight against injustices in South Africa - they got together to fight for the people - to become a movement for the people. Is the modern day ANC still a movement for the people? If so, why would the thousands present at yesterdays celebration feel the need to leave when the head of this movement stood up to share a message that spoke of the victories of the past and the plans for the ANC's future?

I say, congratulations to the ANC, particularly to those who worked tirelessly and even gave their lives for the people of South Africa. My hope and prayer is that, as a ruling party, the ANC will return to the days when they really worked to improve the lives of those living in this great country.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Politics/1000s-leave-stadium-before-end-of-Zumas-speech-20120108

80's ...

Last week we had an 80's party at church as a kind of pre-Christmas celebration!
We all dressed up and had loads of 80's music - it was great!

Sadly I was sick, so I only got to enjoy part of the evening - Today I'm thinking about the music, one of the cd's we used is playing in the background. Wow, some of the music was great! Some not!!

Things have changed so much just in twenty or thirty years - makes me think about how we can be relevant as the church today - if trends and fashions etc have changed so much in such a short time - shouldn't we be thinking about how we need to change the way we share the gospel, so that we are relevant today and not just like an old record from the past!

80's music still rocks!

Cool quotes...

Being male is a matter of birth; being a man is a matter of choice (Edwin Louis Cole)

When I think of God I think of a song...

We watched a Rob Bell Nooma message today as part of our service. The message was entitled "Rhythm", (nooma 11 - Rhythm)

In classic Rob Bell style, he asks some rather thought provoking, conversation starting questions. Which lead for a great group discussion in our fellowship.

The central thought that Rob is putting out is that when he thinks about God, he thinks about a beautiful song.
A song that's been playing for centuries, one that we are invited to be a part of, to be in tune with.

The early church was often called "The Way"; with Rob's thinking, might it have been described as the song?

The song is life under God's direction - His design, we see it in bodily form in the person of Jesus.
We see it as we see Jesus live out compassion, love, self giving and so on.

We can relate to the traits that Jesus lived out - we can see such traits lived out and practised in our world today.
If we choose, as Children of God to live out such traits, we are in tune with the song - we are living according to the way - we are living in relationship with the Almighty God.

I enjoyed Rob's picture and use of a progressively growing orchestra - it reminds me that we all enter the song at different times in life with different instruments (gifts) and we all help to enhance (not change) the beautiful song.

Lindiwe Mazibuko elected DA parliamentary leader

I first spoke about Lindiwe Mazibuko back when the country were having the national elections. She really impressed me with her desire to see this country go forward.

Today I'm excited to hear that her career within the DA (Democratic Alliance) continues to advance.

Could this exciting young lady be president of this great country one day - I hope so.

Congratulations Lindiwe Mazibuko on being elected the DA's parliamentary leader.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2011/10/27/lindiwe-mazibuko-elected-da-parliamentary-leader

Gaddafi was 'killed in crossfire'...

I can't celebrate the death of a man - all I can do is wish for commonsense for those who lead countries. If the people you are elected to represent want you to stand down, save lives, one's own life included and let the people elect a new leader. Gaddafi could be alive now, and so could many others if he had done so.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15397812

Blackberry or Gooseberry, I'm not sure...

So, today is day three of the popular Blackberry Internet outage!

And I'm growing more and more disappointed! You don't realises how much you use the service until its gone.

I know many people are now considering alternatives like Apple and Android phones; but living in South Africa, a developing nation, we don't have free Internet for mobiles or even cheap Internet for mobiles. Blackberry has brought services to countries like South Africa that only the privileged West have been able to enjoy.

I'm gutted that the service is down, and trusting that RIM (Research In Motion), will get it sorted soon.

"What did the one BBM user say to the other? Nothing."

So SABC haven't put up there TV licence fees...

So SABC haven't put up there TV licence fees

And I wonder why?

Once again SABC failed its viewers!

Last night my wife and I tuned in to watch the latest episode of the Good Wife, only to find last weeks episode being re-run!

On top of that - one of my favorite shows, "Top Gear" has just finished its last season. To my surprise SABC have chosen to repeat the whole season back to back!

So rather then not putting up license fees, maybe they should consider giving us a refund!!

Buy South African...

Buy South African. The sentiment is fine, but come on...
Zwelinzima Vavi of the Congress of South African Trade Unions was on the news last night getting all in a tiss over the arrival of Walmart to our land.

COSATU believe that Walmart will source their products from outside the country and that this shouldn't be allowed.
I would love to buy South African products, but local is more expensive, and with the regular strikes COSATU members take, no company like Walmart are going to rely on local manufacturing to source their products - can you blame them?

MY ACTUAL QUESTION IS: WHERE DO THE LEADERS OF COSATU BUY THEIR TELEVISIONS, KITCHEN APPLIANCES ETC?

I expect from the store 'Game', (in other words, WALMART)!!

The football season has begun....

So, as the football season starts both in the UK and here in South Africa; our local news has our national team coach (Pitso Mosimane), upset that some of his first choice players are having to play three competitive club games a week!!

Oh dear, those poor, over-paid-players - 360 minutes a week spent doing the job they're paid for!!

Get real will ya!

R.I.P. Arsenal...

Manchester United yesterday routed Arsenal 8-2.

It was Arsenal's heaviest defeat since 1896, when Loughborough Town inflicted a record 8-0 loss, United's biggest victory since an 8-1 win at Nottingham Forest in 1999 and their greatest at Old Trafford since routing Ipswich Town 9-0 in 1995.

It's easy to ask, 'is this the beginning of the end for Arsenal'?

But, I wouldn't write them of just yet!

What an amazing game to watch though - the first half particularly; Man U where on fire!

Delicious delights…

 

Why can’t we have a nice doner kebab restaurant in J’bay!

Ripped off…

 

Why do motorbike batteries last for such a short time!

For the past few months I've been riding my pop-around-town scooter and noticing electrical things starting to give up on me. First it was the electrical start, which was fine because I could kick-start it.

But now my indicators have started to stick in the illuminated position whenever I’ve tried to use them!

A friend of mine who knows a great deal more about bikes then I do, showed me that its my dying battery that’s the issue – I never knew, when I decided to purchase a bike that the battery life is shorter then such things as the brake pads – can you believe it!

R400.00 later and the bike is purring again!

Can you Adam-and-Eve it?

 

My garden of Eden is growing at quite a rate. I purchased a Ryobi Hedge trimmer to start taking control of some of my giant shrubs.

To my dismay I found that my new electric trimmer has a two pin plug and about a 15cm (6 inch) lead!

What a complete joke!

And now I have to either cut the plug of and replace with a standard plug (to do so means I loose my warranty), or I must purchase a special extension lead!

To the owners of the company Ryobi: You’re aving a bubble bath mate!