10 days to go

10 days until the start of the first ever African edition of the World Cup. wow. It seems not that long ago that I landed here in South Africa and here we are are the doorstep of the biggest sporting event in the world.

We are in full swing here with our first AIA Staff arriving on Wednesday of this week! Our opening conference will be in Pretoria starting on Sunday and it will be an incredible time of worship and honor to the Lord as we look to him to equip myself and the other visitors to reach out effectively to the people of SA. I actually will be teaching the time with a guy, Christopher from Zimbabwe, about what its like to share you faith here in Africa. Prayers are welcomed!

Just the other night I attended one of the warm up matches for Bafana Bafana which is the nickname for the South African Men's National Team. The game was interesting as there were 3 goals and all penalties. Bafana won the game 2-1 in thrilling fashion after converting their second penalty. The atmosphere was unlike any I have ever been a part of. Thousands of Vuvuzelas packed the stands and made the most intense noise. I have gotten used to them now but at first they were sooooo annoying.

But as I stood with 80,000 others I thought this is what football should be. the passion. the fun. the fans. the intensity. I leave you with a picture from the game that night. One heck of a packed house in Soccer City(the same stadium where the Final of the World Cup will be).

As this tournament starts I pray you guys can get a great picture through your TVs of what this country is from is poverty to its passion. It is an amazing place.

Enjoy your spring time(most of you) and I will continue to sit her in my hoodie and jeans in a coffee shop where the doors are open but the fire is a blazing right behind me in the fireplace. Winter is mild here but its still here. over and out from the corner of 2nd and 7th in Melville, Johannesburg..

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Slick Rick

So about a month ago I made a purchase of a new car. Well its a 1994 Opel Astra and I have named him Slick Rick. That name just came to me as I just looked at his shiny and robust appearance. Giddy up.

Lets check the specs:
-4-gears plus reverse
-huge unidentified stain on the passenger seat. Maybe Uncle Quibus had an accident.
-JVC Compact Disc player on the rotating menu display. Dont know how to make it stop.
-no heat. Bring a blanket passengers
-no rear defrost
-no AC
-large glove box for those everyday heavy duty bear paw gloves
-missing rear speaker but that is a blessing in disguise as it provides easy drop access in to the trunk(or as South African's call the trunk...the 'boot')

seriously though I am blessed to have this car. Its been good to have it so far as its taken me to many discipleship appointments and Bible Studies. Each time it starts and I hear ol Rick purrrr its a great reminder of those who have given so i can be here having an impact on athletes.

17 days until world cup 2010, 13 days until the WC AIA Opening conference, 10 days until arrival of my dad and sister. holla back

under 30 days

Sometimes in the moments when I feel low and when I feel like asking God where He has been for the past week His Spirit moves in swiftly to surprise me. Such was the case on Monday when I was meeting with another University of Johannesburg soccer player named Dennis. Dennis and I have been hanging out for the past few months and really getting to know one another better.I have hung out with Dennis at his apartment downtown and we have also been on a few adventures trying to get his cell phone fixed. Its been a great couple months of becoming friends and training together as teammates. On Monday we met before training and I shared with Dennis that God has had a plan for His life from the beginning of time. I went on to share that God sent His only Son Jesus to earth to die so that we might know Him and have a living and breathing relationship with Him. Dennis surrendered there with me as all this started to make sense. Dennis was spiritually revived from death as he accepted Christ as the payment for His sin. Dennis now inherits eternal life just as you can if you accept the free gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ.
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We are just under 30 days until the start of the World Cup. Ministry opportunities are flying all around and just today I went around the city of Johannesburg with another stinter Dani Lower to get video footage where we saw the city making last minute preparations to host this amazing event. Check this video below that will get you fired up for the non-stop soccer action beginning next month:

Sermon #2 (click here for link to download)

Last night I had the honor of speaking again at Auckland Park Baptist Church. It was great to be back and see some familiar faces. The part that was really the most powerful about the service wont be found on the audio above but was found after the service. With my talk morphing in to one more about restoration at the end a few of us invited people after the service to confess sin and ask for forgiveness with a fresh approach in walking with God.

There were about 15 people there that came up for that confession and prayer and there was just some raw power unleashed by the Holy Spirit. Most of the people that came up were high school kids from the this school called Furentu which is an track and field specific high school. I was just amazed of the transparency of these young kids especially to open up to me as I was the only white person among them.

Last night was one of those nights where I just feel so called to be here right now. God just met me in the life of David from the teaching and in the brokenness of others that needed prayer. Thank you for your prayers and for the time you take to listen to the message if you do.

preaching: round 2

first off I am sorry for the lack of blogging over the past few weeks. I will be better!

Tomorrow night I will be preaching again at the Auckland Park Baptist church. I will be telling more of my personal journey with the Lord over the past few years of my life. I will be diving in to more of what held me up from truly experiencing God and how when those entanglements were removed I began to see God's true purpose for my life.

I would appreciate your prayers at Noon Eastern Standard Time (I'm preaching at 6pm here) and I will see if I can get the message posted like last time so you can have a listen.