Biting off more than I can Chomp?

"Noam Chomsky might be the most significant intellectual of the 20th Cent." That's the rap this professor of linguistic and philosophy at MIT gets on just about every book he has ever written. His bread and butter is his theory that the human brain has an innate language faculty and he calls this part of our biological make up 'universal grammar', a theory of principles common to all languages. His book, 'Syntatic Structures' was a "turning point on 20th century linguistics" and "epoch making". When was the last thing I did that was epoch making? I would even settle for a 'turning point'. If your about to click to another blog with some quirky story of how a guys kid fell off the bed, don't. Well, not quite yet. The other thing Chomsky is famous for (and this is what I'm interested in) is as an academic who rigorously criticzed social injustice and state violence. Guess what country he spends most of his time sweating over? That's right, the good old U S of A. Now it needs to be said from the outset, this is not consipricy theory stuff or emotionally charged witch hunts. This is one of the smartest guys in America. His stuff on linguists leaves me completely confused, but his stuff on empire building, power and justice , well . . . .It rocks. Ok, this post is already almost too long for the casual surf, but let me just give you a taste that will hopefully develop you an appetite for a meal of Chomsky. He observes, "If the Nuremberg laws were applied, then every post war (WII) American President would have been hanged." Want to know why? Read some Chomsky. Visit www.chomsky.info Scott

Garden Art

The other day Ben and I went for a wander in Kirstenbosh Botanical Gardens. There are African Sculptures dotted around the place. Here are some of my favourites.

Scott

Magic Shorts

Another year, another Two Oceans. This year I was sporting my new club colours (The Mighty Celtic Harriers) and had a pair of those sexy running shorts (not included in the photo). I was hoping my magic shorts would give me the edge I needed. Instead, they gave me bad chaffing. But hey, I ran the exact same time as last year. At least I'm consistant. Scott

Rock the Chapel

Work in Progress
Enmity

We had our youth social on Friday. It was a band night with 2 home grown groups; "Work in Progress" and "Emnity". Good times my friend, good times. After that we did some singing of our own. It went completely caro of course, but it was worthwhile. Anyone with half a brain knows that a band night for evangelism is one step forward two steps back. But for just pure enjoyment, it's a winner.

How a brothel became a church

Two weeks ago, Mark Dickson preached at church on Joshua Ch 2. It was a ripper. Mark holds the C.S.Lewis Chair of Christian Thought at GWC. I've massaged some of his sermon into a post. I know it's a bit longer than usual, but do yourself a favour and give it a read. Joshua Ch 2 is a great story of rescue and intrigue. Was Rahab’s rescue a result of her quick thinking and ingenuity? Absolutely. But there’s more. Rahab’s rescue was because God had been preparing her heart to receive the good news. (“I know that the Lord has given you this land and a great fear has fallen on all of us . . . We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the red Sea . . When we heard of it our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God of heaven above and on the earth below . . .”) Out of everyone in the city, he picked a hooker. What it boiled down to was that Rahab was given 2 big realizations. 1. What was unfolding around her was the work of the true God 2. And anyone who stands against this God is doomed. Mark got us to ponder how the Kings soldiers managed to find their way to her brothel to look for the spies. Could it be that Rahab herself was the one who sent word to the king after hiding the Israelites? Why would she do that? By her own mouth, Rahab testifies that God had been softening her heart to receive him and his people. By dobbing them in, she could then create a situation where she could ‘rescue’ the spies and win their favor. In that way she would also win the favor of their God. There is no doubt about it, Rahab takes risks. She is full of cheeky gumption and uses every means at her disposal because she wants to be on the right side of God. God’s kingdom was bearing down upon her and she wanted in. It kind of reminds us of that story Jesus told of a man finding treasure in a field. He sees it’s value, and realizes that when compare to his life as it is, he would be a fool not to throw caution to the wind and do whatever he could to buy that field. Of course, there is always risk in that course of action. What if the plan went wrong? (Rahab would certainly die, either by an angry betrayed king or the marauding Israelites.) But as it turns out, Rahab’s house becomes an ark. A brothel becomes a place of rescue. So if God can turn a brothel into a church, what can he do for you? The kingdom of God is also bearing down on us and it is just as urgent as it was for Rahab in the city. Have you taken a risk to make sure you are counted as a friend of God’s and not an enemy? Did you once take that risk (at conversion) but have since been living a life of quiet ease? What risks can you take for the kingdom now?

Scott

Deep

I had a genuinely good experience on friday night. The kind of time that leaves you feeling deeply satisfied, content and full. I got it from spending a few hours in bible study with nine 13 year olds.

The soccer was great, but it was really only after that when I found the buzz. One of the guys, Ben, was so excited to be there with us, he was literally on the edge of his seat all night. We talked about 1 Peter 3:18. Which of course lead us to other questions like, "Did the dinasaurs come before or after Adam and Eve?" and "How did Cain have a family if it was just him and his parents?" (Although the question was asked by Tim in a way I have never encountered it before, "Did Cain do his mum?") But they weren't red herrings or trouble makers, the boys were really concerned about the answers and after we chatted, they left feeling calm and content that their God was trustworthy.

In the 6 or 7 weeks that the group has existed, one guy, Will, has already brought 3 friends. That does good things for my soul. I'm not sure if there is a deep lesson here, but I definately wanted to post it. God is drawing people to Himself despite their age, blindness and leaders who are, at the best of times, jars of clay. And that was more than enough to leave me deeply satisfied.

Scott

The test

The measure of a man's real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out." Thomas McCaulay

Lost

Today was the day I got my voice back. I've been sick for a while, nothing deadly, but just enough to slow me down. But the real killer was that for the first time ever, I fully lost my voice. Now, for someone like me, that's quite a thing. To make it worse, this weekend was our Senior Youth Summer Camp. I was kind of hoping that it would mellow me out, get me to sit and listen better to some of the kids on a bit more of a one to one basis. And you gotta beleive me, I did really try. And a few chats kind of fell into this category. But as a general rule I struggled under my thorn in the flesh. I think that tells you something about me that is a bit sad really. Anyway - it was a top camp. Phumezo was our speaker and considering that he usually gives talks in Xhosa he did a fine job. Not really any photos to speak of I'm afraid. A bit to preoccupied in being sick to get my act together with the camera. But if it helps you visualize, we had a awesome game of sardines and managed to hide about 20 people under a ground level trampoline, we almost killed a neighbours chicken, and I discovered that some of the grade 12 girls are struggling to get dates to their matric dances. Guys? honestly, what is up with that??! I guess I'm going to have to draw them a picture . . . Scott

Out

It's beautiful, isn't it? Serene, romantic, mellow.

The only thing is that qualities like serenity, romance and mellowness can't be imposed upon you. You have to choose them because you want them. That's the whole point.

So when the nuclear power station in the Western Cape is busted and they announce 50 days of rolling blackouts - it's none of those beautiful things. It simply sucks. Not to mention we missed the last CSI for the season.

This is one attempt at a solution. It was one fo the last ones in Cape Town, everywhere is sold out of everything to do with power. I feel like I'm in Beruit in the 80's.

Or Zim . . .now.

Scott

Don't be afaid

I just read one of the best things I've read in a long time. My brother's blog of Saturday the 25th. Read it because it's really good, but also because it's exactly how I feel. I was thinking about just cutting and pasting it to my blog, but that's just nasty. So do yourself a favour and go check it out at http://tubemantravels.blogspot.com Plus, the photo of Bairdy is a hoot (for you locals, he is the guy with the dog) Scott

HELL YES!!!!

On Saturday night, Leights and Kitty went to Moyo. They went for a walk across a moonlit bridge. He asked her if she would. She said yes. They're getting married. We're so happy! Well done guys and here's toa quick and smooth ride to the big day. Scott PS: the 3rd person in the photo is their waitress at Moyo - she's in there for context

The Tree

I didn't get Hayley flowers for Valentines day. In fact, I almost got her nothing. After weeks of thinking I realized I would have been better off spending weeks actually DOING something. Alas, as I was calling restaurants at 9:30pm on the 13th of Feb, some of them actually laughed at me. Humiliated, but not completely crushed, I made a late arvo trip. I came home with a tree. A tree is better than flowers because flowers die real quick. What's the symbolisms there?! No, a tree is permanent. A tree grows. A tree is life. A tree takes time. I figured that's kind of what I wanted to say about us, so I said it with a tree. Scott

Strange night no more

Tim, Chad, Darren, William and Kyle. The first grade 8 men for 2006. And as it turns out my nerves were for nothing! Great indoor soccer, festy great big gatsby with some glow in the dark fizzy drink and a game of brandings with one of those small bouncy balls Chad picked up from the shops. All in all a top start. It's Summer camp this weekend - so looks like we'll go from strength to strength. Scott

Strange Night

Taking a leaf out of my brothers recent post I wish to begin by saying . . ."Tonight's going to be a strange night . . ." I've got my first bible study with the new grade 8 boys. With nothing more than a soccer ball, R15 each for dinner and my trust co leader Joel by my side, we will step out into the unknown (literally, as I dodn't even know their names yet) and try and do this crazy thing called the grade 8 guys BS. I've been doing this for over a decade now, but to be honest, I'm still a little anxious. I'll let you know how it goes. Scott

Welcome Talia

After long hours of much hard work, Jim and Em are now jointed by Talia Joy. Top stuff! Cute kid! Much love. Scott

Monday Morning

Here is the view that greets me when I look out my kitchen window at present. Kinda cool. Scott

Cut and Chat

Order. Routine. Predictablilty. Most of our day to day existense depends on this sort of stuff. When it's taken away it becomes dangerous . . . but exciting. I courted the danger yesterday at Partners Hair Design at Cavendish. For the last 10 years I have cut my own hair. A no. 2 all over will do nicely, thank you very much. But I broke the drought and went to have my hair cut and carefully dishevelled by a professional. When I told my mum she replied - "What hair?!" But I'll ignore those kind of comments for now. I was completely lost from the start. Didn't know where to sit, who to turn to for help. I was in the chair for about 30 seconds when I was invited for a wash. It made my head tingle. Then back to the chair for the cut and chat. Then it was back for a rinse, then back to the chair for a gel. Needless to say I got up to go thinking it was all over about 3 times but I think I managed to fake it pretty well. And even though they didn't have much to work with, they did an outstanding job. There was a weird 'Seven-degrees-of-seperation" factor at work though - the girl who did my hair turned out to be the same one who cut my brothers hair when he was in town over a year ago. Wow. Thanks Dominic. I'll be back. We all need a little more danger in our lives. Scott

Goodbyes

I just read my brothers blog about saying goodbyes at airports. I'm reading him loud and clear (I was there). After 26 hours of less than average air travel I think I put my finger on what's up with that. Saying goodbye is a kind of dying. I'll leave you with that thought. Scott

The Boys

Rich Rich and Scott came over today. Tops to see the boys - seems like almost from another life time. But they- and many others - are still strong in the faith all the way from 1994. It's good that our God is gracious and long suffering. And it's also good that I've still got mates around like this. I'm taking the grade 8 boys at St James this year - could we go this far? I'm hoping so.

Scott

Blood Brothers

When you miss people by a few years, the time is usually spent with catch up. It's all you've got. You missed the moments, you can hear about them, but it's more like Uncle Bob's slide show of the Grand Canyon then a friendship. But not this weekend.

This weekend I felt comforted, strengthened and full of a joy infusion. It wasn't a mile a minute rollercoaster, more like a well prepared meal or a long cigar - or both. I now think I am ready for '06. And I've finally resolved some of those burning questions of life; How much would they have to pay you to have a large horn on your head for the rest of your life, or to become a cyclops? Or if you had 3 wishes, would one of them be to be able to breath underwater and not to get crushed by the pressure becuase you had steel skin?

So a big 'hell yes!' to Benny, Chad, Steve, Ressy and Kenny. And to Gregers, until that day my friend. Thank you brothers. The song below by Bruce doesn't speak exactly to our situation but you will know what I'm getting at.

Scott

We played king of the mountain out on the end
The world come chargin' up the hill, and we were women and men
Now there's so much that time, time and memory fade away
We got our own roads to ride and chances we gotta take
We stood side by side each one fightin' for the other
We said until we died we'd always be blood brothers

Now the hardness of this world slowly grinds your dreams away
Makin' a fool's joke out of the promises we make
And what once seemed black and white turns to so many shades of
gray
We lose ourselves in work to do and bills to pay
And it's a ride, ride, ride, and there ain't much cover
With no one runnin' by your side my blood brother
On through the houses of the dead past those fallen in their
tracks
Always movin' ahead and never lookin' back

Now I don't know how I feel, I don't know how I feel tonight
If I've fallen 'neath the wheel, if I've lost or I've gained
sight
I don't even know why, I don't know why I made this call
Or if any of this matters anymore after all
But the stars are burnin' bright like some mystery uncovered
I'll keep movin' through the dark with you in my heart
My blood brother