Ok this is a bit different today. Had a customer today that was very upset because I stock emergent church teachings.  While I believe that much of what the emergent church has to say is valuable it has never sold itself as anything but an opportunity to dialogue.  It is not a denomination nor does it have a leader. They encourage thought.  Thinking can't be be bad.  Anyway this customer is praying for my soul as she fears I have been deceived by the antichrist (Brian Mclaren)  Non Christians I may lose you a bit so wont be offended if you tune out.  Although if you have an opinion on any of these topics I would love to hear them and I won't be sending you messages trying to convert you.

1.  What do you understand by the emergent church?

2.  What do you understand by prosperity teaching?

3.  Would you align yourself with any of them? 

4.  Do you think that Brian Mclaren can be seperated from the emergent church?

5.  Would you feel that either of these movements are anti-christian?

6.  Can we learn anything from either of these movements?

7.  If God wants us healthy and rich then why did most of the disciples die martyrs?

Would love to hear your answers.

Please don't read this blog if you are sensitive.  The images are graphic but sadly true.  They are not my own images but come from googling them online.  They tell a story.  It was Youth Day yesterday in South Africa. We celebrated the Soweto Youth Uprising where black South African youth fought to be taught in their own language.

This is Ashley and his family. He used to work in the shop next door to me a few years back.  He did not get to celebrate Youth Day yesterday.  He was shot twice early Friday morning and killed .... for his cell phone (mobile).  To show you how common this is in my office alone in the admin staff Sue's dad was killed in a similar farm attack ten years ago.  Naledi's mom owns a farm down in the Transkei and the Muslim man who runs the trading station was also killed a few weeks ago.  Daniels ex and the mother of his child was shot and killed in 2003.

This is the world famous photo of Hector Peterson.  He was killed in the Soweto uprising in 1976.  Youth were shot at for daring to protest rightfully that they be taught in their own language.  For many years this has been a source of shame for white South Africans.  I was three years old but still I feel shame as it was white policemen who fired.

Well the youth of 1976 can be very proud.  Their children have done this.  Set a man on fire.  Why?  Because he is not a Black South African.  His crime - he is from Mocambique. 

My point is this.  We are all capable of doing extreme bad and extreme good.  We are all capable of doing nothing and being indifferent.  We are all capable of racism (on that note in the interest of equality I would like us to not use the word xenophobia but racism - lets call it what it is).

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.   Martin Luther King

I also have a dream and my dream is that this dream will come true for South Africa.  For all South Africans - Coloureds, Indians, Whites and foreigners.  All those who choose to make this beautiful country home. 

I also want to be judged by the content of my character and not just the colour of my skin.