KGOMOTSO - COMFORT & MERCY - MEN I MET TODAY IN CBD JOHANNESBURG

MR BHARAT - COBBLER 

PROTESTER: PARLIAMENT CAPE TOWN

FRIEND OF MY GARDENER

All of these men had an influence on my life in the past. Mr Bharat is a cobbler in a shopping centre in the basement of the luxurious centre. He is always friendly although I have not brought him any business at all. The protester I met outside Parliament in Cape Town protesting a certain cause. The friend of my gardener came to visit his friend when I took the photograph.

And today I met two other gentlemen in the CBD of Johannesburg that were a real blessing to me: The first guy was a humble parking assistant with the name of MERCY. Can you imagine to have mercy on the streets of Johannesburg, in the news it is a very violent city. And yet, here I met MERCY with a big humble smile attending my car while I was away doing my business at the Master of the High Court. 

Kgomotso sat next to me patiently waiting our turn to state our matter in front of the official. And we got chatting. He tells he cannot understand why people are atheists. He said: "Just look at a mountain. Can a man make it? No, he can't. Only God can do that." And he prays for his children telling them to walk the narrow path following Christ Jesus.

I was greatly comforted and had mercy coming my way in this very violent city of Johannesburg South Africa. 

I have to confess that I did not take photographs of either Mercy or Kgomotso. I do apologize to both Kgomotso and Mercy for not taking their photos. Will you keep these two guys in your thoughts and prayers please? Come to think of it, don'f forget the other three whose photos are published.

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WHAT DOES SARA WESSLIN AND HANNAH OF THE BIBLE HAVE IN COMMON?

SARA WESSLIN  

She is Skolt Sami a journalist and listed among the world's 100 most influential women. There are about 1200 Skolt Sámi living in the border areas between Finland, Russia and Norway. Not all speak the language. And she is actively pursuing to save her language from extinction. If you want to read about her click on this link. 

Hannah of the Bible was also a lonely women and barren at that. And that is the common thread between Sara Wesslin and Hannah: they are the lone ones not accepting their fate in life. Hannah started to pray. And the priest of the time thought that she was a drunkard and held her in contempt. But God in heaven did not think so and heard her cry and answered it. The prophet Samuel was born. There is a fascinating story written specially for you and me in the Bible: Read it in 1 Samuel chapter 3 and 4:1. See what happened. Before Samuel was born, the word of God was not heard often in the land. When he was born, things changed for the better. I encourage you to read it. If you don't have a Bible I really encourage you to go out and buy one and start reading it; therefore I am not going to provide you with a link to the Bible passage but earnestly encouraging you to get your own copy of the Bible.  

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NEW YEAR, NEW DECADE WAITING FOR US 2020: GRAPHIC IMAGES: WARNING

THE SAME MESSAGE FROM LAST DECADE?

NO - NOT SO! 

IT'S FOR 2020

I am still planting flowers and vegetables and tending my 5 hens for their eggs. Yes, they give me 4 - 5 eggs per day. I have just harvested just enough beans for supper tonight. My own homegrown beans from our garden. And I have legal work to do - I am still useful and required by clients to assist them with their legal problems. And I have not lost faith in Christ Jesus as my Savior and Lord of my life. 

I ended the past decade by visiting my friend - this friendship started 1966 in Roodepoort, Transvaal, South Africa. He now lives in Bethulie, Freestate, South Africa. My eldest daughter and I visited Johnny and his wife and had lunch with them. She is a good cook. His church needs a lot of tender loving care and I am in touch with his church leadership about it. You are right. I became an activist for better living conditions.

The Methodist Church, Kruger Street, Bethulie in need of repairs.

A refugee client of mine suffered a major setback - it seems as if his was attacked and his throat slit as well as his wrists. He is surviving. This is what he looked like when they found him

This is what he looked like on Christmas Day when they found him.

No, the sad story does not end there. It turned out beautifully. Look at his birthday party in hospital. He is alive and getting there.

His birthday party in Hospital.

Yes, I have enough things that will keep me crying all the time. And enough to cause me to loose my faith in the living Christ Jesus. I have, however chosen Him and He is my Creator and Savoir.

I have created a Blue Monster from cardboard boxes. A fun project.

The blue monster completed.

Let us continue to worship and follow Jesus Christ. 

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THE CHRISTMAS STORY - ANIMATED BY MIHAIL ALDASHIN ROZHDESTVO

UNITED NATIONS - WORLD'S PEACE KEEPING FORCE

There are hundreds of animations on YouTube available. And more so with the Christmas theme of Christ being born in Bethlehem.

One of the best I have seen is by this Russian artist Mikhail Aldashin Rozhdestvo - and I give him all the credit I can muster for his wonderful creative spirit and I ask you to join me enjoying his viewpoint by clicking on this link.

Of course you cannot watch this YouTube video without having read the story of the birth of Christ in the Scriptures at the Gospel according to Matthew at chapters 1 - 2, Luke chapter 1 and then about the peace the He brought into this world. Not the peace the world gives, but His peace which is materially different from the world's peace idea - please click on this link for the story in Matthew. You will see it starts off with a genealogy of Christ - I suggest that each one of us can relate to this list because each of us have some relatives that are not to be too proud about. Nevertheless, He was born into this world for me and for you. I have accepted Him as my Saviour and I trust that you have as well, alternative please consider making Him your King and Lord. If you have for some reason shrugged Him off your life, please consider inviting Him again.

May you have a blessed Christmas.

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SIYA KOLISI - ALL IT TAKES IS ONE PERSON TO RESTORE HOPE

All it takes is one person to restore hope! Wow! Do you believe that? I do.

SIYA KOLISI - SPRINGBOK CAPTAIN 2019

This is the message I got from our South African Springbok Captain during 2019 - it was one teached in his school that got thru to Siya. And as Siya says: "You must say yes to God. And then things will happen to you." Listen to his story by clicking on this link.

He tells his story with such humility and honesty and that is striking. When he grew up in Port Elizabeth, all his childhood heroes were drug lords and other criminals. He saw his dad physically abusing his mother. He was taken under his grandmother's wing and when he was hungry she would give him sugar water to drink. After that he went to bed and "pissed" his bed; then granny would give him a hiding. When he went to a certain school he received socks and his very own bed. How proud he was of these things whereas other boys took it for granted. He said God chose him and he said yes to God. One person at a time in his life made all the difference.

Are you making a difference in peoples lives. I am sure you do. Please tell me about it by writing me an e-letter at my e-mail address: neelscoertse@wirelessza.co.za

I would appreciate it to hear from you.

God bless and keep on making a difference in peoples lives.

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EQUATING WEALTH WITH VIRTUE IS A VERY BAD IDEA

The Chapel at Bishops Cape Town

Photo credit: News24 dated 21 October 2019

Interesting heading not so? One would think that virtue and wealth go hand in hand. The one flowing from the other. Not so! Far from it. Why do I say so? There is a very sad but true story that underscores the heading that to equate wealth the virtue is a very bad idea. It all started at the very wealthy and posh school in Cape Town called Bishops. A young teacher had apparently sexual relations with some of the boys at school - you can read a interesting story about this at the following link. On the face of it, it seems as if it is a school that should have a Christian ethic and ethos. But does it have it?

Be careful to put people on pedestals just because they have more money than you might have - or if it appears that they are rich and powerful. There are of course those that are super rich with super rich personalities and a Christian ethic and Christian ethos but not all of them have it. Take your time to assess. I have just finished reading Malcolm Gladwell's book TALKING TO STRANGERS and I can highly recommend it to you. It changes the way you are looking at life and more particularly at people. And this incident at Bishops underscores it. In Afrikaans I would say to you: "Katvoet loop. Katvoet." It means that you should tread lightly almost like a cat.

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SOUTH AFRICA HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE THAT LIES AHEAD - WE HAVE TO WORK ON THIS IDEAL

I have just read with growing concern, the latest crime statistics officially released by the Commissioner of Police. People whatsapp me videos purportedly of the recent xenophobic violence in Pretoria and it is really disturbing to watch. I receive SMS's and whatsapp's about our water supply - and it is distressing. You stand among people at braaivleis [barbecues in Afrikaans] fires and all they can discuss is either the lousy beer they are drinking or how horrible it is to live in South Africa - while their luxurious 4X4 vehicles and most expensive smart phones and receiving one message after the other. The only conclusion one can draw from this lot of negative messages is that South Africa is over the brink! There is no saving grace for us living here.

OR IS IT? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

I am still planting flowers and tending to my vegetable garden [I had some freshly cut asparagus this morning]; my 5 hens still produce 5 eggs per day.

I pray and don't do crime.

And I spread my message of hope. All it takes is one person to restore hope - and I am that one person. And you are with me - so we are more than one already.

My wife and I just spent the most wonderful weekend at a B&B MY HOUSY in Ladybrand, Free-state with like-minded photographers - have a look at our group photo below. We made a huge contribution towards a stable and peaceful country. Our hosts at MY HOUSY are Len and Liezel - for six years in a row they hosted us for our annual convention.

Back: Bruce Hepburn, Carel Van Heerden, Neels Coertse, Annemarié Coertse Sonja Grobler, Jeannette Van Heerden, Jen Kruger, Anne D'Oliveira, Corine Ross, Ria Katzke, John Arseniou, Len Cousins. Front: Jeff Morris [chairman] Judith Hodgson [Australia], John Hodgson [Australia] Eric Thorburn

I spent some time in the local supermarket and took this photo of the shop bursting at the seams.

Checkers in Ladybrand Free State

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