For the 11th Sunday after Trinity here is the Lutheran order of worship in both isiZulu (wz1241120819 N Tr 11) and seTswana (wt1241120819 n Tr 11). This time this posting contains a sermon by Rev. Ratsefola, which was translated into seTswana by Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD.
We are grateful for the support from the Lutheran Heritage Foundation, which helps with the financing of the distribution of the printed materials.
Have a very blessed Sunday!
Now the question is off course: “What does devout mean” and how the heck do you count/measure this so-called “devoutness” or “devotion”? Does facial expression alone suffice or do I need to be a paying member or is it more like the volume of my singing? I would really try to work hard at boosting our figures too – if I knew what really counts! And being religious? My foot – doesn’t that include my devotion to materialism and addiction to other bad and evil forms of idolatry too? That’s quite religious – but in no way positive. What does St.Paul say: “Sie eifern fuer Gott, aber mit Unverstand!” (They’re fanatic about God, but clearly with misunderstanding!)
This is the message from ENI-News this morning: Poll shows Africa is most devout region of the world
(ENInews)–Africa has topped the list of most devout regions of the world, with 89 percent calling themselves religious, according to a worldwide poll called “The Global Index of Religiosity and Atheism.” In Ghana, 96 percent of respondents said they were religious, followed by Nigeria at 93 percent and Kenya at 88 percent. There was no change in the Ghana figure since 2005, the last time the poll was conducted. Nigeria and Kenya were both down 1 percent. Conducted by WIN-Gallup International, the poll is based on interviews with 50,000 people from 57 countries and five continents. [245 words, ENI-12-0476]
Belly flop
This crash is a shame, wasting lots of money and diverting necessary funds for real needs by diverting to thse so-called “prestige projects”. This massive and high profile endevour has crashed in a spectacular belly flop. The mismanagement in our armed forces is a general mess as we know and this naval issue proves the point. It also raises the specific question whether this deal can still be reversed or even cancelled. Otherwise it’s not about blue whales, but about the idiomatic white elephants all over again. It’s high time to stop corrupt dealings like this. Especially if you don’t even have qualified drivers for this kind of war machine. Where did the pilots qualify for their licence or were these certificates just part of some deal with I&J (Fishing company freely translated as “ek en jy” – meaning “some for me and some for you”) or some other Aldi or Schlecker trying to perk up the transaction in a sort of deal nobody can refuse.
Are German taxpayers aware of what this shady deal down South costs them? And do they realize that we on our side can’t keep these sophisticated war gadgets afloat? We need weapons to defend our marine heritage and coastline yes, but does that entail sinking vessels worth billions and creating artificial breeding grounds for all sorts of marine creatures. There’s a cheaper and more efficient way of doing that.
Read here about the dismal failure of keeping the SA naval fleet of attack submarines afloat: Not one of the R8 billion arms deal submarines is operational – Times LIVE.
“Prosperity gospel” attracts many African Christians
Lagos, Nigeria (ENInews)–Segun Ilori spent much of his time cleaning a local Foursquare Gospel Church in 2005 when he won an immigration lottery enabling him to move to the United States. Today, he drives a 2010 Toyota Camry and has been able to share his comfortable life in the U.S. by sending six cars back home. He attributes his good fortune to the grace of God. Tedius Makwari heard promises of faith leading to health and wealth while attending the United Family International Church in Zimbabwe. But he said he never realized any benefit of going to the church besides being stripped of his hard-earned money in the name of offerings. In a continent where many churches are growing by emphasizing both the material and spiritual benefits of faith, Ilori and Makwari represent different faces of a religious movement that can evoke both spiritual revival and disillusionment. [718 words, ENI-12-0473]
Losung und Lehrtext für Sonntag, den 12. August 2012
Gottes Brünnlein hat Wasser die Fülle. Psalm 65,10
Von seiner Fülle haben wir alle genommen Gnade um Gnade. Johannes 1,16
Losung und Lehrtext für Samstag, den 11. August 2012
Sieht Gott nicht meine Wege und zählt alle meine Schritte? Hiob 31,4
Wir müssen alle offenbar werden vor dem Richterstuhl Christi, damit jeder seinen Lohn empfange für das, was er getan hat bei Lebzeiten, es sei gut oder böse. 2.Korinther 5,10
Watchword for the 10 Sunday after Trinitiy: “For the Lord is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.” (Psa 95:7 NIV)
The Lutheran Order of the divine service for the 10th Sunday after Trinity with a sermon on Isaiah 62,6-12 written by Rev. Christoph D. Weber (Umlazi LC, KZN) is posted here both in isiZulu (wz1240120812 n Tr 10) and seTswana (wt1240120812 n Tr 10).
Thanks to the translation by Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD and the support by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation, which pays for the distribution of hard-copies to those without internet connections.
May the triune God bless and keep you in the true faith – now and forever. In this way I wish you a very blessed Sunday to you and yours +
Dear members and friends of the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa: Peace be with you +
The next synod of our Church is planned for this coming December. Attached please find an open invitation (Invitation to LCSA Synod 2012) and also the program (LCSA Synod TT 2012).
Please keep this in your prayers and encourage your pastors and congregations to add it to their list of urgent supplications in the coming months.
An English translation you can find in M. Harrison’s: At Home in the House of My Fathers. In German these propositions were published in Lutherischer Rundblick Heft 3/4, 1956’ in Setswana and Zulu in the Dikgang tse diKhutshwane and iziNdaba ezifingqiweyo August 2011, January, May and August 2012, every time 8 propositions.
This coming 8th Sunday after Trinity is under the watchword from the letter to the Ephesians in the 5th chapter: “Live as children of light for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth” (Eph.5,8b.9) The following verse is also so relevant for all planning and strategizing: “and find out what pleases the Lord.” (Eph 5:10)
The Sermon on the 6 chapter in the 1st letter of St.Paul to the Corinthians was written by the late Rev. William Maphalala and is available in both isiZulu (wz1238120729 n Tr 8) and seTswana (wt1238120729 n Tr 8) – thanks to the translation by Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD.
We are grateful for the support of LHF to support the project of distributing these orders by snail mail over so many years.
Please feel free to distribute these sermons to parties interested and to share their contact details so that we can make sure that these sermons get to those, who want to read them.
Wilhelm's space 