Troubling Times

It is with sadness that it has come to this, a world rife with war, hatred, dishonesty, corruption and a failing economic system. One would contest that the powers that be are not in control as the world as we know it spirals into its own destruction. But as a citizen of heaven, a cannot believe that a sovereign God will let injustice reign upon the earth that He has created. For He will use every situation, whether good or bad for his Glory, for He has all the dominion and power in the entire universe. This week my country goes to the election polls, I critical time in our history once again. It is a time when many hopes are fading in the light of the governing party and Mr Jacob Zuma failing to show integrity and honesty, in the undermining of the justice system escaping the 700 charges or so laid against him by the National Prosecuting Authority. It is my choice not to let the reality of the situation leave me feeling hopeless and despondent, but rather to stand up against the injustices through prayer and petition. So encourage you all who read this to get on your knees and ask that the sovereign will of God to be done and that His Kingdom may come here on Earth, in South Africa as it is in heaven.

This comes from the Global Day of Prayer:

Dear Friend!
We are indeed facing a critical Election on 22 April 2009
and your prayers will most certainly make a difference in the future of our
nation.As we are in the final few days leading up to our National Election
we want to request the following:

1. Set the time leading up to elections apart for prayer and fasting.
Pray for God?s will to be done and remind Him of His promises. " ... if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face
and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive
their sin and heal their land." (2 Chron. 7:14)

2. Set specific time apart during church services on Sunday 19 April 2009 to pray for the elections.

3. Intentionally pray for peace in our nation. "First of all, then, I urge that
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and
quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." (1 Tim. 2:1-3)

4. Commit to your responsibility to vote on 22 April 2009. Make sure that your vote will not deny your Biblical values and principles.

5. Vote prayerfully, carefully considering what God is asking of you in regards to:- Integrity and honesty (Am I voting for upright and honest people?)- Moral and upright policies (Does the party answer to the demands of morality and justice?)- Blind Loyalty (Do I cast my vote based on past loyalty or on what contribution the party is making towards a peaceful and just society?)- Intolerance and/or intimidation (Do I respect those whose opinion differ from mine and am I allowed to voice my opinion?)Yes, your vote in the upcoming election counts! For God?s will to
be done "on earth as it is in heaven", it is critical for His children to pray, to vote and to live as instruments of love and transformation.Let us trust the words of Luke 18:7-8: "And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly."

The GDOP
Team

And so, Zuma is set free... Let us be active in prayer!

Taken From My Friend Dion's Blog...

Zuma free to go... this i was a negative watershed in the history of our young democracy. Yesterday the ANC showed its power in South Africa with the withdrawal of the fraud and corruption charges against Mr Jacob Zuma. He has used 100 million rand of our taxpayers' money to make sure that he doesn't go to court... I am truly concerned - however, as my friend Pete so aptly puts it, I am a South African and I take responsibility for our faults. I shall be working and praying for the future of our nation - we are facing tough times!

Here's Pete's post, it expresses my concern, and my commitment, far better than I could write it.

South Africa experienced a miracle in 1994.We moved from an oppressive racially based oligarchy to a democratically elected government. Our law was protected by an internationally acclaimed new constitution. And we boasted leaders of international stature ? politicians such as Nelson Mandela, priests like Desmond Tutu; jurists such as Arthur Chaskalson and Albie Sachs; and many eminent writers, musicians and scientists.We believed that we had something to offer the world. We believed that we had transcended narrow racial boundaries; moved beyond self-serving ideological disputes to build a ?rainbow nation?; and were able to make visible the African concept of Ubuntu . I have travelled to various places in the world to speak of our national ?miracle? experience?.Northern Ireland; York, England; and various Methodist Seminaries in the United States of America.Today I admit that I have been smugly deluded. I have allowed myself to be blinded by the newness of our land ? and have not noticed that the same old things are still happening:? The Apartheid politicians I despised had developed a system of self enrichment that was gleefully embraced by the new democratically elected representatives of the people. They learned how to inflate travel claims; and create jobs for their friends and family; and cobble together gifts and favours for themselves.? The amoral Apartheid politicians set up systems with international arms traders that were taken over by the new government. And the same bribes/rewards/incentives were gratefully pocketed.? The selfish Apartheid leadership manipulated the law to suit their personal agenda ? a lesson well learned by this next generation of leaders.And so today I witness Jacob Zuma, the next President of my country, weasel his way out of being charged for corruption and financial misappropriation of funds. He leads a political party that welcomed international solidarity when they were struggling for power ? but now it refuses to stand in solidarity with Myanmar and Tibet. This is the party that enthusiastically embraced Desmond Tutu when he berated the sins of the Apartheid government, but now dismissively insults him when he points out the sins of the current government.Today South Africa ceased to be something special amongst the nations of the world. We are just another Third World Country, adding to the litany of human rights failures.BUT: this is my country. I am reminded (once again) that the struggle for liberation is never finished. I have been placed by God in this country to speak for truth. I refuse to give up the dream for a better land for all.

Thou shalt not be a victim.
Thou shalt not be a perpetrator.
Above all, thou shalt not be a bystander.- Holocaust Museum, Washington, D.C