Positive or Negative

I recently attended a Re-think Learning workshop. Included in the workshop was a section on how the human brain works.  

 

This confirmed something I had always suspected - that being FOR something is much more powerful than being AGAINST. Apparently, the sub-conscious mind does not recognise a negative. It picks up on the concept or idea without reading the negative.

It is common knowledge that focussing on a temptation often further cements that wrong idea in the sub-conscious, and makes it more acceptable, and more likely to be actioned. The best way to avoid doing the wrong thing is to focus on the right thing.

The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi: “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy --think about such things.” (Phil 4:8)

Let me apply this to some media campaigns. A media campaign must make an impact on the sub-conscious. This is where memories are stored, perceptions are controlled, and habits are installed. Therefore, a media campaign with a negative message is likely to be counter-productive.

Every year the South African government spends millions of rand on awareness against woman & child-abuse. This just makes the sub-conscious mind aware that this abuse is happening and that it is in some way acceptable. It is not surprising that these campaigns seem to have done nothing to improve South Africa’s terrible domestic violence record. Maybe we should focus on how husbands should love their wives with care and respect and how parents should show their love to children. (Col 3:17-21)

 

And what about media campaigns against corruption? Perhaps we can focus on how good it feels to be honest and to give in order to make a difference. (Acts 20:35b)

And drugs? Maybe our focus should be on healthy lifestyles? Certain groups against gangs and drugs have a reputation for making things worse, not better.

And what about xenophobia? Perhaps we should be talking about welcoming the alien, the refugee and foreigner.

It is amazing how applying something simple about how the brain works could make such a difference to the world we live in.

Good News!

There is Good News!

(Picture from Unicef, Malawi)

 After reading today’s newspaper, I’m in need of some good news …

 What is the Gospel that the Bible talks about? Gospel means Good News!

When I grew up, I thought that the Bible only had bad news – bad news that I just wasn’t good enough… just like my school reports that said “could try harder!”

But over and over again, the New Testament talks about the Good News: Mark writes: Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.  "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark ch1)

What was the Good News that Jesus preached?

It was that God’s Kingdom & rule had come to earth in Jesus. It was God coming into our world. And it was not God bringing judgment and condemnation; no! It was God bringing love, healing, and teaching on how to live in God’s way.

But the religious establishment did not like this new teaching because it empowered the poor and the outcasts. So the powerful religious leaders had Jesus killed on a cross.

They thought that was the end of it. Even Jesus closest followers went into hiding.

But it wasn’t the end.

In three days Jesus walked out of the tomb in which his body had been placed. He appeared to many of his followers, explaining how the cross was part of God’s wonderful plan for people. Then Jesus was seen disappearing into the clouds.

He told his followers to wait in the city, Jerusalem. Some days later, at the Jewish feast of Pentecost about 120 of them were gathered praying when God the Holy Spirit, like tongues of fire, came to rest upon each of them. God actually came to live within them. They were empowered to do the same great works that Jesus had done, and to bring the same teaching from God.

Full of God’s power, and enthusiasm, they took God’s good news throughout the city, and then out to the whole world. And the really good news is that God’s Holy Spirit – God within us, is available not just to those first disciples, but to anyone who seeks God earnestly and puts their trust in Jesus. Jesus had said before he was crucified: “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father”. (Jn 14). This has been the experience of Jesus’ followers from that day until this!

It is GOOD NEWS!

Are Christians influencing our world, or are we being influenced by the culture?

·         Has the Church lost its prophetic voice?

These were some of the issues raised and discussed at the recent Association of Christian Media conference in Johannesburg, which drew together 121 delegates from sixty different organisations.

Seasoned South African newspaper editor, Mondli Makhanya told the delegates how he saw the situation – that since 1994, Christians had retreated from influence. He challenged Christians to present a biblical

response to issues such as poverty and inequality, race and racism, morality, crime, social cohesion,gender issues etc. He encouraged delegates to rise to the challenge of being salt and light in our society.

Patrick Kuwana, Zimbabwean businessman and founder of Crossover Transformation spoke of the 3 to 15% required to shift culture. The content of our message just needs to line up with what God is saying.

The main conference speaker was internationally known writer and speaker, Phil Cooke (www.philcooke.com). Phil is an amazing guy – a working producer from Hollywood

with a Ph.D. in theology! Phil was accompanied by his wife Kathleen (kathleencooke.com), herself an actress, businesswoman, writer and speaker. Together they gave us tools to be effective gospel-communicators, with topics like “Mobilising Media Ministries for Nation-wide Strategies”, “Trust as a Basis towards Transforming People and Society” and “Who’s influencing you? Who are you influencing?” There was a gentle reminder that at one time the Church was the main patron of the Arts, and leading scientific discovery.

 

Digital media have opened exciting new windows to tell what God is doing and Christians are doing amazing, creative things in the media. We were inspired by short videos produced by Philcooke Pictures.

The ACM, representing all the main Christian radio stations, TV stations, magazines, internet and content-providers, certainly has a 3 to 15% reach in South Africa. The challenge is to grow that reach, and to make it more effective. A key component is to support and encourage Christians who are working in main-stream media.(If you know any, please encourage them to link up with the ACM.)

The conference encouraged us to ditch our Christian ghetto mindset. Let’s be like Jesus by doing unexpected, amazing things, as seen in the gospels. For more information on the conference content, go to www.acm.org.za .

I.S. … is the church to blame?

Young people from the Western world are running away to join the Islamic State forces in Iraq, attracted by messages on social media – a cause – something to live and die for …

Is “fundamentalism” really the culprit? Or does it go deeper than that?

You know, there is another message that is having a positive impact...When Jesus left just a few followers on earth, they had a message and supernatural power to change the world. 

What has happened? That message is still alive today. See, for example what is happening in some W Cape townships …Gateway News Alpha in Gugulethu . We are having similar experiences in KZN  … Sarepta Youth

But are we somehow afraid to shout about a message that is attractive and positive? Are we hiding it in decaying buildings?

         Why choose this?

When we can choose this?

What do you think?

Maybe we can save lives just by passing on the right message …

Why not?

Giving Mr Magic a Chance

The headline read: “Mr Magic, Linda Sibiya to drive the Vuma FM breakfast show!” In any radio station, the breakfast show is the banner programme of the day. This is where the listeners are attracted, and the money is made. Vuma FM, a new Gospel-Music Commercial station had paid a premium to get Linda on board, but it was worth it. He is a household name, having been Mr Magic, the breakfast show host on one of the biggest National radio stations for some years. I was the technical manager at Vuma FM.

But twenty years ago, I was managing a small community radio station in the town of Pietermaritzburg. We were barely surviving, and I had more presenters than I could pay. I had many problems, one of them being a young lad from the rural areas that wanted an opportunity behind the microphone. I just did not have a vacancy, he was unknown but he was persistent. And I found that he was talented – He could sound exactly like Nelson Mandela then President. I found a slot for Linda Sibiya, and he ran a Gospel Music show, then some drive-time shows on the station before moving on.

So when we met again in the smart Vuma FM studios, we looked at each other … “I am where I am because you gave me a chance” said Linda. I felt that I had done no more than try to care for a persistent youngster – and with no great enthusiasm! It was great to see what God had done with those small seeds of persistence, and care. 

Even our smallest actions of care and respect with persistence can be used in mighty ways by God!

Retirement - What's it like? - the first 6 months

“What are you going to do when you retire?” was the question I was repeatedly asked. And in the weeks before the official end-date, I was too busy with hand-over to think about it.Then the day arrived. What a great relief! God had helped me choose a good successor, because, despite a contract that allowed me to be paid for further hand-over assistance, it has seldom been needed.

Farewell tribute - not a real mag

!

I had stepped down from the position of technical-manager at a Commercial radio station, which I had set up over a 2 to 3-year period. It had been stressful partly because I lived about 40km from the station, along a dangerous section of road, so an emergency call-out at any time was anticipated with dread! 

 

I made sure that I had a real break by agreeing to be part of a 2-week excursion to Ethiopia – a land of people, donkeys, waterfalls, mountains, ancient churches and amazing history. (We did a circular trip north from Addis Ababa, led by Tim & Ingrid Briscoe – Nile River Excursions.)

The start of the Blue Nile here at these magnificent falls.

 

 I had time to think about the days ahead. The wonderful thing about retirement is that there is time to do what is important…. to pass on skills and concepts that I have learned. There is also time for family, and there is time to read a bit more and to pray – to hear God’s heart about the world we live in.

Between the years 1997 and 2012, I had been self-employed, doing consulting work for a number of “clients”, mainly Reutech and the Association of Christian Broadcasters (ACB, now the Association of Christian Media – ACM).  So retirement is not much different. And that has been a danger for me … to succumb to the pressures of working life without the remuneration!

I set my priorities for the year ahead between the ACM and KNI Radio who’s Boards I serve on; more involvement at my local Church – Sarepta; family, and radio-broadcast training. Running through this is a

Paul's proprty

theme of mentoring younger leaders, and passing on skills. I will need to add to this list the oversight of building development on the next-door property belonging to my son, Paul, and some work at our family property in the Drakensberg. I have also managed to do a short course on Citizen Journalism - hence this blog!

 

Exploring Table Mountain with my son, Tim, and dogs!

I had heard these stories about men whose retirement made them so bored that they drove their wives scatty! Well, when I give Janet a hard time, I think it is because I’m trying to do too much!.

I am currently Chairman of the ACM, an association of nearly all Christian radio and TV stations, on-line sites, magazines and newspapers in Southern Africa, with a vision to communicate the Christian message – the Gospel, through media. This message is in essence not about religion, but about God taking the initiative to love us even though we don’t deserve it. It is by changing our priorities from self to God that we can see what God is doing, and fit in with his plans. Unfortunately, there is a lot of church culture and clutter that tends to camouflage the message. The ACM has a major conference in April, and that is currently a big priority for me.

I hope that I haven’t given the impression that I have got it all together. Balancing priorities is not easy, and I have been stressed at times. I find prayer is essential, and I have been reading a lot of books by and about some of the Christian heroes of the 1800’s – Charles Finney, George Muller, David Livingstone and others. Prayer is not about trying to persuade God to give us what we want, but it is mostly about us trying to find out what God wants. 

In conclusion I am challenged to spend more time on things that will give lasting results, and that often involves doing what may seem trivial! I am enjoying the experience. It has been a good six-months!

Surprising response to Youth Alpha meetings.

Fifty to Sixty young people are enthusiastically coming every Monday night to a youth Alpha course at Sarepta Church in Gillitts South Africa. The course introduces Jesus and the Christian faith. Zolani Phakathi who heads up the programme said that the course was promoted on social media, and people were inviting more friends every week. People travel up to an hour on public transport to get there. The programme provides a light meal, teaching, discussion, worship and the opportunity to socialise. In the smaller groups, young adults pray for and encourage one another. Phakathi said the programme was attractive to young people who were searching for hope and meaning, and needed a safe and healthy place to meet.