Blue Poles

There was a famous painting called Blue Poles, but in this blogpost I am talking about a different kind of Blue Poles....

These are ones we found in a carpark while we were on holiday in Durban....

I was thrilled to see not only well designed wheelchair parking that was not blocked off with either chain or yellow cones/hats (as they normally are in Botswana to stop non-handicapped people parking in them), but to see a whole section of the carpark marked out with blue poles and blue signs that were not just for wheelchair users but those who are elderly, mobility limited (including chronic fatigue the sign said), pregnant or with with babies.

And yes, I was so thrilled and amazed I just had to take a few photos!

I've been in other places in South Africa and Australia where parents with children in prams are catered for along with those in wheelchairs, but this was definitely a step ahead in the area of caring for those with special needs.

I'm sure other parts of the world - including Australia could learn something here and maybe follow suit.

Made in Botswana

Very little is actually made, manufactured or grown in Botswana.

The great majority of what is consumed or purchased has been imported.

So it was with great delight that while on our recent holiday in South Africa, when I went to use the towel left on our bed by the friends we were staying with, that I discovered it had been made in Botswana!

(see the bottom line of the tag in the photo)

Here was something that not only was produced in Botswana but was then exported to South Africa to a major homewares store.

I was thrilled!  So thrilled that I took a photo of it!

It seems such a simple thing, but it is such a wonderful encouragement to see this small developing country manufacturing something that is good enough for other countries to want to import it!  

(Oh yes Botswana exports loads of diamonds to the world and beef to the EU, but its good to see something other than diamonds or beef being exported).

Well done Botswana!

Sin: Dishonouring God

Sin 

- its a topic that in some quarters is not talked about much.....

But..

It's integral to our life on earth, to Scripture, to Salvation, and to sharing the gospel...

And

its a matter that is often not understood biblically or fully..

not least in

an Honour/Shame culture

or when 

missionaries, preachers, authors from the 'West' speak to those from cultures that empasise honour and shame.

Here in Africa, we have learnt that sin is primarily (and wrongly) understood as bringing shame (especially onto elders) in the eyes of other people.

The average 'westerner' would understand or define sin as breaking the law - but is this even the full biblical picture?

We thought we would share with you a couple of links about some aspects of what sin is, 

what we often don't think about, but should think about...

...That sin is primarily about shame and honour and in actual fact both the average African's and the average Westerner's understanding is lacking the full biblical picture...

Biblically, 

sin is primarily dishonouring God.

Here are those links you might want to check out on the topic that we have found helpful....

The first is a sermon by John Piper

click here to - read the transcript or listen/download the audio of 

"The Effect of Hypocrisy - Part 1 - Dishonouring God"

and the second is a blog-post by Jackson Wu

who has just completed his Doctorate on honour/shame in scripture and published it under the title of 

"Saving God's Face"

 click here to access his blog.