Jozanne's book launch

"In the 4th century Saint John Chrysostom refers to a 'double famine' which impoverishes two groups: the poor who lack provision and the Christians who, in their luxury, lack the mercy of God. 
"Seventeen centuries on..." (Marijke Hoek). 


They knew a thing or two, the old saints. Plus ça change....


Yesterday Jane and I watched a dvd of the launch of I Choose Everything in South Africa, back in the summer. Dave Moss had sent it in the New Year. Inevitably I cried watching Jozanne and her lovely family. She was thin but her smile was luminous. Unfortunately I don't know how to extract stills from it; so I've taken the YouTube picture - not of the event sadly, but of Jozanne when she could still mutter words. Nicole played the piano, Luke the guitar (classical) and Dave gave a moving speech quoting Archbishop Desmond Tutu's foreword. "Jozanne’s Diary in particular lets us see, in painful intimacy, the grievous prospect of losing everything and everyone she holds dear. And yet, everything isn’t lost. That’s the wonderful certainty that God gives his children. We’re all part of his plan. We are all part of his family. Ephesians says, ‘God chose us in Christ to be God’s children before the foundation of the world.’ We didn’t have to do anything. It was given freely and our worth is infinite. We aren’t an after-thought. Isn’t that beautiful?? We aren’t an accident. Some of us might look like accidents. But no, no one is an accident. Isn’t it incredible?"


People sometimes ask me how Jozanne is now. The last time I heard she had lost all independence, was being fed through a PEG line (direct to the stomach) and was having breathing and pain relief. But was still drawing encouragement from the positive reception of her writing and joy from her family. And she's still able to smile. 

Micah's Challenge

Hannah, my 4Thought producer, this morning confirmed that Jane and I will be broadcast on Wednesday evening (7.55 pm Channel 4, repeated 8.55 on 4+1). I'm sorry about the confusion. 


I read this last night. It caught my attention and thought I'd quote it here. It's from a chapter by Marijke Hoek (whose photo of Amsterdam in the snow I put here a few weeks ago) in a book she's coedited, called Micah's Challenge. She's talking about the hope of the created world (Romans 8):

"You can hear the echo of Joel 2:28: God promised to pour out his Spirit, causing the people to dream dreams and have visions. Imagine justice flowing like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream. Imagine, once again, elderly men and women sitting in the streets, with cane (walking stick) in hand, overlooking playing children (Amos 5:24; Zech. 8:4). Imagine orphans being placed in a family, receiving an education and fulfilling their potential. Imagine medical help being available to all. Imagine people being set free from forms of bond-slavery and able to steer their destiny. Imagine food, clothes, shelter and water for all. Imagine restoring broken dwellings. Imagine just that.

"... This hope for God's reign increasingly to break into our life and affect a groaning creation is a power that will sustain and motivate us, creating a resilient, imaginative and trusting people... In those who hope for what is not yet, there is then an active enduring, a passionate waiting, while anticipating the new creation and walking in the way of love" (page 61).

I found my imagination fired by the vision of the earth as it should, could, will be. And I'm inclined to believe that Marijke's right in her understanding of dreams and visions. And agree with her that they're not given to be enjoyed, but to motivate to action. I recommend this website: Micah's Challenge