Online Articles
FREE e-Newsletter
Sign up below to get our free weekly newsletter packed with news & updates.-
We Respect Your Privacy
Xhosa mystic saw the light
I recently had opportunity to attend a live gospel show of Joyous Celebration. I’m normally not a happy-clappy kind of Christian, but I had to drive my relatives who are into that sort of thing.
Well, the show was a real stopper, especially the choreography which I’m told is done by its rather intrusive conductor, Lindelani Mkhize. Read more…
Zim elections: A veneer of credibility
Unless something quite remarkable should happen, this weekend’s elections in Zimbabwe will see Robert Mugabe returned to the presidency by a robust margin. Read more…
God’s alarming gift
On Easter morning, after the horror of Friday and desolation of Saturday, we arrive at the tomb, with the women, to find the stone rolled away from the now empty sepulchre. Christ has risen to offer us the gift of salvation. Read more…
How God helped me prove the Easter bunny really exists
Whenever I think of Easter, I can’t help but recall all those times I have painted myself into a corner and the Good Lord has held out a helping hand to extricate me with my dignity intact.
The ultimate example of “ask and ye shall receive” was Easter Sunday about 30 years ago when my eldest son was ten years old and a know-all of note. Read more…
The joy of his love
“Give us the joy of your love”. These words of a responsorial psalm one day during last Advent touched me particularly. I printed it out, added a photo from my pilgrimage to the Holy Land and made myself a nice little poster. What are some favourite scripture passages, one-liners even, that inspire and delight your soul? Read more…
Father, your will – not mine – be done
The drama starts at 10:48 am one Thursday morning. A young man knocks at the door. He is looking for a “Mr Sibiya”.
Unsuspectingly I tell him there’s no such person in our yard. Fr Amos Masemola is celebrating Holy Mass with mostly older ladies in the parish church. I advise the man to wait until 11 am in case the person he was looking for was in church. Read more…
Johnny Clegg – Live at the Nelson Mandela Theatre
Reviewed by Günther Simmermacher
The setlist covers Clegg’s career, including all the old favourites — “Scatterlings Of Africa”, “Great Heart”, “December African Rain”, “The Crossing”, “Cruel, Crazy, Beautiful World”, the moving liberation anthem “Asimbonanga” and the incendiary “Impi” — as well as a selection of songs from his latest album, One Life, of which “Utshani Obulele” stands out. In his performance, Clegg is supported by the Soweto Gospel Choir, to pleasing effect. Read more…
Hosanna!
Hosanna! The crowds in Jerusalem afforded Jesus an euphoric entry into Jerusalem. Within five days, a blink of the eye in a lifetime, Jesus died an unheralded death on a cross on a rubbish tip. Read more…
A chance debate
I have a friend who is a non-practising rabbi and an atheist. He recently visited me from New York City.
He is enjoying his Kiddushin—a period of sanctification, which amounts to a year after marriage when a Jewish man is excused from all obligations to cheer up his wife. More like an extend honeymoon period then. Read more…
Better preaching
Spare a thought for the poor priest who must prepare a homily, often every week, which will not only grab his congregation’s attention, but also communicate matters of faith in a way that is relevant to the Mass readings and to the lives of those to whom it is addressed, to be delivered with enough panache to keep his audience listening. Read more…
