David Webster, Author at 1Africa

Why I embrace struggle

David Webster

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October 26, 2016

I remember when I was really young being angry about the most inconsequential things. Bumps in the road during car drives would frustrate me immensely. I would literally shout at my dad every time we hit some sort of bump which, being in Africa, happened regularly. I remember blaming the wall when I fell into it and having an angry tirade when I stepped on a bee. It’s hilarious now to look back and see how worked up I became. But it also highlights a very important lesson when it comes to our life.

There are elements of life that can get you worked up and get you frustrated. It’s easy to use up all of your energy on inanimate things that have no specific malicious intent. As a result, you will find yourself more tired and upset, while the world carries on blissfully unaware. Deciding what I allow to drain me emotionally is a sign of maturity. I could still be going around blaming everything around me for my emotions, or I can allow them to do something way more meaningful.

Broken but still standing

I have had a good number of ‘knocks’ since my early days. As a young boy, I was abused and bullied in school. My creative abilities didn’t fit in with my very traditional surrounding, therefore I was alienated and shut out. I was extremely insecure – resulting in depression during university. I have watched my mom struggle with being blind my whole life. Our family has walked through her having cancer, complications from the operations, brain tumours and other medical struggles to this very day. I lived two years without any income – unable to buy my next meal, let alone pay off big student loans. I don’t say these things for pity but rather to point out that I now find myself stronger and more full of faith because of these situations.

How else could our souls be tempered and purified? What else could grow and strengthen us? In what other ways could we be made effective in our purpose?

Keep walking

The only way we have any authority in this life is by allowing Jesus to shine through our brokenness. I stand on the other side of many of these ‘knocks’ I have experienced and I know God better for them. In my desperation is where I found him. I was sustained and encouraged by relating to him in times when that was the only lifeline I had. Not only that, but I get to encourage others – hopefully you included – that there is life beyond your pain. But the only way you get stronger. The only way you make this suffering ‘worth it’. Is by finding Jesus in the chaos of it. And then walking through it.

I have seen how the hardest moments in my life have become the most precious. I am seeing more and more how God is using me to speak into the very situations that I had to go through. But if I gave up, I wouldn’t be as strong as I am today. In every crisis, it has been an opportunity to know Jesus in a deeper way. The more we experience how frail this life is, the more we discover Jesus shining through those cracks and fault lines.

This too shall pass

Every struggle is temporal. Jesus said that we would go through trouble. But he has overcome the world. He is on the other side of it. Whatever pain you are experiencing right now – whether it be a stubbed toe or a decade-old depression – it will end. And every second is one step closer to wholeness when you know Jesus. Do not retreat in your transition towards strength. Jesus knows what he is doing. He cares more about you than you could care about yourself.

If you would like to know him in this capacity, I would like to encourage you to click on the link below. This relationship with Jesus is the only thing – the only thing – that has brought me through to today. He is real. He loves you specifically. The most powerful thing you could do, is look to him for help; and when you do, you will find so much more.

Building a nation: Christians and racism

David Webster

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October 21, 2016

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Building a nation: Christians and racism

Being in a mixed race relationship is one of the biggest adventures I have ever embarked on. To be honest, I don’t know if I was ever ready for the conversations and struggles that have stemmed from it, but it is one part of my life I have truly come to cherish. It has forced me to engage with issues many other people who are similar to me have never thought of. I have become aware of a whole lot of suffering and injustice. Having said that, it’s also been the coolest celebration of culture.

In South Africa our generation has gone through a rather intense period of unrest. I look forward to the day when economic struggle and race are not synonymous, but the dying legacy of apartheid is still in its last throes. Universities have been the battleground upon which things have come to a head. It is not a new battle. In fact, it is one of the most common issues in this nation’s history – the convergence of education, race and class.

In my search to formulate a perspective that can build positively into this situation, I have prayed more than ever before. It has been something that has brought me to tears and made me angry. Some days it has been easier to ignore the situation, but I am a Christian called to build my nation – as all Christians are. So the question that I have begun to try answer is simply: how do we build from here?

Listen. The only way we can build is to engage with the realities we all face. We need to understand where every party is coming from. No builder starts the foundations without surveying the terrain he is about to build on. Any system built on pain is going to collapse. With a lack of knowledge (or understanding) people will perish – if not one group, another one will. If you aren’t willing to listen – no matter what side you are on – then we won’t even begin to build.
Build together. Church that is defined along the lines of race are not a true reflection of Jesus’ mandate. His whole ministry was based on loving those most different to you. Jesus grew up under the oppression of a corrupt king (who tried to kill him as a child and had his cousin John the Baptist executed for no reason). Rome – one of the most merciless and racist powers to ever exist – ruled Israel with an iron fist. Men of war were above the law and able to do anything in the name of Caesar. The Samaritans (considered mixed-bloods) were hated by Israelites as well. The religious leaders of the day were hypocritical and power-hungry as well, resulting in a twisted representation of God’s house. It is fair to say that Jesus lived in a time where hatred was a systemic issue in his nation. Yet he made a point of loving and engaging with all examples of people. He healed and praised a Roman centurion for his faith. One of his disciples was a Zealot – a radical protester that believed violence would bring about change. Jesus rebuked publicly and privately encouraged the leaders of the Temple. If we claim to love Jesus, we as the church need to be engaging with everyone and bringing them together around Jesus – who is the only true catalyst for unity across every demographic.
Communicate the dream. If we sit around and simply talk about the problems, we can convince ourselves that building is impossible. Action can only be birthed out of a vision. My dream for South Africa (and Africa) is for a nation that represents heaven – every tribe and nation focused on and glorifying God. I believe every person individually has a unique value that society needs. Every racial, cultural, geographical and generational demographic has a strength that can build a quality of life this world has never seen before. If there is a collective revelation of a common dream, then we will build something that will last – something that we could even pass on to the next generation to continue and improve upon.

I am so excited that I get to live in this moment of Africa’s history. Never has there been such opportunity for God’s idea of true life to be expressed through a nation. I truly believe that the struggles we choose to engage with now could be the birthing pains of one of the greatest expressions of God’s Kingdom on earth.

You might not agree right now. You may be struggling to see the hope. Forgiveness may not seem like a possibility for you. Healing from pain that has affected so many generations may seem too much to bear. But I know for a fact that God cares and can do something about it. If you are open to seeing what he can do in and through you click on the link below.

the relevance of Jesus in tragedy

David Webster

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October 19, 2016

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The world seems to be getting more and more unstable these days. Between storms that once again wreaked havoc on the West Coast of Central America; the struggle with Isis; human trafficking thriving in Eastern Europe; one of the most laughable presidential campaigns happening in ‘leading nation of the free world’ and massive tension around the Universities of South Africa – you can be tempted to lose hope.

We have access to news like no other generation ever has. If we want to know what the socio-economic challenges of Guatemala are, it’s a few punches of a keyboard away. The truth is, whether we like it or not, we are now living in a time when we have access to everything, which forces us to have a bigger worldview. But were we ever made to see everything? To know everything? There is an amazing sense of freedom in ignorance.

Personally, I find it exciting that people have access to facts and unfolding events like we do have today. We are no longer manipulated by the bias leanings of a newspaper editor. The economy of a page is no longer a factor in the world of news. But there are two problems that arise from this.

It is hard to trust online media.
I am sure you have come across sites that look official – with catchy headlines that tend to draw a certain demographic in – only to realise that what you are reading is inconsequential, or could even simply just be false. Facebook has given an open platform for people to voice their current (seldom thought-through) opinion on everything. And there will be an article on the internet somewhere to reinforce that claim.
One question to consider is this: What does it take to be a successful online journalist? All you need is a laptop, some basic linguistic ability, maybe a few Photoshop skills and something sensational that will draw people to your site. No longer is the goal truly to inform, but to attract interest. Sensationalism is not an old concept born out of this problem, but it is running rampant online. And readers are being caught up in a whirlwind of emotional, out of context fact-throwing that has the power to manipulate anyone who cares.
The weight of the world is too great for us to bear
If you have one empathetic bone in your body, you can find yourself overwhelmed and exhausted by all the tragedy that is happening in the world. But because there are so many complex issues resulting in injustice on many levels, exhaustion and helplessness can set in rather than motivation for change. When everything weighs on your soul, it is hard to know where to start in terms of fixing the problem.

I still believe that at the core of humanity, we desire good. But left to our own devices, we can cause a whole lot of evil through misunderstanding, offense, selfishness, pain and fear. There is no simple case when it comes to injustice. Whether it be the result of years and years of social misconduct, or violence brought on by political disagreement, the complexities of situations go far deeper than the headlines or few minutes of video we see online. Every person suffering has a story. Every person causing the suffering has a story. It is impossible to simply scroll through my social feed without being confronted with at least five urgent, terrible issues people are facing in the world. And the temptation is either to give up and just care about myself – to stop listening and choose to be ignorant, or to take it all on and despair on behalf of my fellow human – whether I can identify with them based on race, socio-economic situation, nationality, shared experience of injustice or simply because they are human.

As a Christian, I cannot give in to either temptation. I know that Jesus had compassion for those who suffered. He loved those who were completely different to him and blessed those who were beating him to death publically. I also know Jesus had no time for gossip, sensationalism, political or racial intolerance. When faced with the prejudices of the day, he always highlighted the individual. He identified with one person’s need and brought hope in that situation. I also know Jesus, with the Holy Spirit, is the ultimate authority on truth. He can discern what is right and what is manipulation. He can see the true issues amidst all the emotional repercussions.

So in response to this tragic world, what do we do?

We build our relationship with Jesus. If we know him, our souls are regulated by the personal connection with God, not the external forces that could easily rock us if we have no foundation. When you know Jesus personally, you will be led into all truth – not just fact, but truth. In this way, I believe Christians are equipped to find solutions where others only see the problem.
We pray. Jesus says to cast our cares on him. If something is weighing on our souls, then let it direct your prayers before posting something online. God is the ultimate comforter. Prayer is simply talking to God – and his perspective is an exhaustive understanding of every element at play in this world. Out of conversation with him, you will be able to live free and effectively.

The world needs more people that truly care and have the right perspective to affect change. I believe the only way this is possible is through a genuine relationship with God – a God who loves you and me uniquely and has specific intentions for your life and how it can change this world. Click on the link below if you would like to respond to him.

New Trailer: Power Rangers

David Webster

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October 14, 2016

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If you were born in the late 80’s or early 90’s, you would know how influential these five fighting teenagers have been in pop-culture – arguably even more than the Ninja Turtles franchise. Based on the premise of underdog young people who discover powers that they can use for good – the story always played out in two realities, with epic transformations and kick-butt karate moves.

This may have resulted in a generation where the fight during break time was a struggle for respect, but on the large part it inspired young kids like me that we all had value – whether people could see it or not. In a time when female superheroes were hardly present, Power Rangers had a role model that was also a figurine. Guys had Action Man and all the superheroes, but for girls who didn’t want to play with Barbie, they had the pink Power Ranger. Another thing that was rare to see on television in the 90’s was interracial interaction – especially when everyone was on the same team. This made Power Rangers special and a more vital part of pop-culture than one might realise at first.

The modern adaptation, no doubt fuelled by the success of the TMNT films, is set to be released next year. Check out the trailer below:

With a 150 million dollar budget and some big names – ranging from Elizabeth Banks through to teeny pop rapper Becky G, this film has the potential to make it big at the box office. It is a new brand, which promises a different kind of storytelling, which will hopefully help diversify the formulaic rut that Marvel and DC franchises have fallen into.

The relatively new-on-the-scene director, Dean Israelite, is actually South African. Having very little experience in Hollywood, he pitched hard for the film and won it. The jury is still out on whether he will deliver – with many extremely sceptical. But I am cheering him on – I appreciate Michael Bay, Zack Snyder and Joss Whedon, but a new voice in the superhero genre is sorely needed. Set to release on the 24th of March next year, we will all be able to judge for ourselves.

In a time when superheroes are the celebrated characters on screen, I believe it is an indicator of what the world is looking for – a saviour. And as far as superpowers and unlikely heroes go, I believe there is a very real version of what we pay money to see in alternate universes on screen. We are made to lead and influence our world. We are meant to have supernatural strength and wisdom within us – but we are also flawed and confused for the most part about why we are even in existence.

When Jesus came to earth, he came as an example of what life could be like for all of us when we had a relationship with God. It may not look like it, but He has saved the world – he died so that we could have access to God. There is power in acknowledging this. If you would like to find out more about this power and how it can change reality, click on the link below.

When you feel stuck

David Webster

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October 12, 2016

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The past few weeks I have really struggled with a sense of stagnancy. No, it’s not related to a specific milestone – though the phrase “I thought I’d be further in life by now” is a familiar one.

It’s at times like these that I start to get a bit antsy. I don’t have a single “settling” bone in my body. I have always valued progress – to the detriment of myself and others sometimes.

So when the wind just stops blowing and the sails lie fallow on your mast, what do we do? Here are a few possible scenarios:

Give up

Let’s get real – all of us have done this to a degree at one time or another. “If things aren’t happening, it obviously means that this is not for me…” That kind of self-talk is full of justification and could hold up with your friends, but would it hold up before God? Who knows what He is trying to lead you through as you sit and wait.

Sometimes when everything around us stops happening, it means God wants to do something on the inside first. It might feel frustrating and you might be tempted to start panicking. But that’s where God can hold your full attention.

Start hoarding

When things start going quiet and you feel trapped, it’s easy to turn selfish. When nothing seems to be happening, you start “living for the moment”. It may feel like there is no reason to think about tomorrow. “My plans didn’t work out, so why should I bother?” The truth is that it won’t take long for you to become dissatisfied with life. Fulfilling your desires in the moment will only lead you to move on to “the next best thing” until there is nothing new any more and life has lost it’s purpose.

I know what it is like to be empty like that. I wish that kind of hopelessness on no one. But if you find yourself in this kind of struggle – I would encourage you to start dreaming again. Not plan. Dream!

Take away the limitations and allow yourself to consider the possibilities of a world where opportunity is immeasurable. God is very capable. There is no limit to his ability. So dream things that only He could do – because I have seen how he can do the seemingly impossible.

Keep your eyes on the horizon

When you find yourself in an inescapable situation, it is important to keep your direction in sight. The one goal that you can have in these times is – others. The temptation is to clam up and hold tight onto everything. But if you intentionally focus on others through this season, you will not be stagnant – you can pour out into others and be surprised by how they encourage you.

How do you measure progress? By what other people see, or by how other people see you? If we stop thinking about ourselves and allow ourselves to consider others, it actually refreshes our soul and allows God to do what He wants in us so we can get on with life. Goals are important. But if they don’t include or benefit others, then we will find life a whole lot harder than it should be.

God is all about us – each and every one of us individually. When Jesus was sent, His goal was others. It wasn’t for people to be impressed by who He was, it was so that we could freely know God through his sacrifice.

Sometimes we are stuck in a place where the only option left is to look to God. He wants your attention. If you would like to find out more on how you could know Him and find freedom even when your situations are hard, click on the link below.

Hacksaw Ridge: Mel Gibson is back!

David Webster

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October 7, 2016

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Mel Gibson has had an interesting career. Launching into the public eye with the original Mad Max franchise, he continued to gain traction in the Romantic Comedy genre of the 90’s, as well as the action world with one of the most iconic films of all time – Braveheart. But it is behind the scenes that he has possibly had more impact. The film The Passion of the Christ earned box office acclaim that packed a punch far past the basic figures. This film opened the eyes of Hollywood producers – reminding them how lucrative faith-based films could be. Especially if they are done well.

But a lot has happened between then and now. Personal struggles plagued Gibson – resulting in a messy divorce and a loss of credibility in the industry due to some questionable comments. Robert Downey Jr famously gave a speech in which he honoured Mel Gibson for reaching out to the actor when he was in a similar place. He asked the public and the industry to have grace for Gibson. Check the video below:

Mel had to “hug the cactus” a bit longer, but this year it seems like things are finally looking up in his career. Not only has he returned to the screen in a lead role in Blood Father, but he has developed a project that is already garnering some Oscar buzz. It’s a film that he has been working on for the past ten years. When it was recently shown in the Venice film festival, it received a ten minute standing ovation. Check the trailer out below:

Hacksaw Ridge is based on the true story of Desmond T Doss – a private in the army who believed it was against his faith to kill or be violent during the second world war. He was persecuted by his own comrades – but stuck to his convictions and proved their value on the battlefield in Japan. In the end, Doss received a Medal of Honour, and could be considered an unsung hero both in the US and abroad. Andrew Garfield has already received praise for his portrayal of Doss and with the supporting cast of Vince Vaughn, Sam Worthington and Hugo Weaving, it is definitely going to be one of the more memorable cinematic releases of 2016. In terms of production, one thing is sure – it is going to have a high standard, and on all accounts it will represent Christianity well, while still engaging with people with a relatable level of reality.

I don’t know about you, but I have had a few setbacks in life. Whether by your own doing, or as a result of events out of your control, it is easy to give up but God sees beyond your current situation and, as I have experienced time and time again, he has better things planned for your future than anything you have experienced in your past.

If you want to know more about God and how he sees your life, click on the link below.

Temptation exposed

David Webster

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October 5, 2016

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Every thought you have comes from somewhere. The multiple layers of understanding and creativity we engage with set us apart biologically. But, have you ever wondered about the origin of thought? Is what we think, feel and express simply a combination of random mistakes? Or could there be something else at work within our souls?

I think the first thing to realise when it comes to our thoughts are that there are two kinds:

Active thought

You could classify learning, conversation and focussed inner dialogue as active. Our thoughts are active when we intentionally harness our abilities towards a goal or outcome.

Passive thought

These are the ideas and impressions we receive without intentional engagement. It may be ‘subliminal’ manipulation, but reactions, irrational outbursts, many emotions and fear are all a result of passive thought.

When it comes to faith, our thought life is absolutely key! These days it is impossible to live a few minutes without your thought-life being invaded by exterior influences. It could be whatsapp, the traffic in the morning or a magazine article you read. It may be the recollection of last night’s conversations or the pressure of a deadline at work… The world is fighting for our attention – for our thoughts.

In this craziness, I have personally seen how my faith can be heavily affected. Faith, in many ways, is not visible or apparent. So when there is an overload of tangible stimulation for my brain, there is obviously a great possibility for me to completely neglect what I truly rely on while being pulled in a million directions – whether I am aware of it or not.

In the Bible, it instructs us to “take every thought captive”. It is a phrase that I am constantly being reminded of. God created us to live in a world of active thought, where we decide what will affect us and intentionally choose what we think, say and do. Some thoughts are never meant to be dwelt upon. There are things that might enter your mind – whether through the influence of others or even random chance – that could take you down roads that have terrible destinations. Biblically, these thoughts could fall under the word ‘temptation’.

Temptation addresses the basis of your thoughts. If you analyse the scene in Eden, Satan simply challenged how Eve thought – with subtleness that successfully affected everything from then on. It is in this ‘grey zone’ where we decide what thoughts we will act upon. If you are looking for a key to what temptation could look like in your life, you can look at what Eve went through.

The Bible says that Eve saw the tree (whatever you are drawn to against your judgement) was:

1) Good for food

2) Pleasing to the eye

3) Good for obtaining knowledge

The temptation that Satan placed before her was to become like God in knowledge. It was all about being enlightened: to understand good and evil.

The key to recognising temptation in your thought-life is simple – look at how Eve saw the tree:

Good for food – Temptation meets a basic need. Each of us have legitimate desires that seek to be fulfilled. There should be no guilt in being tempted. It’s all about how you meet the desires you have.
Pleasing to the eye – Temptation will always parade the act in question as attractive. If you are drawn to something more than is normal or if you are finding yourself fixating on something – where it is becoming more of a desire than a basic need, then you are engaging with temptation.
Good for obtaining knowledge – Eve wanted to be like God, but in doing so she was cutting God out of the picture. If she was like God, she wouldn’t need him. This is the key for us: Will the action you take sever your dependence on God? Will it force you to fend for yourself?

Our thought life is constantly being fought over. It is up to us to decide who actually wins. If you would like to find out more about the good thoughts God intends for you, click on the link below.

Entertainment and Christianity

David Webster

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September 30, 2016

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We live in the most awesome entertainment age ever. Let’s be honest – the amount of good quality content available to us is unprecedented. From television shows to YouTube channels, we can now access shows and music that could literally consume our lives if we allowed it.

In the age of excellence, where more people than ever are able to have a professional voice that expresses and communicates, I believe it is important that we stay aware of what we are encountering. You can live life imagining that everything you watch is not affecting you, but we are definitely products of what we subject ourselves to.

Jose Mujica, formerly known as the poorest president in the world, said something that has stuck with me: “When you use money, you are paying with valued time”. Now, I am very aware that there are a lot of people who don’t pay for their entertainment these days, but you will always be “paying” with your time. So this begs the question, is what you are watching worth your time? Or rather, how much do you value your time?

I do believe it is important that we as Christians do engage with modern culture in all forms. These days whole friendships are built around phrases from television series and pop culture terms. To be relevant in life, you need to be able to share something. An easy way to do so is to know what’s going on in the entertainment world. Basically, enjoying good entertainment makes us relatable. But how we enjoy it needs to be different.

People use entertainment for different reasons: escapism, identification, education, curiosity, and even living vicariously. All of these, as much as they can be justified, are also extremely dangerous. The artists creating the content that is being engaged with globally are slowly pulling audiences into their worlds and perspectives. It is a subtle form of propaganda that is unavoidable.

Music, film, and other productions are slowly shaping how people think and react to the world. But this is not some fatalistic doomsday warning. I think it is one of the greatest opportunities ever! We just need some people creating content that draws people into positive change instead of negative digression or inconsequential stagnation.

I recently watched the remake of the most awarded film of all time: Ben Hur. As much as I could appreciate some of the modernisation of the storyline and the quality of production (the CGI was on point), I left with a nagging sense that the film was focussed too much on the Christian market – or at least towards people that had watched the original.

To fill you in, the story includes aspects of Jesus’ life – but it is not the focus of the film. In the end, it was an epic narrative with the crucifixion and healing ability of Jesus tagged onto the end – as if people knew about it and had context to apply it to the characters. I don’t doubt God could still use it, but as much as we need films about Jesus, we also need all types of content that has the inherent conviction of Jesus lying throughout it. We need to present worlds that line up with the Kingdom of God, but don’t blatantly have the “sheen” of “Christian” production.

Even Hollywood has recognised that the “Christian market” is extremely profitable. But we don’t need a separate category for entertainment that is godly. It needs to be a permeating perspective that reaches and influences every art form and identifies with more than those who have heard of Jesus before.

So engage with all media! Look for the God-story in everything. As humans, when we create it has to reflect God in some way because we are all made in his image. So there is redemptive purpose and themes in everything created. And if you are a creative person, let’s be intentional about our creativity – that we create from a place of godly inspiration with the effective skills to communicate it to the widest audience possible!

The eye of the storm

David Webster

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September 29, 2016

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Focus determines everything. When the world is rushing by; when everyone is swarming for your attention, trying to distract you into dependence; when there simply seems to be less time than task, you can easily spin out of control.

I have come dangerously close to burnout in my life. Life needs to be full. It needs to be bigger than your capacity. It needs to challenge you physically, emotionally and spiritually. But it also needs the right focus so that your direction is not affected.

Think of it this way: if we gave 100% focus to every single thing we do in a day, we would be exhausted. If I had to physically and intentionally look at every single letter key that I am typing with right now, I would probably take much longer and be mentally exhausted. If you drive, imagine how dangerous it would be to focus on flicking your indicator while driving on a highway. Your focus would be pulled from the road in front of you and collisions could happen at any moment.

In the same way, I believe we can all head for collision when our focus is placed on things that are necessary for the journey, but not essential for the direction of our lives. Going back to the driving analogy – we only know when to use our indicator by seeing the turn we need to take up ahead. If I focussed solely on the indicator, I would have no use for it. In the same way, our main focus determines how we operate with every part of our lives – both in private and in public.

In the Bible there are many references to storms. In a storm, things can become extremely chaotic. It is in the storm that fear becomes real. It is in the storm that our survival overcomes our common sense. It is in storms that the direction we are travelling in becomes unsure and we can forget our mission. But knowing Jesus changes our response to the storm. In one instance, he stopped a storm. In another he walked on the waves. Jesus is the Lord of the storm, but that doesn’t mean when you’re with him it’s always going to be calm. If the apostle Paul is anything to go by, God will use the storms to test your resolve and lead you where he wants you to go… (Paul was shipwrecked twice, and ended up seeing whole tribes find God instead of sailing straight past them).

Personally, I have seen the power of finding Jesus in the storm. If you look at large hurricanes and tornadoes, there is a central point that is called the eye: it is the place where everything is calm. As the eye of the storm moves, so the chaos spinning around moves too. With Jesus, we are in the eye of the hurricanes of life. Things might be whipping about around you. You may see things you regarded as permanent being ripped out of your world; you can watch as the landscape of your future completely turns and everything you’ve built on begin to fall away, and still have peace. It all depends on our focus.

In the eye of the storm, if you focus on the things that are being thrown about around you – if you lock your eyes on specific positions, tasks, people, emotions or objects that are spinning around you – you will end up spinning yourself. But if you choose to look at Jesus, the God of the storm, you will be able to stand no matter what. Psalm 16: 8 says: “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

God has come close – he chose to humble and humiliate himself for the sake of you and me. He not only knows about your present situation, but wants you to know that he is there with you. There is no one that cares more than Jesus. If you have been struggling to find a focus for your life – something that will not change no matter what – can I suggest that Jesus could be what you’re looking for?

Click on the link below to find out more.

Dear Africa

David Webster

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September 24, 2016

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I have not met many people in life who do not want to be better. Everyone has some desire for themselves and their environment to improve and strengthen.

In a time when issues concerning racism and cultural tension are still flaring up, I believe that it is important to recognise this. There is an inherent longing for our world to be better that many people share. Everyone might have different ideas of how it can be better, but their intentions are sincere – no matter how displaced. In the same way, those who want to simply try and maintain “life as they know it” are to be pitied. In an emerging continent and world-leading nation, there is no way South Africans of any ethnicity, culture or income bracket should be settling or trying to find a norm. We are forging a new way of life, of cultural interaction, social reform: a godly nation that represents many tribes and cultures.

If you are a citizen of Africa, you are an activist. You have no choice. Whatever you say or believe, whether you are intentional or not, is affecting your sphere of influence (uni, school, work, family, friendships, church, or online).

Like it or not, our generation has arrived in the middle of one of the largest reconstructions of life as we know it. What we face is hard work. After Apartheid in South Africa, genocide would have been the easy option. Choosing to build towards peace is a decision we have to personally adopt and forge on with.

As a white male South African, I may not understand all of the dynamics that have resulted in the tension at universities right now. But I have sought to gain more understanding, and have a few things I want to request of all of us.

To the previously advantaged:

I ask that you stay open. Many of us have thought that due to the end of Apartheid, the white man’s role is over. Don’t fight for a way of life that is exclusive. We can play the “victim” card as much as those who are actually struggling. You can say, “I didn’t choose this way of life”, but the fact is that you have been given a certain level of blessing – whether it be financial, educational or social – that is not to be taken lightly. There is a Biblical principle that applies – we are blessed to be a blessing. What we have is not given to us to hold onto and fight for. It is for us to use for the good of many. Facing the reality of society may make you uncomfortable. You may feel tempted to react – to try and defend yourself and your way of life, but I ask that you rather listen and consider the new, better way of life that we can build. Caring costs, but that doesn’t mean it is avoidable.

To the previously disadvantaged:

I ask that you have grace. Not a blind, “everything is okay” grace, but an approach that informs while it also supports. I know there is deep pain. The wounds of racism are easily reopened and I have heard terrible stories that are absolutely sickening. I apologise for a system that has made you feel inferior. I apologise for “dragging my feet” out of a deep sense of guilt when it comes to engaging with your pain. As much as the racist man is (thankfully) a dying breed, racism is still present in many systems and social structures – and you are more aware of this than your lighter-skinned contemporaries.

Forgiveness may seem out of grasp right now. I know it is a big ask. But I am begging you to choose to believe that there are many who want better for you as much as for them. In a country and continent that is undergoing drastic change there are many factors that can throw us off the course of progress. I am only beginning to understand how frustrating it must be to see the possibilities of an equal society but be held back by petty, misguided, and ignorant perspectives. I hope this blog gives you some hope.

One thing I have learned when it comes to our present struggle (it is everyone’s struggle) is that social media is an unhelpful battleground where everyone can call “foul” because it is “fowl”. I have been disgusted by the things people are willing to post online, knowing very well that they would never say those things in person. There are so many people who have uninformed, emotionally charged opinions on both “sides” of our nation’s future about these issues that don’t truly address the issues themselves.

I think we are living in exciting times. I believe the hope in this nation of South Africa especially is going to be more contagious than the hatred of our past. Let’s not forget that we are building and all of us are part of, and affect, the speed and strength of the process.

I believe nothing of value will last if God is not involved. No true healing will take place without God’s hand in it. He made us all. In His image for His purpose. There is a reason you are alive at this point in history. If God wanted Nelson Mandela to be alive today, he would be. If God wanted Mother Theresa to be alive today, she would be. If God wanted Moses, Joshua, Peter or Paul to be alive today, they would be. The only one that has been alive throughout is Jesus Christ. He has the ultimate perspective – of the past and our future. Click on the link below to find out how your personal relationship with Him can change you and the world you live in.

David Webster

Broken but still standing

Keep walking

This too shall pass

So in response to this tragic world, what do we do?

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