Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

The Pietermaritzburg Town Crier, the only one in South Africa, passed away peacefully last Friday. David Peter Southwood (19^th February 1938 – 17^th February 2012) had battled ill-health and diabetes related complications passed on into eternity two days before his 74^th birthday. I remember this large, well built man from my early working days in Pietermaritzburg, when he would be the appointed Town Crier – normally during the month of December – promoting the capital city of KwaZulu-Natal for 21 years.

How I came to meet Peter Southwood – he was known by his middle name – was when I received a telephone call from Peter in January 2012. He asked me if it was Gary he was speaking with and then questioned me if I knew who I was speaking to. The voice I did not know, but dear Peter informed me that I was speaking with the “Town Crier.” I remembered instantly who this man was and he then proceeded to tell me that he had a “Do You Think You Will R.I.P. (Rest In Peace)” Gospel Tract in his possession and he was looking for some more of them. I told him I had none in stock as I had not printed any of them again in about two years. He had gotten my cell number off the back of the tract and asked me where I was based. I told him in Pietermaritzburg and he was surprised in a happy way, and told me he was living in Hilton, which is possibly about ten to fifteen minutes drive out of the city. He indicated that he would love to meet with me and we could discuss the tract and the Gospel, as he said he had questions to ask me. I readily agreed and after getting directions to his and his wife Anne’s home, brother Henry Lisoma (a DRC Refugee who has SA Asylum) and I paid dear Peter a visit on Tuesday January 10^th, 2012.

At his home, he showed me the same tract I had distributed, and I was recollecting that I had handed him this Gospel Tract to him about two years ago outside the Hub Retail Store in Church Street while he was on official Town Crier business – clad in his royal blue and red Colonial dress with trimmings, tricorne hat and the brass clanger hand-bell while bellowing, “Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! Hear Ye! Hear Ye!”  If memory serves me well I had told him it was a Gospel Tract and he had smiled at me, taken it and said he would read it, placing it in his coat pocket. It seems like it was only yesterday as tears fill my eyes as I write this – recollecting the event, and thanking our Great God for a moment in time – God’s eternal time. On the day we met we spoke at length and he told me he was hoping to get more of these tracts as he went out and would love to give them to others. We spoke at length also about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and he asked questions including the assurance of salvation. It was a wonderful time together, as we ministered with Peter. We spoke about his days as the Town Crier and we looked at some photos around his sitting room, but what struck me most about this time together with brother Peter was that he was no longer the well set man he once was, he had lost much weight, but he still had the desire to, I paraphrase his words, “I want to do so much more for our Lord”.

It was also at this meeting that he light-heartedly prompted Henry to say “Congo” as only a deep-voiced, French speaking Congolese could say it. Henry did not disappoint Peter, who heartedly chuckled. He might have lost a lot physically, but jovial and spirit-seeking he remained. If only I had known this man for a longer time. What I do take away from this meeting, and a brief meeting Peter and I had a week later at his home on the following Wednesday, is that we do not labour in vain. Gospel tracts are given out and they do find its ways into homes. Peter had many that he had received over the years, which he fondly read at times, and it was wonderful to know that God spoke to Peter’s heart to get in touch with me two years later and for me to see the tract in his home was refreshing to know I am a part of God’s work. It was also at the first meeting we had that he allowed me the privilege of ‘clanging the bell.’ He complimented me on the stern clangs I gave, and jokingly asked if I had considered being the Town Crier. Sheepishly I smiled back, and said not for me. It would be big shoes to fill, but I will remain a Jesus Crier who will continue proclaiming the Gospel upon the streets of Pietermaritzburg. We also shared a time of prayer at his home with Peter and Anne, and it was half expected when we learned of him passing on and meeting his Creator.

When my wife Tammy showed me an article that had been written in The Witness newspaper, that I had not seen, I knew I had to go see his wife Anne at this time. Yesterday I paid her a visit and it was at this meeting that I also got to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with her son Martyn who is out from the United Kingdom, who at first believed that all religions have their part in this world. I showed him that these religions will lead people to eternity in hell, for the religious people have sinned against the Only True God, the God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob – the Creator of the world who revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ, they would be guilty by violating God’s Moral Commandments and trusting in other deity and idols and not the Son of God. I do pray that the seed planted will take root and Martyn will come to repentance and faith alone in Jesus Christ, God Almighty. Anne also shared with me, while their friend Jill was also present, the final moments of Peter’s passing. Anne had tried to get hold of a very dear male friend (his name escapes me) of Peter’s and was unable to find his telephone number. Anne had offered a short prayer by asking the Lord for assistance. The friend then arrived and Anne had asked him if he had his fiddle in the car, which from what I understood he never really carried with him, but this day he had it. Peter’s friend spent some time playing the fiddle as the sounds rang out on their property. The last hymn to be played for Peter was,

HOW GREAT THOU ART:

O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder,

Consider all the works Thy hand hath made.

I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,

Thy power throughout the universe displayed:

CHORUS:

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander,

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,

And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze:

And when I think that God His Son not sparing,

Sent Him to die – I scarce can take it in.

That on the cross my burden gladly bearing,

He bled and died to take away my sin.

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation,

And take me home – what joy shall fill my heart!

Then shall I bow in humble adoration,

And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!

Later Anne was then showing his friend out when the nurse, who was tending him at home, called her back. He had already fallen asleep and taken his last breath here upon earth and was in eternity meeting his God!

When I was leaving, Martyn’s mother Anne thanked me privately at my car. This is a mother praying for the salvation of her son. Please keep Martyn in prayer, Praise Jesus.

Today, Saturday 25^th February, 2012, I attended the memorial service for Peter held at the Holy Trinity Church, Hilton, and I was able to hand a few tracts to some folk, including Martyn who undertook that he will read it properly. The tract is: “Your Life – God’s Solution to Your Religion.”

Know this; God’s ways are certainly not our ways. I did not know two years ago whilst handing out a Gospel Tract, that all this would come to pass in a matter of the past two months. To those who are not saved, do you know what will happen to you tomorrow? Where will you spend eternity? Please consider these things, God is Gracious and Merciful, but He is also Just. Please visit http://www.needgod.com/

PSALM 139:1-18

¹To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. ²Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. ³Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. ⁴For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. ⁵Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. ⁶Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. ⁷Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? ⁸If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. ⁹If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; ¹⁰Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. ¹¹If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. ¹² Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. ¹³For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. ¹⁵My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. ¹⁶Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. ¹⁷How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! ¹⁸If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

Beware saying, “God speed” [God bless]

False teachers abound who do not acknowledge Christ as having come in the flesh. It is false charity to open the door to false teaching. We must have fellowship with God. We must have fellowship with Christians. But we must not have fellowship with false teachers.

If any Christian is in fellowship with false teachers: in religions, in cults, with antichrists, or even with false pastors (wolves in sheep’s clothing) and the person sends this greeting to them, “God bless you”, Scripture warns that the person is a “partaker of his evil deeds.” Let us read God’s Word, as it is written:

⁹Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: ¹¹For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. ~ 2 John 9-11

Be very careful who you entertain and say to: “God speed.” How can you say God bless you to a person living in rebellion to God who rejects the doctrine of Christ? God does not bless the wicked; He will bring judgment on them. This is what God’s Word warns:

⁴For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. ⁵The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. ⁶Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. ~ Psalm 5:4-6 [The word “leasing” is “falsehood”]

¹¹Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. ¹²Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. ~ Psalm 2:11,12

¹Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. ²But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. ³And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. ⁴The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. ⁵Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. ⁶For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. ~ Psalm 1:1-6

Be very careful who you say “God speed” [God bless you] to.

TopTV Boss out ‘over porn’

Here is a follow up report that appeared in The Witness newspaper dated Thursday, February 2, 2012 in respect of my previous blog post titled Oops! Top TV.

This truly shows the condition of men’s hearts that they are full of all manner of evil, abominations that are ungodly and desperately wicked. God’s Word speaks of the condition of men’s hearts:

⁹The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? ¹⁰I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. ~ Jeremiah 17:9,10

and

²⁰And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. ²¹For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, ²²Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: ²³All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. ~ Mark 7:20-23

It shows from the dismissing of TopTV’s CEO that if you do not produce immoral material in the form of pornography a service provider can get rid of you and sack you from your position because evil and wicked ‘incensed’ (sic) investors want filth to be provided to the public. Does the so called investors speak on behalf of all members of the public? The investors will one day stand before God Almighty and give account for their wicked and immoral decisions taken and for feeding the lust of many others who, too, will give an account to God. All for the love of money, mankind will go to the most despicable depths to satisfy their lusts! You have been warned. Depart from your evil ways.

By Thinus Ferreira and Witness Reporter

“CAPE TOWN – TopTV’s CEO, Vino Govender, is getting the boot after incensed investors apparently put pressure on the beleaguered pay TV operator to get rid of him amid mounting unhappiness with its content and broken promises.

“Eddie Mbalo, chairperson of On Digital Media (ODM), TopTV’s umbrella company, confirmed last night the company was in talks with Govender “on a mutual separation”.

“These discussions were not concluded and ODM would not make further comment, he said.

“Mbalo is tipped to succeed Govender, at least in an acting capacity.

“Channel 24 reported earlier yesterday that Govender was getting the boot after a failed attempt at launching a much-maligned porn package.

“It quoted insiders saying investors were worried about the direction of the company and the pay TV operator’s content.

“The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), one of the major investors in TopTV since its launch, apparently asked that Govender be replaced over its faltering content offering.

“The IDC could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

“As to where TopTV went wrong, media consultant Janine Lazarus said: “It will now be very difficult for the public to divorce the brand from the debate on pornography, and – even worse – the fracas surrounding getting the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s stamp of approval.

“What is needed now is some serious rethinking and strategizing – that is if it isn’t too late.”

“Govender took over as ODM’s CEO in 2007 when the founder Mergan Moodley, became ill. TopTV passed the 300 000 subscriber mark towards the end of last year, before its porn plan became known and organisations started calling for a boycott.

“TopTV also received criticism for the vast number of repeat screenings, lack of new channels since November that have not yet been replaced, and a failure to follow through on multiple promises, like starting a sport channel.

“Since its commercial launch in May 2010 Govender has backtracked about the company’s plans on several occasions. Chief among them is the promise not to run pornographic channels.

“Promises of plans to have high definition (HD) channels, a PVR and the addition of several new TV channels within months of its launch have not been realised.

“TopTV went through a restructuring exactly a year ago. It recently lost the Hi Nolly and One Music channels, and will lose its Current TV channel on March 11.

“Morale at TopTV is reportedly down, with several people worried about their jobs.

“An insider said a consultancy would be engaged to review the structure, positions and skill sets, “but nothing has been communicated to the staff”.” – Channel 24

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Related posts

• The Perversion of Pornography
• Oops! TopTV