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Faith, Mountain And The Seven Options

2011-10-26T00:26:00.002+02:00

Faith that moves a mountain is a small faith;
faith that climbs a mountain is a big faith

By 'factory setting' we all want mountain out of our way. The Bible makes a provision for us to move mountains on condition that we have faith. Reality check however, shows that even with faith some mountains may not move.

I want you to imagine yourself walking along the path of faith. You come across a mountain—a huge mountain. The mountain stands in your way—between you and your destination. You look at the mountain and start thinking of what to do next. The mountain is intimidatingly huge and obnoxiously adamant.

At the foot of the mountain, you try to recall what you have learnt about how people deal with the mountains that stand on their way. You also try to find out what your predecessors did with this mountain. The fact that it is standing there means that nobody has been able to get it out of that place. You take time to think through the options available.

Most of the options available are discernible by the trails left behind by people who had travelled this path before. And how lucky we are who live in this generation! From the questions asked by the people who went ahead of us, we find trails of answers; from the mistakes they made, we get lessons and warnings.

You start your investigation. You look and see that on both sides of the mountain are well-beaten paths. The wider and beaten the path, the more it proves its popularity. You realise that turning to the right or left are remarkably popular. You conclude:
Those must be the people who still wanted to reach their destination and had opted to detour in order to avoid the mountain.

You think and realise that because the teaching of the faith entails moving mountains, and since nobody likes a mountain to stand in his way, these people who turned to the left or right must have tried to move the mountain out of the way. Detouring can easily get one off course. Someb ody would only detour ifhe has to. You conclude:
The mountain must have defied these people who detoured!

You investigate the foot of the mountain and see a hole. You are not so clear what it is; you wonder: Is this a cave or a tunnel? The path that leads into it is not as well-beaten as the paths to the right and left of the mountain. You conclude:
There are people who went through this hole but they were few. What guarantee did they have that they would get to the other side of the mountain?

You lift your head and look at the mountain. You see a very vague path. There is no need to talk of a beaten path. In fact, one wonders if it is a path after all. You conclude:
If the people who went through the hole were few, fewer indeed were those who climbed the mountain.

You think through it and further conclude that if the path towards the top of the mountain was well-beaten, it must have been long ago. Because it is no longer popular, the bushes are eating away the trails left behind by those who once travelled this path, or probably, the path has never been popular at all.

You go on with your investigation. You realise that there are some camps near the mountain. You conclude:
These must be people who gave up on the journey and have opted to settle. They are not going anywhere. Or, maybe, they are waiting for opportune time to make a decision on how to proceed.Or that the mountain will one day give way.

As you continue pondering, you remember that on the way before you reached the mountain, you met people who were going the opposite direction. You conclude:
Those must have been the people who gave up completely and preferred to go back to where they came from.

As you analyse your findings and conclusions, you realise that there are seven options open to you. Before you embark actively on choosing what you want to do, one thing comes out clearly: The walk of faith is not built round a culture, rather it is an adventure, unique for each person. However much we are taught and are familiar with the concept of faith, the practice of it is something different. Unless one joins the crowd to travel the well-beaten pop path, the journey of faith carries an element of exploration.

Above are the seven options that are considered into more details in the book Faith, Mountain And The Seven Option.

In case the options are not yet clear to the reader, they are as follows:
i) Command the mountain out of the way;
ii) Take a detour to the left to avoid the mountain;
iii) Take a detour to the right to avoid the mountain;
iv) Camp at the foot of the mountain;
v) Go back to where you came from;
vi) Go into a cave or through a tunnel;
vii) Climb the mountain.

"It is mistakenly held that the strength of a boxer is in the power of his punches, the truth, however, is that the strength of a boxer is in his ability to withstand the best punch from his opponent"—Faith, Mountain And The Seven Options

There are more questions than there are answers

2010-08-19T00:25:00.003+02:00

The reason we are always on the receiving end is because we have positioned ourselves as the people who have the answers. The sceptics, on the other hand, position themselves as the people who have the questions. Now, if you are honest, you will grant that there are more questions than there are answers. The reason is that an answer is only an answer if there is a question to which it is responding. If there is no question, the answer ceases to be called an answer.

Ideally, God did not intend for us to have our questions answered before we establish a relationship with him.

The first recorded question in the history of mankind, was asked by the serpent: Did God really say? (Genesis 3:1).

And what can you say about the first answer?

Well questions have become part of life just like clothes. The innocent Adam and Eve were naked. But after the fall, they had to use clothes. Like clothes we can use questions but we better be clear what we use them for. We can ask God questions but we must never question Him.

Meanwhile, we can swop places with the sceptics. They also have some answers to provide. And we have some questions to ask.

The Paradox of the Relativity of the Discrete

2010-08-04T10:42:00.002+02:00

Relativity: Defining something whose value is understood dependently, that is, taking bearing from other things.

Discrete: Defining something whose value is determined independently.

The two things that explain the paradox of the relativity of the discrete are time and money.

Money:

Ten dollars, for example, should be ten dollars for everyone. It is a discrete value. But let us look at it again. The value of ten dollar is not the same for everyone. To some it is too much money, to others it’s ‘no money’. One of the reasons explaining this is the fact that the value of money is determined by the direction of its flow. The same amount of money is too much when you are giving it away and too little when you are receiving it. For example, the money you pay for rent is so much for you but so little for the landlord.

Time:

One hour is one hour for everybody. But look at it again. The length of one hour depends on the situation in which you are. I was once stuck in a lift (elevator) on the 8^th floor. I waited for 20 minutes to be rescued. It is one of the longest waitings I have done in my life. Conversely when you are enjoying yourself and you have only one hour to do so, it will be such a short time.

Hence, the discrete is also, in a way, relative.

Finding Fault?

2010-04-01T21:01:00.002+02:00

Ref. Mark 14:53-61

A crowd armed with swords and clubs were sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders to arrest Jesus. The Bible says that these people the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put Him to death, but they did not find any. When they failed to get anything to convict Him with they started to testify falsely against Him, but as you would expect, their hurriedly conjured statements did not agree. It is very difficult to be consistent with fabricated stories even if the conjurers had all the time to rehearse them.

What is impressive in this story is the fact that the Lord’s accusers were looking for evidence (read: fault) to use against Him but they never got any. Why Jesus’ life was impressive is the fact that however perfect one is, if someone is bent on finding fault he will surely get one. Jesus’ life was so clean that not even a magnifying device could get a fault on Him. At one time, even Pilate had to testify: “I find no fault in this Man” (Lk. 23:4)

The Bible also records that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him (Acts 10:38).

The bottom line:

Jesus was so perfect that not even fault-finding experts could find anything genuine to accuse Him of.

He is my Lord; my standard.

Inspiration and Divine Favour

2010-03-08T22:57:00.002+01:00

I don't believe that I have to be taught by a successful person in order to be a success myself. Reasons:
i) There are people who are successful without being taught by any successful person. We can actually learn from a failure to get us to succeed;

ii) Successful person can tell you everything he did, a result of which he became successful; you can then follow his script, that is, do everything he did. At the end of the day, you would still not succeed like him. There are so many things at interplay that you have no control over;

iii) A trainer who never played at any level can still train a world-cup-winning team.

I believe in inspiration and divine favour.

Time is Money

2010-02-28T00:27:00.006+01:00

Yesterday, I made another desperate attempt to turn a voice of one crying in the wilderness to a voice of one crying in the city.

My book, The Secret Weapon Against Terrorism, was published yesterday as an ebook at Smashwords.

I have been writing quite a bit since 2003. Not many, including some of my very close friends have cared to have a look at the things I'm writing. When I almost got discouraged, God spoke to me saying: "Consider yourself a voice crying in the wilderness!" He made me understand the symbolic meaning of the same: "You are in the wilderness of audience!" He however encouraged me to keep on shouting.

Lamenting the lack of audience, a friend of mine said: "Too bad that sometimes great works are discovered after the artist is long gone!" Recently, someone who has read one of my books, wrote me a note saying: "Your work will live on long after you are gone!"

Interestingly, I was supposed to have "gone". The doctor had given me 2 years in 2002 (Details are in DREAMS OF HOPE AND VISIONS OF DIVINE INTERVENTION: A Personal Story of an Eventful Life—This Far).

I am looking for people who would give me their time, not necessarily their money. If you give me your time and also decide to give me your money, I will consider the money an offering.

The Secret Weapon Agaisnt Terrorism was published (print) in 2007 book. The reason for making it available as an ebook is to make it available electronically for wider distribution. Take some time and check out this book at Smashwords, where you can sample the first 50% of the book for free.

Here's the link to my Smashwords author profile.

Here's the link to my book page, where you can sample or purchase the book.

If you feel the book is worth reading, decide on whatever amount of money to purchase it so that you can read the rest. If you are not in a position for one reason or the other to pay the least possible amount you can part with, please get back to me and request a complete book for free. I will then deliver it as a PDF (as at now, I’m not endowed enough to promise to send a hard copy, unless I have to). If you find the book controversial, get back to me so that I can shed more light (not necessarily to win you, but to 'justify' my standpoint. Also discuss it with your acquaintances, including your leaders.

Trials And Temptations

2010-02-08T23:32:00.002+01:00

Many people are not sure of the difference between trials and temptations. While admitting that in some circumstances, the difference may be difficult to delineate, the following can help tell the difference:

Temptations appeal to and manipulate ones' affinity to pleasure; trials challenge one to pay the price for what he cherishes.

Temptations are meant to be resisted; trials are meant to be endured.

In temptations, you are expected not to give in, in trials, you are expected not to give up.

Temptations thrill; trials grill.

We pray: Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us in trials. In other words, if it is temptation, avoid it; if it is trial go through it.

The Lord makes a way of escape for us if it is temptation; He gives us the strength to persevere if it is trial.

Still Vulnerable Despite Strength

2010-01-20T20:04:00.004+01:00

One may be strong, but strength helps little if one is vulnerable and culpable in one way or the other. Samson was strong but he was vulnerable to the seductive and nagging Delilah. When he gave in, it also went with his strength.

I have been watching Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. I have seen strong teams lose, not because of anything but because of making a cheap mistake. This reminds me of Joseph’s case with Potiphar’s wife. Despite the seduction of Potiphar’s wife day-after-day, the Bible says that Joseph refused to go to bed with her or even be with her (Gen. 39:10). The lady however, didn’t give up. She waited for Joseph to make a wrong move, and he did. In verses 11-12, we read: One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.

It was a moment of a lapse in judgment for Joseph to have gone into the house when none of the household servants were inside. May be he didn’t know that the other servants were not there but the point is that by going into the house and be alone with Potiphar’s wife, he made it too difficult for himself as the repercussions of her attempts later will show.

This story teaches me that however ‘strong’ I am, I may not count my success on my strength. I need divine guidance and discernment to help me not sell myself away because of cheap mistakes. But should I make one, I’d rely on Divine intervention to sort me out of the imprisonment my mistake may have landed me into.

Conventions and Convictions

2009-07-09T14:52:00.002+02:00

There are conventions that describe social norms from which we derive collective responsibility. Equally, there are conventions that prescribe penalties for delinquencies. When these are civil and secular, we seem not to have avowed problem. The problem comes when we are introduced to conventions that claim to censor us from the heart.

Spiritual matters, especially those portrayed by Christ Jesus, demand that the conventions are not to just remain 'external force' to tame our excesses, they demand that we personally surrender the excesses and turn the conventions into convictions from the heart. Many may not like this, but it is the most established requirement that stands despite its being unpopular.

Good News!

2009-05-11T18:34:00.003+02:00

Good News!
Finally, Tomorrow is here. It has come in style. The problem, however, is that it has come with a new name. Unless you are very keen you may not recognise him.
We usually say Tomorrow never comes, but we are wrong! Tomorrow actually comes, always! Tomorrow that has come changes its name to “Today”.
Today is therefore the Tomorrow of Yesterday.
If there is something good you promised yesterday to do Tomorrow, do it Today because Today is the Tomorrow of Yesterday. Don’t let the change of name dupe you.
On the other hand, if there is something bad you promised Yesterday to do Tomorrow, please mind the change of name: Today is not Tomorrow, continue waiting for Tomorrow.
Have a Yesterday's Tomorrow filled with a fulfilled Today.

Fooling and Being Fooled

2009-04-24T20:16:00.002+02:00

When you like fooling people and get pleasure out of it, it may turn out that some of the people you think you are fooling may fool you instead. No wonder the Bible talks of deceiving (others) and being deceived (2Tim. 3:13). Consider the following story:

Not So Dumb After All
There was a little boy named Johnny who used to hang out at the local corner market. The owner didn't know what Johnny's problem was, but the boys would constantly tease him.
They would always comment that he was a few bricks shy of a full load, or two pickles short of a barrel. To prove it, sometimes they would offer Johnny his choice between a nickel and a dime, and John would always take the nickel.
One day after John grabbed the nickel, the store owner took him aside and said, "Johnny, those boys are making fun of you. They think that you don't know that the dime is worth more than the nickel. Are you grabbing the nickel because it's bigger, or why?"
Slowly, Johnny turned toward the store owner and a big grin appeared on his face and Johnny said, "Well, if I took the dime, they'd stop doing it. So far I have saved up $20!"
-----------------
Source: ArcaMax.

Not Wise

2009-04-14T18:55:00.002+02:00

He is not wise who is wise enough not to seek the Lord's counsel;
He is not a fool who is foolish enough to seek God's leading in the simplest of an assignment.

He is not strong who is strong enough not to seek the Lord's enablement;
He is not weak who is weak enough to rely on the Lord's strength.

He is not rich who is rich enough to think he doesn't need God;
He is not poor who is poor enough to trust God for every need.

He is not knowledgeable whose knowledge doesn't acknowledge God;
He is not uninformed who has been transformed by the Word of God.

Height into Depth

2008-11-22T23:34:00.002+01:00

The quality of success is not measured by the quantity of accomplishments but by the humility of the heart.

If you are successful yet remain truly humble, then you are a true success. If you become haughty because of your success, know this for sure: Pride has the power to turn the height of your climb into the depth of your fall. Therefore, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall", says the Bible (Proverbs 16:18).

Dumb Question

2008-11-19T10:38:00.004+01:00

It is better to ask a dumb question than abstain from asking it only to end up doing a dumb thing. Asking a dumb question may stop you from doing a dumb thing. I came to this conclusion at the place of work where a new colleague was not sure about something, yet he feared asking because it could have been a stupid question for those who are versed with the process. The problem at the factory is that a small, or rather call it a stupid, mistake can cost the factory millions. Rather than risk putting the factory into a megalomaniac financial crisis, let us hear the dumb question please.

This is not just in a factory. Though people may rebuke or despise you for asking what to them is either obvious or dumb, you may not know what you have avoided by asking the 'dumb' question. Things are not necessarily obvious to everyone the way they may look.

Now, go ahead, ask your 'dumb' question.

Some Thoughts

2008-09-10T19:55:00.002+02:00

While a dumb mistake will get a person into a plumb problem, he would need a grand wit to get out of that problem। The tricky thing however is that there is a strong affinity for a mistake to call for another mistake, purporting to “correct” or nullify the previous one.

There is always a disadvantage that comes with advantage: Success comes with pride; power comes with arrogance; comfort with laxity, etc. We may need to probably work harder to keep pride away than we worked to attain success.

Can The Devil Speak The Truth?

2008-04-10T16:26:00.002+02:00

The Bible tells us that the devil is the father of all lies (John 8:44). In fact, he has the Copyright for sin generally and lying in particular.

But the answer to the question of whether the devil can speak the truth or not is, worryingly, Yes! The devil can actually speak the truth—on one condition: That his motives be desperately wicked. This is why we are called upon to watch and pray. Praying and fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit in the Word are able to unmask the “truths” that the devil speaks.

It is a dangerous thing when the devil speaks the truth. People who cannot discern the motive for his "truths" will be led a stray by these diabolic versions of the truth.

Truth is not necessarily ascertained by the superficial validity of what is said, the motive of speaking the truth must be in accord with the truth, that is to say, the motive must be virtuous(Read More about the biblical records of the devil and demons speaking the truth at some points)

Do People Really Like Free Things?

2008-01-13T17:11:00.000+01:00

Too Good to Be True?
Some guy bought a new fridge for his house. To get rid of his old fridge, he put it in his front yard and hung a sign on it saying: "Free to good home. You want it, you take it."

For three days the fridge sat there without even one person looking twice at it. He eventually decided that people were too untrusting of this deal. It looked to good to be true, so he changed the sign to read: "Fridge for sale $50." The next day someone stole it.
(Source: Arca Max).

THE SECRET WEAPON AGAINST TERRORISM

2007-10-26T14:12:00.000+02:00

The Secret Weapon Against Terrorism is here.

When you turn the last page of this book, you will tell why this book is not only timely but also timeless.

I highly recommend it.

View Table of Content here

Read preview chapter here

Secrets

2007-10-25T18:59:00.000+02:00

I was wondering:
How many people ought to know a secret before it ceases to be one?

The essence of a secret is its absence from “the public domain.” The more people know about something, the more it ceases to be a secret, but what is the yardstick?

If you are told a secret and asked to keep it but you decide to tell one more person and you in turn ask him to keep it, you shall have told that person not to tell you a secret if he had one. The reason is that if you were asked not to tell anybody and you told him, he will know that his secret will not be secure with you. A secret will soon lose its "name" if it is given away to people who warn others to do what they themselves failed to do.

If you tell me a secret and ask me to keep it, you need to trust me enough to know that I will be able to do what you failed to do—i.e. keep the secret.

Many people tell us so much but are we taking note?

Secrets are not like words.
You can give your word and keep it—it is virtuous to do so, but you cannot give your secret and still keep it.

What is Wrong Fearing Hell?

2007-10-17T17:56:00.000+02:00

Many critics of religion generally and Christianity in particular think that those who become Christians do so because they fear going to hell. Personally, there was no hell picture painted to me when I got saved. In fact the reality of hell dawned on me after I had gotten saved. Before getting saved, the word hell was something I'd use in a phrase "go to hell!", to mean "get lost!"

Generally, it is not the fear of hell that makes people get saved, rather, it is salvation that opens people's eyes and hearts to perceive how hell is a terrible place.

But even if the fear of hell would make someone get saved, what is wrong with that? Hell is of course a terrible place, especially to stay in for eternity.

Some people who behave as if they don't fear hell are more fearful about things around them than Christians.

If the fear of hell was the primary cause for people to get saved, all fearful people would be saved, otherwise, who would take chances when eternity is at stake, and there is no second chance? What does it help to say "O I am sorry I was wrong!" when there is no chance to right the wrong?

Mistakes

2007-09-12T16:21:00.000+02:00

It costs to make mistakes, it pays to learn from them;
The higher the stakes, the costly the mistake.

If you made a mistake and got away with it,
let that not rob you of the lesson you ought to learn.

Getting away with a mistake doesn't mean you make a lifestyle out of it.
It is "acceptable" to make just about any mistake, except ONE:

DON'T EVER MAKE AN ETERNAL MISTAKE!

Global Terrorism, What Can We Do About It?

2007-09-11T18:27:00.002+02:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Daniel Owino Ogweno

+47 95 123 143

http://www.cilmin.com/

daniel@cilmin.com

Christians Have Access to a Secret Weapon Able to Halt Global Terrorism
Experienced mediator provides the solution to growing international problem

LONGWOOD, FL—Terrorism is a global problem that demands a solution, but no one has come up with a workable plan of action. The Secret Weapon Against Terrorism (paperback, 978-1-60477-042-1; hardcover, 978-1-60477-043-8) calls on God’s personal intervention in the hearts of men and women around the globe. Author and mediator Daniel Owino Ogweno believes that the solution to global terrorism comes when God Himself shows up in the hearts of both the terrorist and the terrorized. Most of the books that have been written on terrorism, states Ogweno, are basically descriptive and informative. In The Secret Weapon Against Terrorism, however, Ogweno provides prescriptive and transformative answers to the global problem of terrorism.

Ogweno maintains, “Our greatest desire is to bring back civility, sanity, and security so that we can travel, work, and gather in social places without fear.” Utilizing biblical principles and working from a Christian belief system, Ogweno outlines the special position of humans in the hierarchy of God’s creation and explains the reasons why the arch enemy of human beings—Satan—wants to sabotage our heritage. Using easy-to-follow arguments and blending biblical teachings with life experiences, Ogweno helps you identify the secret weapon and then learn how and where to use it. Discover how to effectively check the threat and execution of terrorist activities in the powerful new book, The Secret Weapon Against Terrorism.

Daniel Owino Ogweno holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Moi University, Kenya, and an M.Phil. in mass communication and media studies from the University of Bergen, Norway. He is married and has two sons and one daughter.

Xulon Press, a part of Salem Communications Corporation, is the world’s largest Christian publisher, with more than 4,000 titles published to date. Retailers may order The Secret Weapon Against Terrorism through Ingram Book Company and/or Spring Arbor Book Distributors.

NOTE: Electronic version of this book is available HERE.

Another One From Arca Max

2007-08-17T20:13:00.000+02:00

I got the fiollowing e-mailed to me by Arca Max:

Holidays
An atheist complained to a friend, "Christians have their special
holidays, such as Christmas and Easter. And Jews celebrate their holidays, such
as Passover and Yom Kippur. Muslims have their holidays, too." "Every religion
has holidays to celebrate. But we atheists," he said, "have no recognized
national holiday. It's an unfair discrimination" His friend replied..."Well, why
don't you celebrate April 1st?"

Religion: The Root of Problems in the World?

2007-07-29T19:55:00.000+02:00

I have heard and read many stories of people accusing religion for causing problems in the world.

I am a born-again Christian and to say that I concur with this feeling shouldn't raise eyebrows. I agree that religion generally, has been a cause of many problems in the world.

What I disagree with, however, is the fact that some anti-religion people think that religion should be gotten rid of, if it were possible. The undoing of this idea is the generalisation of anything religion.

They forget the fact that every good thing on this planet has people who counter and misuse it. Take politics for example, we all appreciate the need for an organised society with administrative structures in place. Nevertheless, there are wars, among other vices, that have been fought in this world--some so megalomaniac that they were called "world wars". These wars were because of misuse of political power as far as internal and foreign policies are concerned.

The fact that some bad guys have misused religion doesn't mean that it is religion that has problems. To the contrary, religion is so important that the devil has all his attention on it--causing lots of confusions and fanaticisms.

Blaming religion summarily is like blaming a switch that has turned off the light, or a staircase that has led someone to the basement. If we do the right thing with the switch, we will have our light back on; if we face the right direction, the staircase that takes us to the basement will take us upstairs.

People who disqualify anything religion have their attention focused on people who are facing the wrong direction of the staircase of religion.

God made this very clear when He said that the choice is ours. We can use whatever gift He gave us for good or for bad, but we will have to account for whatever we chose. One can choose religion to attain life; the other can use religion to cause death, both for self and for others (See Deuteronomy 30:19 (NIV).

There are people who have stopped stealing because of religion; there are those that have stopped promiscuity because they received Christ in their life, the list is inexhaustible.

Nationmedia.com | Daily Nation | LETTERS | Everything in life is a paradox

2007-06-29T17:47:00.000+02:00

Nationmedia.com Daily Nation LETTERS Everything in life is a paradox

Strange Things Indeed!

2007-05-24T21:34:00.000+02:00

Read the following and ponder:

"The best things in life often come from hell"

Better Converted Car Thief

2007-05-23T11:46:00.000+02:00

Knowing the power of this gospel, I am willing to put myself on record that I would rather be preached to by a converted car thief than be lulled to death by the educated gentlemen who have reduced Christianity to nothing more than a psychology of comfort.

Even their church ads woo men and women with the appeal, “Come to church and be comforted.”

From the book: Who Put Jesus on the Cross? By A.W. Tozer

The Reason We Live

2007-05-07T18:25:00.000+02:00

In The Message (The Bible in Contemporary Language), Eugene H. Peterson begins the introduction to the book of Genesis as follows:
First, God. God is the subject of life. God is foundational for living. If we don't have a sense of the primacy of God, we will never get it right, get life right, get our lives right. Not God at the margins; not God as an option; not God on the weekends. God at center and circumference; God first and last; God, God, God.

What kind of relationship ought we to have with the Source of our sustenance?

Problem Management

2007-04-27T21:37:00.000+02:00

"Problem" may not necessarily be the problem;
The problem is how we manage the challenges.
When you meet difficulty, call it a challenge;
Then do everything you can not to allow it degenerate into a "problem."

Challenges will always come at various times and in various forms;
The most important thing is to determine to manage them adequately.

May you have a problem management life.

It Doesn’t Matter To Me (Part 3)

2007-04-23T16:48:00.000+02:00

NB: To follow the post below, it is will be advisable to read parts 1 and 2 below.

Time Was Saved

Time was saved. The response I gave them took the wind out of their sail. Why really should we waste time debating on the day of the birth of Christ? If the day of His birth was of doctrinal importance, it would have been clearly stated and the New Testament writers would have underlined it somehow, somewhere.

The chapter on Christmas was closed. They jumped to the question of whether believers will stay on the new earth or go to heaven. Again let us look at what transpired in Q&A format:

WT: Do you believe that you will go to heaven; do you know what the Bible says about our permanent home?

MR. I can guess where you want to go with this, but let me put it this way: It doesn’t matter to me. Whether I’ll stay on the New Earth or go to heaven, I will be where the Lord wants me to be. The Lord Jesus told His disciples, “where I am you will be also” (John 12:26).

I am Christ’s follower and where He is I will also be. I don’t think for a moment that Christ will come back and say, ‘You people who believed that you would come (go) to heaven were desperately mistaken. You did everything right but on the technicality of having thought that you’d go to heaven, you are banished’.

So I haven’t shelved my belief that I am heaven-bound.

I believe that it is time we stop wasting time on things that are not important and focus on Christ.

Assignment: Can you identify some other unnecessary debates we engage one another into?

It Doesn't Matter To Me Part 2

2007-04-21T23:07:00.000+02:00

What really is important?

Much of the confusion and doctrinal disagreements are based on things that are not important. I was one day approached by Watch Tower representatives. After realising that I am a believer, they wanted to engage me in a debate to prove to me that that what I believed was wrong. They asked me if I celebrate Christmas and if I believed I would go to heaven. The following is what transpired in Q&A format:

WT (Watch Tower): Do you celebrate Christmas?

MR. (My Response): I don’t celebrate the day, I celebrate the Ancient of Days—a Person.

WT: Did you know that Christ was not born on December 25th

MR. I like being informed and I am aware that there are convincing evidences that Christ was not born on 25th December. Nevertheless, I have chosen not to torture myself with controversies about the date of birth. The date of birth is not the focus of my worship. It doesn’t matter to me when He was born, it matters to me that He was born.

WT. But do you still celebrate on 25th December?

MR. I celebrate everyday. My most important celebration is the inner celebration. Even if I don’t physically celebrate on a particular day, the peace that surpasses all understanding wells from within me; it causes my soul to rejoice and celebrate the goodness of God—this is not something I do once a year.

WT. Do you give and receive gifts on Christmas day?

MR. I don’t stop people who wish to give me a gift on Christmas day but for me, if I see a need, I don’t have to wait till Christmas to give gifts. If not prompted by a need, I can give as a gesture and token of goodwill—this also is not tied to a particular day.

For your information and this, I’m sure, will delight you, I take a distance from the commercialised Christmas season. There is more material exchange than there is the spiritual change following God’s gift to mankind.

It Doesn’t Matter To Me (Part 1)

2007-04-20T23:05:00.000+02:00

Part 1: Religious Confusion

At the time I got saved, one thing was certain: God overwhelmed me by His reality and presence so much so that I broke the cultural rules as I yielded to the scriptural rebirth. Our culture forbid men to cry publicly—except at a funeral and even in this case it had to be with some reservation. I cried like a baby.

I stood face to face with the best the world could offer to a man, the only problem was that the world’s best was standing in the way—either I was to take the world’s offer and forget about God or accept Christ and forget about the world’s best.

Immediately I got saved, God opened my eyes to see the web of religious confusion in the world in away I had never anticipated before. How on earth would someone sort himself out of all the religious lies and counterfeits? It is not easy but it is possible—the only condition is that one has to be thoroughly honest with God and through with self.

I pleaded with God to help me; either I would serve God in the light of His leading or I forget about it and chase the things that pleased me in the world. I wouldn’t “waste” my time with religion if it was not reconciling me to my Creator.

God Intrudes

2007-04-19T22:31:00.000+02:00

“Despite our efforts to keep Him out, God intrudes. The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities: a virgin’s womb and an empty tomb. Jesus entered our world through a door marked ‘No Entrance’ and left through a door marked ‘No Exit’.”
--Peter Larson.

Wickedness Doesn’t Pay

2007-04-17T22:55:00.000+02:00

There are things that are dreadful and painful. Some are so painful, we wouldn’t wish to entertain the thought that we might be caught up with them.

The sobering thing is that fear (phobia) doesn’t insulate us from what we dread.

Those who fear God will be either strengthened to face their fears or protected from what they fear. This is not the same with the wicked. the wicked will face the full fury of what they fear.

The Bible says:

What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted (Proverbs 10:24 NIV).

Think about it! It is not about what you fear catching up with you but being overtaken by it.

There comes a time when we have to face some unpleasant things in life as the Bible says:

When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever (Proverbs 10:25 NIV).

Where is your foundation? Are you founded on the Rock of Ages—Jesus, the stone that the builders rejected but who have become the Capstone?

Don’t wait until you are overtaken by events.

Judgment Founded On Righteousness

2007-04-16T22:21:00.000+02:00

Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it. Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?
--Psalm 94:15-16 (NIV).

When something becomes popular, it doesn't matter how depraved it is. Speak against it and you become unpopular. What is the price we are paying to buy popularity?

Regardless of how much depravity seem to pick momentum, "Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it." Somebody will arise at the call, "Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?"

Bad things are fluorishing in our society because we give good designations to evil things. We are at the apogee of euphemism.

The Pursuit Of Commitment

2007-04-14T13:44:00.000+02:00

Commitment is a constant call;
It is the real measure of regeneration;
And the evidence of conversion.

We can’t outgrow commitment;
There is always room to stretch into;
And ever ready even if the Lord comes incognito.

And however seasoned Christians we may become, we must always gauge our commitment based on the principles and insights shared in this book. As at now the book is only available as an E-book.

Consider it: The Pursuit of Commitment

America: A City Upon A Hill

2007-04-14T10:16:00.000+02:00

Consider the following quotation and look especially at the date it was said:

We must consider that we will be a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are on us; so that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword through the world.
--John Winthrop (1588-1649): Christian Charity, A Model Hereof (Sermon, 1630).

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Author's note: My source: The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase, Saying and Quotation (1997).

Dealing With A Sceptic

2007-04-13T21:22:00.000+02:00

I got the following from ArcaMax:

A new doctor had arrived in town. He could cure anything and anybody. Everyone was amazed with what he could do - everyone except for Mr. Thompson, the town skeptic.

Grumpy old Mr. Thompson went to visit this 'miracle doctor' to prove that he wasn't anybody special. When it was time for his appointment he told the doctor, "Hey, doc, I've lost my sense of taste. I can't taste nothin', so what are ya goin' to do?"

The doctor scratched his head and mumbled to himself a little, then told Mr. Thompson, "What you need is jar number 47."

So the doctor brought the jar out, opened it, and told Mr. Thompson to taste it. He tasted it and immediately spit it out, "This is gross!" he yelled. "Looks like I just restored your sense of taste Mr. Thompson," said the doctor. So Mr. Thompson went home.... very mad.

One month later, Mr. Thompson decides to go back to the doctor and try once again to expose him as a fake, by complaining of a new problem. "Doc," he started, "I can't remember anything!" Thinking he had the doctor stumped now, he waited as the doctor scratched his head, mumbled to himself a little, and told Mr. Thompson, "What you need is jar number 47, it's..."

But before the doctor could finish his sentence, Mr. Thompson was cured and fled the room!
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My comment (a proverb): The higher the monkey climbs, the more he shows his tail.

Forced Pizza Into My Son’s Mouth

2007-04-12T17:03:00.000+02:00

I only did it once, and that was enough. I forced pizza into my son’s mouth, and today, he is glad I did!

When you are thirsty, it is easy to seek water and drink. Nobody will plead with you to get water so that you may quench your thirst. But even if you are not thirsty, you still need water although a knowledgeable person will need to convince you that you need a certain amount of water daily to keep your system working at optimal.

For quite some time, I thought that I only need water when I am thirsty. Once in a while, I would read or hear people say that water is important for the body but it didn’t give me the compulsion to seek water even when I wasn’t thirsty. I have, however, grown to appreciate what water means to the body. Today, I drink water, a lot of it, even when I am not thirsty.

In life, we may not know what we need, sometimes until somebody “forces” it down our throat. From when he was a little, my elder son didn’t like pizza. All our attempt to persuade him to eat pizza fell in deaf ears. Notwithstanding though, I knew that it would only take a taste to make the boy know how good pizza was. We finally lost patience when he was 6. We had done enoug trying to beg him just to have a bite.

One day, I literally forced a piece of pizza into his mouth and warned him of a dire consequence if he spitted it out. He reluctantly started chewing it, increasing the tempo with the subsequent munchings. When he finally swallowed it, we could tell that he had "needed" the pizza all along. I couldn’t believe it when he forcefully pulled the other piece that was still in my hand. The long awaited feasting had begun in earnest. Since then, pizza ranks amongst the top of his favourites. He is now 11.

The Bible says:

“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him” (Psalm 34:8 KJV).

The difference is that with Christ, we cannot force anyone the way I forced pizza into my son's mouth.

Many people erroneously think that Christianity is for people who are desperate, poor, troubled, etc. In one sense it is but not in the sense that many people take it to mean. Salvation and the subsequent relationship with Christ is like water, something we need whether we are thirsty or not. It is also like a pizza that a boy rejects but when he tastes of it, puts it at the top of his list of favourite foods.

We need salvation whether we are desperate or comfortable.

I was not looking for Christ when He met me. I was extremely reluctant to be saved, but when a woman of God “pushed” me into tasting salvation, I had a moment of Aha, what a discovery! This is what I have needed all my life!

It was after I had tasted of the mercy, love and grace unto salvation that I started craving for more and more of His virtues. We cannot crave for salvation until we have a taste of it. This is what the apostle Peter says:

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:2-3 NIV).

Babies cannot crave the mother's milk before vthey are born. This explians why people who are not born again don't crave for the Word of God.

If only Christ would be “forced” into people’s lives, they would, at the end of the day be glad they were forced. Too bad, we can’t do that.

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NB: The photo is taken from www.freefoto.com

Volunteered To Cross The Frontier (Day 7)

2007-04-11T11:28:00.000+02:00

NB: I have been serialising "Volunteered To Cross The Frontier". It was in 7 parts. Below is the final part. In case you want to read it as a continuous read, CLICK HERE.

Day 7 (or was it a week?)

Can you see them approaching—the multitude upon multitude?
The most precious thing, the beauty of which there exist no descriptions;
Behold! The radiation and procession of the redeemed, singing their gratitude;
Their contagious joy and spontaneous ebullience are matchless exhibitions.

Join me in praising the Volunteer, He secured the eternal pardon;
The Holy One took upon Himself the filth of sin, paying the final price;
Determined, He defied all odds, “His own Image” not to abandon;
And that wasn’t enough, He has prepared for them magnificent prize.

Sing everyone, sing! Open your mouths and shout for joy;
The redeemed are entering the eternal Sabbath Rest;
The Volunteer successfully destroyed the enemy’s ploy;
The redeemed have adopted their new sir name—Blest.

This is the Lord’s doing and it is marvellous in our eyes.

Terrorism and Counterterrorism

2007-04-10T20:16:00.000+02:00

God, the Father, neither endorses terrorism nor counterterrorism. That is a bold statement to make being aware of the disturbingly cruel "terrorism" in the Old Testament that seemed to have had divine endorsement. Stay with me!

I want to start from a very general fact in order to give the background of “outdatedness” of warring against one another while we invoke divine endorsement and inspiration.

We all owe our genesis and sustenance to God, regardless of whether we acknowledge Him or not. The Bible says the following in Acts 17:28 (NIV):

For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

I don’t know why God “seemed” to have commissioned military expeditions in the Old Testament. There are many things I don’t understand about God—and this is not a problem. But I have understood enough to know how to relate with Him and His creation—that is the most important.

God is infinite and we have to be infinite in order to understand every way of His—fortunately or unfortunately, we are not.

Whatever the case, thank God for phrases like, “Behold, I am doing (I will do) a new thing” and the likes (Isaiah 42:9; 43:19, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Revelation 21:5). These shows that things don’t have to remain the way they were.

In His gesture of doing a new thing, the God of the Old Testament decided to do a mysterious thing; something He had never done before; something that reveals His impeccable virtue. He decided to patently, blatantly and potently reveal Himself as a Father.

If there is a secret worth spilling; a secret worth digging deep for, this is the one. The moment we understand our relationship with God as a Father-child, everything changes. We start talking "family matters". I may not go to all the details of this at this time and in this platform but suffice it to say that when God sent Jesus Christ to come to earth, we were the “luckiest” lot of species. If only we knew right away what it meant, to say that we would have been overwhelmed with joy is understatement. To prove our fallen nature, we ridicule the very strategy that has accorded us what human imagination will never grasp on this side of life.

One of the primary things that Jesus talked about again and again is the fact that God is a Father. He claimed sonship to Him and many of His listeners were not amused. The devil infiltrated their mind so that they rejected the masterpiece strategy to lead mass exodus back to God. I still bemoan: If only mankind would understand that God is a Father!

To cut the long story short and spare it for another day, let me go back to the scripture I quoted above (Acts 17:28). It is true that at the fall of man (Genesis 3) we lost our membership in God’s family; we became the devil’s adopted children. Nevertheless, we still owe our origin to God; He is our ultimate Father.

In My House

I am a typical father, trying my best to be an ideal one.

In my house, as a father, I have instructed my children to abide by some rules. The following are some of them, laying the norms of relating with one another:

Don’t offend one another; fighting is completely forbidden—its justification notwithstanding.
If by any chance you are offended; or wronged; or beaten, etc. by your brother/sister, don’t pay back. Instead, report your brother or sister to me. I am the one to mete any punishment in this house.
Whether you like him/her or not, by virtue that he/she is my child, he/she is your brother/sister by “factory setting”. You completely have no means and/or choice to “customise” this. So, because you can’t change this, why don’t you make life easy for yourself—live at peace with your siblings? Even if you don’t like them, choose to love them.

Think of what kind of a house it would be if I allowed my kids to settle scores with one another; think of what will become of a family where the father delegates his disciplinary responsibilities to his armed and physically advantaged children.

This is what God is saying:

If you reciprocate enmity, know for sure that you haven’t come back to Me. You still belong to the “adopting father”—the devil. If this is the case you still share the same father with the one you call your enemy. Though the person you call your enemy might be an adopted child of the devil, he is still My child by origin. If you are the type that listens to the Father, then listen to Me and mark the following:

1. Love him/her—your perceived enemy:

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust (Matthew 5:43-45 KJV).

2. Report him/her to Me if he/she has done something against you:

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head (Romans 12:19-20, KJV).

3. Because you can’t choose who is your brother/sister, don’t let it bother you. Live at peace.

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men (Romans 12:18 KJV).

4. I will not send you to punish anyone on My behalf because you also are not perfect—you have your own problems to sort out (See John 8:1-10).

This is the conclusion and the verdict of the matter:

If you are still waging war against others, regardless of the reasons for doing so, know for sure that you haven’t listened to the Father of late. And if you hit back after having been offended know that you are not an obedient child. And it is important to note that any disobedient child is given back for adoption.

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Author’s Note: The war against terrorism is a concern for believers and non-believers alike. When it comes to believers, there are conflicting views regarding what a Christian stand and operation ought to be. The author believes that it is time bona fide Christians begin taking action instead of just taking position.

If you are a non-believer or believe in other religions that do not subscribe to the Deity of Christ, it is time you are let in into the "secrets" of what true Christianity says about our relationship with God and with fellow human beings. Who doesn't want to know about secrets?

For true Christians: If we seek the heart of God as spelled by Christ’s mission, we may find out exactly what our assignment is in this war.

If the reader is interested, consider reading "SECRET WEAPON AGAINST TERRORISM" and position yourself to take appropriate action. We can reign with Christ if we use the weapon He gave us. If you believe in terrorism or Jihad, or holy war, depending on what you call it, you may also wish to read the above so that you learn of the secrets and strategies of your opponents.

Volunteered To Cross The Frontier (Day 6)

2007-04-10T17:08:00.000+02:00

NB: I am serialising "Volunteered To Cross The Frontier". It is in 7 parts. In case you want to read it as a continuous read, CLICK HERE.

Day 6 (or was it a fortnight?)

The Lion crosses the frontier of Divinity into the realm of humanity;
Instead of applauding His gesture, mankind mistakes His meekness;
He’s indeed a man; they reject Him when He declares His true identity;
His humility brought Him repugnant humiliation but it wasn’t a weakness.

They go overboard with contempt and farce, but He renews His resolve;
To prove it, He washes their feet; heals their sick and cries at their funerals;
He faces the fury of their ridicules and spittings, but still prompt to absolve;
He’s frail; struggles to bear the Cross; this amuses the Roman Generals.

They finally kill Him but He still loves them unto death;
Mankind is sold into diabolic hypnotism, doing the unthinkable;
That’s why He came; He understands their problem—knowledge dearth;
But the paradox is unfolding; by the same act of cruelty man is redeemable.

The strength He refuses to expend in physical confrontation;
Is reserved to be converted into power-packed spiritual strength;
A prerequisite to roll the stone from the tomb, paving way for resurrection;
A patented feat only achievable by the Saviour’s resolve to go the full length.

Volunteered To Cross The Frontier (Day 5)

2007-04-09T14:00:00.000+02:00

NB: I am serialising "Volunteered To Cross The Frontier". It is in 7 parts. In case you want to read it as a continuous read, CLICK HERE.

Day 5 (or was it a month?)

The meeting is on; the angelic hosts ensure the Deity’s homage is paid;
The Most High sits on the throne with a Book in His right hand.
“This Book has the secrets wherewith “My Image” will be redeemed,” He said.
The Book is infinitely sealed, a true sign that it is of a divine confidential brand.

Nobody in all existence, except the Deity, is worthy to handle the Book.
The condition for redemption is announced: Man must break the seal;
The Most High asks, “Who will break the seal inside the Book to look?”
Why should the Most High tempt mankind with an unattainable deal?

Look! The Lion of the tribe of Judah is stepping out!
Wait a minute! You don’t mean…! No! It’s impossible!
But He is not a man! How can this be? What’s all this about?
The Deity is bound by divine integrity not to do anything implausible.

“I volunteer! I’ll break the seal and look inside,” He says.
For a moment, spontaneous party ensues; cheers render the air;
But the puzzle shortens the party: the Volunteer is the Ancient of Days.
He has to be a man, but how will He become one? That won’t be fair.

The Lion of the tribe of Judah reads their mind;
He takes the platform and begins to clarify;
He explains that He will become their kind;
His offer is a mystery no reasoning can justify.

Ponder This!

2007-04-02T15:52:00.000+02:00

The foundation of marriage is not the expectations of the thrills of sharing someone’s life; it is, rather, the preparation for the grills of responsibility occasioned by someone sharing your life.

If this attitude informs your commitment to your spouse, you will cancel lots of pains and reciprocities of hurts in a marriage. Divorce will be uncalled for.

Remember: "Experience" is preferred if one would be employed. In marriage, however, the more "unexperienced" one is the more likely that one would be preferred for a marriage proposal. If this be the case, treat your spouse as an amateur as you learn together.

Have a blessed marriage.

Volunteered To Cross The Frontier (Day 4)

2007-04-02T10:34:00.000+02:00

NB: I am serialising "Volunteered To Cross The Frontier". It is in 7 parts. In case you want to read it as a continuous read, CLICK HERE.

Day 4 (or was it a year?)

It’s no longer a rumour; it’s the talk in all spheres;
A plan is underway to secure man’s deliverance;
A matchless subterfuge; everyone waits to see how it coheres;
It is said that the operation requires infinite perseverance.

A meeting is due to hatch the operation: “Save the Deity’s Image”;
Attendees will include: the Deity Himself and all the heavenly hosts;
Can’t wait to see the antidote of what hitherto is a conclusive damage;
It emerged that all along, the Deity has been reconciling the costs.

Volunteered To Cross The Frontier (Day 3)

2007-04-01T14:03:00.000+02:00

NB: I am serialising "Volunteered To Cross The Frontier". It is in 7 parts. In case you want to read it as a continuous read, CLICK HERE.

Day 3 (or was it a decade?)

There is strange tittle-tattle, you’d wish to hear;
The most unlikely rumour, very irreconcilable!
There have never been busybodies around here;
But what does it mean—that man is redeemable?

Volunteered To Cross The Frontier (Day 2)

2007-03-31T11:56:00.000+02:00

NB: I am serialising "Volunteered To Cross The Frontier". It is in 7 parts. In case you want to read it as a continuous read, CLICK HERE.

Day 2 (or was it a century?)
Have you read in The Books?
Man is desperate for his true identity;
He thinks his image is about external looks;
In vain he puts emphasis on quantity.

Poor man, he struggles, trying every kind of religion;
Although he tries his best, it is only like a filthy rag;
Will he realise that religion is no cure for rebellion;
He longs for his lost identity but all he bears is diabolic tag.

Cajoled to want more than he got, he lost heritage at the sanctuary;
He was warned of death if he disobeyed, but he chose to snub;
Hence, he has reputation of life, yet his name is in the eternal obituary;
On his eternal tombstone awaits epitaph: “Joined the diabolic club”.

Volunteered To Cross The Frontier (Day 1)

2007-03-30T23:38:00.000+02:00

NB: I am serialising "Volunteered To Cross The Frontier". It is in 7 parts. In case you want to read it as a continuous read, CLICK HERE.

Day 1 (or was it a millennium?)
Have you not heard? Didn’t you read it in The Books?
The rebel went into the Garden and sabotaged God’s Image;
By fraud he secured the right to have them become crooks;
They dread the Father’s presence; they now specialise in camouflage.

Who could perceive such a tragedy?
Man has been defrauded of his domain;
Worse still, there is no known remedy;
Servants of the rebel they will remain.

Some Thoughts to Ponder

2007-02-19T23:08:00.000+01:00

We offend God when we defend sin.

When we are called upon to speak, our integrity and Christ-likeness is attested to by the way we speak conviction rather than convenience.

If the word of truth is on our lips, it will cut some people. The Bible equates the Word with the sword (Hebrews 4: 12). In fact the Word is an "S" letter less of a sword.

The word of God as a sword cuts not to destroy or kill but to administer a spiritual surgery resulting in life (see 2 Corinthians 7:8-12).

So, we have to be bold, speaking the conviction not convenience.

Cause and Effect of Suffering

2007-01-26T20:17:00.000+01:00

A spirited debate is discoursed between Job and his friends. The topic is “Cause—Effect” between sin and suffering.

Job’s friends who attributed his suffering to sin they perceived Job must have secretly committed, used very sound theological basis but lost in the debate at the end of the day.

Job who insisted on his righteousness and accused God of unleashing terror on him also lost in the debate. Both Job and his friends were "thinking in the box". If it is about God, it must be understood that He is infinite and His dealings cannot be contained in the "box of our reasoning".

Cause and effect relationship, justifying suffering on the premises of sin is one of the most elusive things man has probably not understood adequately.

It was not sin that brought suffering to Job. It was the other way round, namely, it was suffering that brought sin to Job. His suffering made him talk too much. In his talk, he went overboard with self-justification.

False Prophecy

2007-01-24T10:46:00.000+01:00

It is almost a year ago. I wrote something briefly about false prophecy, especially the mormons’ theology (See HERE).

I promised to say more about this issue later. I have since met another couple of mormons. What I have written below is not so much discussing the mormons theology and why they have been mistaken but a general observation that may help us scrutinise what we believe. One perfect way of scrutinising what we believe is by using people who have no sympathy to it; people who look at it from the outside. They can help us see what we can't see from the inside.

For me, really, it is mysteriously amazing how people can sell their souls so cheaply. When the Bible spoke of people who have eyes but they can’t see; ears but they can’t hear; norses but they can't smell, etc. (Psalm 115:6; Isaiah 6:9-10), it gave a fitting description of our fallen nature. Just think of it. We have lots of things to be seen to help us understand that we have a destiny, but we have chosen not to see them; there are lots of things to be heard, but we have chosen not hear it if it concerns our heritahe with the Father.

I was once in this category—I still don’t understand how I wasn’t able to see the most important thing in the spiritual matters. This is why I don’t laugh at or condemn people groping in the darkness of sin and the deception of false prophecy. I love and pray for them because I understand very well the psychology of religion and how it is easy to be zealously mistaken and mistakenly zealous.

I challenged the mormons I met recently to read some of the literature their critics have written. They refused because they claim there is a lot of hate expressed in such literature. Really! This is one of the effective ways the "enemy" keeps them from reading something that may open their eyes. Otherwise, if someone is writing hatred, then he is on the payroll of the devil who uses such to cause more confusion. A writer commissioned by the spirit of mercy, love and grace must reflect thses virtues as he tries to win the lost.

Let’s say someone comes to my house and tells me that my house smells. Let's face it: If you are like me, it doesn’t sound good to be told that your house smells. Against this background, there are a number of reactions open to me, as follows:
i) Take an offence and give a defence. How can he say my house smells? Here I can draw all the negative conclusions I like. But a pure-hearted redeemed will use even the most malicious criticism to examine himself.
ii) Humble myself and find out why he says so.
iii) Try to find out if it is true—maybe something in the refrigerator or my shoe, etc. smells.
iv) Ignore it, saying, it is not a big deal, at least I can’t smell it.
v) Enter into an argument proving that my house doesn’t smell.

Though we may be reluctant to accept that our environment smells, the reality, however, is that we can get used to the smell of something we have been around for a while. Sometimes we can tell that something is smelling in the house only after we have been out in the fresh air.

I believe that is how it is with religion. Some people are surrounded by “smelling doctrines”, the likes the apostle Paul called the doctrines taught by demons (1 Timothy 4:1-2). They however don’t realise it because it is so familiar.

Dear Lord, please help us not get used to "smelling" spiritual stuff around us. Give us the fresh breath of the Holy Spirit to enable us detect the foul smells of spiritual counterfeits.

"I Thought I Knew What You Were Talking About"

2007-01-22T23:03:00.000+01:00

Do you let your imaginations and assumptions stop you from hearing an alarm?

A mother had gone to the garden to weed. She had her two little kids with her. Miriam (3 years) and Zack (1½ years).

She had prepared some sweet potatoes which she gave them to eat under the tree adjacent to where she was weeding.

As she weeded she would sometimes have her back to the kids. She was close enough. There was no fear that anything could happen to the kids without her knowing.

The little girl had never seen a python before. When the reptile visited them under the tree, she strangely never shrieked the way it is natural when one encounters the cold-blooded killer. She kept her cool but only called the mother to inform her of what it was doing.

The python had gone straight to Zack and started swallowing the little boy.

Miriam called the mother repeatedly saying “Mama, he is eating”. With limited vocabulary at her age, she never elaborated on who/what was eating what.

In their language, they have same pronouns for everything, whether it is an animal, an object, or a human being—he/she. This meant that when Miriam said, ochamo, it could mean: “he/she or it is eating”.

In this language, people rely on the context to help them understand who or what is being referred to.

So when the little girl, Miriam, called saying “he is eating” the mother thought she was referring to Zack eating the potato she had given them. The mother was sure she knew what Miriam was talking about.

When the little girl was not relenting in her calls with the same message, the mother thought she was becoming a nuisance. She ordered her, “Keep quiet and let him eat”. Miriam kept quiet as the reptile made a meal out of her little brother. If only the little boy had cried! It is possible that by the time he realised the discomfort of being swallowed, his head was securely in the python’s mouth, choked and out of breath—he had no chance of crying and be heard.

When Miriam saw the last of her brother’s feet disappear into the python’s mouth she couldn’t keep quiet any more. She started calling her mother in a frenzy updating her of the latest happening, “Mama otieko muonyo” (he has finished swallowing). The mother would have silenced her one more time, but this time, the girl was screaming in terror.

The mother turned only to find a python preparing to go for the ‘second dish’.

“If only I never assumed to know what my daughter was trying to tell me”, she wailed.

The context of the life we have lived can make us not pick a warning that is being sounded by someone who doesn’t belong to our "level". Our level of understanding; education; maturity; endowment, etc. can hinder us from responding to or receiving a distress signal—or, really, must it be a distress call to pay attention?

How many times have we ignored people because they have limited "something"? We think we know what they are saying yet they are talking about something so serious we need to pay more careful attention, or move closer and find out more of what they are saying. How many times have we ignored people because they don’t speak our language; are from a different culture; a different race; are children, don't speak well, etc?

Teachers, pastors and counsellors—how many times do we jump in and “silence” people when they are trying to explain something? How many times do we assume that we know what they are talking about without taking time to listen to their inner anxiety causing them to speak? How many times do we fail to investigate before we instigate our therapies?

Think about it: Maybe what is being said is not as obvious as we assume it is.

One More Humour

2006-12-11T17:26:00.000+01:00

Foiled Carjacking
An elderly lady did her shopping and upon return found 4 males in her car. She dropped her shopping bags and drew her handgun, proceeding to scream at them at the top of her lungs that she "knows how to use it and will shoot if required.... so get out of MY car!"

The 4 men didn't wait around for a second invitation. They got out and ran like mad, where upon the lady proceeded to load her shopping bags into the back of the car and got into the drivers seat.

Small problem: Her key wouldn't fit the ignition. Her car was identical and parked four or five spaces further down.

She loaded her bags into her car and drove to the police station. The sergeant that she told the story to nearly tore himself in two with laughter and pointed to the other end of the counter where 4 pale white males were reporting a carjacking by a mad, elderly, white woman.

No charges were filed.

I Found This Humorous

2006-11-27T16:52:00.000+01:00

A humour newsletter sent me the following:

Unique Defense for a Unique Person
A lawyer defending a man accused of burglary tried this creative defense:
"My client merely inserted his arm into the window and removed a few trifling articles. His arm is not himself, and I fail to see how you can punish the whole individual for an offense committed by his limb."

"Well put," the judge replied. "Using your logic, I sentence the defendant's arm to one year's imprisonment. He can accompany it or not, as he chooses."

The defendant smiled. With his lawyer's assistance he detached his artificial limb, laid it on the bench, and walked out.

Divine Marriage

2006-11-21T17:54:00.000+01:00

What happened on Golgotha is a history;
Written by the Blood of the New Covenant;
Where mankind’s destiny was changed by Christ's victory,
They that find its value, to their heart this story is a penchant.

Whoever wills, it’s now possible to jump the enemy’s trap;
No longer are we victims of the enemy’s cages,
Jesus, our Lord, deserves a clap.
Our freedom is spelled out in the Book by the Rock of Ages.

Don’t allow the pleasures of this age,
Keep you away from claiming the pledges,
Waiting in the pages,
Of the Book of Devine Marriage.

Eternal Destiny

2006-10-20T16:00:00.000+02:00

If you don’t make it to Heaven, life on earth, with all those terrors; famines; deaths; hate; wars and any other manner of calamity one can think of, would have been the “best” one could experience.

What is awaiting those who will miss the eternal rest with God is beyond description.

On the other hand, if you make it to heaven, the best that life on earth provided: those riches; power; luxuries and any other goodies you can think of would be “worst” in comparison to heavenly glory.

What is awaiting those who will share eternity in the presence of God is beyond what our vocabulary can capture.

A Little Wine For Your Stomach

2006-10-18T18:43:00.000+02:00

A man was justifying his drinking habit by referring to Paul telling Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach (See 1 Timothy 5:23). But was his justification justified?

Many people quote some portions of the Bible in order to justify some habit that they may do well to stop. If you have been referring to the above to justify drinking, take note of the following:

1. You are not Timothy.

But even if your name is Timothy, this case was not a doctrine to be followed by everyone called Timothy.

2. You have no stomach problems.

This being the case, you are not drinking for health reasons. The opposite may as well be the case—drinking can deteriorate your health.

Paul never told everyone to take wine.

3. This was a specific case for a specific person in a specific situation.

Drinking may lead to an unnecessary indulgence. Timothy might have had to take the wine because he had to, and he was only to take "little".

4. You don’t have “a Paul” in your life that has advised you to drink.

Some people may advise you to do something that will only cause you lots of pain. those are not "Pauls". A Paul in your life must be someone who is keen on the virtuous fruits of whatever they are asking you to do.

5. Paul also told Timothy other things—some of which were“sacrifices”.

If what Paul told Timothy is such attractive to influence your habits, do you also quote the other things that Paul told Timothy—especially those things that entail sacrifices. (See also "It Works Both Ways" Part 1 and Part 2).

Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens) 1835—1910

2006-10-07T10:55:00.000+02:00

"A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t read."

"Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured."

" I have never let my schooling get in the way of my education."

"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt."

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great ones make you feel that you, too, can become great."

Great Minds (Gandhi: 1869-1948)

2006-10-05T19:01:00.000+02:00

Consider the following quotations from Gandhi:

“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”

“There are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no causes that I am prepared to kill for.”

“There can be enough for all of us, but not enough for one greedy person”.

It Works Both Ways (Part 2)

2006-10-02T18:20:00.000+02:00

At the time I got convicted to get saved I tried all I could to withstand the conviction. The main reason was that I had some exciting things I was at the verge of doing. I knew that getting saved would mean letting go my plans.

For me getting saved was a big sacrifice—I sacrificed the best that a sensual man can sacrifice. I have met people who quote the Bible when it is in their favour not when it is calling them to make a sacrifice.

It is only logical to expect to harvest if you once sacrificed and planted a seed.

When I said in part 1 that we must allow the Bible to work “against” us first, it means that we must be willing to ‘lose’ if we have to gain. In true Christianity, we gain by losing and lose by gaining.
(see Matthew 8:10:39, 16:25)

It Works Both Ways (Part 1)

2006-09-18T23:08:00.000+02:00

Do you only quote the promises and not the sacrifices?
When you sing that Abraham's promises are yours, can you also make his sacrifices?

If you want the Word of God to work for you, let it work 'against' you first. For when the Word seems to work agaisnt you, it will still be working for you.

(More about this in part 2).

Reading Books or Authors

2006-09-16T18:40:00.000+02:00

When I ventured into writing, I never knew what a mountain it was to move a manuscript into publication. I wrote many applications to the traditional publishers. I got regret after regret.

Some of the regrets made strong implication that I should blame readers. The latter tend to read authors instead of books. So when they rejected my manus, it was not because of anything else except that I was not known enough to move big sales.

Because of this many publishers have the following policy:

We don’t publish books; we publish authors. Books don't sell, authors do.

My question is: Are you reading authors or books. What is the difference?

NB: The foto is taken from www.freefoto.com

Dying For A Cause?

2006-09-14T21:08:00.000+02:00

Don’t willingly die for a cause if the person who started it didn’t die for it.

Don’t willingly die for a cause if the person leading it is not willing to die for it. And if he is willing, he should show it practically. This means he should die first.

If the leader believes that his cause is worth dying for, he should lead the way—isn’t that the literal meaning of the word, going ahead of everyone else?

But even if a leader dies for a cause, find out if he wasn't just being suicidal or if he wasn't forced to die.

Otherwise, how can I allow a coward to talk me into courage?

Will You Choose To Forgive or Seek Justice?

2006-09-12T11:10:00.000+02:00

Will you choose to forgive or will you seek and pursue justice?

Whatever you do, check your heart; give it a thorough scrutiny. Did you know that 99% of the calls for the so-called "justice", are euphemisms (i.e. a convenient or a pleasant) rendering for "vengeance".

For the true spirit of Christ, it is only God that has the measure of justice. Christians who refuse to forgive may hide behind the calls of justice when what they are pursuing is vengeance.

It is impossible to clamour for justice and still have a functional forgiving spirit.

When we forgive for whatever ills committed against us, it doesn't mean the person who committed the ill will get away with what he did. If he doesn't repent before God, don't worry, your forgiveness will not do him any good. It will only do you all the good, namely, you shall have cleared your heart from being weighed down with pain. When you forgive, you get healed and the burden of hurt is lifted off your shoulder.

Do yourself a favour, forgive someone today--whatever ill he committed against you notwithstanding!

Have a wonderful day. Wouldn't it be even more wonderful if you make it a forgiving day!

Decoration or Foundation?

2006-09-11T18:06:00.000+02:00

Suppose you are building a house where would you want to spend most of your energy and money?

Just as many spend lots of resources on decoration rather than on foundation, so it is in the way people spend their life-time and resources on decorative rather than fundamental values.

It is the foundation we build our lives on that will determine whether we will withstand the storms or be swept away.

Remember: Storms respect foundation not decoration. (See Matthew 7:24-27)

NB: The foto is taken from www.freefoto.com

Don’t Make the Mistake

2006-09-07T15:37:00.000+02:00

Don’t make the mistake that others have made, whether it has an overt or covert price tag—what makes you think you’ll get away with it?

If someone made the mistake paid dearly for it, why should you think you'll get away with it?

If you have to make a mistake, make a "helpful mistake"—that is, make an original mistake without knowing that it is a mistake.

Mistakes shouldn’t perform the role of attraction, they should, instead, be repulsive.

Remember: Mistakes are there for us to learn from, not to lean on.

Smoking Section in a Restaurant

2006-09-06T16:10:00.000+02:00

Someone was wondering:
"Isn't having a smoking section in a restaurant like having a peeing section in a swimming pool?"

Allergic to Scrutiny?

2006-09-05T23:07:00.000+02:00

Falsehood only survives when it is not scrutinised.

This is why false religion is scared of being criticised or ridiculed. Does this tell you something about the hostility that some religions mete agaisnt those who ridicule their faith?

Spiritually Wired or Intellectually Weird? (Freedom of Choice Part 2)

2006-09-04T15:20:00.000+02:00

Spiritually Wired or Intellectually Weird?
If you didn't read part 1, Read It Here

The rational mind of man is wired in a way that the most important thing he should consider is not the choice per se. It is, rather, what he chooses to choose and its repercussions. The reason is that an impulsive choice may serve him for the moment but he’ll equally need wellbeingness tomorrow just as he does today.

Instead of paying attention to the way we are wired intellectually, we become weird in our deliberations on spiritual matters. Isn’t it weird to maintain that we resulted from cosmic accident?

Since there is going to be an outcome of our choices, we must be premeditative rather than impulsive with our choices. Long term consequences of our choices are more important than the institution of choice. It is more important to consider what I would call “The Constitution of Choice” than getting carried by what I would call “The Intuition of Choice”.

At the end of the day, it is not what we want to believe but what we need to believe. This distinction is important. Yes, many people have indeed believed what they want to believe and ignored what they needed to believe.

The day is coming when what we sowed will be ripe for harvest. The spiritual law is such that sowing is voluntary, harvesting is compulsory. We can choose what we want to sow but once we sow it, we have no choice but to harvest its produce. In the same way, we can choose what we want to believe but we must also brace ourselves to account for what we believed—this is compulsory.

I have used the following principle to help me manage the temptations of impulsive choices in regards to the values that underlie my life:
Be wary of your belief today for tomorrow they will either bring you relief or grief.

Never ever get into a closet where exit doesn't exist.

Offence: No, Thanks. I Don’t Trade In Them!

2006-09-02T11:38:00.000+02:00

OffenceWe cannot stop people from doing offensive things to us but we can stop ourselves from taking offence. The best way to manage offences directed to you is to refuse to receive them.

My rule:
“Offence: No, Thanks. I don’t do offences”.

Neither give nor take offences for, whether you give or take them, either way you stand to lose.

Kick the Devil Out of the World

2006-08-31T16:59:00.000+02:00

The world most devastating problems are not the natural catastrophes that occasionally hit. On the contrary, the most devastating problems in the world are the evils mankind perpetrates against one another.

This is not based on a scientific research but I would arbitrarily place Human-factored world problems at 80%. Who is behind all these problems? The devil of course!!! (See my post on “Why Blame the devil”).

Poverty
Corrupt leaders; unfair trading structures by people/nations who reached the top first. The world is not poor. The problem is in the Production, Management and Distribution.

Disease
I am thinking here of some of the diseases that are engineered.
Medical facilities are lacking in many places.
Preventable and treatable sicknesses are claiming lives in thousands.

Prejudice—racism for example. This is a mother of so many evils in the world.

Greed
There is enough for all of us but not enough for one greedy person (Gandhi). The world only needs ONE greedy person in the position of power and access to the world’s wealth and everybody else will starve. How much more if we have a couple of thousands? They can horde everything while everybody else starves to death. This has happened in many countries.

War
Mankind has deliberately refused to be civilized. War is a manifestation of the failure of negotiation. People chasing one another for what? Killing when we were supposed to be agents of life. A lot of resources that are supposed to be used to kick poverty and disease out of the world are used to develope weapons and to fund wars.

Abortion
This is the worst sin. Some governments legislate this or downplay it yet it is the worst sin.
The combination of war and abortion is deadly for mankind.

If we stand firm to resist the above, we shall have rendered the devil jobless.

Freedom of Choice (Part 1)

2006-08-30T15:25:00.000+02:00

If it is about life, there isn’t a choice, is there? One either lives or dies. A friend of mine, letting go his faith in Christ, once wrote to me and said:

“It is left with each individual to determine and decide what he/she wants to believe”.

True!
Freedom of choice is the inalienable gift God gave us. We can choose to believe what we want and that is why some people have chosen to believe in evolution theory to help them cope with the instinct of inquisitiveness of man—a quest God put in man in order to make the latter seek and worship the former.

Wrong!!
The fact that we have options doesn’t mean we can choose anything.

At the end of the day, however, it boils down to the destination our choices land us into. There is no denying that some people choose depravity and vanity—they will have eternity to regret it since depravity plus vanity equal eternity of regret. Who in his/her right mind would go for this?

So, in a way, the most important thing is not what we want to believe but what the fruits of our belief will be. There are choices that will bring us immediate but temporary gratification. If I have two options each of which begins with “Choice” as follows:
a) choose X for an instant thrill but a lifelong grill
b) choose Y for a temporary grill but a lifelong thrill,
I will not just rash into choosing, I will engage my rational gift in the process of elimination.

Part 3 (My Mother is 40 and I am 31)

2006-08-29T15:50:00.000+02:00

In order to understand what this is all about, read Part 1 Here and Part 2 Here.

If the good old lady could ask me the question once again: “How old is your mother?”, this is what I would answer, “I don’t know how old she is”. This answer will not take away the FACT that I have a mother whom I personally know. I may not know everything about my mother, or father for that matter, but that doesn’t eliminate the fact that I was brought to this world by a mother and a father. I may not understand everything about Christ but that doesn’t eliminate Him as my Saviour.

Having said that, I want to confess that I don’t know why God allowed some “conflicts” or “contradictions” in His Word, especially after learning that God’s Word was inspired by His Spirit. I don’t even know why God allowed Satan to exist and do the damage he is doing; What I know is that most, if not all, of the so called contradictions are not significant. That is to say, they cannot erase Jesus the Saviour of the world out of the picture.

It looks to me that the inherence of the consciousness and conscience in man about His existence, God didn’t bother to iron out “insignificant” “distractions” in the Bible. If anything, God allowed both “negative” and “positive” to coexist. For example, the Bible says: “I have put before you life and death, blessings and curses, choose—life!!” (Deut. 30:19). This means, one can go into the Bible and meet death, yes death; one can go to the Bible and meet curses, etc. So if one desires death or curses one can go ahead and choose them—yes, in the Bible—instead of choosing life. This is what it is all about—choose ye!!

Why Blame the Devil?

2006-08-28T18:11:00.000+02:00

Sometimes I believe that some people can initiate an evil without the devil directly getting involved but because he fathered evil—in fact “evil” is one letter short of “devil”—every act of wickedness is attributed to the devil.

The devil is ‘rightly’ blamed for all evil.

It is this way: recently, as I was writing a manuscript, I formulated an idea that I thought was my original. I thought no-one had ever formulated it like that before. I was surprised when I incidentally picked a book where somebody had given an exact formulation. I could easily have been accused of plagiarising. I didn’t drop the formulation but I attributed it to the person who went to print with the formulation before me.

Even if you can come up with your own idea, it will only be yours if someone had not come up with it before. If it had been articulated earlier, it becomes the ‘property’ of the person who first came up with it.

The Bible implies that Satan is the author of all evil. The package of sin that the devil initiated carried all manner of sins you could think of. This is why any evil people make are all referenced back to the devil. So, go ahead, blame the devil but know for sure that you’ll be busted for all that you allow him to accomplish through you. People who initiate evil and feel assuaged after blaming the devil for it, it doesn’t help, or does it?

But we can do better. Let us shun evil. Blaming the devil will not help us. We must resist him.

My Mother is 40 and I am 31 (Part 2)

2006-08-11T15:03:00.000+02:00

NB: This part 2 which means you will be able to understand what it is all about if you read part 1. You can read it below or simply Click here.

Many of us don’t know many things but we don’t want to admit it. We give ridiculous answers to questions that we would have done better to own up that we don’t know. I have listened to some debates where atheists and people in some religions try to discredit the Word of God. I once listened to a debate between one Christian defending the resurrection of Christ against a Muslim rebutting it saying that Christ wasn’t even crucified in the first place. I also listened to one time believer turned atheist. The answers these critics of Christ gave were as ridiculous as me saying that I was 31 and my mother 40. They are like most of the internet search engines which will give you results (read answers) for any search you make regardless of how irrelevant the answers are.

So much for digressing! There are many things that I don’t know—and my case is not unique. What I learnt is that if you asked me a question about what I don’t know, I will tell you I don’t know even if by so doing you may call me ignorant. Meanwhile, I will tell you what I know. The story of the blind Bartimeus is typical in this case. He was asked so many questions some of which he didn’t have the answers for. Though he didn’t have the answer to something that was real, it never took away the reality—the fact that he received his sight (see John 9).

Rejection Management

2006-07-29T10:03:00.000+02:00

Rejections and betrayals from people, regardless of how close they are to you, should not determine whether you fall or stand, progress or stagnate.

What determines your progress and success is how you manage the rejections and betrayals. You can choose to use the bad things people do to you to train a character in you.

The same stair or ladder that takes you down can take you up—it depends on what direction you choose to go.

My Mother is 40 and I am 31 (Part 1)

2006-06-20T08:55:00.000+02:00

An old Norwegian lady approached me one morning as I sat waiting for my turn to be attended to at Norwegian Teacher Academy's (Norsk Læreakademi) reception. A friend had asked me to go and inquire about masters programme for her.

The old lady was definitely not one of the students, neither was she after joining the institution. She must have gone there to meet someone. She was different from an average Norwegian. Majority of Norwegians are reserved, especially for strangers. She asked me series of questions—she was such a nice old lady.

After talking for a while, she asked me things that were personal but I didn’t see any reason not to answer her. She asked me my age and I told her—I was 31. She asked me about the number of siblings I had in my family. I told her that we are two and I was the youngest. We talked again for some time before she asked another question: “And how old is your mom?”

I was prompt with the answer. “40!” I replied. If you haven’t started laughing then you have missed the point. I am not forcing you to laugh but there is something ridiculously funny in that answer. Look at it again: I am 31, I am the youngest of two and my mother is 40. This means that by the time I was born, my mother was 9 and she was having her second child. This would have found a place somewhere in the Guinness Book of Record—isn’t it?

The funny thing is that I never realised even after implying that my mother was 9 when she got her second born. The point is that I lacked concentration with the figures and never combined the two (31 and 40) and see what they were saying. And the truth was: I didn’t know how old my mother was. And I didn’t want to say I didn’t know. I thought I was giving a fair guess. At that moment, 40 years sounded so much that I never realised that it was only 9 years away from my age.

Somebody Was Pondering

2006-06-19T11:58:00.000+02:00

Why is it that if someone tells you that there are one billion stars in the universe you will believe him, but if he tells you a wall has wet paint you will have to touch it to be sure?

If you take an Oriental person and spin him around several times, does he become disoriented?

Why Did Jesus Have To Die? (Part 8)

2006-06-13T09:45:00.000+02:00

Background
One thing I have realised in my quest to understand the origin, meaning and the destiny of life, is that there are more questions than there are answers.

Some people ask question in order to question, others ask them in order to seek knowledge—I belong to the latter. The one who asks questions in order to question will quickly look for a rebuttal question to kill the answer he has been given. And when he finally gets a question that doesn’t seem to have a clear answer, he’d feel he has won.

In an attempt to answer every question asked, some people have engaged in speculations ranging from hearsays to heresies. Sometimes we give answers that do nothing except expose our ignorance. The result is that we darken instead of enlighten. (I will post a true story that I will entitle “My Mother is 40 and I am 31” to explain more how we expose our ignorance as we attempt to answer questions that we don’t know). You may wish to read, “No Topic This Week”.

When we are empty of answers, God’s wisdom that the Bible says is foolishness to them that perish stands (1 Cor. 1:18). That brings me to the final reason in this series why Jesus had to die.

Reason for Jesus’ Death:
Jesus had to die because that is how God decided to reconcile the world to Himself. To me this is the most important reason for Jesus’ death. Even if we find no sensible reason for God allowing Christ to be crucified, God would still say, ‘I didn’t choose to do what I did in order to satisfy your ideological and mental reasoning, I did it because I chose to do it that way. You receive it, you’ll get help; you refuse it you’ll perish in your sins—take or leave!!’

Why Did Jesus Have To Die? (Pt.7)

2006-06-12T10:56:00.000+02:00

Background:
There are people who don’t believe in miracles when they themselves are living miracles. It doesn’t matter how you look at it—whether you don’t believe in creation but in evolution, life and existence are miracles (See Belief in Miracles? and Creation and Evolution).

Life doesn’t end at death.

Reason for Jesus’ Death:
Jesus died to prove the point of resurrection. Though He had resurrected a number of people, He had also to resurrect with a glorified body. He had both physical and spiritual body. It was physical because it could be seen by physical eyes and the scars that were inflicted by the crucifixion nails were observable. His resurrected body was also spiritual because it was not limited by space or time. For instance, closed doors could not stop Him from entering a building.

Does Jesus death mean anything to you? Has His resurrection given you any hope beyond physical life? The choice is yours.

Do You Agree?

2006-06-05T12:35:00.000+02:00

Someone sent me the following observations about the difference between men and women. Do you agree with him?

A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he wants. A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't want.

A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband. A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

To be happy with a man you must understand him a lot & love him a little. To be happy with a woman you must love her a lot & not try to understand her at all.

Married men live longer than single men, but married men are a lot more willing to die.

Why Did Jesus Have To Die?(Pt.6)

2006-06-01T13:56:00.000+02:00

Background:
Jesus made some claims about Himself that could have been mere talk if there was nothing spectacular to back them up. One of the things He said about Himself was that He was (still is and will continue to be) the light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46).

Reason for Jesus’ Death:
Through His death, God established and “testified” that Jesus’ symbolic talks about Himself were not empty. Like we have seen in the background above, Jesus had said that He is the Light of the world. What happens when the light is put off? Darkness will result.

When Jesus was about to die, darkness filled the earth (Matthew 27:45) a sign that there was something light about Jesus.

Why Did Jesus Have To Die?(Pt.5)

2006-05-31T16:00:00.000+02:00

Backgound:
The devil knows that there are people that cannot buy the lie of atheism. Amongst the people who believe in God, the arch enemy of mankind has thrown in a religious net to catch some of them. This is why there is a lot of religious confusion and competition.

Basically, Islam is about LAND, Judaism is about TRADITION (Culture) and (true) Christianity is about a Person—the Saviour. Christianity is about SALVATION.

Reason for Jesus Death:
Jesus died to put competition out of reach for the devil and his counterfeit prophets and religions.

Think about it! If Jesus did not die and rise again, it would have been extremely difficult sorting out the ‘false’ from the ‘true’. Whoever was to claim that God had sent him, must die and rise again. Because God didn't want any "competition" on the issue of man's redemption, He never allowed anyone to accomplish what Jesus accomplished—especially dying and rising again.

Having a relationship with God for the ultimate eternal redemption is therefore not like an open liberal market where anybody can come with his religious products and create competition (Matthew 24:3-5; Matthew 24:11; John 14:6).

Why Did Jesus Have To Die?(Pt.4)

2006-05-30T11:50:00.000+02:00

Background:
Since the fall of man, death became the most dreaded enemy of man. The Bible tells us that God has set eternity in the hearts of men (Ecclesiastes 3:11). This is why man’s affinity to live forever is intuitive. In the past and even now, many people think that death is the end but it is actually the beginning of an existence that will never end—the spiritual existence.

Reason for Jesus’ Death:
Based on the above background, Jesus died:

i) because it is through death that He conquered death by destroying him who holds the power of death—the devil (Hebrews 2:14);

ii) to demonstrate that physical death is not the end. By so doing, He delivered people who believed in Him from the fear of death (Hebrews 2:15; Matthew 10:28) ;

iii) to demonstrate that those who lose their life for His sake and the kingdom of God will find it again (Mark 8:35).

An Important Question

2006-05-29T20:40:00.000+02:00

Someone asked me the following question:

If the black box flight recorder is never damaged during a plane crash, why isn't the whole airplane made out of the stuff?

I thought to myself, "Good question!" But I didn't have the answer, someone out there (or in here) with an answer, please?

Why Did Jesus Have To Die?(Pt.3)

2006-05-29T11:21:00.000+02:00

Background:
In part one, we saw that when God said that man will die if he sinned, He wasn't giving empty threats. He meant what He said and said what He meant.

Reason for Jesus’ Death:
Jesus died to show the seriousness of sin (Romans 6:23).

Sin is so serious that it made God forsake Christ (Mark 15:34) when the Lord became an embodiment of sin after He took all the sins of the world upon Himself.

Though the forsakenness was temporary, it was the worst that happened to Christ. Anybody who has seen the film: The Passion of the Christ, would imagine how terrible it is to be forsaken by God. The reason is that all along, when his body was being torn apart by the violence of the Roman soldiers, Jesus never cried. He only did so at the moment God forsook Him.

We must not meddle with or in sin. Jesus' forsakeness was temporary, if we meddle in sin and never get our record straight with Jesus, our forsakeness will be permamnet.

Why Did Jesus Have To Die?(Pt.2)

2006-05-27T12:05:00.000+02:00

Background:
Yesterday we saw that Jesus died in order to express God’s love for mankind. Many people think that God want them changed before they can come to Him. Jesus made it clear that He came to save sinners. We therefore come to Jesus because we want to be cleansed, not because we are already clean.

Reason for Jesus’ Death:
In connection to the background above, Jesus died in order to show that God’s love is infinite. God loved us when we were still sinners (Ephesians 2:4-9; Romans 5:8; John 15:13).

Why Did Jesus Have To Die? (Pt.1)

2006-05-26T09:17:00.000+02:00

Background:
At the beginning, God had warned Adam and Eve that they would die if they ate the forbidden fruit. He didn’t threaten—He meant what He said. Adam and Eve lost the relationship with God. They became spiritually dead—a far much worse death than the physical death.

Reason for Jesus’ Death:
Jesus died in order to express God’s love for mankind—the beings He made in His own image. Jesus took our sin upon Himself and died in our place. We still die physically but for whoever wills and accepts Christ’s redemption, physical death is just an exit into an everlasting life.

Belief in Miracles?

2006-05-18T10:55:00.000+02:00

Just in case you don’t believe in miracles, it is because you haven’t given the mystery of existence much thought. In fact you may not even need much thought as such.

I know someone who maintains that he doesn’t believe in miracles, yet he believes in evolution as the explanation for existence—what a contradiction?

What really is a miracle? Isn’t it an extraordinary or supernatural happening? If the world came into existence through evolution, what can be the mother of all miracles?

Many people don’t want to concede to miracles because of the latter’s spiritual overtones. They want to deny anything that reminds them of God and probable accounting at the end of the day.

It doesn’t matter how one looks at it, life specifically and existence generally are miracles. Since life is based on miracle, miracles are part of everyday existence.

Find out why one needs more faith to believe in evolution than one needs to believe in creation, CLICK HERE.

Have a miraculous day,
Remember to seek Christ.

What Are You Looking For?

2006-05-16T10:02:00.000+02:00

At one time I almost thought that it is impossible to know the truth as far as spiritual matters are concerned. This was because I looked at how people are sincere in whatever they believed.

The intuition in me confirmed that there has to be a problem somewhere because I find it difficult to believe that God would tell X to kill Y for Him. Ironically, the same God would tell Y to accept to be killed by X as a sign of Y’s devotion to Him.

There is a mystery in the Bible. Did you know that the Bible is like a coin with two faces?
The Bible is about life and it is about death;
It is about curses and it is about blessings.
It is about righteousness and it is about unrighteousness.

There are as much negative things as there are positive. The only assignment for mankind is to find out what God has ultimately endorsed. Finding out this is not impossible because He created 'something' in us that ought to confirm what is godly and what is not.

So when you open the pages of the Bible, what would you be looking for? You will definitely find what you are looking for.

I have chosen to look for life and virtue; I have decided to look for blessings and not curses; I have decided to look for mercy and not judgement. I find all these consistent with the nature and attributes of God.

What about you?

Complaining About Wrinkles?

2006-05-15T11:48:00.000+02:00

Why would someone want to complain about wrinkles. There are more reasons to thank God if you have wrinkles than if you don't have any. Let us look at a few:

1. Full of Years
In most of the cases, wrinkles mean that one if full of years. What can be a better reason to thank God for—long life. Next time someone is complaining about wrinkles, remind them: ‘Suppose God decided to save you the agony of wrinkles and took your life away when you were still young, would that have been a better option’?

2. No Pain
Wrinkles do not subject anyone to any physical pain. Why would someone want to complain about something that doesn’t hurt? Next time you meet someone who wants to complain about wrinkles, as him, “Suppose you are given a better reason to complain where the wrinkles would be accompanied by a lot of pain—how about that?

3. Reminders
Wrinkles are reminders that we are in the afternoon or approaching the evening of our life. This means that we have had all the time we needed to find the purpose of our life and also to put our house in order before we go to sleep. Anybody who goes to sleep without a wrinkle would have been denied one of the most important warnings about the pending departure. So next time you meet someone who is complaining about wrinkles, advise him that instead of misusing energy complaining, he should appreciate that he has had “good time” to find out why he was here and where he is headed to.

Interesting Newspaper Headlines (1998) Part 2

2006-05-10T20:38:00.000+02:00

If you didn't read Interesting Newspaper Headlines (1998) part 1, you can read it here

1. Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
2. Stolen Painting Found by Tree
3. Two Sisters Reunited after 18 Years in Checkout Counter
4. War Dims Hope for Peace
5. If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last a While
6. Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
7. Man Struck by Lightning Faces Battery Charge
8. New Study for Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
9. Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Space
10. Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
11. Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
12. Typhoon Rips Through Cemetary; Hundreds Dead.

“When Men Look At Us, It warms Us”

2006-04-07T11:04:00.000+02:00

Someone said,
“Ladies wearing Wonder Bras and low-cut blouses lose their right to complain about being stared at by men”.

I once saw a lady in a food-store dressed in away that I wondered what was going on in her head. I have to admit, what I saw was good—very good indeed. Nevertheless, if I knew what I was going to see, I wouldn’t have looked that direction. You never know what you’d see until you see it. I was not looking for a lady to look at, but all the same I saw what I was not looking for. The lady happened to be in the direction I was facing at the time. She was beautiful. She was dressed in away that was only appropriate for the bedroom. Even if she was at the beach, I would still have commented that it was too much.

If it was good—and good indeed—why am I saying that I wouldn’t have looked if I knew what I was going to see? Since I came to know Christ, I have since learnt that things are not judged by the impulsive attractions that meet the eye.

If you think that lustful struggles are teens problem, you are mistaken. The problem of lust runs through manfolk. You may be surprised at this, but including old men who are no longer physically active in matters of sex. The old men’s sexual lust is retrospective and nostalgic but the “damage” to the spiritual health is the same with that of the sexually active.

The sexual images and reminders would throw young and the old alike into lust. So for young men, if you think the sexual lust would end when you become a mature adult, you should brace yourself for a surprise. But now that you are reading this, you don’t need to be surprised. Since sexual lust can be life-long, we must declare “war” against it and learn how to manage it.

For ladies, it is true that men have to deal with and manage their sexual drives but it is important to point out that ladies may equally be “guilty” in the sum of the scenario of sexual lusts and leads. This is how this is justifiable: If something is highly combustible and you do the “lighting”, the combustible thing will be accused for burning but the same will apply for the “lighter”. If he is going to burn, let him catch his own fire but do not light it and say: “It was still going to burn anyway!”

Christ said that if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he shall have committed adultery with her. I wished He added: “If a woman, by her behaviour (dressings, postures, etc) makes a man sleep with her in his heart, she shall have also committed adultery”. Though the Lord didn’t say it, isn’t it still implicit?

A group of ladies who were going out for a party had dressed lightly—in mini skirts and low-cut blouses—defying biting winter temperature. A young man who took notice of this “disobedience to the weather”, asked, “Aren’t you ladies feeling cold, dressing like this?” One of the ladies, apparently representing the general feminine psyche, answered, “Admit it! Didn’t you take “notice” of us?” Before the young man answered she added, “When men look at us, it warms our body”.

There is no debate that there are some types of dressings that would make men stare at ladies “longer” than otherwise. And there are ladies who dress to make men stare at them “longer” than “normal”. The problem is that when a man looks at a woman ‘longer than normal’, it will not be in the vacuum of sexual meditations and fantasies. You are probably asking: “How long is ‘longer than normal’?” It is not mathematical but when it is ‘long’ each party will know otherwise, I’ll let you find out for yourself.

Ladies, ask yourself, “how many times have I “asked” men to take me to bed in their heart?
Let us admit it, if it is difficult for men to tame their sexual drive, so it is for ladies to stop providing the leads and in the process “ask” men to lust after them.

Someone Was Wondering

2006-04-01T13:57:00.000+02:00

If people from Poland are called Poles, why aren't people from Holland called Holes?

Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist but a person who drives a race car not called a racist?

Why do "overlooking" and "overseeing" mean opposite things?

Why isn't 11 pronounced onety one?

If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted and musicians denoted?

Playing Golf

2006-03-17T10:28:00.000+01:00

I subscribe to some humour ezine which sent me something that strenthened my confidence in the Winner. I have re-written some portions for purposes of reverence:

Three golf players were measuring their skill in the game one day. The first player was called Moses. The second player was the Son of the third Player.
Moses pulled up to the tee and drove a long one. The ball landed in the fairway, but rolled directly toward a water hazard. Quickly Moses raised his club, the water parted and it rolled to the other side, safe and sound.

The second player strolled up to the tee and hit a nice long one directly toward the same water hazard. It landed right in the centre of the pond and kind of hovered over the water. The second player casually walked out on the pond and chipped the ball onto the green.

The third Player got up and randomly whacked the ball. It headed out over the fence and into oncoming traffic on a nearby street.

Moses turned to the second player and commented, "His game is over". The second player replied, "You think so!?"

As they stood there watching, the ball bounced off a truck and hit a nearby tree. From there, it bounced onto the roof of a shack close by and rolled down into the gutter, down the drain spout, out onto the fairway and straight toward the aforementioned pond.

On the way to the pond, the ball hit a stone and bounced out over the water onto a lily pad, where it rested quietly. Suddenly a very large bullfrog jumped up on a lily pad and snatched the ball into his mouth. Just then, an eagle swooped down and grabbed the frog and flew away. As they passed over the green, the frog squealed with fright and dropped the ball, which bounced right into the cup for a hole in one.

Moses turned to the second player and said, "Your Dad can't just lose."
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Nobody and nothing has a chance against God—He sets everything to work towards His plan. He mobilises everything to work for Him if He so chooses. He wins because He is a player and the referee at the same time. He sets the rules of the game. He can't just lose!

The photo is from Freefoto.com

Why I am A Christian

2006-03-14T19:56:00.000+01:00

I am a Christian because of the best that God did out of the worst that the devil did.

Satan worked behind the scene to have men kill Jesus; God worked in the open to have Jesus rise from the dead. If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, Christianity would have been just like any other religion—and it wouldn’t have been easy getting me into the stuff of religion. For me, religion without Christ is a rebellion against God.

Now I can cope because I have a hope that does not disappoint (Rom. 5:5). Some of the worst things that can happen to anyone has happened to me, but I know that they are not the "ultimate worst". The worst that the enemy could ever do was done to the Lord Jesus and out of it, God worked out the mystery of an everlasting hope.

The centrality of resurrection in the redemption of man is the reason the enemy attacks it so scathingly.

Interesting Newspaper Headlines (1998)

2006-03-10T19:23:00.000+01:00

A friend of mine from South Africa once sent me what he called “Best Newspaper headlines of 1998.

The following are some of them. Find out if you can see why they are interesting:

1. Include Your Children When Baking Cookies
2. Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Experts Say
3. Drunks Get Nine Months in Violin Case
4. Iraqi Head Seeks Arms
5. Is There a Ring of Debris Around Uranus?
6. Prostitutes Appeal to Pope
7. Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
8. British Left Waffles on Falkland Islands
9. Teacher Strikes Idle Kids
10. Clinton Wins Budget; More Lies Ahead
11. Plane Too Close to Ground, Crash Probe Told
12. Miners Refuse to Work After Death

The foto is from freeFoto.com

Afraid To Fall?

2006-03-02T09:47:00.000+01:00

I was reading my friend Per Filip's blog where he had posted what he entitled: "even more coke-wisdom". He had seen on a Coca Cola bottle the following wisdom:

Those who are afraid to fall

will never fly.

How true! But what about someone trying to fly only to get himself fallen? In order to fly, one does not just brave and make an attempt.

The person who would finally fly is the one who even after falling doesn't allow himself to be intimidated by the pain of falling--he stands up and tries again. He repeats this until one day he makes it.

Blessed are they that are fallen if they choose to stand again. The only thing that can happen to the one who has fallen is standing up.

On the other hand, pitied are they that stand for the most likely thing that can happen to them is falling. No wonder the Bible says: "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! (1 Cor. 10:12, NIV).

Your Brother Has Passed Away Pt. 2

2006-02-28T17:52:00.000+01:00

NOTE: This is a continuation of my previous posting. If you didn't read the begininng of the story, you may wish to read it by clicking here

After a while, I got a call from another pastor friend who ‘confirmed’ that my brother had passed away. He expressed his condolences and promised to get me more details about what had happened.

We had exchanged sms with my brother hardly three days earlier and he was not sick or something—what could have happened? By this time, I couldn’t hold it any longer. I moaned for a while. Meanwhile I felt a strange mixture of sorrow and peace inside.

After a while I picked the phone and tried calling my ‘dead’ brother. The phone rang but no one picked. Frustrated, I decided to send an sms, addressing my brother by name and saying, “if you get this message, please get back to me immediately and tell me how you are doing”. I waited for about an hour—nothing happened. I was beginning to “accept the reality” but decided to try one more time. I picked the phone again and called my brother’s mobile. Guess who picked the phone on the other end—my brother! The one who was supposed to have passed away.

Have you ever talked to the dead?—live!

God had answered my prayer. The instinctive thing I did without thinking about it was asking God not to let the information be true. It turned out that it was not true, my brother was alive. I have never experienced a surge of joy.

Did my pastor friends want to pull a prank on me? By no means! What happened was that my aunt had lost a son. The son had gone to Nairobi to seek medical help and my mother who stays in Nairobi took him to the hospital.

In our mother tongue we don't have a word for cousin. The son of your aunt is your brother. And again, a maternal aunt is your mother. Not having enough money to call abroad, my aunt called one of my pastor friends and asked him to contact me with the information that they have been bereaved. She used our mother tongue and it must have gone something like this: “Nyis Daniel ni owadgi otho Nairobi” (Tell Daniel that his brother (the cousin) has died in Nairobi). About her identity, my aunt must have identified herself as my mother. What she didn't know was that all this was building into a confusion.

My brother works in Thika—a town very close to Nairobi. For the people in the countryside, people working in the towns near Nairobi can as well be said to be in Nairobi.

Of course, I still grieved that I lost a cousin but at the same time there was this feeling of “getting back your brother”.

Your Brother Has Passed Away!

2006-02-24T19:12:00.000+01:00

It was on Friday 17.02.2006, when I got a message from my home country (Kenya) that I have lost my brother. A pastor friend sent me an sms that my only brother has passed away.

I was reading the Bible at the time the message came. Stunned, I thought I was dreaming. I looked at the Bible and felt “betrayed”. A voice spoke to me—‘You were not reading the Bible so that somebody doesn’t die—were you?’ The impression was that I should continue reading.

I took the mobile phone and raised it before God and prayed, “Please, let this not be true, I pray thee, have mercy on your servant”.

After doing that, I continued reading the Bible and finished the chapter I was reading at the time. I, however, realised that I was not concentrating. I took the phone and started calling friends and relatives around. No one was picking the phone. I thought, could they be moaning that nobody is keen on answering any phone. The only person I managed to get had not heard anything like that. He is living in a different town, far from where my brother worked.

I started thinking about plane ticket, but where on earth was I going to get the money after having hit bottom low financially?
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I have to be going….you will read the rest of the story tomorrow or when I get time to blog again.