Feeding and Nourishing Corruption In Kenya

Corruption mentality doesn't begin when you start working at NYS or when you are posted to Afya House.

It starts when you start bribing your baby with a sweet/biscuit so that he can stop crying. When you give your son 5 Shillings so that he can go to the shop and buy a kilo of sugar which he will also use!

When you bribe so that your child can join the Police Force, what do you expect once he gets there AND he knows he should not be there in the first place?

If you didn't know that is many a time the genesis of believing that you have to get "paid" do what you are supposed to do, or that you are entitled to "something" for doing something.

Then our youngsters watch in admiration as glorified THIEVES drive around in big cars and stay to the West of Nairobi.

"Working" smarter takes a whole new dimension.

CRY MY BELOVED COUNTRY!

When Trees Are Threatened

We signed up for a hike with a ranger, who told us a remarkable thing: when a tree's life is threatened, stressed by the elements of fire, drought, or other calamity, it twists beneath its bark to reinforce and make itself stronger.

On the surface, this new inner strength may not be visible, for the bark often continues to give the same vertical appearance. Only when the exterior is stripped away, or when the tree is felled, are its inner struggles revealed"

Inner struggles for folks like you and me can also make us stronger if we so choose, and face our difficulties and challenges with courage and determination and not allow them to defeat us.

  -- Marilyn J. Abraham

BEING THANKFUL

At times we tend to grumble that what we are engaged in is perhaps not bringing in enough money, is not comfortable enough, is stressful, etc, etc.....

This morning as my neighbor was leaving for her place of work, she looked at me with envy as I stood on the veranda admiring the gray fog because of the way I am dressed. It's soooooo cold in Murang'a, central Kenya this morning (14 C). I actually look like a Murang'a version of the Eskimos, as I have wrapped something akin to a blanket around myself. Without a care regarding my appearance as I work from the house, no intention of venturing out until 1 pm for lunchtime fellowship.

That made me realize how at times I complain about having to keep odd working hours writing stuff, this morning, for example, I was up at 3 am, and now I am thinking  of a short power nap.

My point, realize there are many who would give a finger to be where you are today! Appreciate what God has given you, for HE KNOWS WHAT IS GOOD FOR YOU.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights” (James 1:17).

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1,2,3).

God is good always and forever so let’s thank him again and again and again!!!

YOU AND ME GOD, AGAINST THE WORLD (Russ Lawson, Messages From The Heart)

Have you ever felt like the whole world is against you? Sometimes it feels that way doesn't it. Even if you are right and know you are right, the world often is really not interested in what is right, they only want what they want anyway.

This little story kind of puts things in perspective.

A preacher had been having trouble with his congregation. It seemed they could agree upon nothing, and controversy filled the air until meeting on Sunday itself, became an area of conflict, and unhappiness filled the church. The leaders of the congregation organized a meeting of 10 elders and the preacher. They met in the conference room, sitting about a magnificent mahogany table. One by one the issues were dealt with and on each issue it became more and more apparent that the preacher was a lonely voice in the wilderness.

The leader of the meeting said, "Come, Preacher, enough of this. Let us vote and allow the majority to rule." He passed out the slips of paper, and each man made his mark. The slips were collected and the president said, "You may examine them, Preacher. It is 11 to one against you. We have the majority."

Whereupon the preacher rose to his feet, "So", he said, "You now think because of the vote that you are right and I am wrong. Well, I stand here, and he raised his arms impressively, and call upon our Holy God to give us a sign that I am right and you are wrong."

Suddenly, there came a frightful crack of thunder and a brilliant flash of lightning that struck the mahogany table and cracked it in two. The room was filled with smoke and the elders were hurled to the floor.

But the preacher was untouched, his eyes flashing and a grim smile on his face.
Slowly, the speaker for the elders lifted himself above what was left of the table. His hair was singed, his glasses were hanging from one ear, and his clothing was in disarray. He said, "All right, 11 to two. We still have the majority."

I'm reminded of the words of the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:15-18 writing about a man named Alexander. He wrote to Timothy: "You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Paul said, he stood all alone for the truth of God's word, but he also understood that "the Lord stood" at his side. I can promise you (from experience) that at times, if you stand for truth, for purity, for righteousness, at times it will seem that you stand all alone. Never forget that God is with you always.

Christian Escapism on Social Media

One of the things I have learnt on Social Media (being quite active as I am, actually I live online ) is that we as Christians love our comfort zones very much. For example, we are very comfortable with a post that only requires a simple AMEN, SURE, GREAT, POWERFUL MESSAGE, WORD!, THANK YOU FOR THAT, WOW! etc, etc

However, anything that challenges our traditional way of Christian thinking makes us uncomfortable, we prefer to read that and quickly skip with no comment (perhaps a like). We are shy/afraid to comment on the deep profound stuff you just read from his or her wall, if it challenged you.

My brother and sister, if we want to grow, we must avoid escapism and burying our heads under the sand whenever we feel challenged by a different kind of thinking or perspective, hoping that “it will pass” and we can revert to the usual.

Even a good classroom teacher encourages students to be inquisitive, to contribute, share, and never to be afraid of what fellow students think of you. Just be sincere. An inquisitive student learns faster and more. I am not under any circumstance saying YOU MUST comment.

I love Social Media because it is such a wonderful forum where I can post something and in the process end up learning much more from your comments, rebukes, correction, guidance, etc. That is how a Christian grows. Facebook for example, is a form of “communing together” which many of us have physically sadly neglected.

Facebook, in particular offers a unique forum where you can ask a question/post something and in the midst of the myriad of answers/comments, you may get your answer. That is why I at times post provoking thoughts/opinions.

That way, you and me will not remain spiritual babes forever.

"Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly -- mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men?"
(1 Corinthians 3:1-5)

“Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
(1 Corinthians 3:18-20)

"The Trouble Tree" (Author Unknown)

The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farmhouse had just finished a rough first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric-saw quit, and now his ancient pickup truck refused to start. While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. 



On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. After opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles, and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss. 



Afterward, he walked me to my car. We passed the tree, and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier. 



"Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing for sure, troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning, I pick them up again." 



"Funny thing is," he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick them up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before." 



APPLICATION: As Christians, we know that we've got something even better then a "trouble tree," we've got Jesus, whom we can give all our daily burdens. And what's better, is we don't have to (and really shouldn't) take them back! Have a bad day at work? Give it over to your Jesus who loves you, and let it go, and start fresh anew the next day. The more we give our burdens to Jesus, the lighter our loads and the better our relationships with others.

Gorilla Moment (Author Unknown) [Edited]

 Tony Whittaker wrote how a 30-second film shows six people playing basketball, three in white shirts and three in black. Volunteers are asked to count how many times the white shirt team passes the ball. At the end of the film, they are asked if they saw anything unusual. Most do not. The unusual thing is: halfway through the film, a man wearing a gorilla suit walks through the players, beats his chest to the camera, and then walks off. 


 "When shown the film again, people are utterly surprised to see him, to the extent that they often believe a different film has been substituted for the original one. Their focus on one task has blinded them to a truth." 


 He goes on to say, "This film trick illustrates a simple fact--that if we are only looking for one thing, we do not usually see anything different...The point at which people finally see the unexpected is what [could be called] a 'gorilla moment.'...So often in life people see only what they want to see and don't see what they don't want to see." 
 

To Have Succeeded -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.

PASTOR DISGUISES HIMSELF AS A DESTITUTE (Kevin K. Okwara)

This is very challenging from my friend and brother in Christ Kevin K. Okwara....

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Pastor Jeremiah Steepek transformed himself into a homeless person and went to the 10,000- member church that he was to be introduced as the head pastor that morning. He walked around the church for 30 minutes while it was filling with people for service in which only 3 people out of the about 10,000 people said hello to him.

He asked people for change to buy food – no one in the church gave him change.He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church and was asked by the ushers if he would please sit in the back. He greeted people only to be greeted back with stares and dirty looks, with people looking down on him and judging him.

As he sat in the back of the church, he listened to the church announcements and such.When all that was done, the elders went up and were excited to introduce the new pastor of the church to the congregation. “We would like to introduce to you Pastor Jeremiah Steepek.”

The congregation looked around clapping with joy and anticipation. The homeless man sitting in the back stood up and started walking down the aisle. The clapping stopped with all eyes on him. He walked up the altar and took the microphone from the elders (who were in on this) and paused for a moment then he recited: “Then the King will say to those on his right,‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’‘The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ After he recited this, he looked towards the congregation and told them all what he had experienced that morning. Many began to cry and many heads were bowed in shame.

He then said, “Today I see a gathering of people, not a church of Jesus Christ. The world has enough people, but not enough disciples. When will YOU decide to become disciples?”