The other day out of the blue I asked a lady at work the above question which sent her in a state of confusion. Are you talking about our new boss? No! Mr. Right? No. My boyfriend’s dad? No! I allowed her to make few more guesses but she was still not getting my point. Are these the only important people in your life? I encouraged her to think about other important people other than her boss, Mr. Right or Mr. Right’s dad. She still didn’t have a clue. Who are you talking about then? She asked.
I am talking about the young man born to the peasant woman in Bethlehem. His name is Jesus. Oh that one, my colleague said. Yes that one. We spent some minutes talking about him, Jesus. His first job was in Carpentry. He switched to Preaching when he was 30. Though never had any formal education, his preaching was inspiring, challenging and powerful.
He never had any gadget like a mobile phone or a computer. Though he never sent any text message; befriend any one on facebook, had a website, wrote a blog, followed any one or any one followed him on twitter, his message and teachings spread across the globe. He was doing several works at the same time; healing, teaching, preaching, pastoring, counselling. He loved his work so much. He never took a day off from work, not even on the Sabbath.
His own people did not like him. But he gave many the rights to become children of God. He is very good at knocking and mending peoples’ heart. He works 24/7. As you read this he is knocking and mending people’s heart. You can let him in now. Don’t worry if you’re not ready. He can come again another time. But don’t leave it for too long for you never know.
Thursday 28 July 2011
Monday 25 July 2011
Time for absent fathers to be more responsible
Yet again we are confronted with another ill effect of fatherlessness. I read the father of Anders Behring Breivik, the 32-year -old charged with carrying out last Friday’s deadly attacks in Norway had long estranged from his son. Mr Jens Breivik, a former diplomat who now lives in Paris has expressed shock at the crime.
Mr. Jens Breivik divorced Ander’s mother, a nurse, when their child was one year old, moved to Paris and married again. From then on he had limited contact with the boy. Some men will go all the way even to the high courts to claim custody of their children, and yet some men can’t be bothered to be responsible for the children they bring to the world. What is that make some men so irresponsible? As a former diplomat you will expect him to be more responsible. It’s not as if there was a court order restraining him from contacting his son as in the case of some fathers.
Many men have forgotten the important role they play in their children lives. Too many young men and women grow up without the experience of a loving father. We are told the relationship between the father and son broke down when the boy was a teenager, and the two haven’t spoken since. The crucial time when a child needs a father in his life is during his teenage years. So many families have broken down as a result of fatherlessness. Being a father is not all about providing food and shelter; it’s about nurturing, support, guidance, showing interest, it’s about providing the best role model that a man can. When these important things are lacking, it can lead anti-social behaviour, youth crime and extremism.
In the long run it is the society that suffers as a result of absent fathers. Something has to be done about this increasing trend in our society.
Mr. Jens Breivik divorced Ander’s mother, a nurse, when their child was one year old, moved to Paris and married again. From then on he had limited contact with the boy. Some men will go all the way even to the high courts to claim custody of their children, and yet some men can’t be bothered to be responsible for the children they bring to the world. What is that make some men so irresponsible? As a former diplomat you will expect him to be more responsible. It’s not as if there was a court order restraining him from contacting his son as in the case of some fathers.
Many men have forgotten the important role they play in their children lives. Too many young men and women grow up without the experience of a loving father. We are told the relationship between the father and son broke down when the boy was a teenager, and the two haven’t spoken since. The crucial time when a child needs a father in his life is during his teenage years. So many families have broken down as a result of fatherlessness. Being a father is not all about providing food and shelter; it’s about nurturing, support, guidance, showing interest, it’s about providing the best role model that a man can. When these important things are lacking, it can lead anti-social behaviour, youth crime and extremism.
In the long run it is the society that suffers as a result of absent fathers. Something has to be done about this increasing trend in our society.
Friday 8 July 2011
Parable of the pencil
Very challenging. Hope we all learn from this.
The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. There are 5 things you need to know, he told the pencil, before I send you into the world. Always remember them, never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.
One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone’s hand.
Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it to become a better pencil.
Three: You will be able to correct mistakes you will make
Four: The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.
Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.
The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.
Now replacing the place of the pencil with you; always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.
One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God’s hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.
Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems, but you’ll need it to become a stronger person.
Three: You will be able to correct mistakes you might make and grow through them.
Four: The most important part of you will always be what’s on the inside.
Five: On every surface you walk, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to serve God in everything.
By understanding and remembering, let us proceed with our life on this earth having a meaningful purpose in our heart and a relationship with God daily.
Author Unknown
The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. There are 5 things you need to know, he told the pencil, before I send you into the world. Always remember them, never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.
One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone’s hand.
Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it to become a better pencil.
Three: You will be able to correct mistakes you will make
Four: The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.
Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.
The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.
Now replacing the place of the pencil with you; always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.
One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God’s hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.
Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems, but you’ll need it to become a stronger person.
Three: You will be able to correct mistakes you might make and grow through them.
Four: The most important part of you will always be what’s on the inside.
Five: On every surface you walk, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to serve God in everything.
By understanding and remembering, let us proceed with our life on this earth having a meaningful purpose in our heart and a relationship with God daily.
Author Unknown
Monday 4 July 2011
Going back seems to be the hardest thing
“………if you’re displeased, I will go back.” (Numbers 22:34.) Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose. Now if you’re displeased, I will go back.” That sounds easy isn’t it, but doing it is the hardest thing for many.
When we realized that our mistakes in the past have come to roost and thus stopping us from progressing, the obvious thing to do is to go back and put it right. Many times we mistakenly tend to take the easiest and quickest way to fix the mistake. By the time we realized that the quickest and the easiest option wouldn’t help the situation we find that the mistake had worsened so much so that going back to it wouldn’t be an option. We will like to carry on any way.
This doesn’t only happen with our relationship with God, but also partners, family members, friends or colleagues. We all have said or done things in the past that on hind -sight we’re ashamed off. It’s easy to identify the mistake but going back to fix it is the problem. Sometimes we feel we better not visit the old wounds. Rather some wounds will be better healed when it’s opened, and examined well and then patched.
It’s not only individuals who find going back to make things right difficult. Institutions are equally culprit when it comes to going back to put things right. One such institution is the church. The church is in the state it is today because of certain actions and inactions in the past. So many decisions have been made in the past that on hind-sight we will wish we haven’t made them. Many of these decisions either to do with our constitutional practice, theology, ecumenical relations, worship procedures have caused our progress.
In our various levels of meetings some decisions have been made that today when we look back we can’t believe we passed them. Should we revisit them? Why not if they’re standing in our way of progress. If the church will play its rightful role in the society then it should be humble to admit that it’s got certain things wrong, and be prepared to put it right.
When we realized that our mistakes in the past have come to roost and thus stopping us from progressing, the obvious thing to do is to go back and put it right. Many times we mistakenly tend to take the easiest and quickest way to fix the mistake. By the time we realized that the quickest and the easiest option wouldn’t help the situation we find that the mistake had worsened so much so that going back to it wouldn’t be an option. We will like to carry on any way.
This doesn’t only happen with our relationship with God, but also partners, family members, friends or colleagues. We all have said or done things in the past that on hind -sight we’re ashamed off. It’s easy to identify the mistake but going back to fix it is the problem. Sometimes we feel we better not visit the old wounds. Rather some wounds will be better healed when it’s opened, and examined well and then patched.
It’s not only individuals who find going back to make things right difficult. Institutions are equally culprit when it comes to going back to put things right. One such institution is the church. The church is in the state it is today because of certain actions and inactions in the past. So many decisions have been made in the past that on hind-sight we will wish we haven’t made them. Many of these decisions either to do with our constitutional practice, theology, ecumenical relations, worship procedures have caused our progress.
In our various levels of meetings some decisions have been made that today when we look back we can’t believe we passed them. Should we revisit them? Why not if they’re standing in our way of progress. If the church will play its rightful role in the society then it should be humble to admit that it’s got certain things wrong, and be prepared to put it right.
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