Monday, November 2, 2009

Introducing Zion's Melody First Album!

Dear all,

Here's Zion's Melody's first album entitled, "Yeye Ndiye Mfalme!" (He is the King!). It's been a real blessing for these young people working in unity to put together songs that they have been, for the past one year, singing in both public and private place - from hospitals, to churches, to student conventions, to homes of the those seeking comfort and healing. Now, you too can enjoy these blessings with only a donation of at least Tsh. 8,000 or USD 6.50. The group has plans to extend the ministry further and therefore, your contribution will be greatly appreciated.

Call any one of the following numbers to make your order:

+255717019246
+255755995775
+255764504284

Stay blessed!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Sabbath-ing at Njiro Hill

"I was glad when they said to me, Let us go unto the house of the Lord" - Psalms 122: 1

"O Sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things" - Psalms 98: 1

Just after singing 'I have decided to Follow Jesus' in the Sabbath School

Solid Foundation 10 Year Reunion

Christian Education at Mukidoma Secondary School - Elimu ya Kikristo Shuleni Mukidoma



"Train up a child in the way s/he should go: and when s/he is old, s/he will not depart from it" - Proverbs 22: 6, KJV

Music Ministry Sabbath in Sharjah!

Greetings,

October 10, 2009 was a Music Ministry Sabbath in Sharjah. Great voices and sounds were lifted to Praise The Lord.

Here's a Little taste:-

http://www.youtube.com/user/GLukwaro#p/u/11/XVx77txDrXQ

These and a few more at: -


Have a Blessed week.

Gureni.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Unakaribishwa Ushiriki Kujenga Kanisa

Mshiriki wa Kanisa hili ametuma ujumbe huu wa kutukaribisha tushiriki katika ujenzi huo:

Natumaini hamjambo. Kwa zaidi ya miaka 50 tangu injili ilipoingia mjini Bukoba tumekuwa na kanisa moja tu. Ni mpango wa kanisa kuongeza wigo wa kazi kwa kuongeza makanisa ndani ya mji wa Bukoba. Kwa kuanza tayari kanisa limetengwa lijulikanalo kama MAFUMBO SDA. Tuko katika harakati za ujenzi na bahati mbaya zaidi ya 50% ya washiriki wa kanisa hili jipya ni tegemezi.

Napenda kuwashirikisha ninyi rafiki zangu katika ujenzi wa kanisa hili kadri mnavyobarikiwa. Najua mna majukumu mengi, ila Mungu atawawezesha. Nimeambatanisha barua ya kanisa ya kuomba mchango pamoja na picha za jengo tunaloabudia kwa sasa. KWELI MUNGU WETU ANAAIBISHWA KWA NYUMBA HII DUNI YA IBADA!!!!

Akaunti ya kanisa ni [...]

[Mwandikie geustace78@yahoo.co.uk akutumie akaunti hiyo]

Asanteni sana na Mungu azidi kuwabariki.

Grace Eustace


KANISA LA WAADVENTISTA WASABATO MAFUMBO
S.LP.319 BUKOBA SIMU: 2220677


Ndugu Mheshimiwa, Bi, Bwana,……………………………………………………..
Amani, Baraka na Neema zitokazo kwa Bwana aliye Mungu wetu viwe pamoja nawe. Amina.

YAH: OMBI LA MCHANGO KWA AJILI YA UJENZI WA KANISA

Mpendwa tunaomba mchango wako wa hali na mali ili kufanikisha ujenzi wa jengo la kanisa ambalo limeonyeshwa kwenye picha hiyo hapo juu. Hadi sasa tumekamilisha ujenzi hadi kufikia sehemu kubwa ya boma ambao umegharimu shilingi zipatazo 12,000,000/. Hivi sasa tunategemea kuingia katika hatua ya kuezeka paa. Tumekuchagua kwa matumaini ya kupata chochote kati ya hivi vifuatavyo na Bwana atakubariki: Mabati, Mbao, Fedha tasilimu pamoja na maombi (dua) yako.

Waweza kuwasilisha mchango wako kwa Kanisa moja kwa moja au kupitia kwa aliyekupatia kadi hii au kwa kutupigia simu ilionyesha hapo juu, nasi tutakufuata. Utapewa risiti ya Kanisa kwa matoleo yako.

Natanguliza shukrani, BWANA akubariki.

MCHUNGAJI HERI KUYENGA

Kanisa la Waadventista Wasabato-Mafumbo

Mimi………………………………………………….Natoa/naahidi kutoa…………………………………Tarehe……………………………………….Sahihi……………………

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Public Invitation to the International Day on A Haven of Rest in a Restless World

MWENGE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

INTERNATIONAL DAY PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2009

TIME: 8.30 to 17.15 HRS
THEME: A HAVEN OF REST IN A RESTLESS WORLD

VENUE: MWENGE CHURCH - NEAR MWENGE BUS TERMINAL &
MUNICIPAL DISPENSARY / NAKIETE PHAMACY

INVITED: ALL NATIONS

08.30-09.00
Arrival and Registration/Welcoming Songs

09.00 -10.30
Special Sabbath School

10.30 – 10.40
Announcements

10.40-10.55
Arrival of Guest of Honor

10.55 -11.00
Introductory Remarks for the Guest of Honor
Pr. Jacob Gagi

11.00 – 12.15
Divine Service
Pr. Jacob Gagi

12.15 – 13.45
LUNCH
ALL

13.45-14.15
Music Extravaganza
Choirs: Kinondoni, Kimanga, Mwenge, Vijana Mwenge

14.15 – 14.25
Welcoming Note
Elder Rajab Kiravu

14.25-14.45
Songs of Praise
Choirs: Kimanga & Kinondoni
14.45 – 15.00
West Africa's Perspective
Women Delegate in the West Africa Congress

15.00-15.40
A Haven of Piece (Sermon)
Pr. Kigundu Ndwiga
Pr. Jacob Ngussa

15.40-15.50
Welcoming Remarks for Guest of Honor

15.50-16.20
Speech by Guest of Honor
Hon Prof. Jumanne Maghembe (MP), Minister of Education & Vocational Training

16.20 – 16.30
Opening of Disaster Management Fund & To hand Over Support
Hon Prof. Jumanne Maghembe (MP), Minister of Education & Vocational Training

16.30 – 16.40
Vote of Thanks
Prof. Msafiri Jackson

16.40 – 16.50
Dedicatory Prayer for the United Republic of Tanzania & Government of Tanzania
Pr. Kigundu Ndwiga

16.50 – 16.55
Departure of Guest of Honor
Pr Jacob Gagi/Pr. Amos Lutebekela /Choirs

16.50 – 17.15
Songs of Thanksgiving
All Choirs

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Sabbath Show: 'He is Risen!'

It was was the beginning of yet another week; the beginning of yet another day. But this was not a just a normal day. It was a actually a climax of the three days that would change the history of the whole universe – the days that will forever change the history of humankind! Just two days ago, in a hill called Calvary, the greatest man who ever lived had been put to death on a cross and buried “in the heart of the earth.” That gloomy day passed and the next day dragged and dragged on as He rested in the tomb, motionless and lifeless. Mind you, this was a man who had healed the broken-hearted, set the prisoners free and even raised the deads! This was the very one who had testfied that He is “the way, the truth and the life”!

Moreover, this is the man who had declared majestically that ‘He has the power to lay down His life for the sake of the people and and the power to take it again.’ And mind you, this was the man who had assured people that whatever He says is ‘the truth, nothing but the truth’ and many had believed Him. But this was the beginning of the third day since He died and it seems as if the devil who “had the power of death” was the winner after all! Was this death the end of the wonderful story of of this man who was meant to save the us from our sins and from death itself ?


Mary Magdalene: Of course it was not the end of the story even though that day did not start very well for some us who believed in Him as our Saviour. I could hardly sleep the night before and early in the morning when it was yet dark I went to the tomb with some sweet spices to anoint His body. But alas, the tomb was open and His body was nowhere to be found! I was really shocked and I sorrowfully rushed to tell Peter and John that they have taken away His body and I didn’t know were they have laid him!

While Mary was running to the disciples with her sorrowful message the other women who had also witnessed the death and burial of Jesus entered the tomb with their spices and perfumes. But guess what happened?

Salome: We saw a light shining in the tomb, but the body of Jesus was not there. We were so puzzled and suddenly we saw a young man clothed in shining garments sitting by the tomb. We were so frightened but to our surprise, he exclaimed: " Fear yeah not for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead." It was so unbelievable and as we look into the tomb again we saw and heard another shining man exclaiming:, "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again." ‘He is risen, He is risen! We repeated these amazing words over and over again, as we run to share the good news of His resurrection with the others!

While these women were running away from the tomb with great joy, some disciples were running toward the tomb with great sorrow. What were they up to?

Peter: You know Mary really shocked us with her message so we run as fast as we could to the tomb. John, the son of thunder outrun me and reached the tomb first. When John arrived he just looked inside at the linen clothes lying there at the tomb but I guess he was too shocked to get in.

John:
I could hardly believe it. It was only after Peter went in that I also went in and believed after seeing what I saw. At that time we still did not understand the Scriptures that He must rise again from the dead. So we went away to our homes and Peter kept wondering but Mary remained at the tomb, weeping.

Mary Magdalene: I wept and wept and when I looked at the empty tomb lo I was surprised to see two angels in white. As if they didn’t know, they asked me: “woman why weepest thou?” As soon as I answered them I turned back and through my tears-dimmed eyes I saw another man who asked me why I was crying and who I was looking for. I thought he was the gardener so I ask him to show me where he has laid Him so that I can take Him away. But guess what I heard from him? I heard the familiar voice calling me by name, “Mary”! And lo behold my eyes were open and I saw Jesus, the living Christ and all I could exclaim was “Master!” I was so glad I couldn’t wait to tell Peter and the other disciples that I have actually seen Him and that He is risen indeed!

‘He is risen’ was indeed a wonderful message to these women who had served Jesus! But was it so to the pharisees and the priests who plotted to get rid of Jesus?

Pharisee: Of course not. We had indeed prepared ourself for the worst. Since we heard Jesus saying He will rise again on the third day we decided to ask Pilate to ensure that His tomb was sealed and guarded tightly! But alas we were shocked when the guarding soldiers came and told us about what had happened that morning. So we had to come up with a new deal. We gave them money and asked them to say that Jesus’ disciples came at night and stole His body. So the bribed soldiers tried their best to spread this story.

Despite all this, the women kept on spreading the glad tidings that ‘He is risen, He is risen’ . But no matter how much the women tried to convince the apostles, their words seemed to them as “idle tales, and they believed them not.” But Jesus never gave up on his disciples or did He?

Cleopas: No He didn’t. He never gave up on us. While the two of us were in Jerusalem we heard this message that He is risen but it was too good to be true. So we sadly decided to go back to Emmaus. While were were talking about all these astonishing things along the way a strange traveller joined us . It seems as if He had no idea about how terrible things had been in the past three days. How could He ask us why were were so sad? How could he miss it? Anyway, we told him the saddening story of the cruficifition of He who we trusted as the one “who was going to redeem Israel.” To our surprise he started preaching to us one of the best sermon we ever heard! Starting at Moses and all the prophets, He explained to us how all the scriptures predicted that Jesus had to suffer all these things and rise on the third day! His gospel was so sweet and we wanted to hear more so we invited him to dine with with us.

Then something familiar happened: ‘He took bread, blessed it, broke it and give it to us’! We knew only one man who could have done that and that moment ours eyes were open and we knew for sure that He is risen!At a twinkling of an eye He vanished. Now we knew why our hurt burnt within us as He spoke to us along the way and immediately we went back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples that He is risen indeed! And as soon as I we told them Jesus appeared again to all us and we were overwhelmed with joy!

Surely “Christ's first work on earth after His resurrection was to convince His disciples of His undiminished love and tender regard for them. To give them proof that He was their living Saviour, that He had broken the fetters of the tomb, and could no longer be held by the enemy death; to reveal that He had the same heart of love as when He was with them as their beloved Teacher, He appeared to them again and again.” He would come over and over again even for the sake of the doubtest of them all, wouldn’t He?

Thomas: Yes He would come. When Jesus first met all the disciples, I was not with them. They disciples told me that they have seen the Lord but I could not believe them. I even told them "except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe.”’ One day when I was with the other disciples and while the doors were shut suddenly Jesus and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Turning to me He said, "Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing." I instantly recognized the He is indeed the risen Jesus. I did not need any further proof. My heart leaped with joy as I exclaimed, "My Lord and my God."

Jesus accepted Thomas’ “ acknowledgment, but gently reproved his unbelief: ‘Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.’ The faith of Thomas would have been more pleasing to Christ if he had been willing to believe upon the testimony of his brethren. Should the world now follow the example of Thomas, no one would believe unto salvation; for all who receive Christ must do so through the testimony of others.” And this is the testimony, that Jesus is still alive today and He want to live within our hearts! He is risen and this is what He testifies in the book of Revelation chapter 1 verse 18: “ I am he who lives, and was dead; and behold I am alive for evermore, Amen; and I have the keys of hell and of death.” Jesus died and He is risen so that we may live forever. Is He risen in your life today? All power on earth and on heaven has been been given unto Jesus and because He lives we can face uncertain days. Can you face tomorrow because He lives?

Because He Lives - SDA Hymnal 526

God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus,
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
And empty grave to prove my Savior lives!

Because He lives I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future.
And life is worth a living,
Just because He lives!

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride, and joy He gives;
But greater still the calm assurance,
This child can face uncertain days because He lives!

Because He lives I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future.
And life is worth a living,
Just because He lives!

Video za Kwaya Mbalimbali


Tembelea mtandao wa http://www.youtube.com/uhamishoni upate mibaraka ya nyimbo za Kimbingu!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Mibaraka ya Makambi huko Morogoro Mjini!

Huu ni msimu wa Makambi. Sabato iliyopita nilipata mibaraka ya kujihudhurisha kwenye Kanisa la Katikakati ya Mji wa Morogoro. Hapo nilikuta Mchungaji wa zamani wa Mtaa wa Magomeni, Marko Marekana, akihubiri. Kabla ya Hubiri lake alimkaribisha Mkurugenzi wa Vijana kutoka Makao Makuu ya Kanisa la Waadventista Wasabato, Mchungaji Baraka Muganda, atoe Neno kwanza. Kama kawaida yake, kwa unyenyekevu, Mchungaji Muganda alikumbushia umuhimu wa kuiachia Mimbari kwa Mhubiri aliyejiandaa juma lote kisha akatoa Hubiri fupi kutoka kwenye Waraka wa Kwanza wa Petro 2: 4. Alitumia fungu hilo kujenga hoja ya Kithiolojia kuwa tunapaswa "Ku-Showoff", yaani, "Kujionyesha", ili kudhihirisha fadhili za Mungu. Pia alitujulisha kuwa anatarajia kuwa Musoma, Tarime kuendesha makambi yatakayojumuisha makanisa yote ya eneo hilo. Naye Mchungaji Marekana akamalizia na Hubiri Kuu lililojikita katika Yohana 4: 1 - 42 ambapo Mwanamke Msamaria ambaye hakukubalika katika Jamii yake alikutana na Yesu kisimani, akajionyesha kwa Wasamaria wenzake na kutangaza fadhili za Kristo kwa watu wote!

Vibanda vya Kisasa navyo Vilikuwepo Kuashiria kuwa Hakika haya ni Makambi!

Mchungaji Baraka Muganda Naye Alijihudhurisha na Kutoa Neno la Kufungulia Pazia!

Kwaya ya Magomeni Nayo ilitinga na Majoho Mapya na Kuitikia Wito wa Mchungaji!

Wakongwe wa Thisdaso Nao Hawakosekani kwenye Matukio Muhimu Kama Haya!

Wanafunzi nao Walikuwepo Tayari kwa Mojawapo ya Matukio Muhimu Sana Kambini!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

'Pope' Benedict XVI's 'Charity in Truth': A Call for a New World Order or Disorder?

A keen observer of the Signs of the Times has sent this link on Pope calls for 'God-centered' Global Economy', with the following rallying call: "Send to as many people as you can. The Sunday Law is closer than you think. Stay blessed."

Another keen observer of Last Day Events has sent this link on In Trouble Times, Pope call for a New World Order, with the following warning call: "Dunia ndio hiyoooo inaisha", that is, "There goes the world, ending"!

Yet another keen observer of the End of Time Prophecy has presented the following Adventist Review:

Pope Calls for a World Political Authority

In response to the world financial crisis, Pope Benedict XVI has called for the formation of a “true world political authority.” This new “authority” would enforce global economic, environment and immigration policies to help construct a social order that “conforms to the moral order.” The call comes in the pope’s recently released encyclical, entitled Caritas in Veritate, or Love in Truth.

Such language seems to reflect predictions that Seventh-day Adventist have made for many years that at a time of international crisis, religious leaders would call for international enforcement of moral rules and standards. Is the Pope’s recent letter a fulfillment of those predictions?

A full reading of the letter is needed to answer this question. Much of the letter contains materials that Adventists along with most Christians would agree with. It examines the current global economic and political order, and criticizes it for creating too great a divide between the rich and poor, between the haves and have-nots.

Much of the Pope’s social justice concern reflects well the message of the book of James, which rebukes the rich of the world in the last days for oppressing and misusing the poor (James 5:1-6). The Pope’s critique of unrestrained, unregulated capitalism, and his call for ecological and community stewardship by businesses and corporations echoes the ethos of the prophets of the Old and New Testaments. His call can be a reminder to all Christians that our ethics and responsibility do not stop at the church steps, or once we have paid tithes and offerings. We need to take our ethics of stewardship, sharing, and caring into our daily lives and businesses.

We can also appreciate his cautioning that rights cannot be pursued and promoted in the absence of related duties. He notes correctly that with freedom must come some measure of responsibility, or the very conditions of freedom will disappear. We also welcome his acknowledgement of the importance of religious freedom and the threat to it by states and regimes that promote secularism, and wish to marginalize religion in society and the public square.

But we are concerned when the Pope, a religious, spiritual leader seeks to advise the governments of the world on the creation of a worldly, political entity that will implement global political, economic and moral policy through force and coercion. The Pope is clear on this latter point. He says that his proposed “political body” should be “vested with the effective power to ensure security for all, regard for justice, and respect for rights. Obviously it would have to have the authority to ensure compliance with its decisions from all parties.”

Jesus Christ, whom the Pope claims to represent here on earth, very clearly said that “kingdom was not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight . . . but my kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36). A political body “vested” with “power” to ensure “security” and “compliance,” as the Pope recommends, will obviously have to use a police or military force. What qualifies the Pope to make recommendations or suggest policies for the creation of such an entity?

A centralized, armed global authority would represent a significant collection of power and authority. As we know from history, and we are reminded by the Catholic historian and thinker, Lord Acton, “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” It would seem unwise, based on human experience and wisdom, to vest a central, global traffic cop with sufficient power and oversight to police the world.

Some may argue that the Pope is not suggesting he or his church be in charge of such an authority, but rather proposing that some other body take these steps to stabilize our world economy. And yet this cannot be the full argument. The letter makes clear that the policies carried out by the entity would be to construct a “social order” that “conforms to the moral order.” The Pope’s choice of words is telling. He does not say “some moral order,” or “a moral order,” but “the moral order.” He clearly has a certain moral order in mind. Could this be any other moral order than the one articulated and taught by the Catholic Church?

The actual governing and wielding of the sword, or rifle, or bayonet, of the global authority might be by non-religious, state powers. But it would seem that the Pope must envision that they would do so with some connection with Catholic Church leadership, or teaching, or both. It cannot be that the Pope is calling for the creation of an authority and the implementation of a social and moral order, and then he plans to have no role, or say, in how it is to be implemented. Evidence to support this is virtually the entire history of the Middle Ages, where classic Catholic teaching called for a distinction between church and state, but with a full cooperation, where the state wielded the sword on behalf of “the moral order” of the church.

Given this history, and the abuses that flowed from it--including the Crusades, the Inquisition, and the war on heretical groups such as the Waldenses--it seems unwise for the Pope to thrust himself into the role of lead counselor on the enforcement of an economic, social and moral order. But given prophetic insights, it is not unexpected.

So does this letter fulfill Adventist predictions of an end-time enforcement of international religious morality? No, not yet. This letter is just talk and ideas. But talk and ideas are meant to lead to action. And during times of calamity and crisis, ideas that would usually be ignored often gain more traction. The consequences and impact of this letter bear close watching, as the cost of liberty is constant vigilance.
____________
Nicholas P. Miller is director of the International Religious Liberty Institute at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.

Mchungaji Kisaka (Mzee Tulia kwa Yesu) Amepumzika

Tumepokea kwa masikitiko taarifa za msiba wa Mchungaji wetu Mpendwa Dakta John Kisaka maarufu kama Mzee Tulia kwa Yesu. Ni imani yetu kuwa Mrisha Kisaka ametulia na Yesu katika Tumaini lenye Baraka. Kama Ufunuo 14: 13 inavyosema: "Andika, Heri wafu wafao katika Bwana tangu sasa. Naam, asema Roho, wapate kupumzika baada ya taabu zao; kwa kuwa matendo yao yafuatana nao." Amen.

Ifuatayo ni taarifa ya msiba kama ilivyowasilishwa kupita katika mtandao wa Tanzania Adventists in the United States (TA-US):

Ndugu na Dada katika Kristo,

Habari zimetoka Nairobi kuwa Pastor wetu Dr. John Kisaka amefariki kule Nairobi Hospital. Dr. Kisaka alikuwa Nairobi Hospital kwa matibabu. Kwa Wana-Taus tunamkumbuka Pastor Kisaka kwa mahubiri aliyokuja kufanya hapa na hadithi tamu na nzuri na maombi yake kwa ajili yetu. Baadhi yetu Dr, Kisaka alitufundisha kule USA RIVER, Arusha wakati shule yetu ya Waadventista ikiitwa TASC ambako kulikuwa na wanafunzi kutoka Tanzania, Kenya, na Sudan.

Baada ya kumaliza Doctoral Program katika Ministry kule Andrews University, Dr. Kisaka alirudi Tanzania ambako alifanya kazi katika Tanzania Union of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Alifanya kazi kama Principal na lecturer Tanzania Adventist & Seminary, USA RIVER, ARUSHA. Baadaye alikuwa Ministerial Director kwa Tanzania Union. Watu wengi walipenda mahubiri yake katika Makambi na pia ile Semina yake ya TULIA KWA YESU ambayo ilikuwa very popular na ilibariki watu wengi. Dr. Kisaka alifanya mahubiri yake pia kule Kenya, England, USA na kwingineko. Alikuwa na moyo wa kutembelea watu nyumbani na kuomba nao. Alipokuja USA kwa mara ya mwisho alikuja mpaka nyumbani kwangu tukazungumza na nakumbuka maombi specific aliyoniombea.

Mtumishi wa Mungu, ambaye alitoa maisha yake yote kumtumikia Mungu na watu wake, amepumzika katika kifo. The Apostle John in the book of Revelation wrote words that are applicable even now--Revelation 14:13 "And I heard a voice from heaven (from God) saying unto me, write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit , that they may rest from their labors: and their works do follow them. (KJV)

Sincerely,
Elias Wankyo

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Salamu Kutoka Kanisani Kihesa Mjini Iringa

"Namshukuru Mungu kwa kuwa kaniwezesha kuabudu katika kanisa ]nililosali miaka sita iliyopita. It gave me some memories of those good old days of mine. It is called Kihesa SDA Church, situated at Mkimbizi hapa Iringa mujini. Nakumbuka hapa ndipo...aliponiona kwa mara ya kwanza... Have a glimpse of where I worshipped..." - Mgune Masatu
"Bwana akalizidisha kanisa kila siku kwa wale waliokuwa wakiokolewa" - Matendo ya Mitume 2: 47/And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" - Acts 2: 27

Saturday, May 30, 2009

(MIS)UNDERSTANDING!

If we seriously introspect and analyse the causes of the present day ifs, such as hatred, fear, suspicion, prejudice, malice, revenge, tension, violence, and strained relationship, it will be seen one of the main causes, is ‘MISUNDERSTANDING.”

WHAT IS MISUNDERSTANDING?
To conceive wrongly or to take in a wrong sense or to misinterpret the nature and motive of other is ‘misunderstanding’. To suspect or to have a wrong notion of what others think, say or do is ‘misunderstanding.’

There is hardly anyone who has not been a victim of ‘misunderstanding’ sometime or the other. Also there may be a very few who have not caused ‘misunderstanding’ to others knowingly or un-knowingly.

CAUSE OF “MISUNDERSTANDING”
Ignorance, preconceived ideas, over sensitiveness, emotional imbalance, blindly believing in what others say, misuse of speech (loose talk, gossip, whispering, backbiting) and drawing hasty conclusions about others' intentions, are some of the causes of ‘misunderstanding’.

MISUNDERSTANDING PRONE DEALINGS
Like some of the areas on the road are marked “accident prone” to warn drivers and passengers, dealings between some of the relations such as ‘mother-in-law’ and ‘daughter-in-law’, ‘partners in business’, ‘house owner and tenant’ ,members of different political parties, and likewise, are 'misunderstanding' prone. Those involved in such dealings should be over cautions to avoid ‘misunderstanding’.

GREATEST MISUNDERSTANDING
We not only misunderstand others, but we also misunderstand ourselves. The greatest and deep rooted ‘misunderstanding’ is that we mistake our body for the ‘self’ and wrongly think we are the ‘doers’ and thereby suffer lifelong pain and sorrow. Once misunderstanding goes deep into the subconscious mind, it is very difficult to clear it.

HOW TO AVOID MISUNDERSTANDING?
Self awareness, self introspection, meditation, frankness, rational and positive thinking, presenting ourselves as what we are and not as what we ought to be, and accepting others as what they are and not as what they ought to be, are some of the effective means to avoid ‘misunderstanding’.

It is a great service if we help others to remove 'misunderstanding'.

James 1:19-20 is also a great way to avoid this.

James 1:19-20 (NIV) reads: "My dear brothers, take note of this: EVERYONE should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires."

* Analysis courtesy of Anita through an online friend
** 'At Jesus Feet' painting courtesy of Nathan Greene

Thursday, May 21, 2009

SABBATH SERMON: BADDEST OF THE BAD

1. HOW STRONG IS LOVE?
Can you tell me if I’m saveable?

How strong is your love?

Would it upset you if God’s grace was so amazing and His love so strong and would chose to forgive Tony Adlington? He is strongly suspected to have hit his wife Debbie three times with an axe on the head and almost killed her in their Marina da Gama home in Cape Town on January 16, 2002! He then used the same weapon to kill his three children Kevin (12), Katelyn (10) and Craig (9), carried their bodies into the study, poured petrol over them before setting them alight. After that he shot himself in the head and fell on top of his children’s burning bodies!

Would it upset you if God’s grace was so amazing and His love so strong and would chose to forgive Jean Bedel Bokassa, former president of the Central African Republic (1966-79)? He was a ruthless and brutal president before he was overthrown in a coup (1979). He was later (1987) arrested and charged with torture, murder, and cannibalism. During his reign he caused untold suffering to his people and it is believed he ate human flesh!

Would it upset you if God’s grace was so amazing and His love so strong and would chose to forgive the organisers of a project called Cape Town PRIDE 2001? This was a festival and a celebration organised by the gay and lesbian societies of Cape Town, that took place in the city on December 17, 2001! Cape Town is now considered and has recently been recognised as the 5th most popular Gay destination world-wide! Listen to what the organisers had to say, “This is our time to celebrate and our platform to advocate for change in the society. Following the example of more than 500 cities world-wide, Cape Town PRIDE has the potential to become the largest cultural event in the city”! Thousands of gay and lesbian visitors from all over the world descended upon Cape Town and participated in the event.

Would it upset you if God’s grace was so amazing and His love so strong and would chose to forgive Adolf Hitler, the leader of Nazi Germany (1933 – 1945)? He started a terrible war in Europe! His systematic and well structured killing machinery, resulted in the holocaust, the massacre of over 6 million Jews and millions of other who did not fit into his picture of the Arian race! And if per chance like the thief on the cross, in his last dying moments, Adolf Hitler realised his sinfulness, confessed his sins and accepted the atoning blood of Jesus Christ – Would it upset you?

Would it upset you if God’s grace was so amazing and His love so strong and He chose to forgive the men who hijacked the four domestic flight aeroplanes in the USA on the morning of September 11, 2001? They flew two of the machines into the twin towers of the World Trade Centre (New York), one machine into the US-Department of Defence (The Pentagon) and one crashed in Pennsylvania! Over 4 000 people died that day, and the event shocked New York City, the USA and indeed the whole world! War broke out in Afghanistan, world economies went into a recession and the event revealed our vulnerability and irrevocably changed modern man’s perception about the future! Would it upset you?

Would it upset Stephen, one of the first deacons of the early Apostolic Church, to see Saul from Tarsus who later became the Paul, in heaven? The same Saul, at whose feet the men who stoned Stephen laid their coats (Acts 8:1)!

Would it upset you if God’s grace was so amazing and His love so strong and He chose to forgive the most evil person who ever lived, the baddest of the bad?

His bloody record was the most heinous, the most atrocious, the most wicked and the most terrible of all Jewish kings!

He was the Adolf Hitler of his own people!

His record was so awful that after his death the bible summarises it in 2 Kings this way, “…moreover he shed so much innocent blood, that he filled Jerusalem from end to end.” (2 Kings 21:16)!

Now relive with me for a brief moment the tale of a lost king. Turn to and read 2 Chronicles 32:33 – 33: 9.

2. A QUEST FOR SELF DETERMINATION
Hezekiah, the beloved and honourable king dies. The whole nation mourns his death. But he has a son – Manasseh – who succeeds him. And this is the story of a son who rejects all his father’s spiritual values. Manasseh throws away all that composed the value system of his family.
Almost as if he was determined, that the rejection of all his father’s spiritual values was the only way he could establish his own independent identity. As if to declare publicly – I am not my father, I want to be me, and I am gonna prove it to you!

We all know of people like that. Born and brought up in Christian/Adventist families. Grew up in homes were they had family worship mornings and evenings. Attended children’s Sabbath school and afternoon youth meetings. Even went to Adventist schools. But somewhere down the road they chose to rebel.

But when I think carefully about it – it occurs to me that we have all been there. All of us, at one time or another have rejected or at least ignored some of the spiritual values we have learnt. In our quest for self-determination we have sometimes rejected the familiar system of truth. Maybe some among us today are in the process of rebelling on already on the rebellious path. But merciful for father Hezekiah, he dies and would never know the depths to which his boy falls.
So we read in 2 Chronicles 33 an X-rated story. If it were a film, viewing would be restricted to adults only (R-rated: Restricted/Under 18 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian)

3. THE SINS OF THE NATION
Hidden behind some technical religious terminologies lies the tragic story of King Manasseh who, among other things, cohabited with both male and female prostitutes. First he did it secretly and then in the end shamelessly and publicly. Not only did he partake of these sins but he also led his nation into a moral decadence, never experienced before by the Kingdom of Judah.

When God gave the promise to Abraham that his descendants (Israel) were to become a great nation, he also told him that after the 400 years of slavery in strange land they would come back to Canaan and possess the land after the sins of the Amorites and other heathen nations have reached their full measure (Genesis 15: 13-16). And when Israel came from Egypt, God used them to mete out punishment and judgement on the heathen nations of Canaan.

In the book of Deuteronomy God commands Israel to destroy the heathen Canaanite nations. A total eradication of nations – killing all inhabitants, children, adults, old people and even the animals. It borders on genocide under the explicit command of God.

But God had instructed Israel in Deuteronomy 7 that He would drive out the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites and other heathen nations. He had also instructed Israel not to make any treaty with them, not to intermarry with them, to break down the heathen altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles, because “you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord God has chosen you out of all the peoples of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession” (Deuteronomy 7: 5, 6).

But Scripture records of King Manasseh that “He did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.” (2 Chronicles 33:2).

King Ahaz, Manasseh’s grandfather had led Judah into idolatry (2 Chronicles 28). He had built high places for the worship of Baal. When Ahaz died his son Hezekiah became king. And in the very first month of his reign Hezekiah restored temple worship. He purified the temple, reinstated the priests and Levites. He broke down the high places and altars of Baal.

And now Manasseh becomes king and returns to the idolatry of his grandfather Ahaz.

He rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah, his father had broken down (2 Chronicles 33:3). He raised up altars for the Baals and made Asherah poles. Asherah was a Phoenician goddess. Asherah poles were therefore wooden poles or sacred trees. An emblem of the Canaanite goddess of fertility: The mistress of 70 deities, the mother of gods, the Lady of the Sea, the female counterpart of Baal.

King Manasseh placed Asherah poles besides the altar. Her image stood in the Temple of Jerusalem. Prophets were installed to serve her. Just like King Ahab and Jezebel, who had 400 prophets of Asherah, who the Prophet Elijah killed on Mount Carmel (1 King 18:19, 2 Kings 23:4).

As if that was not enough Manasseh goes on to build altars for Baal in the Temple of the Lord. He erects altars for the hosts and stars of heaven in the two courts of the temple. Sin knew no bounds. Going right into the heart of the Old Testament worship and declaring that Baal has taken over the place of Jehovah God.

He also built rooms for male shrine prostitutes in the temple of the Lord (2 Kings 23:7). That was the temple, which Solomon had dedicated to God. In his prayer of dedication King Solomon said “God we ask that you give attention to your servants and our plea for mercy. May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your name there. Hear us when we pray… hear from Heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear forgive’ (2 Chronicles 6: 18 – 21) .God had said – He will put His name on the temple forever (2 Chronicles 33: 4).
Manasseh goes on complete and total defiance of God.

He institutes human sacrifices, causing his sons to pass through the fire in the Valley of Hinnom. This was a valley to the south of Jerusalem, which was a scene of some of the most cruel and revolting rites of Canaanite worship (Joshua 15:8, 18:16; 2 Chronicles 28:3). Children were sacrificed as burnt offerings to a god called Molech. This was one of the most terrible abominations of Palestine (Leviticus 18:21, 20:2; Deuteronomy 18:10, 32; Jeremiah 7:3).

Manasseh’s record speaks of the dark and desperate movements into the occult, soothsaying, witchcraft, astrology and sorcery. He consulted mediums and spiritists. Thus the powers of evil and satanic agents were used by the king to direct the affairs of the nation.

In our recent past is has been known that Nancy Reagan, the wife of Ronald Reagan (USA President 1980-1988) consulted spirit mediums. She consulted them for advice on how her husband should make decisions as president. It is believed she advised President Reagan on how to plan his appointments, which days and times were most suitable for him to meet certain world leaders and travel overseas. And that in a nation that has on its dollar notes the inscription “In God We Trust”!

Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel. His sins were worse than those of the heathens.

Have you noticed that often when people who have once believed in God, but then reject and rebel against him, sometimes they become more evil than those who never knew God? As if they want to catch up for the times they were believers. As if they want to prove to everybody and convince the devil, that they are now on his side.

Sometimes the greatest sinners are those who have once known God. As the Apostle Paul says to the Romans, “… and God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They gossip, slanderous, are God-haters, insolent, arrogant, boastful AND THEY EVEN INVENT WAYS OF DOING EVIL...” (Romans 1:28-30). Talk of being creative in sinning.

4. INFLUENCE OF EVIL ADVISORS
Manasseh was 12 years old when he became king and he reigned for 55 years. How can a 12 year old boy single handed lead a whole nation into this horror? Impossible – someone did it for him.

There was always in Jerusalem a section of the society that hated the Jewish law. As soon as this 12 year old became king, they hastened to secure his favour and became his advisors. Whatever little Manasseh had learnt from his father was quickly wiped out and suppressed from his young and impressionable mind.

He did not plunge into sin the day his daddy died. Little by little, one compromise here and another one there, until evil and sin began to dominate.

But God did not silently watch sin propagate itself from the king’s palace into the whole of Judah. Read 2 Chronicles 33:10 “The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they would not listen.

God speaks in various ways and one of them is through His messengers, the prophets. One of them was the prophet Isaiah, who lived in Judah during that time. In fact he had a personal relationship with King Hezekiah (Manasseh’s father). He was a frequent guest in the palace. He was Hezekiah’s confidant, his spiritual guide and mentor. Someone who did not need to have an appointment arranged by the secretary at the front office of the King before he could see the King.

Isaiah knew Manasseh from the day he was born. Remember when Hezekiah got sick and God told him he was going to die. Hezekiah prayed and asked the Lord for more years (2 Kings 20 & Isaiah 38). God gave him 15 more years.

Then a high-powered delegation came from Babylon to visit the once-sick but now healed King of Judah. Hezekiah showed them everything in his palace. And after the visitors had left, the prophet Isaiah went to King Hezekiah and asked him:

Where did those men come from?
What did they say to you?
What did they see in your palace? (2 Kings 20:14, 15 & Isaiah 39)


After Hezekiah’s death Isaiah certainly went to the palace to see the young King Manasseh and offered spiritual guidance. And surely as Manasseh fell deeper and deeper into sin, Isaiah’s voice of rebuke and correction grew louder and louder. But Manasseh’s evil advisors turned him against the prophet of God. And according to both Jewish and Christian tradition, Manasseh finally ordered that Isaiah be killed.

The 90 year old prophet flees into the forest and he hides in the hollow trunk of a dead cedar tree. The soldiers find him and at Manasseh’s command the trunk is sawed in half with the prophet inside.

In the parallel passage (2 Kings 21:16) the record says: “Moreover Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from one end to another…” Evil could not tolerate the convicting presence of right. Darkness always seeks to blot out the light.

5. CAPTIVITY AND REPENTANCE
But Bible says there came a point when God said enough was enough. Read 2 Chronicles 33:11: “So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria…”

They took Manasseh prisoner.
They put a hook in his nose.
They bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.
The king of the Jews is now a captive of the Assyrian king.
The baddest of the bad has now fallen to the bottom of the bottom.
He who was so powerful is now a helpless prisoner.


And now enter one of the most dramatic portrayals in history of a lost man and a loving God. Read 2 Chronicles 33:12, 13: “In his distress he sought the favour of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to Him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so God brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.”

Amen and Amen!

Two short verses.
It only takes a few seconds to read.

Because what transpired here is recorded in such briefness, there is a great possibility and great danger that most of us might miss the importance, the weight, the significance, and the magnitude of this event.

Utterly breathtaking!

On his hands and knees
In that dark and gloomy dungeon
A contrite heart cried
With no one but the presence of loneliness
A sinful man, a man who had innocent blood on his hands cried out
A man who had desecrated the holy temple of the Holy God
He prayed a prayer nobody heard except God Himself!

And then the amazing thing happened!

That which is amazing about God’s grace is that you can fall to the bottom of the bottom and become the baddest of the bad, and still find grace in the eyes of the Lord and forgiveness in the heart of the father.

God is moved by Manasseh’s prayer and He listens.
He doesn’t only listen to the prayer, He immediately forgives Him.

One gets the impression that God has been waiting for so many years for that prayer. Like the Father of the prodigal son, who looks out daily to the road, hoping anxiously that His wayward son comes back. God brings Manasseh back to Judah and gives him back the kingdom.

Manasseh becomes king again.
The bloody record of a lost king is wiped away.
As if he never sinned and God said you can start all over again.

And Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.

It is only when we realise and experience this grace of God that we know who God is. In his Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible, Matthew Henry (1662 – 1714) thus writes about Manasseh’s repentance:

“We have seen Manasseh's wickedness; here we have his repentance, and a memorable instance it is of the riches of God's pardoning mercy, and the power of his renewing grace. Deprived of his liberty, separated from his evil counsellors and companions, without any prospect but of ending his days in a wretched prison, Manasseh thought upon what had passed; he began to cry for mercy and deliverance. He confessed his sins, condemned himself, was humbled before God, loathing himself as a monster of impiety and wickedness. Yet he hoped to be pardoned through the abundant mercy of the Lord. Then Manasseh knew that Jehovah was God, able to deliver. He knew him as a God of salvation; he learned to fear, trust in, love, and obey him. From this time he bore a new character, and walked in newness of life…And who among us can complain that the way of heaven is blocked up, when he sees such a sinner enter? Say the worst against yourself, here is one as bad who finds the way to repentance. Deny not to yourself that which God hath not denied to you, it is not your sin, but your impenitence, that bars heaven against you.”

Have you ever experienced those times when you think your sins are too bad that you feel embarrassed and ashamed to confess them?
You feel that God can not forgive you?
There is good news for all of us!
We can come as we to Him. Manasseh did!


6. ALL OF US ARE IN NEED OF GRACE
All of us are in need of grace and there is sufficient grace in the heart of the Lord.
No matter how much we have wandered away from God – there is enough love in the heart of the Father.
All you need to do is ask.
But even if you don’t ask – there is grace and forgiveness in His heart.
Why? Because the middle cross of Calvary proved it.


Did you know that when Jesus prayed “Father forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) ALL our sins were included in that prayer.

Desire of Ages, Page 745 affirms “God's purpose was reaching its fulfilment. Jesus was earning the right to become the advocate of men in the Father's presence. That prayer of Christ for His enemies embraced the world. It took in every sinner that had lived or should live, from the beginning of the world to the end of time. Upon all rests the guilt of crucifying the Son of God. To all, forgiveness is freely offered. "Whosoever will" may have peace with God, and inherit eternal life.”

At Calvary God offered pardon to the entire human race before anybody here asked.
Before any one of us – prayed for forgiveness.


Chuck Swindol, an Evangelical theologian and preacher, uses the following analogy in his book The Grace Awakening:

Imagine you have a 6 year old son/brother whom you love very much.
He is horribly murdered, and after a thorough investigation the murderer is captured.
Now Chuck Swindol says - you have a choice, actually 3 choices
1. If you were to use all means in your power and at your disposal to kill the murderer for his crime – that would be vengeance.
2. If you were content to sit back and let the legal system do its job – lay of charges, fair trial, plea of guilty and then capital punishment or life in prison – that would be justice.
3. But then there is a 3rd choice. If you would plea for the pardon of the murderer, then forgive him completely and on top of that invite him into your home and above all adopt him as your son – that would be grace.


And Grace was the option God chose 2000 years ago at the cross.
There He justified, pardoned, forgave, freed and adopted the ungodly into Sonship and Daughtership.
You and me can come home now as if there never had been a charge against us.

The apostle John could not comprehend that.
It was beyond his scope and he cried out to the whole of humanity:

Behold, come and see, just look, you have to see it for yourself, my words can never be enough to describe it – see for yourself – What manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called Sons and Daughters of God! (1 John 3:1)

The uniqueness of our God is that He came down to the level of His creatures and died as atonement for their sins.

Incomprehensible?

All other religions are founded on the principle whereby people sacrifice and pay the price for the atonement of their sins and to appease their gods.

But Jehovah God says – it is I who pay the price for your sin.

The Apostle Paul, who called himself “Chief of Sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15) says “we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles...” (1 Corinthians 1:23).

7. AM I SAVEABLE?
Only when we come to a complete and full realisation of who we really are (sinners in need of a Saviour) and who we can be (Sinners saved by grace) will we know how precious it is to be called children of God.
We will also understand that we are mere sinners that live from God’s forgiveness.
If it wasn’t for His abundant grace and forgiveness none of us would be here.
We have a Saviour and we can claim His grace.
And as we all stand at the foot of the cross, we realise we are all equal.
There is no one better than the other.
Then our obedience and faithfulness to God will be a response to His amazing grace and love, and not a means to earn salvation.
May we continue to be amazed by His grace.
May this old old story, of Jesus and His love, continue to resonate in our hearts.
May it not become so familiar to us that we are no longer touched by it.
May it draw us closer to Him.
Then and only then, would have grasped and come to know who God really is.

AMEN!

Preacher: Dr. Alvin Masarira
Place: Mowbray SDA Church (18/o8/01) & Goodwood SDA Church (02/02/02)
Praise: I sing the Mighty Power, O Love of God & Come Thou Fount
Paintings: Lars Jutinen

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

When You See These Things

I am sure that many of us read or heard about the tragic earthquake that rocked a section of Italy at the start of April. I find it very difficult to read about such things and I mainly confine my attention to reading the headlines and short summaries. The loss of life is never an easy thing for me to stomach, especially when it is sudden.

I find it more palatable to however read about rescue personnel braving inclement weather and putting their lives at risk in order to try and find survivors. It makes one realise, firstly, how dedicated these people are to their jobs, and secondly how highly they, and other volunteers, value the lives of those around them. I am sure that the joy they experience when they are able to pull a survivor from the rubble after a week of digging, is unparalleled, and it gives them a fresh surge of optimism and adrenaline to keep digging and searching.

It is while I was dwelling on these things, and a news report that I will refer to later that my thoughts turned to us as Seventh Day Adventists living in the toenails of the statue of Daniel 2. I began to wonder what goes through our minds when someone to whom we are not related passes away. Do we, when we see earthquakes and other disasters claiming the lives of scores of people, pause and wonder how many of them had heard the gospel of salvation? Or is there such a disconnect between us and those people that thought does not cross our minds?

When we see the rescue personnel and volunteers working through the night and adverse weather conditions in search of survivors from these wreckages, do we ever wonder whether or not the life they are making all those attempts to save will be saved for eternity? When we admire their effort, do we compare it with what we are willing to do in order to rescue the lost sheep and find the lost coin? If so, how does it compare?

Furthermore, when a survivor is found, and there is jubilation all round, do we consider whether or not we have that same joy when a sinner comes to repentance? After all, there is joy in heaven when the lost sheep is found. Are we involved in soul-winning, and do the fruits received through the Holy Spirit provide us with the fresh legs to continue to work in the fields during this harvest time, or are we happy to sit on the sidelines and do nothing but watch?

What further disturbed me was an article, from which I have quoted: “A powerful earthquake tore through central Italy on Monday …The quake hadn't been completely unexpected. Italy muzzled a scientist who foresaw it. "Vans with loudspeakers had driven around the town a month ago telling locals to evacuate their houses after seismologist Gioacchino Giuliani predicted a large quake was on the way, prompting the mayor's anger," Gavin Jones reports for Reuters.

Jones adds, "Giuliani, who based his forecast on concentrations of radon gas around seismically active areas, was reported to police for 'spreading alarm' and was forced to remove his findings from the Internet." The Telegraph reports he also "posted a video on YouTube in which he said a build-up of radon gas around the seismically active area suggested a major earthquake was imminent." A New York Times blog report notes, "The Italian version of PC World has an article about Mr. Giuliani’s warning, featuring an interview with him posted on YouTube, in which he repeated the prediction just a few days before the quake struck."

I found the above article to be extremely tragic. What made it even worse is that in it I find disturbing parallels of what will happen to us as God fearing individuals trying to warn the world about its impending demise. I could however not help but to admire Giuliani and the efforts to which he went to spread the word about what he believed in. He believed the earthquake was round the corner and when people would not listen he drove around with loudspeakers and made videos. It kind of reminds me of Old Testament prophets.

My question for us is this: Do we believe that Christ will soon return? If so, what are we doing to announce it to the world? Giuliani did it to save their temporal lives, how much more important eternal lives that we are called to save?

Closer to home, how many of us are so comfortable in our “L'Aquila, Italy”, that we are not willing to leave even when we hear Giuliani’s voice as he drives around in his van? How many of us seek to muzzle Giuliani’s warning and are angered by it like the Mayor when the message touches on our holy cows? How sad that what has played out in Italy is a parable of what is happening in our churches all over the world today.

Let us pray for each other, and most importantly ourselves as we dwell on this message.

© Adapted from Prisoners of Hope's May 2009 Editorial by Ndaba Nkomo/Painting by Nathan Greene courtesy of Adventist Book Center.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Prayer Request for Freedom of (Sabbath) Worship at St. Augustine University of Tanzania

Bros & Sis,

As I sat down last night reflecting on what I could share with you as a prayer Focus for this week, I talked to one of SureWay's members from Tanzania who has been sharing the SureWay Prayer Focus with our brothers in Tanzania. He shared with me the challenge that 21 students in St. Augustine University of Tanzania are facing. Here is an extract from the e-mail he received from one of the students:

"There is another challenge to THISDASO (TANZANIA HIGHER-LEARNING INSTITUTIONS SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST STUDENTS ORGANISATION) because our fellow 21 THISDASO members who were studying at St. Augustine University of Tanzania in Mwanza have been expelled and chased out from the University when they decided to lift up and glorified the name of God by refusing to perform the exams on the Sabbath day. So we have decided to pray harder by faith knowing that God will do something very soon. Join us please".

As I read this e-mail, I was reminded of the three Hebrew boys in Daniel 3 who refused to bow down and worship the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected in the plain of Dura. In response to the King's fury the Bible records that "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the King, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Daniel 3:16-18

Our 21 fellow believers have chosen to take their stand for God even if it means not taking these exams. As one that comes from Africa, I know what gaining a university qualification means. I would like to invite us all to join our brothers and sisters in prayer today and everyday after today in petitioning the Lord on their behalf. As they read this Prayer Focus, I pray that they will be encouraged to know that they have brothers and sisters who are lifting them up in prayer before God. May they also take encouragement from the fact that just as God stood up for the Hebrew boys, he shall stand up for them. Just as King Nebuchadnezzar came to recognise the power of the living God, the professors and deans of this university will come to recognise the importance of the Sabbath. Just as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were promoted in the province of Babylon, that God will promote them in St. Augustine University of Tanzania and beyond.

If you too are facing persecution for your faith, know with certainty that God will vindicate you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mfakazi Ndebele
SureWay Community Seventh-day Adventist Church (London)
South England Conference

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

FAMILY LIFE QUALITY ENRICHMENT SEMINARS AT MAGOMENI SDA CHURCH

MAGOMENI MWEMBECHAI SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY LIFE

PRESENTS

FAMILY LIFE QUALITY ENRICHMENT SEMINARS

30 APRIL – 2 MAY 2009

MEET THE FACILITATORS
ERROL & PAULETTE NEMBHARD

Paulette and Errol have been married for 20 years and have 2 Adult Children Rochelle & Jordan-lee Nembhard. They hail from the United Kingdom however have lived in South Africa since 1994.

Paulette has a background in psychology and marketing and has run her own recruitment company for 17 years. She presently runs her own online distribution company in SA, Botswana, Australia and USA.

For the last decade Errol has been Executive Director and owner of an international consulting company (The Pacific Institute) that has been established in 54 countries over the last 37 years
The Company specializes in organizational transformation.

Aside from Errol’s and Paulette’s business interests their primary passion has been the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They have been blessed to minister, preach, hold campaigns and conduct seminars in the following countries: SA, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Kenya, UK, USA, (Florida, Seattle, Virginia, Atlanta), Mauritius and Tanzania.


PROGRAM
-----------------
Wednesday, 29 April 2009

5:30 PM
Prayer Meeting - By Family Life Department
------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, 30 April 2009

4:00 – 7:00 PM
Seminar - By Errol & Paulette with Family Life Department
------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, 1 May 2009

9:00 - 12:30 AM
Seminar - By Errol & Paulette with Family Life Department

12:30 - 4:00 PM
Lunch Break & Preparations for the Sabbath

4:00 – 7:00 PM
Seminar - By Errol & Paulette with Family Life Department
------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, 2 May 2009

8:30 - 10: 30 AM
Sabbath School Program - By Family Life Department

10:30-12:30 AM
Divine Service & Seminar Family Life Department & Elders

12:30 – 3:00 PM
Luncheon - By Family Life Department

3:00 – 6:30 PM
Seminar + Concluding & Closing - By Errol & Paulette with Family Life Department
---------------------------------------------------
The Event is Open to the Public - Announcement courtesy of the Magomeni SDA Church through the Church Bulletin & other Official Communications
---------------------------------------------------

Friday, March 6, 2009

Live like a Seventh-day Adventist

A friend sent the following link US News and World Report - Feb 20, 2009 on '10 Habits That Will Help You Live Up To 100' and advised us to "Pay attention to Number 8. They could have put it as habit number 7 to make it more perfect." Apparently, this is what it says:

8. Live like a Seventh Day Adventist
Americans who define themselves as Seventh Day Adventists have an average life expectancy of 89, about a decade longer than the average American. One of the basic tenets of the religion is that it's important to cherish the body that's on loan from God, which means no smoking, alcohol abuse, or overindulging in sweets. Followers typically stick to a vegetarian diet based on fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts, and get plenty of exercise. They're also very focused on family and community.


The accompanying photos from a church/worship service and a health/nature walk that I took when I was around Cape Town, South Africa in January 2009 gives a glimpse of this Advent Life.

"Follow Me" - Jesus in Matthew 16:24/Luke 9:23

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" - Jesus in John 14: 6

"Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you" - Jesus in John 12:35

"Come you yourselves apart into a desert place and rest a while" - Jesus in Mark 6:31