By Rev. Stephen Okhutu
"When you know the truth, it will make you happy' -Jesus"
After the truth, there is another truth, which is after we have noted the facts.On the Wed 16th, this month I had an experience that totally changed my belief.Before time I used to believe that when someone dies, that is the end of him -but this is what everybody believe!
When my Divine Science instructor told me that there is nothing like death, I just believed him partially! Partly because I don't just believe in whatever is told to me. Good enough he also new this, that is why he said I will accept it with time.
It was in the morning when I was rushing to meet a client in Office with whom I had made an appointment. Normally when it is too cold I don't run because this affects my blood aeration. On that fateful day the distance was less than three meters and I thought I could just take a walk. The client called just a few minutes soon I had started walking and I had taken a shortcut where there is no Public Commuter taxis. So I opted to run.
Oops! I collapsed soon as I had taken a seat in office and this, am told took more than 10 minutes before I gained my consciousness.Before that, this is what I believed that the end of a person is after his death. I had read about Jesus Preaching that a seed is useless until it dies and germinates that is when it is able to give more yields!
Anyway, that moment of unconsciousness helped me to know that what we call death is just a transformation where the Spirit leaves the physical body. The Spirit does not die!Think about this; when I collapsed, I was still thinking, I was hearing sounds but this was like I was in a dream. Even if I fell from a raised chair, I did not hear me fall neither did I feel any pain. Actually, the pain I heard came an hour after the fall.When I came back to my physical senses, I found everybody gathered around me with threatening faces! They were carrying me to Hospital and when I told them that I was ok, no body could believe me! They came back to their senses after I asked them to pick my Mobile Internet from where it had fallen.
This reminds me of Francis Mbuga’s ‘Betrayal in the City’. He stated that the difference between jail and the outside world is just the walls and that what you think about a mad person is exactly what he thinks about you; Mad!
We waste most of our time fearing death just because we must die! If we could look at it as transformation, then we could even be more happy than we are. Think about Africa where we take our time crying for the so called dead when what actually they feel about us is sympathy!This is what I thought about the guys here who were taking me to hospital –They don’t understand! After all I had told them that I lack enough Oxygen! I was sorry to see their faces loosing beauty!'
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Mulnutrition in Africa: A case of Poverty or Ignorance?
By Rev. Stephen Okhutu
As we live into Globalisation, we still have people who do not believe that somewhere in the world there are people who are dying because of malnutrition.
A visit in some of the Hospitals in Africa reveals shocking details of how people are continuing to die every day due to malnutrition. This is in most cases worsened by lack of medical care in the Hospitals!
I have been carrying out a tour around Kayunga District to establish the rate at which the Government Programme of Prosperity for All in Uganda had benefited the people.
I was shocked to realise that many children are dying not only because they don’t have food but also because their parents are ignorant of what to do in case of malnutrition.
We discovered a three year old boy, Reagan Kakeeto who actually looked like a nine months old baby just because the parents believed that their mother was bewitched.
The Cultural Belief
In some of the African tribes, there is no such thing as malnutrition in babies. Normally due to the value attached to children, wives still believe that the more number of children produced the more love they are likely to get from their husbands as a reward. In the process you find a mother conceiving as soon as the last baby hits three months!
Due to the burden imposed on this mother during pregnancy, the last baby is likely not to get enough care thus poor feeding. Medically, a child is supposed to breastfeed until 6 months but in Africa any woman who dares this is regarded as a problem to her husband!
Since these babies are not breastfed, given the general baby weakness of the mother, the baby will also be underfed.
Given the belief in Spirits, when the baby gets malnourished, parents will start believing in witchcraft –that either the mother is an adulterer (Adultery is believed to be one of the factor that annoy the Spirits) or someone is bewitching the family.
Like I said earlier on this site; the question you ask yourself plays a bigger role in finding the solution to your problem.
Personally I would not blame these families because after all they labour to find the solution but because they do not know what to do, the result is therefore a perfect reward of ignorance!
This explains why Africans believe in producing many children. That if a mother produces about 9 children; at least 5 are likely to survive. The funny thing is that the production of children in African is inspired by the belief that some are likely to die!
The solution
The parents of Reagan Kakeeto admit that their son was sick but they refused to take him to hospital because they were treating him with local herbs. (The herbs were dried tree roots which they used to bath him with)
When asked how they were feeding him, we were shown a cup of Tea (Hot water with Tea) which he had just finished taking at around 12:30 pm. Because the parents were busy, the boy had just taken tea at lunch time. We found the mother peeling Bananas at noon meaning the boy was likely to take lunch at the time when he would be taking evening tea! Scientifically, the largest potion of Banana is water!
It is funny to note that the people in the villages are the most likely to suffer malnutrition than those in towns. It is likely to find a large portion of unused land in the villages when the residents are importing food from town! The food basket is instead turned into a food market!
The Bible stresses that work is a major avenue to success.
I personally believe that regardless of how much money one has, poverty will still remain a challenge unless we jointly fight ignorance. Africa will continue to be poor until we identify the enemy. Poverty, which we have been fighting all the time, is not the problem in Africa but Ignorance.
As we live into Globalisation, we still have people who do not believe that somewhere in the world there are people who are dying because of malnutrition.
A visit in some of the Hospitals in Africa reveals shocking details of how people are continuing to die every day due to malnutrition. This is in most cases worsened by lack of medical care in the Hospitals!
I have been carrying out a tour around Kayunga District to establish the rate at which the Government Programme of Prosperity for All in Uganda had benefited the people.
I was shocked to realise that many children are dying not only because they don’t have food but also because their parents are ignorant of what to do in case of malnutrition.
We discovered a three year old boy, Reagan Kakeeto who actually looked like a nine months old baby just because the parents believed that their mother was bewitched.
The Cultural Belief
In some of the African tribes, there is no such thing as malnutrition in babies. Normally due to the value attached to children, wives still believe that the more number of children produced the more love they are likely to get from their husbands as a reward. In the process you find a mother conceiving as soon as the last baby hits three months!
Due to the burden imposed on this mother during pregnancy, the last baby is likely not to get enough care thus poor feeding. Medically, a child is supposed to breastfeed until 6 months but in Africa any woman who dares this is regarded as a problem to her husband!
Since these babies are not breastfed, given the general baby weakness of the mother, the baby will also be underfed.
Given the belief in Spirits, when the baby gets malnourished, parents will start believing in witchcraft –that either the mother is an adulterer (Adultery is believed to be one of the factor that annoy the Spirits) or someone is bewitching the family.
Like I said earlier on this site; the question you ask yourself plays a bigger role in finding the solution to your problem.
Personally I would not blame these families because after all they labour to find the solution but because they do not know what to do, the result is therefore a perfect reward of ignorance!
This explains why Africans believe in producing many children. That if a mother produces about 9 children; at least 5 are likely to survive. The funny thing is that the production of children in African is inspired by the belief that some are likely to die!
The solution
The parents of Reagan Kakeeto admit that their son was sick but they refused to take him to hospital because they were treating him with local herbs. (The herbs were dried tree roots which they used to bath him with)
When asked how they were feeding him, we were shown a cup of Tea (Hot water with Tea) which he had just finished taking at around 12:30 pm. Because the parents were busy, the boy had just taken tea at lunch time. We found the mother peeling Bananas at noon meaning the boy was likely to take lunch at the time when he would be taking evening tea! Scientifically, the largest potion of Banana is water!
It is funny to note that the people in the villages are the most likely to suffer malnutrition than those in towns. It is likely to find a large portion of unused land in the villages when the residents are importing food from town! The food basket is instead turned into a food market!
The Bible stresses that work is a major avenue to success.
I personally believe that regardless of how much money one has, poverty will still remain a challenge unless we jointly fight ignorance. Africa will continue to be poor until we identify the enemy. Poverty, which we have been fighting all the time, is not the problem in Africa but Ignorance.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Black Wisdom
By Rev. Stephen Okhutu
It is very difficult to establish whether someone is wise until he has done or said something. At time many people are judged by what they say or do and depending on the judgment, the impression may either lead to respect or dejection.
I am therefore stressing respect to human diversity in relation to culture and that which is regarded as Wisdom.
Before one can claim to respect human diversity, the first step is to establish the difference; determine whether that difference is natural, acquired or just another kind of a lifestyle.
We should all note that naturally there are things which, unless by the work of science, they can not be changed completely. Things like Religion, Race, Color and a lot more in that relation. Any attempt to change any of them result into war and the ransom is peace from the two parties.
Every society and individual has what is regarded as wisdom. In Africa there are certain things which are done but can not be easily appreciated by a foreigner unless when the meaning is confided to him.
Talking of modern religions, one would say African were pagans during the pre-colonial periods. But a closer study of the African setting reveals that most Africans had a religious setting more similar to modern religions. In fact there is a slim line in the practices! I always ask my Moslem friends who challenge me to defect from Christianity to Islam, about what they would feel if I also called them to join Christianity. I tell them that when you call someone a pagan, believe also that you are a pagan in his eyes! So what is good for the goose should also be good to gander! And that is what we ought to do.
The best thing would be to understand what the other party is doing and appreciate it. For instance, no body can change someone’s race or tribe. Any attempt just intensifies hatred and it is against human peace.
There are things which some society may keep as sacred just because it holds some hidden secret. For instance, to a Moslem, the holy book must not be translated from Arabic, reason? Arabic is the language of the prophet! So any attempt to translate the Quran can be easily regarded as an insult to the Islamic Community. To the Buddhists and the Roman Catholics, pictures must always be there to complete the holiness of the place of worship!
In all what is said here, I maintain that to reduce resentment, hatred and create lasting peace, we should always do things as we please, but respecting the human diversity.
There is no way one can claim to love his neighbor when all what he does is to create a warring environment. Divisions are good only for our destruction. But again there is no way we can all be similar; We can not think alike, our languages are still not the same, not even our dreams are similar!
The only things we share are origin and goal! We all originated from one God and it is to him that we shall go –that is if you believe in the life hereafter!
Let not money and power destroy human kind. Uganda we have a saying that ‘Omusirusiru attema ettabi kw’atuude.’ Literally translated as ‘A fool will cut a branch on which he is seated.’ We tend to forget that the people we hate are the ones holding our peace.
‘… they don’t turn to God who makes us wise, wiser than any animal or bird’
(Job 35:11)
It is very difficult to establish whether someone is wise until he has done or said something. At time many people are judged by what they say or do and depending on the judgment, the impression may either lead to respect or dejection.
I am therefore stressing respect to human diversity in relation to culture and that which is regarded as Wisdom.
Before one can claim to respect human diversity, the first step is to establish the difference; determine whether that difference is natural, acquired or just another kind of a lifestyle.
We should all note that naturally there are things which, unless by the work of science, they can not be changed completely. Things like Religion, Race, Color and a lot more in that relation. Any attempt to change any of them result into war and the ransom is peace from the two parties.
Every society and individual has what is regarded as wisdom. In Africa there are certain things which are done but can not be easily appreciated by a foreigner unless when the meaning is confided to him.
Talking of modern religions, one would say African were pagans during the pre-colonial periods. But a closer study of the African setting reveals that most Africans had a religious setting more similar to modern religions. In fact there is a slim line in the practices! I always ask my Moslem friends who challenge me to defect from Christianity to Islam, about what they would feel if I also called them to join Christianity. I tell them that when you call someone a pagan, believe also that you are a pagan in his eyes! So what is good for the goose should also be good to gander! And that is what we ought to do.
The best thing would be to understand what the other party is doing and appreciate it. For instance, no body can change someone’s race or tribe. Any attempt just intensifies hatred and it is against human peace.
There are things which some society may keep as sacred just because it holds some hidden secret. For instance, to a Moslem, the holy book must not be translated from Arabic, reason? Arabic is the language of the prophet! So any attempt to translate the Quran can be easily regarded as an insult to the Islamic Community. To the Buddhists and the Roman Catholics, pictures must always be there to complete the holiness of the place of worship!
In all what is said here, I maintain that to reduce resentment, hatred and create lasting peace, we should always do things as we please, but respecting the human diversity.
There is no way one can claim to love his neighbor when all what he does is to create a warring environment. Divisions are good only for our destruction. But again there is no way we can all be similar; We can not think alike, our languages are still not the same, not even our dreams are similar!
The only things we share are origin and goal! We all originated from one God and it is to him that we shall go –that is if you believe in the life hereafter!
Let not money and power destroy human kind. Uganda we have a saying that ‘Omusirusiru attema ettabi kw’atuude.’ Literally translated as ‘A fool will cut a branch on which he is seated.’ We tend to forget that the people we hate are the ones holding our peace.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
IS HOMOSEXUALITY A SIN?
By Rev. Stephen Okhutu
revivauganda@gmail.com
Homosexuality has become a major topic of discussion in the world and spreading at a very alarming rate by sponsoring agents/ Activists.
It is worthy noting that the perpetuators call it a human right while others go to the extent of calling it Nature. In brief; we now have Male, Female, Homosexuals and Gays!
The campaign is therefore to have equal rights between Male and Female and the other group on the claim that they were ‘created’ like that.
It would not be fair to judge Homosexuals without knowing homosexuality and how they do their things.
As Christians we have a duty to love one another but this comes with a responsibility of hating sin. This then requires us to be careful not to commit sins in the process of love.
Is homosexuality natural?
When we analyze the Bible we find that God created two types of human beings; Male and Female. In fact the two were created purposely to rule the World and produce more descendants. (Genesis 1: 26-28).
Whereas homosexuals claim that sex was given for companionship, we should first study the context in which that line is placed in order to believe it.
We find in the second story of creation when God was creating a woman to Man for Companionship. But we also find that before a woman was created to Man, attempts were made prior to the final creation to have Man get a companion. In this we see all sorts of animals and other creatures presented but still Man failed to get a companion not until a Woman was given to him!
We later realize that some of these creatures were presented to man just to be named! We also find that Man was not forced to accept any creature for a woman in the name of companion.
If Homosexuality was natural then it should not have been forced or imposed. Today we have sponsored campaigns from the so called ‘civilized’ countries to spread the act to different groups of people. The youths who are easily lured with money especially those in schools have become prey.
I have no problem with two adults consenting to make love but why then should it be forced?
Recently the papers here in Uganda were quoting Mr. Obama as threatening the Ugandan government to stop a bill which intends to incriminate the sponsored spread of the act. When the Government of Uganda was passing a bill to incriminate Defilement and Rape, no foreign government came out to oppose, now Africa is trying to stop Defilement and Raping of the young boys by fellow boys, Mr. Obama is coming out to prove his authority!
I wonder if; in case Mr. Obama had boys, how he would have felt to see one of his boy’s anus rotting because a certain human rights advocate lured him into homosexuality with money! Or even got him from the school hostel and raped him!
I don’t believe in donor countries imposing their acquired ‘civilization’ on Africa with pledges of funds. I would rather they leave Africa alone because even Africa has some of its culture that Europe will not practice –calling it backwardness. Some states in Africa have cannibals. Should Africa then sponsor Cannibalism to Europe because it is natural and therefore regarded as a human right? After all cannibals is a minority group, eh?
A lesson fron the Uganda Martyrs?
One of the major tourists attractions in Uganda is ther Uganda Martyrs. But our brother who we now cal Mrtyrs died in the process of resisting homosexuality.
The Uganda Martyrs most of whom were royal peg boys to the Buganda’s King Mwanga were all homosexuals in the making. The king who by then was not to be opposed raped most of these boys until demonstrated against him. For fear of what the community’s attitude towards the act, Mwanga then decided tom kill the boys! If homosexuals were meant to be, why then could these boys have demonstrated. After all they were doing it with a king!
If homosexuality was opposed even in days of early civilization, I wonder why the so called developed countries should invest their resources in spreading it in this era. If there is no hidden agenda in this then someone should come out to show its importance to human kind.
Last Word?
As human beings, we have a duty to love each other without discrimination in diversities. Love involves respecting each and creating a peaceful environment to each other. But above all, we also have to love our God and respect his laws.
Just like in the book of Genesis, we need to name everything that comes our way until we meet a woman. Short of this, we are soon getting people sleeping with dead bodies, Murderers, thieves, Terrorists, people keeping dogs as women. And just and the homosexuals these will also claim to have been created like that! And yes, they will demand for their human rights. Funny enough we will be seeing foreign diplomats supporting them and investing lots of money for that cause!
Lest I forget, I pray to those heads of Governments who forcefully support the spread of Homosexuality to also support terrorists. Who knows, may be terrorism is also natural and those people may demand their human rights –without discrimination! Why should you hound Bin Laden who says he is fighting a holy war and then support a homosexual who is going to rape a fellow being? I don’t see the wisdom here! Is not what is good for the goose also good for the Gander?
Please: If you think you think don’t think I don’t think because we don’t think about the same thing. The policies that may develop Europe are not the same policies to develop Africa. And that is the difference. Please Mr. Obama.
PS: Spiritual Revival Ministries is apparently helping victims of Homosexuality. If you feel you are a victim and would life to be helped please send an email to revivaluganda@gmail.com and one of our Counselors will help you.
Alternatively you may call Our Hotline +256 712 734 661
revivauganda@gmail.com
Homosexuality has become a major topic of discussion in the world and spreading at a very alarming rate by sponsoring agents/ Activists.
It is worthy noting that the perpetuators call it a human right while others go to the extent of calling it Nature. In brief; we now have Male, Female, Homosexuals and Gays!
The campaign is therefore to have equal rights between Male and Female and the other group on the claim that they were ‘created’ like that.
It would not be fair to judge Homosexuals without knowing homosexuality and how they do their things.
As Christians we have a duty to love one another but this comes with a responsibility of hating sin. This then requires us to be careful not to commit sins in the process of love.
Is homosexuality natural?
When we analyze the Bible we find that God created two types of human beings; Male and Female. In fact the two were created purposely to rule the World and produce more descendants. (Genesis 1: 26-28).
Whereas homosexuals claim that sex was given for companionship, we should first study the context in which that line is placed in order to believe it.
We find in the second story of creation when God was creating a woman to Man for Companionship. But we also find that before a woman was created to Man, attempts were made prior to the final creation to have Man get a companion. In this we see all sorts of animals and other creatures presented but still Man failed to get a companion not until a Woman was given to him!
We later realize that some of these creatures were presented to man just to be named! We also find that Man was not forced to accept any creature for a woman in the name of companion.
If Homosexuality was natural then it should not have been forced or imposed. Today we have sponsored campaigns from the so called ‘civilized’ countries to spread the act to different groups of people. The youths who are easily lured with money especially those in schools have become prey.
I have no problem with two adults consenting to make love but why then should it be forced?
Recently the papers here in Uganda were quoting Mr. Obama as threatening the Ugandan government to stop a bill which intends to incriminate the sponsored spread of the act. When the Government of Uganda was passing a bill to incriminate Defilement and Rape, no foreign government came out to oppose, now Africa is trying to stop Defilement and Raping of the young boys by fellow boys, Mr. Obama is coming out to prove his authority!
I wonder if; in case Mr. Obama had boys, how he would have felt to see one of his boy’s anus rotting because a certain human rights advocate lured him into homosexuality with money! Or even got him from the school hostel and raped him!
I don’t believe in donor countries imposing their acquired ‘civilization’ on Africa with pledges of funds. I would rather they leave Africa alone because even Africa has some of its culture that Europe will not practice –calling it backwardness. Some states in Africa have cannibals. Should Africa then sponsor Cannibalism to Europe because it is natural and therefore regarded as a human right? After all cannibals is a minority group, eh?
A lesson fron the Uganda Martyrs?
One of the major tourists attractions in Uganda is ther Uganda Martyrs. But our brother who we now cal Mrtyrs died in the process of resisting homosexuality.
The Uganda Martyrs most of whom were royal peg boys to the Buganda’s King Mwanga were all homosexuals in the making. The king who by then was not to be opposed raped most of these boys until demonstrated against him. For fear of what the community’s attitude towards the act, Mwanga then decided tom kill the boys! If homosexuals were meant to be, why then could these boys have demonstrated. After all they were doing it with a king!
If homosexuality was opposed even in days of early civilization, I wonder why the so called developed countries should invest their resources in spreading it in this era. If there is no hidden agenda in this then someone should come out to show its importance to human kind.
Last Word?
As human beings, we have a duty to love each other without discrimination in diversities. Love involves respecting each and creating a peaceful environment to each other. But above all, we also have to love our God and respect his laws.
Just like in the book of Genesis, we need to name everything that comes our way until we meet a woman. Short of this, we are soon getting people sleeping with dead bodies, Murderers, thieves, Terrorists, people keeping dogs as women. And just and the homosexuals these will also claim to have been created like that! And yes, they will demand for their human rights. Funny enough we will be seeing foreign diplomats supporting them and investing lots of money for that cause!
Lest I forget, I pray to those heads of Governments who forcefully support the spread of Homosexuality to also support terrorists. Who knows, may be terrorism is also natural and those people may demand their human rights –without discrimination! Why should you hound Bin Laden who says he is fighting a holy war and then support a homosexual who is going to rape a fellow being? I don’t see the wisdom here! Is not what is good for the goose also good for the Gander?
Please: If you think you think don’t think I don’t think because we don’t think about the same thing. The policies that may develop Europe are not the same policies to develop Africa. And that is the difference. Please Mr. Obama.
PS: Spiritual Revival Ministries is apparently helping victims of Homosexuality. If you feel you are a victim and would life to be helped please send an email to revivaluganda@gmail.com and one of our Counselors will help you.
Alternatively you may call Our Hotline +256 712 734 661
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
THE REASON WHY YOU SHOULD CEREBRATE X-MAS
BY REV. STEPHEN OKHUTU
revivaluganda@gmail.com
As we cerebrate Christmas, every one has a reason why he participates in the cerebrations. To a businessman, that is when more sales are predicted (especially those dealing in seasonal items).
To a Christian there should be not many reasons but one: Remembering the Love of God.
Yes, Love is the only reason why we should be cerebrating this great birthday of our union founder – Christ!
There is a wide misconception that a true Christian is the one who frequents Church, sings religious hymns, repeatedly say religions jargons and while others have even gone to the extend of calling themselves ‘Born Again’ or ‘Christian’ as the first name!
The fact is going to Church doesn’t make you a Christian but just a hypocrite –Just the contrary of Jesus’ teaching! The bad thing is that a hypocrite has ho identity! Nether a Christian nor otherwise!
This Christmas season should help us discover ourselves. We either chose Jesus follow his ways, practice his teachings or we stop calling ourselves his followers.
I have seen many who claim to be Christians acting exactly the contrary of what they claim to be. For instance involving themselves in witchcraft practices, holding sword against each other. No wonder the largest number of murders in history were committed in religious wars! Sounds like we are fighting for the God who can’t save himself. And if he can’t then how is he going to save ourselves? The Bible states that our God is powerful and mighty. Is this not because he can fight his battles as well as ours?
Amazingly is this era, many so called Christian leaders are busy forming sects with intentions of making money than preaching the word of God. At the end we find distortions, misquotations and misinterpretations of the Bible –The holy book in Christianity!
What is the Solution?
In all what is said and done, we still have hope! Our hope is in knowing Jesus, his mission and what he wants to do as his followers.
The only reason you can believe in somebody to the extent of following him is because of what he does. Before Jesus was born, (Note this as you remember his birthday) there were many religions but most of their leaders were corrupted in the power struggles. In the process we saw divisions with each claiming to be the right.
So Jesus stressed love in his teaching. Love not for wealth but of God and our fellow human beings. Practically he lived a simple life to prove how easy is it to show love if we don’t thing about material things.
So love is the best gift we can give this festive season. Love not only your friends but even those you believe to be your enemy. I see no reason why a Christian should engage in battles with a Moslem just because of religion.
In my earlier discussions with a Catholic Priest, this is what he told me; He said that if we concentrate on doing good we can win souls but if we intend to change the whole world to Christianity, then we will no doubt die trying because this is what even our forefathers – the so called saints were doing.
Nelson Mandela one of the most cerebrated peace advocate is quoted saying that when you engage in a battle aim not at becoming a saint but a winner such that you may live to tell the story.
At this point I believe you have got the point. Show love and have peace or start hating and killing whoever is not on your side. But do it on caution; only if you believe you can fight and change the whole world.
Happy Christimas!
revivaluganda@gmail.com
As we cerebrate Christmas, every one has a reason why he participates in the cerebrations. To a businessman, that is when more sales are predicted (especially those dealing in seasonal items).
To a Christian there should be not many reasons but one: Remembering the Love of God.
Yes, Love is the only reason why we should be cerebrating this great birthday of our union founder – Christ!
There is a wide misconception that a true Christian is the one who frequents Church, sings religious hymns, repeatedly say religions jargons and while others have even gone to the extend of calling themselves ‘Born Again’ or ‘Christian’ as the first name!
The fact is going to Church doesn’t make you a Christian but just a hypocrite –Just the contrary of Jesus’ teaching! The bad thing is that a hypocrite has ho identity! Nether a Christian nor otherwise!
This Christmas season should help us discover ourselves. We either chose Jesus follow his ways, practice his teachings or we stop calling ourselves his followers.
I have seen many who claim to be Christians acting exactly the contrary of what they claim to be. For instance involving themselves in witchcraft practices, holding sword against each other. No wonder the largest number of murders in history were committed in religious wars! Sounds like we are fighting for the God who can’t save himself. And if he can’t then how is he going to save ourselves? The Bible states that our God is powerful and mighty. Is this not because he can fight his battles as well as ours?
Amazingly is this era, many so called Christian leaders are busy forming sects with intentions of making money than preaching the word of God. At the end we find distortions, misquotations and misinterpretations of the Bible –The holy book in Christianity!
What is the Solution?
In all what is said and done, we still have hope! Our hope is in knowing Jesus, his mission and what he wants to do as his followers.
The only reason you can believe in somebody to the extent of following him is because of what he does. Before Jesus was born, (Note this as you remember his birthday) there were many religions but most of their leaders were corrupted in the power struggles. In the process we saw divisions with each claiming to be the right.
So Jesus stressed love in his teaching. Love not for wealth but of God and our fellow human beings. Practically he lived a simple life to prove how easy is it to show love if we don’t thing about material things.
So love is the best gift we can give this festive season. Love not only your friends but even those you believe to be your enemy. I see no reason why a Christian should engage in battles with a Moslem just because of religion.
In my earlier discussions with a Catholic Priest, this is what he told me; He said that if we concentrate on doing good we can win souls but if we intend to change the whole world to Christianity, then we will no doubt die trying because this is what even our forefathers – the so called saints were doing.
Nelson Mandela one of the most cerebrated peace advocate is quoted saying that when you engage in a battle aim not at becoming a saint but a winner such that you may live to tell the story.
At this point I believe you have got the point. Show love and have peace or start hating and killing whoever is not on your side. But do it on caution; only if you believe you can fight and change the whole world.
Happy Christimas!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Is Christmas worth Cerebrating?
By Rev. Stephen okhutu
Tel: +256 7112 734 661
email: revivaluganda@gmail.com
Merry X-mas!
As we cerebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, there are many things we as his followers ought to know. Basically, it has become common a practise that on such a season everybody must atleast get a new property/item. These are commonly food, clothes and alot more items depending on the income of an individual.
In reality, the day which would have been used to renew the inner person of the cerebrant is used for commercial purposes to make money instead. In Africa, this is the period when a reasonable number of women divorce their husbands just because the husbands have failed to buy a new cloth or 'good food' for the wife.
More voilence especially domestic are experienced on such a day. For the youth, the generation on which we have hope that in the future the image of God may be properly exhibited, are cerebrating Christmas season in just a different style! Sexuality, drug abuse, fights and many other evils are seen among the youths on the 25th of December, the sacred day on which our Lord is said to have been born!
The basic intentions of Jesus' coming to this world is never seen on this day. In fact even in churches, what is done there are just organised functions which, if not peceived as a source of intertainment, they are taken as a sign of presitgue among the cerebrant, such that church going is an event of showing off new clothes, hair styles, and money!
For sure, we all know that Jesus came to prove the divinity of man. His Birth, life, teaching, Miracles and even death was proving that man was made in the true image and likeness of God. That man has the power to co-create.
The wide misconception of Jesus' ministry has largely contrubuted to the commercialisation of the Christmas day! The mumerous sects that come out every other day in the Christian faith is the true sign of this commercialisation syndicate. Every sect wants to make money through the gospel!
Otherwise, Jesus did not come to divide among the people of God. In fact even the Bible condemns divisions among believers. Unfortunately, we tend to take the term believers to mean the followers of a particular sect. At the end you find that the love which Jesus empathised in his teaching has been lost in the process.
Lies, defamations, murders and many kinds of religious evils have characterised humanity with each sect taking the other as not worth living with.
I was imagining how two christian groups could decide to fight each other just because the other group have divergent views on a particular principle!
My prayer is, that as you read this, may you spread the gospel of Love, peace and unity among fellow human beings. In this way you will be creating universal peace and brotherhood, you will be showing the characterisitic of a true Christian.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Tel: +256 7112 734 661
email: revivaluganda@gmail.com
'The house of worship has been turned into a den of thieves' -Jesus
Merry X-mas!
As we cerebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, there are many things we as his followers ought to know. Basically, it has become common a practise that on such a season everybody must atleast get a new property/item. These are commonly food, clothes and alot more items depending on the income of an individual.
In reality, the day which would have been used to renew the inner person of the cerebrant is used for commercial purposes to make money instead. In Africa, this is the period when a reasonable number of women divorce their husbands just because the husbands have failed to buy a new cloth or 'good food' for the wife.
More voilence especially domestic are experienced on such a day. For the youth, the generation on which we have hope that in the future the image of God may be properly exhibited, are cerebrating Christmas season in just a different style! Sexuality, drug abuse, fights and many other evils are seen among the youths on the 25th of December, the sacred day on which our Lord is said to have been born!
The basic intentions of Jesus' coming to this world is never seen on this day. In fact even in churches, what is done there are just organised functions which, if not peceived as a source of intertainment, they are taken as a sign of presitgue among the cerebrant, such that church going is an event of showing off new clothes, hair styles, and money!
For sure, we all know that Jesus came to prove the divinity of man. His Birth, life, teaching, Miracles and even death was proving that man was made in the true image and likeness of God. That man has the power to co-create.
The wide misconception of Jesus' ministry has largely contrubuted to the commercialisation of the Christmas day! The mumerous sects that come out every other day in the Christian faith is the true sign of this commercialisation syndicate. Every sect wants to make money through the gospel!
Otherwise, Jesus did not come to divide among the people of God. In fact even the Bible condemns divisions among believers. Unfortunately, we tend to take the term believers to mean the followers of a particular sect. At the end you find that the love which Jesus empathised in his teaching has been lost in the process.
Lies, defamations, murders and many kinds of religious evils have characterised humanity with each sect taking the other as not worth living with.
I was imagining how two christian groups could decide to fight each other just because the other group have divergent views on a particular principle!
My prayer is, that as you read this, may you spread the gospel of Love, peace and unity among fellow human beings. In this way you will be creating universal peace and brotherhood, you will be showing the characterisitic of a true Christian.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Knowing God is knowing yourself!
By Rev. Stephen Okhutu
Tel: +256 712 734 661
It is difficult to believe in what you don't know. It is also much more difficlult to believe in a stranger.
When Jesus came into this world, he had the aim of teaching us who the God we believe in, such that we may understand him and his ways. But this was difficlut because even the few selected desciples did not understand Jesus.
Religions have caused alot of confusion and misconception on who the God we serve is, and this no wonder has led to more divisions than the unity intended in human beings!
At this time what we need is not religion but a good relationship with God. Jesus never created any religion. In fact he said that whoever is not against us if for us! (never hate anybody just because he is not believing in your religion).
Much as we all know that religion is just a means of communicating with God (where each religion takes the simplest means through which its followers can have a better relationship with their God). Humanity has instead taken religion to destroy the intended relationship.
I intend not to attack any religion here. In fact I support all religions with due respect. I only differ with the level at which each group is struggling to create enemity among the believer to the extent that each one looks at the other as a group of pagans and a people without God!
Ok, we have a duty to spread the word of God but it is not our duty to fight for our God, afterall we seek protection from him, not us to protect him!
I believe it is our duty to understand the nature of God if we are to realise unity amongst us.
In all my previous teaching I have been hinting on God being a Spirit. The more we realise that the God we serve is a Spirit then perhaps some of these misunderstadings will be reduced.
Some religions have created a misconception among belivers that God is a human being or something related to a human being. Believers have been forced to belive that their God is seated somewhere up in a palace and with one hand waiting to pass judgement while the other one is for peace.
Ok, I may not disagree with them. We should also analyse the omnipresence and the omnipotence of God.
All religions believe that God is the beginning and the end, that he occupies all space (he is everywhere -even where you are now!). We should also believe that God is full of love.
Man was created in the image and true likeness of God (Gen 1:26). I mentioned somewhere here that God is a Spirit. So to understand the true nature of God we should look at him in his very nature -a Spirit!
If we also look at ourself in the spiritual realm, we will realise that we are able to do what God intended us to do.
The problem is that man tends to fear. After eating on the forbbiden fruit, (The tree that gives nowlegde of what is good and what is bad).
If you analyse the fall of man in genesis, you realise that after eating on the tree, man then started to fear (Gen 3:7-11). He realised henceforth that he was naked! He started hiding himself away from God and 'covering' himself away from shame.
One scientist observed that man is the only wild animal. That while the other animals live in harmony, man is busy destroying their peace. He jumped out of the cage and went further in the wilderness looking for peace that he himself is destroying. At the end he starts to fear himself and setting fences around and against himself.
I beg to leave this topic here now for one simple reason, let you please first read the chapter quoted above in genesis and analyse it. We will then begin from here when you have made a personal judgement. Perhaps this will help you to come back to God, after you have known who you are!
But know that you are the image of God, the question is how are you reflecting that image!
Our Lord Jesus commanded us to love our God and to love our fellow human beings as we do to ourselves. These are the two Golden laws. In whatever you do, please ask yourself if you are obeying those laws.
For instance, before you could go out to insult that bad debtor, or 'showing a lesson' to that woman who went away with your husband, ask your self, are you obeying the law of God?
If we do this then we will realise universal peace and understanding.
Tel: +256 712 734 661
It is difficult to believe in what you don't know. It is also much more difficlult to believe in a stranger.
When Jesus came into this world, he had the aim of teaching us who the God we believe in, such that we may understand him and his ways. But this was difficlut because even the few selected desciples did not understand Jesus.
Religions have caused alot of confusion and misconception on who the God we serve is, and this no wonder has led to more divisions than the unity intended in human beings!
At this time what we need is not religion but a good relationship with God. Jesus never created any religion. In fact he said that whoever is not against us if for us! (never hate anybody just because he is not believing in your religion).
Much as we all know that religion is just a means of communicating with God (where each religion takes the simplest means through which its followers can have a better relationship with their God). Humanity has instead taken religion to destroy the intended relationship.
I intend not to attack any religion here. In fact I support all religions with due respect. I only differ with the level at which each group is struggling to create enemity among the believer to the extent that each one looks at the other as a group of pagans and a people without God!
Ok, we have a duty to spread the word of God but it is not our duty to fight for our God, afterall we seek protection from him, not us to protect him!
I believe it is our duty to understand the nature of God if we are to realise unity amongst us.
In all my previous teaching I have been hinting on God being a Spirit. The more we realise that the God we serve is a Spirit then perhaps some of these misunderstadings will be reduced.
Some religions have created a misconception among belivers that God is a human being or something related to a human being. Believers have been forced to belive that their God is seated somewhere up in a palace and with one hand waiting to pass judgement while the other one is for peace.
Ok, I may not disagree with them. We should also analyse the omnipresence and the omnipotence of God.
All religions believe that God is the beginning and the end, that he occupies all space (he is everywhere -even where you are now!). We should also believe that God is full of love.
Man was created in the image and true likeness of God (Gen 1:26). I mentioned somewhere here that God is a Spirit. So to understand the true nature of God we should look at him in his very nature -a Spirit!
If we also look at ourself in the spiritual realm, we will realise that we are able to do what God intended us to do.
The problem is that man tends to fear. After eating on the forbbiden fruit, (The tree that gives nowlegde of what is good and what is bad).
If you analyse the fall of man in genesis, you realise that after eating on the tree, man then started to fear (Gen 3:7-11). He realised henceforth that he was naked! He started hiding himself away from God and 'covering' himself away from shame.
One scientist observed that man is the only wild animal. That while the other animals live in harmony, man is busy destroying their peace. He jumped out of the cage and went further in the wilderness looking for peace that he himself is destroying. At the end he starts to fear himself and setting fences around and against himself.
I beg to leave this topic here now for one simple reason, let you please first read the chapter quoted above in genesis and analyse it. We will then begin from here when you have made a personal judgement. Perhaps this will help you to come back to God, after you have known who you are!
But know that you are the image of God, the question is how are you reflecting that image!
Our Lord Jesus commanded us to love our God and to love our fellow human beings as we do to ourselves. These are the two Golden laws. In whatever you do, please ask yourself if you are obeying those laws.
For instance, before you could go out to insult that bad debtor, or 'showing a lesson' to that woman who went away with your husband, ask your self, are you obeying the law of God?
If we do this then we will realise universal peace and understanding.
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