Olympics 08 - medals or world class power??

Okay so the olympics concluded last weekend and boy oh boy dint China give the world a run for their money....China is telling the Western world we were down but we were not out and we are back...so the price tag was at 43 billion okay yes take a deep breath on that one...So as I was watching the games proceed I noticed that most of the matches being aired on nbc were either where an American was participating or a Chinese chap....so it got me thiking Olympic games have become more commerical and a show of prowess than ever...Look at it thiis way it all boils down to money / funding..Okay lets take for example a small weird country on the map with an even weirder name - say Uzbekistan...with a GDP that is slightly higher than what China used in the run up to the Olympics 55billion ..Then we take a look at China and US with GDPs of 10.7 and 13.3 TRILLION...okay so many figures to deal with..okay so the four year run up to the olympics...China and the US are able to train their teams as they have the resources and the manpower and more advanced equipement in sharp contrast to the Afghani football team that is warding off bombshells...Then the other thing how it all boild down to money ..look at all the great runners of the Kenyan team who have defaulted and are runnign for European teams - Dutch, Qatar whyrun up those Rift Valley hills for peanuts instead of running for three times the amount and a better life for you and your family so it all boils down to money...so back at the ranch - birds nest this time.....the U.S and China all throught the Olympics seemed to have been involved in this struggle for gold medals...and to me it looked like a rise as the more stronger world power..Yes alot alot of training and practice went into both teams and I applaud the efforts - Phelps breaking record after record..but my problem is so what about those little countries that have such promising athletes but do not get that in depth training due to lack of resources and equipment??Okay my other problem with the Olympics so after the pomp and gay they usher in the paralympics.....okay so whats up with that picture...reminds me of the book "No feast for Kiungu"..something to do with a guy getting to the party waaay after it is done...so thats what i feel about the Paralympics as much as the initiative is great and the intentions are integrative I do not see why they should have a separate show AFTER the actual olympics...its kind of like a consolation prize so why doesnt IOC find a way of integrating the paralympics into the actual games...so anyway maybe its me just being me but i think there should be a better way of doing it....

THE MONEY MARKET

Prostitution in Africa is becoming like prostitution everywhere else.
But it was not always like that... Oumar Tandia points to another
tradition and another prostitution altogether.

Prostitution, it is said, is the oldest profession in the world. And Africa is the birthplace of humanity. It would therefore be logical to suppose that prostitution has existed in Africa since the beginning of time.

Surprisingly, then, prostitution as it is known today – selling sex for money – only appeared in Africa at the time of colonization. Before then, everything worked on an exchange basis. Even prostitution was part of an exchange: for food, protection or just for presents. In many villages in Africa this is still the case.

And today’s sexual behaviour has to be judged in the context of such traditional norms. These vary considerably, even within one country. In Senegal, for example, you can find the diola woman, who often has one or two children before marriage, or the bassari woman, who sees it as her duty to spend the night with a guest in the village. In other ethnic groups throughout Africa the social system may be matriarchal, with women having greater responsibilities and therefore greater freedom in their lives.

But European-style, money-driven prostitution is now the dominant reality in Africa. To find out how the introduction of money into the sexual bargain – combined with the economic plight of the continent – has affected prostitution in Africa today, we should take a look at the life of a young woman called Hawa.

Hawa was married at the age of 14. Her husband worked in Dakar, the capital city of Senegal, while she lived with her three children in a village about 325 kilometres away. He sent her occasional financial support but it was not enough to help her and her family survive three crop failures in a row, and one day she decided to join him. At the age of 19 this was her chance to discover the joys of the big town.

Her dream turned to nightmare as she took the first tentative steps into her brave new world. Her husband, she found, didn’t have secure employment. The arrival of Hawa and the three children simply made it more difficult to make ends meet. The final straw came when Hawa discovered that he had another child of 18 months, fruit of a liaison with a local girl.

When the divorce came through, Hawa trudged round the smart areas of town looking for work as a domestic servant. Then her youngest was struck down with tuberculosis. She turned to Marie, a sympathetic neighbour, for help, and one day Marie took her to visit ‘friends’ who would help her to buy medicines for her little girl...

One thing led to another, and Hawa fell in love with her first client. Pregnancy was followed by an illegal abortion. She finally obtained her prostitute’s ID card by sleeping with the local policeman.

In every big town in Africa there are thousands of people like Hawa. The majority of them only prostitute themselves because they can find no other way of earning money. ‘We are nothing but Khoosloman*. Like everyone else we try to bring a smile to the faces of our families... but no-one ever thinks of us,’ said one woman. Prostitutes are also subject to enormous pressure from religious culture, whether Islamic or Catholic, which seeks to prohibit prostitution and forbid unions outside marriage. In this way they try to ensure that patriarchal infrastructures remain in place.

The situation of prostitutes in Africa reflects the economic situation of the whole continent. The crisis which has marked the recent history of Third World countries has had serious consequences for their peoples. Whole swathes of the population have been installed in the informal – and unstable – economy and have become part of that sector of society which only just manages to get by.

So would prostitution disappear if the economic climate improved? Certainly not in the foreseeable future, and anyway eradication is not the issue. The urgent issue today is to ensure that prostitutes in Africa can avoid the many risks and potential tragedies that face them. These risks have been heightened by the menace of AIDS. As one woman put it: ‘AIDS has made everyone afraid... it has made our lives more difficult. We are losing more and more clients.’

In many countries in Africa prostitutes are coming together to try and discuss these problems. In Senegal, for example, our organization, ENDA, has formed a group to arm prostitutes with the tools which will enable them to educate others about safe sex. Similar debates are taking place throughout Africa – in Cameroon, Zaire, Uganda and Mali. For the first time recently, prostitutes from different African countries were able to meet at a conference in Cameroon and the idea of a pan-African organization of prostitutes was born. It has yet to happen, but it might provide a way forward for people like Hawa.

Oumar Tandia works for ENDA (Environnement et Developpment du Tiers-Monde) in Senegal.

* Khoosloman is a wolof word meaning ‘a poor person struggling to survive’.

Origin of Sagging

Many trends have come and gone, but most people are not aware of where the trend began or how long they will last. Most trends tend not to have long staying power. One trend that has had more than 10 years of popularity is sagging pants. Sagging pants is the art of wearing ones pants below the waist, usually hanging low enough to show underwear. There is some controversy as to where it started. So has the trend been popularized from behind prison walls? Or is it the influence of hip-hop?

One theory of how sagging pants originated is from prison in the 1990s. Prisoners are given oversized uniforms without belts. Belts are a popular way to commit suicide; by hanging oneself, to hang others, or to be used as a weapon in fights.

Other reason is that when they wear their pants below the waist is that it is sign that says that they are homosexual. Sagging pants were not meant to be trend for the males.

The other reason was that wearing your pants below your waist states that you were another inmate’s property. The inmate who related the story was an elderly black gentleman who had been sentenced to life in prison and had been there for over fifty years. He marveled how such a mark of shame has become a fashion statement. He says “that younger inmates don't believe him when he tells them, but swears it's the truth”.

WHAT ARE WE WORTH

Seems like this is one of those questions that people yearn to grasp an answer.What are we worth?It amazed me that most people i have asked this question look at me blankly before mentally jotting down a quick answer that has not exactly been thought up with the seriousness it needs.Morning is on our fingertips is it not?so close but yet so full of uncertainty,morning,when our eyes open again to gaze upon a better version of yesterday.What were we worth yesterday?seeing that we have seen one more beautiful morning,does our worth increase?Does my worth increase?
We are worth more than we perceive.Do you remember the day of creation according to God?What did He call us?What did He say?He termed us good,perfect to His holy eyes so why sell ourselves short?Why hesitate knowing our worth while perfection is what we were worth and what we should try to get back to.
I fail to understand the concept that holds us captive,the concept of''am i not good enough?''The concept of self doubt.We have been hurt in one way or another,betrayed,trampled and condemned.What does this do to a person?It humiliates,breaks hearts,tinkers with the mind but should it break you?Women,when a man beats you,curses you and throws you away,do you go back?Time after time if the same treatment happens,do you run back?What are you worth?
Men,when she says no,and you force your ears to hear yes,what are we worth?Even when she fails to love,doubts you,becomes a ''golddigger,''what do you do?If you are of innocence in such a situation,do you break?Do you lose hope?what becomes your worth?Are we worth more than we think we are?
Many people i am close with have seen more blue days than blue skies and subsequently doubt their worth and there is nothing as bad as thinking we are not of worth for such thought eats at the wounds of our bruised self and destroys any glimmer of hope from reaching the abyss that self doubt binds us.
Have hope.
Believe that even when the sun refuses to grace you and the rain is all that embraces you,you are still worthy,worthy to be called my son or my daughter from the Most high.

ABSOLUTE SURRENDER

“And Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it. And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Ben-hadad, Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even the goodliest, are mine. And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine and all that I have”- 1Kings 20:1-4
What Ben Hadad asked was absolute surrender; and what Ahab gave was what was asked of him-absolute surrender. I want to use these words: “My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have,” as the words of absolute surrender with which every child of God ought to yield himself to his Father. We have heard it before, but we need to hear it very definitely - the condition of God’s blessing is absolute surrender of all into His hands. Praise God! If our hearts are willing for that, there is no end to what God will do for us, and to the blessing God will bestow.
Absolute surrender - let me tell you where I got those words. I used them myself often, and you have heard them numberless times. But in Scotland once I was in a company where we were talking about the condition of Christ’s Church, and what the great need of the Church and of believers is; and there was in our company a godly worker who has much to do in training workers, and I asked him what he would say was the great need of the Church, and the message that ought to be preached. He answered very quietly and simply and determinedly:
“Absolute surrender to God is the one thing.”
The words struck me as never before. And that man began to tell how, in the workers with whom he’ had to deal, he finds that if they are sound on that point, even though they be backward, they are willing to be taught and helped, and they always improve; whereas others who are not sound there very often go back and leave the work. The condition for obtaining God’s full blessing is absolute surrender to Him.
And now, I desire by God’s grace to give to you this message - that your God in Heaven answers the prayers which you have offered for blessing on yourselves and for blessing on those around you by this one demand: Are you willing to surrender yourselves absolutely into His hands? What is our answer to be? God knows there are hundreds of hearts who have said it, and there are hundreds more who long to say it but hardly dare to do so. And there are hearts who have said it, but who have yet miserably failed, and who feel themselves condemned because they did not find the secret of the power to live that life. May God have a word for all!
Let me say, first of all, that God claims it from us.
God Expects Your Surrender
Yes, it has its foundation in the very nature of God God cannot do otherwise. Who is God? He is the Fountain of life, the only Source of existence and power and goodness, and throughout the universe there is nothing good but what God works, God has created the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the flowers, and the trees, and the grass; and are they not all absolutely surrendered to God? Do they not allow God to work in them just what He pleases? When God clothes the lily with its beauty, is it not yielded up, surrendered, given over to God as He works in it its beauty? And God’s redeemed children, oh, can you think that God can work His work if there is only half or a part of them surrendered? God cannot do it. God is life, and love, and blessing, and power, and infinite beauty, and God delights to communicate Himself to every child who is prepared to receive Him; but ah! this one lack of absolute surrender is just the thing that hinders God. And now He comes, and as God, He claims it.
You know in daily life what absolute surrender is. You know that everything has to be given up to its special, definite object and service. I have a pen in my pocket, and that pen is absolutely surrendered to the one work of writing, and that pen must be absolutely surrendered to my hand if I am to write properly with it. If another holds it partly, I cannot write properly. This coat is absolutely given up to me to, cover my body. This building is entirely given up to religious services. And now, do you expect that in your immortal being, in the divine nature that you have received by regeneration, God can work His work, every day and every hour, unless you are entirely given up to Him? God cannot. The Temple of Solomon was absolutely surrendered to God when it was dedicated to Him. And every one of us is a temple of God, in which God will dwell and work mightily on one condition - absolute surrender to Him. God claims it, God is worthy of it, and without it God cannot work His blessed work in us..
God not only claims it, but God will work it Himself.
God Accomplishes Your Surrender
I am sure there is many a heart that says: “Ah, but that absolute surrender implies so much!” Someone says: “Oh, I have passed through so much trial and suffering, and there is so much of the self-life still remaining, and I dare not face the entire giving of it up, because I know it will cause so much trouble and agony.”
Alas! alas! that God’s children have such thoughts of Him, such cruel thoughts. Oh, I come to you with a message, fearful and anxious one. God does not ask you to give the perfect surrender in your strength, or by the power of your will; God is willing to work it in you. Do we not read: “It is God that worketh in us, both to will and to do of his good pleasure”? And that is what we should seek for - to go on our faces before God, until our hearts learn to believe that the everlasting God Himself will come in to turn out what is wrong, to conquer what is evil, and to work what is well-pleasing in His blessed sight. God Himself will work it in you.
Look at the men in the Old Testament, like Abraham. Do you think it was by accident that God found that man, the father of the faithful and the Friend of God, and that it was Abraham himself, apart from God, who had such faith and such obedience and such devotion? You know it is not so. God raised him up and prepared him as an instrument for His glory.
Did not God say to Pharaoh: “For this cause have I raised thee up, for to show in thee my power”?
And if God said that of him, will not God say it far more of every child of His?
Oh, I want to encourage you, and I want you to cast away every fear. Come with that feeble desire; and if there is the fear which says: “Oh, my desire is not strong enough, I am not willing for everything that may come, I do not feel bold enough to say I can conquer everything” - I pray you, learn to know and trust your God now. Say: “My God, I am willing that Thou shouldst make me willing.” If there is anything holding you back, or any sacrifice you are afraid of making, come to God now, and prove how gracious your God is, and be not afraid that He will command from you what He will not bestow.
God comes and offers to work this absolute surrender in you. All these searchings and hungerings and longings that are in your heart, I tell you they are the drawings of the divine magnet, Christ Jesus. He lived a life of absolute surrender, He has possession of you; He is living in your heart by His Holy Spirit. You have hindered and hindered Him terribly, but He desires to help you to get hold of Him entirely. And He comes and draws you now by His message and words. Will you not come and trust God to work in you that absolute surrender to Himself? Yes, blessed be God, He can do it, and He will do it.
God not only claims it and works it, but God accepts it when we bring it to Him.
God Accepts Your Surrender
God works it in the secret of our heart, God urges us by the hidden power of His Holy Spirit to come and speak it out, and we have to bring and to yield to Him that absolute surrender. But remember, when you come and bring God that absolute surrender, it may, as far as your feelings or your consciousness go, be a thing of great imperfection, and you may doubt and hesitate and say:
“Is it absolute?”
But, oh, remember there was once a man to whom Christ had said:
“If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
And his heart was afraid, and he cried out:
“Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.”
That was a faith that triumphed over the Devil, and the evil spirit was cast out. And if you come and say: “Lord, I yield myself in absolute surrender to my God,” even though it be with a trembling heart and with the consciousness: “I do not feel the power, I do not feel the determination, I do not feel the assurance,” it will succeed. Be not afraid, but come just as you are, and even in the midst of your trembling the power of the Holy Ghost will work.
Have you never yet learned the lesson that the Holy Ghost works with mighty power, while on the human side everything appears feeble? Look at the Lord Jesus Christ in Gethsemane. We read that He, “through the eternal Spirit,” offered Himself a sacrifice unto God. The Almighty Spirit of God was enabling Him to do it. And yet what agony and fear and exceeding sorrow came over Him, and how He prayed! Externally, you can see no sign of the mighty power of the Spirit, but the Spirit of God was there. And even so, while you are feeble and fighting and trembling, in faith in the hidden work of God’s Spirit do not fear, but yield yourself.
And when you do yield yourself in absolute surrender, let it be in the faith that God does now accept of it. That is the great point, and that is what we so often miss - that believers should be thus occupied with God in this matter of surrender. I pray you, be occupied with God. We want to get help, every one of us, so that in our daily life God shall be clearer to us, God shall have the right place, and be “all in all.” And if we are to have that through life, let us begin now and look away from ourselves, and look up to God. Let each believe - while I, a poor worm on earth and a trembling child of God, full of failure and sin and fear, bow here, and no one knows what passes through my heart, and while I in simplicity say, O God, I accept Thy terms; I have pleaded for blessing on myself and others, I have accepted Thy terms of absolute surrender - while your heart says that in deep silence, remember there is a God present that takes note of it, and writes it down in His book, and there is a God present who at that very moment takes possession of you. You may not feel it, you may not realize it, but God takes possession if you will trust Him..
God not only claims it, and works it, and accepts it when I bring it, but God maintains it.
God Maintains Your Surrender
That is the great difficulty with many. People say: “I have often been stirred at a meeting, or at a convention, and I have consecrated myself to God, but it has passed away. I know it may last for a week or for a month, but away it fades, and after a time it is all gone.”
But listen! It is because you do not believe what I am now going to tell you and remind you of. When God has begun the work of absolute surrender in you, and when God has accepted your surrender, then God holds Himself bound to care for it and to keep it. Will you believe that?
In this matter of surrender there are two: God and I - I a worm, God the everlasting and omnipotent Jehovah. Worm, will you be afraid to trust yourself to this mighty God now? God is willing. Do you not believe that He can keep you continually, day by day, and moment by moment?
Moment by moment I’m kept in His love;
Moment by moment I’ve life from above.
If God allows the sun to shine upon you moment by moment, without intermission, will not God let His life shine upon you every moment? And why have you not experienced it? Because you have not trusted God for it, and you do not surrender yourself absolutely to God in that trust.
A life of absolute surrender has its difficulties. I do not deny that. Yes, it has something far more than difficulties: it is a life that with men is absolutely impossible. But by the grace of God, by the power of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, it is a life to which we are destined, and a life that is possible for us, praise God! Let us believe that God will maintain it.
Some of you have read the words of that aged saint who, on his ninetieth birthday, told of all God’s goodness to him - I mean George Muller. What did he say he believed to be the secret of his happiness, and of all the blessing which God had given him? He said he believed there were two reasons. The one was that he had been enabled by grace to maintain a good conscience before God day by day; the other was, that he was a lover of God’s Word. Ah, yes, a good conscience is complete obedience to God day by day, and fellowship with God every day in His Word, and prayer - that is a life of absolute surrender..
Such a life has two sides - on the one side, absolute surrender to work what God wants you to do; on the other side, to let God work what He wants to do.
First, to do what God wants you to do.
Give up yourselves absolutely to the will of God. You know something of that will; not enough, far from all. But say absolutely to the Lord God: “By Thy grace I desire to do Thy will in everything, every moment of every day.” Say: “Lord God, not a word upon my tongue but for Thy glory, not a movement of my temper but for Thy glory, not an affection of love or hate in my heart but for Thy glory, and according to Thy blessed will.”
Someone says: “Do you think that possible?”
I ask, What has God promised you, and what can God do to fill a vessel absolutely surrendered to Him? Oh, God wants to bless you in a way beyond what you expect. From the beginning, ear hath not heard, neither hath the eye seen, what God hath prepared for them that wait for Him. God has prepared unheard-of-things, blessings much more wonderful than you can imagine, more mighty than you can conceive. They are divine blessings. Oh, say now:
“I give myself absolutely to God, to His will, to do only what God wants.”
It is God who will enable you to carry out the surrender.
And, on the other side, come and say: “I give myself absolutely to God, to let Him work in me to will and to do of His good pleasure, as He has promised to do.”
Yes, the living God wants to work in His children in a way that we cannot understand, but that God’s Word has revealed, and He wants to work in us every moment of the day. God is willing to maintain our life. Only let our absolute surrender be one of simple, childlike, and unbounded trust.
God Blesses When You Surrender
This absolute surrender to God will wonderfully bless.
What Ahab said to his enemy, King Ben-hadad - “My lord, O king, according to thy word I am thine, and all that I have” - shall we not say to our God and loving Father? If we do say it, God’s blessing will come upon us. God wants us to be separate from the world; we are called to come out from the world that hates God. Come out for God, and say: “Lord, anything for Thee.” If you say that with prayer, and speak that into God’s ear, He will accept it, and He will teach you what it means.s.
I say again, God will bless you. You have been praying for blessing. But do remember, there must be absolute surrender. At every tea-table you see it. Why is tea poured into that cup? Because it is empty, and given up for the tea. But put ink, or vinegar, or wine into it, and will they pour the tea into the vessel? And can God fill you, can God bless you if you are not absolutely surrendered to Him? He cannot. Let us believe God has wonderful blessings for us, if we will but stand up for God, and say, be it with a trembling will, yet with a believing heart:
“O God, I accept Thy demands. I am thine and all that I have. Absolute surrender is what my soul yields to Thee by divine grace.”
You may not have such strong and clear feelings of deliverances as you would desire to have, but humble yourselves in His sight, and acknowledge that you have grieved the Holy Spirit by your self-will, self-confidence, and self-effort. Bow humbly before him in the confession of that, and ask him to break the heart and to bring you into the dust before Him. Then, as you bow before Him, just accept God’s teaching that in your flesh “there dwelleth no good thing,” and that nothing will help you except another life which must come in. You must deny self once for all. Denying self must every moment be the power of your life, and then Christ will come in and take possession of you.
When was Peter delivered? When was the change accomplished? The change began with Peter weeping, and the Holy Ghost came down and filled his heart.
God the Father loves to give us the power of the Spirit. We have the Spirit of God dwelling within us. We come to God confessing that, and praising God for it, and yet confessing how we have grieved the Spirit. And then we bow our knees to the Father to ask that He would strengthen us with all might by the Spirit in the inner man, and that He would fill us with His mighty power. And as the Spirit reveals Christ to us, Christ comes to live in our hearts forever, and the self-life is cast out.
Let us bow before God in humility, and in that humility confess before Him the state of the whole Church. No words can tell the sad state of the Church of Christ on earth. I wish I had words to speak what I sometimes feel about it. just think of the Christians around you. I do not speak of nominal Christians, or of professing Christians, but I speak of hundreds and thousands of honest, earnest Christians who are not living a life in the power of God or to His glory. So little power, so little devotion or consecration to God, so little perception of the truth that a Christian is a man utterly surrendered to God’s will! Oh, we want to confess the sins of God’s people around us, and to humble ourselves. We are members of that sickly body, and the sickliness of the body will hinder us, and break us down, unless we come to God, and in confession separate ourselves from partnership with worldliness, with coldness toward each other, unless we give up ourselves to be entirely and wholly for God.
How much Christian work is being done in the spirit of the flesh and in the power of self! How much work, day by day, in which human energy - our will and our thoughts about the work - is continually manifested, and in which there is but little of waiting upon God, and upon the power of the Holy Ghost! Let us make confession. But as we confess the state of the Church and the feebleness and sinfulness of work for God among us, let us come back to ourselves. Who is there who truly longs to be delivered from the power of the self-life, who truly acknowledges that it is the power of self and the flesh, and who is willing to cast all at the feet of Christ? There is deliverance.
I heard of one who had been an earnest Christian, and who spoke about the “cruel” thought of separation and death. But you do not think that, do you? What are we to think of separation and death? This: death was the path to glory for Christ. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross. The cross was the birthplace of His everlasting glory. Do you love Christ? Do you long to be in Christ, and not like Him? Let death be to you the most desirable thing on earth - death to self, and fellowship with Christ. Separation - do you think it a hard thing to be called to be entirely free from the world, and by that separation to be united to God and His love, by separation to become prepared for living and walking with God every day? Surely one ought to say:
“Anything to bring me to separation, to death, for a life of full fellowship with God and Christ.”
Come and cast this self-life and flesh-life at the feet of Jesus. Then trust Him. Do not worry yourselves with trying to understand all about it, but come in the living faith that Christ will come into you with the power of His death and the power of His life; and then the Holy Spirit will bring the whole Christ - Christ crucified and risen and living in glory - into your heart.

Music Therapy

Music has always been a very important part of our lives, from childhood to our being an adult. As a part of our experience, music can have both a physiological and psychological effect upon us as human beings. In addition to the influence that it has on our life, music also has many therapeutic qualities and has been utilized in promoting a variety of healings throughout the ages. As we know further, music can be a very powerful medium for altering our state, of changing how we actually feel. More specifically music can be very effective in producing a very deep and healing state of relaxation and in the process, reduce stress and even promote sleep. Music can also be used to assist one in improving his or her self-esteem and furthering an individual’s personal growth and development, transformation.

Below are 11 helpful tips to show how to listen to music for transformation and healing. This information reveals secrets to support recovery, meditation and spiritual growth through music healing. All music can be healing especially when it is played in sequence using the entrainment principle.

1. Select Appropriate Music.

Most of us choose music that we “like” but will this give us the best results? In fact, often the music we are least attracted to will have the greatest benefit (when played in the right sequence). Let’s say you are very angry. So your first instinct is to put on some really angry music. Does it really help, or does it kind of perpetuate how you feel? Yet, on the other hand if you play some light and happy music, by comparison to how you are currently feeling, it will probably make you feel angrier! As you see, selecting music is not a simple one-shot process.

2 . Consider Music Sequencing.

Sometimes it is necessary to first choose music that totally matches your current mood rather than the mood you wish to acquire. Consider arranging a series of different musical compositions in sequence that are customized just for your needs. For example, if you are dealing with depression, select a composition which represents depression in its extreme form, to you. Follow this with one that is only mildly depressing. Then select a neutral composition, and end with a composition which is clearly uplifting and motivating. Listening to music in a sequence like this allows for your current stress level or mood to be first honored and then to be gradually transformed.

3. Speakers Are Ideal.

It is ideal to listen to the music through speakers rather than headphones so that the cells of the body themselves may “listen” to the sound.

4. Prepare Yourself to Listen.

Take off your shoes. Stand relaxed, sit or lie down and breathe.

5 . Listen All the Way Through.

It is preferable to listen to the musical composition all the way through, without interruption. This allows for the optimum response to the transformation process.

6. Foreground, Not Background.

We all have the tendency to use music for the background of other activities. Try developing the technique of just listening to the music, not doing anything else. This way, you will get the best benefit.

7. Your Response is What is Important.

It is through your response that the emotional/cellular memory may be released. Do not think that you have to just stay still and concentrate on the music! In fact, if the music inspires you to get up and do something or your mind begins to wander, allow, allow, allow! Allow all responses without judgment. On the other hand, do not begin listening to the music while you are already doing other unrelated activities. The important thing is to let the music embrace you totally.

8. Listen Actively, Not Passively.

Allow the music to reach your inner feeling, and respond freely to it. Everyone has a different manner of expression. You may experience visual images, thoughts, movement, an intensification of emotion, physical vibrations, sleep, or nothing at all.

9. Observe Mind/Body Connection.

A lot of research has been done recently showing that there is a definite connection between the mind and the body. (Actually this refers to the emotions too but it sounds succinct to say “mind/body.”) Even though music healing is often related to relaxation and emotional issues, there is the likelihood that this indirectly could have a benefit on physical illnesses as well.

10. Enjoy the Silence!

When the music stops, it is suggested that you bask in the silence for many moments. This will help integrate the feelings.

11. Use a Journal.

If you wish to record your progress in a journal, it can be helpful, but not necessary.

Reference: www.soundfeelings.com

TOP 10 LEGENDARY FOOTBALLERS

TOP 10 LEGENDARY FOOTBALLERS

In the last century, we have seen a very great number of football stars, the likes of , Garrincha, Klinsman, Stoitchkov and many others who have given the fans a whole lot to speak about.

But there are those who stand out from the rest. They have dazzled fans with their speed, dribbling skills and passion for the game. Here is our list of the top 10 legends of the last century.

10. Zinedine Zidane (1988-2006)

Whether Zinedine Zidane (1972) or Michel Platini is the greatest ever French player is up for discussion. That Zidane belongs in this list of truly great players surely isn't. The outstanding player of his generation, he led France to World Cup glory in 1998 and to the European Championship in 2000. He was a superb passer of the ball first and foremost, an outstanding playmaker that fed his forwards with great passes. But Zidane could produce goals himself as well, most notably the winning goals in the 1998 World Cup Final and the 2002 Champion’s League Final. Zidane was named European Footballer of the Year in 1998, and FIFA World Footballer of the Year in 1998, 2000, and 2003.

9. Alfredo di Stefano (1943-1966)

Two-time European Footballer of the Year, Alfredo Di Stéfano (1926) led Real Madrid to five consecutive European Cups. Incredibly versatile, many believe he is the best all-around player in history. Di Stéfano was a powerful forward blessed with stamina, tactical versatility, and above all vision that allowed him to act as the conductor to Real's symphony of attacking football. Di Stéfano won numerous domestic league and cup titles with Real, but like George Best, he never graced a World Cup. He moved to Espanyol in 1964 and played there until hanging up his boots at the age of 40.

8. Michel Platini (1973-1987)

Three times European Footballer of the year, Michel Platini (1955) led France to two World Cup semi-finals and the 1984 European Championship title. Platini started at French club Nancy-Lorraine before moving on to Saint-Etienne, where he won the league title in 1981. In 1982 he moved to Italian club Juventus. One of the greatest passers of the ball in the history of the game, Platini was also a master of the free kick, a skill which he perfected using a row of dummies during training. Despite nominally being a midfielder, Platini displayed a remarkable goalscoring prowess. He scored 68 goals in 147 league games for Juventus, and was crowned top scorer of the Serie A no less than three times.

7. George Best (1963-1984)

A superb dribbler of the ball, George Best (1946) was undoubtedly the most naturally gifted British player of his generation. A combination of lightning pace, perfect balance, and ability to produce goals with both feet, meant Best was a handful for even the best of defenders. Helping Man U win the European Cup in 1968 was his greatest achievement. That year Best was voted European Player of the Year. But in the years to follow Best the player would increasingly be eclipsed by Best the rock and roll celebrity, as problems with gambling, womanising and alcoholism overshadowed his achievements on the field. In 1974 Best left Manchester United, effectively ending his career at the highest level (although he would play on until 1984).

6. Eusebio (1958-1978)

Eusébio da Silva Ferreira (1942) won 10 Portuguese league titles, plus the 1962 European Cup with Benfica, scoring two goals in the final. He virtually single-handedly took Portugal to third place in the 1966 World Cup, scoring nine goals. Eusebio's trademarks were his speed (he was the under-19 Portuguese champion of 400, 200 and 100 metre races), quick dribble and a powerful and accurate right-footed strike. Eusébio scored an incredible 727 goals in 715 matches wearing the Benfica jersey, and until recently was the all-time leading scorer for Portugal, with 41 goals in 64 matches.

5. Franz Beckenbauer (1964-1984)

This list of top 10 greatest ever football players is heavily biased towards forwards, as all these kind of lists tend to be. We make no apologies for that as it is those players that bring joy to the crowds all over the world with their goals and artistry. However, this list would not be complete without Franz Beckenbauer (1945). Nicknamed ‘der Kaiser’, Beckenbauer was the mainstay of Bayern Munich’s triple European Cup winning team of the mid Seventies. He also captained his country to the 1974 World Cup, held in Germany. An elegant sweeper, Beckenbauer was known for his outstanding technique and tactical insight. As a manager, he steered the German national side towards their 1990 World Cup win in Italy.

4. Ferenc Puskas (1944-1966)

Ferenc Puskás (1927) was the outstanding player of the marvelous Hungarian national team of the early 1950s. In 1952 they had won Olympic Gold in Helsinki and the "Magical Magyars" arrived at the 1954 FIFA World Cup in Switzerland undefeated in four years. Their most resounding victory to date had been achieved the previous year when they were the first non-british team to defeat England at Wembley. In one of the great upsets of football history, Hungary were pipped at the post by Germany, with Puskas playing in spite of an injury picked up early on in the tournament. Puskas fled Hungary in the wake of the Soviet invasion of 1956 and went on to play for Real Madrid well into his 30's. At Madrid he teamed up with the likes of Di Stefano and Gento to win numerous trophies.

3. Johan Cruyff (1964-1984)

Johan Cruyff (1947) was the star of the exciting 1974 Dutch "Total Football" World Cup team and the Ajax team that won a hat-trick of European Cups in the early Seventies. Three times European footballer of the year, he was by far the most naturally gifted European player of his generation, and probably of all time. His supreme technical skills, speed and acceleration, and his tactical insights made Cruyff virtually impossible to defend against. Wearing his trademark Nr.14 jersey, he usually played the centre forward position, but would often drop deep or move to the wing to confuse and draw out his markers. The tremendous tactical insight he had already displayed as a player, meant that Cruyff was one of the few players in this top 10 that would go on to become a world class coach. In 1992 his Barcelona side would win the first European Cup in the club's history, making Cruyff one of the few people to have won the prestigious trophy both as a coach and as a player.

2. Diego Maradona (1976-1997)

Diego Maradona (1960) won the 1986 World Cup almost single-handedly and took Argentina to the final four years later. He also took un fancied Napoli to its only two Italian titles. Maradona was controversially voted best player of all time in an internet poll held by FIFA, much to the chagrin of Pelé and his fans, who contended that an internet poll was bound to attract relatively young voters. People that would have seen Maradona play, but not Pelé. Truth be told, the title of greatest ever player was probably a bit too much credit. However, no one would surely deny Maradona was the best ever dribbler of the bal. He proved as much, when he scored what was arguably the greatest ever World Cup goal in 1986. Maradona picked up the ball on the halfway line and promptly proceeded to leave half the England team for dead before slotting the ball into the net. That game was also the one in which he scored his infamous 'Hand of God' goal. The incident soiled his reputation. All the more so, because he repeatedly refused to admit openly to handling the ball. In the nineties his career hit a downward trajectory.

1. Pelé (1956-1977)

Obviously not the most original of choices as greatest ever football player, but there is no denying Pelé’s pedigree. Edson Arantes do Nascimento (1940) made his debut in the Brazilian league at the age of 16, and promptly went on to become the league’s top scorer. His overwhelming debut earned him a place in Brazil’s 1958 World Cup squad, where Pelé and his team-mates ended up lifting the trophy. Pelé scored two goals in the final, as the world sat up and took notice. At age 17 Pele was (and is to this very day) the youngest ever World Cup winner. His impact on the 1962 and 1966 tournaments was negligible due to injuries, but at the 1970 World Cup Pelé once again shone resplendently. Playing in what many consider to be the greatest ever football team, Pelé was universally acknowledged as the world’s best player. His deft touch, dribbling skills and tremendous scoring ability, would see him notching up more than 500 league goals. In 1975 Pelé joined the North American Soccer League, where he became a goodwill ambassador for football. It’s a role he has been playing ever since.

Reference: www.football-history.net

REDUCING YOUR CAR'S FUEL CONSUMPTION

The rising fuel costs have made the average Kenyan car owner dig deeper into his pockets and work extra hours in order to be able to live in “comfort” as before. Many people are opting to buy simple, small vehicles that consume less fuel and others have simple embraced the public transport. Many of us still face the agony of having to use our cars daily and thus be caught up in the fuel rise. Here are some ways of cutting down on the fuel consumption of your car;

1. Don’t drive if you don’t have to (see, I told you these were pretty common sense). Think about it, how many small, wasted trips do you take each week where you drive less than a mile or two? If you’re going to the grocery store to do some major shopping it’s certainly understandable to bring your car, but if you’re just going to pick up a couple items, why not walk, use public transport or ride your bike? Same can be said for trips to friends’ houses, driving the kids to school, etc., etc. Moral of the story: if you don’t drive you don’t use gas.
2. If you do have to drive, minimize the amount of time you sit in idle. Here’s a pretty easy general rule of thumb to remember: if you’re car’s running and you’re not moving, your gas mileage has dropped to zero mpg. I know for many of this, this is probably easier said than done, especially considering it’s pretty tough to avoid the daily rush hour traffic. However, if you find yourself stuck at a stoplight or know that it’s going to be a minute or two before you get moving again, turn off your car (assuming it’s safe to do so). Essentially, it takes about ten seconds worth of idling to use as much gasoline as it would to restart your car; this means if you’re going to be sitting at a stoplight for a minute or two, it’s best to shut the car off and save gasoline.
3. When you finally get the car moving, make sure to use a nice, steady and moderate acceleration. A heavy foot means you’re going to get pretty bad gas mileage. Essentially, you’re making the car’s engine work much harder than necessary, and in order to get the required energy to quickly get up to speed, it’s going to need to burn more gasoline. However, you also don’t want to accelerate so slowly that you bog down the engine, as this will reduce your gas mileage as well. Nice and steady wins the race.
4. Now that you’re up to cruising speed, try to stay at or near the speed limit. While the optimal speed for gas mileage is going to vary by make and model, it’s a pretty good rule of thumb that the fast you go, especially at highway speeds, the worse gas mileage you’re going to get. According to FuelEconomy.gov, driving over the speed limit at highway speeds will reduce your vehicle’s gas mileage by between seven and 23 percent. When it’s all said and done, that adds up to a lot of wasted gasoline and a lot of wasted money.
5. When driving, keep your eyes down the road and coast whenever possible. By constantly tapping your brakes or accelerating up to stoplights or stop signs, all you’re doing is needlessly burning fuel. By being on and off the brakes, you’re wasting the energy (i.e. burned fuel) it took to get up to speed and then you’ll need to burn more fuel to get back up to speed. By accelerating up to stoplights and stop signs, again, you’re using energy that you know you really don’t need. If you give yourself plenty of room between the cars in front of you, you should have no problem seeing what the conditions are like ahead of you, which will allow you to do plenty of coasting and help you avoid brake tapping and needless accelerating.
6. Keep your car as aerodynamic as possible; the more aerodynamic your car is (meaning the less drag that’s put on it) the better your gas mileage is going to be. This means you should drive with the windows up, the sunroof closed and keep any extemporaneous items (car top carrier, sports team flags, etc.) in the vehicle.
7. Obviously, there are going to be times when it’s warm in the car, you need some air flow and the vent alone just isn’t going to cut it. Now you’ve got to make the choice between rolling down the windows or turning on the air conditioning. If you’re traveling less than 35 mph, you should probably go ahead and just roll down the windows, as there shouldn’t be too much drag on your car. However, once you start traveling above 35 mpg and approach highway speeds, you should keep the windows up and turn on the AC. Regardless of which one you chose, you’re going to reduce your vehicle’s gas mileage, but by following this rule of thumb you can help minimize the effects.
8. Before you get out on the road, make sure that your car’s tires are properly inflated. Think of it this way; have you ever tried to ride a bike that had under inflated tires? It took a lot more work to get up to and maintain speed, didn’t it? Same thing goes for your car; under inflated tires will essentially reduce your car’s gas mileage by two to three percent. While that may not seem like much, this might - if every driver in the United States improved their vehicle’s gas mileage by 2%, we would save nearly 3 billion gallons of gasoline each year.
9. Replace your car’s dirty air filter. Driving around with a dirty or clogged air filter can reduce your vehicle’s gas mileage by up to ten percent, which at today’s prices, is the equivalent of adding about 28 cents to each gallon of gasoline you buy. It probably takes less than ten minutes to change the filter and will probably set you back less than 20 dollars, so there’s really no excuse to not get this done.
10. Get all of the useless and needless items out of your car. As a general rule of thumb, for every extra 100 pounds you carry around in your car, you reduce its gas mileage by one to two percent; and if you want to get into the minutiae of it, for every extra pound you carry around in your car, you reduce its gas mileage by 1/100th to 1/50th of a percent. So, now that it’s fall, get the golf clubs out of the trunk of your car and maybe with the money you’ll save on gas, you can splurge and buy the big bucket of balls at the driving range.

Reference: http://digg.com

GET UP!

You, who’s hurting,
You, who’s crying,
You, who’s despairing,
Get up, take your cross and follow Christ.

You, who’s talented,
You, who’s blessed,
You, who’s not abandoned,
Get up, take your cross and follow Christ.

You, who’s been dreaming,
You, who’s lost hope,
You, who’s unbelieving,
Get up, take your cross and follow Christ.

You, He died on the cross for.
You, He wants to love.
You, He’s got a great plan for,
Get up, take your cross and follow Christ.

SERMON

Text reading:

Romans 12:2

Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God---what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect. (GNB)

Phil 2:5

Have the same attitude among yourselves that was also in Christ Jesus: (ISV)

The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had (GNB)

Ephesians 4:22 NIV

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off the old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds.

What is attitude?

Attitude can be defined as:

What drives our lives

A mental position with regard to state or fact

Other synonyms:

Mood, disposition, opinion, sentiments, perspective, frame of mind, outlook etc

For those us who have had an opportunity to fly, or better still sit with the pilot, one notices among the many instruments, a spirit level kind of meter which shows the planes level in relation to the ground. This is called attitude. If the attitude is not properly aligned, the plane will make contact with the ground at the wrong angle and it will cause a crash.

As with the plane, attitude in our day to day lives determines how we “land” on issues and how we deal with something, other than self.

Examples of Bad Attitude.

Most of us identify bad attitude when displayed outwardly in our words or actions like negativeness, criticism, independence, apathy, discouragement, arrogance, self-centeredness, rudeness etc.

However, keep in mind that attitudes are inner disposition of the heart and thought. They are hidden intentions which will eventually serve as the basis of our actions.

Proverbs 23:7: for as the thoughts of his heart are, so is he

In reality, no one knows the thoughts of your heart except you and God. Consequently, attitude is something that only God can work out – a change which must take place inwardly.

A story is told of a man. He went to church cheerfully as long as his business continued to prosper — as long as everything went well for him. He sang joyfully in the choir, he rarely missed a service. But when hard times set in, he began to drop away. He became resentful toward God, even critical of other Christians.

The same can be said of Cain, that when God did not accept his sacrifice, he became angry and his face became sad. This led him to kill his brother and consequently to sin. That is how bad attitude can drive us.

In contrast, the Bible is filled with illustrations of what positive attitude can bring in the life of believers.

What influences our Attitude?

1. The company we keep

1 Cor 15:33: Stop being deceived: "Wicked friends lead to evil ends."

If you associate with winners, you develop a winning attitude

If you associate with failures, you develop a failing attitude.

It is said that “show me your friends, I will tell you who you are”

2. Thing we read, hear, or see

Our society is greatly a reflection of what we have been watching, reading and hearing. Morality has been compromised and instead we have adopted what we see.

A wise man once stated “Do not think that what your thoughts dwell on does not matter. Your thoughts are making you”

What you think about is what you read, see or hear.

You cannot stop a bird from flying, but you can stop it from nesting on you. Choose what to absorb

3. Our environment

The story of the 2 brothers brought up by a drunk father and how each turned out to be.

4. Beliefs and traditions.

Principles of Attitude

1. Our attitude at the beginning of a task will affect its outcome more than anything else

Two men looked up from prison bars. One saw mud, the other saw stars, freedom and… (Prison break)

“Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. It our attitude a the beginning of a difficult task which more that anything else will affect its successful outcome.

2. Our attitude determines our relationship with people.

Luke 6:31: Whatever you want people to do for you, do the same for them.

If you hate you will be hated

If you love, you will be loved

3. Our attitude is the major difference between success and failure

This principle can be illustrated mathematically. If we represent all the letters of the alphabet by their corresponding numerical position (A is 1, B is 2... etc), then

H-A-R-D-W-O-R- K

8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

and

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E

11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But,

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E

1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

AND, look how far the love of God will take you

L-O-V-E- O-F -G-O-D

12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4 = 101%

4. Our attitude can turn our problems into blessings or into bigger problems

What is the difference between an obstacle and opportunity? ATTITUDE.

Numbers 13:25 – 14: 3

This passage tells of the report the spies who had been sent to spy the Promised Land brought. Whereas most of them thought that the land was unconquerable, Joshua and Caleb had a positive attitude, the could take up the mighty Amelikites. The people almost stoned Joshua and Caleb for having this positive attitude. As a result, the children sojourned for another 40 years and none of the people alive at the time of the report was alive, but Joshua and Caleb.

Believers are not immune from attacks; they are immune from the effects. This is only made real by their attitude.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Rom 8:28

5. Our attitude not our achievements will bring us happiness and satisfaction.

A happy person is not a person with certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with certain set of attitude.

The thoughts in your mind are more important than the things in you life.

Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same.”

6. Our attitude can give us uncommonly positive perspective

Why did the achievers overcome problems while thousands are overwhelmed by theirs? They refused to hold on to the common excuses for failure. They turned their stumbling blocks into stepping stones. They realized that they couldn’t determine every circumstance in life but they could determine their choice of attitude towards every circumstance. [John Maxwell]

David and Goliath story 1 Sam 17

7. Our attitude will change when we do

“You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you.”

When to change your attitude

When you have become: negative, critical, rebellious, defiant, impatient, uncooperative, discouraged, arrogant, self-centered, rude etc.

To change your attitude

1. Identify and Repent of Bad Attitudes

Acts 8:22 "Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you."

2. Submit Your Attitudes to God

Bring your attitudes into obedience to God’s Word. Apply discipline to your thought life — submit your thoughts to those of Christ’s. A good attitude is a matter of faith, disregarding your feelings, with a determination to embrace God’s outlook and disposition.

2 Corinthians 10:5 "casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ..."

3. Equip And Feed Your Attitudes

Dwell on the things that God’s word tells us to — those good and virtuous things. If you dwell on the negative, your attitude will reflect the same.

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things."

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ

(2 Corinthians 10:6)

Article by: Deno

Is he Mr. Right??

Ladies, have you encountered ‘the guy’? Yes, that one who just makes your stomach churn and do flip-flops that you couldn’t hack in P.E. class? Allow me to share with y’all my description of the guy. I entitled it ‘He is…’

He is the quintessential kind of guy,

He is the epitome of His wonderful creation.

He portrays a carefully thought-out carving,

Michelangelo’s David.

He is beautiful, inside and out.

He is a friend,

A soldier.

A lover.

He is ever so wonderful,

So caring.

So thoughtful.

He is an angel amongst mortals,

He is…

But a figment of my imagination. L

Let’s face it. We all, at one time, have dreamt of this guy. This knight in shining armour. And all the hunks in the movies aren’t helping!! Yaani!! Temptations galore! Nothing wrong with dreaming, wishing, hoping for ‘Mr.Right’. The problem with most of us, however, is that we are getting desperate, and at times we don’t know it. We forget that with time, God presents to us the perfect guy. Or we refuse to believe that. Either way, we’ve become impatient. And our impatience is leading us to lust, which is sin by definition. (James 1:13-15)

In most of our bevies (cliques) and social circles these days, it’s become the natural thing to have a jamaa, and to discuss our dudes in detail, alert each other on the next subject of interest etc...There’s undue pressure to attain ‘in a relationship’ status. Nowadays I hear girls say they are single and ready to mingle…that’s all good, but are we just going to settle for any dude who comes our way?(No offence to the guys here).

Let me paint a picture: How many of you ladies have been in and out of relationships as though you moving from house to house to visit friends? You break up with a guy today; tomorrow you are spotted beside another. And how many of us are in relationships because we fear being alone? You’re with a guy who’s not good enough for you and you know it, but you still stick with him? Then there’s those of us who are born again, but are dating guys who don’t even know what church is? Ama they just haven’t made that decision to live for Christ?

I could describe a thousand types of scenarios that most of us are in. We are living in a day and age where the word ‘love’ is misused. I ask, who’s Mr. Right? Is it that unsaved guy you’re clinging on to? Or that unappreciative guy who’s still playing his field coz he’s not a one-girl-kind-of-guy? No ladies! We gotta get up from this mess. We gotta take off the garment of insecurity and instead wear that of acceptance, appreciation. We all know, it’s been repeated a thousand times. But it’s true. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are beautiful. You’re beautiful. And you don’t need to have a whole list of guys you’ve dated to feel beautiful.

Proverbs 31 describes a wife of noble character. I believe that we ought to strive to be that kind of woman, clothed with strength and dignity. We need to break away from these unworthy relationships. You wanna know love? It doesn’t get any better than in 1 Corinthians 13. You wanna experience the full joy of salvation? Break away, and bring Christ in the picture. I promise, no, I guarantee, you’ll soar on eagle’s wings!

Romans 12:2-“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

God’s will for you is to find true love. You can’t change that guy to get saved. You aren’t the Messiah! Would like to sugar-coat it for you, but it’s the painful truth. Nowhere has God said you need that guy to feel beautiful, or appreciated. And God feels you. He’s offering His help. He says:

“Do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my precious right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

Why don’t you let go and let God? Mr. Right is being molded by God to suit you perfectly.

PHYSICAL CULT EMOTIONAL INSULT

My siblings and I were raised to believe that sexual purity defined maturity. Throughout my early teen my father, being the traditional African man and my mother, who is a stern Christian, always had a word or two to pass out to us about sex. The discussion was not a small matter; so imperative was it that it had its own allocated time and venue. It even had a structured seating arrangement. It never occurred to me why at that age I would be subjected to teachings about issues that I had no clue about. These teachings that my folks always took time to address to us would later on in life make sense.

In this time and age where technology has become the dominant tool for learning and new experiences, where the internet has become a source of information and transformation and live cable TV is a “must have” asset in the house, it is not surprising that the youth have become the most affected by this new discovery. In Africa the technological boom seems to have erupted without warning, taking with it many casualties. The African child had not been prepared to handle the negativity that this lustrous technology would bring with it.

Sex, sex, sex! There is a lot of sex in the atmosphere. Almost everything nowadays preaches the gospel of premarital sex; the media, the internet, music, even cartoons. It sells itself as food for the heart and soul. For the money hungry, they never seem to let opportunity pass them even if they put their own children in danger. They have made movies and written sex encyclopedias. Music is sex; naked women showing of their bodies dancing to lyrics of “we can do it from the front we can do it from the back” or “let’s make love in this club.” The irony of it is that most of these musicians are married; many of them do not practice what they preach in their music.

Premarital sex has become a lifestyle, a cult whose foundation is an abstract notion that one will find love and fulfillment, while in essence its goal is to use and lose. It is as though the dark angels of sex descended into our young generation and poured out their “immorality blessings” on them. The youth are having more sex than the married couples and they have taken it a notch higher! They do it everywhere and anywhere, as long as coitus can take place; the clubs, in cars, along alleys and even in parks. Let’s face it; premarital sex has become the in thing amongst the youth. For one to be referred to as cool they must have had sex and not just with 1 person but a number of people. But what the youth are never told are the implications of their unwarranted sexual exploits:

It does not come as a surprise that the highest numbers of HIV infected people are between the age of 15 and 35. In Africa where the largest population is the youth, we are in danger of losing the future of our civilization. At a time when 22.6million people were HIV positive by the end of 2006 and approximately 1.7million people were infected with HIV/AIDS in 2007 alone (that means that an average of 4 people contracted HIV/AIDS every minute) we should be wary of our sexual acts. These statistics show that out of every 10 people you meet there is a high probability that at least one is HIV positive. It’s not only HIV that is a beneficiary of the young people’s sex adventures but there are other STDs like syphilis, gonorrhea, genital warts, genital herpes and hepatitis A,B and C among others.

Ask yourself then, how many of those to die for, well built brothers that you drool over or all the sexy honeys that you got spending your money on are infected with at least 1 of these diseases!

I remember my father once telling us that people will always try to justify sex with flimsy excuses of emotional satisfaction and uncontrollable physical attraction yet deep within them they are unhappy and hurting, every sexual exploitation another scorching scar.

The youth seem to have fallen for the fantasy that premarital sex is an expression of love. They believe that they have the mastery of the sexual language; they want to explore the other dimension, unleash their prowess. They believe it to be a solution to all their pain and hurt, expressing themselves in a physical manner to cure emotional problems…since when was the heart cured by the body? In real sense all they do is dig deeper into their own graves. Every sexual episode always has a lifetime effect, whether in a relationship or a casual fling. It brings about attachments to the people involved. That is why one always remembers all their sexual encounters regardless of the outcome. There is no free sex; each comes with an emotional price tag and a lasting one to that effect.

As though these are not enough problems associated with sex, there is the possibility of early pregnancy. Although this may seem more inclined to affect the fairer sex, it does also have an effect on the young men. It is quite devastating, the turnaround that early pregnancy does to one’s life. Not only is it an added responsibility for both the young mother and father but it also causes emotional trauma and a sense of being a misfit especially in a world where a lot of attention is focused on people’s mishaps rather than their achievements. Even those who at one time you regarded as friends begin to distance themselves away from you. Nobody wants to be associated with the “immoral” one.

More unfortunate is the fact that the young man’s life may not come to a standstill but the young lady will have to succumb to natural forces, halt her education to go give birth and take care of the child. In cases where the mother decides to go the unethical way and abort, then there are also dire consequences to her actions. Not only is she killing a living human being, she is also placing her life in danger as she may die in the process or affect her ability to give birth in the future.

I was finally able to understand the teachings that my parents were trying to pass to me and my siblings. They did not say sex was wrong; in fact they called it a beautiful thing but only within the context of marriage. All they did was to prepare us for the life ahead, to safeguard us from the emotional damage that premarital sex carries with it into our lives. They were not “backward” as many of us would put it, all they did was to foresee the future and create a path of safety that they wanted their children to follow.

So where did the African continent go wrong? Sex is not a new issue to Africans, it is not a discovery that the African people realized after the entry of the white man into the continent. Yet within very few years the African stand towards premarital sex has lost its weight. I believe there are 2 major issues that play a big role towards the degrading moral standards of the African youth:

First and foremost, there are no longer moral standards that define the youth of this continent. We have forgotten the rich cultures that made the African child stand out as a dime for others to emulate. We have become almost obsolete in culture and discipline, we have nothing to hold onto and brand as a standard for living. We have allowed other cultures to dilute our morals with their wayward behaviour, in the name of being liberated. A liberation that has caused the continent its top brains and man power; one that has only lead to destruction and pain.

The second reason for the rise in sexual immorality is the fact that ungodliness has taken precedence in the lives of the African youth. We have become so engrossed in the things of the world that we have forgotten the most important thing in life, God. Within each one of us is a void that can never be filled by any material thing, a void that makes us search for truth of our existence and why certain things happen, a void that can only be filled by the renewal of the mind, body and soul, a void that explains existence of a super natural power. Unless we fill up this void we will always search for comfort in areas that we cannot find it, we will search for comfort in ways that will not only lead us astray but will also add up to the baggage that we are already carrying in our lives. This void can be filled by one thing only, a Supreme Being, God.

Some of us have probably indulged in sex. We have been getting down for a while it has now become a lifestyle; a big part of us we feel we cannot do without. It defines what we stand for… I mean, everybody is doing it why not me? The pleasure is too good to relinquish. Sex sums it all; it’s what we have been searching for our entire life. But have we really found in sex what we’ve been searching for? The satisfaction, the love, the recognition? Most likely we are still searching for it. Even within the sex there are still unanswered questions. We have doubts of whether the people we sleep with love us for more than just the sex. It has never felt right; there’s always a struggle within us.

Sometimes we need to look deeper into ourselves to realize who we really are and what we really stand for. Are we powerful beyond physical escapades or are we trapped in our lustful desires?

I always remember these words from my mother, “Happiness and satisfaction do not dwell in the physical; they reside within us. No amount of sex can bring happiness, for pain is not treated with pain. True happiness is in Christ Jesus.”