Faith Paradox

The Waki report is a reminder for us about how fragile our peace really is. And about our need as a nation to deal with the real issues that brought us to the precipice in January. So that by God's grace, we'll be at a very different place in 2012. It’s not the only sobering reality facing us right now though.

Columnist Robert Shaw in an article in one of our dailies recently listed some of the massive economic problems we are currently facing as a nation...

• The havoc wrecked by the post-election violence earlier in the year that adversely affected our economy
• Two deficient rainy seasons in succession that have negatively affected agriculture, which is the source of most jobs in our economy
• Escalating global food, fuel and fertilizer prices, resulting in inflation of 25% or more and reducing purchasing power and increasing poverty
• Decline in Diaspora remittances (due to the economic crisis in the West), an important source of foreign currency inflow.
• Financial pressure in developed economies that will likely lead to a setback in tourism numbers here.
• A likelihood that the problems in the global financial system will infect our own
• The IMF warning that the world is “on the cusp of a recession” and that there will be zero growth in the developed economies next year.

He concludes that it’s not a question as to whether Kenya will be affected by global recession but how much.

Most of us are already feeling the consequences; increased cost of living (I discovered over the weekend that a gas cylinder that cost 1200/- a year ago now costs 1800/-), higher interest rates, and a generally harder business environment.

Walala! It’s easy to slowly sink into a general malaise of low-grade depression amidst all the gathering storm clouds. To wonder how we got ourselves here. To live fearful and anxious lives, wondering whether we will survive. And yet I believe the challenges facing us as individuals present us with an opportunity.

The problem is that fear limits what God can do in our lives. But the opposite is true; faith allows God to carry out His purpose in our lives. That’s why Paul is able to say in 2Cor.12:9, ‘Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why for Christ’s sake I delight in weaknesses…. For when I am weak, then I am strong’.

I call this the ‘paradox of faith’. When we’re strong, we tend to trust in our resources & hold back from trusting in God. We forfeit His divine power and end up limited to our own inadequate resources. When we’re weak however, we (hopefully) cling to God with all we have knowing that we have no other resource. We’re freed by faith to tap into His divine strength & perspective. We’re no longer afraid of what the future holds.

So here’s the paradoxical good news. If you’re feeling weak & helpless – that may be exactly where God wants you! Begin to call out to the Lord, knowing that only He can save you. The good news is that your faith is will not only please Him (Heb.11:6), but will create opportunities to experience God’s strength & victory during the rest of 2008. And God willing, you’ll have some amazing testimonies to share come the end of the year!

Decongesting Life

I greatly enjoyed the long weekend; hanging out with family members as well as kicking back and watching a couple of high-octane-low-intelligence-required movies. As much as I enjoy hard work, I also enjoy hard rest, and three public holidays in one month is pretty cool! Being forced to slow down often reminds me that work is a part of life and not the sum of it. And that the journey is just as important as the destination.

Here's an interesting article by Tim Ferris who wrote 'The Four Day Workweek' on 9 habits in order to simplify congested lifestyles.

The Responsibility Of Leadership

Is it just me or does there seem to be an increase of terrible accidents on our roads? It feels like deja vu ~ a flashback to a time in the past when it was nothing exceptional to read headlines about horrible bus and matatu crashes resulting in massive life losses. And that's not suprising because whatever highway I'm on nowadays, there's a PSV hurtling by at 100km/h or more. We buried the Michuki-rules and now, we're burying Kenyans everyday. I wonder - does our transport minister still feel like Pilate, that the deaths of these Kenyans are not his business?

Being a far from perfect leader myself, I hate to complain; but I just had to vent about that one! It's hard to sit back and watch the wanton suffering brought about by such avoidable causes. Anyone else feeling me?

So... here's to God raising some great leaders in our generation who will change this nation. In politics, governance, business, media, education, etc. Some great quotes for those reading this that are part of the change...

• The measure of a man is what he does with power (Pittacus)
• Leadership is action, not position (Donald McGannon)
• All power is trust (Benjamin Disraeli)
• It's amazing how much people can get done if they do not worry about who gets the credit (Sandra Surnney)
• One test of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency (unknown)

May we be faithful stewards of whatever leadership responsibility God has entrusted to us this week!

Gratitude Adjustment

This month I’m preaching at KC3 (Kileleshwa Covenant Community Church), a church that resulted from a merger between Kileleshwa Community Church and The Covenant Church, a fellow daughter church of Nairobi Chapel. I’m doing a four-week series on Greatness which, those of you who know me well have probably figured out, is a subject I’m quite passionate about! KC3 is a great church, and I suspect one that will have tremendous impact on our city in the not-distant-future.

Meanwhile, Pst. Simon Mbevi kicks off a series at Mavuno called ‘Attitudes for Altitude’. It’s a great series as we come to the end of the year and evaluate what was and could have been. It’s so easy to see or blame the external factors that affected or limited where we end up. But by looking within, we can discover attitudes that played a huge role in the outcomes we saw. And we can adjust course so they don’t limit us any more. I have an inkling this series will have a great impact on careers, marriages, and families at Mavuno.

So, Sunday he spoke about gratitude. Very convicting…

Heard about a public speaker who held up a large piece of white paper. He used a marker to make a large black spot in the middle of it. Then he held the paper up before the group he was addressing and asked them what they saw. They all agreed there was a black mark.

"Right", the preacher replied. “What else do you see?”
Complete silence.
“Don't you see anything else?”
Blank stares and heads shaking.
"I'm surprised that you have overlooked the most important thing of all - the sheet of paper!”

The adversities of life often monopolize my attention and cause me to forget or assume God’s blessings. I so easily develop the proverbial ‘glass half-full’ perspective. All I can see is the black mark!

I’m learning to command myself everyday “Bless the Lord oh my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Psalms 103:2)

Hey, have a grateful week, won’t you?

Life Happens

It’s been an uncommonly busy two weeks. Life just happened! Hence my absence in blogosphere.

Interesting experience a couple of weeks back. I’m coming home from the gym in a mat. Get off at a bus-stop about 10 minutes walk from home. So far so good. But just as the mathree pulls away, a huge raindrop falls on the ground at my feet. I look up and the sky looks all funny. I get this uneasy feeling that it’s about to throw up all over me.

So I start hurrying as fast as I can but almost like a cat playing with a mouse, it starts to growl mischievously yet menacingly. I call my sweetie whose home and ask her to drive and meet me, but I have a sinking feeling that I won’t make it! I pray to reach home dry, then intensify my prayers and finally command the skies to hold up. All in vain... In less than a few minutes, the weather moves from a gentle drizzle to a soft shower then a raging downpour. Walala! I don’t even try and run as it won’t make a difference - there’s no shelter anywhere! Soon, I’m drenched to the t-bone. By the time she finally reaches where I am, I’m of the mind to just swim home as it won’t make a difference!

So, why does it rain on praying people? Or as someone once asked, why do bad things happen to good people? Okay, I’m not saying I’m perfect. But I was coming from serving God (at least before I stopped by the gym). At the very least He should have waited for me to get home before the downpour!

Why does a loving God allow the suffering we encounter in the world? Getting drenched hardly qualifies as ‘suffering’, but this question has troubled many people through history. Some have concluded that God can’t be that loving after all. Others that if God is all-loving, He/She or It can’t be all-powerful. Others that there is no God after all.

No pat or trite answers to this one. It’s definitely an easier question to answer from a theoretical point of view as opposed to when you’re in the middle of a heart-piercing or gut-wrenching situation. One thing though; the bible never promises us that now we’re Christ followers, suffering is a thing of the past. On the contrary it says that we will suffer at times because of being Christ followers (2Timothy 3:12). The question is not whether I’ll face suffering, but with whom I’ll face it when it does come. And knowing God is at work to make all things work out for my good (Romans 8:28) makes it at least bearable when it does happen.

Financial Fitness

We had a phenomenal weekend at Mavuno. Started on Friday evening when Anthony Wahome of Linksoft Communications continued the Harvest Night Series with a talk entitled ‘The Power of Giving’. The Harvest Night Series is a set of annual talks about money organized by our own Harvest Sacco. There was a great turnout (I estimated around 650 people) and everyone who was there will tell you it was time well spent. It was also exciting at the end to see people give their lives to Christ. One of the things that thrills me most at Mavuno is seeing that ‘aha’ moment come for people… when the lights come on and they begin the journey that launches them into their life purpose. Nothing compares with it!

There was also a great response to Sunday’s message on debt and many people committed to begin the journey towards debt-free living. Again, over 15 people gave their lives to Christ in the process! I know that this is going to be a pivotal series in the lives of individuals and families at Mavuno. I really believe that many will look back on this series as a major life turning point.

This Friday, Pst. Joseph Hellon will be talking about 'Kingdom Wealth Transfer'! And on Sunday, I’ll continue on with the next installment of our series, ‘Living Sustainably’. Remember to bring your friends and let’s experience transformation together.

Meanwhile, here’s a great poem by Benja Luta, who also happens to be CEO of Go-Creations and Mavuno’s main graphics designer.

TIRED
I am tired of the status quo
Tired of the norm I have settled for
Exhausted by the mediocre thoughts that surround
What is this truth that we embrace?
Who are these that draw the boundaries?

I refuse to fit into the mold made by men
Rebel against the conclusion made about me
‘He is just like that’, they say to one another
We all have weaknesses,
It’s human you know.

I quit being a prisoner of thoughts that bind
I quit walking in the company of thieves
My accomplices in stealing my employer’s time on the net
I stand up to be counted as the hardworking dude,
Not the Christian that plays gospel music at the office

Wisdom shall be my sister and understanding my kinsman
To pick up the habits of my mentors and of great men
Reading from the script the Almighty wrote long ago
I choose to drop the ugly and pick up the holy
I quit club ordinary for the greatness hidden within

Have a great week!

Critics

Critic: Someone who goes along for deride

Criticism: Something you can avoid by being nothing, doing nothing, and saying nothing

Read a great little story about criticism…

A traveler nearing a great city asked an old man seated by the road, “What are the people like in this city?? The man replied, “What were they like where you came from?
“A terrible lot!” the traveler reported. “Mean, untrustworthy, detestable in all respects.
“Ah,” said the old person. “You will find them the same in the city ahead.

Scarcely had the first traveler gone on his way when another stopped to inquire about the people in the city before him. Again, the old person asked about the people in the place the traveler had just left. “They were fine people, honest, industrious, and generous to a fault. I was sorry to leave, declared the second traveler. Responded the wise one, “So you will find them in the city ahead”

Ever struggle with how to deal with criticism? I sometimes do. Some people just can’t seem to find a loving word to say and always seem offended by something or the other! However, we need to distinguish between helpful criticism and the unhelpful type. A few ideas that I’ve found helpful…

Know your critics – Not all criticism deserves the same level of attention. I pay the least attention to anonymous criticism. I don’t want to use up all my productive time responding to people I don’t know! I think someone who cares enough to sign their name deserves an answer. But when the criticism is from someone who you know cares about and is invested in what you’re doing, then you need to take time to think through and engage in what they’re saying.

Listen to your critics – it’s important to have some mature, trustworthy friends who know you well, that you can copy the most stinging criticism to. They’ll often be able to advise you on how accurate it is and whether you need to take time to respond to it.

Embrace your critics – as leaders, we all need to find a ‘red-flag mechanism’; people we know and trust and who are not impressed by our position. People who we can count on to tell it like it is, in love. People who are good at what they do and have some knowledge of what we do. These are the people whose criticism we want to invite regularly, even before they offer it!

Be a good critic – not everyone is open to criticism. Know which people will benefit from hearing your opinion, care enough about them and about the outcome, and always sandwich your suggestion with affirmation.

Proverbs 9:7-9. ‘Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.’