(Warumi 1, Waebrania 1 & 4, Yohana 16)
Somo hili limetafsiriwa kutoka katika Copr. 2009, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Somo hili pia linaweza kupatikana kutoka http://www.GoBible.org kwa lugha ya Kiingereza pamoja na lugha nyingine kama vile Kifaransa, Kijerumani, Kihispania, Kizulu, nk.
Utangulizi: Je, inaleta mantiki kwamba kitu chochote kile hata kama ni chenye mkanganyiko na kigumu kuelewa kama ulimwengu, au hata yenye mkanganyiko na ngumu kuelewa kama jinsi ulivyo, ya kwamba vilitokea kwa bahati? Je, haileti mantiki zaidi kuamini kwamba magari ya kifahari yanayojulikana kama “Jaguars” yanaungwa/yanatengenezwa na sokwe (ambao ni wanyama), basi kuamini kuwa ulimwengu ulitokea kwa bahati? Maswali yenye mantiki zaidi ni haya: Ni Mungu wa aina gani tuliye naye? Je, ameamua kuzungumza na wanadamu na kuwaelezea kumhusu yeye mwenyewe? Je, twawezaje kupata ujumbe wake? Hebu tuingie kwenye kujifunza Biblia na kuona kile inachofunua juu ya haya maswali yote!
I. Baadhi ya Vitu vi Dhahiri!
A. Soma Warumi 1:18-19. Popote pale fungu linapoanza na “ghadhabu ya Mungu” huwa hujikuta ninakwepa! Kwa uhakika, Mungu anasikitishwa juu ya nini hapa? (Mungu anawakasirikia wale wanaouficha ukweli wake. Paulo aweza kuwa anasema mojawapo ya vitu viwili: 1) Waovu wanamkana Mungu kwa sababu matendo yao maovu yana kawaida ya kuuficha ukweli juu ya Mungu; au, 2) Wale wanaoukana uwepo wa Mungu hufanya hivyo kwa sababu ni waovu).
B. Soma Warumi 1:20. Kwa hakika ni kwa nini waovu hawako sahihi juu ya Mungu? (Uwepo wa Mungu ni wa dhahiri kutokana na kile alichokiumba).
1. Je, unakubali ya kwamba uumbaji humfunua Mungu? (Sabato iliyopita niliona sinema nzuri ajabu juu ya suala hili. Msemaji ni Louis Giglio na sinema hiyo inaitwa “Jinsi Mungu Wetu Alivyo Mkuu.” Unaweza kutizama sehemu ya kwanza ya sehemu kadhaa kwenye tovuti ya YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_82lZ2PpYQE&feature=related
2. Tambua Paulo anasema pia kuwa “hata wasiwe na udhuru”. Udhuru wa nini? Kumwamini Mungu, au kuamini kwamba Mungu ana ujumbe kwa ajili yetu? Nukuu ya Paulo kwa “asili ya kimbingu” ya Mungu inajenga hoja kuwa uasili huwasilisha baadhi ya ujumbe sahihi).
C. Soma Warumi 1:21-23. Ni ujumbe gani wa kwanza sahihi tunaoweza kujifunza kutokana na uumbaji? (Kwamba kwa kuwa kuna Mungu Muumbaji, inabidi tumtukuze na kumshukuru kwa uumbaji. Kutokana na hilo basi katika tafakari ya kawaida kinachofuata ni kwamba tusiabudu sanamu ya kitu kilichoumbwa, bali tumwabudu Muumbaji mwenyewe).
D. Hebu turuke mafungu kadhaa kwenye ujengaji hoja wa Paulo kuona ni jinsi gani zaidi anatumia wazo hili. Soma Warumi 1:26-27. Paulo anamaanisha nini anaposema “mahusiano ya asili?” (Kile kinachomaanishwa na asili ya vile tulivyoumbwa).
1. Ni jinsi gani uumbaji unatufundisha kuwa ushoga ni kosa? (Nilisikiliza ombi la fedha lenye hisia kali kwa ajili ya kurekebisha mazingira ili kwamba wale dubu wanaopatikana kwenye maeneo ya barafu wasiweze kupotea duniani. Naweza kubashiri, kwa akili ya kawaida, kwamba mojawapo ya masuala ya “kimazingira” ni kuwaambia hao dubu wasijihusishe na ushoga. Kwa hakika, wale waliokuwa wakiomba fedha hawakuwa na kitu kama hicho akilini. Lakini, naamini unaelewa dhana ya Paulo ya “mahusiano ya asili”.
II. Wasemaji!
A. Soma Waebrania 1:1. Fungu hili lasema kuwa Mungu anawasilianaje na wanadamu?
1. Hebu tizama mbadilishano huu. Paulo anatuambia tuangalie na kupata ujumbe kutoka kwa Mungu. Waebrania inatuambia kuwa Mungu aliongea nasi kupitia kwa manabii. Hoja ya uumbaji ni dhahiri. Ni sababu gani iliyo “dhahiri” tuliyonayo kuamini kuwa manabii walikuwa wakiongea kwa niaba ya Mungu? (Vitu viwili. Kwanza, kama uumbaji ni uthibitisho wa Muumba, je, siyo mantiki kwamba Muumba angetaka kuongea nasi? Pili, ujumbe wa manabii una mwelekeo ule ule. Kundi la watu wenye kujikweza nafsi katika karne kadhaa kwa uongo walidai kuongea kwa niaba ya Mungu, ungewatarajia kuwa na ujumbe mwingi kwa kadri ambavyo wajumbe wangekuwepo. Ujumbe wa moja kwa moja na usiobadilika unapendekeza kuwa umetoka kwenye chanzo kimoja).
B. Soma Waebrania 1:2-3. Kwa nini tuamini ya kwamba Yesu ni Mungu? (Kwanza, Yesu alidai kuwa ni Mungu (Mathayo 26:63-64; Yohana 12:44-46). Pili, ufufuo wake ulikuwa si kama kitu chochote kile kilicho ndani ya uwezo au mamlaka. Hili kwa hakika ni suala la “Mungu”.
1. Ni ujumbe gani kutoka kwa Mungu tulioupokea kupitia kwa Yesu? (Yesu anasema kuwa kama mngalinijua mimi, mngalimjua na Baba yangu. Yohana 8:19. Kama tukijifunza maisha ya Yesu, tunaelewa asili ya Mungu.
III. Hebu Litazame!
A. Soma Waebrania 4:12-13. Wangapi kati yenu mnaweza kuelezea Biblia katika nyumba zenu kama “kitu kilicho hai na chenye nguvu” kinyume na “wazoa taka?”
1. Hebu tazama lugha iliyotumika “tena li jepesi kuyatambua mawazo na makusudi ya moyo”. Mada yetu inahusu kama kweli Mungu hujifunua kwetu. Ni jukumu gani linapendekezwa kuwa linafanywa na Biblia katika ufunuo huu? (Sisi sote tuna mawazo na makusudio ya moyo [mitizamo] ya jinsi gani inatupasa kuishi na kuwajali wengine. Biblia hujaribisha/huthibitisha mawazo haya na mitizamo hii dhidi ya viwango vya mwenendo wa Mungu).
2. Umewahi kusema kuwa “Natamani kwamba Mungu angefunua mapenzi yake kwangu” kwa chochote kile ukitamanicho kwa wakati huo?
a. Kama jibu lako ni “Ndiyo” je, umetizama kile Mungu alichokisema kuhusu mada hii kutoka kwenye maandiko ya Biblia? Kama jibu ni hapana, je, ulihitaji kweli kujua/kufahamu mapenzi ya Mungu?
B. Soma 2 Timotheo 3:16-17. Chanzo cha Biblia ni nini? (Mungu).
1. Biblia inaweza kuchukua jukumu gani katika kufunua mapenzi ya Mungu maishani mwetu? (Maneno “mafundisho, maonyo, kuongoza na kuadibisha” yanaonekana kujumuisha nyanja zote za maisha).
IV. Sikiliza!
A. Soma Yohana 16:7-9. “Msaidizi” ni nani? (Roho Mtakatifu).
1. Je, Richard Dawkins (mtu asiyemwamini Mungu) naye anasumbuliwa kidhamira kuhusu dhambi zake? (Tambua ya kwamba fungu la 9 linasema kuwa Roho Mtakatifu huwafanya kujisikia hatia hata wale wasioamini uwepo wa dhambi! (Au angalao basi hata wale wasiomwamini Yesu)).
B. Soma Yohana 16:10-11. Je, umewahi kujisikia hatia kwa dhambi hapo siku za nyuma? Umewahi kujisikia hatia siku za nyuma juu ya kile unachopaswa kukifanya kuhusu dhambi zako?
1. Kama umejibu “Ndiyo” kwa lolote kati ya hayo maswali mawili, je, huo ni uthibitisho wa ziada kuwa Mungu yupo na kwamba anajihusisha kwa dhati kabisa katika kuwasiliana na wanadamu?
2. Hili ni tatizo jingine linalowasumbua wale wanaoamini kuwa mwanadamu hakuumbwa bali alitokana na mabadiliko/mageuko ya pole pole kuanzia kwa mnyama. Kwa nini tukuze dhamira? Kwa nini hili “lundo la nyama” linaloendesha kazi za mwili liwe na mawazo yoyote zaidi ya kile ambacho ni muhimu kwa ajili ya kustahimilisha maisha?
a. Chanzo cha dhamira ni nini? Kama hatukuikuza, basi ni lazima iakisi nguvu zilizo nje ya uwezo wa mwanadamu, sawa?
C. Soma 1 Timotheo 4:1-4. Je, twaweza kuwa na dhamira mbaya? Dhamira inayotuambia kuwa tusifanye vitu ambavyo vinakubalika kwa usahihi kabisa kufanya?
a. Je, wawezaje kutenganisha kati ya mawazo yako mwenyewe na ya Roho Mtakatifu anayenena nawe?
b. Je, wawezaje kutenganisha kati ya “roho wadanganyao na mambo yanayofundishwa na mapepo” na Roho Mtakatifu anayenena nawe?
D. Soma Mathayo 12:31-32. Kukufuru dhidi ya Roho Mtakatifu inamaanisha nini? Je, ina chochote cha kuhusianisha na kukanganya ujumbe wa Roho Mtakatifu na jinsi unavyofikiri wewe binafsi au inakanganya na majaribu ya kimapepo? (Ili kusaidia kubaini hili, tunahitaji kuangalia kuanzia kwenye msingi).
E. Soma Mathayo 12:22-24. Yesu alikuwa anaonyesha nini pale aliporejea juu ya kuongea dhidi ya Roho Mtakatifu? (Yesu anawaonya wale wanaohusianisha kazi ya Roho Mtakatifu na kazi ya Shetani.
1. Kwa nini hii iwe dhambi isiyosamehewa? Kwa nini kusema mambo mabaya kwa upande mmoja wa Utatu Mtakatifu iwe mbaya zaidi kuliko kusema mambo mabaya juu ya upande mwingine wa Utatu Mtakatifu?
F. Soma 1 Samweli 3:12-14. Mungu anatoa ujumbe kupitia kwa Samweli kwa Kuhani Mkuu Eli kuhusu wana wake wa kiume, makuhani. Je, huu pia ni mfano mwingine wa dhambi isiyosamahewa? Kama ni hivyo, je, kuna dhambi ngapi zisizosameheka zilizopo? (Sidhani kama kuna dhambi iliyopo isiyosameheke kivile. Kumbuka ya kwamba wana wa Eli walikuwa na jukumu pamoja na kushughulikia hatua za kufuatwa kwa ajili ya msamaha wa dhambi pale hekaluni. Walikuwa wameshikilia mzani wa mchakato wa msamaha wa dhambi. Kwa kuwa walitumia vibaya mchakato huo, wasingeweza kusamehewa. Mtizamo huo huo ndio uliopo wa “kumsononesha” Roho Mtakatifu. Ni sehemu ya muhimu sana katika mchakato mzima wa msamaha wa dhambi-hututia nafsi zetu hatiani kuhusu dhambi zetu.
G. Soma Tito 1:15-16. Unapoharibu dhamira yako, je, wajipenyeza sehemu ambayo, kivitendo, dhambi yako haiwezi kusamehewa kwa sababu umeharibu mchakato mzima?
H. Baada ya kuwa tumesema kwamba tunaweza kuharibu kazi ya Roho Mtakatifu, hebu turejelee kwenye suala letu ambalo hatukufikia muafaka wa jinsi gani tunaweza kutofautisha kati ya ujumbe wa Roho Mtakatifu unaotujia kupitia kwenye dhamira zetu na ujumbe mwingineo. (Soma tena Yohana 16:15. Roho Mtakatifu huchukua ujumbe wake kutoka kwa Mungu. Kwa hiyo, Ujumbe wa Roho Mtakatifu ni lazima uwe sawa na ujumbe mwingineo unaofunuliwa kutoka kwa Mungu-kupitia kwenye maandiko ya Biblia, manabii wa kweli na asili).
I. Kiwango chako cha tahadhari kwenye ujumbe wa Roho Mtakatifu kipo vipi? Unaweza kusikia sawia? Au ujumbe huwa umekuwa barely discernable?
J. Rafiki, tunaye Mungu anayehitaji kuwasilisha mapenzi yake kwetu. Je, utaambatana na ujumbe wake na kuhuisha maisha yako kufuatana na ujumbe huo? Je, utamsikiliza Roho Mtakatifu na kuwa tayari na muwazi kwa mwongozo wake?
V. Wiki Ijayo: Dhambi.
Somo hili limefasiriwa na kuandaliwa na
Mgune Masatu.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Lesoni Somo la 4: Uzima
(Yohana 10, Matendo 27 & 28, Luka 12)
Somo hili limetafsiriwa kutoka katika Copr. 2009, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Somo hili pia linaweza kupatikana kutoka http://www.GoBible.org kwa lugha ya Kiingereza pamoja na lugha nyingine kama vile Kifaransa, Kijerumani, Kihispania, Kizulu, nk.
Utangulizi: Je, umewahi kutafakari juu ya maisha yako? Yana mwelekeo gani? Ungependa yawe na mwelekeo gani? Pamoja na kazi zetu, luninga, mtandao, watoto, kazi za nyumbani, na utume/ujumbe, ni rahisi kujishughulisha na “masuala ya haraka” kwa muda wa siku nzima. Tupatapo muda wa kupumzika, tunautumia kwenye kitu kingine zaidi ya kukaa na kutafakari tu. Huenda tafakari ni kitu kinachofananishwa na yoga tu, kwa jinsi tunavyojihusisha, na si sehemu ya maisha yetu. Hebu tuchukue wasaa na kutafakari, kupitia kwenye maaandiko ya Biblia, kile inachomaanisha kuishi. Hebu na tuangalie malengo aliyonayo Mungu kwa ajili yako!
I. Kipofu na Anayeona
A. Katika Yohana 9, Yesu anamponya kipofu. Hiyo iliamsha mtafaruku kwa viongozi wa dini. Hebu tuangalie kisa hicho mwishoni mwa Yohana 9. Soma Yohana 9:39-41. Yesu anasema kuwa amekuja ulimwenguni humu kwa hukumu. Je, Yesu alikuja ulimwenguni kutuhukumu? (Soma Yohana 3:17-18. Yesu alikuja kuuokoa ulimwengu).
1. Kama Yesu hakuja kuuhukumu ulimwengu, je, ni aina gani ya hukumu ambayo Yesu anaiongelea katika Yohana 9:39? (Tunajua ya kwamba Yesu alikuja kufa kwa ajili ya dhambi zetu. Kwa hiyo, hukumu ni lazima, angalao kwa kiwango fulani iwe juu yake).
2. Ni aina gani ya hukumu itakayofanya vipofu waone na wale wanaoona kuwa vipofu? (Mungu aliye na nia ya kutuponya, Mungu aliye na nia ya kufa kwa ajili yetu, Mungu ambaye anaonyesha huruma kwetu hufungua macho yetu kuhusu asili ya Mungu. Mwovu ambaye analeta upofu, na anayejeruhi na kuua, Mungu hufungua macho yetu kuhusu asili ya pambano kati ya wema na uovu).
3. Ikiwa sasa tumeshamwona Yesu, je, tunahitajika kufanya nini? (Yesu anafundisha kwamba mara tunapoelewa masuala ya kiroho, basi tuna uamuzi wa kufanya ili kuzuia hatia- na hukumu).
B. Soma Yohana 10:1-2. Kama ningekuwa natizama kwenye nyumba ya jirani yangu, na nikaona mtu fulani akiingia kwenye nyumba hiyo kupitia dirisha lililo nyuma ya nyumba, je, nifikirie juu ya kitu gani? (Huyu ni mtu asiye na ufunguo. Huyu ni mtu asiye na mamlaka husika).
1. Ni nini malengo ya nyumba yenye mlango na kitasa? Lengo la zizi la kondoo na lango ni nini? (Ni kulinda viumbe vinavyoishi humo, kuhifadhi watu wanaohusika ndani na wasiohusika nje).
1. Je, hili lina uhusiano gani na mazungumzo ya Yesu juu ya upofu? (Yesu anasema kuwa Mafarisayo ni vipofu-au angalao basi wanatenda/wanajifanya kuwa wao ni vipofu. Yesu anatuambia kuwa kuna ukweli ulio dhahiri katika maisha-kama vile ukweli kuhusu milango-kwa wale walio na nia ya kutizama).
A. Soma Yohana 10:3-6. Je, u mbele ya wanafunzi wa Yesu kimtizamo hapa? Naelewa kile ambacho Yesu anasema kuhusu zizi la kondoo-ambacho tunaweza kulinganisha na majumbani mwetu-lakini je, tunalitumia vipi hili katika maisha yetu? (Hebu tuendelee kusoma).
B. Soma Yohana 10:7. Sasa tunaelekea pahala fulani. Kama Yesu ndiye lango, je, zizi ni nini na kondoo ni akina nani? (Nadhani sisi ndio kondoo. Zizi lazima liwe ulinzi wa maisha yetu. Yesu huruhusu watu sahihi kuingia zizini na kuwaweka wasiostahili nje ya zizi.
C. Soma Yohana 10:8-9. Wawezaje kulitumia hili maishani? (Kama Yesu ndiye lango la kuingilia lililoidhinishwa, na malango mengine yote ya kuingilia yanatumiwa na watu wenye kuleta madhara, hii humaanisha kwamba Yesu ana njia za kulinda na kuwezesha/kufanikisha maisha yetu. Ni kama nyumba salama iliyo na lango la kuingilia linaloangaliwa/lindwa.
D. Soma Yohana 10:10. Kama ningesema kuwa ningeweza kukupatia “maisha kamili,” ungeelewa kuwa hiyo inamaanisha nini?
1. Yesu amekuwa akiongea nasi kuhusu njia na ulinzi, je, maisha kamili yanahusianaje na hilo? (Kama unaishi maisha sawasawa na mafundisho ya Mungu (Yeye ndiye lango pekee kwa kile unachokiruhusu kupita kupitia kwenye lango hilo) una maisha yaliyo makamilifu).
a. Je, hii ni kweli? Kuna kila aina ya programu za kwenye luninga zinazonifundisha kwamba maisha makamilifu na yenye furaha yanahusisha vitu vingine zaidi ya vile vilivyvothibitishwa na Mungu. Je, kuna ukweli mwingine?
b. Ni nini juu ya watu ambao wanaamua kwamba wataishi kama vile wanavyotaka sasa na watamrudia Mungu baadaye? Je, kuna ukweli wowote juu ya hilo?
E. Soma Yohana 10:11-13. Kwa nini mtu anayelipwa/aliyeajiriwa hafanyi kazi nzuri? Je, sisi sote si “waajiriwa” pale inapokuja kwenye kazi zetu? (Walioajiriwa huangalia vitu kimantiki-kupoteza maisha yake hakuwezi linganishwa na mshahara wake. Kama akiyatoa maisha yake, atakuwa na kitu gani hapo sasa?).
1. Ni nini hoja ya Yesu kwa ajili ya maisha yetu? (Yesu hafanyi hili kwa ajili ya kupata pesa. Alionyesha kwamba alitujali kwa kuyatoa maisha yake kwa ajili yetu).
2. Hili lina nini cha kufanya nasi kuwa na wakati mzuri sasa kwa kutenda yale mambo ya kufurahisha tunayoyaona kwenye luninga? (Mambo “yote mazuri” yaonekanayo kwenye luninga huhusisha uajiriwa. Njia ya ulimwengu ni kuamua kile kilicho bora kwa “namba moja.” Misukumo inapokuja, wengine huishia kuumia/kupata mateso/mahangaiko.
3. Ni nini hoja ya msingi ya kiroho inayoweza kuonekana hapa? (Kama tutatizama, na kutokuwa vipofu, tutaona ya kwamba maelekezo ya Mungu kwa ajili ya maisha yetu yanabubujika kutoka kwenye upendo ulio mkubwa kiasi kwamba yu tayari kuyatoa maisha yake kwa ajili yetu. Hakuna hata mtu mmoja anayetoa “ukweli” unaodhihirishwa na programu ya luninga iliyo maarufu inajali kile kitakachotutokea. Wanajalisha juu ya kupata fedha kutokana na program hizo. Haijalishi ni masomo gani tunayojifunza kutokana na program hizo, hiyo siyo wajibu wao-walao hivyo ndivyo wanavyoliangalia suala hilo.
F. Soma Yohana 10:14-18. Je, Yesu analazimishwa kufa kwa ajili yetu? (Hapana! Tazama hoja ambayo Yesu anaifanya. Aliyatoa maisha yake kwa ajili yako. Kwa nini angekupa maelekezo ambayo yanaweza kukuangamiza? Maelekezo ambayo yangeweza kuwa na ukomo wa kuishi maisha makamilifu? Asingeweza. Lakini, mbwa mwitu na waajiriwa hawakujali. Sheria zao za kimaisha haziakisi hilo.
G. Kama ungeweza kutafakari kwa kitambo kifupi juu ya maisha yako na jinsi ambavyo ungeishi, je, uamuzi wako wa kichoyo ungekuwa upi? (Uamuzi wa kumfuata yule aliyekuwa na nia ya kufa kwa ajili yako! Kama ungetaka kufanya kile kilichokuwa bora kwa ajili yako, basi ungekataa ushauri wa wale ambao maslahi yao ni kwa ajili yao-siyo kwako.
1. Je, hitimisho hili lina ukomo kwa masuala ya kiroho? (Hapana! Yesu alitumia mpango-kutunza kondoo-kama mfano wake. Ushauri huu unahusika katika nyanja zote za maisha kama tutakavyoona katika sehemu inayofuata).
II. Maisha Yenye Ushawishi wa Kweli
A. Utakumbuka ya kwamba wakati Paulo alipokuwa akihubiri injili, alifungwa na alikata rufaa Roma. Akiwa kama mfungwa, aliwekwa kwenye mashua pamoja na kundi la wafungwa wengine wakielekea Roma.
B. Soma Matendo 27:10-12. “Nyanja zipi za ushawishi” zinahusishwa katika kisa hiki? (Tunaye Paulo anayemwakilisha Mungu na maslahi ya kiroho. Tunao wamiliki wa mashua wanaowakilisha maslahi ya kibiashara. Tunaye jemadari anayeiwakilisha Serikali.
1. Kama ungekuwa Paulo, na ungetaka maisha yako yawe na ushawishi kwenye biashara na Serikali ungedhani juu ya kitu gani kama kikwazo cha mafanikio katika wasaa huu? (Yeye ni mfungwa!).
a. Je, ushauri wa Paulo umezingatiwa? (Hapana).
C. Soma Matendo 27:14-20. Ni nini ambacho hakikufanya kazi kuhifadhi maslahi ya biashara na ya Serikali? (Nyenzo zao wenyewe).
D. Soma Matendo 27:21-26. Mungu anatendaje kazi kupitia kwa Paulo kushawishi biashara na Serikali? Je, ni kitu gani ambacho Paulo hakukifanya? (Paulo hakusema kuwa “Mungu ameleta hukumu kwenu”. Badala yake malaika alimjia Paulo na kumpa suluhisho la tatizo. Paulo alikumbushia biashara na Serikali ambapo hapo awali alikuwa amewapa ushauri sahihi).
1. Kama unataka kushawishi juu ya biashara na Serikali, je, unahitaji kuwa na silaha za aina gani? (Malaika za Mungu! Roho Mtakatifu. Udhibiti wa Mungu wa Matukio).
E. Soma Matendo 27: 30-32. Ni nani sasa anayeshikilia juu ya operesheni ya biashara na Serikali? (Mtu wa Mungu, Paulo).
1. Ilichukua muda gani kubadilisha hali ya kutofuata ushauri wa Paulo na kumfuata Paulo?
F. Soma Matendo 28: 1-4. Ni siku ya aina gani aliyonayo Paulo hapa? Ulimwengu unamwona Paulo kuwa ni mtu wa aina gani?
G. Soma Matendo 28:5-6. Ni nini mtazamo wa ulimwengu dhidi ya Paulo sasa? Ilichukua muda gani kufanya badiliko hili?
H. Soma Matendo 28:7-9. Paulo sasa anakumbana na Serikali ya Malta. Ni aina gani ya ushawishi ambao Paulo anaupa msukumo kwenye uongozi wa Serikali?
I. Ni somo gani ambalo kisa hiki kinatufundisha kuhusu kufuata sheria za Yesu tunapojihusianisha na biashara pamoja na Serikali?
III. Kutokuwa na Woga/Wasiwasi
A. Soma Luka 12:22-26. Angalia hususani fungu la 25. Jibu lake ni nini?
1. Ni vipi kama ningeuliza swali hilo tofauti: ni nani, kwa kudhibiti (mlo, uvutaji sigara, mazoezi, kuendesha gari, hasira) yake, anaweza kuongeza saa moja katika maisha yake? Ni wangapi kati yenu mngejibu “ndiyo” kwenye swali hilo?
a. Ni nini sasa, ulio muktadha wa kuishi maisha yasiyokuwa na wasiwasi? (Sidhani ya kwamba Yesu anatuambia twende tukalale chini ya madawati. Wakolosai 3:23-24 inapendekeza kinyume chake. Ufunguo wa maisha kamili na yasiyokuwa na wasiwasi unatokana na kufuata sheria za Mungu na kuacha mengine yote kwa Mungu).
B. Rafiki, chukulia jinsi ambavyo maisha yangekuwa kama ungeamua kuwa njia ya Mungu ndio mara zote ingekuwa ya kufurahisha kuliko kitu chochote, ya kupendeza zaidi ya chochote? Chukulia jinsi ambavyo maisha yako yangeweza kuwa na ushawishi wa juu kabisa kwenye biashara na Serikali. Kumtumikia Mungu kwa moyo wako wote ndio njia kuelekea kwenye maisha yasiyokuwa na woga/wasiwasi, maisha yenye mafanikio na ushawishi mkubwa! Je, utachagua njia ya Mungu leo?
IV. Wiki Ijayo: Ufunuo.
Somo hili limetafsiriwa kutoka katika Copr. 2009, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Somo hili pia linaweza kupatikana kutoka http://www.GoBible.org kwa lugha ya Kiingereza pamoja na lugha nyingine kama vile Kifaransa, Kijerumani, Kihispania, Kizulu, nk.
Utangulizi: Je, umewahi kutafakari juu ya maisha yako? Yana mwelekeo gani? Ungependa yawe na mwelekeo gani? Pamoja na kazi zetu, luninga, mtandao, watoto, kazi za nyumbani, na utume/ujumbe, ni rahisi kujishughulisha na “masuala ya haraka” kwa muda wa siku nzima. Tupatapo muda wa kupumzika, tunautumia kwenye kitu kingine zaidi ya kukaa na kutafakari tu. Huenda tafakari ni kitu kinachofananishwa na yoga tu, kwa jinsi tunavyojihusisha, na si sehemu ya maisha yetu. Hebu tuchukue wasaa na kutafakari, kupitia kwenye maaandiko ya Biblia, kile inachomaanisha kuishi. Hebu na tuangalie malengo aliyonayo Mungu kwa ajili yako!
I. Kipofu na Anayeona
A. Katika Yohana 9, Yesu anamponya kipofu. Hiyo iliamsha mtafaruku kwa viongozi wa dini. Hebu tuangalie kisa hicho mwishoni mwa Yohana 9. Soma Yohana 9:39-41. Yesu anasema kuwa amekuja ulimwenguni humu kwa hukumu. Je, Yesu alikuja ulimwenguni kutuhukumu? (Soma Yohana 3:17-18. Yesu alikuja kuuokoa ulimwengu).
1. Kama Yesu hakuja kuuhukumu ulimwengu, je, ni aina gani ya hukumu ambayo Yesu anaiongelea katika Yohana 9:39? (Tunajua ya kwamba Yesu alikuja kufa kwa ajili ya dhambi zetu. Kwa hiyo, hukumu ni lazima, angalao kwa kiwango fulani iwe juu yake).
2. Ni aina gani ya hukumu itakayofanya vipofu waone na wale wanaoona kuwa vipofu? (Mungu aliye na nia ya kutuponya, Mungu aliye na nia ya kufa kwa ajili yetu, Mungu ambaye anaonyesha huruma kwetu hufungua macho yetu kuhusu asili ya Mungu. Mwovu ambaye analeta upofu, na anayejeruhi na kuua, Mungu hufungua macho yetu kuhusu asili ya pambano kati ya wema na uovu).
3. Ikiwa sasa tumeshamwona Yesu, je, tunahitajika kufanya nini? (Yesu anafundisha kwamba mara tunapoelewa masuala ya kiroho, basi tuna uamuzi wa kufanya ili kuzuia hatia- na hukumu).
B. Soma Yohana 10:1-2. Kama ningekuwa natizama kwenye nyumba ya jirani yangu, na nikaona mtu fulani akiingia kwenye nyumba hiyo kupitia dirisha lililo nyuma ya nyumba, je, nifikirie juu ya kitu gani? (Huyu ni mtu asiye na ufunguo. Huyu ni mtu asiye na mamlaka husika).
1. Ni nini malengo ya nyumba yenye mlango na kitasa? Lengo la zizi la kondoo na lango ni nini? (Ni kulinda viumbe vinavyoishi humo, kuhifadhi watu wanaohusika ndani na wasiohusika nje).
1. Je, hili lina uhusiano gani na mazungumzo ya Yesu juu ya upofu? (Yesu anasema kuwa Mafarisayo ni vipofu-au angalao basi wanatenda/wanajifanya kuwa wao ni vipofu. Yesu anatuambia kuwa kuna ukweli ulio dhahiri katika maisha-kama vile ukweli kuhusu milango-kwa wale walio na nia ya kutizama).
A. Soma Yohana 10:3-6. Je, u mbele ya wanafunzi wa Yesu kimtizamo hapa? Naelewa kile ambacho Yesu anasema kuhusu zizi la kondoo-ambacho tunaweza kulinganisha na majumbani mwetu-lakini je, tunalitumia vipi hili katika maisha yetu? (Hebu tuendelee kusoma).
B. Soma Yohana 10:7. Sasa tunaelekea pahala fulani. Kama Yesu ndiye lango, je, zizi ni nini na kondoo ni akina nani? (Nadhani sisi ndio kondoo. Zizi lazima liwe ulinzi wa maisha yetu. Yesu huruhusu watu sahihi kuingia zizini na kuwaweka wasiostahili nje ya zizi.
C. Soma Yohana 10:8-9. Wawezaje kulitumia hili maishani? (Kama Yesu ndiye lango la kuingilia lililoidhinishwa, na malango mengine yote ya kuingilia yanatumiwa na watu wenye kuleta madhara, hii humaanisha kwamba Yesu ana njia za kulinda na kuwezesha/kufanikisha maisha yetu. Ni kama nyumba salama iliyo na lango la kuingilia linaloangaliwa/lindwa.
D. Soma Yohana 10:10. Kama ningesema kuwa ningeweza kukupatia “maisha kamili,” ungeelewa kuwa hiyo inamaanisha nini?
1. Yesu amekuwa akiongea nasi kuhusu njia na ulinzi, je, maisha kamili yanahusianaje na hilo? (Kama unaishi maisha sawasawa na mafundisho ya Mungu (Yeye ndiye lango pekee kwa kile unachokiruhusu kupita kupitia kwenye lango hilo) una maisha yaliyo makamilifu).
a. Je, hii ni kweli? Kuna kila aina ya programu za kwenye luninga zinazonifundisha kwamba maisha makamilifu na yenye furaha yanahusisha vitu vingine zaidi ya vile vilivyvothibitishwa na Mungu. Je, kuna ukweli mwingine?
b. Ni nini juu ya watu ambao wanaamua kwamba wataishi kama vile wanavyotaka sasa na watamrudia Mungu baadaye? Je, kuna ukweli wowote juu ya hilo?
E. Soma Yohana 10:11-13. Kwa nini mtu anayelipwa/aliyeajiriwa hafanyi kazi nzuri? Je, sisi sote si “waajiriwa” pale inapokuja kwenye kazi zetu? (Walioajiriwa huangalia vitu kimantiki-kupoteza maisha yake hakuwezi linganishwa na mshahara wake. Kama akiyatoa maisha yake, atakuwa na kitu gani hapo sasa?).
1. Ni nini hoja ya Yesu kwa ajili ya maisha yetu? (Yesu hafanyi hili kwa ajili ya kupata pesa. Alionyesha kwamba alitujali kwa kuyatoa maisha yake kwa ajili yetu).
2. Hili lina nini cha kufanya nasi kuwa na wakati mzuri sasa kwa kutenda yale mambo ya kufurahisha tunayoyaona kwenye luninga? (Mambo “yote mazuri” yaonekanayo kwenye luninga huhusisha uajiriwa. Njia ya ulimwengu ni kuamua kile kilicho bora kwa “namba moja.” Misukumo inapokuja, wengine huishia kuumia/kupata mateso/mahangaiko.
3. Ni nini hoja ya msingi ya kiroho inayoweza kuonekana hapa? (Kama tutatizama, na kutokuwa vipofu, tutaona ya kwamba maelekezo ya Mungu kwa ajili ya maisha yetu yanabubujika kutoka kwenye upendo ulio mkubwa kiasi kwamba yu tayari kuyatoa maisha yake kwa ajili yetu. Hakuna hata mtu mmoja anayetoa “ukweli” unaodhihirishwa na programu ya luninga iliyo maarufu inajali kile kitakachotutokea. Wanajalisha juu ya kupata fedha kutokana na program hizo. Haijalishi ni masomo gani tunayojifunza kutokana na program hizo, hiyo siyo wajibu wao-walao hivyo ndivyo wanavyoliangalia suala hilo.
F. Soma Yohana 10:14-18. Je, Yesu analazimishwa kufa kwa ajili yetu? (Hapana! Tazama hoja ambayo Yesu anaifanya. Aliyatoa maisha yake kwa ajili yako. Kwa nini angekupa maelekezo ambayo yanaweza kukuangamiza? Maelekezo ambayo yangeweza kuwa na ukomo wa kuishi maisha makamilifu? Asingeweza. Lakini, mbwa mwitu na waajiriwa hawakujali. Sheria zao za kimaisha haziakisi hilo.
G. Kama ungeweza kutafakari kwa kitambo kifupi juu ya maisha yako na jinsi ambavyo ungeishi, je, uamuzi wako wa kichoyo ungekuwa upi? (Uamuzi wa kumfuata yule aliyekuwa na nia ya kufa kwa ajili yako! Kama ungetaka kufanya kile kilichokuwa bora kwa ajili yako, basi ungekataa ushauri wa wale ambao maslahi yao ni kwa ajili yao-siyo kwako.
1. Je, hitimisho hili lina ukomo kwa masuala ya kiroho? (Hapana! Yesu alitumia mpango-kutunza kondoo-kama mfano wake. Ushauri huu unahusika katika nyanja zote za maisha kama tutakavyoona katika sehemu inayofuata).
II. Maisha Yenye Ushawishi wa Kweli
A. Utakumbuka ya kwamba wakati Paulo alipokuwa akihubiri injili, alifungwa na alikata rufaa Roma. Akiwa kama mfungwa, aliwekwa kwenye mashua pamoja na kundi la wafungwa wengine wakielekea Roma.
B. Soma Matendo 27:10-12. “Nyanja zipi za ushawishi” zinahusishwa katika kisa hiki? (Tunaye Paulo anayemwakilisha Mungu na maslahi ya kiroho. Tunao wamiliki wa mashua wanaowakilisha maslahi ya kibiashara. Tunaye jemadari anayeiwakilisha Serikali.
1. Kama ungekuwa Paulo, na ungetaka maisha yako yawe na ushawishi kwenye biashara na Serikali ungedhani juu ya kitu gani kama kikwazo cha mafanikio katika wasaa huu? (Yeye ni mfungwa!).
a. Je, ushauri wa Paulo umezingatiwa? (Hapana).
C. Soma Matendo 27:14-20. Ni nini ambacho hakikufanya kazi kuhifadhi maslahi ya biashara na ya Serikali? (Nyenzo zao wenyewe).
D. Soma Matendo 27:21-26. Mungu anatendaje kazi kupitia kwa Paulo kushawishi biashara na Serikali? Je, ni kitu gani ambacho Paulo hakukifanya? (Paulo hakusema kuwa “Mungu ameleta hukumu kwenu”. Badala yake malaika alimjia Paulo na kumpa suluhisho la tatizo. Paulo alikumbushia biashara na Serikali ambapo hapo awali alikuwa amewapa ushauri sahihi).
1. Kama unataka kushawishi juu ya biashara na Serikali, je, unahitaji kuwa na silaha za aina gani? (Malaika za Mungu! Roho Mtakatifu. Udhibiti wa Mungu wa Matukio).
E. Soma Matendo 27: 30-32. Ni nani sasa anayeshikilia juu ya operesheni ya biashara na Serikali? (Mtu wa Mungu, Paulo).
1. Ilichukua muda gani kubadilisha hali ya kutofuata ushauri wa Paulo na kumfuata Paulo?
F. Soma Matendo 28: 1-4. Ni siku ya aina gani aliyonayo Paulo hapa? Ulimwengu unamwona Paulo kuwa ni mtu wa aina gani?
G. Soma Matendo 28:5-6. Ni nini mtazamo wa ulimwengu dhidi ya Paulo sasa? Ilichukua muda gani kufanya badiliko hili?
H. Soma Matendo 28:7-9. Paulo sasa anakumbana na Serikali ya Malta. Ni aina gani ya ushawishi ambao Paulo anaupa msukumo kwenye uongozi wa Serikali?
I. Ni somo gani ambalo kisa hiki kinatufundisha kuhusu kufuata sheria za Yesu tunapojihusianisha na biashara pamoja na Serikali?
III. Kutokuwa na Woga/Wasiwasi
A. Soma Luka 12:22-26. Angalia hususani fungu la 25. Jibu lake ni nini?
1. Ni vipi kama ningeuliza swali hilo tofauti: ni nani, kwa kudhibiti (mlo, uvutaji sigara, mazoezi, kuendesha gari, hasira) yake, anaweza kuongeza saa moja katika maisha yake? Ni wangapi kati yenu mngejibu “ndiyo” kwenye swali hilo?
a. Ni nini sasa, ulio muktadha wa kuishi maisha yasiyokuwa na wasiwasi? (Sidhani ya kwamba Yesu anatuambia twende tukalale chini ya madawati. Wakolosai 3:23-24 inapendekeza kinyume chake. Ufunguo wa maisha kamili na yasiyokuwa na wasiwasi unatokana na kufuata sheria za Mungu na kuacha mengine yote kwa Mungu).
B. Rafiki, chukulia jinsi ambavyo maisha yangekuwa kama ungeamua kuwa njia ya Mungu ndio mara zote ingekuwa ya kufurahisha kuliko kitu chochote, ya kupendeza zaidi ya chochote? Chukulia jinsi ambavyo maisha yako yangeweza kuwa na ushawishi wa juu kabisa kwenye biashara na Serikali. Kumtumikia Mungu kwa moyo wako wote ndio njia kuelekea kwenye maisha yasiyokuwa na woga/wasiwasi, maisha yenye mafanikio na ushawishi mkubwa! Je, utachagua njia ya Mungu leo?
IV. Wiki Ijayo: Ufunuo.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Lesoni Somo la 3: Tumaini
(Zaburi 33, 39, 43, 71 & 146, 1 Petro 1)
Somo hili la lesoni limetafsiriwa kutoka Corp. 2009, Bruce N. Cameron J. D. Aidha, somo hili pia linaweza kupatikana kutoka www.GoBible.org kwa lugha ya Kiingereza.
Utangulizi: Je unahisi matumaini yako yanapotea? Nilipokuwa katika umri wa miaka 20 na kitu niliamini kwamba Marekani ilikuwa ikielekea kwenye machweo. Kwa nini isiwe hivyo? Mataifa yote huinuka na kuanguka, kwa nini sisi isiwe hivyo? Kisha, Ronald. Reagan alichaguliwa rais na mtazamo wangu ulibadilishwa kabisa. Nikapata matumaini katika siku zijazo za Marekani. Sasa Marekani na dunia kwa ujumla yaonekana ya kwamba vinaingia (inaingia) katika nyakati ngumu. Je ni kwa jinsi gani mkristo atazame mambo haya? Wote twaishi katika nchi tofauti, je tumaini letu la siku zijazo linategemea matumaini ya mataifa yetu.
Hebu uwe mkweli na nafsi yako, je ungependa ukae katika giza, nyumba ya upweke, ukishikilia tumaini la kiroho tu? Hebu na tutazame katika mwanga wa Biblia na kuona aina gani ya tumaini Mungu huwapa wafuasi wake!
I. Tumaini au msaada?
A. Zaburi 146:5. endapo nikikupatia tumaini au msaada ni kipi utachagua?
1. Je hivyo viwili ni tofauti?
2. Ni kwa jinsi gani fungu hili linaonyesha kwamba viwili vyote hivi hufanya kazi pamoja? (Tumaini hilo katika Mungu hutupa msaada halisi.)
B. Soma Zaburi 146:6. kwa nini mtunga Zaburi anataja sifa za Mungu mara baada ya kuzungumzia wale ambao tumaini na msaada wao ni katika Mungu? (Hii huthibitsha kuwa Mungu anaweza kutenda. Kama Mungu anaweza kuumba mbingu na nchi, anaweza kutatua matatizo yako madogo!)
C. Soma Zaburi 146:7. tazama sentensi ya kwanza. Ni kwa jinsi gani sehemu ya kwanza ya fungu hili ni tofauti na sehemu ya mwisho wa fungu hilo? (Mungu anatoa haki na anatoa chakula!)
1. Ni kwa jinsi gani Mungu analifanya hilo? (Hili huenda likahusisha msaada wako)
2. Baada ya kunithibitishia haki, na sasa natambua ya kuwa Mungu anawaachia wafungwa! Je, haki hiyo ikoje? (Kiashirio ni kwamba walifungwa kimakosa. Mungu hutoa haki halisi katikati ya uonevu wa mwanadamu.)
D. Soma 146:8. Je wafikiri tunazungumzia wale ambao ni vipofu haswa? (Twafahamu ya kwamba Yesu alimponya kipofu (Mathayo 9:27-30), lakini uzungumziaji wa wale “walioinama” hunifanya niamini ya kuwa fungu hili linazungumzia pia wale ambao mizigo yao ni mizito. Hawa ni wale ambao wamekatishwa tamaa na mazingira kiasi kwamba hawawezi kuona tumaini lolote mbele yao).
1. Je, inamaanisha nini “kuona” masuala yajayo?
2. Je, ni kwa nini fungu linaongezea kuwa, jambo lenye kuonekana kama kutohusiana, kiashirio kwamba Mungu huwapenda wenye haki? (Mungu ana mvuto kwa wale wanaomheshimu. Utiifu husaidia ufahamu mzuri wa siku zijazo).
E. Soma Zaburi 146:9. Je, wajane, wasio washiriki na yatima wana kitu gani kwa ujumla? (Ni wale walio wanyonge katika jamii. Mungu ana mvuto kwa wanyonge na huingilia kati kuwasaidia dhidi ya waovu).
F. Je, ni tumaini la aina gani ambalo tunalipata kwenye haya mafungu kutoka Zaburi 146? (Tumaini la msaada wa dhati! Mungu anaweza kusaidia. Anasaidia kwa haki na kwa chakula. Anasaidia wenye msongo. Anawasaidia wale wasio na “nguvu” katika dunia hii. Anawatafuta wale wanaomtii).
II. Tumaini Makini
A. Soma Zaburi 33:18-19. Serikali huonekana kuweka vinyaka uso (kamera) nyingi ili kuweza kuchukua matukio ya wananchi wake. Je, unapendelea/unafurahia pale Serikali inapoweka “jicho lake” kwako? Na je, ni vipi kuhusu Mungu anapoweka jicho lake kwako?
1. Tulikuwa na marafiki waliokuwa na wana wa kiume watatu. Baba alikuwa nadhifu, lakini alikuwa mtu mwenye kuwa mbali kifikra. Mkewe anakumbuka jinsi jinsi alivyomuacha mumewe kwenye sehemu ya maduka makubwa “kumwangalia” mtoto wao mdogo kwenye kiti cha kusukuma. “Baba” akavutiwa na kitu kingine na hivyo akamwacha mtoto peke yake pale kwenye duka kubwa. Pale “mama” aliporudi na kumkuta mtoto peke yake pale madukani-kwa hakika kilikuwa kituko kilichosimuliwa mara nyingi! Je, ni nini kinachokujia/unachofikiria pale Mungu anapokuhakikishia kwamba anakuangalia? (Habari njema ni kwamba Mungu anafahamu kile ninachopitia. Anakuwepo pale ninapokumbana na matatizo na ananipenda).
B. Soma Zaburi 33:20-21. Kwa nini fungu linatumia neno “ngojea?” (Inaonyesha kwamba si mara zote Mungu anatekeleza ratiba zetu).
C. Soma Zaburi 33:22. Kwa nini unafikiri mtunga Zaburi anaelezea upendo wa Mungu kama “usioshindwa” katika muktadha huu? (Mungu ni msaada wetu na ngao yetu. Mara nyingine, yaweza kuonekana kuwa msaada na ngao havipo-hivyo kuwa sababu ya kungojea kwetu na tumaini letu. Mwandishi wa Zaburi anatuambia ya kwamba upendo wa Mungu haushindwi kutuhakikishia ya kwamba msaada unakuja).
III. Tumaini kwa Tabia Zetu
A. Soma Zaburi 39:7-8. nilipokuwa mdogo walimu wangu walinifundisha ya kwamba Mungu angenisamehe dhambi zangu, lakini ingenipasa kutaabikia matokeo ya dhambi. Ni tumaini la aina gani linaloongelewa katika mafungu haya?(Tunaweza kutumaini tu ya kwamba kiwango chetu kamili cha dhambi zetu hakitotufedhehesha. Mungu kwa ukarimu wake mara nyingine ametukinga dhidi ya matokeo kamili, yenye kufedhehesha ya dhambi zetu.)
B. Soma Zaburi 39:10-11. Je Mungu hutuepushia matokeo ya dhambi zetu? (Mungu huweza kutukinga dhidi ya kejeli za wadhambi wenzetu ikiwa ni matokeo ya dhambi zetu, lakini Mungu hutuadabisha kwa manufaa yetu wenyewe.)
IV. Tumaini katika hali yenye kukatisha tamaa
A. Soma Zaburi 43:5. Je waelewa ni nini mtunga Zaburi anasema? Je, umewahi kupitia nyakati ambapo moyo wako umenyong’onyea na unahisi na kukosa furaha na mwenye kusumbuliwa?
B. Ni nini tumaini letu katika nyakati hizo? (Ya kwamba Mungu atatuokoa katika kukata kwetu tama na huzuni zetu. Pengine huenda kumsifu Bwana ni mojawapo ya mwanzo wa suluhisho. Binafsi kumsifu Mungu huhuisha nafsi yangu.)
V. Tumaini katika umri mkubwa
A. Soma Zaburi 71:9. Je ni kwa jinsi gain tumaini hubadilika kwa kadiri uzee unapokuja?
1. Fikiria kwamba ungekuwa unategemea wengine kwa mahitaji yako mengi katika maisha yako. Ni kwa jinsi gani hiyo ingeathiri mtazamo wako?
B. Soma Zaburi 71:10-12. Inaonekana kwamba mfalme Daudi ndiyo mwandishi wa hili (komentari zinatofautiana katiaka jambo hili), na anahofu na maadui zake wa kisiasa. Je, inaweza kuwa hii ni hofu tu ya mfalme mzee, au inawezekana jambo hili linaweza kutokea hata kwa wafanyakazi wazee?
1. Je inawezekana jambo hili huambatana na umri mkubwa?
2. Je bado tuna tumaini hata katika umri mkubwa? Na ni nini ni tumaini letu? (tumaini letu lippo katika Bwana, na nia yake ya kutuokoa mapema.)
VI. Tumaini katika wokovu
A. Mpaka sasa tumekuwa tukijifunza nini Biblia kuhusu tumaini katika Bwana kwa msaada wa hakika na thabiti katika maisha yetu.
B. Soma Tito 1:1-3. ni nini tumaini la maisha yetu katika muktadha wa maisha yetu ya kikristo. (Ya kwamba tutapata uzima wa milele.)
1. Ni katika nini tumaini letu la maisha ya milele hujengwa? (Kabla ya mwanzo wa wakati Mungu aliweka ahadi kuwapa wanadamu maisha ya milele. Yesu alifaulu katika ahadi hiyo.)
C. Soma Petro 1:3-5. Mbali na uzima wa milele, ni tumaini gani lingine tulilo nalo kuhusu mbingu? (Ya kwamba kutakuwa na urithi usioharibika.)
1. Na kwa wakati uliopo nini kinaendelea kwetu? (1 Petro 1:5 hutuambia kwamba kupitia amani tunalindwa na nguvu za Mungu mpaka wokovu wetu ufike! Pamoja na matatizo tuliyonayo tuna tumaini la uzima wa milele.)
VII. Utukufu na tumaini
A. Tu wenye baraka kiasi gani! Tunaweza tukawa na tumaini katika Bwana kwa msaada kwa sasa na pia tuna tumaini kwa uzima wa milele wa utukufu. Hii yote huwezekana kupitia Yesu. Tufanye nini kwa sasa? (Soma 1 Yohana 3:2-3. tunajitakasa.)
1. Humaanisha nini sisi kujitakasa? Ni Mungu tu ndiye mtakatifu. (Tunapaswa kujibidisha, kwa uweza wa roho mtakatifu, kwa fikra sahihi na maisha sahihi.)
B. Rafiki habari gani kwako? Je unapitia matatizo katika maisha yako? Mungu anakupatia matumaini na msaada hapa duniani na sasa – katika ratiba yake, na si yako. Muhimu zaidi, Mungu hutupa tumaini kwa maisha ya milele. Je, unaishi kama mtu mwenye matumaini kwa Mungu?
VIII. Wiki ijayo: Uzima.
Somo hili limetafsiriwa na kuandaliwa na
Masatu Mgune
Somo hili la lesoni limetafsiriwa kutoka Corp. 2009, Bruce N. Cameron J. D. Aidha, somo hili pia linaweza kupatikana kutoka www.GoBible.org kwa lugha ya Kiingereza.
Utangulizi: Je unahisi matumaini yako yanapotea? Nilipokuwa katika umri wa miaka 20 na kitu niliamini kwamba Marekani ilikuwa ikielekea kwenye machweo. Kwa nini isiwe hivyo? Mataifa yote huinuka na kuanguka, kwa nini sisi isiwe hivyo? Kisha, Ronald. Reagan alichaguliwa rais na mtazamo wangu ulibadilishwa kabisa. Nikapata matumaini katika siku zijazo za Marekani. Sasa Marekani na dunia kwa ujumla yaonekana ya kwamba vinaingia (inaingia) katika nyakati ngumu. Je ni kwa jinsi gani mkristo atazame mambo haya? Wote twaishi katika nchi tofauti, je tumaini letu la siku zijazo linategemea matumaini ya mataifa yetu.
Hebu uwe mkweli na nafsi yako, je ungependa ukae katika giza, nyumba ya upweke, ukishikilia tumaini la kiroho tu? Hebu na tutazame katika mwanga wa Biblia na kuona aina gani ya tumaini Mungu huwapa wafuasi wake!
I. Tumaini au msaada?
A. Zaburi 146:5. endapo nikikupatia tumaini au msaada ni kipi utachagua?
1. Je hivyo viwili ni tofauti?
2. Ni kwa jinsi gani fungu hili linaonyesha kwamba viwili vyote hivi hufanya kazi pamoja? (Tumaini hilo katika Mungu hutupa msaada halisi.)
B. Soma Zaburi 146:6. kwa nini mtunga Zaburi anataja sifa za Mungu mara baada ya kuzungumzia wale ambao tumaini na msaada wao ni katika Mungu? (Hii huthibitsha kuwa Mungu anaweza kutenda. Kama Mungu anaweza kuumba mbingu na nchi, anaweza kutatua matatizo yako madogo!)
C. Soma Zaburi 146:7. tazama sentensi ya kwanza. Ni kwa jinsi gani sehemu ya kwanza ya fungu hili ni tofauti na sehemu ya mwisho wa fungu hilo? (Mungu anatoa haki na anatoa chakula!)
1. Ni kwa jinsi gani Mungu analifanya hilo? (Hili huenda likahusisha msaada wako)
2. Baada ya kunithibitishia haki, na sasa natambua ya kuwa Mungu anawaachia wafungwa! Je, haki hiyo ikoje? (Kiashirio ni kwamba walifungwa kimakosa. Mungu hutoa haki halisi katikati ya uonevu wa mwanadamu.)
D. Soma 146:8. Je wafikiri tunazungumzia wale ambao ni vipofu haswa? (Twafahamu ya kwamba Yesu alimponya kipofu (Mathayo 9:27-30), lakini uzungumziaji wa wale “walioinama” hunifanya niamini ya kuwa fungu hili linazungumzia pia wale ambao mizigo yao ni mizito. Hawa ni wale ambao wamekatishwa tamaa na mazingira kiasi kwamba hawawezi kuona tumaini lolote mbele yao).
1. Je, inamaanisha nini “kuona” masuala yajayo?
2. Je, ni kwa nini fungu linaongezea kuwa, jambo lenye kuonekana kama kutohusiana, kiashirio kwamba Mungu huwapenda wenye haki? (Mungu ana mvuto kwa wale wanaomheshimu. Utiifu husaidia ufahamu mzuri wa siku zijazo).
E. Soma Zaburi 146:9. Je, wajane, wasio washiriki na yatima wana kitu gani kwa ujumla? (Ni wale walio wanyonge katika jamii. Mungu ana mvuto kwa wanyonge na huingilia kati kuwasaidia dhidi ya waovu).
F. Je, ni tumaini la aina gani ambalo tunalipata kwenye haya mafungu kutoka Zaburi 146? (Tumaini la msaada wa dhati! Mungu anaweza kusaidia. Anasaidia kwa haki na kwa chakula. Anasaidia wenye msongo. Anawasaidia wale wasio na “nguvu” katika dunia hii. Anawatafuta wale wanaomtii).
II. Tumaini Makini
A. Soma Zaburi 33:18-19. Serikali huonekana kuweka vinyaka uso (kamera) nyingi ili kuweza kuchukua matukio ya wananchi wake. Je, unapendelea/unafurahia pale Serikali inapoweka “jicho lake” kwako? Na je, ni vipi kuhusu Mungu anapoweka jicho lake kwako?
1. Tulikuwa na marafiki waliokuwa na wana wa kiume watatu. Baba alikuwa nadhifu, lakini alikuwa mtu mwenye kuwa mbali kifikra. Mkewe anakumbuka jinsi jinsi alivyomuacha mumewe kwenye sehemu ya maduka makubwa “kumwangalia” mtoto wao mdogo kwenye kiti cha kusukuma. “Baba” akavutiwa na kitu kingine na hivyo akamwacha mtoto peke yake pale kwenye duka kubwa. Pale “mama” aliporudi na kumkuta mtoto peke yake pale madukani-kwa hakika kilikuwa kituko kilichosimuliwa mara nyingi! Je, ni nini kinachokujia/unachofikiria pale Mungu anapokuhakikishia kwamba anakuangalia? (Habari njema ni kwamba Mungu anafahamu kile ninachopitia. Anakuwepo pale ninapokumbana na matatizo na ananipenda).
B. Soma Zaburi 33:20-21. Kwa nini fungu linatumia neno “ngojea?” (Inaonyesha kwamba si mara zote Mungu anatekeleza ratiba zetu).
C. Soma Zaburi 33:22. Kwa nini unafikiri mtunga Zaburi anaelezea upendo wa Mungu kama “usioshindwa” katika muktadha huu? (Mungu ni msaada wetu na ngao yetu. Mara nyingine, yaweza kuonekana kuwa msaada na ngao havipo-hivyo kuwa sababu ya kungojea kwetu na tumaini letu. Mwandishi wa Zaburi anatuambia ya kwamba upendo wa Mungu haushindwi kutuhakikishia ya kwamba msaada unakuja).
III. Tumaini kwa Tabia Zetu
A. Soma Zaburi 39:7-8. nilipokuwa mdogo walimu wangu walinifundisha ya kwamba Mungu angenisamehe dhambi zangu, lakini ingenipasa kutaabikia matokeo ya dhambi. Ni tumaini la aina gani linaloongelewa katika mafungu haya?(Tunaweza kutumaini tu ya kwamba kiwango chetu kamili cha dhambi zetu hakitotufedhehesha. Mungu kwa ukarimu wake mara nyingine ametukinga dhidi ya matokeo kamili, yenye kufedhehesha ya dhambi zetu.)
B. Soma Zaburi 39:10-11. Je Mungu hutuepushia matokeo ya dhambi zetu? (Mungu huweza kutukinga dhidi ya kejeli za wadhambi wenzetu ikiwa ni matokeo ya dhambi zetu, lakini Mungu hutuadabisha kwa manufaa yetu wenyewe.)
IV. Tumaini katika hali yenye kukatisha tamaa
A. Soma Zaburi 43:5. Je waelewa ni nini mtunga Zaburi anasema? Je, umewahi kupitia nyakati ambapo moyo wako umenyong’onyea na unahisi na kukosa furaha na mwenye kusumbuliwa?
B. Ni nini tumaini letu katika nyakati hizo? (Ya kwamba Mungu atatuokoa katika kukata kwetu tama na huzuni zetu. Pengine huenda kumsifu Bwana ni mojawapo ya mwanzo wa suluhisho. Binafsi kumsifu Mungu huhuisha nafsi yangu.)
V. Tumaini katika umri mkubwa
A. Soma Zaburi 71:9. Je ni kwa jinsi gain tumaini hubadilika kwa kadiri uzee unapokuja?
1. Fikiria kwamba ungekuwa unategemea wengine kwa mahitaji yako mengi katika maisha yako. Ni kwa jinsi gani hiyo ingeathiri mtazamo wako?
B. Soma Zaburi 71:10-12. Inaonekana kwamba mfalme Daudi ndiyo mwandishi wa hili (komentari zinatofautiana katiaka jambo hili), na anahofu na maadui zake wa kisiasa. Je, inaweza kuwa hii ni hofu tu ya mfalme mzee, au inawezekana jambo hili linaweza kutokea hata kwa wafanyakazi wazee?
1. Je inawezekana jambo hili huambatana na umri mkubwa?
2. Je bado tuna tumaini hata katika umri mkubwa? Na ni nini ni tumaini letu? (tumaini letu lippo katika Bwana, na nia yake ya kutuokoa mapema.)
VI. Tumaini katika wokovu
A. Mpaka sasa tumekuwa tukijifunza nini Biblia kuhusu tumaini katika Bwana kwa msaada wa hakika na thabiti katika maisha yetu.
B. Soma Tito 1:1-3. ni nini tumaini la maisha yetu katika muktadha wa maisha yetu ya kikristo. (Ya kwamba tutapata uzima wa milele.)
1. Ni katika nini tumaini letu la maisha ya milele hujengwa? (Kabla ya mwanzo wa wakati Mungu aliweka ahadi kuwapa wanadamu maisha ya milele. Yesu alifaulu katika ahadi hiyo.)
C. Soma Petro 1:3-5. Mbali na uzima wa milele, ni tumaini gani lingine tulilo nalo kuhusu mbingu? (Ya kwamba kutakuwa na urithi usioharibika.)
1. Na kwa wakati uliopo nini kinaendelea kwetu? (1 Petro 1:5 hutuambia kwamba kupitia amani tunalindwa na nguvu za Mungu mpaka wokovu wetu ufike! Pamoja na matatizo tuliyonayo tuna tumaini la uzima wa milele.)
VII. Utukufu na tumaini
A. Tu wenye baraka kiasi gani! Tunaweza tukawa na tumaini katika Bwana kwa msaada kwa sasa na pia tuna tumaini kwa uzima wa milele wa utukufu. Hii yote huwezekana kupitia Yesu. Tufanye nini kwa sasa? (Soma 1 Yohana 3:2-3. tunajitakasa.)
1. Humaanisha nini sisi kujitakasa? Ni Mungu tu ndiye mtakatifu. (Tunapaswa kujibidisha, kwa uweza wa roho mtakatifu, kwa fikra sahihi na maisha sahihi.)
B. Rafiki habari gani kwako? Je unapitia matatizo katika maisha yako? Mungu anakupatia matumaini na msaada hapa duniani na sasa – katika ratiba yake, na si yako. Muhimu zaidi, Mungu hutupa tumaini kwa maisha ya milele. Je, unaishi kama mtu mwenye matumaini kwa Mungu?
VIII. Wiki ijayo: Uzima.
Somo hili limetafsiriwa na kuandaliwa na
Masatu Mgune
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Last Days Message
Beloved, Jesus is truly coming back soon!!
Enjoy the message from very humble lips.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Uchambuzi lesoni ya 2: Imani
Somo hili la lesoni limetafsiriwa kutoka Corp. 2009, Bruce N. Cameron J. D. Aidha, somo hili pia linaweza kupatikana kutoka www.GoBible.org kwa lugha ya Kiingereza.
Somo la 2: Imani
Waebrania 11, Zaburi 19, Yohana 20, 1 Petro 1, Luka 8
Utangulizi: Tunaambiwa ya kwamba imani siyo ushawishi wa kimantiki. Je, unakubaliana na hili? Chukulia ya kwamba wanafunzi wa Yesu waliamini Yesu angerudi wakati wa uhai wao. (Tazama 1 Wathesalonike 4:15-18). Sasa ni takriban miaka 2,000 baadaye. Nimewasubiria watu ambao wamekuwa wakichelewa, na nimekuwa nikichelewa. Kwa juu habari hiyo inaonkana kuwa kituko. Umewahi kuamini kitu chochote ambacho kamwe hakikuleta mantiki? Kitu ambacho hakina chembe ya ushahidi? Haya tunayaita kuwa ushirikina. Biblia inasema nini juu ya imani? Je, ni zaidi ya ushahidi? Je, tutarajie kusubiria maelfu ya miaka bila kuwa na uthibitisho vyovyote iwavyo kwamba sisi siyo wapumbavu? Au, imani ina mzizi wa kishuhuda ambao twaweza kuujenga hapo? Hebu tuingie kwenye Biblia ili tuweze kubaini!
I. Hakuna Ushahidi?
A. Soma Waebrania 11:1. Fungu hili linasema kuwa ni nini ambacho ni msingi wa kiushahidi wa imani yetu? (Matumaini yetu na vitu tusivyoviona.)
1. Mimi siyo mtaalam wa Kiyunani, lakini Waebrania 11:1 kwa Kiyunani yaelekea kusema juu ya imani kuwa ni “ushahidi usioonekana”. Je, hiyo yamaanisha kuwa watu ambao husema kuwa imani siyo ushawishi wenye vielelezo wako sahihi?
a. Au, ina maana kuwa kwa hakika kuna ushahidi wa imani, ni vile tu sisi siyo “mashahidi” kwa imani hiyo?
B. Soma Waebrania 11:3. Je, tu mashahidi katika hili? (Hapana).
1. Je, kuna kitu ambacho chaweza kuonekana hapa? (Ndiyo. Tunaona ulimwengu.)
2. Je, ni kweli kuwa ushahidi haupo katika imani yetu ya kwamba Mungu alifanya ulimwengu kwa amri yake? (Hatukuona Mungu akitenda hilo. “Amri” iliyotamkwa kwa maneno isingeweza kuonekana hata kama tungekuwa tunaangalia tendo hilo.)
C. Soma Zaburi 19:1-3. Je, Daudi na mwandishi wa Waebrania wana mtizamo tofauti?
1. Waebrania 11:3 inatuambia ya kwamba ni kwa imani pekee tunaamini kuwa Mungu aliumba ulimwengu. Mfalme Daudi anasema kuwa mbingu zinatoa kauli za uthibitisho (“zauhubiri,” “laitangaza”) juu ya Mungu wetu Muumbaji. Kila mmoja husikia na anaweza kuelewa ujumbe huu. Upi kati ya ujumbe wa Daudi na wa Waebrania una hoja nzuri zaidi?
D. Angalia mazingira yanayokuzunguka. Ushahidi unaouona kila siku unakuambia nini juu ya kama ulimwengu uliibuka au kama ulikuwa na Mbunifu Mahiri?
1. Je, ni kwa jinsi gani bustani yako inastawi bila juhudi za kibinadamu?
2. Je, ni kwa jinsi gani nyumba yako inastawi bila juhudi za kibinadamu?
3. Je, gari lako linadumu vipi bila juhudi za kibinadamu?
4. Je, kazi yako inafanikiwa vipi bila juhudi za kibinadamu? (Sijui kuhusu wewe, lakini eneo langu, nyumba yangu, gari langu na kazi yangu mara zote huhitaji uangalizi wangu-hii ni kusema kuwa haziwezi kuendelea bila “uwezo wa akili ya nje”. Kama hakuna mwanadamu ambaye angeingilia kati, vingekoma bila kutoa matokeo.
E. Mtizamo wangu ni kwamba maelezo ya kisayansi yanayoendelea sasa kuhusu ulimwengu ni The Big Bang Theory ambapo ulimwengu ulilipuka kutoka sehemu moja katika tukio moja la mlipuko. Ni nini ushahidi wa kisayansi katika hili? (Ulimwengu unatanuka sawia katika pande zake zote).
1. Je, huu pia ni ushahidi kuwa Mungu Muumbaji wakati fulani alizungumza na ulimwengu ukatokea?
2. Wanasayansi wanaamini kuwa kiwango cha utanukaji wa ulimwengu ni wa msingi Kama ungetanuka kwa haraka sana nguvu za uvutano zingefifia na ulimwengu unge “lipuka”. Na kama ungetanuka kwa pole pole sana, nguvu za uvutano zingezidi za utanukaji na ulimwengu ungesinyaa. Je, huu ni usahidi wa tukio la bahati “bang” au ushahidi wa Mbunifu ambaye kwa hakika aliweka kiwango cha utanukaji?
F. Soma Waebrania 11:4. Je, Habili hakuwa na ushahidi wa imani yake kwa Mungu? (Alikuwa na ushahidi wote uliomzunguka. Kielelezo ni kwamba Mungu aliongea moja kwa moja na Kaini na Habili (Mwanzo 4:6)).
1. Kwa hiyo, ni nini kwa hakika kilikuwa kiini cha imani ya Habili? (Imani yake ilikuwa kwa Mungu. Imani kwa Mungu ndio kilikuwa kiini cha imani ya Habili.)
2. Tunaambiwa ya kwamba Habili angali akinena. Anasema nini kwako? Kutokana na hicho anachokisema, unajenga imani yako juu ya nini? (Kisa kifupi cha Habili (Mwanzo 4:1-10) kina kila aina ya kauli kuhusu imani. Kinatuambia ya kwamba kumkataa Mungu hutuelekeza kwenye dhambi mbaya zaidi. Pia kinatuambia kwamba kumtii Mungu yaweza isimaanishe kuwa tutakuwa na maisha manyoofu. Kinapendekeza kuwa Mungu atatushindia kadri muda uendavyo).
II. Mfano wa Kwanza wa Imani: Tomaso
A. Soma Yohana 20:19-25. Je, Tomaso alikuwa na ushahidi wowote kwamba Yesu alikuwa amefufuka? (Ndiyo. Alikuwa na ushuhuda wa kuaminika wa watu kadhaa walioshuhudia).
1. Ni aina gani ya ushahidi ambao Tomaso alikuwa akiudai (Ushahidi wa kushuhudia binafsi).
B. Soma Yohana 20:26-29. Ni aina gani ya imani ambayo Yesu anaipendekeza? (wale ambao hawajaona lakini wakaamini).
1. Je, Yesu anahitaji imani isiyokuwa na tafakari wala mantiki? (Vitu viwili. Kwanza, Yesu anampatia Tomaso kwa hakika aina ya uthibitisho alioutaka. Pili, watu “waliobarikiwa” ni wale wanaoamini kwa misingi ya ushuhuda wa wengine. Yesu hahitaji wafuasi wake kuhisi kwamba alifufuka.
III. Mfano wa Pili wa Imani: Wewe
A. Soma 1 Petro 1:3-5. Fungu la 5 linatuelekeza kwetu sisi kukingwa ngao ya “imani”. Tunakingwa dhidi ya nini? (Soma 1 Petro 1:6. Imani yetu inatukinga na ukatishwaji tamaa pale ambapo maswahibu mazito yanapotokea).
1. Angalia tena 1 Petro 1:3-5. Msingi wa imani yetu ni nini? (Ya kwamba Mungu atatupatia maisha mapya katika nchi mpya. Tumaini letu katika hili limejengwa kwenye ufufuo wa Yesu kutoka katika wafu).
B. Soma 1 Petro 1:8. Je, tu mashuhuda wa ufufuo wa Yesu? (Hapana).
C. Soma 1 Petro 1:10-12. Je, hatuna ushahidi wa ufufuo wa Yesu? (Hapana. Tuna kauli ya Petro juu ya hili. Lakini, zaidi ya hilo, tuna unabii uliotimia kumhusu Yesu. Manabii wa Agano la Kale waliongea nasi pale walipoandika unabii kumhusu Yesu).
IV. Mfano wa Tatu wa Imani: Yairo
A. Soma Luka 8:40-42.je, Yairo alikuwa na imani? Imani yake ilikuwa juu ya nini? (Imani yake (tumaini?) ilikuwa ni kwamba Yesu angemponya bintiye mgonjwa).
1. Je, imani ya Yairo haikuwa na mantiki?
B. Soma Luka 8:43-49. Je, Yairo ana ushuhuda kwamba Yesu atamsaidia? (Alikuwa na ushahidi, lakini sasa ushahidi wote ni bayana na kwamba Yesu amemwangusha).
C. Soma Luka 8:50. Je, Yairo ana imani sasa kuwa Yesu atamsaidia?
1. Kama umesena ndiyo, ushahidi huo ni nini?
D. Soma Luka 8:51-56. Hali ya imani ya waombolezaji ilikuwaje kabla ya fungu la 54?
1. Angalia fungu la 56. Ni nini kiwango cha imani ya Yairo? (Wazazi wake wakastaajabu-ambayo inaashiria kuwa Yairo hakuwa na imani ya kwamba binti yake angefufuliwa kutoka katika wafu).
E. Je, kisa hiki cha mwisho kinatufundishaa nini kuhusu imani yetu kwa Mungu na hali ya ushahidi wa imani yetu? (Kwanza, inatuonyesha kwamba hata kama ushahidi unaonyesha kuwa Mungu ametuangusha, imani yetu sharti isubirie wakati/muda muafaka wa Mungu. Pili, Yairo alikuwa na ushahidi katika nguvu za Yesu-endapo ni kwa sababu ya uponyaji wa yule mwanamke aliyemchelewesha Yesu hadi kusababisha binti yake akafariki. Kilichotakiwa kwa imani isiyoonekana kilikuwa ni kiwango cha muujiza-ufufuo!)
F. Rafiki, kuna ushahidi mwingi wa imani. Je, waweza shikilia imani yako, hata kama hauna ushahidi ulioshuhudiwa kwa macho, au kile ukionacho ni ushahidi tofauti? Kama ukisubiria, kwa imani, Yesu atakupa uzima wa milele kama ukijihisi unaanza kutia shaka tazama ulimwengu na uumbaji na ujiulize kama vitu hivi vingeweza kuwepo kwa bahati.
V. Wiki Ijayo: Tumaini
Imefasiriwa na kutumwa na Mgune Masatu.
Somo la 2: Imani
Waebrania 11, Zaburi 19, Yohana 20, 1 Petro 1, Luka 8
Utangulizi: Tunaambiwa ya kwamba imani siyo ushawishi wa kimantiki. Je, unakubaliana na hili? Chukulia ya kwamba wanafunzi wa Yesu waliamini Yesu angerudi wakati wa uhai wao. (Tazama 1 Wathesalonike 4:15-18). Sasa ni takriban miaka 2,000 baadaye. Nimewasubiria watu ambao wamekuwa wakichelewa, na nimekuwa nikichelewa. Kwa juu habari hiyo inaonkana kuwa kituko. Umewahi kuamini kitu chochote ambacho kamwe hakikuleta mantiki? Kitu ambacho hakina chembe ya ushahidi? Haya tunayaita kuwa ushirikina. Biblia inasema nini juu ya imani? Je, ni zaidi ya ushahidi? Je, tutarajie kusubiria maelfu ya miaka bila kuwa na uthibitisho vyovyote iwavyo kwamba sisi siyo wapumbavu? Au, imani ina mzizi wa kishuhuda ambao twaweza kuujenga hapo? Hebu tuingie kwenye Biblia ili tuweze kubaini!
I. Hakuna Ushahidi?
A. Soma Waebrania 11:1. Fungu hili linasema kuwa ni nini ambacho ni msingi wa kiushahidi wa imani yetu? (Matumaini yetu na vitu tusivyoviona.)
1. Mimi siyo mtaalam wa Kiyunani, lakini Waebrania 11:1 kwa Kiyunani yaelekea kusema juu ya imani kuwa ni “ushahidi usioonekana”. Je, hiyo yamaanisha kuwa watu ambao husema kuwa imani siyo ushawishi wenye vielelezo wako sahihi?
a. Au, ina maana kuwa kwa hakika kuna ushahidi wa imani, ni vile tu sisi siyo “mashahidi” kwa imani hiyo?
B. Soma Waebrania 11:3. Je, tu mashahidi katika hili? (Hapana).
1. Je, kuna kitu ambacho chaweza kuonekana hapa? (Ndiyo. Tunaona ulimwengu.)
2. Je, ni kweli kuwa ushahidi haupo katika imani yetu ya kwamba Mungu alifanya ulimwengu kwa amri yake? (Hatukuona Mungu akitenda hilo. “Amri” iliyotamkwa kwa maneno isingeweza kuonekana hata kama tungekuwa tunaangalia tendo hilo.)
C. Soma Zaburi 19:1-3. Je, Daudi na mwandishi wa Waebrania wana mtizamo tofauti?
1. Waebrania 11:3 inatuambia ya kwamba ni kwa imani pekee tunaamini kuwa Mungu aliumba ulimwengu. Mfalme Daudi anasema kuwa mbingu zinatoa kauli za uthibitisho (“zauhubiri,” “laitangaza”) juu ya Mungu wetu Muumbaji. Kila mmoja husikia na anaweza kuelewa ujumbe huu. Upi kati ya ujumbe wa Daudi na wa Waebrania una hoja nzuri zaidi?
D. Angalia mazingira yanayokuzunguka. Ushahidi unaouona kila siku unakuambia nini juu ya kama ulimwengu uliibuka au kama ulikuwa na Mbunifu Mahiri?
1. Je, ni kwa jinsi gani bustani yako inastawi bila juhudi za kibinadamu?
2. Je, ni kwa jinsi gani nyumba yako inastawi bila juhudi za kibinadamu?
3. Je, gari lako linadumu vipi bila juhudi za kibinadamu?
4. Je, kazi yako inafanikiwa vipi bila juhudi za kibinadamu? (Sijui kuhusu wewe, lakini eneo langu, nyumba yangu, gari langu na kazi yangu mara zote huhitaji uangalizi wangu-hii ni kusema kuwa haziwezi kuendelea bila “uwezo wa akili ya nje”. Kama hakuna mwanadamu ambaye angeingilia kati, vingekoma bila kutoa matokeo.
E. Mtizamo wangu ni kwamba maelezo ya kisayansi yanayoendelea sasa kuhusu ulimwengu ni The Big Bang Theory ambapo ulimwengu ulilipuka kutoka sehemu moja katika tukio moja la mlipuko. Ni nini ushahidi wa kisayansi katika hili? (Ulimwengu unatanuka sawia katika pande zake zote).
1. Je, huu pia ni ushahidi kuwa Mungu Muumbaji wakati fulani alizungumza na ulimwengu ukatokea?
2. Wanasayansi wanaamini kuwa kiwango cha utanukaji wa ulimwengu ni wa msingi Kama ungetanuka kwa haraka sana nguvu za uvutano zingefifia na ulimwengu unge “lipuka”. Na kama ungetanuka kwa pole pole sana, nguvu za uvutano zingezidi za utanukaji na ulimwengu ungesinyaa. Je, huu ni usahidi wa tukio la bahati “bang” au ushahidi wa Mbunifu ambaye kwa hakika aliweka kiwango cha utanukaji?
F. Soma Waebrania 11:4. Je, Habili hakuwa na ushahidi wa imani yake kwa Mungu? (Alikuwa na ushahidi wote uliomzunguka. Kielelezo ni kwamba Mungu aliongea moja kwa moja na Kaini na Habili (Mwanzo 4:6)).
1. Kwa hiyo, ni nini kwa hakika kilikuwa kiini cha imani ya Habili? (Imani yake ilikuwa kwa Mungu. Imani kwa Mungu ndio kilikuwa kiini cha imani ya Habili.)
2. Tunaambiwa ya kwamba Habili angali akinena. Anasema nini kwako? Kutokana na hicho anachokisema, unajenga imani yako juu ya nini? (Kisa kifupi cha Habili (Mwanzo 4:1-10) kina kila aina ya kauli kuhusu imani. Kinatuambia ya kwamba kumkataa Mungu hutuelekeza kwenye dhambi mbaya zaidi. Pia kinatuambia kwamba kumtii Mungu yaweza isimaanishe kuwa tutakuwa na maisha manyoofu. Kinapendekeza kuwa Mungu atatushindia kadri muda uendavyo).
II. Mfano wa Kwanza wa Imani: Tomaso
A. Soma Yohana 20:19-25. Je, Tomaso alikuwa na ushahidi wowote kwamba Yesu alikuwa amefufuka? (Ndiyo. Alikuwa na ushuhuda wa kuaminika wa watu kadhaa walioshuhudia).
1. Ni aina gani ya ushahidi ambao Tomaso alikuwa akiudai (Ushahidi wa kushuhudia binafsi).
B. Soma Yohana 20:26-29. Ni aina gani ya imani ambayo Yesu anaipendekeza? (wale ambao hawajaona lakini wakaamini).
1. Je, Yesu anahitaji imani isiyokuwa na tafakari wala mantiki? (Vitu viwili. Kwanza, Yesu anampatia Tomaso kwa hakika aina ya uthibitisho alioutaka. Pili, watu “waliobarikiwa” ni wale wanaoamini kwa misingi ya ushuhuda wa wengine. Yesu hahitaji wafuasi wake kuhisi kwamba alifufuka.
III. Mfano wa Pili wa Imani: Wewe
A. Soma 1 Petro 1:3-5. Fungu la 5 linatuelekeza kwetu sisi kukingwa ngao ya “imani”. Tunakingwa dhidi ya nini? (Soma 1 Petro 1:6. Imani yetu inatukinga na ukatishwaji tamaa pale ambapo maswahibu mazito yanapotokea).
1. Angalia tena 1 Petro 1:3-5. Msingi wa imani yetu ni nini? (Ya kwamba Mungu atatupatia maisha mapya katika nchi mpya. Tumaini letu katika hili limejengwa kwenye ufufuo wa Yesu kutoka katika wafu).
B. Soma 1 Petro 1:8. Je, tu mashuhuda wa ufufuo wa Yesu? (Hapana).
C. Soma 1 Petro 1:10-12. Je, hatuna ushahidi wa ufufuo wa Yesu? (Hapana. Tuna kauli ya Petro juu ya hili. Lakini, zaidi ya hilo, tuna unabii uliotimia kumhusu Yesu. Manabii wa Agano la Kale waliongea nasi pale walipoandika unabii kumhusu Yesu).
IV. Mfano wa Tatu wa Imani: Yairo
A. Soma Luka 8:40-42.je, Yairo alikuwa na imani? Imani yake ilikuwa juu ya nini? (Imani yake (tumaini?) ilikuwa ni kwamba Yesu angemponya bintiye mgonjwa).
1. Je, imani ya Yairo haikuwa na mantiki?
B. Soma Luka 8:43-49. Je, Yairo ana ushuhuda kwamba Yesu atamsaidia? (Alikuwa na ushahidi, lakini sasa ushahidi wote ni bayana na kwamba Yesu amemwangusha).
C. Soma Luka 8:50. Je, Yairo ana imani sasa kuwa Yesu atamsaidia?
1. Kama umesena ndiyo, ushahidi huo ni nini?
D. Soma Luka 8:51-56. Hali ya imani ya waombolezaji ilikuwaje kabla ya fungu la 54?
1. Angalia fungu la 56. Ni nini kiwango cha imani ya Yairo? (Wazazi wake wakastaajabu-ambayo inaashiria kuwa Yairo hakuwa na imani ya kwamba binti yake angefufuliwa kutoka katika wafu).
E. Je, kisa hiki cha mwisho kinatufundishaa nini kuhusu imani yetu kwa Mungu na hali ya ushahidi wa imani yetu? (Kwanza, inatuonyesha kwamba hata kama ushahidi unaonyesha kuwa Mungu ametuangusha, imani yetu sharti isubirie wakati/muda muafaka wa Mungu. Pili, Yairo alikuwa na ushahidi katika nguvu za Yesu-endapo ni kwa sababu ya uponyaji wa yule mwanamke aliyemchelewesha Yesu hadi kusababisha binti yake akafariki. Kilichotakiwa kwa imani isiyoonekana kilikuwa ni kiwango cha muujiza-ufufuo!)
F. Rafiki, kuna ushahidi mwingi wa imani. Je, waweza shikilia imani yako, hata kama hauna ushahidi ulioshuhudiwa kwa macho, au kile ukionacho ni ushahidi tofauti? Kama ukisubiria, kwa imani, Yesu atakupa uzima wa milele kama ukijihisi unaanza kutia shaka tazama ulimwengu na uumbaji na ujiulize kama vitu hivi vingeweza kuwepo kwa bahati.
V. Wiki Ijayo: Tumaini
Imefasiriwa na kutumwa na Mgune Masatu.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Marriage--a Foretaste of Heaven
God Both Ordained & Approves of Marriage
The warmth of true friendship and the love that binds the hearts of husband and wife are a foretaste of heaven. (1)
God has ordained that there should be perfect love and perfect harmony between those who enter into the marriage relation. Let bride and bridegroom, in the presence of the heavenly universe, pledge themselves to love each other as God has ordained they should. (2)
Man was not made to dwell in solitude; he was to be a social being. Without companionship the beautiful scenes and delightful employment’s of Eden would have failed to yield perfect happiness. Even communion with angels could not have satisfied his desire for sympathy and companionship. There was none of the same nature to love and to be loved. (3)
God Himself gave Adam a companion. He provided "an help meet for him"[Genesis 2:18]--a helper corresponding to him--one who was fitted to be his companion, and who could be one with him in love and sympathy. Eve was created from a rib taken from the side of Adam, signifying that she was not to control him as the head, nor to be trampled under his feet as an inferior, but to stand by his side as an equal, to be loved and protected by him. A part of man, bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh, she was his second self, showing the close union and the affectionate attachment that should exist in this relation. "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it."[Ephesians 5:29]. "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one."[Genesis 2:24] (4)
God celebrated the first marriage. Thus the institution has for its originator the Creator of the universe. "Marriage is honourable"[Hebrews 13:4]; it was one of the first gifts of God to man, and it is one of the two institutions that, after the Fall, Adam brought with him beyond the gates of Paradise. When the divine principles are recognised and obeyed in this relation, marriage is a blessing; it guards the purity and happiness of the race, it provides for man's social needs, it elevates the physical, the intellectual, and the moral nature. (5)
As the Creator joined the hands of the holy pair [Adam and Eve] in wedlock, saying, A man shall "leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one"[Genesis 2:24], He enunciated the law of marriage for all the children of Adam to the close of time. That which the eternal Father Himself had pronounced good was the law of highest blessing and development for man. (6)
God made from the man a woman, to be a companion and helpmeet for him, to be one with him, to cheer, encourage, and bless him, he in his turn to be her strong helper. All who enter into matrimonial relations with a holy purpose--the husband to obtain the pure affections of a woman's heart, the wife to soften and improve her husband's character and give it completeness--fulfil God's purpose for them. (7)
Jesus did not begin His ministry by some great work before the Sanhedrin at Jerusalem. At a household gathering in a little Galilean village His power was put forth to add to the joy of a wedding feast. Thus He showed His sympathy with men, and His desire to minister to their happiness.[John 2:1-11] (8)
He who gave Eve to Adam as a helpmeet, performed His first miracle at a marriage festival. In the festal hall where friends and kindred rejoiced together, Christ began His public ministry. Thus He sanctioned marriage, recognizing it as an institution that He Himself had established. (9)
The presence of Christ alone can make men and women happy. All the common waters of life Christ can turn into the wine of heaven. The home then becomes as an Eden of bliss; the family, a beautiful symbol of the family in heaven.
From
Counsels On Courtship and Marriage
By: Elen G. White
The warmth of true friendship and the love that binds the hearts of husband and wife are a foretaste of heaven. (1)
God has ordained that there should be perfect love and perfect harmony between those who enter into the marriage relation. Let bride and bridegroom, in the presence of the heavenly universe, pledge themselves to love each other as God has ordained they should. (2)
Man was not made to dwell in solitude; he was to be a social being. Without companionship the beautiful scenes and delightful employment’s of Eden would have failed to yield perfect happiness. Even communion with angels could not have satisfied his desire for sympathy and companionship. There was none of the same nature to love and to be loved. (3)
God Himself gave Adam a companion. He provided "an help meet for him"[Genesis 2:18]--a helper corresponding to him--one who was fitted to be his companion, and who could be one with him in love and sympathy. Eve was created from a rib taken from the side of Adam, signifying that she was not to control him as the head, nor to be trampled under his feet as an inferior, but to stand by his side as an equal, to be loved and protected by him. A part of man, bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh, she was his second self, showing the close union and the affectionate attachment that should exist in this relation. "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it."[Ephesians 5:29]. "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one."[Genesis 2:24] (4)
God celebrated the first marriage. Thus the institution has for its originator the Creator of the universe. "Marriage is honourable"[Hebrews 13:4]; it was one of the first gifts of God to man, and it is one of the two institutions that, after the Fall, Adam brought with him beyond the gates of Paradise. When the divine principles are recognised and obeyed in this relation, marriage is a blessing; it guards the purity and happiness of the race, it provides for man's social needs, it elevates the physical, the intellectual, and the moral nature. (5)
As the Creator joined the hands of the holy pair [Adam and Eve] in wedlock, saying, A man shall "leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one"[Genesis 2:24], He enunciated the law of marriage for all the children of Adam to the close of time. That which the eternal Father Himself had pronounced good was the law of highest blessing and development for man. (6)
God made from the man a woman, to be a companion and helpmeet for him, to be one with him, to cheer, encourage, and bless him, he in his turn to be her strong helper. All who enter into matrimonial relations with a holy purpose--the husband to obtain the pure affections of a woman's heart, the wife to soften and improve her husband's character and give it completeness--fulfil God's purpose for them. (7)
Jesus did not begin His ministry by some great work before the Sanhedrin at Jerusalem. At a household gathering in a little Galilean village His power was put forth to add to the joy of a wedding feast. Thus He showed His sympathy with men, and His desire to minister to their happiness.[John 2:1-11] (8)
He who gave Eve to Adam as a helpmeet, performed His first miracle at a marriage festival. In the festal hall where friends and kindred rejoiced together, Christ began His public ministry. Thus He sanctioned marriage, recognizing it as an institution that He Himself had established. (9)
The presence of Christ alone can make men and women happy. All the common waters of life Christ can turn into the wine of heaven. The home then becomes as an Eden of bliss; the family, a beautiful symbol of the family in heaven.
From
Counsels On Courtship and Marriage
By: Elen G. White
Sunday, March 15, 2009
DIVINATION or HOROSCOPE?
Since the man fall to sin, He has been so anxious about what is going to happen tomorrow. Time after time human race has been wandering who can tell them of their future? What is going to be their fate tomorrow? Where will they be tomorrow?
Deuteronomy 18 : 10 – 15, “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch ….. all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD. …. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God … The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me;…” [KJV]
Why Horoscope?
Today in most magazines and news paper, atleast one page you will find what is popular known as “your horoscope”. What is Horoscope and does it relate to divination?
Divination is the, “act of finding out and saying what will happen in the future” [Oxford Adv. Learner Dictionary, 7th. Ed]
Horoscope is the, “a description of what is going to happen to somebody [sb] in the future, based on the position of the stars and the planets when the person was born” [Oxford Adv. Learner Dictionary, 7th . Ed]
In other word we can say, “Horoscope is divination based on the position of the stats and the planets when the person was born”
The Bible in Deuteronomy 18: 10 – 15, explicitly forbade divination and observing of times. In other word the Bible explicitly forbade horoscope.
Exodus 20: 3, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” [KJV]
The LORD God also forbade any medium which will interrupt our relation with Him. But in today’s world man has given his homage to the creation of God instead of the Creator Himself.
Deuteronomy 4: 19, “And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.” [KJV]
ร
Jeremiah 1: 5, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” [KJV]
Only God our LORD knows us much better than ourselves, He is the source of our life, He is a creator of everything Visible and Invisible. Whatever we put in between Him and us we create another god to run our life. Yes, we choose sin thus we separated ourselves from the source of our strength. But through His [God] infinite mercy and Love He sent Jesus Christ to reconcile us to Himself [Ephesians 2: 16, Colossians 1: 20]. Anything we interpose (between us and the Lord), we implicitly denying His gift of His only dear son.
What will be our fate tomorrow?
รจ Let not anything, even His creation stand in between us and our God, because by doing so we explicit disobey His command. It is our choice either for salvation or for eternal loss.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
GOD'S FITNESS TEST PART TWO
Sinful behavior is the inherent nature of fallen humanity. By God’s standards, you and I are dangerous criminals, and should be in jail right now. We are never more mistaken than when we think that we are good people.
When I got my driver’s license, it was the Department of Motor Vehicles that had been satisfied that I am good enough as a driver.
But by God’s standards, I am a sinner deserving death.
When I got a High School certificate, it was the Examination Board that had been impressed that my proficiency in the subjects sat for was good enough.
But by God’s standards, I am chief among sinners.
Those of us who are married, or once were, when my proposal for marriage was accepted, it was my partner who got satisfied that I would make a good spouse. But by God’s standards, I am a sinner of such wicked influence that I deserve solitary confinement.
When I was discharged, it was the Magistrate who had been convinced that I was not guilty. But by God’s standards, I deserve life imprisonment with hard labor.
Let us thank God that He does not parade our sins for public consumption. Someone expressed this thought so well, and I am sharing this with you. Had it been God’s habit, every time we fall in to sin, to write the sins on our skin, who among us would still be having blank space on their skin? Who among us would be putting on short sleeves? Who would venture out to the public with any attire cut above the knees; what with tattoos of the most private and shameful sins disgracing us before onlookers. Actually, dress reform would come along by itself without being promoted from the pulpit.
Let us thank God that He does not parade our character lapses.
Or imagine if it was God’s practice of screening on our foreheads our individual thought patterns and secret yearnings of the heart, for all to familiarize themselves with the plots, schemes and fantasies that preoccupy our minds. Who would go about without headgears that cover our foreheads right down to the eyes, for fear people will know us for who we really are?
You see, we should thank God that our private thoughts are hidden from public view.
In the great drama of all time, God intends to reclaim such like me to join the rest of the sinless worlds, where sin shall not rise the second time. What is the assurance then that it is safe to release an accomplished and habitual sinner like me to heaven? Don’t we know them, one-time mighty preachers and one-time great church leaders who today are moving beer halls? Don’t we also know them, one-time talented musicians in the church, who today do not get satisfied with one cigarette at a time? As if to cover up for lost time, you see them puffing at two at a time.
A brother of mine told me of an encounter with a smoker, who upon lighting a cigarette offered him one. Being a non-smoker, my brother politely turned down the offer with a,
Thank you, but I do not smoke.
The man cautioned,
Young man, with regards to cigarettes you should never say I don’t smoke.
You would rather say I do not smoke yet.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
When I got my driver’s license, it was the Department of Motor Vehicles that had been satisfied that I am good enough as a driver.
But by God’s standards, I am a sinner deserving death.
When I got a High School certificate, it was the Examination Board that had been impressed that my proficiency in the subjects sat for was good enough.
But by God’s standards, I am chief among sinners.
Those of us who are married, or once were, when my proposal for marriage was accepted, it was my partner who got satisfied that I would make a good spouse. But by God’s standards, I am a sinner of such wicked influence that I deserve solitary confinement.
When I was discharged, it was the Magistrate who had been convinced that I was not guilty. But by God’s standards, I deserve life imprisonment with hard labor.
Let us thank God that He does not parade our sins for public consumption. Someone expressed this thought so well, and I am sharing this with you. Had it been God’s habit, every time we fall in to sin, to write the sins on our skin, who among us would still be having blank space on their skin? Who among us would be putting on short sleeves? Who would venture out to the public with any attire cut above the knees; what with tattoos of the most private and shameful sins disgracing us before onlookers. Actually, dress reform would come along by itself without being promoted from the pulpit.
Let us thank God that He does not parade our character lapses.
Or imagine if it was God’s practice of screening on our foreheads our individual thought patterns and secret yearnings of the heart, for all to familiarize themselves with the plots, schemes and fantasies that preoccupy our minds. Who would go about without headgears that cover our foreheads right down to the eyes, for fear people will know us for who we really are?
You see, we should thank God that our private thoughts are hidden from public view.
In the great drama of all time, God intends to reclaim such like me to join the rest of the sinless worlds, where sin shall not rise the second time. What is the assurance then that it is safe to release an accomplished and habitual sinner like me to heaven? Don’t we know them, one-time mighty preachers and one-time great church leaders who today are moving beer halls? Don’t we also know them, one-time talented musicians in the church, who today do not get satisfied with one cigarette at a time? As if to cover up for lost time, you see them puffing at two at a time.
A brother of mine told me of an encounter with a smoker, who upon lighting a cigarette offered him one. Being a non-smoker, my brother politely turned down the offer with a,
Thank you, but I do not smoke.
The man cautioned,
Young man, with regards to cigarettes you should never say I don’t smoke.
You would rather say I do not smoke yet.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
YOUR BEST COMPANION IS A BOOK
"The book is a companion that does not praise you and does not entice you to evil. It is a friend that does not bore you, and it is a neighbor that causes you no harm. It is an acquaintance that desires not to extract from you favors through flattery, and it does not deceive you with duplicity and lies. When you are poring through the pages of a book, your senses are stimulated and your intellect sharpens... Through reading the biographies of others, you gain an appreciation of common people while learning the ways of kings. It can even be said that you sometimes learn from the pages of a book in a month, that which you do not learn from the tongues of men in a century. All this benefit, yet no loss in wealth and no need to stand at the door of the teacher who is waiting for his fees or to learn from someone who is lower than you in manners. The book obeys you by night as it does by day, both when you are traveling and when you are at home. A book is not impaired by sleep nor does it tire in the late hours of the night. It is the teacher who is there for you whenever you are in need of it, and it is the teacher who, if you refuse to give to it, does not refuse to give to you. If you abandon it, it does not decrease in obedience. And when all turn against you, showing you enmity, it remains by your side. As long as you are remotely attached to a book, it suffices you from having to keep company with those that are idle. It prevents you from sitting on your doorstep and watching those who pass by. It saves you from mixing with those that are frivolous in their character, foul in their speech, and woeful in their ignorance. If the only benefit of a book was that it keeps you from foolish daydreaming and prevents you from frivolity, it would certainly be considered a true friend who has given you a great favor." Al-Jaahiz
BENEFITS OF READING
1. Reading is an active mental process: Unlike sitting in front of the idiot box (TV), reading makes you use your brain. While reading you would be forced to reason out many things which are unfamiliar to you. In this process you would use the grey cells of your brain to think and become smarter.
2. Expanding comprehension of sentences: By reading often, one gains a mastery over many words and learns the different constructions of sentences; moreover, one improves his ability to grasp concepts and to understand what is written 'between the lines.' Good readers can understand the individual sentences and the organizational structure of a piece of writing. They can comprehend ideas, follow arguments, and detect implications. They know most of the words in the text already, but they can also determine the meaning of many of the unfamiliar words from the context. In summary, good readers can extract from the writing what is important for the particular task they are employed in. And they can do it quickly.
3. Helps understanding the subconscious: When reading certain kind of books explaining the human behavior one get to know the explanation of the human behavior, factors affecting it and human responses. This helps one understanding himself/herself better but also understanding others as well.
4. Reading improves your vocabulary: Remember in elementary school when you learned how to infer the meaning of one word by reading the context of the other words in the sentence? You get the same benefit from book reading. While reading books, especially challenging ones, you will find yourself exposed to many new words you wouldn’t be otherwise. Educational researchers have also found a strong correlation between reading and vocabulary knowledge. In other words, people who have a large vocabulary are usually good readers. This is not very surprising, since the best way to acquire a large vocabulary is to read extensively, and if you read extensively you are likely to be or become a good reader!
5. Improves concentration and focus: It requires you to focus on what you are reading for long periods. Unlike magazines, Internet posts or e-Mails that might contain small chunks of information, books tell the whole story. Since you must concentrate in order to read, like a muscle, you will get better at concentration.
6. Improves memory: Many studies show if you don’t use your memory, you lose it. Crossword puzzles are an example of a word game that staves off Alzheimer’s. Reading, although not a game, helps you stretch your memory muscles in a similar way. Reading requires remembering details, facts and figures and in literature, plot lines, themes and characters.
7. Improves creativity: Reading about diversity of life and exposing yourself to new ideas and more information helps to develop the creative side of the brain as it imbibes innovation into your thinking process.
8. Acquiring knowledge: By reading, one benefits from the experiences of others: the wisdom of the wise and the understanding of scholars. By reading often, one develops the ability to both acquire and process knowledge and to learn about the different fields of knowledge and their applications to life.
9. Builds self-esteem: The more you read, the more knowledgeable you become. With more knowledge comes more confidence. More confidence builds self-esteem. So it’s a chain reaction. Since you are so well read, people look to you for answers. Your feelings about yourself can only get better. But books can also give you the motivation to start acting on something you have learned.
10. Gives you a glimpse into other cultures and places of the world: How would you know about the life of people in Mexico if you don’t read about it? Reading gives you an insight into the diversity of ethnicity of people, their customs, their lifestyles etc. You become more aware about the different places and the code of conduct in those places.
11. An In-depth Insight of matters: Anyone who reads extensively seems to be able to discern matters from their onset, or consequences of some actions or decisions made due to their deep understanding. Reading makes one kind f ‘experienced’ on the matters (s)he is dealing with, and thus make him more competent to deal with such uncertain matters.
12. Understanding the future: For believers the practice of reading prepares them in understanding the prophecy and thus making them more prepared for the told future and not caught by surprise.
May God bless you, as you embrace the whole practice of reading books for your own good and that of others who will interact with you.
BENEFITS OF READING
1. Reading is an active mental process: Unlike sitting in front of the idiot box (TV), reading makes you use your brain. While reading you would be forced to reason out many things which are unfamiliar to you. In this process you would use the grey cells of your brain to think and become smarter.
2. Expanding comprehension of sentences: By reading often, one gains a mastery over many words and learns the different constructions of sentences; moreover, one improves his ability to grasp concepts and to understand what is written 'between the lines.' Good readers can understand the individual sentences and the organizational structure of a piece of writing. They can comprehend ideas, follow arguments, and detect implications. They know most of the words in the text already, but they can also determine the meaning of many of the unfamiliar words from the context. In summary, good readers can extract from the writing what is important for the particular task they are employed in. And they can do it quickly.
3. Helps understanding the subconscious: When reading certain kind of books explaining the human behavior one get to know the explanation of the human behavior, factors affecting it and human responses. This helps one understanding himself/herself better but also understanding others as well.
4. Reading improves your vocabulary: Remember in elementary school when you learned how to infer the meaning of one word by reading the context of the other words in the sentence? You get the same benefit from book reading. While reading books, especially challenging ones, you will find yourself exposed to many new words you wouldn’t be otherwise. Educational researchers have also found a strong correlation between reading and vocabulary knowledge. In other words, people who have a large vocabulary are usually good readers. This is not very surprising, since the best way to acquire a large vocabulary is to read extensively, and if you read extensively you are likely to be or become a good reader!
5. Improves concentration and focus: It requires you to focus on what you are reading for long periods. Unlike magazines, Internet posts or e-Mails that might contain small chunks of information, books tell the whole story. Since you must concentrate in order to read, like a muscle, you will get better at concentration.
6. Improves memory: Many studies show if you don’t use your memory, you lose it. Crossword puzzles are an example of a word game that staves off Alzheimer’s. Reading, although not a game, helps you stretch your memory muscles in a similar way. Reading requires remembering details, facts and figures and in literature, plot lines, themes and characters.
7. Improves creativity: Reading about diversity of life and exposing yourself to new ideas and more information helps to develop the creative side of the brain as it imbibes innovation into your thinking process.
8. Acquiring knowledge: By reading, one benefits from the experiences of others: the wisdom of the wise and the understanding of scholars. By reading often, one develops the ability to both acquire and process knowledge and to learn about the different fields of knowledge and their applications to life.
9. Builds self-esteem: The more you read, the more knowledgeable you become. With more knowledge comes more confidence. More confidence builds self-esteem. So it’s a chain reaction. Since you are so well read, people look to you for answers. Your feelings about yourself can only get better. But books can also give you the motivation to start acting on something you have learned.
10. Gives you a glimpse into other cultures and places of the world: How would you know about the life of people in Mexico if you don’t read about it? Reading gives you an insight into the diversity of ethnicity of people, their customs, their lifestyles etc. You become more aware about the different places and the code of conduct in those places.
11. An In-depth Insight of matters: Anyone who reads extensively seems to be able to discern matters from their onset, or consequences of some actions or decisions made due to their deep understanding. Reading makes one kind f ‘experienced’ on the matters (s)he is dealing with, and thus make him more competent to deal with such uncertain matters.
12. Understanding the future: For believers the practice of reading prepares them in understanding the prophecy and thus making them more prepared for the told future and not caught by surprise.
May God bless you, as you embrace the whole practice of reading books for your own good and that of others who will interact with you.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
SHOCKING FACTS ABOUT VALENTINES DAY
Each year on February 14th countless millions of people celebrate a day known as "St. Valentine's Day." Millions of heart-shaped cards and boxes of chocolates are given as gifts, and even churches have Valentine parties on this so-called "Day of Love." In schools, from pre-school and kindergarten on up, children draw names from a box and exchange heart-shapes notes, which "pair off" the children and is said to be "all in fun???” People of all ages get into the act, and the words that are heard everywhere on that day are, "Be My Valentine."
The sad fact is that most people never question the origin of the customs that they involve themselves with. Most people do not ask questions but do what everybody else does, never stopping to consider how the Almighty God of Heaven feels about their activities. When we consider that Valentine's Day is a day of preoccupation with the heart, it is essential that we listen to the following words spoken by the Almighty, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart; I try the reins, even to give every man according to his wages, and according to the fruit of his doings." Jeremiah 17:9-10
Christians should be known by their discernment and should be asking questions regarding Valentine's Day. What is the origin of this unusual day? Why is there a preoccupation with the color red? Where did the heart shape come from, and what does it mean? These and other questions will now be answered, as we examine the roots and pagan origin of this popular day.
In the days of the Roman Empire, the month of February was the last and shortest month of the year. February originally had 30 days, but when Julius Caesar named the month of July after himself, he decided to make that month longer and shortened February to 29 days while making July a month of 31 days. Later when Octavius Caesar, also known as Augustus, came to power, he named the month of August after himself, and not be outdone he also subtracted a day from February and gave the month of August 31 days. To this very day it remains that way. The ancient Romans believed that every month had a spirit that gained in strength and reached its peak or apex of power in the middle or ides of the month. This was usually the 15th day, and it was a day when witches and augurs, or soothsayers worked their magic. An augur was a person filled with a spirit of divination, and from the word augur we get the word "inaugurate", which means to "take omens". Since February had been robbed by Caesars and had only 28 days, the ides of February became the 14th day of that month. Since the Ides of a month was celebrated on the preceding eve, the month of February was unique, because it was the 13th day that became the eve of the Ides that month, and it became a very important pagan holiday in the Empire of Rome. The sacred day of February 14th was called "Lupercalia" or "day of the wolf." This was a day that was sacred to the sexual frenzy of the goddess Juno. This day also honored the Roman gods, Lupercus and Faunus, as well as the legendary twin brothers, who supposedly founded Rome, Remus and Romulus. These two are said to have been suckled by wolves in a cave on Palatine Hill in Rome. The cave was called Lupercal and was the center of the celebrating on the eve of Lupercalia or February 14th. On this day, Lupercalia, which was later named Valentine's Day, the Luperci or priests of Lupercus dressed in goatskins form a bloody ceremony. The priests of Lupercus, the wolf god, would sacrifice goats and a dog and then smear themselves with blood. These priests, made red with sacrificial blood, would run around Palatine Hill in a wild frenzy while carving a goatskin thong called a "februa." Women would sit all around the hill, as the bloody priests would strike them with the goatskin thongs to make them fertile. The young women would then gather in the city and their names were put in boxes. These "love notes" were called "billets." The men of Rome would draw a billet, and the woman whose name was on it became his sexual lust partner with whom he would fornicate until the next Lupercalia or February 14th.
Thus, February 14th became a day of unbridled sexual lust. The color "red" was sacred to that day because of the blood and the "heart shape" that is popular to this day. The heart-shape was not a representation of the human heart, which looks nothing like it. This shape represents the human female matrix or opening to the chamber of sacred copulation.
When the Gnostic Catholic Church began to get a foothold in Rome around the 3rd century A.D., they became known as Valentinians. The Catholic Valentinians retained the sexual license of the festival in what they called "angels in a nuptial chamber", which was also called the "sacrament of copulation." This was said to be a reenactment of the marriage of "Sophia and the Redeemer." As the participants of the February 14th ritual began their sexual sacrament, presided over and watched by the priests known as Valentinians, the following literary was spoken: "Let the seed of light descend into thy bridal chamber, receive the bridegroom... open thine arms to embrace him. Behold, grace has descended upon thee."
As time went on, the Orthodox Church suppressed the Gnostic Catholics and manufactured "St. Valentine", whose day continues to be celebrated in these modern times.
It should be without saying that the Christians should avoid Valentine's Day like a plague. In God's eyes, it is still "Lupercalia", the "Day Of The Wolf." Men become wolves, as they carry on the satanic rituals of fornication, which means sexual intercourse without marriage. We have heard of the "wolf whistle", and we all know that wolves do not whistle. It is lustful men and women, who carry on Satan's blasphemy to this very day.
In conclusion, we must ask ourselves, "Should a true Christian be associated in any way with this celebration of evil roots? Should we be doing what the heathen have done for so many years and try to justify it as love?" Romans 12:2 answer this very well, "And be not conformed to this world: but are ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..."
Source:
Last Trumpet Ministries International
PO Box 806
Beaver Dam, WI 53916
The sad fact is that most people never question the origin of the customs that they involve themselves with. Most people do not ask questions but do what everybody else does, never stopping to consider how the Almighty God of Heaven feels about their activities. When we consider that Valentine's Day is a day of preoccupation with the heart, it is essential that we listen to the following words spoken by the Almighty, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart; I try the reins, even to give every man according to his wages, and according to the fruit of his doings." Jeremiah 17:9-10
Christians should be known by their discernment and should be asking questions regarding Valentine's Day. What is the origin of this unusual day? Why is there a preoccupation with the color red? Where did the heart shape come from, and what does it mean? These and other questions will now be answered, as we examine the roots and pagan origin of this popular day.
In the days of the Roman Empire, the month of February was the last and shortest month of the year. February originally had 30 days, but when Julius Caesar named the month of July after himself, he decided to make that month longer and shortened February to 29 days while making July a month of 31 days. Later when Octavius Caesar, also known as Augustus, came to power, he named the month of August after himself, and not be outdone he also subtracted a day from February and gave the month of August 31 days. To this very day it remains that way. The ancient Romans believed that every month had a spirit that gained in strength and reached its peak or apex of power in the middle or ides of the month. This was usually the 15th day, and it was a day when witches and augurs, or soothsayers worked their magic. An augur was a person filled with a spirit of divination, and from the word augur we get the word "inaugurate", which means to "take omens". Since February had been robbed by Caesars and had only 28 days, the ides of February became the 14th day of that month. Since the Ides of a month was celebrated on the preceding eve, the month of February was unique, because it was the 13th day that became the eve of the Ides that month, and it became a very important pagan holiday in the Empire of Rome. The sacred day of February 14th was called "Lupercalia" or "day of the wolf." This was a day that was sacred to the sexual frenzy of the goddess Juno. This day also honored the Roman gods, Lupercus and Faunus, as well as the legendary twin brothers, who supposedly founded Rome, Remus and Romulus. These two are said to have been suckled by wolves in a cave on Palatine Hill in Rome. The cave was called Lupercal and was the center of the celebrating on the eve of Lupercalia or February 14th. On this day, Lupercalia, which was later named Valentine's Day, the Luperci or priests of Lupercus dressed in goatskins form a bloody ceremony. The priests of Lupercus, the wolf god, would sacrifice goats and a dog and then smear themselves with blood. These priests, made red with sacrificial blood, would run around Palatine Hill in a wild frenzy while carving a goatskin thong called a "februa." Women would sit all around the hill, as the bloody priests would strike them with the goatskin thongs to make them fertile. The young women would then gather in the city and their names were put in boxes. These "love notes" were called "billets." The men of Rome would draw a billet, and the woman whose name was on it became his sexual lust partner with whom he would fornicate until the next Lupercalia or February 14th.
Thus, February 14th became a day of unbridled sexual lust. The color "red" was sacred to that day because of the blood and the "heart shape" that is popular to this day. The heart-shape was not a representation of the human heart, which looks nothing like it. This shape represents the human female matrix or opening to the chamber of sacred copulation.
When the Gnostic Catholic Church began to get a foothold in Rome around the 3rd century A.D., they became known as Valentinians. The Catholic Valentinians retained the sexual license of the festival in what they called "angels in a nuptial chamber", which was also called the "sacrament of copulation." This was said to be a reenactment of the marriage of "Sophia and the Redeemer." As the participants of the February 14th ritual began their sexual sacrament, presided over and watched by the priests known as Valentinians, the following literary was spoken: "Let the seed of light descend into thy bridal chamber, receive the bridegroom... open thine arms to embrace him. Behold, grace has descended upon thee."
As time went on, the Orthodox Church suppressed the Gnostic Catholics and manufactured "St. Valentine", whose day continues to be celebrated in these modern times.
It should be without saying that the Christians should avoid Valentine's Day like a plague. In God's eyes, it is still "Lupercalia", the "Day Of The Wolf." Men become wolves, as they carry on the satanic rituals of fornication, which means sexual intercourse without marriage. We have heard of the "wolf whistle", and we all know that wolves do not whistle. It is lustful men and women, who carry on Satan's blasphemy to this very day.
In conclusion, we must ask ourselves, "Should a true Christian be associated in any way with this celebration of evil roots? Should we be doing what the heathen have done for so many years and try to justify it as love?" Romans 12:2 answer this very well, "And be not conformed to this world: but are ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..."
Source:
Last Trumpet Ministries International
PO Box 806
Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
GOD’S FITNESS TEST Part 1
Have you ever wondered why airplanes are tested before they fly, or why drivers are tested before being entrusted with vehicles on the road? Have you also wondered why applicants are tested before they are employed, or why even food is tasted before it is served? Has anyone ever stopped to think about why many countries the world over have Standards Associations through which manufactured products pass on their way to the market?
Perhaps you will agree with me that tests are administered to try and predict performance. When products are tested before they reach the market it is in order to ascertain how reliable they are. Testing then, is bringing quality under scrutiny before use of the product. To deserve marketing, the product has to measure up to a certain standard, failure of which, it is discarded as a reject. Testing therefore is an attempt to establish how a product will perform when put to the use for which it is designed. This reduces chances of flooding the market with defunct products that would cause operation-crippling faults and accidents.
In business accidents are expensive. This is because accidents cause work stoppages, which in turn reduce profits. Accidents are also expensive in that they damage equipment, incurring repair work costs. Apart from that, accidents cause injury and loss of life. That is why, before an airplane flies, it is tested as a way of estimating the chances of a successful trip and a safe landing. If mechanical faults are suspected or detected, the flight would rather be delayed, and the faults fixed than gamble with lives by flying a defective plane. That is why before anyone is entrusted with a vehicle on our roads, they should satisfy the examiners of their driving competency. This serves to predict the occurrence or non-occurrence of traffic accidents. If an aspiring driver has questionable traits, he would rather take more lessons than be released on the road as a danger to other road users.
Before anyone can be employed, they normally undergo a variety of tests as a way of establishing how they would perform the tasks of the job. If the applicant has ill health for example, the employer can predict therefrom that the condition will have a negative impact on production. The decision to employ will then be based on whether the applicant will not be a liability, spearheading loss to an enterprise whose sole reason for existence is profit-making. Tests therefore are meant to identify potential hazards and seek means to eliminate them. The testing exercise is very essential as a prelude to recruitment of new personnel at a work place, before goods and products are marketed or machinery put to use. We call them fitness tests.
God has a grand and ambitious plan, the greatest drama of all time. The whole universe is the ring of spectators, and planet Earth is the theater for the drama. The grand drama has popularly been known as the plan of salvation or the plan of redemption. The objective is to reclaim fallen humanity from the dark planet to join the rest of the sinless worlds. The desired results or expected outcome is that once the reclaimed sinners are granted heavenly citizenship, sin and sinful tendencies will reign never more in them. By any standards, this is a grand and ambitious project, one that even angels watch with curiosity.
<<<<<<>>>>>>>> watch out for part two<<<<<<<>>>
Perhaps you will agree with me that tests are administered to try and predict performance. When products are tested before they reach the market it is in order to ascertain how reliable they are. Testing then, is bringing quality under scrutiny before use of the product. To deserve marketing, the product has to measure up to a certain standard, failure of which, it is discarded as a reject. Testing therefore is an attempt to establish how a product will perform when put to the use for which it is designed. This reduces chances of flooding the market with defunct products that would cause operation-crippling faults and accidents.
In business accidents are expensive. This is because accidents cause work stoppages, which in turn reduce profits. Accidents are also expensive in that they damage equipment, incurring repair work costs. Apart from that, accidents cause injury and loss of life. That is why, before an airplane flies, it is tested as a way of estimating the chances of a successful trip and a safe landing. If mechanical faults are suspected or detected, the flight would rather be delayed, and the faults fixed than gamble with lives by flying a defective plane. That is why before anyone is entrusted with a vehicle on our roads, they should satisfy the examiners of their driving competency. This serves to predict the occurrence or non-occurrence of traffic accidents. If an aspiring driver has questionable traits, he would rather take more lessons than be released on the road as a danger to other road users.
Before anyone can be employed, they normally undergo a variety of tests as a way of establishing how they would perform the tasks of the job. If the applicant has ill health for example, the employer can predict therefrom that the condition will have a negative impact on production. The decision to employ will then be based on whether the applicant will not be a liability, spearheading loss to an enterprise whose sole reason for existence is profit-making. Tests therefore are meant to identify potential hazards and seek means to eliminate them. The testing exercise is very essential as a prelude to recruitment of new personnel at a work place, before goods and products are marketed or machinery put to use. We call them fitness tests.
God has a grand and ambitious plan, the greatest drama of all time. The whole universe is the ring of spectators, and planet Earth is the theater for the drama. The grand drama has popularly been known as the plan of salvation or the plan of redemption. The objective is to reclaim fallen humanity from the dark planet to join the rest of the sinless worlds. The desired results or expected outcome is that once the reclaimed sinners are granted heavenly citizenship, sin and sinful tendencies will reign never more in them. By any standards, this is a grand and ambitious project, one that even angels watch with curiosity.
<<<<<<>>>>>>>> watch out for part two<<<<<<<>>>
Monday, February 2, 2009
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO BEFORE YOU COMMIT YOURSELF
The challenge of making choice of a life partner has posed a challenge to human kind from the bible times to date. But in today’s world of moral decay, modern life style, egoism, multiple cultures in a single street even in the same house bloc makes the mate selection one of the most challenging tasks than never before.
Beside all that we will at one day or the other most of us get married, then what ought we to look to increases our chances of living a happy married life?
Prayers: “If men and women are in the habit of praying twice a day before they contemplate marriage, they should pray four times a day when such a step is anticipated. (Message to Young People pp 460.1). In essence what is being said here is one need to double his or her effort in prayers when (s)he is considering marriage. Also the company of those caring for you and the ones you would like to help in praying is worthy having, even as E.G. White puts it “Take God and your God-fearing parents into your counsel, young friends. Pray over the matter” (MYP 449.2).
Know what you need in a mate: All of us have something we need in a partner. Unfortunately to many of us, those criteria remain in our subconscious and we never come to realize them and we thus remain saying that we are feeling like we are not okay with our couples without knowing why. The truth is we have reasons but they are still buried in our subconscious, and to unearth them we need to do something on developing ourselves; learning is one of the ways that can help understanding our inner needs, desires and even our inner selves. The point is we can not get what we need if we don’t know what we need.
Make friends: Since we in most cases marry from the group of people we encounter either often or occasionally; for that matter then we need to be aware as to how important the people we interact with in our lives are. As Christians we need to make sure we make many good friends of different sexes. This has a lot of benefit as it will improve one’s ability to communicate with members of different sex; it helps us understand the personal details of the individuals (such as age, family background, education level, etc) we interact with which will in one way or the other help us in deciding wisely as to whom we do have chances of committing ourselves to; it also help us in knowing our friends true-color when they are still friends a fact which might prove to be difficult to learn when one is already involved with that individual.
Don’t rush: Our God is never late when we partner with him we are sure that we shall receive “good gifts” from Him (Jas 1:17). “The youth trust altogether too much to impulse. They should not give themselves away too easily, nor be captivated too readily by the winning exterior of the lover. Courtship, as carried on in this age, is a scheme of deception and hypocrisy, with which the enemy of souls has far more to do than the Lord” (MYP 451). “Love is patient” (1Cor 13:4).
My dear brothers and sisters these are simple tips on initiatives one need to take before (s)he commits himself. But most importantly many heart breaks can be avoided when such cautions are taken.
Many people know that it is hard to get into a meaning and lasting relationship, but the unfamiliar truth to most of us is that breaking a relationship is even harder than getting into one; you will realize that even the well deserving broken relationship still hearts the individuals when it breaks, even to the one breaking it with such conviction of breaking it. You may happen to know many guys who seriously think that their relationships are bad ones and yet they can’t figure out how they will untangle themselves from it, that is the power of love! Such wounds are hard to heal completely, and they tend to impede on how we will trust our following partners and with that we both get less than what we ought to get from that which were supposed to be a spring of blessings.
May God bless us as we take each step with Him in making these serious moves in our lives which, does surely have impact in our lives here and in the life to come.
Beside all that we will at one day or the other most of us get married, then what ought we to look to increases our chances of living a happy married life?
Prayers: “If men and women are in the habit of praying twice a day before they contemplate marriage, they should pray four times a day when such a step is anticipated. (Message to Young People pp 460.1). In essence what is being said here is one need to double his or her effort in prayers when (s)he is considering marriage. Also the company of those caring for you and the ones you would like to help in praying is worthy having, even as E.G. White puts it “Take God and your God-fearing parents into your counsel, young friends. Pray over the matter” (MYP 449.2).
Know what you need in a mate: All of us have something we need in a partner. Unfortunately to many of us, those criteria remain in our subconscious and we never come to realize them and we thus remain saying that we are feeling like we are not okay with our couples without knowing why. The truth is we have reasons but they are still buried in our subconscious, and to unearth them we need to do something on developing ourselves; learning is one of the ways that can help understanding our inner needs, desires and even our inner selves. The point is we can not get what we need if we don’t know what we need.
Make friends: Since we in most cases marry from the group of people we encounter either often or occasionally; for that matter then we need to be aware as to how important the people we interact with in our lives are. As Christians we need to make sure we make many good friends of different sexes. This has a lot of benefit as it will improve one’s ability to communicate with members of different sex; it helps us understand the personal details of the individuals (such as age, family background, education level, etc) we interact with which will in one way or the other help us in deciding wisely as to whom we do have chances of committing ourselves to; it also help us in knowing our friends true-color when they are still friends a fact which might prove to be difficult to learn when one is already involved with that individual.
Don’t rush: Our God is never late when we partner with him we are sure that we shall receive “good gifts” from Him (Jas 1:17). “The youth trust altogether too much to impulse. They should not give themselves away too easily, nor be captivated too readily by the winning exterior of the lover. Courtship, as carried on in this age, is a scheme of deception and hypocrisy, with which the enemy of souls has far more to do than the Lord” (MYP 451). “Love is patient” (1Cor 13:4).
My dear brothers and sisters these are simple tips on initiatives one need to take before (s)he commits himself. But most importantly many heart breaks can be avoided when such cautions are taken.
Many people know that it is hard to get into a meaning and lasting relationship, but the unfamiliar truth to most of us is that breaking a relationship is even harder than getting into one; you will realize that even the well deserving broken relationship still hearts the individuals when it breaks, even to the one breaking it with such conviction of breaking it. You may happen to know many guys who seriously think that their relationships are bad ones and yet they can’t figure out how they will untangle themselves from it, that is the power of love! Such wounds are hard to heal completely, and they tend to impede on how we will trust our following partners and with that we both get less than what we ought to get from that which were supposed to be a spring of blessings.
May God bless us as we take each step with Him in making these serious moves in our lives which, does surely have impact in our lives here and in the life to come.
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