Something Better Than Money

In the story of the crippled beggar at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3), Peter and John didn't have what the beggar wanted but they had something better; something much more precious than the money he was begging for. In the name of Jesus Christ, they rebuked his deformity and it left him and he instantly stood up and entered the temple, leaping and praising God.

Yet today many people who profess Christ as their Lord and Saviour are behaving like the lame beggar before his encounter with Peter and John. It seems to me that all they seek God for are  perishable treasures. They are doing their best to be like most people to whom the pursuit of material riches and the so-called finer things of this life take precedence over Godly things.

But happiness pursued at the expense of God's Word does not satisfy. Blessed is the man or woman or child that refuses to comply with the status quo, and rolls out with holiness 24/7.

As servants and followers of the most High God, we must stay focused on the things eternal and stay spiritually hungry if we are not to let the fleeting things of this world adulterate our anointing.  Nice cars, nice cribs, nice girls and all that stuff may be good but don't forget that good is the enemy of best!

If you are not careful, those legitimate things will choke your zeal for the eternal things; before you know it you're too comfortable to study the Word, meditate, pray, preach and truly shine the light of Christ.

Moreover, the Bible says the abundance of life is not in things. Things are temporal; we shall not go with them to heaven; they will pass away. Why then not focus on storing for us treasures in heaven where moths cannot reach?

God is not looking for happiness pursuers but true servants; those that worship Him in Truth and in Spirit daily. That's why it says in 2 Timothy 2:4 that no man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please He (God) who has chosen him to be a soldier. Peter and John had no time for worldly things and God rewarded their commitment with something a trillion times better than silver and gold. The man who had been born lame received his miracle of healing.

Searching for a Wife

"He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favour from the LORD" ( Proverbs 18:22 ESV)

I've studied this scripture several times, and every time I do it tells me how serious the quest for a life partner ought to be. "He who finds" means you're not going to fold your arms on your chest and think your heart's desire will fall from heaven like manna. A man who is ready for marriage should be like a keen hunter who won't return home until he has his game. 

I believe the biggest mistake men make is falling for eye candy. But looks are dangerously deceptive. After the excitement of honey moon, when reality begins to register you might find yourself crying, "Oh God, who is this animal I'm stuck with!" That's why it's important that you hurry not. Our scripture up there talking of "a good wife" makes it obvious that there's the opposite number. The bad wife. She's insecure, a control freak, a nag, vengeful, proud, quarrelsome and quite a handful--the type whose contentions Proverbs 19:13 says are like "a continual dripping of rain". Basically living with her is like living in a leaking house for the rest of your life. That's why it's important that a man be very careful and smart in choosing a wife. You must go down on your knees but also do thorough research and seek advice. 

Speaking as a born-again, I believe the most important quality of a good woman has everything to do with her relationship with God. Does she profess and possess Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour? Be careful though, not every church-going, choir-singing, tithe-offering, cell-leading, overnight-attending, tongue- speaking lady is God-fearing. Some girls genuinely love God but too much love of the world has left them unable to fully surrender to God's will.That's why it's important that you seek God and be alert, for as you court her you will begin to see and hear things from her upon which you will base to reach the ultimate decision.

If it's your desire to get married but you have failed in your quest, don't give up. Keep searching and trusting God who made Eve for Adam will help you find that missing rib; that great woman that embodies Proverbs 31:10-31; the genuine quality that can only come from Him (Proverbs 19:14). 

I'll end with the words of King Solomon from The Message version of the Bible: "It's better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps, but if there's no one to help, tough! Two in bed warm each other. Alone, you shiver all night. By yourself you're unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).

When the Going Gets Tough...

Just the other day TV West run a story of the head of parishioners in Kagadi who hanged himself in his house. You would expect someone serving in church to never ever entertain the idea of committing suicide. But when the going gets tough, when one feels overwhelmed; the grim reaper is bound to pounce, and in such circumstances the rich or poor, famous or obscure, can easily fall prey. Thus it should not bewilder you that celebrated American chef, author and television personality Anthony Bourdain and famous American fashion designer and businesswoman Kate Spade recently committed suicide in spite of all their money, fame and power.

In Britain alone, accordingly, nine million people regardless of age, social or economic status are affected by loneliness. Loneliness and depression are universal concerns that affect multitudes of people worldwide because of the capitalistic nature of the present epoch, small, isolated families, and the influence of social media which has replaced physical bonding and interactions in most cases. In Uganda alone, most people are lonely and depressed because of unemployment or underpayment, poverty, and diseases like HIV or cancers.  Because of these, many people have found the going getting tough, causing many to give up on life, which explains the high rates of suicides and broken relationships reported in the press daily.

Is there a way out?

Of course. In his 1985 classic, English singer Billy Ocean crooned that “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Basically he was calling on people to grow a thick skin and refuse to give up no matter the circumstances. This optimistic stance was also espoused by American motivational writer and preacher Dr. Robert H. Schuller as is evident in his book titled, Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do (1996). Having that positive outlook on life; knowing that challenges are there not to kill us but to make us strong will help us to overcome. As St. Paul the apostle said in Romans 5: 3-5, we should glory in our  sufferings because suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character and character breeds hope that does not disappoint.

Secondly, we should not fight the challenges of life alone, but must seek help. It’s true that sometimes we seek help overtly or covertly and are disappointed when the people we reach out to ignore or bluntly refuse to help us. But that should not resign us to fighting alone. There’s a time I didn’t have transport fare back home. I reached out to a few friends that were unfortunately unable to help. As I contemplated walking from Mulago to Nansana, an idea struck me. I dropped a message on one of the WhatsApp groups I’m part of, telling them I was stuck. In less than five minutes, one of the group members sent me some mobile money. That day I fully understood and deeply appreciated the wisdom and efficacy in the common expression that a problem shared is a problem half-solved. In fact, in most cases, a problem shared is a problem fully solved!

Connected to this, it always helps to surround yourselves with good people. The Bible says bad company corrupts morals. Most of the addictions and perversions such as abusing drugs and addictions to pornography are often introduced to us by peers, who moreover abandon us when the effects of our indulgences begin to bite. So rather than surround yourself with people that are only interested in clubbing and betting, it is more beneficial to surround yourself with those that are enterprising enough to help you fulfill your dreams.  These are people you can confide in; people that can chip in with help when you are broke or in need of social support. People that can give you good advice and pray with you. It’s such industrious, purpose-driven people that the writer of Hebrews had in mind when he encouraged us not to give up the habit of meeting together, and that we should continue encouraging one another and all the more as we see the day approaching. Are you in the company of encouragers or discouragers? Are you a friend of optimists or pessimists? The type of people you hang out with a lot will determine whether you will rise up and or sink in times of storms.

Last but not least, pray. The potency of prayer in calming the tumults of the heart is unrivalled. That is why one of my favorite verses is Philippians 4:6-7. It says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ” (NIV). Usually when I’m getting restless about some tough situations, when demons of fear and doubt are beginning to creep on the inside, I’ve often invoked this scripture through faith, and it has always helped me. It can help you too.

Beauty for Ashes at the Bonnke Crusade

In June 2012, evangelist Reinhard Bonnke held a crusade in Kampala, which I was lucky to attend. I wrote a newspaper article about it that was never published. It is reproduced here.

A deaf and dumb woman regained her hearing and spoke for the first time in 29 years. A man who had been paralysed for seven months walked again, shouting the Name of Jesus and adding with delirious joy that he would never use a wheelchair again. A man from Rwanda who had been totally blind for five years got his sight back while a woman who had breast and cervical cancer returned on the third day to testify how God had healed her on the first day of the crusade. She even had medical papers to prove her case!

Some of the crowds that attended the crusade

These are a few of the numerous signs and wonders that rocked the Uganda Jubilee Gospel Crusade led by fiery German evangelist Reinhard Bonnke and his protégé and successor Daniel Kolenda, in Kampala on June 6-10, 2012. Makerere II Grounds on Sir. Apollo Kaggwa Rd.,was filled with people from all corners of the country and beyond, who came in desperate need of salvation, healing and deliverance. Like the woman in Luke 8:43 who suffered a haemorrhage for 12 years and exhausted all her resources seeking a scientific remedy until Jesus stepped on the scene, these people equally turned to the Lord with mustard-seed faith and didn’t get disappointed.

"Doctors have a different pill for every problem but God has only one pill that cures every condition – the blood of Jesus," said evangelist Kolenda, arguing that the stain of sin has caused the world much suffering and cannot be washed away by political, financial, scientific, scholarly, military or even religious detergents. "There's nothing humanity can do but to turn to Jesus with all our hearts because His blood has the power to cleanse us of all sin, to heal us, save us and protect us."

Witnessing these miracles firsthand and watching tears of joy gliding down the eyes of the recipients brought to mind the first verses of Isaiah 61, how God comforts the broken-hearted, releases captives and sets prisoners free; turning mourning into rejoicing, and giving beauty for ashes.

This was evangelist Bonnke's second time in Uganda. The first time was in 1990 in Jinja where his crusade was acrimoniously bunged up by the local authorities accusing him of "noise." Overcome with dejection from the rejection, he did what Jesus tells His disciples to do in Matthew 10:14-15: "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgement than for that town."

Well, it's said the rejection of Bonnke started the economic retrogression of the once industrial town of Uganda. The situation has since been compounded by impoverishment and an epidemic of jiggers that has dented the whole of Busoga. That’s why the Wednesday return of Bonnke to Jinja 22 years later, was of potent significance to the Basoga.  

"It's a sign that God has remembered Jinja again," said one pastor, adding that the town had seized the opportunity to right its wrong; seek forgiveness for disgracing God's anointed.  Bonnke was himself happy to forgive and give his full blessing – a move many were optimistic lifted the curse and unlocked spiritual and economic blessings that will help the town to flourish again.

After Jinja, the 72-year-old and his team were hosted by President Yoweri Museveni, before he opened the Kampala crusade. On the third day, First Lady Janet Museveni also appeared and joined multitudes who viewed the crusade as an early birthday gift to Uganda as it itches closer to its golden jubilee in October. The golden jubilee is a Biblical principle that typifies forgiveness, liberty and restoration.

The atmosphere was electric as people prayed and praised fervently; lifting their hands and voices worshiping God in truth and spirit.

The preachers were on a roll too with revivalist sermons that emphasised living lives fully dependant on the Lord. During one such sermon a woman got slain by the Holy Spirit and fell before me, rolling in the dust, speaking in unknown tongues punctuated with the Name Jesus. When she got up about 30 minutes later, she was smiling the most beautiful smile and radiating a joy from the inside out as I had never before seen.

The devil’s business was left in utter ruins, no doubt, as many who had dabbled in the occult brought their totems and related paraphernalia that made a mound that got burned. They then joined thousands others pledging their allegiance to Jesus from then on.

Family and general curses were lifted, and pastors prayed over a box brimming with prayer requests. Those without jobs were prayed for to find something meaningful to do. The economy was prayed for to stabilise; for oil money to be used to benefit all Ugandans. There were prayers against poverty, corruption, violence, divorce, prostitution, and against all forces of darkness that have left many bound. There were prayers for young women to get worthy men for husbands and young men to get beautiful God-fearing women. The evangelist Kolenda also commanded every infertile womb to be fertile in the Name of Jesus.

"You'll give birth to healthy babies; I believe nine months from now there will be a population explosion in Kampala in Jesus' Name,” he concluded, and cries of “Amen” and "hallelujah" rippled like a mighty earthquake through the arena.

If anything stood out during the four-day crusade, it was Romans 10: 13: whoever calls upon the Name of Jesus will be saved. It was emphasised as the secret to blind eyes opening, the lame walking, tumors disappearing, and the secret to all manner of ‘hopeless’ situations getting turned around for Uganda and its people in this golden jubilee year and always.

Glad Tidings Bible College Graduation 2014

The celebration began the day before, with a beautiful session of worship and fellowship led by continuing students that got the graduands reminiscing about their own good old days at the Glad Tidings Bible College (GTBC). As we sang and danced for the Lord, the words of the Psalmist returned to me with new meaning: "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity" (Psalm 133:1).

 The introductions were thereafter made, jokes and laughter shared while we sat in the beautiful white tent reminiscent of those Paul the apostle used to make! Later the Principal, Rev. Jackson Ntulume-Kyeswa poured out his heart about principles of spiritual leadership; challenging graduands to be selfless leaders, leaders of integrity, leaders that never cease to learn, leaders that are servants rather than seeking to be served, and leaders that will never take for granted their calling and gifts.  He recalled how Samson had tried to shake himself free from his enemies only to realise too late that the Lord had left him (Judges 16:20). Samson had become complacent and reckless, and as ministers they too had to watch out and keep their eyes on the Lord lest they end up like Samson.

The Principal's edifying words were followed by a sumptuous and scrumptious dinner that gave us an early taste of the Messianic banquet! I took more than my fair share to the extent that my legs nearly collapsed under the weight of a full belly! The evening was a perfect dress rehearsal for the big grad day the next day.

Valedictory speeches

The graduation ceremony took place in the main auditorium of Makerere Full Gospel Church, which was shining like the stars with creative decorations. The women ululated joyously as the graduands in their flamboyant academic gowns complete with hoods took their seats.

The number of graduands was 49: three for a Certificate in Christian Ministry, two got a Diploma in Christian Ministry, 35 earned a Diploma in Theology while nine were awarded a Bachelors of Arts degree in Bible and Theology. Of the 49, it was two-cheers for the 13 of them who graduated with honours, while Lawoko Jimmy was the recipient of the Christo Award for his exemplary character.

 I was deeply inspired by the eloquence of Peter Michael Oumo who came on top of the Diploma class and was chosen to speak on behalf of his classmates. He gave God all the glory for bringing them this far, and challenged his colleagues to be at their best as they advance the Kingdom of God.

I got a photo opportunity with Peter Michael Ouma, the best Diploma student

 "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved; a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth," he said quoting 2 Timothy 2: 15, adding that, indeed, one of the reasons for joining GTBC was to learn more about correct handling of God's word. "We are grateful that this college has given us quality, well-balanced and yet practical theological and ministry training. We have gone through drilling and grilling. We have been tried and tested and found well-baked. We have completed individual and group assignments; done tests and examinations. We have also been trained in practical ministry through weekend missions as well as field assignments or attachment in different churches."

Being a student at GTBC myself, I nodded in agreement as Peter Michael talked of the all-encompassing training they received in spiritual leadership, evangelism, counselling, prayer and deliverance, spiritual warfare, praise and worship, church strategy, to mention a few. He ended saying that there is no excuse for settling into a less-than exemplary ministry wherever the Lord has called each one of them to serve Him, since "to whom much is given much is required" (Luke 12:48).

Give the world your best

Another Valedictorian, Francis Githinji  Gathege, representing the degree graduands talked of how he is already on the mission field applying what he learned at GTBC. In fact, he had been in Ghana, in Santrokofi Benua, a village in the Volta region, developing an audio recording of the New Testament Bible in the heart language of a tribe called Selee.

Francis Githinji Gathege

"Brothers, think of what we were when we were called. Not many of us were wise according to human standards, not many were powerful, and not many were of noble birth. Nevertheless, look at what we have achieved through God! We are being honoured, and feted today," he said, paraphrasing the words of Paul the apostle in 1 Corinthians 1: 26. "During the training, we have received great wisdom and knowledge, and not from a worldly platform but from Christ through the diligent and dynamic academic curriculum, offered at GTBC. Instructors did not just share their intellectual proficiencies but also offered their life experiences and friendships as well."

That Gathege came all the way from Kenya to study at GTBC, first for his Diploma, and later for his Diploma testifies of the pedigree of the College and the holistic training it is known for across the continent. He spoke heartily about the conducive learning environment at the College that enabled him to excel, the well-equipped library, the relevant syllabus and the studies that he said "revolutionised our mindsets and set our paths in a new course of destiny."

Gathege added: "Our ministries will never be the same again because our axes have been sharpened forthwith. Our society will experience a difference in the clerical arena because of the preparation we have received, and just like Gideon in Judges 7 had a worthy team selected by God, we have graduates today who are an army of the Lord already equipped, tested, trained, and ready for the onward mission of winning and discipling the world to Christ."

Gathege challenged his fellow graduands to pursue nothing but excellence: "We cannot afford to play mediocre after receiving such knowledge and academic exposure. We need to be relevant to the needs of the people today more than ever before, if the Pentecostal movement is to hold any water in the society. I challenge each one of us to seek new frontiers of ministry to conquer in the world over…our exposure to the world of academia should motivate us to explore the earth in pursuit of service to God and to humankind, in obedience to the Great Commission."

He also called on his fellow graduands to draw inspiration from Paul's words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:14 by seeking to be approved of God, working without shame and handling the word of truth correctly and redefining the value of Christian ministry.

It was evident, in his speech and gestures, that Gathege will forever be grateful for the minister GTBC has transformed him into. He considers it his duty and the duty of fellow graduands to keep helping the College to take its vision to the next level. Thus he appealed to the college administration to engage the alumni in its development agenda so that they can support it financially especially in this age when donor fatigue is sweeping through the western nations that were previously a source of funding.

Gathege ended with a quote from Mother Teresa of Calcutta that captures the essence of serving humanity unconditionally: "People are often unreasonable and self-centred, forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives, be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you, be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous, be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow, do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough, give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."

'Go and do likewise'

This was the title of the fiery address to the graduands from the Guest of Honour, Ps. Dr. Richard Epiu. I was amazed to learn that this towering man with a commanding presence and a voice to match, is a former national heavy-weight boxing champion who got saved by grace in March 1977 and has since been ministering to God's people and training preachers on top of being a pastor at Deliverance Church, among other Kingdom assignments.

Drawing from 2 Timothy 2:1-7, Ps Epiu charged the graduands to be strong, teach others what they have learned and to remain focused on fulfilling their call. He related the story of John, a brilliant young man who graduated from Bible College and returned to his former church with the confidence that with his qualifications, he deserved more respect, that doors of opportunity would fling open in his face, that he would earn better, and so forth. Alas it was not to be for John as he immediately faced opposition from some church deacons who felt threatened by his qualifications and hunger to serve. Rarely was John given an opportunity to preach and whenever it came, they criticised his preaching instead of praising it. Even when they gave him a position in church, it was on voluntary basis and John had to struggle to find other means of putting bread on his table. Ps Epiu basically saying that ministry is challenging and even more difficult than we anticipate, so graduands will need to heed Paul's advice to Timothy to be strong even in the midst of hardships, and lean on the Lord in order to succeed.  He challenged them to have the mentality of a farmer who keeps labouring and never gives up even when some seasons are very bad.

He also advised the graduands to emulate Paul's habit of passing on to others whatever he received from the Lord. "Paul kept away nothing." Likewise they must continue the chain-link of teaching others until the Lord comes back.

"It's your responsibility to teach what you have learned to others; do not withhold what you have received, for you never know what God does in whom you preach the Gospel," said Ps Epiu, adding that the man who led Billy Graham to Christ never knew how much God would use this new convert. Evangelist Graham has won arguably more people to Christ than any other minister that has ever lived!

Ps Epiu said that in today's fast-moving world, the hardest thing to keep is focus. There are so many things clamouring for our attention. He therefore charged the graduands to stay focused; serve God single-mindedly like a soldier who refuses to entangle himself in civilian pursuits so as to please his master.

He urged them to run the race according to the rules, lest as Paul said, they preach to many but in the end get disqualified themselves. This was an appeal to character and integrity, which a true minister of the gospel must espouse. Good was not good enough for Paul, said Ps Epiu, as he charged the graduands to reject mediocrity and seek to excel while using Jesus as the yardstick for excellence in all affairs.

Special music, awards, the cake

After Guest Speaker sat down, there was special music from The New Redeemed Church of God – Kabowa Choir, who alternated with the GTBC Student Choir led by Joseph Sseremba, to keep the audience in the spirit with praise and worship. The graduands were then awarded their certificates, diplomas and degrees amid ululations.

GTBC Student Choir in a moment of praise

 There was a cake too, which was cut and served by the graduands-turned-graduates! It was a humbling gesture, reminiscent of Jesus washing the disciples' feet. I have tasted many cakes in my life nothing comes close to the deliciousness of the GTBC Grad Cake 2014! I was tempted to think it was baked by the angel of God that baked the cake Elijah was fed on after he had collapsed running for his life from Jezebel!

Dear yesterday's graduates and now alumni of GTBC, may the good Lord continue to keep you and bless you as you minister to His people, being the true salt of the earth and the light of the world. As the Dean Rev. Patrick Ndyanabo advised, it is by bearing good fruit that you will make a difference, and defeat the confusion and falsehoods being orchestrated by false prophets that have come into the world in sheep cloths.