A Weapon

On Monday about 2:30 I met a UPDF officer in full army uniform complete with a baton. He stopped me roughly: You!" 

I was coming from a lunchtime fellowship, brimming with the peace and joy of the Lord. So I stopped and turned to him confidently, "Yes officer."

He pointed at my Bible with his baton and said, "That's a weapon you're carrying!"



"Yea," I returned with a smile. "A mighty weapon!"


Then he told me how God had healed him of cancer and HIV. In fact he was coming from the Cancer Institute at Mulago to pray for patients and encourage them to turn to Jesus by faith to heal not just their bodies but also redeem their souls.


He told me that he also pastors a church in Mbuya. 

We exchanged contacts and I promised to visit some day to share more as brothers in Christ about the goodness of the Lord.

Before we parted, he pointed at my Bible and repeated, "That's a weapon!"

I left completely humbled by the passion of this officer who in gratefulness to what God did for him has to travel often from Mbuya Army Barracks to preach to patients in Mulago.

More than that I was stirred by his faith in the unfailing power and efficacy of the Word of God.

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.