Njagi Kaburu

Book Review- God and Texas

Author: David Rose- David was born in San Antonio Texas, a fifth generation Texan. David is married to Sue since 1971 and together they have two daughter and five grandchildren. David has served in pastoral ministry both in Texas and Wisconsin. Though retired from full time pulpit minister, David teaches weekly Bible studies and ministers in hospices, senior living facilities and hospitals.

The reviewer of this book was in the pew in the church David was pastor for little over 10 years.

The Book: God and Texas- How the early pioneers of Texas were influenced by God- By David Rose

Synopses: In this book the author's mean focus is to create awareness to this readers the many ways God impacted the settlers/founders of the Lone Star State- Texas. He provides accurate stories from early Texas history to illustrates the many ways God was present in pioneers of Texas.

Whereas we might assume that the early Church in Texas had not issues in her formative stages, the author points out that she (the church) had "a rather rocky time." He points out the "most famous priest were know for not spreading the word of God but for "fomenting armed rebellion."

The author tries to make his readers understand that way before the settlers occupy Texas, there were native Texans thousands of years before Spanish explorers, THE NATIVE AMERICANS- see pg 5. The author asserts that most native tribes had "their own unique religious structure." The author however observes that Spanish missionaries came to Texas with a mandate to lead the native to Christ. The author observes that the natives Texans rejected Spanish Christianity "preferring their lifelong customs and culture."

It is clear from the first pages of this book, the author has dedicated this small book to recounting stories about early Texas history and how God was involved. To drive this point home, the author has dedicated an entire chapter, " The impact of pioneer preacher," pages 62-65. In this chapter the author points out that "following the Civil War, Pentecostal preachers began to filter into Texas with preaching where over 25,000 people embraced the Pentecostal faith teaching, which gave Texas her name "The Brass Buckle of the Bible Belt." pg 65

The author observes that during her formative stages, Texas church had unusual traditions. He observes that "people from all over the area came together to worship, pray and to circulate social and political chatter." pg 71. This was the beginning of the move of God in Texas culminating to the command of Jesus Christ as found in Mark 7:3-9. Emphasis mine.

To illustrate how God influenced the pioneers, the author dedicates a whole chapter on "The Songs of the Pioneers Texas." pgs 142-147. These songs were of course in praise of God and an expression of what they are thinking as well as how "they survived the tough times." The author emphases that songs of praise to God had powerful influence in the lives of Texans. The author asserts that, "their music reflected their love, trust and total dependence upon God for their survival" which strengthens the title of this book.

The Book: This book is an eye opener to those with interest in studying Texas State and Church history of formation. The book has rich historical facts about pioneers experience as they battle the enemies of mother nature and the indigenous tribes.

The FRUIT of Lent season- Jeremiah 24:4-7

God’s Love

Have you ever asked yourself whether God really loves you? Have you considered how you can know with certainty that God loves you? If God does love you, why? In Romans 5:6-11 says “God demonstrated his love toward us by offering his son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins, and by raising him from the dead, so sinners would be justified by faith, reconciled to God, and delivered from God’s wrath. Jesus’ death for sinners and his resurrection from the dead that guarantees future salvation from God’s wrath for those sinners for whom he died.”

Christ died at the right time for the ungodly. He identifies the “weak” and the “ungodly” from 5:6 as “sinners” in verse 8 in order to specify that Jesus died for unrighteous people to accomplish their salvation. Jesus’ death for the ungodly happened while they were “still” sinners in a state of ungodliness, not when they were righteous.

He did this because of His love to us, to a point of dying on the Cross on

behalf of us sinners

God of SACRIFICE

Christ is our Savior and the ultimate sacrifice for sin. Even though He was divine, Jesus became a human being to suffer and die for the sins of mankind. Philippians 2:5-7. Christ as our Savior gave His life that we might live. He died a horrible death, as our Passover lamb.

Through His sacrifice, Jesus took the ultimate penalty of sin—death—upon Himself, freeing us, if we accept His sacrifice in continuing repentance, from death being our final fate-Hebrews 2:9

By accepting Jesus Christ's sacrifice in repentance and faith, we can be assured that our sins are blotted out. We can go forward in our Christian lives with confidence, knowing that through that sacrifice we can be reconciled to the Father. As a result, we can also look forward to eternal life in the Kingdom of God as a gift of God's grace because of this tremendous sacrifice that Jesus and the Father willingly gave for every one of us.

GOD of reconciliation

On the cross, God poured out the full fury of His wrath against all the sins of all the people who would ever believe Isaiah 44:22. Because of the propitiation of Christ, God’s wrath is satisfied, and we who were once enemies of God have now received the gift of reconciliation. Because of reconciliation, Christ has taken our place, and we have taken his. Therefore, God counts us righteous as his own Son. What a glorious blessing! Christ takes our place on the cross and gives us the righteousness of God.

God’s initiative of reconciliation through Christ transforms believers into God’s new creation. With all of creation, we await our final and perfect transformation in the end of time. At that time, when Jesus returns, God’s mission will be complete. People of every nation, tribe, and language, gathered as one, will worship the Lamb, the tree of life and its leaves shall be for the healing of the nations, and the new heavens and earth shall make the reign of God a reality with all things reconciled to God (Romans 8:18-39, Revelation 7:9-17

God of compassion

God knows us, and He has compassion on our weakness. He is not a hard, unjust God. He is righteous, and He is moved with compassion for us. He is our biggest supporter; no one wants it to succeed for us more than He does. Believe in that. Believe in the wonderfully uplifting words He spoke through the prophet Jeremiah:

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you,

And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13.

Return to God

Returning to God begins with repentance—a willingness to be very honest about the ways in which we have moved away from God and to tell as much truth about it as we are able. Lent time initiates a season of deeper self-knowledge about all the ways in which we hold ourselves back from life in God.

During Lent, we should be hopeful about the fact that there is a path for returning to God no matter how distracted I have been. What if Lent became for us a season that was not so much about “giving something up” but was more about finding our way back to the one we love and long for the most? What would it take for Lent to become for us as leaders a season of returning to that which is of greatest value and claiming the nearness of God as our deepest good?

Lent should be a season to look for the path of returning and walk it in ways that our souls desperately need- Jeremiah 24:4-7

Sharing in Love and in Abundance- Acts 2:42-47

Acts 2:42-47 "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

What a wonderful time it must have been in those early months after our Lord had risen. At last, the disciples understood what Jesus had been trying to tell them! And although He was no longer physically present, He had sent the Helper - the Holy Spirit - to guide them and comfort them and pray for them. As the work of the Spirit flowed through the people, they were all filled with the love of Christ. and they began to treat each other accordingly. They ate together, studied together, spent time in prayer together... and not just on Sundays, but every day of the week. They were becoming one body, working together for the cause of Christ. They were participating in true fellowship.

Fellowship - true fellowship - with other believers can be difficult. Many times, we've been hurt by other people in some way that affects every other relationship. Trying to avoid further hurt can cause us to build invisible walls for protection. Although we crave companionship, we are fearful of the intimacy that comes with close fellowship - even though we may not admit it to ourselves. So we participate in fellowship only as far as it feels safe ... and then we stop. And we miss the blessings that Jesus intended for us through fellowship with other believers.

But there's another thing to think about where these first believers were concerned. In today's world's view, when the believers began to sell their belongings and share with one another, they were becoming a bunch of wackos. Visions of hippie communes come to mind today. But that was not what was happening. Instead, those believers were experiencing and sharing the love of Jesus for one another. What they had, they shared, so that all needs would be met. They acknowledged that each and every thing they owned was not theirs, but belonged to God. He had only placed it in their care. So instead of socialism, controlled by the government, they practiced stewardship, controlled by their devotion to and love for Jesus. They didn't sell everything they had and pool it all together. Instead, as it says in Acts 4:34, "There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need."

These people met together daily in the Temple courts (most new believers at that time were Jews). Their hearts were humble, and they spent much time praising God. The Bible says that "the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved." (Acts 2:47) And no wonder! Any lost person who saw that kind of fellowship and love would "want some of that!"

Pray that the Lord will help you participate in true Christian fellowship... to open up. to join in. to experience the blessings you've been missing. Pray for the removal of any fear of hurt you might have so that you can reap the rewards our Lord has for you in fellowship with His other adopted children. And pray that all believers will learn to live in the kind of fellowship and love that Jesus intends - the kind that He can use as a tool for winning a lost world to Him.

WHY DO YOU WEAR THE CROSS?

It has been a little over 9 years now since I joined social media group namely Facebook. Over that period, I have only one mission on social media, to propagate the WORD of God using Facebook as a tool for that purpose. True to the word, I have religiously posted at least 4 post every day all of which are evangelical in nature.

Rarely do I respond on other users posts or comment on comments left on my posts. However, occasionally I might peruse through comments and posts on either side.

This morning, December 20, 2019 as I was preparing to post my morning glory topic, I came across a post that attracted my attraction; Question to Christians: “WHY DO YOU WEAR THIS CROSS?” My reaction to the post provoked a rear answer on my part to the author.

The author (Name withheld) goes further to apologize as to why he is asking the question justifying that quote; “I ask our Christian brethren this question. We are a family in humanity, and I ask this question with humility, sincerity, and love; truly wanting the best for all of mankind. Not with any hate or trying to put somebody down. I am just sincerely trying to get people to intellectually think: Why?”

In a few words I replied to his “Why’ question by quoting 1 Corinthians 1:18 “FOR THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS IS TO THEM THAT PERISH FOOLISHNESS; BUT UNTO US WHICH ARE SAVED IT IS THE POWER OF GOD.” It is true that those that are perishing will find excuses, and seek answers to questions that are explicitly simple, clear and outright to understand.

This author further pushes his question a second time in the same paragraph, “So, why do you wear the cross?” I would want to answer the author by saying that wearing the cross for Christian is for them a Remembrance: To Remember what true love looks like. Therefore, the cross is the instrument of torture with which Jesus was murdered, a favorite of the Roman Empire. The cross is the altar on which the Son of Man offered himself as an eternal sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. The cross is the new tree of life. The cross is significant, but only because of the time Jesus spent hanging from it.

To modern Christians, the cross is an icon, (Symbol) a visual symbol of victory of Jesus over sin and death. Christians wear a cross to proclaim to the world that Christ was victorious over death (and therefore, so shall they be).

Thus, to the author of the said article on social media, the answer is clear. For you the reader of this article, understand that; The cross is a reminder of the great cost from God for the salvation of man (you and I). Wear your cross with pride without shame.

Book Review: Fatherless Generation- by John Sowers- 2010

This fatherless generation has never been more unsure of their place the world and the results have been devastating. That’s why John Sowers, the president of the Mentoring Project, wrote "Fatherless Generation". In this short book, Sowers relates the tragic experiences of fatherless boys, girls, men and women (including himself), while showing readers that there is hope to change their stories; to be a part of transforming their lives and helping them discover the God who is the Father to the fatherless.

Throughout the first half of the book, Sowers shares his experience growing up without a dad, along with those of several others who originally shared their story on his "MySpace" page. And the damage that’s been inflicted, the pain that all have suffered, is palpable. Young women share how they were Daddy’s princess—until he left. Some write that they don’t hate their dads, but they can’t forgive them either. Hopelessness and despair are the undercurrents of every story.

What I appreciate about how Sowers presents these stories, including his own, is that it’s not sensationalized, manipulative. He is careful to protect the dignity of every person whose story he shares, as raw and often heart-wrenching as they are. This is extremely difficult to accomplish as, too often, in seeking to protect the individual’s well-being, their story can be reduced to emotionless propositions.

As careful as he is with the stories he shares, his use of statistics is equally so. Rather than overwhelming readers with data, he uses it to support the stories shared—the lives affected by not having a father in the home. They’re effective and disturbing.

For example, Sowers writes on pages 36-37 (perhaps the only really stats heavy section of the book), that children from fatherless homes account for:

63 percent of youth suicides
71 percent of pregnant teenagers
90 percent of all homeless and runaway teenagers
70 percent of juveniles in state-operated institutions
85 percent of all youth who exhibit behavior disorder
80 percent of rapists motivated with displaced anger
71 percent of all high school dropouts
75 percent of all adolescents in chemical abuse centers
85 percent of all youths sitting in prison

For those who have ever doubted the impact of an attentive father in the lives of children, one needs only look at this and see that dads really do make a difference. The impact of being fatherless is so overwhelming, that it seems like there’s nothing that can be done, doesn’t it?

But there is a solution: caring men and women becoming mentors to a fatherless generation.

In part two of Fatherless Generation, Sowers shares how godly mentors spoke words of life and encouragement, taught him to be a man and ultimately transformed his life.

"Both of these men sacrificed their time in order to be mentors and father figures in my life, and because of their sacrifice, I came to see that being a man was not really as intimidating as i had made it out to be. I learned that i didn’t have to be afraid of other men. I learned that I didn’t have to be afraid of becoming a man myself,” writes Sowers (pp. 91-92).

The love that Sowers has for these men is obvious, as is his passion for seeing Christians take on the role of mentoring a younger generation. In doing so, by showing love to those who believe they are unloveable and modelling maturity to them, there is a powerful opportunity to be a witness to Christ and see lives transformed both in the temporal and eternal.

In this way, the book carries through it the implicit reality of the gospel (which, in terms of presentation, has its strengths and weaknesses). Sowers touches on aspects of the gospel to be sure (see pp 82 -84), and does speak of a desire to see the fatherless come to know the God who is Father to the fatherless, but it’s something that I would have preferred to see beefed up a bit more.

As a father of three young girls, this book reminds me of the powerful influence I have on them

(for good). I pray that my girls truly know how much their daddy loves them, and that my influence will be a godly one.

Fatherless Generation shines a light on the trials of all who are living today without a dad. Their challenges are real. Their pain is deeply felt. But they don’t have to live their lives with shame, anger or resentment. This book offers its readers an opportunity to be a part of transforming the lives of a fatherless generation.

Are we willing to take the first step?

Credit to Author, reviewer
CC. enkaburu.blogspot.com

What Christmas is NOT

Today Christmas is filled with many distractions. Many of the things we do and love so much are nothing but distraction to the real meaning of Christmas.

In most western countries the central character of Christmas, is Santa Claus, or Father Christmas. This is an old man in a red suit trimmed in white; big, black boots; spectacles; long, white beard; with a supposedly Christmas greetings "ho-ho-ho" He walks around with a bag on his back giving out gifts to the nice and not the naughty. What is amusing is that he sometimes enters the house through the chimney.

This figure in turn has blended with the early Christian Saint Nicholas, a churchman who was known for spreading the wealth to needy members of his community, sometimes throwing sacks of coins through open windows and down chimneys- (See Foot Notes). Where is the biblical basis for such a character? He may be present in the modern crèche, but no one like him appears in the Gospel narratives of Jesus' birth.

There are other characters in Western Christmas celebration that are not part of Christmas story as we know it; such as Mr. Grinch, a grouchy, solitary creature who attempts to put an end to Christmas by stealing Christmas-themed items from the homes on Christmas Eve. Sadly this Character is based on children story of Christmas.

Flying Reindeers which belongs to Santa Claus, pull a sleigh through the night sky to help him deliver gifts to children on Christmas Eve. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa’s Ninh Reindeer. With these and other fictional characters, we miss the meaning of Christmas.

Most Americans decorates for Christmas at Halloween, some dress up as Santa Claus or Mrs. Santa Claus. For many Christmas is all about the holiday, family and food. And those aren’t bad things, but they aren’t what Christmas is all about. For too many people a HOLY DAY has simply become a holiday making Christmas what it's NOT.

It’s easy to get caught up in all the hype of Christmas without understanding what Christmas is all about.

During Christmas, families are busy organizing the celebrations than living the meaning. There are gifts and cards to be bought and mailed out, food to be cooked, presents to be wrapped, letters to be written, there are the family and staff parties to attend, and church appearances to be made.

There are lots of people who to them Christmas means lists and obligations and lots of stress and regrets. There is enough stress and regrets in life without adding Christmas to the list. So Christmas isn’t about the things we do. Christmas does not revolves around us, Christmas is not about making us happy, Christmas is not whether the date work for us, Christmas is not about food, Christmas is not about the gift we are expecting and hoping for.

Christmas isn’t just a day or an event. As long as we see Christmas as December 25th or even view it in a broader sense as “The Christmas Season” we will miss what Christmas is all about.

If Christmas doesn’t make a difference in how we live every day, not just December 25th than it has made no difference at all. When we celebrate the birth of Christ we should be celebrating our own salvation, redemption, grace and mercy. With the birth of Jesus, we need to be celebrating changed lives, a changed world and changed eternities.

Jesus came to give you eternal life, not a holiday.

Let us not have a one dimensional view of Jesus by saying "let's keep Christ in Christmas," that is summed up in Luke 2:7 "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." But let’s never forget that the baby born in the manger wasn’t just the son of Mary, he was the Son of God.

What is Christmas about? It began with a child being born of a virgin, far from home. And there were angels and shepherds and wise men with gifts. But that was just the beginning. And for some it seems to have ended thirty-three years and six miles down the road when Jesus was crucified, but that too was just a beginning.

Too often in our rush to make sure that we take the time to celebrate Christ’s birth we miss the enormity of Christ’s birth.

There are some people who want to throw their arms round you simply because it is Christmas; there are other people who want to strangle you simply because it is Christmas.” It doesn’t take long to figure out who’s who here.

Who will define what Christmas is for you? YOU WILL!

Foot Note:

Wikipedia- Not reliable source

Hospital visit that was never intended to be

In a sentence, what does a chaplain do?

Numerous times I have been asked what my role in the hospital is. In other words, people have asked me what a chaplain does in a hospital setting.
I would say my job is to show up in the hospital and support patients as they deal with health uncertainties.

Chaplains in hospitals spend time listening to patients, providing them counsel by giving them a listening ear and offer some reflections, on the issues they face.

On a normal day, I would come into the office and print out a list of patients on the floors I usually cover. Then I look at the chart notes and kind of figure out which patients I really need to see and who among them need argent attention.

On my printed list of patients to see this day, are among them referrals from other health care workers. Before this visit, I had made multiple contacts with other patients in the Unit which I would consider as routine and regular visits on a normal day.

However little did I know that by next visit would be different and very important for Mr. Walker (Not his real name).

Today is Tuesday and Mr. Walker has been in hospital since Thursday of previous week. As usual I knocked and entered the room as I called his name. Like many other visits, Mr. Walker answered by asking me to come in. Mr. Walker is sited on a chair. On his bedside desk, he has a laptop computer which made me assume that he was busy either working from hospital bed or watching a movie which is common with most patients.

Upon introduction, Mr. Walker made it clear that he had not make any request for a chaplain stating that he is "Okay". To my surprise I noticed that as he was stating that he is okay, he was moving his laptop computer to the side, which I interpreted as him saying, "Welcome I need to talk."

My interpretation of Mr. Walker's action and gesture, led me to ask him if he would mind if I sit down. Mr. Walker graciously offered me the opportunity to make myself comfortable.

No sooner had I sat down, Mr. Walker asked me if I were from any particular church. I certainly sensed that he is taking control of this visit, which to me was a plus, since he did not anticipate a visit from a chaplain or to use his works, “did not make a request for chaplain.” On a professional level I was aware that this visit is not about me but him, I allowed him to take initial lead to build report with him.

Mr. Walker is a practicing Episcopalian married to a Roman Catholic wife- Dianna (not her real name). For over 20 years, they have been attending the Episcopal Church and the Roman Church, interchangeably. However Mr. Walker mentioned that, that practice has stopped after both he and his wife realized that sermons in these two churches are similar or close and they agreed to be Episcopalians. This arrangement works well for both of them, he noted.

However, there is only one thing Mr. Walker laments about; recently he has lost his favorite Episcopal Priest through transfer. As he explains how close he and the Priest were, I could tell he was becoming emotional.

Mr. Walker opens up at this time letting me know that since the transfer of his Priest, he has no confidant to whom he could share any sensitive matter such as his health condition and his fears and worries.

Mr. Walker narrated how drastically his life has changed since he retired from a refutable oil company 2 years ago where he worked as seismic and ground negotiator. I must confess that at this time I have no idea why he was in the hospital, and I left it up to him to let me know when he felt comfortable to do so.

Upon probing him, he explains that he has suffered a chronic heart failure, as result of cardiopulmonary bypass surgery he had less than a year ago. He made it clear that his heart failure is the reason he is in hospital the last 5 days. He made it clear that his prognosis is very poor. He further said that he has a history of high blood pressure, diabetes, faulty heart valves, coronary artery disease, inherited heart defects and damaged or inflamed heart.

As I listened to Mr. Walker I kept on wondering whether he is as sick as he says he is. He seemed normal and “upbeat” not to mention his jovial mode. Mr. Walker was seemingly looking better than the picture he painted of himself.

I offered my listening skill, probing him when needed, asked questions and clarifications; never mention why I had come to his room.

I had come in Mr. Walker’s room to help him execute a Medical Power of Attorney, an order placed by one of his physician. By the time I introduced the reason for this visit, Mr. Walker had shared his life’s journey for over an hour. However, he made it clear that he has a Medical Power of Attorney in place but he never brought a copy to the hospital.

Mr. Walker volunteered to call his wife ask her bring a copy of his already executed Medical Power of Attorney. After explaining to him that it is not necessary, he said that she is coming later in the day besides he want her see a letter he wrote to her prior to coming to hospital which was according to him in the same folder as the copy of his Medical Power of Attorney. He said that this was an opportunity for her to find the letter since he had no intention of telling her he has written it.

Prior to coming to hospital, he had written a Will since he was not sure he will go back home. In the Will he had explained Dianna his wife how to balance family retirement finances and most importantly he had said his goodbyes to a woman he has lived with for 43 years.

Mr. Walker excused himself to make that important call to Dianna. I could tell from the direction he is giving her on where to find the copy of his executed Medical Power of Attorney that he knows where all his documents are and or he is intentionally directing her to where she can for the Will. This was a clear indication that he was prepared in case it happens that he would die.

After hanging up the phone with his wife, Mr. Walker laments that his wife may have it rough if he die, saying that she does not have interest of learning how to run things around the house like book keeping.

I felt comfortable to end this visit knowing that Mr. Walker has unloaded himself, discussing his fears, worries, frustrations and concerns. I promised him to check on him following day.

Later the following day, Mr. Walker called the office spoke to my supervisor and indicated to him that him and I had a very productive visit and he would want me visit if time allows.

Watch for the next visit with him in this blog