Desire for a Better Life
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The primary reason is to reflect upon my life experience as a Christian on various life issues that happen around me both locally and internationally, and my interpretation of them from Christian perspective. The second reason is to seek funds to aid street children program in my home town in Kenya. While the long time goal would be to establish a foundation to care for street children and related ministries. The street program will include but not limited to feeding, medical care, clothing, training street boys and girls for trades or shills that will make them self-supporting for life. It will include spiritual care, body and mind (Luke 2:40, 52). The book when finished might be used as a counselling manual for adults and all people in general. Finally, if published, it will be my contribution to the society and legacy to posterity. My Appeal: If you buy my e-book, you will help my wife and I to feed the hungry children in our home town, Nakuru, Kenya and you will fulfill the commandment of Jesus of helping the needy (Matthew 25:35ff). In so doing, you will help us to achieve our lifetime dream. Thank you!
GIVING IN THE CHURCH: Church giving is a controversial Subject among church members. Examples of giving are: Tithes, sacrificial giving, weekly giving or monthly giving these cause confusions to church members. We need to ask ourselves the following questions on Christian giving: Why do we give? Consider Christ’s giving Himself as ultimate sacrifice (John 3:16). We give so as to reach out to people with the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. What should we give? I think the best of ourselves and the best of what God has given us. This was the underlying reason in the temple sacrifices. When do we give? As a Christian, it is whenever the opportunity to give to a worthy cause presents itself. What does the scripture say? The Bible talks about planned intentional systematic giving, or hundred percent giving or liberally as the Spirit leads us. A good example is the poor widow whom Jesus noticed and highly commended her (Luke 21:1ff; also see 2 Cor. 8 and 9).
Prof Michael Parbacus, a long time professor in Saint Louis Christian College, Saint Louis, in one of his sermons at Inner City Christian Church, Saint Louis challenged the giving through checks which are tax deductible and is refunded at the end of the tax year, stating that it is not a Christian giving. Though this kind of giving helps the church budget; he argued that in such giving there is no element of sacrificial giving, or ultimate sacrifice motives which is the main elements in Christian giving as reflected in the Sacred Scriptures (Bible). A good example of ultimate giving is our Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:16; also 2 Corinthians chapter 8 and 9; Philippian 2; Romans 6). In Christian giving we do not expect a return or a refund in any way but the Good Lord will reward us in the areas of our need. Genuine and sincere Christians give because of God’s love for us all and this promotes and motivates us to give without expecting a return; but God promises to bless us in the areas of our need. Truly there is no limit in Christian giving. However, Americans Christians give in many other ways and their generosity is known all over the Christian world. For a devoted Christian, any time is giving time! Christian giving measures our commitment to the gospel message of Jesus Christ.
The Bible calls everybody both the wealthy and poor to give because the giving is in the heart. EXAMPLES OF GIVERS: Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man gave his burial tomb for Jesus to be buried in (Matt.27:57; Mark 15:42ff; Luke 23:50ff). Jesus commended the poor widow who gave all her earning of the day, that is one hundred percent (Luke 21). Zacchaeus the tax collector gave most of his wealth after an encounter with Jesus (Luke 19:1ff). The Bible tells us not go into the presence of the LORD empty handed. Let us thank the Almighty God for His care and protection, His provision of food and shelter. Let us continually give so that others will be benefit. Let us follow the ultimate giving of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for our everlasting salvation. Let us thank Almighty God for the blessing of this life and the precious gift of ETERNAL LIFE. Let us be committed to what we promised to do to God and to other people after we got saved.
If we have nothing to give, we can give our mind, soul, and heart to the Lord (Matthew 22:36ff). Let us pay attention to the Word of God and meditate upon it (Psalm 19:14). Let us pray to God the Holy Spirit to help us to understand the Word of God, meditate upon the Lord, praise the Lord, and tell others about Him.
THE BLACK MAN: My experience of the black man: “Hey, M, please note that the black man’s jacket is never touched.” I had moved the position of his jacket where we hang jackets during winter time because he hanged it on my spot. I never thought it was a big deal until he entered the room. I mean the Men’s Locker room in the work place. Before he had sat down he had noted that his winter jacket was in another position next to mine. It is for this reason he gave me the warning. His tone sounded serious. This man is six feet plus and looks hefty. He weighs more than 300 pounds and is in his early fifties. He looked scaring to me. I was not his match. He was known for his emotional outbursts. I told him “I am sorry” and kept my peace. I felt intimidated. Let the reader note that, this is not my typical description of all black Americans…
QUARTERS, asking for quarters: Some people supposedly poor or unemployed will ask for a quarter from their fellow men, or anybody’s else who looks like he can give. I have become a victim of giving a quarter(s), sometimes…
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About the Book
As his unique contribution to solve current issues in our society, Mr. Ndungu shares personal experience, cultural tips, reflections, inspirations, spiritual matters and the use of common sense. Additionally, he discusses curses and Church giving. He suggests possible tools to minimize violence in general esp. among the black people like: Commitment in marriage and family life, teaching relational skills, respecting life of other person as sacred, teaching young people how to solve problems without resulting to violence. Also, an establishment of intervention groups from community opinion holders among Black people in the inner cities in would help. He believes all these can reduce violence considerably. He anticipates that his suggestions can serve as short and long term solutions to violence in the world. He sees what happened in Ferguson (his neighbor) as a tip of an iceberg. It is something that may happens again and again. He defends the black woman and appeals for respect for all women in general. He calls attention to finding solution to street girls in his neighborhood. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, he is firmly convinced that lasting solutions can only be derived from the gospel.
About the Author
Mr. Ndungu holds Bachelor Divinity from Saint Paul’s University Limuru, Kenya and MA in Counseling Psychology from United States International University Nairobi campus Kenya. He has long experience on one on one counseling skills for many years. Currently, the author teaches and preaches under the senior Pastor Roger Wiseman and his wife Beth Wiseman of the Inner City Christian Church, Saint Louis.