Blog Update:Manhood Section

Manhood

Courtesy of Daily Sun

 
The greatest want of the world is the want of men,--men who will not be bought or sold; men who in their inmost souls are true and honest; men who do not fear to call sin by its right name; men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole; men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.--Education, p. 57. (1903)

Around the world various rites of passages are performed to introduce young boys to manhood. The desire behind these different rituals is to have boys leave their childish tendencies, taking on more responsibility and playing a significant role in the society.

These rites of passages often focus on the physical:strength,the ability to bear pain;while paying no attention to the character.What we then have is a crisis:men who attribute their manliness to their strength and by virtue of their gender;while failing to understand their duty and reaching their full potential.

Then what we have is:
Abuse against children and women
Rape of young children,elderly women,and even boys
Crime 
Infedility as proof of one's manliness
Negligent Fathers,absent fathers and abandonment

In the end, we have crumbling societies and a continuous cycle of false manhood,lost identity and young men who are confused.All these and more are proof that manhood is under attack and rites of passages cannot transform a boy to a man.Had this been the case,the state of things would be different.

Amid all these injustices that many suffer in the hands of men,all is not lost.Men are able to be moral and the very pillars of society.Men are often presented as cold,heartless creatures who are self-centered and unfeeling.Yet various men,although few in percentage,have dissapproved this theory.

WHY THE MANHOOD SECTION? 

We've decided to introduce this manhood section because manhood is under attack yet all is not lost.Manhood can be redeemed and men can reach the standard that God had intended them to reach.We realise this can be a great platform to help our brothers who'd like to rise above what 'manhood' is today and become better men-in the truest sense.

CONTRIBUTOR(S) OF THIS SECTION?

A  friend and a brother, Babalo Vala,will be making contributions to this section.He will also be focusing on Transformation and Relationships.

I believe he's better qualified to write on this subject since he's a man and he's better relatable and understands manhood :).

Reflection:Time Spent with family,Part 2

The church of God is also a family.We are all children of one God.I'm thankful for the time spent at my home ch

urch.I'll miss my grannies,fathers,younger siblings and children.

Personally,I used to go to church for the sake of keeping the Sabbath.But the more I studied,I realised I also have a part to play in God's church.It goes beyond using my talents.It also includes a spirit of service.It includes showing love and more.

Over the years,as time gets closer to the end,selfishness seems to increase.It's all about oneself.For some,church is for socialization-nothing more.

Even sadder is when we become narrow-minded,forgetting that we are all struggling against sin,and the fact that we are not competing.We all desire to be saved.

"We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak,and not to please ourselves.

Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.

For even Christ pleased not himself;but,as it is written,The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me."-Romans 15:1-3

"Bear ye one another's burdens,and so fulfill the law of Christ."-Galatians 6:2

"Let us not be desirous of vain glory,provoking one another,envying one another."-Galatians 5:26

Instead:"let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works."-Hebrews 10:24

But we cannot have such relations,if we choose to only love those whose views are the same as ours and those with dispositions we like.It goes beyond.It also includes building relations with those we are not used to,who are different.And in such,that the church grows in love.Not easy,since I personally sometimes suffer from the spirit of exclusivity (In need of grace!).

We need more than mere formalities.It's so easy to refer to "brothers" or "sisters",while in the truest sense,we act differently.Why am I only learning these things now?*screams silently*

1 Timothy 5:1-2;Titus 2:3-5 outlines how we ought to relate to each other.

Nurturing others is very important.The mind of Christ does not go around looking to be honored,but is about service.

Children are to be cherished too.They need to be loved.We need to cultivate in them a desire to know Christ personally.Christ died for them too.He even declared that they have a part in the kingdom of God.We often relate to them as if they can never understand spiritual things.An 8 year old girl once asked me:how do I know if I'm right with God?See what I mean?

These children must know the saving truths for themselves,so that they realize Christ is interested in them personally.If these lessons are given to these children,they'll make different decisions from ours.Thus being a blessing to others too.

There are many ways we can be a blessing and reach out to one another.It's in the little things.Taking the effort,giving an ear and you actually get to realize that people are going through a lot.Then we are able to actually pray for each other sincerely.And you know what is great?When the prayer has been answered.

I think of the assumptions I've had about certain individuals.Only to realise,they are totally different when you get to know them.

The church shouldn't be a place where we hurt others.A place of contention.It should be a safe place,where we are able to share our struggles,pray with and for each other.A place to learn about God.

I always ask myself,had the church been like this,would there be so many young girls falling pregnant?Young girls and boys choosing seasonal sins over eternal interest?

It starts with an individual.

Hebrews 12:3"For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself,lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds".

"Put on therefore,as the elect of God,holy and beloved,bowels of mercies,kindness,humbleness of mind (this!!!!!!!),meekness,longsuffering (pheeuw,this too!!!).
Forbearing one another,and forgiving another,if any man have a quarrel against any:even as Christ forgave you,so also do ye.
And above all these things put on charity,which is the bond of perfectness."-Colossians 3:12-14

Reflections:Time spent with family,Part 1

So,I've been at home for 2 months and 3 weeks now.Today I was supposed to leave and I decided to cancel my trip.Reason is,home has been great you know and I really don't feel like leaving.I also wanted to just have a quiet moment of reflecting and prepare my mind.



I used to feel like a month at home is too much.

But this time around,I actually wish I could just take a year off and just be at home.

As I reflect,I've learnt that the reason we often do not like being home that much is because we sometimes make it all about us."My dad and I aren't that close,so I'd rather be elsewhere". It can be many excuses.

But it changes everything when we realise that we each have a part to play in making the home a happy place.Until recently,I used to think it was the parent's role to ensure that the home runs well,but that's not how God sees it-everyone has a part.

If I'd like a better relationship with anyone in my own family,I've got to take the step and get to know the other person.Find out what they like,what their views are about certain things etc.And in all this,you get to understand the individual more,gets easier to relate and the closer you get.

Happiness in the home does not happen by chance.It requires self-denial too.Putting the needs of the other first.Not easy but doable through the strength that Christ imparts.

I think of moments where I'd be deep in thought or just reading,and my dad would call out to me and ask me to bring him water.Initial thoughts would be:"But I'm doing some reading and you  are closer to the kitchen than I am".

But the more I denied my own wants and served him,I began to enjoy these tasks.Knowing that my dad could count on me made me happy.Joy is in the little things actually.

I think we sometimes get so engrossed about the future or whatever that captures our attention at a certain point that we forget to live in the moment.And it is in the moments that have been overlooked and not used,that regrets surface and we miss out on beautiful opportunities:loving,forming intimate relations,making memories.It's a sad realization believe me.

We must learn to extend the same grace that God extends to us.How forbearing is God towards us,how his heart yearns over us!!Yet mom says something offensive and you decide to give her silent treatment.Imagine if God was like that to us?What am I saying?Most things are not worth getting offended over.We are all part of the great controversy,and we must ever remember that those we love are struggling with sin too.

Lastly,pray for your loved ones.It changes much.I've seen it in my life and that of my family.If you notice defects in your loved ones,pray about them.It also helps to point them out.

I think consistency is key:consciously choosing to love,to laugh instead of getting angry.God is willing and able to help us in our endeavor to have happy families,since he is the author of the home.So we keep learning!!!


"Marked diversities of disposition and character frequently exist in the same family,for it is in the order of God that persons of varied temperament should associate together.When this is the case,each member of the household should sacredly regard the feelings and respect the right of the others.By this means mutual consideration and forbearance will be cultivated,prejudices will be softened,and rough points of character smoothed.Harmony may be secured and the blessing of varied temperaments may be a blessing to each."-Mind,Character,and Personality,Volume 1,E.G.White,p.251

"God wants us to help one another by a manifestation of sympathy and unselfish love.There are those who have inherited peculiar tempers and disposition.They may be hard to deal with,but are we faultless?They are not to be discouraged.Their errors are not to be made common property.Christ pities and helps those who err in judgement.He has suffered death for every man,and because of this,HE HAS A TOUCHING AND PROFOUND INTEREST IN EVERY MAN."-MCP,v.1,p...

Prayer is inclusive-Edited Version :)!

"I exhort therefore,that,first of all supplications,prayers,intercessions,and giving of thanks,be made for all men.

For kings,and for all that are in authority;that we may lead a quiet and peaceble life in all godliness and humility" (2 Timothy 2:1-2)

I got some powerful lessons from these two verses.Firstly,I have learnt that prayer is inclusive.Often,we pray for those we know.But we are counselled to pray for every men.

This means everyone-whether we know them personally or not does not matter.

This includes rapists,drug users,the guy who robbed me,those who hurt me and I've hurt.Because none is invincible and we all need prayer.

Secondly,those who are in leadership need prayers too. It's easy to point out the errors of those who are leading,to complain.But have we bothered to pray for them?Have we bothered to ask that God grants them wisdom,strength and all that they need to be better kings and leaders?

Do you take the time to pray for your father who is the head of the house or you are too bitter to even pray for him?What about those Christ has placed you under?Do you pray for your superiors?

What about the elders,deacons,pastors?They really need our prayers.

God continues to instuct us: "pray for them that despitefylly use you,and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44).

In fact, Jesus prayed for us while we were his enemies: "Neither pray I for these alone,but for them also which shall believe on me through their word" (John 17:20).

Hadn't it been for this prayer where would you and I be?

I personally do not know any powerful agent besides prayer.

There's been times when I've been bitter,hurt,disappointed,discouraged,heartbroken and through prayer,all this was healed.

There has been moments when I held grudges because of pain and betrayal,but once I prayed for those who hurt me,I healed.This is how poweful prayer is.

Perharps one of the reasons we hold so much hate,anger,bitterness is because we do not pray for those individuals who are the cause.

Not only them,but those we hold dearly.It's not enough to say we love,prayer is needed.

We might not be able to encourage,revive,comfort,but prayer does much.

May we carry each other to the throne of grace.

Many are getting discouraged.Many are leaving the fold of God.Families are breaking up.Many need healing.We ourselves need victory over sin,strength to resist.We have no time to be lazy.

Prayer availeth much.

Through prayer,broken relations are mended.Those who love pleasure more than God are revived and inspired to choose God.I myself am a product of prayer.Had it not been for the faithful utterances of others on my behalf,I do not know where I would have been.

As we enter into a 'new year', let's commit to prayer more.To make prayer slots.To have prayer partners.To have prayerful families.

And you know what,it brings you closer to God.Try it.

This is good and acceptable to God :).