Becoming change
August 21, 2008
At a prayer meeting in the early 1900s, Mahatma Gandhi was confronted with the general consensus amongst those in attendance that they had no power to affect change. It was there that he uttered the now famous saying “we must become the change that we want to see in the world”.
Senator Barack Obama, the self-designated ‘Change Candidate’ in this year’s US Presidential Election once said “I’m asking you to believe not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington…I’m asking you to believe in yours.”
Both men in articulating what I find to be an inconvenient truth, understood what can be done when the populace becomes engaged in their communities by and through the Political Process, by advocating Social Justice and by working to improve the lives of the least regarded.
Jesus’ example, as is seen in the writings of the Holy Bible and Holy Koran, is a great reference point on how this can be done. The Christian faith tradition speaks to that He did not leave affecting change exclusively in the hands of the prophets, He stepped out of His comfort zone and became and affected change Himself.
You and I have the power to affect change in our own communities or in distant lands. For me, this has included sponsoring three children from the Philippines, Ecuador and India and volunteering at a Homeless Shelter in Washington, DC. For you, it could be as simple as getting involved in the electoral process and even volunteering in your local community.
Here’s how you can make a difference…
RESOURCES
Akhenaton
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
This is how Trinis celebrate Soccer!
August 15, 2008
The excitement of the Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) fans at last night’s Friendly Soccer Game against El Salvador was palpable. Outnumbered by the El Salvadorians 3 to 1, the Trinis, with a huge Rhythm Section (Band) outfitted with horns, trumpets, drums and every imaginable thing that would make noise, showed the tens of thousands of Salvadorians at the RFK Stadium in Washington DC what a cheering squad should look like, how they should dance, how they should party and how they should celebrate.
It was a good game; actually, I take that back; it was a GREAT game! Great, not only because the T&T Soca Warriors won (final score 3-1), but because of the Carnival-like atmosphere which kept me on my feet, dancing and sometimes gyrating for every second of the 93 minute game.
In true Trini style, the victory was consummated with a huge fete (party) which included throngs of T&T fans who gathered outside the walls of RFK Stadium, accompanied by the Rhythm Section, a feat that was infectious enough to attract a few adoring Salvadorian fans who could not resist the lure of the boisterous, dancing and flag waving Trini crowd.
This is how Trinis do it! This is is how Trinis party! This is how Trinis play and celebrate Soccer…..win or lose!
Click here to view photos and videos
Akhenaton
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
China: Estinguish the flames of Genocide in Darfur
August 8, 2008
From The Save Darfur Coalition…
As the primary economic, military and political partner of the Government of Sudan, and as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China has both the opportunity and the responsibility to contribute to a just peace in Darfur.
The atrocities in Darfur continue to intensify. Of the seven million inhabitants of Darfur, over 400,000 have already died due to the conflict and 2.5 million have been displaced. Rape and sexual violence have been and continue to be used as weapons of war against untold numbers of girls and women.
The Government of Sudan has also been involved in the forced relocation of people from refugee and Internally Displaced Peoples camps. Without homes to return to those displaced are left vulnerable to further attack.
As host of the 2008 Olympic games, China has a special role to play in ensuring that its actions this year are commensurate with the Olympic ideals of peace and international cooperation.
Akhenaton
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
Don’t believe with your eyes (Republished)
August 5, 2008
Teacher of the Law of Attraction, Lisa Nichols says that “most of the time, when we don’t see the things that we’ve requested, we get frustrated. We get disappointed and begin to become doubtful.”
I was once one of the chief culprits of acting on that feeling- that is, the feeling of defeat, frustration and disappointment when things did not go my way.
This was simply because I am a spoiled brat, yes, you heard me say it; I am just used to getting whatever I want and (in the past) when this did not happen, I’d go into defeat mode. Defeat mode meant depression, going into isolation and self-pity.
How about you? Do you go into defeat mode whenever you see things are not going your way? I know I’m not alone on this…
Here’s what put me on the path to victories…
The Ephesians 6:12 Principle
I have learned to incorporate what I call the Ephesians 6:12 principle in every area of my life. Ephesians 6:12 says that the battles that we face in life are more than what meets the eye. There are evil forces working day and night to discourage us. Evil forces disguise or manifest themselves in the form of difficult people or difficult circumstances. The best counter-attack is giving them over to God who has promised to fight out battles for us!
Belief
I have learned to believe not with my eyes, but with my heart. There are many things that we want in life right now, but we are just not ready to receive them. God always gives us what we need in His (perfect) timing. If more energy is spent focusing on the goal, the journey would be a million times easier!
Walk in victory
I have learned to start celebrating my victories preemptively. Jesus said to His disciples in Mark 11:24 that “you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours”. Do not sit in shadow of desperate want. Start celebrating your victory the moment you’ve gotten off your knees from praying because the victory is promised and it is around the corner!
We are always going to come across walls in the path of the journey of our lives but we have the bulldozer of faith. No matter where we are in our spiritual journeys, we have the power to use it!
Finally, when it seems as though fate has pressed the pause button in your life, always remember that Christ controls of the power button. You are in good hands! Do not believe with your eyes, the picture is STILL in motion.
Akhenaton
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
Up to HUGE pipe organ bonfire?
August 2, 2008
Today I will be attending what I call a ‘Euro centric Church’. Most prefer to say ‘traditional’. If you know me well enough, you’ll know that I am not very fond of the formulaic culture of traditional churches. I am of the personal opinion for example that all (yes all!) pipe organs and hymn books should be tossed into a bonfire. Just my personal opinion.
I better express my peeve with traditional Christianity in this article here
Akhenaton
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
