God’s more hi tech than you think!
May 27, 2007
There are few traditions that are hard for me to break on Saturdays; two of which are listening to one of my favorite radio stations (WGTS 91.9FM) and going to church.
Being away from Maryland (I’m writing from Ohio), you’d think that accomplishing these tasks would have been impossible, right? Wrong!
Thanks to my Treo 700p Smart Phone, I was able to connect my phone to the car’s cigarette lighter and listen to WGTS 91.9 FM while travelling through Pennsylvania and while at my destination (Ohio).
Later in the day, I was able to watch today’s sermon from church. (on the same phone!)
Isn’t that cool?
! Well, for fellow Treonauts (i.e. the 7.3 million people who own a Treo Smart Phone) that’s no biggie, but I still think it is just radical how technology can make our world seem so much smaller by the click of a mouse or the tap of an LCD screen.
This is nothing new to the Big Guy up there (speaking of God). He is the pioneer of the ‘technology’ that allows Him to be in touch with what is going on everywhere, whether it be the United States, Iraq, Europe or elsewhere.
The scriptures say that He is ‘omnipresent’, meaning that He is present everywhere… simultaneously!
We all have access to that ‘technology’ today. You see, God dwells in the heart of every living human being on the face of this earth, but the only way for Him to manifest Himself in us is if we call on Him.
The Broadband Connection that allows me to listen to WGTS 91.9fm or watch the sermons from my church right from my Treo phone is always there, but it takes a few steps before I can actually listen or watch…
I pay a monthy subscription to be able to access the aforementioned services, but the technology offered by God is not $10 a month, not even $20 a month, it is free….yes…FREE! I invite you to make use of that technology today.
If you haven’t done so, just ask Him to take control of your life, find a Bible-believing church and a supportive network of friends and I promise you, your life would never be the same.
From my heart, to yours,
Akhenaton
WGTS 91.9FM www.wgts919.com
New Hope Church www.lookingforachurch.org
The desire to challenge..
May 14, 2007
I have always tried to keep an open mind in every situation. One of my uncles who is a Minister, frequently says “always look at the big picture”. As a man of faith, presumably this can be difficult at times right? I think not.
For me, my curiosity or want to find out the “why” or the “how” in matters of faith have actually brought me closer to God. When some Christian leaders said that the DaVinci Code was ‘off-limits’ to Christians, I rushed to the store to get the book (and subsequently the DVD); when a family member of mines converted to the Jehovah’s Witness faith, against the wishes of others, I visited a Kingdom Hall (Jehovah’s Witness Church) to get a better understanding of their faith.
- Approach everything with an open mind.
- Wonder about God- It’s okay to challenge the established. Do not rely on everything you have been taught because ‘he or she said so’. Find out for yourself why…!
- Look at the bigger picture. Do not be so quick to sum up things/events in your life. Take a step back; take things apart and allow yourself to think before taking action.
For you…
May 12, 2007
There are times when we are so close to throwing in the towel. There are times when we feel rejected; there are times when we cry; there are times when we feel worthless in the sight of God. There are times when we mess up BIG time!
BUT….in the midst of it all, who is there? Who is there when we dial a number and no one answers? Who is there when we are too ashamed to go out in public; who is there when we do not even have the zeal to get out of bed?
JESUS is there!
It is my prayer that if you are going through an unpleasant moment in your life today, you would find the courage to reach out to God- in the best way you can.
He (God) wants better things for you in every area of your life! He is ready to fight for you….right now! (Nehemiah 4:20) All you have to do is give it ALL to Him and you will experience a breakthrough, more than you’ve ever imagined!
May you experience peace today.
From my heart, to yours,
Akhenaton
oooh patience!
May 11, 2007
- …you get all of the red lights en route to your destination?
-
…there would be an accident on the road?
-
…all (and I mean ALL) of the idiot drivers come out on the road?
So what do we do?
- …slam on the horn
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…show the driver who cut you off the middle finger
- …curse!
What should we do?
- Ephesians 4:2- Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
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Romans 12:12- Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction…
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Psalms 37:8- Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret–it leads only to evil.
Finally…
2 Corinthians 6:4-6: In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.
(5) We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food.
(6) We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.
From my heart, to yours,
Akhenaton
Electric fences
May 9, 2007
To all my readers
May 9, 2007
When I check my e-mail on mornings, my is Inbox bursting at it’s seams with e-mails from family, friends, clients, spammers (angry face) and e-scriptions.
I am typically a news junkie. I always know what’s going on in the US or around the world, but somehow, I missed the news of the Greensburg tornado. 8 precious lives and 95% of the homes in that beautiful town were lost.
One of my popular articles in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech tragedy dealt with prevailing in the midst of tragedy.
Tragedies (big and small) are a fact of life; until the end of time, there will ALWAYS be tragedies. With Faith and Community, however, the consequential burdens become a million times lighter.
Join me in praying for the Greensburg community and by doing what you can to support them financially or otherwise. Let us also keep the people of Dafur and those affected by the Civil War in Iraq in our prayers.
Read We will prevail, my response to the Virginia Tech tragedy here
From my heart, to yours,
Akhenaton
What do Christians and Gays have in common?
May 6, 2007
On my way home from church yesterday, I saw a Rainbow Flag perched on the roof of a building, gently caressed by the cool mid-afternoon breeze.
I assumed that the building was a Gay establishment given that the Rainbow (also known as the PACE/PEACE Flag) is associated with the gay community.
Rainbow flags have been long associated with diversity, inclusiveness and hope and I couldn’t help but draw parallels with this and the gospel of Christ.
What I thought about when I saw the rainbow flag…
THE RAINBOW: I thought about the Bible story of Noah and the Ark when God gave the him the sign of a Rainbow as a promise. (Watch the story of Noah and the Ark here).
DIVERSITY: I also thought about the story of creation where God created diversity. In Australia alone, there are more than 25,000 species of flowering plants. There are about 9,000 known species of birds in the world today. There is diversity in EVERYTHING that God created. (Watch the creation story here)
INCLUSIVENESS: I thought about the message of salvation and the unconditional love of God which is available to ALL of mankind: whether Black or White, Christian or Muslim, Gay or Straight, Conservative or Liberal; ALL are valued by God. (Read it from the Bible here)
HOPE: I thought about when I first discovered and appreciated the concept of hope for all of mankind. Quite ironically, it was at a church called New Hope. God gives us hope when we feel hopeless, He gives us hope when our lives just don’t seem to be going anywhere, hope when there is depression, hope when there is financial crisis. No matter what the situation, anyone who believes in Him has access to what is called ‘the blessed hope’.
When looked upon with an open mind, the rainbow flag, the symbol of a faction of society looked down upon by many in Christendom, has a message for us all. It tells of a God that celebrates diversity, a God whose love breaks down every barrier that man has set up and a God who offers hope for a dying world.
The very foundation of Christianity is summed up in one word: LOVE. Love for our friends, love for our neighbors, love for our enemies, love for the neglected, love for the abused, love, love, love!
The next time you see a rainbow flag, put aside your preconceived notions (or prejudices) for just one moment and think about love, God’s unconditional love for all of mankind.
Finally, exercise that love the way Christ meant it to be exercised. This love, once exercised correctly has the power to change countless lives for the better. The rainbow, once scorned would now comfortably be a representation of Christendom because in the right context, it is a true representation of Christ’s character.
From my heart, to yours,
Akhenaton
In the midst of tragedy…we can prevail!
April 22, 2007
Poet and Activist Nikki Giovanni delivered a soul-stirring speech that offered hope and consolation to the millions who witnessed Wednesday’s Invocation that took place on the Campus of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The underlying message that came from the lips of Giovanni was not only for those directly affected by the Virginia Tech tragedy, but for all mankind, for all time.
The whole concept of prevailing in tragedy is not new, yet many do not know how to prevail when faced with tragedy. It (tragedy) prompts many to question God’s motive for allowing ‘bad’ things to happen in our lives (and around the world).
We ask God…
- Why didn’t you stop the Virginia Massacre?
- Why do you allow so many innocent people to die in Iraq?
- Why did you allow my friend to die?
- Why did you allow my daughter to get pregnant?
The reality is that we live in an evil world and until the end of time, there will be terrorist attacks, wars, hurricanes, shootings and starvation.
God may not always protect us from pain, but His promise is that He will help us deal with pain. He promised to help us deal with difficult situations, He promised to give us the tools to help others who have experienced tragedy, He promised to help us Prevail!
Giovanni ended her speech with these words: “we are strong and brave and innocent and unafraid. We are better than we think, not quite what we want to be. We are alive to the imagination and the possibility we will continue to invent the future through our blood and tears, through all this sadness.”
In the midst of tragedy, with God’s help, we can prevail!
From my heart, to yours,
Akhenaton
-Read more about Nikki Giovanni, University Distinguished Professor, poet, activist here
Visiting the JW’s
April 20, 2007
Last night, on the invitation of a family member, I visited a Kingdom Hall (Jehovah’s Witness Church). I was anxious to go, because it would have afforded me the opportunity to get a better understanding of their faith, independent of established stereotypes.
- They dress really well. All of the women were attractively dressed and all of the men wore suits.
- There are no shouts of ‘Amen or Hallelujah’ during the talks (sermons). Jehovah’s Witnesses are very deliberate in not bringing attention to themselves. The only attention grabber is (’should be’) Jehovah God.
- The name ‘Jehovah’ (in reference to God) is said alot….alot!….really…a lot!
- The music (singing) was very solemn; well, to be honest, lugubrious at times. This is possibly however, because I am accustomed to celebration worship which would include clapping, lifted hands and dancing.
One of the things that stuck out to me the most is that ‘Jesus Christ’ was favourably referenced several times. I was pleasantly surprised when the overseer, (leader) ended the benediction (closing prayer) with the words “in the name of Christ, Amen”. They even call themselves Christians! Until then, I have ‘known’ them to be anti-Jesus.
In closing, while I have several theological issues with the Jehovah’s Witnesses (I am a Seventh-day Adventist Christian), I cannot doubt how earnest their hearts are and their dedication to spreading God’s love according to their understanding.
Will I visit again? I certainly will!
From my heart, to yours,
Akhenaton
Surprise Party…
April 15, 2007
The above picture captures well the surprise in the faces of my sister and cousin a week ago when they found out that they were both planning each other’s surprise Wedding Anniversary Party scheduled for the same day, the same place and the same time. Neither of them knew that they were actually planning their own party!
While they were busy getting things together on their end, yours truly, a couple cousins of mine and co-workers were covertly finalizing plans such as the cake design, getting a Minister to do the renewal of vows and ordering party favors.
The night was well spent; nothing could beat time spent with family, friends, well-wishers, some good Caribbean food and dancing till the wee hours of the morning!
Life brings about many surprises, some good, some bad. The bad surprises come in the form of the unexpected bill in the mail, the accident on the highway, the loss of a job or the loss of a loved one.
How we respond to bad surprises can determine if we are victorious in the circumst
ances we find ourselves in. As an independent-minded individual, I’d admit that I sometimes keep things to myself; there are times when I don’t even feel like talking to God.
I’ve come to realize however, that the struggles of life are best handled when I have someone to share them with. Talking to God, a friend or family member or sometimes even a stranger helps. It does!
When life overwhelms you, and you are faced with a bad surprise, find a trust-worthy, caring and non-judgemental companion who you can talk with. 99% of the times, the burden feels a million times lighter. It is important to know that we do not have to face our burdens alone!
My top 5 burden busters
5. Gym workout (which often involves interacting with others)
4. Chocolate (Hershey’s Symphony…yum yum)
3. Talking with a friend or loved one (Internet, phone or face-to-face)
2. Up-beat music (Christian or Pop)
1. Prayer (Talking to God)
From my heart, to yours,
Akhenaton
pharaohsprotege.com
View pictures from the party here
Happy Easter!
April 7, 2007
Nothing is more amazing or significant than the power of God that was shown in His resurrection.
When all hope seemed to be gone at His death, He miraculously came to life again! It is my prayer that you would experience hope, peace, joy and victory in every area of your life.
No matter where you are in your life, no matter what obstacles you may be facing, Jesus can use this same power to ressurect you!
Wishing you a Happy and Holy Easter.
From my heart, to yours,
Akhenaton
My train is crowded enough….isn’t it?!
March 25, 2007
I am a people person; I love people! I enjoy the company of family and friends. I love meeting new people!
Some common cliches that actually speak of balance…
How a "selfish" act changed my life forever
March 22, 2007
Nearly two years ago, a friend invited me to his church (admittedly) only because he wanted company…
Since attending, my life has changed:
- I feel more at peace
- I am closer to that place of contentment with my life
- I am better equipped to deal with the demands of life
Things I have learnt that brought me to this point in my life:
- God is REAL!- There was actually a time in my life that I doubted His existence
- God’s love is UNCONDITIONAL!- I no longer accept that I am not worthy of His love.
- Being a Christian is EASIER than I thought- It is not as hard as many people make it!
The reality is:
God’s love is amazing, it is unchanging! No matter if we are ‘good’ or ‘bad’, weak or strong, rich or poor, abused or the abuser, gay or straight, guilty or innocent, black or white, Christian or Muslim; His love is the SAME for us all! There is NOTHING that we can do that can separate us from His love. It is that principle, summarized by one word called ‘grace’ that changed my life forever.
From my heart, to yours,
Akhenaton
