Love

"Neighborhood is not about space but the heart" Dr. Berchie

Sometimes situations and circumstances keep us distance from the people we love and care so much about in this life. But you know, though they may be far away from us, we can still love and care for them as much as possible by keeping them in our hearts. Pray for those you love, think about and care for them. Bless their lives always. Find them nearer by Keeping them in your heart.

God bless you!

The Beautiful Nature of Excellence

Excellent is derived from the Latin word 'Excel ere' meaning 'Go beyond ordinary, to Outdo, to Surpass in good quality, Eminently good, Notable, Premium, Exceptional, First class, etc.

On the other hand is Mediocrity which means 'Ordinary, Substandard, Low grade, Inferior, Second class, etc.

These two words are elements of life, the first 'Excellence' is a friend while the second 'Mediocrity' is an enemy. Both are arduous in this life, but you have to decide which one you will live with in this life, either with the enemy or the friend. I prefer a friend to an enemy to live with in my home.

One need to work hard in order to make this friend part of him/herself. Melchizedeck penned that "it is not just a word; it is attitude, a mindset, a lifestyle" this is why we need to work at it very hard to make it a habit. You can choose to settle for the mean while excellence is available or go all the way to excellence which of course is preferable in society.

There are many challenges, obstacles, stumbling blocks on the way to excellence, but it is very achievable. Work hard, go the extra mile, for 'there are no traffic jams on the the highway to excellence'. Remember excellence is reachable only by the providence of God, keep in touch with Him. When you fall in the course to achieve excellence, rise as many as you live, never give up on achieving excellence.

I have learnt my lessons the hard way, I did not aim for excellence at the start, but it is still possible to achieve. Learn from my mistake, target excellence on the scratch. Never settle for Mediocrity 'enemy' while Excellence 'friend' is attainable.

"Excellence is Godly, Mediocrity is evil" Melchizedeck

Source:
A. O. Melchizedeck The Eagle's Mindset (Zion Books, 2014)

The Great Virtues

"Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anyone else expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Never pity yourself. Be a hard master to yourself and be lenient to everyone else."
Henry Ward Beecher 

A person of character possess series of virtues or values such as courage, compassion, generosity, temperance, persistence, friendliness, etc. The basic or most important one however is Integrity. This value (integrity) determines the strength and depth of ones character.

It is your level of integrity, living in complete truth with yourself and others that demonstrates more than anything else the quality of your character. In a way, integrity is actually the virtue that guarantees all the other values. When your level of integrity is higher, you are more honest with yourself and more likely to live consistently with all the other values that you admire and respect.

"What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear a word that you say" Ralph Waldo Emerson
Strangely, our characters show the world what kind of people we are but not our words. It takes tremendous self-discipline to become a person of character. Learn to speak less and be a person of action.

Make it a point today to build a considerable willpower to always "do the right thing" in every situation. Develop a positive mentality, ability, and live a life of integrity.
God bless you!






Brain Tracy, The Power of Self-Discipline; (Vanguard Press, 2010)

Christ's Method Alone!

There are many distressed, dejected, and helpless people in the world today, in fact they are in our communities, churches, work places and our very homes. People who feel invalid and hopeless, they and down into despair and probably have lost all hope on recovery. Life is pressing hard on them from every corner, they have no peace, joy nor happiness. Sadly, we give them no treats of faith, hope nor courage for progress in this life. It seems we are telling them "its okay not to exist" or probably "you don't exist in our hearts". They are damaged in all areas of life; physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. E.G. White wrote in the Ministry of healing "Everywhere there are hearts crying out for something which they have not" 

When Jesus Christ saw the multitude, "... He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd." (Mat 9:36 CSB)
"Our Savior was interested in the whole person - physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually" He cared for those who needed his care, he fed the hungry, and gave water to the thirsty. He healed the sick, and uplifted the downcast. He gave hope to the hopeless, comfort the grieved in societies. He did all things possible for the well-being of the people He ministered to in order to uplift their souls to God. He did not relegate their spirituality, but gave them the words of hope and life. He summed it all on the cross at Calvary when he pronounced "it is finish". 

Follow his example
"The world needs today what it needed nineteen hundred years ago - a revelation of Christ.." Our world today, or best put, the people around us need Christ, they must see Christ in us.  E.G. White says "Christ's method alone will give true success in reaching the people" we need therefore to follow His example.

Have the people at heart, care, and love them. Be kind to everyone and support them in your capacity. show them Christ in all your practices, let them be at ease to be with you. If the whole world rises against them, be their friend. Mother Teresa said "if you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one". In other words, to as you are able.

God bless you! 

source: Adventist Review September 25, 2014
http://www.adventistreview.org

Unity is Essential but.....

Unity exist among the Godhead. Christ Jesus likewise prayed “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:21). This depicts that He wants His followers to be united in Him.  Unfortunately, there are many divisions in Christendom than any other religion, but the master and leader of Christianity is Jesus Christ the Savior of the world.

Christian groups such as the Catholics which, forms the majority of the population of Christians, the Protestants, the Orthodox, Pentecostals, etc. has made great efforts to unite or bring Christendom under one umbrella "Ecumenism" with different ideas, understanding and philosophies. This unified body is hardly to come by due to the fact that there are also divisions among denominations.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is not against the unification of the body of Christ Jesus. However, the church is not part of this unified body "Ecumenism". Nevertheless, pastors and leaders of the church should not live in isolation from other denominations. They should seize every opportunity to share their unique faith and believe with other denominations. The Seventh-day Adventist Church believe that any effort to unite the body of Christ "churches" must be based on the pure truth of the Holy Bible. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org