Where am I missing the mark?

Today we are so busy we have no time for one another. The only time we get together is Sunday morning for the service and even then we don’t fellowship much because after service most of us are in a hurry.

When was the last time you took time to sit and learn the word of God from the “Apostles” God has placed in your life? When was the last time you opened up your home to other believers to just share a meal and fellowship?

When was the last time you attended and participated in a prayer meeting? When was the last time you denied yourself so that you could be a blessing to another?

The bible says that they share their food happily and freely and everyone liked them. The Lord added daily to their number. May we learn from the first believers may we slow down and have time to truly care for one another.
Reflect on the practices of the very first believes and ask yourself where am I missing the mark? What then are you willing to do about it?

THE EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION IN KENYA

1.      IDENTIFY AND DISCUSS THE EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION IN KENYA

Introduction

Globalization refers to global alliance and reliance in the matters of trade, culture and economy. It heavily banks upon worldwide expansion and integration (Steger, 2009). In addition, globalization is the process of international integration arising from the interchange of world views, products, ideas and other aspects of culture.  Advances in transportation and telecommunications infrastructure, including the rise of the telegraph and its development the Internet, are major factors in globalization, generating further interdependence of economic and cultural activities.

Globalization is an ongoing process of interaction and integration among the people, companies, and governments of different nations, a process driven by international trade and investment and aided by information technology. This process has effects on the environment, on culture, on political systems, on economic development and prosperity, and on human physical well-being in societies around the world (Held, 1999).

In Kenya is benefiting from globalization due to amazing innovation and rapid advancement in the field of information technology. Globalization has affected Kenya economically socially and politically. The effects are both positive and negative. Globalization has led to a capitalistic economy, religion, tourism, international trade, sports, erosion of culture, improved technology among other benefits as discussed below.

Economic Effects

Through globalization, there is increased economic interdependence of national economies across the world through a rapid increase in cross-border movement of goods, service, technology and capital. Kenya is trading with China, European Union, COMMESA and EAC. This International trade has come about due to improvements in transportation and communication. Establishment of free trade areas has become an essential feature of modern governments to handle preferential trading arrangements with foreign and multinational entities. There is processing of goods for export including Export Processing Zones (EPZ). Kenya is exporting flowers, coffee, tea among other goods.

Illicit international trade is on the rise also due to globalization. The international trade of endangered species is on the rise. In Kenya there is increased poaching of elephants and rhinos due to increase demand in ivory. However, ivory trade is illegal in Kenya. Drug trafficking is the highest in Illicit international trade. Others include smuggling industries, black markets and organized crime that operate on a transnational basis, with global sales totaling almost US$2 trillion annually as of 2013. The global drug trade generated more than US$320 billion a year in revenues. There are more than 50 million regular users of heroin, cocaine, and synthetic drugs worldwide. In Kenya Mombasa County is largely affected by drug abuse.

According to Held (1999), tourism is a product of globalization. In Kenya tourism contributed largely to the national budget. Masaai Mara and Tsavo among other national parks attract many tourists. Mombasa County and Rift Valley are other tourist attractions in Kenya. These attractions generate income and lead to cultural exchanges too.s

Globalization is also responsible for the ever-rising gap between the affluent few and the impoverished majority. The resulting feeling of despair and resentment can never augur well for the society. Globalization makes big multinationals and corporations powerful enough to seriously interfere with the policymaking of a country (Korten, 2001). For example in the communication industry Safaricom has dominated and monopolized mobile industry. This has led to collapse of telecom Kenya.  Since, they can call shots; the interest of the common man tends to get seriously jeopardized. Any other firm in Kenya cannot compete with Safaricom. Those who have tried are easily faced out including KENCELL, YU Mobile among others.

Giddens (1991), criticizes globalization for contributing to reducing global inequalities. While within-country income inequality has increased throughout the globalization period, globally inequality has lessened as developing countries have experienced much more rapid growth. Our country has benefited from donor funding including USAID and UKAID. China government has largely invested on Kenya’s roads including Thika Super Highway.

Employment opportunities have increased, for example many Kenyans are now working in the Middle East. Blue collar jobs are available in Lebanon and Dubai. Many experts such as medical doctors have found better paying jobs in Europe. Recently medical officers found jobs in Ebola hit regions. There are many Kenyan Professors who are teaching in universities abroad for example professor Ngugi wa Thiong’o who teaches at Cornell University.

Globalization has brought in a new kind of oppression in the form of flexibility, contracts, projects and ever-changing working conditions, instead of long-term steady jobs and income. The availability of cheaper labor abroad and the outsourcing are some of the factors that have made job security a thing of distant past. Kenya civil Service was believed to be very secure jobs that were permanent and pensionable. However there are now short and long term contracts depending on the government’s projects (Al-Rodhan, Nayef and Stoudmann, 2006).

Social Cultural Effects

Cultural globalization refers to the transmission of ideas, meanings and values around the world in such a way as to extend and intensify social relations. This process is marked by the common consumption of cultures that have been diffused by the Internet, popular culture media, and international travel (Robertson, 1992). In Kenya Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media platforms have facilitated cultural globalization. Kenyans are sharing to their friend in USA and Germany photos of their experiences after eating at KFC or Subway restaurants in Kenya.

 For long, globalization was thought to have one way impact on culture i.e. the impact of the U.S. culture on smaller nations and economies like Kenya. It is only in the recent present that America has started to realize that globalization is a sharp double edged weapon that cuts both ways. As a result of globalization there is great sharing of cultural identity. Cultural identity is a sum total of one’s unique personality, traits and a sense of recognition that one gets out of one’s identification with one’s race, religion and nationality (Sennett, 1998). This unique cultural identity is hard to preserve in the face of multiculturalism, consumerism, secularism and materialism propagated by globalization (Robertson, 1992).

 A good example is Kenyans in the diaspora. There are Kenyans who still identify with our cultures and tribes. However theirs is a shared cultural identity since some of them have double citizenship. This affects their way of life. There have to change some of their culture in order to accommodate their new cultures including intermarriages, religion and languages they speak.

In Kenya there is also cultural erosion where Kenyans are now adopting to global trends such as homosexuality. This is a new concept that is spreading fast among Kenyans. For example we have Kenyans like Binyavanga wainaina who is gay among others. These relationships were not existence in Kenya before globalization.

Cultural exchange is a result of globalization (Sennett, 1998).  The popular kiondo, Akala and Masaai Shuka are items that we export to other countries. This leads to greater incomes. Also in the recent past we have seen Japanese who is Playing Nyatiti a musical instrument from Luo land. We are also listening to western and eastern music. Thus the cultural exchange is two way.

According to Robertson (1992), globalization has led to creation of new sports to different cultures. Sports like football and athletics have been adopted in Kenya. Kenyans supports English Premier League over Kenya Football Leagues. Sports like chess and tennis were introduced in our society through globalization.

Religion has also been affected by globalization. Today Kenyans are watching international evangelists such as Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen. The Islam religion has also spread in our country due to access to the internet and travelling to Islamic states. Before globalization many Kenyan societies had shrines e.g. Kikuyus believe in Ngai wa Kirinyaga.

Political Effects

Globalization may ultimately reduce the importance of nation states. Supranational institutions such as the European Union, the WTO, the G8 or the International Criminal Court replace or extend national functions to facilitate international agreement (Robertson, 1992). In Kenya after 2007/2008 Post Election Violence Democracy we have suspects who are investigated and tried at ICC. Kenya as a country has adopted global institutions and is a signatory to international treaties.

Robertson (1992), argues that democratic globalization is a movement towards an institutional system of global democracy that would give world citizens a say in political organizations. This would, in their view, bypass nation-states, corporate oligopolies, ideological Non-governmental organizations (NGO), political cults and mafias. In Kenya we have multiparty systems and hold elections after five years. There is upholding of Human Rights borrowed from other nations and requirements of UN. Before that Kenya was colonized and operated under one party, KANU. The changes have come about due to globalization

Environmental Effects

Human challenges to the natural environment, such as climate change, cross-boundary water and air pollution, over-fishing of the ocean, and the spread of invasive species require at least transnational and, often, global solutions. Since factories in developing countries increased global output and experienced less environmental regulation, globally there have been substantial increases in pollution and its impact on water resources. It is through globalization that Kenya has formed National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) to address issues of pollution and climate change related challenges (Law, 2002).

CONCLUSION

Globalization describes the processes by which economies, societies and cultures have become integrated through communication, transportation and technology. It creates employment opportunities for many Kenyans. However a negative effect is brain drain experienced in the country today. Tourism and international trade are benefitting our economy but the multinationals remain a threat to our local industries.

Social Cultural globalization has introduced new values and character to Kenyans erasing the traditional beliefs and leading to an integrated culture. Political stability is enhanced through democracy and in areas there are peace keeping missions all based on global political networks under the umbrella body United Nations. Globalizations has changed our sports, food language, dressing, music, education, governance, trade and religion. Despite the challenges that come about due to globalization, Kenyans have largely benefited from globalization.

REFERENCES

1.      Korten, David. C. (2001). When Corporations Rule the World. San Francisco: Berrett
-Koehler.

2.      Sennett, R. (1998). The Corrosion of Character - The Personal Consequences of Work in the New Capitalism. New York: W.W. Norton

3.      Held, David.  (1999). Global Transformations Cambridge: Polity Press

4.      Steger, Manfred (2009). Globalization: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press.

5.      Low, Nicholas. (2002). Global Ethics and Environment. Routledge Science.

6.      Al-Rodhan, R.F. Nayef and Gérard Stoudmann. (2006). Definitions of Globalization: A Comprehensive Overview and a Proposed Definition.

7.      Robertson, Roland (1992). Globalization : social theory and global culture (Reprint. ed.). London

8.      Giddens, Anthony. (1991). The Consequences of Modernity Cambridge: Polity Press.

1.       Explain the roles of mass media in a globalized community

How far is Too Far

How Far is Too Far?

A wealthy man was in need of a chauffeur so he placed an advert in the local dailies. Three applicants showed up for the interview and on meeting with them he asked them this question.

“How close to the edge can you drive without going over the cliff?” The first man said, “A foot.” The second man said, “A meter.” The third said, “I always try to keep as far away as possible.” The third man got the job.

One of the things that amaze me is that when we are still new in the faith, we are so careful about what we watch, what we read and the places we hang out because we do not want to do anything that will take us back to the life of sin that we were living. We are so careful not to even have a hint of sin near us.

Then after we have been saved for a while we become careless in the way that we live. We try to see how close to the edge we can drive without tipping over.

That’s when we begin to ask questions like “How far is too far?” We no longer want to get as far away from sin as we can, but rather we want to see how close we can get to the sin without sinning and within not time we are in sin and we have all manner of justifications to explain our position.

How many times have you and I found ourselves justifying why we are watching a particular movie saying we are mature enough to know how to sieve the good and the bad?Or maybe we find ourselves constantly with the wrong kind of company but we justify ourselves by saying “we know what we are doing and how else are they to be reached?”

Or we fail to give but we always come up with some fancy story to justify why we have not given. The Israelite's were warned not to get involved with Philistine women, but I guess that did not apply to Samson.

He was the strongest man that ever lived. Was he not the man who tore apart a Lion with his bare hands? Is he not the one who single handed killed 30 men and took their clothes? With the jawbone of a donkey he killed one thousand men.

He was so strong, that at one time he pulled out the city gates and the posts and carried them on his shoulders, surely with all this strength, he must have thought he was exempt from all this “rules”.

Besides all this, he was also not to cut his hair. But the thing is this, Samson is messing around with Philistine women and he is still as strong as ever and soon enough he forgets the source of his strength to such a degree that he willingly tells Delilah the secret of his power and he allows her to cut off his hair.

The bible says he thought he would break loose and escape just like before but it was not to be. The same applies to you and I, the more we try to see how close we can get to the forbidden thing without getting entangled.

Soon we will lose the source of our power and like Samson we will lose our vision and end up a slave of the enemy.

Practical Application ~ How close to the edge of the cliff can you drive without falling over? Only you can answer that question.

You are not on my mind, I am in my mind

You are not  on my mind, I am in my mind 

Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. I will be on my mind

A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances.

I will not let petty inconveniences such as traffic jams, long lines, congestion and delays be my masters. I will avoid negativity and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark.

Today I will make a difference. I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven:

Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. I will drink each minute as though it is my last.

When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving, being all I can be as I give glory and honour to my Lord and creator.

Today I will make a difference. I will not let past failures haunt me.

Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things, which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things, which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on, victoriously. No failure is fatal.

It's OK to stumble... I will get up. It's OK to fail... I will rise again because I know that my God has a good plan for my life. Today I will make a difference. I will spend time with those I love; my family and friends.

Psalm 68:6 God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minutes of talking, hugging, thanking or listening.

Five undiluted minutes with family and friends. I don't know about you, but personally I am not waiting for the right circumstances or someone else to do it for me my mind is made up: Today I will make a difference.

learnt form my mum

Below are six wonderful lessons you can only learn from your mum.

1. Grace

Gracefulness is being thankful, having a humble spirit, being forgiving and being polite. Mothers are forgiving, thankful, humble and polite. No matter the number of times you mess up, she will forgive you anyway.

2. Responsibility

Mothers teach us how to clean up ourselves, our rooms, be tidy, as well as how to do what is right and at the right time. My mum taught me how to be responsible with my finances and how to use my time wisely. Through my mum, I have inner discipline, a sense of responsibility and accomplishment as well as self-pride.

3. To Be Presentable

My mum taught me always ensured that I left the house looking presentable and smart. I remember a day when I went to the grocery shop on my pajamas and when I got back she asked me whether it was fine with me to walk along the streets in pajamas. I knew she didn’t like it.

4. How to Cook

My mum is never a fan of restaurant foods. She always makes sure we have home-cooked food for the whole family. In my teenage years, she would occasionally call me to join her in the kitchen to help her with cooking. Being a keen observer, I learnt how the trade is done.

5. Making the Right Choices

Life is made of the choices we make. My mum has always been influential in the crucial choices I have made. She taught me to take time and be analytical before making a major decision. She taught me not to look for qualities such as rich, powerful, and a movie star look-alike man but rather a financially responsible, gentle, emotionally strong, and God-fearing man. To her, a man with manners was the best to pick. In my college years, she rarely approved the guys I dated. Eventually, I came to learn that she was right when she said “NEVER SETTLE FOR LESS THAN YOU DESERVE.”

6. Have Faith & Never Give Up

My mum believes that life has many good things to offer. Never lose hope even when the end of the tunnel seems miles away. She always had a hopeful spirit when our dad was hospitalized for months that he would get back to full health again. To her, having faith that you are in total control of your destiny is the value worth embracing.
I understand that our mothers are different, but at least you will learn one of the above lessons. Mothers are jewels so precious that their value in our lives is inarguable. Treasure the jewels and learn life’s fundamental lessons while you still can.

I have learn this things from my wonderful mum, Margaret Nyambura, Grand ma Priscillah Njoki, 
and others who have mentored me

Mama Alex, Mama Shiku, Alice Muthoni, Hon. Alice Muthoni, Esther Wanjiku among others

First, they will contact your government (family), sign professional contracts (wedding) and mine you professionally( legal marriage).

Two young ladies arrived a Meeting wearing
clothes that were quite revealing their body
parts. Here is what the Chairman told them:He
took a good look at them and made them sit.Then
he said something that, they might never forget in
their life. He looked at them straight in the eyes
and said; "ladies, everything that God made
valuable in this world is well covered and hardly
to see, find or get.
1. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in
the ground, covered and protected.
2. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the
bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in
a beautiful shell.
3. Where do you find gold? Way down in the
mine, covered over with layers of rock and to get
them, you have to work hard & dig deep down to
get them.
He looked at them with serious eyes and said;
"Your body is sacred & unique" You are far more
precious than gold, diamonds and pearls, and
you should be covered too."So he added that, if
you keep your treasured mineral just like gold,
diamond and pearls, deeply covered up, a
reputable mining organization with the requisite
machinery will fly down and conduct years of
extensive exploration.
First, they will contact your government (family),
sign professional contracts (wedding) and mine
you professionally( legal marriage).But if you
leave
your precious minerals uncovered on the surface
of the earth, you always attract a lot of illegal
miners to come and mine you illegally.Everybody
will just pick up their crude instruments and just
have a dig on you just freely like that. Keep your
bodies deeply covered so that it invite
professional miners to chase you.
Let us all encourage our wives, friends and
daughters to dress well and decent!

Our trophies and victories

There was a king who owned a very valuable diamond, one of the rarest and most perfect in the world. One day he dropped the diamond and a deep scratch marred its face.

The king summoned for the best jewel experts in the land to remove this blemish, but all agreed that the best way to remove the scratch was to cut away the part of the surface, reducing its weight and value.

Finally one expert appeared and assured the king he could repair the diamond and actually increase its value. His self confidence was convincing and the king authorized the artisan to go to work.

In a few days he returned the diamond. The king was amazed to find that the diamond now was etched with a tiny, lovely rose. On closer examination he discovered that the former scratch had become the stem of this exquisite flower.

Now No more beautiful diamond existed anywhere in the world. Let’s just get this out of the way; no one is 100% perfect having everything going for them. That’s just the simple truth.
Exodus 4:10And Moses said to the Lord, O Lord, I am not eloquent or a man of words, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and have a heavy and awkward tongue.

Like Moses,  we all have weaknesses and challenges but how we see and react to them is a matter of choice. Your weaknesses can either reduce or increase your value just like in the case of the diamond.

There is a reason why God allowed them to be a part of your life. Many times we are so quick to lead people to our trophies and victories because they make us look good but we hide our scars and failures because we think they reduce our value in the eyes of others.

The truth is this, it is in our weaknesses and flaws that we are able to tap into the power of God for when we are weak He is strong.

Am reminded of Helen Keller who at 19 months was infected by an illness that left her deaf and blind but despite this flaws she did her best to become that which God had ordained for her to become.

She used her defects to increase her value. We know her as an American author, political activist and lecturer. She was the first deaf blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.

So what about you? What defects do you have? Are you hiding them purporting to be perfect or have you allowed God to use them for all to see His strength flow though you?

The choice is yours. Just remember your defect can either add or subtract to your value but its all in your hands, give it to God and stand amazed at what He can do!

I DIDN'T SNATCH YOUR GIRLFRIEND THIS IS HOW I TOOK HER FROM YOU

EXCUSE ME! NO! NO! I DIDN'T SNATCH YOUR GIRLFRIEND THIS IS HOW I TOOK HER FROM YOU.

*While you were ignoring her on whatsapp.. I was giving her attention.
* While you were out with your friends I was with her.
* While you couldn't take her calls I phoned her.
* While you were busy I was giving her all of my time
* While you were not available i was her shoulder to Lean on
* If YOU want to know how i took her it was like taking a candy from a baby.
* While you were never there for her I offered to spend some tıme wıth her..
* While you slept without sending her a text I wrote her a poem telling her how beautiful she is.
* The more i made her smile the more i won her heart.
* The more I gave her joy the more useless you became to her.
*she didn't cheat on you..she got tired of you.
* If you must know you lost an angel and I found her on the way home
*She tried to phone you to give you one last chance but as usual you never listen so she gave me what was yours
* If you want to know how I got your girlfriend
* I learned to listen to her
*I learned that smaller things makes one happy
* Most of all I learned to love her the way she wanted to be loved.
* Never Take Anything Or Anyone For Granted,
Because That Someone you taking for granted Somebody ıs praying to be
wıth, What Still Stands Is That Someday Someone wıll Look at that person Like they are The Best Thing In The World.

AM SORRY FRIEND!!!

He is looking for faithful people

An elderly preacher was rebuked by one of his deacons one Sunday morning before the service. "Pastor," said the man, "something must be wrong with your preaching and your work. There's been only one person added to the church in a whole year, and he's just a boy." The minister listened, his eyes moistening and his thin hand trembling. "I feel it all," he replied, "but God knows I've tried to do my duty."

On that day the minister's heart was heavy as he stood before his flock. As he finished the message, he felt a strong inclination to resign. After everyone else had left, that one boy came to him and asked, "Do you think if I worked hard for an education, I could become a preacher--perhaps a missionary?" Again tears welled up in the minister's eyes.

"Ah, this heals the ache I feel," he said. "Robert, I see the Divine hand now. May God bless you, my boy. Yes, I think you will become a preacher." Many years later an aged missionary returned to London from Africa. His name was spoken with reverence. Nobles invited him to their homes. He had added many souls to the church of Jesus Christ, reaching even some of Africa's most savage chiefs. His name was Robert Moffat, the same Robert who years before had spoken to the pastor that Sunday morning in the old Scottish Kirk.

In the eyes of many, this pastor may not have been successful but in the eyes of God not only was he successful he was also faithful.Everyone wants to be successful. They want to know that they have achieved something worthwhile. Often we treat ourselves as failures when we do not live up to such heavy expectations. However, there is only one true measure of success and that is faithfulness - faithfulness to God, yourself and your calling in life.

God is not looking for successful people; He is looking for faithful people. Note He says welcome home good and FAITHFUL servant, not good and SUCCESSFUL servant. When you really think about it, how would you define success? For some, success is measured by how much money one has in their bank account. For others, success is measured by how many cars one has in their parking lot, still others by how many college degrees one has earned.

For others, success is measured by one's popularity or fame, more so in this celebrity culture that we have embraced. So, if one does not manage to have a fat bank account; or, if one does not drive a flashy car or earn a degree; or, if one does not achieve fame, does this mean that one is a failure?

God doesn’t ask that we succeed in everything, but that we remain faithful. Think about Abraham who was promised descendants as many as the sand on the sea shore or the stars in the sky, yet he only had Isaac. Was he successful? Maybe not in the eyes of some but in the eyes of all he was faithful. Some may say that the ideal situation is to be "successful" and "faithful".

But, in the end, it seems to me that life is not about how many awards one receives or how much one owns and possesses or how famous one may become. Rather, the quality of one's living; the courage of one's spirit; the kindness and generosity in one's heart and a heroic, undying faithfulness to love and goodness are the things that really matter! One who possesses such qualities may not be considered a "success" in the eyes of many.

But such a person will be regarded by all as being a good and "faithful" servant. When you die and people gather at your funeral to pay their last respects, do you prefer to be remembered as having been "successful" or "faithful"?