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Kings... Both of them

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 ‎The book of Kings is one of the saddest books in the Bible. Not because it lacks miracles, power or famous names, but because it tells the story of how a people can slowly lose everything God gave them. ‎ ‎All of us come from Nations with great potential but continually see that potential going down the drain. Especially in Africa, we know what it looks like for a nation to gain independence and slowly begin struggling with corruption, division, leadership crises, tribalism, injustice, and spiritual confusion. We know what it feels like to look at great potential and wonder, “How did we get here?” ‎ ‎That is exactly the feeling a Jew feels when reading Kings. ‎ ‎The story begins after Israel has reached its peak under David. Think of it as Israel’s “golden generation.” The kingdom is united, the enemies are subdued and the economy is thriving. Thanks to Davids leadership. Solomon steps in, builds the temple and their influence stretches far beyond their borders. Kings and queens ...
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Defend or offend God.

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Juzi, I was scrolling through Facebook when I came across a post by brother Kinuthia, who has chosen to identify as a sister. In the post, he was dressed in a blue outfit and standing on top of a flat-roofed building on a bright and sunny day. The ensemble included a miniskirt, a coat, and a white blouse or shirt, with a touch of red somewhere in the mix. The post itself was interesting, but it was the comment section that caught my attention. One brother asked a question that was less about Kinuthia and more about God. He wondered whether God still exists. His argument was that if God exists—the same God who judged Sodom—then people like Kinuthia would neither be alive nor flourishing. To him, such behaviour was blasphemous and an insult to God. As I read the comment, I found myself thinking about how often people feel the need to defend God. Sometimes the concern is genuine. We look around and see things that seem contrary to God's will. We see evil prosper, wickedness celebrated...
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Don't Open the Door: How to Spot a True Man of God.

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If a man showed up at your house claiming to be from the government or any organization, you wouldn't just let him in. You'd run a check. First, his confession: " Who are you, and who sent you? " Second, his ID: " Let me see your badge. " Third, his backing: " Hold on, I'm calling your office to confirm." Three checks. If they fail even one, the door stays shut. We do that for our homes because we care about our security and that of our household members. But what about our souls? John said, " Test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world " (1 John 4:1). Jesus warned of "wolves in sheep's clothing" (Matthew 7:15). Paul said that even if an angel preached another gospel, " let him be accursed " (Galatians 1:8). In our day, platforms are louder, titles are bigger, and claims to speak for God are everywhere. So how do you know a true man of God from a false...
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Giving; Feelings or Phillipians

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I reviewed Paul's letter to the Philippian church today as I went about my duties. One portion struck me more deeply than it has before. Paul writes: "Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need." (Philippians 4:15-16) A little earlier in the same letter, he also says: "But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs." (Philippians 2:25) Paul was not in the habit of asking for support for the ministry he had set out to fulfil in obedience to the commission he had received. Even while writing to the Philippians, you can sense that he is more concerned about their welfare than his own. He seems c...
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First 10 books

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"Mom, kwani ulinizaa ndio ukue ukinitumatuma!?" That was the question a young boy asked after being sent on what felt like his millionth errand of the day. Visitors had come to the house, and his mother had suddenly discovered a hundred things that needed doing. The moment he asked the question, the whole room burst into laughter because many of us have either thought that question or actually asked it when we were children. Parents have a tendency of turning their children into small helpers #KYMs. Suddenly, there is someone to fetch the remote even though it is only a few steps away, someone to bring a glass of water from the kitchen and smeone to go downstairs and check whether the gate is closed. Tasks that parents once did for themselves somehow become the responsibility of the children. Do you relate? But, of course, that is not why children are born but that boys question brings us to a much bigger question: Why are we here? Every human being must eventually wrestle w...
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I am a Pastor's Kid.

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We're commonly known as PKs. Not because we're sweet like the chewing gum, but because we're actually sweeter. Having a PK as a friend is a breath of fresh air. Most of us graduated from unofficial theological college by age 14, with advanced certificates in Bible reading, Scripture memorization, and identifying the key verse before the preacher asks for volunteers. The PK title doesn't only belong to children of pastors. It stretches across the entire ministry department: bishops, elders, deacons, evangelists, and every other title that comes with people asking, "Na wewe mtoto wa mtumishi unasemaje kuhusu hili jambo?" I belong to a fellowship of Pastors' Kids here in Thika. It's a wonderful gathering where we meet, hang out, laugh loudly, and make all the noise we are not allowed to make during church services simply because sisi ni watoto wa watumishi. My own PK journey has been quite interesting. Before I was born again, my father was already a past...
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The USSD Code into Samuel

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If you dial *773# on your phone, you will receive a message from your service provider that the code is invalid. At least so far. But before you check that theory out, what's this book called Samuel doing in the Bible? Interestingly, what we call 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel today were originally one continuous book. However, as history moved from scrolls to easier methods of copying and carrying texts around, the scroll became too large and was later divided into two sections. Personally, I call Samuel the USSD code because it gives us the Unadulterated Story of Samuel, Saul, and David.  It's a story of prophets and politics, worship and warfare,  obedience and insecurity, heroism, hooliganism, heartbreak, and holiness. Three men stand at the center of this transition and through them, Israel moves from the era of Judges into the era of ushering the King. Samuel — The Voice Before the Throne Samuel steps into the story as the last major Judge of Israel and the prophetic voice of Go...
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