Small Things Are Great

You’ve probably seen it before. A minister starts off on fire, preaching the gospel, making disciples, and then—boom!—they’re running a food program, a relief fund, or a rescue mission. Before long, teachings are replaced with sermons on supply chain logistics, and their prayer time is spent writing proposals for donations.  They even write a book about it and market it to raise funds for the charity work. Don’t get me wrong—charity is good. But when charity becomes the ministry, that's off and we then have a problem. A problem that the early church faced and overcame. In Acts 6:2-7, the apostles had a real issue. The church was growing, widows needed food, and complaints were flying in. But when faced with this crisis, the apostles made a shocking statement:   " It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. " (Acts 6:2) Wait—did they just say it’s not right to serve tables? Is charity now bad? Not at all! But it’s not...

We're currently reading the book of Joshua, and my thoughts keep circling back to the meaning of his name—and the striking picture it paints of Jesus (Yeshua). It’s unfortunate that Bible translators chose to translate names. Nouns should have remained in their original form to preserve their meaning and place. Take Joshua, for instance. His Hebrew name is Yehoshua , a combination of Yeho (Yahweh) and Shua (salvation), meaning “Jehovah saves.” And that was his mission—to lead a people who had been under the law, across a barrier, into the promise of God (Joshua 1:2-3). But this promise wasn’t new. It had been spoken long before, when God revealed Himself as Jehovah Jireh (Genesis 22:14). Notice the wording:   " So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, 'On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided .’"   Did you catch that? "Will provide" —not "has provided." This wasn’t about the ram caught in a thicket. I...

Reading through Leviticus, I can't help but think: " This was a lot of work !" Too many guidelines, too many rules—one had to be smart even in worship, lest you mess up and suddenly find yourself offering a mandatory guilt offering for an accidental sin (Leviticus 5:15). And let’s be honest, some of these laws required serious mental gymnastics to remember. Imagine living in fear that touching the wrong lizard (Leviticus 11:29-30) could make you unclean!   After reading Leviticus 27, where even dedication and redemption had price tags, my brain whispered, " This is exhausting !" No wonder Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28-30 must have sounded like a breath of fresh air to the Jews:   > “ Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. ”   At this point, I imagine a tired Jew...

I find myself constantly, or at least occasionally, thinking about how so many who claim to be "Christians" are not Christlike—and what’s worse, they’re not even trying to be. It’s heartbreaking how many people faithfully walk into denominational compounds every week but have never walked into the Kingdom of God. Simply put: they are not born-again. You see, unless a child is  born , they will never meet their  Father . A child, while in the womb, is entirely dependent on the mother. They draw all their life from her, and as long as they remain unborn, their world is confined to her and will eventually lead to their death. But the moment they are born, they enter a new reality—one where they can now see, hear, and know their father. They start living.  It’s the same with spiritual matters . Unless you are born again, your dependence remains on mother earth —on natural things, on human strength, on what you can see and touch physically. But when you are born of the Spirit,...

This morning, I am concerned. Not the “where’s my phone?” kind of concern, but the “are we actually doing what God intended?” kind of concern.   You see, we’re currently jogging (not walking, jogging) through Deuteronomy—a book I like to call “When God Repeats Himself.” And let’s be honest, when someone repeats themselves, it’s either for emphasis or because the listener wasn’t paying attention the first time. Spoiler alert: the Israelites weren’t paying attention.   Then I get to Deuteronomy 11:2-7, where God specifically highlights that He is addressing the parents, not the children. Later on, He gives them a clear job description:   - Teach my laws to your children. - Talk about them while sitting, walking, lying down, and rising up. - Tag my words on your clothes, walls, and gates. ^JNM Now, let’s slow down before we miss something important. The Israelites had three generations at play in Deuteronomy:   1. The generation that came out of E...

Let’s circle back to our inheritance conversation (previously on this thoughtline... https://mapstage.blogspot.com/2025/01/inheritance-wasters.html) before I get too deep into Ramadan prayers for our Muslim friends.   This year, I’ve been doing an in-depth study of a few books of the Bible, and Genesis has been quite the eye-opener. One thing stands out—God was working in a family and through a family. The covenant He made with Abraham wasn’t a solo project; it carried through to his son Isaac, then to Jacob, and eventually, many generations later, brought forth the Messiah. Clearly, family matters to God.   Now, today I was reading Genesis 24 and noticed something striking—it contains the last recorded words of Abraham. And guess what? His final words were not about himself, his wealth, or his retirement plan. Instead, he was giving instructions about something that would shape his son's future— MARRIAGE . He called his most trusted servant and made him swear (yes...

In our Bible reading marathon 2025, we have arrived at the book of Deuteronomy.   Have you ever noticed how high school or college reunions, old photo albums, familiar songs, and visits to childhood neighborhoods stir up memories and emotions? Some memories bring joy, while others carry pain we would rather forget. As the years pass, the sharpness of unpleasant events tends to fade into our subconscious. Yet, there are moments when remembering is necessary. Mistakes must not be repeated, commitments must be honored, and recalling key events can inspire us to move forward with purpose.   Deuteronomy is a book of remembrance. It calls Israel to reflect on who God is and what He has done. The generation that God brought out of Egypt—those aged 20 and above at the time—was now nearly gone. They had left Egypt, but they never saw the Promised Land. Why? Their constant murmuring, lack of faith, and public disobedience led to 40 years of wandering in the wilderness until th...

In the last two weeks, I have been engaged in conversations around the topic of " church hurt ." I put that phrase in quotation marks, and I intentionally spell church with a small c. Why? Because there’s a distinction we often fail to make. When we look at Jesus' recorded conversations, the word Church appears only twice in His teachings. In Matthew 16:18, He declares, “I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Here, Jesus establishes the Church as an unstoppable force under His leadership. The second mention is in Matthew 18:17, where He speaks of Church discipline, reinforcing its authority in dealing with disputes. But when people speak of church hurt, they are rarely referring to this divinely established entity. Instead, they are talking about pain caused by a church —a congregation , a denomination , or even individuals within an organization . The Bible defines the Church in two primary ways: the Body of Christ(organ not organization)...

Parenting is not just physical care—it is spiritual warfare. The story of Abraham and Lot (Genesis 18-19) teaches us that we cannot assume our children will follow God simply because we raised them in the faith. We must intercede  for them as well. Below is a structured prayer guide based on this biblical account to help guardians stand in the gap for their children.   1. A Prayer of Surrender: Acknowledging God’s Authority. “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25) Prayer : Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that You alone are the righteous Judge. You see the hearts of my children better than I do. I surrender them to You, knowing that only Your wisdom, mercy, and love can truly transform them. Help me trust Your ways even when I don’t understand them. Declaration : I release my children(insert names) into Your hands, Lord. You created them, and You know their future. I will not live in fear but in faith that You are working in their lives.  ...

On February 18th, 2024, a small but significant movement began—a home fellowship. Unlike a typical church service in a formal compound, this gathering happens in someone’s home, creating a family atmosphere of intimacy and spiritual growth.   To be honest, this was not part of my grand plan. When I moved here, my focus was on school ministry as I prepared for the next mission station. But you know how God is—He loves plot twists: throw that guy in a fish's mouth, spit him out and plant a tree for him. 😂 He used a neighboring family to reorder my steps as I continue with the initial plan. One day, they approached me and asked: "Sasa kwa sababu wewe ni mchungaji, na sisi hatujakuwa tukienda kanisani kwa muda, unaweza kuwa mchungaji wetu?" I wanted to say no. But their request carried a certain spiritual weight—a prompting of the Spirit. I prayed and sought counsel from my brothers in the faith. Their response? Do it! So, one year ago, this fellowship was born. Happy annive...

Last year, as we were perusing through the Bible, my friend Mr. Wachira(JKM) hit me with a question that made me pause: " Do you believe these things really happened? " I may not have quoted him word for word, but that was the heart of his query. This query was raised as we were looking into the story of the three Hebrew boys in the furnace. Mr. Wachira and I go way back—college days. He’s a man of faith and well-versed in the communication and videography field - (https://youtu.be/bUm6KjeDEVY?si=3uoiiuFB3wGc-4nh). I share this with his blessing because I greatly honor him. He stepped in as a father figure when I needed one most, having lost my dad at nine years old. The presence of strong men along my journey has been priceless. The aforementioned conversation came back to me as we're reading through the book of Numbers this year. It reminded me of something one David Linthicum (a prominent figure in cloud computing and technology strategy) once said: " Numbers don’...

Tomondolios Chronicles: Elisha, Jayden, and the Case of the Missing Ugali. We call them tomondolios. Don’t ask me about the spelling—it’s Kamba slang for "small and everywhere," like Wi-Fi signals you didn’t subscribe to. If it’s just one, it’s kamondolio.  Today, two tomondolios made my day. Their names? Elisha and Jayden. But according to Jayden, his friend is Eliza. The ‘sha’ sound dodged his tongue the same way the SHA healthcare policy dodged the hearts and healthcare of Kenyans.   Their first strike came when they exposed me—live and direct. Earlier, they had knocked, ready to turn my compound into a playground. But I wasn’t in the mood for chaos. I wanted peace, quiet, and rest. So, I hit them with the classic shutdown:   "Endeni mchezee mbali, mimi nataka kulala." But did I sleep? Apana. Sleep packed its bags and left me scrolling through music, counting hills, and pretending to read. Two hours later, they stormed back, and Jayden, in his full loudness, ...

I can’t help but wonder—was Lot also entangled in the same sins that plagued Sodom? Though Scripture doesn’t explicitly say, there’s something unsettling about how his neighbors confidently demanded his visitors for the night (Genesis 19:4-5). Their request carried neither hesitation nor shame, as though this was an expectation, not an exception. Could it be that Lot had become so immersed in Sodom’s ways that they saw no difference between him and themselves?   And if that wasn’t disturbing enough, what kind of father offers his own daughters in place of strangers? (Genesis 19:8). The moral decay is staggering. I wish we had a video recording of this moment—to see their faces, hear the shock in his daughters' voices, and witness the silent despair in his wife’s eyes.   But before we cast stones at Lot, we must pause and ask ourselves: How do we respond when sin comes knocking at our own doors? This passage forces us to confront a painful reality: What do we do when ...

For years I sat in the barber's chair,   Snip, snip—my head laid bare.   Society’s bidding, I’d comply,   But deep inside, I’d ask, "Oh why?"   When the fro flows, you let the wind blow. Two years plus, my crown took root,   Eight inches now—it’s quite the hoot!   Black with streaks of brown so bold,   A masterpiece, a sight to behold!   When the fro flows, you let the wind blow. Mum frowns, she shakes her head,   "Cut it short!"—but I’ve misheard.   "Grow it more?"—I nod and smile,   This mane of mine is worth the while.   When the fro flows, you let the wind blow. Some say "sweet," some say "cool,"   Others stare, their minds unspooled.   Dreads? Cornrows? Just let it be?   Or let it dance wild and free?   When the fro flows, you let the wind blow. Up north, the mission calls my name,   Desert winds will test my mane....

I firmly believe that the scriptures  WERE NOT  written just for us to tap blessings from it, but rather to reveal God’s character, teach us how to relate with Him, and give us the history of The Church. As we journey through its pages, one thing becomes undeniable—every story, law, prophecy, and psalm whispers the name of Jesus. The entire narrative points to Him, often through hints and glimpses , sometimes in shadows and symbols , and other times in direct prophecies. Jesus Himself confronted religious leaders of His time with this truth:   "You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me !" (John 5:39, NLT).   Yet, how tragic it is that today, this divinely inspired masterpiece has often been reduced to a self-help manual —a quick fix for "what can God do for me?" Instead of seeking the heart of the Father, we sometimes treat Him as an errand boy , sent out to fulfill our personal requests. But the ...

An estimated 70% of teenagers in Kenya do not actively engage in weekend church fellowships. This includes:   - Midweek services ("Tuko na homework")   - Sunday services ("Church yetu haibambi")   - Home fellowships ("Hio ni ya wazee na wazazi wetu")   - Church fundraisers ("Sisi hatuna doh ya kupeana")   While these reasons hold some truth, at the core of it all is a deeper issue: they haven’t fully grasped faith and belief. Church, to them, is either boring, irrelevant, or simply not a priority.   The Good News. The one place where we still have 100% access to teenagers is school. Christian Unions (CU) and Catholic Action (CA) services are consistently well-attended, with over 95% participation in many schools.   This is an opportunity we cannot afford to ignore. If we truly care about teenagers encountering Christ, we must be present in schools—not just waiting for them to show up on Sundays.   How Can We...

In our fellowship this year, we are focusing on raising ministers rather than simply increasing membership. Today’s discussion centered on identifying different categories of ministers in the body of Christ. We categorized them into three distinct groups, each with unique roles and reporting structures. 1. Ministers on Behalf of God. These are the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, as outlined in Ephesians 4:11. According to Paul, these offices are appointed by Christ Himself, often in a private encounter between the appointee and God. This pattern is seen throughout both the Old and New Testaments.   Their primary role is to equip the saints for ministry in their respective spheres of influence (Ephesians 4:12). Unlike other ministerial positions, those holding these offices are accountable directly to God and not to human institutions.   2. Ministers on Behalf of the Gathering. This category includes bishops, elders, and deacons, roles that are...

There’s a story from history that stirs my heart to pray more intentionally for our children. It’s the story of an uncle whose prayers reached heaven, covering a nephew who was drowning in sin and perversion. Despite the nephew’s waywardness, God heard the uncle’s prayers—and saved him.   That nephew wasn’t a little boy. He was a grown man, with a family, property, and a life far removed from his uncle’s influence. His name? Lot. Lot’s story begins with admiration. One day, he hears that his uncle, Abram (later known as Abraham), has decided to leave his homeland, stepping out in faith to follow God’s call (Genesis 12:5). Lot, perhaps secretly looking up to his uncle for mentorship, packs his bags and tags along. I imagine Abraham noticing this—realizing that while Lot wasn’t his son, he was still a young man in need of guidance. A fatherless nephew, but not without a father figure.   As the years roll on, Abraham mentors Lot, and soon, Lot becomes a wealthy, indepen...

Reading the Bible can be a daunting task,   Why would the believers dare to ask? A poem. ... Genesis and Exodus sound like fun,   Leviticus and Numbers leave me undone.   Deuteronomy seems like something from the past,   Comes nowhere near reigniting this quest.   To go on rhyming I am able,   But have you started reading your Bible?   .... Joshua and Judges bring the action back to life,   Ruth highlights a woman who saw the light.   1&2 Samuel make me think twice,   Oh, how the Kings weren’t always wise.   To go on rhyming I am able,   But have you started reading your Bible?   ..... 1&2 Kings tell of thrones rising and falling,   1&2 Chronicles keep the records enthralling.   Ezra and Nehemiah rebuild with great might,   While Esther stands firm for what is right.   To go on rhyming I am able,  ...