Education, issues, Politics

Where are the “Ndugus”?

Ruhakana Rugunda, Uganda’s former prime minister speaking during an interview in New York, U.S. on Thursday, July 23, 2015. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Ruhakana Rugunda

Several years ago, while an intern at a non-profit, I had the privilege of being assigned the task of reaching out to a list of African UN Ambassadors who had been invited by a few Seattle-based top US companies. My job was to secure the commitment of these Ambassadors to go on this all-important trip.

I eventually secured the commitment of 8 Ambassadors, one of which was the Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of Uganda to the United Nations, H.E, Ambassador Ruhakana Rugunda.

Of all the UN Ambassadors I visited, only Amb. Rugunda agreed to personally meet with me in his office for a discussion about the invitation and intended trip. I was highly honoured and he treated me with memorable respect despite visibly being an “errand boy”.

I became fond of him during the trip and met his wife also. He was a profound gentleman and was very lucid and clear-minded when he spoke. You could easily perceive the integrity of his person and the frankness of his ideas.

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Spiritual

DESTINY HELPERS

Praying for and about “Destiny Helpers” have become a major prayer point among believers. It supposes that there is someone who God has appointed to play that role in your life in helping you attain your destiny.

This uncanny disposition by many believers is one of determinism and control, where someone holds the access meant for others and must be prayed into alignment so that they can receive what rightfully is theirs. 

While it is true that God will often use and always uses other persons to be a blessing, we must note that it is entirely a divine prerogative. You and I have no power to assume that God has appointed someone to be a “destiny helper”. It is not even consistent with scripture.

The only authoritative statement upon which we build our faith is what Jesus says about who will help us attain our destinies; The Holy Spirit. It is the only personality that carries the nomenclature of “helper”. John 14:16-26,  John 15:26, John 16:13-15.

If you are a part of God’s Kingdom, you already have “The Helper” living in you. It has its assignment properly spelt out and cannot be distracted with other things like human helpers are. It is to guide you into all truth, reveal the mind of your creator, and show you things to come. It will even help you pray accurately Romans 8:26-27.

You can still pray about your human destiny helpers. I’m sure it’s okay. I just want to show you a higher way.

All you need that pertains to life and godliness has already been given to you (1 Peter 1:2-3), so it is best to go on a discovery and find the Help God has released to you. If you ignore that help and search for it outside, you will pierce your heart with many sorrows and disappointments.

So whenever you lift up your heart and eyes in prayer, let your focus be solely on the one who made heaven and earth (Psalms 121:1 and  124:8). Let Him decide how He chooses to help you. Your heart will find true rest in this.

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issues

Church: Mind Your Reference!

I was walking by the online alley and heard some folks talking about the failure of “the church” or severally referring to its shortcomings and seeming division. On closer examination, I discovered that they have been confusing the object of their reference with what the LORD Jesus meant when He used or uses the word.

This is my brief attempt at a conceptual clarification so we also do to conflate the issues. This is not exegesis, but a mere ideological clarification and correction in a few sentences.

In understanding what “the church” is, we must look to its origin, particularly in scraping from the thoughts of its founder, through the documented words we have. When Jesus used the term “my church”, it was very personal and flowed from a deep conversation He had with His disciples. The Bible only records Jesus using the term twice; once for a personal cause, the other as a generally understood reference.

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