Liberal ideologists believe that life is not a race so 'man' should pace out and enjoy whatever he can make out of it. While conservatism may agree with that notion, it however, believes that life is more of a journey than a race; careful planning therefore becomes the cornerstone for successful completion. Most Christians are caught up in these ideologies. Those that are less opportune materially take consolation from the liberal ideas and accept life as it presents itself while the more endowed continue to enjoy the glories of life. To this end, I took the liberty to examine the concept of race (or racing) and its fundamental attributes. A quick scan through Wikipedia presented three important features of racing: Competition, Objective and Time (or point of completion).

Every race involves a kind of competition. But unlike other races, Christians do not compete with each other or any human entity but the enemy of Christ. The Bible says we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world ...Ephesians 6:12. Don’t you ever wish you can see your competitor?

Secondly, every race has an objective. In soccer, the objective is to score the most goals. For Christians, the objective is to live a life worthy of Gods recognition, as measured by God himself (through His words) and not our Pastor’s or any other person’s standard. Isn't it ironic that most believers prefer to be measured by the standards set by their churches (through attendance, leadership abilities, participation in activities etc), friends and 'icons' instead of the ones set by Christ himself? The scripture says; “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you" Romans 12:3.

Finally, every race (with a point of origin) must have a point of completion. For Christians, the point of completion is the time we give up breath and forever be with the Lord or the time Christ himself comes back for us.

The uncertainties of life have forced many believers to develop a hybrid kind of racing that either involve some or none of these attributes. Unlike standard racing, our competitor (the devil) does not abide by the rules on the field. He may foul-you-up many times but none of which will negate the outcome of the race. The spectators may sometimes be cheering for you and many times, hostile, but you don't have the luxury to stop the race and question their motives.

A 'racer' does not stop in the middle of the race and question the wind direction. Your only objective is to race against time and all hostilities trusting that the God who started a good work in you will carry you unto completion. Will you choose the easy way and develop a hybrid race, one that suits and pleases people around you, or stand with Paul and declare "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” 2 Timothy 4:7-8.

As you declare with Apostle Paul, always remember none of the things he went through counted as much to strengthen him than finishing the race. And so frankly speaking, life is more of a race as it is a journey. Let's be sure the "measure" by which we examine ourselves is the same one used by the Lord himself.

Christ Resurrection Power Ministries International –

Leadership Trainning Course

 

By Pastor Isaac Kamara www.crpmi.eu

 

Who is a true leader?

 

The highly successful people in the world are naturally leaders in their respective fields. If you want to realize any level of success in your own life, then you need to make the commitment towards becoming a leader too. Focus on becoming great at what you love to do in life and then step up to the plate and inspire others to do the same. Leadership is about creating a strong foundation within yourself that is able to support and nurture those that are weaker than you are.

 

A very important distinction is that a leader is not a title or a position. Kevin Cashman, a leadership coach and the CEO of LeaderSource, says that “Too many people separate the act of leadership from the leader. They see leadership as something that they do, rather than as an expression of who they are.” The difference between someone in the position of power, such as a manager, executive, politician, etc. and a leader is that a positionally-powerful person can get people to do what they want merely because they have the power to levy punishment if their followers don’t comply.

 

While this can get people to do what they want, it also harbors resentment because it pushes people towards action by the threat of causing pain in their lives. A leader, on the other hand, inspires and motivates their followers to take action on their own volition without creating that negative aura of threat. True leaders possess a passionate and powerful vision of what they want to accomplish and they share that vision with as many people as they can. The title of Manager is simply a position, but that title in itself does not make the person a leader. In reality, the person at the very bottom of the organizational structure can be a leader even in absence of any authority. A leader inspires hope within their followers and it’s that vision of hope that makes a true leader more powerful than any person of authority. This article will describe the important qualities that a person needs to possess in order to be a true passionate leader.

 

“Before you become a leader, success is all about growing you. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”

 

 

Be a Visionary

 

People will only follow a vision that is perfectly clear in their minds, therefore, it’s extremely important that you yourself must possess a crystal clear vision of what you want to accomplish and the direction that you want to go. If your vision is the slightest bit blurry in your mind, then how can you expect to lead people if you don’t know where you are going yourself? You must be able to see the big picture and then develop the plan on how to get there because in order to lead people, you have to keep things simple enough for them to take action on and you must be able to convey your vision to them. Develop a statement of purpose for yourself and for your company if you don’t already have one.  Continue to rewrite it each day until it becomes something that you are passionate about and when you speak it out loud, you feel emotionally charged and empowered. Always remember that vague goals will always produce vague results. Share your vision with your team and let them take ownership in that dream by showing them how it can benefit their lives. Remember that people don’t follow other people—they follow the vision that the chosen leader is committed towards. Take any great leader throughout history and study their life and you will undoubtedly see a truly great visionary.

 

 

 

Be Passionate About What You Do

 

A leader must possess the highest level of passion for their vision in order to inspire those around them with that same level of energy. A leader who does not demonstrate passion for what they’re doing will instead emit a negative energy to their team, which will cause chaos and de-motivation towards their goals. Always be passionate about what you are doing and strive to share that passion with others. Remember the saying, “Energy flows where attention goes.”

 

Be True to Yourself

 

Always strive to display the highest degree of integrity that you can. Integrity is simply the act of being the same on the inside as you claim to be on the outside. People want to believe that you practice in your own life what you preach to them. The lack of integrity is the reason why politicians have such a tarnished reputation today because some of them lacked the integrity that people desire from their leaders. Most people fail becoming leaders because they display a poor level of integrity. They put on a false illusion of leadership in front of their team, but after the show is over, when they are away from the spotlight, their personal lives are anything but inspirational. A true leader possesses a strong foundation from within and it’s that foundation which supports the great teams that they build.  True leaders must possess the highest level of integrity. Integrity is congruency of actions and intentions—doing what you say and acting the same on the outside as you do on the inside. Leaders are thought focusers. They make the confusing—clear. Therefore, the leader themselves must be polarized towards one focal point or else they will run the risk of confusing their followers and dissolving that focused energy that was once a vision. So follow the age old rule of do what you say and say what you do.

 

 

Be Courageous

 

Rudolph Giuliani once said that a hero is not one who is fearless. A true hero is one who feels the fear and yet moves forward regardless. A leader is a hero who must be strong enough to face their fears of failing, kick it aside, and move forward anyways. Leaders realize not to cover or hide their fear, but rather, they acknowledge it like everyone else, but they also manage their fears rather than allow their fears to manage them. Remember that even the best leaders make mistakes, but what separates the great leaders from the mediocre ones is that the great leaders are willing to admit they made a mistake and they use it as a tool to create a better future for themselves and their team. Mediocre leaders, on the other hand, live in self-deceit and allow their ego to get in the way of doing what’s right for themselves and everyone who follows them. They stand firm in their decision that they’ve made, even when they know that it’s the wrong one and they would rather sink with the ship and take their team with them, rather than admit a mistake. The fear of failure is something that holds 90% of people from achieving their maximum potential in life. A true leader is one who makes a decision and moves forwards and sees failures not as failures, but as lessons for their future success.

 

Be Action-Oriented

 

The universe doesn’t reward people for what they know, it rewards people for what they do and leaders are doers. Leaders are geared towards taking action and they realize that for a team to come together, it requires moving from potential to action. The decision is yours to make. While making a decision might lead towards failure, the act of failing to make a decision will absolutely guarantee failure. It’s important to remember that leaders rarely have 100% of the information needed to make an informed decision. Those leaders who wait until they have all the information before they act, usually act too late. A true leader is intuitive and listens to their “gut instincts” because it usually gives them the right answer when uncertainty exists.

 

Be a Builder of Outstanding Teams

 

In any team sport, it’s not always the case where the team with the best players win. Exceptionally talented players are important, but it’s not as important as how those players work as a collective whole, as a single and powerful unified force. Therefore, it stands to reason that most of your time as a leader needs to be committed towards selecting, evaluating, coaching and strategically placing your players. As a leader, you must be a great team-builder because if people don’t work together on a common goal, then that mission will ultimately fail. Realize that the people that you have on your team won’t simply come together on their own.  They need someone who can organize them into an efficient team. A great leader knows the importance of having a team comprised of the right mix of individuals with different and varying strengths and weaknesses and the strategic placement of these individuals on the playing field that will fully utilize their strengths, while minimizing any weaknesses.

 

Be a Role-Model

 

Over 80% of what people learn is from what they observe from other people. As a leader, people will be focusing on your life, both professionally and personally, as an example of how to act themselves. If you want to see your team with exceptional personal qualities that you admire, then make sure that you yourself are demonstrating those same qualities. Your followers will mirror back the qualtities that you display towards them. A true leader is committed towards serving their team and does what’s necessary to push the team closer to that ultimate vision. Along the same note, a leader must never complain in front of their team because that shows a lack of direction. A chain-of-command management philosophy I learned in the police force was that criticism should always go up the chain of command, while praise should always go downwards. An officer never gripes to his troops, he gripes to his superiors, while patting his troops on the back for doing a job well done.

 

Be a Learner

 

Leaders are learners. Our wisdom for making the right decisions is shaped and molded by our experiences in life. Leaders not only immerse themselves into experiencing as much as they can throughout life, but they also learn from the wisdom of other people as a way to leverage the time that they have. We can learn from our own mistakes and accomplishments, but we can also learn from the mistakes of others as well and it’s for this reason that leaders must be learners. Strive to maximize your own personal development by taking courses, reading books, listening to audio programs and immersing yourself into something new that will cause personal growth to happen. Leaders by their very nature have almost an obsession with personal growth because it’s from wisdom and experience that produces a higher quality decision.

 

Be a Great Communicator

 

Great leaders know how to communicate to their team effectively. They know how to deliver their message in a way that will create a lasting impact on the people who are listening to them. A great leader will also listen to the people that follow them. Through communication, leaders can convey specific goals and instructions to their followers. Leaders are listeners. I’ve known many bosses out there in the world that really haven’t grasped the ability to listen effectively. They are too busy thinking about what to say next, that they fail to grasp the valuable feedback and ideas that are given to them. Remember that consequences, both positive and negative,  require actions and actions require decisions and decisions require an effective exchange of communication. Poor communication almost always results in a poor decision and the end result is a very poor consequence because of it.

 

Be Competent

 

A major component of trust is competence. To be a great leader, you have maintain a level of proficiency at what you do. To often, skilled people rise up the promotional ranks into a management position and they inevitably fail because they are no longer handling the technical aspects of the department that they were so good at before and instead, their have assumed a position that demands a whole new type of intelligence—interpersonal intelligence—the ability to interact well with others. A great leader is not only competent at the technical portion of things, but they are also competent at interacting with others. Strive to develop both to become a great leader.

 

Be Compassionate

 

People in the position of power often forget simple manners when it comes to delegating responsibilities to their subordinates. A great leader is respectful at all times and follows the platinum rule of giving all people unconditional love and acceptance regardless of whether they deserve it or whether they want it. It’s sometimes too easy to allow positional power to go to one’s head and when that happens, that person is no longer a leader, but instead a dictator. A genuine leader is one who is compassionate towards others. They have the power of empathizing with all people and understanding how they might feel. A false leader, on the other hand, does not empathize with their people, but instead makes decisions based on what they want or what is popular or what is good for them. The greatest leaders display the quality of unconditional love. Unconditional love is the love of all people without reservation and without having them demonstrate behaviors that you want them to. Unconditional love helps the leader put aside their wants and allows them to see what is good for other people. A compassionate leader also knows that they are not above anyone else and does not treat others as if they were. They understand that they simply have a role to fulfill just as other people do and they always treat others with respect and dignity at all times.

 

 

 

Be Intuitive

 

In my experience, all the outstanding leaders I’ve known have a very keen sense of intuition. They listen to their “gut” feeling and are sensitive to when their body is telling them that something feels bad or doesn’t sit well with them and they don’t ignore it. Leaders combine their gut feeling with their experience to avoid the pitfalls that sometimes open up underneath an organization at any time. It’s the intuitive nature of a leader that enables them to balance the information given to him by the “experts” with what feels right inside. While experts can give a lot of useful information, they are usually more resources of data than pragmatics and usually wither and die out on the battlefield of reality.

 

 

Be a Mentor

 

A great leader does not only see people as they are, they see people as how they could be. A dictator holds his people down and prevents growth, while a leader knows the value of developing his people and enhancing their potential. A true leader encourages his team to take on new responsibilities and to grow and learn because that investment in the personal growth of their team will pay off substantially in the future.

 

Be Willing to Celebrate

 

Many managers get caught up with trying to be professional by not celebrating enough. Celebration delivers positive energy and recognition to their teams for an effort well-done. Make a big deal about achievements as if your team had just won the Super Bowl or the World Cup. Celebrations are an important tool for motivation.

 

Conclusion

 

The path towards living a life of significance demands that you become an exceptional leader. Start working on building your leadership qualities as I have outlined here and never stop building on those skills for the rest of your living days. The better a leader you become, the more people will hear and follow your message and the greater positive change you can influence on the world as part of your legacy. As Major General Perry M. Smith (Ret. USAF) once said, “All leaders must work hard to build the future, for that is where they and their people will spend the rest of their lives.”2

 

Maybe it took a true leader for you to be where you are now, or
maybe you have not met one yet. If you have not met a true leader to lead you to leadership yet,
you are at the right place at the right time.

A True Leader

Summary:   Describes the qualities of a true leader. Explores the contributions of famous leaders throughout history including Mahatma Gandhi, Jesus, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Moses.

At some point in our lives, we have all had a relationship with someone -- a parent, a teacher, or employer perhaps -- who greatly changed the way we look at life and the world. Someone who had high standards and truly stood for something. Someone who inspired and motivated us. Someone who taught us to set goals and instilled the confidence and spirit to achieve them. Such a person is a true leader.

 

Today, we are surrounded by people we may call leaders -- in government, in business, in education, in the arts. But we are suffering from a scarcity of genuine leadership. Where are these people really leading us, and why?

After witnessing so much deceit and such frequent abuse of power, many people have stopped trusting their leaders. Still, no matter how cynical we may grow, we resign ourselves to the fact that we need someone to keep our various houses in order. Since we are so preoccupied with our own lives, we are willing to elect or appoint officials to manage the affairs of the land.

But is a leader merely a manager? What should we expect from our leaders? And do we really need leaders in the first place?

 

Yes, we do need leaders. On our own, we lack the vision, direction, and strength to reach our goals. We all begin our lives in need of guidance - even the most precocious child could not possibly be expected to make certain crucial decisions. Once we become adults, with the capacity to reason for ourselves, we are so overwhelmed by the pressures of daily survival that we rarely find the time and energy to focus on life’s larger issues. And when we do, our emotions and inherent subjectivity limit our vision and constrict our movement.

A leader provides a new perspective, inspiring us to abandon our narrow field of vision.  When we are preoccupied with our self-interests - be they petty or great - a leader sends out a wake-up call, alerting us to seek the true priorities in life.

This sense of urgency is just as important in a leader as a sense of vision.

 

Leadership today is sorely lacking the quality of urgency. Many of our leaders are effective managers, and some are even inspirational; we have CEO’s who can direct thousands of employees toward a single objective, and politicians whose rhetoric inspires millions of citizens to support them.

What these leaders don’t provide is simple - and essential: a vision of life itself. Genuine leadership must give people a long-term vision that imbues their lives with meaning; it must point them in a new direction and show how their every action is an indispensable part of a purposeful whole. It is not enough for our leaders to teach us to be productive or efficient; they need to inspire us to change or improve the world in a productive, meaningful way. And this creates a compelling sense of urgency: to fulfill this vision of life.

 

 

What Makes a True Leader?

 

With so many people purporting to be leaders these days, how do we recognize a true leader? To answer that question, we must step back and ask: What is it that a leader is really trying to accomplish?

A true leader wants nothing more than to make people stand on their own, as leaders in their own right. Instead of trying to blind us with his or her brilliance, a true leader reflects our own light back to us, so that we may see ourselves anew.

Moses was the quintessential leader. We see in Exodus that he was a shepherd - a rather modest beginning for the man who would speak to God. He kept watch as thousands of sheep wandered the fields. Moses noticed that one sheep was missing and went off to look for it, finding it at a distant brook. When the sheep had finished drinking, Moses lifted it onto his shoulders and carried it back to the flock.

 

When God saw this, he realized that Moses was a man of reason, empathy and selfless devotion, a man truly worthy to lead His people. After all, no one was watching Moses; he could easily have thought to himself, Why be concerned with one sheep when there are thousands?

In our secular society, we tend to think of a leader as a person who is well-connected, who is powerful or charismatic or wealthy. We judge our leaders by what they have. But a true leader should be judged by what he/she has not -- ego, arrogance, and self-interest.  A true leader sees his/her work as selfless service toward a higher purpose. As the ages say, “Leadership is not power and dominance; it is servitude”. This does not mean that a leader is weak; he/she derives great strength from his dedication to a purpose that is greater than himself/herself.

 

Each generation has its Moses, a leader who inspires absolute trust, who is totally dedicated to fulfilling his unique role. He understands and appreciates each person’s role in perfecting this world, and guides him or her accordingly; he rises above any individual perspective to take a global view, seeing how each person and issue fits into the entire scheme of the contemporary world. 

A true leader shakes people from their reverie and tells them, “No, you don’t need to live a life of desperation and confusion. Yes, you do have the ability to find meaning in your life, and the unique skills to fulfill that meaning. You are an important link in a chain of generations past; you have a legacy worth preserving and a future worth fighting for.

A true leader shows us that our world is indeed heading somewhere and that we control its movement. That we need not be at the mercy of personal prejudices or the prevailing political wind. That none of us are subservient to history or nature -- that we are history and nature. That we can rid the world of war and hate and ignorance, and obliterate the borders separating race from race, rich from poor.

Centuries ago, kings and queens ruled the world, but we are today far removed from the very concept of absolute leadership. Indeed, leadership would seem to contradict our democratic tradition, which has taught us not to subordinate our lives to another human being.  But we cannot afford to be so literal-minded: If the ideals of democracy were followed to the extreme, if the public demanded a referendum for even the smallest piece of legislation, society could not function. So our current political makeup is a pragmatic and acceptable compromise, allowing individuals a role in choosing their leaders while holding the leaders responsible to society.

Still, many people have lost faith in contemporary leaders. The solution is not to resign yourself to this sad state of affairs, but to search for and demand a leader of sterling character. The ultimate goal should be to have all the benefits of democracy and the benefits of a visionary leader.

It is important, especially today, to distinguish between leadership and demagoguery. A demagogue may inspire people, but his motives are impure and his expectations unrealistic. It is wise to be a bit skeptical when assessing a leader: Is he truly devoted to his mission or just seeking glory? Is he truly interested in the welfare of others or simply building a flock for his own aggrandizement?

A true leader does not want followers; he wants to teach others how to be leaders. He does not want control; he wants the truth. He does not impose his leadership on others, nor does he take away anyone’s autonomy. He inspires by love, not coercion.  When it comes time to take credit, he makes himself invisible; but he is the first to arrive at the time of need, and he will never shrink away in fear. He is so passionate about your welfare that when you consult him for guidance, it is like coming face to face with yourself for the first time.    

A true leader must be a living example of his teachings. When we see that a leader’s personal life embodies his philosophy, we too are inspired to learn that philosophy. Conversely, if we see that a leader does not live by his own words, we cannot trust him.

It is useless for a leader to be a visionary in the abstract; he must be a successful communicator whose vision can be translated into specific, applicable principles - not knowledge for the sake of knowledge, but knowledge that can actually help improve the world.

So a leader must be many things - selfless, devoted, visionary, courageous, and above all, humble.  When G-d chose Moses to lead His people out of bondage in Egypt, Moses replied, “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh?” (Exodus, 3:12).  Indeed, “Moses was humbler than any man on the face of the Earth” (Numbers, 12:3).

We must recognize the characteristics of a leader - not only so we can weed out the demagogues, but so we can freely embrace a true leader when he does emerge. When people sincerely believe in a leader, they rise above their petty self-concerns. They become eager to accept his direction and input, and are inspired to accomplish far more than they could have on their own. 

By recognizing the characteristics of a true leader, we set a standard for our leaders and, more important, for ourselves. Setting your sights on the summit, even when you have yet to arrive there, is the surest way of completing the journey.

 

After the passing of his father-in-law, the previous Rebbe, in 1950, the Rebbe initially declined to lead the Lubavitch movement, saying that one needs to have “special strengths” for such a task. A year later, on the first anniversary of his father-in-law’s death, he finally accepted and formally assumed leadership.

One of the rare occasions on which he addressed his role as leader was during a celebration for his eighty-third birthday, in 1985.  “Immodesty is one of the most destructive attributes in human nature,” he said. “It is the root of all inappropriate behavior.  How can we then allow people to gather here today in honor of one individual?”

 

The Rebbe explained that the gathering was not meant to honor an individual, but an entire movement toward righteousness. “Therefore, it isn’t relevant which individual heads the movement - only the movement itself,” he continued. “The success of the movement is dependent on the unity of all its followers, a unity that transcends their differences. However, in order to unite people who are diverse by nature, there needs to be one leader who is a servant to the cause, whose sole role it is to teach and inspire and perpetuate the activities of the movement

A leader is a word with great and different meaning. It is not hard to have a leader but it is almost impossible to find a true leader that has all the properties of the word leader. Around the world there are so many leaders that control either countries or companies or associations, but not all of them succeed in their mission in all the fields.

 

A true leader is the one that the people want him or her to be their leader and accompany them through their life and experiences. Being a true leader is not an easy mission and includes difficulties that only a true leader can face and go through without being hurt or destroyed.

 

 A good example of a true leader can be found in each one’s memory of us. If we go to the past and remember a person that really affected us and touched our life we can taste and feel what a true leader is. He or she is the kind that we go to in order to feel safe and we listen to their advice or instructions without hesitating or questioning if it is what we really want.

 

But what if you are a true leader or on your way to be a true leader? Is it hard or easy to be this person and how far would you go in order to be this person? What is the joy that you feel while being this character that not only has his or her own responsibility but others responsibility and needs. If you are a true leader or you consider yourself so then you definitely know this joy that I am talking about, the joy that feeds your spirit although you go through difficulties and pressure.

 

It is your skill and joy when you know how to act with every single obstacle and know how to change it into another amazing and interesting experience. So my friend don’t feel lonely or that you are facing your battles alone, because the joy and satisfaction that you see in the eyes of those who want you, love you, and need you is the fuel that you can use to face anything in the world.

For more info. please contact Rev. Isaac Kamara of www.crpmi.eu

1 John 1:8-9 (NCV)
⁸… if we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ But if we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done.

John the Apostle emphasizes the practicality of our Christian lives if we consider what we hear, see, look and touch - 1 John 1. I call these elements ‘the four keys to doing what is right’. There are so many things that we hear that will not encourage us to trust in the Lord and to do His will. In fact, the media plays a vital role in terms of what we hear. If the Christian does not adhere to selective listening or hearing, there might be the tendency to believe anything. Hearing can also cause a Christian to lose trust for others. As we live our lives amongst other Christians and even non Christians, we may hear things that others have said about us or have done to us. It is ours to be considerate of such people and try to live at peace and in love with them.

Sometimes what we see could hamper our growth as Christians. It may cause us not to trust God to do what is right. I want to revisit the media and the internet issue one more time. As Christians, we may be tempted to see certain things that may not help our spiritual growth. These days, the media makes things very appealing that we always want to seem. But are these all good? It is our duty to make a choice on what to see and what not to see. That is why Jesus admonishes us that if our right eye causes us to sin, it must be cut off (Matthew.5:29). ‘Looking’ is another element worth noting. It is the superlative form of seeing. There is a tendency for many Christians not only to ‘see’ for the first time but develop a habit out of it. Many Christians are stuck with certain habits that are difficult to overcome because they did not manage what is seen. It is my prayer that we can work on what we see so it does not escalate to what we look at.

The last element is very important and believers need to be careful in handling it. This is the deliberate attempt to have contact with something that does not please God. I am sure there may be instances where Christians are faced with the challenge of taking something that does not belong to them or helping someone to do likewise. It could be in the areas of our work place, in the church, in schools and many others. We should be able to develop an attitude of doing what pleases God. These are certainly areas that need to be watched so that we would give glory to God by what we hear, see, look and touch.

It is important to note that as Christians, the good and sometimes, the bad things that we do emerge from how we handle these elements. Incidentally, those also dictate how we relate to God, both in private and in public. I have seen many believers attempting to separate these elements into distinct attributes. Unfortunately, the relationships between these elements are not logical but have causal relationships. What we hear motivates us to look and what we look draws us to touch. As humans, since our actions and inactions mostly result in conflicts even with our own priorities and sometimes, ideologies, can we honestly trust ourselves to do what is right? The scripture says ‘if we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves and the truth is not in us’. Even in our private life, do we genuinely admit all the sins we commit (without blame) and faithfully ask for forgiveness? While the ‘hear’ element would attempt to convict you so you can ask God for forgiveness, the ‘see’ element will forever portray the beauty of sin and attempt to glorify its ugliness. Once again, can you truly trust your instincts to do what is right even under these challenges?

I am beginning to love this verse. Let’s look at the second verse, it says, ‘but if we confess our sins’, the sins that the four elements made us commit, He, God, will forgive our sins. All that we need to do is to confess, and TRUST GOD TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. We sometimes forget that righteous living can only come from God. Regardless of what and who you are, and how much time you have dedicated to God, if you fail to trust God to do what is right, you labor in vain. Solomon, the wisest man in the history of mankind even understood the significance of this trust in Proverbs 3:5. He says, ‘Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don't depend on your own understanding’. By this, Solomon is telling us not to depend on what we hear and see, and surely not trust what we watch and touch. Understanding here reflects our abilities and achievements; knowledge and even our failures. Solomon encourages us to learn to commit all of these, not some, to the Lord.

I’ve been talking about what we can do in private to trust God to do what is right. What about the outward manifestations of trusting God to do what is right? John gives us two things

(1 John 1:6-8). The first is to live as children of God. Many Christians attempt to be politically correct and have therefore given various definitions to what ‘Children of God’ really means. But regardless of what definition you accept, a ‘Child of God’ is noted by the uniqueness of their lifestyles. If you are faithful to your children and wife, you will be faithful to your employer and friends. A life exemplary to all, including colleagues, family members and fellow believers is the key to defining ‘Children of God’. If your light faithfully and truly brightens in your private life, it will surely overcome every darkness in your public life.

The second issue that John reminds us is to understand that we are humans. As a friend puts it, one identifiable feature about HUMANS is their ability to commit transgressions. He further says that one identifiable feature about CHRISTIANS is their ability to rise above their transgressions. What this means is that if you call yourself a Child of God, and you are not able to effectively translate the four elements from wrong to right, it means you haven’t fully trusted God to do what is right. Although God expects us to be righteous, He doesn’t expect us to be sin-free, especially when we live in a sinful world. Evidently, He doesn’t even look at the magnitude of our sins, but how we truly and faithfully confess them and trust Him to forgive us and clean us from the treasures of sin.

Righteousness, as someone defines it, is doing what is right at the right place and at the right time. Some of us do the right thing but not at the right place, and mostly, not at the right time. I want to encourage you as a believer in Christ that you continue to use the word of God as your measure of success and not by any standard. God promises us with wellness when we do the right thing – Isaiah 2:10. He promises a distinctive life when we live right with Him - Psalm 45:7. He promises us with divine provision - Philippians 4:19. But as the scripture says in Romans 6:1, ‘…. shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” Obviously not! God promises us with divine protection ONLY when we strive to live right with Him - Psalm 91:11. It is my prayer that God grants us the wisdom to learn to trust him so we can live right in His presence. AMEN

Pastor Jehu Gyimah

 ‘‘..... I am a devoted Christian; I used to fast very often, sometimes one week, other times three days without food. I did this quite often till I had acute gastritis, which later developed into peptic ulcer. Because of this I cannot fast anymore. The pains do not permit an empty stomach…’’- says a close friend. He is also a leader in my church.  What does this tell us about fasting? Does this means that fasting is bad and always leads to sicknesses like ulcer? Before I proceed, I would like to state categorically that this article is not intended to discourage us from fasting, but to examine ourselves before we take a decision on fasting.

Fasting is a period of abstinence from all food or specific items. Medically, fluids are consumed in sufficient quantity to satisfy thirst and physiologic requirements during fasting. Starvation will occur only when the body is forced to use vital tissue to survive. Because of starvation, proteins are used by the body during the fast. That is, a person fasting for several days on water is not likely to suffer a deficiency of protein, vitamins, minerals or fatty acids. But is strength the only important consideration during periods of fasting?

Let’s step back a bit to consider why Christians fast in the first place. According to research, the freer the body is of toxic materials flowing through the blood and lymphatic system, the clearer and the greater the ability to think. One’s mind becomes clearer which ultimately enhances the ability to think. This is what happens when you subject yourself to fasting and perhaps among the most important reasons why Christians fast.

Fasting improves mental clarity and also lifts the brain fog. This helps one to concentrate and pray with greater and ‘smarter’ efficiency. There are several instances in the Bible where fasting yielded greater impacts than without it. The city of Nineveh was saved because the people decided to pray and fast. Other people fast for other specific reasons such as rapid weight loss, detoxification, before medical manipulations, during certain sicknesses such as arthritis, asthma, and high blood pressure. The purpose of this article however, is to explore and examine in greater detail, some of the medical and spiritual implications of fasting, what to do and not do and smart ways of fasting to achieve greater outcomes or impact.

I Corinthians 8:13 states that ‘…, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.’ It is becoming increasingly clear that certain believers by virtue of their status in our churches have decided to ‘eat meat’ regardless of the consequences it may have on fellow brethren. A Christian that has chosen not to fast for whatever reason is either demonized or at best, chastised as ‘aiding and abetting the enemy.’

As a believer myself, I understand and appreciate the many benefits of fasting and more importantly, prayers. As a medical practitioner, I also appreciate and respect the science and sometimes, the art of healthy living. Many of us are sick with incurable diseases because we did not respect the basic ethics of living. The manner we fast can affect the human systems in many negative ways. It is very sad and unfortunate that those who visit various prayer and healing camps are further subjected to severe acts of fasting and prayer without properly orienting these ‘innocent’ believers about the dangers.  I believe many have become victims to additional sicknesses and many will if the right way to fast is not properly taught.

Before I become a victim of chastisement (despite the fact that I recently completed a three day fasting myself), let’s be practical about some of the implications that have already been emphasized. I will first start with something that relates closely to the topic of this article, that is, the myths about fasting.

Stay tuned for Part Two