Crossroads Community Church

Reciting scripture

2012-02-14T07:38:00.000-08:00

It was wonderful listening to 9 children from Kidz Alive recite different scriptures that they have learnt. Some of the scriptures included John 14:14, Ephesians 6:1, Jeremiah 22:29, Psalm 23:1, Psalm 23:1 - 6 and Romans 10:17.
The Kidz have been doing extremely well reciting scripture and Stephen gave them a chance to lead the Sunday morning service. Delightful!

Personalities pt 1

2012-02-08T19:59:00.000-08:00

I received several comments to the article on Deception. A friend told me that the article was a little too honest! I guess thats the whole point - honesty counteracts deception.
After reading Nigel Ring's articles on "Teams that work" and the various personalities, I was interested in finding out more on controlling personalities. In short, this is what I found out:

1. Controllers don't allow you to be yourself. They'd like to influence your behaviour.
2. They are moody and can use temper and bullying to get their way. In their minds, you are challenging their authority over you when you either disagree with them or don't comply to their wishes.
3. They assume that they understand how you think, even when they actually don't.
4. Positive comments or compliments are not sincere. They don't want you to feel good about yourself. They try to control the way you dress, speak and may criticize your opinion. If you are considered to be an attractive/beautiful person, controllers will attempt to attack your physical appearance.
5. They seem incapable of understanding or accepting the word 'no'. They will tend to insist until they wear you down and make you give in.
6. What happens when you want to be yourself and do your own thing? Controllers try to define your reality.
7. How does this person see difficult situations, mutual decision-making or issues of responsibility? Controlling people lack the ability to tolerate or accept differences between the two of you. They are seeking ways to change some part of your core traits or personality, reshaping you. Often they will demean or criticize others as a means of building themselves up and appearing superior and in control.
8. What about your other relationships? What happens to them? Controlling people often try to cause trouble between you and your friends, spreading rumours, attempting to create divisions (divide and conquer) and will tell lies/exaggerations about you to them or about them to you to try and break your attachment/relationship. The ultimate aim is to isolate you from others so that they can have you all to themselves, inside the reality they are trying to weave for you.
9. Controlling people are very manipulative. They will not like it when you try and stand up for yourself. Interestingly, in christian circles, when a woman stands up for herself or says no to something or has a different view point etc, she is considered as being unsubmissive.
10. Stay alert! Controlling relationships can be suffocating and very destructive if not handled well.

To what extent should one person control another, if at all? Read more and find out......

Thought for the day

2012-02-08T07:59:00.001-08:00

God plans a wonderous future

1 Corinthians 2:9

No eye has seen

No ear has heard,

No mind has conceived

what God has prepared

for those who love him.

Culture at work - Tenela

2012-02-07T09:01:00.000-08:00

Tenela means “Going Out!” The men in Mablauwuni village “tenelard” - went on a walk about for 3 days last week trying to appease the ancestors.......

Mablauwuni village hasn’t had rain for 5 weeks now and some of the crops are a sorry sight! The “elders” (older men and community leaders) of Mablauwuni held a meeting and concluded that the ancestors were angry with the villagers and are withholding the rain because Mablauwuni Village is dirty – the “earth” is dirty!
The women were not allowed to go anywhere and had to literally lock themselves in their homes. The children under 18 were allowed to go to school and the men carried sticks and walked around the village burning any bones they found and killing any animal in sight – this included tortoises and lizards. Trees that had been previously struck by lightning were also burnt. The men also went up small kopjes (hills) to apologise for dirtying the earth and pray to the ancestors to send the rain. The men would eventually gather at a pool in the community called “Blauwuni” pool where they would eat their killings! The “spoils” were roasted and eaten by the men.

After 3 days, one would consider this to be quite a mission and hope for results. Well, the rain DIDN’T come and the heat continued in Kezi!

God at work!
On Sunday just before the meeting ended, everyone stood up and spent some time in prayer – asking God to send us rain! The prayer was heartfelt and lasted about 15minutes. It didn’t take long after that for us to see a build up of clouds and down came the rain. It was a huge testimony especially to the ladies who were “locked” up in their homes that God does cause miracles to happen, that God is at work and hears our prayers. Some of the older men were rather sceptical......

We were just so pleased to have rain which cooled everything down.

More on baptism.....

2012-01-31T10:03:00.001-08:00

Happy moments

Baptism service

2012-01-31T09:49:00.000-08:00

Folk getting prayed for before they get baptised

We had an excellent time on Sunday when 12 people went through the waters of baptism. Much jubilation, much singing and merriment filled the air. It was an enjoyable time!

Teams that work

2012-01-28T00:10:00.000-08:00

I have been following Nigel Ring's blog for a while now and enjoy his practical/informative style of writing. Of particluar interest lately have been his articles on "Teams that work". They are "spot on" to say the least. Have a read on www.nigelring.org

Thought for the day

2012-01-26T11:03:00.000-08:00

God's Grace is

IMMEASURABLE

His Mercy is

INEXHAUSTIBLE,

His Peace is

INEXPRESSIBLE

Book Review: When I Lay My Isaac Down by Carol Kent

2012-01-25T12:00:00.000-08:00

“Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances”

This is one of those books I couldn’t put down......I just had to finish it and see what happens in the end. The end is not as how I hoped, but even through very difficult, emotional experiences, we see the grace of God, we see triumph existing in tragedy, we see how God uses us when we are “weak” and broken and how the “process” of going through these heartfelt experiences can draw us closer to God – make us dependent on Him.

“When I Lay My Isaac Down” is a true story of the heartache and pain a couple go through when their only son Jason is convicted of 1st degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. Do our tears ever dry up? I don’t think so! There is the comparison with Abraham in the Bible when he had to lay his Isaac down on the altar and we see how God came through for him. “Circumstances may appear to wreck our lives and God’s plans, but God is not helpless among the ruins.” Eric Liddell, Olympian.
There are two categories of “Isaac experiences”:
1. Some “Isaacs are losses that are thrust upon us
2. Other “Isaacs” involve personal choices
We realise that God loves us more than these Isaac experiences. The process of going through them is what is important.
Carol Kent writes about how their lives were turned upside down the night they received a phone call that their only son Jason, a lieutenant in the Navy, was arrested and imprisoned for murder. She writes so honestly about their deep sorrow, their broken hearts and how God will answer us when we pray. It’s a very moving book about faith and it certainly will strengthen your faith.

Carol writes: “There are some tragedies that are too big for a heart to hold, and defy any description that makes sense. Time weaves its way through the shock, the hurt, and the inexpressible feelings, and one day you discover that in the process of daily survival, you have instinctively made decisions (good or bad), defined your theology, formed an opinion about God, and determined that you will either curl up and die emotionally or you will choose life. The terrifying truthful fact is that, in choosing life, you realise it will never match the kind of life that was in your carefully thought-out plan for your future. It will force you to view people around you differently. Your brokenness.........has the potential to develop an unshakable faith that defies rationality.”

“When I Lay My Isaac Down” will change your view on personal challenges. I was so encouraged, uplifted and moved to tears when reading about how Christian community support, stand in the gap, pray and encourage one another in difficult, traumatic times. They become Jesus hands and feet and a demonstration of unconditional love. “When you’re in a crisis, if you have only one supportive person, you can make it through the journey. We all need at least one person to be there for us in the middle of a tragedy.” There is such power in community. One also becomes keenly aware of the spiritual battle one is in and how the enemy tries to “wipe out” Christians spiritually and emotionally. The power of prayer is also revealed in this book. The Kent family were continually covered in prayer by family and friends. I found that inspirational. We need each other.

Sharing our personal stories with one another is so powerful. I enjoyed reading the section on “The Power of Speaking Up: “Shared stories build a relational bridge that Jesus can walk across from your heart to theirs.
There is a common ground of understanding, forgiveness, acceptance, and healing when we are authentic with each other. When we tell our real-life stories of what we have encountered on the journey of life, we break down barriers and create safe places to risk revealing the truth. Intimacy in our relationships springs to life when we are no longer hiding behind the mask of denial, embarrassment, guilt, or shame. We’re just us – people who have had some good days in life and people who have had some very bad days. We’ve quit pretending that everything is “fine” and that life is grand. When we share our stories with each other, we find a way of relating without a facade and without the need to impress. We can just be real. This brings tremendous freedom.” I agree 100%.

This is truly an excellent book. I enjoyed reading it and have learnt a great deal.

Thought for the day

2012-01-13T22:16:00.001-08:00

Psalm 37:3 - 7a

"Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in him and he will do this:

He will make your righteous

reward shine like the

dawn,

your vindication like the

noonday sun.

Be still before the Lord

and wait patiently for him;...

Movie Review: Fly Wheel

2012-01-13T22:12:00.000-08:00

Fly Wheel is an interesting movie about how Jay Austin, a businessman selling used cars gives his life to the Lord which results in an improvement in his family life and him running his business honestly. He feels convicted about his manipulative, dishonest business dealings.
His employees call Jay the ‘King of cheating’. He ignores his son, he hurts his wife with his speech and he is not a man of his word. He puts empty tithing envelops into the offering basket at church and his son Todd doesn’t want to be anything like his dad! Ironically, there is a wall plaque at the business Jay Austin Motors which says “Honesty is our best policy” and yet the business is anything but honest!

Jay has a “reality” check after watching a preacher on television. Conviction starts happening as he realises he has been grossly manipulating people and his life isn’t right with God or with his family. His self-analysis causes him to repent and he makes a decision to honour God in his business. He apologises to his wife and his employees for being such a bad example and he wants to live with clear conscience in all he does. Decisions to live a Godly life and honestly come with a price; Jay soon realises this but God comes through for him. Treat people right and they’ll come back to you. Scriptures that speak to him are Psalm 1(whole chapter), Psalm 37:3 – 7a, Proverbs 3:5.

Jay’s honesty pays off and we mustn’t be surprised when God is faithful to us. I particularly loved it when a former employee tried to tarnish his name through the media and Jay didn’t deny his former dishonest business practises – on the contrary, when he thought all was lost, God stepped in by using people to testify of Jay’s transformation. The power of prayer is so evident.

Fly Wheel is a movie of Jay’s faith journey and how faithful God is. He takes care of every detail. I enjoyed the movie.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old things have gone, the new is here!”

Romans 10:13 “...for, ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”

Are you stuck at the gate? Steve Manhanga

2012-01-12T07:18:00.000-08:00

Acts 3:1 "One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer - at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful,......"
A lame man who was brought to the Beautiful gate was incapacitated and because he was in that condition, he needed special care. He couldn’t work and he needed to be carried. There was nothing wrong with this man in many areas of his body: he could see, speak, touch. He could move his arms and upper torso. In fact, there was only one thing wrong with him – his ankles had no strength. Sometimes only ONE thing can affect our entire life!

This man was handicapped and he needed to be carried. This made him dependent on other people. This man felt discouraged and had low self worth. He felt demeaned. One area of weakness had created another in his life. Not only were his ankles lame – he was lame. We each have a weakness in our lives that keeps us from functioning as a whole person.

What do we do? The easiest thing is to deny our own lameness. God sends people to the gate where we sit to help us receive what God has for us to receive. Watch for that person in your life. Look for that person.

What are you expecting? Acts 3:2 – 3
a) What do you want when you go to church? We tend to make the same mistake the lame man made when he was carried to the Beautiful gate that day. He was seeking alms and not expecting a healing. How do we look at other people? What do we expect from our encounter with them?

Illustration of the lame man

b) Vs 6 “What I have I give. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Peter believed that what he has was better than silver or gold. Was he right? He had Jesus Christ. That is all we need – the power to overcome, to heal, to deliver from oppression and worry etc.

c) V7 We need to help people get up by giving them a hand – the right hand of fellowship. Be expectant! A miracle took place.

Summarised by Molly Manhanga

Thought for the day

2012-01-11T06:48:00.000-08:00

2 Samuel 22:29 - 35

"You, Lord , are my lamp;

the Lord turns my darkness into

light

With your help I can advance

against a troop

with my God I can scale a wall

As for God, His way is perfect

The Lords word is flawless

He shields all who take refuge in him

For who is God besides the Lord

And who is the rock except our God

It is God who arms me with strength

and keeps my way secure

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer

He causes me to stand on the heights

He trains my hands for battle

my arms can bend a bow of bronze."

Trusting in the Rock....

2012-01-06T01:36:00.000-08:00

Mark 12:41 – 42 “Many rich people throw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.”

Some things seem like they’ll be there forever like granite carvings, balancing rocks and so on. However, things we trust disappear. They fade away in the night with one sudden phone call, car ride or decision made. Perhaps we knew, deep down, that the person could not be counted on, the job could not last, the relationship would not weather the storm, but we decided to believe it was timeless anyway. When we carry many responsibilities – children, job, home, marriage, parents etc, we often come to trust ourselves as well. Who else will keep things going? we wonder. So we hold on tightly to keep everything together, to stay in control.

God’s desire is the opposite of our human inclination: He wants us to release our tight-fisted control. He wants us to give him the control of everything in our lives. The widow who gave two small copper coins showed her trust in God to provide for her, even if her very material possession was gone. The crowd who went before her gave a lot, but in proportion to what they owned, they gave very little. They were holding back. This faithful woman “put in everything – all she had to live on.” V44.

God wants us to place everything in his hands, not because he wants you to be empty, but because the wants to fill you to overflowing. Of all the things we look to for stability and permanence, he is the only true Rock who will never fall or fade away.

Jesus My Everything

2012-01-04T07:42:00.000-08:00

Matthew 16:15 – 16 “’But what about you?’ he asked? ‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’”

“Jesus is Everything.” Mother Teresa’s words are demonstrated by her selfless, Christlike actions – she was a friend to the poor, unabashedly loving society’s rejects and giving hope to the hopeless in her adopted country of India. How broken her heart must have been every time she lifted an untouchable out of the gutter to die in her arms or she fed and bathed a hungry, dirty orphan.

Through her actions, this humble woman proved that Jesus was more than a good man, a brilliant teacher or even a prophet sent by God. She knew in her heart that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, and that knowledge empowered her with enough love for a lifetime of service.

In Matthew 16, Jesus asked his disciples who they thought he was. Peter aced the pop quiz, calling him “the Son of the living God.” We all know that Peter wasn’t perfect. He was the one who had denied Jesus three times at Jesus’ trial. Yet at this key moment, he comprehended that Jesus was the Messiah God had promised for centuries. After Pentecost, Peter’s boldness allowed him to proclaim Christ’s identity whenever and wherever he could, regardless of the persecution and suffering it invited. Eventually, he was crucified for spreading the news that Jesus was God’s Son. Peter was crucified head down because he felt unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus. To the Apostle who once denied him, Jesus was everything; in fact, Jesus was the only thing.

The ONE who lived among us was God’s hands and feet. He gave us the very words of his father. He taught us how to love. He taught us how to give. And he taught us to die as a grain of wheat dies, so that the seeds of life are multiplied (see John 12:24)

Mother Teresa understood that was Jesus, there was no such thing as loving moderately. So did Peter. They showed others that Jesus was Lord of their lives by loving as he loved and serving as he served – continually, wholeheartedly and sacrificially.

Issues on character pt 3

2012-01-02T05:53:00.000-08:00

Character – What does the Bible say?

What is character? Character is the traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing – moral or ethical qualities of honesty, courage, integrity, reputation etc……..

What does the Bible say? Here are a few scriptures on character….
1. Romans 5:3 – 5 “More than that we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character hop, and hope does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” The sufferings produce a step by step transformation that makes believers more like Christ.

2. 1 Corinthians 15:33 – 34a “Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, “for bad company corrupts good character. ‘Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning.” Keeping company with those who deny the resurrection can corrupt good Christians. Don’t let your relationships with unbelievers lead you away from Christ or cause your faith to waver.

3. Hebrews 6:17 “So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath.” There are 2 unchangeable things:
• Promise/purpose
• Oath
The character of God is holy and he does not lie. His promise is sure, and doubly sure when combined with his oath. This encourages one to hold fast to the hope of God’s promises.

4. Hebrews 1:3 “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honour at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.” Not only is Jesus the exact representation of God, but he is God himself – the very God who spoke in Old Testament times. He is eternal; he worked with the Father in creating the world (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16) He is the full revelation of God. You can have no clearer view of God than by looking at Christ. Jesus Christ is the complete expression of God in a human body. The book of Hebrews links God’s saving power with his creative power. In other words, the power that brought the universe into being and that keeps it operating is the very power that cleanses our sins. No sin is too big for the Ruler of the universe to handle. He can and will forgive us when we come to him through his Son.

5. Ruth 3:11b “All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.”

6. Proverbs 31:10 “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.”

Lets be a people with noble character.

More on character…..
1. It is developed by difficult circumstances
2. Degraded by sin
3. Tainted by jealousy and immorality
4. God tested the Hebrews character in the wilderness
5. God judges by character, not by appearances

Issues on character pt 2

2012-01-02T05:51:00.000-08:00

“Poem on Character"

by Howard A. Walter

I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care;
I would be strong, for there are those who suffer;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare.
I would be friend of all--- the foe, the friendless;
I would be giving, and forget the gift;
I would be humble, for I know my weakness;
I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift.”
― John C. Maxwell, Developing the Leader Within You

Issues on character pt 1

2012-01-01T23:04:00.000-08:00

Six pillars of character

Trustworthiness
Be honest • Don’t deceive, cheat, or steal • Be reliable — do what you say you’ll do • Have the courage to do the right thing • Build a good reputation • Be loyal — stand by your family, friends, and country

Respect
Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule • Be tolerant and accepting of differences • Use good manners, not bad language • Be considerate of the feelings of others • Don’t threaten, hit or hurt anyone • Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements

Responsibility
Do what you are supposed to do • Plan ahead • Persevere: keep on trying! • Always do your best • Use self-control • Be self-disciplined • Think before you act — consider the consequences • Be accountable for your words, actions, and attitudes • Set a good example for others

Fairness
Play by the rules • Take turns and share • Be open-minded; listen to others • Don’t take advantage of others • Don’t blame others carelessly • Treat all people fairly

Caring
Be kind • Be compassionate and show you care • Express gratitude • Forgive others • Help people in need

Citizenship
Do your share to make your school and community better • Cooperate • Get involved in community affairs • Stay informed; vote • Be a good neighbour • Obey laws and rules • Respect authority • Protect the environment • Volunteer
________________________________________

Reflecting on 2011

2011-12-31T00:02:00.000-08:00

Highlights in 2011
1. Completion of the Kidz Block.
2. Leaders from Zimbabwe and abroad coming to Crossroads to share their gifts and talents. We thank God for them.
3. Tuckshop and grinding mill serving the community.
4. Community Events like COSMOS, Eye Clinic, Foundations for Farming Training, Faithful Stewards Programme etc.
5. Introduction to Foundations for Family at Crossroads.
6. Painting of the toilet block.
7. Releasing emerging leaders who joined Beyond Belief and moved to Mapisa.
8. More people employed as activities begin at the Crossroads plot i.e. foundations for farming, pig project while others have joined the chicken project
9. Different ministries led by local leaders like Hospital visitation, Kidz Alive, Cell meetings, Women’s ministry, Chronological Bible Storying etc.
10. Evidence of spiritual growth in individuals.

Challenges
1. Life issues faced with emerging leaders.
2. Lack of water at Crossroads (Soon to be rectified – praise God!)
3. Animals eating the crops in the Well Watered Garden demonstration plots.

As we are at the end of another year, looking forward into 2012, our prayer is that God will be glorified in all that we do and say, we will impact and influence our community and that we'll see many, many people come to the knowledge of Christ.

God Bless You

Molly Manhanga

Festive season in Rural Kezi......

2011-12-30T20:40:00.001-08:00

Ever wonder what folks in the rural areas do over the festive season? Well, it's just like everywhere else......they celebrate, some have parties to "ring" in the festive mood, eat lots of food, spend time with family and rejoice with family that visit from neighbouring South Africa or Botswana or arrive from the City of Kings - Bulawayo. Watching television or DVD's, listening to the radio or to loud music is the norm for young people. Others will take the time to go into the fields and work seeing as it is the rainy season and some will go to church or become spiritual in one way or another.

Festive season.....thats how it goes year after year....

Thought for the day

2011-12-30T03:39:00.000-08:00

What's in our hearts?

Capacities for love, mercy, anger, envy and pride can lie dormant until awakened by circumstances. Strength and weaknesses of heart are found not when everything is going our way but when flames of suffering and temptation test the mettle of our character. As gold and silver are refined by fire, and as coal needs time and pressure to become a diamond, the human heart is revealed and developed in the presence of pain and suffering.

Romans 5:3 - 5
1 Peter 1:6 - 8
Job 42:1 - 17

Eye clinic at Crossroads pt 2

2011-12-30T00:38:00.000-08:00

Grace Tshabangu "sporting" her new glasses

Medications being dispensed

Rachel Beaty giving a talk

By Molly Manhanga

Eye Clinic at Crossroads

2011-12-29T08:04:00.000-08:00

Dr Steve Beaty

Crossroads was quite a hive of activity yesterday as we hosted an eye clinic for folk from Mablauwuni village and the surrounding communities. We weren't too sure how the turn out would be seeing as it is the festive season but, the response was good. Dr Steve Beaty, his lovely wife Jane and a team served us so well. They not only examined eyes and blessed folk with glasses, but they also checked on general health - those with ailments of sorts. The day was fantastic and the Crossroads Catering Team did an excellent job in cooking for over 150 people and serving them on time......

Folk from the community waiting for the eye clinic to begin......

However, the day didn't start off so brilliantly for the Beaty's. We had scheduled the eye clinic to start at 9:00am and were expecting the Beaty's before hand to set up. We were then informed that the vehicle they had hired from Bulawayo broke down on the way and so they had to head back into town to sort that out. Folk from the surrounding communities started arriving at Crossroads as early as 6:00am. The general atmosphere was good as people waited patiently and the clinic eventually kicked off at approximately 11:00am.

It was a good day and the thunderstorm in the afternoon was AMAZING!!! Farmers in Kezi are smiling.....

By Molly Manhanga

Faith's Many Definitions

2011-12-26T06:33:00.000-08:00

"By Faith Abraham Obeyed."
When God demands our most cherished possession, do we flinch - or obey?

What is FAITH?
An acronym for faith....

F - Forsaking
A - All
I - I
T - Take
H - Him

Faith is belief that God exists
Faith is trusting God
Faith is waiting patiently for God to undertake
Faith is the absence of doubt or worry
Faith is holding firmly to the promises of God
Faith is hoping for what is yet unseen
Faith is being crazy for God

Someone else describes faith with these words...."I cannot explain the wind, but I can hoist a sail."

The story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac in Genesis 22:1 - 12, is a good illustration of faith in action.

Why do believers get worn out?

2011-12-26T00:39:00.000-08:00

I was reading a very interesting article on how war in the trenches wears down the troops.

Often the battle is won by the one who can hang in the longest. Power contests between individuals are usually a test of endurance. The one who does not crack under the stress of opposition, or run from the attacks on his person, or wear out from the length of the fray wins!

Daniel makes an interesting comment on the tactics of the evil one….he shall “wear out the saints” Daniel 7:25. The word actually speaks of affliction and oppression. Satan has strategies such as persecutions, temptations, doctrinal deviations and other such frontal attacks. But when he cannot achieve his way quickly through such means, he may dig the trench and hold the line.

Trench warfare wears down the troops. You never know where the bullet may blaze from. A fresh charge may come at any moment, or not for days. Living conditions are horrible. Crowded in by walls of mud, stepping on each other’s feet, worrying about each night’s foray – it all stretches the nerves.

Many preachers and believers are near breaking point or being worn out. Snipers sneak shots at will while the army of the Lord holes up in the sanctuary, Carnality controls the contest, despair deepens and hopelessness hangs over the field like a cloud of poison gas. Some church fights go on for years. The same few contestants tie up all advances by wearing down people with continual debates, fault-finding, criticisms and just general contrariness.

In warfare, no retreat is allowed. But, stay in the shelter and eventually it becomes your grave. There is only one way out. Daniel said, “the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits” (11:32). The trumpet sounds the advance. We are called to go over the top. This is not a reckless bravado resulting in slaughter. It is a calculated offense that reveals bravery. Truth is taught, the gospel is preached, discipline is enforced, the church is led and the Lord is glorified.

Our captain has instructed us in spiritual strategy. The church is to resist the devil, flee temptation and go into all the world. Occasionally, our ranks must be pruned. But the call is to discipleship, resulting in a unified move forward.

Greater challenges have never faced us. The battle is the Lord’s. So up, and at it! Too long the enemy has worn us down. Put on your armour and prepare for war. Victory is in the field and not in the trenches.

Yes, interesting article......written 20 years ago......

To Us a Child Is Born

2011-12-24T23:42:00.000-08:00

Isaiah 9:6 - 7a

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his

shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Councellor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and

peace

there will be no end..........

Christmas - what is it really about? It's about Jesus Christ.... He is the reason for this season.

A Christmas Poem

2011-12-21T02:23:00.000-08:00

A Friend sent this to me recently .....Some may say it’s too warm & fuzzy, mushy, slobbery or even cheesy…but hey, it’s Christmas and the air is filled with love, peace, appreciation, thankfulness etc. Another thing – technology has changed but I think the message/principle remains the same….Here goes

A Christmas Poem

I have a list of folks I know, all written in a book
And every year when Christmas comes, I go and take a look.
Well, that is when I realise that these names are a part
Not of the book they’re written in, but really of my heart.

For each name stands for someone who has crossed my path sometime,
And in the meeting they've become the rhythm in each rhyme.
So while it sounds fantastic for me to make this claim,
I really feel that I'm composed of each remembered name.

Now while you may not be aware of any special link
Just meeting you has changed my life a lot more than you think;
For once I've met somebody, the years cannot erase
The memory of a pleasant word or of a friendly face.

So never think my Christmas cards are just a mere routine
Of names upon a Christmas list, forgotten in between,
For when I send a Christmas card that is addressed to you,
It is because you're on the list that I'm indebted to.

Then every year when Christmas comes, I realise anew,
The best gifts life can offer is meeting folks like you.
May love and grace and gladness, and peace that all endures
Leave it’s richest blessing in the hearts of you and yours.

by Helen Steiner Rice

House of Prayer

2011-12-19T10:35:00.000-08:00

Mark 11:12 – 25
1 Corinthians 6:19
In this passage, 2 unusual things are related or connected and this is the cursing of the fig tree and the cleansing of the Temple.

The cursing of the fig tree was an acted out parable related to the cleansing of the Temple. The Temple was supposed to be a place of worship but true worship and prayer had disappeared. The fig tree showed promise of fruit but it produced none. If we claim to have faith without putting it to work in our lives we are like the barren fig tree. We look fruitful in appearance only but are spiritually barren.

Fig trees are a popular source of inexpensive food in Israel. They require 3 years from time of planting until they can bear fruit. Each tree yields a great amount of fruit. In late spring and early autumn, the figs normally grow as the leaves fill out but this tree, though full of leaves, had none. The tree looked promising but offered no fruit. 2 Timothy 4:2 – 5

We need to be people that are prayed up. What kind of prayers do we pray? Is it the kind of prayers that moves mountains? God answers our prayers but it’s not based on our positive mental outlook or attitude. There are a few conditions that need to be met......
1. Be a believer: Hebrews 11:6, Mark 11:23 – 24
2. Don’t hold a grudge against another person vs. 25
3. Don’t pray with selfish motives: James 4:1 – 3
4. Let your request be for the good of God’s Kingdom: James 4:7 – 10
Our prayers are often motivated by our own interests and desires yet Jesus prayed in Mark 14:36 with God’s interest in mind.

Let’s be a praying people
Let’s confess our sin
Let’s turn back to God.

A Child's World

2011-12-17T17:25:00.000-08:00

Have you ever taken the time to really enter a child’s world? I find it quite fascinating watching children at Crossroads play with dolls or soft toys, playing with sand or chasing one another and laughing or simply staring at...'nothing'. It’s such an innocent and happy life. There are no deadlines to be met, meetings to attend or decisions to be made – the things that occupy an adult world. How precious children are! Try stepping out of your adult world and enter the world of children. Pray for the children you know – pray for your own children. I was quite touched when we took time at Crossroads and prayed for the children. What a special time. Jesus said in Matthew 19:14 “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them.” Jesus is our perfect example, so let’s welcome the children onto our laps and into our hearts. Let’s recognise their value and do what we can to show them Christ’s love.

Little children are a BIG concern to God.

From timidity to compassion

2011-12-10T00:29:00.000-08:00

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us the spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

Three to one – that’s God’s ratio for success, according to 2 Timothy 1:7. A trio of God-given attributes – power, love and self-discipline – offsets one characteristic that doesn’t come from Him: timidity. The Greek word translated here as “timidity” also means “fear” or “cowardice”. Can you relate? Who hasn’t shrunk back, like the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz, when faced with opposition or an opportunity to speak about God to others?

But here is a refreshing perspective when confronting our own timidity: Rather than looking at people with fear, we can see them as Jesus did. He was willing to go out and seek each one like a shepherd looks for a lost sheep. He saw each person’s potential to become a child of God. We should see each person, not as a foe, but as a potential brother or sister. Do you see the difference such a change in perspective could make? It can move us from cowardice/timidity to compassion.

Who do you know that needs to hear about Jesus? A family member, a co-worker, a next door neighbour? Have they heard you speak on every subject except eternity? Regardless of what is holding you back, God has already replaced your timidity with power, love and self-discipline (a sound mind)

Power: We can be confident in sharing God’s message because he offers us the very same power that raised Jesus from the dead. Paul reminded the Corinthians that he came ‘in truthful speech and in the power of God’ (2 Corinthians 6:7) That same power is alive and real and available to you.
Love: God, who is love, can fill us so that we can invite others into his welcoming embrace. Love that ‘never fails’ (1 Corinthians 13:8) gives us the desire to share the very best news with others.
Self-discipline: means that we have a sound mind, good judgment and discretion. These concepts dovetail to make people who have wisdom tell others about Jesus. We will meet people where they are, discern what their needs are, sense where the ‘door’ to their heart is, and walk through it with the gospel message.

The Meaning of Life

2011-12-08T23:11:00.000-08:00

George Gallup Jr. listed the top spiritual needs of people today:

1. To believe that life is meaningful and has a purpose
2. To have a sense of community and deeper relationships
3. To be appreciated and respected
4. To be listened to
5. To feel they are growing in faith
6. To get practical help in developing a mature faith

Notice how many of the needs relate to relationships. That's because we are created to be relational people. God created us first to have a relationship with him and second to have relationship with one another. It is through our interactions with others that we find meaning in life. The Bible teaches us that others will know whether our christianity is genuine by looking at whether our love for each other is real (John 13:35).

It's easy to love people who love us, but we are commanded to extend acts of kindness and acts of service even to strangers. Doing so is a sign that our faith is dynamic and alive. God asks us to grow and mature by forgiving those who have wronged us. And scripture instructs us to put others needs ahead of our own, even if it's not convenient. That's how we show others we appreciate and respect them.

In Hebrew 13 the author instructs us concerning hospitality to strangers, marital relations and submission to authority - in essence, how to build relationships. But the whole catalog of interactions with others is rooted in, and gets its life source from our relationship with Jesus. Our sacrifice of praise to God and our sacrifice of service to others are fundamentally linked to him. Our good works to others grow out of Christ's work in us, and that pleases him.

None of our sacrifices for others are even comparable to the great sacrifice Jesus made in order to have a relationship with us. But the amazing thing is that when we offer the sacrifices of time, energy and good deeds to others, we not only grow closer to them, but we also grow closer to Jesus.

In Christ, we find true meaning in our lives.

Family Matters....

2011-12-08T01:58:00.001-08:00

My sister in law: Virginia Pinto (left) and Molly Manhanga (right)

“In-laws or outlaws: the choice is yours”……I enjoyed my time in Harare recently with my in-laws. We had a great catch up time and parted saying that we’ll encourage each other to live a healthy lifestyle. I decided to go “healthy” and although it’s not difficult when I’m on my own or with Stephen, when I’m with family, it tends to get hard because of the food we eat…..I couldn’t believe it recently when I was having a debate with myself on whether or not to eat French fries. My rationale was that I’d eat this once and it really does taste good! I didn’t succumb to the temptation but, it’s good when you have folk that you are accountable to……and in this case, it’s my sister in-laws….. Healthy living here we come!!

Garden feature

While I’ve been trying to get creative and beautify my garden by planting flowers and trying to put in garden “features”, one of my dogs has other ideas for my efforts……the flowers seem to make a nice sleeping area. Stephen has been doing well with his maize, tomatoes and onions. I won’t need to buy tomatoes and onions for a while.

Tomatoes from the garden…not bad at all!

Molly Manhanga

Crossroads Camp! pt 2

2011-12-07T05:41:00.000-08:00

Saturday was serious business as we spent time discussing how we can improve as a church and how we can impact the community? Groups were formed and different areas of church life were discussed before having a feedback session. What I liked the most was how honest folk were being on areas that we are good in and areas that need improving. I hope 2012 is a good year with everyone playing their part!

Sunday was celebration time and honouring folk. It was good seeing people so happy and really appreciating one another. We ended by sharing lunch together. Seems like the food was more than enough again as we have quite a bit left over which we can use for Kidz Alive.

God is good!

Crossroads Camp!

2011-12-06T12:18:00.000-08:00

Excitement spread through Mablauwuni village and Ebenezer Training Centre as our camp date drew near. Preparations went smoothly as church members contributed generously with food items.

Friday Evening: About 150 of us gathered at Crossroads, sang songs, danced, prayed and had a really good time getting to know each other better. Some of the Field Officers from Beyond Belief attended the meeting as well as 'old' apprentices who are now based in Bulawayo. It was great seeing them again.

Stephen encouraged everyone to see things in both the physical as well as the spiritual.....see the possibilities of what God is doing in our community, what is God saying to us individually and for us to look forward to 2012. He then asked the question "What drives Crossroads Church?" Some responses were: prayer, seeing the community saved, God, goals etc. Every church is driven by something be it programmes, events, personalities etc

We then looked at how to best impact and influence the community. It was a good evening!

Life Condensed: what will be said of you?

2011-11-28T21:14:00.000-08:00

2 Kings 22:1 – 20
2 Kings 22:2 “(Josiah) did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.”

Condensed milk, condensed books. We like things that have been condensed, consolidated, compressed, abbreviated, abridged and so on. Make it short; make it quick so that it saves time. Whatever gets to the bottom line!

The condensed version of King Josiah’s life is found in a single sentence. 31 words in one verse sum up the essence of his entire life: “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.” Amazing! Concise! Josiah’ walked the path of righteousness without swerving.

Josiah became King at age 8 and reigned until his death at age 39. His father and grandfather both reigned over Judah before him. Both “did evil in the eyes of the Lord” (2 Kings 21:20). Despite his evil legacy, Josiah turned his heart toward God. And although Judah, the nation he ruled, had turned to worship false gods, Josiah did not waver in his allegiance to the one true God. No other King before or after him stayed on course like Josiah.

If your life were condensed into a short synopsis – one brief sentence – what would be said of you? How our lives are summarized depends on the choices we make each day. We have the tendency to become distracted by the cares of every day life and its responsibilities. It’s easy to get sidetracked from our primary purpose: pleasing God. It is easier to give lip service to spiritual things than to stay on course, keeping in step with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:25)

May it be said of you and me that we did right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in the way of truth, not turning aside to the right or to the left.

Gleaned from Ruth

2011-11-28T00:03:00.000-08:00

The book of Ruth is an ancient story that follows the journey of one Jewish family’s struggle for survival. Escaping famine, Elimelech travelled to Moab with his wife, Naomi, and two sons. But 10 years later, we find Naomi in mourning at the loss of both her husband and two sons. She is left alone in a foreign land with two Moabite daughters-in-law and no hope of future happiness…..or so it seems. Naomi is a woman who forgot her dream, but God had not forgotten her. Through an unlikely chain of events, God restored her joy through her foreigner daughter-in-law and a kind, wealthy relative.

Ruth 1:16 “Don’t urge me to leave you or turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.”

What do we learn from Ruth?
1. Ruth was faithful towards God.
2. Ruth, Naomi and Boaz remain strong in character and true to God even when the society around them was collapsing.
3. She was loyal to people: to be loyal and loving in relationships, we must imitate God’s faithfulness in our relationships with others.
4. The values portrayed by Ruth were in contrast to those of the culture portrayed in Judges. Our lives should stand out from the world around us.
5. Trust God’s protection. Our hope is in Him and he can work in the life of any person.
6. Love is the greatest blessing. Blessings come in the high quality relationships God makes possible for us. Love and respect the people God has brought into our lives. In so doing, we give and receive blessings.

Movie Review: Not Easily Broken

2011-11-27T05:13:00.000-08:00

Not Easily Broken is a soul-stirring film based on the inspirational best-selling novel by T.D Jakes. I watched this movie several times and have an appreciation for the messages it portrays.

A cord of 3 strands is not easily broken: husband, wife and God. Clarice is sweet, smart, driven, “got your back” kind of woman and she marries her man, Dave. But, life has a way of trying to knock you down. After a car accident which lands Clarice in the hospital and fighting to walk again, the couple’s affection is severely tested. Clarice’s mum moves in to ‘help’ but this help affects the couple. There is physical temptation, financial pressure and emotional challenges.

The problems that creep into the marriage are:
1. Work – appearance is everything
2. Lack of quality time
3. Mother in law: she projected her own marital problems onto her daughter and disrespected her son in law
4. ‘Close’ friend of the opposite sex
5. Lack of or poor communication: the blame game or the silent treatment

Who we listen to in our marriage actually matters. Ultimately this couple; Dave and Clarice needed to determine whether or not their vows are easily broken. I really liked the appearance of T.D Jakes and his wife as they were having a meal around a table with another couple as well as the Johnson’s. Much about the Johnson’s marriage is revealed by both verbal and nonverbal communication.

Dave moves out of the house and Clarice confronts her mum. Clarice loves her husband but mum is getting in the way. The movie ends on a happy note where the couple make up and are expecting a baby.

It’s an interesting movie to watch with good points to discuss after. Not forgetting the humour with one of Dave's friends who is in touch with his feminine side just a little too much!!!

People that inspire.....

2011-11-26T01:22:00.000-08:00

Mother Teresa is one of those people that inspire me. I guess it's because she poured her life into helping the poor, particularly those who were sick and dying. Here is some infomation about her.....

Entering the order when she was just 18, Agnes Bojaxhiu as she was known, joined the Order of the Sisters of Our Lady of Loreto in Ireland. Taking the name Sister Teresa, she found her calling in India on a pilgrimage to Calcutta. It was there that she saw the sick and the dying on the city's streets. She began her lifelong work in Calcutta, founding Missionaries of Charity. Later on, she founded the Kalighat Home for the Dying, ensuring that those dying on the streets of India would not have to die homeless. Mother Teresa continued her work with the dying and homeless until she died from a long illness in 1997.
Date of Birth: August 26, 1910
Date of Death: September 05, 1997
________________________________________

LIFE

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it

Life is beauty, admire it

Life is a dream, realize it

Life is a challenge, meet it

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it

Life is a promise, fulfil it

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a struggle, accept it

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it

Life is life, fight for it.

Synopsis of Ephesians

2011-11-24T23:45:00.000-08:00

Over the last couple of Sundays, Stephen, Mx and Mcebisi have been taking us through the book of Ephesians. Paul is the author of Ephesians and the purpose of the book was to strengthen the believers in Ephesus in their Christian faith by explaining the nature and purpose of the church, the body of Christ.
Key verse – Ephesians 4:4 – 6 “There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Paul had spent over 3 years with the Ephesian church and as a result, he was very close to them. Paul met with the elders at Miletus (Acts 20:17 – 38) – a meeting that was filled with great sadness because he was leaving them for what he thought would be the last time. In this letter, Paul explains the wonderful things that we have received through Christ and refers to the church as the body to illustrate unity of purpose and show how each individual member is a part that must work together with all the other parts. In our own lives, we should eradicate all backbiting, gossip, criticism, jealousy, anger, and bitterness, because these are barriers to unity in the church.

When we respond to Christ’s love by trusting in him, his purpose becomes our mission. Because Christ is central to everything, his power must be central in us. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all creation. The church, under Christ’s control, is a living body, a family, a dwelling. God gives believers special abilities by his Holy Spirit to build the church. We are one family in Christ, so there should be no barriers, no divisions, no basis for discrimination. We all belong to him, so we should live in harmony with one another. As a new community, we are to live by Christ’s new standards.

Issue the decree!

2011-11-24T13:02:00.000-08:00

The book of Daniel is so inspirational. It's so encouraging to read in Daniel 6:25 - 27 'Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land:

"May you prosper greatly!

I issue a decree that in every part

of my kingdom people must fear and reverence

the God of Daniel.

For he is the living God

and he endures for ever;

his kingdom will not be destroyed,

his dominion will never end.

He rescues and saves;

he performs signs and wonders

in the heavens and on the earth.

He has rescued Daniel

from the power of the lions."

What an awsome, rescuing God we serve! Faithful to the very end.

Thought for the day

2011-11-23T12:30:00.000-08:00

God gives His spirit

Luke 11:13

If you then, though you

are evil, know how to

give good gifts to your

children, how much more

will your Father in heaven

give the Holy Spirit to

those who ask him!

On the poetic side.......

2011-11-23T12:16:00.000-08:00

The Power Of Pain

Our Father knows what's best for us

so why should we complain?

We always want the sunshine,

but he knows there must be rain.

We love the sound of laughter

and the merriment of cheer

But our hearts would lose their tenderness

if we never shed a tear.

For growing trees are strengthened

when they withstand the storm,

And the sharp cut of the chisel

gives the diamond grace and form.

God never hurts us needlessly,

and he never wastes our pain,

For every loss he sends to us is followed by rich gain.

And when we count the blessings that God so freely sent,

We'll find no cause for murmuring,

and no time to lament.

For our Father loves his children

and to him all things are plain,

So he never sends us pleasure

when the soul's deep need is pain.

So whenever we are troubled,

and when everything goes wrong,

We know God's working in our hearts,

to make our spirit strong.

By Amy Carmichael

Emotional Well Being pt 4

2011-11-22T15:53:00.000-08:00

Supportive relationships: The foundation of emotional health

No matter how much time you devote to improving your mental and emotional health, you will still need the company of others to feel and be your best. Humans are social creatures with emotional needs for relationships and positive connections to others. We’re not meant to survive, let alone thrive, in isolation. Our social brains crave companionship—even when experience has made us shy and distrustful of others.

Social interaction—specifically talking to someone else about your problems—can also help to reduce stress. The key is to find a supportive relationship with someone who is a “good listener”—someone you can talk to regularly, preferably face-to-face, who will listen to you without a pre-existing agenda for how you should think or feel. A good listener will listen to the feelings behind your words, and won’t interrupt or judge or criticize you. The best way to find a good listener is to Be a good listener yourself. Develop a friendship with someone you can talk to regularly, and then listen and support each other.

Emotional Well Being pt 3

2011-11-22T15:48:00.000-08:00

Improve mental and emotional health by taking care of yourself

In order to maintain and strengthen your mental and emotional health, it’s important to pay attention to your own needs and feelings. Don’t let stress and negative emotions build up. Try to maintain a balance between your daily responsibilities and the things you enjoy. If you take care of yourself, you’ll be better prepared to deal with challenges if and when they arise.
Taking care of yourself includes pursuing activities that naturally release endorphins and contribute to feeling good. In addition to physical exercise, endorphins are also naturally released when we:
• Do things that positively impact others. Being useful to others and being valued for what you do can help build self-esteem.
• Practice self-discipline. Self-control naturally leads to a sense of hopefulness and can help you overcome despair, helplessness, and other negative thoughts.
• Learn or discover new things. Think of it as “intellectual candy”. Try taking an adult education class, join a book club, visit a museum, learn a new language, or simply travel somewhere new.
• Enjoy the beauty of nature or art. Studies show that simply walking through a garden can lower blood pressure and reduce stress. The same goes for strolling through a park or an art gallery, hiking, admiring architecture, or sitting on a beach.

More tips and strategies for taking care of yourself:
• Appeal to your senses. Stay calm and energized by appealing to the five senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Listen to music that lifts your mood, place flowers where you will see and smell them, massage your hands and feet, or sip a warm drink.
• Engage in meaningful, creative work. Do things that challenge your creativity and make you feel productive, whether or not you get paid for it – things like gardening, drawing, writing, playing an instrument, or building something in your workshop.
• Get a pet. Yes, pets are a responsibility, but caring for one makes you feel needed and loved. There is no love quite as unconditional as the love a pet can give. Animals can also get you out of the house for exercise and expose you to new people and places.
• Make leisure time a priority. Do things for no other reason than that it feels good to do them. Go to a funny movie, take a walk on the beach, listen to music, read a good book, or talk to a friend. Doing things just because they are fun is no indulgence. Play is an emotional and mental health necessity.
• Make time for contemplation and appreciation. Think about the things you’re grateful for. Mediate, pray, enjoy the sunset, or simply take a moment to pay attention to what is good, positive, and beautiful as you go about your day.
Everyone is different; not all things will be equally beneficial to all people. Some people feel better relaxing and slowing down while others need more activity and more excitement or stimulation to feel better. The important thing is to find activities that you enjoy and that give you a boost.

Limit unhealthy mental habits like worrying
Try to avoid becoming absorbed by repetitive mental habits – negative thoughts about yourself and the world that suck up time, drain your energy, and trigger feelings of anxiety, fear, and depression.

Emotional Well Being pt 2

2011-11-22T06:08:00.000-08:00

The role of resilience in mental and emotional health

Being emotionally and mentally healthy doesn’t mean never going through bad times or experiencing emotional problems. We all go through disappointments, loss, and change. And while these are normal parts of life, they can still cause sadness, anxiety, and stress.
The difference is that people with good emotional health have an ability to bounce back from adversity, trauma, and stress. This ability is called resilience. People who are emotionally and mentally healthy have the tools for coping with difficult situations and maintaining a positive outlook. They remain focused, flexible, and creative in bad times as well as good.

One of the key factors in resilience is the ability to balance your emotions. The capacity to recognize your emotions and express them appropriately helps you avoid getting stuck in depression, anxiety, or other negative mood states. Another key factor is having a strong support network. Having trusted people you can turn to for encouragement and support will boost your resilience in tough times.

Building your resilience
Resilience involves maintaining flexibility and balance in your life as you deal with stressful circumstances and traumatic events. This happens in several ways, including:
• Letting yourself experience strong emotions, and also realizing when you may need to avoid experiencing them at times in order to continue functioning
• Stepping forward and taking action to deal with your problems and meet the demands of daily living, and also stepping back to rest and reenergize yourself
• Spending time with loved ones to gain support and encouragement, and also nurturing yourself
• Relying on others, and also relying on yourself

Emotional Well Being pt 1

2011-11-22T06:03:00.000-08:00

I like reading good articles and think this one is one of them.......Enjoy!!

People who are emotionally healthy are in control of their emotions and their behaviour. They are able to handle life’s inevitable challenges, build strong relationships, and lead productive, fulfilling lives. When bad things happen, they’re able to bounce back and move on.
Unfortunately, too many people take their mental and emotional health for granted – focusing on it only when they develop problems. But just as it requires effort to build or maintain physical health, so it is with mental and emotional health. The more time and energy you invest in your emotional health, the stronger it will be. The good news is that there are many things you can do to boost your mood, build resilience, and get more enjoyment out of life.

What is mental health or emotional health?
Mental or emotional health refers to your overall psychological well-being. It includes the way you feel about yourself, the quality of your relationships, and your ability to manage your feelings and deal with difficulties.

Good mental health isn't just the absence of mental health problems. Being mentally or emotionally healthy is much more than being free of depression, anxiety, or other psychological issues. Rather than the absence of mental illness, mental and emotional health refers to the presence of positive characteristics. Similarly, not feeling bad is not the same as feeling good. While some people may not have negative feelings, they still need to do things that make them feel positive in order to achieve mental and emotional health.

People who are mentally and emotionally healthy have:
• A sense of contentment.
• A zest for living and the ability to laugh and have fun.
• The ability to deal with stress and bounce back from adversity.
• A sense of meaning and purpose, in both their activities and their relationships.
• The flexibility to learn new things and adapt to change.
• A balance between work and play, rest and activity, etc.
• The ability to build and maintain fulfilling relationships.
• Self-confidence and high self-esteem.

These positive characteristics of mental and emotional health allow you to participate in life to the fullest extent possible through productive, meaningful activities and strong relationships. These positive characteristics also help you cope when faced with life's challenges and stresses.

Deception

2011-11-22T05:58:00.000-08:00

Leviticus 19:11b “Do not deceive one another.”
Deception is a “loaded” word that doesn’t stir up any warm, fuzzy feelings. In fact, it does the complete opposite causing people to mistrust each other, feel betrayed and it breeds division. The word deceive means to trick, mislead, delude, double deal etc and it propagates beliefs that are not true, or not the whole truth.

Deception is extremely difficult to detect unless the individual tells a blatant or obvious lie. As Neil T Anderson writes in Freedom to Christ: “If I tempt you, you know. If I accuse you, you know it. But if I deceive you, by definition you don’t know it. Deception is satan’s primary strategy” to bring Christians down and cause division.

Deception violates relational rules and is considered to be a negative violation of expectations. Most people expect their spouse, friend, church leaders or people they are in relationship with to be truthful. However, this is not always the case. When an individual discovers they have been deceived by a friend, the dynamics of the friendship/relationship change or when you know that someone is deliberately deceiving people, it’s pretty difficult to befriend that individual. Deception breeds deception. Deceivers manipulate information to depart from the truth. The Bible tells us in 2 Peter 2:3 that “....they will exploit you with deceptive words.” If a person thinks they have gotten away with being deceptive, it becomes a case of “why not continue?” They feel they can outwit you, outsmart you, outtalk you, be convincing and sadly, can be seen to be pretty clever people.

Because we don’t know when we are being deceived, our tendency is to “believe” the information we hear............ unless we are intuitive and insightful, know the person that is being spoken about or want to know otherwise. Deception usually comes in the form of lies, exaggeration, equivocations, concealments or understatements. When reading about deception, I was quite shocked to find out that “on one given day, it is likely that most human beings will either deceive or be deceived by another person.” Does this mean that deception is simply a part of everyday life, acceptable and that we should live with it? No! Not quite! Like everything else, Jesus is our perfect example.
2 Timothy 3:12 – 13 “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

Why do people do it when it causes so much mistrust, hurt and feelings of betrayal? Why do Christians deceive others? Is it because we want to be viewed in a certain way? Is it because we are trying to cover up a wrong that we may have done hence trying to get the attention off ourselves and onto someone else? Is it because we want to have our own way with others or the fact that we are not having our own way with others? Is it because we want to be the centre of attention and loved by everyone? Is it because we feel threatened by someone else? Is this a means of climbing the ladder of social recognition by discrediting others? Whatever the case may be, deceiving people is not right. Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart of man is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” We may be able to fool man but we cannot fool God!
Deception places a significant cognitive load on the deceiver because he or she needs to recall previous statements so that his or her story remains consistent and believable.

Ephesians 5:6 - 7 “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore, do not be partners with them.”
Romans 16: 17 – 18 “I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.”

Pointers to help us.....
1 Peter 2:1 “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.”
1. The saying “honesty is the best policy” is definitely the way to go, no matter how difficult it is.
2. Learn to be secure in who you are in Christ.
3. Have friends who will be honest and correct you privately when you are being deceptive.
4. Don’t believe everything you hear especially if it is negative. If in doubt, ask and get to the bottom of things.
5. Avoid gossip and slander. Let your words be seasoned with salt.

May God help us in our walk with Him!

The Marriage Course

2011-11-15T21:44:00.000-08:00

Mbusiso and Pretty Ndlovu

Recently, Winston and Susan Nyamayaro from Family Impact held the Marriage Course at Shalom Camp Site with couples representing different churches within the community. The churches that took part were General Foundation Zion, New Life, Presbyterian Church and Crossroads Community Church. Mbusiso and Pretty Ndlovu represented Crossroads. They had an amazing wedding at Crossroads in April and are doing extremely well. Both Mbusiso and Pretty work at Ebenezer. I caught up with Pretty after The Marriage Course and this is what she said:

M.M: This is your second time on the Marriage Course. Did you enjoy it and what did you learn?
P.N: Yes, I enjoyed it very much. I learnt how to build our family, how to look after them and also about health and hygiene.

M.M: Were there any specific highlights on the different sessions?
P.N: The highlight for me was putting God at the centre in our family, teaching our children to obey and to know God so that they get older they will obey the leaders and people in the community. Another highlight was learning the importance of keeping our homes and physical bodies clean to prevent disease and to glorify God in the way we live. Our bodies are the temple of the God.

M.M: What do you think was most challenging for the married couples?
P.N: The whole area of listening to your partner, ignoring your partner’s feelings, looking down on your partner which can result in them feeling lonely.

M.M: As the Marriage Course is being tweaked to be more suitable for rural families, do you feel that the topics are relevant and would you recommend it to other married couples?
P.N: Yes

M.M: Something that everyone loves talking about – how was the food?
P.N: The food was good and excellent. We ate alot of meat and had tea with milk. There were also different soups, rice, eggs, toast, beans and sadza.

M.M: Sounds really nice. Thanks so much Pretty. May God continue to bless your marriage to Mbusiso.

By Molly Manhanga

Pig Project

2011-11-15T21:41:00.000-08:00

The pigs are doing really well on the Crossroads plot and recently, 12 little piglets were born. They really are cute!

The Comparison Trap pt 3

2011-11-15T05:55:00.000-08:00

Is there such a thing as healthy comparison? In the article, a lady called Sophia puts it this way...... "When I compare myself to the standard Jesus sets for me, the result can be healthy change. When I am discontented with my knowledge of, trust in and obedience to God, and I desire to serve Him more, comparison can produce good fruit.”
Downward comparison would be healthy if it resulted in compassion and upward comparison if it led to us being inspired by others to better serve God. When we recognise that God has gifted someone in a particular way, we should praise Him for the way He is using them for His glory.

Matthew 6:33 tells us to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness above all things; to be consumed with His character, plans and purposes for His world. What part does He want you to play in His Kingdom? How does Jesus want you to display His glory to the world? How does Jesus deal with sinful comparison? In John 21:22 He tells Peter about his (Peter’s) future death as a martyr. Peter responds by pointing to John and asking “What about him?” and Jesus says, “If it is My will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” The punch line question – What is that to you? Those are the words that put this issue into perspective for us. If God blesses someone else, what is that to you? And then the clincher: “You follow Me!” Instead of worrying about the circumstances and gifts of our friends, we are to focus on our relationship with Jesus. Amen to that!!!!

We need to follow Jesus completely and not compare to how others follow Him. Instead of being preoccupied with performance, let’s focus our attention wholeheartedly on Him.
As we take a good look at our own motives, and start to recognise sinful comparison in our lives, God tells us, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

May we courageously reveal areas of unhealthy comparison and repent before God, asking Him to help us turn to Him alone as our true source of security.

The Comparison Trap pt 2

2011-11-15T01:23:00.000-08:00

The effects of comparison are profound.
1. It disturbs our serenity, because we don’t feel at peace with ourselves or with God.
2. It destroys our sincerity because we cannot love our Christian sisters as the Lord intended.
3. It distracts us from service because we feel inadequate.
4. We become focused on what others are doing and not on what the Lord wants us to be doing.

We cannot envy and obey at the same time. Envy always eats up time and energy that should be spent on the good works God has prepared for us. When we envy others, we miss out on God’s grace to bear fruit today. The bible tells us very simply to: “Rid yourselves of all.....envy” 1 Peter 2:1

Jealousy creates hurt.......
Jealousy is negative thoughts and feelings of insecurity, fear and anxiety. It is a condition of the heart where we think God has kept the best for someone else, and He meanly and unreasonably withholds good gifts from us. It’s often said that jealous people, if not helped, are drawn towards each other and thrive on belittling or undermining people whom they consider to be gifted or “better” or need to be brought down a notch or two. Regardless of what jealous people may do or say about someone, they cannot stop the plans God has for that particular individual. Jealousy and envy hurt our relationship with God and people around us including our church family.
God is our security and our hope. He is able to help us overcome feelings of envy and jealousy if we let Him.

“The heart of sinful comparison is idolatry. Idolatry is worshipping created things rather than God, and it occurs when we trust in other things to make us truly satisfied, truly secure. So either we look enviously at others and believe that if we had more of what they have, then we’d be really happy; or we have a false and very vulnerable sense of satisfaction from feeling in a better position to others. Either way, our hope is in created things or earthly circumstances and not in the Lord. We are not looking to the gospel of Jesus Christ to satisfy us, but to our idols. Underlying many potential ‘smaller’ idols is the big idol of self. When we look back at the garden of Eden, we see that the serpent tempted Eve to be like God and since then, we have all been trying to glorify ourselves, rather than Him. We want to be the centre of attention – the ones who are worshipped. So at the heart of the sin of comparison lies a desire for glorification of self. And even when we pity ourselves because we aren’t as gifted as others, we display a false humility that really just serves to draw attention to ourselves.”

Is there such a thing as “healthy comparison?” Read more to find out.......

The Comparison Trap pt 1

2011-11-14T23:03:00.000-08:00

I read a very interesting article recently on “The Comparison Trap” by Renette Pickering and it starts like this......
“All of us have fallen into the sinful habit of comparing ourselves with others. Whether we compare ‘up’ (to those who are better than us) or ‘down’ (to those worse off), we are exercising pride.......

From the onset, I’d like to say that I don’t think that some people are “better” than others or “worse” than others. They may be better at doing something than others but not a general statement that they are “better” because pride will definitely set in BIG TIME! Superiority and inferiority complexes will be rife, envy and jealousy sets in and instead of seeing people the way God intends, we’ll view people by worldly standards – how educated are they, how wealthy are they, which suburb do they live in, what car do they drive, how and where do they rank according to societies standards, are they quick thinkers or not etc, etc. When viewed this way, it’s all too easy to discard people as “not being good enough”. Similarly with temperament types, I feel there is no temperament type that is better than the other. It just depends on an individual’s preference as to whether they prefer sanguine, choleric, melancholy etc. God has created us in His image and likeness, with different gifts, personalities and talents. Each of us is unique and special – flaws and all.

Renette says Comparison is an issue and struggle faced by many Christians and may be excused as a ‘social skill’ –something done to measure the ‘pecking’ order in society and a process that motivates people to achieve more! It is a serious issue but, this trap can be avoided. There are two categories of comparison: looking up and looking down.
“When we look up at other women, we feel that those women are gifted, attractive or have achieved so much that we may resent them in our hearts. Our own gifts, attractiveness and achievements pale in comparison. We feel envy, bitterness and self-pity. And we foolishly ask, ‘Why has God given her so much and me so little?’ or even ‘Who does she think she is? Someone ought to bring her down a notch.’ Sound familiar? We become unhappy, dissatisfied and “discontented with the gifts God has given to us. In essence, we believe that God has kept the best for someone else, and He meanly and unreasonably withholds good gifts from us” hence the jealousy aspect.
“When we look down on others and feel superior to them, our spirits can be filled with self-righteousness, judgement and rivalry. The fact that we might suspect that we are better than others is something we seldom admit, even to ourselves.” ..............”Other factors that are triggers for comparison differ according to our stage in life, but always relate to our peers. We probably don’t really care if Oprah has bought yet another gigantic house, but if one of our close friends move into a more spacious home, we suddenly feel a tinge of jealousy.” Many “women seem to be prone to physical comparison. Young women look at their hair, clothes and figures. Older women see friends and think ‘she’s ageing well’ and they feel envious. Then there is competitive temptation around our children. Motherhood seems to introduce a whole host of new topics for comparison: whose child said a word first, or reached a certain milestone first, or can write or read already, or made it on such-and-such a sports team. The list is endless! Mothers often compare themselves with friends who do a particularly good job as moms. And grandmothers fall into this camp too. It’s one thing to be proud of our grandchildren, but quite another to feel a secret glee because they are, in our opinion, more beautiful or gifted than a friend’s.”

What we may not realise is that comparison distracts us and has a profound effect on us. Read more on pt 2 of The Comparison Trap
“So I say, do not think of yourself more highly than you ought.” Romans 12:3
“Rid yourselves of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.” 2 Peter 2:1

When you start comparing yourself to others and venturing into self-pity.......stop and think of all Christ has done and given to you.

Thought for the day

2011-11-05T00:17:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 26:3 - 4, 12 - 13

You will keep in perfect

peace

him whose mind is

steadfast,

because he trusts in you.

Trust in the Lord forever,

for the Lord, the Lord,

is the Rock eternal....

.....................

Lord, you establish peace for us

all that we have acomplished you have

done for us.

Oh Lord, our God,....

......................................................................

your name alone do we honour.

Letting go of the familiar

2011-11-05T00:13:00.000-07:00

Genesis 19:1 – 26

Letting go of the familiar is tough. Changing careers or colleges or moving to a new city can take an emotional toll on us. It’s even more difficult to leave behind old habits, attitudes and behaviours.
Lots wife wasn’t able to let go of her home in Sodom, even though God sent angels to warn her family to run for their lives because judgment was coming. In fact, the angels warning included grave commands of “Don’t look back” and “Don’t stop”. Why in the world did this woman chose to stop and look back? Could it be that she loved the life she was leaving too much? Though Sodom was full to overflowing with sin and vice, apparently the dark and oppressive city was comfortably familiar to Lot’s wife.
It is difficult to leave the familiar behind. The fact is as true today as it was in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction – even when God himself is saying, “It’s time to move on.” If you’ve ever struggled with a destructive habit, you’ve felt the pull of the familiar. You’ve experienced the temptation to turn back just one more time, for one last look, one last taste – even as God whispered “Don’t look back.”
Unlike Lot’s wife, none of us has turned into a pillar of salt by turning back for one last peek. Yet we all struggle with the difficulties of letting go of the old in order to grasp the new. Take heart. God understands that letting go of the familiar is hard. Yet he has called us to move on to a new life in Jesus Christ by letting go of our worldly lives, our old habits, our old dreams – to boldly move forward without looking back. When you feel God’s call to move, allow him to guide you. He will give you the grace to do whatever he has asked.

The beauty of creation

2011-11-04T00:28:00.000-07:00

One of the things I really enjoy doing when I'm in the U.K is going to the sea and looking out at the water. It's so captivating, peaceful, relaxing, thought provoking, beautiful etc. In Zim, seeing as we are a landlocked country, I guess rivers, dams, lakes etc will suffice. Sunsets and sunrises are just spectacular.

On the home front, having taken up gardening as a hobby in January, I have learnt so much about flowers, soil and not to mention weeds. I love it when flowers are blossoming and this time of the year is great as flowers are in full bloom. The few I have in my garden make me appreciate God's creativity - colourfulness and design. There is such beauty in creation.

Field Mapping Training

2011-11-04T00:08:00.001-07:00

Some of the farmers being trained

On Tuesday, a group of farmers from the community gathered at the Crossroads plot for Foundations for Farming Training on Field Mapping. Xolani Ndlovu who is part of the Faithful Stewards Programme based in Bulawayo came out to Crossroads to do the training. The farmers also dug some planting stations, put basal fertiliser and 3 seeds in a planting station as a way of recapping Foundations for Farming methods. In attendance was the Agritex officer.

All in all, the training went well and after they all headed to Crossroads Church to share lunch. Xolani is hoping that more farmers will attend the training sessions as people are now working in their fields and planting their crops. Lets also hope that we have good rains this season.....

Eating healthy pt 2

2011-11-03T04:07:00.000-07:00

In Eating Healthy pt 1, the concern seemed to be about obesity and people eating fast foods. I guess the flip side of obesity is anorexia nervosa. Anorexia is a complex eating disorder with 3 key features:

1. an intense fear of gaining weight

2. refusal to maintain a healthy body weight

3. a distorted body image

Like obesity, there is a root cause to this eating disorder like overly controlling parents who put alot of emphasis on looks or our cultures idealisation of thinness, emotional difficulties, low self esteem, traumatic experiences etc etc. No matter how skinny one becomes, it's never enough. Deep seated issues are prevalent and brain chemistry plays a significant role. Now this is really simplified and put in a nutshell as this topic is huge. But like obesity, a child's long term longevity needs to be a priority and it does begin in the home.

Update on Kidz Alive pt 2

2011-11-03T00:01:00.001-07:00

Children waiting to receive their food

Eating is quite a serious business - these little faces tell it all

On the menu - sadza and relish

Update on Kidz Alive

2011-11-02T23:42:00.000-07:00

Letta Ndlovu, better known as Gogo Maskosana

Kidz Alive team in action

In January this year, I handed the Kidz Alive work over to a young lady called Simangaliso Ndlovu after heading it up for 2 years. Simanga has since left us and has gone to be part of the Beyond Belief team in Mapisa - approximately 90km from Crossroads. She has handed the work over to "Gogo" (Granny) Maskosana, whose name is Letta Ndlovu. She is so passionate about the children and they love her to bits. She has a team of 4 younger people working with her.

Catering Team preparing lunch

On Sunday, the Kidz Alive team organised a lunch for the children which was just brilliant. 66 little Kidz pitched up and enjoyed the word, fellowship and food. I am so pleased that the work is continuing to move forward under the capable hands of Letta Ndlovu.

Food cooking away........

By Molly Manhanga

Thought for the day......

2011-11-02T14:01:00.001-07:00

From the rising of the sun

to the going down of the same

the Lord's name is to be praised...........

Pig Project

2011-11-02T12:52:00.000-07:00

First batch of pigs

New home for the pigs

It's been great to see the pig project pan out on the Crossroads plot..........This will be done as a micro-business with the hope that as the pigs reproduce and increase in number and suitable markets found, this will turn into a sustainable micro-business.

Pig houses almost complete

Pig houses being built

Stay tuned for more on the pig project

By Molly Manhanga

Sowing seeds in people's lives

2011-10-28T00:23:00.000-07:00

On one of my visits to my neighbours this week, we were chatting about our school years and the impact our teachers had in our lives. Words spoken to us and over our lives and in a sense, how that has affected our outlook as adults.

I absolutely LOVED my school years. I have such happy memories of teachers, friends, school events and so on. I gave it my all and got back so much in return. I too became a school teacher and I purposed in my heart to have a positive, life-changing impact and influence on students lives and any children that I was responsible for.

I was so encouraged and blessed this week when I received a message from a young gentleman who used to be a student at the very first school I taught - 20 or so years ago. He lives in South Africa and has a family of his own. This is what he said:
"Mrs Manhanga. It has been a long time!.......You know just recently I was thinking about my experiences prior to coming to Christ. I remember the day you invited me to Victory (a church I used to attend in Mutare, Zimbabwe). I remember you......in the service....... Actually I remember you in the context that one sometimes sow a seed of the word in a person's heart. You were one of those people who sowed that seed I believe. I have now been a christian for some time but I remember that experience. I think the pastor preaching on that day was Dave Wyns on 'What is the time?' SO, be encouraged." Encouraged I was as I remember this gentleman and recall speaking to him about God.

Many of us have had these kinds of emails, messages or verbal affirmation on the positive impact we've had on others and it's amazing how we don't seem to forget the event or people involved. I continually thank God for the many people - family, friends, teachers, preachers, mentors etc who have impacted my life so positively over the years. I pray that you too will be a positive influence in other people's lives and they will be able to share with you of how you have impacted them.

Go on - sow those seeds and get the fire burning for Christ.....

Jesus' heart for the poor

2011-10-21T00:08:00.000-07:00

I was reading this article again and thought I'd post it on the blog.

The Father in heaven sent His only Son to be born on earth as a man. He chose His birthplace to be a stable, and His earthly mother and father were from the lower end of society. He was trained as a carpenter by His father, and owned nothing at the end of His life. It is very significant that the King of glory chose to come in this way, so that the very poorest people can truly relate to His message.
Jesus grew up to be a man, and had some years living in and relating to the world, and then when He was thirty years old the Father told Him the time for His great work had come. Soon after this Jesus took out the scroll in the synagogue in His hometown Nazareth to announce the ministry, for which his Father had sent Him, and read from Isaiah 61:1-2, “The Spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…”
We have seen in Africa that poverty is a real captivity and a stronghold. The poor don’t know how to escape from it and such a sense of hopelessness comes over them, and poverty causes so much suffering and broken-heartedness. Praise God that Jesus came to set them free, and to heal them and restore them.
It is also very significant that when Paul and Silas began their great work of taking the Gospel to the Gentiles and the rest of the world, James, Peter and John gave them their blessing, and Paul reported in Galatians 2: 10, “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.”
What a mandate, what a priority in God’s heart are the poor, that He inspired the apostles, through His Holy Spirit, to remember that the expression and outworking of the Gospel is primarily the good news for the poor, who are the most severe casualties of the sin and fall of man. Surely Jesus humility and unselfishness, and His heart for the poor and His plan for their deliverance compose the True fast!

Eating healthy

2011-10-18T03:06:00.000-07:00

There has been much talk on the radio and television about healthy lifestyles. There is much concern about child obesity, leading sometimes to adult obesity and subsequently to health problems like heart attacks or strokes etc, etc. There is also much talk about government intervention - putting policies and procedures in place on how and what people should eat, curbing fast food advertisements etc. All fair and good but I think that eating right and exercising begins in the home. If a parent leads by example, children will emulate them. It gets tricky when the parent is eating a hamburger or pizza with obvious delight and enjoyment and then expect their child to eat carrot sticks or cauliflower. That really doesn't work. Healthy lifestyles need to be intentional and for those who battle, make a menu detailing exactly what you'll eat or scheduling a date to do some exercise.

The big question is "Would banning adverts of fast foods help with obesity?" Let's face it - fast foods are yummy! They are tasty, convenient, quick and easy to make, sometime are less costly than healthy foods, alluring and basically shout 'Come eat me! Come eat me!' Fast foods are used as a "treat' for children and culturally we socialise around food. Now french fries, deep fried chicken, sausages, pizza, wraps etc sounds much tastier(forget the health aspect) than carrot sticks, broccolli, cucumber etc (which would be considered rather bland!)

A little boy commented; "I don't like vegetables. I like sweets. It gives me energy to cycle." Spoken like a child. It is the parent however that buys fast food for the child or the sweets and often times give in to the child's tears or tantrums for fast food. Obesity, whether genetic or not is the END result of overindulgence and overeating. We need to analyse and tackle the root cause of eating fast food and generally overeating. It's not common to see an overweight child in Kezi and this is mainly due to:

1. Diet - Sadza and a relish, sweet potato, barley, pumpkin, ground nuts, maize, sour milk etc

2. Exercise - Most people either walk or cycle to their various destinations

3. Work - mostly manual work in the fields

Some say it takes 14 days to break a habit while others advocate 21 days. Whatever the case may be, the child's long term longevity should be a priority and it all begins in the home.

Molly Manhanga

Visit to Thembalezizwe Church pt 2

2011-10-17T04:08:00.001-07:00

Steve Manhanga bringing greetings from Crossroads

Children's work at TLZ Hamara

Building used by TLZ Hamara (Nice!)

Sovereignty

2011-10-17T04:01:00.000-07:00

Genesis 1:1, 31 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…….Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.”

God made a place for us. It was only going to be a few days before He crafted His most special creation of all – the one He loved more than anything else He made…….humankind, created in His own image. But first, God, in His sovereignty, made a place for us: earth, a place of great beauty to enjoy and one that provided for our every need, and heaven where we can live with Him forever. In the beginning, He was preparing for us.

Visit to Thembalezizwe Church in Hamara pt 1

2011-10-16T11:10:00.000-07:00

Mike Ndlovu, leader of Thembalezizwe Church in Hamara

It was great visiting Thembalezizwe Church Hamara this morning led by Mike and Simanga Ndlovu. The church officially opened on 4th September 2011 and they are doing so well.

Simangaliso Ndlovu - Mike's lovely wife

Mike’s message was on The key to enjoying God’s Kingdom and the scripture he used was Luke 15:11 on The Prodigal Son. The essence of his message was on repentance and seeking God. The young man came to a point in his life when he decided to go back home....this was the point of repentance and he was welcomed home. Mindsets are very important. We need to change the way we think as this changes us inwardly and we see right from wrong. If we seek God’s kingdom, He adds to our lives, He gives us the things we need.

The fellowship after was good.

Hamara congregation

By Molly Manhanga

Thought for the day

2011-10-16T11:03:00.000-07:00

Matthew 5:13

You are the salt of the earth
But if the salt
loses it's saltiness,
how can it be made salty again?
It is no longer good
for anything, except to be
thrown out and
trampled by men.

Movie Review: Transporters 2

2011-10-11T12:43:00.000-07:00

Transporter 2 is an entertaining, action packed movie. I enjoyed watching it. The story surrounds the Billing family where the Transporter (Jason Stratham) transports young Jack Billing but Jack gets kidnapped for a ransom. The real motivation behind the kidnapping is to infect Jack’s dad with a deadly virus. Frank of course saves the day.

Rule 1: Respect the man’s car and he’ll respect you.
Rule 2: Greet the man
Rule 3: Put your seat belt on when in the car
Rule 4: never make a promise you cannot keep.

Frank Martin played by Jason Stratham is a different kind of driver. He takes Jack Billing to the doctor and that’s where all the action starts. Frank is a man with self-control, skilled fearless ex-mercenary. He’s definitely the hero who doesn’t display much emotion but gets the job done – the intuitive, no nonsense type. The high speed car chases and the running show how skilled he is. Needless to mention his ability to take care of himself (fighting)
His friend from France provides some humour to this movie. He is a police officer/cook. The cooking is a skill that helps break the ice. I like it when he says “A meal is only limited by your imagination.”

The movie is really interesting – full of action from start to finish.

Peace

2011-10-07T05:57:00.000-07:00

Esther 10:3 "Mordecai.......was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen."

All of us want peace. Peace with God. Peace of mind. Peace is a little foretaste of heaven. Of all God's gifts to believers, peace has proven the most difficult for the enemy to counterfeit. Lust can masquerade as love. Pride can hide in a cloak of humility or generosity. Temporary happiness will often look more appealing than true joy. Then there is peace. You either have it or you don't!

We sing "When peace like a river attendeth my way." How we long to be able to say, 'It is well with my soul!'

Have faith in Him

2011-10-06T06:34:00.000-07:00

Psalm 135:6

The Lord does whatever

pleases him,

in the heavens and

on the earth,

in the seas and all

their depths.

Press Towards Jesus

2011-10-05T23:22:00.000-07:00

Matthew 9:20 – 21 “Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.’”

Have you ever been in a situation where you felt desperate, like there was nothing you could do. You struggle with insomnia, fatigue, depression, pain etc. You know that God is in control but there are days when you just want to crawl under the covers and sob.

The woman who touched Jesus’ cloak must have felt the same sort of desperation. The Bible says she had been bleeding for 12 years. Not only was she suffering physically, she was also probably suffering emotionally. In Jewish society, such a woman would have been labelled “unclean”. Because of this status, she would have been considered an outcast. The loneliness and isolation must have felt overwhelming. No wonder she pressed through the multitude of people who were following the Messiah. She must have believed that touching him was her only hope.
Imagine her breathless expectation as she reached toward Jesus.....and her overwhelming relief when she realised that he had, indeed, relieved her suffering. What joy must have flooded her the very instant she touched the hem of his cloak!

Jesus is our Great Physician. Sometimes he heals in an instant, other times he heals over a period of years or he waits to heal allowing us to press into him so that he can “strengthen (us) with his power through his spirit in (our) inner being” Ephesians 3:16. At other times, he does not heal. Then, like Paul, we learn that “(God’s) power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

The ways in which God ministers to people are as varied as the people he touches – but he is always faithful to bring peace and joy, even in the midst of our suffering. Press into Him and experience his power.

When floods come

2011-10-05T07:24:00.000-07:00

Genesis 7:1 – 24

God protects us: Genesis 6:17 – 18 “I am going to bring flood waters on the earth......everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark – you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.”

When natural disasters hit a community, town, city or country, the loss is mind boggling. Families get torn apart; there are lots of tears, unbearable pain or sorrow and so on.

Long ago there was a great flood. Noah and his family knew catastrophe was coming, so they built an ark at God’s command. They followed instructions. They braced for impending crisis. They endured umpteen years of looking foolish. They faced criticism, ridicule, and rejection. They plodded in the slow work of faith and love. Then the downpour came and the final command: “go into the ark.” So Noah and his family left everything and evacuated to the big boat. The devastation of the world they knew had to be heartbreaking. But they followed God, and his grace saved them from the disaster.

When storms come in your life, they may not be a calamity on the scale of the flood. But they may bring just as much sorrow and pain – an illness, an accident, a betrayal. In the midst of the event, your decisions can help save you and your family. Let’s face it; disaster can strike whether you’re a saint or a sinner. To survive requires spiritual preparation. When you build your home on the foundation of God’s Word, you can find safety despite the downpour outside. You can help those you love to weather the storm. Begin now to prepare your house for the storms that are sure to come: spend time in the Bible. Strengthen your relationship with God and with a Godly community. Bring those you love before God in prayer.

Developments at the Crossroads plot pt 2

2011-10-04T18:26:00.000-07:00

Lady clearing the field - with joy!

As the rainy season is fast approaching, many farmers are working hard in their fields with land preparations: weeding, clearing, digging planting stations and so on. This too is one of the activities at the Crossroads plot. Quite alot of work has been done in clearing the fields where Steve Manhanga wants to plant maize, sunflower, groundnuts etc.

Land preps underway for this rainy season

Steve will be training farmers tomorrow at Crossroads as he does Well Watered Garden size (7.2m x 7.2m)demonstration plots. We hope and pray that God blesses us with adequate rainfall and that the animals, particularly baboons, don't have a "field day" eating the crops.

Hard at work in the field

By Molly Manhanga

Developments at the Crossroads plot pt 1

2011-10-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

Moulded bricks made from anthill

Ladies building moulding bricks

I found it quite interesting going to the Crossroads plot and seeing people doing differents chores. The ladies caught my attention as they were moulding bricks from anthill which they are going to use to build a hut(round house) and a little kitchen. I asked the ladies how long a hut can last seeing at it was being built with anthill and they assured me 5 years or more. I marveled at how confident the ladies were. The moulded bricks will dry in the sun for 3 days before they start building. I sure will keep tabs on their progress.

Ladies having a rest to answer a few questions I have

By Molly Manhanga

The armour of God

2011-10-01T01:36:00.000-07:00

God’s armour for us: Ephesians 6:10 - 17

We are engaged in a spiritual battle – all believers find themselves subject to the devil’s attack because they are no longer on the devil’s side. Paul tells us to use every piece of God’s armour to resist the devils attacks and to stand true to God in the midst of those attacks.

The devil fights with lies, and sometimes his lies sound like truth; but only believers have God’s truth, which can defeat the devil’s lies.

The devil often attacks our heart – the seat of our emotions, self-worth, and trust. God’s righteousness is the body armour that protects our heart and ensures his approval. He approves of us because he loves us and sent his Son to die for us.

The devil wants us to think that telling others the Good news is a worthless and hopeless task – the size of the task is too big and the negative responses are too much to handle. But the shoes God gives us are the motivation to continue to proclaim the true peace that is available in God – news everyone needs to hear.

What we see are the devil’s attacks in the form of insults, setbacks, and temptations. But the shield of faith protects us from the devils fiery arrows. With God’s perspective, we can see beyond our circumstances and know that ultimate victory is ours.

The devil wants to make us doubt God, Jesus, and our salvation. The helmet protects our minds from doubting God’s saving work for us.

The sword is the only weapon of offense in the list of armour. There are times when we need to take the offensive against the devil. When we are tempted, we need to trust in the truth of God’s Word.

Our True Identity in Christ

2011-09-30T22:41:00.000-07:00

We are justified (declared righteous)
No condemnation awaits us

We are set free from the power of sin that leads to death

We are sanctified (made holy) in Jesus Christ

We are pure and holy in Christ

We will be given new life at the resurrection

We are a new creation

We are made right with God

We are one in Christ with allother believers

We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ

We are holy and without fault

We are adopted as God's children

Our sins are taken away, and we are forgiven

We will be brought under Christ's authority

We are identified as belonging to God by the Holy spirit

We have been raised up to sit with Christ in the heavenly realms

We are God's masterpiece

We have been brought near to God

We share in the promise of blessings through Christ

We can come boldly and confidently into God's presence

We are members of Christ's body, the church

We are made complete in Christ

We are set free from our sinful nature

We will have eternal glory.

Thought for the day

2011-09-30T22:24:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 3:20 - 21

Now to Him who is able to

do exceedingly, abundantly above

all that we can ask or think, according to the

power that works in us, to Him

be glory in the church by

Christ Jesus

to all generations

forever and ever.

Book Review: God's New Tribe by John Kpikpi

2011-09-30T10:16:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed reading God's New Tribe by John Kpikpi. Our culture truly does affect our outlook, behaviour and perceptions.

I have jotted down sections of the book which I think gives us a good idea of what God's New Tribe is all about......

"The message of Jesus Christ is fundamentally a 'message of reconciliation' 2 Corinthians 5:19. As christians we worship God on the one hand and are stilldeeply intrenched in cultural practises on the other which are horrendous to God. The sad/horrific part is that as christians we seem to live quite comfortably with tribalism. Tribalism is the idea that one's own tribe is superior to all other tribes. Wide spread discrimination, injustice, division and wars have resulted from this sinful belief which has taken root in people'sminds. We therefore allow customs and traditions to take precedence over the holy word of God - infact, the word of God does not find a comfortable home in our hearts. The sin behind tribalism is human pride and arrogance.

God is looking for a people who have been drawn from every tribe and language and nation (Revelation 5:9) and joined together. How can this come about if we reject each other simply because of cultural differences. We need to line up our thinking with God's. Whenever God gets involved, he rebuilds lives that have been torn down, restores that which has been devastated and heals and makes whole that which has been destroyed.

Building new communities which reflect the glory of Jesus Christ as they seek to work out the implications of being God's new tribe will require God's chosen and annointed leadership. Every culture in every nation of the world is faced with the same key questions about leadership: Who should be the leader? How should a leader be chosen orselected? What is the work or role of the leader? Should the leader do any work at all? etc, etc.....
Leadership positions have been abused so often that in many parts of the world today the concept of leadership has become almost synonymous with any or all of the following: oppression, robbery, authoritarianism, harshness, dictatorial rule, plain wickedness and an attitude of lording it over the people. In such contexts, leaders become liabilities to the people they lead rather than the blessing that God intended them to be. Today all over the world people are crying out for a new kind of leadership. They are looking for a new style of leader one with a genuine heart and concern for the people they are leading.

God is always looking for a people who are a people - a community.........this community should be a people of Ephesians 4:4 - 6 .........One vision, one purpose, one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of all. We have been redeemed from our cultures by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:18 - 19.

Part Two tackles practical and heart issues like leadership in God's New tribe, marriage, work and death."

God's New tribe is an excellent book. It's one of those books that you can read over and over again.

Molly Manhanga

Gardening News

2011-09-29T01:43:00.000-07:00

Calandula

It's becoming quite interesting walking through my little garden and seeing the plant variety. I'm now fascinated at how the blossoming flowers are attracting birds and butterflies. I've had a few comments from kind visitors saying that my garden is starting to take shape. I have put some effort and tried to be a little creative but I still have a long way to go.......

Rake 'n Shake yellow

As I'm working in my garden, I realised that I have a few soil types and clay being the most difficult to grow plants because it compacts easily and has slow/poor drainage. I attempted to plant some flowers and watched them wither as their roots weren't strong enough to make their way through the soil. I've started adding organic matter to the soil and hope things improve.

Last week, I put humas on my flowers and part of the lawn. The growth is amazing but so is the growth of the weeds. I guess I better get on top of that. I'm now looking at ground cover and different types of shrubs. Trial and error. I'll see what happens.......

Rockery

By Molly Manhanga

The problem with critics....

2011-09-28T07:36:00.000-07:00

We live in a world where opinions are given freely - some with thought behind it and others, well, lets say it's an opinion. Some folk are pretty positive while others not. This is what I read about critics.....

"Critics talk much and do little that is constructive. They are more interested in making themselves look good by making others look bad. If Nehemiah had listened to his critics, the wall around the city of Jerusalem would never have been rebuilt. Some of what the critics said to him was accurate. The wall was rubble and fire had burned the stones and caused them to crack and crumble. But the critics talked much and did absolutely nothing to help.

As Theodore Roosevelt noted, “It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with dust and sweat and blood.....and who....if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

Where do you see yourself in this picture? Are you being pelted by unfair criticism as you are serving Christ? If so, keep on going and God will reward your efforts. Or do you recognise yourself as one who tends to be critical of others? If so, it’s time to quit the demolition team and join the construction crew."

“From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”

Thought for the day

2011-09-27T21:50:00.000-07:00

Hurting God

Psalm 51:4

“Against You, You only,
Have I sinned, and
Done this evil in Your
Sight.”

When we hurt another person, we hurt God. If I wrong you, I am also offending him. If I steal from you, I am robbing him. If I lie to you, I am lying to the one who is truth. If I take your life, I destroy what is precious to God. The truth is often forgotten in the lax moral environment of our culture.

We may feel sorry when our actions inflict undeserved suffering on others. This is commendable. But when there is deliberate wrongdoing, a tearful apology is incomplete if God is left out of the confession. Until we see the sin for what it is – rebellion against God – we have not come to grips with it.

When Joseph was tempted by Potiphar’s wife, he said, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Gen 39:9) And in Psalm 51 David confessed, “Against You, You only, have I sinned” Surely David knew he had stolen another man’s wife and murdered a loyal soldier. Yet he went to the heart of the matter – no excuses, no rationalization. He had sinned against God! That’s the admission God is looking for, because He longs to give us His mercy and forgiveness.

Synopsis of Philemon

2011-09-23T01:29:00.000-07:00

Paul is writing to convince Philemon to forgive his runaway slave, Onesimus, and to accept him as a brother in the faith. Slavery was very common in the Roman Empire and evidently some Christians had slaves. Paul does not condemn the institution of slavery in his writings, but he makes a radical statement by calling this slave of Philemon’s – brother in Christ. Key verse: “Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good – no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.” Philemon is a private personal letter to a friend.

Summary:
Philemon was a prominent Christian, probably a member of the church at Colosse and the owner of a slave named Onesimus. This slave had run away from his master, and then somehow he had come in contact with Paul, who was then in prison. Through Paul Onesimus became a Christian. Paul’s letter to Philemon is an appeal to Philemon to be reconciled to his slave, whom Paul is sending back to him, and to welcome him not only as a forgiven slave but as a Christian brother.

Synopsis of Titus

2011-09-23T01:25:00.000-07:00

Paul gave Titus advice in his responsibility of supervising the churches on the island of Crete. Paul sent Titus to organise and oversee the churches on Crete. This letter tells Titus how to do this job. Key verse: “The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.” Titus is very similar to 1 Timothy with it’s instructions to church leaders.

Paul calls for church order and right living on an island known for laziness, gluttony, lying and evil. The Christians are to be self-disciplined as individuals, and they must be orderly as people who form one body, the church. We need to obey this message in our day when discipline is not respected or rewarded by our society. Although others may not appreciate our efforts, we must live upright lives, obey the government and control our speech. We should live together peacefully in the church and be living examples of our faith to contemporary society.

Summary:
1. Titus is reminded of the kind of character that church leaders should have, especially in view of the bad character of many Cretans.
2. Titus is advised how to teach the various groups in the church (older men, older women who are to teach younger women), young women and the slaves.
3. Paul gives Titus advice regarding Christian conduct, especially the need to be peaceful and friendly and to avoid hatred, argument, and division in the church.

Casting the floor at Crossroads

2011-09-22T02:18:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday the community got together to cast half of the floor in the Kidz Block at Crossroads. That was lots of hard work as Steve carried water to the church, river sand, rubble etc. It was great that he had some faithful young men assisting him.

This coming Wednesday, they'll complete the second half of the Kidz Block!

Synopsis of 11 Timothy

2011-09-22T02:10:00.000-07:00

Summary of 1 Timothy:
1. Warning against false teaching in the church.
2. Instructions about church administration and worship, with the description of the kind of character that church leaders and helpers should have.
3. Timothy is advised on how to be a good servant of Jesus Christ and about the responsibility that he has towards various groups of believers.

Paul wrote 11 Timothy to give final instructions and encouragement to Timothy, pastor of the church at Ephesus. Paul was virtually alone in prison; only Luke was with him. Paul wrote this letter to pass the torch to the new generation of church leaders. He also asked for visits from his friends and for his books. Key verse: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
Because this is Paul’s last letter, it reveals his heart and his priorities – sound doctrine, steadfast faith, confident endurance, and everlasting love. Paul gives helpful advice to Timothy to remain solidly grounded in Christian service and to endure suffering the difficult days to come. It is easy for us to serve Christ for the wrong reasons; because it is exciting, rewarding, or personally enriching. Without a proper foundation, however, we will find it easy to quit during difficult times. All believers need a strong foundation for their service, because Christian service does not get easier as we grow older. It will become no easier as the time of Christ’s return grows closer.

Summary:
1. Endurance in the face of suffering and opposition.
2. Timothy is warned about the dangers of becoming involved in foolish arguments that do no good, but only ruin the people who listen to them.
3. In all this, Timothy is reminded of the example of Paul’s own life and purpose – his faith, patience, love, endurance and suffering in persecution.

Synopsis of 1 Timothy

2011-09-22T02:04:00.000-07:00

Over the past couple of months we’ve covered the books of 1st and 2nd Timothy, Titus and Philemon. They have been very encouraging books to go through as their practical, day to day issues were applicable and relevant.

1st Timothy gave encouragement & instruction to Timothy, a young leader who was one of Paul’s closest companions. Paul sent Timothy to the Church at Ephesus to counter the false teaching that had arisen there. Timothy probably served for a time as a leader in the church at Ephesus..
Paul hopes to visit Timothy but in the meantime, he wrote this letter to give Timothy practical advice about the ministry. Key verse: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12

1 Timothy is a personal letter and a handbook of church administration and discipline. Paul advised Timothy on such practical topics as qualifications for church leaders, public worship, confronting false teaching, and how to treat various groups of people within the church. Right belief and right behaviour are critical for anyone who desires to lead or serve effectively in the church. We should all believe rightly, participate in church actively and minister to one another lovingly.

Summary:
1. Warning against false teaching in the church.
2. Instructions about church administration and worship, with the description of the kind of character that church leaders and helpers should have.
3. Timothy is advised on how to be a good servant of Jesus Christ and about the responsibility that he has towards various groups of believers.

Meet Mcebisi Ncube

2011-09-16T01:48:00.000-07:00

Mcebisi Ncube better known as Ma “O” or Ma Zero, joined Ebenezer in November 2008. He graduated in December 2010 and is now part of the graduate programme which he says is going fine.

Mcebisi is one of the emerging leaders at Crossroads who works closely with Steve Manhanga. He plays the bongo drums (ngoma’s) in the church and seems to really enjoy that. He enjoys the Sunday services especially the worship and the word.

Thought for the day

2011-09-15T06:39:00.000-07:00

2 Corinthians 5:17 - 21

Therefore is anyone is in Christ

the new creation has come. The old has gone,

the new is here! All this is from God, who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ

and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

that God was reconciling the world

to Himself in Christ, not counting

people's sins against them. And he has committed to us

the message of reconciliation. We are

therefore Christ's ambassadors as though God were making

his appeal through us. We implore you

on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God

God made Him who had no sin

to be sin for us, so that in him we might

become the righteousness of God.

Meet Honest Matavire

2011-09-15T06:36:00.000-07:00

Honest also joined Ebenezer in November 2008. He graduated in December 2010 and he too is part of the graduate programme. He feels it’s really good.

Honest is also an emerging leader at Crossroads. He is involved with the praise and worship and plays the bongo drums. He is passionate about sharing God’s word with people and seeing people get saved. He enjoys Sunday services. Some Sundays are great while others can improve.

Movie Review: The Eagle

2011-09-15T00:49:00.000-07:00

The Eagle: The Destiny Of A Soldier. The Honour Of A Slave. The fate Of An Empire.

This is another early century movie. It’s a historic epic set in second century Britain. Honour, valour, restoration, making peace etc seem to be the thread running through these early century movies.........and alot of fighting. For me, Martin Luther King Jr’s words encapsulate this movie: “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”

Marcus Aquila (Channing Tatum) is out to find out what happened to the Ninth Legion which his father was commander of. The Ninth Legion went missing 15 years earlier in the mountains of Scotland. Aquila makes quite a journey with his British slave Esca (Jamie Bell) in an attempt to recover the last Legions golden emblem – the valuable and treasured Eagle of the North. They encounter savage tribes of the land and I found it quite interesting when roles were reversed – Aquila becoming Esca’s slave – which was part of the plan and a way of helping Aquila which he found out later.

The emblem is recovered and returned in and amongst battles and honour is returned to Marcus Aquila. It’s an interesting movie with a good storyline.

Meet Mbekezele Moyo

2011-09-15T00:44:00.000-07:00

Mbekezele, better known as Mbeke, originally comes from Mapane which about a 3 hour walk from Crossroads. He is 22 years old. He joined Ebenezer in January 2008, graduated on August 15 2009 and completed the graduate programme in 2010.

He is employed with FSP (Faithful Stewards Programme) where he works with the farmers in Mablauwuni and Silozwe communities. He is also helping out at Crossroads. Mbeke is in partnership with Mxwayisi Dube in running the Crossroads Tuckshop which serves the community. Generally, the Tuckshop is doing well and they stock up weekly.

Mbeke is the only man at the moment involved with Kidz Alive under Letta Ndlovu and we thank God for that as the children need to see male role models who are interested in them. He is part of Steve Manhanga’s emerging leaders.

By Molly Manhanga

Field Officers visit from Mapisa

2011-09-13T08:43:00.000-07:00

Model farmers – now Field Officers feedback
It was excellent seeing Mqondisi Moyo and Tawanda Moyo, Field Officers at Mapisa with Beyond Belief initiative, visit Crossroads on Sunday. It has been a month or so since they left Ebenezer Training Centre and relocated at Mapisa where they are working with farmers in the community. I managed to catch up with them and this is what they said:

M.M: What have your challenges been so far since moving to Mapisa?
1. The greatest challenge has been working with older people. In any culture it’s usually the older people who teach the younger ones but here we are, young people training older people. We find that they do not come to their fields on time.
2. They initially enjoyed making compost but they fail to maintain it (turn it around at the correct time) due to priorities. The more diligent farmers can see “life” in their compost.
3. We were spoilt at Ebenezer by having all 3 meals cooked for us. Now, we have to cook for ourselves. Steve Manhanga was impressed when he visited the team in Mapisa and was offered eggs, bread and tea for breakfast. Nice! Well done guys and gals.
4. Another challenge is adjusting to the environment. It is difficult and the adjustments are slow.
5. Seeing huge black mamba’s (snakes) has been challenging!

M.M: Uphill and upward trends. I’ll call it that because it sure is an uphill work. Have you seen any upward trends so far?
1. Most of the farmers are looking forward to seeing the project working.
2. The farmers are trying to listen to us even though we are young.
3. The field preparations are going well. We are hoping to plant tomatoes this month.
4. We are getting the opportunity to speak to the whole group on spiritual issues. Some are loving it while others are resisting. It was wonderful getting backed up/supported by one of the local pastors.
5. Generally, the farmers and community approve of what we are doing. Bringing God into farming has helped.

M.M: Did you enjoy being back at Crossroads?
The service was good. We feel like we are missing out. The music and the word were good. We enjoyed the service very much.

M.M: Thanks guys. Wonderful seeing you. We’ll continue to support and encourage you as you extend God’s Kingdom!

By Molly Manhanga

We bow down

2011-09-08T00:20:00.000-07:00

Whats been happening at Crossroads?
1. Well, the Hospital and Home visitations are going really well. The Medical Outreach that we had gave us an indication of just how many people are not well and need prayer and encouragement.
2. Stephen Manhanga has completed the Church Planting Track with Chronological Bible Storying. That went pretty well.
3. Visiting and supporting the 6 Field Officers who have moved to Maphisa has been a high priority. They are adjusting to their new environment and new role. Generally, they are settling down well. I guess going as a team has helped them.
4. Kidz Alive is doing really well under Letta Ndlovu and her team. Her passion for children is amazing and I just love seeing their enthusiasm.

There are those songs that just catch your attention and "We bow down" is one of them for me.

We Bow down

We bow down and confess
You are Lord in this place
We bow down and confess
You are Lord in this place
You are all I need It’s your face I seek
In the presence of your light
We bow down, we bow down

By Viola Grafstrom

It's a lovely song that makes me bow down to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

By Molly Manhanga

Movie Review: Spartacus

2011-09-07T07:29:00.000-07:00

First Impressions: Lots of blood and guts – fighting for freedom.
It’s a riveting movie set in 72BC where the Roman Empire conquered countries in Europe and sold their citizens into slavery. One slave dared to take a stand: Spartacus (Goran Visnjic). He vows to one day live as a free man. Spartacus courage and determination to be free motivates other slaves to follow him.
Although the Roman Empire was a powerful empire, “they were alarmed at the growing slave insurrection. Spartacus had to be stopped at all costs.”

This man Spartacus is admirable on so many levels:
1. He doesn’t only think about himself but others
2. He leads by example
3. He is fearless and courageous – hero material
4. His desire for men and women to be free drives him and “in the final battle of slaves versus Romans, Spartacus’ epic fight for freedom becomes the stuff of legend.”
5. He falls for one woman and they have a son. I would guess the son would continue his fathers’ legacy.

Where there is a hero, a villain is inevitable. Needless to say there will be a betrayer of the hero who will either get bought off or promised some position of authority.

Spartacus, an epic revolt, is worth the watch, especially if you like early century movies.

Meet Mxwayisi Dube

2011-09-01T02:43:00.000-07:00

For those of you that have been out to Ebenezer or Crossroads, you may remember Mxwayisi Dube......He is now living at Crossroads and works very closely with Stephen Manhanga. Mxwayisi, better known as Mx comes from Njelele. He joined Ebenezer in August 2007, graduated in 2009 and completed the graduate programme. At the end of 2010, he left Ebenezer and joined Crossroads full time as he is passionate about the Church.

Mx loves Jesus Christ, does brilliantly at translating English into Ndebele and sharing God's word. He is spearheading hospital and home visitations as well as all night prayer meetings. To get an income, he is in partnership with Mbekezele Moyo in running the Crossroads Tuckshop and he oversees the chicken project in Mablauwuni village for Beyond Belief.

I asked Mx recently how things were going for him his response was:
"Things are going good but there is room for improvement. I'm beginning to see more clearly what God has called me to do. I enjoy Sunday services."

He is such a blessing to so many of us.....

Molly Manhanga

Thought for the day

2011-08-31T02:41:00.000-07:00

Having just spent 2 days with COSMOS - a team of christian doctors and nurses from Australia who were holding a medical outreach at Crossroads, and seeing the many sick people - some seriously ill, from in and around Mablauwuni community come to the outreach with the hope of getting better, receiving good news about their health, being reassured, comforted, strengthened and receive medication etc, I thought of 2 Corinthians 4:16 & 18 "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.......while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."
I too haven't been feeling great for the past 3 weeks or so (I caught the cold and cough thats been going around after visiting someone who was sick) and I was attended to by one of the doctors. It was easy giving my medical history because I'm generally a pretty healthy person. The doctor was able to give me the medication I needed and pray for me. I felt great being attended to by a professional, being reassured and given words of encouragement.
The prayer however, made me realise again that life and hope is found in Jesus Christ and that things which are not seen are eternal.

Psalm 103:3 It's the Lord "..........., who heals all your diseases,..."

Ecclesiates 3:1 - 2a "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die....."

By Molly Manhanga

Medical Outreach at Crossroads pt 2

2011-08-30T15:14:00.000-07:00

Dr Jeremy looking rather serious!

Stephen Dewing (far left) preping the patients on how the clinic will run

Early birds! The community were seated early waiting to be seen by the doctors and nurses.

Medical Outreach at Crossroads

2011-08-30T12:52:00.000-07:00

We've had an excellent 2 days at Crossroads with a team of christian doctors and nurses from Australia. The community medical outreach was well attended. It started at 9:00am and ended at 4:30pm. There was a steady flow of people who went to the triage table before going either to the nurses or the doctors. Dr's Jeremy and Clif were amazing in the way they handled their patients and dispensed medicines. 140 people were seen on the first day and slightly less were attended to today.

The community have been blessed by the outreach and as we continue to build relationship with the Aussie COSMOS team, we hope they will continue coming to Zimbabwe twice a year and serving at Crossroads.

I was so inspired watching the team in action and seeing how receptive people were to being prayed for. Stephen Dewing - the team leader, was brilliant as he did his "tricks" and captured peoples attention. His main aim was to share the gospel which was well received.

We look forward to the teams visit early next year.

By Molly Manhanga

Thought for the week......

2011-08-24T04:35:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 6:10 – 18

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints –