tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post9168147807904107936..comments2024-03-29T12:47:08.592+02:00Comments on A Letter from Kabwata: Reformed Christians—Where are you?Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-74968952692716513212009-01-20T08:34:00.000+02:002009-01-20T08:34:00.000+02:00I'm dismayed by the perpetuation of the stereotypi...I'm dismayed by the perpetuation of the stereotyping of the NGO worker as part of the problem in the efforts of donors to alleviate suffering. <BR/><BR/>Yes, the commonly accepted impression is one of fat NGO worker wallets, hefty travel allowances, and big 4x4s. But if you take the time to ask a cross section of the NGO world what actually happens, you get a totally different picture. It's a bit like basing your impression of marriage in Zambia on the transcripts of the proceedings of local courts or the newspaper gossip pages. Your view would definitely be skewed.<BR/><BR/>Donors are very demanding when it comes to accountability, and the burden loaded on NGO workers to exhaust budgets and audit every transaction is huge. Donors also have their theories on what is keeping us in poverty, hence their insistence on 'capacity building'. Those myriad workshops and seminars might seem wasteful, but a lot of good is being done and some of the fruits of that training enter our church communities in ways that may not be easily discernible.<BR/><BR/>So, yes, poverty is real and growing and we need to do more; some people are wont to exploit the good intentions of those trying to combat the scourge. And so on, ad infinitum. <BR/><BR/>Yet I constantly remember that most good works are done in private with only the Good Father who sees in secret as observer! I have visited Christian groups deep in the bush looking after their HIV-stricken brethren for no obvious reward, and shed tears of gratitude (and shame) for the grace God has imbued them with. Believe me there are innumerable such groups: http://www.handsatwork.org/zambia/ lists a few.<BR/><BR/>There is more salt on this earth than we give God credit for.Sykeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06848557235409851999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-78279934662109638582009-01-07T16:53:00.000+02:002009-01-07T16:53:00.000+02:00I elect to simply post one qoutation from my qoute...I elect to simply post one qoutation from my qoutes:<BR/>‘’Unless our optimism for a prosperous new year is based on an immutable truth, kept by an immutable Being, we will soon discover when the tide is against us, that we had embraced an illusion and allowed ourselves into the world of vain fantasy!’’From KS qoutesKelvin Sovihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06481253549949902890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-48377979174287104702009-01-02T12:04:00.000+02:002009-01-02T12:04:00.000+02:00Dear Pastor Mbewe,I have been visisting your blog ...Dear Pastor Mbewe,<BR/><BR/>I have been visisting your blog and have benefitted greatly from the articles you have been posting there. <BR/><BR/>Your article on "Where are the reformed believers" is indeed a wake up call to all of and is spot on. <BR/><BR/>I have had similar thoughts of what else the reformed believers can do to upgrade our down trodden societal life. Instead of being armchair critics of government systems that have colapsed, its time we got involved in the civic and national duties. <BR/><BR/>Certainly, looking at the great sacrifices our forefathers made just to change the wrongs in the society and government systems, poses a big challenge to each one of us. We must be ready to sacrifice our comforts and put our hands in the works and thereby seek to bring change to the colapsed systems.<BR/><BR/>We have what it takes to influence society and can ensure bad laws are made good, if we can not only voice our concerns but also be involved in life saving and life changing activities. <BR/><BR/>We have a lot of challenges in materilism and modernity that has taken the centre stage in our daily lives, at the great expense of making our presence felt. Trully the salt is not being felt and the lights are under tables - a great shame indeed, when we have opportunity to rekindle the times of John Calvin who ensured that civic authorities toed the biblical line by influencing through active participation, not passive obeservation. His influence has left an impact on Geneva and surrounding areas to the present day. Why cant we do the same for Zambia?<BR/><BR/>May the Lord help us to introspect especially as we have been ushered into this new year, by His matchless Grace.<BR/><BR/>Keep the blog ignited Pastor.<BR/><BR/>In His Service,<BR/><BR/>J MthetwaJohn Mthetwahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815383012284655241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-38383177959395883012009-01-01T21:03:00.000+02:002009-01-01T21:03:00.000+02:00Dear ConradI listened to a live talk show on Radio...Dear Conrad<BR/><BR/>I listened to a live talk show on Radio Christian Voice Zambia today that featured a great young music group called 'Exploits'. The four members included Trinah who recently took part in the finals Dstv idols competition and came third I think. Their manager was also in attendance. They are of the Charismatic persuasion.<BR/><BR/>They have great voices and have done one or two reasonably good songs. Their video was voted the best video of the year in one of the many local awards shows.<BR/><BR/>As I listened my heart was truly saddened by the frivolity and the lack of true spiritual depth in these young people. Furthermore, Trinah and the group defended her participation in the idols competition, though they acknowledged it was secular. They even somewhat equated her experience with Daniel! Wow! <BR/><BR/>They received phone calls and and text messages that extolled them as stars and ministers of God etc and they kept exclaiming 'glory to God'!! <BR/><BR/>This put me off as it cemented the truth that you and I have spoken about that all (well most of) the so called gospel music stars simply propagate the pop culture that shows society's spiritual decadence.<BR/><BR/>However, I then thanked God that we have a music ministry team that is showing the world that there is a seriousness about music ministry. I also thought how that we reformed Christians debate about and keep out of the arts in our circles, yet almost all of us go out of our circles and buy that same art and listen to Charismatic musicians and attend their musical concerts! We do not think how to affect our youth for Christ by example in music and the arts. <BR/><BR/>This is precisely what your today's blog and cry is for us! That we might go into the 'highways and byways and affect the world for Christ!<BR/><BR/>May the Lord aid us do this using our various talents, gifts, and callings in life.<BR/><BR/>Charles BotaCharles Botahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09020432326057050392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-68431072525813860972009-01-01T01:36:00.000+02:002009-01-01T01:36:00.000+02:00Greetings Conrad,I appreciated reading this write ...Greetings Conrad,<BR/><BR/>I appreciated reading this write up. It is a wonderful call to stand<BR/>up and be counted. I could not help thinking about the similarity of<BR/>the themes in Ian Murray's "The Puritan Hope."He writes in part: "If<BR/>the rise of a sense of destiny in Protestant Britain and America<BR/>stemmed in the first place from Christian thought, it is equally true<BR/>to say that the collapse of that outlook must be associated with the<BR/>failure of the Church to maintain the truths committed to her. Today<BR/>the church no longer appears before men as a world transforming<BR/>power..(The Puritan Hope,225)<BR/>The call to volunteerism and public offices is an important one for<BR/>Zambia's future. We need men and women of God in those positions who<BR/>will sidestep the temptations to corruption that are inevitable.<BR/><BR/>Having lived in Canada now for twenty years and learned how this<BR/>country "abandoned" it's spiritual position, I often ask how the West<BR/>can help the newer church avoid the trappings of materialism that<BR/>stole the love of God from this culture. The answer came that we<BR/>must post warning signs about the evils to avoid. The tragedy is<BR/>this. The same evils of materialism, television and other vices that<BR/>corrupted the West are driving the lives of most believers in Zambia<BR/>today. The call to stand up and be counted is very timely. Keep up<BR/>the good work and God's blessings for the new year. Elias and family.Eliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16615537690725493755noreply@blogger.com