tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23016211428826019352024-03-18T07:27:24.519+02:00A Letter from KabwataConrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.comBlogger341125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-88069324127082132312021-02-15T18:08:00.018+02:002021-02-22T18:16:24.075+02:00Precious Butterfly, Spread Your Wings and Fly!<div style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">(My speech at my daughter Mwape’s wedding)</span></b></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEFkOylSSEUSMky3bDinjfX9zKV4mTLjGibH-F-hIDKpysquJxgcav005ze2SsDkeg3CkON6eSsFTjcr0_nea1F6SWoO1oJ76gZ34f_RKnEIZZNwRA4lOVcE6BdZwnEO1kVa2kDnuYCk/s1336/Screenshot+2021-02-22+at+5.12.00+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="1336" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEFkOylSSEUSMky3bDinjfX9zKV4mTLjGibH-F-hIDKpysquJxgcav005ze2SsDkeg3CkON6eSsFTjcr0_nea1F6SWoO1oJ76gZ34f_RKnEIZZNwRA4lOVcE6BdZwnEO1kVa2kDnuYCk/w400-h271/Screenshot+2021-02-22+at+5.12.00+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">My wedding speech is entitled, “Precious butterfly, spread your wings and fly.” Three nights ago, I lay awake at night. I could not sleep. There was one thought that overpowered me. It was the thought that our daughter, Mwape, was getting married. I could not understand why that thought was so emotionally overwhelming. I kept wiping tears away. One song kept playing in my mind that night and it was the song “Butterfly kisses” by Bob Carlisle. The first line of that song goes, “Two things I know for sure. She was sent here from heaven and she’s daddy’s little girl.” That represents my deepest feelings for Mwape. It is from that song that I borrowed the title of my wedding speech. I want to say to Mwape, on behalf of her mom and I, “Precious butterfly, spread your wings and fly.” That night when I could not sleep, I figured the best way to release my pent-up emotions was to get out of bed and write a letter to Mwape that I would read on her wedding day as my speech. Here it is…</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />Our dearest Mwape, you are now entering that phase of life that your mom and I have walked for the last thirty-three years. It has been our highest honour and joy in life to see how you have grown up into the polished jewel that you are today. I recall the first words your mother spoke the moment you were born. Yes, I was there. She said, “My daughter!” with a sense of relief after the hours of labour pains. It is those same words that have echoed in my mind for the last twenty-seven years. Today I realise that someone will start to call you, “My wife!” with the same emotional intensity, for the years that God will give you together.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiy19FM7sMDvtH0Y_622vaDmIUIDBdaDKc8vpX_Cw8carBhyphenhyphenlRziNlugHtC2IW5fY4Gh6e4Ub74wdTUvRogZ6sWjmDtz5mUeZbDN61Kd7PVKZ7A02eA64IReigV3kWLyTAfjJEBS7RobA/s1024/Daddy+and+daughter+on+wedding+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="1024" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiy19FM7sMDvtH0Y_622vaDmIUIDBdaDKc8vpX_Cw8carBhyphenhyphenlRziNlugHtC2IW5fY4Gh6e4Ub74wdTUvRogZ6sWjmDtz5mUeZbDN61Kd7PVKZ7A02eA64IReigV3kWLyTAfjJEBS7RobA/w400-h268/Daddy+and+daughter+on+wedding+1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div></span><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My speech refers to you as a precious butterfly. The birth of a butterfly is unique. It simply changes from a caterpillar into a butterfly. Mwape, your birth was like that. It signalled a very significant shift in our lives as a family. It was at the point that we moved from our first home—45 Boli Street, in Libala—to what became the KBC manse. It was barely four walls and a roof. We asked the deacons to put a ceiling in two rooms—our bedroom and the sitting-room because winter was around the corner and we wanted our precious baby girl to be warm. That shift into an unfinished house, which later slowly got completed, and in which we lived for almost twenty years, is etched upon our memories by your birth into this world.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Your spiritual conversion to Christ also manifests how you resemble a precious butterfly. It is said that when the butterfly first comes out of the caterpillar stage, it cannot fly. It takes some time for its wings to unfold. I recall those anxious moments when, as your dad, I wondered whether grace had wrought its saving effects on you. One day, while away on a preaching trip to Australia, I totally failed to sleep as I wrestled with this thought until I wrote a letter to you, which both of us have since highly treasured. The beautiful spiritual life that your mom and I have seen in you since then is testimony to the “amazing grace” of God in your life.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HL51uAzu3xI-yqD-bymHQvSFWTfEl1APcaeAtsqi1SxnMZVrjp3j757UIKf7y6Y13DuZ7bSgKDqbyVGkZBFIcVVs2V09VR-TcjscoQPm6pTgJr12Zl-uSjlHpIcu6qnQaMiWBsGVWyg/s1024/Ceswa+and+teary+Mwape+at+wedding.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="1024" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HL51uAzu3xI-yqD-bymHQvSFWTfEl1APcaeAtsqi1SxnMZVrjp3j757UIKf7y6Y13DuZ7bSgKDqbyVGkZBFIcVVs2V09VR-TcjscoQPm6pTgJr12Zl-uSjlHpIcu6qnQaMiWBsGVWyg/w400-h268/Ceswa+and+teary+Mwape+at+wedding.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">We all love the way butterflies float in the air as they go from one flower to another, almost dancing in the sunshine of the day as they enjoy the food that God has given them freely in those flowers. Mwape, if there is something we will truly miss in our home once the knight in shining armour whisks you away today will be your sense of humour and your hearty laughter. Whether you were with mom or any of your siblings or friends or ba Miriam, your whereabouts was easily detected by that buoyant spirit that floated in the air through your hearty laughter. Oh, we will miss that sunshine! (A side note here to Ceswa: This explains the steep bride price. We were hoping it would scare you and we would keep Mwape a little longer so that we continue to enjoy her exuberant joy. But judging from how quickly you paid your lobola, we clearly underestimated your determination to enjoy the same benefits!)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Okay, I digress. How can we talk about butterflies without speaking about amazing beauty? I am impressed with Ceswa’s sense of taste, but I will admit that I am biased. Mwape, your quest for excellence in everything you do has recently been seen in your video productions. The quality of videos you produce on your YouTube channel, Crown Your Mane, makes me wonder if we use the same camera. We look forward to seeing what you will do with your new home now that you have the freedom to do with your home what you want to do with it.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_ygC_TNEsJQxswDpbl1vgI7P9cRERLCm6GW0_RPg_Z7HOo4X-2r-Yf0KEkwZxbdT4bKk9JD4RPhJH9ytnpqMwarnwl2Oy6FIKFfoyEOOgWlaZMQUIQvUfWvD2OWp_O0ExUr6Fo2s8U0/s1600/Ceswa+Mwape+Dad+Mom.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_ygC_TNEsJQxswDpbl1vgI7P9cRERLCm6GW0_RPg_Z7HOo4X-2r-Yf0KEkwZxbdT4bKk9JD4RPhJH9ytnpqMwarnwl2Oy6FIKFfoyEOOgWlaZMQUIQvUfWvD2OWp_O0ExUr6Fo2s8U0/w400-h268/Ceswa+Mwape+Dad+Mom.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />I wish I could say that I have butterfly traits. I doubt that I will fool anyone even if I attempted to make such a claim. However, one trait that you are taking with you into your marriage that you certainly got from my genes is that of communication. You share your life with family and friends around the world. You have remained in touch with the preachers who have visited our home to the point where their children have become your friends, despite the fact that you have never met them. Ceswa can relax knowing that his home will be well connected with families on both sides because of your natural gift as a communicator.</span><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Let me end with some words of thanks. I begin with your mother, Mwape. I take very little credit for what God has done in your life because my pastoral and preaching work kept me on the road and in the air quite a lot, as you obviously know. Your mom carried the bulk of the work in the home. When I look at how all of you have turned out—especially now that we are going back to an empty nest—I am the first to thank God for her. I can say in the words of Proverbs 31, “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” On behalf of my wife, let me also thank Mwape’s matron, Mrs Natasha Matafwali, and the full team of ladies she enlisted to help Mwape with her wedding preparations. Thank you very much!</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdletECMHVcOAS9mus0CrZYrF51Me10ZbZTKj_RuDbmMwfexY39Ufq4M5NjWq5H3VCpRBdjoJLi92-LUxBd5Ge0O1L5sbHP_Ebfne3u4WvrlGS4vkmXGSkXHsPkDe7d6HRBK_Lq6Oz-c/s1600/Ceswa%252C+Mwape+and+in-laws.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdletECMHVcOAS9mus0CrZYrF51Me10ZbZTKj_RuDbmMwfexY39Ufq4M5NjWq5H3VCpRBdjoJLi92-LUxBd5Ge0O1L5sbHP_Ebfne3u4WvrlGS4vkmXGSkXHsPkDe7d6HRBK_Lq6Oz-c/w400-h268/Ceswa%252C+Mwape+and+in-laws.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Let me add to this your grandparents and your uncles and aunts who have counselled us and come alongside us in the task of parenting. We could not have achieved what we have done without them. Lastly, I want to thank the church—Kabwata Baptist Church. (Here I address the church directly.) I thank you for your many prayers for the children of your pastor. There are days when I am overwhelmed at the thought that while I was running around serving you, you bathed our children with the tears of your prayers. I’ll go to my grave in peace because you pastored our children while I pastored you, among my fellow elders. Continue to pray for them as they go into marriage and family life. Please do not stop praying for them.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I end with the words of the song where I got the theme of my wedding speech. It says…</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">She’ll change her name today.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">She’ll make a promise and I’ll give her away.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Standing in the bride-room just staring at her.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">She asked me what I’m thinking, and I said<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“I’m not sure. I just feel like I’m losing my baby girl.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“Walk me down the aisle, Daddy. It’s just about time.”</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“Does my wedding gown look pretty, Daddy? Daddy, don’t cry.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Oh, with all that I’ve done wrong<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><strike>I must have done something right.</strike></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(I’ve seen God’s grace and light)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">To deserve her love every morning and butterfly kisses</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I couldn’t ask God for more. Man, this is what love is.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I know I’ve gotta let her go, but I’ll always remember</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Every hug in the morning and butterfly kisses...</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Mwape, “[our] precious butterfly, spread your wings [today] and fly.” Ceswa, she is all yours!</span></p></div>Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-83071069150527430622020-04-27T19:19:00.000+02:002020-04-27T19:47:39.630+02:00Irving Steggles (1945–2020)—The Sun That Never Set<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>(A tribute on behalf of the directors of the African Pastors Conferences)</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqmKDxnmj8ms4AAOt2g17Zzx_ZVNOVQhbOJQU8E-B2Z4OZan8qSNv4qBTriA4AkASvjkVJk7k3bm7gFYbOql5LWzlsFR-Q-HhPEvqIpPZ7Mb_0l4F5TZElUes8B6Fd4XoVVjYCV0Qf6o/s1600/2013B+Missions+-+Irving+Steggles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1024" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqmKDxnmj8ms4AAOt2g17Zzx_ZVNOVQhbOJQU8E-B2Z4OZan8qSNv4qBTriA4AkASvjkVJk7k3bm7gFYbOql5LWzlsFR-Q-HhPEvqIpPZ7Mb_0l4F5TZElUes8B6Fd4XoVVjYCV0Qf6o/s400/2013B+Missions+-+Irving+Steggles.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">On April 22, 2020, Irving Steggles left the sphere of his earthly labours and went to glory from a hospital bed in South Africa. Many of us had been fearing that this day would come for at least two years before it did, as the earthly tent in which Irving Steggles lived began showing serious signs of wear and tear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Irving Steggles’ early life and ministry</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Who was Irving Steggles? I have picked up this much from various sources. Irving was born in 1945 in the United Kingdom and became a Christian in 1959. He studied mathematics at the University of Oxford and went on to teach at Monkton Combe School. He sensed God’s call to the pastoral ministry while he was a member of Widcombe Baptist Church in Bath. He then went on to train at London Seminary before becoming pastor of Ladyfield Evangelical Church in Chippenham. In 2004, he was called to pastor a church in Durban, South Africa, but that pastorate hardly lasted a year. He then moved on to help establish Birchleigh Baptist Church in Kempton Park under the oversight of Constantia Park Baptist Church, which at that time was under the pastorate of Martin Holdt. Irving had a very strong belief in the centrality of the local church in leading kingdom work. So, although his sphere of influence grew as he settled more and more in South Africa and this took him all over the world, he remained pastor of Birchleigh Baptist Church until he went to glory last week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Irving served on a number of boards for various Christian institutions. In the UK, he was a board member of London Seminary, having served as chairman of that board for ten years, and on the board of Reformation Today Trust. In South Africa, he served on the board of Mukhanyo College and on the board of Step Wise Youth Ministry. Irving also served on the South African board of the African Christian University which is situated in Lusaka, Zambia. Each of these ministries will have their own tale to tell of how this man’s life impacted them while he served among them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Irving Steggles and the Reformation in RSA and Zambia</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">While Irving Steggles was pastoring Birchleigh Baptist Church, a number of black South African young adults came to embrace the doctrines of grace at about the same time. This was largely through listening to sermons by Paul Washer, John MacArthur, and John Piper on the internet. Some of these young men and women were in the nearby township of Tembisa. They found themselves at Birchleigh Baptist Church and Irving gave himself unreservedly to discipling them. Though he was a bachelor, Irving was very hospitable. He would often gather these young adults in his home for theological discussions. Those young men among them who were sensing a call to the pastoral ministry were encouraged by Irving Steggles to go for formal theological training. Some of these are now in full time pastoral ministry around South Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irving Steggles and the South African young adults he brought to the Zambian conference</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Christians in Zambia will particularly remember Irving for the many times he came to attend the Zambian Reformed Conferences and preach in our churches. At the conference, he stood out like a sore thumb partly because he was Caucasian and also because he was easily the oldest man among us. There was no doubt that he was very interested in the growing work of Reformation in Zambia. With the help of Ronald Kalifungwa, pastor of Lusaka Baptist Church, he often used preachers from this country for the African Pastors Conferences which were taking place across the continent of Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Irving’s godly example and his extra-ordinary faith in a sovereign God, and his love for the Bible, for the Reformed faith, for missions and for God’s people have been noted by many in a number of tributes that have been written since his demise. Perhaps the most lasting legacy that he has left us with is that of the African Pastors Conferences (APCs). These conferences were started with the express aim of providing African pastors who had little or no theological training with model expository preaching (done largely by fellow Africans), solid books at very affordable prices (some of them as free give-aways), and actual teaching on pertinent theological and practical issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the books displayed at an African Pastors Conference</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When Erroll Hulse went to glory in 2017, I wrote a blog in his honour. In that article, I said, “Perhaps Erroll Hulse’s final lasting legacy to Africa will be the African Pastors Conferences (APCs). Initially, he worked closely with Dennis Hustedt, a former pastor in South Africa who now lives in the USA. At some point the two felt it better to work independently. That was when Erroll Hulse looped Irving Steggles and me in as directors and the APCs were fully born. That must have been around 2008. The board of directors has expanded further since then.” I have since been corrected. This was in 2005. The board now includes Thomas Winn and John Divito from the USA. Erroll and Irving were like twins in terms of their zeal for the APCs. They were like two peas in a pod. If I was the sleeping member of that board, Irving and Erroll were the flying ones! When Erroll was hospitalised and went to be with the Lord, his absence was cushioned by Irving’s zeal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Irving made the APCs a personal project in which he poured heart and soul to his dying day. Each year he kept adding more conferences until the APCs grew to about sixty conferences a year. Irving visited Europe and the USA, and spoke in churches and conferences, appealing passionately for support for the conferences. Finding a conference manager for the APCs was difficult because the conferences were dotted all over Africa and so they demanded that the manager should be “on the run” most of the year. We had very good men come on as conference managers but for the reason I have stated and others they only served for a short time and moved on—although their hearts have still remained with the APCs up to this very moment. Irving recruited Nico van Zyl in 2016 and for the last 3 to 4 years the conferences have stabilised and grown from strength to strength. With Gayle, Peter and Kabelo handling the books, the APCs became a work horse that was delivering preachers and books all over Africa.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Yours truly" visiting Irving Steggles in South Africa after his knee operation in 2018</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Once or twice I suggested to Irving that we cut back a conference or two and he would not hear of it unless it was totally impossible. “The pastors are asking for more such conferences,” he would say. The conferences are now being held in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal. In order to attain and maintain such a number of conferences, churches (mostly in the USA) were asked to consider partnering with individual conferences. The pastors of these churches were also encouraged to be among the preachers for their sponsored conferences. This pairing, which was mooted by Thomas Winn soon after he became a board member in 2014, made it easier for the sponsoring churches to know how their funds were benefiting those who attended the conferences and thus they were encouraged to give further support in succeeding years. All you need to do is read the tributes coming in from all over Africa to appreciate the impact that Irving Steggles has had on the continent through the APCs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Irving Steggles’ sun that refused to set</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When I went to South Africa to preach at the Grace Ministers Conference a few months ago in January, it was my intention to speak with Irving about the need to look for someone else—someone younger—within South Africa to manage the APCs. Although his mind was still very sharp, Irving had already been struggling with failing health in the recent past. We met at the Grace Ministers Conference and talked about the APCs. But I could not bring up the subject. He was so enthusiastic about the work that I feared I would kill him if I even dropped the hint that he should handover what he was doing to someone else. I decided he was better off dying in the driver’s seat. I did not know it would be this soon!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Felistas and I visiting Irving Steggles in hospital in London in 2019</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am rereading the last email I got from Irving. It was about the APCs and was sent on March 20, 2020—exactly one month and two days before he died. It was a confidential letter to the directors and he was sharing with us about the impact of COVID-19 on the conferences in 2020. He said absolutely nothing about his failing health. Twelve days after he wrote this email, he was admitted into hospital never to come out again. The email was all about the conferences and the staff who serve the conferences so well. He wrote as he concluded, “I very much hope that conferences we are postponing now will occur later in the year.” He exhorted us to PRAY (in capital letters for emphasis) as he signed off!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That was Irving Steggles! His sun did not slowly set, it was just suddenly eclipsed by a brighter sun—the Sun of Righteousness. As I said earlier, the tributes that are pouring in are mostly referring to the impact that this man had across Africa through the APCs. He is now gone to be with his Master whom he served so well and so faithfully to the very end.</span><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-26172373939938053792020-04-16T12:33:00.002+02:002020-04-19T13:04:37.149+02:00COVID-19 series, #19: A pastoral prayer in the midst of COVID-19<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">19 Pastoral Thoughts on COVID-19</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I end my 19 pastoral thoughts on COVID-19 today with a word of prayer. Let us pray:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our glorious Heavenly Father, we worship you as the Creator of the entire universe and the Governor of all history. You sit on the throne that is encircled by thousands of angels in holy wonder. In the midst of this current global crisis, we pause to acknowledge you as God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We humble ourselves and confess our individual and corporate sins to you, O God. We have turned your worship into entertainment. We have trampled your righteous laws underfoot. We have idolised the acquisition of wealth and silently butchered the unborn in the womb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lord, we thank you that you are a forgiving God. You sent your son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to pay the awful price for our sin by his suffering and death on the cross. Help us, dear Lord, to share this good news with our friends and neighbours in the midst of today’s misery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As the Coronavirus rampages through the land, from east to west and from north to south, we plead with you in the words of Habakkuk, “In wrath remember mercy.” Do not treat us as our sins deserve because, if you do, there will be none left to worship you on earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lord, when you send temporal judgments on us, it is to bring us to repentance so that we are not judged in wrath in eternity. By your Spirit, comfort the sorrowing, teach us the spiritual lessons you want us to learn, and bring this crisis to a close. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“We have not known Thee as we ought,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Nor learned Thy wisdom, grace and power;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The things of earth have filled our thought,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And trifles of the passing hour:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lord, give us light Thy truth to see,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And make us wise in knowing Thee.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">—Thomas B Pollock (1836–1896)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-9539064224290556582020-04-15T19:18:00.000+02:002020-04-15T19:18:26.832+02:00COVID-19 series, #18: Are you ready to die?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">19 Pastoral Thoughts on COVID-19</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain…My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better” (Philippians 1:21,23).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My penultimate pastoral thought on COVID-19 is a question: “Are you ready to die?” This question is forced upon the popular mind as we hear of 100,000+ deaths around the world in about three months. The cold dark hand of death could easily pounce on us at any time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Death equates us all. The rich and the poor die. The educated and the uneducated die. The young and the old die. Bembas and Nyanjas die. Christians and non-Christians die. If there is anything you can be 100% sure of it is that you will die—unless Jesus Christ returns first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am amazed how many professing Christians do not want to think about the possibility that they may die very soon. They cannot say with the apostle Paul, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain…My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, with COVID-19 wreaking havoc even in the most industrialised nations of the world, you should face the fact of your mortality. Are you ready to die? This can only be answered in the affirmative if you know that your sins are forgiven through Christ’s atoning death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can only say you are ready to die <i>today</i> if God’s saving grace enables you to live for his glory and not for your own self-indulgence. Your conscience cannot be bribed. Let COVID-19 cause you to make the kind of changes in your life that will make you ready to die today!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“We’ve no abiding city here:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But should not cost the saint a tear,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Who hopes a better rest to find,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We’ve no abiding city here<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then let us live as pilgrims do; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let not the world our rest appear; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But let us haste from all below.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">—Thomas Kelly (1769–1855)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-37506989121821280542020-04-14T18:10:00.000+02:002020-04-15T07:16:32.817+02:00COVID-19 series, #17: Do not waste your COVID-19 experience<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">19 Pastoral Thoughts on COVID-19</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">COVID-19 series, #17: Do not waste your COVID-19 experience</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge” (Proverbs 21:11).</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you are a believer who is well instructed in the Scriptures, you know that God is not reacting in panic to the COVID-19 situation. He caused it to happen otherwise it would have never happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As we saw previously, pain is God’s megaphone to awaken a world that is asleep in sin. In God’s inscrutable ways, he often uses one catastrophe to teach different people different lessons. It is up to us to be sensitive and ask ourselves, “What is God teaching me here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sadly, the book of Proverbs teaches that when scoffers are punished or chastised by God, they never learn. The ones who learn from the punishing of the scoffers are the simple. They are the ones who become wise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In Proverbs 17:10 we read that “A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.” Judging from the number of deaths, and the global economic and social shut down, there is no doubt that COVID-19 has been a very loud rebuke to all of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pause for a moment today and ask yourself the question, “What deep spiritual lesson have I personally learned during this COVID-19 pandemic? Has it weaned me from my love of the things of this world? Has this experience deepened my personal prayer life? Has it caused me to draw closer to God?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I tremble for individuals in whose lives a hundred blows bear no fruit. Please, do not waste your COVID-19 experience!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“When doubts and fears arise,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Teach me Thy way;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When storms overspread the skies,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Teach me Thy way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Shine through the cloud and rain,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Through sorrow, toil, and pain;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Make Thou my pathway plain,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Teach me Thy way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">—Benjamin Mansell Ramsey (1849-1923)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-58876031058213167432020-04-13T17:46:00.000+02:002020-04-13T21:48:35.580+02:00COVID-19 series, #16: Faith healers—the elephant in the room<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">19 Pastoral Thoughts on COVID-19</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I will; be clean.’ And immediately the leprosy left him” (Luke 5:13).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I know I’ll get into trouble for saying this, but as a shepherd over my sheep I need to point out the elephant in the room while the COVID-19 pandemic lasts. One of the loudest calls in the last few years has been that of so-called faith healers who have claimed to have the power to miraculously heal the sick “in the name of Jesus”. Their voices have been very loud on radio, on television, on the internet, and on billboards, despite the lack of verifiable evidence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In comes COVID-19 and they have all gone deathly quiet, while over 100,000 people have died due to the pandemic. What kind of Christian love is this? Surely, this is the time for them to go to the epicentres of this disease and miraculously heal those who are on ventilators fighting for their lives. They cannot just go quiet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When Jesus was on earth, leprosy was contagious and incurable. You did not touch lepers. They were quarantined outside the community and could only be allowed back into society upon being verified as healed by local priests. Jesus touched the lepers and miraculously healed them. He would then send them to priests for verification and reintegration in society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the name of love, may those who claim to have similar powers go and heal the COVID-19 victims! If the health workers do this alone—at great risk to their lives—let us not hear anyone claiming to have miraculous powers to heal the sick after COVID-19 is over. <i>Anso!</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(PS: "Anso!" is a warning or threatening word in my vernacular language. The closest in English might be, "Don't even try!")</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Perish policy and cunning,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Perish all that fears the light;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Whether losing, whether winning,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Trust in God and do the right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Some will hate thee, some will love thee;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Some will flatter, some will slight;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cease from man and look above thee—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Trust in God and do the right.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">—Norman MacLeod (1812–1872)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-25043617245126701382020-04-12T09:06:00.000+02:002020-04-12T09:06:10.227+02:00COVID-19 Series: #15—Let us shout, “O COVID-19, where is your sting?”<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">19 Pastoral Thoughts On COVID-19</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11:25–26).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Why has COVID-19 become the terror that has gripped the whole globe? It is because of the number of deaths it has caused. It is now 100,000…and counting. That is like wiping out the entire population of the city of Livingstone in about 3 months and reducing it to a ghost town.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Death is the wages of sin. It is the king of terrors. It is the last enemy. When a loved one breathes his last, there is nothing anyone can ever do for him or her. We leave their remains 6 feet underground and try to proceed with life without that person. What a terrible enemy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then in comes Easter! It is the one foe that ultimately defeats death. It speaks of a hope that defies the grave. Our Saviour, the Lord Jesus, died. Death had him in its grips. But on Easter morning he burst asunder the bars of death and walked back into life—never to die again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He announced on the day he raised Lazarus from the dead, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” Jesus was the first to rise from the dead and now all those who believe in him will do the same. It is the glorious Christian hope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This morning, let us defiantly look COVID-19 in the face and say, “O COVID-19, where is your victory? O COVID-19, where is your sting? …Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Amen!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Saviour,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Up from the grave he arose;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With a mighty triumph over his foes;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He arose a victor from the dark domain,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And he lives forever, with his saints to reign.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">—Robert Lowry (1826–1899)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-60915488624369612572020-04-11T18:37:00.002+02:002020-04-12T07:48:42.784+02:00COVID-19 Series: #14—Our reaction to COVID-19 must be different <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">19 Pastoral Thoughts On COVID-19</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14–15).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When frowning providences happen, our bruised egos cause us to grumble and argue with others. We feel as if life is unfair and we are full of complaints. The ugly side of our nature comes to the fore as we express ourselves with venom in the presence of other people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is in circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic, that religion that is only skin deep comes unstuck. There is no difference in response between the false believer or backslider and a rank atheist. Blame is generously apportioned to all except the person complaining.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The grumbling is along similar lines: China did it deliberately. The government is too slow in responding. Neighbours are careless. Doctors and nurses do not care for us. Our state-owned media is not telling us the truth. A workmate coughs too much. <i>Ad nauseum, ad infinitum!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If that is all the language that is coming out of our lips as believers, then shame on us! Our reaction to the pressure cooker we are in of COVID-19 should show the world that God’s Spirit lives in us. We must be different—as “blameless and innocent children of God.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our chief concern should be how we can glorify God in this frowning providence. This will involve the thought of how we can help even where others are failing so that we close the gap of care. This is what will bring such joy in our lives that our neighbours will easily notice. Then we can point them to our Saviour, who causes us to “shine as lights in the world.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Jesus commanded us to be,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A light shining out for all to see:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Let my light shine, all of the time,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>That all may see, the Saviour in me,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>And may come to know the Lord.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are a city on the hill,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To guide people lost in darkness still:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let us be careful what we do,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our lives are forever full in view:”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">—Author unknown<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-2713747110805298992020-04-10T21:23:00.000+02:002020-04-10T21:23:57.196+02:00COVID-19 Series: #13—Calamities call for times of self-humiliation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">19 Pastoral Thoughts On COVID-19</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“And when he humbled himself the wrath of the LORD turned from him, so as not to make a complete destruction” (2 Chronicles 12:12).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Self-humiliation. This is what previous generations of Christians understood to be their solemn duty when times of great calamity fell upon them. They knew that there is a God in heaven who has brought this calamity upon them in order to bring their hearts back to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This should be our attitude as Christians today in the light of this COVID-19 global plague that has now claimed over 100,000 lives worldwide. Unbelievers may see this purely as a natural disaster. It is this same blindness that makes them think we evolved from apes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God’s famous promise to Israel in 2 Chronicles 7:14 was about humility: “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That is what we also see in our text above. King Rehoboam abandoned God’s law when he was established as a king. God brought the Egyptians to plunder Israel. King Rehoboam and his fellow leaders humbled themselves and the Bible says they averted complete destruction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do we really believe that there is a righteous God in heaven? Do we genuinely believe that he causes disasters? Do we honestly believe that our generation well deserves his judgment? Then let us prostrate ourselves before God in true humility during this COVID-19 plague. Let us as believers set aside seasons of prayer, fasting, and self-humiliation. Who knows? God may yet have mercy upon our generation!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Heal us, Emmanuel, hear our prayer;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We long to feel Your touch;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Deep wounded souls to You we fly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">O Savior hear our cry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our faith is feeble, we confess;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We faintly trust Your word;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But will You pity us the less?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Be that far from You, Lord!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">—William Cowper (1731–1800)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-67585849029849180052020-04-09T16:42:00.000+02:002020-04-11T10:23:51.210+02:00COVID-19 Series: #12—How can a God of love allow COVID-19? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">19 Pastoral Thoughts On COVID-19</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground” (Genesis 3:17–19).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One question that we cannot run away from as we see and hear of the devastating effects of COVID-19 is, “How can a God of love allow such suffering?” We feel that, if God truly is what we Christians claim him to be, there should be no diseases and disasters in this world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We must never be flippant in answering this question because those who ask it often do so out of real pain. They may have witnessed a loved one go through unbearably excruciating pain for a long time before finally dying. They may have seen many people suddenly swept away by death until they felt numb. That is when they ask the “how” question. It is painful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The best way to answer this question is by going back to the beginning of history when the world came fresh from the hands of its Creator. It was a perfect world, without pain or death. Our first parents sinned against God. As a result, he pronounced on them—and on the rest of us—a punishment that included suffering and death, as we saw earlier in our Bible reading.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, “How can a God of love allow COVID-19?” We answer, “We deserve worse than this because we are under God's righteous judgement.” The God of love is also a God of holiness. In Christ, our sins have been paid for so that believers will never pay for them in hell. Yet, while we remain on earth, God says thorns, thistles and viruses will cause us untold suffering.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Depths of mercy! Can there be<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mercy still reserved for me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Can my God His wrath forbear?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Me, the chief of sinners, spare?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There for me the Saviour stands;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Shows His wounds and spreads His hands,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">God is love; I know, I feel;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jesus lives, and loves me still.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">—Charles Wesley (1707–1788)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-40618712616577347632020-04-08T21:36:00.000+02:002020-04-08T21:36:22.623+02:00COVID-19 Series: #11—Our past sufferings should make us sympathetic <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt” (Deut. 10:19).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One reason why God allows us to go through trials is so that we can sympathise with those who later go through similar difficulties. That way we can help them from the depth of our hearts. We comfort them with the same comfort that God comforted us with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That was how it was with the people of Israel. One lesson that God wanted them to learn was that of lovingly sympathising with non-Israelites who would be in their country because they once were in a foreign country and were ill-treated while they were there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is an important principle for us as Africans during this COVID-19 global crisis. Notice that the countries that are worst affected by this pandemic are the developed countries of the world. Most of Africa has been largely spared. We are praying that it remains this way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have had our fair share of astronomical calamities. AIDS, Ebola, cholera, malaria, and genocides have been largely an African problem. We have known what it means to have thousands of people in our nations being buried within a few days. Our tear ducts have dried due to too much weeping and wailing. Other nations of the world have rallied to our help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now it is our turn. Our past suffering should make us sympathetic to those who are in the eye of the COVID-19 storm. We may not be able to send them financial support, but we have something more potent to give them—our ardent prayers. Let us sympathetically pray for the world!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Have we trials and temptations?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Is there trouble anywhere?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We should never be discouraged<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Take it to the Lord in prayer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Can we find a friend so faithful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Who will all our sorrows share?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus knows our every weakness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Take it to the Lord in prayer.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">—Joseph M Scriven (1819–1886)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-2673817603673059722020-04-07T20:11:00.000+02:002020-04-08T10:27:29.553+02:00COVID-19 Series: #10—Do not be afraid<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>19 Pastoral Thoughts On COVID-19</b></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The imperative “Do not be afraid” is by far the most common appeal that we find in the Bible. It is given to leaders such as Joshua, to troubled family members like Joseph’s brothers, and to women such as Mary the mother of Jesus. If you are a child of God, this is one imperative that you can be sure is addressed to you as well: “Do not be afraid.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is always given to individuals who have every reason to be afraid. For Joshua it was the fact that Moses was now dead, and he was to take over leadership of a nation full of rebels. For Joseph’s brothers it was that their father had died, and they suspected that Joseph would now take revenge for what they did to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What about you, why might you be afraid in these days of COVID-19? It is possibly because the virus is wreaking havoc in nations a thousand times more powerful than ours is. Your imagination runs riot as you imagine it wiping you and all of Zambia off the face of the earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Why, in the light of this reality, should you as a Christian not be afraid? It is because your heavenly Father is in control of everything—including microscopic viruses. It is also because in all things—including a virus outbreak—your heavenly Father works for the good of those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. Meditate on God’s word until you hear God saying, “Do not be afraid.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Give to the winds thy fears;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hope and be undismayed;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">God shall lift up thy head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Through waves and clouds and storms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He gently clears thy way;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Wait thou his time; so shall this night<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Soon end in joyous day.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">—Paulus Gerhardt (1607–1676)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-34900135746656987222020-04-06T20:09:00.000+02:002020-04-06T21:13:42.329+02:00COVID-19 Series: #9—Trust in God and keep your powder dry <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">19 Pastoral Thoughts On COVID-19</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD” (Proverbs 21:31).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As we wage war against the coronavirus, we need to live with a healthy tension between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. This will transport us from the sphere of fear to that of faith. We will take precautions without being too paralysed to minister to others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is this healthy tension that is captured by the words, “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.” Soldiers must do all that is in their power to prepare for battle so that they can win it. Yet, they should also know that God in sovereignty has decreed who will win that battle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is said that when Oliver Cromwell was leading the British troops to invade Ireland during the English Civil War in the 17th century, he said to them, “Trust in God, my boys, and keep your powder dry!” By this phrase he meant that while the soldiers should leave the outcome of the battle to God they should still do what is necessary in their power to win it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the same way, in today’s COVID-19 situation, we should recognise that God has allowed this virus to wreak havoc in this world and, if it pleases him, it will be the means of taking us as individuals into eternity. Yet, we should be doing everything in our power to stop COVID-19 from spreading and to help those who are infected and affected by its ravaging march. Yes, “trust in God and keep our powder dry.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Courage, brother! Do not stumble,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Though thy path be dark as night;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There’s a star to guide the humble:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">‘Trust in God and do the right.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Though the road be rough and dreary,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And its end far out of sight,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Foot it bravely! Strong or weary,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">‘Trust in God and do the right.’”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">—Norman MacLeod (1812–1872)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-15900740315933945182020-04-05T20:12:00.001+02:002020-04-06T21:13:20.188+02:00COVID-19 Series: #8—Love your neighbour as you love yourself<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">19 Pastoral Thoughts On COVID-19</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Romans 13:9).</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One of the greatest challenges in life is learning to strike a balance between loving yourself and loving others. This challenge is aggravated during a major disease outbreak because your life is at risk. It is the challenge that is ours during this season of the COVID-19 pandemic. How can we strike the balance so that we love our neighbours the way we love ourselves? Being overly preoccupied with self-preservation incapacitates you from loving others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Loving others the way you love yourself involves sacrifice, being inconvenienced, and taking risks. Think of the story of the Good Samaritan. Why did the priest and the Levite not help the man who was left half-dead on the road by robbers? They may have been in a hurry to get to work. Or, perhaps, they were tired after a hard day’s work. It may also have been too risky because the road was infested with bandits. These are the kind of excuses we give out of self-love when others need us to show them Christ’s love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">History bears testimony to the fact that it has been during calamities such as the COVID-19 pandemic, that true Christians have stood out like bright stars in the night. Right now, many people have lost their livelihood. Loving your neighbour as you love yourself involves doing something to help them in their predicament. Let us share the love of Christ with the most vulnerable by finding out how they have been affected by the pandemic and then going out to help them in practical ways. Yes, it is risky. But was love ever without risk?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Brother let me be your servant,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let me be as Christ to you;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pray that I might have the grace,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To let you be my servant too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are pilgrims on a journey,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are brothers on the road;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are here to help each other,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Walk the mile and bear the load.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">—Richard Gillard (1953–)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-46889707838234444692020-04-04T17:20:00.000+02:002020-04-06T21:13:01.298+02:00COVID-19 Series: #7—There, but for the grace of God, go I<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>19 Pastoral Thoughts On COVID-19</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:9–10).<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today, Rev. Pukuta Mwanza was being buried. I was with him in the school of mines at the University of Zambia in the early 1980s. He had also answered God’s call to the pastoral ministry and had even reached the highest level of leadership among evangelical in Zambia until he lost his fight with cancer. Why was it not you or me lying cold in that coffin today?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In these days of COVID-19, this thought should not be too far from our minds. This week, we heard that the Ministry of Health has recorded the first Zambian to die of COVID-19. He had caught the virus while on a trip to South Africa. Why him and not you or me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There can only be one answer: The sovereign grace of God that is greater than all our sin. We have all long forfeited the right to life because of our sin. The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death.” Let us remember that some who have died from COVID-19 around the world took precautions but still got the virus. Ultimately, each time we hear of a death caused by any means—including coronavirus—we should say, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As we take precautionary measures, let us be thankful for each day that God gives us. Let us rededicate our lives to God, as the apostle Paul did, so that we can say with him, “By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me was not in vain.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Sin and despair like the sea waves cold,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Threaten the soul with infinite loss;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Grace, grace, God’s grace,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Grace, grace, God’s grace,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Grace that is greater than all our sin.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">—Julia H Johnston (1849–1919)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-12788610071687261962020-04-03T15:51:00.000+02:002020-04-06T21:12:43.128+02:00COVID-19 Series: #6—Be responsible: Do not bear false witness <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">19 Pastoral Thoughts On COVID-19</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother” (Luke 18:20).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Of the various commandments that Jesus mentioned here to the rich young ruler, I am particularly interested in the one that says, “Do not bear false witness.” This captures the essence of the ninth commandment. Anyone who spreads lies is a co-worker with Satan, a liar and a father of lies. He misrepresented God to Eve and thus led to the human fall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As Christians we must not repeat a story without verifying it. The spread of the coronavirus is a global disaster. Tens of thousands of lives have been lost. The virus has reached our country. People are fearful. It matters what you “copy and paste”. If it is not true, you are a false witness. You could also cause your hearers to harm themselves and others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All it takes on social media is a click on “share” or “forward” and you could be guilty of spreading lies. A lot of videos are doing their rounds about vaccines and cures of COVID-19. Conspiracy theorists are also thriving because of human fear. By sharing their information, you can easily undermine the efforts of qualified individuals who are trying to save lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Truth matters. Let us be responsible as Christians. This is not time to be sensational. Too much is at stake. Let us take extra care to ensure that what we pass on has been verified as authentic. If you are unsure, don’t do it, lest you become a false witness and sin against God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Be the matter what it may,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Always speak the truth;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Whether at your work or play,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Always speak the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Never from this rule depart,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Grave it deeply on your heart,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Written ‘tis upon your chart:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Always speak the truth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">—Alfred Arthur Graley (1813–1905)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-22401089960677619332020-04-02T17:38:00.000+02:002020-04-06T21:12:22.410+02:00COVID-19 Series: #5—Share the world’s only good news <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>19 Pastoral Thoughts On COVID-19</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone” (Isaiah 9:2).<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I hear that in only 3 months we are about to hit a staggering 1 million coronavirus cases around the world and that the virus has been reported in almost every country. This is truly bad news. Indeed, every form of media is relentlessly spreading this miserable news—print media, electronic media, social media, and so on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This can only have a depressing effect on people. It reminds me of the people described by Isaiah as dwelling in a land of deep darkness. The darkness represented a sense of gloom and foreboding. That is how so many people feel today. You cannot miss the sense of fear because this level of global calamity has never occurred before in our generation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Isaiah said that the people who were walking in darkness had seen a great light. It must have cheered them. What is that light? He later gives the answer: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Yes, Jesus Christ is ultimately the only good news for this world in every circumstance. In him we experience joy, peace and hope that defies death and hell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Christian, are you using all channels at your disposal to shed abroad this cheering light? Joyfully share this good news with those around you who are living in fear as COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc in this world!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Sing above the battle’s strife,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jesus saves, Jesus saves;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By His death and endless life,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jesus saves, Jesus saves;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sing it softly through the gloom,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When the heart for mercy craves,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sing in triumph o’er the tomb,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jesus saves, Jesus saves.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">—Priscilla Jane Owens (1829–1907)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-65838959322701548942020-04-01T16:03:00.000+02:002020-04-06T21:12:02.509+02:00COVID-19 Series: #4—We truly are frail children of dust<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>19 Pastoral Thoughts On COVID-19</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30).<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These words were spoken by Nebuchadnezzar, king of the great Babylonian empire, after examining his personal achievements. Soon after that, God humbled him. He lost his mind and lived like an animal until God restored him to his senses and to his position of authority. This story shows us how even the mightiest among us are frail children of dust. We are not in control; God is. I think COVID-19 is eloquently showing us the same lesson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When our bodies are healthy, our jobs are secure, our businesses are going well, and our marriages are intact, we forget our human frailty. We find the worship of God inconvenient. We become too busy for him. Human pride makes us think we reached where we are without God. It fills us with a false trust in ourselves. We think the only ones who need to pray are those in shanty compounds who do not even know where their next meal will come from.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then in comes COVID-19, and all that changes. This virus has entered royal palaces and has infected heads of state. It has locked down nations and brought the entire aviation industry to a halt. It has reversed the economic gains of the most powerful nations on earth. Clearly, we are not in control of our destinies. God is. All of us should live every day with that reality in mind. I ask, are you as an individual expressing your total dependence on God by heartfelt worship? Do you humbly pray to him regularly?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Frail children of dust,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And feeble as frail;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In Thee do we trust,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Nor find Thee to fail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thy mercies how tender,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How firm to the end;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our Maker, Defender,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Redeemer and Friend.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">—Robert Grant (1779–1838)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-83002312862499043502020-03-31T16:28:00.000+02:002020-04-06T21:11:43.481+02:00COVID-19 Series: #3—Oh that you would shut the doors! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand” (Malachi 1:10).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When I saw empty church auditoriums and closed doors across the world on Sunday, this verse came to my mind with its emotionally touching cry. In the days of the prophet Malachi, the priests had developed a laissez faire attitude towards the worship of God. Many worshippers were bringing blind, lame, and sick animals for sacrifice and the priests were accepting them. God challenged them through Malachi and said, “Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favour?” Of course, he would not! God finally brought a foreign nation—the Babylonians—to shut the doors of the temple permanently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I often tremble about this when I think of how so many churches in this century have turned the worship of God into entertainment and the preaching of God’s word into motivational speaking in order to keep the crowds coming. Many believers come late to church or miss worship services and tithing at any excuse, and church leaders will not even talk about it. So many pastors are openly abusing church funds and female church members and still being considered as untouchable “men of God”. Could God be seeing all this without doing anything about it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am wondering if what we have seen during this COVID-19 period is not God showing us what he can do to his church if we do not repent and take his holy worship seriously. I could be wrong but seeing those empty church buildings and closed doors on Sunday gave me a lot of food for thought!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“The dearest idol I have known,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Whatever that idol be,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Help me to tear it from Thy throne<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And worship only Thee.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">—William Cowper (1731–1800)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-67043891167051119162020-03-30T18:43:00.000+02:002020-04-06T21:11:24.067+02:00COVID-19 Series: #2—Pain is God’s megaphone <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><i>“Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:4–5).<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">Once we understand that God has a hand in all global disasters, such as the spread of the coronavirus, we can only conclude that the infinite designer of the universe must have a reason for causing human suffering to occur at such unusually high levels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">While others think that God has nothing to do with human suffering, we can also make the mistake of thinking that those who suffer from such calamities are the ones God is punishing. That was the error Jesus was correcting in the quote above. The justice of God that will separate sinners from saints will occur on his final judgement. It is yet to be!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">God allows calamities to occur at such high levels in order to call our attention to himself so that we re-examine our relationship with him. C S Lewis wrote, “[Pain is God’s] megaphone to rouse a deaf world…. It gives the only opportunity the bad man can have for amendment… It plants the flag of truth within the fortress of the rebel soul.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">Jesus told his hearers that such calamities were an opportunity for them to seriously consider God’s call to repentance before death also catches up with them. It is the same with us today during this global crisis. Are there areas in your life in which God has been speaking to you about your need to repent but you have been stubborn? If so, do not waste your COVID-19 experience. Ensure that you repent before it is too late.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">“Search me, O God, and know my heart today,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">Try me, O Saviour, know my thoughts, I pray;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">See if there be some wicked way in me;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">Cleanse me from every sin, and set me free.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">—James Edwin Orr (1912–1987)</span></div>
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Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-71491104174434346302020-03-29T19:24:00.000+02:002020-04-06T21:11:02.431+02:00COVID-19 Series: #1—What’s God got to do with it?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><i>“I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things” (Isaiah 45:6–7).</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">No person or church or nation can rise higher than their thoughts of God. In our current global crisis of the Coronavirus pandemic, this thought cannot be too far away from our minds: “Has God sent this as a plague upon humanity?” The politically correct answer is, “No, because he is a loving God. He cannot cause the kind of global panic, suffering and death that we are seeing from this pandemic.” However, the biblically correct answer is, “Yes, because he is a God who makes well-being and creates calamity.” God is in sovereign control of all things—including viruses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">We must be careful not to pick and choose aspects about God that we are most comfortable with. When God gave Satan permission to destroy everything Job possessed, all Job was told was that a great wind brought down the house in which his children were and they all perished. Yet, Job said in response to all this, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away." So, even today with this COVID-19, what’s God got to do with it? The answer is, “Everything!” That is where we must start. It is not the politically correct answer but it is the biblically correct one. We may not have all the answers to questions related to this, but if we are truly believers then all our thoughts about COVID-19 should begin with God in the picture as the chief player. Is that how you are thinking about this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">“Sovereign Ruler of the skies,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">Ever gracious, ever wise;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">All my times are in Thy hand,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">All events at Thy command.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">—John Ryland (1753–1827)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-31013371895517685842019-10-25T11:03:00.000+02:002019-10-25T11:31:48.573+02:00Well done Birdwatch Zambia on GBD success!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
(I took most of the bird photos below last year during our 30th wedding anniversary at Chaminuka Nature Reserve)<br />
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I joined Birdwatch Zambia (BWZ) last month, on 19 September 2019 to be precise. Little did I know what a new world this was opening up for me. I was not only added to a mailing list for monthly newsletters about Zambian birds but I was also added to a WhatsApp group.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is NOT my photo. It is the masthead on www.birdwatchzambia.org</td></tr>
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Since then I have been eaves-dropping on conversations by incredibly enthusiastic bird lovers and conservators of nature. They share links talking about bird populations and migrations around the world. It is evident that Birdwatch Zambia is a great family.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Jacana or Jesus Bird or Lily-trotter</td></tr>
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The group also discusses other issues, such as the illegal wildlife transfer from South Luangwa National Park that took place recently, the current proposal to build a hotel inside the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in Livingstone, and the recently failed appeal against the opening of a mine in the Lower Zambezi National Park. Their love for nature is contagious.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reed Cormorant</td></tr>
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It is also a great platform to post photos of birds that you see but cannot identify. Almost as quickly as you ask for their identity, someone posts a response. For new guys like me, that’s powerful! Some people here in Zambia are ornithology encyclopedias walking on two feet.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucAhkp1g8oxlwi0XbSG-gfDFJLmuCdNoiub_-D0R4Jj9d6HGOVUI8waZwlRZ01pd-3ncFyyPvxUEV5abO7Tcnm6U4aOw1XroX3ABo0GdgN26dq9Tqvz13IFeAqqkVx3-DveHOOmsWElc/s1600/2018+Bird+-+Yellow-billed+Egret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1588" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucAhkp1g8oxlwi0XbSG-gfDFJLmuCdNoiub_-D0R4Jj9d6HGOVUI8waZwlRZ01pd-3ncFyyPvxUEV5abO7Tcnm6U4aOw1XroX3ABo0GdgN26dq9Tqvz13IFeAqqkVx3-DveHOOmsWElc/s400/2018+Bird+-+Yellow-billed+Egret.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-billed Egret</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
More recently, the group began to talk about the Global Big Day (GBD) on Saturday 19 October. I have been a bird lover for years but had no clue what it was all about. It is the world’s biggest single birding event, taking place twice a year. I simply followed the conversation on WhatsApp, as Peter followed at a distance when Jesus Christ was arrested.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LIhCNm7x5uauVCJKGsj_5PIjx7JrUuvrGfajwg2yxM8BCT41vZH8k31a3ItIsbqNxrTHuwRXna2PTpjPiiV3x8wA0uE97qaNvnvT3CB4S4gNly8egtugJBzlngPkaiWmq1_bK-P3T18/s1600/2018+Bird+-+Rufous-bellied+Heron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LIhCNm7x5uauVCJKGsj_5PIjx7JrUuvrGfajwg2yxM8BCT41vZH8k31a3ItIsbqNxrTHuwRXna2PTpjPiiV3x8wA0uE97qaNvnvT3CB4S4gNly8egtugJBzlngPkaiWmq1_bK-P3T18/s400/2018+Bird+-+Rufous-bellied+Heron.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rufous-bellied Heron</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The first posting was “A quick reminder that the next GBD is just less than three weeks away now. Can we improve our current Top 25 globally and third in Africa? Maybe get into the top 20 and squeeze ahead of South Africa into second…” That was on 29 September.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTDknvAlZ6Boyt7tjMIvoCTVSB-xU_ri02bakQEAFMhg-0F9U23yoB0-apyKw2H8bzwlqLT88AIshxFXRJ77zkyabV9UreHXson1CglgQGLOA-j0qwQWpY_QjDnRx1dEeUjDVeq530kA/s1600/2018+Bird+-+Black-crowned+Night+Heron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1600" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTDknvAlZ6Boyt7tjMIvoCTVSB-xU_ri02bakQEAFMhg-0F9U23yoB0-apyKw2H8bzwlqLT88AIshxFXRJ77zkyabV9UreHXson1CglgQGLOA-j0qwQWpY_QjDnRx1dEeUjDVeq530kA/s400/2018+Bird+-+Black-crowned+Night+Heron.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-crowned Night Heron</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Teams were formed all around Zambia so that on that particular day they would go out and record as many different species of birds as they could possibly identify. Then that data would be uploaded onto Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology eBird webpage.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HUILYrdGkPHevI22CNXuf4OMVeCY7Ywm1bN94sHnCKQv5EXj0597d7rpBQR2T3Ped9Nv_sTrGFOaz7vXlUTmAyv2AmmGb7VOj0cxb2K2aG514I4SPPchNkaisERqX3fnQ5OQ3D9R_L0/s1600/2018+Bird+-+Pied+Kignfisher+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1585" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HUILYrdGkPHevI22CNXuf4OMVeCY7Ywm1bN94sHnCKQv5EXj0597d7rpBQR2T3Ped9Nv_sTrGFOaz7vXlUTmAyv2AmmGb7VOj0cxb2K2aG514I4SPPchNkaisERqX3fnQ5OQ3D9R_L0/s400/2018+Bird+-+Pied+Kignfisher+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pied Kingfisher</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
October 19 came. The teams all over Zambia did their job. The results came out yesterday and Zambia logged 419 species of birds. This was 40% of the species recorded across Africa. Zambia was ranked 16th in the world and 2nd in Africa. Well done, Birdwatch Zambia, on this GBD success. I’ve certainly joined a winning team!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCp7ywK_CB9WpSIaRRIa49OXoCR1O-tCRIoKrPxCGyufVqnYKBTWCnaEYg0RSgFZvqBaZ41n5a-KqjnqVaO97DGx9kDF5l-Jqulc8dspCvYLiKxV4UHnSdvlRCsvUN81Ea1A2n_W9WfwU/s1600/2018+Bird+-+Reed+Cormorant+breeding+female+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1469" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCp7ywK_CB9WpSIaRRIa49OXoCR1O-tCRIoKrPxCGyufVqnYKBTWCnaEYg0RSgFZvqBaZ41n5a-KqjnqVaO97DGx9kDF5l-Jqulc8dspCvYLiKxV4UHnSdvlRCsvUN81Ea1A2n_W9WfwU/s400/2018+Bird+-+Reed+Cormorant+breeding+female+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reed Cormorant</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The latest information is that a new app has been designed by Derek Solomon, Frank Willems, and Rory McDougall and it is called <i>Birds of Zambia</i>. I have since downloaded it on my phone ($20) and intend to use it to identify birds in Zambia. Things can’t get any better!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWLMTwhD2jzOCBH5yUdFS5QGqSi9RC6lAAuht3O8uJmDwUnXEfJu6L2WisZR7YSgVsE4Rl3aI09BSypXQgf3wHq9JF52Rp9Gy7eS4KWZFZ9CzgPUaJbhOFRcJHDfJ-XD5wMGCK6js5ZU/s1600/2018+Bird+-+Bird+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWLMTwhD2jzOCBH5yUdFS5QGqSi9RC6lAAuht3O8uJmDwUnXEfJu6L2WisZR7YSgVsE4Rl3aI09BSypXQgf3wHq9JF52Rp9Gy7eS4KWZFZ9CzgPUaJbhOFRcJHDfJ-XD5wMGCK6js5ZU/s400/2018+Bird+-+Bird+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saddle-billed Stork<br />
(This photo was taken in the Kafue National Park a few months later)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
God has endowed Zambia with an amazingly rich bird-life. It has been refreshing to discover this group of bird lovers who are doing everything possible to conserve these wonderful creatures. I wish life had a little more breathing space so that I could do more with them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5_8lOKy1feyPJguEHLsqj56FDfCZXoWJ8PIg2Vc4rtNfV_AyYL5SOlQSxadOExjDKmeNysSwv8CMZa_XWIYNUOKSQfTO06TcgrMag7d6amEopPqb5WHdXBUtakCh8XAdHx1znl2HTDY/s1600/IMG_8954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="1125" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5_8lOKy1feyPJguEHLsqj56FDfCZXoWJ8PIg2Vc4rtNfV_AyYL5SOlQSxadOExjDKmeNysSwv8CMZa_XWIYNUOKSQfTO06TcgrMag7d6amEopPqb5WHdXBUtakCh8XAdHx1znl2HTDY/s400/IMG_8954.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
For instance, Birdwatch Zambia produces an annual calendar with stunning images of Zambian birds. This calendar should beautify the walls of more Zambian homes and offices. The 2020 Birdwatch Zambia calendar is out and is available from their offices in Lusaka. Call them on +260 211 239420 or send them an email on birdwatch.zambia@gmail.com.<br />
<br /></div>
Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-21541976968875118002019-10-08T03:24:00.000+02:002019-10-08T03:38:50.465+02:00“Jesus Died for Sinners”: Do Your People Know What This Actually Means?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeo6EDK9I_Q3L6bNKHl3s_Z3eI3JWxLlnHQH33tGvKHKKkBkFCbIHW8LF6OS4G4mNb71HZoVNfO6nu3CyHu2PQqeZAyA_KdI9eDsaCtN8NoEr40oweKM9RqUrR4_rgZqiS3bQlATSq6xQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-10-08+at+3.37.13+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="720" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeo6EDK9I_Q3L6bNKHl3s_Z3eI3JWxLlnHQH33tGvKHKKkBkFCbIHW8LF6OS4G4mNb71HZoVNfO6nu3CyHu2PQqeZAyA_KdI9eDsaCtN8NoEr40oweKM9RqUrR4_rgZqiS3bQlATSq6xQ/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-10-08+at+3.37.13+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">The longer I
pastor, the more I’m convinced that pastors should regularly preach the
unsearchable riches of Christ not only for the salvation of the lost but also
for the believers’ growth in grace.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">But sadly, when
dealing with the Savior’s work in saving us from sin, we preachers so often say
very little. Because of this, something frightening happens over time: those
who listen to us fill in their own meanings to the common words “Jesus died on
the cross”—and those meanings can be far from what the Bible actually teaches
concerning the death of Christ on the cross.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">Here’s an
example. In Africa, where the blood of birds and animals is used as a charm of
protection from witchcraft, it’s become popular, even among Christians, to see
a bumper sticker that declares “Protected by the blood of Jesus.” Pulpits are
to blame for this serious confusion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">When the death of
Christ is merely mentioned as part of the final appeal in sermons, too much is
being assumed. I am amazed at how many people hear, “Jesus died because of our
sins,” and understand it to mean that he died to merely show us how bad our
sins are. I am equally shocked that many Christians, upon being asked where
they would go if they died immediately after sinning, think they would go to
hell. Is this not due to failing to understand what really took place when
Jesus died?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">It is our
responsibility as preachers to regularly explain the subject of penal
substitutionary atonement so that those who listen to us can come to a fuller
understanding of what really took place on the cross when the Son of God took
our place and paid our debt in full.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">What we emphasize
in a sermon will often depend on our text. Thus, there will be sufficient variety
as we proclaim the gospel. And yet, we must avoid merely mentioning words like
“blood,” “death,” and “cross” without ever unpacking their meaning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">I can think of
three truths about the atonement that our preaching must elaborate on so that
our listeners can understand in this central act of our salvation. What are
those three truths?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><b>1. Jesus suffered
the penalty of sin.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">From the very
beginning of history, God had told Adam that he would die if he ate the
forbidden fruit (Gen. 2:17). The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). That’s
precisely the price that Jesus paid when he died on the cross.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><b>2. Jesus suffered
as our substitute.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">Because Jesus was
born sinless and lived a sinless life, death had no claim on him. His death was
in our place the same way that animal sacrifices were made to appease God’s
wrath across history (2 Cor. 5:21).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><b>3. Jesus
satisfied God in his suffering.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">Whereas animal
sacrifices weren’t sufficient to atone for human sin, the substitutionary death
of the Son of God was more than sufficient. The righteous God is totally
satisfied, and as evidence, he raised Jesus from the dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">It’s beyond the
scope of this article for me to open up these points. What I want to say is
that these three truths about the penal substitutionary atonement should not be
assumed. We must teach them line-upon-line and precept-upon-precept.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">There’s a
perception in the minds of many preachers that the depth of teaching they got
on the atonement during their Bible college days is only for them as preachers,
that it would be too deep for the ordinary Christian in the pew. This
perception is entirely false. It’s also why, over time and across generations,
churches lose the truth. The pastor should ensure that in his regular ministry
of expounding God’s Word he is plumbing the depths of the truths he encounters
in the sacred text.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">A tree with
shallow roots will easily be uprooted when howling winds blow. But the ones
with deep roots will remain standing. In the same way, individuals with a
shallow understanding of Christ’s work on the cross are easily unsettled by
life’s trials. They also are easily misled by popular false teachings. This
happens because false teachers often use scriptural words but fill them with
wrong meanings and interpretations. Only well-taught minds will be able to pick
that up and reject the error.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">Where much ground
has been lost, pastors should consider special Bible studies and seminars on
this vital subject. Perhaps host question-and-answer sessions that will equip
your people. The materials taught can be uploaded somewhere, printed, and
disseminated throughout the congregation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">Brothers, my
point is a simple one: let’s not assume that our people know the doctrine of
penal substitutionary atonement. Let’s teach it regularly in all its depth as
we expound the Scriptures. We must not allow the generation growing up under
our ministry to lose such a glorious foundation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">(First published in August 2019 9Marks eJournal)</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-30740060224188603222019-10-01T21:43:00.000+02:002019-10-01T21:43:42.460+02:00Birdwatching around Lake Victoria, Uganda<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last year in November, Felistas & I were in Uganda for a few days of ministry. Our hosts gave us a day off to visit Lake Victoria & the River Nile. No prize for guessing what I was looking forward to doing—birdwatching! It was a birdwatcher’s paradise. We saw about 30 different species of birds within 2 hours. Yes, we stood in awe of God’s handiwork!<br />
<br />
I shared the photos I took of the birds on Facebook that same day. Now that I am back to blogging, I thought of keeping some of the photos here as well. Here they are:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46089470_1445289055604512_8309622847051923456_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_eui2=AeGb_0l4av6x9Dd3L5ytnIYxPZUd1zxLwT0yU-qHr7CU41gBSrcadKpevcWx21mGHJfwXagW4huc34LMRN0_YP5oDy81TrC7umOrD3c8dD_lPQ&_nc_oc=AQmp5fmNgXk7SX98CdxLsmi0GQVW1MmqdxJ8LPjRlE1ZFkjO0oZ6iV_JSI43VXy1SSM&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=58d76f652fe0c0ac1b1736a802a6e408&oe=5DF4776B" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="800" height="298" src="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46089470_1445289055604512_8309622847051923456_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_eui2=AeGb_0l4av6x9Dd3L5ytnIYxPZUd1zxLwT0yU-qHr7CU41gBSrcadKpevcWx21mGHJfwXagW4huc34LMRN0_YP5oDy81TrC7umOrD3c8dD_lPQ&_nc_oc=AQmp5fmNgXk7SX98CdxLsmi0GQVW1MmqdxJ8LPjRlE1ZFkjO0oZ6iV_JSI43VXy1SSM&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=58d76f652fe0c0ac1b1736a802a6e408&oe=5DF4776B" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Malachite Kingfisher</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45890803_1445288508937900_6615666592795590656_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_eui2=AeHF1jSGhF2Km2TdMX96K3sfoq5ukWBkCfRqgd08l0DmNUAzOe0kyE0X4LhsnQVpsYVJbH2JNgYe3O89IMQ4qpHJ-3c14C2iWiJ8p54xvyYnnQ&_nc_oc=AQko_VXkNsi13LiV2GbAv5ecY7IQ8YvZXA7izeMew3cUgjDTDFJX9UXTvPoz3RKJhBQ&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=d7979cb2d07d60b5716ebaa1f54ea85e&oe=5E3A725A" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="266" src="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45890803_1445288508937900_6615666592795590656_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_eui2=AeHF1jSGhF2Km2TdMX96K3sfoq5ukWBkCfRqgd08l0DmNUAzOe0kyE0X4LhsnQVpsYVJbH2JNgYe3O89IMQ4qpHJ-3c14C2iWiJ8p54xvyYnnQ&_nc_oc=AQko_VXkNsi13LiV2GbAv5ecY7IQ8YvZXA7izeMew3cUgjDTDFJX9UXTvPoz3RKJhBQ&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=d7979cb2d07d60b5716ebaa1f54ea85e&oe=5E3A725A" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A male Black-bellied Sunbird</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45937824_1445288518937899_3099479616063012864_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_eui2=AeEYJSkT02oJ85zyOl2uz-eqRHR4QevKHYH-y3Er14tnIe7PonPV149PHGZYKzmKk8qmxMBLKr81g4KIo7VgGF_bd8aQMvpveFxGdMOSGvEj0w&_nc_oc=AQl-fuFvWMXke9nFKwWQ7g6Qo8j6MkPWJNbduwIb7johXO5_M49kBgzHU5EOrO-iAIU&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=8a630ac540d7bbb4c94775095cc76c93&oe=5E2A61FD" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="266" src="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45937824_1445288518937899_3099479616063012864_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_eui2=AeEYJSkT02oJ85zyOl2uz-eqRHR4QevKHYH-y3Er14tnIe7PonPV149PHGZYKzmKk8qmxMBLKr81g4KIo7VgGF_bd8aQMvpveFxGdMOSGvEj0w&_nc_oc=AQl-fuFvWMXke9nFKwWQ7g6Qo8j6MkPWJNbduwIb7johXO5_M49kBgzHU5EOrO-iAIU&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=8a630ac540d7bbb4c94775095cc76c93&oe=5E2A61FD" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Black-eyed Bulbul</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46120934_1445288525604565_2927421967759835136_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_eui2=AeFRDrVTs_RXi18z3tCCEKnGdqUkNfnzFdfwdD-4y3uxVfKDmZIy5sTNlnWnnNbKni4iMxA5UIKMTZ_eRJm5SOjc7G-TvtyRux9piO1u1_6vgg&_nc_oc=AQmAMTD5W8R3t41VkqxxMH8CFUT-qgiZtrhWA-_QijfZpm4mP-5S8QHet7h2ZwzE8W8&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=4634b01546abdf6b7e8667535f14246a&oe=5DF6116E" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="800" height="247" src="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46120934_1445288525604565_2927421967759835136_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_eui2=AeFRDrVTs_RXi18z3tCCEKnGdqUkNfnzFdfwdD-4y3uxVfKDmZIy5sTNlnWnnNbKni4iMxA5UIKMTZ_eRJm5SOjc7G-TvtyRux9piO1u1_6vgg&_nc_oc=AQmAMTD5W8R3t41VkqxxMH8CFUT-qgiZtrhWA-_QijfZpm4mP-5S8QHet7h2ZwzE8W8&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=4634b01546abdf6b7e8667535f14246a&oe=5DF6116E" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Openbill stork</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46027213_1445288542271230_7890770674204016640_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_eui2=AeGCC1TcREuXzQv2GkijrBpZ3iySZjogYhoTNR2tPR2oiBhQw2LQ5ZNMJifGefZobXaQm9EOqDJxaAhcqQPKCTNh-OI5BVUCO2jCTwuTNPFWQQ&_nc_oc=AQmWx8PaDm1HpIKAntv-d7aiz3lgr64qpjAOskuZkSsC4Kyppvc3Gh82sCXp3RrJbfw&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=e929a34f14be08a82bcca49abfd266ac&oe=5E35CE6D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="265" src="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46027213_1445288542271230_7890770674204016640_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_eui2=AeGCC1TcREuXzQv2GkijrBpZ3iySZjogYhoTNR2tPR2oiBhQw2LQ5ZNMJifGefZobXaQm9EOqDJxaAhcqQPKCTNh-OI5BVUCO2jCTwuTNPFWQQ&_nc_oc=AQmWx8PaDm1HpIKAntv-d7aiz3lgr64qpjAOskuZkSsC4Kyppvc3Gh82sCXp3RrJbfw&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=e929a34f14be08a82bcca49abfd266ac&oe=5E35CE6D" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
White-eared Night Heron</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46202271_1445288592271225_6028699607456808960_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_eui2=AeEtSsDBQPl2dyyxCe-N2-FiHmWtsuwLKfHp9CHf1jSGW8u_q1MH1-Jvqco2gv961D43Xw0pH3HkAW4TCUBtP3QgjYplFe-gvm9eBIVWKb-zIQ&_nc_oc=AQmC9IpULff0G56tUcsr2B1nZozpICHESwqv_q6BT8joxWbj63zvNUNqpWhymNKagcc&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=854ef5016cc5ce19357ffc7ecddf93d1&oe=5E379A29" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="266" src="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46202271_1445288592271225_6028699607456808960_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_eui2=AeEtSsDBQPl2dyyxCe-N2-FiHmWtsuwLKfHp9CHf1jSGW8u_q1MH1-Jvqco2gv961D43Xw0pH3HkAW4TCUBtP3QgjYplFe-gvm9eBIVWKb-zIQ&_nc_oc=AQmC9IpULff0G56tUcsr2B1nZozpICHESwqv_q6BT8joxWbj63zvNUNqpWhymNKagcc&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=854ef5016cc5ce19357ffc7ecddf93d1&oe=5E379A29" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Little Egret</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45957004_1445288635604554_8216486726051299328_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_eui2=AeGVc5vJlWIS6qkj0JeaMEGDrrjzucbnNjS46ioZobQG0WYnbO2a_cWDSlnkCh2B5rokqzILlkZQD_N9ug5qqo-qcA3RvKRRhy0Z3fwW-QxGkg&_nc_oc=AQmXtzUrUMFYnJiEUhgcxlawIlmu2bA7XGfrofC25Qjpb042gEgRJ4gU9QLRM_o-ERo&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=0df333b7b0c20e377c30350de4227c6c&oe=5E267163" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="266" src="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45957004_1445288635604554_8216486726051299328_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_eui2=AeGVc5vJlWIS6qkj0JeaMEGDrrjzucbnNjS46ioZobQG0WYnbO2a_cWDSlnkCh2B5rokqzILlkZQD_N9ug5qqo-qcA3RvKRRhy0Z3fwW-QxGkg&_nc_oc=AQmXtzUrUMFYnJiEUhgcxlawIlmu2bA7XGfrofC25Qjpb042gEgRJ4gU9QLRM_o-ERo&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=0df333b7b0c20e377c30350de4227c6c&oe=5E267163" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
White-breasted Cormorants</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45996149_1445288645604553_1794517510423314432_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_eui2=AeEbmw1GwhFHAFB3YtPFuPM3hBPifu0_O-QSJq8kGhkG4uwazWi3wqKmKuqXbMOAeS4qFdQoEr7oq6LwI3OxKorxeemEDl6D4BBYpz33peq6dA&_nc_oc=AQnJO6V_Z_a0g93T5tqhJ8Y7IqrEDjdkncGAl8pBhVrYc2ECoeUuhv0anPCncYGApps&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=c0ed1f320ac62252ab2ff2c47281db02&oe=5E2FA7D5" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="800" height="260" src="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45996149_1445288645604553_1794517510423314432_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_eui2=AeEbmw1GwhFHAFB3YtPFuPM3hBPifu0_O-QSJq8kGhkG4uwazWi3wqKmKuqXbMOAeS4qFdQoEr7oq6LwI3OxKorxeemEDl6D4BBYpz33peq6dA&_nc_oc=AQnJO6V_Z_a0g93T5tqhJ8Y7IqrEDjdkncGAl8pBhVrYc2ECoeUuhv0anPCncYGApps&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=c0ed1f320ac62252ab2ff2c47281db02&oe=5E2FA7D5" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bronze Mannikin</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46068220_1445288632271221_390566707942391808_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_eui2=AeGRZEf-zXNs7ckC-5rQZ-iIq99GPiO37s_aF475SHu6Jfw-vJvm-kXEikoQi0Sq9roUtG5GuSOCmOipduKxuCd_Z8o4NBoaZS4h-eVoAXI8wQ&_nc_oc=AQksD1rmiL5EufXp0DFkQ9jv7Ilebgsejb6Sp4MRoxAzVXfhYb4qg2FBfoohATS58jI&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=5a1fa6f9f5c261d23c1047035ef6b8f3&oe=5E2315EE" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="266" src="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46068220_1445288632271221_390566707942391808_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_eui2=AeGRZEf-zXNs7ckC-5rQZ-iIq99GPiO37s_aF475SHu6Jfw-vJvm-kXEikoQi0Sq9roUtG5GuSOCmOipduKxuCd_Z8o4NBoaZS4h-eVoAXI8wQ&_nc_oc=AQksD1rmiL5EufXp0DFkQ9jv7Ilebgsejb6Sp4MRoxAzVXfhYb4qg2FBfoohATS58jI&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=5a1fa6f9f5c261d23c1047035ef6b8f3&oe=5E2315EE" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
White-winged Black Terns</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46157196_1445288675604550_7498814333887971328_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_eui2=AeGagYe6i97GPcrZM35e3pHA7yq8aR0swl_k7lgNn8hAXJimGML427X7u3fgllFyX9juB_og0cnHjhBFFvECZF1ts-kdgFRZB2FiJExMwxySmQ&_nc_oc=AQm-MFmAOdngmyIz2-mSfO3hYzqL5dzuuGlVHBiKZdthrc1v9cDWVnEDtIUz50BA938&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=4e26f3f1527bb66de72df5133ea9908c&oe=5DF03481" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="800" height="251" src="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46157196_1445288675604550_7498814333887971328_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_eui2=AeGagYe6i97GPcrZM35e3pHA7yq8aR0swl_k7lgNn8hAXJimGML427X7u3fgllFyX9juB_og0cnHjhBFFvECZF1ts-kdgFRZB2FiJExMwxySmQ&_nc_oc=AQm-MFmAOdngmyIz2-mSfO3hYzqL5dzuuGlVHBiKZdthrc1v9cDWVnEDtIUz50BA938&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=4e26f3f1527bb66de72df5133ea9908c&oe=5DF03481" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Openbill Stork</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46077486_1445288738937877_1340065706573561856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_eui2=AeF4qjb_TSNSzhqVSxzWTK-g3rlagiKOEEqJAw6bSCle6BDIuBU79uFb3F7dJDEEsBA4QOkp7sjIzHtFe0KEFyhkYkClSYSQlSgV1YnLmUpn-g&_nc_oc=AQniTnwQqdqWtVa1Y9A6d_jBxVDgN0ieEeF68BiXVRZVQ-QefpjARcqNHkwckziOHyE&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=10438271ef3fcec11313e9f1b1fb5e11&oe=5E2FC062" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="800" height="285" src="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46077486_1445288738937877_1340065706573561856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_eui2=AeF4qjb_TSNSzhqVSxzWTK-g3rlagiKOEEqJAw6bSCle6BDIuBU79uFb3F7dJDEEsBA4QOkp7sjIzHtFe0KEFyhkYkClSYSQlSgV1YnLmUpn-g&_nc_oc=AQniTnwQqdqWtVa1Y9A6d_jBxVDgN0ieEeF68BiXVRZVQ-QefpjARcqNHkwckziOHyE&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=10438271ef3fcec11313e9f1b1fb5e11&oe=5E2FC062" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Male breeding Reed Cormorant</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46074267_1445288768937874_8445255182660403200_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_eui2=AeFA6nHgnclWU5OCqvoU7JBnhW4eaYm2wEPrW4LW5Bi0DWVwm5QdziiYM43_po3nm93GbMT38y3KPqAlfacgCCVx1sb3vNvYlYYBFzNQZM8Y_w&_nc_oc=AQmaVglLun3hlZNMWYw3TM4gze2YvGv2x0lGB5rwAckOt5fgVy7-czewOjo-wMhiAGs&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=07cfa147a6314523114d58e43dc11736&oe=5E39CF11" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="800" height="261" src="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46074267_1445288768937874_8445255182660403200_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_eui2=AeFA6nHgnclWU5OCqvoU7JBnhW4eaYm2wEPrW4LW5Bi0DWVwm5QdziiYM43_po3nm93GbMT38y3KPqAlfacgCCVx1sb3vNvYlYYBFzNQZM8Y_w&_nc_oc=AQmaVglLun3hlZNMWYw3TM4gze2YvGv2x0lGB5rwAckOt5fgVy7-czewOjo-wMhiAGs&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=07cfa147a6314523114d58e43dc11736&oe=5E39CF11" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hadeda Ibis</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45954270_1445288765604541_5800668914560008192_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_eui2=AeHLDH2ynCJUyxsmveMKoANEredTtAxuopeLGyp58LbMYDJeEXgtwTCHMAygUBSYaneEII365jh4-_7AChHir5nrk4rfYPczn-zEwARBdyz74w&_nc_oc=AQk8OwF4mkFOijo9CrHAMUow11y4ZR8O_VKPtzRKPxq1ACqrY4amal3mVt_uiMWnIEE&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=d3f5ee98af23d2ad4e5d86cc433993d0&oe=5E35E111" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="800" height="242" src="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45954270_1445288765604541_5800668914560008192_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_eui2=AeHLDH2ynCJUyxsmveMKoANEredTtAxuopeLGyp58LbMYDJeEXgtwTCHMAygUBSYaneEII365jh4-_7AChHir5nrk4rfYPczn-zEwARBdyz74w&_nc_oc=AQk8OwF4mkFOijo9CrHAMUow11y4ZR8O_VKPtzRKPxq1ACqrY4amal3mVt_uiMWnIEE&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=d3f5ee98af23d2ad4e5d86cc433993d0&oe=5E35E111" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pied Kingfisher</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45951558_1445288778937873_6458905556416462848_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_eui2=AeHXRXV-xmyuiP8QU-jnwrwlaA7GAZaZRdFCpVRsbR7a7BM-PRSi94wEhoFIf34KcvGiPzhxLnb8WxQktcbK0evVlsrHdpwbTyLL9WSBzNE_6g&_nc_oc=AQm3-uIIgTi934z689CNcFCDMWketwPrUMUOZjmZwNOah8BHdisGvYoAM7lkkLHtOIM&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=d9e6a37dbb85988a477380b9e6d96cbe&oe=5DF60B4A" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="800" height="261" src="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45951558_1445288778937873_6458905556416462848_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_eui2=AeHXRXV-xmyuiP8QU-jnwrwlaA7GAZaZRdFCpVRsbR7a7BM-PRSi94wEhoFIf34KcvGiPzhxLnb8WxQktcbK0evVlsrHdpwbTyLL9WSBzNE_6g&_nc_oc=AQm3-uIIgTi934z689CNcFCDMWketwPrUMUOZjmZwNOah8BHdisGvYoAM7lkkLHtOIM&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=d9e6a37dbb85988a477380b9e6d96cbe&oe=5DF60B4A" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Breeding Great White Egret</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46043904_1445288838937867_8059686880347684864_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_eui2=AeEyj6Azm-QgSRwD4Wae6Fs7f88LPxo0rhDHzdIV4m7YJa6uoOPbhT3o1Gca0xeNkEyJeXmZTxzKbBjBhCJE0fVLtJmsWnj8I3RVpCivY78yZA&_nc_oc=AQkQqveF7DyH1dr0gJhE8ZphrVz9F3Tq_fzi1JQOa7_BGmvITKQG4VNIgVNI4Ii7qnU&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=25d1155f95460705f00e0fbad9396cfe&oe=5E2437CF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="800" height="258" src="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46043904_1445288838937867_8059686880347684864_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_eui2=AeEyj6Azm-QgSRwD4Wae6Fs7f88LPxo0rhDHzdIV4m7YJa6uoOPbhT3o1Gca0xeNkEyJeXmZTxzKbBjBhCJE0fVLtJmsWnj8I3RVpCivY78yZA&_nc_oc=AQkQqveF7DyH1dr0gJhE8ZphrVz9F3Tq_fzi1JQOa7_BGmvITKQG4VNIgVNI4Ii7qnU&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=25d1155f95460705f00e0fbad9396cfe&oe=5E2437CF" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Male non-breeding Reed Cormorant</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46051505_1445288882271196_5772921664891256832_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_eui2=AeECBWbOO23XADoVmWMY-8RLK3LbZNrVP7G4btjxzDZX3UNh5VXV97ZBEZm8sChJLpnblJbbldF4wPqk5EueByxxAosUM7bU8JGZqO5uE1EOgA&_nc_oc=AQmb7ZWn-evTMpsr4oaY21k4IKBV6bQK3fxVGO5ZhPUkVOjN3SkT3tilBCK5Xweqm50&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=96dcc1fea8c397dc0464077b2a0ca069&oe=5DF906E7" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="800" height="251" src="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46051505_1445288882271196_5772921664891256832_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_eui2=AeECBWbOO23XADoVmWMY-8RLK3LbZNrVP7G4btjxzDZX3UNh5VXV97ZBEZm8sChJLpnblJbbldF4wPqk5EueByxxAosUM7bU8JGZqO5uE1EOgA&_nc_oc=AQmb7ZWn-evTMpsr4oaY21k4IKBV6bQK3fxVGO5ZhPUkVOjN3SkT3tilBCK5Xweqm50&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=96dcc1fea8c397dc0464077b2a0ca069&oe=5DF906E7" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pink-backed Pelicans (with Sacred Ibis)</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45780921_1445288872271197_4265144580694867968_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_eui2=AeGfW9qgbxSs19stJ4JJIskFe3r3zTxgeB6cfn1SYNFFDWeJgFGIBMwagyhahFCitUzQ5bHTn4-w1Bp4WtRfVH2issaigLCE0ngAng2jW8FHEw&_nc_oc=AQkXwSezVIkymOVE1IFJ6X4TiV4x0ml-Tt73FNSzzAWwA6MeZlzmnikKDqZMPRdWLFk&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=f62d47da1fa86fab967c2bad30ec611a&oe=5E2F748B" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="800" height="267" src="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45780921_1445288872271197_4265144580694867968_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_eui2=AeGfW9qgbxSs19stJ4JJIskFe3r3zTxgeB6cfn1SYNFFDWeJgFGIBMwagyhahFCitUzQ5bHTn4-w1Bp4WtRfVH2issaigLCE0ngAng2jW8FHEw&_nc_oc=AQkXwSezVIkymOVE1IFJ6X4TiV4x0ml-Tt73FNSzzAWwA6MeZlzmnikKDqZMPRdWLFk&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=f62d47da1fa86fab967c2bad30ec611a&oe=5E2F748B" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Black-headed Heron</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45959556_1445288878937863_7298360487832453120_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_eui2=AeFb_TDMJWqSNtxl9uHtiVyD61Xc4U886VYQwVfv-qVGKVpViTDMDBx7mA4lxEuYq_ROYj2ZuNk2jnFKvG7cDGTU27ejOrWwBAPprVHOjFElDw&_nc_oc=AQm0QtaBCLRmhMCvb3uxkBL7z5aExa9671487aSqtO8ZIRUhSQeytjfjD0LNqNJbmlo&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=7d430f803d0b2b5d11cdc272496b6ee9&oe=5E34A5E8" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="800" height="257" src="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45959556_1445288878937863_7298360487832453120_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_eui2=AeFb_TDMJWqSNtxl9uHtiVyD61Xc4U886VYQwVfv-qVGKVpViTDMDBx7mA4lxEuYq_ROYj2ZuNk2jnFKvG7cDGTU27ejOrWwBAPprVHOjFElDw&_nc_oc=AQm0QtaBCLRmhMCvb3uxkBL7z5aExa9671487aSqtO8ZIRUhSQeytjfjD0LNqNJbmlo&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=7d430f803d0b2b5d11cdc272496b6ee9&oe=5E34A5E8" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Eastern Plantain-eater</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45726709_1445288932271191_5881051512427249664_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_eui2=AeGRj6JbLyA5O_kXMd6-SiXOZXnUb5H1i1Ejqlvibw6R8xSbEA7GUOOYpJuraQixGDqHXmhaoxxJW9bhA4QlIvv_QTDDU8ZSlgJUisLcYsvidg&_nc_oc=AQnJcTx5qfeJx5SbRpXU6NJwDcA2Ve8TWv3CLbC58SauzUsXa-IARv4fmM75c02WBvI&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=ac02ac49dcf350e3008620ed873e784b&oe=5E2E5BD8" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="800" height="247" src="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45726709_1445288932271191_5881051512427249664_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_eui2=AeGRj6JbLyA5O_kXMd6-SiXOZXnUb5H1i1Ejqlvibw6R8xSbEA7GUOOYpJuraQixGDqHXmhaoxxJW9bhA4QlIvv_QTDDU8ZSlgJUisLcYsvidg&_nc_oc=AQnJcTx5qfeJx5SbRpXU6NJwDcA2Ve8TWv3CLbC58SauzUsXa-IARv4fmM75c02WBvI&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=ac02ac49dcf350e3008620ed873e784b&oe=5E2E5BD8" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sacred Ibis</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45943127_1445288972271187_913600777207939072_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_eui2=AeE6BVQUzonw4NFzhv0tmkHuSV1iWAtd9JFRDWRAyIevqJ3gM4Phhlvl_zmYkU9Fejqjr1zJM6MxObxDtF-tK1-FGFyJgu8am8Da8YB2-alwmQ&_nc_oc=AQmT9ylShnASnUe_z024mAbMqVAVx0q-VDaLly-OtuVw-H6nr8Y8MhWIBnJUA3lT_o0&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=7d6d1913d97397624addcb1005a11b70&oe=5E236387" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="800" height="250" src="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45943127_1445288972271187_913600777207939072_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_eui2=AeE6BVQUzonw4NFzhv0tmkHuSV1iWAtd9JFRDWRAyIevqJ3gM4Phhlvl_zmYkU9Fejqjr1zJM6MxObxDtF-tK1-FGFyJgu8am8Da8YB2-alwmQ&_nc_oc=AQmT9ylShnASnUe_z024mAbMqVAVx0q-VDaLly-OtuVw-H6nr8Y8MhWIBnJUA3lT_o0&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=7d6d1913d97397624addcb1005a11b70&oe=5E236387" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
White-throated Bee-eater</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46091040_1445288978937853_8702716022261547008_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_eui2=AeGNlGWoEt8GhWAaRk2QdS0T1AkBT6oUjmJPk9wkiYGYK-EN5xT3smU9x5-DYKAUP75b_OKrauTTxC2_srMiwFU-MZS2tQ2_CV61rE-NZip_oA&_nc_oc=AQlDmJQL4_GxW5UiS7fNMeOav2oHcc_rQzfimYzqAFOL-i_H-fBKSSewFmVvjTNwk5c&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=ee0fd52e3897d37d472db014ad60fcdf&oe=5DF7A8E3" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="800" height="252" src="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46091040_1445288978937853_8702716022261547008_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_eui2=AeGNlGWoEt8GhWAaRk2QdS0T1AkBT6oUjmJPk9wkiYGYK-EN5xT3smU9x5-DYKAUP75b_OKrauTTxC2_srMiwFU-MZS2tQ2_CV61rE-NZip_oA&_nc_oc=AQlDmJQL4_GxW5UiS7fNMeOav2oHcc_rQzfimYzqAFOL-i_H-fBKSSewFmVvjTNwk5c&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=ee0fd52e3897d37d472db014ad60fcdf&oe=5DF7A8E3" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Male Masked Weaver</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45926967_1445288985604519_9005652044312215552_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_eui2=AeHdHRKel-4rT_L0oBCjnbguD0ggc-SOZ_pVYC_DgwErX-voPGNqbt_rXdU_m3CvnXd3AG-oS5STznbcDHW4RrbYKJoVTdEpkq_CH8Y5B6CHjA&_nc_oc=AQkZzCiz-eEV_6TUJYB6TCkoSzjBhMFWfglir-7hbC2QfBc906g7dPY-RNyu9LCdRmk&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=585a0393297deeb0b67bc269a2fa8dd4&oe=5DF50FEA" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="800" height="262" src="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45926967_1445288985604519_9005652044312215552_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_eui2=AeHdHRKel-4rT_L0oBCjnbguD0ggc-SOZ_pVYC_DgwErX-voPGNqbt_rXdU_m3CvnXd3AG-oS5STznbcDHW4RrbYKJoVTdEpkq_CH8Y5B6CHjA&_nc_oc=AQkZzCiz-eEV_6TUJYB6TCkoSzjBhMFWfglir-7hbC2QfBc906g7dPY-RNyu9LCdRmk&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=585a0393297deeb0b67bc269a2fa8dd4&oe=5DF50FEA" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Marabou Stork</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45926916_1445289028937848_901082029871857664_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_eui2=AeFr-OLeOY4ah96vWOUqOP8Y4tELuN0UodYTMRlgIMJUOtXvuRMGLGMWzM3O7RJwmEsSiLRsCcfabqdgjU1q7DbHleMEe6RfCkKUwQx1KiGB0A&_nc_oc=AQmsOVriXfl4gIERfo6nVuwyCBHps-yCGFTMeAjaJRPmyjb2FFl10b2VRrk31Rk3pg8&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=7342de95a843c6c42cab0132f3981869&oe=5DF2C647" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45926916_1445289028937848_901082029871857664_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_eui2=AeFr-OLeOY4ah96vWOUqOP8Y4tELuN0UodYTMRlgIMJUOtXvuRMGLGMWzM3O7RJwmEsSiLRsCcfabqdgjU1q7DbHleMEe6RfCkKUwQx1KiGB0A&_nc_oc=AQmsOVriXfl4gIERfo6nVuwyCBHps-yCGFTMeAjaJRPmyjb2FFl10b2VRrk31Rk3pg8&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=7342de95a843c6c42cab0132f3981869&oe=5DF2C647" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yellow-billed Stork</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45997387_1445289065604511_7164020653912227840_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_eui2=AeFWmW0ZBvXEjN0vnsfP3xaxXVcW20N_4bhqiHpziqHarS8EzWbA_F_EjwZPgonoiKYcE2oeWkcDfDuISnXYj-YKtD3AqdrH3bL9JWNDmiM4dg&_nc_oc=AQlQmXXPbLmUhk6leBKnxfzWX1CNRw4tNzRRQMx-FwWgbbnZkr4VLpKLV_uPqpokSuM&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=04bc7a37899880ddc63e3b9cc057e055&oe=5DF6DB3D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="800" height="251" src="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45997387_1445289065604511_7164020653912227840_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_eui2=AeFWmW0ZBvXEjN0vnsfP3xaxXVcW20N_4bhqiHpziqHarS8EzWbA_F_EjwZPgonoiKYcE2oeWkcDfDuISnXYj-YKtD3AqdrH3bL9JWNDmiM4dg&_nc_oc=AQlQmXXPbLmUhk6leBKnxfzWX1CNRw4tNzRRQMx-FwWgbbnZkr4VLpKLV_uPqpokSuM&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=04bc7a37899880ddc63e3b9cc057e055&oe=5DF6DB3D" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
African Darter</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45815690_1445289072271177_8823518316833275904_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_eui2=AeHzk0z-UrIKa_5ZjKPe2YZBBGloZ4bNYbyZjWFcRM7WcLSn1Qo5rILV1vphS4RrbTRYfPFT0THaj7NvcEmKOxi3hk9E-5VTyrtvXsAbD3FDyw&_nc_oc=AQmHqwnAUKpMT8CF7ei15T5x86iz-gRfN2cVfu5KIiaiiG_vxavdzBJwKsh-cuA5zUo&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=28a2cad1fd3c82a4e8b079be049bdd99&oe=5E26D72F" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="800" height="256" src="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45815690_1445289072271177_8823518316833275904_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_eui2=AeHzk0z-UrIKa_5ZjKPe2YZBBGloZ4bNYbyZjWFcRM7WcLSn1Qo5rILV1vphS4RrbTRYfPFT0THaj7NvcEmKOxi3hk9E-5VTyrtvXsAbD3FDyw&_nc_oc=AQmHqwnAUKpMT8CF7ei15T5x86iz-gRfN2cVfu5KIiaiiG_vxavdzBJwKsh-cuA5zUo&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=28a2cad1fd3c82a4e8b079be049bdd99&oe=5E26D72F" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Common Sandpiper</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46214694_1445289115604506_4081438332544876544_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_eui2=AeFHMl1UIcoi28VDJregR46oaw27j3blL4Q0Z9h6es5vn-JEDT98ncHIkzgx-Q7ntbcmLxuuQHjI9l484H5yONnNilYGYKdEDyhgBAF6Cm1weQ&_nc_oc=AQkll9N9jcPfn0aEX9YRt4nkAkFRW3dFzlANslV31GoohYhQum4ZYJLODbJASDS771Y&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=46d0016fedf5f08b1900826a5a9d0bbf&oe=5E2E924D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="800" height="256" src="https://scontent.flun1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/46214694_1445289115604506_4081438332544876544_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_eui2=AeFHMl1UIcoi28VDJregR46oaw27j3blL4Q0Z9h6es5vn-JEDT98ncHIkzgx-Q7ntbcmLxuuQHjI9l484H5yONnNilYGYKdEDyhgBAF6Cm1weQ&_nc_oc=AQkll9N9jcPfn0aEX9YRt4nkAkFRW3dFzlANslV31GoohYhQum4ZYJLODbJASDS771Y&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-1.fna&oh=46d0016fedf5f08b1900826a5a9d0bbf&oe=5E2E924D" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Little Egret</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45954242_1445289142271170_9129980399659778048_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_eui2=AeHROM3ua11pisHZQuc7ywx1ezYHdrmZdlL6cHEG1JnweGzj2IVzjY-ld1BfQzwUfFLj7NINUpvlNPh-sQBRtDQusdnhdLEV53OvdNUlYwJxnA&_nc_oc=AQkUAOoXVbXCz-QlxUqyg-pPfihpiJpTRfU5AhwvrZG_JABxvaaCgFJAfPEuqb-bsKk&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=b3b5e5ed6e88c62046d907179b347341&oe=5DF2B673" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="800" height="260" src="https://scontent.flun1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/45954242_1445289142271170_9129980399659778048_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_eui2=AeHROM3ua11pisHZQuc7ywx1ezYHdrmZdlL6cHEG1JnweGzj2IVzjY-ld1BfQzwUfFLj7NINUpvlNPh-sQBRtDQusdnhdLEV53OvdNUlYwJxnA&_nc_oc=AQkUAOoXVbXCz-QlxUqyg-pPfihpiJpTRfU5AhwvrZG_JABxvaaCgFJAfPEuqb-bsKk&_nc_ht=scontent.flun1-2.fna&oh=b3b5e5ed6e88c62046d907179b347341&oe=5DF2B673" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And finally...two Crested Cranes (normally male-female pairs), the national bird of Uganda</div>
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Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301621142882601935.post-16456618029145267582019-09-09T10:11:00.000+02:002019-09-09T10:27:12.649+02:00“Ba Mirriam” has become a celebrity!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PfOHY3QcGFlIMaMprRmJO7W9d7SYhvkFvZVwURLH3Ovvkvy-AY-mgXhs9ttNrBjIRNPzU7B08Qs7IgXYgoz1zJcK7AqzHEOttwKKREXnl0LkVQNZp_Y1D2gXBp22BCw3NNm13DzRzXU/s1600/DSC_5098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1600" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PfOHY3QcGFlIMaMprRmJO7W9d7SYhvkFvZVwURLH3Ovvkvy-AY-mgXhs9ttNrBjIRNPzU7B08Qs7IgXYgoz1zJcK7AqzHEOttwKKREXnl0LkVQNZp_Y1D2gXBp22BCw3NNm13DzRzXU/s400/DSC_5098.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole clan—parents, children, spouses, grandchildren and dog—with "ba Mirriam"</td></tr>
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Two weeks ago, our family held a surprise party for our house keeper (maid). She is popularly called “ba Mirriam” by all of us in the home. The party marked her working with us for 20 years. As I often do, I shared pictures of this event on my two Facebook accounts.<br />
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To our utter amazement, my official Facebook page (which keeps a counter) showed that by yesterday the posting had reached almost a quarter of a million people, with over 600 individuals sharing it with their own Facebook friends. News has it that this event was also featured on radio and television. I readily admit that we did not expect such popularity.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBLakrQ6oKIW75sMXgjKNozoZ4FRO4uliLakpnEoslaFedmR01yA-897B2DtXWFLlL2aqM7dCP8gsXvaE1XgbFTRpki1vBzie-UQjQ42EhFFHMMae0KMxzMFBQzTjec8E-K2Y-qhjvCY/s1600/DSC_4998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBLakrQ6oKIW75sMXgjKNozoZ4FRO4uliLakpnEoslaFedmR01yA-897B2DtXWFLlL2aqM7dCP8gsXvaE1XgbFTRpki1vBzie-UQjQ42EhFFHMMae0KMxzMFBQzTjec8E-K2Y-qhjvCY/s400/DSC_4998.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every party must have plenty of food and eating!</td></tr>
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We must have gotten onto something here. I have personally read each of the comments. Most of them are either grateful to God for also having virtuous maids or complaining of having landed themselves with irresponsible gold-diggers. Let’s face it, such is life.<br />
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Many wrote on behalf of maids who have had a raw deal and have been ill-treated by their employers. The cry was very loud in many of the comments, basically saying, “If we treated maids with more dignity and honour, they would give us the best of service too.”<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XvrE7f97H36KFyfhhZfM2z3vPRCe1BR7v_c6kb029-JzhqfUuAkIORLzrZ2C35PLwtavqsm3XBXbGG4Ir2e-xkgREsKNtPvLlKCPJbwPN-VFC73Dx0aecBYxkWl8pzzMdBxJ1VS_19s/s1600/DSC_4995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XvrE7f97H36KFyfhhZfM2z3vPRCe1BR7v_c6kb029-JzhqfUuAkIORLzrZ2C35PLwtavqsm3XBXbGG4Ir2e-xkgREsKNtPvLlKCPJbwPN-VFC73Dx0aecBYxkWl8pzzMdBxJ1VS_19s/s400/DSC_4995.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every party must have plenty of food and eating!</td></tr>
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We are glad that while the post was “trending” we gave the nation a chance to air their views on this matter. As long as sin remains in human nature, we will never reach perfection in employer-employee relations. However, talking about it helps us to re-examine ourselves.<br />
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Many thought we are a great family. I hurry to say, we are not. We have all the flaws that any human family has. Any semblance of good about us as a family is a fruit of the grace of the Lord Jesus in our lives. We try to obey God but have also failed lamentably many times.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekphiRHafxiDODlS81aAlLqEYgL2czt9STR6fM6yrX-CKHYDjNRTrNgNTxAhp_NltnUjNh7t9m64ucyNKNgl8ZqZCsDBao6nNAQQVW4n3fRrMiajoL_VIIbh4FBZiTyFEin7fmjeTurY/s1600/DSC_5067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekphiRHafxiDODlS81aAlLqEYgL2czt9STR6fM6yrX-CKHYDjNRTrNgNTxAhp_NltnUjNh7t9m64ucyNKNgl8ZqZCsDBao6nNAQQVW4n3fRrMiajoL_VIIbh4FBZiTyFEin7fmjeTurY/s400/DSC_5067.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 20th anniversary cake being cut by "ba Mirriam" and her sister</td></tr>
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When an institution organises a party to acknowledge the longevity and excellent work of an employee, the limelight is not on the employers. Rather, it is on the employee who has given so much to make that institution what it is today. That is how we feel as a family.<br />
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It is not our family that must get any glory here. It is ba Mirriam. Thanks for each of those 4,000 likes and 800 comments that have made her day. Since I recommenced blogging recently, I decided to share some of what our children have said to her on this occasion. Their comments speak more eloquently of their appreciation of the now famous “ba Mirriam” than my wife and I could have done.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgW9CuX-3veCrCFReHgB9KWe9nwt8LyWa2xIk1ytFuD5MTZT1PBngsTUP7beKnP532oflQaFoMR1JOx_Ux2ju1HWESf_ctlGqlN-fFpbPv4FO2bRe2jkU83tDwPK3XiCUHLJk3CqCkrk/s1600/DSC_5079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgW9CuX-3veCrCFReHgB9KWe9nwt8LyWa2xIk1ytFuD5MTZT1PBngsTUP7beKnP532oflQaFoMR1JOx_Ux2ju1HWESf_ctlGqlN-fFpbPv4FO2bRe2jkU83tDwPK3XiCUHLJk3CqCkrk/s400/DSC_5079.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Ba Mirriam" and Mrs Mbewe hug</td></tr>
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BWALYA: Ba Miriam, congratulations for working for 20 years. I remember I was in grade 9 when you joined us. You have been very hardworking and neat especially in cleaning the house, washing and packing clothes. Now that I am married and managing my own home, I wish I can have someone like you because such commitment to work is rare. You should come to my place to help me when you are next on leave!<br />
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MWILA: Ba Mirriam, thank you for your love and excitement. I remember how when I started my first job you were excited for me. I also remember when I first moved out of our parents’ home, you excitedly cleaned my new home for me. And recently, when I moved into my matrimonial home, you excitingly wanted to clean it all by yourself. Oh, ba Mirriam, may the Lord bless us with 20 more years with you!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6Ogywz-FdVyU8qci0mhYgKwAoime1f1dsEUvaM21Rcnr_QHKIdxsslzpUdTd3sYnuYFlxbttl7Kb8uJviZuMNdRDLCAkGlHPcNsZdhIExVU_gPG4u_4PfDWGYEIFKdPo9ULLK1WzEFE/s1600/DSC_5081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6Ogywz-FdVyU8qci0mhYgKwAoime1f1dsEUvaM21Rcnr_QHKIdxsslzpUdTd3sYnuYFlxbttl7Kb8uJviZuMNdRDLCAkGlHPcNsZdhIExVU_gPG4u_4PfDWGYEIFKdPo9ULLK1WzEFE/s400/DSC_5081.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Ba Mirriam" also hugs "yours truly"</td></tr>
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MWINDULA (“BIGGIE”): Ba Mirriam, I remember how committed you were to ensuring that my school uniforms and shoes were always flawless when I started Grade 8. I ended up getting the award for "Cleanest boy in school" at the end of that year. That really was your award! You are now part of the family and we dearly love you. As an honorary member of the family you can rest assured that we will always be there for you!<br />
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MWANSA: Ba Mirriam, you have been more than a housekeeper; you have been a friend. We have shared so many jokes and laughed together from the time I was in primary school as we talked about school to the times when you always had hope for the Zambian national football team. Indeed, we finally saw them win the AFCON. The years have flown past and we have so many good memories because of you. Thank you!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihM5BxcRroLMHcdb6k1hY1ZKwYpNzD4OnxQ2i_mbeOlxMOR81fX0FykREbqz24tbPZ3SpYxHvAx8QULVyUCCbnU2potFOfZ-Z7vjqznTKiwnPXaalJSxX9l7YgZ7mRrtCPjHy2kuwkcc0/s1600/DSC_5025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihM5BxcRroLMHcdb6k1hY1ZKwYpNzD4OnxQ2i_mbeOlxMOR81fX0FykREbqz24tbPZ3SpYxHvAx8QULVyUCCbnU2potFOfZ-Z7vjqznTKiwnPXaalJSxX9l7YgZ7mRrtCPjHy2kuwkcc0/s400/DSC_5025.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mwila soothes "Ba Mirriam" as she is overtaken with emotions</td></tr>
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MWAPE: Ba Mirriam, thank you for being the addition to the family we never knew we needed. Thanks for being “furniture” in our lives. I can’t describe any season of my life that you weren’t in. You’ve been with us that long and I’m so grateful to God for you and your servant heart. I love you so much that I’m carrying you with me to my house. That’s where you’ll do your next 20 years. Haha!<br />
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MWINDULA (“SMALL”): In the 8 years I have been in this home, I have come to learn much about ba Mirriam. I have learned how she started work here, how she has provided guidance where needed, how she has seen each one of us grow under her watchful eyes, her struggles with health, her relationship with the church, and her relationship with each family member. All that can be said is that we have been BLESSED to have her!<br />
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If you want to see the Facebook post, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mbewe.conrad/posts/2156976577739994?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARByJT2yy4E6M_V4N_Xp8BwWtmUXQwdblGbiYVg_YRrmBJUqrwKEGUkJLrxFiecKTH-BsMARYcfPQgq-BDA9q2UiI5lh0FRsTFw4APGYrv-rlE1HylkJLqiwU5wsbd5Wd8hXFUebdlm_qw4zosZrxY712B-hZIn1jbkJRLsbwQfeBnLCk55cX4I9SRWC0I467VDwrcfULAyQzcwtuV9Y6stJbC-KPuGPvbCss6ajQ97z0_0Zo85QmSzfM93NfByikBvh0qzBMCQO1PfgU3FPZvXW9lfT5XV_Tht8RXopDPlM7LpmTPQz6RAK7AN_wjY5HXeOCfVg-j3Av4hYrvMkxBm0aA&__tn__=-R" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Conrad Mbewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00560142646595019527noreply@blogger.com2