Parents ‘helping children’ to be corrupt

"One of the students admitted that he discussed with his parents how they would bribe to secure his admission to the armed forces. Another said he was arrested by police and a parent gave him money to buy his freedom".

These were some of the shocking revelations by a new survey that showed how parents are setting a bad precedence to their children by assisting them engage in corruption.

The report by the National Anti-Corruption Campaign Steering Committee has indicted parents, especially mothers, for perpetuating corruption at home.

"The most admired parent is the mother, because they do not prohibit their children from bringing prohibited stuff home. The mothers also help their children sneak illegal stuff to school," said Micah Nguli of NACCSC programme office, research and advocacy.

The report painted a grim picture of how parents show their children how to be corrupt practically.

ARE WE WINNING THIS BATTLE?

The 2010 Top 20 Billionaire in the World

1. Carlos Slim Helu of Mexico is the number one for Billionaire in the entire world. Net Worth is $53.5 billion for Mexico's national telephone company and 3rd place last year.
2. Bill Gates of U.S for Microsoft Company.
3. Warren Buffett of U.S for Investments
4. Mukesh Ambani of India for Petrochemicals, oil and gas
5. Lakshmi Mittal of India for Steel
6. Lawrence Ellison of U.S for Oracle Database
7. Bernard Arnault of France for Luxury goods outfit
8. Eike Batista of Brazil for Mining and oil
9. Amancio Ortega of Spain for Fashion retail
10. Karl Albrecht of germany for Owns discount supermarket giant Aldi Sud, one of Germany and Europe's dominant grocers.
11. Ingvar Kamprad and Family of Sweden for Ikea
12. Christy Walton and Family of U.S for Wal-Mart
13. Stefan Persson of Sweden for "Cheap chic" mogul chairman of Hennes & Mauritz (H&M)
14. Li Ka-shing of Hong Kong for Diversified
15. Jim C. Walton of U.S for Wal-Mart
16. Alice Walton of U.S for Wal-Mart
17. Liliane Bettencourt of France for L'Oreal Shares
18. S. Robson Walton of U.S for Wal-Mart
19. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Alsaud of Saudi Arabia for Diversified
20. David Thomson and family of Canada for Thomson Reuters

They have the money and everything it brings.

“When the chief Shepherd appears, you shall receive a crown of glory that does not fade away.” 1 Peter 5:4

I am thinking today of that beautiful land
I shall reach when the sun goeth down;
When through wonderful grace by my Savior I stand,
Will there be any stars in my crown?

Refrain

Will there be any stars, any stars in my crown
When at evening the sun goeth down?
When I wake with the blest in the mansions of rest
Will there be any stars in my crown?

In the strength of the Lord let me labor and pray,
Let me watch as a winner of souls,
That bright stars may be mine in the glorious day,
When His praise like the sea billow rolls.

Refrain

O what joy it will be when His face I behold,
Living gems at his feet to lay down!
It would sweeten my bliss in the city of gold,
Should there be any stars in my crown.

Refrain

Halleluyah

White House Appointment

Maryland Adventist Gets Key
White House Appointment

BY TAASHI ROWE, Columbia Union Visitor

The United States Senate recently confirmed presidential appointee Orlan Johnson—a member of Allegheny East Conference’s Capitol Hill Seventh-day Adventist church in Washington, D.C., to a key governmental post. Johnson will chair the Board of Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC).

Orlan Johnson
The quasi-governmental agency was created in 1970 to provide oversight of failed brokerage firms. When a brokerage firm is closed due to bankruptcy or other financial difficulties and customer assets are missing, SIPC steps in as quickly as possible and, within certain limits, works to return customer cash, stock, and other securities.

“As chair I will help to set policies and procedures as to how the organization would work,” Johnson explains. “And it is my privilege to chair the SIPC at this critical time when so many investors have been the victims of immense fraud and need an advocate.”

A graduate of Blue Mountain Academy, in Hamburg, Pennsylvania, and Andrews University, in Berrien Springs, Michigan, Johnson served on then-presidential hopeful Barack Obama’s national finance committee. He is a partner at the Saul Ewing LLP law firm and teaches securities law at his alma mater, Howard University Law School in Washington, D.C.

“I’m truly thankful the Lord has blessed me with the opportunity to serve our country, and I just ask for His guidance as I move forward,” Johnson says.

Serious Search

I spotted it today as it was cycling over Friedensau and I wondered what was happening. I was informed that an elderly person at the senior citizens’ home had gone missing and so the police were searching for that ONE individual with the help of some specialized camera. It is impressive. Every life counts.

Of course, you don’t find this kind of search everywhere in this world. In some countries (I don’t have to mention examples) you should not imagine such – unless you are looking for a big fish. And even then, it is after it has gone missing for some days and you expect to find remains in some little hill somewhere.

How is it with God? It is like He leaves every other business and concentrates on looking for that single soul who was died for by His Son.

Of how much worth is a soul!

Let Kadhi’s Courts be, say Adventists

.
By James Ratemo and Patrick Beja

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has broken ranks with a section of Christians rejecting inclusion of Kadhi’s courts.

The SDA also supported the clause on abortion, unlike other Christians who insist abortion should only be allowed if the mother is in outright danger.

"Of course we are not disputing that life begins at conception and we do not encourage abortion. What we are saying is that a window should be left for abortion if the life of mother is in danger," said SDA East African Union President Paul Muasya.

Mr Muasya also said Kadhi’s courts have been in the Constitution and have never negatively affected Christians. He urged churches against the Kadhi’s courts to rethink their position to avoid unnecessary tension between Christians and Muslims.

"People have politicised the issue of Kadhi’s court and creating far-fetched fears that the courts could lead Kenya into a Sharia state," said Pastor Samwel Lumwe, SDA director for Adventist Muslim Relations.

Largest Bible

"Although we do not subscribe to the Kadhi’s courts, we do not object to their existence. We support co-existence of religions," said Lumwe.

The two SDA clerics were addressing journalists in Nairobi ahead of the arrival today of a multi-lingual Bible, touted to be the largest in the world.

Elsewhere, Church leaders in Coast Province threatened to reject the Proposed Constitution unless the clause on abortion is deleted.

Under the Coast branch of the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), the clerics cautioned Parliament against supporting the clause.

"The Committee of Experts has deceptively reintroduced abortion and we insist the Constitution must protect all human life, which begins at conception and ends at natural death," said NCCK Coast Chairman the Reverend James Ziro.

The leaders were addressing a press conference at a Mombasa hotel after a consultative meeting.

Rev Ziro said: "Abortion is tantamount to killing and the Church cannot let it be legislated."

New Year!

Children a delight and a great one for that matter. Here, Priscilla and Nancy enjoy the night of migration from 2009 to 2010 with Cephas.
"Be ever gentle with the children God has given you; watch over them constantly; reprove them earnestly, but not in anger. In the forcible language of Scripture, 'Be not bitter against them.' 'Yes, they are good folks,' I once heard a kind father say. 'I talk to them very much, but do not like to beat my, children--the world will beat them.' It was a beautiful thought not elegantly expressed." -- Elihu Burritt

"Bring your little children to the Saviour. Place them in His arms. Devote them to His service. Born in His camp, let them wear from the first His colors. Taking advantage of timely opportunities, and with all tenderness of spirit, seek to endear them to the Friend of Sinners, the Good Shepherd of the lambs, the loving Guardian of the little children. And not only teach them, but govern them. And in order to govern them, govern yourselves." - James Hamilton
.

Contributions

Let me share three quotes from some noted speakers:

… a long, healthy, and happy life is the result of making contributions, of having meaningful projects that are personally exciting and contribute to and bless the lives of others. (Dr. Hans Selye)

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die. For the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It’s a sort of splendid torch which I’ve got to hold up for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations. (George Bernard Shaw)

Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth. (N. Eldon Tanner).
.

Heralds of Spring

Today I heard them sing so well. I don't know whether I have not been noticing their singing but they have been away, of course.

It came to my brain:
What sweet carols!
The birds pour forth their souls in notes,
of rapture from a thousand throats.
I hear the whispering voice of spring,
(How my heart yearns for it!)
Teach me half the gladness, that my brain must know,
such harmonious madness, that my lips should also pour.

God, dispel the gloom from my heart,
Clear the cold attitudes and icy relations.
Fill the soul with the joy of your presence
And the sun of your righteousness.
When the cold hand of death shall lay its hold on the life,
May your assurance still remain -
The morning of light and warmth of the Sun of Righteousness
Is certain and it is the blessed hope.

Kobayashi Issi once said "Only birds sing the music of heaven in this world." I don't know how true that is. But their music is good, natural, spontaneous, lovable.


"Bury me where the birds will sing over my grave," sought Alexander Wilson. Though he won't be there to hear the songs, nevertheless their function would have turned a dirge into rapturous outpour.

.

The Lamb Slain for You and Me

We overcome the accuser of the brethren on the ground of the blood of Christ. Nothing more, nothing less. That is how we win. It is the only way we win. This is the only ground of our acceptance before God.

If you drift far from the cross, you are done. You are defeated. We overcome our consciences, we overcome our bad tempers, we overcome our defeats, we overcome our lusts, we overcome our fears, we overcome our pettiness on the basis of the blood of the Lamb.

We dare to approach a holy God praying in Jesus' name, appealing to the blood of the Lamb. BECAUSE THAT IS OUR ONLY RECOURSE

Chrisianity

“Unless the Church, its members and its organizations, express God’s love for man by involvement and leadership in constructive protest against the present conditions of man, it will become identified with injustice and persecution,” (The late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere).
I wonder whether he had in mind the ills associated with bad governance, corruption, sectarianism, and the like or the usual problems of poverty, ignorance, disease, and such other ones – whether human precipitated or not. Would he have meant the basic problem of sin?