SALVATION

Parable of the sower (note the seed is the word of God) Luke 8

Seed 1 –       fell along the path, got trampled, and birds ate it. (v.5) Equivalent -some “hear” the Word but the devil takes it from their hearts.                    thus they never believe and are never saved

Seed 2     -      fell on rock, sprung up but withered because they had no moisture. Equivalent-some “receive” the word with joy but they have no “root”.                      They believe for a while but in time of testing, they fall away.

Seed 3 -       fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked the plants. Equivalent- some ”hear “but as they go on their way, they are choked by life’s worries, riches                 And pleasures and they don’t mature.

Seed 4-    fell on good soil and yielded a crop, a hundred times what was sown Equivalent -  some hear the Word and retain it because they have a good and noble heart                      By persevering, they produce a crop.

Obviously just “hearing” the Word or even “receiving it” will not guarantee that you get to heaven. You must develop a “root” so you don’t “fall away”.

Paul said, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe it in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9). Faith alone will not get a person into heaven. The Muslims and Jews believe in the same God as Abraham but Salvation can only come through Jesus because it was only through His sacrifice that our sins can be forgiven.

When you believe, you may not feel different right away….believing in your heart is that element of ‘faith’ that Satan wants to steal away before even you get started. After being saved doesn’t mean all your struggles will disappear. In fact, anyone who is accepted by God undergoes some type of ‘testing’ or ‘discipline’ because that’s how God ‘trains us’ as a father should. (Heb. 12:5-11). Yet, God will not let a person be tempted more than he can bear and He will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it.(1cor 10:13).

Jesus commanded, “Repent you, and believe the Gospel” (Mark1:15); but what exactly are we to believe? Some people proclaim a “gospel of grace”, still others believe the “gospel of miracles” the “gospel of foods” or of “healing” or of “faith”.

This is the true gospel, “…that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the scriptures…”(1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

I (Paul) am astonished that you (the Galatians) are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different Gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently, some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: if anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! (Galatians 1:6-9). A little later, Paul stressed his hope that the “truth of the gospel might continue with you” (2:5). So there is one true gospel-with all others FALSE.

RESOLVE OR TRUST?

For many, the year 2020 was dreadful and we may understand why they say so. It is a

surprise to some that several people had it as the best year yet since they were born. To me,

2020 was merely another year with a different script that I had to live by; growing in age and

closer to family as well as in academia/profession.

Speaking of resolutions, I have always wondered why several people make New Year’s

resolutions. Is it the need to have some sort of direction? To be a better person or improve

your lifestyle? Who knows really. Anyway, last year, I decided to participate in the resolution

drive. I made 2 resolutions which I will not share here. I did my best to achieve them but God

had a different plan. As you know, a man may make plans but God has the final say. The

obstacles I met along the way said otherwise and eventually ended in a happier place though

without my resolutions fulfilled. I am actually grateful to the pandemic in many ways.

2021 came with a whole different lifestyle, hard to know really what to expect. In fact, I don’t

even know where to start with resolutions - way from home and out of school yet I have lived

like that for over 22 years of my little life. Having learnt to trust in God’s plan for my life, I

find it difficult to claim what I need for my life. I can only say, if the Lord wills, He will help

me get here and there, no hard feelings if I don’t. I do not think I have discarded my

resolutions from last year, they are now things I trust God to provide this year with so many

more blessings.

As I conclude, I ask that we all be good people from this year on. You never know, you may

be fulfilling someone’s resolutions/plans – you could be the dream they have always had or

the answer to the prayer that they are trusting God for. Let’s bless and become blessings to

others.

Love God, love people.

Editor: Leah Grace Oketcho

The Struggle

Amidst the shouts of pain, frustration and loss; the loss of love and every good thing one ever felt they had. Life feels to have only been in the past  and now you live in  fear and hopelessness. The past seems to be a life to live when the present looks be the worst and there's no hope first even the next hour to be any good. Faith becomes a whisper, hope is all gone and nothing to hold on to you can see.

 Looking for an easy way out and the quickest way possible seems the way to go. We cease to see what's happening around us or even what the truth actually is. Then the desire to compromise creeps in, breaking just a few boundaries for now" won't kill. Then it doesn't work for today, another day for another try it works or even the first time it does. Then you cover it up. The trend grows, "but I'm a Christian the world can't see me like this, I gotta keep it untill I fix it ".
The mask grows bigger and now it not only covers the face but also your body and what you intend to do.
Far deep you have gone and you can't climb back on your own. You already made everyone think you're such a mature Christian, you can't swallow your pride to ask a "less mature" Christian for a hand. Then you give up and choose to live in your mess.

Actually you should give up and give in to Christ. He's been watching waiting for that moment you realise you need Him. The weary body and Brocken heart, just bring it back to Him. He's a wonderful saviour.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Yes, His blood saved us from the penalty  of sin, the same grace leads us from the power of sin until we leave the presence of sin.
Let us hold on to him, let us wait and submit our lives to him. He is just and faithful.

Let's  surrender to the Cross.

A Readable architecture through time.

If you look at every group of people, culture or city; you quickly understand that their beliefs are often expressed in their literature, music and art.  The things they believe affect how they do things.
 There are several pieces of architecture around the world (for example: Parthenon – Athens, Greece, The Eiffel Tower -Paris, France, The leaning Tower of Pisa among others).
Some of them may be broken and dysfunctional yet are viewed by people, millions of people every year.

The Eiffel Tower constructed in 1889, is one of the most famous structures in the world. Today, the tower attracts millions of visitors every year.
 The Leaning Tower of Pisa; The campanile of the cathedral of Pisa, Tuscany is world famous for its leaning position and is the iconic building of the late Italian Romanesque style.
These pieces of architecture are not only accepted, they are celebrated.

The way people think-which I may call culture-can be influenced. At times the influence leads to a cultural change but in most cases leads to cultural evolution.
The studies through cultural evolution help us understand the genealogy of modern architecture.
Increasing demand for architectural services, technological advancement, the will to deal with existing constraints and the desire to preserve the history and heritage of a certain society (culture), explain why it takes a very rigid culture to avoid the issues of  architectural evolution; help us understand the path or the origin of modern architecture and give us a hint of where we are heading.

Pay attention to what's around you, understand the potential in modern vernacular architecture and see how it can affect your work as an architect.

Beloved dad

I thank God for the 75years you've lived but surely I've enjoyed the 19years with you as my dad. You've been a good friend of mine. You're such strong man, endured the sufferings now put to rest from this world. I hope to see you soon. I miss you for now.

Do you really mean it?

Sometimes we have our favourite verses from the Holy scriptures.
But do they really apply in our lives or they are just there to fill the head?...sometimes they become good manure for pride. Are we careful enough that we ask God to guide us as we abide in his word.
Is the word of God really a lamp to your feet and a light for your path?