Here is a Photo

Taken recently of the President of the U.S.A.

Mr. Joe Biden, by the Globe Newspaper, 

With Caption,

''Amplifying our own fears of Ageing''

MR.  BIDEN is Eighty- one years old, and feeling it.     Regardless of what any of us might think of him of a President, or as a man even,  he is worthy of our sympathy and compassion, as we watch and see his physical strength and faculties show signs of wear and tare.     It is one thing to say that maybe Mr. Biden is now ready to retire from Office, and another to make jokes about the way he stumbles about, and every time he forgets who he is talking to, or even the actual words he is trying to say.    You and I might end up experiencing similar changes as we age, and indeed might all in some measure have to face, the onset of Dementia, or some other related illness.      It is good to think about it, and take time to meditate on how we feel about the elderly, and just how they are catered for in our world society.

A FEW DAYS before I caught sight of the Photo put up  by Globe Newspaper, I had been viewing a number of United States Videos NEWS casts related to Mr. Biden's current state of mind and body.

Without exception the Presenters of these Programs used the anomalies of Mr.  Biden's apparent weakness in walking or mounting steps or stairways, together with his forgetfulness, and speech problems, as an occasion to sadistically ridicule and belittle the Man, and the President.  Is this right?  Would you or I like this be happening to US?

Does Joe Biden, or any man or woman deserve to end their labour on earth  as a laughing stock?   I do not believe it myself.    Where is our dignity and human value due to each one of us. BUT is there more to all of this than meets the eye?    He himself seems to feel 'fighting fit' and is either unaware of his occasional moments of 'lostness', 'muddle -headedness' or plain old age, or just stubbornly unwilling to admit he is not the man he was, and may put the Nation at risk.   Of course it is possible an effort to prove he is too old to cope with his Office as President is cashing in on his so called 'gaffs'.    Whatever the reality may be,  It is remains shameful to expose him to such blatant, and devilish amusement.

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IN THE BIBLE,  in the Old Testament, and the Book of OBADIAH verses 10-15 we are given an example, and council.     The Example is of the family;  a violent feud between Esau and Jacob, brothers.   Two brothers from separate groups or parts of the same nation.     And not just between two individuals but two whole groups of brethren that each party represented.      

I will not go into the reasons that contributed to their bitterness toward one another.   God was troubled by their conflict and attitude towards each other, and spoke through His Servant, OBADAIAH in the verses mentioned above.   God accuses ESAU and his people because they joyfully watched while Jacob and his people, attacked (v.11), without lifting a hand to help them.    God says to Esau and his brethren, first of all in verse 10 of Obadiah,  "Shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for 

ever .''   And He speaks further  and says  ''YOU SHOULD NOT..'' more specifically.

God says, via Obadiah, to ESAU - Esau, you should not have stood aside from helping you brethren, even though they were not from your side of the family.      If we understood this,  that all the nations of the world were joined together, each one related to the other - then war of all kind would cease world wide. Well there could be a better reason to seek for peace, that wrangle so bitterly all the time.

NONE of us should lift up our hand against another of our kind.     NONE of us should be willing to see one another hurting another without some effort to intervene to prevent it.

AGAIN -  YOU SHOULD NOT, have gloated over your brother's misfortune in the day he became a stranger to you (in the day he ceased to call you brother).

AGAIN - YOU SHOULD NOT,  have rejoiced over the sons of Juda in the day of their ruin, nor spoken arrogantly in the day of their distress.

AGAIN - YOU SHOULD NOT,  have entered the gate - house of your brethren (Jacob) in their day of calamity and ruin - YES, YOU SHOULD NOT have looked with delight on their misery, or sought after their possessions in the day of their calamity and ruin.

Surely  this is enough to emphasise to us all, how very responsible each of us are for the care and welfare of our neighbour, no matter who they are, what they may be guilty of, and without exception.

v.15 of Obadiah, adds an ominous warning to all who treat an individual human being with callous, and even brutal sadism.   He writes:-    "For the day of the Lord is near upon all nations.   As you have done, it shall be done to you; your dealings will return upon your own head.'' 

We are ALL brothers and sisters ?

We are ALL cut from the same genetic cloth; all have sprung from Adam and Eve, and in fact ARE 'FAMILY', though regretfully not in touch.

BUT Jesus, using the word 'NEIGHBOUR' suggests that we DO need to recognise a responsibility toward all mankind, even those we may tend to see as untouchble, or in some other way inferior, and unde-serving of our care and love. 

IN the Bible, the NEW Testament, and in LUKE 10v30-37., a certain Advocate had been asking questions, and having quoted the Law, ending with 'and you should love your neighbour as yourself' the man had asked the Question - 'then WHO is my neighbour.' and Jesus had replied with the Story that I briefly outline as follows:-                       ..... 

 

.A MAN was travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he falls among thieves, who stripped him of his clothes and belongings, beat him up and left him for dead.   After a little while a certain priest was walking that way, and saw the man lying at the side of the road, and when he saw him, he crossed to the other side of the road, and passed on.    Later a LEVITE came upon the injured man,  and when he saw him, he also crossed to the other side of the road and passed on.     AND THEN a Samaritan (considered inferior by the Jews of that time) arrived at the scene, and saw man lying at the roadside, he stopped, and being moved with compassion, he went nearer to the man, and  dressed his wounds, pouring on oil and wine,(as an antiseptic, and healing balm), and then carried him to a nearby inn, and took care of him.   The next day, the good Samaritan took out two days wages (in worth\) and gave them to the Inn-keeper, saying ''Take care of him:  whatever more you spend, I myself will repay you when I return".     End story

.AND Jesus then asked the Advocate he was  talking with, " Which of these three was neighbour to man attacked by thieves?"      And the Advocate Replied "Why it was the one who showed him compassion and care!"    And JESUS said  - "YOU GO, and do the same.'

YES, it is the Truth.      We SHOULD love our neighbour as we love ourselves, for he is as we are, part and parcel of our humanity, related to us, part of ADAM's Family.     We are all brothers and sisters of each other.    AND, finally, in the Gospel of Matthew 7v12, Jesus is found saying ''Therefore, all things, whatever you would have men do to you, you so do to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.''   

 

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John Green

(NB    ---     I also  from time to time send an UPDATE on matter concerning Testimony Faith Homes and School.    Currently this is send direct to E-Mail addresses of friends and family.   

Also This Blog is sent via Facebook or via Google at 'John Green's Notes from Kenya

                                                         

KING SOLOMON THE WISE  also Collected TAXES!

SOLOMON, according to the Bible, was granted the Gift of Wisdom by God, but this did not deter him from making mistakes!     Remember, for example, that the Bible records that he erred in having many wives;  few if any followed the God in whom Solomon believed.   An error that cost him dearly in many ways.   Of course, the picture above is only a picture, meant no doubt to startle us into accepting that even the Wise can be greedy and grasping.

HERE, in the Republic of Kenya, we are finding ourselves challenged by TAXATION!    Not for the first time either.    But just now it seems that a heavy shower of multiple Taxes, covering almost everything except the Air we breathe, is imminent!    I personally feel sympathy for our President, His Excellency, the Honourable William Ruto, who is seen as the perpetrator of the current wave of taxation.   He has inherited a Government mired in debt, and everyone expects him to SPEAK, and Prosperity will immediately come forth and we shall all rejoice....... BUT the reality is that a reversal of the Economy, such as the Man found it, is impossible to achieve overnight....(indeed, not over many nights); and on the way to bringing such a reversal, many traps and temptations will stand in the way, and confront the best of intentions.    Any of us in the place of Mr. Ruto, would have more than a 'headache'.   We should pray for Him; for Strength and Wisdom from GOD, not to be rushed into quick solutions which may in themselves aggravate and worsen the poverty of the Nation..

On the 20th of this month, having written the above,  Parliament voted the New multiple Tax Bill through into law. Already riots have broken out in Nairobi, and this may just be the beginning, since almost everyone will feel the weight of this Taxation.    Property, Food, Services, will all see soaring prices affect our daily lives that will be crushing.    ALL in an attempt to reduce the Nation Debt and other pressing Creditors.   Perhaps an earnest, though risky move, to save the Nation.   But it just might destroy it.

SOLOMAN fell into the same soup, and Taxed Israel -exorbitantly!   Even selling people into Slavery. (in 1. Kings 5v13-18) it is written that he - King Solomon - 'raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was 30,000 men.  He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses:  a month they were in Lebanon,  and two months at home.'    Yes!   Where and how to get money can lead us down very dark and inhuman ways.    And as I have said before, even a godly-wise person can find themselves delving deeper and deeper.     And the masses- the man in the street - the POOR?  They become poorer, and just a small and particular group became richer, and RICHER.

It has been cited that 'the height of heavy taxation during the Solomonic Era, angered the populace, so that pent up resentment eventually exploded, by the end of Solomon's reign'.  A good article expanding on these things can be found as per The Asian Economic and Financial Review pp337-346.  It is a short comment on the Nigerian Tax System as at 2012. Published  by Asian Economic and Social Society - 15th June 2012.      

NOW,  for ourselves, as it stands for Testimony Faith Homes & School,  the newly passed Taxation is predicted to increase monthly expenses by a minimum of some 40%.   Not a very happy prospect.    

Not a Happy Prospect for the WORLD!

Since the cost of living worldwide is climbing, and the peace

      and contentment of all mankind receding!  

SO WHAT SHALL WE ALL DO?

We should come before our God in Prayer.

1. Chronicles16v29 encourages us to 'GIVE unto the LORD the Glory due unto His NAME; and to bring an Offering, and COME before Him; WORSHIP the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness.           (WHICH IS OBEDIENCE)

At Times like these, we have need to assess where we stand - with the pressures of the World, orchestrated by the Enemy to  dishearten and bring us to despair,  -  OR with GOD.   

Continuing to read in 1. Chronicles 16 and verse 23, we are exhorted to  ''SING unto the LORD, all the earth;  shew forth from day to day His Salvation.''  And in Verse 24,  ''Declare His Glory to (those who do not know Him);  His marvellous works among all nations.''   And in Verse 25  ''For GREAT is the Lord, and greatly to be Praised;  He also is to be FEARED above all gods.''     And also in Verse 26 For all the gods of the people are idols; but the LORD made the Heavens.''   and so to Verses 27-28 ""Glory and Honour are in His Presence; STRENGTH AND GLADNESS are in His place.     GIVE unto the Lord, ye kindreds of the people,  GIVE unto the Lord GLORY and STRENGTH -  (29) GIVE unto the Lord the glory due to His Name: bring an offering, and come before Him: WORSHIP the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness - in OBEDIENCE.

I found these verses both uplifting and challenging - even Exhilarating and exciting!!   It called me to WAKE up and start BEING  a Witness in this unbelieving time; it called upon me Stand UP for my Salvation, and talk about it, demonstrate it and Glory IN it,  DAY BY DAY!!!      How easily to find oneself ''asleep'', and even moribund, alive but not busy going about our Father's business, as Jesus demonstrated to us.    NOW is the Day for us all to be SEEN.

ABOVE is a photo of ALL of us, Orphans and Surrogate Mums and Dads, who are currently living in Testimony Faith Homes, Eldoret, Kenya.     We began to build a Family HOME for children who had lost their own home and family for some reason in August 1969.     Right now we have FOUR such Homes all adjacent to each other; each one run as a Family, and up to date more than 450 boys and girls have come, grown up, and left to start their own life.  Every FIVE years we hold a Reunion, and THIS year will be our 55th, and we shall expect to see at least 300 come home for a week-end of family fellowship.    We look forward greatly to it.

THE KING OF ALL THE EARTH

is on the way, coming

Blessed by the Name of the LORD.

GOD spoke and told  us to gather the homeless and destitute children around us and make a Home and a Family for them to belong to; a place to be loved in, and a place of quiet refuge and safety.   From the first two children to cross the thresh-hold, Wilson 12 and Zecariah 8, his brother, in August 1969, hundreds more have come and gone.   Gone from our four Family Homes, but NOT from the Testimony Family.  Even this week we have heard that Family Members living in Nairobi have gathered themselves together in an effort not to lose sight of each other; they will be meeting locally and from time to time, as a Family Chapter, and other towns are catching the idea and doing the same.    Amazing and Wonderful in our eyes.

BUT this year the Kenya Government passed a New, revised Children's Act, and in it they have made it clear that all Children's Homes for the orphaned and destitute will be ABOLISHED as from 26th JULY 2032.      Well we have been hearing threats to this effect from as early as 2005  -  but THIS is the final word,      The Government, including the President, believe that Institutional care is unhealthy, and that children need to grow up in a family, either Fostered or Adopted if it is impossible for them to be with their  own kin.      WE BELIEVE THEM.   WE have done our best to arrange our Children's Homes, as family homes (NOT in any institutional!    And although ours family homes cater for large families, they have worked well, and produced well balanced kids.      Oh we have had a few druggies for while, teenage rebels here and there, but only a few have proved un-manageable, and running off and away from us.    We have seen so many leave us as teachers, accountants, electricians, nurses, research chemists, Hoteliers,  Mechanics, Engineers, hair-dressers, beauticians, Cooks and Chefs, Social Workers, Secretaries,  ++++.NO Doctors, Lawyers, Scientists, Bankers, yet, but they are on the way......  I am sure we are not the only  ones to have seen success as we have reached out to fill the gap in children's lives.      It does seem a pity for the Government to close us ALL down in favour of uprooting them and re-distributing them to totally un-known Foster parents,  Adoption, and long lost birth relatives who have cast them off since their birth.    

WE are permitted to continue on until 2032.     We have EIGHT YEARS to STAND our ground, and to prepare and SEE what GOD will do.    We are not Anxious.   We BELIEVE that God is with us, and with the orphans who will still find themselves alone and in danger.     PRAY with us.

I hope to continue to send further blog pages.   Many Thanks to you all for praying for us, and encouraging us, as we continue to be here in Kenya for children, and for the LORD.   We love you all in Him, 

God Bless and Keep you safe in Days.

John and Esther, Daryl and all here with us.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

   

 

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