Thinking Kim

Haiti in hurt

2010-01-13T23:08:00.006-05:00

Given the magnitude of agony and desperation in Haiti, take a minute and pray for people in this country. Then, give your donation (even a dollar) to the charities that can help. Do something.

Merry Cheer

2009-12-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

Here is to wishing you a very merry Christmas and blessed 2010.

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. Wishing you happiness.
-- Helen Keller

Trick Treat Wow

2009-10-31T13:50:00.009-04:00

Every year, this day happens. When I first experienced it, I thought everyone was nuts. I couldn't figure out what all the hoopla was about. Why would a little kid want to dress like some fire-breathing monster? Well over the years, the tradition catches me nostalgia. What is it you ask? It's Halloween! I understand this year the most popular characters are MJ and Maddoff! Go figure!

I wonder how it would be if we introduced this event/tradition/party to Kenya! Hmm! Oh! well, I'll make sure we have enough treats or tricks. But it would also be cool to be like Spenser on this icarly episode who without any candy gave away eggs, jumper cables, ice cubes...

Traffic Chaos & Boda Boda Madness

2009-09-17T10:00:00.002-04:00

Now that I have "settled" back to routine, I have taken some time to reflect on my travel to both NBO (Nairobi) and EBB (Entebbe). It's only fair that I echo Ssem's post on traffic madness in Nairobi. I didn't think it was happening until I realized that I was right in the middle of it. How could I be stuck in traffic for 3 hrs between Ngong Rd and Kahawa Sukari? How could a (2) lane in Thika Rd turn into a (6) lane California highway? Distaste and loathing is just an understatement.

First I became really upset and lost my cool, then I accepted the situation of being helpless and finally, three hours later, I flowed with the traffic. I have been stuck in traffic many, many times before on Route 80, 46 etc etc... But this Thika Rd jam is entirely different. It's outright scary. I guess it's an accepted norm that matatus and buses have the right of way, every time. They'll cut you off, stick their hands out (directional signals) and yell at you. At one point, several matatus overlapped to on coming traffic and 'created' another lane. If this is not insane, I don't know what it is. Yet matatu passengers cheer this behavior because they can get to work or home 'on time'.

I wondered whether any Kenyan politicians used any of these roads - Thika, Mombasa, Uhuru Highway etc etc. Doesn't it bug anyone at the Nairobi Metropolitan Dev Ministry on the future of Nairobi and it's environs? How many times can they be told about upgrading infrastructure, transport and utilities? I guess, asking these questions is moot.

How about the traffic police? you ask. All matatus give tithe. On the Bahati-Nakuru road PSVs tithe Ksh.50.00 per trip between 8a and 2p. On the Kiambu - Nairobi road it's Ksh. 100.00. You can name any other route in the country and the claim is the same. The consequences of not tithing is business suicide. And after all that headache, matatu drivers on average get paid Ksh. 500.00 a day, yet police officers collect thousands to share with their superiors. Its common knowledge that the traffic police is extremely corrupt, but who cares?

How about EMS? Road accidents in Kenya claim thousands of deaths a year. In fact there is a statistic that all worldwide airline deaths combined in a year account for less than road deaths in Kenya. Many are the tales of non existent emergency medical services. On my way to Nakuru on August 24th we found an accident involving a Kampala bus coach and a pick-up. A mob was controlling traffic and shoving the injured onto someone else's pick up who was forced to bring them to the hospital. Such a mob usually turns rowdy and can do anything they want. Health care services is another story.

How about boda boda in Kampala? I would have wanted to say that they are only handful: but they are thousands. I don't know how this city ended up with these many motorcycles. I was only there for two days and I got a headache. What was inspiring is seeing some mzungus riding on these boda bodas ( I guess it's a much better way of travelling around the town). Perhaps PKW has a better version of this mode of transport.

I really don't want to sound as if I am whining and portray this picture of hopelessness. There are many good people and many good things happening in these countries. I sensed a lot of frustration with government institutions and lack of efficient systems.

Connect 4

2009-07-06T10:00:00.002-04:00

We plunged into the pool this weekend. One of the cleanest, well run community pools around here is in Hackettstown. Every summer they can count on us as guests. We plunged in and had a wave - the beginning of many more to come.

Now that summer is here, kids can sleep late, open the fridge 1000 times and do a whole lot of nothing. Am determined this year not to answer the question "Daddy I have nothing to do." I can't imagine asking my papa that question when we were growing up. There was just too much to do ( I mean forced labor). I can remember with chagrin those days that I plucked pyrethrum. Oh! how tiring and back breaking it was. But we had to do it .....because of school fees.

I will not answer that question because I have ways around it. I have noted, from experience, that if I ask the gals to make a day schedule, everyone will be happy. The day schedule should include academics (otherwise, all they have learned will evaporate), a sport (another word for physical exercise) and fun (Xbox included). For those days that I am home no one will be bored. By the way Tuesday afternoon is already booked for movies at Clearview Cinemas. We get free tickets for being Cablevision Triple play customers. Observe the Ratings please!

Now, just in case you are wondering how to keep kids busy during summer, there are 94 ways to do so. Enjoy it for it will be over before you say cheese!!

Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer. Prov 30:25

Training

2009-06-30T19:13:00.005-04:00

I remember talking about this two years ago. I didn't think I would go back to explaining it again, but I have to. When you are called to make a presentation to someone or to a group of people, it would serve you well if you had a beginning, a middle and an end. If the average attention span of an adult is 20 minutes then your talk should include any material that you want your audience to remember in those 20 minutes. After 25 minutes many people will be doing other things such as doodling, looking at cell phones, reading (other stuff), dozing....

You wouldn't like it if I took these notes at the end of your presentation:

We're working on it...
Bear with us...
That's a good question...
We'll bring that up...
We're getting everything in place...
We wil take that issue back with us...
We have to work it out...
It's a nuts and bolts thing...
We're not sure yet...
I understand what you're saying...
We need a mechanism in place...
We have brought this question up...
We're not sure...
We'll have to address that...
We'll bring it to another level...
It's not working yet (the system)...
It's supposed to be happening...
Just send me an email and we'll get back to you...

I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. 2 Cor 11:6

Father, Baba - Asante

2009-06-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

Fatherhood is an art. Happy Fathers day to all responsible fathers. Mzee Njoroge and Karanja, thank you for holding our hands and the rod. You've taught us! We'll now teach.

He will bring you to the land that belonged to your fathers, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers - Deut 30:5

Wanna Be Human Billboard

2009-04-20T10:00:00.000-04:00

Why would you want to use human props as billboards? You don't know what Am talking about, do you? Well, Drug Fair is going out of business. This is not unusual, after all hundreds of other big companies have gone out of business in the past year alone. What is unusual is their manner of advertising that they are going out of business and that they have goods worth 70% or more off at discount prices. Apart from a huge banner lapel on the buildings, I noticed people holding billboard props along Route 10 and 46 advertising the discounted prices. I should also mention that this is a technique also used by furniture stores closing shop and many others. It made me wonder, how effective is it to have people stand behind props all day? how much are they paid anyway? Does this work?

I did a little digging on Wikipidea and found quite interesting info. Here you go.. Sign-holders are known as human directionals in the advertising industry, or colloquially as sign walkers or sign twirlers. Frequently, they will spin or dance with the promotional sign in order to attract attention. Human billboards have been used for centuries. In 19th century London, the practice began when advertising posters became subject to a tax and competition for wall space became fierce. Human directionals are still widely used, especially in areas that have a lot of pedestrian traffic, but even in places that have a great deal of automobile traffic. However, the use of such attention-grabbing tricks has been criticized by city officials as being distracting to drivers and as a result, a number of cities have banned sign twirling. Demand for human directionals has significantly increased over the last few years. In temperate and warm locations, sign holders can be employed year-round and their effectiveness has been amply demonstrated.

OK enough of Wikipedia! Aish! Turning yourself into a human billboard can make you money (sort of). What I didn't get is how much these guys are paid. Simply hired only indicated that they get between $15.00 to $100.00 and lunch.

By the way, my favorite human billboard is that of Tim Tebow, the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy, who has sought to spread his message of faith as far as possible.

The bottom line is this: When we pay attention to something, it seems to become brighter, more distinct, more memorable. Our decision to pay attention, in other words, changes how our brains work.

Spring - turn here!

2009-04-15T21:00:00.001-04:00

Aaaaa.... How nice it is to welcome spring, unless pollen is your enemy. I must make mention that blogging has also taken recession. Most blogs have far between entries. With the job market in sharp declines, food crises, bailouts (add your own here), writing could also become painful. I mean will you remiss on random thoughts or how the next bill will be paid? Nevertheless it is a relief, a breath of fresh air, a welcome addition, to have flowers bloom and the grass turn green.

You can't see Canada across lake Erie, but you know it's there. It's the same with spring. You have to have faith, especially in Cleveland. ~ Paul Fleischman

Let there be light!

2009-04-10T11:00:00.001-04:00

I have always been fascinated by space and the universe. Any documentaries on space by NatGeo or NASA always catches my attention. When I visited Florida last summer, my second stop apart from Disney was Kennedy Space Center....And so did Apollo 13. When I read this article in Yahoo, I had to highlight it on this blog. Here is a summary:

(a) In a new image from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, high-energy X-rays emanating from the nebula around PSR B1509-58 have been colored blue to reveal a structure resembling a hand reaching for some eternal red cosmic light.
(b) The red light actually a neighboring gas cloud, RCW 89, energized into glowing by the fingers of the PSR B1509-58 nebula, astronomers believe.
(d) The scene, which spans 150 light-years, is about 17,000 light years away, so what we see now is how it actually looked 17,000 years ago, and that light is just arriving here.
(d) A light-year is the distance light travels in a year, about 6 trillion miles (10 trillion kilometers).

So ... given this, look at bullet (d). Have you been to church lately??

Gen 1:3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

Happy B-Day JaBi

2009-04-06T08:30:00.002-04:00

Jabi,
May your birthday be filled with excitement, joy, and laughter.

On this special day, we just want to say Happy Birthday.

Don't count your years for we all know you're one year older than last year.

Although we can't wish you a happy birthday in person; We will spend the whole day with happy thoughts of you.

All of NJ

One Week!

2009-01-08T22:22:00.007-05:00

What a difference one week makes!

You may recall that one of my goals last year was to add some meat on bones - so I kept going to PF. Earlier last week I went to PF and couldn't find parking for at least 10 minutes. When I signed in at the customer service counter, there was a queue just like those of annoying-hungry-gadget-buyers on black Friday. The gym looked like a zoo! Everyone it seemed, had resolved to exercise this new year. Some walked in, signed up, paid up and even exercised in their clothes! Amazing how January 1 affects people minds.

Well, just like clock-work I followed my routine and went to PF today. It was almost as if a bad dream had happened. No more queuing. No more treadmill rumbling. It was as quiet as a mouse. So I got thinking, and went back to Ssem's blog. I couldn't agree more. For those that want to be as solid as rock, let it be a new year; same resolutions. It doesn't make sense to make new New Year resolutions without ever accomplishing any of them. Would you say that am as right as rain?

May this new year bring good tidings to our blog readers.

Joy to the world!

2008-12-24T08:00:00.003-05:00

It's only fitting that I blog before the year comes to a close. This year has indeed been a year of jubilee for us. The Jubilee (Hebrew Yovel יובל) year, is the year at the end of a seven cycles and according to Biblical regulations had a special impact on the ownership and management of land. I can only mention specific dates that make this a jubilee year:

February 20th 2008
March 5th 2008
July 25th 2008

We begun this year with a simple prayer list and wishes. Like many others before this one, it's been a tradition for us as a family to sit around a fire on 12/31, thank God for His faithfulness and usher in a new year with hope and open arms. No one knows for sure what a new day brings but when it does come it means you have another chance to strengthen your faith and correct yesterday's wrong.

As the year comes to a close I can only marvel at how fast it whisked by. Between the Kenyan election violence, the Olympics, the historic US elections and a Bush shoe thrower many small blessings happened. It's tempting to blow this year away because of stocks and bonds failure, the housing meltdown, the job losses, you name it, but if you are alive and well chin up and let's embrace the year of new beginnings; 2009.

Merry Christmas and a new 2009 beginning!

2008-08-03T15:19:00.000-04:00

I know I haven't blogged in a while. For those ardent readers perhaps 'a while' is an understatement. Anyhoosers (a corrupted form of "anyhow) summer has always been my favorite time of the year since the seasons began. A recent highlight, which I will now devour, is playing golf. See, when you sit home on that lovely couch watching TW (Tiger Woods) and the golf channel you would think, surely how difficult can it be to use a stick, a ball and a hole. Like any other sport it seems easier to yell at the athletes and tell them what to do. I remember we had this teacher in Luhyia-land that loved soccer so much that he would play the game on the sideline. You can only imagine what his blood sugars and pressures were when we lost!

A week ago our men's fellowship went to the Poconos and spent a day at the Shawnee Golf Club. Men! (expression) what a challenge to tee that ball. The hold, the swing and the follow-through has to coordinate perfectly. Many of us were first-timers on the course. Can you imagine the chaos we created! Some held the golf stick like a panga (machete), others dug holes big enough to plant corn, while missing the ball entirely... Well I can go on and on. The point that I am pointedly making is that we had fun. And that was the bottom line. We can't wait to go back (hopefully before the summer is over)

How is your summer going?

It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter. Ps 74:17

Build your ring!

2008-07-30T21:04:00.004-04:00

A recent investigation shows that 60% of young women are in favor of the engagement ceremony. The engagement rings and the roses are both “very romantic” and most important, it becomes a transitional period for the two to know each other more deeply.

In Vietnam, the engagement is a festive ceremony involving the fiance's and fiance's families, and arranged in advance by the parents. The engagement is considered very important, and in some areas, even more important than the wedding.

In the western countries this Engagement Ceremony is often accompanied with exchange of rings. The rings signify a sacred bondage that need great amount of commitment and loyalty. This Engagement Ceremony culminates into Marriage and so is considered as a sacred harbinger of conjugal relationship, marital bliss.

Congratulations to Jabi and Brian on your engagement. You deserve the best! Christ's blessings together.

So what do you do once you get ther ring; say yes, cry, call mom...

Enduring Love!

2008-07-17T16:28:00.005-04:00

About a month ago we met an elderly man at a grocery store and as he was checking out, he told us that he has been married for 46 years to the same woman and that he loved her more now than when they got married!! Now, that is what I call enduring love. This is the love that is not dependent on physical attributes because I am sure that woman does not quite look like she did 46 years ago! This love must have endured some things together – maybe tragedies, maybe sorrows, maybe even pain! Their love has been time-tested and come out strong! I wish I could meet that old man again and ask him to tell me the story of their love – the joys and the pain and why he is even more in love now than then. The magic formula for enduring love must be in there somewhere… maybe hidden in between the good times and the bad, the challenges of life, the mundaness of life or maybe just the sharing of simple everyday things in life. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, that old man and his wife are just 4 years shy of joining the 5% of the marriages that make it to the 50th anniversary. I have no doubt that they will make it to that milestone.

That same week I saw another old couple - they must have been in their late 70’s or early 80’s. I was a little behind them on a long line waiting to buy food. They were both quite short (though you could tell that they might have been taller and stronger before – maybe osteoporosis had had its toll). The old man wanted to go straight to the counter (and nobody would have minded them going ahead as they looked too old to be standing in line) however, the wife held him back and they continued slowly in the line. The thing that hit me most was that they were talking, laughing and having a good time! I could not hear what they were saying but obviously they enjoyed each other’s company even in their old age! I wondered what their story was and what their secret was. The secret to this enduring love that defies time and statistics. Couples like these make me believe that there is hope for enduring love when all the statistics point to doom and gloom over marriages. There is such a thing as a forever marriage!

So on that profound note, I want to take this opportunity to wish Kim and your wife Mugure a Happy 10th Wedding Anniversary (coming up on Friday the 25th of July). Congratulations to both of you for getting to that milestone. You have made it to the 65% of married couples that reach their 10th anniversary (U.S. Census Bureau). Happy Diamond Anniversary to you! My prayer for you is that should Christ tarry, you will go on to celebrate your next diamond anniversary which will be your 60th anniversary! And like the old man, I pray that your love will grow deeper and better as the years go by so that you too may say that you love each other more than when you first got married! May yours be a forever marriage.
Hongera!

Olympics 2008

2008-07-04T15:53:00.001-04:00

Flea Market

2008-05-19T22:27:00.004-04:00

A Flea Market is: A market, usually held outdoors, where antiques, used household goods, and curios are sold so says Wikipidea.

Every Sunday in our town, May thru September, there is a flea market. It's fun to walk the bazaars in search of anything attractive. I remember last year I found a Panga (machete) not for use in Kenyan elections gone awry but for landscaping around the yard. So when it opened last week, we took a stroll after church. It got me thinking, why is it called a flea market?

I did some reading and found out that the original flea market is likely to be the Marché aux puces of Saint-Ouen, Seine-Saint-Denis, in the northern suburbs of Paris. It is a large, long-established outdoor bazaar, one of four in Paris. They earned their name from the flea-infested clothing and rags sold there. From the late 17th century, the makeshift open-air market in the town of Saint-Ouen began as temporary stalls and benches among the fields and market gardens where ragpickers exchanged their findings for a small sum.

So next time you get to go to a flea market, there is a slight chance that the flea is part of the market. How about that?

"About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing" Matt 20:3

Happy Birthday Kim!

2008-05-07T10:41:00.006-04:00

Happy Birthday (and a day) Kim!!! Indeed it is a blessing to see another year! May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and yours as you start a new year in your life. May your life always count for something and may the works of your hands release a blessing for you through the lips of those whose lives you touch!

As I think of birthdays and age and all that comes with it, I am drawn to consider some deep wisdom that came from the lips of a 5-year old last Sunday. First of all she asked me “Aunty what do you want to be when you grow up?” Now to me that question went deeper than she obviously intended. Hmmmmmm….what do I want to be when I grow up? That made me think – have I become what I wanted to be when I was her age? Have I grown up yet? (I would like to think so!) Is it obvious even to a 5year old that I am not yet what I am supposed be? And is it too late for any of us to say "I want to be a --- when I grow up?

Another nugget of wisdom from this dear wise little Miss was her comment when she heard me say “I don’t know” in response to something. Her immediate response was “Aunty how can you say that - all grown-ups know everything!” Now I know that she will grow up to discover (sadly) that grown-ups do not know that much. In fact this is such a well-known “secret” that someone had the bright idea to start a hit show called “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?” Makes me think that if young ones have such confidence in our knowledge and depend upon it, then we ought to try learn and expand our knowledge as much as we can.

Oh, one more thought provoking question “Aunty where do birds go to church?” and the answer by the same deep thinker… “They have a nest which has not bird in it and then they all go there for church”. See, that is why I think I should be hanging out more with 5year olds. I might just think deeper and become a little smarter!

Many things to ponder about on your birthday Kim….that plus anti-wrinkle creams and hair loss prevention!!! Happy Birthday!

Where have I been?

2008-05-01T16:27:00.003-04:00

OK Kim you have finally drawn me out from under this rock where I have been hiding ……and maybe it is a good thing that I have been in hiding…All my intended blogs would have been angry and in the form of whining and complaining! Starting from the incomprehensible, mind-boggling mess that was the Kenyan situation from early this year. All the blogs that I read and the emails that were being hurled around (some unsolicited spam at that!) were so disgusting and angering in terms of their tribal animosity and discrimination that I felt I might just have been one angry, sensible but feeble voice crying in the wilderness! I was overwhelmed! So I retreated, speechless but in prayer.

Then came school work, coupled with regular work and a million baby showers (I am still trying to figure out why April was laden with baby showers and birthdays- even calculating 9 months backwards still does not give me satisfactory answers) But I have been very fortunate to celebrate with my friends the birth of their newborns. It is a joy to see these first time parents so excited and grateful to God for the miracle and gift of a new life.

As for the school work, I am relearning to be a student and I am finding the hard way that procrastination is a very BAD thing! You always pay for it with stress, sleep-deprivation and unnecessary disquiet! But I do not think that it is going to change much for me since my best work is borne under pressure! Thankfully the Semester is over and I can breathe a while.

I have also been dealing with migraines – real ones – no cause for alarm as I have had these for a long time… The trigger(s) are unknown and there are no permanent solutions. The Doctor’s "educated guesses" makes me conclude that it is just another curse that some women have to deal with! Then there have been new friendships and the excitement thereof, and the phone bills that follow …(you know who you are!). I am truly blessed…

So right now I am battling with the dreaded seasonal allergies – I escaped last allergy season and I thought I was done for good, spoke highly of the vitamins that I was taking (though sporadically). I still think very highly of the supplements but somehow the crazy sneezing, itchy eyes and throat are back with a vengeance and now I am going back to prescriptions etc. There must be a way to beat this thing without stuffing oneself with drugs and pills. Anyway, I am back – back to the blogger’s world – WATCH THIS SPACE!!

Someone spoke out of turn

2008-04-28T22:02:00.003-04:00

Now that JaBi has refused to blog....

Let me ask this question: Have you ever (as a customer) been mistaken for a store employee or vice versa?

At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. Mark 7:35

Meat on Bones!

2008-04-17T13:49:00.010-04:00

This marks our 51st blog!

For the last several years I have played Volleyball as part of my exercise regimen. This year, I have decided to add some meat to my bones. Two months ago I joined PF (Planet Fitness). For $20.00 a month you get the following perks:

Free reciprocal use of all Planet Fitness® Franchise Locations
Unlimited Use of Massage Chairs
Unlimited Guest Privileges
Unlimited Tanning
1/2 Price Cooler Drinks
PF Black™ Card Key Tag
New PF Black™ Card T-shirt

* Some Restrictions May Apply

PizzaNights (the first Monday of every month)

The second Tuesday of every month serves up free bagels to club members!

This perks don't mean much if you don't get there to work out or you get there and you slack. So it behooves me when I observe people on treadmills readings magazines and books or walking so slowly that you wonder whether any calories will ever be burnt. Am also confused when someone gets on their cell phone and also tries to push and pump weights. Are we serious?! Should we go to the gym to improve ourself or to stroke our ego?

Oh! by the way before you rush to sign up at PF consider the following:

* Does the facility fit your schedule?

* Equipment

* Cleanliness

* Classes or Programs

* Do you need a babysitter?

* Locker rooms

* Staff and trainers

* Traveling

* Trial membership

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 1 Cor 8:9

It's your B-Day!!

2008-04-06T22:38:00.006-04:00

Happy B-Day Jab! Many blessings to you on another milestone.

Now the third day was Pharaoh's birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials: Genesis 40:20

Return to Sender

2008-04-01T19:16:00.009-04:00

We do ship quite a number of boxes all over the world. Last Friday as I stood in line at our local post office a brochure entitled "Global Shipping Guide" caught my attention. As I browsed thru it, I couldn't help but notice the many referrals to custom forms, for instance, Use PS Form 2976, Customs Declaration CN 22-Sender's Declaration (green label), for printed matter or documents. And then it asterisks you to refer to the International Mail Manual (IMM**) for destination country requirements.

I got curious. I know there are standards developed over time for efficient shipping and goods transfer; but do we ordinary customers really care about them? And what's the International Mail Manual?

Did you know that each country has its own conditions of mailings? Each has (a) Prohibitions (b) Restrictions (c) Observations and (d) Custom forms required. So if you are shipping to Kenya here are the Prohibitions and Restrictions: Coins; banknotes; currency notes (paper money); traveler’s checks; platinum, gold, or silver (manufactured or not); precious stones; jewelry; and other valuables. Firearms and articles resembling deadly weapons. Radioactive materials. Used clothing, bedding and other similar items, textile and fabrics. Restrictions: Articles bearing Boy Scout or Girl Scout insignia must have authorization of the Kenya Boy Scout or Girl Guide Commissioner. Military or civil uniforms and clothing resembling them require permit of the

Kenya

government. Restrictions apply to the importation of second-hand clothes for sale. This restriction does not apply to personal effects. Traps capable of killing or capturing game must have permission of the Chief Game Warden of Kenya.

But if you are shipping to Equatorial Guinea or Macedonia there are No: Prohibitions, Restrictions or Observations. Libya doesn't accept Tea or Salt or Tobacco in any form. Lesotho doesn't accept Eau de cologne! Well that's it! If you need more reading go to the USPS Website.

"Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the dispatches with the king's signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king". Ester 8:10

Rewards

2008-03-22T13:39:00.002-04:00

Everyone gets goosebumps for reward cards. EVERYONE. Even pets! says Gerri Willis Last year over 6 billion credit card solicitations were sent out. You alone probably received about 72 offers. According to Gerri, When it comes to reward cards, there are generally three types of programs: point-based programs, like the one from American Express, cash-back programs, and, of course, frequent flier reward cards.

I have often wondered about this reward cards, yet I have a few of them. So I did some reading.

(a) Point-based programs, let you accumulate points with your purchases and then you get to choose your reward.

(b) With cash-back cards, you may have to spend a certain amount annually before you get the advertised rebate.

(c) As for frequent flier reward cards, to get a free airline ticket - in most cases, you'll have to spend $25,000 a year to earn a domestic flight.

All these entices sound good but are they worth it? Yes, it's all in the details. With today's high gas prices, gas-rebate credit cards are becoming increasingly popular. And chances are, you've been tempted just as I was. Right before Thanksgiving last year, I signed up for a Best Buy rewards zone Mastercard. With this card I would earn 4% on Best Buy purchases and up to 3% elsewhere. Between then and last week I had earned some 3500 points which are equivalent to $65.00. And because my 4 year 2.4Ghz phone was kinda outdated, I decided to upgrade. So off I went to Best Buy and found this Uniden - DECT 6.0 Expandable Cordless Phone. With the $65.00 coupons and an additional 10% I ended up paying $7.00.

With the price of gas hitting the roof, it makes sense to enroll in a gas-rebate credit card. After all, whether you like it or not you'll pay for gas (unless you ride a bicycle). I found one in early February (Chase Perfectcard). With the Chase PerfectCard, you earn a 3% rebate on all eligible gas purchases at any gas station and a 1% rebate on all other purchases. Your rebate is automatically credited to your monthly statement - no forms to fill out, no keeping track of points. I am curious to find out how much money I'll have earned by the end of the year. Keep in mind though that you have to be very disciplined in paying off (in full) your purchases when you get your statement.

I hope to revisit this post at the end of the year and share my rebates!!!

Parallel of great principle: "The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness." 1 Sam 26:23

Football & Finances

2008-03-11T22:07:00.004-04:00

I feel compelled to re-post this advice courtesy of SavingAdvice.com.

What Football Can Teach Us About Finances
March 5, 2008
By Cortni Marrazzo

The football season is over now, and while that makes my husband very sad, it actually makes me pretty happy since I don’t particularly enjoy football. While I can’t get too interested in watching the game itself, I know there are some things to learn from the game. For instance, it’s better to be on offense and trying to score a touchdown than being on the defense and only trying to keep the other team from scoring a touchdown. For the most part, a team is at a better advantage when they are on offense since they are actually (hopefully) executing plays that will bring them closer to the end zone. They are more likely to score a touchdown when on offense than we they are on defense.

The same goes for our finances. When we are on offense, we are in essence executing decisions that will bring us closer to financial success in life. When we are on defense, we are simply trying to stay ahead and not let things fall behind. By taking control of your finances and doing things that will bring you closer to financial success, you are not having to react to circumstances and take drastic measures to keep you out of the red. Here are some ways you can be on offense instead of defense in your finances. It may seem like you’re only gaining 1 or 2 yards per play, but eventually you’ll get to the end zone and make a touchdown.

Offense: Cutting back on spending in some areas so you can stock your emergency savings

Defense: Cutting back on spending in all areas so you can pay all your bills and minimum payments

If you take the lead on cutting certain expenses in order to stock your savings, you’ll be more equipped to handle unexpected expenses that come up and you won’t be forced to eat Top Ramen and abstain from all extra spending (or worse, end up in credit card debt)

Offense: Funding your retirement plan and saving for the future when you are young

Defense: Having to continue working at age 75 to be able to pay all your bills

You will end up paying for your later years at one time or another — either when you’re young or when you’re old. It’s best to stock up for it now so that you can relax and enjoy life in your old age and not have to worry about working full time.

Offense: Setting up automatic payments on your bills

Defense: Trying to scrounge up money to pay for late fees

A few simple moves to set up automatic payments for your bills will keep you from unnecessary late fees that can incur if you forget to make a payment on time. This can also help your credit score.

Offense: Waiting to make a purchase until the item goes on sale

Defense: Regretting that you bought an item a few weeks ago that now costs considerably less

Pretty much all things go on sale at one time or another. You can either buy it the second you want it and pay a lot more, or you can be patient and wait until it goes on sale. That way you are paying a lot less for the same exact item.

Offense:: Buying an older used car until you can afford to buy a new (or newer) one

Defense: Having to buy an older used car and having to sell you new car because you can’t afford the payments

I personally like to move up and not down. It’s nicer to start with an older car and move up to nicer cars knowing that you will be able to keep them. It’s not as bad going without the extra features when you’ve never had them before, but it’s not fun getting used to having them and then having to downsize.

Offense: Buying a smaller house and fixing it up in order to sell it for a profit to put that money towards a bigger house later

Defense: Having to move into an apartment or move in with family members because you bought too expensive of a house and can no longer afford it

Same with the car one above — you don’t know what you’re missing if you start without it and only upgrade when you can truly afford to do so.

Offense: Going on a vacation and being able to relax knowing that it has already been paid for by money you’ve been saving up

Defense: Going on a vacation and stressing the whole time about the fact that you still have to pay for it once you get home

How relaxing can a vacation be if you know you’ll still be paying for it in a year — or worse, that you don’t know how you’ll be paying for. Peace of mind is just as important on a vacation as where you go.

Offense: Working through college and taking classes as you can afford to pay for them so you can actually keep the money you make in that career field

Defense: Taking out student loans and spending the majority of your career paying back those loans with a large portion of your salary

If you take on a large amount of debt to get a degree, what difference does a bigger salary make if you’re putting most of that money towards paying off your huge student loan debt?

If you choose to take proactive steps in your finances, you can keep yourself from a lot of trouble spots in life. You choose whether you take the steps toward your financial success or if you simply try to fight off things as they come to you. Choose the offensive and head down the field towards your financial end zone.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize - 1 Cor 9:24

Asante

2008-03-09T17:56:00.007-04:00

We know, we know (you really don't have to tell us) that it's been quite a while since we blogged. First things first:

Thank you so much for all your help and support for families affected in the Kenyan Crisis. Now I hear they are called IDPs; my brother refused being labeled and is exploring new frontiers in Central. I am sure he shares this sentiment with thousands of others. Asanteni Sana.

I don't have to tell you anything new about what you already know regarding skirmishes aka clashes aka post-election violence. In fact I got an email from Otis about New Born's in Nyanza (Looting Apiyo, Skirmishes Achieng, Anti riot Police Auma, Rubber Bullet Oloo, Shoot Me Onyango) - That tells us much.

So looks like the Obusuma is cooked and everyone has sat down to enjoy the dish.
We'll now get back to blogging.

"When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me." - Matthew 26:20,21

Why? why? why?

2008-01-01T22:26:00.000-05:00

Jabi,
Please pass this message around to all brethren and Kenya Christian Fellowship in America.

The aftermath of elections in Kenya has brought suffering and anguish. No matter what political affiliations one had, its time to stand up as Christians and do what is right.

Pray fervently that peace may prevail. Urge Bishops, pastors and people of faith to uphold our country.
Call, email, fax the Kenyan Embassy in Washington D.C.Tel: (202) 387-6101 Fax: (202) 462-3829 and ask that security be provided to thousands of helpless people in skirmish and clash torn areas. My brother and thousands of others (Approx 50k) are held up at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Burnt Forest. They are helpless and I can only ask that we spread word around to get security in that area.There is no running water, food and electricity has been cut. THIS MEANS THAT PEOPLE CANNOT RECHARGE THEIR CELL PHONES and soon we’ll not be able to contact them. Also, due to the chaos/anarchy in these compounds, people, especially women are not any safer than if they were out in the chaos. There has been reports of rapes and molestations. Eldoret highway has been closed by thugs and there is no transportation, hence people CANNOT leave this area. You can read more of the same at this blog and that blog.
Contact humanitarian crisis organizations such as Kenya Red Cross and insist that they bring basic needs for survival. Earlier today (around 10 am) I spoke with Nick a receptionist with KRC at this mobile # 722-206958 and 733-333040. He later transferred me to a PR Manager (Anthony Mwangi Cell #733-551342) who promised to send food and water. As of this writing (9:00 pm) KRC had not reached Burnt Forest. You can also find all of Kenya Red Cross contact page here.
Most people cannot call for help for lack of minutes. If you would like to top up minutes of cell phones currently working in clash torn areas, go to Mama Mikes website.
If you are not convinced that there is anarchy in Kenya, Click on and scroll down…here

I will also post this info on my blog.
In prayer,
Kim Njoroge

Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds - Habakkuk 1:3

Make room for the New!

2007-12-26T14:45:00.001-05:00

With the festive season and joy of Christmas coming to a close, we wish all our readers a wealthy and thriving 2008. May the blessings of Christ surround you!

"You will still be eating last year's harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new." - Leviticus 26:10

Nice Read!

2007-12-05T17:25:00.000-05:00

I have just been reading the book by Robert Fulghum called All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten: uncommon thoughts on common things (1986). I had, as many of you I am sure, seen the article of the same title circulated on email. Remember this?
Things I learnt;
* Share everything.
* Play fair.
* Don't hit people.
* Put things back where you found them.
* Clean up your own mess.
* Don't take things that aren't yours.
* Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
* Wash your hands before you eat.
* Flush.
* Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
* Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
* Take a nap every afternoon.
* When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
First of all I was surprised to know that this book was first written over 20 years ago! But the stories there read like present, real life blogs! I think this book could be the precursor of present day blogs. He talks about the most ordinary mundane things that happen in his life (and in all our lives really) but he has a wonderful twist to it. His language and his observations are so captivating. Here is one profound statement that he makes at the end of one of the stories… “Why is it that love and life so often have to be carried forth with so much pain and strain and mess? …..Why isn’t love easy?” The greatest thing about this book is that it made me begin to look at my everyday life and living experiences in a different way. You would have to read it to know what I am talking about…

The other day, for example, I was driving down the parkway and the sun was casting a glare and a slight haze that is not normal for this time of the year. Somehow, as I consciously thought about that glare, it took me to another continent, another time – distant lands and wonderful memories that were somehow buried in the recess of my mind and enshrouded by the glaring sun on a hazy day. I reminiscenced about another normal day like this one…..really, one of a thousand similar days that I would be on a bus sitting next to the open window going down Kenyatta Avenue being almost lulled to sleep by the engine noise (the engine which by the way was above the floor of the bus next to the driver with a wire sticking out that would be used to rev up the bus). I think of this ride which unlike the bus or train rides here were anything but quiet. People would be talking – even strangers and if you really wanted, you could tune in to any one of the louder interesting stories. This made me think of the sights and smells that just seemed in place in the bus at times like these – the sack of potatoes being transported by the vegetable stall owner “Mama wa Mboga” – that sack or sacks would be sitting right in the middle of the aisle and you would have to find a way to step and jump. If it happens that a holiday was coming up then you might be sharing the bus with chicken too – on the same aisle in readiness for the celebrations……see how far my mind went? It is like all of a sudden one present mundane experience can bring up thoughts and memories that give a new meaning to living in the present.

So I have slowed down my reading of this book that I have thoroughly enjoyed so that I can have some delightful stories to read when I need it - maybe just to savour the book for longer. Now I see why this book was a best seller those many years ago – And no, I have not been paid, coerced or otherwise influenced by anyone to write about this book!

Shopping Mania

2007-11-27T12:54:00.000-05:00

So the dreaded season is here – the shopping mania season, the season to spend, spend and spend some more on gifts that might never be used and some that you have to give because it is expected (and because it somehow feels funny to receive gifts without reciprocating). It is the season when shopping and the frustrations that accompany it become a necessary evil!

Black Friday, Cyber Monday – these were the terms that seemed to offer hope this season or were they just some sugar coated terms to find another way to separate the willing masses from their money? So this year, I decided that I would be an active participant of this crazy phenomenon and actually try and nab some of these much touted deals (if they are for real) in the computer and electronics departments. So I psyched myself up that come Friday morning I would be up at the crack of dawn, all bundled up and ready to battle the masses for a hot deal!

Come Friday morning and my bed would not let me go! (at least that is the excuse that I gave myself) or was it because common sense took over and reminded me that I have a budget to keep and that all these is hype……anyway, I had come in late from a Thanksgiving Dinner out of State at an old dear family friend’s house so it was hard to get out of bed especially on a cold morning when I did not have to go to work! I am definitely not that crazy about shopping! When I finally got up and watched the news, I knew that for sure I would have been trampled on by the surging, crashing and crushing masses rushing into the malls at 5am in the morning to spend their money at the promise of saving some money in the process. So, I decided to restrategize - I went online to check and see which stores still had deals on items that I needed. It seemed to me that opinion was varied on whether or not there are any major savings though this did not deter people from going to shop. By afternoon, I had convinced myself that I could still get all that I needed online during the “Cyber Monday” sales.

Well, I did go to the mall finally in the evening (courtesy of my roommates) and I must say that I am proud of myself, I only spent minimally and only on some essential stuff that I have been looking for (and they were not on sale, sigh!). As for Cyber Monday, it has come and gone and I did not see any deal online that I cannot still go and get at the stores – minus the shipping and handling and the long wait for the item. Also I am still an old-fashioned shopper at heart – I need to see, feel and even test the item first!

So here I am as usual, no shopping done, waiting for Dec. 24th to rush in and fight with other last minute shoppers. And a fight it is - in the parking lot for a spot, in the stores for the left over items and then to make the long queue toward a tired, irate cashier for a very, very last minute deal! (if any).

Cash or Credit?

2007-11-15T19:37:00.000-05:00

It took me four minutes to get to Kinnelon Bagels, a small Deli, off 23 North in Butler. I was hungry. Usually I don’t eat lunch until I get home but having scheduled back to back meetings my stomach begun rambling and the brain chemicals sent IM (Instant Messaging) asking for relief. I lined up ~~tagged along~~ and ordered a Grilled Chicken hot sub and some coffee. When I reached for my wallet I realized I didn't have enough cash. Since the store had a MasterCard and Visa Logos I opted to pay with my debit card. The young lady asked whether I had cash instead of using the card and wallah! The question “cash or credit?” popped up in my head.

Many small businesses prefer cash rather than credit. In fact some ~~gas station marts~~ will post notice of minimum purchases for credit card use. Part of the reason for this restriction is merchant fees that store owners pay for billing credit card companies. Fees range from per transaction fees (usually a percentage or a few cents on each card processed) to monthly or annual maintenance fees that can range from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars.

If you have watched a recent TV commercial for Visa “when the saints go marching in” it expounds that Life takes Visa. So here I was doing lunch and life needed cash! The young lady at the cashier turned to her father and asked whether she could swipe my debit card. That’s when we discussed merchant fees. I agonized with him over the dilemma of accepting plastic.

So next time you do lunch or make purchases under $10.00 be considerate of small business owners. Carry cash because no matter what you want to do in life, life doesn’t always take Visa.

This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel the loan he has made to his fellow Israelite. He shall not require payment from his fellow Israelite or brother, because the LORD's time for canceling debts has been proclaimed. Deut 15:2

Destination 5

2007-10-24T21:43:00.000-04:00

With all the reading that you can do online, it becomes overwhelming to sort and sift through hundreds of newsletters. One such newsletter I get everyday is the Forbes.com Ecommerce Newsletter. I normally browse through it and if it doesn’t make an appeal I cut it!

In a recent Men’s Breakfast meeting we acknowledged the need to begin investing wisely - Destination 5 (“Savings are put into risky investments that turn sour… the man who speculates is soon back to where he began – with nothing.” Ecclesiastes 5:13-15). With that said sift through the following 10 African stocks and invest wisely. Oh! If you need to read the complete article, mouse here

Top 10 African Stocks
MTN Group
South African Cellular Phone Company provides phone services to more than 40 million subscribers in Africa and the Middle East, though about half are in South Africa and a third in Nigeria. MTN Group (other-otc: MTNOY) was cited as one of Forbes.com's "exotic growth bargains" in 2005. Since then, the stock has more than doubled to around $17. Its American Depositary Receipts, which are 1:1, can by bought through the Bank of New York or a broker.

Murray & Roberts Engineering Holdings
This South African construction company has annual sales of $1.4 billion and a market capitalization of $4.4 billion. In early October the American fund manager Capital Group Companies bought 15.8% of the company. Murray & Roberts (NASDAQ: MURSF) shares have risen more than 180% in the last year, but they only trade in Johannesburg

Standard Bank Group
The South African lender operates in 17 African countries and provides banking, insurance broking, mutual fund management, and property fund management services. Levitt recently hired a portfolio manager from Standard Bank (other-otc: SBGOF) to work for him in Florida. It has ADRs and trades primarily in Johannesburg. The shares have risen 366% since 2002.

Naspers
Based in Cape Town, this media company operates primarily in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, but also does business in Asia, Europe, and North and South America. Naspers (other-otc: NPSNY) produces newspapers, but its Internet division, which includes instant messaging in China, generates the bulk of sales. The company has ADRs and the stock is up 19% since year to date.

Guaranty Trust Bank
A Nigerian financial institution for which Fitch Ratings upgraded its outlook to "positive" from "stable" in August, citing its growing franchise and enhanced earnings capacity. The company also has a global depository receipts (GDRs) listed in London under the symbol GRTB LI, and its local symbol is GRTB NL.

United Bank For Africa
The largest financial services company in Nigeria and West Africa trades on Nigerian Stock Exchange and also through an unlisted GDRs program currently administered by the Bank of New York. It merged with South Africa's Standard Trust Bank in August 2005 and sales have risen 350% since then.

Zenith Bank
This is Levitt's third and final Nigerian financial institution, offering deposit and fund transfer services, trade finance and foreign exchange payments. The company is the most capitalized on the Nigerian stock exchange and works with JPMorgan to act as global custodian for Nigeria's foreign reserves of $46.7 billion. Profits rose 24.1% in 2006. The local symbol is ZNBK NL.

Orascom Construction Industries
Cairo-based Orascom Construction (other-otc: ORSDF - news - people) is a leading cement maker and construction contractor in North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. It takes advantage of the low cost of natural gas in Egypt for producing cement and fertilizer. It has ADRs and an active London listing under the symbol ORSD LI. Its London shares have risen more than 9,000% since October 2002.

First Quantum Minerals
First Quantum (other-otc: FQVLF) is a copper company with operations primarily in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The primary market is Canada, though it does have ADRs and is also traded in London under FQM LN. Its shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange have nearly doubled year to date.

Ridge Mining
This London-listed mining company has operations in South Africa and has also seen its shares double since January 2007. Ridge Mining (other-otc: RDGMF) has substantial equity investments and assistance from Chinese companies. The stock trades primarily in London, though it also has ADRs.

Classic Cars

2007-10-16T23:00:00.000-04:00

I love antique cars. Call them classic cars, antique cars, vintage cars, hot rods etc, I think they have a timeless beauty. There is such a dignity and poise in some of these old regal cars that is almost seems to take on a personal character. Well, I would not say that for the muscle cars because to me that is what they are, just muscle cars. I know I will incur the wrath of the muscle car lover but I think they lack the beauty and class that say the old Fords and Chevy's of the '1920s, 30s and 40s.

One to the things I have come to realize is that the owners of these cars are crazy about them! It is almost like a cult! See, these cars have been babied – the owners buy a frame/ skeleton and then look for all the other parts from all over the country (some of which are not available) then they start the work of restoring the car and remodeling. This is usually a time and money consuming project that can take years to complete. No wonder some of these cars are just for show, they are never driven- lest they get scratched or something.

There is usually an antique car show every Friday evening during the summer in the main street of downtown Somerville, New Jersey. Here are some pictures that I took at one of these. The camera was acting up but you can still appreciate the beauty of these cars! You will also note that there is a picture of a beautiful dog that had come car-watching…it is not there by mistake. That dog was as huge as a lamb and she had the whitest fur and was very friendly! She was all groomed with a hair clip too! She just seemed to fit right in with those beautiful cars.

Like I keep saying, when I become rich and famous (ok, scratch the famous part, just give me rich!) I will splurge on at least one or two beautiful red or maybe white antique classic cars. The only thing is that my hot rods will be fun ride cars and not just for show. OK enjoy the pictures.

Where Does The Time Go?

2007-09-30T22:30:00.000-04:00

Where does the time go? The last blog entry was made on 9/11 – a month ago! With two authors you would think that entries to this journal would be more frequent. Just the other day we raked leaves, ate Thanksgiving, opened Christmas gifts… Now we get to do all this all over again. And that’s the subject of today’s blog.

We probably are too busy and we aren’t making the best use of the spare time we have. According to Professor John Robinson, University of Maryland, the average American spends:
7.9 hrs each day sleeping 5.5 hrs working 2.3 hrs watching TV
1 hr eating 49 minutes washing & grooming 47 minutes visiting (by phone and in person) 10 minutes relaxing and thinking 7 minutes on religious practice

Okay, now that I have your attention let’s review. The 5.5 hours we use working pays for everything else! Could it be that’s why we can’t make ends meet? It seems that we are generally lazy! 2.3 hours watching TV? Yeah! I think he is right – I had to complete Monday Night Football between Cowboys and Bills – a 3 hr game!

What is more troubling is the 10 minutes we spend relaxing and thinking and the 7 minutes on religious practice! No wonder only very few people are featured in CNBC’s the Big Idea and our commitment to the Great Commission (Matt 28:19) has dwindled.

So, What (Am I) are you going to do to free up more time?

“When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future”. Ecc 7:14

9/11 Good Deeds

2007-09-11T13:03:00.000-04:00

Today is the 6th anniversary of 9/11 and as I was driving to work on this rainy and dull morning, I was listening to different radio stations programming on this day. One significant thing is that this is the first time the anniversary has fallen on a Tuesday just like on D-day in 2001. So much has been said and is still being said today as we look back on the events of that fateful day, honor the memory of those that died and think of lessons learnt in terms of disaster preparedness and response. And with the release of video recordings from Osama Bin Laden (whether real or not), we are still being constantly reminded that the perpetrators of that evil are still out there and still plotting.

On a positive note, I came across a website that encourages people to do good deeds today to commemorate the day. These good deeds are a tribute to the many heroes who lost their lives in the bid to save others. The firefighters, the volunteers, police officers or even co-workers at the towers who helped others out of the building at the cost of their own lives. Some of the good deeds listed on the site range from deeds as simple as just smiling at other people today to make their day cheery or hugging someone to donating blood or supporting a charitable organization. Check it out - http://www.mygooddeed.org

My good deed for today and the month onwards is to support the Children Hunger Fund. I am joining a small team working to raise donations for the Children's Hunger Fund ("CHF"), a nonprofit organization that exists to alleviate the suffering in children here in the US, and all around the world. Whether it is hunger, malnutrition, poor medical care, abandonment or abuse, CHF works to provide products to assist in the care of children. To do so, Children's Hunger Fund solicits donations of food, clothing, personal hygiene items, medicines, medical supplies, USANA's Usanimals vitamins to children and other relief materials from American companies. The best part about this organization is its efficiency - Forbes.com reports Children's Hunger Fund as holding a 100% rating in all three of their rating categories for charitable organizations. More than 99% of revenue goes to programs serving children in need. ... that's $.99 on every $1.

Formed in 1991, CHF as distributed more than $500 million in aid, bringing hope to children in more than 70 countries worldwide. CHF feeds nearly 30,000 people per week around the world and serves 38 states in the U.S. from more than 200 distribution centers in California. Check this link to see their work in Uganda and other places.

We are three teams and our goal is to raise $10,000 by September 28, 2007 for CHF, and to raise awareness about the good works that can be done by a small, focused group. If you want this to be your good deed then, you can contact me through my website www. blessedforlife.usana.com. It's a tax write off for you, and deserving kids can get a healthy start on life.

I have to remind myself that though a good deed on this day is very significant and memorable, I should not limit my good deeds to one day or a few days of the year. I should try and make this a lifestyle. I wish you a peaceful day.

Do the right thing

2007-08-28T18:29:00.000-04:00

I know I haven't blogged for awhile. It goes without saying that sometimes we get busy. With summer almost gone and schools opening soon, the inner-man is not too happy. The only reason I broke my silence is to have you blog your comments on a column that's mandatory reading for me when I get my Money magazine. It's called do the right thing by J. Fleming and L. Schwarz. Just blog your comments.
Q
After my 84-year old father died, his two brothers told me they'd each lent him $1000 to help pay his property taxes a couple of years ago. There's enough in Dad's estate to repay them, and I have no reason to believe my uncles are dishonest. But I was close to my dad, and he never mentioned these loans. Moreover, they have nothing in writing, not even a canceled check (my uncles say they gave him cash). Should I give them the money?

Quotes to live by

2007-08-16T19:16:00.000-04:00

They are increasingly becoming popular- quotes as part of one’s signature on their emails. Maybe you even have one or two yourself. These are quotes that one has decided they hold some truth or some motivation or some inspiration. Usually they are quotes by famous people. However some of them are original - nuggets of truth that one has come up with. My email signature quote is "Work hard, play hard and pray hard..... and enjoy yourself while at it!" This was inspired by the wise King Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes where he talks about enjoying your labor/toils. Here are the verses that inspired me:
Ecc 3:22- So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?
Ecc 3:13 - That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.
Ecc 2:24-25 - A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?
Here are some examples of quotes I have picked from some of the emails sent to me.
Name of email owner: Kim Njoroge
Quote: “At some point a thinker must think!”
Name of email owner: Muthoni Njage
Quote: "There is nothing we can do to make God love us more. There is nothing we can do to make God love us less."
Name of email owner: Josephine Njambi Fuller
Quote: “Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
Name of email owner: Joash Okore
Quote: "The Only Limitation Is Your Imagination"
Name of email owner: Eileen Nduko
Quote: ".......whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely...meditate on these things (from Phillipians 4:8)
Name of email owner: Susan Wutete (don’t know her personally)
Quote: "In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists" Anon
Name of email owner: Judy Mwango
Quote: "A true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good" Ann landers
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character give him power" Abraham Lincoln

I have been wondering if we believe these quotes or live by them. I have also wondered whether these quotes are meant for the owner of the email account or it is for the consumption of the general masses or should I say readership. Do we have these quotes because it is a trend or do we really believe that nugget of truth or inspiration that seems to mean so much to us. Can our lives or actions be seen in the light of that quote…OK….OK….I am going too deep into something that is just for fun….right? OK let us have some fun, can you put in some quotes that you have come across in the email signatures? Maybe even your own here….and if you do not have one then this could be a good time to come up with one.

Bride Collapse(d)

2007-08-10T18:01:00.000-04:00

We ended up going to Twin Cities - Minnesota after most of the cousins ditched San Diego's expensive flight tickets. That means if we start planning early we'll ended up in San Diego next year. That's not how I should have begun this highly anticipated blog. Let me try again..

I mentioned earlier that I would post some pictures from St. Paul, MN. The only way I would post them, is if I actually went there; I did, a day after the Bridge Collapse. If you were me, perhaps you would have called off the entire trip for fear of another bridge collapsing, but let me tell you somethin' even after a major catastrophe, life continues, cows have to be milked, the animals fed, food prepared etc.

We chose to visit only the major attractions in MN. MOA (Mall of America) was one of `em. Normally your trip to your local mall is less than 3 hrs. We had planned to give it about these many hours, but Lo and Behold! We got there at 11 a.m. and ended up leaving at 9:30 (when they finally announced that it was over) This is not your typical mall. It has more than 500 specialty stores, 50 restaurants and 14 movie theaters. Consider this fun facts:

Mall of America is the largest, fully enclosed retail and family entertainment complex in the U.S.
Seven Yankee Stadiums would fit inside Mall of America.
Mall of America’s 13,300 short tons of steel is nearly twice the amount in the Eiffel Tower.
Walking distance around one level of Mall of America is .57 of a mile.
Spending 10 minutes in every store would take a shopper more than 86 hours to complete their visit to Mall of America.
More than 4,200 couples have been married at Mall of America since opening in August of 1992.
Mall of America is located on the former Metropolitan Sports Stadium which was home to the Minnesota Vikings and Twins. Home plate can be found in Camp Snoopy.
There are 30,000 live plants and 400 live trees planted in The Park at MOA.

I drank lots and lots of Chai Tea Latte at Caribou and Starbucks.
Next we hit Minnesota Childrens' Museam, Minnesota Zoo, Minehaha Falls, Dontown St. Paul, Downtown Minneapolis, Tamtams restaurant, Famous Dave, Rochester City, Collapsed Bridge, Lori Art Festival and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.
A few highlights:
@ Tam-Tam's African Restaurant we met the owner/chef, Steven Kaggwa who inspired us with his passion for cooking. You can read a review of background here. I can't tell you enough how tasty the Nyama Kyoma, Sambosas, Tilapia and Ka-Chai was, (note the Ugandan accent)
@ Minneapolis Sculpture Garden we were marveled by the Spoonbridge and Cherry which weighs more than 7000 pounds
@ Minehaha Falls no water was running. A local told us that it dries up every 50 years. How odd could it be that we there on the 50th year? You can believe that?
@ the collapsed bridge we worshiped the Lord.

When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, "Where is the whitewash you covered it with?" Ezekiel 13:12

Here are the photos

Fake Pastors

2007-08-02T16:29:00.000-04:00

By now, you'll have noted that I blog on almost any interesting topic from East African Media. The other day I ran into this article posted in Uganda's New Vision Newspaper. It would be easier for me to provide you with a link and send you there but I know you value having a discussion. So let go through it: My comments in red.

By Herbert Ssempogo
THE Police have opened a general inquiry file on fake pastors countrywide. Announcing the move, Police spokesman Asan Kasingye on Friday called on people to use the opportunity to report dubious pastors. Every person with a complaint against a particular pastor can come to us and give us information, he appealed, while addressing a news conference at the Police headquarters in Kampala. The Police open a general inquiry file when there are several complaints about an issue from members of the public. We open the file in absence of a particular complainant so that we can confirm the allegations and also find a way forward, Kasingye explained. The Acting Commissioner (crime), Elly Womanya, who is stationed at the CID headquarters at Kibuli in Kampala, will receive all complaints.

Since there are no standards for establishing a church, anyone can start one. And once you start a church, the benefits are tangible. It is not surprising therefore that some pastors are not real pastors, but petty con men abusing the special privileges afforded to the clergy. I don't know of any other profession which is quite easy to fake as pastor-hood. By adopting a reverential demeanor, cultivating a spiritual voice, slipping occasional words like "eschatology" into conversation....they become trusted, without any questions asked, as stewards of the mysteries. It takes only a hint here and a gesture there, an empathetic sigh, or a compassionate touch to convey that they are at home and expert in these deep matters.

The media has lately been awash with reports about the activities of pastors, many of which border on crime. The Sunday Vision over three weeks this month serialised the activities of pastors who coerce their flock into sowing their valuables in exchange for blessings from God. Several people have alleged that pastors take their vehicles and land titles with promises that they will cure them of HIV/AIDS, among other miracles.

Nobody wants God's wrath on them! One would rather comply with the said promises. The self-made "Pastors" trying to sound spiritual, claim they are led by God to tell you what you want to hear.

If someone reports to us that they have been threatened or intimidated, we shall take action, Kasingye warned. He cited embattled Pastor Obiri Yeboah Kojo, who last week asked Pastor Samuel Kakande of the Synagogue Church Of All Nations to apologise to him or face God's power within 60 days. The Police are investigating Kojo over allegations of importing a device designed to give electric shocks, but Kojo accuses Kakande of framing him.

A device designed to give electric shocks? Come on! Oh! that's why many fall by the power? Can you imagine at what lengths fake pastors will go to lure you in?

Kasingye also said Pastor Grace Kitaka, who is accused of sodomising Julius Lukyamuzi, had been interrogated. Meanwhile, it emerged that Kojo is not wanted by the police in Ghana. The Police had early in the week warned that Kojo would be extradited over allegedly defrauding a woman of the equivalent of sh17m. Kasigye said the man Ghanian police seek is Alex Yeboah.

Nuff said! I guess you fake it until you make it!
Published on: Saturday, 28th July, 2007

It is very unfortunate that in today's world the use of the title "Pastor" "Mchungaji," "Mtu wa Mungu'" has become a means for ego recognition, income, medical insurance, retirement fund, second marriages, parsonages, and ungodly lifestyles.

Let me also point out that there are real pastors who make our life's journey much like Christ's. To them may the blessings of our Lord be with you, always.

Systems Overload!

2007-07-31T13:03:00.001-04:00

There is this little restaurant in my town that I have been curious about for a long time. The name of the place is “Beana’s ” and the décor outside the place - brightly colored watering cans, a big flower box with huge fake sunflower plants, a huge cactus plant cut-out, some multi-colored flags and some neon lights - have always fascinated me. So I decided the other day to feed my curiosity and go in. This was an experience and a half! I think I have moved up a notch in my multi-cultural education.

Now the moment I walked in my eyes were overwhelmed! I did not know where to look or even when and where to sit. It was a small place with two seating areas and the whole place was crammed with stuff! There was stuff hanging on the walls and from the ceiling that made it look like an overloaded Christmas tree. The place looked like a bird’s nest (some birds, like magpies and crows, love collecting stuff especially shiny things). There were different types of Crosses hanging on the wall, many religious pictures and a few portraits of some guys in some traditional garb, there were shiny Christmas-like décor hanging off the ceiling. It just seemed to me like the there was not an empty space on the walls and the ceiling. Many small tables filled the place – each of these tables had a different colored and flowery tablecloth! The chairs were mismatched too. Two Mexican flags hung proudly in the room as were the sombreros on the wall. On top of the half-wall partition that divided the two seating areas, there were vases of plastic dark blue flowers and multicolored animal figurines. There were glasses and mugs hanging from a lowered part of the ceiling that ended at what look like the entrance to the kitchen. On the floor near a table at the entrance of the restaurant, sat the top sewing part of an old “Singer” sewing machine. This was fascinating to me because my mother had one those a long time ago – they usually came with a specially designed table that had a foot pedal for sewing. I wondered what it was doing on the floor, almost under the table – was this part of the décor? Was it deliberately placed there? Did it have some cultural significance or was it a sentimental one?

In this restaurant, you just walk in and seat yourself wherever you fancy. Now, then, just as if this was a movie set, in walks a gentleman… (Senor) to be precise! Coming from the kitchen area. He has on a sombrero, a bandana, a moustache and some cowboy boots (for lack of a better description here). The old man fit in perfectly with the whole atmosphere. Now honestly, I expected him to speak to the waiter in Spanish but he spoke in English, with no trace of an accent whatsoever! I concluded that he was part of the establishment there….maybe even the manager. There was no clearly designated place for a sales counter. The only thing that made me realize where it was, was the phone hanging on the wall and the papers near an old cupboard with distressed paint with a lone padlock in the middle (the kind that we used to call “Kabati” at my great grandmother’s). This ambiance was topped off with some mellow Mexican music that seemed out of place in this setting of clashing, loud colors, millions of hanging paraphernalia and mismatched furniture.

What about the food you ask? I wish I could say that it was as unique as fascinating as the place but alas, it was disappointing! The chicken quesadilla that I ordered looked like some left over chicken that had been shredded, with a hint of bean soup – salsa and sour cream together with Doritos chips came on the side. Honestly I have eaten better quesadillas at Taco Bell and Baja Fresh – and cheaper too. My impression of the food there was not helped by the fact that I had noticed when I came in that one of the tables had a Dunkin Donut paper bag on it. I concluded that it most probably had brought in a donut, maybe by one of the workers there (I doubt they would allow a customer to bring in food from outside). So if someone working there buys food from elsewhere, would that inspire a lot of confidence in the food there for me?

So would I go there again? Maybe for the appreciation of the cultural décor or to take pictures if they would allow me……

Windshield Larger than Rear View Mirror

2007-07-28T15:26:00.000-04:00

This is my fourth windshield replacement on my Xterra. I know some of you readers have not had an auto glass repair or replacement in years! You can't even remember when you ever did it. So I keep asking myself, why me? The only little consolation I have is the fact that Over 11000000 windshields are damaged in the U.S. each year.

I can hear your advice; keep of the dirt roads, why do you follow the trucks (some of them have signs reading DO NOT FOLLOW), buy extra insurance ... and so on. You know what you should be doing? - feeling my pain. Now that some of you have never experienced this part of owning a car here is a quick lesson;

(a) Auto glass is an important structural component of your vehicle, so a quality installation is important to your safety. A Urethane adhesive is applied to the vehicle frame. The vehicle is safe to drive in and about one hour for most installations.
(b) It really doesn't take long to have a windshield repaired or replaced. My appointment was for 12:00 Noon and I was done by 12:45. That means a repair shop can make $250.00 every 45 mins. I can see dollar signs hanging over your head. Please get back to understanding my woes.

(c) Windshield replacement falls under the comprehensive portion of your insurance rather than the collision portion. Therefore the repair or replacement of your windshield will not influence your insurance premiums. Double check with your insurance carrier for payments.

(d) Beware of Windshield Scams. Unfortunately it seems there is always someone who is looking for a way to take advantage of the naïve. It's no different in the auto glass world. Be wary of any someone that suggests: To replace the entire window when you have a small chip in the glass; Offers to give you cash in return for letting them do your insurance glass job; They are unwilling to give you a written estimate before the work is started; To let them do the job "off the books"; That you must use their service because they are the authorized shop for "Big Insurance Corp" insurance.

Well, there you have it. My windshield is replaced. Using this pen and paper I tell it - Do not crack or chip ever, not with this Xterra.

The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass - Rev 21:18

Summer Visits

2007-07-22T23:36:00.001-04:00

What places have you visited this Summer?

Ecstatic Worship!

2007-07-19T16:19:00.000-04:00

If you have attended a charismatic or Pentecostal church, you must have seen this one person (or more) who was so enraptured in their praise, adoration and worship of God that they were crying or kneeling or even lying prostrate. Or maybe, as a friend of mine who is unfamiliar with this church phenomenon describes it “… they were so into it that they passed out!” ……hey, maybe that was you in that state of Spiritual ecstasy. And then you may have also noticed other members of the congregation (maybe you) sitting or standing quietly by sometimes also worshipping quietly and sometimes watching the ones whose inward worship is being manifested in outwardly. These people who do not seem “into it” might actually also be deep in prayer and worship but without the emotion or the physical excitement. Now, having attended church a great portion of my life, I have been both an observer and a participant of this phenomenon at different times.

See, I have been listening to this particular song of worship to God – essentially a love song to God. The Singer tells God He is worthy of praise and He goes on to praise the attributes of God! Now, I don’t know whether it is the music or the lyrics or the fact that this song is in KiSwahili (I think that will be one of the languages spoken in heaven!), but this song seems to transport me to another place and another time! A place of ecstasy and love where the sweetness of the love of God almost becomes tangible…..ooohh, I cannot describe it but it is a place where everything and everyone else ceases to exist and the moment seems frozen in time. Now, worship songs and music seem to do this to me. However not all songs do and even the same song might not elicit such a reaction all the time. I started wondering how it is that some people experience such depths of feeling while some do not. This is definitely not a measure of one’s love for God or commitment to God since even secular music can affect one’s emotions or composure. How two people could be worshiping God and in the same place, with the same atmosphere and yet one seemingly gets so “into it” and the other one stands quietly by. And this has led me to thinking about how and why this happens. Of course, I cannot not go into any theological or doctrinal discussions as those are too lofty for me.

OK so here are my thoughts;
1. Could it be because of their emotional make-up? So people are very expressive and some are not. A good example in the Bibles is when David danced so hard as the Ark of the Covenant was coming back, that all his clothes fell off. Now, his wife Michal was very embarrassed by his un-kingly behavior and she rebuked him for that outward show of emotion. So for some, this is by nature and some by upbringing. For example I know that many African men were brought up to believe that real men do not cry! And especially not in public! So maybe this extends to public worship.

2. Could it be because of their religious background? – some people were brought up in churches where any show of outward emotion was frowned upon, or even not allowed and an usher would quickly whisk away such a person. For these, true worship is a personal and quiet meditation. Some people however grew up in churches that were loud and full of action. (I have attended a church where worship time seemed chaotic – people shouting and laughing, jumping up and down and running all over the sanctuary, with the drum and the organ playing). Of course this would be totally distracting to the one who worships silently.

3. Could it be because of their Spiritual standing (and I am not in any way suggesting that anyone who has a relationship with God must show it in a physically expressive way). But maybe there might be someone who is not moved because they do not know the one that they are worshipping. How can you worship one whom you do not know? How can you get into it if you do not have a relationship with God in the first place? One could try to force themselves or even work themselves into a frenzy but if they have do not believe in Him whom they are worshipping then they are just playing games and that brings me to another thought…

4. Could it also be that some of us are just going through the motions, doing what we think should happen in a service….think of the times that you have lifted you hands in Church when the preacher told you to and you did it – not knowing or asking why? Could it be because of lack of knowledge? Some people have no clue what is happening! So they become puzzled and somewhat fearful observers.

5. Could it be a product of the moment or the time and the atmosphere of the service or fellowship? Or maybe it is a result of something else, something greater than the human mind can comprehend. I like to think of it as in individual touch by God in a personal way…..

Whatever it is my friend and however you experience and express your worship of God, I wish you a touch of ecstasy by and in the love of God.

Ok, I know that I may have gone in way over my head in this blog - but that is what happens when you have an overload! I attended a great Christian Conference in VA early this month (same one Kim attended – see the previous blog) and it was wonderful….can’t even begin to write of all the things that I learnt and the social aspect of it. I was overfed in every sense of the word!

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Rom 12:1

Harrisonburg, VA

2007-07-06T22:06:00.000-04:00

It has become a tradition now that every year, right before Independence Day (July 4th) we attend the KCFA Annual Conference. It's a 5-hrs drive to the beautiful campus of JMU in Harrisonburg, VA so we pack lots of drinks (non-alcoholic, of course), enough Mandazis, CDs/DVDs, chewing gum and a good cheer. Apart from meeting new friends, catching up with old ones and making peace with the not-so-friendly ones, we thoroughly enjoy ourselves. This year's theme was - "A believer Armored" you can imagine how many bullet-proof vests we now have (I mean spiritually). The workshops had good information too. For instance, at the Men's Workshop, all men learned that burnt nyama choma (roasted meat) is not good for their DNA, that annual physicals are a must and that getting enough rest adds a few more years to life. This didn't sit in very well with most of us. How can you deny us meat and ask us to be inspected by nurses? huh! By the way, we consider resting as watching football, nuff said.

Let me also quickly share excerpts from the Finance and Wealth Management workshop.

Design your lifestyle ; how do you want to live? like a pauper or a prince?
Analyze your lifestyle - just like portfolio management take a look at how you live. Use Zero-base budgeting.
Understand the concept of utility. Design a path of growth such as using the power of small and time. Knowing and doing are two different things. Hope is not a strategy.
Protect your wealth - Understand risk-return theory. Wealth is created by managing returns. Store away what you earn. Learn from the ant. There's no success without a successor.
Income = consumption + savings. What you don't consume you save, what you save you don't consume.

Am sure Jabi learnt something too!

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! Prov 6:6

Words....and the power therein!

2007-06-20T16:03:00.000-04:00

There are some certain words that I find fascinating in the English Language… I have no logical explanation why other than they either sound nice or conjure up a funny image. Here are some of them;

Tomfoolery – “Silliness, silly behavior” – this conjures up an image of a pompous ceremonial person standing on a podium wagging a finger warning against such “Tomfoolery!” in a bombing voice (ok, ok I know I have watched too many Wild West Movies!)

Nincompoop – “an offensive term that deliberately insults somebody’s intelligence or competence”. This word just sounds like an insult….any word that has “poop” at the end of it, must not be a very endearing term. I wonder who came up with this one.

Numskull – “an offensive term that deliberately insults somebody’s intelligence or competence” – This word to me totally describes some people….it is a much better description than being thick headed or dim witted – it is someone with a Numb Skull! - one who cannot think! Has no common sense….I think the drivers at rush hour traffic in NJ who do not use their turn signals would fit this description.

Sniffer dog – “a dog trained to detect explosives, drugs, or other contraband by scent” – I have encountered this word in serious situations where the dogs are searching for people in collapsed building or landslides/earthquakes. However, this still conjures up a funny picture in my mind – thanks to the many years of watching cartoons and Scooby Doo!

Discombobulation – “the act of throwing somebody into a state of disconcerting confusion” - I still have a hard time believing that this is a legit word but it is! Maybe someone came up with this one for the spelling bee contest. My mental image here is a person whose body is all contorted and tied up in knots – kind of like the way the contortionists do.

But Speaking of words on a more serious note, How many times have we heard about the power of words? the Bible says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]” Proverbs 18:20-22 (Amplified version)

The old child’s play rhyme says “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” - how wrong! Physical pain is soon forgotten but the psychological pain that words can cause, sometimes haunt us all our lives. How many people have lived a mediocre life because someone called them “Stupid” or “Idiot” and they believed that all their lives? How many great people have been brought down by words “You can’t do it”. How many great ideas have been shot down by the words “that will never work”?

The most unfortunate things is that spoken words cannot be erased or deleted. Have you ever said something and then immediately wished you could run after it and take it back or wished you could just push the delete button? ….you may apologize and even say nice things to counteract the bad words but the words will have gone out! How much pain has been caused by some hasty words spoken in anger. The worst thing about this is that most of the people who suffer from our words are our loved ones. I guess it is “the familiarity that breeds contempt” in a way but we are less careful with our words. When we meet stranger or make a new friend we are so careful with what we say. We make sure that they understand what we mean with the words that we use – leaving no room for misunderstanding, we do not want to hurt them. But somehow this gets worn down….

Watch your words - do not “discombobulate” and hurt others! Your words have power!

There are those who speak rashly, like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:17-19 (Amplified version)

Councilman

2007-06-18T22:21:00.000-04:00

Ever been to a councilman's office? here, let me spare you the agony. If you do business in a big city then most likely your councilman's office is downtown. A few weeks ago I wanted some paper signed by a councilman. I drove to his office downtown. Between finding parking and finding the right door through metal detectors I was 5 minutes late to my appointment. So for the next 30 minutes I blogged in my head.

The secretary answered the councilman's calls with the usual " good morning, councilman's ... office, Ms J speaking, how can I help you?" And then she would go into how the councilman was not in but she would be glad to take a message. What amazed me is the number of calls from friends, acquaintances, neighbors etc. Someone wanted to know how to text from their new T-Mobile phone. (he was referred to the manual). You can easily decipher formal and informal calls by the tone of voice, facial expressions and gestures. Then there was visits by other secretaries, pod mates and courier. Being a Monday there was much catching up to do, I assumed. Some wanted to know how the weekend was, the Friday bash, upcoming charity walk...

I didn't expect the councilman to have much vested power until the secretary pulled Windex and a spray-on from a locked cabinet, walked into his office and made it a little merrier. Ha! could this be part of their job description? The boss-secretary relationship observed by Kanter is characterized by stereotypical gender roles. Kanter found that many bosses place a higher value on the personal services provided by the secretary, such as emotional support, than on professional skills. Secretaries are often used as ‘‘sounding-boards’’ to the boss’ daily business and personal woes.

I couldn't tell you how the office looked - I never got in. Because I had never met this councilman before I didn't know he had walked in until the secretary frantically asked me for the paper, whisked it over to him and handed it back to me signed. So much for the 45 minutes wait.

But now, my lord the king, please listen. Let me bring my petition before you: Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the secretary, or I will die there." - Jeremiah 37:20

Why Kenya?

2007-06-13T15:02:00.000-04:00

On Monday this week, there was a bomb explosion in the city center in Nairobi, Kenya. According to the scanty news coverage on it, one person was confirmed dead at the site and about 30 others injured, some of them badly. Terrorist activity is suspected. Now for most Kenyans this is a bad reminder of the 1998 American Embassy bomb blast that took the lives of an estimated 213 people and injured hundreds more - some of whom are now living with disability and pain.

I was alerted about this recent blast by a friend of mine as I was going to work – he said that he had seen some little information scrolling at the bottom of the screen during news and was wondering if I knew anything more. I had not even heard of it so I frantically went online when I got to work to look for more information. To my dismay, only the local Kenyan newspapers online and BBC Africa had any information. CNN had nothing and most of the other major American News Network did not have a mention of it.

This got me to asking myself…..why Kenya? Not that I would wish this or any other terrorist attack on any other county but it seems to me that there are bigger fish in the sea. If Kenya is not even worth a mention in the major news networks – is it because only (and I say ONLY with a cringe) 1 person died and 30 injured or is it that it is not as important as following the tiring stories of Paris Hilton’s jail escapades? Really why Kenya? I do not purport myself to be knowledgeable in the political playing field – international or otherwise, so these are just straws in the dark here. Could it be that Kenya is an easy target because of lax security? Could it be that Kenyans are so busy dealing with domestic problems that they have no time deal with perceived threats? Could it be because of American interests in Kenya or the fact that Kenya is Israel friendly? Could it be because of militant Islamic group presence or even that there may be an Al Qaeda cell….and if so I ask again why would they choose Kenya?

I have come up with some reasons why NOT to attack Kenya. I would like to present this to whoever who would even think of it…..
1. If publicity is your aim, you will not get the media coverage that you desire – case in point, the last attack.
2. The average Kenyan is a hard working person whose main concern is to get their basic needs. Most Kenyans are trying to eke out a living….let’s not even talk of the poverty levels. The suffering of these poor people will not cause any international outcry and therefore will be of no aid to you or your evil cause in anyway.
3. There are no resources to fight for or gain. The best resource that Kenya has is its people…..and for that I will refer you to #2 above.
4. Kenya has enough political issues of its own- what with Mungiki killings and political campaign issues. Yours will only be one more pain and suffering but not of beneficial consequence to you.
5. Kenya politicians only understand the rules of personal gain. Right now they are busy trying to get back into the arena of “who can tell the best lies to get the peoples’ vote” - they will not be of help to you.

My advice to you - If you have a statement to make, then find another way to make it and leave Kenya alone!

How Guys Die

2007-06-12T23:03:00.000-04:00

This caught my attention today and so in the mood of not being selfish, am passing along to you:

The 10 most deadly health threats to men.

No. 10: Alzheimer’s Disease

No. 9: Kidney Disease

No. 8: Suicide

No. 7: Pneumonia and Flu

No. 6: Diabetes

No. 5: COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

No. 4: Stroke

No. 3: Accidents

No. 2: Cancer

No. 1: Heart Diseases

I didn't mean to scare you but not that I have your attention you may want to gather more info about each threat. In that case follow this thread. The No. 1 threat reminded me of John's friend demise.

Altogether, Adam lived 930 years, and then he died. Gen 5:5

Driving in Silence

2007-06-06T15:59:00.001-04:00

The other day I did the unthinkable – I drove to work with my car radio/CD off! Now, for me that is a rare occurrence if I am alone in the car. There was no blaring music - however good it is at other times - there was no radio station surfing, no having to listen to radio DJs trying to lure people to play some dumb on-air games or pranks, and no having to listen to people showing their total ignorance on matters that should be general knowledge. Like I really think one should not call in to answer a Bible Question if you have no clue about some basic Bible verses like John 3:16. I must warn you here though that this my sour grapes rant since I never seem to get through for the “Bible or Not” game on Star99.1 every morning and most of those times the person who goes through seems to have no clues of even the basic Sunday School Bible stories. I feel like yelling at the person “You should have let someone make use of that opportunity!" Ok enough of my ranting.

Anyway, I digress ….so back to the silent ride – I was actually able to notice more things as I drove even the foliage! I took active notice of other cars and motorists. My mind began to wander in the direction of driving in this season. I got the chance to be reminded of Jersey drivers “what’s-a-turn-signal” attitude by a few fools who do not seem to realize that those turn signals are to be used. I remembered that for the last few days and week, I have seen more stalled cars on the roadside than I have in a long while. On one occasion I saw more than 3 stalled vehicles on a short stretch of one highway. Then I started wondering where this has to do with the high gas prices or just the fact that the road trip season has begun. I remembered one “expert” on NPR radio saying that this season we will be seeing more stalled cars on the roads, having run out of gas. Her advice was that if you own a car, you are obligated to gas it up. But after having paid $3.33 per gallon yesterday I am obliged to tell her that I am obligated to nothing but getting to where I need to go whether it means walking or even hitchhiking. I decided that by dire need, I will wean myself from the Jersey habit of driving to a store on next block….

So after the peace and quiet of the ride, and the loud riot of my thoughts on motorists, I turned on my radio deciding that listening to one of those experts giving unsolicited and sometimes unnecessary advice was better for me as it made driving a mind-numbing exercise…of course until some fool cuts me off….!

The Millionaire Inside (Again)

2007-06-05T21:25:00.000-04:00

Chris had asked about my post for the Millionaire Inside. It is re-aring now. For those who missed this show here is the current schedule on CNBC (you'll need cable):

"Retiring Rich"

Saturday, 9 June 2007 - 9:00 PM & 12:00 (ET)

Monday, 11 June 2007 - 10:00 PM & 1:00 AM (ET)

Sunday, 17 June 2007 - 9:00 PM & 12:00 AM (ET)

Alaska

2007-06-01T20:30:00.000-04:00

I visited with a friend over the weekend, last week. It doesn't cease to amaze me that you learn something new everyday - if you want to! So apart from the many topics we discussed including business ventures, Kenyan politics and tribalism, dowry and marriage, housing bubble and sub-prime mortgages; it occurred to me that I didn't know much about Alaska. See while many of us were coming to America he was going to Alaska. You don't hear much about Kenyans wanting to go to Alaska. In fact it was just him and his brother from Kenya in Alaska. Amazingly, as a student he could save as much as $10,000 in a season. How? I asked. See when a Kenyan goes to a foreign land, he/she tends to copy what those others that came earlier are doing. If he finds them working as security guards most likely his first job will be a security guard. When my friend landed in Alaska he didn't find any Kenyans so he did what other Alaskans did. Employment is primarily in government and industries such as natural resource extraction, shipping, and transportation. And that's how he managed to save the mooolah.

Speaking of natural resource extraction he went into great detail about the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System a major U.S. oil pipeline connecting oil fields in northern Alaska to a sea port where the oil can be shipped to the Lower 48 states for refining. The single diameter pipeline was built between 1974 to 1977 at a cost of around US$8 billion. You can read all about it here.

I drove home thinking of opportunities, time and tide. Consider this: The area that became Alaska was purchased from Russian interests on October 18, 1867 for $7.2 million. Try selling it now!

"It's no good, it's no good!" says the buyer; then off he goes and boasts about his purchase. Prov 20:14

GAF=83

2007-05-28T12:39:00.000-04:00

I was reviewing this GAF Scale for one of my clients last week and wondered whether everyone I know should be evaluated. It helps me understand where people are and how I should relate to them. If you are going to do this remember that the Scale is to be rated with respect only to psychological, social and occupational functioning. Do not include impairment in functioning due to physical (or environmental) limitations. If you fall below 50 …Uhm!

Code
100 - 91

Superior functioning in a wide range of activities, life's problems never seem to get out of hand, is sought out by others because of his or her many positive qualities. No symptoms.
90 - 81
Absent or minimal symptoms (e.g., mild anxiety before an exam), good functioning in all areas, interested and involved in a wide range of activities, socially effective, generally satisfied with life, no more than everyday problems or concerns (e.g., an occasional argument with family members).
80 - 71
If symptoms are present, they are transient and expectable reactions to psychosocial stressors (e.g., difficulty concentrating after family argument); no more than slight impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., temporarily falling behind in schoolwork).
70 - 61
Some mild symptoms (e.g., depressed mood and mild insomnia) OR some difficulty in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., occasional truancy, or theft within the household), but generally functioning pretty well, has some meaningful interpersonal relationships.
60 - 51
Moderate symptoms (e.g., flat affect and circumstantial speech, occasional panic attacks) OR moderate difficulty in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., few friends, conflicts with peers or co-workers).
50 - 41
Serious symptoms (e.g., suicidal ideation, severe obsessional rituals, frequent shoplifting) OR any serious impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., no friends, unable to keep a job).
40 - 31
Some impairment in reality testing or communication (e.g., speech is at times illogical, obscure, or irrelevant) OR major impairment in several areas, such as work or school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood (e.g., depressed man avoids friends, neglects family, and is unable to work; child frequently beats up younger children, is defiant at home, and is failing at school).
30 - 21
Behavior is considerably influenced by delusions or hallucinations OR serious impairment, in communication or judgment (e.g., sometimes incoherent, acts grossly inappropriately, suicidal preoccupation) OR inability to function in almost all areas (e.g., stays in bed all day, no job, home, or friends)
20 - 11
Some danger of hurting self or others (e.g., suicide attempts without clear expectation of death; frequently violent; manic excitement) OR occasionally fails to maintain minimal personal hygiene (e.g., smears feces) OR gross impairment in communication (e.g., largely incoherent or mute).
10 - 1
Persistent danger of severely hurting self or others (e.g., recurrent violence) OR persistent inability to maintain minimal personal hygiene OR serious suicidal act with clear expectation of death.
0
Inadequate information.

But how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself? - Deut 1:12

Are you that fly?

2007-05-22T21:46:00.000-04:00

I was just browsing the web, during my break and came across this blog. For those of you that finished O levels and read History of Central Africa, you will recall this phrase;

The chameleon gets behind the fly, remains motionless for some time, then he advances very slowly and gently, first putting forward one leg and then another. At last, when well within reach, he darts his tongue and the fly disappears. England is the chameleon and I am that fly.
—Lobengula

Lobengula, King of the Matebele, was a South African Ndebele king. His kingdom was the last of the major African states to be destroyed by the colonialists in southern Africa.

Parallel of great principle: Sometimes it is good to admit when you are in a fix.

Kenyan Breweries Unlimited

2007-05-20T17:17:00.000-04:00

I am really confused about this issue and rationale... In both EA Standard and Nation

Definition: Traditional liquor is any intoxicating liquor manufactured by traditional African methods, other than distillation, which is offered, or is intended to be offered, for sale in a state of continuing fermentation without further processing.

In the 1970s, President Moi imposed the ban on the brewing and consumption of traditional liquor, saying it retarded development and contributed to breaking up of families. Last week, Finance minister, Mr Amos Kimunya, announced that Government had lifted the ban on consumption and brewing of traditional liquor including busaa, mnazi and muratina. Operators of traditional liquor premises will be required to apply and follow the same procedures as the business people who operate bars.
Reason(s); The repealing of the Act comes after lobbying by some MPs and members of the public, advocating for legalisation of traditional brews. Advocates of the brews argued that legalising them would curb consumption of illicit brews, which have in the past caused deaths.
Reactions:

ODM-Kenya presidential aspirant, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka said the lifting of the ban on traditional liquor is political. Kalonzo claimed it was a Government plot to derail the General Election through voter apathy because it had sensed defeat in the December poll. He said the move was to ensure people who take such brews stayed in drinking dens on the voting day. The Mwingi North MP said consumption of traditional brews would also retard development. Explain this to me.
At the weekend, Moi faulted the Government for lifting the ban. No further details on how he faulted the Gava.
Central Organisation of Trade Union Secretary General, Mr Francis Atwoli and church leaders from Baringo condemned the move, saying it would reduce productivity in workers. Am assuming it would reduce productivity because of hangover or if they drink on the job.
The reverend Daniel Chemon of the Full Gospel Church told Government to brace itself for mass demonstrations against the move. Mass demonstrations!

I guess that's why the LORD said to Aaron, 9 "You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. 10 You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean. Leviticus 10:8-10.

Subliminal Messages

2007-05-17T21:50:00.000-04:00

I schedule all my appointments in Morris County as far west as Mt. Olive and as far east as Butler (not a person). That means am on the road most of the time. So in all these years I have driven in tarmac I took a keen interest today in those others commuting. The first vehicle that caught my eye was a caravan with the words Able something Locksmith. I imagined he had gotten (don't change this word please) a call from someone locked out. He should be a helpful fellow unless he was planning a Heist. Next, an AT (Armoured Truck) vehicle obviously transporting cash, jewelry, gold, who knows what else. AT career should involve being vigilant or otherwise end up on The Italian Job. Then came past me a long stretch limo. There was no way of knowing who was being driven. It was all tinted. I guessed there were two careers here: a driver, who follows orders and perhaps an Executive, who gives directives. There were many others, just like the episodes in Lost. I obviously can't name all the traffic but each had a destination to get to. Some people accomplished much, others may have just burnt gas.

Now, what is it that you say while driving? Take for instance an old, rugged, Safari Caravan that I overtook with graffiti on the side. It read Bird. Or the GMC Yukon with a United States Air Force sticker on the window emblem? How about the pick up truck with the words Morris County Mosquito Commission? ... mosquitoes?

What is it that you are saying without saying it?

Life, death and investments

2007-05-15T15:00:00.000-04:00

Life and death surround us – it is part of what living is all about. However, for most of us the only times that we think of life is when a child is born or when we are invited to a baby shower. We are then reminded of the beauty and miracle that is life. This is also true of the inevitable truth that is death- we only come to the realization of its cruel hand when it snatches a friend or a loved one from our midst.

The reality of these was brought to my attention so forcefuly in the last couple of months. I was reminded of the joy, beauty and hope that new life brings by the birth of my niece “Maya Wambui” in April. She was aptly named after two great women – Maya Angelou a living legend, a woman of great wisdom known and respected the all over the world and Wambui – after my mother another great woman of great wisdom who on the contrary is not known by anyone else but the few in her neighbourhood that she interacts with daily and her children. However, she has had positive impact on those few that have been blessed to know her. A humble woman who has lived her life for her children and others sacrificing and loving like only a great mother can. So my niece, having been named after these two great women, I feel a sense of hope anticipation for all that this little girl will grow to become and achieve.

The going home of one of my best friends made me have to think of that dirty cruel word – death! My Friend Elaine Njeri Kabogo went to be with Jesus on March 25th– a loyal, loving friend, a Woman of faith, a faithful soldier in the army of God. She has left a legacy of faith and faithfulness (see the great testimonials/tributes on her memorial website - But however morbid the thought of death is and the fact that many of us do not like even to think of it, we have to come to terms with it – we have to think of what next, where next? My friend Elaine is in Heaven- will you go there too when you die? How can you be sure? So even as you think of the stocks and the markets and trying to live the American dream or African or whatever dream you chasing or living ….. how much more should we invest in our eternity. We will be spending the rest of our lives there you know! Jesus told us to lay our treasures in heaven where rust and moth cannot corrupt – this to me is the best financial advice as far as eternity is concerned. Jesus also asked what it would profit a man if he gained the whole world and lost his soul! It just makes the greatest financial, spiritual and eternal sense to invest in the most important gift that we have - the gift of life - for eternal returns!!

Mold

2007-05-11T23:21:00.000-04:00

Many are the afflictions of a real estate investor particularly in low-income urban towns. Some of these afflictions are self induced (within) or external (without). I will discuss a recent external affliction in a minute but first remember this; owning rental property can be a nightmare or a good way to steadily build wealth. The difference between a profitable investment and a disaster, experienced landlords say, is often the amount of work an investor is willing to put in. Not everyone is cut out to screen tenants, track down overdue rents and field middle-of-the-night repair calls.

I recently ran into an external affliction called "Mold." Of course I have heard about it. In fact as far back as Standard 5. Never in a million years could I have imagined that I could blog about it. With the recent rains in North East, water could easily have absorbed through walls. And I specifically remember stating that too much water is not good.

So far I have learnt that mold gradually destroys the things they grow on. Molds are part of the natural environment. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash. If you own real estate, you better make a visit to the basement(s) or you will end up parting with $3000.00 to a mold removal company.

Afflictions are common to all (Job 5:7; 14:1; Ps. 34:19); are for the good of men (James 1:2, 3, 12; 2 Cor. 12:7) and the glory of God (2 Cor. 12:7-10; 1 Pet. 4:14), and are to be borne with patience by the Lord's people (Ps. 94:12; Prov. 3:12).

ETF's

2007-05-08T22:10:00.000-04:00

For the first time I traded in ETF's. To get an understanding of what they are go to Morningstar.com. These specialized stocks have fundamentally altered the financial markets, with a sizable percentage of all volume now passing through them directly, or through their underlying components. The iShares Mexico Index Fund (EWW) has been in a powerful uptrend since 2003, rising from 11 to over 50. ( You wonder where I was all this time). I looked at the YTD return (12.78) 3 yrs (48.51) and the 5 yrs (29.43). If I plunge, at the end of the year you will hear from me, BUT if I do well, you'll probably wonder what happened to this post. Let me know whether you have placed trades in ETFs? Hata ka uliungua it's ok!

Do you believe these Warriors?

2007-05-05T00:17:00.000-04:00

After the football season is over, many of us (I mean I) take a recess. Not this time - the Golden State Warriors have proven why underdogs are favorites. They have never won a playoff game since 1991. This year they have put up a good fight. I have followed this playoff series with gusto. This guys have kept shooting the basket, the energy is contagious. With this kind of motivation (desire to succeed) they can go far. Kind of reminds me those days za AFC Leopards, Kadenge na mpira

Lesson(s)

Rebound - If you have failed in the past hang tough in the paint
Chip in - Surround yourself with energizers.
Go uptempo - Whatever you do, fill up the tank with gas.

The Millionaire Inside

2007-04-30T22:10:00.000-04:00

If you haven't watched CNBC's the Millionaire Inside, I think you need to. It premiered on April 21st. There are thousands of paths to achieve wealth - whether through invention of an innovative new concept or product, making the most from intricate real estate deals, climbing the traditional executive ladder or just taking on NSE with a handful of Kenyan shillings.

But some people will do anything to get wealthy: e.g. Build ponzi and pyramid schemes, rob a bank, run churches/ministries for offerings/tithes, gamble, you name it. No wonder jails are full! Would you rather enjoy your hard earned money or wallow in knowing the evil you've done?

Radhi ni bora kuliko mali - Blessings are better than wealth

Soaked!

2007-04-16T20:01:00.000-04:00

Can you believe this rain? Oh my! Oh my! As much as I love the effect of rain on agriculture, it reaps havoc on roadways and everything else. Too much water is NOT good. You can imagine what Noah went through for 40 days and 40 nights. He had no TV to watch, no Video games, no Internet and like they say No Nothin'. I mean what did he do all day?

Well, apart from feeding the animals, cleaning the stable, chatting with the other 7 relatives perhaps these are the other activities he engaged in:-

Music
Worship
Prayer (for the rain to stop)
Story-telling

He must have been a very patient person, organized and consistent. So if you are in the North East, as you battle this Nor-Easter, thank God that he promised NOT to ever flood the earth again. I'll let the rain-drops fall. Try to be Noarish.

Ads; Church Ads?

2007-04-08T14:15:00.000-04:00

You know how you get home and finally get to sit; The tube (now Plasma and Lcd) stares back at you beckoning you to turn it on. So I did.

It is well known by most football fans and others that Super Bowl is BIG on commercials (TV ads). Every year I have always wondered why churches do not put something together and present the Gospel (except for the Mormon church).

Well here came an answer on CNN - an Ad by United Methodist Church. The Newsroom presented by UMC. Now that's something. Kudos to UMC with your message; Open Hearts, Open Minds and Open Doors. It's about time.

On this Easter season, Happy B-Day to co-author, JaBi - Many Blessings and abundance to you.

"Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest". ~ Larry Lorenzoni

Changing Moment

2007-03-22T22:32:00.000-04:00

From an old post you learnt that I engage with disability professionals daily as a career. Many are the stories of individuals that struggle with simple tasks which "normal" people take for granted. A home visit this week (unannounced) moved my humanity (again). When I told him that I liked his room, he smiled so broadly and we got hooked up. With a labored voice and stiff movement from his hand, we talked. All I could do was reassure him.

I drove home wondering how many shattered lives there could be. If I took a sample of ten, how many could be grateful for anything. We like to complain, whine, use offensive language, etc etc. Picture this: You are in college, a vibrant youth with a bright future ahead of you. An athlete; macho. One day while driving from school you are involved in a car accident. You suffer brain injury and lose sensory motor skills. You can't communicate effectively. You have to be placed in a supervised residential setting. Someone has to be there to assist you in everything.

Be grateful please!

Amazing Women & those who make us cringe

2007-03-11T16:12:00.000-04:00

Many companies attract employees by offering benefits and packages such as bonus sign-on, paid leave, health benefits etc. There is one that is quite popular in the States - sick leave. Such days could be used when employees are prevented from performing duties because of sickness, injury, or pregnancy and confinement. Sick leave may also be taken if an employee needs to care for a member of his or her immediate family who is actually ill. So when you qualify for this description you "call out" (make a phone call to employer to nofity them that you will not be coming to work). A couple of weeks ago I used one of those. The 8 hours that I pulled back included infomania. I found an interesting piece on MSN lifestyle describing women in the world. Here is a recap of the article if you don't have the time to read it entirely.
The article lists 10 women who make us cringe, I picked 7:

Paris Hilton - an heir to the Hilton Hotel fortune, has cultivated a persona that revolves solely around her jet-setter lifestyle. Hilton further cultivates this portrait of herself through comments like, “Wal-Mart—like, do they make walls there?" Unfortunately, all the attention Hilton gets attracts tweens and teens like a bee to honey, giving parents pause about the influence she has as a role model to young girls.
Linda Hirshman: Retired professor of philosophy and women’s studies at Brandeis University. Hirshman argued that women who leave the work force to stay home with children basically are turning their backs on other women. Forget about making choices based on what works best for one’s family—Hirshman suggests that women will never wield true power unless they return to the office immediately after maternity leave. She also contends that today’s women prefer reading People magazine and asking their husbands who they ought to vote for on Election Day rather than formulate their own opinions.
Lindsay Lohan: Actress. How does a girl go from playing sweet, impish twins in The Parent Trap to a wan 20-year-old in need of rehab? In recent years, Lohan has found herself in the spotlight for car accidents, run-ins with the paparazzi and purported drug and alcohol problems, not her latest movie role. This likely gives parents of her fans reason to wonder whether Lohan’s good role model material.
Ann Coulter: Ultra-conservative right-wing commentator and author Ann Coulter seems to think it’s her birthright to criticize and lambaste whoever she wants, regardless of the facts or the impact of her vitriol. In her book Godless: The Church of Liberalism, she discusses some of the 9/11 widows who became politically active following their husbands’ deaths. She writes that she’s “never seen people enjoying their husbands’ deaths,” as much as the so-called “Jersey Girls.” As part of her mean-spirited critique, Coulter, who has refused to express any sympathy for the widows’, muses, “[H]ow do we know their husbands weren't planning to divorce these harpies?” Nice, eh?
Britney Spears: Pop star. Britney Spears is another good girl turned bad. She started out as a girl other young girls wanted to emulate: But somewhere along the way, Spears has made some questionable choices—in husbands, about child-rearing and with her wardrobe (or lack thereof). Now, with rumors swirling about rehab, Spears has turned up in the tabloids, tattooed and head shaven à la Jesse Ventura.
Phyllis Schlafly: Conservative activist. Self-described leader of the “pro-family” movement since the early 1970s, Phyllis Schlafly heads the Eagle Forum, a conservative organization that advocates for the protection of what it calls “traditional values,” like the role of wife as homemaker rather than as a professional. Ironically, she also holds three degrees, including a master’s in political science and a law degree.
Sheila Jeffreys: Author, professor of political science at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Are women harming their daughters if they let play dress up? Are women being controlled by men if they put on make-up before heading out on the town? Yes, according Sheila Jeffreys. Jeffreys has written a variety books that focus on ways in which she believes men control women. Jeffreys believes that women allow themselves to be controlled by buying into the male-dominated beauty business.

My word to these women (if they will ever listen): Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion - Prov 11:22

The article also lists 10 Amazing Women You’ve Never Heard Of. I picked 1 (am biased)

Dr. Wangari Maathai: 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner. An environmental and political activist, Wangari Maathai was the first African woman to receive the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize, which she was awarded in 2004 for her “contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.” In addition to her environmental activism, Maathai also was active in opposing the oppressive government of Daniel arap Moi. She was eventually elected to the Kenyan Parliament in 2002. According to one news report, her former husband was said to have remarked at one time that they divorced because Maathai was “too educated, too strong, too successful, too stubborn and too hard to control.”

Compare the last statement to: 1 Sam 25:3 "His name was Nabal and his wife's name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was surly and mean in his dealings."

5 Ques to ask before you...

2007-03-03T15:10:00.000-05:00

On a rainy Saturday all I could do was dig up old issues of Money Magazines and re-read them. I have a stack of them - By the way can these magazines be re-sold? or just re-cycled now that everyone is going green? Talking of green, BP has been repackaging their products with greater emphasis on low carbon transport fuels. They had an interesting catch ad in the latest issue of Fortune which reads, "Cars should eat their vegetables too." ha! tell that to people in my village who are used to eating vegetables.

Anyway, back to the old issues of Money. Now that the stock market slumped Friday at the end of Wall Street's worst stretch since 2003 what is it that we should do? Well, the Money issue of May 2004 exclaimed: 5 questions to ask before you invest in stocks... here is a summary;

DO I HAVE A PLAN? Settling on an investment mix--the percentage of your portfolio allocated to stocks, bonds and cash--is more important than any one stock pick. Every stock purchase will affect that blend.
WHAT'S MY TIME FRAME? Ask yourself when you want your money back. Is this an investment or a trade? The former means that you have a long time horizon and can tolerate price swings; the latter signifies that you want to pocket a quick profit. If you need the money back quickly--say, in less than a year--the stock market is not the place to park it.
HOW MUCH CAN I AFFORD TO LOSE? Everyone expects to make money--why else would you buy a stock? But it's easy to get caught up in what's hot, buy at peak prices and lose big, so calculate in advance how much you can bear to see your stocks go down (how does 20% sound?). If you can't accept investment risk, stay out of the market.
HOW HARD AM I WILLING TO WORK? Understanding what a company does and how its stock is valued takes as much time as buying any big-ticket item. Staying on top of your investment once it's made isn't as time consuming but still requires a couple of hours a month.
WHY IS SOMEBODY SELLING THIS STOCK? If you can rattle off the case for what could go wrong with a stock and still be convinced, call your broker. If not, save yourself from feelings of buyer's remorse and leave stock buying to the professionals. - PABLO GALARZA

Oh! I should add - Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions. Ecclesiastes 7:10

Greetings - Do you really want to know?

2007-02-22T15:43:00.000-05:00

Yesterday morning a stranger greeted me in a lobby - so why is that interesting you ask? Because he did not just say the usual "Hello" or "How are you doing?" and stop there but he went on to ask "How are you feeling?" and all the while he was walking towards another door leading out. Let me clarify that this was not a doctor's office or anything close to that. Now I really wondered why he would ask me that as part of the usual salutations. Then I wondered why he did not wait for a reply! I am very sure he did not hear what I mumbled back. Did he really want or care to know what this stranger was feeling out there seated in the lobby of an office? And what if I did tell him how I felt (assuming of course that I would meet a total stranger and start telling him about my feelings, a stranger who was evidently did not have time to listen to the reply to this important question) What would he do?

This got me thinking of the greetings and salutations that we so automatically give. We do not even think when we ask someone "How are you?" I must admit if someone responded to that question by tellling me about their issues, problems or even joys at that moment I would be a little taken aback by the TMI (too much information!) It also got me hoping that this is not the new trend - to ask someone "How are you feeling?' as a regular part of a greeting. I would hate to really have to think of how I am feeling at all times so that I can have a ready answer to all who inquire for the sake of it! Really do you truly, really want to know and if you do, what are you going to do about it?

Tappan Zee

2007-02-20T21:15:00.000-05:00

I travelled to Connecticut this weekend to bid grandma farewell whose visit to the US has been exhilarating. Those who regularly go North toward Nashua (sounds like a place in Kenya) knows well enough to take Tappan Zee Bridge rather than 1-95. My thoughts wandered on I-287 until I got onto the bridge. This graceful bridge spans the Hudson River approximately 20 miles upstream from midtown Manhattan. I began to marvel at how stretched this thing was. I recalled that back in 2003 we had travelled here (John was too) and Mzee Mwaura noted that too much water is not good (please translate in Kyuk). So I wondered:

How come such expansive infrastructure is not part of East Africa? Am sure there are parts of Lake Victoria, Lake Turkana, Indian Ocean and other waters that could be bridged.

Is too much water good? Not after Katrina.

The fact that the world is made up of 70% water requires that you know how to swim.

Finally, there are 442 verses in the Bible with the phrase "water." The very first one is Gen 1:6 which says "And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water."

Next time you travel the Tappan Zee what will your thoughts be?

Thai

2007-02-08T23:19:00.000-05:00

I attended a meeting all day today with other mental health professionals. I quickly realized that people get easily bored particularly when a speaker (or presenter) goes off on tangents. I observed that to kill the boredom most would find other things to do such as reading magazines, texting and im-ing each other, going to bathroom every 15 minutes and even playing jawbreaker on their Pocket PCs. Anything to keep the oblangata happy. Am sure you are wondering what I was doing. Right? - I was seated patiently, listening carefully. You don't believe me, ha!

In fact I was thinking about Thailand. See we (four colleagues) had gone for lunch at a Thai restaurant right off 46 in Totowa. As I munched away at my Pad Medmamoung I wondered about this country. So when we got back at the meeting I quickly pulled up my Ipaq and checked on how strong their currency is against the dollar. Can you believe that 1 US dollar = 34 Thailand Baht. See you can invest almost everywhere on earth. Right there I agreed with Prov 13:11 that ... he who gathers money little by little make is grow.

Stanbic Trades

2007-01-24T23:03:00.000-05:00

For those of you who applied to Stanbic's IPO in mid-December 06 trading begins tomorrow 1/25/07. Frederick Masiga calls it a maiden listing that raises hope. There's a lot of interest generated so far. I couldn't believe that for $38.00 you could purchase 1000 (the exchange rate early Dec was Ush. 1850).

Well if you missed it, brave yourself up for Safaricom, and Kenya Re

Weekly Bible Sermon Notes

2007-01-19T22:08:00.000-05:00

If you attend church every Sunday you'll quickly realize that many faithfuls take notes during sermons. You'll find particular verses highlighted, scribbled on or just tagged on. Since 1996, I have done the same thing, not always, but more often than not. I do this when I perceive a particular point in time as eye popping; the eureka moment, the Aha! moment.

So from this moment on I urge you to post your church aha! moments here; On one condition - Indicate the Speaker, the Bible Verse, the Date and the eye popping comment. Just like this:

Bro. Paul Wambugu - March 20, 2006
2 Tim 2:1-7
Soldier, Athlete, Farmer: What do they have in common - discipline, obedience, hard work; these are that virtues that we should uphold. The secret of success is hard work. By the way, there's no volume 2 of the Bible. It's an open book test. Live by the rules.

Fascinated

2007-01-17T22:38:00.000-05:00

I am fascinated by the vast amount of knowledge that you can get thru blogs. I began searching for financial posts in East Africa and Oh Boy! what a forum of bloggers. I am encouraged that someone somewhere is unselfish enough to share information. I will certainly give and take as the opportunity presents.