Gnomic june 2018

GNOMIC JUNE2018

Krif and Crisp

Excellence.

t

INSIDE

Upclose and personal with

ISSUE

07

Dr. Elsie Effah KAUFMANN

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OR SIMPLY 10 MEDIOCRE? CONTENT?

AND 31 UPCLOSE PERSONAL WITH

Dr. Elsie Effah Kaufmann

CONTENT

14 EXCELLENCE OF CHARACTER

ON EXCELLENCE___________18 DISTINCTION______________20 BELTESHEZAR_____________ 23 TECHNOW_______________24 THE HARD ROAD__________ 27 THE LOOMING CRISIS OF T'DOL___________________28 REGALIA EXCELLERE________29 SQUAD GOALS___________42 BANANA_________________46 RUSSIA 2018_____________52 GNOMIC PICKS___________54

48 ETCHED IN EXCELLENCE

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It gets better.

FIRST WORD

GNOMIC A Christian Youth Magazine

A

fter passion, the big question in our minds was what to do next. We'd begun this enlightening journey with purpose, followed it up with passion (our anniversary edition), and then wondered what our next big thing was. And then it dropped! We were hit with excellence!

Excellence means doing the best with what God has gracefully given.

In Rising above the Crowd, Brian Harbour commented: "Success means being the best. Excellence means being your best. Success, to many, means being better than everyone else. Excellence means being better tomorrow than you were yesterday. Success means exceeding the achievements of other people. Excellence means matching your practice with your potential."

"Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way."

Every christian was birthed to do more. Throughout scripture, it is conspicuously clear what God demands of us-- that we be like him. He has such high expectations of us, and like Mary will make clear later in this edition, He has given us everything we require to reach that mark : an excellent Spirit! Ken will also tell you about Daniel's exploits in his priceless piece and about how it was all possible because he had an excellent spirit within. We have no excuse; we must be excellent, more so because we are God's epistles to the world.

God is showing himself to the world through our deeds and actions. And the world is watching.You know who else is watching? Maame Akuamoah did not mince words cautioning us to work 'distinctly' excellently as God will later on require profit of the many 'talents' he's given us. Does the parable ring a bell? We are to work as though to God and not man. We are to make our light so shine that the world will see our good works and give glory to God. It's very appalling how christians hide behind the mask of faith to churn out mediocrity at the expense of dearly innocent lives and potentially saved souls . Personally, I believe it stains our faith conspicuously when we condone substandards, leaving behind a stench that begs the question of our salvation. A christian doctor is still a doctor.The adjective preceeding his title is the more reason why he has to be a good doctor. My point is, it should not be be possible to be a quack Christian doctor. Salvation, even as it stems from our spirits, should grow to impact our minds and birth good fruits. Dennis is quick to add that excellence should reflect in our professions and character.

Let me not spoil it all for you.

Read on and be inspired to do more.

JUNE ‘18

ISSUE 07

Excellence.

Publisher and CEO | JOHN A. TURKSON Content Manager | PORTIA N. Y. SINTIM Editor-In-Chief | ARABA DAWSON-AMOAH Co-opted Member | KWASI KYEI-OFFEI Issue Editor | AMA EKEM Editors | PRISCILLA KYEI-BAFFOUR AKOMA ESSUMAN JOSEPH KYI NYAMISON Creative Director | ALBERT IDLAFF OFORI Financial Chief |UFUOMA MAMOH Marketing Manager | CHARLES AZADAGLI Distribution Manager | LEROY DOTSE Publicity | KOBINA ESSILFIE-QUAYE DANIELLA SEYRAM AFLAKPUI MARTINA ABAKA TURKSON REUBEN ODAI MYMI ADWOA OWUSU-KONADU

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MEDIOCRE? OR SIMPLY CONTENT?

T

here is no person reading this article who is a stranger to this age old conundrum; between the chicken and the egg who came first? Some wrote it off at first glance as a fruitless inquiry while others thoroughly enjoyed the rigors of this wholly philosophical exercise.

The latter group is largely made up of those who, having lost time (and an ample amount of saliva I suspect) arguing out the subject and not having reached a universally accepted stance, gave it up as hopeless.

The remainder must have died from overexertion. Do not be alarmed. This article does not boast of an answer to this mental plague. Its writer’s interest in the subject matter is purely alimentary.

For instance, an eaglet will not be content unless it is flying high above in the heights where it belongs. And we are permitted to call any eagle mediocre (having a low performance) which flies so low it can be aimed at with a catapult.

Any talk of contentment and mediocrity among men is, in my opinion, useless unless

We ought to be aware that we are made for more, more for higher, made to be us.

There is, however, a topic with a more neuronal allure for me. You will have already acquainted yourself with it if you have read the heading of the article. Indeed, I have wondered, where does mediocrity end and contentment begin?

A proper discourse on any topic begins with a clear understanding of what the terms involved mean, so let’s state what it means to be ‘content’ and ‘mediocre’, shall we?

The 11th edition of the Concise Oxford Dictionary defines ‘content’ as being ‘in a state of peaceful happiness and satisfaction’ and a ‘mediocre’ person or things as one ‘of only average quality’. The Merriam Webster definition of the latter term includes ‘having a low performance’.

we assume a purpose for life. Of course, the cogitative mind will be quick to point out that several men and women who believe that life has no purpose, most of them unreligious, are quite content with themselves. That is true. However, going by my first assumption, one must note that in disregarding a purpose for life these men hold the view that they are to live life as they see fit and in so doing, they find contentment.

Before we go any further, these are two assumptions I have made. Firstly, that one can never be truly content with himself unless he knows and is doing what he thinks is he is supposed to. Secondly, we cannot rightly call anything or anyone mediocre unless we have a scale of reference against which the thing or person falls below a certain level.

For Christians, it is central tenet of our faith that men were made for both a general purpose and individual purposes. As there are several materials that adequately deal with purpose in Christianity, I shall not delve therein. As Christians, contentment comes for us when we walk in the Master’s blueprint for our lives. I have observed, however, that discontentment among

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Christians not only comes from an inner discomfort to find why exactly we are on Earth; it also comes from an unhealthy comparison of ourselves with other believers or with non-believers.

This in itself betrays an attitude of mediocrity. We ought to be aware that we are made for more, more for higher, made to be us. Pursuing a career because it pays more and not because of what God intended for you to do in it may seem like a high achievement in the eyes of the world. On God’s scale, it is gross mediocrity because you would have under-performed His plan for you.

If you are a Christian, it is of utmost importance to spend time to find out why the Father made you.

We are not in this place for ourselves. The Lord has refurbished each of us uniquely for specific purposes.

Know your content, then you will be content.

Joseph Kyi Nyameson Editor/ Writer

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Excellence OF CHARACTER

Character is the excellence of moral beings.

- Abraham Lincoln

G

rowing up, we were told that a good and noble character is the highest attainment of our lives—and that is still true till date (you are at liberty to argue that). Nothing so exalts a man or swiftly causes his destruction as his character.

Reputation then, is a function of character.

People of excellent character are sometimes described as men of integrity or women of virtue.

Several remarks and definitions have been ascribed to character but none so drives it home than what A. W. Tozer said—that character is the excellence of moral beings.

As the excellence of gold is its purity and the excellence of art is its beauty, so the excellence of man is his character. A lack of character therefore is a moral deficiency.

By incorporating beliefs, thoughts, motives, and actions, a person’s character is brought to light.

It is commonplace to find men and women with all sorts of character—the good, the bad and the ugly. But to find a man or woman of an excellent character is a rare and refreshing sight. What then is an excellent character? It is one that demonstrates consistently and persistently the likeness of Christ in speech, manner and conduct no matter the prevailing conditions whether favourable or unfavourable. Simply giving out candies to kids does not necessarily prove that you are kind. Rather, he that is able to give without being asked or without hope of compensation either in word or deed is truly kind. Anyone can forgive especially when numerous pleas from several different people have been filed, but who is he that can forgive without even being asked for forgiveness or reaches out to the offender and seeks peace—none other than the man of excellent character.

The excellent character permeates every niche of a man or a woman’s life and people generally admire and honour such men and women. One of such examples is Mother Theresa of blessed memory— who is remembered as an icon of empathy.

She was so compassionate and caring to

the extent that she literally sought people who needed help and she would even still help people when she needed caring for.

It was mother Theresa who said, «If you judge people, you have no time to love them». Such is the belief of a character of excellence.

Undoubtedly, a person’s character is not judged by isolated events. Instead, one must look at the entirety of the person’s life and connect the consistent dots of moral excellence. Needful to say, a single display of unwarranted moral deficiency can be all that it takes to destroy one’s reputation.

Many actors and celebrities in the world have fallen prey to this before.

It is almost an exaggeration to say a man or a woman has a perfect character, for that is to say, the person is impeccably flawless— all day, all times. Hitherto, only one Person (Jesus Christ) has proved to be of perfect character. But hold your horses…this in no way assumes that we are at liberty to revel in an ignoble character. Vince Lombardi once remarked, “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” The goal then is to have an excellent character. Take a cue from the life of Abraham Lincoln—a man who was far from perfect and had many flaws yet he was determined to hone, practice and develop vital character virtues. He treated others he encountered with honesty, humility, courage, justice and grace. Above all, he stood up for and stood firm in what was right. It is not surprising then that a memorial was inaugurated in his memory (The Abraham Lincoln Centre for Character Development).

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But like all things pertaining to excellence, some people are just comfortable with mediocrity. Mediocrity of character is seen when a person places more emphasis on performance and achievements rather than values and principles. When a man is consumed only by the idea of getting rich, he cares less which values or principles he will break in order to achieve his dream.

Likewise, a lady who devalues her values or has no defining principles, in a bid to ascend the corporate ladder will end up sleeping with every greedy boss.

An excellent character is achievable and must be sought with earnest zeal by everyone. Interestingly, with each passing day, whether actively or passively, a person’s character is being shaped. The experiences we encounter each day either builds our moral fibre or deteriorates it.

Even the trials we face have the purpose of building character in us (Romans 5:34). While some go through tough and trying moments in life and come out bitter and angry, others come out refined and matured, having built character.

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart —Proverbs 17:3 The choices we make influence and develop character in us. Making a decision or choice to be chaste until marriage positions you on a path of sexual integrity.

Conversely, your character influences your choices. Thus, you will not simply give in to a guy who demands sex before marriage—because your character is one of sexual integrity. Joseph, the Hebrew boy who fled Potiphar’s wife is a good

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example of how circumstances and trials build character and how character has a bearing on our decisions. Point out a person who consistently makes poor choices in life and I will show you a person of poor character.

or a woman of excellent moral fibre.

Again, nothing so impacts a person’s character than his or her company of friends. You can define a man by the company of friends he keeps. You obviously don’t expect to be noble by dwelling among thieves. If you crave an excellent character, then you must have friends with excellent character. Mark the path of a man with excellent character and see his end— he is honoured even in his death and his name is a blessed memory.

Without withholding any portion of the truth, it must be made plain that a life guided by the Holy Spirit of God is indeed that life that exudes excellence of character—for in essence, excellence of character is manifested in true godliness.

Humans are by nature excellent masqueraders.

But time, by an act of God is an excellent revealer —Dennis B. Boateng.

A good friend once alluded people to metals.

That metals have several characteristics—one being brittleness. Brittleness is simply the ability of a metal to break when subjected to stress.

In other words, the sure way to truly know whether a metal is brittle or not is to subject it to stress. Some will break, others will not. Same with people. Many claim an excellent character, but the defining moment comes when certain circumstances, trials and challenges come our way. An excellent character will not break because it does not compromise standards, values and principles. Martin Luther King Jr. was a man of resilient convictions. And no matter the hate and violence he was subjected to during the civil rights movement, his resolve and convictions did not weaken. In fact, he demonstrated a great deal self-control and stood for a people who did not have a voice. He stood against the evil in his day—that is what men of excellent character do.

Dennis Boateng

History will always remember two kinds of people—the excellent (for inspiration) and the mediocre (for cautioning). Choose to be a man

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On

Excellence.

I t's happened.

It's finally happened.

All that the Master has been predicting, and predicted has happened.

Just like He said.

other way to warm himself.

Strike Two Someone was coming closer.

Malchus' cousin.

Oh why had he cut off that slave's ear?!

It had achieved nothing!

Anger and fear are such powerful spirits.

The cousin came up. Peter had cut his cousin's ear. He'd seen him in the Garden.

"You. Galilean. I saw you with Him." People were beginning to turn, and notice him.

"Man, I have no idea what you're on about!".

Cock-a-doodle doo!

Strike three.

Peter and the disciples scattered.

But not before Peter had tried to defend the Master.

And been shamed, for doubting the Master's Might, For not allowing the fulfilment of Scriptures.

Some followed at a distance.

Peter and another made it into the visitors room At the courts The matter had really gone far.

The watchman paused. Peter looked familiar.

He enquired.

"You must be outta your mind", Peter responded, And slid away before being questioned any further.

Strike One

No. The prophecy had come to pass. The Master had said it. He had denied Him. Three solid times. A trifecta. A hat trick of denials And Peter wept.

Bitterly.

Peter was restless.

The interrogation was taking too long.

The weather wasn't doing anything to calm his nerves; Such a cold night it was.

He went closer to the heater.

Again, he was recognised. By a maidservant. One of the cleaners.

"Weren't you one of the disciples?"

"Me? Never!"

Forget the heater. He would have to find some

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Fast Forward A large crowd has gathered.

So many murmurings.

"I'm Ewe." "I'm Asante."

"Is that Bono I hear?

"Hey! I didn't know anyone in this region spoke Dagarti."

"I think they must be drunk. Alcohol has a way of loosening your tongue. Hahaha."

"What is going on here?!"

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HOT

RIGHT ABOUT NOW

Russia 2018

Number #12

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No beds for emergencies?

Suddenly, one man rises out of the lot.

He looks like their leader.

He certainly sounds the part.

"My people", he began, "both inhabitants and visitors of this land.

No, we're not drunk. The pubs aren't even open by now. It's 9am!..."

"Who is that? Who are these men?" "...therefore, I clearly state to everyone... that God has made this Jesus you crucified to be the Lord, the Messiah!"

Jesus Christ! That name. It's Peter!

Cowardly Peter who ran away and denied the very existence of His Lord.

That Peter?!

Remember the previous visitor's room at the court, where the great denial happened?

Peter found himself there again.

This time, he was on trial.

And a greater testimony of Jesus could not have been given for such a time.

How does a cowardly disciple, who denied the very association with a Master he had served faithfully for 3 years, and was willing to shed blood on His account, even to a person as lowly as a housegirl, suddenly get the voice, vim, and vocabulary to stand before the Grand Office of the Special Prosecutor?!

to them..."

In John 16:5-15, our Lord Jesus Christ outlines the Holy Spirit, and His ministry to us as Christians.

He's the person to empower you unto excellence, always.

God is not your wicked lecturer.

You know, the one who gives you assignments that defy human capabilities, and provides no resources or assistance of any form, to aid in finishing the task.Yes. That lecturer.

God is not him. Or her.

The life of excellence He's called you to, He's given the resource to live it to the full: Himself.

(2 Peter 1:3, John 16:12-15) God the Holy Spirit is yours for the helping.

If you've struggled, like me, to be excellent, let's try again, this time, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

And if you've been doing well already, God calls you out to more.

Why not try for excellence with the Holy Spirit in the Driver's Seat? You won't be disappointed.

Here's to living a life of excellence, empowered by the Spirit of Excellence!

Cheers.

The Holy Spirit. That's the answer.

The Holy Spirit makes the difference.

He is the difference.

The Bible records that "...Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, and said

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Mary Fynn

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Where lies the Distinction?

"I

f we are doing it,then we are doing it�. This is a personal quote that motivates me to do the best that can be done, even if it takes the stretching of my faith and abilities. It's a desire to be excellent at whatever task lies ahead. If it is to be done, why not make it the best that it has ever been?

To be excellent is to be outstanding. Its synonym is DISTINCTION. Medical students are quite familiar with this word in particular because its almost absent from our classes on a yearly basis.

79.9 is the most painful mark to see. If only a little something extra had been done or said, that distinction would have been a done deal.

Most examiners chastise us about glossing over the little details, which lead to our substandard

Aim to do things excellently, to be the best at what you find your hands doing,

performance. Attention to detail is what makes things stand out from the lot. An artist’s attention to detail is what puts him/her ahead above the others.

The Bible talks about servants living to please their masters both in their presence and absence.In the tasks that lie before you, do you give your maximum best and look for ways to make it better? Or do you just settle like everyone else? Where lies the distinction?

In his song titled ’Pressure’, Jonathan McReynolds asks God to take away the pressure to be someone that the church has made, that he may live for God.The status quo may be intimidating, but He has not given you the spirit of fear, and He has made you well and able to do over and above what you assume you can do. We should tackle the work of God, no matter how small, the way we would strive to hit that 80% score. It will make such a big difference.

shoot for 80 percent. 60 percent is a pass mark, but we are more excited when it’s an 86 than when it is a 61. God doesn’t want you to pause at 79.9. That extra 0.01 is as important to Him as the 79.9.

He is the Shepherd that leaves the 99 for that stray 1...because the fold simply isn’t complete without it.

Aim to do things excellently, to be the best at what you find your hands doing, whether in church or in school or at work and in the home. He would require profit at all cost, so get down to business now.

We want God to go out of His way and come to our aid. Likewise, we should do our best for Him. God doesn’t waste resources; don’t bury your one talent. He will require profit by all means, so you might as well start making some.

Maame Akuamoah Yeboah

Maybe you’re doing a duty you have seen being done many times, serving in a position you’ve served in before, assisting to organize a program that has been organized so many times. Push for excellence, let there be distinction. Do not stick to the status quo;

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Listen to the voice of excellence.

Subscribe

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Belteshezar

Far, far from home In a land I knew no one Just a youth with a lot of energy So they made me a slave Like the many other people But I had something extra That distinguished me And made me ten times better The Spirit of Excellence

By Him I chose Not to love the meagre But of greatness be eager Not to settle for less So that many be blessed

By Him I chose When there is an ultimate When there is a chance to be best Ordinary is no playmate And I give myself no rest

By Him I chose To carve a niche In the unraveling of mystery And my friend to each The rewriting of history It is by Him and for Him That His glory be shown In me and with me As my light so shine before men He makes possible the means So I can live above the mean.

Ken Attobrah-Apraku

TECHNOW Send texts from your computer with Android Messages Google has started rolling out the ability to text from the web with Android Messages. Hw cool is that? The feature gives users a lot more flexibility in choosing how and where they can carry on conversations. As long as your Android smartphone is powered on, you can text from a desktop computer or even other mobile devices — including iOS products like an iPad if you just open up Safari. Aside from text, you can also send emoji, stickers, and images over the web.

Using Android Messages on the web requires using Android Messages as your main texting app on your phone. I like it just fine, and Google is clearly planning big things for the future, but if you prefer, say, Samsung’s default messages app or something else, the two don’t work together.

With that out of the way, getting started and setting things up is fairly simple.

1. Make sure you’ve got the latest version of Android Messages installed on your phone.

2. Go to messages.android.com on the computer or other device you want to text from. You’ll see a big QR code on the right side of this page.

3. Open up Android Messages on your smartphone. Tap the icon with three vertical dots at the top and to the far right. You should see a “Messages for web” option inside this menu. If you don’t, just give it some time.

4. Tap “Scan QR code” and point your phone’s camera at the QR code on your other device. In less than a second, your phone will vibrate and the two will be linked up.You should notice your conversations show up in the left column of the browser window. Google says that “conversation threads, contacts, and other settings will be encrypted and cached on your browser.”

Note: this doesn’t mean your actual text conversations are encrypted.

They’re not.

And that’s it. To make sure you don’t have to repeat the QR process, you can keep your computer paired with your phone by enabling “Remember this computer.” That’s in the settings menu, which you can access from the web version

of Android Messages by clicking on the three-dot icon to the right of “Messages.” You shouldn’t turn this on if you’re using a public PC that other people can easily access.

Which browsers work with Android Messages on the web?

Chrome Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari

Uganda passes tax law on social media users to curb ‘gossiping’ online Uganda’s parliament has passed a law to tax those who use social media platforms like Facebook,Twitter,Viber, and WhatsApp, as reported by BBC.The controversial tax was first introduced in April after the country’s president, Yoweri Museveni, wrote a letter to the treasury stating that social media encouraged gossip that was costing Uganda time and income.

The tax will come into effect on June 1st, imposing a 200 shilling (GHc0.24 or $0.05) levy per day on those who use social media platforms, but it’s unclear how it will be enforced. About 17 million people, or 41 percent of Uganda’s total population, use the internet

Source: TheVerge

WRITE FOR GNOMIC. ARE YOU INTERESTED? Talk to any of our gnomic reps Or send Ms. Sintim a message on Telegram [+233 578238092].

She’s very nice.

SUBMIT YOUR PIECE

Our editorial team will then have a look and give you a feedback.

AND SEE IT GET PUBLISHED. Viola! We are home

I wake up each morning, Before day comes dawning, To the alarm sounding, Reporting the planned timing, The time work’s calling.

My feet is earthbound, All hands on the deck, Lightening sparks in my head!

Sweats outlining my face, The entire being at work.

From decisions to actions, Actions to routines, From routines to behaviour, Behaviour to character: My life in a quartet!

THE HARD ROAD.

Like laser, my focus is Discipline, my bread and butter I work and work hard, Till I’m out of breath of laziness.

This, my chosen path.

Here lies my secret, My ticket to high places, Claps and honour in repeats, Ever best placed, Distinction from the rest.

Richeal Shola Makinde

THE LOOMING CRISIS OF TRAMADOL ABUSE IN GHANA The numbers that say it all.

The approved dosage strength for tramadol by Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority is 50mg and 100mg. But it has emerged that the strength dosage being abused by members of the public is around 120mg, 200mg and 225mg.

GHc5 could fetch you a significant amount of the drug, which could be more than the clinically prescribed dosage.

70 per cent of the inmates at the Psychiatric hospitals in Ghana falls between 12 and 17.

An estimated 50,000 people in abuse substances in Ghana and 70 per cent of these result in mental illness.

2017

2018

Since 2017, over 500,000 capsules of Tramadol have been seized by the FDA and arrested suspected peddlers were aged between 14 and 28 years.

Source: NACOB

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Regalia excellere.

I dorn an excellent cloak; it is seen wherever I go A full piece of garment, its cloth and ornaments I acquired That man that always stands out, a similar apparel he has His glamour, beauty and perfection, a light that can’t be hid His works and deeds astute, in his regalia excellere Regalia excellere, a heavenly virtue of honour A cloak like a royal garment, and extra value to man A heart and attitude of uprightness; a breastplate to keep warm Intentional, prepared and ready, a pair of trousers to go With a pair of ready feet, he never fails to deliver And at the tick of the wrist, always keeps to time Its chains and band is a beauty, the character it portrays The icing on the cake, a crown that dazzles glory even in the dark Regalia excellere, a price to pay to acquire The Psalms of Solomon advice, Aristotle and Greek agree The excellence of men that stood out, the cloak of perfection they wore Coats of many colours, but Regalia Excellere

Anny Will

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Meet

Dr. Elsie Effah KAUFMANN Engineer extraordinare

UPCLOSE AND PERSONAL Dr. Elsie Effah KAUFMANN Most of us know you as the elegant quiz mistress of the National Science and Math Quiz. Otherwise, who is Dr. Elsie Effah Kaufmann?

The ‘quiz mistress’ is just a small part of me. I’m a work in progress. I have had the opportunity to do many things in life, but I still see a big journey ahead.

Every year, every day, I strive to be a little better than I used to be.

Tell us about your childhood and rise through the educational ranks.

I was born here in Accra, at the Korle-Bu Teaching hospital. My father retired as the Western regional director of education and my mother was a trained teacher. So, I grew up in a family that had education at heart. I was the eldest of four kids. I didn’t go to nursery school like most children do these days. My mother used to take me along with her to school. She says when she was teaching, I’d go and hide under her table. According to her I was a very good child—very quiet and not troublesome. She also says I used to write all the time; what I was scribbling, nobody really understood.

I finally started school in Class one at the Advanced Teacher Training College (ATTC) Demonstration School. We were in Winneba at the time. When I got to class three, my father was transferred to Koforidua as Assistant Headmaster of Ghana Secondary School, so we moved to Koforidua. There, I attended Nana Kwaku Boateng Experimental School.

At Nana Kwaku Boateng Experimental School, I was

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Daniella Seyram Aflakpui, John Appery Turkson, Dr. Elsie Effah Kaufmann, Priscilla Kyei-Baffour, Protia Nana Yaa Sintim

The Gnomic team met with Dr. Elsie Kaufmann in her office at the University of Ghana School of engineering.

skipped from one class to join my seniors of 2 years to write the Common Entrance Exam. You know, I’m from the old generation. It wasn’t easy. This was probably the most difficult thing I had ever done— catching up with my seniors, becoming accustomed with teachers wielding canes all the time, mentals…

I wrote the Common Entrance Exam and passed. I got into St. Roses Secondary School, but my father refused to let me go at the tender age of 10. And so

I got into St. Roses Secondary School, but my father refused to let me go at the tender age of 10.

I had to go back and rewrite the Common Entrance Exam, eventually getting into Aburi Girls’ Secondary School. This was in 1981.

In my last year at Aburi Girls’, the headmistress, Mrs. Joyce Asibey nominated me for a programme. I was put in the School’s boneshaker and driven from Aburi to Accra to come and write an exam. It was at the West Africa Secondary School, near WAEC (in those days). The exam was already in session when I got there. It was a very interesting question as well.

“1986 has been declared the International year of peace. Write an essay on peace and international understanding”.

See, I still remember it? Shocking! I sat down and started writing. I knew I was late so I did my best.

Afterwards, some people were selected to go for an interview before a panel. At the end of all of this I was selected to attend the United World College of the Atlantic in the UK. And that is how it happened: I got the opportunity to travel outside the country to continue my education on full-scholarship as a representative of Ghana. I went from 1986 to 1988. I was in Wales for my High School. I did the international Baccalaureate.

From there, I actually wanted to come back to the University of Ghana. You know, when you are a good science student in Ghana, the expectation is that you pursue Medicine in the University, but here I was on a different path. I did apply to the University Of Ghana Medical School and got a provisional admission even without my results. Strange, but things like that happened at the time.

But then, those were the days that the Universities in Ghana were on strike and I was confused as to what to do. An American friend advised that I go and study in America and after much counselling, some schools were recommended to me: Harvard University, Swarthmore University, University of Pennsylvania and others. I did not want to go to Harvard University because I knew one Ghanaian young man

who was a big pain in the neck. But I was still thinking about Medical school so I looked up the programmes the other schools offered. I didn’t even know that in America you do not go straightaway to Medical school. When I realized this, I just didn’t know what to do. Then I saw Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania talking about healthcare… You know, it sounded like something a medical person could do.

That is the only programme I applied to do at the University of Pennsylvania. I was told I had to write the SATs a few days after. I didn’t even know what the exam was about. You know how people prepare for the SATs right? I didn’t have any strategy. When I got into the exam hall that was when I realized it was a multiple-choice type exam.

I’m telling you all these to let you know that some of these things were not up to me, that there was some divine intervention. Who would have guessed from my beginnings that I’d wind up where I did?

Anyway, I went to write the SAT over the weekend.

It was at my school’s library. Our school was very special—it was a centre for the SATs—that is why they were able to let me in that quickly to write it.

I was admitted to the University of Pennsylvania.

Why did you come back to Ghana after studying abroad?

I have three degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. I did all of my university education there—Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD. But before going to the United World College of the Atlantic one of the things they asked of you was to go, get the experience, return to your home country and make a difference. Many of us promised to do this, only a few followed through. So for me—I think it’s because of the training my father had given me at home— it was a matter of time when to do it. I could have come immediately after the United World Colleges to attend a university in Ghana. I didn’t do that. I went on to get a Bachelor’s degree. By that time, I had

...some of these things were not up to me, that there was some divine intervention.

Who would have guessed from my beginnings that I’d wind up where I did?

begun to see where I was going. In fact, most of my class mates went into medicine, but I fell in love with Bioengineering. My dad had been persistently asking about what I was going to do with my Bioengineering degree because there was nothing like that in Ghana at that time. If I was going to introduce something like this to Ghana, I’d better know everything there was to know about it. And that was what propelled me to keep going.

The question was why did I come back? I came back because I knew what I wanted to come back to do. I

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Media

Arts and Entertainment

Dr. Elsie Effah Kaufmann receiving the 2017 Impact Africa Summit Education Award for among others, her outstanding contribution to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in Ghana.

made a promise to come back and make a difference.

I knew this was the way I could make the difference.

You’ve made a difference indeed! How did you end up as the first head of the Biomedical Engineering Department?

I made a promise to come back and make a difference.

I knew this was the way I could make the difference.

Yes, I came back in 2001.

When I was ready to leave the US, I did the post-doc.

I was actually at Rutgers University doing a post-doc when I decided that it was time to come home. It was a time of transition—after post-doc, you get a job and then you are stuck. It was a good time to come home.The problem was figuring out what you wanted to do and implementing it. I applied to different places-- Noguchi, UCC and KNUST but I didn’t get a good response from them. And then, I applied to the University of Ghana.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana at the time was Prof. Addae-Mensah. My father knew him so he contacted him and mentioned to him that he had a daughter who was an engineer and was ready to come home. Prof. Addae-Mensah was very excited and said

that I should come, more so because he wanted to start engineering at the University of Ghana. That was just perfect, wasn’t it? I hadn’t even received an appointment letter, but was ready to come. It was when I came that the Registrar, Mr. Konu, gave me my appointment letter. The University of Ghana did very well. They recruited me, met me at the airport when I came to Ghana, brought me to campus, and gave me accommodation. I was part of a committee that had been established to put the proposal forward. The committee was chaired by the late Prof. Allotey, my mentor. And that’s how we started.

To become a lecturer at the University of Ghana you must be affiliated to a department. My application

When I think about excellence what I usually see is committing to do something, finding out about the requirements, satisfying that commitment, following through with it and then going forward to do something extra.

did not have any department specified so my CV, I hear, was going round this campus from one department to the other. The Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof. Amuzu, was in the Department of Physics, and on seeing my application and CV decided to host me. The most interesting thing is that from 1948, they had never had a full-time permanent female lecturer.They had had Prof. Aba Andam on sabbatical but not full-time. I was the first female to be appointed to the department of Physics at the University of Ghana in 2001.

And I have stayed in the university for 17 years. It has been challenging but also rewarding.

Any regrets?

No regrets. It’s not been easy though. There were times we celebrated the [end] of a semester because just making it through a semester of a new programme was a major thing.There’s been a lot of pain, and a lot of sacrifices, but I don’t think there are any regrets.

It appears you were born to do the extraordinary: first, you were amongst three chosen to represent your Ghana abroad; you are the first female full-time permanent lecturer to be appointed to the department of Physics ; first head of the Biomedical engineering department, quiz mistress of the National Science and Math Quiz…how do you juggle all your responsibilities together?

It’s not easy at all. Sometimes I say that 24 hours a day is not enough. If God were to grant me a wish it will be to add maybe a few more hours to the day.

I am getting better with time. Prioritizing is key. The other thing is that I don’t say no to help. When I need help I will get it. One major source of help has been my mother. There were times that I wished that I could spend more time doing certain things, and I just can’t. I’ve been blessed. My children understand me even though I do get the stories.

Here’s a typical story: so one day I get home early, because I feel like going home earlier than usual. I get home and Davis, my second child, is at the door.

She says to me, ‘What’s the matter, is something wrong? Did you actually find your way home in the light? Because you always come home late.’

We all laugh.

So yes, there are times when I wish I could do more.

You know, spend more time with the family, but I’m not even sure they’d enjoy having me around.

Through all of these different phases of your life, how have you maintained your faith in God? I have had too much happening in my life. Faith plays a very important role where I have reached in my journey. I am a planner—I dot the ‘i’s, cross the ‘t’s—and yet there are some things that are simply beyond me. I have experienced this for myself and so it’s not easy for me to discount the role of God in my life.

What’s your take on excellence?

When I think about excellence what I usually see is committing to do something, finding out about the requirements, satisfying that commitment, following through with it and then going forward to do something extra.

Ghanaians need to ditch mediocrity. I have observed that people take on responsibilities, looking for recognition, glory and remuneration, but never think about the work or the meaning of the commitment they have made. There are people who actually take on responsibility without bothering to find out what is required of them.

And if you don’t even know what is required of you, how do you add on to make it excellent?

As one of the frontline champions of science education in Ghana, what’s your view on the issue of girl-child education and early marriages of girls in Ghana?

There’s a whole lot research that has been done that shows that when you have diversity in terms of gender and contribution to decision-making, you make better decisions and have better outcomes.

It’s surprising then that we live in an environment where we can actually side-line a whole gender and expect to make better decisions. That doesn’t happen. We need to be doing a whole lot better.

In order to get to the point where you can actually contribute meaningfully to decision-making, you should have invested in yourself. This is the purpose of our education and life experiences. If we want our young women to be part of the development we are looking for as a country, we need to give

them a chance to invest in themselves. The time of preparation is not a time for them to be getting married. It’s very important that we give our boys and our girls equal opportunities to invest in themselves so that they can help us make the right decisions and implement those decisions for the future.

This is your twelfth year as quiz mistress for the National Science and Math Quiz.

How has the experience been like?

It’s been a wonderful experience.

Each quiz question requires an incredible amount of time to prepare. Subject consultants set the questions. As chair of the moderation team I meet with these subject consultants, and we read every single question out, debating and deciding which ones are suitable and which ones are not.

Sometimes I reject questions and have them replaced. This is a yearlong activity. We have to

Prioritizing is key. The other thing is that I don’t say no to help. When I need help I will get it.

check each question otherwise each time there’s a problem with a question, time is wasted—at least half an hour—to sort things out. You should be thinking about how much effort goes into making sure we do enough checks so that we don’t have these interruptions. Each question is very precious to me.

When I go and sit up there, my job is to bring every question to life. When I ask the question and the student takes the question seriously and answers correctly, it’s a source of great joy to me. On the other hand, when I see them taking the question lightly, it bothers me. Of course, there are other times I have great amusement from the kind of answers I receive.

Work hard. Find out where you can make impact and work really hard to make that impact. It’s not enough to talk about it or dream about it; it’s time to take action.

Do it! contribution to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education at the international level. It’s a significant award for engineers so I am very proud

But yes, it’s been a very rewarding experience.

Do you have mentors, and are you mentoring anybody?

I am mentoring a whole lot of people—from basic school through to junior high school, senior high school, university and my students who have graduated and left. Some of my own colleagues at the University of Ghana are my mentees.

More recently, I have been focusing on the junior high schoolers. I am working with the team that puts together the National Core Subjects Quiz.

Am I being mentored myself? Yes. I take mentorship very seriously. Sometimes we need ideas from elsewhere and so I have a number of mentors.

Unfortunately, I am losing them one after the other.

I first lost Emeritus Prof. Ebenezer Laing and Prof.

Allotey at the beginning of the year. But I still have Prof. Osseo-Asare at Pennsylvania State University in the US.

You’ve won several awards, the latest being a 2018 Golden Torch Award at a Conference in Pittsburgh, USA. Again, you are the first female recipient of that award.

What was it all about?

The Golden Torch Award is an award from the National Society of Black Engineers. This is an international association of engineers from around the world. The specific category was International Academic Leadership in recognition of my

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Dr. Elsie Effah Kaufman giving her acceptance speech at the 2018 Golden Touch Awards.

to have received that.

Could you touch on some of the failures and challenges you have encountered in life?

I see each failure as an opportunity to grow, to expand and to get better. When you face failures, it is an opportunity to do something better. In our first Physics class at the University of Pennsylvania, the professor decided to put us to the test by giving us a diagnostic quiz. Out of three, the possible outcomes were zero, one, two and three, and I wound up with zero! That was a major failure for me. Learning from this experience, I restrategized and made it a point to go to every Physics class prepared because we had been promised there were more to come. From that time, I am proud to say I never scored zero again.

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There are other failures I have had in life but I do not dwell on my failures very much.

What’s the secret behind the way you look and your colourful dress choices?

I don’t think I put a lot of effort into looking good. Yes, I do like colour. If I had the choice of choosing between something colourful and dull, I’d always choose colour. I don’t spend much time on make-up. My daughter Maia Maia is very much into make-up and I’m always scandalizing her. I only have two things in my make-up box—a black pencil I draw anywhere I feel like (sometimes I get it right, at other times I don’t), and a lipstick. But on the set of the National Science and Maths Quiz, they actually spend a lot of time on that make-up

and sometimes I have to complain that it’s just too much.

I have been blessed with very good genes.

Where do you see yourself in engineering education in the next few years?

Personally, there’s a whole lot in store. I have several things coming up. As an academic, I do research. I have several exciting research projects currently ongoing. You can look out for my publications. I also want to progress professionally.

In terms of education, I think we are beginning to see some progress. Like I said, the expectations are increasing; people are no longer satisfied

It gets better.

to come and sit here and get a certificate. They realize that you can have a certificate and not be able to do anything useful with it. I think the demand to have education that actually counts can be applied to make a difference. Once there’s a push we will all be required to work harder to make things move in that direction. I see great hope for our engineering students. You can no longer graduate as an engineer and just sit around doing nothing.

I am very hopeful.

What advice would you give our readers?

Strive for excellence. Be committed to the activities that you choose to do. Work hard. Hard work does not kill. Work hard. Find out where you can make impact and work really hard to make that impact. It’s not enough to talk about

it or dream about it; it’s time to take action. Do it!

In addition to that, pray. There are some things that are out of our immediate control. Leave those ones to God, and take your responsibility seriously.

Strive for excellence!

Ufuoma Geraldine Mamoh

T

his Christian life is a constant struggle. The Bible even says it in Galatians 5:17, how our flesh and spirit are in constant opposition.

The commonest trial we face as Christians is whether to do as we please or to let God lead. It cuts across our lifestylewhether to get out of bed and pray, whether to date this person that makes me (and not You) have butterflies in my tummy, whether to say something hurtful just because I’m hungry, whether to dress a certain way just because I feel like it.We commonly quote Romans 12:1, but do we really practice it even in the smallest aspects of our lives? Are we constantly daily transformed by His influence?

Do we even let Him have a say?

My class chaplain spoke very so often about accountability partners, but I didn’t quite know the use until I tried it. I currently have about three to whom I am accountable to in one way or another!

This creates a constant environment of pressure around me so much so that I know what it feels like to have a wall of fire around you.They are my prayer partners, the ones with whom I schedule times to pray just to make sure we have an active prayer life. We talk about our daily struggles, encourage, and support each other.The Bible talks about being surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, and I doubt nothing does that better that having a solidarity squad (as I like to call them).

I owe my semi-steady prayer pattern to these ones. They act as a constant check on my actions towards myself and others, and that’s what this article is about. I believe this is one aspect where believers could strengthen themselves. My campaign is for everyone to suit up and get at least one accountability partner.

Are we constantly daily transformed by His influence?

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ACT ONE, SCENE ONE:

Do I really need this solidarity squad legit?

Like hello!!! Did you not read the above incentives?

These people are the trampoline that push you back up when you slip and fall. They stand for added comfort and make your pain their pain.They are your shock absorber.They hold you through the storm so you all stay warm, going together just so you can go far. By this point, you know I’m not referring to people who just want to be gatekeepers in heaven.

This article is for those who wanna push it.

ACT ONE, SCENE TWO:

Where on earth do I find these people?

It just happened for me.They more or less found me.

The better way to put it is, we found each other. It’s not like I’m some whiz at this, I’m still trying to figure out just how this works out, but we’ve recorded more benefits than losses. So far, it’s an overall pass.

The best way is to pray about it first, asking God to lead you along the right path. Most of us already have this method running low-key level. We only need to recognize and better exploit it. We don’t need too many people on board- I suggest working in little groups of three or four. The Holy Spirit is an awesome partner. He silences our savage tongues, holds us still in His arms when we cry, and watches for our every step before we move- only if we let Him. He’s the best accountability partner.

ACT ONE, SCENE THREE:

Ok, I have the people, but how do I make this work?

Prayer life, word study and a personal relationship with God. We need to train ourselves to speak to Him concerning everything at every time, even in the loo. I’m talking about saying that we’ll remain still and without a decision until God moves the pawn for us. Prayer and word study simply add on to our relationship with Him and cause us to flourish better. So those are the basc areas we tackled. I suggest Bible studies (not anything formal, it could be Bible-character based, or based on the seasons of our lives, whatever is appropriate), and stipulated unchanging unceasing prayer times. If you could set apart random times for discussing any issues at hand

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that may be bothering one person or the other, it will be good. Get a couple squad goals and see what happens as the year empties out.

ACT ONE: CLOSING:

Is this really that effective?

Well, effectivity depends on what you set up for short and long-term goals. Having a format helps to know exactly what we’re dealing with and just how far away from it we are. Working hand in hand with God even as we hope to draw closer to Him. Effectiveness is a choice, and aim to work at and it has to be duly planned for and diligently worked at.

What I’m saying is if you really want to go all out and reap unfathomable results, it can be done!

So guys, this is the summary of it all – go get yourself some personal Peters, James and Johns, so we’d slay this race together.

Ufuoma Gereldine Mamoh Editor/ Writer

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GNOMICSOCIAL

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https://bit.ly/2K87rEl

It gets better!

Bananas.

A

look into the nutritional breakdown of bananas and it reveals the following (per 100 grams): 0.3 g total fat, zero cholesterol, 1 mg salt, about 360 mg potassium, 2.6 gm dietary fiber, 12 gm sugar and 1.1 gm protein. It contains essentially every nutrient you need to grow healthy. If this is not reason enough to eat more bananas, then what?

1 2 3 4 5 JUNEEDITION18

High Fiber Content

Banana is loaded with fiber, both soluble and insoluble.The soluble fiber has the tendency to slow down digestion and keep you feeling full for a longer time. Which is why bananas should be included in your breakfast meal so that you can start your day without having to worry about the next meal.

Heart Health

High fiber foods are said to be good for the heart. According to a study done by University of Leeds in UK, increasing consumption of fiber-rich foods such as bananas can lower the risk of both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD).

Powerhouse of Nutrients

Banana is a heavyweight when it comes to nutrition. It is loaded with essential vitamins and minerals such as potassium, calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron, folate, niacin, riboflavin, and B6.

These all contribute to the proper functioning of the body and keeping you healthy.

High Source of Potassium

The high content of potassium in bananas makes it a super fruit. This mineral is known for its numerous health benefiting properties - it helps in regulating heartbeat, blood pressure, and keeps the brain alert.

Blood Pressure

It is a known fact that salt is the evil when it comes to high blood pressure. Bananas have low salt content and high potassium content, and these properties contribute to making it ideal for those undergoing this condition.

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MUSIC

6

Helps Fight Anaemia

Due to the high iron content in bananas, they are good for those suffering from anaemia. Anaemia is a condition where there is a decrease in the number of red blood cells or haemoglobin in the blood.This leads to fatigue, shortness of breath, and paleness.

And so let's do more with those bananas, Shall we?.

â–ś BANANA SMOOTHIE Total time- 2 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

2 bananas, peeled 2 cups fresh pineapple chunks 1 orange, peeled 1 cup ice 1 Tbsp. ground flax seed and/or wheat germ (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

In a blender, combine all ingredients. Blend until smooth, then serve immediately. (If your blender has trouble getting going, you may need to add in a few tablespoons of water or juice to get it started.)

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ETCHED IN EXCELLENCE:

REVIEW ON THE BOOK, MISSION DRIFT.

W

ITHOUT careful attention, faith-based organisations will inevitably drift from their founding mission. It is that simple.

It will happen. Slowly, silently and with little fanfare, organisations routinely drift from their original purpose, and most will never return to their original intent.

It has happened throughout history…..” With these opening words, Peter Greer and Christ Horst begin an in-depth practical exegesis on the unspoken crisis facing organisations.

It’s called the MISSION DRIFT. Peter is the president and CEO of HOPE international, a global non-profit organization focused on addressing both physical and spiritual poverty through microfinance. Chris serves as director at the same place. Drawing from their own experience on contracts they had to let go of because the donors wanted them to tone down their Christian identity, they put together a 15-chapter study on staying mission-true.

“To be plainly instructed and consider that the main end of your life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ”; This was the founding mission of Harvard University. Harvard’s spiritual heritage is no longer visible. Eighty years later, a group of English pastors founded another university to correct the secularization at Harvard. Named after Elihu Yale, a rich philanthropist who shared in their concerns, they founded Yale University with the motto, “Lux et Veritax” meaning “Light and Truth”. But today, both universities are nothing like what they were established to be.

recognize that Christ makes the difference, and without a changed heart, prosperity can lead to more brokenness.

2. Mission-true organisations make harder decisions to protect and propel their missions. We must realize that the pressure to drift is constant, and we must be intentional in small decisions and make hard decisions to correct drift.

3.

Mission-true organisations assume they will face drift, and build safeguards against it. We must not assume successors will inherit the founder’s faith.

4. Mission-true organisations have clarity and know why they exist and have guardians who understand the top priority of the group.

The fact is, mission drift unfolds slowly, and it carries an organization from its core purpose and identity. How can we avoid this? Chris and Peter make these clear points.

For the purpose of the theme for this month’s edition, I would expatiate on a chapter in the book- ETCHED IN EXCELLENCE: MISSIONTRUE ORGANISATIONS UNDERSTAND THE GOSPEL DEMANDS EXCELLENCE IN THEIR WORK.

1. Mission-true organisations believe the gospel is their most precious asset. We need to be fully convicted of this because we will be challenged in our organisations. Funds may be cut, some staff may not be recruited, because of who we are and what we stand for. Nonetheless, we must

The scriptures clearly teach us in 2 Peter 1:5 to ADD TO OUR FAITH, EXCELLENCE. Unfortunately, sometimes, we hide behind our Christian identity and under-

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perform. But our fruit tells a lot of who and what we are and must not be short of the standard of Christ. Slapping the symbol of a cross on a product package does not make it honour God, if it is not excellent. To us, there is no room for mediocrity. God created the universe and upholds it precisely because he is a God of excellence. The instructions he gave Noah and Moses for the ark and tabernacle depict his art of excellence.

In the chapter, he exemplifies Buck Knives, an American knife manufacturer founded in San Diego in 1902. It is the country’s most prominent knife company, making about 5 million knives annually. Its founder, Hoyt Buck, at age 13, made its first knife. He believed that his Christian faith demanded he approached his work with excellence as to The Lord. During the World War II, as a pastor, he made over 2,000 knives from the basement of his church and donated them to the American soldiers.Today, the Buck folding lock blade knife, Model 110 is the gold standard for lock blades in the U.S. To each knife they make, there is a personal lifetime guarantee message in the box to welcome the buyer to the Buck family and it reads as…..

As my father Chuck Buck would say, if this is your first Buck knife, "Welcome aboard." You are now part of a very large family. We think of each one of our users as a member of the Buck Knives family, and we take care of our own.

Now that you are family, you might want to know a little more about us. Dad said it best when he said, "The fantastic growth of Buck Knives, Inc. was no accident. From the beginning, we determined to make God the Senior Partner. In a crisis, the problem was turned over to Him, and He hasn't failed to help us with the answer. Each knife must reflect the integrity of management. If sometimes we fail on our end, because we are human, we find it imperative to do our utmost to make it right. If any of you are troubled or perplexed and looking for answers, may we invite you to look to Him, for God loves you."

We have stood by these values since 1902 and honor our products with this Forever Warranty. Please don't hesitate to contact us regarding your knife.

The Bucks family believe the quality of their craftsmanship is crucial to validate their message.

In conclusion, the chapter encourages us in being mission true to : 1. Maintain the highest level of quality. Poor quality and Christian should never be used to describe the same organization. Substandard runs contrary to God’s calling.

2. Celebrate our unique societal contributions because of our Christian identity.

3. Integrate the gospel into all areas of our programs.

Excellence must undergird mission-true organisations. We must not settle for mediocrity.

Our faith demands that we be the best in class regardless of what type of work we do. Our programs and products must model the highest of quality.

CJ Buck President, CEO, Chairman of Buck Knives.

Priscilla Kyei-Baffour

Editor/ Writer

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Scan to order.

PrintsCharming remarkable shirt designs

7 FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE WORLD CUP.

1 2 3

Russia was given the go ahead to host the Fifa world cup for the first time in 2 December, 2010.

The FIFA Cup matches will be held in 11 cities: Moscow (this city will host the finals of the cup), Saint Petersburg, Ekaterinburg, Kazan, Samara,Volgograd, Nizhny Novgorod, Saransk Rostov-on-Don, Kaliningrad, Sochi Wolf Zabivaka™ designed by student Ekaterina Bocharova won the right to be the 2018 World Cup mascot. The main symbol of the tournament was chosen via online voting.

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4

The World Cup has been played 20 times, Brazil holds the most titles with five. Italy and Germany are close behind with four each.

5

The distance between the easternmost host city (Ekaterinburg) and the westernmost host city (Kaliningrad) at the 2018 World Cup is over 1500 miles. For comparison, that’s about the same distance as Moscow to London, England.

6 7

The most goals ever scored by one player in a World Cup match is an impressive five, by Oleg Salenko of Russia.

he World Cup winning country is rumored to see a baby boom 9 months after the World Cup. In fact, Hyundai even created a commercial based on this fact.

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Gnomic picks.

MOVIES

Avengers: Infinity War Anthony Russo, Joe Russo Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk and the rest of the Avengers unite to battle their most powerful enemy yet -- the evil Thanos. On a mission to collect all six Infinity Stones, Thanos plans to use the artifacts to inflict his twisted will on reality. The fate of the planet and existence itself has never been more uncertain as everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment.

Incredibles 2 Brad Bird Everyone’s favorite family of superheroes is back in “Incredibles 2” – but this time Helen (voice of Holly Hunter) is in the spotlight, leaving Bob (voice of Craig T. Nelson) at home with Violet (voice of Sarah Vowell) and Dash (voice of Huck Milner) to navigate the day-to-day heroics of “normal” life. It’s a tough transistion for everyone, made tougher by the fact that the family is still unaware of baby Jack-Jack’s emerging superpowers. When a new villain hatches a brilliant and dangerous plot, the family and Frozone (voice of Samuel L. Jackson) must find a way to work together again— which is easier said than done, even when they’re all Incredible

Solo: A Star Wars Story Ron Howard Young Han Solo finds adventure when he joins a gang of galactic smugglers, including a 196-year-old Wookie named Chewbacca. Indebted to the gangster Dryden Vos, the crew devises a daring plan to travel to the mining planet Kessel to steal a batch of valuable coaxium. In need of a fast ship, Solo meets Lando Calrissian, the suave owner of the perfect vessel for the dangerous mission -- the Millennium Falcon

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Deadpool 2 David Leitch Wisecracking mercenary Deadpool meets Russell, an angry teenage mutant who lives at an orphanage. When Russell becomes the target of Cable -- a genetically enhanced soldier from the future -- Deadpool realizes that he'll need some help saving the boy from such a superior enemy. He soon joins forces with Bedlam, Shatterstar, Domino and other powerful mutants to protect young Russell from Cable and his advanced weaponry Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom J. A. Bayona

Change Me Tamella Mann

Tamella Mann’s powerful vocals are on total display, and “Change Me” will absolutely bless your soul!

Three years after the destruction of the Jurassic World theme park, Owen Grady and Claire Dearing return to the island of Isla Nublar to save the remaining dinosaurs from a volcano that's about to erupt. They soon encounter terrifying new breeds of gigantic dinosaurs, while uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the entire planet

MUSIC

Your Name Is Great Todd Dulaney Dulaney's third full-length album effort brings to bear God's sovereignty whiles touching on topics like love and pray.

Not Lucky, I’m Loved Jonathan McReynolds "This song is all about how no matter what God loves us. All of our blessings come from him and we should be thankful.’’

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Storyteller Morgan Harper Nichols ft. Jamie Grace.

Storyteller is about how God is always with us in during the good and bad times. The entire song reminds us all that we are never too far gone to receive God’s love, peace, and joy.

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BOOKS

Mission Drift Peter Greer, Chris Horst Baker Publishing Group 224 pages A Christianity Today 2015 Book Award Winner Without careful attention, faith-based organizations drift from their founding mission. It's that simple. It will happen.

Why do so many organizations wander from their mission, while others remain Mission True? Can drift be prevented? In Mission Drift, HOPE International executives Peter Greer and Chris Horst show how to determine whether your organization is in danger of drift, and they share the results of their research into Mission True and Mission Untrue organizations. Even if your organization is on course, it's wise to look for ways to inoculate yourself against drift.You'll discover what you can do to prevent drift or get back on track and how to protect what matters most.

Goliath must fall Louie Giglio In Goliath Must Fall, Pastor Louie Giglio uncovers a twist in the classic story of David and Goliath.

The key to living free from our giants is not better slingshot accuracy, but keeping our eyes on the one and only giant-slayer -- Jesus.

Blessed are the misfits Brant Hansen Why are so many church programs geared towards the extroverted? That’s the question at the centre of his book, which shows why those who don’t always fit in are uniquely positioned to do big things in God’s kingdom.

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Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

—Paul of Tarsus

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