GNOMIC DECEMBER 2019/ JANUARY 2020 by Gnomic Magazine

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GNOMICMAGAZINE

Excellence is not an event. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s twelve and counting. It gets better.

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FIRST WORD note from the publisher

NOMIC is a touch above your regular Ghanaian magazine—it is exciting and intentionally inspiring. In this issue, the experience is a bit different. It is much better! We bring you directly to the doorsteps of the ultimate inspiration— that God loved us so much that he became one of us in other to save us from ultimate death. That He is with Us. The theme for this issue, our twelfth edition and the last for this year, is thus ‘Immanuel, God with Us’’. God with us—such assurance! It is a very profound statement—God with Us. For who are we? Let me tell you a story: A pastor was once travelling on board a plane. A businessperson sat beside him, with a laptop switched on. The screensaver was the picture of a sweet little boy. Later, the pastor got to know that was his son- his only child. The picture was taken 3 months earlier, when the boy was 11 months old.

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The businessman went on to talk about his son, with great excitement. He talked about his first steps, about his first words. He showed the pastor pictures of the boy on his mobile phone, and then more pictures from the computer. He displayed them one at a time, giving commentary to each one. The pastor was getting bored. Some pictures were quite ordinary, to be honest. “I can’t wait to get home to him,” the man said. “In the meantime, I could look at these pictures many times a day. They never get old to me.” The pastor was getting tired actually. Why was this man so preoccupied with this boy? Was it because the boy’s achievements were so impressive? No. Millions of children at his age learn to do the same thing. (In fact, the pastor felt that his own boy looks cuter and can do better than his can. Of course, he did not say it out.) The man was so excited about the child because he looked at him through the eyes of a father. Everything the boy did was seen with wonder and joy. It did not matter that other children do the same things. “That’s my boy!” The pastor said, “You obviously miss your son. How long ago did you leave home?” “Yesterday.” One day away from his son is one too many. He wanted to get home fast, to be with his boy. He did not want to love his son from a distance. He wanted to be with him. This is the father’s heart. This is our heavenly Father’s heart for us today. We are on God’s ‘screensaver’, so to speak. The tiniest details of our lives never grow old to him. The Bible says, “Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” (Matt 10:30). He came

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GNOMIC MAGAZINE

down from the comfort of His throne to be one of us. We lived amongst us. He died for us. This is why we celebrate Christmas—to remember that God was here some. And He is with us. . .

A CHRISTIAN YOUTH MAGAZINE

ISSUE 12

IMMANUEL

Matthew’s account of the gospel begins and ends with this solemn promise—as seen in his reference to the prophecy heralding Jesus’ birth (Matthew 1:23) and in one of Jesus’ last instructions to His disciples. He is with us. Through the stormy nights when the ship of our lives threatens to sink, through the seas of the dessert when our unrelenting enemies are in fierce pursuit, through the flames of persecution, even in the den of the wild lions of economic hardship. . .Throughout scripture, and history for that matter, God’s reassuring promise of His continued persistent presence has not, does not, and will not change.

Publisher | JOHN A. TURKSON Content Manager | PORTIA N. Y. SINTIM Special Member | KWASI KYEI-OFFEI Issue Editor | AMA NYARKOA EKEM Faith Correspondent | PRISCILLA KYEIBAFFOUR Financial Head| UFUOMA MAMOH Publicity | KOBINA ESSILFIE-QUAYE MAAME ADWOA OWUSU-KONADU Creative Director | ALBERT IDLAFF OFORI GNOMIC Korle-Bu EMMANUELLA AGYEMAN SYLVIA ASARE-DANSO REUBEN ODAI LARYEA CHERYL LAMPTEY FRANK AYUGANE DERRICK NYARKO AMOAKO NANA KWAME BROWN

Not us. We are the familiar fallible variables in this equation. God wants us to make the most out of this rich resource, but we sometimes just cannot seem to believe it, or even reach it. And this is another area this issue attempts to navigate. Unlike the man in Michelangelo’s famous painting, “the Creation of Adam”, we need to stretch beyond our comfort zones to touch the tip of finger of this great promise.

GNOMIC UCC YINLOGRE ATONGO SHOLA MAKINDE KWAKU BOAKYE GYAMFI AMA ASARE BOATENG ERNEST AMOAH

Immanuel! God with Us! This indeed means everything! And it makes it all better. It gets better!

CONNECT WITH US /theGnomicMag /gnomic_magazine /gnomic_magazine +233 (0)55 8033 725 feedback.gnomic@gmail.com

Merry Christmas. Enjoy.

John A. Turkson jaturkson

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Gnomic Magazine Accra, Ghana

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CURRENT news and faith

Kanye West at a Sunday Service

KANYE GOES GOSPEL

anuary 6, 2019. Kanye West’s wife, Kim, posts a clip on Twitter of a gathering at which West performs gospel renditions of some secular hits. The following week, a fan-filmed video surfaces of West’s cousin, Tony Williams, speaking about West’s newly formed passion project: Sunday Service. “The goal is to be able to communicate love effectively,” says Williams in the clip. Since then, Sunday Service has exploded: Everyone from Brad Pitt to Idris Elba has attended. West’s faith has been a recurring theme in his work since his 2004 debut album, The College Dropout. On its breakout single “Jesus Walks,” he raps, “Radio needs this,” later asking, “If I talk about God my record won’t get played/Huh?/Well if this take away from my spins/Then I hope this take away from my sins.” In October, West released his 10th studio album, Jesus Is King,

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Joshua Harris

WHAT’S UP WITH CHRISTIAN CELEBRITIES RENOUNCING THEIR FAITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA? Two prominent Christians took to Instagram within weeks of each other.

which arrived following a series of delays. The gospel-infused project debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 264,000 album-equivalent units, according to Nielsen Music. With Christianity composing West’s new path, Yeezy is seemingly willing to relinquish his pride for his beliefs. “Now that I’m in service to Christ, my job is to spread the gospel, [and] to let people know what Jesus has done for me,” he told Beats 1 host Zane Lowe in October. What do you think about Ye’s new found faith? Share your thoughts with us by scaning the qr code DEC/ JAN 2020

Former Pastor and author of the controversial book I kissed dating Goodbye, Joshua Harris, wrote a lengthy Instagram post in September saying, “By all the measurements that I have for defining a Christian, I am not a Christian.” A few weeks later, former Hillsong worship leader Marty Sampson made his own Instagram post that shocked fans. He wrote, “I’m genuinely losing my faith, and it doesn’t bother me. Like, what bothers me now is nothing. I am so happy now, so at peace with the world. It’s crazy’ He later clarified that he has not ‘renounced’ his faith, but added, “It’s on incredibly shaky ground.” The posts have prompted other Christian leaders to call out the trend. Kevin Rogers, the interim senior pastor of Harris’ former church, Covenant Life Church in Maryland said, “Several times Paul mentions former Christian leaders ‘swerving from,’ ‘wandering from,’ or ‘making a shipwreck’ of their faith. So while this is sad and confusing, it isn’t new.”

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GAY JESUS?— WHEN ENTERTAINMENT CROSSES THE LINE.

A Portuguese Christmas special on Netflix is catching fierce backlash from Christians all over the world for depicting Jesus Christ as gay. Since its release on the streaming service earlier this month, “The First Temptation of Christ” has incited several online campaigns calling on relevant authorities to ban the special. The Netflix film tells the story of Jesus returning home from the desert for his 30th birthday. Mary and God are portrayed as illicit lovers and Joseph is a bumbling carpenter who cannot build a table. Jesus, the movie suggests, seems to have done more than wander the desert for 40 days. Arriving in Nazareth, he brings along a flamboyant male companion, Orlando, who is DEC/ JAN 2020

the walking stereotype of an effeminate gay man and implies at almost every turn that he and the son of God are romantically involved.

Locally, a series of satirical black Jesus skits by Justice Hymns, also known as Mmebusem has been the focus of massive criticism. When is it okay to ‘mock’ Jesus? Where do we draw the line between faith and entertainment? Let us kindly know your views.

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FEATURED

Adoration of the Shepherds by the Dutch painter Matthias Stomer, 1632. Wikipedia

IMMA NUEL THE BEST OF IT ALL

“

few days ago, I was brought into a discussion on whether or not Christians should celebrate Christmas. The main argument against the celebration was its alleged pagan origin. I like how the late Evangelist Reinhard Bonke defended the celebration of Christmas by saying “those who quibble about the 25th of December being a pagan mid winter feast have no perspective whatever. They may as well say we can’t grow wheat in a field because some thorns grew there before. Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great! He appeared in the body.” For me, Christmas is the greatest time of the year because it reminds me that “God [once] became a MAN!- like me” Immanuel remains my most exciting theme of the nativity celebration.

those who quibble about the 25th of December being a pagan mid winter feast have no perspective whatever. They may as well say we can’t grow wheat in a field because some thorns grew there before. Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great! He appeared in the body.” Reinhard Bonke

form?

IMMANUEL- EVERYDAY ASSUARANCE. IMMANUEL- THE GREAT MYSTERY OF GODLINESS. ( 1 Timothy 3:16) Paul sang a popular hymn in his day about the Great mystery of Godliness. God was manifest in the ﬂesh. Halleluyah! The Great Eternal God took the form of no other creature, but man! Selah (pause and inhale that in). Such love, such thoughtfulness, such comfort that God became like me. And the hymn continues. . . He was seen by angels. Yes, angels in all eternity had not beheld the face of their king. The cherubims protected the face of God with their wings. But when God became flesh, angels saw his face. Oh the awe and wonder made manifest in the song of the angels as they joyfully sang Glory to God in The Highest ( Luke 2:14) They wondered “ what is man that you are so mindful of?. (Psalm 8:4) And who am I that The Lord of all the earth should care to know my name and take my

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God became man and now there will forever remain a man in the Trinity to make intercession for me. Jesus our Immanuel, Jesus our Hope, Jesus Our light to guide us continually through the world. The author of Hebrew says “Because He became flesh, he can bear with me in my weaknesses and remains forever as a better High Priest to offer intercession for me. ( Heb. 4:15) If God became man, then He remains forever to bear with me in my weakness. He remains as light to guide me through this dark world. A. Clarke. writes “In what sense is Christ GOD WITH US? In His incarnation united to our nature- God with man- God in man. He is God with us to comfort, enlighten, protect, and defend us in

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time of temptation and trial, and in the hour of death, and God with us, and in us, and we with and in Him to all eternity.” 1

IMMANUEL- THE MISSIONARY’S COMFORT.

Let us sing , O COME, O COME, IMMANUEL Therefore, let us join the hymnist to sing to rejoice, rejoice for Immanuel shall come and ransom captive Israel. John piper comments on the stanzas describing the various names of Immanuel.2

‘Behold, I am with you, even till the end of age’. John Paton, a missionary to the New Hebrides was told he will be eaten by cannibals if he went. This was the comfort and conviction through which he conquered. Jesus said ‘He will be with us even till the end of age’ ( Mt 18:20). No matter where the missionary has been sent to, the knowledge of God being with him is relieving, strengthening and comforting. Immanuel, God is with me even in the fire and hostility of any mission field. Immanuel is also the missionary’s lifestyle and message. It is his encouragement and motivation to leave the comfort of his home to be with a culture different from his.

As Immanuel – ( Isa. 8:8) God with us- he will pay the ransom that only a God-man can pay.

A Moravian missionary once went to the West Indies, to preach to the slaves. He found it impossible for him to carry out his design so long as he bore to them the relation of a mere missionary. They were driven into the field very early in the morning, and returned late at night with scarcely strength to roll themselves into their cabins, and in no condition to be profited by instruction. They were savage toward all of the race and rank of their masters. He determined to reach the slaves by becoming himself a slave. He was sold, that he might have the privilege of working by their side, and preaching to them as he worked with them. This missionary was following the example of the Lord Jesus Christ, who took on Him the nature of men, came among them, and lived as they lived, that He might save them from their sins.

And as Desire of nations ( Hag. 2:7), he will draw the ransomed from every people and make them a kingdom of peace.

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As rod of Jesse ( Isa. 11:1) springing from a dead stump, he will free his people, by death and resurrection, from Satan’s tyranny and make them free forever. As Dayspring ( Luke 1:78) the dawn of God’s kingdom- he will be the light of the world, and banish the hopelessness of darkness. As Key of David ( Isa. 22:22), he rescues us from hell and locks the door behind us, unlocks the door of heaven and brings us home.

With these amazing attributes, let us sing the refrain with Joy Rejoice, rejoice Immanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel ( the whole world).

Let us conclude with the words of the Great Preacher, Charles Spurgeon in a sermon preached in 1854. It summarises our Hope Of Immanuel, The Joy of God being with us, the terror of this in the dark and the zeal we have to make this known to all and sundry.

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The chorus of angels The everlasting oratorio of the great orchestra of the sky

Oh may God teach you the meaning of that name, Immanuel IMMANUEL, GOD WITH US It is wisdom’s mystery – God with us Sages look at it and wonder, angels desire to see it The plotline of reason cannot reach halfway into its depth The eagle wing of science cannot fly so high The piercing eye of the vulture of research cannot see it. Selah GOD WITH US - HELLS’S TERROR Satan trembles at the sound of it Its legions fly at pleas The black winged dragon at the pit quails before it. Let Satan come to you and you whisper, GOD WITH US and Back he falls confounded, and confused. Satan trembles when he hears that nameGOD WITH US. Selah

Have every reason to rejoice this Christmas and beyond. For Immanuel, God is with us and even much more, He is in us. Like John Wesley said on his dying bed “ the best of it all is that God is with us”.

Charles Spurgeon, Sermon, Christmas Eve, 1854.

IMMANUEL- THE LABOURER’S STRENGTH How could he preach the gospel, How could he bend his knees in prayer, How could the missionary go into foreign land How could the martyr stand at stake How could the confessor acknowledge his master How could man labour if that one word were taken away. Selah GOD WITH US- THE SUFFER’S COMFORT It is the sufferer’s comfort, the balm of his woe The alleviation of his mystery The sleep God gives to His beloved The rest after exertion and toil

PRISCILLA KYEI-BAFFOUR

IMMANUEL- ETERNITY’S SONNET Heaven’s hallelujah The shout of the glorified The song of the redeemed

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et’s talk seasons….. Graduating from school for me came with glamour and excitement. I remember just wanting to get the certificate and get it over with, but the African family would not allow for it. I was caught in that phase of “butterfly today, caterpillar tomorrow”. I wanted to pause, think deep and be happy that I had just accomplished something so awesome, but that wouldn’t happen. Not with every family and non-family member ending their text with ‘so which area would you specialize in?’ in my head I’m like ‘I can’t even set a perfect line and y’all are all up in my business’. I couldn’t be sure if they really wanted to know my plans or if they wanted something to say like “she’s done with school now, she plans to be an obstetrician, I’m so proud of her.” Ooh and don’t get it twisted, there’s no way I’m doing ONG. I had to face new challenges like; chasing my excess fees at Legon (those people need deliverance - they know how to collect money but they have issues giving it back. Sheesh.), getting my passport renewed, getting my SNNIT and TIN ( I don’t feel like stressing in May), and everything came with its own challenges. I felt really overwhelmed with these new tasks I had to accomplish and remembered just asking God for a break. And I must mention, my relationship with God changed gear altogether. To think I could pray devotedly during my final MBCHB, and all of a sudden, lost so much discipline that I couldn’t find my prayer altar (your girl is working on it) just blew my mind. My plan to read the bible in nine months also fell into a bucket of water due to laziness. I’d set an alarm and wake up to pray, but I didn’t always feel like it so I’d go back to sleep. But

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I remember God telling me “you’re never going to feel like it. Your feelings cannot dictate what you do or don’t do.” I realized then that I had to suck it up and push past feelings. I was in a dry season – that season where your quiet time isn’t as sweet as it used to be, you don’t hear God as clearly as you used to, you don’t sense Him in your life. That’s a season, one to dig deeper from God. It does not mean that God isn’t there. It’s impossible for Him to leave you, regardless of what it feels like. I had a conversation with a friend who was feeling sad that all her friends were getting married and no one was looking in her direction. Women face this unnecessary pressure, but honey realise – it is a SEASON!! It only lasts a little while even if it feels like forever. God began to teach me that there will be a season (especially for us girls) when all your friends around you would keep getting married and you’re stuck as ‘always a bridesmaid, never a bride’ but that is your season to pray for your future husband and kids. Don’t sit moping on your bed devaluing yourself, ready to out with the next Tom, Dick or Harry. What does God have to say in this season? Where do you need to grow? Are you sure you’re ready for marriage? Seasons are both spiritual and physical. Let’s take this shortly. To every student reading this, you may be thinking ‘ I can’t wait to be done with this!’, but know that the next

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stage is always harder than the last one. Enjoy the season and have a story to tell, because life after school is not necessarily a cup of tea – ask any of your older relatives.

and seasons. You must be willing and able to identify what season of your life you are in so you know exactly which aspect of God to draw deepest from.

To the class of 2019, our freshest and newly inducted doctors, I have complained for so long that the eight months is too much, that we should’ve started housejob and then every three months, we ought to get one of the eight months (in addition to the normal three weeks) leave added so we can feel less stressed during housejob. I’m sure God was busy laughing at me - that prayer went south. Enjoy the season – give it your all, travel, learn a new skill, add more value to yourself, spice up your relationship with God. Don’t sit at home idle – your mother is so going to make sure you’re doing something. Our chaplaincy board literally gave us a playlist for our last exams to encourage us through that season. What’s on your playlist now?

Honey, you are a masterpiece in progress. If you think you’ve hit your hardest season, I hate to break it to you, but you’ve still got so much of life to live. In Exodus 13:17-18, God teaches us that sometimes he takes us the longer way, because challenges along the shorter way may cause us to go backwards. But later on in the chapter we see the Lord was a pillar of cloud by day, and of fire by night – isn’t that lit!

If you’re a singer, try and hit some new notes. If a writer, write more – get into a competition or two; if you love fashion, try designing some stuff, learn how to do your own make-up, update your closet. Buy treasury bills, learn how to bake, to cook, to draw, to paint! The world runs on talent these days – find yours and grow it! If you want to review your notes, that’s cool too. Find you wherever ‘you’ is, and do you! This season will soon end and what would you have taken from it? I saw somewhere that 2020 is the decade where a lot of us would have our own kids (a lot can happen in these ten years) - how ready are you for that? I Chr 12:32 tells us that the sons of Issachar knew the times

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UFUOMA G. MAMOH

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GRAHIC

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Abraham Debrah Narh

God is with us, God is with us Christ our Lord shall reign as King MHB 252

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God is our Creator, He is our beginning, our strength and our end. He longs for us to be with Him so He came to us and is with us. It is God who became flesh and made His dwelling among us as Christ Jesus that gives us the name Immanuel. “And they shall call his name Immanuel” which means God with us (Matthew 1:23). Search everywhere carefully and you will see God At best, we leave God. He is always with us. The recognition of this fact will spur us on to a joyous and victorious life at all times. We believe in associations. We are made for each other, but we cannot always be around. We are mortals and we function in time and space. However God is in all things, seasons and places at all times. He is ever abiding; our hope in despair and constant companion. Oh! See Jesus! He is everywhere!

Do you respond, “God with us”, when Immanuel is proclaimed? Is it a passionate, conscious and a believing response?

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It is absence that makes the heart grow fonder. God is ever present and fond of us, but we are sometimes absent. His everlasting arms are open to receive us. We will feel the liberty and experience if we run into His arms. Our response to, “God with us”, is what transforms us. The Psalmist said, “He is our ever present help” and at another time, he proclaimed, “In His presence, there is

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fullness of joy and at His right hand there are pleasures evermore.” Will you not leap into His presence having this knowledge? “He is with me”, God is with me, He loves me, I belong to Him and I am cherished. ” Our constant consciousness should be God’s love for us and how He is always with us. Nothing should ever pull us back; He is our lover, and He alone wants what is best for us. Remember, “He has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)”. He is our Immanuel, let us not forget, He is with us! “I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20)”, this is what He assures those who come to Him and abide with Him. If He is with us, how can we be with Him? Let us open our hearts and ask Jesus to live and reign as Lord! If we are in Him, let’s keep Him dear in our hearts. Our best days are always

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with God. He is surely with us! Let’s resound this passionately Let’s think this consciously Let’s believe this heartily GOD IS WITH US May our daily actions, thoughts and words resonate the TRUTH that HE IS WITH US! May this forever be our song, “God is with us, God is with us, Christ our Lord shall reign as King!” Season greetings with much love,

Remember, “He has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you”. He is our Immanuel, let us not forget, He is with us!

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W hat do I have for You, my king?? All I have now are Coal, 5 cents and Her This past year I have been like the typical kid around the block Jumping about in my frock Running around and playing on the roller coasters of my life I have seen the smile of pain, touched the claws of danger and hurt None of which I did with strife But well,I have giggled hard when perils tickled me And laughed so hard that my legs flew in the air They’ve been my faithful companions Ever strong…Never wrong Well,that’s what I thought

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This year I have given up so many times and I’m tempted to think that that’s fair It truly is like breathing air No matter how many times you try to stop breathing, you will never do without that air It’s funny how I refused to understand my circumstances Because to me, they were the pieces in

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my jigsaw puzzle that simple won’t come together! Aaaaargh!!!!! And I used logic to explain the reasons why my body ,although constantly battered and bruised by stressors, had succumbed to them all Despite the fact that I knew that my declarations needed to reflect the life I lived And oh boy, I roared them out….. My declarations and thoughts have been like David and Goliath My thoughts, tall and overpowering with swords as sharp as crocodile teeth My declarations , small with a sling ready to fight… Currently, as the referee in the ring, Mr Small looks like he’d lose I had been cajoled by every symptom in my body to believe that all things sickness that afflicted my body had poor prognoses With that, I used my mind, my thinking , my thoughts, my all!! But God, You’ve been faithful Though my lips declared life, And the chain, brake ,gear train and wheels of my brain spun around logic and pessimism and declared fatality on my body-the housing of Your spirit. You’ve still kept your banner of protection over me And loved me anyway Pause! It was as though every thought, every action and every decision I made were mechanical wheels that generated electric impulses to give my skin,nerves, muscles and bones some miserable life- a life of

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worry, fear and tears So God this year, I don’t have the gold I wish to have but coal Coal,that’s from the heat my gold had to endure- one that had the ability to metamorphose my gold to coal Before Christmas comes, can you collect the wild embers of my heart, heal me and restore to me my gold? I had always intended to bring gold to your storehouse God! Hear me… This year, I bring 5 cents I don’t have frankincense Because frankly everything around me doesn’t make sense I haven’t appreciated the gift of giving enough Such an irony! I have hoarded my dollars and satisfied my heart with all the pleasures it craves for From oozing and milky cream to bomb stilettos and fanciful clothes But I have hidden your tithe in my numerous bank accounts Waiting for them to fatten up so I can feast and engulfed in the pleasures of this world But sadly, after doing all these, Silver and Gold have I none but such as I have-my last 5cents- I give you I have tasted what is fleeting It’s horrible and it has set my taste buds on fire Can you bring another menu please? can I taste those eternal pleasures now?

Before now , my heart was in a

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comfortable lead. It was happy about the pleasures it sought after , enticed ,wooed and won over Like a suitor, it’s won every conquest of love And married all the pleasure that came with their heads high up, heels ever high and price ever high It paced back and forth on pavements dripping with milk and honey All it was was a clanging cymbal Making no sense Now,it needs You to take over

the drizzles of contrary thoughts formed in her brain?

Coal, 5cents and Her Ironically, that’s all I have to give!

So God, can you take her? That lady in the mirror who looks so much like me, walks like me and even sneezes like me Who despite all the strength she possesses can’t seem to tame the tornadoes of life that hit her Who despite the fiery words of life that storm out of her lips, Is cajoled on every side by

HER

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Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” MATTHEW 1:23

IMMANUEL GOD WITH US

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INTERVIEW

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x INTERVIEW

UP-CLOSE WITH EVANGELIST

LORD KENYA WHO IS LORD KENYA? I was born Abraham Philip Akpor Kojo Kainya to an Asante mother from Fumesua and an Nzema Father from Senzire. I attended a lot of schools for my basic education-- Obiri Yeboah, Central International, Asem Government Boys’ School. . . After my basic education, I went to Kumasi Anglican Secondary School for my O level education, and continued to Mpraeso Secondary School in the Eastern region to do my sixth form. I am married to a very wonderful woman, Getrude, and we have have three lovely boys together. Simply put, Lord Kenya is as simple as a dimple. LIFE AFTER SIXTH FORM. . . Straight into music. I was an athlete and a footballer in secondary school. I used to rap as well. In fact a lot of my mates thought I’d go into sports after school.

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LORD AND GETRUDE gnomicmagazine.com

I was that good. I could run 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 110-hurdles, 4 x 400m, 4 x 100m, long jump. . . I could run cross country. . . I was that ‘brutal’. And it was not as though I just partook in these events, I was the ‘icon’. I took my school, Mpraeso, to the inter-colleges athletics competition then and the school came in second. I represented my school in most of the events.

FAMILY

It was after secondary school that I started taking music more seriously. It took me about two or three years to break out after school. All the while, I was working tirelessly behind the scenes. It was my father who gave me the money to record my first single. I took off from there.

reason for going was to get linked up with Kanye West and Puff Daddy. You know, I am Kenya and he was Kanye. . . Kenya and Kanye. . . that was the idea. After the concert, we tried getting in touch with these guys but all our efforts fell through. We couldn’t meet them. Around that time, I had received news that my adorable little girl-- Yaa Boahemaa-- was very sick and so I had to come back to Ghana. I got back and soon after, she died. It was a very bitter experience for me. I didn’t like it. I thought her death had a spiritual cause. All this while, I was a drug addict. But I began to use drugs more following this experience and became more violent in the process. I was violent towards my wife, my parents. . . Fighting policemen. . .vandalizing my own property, my cars. . . It was bad. Then on the night of 28th October, 2010, the unexpected happened. I had taken some drugs and was very high, beaten up my wife, messed up the house . . . That very night, I wanted to end it all. I wanted to take my life. I didn’t want to live any longer. I couldn’t face the disgrace. People came into the house, some stood on top of the fence wall and saw me beat up my wife. . . I had also run out of drugs, cocaine and others, and needed more. I called my dealer but he was not forthcoming. He kept giving me excuses. I got pissed off. I decided to

The person I used to look up to then was Tupac Amaru Shakur. When I first heard him rap, I thought to myself that this guy was different. I fell in love with the poetry and intellect in his art and instantly knew I wanted to be the twi version of him. HOW LONG DID YOU SPEND IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY? Before I gave my life to Christ? YES. 16 years. COULD YOU KINDLY SHARE WITH US YOUR SALVATION EXPERIENCE? Yes. I had gone to the United States of America for a concert but my primary

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THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENED . . . go and get the drugs myself and so I drove to his place. I had even forgotten I didn’t have any shirt on. All I had on was a cap and a pair of loose jeans trousers I had to hold in place with my hand. When I got to his place, he screamed as soon as he saw me. It was very obvious he was shocked at my appearance. But I wasn’t concerned at all. All I wanted was my drugs and I demanded that he goes to get it. As I waited for him, the whole room gradually began to be filled with increasingly bright white light. In fact it became so bright that I was struggling to see the image of a man in the light. I couldn’t look at him. I immediately fell down prostrate on the floor and started crying. I was a hard boy but when I heard the voice speak, I couldn’t hold off my tears. He started telling me all about myself, my history, why my mother died, who I am meant to be. . .that through me a lot of people have been snatched by the enemy and that he was going to use me to get them back to himself. This was nine years ago. That very night, the Holy Spirit directed me to a church near-by where an all-night service was going on. You should see the surprise on the faces of the congregants when they saw me without any shirt on. WOW. YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU WENT TO THE US TO MEET KANYE WEST. WHAT IS YOUR VIEW ON HIS RECENT CONVERTION TO CHRISTIANITY? Glory be to God! A couple of friends who knew about this called me when

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they heard the news. You know, when I first got converted, I used to say: What is hip about hiplife? What is high about high life? All there is Christ. It all has to do with Christ’s life. And now Kanye is rapping about the Christ-life. God in His infinite wisdom works out things we simply cannot comprehend. Glory be to His name!

sometimes experience some of these challenges. The key difference then is that we serve a God who is faithful. HOW DO YOU SEE LORD KENYA IN MINISTRY IN THE NEXT 20 OR 30 YEARS? All I want to do is to do what He has asked me to do-- to win more souls for Him. The bible says in Proverbs 11:30 that he who wins souls is wise. In this sense, I pray I become wiser in the years to come. The difference between someone who is wise and someone who is not is that the one who is wise knows what is good and he does it. I pray along those lines that God grants me the ability to win more souls for Him, build more churches to disciple these souls, and train more ministers who will be on fire to win many more souls for God.

HOW HAS MINISTRY BEEN FOR YOU? INITIALLY THE CHALLENGES, THE OPPOSITION. . .HOW HAS IT ALL BEEN? The moment you decide you are for Christ, you will automatically have enemies. The enemy of God becomes your enemy. Even my close friends turned their backs on me. Radio presenters, journalists... they all turned their backs on me. I faced a lot of challenges financially as well. You know, you play at one concert and you take your money. I remember when I got born again. You go and do the work of God, and all they tell you is ‘God bless you’. I remember asking when we got back home: how are we going to eat ‘God bless you’? And then there are the spiritual attacks... You are saving people, but who is going save you?God has been faithful. He has promised and He is never going to fail us. This is something I’ve come to learn about Him personally. I believe we sometimes have to go through some of these challenges to gain experience. It’s all part of the growth process. How can one pastor a church of hundreds if he cannot take care of ten? Or millions if he can not take care of hundreds? And besides, even those who h a v e n o t g i v e n their lives to Christ

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WHY DIDN’T YOU GO INTO MUSIC AFTER YOUR CONVERSION? I had one album. But I was straying the path. I know that now. I didn’t know it then. If I had towed that line, a lot of people would have said I went in because of money.

[NOW] ALL I WANT TO DO IS TO DO WHAT HE HAS ASKED ME TO DO 54

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OUR THEME FOR THE CHRISTMAS EDITION OF OUR MAGAZINE IS ‘IMMANUEL’. HOW DOES THAT MINISTER TO YOU PERSONALLY? Immanuel means God with Us. Indeed, God has been with me throughout my new journey. ‘Immanuel’ speaks volumes to me. He is with us and so we need not fear what the world says or threatens to do to us. God loved us so much that He had to become like us in order to save us. And if he really did that, what else can He not do for me? That’s Immanuel. In Him we have such an assurance. In the great commission, he says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations. . .” and then He ends it saying “and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” God is with us, and really there’s nothing left to fear.

PAUL SAYS IN TIMOTHY, “THIS IS A FAITHFUL SAYING AND WORTHY OF ALL ACCEPTANCE, THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS; OF WHOM I AM CHIEF”. I BELIEVE ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ASPECTS OF OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH IS HOW GRACE WORKS IN US TO TRANSFORM US, AS IS VERY EVIDENT IN YOUR OWN LIFE STORY. WHAT MESSAGE

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DO YOU HAVE FOR OUR READERS WHO FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER ARE NOT CHRISTIAN YET BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY ARE IN, AND ARE WONDERING ‘CAN I STOP? CAN GOD SAVE ME?’ OR SOMEONE WHO IS A CHRISTIAN BUT HAS ADDICTIONS? WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HAVE FOR THESE PEOPLE? First of, for the unbelieving group, I’d say they need to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and saviour and be saved. You cannot save yourself. If you could, you would have done that long ago. You want to stop the things that you do, but you cannot. It is because you do not have the power to stop it. But the one who died on the cross and rose on the third day, is sitting at the right hand of the father interceding for you. I love how Paul puts it, ‘That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved’. And that’s it. Simple. It looks too good to be true, but it is true. Believe in your heart, confess with your mouth, and you will be saved. For the group who are already believers but are struggling with addiction, I’d urge them to continue strong in the faith, to not lose sight of the finish line and lose hope. To keep running.

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Keep praying, fasting, reading the word... And you need to be consistent with these. Become an active member of a bible-believing church. And serve diligently there.

or not it is founded on the revelation of Christ being the son of the living God. If it is church, the mandate given to us is what we are to follow. You can’t say you are a football team when you use your hands to play football.

IS THERE ANYBODY YOU LOOK UP TO? WE BELIEVE IN EXCELLENCE. AND ONE REASON WE DO IS BECAUSE THE GOD WHO HAS CALLED US IS AN EXCELLENT GOD. WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON THE ATTITUDES OF YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY WITH REGARDS TO EXCELLENCE?

Yes, definitely. First of, the Holy Spirit is my mentor. I have a father in the faith as well. He is called Bishop O. A. Bernard. YOU’VE HAD AN INTERESTING JOURNEY IN MUSIC, HAVING TRANSITIONED FROM DOING SECULAR MUSIC TO SINGING GOSPEL MUSIC. WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON CHRISTIANS LISTENING TO SECULAR MUSIC?

I think the problem of the youth today is chasing short cuts. But short-cuts don’t cut it. The process is painful, yes, and it is time-consuming, yes, but it’s also worth it.

It’s dangerous. This is how I see music-- music is ‘making use of sensitivity in creativity’. What that means is that music is sensitive. You listen to music and if you are not careful you start doing what the music tells you to do. Especially when the music is very sexual in nature. . . and after listening to it for a while you start desiring what it’s selling. You are not conscious of it at the time you are listening to it. And that is what makes some of these songs dangerous to listen to.

FINAL WORDS . . . There’s time for everything. Just like this interview started and it’s coming to an end, our lives will come to an end one day. When your life comes to an end, where will you be going to? There are only two options-- heaven or hell. I would very much like you to go to heaven. The only thing you need to do to ensure this is to believe in Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through Him.

THE CHURCH OF TODAY IS GRADUALLY MOVING AWAY FROM MISSIONS, AND SOME CHURCHES THESE DAYS DO NOT EVEN PREACH THE GOSPEL. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS TREND?

John 3:16 says, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish...’ You don’t have to be the good at something, or be rich, or beautiful. You only need to be among the whosoever and believe in Jesus Christ to be saved.

The church does not belong to any person. It belongs to Christ. And he said it. ‘Peter, upon this rock. . .upon the revelation you have just told me that I am the son of the living God. . .upon this revelation will I build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it’. So the church is built by Christ. As to whether it should be called church, depends on whether

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YOU ONLY NEED TO BELIEVE . . . 56

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IT’S that time of the year again Some houses are being repainted and decorated Provisions and food items are being bought in larger quantities Families are planning towards the time they’d spend together Oh and of course, our favorite Christmas tree is being put up Now unto the Christmas tree... During this period , it seems to be getting most of the attention Being carefully carried to a place all eyes can behold Not to mention all the time that goes into setting up the Christmas lights and decor The laughter that goes round the tree is just priceless - it’s so much joy to work on the tree with the people you love

The season passes Decorations are brought down The tree is stripped of its glory and locked away till the season paid another visit The year drags along Everyone starts to complain especially about how difficult the new year is...

But wait a minute... What are we really celebrating?

If only we wouldn’t pack HIM away like we do our Christmas trees...

What happened really? Where did all the joy go? What happened to all the love? And the excess gifts that went around? DID IMMANUEL GO AWAY WITH THE PASSING SEASON? Thankfully, no. IMMANUEL is always with us and is ever ready to keep us joyful and full of love all year round and not just during the festive season

Oh oh but of course ... The coming of our SAVIOR into the world

GIFTY FRIMPONG DEC/ JAN 2020

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F O ND OR A . E S N N M O LY IS TI S R A A E E H S R S F E E O O H K S T T D A K I GO S NE KLY T TENS WOR A S HIS IS . HE I QUIC A H D E S GO ESS . HE E. H U , M R S I Y L L G OU PROC E. . B N W I U O R S B SL LAT

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

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“

WHENEVER YOU’RE TEMPTED TO THINK GOD SLOW, REMEMBER HE LIKES TO PUT ON A SHOW.

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x NEXTGEN COMIX DEC/ JAN 2020

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TECHNOW

APPS YOU NEED TO GET YOUR PRODUCTIVITY UP IN THE NEW YEAR. With their powerful processors and extensive connectivity, the best smartphones have become indispensable personal assistants and productivity aids that are always at our side. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re aiming to get more done on the go, finding productivity-boosting apps should be at the top of your to-do list. Here is a list of 5 productivity apps that will come in handy in the year ahead.

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Any.do (Android, iOS: Free)

Keep your schedule on track with to-do list, reminders, notes and the ability to share tasks to others

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Todoist (Android, iOS: Free)

1Password (Android, iOS: Free)

Toggl (Android, iOS: Free)

IFTTT (Android, iOS: Free)

To-do list and planner.

Secure way to store all your passwords.

Free time tracking app.

Save time doing repetitive tasks. Automate these tasks using IFTTT

UPDATE: NO WINDOWS 7 UPDATES AFTER 14/01/20 Windows 7 gets its last security update on January 14, 2020. As a result of this, Windows 7 machines will be more likely to become infected by malware, and any deep-rooted flaws in the operating system that arise as we get further into 2020, and these almost certainly wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be fixed. This is not good for the roughly 28% of Windows users who still use Windows 7. If you are among these, you should probably upgrade to Windows 10. Your Windows 7 PC will almost certainly support Windows 10, though you may have to ditch some programs.

Source: Tomsguide DEC/ JAN 2020

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FOOD

SHARONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Special

cookingclassy.com

VANILLA OATMEAL CAKE DEC/ JAN 2020

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INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 cup 1 1/2cups. 1 cup 1/2 cup 1 1/2cups 1/4 tsp. 1 tsp. 2 1 tsp. 1/2 tsp 1/3 cup

- boiling water - brown sugar - oats - salted butter - all purpose flour - salt - baking powder - eggs @ room temp. - vanilla essence - cinnamon - milk

TOPPING 1 cup 1 cup 3 tbs. 1/2 cup

- coconut shavings - brown sugar - milk - butter

PREPARATION 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Soak oats in the boiled water for about 20 mins. Preheat oven at 340 degrees. Crease baking pan with butter and dust it with flour to prevent the cake from sticking unto the pan. Put the brown sugar and butter into a mixing bowl . Beat with an electric mixer or a whisk till the mixture is fluffy. Add the eggs one by one to the mixture and at each time mix till its well incorporated. Add cinnamon , vanilla and oatmeal (@ room temperature) and mix well. For the dry ingredients, mix the flour, salt and baking powder together. Fold the dry mix gradually into the wet mix. Add milk to attain the desired consistency. Pour into prepared baking pan and bake for 40-45 mins . For the topping, combine the butter, brown sugar, milk and coconut shavings into a saucepan and bring it to a boil while stirring for about a minute. Pour it over the cake and broil it in the oven for about a minute or 2.

Enjoy this healthy and tasty desert with your friends and family this Christmas . Afehyi pa!!!

SHARON SAPPOR-QUAYE

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SPORTS

THE GOAT

ionel Messi collected his sixth Ballon d’Or a few weeks ago, and has now won the prize more times than anyone else in history, pulling ahead of eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo. Yet, the debate over which man should be regarded as the ‘greatest of all-time’ will continue to rumble on. In all honesty, though, it really should not. Following Messi’s sixth Ballon d’Or title, I am putting forward the case for him to be remembered as the G.O.A.T. We shall begin by looking at goals— because those no doubt helped him scoop football’s top individual prize again this year.

A PROVEN GOALSCORER In 2019 alone, the Argentine has netted 47 times. Only one man in Europe has scored more— Robert Lewandowski. Considering Messi was injured at the start of the 2019/20 season, it is incredible to see he is still right up there with Bayern Munich’s in-form striker. Looking back a little further to last season, Messi managed to produce one of his most fruitful yet. He was the top-scorer in the 2018/19 Champions League and La Liga campaigns and unsurprisingly, won himself another European Golden Shoe in October. He was simply untouchable.

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AN ASSIST MACHINE Certainly, it is not just all about the goals. Messi is also a superb playmaker and it almost seems he enjoys assisting his teammates more than scoring himself these days. Just a week before winning the Ballon d’Or, the Argentine scooped the 2019 Best Playmaker award. He has 17 assists for club and country so far this year and some of those, of course, helped Barcelona win the La Liga.

A CABINET FULL OF TROPHIES Even though Messi’s individual stats alone are enough to put him in the G.O.A.T conversation, he has also had an incredible career that will see him finish as one of the most decorated players of alltime. Since making his Barca debut, the forward has won 34 major honours, including 10 La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues and six Spanish Cups. Some suggest that Messi is unproven outside of Spain, but that is frankly ridiculous. He would have won trophies wherever he was playing and his haul

proves that. The fact that he has remained a one-club man should be respected, not ridiculed.

A CONSISTENT PERFORMER Messi has won his sixth Ballon d’Or at 32 years old. He has been at the top of the game for over a decade now and even players 10 years younger cannot compete with his incredible stats. What is even scarier is that he does not look like slowing down anytime soon. He has scored over 40 goals in all competitions every year since 2015 and in his last campaign, managed a ridiculous 51. Of course, Ronaldo boasts impressive stats of his own that should not be disregarded. However, after Messi has won his SIXTH Ballon d’Or, 2019 belongs to him and until CR7 scoops the prize again, the G.O.A.T crown sits firmly on the Argentine’s head. Congratulations once again, Lionel!

Lionel Messi celebrating a goal

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THE

SPORTS BETTING ON THE RISE DEC/ JAN 2020

rapid spread of sports betting across the country over the past few years is very alarming, and judging from how fast it has been spreading, it is safe to assume the sports betting companies fuelling this wildfire of gambling are enjoying great patronage from the Ghanaian public, and lots of profits to go with it. But this is only half the truth. This devastating picture also reflects the enormous appetite of young Ghanaians to get rich quick. In the past, we have seen this same craving drag friends and family into all sorts of

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Ghana’s population is a very youthful one. According to the 2010 census, more than 50% of its population is 29 years or less. With recent trends of unemployment and economic hardship, this substrate has been rendered fertile for some of these betting activities to thrive. Early this year, per my cursory count, just about 10 betting companies existed in Ghana. Today, the website ‘www.bettingcompaniesinghana. com’ boasts of over 25 of them. The Sports Betting industry in Ghana is booming indeed. Sports betting is a form of gambling. It is the activity of predicting sports results and placing a wager on the outcome. Currently in Ghana, majority of these bets are placed on European football and this can be conveniently done online or by visiting some designated betting centres all across the country. I have encountered many young Ghanaians who are involved in online sports betting. One of them even confessed to using his school fees to engage in the practice. During my interactions with some of them, I realized

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that most of them do not even see anything wrong with betting and only regard it as an avenue for making money. But is sports betting really wrong? While the Bible doesn’t explicitly condemn or condone gambling, several high-profile men of God have highlighted the dangers associated with betting money. The late Billy Graham said that before a Christian plays the lottery, they should remember two important, biblical truths about money and its role in the life of a believer. “Gambling is nowhere approved in the Bible,” he said. “Instead, the Bible stresses that the Christian should earn his living by honest work and effort, and this would exclude relying on chance (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12). The Bible tells us to ‘abstain from all appearance of evil’ (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Gambling has often done untold evil to people by making them lose money that could be used for good purposes or even the necessities of life. Money is given to us by God to be used for good, not evil. Anyone seeking to do God’s will should not be involved in gambling.” He goes on to say, “Gambling is also wrong because of the motives involved. Some people gamble for thrills and excitement. Others gamble because they have a greedy and covetous attitude about money. Some gamble out of a false belief in luck. All of these motives are wrong for the Christian, for they are all self-centred and materialistic.”

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x SPORTS

ventures, including the ill-fated ‘sakawa’. If you asked me, I would say the two are not so different. They share the same root, the love of money. Like Paul intimated in his passionate letter to the young Timothy, “. . . the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains” (1 Timothy 6:10).

It also stands to reason that sports betting is wrong because it is a wasteful use of the money the Lord has blessed us with. Whatever we have as Christians belongs to God, and so are our resources. In other words, engaging in betting is simply using God’s money to do the devil’s bidding. Greed is the motivating factor in sports betting. The desire to get rich quickly is a demonstration of covetousness, materialism, laziness, seeking gain from others and discontentment on the part of the individual engaged in the practice. In response to the question “Is modest online sports gambling sinful?” John Piper had this to say. Online gambling in general, little or big, is sinful— whether you call it modest or exorbitant, Piper began. Piper reminded the reader that he has one single life to live on this earth. Every day, he said, should be lived for the glory of God and is either “invested well” or “lost forever.” Online sports gambling, he argued, is a “tragic waste of a precious, God-given life.” There’s no doubt that if Jesus Christ were to be here in our day and age, He would not have engaged in sports betting. Although Jesus lived all His life on earth as a youth, He was only interested in doing the will of God. He invested His life well. Immanuel. . . God invested the precious life of His only begotten son in our deliverance—deliverance from sin and all semblances thereof. And if we, having been saved from sin by His blood, fail to appropriate this grace profitably, what are we then?

What is your view on sports betting?

Scan to join the conversation

Certainly, a man like Jesus Christ will not engage in an activity that robs many of their resources to benefit a few. Why should we?

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CHRISTMAS. THE reason , EASTER.

palpa e. DEC/ JAN 2020

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GNOMIC SELECTS GAMING

THE MOST EXCITING NEW GAMES COMING OUT IN 2020 2020 promises to be a bumper year for games, with new consoles from both Sony and Microsoft, as well as more and more games being rolled out on Google’s cloud-based platform Stadia. There are long-awaited sequels to some big hitters, including The Last of Us 2, as well as new stories from the makers of The Witcher 3, and Tomb Raider. Here’s our pick the new games to look out for in 2020.

CYBERPUNK 2077

1. DEC/ JAN 2020

From CD Projekt Red, the creators of the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, one of the most critically acclaimed games in recent memory, comes a dystopian RPG starring 82

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Keanu Reeves. The player takes the role of a mercenary in the open world metropolis of Night City, California. Fans have been waiting for this for years – ever since the game was announced back in 2013, and it was one of the hits of E3 2019. Cyberpunk 2077 release date: April 16, 2020 on Windows, PS4, Stadia and Xbox One

THE LAST OF US 2

It’s not hyperbole to consider The Last of Us as among the mostcompelling post-apocalyptic fictions ever created, so the long-awaited second instalment has much to live up to. Set several years after the original, it sees an older Ellie set out intent on revenge against foes unknown, and seemingly reuniting with surrogate dad Joel in the process. The gut punching ending of the original lives long in the memory and the The Last of Us 2 is bound to deal with the consequences. We can’t wait. The Last of Us 2 release date: May 29, 2020 on PS4 only

FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE

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The original Final Fantasy VII is hailed as one of the greatest RPG games of all time – and again, it was a huge hit at E3 in 2019. There’s a huge graphical step up over the PlayStation original – and this will be split across several releases. Several members of the original team have been brought gnomicmagazine.com

back to add new content and adjust the character designs for the new format.

x GAMING

Final Fantasy VII release date: March 3, 2020 on PS4 only

DOOM ETERNAL

A follow-up to 2016’s well-received reboot Doom, fans are excited about Doom Eternal’s new range of weapons – including a ‘meat hook’ that can slingshot a player towards an enemy. The game will also feature twice as many demon types as the 2016 edition, with new types of enemies who will take visible damage during battles. Invasion, an asymmetric multiplayer mode will allow players to play as demons in someone else’s single-player campaign. Doom Eternal release date: March 20 on Windows, PS4, Xbox One, TBA on Nintendo Switch

MARVEL’S AVENGERS

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It’s kind of amazing it has taken this long. This official sort-of tie in with the Marvel Cinematic Universe is being produced by Crystal Dynamics – best known for the Tomb Raider franchise. It will feature the same cast of characters from the long-running film series, including Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk and Black Widow – albeit not voiced by the same actors. The story, which stands apart from the MCU timeline, follows the group reforming after a five year hiatus to save the world from an imminent threat. Bracing stuff. Marvel’s Avengers release date: May 15, 2020 on Stadia, Windows, PS4, Xbox One

MINECRAFT DUNGEONS

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GNOMIC SELECTS MOVIES

THE MOST EXCITING NEW MOVIES COMING OUT IN 2020 With 2019’s biggest films now behind us, it’s time to look ahead to 2020 safe in the knowledge we might see slightly fewer Marvel and Star Wars movies this year. These are the new films we’re most looking forward to in 2020.

THE GENTLEMEN Guy Ritchie is back on familiar ground as writer and director of this British gangster flick. With Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Colin Farrell and Hugh Grant starring, it has a heavy-hitting cast. Grant in particular plays against type as a scheming gangster type with a genuinely hilarious (in a good way) accent. Judging by the trailer, he’s clearly enjoying himself. The Gentlemen release date: January 1

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DOLITTLE Dolittle is a passion project for Robert Downey Jr. who is no doubt enjoying life after his many years playing Iron Man. Lord knows the classic story of the veterinarian with outlandish talents deserves a proper adaptation after the Eddie Murphy lead efforts. Naturally, there’s an all-star voice cast including Emma Thompson, Rami Malek, Tom Holland, Ralph Fiennes, Serena Gomez and Marion Cotillard to name just a few, while Antonio Banderas and Michael Sheen feature in supporting roles. Dolittle release date: January 17

KING’S MAN King’s Man will be the first British spy-thriller released in 2020, but almost certainly it won’t be the biggest. Co-written and produced by Mathew Vaughn, the movie acts as a prequel to the Kingsman film series, which stemmed from the comic book title of the same name. This time around, it’s set around the First World War and sees the formation of the spy agency. The King’s Man release date: February 14

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BIRDS OF PREY: AND THE FANTABULOUS EMANCIPATION OF ONE HARLEY QUINN x MOVIES

So far, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) has failed to make anywhere near as much of a splash when compared to Marvel’s offering. Suicide Squad and Batman v Superman have failed to live up to their potential. It’s hoped that Bird of Prey can deliver where these have failed. Following-on from Suicide Squad, Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) has left the Joker. Now she joins forces with other vigilante’s – Black Canary, Huntress, and Renee Montoya – to protect a young girl in peril. Birds of Prey release date: February 7

MULAN We’ve already pencilled in Disney’s live action Mulan as a smash hit, not least given its bound to make bank in China thanks to its huge list of Chinese acting talent. The trailer looks stunning and the classic story should translate brilliantly to the big screen. Mulan release date: March 27

NO TIME TO DIE James Bond is back. Well, nearly. The 25th instalment of the 007 series is set to be released on April 3, meaning there isn’t that long to wait. Daniel Craig returns for his fifth appearance as the British spy. At this stage there isn’t too much information about the title’s plot but we do know it’s faced plenty of difficulties in the early stages of production. No Time to Die release date: April 3

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x MOVIES

BLACK WIDOW Scarlett Johansson first appeared as Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow) in 2010’s Iron Man 2. It’s pretty unfathomable that it’s taken a decade for the character to get her own standalone film. The title is expected to be set after the events of Captain America: Civil War, which was released in 2016, but before Thanos’ downfall in Avengers: Endgame. It’s said Romanoff finds herself alone after Civil War and is forced to confront her troubled past. Black Widow release date: May 1, 2020

TOP GUN: MAVERICK At the end of the trailer for Top Gun: Maverick, Tom Cruise’s character is told his kind is “headed for extinction” and he replies “but not today”, which seems an apt description for this long-awaited sequel. Tom himself is something of an anachronism – an action star from the old school – but something just feels right about the return of Top Gun. Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly and Jon Hamm also star. Top Gun: Marverick release date: July 17, 2020

TENET Christopher Nolan returns in 2020 with Tenet, which is described as an “action epic revolving around international espionage, time travel, and evolution”. So, Interstellar with spies? Who knows at this stage, but we know Robert Pattinson leads a cast featuring Elizabeth Debicki, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Kenneth Branagh. Michael Caine’s here, too, naturally. Tenet release date: July 17, 2020 DEC/ JAN 2020

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GNOMIC SELECTS MUSIC

FOUR CHRISTIAN ALBUMS FROM THIS YEAR YOU HAVE TO CHECK OUT.

THE KING IS COMING Nathaniel Bassey

NIGERIAN Gospel Minister, Nathaniel Bassey has released the much anticipated Project, “The King Is Coming Album”. In what he termed “An Arsenal of spiritual and prophetic songs”, Nathaniel promises that it would enforce and celebrate your victory in Christ Jesus. ‘The King Is Coming’ album comprises of 13-tracks that would ignite in your life - PRAYER, POWER and PASSION for God’s presence.

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LOOK UP CHILD Lauren Daigle

LOOK UP CHILD is the third studio album by American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter Lauren Daigle. It was released on September 7, 2018, through Centricity Music. The album received the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album at the 2019 Grammy Awards.

THE CRY

William McDowell

GRAMMY-nominated and Dove Awardwinning worship leader, pastor and author, William McDowell, released his new live album earlier this year. Recorded at Redemption to the Nations Church in Chattanooga, TN features special guest artists Nathaniel Bassey, Travis Greene, Yolanda Adams, David & Nicole Binion, Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Trinity Anderson (worship leader of McDowell’s Deeper Fellowship church).

JESUS IS KING Kanye West

JESUS IS KING is the ninth studio album by American rapper and producer Kanye West. It was released on October 25, 2019, through GOOD Music and distributed by Def Jam Recordings. The album follows a Christian theme, with West describing it as “an expression of the gospel.”

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GNOMIC SELECTS BOOKS

5 INTERESTING READS FROM 2019 Check out our pick of amazing reads from 2019 that will certainly enrich your life.

COMPETING SPECTACLES: TREASURING CHRIST IN THE MEDIA AGE Tony Reinke

“Thirty years after Neil Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death, Tony Reinke’s Competing Spectacles takes the impact-analysis of modern media to new levels: a new height and new depth. New height, because Christ crucified, risen, and reigning is brought into the discussion as the Spectacle above all spectacles. New depth, because the focus is not on what is happening to politics, but what is happening to the human soul. The conception of this book is not cavalier; it is rooted in the profound biblical strategy of sanctification by seeing (2 Cor. 3:18). —John Piper, Founder and Teacher, desiringGod.org; Chancellor, Bethlehem College & Seminary

CONFRONTING CHRISTIANITY: 12 HARD QUESTIONS FOR THE WORLD'S LARGEST RELGION Rebecca McLaughin

“This book is compelling reading, not only because of its intellectual rigor and the fact that it is beautifully written but also because of its honest, empathetic humanity. Readers will find themselves expertly guided on a journey that involves them not only in confronting Christianity but also in confronting themselves―their worldviews, hopes, fears, failures, and search for identity and satisfaction―and, finally, in confronting Christ as the altogether credible source of life as God means it to be.” —John C. Lennox, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics, University of Oxford DEC/ JAN 2020

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SELFIES: SEARCHING FOR THE IMAGE OF GOD IN A DIGITAL AGE Craig Detweiler

“Selfies helps us journey beyond our narcissistic culture, giving us language to move away from an ego-filled self-expression to our true identities hidden in Christ. Reflecting Detweiler’s impressive grasp of art history and deep wisdom attained in media ecology, Selfies is both an invaluable guide for understanding our techno world with all its trappings and a book full of delightful observations.” —Makoto Fujimura, Brehm Center for Worship, Theology, and the Arts, Fuller Theological Seminary

DELIGHTING IN THE TRINITY: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH Michael Reeves

“[T]he book is an easy and pleasurable read with a downto-earth articulation of the three-in-one God who loves and invites us into the deepest parts of his eternal love. Charming in its wit and winsome in its emotional appeal, it will motivate readers to love God more deeply and fully. I wish I had this book when I began my seminary studies. If only there were more theological treatments of the Trinity (or other Christian doctrines) written like this book, learning theology, and in a deeper sense, knowing and loving God, would be a delight.” —John Cheong, Trinity Journal, Spring 2014

SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE: A CALL TO MAKE YOUR LIFE COUNT IN A WORLD OF URGENT NEED David Platt

“If you dare to read this book, you might just have an unexpected encounter with Jesus that leaves you weeping on the floor, as David’s experience did. Something changes within us when the seemingly overwhelming needs of the world present themselves simply in the life of a single person. Ultimately, I pray your compassion will be transformed to action.” —Santiago “Jimmy” Mellado, President and CEO of Compassion International DEC/ JAN 2020

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The best of all is that God is with us. - JOHN WESLEY

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