TT 141

TIMES TODAY TT 141 | FEB 22nd - 28th | 2022

Private Piety

CONTENTS 1. My Pulpit message - notes | 3-4 2. Getting your oomph back! . | 5 3. Business | 6 3. My Inspiration | 7 4. My Entrepreneur | 8 5. My Health | 9-10 6. My Kitchen | 11 7. My Sports | 12

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My Pulpit Message - notes Grow in Private Piety.

My Pulpit Message Notes are extracted from sermon preached at the Nairobi Baptist Church (NBC) Ngong Road on Sunday 20th February 2022. Preacher: Pastor Wangare Benson. Topic: Grow in Private Piety. Scripture: Matthew 6:1-34 Jesus invites people to do their righteous acts for the glory of one, moved/motivated by recognition by others. We love to be validated our God. But then for those who do their righteous acts for men by others. to see, as they do them, the wows, oohs and aahs they receive from Therefore living according to God’s standards is not fellow men, Jesus says, that is their reward. an easy task. It is impossible by human standards. We cannot do it.

Therefore this points to the fact that we need as Sav- The rewards from fellow men, quickly fill up our hearts and minds, iour. We do not need an operation so that we can walk or run faster, but just as quickly they fade away like fireworks, but God’s rewards but so that we can fly. Only God can do this. We need Christ to form is lasting. our heart, to transform our minds, to conform our will so that we When our perspectives, motives and priorities are not can see just how good and pleasing His will is. aligned with God’s intent then we end up missing the mark entirely.

Matthew 5-7 is called the Sermon on the Mount and Kingdom Reward - Matthew 6:3-18 Jesus in chapter six continues to raise the standard, throwing in Kingdom Perspective - Matthew 6:19-34 more complications. Jesus explains that the way people understood Kingdom Priority Matthew 6:33 the law and the way they were ….. keeping the law was substan“ dard as an outward expression.

So Jesus challenges our motives, perspectives and pri- Jesus begins by telling us to be careful not to do our acts of righteous before men to be seen by them. If we do them in that orities.

Jesus highlights The overarching theme manner we will not receive our reward from our Father, be it in three critical disciplines of of the Sermon on the Mount is giving alms, prayer, fasting or any other discipline that we are to which every Christian is ex‘What does it really mean; to be involved in. pected to practice, giving, be a disciple of Christ? To have prayer and fasting. He says, kingdom values and perspecwhen we do them…, not ‘if we ” tives? To have the priority of do them…’ Meaning that it is the kingdom of God to domiexpected of us to practice these nate our lives? To be followers of Christ? disciplines.

We probably will not be able to capture these in this era when Jesus begins by telling us to be careful not to do our acts of He says that our motives matter, when He says, let your left hand righteous before men to be seen by them. If we do them in that not know what your right hand is doing. This is a difficult one to manner we will not receive our reward from our Father, be it in understand especially in this day and era of social media, when we giving alms, prayer, fasting or any other discipline that we are to be wake up, what we eat, where we go, who we go with, everything that involved in. He says if we do our acts of righteousness before men we do, we post it on social media. Therefore, it becomes difficult to to be seen by them, then he called us hypocrites. understand what is Jesus trying to say, when he says, let your left James tells us that when we pray we do not receive what we hand not know what your right hand is doing. Nothing is private ask for because our motives are wrong. This is what we do with fastanymore. ing and other disciplines that we are called to do. These are the act We live for the likes and emoji hearts. We keep checking to that Jesus called hypocritical. see, what have people said about what I posted. We live for the soHypocrisy has done a lot of damage. It has pushed cial media world and do many things to fit in and we have lost our- others away from the gospel and the kingdom of God. selves in doing so and have even lost others.

If our focal point is not God, then we do more harm than good. If our motive is not to please God, Matthew 5 tells us Grow in private piety poses a challenge in this social media that ‘Our good deeds ought to glorify our Father in heaven’. When world. our light shines, our motive should be to glorify God. When we go Firstly privacy with social media world feels like it is no lon- out as the flavouring and preserving salt of the earth, our motive ger happening. should be to glorify God, otherwise, we receive a reward, but a temPiety is a whole different story. Our devotion is not there, or poral one, a fireworks of a reward. if it is there, it is on different things.

A.W. Tower quoting Ignatius says, “Apart from Him, When Jesus tells us in Matthew chapter six, the bar is higher let nothing dazzle you.” so our aim is to glorify God. than we have set, as human beings then and now, we see how we are

Kingdom Reward Matthew 6:3-18

3 TT 141 | FEB 22nd - 28th | 2022

My Pulpit Message - notes Kingdom Perspective - Matthew 6:19-34 Jesus throws in another spanner where our perspectives and our values are concerned. He want us to consider where our treasure is and where we store it.

He wants us to consider treasures that last and not temporal. He also wants us to consider where we store them because that decision determines where our hearts will be.

He is questioning our perspective on the material, on things of this earth. He says the things of this earth will pass away, but the Word of God will remain forever.

Consider treasure that last.

How do I keep my heart from being captivated by the things of this world that do not last?

- That can only happen by believing and obeying the Word of God as it is and in totality.

He says that we need to open our eyes which are the lamp of the body.

This is our vision, our perspective. If the focus is the kingdom, then everything we do will be geared to pleasing our God, Father, Saviour. But if our vision is on earthly things, then our effort will be geared towards the material, towards pleasing men, receiving the accolades, but not on the Father.

It is a vicious cycle in the sense that we spend the whole time gathering all these things and spend the rest of the time protecting them.

Our perspectives shows who we are. If our values lie on earthly things, then it is never enough. We get caught up in a world that is never satisfied. A world of push, rush etc. A world of fleeting nature, temporal rewards, treasures, a viscous cycle.

The anxiety of life, the worry, what to wear and do, the life of followers, likes and emoji hearts. If this is the focus of our lives then we miss the mark entires. BUT, if we focus on the Word of God, if we hold it, if we believe in it, if we do what it says, how beautiful it shall be in the end, because we shall receive a reward that is lasting.

Our identity is not draws from things. Our identity is drawn from our Father. Our identity is found in Christ. He is urging us to have a very light touch on the material, on the things, but to have a strong grip on the kingdom matters.

After He lays down his sermon about motives and perspectives, He tells us we need to change our priorities

priority is the kingdom and then everything that we do from there on is affected by this priority. How we give, pray, fast, reach out , relate to our spouses, serve, is affected by this kingdom perspective. Everything stems from there and that is what motivates us to be who we are; children of God. When our priorities change as Jesus ask us, seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness, becomes our core business and the LORD is the One Who is concerned about all these other things that you need.

Cyrus S. Nasbaum 1861-1937 wrote the hymn, His Way With TheeWould you live for Jesus, and be always pure and good?

Would you walk with Him within the narrow road?

Would you have Him bear your burden, carry all your load?

Let Him have His way with thee.

Would you have Him make you free, and follow at His call?

Would you know the peace that comes by giving all?

Would you have Him save you, so that you can never fall?

Let Him have His way with thee.

Would you in His kingdom find a place of constant rest?

Would you prove Him true in providential test?

Would you in His service labor always at your best?

Let Him have His way with thee.

His power can make you what you ought to be; His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free; His love can fill your soul, and you will see ’Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.

David asked the LORD to search His heart and lead him in the way everlasting. I find these words in the sermon on the Mount easy in the sense that you don’t need a concordance, or Bible dictionary, or commentaries. It can be understood. And many people have referred to this sermon as the greatest sermon ever preached. Maybe because it left the listeners without any question of what Jesus was saying. Where I find it hard is when it comes to the application. Because as my friend says, I don’t want my head to grow big, or my heart to swell. God help me.

It feels good to receive the praise, the accolades. Wealth makes like smooth and comfortable. Or does it? We have seen a number of families breakdown because of wealth. It feels good to have these things. They can easily get into our hearts. As Reuben Kigame reminds us in his song, ‘Tutavua mapambo vote,’ he echoes Christ’s heart to lay down our crowns and achievements so that we can bring our hearts before God in total Jesus tells us we need to change our priorities from the things of this surrender. world, to His righteousness, to His kingdom. This is the only way we receive a relief from the worries and cares of what shall people say. The rat Christ is asking us to have a very light touch on these things because they race if wealth acquisition, what shall we eat, or wear. have the ability to own us, to shift our focus from kingdom matters and That is the only time that we shall receive relief from worry from righteousness. They have the ability to steal the show, to dazzle us. because our God can carry our burdens and He knows what we need and And so He is asking us to have a very light touch on these things and a how to satisfy us with every good thing. strong grip on matters of the kingdom.

He tells us something that is rather scary for a Christian.

He says, when you worry then it shows you don’t have faith. It shows you So the question is, would you live for Jesus? have a deficit in your faith.

Paul tells us that we are soldiers of the kingdom and should 4not be involved in civilian affairs, but in pleasing our Master. And so our

Kingdom Priority Matthew 6:33

TT 141 | FEB 22nd - 28th | 2022

GETTING YOUR OOMPH BACK!

By Liz Omondi | Email: timestodayke@gmail.com | Image courtesy: olympics.com

Like waves rising and falling across the surface of the sea, or ocean, in high tide or low tide, sometimes fast and other times slow, so are our emotions. We wake up one morning in high spirits feeling energised and ready to take on the world, and other days we are blue, slothful and lacking in zeal. Such is life. No two days are ever the same. That which was exciting yesterday may be a bore tomorrow.

and not be faint.

God comforted me in that moment as is struggled with my thoughts that indeed, the young too grow tired and weary. They too can become slothful at times, but the situation doesn’t have to remain that way. It changes in that when we hope in the Lord, God renews our strength and we can soar on wings like eagles, run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint. Then, going back to Romans 12:12, we can be joyful in But, whatever sunk you deep into the depths of the ocean yes- hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer. terday should not drown you, but thrust you up to the surface where you can gasp for air and breath life back into you. You As I hope in the Lord, I can do it joyfully. I can develop pahave to rise up and like a pro surfer riding on the waves, you tience in affliction that may have been the cause of my sinking can get your oomph back and ride on to what you know best. into the deep and cooling down my zeal and I can remain faithful in prayer no matter what the circumstance.

One morning, waking up and feeling rather blue, I started reading and meditating on God’s Word and happened to read Paul also said in Philippians 3:13-14 “…But one thing I do: Romans 12:11-12 “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has in affliction, faithful in prayer. called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

I have read these verses several times before, but what captured my attention was that word ‘NEVER’ in ‘Never be lacking in zeal’. This word rebuked me to the core for the many times that I have lacked in zeal to carryout certain tasks and made ‘valid’ excuses to avoid them.

Reading and meditating on those Scriptures encouraged me and was able to ask the Holy Spirit to blow waves of positive energy in my life and for Him take charge of my day. I got my oomph back and like a pro surfer was ready to ride on the low and high waves.

As I meditated on this word, and asked how is it possible to ‘NEVER’ lack in zeal, God reminded me of the Scripture in Isaiah 40:30 which says, “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk

Need to get your oomph back? Ask God for help. Read and meditate on His Word concerning your situation. He is faithful, loving and compassionate to get you back on track and to higher heights.

TT 141 | FEB 22nd - 28th | 2022

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Business Kipsinende Technical And Vocational College To Offer Motorcycle Mechanics Course

By Agency George Mutinda (second right), a Car and General TVS Technician shows a motorcycle cylinder head to Jones Gisemba (right), the Head of Automotive Department at Kipsinende Technical Training College, Simon Waluse (second left) and Enock Kemei, tutors during a two week training session in preparation for the introduction of a Motorcycle Mechanics course at the institution.

To meet the growing demand for skilled mechanics to chanical, electrical and fuel systems have been answered. service motorcycles in the Rift Valley region, Kipsinende This will benefit us greatly as we begin teaching the moTechnical and Vocational College has introduced a torcycle mechanics course.” course in motorcycle mechanics.

Raphael Atanda, the Car and General Marketing and The competency based training level three course will be Communications Manager commented, “As a major certified by Curriculum Development Assessment Cer- stake holder in the industry we are happy to share our tificate Council (CDACC) and is targeting technicians knowledge, information and skills in order to produce and mechanics who are seeking to sharpen their skills. better technicians. There are many motorcycle riders out there who will greatly benefit from skilled technicians Car and General the TVS motorcycle dealer has been and we applaud Kipsinende Technical and Vocational partnering with the College to train their tutors on the College for taking the initiative.” basics of motorcycle production and servicing during the last year as they prepare the syllabus for the course. As the boda boda industry expands, Car and General has been offering training to company and dealer Jones Gisemba, the Head of Automotive Department technicians and private garage mechanics on motorcycle explained, “We are very grateful for the help we have mechanical, electrical and fuel systems in an attempt to received from Car and General. Our questions on the bridge the skills gap. maintenance and repair of motorcycles including me-

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My Inspiration The God Of The Mountain And The Valley

By William King | Email: kingwilliam189@gmail.com | image credit: fellowshipofgrace.org

Things may never return to their original state.

People have lost their jobs. We have to realize that, in light of everything that we’re dealing with, God is still God. He is God of the mountain and the valley.

presence was there.

God began to speak to Him in that place and gave Him insight and understanding.

God also waits to meet and speak with you on the mountain to give you wisdom and insight. We all love being on the mountaintop.

Jesus took some of His disciples up to the mountain and Everyone of us will go they saw and experienced Someone else’s mountaintop to breakthrough may be relying on the through valley experiences the glory and presence of testimony of how you got victory in your valley experience. You have in our lives. Those experiGod. Jesus experienced to make up in your mind that you’re going to replace the negative with ences are simply a part of the good. the valley in the Garden of life but they are temporary.

Gethsemane where He realHere’s the good news about ized His destiny of self-sacbeing in the valley - God is rifice and said: “Lord take right there with you! When this cup from me.” issues seem to come out of nowhere, or you get news that a loved one is terminally Even Jesus experienced God on the high mountain ill, you know what? That’s the time to remind yourself where everything was wonderful and God in the low that God is with you. valley where life challenged His faith. His impact on the world stemmed from the decisions He made both on the This is important because the valley is where many battles mountain and in the valley. People are deciding whether in the mind are fought. I want to encourage you because or not to continue their businesses. you have the tools of victory to prevail and overcome!

Decide today that quitting is not an option for you. God I challenge you to make decisions based on the Word of has a plan to reveal His glory in you.

God and not feelings. Make decisions that will cause you to be in right-standing with God and don’t allow your Someone else’s mountaintop to breakthrough may be reemotions to be on the pedestal of your life. The moun- lying on the testimony of how you got victory in your tain references the place of revelation where you receive valley experience. You have to make up in your mind insight and inspiration. that you’re going to replace the negative with the good.

I had to replace negative emotions, sadness with words On the mountaintop, Jesus knew that God’s tangible that were full of joy.

TT 141 | FEB 22nd - 28th | 2022

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Every Good G S ift

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Entrepreneur Make the most of where you are

By Bob Russell | www.biblicalleadership.com

The list of successful people who refused to be bound by their past experiences seems endless. Solomon wrote,”…for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble into calamity”(Proverbs 24:16). The Apostle Paul is a great example of someone who made the most of where he was—including prison. He not only learned to be content in any circumstance, yet he also made the most of every opportunity, regardless of how unpleasant it seemed at the time:

A friend recently sent me this old story: A farmer wrote to his son in prison, “I’ve decided not to plant potatoes this year. I can’t plow the field without your help.” The son responded, “Dad, don’t plow up the field! That’s where I buried the money I stole!” The next day the police, who regularly read the inmates’ mail, immediately dispatched a vanload of officers to the farm. They proceeded to dig up the entire field but found nothing.

The son wrote back, “You can now plant the potatoes, Dad. That’s the best I can do from here!

That funny story contains an important spiritual lesson. Sometimes we use difficult circumstances as an excuse for giving up and doing nothing. We feel helpless, restricted by our poor environment, limited opportunities, or meager talent. However, the Bible says, “[make] the most of every opportunity because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16). It is amazing how much can be accomplished — even when disadvantaged — if we change our attitude and use a little imagination and determination.

Author J. Wallace Hamilton wrote about two country musicians whose girlfriends broke up with them within hours of one another.

One jumped off a Nashville bridge and ended his life. The other went home and wrote a sad love song about his broken heart, which became a hit and netted him hundreds of thousands of dollars. That’s the best he could do from where he was — even though he was in a sad place.

Some of the world’s most successful people have stubbornly refused to be imprisoned by difficult circumstances. John Grisham, the best-selling author, had his first novel, A Time to Kill, rejected more than a dozen times. Michael Jordan was cut from his junior high basketball team. Colonel Sanders was financially broke at age 65 before he marketed his recipe for Kentucky Fried Chicken. Bud Paxon failed at two marriages and went bankrupt twice before founding the Home Shopping Network.

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Thrown in jail for evangelizing in Philippi, so he converted the jailer.

Hauled into a Cesarean court before kings who demanded he answer the charge of inciting an insurrection, and he turned the witness stand into a pulpit.

Stoned outside Lystra, yet he got up and went back to the city, having gained new credibility as a martyr.

Shipwrecked and stranded on the island of Malta, so he healed the sick and witnessed to the local authorities.

Thrown into a Roman prison for two years, so he spent the time writing half of the New Testament Paul refused to be chained by adverse circumstances. Instead, he did the best he could from where he was. No wonder God used him in such a significant way. Where do you find yourself today? Are you in some prison of your own making? Or are you trapped by circumstances beyond your control? You can’t change the past, and sometimes there’s little you can do about your present situation, but you can change your perspective about the future. You can do your best from here. Scott Stallings is a professional golfer who doesn’t often win on the PGA Tour.

That means he plays with a lot of pressure every round. Recently he scored an eight, a triple bogey, on a par 5 hole. So naturally, he was discouraged when he walked off the green. However, Stallings tweeted the following heartwarming explanation, “Made an 8 on 13 today and then walked off the green to this… [a video of his family on the course with him]. They don’t care if I make a birdie or a triple. So blessed to have them by my side” Stallings’ 25-second video speaks volumes about keeping perspective and doing the best we can from this point on. Take time and ask yourself if you’ve lost perspective about what really matters to you. Think about how much God has blessed you with family, loved ones, health and the hope of the gospel. Let that pick up your spirits and do the best you can regardless of where you are.

The Apostle Paul wrote from a Roman prison, “I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

TT 141 | FEB 22nd - 28th | 2022

My Health 30 daily routines of healthy, productive people that are easy to adopt

By Laura Berlinsky-Schine | www.theladders.com

This week: Morning routines Next week: Daytime routines Small changes can have a big impact. That’s certainly true of routines.

While some people believe that developing a concrete schedule is too difficult, even implementing minor alterations to your daily life can have enormous, positive consequences.

a handful of them will have a positive effect on your life.

Morning Routines 1. Wake up at the same time every day.

This is particularly true On weekends, so during times of great many of us love to uncertainty, such as sleep in. But waking the pandemic. When up at the same time our lives were upended every day is a critical

by COVID-19 more than a year ago, many of us felt a loss of routine to follow for good sleep hygiene. Ever wondered why control. But a routine can help establish normalcy in the face it’s so difficult to get out of bed on Mondays? Part of the reason of an unpredictable world, giving us more structure. could be because you’ve thrown off your routine for two consecutive days and are having trouble resuming normalcy.

According to Rachel Goodman, a psychologist and clinical assistant professor at the NYU School of Medicine, “If people 2. Make your bed. don’t have structure and are sitting around with less to focus on, then they also probably will find themselves thinking about Ugh, you may be thinking. Why is this so important? Accordthe stressful situation more, which can also lead to additional ing to Navy Seal Admiral William H. McCraven, it will give stress and anxiety.” you a small sense of accomplishment to kick off your day. No, you haven’t conquered your potentially massive to-do list, but What’s the answer? Routines. you’ve done one crucial thing. And as an added bonus, you’ll be able to get into a nicely made bed at the end of a long day, Northwestern Medicine finds that routines positively impact which is just, plain satisfying. our mental health, leading to less stress, better sleep, increased productivity, improved eating habits and more focus, among other benefits. Moreover, routines can even be enjoyable — dare we say fun? You don’t need to bend over backward to make your life better. Here are the first ten of 30 routines that are easy to implement and stick to — every day.

Not all of these will be your cup of tea. But even adopting just

TT 141 | FEB 22nd - 28th | 2022

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My Health 3. Exercise.

Exercise has numerous benefits, impacting not only your physique but also your mental health and physical health. Plus, it can give you a boost in energy and lead to better sleep. You don’t have to run a marathon every day, either — even just 30 minutes of walking can offer significant rewards. While this doesn’t have to take place in the morning, it’s another great way to start the day that will give you a sense of accomplishment. I can attest to this: I always kick off my day with a morning run with my dog, and it definitely helps me tackle the rest of the day.

lemon or drop a slice in your glass. This will offer additional benefits, such as aiding your digestion.

8. Take vitamins.

Many people don’t get the vitamins they need from the food they eat during the day. Support your diet by incorporating vitamins into your daily routine. For some, a multivitamin will be enough. Others need additional supplements, such as iron if they’re iron anemic or vitamin D. When in doubt, talk to your physician about what you might need to stay healthy.

9. Read the news.

4. Meditate.

Here’s one many highly successful people, including Oprah Sure, not all news will lift your spirits. But it’s a good idea to Winfrey, swear by. Like exercise, regular meditation has be informed. You don’t want to be the person at work who plenty of benefits in numerous aspects of your life, including has no idea what everyone else is talking about. stress reduction.

Of course, you don’t have to check the news all day. That’s not a good idea — it’s an obsession. Try to stick to once in the 5. Take a shower. morning and maybe once at night.

This is a super easy routine you may already have in your life.

And on the occasional days you skip your regular shower, 10. Review your to-do list for the day. you probably notice a difference. Aside from cleanliness fac- Before you officially start the workday, review your to-do list tors, you could experience a dip in your mood. That’s because to give you a sense of what you have on your plate. This can bathing is connected to better mental health, according to help you stay organized and allow you to manage your time. research. For your regular health and hygiene, it’s not neces- Personally, I love the satisfaction of being able to cross off sarily critical to shower daily. And if you’re trying to help the items throughout the day (or rather, delete them as I go). environment, it’s understandable if you want to skip it from time to time. But you can keep your showers short, and you should remember the psychological benefits.

6. Eat breakfast.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You’ve probably heard it before, and it’s true: eating breakfast starts your metabolism, boosts your energy and improves your overall health. But it’s important to eat the right breakfast, too. Starting your day with a chocolate bar will have negative effects on your health. Instead, try a blend of protein, fiber and vitamin-rich foods — eggs, yogurt, nuts, fruit and low-sugar cereal are some good bets.

7. Drink a glass of water.

Do you feel dehydrated in the morning? That’s pretty typical.

Our bodies dry out overnight, and drinking a glass of water will replenish your fluids. For an added boost, squeeze some

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TT 141 | FEB 22nd - 28th | 2022

My Kitchen Cardamom Buns

By Michael James | www.delicious.com.au INGREDIENTS 1 tsp ground cardamom 80g unsalted butter 1 cup (250ml) milk, plus extra 2 tsp 22/3 cup (400g) strong (baker’s) flour 70g caster sugar 7g sachet instant dried yeast 1 egg, at room temperature, plus extra egg to brush 50g apricot jam 50g orange marmalade Demerara sugar, to sprinkle FILLING 80g soft brown sugar 75g unsalted butter, softened 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp runny honey Finely grated zest of 1 orange

er fitted with the paddle attachment and beat until combined.

Set aside until required.

5.Grease two 6-hole muffin pans (you will only make 10 buns).

6.To make the buns, remove dough from fridge and roll out into a 30cm x 30cm square. Spread filling over top two-thirds of the square, then fold the bottom third up and the top third down (as if folding a letter) to enclose the filling completely. You will have a 3-layered 30cm x 10cm rectangle. Cover with a damp tea towel and rest in the fridge for 10 minutes.

METHOD

1.Place ground cardamom and butter in a saucepan over low heat and cook for 2 minutes to infuse, being careful 7.Combine extra egg and extra milk in a bowl with a the butter doesn’t brown. Set aside to cool. pinch of salt flakes and lightly whisk with a fork.

2.Place milk in a separate saucepan over medium-low heat and bring to 82°C on a kitchen thermometer. Add butter and cardamom mixture, stir to combine, then set aside to cool to room temperature. (Simmering the milk is not strictly necessary; what it does is change the protein structure, resulting in a lighter, fluffier crumb once baked.)

3.Combine flour, sugar and dried yeast in a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add milk mixture and knead on low speed until combined. Add egg and knead until combined, then add 1 tsp fine sea salt. Increase speed to high and knead for 3-4 minutes or until the dough comes together in a ball. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface, knead for 1 minute, then shape into a round ball. Place in a clean bowl, cover with a damp tea towel and set aside for 30 minutes to rest.

Repeat kneading process, then rest again, covered with a damp tea towel. After 20 minutes, place the covered dough in the fridge for 2-3 hours to rest.

8.Use a rolling pin to roll the filled dough away from you to create a 5mm- to 6mm-thick, 25cm-wide x 30cm-deep rectangle. Cut dough into 10 vertical strips, roll each strip into a spiral and place in muffin pans. Cover the trays loosely with plastic wrap and stand for 1 hour or until buns have risen.

9.Preheat the oven to 180°C. Place a roasting pan in the bottom of the oven and carefully pour boiling water into pan to generate steam while baking. Brush each risen bun with egg wash. Transfer muffin pans to oven, bake buns for 15 minutes, then rotate trays and bake for a further 2-3 minutes or until golden brown 10.Meanwhile, to make the glaze, place jam and marmalade in a small saucepan with 1 tbs water over low heat.

Simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for 5-10 minutes or until smooth. Keep warm. Remove buns from oven and lightly brush each with glaze while still hot, then sprinkle with demerara sugar.

4.To make the filling, place all ingredients in stand mixTT 141 | FEB 22nd - 28th | 2022

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My Sports Novak Djokovic: World No 1 comfortably beats Lorenzo Musetti on return to ATP Tour https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news |

Novak Djokovic won his first match back on the ATP Tour, beating Lorenzo Musetti 6-3 6-3 at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship.

“As of today, not. I can’t go, I can’t enter the United States,” he said.

The contest marked his competitive return to the Tour and his first match of the year, after being deported from Australia last month.

“As of today I’m not able to play. But let’s see what happens. I mean, maybe things change in the next few weeks.”

Djokovic received an extremely positive reception from the fans in the stands, with Serbian flags flying throughout and his name being chanted by the fans.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better reception,” Djokovic said on court after his 75-minute win.

“It’s been a while since I played my last match, I couldn’t have picked a better place to kick-start the season and [have] the best possible experience. Thank you very much for your support and welcoming me the way that you did.”

Djokovic showed few signs of rustiness during his time on court and won 77 per cent of points behind his first serve and saved all seven of the break points Musetti created against him.

made just seven unforced errors in comFormer world numparison to Musetti’s 13 and the 34-year- ber one Andy Murray was asked about old worked well behind his second serve Djokovic’s situation in his press confertoo. ence following his win over Christopher O’Connell.

“All in all, it’s a straight-sets win so I have to be satisfied with my tennis, especially Murray said: “Like I said at the time, I after not playing for two-and-a-half, al- don’t agree with his decision. I think it most three months,” the world No 1 said. would be a lot easier for him, obviously, if he was to get vaccinated.

“Of course there were moments when I played great and there were moments “But I also didn’t like seeing him in the when I made a couple of unforced errors situation that he was in Australia as in a row, uncharacteristically. someone that I respect and have known since I was a child. I didn’t like seeing “It’s normal to expect that during the first that. match after a while [out]. I’m glad that I managed to finish the job in straight sets “There is consequences to the decisions against a very talented player.” he’s made just now. He obviously has to accept that. But I don’t think it’s great for Djokovic will now face either Alex de tennis if our best player is not competing Minaur or Karen Khachanov in the in the major events.” round of 16.

The world No 1 struck the ball cleanly from the back of the court and purposefully came into the net to finish off quick At his press conference after victory, Djokovic admitted that, as things stand, points behind his serve too. he will be unable to enter next month’s Over the course of the two sets, Djokovic prestigious Indian Wells Masters.

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TT 141 | FEB 22nd - 28th | 2022 The Times Today is a publication of Elizabeth Omondi Consultancy. P.O. Box 833-00100 GPO Nairobi. Tel: 0722 927792. www.thetimestoday.wordpress.com