TT 145

TIMES TODAY TT 145 | MAR 22nd - 28th | 2022

Fullness in Christ

CONTENTS My Pulpit message - notes | 3-4 My Devotion | 5 Business | 6 My Inspiration | 7 My Entrepreneur | 8 My Health | 9-10 My Kitchen | 11 My Sports | 12

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My Pulpit Message - notes Grow in Fullness in Christ My Pulpit Message Notes are extracted from the sermon preached at the Nairobi Baptist Church (NBC) Ngong Road on Sunday 20th March 2022.

Preacher: Reverend Munengi Mulandi, Senior Pastor, Nairobi Baptist Church (NBC). Topic: Grow in Fullness in Christ. Scripture: Colossians 2:6-23 Many people wear all kinds of insurances. Some have protection charms vation, or that their eternal security is at jeopardy, or that the way they on their wrists, some bracelet that is never removed supposed to protect are going they might knock the doors of heaven and it wont they opened, them from evil eyes etc. but he is concerned that their life before heaven would be worthless. That the life God has for them on earth, as citizens of heaven, but ambassadors Visiting one of my relatives abroad they made a wonderful breakfast for here would be compromised and so he issues a warning; beware, be careme where fruits and vegetables are mixed together in a juicer and after ful, see to it that you are not taken captive. serving the drinking they came with a huge bottle of multicoloured stuff Like us, when they received Christ they were very happy that we were supposed to take which they said were multivitamins, they and thought now it is like how you used to drive on Waiyaki Way, before were food supplements; calcium, omega 3, phosphate and yet they did all the Express Way came and have to do all kinds of dodging. these things away from the food that when you eat the food, you have to They believed once you receive Christ, you just wait for supplement with these vitamins. heaven. God had a message for them that there is more than just waiting for heaven. Yes it is there and is secure, but like Paul says in 2 Peter 1:8, - Paul by the inspiration of God writes to the believers in Colosse. What make your faith productive. And so Paul writes to them and gives them a God is speaking to them and to us today is that Jesus plus nothing is warning, beware, see to it that you are not taken advantage of. equals to everything.

Jesus + 0 (nothing )= everything The believers in Colosse were concern. Were they going to cut the tape of the race successfully? Were they going to finish their journey/marathon in Christ successfully? Were they going to win that commendation award having finished with Jesus only? So they began having some supplements/ substitutes/multi-vitamins to add to/fortify Jesus.

Take a second look at Jesus Christ. Look at the Nth degree of who He is. In essence God (Col 2:9) and what He had done. Done a circumcision on us that is beyond the hands of men and cancelling our debt of sin that no supplement could do. Look at the Majesty of Jesus, who comes against these philosophies and disarms them all and has Majesty over them. Look at the soon coming King, this One whom everything else is a shadow. He alone is real.

W. I. N

As God was speaking to the Colossians He is speaking to us so that we may be able to cut the tape at the end of our salvation journey and WIN because of these three points: -

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Warning (Colossians 2:8-23) Instructions (Colossians 2:6-7, 9-23) N-nth factor/degree (Colossians 2:9-23)

Warning (Colossians 2:8-23)

Col 2:8 “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy” The battle is in the mind. There are these thoughts / ideologies/ philosophies / ways of doing things that are trying to squeeze you into their own mould to think in a certain way. Paul warns them to be careful not to be dependent on human tradition, or elemental spiritual forces that have become the patrons of the way you do things

Verses 9-23 he gives more explanation of what these things are: Verse 16 “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.” He goes on listing these things, but I don’t know if you have noticed that in the book of Galatians warning them about these same things, but in the book of Galatians, he gives specific and detailed explanations as to what these philosophies are, what these things he is warning them against are. But in Colossians, he does not spend as much time detailing what the problems are, what he is warning them against, he spends a lot more time giving them what the solution is; Jesus plus nothing equal everything.

Paul is warning them just like he did to the Galatians, but more in details. He asked the Galatians, this was a race you were running well by - The gospel that is being presented to the believer in Colosse is not only, grace through faith, but who cut in on you, who bewitched you? Because don’t look for more apart from Jesus, it is, why look for more? For He is the issues of circumcision, certain diets, certain days, the moon,etc, the sufficient. issues of the philosophy of the day, all those were confusing God’s people that were making them unproductive in their faith as they lived here even Paul is writing a warning to believers, a church that had as they waited for heaven. So he gives them a stern warning. In verse 22 been planted by Epaphras, a church that he had never visited, but a church he tells them, ‘and anyway, even the observance of these things does not that was growing as described in 1:2 ‘ To the holy and faithful brothers in add any value in restraining you from sexual indulgence. So be warned!

Christ Jesus. He is not writing to people who are outside of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is people who have received Christ, who love Jesus, who have confessed their sins, peoples whose names are written in the book of life and yet he has a stern warning for them. ‘Be careful /beware/see to it that you are not taken captive.”

Paul is not concerned that they are going to lose their sal-

3 TT 145 | MAR 22nd - 28th | 2022

My Pulpit Message - notes You can be sincere, but be sincerely wrong! Jus the fact that you have look at these things that we add on to Christ that make us ineffective and pressed the accelerator to the bottom for four or five hours doesn’t mean that you unproductive in our faith, it is because we are trying to use a weighting have gotten to Mombasa. You have to be on Mombasa Road, the road that leads scale, we do some good things to counter off our bad things. But he makes to Mombasa for that action to mean anything. And so he warns them sternly.

it abundantly clear that Christianity is not a weighing scale religion, but is a Cross relationship.

Instructions (Colossians 2:6-7, 9-23) “Therefore, just as you received Jesus Christ as Lord, continue that way.”

Paul is saying, think back, how did you receive Jesus Christ?

Was it through these hollow philosophies? Was is through the circumcision? Was it though the diets, what to eat, what not to eat, what to handle what not to handle? Was is by observing special days? Did you receive Christ by all these things? No! You received Christ, and just as Paul said to the Ephesians in 2:8-9, it is by grace you have been saved through faith.

And this not of your own making, it is the gift of God. So if your salvation began with surrender, dear Colossians, in that same way is who your salvation is going to grow.

If you began in surrender, if you are justified by grace through faith, then your sanctification, your life here on earth as you wait for our Saviour, cleanses you to be more Christlike is also going to happen the same way by surrender, by grace through faith, is not going to take cooking aides, multivitamins or supplements because Jesus is enough. Jesus plus nothing equals everything. And so he tells them, it is Jesus and Jesus alone.

One commentator says the word ‘in Him’ is used in the short passage is no less than 14, because our ability to move from glory to glory in our walk with God and be able to cut that tape, and win is going to take being in Him. Many times we forget, we imagine although we began by grace through faith in act of surrender to the LORD, we imagine that we must work for the rest. No! It is the same way.

Paul uses a metaphor for construction. He said, if the foundation began, so in this same way, the way you are rooted (an agricultural metaphor) then the construction of stone upon stone, course one, two, three, four is going to be the same way.

Paul uses construction language. First he talks about the foundation, rooted. Then, built-up, the course work of stone upon stone. But then knowing that it will beed concrete pillars, he says, strengthened, because this building is going high. It has to have a secure foundation by grace. Then course upon course, built-up by grace. The pillars that hold and strengthened the sides and the top again strengthened, by the same grace.

So to win it takes three things, first he writes a warning, that Jesus needs no additives, He is sufficient. then he goes into these instructions, then he goes to the Nth factor/degree.

N-nth factor/degree (Colossians 2:9-23) - This is where the whole theme of the book of Colossians comes from.

It is as if God is juxtaposing for us Christ verses these additives/cooking aides, multivitamins, supplements and showing the excellence of Christ, even so incomparable because he completely goes beyond them to the Nth degree.

I recently listened to a preacher who was saying, when we

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Why? Because he makes it abundantly clear in His word that Jesus is sufficient, He is authenticated and then verse 9, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,” Whatever substance, the very essence of who God is, is in Christ, in His appearance in bodily form. In verse 10, this Christ is so excellent to the Nth degree that He is the head of every power, and authority.

Verse 13. He is the only One who is able to offer forgiveness and cancel the charge that was held against us.

Verse 15 we are told how and He, Christ the only One having deserved the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them at the cross. Incomparable, our Christ.

Verse 17, that all these things that were …in our eyes to try to supplement what Jesus began when we received Him, they are but a shadow.

These traditions, they are but a shadow, but when Christ appeared He was the real and to the Nth degree, sufficient One for you and I. We all realise that shadows are harmless. If the sun was just over me to my back, the shadow it would cast to the front would be taller than I am. But it can cause no effect on those in front of me. All it is, is a shadow.

These things that you and I have taken up and gobbling them, one after the other cannot be compared with Christ, because He is sufficient, the very essence of God. Meditate and think of your life, what is the propulsion of your life?

I am not debating that you have surrendered your life to Christ, but like the Colossians, we are being warned that there are philosophies/ideologies that sound very good, godly, that are very sincere, but are sincerely wrong. It is like friendly fire.

Is God asking you to surrender and to receive that instruction just as you began, just as your spiritual life started by grace, that you would continue it by grace.

The devil has a desire and it is for us to use these vitamins, multivitamins, supplements that are incomparable to the glory of One who God was pleased to dwell in His full essence and instead of having the ‘IV’ as it were, of the Holy Spirit fuelling and generating and propelling us everyday to live for God, you and I are depending on cramps on the floor, of special days, of human traditions.

I invite those of us who have received Christ, but have added other things for our protection, for example, wearing protection charms to protect you as you go through this world as you wait for heaven, thrown them at the feet of Christ, and say, on Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

Take a second look at Jesus Christ. Look at the Nth degree of who He is. In essence God (Col 2:9) and what He had done. Done a circumcision on us that is beyond the hands of men and cancelling our debt of sin that no supplement could do. Look at the Majesty of Jesus, who comes against these philosophies and disarms them all and has Majesty over them. Look at the soon coming King, this One whom everything else is a shadow. He alone is real.

TT 145 | MAR 22nd - 28th | 2022

CHURCH AND POLITICS STUDY GUIDE PUBLISHED The Church and Politics Steering Committee, comprising several senior church leaders in Kenya, recently produced a Study Guide on Church and Politics. Titled ‘The Role of the Church in Politics’, the guide consists of 12 studies beginning with an introduction which seeks to answer the question, ‘Where is the voice of the church?’ The last study concludes with a ‘Way forward’ tasking the church with the role of a ‘midwife’ to deliver the ‘baby’ of its vision of political engagement, as expounded in the studies in the book and initially inspired by the more than 30 speakers at the Church and Politics Summit, which was held in June 2021.

Reverend Calisto Odede, the presiding Bishop of Christ Is the Answer Ministries (CITAM), Mr. Simon Kande, the National Director of Fellowship of Christian Unions (FOCUS) Kenya, Dr. Esther Obasi-ike, the Pastor In charge- Redeemed Christian Church of God Solution Centre Nairobi and Founder and President of Queen Esthers’ Generation and Rt. Rev. Thegu Mutahi, the Moderator, PCEA General Assembly.

In his foreword, Bishop Oginde opined that, “In proclaiming the onset of a new Kingdom, Jesus’ teaching offered a strong alternative to the Roman and Jewish status quo. His was a Kingdom whose principles and practice were set to alter the politics and governance of nations. To this end He commissioned His followers to be the transformative agents in nations as salt and light. For this reason, if the church is committed to the cause of Christ, we cannot afford to ignore political involvement.”

PDF soft copies are available free of charge thus providing a good opportunity in this election year to make use of this timely resource. To get copies of the Church and Politics Guide, contact the Church and Politics Secretariat by sending an email to: summit@churchandpolitics.co.ke, or call during office hours, mobile number: +254 768139267. The website is www.churchandpolitics. co.ke

The Guide has been endorsed by church leaders such as

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Each of the 12 studies in the Study Guide is divided into three sections: a Perspective, a Bible study and an Application Challenge. The Perspective elaborately explains some of the attitudes that have been developed about politics and provides opportunity for reflection and space to jot The Church and Politics Study Guide has been down one’s thoughts. This then leads to the Bible study quotproduced by a technical team of writers led by Rev. Lucas ing Scripture references and guiding questions with ample Owako and Wilson Kiuna on behalf of the Church and space to answer them. Every study ends with an Application Politics Steering Committee Chaired by Bishop Dr. David Challenge where individuals can practice, or commit to well Oginde and Dr. Joshua Wathanga as the Secretary. thought out steps of action.

TT 145 | MAR 22nd - 28th | 2022

My Devotion DID HE REALLY SAY THAT TO ME?

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

the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

In the quietness of the early morning, avoiding any interruptions, I eagerly but carefully read the black lettered words on white paper. I held the letter close to my chest as my eyes moved from left to right, gradually moving from top to down. Tears rolled freely down my face as I wondered, did He really say that to me?

Like the Psalmist, I can testify that indeed,God’s words are sweet to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Just this morning, he told “Do not fear, for I have Going down on bended knees, redeemed you; I have I struggled to utter some words called you by name; you to ask what He really meant by those words. Though I have read them are Mine! “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and many times past, I loved and longed to read them again and again. Each through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through time I read His description of me, I marvel at His awesomeness. the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.”

Knowing that He loves me so much gives me such peace and comfort.

Though I have repeatedly disappointed Him, even approached Him casually, He still welcomes me into His loving arms and accepts my apologies and just as quickly remembers them no more. He reminds me to approach His throne of grace with confidence, so that I may receive mercy and find grace to help me time of need.

But there are days and times when an answer to my prayer may seem delayed. Praying about the same issue day after day, week in, week out, year after year, yet God seems to be silent on this matter, I have wondered, did He really say what He said that to me? Or was it meant for someone else? Was God really addressing me when He said, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” How Every morning I long to hear Him speak to me, to read His love letter long am I to keep on asking, knocking and seeking? to me. There, in the quiet place, I can speak freely to Him and clearly hear Him in the silence of the wee hours in the morning. Sometimes I What does my Father really mean when He says, “You may ask me for whisper, other times I sing a love song and other times we just have a anything in my name, and I will do it.” Why then do some of my asks heart to heart. He totally understands my personality and accepts me go unanswered? just as I am.

Though waiting period can be a really boring and sometimes a painful As the day wears on and I go about the daily bustles, incidences will experience, especially in a generation that has been labelled a ‘microremind me of His word to me. When I am afraid, He whispers, “Don’t wave’ generation, I appreciate every detail God pens in His love letter be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I to me, the Bible. When I study His Word, I personalise it as a love letter will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious addressed to me from Genesis to Revelation. right hand.”

This love letter, the Bible, is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, When I am facing some sort of giants in my life He refers me back to rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant the many stories He has written in His love letter to me. How Joshua of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. led the Israelites to take possession of the promised land, how David defeated Goliath, how Gideon fought the Midianites and even how Je- So I ask again, did He really say that to me? As long as it is in the Scripsus stilled the storms. He reminds to put my trust in Him and not my ture, yes He did. If it is a teaching, yes, He said it to teach me. If it is a own strength. He quiets my soul and tells me, “Be still and know that I rebuke, yes, He said it to rebuke me. If it is a correction, yes, He said it am God”. to correct me and if it is a training, yes, He said it to train me in righteousness. All these He said to me because He loves me so much oh.

When troubles come and steal my peace, He is quickly darts His word into my heart, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by I hope that you too can be encouraged to read God’s love letter to you prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. and meditate on His Word, the Bible daily. There you will be encourAnd the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard aged, comforted, find peace, counselled in more ways than one and your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” I have seen this work in you’ll will be amazed how amazing, awesome, indescribable God Almy life, almost in an instant. God miraculously answering prayer when mighty is.

I was troubled.

Those days when I am unsure about myself, He gently reminds me, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart” Again he urges me re-read and reassures me the truth of His word which says, “My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of

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TT 145 | MAR 22nd - 28th | 2022

My Education Teachers Undergo Fire Fighting Training At Crawford International School

By Agency

Joy Njoroge, Health and Safety Occupational Manager at Crawford International School uses a fire blanket to extinguish a fire during a staff annual fire safety refresher course held at the school.

This is one of the safety measures applied to protect pupils, employees and visitors from fire risks.

Annual refresher are taught which extincourses for teachers guishers should be used and staff on fire fightfor different types of ing are held by Crawfires. For example the ford International School as one of the safety correct extinguisher for a fire caused by an elecmeasures to protect pupils, employees and visi- trical fault is not appropriate for one caused by tors from fire risks. a defective stove in a kitchen.

“Safety for everybody who is learning, living, working, or visiting our premises is a matter of top priority, explained Joy Njoroge the Health and Safety Occupational Manager of Crawford International School. All fire alarms, sprinkler systems and extinguishers are regularly checked and we make sure that our marshals know which type of extinguisher to use for different types of fire.”

The final session of the training is devoted to dealing with a real fire. This is held well clear of the buildings with each learner given the opportunity to extinguish a blaze.”

In addition teachers and staff are shown how to ensure a calm and orderly evacuation through the emergency exits. They are instructed to ensure that everyone gathers at the designated assembly points which are located a safe distance “During the fire fighting training participants from fires, or other dangerous situations.

TT 145 | MAR 22nd - 28th | 2022

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My Inspiration God-Shaped Desires

By William King | Email: kingwilliam189@gmail.com | image medium.com

We all want God to do some amazing things in our lives, Those two must meet tobut it just doesn’t happen gether. What are you deon its own. If we want God Do you see that what you delight in is what shapes lighting in? What are you to do great things, to give us your desires? God wants to give you the desires of investing in? Where are the desires of our hearts, we your heart as long as you have allowed Him to be the you spending your time? can’t just sit on the couch delight of your heart.

How are you shaping your waiting. We have to pursue desires? Sometimes we God every day. God’s promhave the wrong desire and ises and blessings come we struggle to make it hapwith conditions that we must meet in our hearts. pen on our own, because we don’t allow our delight to first be in our God. The Scripture says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desire of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). When you delight in the Lord, you love what the Lord While we want God to give us our heart’s desires, God loves. You love the things that God loves. You want to first wants to shape His desires in our hearts so that He do what God wants to do. You want to go where God can bring out the best in us. wants you to go. You want to listen and watch what He approves of. When you love God, your desires are for the The condition of your heart must be to delight in Him, things of God. which means you find your joy and happiness, your purpose and meaning, in Him. The apostle Paul sums up what I’m trying to say: “The heart regulates the hands” (2Corinthians 8:12). What is Do you see that what you delight in is what shapes your in your heart, you put your hands to. What you’ve aldesires? God wants to give you the desires of your heart lowed to form in your heart, you go after because you as long as you have allowed Him to be the delight of your have passion. Your hands and your heart work together. heart.

8 TT 145 | MAR 22nd - 28th | 2022

Every Good G S ift

ells

Entrepreneur Taking a leadership lesson from Moses ByDavid Bowman — Executive Director, Tarrant Baptist Association in Fort Worth, | www.biblicalleadership.com |Image courtesy:istock

“Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, ‘You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD’s assembly?’

When Moses heard this, he fell facedown” (Numbers 16:1-4).

There have been many times in my life when I have been driven to my knees in urgent prayer. There have been a handful of times when I have been driven facedown in emergency prayer. We see Moses fall facedown twice in this chapter (verses 4 and 22).

What was Moses doing as he lay facedown? He was praying. He sought God’s wisdom. He surrendered his will to God’s will. He presented God with the facts and let him sort out who was right, who was wrong, and what should happen next. In verse 22, Aaron joins (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else Moses in this most humble posture of prayer. Together they sought on the face of the earth.) (Numbers 12:3) God’s mercy and forgiveness for the entire assembly of people when only a few rebels were the problem.

Parenthetically, what do people say about you? What would their tagline about you say?

A well-known leader was talking about prayer. He is a bit of a neat freak. His clothes are always pressed and fashionable. He said he has (She is the Bossypants Award Winner for 2022.) a hard time kneeling in prayer. He talked about lying facedown in prayer. He said all he could think about was when was the last time (He is a legend in his own mind.) the carpet was vacuumed. He settled on sitting in his favorite chair and writing out his prayers of confession and repentance, interces(Yes, I would like fries with that.) sion and adoration.

Numbers 12:3 is no random observation. This is a title well-earned.

This is a title applied by others, not a role Moses applied for himself.

How does a person become humbler and kinder? What was Moses’ secret?

This is a good habit. This is a good prayer pattern. However, there will come times in our lives when sitting in a comfortable chair is not an option. We will not care about wrinkling our pants or when the carpet was last cleaned. We will seek God with passion and purpose. We will discover new depths of relationship with God than any There is no secret. There is, however, an observable truth. Moses we have heretofore known. spent a great deal of time in God’s presence. The more time we spend with God, the less impressed with ourselves we become. We see our How can avoid the Bossypants title? How can we flee from the tempfaults and failures and mixed motives much more clearly in the light tation of becoming a legend in our own minds? We can see God for of his glory and grace. Moses spent so much time in God’s presence, who he is. We can see ourselves for who we are. We can confess our he glowed. (See Exodus 34:29-35.) How many people do you know sins and we can seek God’s highest and best for the difficulties and who glow with God’s radiance? darkness driving us to our knees or laying us facedown. We can surrender all of our hopes, dreams, fears, and failures to our Sovereign If you read Exodus and Numbers and pay attention, you see Moses God and Loving Father in heaven. go to his knees or lie down facedown again and again. When you have problems pop up during your day, do you speak first, or do Join Labeouf on your knees. Join Moses and Aaron on your face you pray? Do you bow up with pride and power, or do you humble before God. In moments of utter abandonment of self-seeking beyourself before God and seek his wisdom and way? havior and absolute dependence on God, God does what only God can do.

In the movie True Grit, Mattie Ross and the Texas Ranger Labeouf discuss their denominational affiliations. Mattie is Cumberland Our Father, you see more clearly than do I. You know more fully Presbyterian. Labeouf is an Episcopalian. Maddie replied to this rev- than I. Your purpose is greater than my best desires. What do you elation with a curt, “I figured you for some kind of kneeler.” say about this situation? How should I respond? What should I say?

How can I stay out of your way as you do what is right, just, fair, and What kind of kneeler are you? loving for all concerned? Amen.

TT 145 | MAR 22nd - 28th | 2022

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My Health 2 years into the pandemic, what have we learned?

Written by Katharine Lang on March 16, 2022 — Fact checked by Alexandra Sanfins, Ph.D. | www.medicalnewstoday.com Before March 2020, many people saw pandemics as a thing of the past. Then Both of these coronaviruses caused diseases with high fatality rates, but it was came COVID-19. Scientists still do not know exactly where the virus that caused possible to contain the spread before they reached pandemic levels. So, were we it — SARS-CoV-2 — came from, but it soon reached almost every country world- ready for the next coronavirus? wide. Over 2 years, the virus has evolved, producing several variants. In this Special Feature, we look at the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and ask what lessons scientists have learned.

The origins of SARS-CoV-2

In late 2019, there was a sudden increasein pneumonia cases in central China. Experts believe that SARSTrusted Source came from bats and that MERSTrustBy January 7, scientists had identified and isolated a previously unknown coro- ed Source crossed over to people from camels. However, for SARS-CoV-2, researchers have not all agreed on any of the many existing theories. navirus, now designated SARS-CoV-2.

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO)Trusted Source declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

At first, people thought that SARS-CoV-2 might have come directly from batsTrusted Source. Scientists discounted that theory, though, as the spike protein on SARS-CoV-2 is very different from that on the coronaviruses present in bats.

Now, 2 years on, authorities have recorded more than 458 million cases of COVID-19, the disease resulting from SARS-CoV-2. The disease has also played Now, researchers think it is likely that the virus originated in bats but had an intermediate host between bats and people. A recent study — which has not yet a role in the deaths of more than 6 million people. undergone peer review — suggests that live mammals for sale at the Huanan However, the actual death toll may well be far higher than 6 million. According Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, the epicenter of early cases, might have to a recent paper in The Lancet, the actual death toll may be at least three times been the intermediate host. that.

Another recent study — also yet to undergo peer review — that analyzed the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 suggests that “SARS-CoV-2 emergence likely resulted from multiple zoonotic events.” The researchers do not suggest what the intermediate animal hosts might be.

On December 29, 2019, experts linked four cases of pneumonia of unknown etiologyTrusted Source to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, Alternatively, did SARS-CoV-2 escape from a laboratory in Wuhan, as some central China. media outletsTrusted Source have suggested? The WHOTrusted Source has dismissed this theory as “extremely unlikely.”

On January 7, 2020, researchers isolated the causative agent, SARS-CoV-2, and on January 10, they sequenced its genome.

So, there is still uncertainty about the origins of SARS-CoV-2. And this may be due, in some measure, to a lack of international cooperation, as Prof. Jonathan

By January 2, 2020, doctors had confirmed that 41 people in a Wuhan hospital Stoye, a virologist at the Francis Crick Institute in London, United Kingdom, with severe respiratory illness had a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Of these individu- told Medical News Today. als, 27 had had exposure to the seafood market.

In his opinion, “one mistake was to start pointing fingers at China and blaming them for the origin of this virus. I think that, naturally, led to pushback from the Chinese [authorities].”

The first cases

Other human coronaviruses

Many coronaviruses exist, affecting both animals and people. Most cause infec- He added: “I absolutely believe in natural origins [of SARS-CoV-2], but the Chitions with mild to moderate symptoms in the upper respiratory tract, such as nese [authorities] could have made things easier if they’d opened up their books colds. straightaway. They weren’t going to do that when they were being accused of being responsible [for the virus].”

In recent years, two coronaviruses — SARS-CoV and MERS-CoVTrusted Source — have caused more severe disease. SARS-CoV, which scientists identified in November 2002, was responsible for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which emerged in Asia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Trusted Source note that of the 8,096 people with a known SARS infection, 774 died. There have been no reported cases since 2004.

Scientists first identified Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), the disease that MERS-CoV-2 causes, in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. The mortality rate for MERS is high — of every 10 people with the infection, three or fourTrusted Source die. There continue to be occasional, localized outbreaks of this disease.

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TT 145 | MAR 22nd - 28th | 2022

The rise of variants For almost a year, the original Wuhan variant of SARS-CoV-2 moved across the globe. Then, in late 2020, the number of COVID-19 cases increased rapidly in South East England, in the United Kingdom.

My Health

Despite the evolution of variants, vaccines still guard against severe COVID-19, particularly in those who have received multiple vaccinations.

Despite suggestions that vaccines might even drive the evoluResearchers discovered that a tion of new vaccine-renew variant, which was 50% sistant variants, this more transmissibleTrusted Source than the original and had 17 unique mutationdoes not seem to be the case, as a recent report states: “Given the emergence sTrusted Source, was responsible. In December 2020, the WHO designated it B.1.1.7, or the Alpha variant. of immunity-evading variants even before vaccines were broadly deployed, it is hard to implicate vaccines or vaccine deployment strategies as the major Scientists have since identified many other variants, but the WHO has only designated five as variants of concern (VOC)Trusted Source. The VOCs and the location of drivers of immune evasion.” their initial identification areTrusted Source:

Prof. Stoye feels that vaccines will continue to be important. “I suspect we will have to have yearly boosters of the vaccine, at least for the foreseeable future,” he said.

Alpha (B.1.1.7): The U.K., September 2020 Beta (B.1.351): South Africa, October 2020 Gamma (P.1): Brazil, December 2020 Delta (B.1.617.2): India, October 2020

And he expressed a hope that research might create more powerful vaccines:

“Viruses naturally mutate as they replicate, so in an immunocompromised host where the virus replicates more easily, there will be a correspondingly “It would be very nice if scientists could establish a pan-coronavirus vaccine that worked against multiple viruses. That has to be one of the hopes of the increased number of mutations.” future — that you will have a method of vaccination that will protect you Omicron has more than 50 mutationsTrusted Source, of which some 30Trust- against various viruses.” ed Source are in the spike protein that the virus uses to gain entry to host cells. One theory suggests that it may have evolved in people with HIV, a virus that suppresses the immune system.

After 2 years, people are becoming tired of restrictions, feeling that the pandemic should surely be over. However, Prof. Stoye is one of many experts expressing concern that governments are removing COVID-19 testing and control measures too early.

Moving between host species also increases the mutation rate. Dr. Coleman added that the “[i]nfection of animals by humans will mean the virus then “One of the things I’m frightened about is that we will, in fact, lose our ability to follow these processes as we stop testing and sequencing so much. […] adapts to a new host, which involves mutations.”

As we test less, as we sequence less, we will lose that ability to recognize new Domestic animals, such as cats, dogs, and ferrets, have had SARS-CoV-2 in- variants in real time,” he told us. fections. The CDCTrusted Source notes that on one mink farm in Michigan, several animals contracted the virus, which then passed back to workers. On testing, the viral samples from the workers contained several mink-related mutations.

“These things will come again. We need to realize that, and we need to have a response ready quickly. I think we need to be able to recognize very rapidly “You are getting evolution occurring from different starting points. Whether the appearance of new diseases — this comes back to geopolitics.” they are occurring through immunosuppressed or immunocompromised patients, or whether they are happening through animals, or how, I don’t know — Prof. Jonathan Stoye that we know, and I don’t know that we will ever really know.”

The end of the pandemic?

Hosts and mutations

Global lessons for the future

This is not the first pandemic, and it is unlikely to be the last. Some aspects have been well-handled, while others have not, and the geopolitical debates will continue for years. At least vaccines are continuing to protect against severe illness and death from all variants.

— Prof. Jonathan Stoye

Vaccines

Decades of research into coronaviruses led to the rapid development of vaccines, many of them using new technologies. These have been incredibly effectiveTrusted Source in reducing the impact of COVID-19 and allowing society to regain some measure of normality.

Possibly the most important lesson is that it is crucial to address future disease outbreaks globally. Although people in high income countries have had ready access to vaccines and boosters, many African countries have yet to vaccinate even 10% of their population due to inequitable vaccine distribution.

But, as Prof. Stoye explained, “[i]n retrospect, we have been ‘lucky’ that it The lack of widespread vaccination can also contribute to the development of has been possible to make a vaccine against this particular virus, whereas for new variants. things like HIV […], we still don’t have vaccines.”

Prof. Stoye stressed the importance of global cooperation in countering panHowever, vaccines designed against one variant might be ineffective against demics: another.

“The global aspects of this are the interesting and important ones. Whether “The evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants upended many optimistic predic- those lessons will be learned, I don’t know. […] I would hate to think that, tions made when the vaccines were rolled out in 2020.” suppose in 2 or 3 years down the track, we are living comfortably with this virus, and SARS-3 comes along or HIV5, and we have forgotten all the les— Dr. Arturo Casadevall sons we have learned. It’s trying to retain that memory that is the important lesson.”

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My Kitchen OMENA

Kenya cuisine recipes | Image courtesy: victor Matara /citizen.digital.com

Ingredients other side.

1 cup of dried omena, rinsed thoroughly Extra virgin olive oil/Vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon Unsalted 2. Add crushed garlic, crushed ginger, chopped dania stalks, butter, 1 teaspoon fresh green chilli(deseeded - optional), about 1/2 teaspoon Crushed garlic of fresh lemon zest and the juice of one medium size lemon, Crushed ginger this will bring down any fishy aroma and add more good Dania flavor Fresh green chili 1 green fresh lemon 3. Add your thoroughly cleaned omena and fry for about 3 minutes on medium heat while tossing it gently.

Instructions 4. Add a little bit of water slowly and deglaze the sticky bits from the bottom of the pan - this is where the flavour is.

1. Heat your pan on medium heat and add the washed omena, with a little bit of water 5. When finished cooking add a little more fresh lemon juice (about 5 tablespoons) so that you boil it just gently. Then when the water is evaporated add the oil and butter, toss 6. Serve with ugali and sukuma. and let it brown for about 3 minutes then flip and brown the

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TT 145 | MAR 22nd - 28th | 2022

My Sports World record-holder Tsegay leads Ethiopian 1500m medal sweep in Belgrade

By Simon Turnbull for World Athletics | https://worldathletics.org/

In the end, the long and winding road to global gold finished with Tsegay forged on, some way short of full throttle, crossing the line in a relative stroll for Gudaf Tsegay on day two of the World Athletics 3:57.19. Embaye took another silver, clocking 4:02.29, with MesheIndoor Championships Belgrade 22. sha claiming bronze in 4:03.39 – ahead of Ugandan Winnie Nanyondo (4:04.60) and Josette Norris of the US (4:04.71).

The 25-year-old led an Ethiopian clean sweep of the medals in the women’s 1500m final, the first by any nation in any event in world For Tsegay, the 2014 world U20 silver medallist, it ended a run of indoor history, with a gun-to-tape victory that also eclipsed the three senior global bronze medal finishes, having placed third in championship record. the 2016 world indoor 1500m final, the 2019 world outdoor final in Doha and also in the 5000m at the Tokyo Olympics last year.

That stood at 3:59.75 to Gelete Burka, whose 2008 victory in Valen- Unbeaten at all distances indoors since 2019, the new Ethiopian cia launched a run of what now stands at seven successive victories golden girl has not lost a 1500m race indoors or outdoors since the

by Ethiopian-representing or Ethiopian-born women.

2019 outdoor world final in Doha, when she finished third behind Sifan Hassan and Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon.

That Tsegay consigned it to history without showing the slightest hint of strain until the bell sounded underlined the unparalleled Her last indoor defeat at the distance dates back to 10 February 2018, class of the world indoor record-holder. when she placed third in the World Indoor Tour event in Boston.

Tsegay was a woman apart from the off, shooting into the lead with With her latest victory she has extended the winning Ethiopian ina 30.60 first lap, passing 400m in 61.85 and some 10 metres ahead of fluence to a seventh championship, following in the footsteps of her the field as she breezed past 800m in 2:06.18. compatriots Burka (2008), Kalkadin Gezahenge (2010), Genzebe Dibaba (2018 and 2012) and the naturalised Swede Abebe Aregawi (2014) and naturalised Netherlander Hissan (2016).

By then, 2014 silver medallist Axumawit Embaye and African Games champion Hirut Meshesha had clear daylight in second and third.

TT 145 | MAR 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

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