TIMES TODAY TT 149 | April 19th - April 25th | 2022
The Resurrection
CONTENTS My Pulpit message notes: The resurrection| 3-5 My Devotional: Cherishing the cross | 7 My Inspiration: My times are in your hands | 8 My Entrepreneur: Faith on the job| 9 My Health: 10-11 My Kitchen: Grab and go muesli bars |12 My Sports:Kenyan athletes vow to shatter records in Brazil | 13
My Pulpit Message - notes The Resurrection My Pulpit Message Notes are extracted from the sermon preached at the Nairobi Baptist Church (NBC) Ngong Road on Sunday 17th April 2022. Preacher: Reverend Majid Ochieng, Deputy Senior Pastor - NBC. Topic: Is the news over? Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:12-34
The surety of the resurrection
He is risen. He is risen indeed!
1.
There was crucifixion Friday, but we thank the LORD that there is also Easter Sunday. They crucified our Saviour, buried Him and thought that they had dealt Him a blow. That all was done and dusted. But we thank God that after crucifixion Friday, there is an Easter Sunday. That Jesus Christ overcame.
“12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.”
When talking about the surety of resurrection, we are talking about the certainty. Being convinced without any shadow of a doubt that Therefore Easter comes with great symbolism to us as Christians. Easter Jesus Christ indeed resurrected. The believability that Jesus Christ indeed comes with great significant as far as our faith is concerned. Easter is so rose from the dead. central to our Christian faith, because if Jesus did not resurrect, then all Paul wanted to prove the resurrection of Christ not because the that we do is an exercise in futility. Corinthian church/Christians did not believe that Jesus rose from the dead. 1 Corinthians 5:11 Paul makes it clear that they believed that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. What they were denying is that as believers/ Christians/children of God, there 1 Corinthians challenges will be no resurrection. They deus as believers to examine every nied our resurrection. They were area of our lives through the lens influenced either by the Greek “ of the gospel. Specifically, Paul May the truth about the power of resurrection quicken us to re- philosophy which considered the addresses divisions among believresurrection undesirable, thinkalise and to put into practice the fact that He died for me/you. ers. He addresses issues to do with ing that the state of pure spirit was food offered to idols and wheth- He died for our sins and there is a hope and a hope beyond the so much superior than the physer to eat those foods or not. He grave. ical state that we are in. If they addresses issues of morality that were not influenced by the Greek ” need to be viewed from the lens of philosophy, then most likely they the gospel. He talks about worship were influenced by the Sadducgatherings and propriety in worcees who actually thought that the ship and in this particular text he world beyond this life was wishful talks about the resurrection and how central it is as far as our faith is con- thinking. cerned. The bottom line is that the Corinthian Christians believed we live There was this little boy with his father and they were driv- forever, but not in the resurrected bodied and that is what Paul is trying ing on a nice beautiful Sunday afternoon.Suddenly a bumblebee got into to connect, that because Jesus Christ rose from the dead there is hope for the car and there was a buzz in the car. This young boy was allergic to the you and I. Resurrection is not a merely life after death, but is actually life bee sting and started crying hysterically. The father then took the bee and that will continue in eternity. squeezed it a little bit and let the bee fly again. And the boy started crying The Corinthian Christians did not think carefully. Some of them again hysterically because he did not know what the father had done. The denied the reality of the resurrection while at the same time believing that father then caught the bee again and showed that boy on his finger, this is Jesus Christ actually rose from the dead. the sting of the bee and because this sting has been taken out of the bee, Paul is telling them that if Jesus Christ rose from the dead, then the bee cannot sting you anymore. those of us who know Him, there is hope for us. If there is no resurrection To a larger extent that is what Jesus Christ did in this text of the dead, then Christ is not risen as He says (verse 13) “13 If there is no and in verse 55, Paul says, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.” death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Surety of the resurrection Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus Christ had taken away the power of death, the pow- - The empty tomb. John 20:1 - We are told that Mary Magdalene er of sin because Jesus Christ died on Friday and by the grace of God, He went first and found an empty tomb and very fast ran back to the othrose again. er disciples, “Looking for the ones that Jesus loved,” and she was said to them, “where have they taken away, my King and my Lord?” If there was 1. The surety of the resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:12-13 an eye witness in those particular days, you cannot argue with an eye 2. The significance of the resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:14-32 witness and especially so close to the happenings. If that was not true 3. The steps that we need to take as believers. 1 Corinthians 15:33 then that story would not have gone on for generations to the one that we have today. Then the story of the empty tomb gives us the assurance that indeed Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
The Resurrection
TT 149 | April 19th - April 25th | 2022
My Pulpit Message - notes Paul wanted to prove the resurrection of Christ not because the Corinthian church/Christians did not believe that Jesus rose from the dead. 1 Corinthians 5:11 Paul makes it clear that they believed that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. What they were denying is that as believers/Christians/children of God, there will be no resurrection. They denied our resurrection. They were influenced either by the Greek philosophy which considered the resurrection undesirable, thinking that the state of pure spirit was so much superior than the physical state that we are in. If they were not influenced by the Greek philosophy, then most likely they were influenced by the Sadduccees who actually thought that the world beyond this life was wishful thinking. The bottom line is that the Corinthian Christians believed we live forever, but not in the resurrected bodied and that is what Paul is trying to connect, that because Jesus Christ rose from the dead there is hope for you and I. Resurrection is not a merely life after death, but is actually life that will continue in eternity. The Corinthian Christians did not think carefully. Some of them denied the reality of the resurrection while at the same time believing that Jesus Christ actually rose from the dead. Paul is telling them that if Jesus Christ rose from the dead, then those of us who know Him, there is hope for us. If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen as He says (verse 13) “13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.”
Surety of the resurrection
The empty tomb. John 20:1 - We are told that Mary Magdalene went first and found an empty tomb and very fast ran back to the other disciples, “Looking for the ones that Jesus loved,” and she was said to them, “where have they taken away, my King and my Lord?” If there was an eye witness in those particular days, you cannot argue with an eye witness and especially so close to the happenings. If that was not true then that story would not have gone on for generations to the one that we have today. Then the story of the empty tomb gives us the assurance that indeed Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Jesus Christ appeared to these disciples . In the book of Acts, Luke writing saying, “In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” Jesus continued to appear to His disciples for a period of 40 days, giving them the assurance, that yes I Am alive. That yes, they wanted my to be completely finished, but because of the power bestowed on me, I was able to overcome death and because of that, the gospel continued in the book of Acts and the spread of the gospel is what we have today. Paul in 1 Corinthians 9-11says that, “I am the least of the apostles”. Paul says he was against the church, was persecuting the church. If Jesus had not resurrected I wouldn’t have been born again. Jesus would not have confronted me on the way to Damascus and that is the reason I got born again and got converted from persecuting the church to the one that is now propagating the gospel with the zeal that he had. Jesus Christ rose again. There is no doubt whatsoever that Jesus Christ rose again.
The significance of the resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:14-32
1 Corinthians 15:14-19 “14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.” The significance is that we have hope. If Jesus did not rise again then our faith is futile. We live under pity. If Christ is not risen then our preaching is
in vain. Worse: if Christ is not risen then we are found false witnesses of God. There is no principle of resurrection and if Jesus did not rise from the dead, then the apostles are actually liar. Worse yet, if Christ is not risen our faith is futile. We are still in our sin. We can follow Paul’s logic and sequence point by point. For example, if there is no principle or doctrine of resurrection then Jesus did not rise from the dead. If so, then death has power over Him and had defeated Him. If death has power over Jesus, then Jesus is not God. If so, then Jesus cannot offer a complete sacrifice for our sin. If so, then our sins are not completely paid for before God. If so, then I / we are still living in our sins and therefore there is no hope for you and I if Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead. Worse still, if Christ is not risen then those who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished and there is not hope whatsoever. If there is not principle or doctrine of resurrection, then the dead in Christ are gone forever. There is no chance of being able to meet them again. Worst of all, if Christ is not risen, then we have absolutely no hope. Life is in vain. “Everything depends on retaining our firm hold on this doctrine in particular, for if this taught us and no longer counts, all other doctrines will lose their value and validity” Martin Luther. If Jesus rose, then this gospel is what it professes to be. If He rose not from the dead, then it is all deceit and illusion, the old preacher Charles Spurgeon said. The doctrine of resurrection is the anchoring doctrine of all other Christian major doctrines. The divinity of the godly nature of Jesus Christ rests on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Sovereignty (that Jesus and God is in charge over all the affairs of the world) rests on this doctrine of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our being justified, being forgiven, rests on the doctrine of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our regeneration (being able to respond to the goal of the gospel) rests on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our ultimate resurrection rests on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The fact is, the silver thread of the resurrection runs through all the doctrines and if your remove the doctrines of resurrection, then our faith is an exercise in futility. The significance of the resurrection doctrine, that Jesus Christ resurrected, is the fact that we are able to have hope, and the fact that He was able to overcome and that by His grace we are able to be forgiven and we too are able to overcome. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 “20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
The principle of the firstfruit here takes us back to Adam and Eve. That sin came through one person, Adam and Eve and from that particular time dealing with sin was not possible and therefore it is only Jesus Christ who was the first. Just as sin came through one man, redemption also came through this Man, Jesus Christ and that is the principle of the firstfruit. Raising Christ from the dead, God has set in motion a chain of events that must culminate in the final destruction of death and thus of God being once again as in eternity past as it is all in all Verse 24 “ 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father”. Ultimately, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. And the beginning of that is because Jesus Christ resurrected on Easter Sunday. When He puts and end to all the rule and all the authority, that can only happen because Jesus Christ was able to overcome death. He must reign till He is able to put all the enemies under His feet and the last being death. The expression ‘under His feet’ is an Old Testament figure of speech which means total conquest. Paul reminds us of something important, that death is an enemy because death was not the original plan of God, but because Jesus Christ has conquered death, even that death like the bumblebee talked about earlier, will be dealt final blow because there is an empty cross.
TT 149 | April 19th - April 25th | 2022
My Pulpit Message - notes verse 29-32 more reasons to believe in the principles/doctrine of resurrection gives a practical example. “29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? 30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31 I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” The present tense in ‘Now if there is no resurrection” suggests that at Corinth people were currently being baptised for the dead, a very strange teaching. But because Paul does not give any more information about the practice, many times theologians have been made to interpret that particular concept. One of those is saying that living believers were being baptised for believers who died before they were baptised so that they too in a sense would not miss in baptism. The second possibility is that Christians were being baptised in anticipation of resurrection of the dead. And the third is that new converts were being baptised to fill the ranks of Christians who had died. It is worth noting that Paul mentions this custom almost in passing using it in argument substantiating the resurrection of the dead that without necessarily disapproving the practice. He is saying that if you do not believe in the resurrection, then why do all this? Because for us as believers and evangelicals, we believe that baptism is an outward symbol of that which has happened inside of us. It is a public declaration of the faith and the belief that we have in God. But all this practice, Paul is almost going back then, if you do not believe, then why are you doing all this? Verse 32 “32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” Here what Paul is saying, then everything that I have been doing is an exercise in futility. Remember Paul was a chief persecutor of the Christians. Just the fact at he got born again, that he met Jesus Christ on his way to Damascus and he got converted is a testimony that indeed there is a resurrection. So as he says that “If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus” This statement can be taken literally or figuratively. But since we know from Acts 19, we have no evidence of Paul’s suffering imprisonment, or having to face the lions, it is more likely that the expression means that the enemies in Ephesus were as ferocious as wild beasts, therefore, if you do not believe, then let us do whatever we want, “Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die.” We shall die anyway and after we die there is no hope for tomorrow or eternity. Therefore brings it back that the significance of the resurrection is that there is hope for you and I. If Jesus did it, and He overcame it, it was on yours / my behalf so that indeed there is an empty tomb.
The steps that we need to take as believers. 1 Corinthians 15:33-34
“33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”[e] 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.” Other versions read, “Do not be deceived, evil company corrupts good habits! Awake to righteousness and do not sin for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.” Knowing the truth about our resurrection should actually affect the way we live today. 1. Check your company because, our company will influence us in one way or another. “Evil company corrupts good habits”. Where did the Corinthian Christians get their strange ideas about the resurrection? Paul says most likely by associating with Jews who did to believe in the resurrection such as the Sadduccees or by associating with pagan Greek philosophical types who did not believe in the resurrection. it was bad enough that these associations had affected their thinking on an important doctrine that will affect their worldview and conviction.
We therefore need to be very careful. Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed any longer to the patterns of this world, but ye be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is good, acceptable and the perfect will of God.” By keeping evil company the Corithian Christians were conforming into the world and they needed to be transformed by the renewal of their mind. 2. Check you doctrine. Christians must let the Word of God shape our thinking. Not the company of this world, nor the philosophies of this world, but our worldviews and convictions should be influenced by the Word of God. Through much of this book Paul deals with the moral problems of the Corinthians; envy, divisions, pride, immorality, greed, irreverence and selfishness. How much of these came because of not being able to check their doctrines and especially being influenced by the philosophies of this world. Paul writing to young Timothy after telling him, ‘Do not let anyone look down upon you because you are young. 1 Timothy 4:15 “15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” There is a possibility that when we think of evil company then we are thinking so much more outside the church and that is largely true. However, there are doctrines that have creeped into the church and inform our worldview and out of this we build convictions which are not consistent with the Word of God rather, with the philosophies of this world. Please watch your doctrine, sometimes camouflaging as the church of Jesus Christ, or in a subtle way as a popular gospel. Paul will want us to be very careful and to watch our doctrine. The best way to do so is to know the Word of God because we can only be sanctified by the Word of God which is the truth. David says, “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” The Word of God, the true doctrine, that is what Paul wants us to be careful about and says, please do not be ignorant because we need to thoroughly examine and determine doctrines because from doctrines we build our worldview and hence our convictions. 3. Awake to righteousness. Another version says, ‘Awake to righteousness and do not sin’. ‘Come back to your senses as you ought.’ Your senses so that you are quickened by the Word of God. So that you are living right and in a consistent manner with the ways and the Word of God. And it is only through that, that by His grace we are able to stop sinning for there are some that are ignorant of God. The core of our Christian faith is that Jesus was crucified and that on the third day after He died, Jesus Christ rose again. Without the doctrine of resurrection, our faith is futile as Paul has said. Looking at the founders of the religions of this world, their founders died and none of them claims the resurrection of their founder. They do not have power over death, but Jesus does. They do not have power over sin, but Jesus does. That is why by His grace we are redeemed. Josh McDowell says, “All but four of the other major world religions are based on mere philosophical propositions. Of the four that are based on personalities rather than philosophies only Christianity claims an empty tomb for its founder. In 1900 BC Judaism father Abraham died. 483 BC Buddhists write and say Buddha died. With that other passing away in which nothing whatever remains behind. June 6th 632 AD Mohammed died. 33 AD Jesus died, but Jesus came back to life appearing to His disciples in a period over 40 days and if Christ has not been raised, Josh McDowell says, “Our preaching, our life our hope will be useless and so will be our faith. If Jesus Christ died and rose again, then that gives us the hope that as believers there is hope beyond the grave and that there is eternal life. For it is written that ‘Man will die once and after death will face judgement.’ Again Paul writing to the Thessalonians on the same subject says, “Brothers we do not want you to be uninformed about those who have fallen asleep so that you will not grieve like the rest who are without hope since we believe that Jesus died and rose again. We also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep. May the truth about the power of resurrection quicken us to realise and to put into practice the fact that He died for me/you. He died for our sins and there is a hope and a hope beyond the grave. The surety of resurrection, the significance of the resurrection and the steps that we need to take because of the resurrection.
TT 149 | April 19th - April 25th | 2022
My Life How to get saved and spend eternity with God His Love “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NASB) My respose that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10 (NASB)
My prayer Lord God Almighty, thank You for Your love for me. Thank You that You sent Your Son Jesus Christ to die for my sins. Please forgive me for all the sins I have committed against You. I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and that He died on the cross and You raised Him from the dead on the third day. Please write my name in the Lamb’s book of life. Help me to live a life that is holy and pleasing unto You. In Jesus’ Name I pray and believe. Amen
My Devotional By Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia | www.sportsspectrum.com | image credit: capjournal.com
Cherishing The Cross
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” — Isaiah ‘Love your neighbor as yourself ’” (Galatians 5:13-14). 53:5 When the apostle Paul spoke about cherishing the cross, Teams are like buildings. Each member influences whether he turned his back on his old way of life. Jesus turned him the bond is sturdy and lasting, or the foundation crumbles. around and helped him live by a higher standard. As Paul We draw closer together by positivity, encouraging words got closer and closer to Heaven, he lived more and more and helpful actions. In contrast, we separate from each other for Christ, he resisted the devil and he called on others to with negativity, uncaring words and careless actions. If we join him in following Jesus. “Brothers and sisters, I do not take a teammate for granted, don’t listen to them and ignore consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I them, he or she will probably want to leave and we may miss do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is out on an opportunity. ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians The sunshine, rain, vegetation and animals demonstrate 3:13-14). God’s abiding love for us. The sacrifice of Christ at Calvary is the greatest demonstration of love. After Jesus died on the cross, we should never doubt His commitment to love us forever. However, our love for Christ is sometimes as flimsy as a Styrofoam cup. If we correctly survey the cross, then we agonize, because it was our sin that nailed Jesus to those wooden beams. “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). If we love Jesus, then we want to please Him, and we honor Christ by serving others. If we use God’s grace like an unlimited credit card, then we take God for granted and we behave like an unbeliever. It is much better to appreciate the Lord’s mercy and live for Jesus daily. “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to TT 149 | April 19th - April 25th | 2022
My Inspiration MY TIMES ARE IN YOUR HANDS
By William King | Email: kingwilliam189@gmail.com | image courtesy: science.howstuffworsk.com
Did you know your head ages faster than your feet? Scientists have confirmed. The higher up from the earth something is, the weaker the gravitational pull and the faster time moves. An implication of this is that we frequently put our trust in a frame of reference on time different from the one we experience.
ent timeline than we do - if timeline is even the right word. For God is not constrained by time. He is the Father of time (Genesis 1:1, Colossians 1:6). He is “the Ancienr of Days”(Daniel 7:9).
When the speed of God seems slow to us or when His timing doesn’t make sense, we must “not overlook this one For instance, the Global fact”: God-time is differPositioning System(GPS) we rely on to accurately and safely guide us as we pi- ent from man-time. God-time is relative to His purposes, which is His frame lot our cars, ships, planes and spaceships only works because it’s programmed, of reference. God, according to His wise purposes, makes everything beautiful based on Einstein’s theories of relativitiy, to compensate for the distance be- in its time. tween earth and space. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)This verse captures like no other both the mysterious nature Without those formulae, our computers and smartphones would soon get di- of our experience of time and the pictures God has placed within our frame of sastrously out of sync with the GPS satelites, which orbit in different time. reference to help us trust the wisdom of His timing. In designing us with the Stick with me; I am going somewhere with this. How we experience time de- eternity in our hearts, the “eternal God” made us known to Him (Deuteronopends on our frame of reference. In fact, sometimes it’s critically important my 33:27). that we trust another framing more than our own. In limiting the scope of our perspecFor Christians, this concept is nothing tive and comprehension, He also new. Over three millenia ago, Moses made us to fundamentally trust Him wrote, “A thousand years in Your sight and not ourselves(Proverbs 3:5-6). are but as yesterday is when it’s past, or as When His time had come (John 12:23), Jesus obeyed His This is how He means for us to know a watch in the night”(Psalm 90:4). Some Him: “I am God and there is no other; two millenia ago, Peter wrote, “Do not Father to the point of death. As His followers, we also wait. I am God and there is no one like Me” overlook this one fact, beloved, that with (Isaiah 46:9). the Lord one day is a thousand years and We wait for the Father to “send the Christ appointed” (Acts a thousand years as one day” (2Peter 3:8). 3:20). As we wait, two thousand years later (or two God- One clear way He reveals the wisdom of His purposes is how He has creatIn other words, time in God’s eyes moves days) we helped each other remember (2Peter 3:9) ed, in our frame of reference, “a time at different speeds from time in our ours. for every matter under heaven (EcIn the life of faith, it’s critically important clesiastes 3:1-4). The Hebrew word that we learn to rely on God’s timing. In translated “beautiful” means approthe life of faith, it’s critically important that we learn to rely on God’s timing. priate, fitting, right. God’s “invisible attributes” can be “clearly perceived” in Learning to trust God’s timing is not easy, to say the least. This is partly due to the created order we observe. our sin. They reveal the wisdom of His purposes - a wisdom far beyond ours. God inIt’s also because trusting a frame of reference different from ours is, by defi- tends them to teach us that His “beautiful” timing can be trusted, even when nition, counterintuitive. Since we can’t calculate God’s time, His timing often we don’t understand it. God did not merely leave us to deduce His character doesn’t make sense to us. That’s why after Peter described one God - day as and wisdom from nature (Galatians 4:4). being like a thousand years for us, he went on to say, “The Lord is not slow... as some count slowness”(2Peter 3:9). In Jesus, the Creator of all stepped into terrestial time into our frame of reference (John 1:2). In fully human form, He dwelt among us, “directly revealing The “some” he referred to were “scoffers” who mocked Christians’ hope in the the divine attributes with a “glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of return of Christ (2Peter 3:3-4). The truth is that all of us fit into the “some” grace and truth” (John 1:14). category. I don’t mean as scoffers, but as children of God painfully perplexed by our heavenly Father’s apparent slowness. While here, He performed many signs and wonders and proclaimed, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the We cry out, “How long, O Lord?” (Psalm 13:1), wondering when He will finally gospel” (Mark 1). As He did so, He displayed the marvellous wisdom of the fulfill some promise to which we’re clinging. So, Peter exhorts us, the “beloved” timing of God, often in ways that surprised His followers. of God. Someone who has created such a thing as light speed and who knows what’s happening in every part of a universe spanning some ninety-three bil- When His time had come (John 12:23), Jesus obeyed His Father to the point lion light-years across, is clearly not slow. of death. As His followers, we also wait. We wait for the Father to “send the Christ appointed” (Acts 3:20). As we wait, two thousand years later (or two It’s also clear, however, that such a being as God operates on a very differ- God-days) we helped each other remember (2Peter 3:9)
TT 149 | April 19th - April 25th | 2022
Every Good G S ift
ells
Entrepreneur Faith on the job
By WorkLife Success | www.biblicalleadership.com |Image courtesy:
No part of our lives should remain untouched by our faith. Yet the the ability to make changes in our lives that are not only obedient single biggest consumer of our time (our job) often does remain dis- to God’s commands in the Scriptures, but also more useful in His connected from that faith. Kingdom. How it got to be that way is a question for another time. The question Drawing from the principles outlined in the Bible, Christians have for now is how we integrate our faith and our work so everything we an opportunity to experience a faith that teaches them much more do is affected by our service to Jesus Christ. than just how to share that faith with other people. Whenever a person makes faith a separate part of their lives and ex- The same Scriptures that tell us how to find our way back to God cludes work from having a role in that faith, that same faith may be also teach us how to deal with difficult coworkers or bosses, how to rendered all but useless in the Kingdom of God. behave ethically in an environment not necessarily friendly to our faith, how to balance the competing demands of work and famiGenesis 2:7 describes the perfect world God created, one in which ly, how to define success, how to use our resources effectively, and work had a place. True, work became more difficult as a result of much, much more. sin’s entry into creation, but it is clear from Scripture that work itself has a place in the Kingdom of God. In passages throughout the Old In fact, there’s no area of our work lives (indeed, no area of our lives and New Testament, the value of a person’s work to the Kingdom of at all) that can’t be touched by the Bible. It isn’t that God isn’t there God can be viewed. with us on the job, it’s that we’ve been conditioned to believe He isn’t there. The goal then, is to break down the barriers between our Sunday faith and our Monday work so our faith is woven into the fabric of As noted Christian apologist Francis Schaeffer reminded us, God is our entire life, including the jobs we do the rest of the week. The there and He is not silent…and He’s heard most clearly through His key to doing that is restoring the Word of God—the Bible—to its Word. rightful place as a key source for action, a key guide for living and serving, even in our work lives. Written by Randy Kilgore, senior writer and workplace chaplain for Desired Haven Ministries. Content distributed byWorkLife.org. Our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior restores the broken relationship between God and us. That restored relationship gives us
TT 149 | April 19th - April 25th | 2022
My Health
Can food be medicine? Pros and cons Written by Amber Charles Alexis, MSPH, RDN on April 13, 2022 — Fact checked by Hannah Flynn | image credit: earth.com
“Food as medicine” may be an emerging concept in the Western world but has existed for centuries as the cornerstone of health for many cultures around the globe. However, the role of diet and food in disease prevention and management compared to conventional medicine has been questioned. This Honest Nutrition feature explains the benefits and limitations of a “food as medicine” healthcare approach.
According to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the core of a healthy diet is built on high intakes of a variety of nutrient-dense foods and beverages, including:
The fact that diet can impact an individual’s health is well acknowledged by healthcare providers worldwide. People who have access to adequate nutrition are more likely to have strong immune systems, safer pregnancy and childbirth, lower risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and they live longer.
Added sugar, salt, saturated fats, and alcohol intake should be limited for good health.
fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low and non-fat dairy, lean protein, healthy fats and oils.
Some diets that may bring health benefits include the Mediterranean diet, dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Healthy Eating MyPlate approach.
The reasons for this are myriad, complex, and not yet well understood. Some research has shown that a diet rich in added sugars, saturated and trans fats and excess sodium may induce chronic inflammation— an un- “Food as medicine” is a practice built on the knowledge that food and diet derlying risk factor in the development of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, play important roles in disease prevention and management. poor gut health, and other chronic diseases. There is no single definition of the “food as medicine” concept, but it genLikewise, the American Heart Association recently made diet and lifestyle erally refers to prioritizing food and diet in an individual’s health plan, recommendations that included a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole with the goal of either preventing, reducing symptoms of, or reversing a grains, legumes, low-fat dairy, and plant-based or lean animal protein to disease state. support cardiovascular health. It is focused on the increased consumption of a variety of whole, minimalExperts think that this diet supports good health through its potential to ly-processed plant-based foods, and limited intakes of highly processed reduce harmful risk factors of cardiovascular disease, including inflam- foods rich in added sugar, oil, and salt. mation, elevated cholesterolTrusted Source, high blood pressure, and poor sleepTrusted Source. Foods that proponents claim have medicinal properties, often due to supposed high levels of a particular micronutrient or biomolecule — someThe World Health Organization (WHO) also links nutritional status to times referred to as functional foods — are of particular interest by people immune health. who consider food as medicine.
Food as medicine
Furthermore, research also shows that carotenoids — antioxidants natu- These include a variety of herbs and spices, legumes, nuts and seeds, whole rally found in some vegetables and fruits — in the diet can improve the grains, and fruits and vegetables. blood metabolites of people with liver disease. The “food as medicine” approach to health management challenges the Decades of scientific findings support the integral role of diet in health construct of conventional medicine, which relies primarily on technologimanagement, which should not be understated. cal medical advancements to manage health and disease with pharmaceutical drugs.
TT 149 | April 19th - April 25th | 2022
My Health Cost-effective
It is worth noting that conventional, Western medicine does prescribe dietary and lifestyle changes as a first-line treatment for some conditions, notably polyThe prevalence of chronic diseases has increased worldwide, along with associcystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). ated healthcare costs. However, the focus is on the balance of macronutrients in the diet, and there is as yet little clarity as to what that should look like in humans, as outlined in a In 2010, an estimated 86%Trusted Source — over $400 billion — of healthcare costs in the U.S. alone were due to treating patients with at least one chronic paper published in NatureTrusted Source. disease. These costs are shared between public resources and patients’ out-ofpocket expenses.
Benefits
Here are some benefits of a “food as medicine” healthcare approach.
Disease management
Using “food as medicine” could conceivably reduce healthcare costs by potentially reducing disease severity through better labwork, fewer medications, and fewer hospitalizations.
Medical nutrition therapy is a part of evidence-based health practice that uses diet and food to support the treatment of diseases, and it is a clear demonstra- However, the issues and policies surrounding food apartheid and access to healthful foods among low-income communities across the U.S. that support tion of the role that diet and food play in managing chronic disease. improved health and lower healthcare costs must continually be addressed. For instance, an increase in dietary fiber supports lower blood sugar levels in persons with pre-diabetes or diabetes, reducing the occurrence of nerve and “Food as medicine,” however, is not an approach without flaws. Here are some blood vessel damage associated with high blood sugar levels. of its limitations. Improvements in diet quality can also reduce disease symptoms and improve quality of life. “Food as medicine” is not a stand-alone remedy for all health conditions. One study suggests that a modified Mediterranean diet can reduce pain, fatigue, and discomfort in persons with lipoedema, a condition where there is an abnor- The development of chronic diseases continues to be complex and may be attributed to non-diet-related causes, including genetic risk, exposure to environmal accumulation of fat in the lower extremities. mental toxinsTrusted Source, or autoimmuneTrusted Source conditions. Likewise, observational studies identified that a healthful diet during breast cancer treatment may reduce negative symptoms caused by cancer treatment, in- Thus, while “food as medicine” may support disease management by improving symptoms and slowing disease progression in some diseases, it must not be cluding nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. used as a stand-alone treatment, rather in conjunction with appropriate medical therapy. The prevalence of chronic diseases has increased worldwide, along with associated healthcare costs. Social media can be an effective source of health promotion among health proIn 2010, an estimated 86% — over $400 billion — of healthcare costs in the U.S. fessionals and organizations. alone were due to treating patients with at least one chronic disease. These costs However, it can also be a source of misinformation and sharing of unverifiable are shared between public resources and patients’ out-of-pocket expenses. information, especially where “food as medicine” or alternative medicinal therUsing “food as medicine” could conceivably reduce healthcare costs by poten- apies are concerned. tially reducing disease severity through better labwork, fewer medications, and As outlined in Food Isn’t Medicine by nutritionist Dr. Joshua Wolrich, the vilififewer hospitalizations. cation of individual foods can lead to unhealthy eating behaviors. However, the issues and policies surrounding food apartheid and accessto healthful foods among low-income communities across the U.S. that support improved health and lower healthcare costs must continually be addressed. It is also important to consider how foods interact with medications. This is referred to as drug-nutrientTrusted Source interaction, which may enhance or Benefits interrupt the effect of a medication in the body. Here are some benefits of a “food as medicine” healthcare approach.
Limitations
It is not a cure-all
Cost-effective
Fueled by misinformation
Drug-nutrient interactions
Disease management
A common example is grapefruit juice, which doctors often advise should be avoided when taking some medications, although some research shows that it may enhance the effect of cholesterol-lowering statins.
Medical nutrition therapy is a part of evidence-based health practice that uses diet and food to support the treatment of diseases, and it is a clear demonstraDrug-nutrient interactions must be considered for the seamless relationship of tion of the role that diet and food play in managing chronic disease. “food as medicine” and appropriate medical interventions in the best interest of For instance, an increase in dietary fiber supports lower blood sugar levels in patient care. persons with pre-diabetes or diabetes, reducing the occurrence of nerve and blood vessel damage associated with high blood sugar levels.
The bottom line
Improvements in diet quality can also reduce disease symptoms and improve quality of life.
“Food as medicine” may be an emerging concept in the Western world, but many cultures around the globe have long recognized the role of diet in health.
One studysuggests that a modified Mediterranean diet can reduce pain, fatigue, Various healthy diets high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, and discomfort in persons with lipoedema, a condition where there is an abnor- lean protein, and low-fat dairy could reduce the risk associated with the development of chronic diseases, including heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. mal accumulation of fat in the lower extremities. Likewise, observational studies identified that a healthful diet during breast can- However, “food as medicine” is not a cure for all and should be used in conjunccer treatment may reduce negative symptoms caused by cancer treatment, in- tion with appropriate medical treatment. cluding nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
TT 149 | April 19th - April 25th | 2022
My Kitchen Grab and go muesli bars BY JILL DUPLEIX | www.delicious.au.com
Lusciously decadent bars of soft fruit and crunchy nuts to give you the energy you need to power through the day.
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
1 1/2 cups (185g) almond meal 150g toasted muesli 12 Medjool dates, pitted, chopped 1 cup (170g) pitted prunes, chopped 1/3 cup (50g) currants, chopped 1/3 cup dried cranberries, chopped 1/2 cup (80g) sunflower seeds 2 tbs linseed or chia seeds (see note) 2/3 cup (110g) almonds, lightly toasted, chopped 2 tbs raw cacao powder (see note) or Dutch cocoa powder 2 tsp ground cinnamon 2 tbs tahini 1/3 cup (80ml) maple syrup 2 tbs apple juice
1.Begin this recipe 1 day ahead. 2.Grease and line the base and sides of a 20cm square cake pan with baking paper. 3.Combine all the dry ingredients, reserving 100g muesli, in a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the tahini, maple syrup and apple juice, whisking until smooth. Pour over the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Add extra juice if mixture is dry. 4.Press mixture into cake pan, sprinkle over remaining muesli, then cover with plastic wrap and chill overnight.
TT 149 | April 19th - April 25th | 2022
My Sports Kenyan athletes vow to shatter records in Brazil By Ochieng Oyugi | www.standardmedia.com
Double Deaflympics champion Simon Cherono Kibai reacts after a training session at Kasarani Stadium on April 12, 2022. [Kelly Ayodi, Standard]
Team Kenya can only dream of striking gold and shattering records in the “The government is also catering for their accommodation, allowances, 24th Summer Deaflympics in Caxias Do Sul, Brazil on May 1-15. training gear among other things,” Kamau said. The squad camping at Kasarani in Nairobi is buoyant ahead of departure She said the first batch of the contingent will leave on Thursday while the for the games this week. second group will jet out on Saturday. The contingent of 136 players is optimistic of staging a good show in the “The early departure means the athletes will have 6-8 days to acclimatise,” global showpiece going by their level of fitness. she said. Deaf Athletics Association of Kenya Secretary General, Bernard Banja At the same time, Miriam Opondo, the Team Kenya Chief Liason Officer, says it’s only ‘Forward Ever, Backward Never’ for the high spirited athletes. has also come forward to clear the air on why the badminton team will miss the competition in Brazil. “We have never failed in our mission, we have never disappointed the country before. I believe we will perform well in Brazil. “The badminton team never took part in the World Championships or the African Championships which were qualifiers for the Deaflympics,” “I can assure you we will do better and return with more medals than in Opondo said. our previous outings,” Banja said. “We have urged them to continue training hard ahead of the 2023 World His sentiments were echoed by Lilian Adhiambo, the Team Manager for Championships so they can book a berth for the 2025 Deaflympics,” she athletics at the camp, who reiterated their mission in Brazil is to lower the said. men’s 10,000m and women’s 200m records that have been held by double Deaflympics champion Simon Cherono Kibai and Beryl Atieno Wamira Opondo said the Kenya Sports Federation of the Deaf (KSFD) presented since 2013. world deaf games governing body, the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD), with video clips The country will also seek to lower the men’s steeplechase record held by of the Kenya badminton team in training and in action to look for a slot Team Kenya captain Lucas Wandia since 2017 and the men’s marathon for the country in the Deaflympics unfortunately the request was turned record held by former captain Daniel Kiptum. down as ICSD said Kenya’s standard in the discipline is still very low. The country will also defend the men’s 5,000m and the men’s 1,500m titles. Sylvia Kamau, the Team Kenya Chief Executive Officer, said the ath- The KSFD President Peter Kalae and Team Kenya Chief De Mission, Tom letes were in good spirits. Okiki are all hopeful that the travelling contingent will raise the country’s flag high in Brazil. “The athletes have been fully funded by the state. All the training facilities at the stadium have been availed to them.
TT 149 | April 19th - April 25th | 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
