TIMES TODAY TT 157 | June 21st - June 28th| 2022
Growing in Giving
CONTENTS My Pulpit message notes: | Give Willingly | 3-4 My Devotional: Born for this| 6 My Inspiration: When you pass the test | 7 My Entrepreneur: How to be calm in the storm 8 My Health: Long COVID: Disrupted sleep, fatigue common months after infection| 9-10 My Kitchen: Apple-Cinnamon Layer Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting |11 My Sports: Kenya countdown - Rally route 12
My Pulpit Message - notes Growing in Giving
My Pulpit Message Notes are extracted from the sermon preached at the Nairobi Baptist Church (NBC) Ngong Road on Sunday 19th June 2022. Preacher: Reverend Munengi Mulandi, Senior Pastor NBC. Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1-12 . Topic: Growing in Giving
This is the story of two churches. The Macedonian churches: Those of Philippi, Thessalinica and Berea. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 and churches in the region of Achaia: the Corinthian church.
1. Willingness. 2 Corinthians 8:2-4 9:7 (The positive attitude and the generous action of the Macedonian churches)
These churches were all in the Gentile region, that had been planted after the Lord commissioned Paul and Barnabas in Antioch in Act “Set them aside to be mission I have called them’ and they begin Paul is writing to the Corinthians, but first says let me give you the preaching to the Gentile church, a mission that is blessed by the testimony of these other believers in Macedonia. 2 Corinthians 8:1 “And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace church in Jerusalem. that God has given the Macedonian churches.” Then Paul brings out As time goes on the church in Jerusalem begins going through some the testimony of the believers in Macedonia and uses two correct very tough times. In Acts we read how the persecution begins. Re- calibrations to measure the genuineness, validity of their giving. member the persecution associated with the stoning of Stephen. But things get worse as the communities of faith, the believers in “And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the Jerusalem are ravaged by a very serious famine. There is no food, grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst no sufficient water and the believers there are going through a very of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” difficult time. “Extreme poverty” They are not only going through a I wonder if today I am speaking to a people who have been goes with ‘severe trial”. But “oververy difficult time because of their ravaged by lost business unemployment, COVID-19, etc, I have flowing joy and rich generosity” faith, but physically they are going a word from Genesis 26:1 and 12 it says “In that same year of seem misplaced. Churches in Jethrough a very difficult time because of the famine. And Paul look- famine, Isaac planted, and he reaped a harvest of a hundred- rusalem were going through a hard time because of the famine, fold.” ing at this situation of the church but then there were these churchin Jerusalem that had blessed them es in Macedonia that were going to go and begin ministry in these through a hard time because of Gentile regions he then begins to the colonisation that was going on there. rally these Gentile churches to serve the Jewish congregation at this They were under Roman rule, they were overtaxed, their VAT time of need. had gone up, the dollar had gone crazy against their currency, their His argument in Romans 15 is that you as Gentile churches have fuel prices and goods had gone berserk. The believers in Philippi we benefitted so much from the Jerusalem church because they are the are told were going through a very severe trial that was common to ones that have sent this message, so because you have gotten a spir- all in those areas. But some specific and extreme severe trials that itual benefit from them, why not give them a physical benefit at this were coming just to believers. One Bible commentator says, because they were believers, time when you have been blessed by their spiritual gifts towards you they were excluded from some of the trade / business unions and and now that they have a physical need why not bless them with a so some of their businesses had gone down. So these believers, the physical / material blessing, result is that they were going through a very severe trial, but they So Paul goes round challenging these congregations to give towards were also going through extreme poverty. But against that background, when they heard these people a gift that will be given to the believers to help them go through this that they had benefited spiritually from, when they heard about the particular hard famine. people where they church had started, where Jesus Christ had been Two things (calibrations) that were the marks of generosity 2 Cor- crucified, that place that existed where a …people worshipped God, they said even with our severe trial and our extreme poverty, we inthians 8:1-12 must find something even with pockets that are empty, we must 1. Willingness. (2 Corinthians 8:2-4 9:7) - The positive keep looking and find something to give to relieve our spiritual faattitude and the generous action of the Macedonian thers and mothers.
churches) 2. Ability - 2 Corinthians 8:3 & 12
TT 157 | June 21st - June 28th| 2022
My Pulpit Message - notes So without waiting to be contacted and solicited, they gave willingly “With overflowing joy, welling up in rich generosity.” Verse 3 “Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.” They did not consider giving as something to be avoided. Verse 12 “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable” 2 Corinthians 9:7 “…not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” The Greek word for ‘cheerful’ is ‘hilaros’ from where we get the word hilarious. Can you imagine giving in a way that you look hilarious? You are overcome by the joy of giving. No guilt trip, no coercion, no manipulation. Do you give willingly? These people gave willingly, urgently pleading, entirely on their own with overflowing joy and welling up in rich generosity.
2. Ability - 2 Corinthians 8:12
will add it to the 50 shillings and it becomes 70 shillings and it will now be sacrificial giving. The challenge to you and I, is are we giving according to our ability and even beyond? Peter Marshall, a former chaplain to the US Senate, pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington DC, ministering 1902-1949 is said to have commented, “Give to God according to your income, or God may make your income according to your giving.” I say this because there are times you and I are celebrated with our giving, yet you have not given to your ability / appropriate / proportionate to your income and ability. I know there are many whom God has asked to give according / proportionate to their income and because you and I give 50, 500, 5000 shillings when they give 500,000 shillings there is celebration that God is good and indeed He is good, but this person hasn’t been faithful to the full calibration. The Macedonians gave willingly, but they gave proportionate to their income. They gave as they were able and beyond their ability.
“..the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.” Randy Alcorn in his book ‘Money, Possessions and Eternity’ argues, we talk a lot about a tenth, and asks believers: if those under In these particular Scriptures which are called the hallmark of the law gave ten percent, surely it doesn’t mean that those of us unChristian giving in the New Testament (2 Corinthians 8 and 9), Paul der grace should be living under lower standards. repeatedly makes it abundantly clear that giving is to be willing and Talking about the sermon on the Mount Alcorn says on the according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. issue of murder, adultery and taking of oaths, Jesus raised the stanAll the manipulation we see in some communities of dards for us as new covenant believers and provided the grace necfaith is not biblical. It cannot be willing if you are being asked to give essary to judge to that level and be empowered to give at that level, a outside of Scripture and beyond what you are able. level beyond what we can naturally. There is no maximum, no minimum, or prescription Out of the most sincere trial, overflowing joy, extreme poverthat Paul gives them on what they can give. ty, welled up in rich generosity. Luke 21:3 Jesus at the booth declares, “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her I know I am speaking today to a people who were recently poverty put in all she had to live on.” shocked at the fuel pump, 159 with threats of going up to the 200 Giving to God is no private business. Jesus was looking mark. I speak today to people who are experiencing prices of foodinto the offering basket. In the New Testament church giving was stuff that are difficult. I wonder if you like me have looked at some of not private. Ask Barnabas, Acts 4, sold a field and put that money our domestic staff salaries and wondered, how are these people surthere in the community of faith. Ask, Ananias and Saphira who lied viving? Then turning to the bank trying to see if you can add somein Acts 5. There was no hiding about this. They had not given ac- thing to their salaries and realise there is disparity between your decording to their ability. Ask Paul here openly sharing details of the sire and what action you can take. I wonder if today I am speaking Macedonians giving to encourage the Corinthians. to a people who have been ravaged by lost business unemployment, This level of private worship and giving is dangerous. COVID-19, etc, I have a word from Genesis 26:1 and 12 it says “In We need to do it as God tells us. that same year of famine, Isaac planted, and he reaped a harvest of a So the Corinthians are urged to give proportionate to hundredfold.” their income. The example they are given in 2 Corinthians 8:3 “3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond Prayer their ability.” Is there a contradiction here? Are we being told to give what we are able, or are we being told to give beyond our ability? Father, look at those who are going through difficult times, like the The two in my opinion are not in contradiction. Why? If I live on Macedonians they want to give with their substance. Father, would Ngong Road at Adams and I decide in my heart, that according to you help them in this year, in this season of famine to be able to sow my ability, I can worship the LORD with 50 shillings today to the and like Isaac reap a hundredfold miraculously. LORD would you glory of God. Then I should carry that 50 shillings and bring it to the help them to experience the blessings of Goshen that when the rest church with two calibrations that are true; willingly and according of Egypt was in darkness, there was light when there was crying in to my ability. How then can I give beyond my ability? I can make a Egypt, not a sound in Goshen. Bless them in Jesus’ name. Amen. decision that instead of taking transport to NBC on Ngong Road, I will walk from Adams all the way to the church and the bus fare I
TT 157 | June 21st - June 28th| 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 response 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
TT 157 | June 21st - June 28th| 2022
My Devotional By Liz Omondi | Email: timestodayke@gmail.com
Born for this
37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this purpose I have been born, and for this I have come into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” John 18:37 NASB
King David, though he went through numerous trials and temptations on a long, windy road before he actually become king, he along the way figured out his purpose. He was born to be a king. As Joseph made himself known as second in command in Egypt, he revealed to his brothers he was born for this. Having been sold by his brothers several years earlier to Midianite merchants who took him to Egypt, Joseph experienced a long treacherous journey to his purpose. He said in Genesis 45:7-8a “But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.”
After completing my assignment, it was dark and had to get back home. I got into my car and as I drove down the road, it was dark, narrow and somewhat bumpy road. There were no streetlights and the road was lonely and meandered like River Nyakach. Surely, from my estimation, I should have reached home by now. Soon, I realised that I was lost and began to panic. This was nightmare on Karen streets. As the Jews faced the threat of annihilation from their enemy Haman, Mordecai in seeking Queen Esther’s help said this in Esther 4:14, “14 For With no service station in sight, I could not make any stop to ask anybody if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will how to get back to my destination. There were no smart phones those days arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And and therefore could not seek the assistance of Google Map as we do today. who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time I was all on my own, thankfully with enough fuel to keep on driving until as this?” I find some familiar sight. It is a this point that I paused and whispered, ‘Oh God, help’. As Jesus was about to complete his assignment here on earth and was going through trial, Pilate asked Him to confirm if he was a king. Christ reSometimes life can feel that way. Some of us crawl on this long, treacher- sponded in John 18:37 “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was ous, road trying to find our destination. Others walk, while some run, al- born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the beit in the wrong direction. Adrenaline keeps them going. Still, others fly side of truth listens to me.” having figured out their definite destination. But many a people wander and wonder why on earth was I born? Lost and unsure where I was headed, I resorted to asking God for help. I kept on driving on that dark road. Soon I started seeing the light of othAt a time when the people of Jerusalem had gone into exile, Jeremiah may er moving vehicles a long distance away across what seemed like a main have struggled with this question, why on earth am I here? Where does road. I kept going and soon realised I was on Langata Road. What a rethis road lead to? And God speaks to him and reveals to him his assign- lief. From there I was able to get my bearing and arrived home safely and ment. In Jeremiah 1:5 the LORD telling Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in soundly. It felt sweet getting to my destination. the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” At this point Jeremiah the prophet knew If you are travelling that long, dark, treacherous road, not knowing your his purpose. purpose and not able to say with certainty, ‘I was born for this’, just whisper a prayer to God, to help you find your way. He will surely guide you In Psalm 139:13 and 16 David penned journaled saying, “For you created and reveal your purpose to you. Then like Christ you will say with certainmy inmost being you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 16 Your eyes ty, ‘For this reason, I was born.’ saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
TT 157 | June 21st - June 28th| 2022
My Inspiration When you pass the test
By William King | Email: kingwilliam189@gmail.com | image courtesy: islam21c.com
We all face situations where things are not going our way, someone’s not treating us right. It is easy to get upset, live The purpose of the trial is to test your character and show frustrated, wondering why it is not changing. you what’s in you. Every time someone cuts you off in traffic, gets on your nerves, you are tempted to be jealous, critical, Much of what we face in life is a test. You do not really know or pay someone back is not a random challenge. That is God what is in you testing your until you are put quality. That under pressure. is an opporIt is easy to have tunity to a good attitude grow. The when people are problem being good to with failyou. ing the test is that you How about when are going to it is just the ophave to keep posite? On the retaking the night before Jetest until you sus was arrested, pass. tried and crucified, Peter told Start passing Jesus, “I will lay down my life for you.” His heart was right the test. The next time someone is rude, or leaves you out, and that statement was easy to make in the atmosphere of just smile and stay in peace. When someone tries to make faith with other disciples at the Passover meal. When he was you feel small, ignore it and move on. You are not who they put under pressure, he denied he knew Jesus three times. say you are; you are who God says you are - His masterpiece, crowned with favour. Be happy despite what they are doing. The pressure brings to light weaknesses in our character, areas we need to deal with if we are willing to change, make Jesus says, “No person can take your joy from you” (John adjustments, start passing those tests. God will trust us with 16:22). Make up your mind that you are not going to give it more of His favour as He did Peter. God does not give up away. It is a test. Do not keep responding the same old way. on us when we fail. It is significant that Peter wrote: “Don’t If you are going to reach your destiny, you have to prove to be surprised at the fiery trial that is taking place to test you” God that you will stay on the high road. Do the right thing (1Peter 4:12). when it is hard.
TT 157 | June 21st - June 28th| 2022
Every Good G S ift
ells
Entrepreneur
How to be the calm in the storm
By Christian Muntean — President, Vantage Consulting |www.biblicalleadership.com
“Men and kings must be judged in the testing moments of their lives. Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities, because, as has been said, it is the There will never be enough information nor will all your questions have anquality which guarantees all others.”– Winston Churchill swers. Don’t look for that. Just Get good enough information to move forward, check your position, recalibrate and move again. Leaders are struggling. Tons of decisions need to be made. Some need to be made very quickly. Many seem to have existential consequences. No one has 3. How do we make decisions? enough information. The future is unpredictable. Use your values and vision:If you’ve defined the values and vision of your orgaHere are principles that will help simplify and focus your decision-making pro- nization, their value is magnified now. cess. If you use these, you’ll spend less time deliberating and more time meeting the challenges you face. Screen out options that violate either your values or vision. Identify those that seem to be most in alignment. I’ve broken these down into three categories: Prioritize those that are most in alignment. Define what is important:What’s important is usually not universally obvious. How do we approach deciding anything? Different people or departments will ascribe importance to different things. How do we interpret information? Leaders often confuse urgency with importance. Create an agreement on: What decisions should we make? The central qualities that make something important, right now. 1. How do we approach deciding anything? The priorities, responsibilities, and obligations that are most important, right now. Constructive, positive mindsets or attitudes help generally. In a crisis, they prove Don’t waste time on unimportant decisions:Based on the above—set down, set especially valuable. aside, or abandon what isn’t important at this time. Don’t react. Remain intentional and purposeful. Many feel the temptation to Careful pruning during the 2008 recession helped many companies not only make decisions that are counter to their values. But this is the time to really let survive but find incredible success. The pruning allowed them to focus on what them guide you. was most important—and that is what matters. Be courageous:Courage is to act well, even when afraid or uncertain. Churchill Become an idea machine:A crisis is a miserable time to stop thinking. Start recognized that without courage, we tend to abandon our other values. Be brave. cranking out ideas. Work with your team to multiply ideas like rabbits. I’ve Hold fast. helped many clients do this. Here is what seems to work well: Be grateful: Gratitude reminds us that we continue to be surrounded by goodness. It helps us find and orient towards opportunity and hope. Difficult situations aren’t solved by leaders caught up in despair and limited thinking. Be kind: Fear and anxiety provoke some of the most self-serving choices in people. Act in the opposite spirit. Be kind and considerate of others. Be generous: Find ways to give and share. Invent ways if you need to. There is enough and there will be enough. Be creative: Innovate, experiment, and try new things. Build something new. This is the time to bring new value, services, or solutions. It is the hardest times that often give birth to some of the greatest opportunities. The Great Depression and WWII created some of the most innovative thinking and solutions still shaping the world today.
2. How do we interpret information? There is an onslaught of news, commentary, and information to sort through. It can be overwhelming and most of it is intended to provoke fear, anxiety or anger.
Filter out what you can’t control: Pay just enough attention to the news to know what’s going on. But don’t wallow in it. Don’t let what you can’t control rob you of what you can. Watch for outliers and generalizations: In a crisis, there is a tendency to paint with an overly broad brush. What is happening in New York isn’t happening almost anywhere else. But it generates almost all of the news stories. Know, prepare for and face your context. Not someone else’s. Triangulate your direction:In navigation, triangulation is a way to determine where you are so you can decide where to go. In its most simple version, two known landmarks are identified. Your unknown location can then be determined by the bearings of those known landmarks. For our purposes, find at least two independent and consistently accurate sources of information. They should be objective and relevant to your decision-making.
Clearly identify the problem, issue or opportunity. Make a longlist of options for addressing it. Give yourself targets. I have found the best ideas come from lists of 20 or more. You can develop 20 ideas within 15 minutes. The ideas don’t need to be actionable, practical, or realistic. You are exploring. Not contracting. Don’t be shy about ridiculous ideas. Don’t discuss or judge the quality of the ideas until the list is completed. Typically, the first third are old ideas. The next third is a struggle to develop. The last third comes fast and is where the gold is found. Evaluate the ideas: If doing this with multiple people, each person should independently develop their list. When completed, they can share their 3 to 5 favorite ideas. Mix or combine good ideas. Which ideas are the best combination of having the highest impact and being the easiest to accomplish? Progress, not perfection:You absolutely will make the wrong decision at some point. Or multiple points. It’s going to happen. Most of the time this will be fixable. Sometimes it won’t be. All leaders make mistakes. Some will never admit it and therefore lose credibility and the chance to learn. Others get knocked back down and never get back up. x The best leaders recognize the mistakes early, get back up fast, learn from what happened and then get moving again. Mistakes are part of the process. To sum up Armchair quarterbacks and forensic hindsight experts abound. No one needs them. What is needed are leaders willing to make the best decisions they can. Leaders who are humble enough to quickly make and learn from mistakes. Leaders who are persistent
enough to keep pushing for solutions until they find them.
TT 156 | June 14th- June 20th| 2022
My Health
Long COVID: Disrupted sleep, fatigue common months after infection www.medicalnewstoday.com | Written by Robby Berman on June 17, 2022 — Fact checked by Alexandra Sanfins, Ph.D.
Trouble sleeping and fatigue are among the often-reported symptoms of After factoring for age, race, sex, and body mass index, the analysis conthe condition known as “long COVID.” New research from the Cleveland cluded: Clinic in Ohio presents the findings of researchers investigating sleep issues in people who have recovered from COVID-19. After recovery from COVID-19, 41.3% of patients reported at least moderate sleep disturbances, and 8% described severe sleep issues. According to the research, nearly half of those who recovered from More than two-thirds of patients (67.2%) reported moderate fatigue. COVID-19 experience at least moderate sleep issues. Lead study author Dr. Cinthya Pena Orbea tells Sleep 2022: The research was presented in June at Sleep 2022, a meeting of the Associ- “Our study suggests that the prevalence of moderate to severe sleep disated Professional Sleep Societies, a joint venture of the American Acade- turbances is high and that [the] Black race confers increased odds to suffer my of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and the Sleep Research Society (SRS). from moderate to severe sleep disturbances, highlighting the importance to further understand race-specific determinants of sleep disturbances in There is a risk of developing long COVID even for the vaccinated, and order to develop race-specific interventions.” researchers suggest the condition can persist for years for some people. The abstract that includes data from February to November 2021 is The researchers analyzed the experiences of 962 Cleveland Clinic ReCOV- published in OXFORD Academic SLEEP. er Clinic patients between February 2021 and April 2022. The individuals filled out the sleep disturbance and fatigue questionnaire sections of the National Institutes of Health’s Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). Medical News Today asked Dr. Pena Orbea what might account for the The clinic found that its Black patients were more than three times more higher proportion of sleep disruption among Black people. She replied: likely to have moderate-to-severe sleep disturbances after recovering from COVID-19.
Triple the risk for Black people
Another factor that was associated with a higher than average incidence of sleep disturbance was anxiety.
TT 156 | June 14th- June 20th| 2022
My Health “Understanding the potential causes underlying this association was not part of our research aims. However, it is possible that this factor may be related to a difference in healthcare access, neighborhood factors, [and the] disproportion of acute COVID-19 burden among black individuals.” Dr. Michael Grandner, Ph.D., MTR, CBSM, FAASM, Director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona and Director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinic at the Banner-University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona, was not involved in the research. He told MNT:
lack of sleep might have on each other. “There is a bidirectional effect,” pointed out Dr. Pena Orbea, “between sleep and mental health. Mood disorders are highly prevalent among patients with sleep disturbances. Likewise, sleep disturbances can increase the risk or exacerbate mental distress.” Fatigue more common than sleep disruption With more people, nearly two-thirds, reporting fatigue than reporting sleep disruption, there is some unclarity in the relationship, if any, between the two.
Dr. Pena Orbea noted, “Our next steps will be to fur“Several previous studies have shown that Black ther investigate the interplay of fatigue and mood with Americans are less likely to complain about their sleep disturbances as it relates to [the] Black race.” sleep than their White counterparts, but they tend to get less sleep and tend to be at higher risk of sleep “Sleep disturbance can cause fatigue,” said Dr. Granddisorders — especially those caused by stress and en- ner, “but many other things can as well. Then again, vironmental factors. They are also more likely to have many people may have difficulties with sleep that problems with COVID-related risk factors like car- they may not even be aware of — for example, shaldiometabolic and lung diseases.” low sleep — that leads them to feel less rested and more fatigued.”
Anxiety and sleep disruption
“Hundreds of studies,” said Dr. Grandner, “have characterized the strong but complex relationship between sleep and anxiety. For example, anxiety causes a condition called ‘hyperarousal’ — where you are often on alert even if there is no reason to be — and this is a common cause of sleep problems in these individuals.” Dr. Pena Orbea noted the circular effect anxiety and TT 157 | June 21st - June 28th| 2022
My Kitchen Apple-Cinnamon Layer Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting
BY GENA KNOX https://www.countryliving.com/ food-drinks/recipes
INGREDIENTS
1 minute. Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly add flour mixture, scraping down sides of the bowl as needed. Fold in apples and pecans. Divide batter among prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes.
Apple-Cinnamon Layer Cake Cooking spray 3/4 c. pecan halves 3 c. all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled 2 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 tsp. Kosher salt 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg 1/4 tsp. ground allspice 1 c. packed light brown sugar 1/2 c. granulated sugar 3 large eggs 3/4 c. canola oil 3/4 c. unsweetened applesauce 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract 4 c. diced peeled apples, such as Pink Lady or Granny Smith (from 2 large apples) Salted Caramel Frosting 3/4 c. sugar 3/4 c. heavy cream 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract 1 c. (2 sticks) plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature 1 tsp. Kosher salt 3 c. confectioners’ sugar
Cool in pans on wire racks 5 minutes, then invert onto racks to cool completely. Make frosting: Combine sugar and 6 tablespoons water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, without stirring, until mixture turns a dark amber color, 10 to 12 minutes.
Remove from heat and slowly add cream and vanilla, stirring with a wooden spoon until smooth. Cool 30 minutes. Beat butter and salt with an electric DIRECTIONS mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 3 (9-inch) round cake pans and line 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce speed to low and slowly add confectioners’ bottoms with parchment. sugar, scraping down sides as needed. Slowly add cooled caramel. Increase speed to medium-high and beat until fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Spread pecans on a rimmed baking sheet and toast just until fra- Refrigerate 30 minutes. grant, 7 to 8 minutes. Cool, then chop. Place one cake layer on a cake stand or serving platter and top with Whisk together flour, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, nutmeg, and all- 3/4 cup Salted Caramel Frosting. Repeat two more times. Frost sides spice in a bowl. Beat sugars, eggs, oil, applesauce, and vanilla with with remaining frosting. Garnish with candied pecans. an electric mixer on medium speed until combined, 45 seconds to
TT 157 | June 21st - June 28th| 2022
My Sports KENYA COUNTDOWN - RALLY ROUTE https://www.wrc.com/en/news/2022/wrc/kenya-countdown-rally-route-maps/ image courtesy: toyotagazooracing.com
Challenging dirt roads, stunning picture-postcard scenery and exotic Af- The day begins with Soysambu (29.32km), which has been lengthened since last rican wildlife. Safari Rally Kenya boasts a challenge like no other, and this year. Next up is a blast over Elmenteita’s (15.08km) oft-used tracks in the Deyear may just be one of the hardest yet... lamere Estate, followed by Sleeping Warrior (31.04km), set in the shadow of a hill that resembles a Masai warrior lying down. The trio are driven for a second time after service.
As well as the rocky and rutted tracks, competitors will be wary of the heavy rain and thunderstorms which are forecast from Thursday afternoon onwards. If that weather does arrive, the usually dry and dusty trails will be reduced to Sunday’s finale features three stages - each run twice - located on the southern treacherous mudbaths. side of Lake Naivasha. After returning to the championship in 2021 following a 19-year absence, al- Oserian (17.93km) and Hell’s Gate (10.53km) sandwich Narasha (13.30km) most a third of the stage distance is new for this year’s fixture. another new test which rises from the arid floor of the Rift Valley across historic Maasai grazing lands. Thursday’s lunchtime start in the heart of capital city Nairobi, in the presence of President Uhuru Kenyatta, is followed by a gentle appetiser for what is to follow. The second pass through Hell’s Gate, which finishes amid stunning scenery at Fishers Tower, forms the Wolf Power Stage with bonus points on offer for drivers The two-at-a-time Super Special Kasarani (4.84km), north-east of the city cen- and manufacturers. The survivors will then return to Naivasha for the afternoon tre, sends competitors on the 100km journey back to the Kenya Wildlife Train- finish ceremony. ing Institute service park in Naivasha. The 19 stages total 363.44km. Friday’s opening leg spans the north and south sides of Lake Naivasha. It starts with Loldia (19.17km), followed by Geothermal (11.68km) - a brand-new stage • Full coverage from Safari Rally Kenya will be available on WRC including evwhich climbs over craggy rock-lined hills. ery stage broadcast as it happens as well as key interviews, features and expert analysis from the service park Kedong (31.25km) is the longest stage of the rally. It rounds out the loop before all three are repeated after service, bringing the day’s total to 124.20km. Roads further north around Lake Elmenteita host Saturday’s monster 150.88km route, the longest leg of the weekend.
TT 157 | June 21st - June 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
