Issuu

January- March 2021

Issue: N0. 6

Aurora Magazine The #1 Christian Lifestyle Magazine www.auroramagazine.net

Necessary Aid Alliance Songsore Mulumba Ngmenlabagna: “Start where you are” Exclusive Interview with Evangelist Kofi Boateng

Blessings of Peace

Finding God in the world of video games

Barbara Clausen

Happy New Year A d wo b a Ad d o - Bo a t e n g

I NSP IRI NG |

F AITH |

REV EAL ING

T RUT H |

INT RIG UI NG

Our Team Editor In Chief Adwoba Addo-Boateng

Editorial Assistant Millicent Siameh

Publisher Abiding Faith Christian Ministries

Interviews Evang. Kofi Boateng Songsore Mulumba Ngmenlabgna Finding God in the world of video games

Writers Adwoba Addo-Boateng

Albana Tali Culhaj

Gabriel Udensi

Becky Bradley

Yvonne Jarell

Joseph Akinrinola

Aradhana Thakor

Barbara Clausen

Michael Addo-Boateng

Contents

Editor’s Note: The past year, came with its own challenges. Undoubtedly, one of the most trying times in our lives. Whatever, we endured, we could not have done it without God’s grace.

He restoreth my soul

We thank our many contributors and readers for their continued support and unwavering loyalty through 2020. We pray you enjoy the new year and extend all the magical moments to those around you. Happy New Year! Adwoba Addo-Boateng Info@auroramagazine.net +233 020 253 80 50 +233 0302 967714

Do you own your life?

Should we give the giver our life, to do whatever he wants to do with it?

Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers them from them all.

Prove there is a God Do you feel there is no God?

Let’s toast to a new beginning! We are sending you hearty new year wishes from everyone here at Aurora Magazine. Stay tuned as we journey into 2021.

A New Year He restoreth my soul My savior’s heart Blessings of peace Finding God in the world of VG Where is our hope? Waves of Indoctrination

Footsteps Evang. Kofi Boateng

4 7 9

10 17 26

30 31 32

When God said it wasn’t good Why, Lord Why? Songsore M. N

36 40 42

Where is God in all these?

Swimming Upstream

So, it is another year, and I made a new year resolution just this morning! This new year, I intend to judge less. The next minute, I met a lady on the stairs, and her hair was blue! â€“ The New Year says, do not judge! So, here we are again with huge expectations for the new year. We have a tall list of things we want to achieve this year. We want a better car, a new house, we

experience his will? In him we were also chosen, having predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will (Ephesians 1:11 NIV).

The New Year says, do not judge! Time to desire more of God.

A NewYear Adwoba Addo-Boateng want to finish that degree, we want to get married and amongst others. But have we thought of the other way round? Why donâ€™t we place the focus on God, rather than ourselves, so that we can

Let us desire more of God rather than more from God, to know him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3 NIV). More of him, is all you need. Desiring to know him more rather than desiring material possessions, will help us find out his will for our lives. And when we know him, we come to accept his nature, his word, and his will. Let us try these out so that we can dignify his will. (What does God himself want from us?) 4 .

God wants the best for us. He has an opinion but most at times, we do not want his opinion because we are blinded by the things of the world. Let us seek more of him instead of more from him, for his perfect will to stand in our lives.

Strengthen the relationship with your father by talking to him more from the heart (God is seeking a heart that always wants to honour him). 2

God bless you all! Happy New Year!

He wants you to come just the way you are, no camouflage. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks (John 4:23 NIV).

Remind yourself that you are greatly loved, and he wants the best for you. Continue to dwell in his love and extend that love to others.

Trust in the sovereignty of God; God has a will for each and everyone of us. He has a plan. Many are the plans in a personâ€™s heart, but it is the Lordâ€™s purpose that will prevail (Proverbs 19:21 NIV).

We sometimes do more harm to ourselves by speaking negatives words over our lives or thinking negative thoughts about ourselves than we know. The words people hurl at us are painful, those words can and often does get absorbed by our soul. It could be words that was spoken over your life as kids and has been buried deep beneath the surface of your soul, the enemy waiting for the precise moment to reintroduce you to (you’re stupid, you’ll never be nothing…etc) through another vessel. These negative words act as a reminder of just how cruel people can be and they become negative thoughts haunting you on a consistent basis. And now as you think about those negative words constantly, they have become a part of you, your daily routine, because you cannot get over what that person said or did. I know they say time heal all wounds but in some cases that is not entirely true for all people. Some people cannot get over the painful words of others and how that affected them and made them feel as a person, that is why some people commit suicide. I imagine they replay those words over in their minds which has now become a

part of their thought process which they really can’t process, now the action behind it is suicide being the only option to rid the pain/shame. Now I’m not trying to tell you how long it should take you to get over the

Negative thoughts haunts us on a consistent basis

pain or hurt feelings caused by another but what I am saying is that those words should not affect your life to the point that now it’s a part of your daily routine, your morning ritual or your nighttime mantra. Therefore, those words are now a part of your thought process…words like I am so stupid…I am dumb…I am ugly… I am fat…I hate myself…they are right it is my fault; I am an idiot…I can’t do anything right…etc.…. self-inflicted wounds.

He restoreth my soul Self-Inflicted Wounds Yvonne Jarell

We sometimes blame ourselves for the way others talk to us and how/why they mistreat us. Why? Because we want their approval, their love and their acceptance. When we are rejected and do not receive that we begin to blame ourselves and feel guilty if the other person decides to walk out. Everyone does not know how to show love because they have never been taught or they cannot show you love if they do not love themselves or never been loved. Now you may begin to feel depressed, withdraw physically and emotionally replaying that same scenario over and over in your mind which accrue more negative thoughts, now you begin to overeat or binge shop/emotional shopping to appease the pain. You may even turn to alcohol or drugs whether it is over the counter drugs or recreational drugs, some may even turn to sex or multiple sex partners to cover up the pain. Self-Inflicted wounds can be devastating and if you aren’t delivered and healed or don’t know how to deal with it, it can cause a great deal of mental stress, a high level of anxiety and depression which can also lead to suicide. Be careful how you treat people, especially the ones that

Don’t take people’s love for granted.

love you and you take that love for granted or play with someone’s heart, you don’t want to be the cause of another’s self-inflicted wounds and if you are… please apologize because there is always another side to the story and people that cause you to inflict yourself will not admit to their wrong- doing. They will probably never know the damage that they have caused to your soul. Now how do you overcome this you may ask? I can tell you about my journey to being an overcomer…first I had to admit that I had a problem with self-afflicted wounds, which was thinking that I wasn’t good enough or pretty enough, blaming myself for everything that went wrong, nothing to offer and playing this over and over in my mind to the point where I would take pain pills just to make myself fall asleep so that I wouldn’t have to think

about it anymore. The next day would be the same thing, do over! … pinpoint the problem, once I knew what the problem was which was me overthinking myself into an oblivion about something that was not entirely my fault, I reacted to someone’s action and then continued to react and over-react… I, then accepted my role in it, and asked God to help me, to deliver me. I began to think positive thoughts and then speak positive words over my life and my situation. I became mindful of my thoughts and actions. For every negative thought that came across my mind, I acknowledged it and let it continue traveling out of my mind and replaced it with a positive thought. I had to renew my mind constantly, consistently and daily. Reading the word of God, reading positive affirmations, writing my own positive affirmations, challenging myself, giving myself permission to become that new creation, making a commitment to me, a vow to me…to love, honor and cherish me! You can throw obey myself in there too because the flesh wants to do what the flesh wants to do so I had to bring it under subjection and cause it to submit to what I wanted it to do.

To accept me for the woman that I am, because I am worthy. I am worthy of love, to be loved and to give love in return. The biggest change came with my

heart, I had to change my heart, God

had

heal

heart…when that change took place everything else followed suite. You may have a different way of going about your path of freedom

from

self-inflicted

wounds, but this was and still is my journey! I pray that your journey will be a speedy and successful one in Jesus’ name. God Bless, Yvonne Jarrell

My Savior’s heart My Savior’s Heart Oh! For Thy love that will not let me be still I come to thee to surrender all my will My broken heart I give thee Make me see what breaketh thee Thou showeth me Thy bleeding heart for the lost Oh Lord! I bow to thee no matter how great the cost

Aradhana Thakor

"Burning Passion for Lost Souls" is my debut non-fiction book. https://www.amazon.com/BURNING-PASSION-SOULSAradhanaThakor/dp/B08CJ2XY5G/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=burning+passion+for+lost+souls&qid=1598054190&sprefix=bu rning+Passion+for&sr=8-1 Though I am a Payroll Practitioner, books are my true passion! As an incredibly shy person, writing to me is comforting and deeply satisfying as a way to express myself. I didn’t know I could compose poems until I started writing my first book. The Lord guided my thoughts to pen down some beautiful poems. When I am not writing, I love to read and disappear into a completely different world, era, country, or even character through books! I am currently writing my second non-fiction book and the poem, “Why, Lord, Why?” is taken from this book. I am from India and currently live with my husband in Calgary, Canada. You can connect with me on my Facebook author page @Aradhana2020 or email at aradhanathakor@gmail.com

Blessings of Peace Barbara Clausen She looked nervous when she came into the room; not like the others with their concerned looks and their pasted-on façades of calm. “You don’t know me,” she said wringing her hands and stepping closer, “I am not authorized to come in here and I could get into trouble coming to talk to you. I’ve been fighting it, but ever since I saw

you, I knew it was you I’m supposed to see.” I stood up, expectant and confused. I was on the verge of panic as the initial shock was beginning to wear off. My two co-workers in the room with me had been trying to get me to understand what was happening; trying to gauge if I

could handle it. They looked on as I stepped toward the young woman. It was sinking in what being in the Family Room of the hospital meant; the room in which they put you when a loved one is dying. I had received the call at around 3:30 one Sunday afternoon at our house in Florida. I was packing. My husband, Will, and I were supposed to drive to New York that very day, but Will had insisted on doing one last job that would delay us by a week. I couldn’t wait to get back to New York where all of our family was. The call came from Will’s, phone. I heard a

commotion and then I was cut off. My phone immediately rang again with a strange number showing in the window. It was a neighbor of the house where Will was working that day cutting tree limbs. “There’s been an accident,” she said. “They’re taking Will to the hospital in the ambulance right now. He fell off the ladder.” “He’s okay, right?” I questioned, holding my breath. 10

“They are taking really good care of him.” He’s on his way. You have

to get to the hospital.” I did not know how serious this was, but I dropped everything, got into the car and drove. I was thinking that he must have broken some bones or ribs or something. I knew we should have left for New York that day. I was going to chastise him, let him heal and then throw him into the truck and take him to New York. I began to suspect something worse than broken bones as the nurse kept calling me on my cell phone to make sure I was okay and could drive. She said she was meeting me at the hospital with another neighbor who was also a nurse. Her tone was making me very afraid, but I didn’t dare ask details about his condition until I got there. My panic level was rising when I finally found the Emergency Department at the hospital. I asked the nurse at the desk if he was okay. Her face was unreadable. She said he had just come in and was undergoing tests and evaluations. She told me to wait in the waiting room. I obeyed. I waited and paced for what seemed a long time. Finally, the hospital clergy came to me with some generic religion I didn’t know. I couldn’t understand what he was talking about. I told him that Jesus was my help. I think I confused him or offended him, but he went to see what was happening for me. When he came back, his face was calm and kind, but his voice was saying things like, “Very serious… In trauma… Doing everything they can... Lost a lot of blood… Doctor will be out soon to talk to you.” He may as well have been speaking a foreign language. I heard the words, but they did not translate to my understanding. “Do you want me to stay with you?” “ No.” Please don’t. I didn’t like his words. A policeman came. He was very sympathetic, but why the police? Accident, he said. Must do a report. Verify information. If there is anything you need ma’am let us know. Why would I need anything?

I ask at the desk for information. Nothing. I have been here so very long. I am still alone, and I realize that I am becoming very, very afraid. I get down on my knees by my chair. I am aware people are looking. Maybe thinking I am strange, but I don’t care. I pray but I can’t think. No words come. Will and I heard a song together just a few days ago. “Breath of Heaven, hold me together. Be forever near me, Breath of Heaven”. This is the only part of the song I remember. It replays over and over in my mind and becomes my prayer. I stand and my mind goes to game mode to maintain sanity. I pray the ABC’s. My mind won’t function without some order. A – Always be with him. B-Be by his side now, Lord. C – Comfort him now. And so on. On and on I pray. Lord, if I ever needed an angel it is now. I need You to help me. The two nurse neighbors come. They sit with me. They use medical terms. Fixed and dilated. Shouldn’t I know what that means? She explains but my mind refuses to understand. Is he conscious? No, but the ambulance came quickly. Quick ambulance means okay, right? You need to insist they tell you something, she says. It is very important to her that I see him as soon as possible. The desk … maybe they know something by now. Please tell me, where is he? Can I see him? Tell me what is wrong. The doctor comes. He smiles a little and it is reassuring. I feel better. Brain damage, he says. If he makes it, he says. Coded once, he says. Do you want us to resuscitate? What? Yes. Yes. Just make him okay. Should I call the family? They are in New York. Doctor is evasive. Yes, call the family. Do I tell them to come? Maybe. I call the family and tell them what the doctor said. The nurse neighbors are nice, but I don’t know them well. So, I call my friend and co-worker, Mitchelie. I tell her she does not need to come, but she does. Somehow, she knows that I need her. The nurse neighbors leave. They know what is going on and I don’t want to know. I’m glad they leave. The nurse brings Mitchelie and me into the Trauma Unit. 11

I have never seen such bright lights Everything is so vivid. Back left corner. I see him. They are working on him. Eyes fixed and dilated. So that’s what that means. I touch his hand. He is ice cold. The head nurse is explaining. Explaining much more than the doctor had. Internal bleeding. Bled out. Replaced entire amount of blood in body. Don’t know why yet. Severe brain damage. Very little brain activity.

I have never seen such bright lights! But there is a lot of activity around him. We are ushered out. I am right outside the trauma room and cry uncontrollably. I call his son in New York and his sister in Tennessee and tell them to come. They let me see him again and then they bring us to the Family Room. My other coworker, Sheylla, has come as well. That’s where we were when my nervous messenger angel came into the room. “You don’t know me,” she

said wringing her hands and stepping closer, “I am not authorized to come in here and I could get into trouble coming to talk to you. I’ve been fighting it, but ever since I saw you, I knew it was you I’m supposed to see.” I stood up and took a step toward her and said, “It’s okay. What is it? Are you a nurse?” “No,” she said, “I’m just a clerk at the desk, but I was at a church service today before I started my shift and I received a blessing, a gift of peace from God for someone. I know I am supposed to give it to you. I didn’t want to approach you; I fought it, but I had to.” I looked questioningly.

her

“Can I pray for you?” she asked. I nodded and she put her arms around my shoulders and she prayed, no longer nervous but with great emotion. She prayed for about a minute. I have no recollection of what she said, but she bestowed the blessing on me. I told her thank you and she left. I didn’t see her again.

That very minute, my panic lifted, my mind cleared, and I regained my composure. I knew Will was dying, but I was no longer afraid. My angel had given me a blessing of peace from our Lord, Jesus. Soon after, a nurse came to tell us that they were moving Will to ICU because there was nothing more, they could do for him in the Trauma Unit. They said I could stay with him. Mitchelie was going to stay with me, but I truly did not need her to at that point. She must have sensed my new calm demeanor, because she left once, I promised I would call if I wanted her to come back. I sat with my husband all that night in ICU. I asked the nurse calmly if he was going to make it. She shook her head and I calmly asked how it would play out and she told me. I watched as they cared for him. At one point the nurse said I must have a strong constitution to watch a procedure she did. I was surprised because I get lightheaded over a skinned knee. I realized it was my blessing of peace protecting me.

I know my blessing of peace was a specific gift for me for a specific time because as we walked out to the parking garage, it lifted, and I began to fall apart. I couldn’t find the car, I couldn’t make a simple decision, I didn’t know my way home and I was in total panic and hysterical mode. My family was there to take care of me now. It was God’s way of showing me just how much He had cared for me through my ordeal when I was alone. It has been two years since Will died and God is still rebuilding me day by day. Thank you, my messenger angel who obeyed the Lord and delivered His gift. I think I would have needed sedation if you had kept it to yourself. We are in a world broken by the fall, but it will be restored. In the meantime, the Lord did not leave us to face it alone. The worse the circumstances around us are, the more He makes His presence known and the more He works through His people. Let the foolish man say in his heart that there is no God, but as for me, I will serve the Lord and accept His blessing of peace.

All that night, I sat with Will. I prayed and I talked to him and held his hand. I asked God why this had happened, and I believe he provided the answer to me. Around 9:30 in the morning, minutes after I asked for a Bible and began reading Psalm 51, Will’s favorite, out loud, they coded him again but couldn’t do anything for him. I was with him as his heart stopped and he left this world to be with Jesus. I cried but my blessing of peace kept me from falling apart. I kept vigil in the waiting room going in to see Will from time to time until his family got there. I made phone calls. I made arrangements, my blessing of peace still with me. Will’s son, daughter-in-law and sister arrived at 2 p.m. that day. We all went in to see him and then it was time for me to say good-bye until Jesus orchestrates our reunion.

INTRODUCTION

Many a time you hear people say, “It is my life”, “You can’t tell me how to live my life”, “I have every right to live the way I want to” like – going were I like, associating with whomsoever I choose, dressing the way you like and conducting yourself the way that appeals to you? But do you really own your life, or is there someone who actually owns that life that you call your own? Is it your parent, spouse, employer or God or someone else?

Do you own your life? Michael Addo-Boateng

He gives life

WHAT IS LIFE?

The English Dictionary defines LIFE as the existence of a human being, animal or plant. Plants and Animals undergo a

life cycle process in that they are born, grow into childhood or plant, adulthood and then die. World science and in particular the disciples of Darwin and other philosophers have attributed the phenomenon of “life” to the big bang theory. But when you look at the perfection of creation you will only conclude that it was done by the master crafter. How can the earth hang in space? If the Bible is true, then God is the giver of life. Genesis 1 and 2 gives an account of how God created plants life and animal life. In the beginning God created heaven and earth … And God said, let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind… And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so... If God is the giver of life, then do we live the way we like or we go by God’s way? Disobedience Disobedience to all forms of authority results in unpleasant situations. In parenting this

may lead to parents disowning their children. In marriage it could lead to divorce. At workplaces termination of appointment, and in schools dismissals God commanded man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou may freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eat thereof thou shalt surely die: Genesis 2:7-17. Man became disobedient to God and did eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. His choice broke his covenant and relationship with God; Genesis 2 & 3. The fall of man brought about disastrous consequences for those involved, such that, God had said… for in the day that thou eat thereof thou shalt surely die: Genesis 2:7-17.

How Man Was Created In Genesis 2:7 God formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils, the breath of life and man became a living being. So when a man dies, it is simply a separation of the two entities that makes man. (1) The dust of the ground part of man remains here on earth where it belongs and the (2) God’s breathe of life goes back to the owner or giver. So then each of us will give an account of himself to God; Romans 14:12. Yes the whole world may be held accountable to God; Romans 3:19, thus man cannot live his life anyhow. WHY DID JESUS COME TO EARTH? Earlier on, God had made several interventions to save man, such as, Noah and the ark. God also gave Moses the commandments and laws to govern the Israelites. The laws which were supposed to govern man rather became an entrapment for man. However the sacrifices of animals could not take away sin. Neither would the death of a sinful human being satisfactory take away sin. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons…: Galatians 4:4-7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation; Romans 5:7-11 We have indeed been bought with the precious, unblemished blood of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19). Christ’s blood purchased us out of the slavery of sin and set us free forever. … Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it, Colossians 2: 8 – 15. Jesus came down both as the sacrificial lamb and a Priest. The purpose of Jesus Christ God our Savior’s coming was to seek and to save the lost Luke19:10, and to make intercession between us and God. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time: 1 Timothy 2:3-6.

Not only is he calling men to God, but as a priest, he is providing the way for them to get there and to come to the knowledge of the truth. I am the way the truth and the light no one comes to the father except through me; John 14:6 JUDGMENT IS COMING And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, Hebrew 9:27. We are warned by Jesus Himself to be ready. For the times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ whom He has raised from the dead; Acts 17:30-31 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? Romans 2:4-10 15

The Bible teaches judgment is coming. As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it also be in the days of the coming of the Son of man" Luke 17:26. Noah preached to them and warned them of the coming judgment. He said a flood is coming. He said judgment is coming. But the more he said it the more they laughed and scoffed at him. Nobody believed Noah and the flood came and swept them all away, except Noah’s family. The parable of the ten virgins tells us that there are some persons in the church who thought they were part of the bride of Christ. …And the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Matthew 25:1-12. They thought they were ready to go, but when the bridegroom came, they have no oil in their lamps and they were left out.

RETURN TO THE LORD AND GIVE YOUR LIFE TO JESUS In John 3:3-7 Jesus spoke to Nicodemus the need to have a

Give your life to Jesus.

second birth to be born spiritually into the family of God. Are you born again? Do you know if you died that you would go to heaven? You can be right now, by giving your heart to Christ and live your life according to the teachings of Christ. Romans 8:1 there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For, Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:4

Because if you don’t, God can take your life away from you e.g. the foolish rich man in Luke 12:16-21 the land of a rich man produced plentifully and he thought to himself, what shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’

And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.

heaven or hell.

Jesus said there are two roads in life, the broad way that leads to destruction and the narrow way which leads unto life Matthew 7:13-14. Which road are you on? Jesus also said there are two masters in Matthew 6:24, and no man can serve two masters. There are only two destinies, Jesus said--

Where do you belong? Are you heavenly bound or hell bound? Are you a child of God or you are of your father the devil and the lust of your father you will do; John 8:44. Where will you be on judgment day? God demands that you make a choice.

However our existence here on earth is too short and the Scriptures are filled with reminders of how rapidly earth’s sojourn passes. James 4:13-15 says for you appear as a vapor for a short time and then vanishes away. Ps 90:10 Man’s days are soon gone and we fly away. Job saw man’s days as a flower that blossoms and then quickly dies: Job 14:1-2.

John left the fishing nets with his father and followed Jesus. Zacchaeus got down out of the tree and took Jesus to his home. Paul got up from the ground and went to hear from Jesus in Damascus. Today Jesus is still calling and if you hear his voice do not harden your heart.

Which way are you choosing?

1.Where did you grow up? I have lived all across the United States, from the West Coast (Arizona and California) during my formative years to the north (Montana) for high school, and then eventually settled into the south (Texas, Georgia, Florida) in my twenties and beyond. I have had the opportunity to see the world from almost every point of view and meet interesting people from every walk of life.

uncle’s Commodore 64, or with my favorite cabinet systems in the arcade. Anytime my friends and I would get together to play with our toys, our play would typically be influenced by our favorite movie/video game characters and storylines.

I have had the opportunity to see the world ………. Doing what he loves.

Interview Finding God In The World Of Video Games

At work

2.What were you like as a kid? I was always a nerd… I loved video games and spent most of my time with some kind of computer screen, whether it was my original NES system, my

3.What was your favorite game? Oh, that is such a tough question! Originally, my absolute favorite game was Super Tecmo Bowl… I rented it enough times to probably purchase it a dozen times! But now, I would have to say over the years my number one all time favorite game is Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. It has EVERYTHING… an amazing original storyline packed with memorable characters, one of the best plot twists in gaming history, and a deep dialogue and upgrade 17

system that has informed many of our current favorite franchises to this day. 4. What did you want to be when you were a kid? Honestly, I felt the call of God on my life at an early age to share the Gospel with others, but I was also captivated with outer space and space travel, so clearly that meant I should be an astronaut (laughing). I devoured both fiction and non-fiction books that had anything to do with space, absorbed everything from Star Wars and Star Trek to Battlestar Galactica, and to this day I am an avid science fiction fan. I never did pursue the whole “astronaut” thing, but I have absolutely saved the universe several times virtually if that counts! 5. What was your embarrassing childhood memory? In addition to my love of video games, I was a huge collector of sports cards, specifically baseball and football cards. But my passion was to play with them, not necessarily take care of them. I had several fairly rare cards, but I kept them all in a shoebox and would pull them out and play with them quite regularly. I had NO idea that this devalued them… one day my cousin invited me to go to a sports memorabilia store to trade our duplicate cards, which sounded fun and exciting. We waited in line, and my cousin went first to show me how it was done. He pulled his cards out in a binder, all in pristine condition, and he barely even touched then with his fingers. I… well, I pulled mine out of my grubby little pockets with dented corners, wrinkles, and I am pretty sure one of them had holes in it. Obviously, the dealer wouldn’t have anything to do with them…the entire room laughed at me and that was the LAST time I tried to trade sports cards! 6. You have a very interesting ministry, Finding God in the World of Video Games! Why this concept? I’ve been an avid gamer since the fateful day my Dad came home with a great deal from a closing arcade on an Asteroids arcade cabinet many moons ago (He also came home with a Star Trek pinball machine that never, EVER worked, but that is a frustrating story for another time). I grew up studying and appreciating the Bible but, like many of us, struggled with living a life consistent with my beliefs. To be honest, I always believed in God and never doubted His existence, but I refused to loosen my stubborn grip on the controller of my own

life. I was playing through this “Game of Life” without bothering to pick up or follow the strategy guide that comes with it. My misguided belief that I could make it through this journey believing in God without actually following or serving Him got me into more predicaments than I can list here. Thankfully, God never gave up on me, and despite my countless flaws and inexcusable failings over the years He has remained faithful to me and not only blessed me with my beautiful family but also granted me the gift of this project… to show people how to seek and find God in, of all places, the world of video games. One day I was trying to encourage a friend to keep strong through a challenging period in their life. I shared a Bible story that the Lord had placed on my heart that I believed would give them strength through their storm. Unfortunately, they were not a believer and had no point of reference to understand the context or principle of the portion of Scripture I was sharing with them. But we DID share a passion for gaming, and God brought an example to my mind that helped me frame the Biblical concept through a gaming narrative that we both knew very well. After we had talked through their situation and prayed together, they told me that they had never really thought about the Bible in this way. That conversation became one of my very first written blogs, "When God Needed a Hitman – Living Up to the Assassin’s Creed”, and from that humble beginning we have been writing, recording, and sharing ever since. 7. What is the goal of this ministry? By posting anonymously under the name “Finding God in the World of Video Games” we attempt to keep the focus purely on combining our personal adventures in the world of gaming with the messages that the Lord places into our hearts each week. Earlier last year my wife began utilizing social media in our attempt to share what God has placed in our hearts with as many people as possible. We started recording our articles in a video format at the end of last year and are building this as another critical part of our mission to reach everyone we can with the message in as many formats as possible. It is our prayer that these articles inspire our readers and viewers to see the eternal wisdom of God in a modern light and provide hope and encouragement in a world that is overflowing with negativity, darkness, and suffering. Along the way we hope we can make others laugh, think, and reflect while exploring the mysteries of Christ from a different point of view than they may have considered before.

8. What is your focus group? We believe our messages can reach an audience as broad as the video game culture itself is… the love of gaming, comics, and our other sources of inspiration cross all gender, age, and location demographics. With each message our goal is to reach the unsaved with the message of Christ who share a mutual appreciation of the world of gaming, as well as encourage believers in their walk with Christ through relevant scriptures and real-world answers to today’s challenges. 9. Where do you get your inspiration from? Almost every one of these articles/videos come up organically from everyday conversations with each other, co-workers, friends or family members. Any time we feel the Lord is revealing a truth to us that we believe would benefit others if we shared it, we begin the process of praying about it, reflecting on it, and writing it out. The first people we are often speaking to with these articles and videos are ourselves, and honestly we don’t sit down in front of a video game and try to figure out a way to turn it into a message. We just happen to love video games, and during our everyday lives and our gaming time together we find new, fresh, and hopefully interesting content to share each week. 10. How do you connect the gaming world to biblical truths? Honestly the Lord is the inspiration for this each week… sometimes He brings a Biblical principle or story to our minds and we find a video game reference or funny anecdote from our personal gaming adventures that fits it. Other times we are simply playing a game or catching up on gaming news and we find a Biblical application that ties into it that we feel compelled to share. Each week the Lord has been faithful to give us fresh “manna” to share in the form of these articles and videos, and it is our prayer that we do the message justice each time. 11. How long have you been doing this? This has been a labor of love for almost five years, and by God’s grace we will do this until the day we are called home.

12. How many books/ games so far? We currently have two books available physically or digitally on Amazon.com, “Finding God in the World of Video Games”, which is a curated collection of a few of our favorite articles, and “A Survivor’s Guide to Losing”, which is a collection of inspirational Biblical stories from across the Old and New Testaments told from a more modern viewpoint. If there is a demand, we would be happy to publish a few more collections of our articles in book form, but honestly it is very important to us that all of our content is completely free and accessible to anyone in whatever form they would like to digest it or share it with others. We received these messages freely, and we intend to give them freely as well. 13. How do you market your works? All of our articles and videos are available for free and we post them on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. As this is a personal labor of love of a husband, wife, and occasionally an infant (if she doesn’t nap during the video recording), we don’t exactly have a marketing strategy. It is our hope and prayer that as these messages resonant with others that they will share them with others as we try to grow organically as the Lord leads. 14. This idea is perfect in this digital age, what are some of the challenges? The largest challenge is discovery… there are a LOT of people creating video game related content right now, and it is very difficult to stand out in such a crowded space. Secondly, many of the people we are trying to reach for Christ are turned off by organized religion and this means that the video game portion of our messaging must be authentic and compelling, so when we transition to the Biblical applications they will stick around for the rest of the ride. And finally, keeping the messages short enough to be consumed in one setting while still providing all of the supporting Biblical texts can be a real challenge! Our first video runs were over 20 minutes, and we received a lot of feedback that bite-size videos were more compelling and more frequently watched through the end. We are still a work in progress, and each week our goal is to make our articles and videos more relevant, entertaining, and inspiring than the week before.

15.Where do I go to see some of your works? Our articles are posted weekly on WordPress and shared on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Our videos are hosted on YouTube and posted on our Facebook page as well. 16. Any encouragement for someone trying to start his or ministry and is struggling? The most encouraging thing I can say to anyone who aspires to something similar is the first part of Zechariah 4:10 – “Do not despise small beginnings”. Honestly, when I look back at some of my original articles, I am exceptionally grateful that we had a very small base of followers at that time because they weren’t that good! Just focus on content creation… constantly reading the Bible, writing, sharing, and slowly building a library of content. Ask people you trust to give you criticism and listen to their ideas, even if they are painful to absorb. Passion is important, but so is PRACTICE. As you continue to practice you will slowly improve the quality of your work, and by the time you have a large enough platform built to sustain your calling you will have refined the skills needed to share the message efficiently and effectively!

Email: FindingGodInVideoGames@gmail.com Facebook: Finding God in Video Games Twitter: @FindingGodIn_VG Instagram: Finding God in Video Games WordPress: FindingGodInTheWorldofVideoGames.Wordpress.com YouTube: Finding God in the World of Video games

Genesis 1:21 And God created the

great

sea-monsters,

and

every living thing that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every

Because of that, there is no such “species” as a mule. It cannot travel its own evolutionary road because it cannot reproduce itself. If it produces at all, it will have to be with another horse or donkey.

winged bird after its kind, and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:24-25 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind; cattle and creeping things, and beast of the earth after their kind.” And it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after its kind, and the cattle

after

their

kind,

and

everything that crawls upon the ground after its kind, and God

Prove there is a God Becky Bradley

saw that it was good. Scientists, and many breeders, love mixing and matching species.

And

occasionally, even nature will introduce its own “experiments”. Mules are a great example. Most

Mules are a cross between a horse and a donkey.

Why? Chromosomes. In Aurora Magazine’s last issue, I mentioned that chromosomes carry the heredity information that determines the sex of an organism, and that there must be an equal number of pairs for the organism to reproduce. A horse has 64 chromosomes, a donkey has 62, but a mule only has 63— an unequal number. So, it is sterile

people know they are a cross between a horse and a donkey, and most know they are almost always infertile.

The belief in evolution has evolved from natural selection to man

complications and diseases). But what I am demonstrating is lack of

giving himself permission to invent and play with life in any form

knowledge when blurring the lines between species. Ligers’ parents

without understanding the consequences. It probably started out easy

are lions and tigers. Occasionally, a liger female is born fertile and

enough.

Zoos, and even the wild, have sometimes introduced

can breed with another lion or tiger, but she can never breed with a

different species to each other who would not have otherwise mated,

male liger. That is because, as far as anyone can tell, males of any

and nature took over. Horses and zebras breed zorses. Grolar bear is a

crossbred species are always sterile. Another drawback to lions and

cross between a polar bear and a grizzly, while a blynx is a cross

tigers interbreeding is the enormous size of their cubs, resulting in c-

between a bobcat and lynx.

sections. And, just like the Great Dane dog breed, ligers grow so

Humans being humans loved the idea of crossbreeding and began to

large their hearts can give out because of the strain.

“create” for themselves. Camas are one of their creations. Their

Wophins are the result of bottlenose dolphins and false killer whales.

parents are male dromedary camels and female llamas. They must be

Sea-faring people have occasionally had the very rare treat of spotting

artificially inseminated because the camel is up to six times larger

them in the wild. The reason for their scarcity might have to do with

than the female llama.

size. A false killer whale is actually not a whale, but the third largest

Many decades ago, a couple, knowing I sometimes took in rescued animals, saved a small breed dog from a rescue kennel and dropped her off at my house. The kennel meant well, but due to shortage of space, the female dog had been in a pen with dogs much larger than herself. The first thing I noticed was her massive, oddly formed, pearshaped stomach. She was skittish and frightened, and within an hour or so I learned why as she delivered an immature, grotesquely large puppy, followed quickly by another. Before I could think of what to do without a car or money at my disposal, the mother and pups were dead.

dolphin species on earth. So, when “little” Kekaimahu was born at Sea Life Park in Oahu Hawaii in 1985, she was quite a surprise. Her mother was only four-hundred pounds and six-feet long, and her father was two-thousand pounds and fourteen-feet long, so the park assumed they would be incompatible and housed them in the same tank together. By the time Kekaimahu was two, she was as big as her mother, and her poor mother could not produce enough milk for her. Kekaimahu grew and mated with a bottlenose dolphin. She was still young when her first baby was born, which may have been the reason her calf only lived a few days. Her second baby was a little girl. Kekaimahu’s trainers raised the baby because she could not nurse it.

This may seem like a story that has no bearing on evolution; after all

That little one died when she was nine-years-old.

dogs are crossbred successfully all the time (even though many

Kekaimahu had another calf in 2004, who, like its siblings, is 3/4ths

purebred lines often become genetically predisposed to serious health

However,

dolphin and 1/4th false killer

The bees had originally been

is becoming somewhat common

whale. Happily, I have not been

bred in Brazil to increase honey

as we create pigs with glowing

able to find anything that says

production. When they escaped

internal organs, and glow-in-the-

that baby is not still alive and

the lab, they were so prolific and

dark cats and monkeys by

well. Chimera is an animal

aggressive,

quickly

injecting the right proteins into

created in the lab. They have

threatened native bee and other

their embryos; though most, if

The Blood Parrot Cichlid are beautiful but they can have problems with eating and breeding.

insect populations. They are

not all, are for the purpose of

notorious

fighting

producing them is to meld an

between a Midas cichlid and a

insects’ nectar and pollen, which

human) and for understanding

unfertilized egg with a fertilized

Redhead

results

other fatal diseases.

one) and sometimes four parents

beautiful, but they can have

pollination of the surrounding

(where two fertilized eggs are

problems

plant life by the affected insects.

melded together). The reasoning

breeding.

sheep and goat parents, not just

two, but three (one method of

behind their creation is to rescue

endangered species by placing their embryos in another species’ womb.

Another

cichlid.

with

They

eating

are

and

they

for

sapping

less

other

honey

and

True to their name, the bees are experiment

gone

killers and do not hesitate to kill

aides

(feline

and

Animals reproducing their own kind, eliminates most of the genetic disorders they might otherwise incur.

mammals and humans.

Glofish, on the-other-hand, are

crossbreeding of African bees

Sometimes people will create

genetically altered fish taken

with

animals for incomprehensible

over

terribly

wrong

European

was

the

western

public

fascination.

(To learn about the creation of

honeybees.

was

reasons. In the name of art, and

Originally, a fluorescent protein

chimera, please refer online to

“Killer” bees. The late ‘70s and

to encourage public debate over

gene

‘Strange Hybrids in a Strange

into the ‘80s was like watching a

genetically altered animals, a

embryos to detect environmental

World. Life is strange, Animals

horror movie in slow motion in

white

pollution. The gene made its

are, too.’)

the United States as the public

fluorescent jelly fish protein.

way into future generations and

became aware of killer bees

The rabbit became a “living

created such spectacular and

approaching our coasts. The

work of art” until she died two

vibrant colored offspring that

question was not “if” they would

years

they are now sold throughout the

get here, but “when and how”.

Injecting the fluorescent proteins

One

such

experiment

with

“unfavorable” outcomes to the animal is a type of fish called the Blood Parrot cichlid. It is a cross

The

result

rabbit

after

was

she

given

was

born.

was

inserted

fish

United States as aquarium pets. 24

As the proteins are inserted into animal embryos in an effort to not only change the baby, but its future generations, I wonder where any consequences might lead and where we will stop?

changed other parts of the chicks’ skulls to become more like dinosaurs. The articles did not say if the chicks survived or were able to eat, see, or hear, etc. if they did. Now, scientists are trying to figure

Leviticus 19:19 says, “. . .You shall not cross-breed your livestock

out how to turn the rest of a chicken into a dinosaur. That is something

with other kind (different species) . . .”

Left alone, animals

I know my young grandson would definitely love, but without access

eliminates most of the genetic

to the Creator’s blueprints, we really don’t have a clue on how our

disorders they might otherwise incur, either on themselves or on their

tampering will affect the perfect world that he created and pronounced

future generations. Apparently, God knew the dangers of too much

“good” or, ultimately, how it will affect ourselves.

genome tampering. But do we?

Next issue of Aurora Magazine, part 5 of ‘Prove There is a God;

Have you ever heard of a spider goat? They are real goats with the

Adam and Eve”.

spider silk gene in them. The idea is to harvest the spider dragline silk

Personal note; YouTube has a segment called, ‘Animals whose

reproducing

in their milk and develop it into products such as artificial ligaments and tendons, improving airbags in cars, making stronger glue and

possibly even bullet proof vests.

Existence Defies Evolution 2012’ on Land and Lion Ministries, featuring Dr. Jobe Martin that you might find highly entertaining, as well as, informative.

Human genes have been added to cow embryos to try to produce human breast milk. It almost sounds logical and promising in a world full of starving newborns; especially since humans consume cow’s milk anyway; but I wonder of the possible unforeseen consequences as man continues to experiment.

Then there are the really Frankenstein's experiments. According to the May, 2015 issues of Washington Posts and National Geographic, scientists can now change parts of birds into dinosaurs. They used two proteins to alter chicken embryos’ faces by eliminating their beaks. What surprised them was the same proteins they chose, also, 25

Where is our hope? Imagine yourself in a very dark place where all you can see is a firefly that lights up here and there. Even though that little light doesn't show you the place you are in, or see clearly where it may lead, you still follow it. Because that is the only light you have, that is your hope. Based on the Merriam - Webster dictionary, hope is defined as the desire / feeling of wanting something good to happen, the expectation

and belief that this good thing will happen, or it will be true. Hope is a very interesting subject that has been studied by many psychologists as well. The researcher and psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman says in his article " The Will and Ways of Hope" that even though we may have different 'vehicles' that may take us to our destination, such as grit, optimism, passion, inspiration, hope is the one vehicle that is very underestimated by society. Our daily life, the daily challenges we may have to face, make our hope fade away sometimes. Family problems, health problems, financial problems, relationship problems, school, or job problems. All these turn our journey in the ocean of life into a sail with strong waves, waves that can throw us, and sometimes they can even damage our ship, or hurt us. As believers we find ourselves in dark places too. Exactly those

Written by Albana Tali Cullhaj

places where we see how big the problem is that it feels like it's

putting us down. Sometimes it

Our "spiritual vehicle" of hope

may look like the mountain of

gets all the needed energy to

difficulties is so high that it

keep us moving from the endless

seems impossible to climb and

source, God, because he is our

try and see the sun shining

rock. He doesn't allow joy and

behind it.

peace leave us, through the power of the holy spirit ( Rom.

That is why we need a " spiritual and psychological vehicle' like hope.

courage to start our journey

Hope can be a tool that helps us approach

problems

with

positive mindset. By doing so have

better

chances

achieve results. Hope

Activating this 'spiritual vehicle' in our life, will find us the

How does hope help us?

15:13)

can

stressful

help

situations,

mountain

difficulties. (Philippians 4:13) I can do all

this through him who gives me up your face, you have felt it's

many years till he reached an

If you are walking through such

warmth. The sun is brightly

age he couldn't have kids, but

hard situations, just stop for a

shining even now because He

he hoped and waited, hoped and

moment and remember the

never changes, He is loyal, He

believed till he saw God's

promises God has made through

keeps His promises. We believe

promise becoming a reality!

His word. Remember that the

a faithful God, who has proven

Moses hoped every day that

same sun (His works and

himself

through

God would provide for them in

wonders in your life) is now

Abrahamâ€™s life, Moses, Joshua ,

the desert, hoped, believed and

standing behind the mountain of

being their only hope when all

saw God's hand in his life.

your problems and has been

seemed impossible for them.

(Psalm 33:20).

there before the mountain raised.

Abraham hoped for a son for

manage because

things to be ok. Instead, you believe and know that things will

be ok, lowering stress levels. Hope can help us focus on the instead

our

strength. us

hoping it's not just wishing for

possible

across

the

impossible, investing there all of our energies. (Luke 1:37 )For with God nothing shall be impossible.

You have seen its rays lightning

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. Continue climbing your mountain, receiving new strengths every morning; trusting that once you are at the top of it you will see the same sun you've seen before in your life, that will warm your face the same as before. Our hope in God, energizes us every day, leading us step by step (Isaiah 40:31). And the most important thing is that even in this process you will not be alone because he has promised that He will never leave you or forsake you. Allow His light to lead even when you are surrounded by the darkness of your problem because He is bigger than any problem.

Understand these:

Waves of Indoctrination

…Do not go beyond what is written…(1 Corinthians 4:6).

By Gabriel Udensi The Word serves as the City Map, Ephesians 4:14

The Spirit acts as the City Guide. "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;"

Winds of diverse doctrines bereft of the substance of Christ, have laid siege and engulfed the Church, suffocating the sheepfold as a python does to its prey.

In other words, the Word provides the circumference of operation, delineating the boundaries we cannot go beyond; the Spirit guides us to specific areas within the Word, that encapsulates the direction sought for, granting the illumination of the mysteries, contained therein.

[13]But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

Blessings!

The word serves as a city map.

And this prompts one to ask these important questions, thus: 

There have been sequence of beliefs, in these core areas: offering/giving, marital issues, dressing code, prayer patterns, operation of the gifts of the spirit, business/career pursuit and host of others, that had tactfully rendered the sheep, in a helpless and confused quagmire, not knowing the right direction or decision to take.

John 16:13



Don’t we have the Holy Written Word? Don’t we have the Holy Spirit?

You see, in order to safeguard ourselves from erroneous teachings and doctrines of men, we need to employ rightly the aforementioned sure guide and infallible compass- a combination of the Word and the Holy Spirit.

Suffice to say, it's expedient to pray Psalms 119:18; "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.", prior to an in-depth word study, for your understanding to be sharpened.

Therefore beloved, let us be like the Bereans and engage in adequate Word study, as guided by the Spirit of Truth, to prove what is good; and be strengthen by grace.

And you shall know the truth and the truth will se t you free.

Footsteps Footsteps Dear Lord, how precious are your feet Tread on painful rocks and thistles in scorching heat Your blood-stained feet only thought about me You didnâ€™t spare even a drop but gave it all for me

So today, I bow at your beautiful nail pierced feet And vow to walk in your footsteps until we meet By Aradhana Thakor

THE EARLY BEGINNING It was in the year 1986, where I met a man whilst playing football in the field with my friends. This man decided to share the word of God with us, my friends left, whilst I stayed to listen to the word of God. I was touched by the word he shared, so, I decided to fellowship with him. Through fellowshipping with him, I decided to give my life to Christ.

I heeded to the call. I went out to into the streets to preach the gospel. But, all I could say was “accept Christ because he is coming the second time”. All this while, I had visions and dreams of seeing myself in

I met Christ in 1986

Evang. Boateng preaching the gospel.

Evang. Kofi Boateng Interview

Evang. Boateng and his team doing charity work.

After a while, I always heard a voice calling out my name to go out and preach his word. I didn’t know the word then, so, I asked myself, what I was going to preach. Strangely,

remote villages and forests but I lived in the city. I couldn’t interpret the dream so, I told a pastor friend of mine who told me that I have been called into village ministry. So that began my Ministry. Before I go to a village, I always see the village in a dream before going and God has continually led me since then. Evangelism is the heart beat of God. I have never been to a bible school but the Holy Spirit teaches me the gospel.

TOTAL RELIANCE ON THE LORD

PROJECTS

I am happily married with four kids but I don’t have any other source of income. All what I do is the Lord’s work but God has been faithful. Few years ago, I preached to a man and the message helped him to get closer to Christ. This man gave me a house to live in, free of charge. Furthermore, a couple was also directed by the Holy Spirit to give me their car to use for evangelism. God gave them a new car in three months. So, always remember that anything you do in faith and humility, God will bless you in his own way.

Apart from preaching the gospel, we also provide basic needs and amenities of the villagers such as food and clothing. We also bibles and musical instruments to pastors i

In all challenges, God wants you to trust him.

CHALLENGES Sometimes, my car breaks down and I do not have money to fix it. Also taking care of my family has always been challenging. But in all these, God wants you to trust him. There was also one time when my team and I wanted to hold a crusade in the village but a man in the village was against it but in a surprising turn of events, this man gave his life to Christ later on and he is now doing the work of God.

Providing clean water for a community.

In the village. We also provide basic amenities such as boreholes to help the villages get clean drinking water. By God’s grace, we are almost completing a six classroom block in a village in the Ayensuano district in the Eastern region of Ghana. This village has no school and a child must be 10 years before

he or she gets enrolled in school because the school is many miles away.

GIVING UP Sometimes, the work gets so challenging and I feel like quitting but anytime I entertain such thoughts. God tells me not to quit in mysterious ways.

WHAT HAS KEPT YOU GOING?

anointing to do his work. Don't be moved by material things or the actions of others. Believe in God and be yourself, God is trustworthy and will provide all your needs.

This scripture has helped me in evangelism. “ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus has told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said,” All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I Have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

CONTACT Facebook: Boateng

Evangelist

Phone: +233 054 861 2911

Kofi

As scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” (Romans 10:11 NIV)

The School building

(Matthew 28:16-20 NIV) This scripture has helped me in my life.

ADVICE TO MINISTRY

“ Keep your lives from the love of money and be content with what you have because God has said,

When you are called into the ministry by God, you don't work on your own, God himself will use you to glorify his name . When I was called into God's ministry, the Holy Spirit told me to be careful with three things ; womanizing, love for money and arrogance.

“Never will I leave you; Never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV)

THOSE

God himself will give you his power, protection and

Evangelising God’s word. Spreading the gospel in remote areas.

When God said, it wasn’t good I

Finding God in the world of video games

would have never guessed that my failure to deliver “non-burnt” onion soup on time could create a shatter point in a relationship, but yet here we are. On a related note, if you would like to test the strength of a friendship or a relationship, there are very few legal ways to do this more successfully than through playing a video game together such as Overcooked. The challenge may sound simple… overcome the unique challenges of each kitchen environment to work together and deliver up the requested dishes before you run out of time. But here is the truth. No matter how much you love someone, care for someone, or are willing to take a bullet for them… there is a limit to how much strain you can place on a relationship. And you tend to realize that limitation right about the time that they present yet ANOTHER tomato soup to be served when it was OBVIOUS that onion soup was the one, we needed right NOW. The good news is that relationship counseling is readily available through a variety of channels… the bad news is that the positive impact this will make on your ability to run a virtual kitchen together is unconfirmed at this time. I will keep you posted. She's not talking to me yet, but I hid her toothbrush so I’m sure that EVENTUALLY she will come around. To be fair, the insane stylings of each kitchen challenge are not terribly realistic, but it is the simplicity of understanding what is needed and yet still being unable to accomplish it that drives the frustration. I mean… it’s just meat. Prep it, cook it, put it on a bun. Why is this so difficult to achieve? Well…. maybe it’s because of the additional complexities caused when your kitchen is ripped in half and only one chef has access to the food while the other chef has the only access to a grill. Or maybe it’s when you are forced to throw ingredients to each other across a vehicle that is somehow still driving down the road in spite of the fact that it has been split in two 36

and the kitchen along with it. Each bizarre scenario forces you and your co-op partner to not only work together to survive, but to learn to practically telepathically communicate in order to defeat each challenge before the clock hits zero. Cutthroat kitchen indeed… The funniest part about all of this is that each of these challenges are both easier as well as seemingly more difficult with a partner. The paradoxical reality is all of these challenges would be essentially IMPOSSIBLE to accomplish by yourself, even if they seem overly complicated in tandem. And while partnerships in real life often get messy and seem to result in far more chaos than success, the truth is that these co-op relationships in the real world are not only beneficial, but they are also NECESSARY. Don’t believe me? Let's ask the One who designed the course… We have to start our adventure in Genesis 2:18, where find God on day six of creation. Every day to this point has both begun and ended the same way… they each started with “Then God said” and finished with “And God said that it was good”. But on day six we had the FIRST time that the status quo changed… and appropriately enough it was when God made man. After crafting Adam and breathing life into him, for the first time in recorded history God said something was NOT good. Genesis 2:18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” Despite the fact that at this time sin had not yet entered the world and the planet was a literal paradise, even in this IDEAL scenario God knew that it was not good for His mankind to be alone. So, if in the most peaceful, optimal and perfect form of existence God saw that we were not meant to be alone, then what about now? Living on a planet in a constant state of unrest, surrounded by daily challenges, and enduring the aches and pains of an imperfect world? If we were not meant to be or feel alone, why is it that so many of us seem to be doing exactly that in some form or another? Let’s explore deeper…

Almost every major technological leap forward in mankind’s growth has been anchored in the concept of NOT wanting to be alone. Think about it… why did we go to space? To see if we are alone in the universe. Why did we invent technologies such as the telegram, the walkie-talkie, the telephone, video chat, and most recently social media? So, we can connect and stay connected with others. Why did the chicken cross the road? Obviously, because there was a chicken he wanted to talk to on the other side. Either that, or because there was a Popeye’s Chicken Restaurant over there and he just couldn’t resist. Okay, maybe that one is conjecture. I can’t say for certain if the power of a Popeye’s spicy chicken sandwich would make a chicken resort to cannibalism. It FEELS accurate though.

But getting back on track, while there are multiple valuable reasons why each of these and many more advancements exist today, one of the primary core drivers of new technologies is so that we can connect and stay connected with others. The Lord recognized this need from the very first day of our existence. Unfortunately, the enemy of our souls recognized this need as well. In Genesis 3, Satan demonstrated his primary mechanism of attack… the same one he has been using so successfully ever since. Starting with the temptation of Eve in the garden of Eden, he knew that the best way to attack us is to get us ALONE. This pattern continues all throughout the Scriptures through even the most elite servants of God, whether we are looking at the failure of David and his sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11), the fall of Samson (Judges 16), the self-imposed exile of the depressed prophet Elijah (1 Kings 19), the doubt of John the Baptist when he was imprisoned, (Matthew 11), or the infamous betrayal of Jesus by Peter (Luke 22). Over and over again we see that it is the devil’s plan to drive us into a real or perceived state of being alone, because he knows that this is when we are at our weakest point and most vulnerable to his attacks. Need further proof? When Jesus Himself was tempted by satan (Matthew 4 and Luke 4), he was led out into the wilderness ALONE. And if this is when satan saw Christ at His most vulnerable point, then the question now becomes, “What are we supposed to do about 37

this?” And as always, we can find the answers littered throughout the Bible. Let’s start with the template Jesus Himself used when he began sending out His followers to spread the Gospel. In Luke 10 Christ sent His seventy followers out in a very specific formation… two by two… Luke 10:1-3 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. With the wisdom of the Father, Jesus knew that His followers needed to not only have His words to guide them, but the support of a partner to protect them. This is demonstrated in the wisdom of the wisest man ever to live, King Solomon… Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

disciples with Him into the endgame… Matthew 26:36-38 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” If it’s good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for me. And while it is truly a blessing if your co-op partner is your spouse, a family member, or a relative, this concept does not require that to be the case. Perhaps you are not married/in a relationship, have little to no family members, or have poor relationships with those who you are related to. All of these verses make it crystal clear that you are NOT designed to be alone, regardless of those obstacles. I have fallen for this trap myself, in a period of exceptional loneliness from both a romantic as well as a friendship standpoint. And Satan, tricked me for a long time into believing that I was better off this way… that people could not be trusted, that I was safer in my little cocoon, neither receiving from nor contributing to society. I stared out into the social media landscape longing for more but refusing to engage with others and become a self-imposed “hermit” of sorts.

Matthew 18:19-20 I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

I buried myself into books, video games, and other non-interactive media to lull myself into a place of seeming companionship. I would have remained in that lonely state forever, a place where I could have zero impact for the Kingdom of God because I had completely isolated myself from society. I had believed the lie of the devil that I was meant to be alone, better off being alone, and maybe the world was better off without me, too. Through the grace of God and my local church He brought me into contact with other like-minded believers… imperfect people like me who showed me a better way, and because of their love and instruction I was placed back into the body of Christ.

And one of the best things about Jesus? He practiced what He preached. When Jesus was heading into His final temptation, He did not go into that garden alone. He brought His three most trusted

For my final example, let us turn once again to the Apostle Paul. Paul did not marry, did not have children, and has no record of any from of contact with his family. And yet he also knew the importance of

Now you might be tempted to say, “That is the Old Testament. Now that we are in the New Testament it’s all good, right? God with us and all that sort of thing?” Well, let’s see what Jesus Himself has to say on the subject…

having a co-op partner throughout his many years of service to Christ. At the beginning of his ministry, Paul was tethered by the Holy Spirit to Barnabas to complete the work the he had been called to… Acts 13:2-3 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. Later in his ministry, Paul and Barnabas had a significant point of dissent, and both unfortunately ended up going their separate ways. But Paul did not move forward alone simply because his co-op partner moved in a different direction. Acts 15:39-41 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Sometimes in life, our co-op partnerships break down. But even in those heart-breaking cases, we are meant to move forward prayerfully towards our next mission for Christ with another follower (or followers plural) of Christ who is moving the same direction. I hope to challenge anyone who has fallen for the same deception that satan has used to his advantage from the beginning of time until now… You are NOT better off alone. You were NOT designed to be alone. From creation, throughout the Old Testament, the example of Christ Himself on earth, and continuing through the rest of the New Testament, it is clear that isolation is a tool of our enemy to break us down and disconnect us from both the body of Christ as well as the Lord Himself. We MUST follow the guidance of our Lord and reject the lie that we can serve God while being disconnected from the body of Christ. Sometimes it will be messy. Most the time this “kitchen” of life will resemble chaos more than order. But that is what happens when imperfect people come together to serve a perfect God. Perhaps you have been burned by a fellow chef in the kitchen, intentionally or

accidentally, and now you find it safer to simply work alone. Or maybe you are the chef who poured the soup on someone else and now you no longer feel worthy to join the team. I have been both, and I can tell you this… the message from the Lord stands firm regardless of the human frailty of the chefs who comprise the kitchen staff. We are NOT better off without you… we NEED you. You are part of the team… the body of Christ. It is through this flawed and imperfect co-op experience that we have been instructed to reach and serve the world. So start chopping those tomatoes… this onion soup isn’t going to serve itself. Oops… better make that tomato soup… 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 39

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Written by Aradhana Thakor

Why, Lord, why? Oh! Beloved, before I formed you in the womb, I knew you I always knew the plans I had designed for you Did you forget I am the potter and you the clay? Did you forget while creating you, you didn’t have a say? Did you forget that I will never leave you nor forsake you? Or did you forget that I cause all things to work together for your good too?

Why, Lord, Why?

Lord, I don’t understand your way I come before You as my strength gives away My world seems to crumble around me

My Child, you can trust the man that died for you Christ who paid the heavy price for you Shed every drop for your salvation and peace So that all your anxious thoughts about this earthly life may cease

All my dreams and hopes lie shattered before me Why, Lord, Why?

So, even when you do not understand my way You can trust the man that died for you is all I will say

Why did you make me see this awful day When all I wanted was to follow your way

So, here’s my final question to you Will you trust the man that died for you?

You could have prevented this from coming Can’t you see it’s left my heart fuming?

Why, Lord, Why?

How was it like growing up? Growing up, I was surrounded by serious issues such as high illiteracy rate, education inequality gap and during my school days I was exposed to rural poverty due to a project I did. hence the need to do something to help people who need it the most. That is the genesis of Necessary Aid Alliance. I was born in Loho in the Upper West Region of Ghana, and a graduate from the My exposure to high inequality gaps led me to start this organization.

Has your faith influenced your passion? My personal relationship with God has helped me to empathise a lot. I can say, I have a big heart.

Reducing poverty levels in every little way. I sacrificed

Songsore Mulumba Ngmenlabagna Necessary Aid Alliance

Commissioning a new project

University of Development Studies. Our thematic areas are educational inequality gap Women Empowerment training programs, girl child empowerment and vulnerability protection.

my National Service salary to kickstart this organisation and God linked me up with another big heart who is a Canadian based Jamaican. He liked me at first sight and he was very instrumental in helping the organisation be what it is today. Describe yourself sentence?

one

I am a young passionate pan Africanist who is selfless and who is trying to reduce the 42

“The desire to do more, keeps me going” Songsore Mulumba Ngmenlabagna

job, I can’t do anything. Be innovative and set up something and don’t waste money on fruitless ventures. Venture your efforts in something you are passionate about. Be humble and God will lift you up in due time. Necessary Aid Alliance

burden on humanity and who wants to touch people who merit need. Do you see yourself government one day?

Whatever, I am doing is worthwhile and I am happy doing it. I love what I do and my desire is to see my organization grow to its peak.

Any advice to the youth? “ A society whose young men and women are in a constant state of slumber will never realise her full potentials”

John F. Kennedy (1960) Start something in your own small way. Don’t go like, if the Government doesn’t give me a

Thematic Areas •

Educational Inequality Gap

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Women Empowerment

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Girl-child empowerment

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Vulnerability Protection

Facebook: Necessary Aid Alliance necessaryaidalliance@gmail.com +233 0203315617/ 0549344009

Training women in vocational skills.

Women are the driving force of the economy

Where is God in all these? Joseph Akinrinola Looking around an as an individual, family, and as a nation, you wonder where God is in these situations. I am from the most populous black nation in the world, Nigeria. We are extremely religious, yet we have a myriad of problems confronting us. So those who are devoted to their God will sometimes ask where is God in

all these? Well, the best way to answer the question of where is God when I hurt or where is God in all these troubles is to first ask where was God in good times? If I believe He was with me and answer prayers, though I do not see or feel Him then, I

should also be confident he is still with me now! Friendship and relationship thrive on trust. Our doubt, anxiety, fear, and agitation will reduce if weâ€™ve had a robust relationship with God over time. For instance, if you introduced somebody to me as your friend, I would expect youâ€™ll know his likes and dislikes, which makes him happy and what pissed off, If God is your friend and father, how much do you know about Him? Can

you be confident about God the way he was confident about Abraham Genesis 18:19? Though He was yet to give him the promised child, Isaac, yet he trusted Abraham would keep following him through thick and thin. Can you say like the three Hebrew boys in Daniel 3:17? They said they will trust God at the peril of their life (because He may choose not to deliver them)? They were not asking where is God in all their negative ordeals.

Also, don’t forget friendship is made for both good and bad times. If you know him well enough in the daytime you don’t have to doubt His presence during your night experience. Remember these scriptures James1:17, Numbers 23:19. You’ll surely agree with me none of your best friends is anywhere near God’s credibility.

You will agree with me that in every relationship the best way at times to preserve the bond of that union is silence. God may be silent if He knew we will not understand His explanation or the answer may not be satisfactory to us. God never answered Job until chapter 38 of that book. Also, look at those responses of God and you will discover they didn’t tally with Job’s grief.

God is in that grief with you as He promised in Isaiah 43:2 and He has not changed. He is like a loving father or mother waiting anxiously in the hospital lobby for the successful outcome of the painful operation of his only child. The pain is not physically shared, but emotionally they are both in it together. He told Moses he was aware of the condition of His people in Egypt. Exodus 3:7. Don’t forget He knew it and said it over four hundred years earlier before it came to the past. So, He is not unaware of your pain, grief, and disappointment which your earthly friends and spouse cannot comprehend.

We’ll all do well in our relationship with God if we admit that the acid test of true friendship is through difficult periods. Read what Job told his wife when the storm of life came calling Job2:10. As you go through the darkest tunnel of challenges of life and you are tempted to ask the question where is God in all these, consider what he has done for you before. Always ask has He ever been with me at any time in my life? And walk with Him. If He has, surely He is in here with you.

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Allowing you to pass through the pain of the injections rather than see you suffer the pain of that ailment is one of the attributes of a loving and caring father. Your father will surely not prevent you from the bruises that come with falling off your bicycle as you perfect your learning experience. When you err from His plan or chose his permissive will, He will not shield you from the necessary discipline you deserve so you can learn and come out better. Often when we experience a delay to our prayers, we ask such questions such as where is God in all these messes. Sometimes God is silent to our prayers and agony if he knows answering our request is not in our best interest. As you go through the darkest tunnel of challenges of life and you are tempted to ask the question where is God in all these, consider what he has done for you before.

Swimming Upstream If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18 NASB) The three Hebrew boys, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, were firm in their faith. They had learned that in an adversarial culture, you must learn to swim upstream. All cultures have a way of conforming us to its precepts. We resist by refusing to submit to anything that is lifted up against the knowledge of God. First, when the delicacies of food and drink of Babylon tested the three Hebrew boys, they chose to remain faithful to the dietary restrictions they practiced in Israel. Second, when confronted with the idolatry of worshiping King Nebuchadnezzar, they remained committed to the one true God. They believed that God could deliver them, but if he didn’t, they still would not bow down to the golden image. Revelation 12:11 (NASB) says, “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” They refused to cling to that last great idol, life itself. In an increasingly hostile environment in which we live, Christians must learn to swim upstream. God has created in the salmon the need to travel up-river to fulfill the procreation of their species. In like manner, God has put in the hearts of believers the desire to endure the trials of our up-hill battle to receive our reward, the soon return of Christ. Ken Barnes, the author of “The Chicken Farm and Other Sacred Places” YWAM Publishing Email kenbarnes737@gmail.com website: Ken Barnes' Book Site Blogs: http://kensblog757.blogspot.com 47 http://gleanings757.blogspot.com

New Year Styles

January- March 2021

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Blessings of Peace

Finding God in the world of video games

Barbara Clausen

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