Time out!

Time out I know I have put you in unfamiliar situation and you are wondering when this guy is coming to the point. Now before I come to the point, I want you to think just about what you have read. Think it through. If it was you in that situation what would you do? Serious dilemma, isn’t it? Of cause you are put in the situation to decide to decide right. These young man have a decision to make whether to allow themselves to be converted to the Babylonians or to maintain their standard and integrity despite being in captive. It’s up to them to stand any intimidation or shrink and cower around and allow people to use them in any way they decide. So what are they going to do? What is fascinating in this story is that there were many young people who were taken captive but it’s so interesting that the story got narrower to only four young man. To make matters worse, one of the three was more outstanding. Watch out for the next episode

Being Ridiculously In Charge

I’m very much impressed by the story of two people of old recorded in history, who made incredible life changing decisions that their peers find ridicules. But their decision did not only change their surrounding but the whole nations. One of them was just sixteen years boy who was a slave in the land of Babylon. Babylon was situated along the Euphrates River about 50 miles south of modern Baghdad, the capital city of Iraq. History has recorded that Jehoakim King of Juda started to take wrong decisions which lead the whole nation into lawlessness until God departed from them. As a result, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon besieged Jerusalem and took all the articles from the temple and he demanded that all educated young man from the loyal family be taken captive. Smart move hey? Did it occur to you why the king decided to take this young educated from loyal family? King Nebuchadnezzar was very smart. He knew very well this young man are the next kings, priests, governors and lawyers. If he take them captives and use them to serve him, Jerusalem will always be under his siege since there will be no one to rule and no priest to teach god’s ordinances which always keep Jude surrounded by God’ hedge of protection. Even though Nebuchadnezzar’s plan was evil towards the children of Juda, the principle he used was very intelligent. And the lessons in this decision taken is awesome. Every decision you take, make sure that it will be a pillar for you tomorrow. It should be in your advantages and of those that are dear to you. Before we continue with king Nebuchadnezzar I want to warn you. May be you are reading this book and you are not a God person and this story is kind of boring you and you feel like dropping the book. Hold on yet a little while. While this book is not necessarily about Christianity but decision making, the principle and examples used in this biblical story is so amazing and worthy emulating. So I urge you to sit back. Relax and enjoy reading and draw in the principles unfolding in this story. Now, we all are probably aware that slaves were used to do hard labour and obey their cruel master who are only interested in their work being done than in the slaves. But with king Nebuchadnezzar things are always done differently. The king was more conscious in decision making. He does not make foolish and careless decisions. He did not want to regret in future. Every step of the way should be more beneficial not only for Nebuchadnezzar but for his whole empire. He was very careful. Thus why he decided to take decisions that will strengthen the rule, governance and economic growth of Babylon. So, instead of using the technique of Pharaoh the King of Egypt, he ordered that the young man be nourished, educated (for three years-college education) and mentored to serve as leaders in Babylon. Are you kidding me? Leaders? Slaves? While Pharaoh used his slaves as slaves which created rebellion and stubbornness, Nebuchadnezzar set with them on the same table as his leaders. He used their skills and expertise to advance Babylon. Before we continue, let’s look at the criteria king Nebuchadnezzar used to select his slave. Characteristics of the young man to be taken to Babylon as slaves;  No blemish-no physical defect  Well favored-loved, handsome and well behaved  Skillful in all wisdom-showing aptitude for every kind of learning  Cunning in knowledge-well informed  Understand science-quick to understand and to explain the mysteries of science  Ability to stand in the king’s palace-qualify to serve in the palace If you look very well at this characteristics, you will see that king Nebuchadnezzar know exactly what he wanted. He was not careless in his dealings. He went to Jerusalem with a purpose and a plan. Not just to keep liability slaves but slaves who will advance his kingdom. Now I want you to see what happened next; The king has also ordered that these young man be taught the learning and the tongues of Babylon in every way. They should be taught the Babylonians way of living, culture and customs. In other words they should be made Babylonians. What a wisdom! Not only has that but the King appointed them daily provision of the king’s food and the wine to drink. Don’t forget that this young man were of the loyal family. And Nebuchadnezzar knows very well that if he want them to cooperate with him he has to treat them as such. Therefore they were given the best food and best wine of Babylon which was reserved for the king and his loyal family only. The king wanted to ensure that their appearance fit the palace. Like I have said already, these young man were given the best food, the best wine, and best education so that they will be able to take up best positions in the government of Babylon. They were also given best Babylonians names after the gods of Babylon so to blend in and not sound foreigners. Probably you are asking why did Nebuchadnezzar did all these, he wanted to make sure that these young man feel at home. He wanted them to completely become Babylonians. He wanted them to forget where they came from, who they are and to forget their God give purpose for their life. He gave them a new identity, purpose and plan for life. Trust me if you don’t know who you are someone else will decide for you and help you to make your life time decisions. Nebuchadnezzar wanted a paradigm shift in the mind of these young leader. He assign them great scholar and philosophers to indoctrinate them and transform them and their way of thinking. These kind of decisions can only be made by a visionary leader. Someone who want exactly he want out of life. He want them to be loyal to him and his gods. He knows very well that people know their God shall do exploits.

The greatest victory is over self. "Aristotle"

Oxford dictionaries define identity as “the fact of being who or what a person or thing is”. There is an old story of and eaglet that grew up with chicks and ultimately believing it was a chick, hence it cannot fly. Every time it see other birds flying it envy them and only wish it could fly. Why. Because it did not know who it was. All what this poor eaglet needed to do is to make up its mind and beat its powerful wings to fly into the clouds. Only if it knew that it was created for greater heights. It’s destined to eat in the clouds, to sour in the winds and storms not for mediocre life. It grew up believing its nothing but a mere chicken. Here it was, clucking and pecking with chickens because it did not know its identity. When the wind and the storm comes which was supposed to take it to greater heights, it run and hind with the chickens Just like this poor eagle, most of us are clucking and pecking and just hoping one day things will be better. We follow wrong people because they seem to be cool. We try to imitate what other people are doing for recognition and fame. We struggled to enjoy the peace of mind because we are being someone else. We turn to cruelty to satisfy our ego but even that would not help us. We trade our sexuality and personality, only to realize that the hunger for being better gets even bigger. As long as we have a void space of identity, nothing can satisfy us and we are prone to do stupid things to satisfy ourselves or to feel worth of living. We were created for a purpose. We are destined to reign, to succeed, to prosper and enjoy life. The book of Jeremiah 29:11, God said “for I (God) have a plans for you, plans to prosper you but not to harm you, plans to give hope and a future”. That is the starting point that is the beginning. God created us with a plan and purpose. “Purpose”? Yes! Purpose. The biggest challenge and problem people are facing today is the struggle of finding ones purpose. Due to lack of direction, many a times people take wrong decisions which land them in hot soup. Instead of evaluating how they ended up in the soup, they blame the boiler, but it was their decisions to jump into the pot of soup. There is a proverb in Oshiwambo, “Be careful not to jump a tree bark, you might step on the snake.” This words are normally directed to people who think they are smart and can maneuver their crooked ways. They think they can do anything and go away with it. Only to be surprised by the outcome. Is it not usually the case? It so amazing that most often we ask the question above when we are in trouble but yet the creator clearly indicate that if we want to know why he has created us, then we ought to ask him or look in the manufacturer manual (Bible). No inventor ever invented in garget without a purpose and plan. We all know very well that every time we buy a garget, we find the manufacturer’s manual inside to help us on how to use the garget correctly/according to the manufacturer. And we know as well any misuse of the garget will cause dysfunction. Is that right? So, the creator has a plan and purpose for each and every human being. Hence his plans are only known to him and he has in script them in the creation manual. Therefore anyone who want to know his plan and purpose on earth is ought to look in the manual or ask the manufacturer for guidance and direction. When you know your purpose and plan, decision making becomes easy and mistakes are minimal.