Pope Francis Named TIME's 'Person of the Year'

The head of the Roman Catholic Church has been named TIME Magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2013.

 

In an announcement made by TIME on Wednesday morning, the Pontiff was given the honor for his impact on the global stage, stated TIME's managing editor Nancy Gibbs.

 

"He really stood out to us as someone who has changed the tone and the perception and the focus of one of the world's largest institutions in an extraordinary way," said Gibbs.

The Rev. Federico Lombardi, spokesman for Vatican City, said in remarks to the media that the honor was not a surprise.

 

"The Holy Father is not looking to become famous or to receive honors…But if the choice of Person of Year helps spread the message of the Gospel - a message of God's love for everyone - he will certainly be happy about that," said Lombardi, as reported by the AP.

 

Formerly Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Argentinian clergyman was elected Pope in March after his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, opted to resign over health issues.

Noted as being the first Pontiff to hail from Latin America, Francis was also noteworthy for being the first member of the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits, to become head of the Catholic Church.

 

Since becoming Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis has garnered many headlines for his remarks on issues like abortion, homosexuality, atheism and capitalism.

Photos of the Pontiff embracing a severely deformed man and washing the feet of female inmates have gone viral online.

 

Many have even spoken of a "Pope Francis Effect," wherein the Pontiff's apparent change of tone has led many disaffected Catholics, especially in Europe and Latin America, to return to their church home.

 

First done in 1927 and originally known as the "Man of the Year" award, TIME's annual honor goes to a person – good or bad – whom TIME's editorial leadership believes most impacted the news for the year. In 2012, President Barack Obama won the honor and in 2013 was on the list of the 10 finalists for consideration.

 

Others whom the Pontiff beat out for the honor were Syrian President Bashar Assad, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, Miley Cyrus, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, gay rights activist Edith Windsor, NSA leaker Edward Snowden, and Health and Human Services Department head Kathleen Sebelius.

25TH Ya Kumbukumbu ya Ndoa ya Mtume Prosper Ntepa na Mchungaji Deborah Ntepa.

Mtume Prosper Ntepa na Mchungaji Deborah Ntepa ni waanzilishi wa Huduma ya The Oasis of Healing Ministries iliyopo Ubungo Jijini Dar es salaam nyuma ya Ubungo Plaza. Kwa muda sasa huduma yao imekuwa ya mafanikio katika kuihubiri Injili ya Yesu Kristo na kuwa msaada kwa watu wenye shida katika mafundisho na Ukombozi nchini Tanzania.

Mtume Prosper Ntepa amemuoa  Deborah Ntepa miaka 25 iliyopita hivyo kwa sasa akiwa ni mtenda kazi mwenzake katika huduma Bwana aliyompa ya Oasis of Healing Ministries.Katika Miaka yao ya ndoa Mungu amewabariki na watoto 4 wakike  (Alice, Angela, Faraja and Shaddai).

Mwaka huu Mtume Prosper Ntepa na Mchungaji Deborah Ntepa wanasherekea 25 ya Kumbukumbu ya Ndoa yao.

Uongozi mzima wa Blog na wadau wake tuna watakia Miaka Mingi yenye utosherevu na mafaniko katika Ndoa na Kumtumika Mungu.

                 

               

Mtume Onesmo Ndegi akiongea na Vijana katika Semina iliyoandaliwa Women of Voice Sinza

 

Ushuhuda wa Uponyaji.

Huu ushuhuda hapa chini umenigusa sana maana unaelezea jinsi ambavyo mtu alipokea muujiza wake sio mara moja bali katika mchakato wa kuijenga imani yake kwa mafundisho sahihi. Huu ushuhuda utakutia moyo sana pale unapoona hupokei muujiza mara moja. Huyu mpendwa alipokea muujiza wake sio kwa kuomba, wala kuombewa, wala kupitia karama za Roho Mtakatifu. Aliupokea muujiza wake kupitia huduma ya neno la Mungu kuyabadilisha maisha yake.

Hakika:
Hulituma neno lake, huwaponya, Huwatoa katika maangamizo yao. (ZAB. 107:20 SUV).

Kupitia ushuhuda huu binafsi nimeelewa vizuri maana ya hii mistari ifuatayo:

Nami nitapeleka mavu mbele yako, watakaomfukuza Mhivi, na Mkanaani, na Mhiti, watoke mbele yako. Sitawafukuza mbele yako katika mwaka mmoja; nchi isiwe ukiwa, na wanyama wa bara wakaongezeka kukusumbua. Nitawafukuza kidogo kidogo mbele yako, hata utakapoongezeka wewe, na kuirithi hiyo nchi. (KUT. 23:28-30 SUV).

Mungu ameahidi kuyaondoa matatizo, changamoto na shida zako lakini sio mara moja bali kidogo kidogo na kitakachoamua yanaondoka kwa kasi gani ni kasi yako wewe ya kuongezeka katika kumjua na kumwamini Mungu hasa kwa wale ambao wamehangaika sehemu nyingi na kwenye huduma nyingi kuombewa na hawaoni matokeo. Kuna issue zingine hazitaondoka mpaka imani yako iwe mahali pa kupokea toka kwa Mungu. Ona huu mfano toka katika neno la Mungu:

Na huko Listra palikuwa na mtu mmoja, dhaifu wa miguu, kiwete tangu tumboni mwa mamaye, ambaye hajaenda kabisa. Mtu huyo alimsikia Paulo alipokuwa akinena; ambaye akamkazia macho na kuona ya kuwa ana imani ya kuponywa, akasema kwa sauti kuu, Simama kwa miguu yako sawasawa. Akasimama upesi akaenda. (MDO 14:8-10 SUV).

Huyu ndugu hakupokea uponyaji wake mpaka alipoonekana ana imani ya kupona. Hatujui kama hili jambo lilitokea kwa ibada mmoja au kadhaa ila tunajua huu muujiza ulitegemea imani yake kufika mahali pa kupokea muujiza wake. Imani yetu hujengwa kwa kuyajua na kuyaelewa maandiko ya ahadi ya Mungu juu ya kile ambacho tunakitarajia toka kwa. Mungu lakini pia kupitia mahubiri na mafundisho sahihi ya neno la Mungu.

Soma sasa ushuhda huu. Kile Mungu ametenda kwa ajili ya huyu ndugu atatenda pia kwa ajili yako. Huyu ndugu ni baba wa yule mtoto ambaye tulisoma ushuhuda wake ambaye alikuwa ana tatizo kama hili. Soma na ubarikiwe.

HISTORIA YA TATIZO NA MASHARTI YA DAKTARI:

Miaka kadhaa iliyopita nilianza kuwa na shida ya mafua makali sana yanayoambatana na chafya za mfululizo kila nikiamka asubuhi, mwanzoni nilidhani ni tatizo la kawaida tu, baada ya mda mfupi shida ikawa kubwa Zaidi na ikawa inaongezeka kila kukicha. Yaani nilikuwa pua zinawasha sana nabanwa na flu kali inayoambatana na chafya nyingi mwanzoni ilikuwa ni alfajiri baadae ikawa ni muda wote, then shida ikaongezeka nikaanza kutoka vidonda puani kwa ndani kabisa ambavyo vilipelekea kuwa na maumivu kila nikipiga chafya na pia damu na usaha kutoka nilipokuwa napiga chafya au kupenga.
Ndipo nilipoamua kwenda hospitali kuangalia shida hii inasababishwa na nini, baada ya kufanya vipimo (allergy test) nikaonekana nina Allergy ya vitu vifuatavyo: Mayai (egg white), Samaki aina zote, vumbi hasa la ndani au lililogandia sehemu muda mrefu, na flower pollen. Daktari alisema shida hiyo iko kwa kiwango cha juu sana (>1000) kwa hiyo nilitakiwa kuanza sindano aina ya Diplofos za kila mwezi; nikamuuliza daktari sasa hii ni dozi ya miezi mingapi? Akaniambia ni ya maisha yako yote, ukichoma kwa mda mrefu wa kutosha huku ukijitahidi usikutane na hivyo vitu vinavyosababisa hii allergy basi unaweza kuacha kuchoma kila mwezi na ukawa unachoma wakati tu ukiona hali inabadilika. Baada ya kutoka kwa daktari nilisema mimi kama mtoto wa Mungu sipaswi kuishi maisha ya mateso ya aina hii, kwa hiyo haikunisumbua sana akili yangu ingawa nilianza kuchoma sindano hizo.
Mwanzoni sikuwa nafuata masharti kikamilifu, kwanza kabisa kwa kuwa nilikuwa napenda sana samaki niliendelea kula samaki kama kawaida (mayai nilipunguza kula kwa sababu sikuwa nayapenda sana ingawa sikuacha), lakini pia zile sindano nilikuwa sichomi kila mwezi, nilikuwa nachoma moja na mwezi ukiisha siendi tarehe husika nakuja kwenda nikizidiwa (labda wiki moja au mbili baadaye).
Tatizo linazidi kuwa serious na ninaanza kufuata masharti:
Baada ya miezi kadhaa ya kuendelea kuvunja masharti huku nachoma sindano, tatizo lilikuwa kubwa Zaidi, pamoja na mateso nimeeleza hapo juu, ilianza shida ingine ya macho kuwasha sana sana, na yakianza kuwasha siwezi kufanya kitu chochote, hii ilikuwa inatokea sana mida ya jioni. Ilikuwa yakianza kuwasha nitaenda chumbani na nitakaa nimeyafunika macho kwa mda mrefu kwa kitambaa kisafi au wakati mwingine kitambaa kilicholowekwa kwenye maji na baada ya mda mrefu yanatulia. Nilifikiri hii ni shida ingine haihusiani na Allergy, lakini nilipoenda TMJ hospital kwa daktari wa macho aliniambia hii shida inahusiana na allergy zile zile. Pia nilianza kutoka vijipu ndani puani, nakumbuka kuna wakati kilinitoka kijipu kikubwa kikapelekea kufanyiwa operation ndogo ya pua pale TMJ; pia ikawa kila ninapoanza kupiga chafya naumwa sana kichwa hasa sehemu ya nyuma karibia na shingo.
Baada ya matatizo haya kuongezeka sasa niliona hii imekuwa serious kuliko nilivyokuwa nadhani, nikaanza sasa kufuata masharti kikamilifu ikiwa ni pamoja na kuacha kabisa kula samaki na mayai na kujitahidi kuepukana na vumbi ingawa haikuwa rahisi kuepukana na vumbi. Nilichoma hizi sindano kwa muda wa mwaka mzima lakini nilipoenda kucheki ilionekana bado nina allergy nyingi sana kwa hiyo niendelee na sindano na masharti.

JINSI NILIVYOPATA KUPONA:

Ilipita kama miaka miwili hivi bila unafuu ingawa nilikuwa naendelea kufuata masharti. Kama mtu anayemjua Mungu nilikuwa najua wazi na kuamini bila mashaka kuhusu uponyaji wa Mungu, pia nilikuwa naamini sio mpango wa Mungu niishi na tatizo hilo maisha yangu yote, hiyo ilinisaidia sana kutokuwa na wasiwasi lakini kwa upande mwingine sikuwa nimefanya uamuzi wa kuiandaa Imani yangu na kujilisha kiusahihi ili Imani ndani yangu izae matokeo ambayo kwa hakika nilikuwa najua ndio kusudi la Mungu na kwa sababu hiyo niliendelea kuteseka pamoja na kuwa na ujuzi huo. Katikati ya tatizo hilo nilianza kwenda kuabudu katika kanisa la Manna Tabernacle Bible Church kwa Pastor Carlos Ricky Wilson Kirimbai wakati naendelea kwenda kusali kila jumapili, pamoja na mafundisho mengine, mara nyingi nilikuwa nakutana na mafundisho ya Imani na kusudi la Mungu kuhusu kuishi katika afya; taratibu Imani yangu ilianza kujengeka, nikaanza kuelewa Zaidi juu ya undani wa kusudi la Mungu kuishi katika afya. Nikafika mahali Imani yangu ikawa imejengeka kiasi cha kutosha. Kwa kweli sikumbuki kwa uhakika lini niliombewa au nilijiombea kuhusu shida hii, ila ninachokumbuka ni kuwa ilifika mahali mda wa sindano umeisha siendi kuchoma na shida haipo, pia nilianza kula vitu vile nilikuwa sili, mwanzoni ilikuwa nikila samaki naanza kuhisi dalili lakini kwa sababu Imani ndani yangu ilikuwa imejengeka kiasi cha kutosha nilikuwa najua kukabiliana na dalili ikiwa ni pamoja na kukiri sawa na Neno la Mungu ambalo lilikuwa limejaa ndani yangu, na sijui ni lini hasa shida hii iliniisha jumla lakini hivi sasa nina Zaidi ya miaka miwili sina shida hiyo tena, na ninakula kila kitu.
Nikajifunza kuwa kujua kuwa Mungu anaponya na ni mapenzi yake tuishi katika afya haitoshi, ni lazima twende hatua ya ziada ya kujilisha Imani zetu na mafundisho sahihi, na pia kuchukua hatua kuhusu kile ambacho unajua ni makusudi ya Mungu uwe nacho. Pia kwa kadiri unavyoendelea kuilisha Imani yako mafundisho sahihi na kuyatendea kazi, kuna matatizo mengine utashtukia yameshaondoka hata hujui yaliondokaga lini, hicho ndio kilichonikuta mimi.
Sifa na utukufu ni kwa Yesu kwa matendo yake makuu.

Queen Latifah Shares How Faith Helped Her Through Tragedy

Actress Queen Latifah

She turned to alcohol for relief. In 1996, she was also arrested after being caught with marijuana and a handgun, which she had kept with her since the carjacking, in her vehicle. She later went through therapy, where she confronted the long-held secret that she had been molested by a babysitter when she was just five years old.

The support of family and friends helped her through her trials, though it was ultimately faith that brought her through her grief.

"I realized that [anger] wasn't helping me or my brother," she said. "I learned that God was going to provide comfort; I know He is always listening and guiding."

Owens says she believes God told her that she would make it through her struggles.

"Nobody is perfect. I know that I'm not a saint, but God's love is there for me," said Owens. "I know that I need help to make it through every day, so I pray to God to help me do the best I can, to lift me up when I am tired and help me develop into the person He wants me to be … I am always surrounded by His love, and He is always there."

Queen Latifah, now 43, was only 19 years old when her debut hip-hop album, All Hail the Queen, was released, according to her website. She is a best-selling author, co-founder of Flavor Unit Entertainment and a CoverGirl spokesperson. She also has her own talk show, has appeared in nearly 40 feature films and has received two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a Grammy Award
ana Elaine Owens, better known as "Queen Latifah," says she once relied on alcohol to cope with the tragedies in her life, but it was her faith in God that ultimately helped her through feelings of anger and sadness.

In an interview with Good Housekeeping magazine, the rapper turned actress shared how her "life was rocked to the core" when her brother, a police officer, was killed in a motorcycle accident not long after her career had taken off. Owens, who was raised Baptist, says her faith was particularly impacted by the loss.

"And I felt guilty," she told the magazine, "because I was angry at God."

After her brother's death, Owens invested herself in her work. She was dealt another emotional blow in 1995, however, when she became the victim of a carjacking and a close friend, who was with her in the car at the time, was shot and nearly died in front of her.

Ibada Maalumu ya Shukrani @ The Majestic Hall Sinza

Nyumba ya Askofu Desmond Tutu yavamiwa

Wezi wamevunja na kuingia nyumbani kwa Askofu mstaafu Desmond Tutu.Polisi wamesema wizi huo ulifanyika wakati bwana Tutu akiwa katika ibada ya Nelson Mandela Mjini Johannesberg.

Inaarifiwa Tutu aliibiwa vitu vyake wakati akiwa anahudhuria ibada maalum ya kumuaga Hayati Nelson Mandela siku ya Jumanne.

Aidha wameelezea kuwa uvamizi ulifanyika nyumbani kwake mjini Cape Town Ahamisi jioni baada ya kutoa hotuba katika ibada ya Mandela siku hiyo.

Ibada hiyo ilifanyika katika uwanja wa FNB mtaani Soweto.Wizi na uvamizi wa nyumba za watu ni jambo la kawaida nchini Afrika Kusini ambako visa vya uhalifu viko juu sana

Askofu Desmond Tutu Afrika Kusini alipokuwa anahutubia kwenye ibada ya Mandela

Source:bbcswahili

Franklin Graham Requests Prayer for His Father

My father turned 95 this past November 7, and I am pleased to say that my family was able to be with him as he celebrated another milestone in his long and productive life.   Joined by many colleagues and friends from around the nation and the world at this celebration, he spoke briefly of these friendships and did not fail to point people to the Lord Jesus Christ. This will forever be his legacy which is, as the Bible says, a testimony to the faithfulness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Since that night a few short weeks ago, he has had another bout with a respiratory infection and was hospitalized briefly before returning home to recuperate. He is extremely weak but his vitals are good.  Our family would appreciate your prayers for him that the Lord would strengthen him. He has been so encouraged by the release of his most recent book “The Reason for My Hope—Salvation” that he immediately began work on another book about a subject that he feels that God has laid on his heart. Only the Lord knows what is in store as we move forward in service to Him.

To all who have stood with us some for sixty years supporting us financially and undergirding through prayer, thank you for your faithful support.  We are encouraged with how God has blessed the proclamation of the Gospel through My Hope.  This evangelistic outreach will continue for the next five years as the Lord is using it so effectively in people’s hearts. We are thankful that He is touching hearts as tens of thousands have responded to the invitation to confess their sins and receive Christ as Savior.

We value your prayers in fact, we depend on them. We find words of comfort and praise in the psalms, “Oh, bless our God…and make the voice of His praise to be heard, who keeps our soul among the living, and does not allow our feet to be moved. Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul. Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer” (Psalm 66:8-9, 16, 20 NKJV).

Franklin Graham Signature

Franklin Graham
December 10, 2013

Siku chache zimebaki, Uzinduzi wa Filamu ya Siku za Mwisho 666

World's Church Leaders Pray People Will Follow Nelson Mandela's Example of 'Justice and Common Good'

South African President Nelson Mandela (L) guides Pope John Paul II after they met at Johannesburg International Airport, at the start of the pope's first official visit to the country, in this file picture taken September 16, 1995.

Church leaders around the world have paid tribute to the late Nelson Mandela, with Pope Francis praying that people will follow the example of justice and common good set forth by South Africa's first-ever black president.

"In commending the soul of the deceased to the infinite mercy of Almighty God, I ask the Lord to console and strengthen all who mourn his loss," Francis wrote in a telegram on Friday, sending his condolences to Mandela's family and all the people in South Africa.

"Paying tribute to the steadfast commitment shown by Nelson Mandela in promoting the human dignity of all the nation's citizens and in forging a new South Africa built on the firm foundations of non-violence, reconciliation and truth, I pray that the late President's example will inspire generations of South Africans to put justice and the common good at the forefront of their political aspirations."

Late on Thursday, South African President Jacob Zuma announced to the nation and to the world that Mandela had passed away at home in Houghton near Johannesburg, after a long illness, at the age of 95.

After spending 27 years as a political prisoner in South Africa, Mandela emerged on Feb. 11, 1990, and eventually became the country's first black president, becoming an anti-apartheid icon and the global face for racial equality.

"This is the moment of our deepest sorrow. Our nation has lost its greatest son, yet what made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human," Zuma said on TV when announcing the news.

The world's political and faith leaders have been pouring in tributes for the former president, with the Most Rev. Thabo Makgoba, the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, offering a prayer for Mandela's soul. Mandela was a Christian, baptized at a Methodist church when he was young.

"Go home Madiba, you have selflessly done all that is good, noble and honorable for God's people," Makgoba offered.

"We will continue where you have left off, the Lord being our helper. We now turn to you, Lord, in this hour of darkness, sadness, pain and death, in tears and mourning. We wail, yet we believe that you will console us, that you will give us the strength to hold in our hearts and minds, and the courage to enact in our lives, the values Madiba fought and stood for."

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the leader of the Anglican Communion, commented: "South Africa has lost its greatest citizen and its father. Nelson Mandela, fighting to the end, is freed to be with His God in joy and reward for His great service and sacrifice. We pray for his family, for his friends and for his country. We are challenged to show the same degree of humanity, of courage and of generosity."

World Council of Churches General Secretary the Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit said  Mandela lived his life "consistent with the best teaching of his Christian educators and the ecumenical movement."

"He will be recalled as the leader who acted to unify a nation once deliberately divided along the lines of race," Tveit said, adding that Mandela was a "liberator who by force of his remarkable personality raised the dignity of Africans after centuries of colonialism, oppression and discrimination."

Dr. Agnes Abuom, moderator of the WCC's Central Committee, further thanked God "for giving us Mandela for 95 years."

"Through his life and works he has become an icon of dignity and freedom for all human beings," Abuom added. "We will remember Mandela for his forgiveness he extended to his enemies and the perpetrators of apartheid, a quality very rare among many world leaders today."

The World Evangelical Alliance noted that Mandela was more than an important African leader, and described him as "an international statesman and a peacemaker, a man who demonstrated the spirit of reconciliation par excellence."

"Madiba is considered by many as the father of the nation. He modelled firm confrontation with evil and injustice, and magnanimity in his triumph over those who sought his destruction," offered the Rev. Moss Ntlha, general secretary of the Evangelical Alliance of South Africa.

"His passing calls to mind the prophetic tradition of Micah that says: 'He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.' (Micah 6:8)."

Mandela's state funeral will be held on Dec. 15, Zuma announced.