Count - 106

Its Jan 30 and over 100 people have been murdered, approximately 106. Jamaica along with South Africa and Columbia are the murder capitals of the world.

FelTab's weekend Fast

At the beginning of each new year, Fellowship Tabernacle usually begins with a fast seeking God's face concerning our direction for the new year. This (January 6 - 8) year we had a weekend shut in. From Friday evening to Sunday morning members stayed at the church's premises praying and fasting.

I wasn't there but from all accounts it was a fruitful venture. The Sunday morning message however from Pastor Miller was very potent.

It began with a word stating (paraphrased) that the fast over weekend is not itself the end. It is the way or the process to an end. We ought not to fast for a reward ie a miraculuos act from God, but to acknowledge that his presence itself is the reward.

The Reverend Al Miller reminded the congregation of the scripture where God showed the people his works but to Moses he showed his ways - Psalms 103 v 7. We fast to be a people who will come into the anointing to set a nation free. Not merely for our own desires. The inclination to do things (even spiritual things) out of selfish motives is very tempting. To endure the process of obedience however is a mark of maturity. Babies expect to be fed immediately when they cry and in all likelihood they will be fed by the parents. But as they get older the pampering will ease. So it is in the spiritual. Many christians (20 yrs an above even) boast of 'anything I ask God for I get'. Baby christian? Not to say that God doesn't answer prayers, but you wonder if they have been obedient to the process which God would require of them as he would an older child.

We ought not also only fast when we have a problem. Again a sign of the fleshy selfish nature. It was ironic too that the word that came for this theme, came from a 'baby christian'. :-)

A nation is is out there dying. People need Jesus. But Jesus deh a heaven. So who gwey show im to dem?

The answer.

Bless.

Count

Day 4 - 19 dead!

One Don or Many Dons

When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers
- The Bible(NIV), Prov 28 v 2

Under the Seaga regime Jamaica was under the 'one don' governance. Under the PNP regime we were set free from the dictator. But now there is a vast proliferation of dons on every street corner and community.

The contrasting styles of both leaders manifests itself in the fruits we now see. Patterson though known to be architect of an expert PR machinery, is too silent at times. Turning what seems to be a blind eye to what tribal politics has done to the country.

People of God I know since mid 2005 have been waging war spiritually against this very spirit of donmanship.

Now we see whole eap a di don dem a drop out.

Bulbie

Chubby Dread

Zeeks is now in jail. (I suppose the government no longer has any use for him) and the Phangs are undergoing their own battles in Arnett.

I don't believe in obeah. But I believe in the power of God.

Prayer alone however will not solve our country's crime problem. Launching missile and air strikes by prayer will result in temporary disruptions of the enemy's works, but the true occupation and claiming of territory can only be done by sending in ground troops (ie evangelism and a consant presence of the people of God). What if the elimination of these dons only results in more popping up all over the place to fill the void left?

Both political parties have both sown the seeds of political tribalism during the 70s and 80s. We are now reaping the fruits. Eliminating these weeds of destruction will take a long constant and concerted effort.

A truth commission as what they had in South Africa is probably what is needed.

The truth is that there are still many unresolved issues in our country's past that our politicians have yet to confront. Even presently there is still the thread that binds the MP of an area very closely with the 'area leader'.

George Phang and Omar Davies

Do we really expect crime to be solved in this environment?

By way, in my last post I said that at the end of the year the murder toll was around 1500. Its actually 1650.

Bless.