PASTORBIRAI.COM

Maintainence required device in my heart

Pastor Birai — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:52:23 GMT

On my way home today from pastoral visitation, a sign went off in my car-Toyota Sienna. It read "maintenance required" It means that something has gone a miss in my car and calls for some kind of repair. It has created some fear in me. I can't drive it anymore until the mechanic has not only checked it but also rectified/fixed the problem.

I feel that in every man's heart, there ought to be implanted "maintenance required device". This device need to be programed in such a manner that whenever any one sins, it goes off requiring an individual to repent immediately and be in tune with God. What are your thoughts?

Pastor Birai

Why do people marry anyway?

Pastor Birai — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:40:02 GMT

Is it possible that people marry or get married for different reasons? Such reasons may include but not limited to the followings:

1.Because of children?
2.Because of sex?
3.Because of companionship?

Which of the above should be the major reason? What, if any, will be the effects of being motivated by some of the factors for marrying?

Pastor Birai

The side effects of being busy

Pastor Birai — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:59:26 GMT

It goes without saying that some people are more busy than others. That said, some of those who are busy than others, are so busy that they can't remember some important aspects of life. A recent occurrence explains it all.

Recently, a wife woke up to go to work, went to the garage to get the car, opened the garage and would not believe what she found out. It was like the garage was on fire. On opening the garage door, she in away let all the heat circulate into the entire house. Even though its winter, they had to open all the doors to let the cold air in. What happened? They found out that the husband had come home the previous night, left the car running and went to bed thinking that he had turned off the car.Wow!

This is but a recent example to show the effects of being so busy that important things are forgotten. Any examples? Yes, here are some:

1.Some people are too busy that they don't have time for God, to read the Bible or to pray
2.Some married people are too busy that they don't have time for their partners
3.Some people are too busy that they don't have time to eat or take a shower
4.Some parents are too busy that they don't have time for their children

How busy are you? Has your being busy cost you anything?

Pastor Birai

Turned off by too much criticism

Pastor Birai — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:43:08 GMT

When driving, I usually like listening to various radio shows/programs. I pay special attention to the political pundits especially now that many people's mind in the USA is on mostly focused on politics. I like having a feel of how different parties view certain complicated issues.I like their balanced analysis of the presidential candidates ideologies.

Today, though, I was turned off by too much criticism on the person of President Obama. The political pundit who was being interviewed gave a negative label to who president Obama is and that which he has accomplished as a president. It was all negative; so negative that I decided to turn off the Radio for the rest of the show

Criticism and especially when its constructive, its alright. What I have issues with is when criticism becomes so personal and destructive. I don't sure like too much criticism. At least give credit where credit is due. Let us avoid making ourselves a standard of measurement.

Pastor Birai

Depart from me

Pastor Birai — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:10:37 GMT

From time to time due to various reasons known to an individual, we kick people out of our lives. These are individuals that may be we don't need in our lives. Remember that I said, may be. Why may be? Because mistakes have always been made. How do you mean?

1.Spouses have kicked their once loved ones only to bitterly regret later
2.Grown up children have denied, forsook or humiliated their parents due to their new found parents in law or lover only to regret later. Then its for ever too late. During the good times, they destroyed all necessary bridges. Now, they have to face consequences
3.People have quit their jobs, spoke so ill of their former employer and vowed never to come back. However when reality sunk, they wanted to go back only to find out that their damage was beyond repair

What is interesting to note is that that is the same way that man has dealt with God. When on earth, " Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him." (Matthew 4:23-25)

After such wonderful miracles, there were times when they begged Him to depart away from their territory. Here is such one time, " Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.(Matthew 8:34)

Don't we do the same thing all the time? For how long shall we chase Jesus from our lives?

Pastor Birai

Age and education: Do they count anymore?

Pastor Birai — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:34:28 GMT

I grew up knowing that higher education and age made a difference in the way people perceived and handled things.Unfortunately, I have been disappointed several times. How come? I have come across so many educated/learned people for lack of a better terminology who act/behave as if they have never been to any ones' classroom. The same is true with some old folks. They act and behave way below their age. What's happening here? Any in put?

Pastor Birai

Just be yourself

Pastor Birai — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:25:03 GMT

Are you satisfied with who you are or what you have accomplished in life? Then why not leave other people alone. Often times,
I am saddened by the fact that there are people who spent too much time witch hunting and worrying about other people. Just think of the following scenarios

1.People who chose not to work hard but are always jealousy of those who work so hard
2.Parents who instead of focusing on their children, they are always out trying to mislead or destroy other people's children
3.People who are dying to be like so and so
4.Grown ups who want to control other grown ups
5.People who are not able to start any project but are always out in trying to destroy other people's projects
6.People who are always worried about how so and so is spending his or her time
7.People who envy this or that person when they have the same opportunity to do what the other person is doing

I don't know about you. As for me, I have enough things to worry about that I don't have any time left to worry about what so and so is doing or how so and so is spending his or her time. How about you?

Let us see all as God's children and avoid the temptation of saying anything that might hurt any one in anyway. I think it makes sense that way.Don't you think so?

Pastor Birai

Playing the spoiler role

Pastor Birai — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:49:57 GMT

Deceived by their own self imagination and influenced or misled by others, some people have always played the spoiler role. But with what result? Unfortunately, in most cases, to their own destruction in either a short term or long term. Some examples will suffice

1. You introduce your wife,husband, fiance, boy friend or girl friend to your best friend, who ends up stealing her or him from you
2. You help a friend get a job where you are working but ends up having you fired
3.You help a new comer to settle by hosting them but end up being a real pain
4.Your vice, associate, or assistant, suddenly starts undermining you

In all these cases, such individuals end up regretting. But by then, its too late. Let us be nice to those who have assisted us in our journey for success. Avoid disappointing them at the time when they need you most. Do not reward others with evil for good.

Pastor Birai

Ministering to the bereaved

Pastor Birai — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:56:00 GMT

People need to learn and know what to say and what not to say at a home where someone has died. Every time I go to a home where someone has died, I have left a very disappointed man. Why is that? Because some people say or preach messages that are out of place.

If I may remind all of us, here are some of the things that we should bear in mind:

1.Do not go to a bereaved home to eat ,entertain or socialize
2.Be very sensitive in all that comes out of your mouth
3.Speak only words that will console the family
4.Do not give the family false hope. Such phrases as "the Lord decided to take him or her away; he or she is now in heaven with the Lord or he or she has now become an angel ought to be left out. Only God knows the status of those who have died
5. If chosen to preach or speak, be brief and do your best to console the family. All other things must be left out

Let us remind ourselves and others? Shall we?

Pastor Birai

Joseph was a just man

Pastor Birai — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:41:21 GMT

Of Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, its written that he was" a just man". Whatever decision he made,he had the interests of others in mind.This even when he did not quite understands the circumstances surrounding the strange happening. Listen to what the Bible tells us concerning his decision on Mary, his betrothed wife:

"Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly." (Matthew 1:19). I truly admire that. I pray and hope that in dealing with others, we may apply the "Golden rule" -that of doing unto others that which we want to be done unto us (Matthew 7:12)

Pastor Birai

Words of wisdom

Pastor Birai — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:34:08 GMT

With God, all things are very possible (Genesis 18:14). This is true even when everything/everybody else says otherwise. I know that its true because I have experienced it.

Pastor Birai

Pleasing everybody?

Pastor Birai — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:20:18 GMT

Is it possible to please everybody? Many have tried but failed.No matter what you do, its so hard to please everybody in this world. There are those who will always do all it takes to make you look bad. They will even go to an extend of creating and spreading rumors about you doing this or that. Well, they may seem to succeed but? But what? God who knows the end from the beginning will sure vindicate you.

The story of Daniel as found in the book of Daniel goes to show that. Daniel' enemies did everything possible to prevent him from ascending to the top most position in a foreign country.They even accused him of things that he did not do.Interestingly, the king was forced to cast Daniel into a den of lions. Did is enemies succeed? By no means. God not only took care of Daniel but also made it possible to ascend to the throne.

So, when you are being accused of this or that, just ignore that and instead continue doing the good that you have always done counting on the Lord God to sort you out.

That is what I have always done and sure enough God has always seen me through very difficulty situations. Here is what the Bible says:

" When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him."(Proverbs 16:7)

"So my advice is, leave these men alone. If they are teaching and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God"(Acts 5:38-39)

^"It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.” (Daniel 6:1-5)

As you can tell, God is not man. He knows the end from the beginning.

Pr Birai

Serving others with love and intergrity

Pastor Birai — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:28:09 GMT

Whenever and wherever duty calls you, let it be your desire and calculated effort to serve all with love and integrity. Let whoever makes his or her way to your place, leave with a good feeling of satisfaction. After you leave, people will not only appreciate you but will live to remember your good works.

Just read this story of Tabitha-Dorcas and see what I am talking about:

^"In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”

Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord." (Acts 9:36-42)

Even so help me dear Lord to be of great service to your children

Pastor Birai

Sin in the house of God

Pastor Birai — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:13:58 GMT

By the time someone decides to become a follower of Jesus, the thinking is that such a person is somewhat different or has changed from his or her former life style or the wicked way of doing things or treating others. In other words there are certain behaviors that ought not be seen by those who claim to be Christians. Like?

1.Hating others for no apparent reason
2.Creating and spreading unfounded rumors
3.Living in a world of jealousy
4.Talking unnecessarily like a fool
5.Graduating with honors as a trouble maker from the university of Satan
6.Making a living through questionable methods
7.Using others as a ladder of achieving ones personal interests

Claiming to be a Christian and promoting the devil don't simply add up. It calls for all to choose one and leave the other one alone.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:24)

Pastor Birai

Just imagine !

Pastor Birai — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:24:45 GMT

Senior pastor Arao Amazonas said he wanted to wait until the next morning to leave Florida after a religious conference. But pastor Jose Carmo Jr. wanted to be back in time for the suburban Atlanta church's Sunday morning service and led two vans up Interstate 75 toward Georgia.

A few hours later, Amazonas received a call: Both vans had crashed in the highway's fog- and smoke-shrouded darkness near Gainesville. Carmo, his wife and their daughter were among five church members killed in two deadly pileups along the always busy six-lane interstate.

This world ! Who can understand it? So sad indeed ! Reason why we should be ready all the time.

Pastor Birai

Killed in a matter of minutes

Pastor Birai — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:14:18 GMT

Any time someones dies just like that, I am reminded of James 4:13-17, " Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

That painful time sadly came up today. In the company of my conference president and two other colleagues, we left the conference office today at lunch time, each in his car to go out to eat. On the way, we were directed to a different route for what we suspected to have been something serious. We kept on wondering as to what might have happened.

It wasn't until the evening news when we found out what happened. A woman was crossing the road on foot when a car sped through, failed to stop, knocked and killed her instantly.The man driver was drunk. He survived the crash.

Each day, drunkards on the wheel have killed so many innocent people and left many family members and friends in pain for ever. When will people learn to leave alcohol alone?

This life is such that we need to be ready all the time. Its a borrowed life and so we must be ready all the time just in case we have to leave so suddenly.

Pastor Birai

An agent of change?

Pastor Birai — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:43:20 GMT

The world as it were (families, institutions, communities, churches, countries) is dying in search of agents of change; men and women who are willing to do whatever it takes, to make their little world a safer and less hostile place for its inhabitants . To be such an agent, the followings must have qualities

1.Love and care for others
2.Be flexible and non judgmental
3.Have a positive attitude all the time
4.Listen more and talk less
5.Think more about others than self
6.One without the element of tribal or racial in his or her DNA
7.One that has a connection to one and only just Creator, even the Lord of the universe

Are you willing to be such an agent?

Pastor Absalom Birai

A christian without Christ

Pastor Birai — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:14:20 GMT

Its expected that a Christian, does all of the following:

1.Have the mind and attitude like that of Jesus Christ
2.Grow the kingdom of God on earth
3.Love God's children just like Jesus did
4.Have nothing to do with sin of any kind
5.Keep and teach others to follow God's 10 commandments

As it is, many of those who claim to be Christians do the exact opposite. All that the think, do and write demonstrates that they indeed belong to another camp. And because of that, the term "Christian) does not carry the weight its suppose to carry.

Are you a Christian? What kind?

"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Psalms 119:11)

"and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch." (Acts 11:26)

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:15-16)

¹ Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

"But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them." (Ephesians 5:3-7)

Pastor Absalom Birai

Given a choice, which of the following would you rather be?

Pastor Birai — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:00:20 GMT

Given a choice, which of the following would you rather be and why?

1.A president of a certain country
2. A medical Doctor
3.A nurse
4.A pastor
5.A teacher/a lecturer at the university
6.A fireman
7.A police officer/ a cop
8. A janitor

Pastor Birai

Do not count God out

Pastor Birai — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:10:55 GMT

Since we can not touch, feel or see God face to face, we all at one time or the other plan and execute plans in secrecy with the exclusion of God.Even though sometimes we succeed in executing our evil plans, often times the Lord of the universe chooses to descend and reveal or defeat the evil plans. Read carefully of the following passages and reflect on them:

^" Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city.That is why it was called Babel because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth." (Genesis 11:1-11)

^"When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” (Matthew 2:13)

^"After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” (Mathew 2:19-20)

So, whenever you do your secret/wicked plans, know for a fact that God is so much of all that and will from time to time do what it takes to stop you. So, do not even think of excluding God from your plans. Below is another truth that many of us are slow to learn but quick to forget:

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4:13)

^" Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 4:13-14)

Pastor Birai