BLESSED ASSURANCE JESUS IS OURS

The miracles of Jesus are an expression of the love of God for all of us: Photo credit: http://www.godisreal.today/pictures-of-jesus

"If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." 

Jesus made this statement several years ago because he knew it will happen. It takes courage to speak about the gospel in today's society because people begin to look at you in a strange way as if you have lost your mind.

There are churches all over Europe and America but in Britain, many have been converted to drinking pubs and the few left are completely empty every Sunday because many are not interested in listening to the gospel.

Many pastors have lost vision and gone astray leaving the sheep scattered, yet we blame everyone for the decay of the society which has affected many including our children.

A lot of children lack good training because they didn't get the chance to learn about the gospel to educate them since their parents also lack the knowledge of the gospel. The reason many children can't be controlled. 

Years after passing through horrible situations those who can't handle it any longer crave suicidal tendencies, yet there is always a solution for teenagers finding themselves caught up in difficult situations but the help always comes too late. 

Parents shouldn't feel embarrassed to talk to their children about the gospel. It's great to know Jesus.  He promised, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

THE PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE IS HAPPINESS NOT A BURDEN IF YOU MAKE GOOD USE OF IT

Life is happiness, not a burden if make good use of it

Life always has a story to tell. As children before adulthood, we were fortunate that our parents toiled for us in both hard and unique ways. But do we sometimes take into consideration how our parents suffered for us to give them the respect and love they deserve?

Well, many had it rough in life because they were neglected by their parents, yet be thankful to God, because that bitter experience of neglect gave you the courage and motivation to carry on daily in life and that will and determination you embraced were the keys which shaped, molded and educated you to success.

We are positive because we believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. We are hopeful because life never stops dreaming of wonders in spite of the blunders.

She sings of happiness because there is always someone out there at any moment who loves you., who prays for you, who wants to thank you for something, or because you played a significant role in their life.

Thus; it is only proper that you live purely, patiently and peacefully. Free yourself from the slavery of ‘fitting in,’ for you are more blessed than you look, more amazing than you appeal, more intelligent than you sound, more spirited than you seem and exquisitely precious than you think.

You are God’s masterpiece, rise to every occasion. As a gift to the world, refresh our sensations. If anyone misunderstands you, let them wallow in their ignorance, to be great is to be misunderstood. That’s part of life if you fully understand the aspects of life.

CULTURE LEAD SINGER JOSEPH HILL'S VISIT TO SIERRA LEONE STOPPED THE WAR

The Great Joseph Hill of the Group Culture

Once you are a music lover, especially Reggae, you will know who Joseph Hill is. He was the lead singer of the group popularly known as Culture. Joseph Hill was one of the talented early pioneers of reggae whose rich vocal and classic recordings made him one of the greatest reggae icons, along the line with Jimmy Cliff, Gregory Isaacs, etc.

Apart from his masterful compositions and his invigorating style of writing his songs, the calm and humble gentleman who inspired a lot of musicians, did what many world leaders tried and failed. In over three decades as a professional musician, Joseph Hill didn’t only sing as a peacemaker but practically involved in seeking peace worldwide.

During the Israeli-Palestinian conflict between the Jewish and Muslim populations inhabiting the lands covered by Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza strip and the surrounding Arab nations, both Israelis and Palestinians were killed in the fighting. All efforts by world leaders to stop this terrible conflict dating from the Biblical times were abortive.

Despite the mortar attacks and deadly missiles demolishing the Palestinian settlements and the killings, Joseph Hill bravely went to Israel promoting peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Mr. Hill’s bold attempt was seen as an ironic approach to world peace.

That wasn’t the end, after seeking peace in the Middle-East, Mr. Hill visited Sierra Leone during the war. The forced recruitment of child soldiers by the Revolutionary United Front and the rebels’ atrocious behavior against civilians killed thousands of Sierra Leoneans. 

The decade-long civil war left Sierra Leone flowing with blood and amputated hands and legs of victims when Mr. Hill landed in Freetown the capital.

As soon as Mr. Hill arrived in Freetown, he told the rebels “I will only go if you put down your gun.” The rebels quickly obeyed him and they lay down their guns. Afterward, they sent a message to the president saying “You are lucky that Paa Joe Hill is in Freetown, else we shall destroy Freetown within 24 hours.”

A bad farmer quarrels with his tools but the hand of the expert produces fruits. Near the hotel, Mr. Hill lodged in Freetown, was a tree. Every morning a bird comes to the tree. Out of the sound of the chirping bird, Mr. Hill composed a song with it. Is it not amazing? It wasn’t surprised when Prime Minister Miller recognized him as “towering representative of our homegrown idiom, reggae.”

Born in the rural Jamaican parish of St. Catherine in 1949, Joseph Hill started his musical career in the late 1960s as a percussionist. During the Rastafarian influence on reggae in the 1970s, Mr. Hill formed Culture producing more than 30 albums.

Two Giants Clash: Bob Marley and Joseph Hill

While on tour in Europe in the year 2006, Mr. Hill suddenly fell sick and succumbed to his illness. His selfless sacrifice seeking peace worldwide and his ebullient musical achievements placed him in the history of reggae as a great artist.

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The Ugly Truth About Mold Toxins Tied To AIDS Epidemic

Poisons produced by fungi that grow on moldy peanuts and corn may be worsening Africa’s AIDS crisis

Culled from The New York Times: By Donald G. McNeil Jr.

Aflatoxins — poisons produced by fungi that grow on moldy peanuts and corn — may be worsening Africa’s AIDS epidemic by helping suppress the immune systems of newly infected people, a new study has found.

The study, by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and published recently in the World Mycotoxin Journal, measured blood levels of aflatoxins and H.I.V. in 314 Ghanaians who had never taken antiviral drugs.

The more aflatoxins they had, the more likely they were to have high blood levels of H.I.V. — even those with higher levels of CD4 blood cells, meaning they had not been infected long and were not yet eligible for triple-therapy cocktails under the latest World Health Organization guidelines.

The toxins, produced by aspergillus fungi that grow on damp grains, nuts, and beans, are so common as to be almost unavoidable in humid climates, but so dangerous that federal law limits concentrations in food to 20 parts per billion. American peanut-butter makers are always on the watch for them. Ground peanuts are a staple food of West Africa.

In high doses, aflatoxins can be deadly. The 2004 outbreak in Kenya, killed 125 people; samples of moldy corn had up to 8,000 parts per billion. Regular exposure to low doses can cause liver cancer.

The authors suggested that aflatoxins either contribute proteins that help H.I.V. reproduce or somehow lessen the numbers of the white blood cells that the virus targets, making its attack on the immune system more potent.

HOW THE FEAR OF SPEAKING THE TRUTH HAS RUINED THE SOCIETY

To some people, lying is a perfume they need to use every day

The ‘Truth,’ is not a commodity sold at the shop, it’s just an act of not lying over something but giving the accurate account, yet only a few can afford it and those that can afford often find themselves in a very tight corner not easy to free themselves.

In John chapter 8:32, Jesus said, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” How often do we ponder or reason over Jesus’ Biblical quotes? Jesus knows that the truth exists but people will never rely or depend on it.

The reason our society is tearing apart today because it’s in the hands of people under the influence of Satan, so the need to lie is necessary to please both Satan and the people they serve. And since many are not ready to be ‘ruled’ by the doctrine of the scriptures they join Satan’s company.

Romans 6:23, reveals that: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This means that death is inevitable because of our sinful nature, yet we need to live in the truth.

Speaking the truth at the moment is not only costly but deadly. Worldwide, many have been assassinated for speaking the truth over something head of churches, leaders and politicians wouldn’t like the public to know. Thus; instead of speaking the truth, many prefer to lie.

Jesus knew already that physically the truth will not set you free, that freedom he was talking about was spiritual freedom. Just as He suffered for speaking the truth, the fear of speaking the truth haunts many people.

Who is ready to lose his friends, relatives, and job because of the truth? Who is ready to pass through the mental torture of neglect in society because of the truth? Finally, who is ready to face the hostile opposition and pure hate from an empire of deceitful enemies and brood of vipers because of truth? 

However, what many people forget is: Like a house that collapses because of its weak foundation, society can never thrive, prosper and be successful on a foundation of lies, hypocrisy and the persecution of those that live on the truth. 

You may think you are on top and successful, then suddenly you’ll see yourself once again at the same place you started. That is life, you can’t change that until you live clean.

And for those who are facing all kinds of intimidation, suffering, and persecution because of truth, stand firm with endurance and perseverance. Even though the pain you are going through is hard to bear sometimes, yet be happy because of the truthful path you’ve chosen.

If those who live by the sword die by the sword and gun by the gun, then liars will not have a happy ending too because God hates lies.

GOD, SATAN, AND MAN: WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EVIL?

Hungry men during WWII.

I hear many times people that commit serious crimes, during an interview often say that they heard voices in the head telling them to commit such serious crimes or often blame Satan.


The question is who is Satan? In my opinion, Satan doesn't live in heaven but they are people living with us on this earth, yet people commit crimes and blame Satan for it. 

Since people have different views or opinions, I wish I can hear a few voices or reactions over this topic. If interested, you can write to me through the provided e-mail address. Thank you.

SEND YOUR VIEWS AND OPINIONS TO ghanacrowdsourcing@gmail.com FOR PUBLICATION. PLEASE, ADD YOUR NAME AND LINK OF YOUR WEBSITE.

The Secret Of How We Used Reggae Music As A Survival Tool In Africa

A major figure in world music, Jimmy Cliff has painstakingly crossed many rivers to become an international superstar.

Life is very tough and full of lessons. In Africa, during our school days and darkest periods, to avoid social problems we fought to stay focused. On Sundays, we listen to whatever the preacher tells us, but away from the pastor's sight, we used reggae music as a tool to direct us on the right track and expressed our emotions.

In the sixties and seventies in Ghana, we listened to the songs of reggae pioneers, such as John Holt, Desmond Decker, etc, but the musician whose songs played a significant role in our lives is Jimmy Cliff. 

His music was encouraging and inspiring.  It educated and made us tough in our environment with the desire to succeed in life. Below are some of the selected tunes of Jimmy Cliff we dwelled on.

Hard Road To Travel

We listened to reggae from dusk till dawn and the lyric encouragement helps us let go of suppressed feelings.

“It’s a hard road to travel and a rough, rough way to go, but I can’t turn back, my heart is fixed, my mind’s made up, I’ll never stop, my faith will see, see me through,” sings Jimmy Cliff. The hope and faith we had from such songs became our tool for survival.

Jimmy Cliff and Peter Tosh

Every man has a right to live, Love is all that we have to give, Together we struggle by your will to survive, Then together we fight just to stay alive, Struggling man has got to move
Struggling man, no time to lose, I’m a struggling man And I’ve got to move on.

I am born to win, Been lost and found, turned upside down, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Been cast aside and been despised, uhm, uhm, uhm, But I’m Daniel in the lion’s den, and Jonah in the belly of the whale, I’m not alone so I cannot fail, no, no, no. And I’m born to win.

Sitting here in Limbo, Waiting for the tide turn, Yeah, now, sitting here in Limbo, So many things I’ve got to learn, Meanwhile, they’re putting up a resistance,  But I know that my faith will lead me on.

You can get it if you really want, You can get it if you really want, You can get it if you really want, But you must try, try and try, try and try, You’ll succeed at last.

While we listen to such encouraging lyrics we are inspired in such a way that we don’t feel the pain we go through in our daily hustle, often eliminating boredom and depression. 

Even though Reggae music is not much promoted commercially by MTV, the power of the music can’t be denied.

Jimmy Cliff and Peter Tosh were both against Apartheid in South Africa. In the picture, Jimmy Cliff wears a T-Shirt with the picture of the murdered South African hero, Steve Biko

Your world is plastic; Can see through to the other side, Your cities are made of wood, Antiques are what you’ve got inside, Houses are paper but folks don’t hear a word you say
Friendship’s like acid, It burns, burns, burns, as it slides away.

Jimmy Cliff sings 'Synthetic World.'

There’s a day of feasting and a day of famine, Day of sadness and a day of joy, You could see in the day of feasting, Life isn’t just a little play-like toy., 

So the day arrived when you least expected, Cos you always thought you were well protected, Now you feel like a fish out of water, So now you’re wondering what’s the matter.

“You can change the style, Of playing reggae, You can change the Rhythm of playing reggae, But never ever, Change the message,” sings Lucky Dube in Reggae Strong, because it’s music that carries the message of truth and the light. If you don’t like the truth, you can never be a friend of reggae.

“DADDY WHERE EVER YOU ARE REMEMBER ME”- LUCKY DUBE

Lucky Dube of South Africa: One of the world’s greatest reggae legends

Many great people die and nobody remembers them anymore. All that they achieved perish with them forever, but not Lucky Dube.  Like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, etc, the fame of Lucky Dube, the mesmerizing South African reggae star has overflowed its banks, ranking him one of the greatest musicians the world has ever known.

It’s often said good or great people die very young. This is a statement I have never pondered over it until the unexpected death of this perfect gentleman whose songs seek peace, love, unity, and speak against social problems and injustice. 

Like many others, I haven’t overcome the death of Lucky Dube, because I interviewed him, and above all his music is among my favorite reggae collections.

Every song that Lucky Dube made was a hit because his lyrical is brilliant and delightful. His invention and combination of mbaqanga (traditional Zulu) music created such a beautiful melody satisfying music lovers across the globe. 

His song “Daddy where ever you remember me,” is one of my favorites because it reminds me of the day at the age of 19, standing by my father’s hospital bed and he passed away.