PATIENCE VERSUS PROCRASTINATION

PATIENCE VERSUS PROCRASTINATION

                        While we are postponing, life speeds by – Lucius Annaeus Seneca.

Patience is both a great virtue and a great weapon, it moves mountains. Patience has variously been defined as the ability to endure waiting or delay. It is thus the product of a genuine faith. Besides, patience has the capacity to perfect and complete any godly thing. In other words, patience produces perfect works. Perfect works are complete and entire, lacking (wanting) nothing; ask Abraham and Job. Show me a person who is full of faith and patience and I will show you a perfect person. This is because every genuine faith endures tribulations, “knowing that tribulation produces perseverance (patience); and perseverance, character; and character, hope… (and) hope does not disappoint” – Romans 5:4-5(NKJV).

Patience is, however, not procrastination; it is a diligent worker! This means that patience is not indolence. Patience moves mountains because it works, even in the face of fiercest difficulties, to attain its goals. Thus mountains (difficulties) are never insurmountable stumbling blocks to patience. Besides, patience is the sacred secret of all real victors of any race. The race of life is full of tribulations and it takes only patient participants to press towards their goals for earthly and Heavenly prizes. Patience always seeks to meet a particular attainable goal in the midst of all odds. Therefore patience is never procrastination because whilst the latter gives excuses for its inactions the former presses on despite the presence of even real excuses.

“Procrastination,” so goes a right saying, “is the thief of time.” Time is the most precious asset of mankind. It goes without saying that procrastination dishonestly appropriates the treasures of its victims. God has given each of us some unique talents and abilities. The raw material for manifesting the products of such talents and abilities is time. Thus procrastination cripples the talents and abilities of its victims because it steals their indispensable raw material (time). Studies have shown that of over 25,000 men and women who had experienced failure disclosed the fact that lack of decision was near the head of the list of the 30 major causes of failure.

George S. Clason wrote in his book, The Richest Man in Babylon, “The spirit of procrastination is within all men. We desire riches; yet how often when opportunity doth appear before us, that spirit of procrastination from within doth urge various delays in our acceptance. In listening to it we do become our own worst enemies”. Truly, no person can arrive at a full measure of success until that person has completely crushed the spirit of procrastination within that person. Arkad, the richest man in Babylon, testified: “During my long life I have watched generation following generation, marching forward along those avenues of trade, science and learning that lead to success in life. Opportunities came to all these men. Some grasped theirs and moved steadily to the gratification of their deepest desires, but the majority hesitated, faltered and fell behind.” Napoleon Hill in his think and grow rich stated that, “Procrastination, the opposite of decision, is a common enemy that everybody must (practically) conquer.”Are you dancing with your current opportunities or you’re procrastinating? Remember, “Opportunity waits for no man.”

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of Wisdom Thoughts.

Email: richardobengmensah@gmail.com. Blog: www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com

THE GHANAIAN APPROACH TO CHALLENGES

THE GHANAIAN APPROACH TO CHALLENGES

Ama Ghana: Good dark night Kofi.

Kofi Ghana: Same to you Ama since the darkness is everywhere.

Ama Ghana: Kofi, despite the dark curfew I have still not lost my sense of reasoning.

Kofi Ghana: We thank God for that. Certainly, the ubiquitous gross darkness has not

                     succeeded in darkening our minds. Just that bathing is increasingly becoming

                     a scarce commodity but thanks to the strikes we’re not going to work.

Ama Ghana: I have made up my mind to always put on my thinking cap on national issues.

Kofi Ghana: That is great! Have you read about the bridge over River Dwahyem on the outskirts of Techiman, near Kumasi, in the media.

Ama Ghana: Yes, isn’t the death trap bridge on the Kumasi-Trabuom trunk?

Kofi Ghana: That is so Ama. You see as deadly as the bridge is, we are waiting for disaster to strike before we do what is needful, if not cacophonous talks.

Ama Ghana:  Kofi, don’t you think we’re more reactive to situations instead of being proactive?

Kofi Ghana: There is nothing further from this truth Ama. We are experts in curing our swollen

wounds but we usually don’t take measures to prevent the wounds, not mentioning their subsequent swelling and stinks. Is prevention not always better than cure?

Ama Ghana: Cure is always costly and it never heals a wound without some adverse effects.

Kofi Ghana: This poor approach of dealing with our challenges has creeped into our leadership. There is nothing wrong with being reactive in itself but it should be an exception rather than a rule. Real leaders are always proactive but are only reactive in some exceptional situations. Even so, they are always proactive in their reactive steps.

Ama Ghana: There is indeed no smoke without fire and vice versa. Anytime a person plays with fire, smoke rules the atmosphere and every living thing suffers as a result. Proactive establishments and institutions always have fire extinguishers in their structures. They obviously know that playing with fire is playing with their hard earned assets.

Kofi Ghana: Our leaders at all levels definitely need leadership fire extinguishers.

Ama Ghana: I will recommend that those at the energy, labour and water fronts should be given priority for now. The smokes from these sectors are suffocating Ghanaians, abba!

Kofi Ghana: We must proactively deal with this issue now, no more delay; no more talks!

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of Wisdom Thoughts.

Email: richardobengmensah@gmail.com. Blog: www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com

HOW TO BE GREATER THAN YOUR MASTER

HOW TO BE GREATER THAN YOUR MASTER

“For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, and that you may marvel”- John 5:20 (NKJV).

Robert Greene in his The 48 Laws of Power advised his readers to never outshine their masters. He explained, “Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite-inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.” Unfortunately, however, this advice is a bit, if not totally, misleading. In the first place, Robert failed to tell us the kind of masters he is talking about; only insecure masters will fit his context. Secondly, his advice is ungodly in that it makes its adherents hypocrites; they will at best always flatter their masters. Thus the adherents of this advice are usually sycophants. Worst still, the advice is too worldly and destructive. Avoid it!

Real masters are always secure in their identity and position. They thus know and understand who they are and the unique gifts God has endowed them with. John the Baptist was for instance the greatest among all persons born of women. He was a secure master in that he knew his identity and life purpose. He once declared, “I am ‘[t]he voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Make straight the way of the LORD”’.  He was thus not uncomfortable to declare Jesus Christ, whom he baptized, as greater than himself. The significant lesson in John’s attitude is that making your master to ‘feel comfortably superior’ is not the issue; it is more about acknowledging one’s unique assignment and that of others. The key to your greatness is discovering and fulfillment of your life assignment to the satisfaction of God, nothing more; nothing less!

In addition, secure masters empower their disciples to aspire greater heights than they attained. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to my Father” – John 14:12. Jesus is the Master of masters and the greatest person in the history of mankind. Yet he acknowledged the fact that his real disciples although cannot be greater than his personality, they can be greater than him in works. Your unique life-assignment defines and determines the limits of your great works. Jesus, being a secure master, knew the truth that time and chance happens to all persons. Therefore, while you cannot be greater than the personality of your masters; you can be greater than them in good works. King David, the greatest king in history, once stated, “I have more understanding than my teachers…I understand more than the ancients, because I keep your precepts.”

It is always good to be guided by the exemplary deeds of your master or teacher. However, they should only inspire you to do greater works. Your greatness is enveloped in humility. Humble people know that without Jesus they can do nothing and that they cannot be greater than God, not even in works. It is enough to be like God in character and in works but you must always depend, obey, submit and surrender to Him in all things. People who do these things will naturally outshine their worldly masters and teachers. The key is keeping the precepts of God.

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of If You Think of Your Opposition You Lose Your Position. Email: richardobengmensah@gmail.com. Blog: www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com

BUT FOR JESUS…

BUT FOR JESUS…

Humanity would have been turned into humus

Humanity would not have discovered the path to God

Humanity would have lost its God-given identity.

Worldly systems would have withered the Word of God on earth

Worldly systems would have dominated humanity on this earth wildly

Worldly systems would have robbed humanity of the goodies of this life and Heaven.

All nations would have surrendered to the worldly systems

All nations would have worshipped images instead of God

All nations would have been enemies of God.

Individuals would have been dominated by their families and societies

Individuals would not have discovered their unique God-given identities

Individuals would not have discovered their God-given purpose.

I would have lost the essence of humanity

I would have been a slave to the worldly systems while in this earth

I would have denied many individuals of the benefits of my great potential

I would have been a victim of creation instead of being its key player.

Richard Obeng Mensah, March 16, 2013.

(This piece is dedicated to Dr. Yaw Perbi for being a global team player).

THE FORBIDDEN INDEPENDENCE

THE FORBIDDEN INDEPENDENCE

Ama Ghana: Kofi, Ghana’s 56^th independence celebration was wow!

Kofi Ghana: Of course, it was colourful and more nationalistic in character but we shouldn’t

                   be dissuaded just by these. It is time we celebrated real progress in at least some

                   of the major fields of our economy. Mere celebration is cheap!

Ama Ghana: Oh, Kofi, but can’t we celebrate the little-by-little progress we are making? Did you hear what   our President said? “Change does not come overnight.”

Kofi Ghana: Ah, Ama, give me a break. The converse of that statement is also true. Change takes time but mere passage of time does not guarantee positive change.  Methuselah died at age 969 but have you bothered to find out his life achievements? Compare his 969 years and achievements with that of Jesus. Change is always neutral.

Ama Ghana: What do you think we must focus more on as a nation?

Kofi Ghana: We must reassess what we mean by independence, and be intentional and sincere in our positive change expedition.

Ama Ghana: But it is a common knowledge that we are politically independent and are now striving to achieve real economic independence.

Kofi Ghana: Ama, remember that common things are always common to the commoner. But

                   common things usually do not have value unless it is a necessity.

Ama Ghana: Kofi perhaps I am not getting you well so educate me.

Kofi Ghana: Have you ever wondered what will happen to a star if it detaches itself from the firmament; a fish if it attempts to live on the land forever; and a blind person who forsakes his rod or shepherd forever?

Ama Ghana: That star will become a shooting star; the fish will die and that blind person will   struggle to walk or lack direction.

Kofi Ghana: That is an excellent answer. Many Ghanaians are intelligent as you are and even better. But not so many of them have taken the pains to rethink our independence. Political and economic independence may be good but they are not the main issue.

Ama Ghana: Kofi, what then is the main issue? I am getting lost.

Kofi Ghana: See me in chambers if you cannot still make it out.

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of Persecutions are Promotions. Email: richardobengmensah@gmail.com. Blog: www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com

HONEST-TO-GHANAIANS

                                       HONEST-TO-GHANAIANS

Ama Ghana: Kofi, Ghana our motherland is 56 years old hurray!

Kofi Ghana: That is so Ama but I am deeply confused.

Ama Ghana: Why are you confused?

Kofi Ghana: because I have been thinking about Ghana.

Ama Ghana: That is good of you, Kofi. I know you’re very patriotic but what really is the   problem?

Kofi Ghana: It is not really a problem; it is a challenge – dishonesty is taking root in Ghana.

Ama Ghana: Dishonesty?

Kofi Ghana: Yes-and-yes!

Kofi Ghana: What do you think is the most important development need of Ghana?

Ama Ghana: Selfless and visionary leaders.

Kofi Ghana: That is so Ama but it is a half truth.

Ama Ghana: Tell me you’re kidding Kofi.

Kofi Ghana: I am serious, Ama.

Ama Ghana: What then is the answer?

Kofi Ghana: Ghana is in dire need of the virtue of honesty more than anything you can think of.

Leadership is central to development and growth of any nation but real leaders are rare. The hallmark of real leaders is honesty.

Ama Ghana: Kofi you’re right. Take for instance, the issue of the 2013 State of Nation Address our President delivered in Parliament recently. Even our Parliamentarians are   divided about it. Some of them later held a press conference on what they term the True State of Nation Address. If all that the President told us is false, then that is really serious. And it is also highly mischievous if the True State of Nation Address was just a political gimmick. Who is telling the truth?  Kofi, I am equally confused!

Kofi Ghana: Ama that is just one of the many instances. Think about the debates on the energy and water crises; the issue about subsidies on fuel products; and the apathy of the ordinary Ghanaian. More bizarre is the so-called fair comments about the election petition before the Supreme Court. I wonder when it became a political gala!

Ama Ghana: Honesty is increasingly disappearing in the Ghanaian society. We are not honest to one another. We just smile to each other but we don’t really mean it. What we say in public is directly opposite what we do in private. There is so much hypocrisy and selfishness in our society. Sadly, most of our institutions are full of dishonesty.

Kofi Ghana: We need to face this truth and decisively deal with it. Firstly, Ghana’s interest must be paramount in all our personal and collective dealings. Secondly, our laws must be respected by all and sundry. The gross indiscipline in our society must stop!

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of If You Think of Your Opposition You Lose Your Position. Email: richardobengmensah@gmail.com Blog: www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com

HOW AND WHEN TO BE PROTECTED FROM ENEMIES

HOW AND WHEN TO BE PROTECTED FROM ENEMIES

Trust in the LORD, and do good… - Psalm 37:3(NKJV)

Phocas was a fourth century Christian who lived outside the city of Sinope. He was highly hospitable to travelers. Many travelers enjoyed refreshment and baby rest in his garden. Phocas always took the opportunity to share his faith with all such travelers. Despite his great generosity, one emperor Diocletian ordered that all Christians should be killed. And Phocas of Sinope was high on the list some magistrates issued. Interestingly, when the officers of the magistrates arrived at Sinope, hot and weary from a long day’s journey, they naturally enjoyed the refreshment in Phocas’s garden. Shockingly, when Phocas asked them of their mission he was told they had been ordered to execute a local Christian called Phocas. “I know him well,” Phocas said. “He doesn’t live far away at all. Why don’t you…rest for the night, and I will direct you to him in the morning.” During the night, Phocas dug a hole, in the garden he loved, large enough to take a human body. At dawn he woke the Roman soldiers and told them he was Phocas. Bishop Asterious, narrator of this story, recounts the astonishment of the men and their insistence that they could not put to death a man who had been so kind to them.

What was Phocas’s response? “Oh, please do,” he said. “I am a Christian, death is not important to me; whereas if you do not fulfill your orders you will get into trouble. Think of yourselves. You must do your duty. It will not alter my love and affection for you.” So Phocas was accordingly executed, and his body was gently lowered into the garden grave. Indeed “[a] love that had given so much to all passing travelers had no more to give; it had given all” – Ian Barclay in his Living and Enjoying the Fruit of the Spirit. Phocas’s story illustrates real love, the ability to love enemies, the unlovely and the unattractive. He aptly followed Jesus’s example.

There are many lessons to draw from the examples of Jesus and Phocas. Firstly, we need not fret because of our enemies. We should rather take their presence as an opportunity to do good to them. Secondly, we should always put our trust in God and dare the consequences. We must also commit our lives and ways to the God. But we should leave the results to Him. God always acts justly in everything; so even if He does not ‘deliver’ us, it will ultimately work out for our good. Although Phocas was eventually executed, he is no doubt an epitome of real love. Thirdly, always endeavour to depend on God entirely and keep His way (commandments) – love!

Do we have to always behave in the way Phocas did? Certainly not! “Love does not delight in evil.” This means that it does not revel when others grovel. Love thus does not glee in injustice.  James Riddle wrote, “Even though we are to love our enemies, sometimes we need to protect ourselves from them. That means that there are times when we should pray that they are even taken out of our way. That goes for enemies in this natural world as well as our spiritual world.” In addition, we should always endeavour to bring wicked people to justice. Truly, there are times when extreme measures are to be taken for the greater good. For instance, “if an enemy threatens your family, you must protect your family first.” And protect the masses as well. Love is wise.

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of Persecutions are Promotions. Email: richardobengmensah@gmail.com. Blog: www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com