Heralds Digest

The responsibilities of teaching assistants sometimes may include teaching students, especially when the principal instructor is not accessible or available. This system reduces workloads on principal instructor and facilitates efficient understanding of class materials. However, without proper management, and with continuous familiarity of students with teaching assistants, it is possible to usurp the authority of the principal instructor. The scriptures is the word of God and source of inspiration for all Christians. Without doubt, there are many teaching aids, directed and authored by great instrumentality of God; but none can substitute the word of God or direct revelation of His counsel through our walk of faith with Him. The authority of the bible is not in its inscription; God's word gets its authority from its inspiration. That makes all sections of the scriptures relevant to human life. Without faith is God's word, words of men will be treated as equal; or even better ...

The church and the state are two different platforms of establishing relationships. Both platforms form the lifestyle of human relationships; but the treatment of both platforms as one often result into diplomacy and integrity crisis. Liberalism and conservativeness are two extreme lifestyles that cannot fit into a single system of human relationship with both fellow men and God. The major challenge with people of faith is how to draw a balance between liberalism and conservativeness. In his valedictory note to Pastor Timothy, Apostle Paul said " But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance ". This was someone whose liberal dealings with people outside his religious sect was displayed when he chastised Apostle Peter about discrimination. Conservativeness in relationship with God and liberalism in relationship with people seem to provide good balance in the world. People can fully know who we are; and at the sam...

Control is a free delegated authority, given by God, to every man. The absence of control is a signal of chaos in every system; but it is actually a state of control in disguised. Wherever there is real control, there will be peace, fellowship, joy, and productivity. Real control in homes bring father, mother, and children to the family table together with enthusiasm; it brings manager and workers to the production floor together with great corporate mission; and it organizes presidential retreat between all arms of government without suspicion. However, a disguised control is injected with the atmosphere of fear. Fear is excited for artificial control to run; it is the subtle withdrawal of the authority, given by God, for man to dominate. The major strategy of the enemy is to disguised his control of life, family, and relationships ; by creating a false alarm that will trigger fear. The only antidote is diligence and refusal to entertain every opinion that trigger doubt to the establi...

For eventful delivery of products, the product line must be free from imperfection; but all men are prone to errors. Most times, production materials are not responsible for product defects. Therefore, continuous training of staffs, professional development courses, and the production process are consistently reviewed for improvement. Unlike physical production line, the formation of characters in man is mostly dependent on human activities. Man is a free moral agent; and his contribution to his making is his responsibility. His polluted heart is secured from external influence of God's grace, except by express permission of the man. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross and the word of God can operate on every man, no matter how vile; turning the heart from sinner to saint. But man must be willing to absolutely submit self to God's production line. " Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Mas...

A commitment to a love relationship is an expression of absolute loyalty. Problems in every relationship never get started with a single event, it is always the accummulation of series of disloyal dispositions. For a vague consolation, some seek refuge in double dealings - which is worse than a sincere divorce. However, perseverance and self-denial in times of difficulty in relationship are the best qualities of love. Confidence in the good outcome of the present stress in relationships provides the required source of hope. Christ bled and died on the crosss; and He had gone to prepare a place for all is brides. Loyalty, not betrayal, demands that we consecrate our lives for His glory. While some are delighted to have the glory of the Lord, they are surprised when problems keep coming to challenge their faith. Rather, we should understand that there is no Christ without a cross - the sacrifice for denying all contradictory opinions to His counsel. Double dealings produce no real deal.

The Newton's First Law is probably the first law studied by every physics student; and it reveals the fundamental concept governing the reality of contending forces in life. Otherwise, every physical body will either remain at rest or moves in a straight line with constant speed. To remain at rest is to desire nothing in life, but that is not possible in the face of influences from the environment, social laws, and natural disasters. And to aim at implementing a well-developed project plan without considering ways of mitigating the risks in contending forces is a myth. However, contending forces are no excuses; the problem is the willingness to be entangled by them. In a kind of a valedictory message from Apostle Paul to Pastor Timothy, a warring soldier with the desire to please his commanding officer will not be entangled by challenges on the field. Many give excuses for non-performance, while underplaying their lack of responsibility. If there is Lord indeed, loyalty to Him dema...

The dying room of a man is the laboratory where his life philosophy and commitments can be re-examined. In the absence of pressure, many would likely express their disappointments or joy, and regret or re-affirm major steps taken in life. They would either wish time could be drawn backward or simply ensure all loyals uphold the philosophy well-tested. With the kind of words from Apostle Paul's second epistle to Pastor Timothy (the epistle was written after Paul was simply awaiting execution), it is evident that the summary of the epistle is: " I finished without fear or shame, do not fear not shame ". A personal reflection of Paul on his call to ministry and the experiences on the field was no doubt a source of courage for young Timothy. A mentor without a satisfactorily validated memoir should never become a model for his loyalists. All the redeemed of the Lord have the gospels as a comprehensive memoir of Jesus Christ. The gospels contain assurance of a place of rest af...