Rick Warren meets with Kenyan government leaders on day of cabinet restructure and challenges Church and Business Leaders to unity and renewal

Rick Warren meets with Kenyan government leaders on day of cabinet restructure and challenges Church and Business Leaders to unity and renewal in wake of recent election
Michael Ireland (April 9, 2008)

"This could be the Kenyan church's finest hour, and a step toward revival—not to retreat, not to divide, but to shine."

(Nairobi, Kenya)—Pastor Rick Warren completed a 12-day trip to Africa Monday with a whirlwind visit to Nairobi, Kenya, where he met with the vice president and speaker of the House of Parliament and addressed separate groups of top church and business leaders.

According to A. Larry Ross Communications, Warren was invited to meet with leadership from both parties on the day President Mwai Kibaki was working to appoint an expanded cabinet of opposition leaders to complete a coalition government in the wake of violence following national elections last December that left 1,500 dead and displaced 300,000 other Kenyans as refugees in their own country.

"God's purpose for this nation is greater than the pain you are going through now," Warren told Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka.

"From the outside it looks like pain, but from God's perspective, it looks like labor before new birth. Don't look at what you've lost; look at what is left. Kenya is still a vibrant nation, and out of this will come new life for the country and its people."

Warren then shared with Mr. Musyoka his vision for the P.E.A.C.E Plan through which he is mobilizing volunteers from the U.S. in Rwanda, Uganda and other African nations to address the five global giants of spiritual emptiness, ego-centric leadership, extreme poverty, pandemic disease and crippling illiteracy.

The vice president said that his government would officially welcome that emphasis in his country as well and sealed that invitation with a handshake.

During a subsequent meeting at the Statehouse with Mr. Kenneth Marende, speaker of the house of parliament, Warren outlined Biblical principles of leadership and how they apply to Kenya's current crisis. Marende asked Warren to return for a day of training on that curriculum for all Parliamentarians on his next visit to Nairobi.

Warren later encouraged and challenged a group of bishops and denominational heads in the critical leadership opportunity before them.

"It is good to be with the fathers of the church in Kenya, meeting together in harmony and unity when so many things in your country are in crisis," he said. "This could be the Kenyan church's finest hour, and a step toward revival—not to retreat, not to divide, but to shine.

"We must never let politics or anything else divide us," said Warren. "Our message is, 'Overcome evil with good.' You don't overcome evil by protesting, marching or demonstrating.

"God is softening the hearts of people across this country; don't miss this opportunity by focusing on politics," Warren explained. "There is only one thing that will unite this nation, and it is not politics—it is the Church, your church.

"People are most interested in spiritual things when they are in transition or tension," Warren added. "Don't look at it as a breakdown, but rather as a breakthrough. This opportunity for renewal and revival will depend on where you lead your people. You need to help them lay things down and pray them up and to build bridges, not walls.

Warren concluded: "Despite our different denominations, we need to speak with one voice the answer to this predicament. We need boldness to proclaim love in the midst of hate; unity in the middle of disunity; direction in the center of confusion; understanding where there has been misunderstanding; and forgiveness in the face of hurt and pain."

When the Kenyan church leaders heard about their counterparts in neighboring countries uniting together to make Rwanda and Uganda Purpose Driven nations by conducting "40 Days of Purpose" training in most of their churches, they, too, invited Warren and his team back to make Kenya the third country to embrace these principles on a national scale.

As he did in both Uganda and Rwanda earlier on the trip, Warren concluded his visit before departing for the U.S. by addressing a dinner of successful business leaders, encouraging them to use their resources and influence for God and for good.

"You don't have to see eye-to-eye to move forward," Warren said. "At this point, what is needed is for someone to absorb the pain. Retaliation only leads to escalation and never makes the problem better. What is needed now is for people to not identify with a particular tribe or party, but with the mantra, 'I am Kenyan.'"

Warren left Nairobi for Washington, D.C., where he will give the closing plenary address at the national preaching conference on Tuesday evening. Next week, April 16 and 17, he will conduct nine pastors' rallies in all five boroughs of New York City in preparation for a city-wide "40 Days of Purpose" campaign in September.

Source: ASSIST News Service

Experts Discover, Develop Formulaic Ratio of How Many Positive Words it Takes to Offset a Negative Word

We have all learnt the need and importance of speaking positive words and words of faith - because we shall be satisfied with the fruit of our lips and death and life are in the power of the tongue. (Prov 18:20-21).

So, we need to always speak faith filled words, in fact as God does, we need to call those things that be not as though they were (Romans 4:17).

So now science is proving that we need more positive words to counter every negative word. Isn't that amazing. Science is now discovering what God has been trying to tell us for years. Speak faith - for without Faith it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). One needs to consciously train themselves to speak faith filled words, as this world we live in is negatively charge so we need more positive charge to overcome it's effects.

Read more:

Experts Discover, Develop Formulaic Ratio of How Many Positive Words it Takes to Offset a Negative Word
Teresa Neumann (April 6, 2008)

It takes more positive, affirming words to offset negative criticisms. Practical tips given to develop positivity between spouses include: "Compliment your spouse in front of others—including the children. Don't pour it on thick; keep it true and sincere. It's better, but not necessary, if your mate hears your praise. You're developing a habit."

EDITOR'S NOTE: I am a huge believer in being careful about the words we speak, to ourselves, and to others. I'm always telling my husband and kids, "With just His words, God created the heavens and earth; we are made in His image, and our words have power too, so be careful what you say!" The Bible calls us to choose our words wisely, speaking words of healing. Certainly, the world is filled with so much of the opposite; it behooves God's people to speak words of life—we all so desperately need it. Science once again seems to be confirming what the Bible teaches, as the following article reveals. Before you read it, consider these verses below—favorites of mine—from the book of Proverbs (NKJV). –Aimee Herd, BCN.

"There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health." –Prov. 12:18

"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit." –Prov.15:4

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." –Prov. 18:21

Christianity Today has published an article by Peggy Bert on the power of words and how they affect relationships. Bert is a writer and speaker who has been married for 43 years.

Bert notes studies conducted by Dr. John Cacioppo of the University of Chicago which have shown what he calls 'the negativity bias' of the brain. "That's why personal insults or criticism hit us harder and stay with us longer," says Bert.

Bert also asserts that we have a "built-in partiality toward negative information," but that negatives increase disproportionately over positives.

In other words, she says, "It's not a one-to-one ratio; one positive cannot offset one negative," giving the example of a wife thanking her husband for helping her with a chore and then five minutes later criticizing him for not doing something.

The negative, she notes, drowns out the positive, and "our brain needs a higher number of positive entries to counterbalance this built-in negativity bias....Several small, frequent, positive acts pack more punch than one giant-size positive. The size of the positive doesn't count; quantity does. It's strictly a numbers game."

The formula, researchers have reportedly concluded, is a ratio of 2-to-1. It takes two positives to offset one negative, and some believe the ratio should be 5-to-1 for married couples.

To read more of Bert's research and observations and tips on cultivating the use of positive words to change bad habits and strengthen relationships, (they include making lists, practicing "daily doubles," giving "high-fives," complimenting and not interrupting your spouse, thankfulness and appreciation, thinking before you speak, and a good dose of humor) click on the link provided.

We have our work cut out for us, don't we....?

Source: Peggy Bert - Christianity Today