Shalom, that is a Hebrew greeting which means peace. Today I would like to tell you more about the Ministry of Reconciliation. You might be conversant with the Ministry of Reconciliation podcast and also with the 40 Days of Reconciliation. And for those who have seen the book, also Awake and Reconcile book. Today I'm putting emphasis on the inspiration of the Ministry of Reconciliation. And I want to begin by telling you that I'm so happy. Today I was able to install the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary. Why did I? Am I so proud to have done that? I'm trying to minimize the use of actually I am trying to remove the use of artificial intelligence in my writing work. So my writing work has to be original, uh, from pen to audio to video. I don't want AI there. So everyone should be comfortable with my language, it's from me. Um, but I also use artificial intelligence in uh in partnership with a company called Podmatch. Uh they are the ones who help to who help us to know who else is doing or what is like what is similar to what we are doing. Uh so I appreciate Podmatch. I'm proud of them. I think I this is about the third episode when I am really uh emphasizing the significance of their work. So yes, uh I still use artificial intelligence, AI, but uh not in my writing. So every work on the website or in the uh mainly on the website, because AI is involved actually when translating audio recorded back into the text. So AI is very proud of themselves, they want to make sure they edit your work in the end you lose your original human context. So here, what I'm giving you, what I want to be sharing, is the original human context. I'm trying to be real so that when you're reading, you find it's my language. I also want to re-emphasize my work uh that it is not in any way involving politics or religious talk, even when this is Christian talk, it has nothing to do with spreading religious differences or political differences. I want to emphasize if you want those, please go over the internet and search, you'll find those groups, whatever country you may be in. But the Ministry of Reconciliation, together with the website that is the mother of all these programs and resources at tune40.com, we do not promote political differences, we don't spread political messages or divisive uh religious messages. We believe we have a message to share with the whole world, and we don't think that it's our call to uh increase on the problems that the world already has. And obviously, as you see the title, you cannot spread the message of reconciliation and again be involved in matters that divide God's people. Personally, my writing career started in 1996 when I started writing a small book about the Holy Spirit. However, that project failed. I thank God it failed because I think it was shallow. If I were to write about the Holy Spirit, it would be more in-depth. Uh, to date, I actually didn't lose everything. You discover both my books talk about the Holy Spirit. So I could say the book itself, entitled The Holy Spirit, didn't succeed, but at least I was able to pull out a topic on the Holy Spirit. Even in the 40 days of reconciliation and in the Ministry of Reconciliation, we emphasize the work of the Holy Spirit. For those of you who are following us, you'll be seeing that. Uh, later on, uh I became busy. Uh, of course, I started working in 1998 in my hometown, and obviously there were so many opportunities. I enjoyed that, but later uh I had to transition or to begin working with the non-governmental sector, and uh I moved to the city. Then in the city, my work lifestyle was characterized by uh working hard, working overtime, uh sleeping late because I had to work, I had to advance in studies, uh, and then church on Sunday morning. Uh little that I had, then I obviously maybe go to school again in the evening. So you you'll find that was really uh busy work. Continued that trend until I discovered there was a gap. And I knew even when I work with the organization, non-government organizational sector, I actually uh I wasn't really fulfilled. To to some other people, that is fulfilling enough. They their dreams are achieved, but not everyone would feel like that, and I am one of those who would never be satisfied with that. I felt there was something that was missing, and as I was searching for it, I found that I needed to find time for what I enjoy doing most without compromising my work life. So, in other words, I'm reducing on the time I use, private time that I use, uh, for other things, I'm optimizing that in order to make myself feel at home, feel at peace, find that fulfilling, find that calling, find that purpose. Because when we work, we are working for money. And I want to tell you, there is no other life after this life except for when we rest in our father's kingdom. Yes, indeed, there is uh heaven and there is that time of rest. But I don't think I subscribe to the theory that you have to work hard and prepare for going, for dying. No, I think we must optimize, we must live in peace, we must really find our purpose in this earth right now. If we can do that, then obviously there is also space in the other one. But if we waste our time here on earth, then how are you sure that there is space for you in heaven when our trial we've not been very effective in it? So after that review in 20 uh 12, uh incidentally that was August uh 2012, I started writing a book, Discerning the Times, and it was published in 2013, and then the next one also published in 2014, took a break but continued writing. I'm trying to tell you that my writing has not started just recently, it's been there for many years, and has never been a religious issue or a political issue, and therefore, and it's not going to change. I have a calling, I have a ministry, and this has nothing to do with what's going on anywhere in the world. I come from the uh the Great Lakes region, I come from East Africa, and historically, this is the region that is politically known to be insecure. And I want to be a part of those people who choose to continue spreading the message of peace no matter the circumstances, and not to try to be angry at what we see. Isn't that the message of reconciliation? But being careful to maintain the message that everyone is looking for. And one will ask, then what is the role of the church? Uh I have uh a very wonderful experience of mine without criticism or judgment. I'm really happy with the results, I'm happy with who I am. But a few things about myself. Uh, I at one point I felt like I needed to save money and go back home and join politics from the grassroots. But I looked around and I thought, really, this this system where the the voters indirectly they have been trained to accept to be bought uh uh alcohol and then they they are influenced to vote for those who buy alcohol for them. And for me, in my upbringing, I did not see that as something that it was worth doing because you can never make a decision. Uh you can never take gifts in order to make a decision. But also then, if you can't do it, then you shouldn't enforce it. So I've told myself, no, no, no, no, no, no, not under these systems. Uh, personally, I think democracy itself has no problem, but uh I will not interfere with those who promote democracy because there is nothing possible better than that uh in the world today, in the world of human thinking, but also on the other hand, uh it doesn't mean that you really don't get feedback that world of uh bribery, uh or maybe uh it's good to appease people, maybe not too sure, but uh trying to do wrong things in order to make people make choices is something that really uh wasn't something for me to go for. So and again at some point later I felt uh a great urge to join uh full-time church ministry, but it didn't flow very well because I felt that no, I I possibly need to have a dialogue first, although I was not very elaborate on that, and uh I I tickled a few people, of course, these are important people, and thought somebody would call me for a dialogue, so I think they might be thinking I was stubborn, and probably I might have been, but I feared conflicting with my own people, uh especially now that I felt like yes, growing up as a pastor's child, I knew that church is great, but I always felt that maybe church doesn't need me, and I also felt that government itself, I mean sorry, I mean politics also. They don't for them it's even worse because I I've always thought they don't even think I exist. So those two, interestingly, today I don't know whether God will change my mind tomorrow. Uh, I'm not interested in that. That would require God to speak with his voice. Uh I have come to a time to conclude that I don't think that is my area of coding right now because I don't feel that it's a time to do too much planting. I feel it's a time of harvest. I feel it's a time to correct what is going wrong. And without judgment, I feel like there is something else to be done, and I'm happy where I am. I also need to share with you another experience that I've actually not been able to, despite working very hard beyond time. Uh, I have witnesses on that. I really work very hard. I have credible work. Uh, I've worked with NGOs, uh, then I uh sometime I also had part-time consultancy to upgrade my skills, uh, upgrade my reasoning in management. Um, and right now I I work with a non-government organization, but also find time to run this podcast uh and also make sure that at least there is one person per day that is hearing this message, is being encouraged. Uh, and before I continue, if you're one of them, I would love that you share because that would encourage me. But not only that, it also would encourage me as I pray for uh all other things, other concerns I may have. It's important also add you in prayer without promising too much because it's God who hears, it's God who answers. Yes, so it would be nice to share. I don't mean that if people don't communicate, I would be discouraged. It is impossible. Uh, but I would like people to let me know how they are doing, uh, how this program has helped them. Later at the end, I'll be showing you how you can find ways of engaging with this ministry when I am finishing uh this episode. But I also wanted to share with you that I'm so happy, I'm really happy with the experiences that I have gone through because knowledge is good, but combining it with experience is gold. One thing I have learned and I cherish and I thank God for is that I have learned how people feel when they have everything they need, and I have also learned and seen how people feel when they feel that everything around them is actually working against it. And I thank God for that experience. It is a life-changing experience, and now I want to re-emphasize that where we are today, the ministry of reconciliation is very significant, as we will find in the book of 2 Corinthians chapter 6, from verse 11 to 21. It's uh Paul the apostle who is challenging us on the significance of the ministry of reconciliation. So let me tell you, when God, okay, before Adam sinned, I I have talked about that story over and over. It usually starts every writing I begin with. So this time I'm not going to take a lot of time on this, so I'm going to summarize. So in the beginning, everything was really great. Fellowship with God was unique in the Garden of Ven, the Garden of Resources. But people strayed away from him, they went asunder, they were divided, and that gap needed reconciliation. So the coming of Jesus Christ is for our reconciliation with God. That's why the scripture says, because He sees us, He saw us in suffering, He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, and for the whole world, for everyone, even these religious leaders who think that they have to hate those who came after them and those who come after them, uh, those who they found, uh, and also the other religious leaders who hate other religious leaders in different denominations. So, of course, those are acts of human nature. Whenever you see them, I am not saying rise against your leaders, please don't, but try to be different. So the Ministry of Reconciliation teaches us that Jesus has come to reconcile us with God. And you've not seen uh a father who encourages children to fight. So it shows you that if the father, if children wander away from father, exactly the way even Eve wandered away from God's presence and uh and and was separated from Adam, who could possibly have helped her to remember. So this kind of separation and dividing ourselves is is actually an indicator that we have also wandered away from the presence of God. That's why we behave the way we want. So, and also remember, not everybody read is from God because we are in a different timeline. If you are reading one of my books, the books will be saying we are in the end times. So I don't want to scare you with a lot of knowledge on the scriptures uh or beforehand, but what I'm saying is the time we are in today, you will have both what we call the goats and the sheep. Goats are nice because we eat them in East Africa, but there is a huge difference between the goats when you read the Bible, their behaviors are different. Uh, and the goats, or maybe we call them the wolves in the sheep skin. So you see them, they look like uh sheep, but they are actually not. So those are worlds, they eat, they eat the lambs, okay? So we know these are the times, so there are those who actually are never going to reconcile with God at all, and we're not saying they can never change, but we also have to understand that the time we are in is very difficult. It will be more difficult for everyone who wants to understand the purposes of God while they don't want to change. So the Ministry of Reconciliation brings us to God, helps us to see God, helps us to reunite with God, teaches us to love God's people, teaches us that stewardship element that reminds us that we have to always take care of God's environment, what he has created. Other benefits of these programs, they help us cherish, even when you find that they are more spiritual oriented, they also cherish uh that strategic exemplary leadership. And then also on sustainable resource management. We will see later that true wisdom is from the God who created us, He gave human beings wisdom. There are elements in our lives that are that's why you will find that many people are able to reason differently, do differently certain things, endure differently. It's because they have allowed God's Holy Spirit to take over the leadership of the personality. I'm not saying that we should go on and live carelessly and control our lives away from God and we say the Holy Spirit is leading us. What I'm saying is we need to learn to be submissive to God, take responsibility. That's what we are talking about. The third element after reconciling with God and His people, the third one is leadership, it is stewardship. Be responsible for your thoughts, for your acts, for outcomes of your decisions. And the I think I have to end here. Uh, just a warning that these messages are not filtered. Kindly when you use these, don't use them for political or religious differences because these messages are for everyone, it is for the person who annoys you as much as for you who feel that you are annoyed, and it is for every person. Uh, kindly don't abuse these messages uh for political or religious purposes, wherever you may be. And I'm writing this from the East Africa region, and uh, and we are not going to stop, we're going to continue. Uh, this message has to continue. So it's important that no one confuses these messages with other warfare messages that are political, uh politically driven, and accept my position to not interfere. Everybody has their calling. I have not been called to address some of the problems in the Great Lakes region, except for one thing that is on my heart to continue the message of reconciliation and to remain who I am. And I am praying for everyone, and I want to re-emphasize: I am not a person who still sees things the worldly way. So don't think I'm not concerned about things that happen wherever you may be in your countries, those who are listening, but I promise you, I'm not going to abuse my work. I have a special calling, I will stay focused. I don't want anyone to challenge me, I don't want anyone to say, Emmanuel, stop what you're doing. And that's why I'm saying I'm not going to go off the purpose of the course. I am going to continue doing this work as I have told you from 1996 doing this work. And you see, evidence of this work is that no one can tell you that I ever spoke against them. And even now, no threats, nothing. But I know everybody wants everyone who has an opportunity to speak to speak sometimes. And I don't think that that is my calling. And I don't think anyone should be annoyed with. Me and I don't want anyone to think I'm not praying. Of course, I am, but much more so, my mouth can only be opened if the Lord spoke. If He doesn't speak, who am I to declare? Actually, allow me to warn those who use the name of Christ to utter out uh communications. Please don't utter out anything that God hasn't given you. It's a shame. Sorry, I don't want to embarrass anyone, but it's not uh nice. Okay, let's use the children's language right now. It's not nice to say something very harshly annoyed. And when you are going to say sorry tomorrow, either publicly or maybe in a private encounter with the people you were attacking. It may be counterattacks, it may be that people are being provoked, but I think sometimes we work like children. Somebody says a word and you're provoked. And let's treasure what we have faced when we grow up with our brothers and sisters. You know, that's what I like about brothers and sisters. Those uh that time of tension, it is very bad in families, but it helps us to grow. And also, uh a friend of mine one time told me that in marriage, people usually in marriage learn a lot. When you choose to navigate in marriage, the life of marriage with your spouse without running away, happily married, you will learn how to deal with challenge. So you will realize if you're going to react to anything, then that's not healthy. And again, I want to advise if you feel that you've been called, what have you been called for? The for Jesus Christ. Did you know that Jesus Christ actually did not die for Israel? Did you know that? Go read, read your Bibles and tell me, did Jesus Christ die for Israel? Did God call Jesus Christ to die for Israel? Has God called you to really die for your nation? There's something that you're not doing that God wants you to do, and if we all do our part, he will do the other part. The problem is that when our answers delay, we seem to go ahead and do the other part. That's why you'll find that when people both religiously today it's a shame. And again, I undo that word because I don't want to embarrass anyone. It's funny, and maybe not funny, it's very absurd that worried over. I'm not saying talking about only one religion. You'll find people are threatening each other, uh, those in authority and those who are not. And what is more interesting is that all these entities can honor, they are all promising to hurt people. So it re-emphasizes our work, the work that I do, plus the work that other people are doing. We have religious leaders, uh, we also have independent people like me, and there are many others, you will be seeing them. I cherish them, and what is key here is that for us we are never divided. Just try and find out, learn about us, we are never divided. It may be somebody in India we are speaking the same language. So may God bless you and thank you so much. Have a wonderful week. These episodes that are produced by me specifically, uh, either me or somebody who is a special guest but continuing with the same track. Uh, they will be weekly every Monday, midnight East Africa time. Or that is the same time uh as Wednesday 5 p.m. for New York time and New Zealand time that is 9 a.m. on, or that would be on Monday still, and then the interviews continue for the global community who are in similar ministries or doing the same podcasts uh or have written books that are similar to our work. Uh so there is also an opportunity for those interviews for those specifically. The the time is changing for their publication, it's changing to every Thursday midnight. Still, the timeline is the same. You can find that information on our website at tune40.com at U N E40 at tune40.com uh on about page. That's where you'll find that information, and that's when you can find more information on how to connect with us. Thank you so much, and God bless you. All right.