Let us promote family values in 2010
Dec 31, 2009
THE Christmas and New Year story is one about the family. The Biblical characters in the story, namely Joseph, Mary and Jesus are all examples of family life. Joseph is portrayed as the faithful young man who proposes to a virgin — Mary.
By Dr. Joseph Serwadda
THE Christmas and New Year story is one about the family. The Biblical characters in the story, namely Joseph, Mary and Jesus are all examples of family life. Joseph is portrayed as the faithful young man who proposes to a virgin — Mary.
Jesus, the baby, the intelligent pre-teenager, the young man serving his dad as a co-carpenter eventually becomes the vicarious saviour.
The first challenge we face as a nation is living as a unit. Experiencing life as a family must become our obsession. Team spirit and team work must become a way of life for 2010. Unity in diversity must prevail. Parties, groups, clubs and faiths must switch to a well-calculated communal drive into becoming a unit.
Then Christmas will not be a season or day, Joy to the World will not just be a song, but an experience to cherish.
Secondly, the world is starved of people who can be trusted.
The overriding strength of Jesus family was fidelity, a very rare character quality indeed. People’s promises can no longer be considered serious. Marriages are crumbling from unfaithfulness. Political alliances are failing because intrigue is inevitability. Kingdoms are threatened because the vocabulary of loyalty is equated with the size of the king’s purse.
Kickbacks are no longer limited to soccer games, but extend to public office and social services too. Corruption prowls from bedrooms to offices, from subject to chief, from disciple to mentor, from church to military barracks. Wickedness, vice and evil behavioural proportions would tip any scale.
Thirdly, this passing year has offered Uganda tremendous breakthroughs, among which is the relative peace in the northern region, the recognition of the born-again faith, the signing of the East African Community charter, the historical President Museveni and Kabaka Mutebi meeting, the passing of the Land Bill and the recapture of the CECAFA cup.
The Senior Challenge Cup would be considered nothing, compared to the backdrop of the Temangalo saga, Kampala City riots, motor accidents, arson cases, CHOGM misappropriation of funds, acid attacks, Kazini’s death and a whole lot more.
HIV/AIDS continues to threaten human existence and in the case of Uganda, there is another killer — malaria. I keep thinking that AIDS can be stopped, by having safe and protected sex using the ABC acronym.
Maybe we need to reassert our resolve and emphasise the first ingredient in the fight, namely abstinence. Can we get our daughters and young men to say ‘no’ to pressure?
Can we remind the married men and women of this generation to behave and for once be faithful? Can those who profess Christ as their saviour keep their vows of chastity? While I commend scientists for their efforts to find a solution to HIV/AIDS, I do not envisage either vaccine or cure coming out of our puffed scientific world this year. Until that happens, let us all exercise fidelity.
The year 2010 looks friendly and very inviting. Walls of hindrance, limitation and blockage will crumble before us. I envisage Uganda registering significant achievements in legislature, foreign relations, moral correction and human rights.
The Lord has constantly dealt with me to in the area of governance and national policy over some controversial issues and shown me that, for once, there is going to be a listening ear.
I implore the Parliament to listen to reason and pass the Anti-homosexual Bill with a slight revision on the capital punishment. While we wait, happy new year.
The writer is the presiding apostle, born-again faith
THE Christmas and New Year story is one about the family. The Biblical characters in the story, namely Joseph, Mary and Jesus are all examples of family life. Joseph is portrayed as the faithful young man who proposes to a virgin — Mary.
Jesus, the baby, the intelligent pre-teenager, the young man serving his dad as a co-carpenter eventually becomes the vicarious saviour.
The first challenge we face as a nation is living as a unit. Experiencing life as a family must become our obsession. Team spirit and team work must become a way of life for 2010. Unity in diversity must prevail. Parties, groups, clubs and faiths must switch to a well-calculated communal drive into becoming a unit.
Then Christmas will not be a season or day, Joy to the World will not just be a song, but an experience to cherish.
Secondly, the world is starved of people who can be trusted.
The overriding strength of Jesus family was fidelity, a very rare character quality indeed. People’s promises can no longer be considered serious. Marriages are crumbling from unfaithfulness. Political alliances are failing because intrigue is inevitability. Kingdoms are threatened because the vocabulary of loyalty is equated with the size of the king’s purse.
Kickbacks are no longer limited to soccer games, but extend to public office and social services too. Corruption prowls from bedrooms to offices, from subject to chief, from disciple to mentor, from church to military barracks. Wickedness, vice and evil behavioural proportions would tip any scale.
Thirdly, this passing year has offered Uganda tremendous breakthroughs, among which is the relative peace in the northern region, the recognition of the born-again faith, the signing of the East African Community charter, the historical President Museveni and Kabaka Mutebi meeting, the passing of the Land Bill and the recapture of the CECAFA cup.
The Senior Challenge Cup would be considered nothing, compared to the backdrop of the Temangalo saga, Kampala City riots, motor accidents, arson cases, CHOGM misappropriation of funds, acid attacks, Kazini’s death and a whole lot more.
HIV/AIDS continues to threaten human existence and in the case of Uganda, there is another killer — malaria. I keep thinking that AIDS can be stopped, by having safe and protected sex using the ABC acronym.
Maybe we need to reassert our resolve and emphasise the first ingredient in the fight, namely abstinence. Can we get our daughters and young men to say ‘no’ to pressure?
Can we remind the married men and women of this generation to behave and for once be faithful? Can those who profess Christ as their saviour keep their vows of chastity? While I commend scientists for their efforts to find a solution to HIV/AIDS, I do not envisage either vaccine or cure coming out of our puffed scientific world this year. Until that happens, let us all exercise fidelity.
The year 2010 looks friendly and very inviting. Walls of hindrance, limitation and blockage will crumble before us. I envisage Uganda registering significant achievements in legislature, foreign relations, moral correction and human rights.
The Lord has constantly dealt with me to in the area of governance and national policy over some controversial issues and shown me that, for once, there is going to be a listening ear.
I implore the Parliament to listen to reason and pass the Anti-homosexual Bill with a slight revision on the capital punishment. While we wait, happy new year.
The writer is the presiding apostle, born-again faith