Amnon Jakony’s Post

Beginner’s Guide to Kwanzaa

A beginner’s guide to Kwanzaa https://lnkd.in/gyQqKKnr

In this powerful season finale, Matt sits down with the legendary religion news reporter and author Bob Smietana to explore the pressing realities facing churches today. From demographic shifts to the challenges of revitalization, Bob shares insights from his acclaimed book, Reorganized Religion, and personal experiences with church closures. This episode is packed with heartfelt stories, actionable insights, and a message of hope for communities navigating change. Key Topics Covered: The decline of church attendance: What's driving the numbers? Demographic and cultural changes impacting church vitality. Stories of resilience: Churches finding new purposes through partnerships and creativity. When it's time to close: The emotional and practical realities. Bob’s personal reflections on his own church's closure. Highlights You Won’t Want to Miss: [5:15] Why the American church boom of the mid-20th century is over. [15:50] The “Walmart effect” of church consolidation and its impact on smaller congregations. [28:30] What makes a “good ending” for a church, and how planning ahead can make all the difference. [35:40] Heartwarming stories of community and music from Bob’s former church. [46:10] How one pastor helped his congregation embrace closure with dignity. 3 Key Takeaways: 1. churches are closing mainly due to changes in demographics and society.  What worked to grow churches in prior decades no longer works, and it is often difficult for churches with older buildings to adapt to a new environment. 2. It's better when a church's building, property, and assets stay connected to the mission when transferring ownership. 3. Bob reports on and has written about many churches that have closed.  When he and his wife experienced a closing with the congregation they cared about, they experienced a sense of loss and grief.  But they also felt sent forth by a community that helped shape their lives.  Maybe a church can still be about sending long after it has stopped being able to bring people into a building. Resources Mentioned: Reorganized Religion: The Reshaping of the American Church and Why it Matters by Bob Smietana The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back? by Jim Davis The Good Friday Collabrative's 5 Stages of Church Closure Share this episode with friends and fellow churchgoers to spark meaningful conversations about the future of faith communities.    

Happy Kwanzaa! Curious about Kwanzaa and how to celebrate? Check out our guide on each of the seven principles to celebrate each day: Dec 26 - Umoja (Unity): To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race. Dec 27 - Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves. Dec 28 - Ujima (Collective Work & Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together. Dec 29 - Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together. Dec 30 - Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. Dec 31 - Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. Jan 1 - Imani (Faith): To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

I am continually struck by methodology and results of surveys about #religiosity in America that almost exclusively ask only about institutional affiliation rather that the ideals of various faith traditions. The interpretations almost always conclude that religiosity is declining because institutional affiliation is declining. Implicitly they seem to be asking people which faith #tradition is right (for them) and, by implication, which ones are wrong. Any such comparison has to be the most absurd assumption in the entire history of humanity. My own experience with other people who pointedly serve others is that they find validity and inspiration in multiple faith traditions. A more fundamental #truth that these surveys miss may be that America is becoming more interfaith at the level of individuals, potentially as much as we inescapably have been as a society. The ideals of Americans in service humbly reflect the common ideals of our most prominent faith traditions. The profundity of their impact on the lives of their neighbors requires no institutional imprimatur.

*PHANEROO~DEVOTION* Saturday, 28th December 2024 Apostle Grace Lubega *Proverbs 23:7 (KJV):* For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. *THE GATE OF THE MIND* The Hebrew word for thinketh in our theme scripture is sha'ar, which, among other things, means to act as a gatekeeper. Directly translated, the verse would read, "As a man opens the gate (of the mind), so he is." You are what you have opened yourself to. A closer study of this scripture reveals that what you think is determined by what you allow into your mind. Consequently, you are largely a result of the things you have let into your mind over the years. When you understand this, you will appreciate the importance of guarding your mind. Not everything said by your friends, the media, family, or community is for you to meditate on and digest. Some things must be deleted and rejected the moment they appear in your mind—such as thoughts of illness, failure, or early death. Always remember, as you open your mind to certain things, you become what you open to. Similarly, as you close out certain things from your life, certain realities will close out from your life. *FURTHER STUDY:* Proverbs 4:23 (CEB); Philippians 4:8 *GOLDEN NUGGET:* Always remember, as you open your mind to certain things, you become what you open to. Similarly, as you close out certain things from your life, certain realities will close out from your life. *PRAYER:* Loving Father, I thank You for this Word. The wisdom to guard my mind actively works in my life, enabling me to discern what to receive and what to reject. I choose to think on what is true, pure, of good report, and full of virtue. In Jesus' name, Amen. https://lnkd.in/gepdN8tP *#PhanerooDevotion📜*

*PHANEROO~DEVOTION* Thursday, 3rd October 2024 Apostle Grace Lubega *Mark 4:12 (KJV):* That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. *THE TEMPLATE OF CONVERSION* All conversion requires seeing, hearing and understanding. Delays in breakthroughs are grounded in the failure of these spiritual faculties. If you have been struggling with some malady that seems incurable or find yourself in a vicious cycle of one form of struggle you must ask God, with all candour, ‘What have I failed to hear, what am I not seeing? What have I not understood?’ I must also add that it is the zenith of spiritual irresponsibility when we do not seek God for His opinion on the persistent and recurrent issues in our lives, burying our heads in the sand in the vain hope that they will eventually disappear. It is hopeless to default to self blame or laying the cause of your troubles at the door of anyone around you or accusing the world of not devoting more time to making you happier. Flash that torch inwards and ask the Master what it is you must hear from Him, what you must see through the lens of divine vision and what you must understand. The assurance in our theme scripture is that once you see what you need to see, hear what you must hear and receive understaning, you will be converted– the answer will come. Hallelujah! *FURTHER STUDY:* Isaiah 6:9-10; John 5:25 *GOLDEN NUGGET:* All conversion requires seeing, hearing and understanding. Delays in breakthroughs are grounded in the failure of these spiritual faculties. *PRAYER:* Loving Father, I thank You for this truth. Thank You for the revelation that is planted in my spirit this day. The eyes of my understanding are flooded with light and I see from the right vantage point what I must see. My hearing is sharpened and I hear Your voice with the clarity that distinguishes all sounds. Your Word says that You have given me understanding. I walk in its fullness daily, in Jesus’ name, Amen. bit.ly/ThePowerOfAGoodName *#PhanerooDevotion📜*

PHANEROO~DEVOTION Sunday, 30th June 2024 Apostle Grace Lubega 1 Corinthians 14:40 (KJV):Let all things be done decently and in order. THE ORDER OF THINGS When some people read our theme scripture, they look at it in the context of order in service only. It is interpreted in the sense of the program for a church service: praise and worship, announcements, and the preaching of the Word. However, there is more to it than that! The language of the scripture is ‘let ALL things be done decently and in order.’ There is an order to spiritual things, the realm of the spirit, and even to life in general. For example, how do you treat a minister who is higher in spiritual rank than yourself? How do you respond to your leaders when they offend you? In Ecclesiastes 10:4, the Bible says, “If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.” How do you treat the elderly? The order is laid out in 1 Timothy 5:2. The Bible says we ought to treat the elderly women as mothers. How do you treat the less privileged person on the street? There is an order to that too. In Hebrews 13:2, the order requires that you “be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Some frustrations in life are born out of abusing this order. Maturity in the Christian walk demands that you understand the protocol of life and the spirit. Hallelujah! FURTHER STUDY:Hebrews 13:2; 1 Timothy 5:2 GOLDEN NUGGET:There is an order to spiritual things, the realm of the spirit, and even to life in general. Some frustrations in life are born out of abusing this order. PRAYER: Loving Father, I thank You for this truth. Thank You for wisdom that points me to how I must live my life and keep from the paths of error. I do not breach spiritual protocol because my spirit has been tamed to understand how I treat every person I encounter and who crosses my path, in Jesus’ name, Amen. https://lnkd.in/dejy_RF2 #PhanerooDevotion📜

I have learned something great today thanks to my friend. Deep appreciation to her. She stood in solidarity with me during difficult times. *** ChatGPT The similarity between solitude and solidarity lies in their shared etymological roots and the deeper philosophical connection between the two concepts. Here’s an exploration: 1. Etymological Connection Both words are derived from the Latin root “sol-”, meaning “alone” or “whole.” • Solitude: Comes from the Latin word solitudo, meaning “a state of being alone.” • Solidarity: Comes from the Latin word solidus, meaning “whole, undivided, or firm.” This shared root reflects the idea of wholeness, whether it’s the wholeness of an individual in solitude or the collective wholeness in solidarity. 2. Philosophical Relationship Despite their apparent opposition—one focusing on the self, the other on the collective—solitude and solidarity are often interconnected in meaningful ways. Solitude as a Foundation for Solidarity • Spending time in solitude allows individuals to reflect deeply, develop empathy, and understand their values. This self-awareness becomes the foundation for forming genuine connections with others. • For example, someone who has reflected on their own struggles can better empathize with and support others in a shared cause. Solidarity Requires Individual Wholeness • To stand in solidarity, individuals must often draw on their inner strength and clarity, which solitude helps cultivate. • A community is strongest when it consists of whole, self-aware individuals contributing authentically. 3. Symbolic Paradox At first glance, solitude (aloneness) and solidarity (togetherness) seem contradictory. However, they complement each other: • Solitude is about embracing yourself. • Solidarity is about embracing others. Both require understanding of self and others, creating a balance between individuality and community. Practical Connection Think of solitude and solidarity as two sides of the same coin: • Solitude fosters the self-awareness needed to connect meaningfully with others. • Solidarity offers the sense of belonging that reinforces and enriches the individual’s inner life. This nuanced relationship shows that the journey to solidarity often begins with solitude.

*PHANEROO~DEVOTION* Friday, 29th November 2024 Apostle Grace Lubega *Ecclesiastes 5:1 (MSG):* Watch your step when you enter God’s house. Enter to learn. That’s far better than mindlessly offering a sacrifice, doing more harm than good. *ATTENTIVE TO GOD I* God is in the business of speaking to us through things that are familiar. However, because we are so used to these things, we may miss God’s voice, assuming we already know what He is saying. Today, I urge you to allow God to teach you, even through what is familiar. You may feel that you have heard it all, but the sovereign God sees what is lacking in your knowledge, even in what you think you already know. There is always a new angle to a truth you have heard many times, and I assure you, you have never fully grasped it before. Don’t tune out or let your mind wander just because the topic seems familiar, or because you can recite the related scriptures in a sermon perfectly. God is ready to speak to you, even through the most familiar passages. He can show you a new dimension to what you have read countless times. That is His way and pattern. Hallelujah! *FURTHER STUDY:* 2 Peter 1:2; 1 Corinthians 2:10 (AMPC) *GOLDEN NUGGET:* God is ready to speak to you, even through the most familiar passages. He can show you a new dimension to what you have read countless times. That is His way and pattern. *PRAYER:* Loving Father, I thank You for this truth. You are truly bottomless. I will never yield to the assumption that I have seen or heard enough of You. I choose to be amazed by You daily, for You are full of wonders. My hunger for You grows every day, and no amount of knowledge will ever diminish it. In Jesus' name, Amen. https://lnkd.in/gP5HH2f4 *#PhanerooDevotion📜*