SETTING GOALS IN LIFE by Sir. AZGARD STEVENE

The most difficult question to students or any youth who want to live a clear, victorious and prosperous life in his/her future is, "WHO DO I WANT TO BE?"

One point I want to start with is this: LIFE HAS A MEANING, YES, IT HAS A PURPOSE! While living we must identify what our meaning of life is before we die, or, at best, before we are of evening age. Every single of us has something he/she would like to achieve which uniquely identify you, a goal that you want to achieve before your days are over in this beautiful world.

It is a good idea for you that you're reflecting on this today, that's why you're reading this epistle. I say so because the timing of setting big goals is when you're young. At this moment to you the sky is the limit, you can be whatever you like, and you have time, energy, spirit and opportunities before you. I guarantee you as time goes and you grow older things becomes thinner and narrower. You will not talk of the sky but your own arms length as the limit. You begin to have social responsibility that ties you around; your own energy got spent reducing your speed every day. So while still have all the advantages on your side, PLAN, set your goals and keep focused to achieve them. It is not, I must caution you, an easy task. It involves keeping away from things you may like now, it calls for high sense or discipline. But then, at all standards, it is necessary thing to do!

Somebody said this statement to me while I was just form three at Galanos Sec School some years ago; "If you are not handsome at the age of 20s, if you are not strong at the age of 30s, if you are not wise at the age of 40s and if you are not rich at the age of 50s, then forget about it". I won’t forget this statement in my entire life; it is a challenging statement to set goals with time. Let me add this to you, "If you fail to plan, you're planning to fail".

My dear, it is both important and must to set goals in life, just like the way it is important for driver to know his way when driving. If you don’t have any goal you will not be able to focus on anything. To you everything will be right and you will just do anything. You must learn to dream, set targets and achieve them. For example, college to go, combination to study, where to work, which patterned. All these are life choices and they are made after a thorough consideration and achieved through a planned, organized and coordinated EFFORTS.

HOW TO KNOW OUR GOALS!

This is relatively difficulty process to some people, for others it is easy and straightforward. One may know without even thinking what one want to achieve or what one want to do starting from career, lifestyle, choice of partners etc.

These are things you can use to know your goals, just sit down, and think hard, talk to yourself an important question: "WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE AND TO DO FOR YOU TO BE HAPPY?" Look around you what is it that interests you? Look at the people you look up to and admire and wish you were them, what is it that you like about them? These are some of the questions that may help you. Do not rush take your time to reflect. Talk to people you trust, your parents, teachers, and mentors, people with experience, do your research, and of course, PRAY. (Never do a mistake of telling everybody about your plans; it might keep you in a worse position)

You might ask me this question; "What if I am planning to do something nobody had ever done?" For sure that is the highest degree of thinking, from which, the judge will be GOD and yourself! Just think hard about it, see the end before the beginning, PRAY, and then do it.

It is important to plan because there are things which you can only do once in your entire life time. Be careful therefore to play your cards well and make informed decisions. Once you are clear, you know what you want to be then work for it. Give it all your strength and effort to reaching it. Don’t ever despair, don’t ever say I can’t do this, because it is not true, you can and you must. You may not be genius, but as long as you know what you want, you will put in all that you have to get it. This is the spirit I want young men (ladies and gentlemen) to have.

WHAT DRIVES YOUR LIFE?

There are thousands of circumstances, values and emotions that drive or may drive your life. The common ones are:

Guilt.

A number of people spend their entire life running from regrets and hiding their shame. Guilt driven people are manipulated by memories. Their greatest mistake is that they allow their past to control their future. Unconsciously they are punishing themselves for their past mistakes or considered failures of not to succeed. They believe that they were in the position to succeed but for their own failures to grab opportunities they are back then. Their lives are without a real goal or ambition to look forward to anything. We can logically summarize this as life without purpose.

Resentment and anger.

Some of us are victims; we were hurt in the past. But, instead of releasing the pains through forgiveness, they rehearse in our minds without doing a thing about it. Resentment in nature, scientists so argue, hurts you more than the person you resent (angry with). The offenders may have already forgotten their offence and gone on well with their lives, you continue to stew yourself in pains. Those who hurt you in the past cannot continue hurting you now unless you hold on the pains through resentment.

Fear.

Can come from various sources such as traumatic experiences, unrealistic expectations, highly controlling parents or even genetic predisposition. Irrespective of the source, people whose lives are driven by fear miss a lot in life because they afraid to venture in a try. Instead, they would like to play it safe and clean while maintaining the status quo. Sorry for these people they are self-imprisoned.

Materialism.

Here the desire to acquire becomes the whole goal of their lives. The guiding belief here is that having more will make one happier, more important and more secure. But these are misconceptions. Happiness, importance and security are not the result of material acquisition rather a combination of many, of coerce, material inclusive. We will need social achievements, intellectual satisfaction and spiritual development. It is a combination of all these that can bring eventual joy.

Approval.

Many people, the number here is real great, allow the expectations of others - parents, teachers, sponsors, children or friends - to control their lives. The moment you allow the worry of what others will think of you the life becomes miserable and very hard. It is unfortunate that those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it. "I don’t know all keys to success but one key to failure is to try to please everyone".

The dead end these driving forces will take you is the same; unused potential, unnecessary stress and unfulfilled life. This is not where I would like you to be. Make sure you fight all these forces and decide on your own destiny and be yourself.

Remember:

·       The ultimate choice of whom you want to be is yours; no one will live your life for you.

·       If you do not plan and set goals in advance, the chances are, you will regret when it is a bit too late.

·       You can if you want to do it. (Remember, it is possible, just play your part)

·       If you keep looking ahead you will see the invisible and achieve the so called impossible.

·       You will always need to work on your strategy, your altitude, your spirit and your health.

·       To be positive, turn your mind to positive altitude pattern, see what others don’t see. (see the glass half full not half empty)

·       Do to your level best, and then leave the rest for God.

Success:

See your goals

Understand the obstacles (mission)

Clear your mind of doubts

Create a positive mental picture

Embrace the challenges

Stay on track

Show the world you can do it.

May God's Holy Spirit guide you to understand all these? It is my hope that, by taking all these in actions, you won’t be the same.

Mind you, everything you do need faith, what you see (in your heart) is what will happen; faith. Trust yourself, you can do it.

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Ev. Azgard S. Chamulungwana

sheghwede@yahoo.com
sir.azgard@gmail.com

+255713990607

"THE SPIRIT OF CORRUPTION IN TANZANIA; ITS EFFECTS IN OUR GENERATION AND THE NEXT" ANTI CORRUPTION SEMINAR AT UDOM-SSH LT 2 ON 16th JANUARY, 2011 BY PASTOR GERALD OLE-NGUYAINE

© Rev. Gerald Ole-Nguyaine UDOM January 16, 2011

 THE SPIRIT OF CORRUPTION IN TANZANIA

Its Effects in Our Generation and the Next

What Comes to Mind

When you think of the word “corruption,” many other related ideas come to mind. Let me mention but just a few: bribery, fraud, dishonesty, lack of integrity, crookedness, unfair play, injustice, lies, greed, etc. Corruption takes on many forms and shades.

The Bible Condemns Corruption

No doubt, the Bible condemns corruption. That means it is evil. It is sin. Indeed, corruption is a demonic act of injustice against humanity. Someone said, “Ufisadi ni ufishaji” – meaning, grand corruption is an act of killing. Certainly, it is. Think about it!

Let’s consider a few Scriptures against corruption:

• “A wicked man accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the course of justice” (Prov 17:23).

• “Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous” (Ex 23:8; cf Deut 16:19).

• “Cursed is the man who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person” (Deut 27:25).

• “Extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart” (Ecc 7:7).

• “In you men accept bribes to shed blood; you take usury and excessive interest and make unjust gain from your neighbors by extortion. And you have forgotten me, declares the Sovereign LORD” (Eze 22:12).

• “For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of those who love bribes” (Job 15:34).

• “Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire -- they all conspire together” (Mic 7:3).

• “Through these he [Jesus Christ] has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (2 Pet 1:4).

• Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (Mt 27:3).

• The Jewish leaders tried to bribe the guards at the tomb of Jesus to lie about the disappearance of Jesus’ body (28:12).

• Felix, the governor and also judge, an immoral person who not only stole the wife of Azizus, king of Emesa, Drusilla, but also offered to set the Apostle Paul free for money (Ac 24:26). For not offering bribe, Paul had to remain in prison.

• Simon the sorcerer tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit with money. Peter condemned him saying: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!” (Acts 8:18-24).

I have cited only a few of the Scriptural texts to show that the Bible condemns corruption. And, it is interesting to note that the Hebrew root word for bribery means “ruin.” Surely, bribery and corruption lead to ruin.

Corruption in Tanzania

Corruption is a big problem in Tanzania. You don’t need to be a genius to know that. It may be categorized as petty corruption or grand corruption.

Petty Corruption is “bureaucratic corruption.” It includes giving and receiving of bribes, embezzlement of public funds, and illegitimate use of public resources – often by low-level government employees.

Grand corruption is “ufisadi papa.” It refers to the misuse of public power by heads of state, ministers and senior officials for private financial gain, resulting in large-scale misappropriation of public funds, contract kickbacks, and the like. The EPA, Richmond, and Dowans scandals are examples of ufisadi in Tanzania.

Both types of corruption are rampant in the society, and evident in Politics, the Police, the Judicial System, Tax Administration, Public Procurement and Contracting, Natural Resources Management, Licenses, Infrastructure and Public Utilities. Basically, corruption stinks everywhere in Tanzania!

Our Response

What should be our response to widespread corruption in the society? Let me propose that, as Christians, we must have a righteous anger against corruption. We must resolve to put a stop to it. It is killing our people.

You only need to visit our public hospitals to appreciate what I am saying. Why should our people die preventable deaths, just because someone misappropriated the funds that were meant to provide the necessary medicines, medical equipment and improved facilities for them to be treated and cured?

You need to visit our public primary schools and please help me answer the question, why after 50 years of Independence our children still sit on the dirt and write with their fingers on the dust of the ground as they try to learn – just because someone embezzled the funds that were allocated to improve their learning conditions?

I could go on and on and talk about villages that are inaccessible because there are no roads, while God has blessed this country with a wealth of natural resources that, if tapped and distributed equitably, could network the whole country with roadways.

Friends, something must be done. If we continue to remain silent; if we continue to turn a blind eye to corruption, not only will it continue to ravage our very own life, but also a time will come when our children, and our children’s children, will ask us: “Why did you accept corruption?” We will have handed down to our children a raped country with a ruined economy, ruined politics, ruined social life, and ruined everything!

Effects of Corruption

Corruption can cripple a country. Take Zimbabwe for example. It was once envied as a stable economy – dubbed “the breadbasket of Africa.” But what remains of Zimbabwe today? Because of corruption, its economy has collapsed. The breadbasket of Africa has become an empty basket!

Zimbabwe is in a political, economic, and social crisis. Why? It’s all because of corruption. I am afraid the same thing will happen to Tanzania – God forbid! – if we do not decisively deal with this spirit of corruption that has permeated the social fabric of our nation.

When corruption becomes entrenched in a society, poverty becomes the order of life for the majority as the wealth of the country gets only in the hands of the few who hold power. It is crucial that the wananchi hold the power for decision-making about important matters pertaining to the destiny of their country. That is why we now need, more than ever before, a new constitution for our beloved country, Tanzania.

Again, corruption leads to poverty. And poverty will shatter the aspirations of the people for a better life, for hope and for a future. Consequently, notions of right and wrong, which were once commonly held assumptions in our society, begin to slip away as people desperately struggle to survive by all means possible.

In turn, crime and violence will increase. Some of the citizens who are sidelined in the economy may tend to justify their criminal acts in taking for themselves – mostly for survival – part of the wealth that those wielding power have denied them.

As crime increases, peace and security are threatened. The more insecure people feel, the more irrational they may behave. We must preserve our God-ordained peace by ending corruption in our country. Tanzanian has been nicknamed “Africa’s haven of peace.” I am not sure if we can still boast of that prestige given such incidents as the recent killing in Arusha of innocent citizens by the police who were supposed to protect them. I concur with Mabere Marando who recently stated that the victims’ blood serves as the ink that writes the foreword for the much needed new constitution for Tanzania!

In a corrupt society, as the Holy Scriptures clearly state, justice is perverted. Those who hold power get away easily with grand criminal offenses, while the poor languish in prison for petty crimes. A powerful politician who is found guilty of vehicular manslaughter evades prison by simply paying a TZS 700,000/= fine, while there may be a man in jail who simply stole a chicken – probably because he was hungry! That is the current state of affairs in our beloved Tanzania.

Needless to say, corruption leads to suspension of the rule of law. Furthermore, politics lose a sense of principle. The only guiding principle is to stay in power for as long as one can, and that means, by whatever means! That is what is happening in Ivory Coast right now. This sort of thing is almost becoming a trademark in African countries’ presidential elections. The vote of the people no longer counts!

Friends, no one should stay in power indefinitely. History shows that the longer one stays in power the more corrupt he becomes. According to Lord Acton, British historian and liberal philosopher, “Power tends to corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” More power must be in the hands of the people. Their vote should decide who rules over them when. Their voice must be listened to and respected.

We may further consider the ramifications of corruption. It infringes on the fundamental human right to fair treatment. All persons are entitled to be treated equally because we are all created in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen 1:26). But often one person can bribe to get rights and privileges undeserved at the expense of the other who is truly deserving of those rights and privileges.

Mahatma Gandhi warned against what he called seven social sins. These are politics without principle, wealth without work, commerce without morality, pleasure without conscience, education without character, science without humanity, and worship without sacrifice. Corruption is the bedrock of all these social sins. As a nation, we are guilty of most, if not all, of them. It about time we cleaned our own house!

In Micah 6:8, we read that God wants His people to be just, merciful, and humble. He wants us to be fair in our dealings with all people. He wants us to show genuine compassion and kindness to all people – especially those in need. He wants us to walk in humility and fellowship with Him.

Social change begins with personal change. If we are to be used of God as agents of change in Tanzania, we must first be changed ourselves. How do you view corruption; do you see it as a way to get rich quickly or as a terrible social sin that needs to be dealt with?

Stopping corruption begins with us personally. It demands our honesty in every respect. We are to be credible in managing and accounting for our time, talents and money. We have to be faithful stewards.

As aspiring young people, you must be driven by a sense of servitude; not by the gains of the position you would hold in society. You must not expect to enter public service or private business practice with a get-rich-quick mentality. Nothing comes easily. Hard work is required. Attitudes towards greed for power and wealth, plunder and extravagance must be dropped. 

As the saying goes, it takes two to tango. Granted, corruption is an unholy alliance between two parties – a corruptee and a corruptor. That is, for corruption to take place there must be a person giving it and a person receiving it. Well, you put a stop to corruption by resolving in your heart that you would never offer or accept a bribe.

Tanzania is our country. It belongs to all Tanzanians. Its various natural resources are God’s endowments for the benefit of all Tanzanians. I refuse to accept the claim that Tanzania is poor. In reality it is not. It is the politics of corruption and irresponsible leadership that have caused our people to live in the mire of poverty right in the midst of abundant of wealth.

I believe we can still make Tanzania a place of prosperity for every Tanzanian living in the city and in the village, if we get rid of this monster called corruption. With that conviction, I challenge you to arise and say, “No more corruption in my country!”

God bless Tanzania!

God bless you!

HELLO PEOPLE...YOU'RE MOST WELCOME HERE, TANZANIA LEADERS INSIGHT

Hello the People around Tanzania, you will soon be experiencing Tanzania made anew by young people who wants to see progress in their country by inspiring and generating Leaders with Godly morals who can and will "TRULLY" serve our country and utilize the tremendous resources we have for the betterment of the Tanzanian society. It is my prayer that the programme is going to be succesful in order to serve the purpose of our being on earth. BLESS YOU!! AMEN.