Earlier in the day 😏

In May 2023, I wrote a blog accessible and titled  " When I Die ," which eventually led me to work on my will. Since then, I’ve been reflecting on how gracious God has been in shaping my view of death. I often find myself looking forward to His manifestation, to that moment when I’ll stand face to face with the One who created and loves us. Unless the rapture happens, the next best thing that accelerates that meeting is death, and my soul has, in a way, been eager for it. Now, before I'm misunderstood, let me clarify that I’m not contemplating suicide, nor am I living a life without purpose. I’m deeply grateful to God for keeping my soul from wandering into such dark extremes, and I pray He continues to protect me. Many people who wish to hasten their departure from this life often feel worthless, disappointed, overwhelmed by guilt, or believe there’s nothing exciting left ahead. I can relate more to the latter—feeling like nothing could surpass what I’ve already experien...

Debt is such a huge, ugly monster, common to many yet uncomfortable to discuss. It’s so prevalent that statistics show 8 out of 10 US citizens are in debt. Our local statistics are hard to gather, but the correlation must be close, if not worse, considering that our interest rates are higher. Quite often, most personal debt is aimed at the materialistic possession of non-appreciating items. It is acquired in an effort to purchase what we couldn't afford or patiently earn, out of poor lifestyles, or too much optimism about the future. In English, this may also be called greed. Silent pause: Why are you in debt? Many of humanity's moves are driven by greed, but if not controlled, it leads to financial bondage (Luke 12:15). Greed can become so big and unsustainable both at the individual and government levels if not managed properly. We've seen some governments borrow money from nations all over the globe, developing unsustainable debt that can never be paid off. Eventually, t...

If you've been struggling with debt, look at Kenya and learn what not to do: 1. Governments and individuals can't pray themselves out of debt (2 Kings 4:1-25). Never! You behave yourself into debt and must behave yourself out. 2. Debt is slavery (Proverbs 22:7), and you don't break the bondage without either paying the ransom, restructuring the debt, or being forgiven (rarely). 3. If you don't manage debt well, you will get embarrassed! (Proverbs 11:15). Ask Ruto, who's had to swallow his threats. You can't always expect miraculous cancellations of your debt or that your children (Gen Z) will pay it off for you. They will protest at your expense. 4. Debt often stems from greed—you obtained what you didn't deserve and exaggerated your importance. This pattern reflects mental and societal pride and inconsideration that, if not checked, leads to health breakdowns (worry/depression) or other poor moral decisions as you look for means to clear it. 5. The best app...

Mister ZAK, As you already know, the first fruit of our womb is Zoli and then your senior Zima. We were looking for another Z name in your case. The ceremony of naming you is one we approach thoughtfully, as it is the first gift we participate in giving you. "Zed" dropped in and sounded cool. We were nearly reserving this for the last born (we are hoping for four arrows in the quiver), but God has his ways and you might be the last, or better still your maker will still provide an even cooler name/s. Anyway, it got stamped once Zed’s translation returned “God is just.” God is the standard of justice! Whatever He does, whether we understand it or not, is perfectly impartial, unbiased, ethical, and moral. In all situations, He will uphold His love, redemption, restoration, and even judgment. We also considered "Akora" (God is sovereign). A couple of scripture texts (Psalm 135:6, 115:3 33:11) stood out, but Daniel 4:35 captures this best: “Akora Nk’oku arikwenda | God ...

I am about halfway through my journey of becoming debt free since I last wrote this blog - " M7 said we avoid debt. " I am grateful to God for the grace to lighten this burdensome load. I have a few friends to whom I report almost weekly about my progress. I share my current debt status with them, and sometimes they ask soul-searching questions that help keep me accountable. Importantly, I have avoided unnecessary borrowing, as I pledged in my previous entry, and I hope to completely outgrow this habit, with God's help. However, fully clearing all debt remains a challenge. I don't know about you, but it seems easier to accumulate debt than to pay it off. Even when some payments are made, other conflicting demands arise, and money is occasionally diverted without achieving the planned impact. This experience highlights how planning life around debt is a flawed strategy that can leave many in a cycle of constant struggle, even as they strive to make ends meet. May God h...

 I ceased indulging in those salon massage offers 😎 As I’m typing this, I’m still on the hunt for the verse that triggered that decision. Maybe it’ll come to me by the time I’m done typing this out. Do you ever find yourself getting smarter and wittier as you write? Do your thoughts refine themselves as you proofread, even when you were initially just enjoying the flow and maybe straying off-topic? That’s kind of how my affair with salon massages went down. This delightful after-sale service kicked off when I was in my mid-20s around 2015, back when I could finally afford a trip to any salon in town. The fancy ones always had these charmingly dressed ladies. I distinctly recall this particular salon I visited once. They had a Munyarwanda masseuse who, at one point, maneuvered my head toward her boobs as she worked on my scalp. Or was it the other way around? Either way, my boxers must’ve sensed a shift in the blood flow to their neighbor.  Sadly, the salon was quite a hike fr...

We've just discovered the gender of our third arrow, and watching Zoli's reaction ([ link to video ]) reminded me of the day we found out about her impending arrival. It was July 23, 2018, coinciding with our first-month anniversary. We had planned a dinner date at Sky Hotel to drink to the one month of none stop nakani 😉. Mucu wasn't feeling 100%, so on the way back home, she confided in her colleague, who lackadaisically   suggested she take a pregnancy test. She bought one on her way home. As I waited for her after freshening up, she emerged from the bathroom with the pregnancy test result—our first glimpse of the news that we were expecting. Zoli managed to outwit our family planning method, bringing us the surprise! Though my reaction wasn't as emotional as Zoli's in the video, I certainly whined. I unfairly blamed my wife for not completing her medication and failed to fully appreciate the moment. I felt like we still needed to enjoy some years of singleness ...

In Uganda, as in many other places, we find ourselves nodding knowingly at the flux of events, sometimes even succumbing to envy as we observe the seemingly effortless prosperity of the corrupt officials. The allure is strong when individuals join public service and suddenly find themselves in possession of luxuries, becoming the benefactors of local admiration. There's a phrase making rounds, "it is our time to eat," epitomizing this phenomenon. However, this struggle between righteousness and corruption is not unique to our era; it reverberates throughout history, echoing the perennial battle between good and evil. Within the timeless wisdom of the Psalms, attributed to Asaph, a Levite esteemed for his musical worship under King David, we discover profound insights that directly speak to our contemporary predicaments. Psalm 73 , in particular, serves as a poignant narrative of Asaph's journey from the grip of envy to the clarity of enlightenment. He candidly acknowl...

Dear Auntie Debbie, Heartfelt congratulations on achieving your MAK, Hons. B. Business Computing Degree! Your accomplishment not only marks a significant milestone but also fills me with immense pride in the wonderful person you have become. To understand my joyfulness - Debbie is not only my younger sister (cousin if you may) but she also became an integral part of my marriage when we were only three months in, making her story truly special. Despite the age gap, I've known Debbie for almost her entire life. She joined us during her mid-primary education, and our connection was seamless. Her open heart for the Lord and unwavering commitment to godly values made our bond even stronger. As I was engaging her to be our entourage maid during the lead-up to our wedding, there were rumors about our parents considering sending her to Kabale National Teachers College. However, I advocated for her enrollment at Makerere Business School for a diploma, foreseeing that supporting her bachelor...