Geese-ology Lessons on Loving-Helping Others DELBERT W BAKER, PHD VICE CHANCELLOR ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY OF AFRICA MARCH 19, 2018

Transcription

1 Geese-ology Lessons on Loving-Helping Others DELBERT W BAKER, PHD VICE CHANCELLOR ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY OF AFRICA MARCH 19, 2018

2 Two Points

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4 VC Devotion for MABTS I. The Proof: Seven Powerful Texts on Helping II. The Illustration: Amazing Animals Called Geese III. The Application: Lessons on Helping Each Other

5 VC Devotion for MABTS I. The Proof: Seven Powerful Texts on Helping II. The Illustration: Amazing Animals Called Geese III. The Application: Lessons on Helping Each Other

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7 Seven Powerful Texts on Helping Each Other 1. Standard Jam 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. 2. Priority He 13:16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. 3. Test 1 Jn 3:17 But if anyone has the world s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God s love abide in him? 4. Challenge Phil 2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5. Reciprocity Mat 25:35-40 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. 6. Neutralizer Jam 2:14-17 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 7. Guarantee Prov 19:17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

8 VC Devotion for MABTS I. The Proof: Seven Powerful Texts on Helping II. The Illustration: Amazing Animals Called Geese III. The Application: Lessons on Helping Each Other

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12 Facts about Geese Some geese migrate every year. Others stay in the same place year round. Geese eat seeds, nuts, grass, plants and berries. They love blueberries. Geese can live almost anywhere. They like fields, parks, grassy areas by water. Male geese protect the nest while the female geese sit on the eggs. African goose is a heavy breed; different from other goose and have a large black knob on their head, a dark stripe down back of neck, dignified looking and attract attention; they may or may not have a dewlap. African ganders often have a higher pitched call than the geese and are taller. But females are shorter, stockier and have larger keels or lobes. The African geese appear in three color varieties, which are Buff, Brown and White. Standard weights: Old Gander: 9.98 kg, Young Gander: 8.17 kg, Old Goose: 8.17 kg, Young Goose: 6.8 kg.

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16 VC Devotion for MABTS I. The Proof: Seven Powerful Texts on Helping II. The Illustration: Amazing Animals Called Geese III. The Application: Lessons on Helping Each Other

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18 Geese Lessons on Helping 1. Community: There are some 30 species; lifespan 10 and 25 years in the wild. The term goose is applied to the female and gander to the male. Young birds before fledging are called goslings. A group of geese is called a skein in flight, a gaggle on the ground and a flock anywhere. 2. Social: They are social animals, relationships lasting. When a goose s mate is killed, he or she will mourn in seclusion. After a partner dies, some geese spend the rest of their lives as widows or widowers, refusing to mate again. 3. Producers: Migratory geese are capable of flying up to 5,000 kilometers (3,000 miles) each season. Geese fly at an average speed of about 65 kilometers (40 miles) per hour when migrating, but may increase their speed to 110 kilometers (70 miles) per hour with a strong tailwind. 4. Balanced: Once a year, adult geese will lose flight and tail feathers, which is called molting. They are unable to fly until the new feathers have come in. The molt takes 30 to 45 days. Geese like to be near water during the molting season, to be able to escape from predators. 5. Loyal: Mate for life, protective of partners and offspring. If a goose s mate or chicks become sick or injured, he/she will often refuse to leave their side, even if winter and the other geese in the group are flying south.

19 Geese Lessons on Helping 6. Family: Goslings are able to fly when are about 2-3 months old; will stay with their parents and follow them back the following year to where they were born; will form flocks with other young geese. Geese are one of the few birds which family does not break up at the end of the breeding season. 7. Leadership: Those in front rotate leadership; when lead goose gets tired, it changes places with one in wing of V-formation and another flies point. 8. Cooperation: By flying that way members of the flock create an upward air current for one another. Each flap of the wings literally creates an uplift for the bird immediately following; by flying in a V-formation, the whole flock gets 71 percent greater flying range than if each goose flew on its own. 9. Care: When one goose gets sick or wounded, two fall out of formation with it and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with the struggler until it s able to fly again. 10.Communication: Geese in the rear of the formation are the ones who do the honking; it s their way of announcing that they re following and all is well; repeated honks encourage those in front to stay at it.

20 Effect of Love, Kindness 6. Family: Goslings are able to fly when are about 2-3 months old; will stay with their parents and follow them back the following year to where they were born; will form flocks with other young geese. Geese are one of the few birds which family does not break up at the end of the breeding season. 7. Leadership: Those in front rotate leadership; when lead goose gets tired, it changes places with one in wing of V-formation and another flies point. 8. Cooperation: By flying that way members of the flock create an upward air current for one another. Each flap of the wings literally creates an uplift for the bird immediately following; by flying in a V-formation, the whole flock gets 71 percent greater flying range than if each goose flew on its own. 9. Care: When one goose gets sick or wounded, two fall out of formation with it and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with the struggler until it s able to fly again. 10.Communication: Geese in the rear of the formation are the ones who do the honking; it s their way of announcing that they re following and all is well; repeated honks encourage those in front to stay at it.

21 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering. Col. 3: 12. Let the law of kindness be upon your lips and the oil of grace in your heart. This will produce wonderful results. You will be tender, sympathetic, courteous. You need all these graces. The Holy Spirit must be received and brought into your character; then it will be as holy fire, giving forth incense which will rise up to God, not from lips that condemn, but as a healer of the souls of men.... By beholding the character of Christ you will become changed into His likeness. The grace of Christ alone can change your heart and then you will reflect the image of the Lord Jesus. God calls upon us to be like Him-- pure, holy, and undefiled.... Through His (Jesus) grace we shall learn to cultivate love, to educate ourselves to speak kindly and tenderly. Through His grace our cold, harsh manners will be transformed. The law of kindness will be upon our lips, and those who are under the precious influences of the Holy Spirit, will not feel that it is an evidence of weakness to weep with those who weep, to rejoice with them that rejoice. We are to cultivate heavenly excellences of character. We are to learn what it means to have good- will toward all men, a sincere desire to be as sunshine and not as shadow in the lives of others. Seize every opportunity to contribute to the happiness of those around you, sharing with them your affection. Words of kindness, looks of sympathy, expressions of appreciation, would to many a struggling, lonely one be as a cup of cold water to a thirsty soul.... Ellen White, God's Amazing Grace, p. 298

22 VC Devotion for MABTS I. The Proof: Seven Powerful Texts on Helping II. The Illustration: Amazing Animals Called Geese III. The Application: Lessons on Helping Each Other

23 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. Matthew 19:21

24 Two Points NOW GO AND PUT THESE POINTS TO THE TEST: NOW AND IN THE FUTURE!

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26 Presenter: Delbert W. Baker, PhD Vice Chancellor Adventist University of Africa Advent Hill, Ongata Rongai Nairobi, Kenya