These Dressing Sheenanigans: My two cents

So this has been an eventful week, mainly spent attempting to study for my finals. You see, by finals, I mean like my final exams in undergrad. Like the last one totally. I am finishing campus you know, it is going finito, kaput! Exciting times I tell you. Anyway, before you go ahead and start questioning me why I am not studying for my exams which are starting tomorrow by the way, l felt like I had to give my two cents on this dressing matter that has been a cause of debate in this beautiful nation of ours this past week. In fact, I think I will just go ahead and call it a topic of national dialogue. Who knew that we would finally have a national dialogue? Only that it is not between Jubilee and CORD so all ye political sycophants reading this, keep calm. Don’t get too excited, we are just talking about dressing that’s all.

So apparently this week, there was an unfortunate lady who got “disciplined” by Embassava touts in Nairobi for indecent dressing. Well, all the rational people out here do see why I have put disciplined in quotes. So the discipline that this woman received was to be stripped of her clothes. If you haven’t seen the video, you can see it here.

Anyway, it goes without saying that the action caused uproar in social media and our radio stations. Well, I haven’t listened to local radio stations in quite a while (neither have I listened to international radio stations. I just haven’t been listening to radio lately) but from what I have gathered, it has been a topic of discussion in some of our radio stations and on twitter, there was the hashtag #MyDressMyChoice which I saw plenty of. On Facebook, there were a lot of comments and updates. Of particular note was the page, Kilimani Moms (or something of that sort) who I believe have come out the strongest to condemn that attack. I think it would be fair to call that whole incident an attack, an assault actually. Here is the interesting part, these Kilimani Moms have organized a protest for Monday, 17^th November, 2014 at Uhuru Park from 10 am protesting the attack and also advocating for women to dress however they want. After all, #MyDressMyChoice.

Let us get one thing straight. The attack was wrong! Plain wrong, no debate about it. I had to declare my stand lest some of you accuse me of being wishy washy and beating about the bush. The attack was wrong. No woman deserves to be treated in that manner. Yes, she might have responded rudely when the touts told her (in a manner that I would bet was also rude) to dress decently but despite that she should not have been stripped. That is the worst form of degradation.

Today in church my pastor, one George Murichu, got me thinking. He had a pretty solid argument as to why the touts behaved as they did. While they may claim to have been “disciplining” this lady, these guys were actually acting out of lust. What else could motivate a man to strip a woman of her clothes? Think about it. A man to go out of his way to take clothes off of a woman. There is no way you are going to convince me that that is not because of lusting after that woman. They just found an excuse to be barbaric. Yes, I said it! That was barbaric. While this looked bad, we also saw a milder version of assault or indecency if you would like to call it that not too long ago on Jicho Pevu when the guy Victor Kanyari handled a woman’s breasts before the congregation in the name of “Healing.” That is also lust and indecency just that it has found an “acceptable” way of being done.

All of this is quite troubling. Quite a number of us men have totally lost it morally. All this shows how there is quite an amount of disrespect being shown to women. It is an objectification of women. Many arguments and reasons have been put forth to try and explain this phenomenon. Pornography, especially, has been highlighted. I am not getting into a discussion about porn right now but I think the way guys talk and relate to each other has brought this whole issue. The rising trend of “socialites” isn’t helping either. Go to a corner where guys are standing, seated or whatever they are doing, as long as they are discussing, if they are not discussing about football, most probably they are discussing about women. Either this or their discussion about football is filled with interjections of “Damn! Look at that ass” or “She can gerrit!”whenever a fly chic passes by. These are followed by how many tales of conquests of sleeping around with chics, hiring prostitutes. One shocking thing that I discovered recently is that guys my age (barely in their 20s) do hire prostitutes….frequently! Call me naïve but seriously? I thought prostitutes was a mid-life crisis kind of thing, like seriously. That was so shocking but it goes on to show the level of objectification of women that has taken place.

Men we need to style up though. On a serious note we cannot go about stripping women for dressing indecently. Show some class and self-control. Decorum never hurt anybody my guy. I am not saying that we should not appreciate beauty in women. I, for one, have a pretty damn gorgeous girlfriend and I would not hesitate to appreciate her beauty. I confidently appreciate her beauty (if there is anything like that).  Besides, we are all made fearfully and wonderfully. There is a good thing in every bit of us. We do have women who dress outright indecently. We should tell them when they do dress indecently but once we do, we cannot force people to conform to our ideals and beliefs otherwise we would have had World War 3 by now. Tell her if she is indecent. If she listens, well and good, that is a good woman right there. If she does not, not everyone has to listen to you. Shake your head and move on. If you have to be expressive about it, write a blog my guy, or journal, or go legally hit someone (otherwise known as go play rugby) but do not strip someone’s mother, sister, aunt or friend of her clothes. It is respectful that way. The Bible in Romans 12:10 says

            “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

That is how we should relate. If your younger sister comes to you having a really short mini-skirt, would you strip her of her clothes? Exactly! I would do the same. I would ask her to change. Yes I might scold her for dressing indecently but I would have the courtesy of asking her to change. That is how we should be. Honor one another above yourselves.

To the ladies, c’mon! Don’t be arrogant too. Just because you cannot be stripped does not mean you have to go about dressing however you want. Not everyone is as nice as the guy you have friend-zoned. You will suffer one day. I don’t think wearing a decent skirt causes your knees to itch, if they do please tell me. That is a business opportunity. I would start a skirt company with itch less hems. The marketing line would probably something like “Kalya’s itch less skirts, if they itch they aren’t Kalya’s.” Also, who told you that Embassava touts are on twitter reading your #MyDressMyChoice tweets? Lol. Unless bebapay is connected to twitter, I don’t think that those tweets will change the guy who took part in stripping that lady. To the Kilimani moms, I would not advice you to go for that protest. You are just taking yourselves to the lions' den. Anyway, don't say I didn't war you. So please, let us all cooperate. My fellow gentlemen, let us behave ourselves, ladies, behave yourselves too.

Now that I have let that off my chest, I better get some rest and wake up early tomorrow to do some last minute reading for my exams, you know, the whole, I read towards the last minutes coz I will be older, hence wiser mantra hehe. Wish me success.

Don't Give Up On Love

Excitement, excitement, excitement! Guys, I have only one more month to go before I am done with campus life. Actually, it’s less than a month. 22 days to be excited. If you thought that countdowns ended with the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education, you could not be more wrong! I am nearly done with the 8-4-4 system and finally get to go to the “World out there.” This world that we have been told about ever since pre-school. “When you get to the world out there….” We go to the “World out there” only to discover that there is yet another world out there once we are done with the “World out there” that we have just joined. I don’t know whether this will be the last “World out there” that I will be joining, but I am not afraid. Jesus has brought me this far and he will still keep taking me to where he wants me to go. The only downer to me finishing campus at the end of November is that I will have to wait 7 months to graduate. Why does Strathmore have only one graduation ceremony per year? They should style up in that regard. Anyway, I think I will use the time before graduation to “find myself.” That seems to be the in thing for most graduates these days. They want to do the thing that will make them happy, find their passion and since I want to be one of the cool guys, I wanna be “that guy!” so I guess I’ll go ahead and “Find myself.” However, my phone line will be open just in case any one of you employers reading this blog is impressed by me. My CV is very ready sir (or madam) you could show your interest as a comment right at the end of this blog post or through email, I really don’t mind whatever means that you use. Whatever you find comfortable is good with me.

Anyway, enough with my job seeking even before I’m done with my final exams, there is something that I felt I should comment about or rather, voice my opinion about. It is with deep concern that I notice the increasing amount of “I am not going to bother myself” when it comes to relationships. Especially for guys my age ie my peers. By peers I mean university going students and above. High school students and below please focus on your books, now is not the time to be chasing skirts. For the girls, these boys will always be there! Don’t get deceived by their letters and dedix (lol, who remembers writing “dedix” while writing letters to girls in high school? *sigh* good times) As a matter of fact, you will find even better boys once you get to the “World out there.” They will be so many you will have difficulty choosing them. (I sound sooo old giving out that advice hehehe). Aaaanywho, I was saying, the number of “I don’t care” and “I won’t bother myself” that I hear my peers saying is of concern to me.

Personally, I am a believer in fighting for what you want. Relationships, I believe, fall under what I want. I mean, that is the girl I want or that is the guy I want and that is why I am going out with him/her. For that reason, I believe that we should fight for what we want. Sure, relationships are not meant to be cast in stone, as long as you are not married, there is always the option of breaking up. However, some of the reasons I hear for breaking up are just so lame to say the least. Just because he did not call you before he slept last night does not mean he doesn’t love you. I mean, the guy was tired for goodness sake and he just dozed off only to wake up to a dozen texts of “Why haven’t you called me babe?” to “Babe are you ignoring me?” to “This is not fair at all! How can you just leave me here all night without calling me? Are you with someone else?” which evolves to “You don’t love me anymore. I know it! All this while I have been having my doubts but today you have confirmed it! I thought you were different, I thought you were better than all the other guys out there but No! you are all the same! You are a loser just like everyone else! And I know you’re with Shaquina! Why don’t you love me anymore?” which leads to the final text   “You know what? I can’t take this anymore! I have a life! You are not the only guy who’s been wanting to go out with me. There are so many other guys who have been waiting in line and since you have decided that you are going to have this new attitude, you are not going to reply to my texts or return my calls, I have some news for you mister! It is over! O-V-E-R! We are done! I don’t want to ever talk to you again loser!”

She then goes ahead and switches off her phone. Now, imagine the guy’s shock and confusion when he wakes up. I know it’s sad but I can’t help laughing as I picture that scenario. Man the guy would be flabbergasted. He was just tired from a long day at work, trying to make a living and this is what hard work cost him. I know some of you think that that is too dramatic but imagine it happens. I can bet a few of you have broken up in such circumstances so I don’t think that that story is too far-fetched.

Now to the guy, as the guy, I believe it is natural for you to be pissed off and to end up just breaking up. You would try calling her but finding her number busy or “mteja” would make you mad as hell. You try calling her friends but apparently she does not want to talk to you. You try going to where she is and you find her all cozy with another man and that is the last straw! You fume, you vent out, say expletives, insult her and her mother and break up “If that is what you want, we are done!” you say and storm off.

Here’s the thing though, as a guy, you are the one responsible for the relationship. You are the leader. Well, I do agree, such actions warrant you to be mad but that is a test of your character. Do not fly off the handle. Yes she is cozy with another guy (and by cozy I mean they are just chilling, making jokes and watching a movie maybe. Nothing bad as such, no making out and the like. Furthermore, that guys is usually a pal of hers that you know of) but in that situation, she wants you to fight for her, for you to exert your authority and show her that you still want her. Kindly but firmly ask her to talk. Don’t shout, just ask. Or you could ask the guy to give you guys some privacy so you can talk. Do everything within your power to get her to talk without getting mad. Tell her whether you want to break up or not. If you don’t want the break up then tell her! She may still be mad and insist on a break-up so give her some time. Give her a period of time to think and once she is cool and believes she can talk you guys talk and decide the way forward. That way, even if you guys break-up, at that time both of you will be clear headed and a rational decision will be made.

To the ladies, don’t be too dramatic guys. Yes you can feel bad, it happens but man! Don’t be that dramatic. You need to get your drama down and listen to the dude. Everything else is just being silly and messing stuff up. Don’t make decisions using your emotions. Also, don’t listen to your girlfriends too much! Their advice is not better that your decision when you are clear headed (I know I touched a nerve there but so be it). Bottom line, know that the relationship is between the two of you and it should remain that way, woe unto you when you listen to your girlfriend and find her going out with your man. These things happen. If you want the relationship, fight for it! That is all. Don’t break up coz of silly reasons. I leave you with 1^st Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perserveres.

Oh and congratulations to my girlfriend, The Miss Tourism Kenya- Baringo County. Yes she won! To the guys, I shall be receiving fist bumps around Madaraka area. Just hala when around and my advice to you guys, panda mbegu ya 310 na pia wewe utapata kuonekaniwa na model. Peace I’m out

                                                                                                                 

On this 21st Birthday

On this day, 28th March,2014, as I celebrate my 21st birthday, I, Daniel Kalya Kiptiony, being of safe and sound mind, want to thank the almighty God for his grace, love and mercies just to enable me reach this new point in my life. Most of the times we take it for granted when we celebrate our birthdays and generally when we see a new day. We take it as a guarantee when we wake up in the morning well and good and I dont blame us for doing so because that is what we are used to doing. All our lives, we know that going to bed and wakin up in the morning is a norm. It is just the daily grind and this repetitive act makes us take waking up every single morning for granted while in fact, it is a miracle waking up in the morning. That is why, as I celebrate my birthday today I just want to thank God for his grace and his favour. It is God's favour for me to see this day and this new year in my life. 21 years ago, in a land far away (I am serious about this btw) my mom was huffing and puffing! Actually, she wasn't huffing and puffing coz I was born via C-section. Push for who? I refused to be pushed out! I decided, "If they are not coming for me, I am staying put right here. Let's see who will win." and I proceeded to suck my thumb like the boss I was. As expected, I had my way but I got a thorough spanking as soon as I got into this world. I can imagine being taken into my dad's hand, he was a young man at that time, should have been 26 almost turning 27 and my mom 25. My mom maybe was unconscious (I am not  sure, I am imagining all these) and my dad must have been confused, happy, scared all at once. I was (and still am) the firstborn and my dad must have been probably wondering, "What do I do with this thing?" thank God he did the right thing and took really good care of us, my mom and I. I arrived in this world at a time when they were both studying abroad. I imagine I spoilt a really good study date. Probably they were preparing for a CAT, or they were heading out for a picnic and my dad was like "Honey, where is the water bottle? I can't seem to find it." and my mom shouts from the room "My water broke!" lol the picture I am having in my head, my dad then probably said something like "Honey water can't break, it is in liquid state remember?" then my mom says, "Noooo! My water just broke!" and my dad is like "Are you sure you are not talking about the bottle? Coz water definitely cannot break. I wonder if I could find one in the mall, I remember you loved the green one..." "Honey the baby is coming!" must have been the cry that got him to his senses. Anyway, probably he took my mom to the hospital and then I was delivered and all and at that time when my mother was recovering and I was still cute he took care of us. He always tells us how he fed both of us so well that we looked like we were stung by bees hehe.
Fast forward to the time when we were back home, i trying to walk and talk, my parents encouraging me "Stand up, stand up Kalya." and trying to make me say "Mama" and "Baba" and all that stuff and eventually i got to learn how to walk and talk and the message changed from "Stand up Kalya" to "Kalya! Can you sit down!" Isnt it weird how parents spend the first few years of your life trying to make you stand up and when you finally do it they keep telling you to sit down. The irony of life. The same applies to talking. For me, I understand it when they tell me to shut-up coz I can be pretty loud at times, especially when watching football. 3 years down the line, on 1st May, 1996 my baby sister came into the world, my mother literally was in labor on Labour day. I hope Atwoli is taking notes, she should be awarded for being a faithful worker or something. My sister is the cutest thing ever! She came and stole my shine and now started having to share my stuff with her. On the bright side, i had someone to bully lol. That caused me a fair amount of beating though. My sister used to look up to me so much when we were young, she'll probably kill me for revealing this but she was an absolute tomboy. She used to love shaving her hair, like jordan! We'd wear matching clothes, she never liked dresses, even as she started going to nursery school, she used to wear shorts so that she could look like me. She has changed so much since then though, nowadays she like the absolute diva. Seeing her wardrobe confuses me, make-up kits, i dont know how many types of oils, they are so many! I only use vaseline and that is enough for me. Anyway lets not act surprised. It is a known fact that as girls grow to become women, the level of complication also rises. I love her so so much all the same.
Fast forward 6 years later to 7th March, 2002 when my baby bro was born, the little one of the family. My sister and I were so excited, we were both hoping for a boy, we chose where he was born, he is the one who i can remember the day he was born, we held him, loved him and he is growing up so well, though there is a high chance that he will grow taller than me. He has the sweetest voice ever! Ladies melt when they hear him speak, let alone sing. Its a good thing that he is 9 years younger otherwise he would have stolen my girl from me. I love him so so much and he is the best brother like ever. He is only 12 but the guy can cook like crazy. Look at all you ladies cursing why you had to be born in the 90's, lol look for your own cooks ladies.
Fast forward 11 years later to 1st January, 2013 when I asked out one ever beautiful, all stunning, super gorgeous, head turning, jaw dropping, conversation stopping lady to be my girlfriend. Needless to say she said yes when I asked her out, I mean, can say no to all of this? A big pile of goodness. That is a big deal for me because that was and still is my first relationship (romantic that is), God willing, I have every intention of it being the only one. I know i am young but a man got to have a plan for the future yawa. Can I hear an Amen ladies? No? all I hear are faint mumbles, I understand though. You all are gutted that I am taken. My apologies. I am afraid I cannot be shared.
All this quick flashback is me just thinking about my life and how blessed I am to be able to see this new year and actually thanking God for it. Those are not the only things. I usually consider myself to have 2 moms and dads. There is my biological mother who I love with all my heart and then there is Aunty Tabs. A wonderful lady who took care of me in my first year of university together with her hubby Uncle King. I usually say that I came to Nairobi for further studies and these are the people who took good care of me. They called me their lost son hehe, and their sons are like my small brothers. I am ever grateful to God for putting such people in my life.Then there are my friends. I have so many good friends. Mwendwa and Mulinge are prolly my big brothers, apparently I used to run to their place whenever my mom cooked githeri at home. My childhood was so much fun, all my classmates from primary to high school to university, then there are these brothers of mine in Mabalozi Acappella (Like the fb page guys) who make me laugh so much and help me grow spiritually as we go out doing what we love doing, which is singing and using the gift that God gave us to bring people closer to God. These fellas are awesome. Then there is this man Allan, i just had to mention him separately because this morning he was like "You guy its your birthday! Lets go play fifa" and rather than let me win because it is my special day the guy whopped me good. The scoreline is sealed (My girlfriend will probably disown me).
All in all, on this 21st birthday, I choose to thank God for who he is and for the blessings he has bestowed upon me, this day I will not take for granted. To mom and dad, as you read this, I love you guys so much, I know I wasn't able to celebrate this day with you guys but you guys mean everything to me, I wouldn't have been here if it were not for you. You have supported me, brought me up in God's word, taught me, encouraged me when I was down, supported me in my ventures, encouraged me to hone my talents, you guys know me and I am blessed to have such wonderful parents. The best parents in the world and it is my prayer that God will bless you guys ever so abundantly. My girlfriend is also a big blessing to my life, she is beautiful, that is a fact, yes but more than that she is like the best ever. Loving, kind, generous, God-fearing, compassionate. The little things that she does that make me feel like a man's man, the alpha male hehe. I'm just kidding though she is the best. My greener pastures hehe. Over the year we have grown together and helped each other become better people.
Thank you God for your awesomeness in my life.

PS my M-pesa line is open for everyone who wishes to celebrate my birthday with me but because of distance it is not possible, thank God for M-pesa because celebrating with me has been made easier.

Secret to a good relationship

I had a feeling that this is going to be a head turner. For some strange, unexplained reason, people have an urge to open any link that has the word relationship on it. Incredibly, many people generally assume that it's ladies who do it but today I am going to be a whistleblower (ladies you can thank me later) After this small whistleblowing escapade, I shall have to find myself a plane to Switzerland and hijack it because my life is going to be in significant danger. An Ethiopian Airlines preferably. Btw, that Ethiopian Airlines co-pilot who hijacked the plane, what was/is wrong with him? I am trying not to digress but couldnt he just land in Rome then take a train to Geneva and then ask for asylum? That makes sense to me. I find the whole thing funny though.
Men are the worst! They are the real silent readers just ask one @Rutovski, in fact, a good number have notebooks with them as they read these relationship articles, preparing mwakenyas because the struggle to woo a lady is real. It is hard I tell you. Difficult! I can hear the men shouting "PREACH BROTHER!" Preach I shall. Ladies you are very complicated creatures. Ask me why? For so many reasons, for instance, you guys like, scratch that, LOOOOVE Valentines day, I mean, who does that? Valentine was a Saint! Ideally we should all be going to church on February 14th but Nooooooo, you wouldnt have that, rather than we men worrying about the slight financial matter that would be offerings for that Sunday we have to step up to the plate (I have never got that, why would you step up to the plate yet you eat from there? Talk of stepping where you eat. I mean we have stools and ladders for stepping up) and take people to sijui The Tribe Hotel and get dresses and buy Gulliyan (did I spell that correctly?) and perfumes and all other things that are considered romantic, we have to do all this without even giving thought to the fact that financial scars from Njaanuary had barely left us. On that note, my fellow men, if you did not get an advance on your salary for Valentines, I feel you. I empathise, not sympathise, with you. It is going to be a tough 10 days for you till end month. I would have asked you to buckle up and brace yourself but most probably you'd need to sell the belt and buckle just to get by.
Anyway, despite this obvious flaw that is the love for Valentine's day, we still love you ladies to the extent of getting into a relationship with you guys. Last night I found myself thinking, actually no, I wasnt thinking, it just hit me! Like for real it hit me! Hit me to the extent of me saying I must write a blog about it. The main building block in a relationship is friendship. That is the main thing. After that thought hit me is when I started thinking. I thought about my friends. Especially those whom we've been friends for a quite a while and I thought about what we've gone through. For a good number of them, the friendship has perservered despite the number of conflicts...and fights that we have had over time. One Julius Amdany literally forced me into early retirement in high school football. In form three, during an inter-class game between my class and his, as I was doing my thing, shining as I mesmerized defenders who just lay sprawling on the ground, well-beaten, the guy came from nowhere and tackled me from behind. A career threatening injury it was. I sustained ligament damages on my knee that forced me to put on knee-support for the rest of the year (that was in first term mark you), however, that did not deter me! Like the mythical phoenix, I rose from the ashes. As soon as I was mobile again, I reinvented myself and became the class goalkeeper. I was pretty good I must say, a much better improvement to the error prone Allan Ronoh who had been trying to hold the fort. My stint as goalie was to be short-lived though because barely a year later, in form four, first term, the same Julius Drog Amdany, decided to break my hand. Another inter-class game, there was a foul on one of their players in the D, enter Julius Drog Amdany to take the penalty, he drove it to the right hand side of the goal and a mighty dive from yours truly ensured the ball couldnt get in but it was a stinging shot! I felt a shot of pain going through my body, the medical team came on and just pulled my wrist and i was ready to get back on the pitch. It was too painful though. To cut a long story short, he broke my hand. That officially led to my retirement as a high-school football player. My class was devastated, losing such a big player! Massive massive loss. Needless to say, they never reached their great heights since my retirement.
What am I saying? I am saying that despite this deliberate attack on my career by the guy, Julius and I are really good friends. Many other stories, dont get me started on one Daniel Okuku, the number of fights I have had with this guy but coz we are friends we always sort out our issues because that is what friends do. For the sake of gender equality (or is it equity? Pick whichever floats your boat) let me use a few lady examples as well. Now there is this Jackylne Njeri the number of fights and silent treatments I have got from her only God knows. Then there is one Daisy Jeruto who we've had conflicts with (though mostly I was the bad one). I very nearly forgot about one Liza Maru. This lady is pure fire! My entire high school life was an argument with her. Good times though. Real good times. It was like a dissing warfare with her and the rest of our classmates being the audience. Many times it got too personal to the extent of other guys telling us "Yo guys thats too much" but we always forgave and we remain good friends.
Why have I said all this? Well, because many times when I hear the way relationships have ended, its because guys did not start out as friends. The relationship is used as a means to an end. It is very important that in your relationship you guys are friends. This has really helped me out in my relationship with the one and only, the lovely, the beautiful,the cheerful, the gorgeous, have I said beautiful? If I did not, let me say, the beautiful Jacqueline Komen. Like every other relationship, we've had our fights, differences, conflicts (some really ugly) but the fact that we are friends with each other helps us to come to an amicable agreement (some take weeks, others minutes). I am not saying I have the perfect relationship but so far friendship has played a major role in what we do and I can say that I am proud of what I have.
Friendship is a core value not only in romantic relationships (if I may call it so) but in all sorts of relationships. Relationships with your parents, personally, I consider my parents my friends and they are a blessing to me and my siblings. My brother and my sister are my friends, my classmates, colleagues, even in business. Who you deal with should ideally be your friends. I know there is a perception that people shouldnt do business with their friends but business is a matter of trust and if you cant trust your friend, who can you trust?
The challenge for the day is to be friends with those around you. The Bible (I must always leave you guys with a Bible verse at least) in Romans 12:18 says, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
The Bible in that verse tells us to leave at peace with everyone in as far as it depends on us and I believe being friends with everyone goes a long way in living at peace with everyone. Have a blessed and friendful day (if that even exists)

PS: I am not bragging or anything, but during Valentine's day, I still had a FIFA tournament. Jelous much guys? How I did it is topic for a whole other blog post. 

Bus Preachers. Sheer guts

11th February, 2014. Valentine's day is just 3 days away. I am sure all my lady readers have the countdown on your fingertips, right up to the second. I, on the other hand, and I believe that I speak for all men when I say this, am utterly terrified. Why did Valentine's day have to come on a Friday this year. Its a black Friday out here I tell you. Black Friday! We have nowhere to run to. If we go missing on Friday, the ladies have an extra two days to catch us. Do you realize how long two days are for a motivated woman? I dont even want to think about it. It just dawned on me, my Valentine is going to read this post. You may think that I am getting myself in hot water but actually it is a strategy. Okay, more of a gamble. You see, using this approach that I have taken, there are two things invloved (Please use Basket Mouth's accent while reading this part, thank you). One is that my dear, sweet Valentine's date (who is actually my girlfriend) will get mad that I am not a fan of Valentine's and she will be so mad that she will not talk to me till Monday, 16th February 2014 when she will have missed me too much, the other one, which is less likely, in fact chances are tending towards zero, is that my dear, sweet, loving, caring, girlfriend is going to feel my plight and understand the trouble and anguish that this Valentine's day causes us men and that she is going to sit me down and smother me with loving and kind words such as "No honey, you need not take me to dinner, your presence fills my appetite." and "Baby, you dont have to take out your wallet, I know you have been saving for Fifa 14, dont lose focus of the goal my sweet. Save money, take me to Altona's." (For my international audience, Altona's is a fast food chain in Kenya. It isnt a franchise though and its quite cheap). That would be music to my ears. Gentlemen, if you get a girlfriend like that, wife her now and thank me later. She is the epitome of understanding and all good things. Either that or your FIFA 14 is going to get broken to pieces, just like you broke her heart by not treating her on Valentine's day. All this can be avoided though, we can always hide our FIFA 14 CD's. We could come up with like a joint account or something. A safe of sorts where we stash our Fifa 14's. Anyway, enough of this Valentine's dillemma. Thats not what brought us here.
So today while heading to work, I boarded one of those buses which happened to have a bus preacher. I got to say, those guys have guts. It is not easy to stand in a bus and preach to a bunch of strangers. Not just strangers, but skeptics. Skeptics are there in plenty. You see, pastors have it easier because the congregation have come to church for a reason, the congregation is united in one goal, which is to hear the word. While preaching, they are not invading in your space or anything because you took yourself to church voluntarily. Bus preachers on the other hand take themselves to you. You did not ask them to come or ask them to speak. As a matter of fact, it is them who force you to listen to them. They are usually really loud. I remember I was trying to read an article on my phone but I just couldnt concentrate. I couldnt. I didnt have my earphones so I couldnt drown myself in music or Maina and King'ang'i in the morning. I was left with this loud preacher. I had no other option. So I put my phone in my pocket and listened to what he was saying, okay not really listening but more of hearing words because I was in a world of thoughts. At one point though, I found myself thinking like the Christian that I am and I couldnt help but smile in admiration. I mean, the guts that this preacher had is no ordinary guts. I am a pretty confident person, if I could say so myself. That is like one of my outstanding attributes that attracted my girlfriend to me (because of confidence I have this whole Valentine's dillema. Darn you Mr. Confidence) have I told you that she's a beauty? My goodness she is. A gift from God. Whenever I look at her and stare at her immense beauty I tell myself "When God took a rest on the 7th day, he was thinking of an action plan on how to create her." If you doubt what I am saying just ask @capoKenn, @NewnexBrian or @honor_ronoh on twitter. They will say what I have said is true beyond any reasonable doubt. Now look at all the ladies going "Awwwwwwh", thank you ladies, I am a sweet guy. Anyway, what was I saying, see how thinking about her just made me go blank. She shouldnt blame me if I forget about Valentine's day because when I think of her nothing else occupies my mind. Sharp thinking is also another thing that attracted  her to me.
Where was I? Oh yes, I am a pretty confident guy but I am not really sure I have the guts to preach in a bus. I mean there are hecklers in there. People would outrightly put you off and tell you to shut up. In this day and age the number of unbelievers is really high, especially those unbelievers who are vocal about it. Just yesterday I was listening to Larry Asego on classic 105 Overdrive and the topic was whether Christianity is relevant in modern day Kenya. He was asking whether churches are really necessary or whether they should be converted into "More important things" such as schools or clinics. Really sad. Listening to that yesterday and today looking at that bus preacher preaching God's word, reading the Bible to us and breaking into a song of praise really challenged my and should be a challenge to all the Christians out here. The Bible in Mark 16:15 says "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." It is an order to us Christians to preach the gospel of Christ and to take it to others. Making it known to guys and to do this, for me to be able to stand on a bus and preach I will most definitely have to grow a pair. For us it is just a matter of hearing the call and heeding it, like in Isaiah 6:8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” That is the challenge that I got today from that bus preacher. Growing a pair and actually proclaiming your stand. Declaring that you are on the Lord's side and asking guys to join you.Sometimes all it takes is some guts and you will have done something good. Thats all it takes. That is the challenge.
Anyway, before I leave you to ponder, I have to revisit this issue that rears its head every 14th of February each and every year, consistently, without having any regard for the gentlemen who have barely recovered from Njaanuary (for the international audience, Njaa means hunger, I hope so see what I did there). As a man, I believe it is my duty to deliver the binding agreement that was reached upon by TNOBAH, The National Association of Boyfriends and Husbands. In a press release dated Monday, 10th February, 2014.
"Dear Girlfriends, Wives and side chicks, due to certain circumstances beyond our control such as the increase in parking fee from Kes 140/- to Kes 300/-, the sudden appearance of drought in Turkana again, The looming impeachment of Embu Governor, The increase in NSSF rates, the frequent blackouts, Al-Shabab strolling through and having coffee at our airports etc we shall neither be taking part nor be available during this year's Valentine Day Celebration. Our country needs prayers and fasting and all men have agreed to engage in fasting and prayers through February 12th to 16th 2014. We humbly advice you to visit your parents and other family members to spend Valentine's day with them. After all, they are loved ones as well. We wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day celebration in advance. We will talk to you on the 16th of Feb, 2014. Thanks for your usual cooperation.
Signed
National Association of Boyfriends and Husbands.

And on that bombshell, do have yourself a lovely and blessed day. And to all gentlemen during this trying period, take heart. Together we will overcome. Whatever you do to spoil your lady, remember 1st Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."