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Published on 14 October 2024 at 16:17

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Pastor Joe's Corner

Breaking Free from the Scorecard Mentality

Have you ever found yourself keeping score when it comes to forgiveness, thinking, "I'll forgive them this time, but if they do it again..."? This natural human tendency to put limits on grace reveals a spiritual struggle that can hinder our relationship with God and limit His power in our lives.

In Matthew 18:21, Peter approached Jesus with a seemingly generous question: "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?" Peter thought he was being magnanimous, as Jewish teaching suggested forgiving someone three times was sufficient.

Jesus’ response shattered all human calculations: "I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." This wasn't a literal mathematical formula, but rather Jesus' way of saying forgiveness should be limitless.

The Problem with Keeping Score

When we count our acts of forgiveness, we reveal a troubling scorekeeping mentality that extends to our entire relationship with God. Many believers unconsciously put limits on their spiritual growth, setting comfortable boundaries and refusing to step beyond them, even when God is calling them to greater things.

Jesus illustrated this principle with the Parable of the Unpayable Debt. A servant owed his king 10,000 talents—an impossible debt. The king, showing incredible mercy, forgave the entire debt. Yet, this same servant immediately went out and had a fellow servant thrown into prison over a debt of just a few dollars.

What God Doesn't Owe Us

Here is a hard truth: God doesn't owe us anything. Yet, we often operate with an entitled mindset, thinking, "I serve, I go to church—I should get bigger blessings." This misunderstands the nature of grace. We are the ones with the unpayable debt. Every sin, every rebellion—it all adds up to a debt we could never repay. But God, in His incredible mercy, forgave it all through Christ's sacrifice on the cross.

The Cost of Unforgiveness

When we refuse to forgive others or ourselves, we pay a steep price:

Limited Spiritual Authority: Unforgiveness limits the power God wants to give us. Anger, jealousy, and bitterness create barriers that prevent us from experiencing the fullness of God.

Physical and Spiritual Bondage: Holding onto hurt can manifest in physical problems and keeps us in spiritual bondage, preventing us from becoming who God created us to be.

Stunted Growth: We cannot move forward if we are anchored to our past hurts and pain.

Sometimes, the hardest person to forgive is ourselves. We replay our failures and mistakes. But the truth is: if God has forgiven us, who are we to withhold forgiveness

from ourselves? When Christ died, He said, "It is finished." That includes your past, your mistakes, and your failures.

The Freedom Found in Forgiveness

Remember the freedom you felt when the weight of sin was lifted off your shoulders? That freedom is still available. Christ gave you freedom; do not let people, circumstances, or even your own thoughts put chains back on you.

God has amazing plans for each of us, but until we stop limiting Him with our conditions and comfort zones, we will struggle with the same issues. The question isn't whether God is ready to move in your life. The question is: Are you ready to take that next step?

The real cost of spiritual growth is dying to what the flesh wants and moving forward in the Spirit. It's about denying ourselves and following Christ, even when it's uncomfortable.

Examine your heart for areas where you’ve been keeping score. Choose to release that debt, just as God released yours. Stop putting conditions on your relationship with God and allow Him to take you to the next level of spiritual growth and authority.

Remember, God's grace toward you was extravagant and limitless. Now it's time to extend that same grace to others and to yourself, breaking free from the bondage of unforgiveness and stepping into the fullness of what God has planned for your life.

THE LIFE OF A PASTOR IN UGANDA (RURAL AREA)

BY PASTOR MATOVU JAMES

After being a deacon for two years in one of the city churches in Jinja, I moved to a rural area and began my own ministry called Magamaga Christian Centre in Jinja district. It’s now been 8 years since. In this article, I will share with you the experience of being a pastor in Uganda especially in rural areas.

THE RELEVANCE OF THE PASTORS WORK TO THE COMMUNITY

A pastor’s work in a rural Ugandan community is super impactful. He is often at the heart of the community, providing:-

Spiritual guidance: counseling, preaching and leading prayers
Emotional support : listening, comforting and encouraging
Social services: organizing community projects and educational programmes
Meditational : resolving conflicts and promoting peace

In rural areas, pastor might also:-

Conduct weddings and funerals
Visit the sick and elderly
Support local schools through giving scholastic materials

THE PASTORS REWARDS/OPPORTUNITIES

Rural areas in Uganda have amazing opportunities for growth and development such as:-

Agriculture: the land is available for cultivation
Providence: people from the church always bring from what they got in their gardens

Social capital, pastor in rural area gets many friends
Education : promoting literacy programme
Entrepreneurship : supporting small business ,innovation and job creation
Community development : partner with local organization to improve infrastructure and education
Discipleship and mentorship : guide young people, lead bible studies, and develop future leaders
Social services : provide support for vulnerable groups, like widows and elderly
Evangelism and outreach : share God’s word ,conduct crusades, and spread hope to those indeed

CHALLENGES

As pastor in rural area, you likely face challenges like:-

Limited resources: funding, infrastructure and access to materials

Geographical burials : remote locations, poor roods, and limited transportation
Cultural and traditional practices : balancing biblical teachings with local customs
High expectations : congregants needs, community pressure and spiritual warfare

CONCLUSION

These challenges can be tough, but your dedication and passion make a difference

Caya Recovery : Will You Accept a Christmas Miracle

By Bradley Sansoucie

December has been a notoriously hard month for alcoholics and addicts alike. During our addiction, many of us have lost so much, stolen from us, or traded for a moment of numbness and escape with hopes that our sickness would be fed for just another day. We traded precious moments with family and friends, because we suffered from a problem that is not fully understood by most people, but God understands. When we are early in recovery, we realize and learn we have been disconnected from God, who is our source of everything good, so given this truth we begin to see the why of it. The definition of the term malady is disconnection, so when we hear that the addict suffers from a spiritual malady as referenced from the A.A. Big Book, that's where we understand we have disconnected ourselves from the source! biblically, hell can accurately be described as eternal separation from God, sounds kind of similar if you ask me. From my perspective addiction was an absolute living hell. I had absolutely no control over my life and my decisions, as if I was being driven by a force that was not myself. I remember the struggle and constant battle of truly wanting to stop, to change, to live again, only to day in and day out relive the same cold hard truth, I didn't know if that was truthfully possible anymore. I was defeated in a way that I had never known before. It was in that defeated state that I surrendered. I have always accepted Jesus, but I had never allowed Him to save me. I was always thinking about life on my terms, effectively re-chaining myself to every bond, He was willing to break. There is a line in the Life Recovery Meeting opening comments that says: We believe that addiction and other problematic behaviors are symptoms of our human behavior- attempting to live life apart from God's plan. I love that line because for me it's as true as it gets, and I am sure I'm not the only one. So I invite you this Holiday season, to try something different. I invite you to learn the steps that can give you a working relationship with God, one that through Jesus, has the power to transform your life and perspective completely. So I ask, will you accept the Christmas Miracle???

Editorial Opinion

By Nicodemus Seiber

As 2025 comes to a close and 2026 draws near, many of us will make new years resolutions. I’ve never been one for this sort of thing, but in the 23/24 season I did.

I had spent 2023 focused solely on saving the money I needed to get into the studio to record the album I had been called to make some 9 years prior. I did not attend church even once in 2023. I had to earn money. I had to save money. I spent most of that year in the semi working and saving. By the last weeks of 2023, I was unhealthy, had no savings, and was spiritually empty. I was in the midst of a 3 week fight against relapse. I had to make changes, so I made some new years resolutions. The first resolution was to attend church; No working on Sunday, unless it was after church and absolutely necessary. The second was to put some focus on living a healthier lifestyle. The third was to pay off my credit card debt. Lastly, the album would be completed in 2024. Amazingly, I accomplished all of these things. I had fulfilled my call.

I won’t be making any resolutions this year. I’ll just try to improve in all areas of my life and continue to serve God as He directs me.

I’ll leave you with this tidbit to take into 2026.

Paraphrasing President Kennedy: Ask not what your Saviour can do for you, ask what you can do for His Kingdom.

Click to Download Sound and Spirit .pdf files

11 2025 Sound And Spirit Pdf

PDF – 6.3 MB 6 downloads

12 2025 Sound And Spirit 1 Pdf

PDF – 12.9 MB 6 downloads

1 2026 Sound And Spirit Pdf

PDF – 15.0 MB 5 downloads

Click to send your Letter to the Editor

First Lady's Funnies

selected by Stada Inman

Album of the Month

By Intern Brando

Atomic Arena was the second Studio album released by Christian Metal Band Barren Cross. Released in 1988 and published by Enigma Records, this album had a lot going for it. Consisting of 10 tracks produced with the help of the Elefante brothers from Kansas and tackling social issues that the world still deals with today such as the evils of abortion, suicide, temptations of the world and the false doctrine of cults all while using Christ’s Love as the answer to these problems. One of my biggest issues with the Christian music Industry is when they never bring up Jesus’s name or address God in their music but Barren Cross Delivers in this album. I think that every track in this album is solid but the ones I like most would be in no particular order “Living Dead”, "In the eye of the Fire” and "Close to the Edge”. Overall a very Solid Album and would very much recommend giving a listen but what is your favorite track? Let me Know on The KMTM Lunchbox Block!

BIG NEWS! The Caya App is Officially LIVE!

We’ve built a new home for our community, and we want YOU in it. Now you can hang out with us like never before!

What’s waiting for you inside:

Live TV: Watch your favorite shows and streams in real-time.
Interactive Chat Rooms: Join the conversation and meet the community.
Exclusive Blogs: Get the latest updates and deep dives directly from us.

Download & Join us here: https://tithely.app.link/cayafellowship

Don’t just watch—be a part of it. See you in the chat!

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