PREFACE

“‘Be thankful’ (Colossians 3:15) is a recurring exhortation in the letters of the apostle Paul. No other New Testament writer gives such a sustained emphasis on thanksgiving―and yet, major modern studies of Paul fail to wrestle with it. Dr. Paul Allieu Kamara aims to rehabilitate this theme in this comprehensive and accessible study, a New Studies in Biblical Theology volume. He shows how, for Paul, thanksgiving is grounded in the covenantal traditions of salvation history. To offer thanks to God is to live a life of worship and to anticipate the future acts of God, all in submission to the lordship of Christ. Ingratitude to God is idolatry. Thanksgiving functions as a link between theology, including eschatology, and ethics. Here Dr. Paul Allieu Kamara provides clear insights into the passion of an apostle who never fails to insist on the significance of both the gospel message and the response this message demands. Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works comprising New Studies in Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understanding their Bibles. The NSBT series is edited by D. A. Carson, aiming to simultaneously instruct and to edify, to interact with current scholarship and to point the way ahead.”

“What Christians believe about God is visible in how they exhibit thankfulness for all he has done on their behalf. Dr. Paul Allieu Kamara offers a practical resource to encourage believers to express glad-hearted thankfulness for God’s unending provision. This book provides insight into daily practices that exemplify thankfulness, such as speaking a word of thanks to a neighbor, serving others in a practical way, or thanking God for his many gifts.

By living each day with gratitude in mind, Christians are doing more than saying a word of thanks or lending a helping hand – they are recognizing the absolute and total lordship of God, his sovereignty over all things, and his kindness in using his almighty power to work all things for good.”

“The apostle Paul instructed the Philippians to be anxious in nothing and thankful in everything. And when he said everything – he meant everything. We can all agree that this is easier said than done. Disappointments and discontent may cause you to slip into dissatisfaction, and grumbling becomes a state of mind – gratitude seems impossible to find. However, what if this is the precise reason you lack the joy of a God-filled life? Instead of a reaction to when things are going well, what if gratitude is actually necessary to knowing the hope of our gracious God?

This is exactly what Dr. Paul Allieu Kamara identifies in The Thanksgiving a price paid for life and living. Dr. Kamara examines the biblical foundations of thankfulness and traces how it can reshape every-day Christian living. When we express gratitude in all things, we not only praise our Creator, we also get to know Him better. With This Book, you’ll learn how to practice thanksgiving in both simple and extraordinary ways, even when you’re tempted to dwell on the negative. You’ll find your outlook on life realigned to see the hand of God in everything, strengthening your trust in Him. And in doing so, you’ll find greater, more joy-filled reasons to continue expressing thanks to our good and generous God.” I recommend this Book to be read and as you do God bless you.

BY Prof. Rudolph Q. Kwanue Sir

Founder, Chancellor and International Director

Rudolph Kwanue University College

INTRODUCTION

“Gratitude is a choice. If we fail to choose it, by default we choose ingratitude. And once allowed into the heart, ingratitude does not come by itself, but with other seedy companions that only succeed in stealing joy.

Derived from a popular Revive Our Hearts story, choosing the need for Gratitude the Journey to Joy challenges and equips the reader to live a life of intention, a life based on thankfulness for the freedom Christ has provided and for the blessings of others.

By intentionally thanking God and others, bitterness and entitlement are replaced with joy and the humble realization of just how undeserving we really are.

To not choose gratitude is more costly than we usually realize. When we do choose a lifestyle of heartfelt, humble gratitude, we are mindful of the benefits received from our gracious Savior and those He has placed around us, and our joy becomes full.”

“How to grow as thankful Person of God.

We are often encouraged to ‘count our blessings’. But truly biblical gratitude is much more than this.

Dr. Paul Allieu Kamara unpacks Scripture to help us grow in gracious gratitude—thanking God for who he is, as well as natural gratitude— thanking him for his blessings. She also helps women to identify and deal with some of the things that hinder them so that they can rediscover the joy of a thankful heart.

This thoroughly Bible-centered unpacking of the reasons for gratitude builds on Dr. Paul Allieu Kamara 14 years’ experience in mentoring, Pastoring and Teaching at The Word of Faith Bible Institute and Rudolph Kwanue University College and Grace International Bible University.

Discussion questions at the end of each chapter make this book ideal for group use as well as for individuals.”

The reason for this Book

1. I gave a lecture on the life of Thanksgiving at a graduation Ceremony in 2021, which was held at Lofa County, in the Republic of Liberia.

2. I gave another lecture at Winners Chapel International New London Bo, on Friday 16th May 2019 and its topic was ‘ The Power of thanksgiving and always give thanks for all things ‘ (Eph. 5:20)

3. Also, a third lecture - on our Word of Faith Bible Institute Program, on 15th October 2020 mainly on the Life of Thanksgiving, and a part on the Life of Submission and Hope.

GOD gave me time during my trip to Liberia last year so I combined the three lectures, with many additions in one book on the ‘thanksgiving is a price to paid for life and living’ which is now on your hands published as book with contemplations on the prayer of Thanksgiving which was given by the word of God in the Bible. Which will be printed for church leaders and followers? I hope - God’s willing – will reach you in good health in Jesus Mighty Name!

Pastor Dr. Paul Allieu Kamara

Resident Pastor

Winners Chapel International Waterloo

MAXRIST OF LIFE

WHY MUST WE GIVE GOD THANKS

1. Every Thing that has breath should praise The Lord- Ps. 150:6

2. It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord-Ps. 92:1

I discovered that the most expensive thing to managed in Man is life

Why

1. We have life= we call it breath Ps. 150:6, in scriptures we called it breath and with God is free for 24 hours 30 days and 365 days per year

2. We have life = in science we called it Oxygen= for Medical Science is costly

· Oxygen per day cost = 1,200,000

· Oxygen per Month = 36,000,000

· Oxygen per year = 432,000,000

· Now if you are five years = 2,160,000,000

· Now if you are Ten years = 4,320,000,000

· Now if you are Twenty years =8,640,000,000

· Now if you are Thirty Nine years =1,044,000,000

· Now if you are Thirty years =12,960,000,000

· Now if you are forty years =17,280,000,000

· Now if you are fifty years = 21,600,000,000

· Now if you are sixty years =25,920,000,000

· Now if you are seventy years=30,240,000,000

· We all owe God according to our ages

Do you see why we must give God Thanks?

What makes Change is not talk but work So, work to create the change that you needed

Welcome To The Lawrence Bible Institute And Church Training Center, Sierra Leone

The Lawrence Bible Institute and Church Training Center - LBI-CTC, is both an internationally and nationally established Institution mandated to train, raise and commission Ministers of the Gospel and other personalities of the five (5) fold ministry. LBI-CTC is nationally registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee with the Corporate Affairs Commission of Sierra Leone (CAC), and the Freetown City Council - Local Government as a Community Based Bible School. LBI - CTC is regionally or continentally accredited by the Africa Theological Education Network - ATEN, registered with Ministry of Education in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, West Africa and the CAC. LBI - CTC is in an affiliation partnership with ten (10) Biblical Universities, Colleges, Institutes and Schools globally. LBI - CTC also, has two (2) more international accreditations with the AICCS in the United States of America and the International Association for Biblical Education - IABE, in India.

Note! LBI - CTC is not a secular Institution but a biblical establishment that is genuinely established to train and prepare men of God and other religious leaders for the Kingdom work.

COURSES OFFERED

LBI - CTC offers Biblical or religious courses from Certificate, Lower Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Associate Degrees in the following courses below :

• Theology
• Christian Education
• Christian Leadership
• Ministry
• Biblical Apologetics
• Church Administration
• Christian Business MA and Ent.
• Christian Counseling
• Divinity
• Applied Theology and Intercultural Studies.

LEARNING RESOURCES

The LBI - CTC has designed modern classrooms with whiteboards, projector, computer, Bluetooth speaker with microphone and a well unified sitting arrangements ; one student to a chair and desk.

REQUIREMENTS

• Certificate - 1 Credit Wassce with Passes (including English),
• Diploma - 2 Credits Wassce including English,
• Associate Degree - 3, 4 or 5 Credits Wassce including English.

ADDRESS

Alusine Street, Mayenkineh, Calabatown, Freetown, SL

CONTACTS

Telephone : +23279942151

WhatsApp : +23299907405

ADMISSION IS ONGOING...

APPLY NOW - 099907405

Police Officer remandedfor stealing Okada Bike

By Salifu Conteh.

In another development in the same court, Alie Sulaiman Turay, purportedly a Police Officer, was remanded for the alleged stealing of a Motor Bike TVS Star LX with Registration Number ANS 583 belonging to one Sheikh Mohamed A. B. Conteh.

The said property was in the custody of one Police Constable (PC) 15243 Kallon B. at the Operation Restore Sanitary, Central Police Station.

The accused was arraigned on a count of Larceny contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act 1916.

The Police Prosecutor Inspector Mabel M. Tarawalie alleged in the Particulars of Offence that the accused on Tuesday 4thJanuary 2022 at Operation Restore Sanitary, Central Police Station in Freetown stole one black TVS Star LX Motor Bike with Registration Nos. ANS 583 valuedat nine million, one hundred thousand Leones (Le 9,100,000) whilst in the custody of PC15243 Kallon B., property of Shekh Mohamed A.B. Conteh

The accused denied the allegation and the matter was adjourned to January 18th 2022.

He was unrepresented.

26 Judges for 1,013 Cases

Outlook

Countribloggers

Sierra Leone’s economy contracted by 2% as the COVID-19 pandemic led to slowdown in all sectors following global supply chain disruptions and lockdown measures. GDP per capita fell by 4% in 2020, reversing some of the recent gains in poverty reduction. Real GDP is expected to rebound by 4.2% in 2021, reflecting the easing of COVID-related restrictions as well as the implementation of the government’s fiscal response to the pandemic. On the demand side, growth will be driven by domestic demand (as external demand remains subdued), with private consumption and investment contributing the most.

Recent Developments

Headline inflation fell to 8.9% in March 2021, before rising sharply to 10.2% by end June, reflecting an increase in food and fuel prices. Food inflation reached 17.1% in June 2021, well above its pre-COVID-19 level of 9.9%. The current account deficit is expected to improve by 1 percentage point to 16.4% of GDP in 2021, reflecting higher export receipts from the mining sector. In 2021H1, total public expenditure reached 12.3% of GDP while total revenue collection totaled 6.9% of GDP. The overall budget deficit is projected to decline to 3.8% of GDP in 2021. Public debt is estimated to decline to 72.9% of GDP in 2021, although the risk of external and overall debt distress was assessed as high in June 2021.

Risks and Challenges

Sierra Leone’s medium-term outlook is subject to downside risks. COVID-19 risks reflect limited access to vaccines including slow pace of the vaccination program and a resurgence of the pandemic. The main domestic macroeconomic risks are continued high public debt and domestic payment of arrears, slower than expected revenues, and rapid growth in monetary aggregates, including the associated inflationary risks and financial sector weaknesses.

Political Context

Sierra Leone held general elections in 2018, the most closely contested in its political history with the opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party winning by 0.6% after a second vote. The new Government launched the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP - 2019-2023), which maps out immediate and long-term development goals and commitment to transform from a fragile state into a stable democracy. Tensed political rivalry especially between the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party and the main opposition All People’s Congress continues to characterize the complex nature of politics and this sometimes results to violent confrontations. The setting up of the Commissions of Inquiry to investigate the governance activities of the past administration, the annulment by the High Court of the election of 10 opposition MPs in 2019, and the trial of some senior opposition members for various offenses, added to the political tension. A Peace and National Cohesion Conference was convened in May 2019 to help foster national unity, and Parliament in December 2020 passed into law the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion. The Government recently repealed the draconian Part 5 of the Public Order Act of 1965 that criminalized libel, while the President has also signed into law the abolition of the death penalty.

Development Challenges

Until the outbreak of Ebola in 2014, Sierra Leone was seeking to attain middle-income status by 2035, but the country still carries its post-conflict attributes of high youth unemployment, corruption, and weak governance. The country continues to face the daunting challenge of enhancing transparency in managing its natural resources and creating fiscal space for development. Problems of poor infrastructure and widespread rural and urban impoverishment persist despite remarkable strides and reforms.

You guys clearly knows that we ken always focus on building the country’s economy

Nor ever compere the SLPP to that of the failed APC

The President went on to recognise the United Kingdom, United States of America, The People’s Republic of China, France Canada, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana Russia, Pakistan, Turkey, Liberia, Guinea for their immense support in building the capacity of the RSLAF. The President said that, “over the last three years my government has engaged new and existing partners and advocated in the best interest of RSLAF for training and equipment needs,” The Commander-in-Chief explained that as a nation, Sierra Leone has come a long way and has a proud tradition of gallantry in various theatres of war and peace keeping all over the world.

The President disclosed that plans are now in progress to secure the necessary equipment to reconstitute a quick reaction force company to complement peace keeping operation to the United Nations. He continued to say this move will be good financially and personally for the country’s brave men and women in the Armed Forces. “We accelerate ongoing efforts to construct standard and conducive barracks accommodation for our officers, soldiers and their dependants across the country. Along with our partners, the People’s Republic of China, our work on the ultra modern Myong Officers Mess and five story single officers quarters at Wilberforce stands as a testament. It will be a site where young officers will build camaraderie and be nurtured into the traditions and ethos of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces. They will soon commission these edifices and other construction projects right across the country including billets and four patrol bases,” the President assured.

He reminded the new officers that, they have now sworn to serve the nation, and told them that it is their duty to respect, uphold and protect the Constitution of the Republic of Sierra Leone and to obey all lawful orders from their superiors without question. “You are soldiers first and always; you are not tools in the hands of politicians, and you must never be. Your duty is to protect our peace, our democracy and to support our national development; so professionalism is not an option, it is a way of life for an officer. It involves discipline, loyalty, respect compassion and character,” President Bio admonished the officers.

Brand new military vehicles were inspected by President Julius Maada Bio. These vehicles will improve mobility of the forces.

Introduction As a Rudolph Kwanue University College Leadership and Organization Development teaching and Research and Extension agent or community citizen, you have many opportunities to promote leadership development as specific leadership programs, as parts of other educational programs, or in working with other professionals or volunteers. This LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT Resource book provides a variety of materials to assist you in your leadership development work. The acronym LDAs’ refers to ―Leadership Excellence and Dynamic Solutions,‖ expressing the RKUC Research and Extension vision of actionoriented programming to address Leadership and community issues. Background information, teaching methods, learning activities, and evaluation tools are provided for a wide range of topics. Materials can be tailored for beginning and experienced audiences, youth, adult, or combinations. The purpose of this resource book is to help you become more aware of possibilities for initiating and conducting leadership programs in your community, to learn how to do this with a minimum of confusion, to feel comfortable about working in the leadership field, and to become excited and motivated to make use of it. Community may be a specific locality (such as a neighborhood, town, or county), a school, a work site … any place where there are some common needs, interests, or opportunities.