By Ganjiki D Wayne
Following my last commentary on the reading culture (or lack of) in PNG, it seems the bookworms have really been let out. Responses are quite uplifting. We heard from people who share the same burden for the reading culture in PNG. People were starting small book club programs at their homes, getting their families in on the action, even reading to their babies in the womb! And they were seeing positive impacts of such programs. A few colleagues of mine were so encouraged that they’ve suggested we do book club at work. So now we’ve designated a lunch time once a fortnight to have book reviews.
I was even encouraged to start an online book club. I didn’t think it would be received well at first, but I did so anyway—on facebook. The response was overwhelming. The facebook page “PNG BookClub” grew to 2800 members (and climbing!) in the space of four days! I’ve never been so happy to be proven wrong. There are people out there who are actually reading books like crazy...and they’re quite excited that they have a forum in which they could just talk books! People are conversing as if they’ve known each other for years...all because they share a common love for books and favourite authors!
On that page people have been recommending books and authors; giving snippets of books they’re currently reading or just completed or starting. They’re setting up meetings with each other to exchange books. More stories of family book clubs are shared. People who lost the passion for reading are telling us that they’re now picking up books again—inspired by the collective passion. Aspiring writers (including me) now have hope that we will surely have readers for our books when they’re published. People have expressed frustration too with the fact that the public libraries in the major centres are non-existent and that access to books is almost zero at the moment for rural and semi-urban areas. A story of a boy named Ngaru Nen—who goes to school in the US—distributing books to rural Watut has warmed our hearts. And news of others also attempting such deeds is encouraging. People with an abundance of books are even willing to contribute to a distribution effort—from within and abroad!
There’s even talk going on to materialise the movement into a formal club—aimed at building and sustaining the reading culture in PNG. A blog for book reviews and a website have been created (but not yet complete). People want a place where they can meet and exchange books both physically and in cyberspace. They also want to get involved in distributing books to people (especially children) who need them. Many ideas are put forward but we’re keen to just take it one step at a time. All good things are built slowly.
Bottom line is that people are being encouraged to read. We don’t yet know the full extent of the influence of the PNG BookClub on facebook. All we know is that members of the page are being encouraged to read more, and whoever they interact with (beyond facebook) are also being inspired to read...and a lot of them are! That gives us hope.
Vision2050 expresses a desire to see PNG people become “smarter, wiser”. These qualities are slowly being realised as more and more people pick up books and read. We can’t rely only on our Education system to make people smarter and wiser. Nor do we have to wait for the government to make things happen. It can start with us; wherever we are. We hope that you will pick up book soon—if you haven’t. And that you will encourage those within your sphere of influence to read books. You can prod them along by holding book review meetings—which are both educational and fun. Give books to them and follow-up regularly. Eventually your involvement will become unnecessary as they will soon get hooked on reading.
Most young people in PNG know Dr. Ben Carson’s story. The power of reading is well-illustrated in his story. Yet many still need to unlock their reading passions. There’s no doubt that if we are to become smarter and wiser, we must read. It takes more than just one week a year to highlight the importance of book-reading. We must prod the young people of our young nation to get their heads out of the clouds and into the books. True and long-lasting change starts right there. To change the attitude of people we need to change the mind of people. Books can do that.
Happy Reading PNG!
Heavenise Day
Ganjiki
"INSPIRING PASSION"
Thoughts and Ideas for and regarding Papua New Guinea, the country I love.
30 October 2011
11 October 2011
WHO LET THE BOOKWORMS OUT?!
By Ganjiki
I’ve commented before on reading in PNG and I’d like to do so again. Because I think it is such an underrated activity in PNG. For most PNGeans reading is a hard laborious and boring activity. We’d rather chew our beetle-nut and carry on with mindless chatter with our equally narrow-minded peers, or watch a movie that stimulates none of the imaginative and creative power of the brain, or allow desperate songwriters to shape our thinking by listening to their garbage. Reading is just not a PNG thing. And perhaps in our access to social network and blogging we have worked ourselves into a false sense of security—that reading short comments and blogs is sufficient reading—besides, this way we can challenge the author right!? And feel good about ourselves!
The few times I see my fellow PNGeans reading a book, be it on the bus commuting to and fro, or at a park, or wherever, it thrills me. It’s thrilling because it’s such a rare sight. One day while sitting and waiting for an appointment outside our Revenue Haus, I was reading a Robert Ludlum novel. An expatriate stopped, checked out the title of my book and asked me where I got it. After I told him he simply said: “It’s rare to see PNGeans reading...”
Things like facebook and blogs and the newspapers are huge hits with our people. I dare say we delight in reading generally junk (or snippets of junk). We seem to have such a short attention span that we can tolerate newspaper articles, blogs and fb comments...but great books by great authors are not at all in our scope of interest.
It’s even occurred to me that while most PNGeans like to posses KNOWLEDGE, we hate LEARNING. Have you ever wondered how odd it was for flunking Uni students to go riot over grading system? That was in my time and I’m still embarrassed because I didn’t think we deserved any grade higher than what we got! We didn’t like learning but we wanted the As. And if we our lecturers didn’t give it we tried to squeeze it out of them by threatening to burn a few cars!...Comeone PNG let’s change and create a true culture of reading and learning...
Wouldnt it be nice to see a lot more countrymen read. This is why I truly appreciate some great organisations whose mission is to make as many books accessible to as many people as possible. But we can all play our part in creating a new culture of READING...
At home I’ve started a book-club with my hauslain. Everyone was given a task to read a book and give a review at Book Review Night every week. This evening (10/10) we had our first Book Review night. My brothers and cousins from primary school to working/Uni class all gave reviews on their books followed by some comments and questions. It’s a way of getting us out of the trivial and generally unhelpful activities such as watching movies, playing computer games etc...and getting into more positive activities.
This is a simple way to bring change to our nation. We start with the ones at home; start by helping them broaden their worldview, enlarge their brain power as well as their vocabulary. Simple things like this can make a huge difference in the lives of people who are within our immediate sphere of influence. Please consider this an option for your household.
Reading short comments on fb and blogs may be helpful but reading books is priceless if you really want to gain real wisdom and knowledge. I implore you all to read further than this. Even though I’d love for you to read my blog-posts and comments, and emails, and “like” them and “share” or “forward” them...it would do you and this nation much better if you NOW decide to pick up a good book and dive into it.
Like Abigail Adams says: “Learning is not attained by chance. It must be sought for with ardour [zeal, passion, intention]”
Happy Reading everyone!
Heavenise Day.
Ganjiki
I’ve commented before on reading in PNG and I’d like to do so again. Because I think it is such an underrated activity in PNG. For most PNGeans reading is a hard laborious and boring activity. We’d rather chew our beetle-nut and carry on with mindless chatter with our equally narrow-minded peers, or watch a movie that stimulates none of the imaginative and creative power of the brain, or allow desperate songwriters to shape our thinking by listening to their garbage. Reading is just not a PNG thing. And perhaps in our access to social network and blogging we have worked ourselves into a false sense of security—that reading short comments and blogs is sufficient reading—besides, this way we can challenge the author right!? And feel good about ourselves!
The few times I see my fellow PNGeans reading a book, be it on the bus commuting to and fro, or at a park, or wherever, it thrills me. It’s thrilling because it’s such a rare sight. One day while sitting and waiting for an appointment outside our Revenue Haus, I was reading a Robert Ludlum novel. An expatriate stopped, checked out the title of my book and asked me where I got it. After I told him he simply said: “It’s rare to see PNGeans reading...”
Things like facebook and blogs and the newspapers are huge hits with our people. I dare say we delight in reading generally junk (or snippets of junk). We seem to have such a short attention span that we can tolerate newspaper articles, blogs and fb comments...but great books by great authors are not at all in our scope of interest.
It’s even occurred to me that while most PNGeans like to posses KNOWLEDGE, we hate LEARNING. Have you ever wondered how odd it was for flunking Uni students to go riot over grading system? That was in my time and I’m still embarrassed because I didn’t think we deserved any grade higher than what we got! We didn’t like learning but we wanted the As. And if we our lecturers didn’t give it we tried to squeeze it out of them by threatening to burn a few cars!...Comeone PNG let’s change and create a true culture of reading and learning...
Wouldnt it be nice to see a lot more countrymen read. This is why I truly appreciate some great organisations whose mission is to make as many books accessible to as many people as possible. But we can all play our part in creating a new culture of READING...
At home I’ve started a book-club with my hauslain. Everyone was given a task to read a book and give a review at Book Review Night every week. This evening (10/10) we had our first Book Review night. My brothers and cousins from primary school to working/Uni class all gave reviews on their books followed by some comments and questions. It’s a way of getting us out of the trivial and generally unhelpful activities such as watching movies, playing computer games etc...and getting into more positive activities.
This is a simple way to bring change to our nation. We start with the ones at home; start by helping them broaden their worldview, enlarge their brain power as well as their vocabulary. Simple things like this can make a huge difference in the lives of people who are within our immediate sphere of influence. Please consider this an option for your household.
Reading short comments on fb and blogs may be helpful but reading books is priceless if you really want to gain real wisdom and knowledge. I implore you all to read further than this. Even though I’d love for you to read my blog-posts and comments, and emails, and “like” them and “share” or “forward” them...it would do you and this nation much better if you NOW decide to pick up a good book and dive into it.
Like Abigail Adams says: “Learning is not attained by chance. It must be sought for with ardour [zeal, passion, intention]”
Happy Reading everyone!
Heavenise Day.
Ganjiki
13 September 2011
HAPPY SEPTEMBER 17 PNG!!
By Ganjiki D Wayne
Last year Independence Week I wrote a piece challenging PNGeans to be patriots beyond September 16. PC published it as Letter of the Week. This year I can’t think of anything better than remind us of that message again. It seems come this month and day we slap on the colours, dance to the tunes, sing the anthem and share opinions on how great we think our country is. Come September 17, for most PNGeans...its back to square one.
How many of us are truly nation-conscious? Do we really think every day about how our actions (or inactions) and our words, affect our nation? When we pick up the newspapers and read of State affairs, how long do we rejoice or stay upset? Public servants, how many times have we reminded ourselves that we work for the very people we pass by on the street or sit next to in a PMV? Do we lovingly embrace ALL PNGeans instead of just people of our provinces/regions? Does your heart break when you see the unnecessary injustice all around you?
I’m sure many PNGeans have such a PNG-oriented mindset. They don’t stop thinking of solutions that they keep sharing them on every medium, regardless of whether any attention is given; patriots who argue their case or serve tirelessly till they’re sapped of their energy. PNG is forever indebted to people like that.
Gary Juffa once gave a very profound analysis of people who serve in the Public Service. There are three types he said: (1) those just PASSING through, who leave as soon as they find another job; (2) those who CANNOT leave because no one else will employ them; and (3) those truly DEDICATED to their nation that they stick around no matter how bad it gets for them. The third are true patriots, embodying John F. Kennedy’s “Ask not” challenge. I hope you are too. I hope you don’t milk this nation for your own sake but constantly give yourself for it.
When September 17 comes around and the emotion is doused, the flag has fallen out of your hat, the singing has stopped, and the paint on your face and body has faded; will you still love this great nation? Will you not spit that red spittle on her, nor litter on her streets or pollute her land? Will you not abuse public property? Will you not smoke in the PMV, respecting and loving your fellow PNGeans? Will you serve diligently with few complaints, and lots of heart? Will you carry our flag honourably if you live in a foreign land? Will you not sell her cheaply to foreign interests, obnoxiously and selfishly? As you drive along Waigani Drive, look to Independence Hill and see that mother of all PNG flags fly high. Will you whisper a prayer for PNG? Will you be a steady and constant patriot; not swayed by the emotions of the moment but forever dedicated to a cause greater than yourself?
I hope you answered affirmatively to these challenges. This nation can be made great only on the backs of truly dedicated patriots and good responsible citizens who start changing in the little things. It starts with you. It starts with me.
God Bless Papua New Guinea
Heavenise day!
gg
patriotspng@yahoo.com
Last year Independence Week I wrote a piece challenging PNGeans to be patriots beyond September 16. PC published it as Letter of the Week. This year I can’t think of anything better than remind us of that message again. It seems come this month and day we slap on the colours, dance to the tunes, sing the anthem and share opinions on how great we think our country is. Come September 17, for most PNGeans...its back to square one.
How many of us are truly nation-conscious? Do we really think every day about how our actions (or inactions) and our words, affect our nation? When we pick up the newspapers and read of State affairs, how long do we rejoice or stay upset? Public servants, how many times have we reminded ourselves that we work for the very people we pass by on the street or sit next to in a PMV? Do we lovingly embrace ALL PNGeans instead of just people of our provinces/regions? Does your heart break when you see the unnecessary injustice all around you?
I’m sure many PNGeans have such a PNG-oriented mindset. They don’t stop thinking of solutions that they keep sharing them on every medium, regardless of whether any attention is given; patriots who argue their case or serve tirelessly till they’re sapped of their energy. PNG is forever indebted to people like that.
Gary Juffa once gave a very profound analysis of people who serve in the Public Service. There are three types he said: (1) those just PASSING through, who leave as soon as they find another job; (2) those who CANNOT leave because no one else will employ them; and (3) those truly DEDICATED to their nation that they stick around no matter how bad it gets for them. The third are true patriots, embodying John F. Kennedy’s “Ask not” challenge. I hope you are too. I hope you don’t milk this nation for your own sake but constantly give yourself for it.
When September 17 comes around and the emotion is doused, the flag has fallen out of your hat, the singing has stopped, and the paint on your face and body has faded; will you still love this great nation? Will you not spit that red spittle on her, nor litter on her streets or pollute her land? Will you not abuse public property? Will you not smoke in the PMV, respecting and loving your fellow PNGeans? Will you serve diligently with few complaints, and lots of heart? Will you carry our flag honourably if you live in a foreign land? Will you not sell her cheaply to foreign interests, obnoxiously and selfishly? As you drive along Waigani Drive, look to Independence Hill and see that mother of all PNG flags fly high. Will you whisper a prayer for PNG? Will you be a steady and constant patriot; not swayed by the emotions of the moment but forever dedicated to a cause greater than yourself?
I hope you answered affirmatively to these challenges. This nation can be made great only on the backs of truly dedicated patriots and good responsible citizens who start changing in the little things. It starts with you. It starts with me.
God Bless Papua New Guinea
Heavenise day!
gg
patriotspng@yahoo.com
10 September 2011
Your House First, The Nation Next
By Ganjiki D Wayne
We often talk of the family being the most basic unit in society, and that we need to protect it in order to protect our society. How do we do that? But before we protect, I think we first need to restore it.
How do we even begin to restore the family unit when almost every home in our society (especially the urban but increasingly in rural areas) seems broken and/or dysfunctional? Spouses cheating on each other, abusing each other, parents abusing their children. Children growing up in single-parent families lack proper guidance from a father or love from a mother. We see people deserting their families and their responsibilities everywhere we turn. Go to any family court and watch aggrieved mothers trying to seek justice for their children; children whose father’s most substantial contribution to their existence was a cell from his body. Young women, falling pregnant before getting married find themselves at loss because the men have no intention of sticking around (but they had no problems with sticking it in). Or a young man finds himself with a baby the mother of whom, having no intention of raising the baby, dumps it with him and his parents. Actually I think in many cases the parents are not more emotionally mature than the babies they make!
Kids these days are unrestrained, having had no discipline and guidance from their parents. They get their idea of morality and ethics (or lack of) and about the world from the countless movies they watch, the songs they listen to, their peers and for many, on the streets, not forgetting the internet...I doubt they read books at all. Walk down the street any morning or afternoon and watch most school children unashamedly letting out obscenities at each other...one can only conclude that it is everyday language for them at home. Watch the constant in-fighting and inter-school fighting. Watch them smoke and chew and head to school looking scruffy...having little or no sense of decency. At school they disrespect their teachers. A cousin of mine who went for teacher training at a public school in NCD, spoke of how the students would walk in and out of the classroom without any respect whatsoever for her. At 8:30am many high school students are still at the markets chewing or smoking time away. (Interestingly school only lasts till 1:00pm these days and they’re back out again). Informal sector mothers publicly abuse their children at their markets for being disobedient. But you wonder where the kid picks up that disobedience since the mother defies authorities by sitting in an undesignated selling spot. Fathers introduce their babies to the sweet aroma of cigarettes and/or alcohol; yet at some point they would probably tell their children that smoking and drinking is bad for them. Cheating parents cannot expect their children to be honest to them about anything. The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.
What shall we make of our society and its future if this is the way the family is disintegrating? If these are the types of “future leaders” we are breeding? I hear Community Development Secretary Joseph Klapat calling for government measures to protect children and the family unit. “Hear hear!” I say. (But I’m wondering how his department would protect the family by decriminalising prostitution. Seems diabolical. But that’s just me.)
My appeal is not to the government. It’s to YOU....How’s YOUR HOUSE?
Have you been spending enough time with your children? It would be a shame if you spent so much time contributing to public cyber discourse, public service, community work and yet your family hardly sees nor hears you. Have you been treating your spouse well? Have you been disciplining your children in love and not in anger? Have you encouraged them to seek after wisdom by reading books? Fellow young people yet to be blessed with that burden, how much time have you given to dreaming about your future children? Have you thought how you'd raise them in a hostile world—a world that is sure to tear them apart? What values will you communicate to them when they come? Bear in mind the most powerful form of communication is to walk the talk. God forbid our kids would be like those described above. Even as I write this I shudder to think that I may be inadequate. Yet I hope...
In the days of old, a biblical hero named Nehemiah rallied his fellow Israelites to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He and the people completed the task in 52 days! (A feat we would not likely match despite our modern technology). His most effective method was to get families to build the section of the wall just outside or nearest to their houses. And every family rose to the task diligently. Each family would have had a father who would have believed that the greatness of Jerusalem counted on him and his family’s contribution. He would have then rallied his household, shaped his family to be positive impacts of society. He would have been a good family man.
When my kids come into this world and meet yours...would they talk of great parents who taught them to be respectful to each other, to be loving and caring, courteous, to be honest and diligent, to be punctual? To understand right and wrong using objective truth and morality (as opposed to subjective relativistic morality)? Would they have learnt from their parents to be deep thinkers? To have empathy for fellow man? To respect the rule of Law? To be Patriots? Would they understand that the greatness of this beautiful nation depends not on great policies or economic models, or foolproof legislation, or on systems and processes; but on great people—starting with them?
I certainly hope those things for my unborn children. I think about them regularly. Heck I even have names for them already! I worry about what sort of world they will come into and how I would help them navigate these terrible seas. I’m grateful I had parents that gave me direction. I hope I would do a good job when my time comes. And I hope that you would too...or that you are doing a good job right now.
MAKING OUR NATION GREAT STARTS RIGHT WHERE IT SHOULD—“MY HOUSE FIRST”!
GOD BLESS PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Heavenise Day!
Gg
(10/09/11)
We often talk of the family being the most basic unit in society, and that we need to protect it in order to protect our society. How do we do that? But before we protect, I think we first need to restore it.
How do we even begin to restore the family unit when almost every home in our society (especially the urban but increasingly in rural areas) seems broken and/or dysfunctional? Spouses cheating on each other, abusing each other, parents abusing their children. Children growing up in single-parent families lack proper guidance from a father or love from a mother. We see people deserting their families and their responsibilities everywhere we turn. Go to any family court and watch aggrieved mothers trying to seek justice for their children; children whose father’s most substantial contribution to their existence was a cell from his body. Young women, falling pregnant before getting married find themselves at loss because the men have no intention of sticking around (but they had no problems with sticking it in). Or a young man finds himself with a baby the mother of whom, having no intention of raising the baby, dumps it with him and his parents. Actually I think in many cases the parents are not more emotionally mature than the babies they make!
Kids these days are unrestrained, having had no discipline and guidance from their parents. They get their idea of morality and ethics (or lack of) and about the world from the countless movies they watch, the songs they listen to, their peers and for many, on the streets, not forgetting the internet...I doubt they read books at all. Walk down the street any morning or afternoon and watch most school children unashamedly letting out obscenities at each other...one can only conclude that it is everyday language for them at home. Watch the constant in-fighting and inter-school fighting. Watch them smoke and chew and head to school looking scruffy...having little or no sense of decency. At school they disrespect their teachers. A cousin of mine who went for teacher training at a public school in NCD, spoke of how the students would walk in and out of the classroom without any respect whatsoever for her. At 8:30am many high school students are still at the markets chewing or smoking time away. (Interestingly school only lasts till 1:00pm these days and they’re back out again). Informal sector mothers publicly abuse their children at their markets for being disobedient. But you wonder where the kid picks up that disobedience since the mother defies authorities by sitting in an undesignated selling spot. Fathers introduce their babies to the sweet aroma of cigarettes and/or alcohol; yet at some point they would probably tell their children that smoking and drinking is bad for them. Cheating parents cannot expect their children to be honest to them about anything. The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.
What shall we make of our society and its future if this is the way the family is disintegrating? If these are the types of “future leaders” we are breeding? I hear Community Development Secretary Joseph Klapat calling for government measures to protect children and the family unit. “Hear hear!” I say. (But I’m wondering how his department would protect the family by decriminalising prostitution. Seems diabolical. But that’s just me.)
My appeal is not to the government. It’s to YOU....How’s YOUR HOUSE?
Have you been spending enough time with your children? It would be a shame if you spent so much time contributing to public cyber discourse, public service, community work and yet your family hardly sees nor hears you. Have you been treating your spouse well? Have you been disciplining your children in love and not in anger? Have you encouraged them to seek after wisdom by reading books? Fellow young people yet to be blessed with that burden, how much time have you given to dreaming about your future children? Have you thought how you'd raise them in a hostile world—a world that is sure to tear them apart? What values will you communicate to them when they come? Bear in mind the most powerful form of communication is to walk the talk. God forbid our kids would be like those described above. Even as I write this I shudder to think that I may be inadequate. Yet I hope...
In the days of old, a biblical hero named Nehemiah rallied his fellow Israelites to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He and the people completed the task in 52 days! (A feat we would not likely match despite our modern technology). His most effective method was to get families to build the section of the wall just outside or nearest to their houses. And every family rose to the task diligently. Each family would have had a father who would have believed that the greatness of Jerusalem counted on him and his family’s contribution. He would have then rallied his household, shaped his family to be positive impacts of society. He would have been a good family man.
When my kids come into this world and meet yours...would they talk of great parents who taught them to be respectful to each other, to be loving and caring, courteous, to be honest and diligent, to be punctual? To understand right and wrong using objective truth and morality (as opposed to subjective relativistic morality)? Would they have learnt from their parents to be deep thinkers? To have empathy for fellow man? To respect the rule of Law? To be Patriots? Would they understand that the greatness of this beautiful nation depends not on great policies or economic models, or foolproof legislation, or on systems and processes; but on great people—starting with them?
I certainly hope those things for my unborn children. I think about them regularly. Heck I even have names for them already! I worry about what sort of world they will come into and how I would help them navigate these terrible seas. I’m grateful I had parents that gave me direction. I hope I would do a good job when my time comes. And I hope that you would too...or that you are doing a good job right now.
MAKING OUR NATION GREAT STARTS RIGHT WHERE IT SHOULD—“MY HOUSE FIRST”!
GOD BLESS PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Heavenise Day!
Gg
(10/09/11)
23 August 2011
National Repentance Day: How Then Shall We Live??
By Ganjiki D Wayne
As we near the first National Repentance Day, let’s take some time to reflect on its significance. During the reign of the last government our then Acting Prime Minister and the National Executive Council became convinced that such a commemoration was pivotal to national change (and I could not agree more). And so, August 26 will be National Repentance Day for Papua New Guinea.
My humble question: Do Papua New Guineans understand the meaning of Repentance? And therefore do we understand the significance of this day?
What is REPENTANCE? It is quite a religious word these days. Perhaps its earliest usage in the English language (at least in the Bible) was when it appeared in the King James Bible exactly 400 years ago. It is an expression especially familiar with the Christian faith. “Repent! For the Kingdom of God is at hand!" Christians proclaim to this lost world, echoing the Lord Jesus and his announcer John the Baptist. I’m not sure if we really know what we are saying. Non-Christians or the irreligious would probably balk at this concept; concluding confidently that it does not apply to them. Christians would embrace it ecstatically; believing its high time the whole nation REPENTS or at least appreciates its eternal importance.
In chasing the definition of REPENTANCE the most obvious meaning jumps out: CHANGE OF MIND. The English word REPENTANCE comes from the Greek word matenoeo (metanoia—meta “after, with”, noeo “after one’s mind”), a compound word which simply means “a change of mind”, it can also refer to “change of conduct” and “change of consciousness” (but strictly speaking it refers to change of mind). Change of mind means changing beliefs and perceptions on a certain subject matter. If not believing something in the past, Repentance means now believing it. In the Christian context repentance means believing in the Lord Jesus, having previously NOT believed and turning away from sin. If I did not think a certain way before, I would now embrace that way of thinking. Change in the thinking is supposed to naturally show in the conduct.
In the Christian context repentance is associated with sin. True repentance is supposed to mean no longer allowing sin to reign in us. In the ordinary non-religious context repentance generally relates to changing the way we think. And on both notes I think PNG is well overdue for repentance. Never before has changing of the mind been so vital to national progress than it is today. We cannot continue in our way of thinking if we are to see real long-lasting change in our Nation. This is something that Patriots PNG has been campaigning for (changing of mindset) since its inception and which the Church has been pushing for since coming to PNG (repentance from sin and faith in God). Steve Biko, in the movie Cry Freedom, says it clearly: "Change the way people think, and things will never be the same."
I do not know exactly what stifles our progress as a nation. But I have a clue that it has a lot to do with our mindsets: individually and collectively. WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR MIND. Then and only then will we see changes in our lives and in our country. Repentance usually means change “for the better”. If we do not show signs of becoming better people, better citizens, better leaders etc. after 26/08; then we have missed the mark in commemorating a day dedicated to REPENTANCE and our mindsets would not have changed.
One thing for sure in the religious and irreligious context: true Repentance must be preceded by an understanding of that which you must change your mind about. If I used to think that spitting beetle-nut all over the streets was ok (or if I DO NOT THINK IT IS WRONG), before changing my mind about it I would have to first be convinced in my mind that it is indeed wrong. Otherwise there would be no basis on which I would then “change my mind” and stop such a habit. So if there has to be any real repenting, any real minded-change, there will have to be some real hard-hitting revelation (I tried to find a less-religious word but this is most appropriate) of the defects in our current way of thinking and conduct. The kind of revelation would cause us to swallow our pride and humbly accept that we need to change.
That part of the process (revealing our defective ways of thinking) has to be intensified in PNG. The people need to appreciate what need to be repented of. We need to appreciate what’s wrong with our current mindset, our current beliefs, our conduct, etc. before any successful effort can be made to improve or change.
Every person who understands the wrongness of a belief or conduct must make it his duty to inform others so as to help them change their thinking and conduct. And the Church must not slack of in speaking out against sin and what is morally wrong. And every individual has a duty to reflect on his current beliefs and perceptions, attitudes and conduct. Please do not assume that repentance is an exercise only for the religious. We all have things that we can and should change. Some honest self-reflection will reveal a lot. We ALL can do with some change of mind...some repentance...
As a facebook user posted so profoundly “no person or country can change until they face the hard ugly truth about themselves”. True.
For only then will you be compelled to truly repent.
REFLECTION PRECEDES REPENTANCE
God Bless PNG.
Heavenise Day!
gg
As we near the first National Repentance Day, let’s take some time to reflect on its significance. During the reign of the last government our then Acting Prime Minister and the National Executive Council became convinced that such a commemoration was pivotal to national change (and I could not agree more). And so, August 26 will be National Repentance Day for Papua New Guinea.
My humble question: Do Papua New Guineans understand the meaning of Repentance? And therefore do we understand the significance of this day?
What is REPENTANCE? It is quite a religious word these days. Perhaps its earliest usage in the English language (at least in the Bible) was when it appeared in the King James Bible exactly 400 years ago. It is an expression especially familiar with the Christian faith. “Repent! For the Kingdom of God is at hand!" Christians proclaim to this lost world, echoing the Lord Jesus and his announcer John the Baptist. I’m not sure if we really know what we are saying. Non-Christians or the irreligious would probably balk at this concept; concluding confidently that it does not apply to them. Christians would embrace it ecstatically; believing its high time the whole nation REPENTS or at least appreciates its eternal importance.
In chasing the definition of REPENTANCE the most obvious meaning jumps out: CHANGE OF MIND. The English word REPENTANCE comes from the Greek word matenoeo (metanoia—meta “after, with”, noeo “after one’s mind”), a compound word which simply means “a change of mind”, it can also refer to “change of conduct” and “change of consciousness” (but strictly speaking it refers to change of mind). Change of mind means changing beliefs and perceptions on a certain subject matter. If not believing something in the past, Repentance means now believing it. In the Christian context repentance means believing in the Lord Jesus, having previously NOT believed and turning away from sin. If I did not think a certain way before, I would now embrace that way of thinking. Change in the thinking is supposed to naturally show in the conduct.
In the Christian context repentance is associated with sin. True repentance is supposed to mean no longer allowing sin to reign in us. In the ordinary non-religious context repentance generally relates to changing the way we think. And on both notes I think PNG is well overdue for repentance. Never before has changing of the mind been so vital to national progress than it is today. We cannot continue in our way of thinking if we are to see real long-lasting change in our Nation. This is something that Patriots PNG has been campaigning for (changing of mindset) since its inception and which the Church has been pushing for since coming to PNG (repentance from sin and faith in God). Steve Biko, in the movie Cry Freedom, says it clearly: "Change the way people think, and things will never be the same."
I do not know exactly what stifles our progress as a nation. But I have a clue that it has a lot to do with our mindsets: individually and collectively. WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR MIND. Then and only then will we see changes in our lives and in our country. Repentance usually means change “for the better”. If we do not show signs of becoming better people, better citizens, better leaders etc. after 26/08; then we have missed the mark in commemorating a day dedicated to REPENTANCE and our mindsets would not have changed.
One thing for sure in the religious and irreligious context: true Repentance must be preceded by an understanding of that which you must change your mind about. If I used to think that spitting beetle-nut all over the streets was ok (or if I DO NOT THINK IT IS WRONG), before changing my mind about it I would have to first be convinced in my mind that it is indeed wrong. Otherwise there would be no basis on which I would then “change my mind” and stop such a habit. So if there has to be any real repenting, any real minded-change, there will have to be some real hard-hitting revelation (I tried to find a less-religious word but this is most appropriate) of the defects in our current way of thinking and conduct. The kind of revelation would cause us to swallow our pride and humbly accept that we need to change.
That part of the process (revealing our defective ways of thinking) has to be intensified in PNG. The people need to appreciate what need to be repented of. We need to appreciate what’s wrong with our current mindset, our current beliefs, our conduct, etc. before any successful effort can be made to improve or change.
Every person who understands the wrongness of a belief or conduct must make it his duty to inform others so as to help them change their thinking and conduct. And the Church must not slack of in speaking out against sin and what is morally wrong. And every individual has a duty to reflect on his current beliefs and perceptions, attitudes and conduct. Please do not assume that repentance is an exercise only for the religious. We all have things that we can and should change. Some honest self-reflection will reveal a lot. We ALL can do with some change of mind...some repentance...
As a facebook user posted so profoundly “no person or country can change until they face the hard ugly truth about themselves”. True.
For only then will you be compelled to truly repent.
REFLECTION PRECEDES REPENTANCE
God Bless PNG.
Heavenise Day!
gg
MOTHERS MYSTERIOUS
By Ganjiki D Wayne
This task got me seriously thinking
How mysterious is this amazing creature?
A mix of sweet strawberry motherly love
And dedication to make the Maker proud
I thought of great mothers, their deeds
Dr. Ben Carson’s mother, Moses’ mother,
Jesus’, and St. Augustine’s, and mine
And even William Kapris’ mum!
Great mothers whose love out-value a million goldmines
Dad came down hard with a cane, belted
Mum came down with a soft heart, melted
Tears fell freely from mother’s eyes
Her children pained from being chastised
Tonnes of meals by mother’s hands we’ve had
A river-worth of water, detergent and sweat
A thousand hours spent cooking, cleaning, laundering...
Lives took shaped by mothers simply being
Even eternity’s secure salvation
By her faithful tears, constant supplication
She has drawn God’s Amazing Grace and Hand
By which now we call Jesus “Friend”
Can words surmise one of life’s greatest wonders?
A brilliant symphony of strength seemingly endless
And heart and soul truly tender, amazing softness
Amazing that in that softness we find shelter nonetheless
Only a mother could love a child the world hates
Longing to serve her children with divine grace
Seeing an angel while the world sees the devil
Only a mother only a mother...
Shall men be glad we don’t carry a mother’s load?
Oh but it’s not only just 'cause mothers are supposed to
It’s because they can take it and men cannot
Heap a mother’s burden on man’s lonely shoulder,
He shall not last long, that is the order
First to rise and last to lie
Almost like Master she seems to neither slumber nor sleep
Almost....
How did He think up such beauty, such strength, such devotion?
Mysterious beyond my simple comprehension
Be of good cheer oh dear mother!
You bear the complexity, love mysterious
Of the God who made this sweet Universe
In this short verse I have not justly described
Your infinite worth in this world in which we abide...
Have a glorious Mothers Day!
(8th May 2011)
This task got me seriously thinking
How mysterious is this amazing creature?
A mix of sweet strawberry motherly love
And dedication to make the Maker proud
I thought of great mothers, their deeds
Dr. Ben Carson’s mother, Moses’ mother,
Jesus’, and St. Augustine’s, and mine
And even William Kapris’ mum!
Great mothers whose love out-value a million goldmines
Dad came down hard with a cane, belted
Mum came down with a soft heart, melted
Tears fell freely from mother’s eyes
Her children pained from being chastised
Tonnes of meals by mother’s hands we’ve had
A river-worth of water, detergent and sweat
A thousand hours spent cooking, cleaning, laundering...
Lives took shaped by mothers simply being
Even eternity’s secure salvation
By her faithful tears, constant supplication
She has drawn God’s Amazing Grace and Hand
By which now we call Jesus “Friend”
Can words surmise one of life’s greatest wonders?
A brilliant symphony of strength seemingly endless
And heart and soul truly tender, amazing softness
Amazing that in that softness we find shelter nonetheless
Only a mother could love a child the world hates
Longing to serve her children with divine grace
Seeing an angel while the world sees the devil
Only a mother only a mother...
Shall men be glad we don’t carry a mother’s load?
Oh but it’s not only just 'cause mothers are supposed to
It’s because they can take it and men cannot
Heap a mother’s burden on man’s lonely shoulder,
He shall not last long, that is the order
First to rise and last to lie
Almost like Master she seems to neither slumber nor sleep
Almost....
How did He think up such beauty, such strength, such devotion?
Mysterious beyond my simple comprehension
Be of good cheer oh dear mother!
You bear the complexity, love mysterious
Of the God who made this sweet Universe
In this short verse I have not justly described
Your infinite worth in this world in which we abide...
Have a glorious Mothers Day!
(8th May 2011)
07 August 2011
The Case for Christianity in the Affairs of PNG
By Ganjiki D Wayne
As debate on reforms to our sex laws and other moral questions intensify, conversation often naturally flows on to Christianity and its application in our national legislative programs and social engineering projects. Why should its precepts and principles be applied in shaping our society? Why should it have prominent application over other religious/irreligious opinions? Why do we even call PNG a “Christian Country”???
Increasingly people question the merits of calling PNG a “Christian Country”. Christian leaders often say our Constitution declares PNG a “Christian country” so we must therefore adhere to Christian principles. They are mistaken. Our Constitution does not make such a declaration. However it does subscribe explicitly to the Christian principles.
I’d like to put forward the following argument in light of the Preamble of the Constitution—our “Declaration of Independence”. What does it really say?? The Preamble contains the “spirit” of the Constitution and by extension the Nation. In law the spirit of a document is a significant aid to interpretation. Without the letter the spirit is ineffective and dead; but without the spirit the letter is without ultimate meaning, without coherence and is vulnerable to abusive interpretation. Whilst many argue on the “letter” of the Constitution, few really understand its spirit.
Our founding fathers and the drafters of the Constitution—after nationwide consultation and affirmation from the people—put into the Preamble a pronouncement of certain fundamental beliefs and values that as a nation we would (or should) live by. These foundations provide a coherent ethos for our nation. Such an ethos is necessary for our society to maintain some coherence and, dare I say, order.
Some of those principles include: the declaration of being “united as one nation”; the memory of our ancestors; the people-power basis for our democracy; the prominence of the dignity of the human being and community; the rejection of violence and encouragement of peaceful consensus; and hard work and equitable sharing of benefits for all.
These are but few of the foundation pillars set for our country. Among them, the Preamble declares—in fact it pledges!—to “guard and pass on to those who come after us our noble traditions and the Christian principles that are ours now”. The writers included Christianity as a major facet for our national society. This has, through ignorance of the real wording of the Preamble, been taken to mean that the Constitution declares PNG to be a “Christian Country”. Perhaps it’s only a matter of argument whether it’s a declaration or not. But for me it’s quite clear. Our Declaration lays down a pledge to do two things for the Christian worldview in PNG: to guard it and to pass it on.
Christian principles form part of the fundamental philosophical makeup of our nation, meant to permeate not only the private lives of us the citizens but every objective strategy we think up for progress as a nation. As a people we are called by the supreme document of our land, to guard those Christian principles we had wisely adopted. So when challenged by philosophies and ideologies directly contradictory to those Christian principles, the Christian principles be given prominent consideration. That is our duty under the Constitution. And if our first Basic Social Obligation (under that same Preamble by the way) is anything to go by, we are called to “respect and act” in the spirit of the Constitution. Notice it does not say we must respect and act according to the “letter” of the Constitution. Our writers knew the fallacy of leaning on the letter alone. We must be guided by that “spirit”—and therefore by extension the Christian principles.
For those naysayers who insist we are not a nation built on Christian principles, our Constitution leaves no doubt (unlike the American Declaration of Independence which is not as explicit) that it is indeed part and parcel of our pillars. And a further reading into the writings of John Momis, Sir Michael Somare and late Bernard Narakobi will confirm this explicit subscription to the Gospel of Christ. And to say otherwise would be to disagree with the spirit of the Constitution...the same one that gives us the right to argue one way or the other.
Where there is a need for coherence in our society where shall we get it? Should we spin a bottle on every separate issue and apply that worldview to which it points; regardless of the contradiction and incoherence in society? I contend that we need no such exercise. Our Preamble—the Spirit of Our Nation—provides such a coherence, it defines us sufficiently. If we should look everywhere but there we may end up sufficiently confused, frustrated, without direction and without identity. And even if we gain so much ground yet we may effectively get nowhere...
God Bless Papua New Guinea!
Heavenise Day!
Gg
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