Sermon delivered by Rev. Frank Ato Odoom on the Children’s Day Anniversary Celebration. Main text was taken from the book of Ephesians 6:1-3…..

Supported by Mark 10:13 – 16 and Ephesians 6:1-5

Most parents don’t have time for their child. Why? Because they want to make more money to cater for the child or otherwise. How can I make my child respect me? Spent much of your time with the child. This will help him / her to respect and obey you. Spend time to chat with your child. Don’t just command them or send them only.

Children are our special gift and as good as we treat our gift and quality time we spend with our gift; so should we do to our child (ren). Don’t fail to correct them when they go wrong…Proverbs 23:13. Do it the right way. Do not beat him/her when he/she makes a mistake. Correct him/her in a way of giving him/her some more work to do.

It is when he/she disobeys to attend errands that you have to use the cane, stick or a whip; but do it the right way.

We only use a stick when he/she disrespect. Most often we maltreat them. They need our praise often. Find something to praise them with. Do not withhold the Bible from them…Mark 10:13-16….

OBLIGATIONS OF THE CHILD TO THE PARENT

1.     Obey your parent in the Lord….Ephesians 6:1…

2.     Be truthful to them…I Corinthians 6:1 & 9

3.     Keep good company of friends.

4.     Learn hard and play less.

5.     Watch the outcome words of your mouth

6.     Keep family secrets

7.     Never speak evil, profane or fight among people.

OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARENT TO THE CHILD

1.     Take them out for show some time.

2.     You must be interesting to your child or show love and interest in your children.

3.     have activities with the child together; tell them stories in the Bible….Deut. 6:7-8

4.     Teach them to be responsible.

5.     Ask them of their vision, goal or talent in future so to support them.

6.     Bless, encourage and praise them and the Lord will bless YOU in JESUS name, AMEN!!!

WAIT PATIENTLY

…my soul waits patiently for the Lord; for in Him I have my salvation…Psalm 62:1

Supported by Psalm 62:1-2, Psalm 40:1-3 and I Corinthians 2:9.

I pray for you to wait patiently for the Lord. A lot of us do not know that God is a good God and want us to wait and rely upon Him. He shares to satisfy everyone. He is the creator of the universe.

It is not that He does not want to grant your heart desires but want us to wait patiently for His time of blessing. It is not late or too late; wait patiently for Him, for in Him comes all perfect gifts.

Psalm 31:19 says: how great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.

If we fear the Lord and take refuge in Him, His goodness will forever come on us. Let’s listen to someone’s song in Psalm 40:1-3…I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire………

Those who wait patiently for the Lord always reach their glory or success. If you would wait and trust in Him……. Endure the suffering patiently and the Lord will deliver you. If you struggle and don’t breakthrough, leave everything to God. Some people can’t be in one job or marriage for even a year. Things are being made as instant; e.g. Instant Coffee, Fufu, Banku, etc. so we want our heart desires to be accomplish instantly on demand.

Why don’t you wait for His time? What the Lord will do for you if you wait patiently; eyes have not seen neither ears heard. There are some things I thought will be like that my life forever; but in His right time He changed them to perfect for our good.

Wait for Him and He will bless you; many will see it; fear the Lord and respect you in Jesus name, AMEN!!!

Isaiah 44:21…Remember these things, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel. I have made you, you are my servant; O Israel, I will not forget you.

Supported by Isaiah 44:21-25, Colossians 3:23-25 and I Corinthians 15:10.

There are a lot of people who get confused and therefore forget about a lot of things. Some say God has disappointed them; He doesn’t care for them. It is a matter of time. You are His servant, He created and made you in His like – image and thus care for you. How then will He forget about you and also disappoint you? It is a matter of His time.

Do not get confused, He cares for you. Some even do not know their purpose….Act 19:32. God doesn’t forget about His children, so far as He has made and formed you; He will take care of you and remember you.

You are who you are today and lives because the Lord cares for. Do not think too much; you are not alone. The Lord has paid a high price to redeem you and is with you. His grace and mercy are there for you. His grace stays upon you forever and fades not. The grace and love of God and the fellowship of God be with you in Jesus name; Amen.

The Lord says I should inform you that He cares you. Colossians 3:23-25 tells us to do everything as we are doing for the Lord. Remember that you are my Servant….Isaiah 44:21, remember the grace of God is there for you and will never forget you in Jesus name, Amen!!!

Ghana emerge from real "group of death"

Both Italy and Ghana won the last matches of the round robin on Thursday to go through from Group E, the real Group of Death which produced the biggest upset so far at the 2006 World Cup.

The Czech Republic, world number two team on the FIFA world rankings, lost 2-0 to the eventual group winners Italy, finishing only three points with one win and two losses.

Ghana eliminated the United States with a 2-1 win to take the second position with six points from two wins and one loss.

Italy will face the runner-up of the Group F while Ghana is likely to set up a clash against the Group F leader, Brazil, in the knockout phase.

Featuring Argentina, the Netherlands, Cote d'Ivoire and Serbia and Montenegro, the Group C had been widely dubbed as the Group of Death before the tournament kicked off, but was concluded with a surprising ending as Argentina and Holland advancing before the final group matches.

The Group E, however, had the most of the drama of the tournament as all the four teams had a chance for a shot of a berth in the next round before the final match-ups kicked off.

Italy led the group with four points after two rounds but facing the biggest opponent of the group, the Czech, who must win to advance.

Ghana, who was trying to keep the fate in its own hands, was also seeking for a win against the United States, who leveled Italy 1-1.

The Americans would have booked a berth for the next round should they have defeated Ghana by two goals, and Italy beat the Czech.

But for Italy and Ghana, who had the better chance to advance, to win the group is the only stake as the runner-up is very likely to face the defending champion Brazil in the next round.

Italy had the final word of Group E as the Czechs were reduced to 10 men for the second consecutive time in the group stage.

While the Africans won a bitter-taste match-up with four players collecting yellow cards and committing 32 fouls, the double of those of the Americans.

Italy has a brighter path than Ghana in the last-16 group but the World Cup journey is just kicked off.

Stars cruise on for Ghana and Africa

Ghana's Black Stars on Thursday cruised to the knock out stage of the World Cup currently under way in Germany, with 2-1 victory over the USA in their last group E duel played in Nuremberg.

The Ghanaians, who became the only African and debutant to have traveled this far in the two-week old tournament scored both goals in the first half through Haminu Draman and skipper Stephen Appiah.

The Stars, playing without influential talismans, Sulley Ali Muntari and Asamoah Gyan took the lead on the 22nd minute, when Draman, making his debut in the tourney, robbed Claudio Reyna of the ball on the edge of the area and coolly slotted it past goalkeeper Kasey Keller to silence the Americas.

The game, which was hampered by the soggy nature of the pitch swung from one end to the other, with both teams creating few chances. Influential midfielder Michael Essien, who misses the next game for picking as second yellow fired wide after received a square pass in the box.

Ghana almost added a second on the half hour mark as Essien threaded a ball to Razak Pimpong but the centre forward shot wide off the right post.

However it was the turn of the Americans to click as Clint Dempsey's powerful finish two minutes before half time gave the US hope of winning the match.

Dempsey finished a pass well cooked by playmaker DeMarcus Beasley to keep goalkeeper Richard Kingston flatfooted.

But the Americans went from high to low within a matter of minutes when Oguchi Onyewu was penalised for pushing Pimpong in the box. The Americans were soon to go behind again through Stephen Appiah's penalty.

The skipper voted as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) after the game took a composed kick to restore Ghana's lead before the break. The game resumed with the physical Americans in their elements, but it was the Ghanaians with their appetite high on gaols that almost added a third, ten minutes into the second half but a brilliant one-handed diving save by Keller denied Appiah.

The first quarter-hour of the second half was similar to the first 15 minutes of the first half, with a lot of physical play in midfield and few chances for either team.

After wasting two quick chances, the Americans began to attack with more passion than precision and repeatedly got caught offside, as they desperately tried to beat Ghana's rear trap which was neatly set by John Mensah, John Painstil, Sheila Illiasu and Hadid Mohammed.

Scanty chances were created as the clock ticked and with desperation mounting for the US, Ghana almost grabbed a third when Alex Mensah-Tachie, a substitute tried to deflect a driven pass into the net, but it went just wide off the left-hand post.

The Stars thus set up a game with defending champions, Brazil in Dortmund on Tuesday.

LINE UP: Richard Kingston, John Painstil, Habib Mohammed, Sheila Illiasu, John Mensah, Michael Essien, Derek Boateng/Otto Addo, Stephen Appiah, Mathew Amoah/Eric Addo and Razak Pimpong .

By grace are ye saved, not of thy works or strength lest any man should boast…Ephesians 2:8. Supported by Luke 5:1-11 and Ephesians 2:8 – 13.

Sermon delivered by Rev. Jesse Sackey of Latter Rain Family Chapel International – Takoradi Ghana on the Christian Growth Church Men’s Week Celebration.

This scripture is telling us about our past, present and where we are going (future). We are saved by the grace and blood of Jesus but not ourselves, good works or strength. Most of us do not understand what it means to be saved by grace.

Because I love you, I do not remember you past but will save you as far as you pass through the blood; I will remember your sins no more; says the Lord almighty. Stop looking behind you and look forward. An athlete who looks back as he runs is by-passed by his opponents and always comes last in the race.

Do not also think about what people will say or do to you because you have become a Christian or repented from your sins but what is important is the future ahead of you. It is the past that deceives you but the future will not; therefore look to the future.

According to Luke 5:1-11, Peter caught fishes more than he thought of when he accepted Jesus. You too can be like that (Peter). Just pass through the blood by repenting and the future will see you through.

Let your old bad friends and peoples see you and praise and be amazed of your salvation. When Jesus comes to your life, he transforms and changes you. Come out of the prison of the past.

Do not follow Jesus because he can fulfill your heart desires but he has something more important than what you desire. Let us not become miracle minded people; seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven and its righteousness and all things shall be added unto you. Follow the Lord for where He is sending you to but not what you can get from Him. God wants to use you. Read John 8 and Matthew 16.

The Lord saved you to serve Him. Lord I want this, I need that, I like this!; it is the time for you to ask the Lord what to give.

May the Lord add His blessing to it; AMEN!!!