A Glimpse – The Gambia

Easter, the cornerstone of the Christian faith, holds a profound significance for believers worldwide. Beyond its traditional observance, Easter offers a timeless message of hope, renewal, and redemption—a message that resonates deeply with every generation. In an era marked by uncertainty and rapid change, the timeless truths of Easter provide a steadfast anchor for young hearts seeking meaning and purpose.

In today’s fast-paced world, where digital distractions abound and societal norms constantly evolve, people often grapple with questions of identity, belonging, and purpose. Easter, with its celebration of Christ being raised from the dead, offers a totally cool story of how things change and get fresh again, a reminder of what really took place in Jerusalem that speaks directly to the challenges and aspirations of the current generation.

The Promise of a fresh start:

At the heart of Easter lies the promise of a fresh start, a promise fulfilled through the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. As the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 5:8 (ESV), “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The crucifixion of Jesus, foretold in the scriptures, serves as the ultimate expression of God’s boundless mercy and grace, offering you the gift of reconciliation and forgiveness. Easter’s message offers the promise of a fresh start and a renewed sense of purpose.

Hope Amidst Uncertainty:

In a world plagued by uncertainty and unrest, Easter offers a signal of hope. The resurrection of Jesus Christ reminds you that even in the darkest of times, there is light and life beyond the shadows. As you navigate the difficulties of modern life, the promise of Easter serves as a source of comfort and assurance, guiding you through moments of doubt and despair.
1 Peter 1:3 (ESV) : “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

The Promise of Eternal Life:

Easter holds forth the promise of eternal life, a hope that surpasses the boundaries of time and space. Jesus declares in John 11:25-26 (ESV), “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?. Through His resurrection, Jesus offers the assurance of life beyond the grave, inviting you into a relationship marked by joy, peace, and everlasting fellowship with God.

The Call to Renewal:

Easter extends a timeless invitation to renewal, a call to embrace the life-changing power of Christ’s resurrection in your own life. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV), “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Just as Christ emerged from the tomb in glorious resurrection, you too are invited to cast off the shackles of sin and embrace the abundant life that comes through faith in Him.

Conclusion:

As you journey through the Easter season, may you pause to reflect on the profound truths found within the Word of God. May you embrace the promise of redemption, rejoice in the triumph of resurrection, and respond to the call to renewal with a heart full of faith and gratitude. And may the timeless message of Easter continue to inspire and uplift you, bringing you even closer to the love and grace of our Risen Savior.

Pawulu niŋ faniyaa kiilaalu

1 M be ali daani kaŋ fo ali si muña domandiŋ n na tooleeyaa la. Dukaree, ali muña m fee! 2 M be kiiliyaariŋ ali la kuwo la le niŋ kiiliyaa la, Alla ye meŋ dundi n sondomoo kono, kaatu ŋa ali laahidi kee kiliŋ ne la, meŋ mu Kiristu* ti, fo n si ali naati a kaŋ ko sunkutoo meŋ maŋ kewo loŋ. 3 Bari saayiŋ nte be silariŋ ne ko, ali la miiroolu kana ali filindi ko saa ye Hawa neenee ñaameŋ, ka bo niŋ a la feere jawoo la, meŋ si a tinna, ali ye bo ali la soobeeyaa to, aniŋ ali la foroyaa Kiristu ye. 4 Niŋ moo doo naata ka Yeesu koteŋ na kuwo kawandi ali ye, meŋ niŋ ntolu ye meŋ kawandi maŋ ke kiliŋ ti, ali ka tariyaa le ka soŋ a la. Waraŋ niŋ ali naata noora koteŋ soto, meŋ niŋ Nooroo maŋ ke kiliŋ ti, ali ye meŋ soto nuŋ, waraŋ niŋ ali ye kibaari koteŋ moyi, meŋ niŋ ali sonta meŋ na maŋ ke kiliŋ ti, ali pareeriŋo le ka soŋ ì ma.

5 Bari nte maŋ a miira ko, nte dooyaata wo moolu ñaatiliŋo la le, ali ye mennu muta kiilaa* baalu ti. 6 Hani niŋ a ye a tara, nte maŋ diyaamoo noo, bari m maŋ ke londintaŋo ti. A keta ñaa-wo-ñaa, ŋà ñiŋ koyindi ali ye kuwolu bee le to.

7 Fo ŋa junube kuwo le ke, biriŋ ŋa m faŋ jindi, ka Alla la kibaari betoo kawandi ali ye, m maŋ feŋ kaniŋ a kunna, fo alitolu si sikandi? 8 Ŋa baadiŋolu* la kodoo taa ì bulu Yeesu la kafu doolu kono fo n si dookuwo ke noo ali ye. 9 Kabiriŋ n tarata ali fee, aduŋ m be suuloo kono, m maŋ duni laa moo-wo-moo kaŋ alitolu kono, kaatu baadiŋolu mennu ka bo naŋ Makedoniya, wolu le ka n na suuloolu topatoo. Nte ye m faŋo muta le fo n kana ke ali ye dunoo ti, aduŋ m be tenteŋ na wo le la. 10 Ko Kiristu la tooñaa be baluuriŋ n kono ñaameŋ, moo-wo-moo le te nte la ñiŋ kibiroo bondi noo la Akaya tundoo kaŋ. 11 Muŋ daliila le ye a tinna, ŋa ñiŋ fo? Fo m maŋ ali kanu baŋ? Alla ye a loŋ ne ko, ŋa ali kanu le.

12 Nte ka kuwolu mennu ke, m be tenteŋ na wolu kewo la le, fo n si wo moolu la daliiloo bondi ì bulu, mennu lafita ka ì faŋolu niŋ ntolu kaañandi baara kuwolu to, ì ka kibiri mennu la. 13 Wo moo siifaalu mu faniyaa kiilaalu le ti, aniŋ neeneeri dookuulaalu, ì ka ì faŋolu ke Kiristu la kiilaalu ti. 14 Wo maŋ ke teremma kuwo ti, kaatu hani Seetaanoo* ka a faŋo ke le ko maloo malaayikoo. 15 Wo to, a maŋ ke jaakali kuwo ti, niŋ a la dookuulaalu ka ì faŋolu ke tiliŋo la dookuulaalu ti. Ì labaŋo be ke la le ko ì la kebaaroolu be ñaameŋ.

Pawulu la toora kuwolu

16 M be a seyinkaŋ na kotenke, moo kana m muta toolewo ti. Bari hani niŋ ali ye m muta wo ti, dukaree, ali muña n na tooleeyaa la fo nte fanaa si kibiri domandiŋ. 17 Nte ye kaŋo soto Maariyo bulu le, bari m be meŋ fo kaŋ saayiŋ, m maŋ tara a fo kaŋ wo kaŋo kaŋ, bari m be diyaamu kaŋ ne ko toolewo meŋ ka kibiri a la dankeneyaa kono. 18 Baawo moo jamaa ka kibiri niŋ hadamadiŋyaa hame kuwolu le la, ì ye mennu soto, nte fanaa be kibiri la le. 19 Ŋa a je le ko, ali kontaaniriŋolu ka muña toolewolu fee le, bayiri ali ye ali faŋolu muta moo ñaamendiŋolu le ti. 20 Alitolu ka hani muña moo-wo-moo fee le, meŋ ka ali joŋyandi, meŋ ka ali kasaara, meŋ ka a faŋ nafaa ali la, meŋ ka a faŋ wara, waraŋ meŋ ka ali tama fadi. 21 A naata ke nte ye malu kuwo le ti, n ñanta soŋ na meŋ na ko, ntolu la semboo maŋ wara ka ñiŋ ñoŋ kuwolu ke.

Bari niŋ moo haañita ka kibiri feŋ na, nte fanaa haañita ka kibiri wo la le. Nte be diyaamu kaŋ ne ko toolewo! 22 Fo itolu mu Hiburunkoolu* le ti baŋ? Nte fanaa mu wo le ti. Fo itolu mu Banisirayilankoolu le ti baŋ? Nte fanaa mu wo le ti. Fo itolu mu Iburayima koomalankoolu le ti baŋ? Nte fanaa mu wo le ti. 23 Fo itolu mu Kiristu la dookuulaalu le ti baŋ? Nte le tambita ì la wo to. Saayiŋ nte be diyaamu kaŋ ne ko ñaamaatoo! Ŋa dookuu baalu le ke ka tambi itolu la, n soronta bunjawoo kono siiñaa jamaa ka tambi itolu la, ì ye m buutee siiñaa jamaa le la mennu te konti noo la, aduŋ siiñaa jamaa n ka sutiyaa saayaa la. 24 Siiñaa luulu Yahuudoolu ye n karawaasi busa daañaa taŋ saba niŋ konontoo la. 25 Siiñaa saba ì ye m buutee niŋ dokoo la. Ì ye m buŋ beroolu la siiñaa kiliŋ. Kuluŋo kupita m fee ko siiñaa saba. Aduŋ suutoo sotota, aniŋ tiloo, n tarata yanka kaŋ fankaasoo kono. 26 N na taamasila jamaa kaŋ, n tambita niŋ baa boloŋolu maasiiboo la le, aniŋ boyinkannaalu la maasiiboo. N tambita Yahuudoolu la maasiiboo la le, aniŋ moo koteŋolu. N tarata maasiiboo le kono saatewolu kono taariŋ, wuloo kono aniŋ baa kono. N tambita moolu fanaa la maasiiboo la le, mennu ye ì faŋ ke Yeesu noomalankoolu ti. 27 N tarata dookuu koleŋo le la, aniŋ bataa, n ka tara n ñaa la suuto jamaa. Konkoo niŋ mindoo ka tu n na, aduŋ siiñaa jamaa m buka domoroo soto. M be sumayaa kono, m maŋ feetoofata soto. 28 Aduŋ ñiŋ kuwolu bee koolaa, miira baa le ka tara nte kaŋ luŋ-wo-luŋ, meŋ mu Yeesu la kafoolu topatooroo ti taariŋ. 29 Niŋ baadiŋo lamfuta, nte fanaa ka lamfu le. Niŋ ì ye baadiŋ doo dundi junube kuwo to, wo ka nte faa niitoora le la.

30 Niŋ nte ñanta kibiri la, m be kibiri la kuwolu le la, mennu ye n na sembentaŋyaa yitandi. 31 Maarii Yeesu la Alla, meŋ mu a Faamaa ti, ate ye a loŋ ne ko, nte maŋ tara faniyaa fo kaŋ. Tenturoo niŋ jayiroo be ate le ye fo abadaa. 32 Kewo meŋ tarata maraloo la Damasiku saatewo kono Mansa Aretas la kaŋo koto, a ye Damasiku saatewo kanta le nuŋ, fo a si nte muta. 33 Bari ì ye n yoora niŋ sinsiŋo le la ka bo niŋ huwo la, meŋ be saatee tata sansaŋo bala, aduŋ n kanata a ma wo le ñaama.

Paul and the False Apostles

1 I wish you would tolerate me, even when I am a bit foolish. Please do! 2 I am jealous for you, just as God is; you are like a pure virgin whom I have promised in marriage to one man only, Christ himself. 3 I am afraid that your minds will be corrupted and that you will abandon your full and pure devotion to Christ—in the same way that Eve was deceived by the snake's clever lies. 4 For you gladly tolerate anyone who comes to you and preaches a different Jesus, not the one we preached; and you accept a spirit and a gospel completely different from the Spirit and the gospel you received from us!

5 I do not think that I am the least bit inferior to those very special so-called “apostles” of yours! 6 Perhaps I am an amateur in speaking, but certainly not in knowledge; we have made this clear to you at all times and in all conditions.

7 I did not charge you a thing when I preached the Good News of God to you; I humbled myself in order to make you important. Was that wrong of me? 8 While I was working among you, I was paid by other churches. I was robbing them, so to speak, in order to help you. 9 And during the time I was with you I did not bother you for help when I needed money; the believers who came from Macedonia brought me everything I needed. As in the past, so in the future: I will never be a burden to you! 10 By Christ's truth in me, I promise that this boast of mine will not be silenced anywhere in all of Achaia. 11 Do I say this because I don't love you? God knows I love you!

12 I will go on doing what I am doing now, in order to keep those other “apostles” from having any reason for boasting and saying that they work in the same way that we do. 13 Those men are not true apostles—they are false apostles, who lie about their work and disguise themselves to look like real apostles of Christ. 14 Well, no wonder! Even Satan can disguise himself to look like an angel of light! 15 So it is no great thing if his servants disguise themselves to look like servants of righteousness. In the end they will get exactly what their actions deserve.

Paul's Sufferings as an Apostle

16 I repeat: no one should think that I am a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool, just so I will have a little to boast of. 17 Of course what I am saying now is not what the Lord would have me say; in this matter of boasting I am really talking like a fool. 18 But since there are so many who boast for merely human reasons, I will do the same. 19 You yourselves are so wise, and so you gladly tolerate fools! 20 You tolerate anyone who orders you around or takes advantage of you or traps you or looks down on you or slaps you in the face. 21 I am ashamed to admit that we were too timid to do those things!

But if anyone dares to boast about something—I am talking like a fool—I will be just as daring. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. 23 Are they Christ's servants? I sound like a madman—but I am a better servant than they are! I have worked much harder, I have been in prison more times, I have been whipped much more, and I have been near death more often. 24 Five times I was given the thirty-nine lashes by the Jews; 25 three times I was whipped by the Romans; and once I was stoned. I have been in three shipwrecks, and once I spent twenty-four hours in the water. 26 In my many travels I have been in danger from floods and from robbers, in danger from my own people and from Gentiles; there have been dangers in the cities, dangers in the wilds, dangers on the high seas, and dangers from false friends. 27 There has been work and toil; often I have gone without sleep; I have been hungry and thirsty; I have often been without enough food, shelter, or clothing. 28 And not to mention other things, every day I am under the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 When someone is weak, then I feel weak too; when someone is led into sin, I am filled with distress.

30 If I must boast, I will boast about things that show how weak I am. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus—blessed be his name forever!—knows that I am not lying. 32 When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas placed guards at the city gates to arrest me. 33 But I was let down in a basket through an opening in the wall and escaped from him.

2 Korintinkoolu 11