Book review 2

Title: Forearmed
Subtitle: Insights on Sex, Love and Relationships
Author: Michael Richard Katagaya

Michael Richard Katagaya is a social worker by training and a learning, monitoring and evaluation specialist. He has worked with both government and non-government organisations in East Africa. His passion to live a full life has given him some useful experience in relationships. He has also served with several youth groups, mostly in church. This has given him a chance to get deeper insights into the lives of fellow youths and their thoughts on sex, love and relationships.

Forearmed is a title befitting the book since the content is aimed at equipping individuals to make the right choices and not suffer trauma because the choices people make have an impact on them.

Michael kicks starts off the book with detailing God`s perspective on relationships. “God is a relational God who desires to have a relationship with humanity. He comes first in any relationship because our horizontal reflects our vertical. Horizontal is man`s relationship with others while vertical is man`s relationship with God. An imbalance in one leads to an imbalance in the other.

Michael answers vital questions in the prevailing chapters, “must everyone date? in an era where dating is trendy and fashionable. He answers it candidly with scripture to back it up. He believes one of the worst things to do is date out of boredom. `You may chew gum, sing like a drunken fellow, play solitaire, roll in the sand or eat a lot but do not attempt to let your heart trespass into another person`s heart just because you are bored.

He cautions individuals not to date every person of the opposite sex around them because they will end up dating the entire world. He builds a strong case on conserving purity and not pursuing romantic relationships at all times. He uses references from the situations/problems sent through on Kampala based Christian station 104.1FM by youth who need advice on love, relationships and sex.

In our generation where settling for a married man/woman is the norm, the book cautions individuals to stay clear of married men/women in their bid to settle down. They ought to make informed choices about the partners they choose to settle down with, ask all relevant questions about family history, future plans, career, any diseases, financesetc. He tackles the aspect of finding love on social media which is a no-no for me however, it works for some people but not forgetting the false impressions social media gives yet dating and marriage is a reality.

Love is a decision and when you decide on one lady/man, stick to them and go on to take the big steps while observing both cultural and religious norms of either sides. However, the beginning bits of the book are not as catchy as the continuing chapters which will keep you on the edge of your seats.

Book quality
It is a well written book; with simple language and undeniable humor .The book cover is of good quality and the designers did a fantastic job. The heart with the key, red rose and the scroll on the cover all point to the title “forearmed: Insights on Sex, Love and Relationships. The book is aimed at helping individuals know how to guard their hearts even as love comes their way.

Recommendations
I recommend the book to all individuals dating, courting and those seeking to get married; as the book takes them through the whole pattern from boy meets girl to a happily ever after. Leaders /facilitators who seek to share on this trendy topic have a go to manual with relevant examples from the author`s personal life and from relevant sources.

Lastly, parents who don`t know how to have relationship conversations without their children feeling like they are old school and “don`t understand the current love trends. This book will help your children and they will thank you for it.

Racheal Kizza © 2017

Advertisement

Book review 1

Book: The software of sex
Subtitle: Most talked about,least understood
Author: Ken Aringo
Pages:106

Ken Aringo, is an ordained priest in the Anglican church of Kenya Diocese of Nairobi. He currently serves as a vicar at St. Chyrysostom parish in Nairobi, Kenya. He is also a Founder Director of Preserving Human Dignity (PHD) Africa Youth Ministry specializing in Evangelism, discipleship, mentorship and capacity building.

Ken is a clergy man talking about sex, a topic many in his line of work shy away from. The most talked about topic yet the least understood. From this book it is clear that sex is a ruling party that needs no president because it holds a one man show.

The book software of sex is simply a conversation on sex; exploiting the deepest realm which is our software not the hardware as we have been led to believe for years.

Ken weaves facts with personal stories of aliases like Sandra whose first sexual encounter felt more like “a loss of something valuable ” than a terrible encounter to Kimberly who at 12 years old is used by an older man in a seemingly safe environment. These encounters curve a sex trail in their lives , a trail that leaves permanent monuments of pain,sex addiction, dead conscience and a deeper need to have an understanding somebody – anybody who can tell what is wrong with the girls.

The girls represent me and other youth who in our “safe environments” harbor deep secrets that we can’t share with our parents let alone loved ones but manifest in many ways and sex is merely one of the many outlets.

The book reinforces the fact that our society is highly sexualized making sex a daily meal for A made up mind. A mind that is a master general that leads an army of action, behavior and the control of our bodies.

Ken dedicates the last chapter of the book to spiritual truth on the topic of sex. It is a gift from God worthy to be celebrated by male and female in the context of marriage contrary to sex deviation-the new normal highlighted in one of the chapters.

This quote from the book by a one preacher and expositor puts icing on Ken’s cake .”There is sex that happens based on hardware alone ….its inferior in quality, immoral in practice and demeaning in spirituality. Sex was created to operate based on consecration. When that is not done, it produces complications. ”

Language
The book language is admirable, very conversational and will keep you glued to each page like a magnet. The humor will have you in literal stitches and you will no doubt appreciate his use of the English language and you will definitely learn new words.

Recommendations
This is a must have for every youth in this generation as it speaks a language we understand and calls forth a strength to uncover truths about our software.
Parents who don’t know how to start a conversation on sex,this is a good way to start. Clergymen who for long have stood in the sidelines during the sex talk, this book will be your starter, main course and dessert.

Lastly for those seeking to research on the topic of sex, the book is well researched with scientific and medical proof.

Order for a copy at KenAringo.com for only 10USD and you can also get the kindle version on Amazon.

Racheal Kizza © 2017

My 2 cents

Its trendy setting new years resolutions or is it??Radio stations have been buzzing with this same topic since the start of the new year with some people saying its useless and others testifying of its importance.

Thanks to Uganda blogging community(http://ugbloc.com/new-year-new-you/ )I get to pen my thoughts on the hottest topic before the Kadarshians or Kanye trend all over again.

Resolutions refer to firm decisions to do or not do something and the synonyms of this very word are intention,resolve, firm,aim and plan.

Before last year, I thought setting resolutions was a waste of time because I never remembered any that I set by the second month .This always started my frustration journey with no compass.

However, last year I was part of a mentoring program( NGMP )where one of the books we had to read was Goal setting 101 by Gary Ryan Blair and this changed my perspective on setting resolutions and goals. See how;

• Gary Ryan Blair believes in setting goals in the 10 crucial life dimensions; family, health, finance, household,spiritual,recreation,career,personal,community and friends.This strategy gave my life balance and priority since the 10 dimensions cover what we live for on a daily basis, what we spend our money and time on.
• For resolutions or goals to be achieved , they must be SMART (specific,measurable, achievable, realistic, time bound). SMART goals reveal your resolve ,plan, intention of achieving certain things in your life. For example I set short term goals ,where I plan for each month instead of an entire year.With this, I grow with my goals and realistically keep tabs on them.
• I constantly cross check in my diary to see how far I have gone in the achievement academy.This is what I call self evaluation, where I hold myself accountable because I am responsible for my set goals.At the end of January,I will evaluate myself based on goals set and I find out what was achieved and what wasn’t, the ones I didn’t achieve I push them to February as I reset new goals for the month.
• Commit your plans to God and He will establish them as quoted in Proverbs 16:3.This old adage will never go out of season.

I did this last year and it worked for me and this year the cycle continues with a renewed strength ,perspective and wisdom.
Make 2017 count because you are responsible for your growth and success.

#happy new year

Racheal Kizza © 2017