Friday, December 24, 2010

Father Christmas..!?

Father Christmas is based on a real person, St. Nicholas, which explains his other name 'Santa Claus' which comes from the Dutch 'Sinterklaas'. Nicholas was a Christian leader from Myra (in modern-day Turkey) in the 4th century AD. He was very shy, and wanted to give money to poor people without them knowing about it. It is said that one day, he climbed the roof of a house and dropped a purse of money down the chimney. It landed in the stocking which a girl had put to dry by the fire! This may explain the belief that Father Christmas comes down the chimney and places gifts in children's stockings.

'Father Christmas' (or 'Santa Claus') has become the human face of Christmas. Pictures will be seen everywhere of the old man with long white beard, red coat, and bag of toys. Children are taught that he brings them presents the night before Christmas (or in some countries on December 6th - St. Nicholas' Day), and many children up to the age of 7 or 8 really believe this is true. In most countries, it is said that he lives near the North Pole, and arrives through the sky on a sledge (snow-cart) pulled by reindeer. He comes into houses down the chimney at midnight and places presents for the children in socks or bags by their beds or in front of the family Christmas tree.

In shops or at children's parties, someone will dress up as Father Christmas and give small presents to children, or ask them what gifts they want for Christmas. Christmas can be a time of magic and excitement for children.

How do you see it???

The origin of X-mass day (Religious Perspective)

Since about 400 AD, Christians have celebrated the birth of Jesus. 'Christ' means 'Messiah' or 'Anointed One' - the title given to Jesus - and 'Mass' was a religious festival.

In the West today, the real meaning of Christmas is often forgotten. It has become a non-religious holiday! More children believe in Father Christmas than in Jesus. Christmas Day is a time for eating and drinking too much and watching television.

But the real Christmas story is found in the Christian Bible. It is told in two different books: Matthew and Luke chapters 1 and 2. If you have no Bible, you can read these chapters online. You may think that the story of the birth of Jesus, and the way that the West celebrates Christmas today, do not seem to have many connections.

Mary says "yes"


These chapters tell how Jesus was born as a baby to Mary. This was no ordinary birth! She was not married, she was a virgin, (yes, really!) and an angel had told her she would bear a special baby. Her husband-to-be, Joseph, did not believe her at first. Who would? Then an angel told him in a dream that it was true! Probably no one else believed it. So when they had to travel from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem (near Jerusalem), to register their names with the ruling Roman government, they probably escaped many hard words from other people.
Arrival in Bethlehem brought worry and upset: there was no room for them to stay at the hotel. There was only space in the stable - the animal house for travellers' donkeys and horses.

Jesus was born that night, and as they had no bed for him, they used an animal feeding box filled with the dry grass the animals ate.
Christmas cards and pictures today make it all seem very nice. In truth, it must have been dirty and frightening for a young couple, far from their home and families. Possibly the birth was premature after the stress of the journey. This was a very poor place for Jesus to start his life on earth.

God's plan?

Christians believe that it was exactly God's plan that things happened this way. They say that it shows that Jesus came as a humble, poor person and not as a strong, rich king. They also claim that the birth of Jesus was told many years before in the books of the prophets.

Five hundred years before, the prophet Micah had said,

"But you Bethlehem, though you are small, out of you will come for me, one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

The prophet Isaiah had written,

"A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler.

He will be called, "Wonderful Counsellor," "Mighty God," "Eternal Father," "Prince of Peace." His royal power will continue to grow; his kingdom will always be at peace....

He will rule as King David's successor, basing his power on right and justice, from now until the end of time."

These are only two of many prophetic words that told of the birth and life of Jesus, written hundreds of years before His birth.

The shepherds are frightened

At that time, sheep farmers were seen by other people as low and of no value. Yet it was to these shepherds that the birth of Jesus was first announced in an amazing dramatic way:
"That night there were some men looking after sheep in the fields nearby. Suddenly they saw a great light. It was an angel, who said,

'Don't be afraid. I have good news for you, and for all people. Someone great has been born today. He is Christ, the great King you have been waiting for. He will save you from all that is wrong and evil. You will find him dressed in baby clothes, lying on a bed of dry grass.'"
The story of the wise men

After Jesus was born, wise men came to look for Him, from an area which is now in either Iran or Saudi Arabia. Although they are often called the "Three Kings", the Bible does not say how many there were, or that they were kings. Three is only a guess because they brought with them three gifts.

Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh

They were certainly men of learning - probably today we would call them philosophers or scientists. They had seen an unusual new star in the sky, and knew that it told of the birth of a special king. (The star they saw was probably a exploding "supernova" and is known from astronomical records.) They followed the direction of the star and eventually found the place where Mary, Joseph and Jesus were staying. To bring honour to the child, they brought rich gifts: gold, frankincense (a resin which burns with a beautiful smell), and myrrh (plant oil with a very strong sweet smell). These gifts tell us in pictures three key things about Jesus:

Gold: a gift fit for a King

Frankincense: burnt in worship of God

Myrrh: a sign of mortal human-ness - it was used to bury the dead

Jesus a refugee

Herod, the evil king of the area, heard about the child, saw Him as a threat, and sent soldiers to kill Jesus. But God told Joseph in a dream to take Mary and the baby and escape to Egypt. They lived there till King Herod died and then went back to live in Nazareth. We read nothing more about the life of Jesus, except for one story when he was 12, until He reached 30. By the way - note one important thing: Jesus was not a white European, and Christianity is not a Western religion. Christmas cards from different countries often show Mary, Joseph and Jesus in the landscape of that country, and with the racial appearance of that nationality, be it black African, Indian, or Japanese. This is good and right - Jesus came to identify with every racial group. He is "Everyman" for us all.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

NBAA EXAMINATION STRUCTURE (Professional Examination Scheme)

The Examination Structure for the Professional examination scheme has three stages with two modules in each stage. Whilst the Foundation Stage has four subjects in each module, the Intermediate and Final Stages have three subjects in each module.

FOUNDATION STAGE MODULE A
Subject Name

P.01: Financial Accounting

P.02: Business Economics

P.03: Business Law

P.04: Business Mathematics and Statistics

FOUNDATION STAGE MODULE B
Subject Name

P.05: Auditing Theory and Practice

P.06: Cost Accounting

P.07: Business Information Systems Management

P.08: Business Ethics and Corporate Governance


INTERMEDIATE STAGE MODULE C
Subject Name

P.09: Financial Reporting I

P.10: Research, Consultancy and Reporting

P.11: Quantitative Techniques for Decision Making

INTERMEDIATE STAGE MODULE D
Subject Name

P.12: Management Principles and Practices

P.13: Corporate Finance

P.14: Entrepreneurship

FINAL STAGE MODULE E
Subject Name

P.15: Financial Reporting II

P.16; International Finance

P.17: Public Finance and Taxation

FINAL STAGE MODULE F
Subject Name

P.18: Auditing and Assurance Services

P.19: Management Accounting and Control

P.20: Contemporary Issues in Accounting

On successful completion of the Final Stage Examinations, a candidate shall be awarded a Certificate of Completion of the Certified Public Accountant - CPA (T) examinations and will be eligible for registration as a Graduate Accountant.

Hivi Mitandao ya simu inatujali zaidi kuliko serikali yetu...?






Karibu kila mwaka mitandao ya simu Tanzania inapunguza bei za huduma zao. hii inatusaidia hata watu wa kipato cha chini kuwasiliana kiurahisi bila kudhoofisha hali zetu za kiuchumi.

Nimekua nikijiuliza kila mara, Hivi hii inamaanisha kuwa mitandao ya simu inatujali sana kuliko serikali yetu ambayo inaachia maongezeko mengi ya bei za vitu ambavyo ingeweza kuyazuia au kuyapunguza kama ongezeko la bei ya mafuta ghafi?

Naombeni mawazo yenu wadau...!?

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

AM BACK...!?

Wadau,

Am so sorry kwa kutokuwepo hewani kwa takribani mwaka mmoja. Mtikisiko wa kiuchumi ulinikumba na mimi na kusababisha hali hiyo. Kuanzia sasa tutakuwa tukipeana habari mbali mbali kupitia mtandao wetu.

Karibuni sana & Kip in touch...!?