Features
Principles of new start
This is just a picture of what happens to the whole body when we fail to get proper exercise. Each part suffers and in turn the whole body suffers.
Some people work at sedentary occupations. Even though they are brain tired at the end of the day from standing or sitting for hours in heavy concentration, they need to exercise physically and breathe fresh air deeply.
It would be well for these people to enjoy some late afternoon or early evening sunshine and exercise in the garden, cycling or brisk walking.
When oxygen is lacking in the body, the blood moves sluggishly and the waste, poisonous matter that should be eliminated, is held in the body and the blood becomes impure. Exercise improves the blood circulation and helps cleanse the blood. Good health depends on good circulation.
Proper exercise gives life to the whole body. It gives strength to the digestive organs, the liver, the kidneys, the lungs and the heart.
Exercise is excellent recreation not only for the body but also for the mind. It brings relief to the weary brain, helping us to think more clearly and to feel more cheerful. The whole body becomes more resistant to disease.
It is not wise to exercise too vigorously, especially after eating a larger meal. The blood is then needed in the stomach to break down the food and is not as available for the other strenuous exercise.
Exercise, like all other daily activities must be done with care, thoughtfulness and common sense. Let us begin to take some steps and make a decision to get some exercise today and every day from here on.
BENEFITS OF GOOD EXERCISE
1. Prevention of heart disease.
2. Prevention of and treatment of obesity.
3. Lower blood pressure.
4. Increase circulation and oxygen intake.
5. Increase self-worth.
6. Improved sleep.
7. Lower cholesterol levels in the blood.
8. Decrease in anxiety and relief of depression.
9. Elevation in mood and vigor.
10. Stronger heart beat and lowering resting heart rate.
11. Increase fitness level.
12. Aid in stress control.
Water
Water is very important to this world. About three-quarters of the earth is made up of water. Most of it is salt water, but the sun has the ability to change salt water into fresh water.
Just to basically explain it, the heat from the sun picks up small drops of water from the sea and takes them up to make clouds but it leaves the salt behind.
As the clouds gather more and more moisture, the drops get heavier and heavier until they become heavier than air and fall as rain on the earth.
Also springs of fresh water bubble up from under the earth. Often big rivers start from snow and springs in the mountains.
As they trickle down to the lower areas, water from the rain and thawing snow join the streams and together they tumble downward. As different creeks join the flow, they become rivers and soon the rivers flow into the mighty ocean – to repeat the ongoing, never-ending cycle.
Water is a very important part of our lives, both inside and outside the body. We need to drink six to eight good-sized glasses of clean water each day. A good health habit to develop, is to drink two to three glasses of warm water when you get out of bed. This helps to flush out the stomach and digestive tract.
It is best not to drink after 20 minutes before eating food. This way the water does not dilute the acid juices which break down the food when it comes into the stomach at meal time.
For this reason, it is best not to drink with any meal. It can cause the food to stay in the stomach longer than needed and it starts to ferment and build up bad gases.
The blood needs a good supply of clean water as well. Water helps blood to flow around our blood system, to keep our body running well. If we could follow our blood into all the hidden recesses of our body, we would find that it picks up poisons and waste matter on its travels.
Water is essential for the function of the kidneys as they continuously filter the blood.
The kidneys’ work is made more efficient if we drink plenty of clean water. The body will keep healthier. Also, if we have trouble with passing solid wastes (constipation), this can often be relieved by drinking a good supply of warm water.
It is essential to drink plenty of water when we are sick. It helps to pave the way for a quicker recovery. People suffering from colds, fever, infections and viruses will be greatly helped if they increase their water intake.
On the outside, we must not forget that our skin is another very important organ that eliminates body wastes. A bath or shower every day cleans the skin of germs and impurities, helping all the organs inside the body do their work.
All our clothes and bedding should be washed in clean water to keep them fresh and clean as well. Water on the inside and the outside assists nature to keep out diseases.
Conflict at work is more common than you might think. According to 2022 research by The Myers-Briggs Company, more than a third of the workforce reports dealing with conflict often, very often, or all the time in the workplace. The same report found that managers spend an average of four hours per week dealing with conflict, and nearly 25 per cent of people think their managers handle conflict poorly or very poorly.
Addressing a dispute might feel tense or awkward, but resolving the conflict is typically well worth it in the long run. Whether you’re trying to mediate conflict between colleagues or are directly involved, here are seven steps you can take to manage workplace conflict.
1. Don’t put it off
Facing conflict head-on is hard. However, waiting too long to address it can negatively impact your emotional well-being, focus, and the entire office environment. If you’re feeling angry, letting that emotion fester can also escalate it over time. This can make you less responsive to other points of view and make it harder to resolve the issue.
The sooner you can address the conflict, the better it will be for you, the person you disagree with, and your entire team.
2. Learn all you can about the problem
It’s important to determine the type of conflict you’re dealing with. Begin by considering the cause of the conflict. For example, ask yourself whether someone said something that upset you or if you have emotions of anger and resentment that stemmed from something that happened.
Then try to identify if it’s a task, relationship, value, or team conflict. Once you know what type of conflict it is, you can work to resolve it with specific tactics for that situation.
If you skip this step, you may waste time or escalate the situation further by trying to address issues irrelevant to the real conflict.
3. Actively listen
Listen attentively when people share their side of the story. Active listening is one of the most valuable professional skills you can possess. This type of listening involves not only hearing what the other person is saying but also listening to understand their point of view.
No matter your role in conflict, it’s easy to begin sharing your opinion with little regard for the other people involved. However, it’s important to learn about all sides of a disagreement to make well-informed decisions before drawing conclusions.
To reach a resolution, you must step back and prioritize listening over talking. Ultimately, that will encourage the other person to do the same when it’s your turn to speak. –source: betterup.com
Today, I focus on the Temple Of Praise Ministries International (TOP Church) in Helsinki, as I continue my description of personalities or institutions and their accomplishments as members of the Ghanaian Diaspora in Finland.
The TOP Church in Finland has seen significant strides and accomplishments that must be made known to the public. 
Some history
The Church was established in Finland in September 2016. Since its inception, it has steadily grown both spiritually and numerically, by the grace of God, as disclosed to me by Mr Matthew Anini Twumasi, the Presiding Elder of TOP’s branch in Finland. The TOP Church has other branches across Africa, Europe, and America.
The Church in Finland was founded with a vision to create a welcoming and dynamic community where people could experience God’s love and grace (see, www.topchurchfinland.org). According to Presiding Elder Matthew, the TOP Church operates within a unique environment where Christianity coexists with what is seen as a largely secular society.
Despite this, he submits, there are significant opportunities for outreach, unity, and demonstrating the love of Christ through service and community engagement.
Activities
Church services at the TOP Church are typically held on Sundays for the main worship. In addition, there are mid-week prayer sessions, Saturday prayer services, and a half-night service held on the last Friday of every month. “We also organise quarterly programs”, Elder Matthew added.
His impression of the Church so far has been positive. “It is a vibrant and welcoming community where members are committed to worship, fellowship, and supporting one another in faith”, he stated.
In sum, Elder Matthew said the Church continues to grow by God’s grace. “We remain hopeful and committed to spreading the Gospel, strengthening the faith of our members, and making a positive impact in society”, he continued.
Achievements
The TOP Church has a number of achievements and achievements. Some of the strengths include strong community bonds, cultural diversity, and deep commitment to spiritual growth.
I also remember that during the COVID-19 period, I heard that the TOP Church was one such bodies that hugely supported its members and others to cope with the situation.
According to Elder Matthew, the challenges facing the church include “adapting to cultural differences, engaging the younger generation, expanding outreach in a secular society, and securing a permanent place of worship”.
Role in the Ghanaian community in Finland
The TOP Church plays a prominent role as a religious group that serves Ghanaian migrants and others in the Finnish society.
Thus, the TOP Church is a religious body for Ghanaian migrants in Finland and other nationalities who want to worship with them for diversity and better intercultural and multicultural understanding.
The Church also has mechanisms in place to support its members who are bereaved as a way to commiserate with them in times of death and funerals.
The Ghanaian community has played a vital role in the growth of the Church. Their strong sense of fellowship, dedication to worship, and active participation have helped build a solid foundation and attract others to the ministry, according to Elder Matthew.
Integration
By its activities, the TOP Church is helping to ensure integration of its members well into the Finish society.
This is important since social interaction and citizens’ well-being are an important part of the integration process.
The role of migrant associations and groups such as TOP Church acting as bridge-builders for the integration and inclusion of migrants through participation in the decision making process and by acting as a representative voice is highly appreciated in Finland. Thank you!
GHANA MATTERS column appears fortnightly. Written in simple, layman’s terms, it concentrates on matters about Ghana and beyond. It focuses on everyday life issues relating to the social, cultural, economic, religious, political, health, sports, youth, gender, etc. It strives to remind us all that Ghana comes first. The column also takes a candid look at the meanings and repercussions of our actions, especially those things we take for granted or even ignore. There are key Ghanaian values we should uphold rather than disregard with impunity. We should not overlook the obvious. We need to search for the hidden or deeply embedded values and try to project them.
With Dr Perpetual Crentsil
