Be INSPIRED!...

WHY DO I DEVIATE FROM MY GOALS?

2014-07-30T03:54:00.001-07:00

By Obagidi Victor

Many people give many reasons for not going in line with what they have written down as goals. some call those reasons tangible excuses and some call it justifiable reasons. No matter the name you use to qualify it, the fact still remains that you deviated from those goals. however, hitting the target of your goals are dependent on you ability to set realistic goals. Most goals deviated from, are mostly unrealistic. That is why deviating from them seems so easy to accomplish. For example, Maya, who has a lot to do for his parents/guardian sets a goal to read for the whole day without a break. He therefore, begins to follow these goals because the parents/guardian travelled.

Their return absolutely renders that goal paralyzed because he has to create time to attend to them. Femmy is a student who doesn't work but lives on what the parent sends (#5000 monthly) sets a goal of saving #20,000 monthly. On the other hand, Seun sets a goal of reading the whole bible/quran at once without mastering consistency on one chapter. These are what we call unrealistic goals. Goals that have no true source of accomplishment. It might look like its gonna work out for a start, but the momentum drops gradually until a permanent deviation is observed.

Therefore, the first and foremost thing to do is to set realistic goals. Goals that has a high feasibility. Attainable and achievable goals. You must note here that a goal should always graduate from simple to complex and not from complex to simple. This means that you should set realistic goals no matter how small they might look. When you have mastered the consistency in that set goals, you can then proceed to setting higher goals. Don't take it other way round.
Focus is what keeps you on track when you are trying to reach your goals. If you think of an archer as s/he aims at a target, it is essential that the archer has focus in order to hit the bulls eye. Likewise, when a person wants to create something in their life, they must maintain focus in order to achieve the goal.

There are many reasons why a person loses focus while pursuing their goals. The constant distractions in today's world mean that maintaining focus can be very difficult. Distraction of work, home, friends, socialising, events and everything else constantly compete for your attention and dedicated time. It takes time to stay focused on achieving your goals and it's so easy to fail in your attempt to maintain enough momentum, desire, energy and persistence needed to achieve your goals. As a result you often give up and think your goal is unachievable you then deviate from it.

Another reason why you might lose focus in pursuing your goals is that you may talk yourself out of pursuing your dreams. When you first begin pursuing your goals, you may be motivated by the fact that you are improving your life and achieving your wishes and dreams. Shortly after starting the process of taking action towards achieving our goals, you can often begin to question the plausibility of achieving what you want. As soon as you start questioning your ability, you start to loose focus.
So what can we do to ensure we maintain the focus we need to achieve our goals? Here are some tips that will help us stay focused.
Write our goals down. Put your goals, reasons, objectives and beliefs in writing. When they are in writing it makes them more real and they can be reviewed and used as a constant source of encouragement. Eventually your goals will become branded in your mind.

Watch for Negative Self Talk. Caution the thoughts that makes your written goals look too big to be accomplished. Note here that the goal must however be realistic.

Plan your action. Build your plan for reaching your goal. Your plan becomes your road map and helps you determine the best course to follow.

MinimizeDistractions. Get rid of as much temptation as possible that deviates from your focus on your goal. If your goal is to loose weight, throw away all takeaway and foods that contributes to your fat. If your goal is to save money and reduce money spent on non necessities, unsubscribe from any online shopping, gaming, promotional newsletters, email or text alerts. If for example your goal is to exercise more and you have identified watching TV as a distraction, don't turn on the TV until you have achieved the tasks relating to your goal. Use every method you can think of to remove distractions from your situation and it will certainly help your focus.

Use the Power of Visualization. To have something to focus on we must have a strong visual picture of our target so we can maintain focus on the end result. The more you bring what it is you wish to obtain to the forefront of your mind, the more focus you can give to it.

Measure Your Progress. You can't control your progress unless you can analyze your progress. Create a system and timetable to measure your progress. Record your daily progress. This can tell you if you are on track or if you need to make adjustments to either your plan or activities. You need to measure your progress on a regular basis as it gives you some control.

Prioritise your Goal. Focus on a few goals at one time. Try not to overburden yourself as it will limit your chance of achieving your goal and demotivate you. Concentrate on the important ones first, achieve them and then you can look at addressing the other goals.

Work your Goals into your Daily Plan. Do something towards achieving your goals everyday. The best way to achieve your goals and maintain your focus is to do something that will make it happen each and every day. Even if its only 15 minutes each day, it is better than not doing any goal related activity at all. Give your goal daily attention and you'll remain more focused and at a better chance of achieving your goal.

Use the Power of Positive Affirminations. Keep telling yourself in the present tense and in a positive statement of what you want to achieve. When someone's goal is to climb a mountain, his/her affirmation will detail being at the top of the mountain, not on getting from the bottom to the top. Positive affirmation can help you maintain focus and help you believe in yourself and your ability to obtain your goal.

Celebrate your Milestones. Mark your successes and acknowledge your progress towards your desired goal. Set milestones and as you achieve them reward yourself. This will motivate you and make you see your milestone in a very positive way.

Also remember that there is no quick fix to achieving your goals. It requires your motivation, effort, research and time. However our goals are far more attainable when you stay focused on them.
You must however note that there's no excuse for you to deviate from your goals.
I so much believe in you and what you can do.

Re-broadcast to inspire someone into action.
Your friend;
Obagidi Victor.
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Youths as future leaders of tomorrow: Are we there yet?

2014-07-30T03:45:00.000-07:00

(By Kolapo Abidemi)

“The Nigerian government is still using antiquated approaches that are antithetical to the principles of sustainable development as regard the policy affecting the youths. The National confab which comprises recycled crops of aging politicians whose interests are not predicated on issues affecting the Nigerian youths have further substantiated this fact. The confab should have been youth centred, providing avenue of expression and civic engagement“.

IF we recall the popular catch-phrase: ‘Youths are the future leaders of tomorrow ‘ made by our leaders of yesterday who are still voraciously clinging on to the baton of power, we wonder when exactly is the future going to arrive for the youths. Unfortunately, this has robbed the youths of their potential, their ability and responsibility to be the leaders of today, thus subjecting them to a state of passivity, ineptitude and gross irresponsibility towards promoting national growth and productivity.

The fundamental component and major investment of society that remains underutilised and neglected are the youths. It is the youths who are the bedrock for effective and sustainable development. Young people are in the critical and uninhibited process of learning and inventing, therefore if they are given incarnate responsibility, they will accept the challenge and will be a driving force in making a progressive impact in our economy.

In this present day and age, a typical Nigerian youth seem to have discarded the core values and principles of moral dignity, intellectual pursuits of excellence and the need to integrate themselves in the collective responsibility towards national development.

In my days as a youth corps member, I went with zeal to make a long lasting impact in the place of my primary assignment but I was shocked to see the youths frustrating all efforts to welcome change and progress. Majority prefer to tread the path of shame and dishonour by engaging themselves in inglorious vices such as oil bunkering, pipeline vandalisation, kidnapping, political thuggery, prostitution, etc. I was also shocked to see the youths being taught ‘Olumba Olumba ‘ in a Christian religious class. Are these the future leaders of tomorrow?

The national youth development policy (2001, P.1) asserts that ‘‘Youths are the foundation of a society. Their energies, inventiveness, character and orientation define the pace of development and security of a nation. Through their creative talents and labour power, a nation makes giant strides in economic development and socio-political attainment. In their dreams and hopes, a nation founds her motivation on their energies; she builds her vitality and purpose. And because of their dreams and aspiration, the future of a nation is assured.’’

Conversely, with the high level of indiscipline, religious extremism, ethnic jingoism, political shenanigan and other vices being displayed by our youths who are considered the future leaders of tomorrow, is the future of our great nation not at stake?

Unemployment in Nigeria today has become every youth nightmare. It is no longer about going to school and graduating or learning a trade, but about how to face the reality of graduating and joining the brigade of the unemployed youths.

The Nigerian government is still using antiquated approaches that are antithetical to the principles of sustainable development as regard the policy affecting the youths. The National confab which comprises recycled crops of aging politicians whose interests are not predicated on issues affecting the Nigerian youths have further substantiated this fact. The confab should have been youth centred, providing avenue of expression and civic engagement. There seem to be a new face of emerging challenges seriously affecting the youths and this may cause a drift to anarchy if the government refuses to beam the searchlight on issues affecting the youths.

The government in advanced countries has placed high priority on matters regarding the welfare of their youths and their policy has in some way positively affected the young people by institutionalising many youth centered organisations primarily focused on reflecting the views and serving the needs of the young people. They provide a space where young people can organise for action to meet community needs and experience group processes, strengthening youth vigilance in combating corruption through advocacy and networking.

Our youths should begin to view themselves as the leaders of today capable of creating incremental changes by making their ambitious ideas a reality today rather than waiting for the future. The Nigerian youths should begin to embark on a transformational process by creating a political paradigm shift strong enough to sweep away our aged economic predators through unrestricted creativity, inspirited action and ardent activism. The future begins now!

Dr Abidemi wrote from Kots Integrated Services, Lagos. bideklink@yahoo.com

Adaora Egwuonwu: The Art of Saying “NO”

2014-07-30T03:08:00.001-07:00

The word “no” is a very difficult one for many people, but over time I’ve realized it’s one of the most important words to incorporate if we want to excel as individuals, and in leadership. Nothing demoralizes a person when more than when being told ‘no’. Some people see it as being rude or impolite, and may take offense to it; but truth be told, you are actually exercising self-care. Finding yourself is not primarily what you add to your life, but essentially what you take away.

I vividly recall when I went for a job interview in the NGO I currently volunteer for. Being my first, although prepared, I was quite nervous. On arrival, having observed the interviewer was a free-spirited guy who knew just how to break the ice, I felt a bit relaxed. Then, he asked me a a totally unexpected question: “If you are assigned a task you are unable to carry out, how would you reject it?” Oh my! That sounded like a tricky question I didn’t want to fall prey to. I felt very uneasy. I tried to be very cautious with my response in order not to be denied the position, especially because I had come in very energetic – with an “i-can-do-it-all” kind of attitude.

I don’t quite recall exact answer I gave since I kept beating about the bush. I will never forget his response. “Do not be afraid to say ‘No!’. It’s part of setting your priorities straight and taking care of yourself. Whatever task given to you that you find uncomfortable, you have the right let us know and to refuse it” Pheww!! Just like that? That didn’t go as bad as I thought. Easier said than done huh? but all the same I felt a sense of relief which was all I needed at that moment.
There are so many opportunities and of course, responsibilities which present themselves as we succeed in life. The key challenge here becomes prioritizing the many opportunities we are faced with. We often try to do this without saying “no” conclusively. We still want to keep our options open. Although, this may result in a lack of clarity and most of the time, overcommitment, we end up disappointing people, exhausting ourselves, or simply just failing. To prevent this mishap, we need to learn to say “no” gracefully but firmly; maintaining the relationship while making it clear that this is one path we’re choosing not to pursue.

According to my Communications lecturer, Mrs. Gaboury: the first step to reject a proposal is by buffering it. That way you don’t sound too harsh, mean or straight forward to the other party. Here’s a sneak peek of one of my course works on how we were taught to write an indirect letter.
“We truly appreciate your enthusiasm towards introducing new features to the improvement of the project at hand. It’s indeed our utmost priority to render good quality services to our high esteemed customer like you. I agree with you on the introduction of these recent features but as it stands; it’s not favorably possible to incorporate the new requirements as a result of the limited time-frame”
In this scenario, you have indirectly passed your message across and that message is simply saying ‘NO’. I’d say it’s like an interpersonal skill that develops overtime although it feels very discomforting at first. Be clear of your vision. Does this request help me to further my goals? If it does, that is the only thing you want to say “YES” to.
There are no laid down rules to follow on how to say ‘no’, but here are some helpful tips and phrases I do apply when I find myself in situations like this:

Acknowledge
Pay proper attention and ensure they know they are being heard. Make them understand you likewise know the importance of what they are asking you for. In response, you can say “I know how much this project really means to you and I really appreciate you asking me but I’m sorry I can’t”.

Weigh your options
This is a very crucial part. At this moment, you know the implication of saying ‘yes’. You shouldn’t give the person an answer because your options haven’t been evaluated. Therefore, it’s wrong to commit yourself. Use helpful phrases like:
• I’ll get back to you.
• I’m going to say no for now; I’ll do let you know if something changes.
• I’m sorry, but it’s not just possible for me at this time.
• You can choose not to get back to the person at all. Silence is a form of reply.

Offer an alternative
By doing this, the person knows you really want to help in as much as you can’t be fully involved. Use words like:
• I think I know someone who can handle this much better. Do you mind?
• No I can’t do that but this is what I am able to do.

Follow up
This totally depends on you if you feel the need to. You can say: “I’m just checking to know the status of the work done”

Do not defend your decisions
“No” does not require any justification or explanation. It’s a part of success. Remember, each time you say yes to someone, you are actually saying no to your priorities. I’ve been in positions where I almost felt like freaking out. “What part of the NO don’t you understand?” Some people are just a pain in the neck. Of course, we are humans. We will feel that way sometimes. Success in this light is based on the ability to manage the emotions that come up when we close a door or extinguish an option. Consider if it’s worth the try. If it’s going to deter you from your purpose and utmost priority, let it go.
I’ll wrap up by saying this “It takes valor to identify your breaking points and refuse to allow people or circumstances use them to force you say or do things you don’t believe”- Assegid Habtewold.

About Adaora Vivian Egwuonwu

Adaora, author of several inspirational articles is a strong, energetic young lady with an educational and professional background in Economics and Project Management. A strong supporter of non-profit organizations that help fight against poverty, hunger, health challenges, harassment or any form of abuse. Through writing, she aspires to create more positive impact the best way she can to the society and be a source of encouragement to youths and young adults on how to succeed in life if only they believe.
You can follow her on Instagram: @dark_insta_diva

Time Flies!

2014-04-17T06:36:00.003-07:00

By John C. Maxwell.

It seems that everyone's busy these days. And life shows no sign of slowing down. Are your efforts effective? Or do you sometimes feel like you're spinning your wheels? Now more than ever, we seem to have more work than time to do it. But time, according to Denis Waitley, "is an equal opportunity employer. Each human being has exactly the same number of hours and minutes every day." So since we can't increase the amount of time we have, we need to learn how to control our use of it.

Here are some tips to help you grow in the area of time management.
Keep a detailed time log of your work. Break down every day for a week into 15-minute increments. Write in every single thing you do. This means what you actually spend time doing - not what you intended to do.
Identify your major time wasters and work to eliminate them. Everyone falls prey to certain time wasters, based on personality or work habits. Use your time log to discover yours. Then target and try to eliminate one each week.

Identify the activities you value. The greatest time management tool I ever learned came from the 19th century economist Vilfredo Pareto. The Pareto Principle (which I quote a LOT) states that if we devote our energy, time, and resources to the top 20% of our priorities, we'll achieve 80% of the results we desire.

Use your time log to clarify which activities are important to you. Then focus your schedule on the top 20%. Use planning to gain time. Every minute spent in planning saves ten in execution. End each day with just five minutes spent planning and prioritizing for the next.

Create systems to simplify. Here's a truth to live by: You can't devote 80% of your time to your top priorities when you've just wasted 40% of your time trying to find your to-do list. I've created systems for nearly everything in my life. My best rule is to touch any piece of paper only once - then I either throw it away, act on it, or file it.

Become results-oriented. You already know that activity does not necessarily equal accomplishment. If your busyness is not yielding results, it's time to adjust. Begin prioritizing, planning, and organizing. And use deadlines. They'll point you toward results.
Heartsill Wilson said, "God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it - or use it for good, but what I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it!" When you open your eyes tomorrow morning, remind yourself that it holds incredible possibilities. You can allow that day to slip away from you, or you can use it to make things happen. The choice is yours.

Stress: The Pathway to Growth, Renewal, and Success

2014-04-17T06:27:00.000-07:00

By The John Maxwell Company.

To live stress-free would be to deny our responsibility as leaders. Stress accompanies growth. We have to accept that all worthwhile change, every amazing transformation and renewal, brings about temporary stress.
For example, think about an expectant mother. Her pregnancy begins with morning sickness, and queasiness lingers throughout the first trimester. Her nose becomes keenly sensitive to smells, and pungent odors can instantly trigger bouts of nausea. As her hormones go through turbulent changes, the mom-to-be experiences a roller coaster of emotional highs and lows.

Later in the pregnancy, her body expands to make room for the baby. Some days she feels as big as a blimp. As ligaments stretch and tear, and she gains weight, simple movements are more of a chore. Sleep becomes more and more difficult, and dozens of perfectly placed pillows are necessary to minimize her discomfort at night.

Lastly, the expectant mother goes into labor. Contractions begin, and then gradually intensify, culminating in some of the most excruciating pain known to humankind. After several hours of agonizing labor, nine months of pregnancy finally reach their conclusion.
With the birth of her son, a new mother’s heart is flooded with joy. All of the pains fade from memory as she holds her newborn baby close to her chest, gazing at his face for the first time and marveling at his tiny fingers and toes. All of the stresses her body has endured have led to this miraculous moment—the birth of new life!
Though physically exhausted, the sight of her baby boy instantly reenergizes her spirit.

Accept that change brings about temporary stress.
A lot of people think that pain is bad and ought to be avoided. However, the stress that leads to positive change is healthy. It brings newness that refreshes and revitalizes our lives.

Revel in the goodness birthed by change.
As each change or transition draws to a close, you not only sense less stress,  but you are strengthened and energized by the process. As you begin to “come through” the process you feel motivated and renewed within.Change looks different on the back end than on the front side. Initially, the challenges of change are daunting. We see the sacrifices that are required of us in order to change, and we can only imagine the good things we’ll gain by making them. Once the change is completed, however, we delight in the benefits it has brought, and the earlier stresses seem insignificant in comparison to the joys we have gained.

Brace yourself for continual stress as a leader.
Returning to the analogy of motherhood, the end of pregnancy is only the beginning of many more changes in a mom’s life. She will begin to breastfeed, change diapers, and adjust to a schedule that allows for only a few hours of sleep at a time. That is, she will continue to experience new sources of stress. However, these stresses will also eventually go away, too, and when her son smiles at her for the first time, takes his first steps, or looks up and proclaims “I love you, Mommy!” all of them will feel incredibly worthwhile as well.

Closing Thoughts
This is the time of year when those in the Christian tradition celebrate a leader who endured unimaginable stress, sweating drops of blood, and made the ultimate sacrifice, giving up his life, so that others might experience renewal. Jesus’s pain had a purpose, and it’s likely that the burdens you carry do to.
What makes the stresses and sacrifices in your life worthwhile? What good things will come about as the result of your present pains?

HOW LEADERS DEVELOP

2013-11-13T09:27:00.000-08:00

Leadership is not an exclusive club reserved for those who were “born with it.” The traits comprising the raw materials of leadership can be acquired. Link them up with desire and nothing can keep you from becoming a leader. Some people have a more intuitive grasp of how to lead than others. These “natural-born leaders” will always emerge, but their influence hinges upon their ability to supplement inborn talent with learned skills. Ultimately, leadership is developed, not discovered.

The Three E’s of Leadership Development
1) Environment
People accustom themselves to their environment and take cues from their surroundings. In the 1980s, social scientists came up with the broken-windows theory which indicated that the physical appearance of a community affects its crime rate. Run-down properties, widespread graffiti, and trash strewn about in a neighborhood invite crime by signaling that no one is watching and that no one cares what happens. Oppositely, a clean and well-kept neighborhood gives the impression that people are monitoring their community and willing to take action to ensure its safety.
Every organization is permeated by an invisible culture which communicates an unspoken message that shapes its people. As has often been said, “leadership is more caught than taught.” Be attentive to the influence of the following five elements of your organizational environment: habits of social interaction, physical design and decoration, morale / emotional tone, level of intellectual stimulation, and spiritual wellbeing.

2) Equipping
Equipping begins with expectations. Namely, that leadership is influence, that leadership can be learned, and that leaders can multiply their influence by equipping others.
Equipping succeeds with training. Telling is not teaching, and listening is not learning.
We learn to do by doing; training must be interactive.
Equipping continues with teaching. The reward of a teacher is a changed life. Success comes through achievement, but significance results from helping others to grow.
Practically speaking, the equipping process can be broken down into five steps.

Say it: explain the task.
Show it: demonstrate how to perform the task.
Assign it: let the other person attempt the task.
Study it: observe how the person performed the task.
Assess it: offer feedback based on the person’s performance.

3) Exposure
A little exposure trumps a lot of theory. To develop leaders, expose your people to expert practitioners. These real-world educators model how to lead; they set a living example which serves as a source of inspiration. Whereas equipping delivers job-specific training, exposure provides a vision or picture of what successful leadership looks like.

Application Exercise
Grade your organization, from A-F on the Three E’s of people development. For each, list one thing you’re already doing well as well as one way in which you can improve.Grade your organization, from A-F on the Three E’s of people development. For each, list one thing you’re already doing well as well as one way in which you can improve.

THE GIFTED HANDS

2013-08-08T07:40:00.000-07:00

THE GIFTED HANDS

“Your hands are gifted just as mine” Dr. Benjamin Carson, consultant John Hopkins Hospital, USA

He was just a boy who once grew in the slums of Detroit. He was popularly called “the class dummy” because he would hardly get an answer right when asked by the teacher. He would quickly raise his hands up hoping to get it right but all the time he was always wrong.

The boy who was once called ‘class dummy’ a popular synonym here in Nigeria as ‘Olodo’ who was almost maimed and treated because of his dark skin, beaten and bullied, never knew that one day, he would be called a great surgeon’. According to him he said “I realized that I had a wonderful hand, eye, and brain co-ordination which motivated me to excel in neurosurgery”. He discovered that his hands are gifted and today he is a celebrated neuron-surgeon who broke a record as the first man on in the world to separate a Siamese

Your hands are gifted, my hands are also gifted. God fashioned every person with a unique gift that marked them out from the other. This post brings to mind the story of Moses in the book of Genesis. God had asked him to go to Egypt to lead the people of Israel to the promise Land. But Moses was headstrong giving God his shopping list of excuses. Moses said “No Lord, don’t send me. I have never been a good speaker, and I have not become one since you began to speak to me. I am a poor speaker, slow and hesitant”

Wow! Did you see Moses’ excuse list? I am not a good speaker, I am poor, hesitant and the list goes on. But God was angry with Moses Exodus 4:14. God then ask Moses a revealing question “So the Lord asked him, what you are holding? Ex 4:2. Moses looked at his hands, he was holding a stick and he screamed “Just a stick!” and he was wondering was God would do with a stick, he was wondering if a stick which he used to lead livestock would also be used to lead the whole people of Israel.

And God shocked him by saying “throw it down. When Moses threw it down, it turned into a snake, and he ran away from”. Moses must have been a very timid guy, and I wonder how big that snake could be that made a livestock nomad to run away from just a snake. God made him realized that in his hands lie a great treasure chest, a great weapon, and a great evidence to lead the people of Israel to the promise land. But among the discussions Moses hand with God this was the most shocking and revealing. God told Moses “Take this stick with you, for with it you will perform (great) miracles” Ex 4:17

What is in your own hands? What gifts have God given to you? How have you been using that gift, talents, and potentials? Only if when you discover and use your gift will God bring blessings and favour to your life. Solomon, a great philosoper and politician said “the gift of a man makes room for him and brings him before great men”. What a phenomenal statement! I charge you today to start developing that gift, potential in you. That desire that keeps burning in you is a pointer to you gift. That problem you have always want to solve in the market place is a pointer to your potential. Why not start today?

Cyprian Henry

Great quotes on education

2013-05-24T06:41:00.001-07:00

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
-Nelson Mandela

The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.
-Albert Einstein

My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy. That some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and more intelligent than college professors.
-Maya Angelou

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
-Aristotle

In the first place, God made idiots. That was for practice. Then he made school boards.
-Mark Twain

Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.
-Oscar Wilde

Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.
-Robert Frost

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.
-Benjamin Franklin

The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.
-Aristotle

An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you know and what you don't.
-Anatole France

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.
-William Butler Yeats

Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.
Anthony J. D'Angelo

Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.
-George Washington Carver

Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth.
-Chanakya

A liberal education is at the heart of a civil society, and at the heart of a liberal education is the act of teaching.
-A. Bartlett Giamatti

It is a thousand times better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense.
-Robert Green Ingersoll

I spent three days a week for 10 years educating myself in the public library, and it's better than college. People should educate themselves - you can get a complete education for no money. At the end of 10 years, I had read every book in the library and I'd written a thousand stories.
-Ray Bradbury

He who opens a school door, closes a prison.
-Victor Hugo

The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change.
-Carl Rogers

Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.
-John Dewey

The goal of education is the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of truth.
-John F. Kennedy

Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.
-Will Durant

The doer alone learneth.
-Friedrich Nietzsche

Education doesn't change life much. It just lifts trouble to a higher plane of regard.
-Robert Frost

Don't limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time.
-Rabindranath Tagore

No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure.

I would rather entertain and hope that people learned something than educate people and hope they were entertained.
-Walt Disney

Change is the end result of all true learning.
-Leo Buscaglia

“Why should society feel responsible only for the education of children, and not for the education of all adults of every age?
-Erich Fromm

America is becoming so educated that ignorance will be a novelty. I will belong to the select few.
-Will Rogers

The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future in life.
-Plato

Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army.
Edward Everett

Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.
Malcolm Forbes

Data is not information, information is not knowledge, knowledge is not understanding, understanding is not wisdom.
-Clifford Stoll

The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn.
-Alvin Toffler

Much education today is monumentally ineffective. All too often we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plants.
-John W. Gardner

Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another.
-Gilbert K. Chesterton

I am often amazed at how much more capability and enthusiasm for science there is among elementary school youngsters than among college students.
-Carl Sagan

I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning to sail my ship.
-Aeschylus

No man who worships education has got the best out of education... Without a gentle contempt for education no man's education is complete.
-Gilbert K. Chesterton

Education is learning what you didn't even know you didn't know.
-Daniel J. Boorstin

No man who worships education has got the best out of education... Without a gentle contempt for education no man's education is complete.
-Gilbert K. Chesterton

Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and diligence.
-Abigail Adams

“I don’t want condoms”

2013-05-24T05:41:00.000-07:00

“He stared me at the face and said “Have you ever felt like having a fever for the last three months?” “No” I said. “Have you ever had chronic cough for the last three months?” “No sir”. “Do you have a girlfriend?” Nope”. He paused a bit and looked at me and said “I mean do you have a girlfriend?” “No sir” “Have you had sex for the last three months?”

Lately, I have been perplexed to some degree as regards my health status. I had just recovered from an illness and the doctor had told “Cyprian, you do not have to wait until you are hit below the belt before knowing the condition of your body system” He also added “regular body check up is a great way of preventing illness and as well as nipping those illness in the bud”

I was grateful to the doctor, Mr. Chima Nwokeji who did all he could to diagnosis the cause of my illness and as well prescribe drugs to purchase. At the end I was not surprise I had malaria fever. So I made a solemn promise to myself that I will always know the status of my health.

This time I had taken the pain to keep to the commitment I made to myself. I wanted to know my HIV/AIDS status. I have not run a test for that and there was no way I could know if I have contacted the virus. Prior to this moment of my life I had formed the habit of procrastination. On the 26^th of November 2012, the members of the St Vincent the Paul Charity group in my parish where I worship organized a one day free medical test. They had blood test, high blood pressure test, cancer test, and of course HIV/AIDS test. I did not take advantage of that day. I procrastinated.

On the 15^th of April 2013, the Lagos State commenced a local government project which seeks to improve the health of every citizenry starting from each local government. They were the Lagos State Aids Control Agency (LASACA). On that sunny afternoon I was walking past my environs. Just some kilometers away I saw a large crowd of people gathered around a well placed canopy. I was curious, I began to asked question. I later realized it was the members of the LASACA.

So, I dragged my feet reluctantly toward this group of people. I saw young men walking away with packs of condoms in their hands. I saw a particular young man smiling as we fumbled to put these packs of condoms in his bag. I saw young girls as well as old ladies, going home with female condoms. I was literally dumbfounded. “Is it a condom festival” I said jokingly to myself. “Anyway let me check” I concluded.

As I walked close a young man was just leaving a seat. Then I sat back on that seat. I met of the LASACA’s workers –Mr Olumide. “Good afternoon sir” I greeted. “Good afternoon” he retorted. I explained to him that I got to know they had a free HIV test. He concurred and began with the process. Before He began the test I was asked to indicate I have agreed to be tested upon by filling in some form and signing.

He stared me at the face and said “Have you ever felt like having a fever for the last three months?” “No” I said. “Have you ever had chronic cough for the last three months?” “No sir”. “Do you have a girlfriend?” Nope”. He paused a bit and looked at me and said “I mean do you have a girlfriend?” “No sir” “Have you had sex for the last three months?” No sir. After filling up his papers, he ran the test. He took some sample of my blood by piercing my thumb with a medical pin. I was bleeding then I put my thumb dripping with blood on a white paper that looked like the litmus paper. He then stooped for some minutes.

I was really worried “would I be positive or negative?” My heart was beating hard and fast. I was tensed up as I wanted to know the out come of the test. Then He raised his eye balls and said to me “Cyprian your result shows that you are……..HIV negative. Which mean you are free from the virus and you are in sound health” Then he began to tutor me. He made realize that there are diverse ways one can contact the HIV virus besides sex. He said “HIV can be contacted by using another infected person’s toothbrush, by using sharp objects that have been infected with the virus. He added that I could also contact the virus by shaving, and having my hair cut.

As we discussed to some length, I made a move to leave as I got up. He then say “One more thing. Have some free packs of condoms”. I turned to him and said “I don’t want condoms” He called me back and began to tell me that abstinence is the only cure for AIDS. Well that did not bother me at all but my HIV satus actually took some blood out of me. Thanks to God. I am HIV negative. I can still live the rest of my life without the fear of death as long as I prevent the virus.

Chinua Achebe Speaks"

2013-04-03T04:51:00.001-07:00

“While we do our good works let us not forget that the real solution lies in a world in which charity will have become unnecessary.”
― Chinua Achebe, Anthills of the Savannah

“If you don't like someone's story, write your own.”
― Chinua Achebe

“Nobody can teach me who I am. You can describe parts of me, but who I am - and what I need - is something I have to find out myself.”
― Chinua Achebe

“The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“To me, being an intellectual doesn't mean knowing about intellectual issues; it means taking pleasure in them.”
― Chinua Achebe

“We cannot trample upon the humanity of others without devaluing our own. The Igbo, always practical, put it concretely in their proverb Onye ji onye n'ani ji onwe ya: "He who will hold another down in the mud must stay in the mud to keep him down.”
― Chinua Achebe, The Education of a British-Protected Child: Essays

“Charity . . . is the opium of the privileged.”
― Chinua Achebe, Anthills of the Savannah

“My weapon is literature”
― Chinua Achebe

“One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised. ”
― Chinua Achebe

“When suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him, he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stool.”
― Chinua Achebe

“Nobody can teach me who I am.”
― Chinua Achebe

“People create stories create people; or rather stories create people create stories.”
― Chinua Achebe

“There is no story that is not true.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“...when we are comfortable and inattentive, we run the risk of committing grave injustices absentmindedly.”
― Chinua Achebe, The Education of a British-Protected Child: Essays

“A man who calls his kinsmen to a feast does not do so to save them from starving. They all have food in their own homes. When we gather together in the moonlit village ground it is not because of the moon. Every man can see it in his own compound. We come together because it is good for kinsmen to do so.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“Then listen to me,' he said and cleared his throat. 'It's true that a child belongs to its father. But when a father beats his child, it seeks sympathy in its mother's hut. A man belongs to his fatherland when things are good and life is sweet. But when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his motherland. Your mother is there to protect you. She is buried there. And that is why we say that mother is supreme. Is it right that you, Okonkwo, should bring your mother a heavy face and refuse to be comforted? Be careful or you may displease the dead. Your duty is to comfort your wives and children and take them back to your fatherland after seven years. But if you allow sorrow to weigh you down and kill you, they will all die in exile.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“Oh, the most important thing about myself is that my life has been full of changes. Therefore, when I observe the world, I don’t expect to see it just like I was seeing the fellow who lives in the next room. There is this complexity which seems to me to be part of the meaning of existence and everything we value.”
― Chinua Achebe

“Writers don't give prescriptions. They give headaches!”
― Chinua Achebe, Anthills of the Savannah

“Age was respected among his people, but achievement was revered. As the elders said, if a child washed his hands he could eat with kings.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“Privilege, you see, is one of the great adversaries of the imagination; it spreads a thick layer of adipose tissue over our sensitivity.”
― Chinua Achebe, Hopes and Impediments: Selected Essays

“When the moon is shining the cripple becomes hungry for a walk”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“When Suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat left for him, he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stool.”
― Chinua Achebe

“Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man. But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness.It was deeper and more intimate that the fear of evil and capricious gods and of magic, the fear of the forest, and of the forces of nature, malevolent, red in tooth and claw. Okonkwo’s fear was greater than these. It was not external but lay deep within himself.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“Do not despair. I know you will not despair. You have a manly and a proud heart. A proud heart can survive a general failure because such a failure does not prick its pride. It is more difficult and more bitter when a man fails alone.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“Among the Igbo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“The impatient idealist says: 'Give me a place to stand and I shall move the earth.' But such a place does not exist. We all have to stand on the earth itself and go with her at her pace.”
― Chinua Achebe, No Longer at Ease

“Women and music should not be dated.”
― Chinua Achebe, No Longer at Ease

“A man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness”
― Chinua Achebe

“Writing has always been a serious business for me. I felt it was a moral obligation. A major concern of the time was the absence of the African voice. Being part of that dialogue meant not only sitting at the table but effectively telling the African story from an African perspective - in full earshot of the world.”
― Chinua Achebe, There Was A Country: A Personal History of Biafra

“The triumph of the written word is often attained when the writer achieves union and trust with the reader, who then becomes ready to be drawn into unfamiliar territory, walking in borrowed literary shoes so to speak, toward a deeper understanding of self or society, or of foreign peoples, cultures, and situations.”
― Chinua Achebe, There Was A Country: A Personal History of Biafra

“...Nothing puzzles God”
― Chinua Achebe, Civil Peace

“People from different parts of the world can respond to the same story if it says something to them about their own history and their own experience.”
― Chinua Achebe, There Was A Country: A Personal History of Biafra

“Africa is people" may seem too simple and too obvious to some of us. But I have found in the course of my travels through the world that the most simple things can still give us a lot of trouble, even the brightest among us: this is particularly so in matters concerning Africa.”
― Chinua Achebe, The Education of a British-Protected Child: Essays

“Every generation must recognize and embrace the task it is peculiarly designed by history and by providence to perform.”
― Chinua Achebe, There Was A Country: A Personal History of Biafra

“Those whose kernels were cracked by benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble.”
― Chinua Achebe

“In my definition I am a protest writer, with restraint.”
― Chinua Achebe, There Was A Country: A Personal History of Biafra

“A toad does not run in the daytime for nothing”
― Chinua Achebe

“Procrastination is a lazy man's apology.”
― Chinua Achebe, Anthills of the Savannah

“There is a moral obligation, I think, not to ally oneself with power against the powerless.”
― Chinua Achebe, There Was A Country: A Personal History of Biafra

“A man who makes trouble for others is also making trouble for himself.
-Chinua Achebe

The only thing we have learnt from experience is that we learn nothing from experience.
-Chinua Achebe

When old people speak it is not because of the sweetness of words in our mouths; it is because we see something which you do not see.
-Chinua Achebe

The damage done in one year can sometimes take ten or twenty years to repair.
-Chinua Achebe

A functioning, robust democracy requires a healthy educated, participatory followership, and an educated, morally grounded leadership.
-Chinua Achebe

The problem with leaderless uprisings taking over is that you don't always know what you get at the other end. If you are not careful you could replace a bad government with one much worse!
-Chinua Achebe

Nigera is what it is because its leaders are not what they should be.
-Chinua Achebe

Art is man's constant effort to create for himself a different order of reality from that which is given to him.
Chinua Achebe

Democracy is not something you put away for ten years, and then in the 11th year you wake up and start practicing again. We have to begin to learn to rule ourselves again.
Chinua Achebe

Once a novel gets going and I know it is viable, I don't then worry about plot or themes. These things will come in almost automatically because the characters are now pulling the story.
Chinua Achebe

What a country needs to do is be fair to all its citizens - whether people are of a different ethnicity or gender.
Chinua Achebe

I think back to the old people I knew when I was growing up, and they always seemed larger than life.
Chinua Achebe

I've had trouble now and again in Nigeria because I have spoken up about the mistreatment of factions in the country because of difference in religion. These are things we should put behind us.
Chinua Achebe

My parents were early converts to Christianity in my part of Nigeria. They were not just converts; my father was an evangelist, a religious teacher. He and my mother traveled for thirty-five years to different parts of Igboland, spreading the gospel.
Chinua Achebe

Life Lessons from Radio Presenters!

2013-01-17T11:18:00.001-08:00

“If your vocation becomes your vacation you will never have to work for the rest of your life” -Unknown

Before now, I never had a knack for radio. Radio? Count me out! I am not cut out for it. If you had told me that I would become a lover of radio in the past I would never concur! I love watching telecast, and more especially listening to recorded messages on my phone. I use my phone for two major things-listening to recorded messages and listening to Gospel musics. I had radio on my phone but I would never dare tuning in to the radio. I just did’nt like it!

After many years, my sister who is a radio freak continued to tell me the several benefits in listening to the radio. She would tell me how flexible it was with the use of radio. "you do not have to wait till the lights are on before you can listen to the news and do a whole lot of things” she once told me. So one day I decided to change! Though, it did not come easy, why I was forced to change was when I lost my memory card. I did not have the money to get another one and I had to keep myself busy whenever I feel bored.

My first attempt to listen and participate on a radio program (Radio Continental) was on the 16^th of November, 2012. With time I realized I began to enjoy every bit of the programs been aired. I became addicted to the radio over a long period of time! And I must confess that I have learnt so much in the few months I began listening to radio than the years I have spent watching telecast programs! In fact do you know that radio is more preferrable to the television because in radio you are little or not poisoned in your mind. In telecast programs, we are been bombarded with dirty pictures that erode our minds and degrade our morality. (well this is not the topic of my article) (Radio or Television which is better? And how have they contributed to nation building?)

In all the seconds, minutes, hours, weeks, months I have spent listening to radio programs I have learnt so much but but there is one major thing I have observed in all the time I been listening and participating in radio programs. One things that had informed me so greatly that I could no longer bear than to turn to the computer and began to write about, one thing that I am so glad to share with my friend! What is it? Can you guess? It is a marriage between Love and WORK. Perhaps you do not comprehend, I mean: Their love for their work.

Have you not observed the way radio presenters play while they work? How they do what they love and still get paid for it. This is the greatest statement I have ever thought about ‘True success comes when you turn your vocation into your vacation’. A great thinker also said “If your vocation becomes your vacation you will never have to work for the rest of your life”. People whose ‘work’ is their hobby, their deepest interest do not actually work. Why? Because they are in love with what they do. So they never feel it. Footballers earn so much money by simply doing what they have always loved doing.

Life becomes worth living if we can only find what we love to do, sharpen it and start doing it so excellently that it becomes a money making factory. A friend of my was counseling me, he said ‘Discover your gift, Develop your gift, and Deploy your gift. This is the only key to a fulfilled life” How true this is. Many people today are enslaved in jobs they never like doing. They only do it because they want to get paid. This is enslavement of the highest order. True success is not measured by how much your earn but by how much joy your derieve from what you do.

Research has proven that the one major cause of stress, illness and frustration today is because people are not simply happy with what they do. It’s not fulfilling but they just have to do it. Life goes on. Many people like Garfield always hate Mondays, but they have to go or they get sacked. I was listening to a radio program on Unilag FM and as the convener was wraping up the show, he said to his college on air ‘we have to leave now for Lamuo to come” but to my greatest chagrin, the lady in question was very hesistant. While murmuring, she said ‘ Oh! I don’t want to go home”. I was inspired! She had become so engrossed and obsessed with what she do that she never want to stop doing it. Many On-air personalities would spent the whole night talking, reporting, answering questions and even laughing. Why? Because they are in love with what they do.

Are you in love with what you do? Are you sure you are not clinged to that job simply because they pay better? If you have never find what you could do without being paid, you have never found your purpose, your callings, your gifts and your potentials. If you don’t want to live an unfulfilled life, and die of high blood pressure or hypertention then find your gift! Find what you always love doing with joy. Find that thing that stirs you up that things that keeps you alive!

Birds love to fly,

Fishes love to swim,

Chettahs love to run,

Monkeys love to climb and dive,

Lions love to roar,

Cocks love to crow,

Hyneas love to laugh,

Eagles love to soar,

Rain love to pour,

Sun love to shine, and

Thunders love to strike,

If these lower things could find what they love doing, something they enjoy doing, what about you an image of God, endowned with treasures, and unfathomable powers?

Gracias,

be INSPIRED!

CYPRIAN HENRY

08088733350

LOVE series 1

2013-01-11T09:07:00.003-08:00

WHAT IS LOVE?

‘My children, our love should not be just words and talk: it must be TRUE LOVE, which shows itself in action’

~Paul the Apostle

What is love? How can we define it? What really shows we really love somebody? Have you ever stopped by and ask yourself these questions? Well if you have not I am not surprise. Why? The term love has been basterdized by the world today! It has been so misunderstood that its true significance had elude us.

I remember vividly listening to a popular Radio Program called “Whispers of the early morning” by Daniel Akpata Diamond on Radio Continental. “Whispers of the early morning” is one the best programs I love listening to. The purpose of the program is to address and correct commons lies and misconceptions about Love and Relationships. I have heard issues! I have heard all what people do in the name of love. The convener of this epoch radio program is accustomed to making one very important statement. A statement I have copied and pasted on almost every cover of my book. A statement that I have jealously guarded with every thing I have, a statement that I written on the tablets of my heart. What is it? He is always use to saying that ‘when the purpose of a thing is no known, abuse is inevitable’. How true!

When you don’t know why something was made, or when you don't know the purpose of a thing, then you can easily misuse that thing. This is the same with the concept of LOVE. Love has been abused by all those who do not have an idea of what it entails. Whenever I watch popular movies, whenever I read magazines, and see what young people do in the name of love. All I see is lies,and ignorance.

True love is so sublime that we cannot have a fuller comprehension of it. It is more that hugging, kissing, pecking, exchanging roses, visiting amusement parks and gardens, taking a nap in a popular eatery or even having sex (as MANY of us have believe). True love is far more weighty than all this petty things. Love is not eloquence of speech. It is not words of mouth. In our dispensation, we readily use the word ‘I LOVE YOU’ without having a fuller understanding of the implication of what we have just said.

During one of those time when I do listen to this popular radio program (which I still do). A young lady called in and share his ordeal in her relationship. She recounted :

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I was with my boyfriend in his house after he had invited me. Though he as been pestering me to have sex with him but I refused. On this fateful day, as we sat down, he welcomed me and later went in to get me some drink to refresh myself after the long walk. As he offered me this drink, I had a feeling never to take it. By intuition I knew something was wrong. So I asked him to first drink from the cup he served me. He refused it. I forced him but he refused. I told him. “there is something in this drink you are offering me” he denied it. And I retorted ‘but why do you refuse to drink it?’ He was dumbfounded and hesistantly drank it. Do you know that it never took him up to 10 minutes, he dozed off! He poisoned the drink with sedatives so I would sleep off and he would have sex with me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The young lady was worried and did not know what to do. She said she still loved him and would not like to lose him (after his boyfriend called her to apologize) So she decided to call in. But I love what Daniel said. Daniel asked him “Is this the kind of person you wish to have as a husband? “Is this the kind of person you want to spend the rest of your life with? Someone who can poison your drink? Someone who is a liar? Someone you cannot trust? Daniel was so stern with this young lady that he left her to make her own decisions. There are many pathetic true life stories I cannot share here.

LOVE has blinded so many of us that we cannot see clearly. Like the popular axiom goes ‘love is blind’ well I don’t agree but if you believe that, then I would tell you that ‘if love is truly blind then marriage will be the eyeopener’. Young people wake up! and break off the fetter of lies you have lived with for ages and embrace the truth! The truth only is what will set you free!

Proceed to LOVE series 2

be INSPIRED!

CYPRIAN HENRY

08088733350

LOVE series 2

2013-01-11T09:03:00.003-08:00

THE TRUE NATURE OF LOVE

‘GOD is LOVE, and whoever lives in love lives IN UNION with GOD and GOD live IN UNION WITH him”

There are few points I would like to address:

FIRSTLY, I would kindly want to let you know that LOVE IS A COMMAND! Love is not a feeling, it is not something you reason out or consider. To truly love you can’t chose the people you are to love. Jesus Christ, the great teacher told his followers “Why should GOD reward you if you love ONLY those who love you? Love is a STERN COMMAND.

The man from Tarsus named Apostle Paul confirms this truism. He said “The only commandment that Christ has given us is this: whoever loves God must love his brothers also”

In life there are two greatest commandment Jesus laid down for us. Love for God and Love for others. Jesus answered the Pharisees “The second most important commandment is like it :Love your neighbour as you love yourself” Jesus said again “My commandment is this: love one another just I have loved you” JOHN 15:12

If love were to be a feeling, JESUS would not have died for all of us! Why? Because we have all sinned against him and his Father. We neglected our first love. We grieved Him. But he still came to die for us. If JESUS would have had to follow his feeling he would not have ever thought of coming on earth let alone dying for us. Because Love was a command from his Father he accepted to pay a debt he did not owe, he decided to be tortured for the sins He did not commit.

1JOHN 3:16

16 This is how we know what LOVE IS: Christ GAVE his LIFE for US.

17.We too, then ought to give our lives for our brothers (neighbours)

SECONDLY, You can not truly love if you do not know GOD! Why did I make such a statement. Read on. Many people believe they can just love. Your cannot understand the depth of true love if your life is not rooted in God. Many of us think you can really understand what love by reading romantic and sensual novels, watching Diego and Paloma, reading books on realationships like ‘How to love your spouse’ or ‘Reationship 101’. Many spend hours attending conference and seminars here and there. All this exercises are very crucial. But on what basis? Are they all inspired by God?

I have seen a drug addict tell a young lady ‘I love you’ and she just jump up! and gave an echoing 'YES!' You can never separate love from GOD! Why? Because GOD IS LOVE and LOVE IS GOD. Love can not be overtly defined. Defining love is like trying to describe the internet to an ant! Defining LOVE is like trying to tell me what GOD is! Can you describe the whole nature of God? No! One can only have a glimpse or know a part of what love is but you cannot know everything about love. No wonder Paul the Apostle said ‘Yes may you come to know His love-although it can NEVER be fully KNOWN- and so be completely filled with the very nature of GOD” Eph 3:19.

When you say LOVE you say GOD and vice versa. How then can you say you love someone and you do not know the owner of LOVE? I will only give you something if I know you. I have discovered that 90% of every young person I have met actually have LUST thinking it is LOVE.

I have been in a gathering where young people were discussing love. A young man was delighted because he had just wooed a beautiful lady. He took a snap with her. To prove his point, he took out his blackberry phone and began to make a tour of all the pictures he had taken with her. I saw the pictures, she was really cute! People surrounded him as he was sliding the pictures on his phone. Many congratulated him for catching such a ‘big fish’

But I heard something that pissed me off! He said ‘do you know why I love this girl? I just love her smile!’ Nobody actually gave attention to him as they were carried away with her smiles, her shape and her fine complexion. But I was really perturbed. Because I love drawing lessons from everything that happen around me. I sat there and began to ask myself ‘So this guy loves nothing in this girl than her smile?’ ‘what if she loses her face and happen that she could’nt smile anymore what would be the fate of this relationship? I deduced my lessons and did something else.

Love is more than what we can see. It is more than the smile on people's face. It is a deep spiritual exercise. It transcends to the supernatural. You cannot really understand the true nature of love is you are not spiritual. We humans are spirit beings with a soul, living in a body. God do not communicate to us through our body, he communes with us through our spirits. Paul said ‘For as many as are led by the spirit of GOD they are the SONS of GOD” ROMANS 8:16

The Baptist, JOHN said “whoever does not LOVE does not know GOD, for GOD is love” 1JOHN 4:8 i.e you cannot really love if you don't know GOD because GOD is love and LOVE is GOD. JOHN went further to make it more lucid he reiterated:

1JOHN 4:12-13

12. No one has ever seen GOD, but if we love one another GOD LIVES IN UNION with us, and his love is made perfect in us.

13. We are sure that we live in UNION WITH GOD and that He lives in union with us, because he has given us HIS SPIRIT.

John added ‘GOD is LOVE, and whoever lives in love lives IN UNION with GOD and GOD live IN UNION WITH him”. So one can never separate TRUE LOVE from GOD. Wherever TRUE LOVE is GOD is also there!

Thanks for reading this piece, kindly proceed to LOVE series 3
http://www.love-sessions.com/whatislove.htm (if you care to know more)

be INSPIRED!
CYPRIAN HENRY
08088733350

LOVE series 3

2013-01-11T08:59:00.003-08:00

THE 5 INGREDIENTS OF LOVE

1. Love is patient and Kind: 1cor 13:1-8

Love is not desperate. It does not rush. I have seen many people try to force love on themselves. They hit their heads on the wall, disparage their intergrity because of love. If you are forcing love on your self you are not truling exuding love. Your are only lusting after such a person. Love is a product of the spirit. It is gentle and kind, full of patience.

My friend told me ‘when you give something away and it still comes back to you. That thing is truly yours’ I also read a quote that ‘Love is like a butterfly, it eludes you when you try chasing it, but comes back to you when you are patient’. Love is not jealous, proud or conceited. Do you love that person? Then stop been desperate. Stop trying to force that relationship on yourself. Be patient, pray about it and it would come to you. Love is earned not amassed.

2. Love keeps no wrongs: (vs6)

Love does not keep wrongs. It is not judgemental and critical. True love is forgiving. When you say you love somebody and you can’t easily forgive them when they wrong you, then you are only believing a lie. You must learn to realese yourself from that critical attitude that imbues you. You have to free your soul from that hate and unforgiving spirit if you must truly love. Because God is love and God keeps no records of our sins. He forgives us when we ask him to forgive us and instantly gives us a new beginning. "If ANY man BE IN Christ, he is a NEW creation; OLD things has past AWAY and all things have become NEW"

3. Love is not happy with sin: ”(vs 7)

Some bible translation says “Love do not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth’. It is unfortunate that many people are wailing and rejoicing in sin in the name of love. Many younsters have been made to believe that a relationship is a place where you commit all sort of evil. In the name of love, many youths have fallen prey of premarital sex (so rampant today), abortion, unplanned pregnancy, masturbation, lust of the heart, lesbianism, gayism, pornographic viewing, rash words, lies, pretense, and evil passions(desires). These are by product of the flesh. Your can’t really love and you indulge in premarital sex. Then where is the sacredness of our body? True love does not condone evil. It thrieves only on what is just, pure, sacred and true.

You remember the story of Joseph the foster father of JESUS CHRIST? He really loved Mary. When he discovered Mary was pregnant, he quickly made plans to break up the relationship. It was when he had this in mind that GOD warned him in a dream not to execute his plans. God told him that Mary had conceived by the Holy Spirit and that no man had slept with him. Joseph was swift to deal sternly with evil. Even while Mary was engage with mary, he never sinned. True love does not condone evil.

4. Love never gives up (7):

True love do not give up quickly on people. It wait in there a little longer. It is long suffering. It endures long enough. I have heard interesting stories of how many good mothers continued to hope and have faith that their child or children would turn a new leaf even though they are wayward now. Mothers are wonderful examples of this quality of love. Have you heard of the great saint called Augustine? According to the strory I garnered. Augustine grew up wayward. He was sturborn, and very disobedient. He smoked and did all kind of evil. He become popular because of his notoriety. All his friend left him, his father have given up on him long time ago.

But somebody decided to stand by his side. Guess who? His mother! She would pray all day long asking GOD to change his son. Asking God to touch his heart. It grew worse. Augustine’s mother almost gave up. She spent everything on his son who did not want to change. But something told her to ‘endure some more’. She continue to interceed for his son in prayers. Then one day It happened like a magic. Augustine was changed! God arrested his heart and made him a great priest!

After many years as he walked down his street, he saw his long time friends who he associated with. They came to him and said ‘Oh Augustine let go to party!’ but they were shocked at what he replied. Augustine shook his head and said ‘The Augustine you see today is not the Augustine you used to know”

I had learnt timeless lesson from that real life experience. Don’t give up on that person you have written off, hang in there! Endure some more. Pray some more. He might me the next Augustine God wants to use. I think the most useful quote I have ever read concerning this is “Before you give up on anybody, first ask GOD if He has given up on them’

5. Love is eternal: Love is eternal because is eternal. Love is consistent and persitent. It is everlasting. It is forevermore. We will continue to love until the day we draw our last breathe. Even at the other side we would continue again. So when you begin to love. There is no going back. GOD has commanded it and it would remain. GOD said ‘heaven and earth will pass away, but my words(commands) will never pass away”. Keep on loving because love is eternal.

Gracias,

Be INSPIRED!

CYPRIAN HENRY

08088733350

The SECRET way of GIVING

2013-01-10T05:18:00.009-08:00

“Give and it shall be given unto you: good measure press down and shaken together and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use will be measured back to you” (1)

Do you remember the last time you gave something to somebody? Can you recall the last time you went out of your way to help someone who asked for your help? If I may ask you: why did you give? What was the state of your heart? With what motive did you do what you did? A big question indeed!

GIVING is a deep subject matter which comprehension surpasses what really meets the eyes. Giving is not just giving. It is a deep spiritual principle. It is a spiritual exercise that must be carefully thought of before embarking on. The quote above is so accustomed to us that we forget to take a closer look at the meaning of GIVING. If I asked you why you should give, you will readily reply ‘Give and it shall be giving unto you’ Bla…bla…bla. But really giving is far deeper than what we think.

Firstly, I would humbly like to address a misconception that pervades the world today. Giving is not only confined or limited to material possessions, money, clothes, food and those tangible things. Yes! They are largely part of giving but we must also understand that giving can also be intangible. "For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are unseen are eternal" A dying mother do not need your money, or food! She needs your time, love and care. She craves your 'tender loving care' When you encourage a discouraged individual who has given up on life, this a great form of giving.

When you nurse those who are sick, you are also giving, when you help someone lift up a load, it a form of giving also, when you spend time with someone it is likewise a great form of giving and goes on. In fact, psychology has discovered that the greatest asset you can give on earth is when you give someone else your time. Relationship experts also claim that Real LOVE is spelt as T.I.M.E i.e. the only deed that proves you love someone is when you spend time with that person.

God, through His son Jesus Christ promised us blessings and reward when we give. God will never ask us to give without having any reward for us in mind. God will never ask you to give away your most cherished dress and then leave you unkempt, walking in rags. He is not a dumb God; he is wise, he wants the best for us. When God ask us to give He teaches us to grow in love, in sacrificial works, ‘For God so loved the world that he gave His only beloved son’. Some once observed ‘"you can give without loving, but you can NEVER love without giving". One crucial proof that validates us as true Christians is our sacrificial act of charity to one another.

Many folks are living testimonial to this very act of giving. By giving they literally changed their lives. Mike Murdock taught me one principle he said ‘The quality of what you are willing to let go will determine the quality of what GOD will bring into your life’. But there are many people who have given and not really received! They gave, and, gave but have not received. I had been a part of that category of persons who gave and never received. Why then did they not receive? But God said we should give? Why am I not a beneficiary of that command? Something is wrong some where!!!!

GIVING must be well understood before we can tap into its proceeds and this forms the backdrop of this article you are reading now. While I was studying the Holy Scriptures, I came across the verse in the preamble above. I decided to take a cursory look at that verse way down. While I PERUSED through it with the aid of the Holy Spirit, I stumbled on the reason why most people give and never receive in return. It hit me like a rock and a phrase evaporated from my mind! That phrase is the topic of this article. So I widened up my eyeballs and wondered ‘so there is a secret way to give?’ Then I reached for my pen, wrote the phrase down somewhere behind my bible. For over 3 weeks, a thought kept lingering in my mind pointing me to that phrase. Why would you find a secret and hide it? It is meant to be given away for the benefit of others. So I went to the computer and began to develop and build on this phrase you are reading today!

The secret to productive giving is hidden in our MOTIVES. Why are you giving? why did you give? why have you given? Are you giving from your spirit or are you merely giving from your flesh? Are you giving so you could be seen as a generous people? Or are you giving because you see GOD in that people and you want to please GOD? Are you giving because you are expecting to receive? What’s the propelling force behind your charitable deed? The flesh or the spirit? The great teacher, Jesus Christ asked a significant question concerning our motives he said “And if you lend to those from who you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you?”(2)

When we give, we must carefully check our motives. We must ensure that our hearts are properly disposed. Why? Because giving is far more a physical exercise, it is more of a spiritual work. It is ‘heart thing’ not ‘a hand thing’. When you give sincerely from the deep recess of your heart, you are simply sharing your spirit with the person in question. When heart is involved in something it produces greater effects. ‘Deep calleth unto deep’.

So the disposition or the state of one’s heart will determine whether or not one receives a reward or regret. The great teacher also made a weighty statement here. He observed ‘A good man out of the good treasures of his heart brings forth good: and an evil man out of the evil treasure in his heart brings forth evil” (3). So the dominant treasures in your heart will determine what you will bring forth. Reward or regret. See what Paul the Apostles told the people at Corinth. He said in:

COLOSSIANS 3:23

23 AND whatever you do, do it HEARTILY, as to the LORD and not to men’

24 KNOWING that from the LORD you will receive the reward……….”

One of the ways I have learnt to checkmate my motives is to PRAY before I GIVE. Whenever I want to give anything no matter how minute or mighty it seems. I always take a time out to commune with God who I am giving it to. I simply say”:

“Father, my intention is to help this person. I want you to examine my heart and check if the flesh is in there. Please Jesus, help me to give from the spirit. Cleanse me if there are any sin or wrong motive inside my heart. Accept this offering. Oh God. Thank you because I believe in my heart that you have answered my prayers. AMEN”

I have tried it many times and it has worked for me. Whenever I say such a prayer before I give, I usually FEEL relieved and led by the spirit. At that point, I am not concerned about what people will think of me, but what God thinks of me; because I have communed with him. Finally Jesus admonished us:

MATTEW 6: 1-4

1. TAKE HEED that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. OTHERWISE you have no reward from your Father in heaven

2. THEREFORE, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly I say to you, they (already) have their reward.

3. BUT when you do a charitable deed, do not let you left hand know what the right hand is doing,

4. THAT your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

(1) Luke 6:38, (2) Luke 6:34,

So I urge you today to check your motives when you give. Ensure you give your motives right and then your rewards are certain to come.

BeINSPIRED!

CYPRIAN HENRY

08088733350

The three wise men: What made them wise?

2013-01-10T02:34:00.002-08:00

The three wise men

Since time immemorial, I have always heard about the story of the three wise men. In fact, I grew up knowing about these three men from the east sometimes referred to as ‘Magi’. I recall vividly long time ago when I was about 12 years Old, our Sunday school teacher narrated the story of this three wise men who came all the way from the east looking for the new born King.

Every one of us got fascinated and carried away with these men we never saw but only heard of. But for the 20 years of my life I had never sat down to inquired ‘why was these men called wise men? What made them wise?

I asked many of my friends this same question, but none was able to give me an answer. This was always their reaction ‘I have never even taught of it!’ ‘I don’t really know!’ I was frustrated, yet curious. I wanted to know, and I wanted to share my discoveries with people. So I travelled back down to 2000 years ago, I took the holy book I began to comb every page. Eureka! I eventually hit the answer!

Briefly, I will humbly explore two crucial reasons why the scripture consider these men to be wise. Before I proceed I would like to ask: What is Wisdom? What really makes one wise? What criterion validates a wise man? What quality would earn me the name ‘wise man’? I think the scriptures have some answers.

The origin of Wisdom

In the words of Solomon he wrote “do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil’ (1). Solomon was adjudged the wisest man of his time. Some hitherto still claim is the wisest man who ever lived. Solomon admonished us that there is a source of wisdom. Wisdom is not from man. You don’t get wisdom by being or playing smart. You don’t get wisdom by knowing how to read all the books on your shelves. You don’t get wisdom by scoring high grades in college. Wisdom is divine, it is not amassed, it is given. It is entrusted to man by God.

Wisdom is the greatest gift a man can ever receive. It is the greatest pursuit a man can ever embark on. God inquired of Solomon ‘Ask me of anything and I grant it to you’ Solomon asked for ‘wisdom to lead the Israelites’. He said ‘Do not be wise in your own eyes….in all your getting, get wisdom” why did he say so? because “Happy is he who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding”(2)

The source, the origin of wisdom itself is in God! Solomon continued “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding” (3). He also added that “He stores up SOUND wisdom….” (4)

I.E. God is the storehouse of wisdom.

2Keys that made these men wise

You see friends; these men were not really known. The scriptures never told us of their names, but their deeds preserved and outlived them. Posterity will never forget these men because of their wisdom. Solomon corroborated “He (wisdom) guards the path of justice and PRESERVE the ways of His saints” (5)

Two things made these men wise: They were:

1. JUST MEN:

When, these star gazers discovered Jesus’ star. They instantly knew what the star represented. They knew that this was not just another ‘star’ that filled the Milky Way. Because they were spiritual, they understood that the owner of that star was to become a GREAT king. A savior, and the most high. Matthew recorded that, when they arrived in Jerusalem from Far East they inquired of King Herod saying:

“Where is he who has been born KING of the Jews. For we have seen his STAR and have come to worship him”

These men despite the fact they knew how delicate and highly significant this star was they willingly with a pure heart decided to celebrate it. They sojourned all the way from the Far East, with joy in their heart, and gifts in their bosoms. They wanted to celebrate with the new born king. They were not puffed up with jealousy; they did not say ‘Hmmm! Who is this King, let’s go and see how ugly he is’ of ‘Let connive to choke and becloud this star’ Rather they came merrily. Matthew chronicled that “when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly GREAT JOY” (6)

Unlike your friend, Herod, the scriptures says when he “heard this he was troubled(unhappy, restless, jealous) and ALL Jerusalem with him” If you unhappy because your friend is doing well, if you are jealous and envious of someone’s else’s success, you would only end up like Herod the foolish man. But if you contribute and celebrate other people’s success, you will be wise and your name would be preserved just like the three wise men.

PROVERBS 4:8-9

8 Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honor, when you embrace her.

9 She will place on your head an ornament of grace a crown of glory she will deliver to you

2. OBEDIENT

“Then being divinely warned in dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way” (6)

Herod was boiling with fury and anger when he realized that a King greater than himself was born, he ~~tried to~~ deceive, no! He deceived the three wise men. He said ‘Go and search CAREFULLY for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring BACK word to me, that I may COME and WORSHIP Him also”. Really, Herod’s plan was never to go and worship the new born King, his plan was to ‘KILL Him’ (7)

But thanks to God, they were warned never to go back. Now rack you brain a little. What would have happened if the three wise men never obey GOD’s warning? Imagine what would have occurred, if the 3 men had some misunderstanding and one insisted ‘I must go back to Jerusalem, you two may go but I must go back’. The three wise men walked with one spirit, they were coordinated and agreeable because “can two walk together except they agree?’’(8)

If the truth be told, those men would have ended up been FOOLISH if they never obeyed the warnings in their dreams. They followed the voice and leading of the Holy Spirit. Many people have been told to do one thing or the other by the leading of the Holy Spirit, but they have not been able to obey that voice. That one action by these unknown men earned them the name ‘The three wise men from the east’ their name was preserved because they choose to obey God. Solomon said in

PROVERBS 4:14-15

14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil

15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on

You too can become wise by being just, holy in heart, void of evil passions and desire and by being obedient to the commands of God.

The path of the just is like a shinning sun, that shines even brighter unto the perfect day!

Be INSPIRED!

CYPRIAN UDEBUIKE

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Bible Quotes

(1)PROVERBS3:7 (2) PROVERBS3:13 (3) PROVERBS2:6 (4) PROVERBS 2:7 (5)PROVERBS2:8 (6) MATTEW2:10 (7) MATTEW2:8 (8)AMOS 3:3

We Saw His Star!

2013-01-09T07:36:00.001-08:00

“Where is the one who has been born KING of the Jews? We saw is STAR in the east and have come to worship him”

-The 3 wise men

1‘now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,

2Saying ‘where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship him’ when Herod heard this he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him’

Imagine! What if Bill Gates had never made it till today, if his star had stayed dimmed? Who would have discovered Microsoft Windows? What if Benjamin Carson’s star was beclouded long time ago, I strongly believe that those samese twins would have died! And John Hopkins Hospital along with all those he had help saved their lives would not have benefitted at all. In fact there may never be a book called ‘Gifted Hands’. What about Micheal Faraday-the young man who discovered electricity, we could have been walking around today with candles! Above all, what if Herod was successful in his plot to choke the baby Jesus’ star believe me there would have never been salvation which is the greatest gift to the world!

It’s disheartening that inspite of all these narrow escapes and good lucks, many people have lost their stars, their dreams, their future! Many people’s life had been cut short and nose dived. This is really painful. A recent occurrence in took place in the University of Port Harcourt validates my point. On the 5^th of October 2012 where four hefty and future-promising undergraduates of the University of Port Harcourt in cold blood. This future promising young men had stars shining over their heads craving for limelights, but their stars were beclouded and plundered. A gory incident that earned them the name ‘the unfortunate four’

Whenever every child is born there is a bright shining star that shines over the head of that child. This star can not help itself than to shine brilliantly everywhere. That star is symbolic to the child’s destiny, his future, what God has ordained and declared that the child would become. This is called predestination.

THE 2 KINDS OF VISITORS:

1 WISEMEN VISTORS

This same star which shines over a person’s or child’s head provokes or stirs up mixtures of feelings in different individuals. In vs. 2 the wise men saw the star, the glory over Jesus’ life and said ‘where is He who has been born king of the Jew? For we have seen his star in the east and have come to worship Him’. In spite of how far Bethlehem was from Jerusalem, the wise men saw the star of Jesus and traced him to where he was located. Parents may not clearly see the star in their children but people do see this star very clearly. And this same star may cause various reactions in the mind of those who see them.

To the three wise men, the star over Jesus head made them happy and wanting to celebrate they had no evil intention whatsoever against Jesus. Matt 2:10 says ‘when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy’ they said ‘we have seen his star from the east and have come to worship him’. Also little wonder in vs. 11, when they came into the manger where the child Jesus was laid, they fell down and worshiped him. And they opened their treasures and presented him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They did not just saw an infant child who was wrapped in a manger, they saw a great king and savior of the whole world, they did not just saw a carpenter’s child, they saw a sovereign being seated at the right hand of his father with angels bowing down at his command.

So they came to support and to make this great destiny and dream to come to fruition. Likewise there are people who just like the 3 wise men who want to see us become what we have been destined to be. So they would go the extra mile to care and give the support they can. Do you know people like that?

2. HEROD VISITORS

Vs. 2b of Matthew chapter 2 says ‘when Herod heard this he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him’ Just like Herod, there are many people who are not happy about the star shinning brightly and brilliantly over our heads. Whenever they see such a child they are always ‘troubled’. Their agenda is to frustrate and impede the dreams of our children to becloud the radiance of their stars and to totally terminate their mission in life. Mike Murdock recounted ‘our dreams reveals our enemies making them defeatable’

Countless number of people are not comfortable because they have envisioned and realize that our children have a bright future and like Herod they are determined to go any length to hamper their progress in life. These people are not easily detected; they are professional pretenders. Just like Herod they would say ‘go and search carefully for the young child and when you have found Him, bring back words to me that I may come and worship Him also’ (matt 2:8)

Now if Jesus Christ, in spite of his exceeding greatness could still face persecutions and threats of death in the hands of a wicked king like Herod. Then we in these contemporary times have a whole lot of work to do as regards protecting the life and stars of ourselves, children, brothers and sisters

b. JOSEPH: THE SAVIOUR OF HIS FAMILY

Every father, mother, guardian should learn valuable lessons from the life of Joseph. He became the savior of his endangered family. What was the reason? How did he achieve this?

Looking closely at the life of Joseph I observed a few attributes

1. He was a principled man (a clear reason why he almost divorced Mary when he discovered she was pregnant. He was a kind of man who will not tolerate infidelity or unfaithfulness in marriage)

2. He was an upright or just man (matt 1:19)

3. He was obedient to God’s word (matt1:20) and above all,

4. He was able to hear from God.

Joseph was a man filled with the Holy Spirit. He was a man who could listen and hear clearly the direction which God was LEADING him. As a father, you are the director of the affairs of the family and the savior of your family. God communicates with us by speaking to us in spirit and dreams and any man whose spiritual ears are closed will lead his family into the hands of evil men.

We learnt that God instructed Joseph to leave Bethlehem and run to Egypt because Herod seeks the life of the child Jesus. Thanks to Joseph as we was attuned to the leadings of the Holy Spirit. The lessons we can draw from this passage is that a carnal person cannot lead a family. Parents who are not walking according to the leads of the voice of the Holy Spirit will lead their family to disaster, frustration, difficulties and even death.

CYPRIAN henry

08088733350

Osama bin Laden was a good Man

2013-01-08T10:24:00.002-08:00

"God knows it did not cross our minds to attack the Towers, but after the situation became unbearable—and we witnessed the injustice and tyranny of the American-Israeli alliance against our people in Palestine and Lebanon—I thought about it. And the events that affected me directly were that of 1982 and the events that followed—when America allowed the Israelis to invade Lebanon, helped by the U.S. Sixth Fleet. As I watched the destroyed towers in Lebanon, it occurred to me punish the unjust the same way: to destroy towers in America so it could taste some of what we are tasting and to stop killing our children and women."

— Osama bin Laden, 2004

"Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies of Allah and your enemies, and others besides whom
you may not know but whom Allah doth know." – The Koran

Are you insane? Come on! Be serious and realistic! Why on earth would you say Osama bin Laden was a good man? Perhaps you never heard he was He was the founder of al-Qaeda, the jihadist organization that claimed responsibility for the September 11 attacks on the United States, along with numerous other mass-casualty attacks against civilian and military targets.^[5]^[6]^[7] The attacks involved the hijacking of four commercial passenger aircraft^[129] and flying them into the World Trade Center in New York City, New York and The Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, destroying the former, and severely damaging the latter.^[130] It resulted in the deaths of 2,973 people(1)

I recalled vividly how the world reacted at the death of the adjudged top terrorist in the world. Everyone was happy that the man who had been perpertrating so many atrocities has been finally hunted down. Television broadcast were on high, he became the talk on peoples lips, radio programs were very elated because they had a subject matter to deliberate on. Calls went up! “have you heard? Osama is dead!” The death of Osama bin Laden was one of the most widespread news that ever occurred.

But why did I insist that this man, whose dominant zeal was to kill is good? Well the answer is not far fetched. You friends everything in this world begins with a small, minute, abstract force called IDEA! For the Christians we can concur to that fact. In the account of creation of the universe, we realized that the whole world was framed by God’s idea. He taught about what could be and then say ‘Let there be’ and as we saw ‘there was’. In the Greek book called Hebrews it was chronicled that ‘…..the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible’ (2)

Ideas are powerful! One idea can change humanity; one idea can change the world. Any idea when accepted by the masses can live till eternity even when the person, the source of it has gone into oblivion. Like the truism goes ‘Ideas always outlive men’. But the term ‘change’ is relative. Change can be good or bad. Some changes are transformational while some are overtly upheavals!

This was the case of our good friend Mr. Osama Bin Laden. Osama grew up as a normal child. He went to school just like any other child but something went wrong along the way. From my source in Wikipedia, it recorded that ‘Bin Laden was raised as a devout Wahhabi Muslim.^[24] From 1968 to 1976, he attended the élite secular Al-Thager Model School.^[20]^[25] He studied economics and business administration ^[26] at King Abdulaziz University. Some reports suggest he earned a degree in civil engineering in 1979,^[27] or a degree in public administration in 1981.^[28] One source described him as "hard working";^[29] another said he left university during his third year without completing a college degree.^[30] At university, bin Laden's main interest was religion, where he was involved in both "interpreting the Quran and jihad" and charitable work.^[31] Other interests included writing poetry;^[32] reading, with the works of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery and Charles de Gaulle said to be among his favorites; black stallions; and association football, in which he enjoyed playing at centre forward and followed English club Arsenal F.C.3

Did you see that? What actually struck me most when I first read this was that Osama Bin Laden was involved in ‘Charitable works’ he was a source of help to the helpless. He had a heart of love! But what actually went wrong? Did you want to know? The dark side of Osama Bin Laden originated when he conceived a wrong idea! He suddenly along the way imbued himself with a false belief system, a faulty and questionable ideology. According to same Wikipedia, it shows that “the former CIA analyst Michael Scheuer, who led the CIA's hunt for Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaeda leader was motivated by a belief that U.S. foreign policy has oppressed, killed, or otherwise harmed Muslims in the Middle East,^[48] condensed in the phrase "They hate us for what we do, not who we are." Bin Laden also said only the restoration of Sharia law would "set things right" in the Muslim world, and that alternatives such as "pan-Arabism, socialism, communism, democracy" must be opposed.^[49Bin Laden's ideology included the idea that civilians, including women and children, are legitimate targets of jihad.^[54]^[55]

Bin Laden's overall strategy against much larger enemies such as the Soviet Union and United States was to lure them into a long war of attrition in Muslim countries, attracting large numbers of jihadists who would never surrender. He believed this would lead to economic collapse of the enemy nation.^[72] Al-Qaeda manuals clearly outline this strategy. In a 2004 tape broadcast by al-Jazeera, bin Laden spoke of "bleeding America to the point of bankruptcy".^[73](4)

This was the origin of Osama’s misbehavior. He allowed his mind to imbibe a false concept. He had a bad idea. Osama in himself was a good man, but he only had a bad idea. The problem with the US is that they had failed to recognize that:

*Ideas outlive men (even if they know what about the next one)

*Ideas cannot be destroyed by arms and ammunition

*You can shoot a man but you cannot shoot his idea

*The only way you can defeat a bad idea is to replace it with a good one

-Credit to Dr. Myles Monroe

The fact that a man had a bad idea does not make him utterly bad, he only had an idea that was bad. He is good but his idea, his belief, his ideology is bad. But the moment his faulty idea is replaced with a good one, the moment he is made to see that his idea is wrong he would drop such idea and embrace the one he has been convinced of. You can only fight or hold on to what you are convinced of. In the holy book, an account was given of a Jew in Tarsus named Saul.

Saul was an elite, a teacher of the Law. He was a man of letters and he schooled under the greatest teacher in the Jewish religion-under a man called Gamaliel. Despite his level of his education, Saul had a wrong idea, a wrong conception about the Law. He opposed the followers of the young rabbi called Jesus who has been pre destined to bring a new message to the people.

The message according to him was ‘the good new’. Because of his wrong base of his idea, he hunted these men. He arrested anyone who dares to preach in the name of Jesus Christ. He threw them in jail. He did all in his power to thwart the expansion of his church. He became so zealous that he requested for a permit to go to Damascus to destroy all the followers of this young rabbi. But on his way what happened? I believed you know the rest of the story. He had an encounter that fine tuned his misconception. God himself made him understand that what he was fighting for was on a wrong base. He open his mind and replaced it with a good idea; that Jesus indeed the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

This same man who once persecuted the church later became one of the greatest masterminds of the Lord Jesus Christ. He fought for the truth with all the energy in the deep recess of his mind. He was the one who confessed:

“Woo is me if I preached not the good new”

“For I am not ashamed of the good news”

“All I ever want is to know Christ and to experience his power of his resurrection”

“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ”

-Apostle Paul

Whoa! This is interesting! Saul who name later became Paul became one of the greatest followers of Jesus Christ, he single handedly wrote a dozen of the letters that was contained in the Holy book! Osama was a good man but he had a bad idea.

(1)and(2) are from Wikipedia

(3) from Hebrews 11

Be INSPIRED!

Cyprian Henry

08088733350

"34 Powerful Xmas Quotes

2012-12-24T05:21:00.002-08:00

Add caption

“34 Selected Christmas Quotes”

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. “
-Calvin Coolidge

“A good conscience is a continual Christmas.”
-Benjamin Franklin

“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.”
-Roy L. Smith

“Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice.”
-Dave Barry

“If you haven't got any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble.”
-Bob Hope

“Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas. “
-Dale Evans

“Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won't make it 'white'. “
Bing Crosby

“Christmas isn't a season. It's a feeling.”
-Edna Ferber

“At Christmas play and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year.”
Thomas Tusser

“How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, His precepts!”
― Benjamin Franklin

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”
― Charles Dickens

“Christmas can be celebrated in the school room with pine trees, tinsel and reindeers, but there must be no mention of the man whose birthday is being celebrated. One wonders how a teacher would answer if a student asked why it was called Christmas.”
― Ronald Reagan

“Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we're here for something else besides ourselves."
~ (1912-1992), American newscaster. ”
― Eric Sevareid

“There are some people who want to throw their arms round you simply because it is Christmas; there are other people who want to strangle you simply because it is Christmas.
Robert Staughton Lynd

“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?”
― Bob Hope

“Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.”
― Charles M. Schulz

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ”
― Norman Vincent Peale

“I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph.
Shirley Temple

“And when we give each other Christmas gifts in His name, let us remember that He has given us the sun and the moon and the stars, and the earth with its forests and mountains and oceans--and all that lives and move upon them. He has given us all green things and everything that blossoms and bears fruit and all that we quarrel about and all that we have misused--and to save us from our foolishness, from all our sins, He came down to earth and gave us Himself.”
― Sigrid Undset

“The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Washington, D.C. This wasn't for any religious reasons. They couldn't find three wise men and a virgin.”
― Jay Leno

“Every gift which is given, even though is be small, is in reality great, if it is given with affection.”
Pindar

“As long as we know in our hearts what Christmas ought to be, Christmas is.”
― Eric Sevareid

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.”
― Hamilton Wright Mabie

“The knowing is easy. It's the doing that gives us trouble.”
― Vannetta Chapman, A Simple Amish Christmas

“What kind of Christmas present would Jesus ask Santa for?”
― Salman Rushdie, Fury

“Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!”
― Charles Dickens

“Peace on earth will come to stay, When we live Christmas every day.”
― Helen Steiner Rice

“Are you willing to stoop down and consider the needs and desires of little children; to remember the weaknesses and lonliness of people who are growing old; to stop asking how much your friends love you, and to ask yourself if you love them enough; to bear in mind the things that other people have to bear on their hearts; to trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke, and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you; to make a grave for your ugly thougts and a garden for your kindly feelings, with the gate open? Are you willing to do these things for a day? Then you are ready to keep Christmas!”
― Henry van Dyke

“Thank you," he says.
"Thank who?"
"I don't know. You?"
"No, not me. Jesus."
"Thank you, Jesus?"
"Yes, Toph, Jesus died for your Christmas fun.”
― Dave Eggers, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

“Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts.”
― Janice Maeditere

“Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart. ”
― Washington Irving

“He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (p. 119)”
― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

“Want to keep Christ in Christmas? Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty, welcome the unwanted, care for the ill, love your enemies, and do unto others as you would have done unto you.”
― Steve Maraboli

“Yet as I read the birth stories about Jesus I cannot help but conclude that though the world may be tilted toward the rich and powerful, God is tilted toward the underdog.”
― Philip Yancey

Exam Malpractice:How we can Stop It

2012-08-09T11:12:00.002-07:00

"This rudderless ship called examination malpractice whose destination is self destruction poses a great threat to the survival and sustainability of good quality education. This hydra headed monster will facilitate the enthronement of a mediocre, half-baked, incompetent and corrupt workforce ranging from quack doctors and pharmacists, and will lead to massive fraud in banks, the collapse of buildings, and the miscarriage of justice"

Chinedu Ugwu, a final year student of Veterinary Medicine in the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Examination malpractice has become so rampant in the society to the extent that before any examination body initiates a new idea to eradicate it, people already have their plans to get over it. Does it mean that examination malpractice is the only way/road to examination success? What do you think? How can it be stopped?

I must confess that I personally have suffered at the hands of examination malpractice and I know what it means to have cheated. You see, there is no smoke without fire. Examination malpractice stems from the dire desire to attain academical heights without much stress. Well, the people who engage in examination malpractice are not to blame to somewhat degree. We have been conditioned and feed with the lie of ‘If you can’t beat them, then join them’

We live in a society, where we are been led by leaders who lay down bad examples and as we know when the head is weak, it gradually affects other parts. It is the case with our country today. But at a second thought, we must face it. We must decide to follow and live by overt honesty in spite of the dishonesty that surround us. We must learn to live by the good principles that binds us as one true citizen and not bend them to our favour. The bottom line is that examination malpractice is not and will never be the way forward. Young people must learn to be sacrifice their comfort today for the benefits of tomorrow; we must learn to be deligent in every of our endeavours-our academics being included.

Furthermore, as regards curbing examination malpractice. Ha! It is a big challenge for me and as well as everyone here. But I believe that one factor that will play a major role in bringing examination malpractice to the bearest minimum is ‘Right education’. Every young Nigerian must be enlightened about the repercurssions of engaging in such mischevious act and its effects on the human and capital resources of the country. Education actually starts from the home, our parents play a vital role in ameliorating examination malpractices. Our parents should encourage their wards to be studious and also make them understand that only hardwork and God pays. Our parents should stop this attitude of resorting to connections, people and money when it comes to passing examinations or securing admission into the University.

But today, the obverse is the case. Parents are even the propagators of this evil act. Our parents should learn to encourage their wards to study more especially when they(children) have written many failed examinations and not resort to illegal means to find their ways out, out of mere frustration. Parents should help and meet their children’s emotional and phycological needs when they feel downcasted and like they are failures. They should teach them that patience, prayer and hardwork pays.

Secondly, the examination body and the Government also have their role to play as well. Examination bodies should make sure they have penalty to impose on candidates who are caught in the act. They should not just have penalty but enforce them strictly without mercy. But doing so, others would learn and also tell those who are planing to indulge in such act to eshew from such intentions. Of course, when a cat sits on a hot stove, he will not dare sit on it again even when it is cold. But what do we see today? Candidates bargain with our so-called invigilators to cheat in the examination halls which is very pathetic!

Finally, examination bodies should make sure they recruit trustworthy, effective and honest hands to conduct the examination proper at different levels. It range from the security who will search the candidates before examinations starts to the people who will stay inside with the candidates while they write the examination. Candidates easily gain power to exploit and cheat in examination when the conducting body do not play their roles well. Student are cunning and clever and we also need people who are as clever as they are. Searching should be thorough and well confirmed. The examination bodies JAMB, WAEC, NECO, should be sanitized and employ officials of unquestionable character. Finger prints and photographs should be used as a part of security for the exam papers.Invigilators and supervisors should be stern and strict and should be able to make strong decisions and enforce penalty when the need arises.

My dear fellow Nigerians, let us say NO to MALPRACTICE! It is not wise and will never help us build a healthy and formidable Nigeria. Let us teach our succeding generation that hardwork, prayer and perservance is the key to success in life.

All Scripture.

2012-08-06T06:35:00.002-07:00

“All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man maybe adequate, equipped for every good works” 2 Tim3:1

Everyone who professes to be a Christian, is been guided by a peculiar way of life. This ways of true living is well documented in a holy book called “The Scripture” which today, is popularly referred to as the Holy Bible. Taking you a bit back in the past, as recorded in the bible, the Jewish people followed a set of rules which they strongly believed in and so they tried as much as possible to live in accordance to those set laws.

This was evident and visible when God instructed Moses to inscribe the ten commandement on a tablet and distributed to all the inhabitants of Isreal. It was called God’s Ten Commandments. It went this way “Thou shall not…” Thou shall, thou shall…..” consequently, the people strained themselves to live by these rules not because they truly understood what it was all about but because of the fact that it became a tradition and they had no option than to follow suit .Bearing in mind that if they do not conform to the laid pattern spelt out, they would be severely punished even put to death. So they hesitantly obeyed this laws.

Another account to buttress this truth was seen when a large crowd caught Mary Madgalene in the act of adultery. According to the laws set before them, anyone woman was charged with adultery must be surely stoned to death. So they confidently dragged Mary to Jesus Christ to test his wit and see if He would fault. What am trying to point out in this little note? The people of Israel, the Jewish people obey the law literally but the law itself did not changed them. It is very possible to enact a law and still fall victim of the same law!

That was why Jesus Christ, in the story mentioned above told the people ‘Let him without sin cast the first stone’. Immediately Jesus said that, they went deep into themselves and discovered that they too are faulters of the law which they were trying to implement on the woman. Jesus’ word become an eyeopener to them. They finally realized that they too were sinners. In shame and disgrace, they silently walked away.

It is said some where in the bible that ‘Let he that what to take the spike out of his brother eyes first take the log of wood in his own eyes so he could see well to jugde the other person’ Jesus Christ came, not to change the law, the scripture, but to throw more lights on it so everyone can see clearly how it affect and applies to every part of our lives. He came to explained the law in a more comprehensible way. Where the scripture says ‘bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you’ Jesus says ‘Bless both those who blesses you and those who curse you’ Where the scripture says ‘Anyone who is caught commiting adultery will be stoned to death’ Jesus said ‘If anyone looks at a woman lustfully he has already committed adultery with her in his heart’. When Jesus came and began to teach them these new light of the scripture, they gazed at him with their mouth agaped.

The laws were imposed on them , but Jesus taught them the law. They conditioned them to apply their head{brain} to the law, but Jesus taught them to apply their heart to the law. It was totally weird to them that a person commits a sin and after that they say such a person has been forgiven and cleanse of his sins. Naturally and humanly, it was to put to death or impose the punishments right away on anyone found guilty of the law.

In essence, we Christians are no longer traditionist, we are no longer living with the ‘Old Testament Mentality’. We are no longer following the scriptures because that is what has been spelt out to use to do, rather we are adopted a new lifestyle with the use of the scripture. Becoming a Christian means becoming like Christ. Taking off our old lifestyles and putting on a new life. It is renewing and changing the way we think. Thinking more like christ.

Apostle Paul, in the same light was instructing his spritual son- Timothy. In his Second letter to Timothy, he said “All scripture was inspired by God and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteouness, that a man may become adequate, equipped for every good work” Time and space will not permit me to go deeper in this, but what paul was positing was that we are to allow the scripture to speak for itself in our lives as Christians. We are are obey God’s word because we want to be a changed and better people.

God’s word is sent to us to crush our old ways of life and build a new man altogether. God word is alive, it is truth, it is destructive, and as well profitable. It is sharper than two edged sword. So when God’s word truly enters your spirit, it causes and instantenous change.

If it enters in a broken and submitted spirit, it energized and revives it.

If it enters a heart of stone, it turns it to a heart of flesh,

If it enters a proud heart, it crushes and breakes it to submission,

It it enters a sinful heart, it brings salvation,

If it enters a sorrowful heart, it brings comfort and solitude,

If it enters a doubtful it sparkles faith,

If it enters a deaded body, it brings out life.

So, as Christians we need to meditate on God’s word and allows it to speak for itself. We need to give room for God’s word to take effect in our lives. We need to allow God to change our live to better by truly and sincerely applying our heart to God’s words. David said ‘I meditate on your law day and night’ David did not just hear God’s word but he allowed it to change him. This is a simple reason why we still have many unchanged Christians. Who go to church every Sunday, sing melodious gospels, hear the undiluted word of God, contribute greatly to the project of the church but are still not really like this Jesus they are claim they serve. The bible underlines ‘be not hears only but doers of the word of God’.

In conclusion, I pray that God will take you and I to a light of understanding of his word. That he will grant us the grace to allow his word to chastite us, reproof, correct , and train us to become more like Him as they passes by, because All scripture is inspired by God for our good.

Perception: How We See Things

2012-06-11T13:21:00.003-07:00

The image below usually appears to be that of a vase for flowers, or some identify is as an outdoor birdbath.

Or is it two people facing each other?

‘Nothing is good, nothing is bad; our thinking makes them so’-Williams Shakespeare

went for a youth meeting on the 10^th of June 2012 which was scheduled for 1:00pm prompt. I and my fellow delegate made sure we did all we could so as to meet up with the set time. Because where the meeting venue was fixed was quite far; we left our homes at about 12:00pm. When we finally got to the venue somewhere inside Ajao Estate at about 1:59pm, we discovered that the meeting had never begun.

I and my fellow delegate as well as the other young people who graced the meeting waited tirelessly for the meeting to commence. But all to no avail! What was the problem? Everyone was set, the Provost, the Public Relations Officer, and the Welfare person and as well as other executives was set for the meeting. Then who was delaying the meeting? It was just one young man who was the General coordinator. We continued to wait. I could see the boredom written clearly on the faces of dozens of people. I noticed a young lady who was sleeping. I started being bored myself.

It was already 2:30pm and the meeting had not begun. At about 2:40pm we got an announcement that the coordinator just called in to give a ‘go-ahead’ for the meeting to commence. A semblance of relief enveloped the atmosphere but we had myriads of queries to plunge to the coordinator when he finally arrives. I could see the anxiety and the pent-up anger in the faces of the people waiting patiently for the coordinator to answer the greatest question ‘Why on earth did you waste our time? Thirty minutes after the meeting began, a young man walked in majestically. Everyone’s hopes were high as we conscienciously observed where he was going to sit. We had our eyeballs fixed on him as he assumed a sit on the high table. But being a first timer I had one problem ‘was he the coordinator? I reacted within. Then He took the Public Address System to address the house.

He said ‘I am sorry for’ as he made that statement I knew he was the coordinator but I noticed that the whole house was ready for him even myself. They were waiting for him to finish giving his seemingly 'foolish' excuse then they were going to pounce on him without mercy. He continued ‘………. coming very early to this meeting. I only missed my flight’. As he made those statements he laughed and every one began to laugh as well. I laughed until I forgot all the stress it took me to come for the meeting. His statements obliterated the pain in the heart of the audience and filled it with joy unspeakable. The audience knew well that this man did not even have a bicycle let alone a car. Now he stand telling us he missed his flight.

Why did I have to take you through that story to make you understand what perception means? You see the way we look at things determines what we would get as results in the end. The young man in the story above knew well he was extremely behind schedule but he never allowed that to pester him. Rather he finally made something funny out of something that looks seemingly bad. He was able to handled and changed his perception. Deep down in his mind I believe there would be thoughts disturbing him while he was away. One thought would say to him ‘Look young man you know that you are supposed to preside over that meeting; and here you are late for the meeting. The house is going to be mad at you’ Another thought would say to him ‘Be strong, just go and the case will settle itself. Remember no one is perfect. You can still make something out of this. Just go’

Because he choose to control his thoughts, he was able to control the situation to favour himself and the entire audience. If it were you what would you have done? How would you have handle such situations? That one act taught me many lessons- to be always mindful with the way I use and handle my thoughts and emotions. The holy book observed ‘be mindful with your thoughts because they shape your life’. The one major cause of all the nagging and misunderstanding that besets most families, our relationships with people,and in our everyday activities stems from our inability to look at things constructively; from our inability to control our thoughts. Jesus Christ also understood that the way we look at things affects our life that was the sole reason why he advised his followers:

‘If any one hits you in your right face; turn to him your left so he could hit you again. If a man takes your coat give him your whole blanket. If a man takes you to court for no reason go extra mile with him’

I once had misunderstanding with a woman long time ago. She spoke harshly to me and even said she was going to report the matter to my parents. After all the issue were over. The next day I saw her while going out from the street. While I was approaching her and she was approaching me, many thoughts surged in my mind. ‘Should I greet her’ ‘no don’t greet her she reported to your mother; she spoke to you harshly’ and a still small voice said to me ‘just greet her it won’t cost you anything’. So I struggled and managed to greet her ‘Good morning’ and she responded amicably. But that one act marked the beginning of a long lasting relationship between me and this woman.

How do you look at things? Sometimes constructive thinking can make us look foolish because it is totally different from what a normal 'human' would do. I am not trying to tell you I am perfect with my thoughts, sometimes it can be very difficult you know. But I have observed that it is only pancea we need for all the problems we face in our daily lives. I have come to believe that if a man desires to change his circumstances then the first thing he should first change is his thoughts. The way we think determines the way we live. Little wonder did the holy book noted:

‘As a man thinks in his heart; so is he’

Have you experienced series of failures? It could be another chance to prepare again. Have you not achieved you set goals? It could be another chance to change something in your life. Do you think God has never answered your prayers? It could be God is testing to see if you are going to give up so soon. No matter what you are going through never allow it to debar you from moving ahead. All you need do is to adjust your perception and invoke a paradigm shift Everything is just about how we think about something. In conclusion, A young man had this kind of grey hairs that made everyone think he was old. When someone asked him ‘Hey you have grey hairs’ He replied back ‘Do you have grey hairs just like me? The man answered ‘no’. Then he concluded ‘Then I am a different person created specially by God’

Be INSPIRED!

CYPRIAN HENRY

The Paradox of the Holy Book

2012-06-11T12:59:00.000-07:00

‘This book of law shall not depart from thy mouth , study it day and night and you must observe to do all that is written in it then you can make your way prosperous and have good success’- God’s admonition to Joshua.

I was at a girl friend’s house sometime ago. I played with her siblings. She really had wonderful siblings . But I was very closed to one of them called Francis. Others include: Peace a vibrant beautiful young girl and Emmanuel a hyperactive young boy who plays a lot. I spent sometime with them that Sunday after their brother Francis had just received his first Holy Communion. While we were playing all of a sudden the youngest of them all Emmanuel threw a question to me. He asked me ‘Uncle Cyprian, can you tell me the most sold book in the world?’ I was pissed off! I must tell you. But God saved me. I thought carefully and replied 'the bible' and there was an applause for their 'uncle'

Though, I never went further in analyzing how much the great book called the bible had sold. I only made sure I defended myself. I created the impression that their ‘uncle’ was a bit vast. But this fact and figures have been a paradox to me; the bible being recorded as the most sold book, and the fact that only a few percent of those buyers ever read them throughout their life time. In my first Semester in the University of Lagos, when examinations were approaching, I and my other friends decided to visit the Library for the first time. As we walked into one of the library extensions in the University of Lagos, what we saw was flabbergasting. We saw mammoth crowd of students burying their heads into their test books. Then, in surprise, my good friend Karl max said to me ‘How serious these students are. How I wished they could read their bibles with such pain and desire’. I stood there, just behind him and began to ponder over what he had just said. He never knew that what he said left an impact in my life. I was ashamed with myself. It was then; I realized that I did not even have a bible let alone studying it.

I did not writing this article to create an impression that I later bought a bible and finished it over time.No! My sole objective is to uncover the paradox behind the bible. I write this to expose the mess you and I have gotten into. Let us face it! What actually went wrong? Hitherto, the bible is the fastest selling book in the world. As I write this article God laid it in my heart that the fact that the bible is the fastest selling book does not mean that it is the most read book. As He open my eyes, I saw that I had kept mine somewhere distant in the house without bothering to study it. I saw that many people had bought theirs and dumped it somewhere in the house. I saw that many of us only look for our bibles on Sunday mornings alone. I saw that many of us only care to look for our bibles only when we have a bible study to attend. God open my mind to the fact that I and many other young people do not place premium on His words.

And we cry all day. ‘God what are you trying to say’ ‘God give me good success!’ ‘God save me from the unseen forces and stronghold of this world!’ ‘God save my parents, give them long life!’ ‘God give my life a meaning’ ‘God why have you made me’ but we have failed to realize that all they we want to conquer this world and to live a fulfilled life is hidden in this holy book. John Quincy Adams said

"So great is my veneration for the BIBLE that the earlier my children begin to read it, the more confident will be
my hope that they will prove useful citizens to their country and respectable members of society"

Haven’t you considered that fact that many students can finish reading the whole of their test books cover to cover and can hardly read through the New Testament! Many young ladies can read through over 500 paged novels and still find it boring to read 3 chapters of the books of Psalms! This applies to me and as well as many young people out there. I had struggle to read this great book. I began to ask my self why it was so. God laid it again in my heart that our adversary Satan was responsible for it’

The devil’s plan is to hinder the sons and daughters of God form tapping into the treasures of the word of God.

This is the sole reason why he conjures fatigue and disinterest in us whenever we pick up the bible to read. This is the same reason why he confuses us to believe that there is still time. I can still tell you that whenever I carry the bible to study, a kind of weakness, sleep from God’s know where always hinder me. I have come to believe that these are the works of our adversary the devil. The devil understands that the moment we know the word of God he and his cohorts are in peril so he fights assidously to hinder us. The devil giving us a chance to study the mind of God is like setting a slave free. In ancient times, books and educational materials are kept away from slaves. This is because the moment a slave understands the truth he would fight for his freedom so their master can give them everything but never will they give them education. This is why the holy book recounted:

‘Then you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free’

Nevertheless, it is our warfare to fight the devil off. Because the word of God has made me understand that I am ‘no longer a slave but a friend’ to God then I must act and behave live one. We fight off the devil by saying forceful and fervent prayers. The bible observed ‘casting down every thought and imaginations that raises itself against the knowledge of God’ It also records ‘the violence takes it by force’

Without mincing words, The Godhead have made us understand that his word are embodiment of great secret to the treasures of life. This word of God is what we need to wage wars again principalities and powers and against familiar spirits, to activate success in our lives, to live a good and righteous life, to save ourselves from untimely death. The word of God gives wisdom and understanding. The word of God is what we need to subdue and control the elements of this world.

‘To rise to significant and glory in this world we need the word of God’

I want to use this medium to express my heartfelt concern to you and myself that it is high time we turn to the word of God in order to lead a more meaningful and fulfilling life. God bless you as you decide to make it a custom to study the word of God and travel deep into its truth to rise above our limitations.

Phillip Brooks
"The BIBLE shows how the world progresses. It begins with a garden, but ends with a holy city"

Henry Ward Beecher
"The BIBLE is G-D's chart for you to steer by, to keep you from the bottom of the sea, and to show you where
the harbour is, and how to reach it without running on rocks and bars"

The Defender
"Other books were given for our information, the BIBLE was given for our transformation"

Ulysses S. Grant
"Hold fast to the BIBLE as the sheet anchor of your liberties, write its precepts on your hearts and practice them in your lives"

Billy Graham"The BIBLE is the Constitution of Christianity"

Professor M. Monticro
"The BIBLE is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands; it lays hold of me"

Lord Tennyson
"BIBLE reading is an education in itself"

Blessings!

Birthdays:A time to Reflect

2012-06-09T13:12:00.000-07:00

n his commentary "On Levites" Origen writes that Christians should not only refrain from celebrating their birthdays, but should look on them with disgust.^[19] From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

This year, November 2012, I am going to be 21. My friends at my Church’s Youth gathering are already telling me ahead that ‘Cyprian, we go celebrate am well O! Last year November celebrants no try at all’. I pledged that my Birthday’s celebration shall be a big galore and that every body is going to be fed to the fill. I must tell you they were very happy when I pronounce those promise!

But as I disclose my future plans with my beloved mother and about how ‘big’ I intend to make my Birthday celebration look. She took the lids off my eyes, pierced my heart with her words of wisdom and left me thinking throughout the whole day. I will never forget how she ended her advice which she poured into my feebled mind. She ended his way ‘……..it is a time of sober reflection’. I slept over this same matter, reminisced and discovered some scare truths which had eluded many a youth today. And unlocking those truths form the bedrock of this little article you are reading now. Hope you will enjoy it!

According to Wikipedia ‘A birthday is a day or anniversary when a person celebrates his or her date of birth. Birthdays are celebrated in numerous cultures, often with a gift, party or rite of passage’. Everyday around the world, birthday is been celebrated. In fact last Saturday, I was invited to a friend’s birthday somewhere around the outskirts of the city of Lagos. Cakes were ordered, small chops were prepared, friends were invited, event venue were also booked for and many more. However, I later did not make it for the birthday celebration due to some inconveniences beyond my powers.

Birthday Celebration is a time when we share with others about how ‘big’ we have become. It is a time when we meet new friends and reconnect with old ones. It is a time when we cut cakes and sing the ‘Happy birthday song’. It is a time when snap shots go high. It is a time when we crank up the volume of the Home Theater, a time when we cook, eat and drink. It is a time when for the rich ones they visit gardens, and five star hotels. As long as birthday is concerned in Nigeria, it must be celebrated sha!

But over the course of time I have learned to ask my self some truth revealing questions. For how long will I continue to ‘Just Celebrate’ every birthday as young Kids do yearly? If you should sit down and analyze the issue closely you will discover that :Each birthday makes us older than we were last year. It gradually brings us closer and closer to death!’ I am not trying to scare you! I am only trying to make you understand that we are not getting any younger and that in life what matter is not how long we live but how much we contribute, it is not about our duration but our donations.

I will never blame the ‘Jehovah Witnesses’ for not buying the idea of birthdays celebration . They are obsessed with spreading the Gospel throughout their lives. Haven’t you noticed? Even the youngest child in a Jehovah’s Witnesses’’ family is absorbed and passionate about evangelizing the word of God. Going from one local home to another telling people about the love of God and his sacrifice of his son Jesus Christ. I interviewed a few friends of mine whom are all Jehovah’s Witnesses and discovered that one of the reasons why they do not take Birthday celebration as important as we do is simply because of the incidence that happened about decades of years ago as recorded in the holy book. John the Baptist was apprehended and held captive by a wicked King called Herod because he proclaimed the coming of Jesus Christ.

Herod believed that he was the only true King and that all people must venerate him as such. As a result, he persecuted all those who believed in the name of Jesus Christ and not in his own name. To cut the long story short Herod’s daughter was celebrating her birthday and there were guest from all walks of lives, friends and entertainers came so as to celebrated with Herod’s daughter. While the entertainer performed, Herod’s daughter danced so well that it pleased his Father carried away with the spree of celebration, Herod told his daughter ‘Just ask for anything and I will humbly grant your request’.

Well Herod’s daughter asked for John the Baptist’s head as her request. Being that Herod had given his beloved daughter his words. He had no choice than to fulfill them, so John the Baptist was beheaded just to please his daughter. This is not just a story that had been chronicled for donkey’s years. It reveals some basic truths about life. In contemporary times these very events are replicating itself today in a rapid pace. Many young people indulge themselves in social vices and immoral exhibitions that cannot be looked upon all in the name of celebrating their birthdays. They engage the act of premature sex, smoking, drinking to stupor, gambling and many ill fated acts. Many even get killed during these events. This is nothing but the truth.

You can help the poor as a contribution on your birthday

In lieu of the catastrophes that come with each birthday celebration in Nigeria and around the world today, birthday celebration can be channel in a more profitable way that will both benefit the celebrants and also encourage Nation building. Birthday should be a time of sober reflection considering the fact that we are living in perilous times. It should be time when we ask ourselves key questions that will help us live meaningful lives. A time when we do some serious soul searching to know where we are heading for in life. At each birthday celebration we should ask ourselves questions like:

How can God be glorified through this celebration?

How can others benefit from this celebration?

What have I truly achieved now that I am so and so age?
If I die today what would be my fate? Where is my spirit going to spend eternity?

How can I use this opportunity to touch lives?

How can I use this opportunity to help someone who cannot repay me?

Now that I am so and so age, how have I improved in my life generally?

Amongst many other questions, these soul searching questions will help guide us to revisit our lives and know how we can better live them. It will become an eye opener to our flaws and help us re-channel how we spend our money, time, and talents. It will help realize that what really matter in life is not how long but how well. It will us leave a lasting legacy that will continue to re-echo itself when we eventually pass away.

My dear friends, no matter how wrong you have lived your life. No matter how weighty are your mistakes in past. I have good news for you. Your past has past and I encourage you to face the future. You can remake your life. You can use every opportunity you have got to touch the lives of others. That is why this article is timeless. I encourage you to use the few truths in this article to re-channel, reform, refine and remake your life.

There are many mixtures of feelings and recent findings as regards birthday celebration all over the world here are the little I have researched on:

In many cultures and jurisdictions, if a person's real birthday is not known (for example, if he or she is an orphan), then their birthday may be considered to be January 1.’^[9]

‘There tend to be more births in September and October. This may be because there is a holiday season nine months before, or from the fact that the longest nights of the year happen in the Northern Hemisphere nine months before as well.’^[10]

Based on Harvard University research of birth records in the United States between 1973 and 1999, September 16 is the most common birthday in the United States and December 25 the least common birthday (other than February 29).^[11]

According to a study by Yale School of Public Health, positive and negative associations with culturally significant dates can influence birthrates. The study shows a 5.3 percent decrease in spontaneous births and a 16.9 percent decrease in cesarean births on Halloween, compared to other births occurring within one week before and one week after the October holiday. Whereas, on Valentine’s Day there is a 3.6 percent increase in spontaneous births and a 12.1 percent increase in cesarean births. ^[13]

Jehovah's Witnesses and some Sacred Name groups refrain from celebrating birthdays on the basis that they are portrayed in a negative light in the Bible and have historical connections with magic, superstitions, and Paganism.^[21]

In North Korea, people do not celebrate birthdays on July 8 and December 17 because these were the dates of the deaths of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, respectively. Over 100000 North Koreans celebrate displaced birthdays on July 9 or December 18 to avoid these dates. A person born on July 8 before 1994 may change their birthday, with official recognition. ^[31]

A number of possible superstitious origins for customs associated with birthday celebrations have been suggested. One source states that the tradition of birthday parties started in Europe. It was feared that evil spirits were particularly attracted to people on their birthdays and to protect them, they would be visited by friends and family, who would bring good thoughts and wishes.^[39]

be INSPIRED,

CYPRIAN HENRY

08088733350

Micheal Jackson: A perfect example of God’s plan for Us.

2012-06-06T04:31:00.000-07:00

"If you want to be remembered after you are dead, write something worth reading, or do something worth writing about'

-Benjamin Franklin

fter the death of the greatest Vocalist, Singer, Stage Performer, Moon Walker and above all the King of Pop Music-Micheal Jackson in the year 2009 I decided that I was going to take my time to watch all his legendary hit tracks he recorded and performed until his death. So I purchase a DVD that contain all of his music collections. I must confess that, that one decision was phenomenal and it has shaped my life hitherto!

Many fell, many were in coma, many lost their memories, many screamed on top of their voices, mammoth crowd gathered just to watch a young man perform on stage! You need to see the countless assembly of people who stampeded to hear Micheal sing. Children, grand father and mothers, all and sundry scream ‘Micheal! Micheal’. Micheal Jackson's enigma and popularity is the greatest I have ever known. Generations and it's successions would talk and continue to talk about Micheal because of the magnitude of his impact he left in the hearts of the world.

Micheal Jackson is the greatest Pop Singer the world has ever seen and believe me no one can ever be like him until eternity. Micheal Jackson's music had some kind of originality that is lacking today among many young artistes. He did not sing because he wanted to amass money for himself rather, he sang because he wanted to Impact lives. He had an unbeatable orientation about music. His track ‘Beat it’ to my best understanding means ‘to let go’ ‘to retreat’ ‘to let sleeping dogs lie’ and was dedicated to all those who are still living ‘street lives’; those who find delight in causing nuisance in the society. He dedicated the song to all those young people who do nothing than fight themselves on the street. ‘Beat it’ is a song than make those people understand that there is no gain in brawling rather than in peace and Unity. He added ‘It doesn't matter who is wrong or right just beat it’. Really great!

Another piece of his songs that lifts my spirit is ‘Heal the world’. ‘Heal the world’ stresses on making the world a better place than we met it. It encourages unity, love and fosters 'public-spiritedness.' It is a song that urges the world to add value to the lives of people instead of making life unbearable for them. I can remember vividly two years ago, a young girl wearing ear pieces around her ears sat beside me in a bus heading for Oshodi, but to my greatest chagrin, I suddenly noticed tears dropping from her eyes. I never wanted to interrupt, but I was compelled to ask her when I noticed the tears kept pouring. I asked her ‘What 's the matter?’ but she never said a word, all she did was show me the music she was listening to . I realized she was listening to Micheal Jackson’s ‘Heal the world’. I never knew all that went inside this damsel’s mind but I knew one thing –the song impacted and touched her life causing her to reminisce on certain issues about her life.

In contemporary times, music that pierces deep into the soul causing us to reflect and sober are scarce. The world now is polluted with ‘heart aching’, and ‘high blood pressure rising’ song. Rock! Rock! Rock! A popular Gospel Singer said that ‘Music is the gateway to the human soul’.

His popular hit track ‘They don’t really care about us’ is another blessing that came to the world in time when the world needed it most. Back then, many Third World World Nations are beset with racial discrimination, oppression from the government and the rich, mental slavery and many more. ‘They don’t care about us’ was composed to awaken the senses within the blacks and all those facing oppression and to imbue them with a strong will to fight for liberty. It made them realize that inside them lie tremendous powers beyond measure! It reinforced their guts and effontery to confort the government and their oppressor telling them in their face ‘Enough is enough’ ‘We want freedom and not slavery’.

‘They don’t care about us’ cut across the world sending the message of hope and freedom. It impacted every child and people who had been downcasted and reveal the well of potentials and powers lying dormant inside them. It was a blessing indeed! I can go on and on and on. His impact in this generation cannot be over stressed. You know yourself, you know what I am talking about.

God’s plan for our lives

‘So God created Human being making them to be like Himself; He created them male and female, blessed them and said ‘Have many children, so that your descedants will live all over the earth and bring it under control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds and all wild animals’-Genesis 1:27-28

‘God looked at everything He had made, He was very pleased’-Genesis 1:31

od’s plan for man since inception is to make him great, powerful, and influential beyond measures. God never created anything nor anybody to live average lives. He created us to live a life of impact and meaning. This is the same reason why he said ‘I am putting you in charge’. He has give us the power to be Famous and powerful. He has caused us to be the cynosure of all eyes. He has released us from being slaves to being Kings and Queens in our different capacities.

To be in charge means that people obey your command before taking a certain step concerning you. Remember how God caused Pharoh to put the Prisoner of yesterday to being the Prime Minister of Egygt of all time? In fact, Pharoh said ‘I am putting your in charge of all provinces and the people would take orders from you’ Joseph was only 30 years old! The name: Micheal Jackson would remain a brand forever. People pay huge amount of money to watch sing and make his funny moves, people bow at his feet, people fainted when he grabs the microphone, people tremble at his giftedness! Even now that his body is dead his spirit lives in the heart of everyone who listens to his music. What a man like Micheal Jackson.

Whenever I think of the name Micheal Jackson all I see is God’s plan for our lives. He is an epitome of the totality of who God has designed and hardwired us to become in our respect fields . In an interview with Micheal Jackson he noted "I’ve always wanted to be able to tell stories, you know, stories that came from my soul. I'd like to sit by a fire and tell people stories – make them see pictures, make them cry and laugh, take them anywhere emotionally with something as deceptively simple as words. I'd like to tell tales to move their souls and transform them. I've always wanted to be able to do that. Imagine how the great writers must feel, knowing they have that power. I sometimes feel I could do it. It's something I'd like to develop. In a way, songwriting uses the same skills, creates the emotional highs and lows, but the story is a sketch. It's quicksilver. There are very few books written on the art of storytelling, how to grip listeners, how to get a group of people together and amuse them. No costumes, no makeup, no nothing, just you and your voice, and your powerful ability to take them anywhere, to transform their lives, if only for minutes." –Michael Jackson, in Moonwalk he also said ‘Sometimes I feel like an angel’ Just like Micheal we are similitudes of angels. We are created in the Image and likeness of the biggest brand of all brands called GOD! Maybe you did not understand what I mean. I am trying to make us undertand that ‘We are like small gods’

Until we accept that we have tremendous powers inside yourselves we cannot use that power to the maximum. So stop walking with a long face! Breake off the fetters of low self esteem that yokes your life. Awake! Add value to your life! Carry your self high a little. Walk majestically. Fear no one except God. Do that thing you have been scared to do, simply because you have the power inside of you. Stop living a small life and start living big inside yourself. Stop thinking you are worse. God never creates junk, you are product of purpose and meaning. God can still make many things out of you.

In conclusion, Decide henceforth that you will live your life to the maximum because you have just one life to live. So why not live it the best way you can, rise above your game, add value to your life so you can add value to the lives of others.

Cyprian Henry

Inspirational Speaker/Columnist