BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU CALL IMPOSSIBLE!

What exactly is impossibility? Is it in the reality of the situation, or the reality of your own mind? I received this testimony and would like you to be blessed too...

"When I wrote my first semester examination as an undergraduate in UNILAG, I saw all my results but had a missing script in FSC 104. I was scared because it was not what I bargained for. When I went to meet the lecturer in charge of the course, he chased me out of his office because I came at a time that was not the Visiting Time (Tuesday).
There was only one option – I would have to
rewrite the examination the next year. I was not ready to go through the stress of attending lectures, writing assignments and preparing for an examination, I had already written. Therefore, I took the case up to God in prayer,separating myself in a 3-day fast.

The last day of the fast was a Saturday and I was taking a Meditating walk around DLI (Distance Learning Institute) in University of Lagos when the Spirit of God instructed me to go to the man’s office one more time. I said to myself, “it is either God does not know the regulation in UNILAG or someone is trying
to deceive me”. I had been to the office of this lecturer during the week and he chased me away, what would happen if I go on a Saturday, which was weekend?
Since I was convinced that it was God speaking, I went to his office and for the
first time in my life,I found him smiling.He looked at me and said, “Young woman, I still cannot find your result but write down the result of your other exam and I would give you a grade based on your other performance”.

That was really a miracle and I would have gladly accepted a ‘C’ but when I checked the notice board some weeks later, I found an ‘A’ with 75 marks beside my Matriculation Number. I realized that God is really a God that specializes in impossibilities ­ ­ .
Three years later, I graduated from the same University with a first class."

I pray for that seemingly impossible situation in your life to be turned around in Jesus Name. More impossibles are going to be possible for you!
Good Morning!

Who Is To Blame?

A boy was born to a couple after eleven years of marriage. They were a loving couple and the boy was the apple of their eyes. When the boy was around two years old, one morning the husband saw a medicine bottle open. He was late for work so he asked the wife to cap the bottle and keep it in the cupboard. The mother, preoccupied in the kitchen, totally forgot the matter.

The boy saw the bottle and playfully went to the bottle and, fascinated with its color, drank it all. It happened to be a poisonous medicine meant for adults in small dosages.
When the child collapsed, the mother hurried him to the hospital, where he died. The mother was stunned. She was terrified how to face her husband.

When the distraught father came to the hospital and saw the dead child, he looked at his wife and uttered just four words.

What do you think were the four words?

The husband just said "I Love You Darling"

The husband's totally unexpected reaction is proactive behavior. The child is dead. He can never be brought back to life. There is no point in finding fault with the mother. Besides, if only he have taken time to keep the bottle away, this will not have happened. No
point in attaching blame. She had also lost her only child. What she needed at that moment was consolation and sympathy from the husband. That is what he gave her.

Sometimes we spend time asking who is responsible or who to blame, whether in a relationship, in a job or with the people we know. We miss out some warmth in human relationship in giving each other support. After all, shouldn't forgiving someone we love be the easiest thing in the world to do? Treasure what you have. Don't multiply pain, anguish and suffering by holding on to forgiveness.

If everyone can look at life with this kind of perspective, there would be much fewer problems in the world.
Take off all your envies, jealousies, unwillingness to forgive, selfishness, and fears and you will find things are actually not as difficult...

SINK OR SWIM: HELPING THOSE WE LOVE

You see your friend, or someone close to you, messing up. You try to tell them, sometimes repeatedly. But are they listening? And when is enough really enough?

It’s hard

One of the most difficult things in the world is watching someone you care about mess up. It could be family, a friend or a partner. The situation could also come from a huge list of possible scenarios: dangerous habits,cheating, dating the worst type of person or staying in a destructive relationship... We would want someone to tell us if we were blind to any of the above, especially if it’s someone close to us. So we try to help them. We point out what exactly they’re doing wrong; how exactly it is they’re being lied to, how they’re being taken advantage of. This hardly ever goes down well, sometimes because of our execution as outsiders, and sometimes because the person we’re telling is in too deep. So where do you go from there?

Tact

You have to approach any situation where you’re telling someone that they may be wrong very delicately. After all, no one wants to learn that they are wrong – especially when it relates to something they are deeply invested in.

Empathy is very important: What if it was you in that situation? How would you take it? Before you approach someone about something this sensitive, you have to know them pretty well. This not only means that there will be an element of trust, but that you will also know this person well enough to have a plan of how to go about it. Consider the information you have before you pass it on: Do you trust the source of the information? Is there someone else who can verify? If the ayes outweigh the nays, it’s a sign that this is something you should share. Know when to fold in the end, if you tried your best and nothing changed, then you have to remove yourself from the situation.

Take a break from your friend or loved one and let the negative emotions cool down, especially if there was an argument or your integrity was called into question. Nothing is worth losing your peace of mind over, not even the people we care about most. After all, you also have to look out for yourself.

Sometimes we can present an irrefutable body of proof and the subject receives it well. Then, as a friend and a loved one, you have done your duty. However, chances are that no matter how well you present your case, the other person won’t listen.

As human beings, we’re stubborn to a fault sometimes. Then, the only thing you can do is wait. If you were wrong, then apologize when you get the opportunity. If it turns out you were right, that’s when your friend or loved one will need you the most. There will most likely be many pieces to put back together, and your strength and comfort will be invaluable.


What's your take on this? Do you have other tips you would like to contribute to this? Pls, let me hear from you via comments.

SOV 2014: God needs a mother

The SCHOOL OF VIRTUE (SOV) is a Christian organization fully functioning within a community as a Christian ministry , a reformation centre, a corporate body and a NGO . SOV is geared towards entrenching godly lifestyle, virtues, values, morals, skills and the lacking education to both adolescents and their wards.

SOV held its National ladies SOV 2014 which was a huge success. Here are the testimonies of some participants.

"It was my first time thank God i went,it was an experience i can't forget in my entire life. Right from the first day of the program,God met my heart, It was a place i got direction for my life. I gave my life to God over again, and i could feel peace and joy unlimited in me as i felt the father's love. Thank you the entire SOV management,God bless your seed sown"-Ojo Oluwatoyin

"It was an awesome experience, a real push into becoming a mother to great destinies. It was wonderful working under SOV leadership. I broke down with fever due to stress and all on thursday night, but I want to thank God because by the time I was leaving, I was whole. Seeing people being delivered from different power and stronghold of the enemy affirmed the power and presence of God in the camp meeting. It showed me that God WILL do what he wants to do with or without a particular man. He's not dependent on any one, there will always be vessels ready to be used by God.... GOD CENTRED indeed... Hallelujah!"- Toluwalope Oyefeso

NLC and any S0V meeting for me is like an affirmative to d bible text Romans 12:2. I feel renewed at the end of the meeting. May God bless all the people that contributed to the success of this years camp meeting. SOV have been a blessing to my life; I really appreciate the meals, accommodation and the spiritual foods.. God bless SOV team continually- Tosin

We trust God for these testimonies to be permanent in the lives of the participants. You can still contact us for your testimonies and want to share your own experience.

PATIENCE

A 30-year-old man visited his old father who could no longer see very well. As both of them sat in front of his house chatting, a dove flew in and perched on the window. The old man asked his son, "Is that a dove that perched on the window?". The son replied, "Yes dad". After a short while, he asked the son the same question a second time and got the same answer. When he asked the same question the third time, his son became angry and rebuked him saying, "This is why I hate visiting you, you keep repeating questions!"

The old man was silent for about 10 minutes, and then he asked the son to go into his bedroom and fetch his old diary. The son did as he requested. Then he asked him to read page 2 of the diary. The words read:

"My son is 3 years old today. As we sat in front of the house playing, a dove flew in and perched on the window. My son asked me 30 times if it was a dove. I gladly replied "yes" to each question. I cannot explain in words how happy I am that my son has learned to talk. What a wonderful day to remember!"

The young man dropped the diary on the ground, then he cried and apologized to his father. The old man spoke again, "Enough son, one mistake cannot make you less a man, but repeating the same mistake over and over again can kill any man. I've chosen today to teach you the final lesson before I depart this world.

The lesson for today is Patience. Always be kind and considerate to the less privileged, this is how you'll stand out even among the saints. If you are nice to everyone on your way up, they will definitely do their best to keep you there.


What's your take on this? Do you have other tips you would like to contribute to this? Pls, let me hear from you via comments.

Awesome Sunday Quotes

Hello people, below are few quotes that can set you in motion for exploits...Be blessed

“Take the limits off of yourself. You will never rise higher than your thinking. Create a great vision for your life.”  ~ Joel Osteen

“Whatever makes men good Christians; makes them good citizens.” ~ Daniel Webster

“Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees.” ~ Corrie Ten Boom

“Good works do not make a good man, but a good man does good works.” ~ Martin Luther

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” ~ The Holy Bible, Philippians 3:14

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” ~ The Holy Bible, Philippians 1:6

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” ~ The Holy Bible, 1Timothy 6:12

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” ~ John 10:10

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” ~ Romans 8:1

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” ~ Galatians 3:28-29

“We don’t think there’s something wrong with one-year-old children because they can’t walk perfectly. They fall down frequently, but we pick them up, love them, bandage them if necessary, and keep working with them. Surely our heavenly Father can do even more for us than we do for our children.” ~ Joyce Meyer 

DON'T GIVE UP

I saw a picture of two men digging in separate grounds possibly with the aim of finding diamonds. The first man, tired, after a lot of digging gave up and turned back realizing his effort is not yielding results. Unknown to this man, he's just another dig away from the diamond chest.

Here is the second digger, who's still digging, hoping to get his diamonds. I hope he does.
Beyond the picture, I realized that its usually when we are almost at our breakthroughs we give up

How many highly successful people do you know who gave up? How many do you know who have been richly rewarded for quitting? Inventor Thomas Edison asserted, "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up".

Its the last step in the race that counts the most. That is where the winner is determined. That is where the rewards come. If you run every step of the race well except the last one and you stop before the finish line, then the result will be the same as if you never ran a step.

Don't give up now, you're almost there.


What's your take on this? Do you have other tips you would like to contribute to this? Pls, let me hear from you via comments.

I Almost Became A victim of Theft

TESTIMONY FOR TODAY

This is the story of how a friend (claims anonymous) was saved. Here is his testimony.
"One night I parked near our neighbor’s place. A brand new Toyota double cabin pick-up vehicle belonging to my employer. I prayed over it for God’s protection and I went to sleep. When I checked in the morning I found that all the lights on this vehicle had been stolen! As I was wondering where I would get all the money to replace the lights, I heard a voice, within my heart, instructing me to walk around the vehicle. As I obeyed and did so I found, to my great relief, all the stolen lights, together with all the screws, collected at a nearby place. I was so confused by what had gone wrong. “Is this a new type of stealing? – one steals and then abandons all the stolen items?” I wondered.

When I told my neighbor about this enigma, he informed me that during the night he suddenly woke up and felt like reading a certain book which was in his front room. As soon as he switched on the front lights he heard some frightened persons running away!

God’s angel had woken him up to scare away the thieves!

I happily screwed back all the lights praising God for his faithfulness".

RANDOM QUOTES

Good morning people. It is said that when you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love. Everyone has highs and lows that they have to learn from, but every morning I start off with a good head on my shoulders, saying to myself, 'It's going to be a good day!'. So here are some random quotes for you.

We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but of appreciating what we do have.

The most precious possession that ever comes to a man in this world is a woman's heart

Your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.

Successful people are not gifted; they just work hard, then succeed on purpose. - G.K. Nielson

Be selective in your battles. Sometimes peace is better than being right.

If you're brave enough to say goodbye, you might just be rewarded with a new hello.

WHAT WORKS FOR YOU?

What works for you?

Music Works for me. It transports me. It uplifts me. Amazingly, I easily achieve tasks when I have my music device around. A double mile shrinks to meters with my ever active mp3 headphone. Studying isn't an issue as long there's a rythmn flow. Playing or Listening to music, singing, dancing works for me and I stick to it. What works for you?

A very good and reliable answer to this question to which you give yourself will practically ease out obstacles. This is a major step in self discovery. What makes you happy?, what motivates you even in difficult times? What gives you inspiration?

According to a friend, "As a designer, I find myself planted in front of a computer screen for long hours at a time; it’s a part of my job, after all. While it’s easy to say that I find loads of inspiration through visual blogs and social media websites, the truth is that I’m most inspired by stepping away from the screen.

Whether I’m going for a walk around town or road-tripping across the states, it’s always a breath of fresh air. Intriguing and different. Inspiration, truly, is everywhere. You just need to open your eyes a little bit to see it all around you"

Inspiration is everywhere — from the words of your favorite writer to the blooms and leaves on your morning walk. You just need to open your eyes, and breathe it in. It surely does work.

What's your take on this? Do you have other tips you would like to contribute to this? Pls, let me hear from you via comments.

FACTS: On Sleep Matters

Man is the only mammal that willingly delays sleep.

The higher the altitude, the greater the sleep disruption. Generally, sleep disturbance becomes greater at altitudes of 13,200 feet or more. The disturbance is thought to be caused by diminished oxygen levels and accompanying changes in respiration.

Most people adjust to new altitudes in approximately two to three weeks.

In general, exercising regularly makes it easier to fall asleep and contributes to sounder sleep. However, exercising sporadically or right before going to bed will make falling asleep more difficult.

Divorced, widowed and separated people report more insomnia.

Six in ten healthcare professionals do not feel that they have enough time to have a discussion with their patients about insomnia during regular office visits.

More than eight in ten survey respondents think that people often or sometimes misuse prescription sleep aids.

Caffeine has been called the most popular drug in the world. All over the world people consume caffeine on a daily basis in coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate, some soft drinks, and some drugs.

In

general, most healthy adults need seven to nine hours of sleep a night. However, some individuals are able to function without sleepiness or drowsiness after as little as six hours of sleep. Others can’t perform at their peak unless they’ve slept ten hours.

We naturally feel tired at two different times of the day: about 2:00 AM and 2:00 PM. It is this natural dip in alertness that is primarily responsible for the post-lunch dip.

Sleep is just as important as diet and exercise.

FACTS: Sunday's Awesome Facts

1. Stephen Hawking was told
that he had two years to live by
doctors back in 1963. Today, he's
alive and is 72-years-old.

2. The only domestic animal not
mentioned in the bible is the cat.

3. Expectant fathers can
sometimes experience a
sympathetic pregnancy where
they have symptoms like back
ache, weight gain, strange food
cravings and nausea. This has
also been found to happen in
some species of monkey.

4.Sheep can recognize each
other through pictures.

5. One American consumes the
same amount of resources as 32
Kenyans.

6. Most people can survive for
up to 2 months without eating,
but people can only live up to 11
days without sleeping. 15. 95%
of the underwater world remains
unexplored.

7. A Chinese man sued his wife
for being too ugly and the Court
agreed awarding him $115,000.

8. The average person walks
75,000 miles in a lifetime, or five
times around the world.

9. A 13-year-old boy in Florida
was once arrested for excessive
farting in school.

10. Mobile phones have 18 times
more bacteria than toilet handles.

What's your take on this? Do you have other tips you would like to contribute to this? Pls, let me hear from you via comments.

TRUTH: THANK GOD ITS SUNDAY

I wondered why David was always glad when it was time to go to God's house, I also wondered why he said, In God's presence, there is Joy in full. He must have discovered what I discovered few years ago, that God created man so mighty and powerful. Man can think, invent, solve problems etc.

But God has also created Man to seek Him and Love Him, no matter how smart we are, we need God more than we need the air we breath in, for a lot of things we can't do for ourselves. e.g, we can't save ourselves. That was why David can't wait but to go to God's house, he is always filled with Joy. He found the Pleasure of doing exactly what one is created for - Worshipping God. Glory to Jesus for the open door, so we can come as we are to the place of worship.

Can we go with great Joy to the one who is able to save us and our Country today? May we be Changed and made better as we go. Have an awesome day ahead people!

FACTS: Saturday's Awesome Facts

1. Yawning doesn't always
necessarily mean you're tired, it
also means your body needs
more oxygen.

2. Playing with puppies and
kittens has been proven to
relieve stress and help students
perform better on tests.

3. Before sleeping, 90% of your
mind begins to imagine stuff
you'd like to happen

4. Only 8 different countries have
won the World Cup.

5. Those stars and colors you see
when you rub your eyes are
called phosphenes

6. The average person tells 4 lies
a day, 1,460 a year, and a total of
88,000 by the age of 6. And the
most common lie is "I'm fine".

7. Super Mario wears a hat
because his creator, Shigeru
Miyamoto, couldn't draw hair

8. The word "queue" is the only
word in the English language that
is still pronounced the same way
when the last four letters are
removed.

9. When you sleep, you grow by
about 8mm The next day you
shrink back to your former
height. The reason is that your
cartilage discs are squeezed like
sponges by the force of gravity
when you stand or sit.

10. Due to the discovery of many
brain parasites, Scientists say
that a Zombie Apocalypse is
actually possible.

FOOTBALL: FIFA lifts suspension on Nigeria

FIFA has today confirmed that it has lifted the suspension imposed on Nigeria on July 9, which meant all the national teams could not participate in international football.

The world football governing ordered the ban, after a court sacked the Aminu Maigari-led Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Executive Committee and barred them from overseeing the affairs of Nigerian football.

However, FIFA has a u-turn, after they received correspondence on July 17 from the NFF and were satisfied that Nigeria had complied with its conditions for reinstatement.


An official statement read: “FIFA has today, 18 July 2014, lifted the suspension that was imposed on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on 9 July 2014 on account of interference.

“FIFA has noted that the court proceedings and order preventing the president of the NFF, the NFF Executive Committee members and the NFF Congress from running the affairs of Nigerian football that prompted the suspension have been withdrawn.

“As statutory order has been reinstated at the NFF and the legitimate bodies reinstalled, FIFA has decided to lift the suspension as of today, Friday 18 July 2014.

“The lifting of the suspension means that all rights of the NFF as a FIFA member as defined in article 12 of the FIFA Statutes are reinstated.”

CAMPUS GIST: UNILAG STUDENT SHOT IN THE HEAD

A final year student of Philosophy, identified as Sapara, was on Monday, reportedly, shot in the head by unidentified gunmen, at the King Jaja Hall of the University of Lagos.

Sapara, who had his face covered in blood after a bullet was said to have scraped the side of his head, was subsequently taken to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, with official report indicating that he was in stable condition.

The incident, however, led to chaos as students were seen running in different directions after a gunshot was heard.


Eyewitnesses said they saw a car speed off after the shooting, noting that the perpetrators might have carried out the attack from there.

Dean of Students’ Affairs of the University, Prof. Olukayode Amund, who confirmed that Sapara was indeed shot and currently recuperating at LUTH, stated that investigations had begun to unravel the circumstances surrounding the attack, after which requisite actions would be taken.

“The events surrounding the incident are still unknown and by the time we conclude our investigation, the university authority will take the necessary and appropriate action. Our security operatives are working very hard to unravel the mystery and whoever is responsible will be held to account.”

HAPPINESS: You can give it

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same
hospital room.

One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.
His bed was next to the room's only window.
The other man had to spend all his time flat on his
back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of
their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on
vacation.. Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the
window could sit up, he would pass the time by
describing to his roommate all the things he could see
outside the window. The man in the
other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and
colour of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park
with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while
children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every colour and a
fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite
details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene. One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing
by. Although the other man could not hear the band - he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the
window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days, weeks and months passed. One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless
body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his
sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to
take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if
he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making
sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully,
he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look
at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look
out the window besides the bed. It faced a blank
wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his
deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things
outside this window.
The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted to
encourage you.'

There is tremendous happiness in making others
happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled. If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money
can't buy.
Today is a gift, that is why it is called The
Present

OUR AZONTO CHURCH

When I heard the song AZONTO playing, I thought I was in the wrong place. I looked up to make sure I was entering a church not a party hall, I still read the signpost to assure myself. I was welcomed to church by a very beautiful lady- she looked very beautiful and her skirt was not too long. She had a nice welcoming smile, she ushered me into my seat. It was praises and worship session and it wasn’t AZONTO they were singing, it was JESUS O… It was the same rhythm, beat with the popular AZONTO, but the difference was the lyrics.

There was excitement in the air, but there was no fulfillment… there was happiness in the atmosphere but not joy, people were dancing, but not praising God. Deep in my heart, I had always desired to sing and dance to this azonto, but since am a church-boy and an exco too, I couldn’t. But right now, I had every right, am in church and My Pastor was even dancing to the beat. I joined. I saw Jane shaking her body frantically- the same way she did in our fresher’s orientation party when guys crowded her (I heard the gist) but right now, she was singing in the choir but I can tell you that most eyes were on her. Then came Bola, she moved up the stage in a quick moonwalk motion (popularly used by the late Michael Jackson in breakdance), she walked in a circular arc….I really enjoyed myself. We were almost sweating under the A.C. as we sat down.

Someone was called for her testimony. Her voice wasn’t so beautiful. Her voice cracked at intervals but her music wasn’t distorted by it. She sang the ‘old’ song- old rugged cross, as I listened, tears rolled down my cheeks. The atmosphere was electrified. The Pastor did not need to announce the usual “God’s presence is here” before I knew it- we all knew it. As she continued singing, my sins rolled past my mind. Even though I had been in church for years, I knew I had many things to change about my personal walk, I wasn’t growing, I was stagnant. I just laid my head down to say a little prayer to Jesus.

The church is getting worldly and the world is getting churchly.- Uzochukwu Okpala

TUESDAY'S AWESOME FACTS

AWESOME FACTS: Some truths you never knew.

1, Cristiano Ronaldo has no tattoos because he often gives blood and getting a tattoo would make him unable to do so for 6 months. #WorldCup

2, If your room is cold when you fall asleep, you have a higher chance of having a bad dream.

3, You are more likely to remember something if you write it in blue ink instead of black ink.

4, Farting is good for your health as it helps reduce high blood pressure.

5, Bill Gates vowed to Harvard professors he'd be a millionaire by the age of 30, they laughed. He became a billionaire at the age of 31.

What's your take on this? Do you have other tips you would like to contribute to this? Pls, let me hear from you via comments.

Have You Ever wondered???

- Why "abbreviation" is such a long word ?

- Why doctors call what they do practice ?

- Why glue doesn't stick to its container?

- Why sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin?
- Why we have freedom of speech and pay telephone bills?

- Why Screw Driver doesn't Need a Driving Licence to Drive?

- Why Adekunle Ciroma Chukwuma Keep
Writing Waec Every Year?
???

Are you trying to be normal?

A good friend of mine says that most people are sick. They've got a "normosis" - a type of neurosis. They try to be "normal". "Are you trying to be normal, Emmy-G?"

Did you know that scientist still haven't been able to figure out the number of possible combinations of DNA molecules? The best they've been able to do is provide an estimate: 2.4 billion to the power of 10!

That's an incredible number when you consider that the possible combinations of all particles in the universe amount to only 76 to the power of 10! As you can see, that is vastly less than the possible combinations DNA, which form your identity.

So scientifically speaking, you are unique! There's no chance of ever finding another person exactly like you on the planet. And you can also be sure that there never has been - and never will be - two identical human beings in the entire universe.

So why waste time and energy trying to fit into a mould? To be like someone else? You are unique, and thus radically different, no matter what you think and no matter what you do.

Are you trying to be normal? You don't have to try to be normal because you are normal. Trying to be normal is trying to fit into another person's normalcy. Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you! You are unique, you are special, you are YOU.

Are you trying to be "normal"?

LASU Post UTME

Lagos State University, LASU post UTME application form for the 2014/2015 academic session admission exercise is out.

LASU cut-off mark is 180. With 180 and above as LASU cut-off mark, only 1,317 candidates chose LASU as their institution of choice in the 2014 UTME. Due to this, the management of the institution is inviting candidates that scored 180 and above irrespective of their institution of choice. However, below is the statistics:

First Choice: 1,296 candidates

Second Choice: 16 candidates

Third Choice: 3 candidates

Fourth Choice: 2 candidates

Total: 1,317 candidates.

OUR POSITION ON LATE REGISTRATION-OAU STUDENTS' UNION

Great Ife!
Sequel to our stand on the late
registration syndrome as earlier stated in our
releases on Friday, 11th & Sunday 16th
respectively, the position of the union still
remains that no students should pay. The late
registration cannot stand since the session
calendar is ipso facto suspended based on the
closure order by the senate.
Great Ife, it will be disheartening if at the mere
threat of late registration you are paying, what
about the many sacrifices many of us have
been making? Time, strength, resources, risk of
life, threat of rustication, etc! At least, late
registration would not affect your studentship
unlike us that our studentship is at stake! If we
are not shivering, why should you! Note that
every additional payment you make is an
additional frustration to the struggle.

Be assured that the date will be extended as
many efforts are being put in place. In fact,
senate would have to approve a new calendar
entirely for the session which will surely include
late registration. This is due process & normal
procedure.

Currently we have written the management on
the opening of discussion on the whole issues &
also requested, as a Union, formally that late
registration be extended. Staff unions are also
copied. Stakeholders, staff unions, our legal
counsel and other contacts within and outside
are also intervening because they align with our
position.
Pls disregard the rumour that union officers
have paid or the message being circulated &
purportedly emanating from the union asking
you to pay. All these are mere distractions and
blackmails.

It is high time you started seeking
and relying on the information from your duly
elected union leadership, other than from mere
attention-seekers, distractors and
propagandists.
Honourables, HEC members, leaders of fac/
depts/religious bodies/ other associations and
others who truly believe in the struggle.

IT'S YOUR CHOICE

Happiness is a choice. For every minute you are angry or irritated, you lose 60 seconds of happiness. Be happy. Be yourself. If others don’t like it, then let them be. Life isn’t about pleasing everybody.

If you have the courage to admit when you’re scared, the ability to laugh even as you cry, the nerve to speak up, even if your voice is shaking, the confidence to ask for help when you need it, and the wisdom to take it when it’s offered, then you have everything you need to get yourself to a happier state of mind.

Never let someone’s opinion become your reality. Never sacrifice who you are because someone else has a problem with it. Love who you are inside and out. No one else has the power to make you feel small unless you give them that power. You are the only one who can create your happiness.

The choice is yours. Choose happiness.

MY WORLD CUP LESSONS

Every four years, the world goes to war. Shots are fired. Egos bruised.

Buckets of sweat shed by combatants locked in uncompromising battles. Mercifully, it all takes place on the pitch, the rest of the world riveted and enthralled - in our seats.

Waiting, breath held, to explode in victory or implode over a loss, carried away by national, regional even continental jingoism and all.

It is the World Cup, today acknowledged as the single most watched sports event with TV viewership in millions. You would then think that of those millions of followers just about everyone would be conversant with the rules of engagement governing the beautiful game.

As I’ve made a futile attempt to keep up with the breathtaking and not so breathtaking pace of the games in Sambaland, I couldn’t help take in the import of one TV commercial. Set against the buzz of a match, the catchy Coca-cola commercial lumps the fans into four classes: the worrier, the admirers, the diehards and the clueless. It is the latter that left me with food for thought.

“We won! We won!” shouts an excited young female fan. “It’s only half time,” a more knowledgeable chap coolly corrects, a little too condescending for my liking. The girl lets out an ‘Ooh!’ sigh as the camera freezes her “clueless” gaze into the distance.

See, I cannot catergorically tell you I'm part of the clueless fans. Sure I know enough to tell my football from basketball, a red card from a yellow one, Messi from Ronaldo and Ghana from Cameroon. I'm a Manchester United fan

I even know a few rules of the game, enough at least to shout ‘offside’ every so often in a match. And once I have picked a side, usually any that does not have Luis Suarez in it’s ranks (I’m yet to forgive him for that 2010 incident with Ghana), I can cheer or weep with the best of them.

FOOTBALL DIEHARDS and AMIRERS

We are damned if we are clueless when it comes to life. After-all, the signposts, clues and lessons are everywhere, even in a football match. If life is a game, not too different from football, we each get to decide how vested we will be.

Do we stand at the periphery watching our life unfold with mild curiosity or do we engage thoroughly into the business of living like a football diehard? 

Secondly, many of the matches in this tournament have had surprising outcomes. And isn’t that so much like life? Who can tell how it all ends? What matters is that we prepare adequately, and while we are here, we give a good account of ourselves.

Third, who can forget the goal saves that had to be determined by goal line technology? All because a player refused to give up, going after the ball when many would have shrugged their shoulders in resignation. After all, it was almost in the net, a done deal. What would life be like if we went at it with the dogged determination of a football player? Sadly, we give up too easily on our dreams, health, relationships or businesses.

Fourth, life, like football, is a team sport. We need other players, the referees and even the clueless fans. It doesn’t matter how brilliant we are, the goals we score in life were passed on to us by someone else.

There have been many life lessons in the 2014 World Cup. The final match has been played and the last of the fans will leave the stadium, either ecstatic or disappointed. But if we mind the lessons and apply them to our lives, we still win. Thumbs up for Germany.

Bad luck, Good luck

There once was very poor man living in
a village who had a very fine horse. So
fine, in fact, that the lord of the
castle wanted to buy it. But the old man
always refused.

"To me this horse is not merely an
animal. He's a friend. How could I sell
you my friend?"

One morning he went to the stable and
found his horse gone.

All the villagers said, "We told you!
You should have sold your horse. Now
he's been stolen instead. What terrible
luck."

"Bad luck or good luck," the old man
said. "Who can say?"

Everyone laughed at him. But 15 days
later the horse returned, followed by a
whole herd of wild horses. He had
escaped from the stable, courted a young
mare, and returned with the rest of the
herd following behind!

"What luck!" the villagers cried.

The old man and his son began training
the wild horses. But a week later the
man's son broke his leg trying to train
one of the horses.

"Bad luck," said his friends. "What
are you going to do now without your son
to help you? You who are already so
poor."

"Bad luck, good luck, who can say?"
the old man replied.

A few days later an army belonging to
the lord of the land passed through the
village and forced all the young men to
become soldiers. All... except the old
man's son, because of his broken leg.

"How lucky you are," the villagers
cried. "All our children are gone to
war, but you've been able to keep your
son. Our sons will probably be
killed..."

The old man replied, "Bad luck, good
luck... who can say?"

The future comes to us in bits and
pieces. We never know what lies in store
for us. But if you always maintain a
positive attitude the doors of chance
remain open, and you will be a happier
person.

10 facts about Argentina-Germany FIFA World Cup 2014 final

Here are the 10 facts about the final

1. At this World Cup, Argentina have won all their previous 6 matches coming into the final. Germany too are unbeaten, however, they had one draw in group stage. All players, barring Miroslav Klose (2002 final) on either side are in the World Cup final for the first time

2. Estadio Do Maracana stadium will host the final. It will be the second World Cup final at the venue, after 1950. The total capacity at Maracana is 76,935

3.The world champions will receive $ 35 million prize money while the runner-up team gets $ 25 million

4. This is the third meeting between the sides in a World Cup final. It is 1-1 with Argentina winning in 1986 final (3-2) and Germany in 1990 (1-0)

5. Germany have won three World Cup titles - 1954, 1974 as hosts, 1990 (all 3 as West Germany) while Argentina were champions twice (1978 as hosts, 1986)

6. For Argentina, it is their 5th time in final (Won 2 - 1978, 1986; Lost - 1930, 1990). Germany's 8th time in final (Won 3 - 1954, 1974, 1990; Lost - 1966, 1982, 1986, 2002)

7. Argentina hold edge over Germany in head-to-head record, 9-6 while the other 5 ended in draws

8. If Germany win on Sunday, they will become only the second team after Brazil (5 - 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002) and Italy (4 - 1934 as hosts, 1938, 1982, 2006) to have won four or more World Cup trophies

9. Argentina are in the final for the first time in 24 years while Germany are in the title round after 12 years. Germany's Thomas Muller is second on Golden Boot Standings with 5 goals while Lionel Messi is third with 4 goals. The leader is Colombia's James Rodriguez with 6

10. A national team with a foreign coach has never won the FIFA World Cup. The 18 winning coaches to date have all been in charge of their home nation. The record will remain as both Argentina (Alejandro Sabella) and Germany (Joachim Loew) have home coaches. The captains for the final are - Messi (Argentina) and Philipp Lahm (Germany).
WHO WILL WIN THE 2014 WORLD CUP, ARGENTINA OR GERMANY?

OAU POST-UTME SCREENING EXERCISE

Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU 2014/2015 post-UTME registration has commenced. The 2014/2015 Post-UTME Screening Exercise of Obafemi Awolowo University, is for candidates who chose Obafemi Awolowo University and scored 200 or above in the last UTME.

HOW TO APPLY

All candidates should register on-line on eportal.oauife.edu.ng or www.oauife.edu.ng with a scratch card available at a sum of Two Thousand Naira (N2,000.00) only. The scratch cards are available from any of the under-listed banks and locations outside OAU Campus:

BANKS/LOCATION

1. Skye Bank PLC: Ile-Ife, Osogbo, Ibadan, Lagos (Allen Avenue)
2. Zenith Bank PLC: Ile-Ife, Osogbo, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Ilorin, Kaduna, Abuja, Lagos (Allen Avenue & Victoria Island)
3. Ecobank PLC: Ile-Ife, Ibadan, Lagos (Opebi & Allen Avenue)
4. Wema Bank PLC: Modakeke-Ife
5. First Bank PLC: Ile-Ife, Ibadan, Lagos (Ikeja)
6. GTB PLC: Lagere, Ile-Ife
7. OAU Microfinance Bank: Ile-Ife
8. Stanbic/IBTC Bank: Ile-Ife
9. UBA PLC: Ile-Ife, Ibadan
10. Union Bank: Ile-Ife
11. Finbank PLC: Ondo, Akure, Ado-Ekiti, Ifaki-Ekiti
12. Mainstreet Bank (Nig) Ltd: Ile-Ife
13. Diamond Bank: Ile-Ife
14. Olofin Microfinance Bank: Ile-Ife

Candidates are required to upload their passport photograph on-line.

SCREENING DATE

The OAU Post Utme screening exercise will hold on Saturday, 2nd August, 2014 by 12.00 noon in various Centres at Ile-Ife. All candidates are expected to be seated, latest, by 11.00 am.

CLOSING DATE

Access to the University website for normal registration for the screening exercise will remain open till 12.00 noon on Friday, August 1st, 2014.

Signed
D. O. Awoyemi
Registrar

LOVE MOMENTS

LOVE MOMENTS;
A time to tell that special person in your life how much you love him or her, a time to discuss love issues, to gist about celebrity love stories.
Join Neme and Funke to celebrate love, every Saturday at 5:30pm on Crown FM 101.5, Eleyele, Ile-Ife.
You don't wanna miss it

The Power Of Man

 “An old Hindu legend says there was a time when men were gods. But they abused their divine powers so much that Brahma, the master of all gods, decided to take these powers away and hide them in a place where they would be impossible to find. All that remained was to find a suitable hiding place. A number of lesser gods were appointed to a council to deal with the issue. They suggested this: “Why not bury man’s powers in the earth?” To which Brahma replied, “ No, that will not do because man would dig deep and find it. ” So the gods said, “In that case, we will send their divinity to the deepest depths of the ocean. “ But Brahma replied again, “Sooner or later man will explore the depths of the ocean and it is certain he will find it and bring it to the surface.“

So the lesser gods concluded, “Neither land nor sea is a place where man’s divine powers will be safe, so we do not know where to hide it.“

At that moment Brahma exclaimed, “This is what we will do with man’s divinity! We will hide it deep within him because that is the only place he will not think to look.“

From then on, according to the legend, man searched the world over; he explored, climbed, dove, and dug in search of something that was inside himself the whole time.”

Discover yourself TODAY-Awesome EmmyG

Hilarious But True

Nelson Mandela came out from prison and became a president.

Obasanjo came out from prison to become a president.

Theodore Orji came from prison to be a governor.

Omisore Iyiola came from prison to be a senator.

Al mustapha came from prison to be a brigadier.

Its like This Prison is better than university!

Should we advise our OAU, LASU and other undergraduates to forget the strike and be going to prison?

"Humbility"

A man rushed to the gate of his house to find out who the visitor was. He discovered he was a friend he had met years ago in the university. He hesitated to receive the warm embrace of his visitor because he was not pleased with what he saw. For one, his visitor's dressing was below his expectation.

A t-shirt, a short and a pair of cheap snickers was not his idea of good dressing on a working day, and for a man who graduated 15 years ago. Secondly, he did not see a car packed in front of his gate, meaning the visitor did not have one. He quickly decided he was not going to allow the visitor pass the yard into the house. He had enough of his own financial problems than to be infested with a chronic poverty virus.

After a couple of exchanges, and to the man's relief, the visitor announced he was leaving. By this time a 2014 Lexus SUV drove in front of the gate. As the visitor crawled into the back seat, he handed a letter to his host and said, "I have asked the agent not to bother you for rent until you are fully back on your feet. I own the property. Have a nice day, buddy."

CONFIRMED! Arsenal announce signing of Sanchez

Arsenal have finally confirmed the signing of Barcelona and Chile forward Alexis Sanchez on a long-term deal.


The Gunners faced stiff competition from Liverpool and Juventus to sign Sanchez but won the race for the 25-year-old and have paid a reported £33million.

Wenger told the club's official website: “As many people have seen during the World Cup this summer, Alexis is a fantastic footballer and we are delighted that he is joining us at Arsenal Football Club.

"Alexis will add power, creativity and much quality to our squad and we are all looking forward to him joining up with us in a few weeks.

"He has consistently produced top-quality performances at the highest level for a number of seasons now and we are all excited to see him integrate into the Arsenal squad. I’m sure all Arsenal supporters will join me in welcoming Alexis to our club.”

Sanchez, who spent three seasons at the Nou Camp and scored 39 goals in 88 appearances, said: “I’m so happy to be joining Arsenal, a club which has a great manager, a fantastic squad of players, huge support around the world and a great stadium in London.

"I’m looking forward to meeting my new team-mates and to be playing for Arsenal in the Premier League and Champions League. I will give my best to Arsenal and want to make all the supporters happy.”

The Chilean striker, who has scored 24 times in 74 appearances for his nation, will join up with the squad at the end of July, after spending some time on holiday following the World Cup.

Sanchez is expected to make his debut for the Gunners at the Emirates Cup, which takes place on August 2 and 3.

Newcastle right-back Mathieu Debuchy is also expected to move to the Emirates in the coming days for a fee of £11m and as the replacement for Bacary Sagna, who joined Manchester City last month on a free transfer.

She's A Stranger!!!

She's a stranger!!!
Here is the story of how so close they were to how far they drifted.
He can't seem to find the right words to say

So he's here trying to figure out what went wrong
And it's too late for talking now, anyway
There's no one to blame, it's just not the same
And it's never gonna be the same again, She is indeed a stranger.

Where does the feeling go when the feeling's gone?
He's got to let go of someone he loved so long. But to love he shall continue

He shall forgive and give as if it were last opportunity. Love like there's no tomorrow, and if tomorrow comes, he'll love again.

Live, love, learn. Life goes on

Before you marry...

A friend shared this with me and I think you need to read this well.

The rate at which marriages collapse now is assuming a social status symbol in our society.
In no-time, people will be throwing divorce parties and invite friends and well-wishers to celebrate their divorce anniversaries;
they will choose aso-ebi, hire a hall and popular musicians & what have you.

Even a question like
"So when are you getting divorced?"
will become common.
If you know you can't handle the weight & pressures of marriage, please remain single. If you don't know what marriage is all about, please remain single until you do.

If you are getting married because of the things you desire or hope to gain from the other person please remain single.

If you know you can't be faithful, remain single.
If you can't endure insults from one another, please remain single.
If you can't forgive one another's wrongs, please remain single.
If you can't place your spouse above every other human being, please remain single! Don't get married out of desperation.
"All my friends are getting married"
is the most foolish reason to get married! And also Sexual Urge & Infatuation.

If you desire a successful home, but your choice of friends are forces not to reckon with, think again.
Be very mindful of where you go for advices, Many would give,
but not many mean well!
Guys,

if you know you can't put your wife ahead of your ego, please remain single till you're mature. Your wife is your priority and EVERYTHING else including you, comes last. You are d teacher, the guide, the bodyguard, the role model - you are not a deity or God.
So do not expect to be worshiped.
You need respect,
earn it by being responsible!

Ladies, if you know you can't be submissive
please don't go into marriage so you're not turned to a punching bag!
If you know you can't stand being corrected,
pls remain single.
Mr/Mrs I know it all!!!

Ladies check your domestic scorecard
- if your score is "zero",
please stay in your parents' house!
People,
please make your marriages work.

It doesn't matter if you are Married or Not. Marry for love, marry your friend,
but most importantly, put God 1st....

ASK!!!

A young man had a flat tire somewhere
out in the countryside.

He opened his trunk and looked for his
jack... but it wasn't there.

"Hum, now what do I do," he thought.

Since he was stranded on a small
country road on a hot summer day, he
doubted anyone would drive by to help.
Seeing the spire of a church in the
distance, he decided to walk to the
nearest village and borrow a jack. It
was a long way, and the day was very
hot. On the way he thought, "I hope
someone in that town has a jack they can
lend me."

He walked some more, sweating
profusely, and then thought, "I know
what the people around here are like.
They don't take kindly to strangers."

He walked a little further, thinking,
"Since they don't know me, I really
don't think anyone is going to lend me a
jack."

And so he continued walking and
imagining the worst possible outcome to
his predicament... No one in the town
would be willing to lend him a jack,
people would be so suspicious they'd
even refuse to sell him one, and so on.

By the time he got to the village he
was so upset he went to the square in
the middle of town and started shouting,
"All right, since that's the way you
feel, you can keep your damn jack!"


How often have you invented all kinds
of seemingly insurmountable obstacles
and unfounded fears? Think about it like
"EmmyG, how many times have you not
asked for something because you were
afraid to be refused?"

WHAT ARE MASTERS FOR?

"Tell me Master, what are masters
for?" asked a young monk in all his
juvenile candor.

Father D'Evry smiled and replied,
"Well, they're for nothing at all. They
teach you what you already know, and
show you what you have already seen."

These words filled the disciple with
confusion. He thought intensely,
eyebrows furrowed, and then asked, "But
Master, how does that help me? How can
I learn from what I already know? Are
you saying that a Master is useless to
his disciple, and that I should be my
own guide?"

"Well, not exactly," Father D'Evry
replied. "Consider this example: have
you ever been captivated by a painting?"

"Yes, I have," the young monk said.
"I remember one painting that used to
hang over the altar in my church at
home. It was of a magnificent sunset,
painted by a famous Italian artist, I
forget his name now..."

"And what did you find so interesting
about the painting?" the Father asked.

"I don't know... the details, the
colors, the overall impression it
gave. It was like having a model of a
sunset right there in front of me."

"But haven't you ever seen a sunset
before?"

"Yes, of course, but they were not as
real."


We often don't understand the value
of having a guide or master, and resist
accepting that someone knows more than
we do.

And yet, guides and masters are more
intelligent and more gifted than we
are. They are more complete, and their
purpose is to awaken us.

In this text the artist, through his
painting, taught the young monk how to
really see a sunset, by attracting his
attention to what was essential. Of
course the painting was a reproduction,
but to the young monk it was more real
than reality, than what he saw (or
didn't see) with his own eyes. A
master, and not his teaching, brings to
light what we already know.

MY FUNNY BUT BELOVED COUNTRY

Where our mothers use ice cream bowls to store
pepper in the fridge
• Where ladies don't accept flowers for valentine
or birthday.

• Where lizard go look ur eyeball, nod hin head say "notin dey happen guy"

• Where a blind beggar will reject a fake naira
note.

• Where Groundnuts are sold in BOTTLES and
WATER sold in SACHETS.

• Where parents claim they were always first position in school.

• Where You Can Be A Driver For Years Without A
'DRIVER's LICENCE'

• Where government officials don't know the
national anthem.

•Where Gala and Lacasera are d best options wen stuck in traffic.

• Where you are jailed for stealing Maggi and
given a chieftancy title for stealing millions.

• Where we fight for everything. To gain admission
to university, to get a job and worse still to enter
a bus!
• Where u are robbed of your phone and the
robbers come back for ur Pin code n charger.

• Where ur type of GENERATOR shows how RICH
you are.

• Where you can easily blame your family
members in the village for your problems.
• Where rich men must have pot belly.

• WHERE IF U DO ANYHOW U GO SEE ANYHOW.

• Where generator is a social amenity.

• Where people dey collect change for beggar
hand.

• Where igbo men produce Toyota camry jeans and Dr'dre slippers

Do you know this Country?

Brazil drops out of the world cup in shreds

Germany tore  Brazil apart, in pieces,  in shreds , any language that has to do with destroy with a  7-1 victory.....lol... In the first half Brazil’s dreams of a sixth title on home soil clearly appeared to be gone after goals from Thomas Mueller, a Toni Kroos’ double, Sami Khedira and the World Cup ‘s new all-time record scorer Miroslav Klose. By the second half of the game Schürrle scored two more goals at the 69′79‘ while Brazil’s Oscar hit the net 90′.

Sorry Neymar....

Which team do you tip to win this World Cup?

About The Match Last Night...

This football match was supposed to be a cracker, difficult and suspense-filled. In fact, I shared with my friends that the match will probably proceed into extra-time or end one-nil to either side. Alas, I was wrong! Loosing is part of the game. Loosing is a side of life but measures can be taken to avoid a sorrowful loss if you must loose at all. Its called PREPARATION. The executive of the future will be rated by his ability to anticipate his problems rather than to meet them as they come. You can only claim to be surprised once, after that, you're unprepared. Life is too short to fall into ditches unnecessarily. The only thing that relieves pressure is preparation. You go have an awesome loss-free day. Good morning

Wisdom matters

Admission of ignorance is often the 1st step in our education. How can we remember our ignorance which our growth requires, when we are using our knowledge all the time. Knowledge as the Holy Bible puts it, is the principal thing and in all thy getting, get understanding. Blessed is he who knows not and knows that he knows not for he shall find knowledge but woe unto him who knows not and knows not that he knows not. He's heading for doom. Wow! Do I sound harsh today? I guess the realities of wisdom reveals itself day by day unto me yet I expect that the fire for wisdom which I've got burns in people. Experience they say is the best teacher but must we have personal experience with failure, disappointment and difficulties when there is an option for wisdom? Can I challenge you today to get understanding before taking that decision. Seek wisdom passionately and the world is yours. Do have an awesome day.

The Awesome Story of Worship

In the first family, God was looking for true worshipers.  Between Cain and Abel, he found only one.  “The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but He did not have regard for Cain and his offering.  Cain became furious...” (Gen. 4:4-5).  Driven by religious jealousy, Cain murdered his brother.  Welcome to the Story of Worship. After the flood, the Story continues with Noah’s offering.  It was the pleasing aroma of Noah’s offering (Gen. 8:20) that stirred God to extend a covenant of protection over mankind’s future. In the account of Abraham’s willing offering of Isaac, where the word “worship” is first found in the Bible (Gen. 22:5), we see how God tests worshipers to see if there is anything we place above our devotion to him.  Years later, when Abraham’s descendants had become a great multitude living in Egypt as slaves, God gave Moses the message that would eventually deliver them from slavery:  “Let my people go so that they may worship Me” (Ex. 8:1).  God was looking for worshipers. When Moses was given the 10 Commandments for the new nation of Israel, the issue of true worship was written into their law -  “No other gods…” and “no idols.”  Nothing before God - the same issue Abraham faced with Isaac - became the primary organizing principle for this new community. At Sinai (Ex. 19:3-6; 20:18-21), God wanted to ordain every Israelite as a priest, which is simply a worshiper who ministers before God.  But because of fear, they drew back from God’s presence.  God’s pursuit of a nation of worshipers was frustrated. Later, Eli, Israel’s high priest, failed the same worship test Abraham has passed.  “You have honored your sons more than Me” (1 Sam. 2:29).  His privileged position was lost and given to another. David and Solomon saw what could happen when a nation is built around the honor of God.  Under their reign, worship and prayer was brought before God 24/7 for years.  God was finding worshipers.  David wrote:  “Let the peoples praise You, God; let all the peoples praise You.  Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us. ” (Ps. 67:5-6).  And truly, that is what happened as Israel experienced her Golden Years of favor and prominence. But the great king Solomon didn’t finish well as a worshiper.  Though he had built a glorious Temple for God’s praise, and though he had written hundreds of songs (1 Kings 4:32) and even books in the Bible, his later days were filled with darkness and idolatry.  “At that time, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the detestable idol of Moab, and for Milcom, the detestable idol of the Ammonites…” (1 Kings 11:7). Specifically because of Solomon’s “worship failure,” (1 Kings 11:11-13) Israel was divided into two nations and lost her international prominence and power.  Likewise it was a worship failure that led to Israel’s being conquered by Assyria, and Judah being led into captivity by Babylon (2 Chron. 7:19-22). When the captivity was over, God miraculously put it in Cyrus’ heart to let Israel return to the land for the purpose of restoring worship (Ezra 6:3).  God was still looking for worshipers. Worship surrounded the birth of Jesus – the angels sang the Gloria, the wise men presented extravagant gifts to newborn King.  Jesus won the Samaritan woman to the kingdom with a message of his father’s search for worshipers (Jn. 4:23).  He rebuked religionists for placing traditions above God himself and for worshiping with words only (Mt. 15:6-9).  He made clear that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and physical strength.  And since worship is simply the expression of our love for God, he’s telling us that the kind of worshiper he looking for is a wholehearted one – and that nothing is more important! His atoning death and resurrection created a new community, the church, which Peter said was for the purpose of offering “sacrifices acceptable to God” (1 Pet. 2:5) and declaring praise (verse 9).  The apostle Paul explained that he preached the gospel as a priestly duty to produce greater worship -  so “that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable” (Rom. 15:16). In the end, an angel is sent from the throne of God with the eternal gospel calling the whole world to true worship (Rev. 14:6-7).  And even though a jealous God-imposter, the beast, temporarily convinces the unredeemed world to worship him (Rev. 13:8), his scam is short-lived.  Ultimately all the nations will come and worship before him (Rev. 15:4). And now it’s your turn to join in the Story and become a worshiper like Abel, Abraham, David and Paul.  For God is still looking for worshipers… in your neighborhood… in your church… in your home....and in you!

Just For Guys

At this age, questions will begin to arise, hearts yearn, rumours arise and pressures increase. Who will she be? How will she be? What must be her characteristics? "My future wife must be a perfect angel" Just for guys. Knowledge on marriage matters is not obsolete, at least, not anymore. The realization of the reality is what is unrealized. I feel for the critical analysis of guys on ladies. As selfish as we are ('cos I'm one of them), we concentrate on the qualities of the opposite sex more than ourselves. Instead of worrying about how well she must be a good mother, why not work more importantly on how a good father you should be. You can also have those good character you crave for in her. What goes around, they say, comes around. Just for guys. Bridegroom is the guy right?. Then the meaning must be a man that grooms I.e to clean and maintain appearance. Bottom line, we get so engrossed in the who the bride must be, leaving out what we must equip ourselves with to be a good brideGROOM. Why not take that decision to work more good in yourself, to be a better bridegroom? Your Awesome ineluctable "future wife" is imminent. - Awesome EmmyG