The 2019 Commonwealth Short Story Prize

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2,000–5,000 words) in English. Regional winners receive £2,500 and the overall winner receives £5,000. Translated entries are also eligible, as are stories written in the original Bengali, Chinese, Kiswahili, Malay, Portuguese, Samoan and Tamil. The competition is free to enter.

The submission window for the 2019 Commonwealth Short Story Prize is open and will close 1 November 2018. Find the 2019 rules here.

Read more and apply for the prize here.

Dunamis Media: UNDER THE CARPET (PT 1)

Dunamis Media: UNDER THE CARPET (PT 1): Morning dew arising Birds clamouring Nightingale singing melody Walking down the road Soliloquizing Enjoying the street quiet Breathing the ...

The Spirit Life Conference “Great Grace” Paul Adefarasin (House On The Rock)

The Spirit Life Conference “Great Grace” this September with Pastor Paul Adefarasin.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Wed 5th – Fri 7th, September  2018  |  5 – 8pm
Sat 8th September  2018  |  10am

SUPER CELEBRATION SERVICE

Sun  9th, September  2018  |  8am

VENUE: The Rock Cathedral (House On The Rock)
Conoil Junction, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lekki, Lagos

Free Transportation

S/N	BUS LOCATIONS	MEETING POINTS
1	FESTAC	Mile 2 Bus-stop
2	CMS	CMS BRT Bus-stop By The Ferry Jetty
3	APAPA	Wilma Bus-stop (Mobil Filling station)
4	AJEGUNLE	Total Filling Station Boundary
5	KETU OJOTA/MARYLAND	After the pedestrian bridge in front of UAC food/ After Conoil by Maryland Bus stop.
6	SURULERE	Teslim Balogun Stadium ( BRT Bus Stop)
7	SANGOTEDO	In front of Wabash Hotel
8	AWOYAYA/AJAH	Awoyaya Bustop / In front of Gtbank Beside Oando Filling Station
9	ONIKAN	MUSON Centre
10	UNILAG	M.R.S filling station Unilag main gate.
11	MEDILAG	LUTH block 4 car park
12	IKORODU	Ikorodu Garage
13	YABA TECH	Akata Frontage, beside SMBS

For Enquires: Call 07061031853.

Please note that the Buses will be available at the locations listed above on these dates:
•  Wednesday 5th – Friday 7th September 2018: boarding from 3pm and departs at 4.30pm
• Saturday 8th September 2018: boarding from 10.00am and departs at 10:45am
•  Sunday 9th September 2018 (Celebration Service): boarding from 7am and departs at 8.15am

Atmosphere Of Praise Concert with Altar Of Praise ::1st October 2018

Atmosphere Of Praise is an annual event of offering praises to God Almighty for sustaining Nigeria as a nation and for sustaining its people especially those of the household of faith in Christ Jesus.


The epic event is taking place this year on October 1st 2018 at Tessi Event Place along Ugbowo – Lagos Expressway by Mobil filling Station idumwowina opposite Winners Church, Benin City, Edo State at 1pm prompt.


The expectations are very high as a minimum of 1,500 persons from all works of life are expected to be in attendance and comfortably seated in the air-conditioned hall. Quality praise is expected from seasoned Gospel Ministers both in English and Local dialect, including saxophonist, comedians and drama artistes to minister for the lifting and salvation of souls and to turn many to Christ.


There will also be goodwill messages from special guests and partners as well as prayer sessions by Ministers of God to offer prayers for Nigeria, Leaders in places of Authority, the youth and all partners of Atmosphere of Praise.


The event promises to be very refreshing and reviving. Admittance is completely free.


Come let’s celebrate together in dancing and singing praises to the Most High God for our salvation and preservation.


A grateful heart deserves more! Don’t miss out.

What I've learned...

I’ve learned-‎
that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.
‎
I’ve learned-‎
that no matter how much I care, some people just don’t care back.‎
‎‎
I’ve learned-‎
that you should never ruin an apology with an excuse.
‎
I’ve learned-‎
that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you’d better know something.

I’ve learned-‎
that you shouldn’t compare yourself to the best others can do. (2nd Cor10:2)‎

I’ve learned-‎
that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I’ve learned-‎
that I need not struggle for what others have the grace to do....e.g Singing‎😋😋

I’ve learned-‎
that I should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I’ve learned-
that I can keep going long after I can’t.

I’ve learned-‎
that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
‎‎‎
I’ve learned-‎
Godliness with contentment is great gain
‎
I’ve learned-‎
that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I’ve learned-‎‎
that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.
‎
I’ve learned-‎
that God is good all the time but you have to be good too. ‎‎
‎
I’ve learned-‎‎
that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.
‎
I’ve learned-‎
that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you are to learn to forgive yourself.‎
‎
I’ve learned-‎
that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
‎‎
I’ve learned-‎
that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I’ve learned-
that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.
‎
I’ve learned-‎
that God is God anyway, irrespective of what you think.

I've learned-‎
that it's possible you've learned something from what I've learned

‎

ROMELU LUKAKU: I've Got Some Things to Say || Jun 18 2018

I remember the exact moment I knew we were broke. I can still picture my mum at the refrigerator and the look on her face.

I was six years old, and I came home for lunch during our break at school. My mum had the same thing on the menu every single day: Bread and milk. When you’re a kid, you don’t even think about it. But I guess that’s what we could afford.

Then this one day I came home, and I walked into the kitchen, and I saw my mum at the refrigerator with the box of milk, like normal. But this time she was mixing something in with it. She was shaking it all up, you know? I didn’t understand what was going on. Then she brought my lunch over to me, and she was smiling like everything was cool. But I realized right away what was going on.

She was mixing water in with the milk. We didn’t have enough money to make it last the whole week. We were broke. Not just poor, but broke.

My father had been a pro footballer, but he was at the end of his career and the money was all gone. The first thing to go was the cable TV. No more football. No more Match of the Day. No signal.

Then I’d come home at night and the lights would be shut off. No electricity for two, three weeks at a time.

Then I’d want to take a bath, and there would be no hot water. My mum would heat up a kettle on the stove, and I’d stand in the shower splashing the warm water on top of my head with a cup.

There were even times when my mum had to “borrow” bread from the bakery down the street. The bakers knew me and my little brother, so they’d let her take a loaf of bread on Monday and pay them back on Friday.

I knew we were struggling. But when she was mixing in water with the milk, I realized it was over, you know what I mean? This was our life.

I didn’t say a word. I didn’t want her to stress. I just ate my lunch. But I swear to God, I made a promise to myself that day. It was like somebody snapped their fingers and woke me up. I knew exactly what I had to do, and what I was going to do.

I couldn’t see my mother living like that. Nah, nah, nah. I couldn’t have that.

People in football love to talk about mental strength. Well, I’m the strongest dude you’re ever going to meet. Because I remember sitting in the dark with my brother and my mom, saying our prayers, and thinking, believing, knowing … it’s going to happen.

I kept my promise to myself for a while. But then some days I’d come home from school and find my mum crying. So I finally told her one day, “Mum, it’s gonna change. You’ll see. I’m going to play football for Anderlecht, and it’s going to happen soon. We’ll be good. You won’t have to worry anymore.”

I was six.

I asked my father, “When can you start playing professional football?”

He said, “Sixteen.”

I said, “O.K., sixteen then.”

It was going to happen. Period.

Let me tell you something — every game I ever played was a Final. When I played in the park, it was a Final. When I played during break in kindergarten, it was a Final. I’m dead-ass serious. I used to try to tear the cover off the ball every time I shot it. Full power. We weren’t hitting R1, bro. No finesse shot. I didn’t have the new FIFA. I didn’t have a Playstation. I wasn’t playing around. I was trying to kill you.

When I started growing taller, some of the teachers and the parents would be stressing me. I’ll never forget the first time I heard one of the adults say, “Hey, how old are you? What year were you born?”

I’m like, What? Are you serious?

When I was 11 years old, I was playing for the Lièrse youth team, and one of the parents from the other team literally tried to stop me from going on the pitch. He was like, “How old is this kid? Where is his I.D.? Where is he from?”

I thought, Where am I from? What? I was born in Antwerp. I’m from Belgium.

My dad wasn’t there, because he didn’t have a car to drive to my away games. I was all alone, and I had to stand up for myself. I went and got my I.D. from my bag and showed it to all the parents, and they were passing it around inspecting it, and I remember the blood just rushing through me … and I thought, “Oh, I’m gonna killyour son even more now. I was already going to kill him, but now I’m gonna destroy him. You’re gonna drive the boy home crying now.”

I wanted to be the best footballer in Belgian history. That was my goal. Not good. Not great. The best. I played with so much anger, because of a lot of things … because of the rats running around in our apartment … because I couldn’t watch the Champions League … because of how the other parents used to look at me.

I was on a mission.

When I was 12, I scored 76 goals in 34 games.

I scored them all wearing my dad’s shoes. Once our feet got to be the same size, we used to share.

One day I called up my grandfather — my mum’s dad. He was one of the most important people in my life. He was my connection back to Congo, where my mum and dad are from. So I was on the phone with him one day, and I said, “Yeah, I’m doing really well. I scored 76 goals, and we won the league. The big teams are noticing me.”

And usually, he always wanted to hear about my football. But this time it was strange. He said, “Yeah, Rom. Yeah, that’s great. But can you do me a favor?”

I said, “Yeah, what is it?”

He said, “Can you look after my daughter, please?”

I remember being so confused. Like, what’s Grandad on about?

I said, “Mum? Yeah, we’re cool. We’re O.K.”

He said, “No, promise me. Can you promise me? Just look after my daughter. Just look after her for me, O.K.?”

I said, “Yeah, Granddad. I got it. I promise you.”

Five days later he passed away. And then I understood what he really meant.

It makes me so sad to think about, because I just wish that he could have lived another four years to see me play for Anderlecht. To see that I kept my promise, you know? To see that everything was going to be O.K.

I told my mum that I would make it at 16.

I was late by 11 days.

May 24, 2009.

The playoff final. Anderlecht vs. Standard Liège.

That was the craziest day of my life. But we have to back up for a minute. Because at the start of the season, I was barely playing for the Anderlecht U-19s. The coach had me coming off the bench. I’m like, “How the hell am I going to sign a pro contract on my 16th birthday if I’m still on the bench for the U-19s?”

So I made a bet with our coach.

I told him, “I’ll guarantee you something. If you actually play me, I’m going to score 25 goals by December.”

He laughed. He literally laughed at me.

I said, “Let’s make a bet then.”

He said, “O.K., but if you don’t score 25 by December, you’re going to the bench.”

I said, “Fine, but if I win, you’re going to clean all the minivans that take the players home from training.”

He said, “O.K., it’s a deal.”

I said, “And one more thing. You have to make pancakes for us every day.”

He said, “O.K., fine.”

That was the dumbest bet that man ever made.

I had 25 by November. We were eating pancakes before Christmas, bro.

Let that be a lesson. You don’t play around with a boy who’s hungry!

I signed my pro contract with Anderlecht on my birthday, May 13. Went straight out and bought the new FIFA and a cable package. It was already the end of the season, so I was at home chilling. But the Belgian league was crazy that year, because Anderlecht and Standard Liege had finished tied on points. So there was a two-leg playoff to decide the title.

During the first leg, I’m at home watching on TV like a fan.

Then the day before the second leg, I get a phone call from the coach of the reserves.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Rom. What are you doing?”

“About to go play football in the park.”

“No, no, no, no, no. Pack your bags. Right now.”

“What? What did I do?”

“No, no, no. You need to get to the stadium right now. The first team wants you now.”

“Yo …. What?! Me?!”

“Yeah, you. Come now.”

I literally sprinted into my dad’s bedroom and was like, “Yo! Get your ass up right now! We gotta go, man!”

He’s like, “Huh? What? Go where?”

I’m like, “ANDERLECHT, MAN.”

I’ll never forget, I showed up to the stadium, and I like pretty much ran into the dressing room and the kitman said, “O.K., kid, what number do you want?”

And I said, “Give me number 10.”

The kitman said, “O.K., kid, what number do you want?” And I said, “Give me number 10.”

Hahahaha! I don’t know. I was too young to be scared I guess.

He was like, “Academy players have to take 30 and above.”

I said, “O.K., well, three plus six equals nine, and that’s a cool number, so give me 36.”

That night at the hotel, the senior players made me sing a song for them at dinner. I can’t even remember what I picked. My head was spinning.

The next morning, my friend literally knocked on the door of my house to see if I wanted to play football and my mum was like, “He’s out playing.” 

My friend said, “Playing where?”

She said, “The final.”

We got off the bus at the stadium, and every single player walked in wearing a cool suit. Except me. I came off the bus wearing a terrible tracksuit, and all the TV cameras were right in my face. The walk to the locker room was like 300 meters. Maybe a three-minute walk. As soon as I put my foot in the locker room, my phone starts blowing up. Everybody had seen me on TV. I had 25 messages in three minutes. My friends were going crazy.

“Bro?! WHY ARE YOU AT THE GAME?!”

“Rom, what is happening? WHY ARE YOU ON TV?”

The only person I texted back was my best friend. I said, “Bro, I don’t know if I’m gonna play. I don’t know what’s going on. But just keep watching the TV.”

In the 63rd minute, the manager subbed me on.

I ran out onto the field for Anderlecht at 16 years and 11 days old.

We lost the final that day, but I was already in heaven. I made good on my promise to my mother and to my grandad. That was the moment I knew we were gonna be O.K.

The next season, I was still finishing up my last year of high school and playing in the Europa League at the same time. I used to have to take a big bag to school so I could catch a flight in the afternoon. We won the league by a mile, and I finished second for African Player of the Year. It was just … crazy.

I actually expected all that to happen, but maybe not so fast. All of sudden, the media was building me up, and putting all these expectations on me. Especially with the national team. For whatever reason, I just wasn’t playing well for Belgium. It wasn’t working out.

But, yo — come on. I was 17! 18! 19!

When things were going well, I was reading newspapers articles and they were calling me Romelu Lukaku, the Belgian striker.

When things weren’t going well, they were calling me Romelu Lukaku, the Belgian striker of Congolese descent.

If you don’t like the way I play, that’s fine. But I was born here. I grew up in Antwerp, and Liège and Brussels. I dreamed of playing for Anderlecht. I dreamed of being Vincent Kompany. I’ll start a sentence in French and finish it in Dutch, and I’ll throw in some Spanish or Portuguese or Lingala, depending on what neighborhood we’re in.

I’m Belgian.

We’re all Belgian. That’s what makes this country cool, right?

I don’t know why some people in my own country want to see me fail. I really don’t. When I went to Chelsea and I wasn’t playing, I heard them laughing at me. When I got loaned out to West Brom, I heard them laughing at me.

But it’s cool. Those people weren’t with me when we were pouring water in our cereal. If you weren’t with me when I had nothing, then you can’t really understand me.

You know what’s funny? I missed 10 yearsof Champions League football when I was a kid. We never could afford it. I would come into school and all the kids would be talking about the final, and I’d have no idea what happened. I remember back in 2002, when Madrid played Leverkusen, everybody was like, “The volley! Oh my God, the volley!”

I had to pretend like I knew what they were talking about.

Two weeks later, we were sitting in computer class, and one of my friends downloaded the video off the Internet, and I finally saw Zidane smash it into the top corner with his left.

That summer, I went over to his house so I could watch Ronaldo Fenomeno in the World Cup Final. Everything else from that tournament is just a story I heard from the kids at school.

Ha! I remember I had holes in my shoes in 2002. Big holes.

Twelve years later, I was playing in the World Cup.

Now I’m about to play in another World Cup, and you know what? I’m going to remember to have fun this time. Life is too short for the stress and the drama. People can say whatever they want about our team, and about me.

Man, listen — when we were kids, we couldn’t even afford to watch Thierry Henry on Match of the Day! Now I’m learning from him every day with the national team. I’m standing with the legend, in the flesh, and he’s telling me all about how to run into space like he used to do. Thierry might be the only guy in the world who watches more football than me. We debate everything. We’re sitting around and having debates about German second division football.

I’m like, “Thierry, have you seen theFortuna Düsseldorf setup, though?”

He’s like, “Don’t be silly. Yes, of course.”

That’s the coolest thing in the world, to me.

I just really, really wish my grandad was around to witness this.

I’m not talking about the Premier League.

Not Manchester United.

Not the Champions League.

Not the World Cups.

That’s not what I mean. I just wish he was around to see the life we have now. I wish I could have one more phone call with him, and I could let him know …

“See? I told you. Your daughter is OK. No more rats in the apartment. No more sleeping on the floor. No more stress. We’re good now. We’re good …

… They don’t have to check the I.D. any more. They know our name.”


Romelu Lukaku
BELGIUM
Source : The Players Tribune

ARYA STARK; If She can, You can

- AYOOLUWA OYELERE

This is Maisie Williams a.k.a Arya Stark 7 years ago when she started featuring in our darling Game of Thrones. She looked quite young even though she was around 14. Young as she was, she was very smart and quick-witted.

 Seven years ago when she started, she was in her very early teens and seven years after, she's in her early twenties. In between the seven years ago and seven years after is stardom, several awards, fame, recognition, money and lots of prospects.
But also, in between these seven years were sacrifices, hundred of scripts, locations upon locations in odd places, missed fun times and holidays. Then, inconvenient orders from perfectionist movie directors, to mention just a few.

So many things to learn for the life of a child star, one of which is the fact that the purpose of every child is in him and written all over his face in large letters. Plus, many a time, children come with requisite infrastructures for the fulfilment those innate purposes. Every child wears his assignment like his skin, it's almost undeniably clear to everyone whose eyes can see. Whether or not he or she would fulfil those assignments is a question of parenting. Parenting is such an enormous task with many a heavy responsibility attached, one of which is need to; recognize and train up a child in the way he should go. If a child is meant to go in the way of theatre, he must never be made to go in the way of medicine, lest he becomes a mediocre doctor.

If he's forced or misled to go Hippocratic when he's meant to go thespian or Shakespearean, he'd very likely spend the rest of his life playing catch up; trying to relive his dreams at 16 now that he's 36

I believe children like Arya got lucky to have had parents and custodians who knew enough to help then find their paths very early in life.

But, you being on your path doesn't mean that your road will not be rough. Even when you are operating in your natural habitat like a fish in the ocean, it is not uncommon of you to face hard times and encounter plenty of troubles.

Maisie got the Arya role after 299 other applicants were screened out. So even in your strength and assignment, you must strive to be the fittest, else you'd lose out on survival.

Assuming you didn't have the opportunity of finding and following your path at all or early in life, now as a parent, a leader and a custodian of younger lives, make it one of your purposes in life to help them find out theirs very early in life.

If we must get there in time, we must set forth at dawn.

See you @ work.

A Cry For Help -Dr. John Njoroge

Vincenzo Ricardo. If that name does not mean much to you, you are not alone. It does not seem to have meant much to anyone else except, perhaps, him who bore it. In fact it was not even his name. His real name was Vincenzo Riccardi, and nobody seemed to get it right after the sensational discovery of his mummified body in Southampton, New York. He had been dead for thirteen months, but his television was still on, and his body was propped up in a chair in front of it. The television was his only companion, and though it had much to tell him, it did not care whether he lived or died.

Riccardi’s story raises many unsettling questions. How can a human being vanish for over a year and not be missed by anyone? Where was his family? What about his relatives? Why was the power still on in his house? Whatever the answers are to these and other questions, one thing is clear: Riccardi was a lonely individual whose life can be summed up in one word, alienation.

You see, Riccardi was blind, so he never really watched television; he needed this virtual reality to feed his need for real companionship. Moreover, his violent outbursts and paranoid behavior may have played a role in driving people away from him.

This is indeed a tragic and extreme tale, but it makes a powerful statement about how cold and lonely life can be for many across the globe. Even those who seem to have it all are not immune to the pangs of loneliness and alienation. The Christian story attests that alienation affects us at three different levels. We are alienated from ourselves, from others, and most significantly, we are alienated from God. That is the reality in which we exist. The restoration process involves all three dimensions, but it begins with a proper relationship with God. We cannot get along with ourselves or with others until we are properly related to God. The good news of the Christian gospel is that abundant restoration is available to all who want it.

This process is well illustrated in an encounter Jesus had with another deeply wounded man who lived in a cemetery (see Mark 5: 1-20). Relatives, and perhaps friends, had tried unsuccessfully to bind him with iron chains to keep him home. He preferred to live among the tombs (alienation from others), cutting himself with stones, his identity concealed in his new name: “Legion” (alienation from self). His mind and body were hopelessly enslaved by Satan’s agents, and his life was no longer his own (alienation from God). It took an encounter with Jesus for the man to be fully restored, “dressed and in his right mind” (verse 15). Only then could he follow Jesus’s command to go back to his family and tell them what God had done for him.

The restoration process remains the same today. Until we are properly related to God, our true identity and potential will always elude us. No virtual reality or gadget can even begin to address the problem, for they only give back to us what we have put into them. They are like the message in a bottle which a castaway on a remote island excitedly received, only to realize that it was a cry for help that he himself had sent out months before. As Augustine prayed, “You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You.” We are finite creatures, created for a relationship with an Infinite Being, and no finite substitute can ever meet our deepest needs. Trying to meet our real needs without Christ is like trying to satisfy our thirst with salty water: the more we drink, the thirstier we become. This is a sure path to various sorts of addictions.

But when we turn toward the Bread of Life who offers himself up, calling each one of us to the table by name, loneliness is countered with the hope of embrace. We become members of God’s extended family. With Abraham, we look “forward to the city with foundations whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Day by day, we learn to trust God as we travel with others along a heavily trodden path that never disappoints. Friends and relatives may desert us, but we are never alone. We may grieve and lament, but never like those without hope. We have peace and joy within, and even in our own hour of need, others can still find their way to God through us. The alternative is a crippling sense of isolation and alienation within a worldly system whose offerings, however sophisticated and well-intentioned, can never arouse us from spiritual death.
-RZIM

PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION || Isaac Olawole JOSEPH | @aizikjoseph

This is deliberate! 

You are your own architect and the design of your life is dependent on the mental picture you can foresee. Nobody would fuel your dreams. Your choices determine how sustainable and greenery your life would be. If you are poor, it is your poor choice. If you are rich, it is your rich choice. Every man is a product of his decisions.

Personal transformation is a pathway to endless opportunities. How much you invest in yourself is a predictor of how much people would be willing to invest in you. Many a man has good intentions but good intentions are not good enough until they are being acted out. Every transformation comes with a price. But not every man is willing to pay such a price. 

Transformation could be positive or negative. A man can never be empty. Hence, he is either progressing or retrogressing. Whichever position he chooses to stay, he is his own best adviser. Talking the talk is obviously different from walking the walk! Thus, every man is responsible for his choices. Success is never accidental, it is intentional.

A man can undergo positive transformation by feeding on the right content. The inner virtues of a man dictate his outward dispositions. There is no explanation for ignorance. It is garbage in, garbage out! For every right input, there is always a corresponding right output and otherwise. You have to be mindful of the kind of information you allow into your mind. The human mind is like a processor that can be corrupted. You have to be alert.

John Maxwell said, “Most people are married mentally to the status quo. They want what was, not what can be”.  For every unique transformation, there is a conscious reflective mindset to make things happen. You have to be deliberate about making a change. Real men challenge what is in existence and call into existence what never existed.

Personal transformation is sustainable when there is utmost discipline. You have to be conscious of it until it becomes a part of you. Transformation could be lost if a wrong turn is taken. It is possible for a man to be running so fast and comfortably in the wrong direction. It is not enough having a direction to turn to, you must have a destination.

Finally, be observant and consciously learn from other peoples’ endeavours. Nothing just happens. 

Always seek to make amends when you need to. Take heed to instructions as experience might be expensive. 

Personal transformation is simply re-branding oneself.

Be Intentional! 

Isaac Olawole JOSEPH

Innoventor, Vision52 Initiative

The Old Picture || Olurotimi Emmanuel-Agbeja

Recently I went to my parents' house and during one of our discussions, I found myself fondling with my mum's phone. When I went to her WhatsApp chat, I found my profile photo there is the one I had over a month ago because the last time she came online and we chatted was sometime in March. Then, I thought: the only memory of you in the minds of some people is your past!

Many persons have no idea how you have moved on with life, how you managed some life-threatening situations, how you got your healing, how you became a better person, how you acquired a new skill, how you improved, how you got you got your miracle, how your life has changed!

So?

So when people speak of you, don't be surprised if they got it wrong, don't be surprised all they have are old info...since they chose not to update the app called "you" in their minds, leave them to struggle with the shocking realities they see with their own eyes.

While they still see the larva, turn into the beautiful butterfly and leave them astounded!

In the same vein, as rightly contributed by my friend, you should also be careful of making conclusions about people when all you have is as old and outdated piece of info!
 In fact no one has all the info, so, we all have no right to make conclusions about people.

#StayMotivated.

Olurotimi Chris Emmanuel-Agbeja

Music Download: Graceful George - I Believe || @georgennad

Graceful George releases a New Testament song - 'I Believe' that speaks volume of his reality in Christ. 

The groovy single will get you jumping in awesomeness of what Christ has done; also guaranteed to get your soul enriched.

Graceful George (Onyedikachukwu George Nnadozie) is a multi-talented Nigerian Gospel recording artist and songwriter. 

He is also an author, graphics/web designer and passionate preacher of the Gospel. He founded George’s Diary, an online media outlet through which he preaches the Gospel and House of Vasileia - a non-denominational Christian ministry committed to bringing forth the KING in everyone. 

Produced by StanSteel.

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Connect:
Facebook: georgeonnadozie
Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud: georgennad
YouTube: youtube.com/c/georgesdiaryng 

Website: www.georgesdiary.com.ng

My President Says I’m Lazy

BY VICTOR TERHEMBA

I am a young man under 30, I struggle every day just to get by. Every day, I work hard using my intellectual ability and skill to make a living legitimately, toiling under the unbearable and harsh conditions of my country, yet my president says I’m lazy and want everything free.

I take care of my bills pay house rent, pay tax and settle extended responsibilities. I do for myself what my government is supposed to do for me but has failed to do, yet my president says I’m lazy and want everything free.

I Am not registered at a gym but my biceps are not lacking healthy muscles, because I exercise them every night (and almost every other time) when I have to draw my generator just to have light, yet my president says I’m lazy and want everything free.

When I’m sick I’m treated at the local hospital where I risk being injected with overdose or with the wrong medicine by the nurse, but when my president has a headache, he travels to London to buy panadol, yet he says I’m lazy and want everything free.

My brother wakes up every morning at 4:30 to set out for his office in Ikoyi and returns back home 10pm at night, yet my president says he is lazy and wants everything free.

While I sit tight in a Lagos traffic, trying to block out the cacophony of blaring horns from other motorists, I see young people hawking variables- sometimes under the unfriendly sun and sometimes in the dead of the night, yet my president says these people are lazy and want everything free.

Every year, thousands of youth struggle to graduate from the University, the females one who were unlucky get sexually harassed by male lectures but they finally pull through, then they are sent to strange lands to serve the country, when they’re done, the big government official tells them to go and be self employed so that they can create job opportunities for others, yet my president says we are lazy and want everything free.

My heart bleeds for those young Nigerian entrepreneurs who cannot get access to soft loans because they are not connected to a big man in government, but my President believes they are lazy and want everything free.

Qualified young Nigerians cannot be employed in the CBN or NNPC or NIMASA because they are not sons and relatives of governors, senators or ministers, yet my president says they are lazy and want free things.

I feel sorry for those young Nigerian inventors who have been going to the ministry of science and technology to present their life-changing inventions to the big man in office but can’t because the big government man is either out of office, or he is busy, or he has travelled, and when he finally sees them, he tells to come back tomorrow… tomorrow that ends. I feel sorry for them because my president believes they lazy and want everything free.

The senators in my country earn a lump sum of N14.250 million (minus other allowances) every month. They sat down in their “hallowed” chambers, unperturbed, and watched how some armless youths strolled into the senate, seized the mace and walked out unchallenged, yet my president says it is me that is lazy and wants everything free.

I am not a minister, I don’t collect estacodes for travelling to nowhere in particular and for doing nothing, yet my president says I’m lazy and want everything free.

My president said he was going to fight corruption to a standstill, but my president harbors corrupt people in his circle and in some, cases rewarded them. My president said he was going to build a prosperous and vibrant economy for us, yet our economy has fallen deeper but he blames it on the past government. My president said he was going to create three million jobs yearly, in under three years, over 7 million Nigerians have lost their jobs. My president said he is now a reformed democrat but severally my president has displayed a flagrant disregard for the rule of law. Yet my president says I am lazy and want everything free.

My president is the 75 years old Muhammadu Buhari of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

As an African that respect for elders has been ingrained our culture, I cannot argue with elders. I’m not interested in proving to the president that I am not lazy, I will save all the energy so that in 2019 I can have enough strength to go to my polling unit, wait patiently in line, get the ballot paper and vote out my president. #MyPVCmyPower

Source-The Cable

HE PROPOSED BUT SHE GAVE HIM A STINGING SLAP!

It was as me, myself and I sat for 'our' meal at the restaurant it all happened. Two tables to mine, a well decorated candle-lit table, a man and woman were having dinner. He stood up, got the attention of eveyone.

Man: Baby, I love you, would you please marry me?
Woman: (stands up and lands a stinging slap on his face)

I have waited more than 9yrs, I have prayed, fasted, sowed seeds, bought books and listened to tapes, even went out of my way to be nice to every male specie of marriageable age!

I took up new hobbies, watching football and play station. I went to Day star, from Day star, I went to House on the Rock, from House on the rock, I went to Guiding Light Assembly, from there I went to This Present Winners looking every where for you l went from a size 14 to a size 10, so that when you see me you’d love what you see.
I left Lagos, went to Abuja, from Abuja I went to Port-Harcourt, then I went all the way to Kano.

I joined hi-five, from hi-five to Facebook, then I went to twitter, I even had a blog on which I ranted, hoping you would show up! for where? I uploaded only my best pictures on Instagram, in fact I took photo sessions to look my best, all for you o! I attended all the weddings, whether the invitation was direct or indirect! The next place I was hoping to check was the moon, before you crawled out, crawled out from the house directly next to mine!

So it was you all this while?
The neighbor I said hello to every morning?
Were you trying to destroy my faith?
You almost rendered my prayer life useless?
What were you waiting for?
What sign were you looking for?
Do you want to kill me before you reveal yourself?!!!

Now be a gentleman, get down on your knees and put that rock on my finger!! ...

WILL IT FLY? -Emmanuel

Human nature does not allow a state of absolute conviction. At least not without a lot of effort. That we have second thoughts about our decisions make the task of decision making even more daunting. Some of us for this reason suffer analysis paralysis - analysis after analysis yet no action.

Will it fly or will it not fly? What if it doesn't work? What if it's the wrong step? The list of questions that leave us feeling handicapped is endless.

Nobody likes to fail hence we sometimes refuse to act. Flip the coin, ask more of the reinforcing question - What if it works? What if it flies? What if it becomes hit? And having done your due diligence, make up your mind.

There are more failures of the kind who never tried at all than those who attempted and failed. The latter gained experience, the former lost time.

The best way to live life is to - Go on and spread your wings, who knows if you might just fly. -Emmanuel Olawale

Crushed by Info - JayMikee

Mini-me series 43

We have gotten to the era where information is flying around way faster than any other element. Different writers have emerged with different ideologies and theories about how best to make it in life, how to be successful, how to make millions in the labor market, how to rise above others in wealth, how to invest and save and grow your cash, its endless.

And then we have several other writers who have come up with different kinds of interpretations of the scripture. They introduce the “Modern Day Christianity”, a very attractive package, forcefully widening the Christian road.

My advice?

As much as information is good, BE VERY CAREFUL of the books you read, the articles, the audio messages you take in. Keep in mind that we are now in the end time where the rate of distractions is on the rise.

The devil is extremely busy, pouring out all kinds of messages as seeds to sway our focus and choke the gospel out of us. Strike a balance between THE BIBLE and OTHER BOOKS. The bible must take the most importance spot. Let the Holy spirit give you fresh directions, interpretations, revelations from it.
Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
-Joshua Mike bamiloye

Tim Godfrey Unveils Soundcheck! A Reality TV Show

10 Million Naira Worth Of Recording Contract & More For Grab As Tim Godfrey Uneveils Soundcheck!

A Reality TV Show The Rox Nation, under the able leadership of Multiple award winning Producer, singer, songwriter, Tim Godfrey, has announced a revolutionary talent discovery and development project called SOUNDCHECK. Rox Nation, an entertainment production company that has produced landmark projects like Fearless, Ewuro, The Journey Begins, etc is poised to change the face of reality shows with the aim of discovering, developing and showcasing singers and rappers out of Nigeria. .

 Soundcheck, a Tv reality show seeks to give a global platform to talented individuals musically. . It aims to discover raw music talents and provides a sustainable Launchpad for the ones who stand out among them, thus grooming them to relevance. . SoundCheck, which commences in the month of March 2018 and span for a total of 4 weeks will provide opportunities for contestants to develop their abilities in the area of song writing, vocal dexterity and stage performance management.

The training process in this show will be beneficial not just to the contestants alone but also the viewers at home who will be part of the show throughout its lifecycle. .

How to Participate
 Intending participants are to do a short 30 seconds video of them doing their craft, the video is to be posted on Instagram and @timgodfreyworld and @soundcheckafrica tagged. This video will be reposted on the @timgodfreyworld page and shortlisted contestants will cross to the next stage which will be the live auditioning, the shortlisting process will continue till a 30 man team of successful contestants be selected to come into the house for proper grooming and training by Tim Godfrey and other Music coaches (Faculty Team), at the end of the show, one winner emerges .

 Prizes up for Grabs
The winner of the first edition of SoundCheck will walk away with a recording contract with Rox Nation worth 10 million naira, the opportunity to perform at Fearless 2018, a cash price, Video shoot, and also be a part of Fearless Tour 2018/2019. The 1st and 2nd Runners-Up will get a recording contract, a video shoot and promotions. .

Soundcheck is open to all genres of music (please note that any song with vulgarity or any form of indecent lyrics will be automatically disqualified). . Guest celebrity judges will be coming to the house at every point in time to mentor the contestants as well as share ideas from their wealth of experience. . Auditions, Trainings and Live Shows will be aired on TV stations in Nigeria, (Terrestrial & Cable Networks) and also online. .

Be a part of a new generation of well-groomed talents, be a part of SOUNDCHECK, a Tim Godfrey Production proudly brought to you by ROX Nation, and supported by Platinum cruise Motors, Azusa Productions and SwiftThink Limited. For more information please visit www.timgodfreyworldwide.com/soundcheck

Be A Doer

Be A Doer

LIFE LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED

I’ve learned-

that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.

I’ve learned-

that no matter how much I care, some people just don’t care back.

I’ve learned-

that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.

I’ve learned-

that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I’ve learned-

that it’s not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.

I’ve learned-

that you should never ruin an apology with an excuse.

I’ve learned-

that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you’d better know something.

I’ve learned-

that you shouldn’t compare yourself to the best others can do.

I’ve learned-

that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I’ve learned-‎

that I need not struggle for what others have the grace to do....e.g Singing‎😋😋

I’ve learned-

that it’s taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I’ve learned-

that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I’ve learned-

that you can keep going long after you can’t.

I’ve learned-‎

that Godliness with contentment is great gain

I’ve learned-

that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I’ve learned-‎

that God is good all the time but you have to be good too. ‎‎


I’ve learned-

that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I’ve learned-

that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

I’ve learned-

that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I’ve learned-

that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I’ve learned-

that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I’ve learned-

that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up.

I’ve learned-

that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.

I’ve learned-

that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I’ve learned-

that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.

I’ve learned-

that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.

I’ve learned-

that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.

I’ve learned-

that your family won’t always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren’t related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren’t biological.

I’ve learned-

that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you are to learn to forgive yourself.

I’ve learned-

that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief.

I’ve learned-

that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I’ve learned-

that a rich person is not the one who has the most, but is one who needs the least.

I’ve learned-

that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other. And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.

I’ve learned-

that we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I’ve learned-

that you shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I’ve learned-

that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I’ve learned-

that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process.

I’ve learned-

that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I’ve learned-

that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I’ve learned-

that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I’ve learned-

that it’s hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people’s feelings, and standing up for what you believe.

I’ve learned-

that people will forget what you said, and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

I’ve learned-‎

that God is God anyway, irrespective of what you think.

I've learned-‎

that it's possible you've learned something from what I've learned

Happy Weekend!‎

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