CONFUSED BY WHAT RELIGION HAS BECOME

From the mind of a struggling Christian... 

Before you read this, please note that I realise that there is a thin line between blasphemy and complete expression when it comes to Christianity and religion generally, but I’m still going to say this. These are thoughts I have had in my head for a long time, but finally found the words to express them through the inspiration I found from someone else’s Facebook post.

A few years ago, events unfolded that led me to doubt my faith. My faith in everything wavered; faith in God, faith in humanity and worse, faith in myself. It took a while, but I finally found my way back – at least I think so.
As it so often happens with many people, my doubts began with a personal tragedy which created myriads of questions in my head – but no answers were forthcoming.

The Bible is filled with promises, many of them conditional; but preachers of our day have not helped in proper clarification of these promises. Psalm 91 mentions something about God sending angels to keep us from “hitting our legs in stones”, and preachers want us to know that very much, but they ignore the most important part of the Bible that states that the ways of God and the ways of men are not the same (meaning what is a stone to us is no stone to God).

In telling the story of the good Samaritan, Jesus never mentioned if the man believed in God or not, he didn’t even speak of religion – but he somehow chose the story of a man who probably had no faith whatsoever to teach us who a proper Christian should be. In fact, earlier in that chapter (Luke 10) he explained to a lawyer how knowing the law is a good practice, but that is not all there is to salvation, being good people to each other is equally important. But what good are you if all the good you do is done with a mind of expectation of some form of reward for your efforts, this is not the life that Jesus preached.

Divides were put in place by humanity for reasons we ourselves do not even understand. Our Christian faith for one has so many divisions, all claiming to preach variations of the same message. I remember my secondary school days when we’d attend fellowship on Sunday with the Pentecostal congregation (before Catholic students had a separate fellowship), it was always an enjoyable time (the singing and dancing that is) until Coach began to preach (he almost always does the preaching). I remember him ruining almost every service for me because of his attacks on the Catholic faith – and we are all Christians

Some of the best behaved people I met in boarding house those days were Muslims while there were those among us who exhibited behaviours that came arguably straight from hell, but were accepted Christians. And it is not uncommon to see Christians (even educated ones) talk about Islam and Muslims like they are all evil people who need to be done away with.
In finding my faith in God again, the words of NO PREACHER helped me, I rather convinced myself that I could never understand the words and ways of God, but I can try to be a good person and that’s all that matters. After all, Jesus did say that love is the greatest commandment of all. But the selfishness of everyone in the world today will make whoever we each worship extremely disappointed.

All hope is not lost however – at least that’s what I think. The words of a preacher who was never ordained (nor do I think he will ever be) teaches me that donating millions to my church while my neighbour starves is not Christian living, blessing my already wealthy pastor while my neighbour’s son cannot afford his school fees is not Christ – like and pursuing heaven based on following some set of rules doggedly while shredding the humanity that makes us who we are is improper.
Now that I think of it, I don’t think I’ve found my faith, or ever will – but I’ve resolved to foster a better world from my corner of it and try to find my faith in humanity – because that is where God says He’ll be found .

ADD THIS TO THE LIST OF THINGS TO STOP FOREVER

This is about to get really long, but it might be worth the read.
Growing up in the midst of so many Yoruba people with their customs and inexplicable behaviour meant so many things – one of which is repeated sensationalism.
An example of it hit me again yesterday when a lecturer of the Federal University of Technology Akure (whose name I do not know or care to mention if I did) came to do some business with us and was attended to by my uncle and I. Somehow I zoned out and by the time I returned to their realm he was saying something about a pastor who claimed he used to be an agent of evil and he helped give power to so many famous “men of God” both living and dead.
According to the lecturer, this fact was the reason why he doesn’t go to church, because he thinks most pastors get power from the devil.
This raised so many arguments inside my head, but I managed to let something out in form of a question; “who are these pastors?” I asked.
Of course the list started with Pastor T.B Joshua (the most demonized pastor in the world), and it went on to include several other preachers within and around Akure.
Before I air my views, I have no reason whatsoever to agree that any of these pastors were truly called by God, neither do I have plenty of substantial reason to argue the opposite.
My view however, is that this is just a means of making unearned money by the so – called converted pastor. This is not the first or second or fifth time someone has come out to claim that they are the source of “power” these pastors have been tapping from. Each of those times have been from CDs sold by these men and women who claimed to be gods in the past but are now pastors of God himself. This is not even then sad part.
The saddest and most annoying part of it is what I know. What I know is this, fast forward to 10 months from now, for example, someone else will come out and claim these same statements again and people will rally behind them and buy their CDs and books or whatever, attend crusades and so on. But they will all be lies.
I am a believer of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, but I believe there are smarter ways to protect your faith than to bastardise that of others.
More importantly, there are easier ways to make money than to engage in blasphemy.
And dear Yoruba people, there are simpler ways to waste money than buying lies over and over again.
P.S this can happen within any tribe, but I’ve seen it happen too many times with my people to stay quiet.

3 THINGS TO LEAVE BEHIND IN 2015

These are literally the final moments of what has been an interesting year. 2015 has come and it is about to go in a hurry. We all fought battles this year, won most of them, lost some – but in all we were never alone; these final moments should be the time to thank those who fought out battles with us last year – because we’ll need them on the new battlefield that is 2016. 

As the new year approaches too, we can identify so many things that happened last year, which to be quite frank, are not good enough. These things happen both personally and nationally (we’ll talk about the national aspect).
Listening to the President during the media chat yesterday sent me a whole lot of vibes, many good, many others not – so – good. Bottom line though is that as a country, we need to drop so many things in 2015.

1. Sensationalism 

The GCFR mentioned this in one of his answers yesterday. Nigerians are very quick to “sympathize” with just about anyone who claims to have a fight with the government – and this should not be so. Our country is going through hard times and as such, the government needs our support prayers now more than ever.
This Biafra brouhaha in itself is very bad for everyone, but it is made worse by the number of youths who are (permit me to say blindly) raising their arms in vandalism to prove a point they are not even sure of. This fight and others like it need to stop because in a country as big as Nigeria, different sets people will ALWAYS feel marginalized – we don’t need to make a war out of it.

2. Ungratefulness

Someone once said that even if Jesus were to personally come and fix Nigeria, some people would still accuse him of having sinister motives. That person is not far from the truth. Nigerians can be just about anyone but what do we choose to be, ungrateful. This country has a very uninteresting culture of not being able to appreciate good deeds, instead we will find one reason or another to justify out ungratefulness, please friends, let us drop this attitude in 2015. Every form of ungratefulness we show to friends, family and anyone else is wrong and should be dropped. Thank you.

3. Selfish, self – serving attitude

This annoying attitude of ours was brought to the fore more than ever during the Paris bombing last month. People, it is ok to sympathize with other people. No additions or conditions, anything else is selfishness. We live in a country where a Yoruba or Igbo man/woman can open their mouths to say” thank God they are killing their own people” when they get the news of another boko haram attack, yet we call ourselves a nation.
If we cannot show sympathy to our fellow countrymen what charity is there for us to leave home with. Enough is enough.
Let us please drop these attitudes and doings this year and watch our nation go higher in 2016. Have a blessed New Year and pray for Nigeria and the world.

READING THIS MAY HELP YOUR RESOLUTION WORK OUT THIS TIME

One of the major reasons why this season is so much loved by everyone is the multiple celebrations that take place, all of them just one week apart.

The problem however seems to be the days between which you don’t know what name to call them or what to spend your time on – luckily its almost over.

The end of this grey period also signifies the end of the year and for many years now, as the New Year approaches, people begin to make resolutions and promises of things they plan to do or achieve in the coming year, bad habits they plan to drop, good ones they intend to imbibe, bold steps they intend to take. Sadly though, the do not usually succeed.

The success rate of “New Year Resolution” is around 12%(ish) worldwide. This means this practice is a huge failure. Several reasons could be fingered for causing this problem, but some of them could include, but are not limited to the following;

1.       UNREALISTIC RESOLUTIONS

Making a resolution on something worthwhile when we are not in the right position for it is entirely useless. For example, making a resolution to save more money while on a hand – to – mouth income/budget without trying to identify new source(s) of income and key into them. is already a bust. By not setting the required stage for each and every intended resolution, we already make its very foundations shaky and as such it crumbles. Other resolutions too abound – which are all misnamed wishes at best and could be. 

2.       A WISH IS NOT A RESOLUTION, A RESOLUTION IS NOT A WISH

These days, the line between these two have not just become blurred, they are inexistent. Making a resolution out of something you wish for is a total waste of time. Imagine a student resolving to buy a car before the year ends, (assuming he/she can manage to keep their hands clean) this requires a stroke of luck to succeed and should that stroke fail to occur (which it probably won’t) this resolution goes bust. So, as a success tip for making resolutions, separate wishes from them and be very clear on your chances.

3.       PROCRASTINATION IS EVERY WHERE

Many of the resolutions we make are as a result of our procrastination. We defer changes that can be made at any time of the year till the end when it is time to make resolutions again. Resolving to make lifestyle changes like quitting smoking or drinking is something that can be done at any time of the year – so why push it till the New Year? If we can muster up the (procrastinating) confidence to push it this far, the chances are very high that we will push it again.

4.       MEANINGFUL RESOLUTIONS HAVE A HIGHER SUCCESS RATE

When making resolutions, we subconsciously measure their impacts on us and this sort of influences the success of it (or lack thereof). Another example involves a resolution to exercise more, if we have a feeling that doing this would make us look better or feel better then we have the motivation to do it, but on the other hand, a resolution that does not add any decipherable value to us will not be easy to maintain and see through.

These are just four observations of what could make a resolution fail (or succeed, when applied properly). This writer cannot claim to be a professional at resolutions, but he is rather another failed resolutionist who believes learning from mistakes is the only way not to make more of them.

Please make a resolution to #PrayforNigeria and #PrayfortheWorld. It will be quite easy too. 

YOU HAVE THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT ALREADY

Merry Christmas dear friends, may the true essence of this season never be lost on us and may it bring us multiple graces that fit all our desires. Amen.

Talking about desires, permit me to get very personal with my point of view this morning (it’s not like I know any other way). We have discussed what Christmas should mean in truth, today I would like to go one better and explain why I think family is the greatest gift of all.

AND WHEN THEY ASK "WHAT DOES CHRISTMAS MEAN TO YOU?"

It has been quite the year for everyone – both in a good and bad sense, but we have to be grateful for the overall good which is the gift of life. Being here is not by chance, but however you choose to see it, we are here and that’s what counts.

So many questions crop up at this time of the year; from Jehovah’s witnesses asking “does the bible ask you to celebrate Christmas?” to your friends and random girls asking for gifts to commemorate the season. The loudest question you are going to hear people ask is “what does Christmas mean to you?”

Ironically, whenever I see clergy men and other “important” people answer this question all the say is “this is not a season to eat and drink in excess… or indulge yourself in …bla bla bla”. 

7 (random) habits of highly annoying people

The world is full of annoying people, with more than 7 annoying habits (but 7 is my favorite number).

This post is more about the people than their habits.

1.     Joykills

One of the most annoying habits anyone can possess is the inability to take a joke. Many times we plan a very impressive joke/prank to play on our friends, siblings, coworkers, parents (at your own risk) or anyone else for that matter.

Facebook Activates 'Safety Check' for Nigeria

Facebook Inc has activated its “Safety Check” feature, after deadly blasts in Nigeria late on Tuesday.

A report on Wednesday in London by Reuters, stated that this was as a result of criticism from users that the social network was being selective.

Facebook usually activates the feature, which allows users to mark themselves as safe, after natural disasters, but not bombings or attacks.

It said the social network, however, activated the page after Friday’s gun and bomb attacks in Paris.

It said it drew criticism from some users because the feature was not activated for suicide bombings in Beirut a day earlier.

Both the Paris and Beirut attacks were claimed by Islamic State militants.

Meanwhile, Facebook Chief Executive, Mark Zuckerberg, has said in a post on his Facebook page that the feature would now be used more frequently.

He said it was decided after the Paris attacks last week, to use Safety Check for more tragic events like this going forward.

PRE - GAME TALK ... YOU WANT TO READ THIS

It's one of those Saturdays again. I mean the good ones where no matter what you have to do, you will finish in time to catch your favourite team play in the EPL. There are a couple of things to do though, before the games begin. Some of them are, but not limited to the following

1. Talk to your family

We get carried away in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and seem to forget the people we're doing it all for. Asking questions is a good way to find out things you don't know. People are secretive, children more so; but willingness to ask them what is going on with them might just make them want to open up to you. My little cousin just asked me if I'm not going to check his books today (I do that every Saturday and he uses the opportunity to tell me the things that happened during the week at school). He's a very inspiring kid, and he's probably the reason I'm writing this post.

2. Fix things around the house.

Little things will always need repairs around the house and the Pre - football moments of Saturday present the perfect opportunity to get down and dirty and fix them. It might be a couple of minor electrical stuff like changing bulbs, socket heads and whatever. Just do it. Preferably with another family member. This provides bonding time and could be the mystery "Quality Time" everyone talks about.

3. Get some exercise

This should be top on the list. Health is key to enjoying life (plus its really good to keep fit and have a presentable body). I know I've not had any exercise in weeks, my cousin just asked "what are these red shoes for?" about my football boots, I spent about 7 minutes explaining the concept to him, but long story short, I need to take this piece of advice too.

4. Visit friends 

This needs no explanation. Visits help to build ties. Visit friends on Saturday, Sunday is for family (this is not a general rule, it's just my rule).

5. Get your hands on some sports news 

This is most important to me. Please do not be that annoying guy at the viewing center who argues like a blind idiot (sorry). Use your phone, buy sports papers; one way or the other, just make sure you don't come to say "when will Wenger use Van Persie now? What is wrong with the man?" (what is wrong with you).

6. Have a nice weekend and may the odds ever be in your favour.

A WORD ON FRIENDSHIP

Relationships are pretty much what keeps us going, family, friends, acquaintances all come together to form our support system. Every individual needs others in one way or another to function optimally; and friends are arguably the most constant presence in our lives, from childhood to the prime of adulthood. Sometimes friendships change as we age and experience new stages of life, and a lucky few get to keep their friendships till very ripe old ages. So the question is what constitutes a good friend.

Good friends support us when necessary, but more importantly, help to put us back in line when we start to err or take unwholesome decisions. Good friends are trustworthy (that goes without saying) and understanding. Being understanding means that they know us and our faults and accept us for the imperfect beings that we are. Simply put, a good friend cuts slacks. It is said that humans are creatures of emotions, not logic and sometimes we do things that make no sense whatsoever – but a true friend understands that fact and doesn’t judge us so readily.

The biggest attribute of a good friend is loyalty. Loyalty needs no explanation, and is a matter of extreme absolutes, you either are or you’re not. Being a good friend requires that you have the back of your friends every time and in every condition (except maybe death, and a federal crime), a disloyal friend is a liability, dead load (even worse).

So read this, evaluate your friendship(s) and make adjustments where necessary. The world needs better friendships.