Joy Ijeoma: SALT OF THE EARTH: A Closer View

My mum brought back the washed bitter-leaf, and as usual, put it on the tray for it to dry up before she packaged it for the journey. But it was wrong timing, and this was not the first time it was happening. It was the rainy season, where it could rain for days without the Sun giving a peek from the clouds. Each time as we turned the vegetable, we felt it getting stickier and stickier, and it was like history was repeating itself all over again.

You see, my mother once brought back washed bitter-leaf to dry before sending it to someone, but it was also during the rainy season, and we watched helplessly as the rain came down each day, making sure the Sun never shone until the vegetable got bad, going to waste. We had to buy another batch, thank God He sent the Sun the next time.

So you understand our fear as the vegetable was sticking together. Then my mother remembered! She had been told by a woman to toss the vegetable with salt, to avoid it sticking and stinking, so she did just that, and voila! The change was almost immediate. The salt preserved the vegetable and soon the Sun came out and dried it properly.

I got thinking about the effect of the salt, and the bible verse came to me “Ye are the salt of the earth…” (Matthew 5:13).

The world is full of ups and downs, today you have a lot to be thankful for with the Sun shining brightly. The next day, you are thankful for the fact that you are alive to look for what to be thankful for, with clouds so thick over your head you are left wondering if the Sun will ever shine again.

That is when we should step in as salt of the earth and preserve each other until the Sun comes out again. We should hold each other’s hands, preserving each other’s faith by the grace of God, until the Sun of Righteousness rises with healing in His wings (Malachi 4:2)

Sometimes preserving the next person may mean crying with them.

Sometimes it may mean praying for them or with them with all the compassion you can muster.

Sometimes it may mean not giving up on them, stomaching the nonsense, no matter how often they ask you to mind your own business.

Sometimes it may mean joining a friend through the journey of fasting and praying, so they don’t give up on themselves.

There are many ways through which we are called to be salt of the earth, to the earth, but in all, let’s retain our saltiness.

Sent in From Lagos by Joy Ijeoma Nwankwo She's also on twitter as @JoyIjeoma

The Borrower's Mentality 1

"If the borrower can reason like the lender, paying of debts would be so easy" - Elekwa O. Elekwa

It's 20th day of the Month, Emeka seriously needs 50,000 naira to complete the 150,000 naira he already has to 200,000 naira so he can make some purchases for his Supper Market this coming weekend. Emeka is not so rich, but he makes some cool cash, as it stands now, he has already committed some money to his suppliers who just called in to inform him to "please bear with them" that they can't supply between Wednesday and Friday, if he can't get this 50,000 naira in two days, he would not have goods for the weekend and that's not good for business.

Emeka has called more than eight of his friends and has been 'entertained' by numerous stories from them, the conclusion was that none of them could lend to him at this time.

Obinna is Emeka's church member, they relate well as well as visit each other too. Obinna is seen as a rich, wealthy and comfortable man. The truth is that he is not as rich as people see him, is just that he plans himself well, saves enough when he can and always lives and spends within his means. He neither makes as much as Emeka does nor as much as Emeka believes he does.

Now the last thought on Emeka's mind is Obinna.

He rings Obinna, narates his ordeal to him and asked him to please lend him N50,000, that he'll pay him immediately he gets the money back. Obinna told him, he's not that bouyant, but let him see what he could do. As the case may be, Obinna actually had just 35,000 naira in his account at that time and was ernastly expecting the Month to end so he can get more money and carry out other financial activities he needed to get into. Since his wife runs an eatery, feeding wasn't a problem at home and Emeka's work place is just few distance from his home, so he usually drives to work with his Legedez Benz. He decides to withdraw 30,000 naira from his account and find a way to complete it 50,000 naira and help his brother since he hopes to get the money the next week and the 30,000 naira wasn't actually doing anything in his account. Obinna was able to raise some 20,000 naira and send the 50,000 to Emeka. And Emeka was so happy and promised to pay back as soon as possible.

Over the weekend, Emeka's Supper Market was bubbling, he made so much money. When it was Monday morning, he thought of paying back to Obinna just as he promised, but so many other thoughts came into his head. He thought within himself, "for Obinna to give me 50,000 naira within that short time, that means he must have more than 200,000 naira in his account, that means withholding this 50,000 naira from him at this time won't kill him, he can wait for sometime, and if I can invest this 50,000 naira in my business this time around instead of giving it back to him, I can make more money". Emeka was making money and also having these same thoughts and stayed for more than two months without paying Obinna the money he borrowed from him.

Say "aye" if you've been in Obinna's shoe before and "wee" if you've ever found yourself in Emeka's shoe.

@Elexharry

Happy Birthday Fab!

orn after him. While he was boasting about that in class, Fab asked him, "when were you born?" and he replied 14th January, Fab then told him, "you see, I was born before you because I was born on 12th!" So since that day, I don't forget 12th and 14h January.

I started knowing my friend Fabian from our days at our Church's Vocational Bible School which normally take place during Long Vacations. Later he disappeared from us and went to ASTEC for his Secondary Education. He later came back from ASTEC and joined us in our school where a big part of our childhood was shaped together. We used to see each other almost everyday of the week (weekdays in school, Saturday in Church and Sunday for Pathfinder Club Meetings) with so much visits to eache other and those memories are always there with me.

Fab was one of the best Football players we had in our set in those days, He and Kedy were among the highest Goal Scorers (I didn't score any Goals because I and my twin brother were the best sort after Goalkeepers then). During Utuaka days (General beating) Fab, Man and Chisom including Chinaka and some other guys were the biggest threats as they could make the entire JSS 3 class descend on you by just shouting and pointing at you. I'm laughing so hard as I write this now, those days, you just have to stay away from these guys after Devotion or during break period to avoid some general beating, my friend that will celebrate his birthday on 14th received a huge part of these beatings and he was so strong to carry it, I mean very strong because after passing through that experience once, I never prayed for such again, it was terrible, but those were some of the things that made our childhood days cool.

Fab was present at my Matriculation on 12th June 2004 and that created a huge impression for me. My Twin brother won't forget his presence during his Swearing-in too.

My friendship with Fab did not end in Church and School, it also got home. Our Mum and his Mum knew us as brothers rather than friends. Fab's Mum doesn't play with us. Whenever we visit, she would always take good care of us, during University days (since we didn't attend the same School), whenever she sees us (my twin brother and I), she'll ask us the last time we communicated with our brother and how he was doing. She never played with us, always took us as her own Children. The last time I saw her last year, while we were talking, she even told me it would be wonderful if we and our brother married the same time. I wept within and without when heard the news of her death last year, it was a painful feeling. While walking down to their place in the village a day before day burial, I was pained because I never visited their village when Fab's mum was alive, she would've been so happy to see me around. I'm sorry if this part will cause some pain to my friend, but I can't mention our friendship without mentioning his wonderful Mum who took me, my twin brother and our other friends as her own Children.

I've been to Babcock University just once (in 2007), and Fab's graduation was one of the things that took me there, I can remember sleeping in his room that Saturday night before the graduation and enjoying some granula served from their canteen the next morning.

For our class mates from Secondary school, don't be surprised when you meet Fab now, he's no more that Fab of Utuaka days, he's now cool, quite and the way he thinks and the things he says, you can only but see the glaring differences hehehe, I told him Babcock changed his life but he told me it was actually the religious books he has been reading and his close relationship with God in recent times.

Today, the Lord has added a year to Fab's life, Glory be to His name! May He continue to bless my friend with testimonies in Jesus name amen.

Happy Birthday Fab Man.

Meet Dr. Obinna Andy Ebere According to @Elexharry

Though we were actually from the same Fellowship, My first meeting with Andie was not in the Fellowship but in my room. He just got admitted then and I was in fourth year (06/07), he came to visit my room mate (Kaycee who was also in 100 level), they had a General Course together (Physics practical) and Andie was rallying from room to room to get guys together so they can confront and correct the lecturer who he believed was not making out time for them. This cause he was rallying for, defines a big part of him, he always wants to see things move in the direction he deemed right, he does anything possible within his powers to control things to his taste.

I've known Andie for close to 7 years now (2007-2014) and all through these years, I've come to admire this young man in so many ways, one of such is his pragmatic stance to issues; though he is a Christian who believes in faith in God, he will work as if it all depends on him and still pray knowing it depends on God. We've worked together at different times and in different positions; I can remember When I was the Fellowship P.R.O. and he was Sabbath School Superindent, I enjoyed working with him because he would always get his programs ready at the time I want it so I can produce the Fellowship bulletin without hitches. Also when I was the Fellowship President and he was the Chairman of the Evangelism Committee, not withstanding that he lost his Dad at that time, he also added his quota to the onward movement of God's work. There were other instances too that would be too much to be contained in this write up.

We also served in the same leadership catergories in the fellowship; I handed over to him as the The Fellowship President and as the Prayer Band Coodinator respectively.

I won't forget to add that He was also a HYPERJACKER! Andie can read for the whole of Africa! Yes! it's that serious! He's always in a hurry to rush back to class and continue with his books, yes he's a lover of knowledge, I can testify to that. From an angle too, if you misunderstand his pragmatic and realistic attitude, and his habit of saying it the way it is, you might see it that he is boasting because he's just plain with issues with no strings attached. Of course, we were once room mates for some weeks before I packed out of the Fellowship Secretariate after handing over to him. SDAH 537 (He Leadeth Me) was the hymn I heard him sing the most, he prefers singing it in Igbo.

I feel it would be incomplete for me to write about Andie without mentioning Armstrong Anonaba. Armstrong is one of his closest friends in school, they share a lot together...

I call him Andie! You can also call him "Andy Baba" as Chybez Ohiara and Armstrong always call him.

He's also an Evangelist and a Preacher. Andie loves working for God with his skills, talent, profession, and anything he could lay hold of. That could be seen from His involvement with Behold He Cometh Evangelistic Team, ALIVE Nigeria and other organisations that propagates the Gospel.

Few Wash Hands Properly, Study FindsHow Well Do You Wash Your Hands?

By NICHOLAS BAKALAR

Did you wash your hands properly after you used the toilet? Probably not, a new study suggests.

Researchers discreetly watched 3,749 people, 60 percent of them women, after they used public toilets in a Michigan college town. Over all, 10.3 percent did not wash their hands at all, and 22.8 percent used no soap. The remainder did use soap, but only 5.3 percent washed for longer than 15 seconds, soap or no soap. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, proper washing means rubbing vigorously with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Men did worse than women — almost 15 percent of them did not wash at all, compared with 7.1 percent of women. People were more likely to wash their hands properly if there were motion-detection faucets, a clean sink or a sign encouraging the practice.

The authors acknowledge that the presence of even discreet observers could have affected behavior, probably encouraging more hand washing. The study appeared in The Journal of Environmental Health.

“Forty-eight million people a year get sick from contaminated food,” said the lead author, Carl P. Borchgrevink, an associate professor at Michigan State University, “and the C.D.C. says 50 percent would not have gotten sick if people had washed their hands properly. Do as your mom said: Wash your hands.”

New York Times.

BEHIND THE SCENES-Lessons from the making. Dare to be a Job!

Whatever you do, don't forget that you may just be at the brighter side of an "Almaco" window pane; God could be at d darker side you know!...And you know what, to you inside, it looks like an opaque mirror but from the dark outside, it's a very clear transparent piece of Glass!

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ACTION!

The cameras were set, sound was ok, no editing no director, just as raw as it was!Remember if he fails, you'll loose your championship to the devil (and come to think of it, you've never lost a bet!) God must have thought! But hey, you don't dare touch his life were God's instruction to him!

Little did Job know he was in the raw scenes of a REALITY TV SHOW in a theatre in Heaven watched by God, host of Angels and probablly, the very deviltempting him!

God had a bet on Job's allegiance and faithfulness to Him with the devil! He was sooooo sure He wont loose!

That's the way he comes -Just eat the apple, just bow down a little, just curse God... You'll not surely die(meaning: it's not that you'll die just like He makes it look. ok I just took it, did I die?) Just, just, just, as if it were that negligible and insignificant!

I can imagine the standing ovation the theatre gave after the last scenes of the show! Of course, he left; I mean the devil- sooooo disappointed!

Can God have a bet on me with the devil or will He just say to the devil " Don't just stress yourself, I know he's yours, call out another christain" or "I don't wish to mess up my records; I've never lost before and don't wish to do now" or even "hey satan, I don't play no dice, no probabilities just certainty or nothing"

I hate it when devil says to God "I said it, didn't I? It's just because of the wealth and blessings you gave him/her!"

When I see Job upstairs, I'll kiss him strongly on the Face and I'll say "here is a Golden pen (given to me by God himself) and paper; could you please sign me your Autograph? And He'll say "hey buddy, we're all Celebrities up here! Do you really need this?"

I want to be like the Bible Job he was perfect and upright in the sight of God!

Its no fairy tale, it's real!

I can be like he was through Christ who strengthens me!

I believe in Perfectionism!

Now you've said all these, pray to God to help you Nothing could be more pleasurable for Him!

Dare to be a Job!

Elvis Chidi-Ezeama
@Elvischido

CHILDREN ARE WHAT THEY LIVE WITH

Nneoma Chuku (@duchess153)

As parents and adults who take care of children, we often might not realise how far our actions or inactions affect these little ones and even who they become in future. I hope you find this piece enlightening.

If a child lives with criticism,
He learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility,
He learns to fight.

If a child lives with ridicule,
He learns to be shy.

If a child lives with shame,
He learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with tolerance,
He learns to be patient.

If a child lives with encouragement,
He learns to have confidence.

If a child lives with praise,
He learns to appreciate.

If a child lives with fairness,
He learns justice

If a child lives with security,
He learns to have faith.

If a child lives with approval,
He learns to like himself

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
He learns to find love in the world.

You can follow the contributor on twitter - @duchess153

14th May!

Whenever I look at the Calender and see May, my heart always skip a bit. Whenever I see 14th May, my heart skips twice and I become excited. When I come to think about this, I remember that this is a day that stands out among other days in my life. I like this day so much that I look forward for it to come around. It only comes around once in every Twelve months.

This day holds many things in my life; It brings to my mind to a day, my mum went to the hospital around mid-day and gave birth to me and my twin brother. That day, when I came out, I cried(I'm sure I did) may be I did, it was not my fault, if it was now, I would have known how to control my self; I hope you got what i meant? After the crying, other things followed.

Another thing significant with this day is that whenever it comes around, I will be older than I was before. Can't you see, this was the day that told my parents that I'm old enough to start going to school, if not for God, this day wouldn't have been there and if not for this day I wouldn't have been in school(I'm I sure?). it is also this particular day I'm talking about that will tell me when I will graduate from being a teenager to an adult.

Buddie, 14th May has never disappointed me in life, it always come around for me once every year. There is never a year it doesn't come around because it is not 28th February which only comes around once in four years! It was on this day that I came into this world; You know without God, 14th May would not have been in existence and it wouldn't come around for me each passing year, that's the reason I say may all glory and hounour be to God in Jesus name Amen.

It is 14th May that will tell me when I should get married. By the grace of God, I will be alive to see this day come again in my life, the day is fast approaching like the seasons. This day is a day that makes much impact im my life, it is a day i will never forget.

Written in May 2002
@Elexharry

FROM THE ARCHIVES FOR THE PRESENT DAY

Nneoma Chuku ( @duchess153 )

Few weeks ago, I came across this write up in my archives. It was written on one of the frames we had at home growing up which I really can’t tell where it is at the moment. Anyway, I loved it so much as I child that I wrote it down in my book of poetry. Reading through the piece brought back such pleasant memories and nostalgia, that I thought to share it.

In a society, fast loosing so many values, either because they are not being taught or being ignored. This might serve as a reminder to us of values once cherished.

As a parent or older sibling, you might find this as interesting as I did. I hope u enjoy this piece.

LETTER FROM ABRAHAM LINCOLN TO HIS SON’S TEACHER

He will have to learn, I know; that all men are not just, all men are not true, but

Teach him that for every scoundrel, there’s a hero; that for every politician, there’s a dedicated leader

Teach him that for every enemy, there’s a friend

Teach him that a dollar earned is of far more value than five dollars found

Teach him to learn to lose and also enjoy winning; steer him away from envy if you can

Teach him the secret of quiet laughter

Teach him to enjoy the quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, flowers on a green hillside

In school, teach him that it is far honourable to fail than to cheat.

Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him that they are wrong

Teach him to be gentle with gentle people, tough with tough people

Try to give him the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting on the band wagon

Teach him to listen to all men but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth and take only the good that comes through

Teach him how to laugh when he is sad

Teach him that there is no shame in tears

Teach him to close his ears to howling mob; and to stand nd fight if he thinks he is right

Teach him gently but do not cuddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel

Let him have the courage to be impatient, let him have the patience to be brave

Teach him to always have faith in his creator and and faith in himself too because then he will always have faith in mankind

This is a big order, but please see what you can do. He is such a fine little fellow, my son

Abraham Lincoln

ARE YOU A ROMAN IN ROME?

Have you heard the name ‘Beltshazzar’ before? What do you know him for? Here’s a little about this man.

Ask me of a man firm and disciplined to the marrow, I will direct you to Belteshazzar. If you are really interested to know about someone who was faithful and impeccable, you sure need to know more about Daniel.

He was so disciplined that he thrashed the dictum “when you go to Rome, behave like Romans” by behaving like a Jew in faraway Babylon.

During his early years in Babylon, he purposed in his heart not to eat the appetizing-salivating meals served at the king’s palace; if some of us were in his shoes, what would we have done? Enjoy ourselves and yell out “God understands”?

He wasn’t egocentric; after interpreting the king’s dream, he requested his friends be elevated to a higher position in the province but he remained at the king’s gate. Think about that!

All through the provinces, he was known to love and adore His God to the extent that his fellow Governors that wanted to indict him sought out ways to nail him but could only say “We shall not find any charge against Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God” they knew the only “wrong” they could find in him must be his quintessential love for God.

In places we find ourselves, what are we known for? What kind of life do we live? What do we represent? If those Governors were to be with us, what fault will they find in us? Is it possible for us to be convicted for doing the right thing in the sight of God as was the case of Daniel?

He prayed to God three times every day as a custom and that was the only fault his fellow Governors could find against him in order to get him hooked.

When we start living our lives like Daniel, great things will come our ways. Some of the great things that took place in Daniel’s life due to his trust, faith and firmness in the word of God include:

- God sent His angels to guide and guard him throughout his stay in the Lion’s den : which means, even if we get into trouble by doing things God’s way, God will always take care of the situation His own way.
- The king made a decree that in every dominion of his kingdom, that men must worship, tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: when we live for God, He will use us to draw men to Himself.

You can read more about Daniel from the book of Daniel in the Holy Scriptures.

When we dare to be like Daniel by standing alone, having a firm purpose, and making our purpose and stands known to everyone without any compromise, God will do for us as He did for Daniel even more.

Remember, if you walk in God’s light,
Shun the wrong and do the right
God will always make a way for you
God loves you more than you can imagine.

Are you a Roman in Rome, Learn from Beltshazzar.

@Elexharry

My Service Year Experience (In Brief)

My name is Elekwa O. Elekwa. The “O” in my name stands for Ochie and Okechukwu. I hail from Bende Local Government Area of Abia State. I was born with my twin brother at General Hospital (now Abia State University Teaching Hospital) Aba, Abia State. My Nursery, Primary and Secondary Education were all in Aba Abia State; furthermore, I attended Abia State University, Uturu where I studied Architecture. This actually is not my autobiography; if need be, I still have many things to achieve before that. The little about me above is just to highlight that I have lived almost all my life in Abia State and the Eastern part of Nigeria. This article is a summary of some of the many things I observed and experienced during my service year.

NOT EVERY NORTHERNER IS HAUSA AND NOT EVERY NORTHERNER IS A TROUBLE MAKER!
For us, everyone from the North is an Hausa man or woman. I used to think that the Fulani are a group of Hausas that rear cattles not knowing that they are a tribe. Most of the people from Niger State are either Nupe or Gwari and other minor tribes, I once went to somewhere in this State (Maraba Guni) where I met people who neither speak nor understand Hausa but only Gbagi (Gwari people’s dialect). Even my friend Ogiri Joel from Nasarawa State who would be called an ‘Hausa man’ in the East will always tell me he is not Hause but Alago. I later researched, heard and read about more ethnic groups in the north that I never knew. They include; Kadara, Zuru, Koro, Baruba, Gana, Dibo, Kambari, Kamuka, Pangu, Dukkkawa, Gaada, Ingwal, Amo, and many others. Also, northerners are not trouble makers as we often think they are there will always be trouble makers everywhere in the world.

MOSQUES EVERY WHERE!
All through my life in Abia State, I saw only three (3) Mosques; one at Azikiwe by Asa road, another at Mosque Road (all in Aba) and the third one at Eket Road in Umuahia (Abia State Capital). But as I got to Minna, there were Mosques everywhere; very big ones as big as cathedrals, small ones and very small ones. In the street where I stay there are more than ten (10) Mosques, one is less than 15 metres from my window. I later figured out that the big mosques are used for Friday prayers and other special prayers while the small ones are used for everyday prayers. Apart from these block/built mosques, Moslems also pray anywhere with their mats if that place is not dirty. Mosques were also synonymous with plastic kettles and water.

I NEVER NEEDED AN ALARM CLOCK TO WAKE-UP BY 5!
During my stay in Minna, I discovered that Moslems pray 5 times daily (though from my research, there’s a sixth one by 7am-Shurooq, which is not obligatory). The prayer hours are 5am –Fajr, 12noon- Dhuhr, 4pm – Asr, 6pm –Maghrib then 7pm – Ishaa. If you can remember, I said earlier that there is a mosque less than 15m from my window; the mosque has a horn speaker, so the Fajr prayer served as my 5am alarm.

WHO’S IN CHARGE OF TAXI?
I noticed something about the Taxi drivers, 90% of these drivers are Yoruba. Did you notice that too?

VIGILS!
I actually thought vigils were only for Christians until the last ten days of the Ramadan fasting; that day, when the horn beside my window came on, I thought it was 5am only for my clock to say otherwise! I had to run to twitter to ask my twend @trueNija (he tweets Islamic stuffs on twitter) if the time for prayers have been changed from 5am to 1am, he then told me that Moslems have vigils everyday during the last days of the Ramadan fasting, those ten days were something else for me, I cannot forget them easily.

PURCHASING POWER!
The first time I heard of “purchasing power” during my service year was from The Chief Servant, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, CON. (Talban Minna) Executive Governor of Niger State. He used it during his interactive session with the Corps Members at the Orientation Camp; Corps Members were comparing the State Allowance in Niger State to other States, and the Chief Servant told us that the purchasing power in Niger State is not the same with those States. I later observed that too...

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH MINNA
Seventh-day Adventist Church Minna was my family during my service year. There I met wonderful, loving and lovely people. At the church, I met and made friends with so many people including my fellow Corps Members - Obiuto, Micah, Chinyere, Loveday, Ocheze, Otobong and David. The Church organized a ‘Corpers Day’ for us on the 13th of October 2012. I will really miss that family.

NCCF NIGER
I was not a part of NCCF during the Orientation Camp… after Passing Out from Orientation Camp, NCCF officers came and safe guarded our luggage and took them to the Family House. That was how I ended up with NCCF. I was a loner during the Orientation Camp; apart from my roommates, I made no new friends. But the NCCF Family House provided for me a ground to make more friends. I met wonderful people there – Mfon, Ayor, Mekus Moredays, Peter, Ogiri, Kaycee, Moses, Solomon, Alex, Mike, Bro. Moses (Mama), Abodunrin Dayo (Uncle) Godson, Ibrahim Ismaila (Papa), Oliver, Jackson, Justice, Ndubuisi, Paul, Sunny and so many other wonderful people. I also had a good time with the NCCF Choir and attended some Rural Rugged too.

MINISTRY OF WORKS CORPERS’ LODGE – KPAKUNGU
I was privileged to stay in the same lodge with wonderful people from all over Nigeria .We had good times; threw banters up and down, had political arguments as well as watched football games together; the arguments and shouting that follow were part of it too. We always stay awake after every UEFA Champions league game to analyze and argue. Of course, the Ronaldo/Messi argument comes up most of the times too. The Night after the Euro 2012 finals was the quietest night in the lodge because we supported different teams during the event, but that night, we supported Italy and Pirlo to win Spain. My lodge mates include Ogochukwu Aduba (Delta), Michael Amalu (Enugu) and Abiodun Animashaun (Lagos) Chelsea fans, Samson Egbefa (Delta) Man Utd., Ejireme Onos (Delta) Arsenal, Obinna Nwaroh (Enugu) Liverpool, Oghenero Ishieke (Delta) Real Madrid, Chinenye Nwegbo (Enugu) and Ikokpu Nsini Udo (Akwa Ibom) are not football fans. Another significant feature of this lodge was that out of the ten (10) Corps Members that resided there, four (4) were CDS Presidents : Ogochukwu – ICPC, Michael – Environmental, Ikokpu (Lala) – Red Cross and Elekwa – NYSC Band, Obinna and Chinenye were Treasurers in Sports CDS and NEMA . We were later joined in the lodge by another lovely set of Corps Members mostly from the Batch C – Henry, Ben, Nonso, Ify, Happy, Dabbie, Churchhill and others. I will miss all these wonderful people.

NYSC BAND AND MDGS
I attended MDGs lectures during the Orientation Camp and Graduated from the program. I have been involved with Parade Drums since 1999. But during the Orientation Camp, I did not join the Band because I was still acclimatizing to the weather. After the Orientation Camp, I joined the Band and went with them to various outings; one of which was the Inauguration of the SURE-P in Niger State by the Finance Minister Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. During my time in the band, I met wonderful among who are; Ifeanyi Oliver, Mike Uddin, Christy Kolo, Mfon, Jackson, Kayode, Otobong, Ijeoma, Lilian, Abigail, Innocent, Ngozi, Michaels, Nnaemeka, Wale, Ojukwu and so many other people there won’t be space to mention. I couldn’t join the MDGs CDS Group since I was already with the Band, but I still worked as a DKF for MDGs with Day Junior Secondary School Limawa where I met wonderful kids.

CONCLUSION
My phone’s contact can now boast of names from all over Nigeria! Thanks to NYSC. I also experienced how other tribes in Nigeria pronounce my name; most times, it can be lovely, funny and annoying too. I was once called Elekwuu O. Elekwuu.

My service year was filled with so many experiences that the space provided cannot enter them all. It was really a wonderful experience I will never forget and I will miss so many people. God will continue to bless my parents, siblings and friends who never relented in prayers and support all through this time. To God be the Glory for seeing us through this journey.

You can follow me on twitter @Elexharry

Elekwa O. Elekwa
08063344634
NG/12A/0612

My Service Year Experience

WHEN GOD IS WITH YOU - Gen. 39 in Mind

When the Lord is with you, great things follow you.

A great example of someone who had the Lord on his side was Joseph as could be read in Gen. 39

Joseph was sold as a punishment by his brothers, but was sold into the house of Potiphar an officer of Pharoh and he reigned there

He was so much in charge that Potiphar left everything into his hands that He knew nothing about his wealth but only his daily meal.

When God is on your side, don't think temptations won't come, don't think you're immune to temptations...

But know that those temptations will always come to test your relationship with God and when you triumph, more blessings are on the way + more temptations + more blessings etc

Joseph was tempted by his Master's wife. When she was trying to lure him, he made a statement;

"There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9).

Joseph took an upper hand when his temptation came, he flee from Potiphar's wife because that was the only option - Lesson: Certain temptations require we run away from them rather than staying to solve them, meaning running away from certain temptations is the solution.

Yet that was not the end, triumphing brings other challenges. He was accused by the Madam of trying to mock her (rape her).

After all, he found himself in the prison!
But since the Lord was with him, no shaking!

"But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison." (Genesis 39:21).
He became a leader, an over all leader in the prison of the King's servants.

"The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper." (Genesis 39:23).

When we fear the Lord same way Joseph did as well as doing the right things in all situations, the Lord that lead Joseph will lead us.

@Elexharry

The Pagan Origin Of Easter

Easter is a day that is honoured by nearly all of contemporary Christianity and is used to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The holiday often involves a church service at sunrise, a feast which includes an "Easter Ham" decorated eggs and stories about rabbits.

Those who love truth learn to ask questions, and many questions must be asked regarding the holiday of Easter.

Is it truly the day when Jesus arose from the dead? Where did all of the strange customs come from, which have nothing to do with the
resurrection of our Saviour?

The purpose of this tract is to help answer those questions, and to help those who seek truth to draw their own conclusions.

The first thing we must understand is that professing Christians were not the only ones who celebrated a festival called "Easter."

"Ishtar", which is pronounced "Easter" was a
day that commemorated the resurrection of one of their gods that they called "Tammuz", who
was believed to be the only begotten son of the moon-goddess and the sun-god.

In those ancient times, there was a man named Nimrod, who was the grandson of one of Noah's son named Ham.

Ham had a son named Cush who married a woman named Semiramis. Cush and Semiramis
then had a son named him "Nimrod."

After the death of his father, Nimrod married his own mother and became a powerful King.

The Bible tells of of this man, Nimrod, in Genesis 10:8-10 as follows:

"And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar."

Nimrod became a god-man to the people and Semiramis, his wife and mother, became the powerful Queen of ancient Babylon.

Nimrod was eventually killed by an enemy, and his body was cut in pieces and sent to various parts of his kingdom.

Semiramis had all of the parts gathered, except for one part that could not be found.

That missing part was his reproductive organ.

Semiramis claimed that Nimrod could not come back to life without it and told the people of
Babylon that Nimrod had ascended to the sun and was now to be called "Baal", the sun god.

Queen Semiramis also proclaimed that Baal would be present on earth in the form of a flame, whether candle or lamp, when used in worship.

Semiramis was creating a mystery religion, and with the help of Satan, she set herself up as a goddess.

Semiramis claimed that she was immaculately conceived.

She taught that the moon was a goddess that went through a 28 day cycle and ovulated when full.

She further claimed that she came down from the moon in a giant moon egg that fell into the
Euphrates River.

This was to have happened at the time of the first full moon after the spring equinox.

Semiramis became known as "Ishtar" which is pronounced "Easter", and her moon egg
became known as "Ishtar's" egg."

Ishtar soon became pregnant and claimed that it was the rays of the sun-god Baal that caused her to conceive.

The son that she brought forth was named Tammuz.

Tammuz was noted to be especially fond of rabbits, and they became sacred in the ancient
religion, because Tammuz was believed to be the son of the sun-god, Baal. Tammuz, like his
supposed father, became a hunter.

The day came when Tammuz was killed by a wild pig. Queen Ishtar told the people that Tammuz was
now ascended to his father, Baal, and that the two of them would be with the worshippers in the sacred candle or lamp flame as Father, Son
and Spirit.

Ishtar, who was now worshipped as the "Mother of God and Queen of Heaven", continued to build her mystery religion.

The queen told the worshippers that when Tammuz was killed by the wild pig, some of his blood fell on the stump of an evergreen tree,
and the stump grew into a full new tree overnight. This made the evergreen tree sacred by the blood of Tammuz.

She also proclaimed a forty day period of time of sorrow each year prior to the anniversary of the
death of Tammuz.

During this time, no meat was to be eaten.

Worshippers were to meditate upon the sacred mysteries of Baal and Tammuz, and to make the
sign of the "T" in front of their hearts as they worshipped.

They also ate sacred cakes with the marking of a "T" or cross on the top.

Every year, on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox, a celebration
was made.

It was Ishtar's Sunday and was celebrated with rabbits and eggs.

Ishtar also proclaimed that because Tammuz was killed by a pig, that a pig must be eaten on
that Sunday.

By now, the readers of this tract should have made the connection that paganism has infiltrated the contemporary "Christian" churches, and further study indicates that this paganism came in by way of the Roman Catholic System.

The truth is that Easter has nothing whatsoever to do with the resurrection of our Lord Jesus
Christ.

We also know that Easter can be as much as three weeks away from the Passover, because the pagan holiday is always set as the first
Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox.

Some have wondered why the word "Easter" is in the the King James Bible.

It is because Acts, chapter 12, tells us that it was the evil King Herod, who was planning to celebrate Easter, and not the Christians.

The true Passover and pagan Easter sometimes coincide, but in some years, they are a great
distance apart.

So much more could be said, and we have much more information for you, if you are a seeker of
the truth.

We know that the Bible tells us in John 4:24,

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must
worship him in spirit and in truth."

The truth is that the forty days of Lent, eggs, rabbits, hot cross buns and the Easter ham have everything to do with the ancient pagan religion of Mystery Babylon. These are all antichrist activities!

Satan is a master deceiver, and has filled the lives of well-meaning, professing Christians with
idolatry.

These things bring the wrath of God upon children of disobedience, who try to make pagan customs of Baal worship Christian.

You must answer for your activities and for what you teach your children.

These customs of Easter honor Baal, who is also Satan, and is still worshipped as the "Rising Sun"
and his house is the "House of the Rising Sun."

How many churches have "sunrise services" on Ishtar's day and face the rising sun in the East?

How many will use colored eggs and rabbit stories, as they did in ancient Babylon.

These things are no joke, any more than Judgement day is a joke.

I pray to God that this tract will cause you to search for more truth.

We will be glad to help you by providing more information and by praying for you.

These are the last days, and it is time to repent, come out and be separate.

David J. Meyer
Last Trumpet Ministries International
PO Box 806
Beaver Dam, WI 53916

Dating versus Courting By Tom Brown

Joshua Harris wrote a book with a provocative title, "I’ve kissed dating goodbye." You need to kiss dating goodbye. I believe that dating is the world’s way to find a
spouse. Many might be wondering, If I don’t date, how am I going to find a spouse?

You should find a spouse through courting. Courtship is more of a scriptural way to meet a prospective spouse than dating. What is the difference between dating and courting? Let me say first of all: Don’t get hung up on terms. It is possible to use the word date but not necessarily have the same understanding as my definition. I am giving you my definition of dating. If you say you date but don’t do what I define dating as being, then I feel you are practicing courting, although you might still use the term dating.


My definition of dating is that it is a modern game where intimacy is practiced before commitment. It
often involves romantic talk, holding hands, kissing, making out, and often times sex.
Commitment never proceeds intimacy. The word date comes from the word mate. It doesn’t sound good to tell someone you are mating with Mr. X.
You prefer to use the word dating. It sounds so much better, but in reality, dating and mating are
sometimes the same. I looked up the word date in my encyclopedia and it said, "see Sex and Teenage. " Even my encyclopedia agrees with my definition.


Courtship is the time-honored and successful practice of learning about someone enough to know whether or not the two are compatible for marriage. It often involves friendship, discussing
each individual’s future plans, knowing the parents if they’re alive, and praying privately for God’s will in the matter. After deciding it is God’s will to get married, the couple prays together and then go to their parents to seek their blessings and finally to the pastor to seek his approval.
After engaged the couple still avoids intimacy until marriage. Commitment comes before intimacy. Someone might be thinking, How old is this writer? I’m under forty, and my wife, Sonia, and I proved that courtship could work in this modern age. We both were virgins when we married each other. So don’t tell me that this is unrealistic. We never kissed or even held hands until we were engaged. It can work. We’ve been married for almost 18 years, and are still in love.

Why people fall away from the Lord?

I’ve been pastoring for almost two decades, and I’ve noticed that the number one reason people are led away from God is because they get
involved in a relationship which is not honoring God. People rarely fall away from God as a result of drugs, alcohol, or cults. Christianity is a relationship, so it stands to reason that an unholy relationship will be the number one cause of backsliding.


We are relational people. Our faith is based on a relationship with God. We need a relationship with God to fulfill us. Satan knows this, so he tries to replace your relationship with God with a wrong relationship with another. If he can succeed, you will discover that your relationship with God will suffer.


Dating is Satan’s method of getting you distracted from God. As I said before, dating involves intimacy. Once a person develops intimacy, they can easily make each other out to be idols. The Romeo and Juliet syndrome takes place.

"Oh, I can’t live without you! I need you! You are everything to me!"


Like Romeo and Juliet you will began to despise the advice of your parents and others who care for your spiritual well being. You will soon give more and more time to this person. You will begin to spend less time with your family and
Christian friends. Before you know it, you rarely attend church.


"Who cares, I’m in love!" you say. Remember the end of Romeo and Juliet: they killed themselves!
That is not exactly a romantic ending.


Satan tried it on me

Hey, I am a guy! I know what I’m talking about. Satan tried to get me involved in wrong relationships with different girls. Oh, they were so pretty! But they weren’t born-again, Spirit-filled girls. I knew God had called me into the ministry,
so I realized my choice for a wife was critical. None of the girls I liked were interested in being a
preacher’s wife.

Satan almost got me on several occasions. One girl, who was drunk at the time, said to me, "Tom,
with you being religious and all that, and me being such a sinner, we would make a good couple." Yea, sure?

When I met Sonia at church, I asked her to play tennis with me. We saw each other every week at
a nursing home that we ministered at together. We went out a couple of times. In all those months, we never saw each other as idols. We
were simply good friends.


The trouble with many marriages is they are built on sex, not friendship. There is more to a
marriage than sex. Yes, sex is fun, it has its place, but friendship is even more important.


Many argue that unless you have sex before marriage, you might not be satisfied with your spouse’s performance. They say, "Better find out if you are compatible sexually before marriage than after marriage."


You know this argument is so lame. Common sense tells us that sex will be wonderful so long as you are in love with the person. It doesn’t matter if they can do gymnastics in bed, what matters most, is if they love you. Sex is meaningful with someone you love. You can learn to perform better as you go along. That is part of the fun.


Get it out of your system

Another argument of the proponents of sex before marriage is this: if you wait until marriage
to have sex, then you will always desire more; better to get it out of your system before marriage
than to do it after marriage. This argument is so ridiculous. I would argue just the opposite. Sex can be addictive. I’m more worried about playboys settling down.


Take for example a man who hates to shop. He decides to go to Wal-Mart and gets himself some overalls. Let me ask you this question: how long do you think he will keep his clothes? Remember
he doesn’t have many clothes. Yet, you and I both know he probably will keep those overalls for many years.


On the other hand, a woman who loves to shop will buy some expensive clothes and add them to
her dozens of outfits. How long do you think she will wear them? Not very long.

You see you don’t have to try on many clothes before you will be satisfied with what you bought. My wife loves to shop. She will take hours trying on different dresses to see which one she likes. Finally, she decides on a dress, only to take
it back later. On the other hand, I try on one pair of shoes, it fits, and I take it home. I will wear those shoes out until my wife encourages me to get another pair.


Trying on different people does not make it less likely that you will want to keep the one you picked. Actually, chances are you will more likely become dissatisfied with the person you married, because you know what others are like, and you might start to reminisce about the other guys you slept with. But someone who knows only one
person, does not have anyone else to compare him with, and is more likely to be satisfied with their "one and only".

Fornication or Adultery

Modern dating has failed the church. The fact is divorce is just as high among Christians as it is
with the world. I believe a major contributing factor to divorce is fornication.

And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication,
and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. (Matthew19:9, KJV)

Notice two words Jesus used: fornication and adultery. Jesus gave the cause of divorce as being fornication. The result will be that the person will committeth adultery. Fornication is sexual sins committed before marriage. Adultery is sexual sins committed during marriage. You rarely have adultery until you first have fornication. Jesus placed fornication as the cause for divorce. Adultery is not necessarily the cause for divorce. Adultery usually was preceded by fornication.


During Jesus day, a prospective bride swore to her virginity. If she said that she was a virgin but
after marriage the husband finds out she had lied, then according to Jesus and the Law of Moses, the
husband could legitimately divorce her.


I know what you might be thinking, The past is the past. Yes, I believe that, but what if the person
claimed virginity when she was not a virgin. Then the person could not be trusted, and thus, Jesus said it was all right to divorce her because lack of trust.

The main cause of divorce is not what is happening during marriage but what happened before marriage. How you live as a single person, will eventually show up in your marriage. If you are a fornicator before marriage, you will more likely be an adulterer during marriage. If you remain pure before marriage, you will more likely remain pure during marriage. A sexually pure person is better prepared for marriage than a fornicator would be.

I know God can forgive and transform us. Mary Magdalene in the Bible proved that. I am not
predicting that you will have trouble in your marriage if you messed up before marriage. At
the same time, I would be lying if I told you that how you live as a single person does not have any bearing on your marriage, because it does.

As the Church, we try so hard to work on marriages in trouble, when we should be working just as hard on relationships before
marriage. We should expect purity before marriage, just as we would expect purity during marriage.


Dating simply sets the stage for sin. And worse, I feel dating is so expected and sometimes,
encouraged by the church, family and Christian friends, that we wonder why people fail sexually,
and later, get disappointed when they fail in their marriage.


I know Christian parents who allow their teenagers to date. The world expects teenagers to date, so parents feel like they must go along with the world. Listen, unless a person is ready for marriage, they should not be placed in a position to perform the duties of marriage. We are not called to go along with the world. We are to be
holy—pure and simple.


It is crazy for young fifteen, fourteen and even thirteen-year-old people to date and experience
intimacy. Dating is serious business. Yet it is becoming the norm for this age group to have
sex.

The Dating Game

Sex is serious. The Bible says, "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body;
but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body" (1 Cor 6:18, ASV). We are not to play near fornication, but flee it. Let’s face it: dating as it is practiced today, does not agree with
this scripture. When people date, they are not fleeing fornication; instead they are flirting with it.
They are seeing how close they can get to sex without actually doing it. That’s not fleeing.


The scriptures also says, "Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute (fornicator) is one with her in body? For it is said, ‘"The two will become one flesh’ (1 Cor 6:16)."
Fornication is similar to the act of marriage. When you fornicate you are acting as though you are married. You are one flesh during sex. "But I’m not married." I know. That is what makes sex before marriage so serious. One flesh union should be reserved for a husband and a wife, not
your boyfriend or girlfriend.


Modern dating has taken something very serious that God has made and turning it into a game. You’ve seen the Dating Game, and that sums up
dating: it has become a game. Dating has become a recreational activity. Yet, God says it is serious.
Sex is not like playing sports or games. It is not meant to entertain you. It is meant by God to draw together two people who are in love and who have committed to spend the rest of their lives together.

Learn to love appropriately. You need to use
your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. (Philippians 1:9-10 The Message Bible)

Real love is not sentimental gush. I know guys will say anything to get sex from their girlfriends.
They will even use the famous "I love you" line to get what they want. But real love is sincere. Does the guy really love her? Is he ready to take responsibility for a child that they might conceive?
Love must be sincere. Love is not selfish. If a person really loves someone, then he will make
sure not to do anything, which might hurt her.


Love is intelligent. I know we usually do not associate love with intelligence. Hollywood makes
love emotional. But God makes love intelligent. Okay, so you feel something for this guy, but use
your head, not your libido.


Courtship places intelligence as a premium to a relationship, but dating places emotions as the
prime indicator of a relationship. Courtship understands real love.


Dating is basically selfish. Does love motivate the guy who sleeps with his girlfriend when it will scar her emotionally and damage her relationship with God? Does love motivate the girl who leads a
guy along then breaks up with him when she finds someone better?

Smart love looks beyond personal desires and the gratification of the moment. It looks at the big picture: glorifying God and serving others.

The Wrong Cart

Dating is not an essential part of the complete teenage experience. You can serve God better without it.

I can hear some people say, "Hey, Pastor, you are throwing out the baby with the bath water. The problem isn’t dating. It is self-control." Give me a break.

How can we expect to exercise self-control if we constantly put ourselves in compromising situations? As I wrote earlier, my wife and I were virgins before we got married. That is not to say
we were not tempted. We were. The only time we had to repent before God was when we placed ourselves in a position we should not have. We were alone in her parent’s van. They let us borrow it. After eating dinner, we headed back to Sonia’s house, only to make a detour into the woods. Mistake! We almost fell. That was the only
time we placed ourselves in that kind of position.


I can imagine couples constantly placing themselves in compromising situations. Sooner or later, they will fall. I’m sure Sonia and I would have eventually succumbed to fornication if we
had constantly placed ourselves in that kind of position. But we didn’t.


The problem is not lack of self-control. It is buying into the whole modern idea of dating. We are
expected to be alone. We are expected to say no, when there are no safeguards that are in place.
I’m suggesting that we place the safeguards in place. The best safeguard is to teach and expect our members to practice courtship.

When you go to the grocery store, the most important thing to do is to get a good shopping cart. Not one that has wheels constantly spinning around. You may want to go straight down the aisle, but if you are not real careful, your cart will veer off course into a can of tomatoes. You didn’t intend to hit the cans, but you started off with the wrong cart. May I suggest that dating is the wrong cart to begin with? It just doesn’t work. Courtship will work.

www.wtbm.org

MY EXPERIENCE TODAY FROM WHERE WE WORSHIPPED

Today (7th April 2012) after two weeks of not worshipping in a Church, I finally got the opportunity to worship to the Glory of God.

To the Glory of God, from the direction I got from a friend who stays in this State, I was able to locate an Adventist Church. I had a wonderful time worshipping with my fellow believers. Below are some of the things I experienced.

I experienced one thing that made me glad and that is - Seventh-Day Adventist Church is the same everywhere; same songs, same greetings and responses... Almost everything was the same so I kind of had a Dejavu instead of feeling strange among my brethren.

Brethren, I tagged this Church 'Family Church' because they all behaved as one; shared jokes, commended and praised each other, I saw love flowing amongst them. I went on to tag it 'Nigerian Church' because I was afraid Hausa language will dominate the worship, but I realised the members were from all over Nigeria - Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, etc, which made English the language used throughout worship with little Hausa.

Hausa songs were sang by a family and the Women Choir which sang before the main Choir sang during Divine Service. The Church Choir is filled with Youths and their sound production was wonderful. I feel I may join that Choir before I leave this land. I was thrilled by the Choir. They even sang an Igbo Song - 'Ka amara gi Nna rudata, ike agwuwo ndi gi' and some other songs I knew.

I knew I will meet something different in the church, surely, I did. One of them is the response for 'Happy Sabbath'. When someone with Mic said 'Happy Sabbath' I replied loudly 'Happy Day' only to hear something different from the whole Church. Instead of 'Happy Day', when one says 'Happy Sabbath', they reply 'Remember to keep it Holy!'. I learnt and added that to the ones I knew before now.

Before now, I knew that Deacons are more active than Deaconesses, I knew Deaconesses don't do much work during worship. But here, the Deaconesses were the ones shifting the Lectern, they were even the ones that collected offering during Divine Service. They were very active more than their men counterparts. It wasn't only in the ushery department, the ladies were active in all activities of the church; during Divine Service, it was a vibrant young lady that led the Choir, during Song Service, it was a lady too...

... I'm happy I've found a Church were I'll be worshipping for the time being. Don't try to find out what I hid in those elipses please. Also, Church closed by 12:15pm which is great.

Great time I had in that Seventh Day Adventist Church located at David Mark Road, Tunga Minna - Niger State close to IBB's Mansion. I hope to get involved soon.

@elexharry

GIVE IT UP!!!!!!!!!! TO MY 28TH FEBRUARY PEOPLE!!!

In recent times, I’ve been posting on Facebook and Twitter on how much a tradition it has become for people to celebrate their loved ones only when they die. All over the Social Networks on daily basis, you read of people telling their dead ones how much they loved them. Unfortunately, these dead people can never read nor know how much they were and are still loved. So it’s better to celebrate people, tell them how much they meant to you, how much they’ve imparted into your live and other things about them you admire including funny ones, etc.

I want to dedicate my writing pen today in Celebration of some special people who today marks a special day in their lives; I’m using this space to celebrate them now they can read me. It can’t be possible for me to write everything I know about these people, I’ll need to write a book to achieve that.

These special people were born today (28th February) some years ago.

Here are somethings about them starting from my younger Sister.



(Mrs. Ezinne E. Iheoma)

My younger Sister Ezinne Iheoma (Nee Elekwa) known as Ezy or Ada Papa (by my Dad) is one special person I came to know from when she was born (My twin brother and I were already there before she arrived). As the only sister we had, it was great having her around. She’s so caring, hardworking, detailed and a lover of good things.

When we grew up, she took over the kitchen from our mum, and I must tell you, she learnt to do everything just as our mum did them; preparing Moi-moi, and other family delicacies became her specialty. Granula, Tom-brown and other must-have at home where always there at our disposal because she would always get them ready. When my mum was busy with work, she would be the one to prepare the Soap for the house. My Mum’s baking habit was also transferred to her. She could bake anything you can think of. Along the way, we (the men in the house) will always list what whoever will marry her will pay us, that she is a bunch of talent made in our house.

We shared our childhood together and part of our grown lives before she got married on the 27th day of November 2012. To the glory of God, she is plus one today! May the name of the Lord be praised because of this gift of a year He has given to her, may God bless her and her husband and add more wonderful years to them in Jesus name amen.

(Mrs. Hope Otugo-Nkemakolam)

Daa Hope as we grew to know and call her was and is still one of our big sisters. We grew up in the same yard and knew her as our ‘no-nonsense’ aunty. I can remember when my twin brother and I were admitted in the Primary School (She was already leaving the school for the next level) during our first day in school after our Dad registered us, she took good care of us that day. She bought all buyables for us as well as did to us what any other big aunty does to her younger ones.

At home, she and her sisters (the sisters were actually in charge of my twin brother, they were also identical twins) would always take care of us as their younger ones. I can’t forget all those Ede (Coco yam), Nsisa (asharasha), Abacha, Orange, Grape (very big ones) and the other goodies they used to give to us in those days; whenever Daddy (their Dad) travelled to village, we are always assured that whenever he arrives, Daa Hope and our other Aunties (her sisters) will supply us with so much goodies. To partake in these goodies, there’s one thing you must do and that is – stay around when Daddy arrives, help in offloading his car and all these goodies shall be added unto you. I can’t forget those memories.

Even when I got admission into the University in 03/04 Session, Daa Hope was already through, the few days she spent around; I felt her Big Sister impression around.

I thank God so much for the life of Daa Hope, today she’s plus one to the Glory of God! I pray that the Lord will bless her and her husband with many great years ahead in Jesus name amen.



(Mr. Kingsley Ahuruezemma)

The BlessedAkins! As my twin brother and I always call him is someone I hold in high esteem. We got admission in the same year and that year, He, Katchys (Onwuegbuchulam), I and my twin brother were four in one. We even formed a singing group then (that never performed for once lol!). I can remember when he made me study more without knowing it; that was when we went for an ECC NAAS (East Central Conference, Nigeria Association of Adventist Students) Evangelism at EBSU (Ebonyi State University) during the second semester of our first year (03/04 Session). The night after the Evangelism, we were chatting and joking, we even threw some banter, during this time, instead of joking with normal things or normal words, he was joking with words from one of the big books in ABSU known as ABSU Bible (Philosophy of Science). That book was so big and covers every department, it crosses across Science and Arts, so it was kind of a nightmare to students, I haven’t gone far in the book, but here I was standing, and my fellow student is lifting words and quotes from that book to joke! I had no other option than to go and study hard!

Blessed Akins is a very intelligent and cool fellow; he takes his time to study the environment and the people around him. When you meet him, you can’t help but admire him. He’s a friend to many, he’s loved by many and also admired by many; this could be seen from the day he was sent off from our fellowship in ABSU, Fellowship members showered him with so many gifts that we needed some trucks to pack them for him.

He is called Pastor by many because He was the Chaplain at Adventist Students Fellowship ABSU for a long time and served as the Evangelism Coordinator of East Central Conference NAAS. There are so many things about that I would need to dedicated a book for him to be able to get all those down on paper.

Today is his birthday! I pray that the almighty God will bless him abundantly with great testimonies and a good wife (as I can’t wait for his wedding IV) in Jesus name amen.



Arc Jane Oji

During my first year in the Department of Architecture of Abia State University, Uturu, I was a loner. I was always on my own but very observant. I knew almost all my course mates and knew who was who. Jane was one of the ladies I knew in the class, always around in class for lectures and always somewhere around the front seats. She was among the few women I couldn’t but admire because Architecture is not an easy course to study for men let alone the women. Of a truth, Jane and the other ladies in the class got me motivated to study the course, I always told myself that since ladies can, I won’t I.

When I started getting close to my course mates later in the years, I got to know her as a reserved lady who always respected herself and others around her. She was always free with everyone including myself who had few friends then. I can always remember her and her clique of Oge whenever they walkabout with their T-Square and those sleepless nights we all spent in the studio. When I couldn’t attend her Dad’s burial in our final year, I walked up to her and explained to her, she just took it coolly, I expected her to start like some people would’ve done by telling me “you no try” but she took it coolly and thanked me for the words.

Today, Jane is Plus 1! I pray that the almighty God will bless her with more years in ahead and great testimonies in Jesus name amen.



Mr. Uche Isiguzo

I met Urchman for the first time in 2005 at the Biennial Convention of East Central Conference NAAS hosted in ABSU; there I started admiring him because of something he achieved. I can remember that Friday night while we were packing things, one of the Organists (Henry) asked him if he could sing a certain song and he said no, he told the organist he can still learn it. He took the song sheet back to the hostel and the next day being a Sabbath, he presented to my admiration “The Holy City” I was amazed, I was like, so this guy was able to learn this song in the evening and present it this morning? That made me come closer to him, from there I came to like so many things about him.

He’s a great musician, sings very well, reads the staff very well (I can remember once I rehearsed with him at Ikwerre Etche) , He’s just blessed by God with Music and other great qualities even as a leader too.

We’ve had so many escapades together. I thank God for his life and for adding this New Year to his life. May God continue to bless him more in Jesus name amen.



Mr. Uchechukwu Vine Nweze

Uche is one of the persons I knew via NAAS. A cool guy and fun to be with. He’s talented in many spheres. One memory of him I can’t forget was at the ENUM Youth Study Camp at Oba where he led their Band (The Sound Masters) their performance was so great that they made me remember my days as a Band Player in one of the Best Bands in Adventist Church Nigeria (From 1997 till some time, thought I joined the Band in 1999). I admire his strength on his trumpet too. He’s also a Madridsta like me.

Urchman, as you celebrate, may the Lord bless you more in Jesus name amen.



Mr. Collins Nwulu

I call him Elder Collins. I actually met him last year, but he knew me before then. I knew him more while we were at Behold He Cometh Evangelism last year in Ikwo, we shared the same room. He’s a cool and friendly fellow, takes his time to study people around him. He has his specialty when it comes to working and has works he detests… He was the Evangelism Coordinator Adventist Students Fellowship, Nigeria Association of Adventist Students Michael Okpar University of Agriculture.

Elder Collins, as you celebrate today, may God bless you more in Jesus name amen.

Maybe, You Were Not Ignored...

Olukayode: I've been mentioning your handle on twitter, but you've not been replying. You won't tell me you've not been on twitter because; I've been seeing your tweets. If not that I know you, I would've said you’ve been ignoring me or ... I don't know what to say…

Chioma: Are you sure you've been mentioning me? I go through my mentions regularly, but I've never seen any of your tweets. Are you sure you spelt my Handle well?

Olukayode: of course, I’ve been mentioning you. How can I miss the spelling of your handle, is it not @chyoma0023? …


Have you ever mentioned someone on twitter, and spent countless hours expecting their reply (when you know they have few followers) only to be seeing their tweets on your timeline, but no reply to yours? If so, your case may be the same with that of Olukayode and Chioma.

When they met each other, she saw that he was not lying, as a matter of fact; she saw the tweets on his profile page as well as her handle well written. Then the big question, why weren't the tweets showing in her mentions? That's the basis of this post.

They made so many conclusions which didn't help. They later realised that he was typing without giving any space between the handle and other words. That was exactly why she wasn't getting the tweets.

So many people on twitter have this same issue to sort out. In certain cases, the two parties end up not finding out what really happened but go on believing they were being ignored.

Here are things to note while typing your tweets so they can get to whoever you mentioned.

* Whenever you want to mention someone's handle, make sure you give at least a space between the sides of the handle. Here's an example, the first example will be delivered to whoever you mentioned while the second won't.
Eg. 1. What was the score of Madrid's game last night @Realmadrid @Rmadridinfo

Eg. 2. Where can I download some movies online?@Ebaykalu@d_uche

In the first example, there're spaces between the first handle (@Realmadrid) and the word before it (night) and the handle (@Rmadridinfo) after it. In the second example, there are no such spaces. So, @Ebaykalu and @d_uche may never answer the question because it won't be appear on their mentions. They can only see it by accident on their TL if they are following you and were online when you tweeted but it won’t be on their mentions.

* Another case occurs in situations where a tweep is tweeting more than 140 words.
Certain twitter clients like twitlonger, writelonger, tmi.me, tweete.net, etc enables more than 140 words on twitter. But as the case maybe, after the 140 mark, the rest of the tweet can only be viewed by a link. Only the first 140 would be visible to your followers and only twitter handles that appeared on the first 140 would be delivered to the mentions of the tweeps you mentioned. So, if you are tweeting more than 140 or you don’t know if it will pass 140 or not, start the tweet with the handle you are tweeting.

So don’t be surprised when you tweet more than 140 words and no one replies - it’s because, they never knew you mentioned them.
In recent times, during chat on twitter with some of my tweeps, I wait for long without getting any reply only to go to their profile and see that they replied but realized that my handle was either typed without being spaced from other words (eg. I will be around@Elexharry) or the tweet was more than 140 words with my handle among the words that came after 140.
So to enjoy your twitter experience the more and get your message across to whomever you have in mind, it’s good to always learn to do it the right way so as to get the intended results.

Tweet Right!
@Elexharry

Secrets By Nature - (You'll Get the Call Soon)

While we were growing up, there were certain issues that were Natural-Secrets, you don't need to be told "don't tell anyone" about them. Such issues include Family plans for the future (Eg. Mummy telling us during Family hours that Daddy said he'll buy so-so things, etc,), getting a very-poor result in tests, wetting the bed at night and other funny and serious secrets.

Now that we've grown up, certain things are still secrets. Eg. Someone traveling abroad, most people seeking for employment, most people in relationships, most people supporting certain Political Parties.

Why do people keep certain secrets?

In recent times, someone you took as a friend will just email you and tell you he is in another country, some may not even tell you until you see it on their Facebook location.

My friends and I, in order to avoid surprises (after so many of them) figured out a way to find out those traveling abroad. It has been working for us.

Certain friends who traveled abroad without informing us till they got there or until the night of their departure all went through the same process so we are now at least 65 0r 70 percent sure that when what I have in the next paragraph starts happening, someone is about traveling.

One of our friends would always travel to Lagos from time to time, it wasn't for Holiday nor for business because we knew each other well. When you ask him, what's up? he'll tell you nothing much. Until one night he called from Lagos, informing us that he was leaving Nigeria that night. Other friends who traveled to Lagos that way too ended up emailing that they've left Nigeria.

So when your friend who's not working in Lagos, not seeking for work there travels frequently at a time you know he's not going for hols, then brace up to get the news of them leaving Nigeria maybe later from them or from other people/

So for us, when such things happen we know that someone will soon leave us in Nigeria for greener pastures.

A Question for you: Why do people traveling abroad make it a top secret?

100 FACTS ABOUT ME

THESE FACTS ABOUT ME ARE NOT LISTED IN ANY ORDER. THE NUMBERING IS FOR FORMALITIES.


1. I'm a twin (identical) and my twin is my best friend


2. I hate procrastinating. Though I do that often.


3. I love starting earlier. Though I don't do that often.


4. I'm very talented. I've been using less than 20 percent of my talents. Too bad.


5. I love lovely, cheerful, caring and down to earth people


6. I'm a Seventh-Day Adventist and an AYM member.


7. I enjoy these stars on twitter
@Ryanbabel @Uchejombo @Piersmorgan @Chidimokeme @darey
@Rioferdy5


8. I enjoy news updates on twitter via
@234next
@rmadridinfo
@Barcastuff
@goal_intl
@epltalk
@MUFootballClub
@saharareporters
@FIFA and others


9. I love Architecture, Music, Poetry, Computers, Arts and The Bible.


10. Tombrown and Beans are my favourite of foods


11. I love writing.


12. In ABSU apart frm God, what kept me going include
ASF ABSU
Architecture
Coursemates
CampusWatch
and Roommates


13. I get inspired on twitter from
@Johnpiper
@Thelovestories
@BrightQuote
@CSLewisdaily
@PDConnection


14. My
favourite colours are Green and Gold


15. Among the
reasons I hate fighting include: so I
don't kill someone and so no one
tears my cloths


16. I love my
Piano. I'll soon do my first solo
with my Trumpet.


17. I love my
family. My Dad, Mum, Twin, Sister
and two younger brothers.



18. I had
more than 66 roommates in
ABSU. We still contact each other.


19. I look forward to
tweets from @ekekeee
@oskinton @
@... @SoniaofHBF
@ALIBACABAGCFR


20. I love
Jeeps