tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66896647537159106362024-03-13T16:45:39.813-05:00HOLYEBONYHolyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-52162512980331525422011-04-03T21:36:00.002-05:002011-04-03T21:40:09.759-05:00MOVING FROM HOLYEBONY TO CONTRACULTUREMAG!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Contraculture E- Magazine logo</td></tr>
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Hi everyone!<br />
This will be my last post on this blog. It has been a fantastic two years with y'all, discussing faith, the African church and related topics. Thank you for coming to visit regularly. Now I am taking things to the next level and this blog will be evolving into a magazine named<b> <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://contraculturemag.com/">contraculturemag</a></span></b>. I have been able to move all your posts and comments so we will just continue from where we stopped. The difference is that posts are much better organized and so you can better access and enjoy the content! <br />
I will also be bringing you a lot of original content from musicians, missionaries and pastors - people who are engaged in the front-lines of the spiritual battlefield!<br />
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So please come over to the online magazine and join me as I take African related spiritual content to the next level! <br />
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See you at <span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://contraculturemag.com/">ContraCulturemag</a>.</b></span><br />
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Ciao!!Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-86614816357612759512011-03-28T14:34:00.000-05:002011-03-28T14:34:29.158-05:00Music: If you ask me by Omawumi Hi peeps!<br />
I have been out of circulation abi? No vex for me o, too much wahala for my small head. I will be back with major force, but in the meantime, enjoy this brilliant song and video by Omawumi. It tackles a major societal issue (child molestation) in a very catchy manner. I love Omawumi's music - homegirl is super talented. ENJOY!<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vHMbhz8A6AY" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-29234095507752748272011-03-21T09:53:00.001-05:002011-03-21T09:55:06.977-05:00Nigerian Presidential DebatesServing president Jonathan did not participate. Too busy campaigning. Not a good look by any means.<br />
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Hmmm! Our aspiring leaders are not too eloquent oo. Na wah! <br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yDAyUYcmudc" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-69233085186108567602011-03-16T10:30:00.002-05:002011-03-16T10:32:34.293-05:00Nigerian pop star in China!Our people dey waka oooo! The guy is a star! What? In China? Na wah!! All things are possible true true!<br />
And there is a church connection - he started singing at<a href="http://houseontherockng.com/"> House on the Rock</a> in Lagos Nigeria. See this super cool video on him:<br />
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I cannot knock his hustle o, athough I dunno about all his talk about China in Africa. The jury is still out, but I doubt that its a good thing in the long run.<br />
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Anyways, article and more video below:<br />
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By JIMMY WANG<br />
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BEIJING — The silver scales of Hao Ge’s glam shirt glitter against his dark violet designer suit as a spotlight focuses on him. Female dancers in jumpsuits orbit him as he slowly begins to sing a sugary pop ballad and clenches his fist as if to invoke the gods of love.<br />
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Hao Ge was performing on “New Sights and Sounds,” a show on state-run television that showcases entertainers for hundreds of millions of Chinese viewers.<br />
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Hao Ge (pronounced How Guh) is perhaps China’s most unlikely pop star: he is Nigerian, and he sings in Mandarin.<br />
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His real name is Emmanuel Uwechue, though he is better known by his stage name, which sounds like the words for “good song” in Chinese. Mr. Uwechue, 33, has developed quite a fan base, particularly among the children and middle-aged women who watch “Xin Guang Da Dao,” the “American Idol” knockoff show, where he first gained notice a few years after his arrival here almost a decade ago. He has performed alongside a host of Chinese superstars — including Sun Nan, Na Ying and Han Hong — and has been enthusiastically embraced by the Chinese media.<br />
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“The African Who Searches for His Dream in China,” read the headline atop a 2006 article about Mr. Uwechue on QQ.com, a popular social networking site here. Articles by the state-run Xinhua news agency and in the Web-based magazine Sina Entertainment, as well as a television documentary, have similarly chronicled his unusual story. Mr. Uwechue even appears on bus ads: “Good Song Comes From Good Wine,” reads an advertisement for the Guan Gong Fang company, which signed him to represent its brand of wine.<br />
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“He’s good — he’s not just another foreigner who got on TV because he could speak and sing in Chinese,” said Yu Na, 40, who lives in northwest Beijing, adding that she likes to “jump up and down” to Mr. Uwechue’s more upbeat songs; many of them are soul-infused versions of classic Chinese love songs, with faster rhythms.<br />
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Mr. Uwechue is not the first foreigner to have made a name for himself in China, but he is the first African to have reached widespread success here. Some music industry experts in China credit part of his fame to the close economic and cultural ties — including friendship and exchange programs and other joint ventures — that have long existed between China and some African countries. In a recently televised public performance, Mr. Uwechue dressed up as an oil rig worker and sang alongside a Chinese fellow laborer.<br />
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Among nations with close Sino-African ties, Nigeria in particular has benefited from Chinese capital. China has invested more than $7 billion in energy, communications and infrastructure in the country, which exports some $4.7 billion in crude oil to China each year, according to a recent statement by Li Yizhung, China’s minister of industry and information technology.<br />
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“This is not just about Hao Ge,” said Long Hu, 38, a music producer and talent scout in Beijing who cultivates young musical talent. “It’s about China and Africa.”<br />
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Mr. Uwechue got his start singing in the choir at House on the Rock Pentecostal church in Lagos, Nigeria. After receiving a degree in engineering, he decided to pursue music against the wishes of his father, who “disowned me for a while,” Mr. Uwechue said, adding, “He thought I was throwing my life away.”<br />
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A Chinese friend, Li Yayu, who was working in Lagos at the time, was aware of Mr. Uwechue’s interest in singing. When Mr. Li moved back to Henan Province in 2001 to open a hotel, he called Mr. Uwechue and asked him if he wanted to visit.<br />
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Mr. Uwechue accepted in 2002, and eventually started performing in bars and hotels in Henan and Hebei Provinces. He got his big break when Liu Huan — a top producer in the music industry here who helped pioneer pop music in China by performing and composing for television — discovered him singing one night at the Big Easy, a bar in Beijing that has since closed. With Mr. Liu’s backing, Mr. Uwechue became a devoted student of Mandarin and eventually gained a following. It was his performance in 2007 at the wildly popular Lunar New Year Gala, seen by hundreds of millions of people on television, that made him a star. It’s the Chinese equivalent of the Super Bowl and China’s highest-rated broadcast event of the year.<br />
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Mr. Uwechue is mindful of rigid cultural controls imposed on artists by the Chinese government. His albums — “Red and Black” (2006), “Hao Ge’s Latest Songs” (2008) and “Beloved Life” (2009) — hew to themes of heartbreak, redemption and love, the kind of pop that is played on the airways. He is also frustrated by those strictures.<br />
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“I feel boxed in, always singing romance songs,” he said. “I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but I would like to expand the horizons of my distributed work.”<br />
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To that end, he has formed a new band, which, in a recent jam session at the One recording studio, played a dozen songs that he conceded had “no chance” of being taken up by China’s pop producers. Mr. Uwechue said he preferred singing upbeat, rhythmic songs to the slower commercial fare — some of it sappy by Western standards — that his producers insist mainland Chinese will listen to.<br />
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Mr. Uwechue is working on a new album that he says will be a “radical departure” for him, although it remains to be seen whether it will be distributed or promoted in the same way his previous work has been.<br />
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Being a recognizable star and being African obviously has its complications in China. Whatever racism he has felt, he said, has come from “other singers and competitors” within the industry, not from the public.<br />
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Despite the fame he has found in China, Mr. Uwechue is aware that many Nigerians harbor mixed feeling about his adopted country, with its increasingly visible global financial power. He says that while many in his homeland are “appreciative of China coming in and helping the economy,” others fear the Chinese presence could be “another form of colonization.”<br />
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When Mr. Uwechue took his first album to his friends and family in Nigeria, they were, he said, “a little bit surprised, yet proud” to learn that he had become a pop star in China. He recalled his mother’s response: “‘China? Wow! I never could have imagined.’ ” <br />
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/arts/music/hao-ge-a-nigerian-becomes-a-pop-star-in-china.html?_r=2">source</a><br />
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And he is not a novelty act - really talented dude. Na wah oooo!!<br />
And some youtube videos of him singing. I know they say Liberia, but he is Naija o. Probably the people who uploaded the videos could not tell the difference. This is one dude we are happy to claim - LOL!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JLu6AmHqbe8" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-14876122248994891392011-03-14T10:17:00.001-05:002011-03-14T10:18:43.825-05:00Politics: Nigerian Vice Presidential DebatesThe serving vice president refused to participate. And I hear current President Jonathan has refused to debate because he is "busy". Hmmmmmm! Anyways sha, the Nigerian Vice presidential debates took place Saturday. Videos below:<br />
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Enjoy!Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-39822514414384166062011-03-10T12:53:00.002-06:002011-03-10T22:58:04.089-06:00Politics: Listen to Oyo State Governorship debate hereThe debate train is gathering steam ooo. The Oyo State people have joined in too. Unfortunately it was not videotaped, but you can listen to it. See below:<br />
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Edit: The player comes on automatically and I don't know how to stop that, so instead of embedding the link like I did previously, I have chosen to send you to it. Nothing more annoying than a noisy blog!! Go <a href="http://radio.securenetsystems.net/radio_player_large.cfm?stationCallSign=SPLAS-OD">here:</a><br />
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Enjoy the debate!!Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-45090883302063388172011-03-10T06:56:00.003-06:002011-03-10T07:07:07.194-06:00Prayer IX: GOD speaking in an audible voice<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg733eFMR_bLH1RcXVjuDw5QH-VVV1sWi-uvFBw_HixgE2J16mzAToYGBfYyxFh428Pxr2dCme1ayDYZIoed-T0Rwyej7rGJxsxC_WP_XEkJ4VEb4YuzjWshDudsMUuKmRkrd4AJRgWRLU/s1600/Moses%252C+burning+bush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg733eFMR_bLH1RcXVjuDw5QH-VVV1sWi-uvFBw_HixgE2J16mzAToYGBfYyxFh428Pxr2dCme1ayDYZIoed-T0Rwyej7rGJxsxC_WP_XEkJ4VEb4YuzjWshDudsMUuKmRkrd4AJRgWRLU/s1600/Moses%252C+burning+bush.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moses and the burning bush</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I am so sorry that I could not post this on Tuesday as regularly scheduled. I was a little under the weather. But here we goooo!<br />
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The final way (at least from the list we identified <a href="http://holyebony.blogspot.com/2011/01/devotional-prayer-iii.html">here</a>) that GOD speaks to us is in a clear audible voice, you know, like you talk to your friends? Actually, that was the original plan of GOD, we were meant to be HIS friends:<br />
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<div style="color: red;">Genesis 3</div><div style="color: red;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-64">8</sup> Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-65">9</sup> But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” </div><br />
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Apparently, Adam and Eve were used to strolling and gisting with GOD before things fell apart. Can you imagine that? Despite the fact that they lost that privilege when they were kicked out of the garden for disobedience (read the rest of Gen 3), several people have been recorded who were able to converse with GOD like Adam and Eve did. I will start with Moses - who unambigously heard the voice of GOD. It began at HIS call:<br />
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<div style="color: red;"><b>Exodus 3: 1-6</b></div><div style="color: red;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-1581">1</sup> Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-1582">2</sup> And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush <i>was</i> not consumed. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-1583">3</sup> Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-1584">4</sup> So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” <br />
And he said, “Here I am.” <br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-1585">5</sup> Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand <i>is</i> holy ground.” <sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-1586">6</sup> Moreover He said, “I <i>am</i> the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. </div><br />
Powerful encounter no? And as their relationship progressed, Moses graduated to being able to talk with GOD face to face. Imagine that. Incredible is it not? A very unique relationship it was. So that when Aaron and Meriam, his sister and brother disrespected Moses as he lead the Isrealites, this is what GOD had to say:<br />
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<div style="color: red;"><b>Numbers 12</b></div><span style="color: red;"> </span><sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-4061" style="color: red;">1</sup><span style="color: red;"> Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. </span><sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-4062" style="color: red;">2</sup><span style="color: red;"> So they said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the LORD heard </span><i style="color: red;">it.</i><span style="color: red;"> </span><sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-4063" style="color: red;">3</sup><span style="color: red;"> (Now the man Moses </span><i style="color: red;">was</i><span style="color: red;"> very humble, more than all men who </span><i style="color: red;">were</i><span style="color: red;"> on the face of the earth.)</span><br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-4064" style="color: red;">4</sup><span style="color: red;"> Suddenly the LORD said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tabernacle of meeting!” So the three came out. </span><sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-4065" style="color: red;">5</sup><span style="color: red;"> Then the LORD came down in the pillar of cloud and stood </span><i style="color: red;">in</i><span style="color: red;"> the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward. </span><sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-4066" style="color: red;">6</sup><span style="color: red;"> Then He said, </span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"> “Hear now My words: </span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> If there is a prophet among you, </span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> </span><i style="color: red;">I</i><span style="color: red;">, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; </span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> I speak to him in a dream.</span><br />
<div style="color: red;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-4067">7</sup> Not so with My servant Moses;<br />
He <i>is</i> faithful in all My house.</div><div style="color: red;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-4068">8</sup><b> I speak with him face to face,<br />
Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; <br />
And he sees the form of the LORD. </b><br />
Why then were you not afraid <br />
To speak against My servant Moses?” </div><div style="color: red;"><br />
</div>Just on a side note: There is some controversy in the literature over whether or not this woman was black. If she was, we have the first recorded case or racism here folks - and we also see how GOD felt about it!!<br />
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Moving right along, take a good look at verse 8: GOD spoke to Moses - face to face. Wow!<br />
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Thinking about this a little more actually, this was also what the disciples enjoyed when they walked with JESUS - they walked with GOD, spoke to HIM and learned from HIM - face to face. I don't need to give verses for that - just read the gospels.<br />
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I will end on a thoughtful note: We lost so much when Adam and Eve sinned - including our abilities to communicate freely and easily with our maker. Now along with everything else, it is hard work. CHRIST came to once again open up the lines of communication. There may still be people who talk with GOD like Moses did, but they are not too many. But there will be a day...! Like Paul said:<br />
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<div style="color: red;"><b>I cor 13:12</b></div><div style="color: red;"> For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.</div><br />
Now we see dimly and know in part. But the day will come when we shall know fully - see fully, hear fully.<br />
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Stay the course folks. Stay the course.<br />
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Next time: How to pray!<br />
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Song of the day: I am convinced this song was inspired by Moses encounter at the burning bush:<br />
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A version by the incomparable Sandi Patti:<br />
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And beautiful choral version - loves it!<br />
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Have a wonderful day!Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-74210234083764708372011-03-04T23:06:00.003-06:002011-03-04T23:23:51.679-06:00Politics: Lagos State governorship debate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The aspirants</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sometimes, I do believe there is hope for Nigeria. I was very proud to see that the governorship aspirants of Lagos State were able to come together and have a relatively civilized debate on their plans for Lagos State. I am not gonna lie, the current governor - Governor Fashola really impressed me. Chief J.K Randle however, not so much. I cannot believe that the man came there talking about pedigree and respect for elders!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxmbtXUfQAUiKq984X7_OhMGBEttepmwtysdJVZQGf8Ky2-JYWZbvS8mJTtEr34xkvuX6omiE4RDhzGLZllOZeYirtt-QEEzB_oWOl4XXEcWxKi_FSaySRWkKJTRsvja3Fzu_MnQBg5w/s1600/Governor+Fashola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxmbtXUfQAUiKq984X7_OhMGBEttepmwtysdJVZQGf8Ky2-JYWZbvS8mJTtEr34xkvuX6omiE4RDhzGLZllOZeYirtt-QEEzB_oWOl4XXEcWxKi_FSaySRWkKJTRsvja3Fzu_MnQBg5w/s1600/Governor+Fashola.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Current governor Fashola</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anyways, watch the entire debate on youtube. It gets really juicy in part 5 when they ask each other questions, then the claws come out : meowwwwwwwwwwwwww!! Enjoy it, I did!! Great round of applause to Channels TV. Fabulous job they did though the crowd was a little rowdy!<br />
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Edit: Oh MY GOODNESS!! Parts 5-7 is just too sweet. Just toooo sweet. Even if you cannot watch the rest, watch those three parts. Tooooo much! Kai. This Fashola sef, he just looks gentle, the man is a tiger o. Chei. I loved this debate - too sweet!!<br />
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Click below to watch videos <br />
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Part 1 <br />
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Part 2<br />
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Part 3 <br />
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Part 4: <br />
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Part 5:<br />
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Part 6:<br />
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Part 7:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aAaPnmDVbjA" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-85783302825040120602011-03-03T14:56:00.001-06:002011-03-03T14:56:42.719-06:00Church in the News: Pastor Odulele admits sex offenses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmK4uMKo3cUufzXh0tvwzhuZ4L1VMp1jUi-HzCNCA3u5344EqPvPHjlzKxDuyeQU9jKzOiKZznVUjeYKrN5wk-vV4AxL9sMMmCgpqpuXudq6p39lFlE6q0htVaHuyZ8QrnAV11mesQJAs/s1600/Pastor+odulele2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmK4uMKo3cUufzXh0tvwzhuZ4L1VMp1jUi-HzCNCA3u5344EqPvPHjlzKxDuyeQU9jKzOiKZznVUjeYKrN5wk-vV4AxL9sMMmCgpqpuXudq6p39lFlE6q0htVaHuyZ8QrnAV11mesQJAs/s1600/Pastor+odulele2.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: red;">LORD PLEASE HAVE MERCY!! </span><br />
<div style="color: red;">Nothing more to add. We should pray for him, and for healing for his victims. </div><br />
Pastor Odulele who runs Glory House International, admitted indecently assaulting a boy aged 14 and sexually assaulting a 21-year-old man - both former members of his congregation. <br />
He entered the guilty pleas at Bexley Magistrates' Court in south east London and was committed for sentencing at Woolwich Crown Court on a date yet to be set.<br />
Magistrates granted him conditional bail at the brief hearing.<br />
Odulele, who describes himself as a 'teacher, preacher and evangelical preacher', is a major figure in the world of evangelical Christianity.<br />
His east London-based church says it has a congregation of 3,000.<br />
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<b>Worldwide following</b><br />
And Odulele has attracted many more followers around the world through appearances at international evangelic conferences, on religious TV programmes and videos on YouTube.<br />
<a href="http://www.gloryhouse.org.uk/gloryh/01_ab_ps.html" target="_blank">His website</a> describes him as an author, speaker and preacher, and boasts of his 'charismatic style, prophetic delivery and prolific expression of truth'.<br />
<b>Channel 4 News</b> understands the alleged assaults took place in 2003 and 2004.<br />
The court heard how Odulele, 47, initially denied any wrongdoing after he was arrested last summer by the Metropolitan Police's Major Child Abuse Investigation Unit.<br />
But he later admitted to police that he had been 'battling' with his sexuality for years. He denied the offences were pre-planned.<br />
Glory House International has been a registered charity for 18 years and has a turnover of £2 million a year.<br />
Church leaders were unavailable for comment when contacted by <b>Channel 4 News</b>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.channel4.com/news/international-preacher-odulele-admits-sex-offences">Source </a>Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-1332348726281898942011-03-01T08:04:00.001-06:002011-03-01T08:04:46.351-06:00Prayer VIII: GOD speaking through dreams and visions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91_8Li7wgs_7t2Plv1rBufyngPIlz91cyFcIH7-vdLTZqcCjtJwBy6exefwWEJi0qkvc6-88WQV8dw6px4YJ8Awrdtl98yXFQtWssJMrZE664DYok2dyDYQ_DWkxJTtvHcGHD00QY-UY/s1600/dreams+and+visions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91_8Li7wgs_7t2Plv1rBufyngPIlz91cyFcIH7-vdLTZqcCjtJwBy6exefwWEJi0qkvc6-88WQV8dw6px4YJ8Awrdtl98yXFQtWssJMrZE664DYok2dyDYQ_DWkxJTtvHcGHD00QY-UY/s1600/dreams+and+visions.jpg" /></a></div>How else does GOD speak? Through dreams and visions. Everything we have said about keeping quiet, opening your mind to positive and spiritual things, etc, etc still apply in this case. You have to be attuned to a spiritual channel and ready to receive for GOD to speak to you. Having said that, there are many examples of GOD speaking via this medium in the bible.<br />
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A dream is a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep (<a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dream?show=0&t=1298987028">Source</a>)<br />
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Today, we begin by highlighting two famous dreamers in the bible:<br />
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1) GOD showed Joseph his future in a dream:<br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">Gen 37: 5-10</span></b><br />
<span style="color: red;">Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. 6 So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: 7 There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.”</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">8 And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">9 Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">10 So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” 11 And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.</span><br />
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The dream came true here:<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">Gen 42:5-6</span></b><br />
<span style="color: red;">5 And the sons of Israel went to buy grain among those who journeyed, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.6 Now Joseph was governor over the land; and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth.</span><br />
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2) And now jumping over the new testament, we have GOD giving another Joseph specific instructions in a dream:<br />
a) First to prevent a broken relationship:<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">Matthew 1: 18-24</span></b><br />
<span style="color: red;">18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.[e] And he called His name JESUS.</span><br />
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b) And secondly, to save the life of a very special child:<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">Matthew 2: 13-14</span></b><br />
<span style="color: red;">13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,</span><br />
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We can also talk about visions: <br />
A vision is ": something seen in a dream, trance, or ecstasy; especially : a supernatural appearance that conveys a revelation" (<a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vision">source</a>)<br />
One of my favorite examples of visions in the bible is the calling of Isaiah to be a prophet as found in Isaiah 6:<br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">Isaiah 6: 1-8</span></b><br />
<span style="color: red;">1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said:</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> “ Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> The whole earth is full of His glory!”</span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"> 4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">5 So I said:</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> “ Woe is me, for I am undone!</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> Because I am a man of unclean lips,</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> For my eyes have seen the King,</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> The LORD of hosts.”</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said:</span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"> “ Behold, this has touched your lips;</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> Your iniquity is taken away,</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> And your sin purged.”</span><br />
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<span style="color: red;">8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:</span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"> “ Whom shall I send,</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"> And who will go for Us?”</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” </span><br />
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Look at the sense of awe that the presence of GOD elicited in Isaiah. We can get close enough to GOD that we experience some of these things too. They are not limited to a special group of people.<br />
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GOD is speaking to you today, are you listening?<br />
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Today's song speaks of Isaiah's vision:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Hv24ZtdhnFQ" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-59645374726721489492011-02-28T08:43:00.001-06:002011-02-28T08:49:05.843-06:00Church in the News: Nigerian Pastor in Britain charged with sex offenses<div id="newshead"><div id="search"><div class="newsSearch"><form action="/news/search/" class="search-form" id="search-form-se04-" method="get"><div class="cf"></div></form></div></div>I am not sure of what to think of this one ooo. I am reserving judgment until I hear all the evidence. Hmmm!! </div><div id="newshead"></div><div id="newshead"><b>Evangelical pastor charged with sex offences</b></div><div class="imageRater"><div class="FormRater" id="FormRater500788138" style="display: none;"><form id="RatingForm500788138" method="post"><input id="ratingName500788138" name="ratingName500788138" type="hidden" value="BrightcoveAssetId_500788140" /> <select name="rating"> <option selected="selected" value="0">Select a rating</option> <option value="1">1</option> <option value="2">2</option> <option value="3">3</option> <option value="4">4</option> <option value="5">5</option> </select> <input type="SUBMIT" value="submit" /> </form></div><div class="hide BoxOfFailAndWin" id="BoxOfFailAndWin500788138" style="display: none;"> </div></div><div class="module groupID-AV c1 moduleID-AV01" id="cms:500788138"><div class="componentRow"><div class="component"></div></div></div><div class="module groupID-AR c1 moduleID-AT01" id="cms:500788141"><div class="componentRow"><div class="component"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8gBSiHXc6FEWqve6upDvFPlPlGeBSipWTh2X_J24Y-TFwN0sSIJe9DBRyIQ6097dL4d-hwy6gOl45r8gay3jm3kphyphenhyphenMtS9Mtz1wh8i5hbFS_eWSodmnhNvjGTcBzbNCpIeTFAE7k33U/s1600/Albert+Odulele.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8gBSiHXc6FEWqve6upDvFPlPlGeBSipWTh2X_J24Y-TFwN0sSIJe9DBRyIQ6097dL4d-hwy6gOl45r8gay3jm3kphyphenhyphenMtS9Mtz1wh8i5hbFS_eWSodmnhNvjGTcBzbNCpIeTFAE7k33U/s1600/Albert+Odulele.jpg" /></a></div>The pastor of a global evangelical movement based in the UK has been charged with sex offences against former members of his congregation. Dr Albert Odulele who runs Glory House International in London is to appear in court next week. One charge alleges indecent assault of a child under the age of 16. Dr Odulele, who is 47 years old, is a major figure in the word of evangelism. His church, based in east London, says it has a congregation of 3,000, but he has many more followers around the world through appearances at international evangelic conferences, on religious TV programmes and videos on YouTube.<br />
<b>Registered charity</b><br />
The church has been a registered charity for 18 years and turns over £2million a year. He was arrested last summer by the Metropolitan Police's Major Child Abuse Investigation Unit.<br />
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</div></div></div><b>Channel Four News</b> has learned that he has been charged with two offences - an indecent assault of an under 16 year old, and the sexual assault of another male teenager. This programme understands the alleged assaults took place in 2003 and 2004.<br />
<a href="http://www.eauk.org/">The Evangelical Alliance</a> - the group that represents evangelical churches in the UK - gave this statement: "Our overriding concern here is for the care, protection and welfare of children and young people, so it is imperative that all churches adopt safe practice in order to protect children and young people from abuse - and staff members and volunteers from the possibility of false accusation."<br />
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<a href="http://www.channel4.com/news/evangelical-pastor-charged-with-sex-offences">Source </a><br />
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Na wah o - so any ladies thinking of moving to the Himalayas? LOL!!Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-62249522432883915402011-02-22T09:29:00.001-06:002011-02-22T09:29:55.626-06:00Prayer VII: GOD speaking through other people<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJn1Q8mHz4BPgrQKGwx3AGuzJyrIyDHxPfyFT77jf3p4Q4yqzw9Ra7YOyyfBZTrXl-eMW9vXbsMzBH-9cL-K8i6BAFnUZXkz_h33BNvEMhEXbhEoTnHX0hAhbMJ8vaSlK6SUgqxF8HWE/s1600/hearing+from+GOD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJn1Q8mHz4BPgrQKGwx3AGuzJyrIyDHxPfyFT77jf3p4Q4yqzw9Ra7YOyyfBZTrXl-eMW9vXbsMzBH-9cL-K8i6BAFnUZXkz_h33BNvEMhEXbhEoTnHX0hAhbMJ8vaSlK6SUgqxF8HWE/s1600/hearing+from+GOD.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The old and new testaments are full of accounts of prophets through whom GOD spoke to HIS people. And yet, GOD spoke many times through ordinary people too. You have to be discerning enough to test the spirit behind what people say to you. But many times, GOD uses the most unlikely people to bring you your answers. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are several examples in the bible:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>For prophets:</b></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are several, but one of the most poignant is found in 2 Samuel 12. David had sinned terribly, so GOD sent Nathan to him:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2 Sam 12:1-14</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, 3 but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him. 4 “Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.” 5 David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this must die! 6 He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.” 7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. 9 Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> 11 “This is what the LORD says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. 12 You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’” 13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. 14 But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for[a] the LORD, the son born to you will die.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then we have GOD speaking through ordinary people:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Matthew 16:13-20</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[b] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[c] will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[e] loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Even Jesus had to acknowledge the nature of Peter’s answer as spiritual and not carnal. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The point of this is simple: There have to be GODly people in your life through whom GOD can speak truth into your life. Do not be foolish and surround yourself only with people who say only what you want to hear like this king:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I kings 12: 1-19</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <sup>1</sup> Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. <sup>2</sup> When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt. <sup>3</sup> So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: <sup>4</sup> “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <sup>5</sup> Rehoboam answered, “Go away for three days and then come back to me.” So the people went away. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <sup>6</sup> Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <sup>7</sup> They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <sup>8</sup> But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. <sup>9</sup> He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <sup>10</sup> The young men who had grown up with him replied, “These people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. <sup>11</sup> My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <sup>12</sup> Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” <sup>13</sup> The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, <sup>14</sup> he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” <sup>15</sup> So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the LORD, to fulfill the word the LORD had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <sup>16</sup> When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “What share do we have in David, <br />
what part in Jesse’s son? <br />
To your tents, Israel! <br />
Look after your own house, David!” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> So the Israelites went home. <sup>17</sup> But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <sup>18</sup> King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. <sup>19</sup> So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">What is the price of foolishness? GOD spoke through the elders, but the king did not want to hear. So he paid the price.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Do not be foolish enough to surround yourself only with people who are on your level spiritually. Seek GODly counsel before making decisions. Many times, when you think you have heard the still quiet voice, you need confirmation. If GOD has spoken to you truly, HE will confirm HIS word through GODly people. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">As the word says:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Prov 11: 14</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup style="color: red;">14</sup><span style="color: red;"> Where </span><i style="color: red;">there is</i><span style="color: red;"> no counsel, the people fall; </span><br style="color: red;" /><span style="color: red;"> But in the multitude of counselors </span><i style="color: red;">there is</i><span style="color: red;"> safety.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">GOD is speaking today. Are you listening?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today's song - refers to the power of GODly counsel and how we are so much better together. Fabulous song, always stirs my soul:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oni0tO_HN30" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-26301610690985934962011-02-19T12:47:00.000-06:002011-02-19T12:47:11.674-06:00Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon explains why he speaks too much grammarI had earlier mentioned this dude <a href="http://holyebony.blogspot.com/2009/06/comedy-politics-naija-politicians.html">here</a> and one of the people who commented thought that it was a fake posting. Since then, everybody has come to know the honorable and his big big English. Now he explains how and why he does it. I am not sure that the explanation does not leave you even more confused though!! LOL!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kBZn2pg2k78" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-79139764315274649912011-02-15T17:36:00.002-06:002011-02-18T07:34:56.584-06:00Pastor Adeboye on CNN<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0uRJr-C1c61oqHfMh9f8vANXBC8EtYt3K6tLGXdayYs14TI1CPrhrBIQdifJlmtJJH87duQKkyRjoLWBvajEgYEH6VYkEScbGKWi8Birdw5_T9VbG481S_bXmf6395sYFTtfg9kKMPQ/s1600/pastor+Adeboye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0uRJr-C1c61oqHfMh9f8vANXBC8EtYt3K6tLGXdayYs14TI1CPrhrBIQdifJlmtJJH87duQKkyRjoLWBvajEgYEH6VYkEScbGKWi8Birdw5_T9VbG481S_bXmf6395sYFTtfg9kKMPQ/s1600/pastor+Adeboye.jpg" /></a>The general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of GOD, Pastor EA Adeboye was recently featured on CNN's African voices. See the video and transcript of the interview below:<br />
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What do y'all think - particularly of his answer to the question about protests versus prayers? Particularly in light of what just happened in Egypt? Oya, discuss!!<br />
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Here is the transcript of the interview:<br />
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<div class="cnnEditorialNote"><i>Every week CNN International's <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/CNNI/Programs/africanvoices/">African Voices</a> highlights Africa's most engaging personalities, exploring the lives and passions of people who rarely open themselves up to the camera. This week we profile Enoch Adeboye, one of the world's most influential spiritual leaders. </i></div><b>Lagos, Nigeria (CNN)</b> -- Dressed in simple trousers and a shirt and bowtie, Enoch Adeboye's modest appearance belies the enormous influence and power he wields.<br />
The Nigerian pastor, known to his flock as "Daddy," is one of the world's most influential spiritual leaders. On any given night, he can draw more than a million to his service at Nigeria's Redeemed Christian Church of God. <br />
His fervent sermons, coupled with his magnetic personality, have turned the Pentecostal church into one of the fastest-growing evangelical congregations across the globe.<br />
His numerous followers include national leaders, such as Nigeria's president Goodluck Jonathan, as well as industry executives -- many of whom often turn to him for advice.<br />
Pentecostalism has swept through Nigeria and Africa in recent years, offering the promise not just of entry into heaven in the afterlife but of prosperity and healing in this life.<br />
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<div class="cnn_strylftcntnt cnn_strylftcexpbx" id="expand15"><div class="cnn_strylceclbtn" style="display: none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="23" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/img/3.0/mosaic/bttn_close.gif" width="58" /></div><div class="parentMediaContainer" id="videoContainerexpand15" style="display: none;"><div class="mediaContainer" id="videoContainerexpand15Media"><img alt="" height="360" src="http://edition.cnn.com/video/international/2011/02/14/av.enoch.adeboye.bk.b.cnn.576x324.jpg" width="640" /></div></div><cite class="expCaption">On a religious frontline</cite> </div>The Redeemed Church, which was founded in 1952 by Josiah Akindayomi, claims to have over 5 million members across 20,000 branches in 140 countries worldwide.<br />
That's a long way from the 40 branches Adeboye, a former mathematics lecturer, inherited when he took over the church in 1981.<br />
Despite his congregation's remarkable growth, Adeboye has no plans of slowing down. "We want to reach the whole world," he says. <br />
Adeboye, who was named by Newsweek as one of the world's 50 most influential people in 2008, spoke to CNN about the role of religion in Nigeria and his future plans. <br />
The following is a full transcript of the interview.<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “How did you find God?”</strong><br />
A. “I came to know God in a fairly dramatic way. I was born into a christian home and always gone to church because my parents said we had to go. But after I grew up and left home – I drifted away from church until I had a little problem that defied all solutions and then someone invited me to the Redeemed Christian Church of God – I came expecting the pastor would just pray and my problems would just go, but instead he said I would have to give my life to Jesus Christ first – that if my sins are gone, my problems would disappear. So of course I resisted for a while but eventually I surrendered and as he said gave my life to Jesus Christ and my problems disappeared.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “When was that?”</strong><br />
A. “1973 – I was just over 31.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “If you don’t mind – what was the problem?”</strong><br />
A. “If you don’t mind (laughs) – as the problem is gone now, we may as well leave it there.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “You’re originally a student of mathematics how was that change to become a pastor?”</strong><br />
A. “Well, it didn’t quite change – once a mathematician – always a mathematician. But at that time I was a lecturer at the University of Lagos – that’s when I met the Lord. And after the founder of the church saw my zeal – he ordained me as a pastor, and when I became a pastor – I began to travel – going to universities, colleges and other institutions to share with them – my testimony, my experience. And when the founder died – we read in his will that I was to succeed him. To take over the leadership of the church – now, there was no way I could command the two, I couldn’t continue as a lecturer and still do my duties as the general overseer – that’s where mathematics had to stand aside for Christ to take full control.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “Must have been heady days – beginning of evangelical movement in Nigeria – how did you feel at the time, travelling the country?”</strong><br />
A. “Well, evangelical moves had been on before I became born again but yes it was quite exciting in those days – travelling across the country – meeting young people, lecturers, sharing with them – realising that many of us had been living in ignorance and then seeing the joy.”</div><a href="http://cdn.bellanaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/adeboye-yr4901-vl-vertical.jpg"><br />
</a><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “In 1981 you were made the general overseer – how did you feel?”</strong><br />
A. “That was quite an experience. Of course I didn’t want to have anything to do with working fulltime for Christ – I preferred the way I was doing it – teaching at the university, preaching the gospel – because that allowed me more or less to be my own master. The university was paying me – in those days lecturers were well paid – and church was very poor. But then when the time came – I discovered, I might lack some things but I have a joy that money can’t buy. So it was quite fulfilling – challenging, but fulfilling.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “How do you feel when you’re at the altar, preaching?”</strong><br />
A. “Of course you feel excited. You feel fulfilled- you are being used by God to meet the needs of so many people at a time which is probably one of the greatest joys of being a pastor. In the university, yes you are influencing lives, teaching them – moulding them – but they are very few in number – I think the largest number of students I had in one class must be less than 100- now to see you could influence 1million people at a time can be very exciting.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “What is the Nigerian way of worship?”</strong><br />
A. “Our freedom of worship – the way we dance, shout, enjoy the almighty God – so I think that bit of us, bubbling enthusiasm – all is a good influence.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “Your style is not as loud, people describe you as being very humble, no expensive suits – why is that? Is there a reason behind it?”</strong><br />
A. “I believe the gospel is for all people. But I believe it is even more for the masses and majority of the masses – if you are going to reach for them you have to be at their level. If they see in you someone they can relate to – it’ll be easier for them to listen, to hear from you. One thing I’ve discovered about the masses – even though they might be poor and not high up there – there’s still something in them that doesn’t like being looked down upon. So they relate to someone who will talk to them at their level. But not just that – the so called high and mighty – if you get close to them, you will know that underneath the beautiful dresses – they’re human – presidents, heads of states, CEOs – they all still go to the toilet – they all still get tired, all feel pain – so if you go to the basics you will reach everyone. Because in every man there is that basic need.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “What do you think explains the explosion of evangelical churches?”</strong><br />
A. “Maybe we’ll say the economic situation, social problems that we face have been a very good catalyst in bringing people to Christ. I must add that some people exploited that – setting up fake churches – knowing that people will come to wherever they hear God is healing. But , like I keep telling people – any time you see a counterfeit – it means the original must be somewhere. You won’t see a counterfeit N2000 note – cause there’s no original.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “What happens if you find con-artists?”</strong><br />
A. “If we discover such a fellow – we dismiss him – we don’t compromise at all. And our people know that. If you find a pastor twisting the word of the bible to his own advantage – all you have to do is let me know.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Coming up after the break – Religion and Politics</strong><br />
Quote – Pastor Enoch Adeboye<br />
“Who is it who said man is a political animal. Everybody should decide who is going to rule over him and you should not complain about anything you permit.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>PART TWO</strong><br />
General shots of Nigeria / people<br />
Nigeria is a country of 150 million people divided roughly between a Christian south and a Muslim north.<br />
It is a fault-line along which there are often deadly clashes. Both sides stand accused of encouraging such violence.<br />
Quote – Pastor Enoch Adeboye</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “Do you think Nigeria is on a religious frontline?”</strong><br />
A. “There’s no doubt about that.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “That can become violent. Is that part of the course?”</strong><br />
A. “I believe – anytime light begins to shine – there’s bound to be a little resistance from darkness. So that’s a settled matter. Unfortunate as it may seem – some politicians go in the guise of religion to perpetrate evil. I do not think genuine Christians and genuine Muslims will fight. If you kill a Muslim – you are killing a potential convert – someone who is dead cannot be converted and of course a Muslim killing a Christian – you are also killing a potential convert. But I think most of the crisis are not really religion – it’s politics. Some politicians choose to use religion as a tool for their own ulterior motives.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “Do you think the church can play a role in politics?”</strong><br />
A. “Of course – who was it that said man is a political animal. Everybody should decide who is going to rule over him and you should not complain about anything you permit. If you fail to vote, fail to participate in the political situation and someone gets to become your ruler and you say you don’t like the way he’s ruling you – who’s fault? Where were you when he was being voted into power? And if someone gets into power and he’s not doing what you expect him to do – then vote him out.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “Does the church play enough role?”</strong><br />
A. “Maybe they should do more. Because I believe in the past – the people have been so focused on making it to heaven that they don’t want anything to do with politics – politics has gizzards, which is another way of saying politics can be dirty. Christians are the light of the world – should be shining a light not being the salt of the earth which is only of use if its applied – so I think we should be doing more than we are doing now.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pastor Adeboye and President Goodluck Jonathan during church service<br />
But noone is quite sure how much Pastor Adeboye is doing<br />
Tonight’s service is attended by Nigeria’s President – Goodluck Jonathan, as well as various other state governors and politicians.<br />
All seeking guidance.<br />
But, particularly with controversial national elections in April – the degree to which his support and advice is listened to is unclear, also unclear.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Quote – Pastor Enoch Adeboye</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “You have the ear of presidents – do you support, talk and support certain candidates?”</strong><br />
A. “When I am consulted I do talk. But then all you can do is advise – you can’t command – you can say this is the way I think this thing should be done then they’re free to decide whether they will take your advice or ignore it. You are free once in a while to make a move that will show the man on top the feelings of the masses because we are very close to the masses. I’m into saying presidents and governors are not close to the masses – but you know fully well, that if there’s total black out in the nation – lights will still be on in state house. But as we live with the people on a daily basis – we can feel their pulses better. So when things become a little too uncomfortable for the masses – we take some actions.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “Try to make them sway for a particular way to vote?”</strong><br />
A. “No. I mean – when you have this kind of congregation – you have members of every party in the congregation and if you want to retain their respect for you – you must be neutral. My suggestion would always be – make sure you vote for the person of your choice – if the choice you make turns out to be right – glory be to God, if your choice turns out wrong then maybe another time.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;">NAT SOUND – Congregation praying<br />
Congregation Praying<br />
Services last throughout the night with numerous prayer sessions<br />
And each sermon is simultaneously read aloud in English and the local language Yoruba<br />
there are choirs, music, as well as donations and more controversially – healing.<br />
Despite the Redeemed Church’s promise of an improved standard of living for the average Nigerian – the UN estimates 80% of people in the country still live on less than $2 a day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Quote – Pastor Enoch Adeboye</div><div style="color: red; text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “People want better life – not just in the afterlife but today – would it not be better to protest outside government house?”</strong><br />
A. “Prayers can move mountains. Protesting outside government house – how much has it achieved? You go there – you carry placards, if you’re fortunate – you will return home alive, if you are not fortunate – some overzealous police officer might accidentally discharge some bullets. And you protest day after day after day and after some time you get tired.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. Do you think church has brought people out of the widespread poverty?”</strong><br />
A. “Sure – we are trying our best – the problem is huge – we might not see results to soon but we are doing our best we have programmes that are talking about how to start little business, we have seminars on small scale farming, seminars on almost everything – in other words we’re saying don’t look onto government for everything – be creative.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Coming up – apart from religion, what else is important in Pastor Adeboye’s life?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “What else do you like doing apart from the Redeemed, religion?”</strong><br />
A. “I love fishing. I used to be a boxer – unfortunately I can’t box anymore, except box the devil maybe.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>PART THREE</strong><br />
Adeboye on Newsweek front cover<br />
In 2008 – Pastor Adeboye was featured in Newsweek magazine, as one of the world’s top fifty most influential people.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Quote – Pastor Enoch Adeboye</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “How did you feel about Newsweek?”</strong><br />
A. ‘I felt humbled. Because – how could they possibly leave all the archbishops and big, big names and chose a small pastor in one little jungle. I was surprised and humbled and drove me closer to God.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “Is it a responsibility – the influence you have on people?”</strong><br />
A. “Of course it is- if I had my way, I would not want influence over anyone but my little family. Particularly as the bible says on the day of judgement – judgment is going to be based on this influence – how have you used this influence – for good or evil. One man was complaining to a great preacher – the preacher said what is your problem, the man said – my congregation is only fifty people in number. And the preacher said – you have a lot of people to answer for when you get to heaven – you should thank God there are only fifty.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Redeemed Church dominates Adeboye’s public life and what little of a private life remains – he keeps mostly to himself.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Quote – Pastor Enoch Adeboye</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “What else do you like doing apart from the Redeemed, religion?”</strong><br />
A. “I love fishing. I used to be a boxer – unfortunately I can’t box anymore, except box the devil maybe. And I go for walks, long walks. Unfortunately I don’t have time for any other thing. It’s difficult for me to now even walk in the streets – everybody wants to come and ask me to pray for them. Occasionally I want to go to market – to buy things for myself – but last time I went to the supermarket I had to run back into the car because the people who were around the shop left the shop and wanted to turn the place into a crusade ground. So I can only walk in the night when they’re supposed to be sleeping and they can’t disturb me – and once in a while I go to fish in a place that is excluded – just for the fun of it.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “Would you like to retire? Will you keep going until the end?”</strong><br />
A. “I would have loved to retire – I had plans of what I could do in retirement – when you are retired – you are more or less your own master – wake up whenever you like, go where you want, when you want. If I’m retired I don’t have to be in charge of the congress – I can just come and enjoy.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Q. “Where would you like to see Redeemed go from here?”</strong><br />
A. “Still a long way from our goal. We want to reach the whole world – want to have churches in every nation and have members in every family in the whole world and that’s where we believe God will take us before I leave this world.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pastor Enoch Adeboye<br />
That time, his congregation hope – is still a long time to come.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Christian Purefoy. CNN. Redeemed Church, Lagos, Nigeria.</div><div class="cnnInline"><br />
</div><div class="cnnInline"><a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/15/nigeria.enoch.adeboye/index.html">Source </a></div>Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-59928451701282350262011-02-15T08:21:00.000-06:002011-02-15T08:21:58.361-06:00Prayer VI: GOD speaking through circumstances<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9PAq5djbNJkN-SrlaPZZwuy0_onpWRx9ljLq29Du684j0YIdmr8QKMdb-uingS_eaRagwttnmLrSyiRWUAn6wWOQ2WOwPl5TCNDVGAvH8qIsjUqLRI045EIQ7KlCognjGp3l-hL9mNk/s1600/Jonah+and+the+whale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9PAq5djbNJkN-SrlaPZZwuy0_onpWRx9ljLq29Du684j0YIdmr8QKMdb-uingS_eaRagwttnmLrSyiRWUAn6wWOQ2WOwPl5TCNDVGAvH8qIsjUqLRI045EIQ7KlCognjGp3l-hL9mNk/s1600/Jonah+and+the+whale.jpg" /></a>Another way GOD speaks is through circumstances. When GOD<span> </span>is trying to tell you something, HE sometimes closes doors and opens others so that what HE is saying is very, very clear.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">There are several <span> </span>examples of this, but I will just highlight two:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">a)Jonah and the whale</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red;"><b><a name='more'></a> Jonah 1:1- 15</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red;">1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”<span> </span>3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.<span> </span>4 Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship.<span> </span>But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. 6 The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red;"> <span> </span>7 Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?”<span> </span>9 He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”<span> </span>10 This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the LORD, because he had already told them so.)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red;"> <span> </span>11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?”<span> </span>12 “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”<span> </span>13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14 Then they cried out to the LORD, “Please, LORD, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, LORD, have done as you pleased.” 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">You can read the rest of the story. It was clear from Jonah’s circumstances that he was supposed to head to Nineveh.<span> </span>And the route to every other place was closed until he went!! I think GOD was speaking loud and clear in this instance. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">b) Balaam and his donkey.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNf8BWcaKiK8frYO64WNxNMmQ23L-0umdHeexTL3Ez5PM6VktJlOubOhXd9MYWGnsKcqL8iiTDj9WqMqe7GlGRtFp7g80W3-hLtnBlmMhphNK0gDrsTNlcMZ_dhjOP8bCq8rP6Azl0bHM/s1600/Balaam+and+donkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNf8BWcaKiK8frYO64WNxNMmQ23L-0umdHeexTL3Ez5PM6VktJlOubOhXd9MYWGnsKcqL8iiTDj9WqMqe7GlGRtFp7g80W3-hLtnBlmMhphNK0gDrsTNlcMZ_dhjOP8bCq8rP6Azl0bHM/s1600/Balaam+and+donkey.jpg" /></a><b>Numbers 22: 21-32</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red;">21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. 22 But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road.<span> </span>24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.<span> </span>26 Then the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. 28 Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”<span> </span>29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”<span> </span>30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”<span> </span>“No,” he said.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red;"><span> </span>31 Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.<span> </span>32 The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.[a] 33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.” <span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">There are so many lessons to be drawn from this, but I will just let the word of GOD speak to each person individually. You pray, GOD speaks to you<span> </span>in your heart through the still quiet voice, but sometimes, we just don’t want to hear it. So sometimes, drastic measures are required to get your attention. Perhaps you need to miss that flight, or get caught in that holdup, or that dude needs to walk away from you in order for you to be able to understand what GOD wants from you. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">GOD is speaking to<span> </span>you today. Are you listening?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The song for today is a prayer for GOD to work through our circumstances:</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UrXnAWvA3iI" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-30230962406983860002011-02-14T17:16:00.003-06:002011-02-14T17:22:32.745-06:00Valentine's day music playlist_2011Hello people,<br />
Hope you are having a wonderful val's day? I put together a val's day playlist last year, and then decided to do same this year. You can view last year's playlist <a href="http://holyebony.blogspot.com/2010/02/special-nigerian-valentine-day-playlist.html">here</a> or <a href="http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14561&Itemid=154">here</a>. <br />
I enjoy secular music once it is clean and appeals to our higher (not baser) instincts. I think all these songs do that to some extent and there is one for every possible val's day scenario. Enjoy the selection after the jump.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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Eyeing a new love?<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/N2dF-Usi7C8" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe><br />
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Trying to make up with an old love?<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QIIlq3AF-eQ" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe> <br />
Trying to ascertain that your love is real?<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VEVvQDXDwjI" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br />
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Are you just in love and you cannot hide it?<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9Ofs75aadwo" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2KtGh0G5tlM" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iN6cgGYStrU" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe> <br />
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Making a commitment? This may help:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WPdXxvTv3Vc" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zn_rKgcu05A" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KFITzT8ByGQ" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe><br />
Already have a commitment?<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HskxkgTUVXw" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6mjjFYRHQ8Y" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br />
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And finally, you just want to rock out with your man or woman, regardless of how long you have been together? Welllll,,,,<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YJM8zHx7AAk" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ly8zRuHzVOo" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br />
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Enjoy the selection, You can view an expanded selection<a href="http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/arts-music-a-movies/music/he-ultimate-nigerian-love-song-playlist-2011-version.html"> here</a> - remember that love is more than an emotion. May true love be your lot this year! <br />
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Ciao!Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-55023572446668496952011-02-09T15:18:00.001-06:002011-02-09T15:19:44.343-06:00Church in the News: Acid attack after girl branded a witch by pastor<div style="color: red;">Okay, this is just one of those stories that makes you want to SHOUT! Shout something reallly bad. But I wont. I will just post it so that you can see for yourself the products of fanaticism, illiteracy and poverty and what a fatal cocktail they can be when combined: </div><br />
For those who don't know her, Comfort Sunday is the 14-year-old girl whose father poured acid on her after a pastor convinced her family that she was a witch and the source of all her family's problems. The father took her to an uncompleted building, where he poured a tin-full of corrosive acid on her. <br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Comfort was until the incident a JSS II student of Government Secondary School, Akwanga, and was living with her father, Sunday James, 61, and her stepmother, Justina Abimiku, 52. She lost her mom at a tender age and had been severally maltreated by her <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6689664753715910636&postID=5502357244666849695" id="AdBriteInlineAd_step" name="AdBriteInlineAd_step" style="background: url("http://files.adbrite.com/mb/images/green-double-underline-006600.gif") repeat-x scroll center bottom transparent; color: #006600; cursor: pointer; margin-bottom: -2px; padding-bottom: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_top">step</a> mum.<br />
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Very disturbing pictures and more after the jump:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4WpAxXXytBMSpU8ECEoAkDNjiIqHIQwwq8DAhXZgj5HpV4T88gVl14r6jsXwovVZCnL8sxOvEzAuYmqOaj3zmdRGblRa9Rf4PPK4pawhMmmvccmh3u5KoUNL4gzkq-5qR4wFFeN6TuQ/s1600/acid1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4WpAxXXytBMSpU8ECEoAkDNjiIqHIQwwq8DAhXZgj5HpV4T88gVl14r6jsXwovVZCnL8sxOvEzAuYmqOaj3zmdRGblRa9Rf4PPK4pawhMmmvccmh3u5KoUNL4gzkq-5qR4wFFeN6TuQ/s1600/acid1.jpg" /></a></div>According to a 2010 Daily Trust Report...<br />
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<blockquote>After taking her to the uncompleted building, the father blackmailed her into swallowing the corrosive substance, saying if she does that without throwing it out, she is not the devil being thought of. But if she does throw it out, then she was confirming the fears that she is a witch which has been smothering family members, including her late mother. So, she tried drinking it, to prove her innocence. It hurt, biting her tongue. She threw it out immediately. She was guilty of the deaths in the family, including of her very mother as her father declared. So her father overpowered her and ran the acid on her face, then he left.</blockquote><blockquote> James was acting the script of a pastor whose name Weekly Trust could not obtain because he and the entire family is concealing his identity. The priest pointed at Comfort and accused her of the deaths in the family, alleging how she is in a cult which demands blood from her all times and called her a witch. He did not allow her to deny, as he took his fee and left without casting out the demon.</blockquote><br />
<blockquote>Comfort was first accused in 2008 by her stepmother of being a witch. She accused her of being responsible for the ill-health of family members. Headache, stomachache, fevers; everything was blamed on her. Her father, a <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6689664753715910636&postID=5502357244666849695" id="AdBriteInlineAd_security" name="AdBriteInlineAd_security" style="background: url("http://files.adbrite.com/mb/images/green-double-underline-006600.gif") repeat-x scroll center bottom transparent; color: #006600; cursor: pointer; margin-bottom: -2px; padding-bottom: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_top">security</a> guard at the Catholic <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6689664753715910636&postID=5502357244666849695" id="AdBriteInlineAd_Church" name="AdBriteInlineAd_Church" style="background: url("http://files.adbrite.com/mb/images/green-double-underline-006600.gif") repeat-x scroll center bottom transparent; color: #006600; cursor: pointer; margin-bottom: -2px; padding-bottom: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_top">Church</a> in Alushi <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6689664753715910636&postID=5502357244666849695" id="AdBriteInlineAd_area" name="AdBriteInlineAd_area" style="background: url("http://files.adbrite.com/mb/images/green-double-underline-006600.gif") repeat-x scroll center bottom transparent; color: #006600; cursor: pointer; margin-bottom: -2px; padding-bottom: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_top">area</a> of Akwanga, believed his wife’s story of how Comfort is the virus causing all illness around the family. The stepmom had this to say: “I have eight children with one of them dead. One day, about three years ago, after my husband brought Comfort to stay with us from the South-West and all my children and myself fell inexplicably sick.”</blockquote><blockquote> Matters got worse for Comfort, as after being <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6689664753715910636&postID=5502357244666849695" id="AdBriteInlineAd_pushed" name="AdBriteInlineAd_pushed" style="background: url("http://files.adbrite.com/mb/images/green-double-underline-006600.gif") repeat-x scroll center bottom transparent; color: #006600; cursor: pointer; margin-bottom: -2px; padding-bottom: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_top">pushed</a> her next door to her grandparents, her grandfather, Auta Anaku fell ill at this time and he passed on. Confession upon confession sprang up about how Comfort had told family members she is a witch. So, when James’ younger sister, Barmami fell ill in 2008, and was rushed to Abuja, she decided to explore other means to cure her illness. She ran to the pastor who followed her down to Akwanga to make the accusations. What followed was the acid bath.</blockquote><blockquote> Better Leven, an NGO based in Akwanga, is trying to rehabilitate Comfort who had been in its custody since then. Timothy Tashi, programme officer of the NGO said on several occasions he contacted James and brought up the condition of Comfort, but that the father has always refused show any remorse even as the girl’s condition is not improving. Also, the NGO is having problems <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6689664753715910636&postID=5502357244666849695" id="AdBriteInlineAd_attracting" name="AdBriteInlineAd_attracting" style="background: url("http://files.adbrite.com/mb/images/green-double-underline-006600.gif") repeat-x scroll center bottom transparent; color: #006600; cursor: pointer; margin-bottom: -2px; padding-bottom: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_top">attracting</a> government’s attention to her, just as the police have continued to look the other way. James is walking the streets scot-free after he made statements to the police. </blockquote><blockquote>Meanwhile, a doctor, who chose to remain anonymous, stressed the urgent need for surgery to be done on Comfort’s face, as her condition may worsen, making correction difficult or even impossible.<br />
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Victor Labesa, Nasarawa State coordinator of the Legal Aid Council, described the deed of James as barbaric and callous. He said with the Child’s Right Act domesticated in the state since 2005, James committed a crime against humanity and must be brought to book. But the police cannot act, as Comfort remains in pain, victim to the superstitious beliefs of those supposed to love and care for her.</blockquote>***<br />
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A January 2011 Daily Trust update on the issue...<br />
<blockquote><h2 class="contentheading clearfix" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><u><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stepbrother allegedly attempts to poison ‘Acid Bath Girl’ </span></b></u></h2>The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police in Nasarawa State is investigating one Alexander Sunday, half-brother of Comfort Sunday, whose face and respiratory system have been disfigured after her father emptied a can of acid on her face in 2008 on the suspicion that she was a witch. Alexander, 22, is currently in detention after he was arrested by the police in Akwanga last Sunday, (January 2011) for allegedly poisoning the food of his half-sister the previous day at the family’s <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6689664753715910636&postID=5502357244666849695" id="AdBriteInlineAd_residence" name="AdBriteInlineAd_residence" style="background: url("http://files.adbrite.com/mb/images/green-double-underline-006600.gif") repeat-x scroll center bottom transparent; color: #006600; cursor: pointer; margin-bottom: -2px; padding-bottom: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_top">residence</a> along Mai-Doki Street in Akwanga.<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Their father, Sunday James, has been in detention and will be arraigned in court on February 3, for allegedly bathing his daughter with acid in 2008. James walked freely initially, but pressures from the Tashi A. Tashi-led NGO currently giving care to the teenage girl, as well as the Legal Aid Council, have compelled the police to re-arrest him for prosecution, while he awaits arraignment in court.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Comfort lost her mother while she was still young and had grown up under tough conditions because of maltreatment from her father and stepmother as well as her half-brother and sister, all of whom have raised emotions against her, alleging she is responsible for deaths in the family.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alexander was caught with a pot of food his half sister kept in her room, by other occupants of the house who insisted on knowing what his motives were. On opening the pot, they discovered the food in it was foaming with a black substance suspected to be poison.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Comfort’s statement to the police indicates that she had long suspected her half-brother’s malice. She said Alexander had threatened to send her out of the house because she is responsible for the detention of their father.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">State police spokesman, ASP Richard Akoji, confirmed the incident and the arrest, saying the police are investigating Alexander for the alleged poison.</div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Source: <a href="http://lindaikeji.blogspot.com/2011/02/acid-girl.html#more">Linda Ikeji </a>and<a href="http://dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8659:police-re-arrest-acid-bath-father&catid=1:news&Itemid=2"> Daily Trust</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have no words. Really. </div>Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-29048965272785228532011-02-08T08:05:00.002-06:002011-02-08T08:29:29.559-06:00Prayer V: Music and prayer<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYyn-PZnqGhZgAbBwtaCPz_QqvfM7R_ihwrmBta7EB3BhRu6J8Oa_fAUQOzNtcoHTt1WSCzCYcxYR0kXwlXZ1zSLuaP32fWc0Q7irRc9CSWHhw6cUJuO2QzVRzxrrdDAe9QDCFXK3CeQ/s1600/music+and+prayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYyn-PZnqGhZgAbBwtaCPz_QqvfM7R_ihwrmBta7EB3BhRu6J8Oa_fAUQOzNtcoHTt1WSCzCYcxYR0kXwlXZ1zSLuaP32fWc0Q7irRc9CSWHhw6cUJuO2QzVRzxrrdDAe9QDCFXK3CeQ/s1600/music+and+prayer.jpg" /></a> So we are still talking about how GOD speaks right? Today we are talking about music. When we meet in person ladies, we will talk about this a little more in depth. Suffice to say that music is not just for entertainment purposes. When used right, it is a tool by which we communicate praise, worship, adoration, supplication, petition, etc to GOD, and a medium by which HE can communicate comfort, peace, joy and provision to us. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The entire book of psalms is full of songs that are used as prayers – David was a “melancholy” full of emotion and feeling and music was his vehicle of communicating with GOD. And as for GOD’s responses, here are a few passages that speak to the phenomenon of GOD speaking through music:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red;"><b>Job 35:10</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red;">But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red;"><b>Psalm 42:8</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red;">The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me— A prayer to the God of my life.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red;"><b>Psalm 77:6</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red;">I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, And my spirit makes diligent search.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The three verses tell us a few things:</div><div class="MsoNormal">First GOD gives songs – songs for your situation. Tailor made for you.</div><div class="MsoNormal">At night, when things are dark and blurry, the song will be with you, to strengthen and comfort you.</div><div class="MsoNormal">And you can in every situation, call this song to remembrance. You can recall it and say – When I was facing a nighttime situation, GOD gave me a song. I remember that I am comforted. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">However, as with GOD speaking through HIS word, this only works if your ears are open to hear. It only works if you are listening. And it only works if your head and mind are not full of complete rubbish. If the only songs you know are songs that glorify sex and violence, debase woman and ignore GOD, where is the material for GOD to speak to you with? I am not hating on secular music o, please understand me. I have a large collection myself – everything from romantic to socially conscious music. BUT any music you own, spiritual or secular must pass the following test:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Phil 4:8</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;">Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Does your music pass this test? The beat may be nice, but the lyrics are even more important! Remember that whatever u feed your mind and your emotions with is part of your spiritual arsenal. In the days of trouble (and they will come), GOD can use it, or the devil can use it – depending on what it is. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">GOD is speaking – are you listening?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As for the song for today, that is hard because really where do we start with worshiping GOD? But I choose one of my very favorite worship songs from my favorite choir and one of my very favorite singers. Enjoy!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xF-Ald7IPfA" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe> </div>Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-78389817287559314212011-02-07T15:28:00.001-06:002011-02-07T15:35:43.633-06:00President Goodluck Jonathan at the Redemption Camp Pastor Adeboye is a powerful man oooo! Are you impressed by President Goodluck, or you think of it as a political gimick? Lots of people were very upset when pictures of The president kneeling before the Man of God came out. How do y'all feel about it? The happens @ the 13:21 minute mark. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tSmeL4XlQis" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-67228172051526941212011-02-04T20:03:00.003-06:002011-02-04T20:30:42.174-06:00Pastor Bakare's sermon on his decision to run.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpqUx1wbIf_OAzYsz5TzP2esM77Dp78DDRaoWkqj7M9mlMkP8W9ztjRIiZN6Cdsg8-Ka3gSG3aPd33y-dWOYGsVgzjf7m033inSEORciUyHTRDWGd4eCFOGLDeakGrUw-XfpwX8CNQYc/s1600/Tunde+Bakare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpqUx1wbIf_OAzYsz5TzP2esM77Dp78DDRaoWkqj7M9mlMkP8W9ztjRIiZN6Cdsg8-Ka3gSG3aPd33y-dWOYGsVgzjf7m033inSEORciUyHTRDWGd4eCFOGLDeakGrUw-XfpwX8CNQYc/s1600/Tunde+Bakare.jpg" /></a></div>I am sorry that this is turning into Bakareville. I am just sooo fascinated by his decision to run. I have listened to Pastor Tunde Bakare's teaching for years and I have always loved it. I am really curious about what he is thinking in taking this decision. Well, you can hear from the horse's mouth<b><a href="http://www.lrawebstore.com/messages/let_not_your_heart_be_troubled.html"> </a><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.lrawebstore.com/messages/let_not_your_heart_be_troubled.html">here:</a></span></b><br />
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It is a powerful sermon, particularly towards the end. He seems to infer that this is GOD's will. I find all of this very, very confusing. Well sha, Like I said, GOD knows. <br />
Find below article to which he was referring :<br />
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<blockquote><a href="http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/columnists/sideviews/dimgba-jan-25-2011.htm">Source: </a></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Run Bakare, run by </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Dimgba Igwe</span></div><blockquote>Wanted: a powerful candidate to give President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, a good fight at the general election in April. Enter my colleague, Dele Momodu, public intellectual, Dr. Pat Utomi, Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, former EFCC boss, Nuhu Ribadu and former head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari.<br />
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Each of the above candidates parade requisite credentials for good leadership. Momodu and Utomi are running on intellectual platform which usually in Nigerian context, hardly ever translate into votes. Their chances are as limited as the limited resources and structures at their disposals. One day, Nigeria would mature into politics of ideas but until then, we can only thank Utomi and Momodu for their courage to dare at least.<br />
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Shekarau is coming into the race with a background of two successful tenures as governor of volatile Kano State who rode on the crest of religious-cum-populist bubble to become governor in a fairy-tale manner that may be difficult to replicate in a highly polarized and heterogeneous national platform. With captive support in Kano State and expected reasonable impact in some part of North West, he certainly has a spoiler’s chance in a limited territory. Such men are dangerous, but they are no national competition.<br />
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Ribadu is waving his highly controversial anti-corruption achievements and truly, for a nation so deeply mired in the cesspit of corruption, this would have amounted to much, but he also carries with him, the political incubus of President Olusegun Obasanjo’s desecration of the anti-corruption agency under Ribadu’s watch for selfish political goals, including the third term gambit.<br />
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Enter the ascetic former head of state, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, perhaps one of Nigeria’s most incorruptible leaders. He had been oil minister, head of state and head of the Petroleum Trust Fund that used petroleum revenue to develop various sectors of the nation, but without enriching himself. On account of his moral probity, despite his harsh record of human rights abuses as a head of state, Nigerians have come to respect as well fear him. He is respected for his moral integrity and feared by Christians who think he is an Islamic fanatic who may turn out to be a Taliban! It was after all under his watch that Nigeria commenced romance with the controversial Organisation of Islamic Countries, (OIC), a romance that was consummated to a limited but controversial degree under the presidency of Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. Since then, many Christian electorates had feared Buhari’s presumed potential to islamise Nigeria far more than they respected his incorruptible personality.<br />
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Twice Buhari ran for presidency and twice he lost, even when he insisted that he actually won. Many who rode on his name to power as governors under ANPP soon dumped him to cut survival deals with ruling PDP and in turn, his party repudiated his court battles at electoral tribunals. But unlike the typical politicians who cut deals to survive, Buhari had remained faithful to his uncompromising principles, a fact that had endeared him to the masses of the north, making him today potentially the most popular political figure in the north. Students of branding have a good subject in Buhari on how to grow a personal political brand without spending a kobo. In a nation where politics is a game of money—at times, running into billions—Buhari and his followers barely scratch by to pay their most basic bills. <br />
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But the absence of money to spend has not diminished Buhari’s brand; if anything, it has enhanced his connection with the masses, making him extremely popular. It is said that Buhari is the only man capable of pulling a million-man crowd in many northern cities without spending money on publicity.<br />
This type of profile makes Buhari a candidate to beat in the north and therefore, President Goodluck Jonathan’s stiffest opponent in the north. The snag however, for Buhari is how to translate his popularity in the north to the south. This has been tough because of Buhari’s perception as an Islamic fanatic. For him to pick a southern candidate, Buhari not only needed a Christian, but a credible one at that who commands respect of the people. On this score, many of the popular politicians just didn’t make the scratch.<br />
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Enter fiery and iconoclastic preacher, Pastor Tunde Bakare, general overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly and also the convener of Save Nigeria Group, (SNG). Report in The Guardian of Thursday states that Bakare was being persuaded to become Buhari’s running mate for the April presidential election. Unfortunately, Pastor Bakare has been dragging his feet. One, he didn’t want to run for political office. Nonsense. Here was Bakare preaching to few thousands and God says it was time to preach by words and action to 150 million audience and he is dithering and developing sentimental qualms? Second, Bakare didn’t want it to look as if the reason he formed SNG was really as a political platform to sell himself for political office. Well, then, Bakare, a lawyer, ought to show me any section of the Bible and the Nigerian constitution that says that if you form a non-partisan association that exposed your leadership gifts to the world, you should not offer yourself to serve the people if they so desired. Imagine what would have happened if Joseph had told Pharaoh that he would not serve as prime minister in Egypt because people would think that was why he was dreaming and interpreting dreams! Or what God would have thought of Daniel if he had declined public office in Babylon simply so that nobody would consider him opportunistic! <br />
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The question is: why do I want Bakare to run as Buhari’s running mate? First, it has to do with Bakare’s eminent qualification for the position. His profile fits that of Buhari like a pair of gloves. As a former Moslem, he would best understand the mindset of a typical ascetic Moslem like Buhari and how best to deal with him. Bakare is extremely bold and well able to speak his mind to powers that be, and that is, to speak the truth as he perceives it—a simple virtue that is in acute shortage in the corridors of power in Nigeria, giving lily-livered sycophants a field day. As a lawyer groomed in the chambers of both the fiery radical, Gani Fawehinmi and the arch conservative Chief Rotimi Williams, both now late, nobody would be able to pool the wool over his eyes. As a pastor, a minister of righteousness, he would not go into public office to amass wealth.<br />
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In terms of leadership by example, where the president and the vice president are not soiling their hands with corruption, God helps anybody in their administration who would steal public funds. Buhari had proved his mettle from different public office positions that he would not enrich himself from public fund, neither would he be afraid to take bold decisions, including firing or jailing corrupt leaders. If his natural ascetic lifestyle made that unnecessary in his younger days, it would be crazy to think he would do otherwise in his old age. In other words, his character is no longer forming, it is already set and unchangeable. This would be dangerous for those of us in the media since Buhari patently seems to dislike media freedom, but then we would give him the fight of his life on that, trust us. <br />
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The corruption challenge is on Bakare. In other words, wouldn’t the lure of office corrupt Bakare as many before him had fallen under the spell of corruption? Well, Bakare was a successful lawyer before he came into the ministry. He passed through the tutelage of the Pentecostal fundamentalist, Pastor Kumuyi of Deeper Life Bible Church and Pastor E. A. Adeboye of Redeemed Christian Church before he founded his ministry, Latter Rain Assembly. <br />
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He had refused to join the prosperity bandwagon; preferring to play the role of an Old Testament prophet who had been the scourge of fellow Christian leaders whom he accused of sundry offences including cultivating personality cult around themselves, doctrinal deviations and diverting into building human monuments rather than focusing on the core purposes of the church. Meaning that his passion is not amassing wealth and it would be unbelievable human tragedy if he changes now. Men who had definite purpose in life are not likely to be swayed by material circumstances as much as those who are merely opportunistic and lack definite purpose or spiritual anchors.<br />
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If the Buhari-Bakare ticket happens, it would be the pairing of two strong personalities who would certainly give the Jonathan-Sambo-Incumbency ticket a run for their money at the polls. Win or lose, their candidacy would enhance the profile of the election from a potential walkover for Jonathan to a real contest where the winner would be somebody that would pass through the crucible to offer real values to the electorate. <br />
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At the PDP convention, we saw a coronation of Jonathan, not a real contest, and this was all down to the power of incumbency. But Jonathan’s possible victory at the polls is not the problem; the absence of keen competition would be the problem that would undermine the credibility of the election. We must grow beyond “se-election” to real electoral contest; that is the only way to extract accountability from public office holders. They must sweat to get into power and be threatened with sack if they didn’t perform.<br />
If anybody asked my opinion on whether Bakare should accept to become Buhari’s running mate or not, I would borrow a prophetic trumpet and mount on the rooftop and blow: Run Bakare, Run…</blockquote>Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-80370216845811048722011-02-04T15:20:00.001-06:002011-02-04T15:23:31.061-06:00Church in the News: Christ embassy ordered to stop miracle ads in South Africa<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWmHwS_bsSqgI5b6QPvbQiZS23XUMno4TeuDG2QYSSKGXbFS7QNl9TcHUIvjtN8vBAO4x5JP2noK75lBt4z7TsXfGgy-U-bEoYQMY2mbW4yiRvOCtWOOvFT28neQnnqaIHHJzlYVJE8I/s1600/Pastor+chris+Oyaks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWmHwS_bsSqgI5b6QPvbQiZS23XUMno4TeuDG2QYSSKGXbFS7QNl9TcHUIvjtN8vBAO4x5JP2noK75lBt4z7TsXfGgy-U-bEoYQMY2mbW4yiRvOCtWOOvFT28neQnnqaIHHJzlYVJE8I/s1600/Pastor+chris+Oyaks.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pastor Chris Oyakhilome</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Pastor Chris Oyakhilome in the news again. I am not a Christ Embassy hater o, please, I just report the news as I see it. Have you ever seen any of those crusades on TV, heard the testimonies on the healing line and wondered what was going on? Apparently you are not the only one. The government of South Africa was wondering the same thing, have concluded that the testimonies are not real (at least in Christ Embassy) and have ordered the TV station airing healing ads to "cease and desist". I believe that faith healing does happen, but there are a lot of buts! Anyways, that is another story for another day.<br />
So what do y'all think of the article below? Should Nigeria have a similar law?<br />
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<blockquote><div class="arcticle_text">A charismatic church cannot prove that its pastors can perform healing miracles, the Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa (Asasa) has ruled – and the church has to withdraw all such advertisements from e.tv. </div><div class="arcticle_text">The Christ Embassy is an international organisation headed by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome with branches in Cape Town and Gauteng and a number in other countries. </div><div class="arcticle_text">The church paid R2.6 million to have its 24-minute “faith healing” programme run on etv for 52 weeks where it claimed that people could be cured of illnesses and diseases such as Aids and cancer. </div><div class="arcticle_text">The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) lodged a complaint with Asasa in November 2009 and on Wednesday the advertising body ruled that e.tv had to remove the programme. </div><div class="arcticle_text">The TAC lodged the complaint after a woman who was on tuberculosis medication stopped her treatment when she was “cured” by the church, but subsequently died. </div><div class="arcticle_text">The ruling stated that the programme was by definition an advertisement promoting cure by faith. </div><div class="aticle_pic"><div class="captions">The Advertising Standards Authority has banned the Christ Embassy church from airing its claims of faith healing, following a complaint from the Treatment Action Campaign.</div><div class="captions"><span class="captions_credit">Independent Newspapers</span></div></div><div class="arcticle_text">This is against Asasa’s code since the Christ Embassy did not register with the Medicines Control Council to offer a product or service which cures diseases. </div><div class="arcticle_text">Christ Embassy said it would appeal the ruling and is adamant that it can convey the message to people that “they will be cured by the grace of God”. </div><div class="arcticle_text">Sean Sim, attorney for Christ Embassy, said: “My client feels that people can be healed through the grace of God and that there is nothing wrong with conveying that message. </div><div class="arcticle_text">“We are not going to back away from this, there is nothing to apologise for and nothing untoward about the programme. My client maintains that people can be healed through faith.” </div><div class="arcticle_text">Sim said they had 20 days to appeal the ruling. </div><div class="arcticle_text">Etv, which is legally bound to the Asasa code, has been ordered to withdraw the advert. The Christ Embassy programme has run its course but the ruling applies to any similar programmes. </div><div class="arcticle_text">The TAC’s Nathan Geffen said although the contract between e.tv and Christ Embassy came to an end some time ago, the channel was still broadcasting the programme two weeks ago in which the pastor, Chris Oyakhilome, claimed to have healed a woman with a breast tumour. </div><div class="arcticle_text">At Thursday’s media conference Geffen said the Christ Embassy programmes were “life destroying”. </div><div class="arcticle_text">The TAC lodged the complaint after a Cape Town doctor notified it that one of his patients had stopped taking her XDR TB medication because she believed the Christ Embassy could heal her. </div><div class="arcticle_text">“She gave up her medicines because she believed Christ Embassy could cure her. She became ill again and died – but only after transmitting XDR TB to her children,” Geffen said. </div><div class="arcticle_text">E.tv’s spokesperson, Vasili Vass, said on Thursday that it would abide by the ruling and withdraw the programme. - Cape Times </div></blockquote><a href="http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/etv-ordered-to-pull-miracle-ads-1.1021412"> Source</a>Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-8232467984928679152011-02-04T09:16:00.000-06:002011-02-04T09:16:16.566-06:00Church in the News: Tunde Bakare: From pulpit to soap box<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMB_54LCY6vfwsC0IyJYF41gOr-VPrmpUo9PCgq5UhyB_GtPX6Ed5ZAYoWIWLa1lBbUADMX9KxwVvMN3697TmGMksDqo0D1SHF06dyMxXwBIaNt4nujGYVJs8dP0wLy_arBvQw2WRxbXI/s1600/pastor_tunde_bakare_250px_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMB_54LCY6vfwsC0IyJYF41gOr-VPrmpUo9PCgq5UhyB_GtPX6Ed5ZAYoWIWLa1lBbUADMX9KxwVvMN3697TmGMksDqo0D1SHF06dyMxXwBIaNt4nujGYVJs8dP0wLy_arBvQw2WRxbXI/s1600/pastor_tunde_bakare_250px_.jpg" /></a></div>Just came across this very interesting opinion piece. The writer thinks that Pastor Bakare is wasting his time and should have stayed in advocacy. What do y'all think? Win or lose though, I think Pastor Bakare will be the big news item of this election cycle.<br />
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<blockquote>It has the colouration of a transmutation, but to those who know Pastor Tunde Bakare, General Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Ogba, Lagos, fairly, closely, his acceptance of General Muhammadu Buhari’s offer of running with him in the April presidential election is not in any way out of sync with his character; it is really an opportunity for the fiery cleric to accomplish his desire of being an agent of change in the country. <br />
Long before it became expedient for him to convene the Save Nigeria Group (SNG), Bakare had said in an interview that, “I’m a trained lawyer. I trained under Gani Fawehinmi and Rotimi Williams. I wanted to practise my profession. I had three things at the back of my mind in my life: to be a successful legal practitioner, to get to the peak of my career and to be a successful millionaire. I wanted to use both law and business to go into politics. That was my triangle.”</blockquote><br />
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<blockquote>Being a man of uncommon determination, Bakare, at a relatively young age, was close to achieving the goal he had set for himself. He was already making wave as a brilliant lawyer, winning landmark cases one after the other and he was doing well in business. He brought Skoda Motors into Nigeria and had a number of factories to boot. He was also doing well in international business.<br />
However, before he could perfect his plan of using business and law as his route to politics, there was a divinely ochestrated detour; Bakare was called into the ministry and he had to subjugate his personal desire to the divine will.<br />
Though taken out of mainstream politics, Bakare has always been interested in the polity. He is about the only clergyman who never passes up an opportunity to air his views on the polity, no matter how unpopular.<br />
He has consistently commented on the polity over the years, showing the leaders where they erred and availing them the mind of God about the nation.<br />
Being a pastor of the prophetic bent, Bakare has pronounced many prophecies; some coming to pass with the precision of a laser guided missile and others completely off the mark.<br />
On April 3, 1993, while the nation was warming up for the presidential election, the fearless cleric said though there would be an election, there would not be any result. He also prophesied that both the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC) would fail and everything happened just as he prophesied. He also sent a warning to the winner of that year’s presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola, urging him not to go ahead with it, saying it would not end well with him, if he pursued his ambition of becoming the nation’s president. Abiola later died in detention.<br />
Also in 1993, while the nation was concerned that General Ibrahim Babangida would perpetuate himself in office after the annulment of the presidential election, Bakare clearly declared that, “Ladies and gentlemen, the Lord said to me, either before or on that day, he (Babangida) will make some mistakes and he will have to go.” Again, it turned out exactly like that as the former military president on August 27, 1993 announced that he was stepping aside and installed an interim government.<br />
However, after the election of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999, Bakare prophesied, “Obasanjo is not your messiah, he is ‘King Agag’; he will be the first victim of a prophetic axe. It is coming; it is coming upon his head before May 29.” Bakare explained that Obasanjo was not the Messiah the nation expected at the time, adding that he should have been slaughtered by General Abdulsalami Abubakar but since the former Head of State spared him just like the biblical King Saul spared Agag, who he should have killed, God had made up His mind that Obasanjo had to die and it would be before May 29, 1999. But that did not happen.<br />
It is not only political leaders that have been at the receiving end of Bakare’s acerbic criticism; church leaders too have come under his unsparing attack. Bakare has had cause to criticise his fellow pulpiteers for not taking up the challenge to be the agent of change in the nation. He is of the belief that church leaders should have no qualms about squaring up to political leaders and showing them where they are wrong.<br />
In an interview, he said, “the church has become a theatre; a place where people come to amuse themselves, because they don’t know that the church is a war zone, where soldiers of the cross are trained. It’s where the standard of discipleship is raised; where you become an agent for change in a nation. I’m not talking of rascality. I’m not saying let’s go on the streets and be displaying rascality. I’m talking of constructive engagement and constructive dismantling of the oppressive forces over our nation.<br />
“It is not only about praying, but having a head-on collision with them and calling a spade a spade. If that’s the role the church had been playing in Nigeria, we wouldn’t be in this mess. But we’ll rather take them to a side and tell them to come to a particular location once a week or once a month to get special prayer and lay empty hands on empty heads. That’s not Christ, that’s not church.”<br />
Probably concerned that his pulpit advocacy was not yielding the kind of results he expected, Bakare, at the time the nation was heading for the precipice while the late President Umaru Yar’Adua was on the sick bed in Saudi Arabia, started the Save Nigeria Group (SNG).<br />
In an interview, Bakare, speaking on the essence of the SNG, said, “At the time Save Nigeria Group began, it was to address a major and vital issue - the issue of power hijack. Those who were not elected to serve in the office of the presidency of the country were exercising the authority to do what they liked.”<br />
Those close to Bakare say his acceptance of the CPC’s offer is hinged on his belief that he will help Buhari in the implementation of his plans to transform the nation just as the biblical Joseph helped Pharaoh with the translation of his dream into reality.<br />
Be that as it may, it is hardly disputable that Buhari picked Bakare, a man of opposing religious view, principally to remove or cover the tag of an Islamic fundamentalist which he has been associated with over the years. But apart from being the principal’s alter ego, a vice-presidential candidate must also add electoral value to the ticket. That is one area where Bakare is likely going to have a serious challenge.<br />
Bakare’s immediate constituency is the church, but how many church leaders will openly campaign for his candidature? The truth is that not many will probably do so. People vote for those they are comfortable with and it is doubtful if many pastors are comfortable with Bakare.<br />
Will Bishop David Oyedepo tell his congregation to vote for Bakare’s party? Will Pastor Enoch Adeboye direct the mammoth crowd that monthly gathers at the Redemption Camp to support Bakare and Buhari? Will Reverend Felix Meduoye of the Foursquare Gospel Church instruct his members to vote for Bakare? Will the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) or the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) even subtly campaign for him?<br />
History has shown that advocacy and governance don’t usually find convergence in a person. While Bakare has made a mark in advocacy, it is doubtful if he will be so successful in politics. That is why Chief Gani Fawehinmi, despite his long years of advocacy, did not really succeed as a politician. That is why Wole Soyinka’s party will just remain a participant in the political process without winning any election.<br />
Pastor Bakare’s foray into politics may not produce a result different from his forbears’ in advocacy. <b><a href="http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/politics/17100-tunde-bakare-from-pulpit-to-soap-box">Source</a></b></blockquote>Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-44830906164726455892011-02-02T12:09:00.000-06:002011-02-02T12:09:10.005-06:00Church in the News: Oba orders church closed<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_suKWftKRhXzyKR89yJIdQUqgbOgPqG6LB_pIe1UA8P9czwAzncmyJGJeBCVY8JagbvEDPxShQyACddefsKZPco9JFrqSxLMqDSkqM8Nu5W976kWeyH8D8j5zy4DKLEYwuRu81i4Irsc/s1600/oba_church+closed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_suKWftKRhXzyKR89yJIdQUqgbOgPqG6LB_pIe1UA8P9czwAzncmyJGJeBCVY8JagbvEDPxShQyACddefsKZPco9JFrqSxLMqDSkqM8Nu5W976kWeyH8D8j5zy4DKLEYwuRu81i4Irsc/s320/oba_church+closed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The closed church!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This is my last post today I promise. I should be doing so many other things at the moment that its not even funny. But I just saw this and thought that the gist was too sweet not to share. When you think that you have heard it all, you then hear something new. Na wah for waya oooo!!<br />
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<blockquote><b>Hundreds of worshippers at Saint Paul African Church, Alagbado, Ogun State, on Sunday took to their heels as some hoodlums in the area attacked them with canes, stones and other weapons, preventing them from having normal Sunday service in the church.</b> <br />
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The hoodlums, who were said to have arrived the church as early as 6am, stayed in the church premises until 12noon; successfully preventing the church service from holding.<br />
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PUNCH METRO gathered that <span style="color: red;">the closure was the culmination of a cold war between some elders in the church and the town's new monarch, Oba Adedayo Shyllon. It was gathered that the monarch ordered that the church be closed for three months and the hoodlums were merely enforcing the king's order.</span><br />
The Peoples' Warden and head of administration of the church, Mr. Sola Akinsanya, told our correspondent that the attack on the church by hoodlums suspeted to be the king's loyalists was as a result of a simple security measure taken by the church, which the king was not happy with.<br />
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According to him, the elders in the church met on Saturday, January 22, and decided that there would be no church service the following day because they feared that there might be a violent protest in the church.<br />
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He said, "There was a court injunction, which was served on the church. The injunction prevented Shyllon from parading himself as the king. The elders met and decided not to hold church service on that day."<br />
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"Ironically, that Sunday the elders decided to close the church coincided with the day that the new monarch chose for the thanksgiving of his coronation in the church.<br />
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But one of the elders in the church, Chief Theophilus Amodu, said there had been violent protest against the king by the youth and market women, prompting the elders to believe that his presence in the church might cause problem. "That Saturday, a young man was killed and we feared that our church might become the centre of another protest, hence the closure," he said.<br />
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<b>However, the elders' action put the king in bad light as he and his visitors were stranded and had to quickly relocate to another church for the service. The angry king was said to have vowed to close the church for three months.</b>On Tuesday, January 25, <b>the king made good his promise by locking all the entrances to the church.</b> But the elders broke the lock and reported the case to the police.<br />
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Akinsanya said, "I called the vicar of the church and we went to the police station to make statement. The Divisional Police Officer said we should break the lock which we did. On Saturday, we wrote to the DPO requesting two armed policemen at our service today (yesterday). This morning, the sexton of the church, Mr. Wale Ogundimu, called to tell me that the church was locked again. Later we learnt that the sexton had been abducted by the thugs sent to the church.<br />
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"We went to the police station, where we also found the sexton. We made statement and the head of the station patrol and guard duty sent five policemen with us to the church on the DPO's instruction.<br />
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<b>"When we got there, we were prevented from entering the church by the thugs numbering about 22, sent by Shyllon and led by one Fatai. After discussing with the policemen, Fatai instructed his thugs to beat everybody, we fled."</b><br />
However, Amodu said that the elders would not allow the king to lock the church for three months. "We want the whole world to know our plight and we want our church opened," he said.<br />
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But the monarch said he did not send anybody to the church. "As you can see, I am just coming back from a service in another church. I don't know anything about anybody attacking them," he said.<br />
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<b>He however admitted that he gave instruction that the church should not be opened for three months.</b>He said, "I went to the church last week and I met it closed. I went there with the Primate of the African church and also the Bishop of Ifako Diocese; not to talk of about four kings that accompanied me. I was totally embarrassed.<br />
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"I have my instrument of office since December 23, 2010. The coronation was just a ceremony. If somebody went to court, what is the business of the elders of the church; were they joined in the suit? What protest were the talking about? There was no protest, the boy that died was killed on Monday during the clash of the butchers at the market there, not here. My father was among the five people that established that church; I am the Patron of the Archdeaconry and they locked me out.<br />
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"Of course, I said that since the elders wanted to close the church, the church would remain closed for the next three months. I said it before the bishop and the primate and they said nothing. I am the king of this town. I don't know anything about today's disturbance, but I know I said that the church would remain close for three months." <a href="http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2011013145593">Source </a><br />
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Incredible abi? There is nothing that I won't hear in this world oooo. See developing country in action. LOL!!Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689664753715910636.post-76117398177834765352011-02-02T11:09:00.001-06:002011-02-02T11:11:19.921-06:00What the h*&l is going on in Northern Nigeria?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIuyhCXbpRM3dixGMxoxhOyuKLDJ9h4e5sFcFIjI31AUDWVm29WmIVwFG6xvF-hCaIWJZxsuhhphDRep3tn_ImUOtuoGufhG7FxSAsjS_Qjh78JMXTmUSDOLh_Bbex82SJMuN-XTzNrQ/s1600/josviolence1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIuyhCXbpRM3dixGMxoxhOyuKLDJ9h4e5sFcFIjI31AUDWVm29WmIVwFG6xvF-hCaIWJZxsuhhphDRep3tn_ImUOtuoGufhG7FxSAsjS_Qjh78JMXTmUSDOLh_Bbex82SJMuN-XTzNrQ/s1600/josviolence1.jpg" /></a>Seriously people,<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0NbdkNgOmJGmijEAuMee_MpPbF_j3OLJVJ_7ec0CxkZ0k5Gr0DGdW11BzNxjC3AHnFujrbUTg0RGwe29QdeFqoyQRcsPymqrFXHx72Co8oq6m1mi6y8rOAZlGay6LKzqzu2H5zDny5I/s1600/josviolence2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0NbdkNgOmJGmijEAuMee_MpPbF_j3OLJVJ_7ec0CxkZ0k5Gr0DGdW11BzNxjC3AHnFujrbUTg0RGwe29QdeFqoyQRcsPymqrFXHx72Co8oq6m1mi6y8rOAZlGay6LKzqzu2H5zDny5I/s1600/josviolence2.jpg" /></a>Have we become so desensitized that we really don't care about all these killings anymore? Is it now everyman for himself even among us so called educated elites? This is getting ridiculous now! Really!! Check out the following news reports:<br />
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<b>Bauchi State:</b><br />
<blockquote>Apparently reacting to the recent crisis that engulfed Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi state, the Council of Elders and Traditional Rulers Forum from the council area and Bogoro Local Government have debunked the claim on the number of casualty recorded, saying that 35 people were brutally killed.<br />
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Addressing newsmen in Jos, the National Secretary of the Forum, Mr Dam Manah, debunked the claim that the crisis was as a result of a fraca between two youths over a game of snooker and stated that the violence that followed the disagreement was unimaginable.<br />
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According to him, the violence escalated with more shooting and burning of houses, adding that at the end Sayawa <b>houses, shops and churches</b> in Tafawa Balewa and Arewa were burnt, while 15 people were killed and another 20 waylaid and killed at Zwall while travelling from Bauchi to Tafawa Balewa.<br />
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The Council of Elders and Traditional Rulers Forum blamed the Bauchi State government for the repeated conflicts based on its refusal to actualise the Chiefdoms.<br />
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It noted the setting up of a reconciliation committee on peace and reconciliation by the state government adding that the committee at its deliberations recognized the non-actualization of the Sayawa Chiefdom and their fears on the voter registration as factor for the angry actions.<br />
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The Forum chided the Bauchi State government for the sudden transferred of all the students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Tafawa Balewa, to the Government Girls Secondary School, Yana, in Northern Bauchi State because of their safety.<br />
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“Predictably, the non-Muslims students refused to be transferred and they were abandoned to their fate in the school, while taken away with them all food items for their feeding.<br />
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“If the government cannot guarantee the safety of Muslims students in a predominant christian community, how can the same government convince parents of the non-Muslim students that their lives are guaranteed in a predominantly Muslim community? “<br />
The forum, therefore, called on the Bauchi State government to stop the relocation of students.</blockquote><a href="http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/17001-bauchi-crisis-traditional-rulers-forum-claims-35-people-died"> Source</a><br />
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Note the burning of churches in the report above. <br />
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<b> Plateau and Borno</b> <b>States</b><br />
<blockquote>THE National Prayer Movement (NPM), on Tuesday, said the ceaseless carnage in Borno and Plateau states portended danger for the corporate existence of the country.<br />
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In an open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, the organisation asked him to immediately demonstrate the necessary political will by tracking down the masterminds of the crises before the situation got out of hand.<br />
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According to the NPM in the letter signed by the general secretary, Mr. Olugbemiga Olakunle, the sponsors of the violence and political killings are not ghosts but humans who live among the people.<br />
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It further stated that the administration should handle the security challenge posed by the current development with the urgency it deserved because of its far-reaching implication for the April poll and the survival of the country.<br />
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“Under normal circumstances, the Federal Government ought to have declared a state of emergence in Plateau and Borno states to effectively tackle the security challenges in these states.<br />
<a href="http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/17002-christian-leaders-write-jonathan-on-borno-plateau-carnage">source </a></blockquote>I could post a whole lot on the Jos crisis, but there is no need. Just google it and be amazed. Or you could just view <a href="http://www.anglicandioceseofjos.org/dogo.html">these pictures</a>. Let me warn you that they are extremely disturbing! How long are we going to sit by and watch this mess? And what should be the appropriate response? Killings going on in 3 states (at least at the moment) and we all dey siddon look. Hey peeps, our house is on fire!!!!Holyebonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939601450385630579noreply@blogger.com0