So in 2015, our newest bride, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, promised that it will be a natural movement even on her Big Day, adding that she will go rock her natural hair too.
Fast-forward to the wedding yesterday, Susu left the ‘Team Natural ‘ group and went on Classic Chignon updo for her first look and then Fishtail Braid Updo for the second.
More photos
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The Secretary of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, at an event on Thursday titled, ‘Tracking Noxious Funds’, which was organised by Kent University Law School and Human and Environmental Development Agency, had explained that any whistle-blower, who helped the government to recover anything above N1bn would receive less than five per cent commission. Yakubu Galadima, the lawyer for the whistle-blower, who informed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of the $43m, N23.2m and £27,800 (N13bn) recovered from an Ikoyi apartment, says his client will not accept anything below five per cent commission.
Galadima said this during a chat with one of our correspondents on Saturday.
Owasanoye, who was part of the team that drafted the whistle-blower policy had said, “If you blow the whistle and the government recovers cash, you are entitled to between 2.5 per cent and five per cent. The maximum limit is five per cent.
“According to the policy, if you blow the whistle and it is below N500m, you get four to five per cent because the higher the amount that is recovered, the lower the percentage that is given. This is the global best practice.
“If the recovery is between N500m and N1bn, you get three to four per cent (commission). If it is N1bn and above, it is 2.5 per cent. Indeed, there is a clause that we included in the policy to say that the government may determine the amount to be awarded based on other criteria provided that the amount to be awarded doesn’t exceed five per cent. In other words, the government may actually pay less than 2.5 per cent but nobody can be paid more than five per cent.”
However, the Ikoyi whistle-blower’s lawyer told
SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday that his client would not accept anything less than five per cent.
When asked if his client would accept anything less than five per cent, he said, “Not at all.”
Galadima had stated last week that the commission his client was expecting from the Federal Government was N860m and not N325m.
He had also stated that the commission should be paid based on the exchange rate at the time the money was recovered and not the current one.
Attempts to get comments from the Ministry of Finance were not successful as calls and a text message sent to the Director of Information in the ministry, Mr. Salisu Dambatta, were not responded to.
Beneficiary to be paid before Thursday, says ministry official
Meanwhile, there are indications that the Ministry of Finance is awaiting the final clearance from the EFCC before it can pay the Ikoyi whistleblower.
Officials in the ministry confided in one of our correspondents that the whistle-blower was expected to be paid before the end of this month.
However, it was gathered that while the ministry was ready to make the payment, the move could be delayed as administrative work was still ongoing on the issue.
The official said the ministry had put in place detailed procedures for processing payments under the whistle-blower policy.
These procedures, according to the official, were designed to prevent abuse, legal disputes and to ensure protection of the information providers.
He stated that the identity of the information provider must be verified, adding that there would be calculation of the amount payable and computation of relevant taxes.
The source stated, “The ministry of finance is not directly involved in the recovery of looted fund; that is the responsibility of the various security agencies.
“Our role is to make payment and you will recall that last week, the finance minister said payment would be made this month to the person who assisted in the recovery of looted funds including the Ikoyi whistle-blower.
“That process is on and final payment can be released when we receive confirmation from the agency that made the recovery before we can know who to pay money to.
“In the case of the Ikoyi recovery, we are talking of the EFCC which is the agency that made the recovery and once they give us final confirmation, payment would be made.”
In a related development, Owasanoye has revealed that violation of the directive regarding the Treasury Single Account by government agencies and officials tops the list of recoveries made from the whistle-blower policy.
Owasanoye said, “As of the end of October, over 5,000 whistles had been blown and about 75 per cent of that came from phone calls. So, you can report on the website, email, text message or phone call.
“What are the things that the various communications have covered? Contract inflation, ‘ghost workers’, payment of unapproved funds, embezzlement of salaries, diversion of excess crude funds, improper reduction of financial penalties, diversion of funds meant for people, placing money in a commercial bank, non-remittance of deduction of pensions or NHIS and failure to implement projects.
“Others include embezzlement of funds received from donors, embezzlement of payment meant for personnel emoluments, violation of TSA which is the highest, violation of FIRS regulations, non-procurement of safety equipment, money laundering, illegal sale of government assets, diversion of IGR which is the second largest, financial misappropriation, concealed bailout funds, mismanagement of micro-finance banks and illegal recruitment.”
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We’ve all heard of ugly happenings between madams and their housemaids, but a Nigerian lady is changing the narrative.
The lady took to social media to share photos off their photo session as she celebrated her maid’s birthday.
See some reactions below;
Daphne Legemah God bless this lady, you shall always have joy in your home and people will treat your children well too..not some that will turn their maids to slaves, what a kind-hearted person.
Chidera Divine Onyekachi My house maid will be my bestie, not like one wicked woman, I onced lived with, she will always accuse me, that am smelling, will say am a witch that each time I come to her shop she gets bad luck, at a time I had a problem with one boy in there yard, this woman gave me the highest accusations, that am chasing the guy to be my lover, kai, I cried, small girl then, yet this woman claims to be a born again,I always kept mute in all cos of the situation then, she and mum agreed to train me up to university, but unfortunately the woman only trained me in ss1 ,i came into her house after finishing jss3,someone that was supposed to help me, she left me,but all thanks to God am a graduate now, never loose hope,the highest people I can’t support someone giving there child as a maid is this so called born agains, well keep it up ma, only God will reward you..
Martha Oghize Tend to treat ur housemaid nicely so when u are not around ur kids will not suffer in their hands because of the way u treat them (Badly).
Treat them well and expect love and care for ur kids with or without ur been around them.
God bless this woman and pls don’t change ur ways towards this girl.
Kelvin Enuoyibo If 90% of African ladies could treat their housemaid like human beings and not slaves. There will be less hatred in from housemaids. What causes problems in this world is lack of love. Love is all we need to make this world a better place to live in.
More photos below.
House Maid
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Your Daily Gift: 4 Ways The Breath of Life is More Than Just Oxygen
Inhale, Exhale
Have you ever watched a baby sleep? As their bodies surrender to stillness, a gentle sense of calm and peacefulness is reflected in their bodies and sometimes on their faces. That simple act of rest is a reminder for me about the power of God’s gift, the breath of life.
The breath has power and there’s a rhythm and a flow to it. As a wellness professional and yoga instructor, I talk about the breath a lot and most of what I’ve learned about breathing has come from the word of God and confirmed through science. I believe that the breath unlocks the door to spiritual awareness, and God starts this process in the womb.
Did you know that mothers breathe for their babies while they are in the womb? During their time in the womb, babies practice breathing while their lungs are being developed in preparation for birth. That moment when all those in the room wait in anticipation for those strong lungs to let out a loud cry to indicate… LIFE !
From that point forward, we embody the gift. Second by second, moment by moment we inhale and exhale consciously and unconsciously. But, the breath is more than just the flow of oxygen; it is the vehicle by which God provides us with the following:
HIS PRESENCE
When God formed man from the dust in Genesis 2:7 , God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. We move and live with a daily reminder of God’s presence every time we take a breath. His presence flows through us, giving life to our body, soul, and spirit. On a deeper level through prayer and meditation, we are able to not only cherish the gift of God’s breath on a physical level, but we are able to feel and sense His presence on a spiritual level as well. In John 4:24 , we are reminded that God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. As God’s greatest creation, we are built for spiritual worship and that type of worship starts with a spiritual awareness found in reverence of the breath.
HIS POWER
The breath, like all of God’s gifts, is full of power . In Proverbs 18:21 , we are reminded that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Words riding along the flow of your breath holds power and with the gift of free will, we can choose how that power will be directed in our lives based on what we speak. When God spoke “let there be light”, there was light. That same power to speak life resides within us when our breath carries words from a place grounded in faith.
CHANGE
Created in God’s likeness, we possess power through God our Father and power can bring about change. In our physical bodies, we were created with systems that allow us to receive and to release. Our respiratory system is designed to take in oxygen and to release carbon dioxide. Our human design is divine indeed! We are change agents here on earth equipped with the ability to receive something and to change it into something useful for others.
Did you know that our moods and attitudes are reflected through our breathing? Your breath may be short and choppy when you are anxious or upset. Or, maybe your breath is shallow when you’re sad. When we are more physically and spiritually aware of how we breathe, especially during difficult situations, we have the power to shift. We can change our perspective and sometimes our mood and attitudes in that very moment through conscious breathing.
CONNECTION
Like a child in the mother’s womb, the breath is a mysterious and divine connector to our Creator and to the universe. As God’s earthly creation gives us oxygen, we receive it, transform it and offer our gift of carbon dioxide to the earth. In
Genesis 1:26 , God granted man dominion over the earth and that responsibility includes care and connection. God created us with connection in mind and the breath is a constant reminder of that connection. The connection is life and is life-giving to others.
Consider how you’ve been breathing lately and take a moment to try this spiritual breathing exercise. As you breathe in slowly through the nose, consciously envision you breathing in God’s presence and exhaling doubt. Slowly inhale the power of your breath to carry your prayers to feet of Jesus. Consciously exhale fear – the image of it and the energy of it. Slowly inhale your God-given ability to change or shift your perspective or feelings and exhale worry. Slowly inhale your ability and desire to connect with God the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, earth, and others, and exhale isolation.
Remember, breathing is needed to live, and how you live is rooted in how you breathe through life.
Yes! I would like prayer. Please pray for me.
Sherrell Moore-Tucker is a Wellness Professional, Writer, and Registered Yoga Instructor with the National Yoga Alliance and Holy Yoga Ministries. Sherrell provides wellness services which tend to a person’s spiritual, mental, and physical well-being while providing accessible tools for managing stress. Join the movement and learn more about how to “Breathe in, Stress Out” at http://ift.tt/2i1ULOn .
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IN ONE SENSE God is always near us. He is not an Absentee, needing to be brought down from the heavens or up from the deep. He is nigh at hand. His Being pervades all being. Every world, that floats like an islet in the ocean of space, is filled with signs of His presence, just as the home of your friend is littered with the many evidences of his residence, by which you know that he lives there, though you have not seen his face. Every crocus pushing through the dark mold; every firefly in the forest; every bird that springs up from its nest before your feet; everything that is-all are as full of God’s presence as the bush which burned with His fire, before which Moses bared his feet in acknowledgment that God was there.
But we do not always realize it. We often pass hours, and days, and weeks. We sometimes engage in seasons of prayer, we go to and fro from His house, where the ladder of communication rests; and still He is a shadow, a name, a tradition, a dream of days gone by.
“Oh! that I knew where I might find Him! that I might come even to His seat! . . . Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: on the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him”
(Job 23:3, 8, 9).
How different is this failure to realize the presence of God to the blessed experience of His nearness realized by some.
Brother Lawrence, the simple-minded cook, for more than sixty years never lost the sense of the presence of God, but was as conscious of it while performing the duties of his humble office, as when partaking of the Holy Supper.
John Howe, on the blank page of his Bible, made this record in Latin: “This very morning I awoke out of a most ravishing and delightful dream, when a wonderful and copious stream of celestial rays, from the lofty throne of the Divine Majesty, seemed to dart into my open and expanded breast. I have often since reflected on that very signal pledge of special Divine favor, and have with repeated fresh pleasure tasted the delights thereof.”
Are not these experiences, so blessed and inspiring, similar to that of the author of the longest, and in some respects, the sublimest Psalm in the Psalter? He had been beating out the golden ore of thought through the successive paragraphs of marvelous power and beauty, when suddenly he seems to have become conscious that He, of whom he had been speaking, had drawn near, and was bending over him. The sense of the presence of God was borne in upon his inner consciousness. And, lifting up a face on which reverence and ecstasy met and mingled, he cried, “Thou art near, O Lord!” (Psalm 119:151. )
If only such an experience of the nearness of God were always ours, infolding us as air or light; if only we could feel, as the great Apostle put it on Mars’ Hill, that God is not far away, but the element in which we have our being, as sea-flowers in deep, still lagoons:-then we should understand what David meant when he spoke about dwelling in the house of the Lord all the days of his life, beholding His beauty, inquiring in His temple, and hidden in the secret of His pavilion (Ps. 27). Then, too, we should acquire the blessed secret of peace, purity and power.
In the Secret of His Presence there is Peace. “In the world ye shall have tribulation,” our Master said, “but in Me ye shall have peace.” It is said that a certain insect has the power of surrounding itself with a film of air, encompassed in which it drops into the midst of muddy, stagnant pools, and remains unhurt. And the believer is also conscious that he is enclosed in the invisible film of the Divine Presence, as a far-traveled letter in the envelope which protects it from hurt and soil.
“They draw near me that follow after mischief,” but Thou art nearer than the nearest, and I dwell in the inner ring of Thy presence. The mountains round about me are filled with the horses and chariots of Thy protection. No weapon that is formed against me can prosper, for it can only reach me through Thee, and, touching Thee, will glance harmlessly aside. To be in God is to be in a well-fitted house when the storm has slipped from its leash; or in a sanctuary, the doors of which shut out the pursuer.
In the Secret of His Presence there is Purity. The mere vision of snow-capped Alps, seen from afar across Lake Geneva so elevates and transfigures the rapt and wistful soul as to destroy all evil things which would thrust themselves upon the inner life. The presence of a little child, with its guileless purity, has been known to disarm passion, as a beam of light, falling in a reptile-haunted cave, scatters the slimy snakes. But what shall not Thy presence do for me, if I acquire a perpetual sense of it, and live in its secret place? Surely, in the heart of that fire, black cinder though I be, I shall be kept pure, and glowing, and intense!
In the Secret of His Presence there is Power. My cry, day and night, is for power-spiritual power. Not the power of intellect, oratory, or human might. These cannot avail to vanquish the serried ranks of evil. Thou sayest truly that it is not by might nor power. Yet human souls which touch Thee become magnetized, charged with a spiritual force which the world can neither gainsay nor resist.
Oh! let me touch Thee! Let me dwell in unbroken contact with Thee, that out of Thee successive tides of Divine energy may pass into and through my emptied and eager spirit, flowing, but never ebbing, and lifting me into a life of blessed ministry, which shall make deserts below like the garden of the Lord.
But how shall we get and keep this sense of God’s nearness?
Must we go back to Bethel, with its pillar of stone, where even Jacob said, “Surely God is in this place”? Ah, we might have stood beside him, with unanointed eye, and seen no ladder, heard no voice; while the patriarch would discover God in the bare moorlands of our lives, trodden by us without reverence or joy.
Must we travel to the mouth of the cave in whose shadow Elijah stood, thrilled by the music of the still small voice, sweeter by contrast with the thunder and the storm? Alas! we might have stood beside him unconscious of that glorious Presence; while Elijah, if living now, would discern it in the whisper of the wind, the babbling of babes, the rhythm of heart throbs.
If we had stationed ourselves in our present state beside the Apostle Paul when he was caught into the third Heaven, we should probably have seen nothing but a tent-maker’s shop, or a dingy room in a hired lodging-we in the dark, while he was in transports; while he would discern, were he to live again, angels on our steamships, visions in our temples, doors opening into Heaven amid the tempered glories of our more somber skies.
In point of fact, we carry everywhere our circumference of light or dark. God is as much in the world as He was when Enoch walked with Him, and Moses communed with Him face to face. He is as willing to be a living, bright, glorious Reality to us as to them. But the fault is with us. Our eyes are unanointed because our hearts are not right. The pure in heart still see God, and to those who love Him, and do His commandments, He still manifests Himself as He does not to the world. Let us cease to blame our times; let us blame ourselves. We are degenerate, not they.
What, then, is that temper of .soul which moss readily perceives the presence and nearness of God: Let us endeavor to learn the blessed secret of abiding ever in the secret of His Presence and of being hid den in His pavilion (Ps. 31:20) .
Remember, then, at the outset, that neither you nor any of our race, can have that glad consciousness of the Presence of God except
through Jesus. None knoweth the Father but the Son and those to whom the Son reveals Him; and none cometh to the Father but by Him. Apart from Jesus the Presence of God is an object of terror, from which devils wish to hid themselves, and sinners weave aprons, or hide among the trees. But in Him all barriers are broken down all veils rent, all clouds dispersed, and the weaker believer may live, where Moses sojourned, in the midst of the fire, before whose consuming flames no impurity can stand.
“What part of the Lord’s work is most closely connected with this blessed sense of the Presence of God?”
It is through the blood of His cross that sinners are made nigh. In His death He not only revealed the tender love of God, but put away our sins, and wove for us those garments of stainless beauty, in which we are gladly welcomed into the inner presence-chamber of the King. Remember it is said, “I will commune with thee from off the mercy-seat.” That golden slab on which Aaron sprinkled blood whenever he entered the most Holy Place was a type of Jesus. He is the true mercy-seat. And it is when you enter into deepest fellowship with Him in His death, and live most constantly in the spirit of His memorial supper, that you shall realize most deeply His nearness. Now, as at Emmaus, He loves to make Himself known in the breaking of bread.
“And is this all? for I have heard this many times, and still fail to live in the secret place as I would.”
Exactly so; and therefore, to do for us what no effort of ours could do, our Lord has received of His Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, that He should bring into our hearts the very Presence of God. Understand that since you are Christ’s, the blessed Comforter is yours. He is within you as He was within your Lord, and in proportion as you live in the Spirit. and walk in the Spirit, and open your entire nature to Him, you will find yourself becoming His Presence-chamber, irradiated with the light of His glory. And as you realize that He is in you, you will realizethat you are ever in Him. Thus the beloved Apostle wrote, “Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit” ( 1 John 4:13).
“All this I know, and yet I fail to realize this marvelous fact of the indwelling of the Spirit in me; how then can I ever realize my indwelling in Him?”
It is because your life is so hurried. You do not take time enough for meditation and prayer. The Spirit of God within you and the Presence of God without you cannot be discerned while the senses are occupied with pleasure, or the pulse beats quickly, or the brain is filled with the tread of many hurrying thoughts. It is when water stands that it becomes pellucid, and reveals the pebbly beach below. Be still, and know that God is within thee and around! In the hush of the soul the unseen becomes visible, and the eternal real. The eye dazzled by the sun cannot detect the beauties of its pavilion till it has had time to rid itself of the glare. Let no day pass without its season of silent waiting before God.
“Are there any other conditions which I should fulfill, so that I may abide in the secret of His Presence?”
Be pure in heart. Every permitted sin encrusts the windows of the soul with thicker layers of grime, obscuring the vision of God. But every victory over impurity and selfishness clears the spiritual vision, and there fall from the eyes, as it had been, scales. In the power of the Holy Ghost deny self, give no quarter to sin, resist the devil, and thou shalt se God.
The unholy soul could not see God even though it were set down in the midst of Heaven. But holy souls see God amid the ordinary commonplaces of earth, and find everywhere an open vision. Such could not be nearer God though they stood by the sea of glass. Their only advantage there would b that the veil of their mortal and sinful natures having been rent, the vision would be more direct and perfect.
Keep His commandments. Let there be not one jot or tittle unrecognized and unkept. He that hath My commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me, and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My father, and I will love him, and will manifest My self to him. Moses the faithful servant was also the seer, and spake with God face to face as a man speaketh with his friend.
Continue in the spirit of prayer. Sometimes the vision will tarry to test the earnestness and steadfastness of thy desire. At other times it will come as the dawn steals over the sky, and, or ever you are awareyou will find yourself conscious that He is near. He was even accustomed to glide, unheralded, into the midst of His disciples through unopened doors. “Thy footsteps are not known” (Ps. 77:19) .
At such times we may truly say with St. Bernard “He entered not by the eyes, for His presence was not marked by color; nor by the ears, for there was no sound; nor by the breath, for He mingled not with the air; nor by the touch, for He was impalpable. You ask, then, how I knew that He was present. Because He was a quickening power. As soon as He entered, He awoke my slumbering soul. He moved and pierced my heart, which before was strange, stony, hard and sick, so that my soul could bless the Lord, and all that is within me praised His Holy Name.”
Cultivate the habit of speaking aloud to God. Not perhaps always, because our desires are often too sacred or deep to be put into words. But it is well to acquire the habit of speaking to God as to a present friend while sitting in the house or walking by the way. Seek the habit of talking things over with God-thy letters, thy plans, thy hopes, thy mistakes, thy sorrows and sins. Things look very differently when brought into the calm light of His presence. One cannot talk long with God aloud without feeling that He is near.
Meditate much upon the Word. This is the garden where the Lord God walks, the temple where He dwells, the presence-chamber where He holds court, and is found by those who seek Him. It is through the word that we feed upon the Word. And He said, “He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me and I in him” (John 6:56).
Be diligent in Christian work. The place of prayer is indeed the place of His manifested presence, but that presence would fade from it were we to linger there after the bell of duty had rung for us below. We shall ever meet it as we go about our necessary work: “Thou meetest him that worketh righteousness.” As we go forth to our daily tasks the angel of His presence comes to greet us, and turns to go at our side. “Go ye,” said the Master; “Lo, I am with you all the days.” Not only in temple courts, or in sequestered glens, or in sick rooms, but in the round of daily duty, in the common-places of life, on the dead levels of existence, we may be ever in the secret of His presence, and shall be able to say with Elijah before Ahab, and Gabriel to Zacharias, “I stand in the presence of God” (1 Kings 17:1; Luke 1:19) .
Cultivate the habit of recognizing the Presence of God. “Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and causest to approach unto Thee, that he may dwell in Thy courts.” There is no life like this. To feel that God is with us; that He never leads us through a place too narrow for Him to pass as well; that we can never be lonely again, never for a single moment; that we are beset by Him behind and before, and covered by His hand; that He could not be nearer to us, even if we were in Heaven itself. To have Him as Friend, and Referee, and Counselor, and Guide. To realize that there is never to be a Jericho in our lives without the presence of the Captain of the Lord’s host, with those invisible but mighty legions, before whose charge all walls must fall down. What wonder that the saints of old waxed valiant in fight as they heard Him say, “I will be with thee; I will not fail thee nor forsake thee” (Josh. 1: 5) .
Begone fear and sorrow and dread of the dark valley! “Thou shalt hide [me] in the secret of Thy presence from the pride of man; Thou shalt keep [me] secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues” (Ps. 31:20) .
The NATURE and CHARACTER of GOD Outline
The DIFFERENCE between the NATURE and CHARACTER of GOD, and WHAT DIFFERENCE IT MAKES : TO KNOW HIS NATURE WITHOUT HIS CHARACTER IS TO KNOW A MACHINE THAT IS CAPABLE OF ANYTHING BUT WITHOUT A PURPOSE OR DESIGN. TO KNOW HIS CHARACTER WITHOUT HIS NATURE IS TO KNOW A PERSON CAPABLE OF THINKING AND ACTING WITH PURPOSE AND DESIGN, BUT UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING.
WHAT IS NATURE? Essence, Substance— Physical or Mental Nature is NOT PRAISE-WORTHY Beauty—Muscular–color– “NATURE” It can be appreciated, admired, etc. But it can not be praised , Because— It is Involuntary — Nature is NOT BLAME-WORTHY It is not wrong. — It is not evil — It is not to be punished for its existence Because– It is Involuntary . There is no difference between a rock and a nose. Both are part of NATURE, but no credit goes to the rock or the nose or its existence. Nor does any Blame go to the rock or nose for its existence. A. What is an Attribute? The permanent quality of something. B. What is a Natural Attribute? The permanent quality of a person’s Nature. [not the temporal body] THE NATURE OF GOD: What God Is. His NATURAL Attributes, Qualities ATTRIBUTE: A Permanent Quality –Example: A Roof on a House ———————————————————————————————— 1. IMMORTAL: ETERNAL: SELF-EXISTENCE –Unchangeable Nature— THE UNCONDITIONED/THE ABSOLUTE–#3 No Cause for His Existence: UNCAUSED: Uncreated: Always Existing: No Beginning: Not SELF-CAUSED/ NOT SELF-CREATED ENDLESS DURATION OF TIME . — (NOT TIMELESS)—Issue of Time!!! 1 Tim. 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, {be} honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Tim. 6:16 who alone possesses immortality SELF-EXISTENT NATURE, A NECESSARY EXISTENCE—THE FIRST CAUSE NO ONE IS THE “MOTHER OF GOD” #13–INDEPENDENT 2. INVISIBLE: GOD IS SPIRIT [He has SPIRITUAL ESSENCE] 1 Tim 6:16…and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen or can see. John 1:18 No man has seen God at any time. John 4:24 “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 3. UNCHANGEABLE: IMMUTABLE, CANNOT BE DIFFERENT BY NATURE. GOD’S SELF-EXISTENT NATURE CANNOT BE CHANGED OR CHANGE ITSELF. James 1:17 Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow. 4. PERFECT MEMORY —HE Remembers all things Heb 6:10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. Heb 8: “I will remember their sins no more” = not take “into account” 5. PERFECT IMAGINATION –He can conceive of all Possibilities. 6. ALL-ABLE: ALL-POWERFUL: OMNIPOTENCE –[ALL MEANS UNLIMITED] Able to Do Anything and Everything Necessary to Accomplish His Wise and Benevolent Purpose. Power To Create Something When there is Nothing. All power TO KEEP HIS PROMISES , All Power TO ENFORCE HIS LAW and All Power TO SUSTAIN HIS GOVERNMENT. WHAT GOD CANNOT DO: A NATURAL IMPOSSIBILITY—[BY DEFINITION–a Triangle has 3 sides and cannot be a square which has 4 sides] Cannot make a Rock to big to move. The OBJECT OF POWER is Creation and Government of Material Universe Creation of a Universe of Moral Agents— ——but not the Government of Moral Agents 7. EVERYWHERE PRESENT: HE IS EVERYWHERE: OMNIPRESENCE [in EVERY PLACE—UNLIMITED PRESENCE.] He is in Every Place that Exists—He is HERE NOW. He is WHEREVER you ARE. — “—IN HIM we live and move and exist”-Acts 17:28 [ Before CREATION: GOD IS ALL THAT IS–“Pantheism”–Lewis] [CREATION IS WHERE GOD PUT IT—IT IS NOT INFINITE] 8. ALL-KNOWING: IGNORANT of NOTHING—OMNISCIENCE—(Perfect Knowledge of ALL THAT EXISTS) THIS IS BECAUSE AND A RESULT OF GOD BEING EVERYWHERE PRESENT: All Ideas and Objects and Events are Known to Him as they Exist or Happen: He Knows all of your THOUGHTS, INTENTS, ACTIONS, WORDS—ALL OF THEM. He knows when each sparrow falls. He numbers each hair on your head. He knows all JUSTICE and INJUSTICE/ALL SUFFERING AND EVIL. ISSUE OF FOREKNOWLEDGE HERE BY DEFINITION: THE FUTURE DOES NOT EXIST AND IS UNKNOWN and UNKNOWABLE 9. INFINITE (Unlimited)(Perfect) REASON/INTELLIGENCE— ” NATURAL” DIVINE REASON– Come let us Reason Together ALL INTELLIGENT REASONING, CONCEPTS, PRECEPTS, POSSIBILITIES, THEORIES, LOGICAL THINKING, ETC.— ARE HIS IN PERFECTION. — HE PERCEIVES ALL POSSIBLE OPTIONS OFFERED TO WISDOM. HE IS A PERFECT REASONER, A PERFECT IDEA THINKER HE HAS PERFECT PERCEPTION OF THE GREATEST GOOD[THE END ]. THE BEST MEANS TO ACCOMPLISH THE GREATEST GOOD—GOD’S PERFECT PLAN
THE FOLLOWING NATURAL ATTRIBUTES QUALIFY GOD AS A MORAL AGENT: MORAL AGENCY OF GOD: PERSONALITY, HE IS A PERSON WE ARE PERSONS, THEREFORE OUR CREATOR MUST BE PERSONS LIKE US. [INCLUDE #9 INFINITE INTELLIGENCE] 10. FREE-WILL. — He has LIBERTY to choose in either direction. He has RESPONSIBILITY for the choices He makes. GOD Has The Ability To Make Choices— THEREFORE: HE can have Character. God DECIDED to make Man, He DECIDED to make a PROMISE to Abraham, David, etc. 11. SENSIBILITIES — GOD Experiences Sensibilities Common To All Moral Agents.—HE Feels And Desires, Etc.(Grief, Joy, Delights, etc.) Desires that all men be saved. Takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. GOD’S FEELINGS, DESIRES, COMPASSIONS, SORROWS ARE INFINITE IN DEGREE. 12. CONSCIOUSNESS/AWARENESS —HE Knows that He knows HE LACKS NO KNOWLEDGE OF HIS OWN ACTIVITIES. HE PERFECTLY KNOWS HIMSELF. 13. CONSCIENCE — THE “MORAL REASON” —– Source of the MORAL LAW PERCEIVES AND DICTATES TO GOD THE MORAL OBLIGATION UPON HIM TO BE BENEVOLENT GIVES HIM KNOWLEDGE OF THE MORAL LAW, AND IMPOSES OBLIGATION: PRONOUNCES GUILT IF THERE IS DISOBEDIENCE TO THE MORAL LAW; PRONOUNCES PRAISE FOR OBEDIENCE TO THE MORAL LAW. THIS IS THE SOURCE OF GOD’S JOY. It is A LAWGIVER—-A JUDGE CHARACTER: CHARACTER: THE NEXT QUESTION IS: WHAT IS CHARACTER? It is the result of Choice. It is a moral quality. Character is either BLAME-WORTHY or PRAISE-WORTHY. BECAUSE — Character is Voluntary. Character is either virtue or vice LOVE is Virtue SELFISHNESS is Vice Character is either obedience or disobedience to Moral Law. CHARACTER is Relationship Character is how you choose to relate to Other People NATURE is what a Person IS. CHARACTER is WHY a Person DOES. NATURE IS —– WHAT! What you ARE. CHARACTER IS —– WHY! Why you ACT. THE NEXT QUESTION IS: WHAT IS THE MEASURE OF CHARACTER: 1. WHAT IS THE MEASURE OF CHARACTER? 2. HOW DO WE DETERMINE WHAT CHARACTER A PERSON HAS? 3. THERE HAS TO BE A MEASURE TO DETERMINE CHARACTER. 4. THE ONLY MEASURE OF CHARACTER IS: The Moral Law of God. The MORAL LAW of GOD: IT IS THE MEASURE OF CHARACTERS 1. THE MORAL LAW CANNOT BE SET ASIDE. 2. THE MORAL LAW DOES NOT COME FROM GOD’S WILL, BUT FROM GOD’S NATURE. 3. IT IS AN IDEA IN THE DIVINE INTELLIGENCE AND CONSCIENCE. 4. IT CAN ONLY BE DESTROYED OR CHANGED IF THE NATURE OF GOD CAN BE DESTROYED OR CHANGED. THE NEXT QUESTION IS : WHAT DOES THE MORAL LAW REQUIRE? ANSWER: THE MORAL LAW COMMANDS US TO LOVE GOD AND OUR NEIGHBOR. THE NEXT QUESTION IS : WHERE DO WE FIND THE MORAL LAW? 1. It is found in OUR NATURES: IN the NATUE of every Moral Agent there is a CONSCIENCE. This Conscience contains the knowledge of the MORAL LAW, and gives pressure of MORAL OBLIGATION, to obey this MORAL LAW. The CONSCIENCE then PRAISES the moral agent for obeying the MORAL LAW, or else it CONDEMNS the MORAL AGENT for disobeying it. This is also declared in the BIBLE : Romans 2:14-15 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the LAW written in their hearts, their CONSCIENCE bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 1. It is found in the revealed TEN COMMANDMENTS 1. “You shall have no other gods before Me. 2. “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. “You shall not worship them or serve them; 3. “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. 4. “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 5. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you. 6. “You shall not murder. 7. “You shall not commit adultery. 8. “You shall not steal. 9. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 10. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” 2. It is reinforced and affirmed by JESUS : Mt 5:17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. And: Matt 22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘ YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” 3. It is ratified and affirmed by PAUL: Romans 13:8-10 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” LOVE DOES NO WRONG to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law. THE MORAL LAW COMMANDS US TO LOVE GOD AND OUR NEIGHBOR. THE MORAL LAW COMMANDS US TO LOVE GOD AND OUR NEIGHBOR. The NEXT QUESTION IS: WHAT IS LOVE: THE DEFINITION OF JESUS: 1. Matthew 5:43-44. “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, LOVE your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. 2. Luke 6:27-35 “But I say to you who hear, LOVE your enemies, DO GOOD TO THOSE who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. “Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. “Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. “And just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way. “And if you LOVE THOSE who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. “And if you DO GOOD to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. “And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, in order to receive back the same amount. “But LOVE your enemies, and DO GOOD , and lend, EXPECTING NOTHING in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. A PRACTICAL DEFINITION OF LOVE: 1. It is the Decision of the will — [a choice to obey the command of the Law.] 2. to promote the GOOD of another person, — [not just be happy if it happens] 3. expecting nothing in return.– [motive: no selfish intent] The NEXT QUESTION IS: WHAT IS THE GOOD? The GOOD is the Well-being of a person. It is called happiness, blessedness. THE NEXT QUESTION IS: HOW IS IT MEASURED? JESUS ANSWERS: Matthew 7:12 “Therefore, however you want people TO TREAT YOU, so TREAT THEM, for this is the Law and the Prophets. The COMMAND of the MORAL LAW to UNCONDITIONALLY PROMOTE the GOOD of another PERSON is the OBLIGATION of every MORAL AGENT, and the MEASURE of CHARACTER. THEREFORE : IF A PERSON OBEYS THE MORAL LAW, HIS CHARACTER IS GOOD . IF HE DISOBEYS THE MORAL LAW, HIS CHARACTER IS EVIL . THE NEXT QUESTION IS: CAN A PERSON HAVE A CHARACTER THAT IS PARTLY GOOD [HOLY] AND PARTLY EVIL [SINFUL] AT THE SAME TIME? ANSWER OF JESUS : No, a person is either good or evil. Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 7:16-18 “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. The CHARACTER of GOD A. What is Character? It is the Moral Quality of the free-will choice of a Moral Agent to OBEY or DISOBEY, THE MORAL LAW. B. What is an Attribute? The permanent quality of something. C. What is a Moral Attribute? The permanent quality of a person’s Character. DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTER OF GOD. God’s CHARACTER is described in one word: LOVE “God is LOVE” – 1 John 4:8, 16 DEFINITION OF LOVE: [Given above] 1. It is the Decision of the will — [a choice to obey the command of the Law.] 2. to promote the GOOD of another person, — [not just be happy if it happens] 3. expecting nothing in return.– [motive: no selfish intent] THE DEFINITION OF JESUS: Luke 6:27-35 “But I say to you who hear, LOVE your enemies, DO GOOD TO THOSE who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. “Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. “Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. “And just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way. “And if you LOVE THOSE who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. “And if you DO GOOD to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. “And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, in order to receive back the same amount. “But LOVE your enemies, and DO GOOD , and lend, EXPECTING NOTHING in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
A few weeks ago, it was in the news that popular actor, Femi Adebayo, was facing some marital challenges. It was reported by some online platforms that the star actor’s second marriage was heading for the rocks.
Even though the actor tried his best to do some damage control by going on his social media platforms to explain to his fans what was happening in his household, the news had already spread like wildfire.
In an exclusive chat with Saturday Beats, the actor revealed that he was shocked when he saw the news on various blogs in the country. He said, “When I read on blogs that my marriage was in turmoil, I was very surprised. The social media is a crazy place but we have no choice but to use it as well because of the nature of our work. The news stories about my marriage are actually not true. My wife and I decided to downplay our romance on social media because we believe that social media could be damaging to marriages and that is the reason why we decided to pull down our pictures. We removed our pictures two weeks before I actually saw the news. To the glory of God, I was at home when the news broke and we immediately did a live video to tell our fans that all is well and the news was coming as a surprise to us. The blogger that actually started the rumour also visited the comment section of our live video to tell people that the news was false. I am not surprised anymore when some false stories are said about me as a celebrity but it is extremely important for people to know that it is better to tell positive stories about celebrities than false and negative stories. Regardless, I am not going to sue the blogger. For the records, my marriage is intact; my family is fine.”
Source: Punch
The All Africa Music Award 2017 has come and gone but the dust it raised has not settled. Unlike previous editions, this year’s edition of the award had an international boost as Senegal-born, American-based superstar, Akon, hosted the show that housed some of Africa’s brightest stars.
Ever since he was announced as the host of the event, many who purchased tickets for the event had one thing in mind; to see the superstar perform some of his hit tracks. Sadly, their joy was cut short as the singer only hosted the event.
In a chat with Mike Dada, the brains behind the event, he explained why Akon failed to perform. “The award is a pan-African award and it is designed to showcase the beautiful talents that abound in Africa. The main reason Akon did not perform that night was because we did not want him to take the shine off African artistes. If he had performed, it would have shifted the focus and vision of the award. That was why he hosted the show,” he said.
When asked if the American superstar gave them the value for their money, he simply said, “We are very pleased with Akon’s performance because he was able to carry the crowd along. We chose Akon because of the great works he has been doing in Africa. His Light-up Africa project whereby he seeks to supply some African communities with stable power has been lauded all over the world. He is also one artiste that is concerned with the development of African talents as he has collaborated with a lot of African artistes. This shows how much he loves the continent and his vision for Africa aligns with ours.”
Source: Punch
Joke Silva shares success secret
While some might argue that veteran actress, Joke Silva, is either lucky or talented, she revealed in a recent interview that her success in life has noting to do with these two factors.
For the sake of the younger ones, the thespian was quick to share some responsible for her success. She said, “What has helped me in life is grace. So much grace. I believe God empowered me with passion and respect. I did whatever was possible within the stage of performance, then, stage transited into television and television to film till we ended up with what we now call Nollywood. I am grateful to God that I am where I am because it is only Him that could have allowed all the hard work to pay off. Talent is great but it doesn’t guarantee success; a man can run out of luck, but grace? You keep blossoming and that’s what my story is.”
Taking a trip down memory lane, the star actress said that she has always wanted to be an actress. However, unlike some of her colleagues whose parents were not disposed to their career choice, Silva’s parents had always been in support of their daughter’s choice of career.
“I always knew it was what I wanted to do, and I think my parents knew too but were skeptical because the industry was hardly recognised then. I never had doubts about being an actress; that’s why even when the jobs weren’t very forthcoming, I stayed in performance by teaching, stage plays or television. I kept reinventing myself in the same industry because I knew it was my field.
“I was a model child. I had regular run-ins with my parents, but every child has her naughty days. My parents were very accommodating and supportive, so there was really no need to be rebellious. I think I was a mix. When I needed to be reserved, I was, and sociable when I needed to be. It was sometimes dependent on my mood as well,” she said.
Thankful for her youthful days, the actress was quick to add what she missed about those days. “I miss being a young lady sometimes when I can’t jump as I used to or expend as much energy as before. But I’m grateful for my growth. I am gracefully aging and loving it,” she said.
Source: Punch
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