₦airaland Forum

ONLY SON


It's Monday morning, a day like any other. You wake up, eat breakfast, kiss your wife and son goodbye, and go to work. You put in 8 hours. The day is done. As you drive home, you turn on the radio and search for a station:
"That was Rich Mullins with Awesome God. Hi, I'm Phil Davis on WKMO the big E-Z. And now for the weather: tonight partly cloudy with a sticky 80 degrees. For tomorrow: slightly muggy with a 50% chance of showers.

In the world today: The Bank of America Corp. said Friday it would cut as many as 10,000 jobs as it changes its focus from growing through mergers to becoming more profitable through use of technology and operating efficiency.

And finally tonight, a report from the remote village of Samair, India, where four villagers are dead after contracting a mysterious flu-like illness. Doctors are continuing their investigation into the deaths."

It's not influenza, but 3 or 4 fellows are dead. It's kind of interesting actually. They're sending some doctors over there to investigate it. After a few days have passed, you've forgotten all about it, but on Sunday while you're coming home from church, you hear another radio spot:

"What began with four villagers just days ago has now spread to over 30,000 people in the back hills of India. The center for Disease Control in Atlanta announced today that they are sending in a team of doctors to investigate and analyze this apparent new strain of flu. Officials from the CDC also reported that a main priority for the team would be to try and contain the outbreak before it spreads to the surrounding countries.

By Monday morning when you get up, it's the lead story:

"The "mystery flu" as it is now known has spread to Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. The U.S. President released a statement today saying that he joins everyone in praying for the people of the infected countries and he is confident that all will go well in containing the outbreak and finding a cure. The president announced that the U.S. will provide medical aid to the countries that face this outbreak.

We have just received word that the president of France has closed all borders to that country. No flights from India, Pakistan, or any of the countries where this "mystery flu" has been reported will be allowed into the country. However, this action may have been taken to late; we have just confirmed that there is a man lying in a hospital room in Paris apparently dying of flu like symptoms. The "mystery flu" has hit Europe."

Panic strikes! As best they can tell, once you get it, you have it for a week and you don't know it. Then, you have four days of unbelievable symptoms. Then, you die. Britain closes its borders, but it's too late. It's already in South Hampton, Liverpool, and North Hampton. On Tuesday morning, the President addresses the Nation:

"We interrupt this program to bring you a special news bulletin. The President of the United States is preparing to address the nation. We now go live to the White House"

"My fellow Americans, due to a national security risk, all flights to and from Europe and Asia have been canceled. If you have loved ones that are overseas, they will have to stay there until we contain or find a cure for this "mystery flu". I ask all Americans to pray that a quick resolution to this situation can be found."

Within 4 days, our Nation has been plunged into an unbelievable fear. People are selling little masks for your face. People are talking about what will happen if the "mystery flu" comes to this country, and preachers on Tuesday are saying, "It's the scourge of God." It's Wednesday night, and you are at a church prayer meeting when somebody runs in from the parking lot and says, "Quick, turn on a radio!"

And while the church listens to a little transistor radio with a microphone stuck up to it, the announcement is made:

"We can now confirm that there are two women in a Long Island hospital dying of the "mystery flu". Within hours, it is expected to spread across the county. The center for disease control announced that it has personnel working around the clock to find a vaccine for this new deadly strain of flu. We now have reports of outbreaks in California, Oregon, Arizona, Florida and Massachusetts. It's as though it's sweeping in from the borders."

In a desperate effort to slow the spread of the disease, the President institutes Martial Law. It seems like forever that you are locked up in your house with plastic taped over the windows and ventilation ducts. Nobody is allowed outside but the military patrolling the streets and men in yellow environmental suits going from door to door collecting bodies and loading them onto large flatbed trucks to be taken away and burnt. Things seem very bleak. You and your family spend hours praying for salvation to come. Just when things seem their bleakest, a ray of light pierces the darkness. As you are listening to the new updates on the radio, an announcement comes across the emergency broadcasting system

"This is not a test. I repeat, this is not a test. The President of the United States has activated the emergency broadcasting system to announce that a cure for the mystery flu can be found. The code has been broken, and a vaccine can be made. It's going to take the blood of someone who hasn't been infected, and so the President is asking all Americans to go to your local hospital and have a blood sample taken. It's imperative that everyone be tested. We thank you in advance for your cooperation in this time of national emergency."

You go to the hospital and stand around scared with your neighbors, wondering what in the world is going on and if this is the end of the world. Suddenly, a young lady comes running out of the hospital screaming. She's yelling a name and waving a clipboard. What? She yells it again! Your son tugs on your jacket and says, "Daddy, that's me!"

Before you know it, they have grabbed your boy. "Wait a minute, hold it!"

"It's okay. His blood is clean. His blood is pure. We want to make sure he doesn't have the disease. We think he's got the right type!"

Five tense minutes later, out come the doctors and nurses, crying and hugging one another - some are even laughing. It's the first time you have seen anybody laugh in a week. An old doctor walks up to you.

"Thank you, sir. Your son hasn't contracted the disease. His blood type is perfect. It's clean. It is pure, and we can use it to make the vaccine."

As the word begins to spread all across the parking lot full of folks, people are screaming and praying and laughing and crying. But then the gray-haired doctor pulls you and your wife aside.

"May we see you for a moment? We didn't realize that the donor would be a minor, and we need you to sign a consent form."

You begin to sign and then you see that the number of pints of blood to be taken is empty. "H-h-how many pints?" And that is when the old doctor's smile fades.

"We had no idea it would be a little child. We weren't prepared. We need it all!"

"But..but..."

"You don't understand. We are talking about the whole world here! Please sign. There is no other way! We need it all. Will you sign?"

In numb silence, you do. They offer you a moment alone with your son before they begin. Can you walk back? Can you walk back to that room where he sits on a table to answer his question, "Daddy? Mommy? What's going on?"

Can you take his hands and say, "Son, your mommy and I love you very much, and we would never ever let anything happen to you that didn't just have to be. Do you understand that?"

When that old doctor comes back in and says, "I'm sorry, we've - we've got to get started. People all over the world are dying!"

Can you leave? Can you walk out while your son is saying, "Dad? Mom? Why are you leaving me?"

Next week, when they have the ceremony to honor your son, some folks sleep through it, some don't come because they go to the lake, and some come with a pretentious smile and just pretend to care. Would you want to jump up and say?

"My son died! Don't you care?"

Is that what God wants to say?

"My son died! Don't you know how much I care?"
http://varietyreading.carlsguides.com/christian-stories/onlyson.php

Cares Are
Poet: John McLeod


Cares are the cross that each of us must carry,
Darkness must always contrast with the light,
And having known despair's harsh ministrations
Wisdom will bring its own unequalled sight.

The Lord makes sure the back will fit the burden,
How harsh it seems, yet when the pain has gone,
The eyes unto the hills of hope in turning
Will glimpse the splendid wonder of His dawn!
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/99/4f/b0/994fb0f7a501dfae38c545219b7dd0fe.jpg

---

God's Garden
by Author Unknown

Plant three rows of peas:
Peace of mind
Peace of heart
Peace of soul

Plant four rows of squash:
Squash gossip
Squash indifference
Squash grumbling
Squash selfishness

Plant four rows of lettuce:
Lettuce be faithful
Lettuce be kind
Lettuce be obedient
Lettuce really love one another.

You will have no garden without turnips:
Turnup for meetings
Turnip for service
Turnup to help one another

Water freely with patience and cultivate with love.
There is much fruit in your garden
Because you reap what you sow

To conclude our garden,
we must have thyme:
Thyme for God - Thyme for study
Thyme for prayer

Janeyinspires:
One of my regular scripture when waiting or trusting God for His promises is;John10:35b,"scriptures cannot be broken." You cannot be denied when you stand your ground to the manifestation of His promises.Another of my favourite is Rom3:4,"let God be true and all man a liar." Even when the world is lying through it's teeth.Even when your feelings are lying.God's word will always come through.Stand Your Ground!

God bless you Janeyinspires.
" God's word will always come through"

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/40/0a/28/400a28cf792d6ce0bbc1605f1684a465.jpg

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13 | NIV

Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the Lord.
Psalm 31:24 | NIV

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9 | NIV

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.
Romans 15:5 | NIV

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c0/46/0e/c0460e7682901518bb3381a66100486e.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbEaftzaFWA


DONALD LAWRENCE LYRICS
"Encourage Yourself"
(feat. Sheri Jones-Moffett)

[Verse 1:]
Sometimes you have to encourage yourself.
Sometimes you have to speak victory during the test.
And no matter how you feel,
speak the word and you will be healed;
speak over yourself,
encourage yourself in the Lord.

[Verse 2:]
Sometimes you have to speak the word over yourself,
the pressure is all around,
but God is present help.
The enemy created walls,
but remember giants, they do fall;
speak over yourself,
encourage yourself in the Lord.

[Bridge:]
As I minister to you, oh I minister to myself,
life can hurt you so,
'til you feel there's nothing left.
(No matter how you feel),
(speak the word and you will be healed).

[Vamp 1:]
Speak over yourself. [x4]

[Vamp 2:]
I'm encouraged.
I'm encouraged.
I'm encouraged.
I'm encouraged.

[Vamp 3:]
I'm encouraged,
I'm encouraged,
I'm encouraged,
I'm encouraged.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/33/70/51/337051abf98a90b22aabbe5aa8310978.jpg

Ermacc:
Nice thread borne out of goodwill. But in as much as it good to pray, inspire and encourage the burdened, we should realise that some of them have very practical issues that requires practical solutions.

We are to do what we can Ermacc.

If anyone of us have solutions, let's give it. If it's inspirations give it. If it's hope, give it. We can only give what we have.

The purpose of this thread is for Christians to help each other, to do our best to make sure no one gives up on God.

So any form of encouragement, advise or help towards that goal will do.

Thank you Ermacc for your insight.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/6d/62/7e/6d627ef31b0dd7a31204f3ac82477cdb.jpg

Are you going through tough times? Are you heavy burdened? Are you going through trials or temptations? Are your eyes still fixed on God yet on the verge of losing your gaze on Him? Are you in the period of waiting?

The purpose of this thread is to give encouragement to Christians going through tough time.

So if you have any form of encouragement, be it Bible verses, hymns and songs, poems, anything inspirational that will keep our fellow brethren focused on God while expecting a testimony, please kindly post them here. Thank you.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1Thes 5:11 NIV
http://bible.com/111/1th.5.11.NIV


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gjXBMC8-oM

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d3/f0/ed/d3f0ed8192a22c2ae3bef6c103d14657.jpg

Pastafarian:
Bennyann, why were you banned?

I was wondering what happened until I saw this post of yours before I realized I was banned. Till now I don't know where I erred.

I was banned when seun came online so I suspect seun did this because I made a comment on HardMirror's thread.

I was banned twice and those two posts that were given as the reason for the ban all pointed to this post of yours I'm quoting. They directed me to no post of mine

I will take it as a mistake but it isn't fair. I've seen people complaining of such injustice but what can a little me do.

How can you ban someone and can't confidently point out the reason for the ban so the person can take correction?

Seun don't let me sue you
Let me close this thread myself because I don't know where the threat is coming from

And that's Seun's favorite son below

skeendyke:
BennyAnn, many thanks for the mention and I apologize for the delay in response. Hope you do understand. As regards your Op here's my take on the issue.

Of noteworthy are the facts that the seat of the Intelligence is the mind while the seat of Wisdom is the heart. There is so much to say on this matter that my opinion is only an attempt to scratch the surface of what constitutes the difference between intelligence and wisdom.

Intelligence, generally, is acquired skills set, knowledge, and information. The intelligent person stands out in the exhibition of his or her knowledge or their capacity to handle a task given their skills and information at their disposal. They are adept at decision making revolving around their sphere of activity. However, it is easily deduced from this facts that intelligence is limited in its scope of operation because there are very many areas of life and skills where plain intelligence falls short of such as bringing up children, dealing with critics, maintaining a good reputation, keeping the home, selecting friends, choosing a spouse, driving a vehicle in a particular state of mind, deciding in issues between parties outside one's area of specialization, and many many more and especially the acknowledgement of the unknown. Facts and Figures are the eyes of Intelligence with which it judges reality but then appearance is deceptive. This is another flaw of intelligence. As a result, it is easily deceived, manipulated, distorted. This is one explanation why a great number of intelligent people are clueless.

Wisdom, on the other hand, is a form of perception that goes beyond the limited mental scope of operation to which intelligent folks are bound. Wisdom digs deeper and stretches further than the established mass of the obvious. An intelligent person reads the lines and gains information from what is read but a wise person reads the lines AND between the lines thereby gaining much more information than the intelligent folk could ever have. Wisdom delves beyond that to which peoples perception are generally accustomed so that it reaches a conclusion or sound judgment after weighing every seen and unseen factor on the balance.

Unlike Intelligence, Wisdom is not limited to an area of specialization, it encompasses every sphere of activity and aspect of life.

Intelligence is a block of bricks and Wisdom is the builder. The bricks without the builder are useless even though they have value in themselves. The Word of God did not call atheists fools because they lack intelligence; it calls them fools because they lack plain wisdom. Truly, it is only a fool who looks at a building and says there is no builder or asks for a scientific proof of a builder just because he has not seen or heard from the builder.

Deep! Thanks skeendyke. Always busy

Ranchhoddas:
You are unsettled by his comments, hurt even. Why is that?

Ranchhoddas, I think truly I was hurt but not because of his post because I've seen worse but because of his person. I feel he is deviating totally from the gentleman he once was and it hurts.

From the way I see your person Ranchhoddas, I think you still have your conscience intact. If you try creating a post like that, I'm sure you won't feel OK.

I wasn't really concerned about he not believing in God but what that belief has made him become.

You can respect the belief of others while still questioning them or standing against them. I only feel his person is becoming worse with the way he communicates.

I beg make una let me explode small.

Let him continue. I've accepted it as his new person.

Besides its been long I commented on his post

3RNEST:
is this the Seun of Nairaland I mean the CEO?

Yes

Pastafarian:
to your last question, Yes!

to the main body

I actually used your definition in the process

BTW, are you agreeing that wisdom can only come from experience?

Don't forget you can learn from the experience of others.
A family of mine will always say "experience is the best teacher to a fool". He says when next I say experience is the best teacher I should complete it that way

Pastafarian:
to your last question, Yes!

to the main body

I actually used your definition in the process

Heiiiiiiiiii brother Hope

And stop lying jor. You know what wisdom is. thanks for the caution OK?

akintom:
My response to this will be comprehensive. I shall do that when i get back, as am gonna be off space shortly.

Ok dear. Will go offline soon also. Will be expecting you back though

Pastafarian:
I ain't gonna sing your praises

Intelligence made you post on that thread, it also made you post link to the thread here

Wisdom would've told you that you shouldn't attend to the thread at all

Wisdom also would've told you that you shouldn't post the link here cuz it'll only lead readers of this thread into clicking the link and checking the thread out, which gives more attention to the thread

no hard feelings

now back to our main discussion, I'm still awaiting your reply to my previous post

Of course I know I wasn't wise in that. And I understand you perfectly. But you see it was through those two I got to know more about the religion section.

The owner of that thread is really going too far, no matter our beliefs there should be respect. The funny thing is I like that guy and I know in reality he will be a calm person.

Anyway forgive me for that, I didn't mean for another battle to start.

But I'm happy because you've just shown you know the difference between wisdom and intelligence.

Because you just called me out for my foolishness.... And I don't want to see you acting like you know not the difference. I've caught you Pastafarian.... Are you hopefullandlord?

Thanks for the caution, I tap into the wisdom . I just decided not to follow it then. Lesson learnt.

akintom:
Go to the thread and tell the OP.

Hiding here, to gloat about your yahweh induced "intelligence" is cowardice.

Sir akintom, that was my fault OK. I made him aware of it so please face me and put the blame on me.

akintom:
First, there can't be "perfect application of knowledge".

What is possible is rated application of knowledge, eg below average, average, above average etc.

*The BEST use to which knowledge is put is - intelligence

*The BEST use to which knowledge is put is - wisdom

A man is said to be "unwise" or "unintelligent", when the assessment of his knowledge application capacity, revealed a below average performance.

My humble submission!

In a certain area there can be perfect application of knowledge. What do you call it when someone gets everything right in his sums? What about getting puzzles right? Especially a jigsaw puzzle? You'll need to reconstruct the picture perfectly before you get a win. So perfection in the application of a particular knowledge area is possible.

Perfection is possible, it is just rare. You'll get to know if something is perfect after you've seen the results. Don't forget I'm talking about application of knowledge to a certain issue which can then be graded and not just knowledge.

What do you say of someone who in the midst of like minds with same level of intelligence, always passes sound judgment compared to the others? Would you say he is more intelligent than them or they are wiser than him?

The ability to select knowledge out of the various knowledge gained or to discern what input to choose to produce a better result is wisdom - my opinion

orisa37:
The Three Sisters(Greek mythology) are, Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding. They are part of God's Names which must not be taken with Disrespect.
Intelligence is the "interlocutory linguistic that usually emanate from expanded explaining of any of the Three.

The English is too much for me jor. Please break it down down. Thank you.

realmindz:
.

No ma, wisdom is acquired over time through past experiences. It takes intelligence to think critically, it takes wisdom to understand and apply past experiences and knowledge to present and also future predictions.


A dullard cannot think deep, a fool cannot learn.

Now I give a dimwit a book and say it is the book of life and everything in the book is the truth and nothing more, what do u expect?

He wont think and find how true it is even in the midst of obvious contradictions, that's being a fool because he has been fooled.

what if I tell you that you shall become wise once you worship my god? and you believe and do as I say.

Now do you see who the actual fool is?

A fool that has been fooled to see others who think and question them as fools

So what do you say when those with the same IQ make decisions but some particular persons among them always make the right decisions.

You may have the same degree of knowledge with someone but the ability to decide to apply which of the knowledge or not to apply any and which gives a long term positive results is wisdom.

There are illiterates who can handle their marriages properly while those that are literates can't. So what do you call the illiterates on this issue? Wise or intelligent?

4everGod:
Only the unwise would put intelligence and wisdom on the same pedestal.

wisdom sees into the future even while peeking at the past and sitting in the present.

wisdom looks at a whole picture and not in bits like a jig saw.

wisdom speeks from depths of knowledge beyond intelligence.

The intelligent just read to know and apply wrongly or rightly while the wise gather knowledge not for the sake of knowing alone but to stand aside and still look at the knowledge from an abstract position and also are not ruled by their knowledge but by their inner desire and purpose to ensure this knowledge is RIGHTLY entrepreted even when its to their disadvantage.

The wise are seen and stand out as wise because they apply knowledge from an "outside the box" position so ensure equity and fairness regardless of whose ox is gored.

It seems someone is really going mad. Have you seen this thread https://www.nairaland.com/3664177/communication-god-vs-dogs-benefits#54283187?

HardMirror:
So sorry bro. I know I am being blunt, but any honest person knows what I posted up there is nothing but the truth.

You christians should just shut the fvck up. You insult traditional worshipers, but not feeling hurt that I am comparing your god to dogs. Don't you ridicule, sango, oya, ogun, zeus, shiva and the rest?

Now back to the OP, what is the usefulness of your communications with god. So you have ability to talk to god and you can hear god, yet you folks never use this ability to solve problems humanity is facing?

Lol.
You are shameless.

Look at your mouth.... Continu

Just remember to sit down and think back and write down the differences you've noticed in your life since you started insulting your former God.

HardMirror continue oooo, OK.

akintom:
You should have quoted me on my post.

And not on what a chamelonic coward thinks.

Ok, I will do that. I apologize. But I can see you've really missed him. You were the first to pounce on him you know

Pastafarian:
Bennyann, before I attend to the OP, I want some clarification

can you (in your own words) give me the meaning of the below words:

1. Intelligence

2. Wisdom

I said in your own words

The difference between intelligence and wisdom depends on how the person using those terms defines them! The question cannot be answered without reference to the subjective.

Like I said at a point in time I became confused of the meanings because of your people and I also realized people have different meanings for them maybe just to back up their points. That's why I asked if they are similar. So you were supposed to give your own definition but let me tell you mine.

Intelligence shows the degree of knowledge you've gained - what you've learnt, how much you understand them and if you can apply them to solve problems.

Wisdom is the ability to decide to use the best of the various knowledge you've gained, whether by experience or not to solve issues.

In other words, The ability to distinguish the knowledge that should be applied is wisdom. And this particular knowledge chosen would turn out to be for the greater good and whose long run effect would be positive, something good. It's about insight, discernment, ability to give a good judgment.

What do you think?

akintom:
LOL....
That hydra-entity is always here. He does that through chamelonic blend under different moniker.

It was the claim, of how he could do the yahweh gimmicks that gave damogul up.

You ehn, I will leave you both to it. But have you seen his view on the Op? Do you still stand your ground there's no difference?

4everGod:
Bennyann...Intelligence is just a word! Anybody can be intelligent because it is rated based on environment or levels of exposure.

A man in a village could be seen as the most intelligent in his village (at their level)..it does not make the man in the city more intelligent because the man in the city could go to the village and act a fool due to his lack of understanding of that village and the goings on there. So intelligence is LIMITED!

Wisdom on the other hand breaks barriers. Wisdom is like intelligence magnified a million times. Its everything intelligence isnt. Its calm, empathetic, unassuming, not controlling etc

Wisdom is an offshoot of God and is at its best when applied rightly and not wrongly.

Wow! Wow! Wow! I go all out with this. Just the same thoughts I have in my head but I couldn't express it better.

Skeendyke, LaClicKLaBenDin what do you think about this?

Damienmarley:
There is no such thing as wisdom.
People with extremely high iq's (180+) and extremely low iq's are never regarded as "Wise". Wisdom if it exists at all is a thing of the averagely intelligent

In other words if wisdom exists, it can be found among the intelligent ones.

I've seen those who can be taken as not intelligent, successful in their marriages and businesses. Maybe maturity is part of wisdom.

akintom:
Christians did get their "honesty gene" mutated to "morbid lie gene" the very moment they confess to been possessed by the Nazarene.

You simply went off radial on this moniker (when you still remain here on nl with one of your hydramoniker - naijadeyhia, damogul, 4everGod1etc), because you're not able to confront the call out on you, to come and perform the miracle of growing the amputated limb, that you earlier claimed that yahweh can do through you.

Cowards have no honour.

Sir akintom just say that you miss him and you just want to have a feel of him before he leaves again.

Pidgin2:
The difference between intelligence and wisdom in my opinion is that intelligence lacks empathy whereas wisdom applies it all the time .

At the bolded that's a wow. Analice107 made us realize there are different types of wisdom. I'm sure the wisdom that isn't pure should be the type for selfish purposes but the one you just talked about that applies empathy should be the pure wisdom.

Not being crafty, that's the wisdom God wants us to crave for. Thank you Pidgin2 for honoring this thread.

mrmrmister:
Lol
Bennyann are you male or female?

After you've finished teasing me, you're now asking me. I'm a she jor

4everGod:
Hello Bennyann I am extremely well thank you very much
I have been very busy this first quarter of the year so have been unavoidably absent. When i am done with my workload i will be here as always. I do know that a lot of my atheist fans have been thanking their flying spaghetti monster about my absence

God bless you sister. Keep holding the fort.

Oh my big brother is back!

Seriously I miss you so much. I tried holding back to check on you for a while. I'm so happy, so so glad to hear from you.

Please complete your work with success and don't forget us.