₦airaland Forum

ApstAdejimi001:
WHO IS REALLY CONTROLLING YOUR MIND—YOU, SOCIAL MEDIA, OR SOCIETY?
Let’s be honest.
A lot of people think they are making independent decisions.
But sometimes, what we call “my opinion” is simply what we have repeatedly seen, heard and absorbed from people around us.
Social media tells us what success should look like.
Society tells us what age we should marry, what car we should drive, what house we should have and what level we should have reached by a certain age.
Friends influence our choices.
Family expectations influence our decisions.
Trending opinions influence our beliefs.
Then we say:
“Na my life. I know what I’m doing.”
But do you?
HERE IS THE UNCOMFORTABLE QUESTION:
How much of your thinking is actually yours?
Romans 12:2 gives a powerful principle:
“Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Whether you approach that verse spiritually or practically, the principle is worth considering:
If you don't deliberately examine your thinking, your environment will eventually do the thinking for you.
And this is where many people get trapped.
You see someone succeeding at 25 and suddenly feel behind.
You see someone getting married and begin questioning your own life.
You see people posting luxury lifestyles and start feeling unsuccessful.
You hear everyone supporting an opinion and become afraid to disagree.
You keep comparing your real life with other people's edited lives.
Eventually, you are no longer pursuing your purpose.
You are pursuing approval.
MY SIMPLE RULE:
Before asking:
“What does everybody think?”
Ask:
“What is actually true?”
Then ask:
“What aligns with my values, purpose and God's direction for my life?”
Because popular does not automatically mean purposeful.
And being different does not automatically mean being wrong.
Sometimes growth begins when you stop allowing the crowd to become your compass.

THINK ABOUT THIS:
If social media disappeared for one year...

Would you still want the same lifestyle?
If nobody could see your achievements...
Would you still pursue them?
If nobody could applaud you...
Would you still consider your life meaningful?

Maybe the real upgrade isn't your phone, car, house or wardrobe.

Maybe the first upgrade is your mind.
👑 Kingdom principle:
A renewed mind produces a transformed life.

What do you think?
Are Nigerians becoming more independent thinkers, or are social media, family expectations and society becoming our invisible decision-makers?
Let's discuss without insulting anyone.
— Apostle Adejimi Johnson 'O' Soyibo

There is a popular quote attributed to Thomas Edison that says:

"Five percent of the people think; ten percent of the people think they think; and the other eighty-five percent would rather die than think."

In the field of Psychology, there is what is called the "nature versus nurture" debate. It is the argument of which one has the greater effect on a person. Some argue that who you are depends largely more on your NATURE i.e. your genetic make up and hereditary traits like your temperament, your gifts, your appearance, etc. However, some on the other hand argue that who you are as a person is defined more by your NURTURE i.e. how you were raised as a child, your education, your exposure, etc.

I am not here to join the debate. I am here to say that in the kingdom of God, you need both nature and nurture to be a complete and mature child of God. We need the NATURE of the Holy Spirit, and the NURTURE of the Word of God:

1. NATURE of the Holy Spirit: God's nature is transmitted to us by His Holy Spirit. The more you allow the Holy Spirit to take charge of your life, the more like God you become. The Spirit of God is holy, that is why He is called the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit transforms your nature little by little from the inside out. Before long, you will find yourself living a holy life because you have the nature of God inside you in the person of the Holy Spirit. The bible says:

(1 John 3:9 KJV) Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

That is, your hereditary trait from God is holy living because you have God's DNA through His "Seed" - the Holy Spirit.

2. NURTURE of the Word of God: The Word of God (the bible) contains instructions, commands and doctrine that nurture us into sound believers in Christ. As we obey the instructions, commands and doctrines, we are changed into the very same image of Christ (Romans 8:29). There is a reason true believers behave the same way. They are nurtured by the same Entity - The Word. Doing what the Word says is what raises us up to be like Jesus Christ. That is why we need to feed on the Word of God day and night (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2). The bible says:

(1 Peter 2:2 KJV) As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

The Word grows us. The Word matures us. The Word transforms us.



As you imbibe the nature of the Holy Spirit and the nurture of the Word of God, you will be conformed to the image of Christ and live out what it truly means to be called Christian (Christ-like).

SolutionGadgets:
Good morning & Happy Sunday to you Nairalanders



Which of this will you be attending this morning?

1. Online Church


or


2. Offline (PHYSICAL CHURCH)?


You can as well tell us why it suits you to attend the one you choose.


Enjoy your Sunday


Photo Credit: google

I attend both every Sunday. In the morning I go physically to my local church. Then in the afternoon, I watch various services online. It's part of my weekly routine. I can't seem to do without any of them.

Greetings Nairalanders.

✓ Are you a believer?
✓ Do you want to connect with like-minded Christian believers and enjoy edifying Christian content from all over the world?
✓ Is your name is the Lord's Book (i.e. Book of Life)?

If your answer to all these questions is "yes", then LordsBook is for you. You can join the community at LordsBook.com or simply download the app using the link below:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.himfirstapps.lordsbookapp

Cheers.

In my state, they call the hearses, ambulance. So I am wondering which one is now banned in Akwa Ibom.

Shemalerose:
I can no longer keep on living, the pain is too much and it never ends. I have tried and tried. Don't say it will get better, it never does. I have made up my mind to put an end to my life by december. Why december? Because its my birth month and i want it to be on my birthday. Whats life worth living when you have nothing to live for? I suffer so much

You don't want to do that. That is a Judas Iscariot spirit. That is not your portion. The bible says:

Ecclesiastes 9:4: “Anyone who is among the living has hope—even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!”

Proverbs 23:18: “There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”

Besides, think about your family and all your loved ones. Imagine the sorrow and shame you will cause them if you take your life.

AsomArchitectNG:
Basically when I was a kid, I used to see a lot stars in the sky, right now it's no longer like that

I thought I was the only one that noticed. I have been pondering this question for years. Maybe it's part of the end-time signs that the bible talks about:

(Matthew 24:29 KJV) Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

(Isaiah 13:10 KJV) For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

(Ezekiel 32:7 KJV) And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light.

(Joel 3:15 KJV) The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

Nope. The courses I studied are more popular and relevant in developed countries like USA, UK and Canada. I left the practice area of the course I studied right from leaving school. My first job was in another field. And all my subsequent jobs (including my current job) have been away from my field of study.

Happy 85th birthday sir. I pray that you will come to the knowledge of God by placing your faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God. And that your name be written in the book of life. Cheers.

Ilamina:
This is not how I planned my life

(Jeremiah 10:23 KJV) O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

MONEY247:
Just because you call people blind doesn't gives you vision
Religion has built many churches but failed to feed the poor
Religion might preach grace but another thing they practice
Religious people can't fix their problems so they mask it
It's like spraying perfume on a casket
Religion never gets to the core, it's a behavior modification for a long list of chores.
The is not a mesum for good people, it's an hospital for the broken
With Jesus you don't have to hide your failure or sin, it's doesn't depends on you it depends on him.
Religion is just like following some rules.
Grace is the work of God
Religion is man made invention.
Grace is the cure
Religion is the infection
Religion says Do
Jesus says done
Religion calls you slave
Jesus calls you son.
Religion puts you in bondage
Jesus says you are free
Religion make you blind
Jesus makes you see

Religion is Man searching for God
Christianity is God searching for Man
And this was achieved by Jesus' obiedience
Jesus says it is finished, and HE MEANT IT.
COME TO JESUS HE LOVES YOU.

Hmmm. "Religion says do, Jesus says done." I like that. You are very right. Jesus was not happy at all with the religious scribes and Pharisees. He even said they are the ones going to hell (Matthew 23:15,33).

May God help us not to be so religious that we lose the core essence of Christianity in Jesus' mighty name I pray. Amen.

Nicotinekills:
A man is most vulnerable at the moment he is sexually pleasing a woman even if it's his wife..

Have you wondered why Jesus Christ never married.?

The devil too is single.

God the father is one.


Left for God he never wanted to create women.
He did so cos man persisted

God only wanted man to live with animals on earth and be happy.

Women are God's creation by man's request.

Look at it this way. People know that alcohol and cigarettes are harmful to the body but they still use them.

Just like alcohol and cigarettes, women are risks we take for pleasure. Some of us get lucky with the risk why some don't

"The devil too is single". That is so hilarious. I just couldn't stop laughing. But seriously, you made some good points.

cutecommend:
When last did you hear about rapture and the coming of Christ in your church? Does you church remind you of eternity and rapture? Do they talk about it properly or is it messages on finance, wealth, prosperity, favour, vision, economic impact etc you hear always?

Make sure you attend a church that prepares you for heaven.

In my church, they don't preach about the rapture but they announce it every week before the announcements are taken: "Our first announcement is that Jesus is coming soon. How prepared are you?"

johnstin:
Anchor Scripture: For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:20

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

A Christian that has a zero or very low spiritual account balance, may be in for a fatal shock at the end of their life on planet earth.

For a Christian to be allowed to enter eternal life in Heaven, they must have a substantial balance in their spiritual bank account in Heaven.

Spiritual funds must be found in their spiritual bank account, which is made up of the diligent and sacrificial efforts they put into the following activities:
1. Holy and righteous living
2. Thanksgiving to GOD
3. Prayerlife
4. Attendance of Church services
5. Involvement in Evangelism and followup
6. Payment of tithes and offering
7. Productivity as a worker in the vineyard of GOD
8. Generosity to fellow Christians and outsiders
9. Hospitality
10. Charity(love)
11. Prompt arrival for Church services
12. Persecutions ad reproaches endured for the sake of the gospel
13. Submission to divine spiritual authority

This is by no means an exhaustive list; there are more activities that translate into spiritual 'funds' that are to be deposited into a Christian's spiritual bank account in the Heavenly realms.

There is a requisite spiritual account balance a Christian that will be allowed to enter eternal life at the end of his/her life must have in their account.

There is no doubt about that.

It is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that knows this minimum acceptable account balance, but it's obvious it must be substantial, going by what He told His disciples in Matthew 5:20, "....except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of Heaven."

We must go all out to put in our very best to deposit substantial funds in our spiritual bank account in Heaven.

GOD surely knows if we indeed truly put in our best or not.

GOD will help us in Jesus name.

I know you mean well with this write-up. But it is heavily skewed towards righteousness by works and not righteousness by faith and grace. Tell me, which 'account balance' did the thief on the right hand of Jesus Christ have before he entered into the kingdom of heaven? He didn't do any of the things you listed. Yet, Jesus said to him "today, you will be with me in paradise."

Love at first sight.

Little or no education is a deal breaker.

1. Don't get carried away by messages from men of God that encourage you to do something foolish all in the name of spirituality. Use your head. Think with your God-given brain.

2. A quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson (which is my Nairaland signature): "Do not go where the path may lead. Rather, go where there is no path and leave a trail."

Meta AI told me that receiving payments with PayPal in Nigeria is limited. That's why I opted for AirTM instead.

Robertzor7:
Was It the Will of God or Not, for Paul to Return to Jerusalem Considering All the Prophecies Along the Way That He Should Not?

1) Direct Answer
Yes. It was God’s will for Paul to go to Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit bound him to that path; the prophecies along the way warned of suffering, but did not forbid the journey.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- Acts 20:22–24: “I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem… the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me… that I might finish my course.” The Spirit bound him; the Spirit also warned him what awaited.
- Acts 21:11–14: Agabus prophesied Paul would be bound. The saints wept and begged him not to go; Paul answered, “I am ready… to die at Jerusalem.” Then they yielded: “The will of the Lord be done.” The prophecy revealed what would happen; the pleading was their human response.
- Acts 23:11: After Paul was arrested, “the Lord stood by him” and said, “as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.” God confirmed Paul was on the appointed road.

Continue here:
https://truebibleteachingsai.org/answers/was-it-the-will-of-god-or-not-for-paul-to-return-to-jerusalem-consider-9a24b5a

Nice write-up. Very enlightening.

dominique:
I saw this on a WhatsApp group I'm in and people were dropping all sorts of answers. As my brain no gree do any calculation, I decided to bring it here. How old is Tunde biko?

You are all calculating his age as if he wrote down the question. He didn't write it down. He said it out. The question literally said "he replied". That means he was breaking it down step by step as he was saying it. That is, 90 minus 30 (that is 60). Then divided by 5 (that is 60÷5=12). Then times three (which is 12×3=36). So the answer is 36. Tunde is 36 years old.

Goodmarlian:
I am just tired of this my girls approach towards our relationship,this girl is good ,well behaved and has a good job shes doing at hand but the problem I have with her is that she barely picks my calls or reply chats don't get me wrong we talk so very well offline we can gist for long and all that but we are no longer together forget it she will never reply my chats or calls
I have complained a lot about this to her she will apologize but still continue now I think it either she doesn't really like me as I think or she just want to weaponise communication I just want to continue with the relationship for fun while a find someone else who is ready and prioritizes me for marriage ,I see poor communication as a huge red flag .

I once approached a lady for marriage. She took her time before she gave me an answer. I made it a point of duty to communicate with her everyday and she was responding. But a time came when she wasn't responding as before. Shortly after that, she told me that she is not interested in marrying me. My point is that a break in communication was a sign of what was soon to follow. If a lady is interested in you, she will communicate well. But if she is not communicating well, that may very well be a sign that she is not interested in you (anymore).

MrPresident1:
Where is it written that when you die that's when you go to heaven or hell?

Another place in the bible that says where we go after dieing is when on the cross, Jesus told the thief on his right hand that today you will be with me in paradise:

[[Luke 23:43 KJV]] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

MrPresident1:
Is this meant to be interpreted linearly and literally?

Of course. It's a story not a parable.

MrPresident1:
One singer sang 'nobody wan die but dem wan go heaven'

Another joke says : why are you suffering so much, paying high house rent to shylock landlords when you have a mansion in heaven? Why don't you just go home?

The question is, who told you that it is when you die that you either go to heaven or hell? Where did you read it from?

You can read it in the bible where after dieing, Lazarus went to Abraham's bosom (heaven), while the rich man went to hell. See scripture reference below:

[[Luke 16:22-24 KJV]] 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

A) I have faith because I am a believer
or
B) I am a believer because I have faith

Why does it take the present administration so long to announce public holidays. You can imagine that they are announcing a public holiday for the 12th on the 11th. Less than 24 hours to the day. It wasn't like this before. In previous administrations, they announce the public holiday up to 4 or 5 days before the public holiday. How do they expect organizations and institutions to plan ahead when they are literally announcing public holidays just hours before the day. They seem to be assuming that the people already know which days are public holidays and which days are not. But that is not the case for Muslim public holidays. The days for the Muslim public holidays are not fixed. The people need to know upfront which day or days is going to be a public holiday.

Please, Ministry of Interior, strive to announce future public holidays much earlier. The announcement should be minimum of three days before the public holiday itself. Thank you.

@OP You are right. It requires more than firepower. The bible says:

[[Zechariah 4:6 KJV]] Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

I think Moses married another woman from another race according to the bible:

[[Numbers 12:1 KJV]] And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

So God permits interracial marriages because He punished Miriam (Moses' sister) for speaking against Moses' interracial marriage.

There are UFOs in the bible, so the disclosure should not be a surprise to Christians. In the book of Ezekiel chapter 1, the bible talks of "living creatures". Those are the aliens. Then the bible also describes their spaceship as "wheels within a wheel". That's how Ezekiel described flying saucers back in his day. He also described the many lights on the flying saucer as having "many eyes". (See attached picture).

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE:
[[Ezekiel 1:15-21 KJV]] 15 Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces. 16 The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. 17 When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went. 18 As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four. 19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. 20 Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. 21 When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

mayorall:
2024 csr for your reference

https://www.nairaland.com/8293294/1m-naira-corporate-social-responsibilities

As part of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Mayorall will be giving out 4 pieces of 8th Gen Touchscreen x360 laptops to 4 eligible Nairalanders.

Eligibility Criteria

You must have been a member of Nairaland for at least 3 years.

You must have a history of contributing positively to help fellow Nairalanders.

Your posting history must be free from tribalism, hate speech, or constant insults. Sarcasm alone is not a ground for disqualification.


How to Apply

Tell us:

What you plan to use the laptop for

How it will help you personally, academically, professionally, or in business.


Qualified applicants will be contacted if selected.

Mayorall remains committed to giving back and supporting growth within the community.

Kindly note that a video verification will be conducted for beneficiaries .

All beneficiary will be selected in the next 7 days.

Good day Mayorall. I hereby apply for selection to be given a laptop. I have been a member of Nairaland since November 21, 2017. Over the years I have contributed to practically all the sub-sections on Nairaland. I have been a good member without any history of trolling or tribalism, hate speech, constant insults or even sarcasm. You can view my posting history to confirm this.

I will be glad if I'm given a laptop because I am in need of one right now. I'm doing a Ph.D and so far, I have been using my phone to do all the academic work and researching which would be much easier if I had a laptop.

Kindly consider my application favourably. You can contact me via e-mail in my Nairaland profile page. Thank you in anticipation of a favourable response.


Regal regards,

KPPO.

[[1 Corinthians 14:1-28 KJV]] 1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. 6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? 7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? 8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? 9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. 10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. 11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. 12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. 13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? 17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. 18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: 19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. 20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. 21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. 22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. 23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? 24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: 25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. 26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. 27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

Ha, ha. A guy called Mr. Jollof is having a beef with someone. What else is he supposed to have with such a name? Beef naturally goes with Jollof rice. Unless he wants to have a chicken with VDM.