₦airaland Forum

RICHIE BOI:
naija yahoo boys are at it again.

Not just in Naija, but it's been around in the USA.

Oluwakin:
we are all at hhe mercy of NSE saga.I  sympathise with everybody that lost heavily in this economic  meltdown.Well life must go on.What I onow is to go international where I get relief.How I do it is what you can easily do.You mail : iseakins2000@yahoo.com .All the steps will be sent to you immediately

International? Dude, are you for real? Havent you heard of the global financial meltdown?

babs787:
@Ndipe


He didnt die nor resurrected and my posts have showed that. I thought you would provide rebuttal but all you could do was tried chaging it to that of Muhammad. For your information, if you have anything to discuss about Muhammad, create a thread and be sure you would be answered.

You are asking why God didnt save Mohammad but you orgot that this same Jesus is no more on earth and you should also know that God gave his prophets/messengers different assignments.

Since you refused to accept the truth after serving you my posts, do yu say Moses, Ezekiel, Job, Joseph, David, Solomon are not from God since they died and are you saying they ought not to have died?

Orisirisi

Quit spinning, and focus on what you wrote earlier. You wrote that God did not want Jesus Christ to die, because he was just, then inserted a verse from the Psalms to back up your lies. When I pointed to you that Mohammed on the other hand died, you decided to dredge up the other prophets who have passed away, just like Mohammed. So, what is your point?

Africa is weigh down by many hydra headed burdens; Chief among them is leadership and corruption. Before 1960, “Africa’s Banner Year”, the expectation of many is that, independence to African nations would bring development and engender freedom to the people. These expectations were hardly met because; many of the so called nationalists that fought for independence from colonial masters were demagogues, monsters and power drunk. Instinctively, they turn African nations into family business and war theatres.

However, beyond this army of monstrous and mischievous leaders, there are a handful of others who came on board with a vision to rebuild, reposition and redeem the continent. These are men of honour that left legacies, and Rainbow Coalition for good Governance cheered as they celebrate these noble men from Africa. These men of honor demonstrated courage, wit, zeal, dedication, patriotism and great sense of responsibility to man and God while they presided as the leaders of their people.

“Rainbow Coalition” is not partisan; it is a non governmental voluntary association that wants to bring back the lost and past glories that made Africa the first port of call for civilization in the entire universe. With the eagle as her brand symbol encompasses “Watching of Events” from creation to date. If we can Re-play “AFRICA”, the journey so far, tears will continuously be rolling down our cheeks for years unabated simply because we have failed collectively as a continent. Today’s world, emerging economic powers came down to Africa for their Tutorials, Check out CHINA, MALAYSIA, UAE, etc.

Within the few months in office of Thomas Sankara & Murtala Mohammed, we saw the “Rainbow Hearts” these great leaders of Africa exhibited in their respective countries before the cronies of this same hydra – headed look – alike Hamas punctuated their very good intentions to lead by example. It is worthy here to remind us that the wife of Thomas Sankara never stayed in the State House as “FIRST LADY” she was selling goods in the market as a “PETTY TRADER”. Thomas Sankara painted the State House himself.
Look at the Murtala Mohammed issue, just that General Gowon reneged on the agreed calendar of returning Nigeria to a democratically elected regime, he over ran Gowon in order to bring sanity, hope, love to the people of Nigeria.

For about 28 years, Nelson Mandela was caged because he said no to a 10% minority white Rule on the soil of Africa, when the white hands they raised up started paining them, it was lowered and Africa’s most priced and cherished son Nelson Mandela collected his inheritance and showcased his leadership qualities for 5 years and voluntarily asked his people to be allowed to step as a patron.

Here is our brief introduction of these leadership icons. And we in Rainbow Coalition for good Governance are encouraging the contemporary African leaders to copy these celebrities to bring light to the darkness that pervades the continent.

THOMAS SANKARA (The Incorruptible)

Thomas Sankara charismatic and indeed a far sighted visionary leader. For tomorrow, he acted today for his people. A incorruptible revolutionary whose passion for good governance, justice, equity and fair-play led him to accept a paltry S450 Dollars as his monthly salary. Leadership by example was best exhibited by him as hid most priced assets includes a car, 4 bikes, 3 guitars, a fridge and a broken freezer. As the world’s poorest president, he shunned the use of air conditioner in his office which he considered a luxury not available to other Burkinabes. And against all expectations, he refused his portrait being hung in public places in Burkina Faso. By abolishing all anti-people legislations, he showed that Africa is still redeemable.



JULIUS NYERERE (Conscience of Africa)

An indefatigable statesman, Julius Nyerere had a captivating reputation as one of Africa’s best of all time who stood for idealism and principle. His rigid idealism on the benefits of one party state especially viewed from the context and perspective of its stabilizing potentials would have given an impression that he yearned for dictatorial dominance of Tanzania but he still emerged a very poor president with no asset nor material legacy to bequeath his family. As an exponent of ujamaa socialist philosophy, the self is dead. What is better is the community. This explains why many saw him as the conscience of Africa, politician of principle and an intelligent teacher.



KWAMEH NKRUMAH (Lenin of Africa)

His tirade against the West was exemplary and he remained one single most important proponent of anti-imperialism in Africa. His intellect was legendary and organization perfect. This explains why his politics of pan Africanism in Africa. Described by C L R James as the 'Lenin of Africa', Amilcar Cabral saw him as 'the strategist of genius in the struggle against classical colonialism'.



AMILCAR CABRAL( Great Theoretician)

He was the most outstanding theoretician of African liberation and a towering anti-colonial leader and crusader.



MURTALA MOHAMMED ( The Reformer)

Revived the deflated Nigerian spirit through firm and appropriate response to maladministration. Almost deified for his role in reversing the rot in the country, Mohammed was an all conquering lion whose passion for good remain unblemished. He reformed the malformed polity but angered many that prefered evil rather than good.



MARTIN LUTHER KING JNR( Civil Rights Crusader)

A committed civil right crusader whose passion for non-violent resistance was cemented after his contact with the Ghandis of India in 1959. He brought civil rights politics to the front burner in the America in the 1960s.



Click Here To JOIN > Rainbow International Yahoo Group:: A sure way to interact with millions of Rainbow Community World over.



http://rainbowonline.org/

Barack Obama: The first black president of the USA, unprecedented in the history of the nation, and regarded as a fulfilment of the civil rights movement.

Nelson Mandela: He almost singlehandedly sacrificed himself for the upliftment of black Black South Africans and led to the abolishment of Aparthied.

Kwame Nkrumah: A visionary leader who wanted to create a United States of Africa, but failed. Decades after his death, his name is still a force to reckon with in African politics.

babs787:
@Ttalks,Bobbyaf



I would be happy if you could break it down for me as I need something therein. I would also need the breakdown as to why Jesus gave the reason out of so many reasons?

Thanks


Sure you got it.


[b]Now, how could God have allowed him to die when:

Psalm 37 v 28: For the LORD loves the just and [b]will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected foreve[/b]r, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;[/[/b]b]Mathew 26v37-39: …. And he began to be sorrowful and very depressed. Then said he unto them,’my soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death….’ And he went a little farther and fell on his face  and prayed saying, ‘ o my father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me nevertheless, not as I will but as thou wilt.

James 5v16: the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much

Hebrews 5v7: who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications [b]with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared.
Luke 22v43: and there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;
he answers him from his holy heaven
with the saving power of his right hand.  (Psalms 20:6)

What could an angel be strenghtening him for?

Jesus was given vinegar that suppossed to have stimulating effect on him just like smelling salt but he rather gave up the ghost in less than three hurs.

Normally, crucifixion is a slow death in which the victim dies slowly from suffocation for days but in Jesus case, he died within three hours!!!

Crucifixion was a slow death. It usually lasted several days. Crucifixion was resorted to in order to provide a cruel and lingering punishment, the victim sometimes not dying for several days. Jesus was drugged to keep him alive; he fell unconscious before the Roman soldiers could break his legs. The victims normally have their legs broken to quicken the death but in Jesus case, he was already dead before they could do that and there is a prophecy with regards to that showing that there is a reason for not breaking his legs.

For an exhausted man, a sniff or taste of vinegar would induce a restorative, rejuvenating effect. Surprisingly, in Jesus' case the effect is exactly the opposite. As soon as he tastes or inhales the sponge he expires. This is physiologically inexplicable, if indeed it was vinegar. On the other hand if it were a sponge soaked in a soporific drug - a mixture of opium and/or belladonna, for instance, commonly used in Palestine at that time - unconsciousness would occur, giving the impression of sudden death.

Also Pilate expressed doubt that Jesus was dead and marvelled:

And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. (Mark 14:44)

His side was shook with spears and blood gushed out showing sign of life.

His body was taken down to private tomb where medicines was used to revive him. Joseph of Arimathea and a colleague, Nicodemus, visited the tomb during the night and brought with them a very large amount of spices: myrrh and aloes.

Both substances have a medicinal use—most notably, myrrh has been used as an aid to stop bleeding. Neither drug is known to have a role in embalming dead bodies.

Do Jew massage dead bodies after 3 days?

Funny enough from the bible, the crucified son is under God’s curse:

His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged [is] accursed of God that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance. (Deuteronomy 21:23)

Amazingly, the Bible says that Jesus was crucified on a tree:

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. (Acts 5:30)

And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: (Acts 10:39)

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree: (Galatians 3:13)



This title of Alpha and Omegais absent in the RSV and the ancient texts (cf. Companion Bible note to the text). It appears only in the Receptus and hence the KJV.

Hence the original text which reads more or less as the RSV:

Revelation 1:11 11 saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Per'gamum and to Thyati'ra and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to La-odice'a." (RSV)

This text becomes in the KJV:

Revelation 1:11 11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. (KJV)


BE THE JUDGE

If that's the analogy you are going to use, to counter the truth of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, on the basis that God wanted to protect Him, due to his Love for Him, so, what then why didnt God save Mohammed from dying. Did he not find the same favor from God, to prevent him from dying. I mean, you guys believe that he was a prophet from God, so then, by your premises, he should not have died, because God protects the just.

Very nice pictures, particularly the picture of the house where a car is parked in front. It looks so tranquil and a perfect place to rear a family.

The man wants publicity, and it's sad that journalists are still giving him their time of the day. Either that, or he is just trying to rub salt on an open wound.

Tayo-D:
@negro,
What principles? Please enligntene us. Obama came out to defend and support Tom Daschle a day before he withdrew his nomination. Obama's public show of support was done even though the guy's tax problems were already made public.  If Obama was ready to publicly overlook the guy's tax problems, what makes you think he did not instruct his vetting team to do the same?

The same Obama that said nothing-nothing for Lobbyist is the same guy who has so far appointed at least two big time lobbyist (William Lynn and William Corr) into his cabinet. The same Tom Daschle who evaded paying taxes was also a lobbyist.  To think that Obama publicly excused these guy's lobbying history is at best hypocritical.  With all of these, it appears Obama's problems is not his principles, but his lack of it!

Obama has since apologized for his earlier defense of Daschle, still, I think Geithner should not have been named treasury secretary.

Police: San Jose man kidnapped grandchildren 20 years ago in Tenn.
By Sean Webby, Linda Goldston and Mark Gomez


Mercury News

Posted: 02/04/2009 11:52:41 AM PST


Click photo to enlarge
San Jose police arrested Marvin Maple, aka John Bunting, on charges,  (San Jose Police Department)«1»
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For years, John Bunting lived in South San Jose, homeschooling his pretty girl and handsome boy, living his townhouse life as a model citizen.

This week, San Jose police knocked on his Banff Springs Court townhouse door and quickly confirmed John Bunting was neither a model citizen, nor was he John Bunting.

The friendly retired car salesman admitted to them that he was actually 73-year-old John Maple, a fugitive wanted on charges of kidnapping his two grandchildren 20 years ago from their parents in central Tennessee.

The grandchildren, Christi and Bobby Baskin, now 28 and 27 respectively, are known as Jennifer and Jonathan Bunting. They are fine, investigators said, and also live in San Jose.

Maple was being held Wednesday on a federal warrant in San Jose Main Jail, awaiting extradition to Murfreesboro — a bedroom community just south of Nashville.

But many of his friends said they believed Maple and his late wife had the best of intentions when they came to California with their two grandchildren.

"He's a great person," said Angela Reimer, bar manager at Southside Cafe in San Jose, where Maple was a regular, though not much of a drinker, ordering a juice cocktail — a mix of cranberry, orange and pineapple juice — instead of alcohol.

"He referred to them as his kids, not his grandkids," said Reimer, who has known Maple for several years. "He's such a kindhearted person. He put them through college


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and they're both successful, as far as I know."

Maple was heartbroken when his wife died, but became very attached to his little white dog, Elvis.

His friends found out about the arrest on the news Wednesday morning or walked into it cold when they went to the Southside Cafe, at the intersection of Bernal Road and Santa Teresa Boulevard, on Wednesday night.

"It makes you feel bad," said Tom Merritt. "Maybe he was right to take the kids."

Police, however, worked this week to piece together the story of a child abductor who almost got away with it.

Police arrested the grandfather Monday after getting several tips that John Bunting, living on the 7000 block of Banff Springs Court, was actually Maple.

Maple's daughter and her husband, a Baptist minister, burst into tears when they heard their children had been found 2,000 miles away and two decades after they disappeared, investigators said.

"They are very glad to know they are alive,'' said Sgt. Dan Goodwin of the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, who is in San Jose to bring back Maple. "They haven't known that for a long time.''

Mark and Debbie Baskin, who now live in Georgia, are not planning to immediately come visit their long-lost children, Goodwin said.

"They are hopeful they can have a relationship with these kids,'' Goodwin said. "Of course it remains to be seen if the children would like to speak with them.''

Tennessee authorities had been searching for Maple, his wife, Sandra, and the children since March 1, 1989. That was when Maple is suspected of kidnapping the two young children from their Murfreesboro home under the belief that they were being neglected and sexually abused by their parents.

The grandparents had failed to gain court custody of the children just before the kidnapping. Tennessee authorities investigated Maple's claims of neglect and abuse and found no evidence of problems.

There were sightings over the years. At one point, a suspect had been seen in Santa Clara under another assumed name.

Photos were flashed on national television shows and Web sites for missing children.

Authorities got the most recent tips after a San Diego newspaper wrote an article about the kidnapping under the impression that Maple may have settled in the area.

But it turns out that for most of the past two decades, John and Sandra Maple and their two "children" have been in San Jose.

Sandra Maple — who went by the name of Frances Bunting — has since died.

Asked why the children had not tried to contact their parents even after they reached adulthood, Goodwin said: "I'm not sure what they think or what they have been told. They were 7 and 8 when they were taken.''

The detective said he was not sure how the Maples successfully managed to create new identities — complete with driver's licenses — that lasted until this week.

"They live in a large urban area where not a lot of people ask too many questions,'' Goodwin said.

John Maple — who was retired and reportedly sold cars for a living while in the South Bay — lived in a small townhouse complex near Santa Teresa Boulevard and Bernal Road in South San Jose.

He often took some of his friends to dinner at the China Palace and then a nightcap at the Southside Cafe, where Maple liked shooting pool.

"I've known John for 10 years," said Michelle Bergholz, who was at Southside on Wednesday night. "He was always very caring." Bergholz invited Maple to her house for Thanksgiving but he said he had other plans.

Carl Avery said he had known Maple for four years and had dinner with him on Friday night.

"We played some pool," Avery said. "He would do anything for anybody."

Avery and others said Maple would always be the self-designated driver for his friends who drank alcohol instead of the fruit juice Maple ordered.

"He was an upstanding guy, and I consider myself a good judge of character," Avery said. "This is all very surreal."

Contact Sean Webby at swebby@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5003.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11626789

georgecso:
@ Alam Tara

Please Bro kindly bear in mind that am not trying to ague  here but l'm telling you facts/events that took place over 2000years ago and not 1430yrs ago ( Your Prophet witnessed and saw some of these facts because he was a trader). I have seen not just the seen the light but have witnessed the true light of God through Jesus Christ. Thank God you have heard about Christ and l have read in detail about prophet muhammad (pbuh) too . I am sure that there are several questions you may like to ask your mullah abt Islam but u may be afraid so as  not be accused of blasphemy.  Please kindly read this bro:


[size=13pt]His body really did die. The Roman soldiers made sure of that. They were experts at killing people.
Jesus Christ's physical body was 100-percent human, not just part human. Our bodies can die, and so could his. When we die, our physical body dies, but our soul and spirit remain. They are eternal; they never die. The same is true of Jesus Christ. His physical body died, but his inner self is eternal and did not die.

Is Jesus alive today?

Yes, he is. Thousands of people saw him alive again. The Bible is very clear; Jesus Christ's physical body is no longer dead. He is alive today. The Bible records 11 times when people saw him.

How can this be?

Jesus is more than a man. Although he is 100-percent human, he is also 100% God, the Creator of the universe. He is all-powerful. Although evil men killed his physical body, he easily had the power to restore life to his body again.
When his body came alive, he walked out of his tomb, completely healthy and strong.
As you can imagine, when this happened in the darkness, it really frightened the Roman soldiers who were guarding his tomb to keep people away. They were surprised and terrified! It was suddenly very obvious that Jesus was not merely a man. He is God, with power over life and death.

The people of Jerusalem certainly should have known this already. Jesus had proved it many times before. He raised many people from the dead. One was a young girl. Another was a man who had been dead and buried for days.
Here's something else that is wonderful. Did you know that the moment that Jesus Christ's physical body died, he brought many dead people to life in the city of Jerusalem? It's true! The people were alive and healthy again. Many people saw them in the streets and homes of that great city (Matthew 27:52-53), and were so glad to see them again. These were not ghosts (there are no such things). These were living, breathing people, seen by many. They had been dead, some perhaps for years, and now they were alive because of Jesus' great power![1]



What about your death or the death of someone you love?

Here is a fact that is even more amazing! Everyone who dies and is a true follower of Jesus Christ will experience this same, awesome, life-giving power. Jesus will give them their body back again—alive, heathy and strong—a glorious body. Won't that be wonderful! Millions and perhaps billions of people will be made alive again. Mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, grandparents—every person that is a true follower of Jesus will be alive again—forever.
For all of us who are Christians, death is not permanent. When our loved ones in Christ die, we can know for certain that we will see them alive again.
You can be one of those people! If you haven't already done so. Admit that you are a sinner that has broken the Law and deserves punishment and is lost without him. Accept his free gift of salvation and life. Become a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, the Lord and Giver of Life.

Bro God is Mystery and our finite mind can never understand the exact nature of God. He is the Alpha & the omega, and God came to this earth and dwell amongst us. Remember the story of Mariam in the Quran ,  how God revealed ,  u know the rest bro[/size]

May God bless you in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

lucabrasi:
irrespective of what has transpired,i just hope the man goat has enough sense to transform himself back now that it/he is out of police custody if he doesnt want to be transformed into several plates of pepper soup or asun

Very funny!

TOYOSI20:
I hear ya. . .and i most def. see where u coming from. . . . .

I personally am a firm believer in giving back. . .afterall is it not better to give than to receive??

All I'm saying is that in as much as Dr Lawal is a philanthropist or however it is we might want to qualify him, i still say

home is where it starts, really haven't heard of anything hes done for the people that really need it back home,
And whats wrong wid sponsoring highly gifted kids form back home to study here, be it his school or wherever else

now I'm looking at this from a "give a man fish and u feed him for a day. . .

but teach him to fish and u feed him for a life time'. . .point-of-view now.

I mean a milla is a whole Lotta chedderz, and it would certainly go a long way back in Nigeria!!

How do you know he hasnt, and why begrudge him for funding his alma mater that gave him the knowledge to suceed in America?

Femi Awodele Friday, January 30, 2009

christiancouples.org
USA

ANNOUNCE THIS ARTICLE
TO YOUR FRIENDS

IS THIS WHAT "SHARIA" IS ABOUT?

hese pictures (below left) were forwarded to me this week, and it was painful (very painful) looking through it.









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I am imperfect and I have imperfect children, in-fact my wife and I had a meeting with one of our son's teacher this weeks for deliberate break in communication (aka lying), when I ask this son why he always said "no homework" when he had home work, his reply was "I want to play", we fixed that with consequences. At the same time we challenged him on what he has learnt in bible studies, and to always remember that even when daddy or mummy is not present, God is. I remember telling a few lies when I was this son's age.

Human nature looks for the easy way out of situations, Nigerians have adapted to a culture of corruption (from government officials stealing to 419 and yahoo boys) that we have no clue how to defeat (or better still we don't want to defeat), because of poverty. The country of Iceland never had a street riot in 15 years, but the current economic turmoil has brought the people out of homes to the streets protesting against their government for days, in record setting cold weather. In America two investment bankers faked their own death (one even crashed a $2 million jet) to avoid being persecuted; they both failed and are now in police net.

When times are tough people are creative in ways of surviving, some chose good creativity, while others choose criminal ways. Law makers in responsible countries make laws to punish appropriately and also rehabilitate the offender, especially if he/she is a minor. Iran is a country that has been under economic isolation for many years because of their policies and threats, it however seems the economic blockade is not affecting the government but its populace. Anyone (Iranian) who dare challenge the government about how the populace is suffering ends up in jail.

Poverty has turned many Iranian children into street beggars and some steal to exist (I'm not condoning stealing). Rather than provide avenues to take care of these children, the custodian of government in Iran are carrying out lop sided consequences (for poor kids), what they call "Sharia Law", with the no room for grace or rehabilitation.

Bad behavior deserves appropriate consequences (perhaps this child needed a privilege taken away or some ass whooping). Laws cannot save human soul nor can it help our infirmities as humans; laws are mirrors that points out our sin. Laws are supposed to be deterrents, they never change human mind. Change comes from the heart, with gradual transformation and renewal of the mind. (For Christians, which I am one, an encounter with Christ, who died and rose for our sins, bring about the change of heart and the mind renewal). Forgiveness and grace are strong principles in Christianity. In my 17+ years as a prison clergy volunteer, I have seen the grace of God in action - today I know ex-convicts who are good citizens. A great and well known example is Dr. Chuck Olson, the founder of Prison Fellowship (In America).

I have nothing against Islam, but I do have serious problems with "Sharia" laws if the pictures below are what Sharia is about. Is this what Islam is about? I welcome comments from Muslims on this forum.

I know this for a fact; all of us reading this article (including the person holding the boy down) at his age have stolen something or told a lie, so we all should be walking around with one arm or a missing tongue.

Is this the Sharia law that Arch-Bishop Rowan (the bishop of Canterbury) said would not affect British jurisprudence?

I am not happy.



William Femi Awodele is the Executive Director of Christian Couples Fellowship International, Inc. Omaha Nebraska and a board member of Nebraska Family Council, Lincoln, Nebraska.


Ndipe's comment: Click on the link below to see the pictures. Very touching and moving. Child Abuse!

http://nigeriaworld.com/feature/publication/awodele/013009n.html

Child abuse! How can this woman take care of eight babies in addition to her six older children? The MD, or whosever orchestrated this embryo implantation (if that's the case) should have their license suspended.

Pictures of the Nigerian surviving octuplets with some family members

http://www.1010wins.com/Dad--Parenting-World-s-1st-Octuplets-Is-A-Noisy-Af/3743981

In December 2004 it was announced that long time British Professor and Philosopher, Anthony Flew, regarded by many as "the world's most acclaimed atheist", had renounced his atheism in favour of theism,

This dramatic conversion has been likened by AstroPhysicist and now one of the world's leading Cosmologists, Dr Hugh Ross, as having the same impact on the academic world as an announcement that Billy Graham had renounced Christianity would have on the Church!

One of the reasons cited by Prof. Flew was "the evidence." He admitted that for a long time the growing problem of Evolution's inability to explain how life began, or for that matter, how anything began, led him to the inevitable conclusion that it was an inadequate answer in the face of the evidence. Then when the DNA Genome code was unraveled the evidence for Design became "undeniable". These two pieces of evidence (1. the existence of life demanding a Life-Source, and 2. the scientific evidence of an extremely complex code in the make-up of that life- DNA) were enough for Prof. Flew to renounce atheism.


CAN WE PROVE GOD?
Some people feel that acceptance of God is entirely a matter of faith. But the Scriptures actually claim that it is the truth which is the basis for this faith (Rom. 10:17). Truth is only truth if it is objective truth, that is, it is true for everyone regardless of time or circumstances. Thus, God is either true (and there can be objective proofs to support this), or He is not true and only subjective 'truth' can be offered for 'proof'.

Some ancient Philosophers have argued that the fact mankind can imagine there being a God is a proof that there must be one. While this argument does have some merit, it mainly has limitations. Taken to its natural application this means that if anything can be imagined it must exist. Based on the nightmares I had as a three and four year old boy- I really hope this theory isn't true or I'm not going to sleep well tonight!

On the other hand, 'beliefs' and 'truth' are sometimes not entirely related. Tertullian once bragged that the main reason he so readily accepted Christianity was that it was fundamentally absurd. Perhaps he was alluding to 1Corinthians 1-2 which talks about human wisdom and divine wisdom being incompatible. Some people are so committed to their beliefs that despite the evidence of truth they refuse to change their beliefs. In this way we observe that what some atheists claim is their scientific basis for unbelief is nothing more than belief in opinions rather than evidence. Thus despite the mass of evidence to the contrary, many atheists refuse to accept that origin of life is best explained by appears to be obvious (a Designer/Creator).

We have to applaud Prof. Flew for having the courage to consider and then accept the evidence.

"Proof" though is measured and determined according to the type of claim. The type of proof needed to substantiate a claim involving chemistry is different to the type of proof needed to substantiate a claim made about history. Proof in physiology is different to the type of proof needed for psychology. Proof in philosophy is different to the proof required for philology. Proof required for biology is different to the type of proof required for theology. To demand that "hard" science (physics, biology, chemistry, astronomy) proof tests be the only acceptable means for testing a "soft" science (psychology, history, philosophy, literature) claim is unreasonable. Thus, imposing natural proof tests on supernatural claims is an unreasonable measure and totally inadequate. But where supernatural claims are made which have natural implications, such as "an invisible God created all that we see" (Romans 1:20) "proof" takes on the garb of "supporting evidence" when looking at the natural evidence to support this supernatural claim.



THE EVIDENCE
There have been a rash of very articulate and passionate atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, who have attacked theism (the belief in God) by attacking Religious Fundamentalism (the poor behaviour of those claiming to believe in God and their abuse of Religious rules to oppress people). The type of God these Religious Fundamentalists promote is not the God I am arguing for. But to some it is going to sound like it.

CS Lewis artfully makes the point in the "Magician's Nephew" that there can be several people confronted with the evidence for God yet they can interpret that evidence quite differently. Lewis describes Uncle Andrew's direct encounter with Aslan where he vehemently denied what he was seeing and hearing as making himself look stupid. And Lewis, the former atheist himself, continues, "Now the trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. Uncle Andrew did." When it comes to proof for God, the evidence is cumulative and therefore acceptable proof.

This evidence, or proofs, for the existence of God invites those atheists to consider it- especially for those who claim that there is none. At the very least it should be reasonably concluded that atheism (the absolute claim that there is no God after considering all possible knowledge) is a highly irrational position.

The following is reasonable evidence for accepting that there is indeed a Personal Omnipotent God as described in the Christian Bible-


PROOFS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD,
1.

cause
Everything has a cause,

It is illogical to suggest that something had no cause. This is where the theory of evolution becomes inadequate. It can not explain how anything began, let alone life. When we consider the evidence (that there are things which exist) it logically demands that either something or someone caused it. We can then rule out "something" as the solution since we would be returning to the original problem (what made the something?). This demands that there must be someone who has always existed (eternal) and is in themselves therefore uncreated. We don't have to understand this in order for it to be so.

At this point some say we should not even try to understand these things because our minds just get in the way. But I suspect the opposite is the case. That is, it is perfectly legitimate to ponder these things and rather than our minds being too bigger an obstacle, our minds are actually too inadequate to comprehend them. Therefore, faith and thinking are not incompatible, its just that we have realise that they both require discipline and exercise.


2.

design
There is evidence for design,
The unraveling of the Human Genome Code was announced to the world as the discovery of the language of the Creator by then President, Bill Clinton. What scientists discovered was an extremely sophisticated genetic language necessary for even the simplest life forms to exist. To believe that this level of apparent design happened either randomly or by chance is a mathematical equation of probability with more zeros than I care to type (plus I don't know what the word is for numbers which are thousands of trillions!).



The universe displays an amazingly complex level of interdependency which logically leads to the conclusion that it was designed that way. There are just too many coincidences of such "just rightness" for it too be a random haphazard coincidence. The earth is "just the right" distance from the Sun; it contains "just the right" mixture of chemicals and gases to sustain life; humans have "just the right" ability to breath these gases; the human body has "just the right" synergy of internal organs in order to function, and so on.

Its important to note that the Bible does not give a date for the commencement of creation of the universe, or the date for the creation of mankind. The universe may well be 10,000,000,000 years old, and mankind's origins may well be as recent as 50,000 - 30,000 years ago. These numbers are in no way counter to the Biblical record, and extremely compatible with the evidence.

3.

morality
There is intrinsic morality which needs a point of reference,

How do we know what "evil" is? How do we know what "good" is? These concepts demand either the existence of a standard to make such evaluations, or an understanding what these concepts mean. Each of us are born with an innate sense of morality. We each fundamentally know what is right and wrong. It is incredible to consider that no matter time, culture, geographic location, or people, the Moral Law has been universally acknowledged.

This tends to confirm that all of creation bears the finger-prints of a Creator who is fundamentally good and right. That is, we each share a knowledge of what is right and wrong not just because we are taught or conditioned to accept these values, but because we are born with them.

4.

resurrection
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Skeptics may dispute this historical claim that Jesus Christ rose again from the dead but they do so perilously. This is because there is enough evidence to validate it and it is the point at which all of the history of Christ and Christianity rests. This means that if anything of Christ and Christianity is true then the Physical Resurrection of Christ is also true. The opposite is also true. If Christ did not literally rise from the dead then none of his history or teachings have any credence.

But if the resurrection of Christ can be seen as a reasonable historic fact (based on over 500 eye-witnesses, the preparedness of all of those witnesses to defend their testimonies even at the point of losing their lives, the resultant baptism in the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues- still available today) then this is perhaps the most overwhelming piece of proof for the existence of God.

5.
experience
The claims of Christ can be experienced,

Jesus Christ made some seemingly outrageous claims about the benefits of following Him. He offered "rest" for the weary, "nourishment" for the hungry, "water" for the thirsty, "resurrection" for the dead, "direction" for aimless, "liberty" for the oppressed, "protection" for the vulnerable, "healing" for the hurting, and "salvation" for the lost.

I was 15 years of age when I accepted Christ. Never have I ever regretted it. It has been a journey for me that has seen me grow and change. I have felt the Lord guiding me. I can honestly say that I have heard Him speak to me (even though it hasn't been audibly). He has answered my prayers so often that I now almost take it for granted that my prayers will be answered. He has given my life direction and purpose that I otherwise would never have had.

Today He extends to you the invitation to experience for yourself the claims which He has made.


The evidence for the existence of God is available. For honest enquirers there are honest answers. For those who acknowledge that there is at least reasonable evidence (even if not all 5 points of evidence are accepted) then they can no longer claim to be "atheist". Like Professor Flew they can bravely embrace the title "theist" (God believer) without adopting any particular religious framework. Once this position can be reached then the next phase of the journey is to answer the question, "Is religion necessary or even helpful in discovering God?"





BUT HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE GOD OF CHRISTIANS IS THE CREATOR THAT THE EVIDENCE POINTS TO?
The scientific method has become synonymous with methodological naturalism. This is the idea that the only way knowledge can be apprehended is if it can be observed. But this is a fairly recent hijacking of what the scientific method means. If we could allow the scientific method to lead to certain to certain deductions, whether they be physical or metaphysical, we may be removing the restrictions which might hold us back from the truth - especially if we employ the scientific method in examining any theories involving metaphysical claims.

Since there is sufficient evidence to show that the universe began and therefore must have had a beginning, we must also include the dimensions of time and space as part of that beginning. Therefore the "Beginning Cause" must have been outside of time and space. This is one of the central claims of the Bible about God: He is eternal and dwells 'above the heavens' (Heb. 7:26) - that is, God is outside of time and space. At this point, we could apply these deductions using the scientific method to dismiss the claims of certain religions which present their "God" as being a part of time and space (pantheism). This includes Buddhism and Hinduism.

Within time and space there is moral-evil, corruption, and decay. Since the Creator is outside of this He must be holy, immutable, and impeccable. This then excludes the concepts of "God" put forward by Islam and Mormonism. But it fits perfectly with the concept of God as portrayed in the Christian Bible.

Perhaps the simplest test for discovering the identity of the Creator-God is to employ the scientific method to Psalm 34:8 and Matthew 7:7.



Dr. Andrew Corbett




http://www.andrewcorbett.net/articles/5-proofs.html

Sapphic:
Yes, I believe it. Same applied in my secondary school. To be honest, it was an embarrassment speaking any language that was not English. The Hausa students who did so were seriously looked down on.

My secondary school was quite different in that regard. Though, some zealous senior students would implement the rule that only English would be the official medium of communication, weeks later, students would break the rule and return back to normalcy. That was quite funny though.

Havent you heard of the saying, "Dont speak ill of the dead?" The underlying reason is that the dead cant defend themselves. Not that, I am innocent of speaking against them though.

Ete, there are certain advantages and disadvantages. I have cousins who grew up speaking English at home and their mastery of the language is almost impeccable, but then again, some of them have little desire to know their roots or the dialect. I, on the other hand spoke Ibibio at home, and in high school so, college was really the first setting where I had to converse in English. You know, as per the diverse culture, unlike high school, whereby most of your mates are Ibibio. And I did receive stares/unflattering comments that I liked to speak in the 'bush' language. And another problem was that, if you commited a fallacy in your English dialect, you will be mocked.

So, where does that leave us? Our culture/dialect is dying a slow death, while English Language is gaining grounds even in the village. All these promotes inferioity complex in our lives. My suggestion is that no matter what, kids should learn how to speak their mother's tongue at an early age, or even at home. In school, they can always learn English Language.

P/S: Would you believe this, but honestly, it's true, in my primary school, if you were caught speaking 'vernacular', you will be punished. No kidding you.

spoilt:
Ive lived in cities all my life but ive about had it. The bustle, the adrenalin, the stress. Its beginning to drive me crazy. Soon i will move to a little known village in nigeria and live a simple life. Far from the maddening crowd! 

I definitely agree with you on that. Mine is that, I have a strong desire to relocate to Nigeria to live in my village after years of living in high stress California. When I say so, some people are just amazed. I definitely dont want to live in Lagos, if I ever relocate to Nigeria. The stress is not worth it.

Lock this thread, seun

Dede1:
You had the correct point about the mystic of Lagos. The factor behind people looking up to Lagos is because it was once a nation’s capital. Currently, Abuja is drawing the same emotion. Even in USA, people look at the inhabitants of Washington, DC metropolis with considerable amount of envy.
However, you killed the joy of your piece with the unfortunate last sentence. Federal government of Nigeria built Lagos and Abuja not the state or the governor.

Says who? Are you serious about DC residents being the 'considerable amount of envy' from others? Abeg where did you get that from? DC that is a drug haven, crime infested area?

Even the animal kingdom has wisened up now. Previously restricted to a staple meal of yams and cassava, now, they are up in arms, demanding for equality by 'stealing' mazda. What else would be the plum prize for them tomorrow? Like an aeroplane.

Hey, who remembers the same story of the cat who turned into a woman still in Naija?

Jakumo:
Thank you, Mr.Jamace, for the cordial invitation to join the ranks of Nigerians who will insist to their dying breath that Juju and voodoo-magic are more viable than Western technology and its mathematical laws that qualify and quantify the known and EMPIRICALLY VERIFYABLE physical universe.

While I do agree with you that superstition and fantasy are infinitely more entertaining realms to explore than is reality, I intend to remain either too smart or too stupid to EVER subscribe to your hallucinogenic alternate reality, even if you DO represent the 90% of all Nigerians who overtly or covertly share a blind and total acceptance of an ever-expanding yet inherently unprovable set of truly bizarre assumptions derived ENTIRELY from heresay.

One word! Grammar!

jamace:
Ndito ette, me kom mmufo ooo. Uwem edididie? Mkpo osong ko obio nyin emi o o . Ebot ema yom di yip motor mazda ko obio nyin oo. Police ke Kwara State emum enye sin ke cell. Chei, obio nyin emi, inem ke mi idem aba o. Mkpo odiok etietie. Emem odu ye mbufo.

Ntre ke ami nke kod ke nairaland. Ndoho nte, ke ami mman nsak imam etieti, mkpo osong ye ebot, enye odoho ete yak iki iyip mazda. Ke ini eset, ebot akesi-iyip bia (yam) ye iwa, (cassava), idahami, eyen atara ebot, enye odoho ate, yak iki yip mazda. Mkpong, mme enye adi yip nso? Motor enyong? Idiikpaha mi idem ekpe etin ke nairaland ete ke ebot oro adidu ke idibi owo.

Amadi mkpo edisong ke idung, edi mkpo eset.

lagbaja:
http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/27049/42/

It was a shocking sight yesterday as men of the Kwara State Police Command paraded a goat as an armed robbery suspect.

The goat "robbery suspect"The goat "suspect" is being detained over an alleged attempt to snatch a Mazda car. The mysterious goat, according to the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Tunde Mohammed, while briefing bewildered journalists at the Force headquarters, is an armed robber who attempted to snatch the said car, Wednesday night, and later transformed into the goat in a bid to escape arrest.

He explained that men of a vigilance group in Anifowose Ipata/Oloje areas of the state capital had chased two armed robbery suspects who wanted to demobilise the Mazda car with the intention of stealing it, and

"while one of them escaped, the other was about to be apprehended by the team when he turned his back on the wall and turned to this goat. They quickly grabbed the goat and here it is.’’ Mohammed said.

The police spokesman said the goat "armed robbery suspect" will not be left off the hook until investigations into the case are concluded.

He also said that no fewer than five stolen vehicles have been recovered by the state Police Command while some suspects were also arrested. Among those arrested, he said was one Idowu Oni of Araromi area of Akure who escaped from Akure Prison.

He added that the escaped convict was arrested in Ilorin after stealing a Mazda 323 car belonging to Mrs. Henrietta Ayijesu.

He also said another armed robbery and rape suspect was in their custody, assuring that the suspects will soon appear in court.

Probably, the goat will end up in someone's belly when the 'investigations into the case are concluded.'

In the Ibibio culture, the man can claim the child, only if he pays a collosal fine to the girl's family. But times have changed, fathers, sometimes might be reluctant to carry on the responsibility in these hard times, while harboring fears that the child, would eventually seek out their father. But, I support that tradition.

Na true you write@jarus. Lagos is regarded as 2nd America to some people. My mom told me of a woman in my village who lodged in a hotel in Lagos during the Better Life for Rural Women programe. The woman came back and nacked my mother of her wonderful experiences in a hotel in Lagos. She was simply overwhelmed and impressed by the experience. So tay, she was nicknamed her "Mma Dekos". ;

But as for me, growing up in Calabar and later on in the village, I was also intrigued with visiting Lagos, I no go lie. In high school, one guy sef, who lived in neighboring village used to lie that he lives in Lagos. But when I visited Lagos in 91, (first time since coming home from America), I was not that impressed. My brother was just showing me the scenery of the environment on the trip, and then mockingly say, those in the village get so carried away when they tell people that their daughters are in Lagos. No, I was not impressed, till today, I probably wont want to live there if I move back home.

@afam4eva, abeg, to some people, living in california, new york, is also considered as "Lagos" to some folks who live in the rural part of the south.