₦airaland Forum

TOP TEN TRICKS TO LIVEN UP A MEETING


1 Stand up and act indignant. Demand that the boss tell you the 'real' reason this meeting has been called.
2 Spill coffee on the conference table. Produce a little paper boat and sail it down the table.
3 During a meeting, each time the boss makes an important point, (or at least one he/she seems to consider important), make a little noise like you are building up to an orgasm.
4 Stay behind as everyone else, including the boss, leaves. Thank them for coming.
5 Give a broad wink to someone else at the table. In time, wink at everyone. Sometimes shake your head just a little, as if to indicate that the speaker is slightly crazy and everybody knows it.
6 Arrange to have a poorly-dressed young woman with an infant quietly enter the meeting, stare directly at the (male) speaker for a while, burst into tears, then leave the room.
7 Bring a hand puppet, preferably an animal. Ask it to clarify difficult points.
8 When there is a call for questions, lean back in your chair, prop your feet up on the table, smile contentedly, and say, "Well, here's the way I see it, J.B, " (or any other impressive-sounding initials that are not actually your boss's.)
9 Complain loudly that your neighbour won't stop touching you. Demand that the boss make him/her stop doing it.
10

Bring a small mountain of computer printouts to the meeting. If possible, include some old-fashioned fanfold paper for dramatic effect. Every time the speaker makes a point, pretend to check it in one of the printouts. Pretend to find substantiating evidence there. Nod vigorously, and say "uh-huh, uh-huh

The twelve days after Christmas


The first day after Christmas
My true love and I had a fight
And so I chopped the pear tree down
And burnt it, just for spite

Then with a single cartridge
I shot that blasted partridge

My true love, my true love, my true love gave to me.

The second day after Christmas
I pulled on the old rubber gloves
And very gently wrung the necks
Of both the turtle doves

My true love, my true love, my true love gave to me.

On the third day after Christmas
My mother caught the croup
I had to use the three French hens
To make some chicken soup

The four calling birds were a big mistake For their language was obscene
The five golden rings were completely fake and turned my fingers green.

The sixth day after Christmas
The six laying geese wouldn't lay
So I sent the whole darn gaggle to the
A.S.P.C.A.

My true love, my true love, my true love gave to me.

On the seventh day, what a mess I found The seven swans-a-swimming all had drowned.

The eighth day after Christmas
Before they could suspect
I bundled up the
Eight maids-a-milking
Nine ladies dancing
Ten lords-a-leaping
Eleven pipers piping
Twelve drummers drumming
And sent them back collect

I wrote my true love
"We are through, love!"
And I said in so many words
"Furthermore your Christmas gifts were for the Birds!"

Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!"

Ways To Build Your Self Confidence[i][/i][color=#006600][/color]

Lack of self-confidence is the largest single factor that holds most people back in life, both in the professional as well as personal sphere. If you are seriously lacking self-confidence and self esteem, it usually means that you don't believe in yourself or your abilities and that you don't think your life can be what you want it to be and that you are simply stuck with whatever you are with at the present time. This type of self doubt and negative thinking limits us in all of our life pursuits; and over time, it can also lead to other serious problems such as depression and hostility. That's why it's so important to take the time to build self-confidence, both in ourselves and in our children.

If you succeed in building your self-confidence fairly early in life as a child or teen, you will most always benefit from it. That having been said, it's also never to late to start to build self-confidence and increase your self-esteem.

For some people, one of the best places to start is by taking a confidence course or workshop, or by going to therapy for a while to work on your personal confidence issues. In particular, if you think your problem stems from experiences you might have had when you were younger, and if these feel deep-seated and intractable, therapy might be the way to go to get you 'unstuck', so to speak. But for other people, there are some easy ways to build self-confidence that you may not have thought of before.

The first is considered easy - or at least, it can be: Try to have as much fun with what you do daily. If you are fully enjoying your work and leisure time activities, if they are really right for you, you are more than likely to feel confident and comfortable and these feelings are more likely to spill into your other endevours and daily life. Over time, the amount of success you have in all these activities (and it is much more likely that you will be successful if you are already enjoying what you do) will allow you to build a sense of self-confidence - after all, when you are receiving constructive and positive feedback from everyone and even from yourself, it is hard not to feel more confident and better about yourself. This effect may only be temporary, but if it happens more repeatedly, it will make an impression on your mind.

Second, be sure to pay close attention to all of your relationships. Do they make you feel good, generally speaking? If you are with someone that makes you feel smarter, better looking, and more fun than you usually feel, chances are that the relationship is helping you to build your self confidence and mental image. Unfortunately, for many of us, the opposite is true, and those relationships are the ones you are better off without.

Great Ways To Improve Learning - At Any Age!

In the past, we might have had the idea that learning is something that occurs during the earlier stages of life, and finishes when our formal schooling ends. Now we know that this is far from the truth - learning really is a life long process. Here are some great and easy tips to help you improve your learning, whether formal (at school) or informal.

1. To improve learning, keep in mind that the one benefiting from your learning is you. Try to tell yourself every day that this is true; keep this one idea foremost in your mind. Why? We all learn and work better when we are motivated, and our own well being is happens to be one of the most powerful motivators. If you always tell yourself or feel that learning is work that you undertake on your own behalf, chances are you will have a positive attitude toward the work.

2. Repeat what you have learned. To improve learning and comprehension, keep in mind that hearing or reading something only once is very seldom enough. If you learn something interesting and new in class, repeat it to yourself later in the day, or write it down and reivew it a few days later. This helps you to form strong pathways in the mind that will allow you to access this information whenever you need it.

3. Remember to always ask questions. This is another great way to improve learning by making the material you have learned your very own and personal. People learn in many differnt ways, so in a school or work setting, those in charge have to decide on a method that will hopefully work for most people. If it does not work for you, it does not mean that you lack the capacity to understand what is being taught. It just means you might have to approach it in a slightly different way or be shown the information in a different way to fully understand what is being taught.

4. Talk about and discuss what you have learned. When you learn something in school or on the job, be sure to talk about it with your friends, family and colleagues. This is a very potent way to improve learning, because we all remember things better when there is repetition. Also, the very act of explaining something to others can improve your own understanding of it a great deal.

5. Take good or better care of yourself. Finally, one of the most important and underlooked ways that you can improve learning and mental capacity is by taking good care of your physical and psychological wellbeing - be sure that you get enough rest and exercise each day, in other words, take care of your general health. If you do so, you will have the mental clarity necessary to learn and remember almost anything that is required. Make sure you are getting you daily nutritional requirements as many vitamins and minerals are essential for mental clarity and function.

HAPPY CHILDREN'S DAY

Nigeria, especially, where the population is predominantly young, the importance of children cannot be over-emphasised.

Unfortunately, Nigerian governments have merely paid lip service to the rights of the child. The effect is that Nigerian children face special circumstances. According to UNICEF and the Nigerian Education Minister Dr. Aja Nwachukwu, about 10 million Nigerian children of school age are out of school. Education as a tool for liberating the child is crucial. Currently, most Nigerian kids do not have access to free and compulsory education. The public school system has all but collapsed. Few middle class parents would send their children to public schools; the parents who still do, have no choice in the matter. The private sector which has attempted to fill the vacuum created by the shaky public school system has not lived up to expectations either. About two months ago, in Ibadan, Oyo State, the walls of a so-called private school collapsed and killed two pupils. Many private schools thrive on exorbitant school fees, without any guarantee of quality.

In addition, child labour is still in practice. Children are still openly exploited as hawkers and peddlers in most cities. In the South Eastern part of the country, male registration in primary and secondary schools has dropped significantly. In the North, the alimanjiri phenomenon, that is the presence of too many out-of-school children on the streets, a vibrant army of poverty and neglect, clearly illustrates the scope of the dilemma. In recent times, there had been talks about the passing of Child Rights Bills in the states but this was strongly resisted by the forces of conservatism.

The Nigerian child is a victim of a certain kind of "adult delinquency" - that is the failure of the older generation to plan for the country's future. Adults in positions of authority unwittingly ruin the lives of millions of kids through disastrous choices. The political class has not helped matters with its corrupt attitude to politics and governance. What message do adults send to kids in an environment such as this? Last year, a young man who was caught cheating in the Joint Matriculation Examinations (JME) glibly referred to the massive cheating that took place in the April 2007 general elections as an excuse. Inexorably, we send contradictory signals to children who are otherwise, ironically described as "the leaders of tomorrow."

The poverty level in the land in spite of the great natural and human resources with which the country is blessed impacts negatively on children. When a state government once introduced a once-a-day feeding programme in schools, school registration increased tremendously. Child labour is yet another problem. There is a growing population of Nigerian children on the streets living dangerously as traders, beggars or homeless street kids. And child trafficking has also grown in recent times.

As for the girl child, her predicament is even more precarious. In some parts of the country, under-age girls are given out in marriage to men old enough to be their grand- fathers. This often results in all kinds of health problems, the most notorious being Vesico-Vagina Fistulae (VVF). The rape of young girls is rampant. Son-preference even by educated families, remains the norm and this places the girl-child at risk.

The National Assembly passed the Child Rights Bill into law in 2003, but since then, the necessary adoption of the same law by the states has met with stiff resistance. In some of the states, the Child Rights Bill became controversial, because certain provisions in it relating to child marriage, discrimination against the female child, girl-child abuse and child labour were thought to be a violation of culture and tradition. But culture should be dynamic; it should not become an obstacle to human rights and societal development.

Child Rights legislation would be most helpful in the states but then, the law is not enough in itself. The challenge is in the area of implementation as borne out by the examples of states where the Child Rights Bill has since been passed, and yet this has not translated into any special achievements. The political will to protect the future, by investing in children and the youths, can make all the difference. Nigeria's capacity to compete in a world that is focusing on skills and ability would depend on the quality of its investment in its young population.

How can you know what your spiritual gift is?

Did you know that God has a plan for your life? A glorious plan that only you can fulfill? Did you know that you were created specifically for that purpose? That you have the exact characteristics, personality and abilities to accomplish that task? And that only you can fulfill that assignment just the way God wants it accomplished?

Yes, you are here on assignment. The key is to find out what your assignment is!

Let’s conduct an experiment. I want you to pick a specific time and place. Then just sit at that place at that time every day for a week. Focus on your breathing. When you are relaxed, ask God, "What do You want me to do with my life?" Listen for His answer.

Do this for a few minutes every day. Eventually God will speak to you. Maybe in a vision. Perhaps a dream, a picture or a still, small voice.

One day I did this and became so relaxed that I almost fell asleep. Then I heard God's command. It was only three words and one of them was "a." It wasn't an instruction for now. It was a future command.

And if He can speak to me, He can speak to you.

What are you naturally good at? What are your talents? What do you enjoy doing? These are clues to where your spiritual gifting lies.

I am a teacher at heart. For many years, I thought that I had to be a school teacher to use that gifting. God didn’t call me to teach in the schools. He called me to teach His Word, which I do when I write.

I have the ability to write. I enjoy writing, but it is not my spiritual gift. It is the vehicle in which God uses to teach others through me.

Most people believe what they enjoy doing and what they are good at are somehow contrary to God's assignment for their lives. This isn't true. God has a way of taking every skill, every talent, every ability, you have and using them to propel you to your destiny, your assignment.

When you became a Born-again Christian, God placed inside you a dream, a desire, an assignment. He tattooed it on your heart. God deposited in you everything that pertained to life and godliness and that includes your purpose.

It is imperative to the Kingdom of God that you fulfill your assignment, but you cannot do that if you do not know what it is. That's why you must go to God, your ultimate Source.

The Bible tells us that one of the functions of the Holy Spirit is to lead you into all truth.

In order to discover your destiny, confess "The Spirit of God guides me into all truth regarding what God wants me to do with my life."

What do you wake up thinking about? What is the last thing you think about before you fall asleep? For me, it's writing.

I live, breathe, eat and sleep writing. It's the only thing, besides teaching, that I am passionate about doing.

Your assignment, your desire, might lie in those things you played as a kid.

I used to play teacher. I would line my dolls in front of my toy box. The doors had chalkboards on them. I would teach the dolls for hours. I had the smartest dolls in town.

As I grew older, I took my Mom's portable typewriter and banged out newsletters.

Throughout the years of considering careers, these two dreams remained in my heart.

I abandoned the idea of writing for a living. My family told me that writing was a hobby not a career, that no one would pay me to write. They pointed out all the rejection I would endure, how much trouble it would be to survive as a writer.

They focused on the money. I focused on doing God's will. When I do God's Will, I know that He will provide for my needs because He promised to do so in His Word.

Don't worry about money. Worry about God's plan for you because if you seek God and His righteousness, all the other things will be added unto you.

You have to focus on God's will for your life and not the will of others.

People will try to discourage you from being all you can be for God. They will focus on how it doesn't make sense financially, but, friend, God will supply everything you need if you do His Will.

You must hear His voice and obey no matter what your mother, Aunt Margaret or Uncle Fred have to say about it. The only opinion that matters is God's.

Go to God and get your marching orders. The details of what He wants you to do with your life. Ask Him what your spiritual gifting is and how He wants you to use it.

In recent years, I met a woman with the gift of prophecy. She uses her gift to her advantage. She cons people into giving her money in exchange for her prophecies. She insists that God is telling them to give her the money, or He will bring judgment on them. Whether they receive an accurate message from God through her depends on whether she is tuned in to the Spirit that day or not.

She has the gifting, but she doesn’t have the maturity to effectively use her gift to the glory of God.

Many people in the Body of Christ are like two-year-olds with machine guns. They are using their spiritual gifts to con the brethren into giving them money. They use it to get into the best positions in the church. They use it to manipulate people into doing things their way. They leave in their wake a line of spiritually wounded people in which the rest of us have to deal.

If you want to find your spiritual gifting, go to God. Ask Him what He wants you to do. Confess that the Holy Spirit leads you into all truth regarding the assignment God has on your life. Listen to God and obey.

Remember to go to the Source. He knows what He called you to be. It will save you a lot of pain and suffering trying on giftings that aren't yours. God's plan for you is blessed. Yours isn’t!

The Qualities of Those Who Judge
God's Design for Leadership

The Situation

Israel had just defeated Amalek by the hand of God. Joshua had battled while Moses held his hands high in supplication to the Lord (Ex 17:8-13). After this Jethro, Moses' father-in-law came with the man of God's sons, and his wife, to meet with him where he was camped in the wilderness at the foot of the mountain of God (Ex 18:5). Moses bowed down before his father-in-law and kissed him. Then according to custom, they inquired of each other's welfare before they entered the tent (Ex 18:7).

It was in that tent that Moses related to his father-in-law all that the Lord had done; the plagues of Egypt, the defeat of Pharaoh for Israel's sake, and God's deliverance from the hardships of the wilderness. This caused Jethro to glorify God and recognize Him as supreme over all the gods of the surrounding nations. Listen as Jethro rejoices.

Ex 18:8-12
9 Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 So Jethro said, "Blessed be the LORD who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians." 11 "Now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods; indeed, it was proven when they dealt proudly against the people." 12 Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses' father-in-law before God.
NASU

The next day when they arose Moses went about doing what he normally did, he sat to judge the people. The Scripture states that the people gathered around Moses from morning until evening (talk about a long day). As Jethro beheld this he couldn't believe what he was seeing and questioned Moses about his actions.

Ex 18:14
14 Now when Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, "What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?"
NASU

Moses responded to the inquiry of his father-in-law

Ex 18:15b -16
Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 When they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.
NASU

Now I can understand how this pattern had developed. Moses had been God's spokesman before Pharaoh. He had been sent with the mandate of the Holy One to the enslaved Hebrew people; a mandate which had been given him on the mount of God in the wilderness. Yet Jethro, being an objective observer, and a man filled with wisdom could see that the end result of this pattern would be destructive to Moses and to those he had been sent to lead. How would the people learn to govern when they entered the land, and how would the man of God himself survive if this behavior continued much longer?

Ex 18:17b -18
The thing that you are doing is not good. 18 You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.
NASU

Picture the thousands gathered to wait to receive a judgment from the man of God on some trivial matter. They must have been straining to hear, and longing to see what was going on so far in front of them where Moses sat to Judge.

Put yourself in the place of the person waiting. Now I don't know about you but I get a little anxious standing in a long line in the grocery store. Inevitably there is always someone in front of me that forgot something, or is wrestling to control some toddler that is grabbing at the impulse items strategically placed in a position where little fingers can easily claim the longed for sugary treasure. I'm sure there had to be arguments galore, and people coming to blows. There might even have been babies birthed, and the elderly passing to glory as they stood in line.

OK, maybe that's a bit much but there is a principle here. Sometimes, we are so focused on our service to God and therefore we aren't able to see as clearly as we should what His will actually is. The Father has designed the body so that we need what each other has to contribute. There are no Lone Rangers in God's kingdom.

Listen to how the verse above is expressed in The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language

Ex 18:17-18
17 Moses' father-in-law said, "This is no way to go about it. 18 You'll burn out, and the people right along with you. This is way too much for you - you can't do this alone".
THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language

Jethro continued by counseling Moses as to how he must change his actions. God desired to teach the nascent nation civil order. It was necessary that they become a generation prepared. They were to be an example to all the nations around when they settled the land that God might be glorified.

Several previous generations of the Hebrew people had lived in slavery and now it was necessary that they learned how to govern themselves under the guidance of God.

Ex 18:19-20
19 Now listen to me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people's representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God, 20 then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do.
NASU

It was then Jethro outlined the prerequisites, the qualities by which the choice of judges should be made. We will look at the advice given by the father-in-law of Moses as containing four basic elements, or points, which when adhered to would bring forth the will of God.

Quality number one: They were to be able men

They were to have within them the innate ability to fulfill the job description.

This would mean they had to have been recognized as already displaying the aptitude it took to do what the appointment would entail.They were to be already functioning in a way that displayed the qualities necessary, although not presently in the position.

In the margin of the New American Standard Bible for Exodus, chapter eighteen, verse twenty one, where it states that Moses was to select out, it says that he was simply to see these appointees. He was able to do this because they were already functioning in what they were called to do although not yet appointed. When recounting this selection or "seeing process" in the book of Deuteronomy Moses explained it like this,

Dt 1:12-14
12 How can I alone bear the load and burden of you and your strife? 13 Choose wise and discerning and experienced men from your tribes, and I will appoint them as your heads. 14 You answered me and said, 'The thing which you have said to do is good.'
NASU

These men were to be able. Now I do understand that the word able could be interpreted in many different ways, but we have the definition of the word directly from the mouth of the prophet of God, and therefore from the mouth of God Himself. These men were to be wise - discerning - and experienced. In these three words is the definition of able. If they were to lead God's people, if they were to sit as judges, they would have to have the following qualities. (1. They needed wisdom to know what to do. (2. They needed discernment, which is the ability to distinguish, or tell the difference between the truth or a lie. They would have to recognize the fault in disputes, and to detect errors in people's perceptions and judgments. Simply put, they needed to be able to tell the difference between God's will and people's desires.

This is one of the fundamental requirements that one must possess if they are to serve in a leadership capacity in the body of Christ. Further, this discernment must only come through the distinguishing ability of the Holy Spirit of God Himself.
Finally, (3. The quality of being able needed to entail experience. These that were to be appointed, had to have gone through a process in their lives to bring them to a point where they could function in this position. Any person that has either gone through, or is presently going through this process can attest to the fact that it is sometimes painful, sometimes filled with rejection and frustration, and sometimes brings you to the point of giving up. It is then that this path causes one to take stock of their reason for wanting to serve God. The motive of the person has to be pure and selfless. The motive must be simply that God is worthy to be served.

Quality number two: They were to be men that Feared God

They were not to make decisions based upon their own wisdom and experience, rather, they were to make decisions based upon God's will. Someone that does not fear (reverence) God, will not seek His will in their decision making process. If you will remember above, one of the sub-qualities in the definition of being able, was wisdom. It is in this deep reverence for God that we find the initiation of wisdom. Let's revisit a very familiar passage.
The writer of Proverbs said it well when he stated by the anointing of the Holy Spirit,

Pr 1:7
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
NASU

Let's Listen to the same verse in the Amplified translation for additional incite.

Pr 1:7
7 The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline.
AMP

The fear of the Lord is reverent and worshipful. How many churches have placed people in leadership positions that do not reverence God in their lives simply because there was a vacancy? The pool that many fellowships have to draw from is to seldom deep, and too often overwhelmingly shallow. Therefore when there are slots to fill and classes to teach, many churches simply plug people in. All sorts of damage have been done to the Body of Christ, the citizens of the Kingdom, by electing to do things this way. It is born of expediency and a wrong sense of necessity. The person put in a place of authority must reverence God in every aspect of their lives, they must fear the Holy One.

A pastor is first and foremost responsible when a person is simply plugged in, and I believe that I have the liberty to make that statement because I am a pastor. I see myself with the highest accountability before the Father. If God wants a particular position filled, he will provide the means and the person to fill it. This was the way it was in the time of Moses, and it is the same in our time as well. It is imperative that we wait on God, even in the smallest decisions. It must not only be that trustworthy people are appointed, but that the ones that are placed are placed according to their particular giftings and temperament. They must have a proven relationship with Christ. A lead pastor or a general manager cannot micro-manage and be fully efficient or effective. They cannot make every decision, and control every issue. This is not only an impossible task, it is patently foolish, and issues forth form a desire to control or a fear of replacement.

The most important trait having to do with godly fear.

The Word states that Moses was an immensely humble man. As a matter of fact the Word says that Moses was more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth (Nu. 12:3 NIV). He understood that it was God that had delivered the people from Egyptian bondage. It was his reverence of God that caused him to be a great leader. If you look at the second part of Pr 1:7 you will notice that it says that "fools despise (ignore) wisdom and instruction". When his father-in law came to him and said; "what is this thing you are doing for the people?" and "why do you alone sit as judge?" Moses could have allowed himself to become offended. He could have responded to Jethro; "God chose me, not you, I'm the leader, you have no right to tell me what to do". "Look at all God has done through me", "I know what I'm doing, so keep your mouth shut".

Rather than responding in arrogance and becoming defensive in says in verse 24,

Ex 18:24
24 So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said.
NASU

It was this humility that caused Moses to bow at the feet of his father-in-law and kiss him - it was this humility that caused him to respond to the will of God from the mouth of Jethro. This was because he feared God and did not reject wise counsel. Moses was reverent and worshipful. Moses feared God

Quality number 3: They were to be men of truth

The Hebrew word translated truth in Ex 18.21 according to the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, means certainty or trustworthiness. It comes from a prime word that means to build up or support, to foster as a parent or nurse, to render or be firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet, and morally to be true or certain. The word from which the Hebrew word comes that is translated truth, simply means stability. It is translated in the KJV as: establishment, faithful, right, sure, or true. These leaders that were to be seen, or selected, were to be functioning in this quality of stability during times of hardship, they were to mean what they say, and say what they mean (no guile).

Since the quality of fearing God came before the quality of truth it must be seen that the truth that they held to had to flow out of the nature of someone who feared the Lord and recognized His absolute truth above all else. Stability in truth can come from no other source - and it is born through hardship and learning dependence on God, as well as seeking His will. This dependence gives a permanence to our actions and causes us to remain quiet and faithful when other's lives are falling apart. Truth must always entail steadfastness.

Quality number 4: They were to be men that hated dishonest gain

To hate dishonest gain simply meant no bribes. Those in places of authority have often used their positions to take advantage of those with less power. Additionally, those in places of authority have often used their positions to prosper by the riches of those they judge.

When giving instruction before the event of entering the Promised Land in Deuteronomy, Moses told the people,

Dt 16:18-20
18 You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your towns which the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. 19 You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous. 20 Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, that you may live and possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
NASU

Judging with righteous judgment meant three specific things. First off, they were not to distort justice. The Holman Christian Standard translation has, "Do not deny justice", where the New Living Translation has, "You must never twist justice". The point seems clear; justice perverted by personal agenda is no justice at all.

The second part of verse nineteen is connected to the first. Not only were the judges that were appointed not to twist justice, they also were not to be partial. In partiality we find the personal priorities that pervert justice into something that falls far short of God's intentions.

The third phrase is a natural consequent of the first two. If someone in a position of power is driven by personal agenda and willing to subvert justice for personal gain, they can be influenced to make decisions that are not based on the righteous will of God. Certainly those that consider their own personal ambitions above God's will are far from impartial; they are not fit to be in a position of leadership. "Bribes blind the eyes of the wise", the Scripture states, and "perverts the words of the righteous". Even those that may seem to have operated in wisdom can fall prey to a desire for ungodly gain. There is a bold caution contained in the above admonitions, which leaders especially, and for that matter, all those that claim the name of Christ must heed. They are to guard the righteousness of God that dwells within them. Our actions are to be in line with His indwelling presence that the God of all creation might be glorified in the earth.

Now we can see why this setting of order was so strategic a step in the preparation of the fledgling nation. It was by justice that they would live in the land and it was by justice that they would possess what the Lord had promised to give them.

These men that were to be chosen were to hate with their very lives, actions that would compromise their integrity when making decisions concerning God's people. Ultimately it is only righteousness and justice that brings peace among people and sets order in society. This order is dictated and established by God alone through those that serve Him with a pure heart.

Let's review the qualities of those that God calls to lead

1) God's leaders are to be able: Wise - Discerning - and Experienced
2) God's leaders are to be fearers of God: Not making decisions based upon their own wisdom and experience, but based upon God's will
3) God's leaders are to be people of truth: Stable, supportive, faithful permanence - Exhibiting moral integrity
4) God's leaders are to be people that hate dishonest gain: They are not to take advantage of their positions and let this advantage compromise their ability to make decisions pleasing to God - decisions that are based upon His will and that benefit and promote peace among the People of God

The Outcome

It is the Father's will that he prepare his Church to inherit the kingdom. This preparation entails leaning to live in the land (the kingdom) that He has promised as an inheritance to His chosen ones. It is necessary the any realm or civilization have an established order if it is to have longevity. Yet no nation or civilization's longevity will ever equal the coming Kingdom which shall be established forever. Therein His people shall have peace during the reign of Christ as the prophet Isaiah proclaimed:

Isa. 9:6-7
A Child is born to us! A Son is given to us! And He will be our ruler. He will be called, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
His royal power will continue to grow, His kingdom will always be at peace. He will rule as King David's successor, basing His power on right and justice, from now on until the end of time.
The Lord Almighty is determined to do all this.
TEV

This is the government of God; this is kingdom reign brought forth by God's established order in submission to the head of the body, His Son Jesus Christ. May he reign in the hearts of those He has called to lead until the time of His coming.

Pastor Ben Eragai

Slliver bird tv evey monday to friday 7:30 am

"GREAT ADVICE"

Don't date because you are desperate.
Don't marry because you are miserable.
Don't have kids because you think your genes are superior.
Don't philander because you think you are irresistible.

Don't associate with people you can't trust.
Don't cheat.
Don't lie.
Don't pretend.
Don't dictate because you are smarter.
Don't demand because you are stronger.

Don't sleep around because you think you are old enough and know
better.
Don't hurt your kids because loving them is harder.
Don't sell yourself, your family, or your ideals.
Don't stagnate.

Don't regress.
Don't live in the past.
Time can't bring anything or anyone back.
Don't put your life on hold for possibly Mr/Mrs Right.
Don't throw your life away on absolutely Mr Wrong because your
biological
clock is ticking.

Learn a new skill.
Find a new friend.
Start a new career.
Sometimes, there is no race to be won.
Only a price to be paid for some of life's more hasty decisions.

To terminate your loneliness, reach out to the homeless.
To feed your nurturing instincts, care for the needy.
To fulfill your parenting fantasies, get a puppy.
Don't bring another life into this world for all the wrong reasons.

To make yourself happy, pursue your passions and be the best of what
you can
be.
Simplify your life.
Take away the clutter.
Get rid of destructive elements: abusive friends, nasty habits, and
dangerous liaisons.
Don't abandon your responsibilities but don't overdose on duty.

Don't live life recklessly without thought and feeling for your
family.
Be true to yourself.
Don't commit when you are not ready.
Don't keep others waiting needlessly.

Go on that trip.
Don't postpone it.

Say those words.
Don't let the moment pass.
Do what you have to, even at society's scorn.

Write poetry.
Love Deeply.
Walk barefoot.
Dance with wild abandon.
Cry at the movies.

Take care of yourself.
Don't wait for someone to take care of you.
You light up your life.
You drive yourself to your destination.
No one completes you - except YOU.

It is true that life does not get easier with age.
It only gets more challenging.
Don't be afraid.
Don't lose your capacity to love.
Pursue your passions.

Live your dreams.
Don't lose faith in your God.
Don't grow old.
Just grow YOU!

From a strictly mathematical viewpoint:

What Equals 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been in situations where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 101%?
What equals 100% in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these

Questions:

If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T You V W X Y Z

Is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R- K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

and

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But,

A-T-T-I-T-You-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

AND, look how far the love of God will take you


From a strictly mathematical viewpoint:

What Equals 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been in situations where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 101%?
What equals 100% in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these

Questions:

If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T You V W X Y Z

Is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R- K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

and

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But,

A-T-T-I-T-You-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

AND, look how far the love of God will take you

L- O- V - E-O-F-G-O-D

12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4 = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:
While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Love of God that will put you over the top!

12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4 = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:
While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Love of God that will put you over the top!

There are some common mistakes we make when trying to cope with feeling alone. In an attempt to escape from our loneliness we watch more movies (alone) or work longer hours. Some people rely on a pet, a hobby, or self-help books to fill the void. Each avenue offers only temporary hope for a brighter future. Eventually feeling alone seems part of our identity. Unknowingly, we isolate ourselves further from that one perfect relationship.

Never confuse feeling alone with being alone. The two are at opposite ends of the emotional spectrum. One drains our resources; one multiplies our resources:
Feeling Alone (Abandonment) Being Alone (Solitude)
Leaves us empty and unfulfilled Brings us fulfillment through inspiration
Aggravates our internalized stress Provides us freedom from distractions
Feeds on our despair and self-doubt Nourishes our body, mind, and spirit

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage

I know of two couples personally who got married at a young age and then went through tremendous trials and troubles in their marriage, and for one reason or another they ended up divorcing. After a time, and finding their way in life, after even more trials, they ended up remarrying each other again.

Remarriage to the man or woman you first married is more prevalent than you would think. Wouldn't it be great to be able to have the knowledge beforehand of knowing you will remarry your spouse, so you could skip the divorce part of it, work on the marriage and stay married?

After I analyzed these now quite happy remarriages, I have come to the conclusion that with the correct knowledge, divorce can be skipped and shouldn't even be an option. In one of the cases mentioned above, the marriage was greatly disturbed by the presence of an alcoholic. And neither partner had come to accept Christ for their life.

Several years later when he got sober and mentally healthier, and she discovered the power of God in her life, they remarried and the marriage is doing great. The couple above is my sister and brother in law. They have been remarried now for over ten years. I do not see divorce again in the future.

In the other case, the couple was again, very young and quite immature. The problems of the marriage were too much stress for them to handle with such undeveloped intentions, besides they just did not have the basis for a solid foundation going for the marriage, and they ended up divorcing. Several years later they rediscovered one another, now mature in their age, both believers in Jesus Christ, they reunited in marriage. And the marriage is flourishing.

I believe that more and more divorced couples could rediscover one another again and remarry. Here's why. When we get married, we bring baggage with us. We don't leave it at mom and dads house or the dorm we once lived in. No, the baggage comes right along with us. Maybe it is addiction or predisposition to addiction, or maybe it is plain out selfishness, or maybe it is emotional retardation. Whatever the baggage is, it doesn't matter.

The point is, whatever baggage we bring into the marriage, we can learn from it with our spouse, or we can give up, impede growth and divorce. The problem with that is we still have the baggage and it will come along with us into all of our relationships until we rid it from ourselves. Past baggage is not who we are it is only a part of the hurdles in life that we need to grow out from and learn by. Anyone with determination can jump the hurdles of baggage, believe me.

Sometimes the pain of baggage really hurts deep and sometimes we suffer through our tribulations onto the next trial. But here is the answer, as simple as it may seem. With God all things are possible. And with God and a sincere belief and complete trust in the Son of God as our Savior, we can get through our problems of suffering and pain. Yes, it will hurt, but we will get through them.

Let me ask you something. If you knew that you would be remarrying your spouse five or ten years later anyway, would you get a divorce? The answer to that is probably not. You would work on the marriage through any means that worked, wouldn't you?

Knowing that God wants us to stay married to our first love and knowing that He will give us the resources and strength to work on the difficulties of marriage, should give some of you a second chance in your heart to repent, forgive, and work on yourself and marriage. Skip divorce all together! Who needs it anyway? Why put you and the children through such turmoil and suffering of divorce when God has given you the ability to work through your trials and tribulations? Jump over those hurdles with God!

Think about this. I think that more and more divorced couples could and should reunite with their first spouse if one or both of them have not already remarried someone else. After all, in God's eyes they are still married anyway.

Angie Lewis is the author of four marriage books offering marriage tips and wisdom filled answers tackling such issues as addiction, adultery, pornography, emotions, beliefs, forgiveness, communication and much, much more.

Adultery Pandemic is Angie's latest book. Turn Your Marriage Into A Success! If you want to restore your marriage from the demoralizing effects of adultery, then look no further - this is the book for you!

Your Marriage Can Be Restored!

A treasure book filled with effective guidance for your marriage from forgiveness and trust to recommitting your lives to each other again. Practical and easy-to-read, this book combines the solutions and remedies your marriage needs towards recovery. This book will give you the guidance you need to discover the true secrets to a happy, lifelong marriage.

What are the factors?
Are you a couple who is childless or wants to expand your family by adopting a child? Researching the adoption process unearths a dizzying amount of information while more questions arise. Do we want to adopt domestically or internationally? How much is this going to cost? What are the legal requirements for adoptive parents? How do we get started?

First and foremost, prospective parents should be in agreement regarding adoption. Parenting is a team effort and both parties should be united in the effort. Couples should put an emphasis on communication and openly sharing your thoughts and feelings during the process.

Prospective parents will go through an adoption organization, lawyer, or foster care agency. Once one of these groups has been contacted, a home study will take place and certain factors will be considered in the evaluation. The home study focuses on whether or not the home is a stable and safe environment for a child. Some of the factors considered are:

Marital status: It is easier for a married couple to adopt than a single person. Some birth parents may feel that two parents can give their child more rounded attention than a single parent.
Length of marriage: A common requirement for adoptive parents is that they should be married for at least three years.
Previous marriages: As long as the present marriage is stable and the couple agrees on adopting, previous marriages aren’t a problem.
Age of adoptive parents: The legal age for adoptive parents is 18 to 40 years of age. Some agencies will consider older couples.
Maximum age exceptions for international adoptions: age and maturity are considered an advantage in many foreign countries where children are available for adoption.
Health issues: Prospective parents must be in good health. Some agencies will prevent adoptions based on weight, whether it’s underweight or obesity. Premature deaths are associated with weight issues and this practice protects the child from possibly being orphaned a second time.

Feeling Alone – Connected
Just as you can experience feeling alone in a crowd, you can experience companionship while being alone. Psalm 23 shares David’s assurance of God’s presence during our weary times, difficult decisions, and in the midst of “our enemies.” The Lord’s eternal love brings protection and comfort even when facing death.

God finds no pleasure in our feeling alone. At his Roman trial, the apostle, Paul, was deserted by his fellow workers (2 Timothy 4:16-17). God’s son, Jesus Christ, was abandoned by those closest to Him, all the disciples (John 16:32). In every hopeless situation, God provided strength and deliverance.

God intends for mankind to have an eternal connection with Him so that we never feel alone -- God longs to be with us. For this reason He sent His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice to reunite us to Him (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:10). As we trust in His unconditional mercy and love, He uses others who have experienced His love to fill up our lives

why not go to ashawo plce and gbadun your self instead of lamenting

yes it is alright but do u belive in that, once we die naa jugment now which com be reincannation again, abi se ti kuri ni

that is a bad thing, bad example for the children, bad legacy, bad future the children

It is an evil thing to think of, since majority is aware the use of Condoms and the causes for HIV amd AIDS then they will knoe how to handle it, but not to be in the house, it will just looks as if the church is promoting the evil act, but there are ways men of God delivers those messages in the Holy spirit guided way. Thank u all.

Since God is one in the Holy trinity i think we should remain one with God

I think it should be A land of Mercy or Grace b'coz what we are going thru here no other nation can do without God killing them But I thak Gof for Grace and mercy.

"You can not live in a glass house and throw stones"

If the major thing u enjoy doing in life is to critisize other nation, well i tell you, you may not go far in life because you will have to think about other and leaving yours aside. Thank God Nigeria is a Nation every body is talking about today, it just b'coz we got to a level where other nation started noticsing "Noticed" us, aleast we have other nation that has worst case than these, and let me tell the whole house every nation has what you are critisizing us for is just that when u critisize us it indicate we will increase in size (Anem)
As i allways say give us Time will will get There.

I belive your people afe Nigerians!
The fact about the issue is that the mind of your husband in on the side of his family, and i tell you their is nothing bad in it because he grew up amoung them but the only problem i persive is that he dosn't notice u as such because he feels like being with is people forgetting that you are the main family he should focuse. I can understand how you feel, but the solution is this

1. Be very prayerful
2. Try your possible best to be obedient to him
3. Always he him rest of mind in other to think well
4. If your home is very close to that of is family:I dont know how You do it but their must be distance, i belive there is nothing imporsible for God, Pray an be ,

That is a respective culture not that of people that kick their father with leg on the bed as a goodmorning antem

That is a respective culture not that of people that kick their father with leg on the bed as a goodmorning antem

than u all, gbogbo yin le gbinyan ju

One upon time in the street of Lagos.
A suya man displayed his market and suddenly a police officer is passing by and branched the suya man,
The suya man ask him which one u want buy? and the police officer said i'm arresting these chicken for immoral dressing.

If u are the suya man what will u do?

the best place to discuss this is romance not here, pls always note thank u

why are you all pretending in the the house the real answer is, what the teacher do in the night

let me tell u, it happens we have the most handsome president since last eight yrs.

i must comment in the suite it realy ok, it just that u need to trace out the cap


Thank u all

let me tell u, it happens we have the most handsome president since last eight yrs.

i must comment in the suite it realy ok, it just that u need to trace out the cap


Thank u all

Speaking in tongues is a wepon penticostal use in church

It is true there are real and fake tongue, let me tell u, at evey real thing their must be a fake, and fot the fact that their fake cloths in the the market does not stop me from buying cloth all i need to do is to shine my eyes.

Speaking in tongue is a language of heaven, i tell you when ever xtain in real prayer battles heaven will aiways want to pass message and in these,
Another thing is that if i pray in tongues supplications are made and since nobody can understand me , i'm assesing into the kingdom of grace.

mores so if i pray in tongue just for few min. i belive i've covered yrs of prayers and heaven in compling to my case.