₦airaland Forum

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[quote author=Mickey7][/quote] Xup with the signature?

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odizeey: riley lets leave it till wen we c in benin

yep, I prefer it that way.

bro u nid to go church regularly o

bro, I do go to church, but I don't see it as a religious practise.

cos faith cometh by hearing d word of GOD.

of course, I do listen to the word of God..alot.. And I also have my Bible for that..and of course, the guidance of the Holy Spirit

if u were a redeemer. u wld knw d importance of going to church regularly and actively

When Jesus Christ returns, it won't be question of who worshipped in Redeem,
it won't be a question of who worshipped in the Synagogue Church of All Nation,
it won't be a question of who worshipped in Winners,
it won't be a question of who worshipped in this or that church.

But it'd be a question of who worshipped IN SPIRIT and IN TRUTH.

My dear friend, Do not try to be religious..but be spiritual..and May God see us through.

With that said, I'm not saying anymore on this issue .. See ya in Ben

@Lamar, I couldn't be more glad knowing you read the whole thing..I never thought you would..n that shows that deep down in your heart, you know you're going astray and you need a reason to be on the right path but of course, you had to defend yourself first.

You know..one of the greatest gifts God gave to mankind is the gift of 'freewill'..It's very easy for HIM to make us conform to HIS will..but what would that make us? Absolutely nothing but robots. But for HE didn't want that..Hence,that gift of freewill.

He does not impose Himself or His will on anyone.Sometimes, He allows us to exhaust whatever
worldly advantages we feel we have so that when we have learnt our lessons, we would value Him. Jesus Christ is indeed a democrat.

So my dear, I won't say anymore on this issue.. I can only hope and pray that you don't realise when it's already too late..May God help us all.


@Odizeey, About the passages you quoted..I'd have loved you created a thread so we discuss the whole issue 'cuz I won't lie, I was never a big fan of that '1kg of sand/iron' argument..the fact that it went on n on infuriated me, n no doubt..ours might follow the same path.

Or maybe we wait till we meet in Benin, cuz candidly, I fear when I start expressing my views..many might stop going to churches n it'd definitely might affect their christian faith.

N lemme clarify something else, I didn't say I don't go church..I do go, but I'm not so much of an active member.

There are churches whose practises are all 'ceremonial' and there are those that aren't....lemme say nomore.


@Suave, Mouse, Fileman, Adex, winner...etc...I see you all.. God bless.

I_am_Lamar: How sure are u that there's even a god ? . Trust me I used to be Like u until I realised that I was just being deceived by this Religion ish . I'm not an atheist sha . I'm an Agnostic . Religion is just a bondage my dear

I did tell myself I wasn't gonna post for a long long while..prolly forever..lol but for Lamar's post...I'm compelled to.

Lamar, I understand where you are coming from, as a matter of fact...I've been there.

There have been times I questioned myself, 'why do I even go to church?' 'why do I pray' 'why give offerings ?' 'why all these rites?'

n you wanna know the answer I got? It was simply because I was born into it...yep, my parents are christians..n I bet, if they were something else, maybe muslims or whatever, I prolly would've been that.. Our environment sure do influence us.

There are times I go to church not necessarily 'cuz I wanna listen to the pastor's sermon (I mean I often miss that..afterall, I arrive late anyway) but because I'd get the chance to meet with friends.. Because I know I'd be looking good to impress a few eyes..because I know I'd have the chance to go to the market to buy a few stuff or whatever.. It was always one flimsy reason or the other.

But a time came, I asked myself...what's the point? Who am I even deceiving? No doubt..I was deceiving myself.. N I even decided to shun church completely.

Alot happened later on, n I started building my faith in God...most prolly cuz I had exams to write..n I was going through hell in school.. Yea yea, I was one controversial individual back then..lol

Not that I'm the stubborn type, hell no! Not even close..but that's exactly what I was tagged..n you know why? Because I knew my 'rights'...In as much I was one of the best there(not bragging here) I was the type that refuse to be walked over by staff irrespective of who you are.

Something happened in school which did irrepairable damage to my image..I mean, I was accused wrongly..n I tried to defend myself but boy did that land me on their 'black list '..They made School a living hell for me..lol..

That's one lesson I'd take to Uniben... "The authority is always right"..you cant win against them.....n I just had to quit school..Yep, I had to.

I've always been the kinda person who keeps things to himself(which is very bad BTW)..so, I really didn't tell my parents..I mean..why should I? It was my last year there.. I've spent my entire educational life there..Yep, From Kg 1..n now in SS3 ..I wanna switch? Nah...thats utterly absurd!

They might even start saying I've lost it n I decided to enrol somewhere else..cuz my alma mata is one strict type...No exam malpractice allowed...Yea, I'm gonna give them credit for that.

So I did enrol there, after all the processing, I had to quit..I found a new abode -The town library.. Spending 8hours daily..From 9am-5pm.

'Cuz I was really determined, I just wanted to put them to shame..virtually everyone of them . N no, the reading didn't end there..I continued at home.

Something else was also my driving force.. The freedom I was gonna get.. whenever I thought about it, my motivation multiplied by a hundred!

Think about it, A day has 24-hours, n if I spend about half of it preparing for exams..do you need a prophet to tell you how determined I was? Lol..

No doubt, these same people I was hoping to put to shame saw me n started their side talk...but what do I care? ' let them say &watch me make it'

But there were times I became really scared of "what if".. Hence, my ..should I say.. "genuine" search for a Supernatural being ? yep, I needed God.

I started being a regular church goer..n did all those rites you'd expect a religious person to do..but who was I kidding??

But once in a while..in my heart, I said.."Lord Jesus, You see my struggles..You see what I'm going through..You see how I'm working towards my success like my life depends on it......Lord, if You don't let me get this success I so much desire, I'm not sure I'm ever gonna worship you again..honestly, I'm not sure"


lol.. It sure does seem like I was making a deal with HIM, "grant me my heart desires n I'll worship you forever"..lol, but No, it doesnt work that way.

Jamb came, wrote well..passed
Waec came, wrote well..passed excellently..lol
Post ume came, it wasnt the worst nor the best exam..but atleast, I deserved something.

The ultimate priority was actually gaining admission.. that was the one thing I was living for...lol, so it seemed then.

My quest for this admission made me proclaim a self fast, a secret one for sure..as the Bible directed...which lasted for about 226 days (July 1st-Feb 11th)..8 good months..lol

I did this amongst others..hoping to win God to my side..the deeper I got into it..The more I found out about life..The more I understood what life really was all about..
My eyes become open...(its still opening tho'..)

I was starting to understand why HE was allowing me go through all that pain..And I was thankful tho' but you know one problem I had? 'letting go'.

Then, I could say with my lips how thankful I am for the trials..but deep down in my heart, I still wanted that miracle to happen..I needed that admission... i just didnt care about the course I 'd be given...I needed it.

There was a time I really did pray, I wanted the Lord God to show me what was in for me concerning this admission issue.. Cuz I tell you, during those times, my relationship with HIM was something else.

I started having dreams coming to reality even as early as the next day..My relationship with strangers..friends, family..etc I dreamt them all.

Even down to football, you wouldn't believe It.. Having dreams about football matches.. It isn't predicting..it never was.

One of such football dreams that shocked me the most was one I had about one of the El classicos..I saw Messi celebrating a goal in 18th minute or so...N talked about, and behold it came to pass.. He scored at that time.

You may be incredulous about this..I know, I mean..who wouldn't? But thank God I did share some of this dreams with my closest pal & family..they are witness to them, above all..the Lord is my witness.

Still on dreams, I kept having these dreams.. But the one I really wanted to find out was the one about my admission, this kept on eluding me.

Until one night, I prayed earnestly, I wanted to know...and HE did respond.

In this dream, I was admitted..but the course I was given, I didn't like.. Despite the fact that I have always wanted admission irrespective the course, I started rejecting the course in that dream.

I woke up, suprised..asking questions..'what the hell is this?' And after minutes of pondering, I prayed against it..casting n binding..lol..and I went back to sleep.

I had another related dream that same night,n this time..it wasnt even about being given another course..It was NOT ADMITTED.

I woke up..prayed against it..lol.. And was sad for a while considering my history with dreams, Still I refused to believe this one..."This is a dream from the pit of hell"..I told myself

Satan is trying to disturb my faith..cuz then I was preparing for clearance..lol, I told myself 'faith without work is dead'...if I say, I have faith in God..I believe I'd be admitted then I need to work towards it.
That's how I started making some documents ready..lol

But I was only deceiving myself, all these were in the natural.. We all claim to have faith, but we fail to do one thing- hear what the Lord God has to say about our situation and above all, accept HIS will for us.

I remember one time on this thread,Someone(wont mention any name) came online once, N started professing his faith
about his/her admission and quite honestly, it was getting really annoying and I asked him/her just one question ..'what if you had scored below 50, would you still come and profess faith here?'

But s/he could only pretend not to see the question and all I could do was laugh..n it was the truth, most of us back then saying faith this...faith that...the faith we had was in our score..n not really God... Weird...right? Think about it.


Well, after the matric, I finally resigned to fate..Well, alot happened later on.. I was forsaken by those I called friends, the side talking increased(Yea,..my teachers won, as it seemed..n they made sure I got tortured badly)..I was jaded..was depressed...n yes, I had suicidal thoughts..but God saw me through.

You know, people never really know what you're going through..as a matter of fact, they dont really care.

I had just one-year experience of not being admitted, n it taught me the feeling of going 7years without being admitted, it taught me the feeling of being a graduate without a job, it taught me the feeling of being a married woman without a child..

What other feelings could make one have suicidal thoughts? I had them all..lol

indeed, everything happens for a reason..we need to find that purpose.

And to those yet to be admitted, even if it doesn't come to be..I leave you with a quote..

"The best time to set out to achieve your goals is when everything is down and the whole world is on your neck...You just look at all the disappointments, rejection & mockery and yet see so many reasons to move ahead". credits to : Didi5

Please dont think about suicide, Nothing on earth is worth it..if I had committed suicide last year, I wouldn't be here today.

Even now that I've gotten admitted , something I'd kill for last year(not literary tho')... The feeling was like..'Yay!' and that was it.

Indeed, all in this world is vanity..absolutely nothing is worth taking one's life.

N I'd keep saying...Those who re yet to be admitted..You may add me on 2go.. 'RileyFreeman11'.

Not that I have any info to give you...but just do it...if you will..

Back to Lamar's issue

It was quite easy for some of you to bash on him without really knowing his story..You've no idea what he's been through. You've no idea what tampered with his beliefs.

I'm a Nigerian and I can tell you, this is one of the most religious nations on earth. Nobody, I mean absolutely nobody is born an atheist, agnostic or whatever..

Lamar, I know you started from somewhere..n I'm guessing Christianity... Why not re trace your steps?

Another problem with some of us is...we always wanna follow the thrend, why not sit n think for yourself?

When did atheism and the likes suddenly start holding ground in Nigeria? I know it sounds cool to be different..like the Atheist, they see themselves as intellects...as elites..Wow! For real?

We mustn't always go with the thrend..Lamar.

And someone did mention religious section in NL...yea, thats quite possible..I've been to sites...alot of them that tries to portray Christianity as evil.. Some even go as far as using the Bible.

You won't believe how well they'd put it..N if you are not that strong in faith, you'd so lose focus.. I swear you would.. Many of you lambasting Lamar here..might even do worse!

I really don't blame Lamar and the likes.. Not especially when some so called Christians aren't leading examplary lives.

But Lamar, I say to you...Salvation is personal..you can't let people's life style determine your faith... Even if you have a pastor as corrupt as h.... Let him be, it shouldnt affect your ways.

N No! I'm not saying I'm perfect either..We all go astray in our own ways..But by HIS grace, we'd get there..

Lamar, I'm not a religious bigot if you're already thinking that..as a matter of fact, I'm not even religious..Yes, I'm a christian..but not religious.

This is because Christianity of today has lost its meaning. some 'ministers of God' make it so burdensome for members...some would tell you 'dont do this/that'..blah blah..(for some reasons,I won't be precise here, but y'all know what I'm talking about)

lamar, what if I tell you till today,I'm more of a spiritual person n not really an active church goer? n yes, I have my reasons.. And even if I choose to pass this question to everyone here "why do you go to church?", Nobody would give legit answers..'cuz they really dont know why..They just go.

Lamar, remember the part I said..I don't know if I'd worship God if HE deprives me of the admission I so badly needed? But HE did let it happen and rather for me to forget all about HIM as I told myself previously..

Instead, I found myself drawer closer to HIM more than ever..And Lamar, HE was there for me...and still is..

Lamar, I don't know what you've been through that tampered with your faith but I'd tell you..God is there..God is here, You just need to see this..Don't go with thrend.

I had a friend that once said... "I rather live my life believing there is a God and to found out there isn't than live my life believing there is no God and to find out there is"

Lamar, I won't ask you to live that way, it's kinda based on fear..but I'd ask you to re trace your steps...Christianity isn't a religion..it's a relationship between you and your creator..Just think about it.

And no way I'd talk about my spiritual struggles without mentioning Prophet TB Joshua, Yes! Y'all hate him..I know, atleast 90% of Nigerians despise him..but believe me, I can only see that as another reason to love him even more..Afterall, Jesus Christ did say," a prophet is never loved in his own contry"

This He said after His rejection..where? Nazareth, His home town!. The earlier y'all start realising this...the better.

Fine, I'd give you a clue...if you wanna know who a true prophet is...Get your Bible, read about the prophets of the old..then look at the prophet of today..look at the 'ministers of God' of today.

Look at their way of life, compare and contrast and you'd see for yourself who is genuine and who isn't.. Forget about how popular this person might be, don't follow the crowd..don't follow the thrend..n may God help you.

So Lamar, I advice you to start from somewhere, go on your knees and ask HIM to reveal HIMSELF to you..

It mustn't be like my case, God reveals Himself in many mysterious ways ..it won't be easy, I know...but it's worth it.

And I hope the Good Lord sees you through in Your quest.. Salvation isn't cheap, they say...but it's absolutely free.


With all these said, I wouldn't be pleased if my lifestyle is being monitored for errors..I'm still growing..I mean, nobody is Perfect..sometimes, we find ourselves doing what we don't want to do..Apostle Paul said it himself.

So, my dear...I still do have my struggles..and you do too.


With all typed, I hope not just Lamar, but everyone else would learn a thing or two.. Take care and remain blessed