Monday 12 November 2012

The Paradox of our Time














The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less. We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgement; more experts, yet more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom and hate too often.
We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life, not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We’ve conquered outer space, but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things. We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve split the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; big men, and small character; steep profits, and shallow relationships. These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.
Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember to say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
By Dr. Bob Moorehead

DON'T QUIT




The Don't Quit presentation is based on a famous poem which was written many years ago. The author of this poem is unknown. Sadly, in recent years a number of people have claimed ownership of the poem and some have even claimed to have written it themselves!

Here is the original poem in it's entirety:

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than, 

It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, 

And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

- Author unknown

Sunday 11 November 2012

Heaven's Laboratory



I recall sharing "enthusiastically" one of my dear dreams with a respected family friend (my Dad's friend whom I respect so much), His responds where just the shortest word of discouragement I've ever heard in my life!
"Forget it" He bluntly said.
I felt weak-in-mind! But the same week, I read a quote which strenghted me. 

It says "Never tell a young person that something cannot be done. God may 
have been waiting for countless centuries for somebody ignorant enough of impossibility to do that thing"

You know what? I sent the quote from a friend's phone to him, planned with my friend to tell him it'ws a mistaken number, if he calls!
Surprisingly he suspected me and came to ask me, if I had any connection with the text! I was Blank, speechless, I thought "my friend had betrayed me!" But his EGO will not allow him say SORRY!

Note: Never UNDERESTIMATE a tender mind, it God's (Heaven's Laboratory) plantation!
Where he cultivates, process & Produce FRUIT IDEAS not JUICE

Friday 9 November 2012

The 11 Parables of Naira



Recently a little friend of mine inspired me to ponder on the meaning and message of the images behind Nigerian Naira Coins and Notes...you know, in their charactristic never-ending-questioning manner..i therefore got to know they are 11 altogether…and by deep revelation I came up with this ‘Title’ as it relates especially to our live and business. Watch out for my Book: 11 Parables of Naira.

50K Maize 
Parable of Priceless seeds
“When you eat your seed you become the food for the hungry field”
KEY-WORD:  Potential
N 1 Sir Herbert Macaulay
Parable of Character
“When wealth is lost something is lost, when health is lost something is lost, but when Character is lost all is lost”
KEY-WORD:  Attitude
N 2 National House of Assembly  
Parable of Brotherhood
“There is no surer destination on earth as one headed to by friends with united head and honest heart, it a shed in the hottest desert and a steering on the widest sea”      
KEY-WORDS:  Team Work
N 5 Drummers
Parable of the Big Feast
“Hope, like a hunter’s head lamp, adorns our path, cheers our heart; and still, as the night grows so the light glows, till the greater ray”
KEY-WORD:  Purpose
N 10 Fulani Milk Maids
Parable of the Hawker
“Better to wear out than to rust out”
KEY-WORD:  advertise   
N20- Pot Maker
Parable of the Potter. 
“They are dirt to creatures and are in debt to the Creator whose credential has castrated their creativity”
KEY-WORD:   Ideas
N 50- Local Fishermen with Big Catch
Parable of the Golden Fish
“An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity; a pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity.”
KEY-WORD: Entrepreneurship
N100 Zuma Rock
Parable of Road and the rock
“There are only two ways across every mountain, through it and around it. Going through leaves you experienced and with blisters, going around it leaves you exhausted and with aches, whichever don’t expire.”
KEY-WORD:   Determination
N 200 Cow and Agro Produce
Parable of Lazy Farmer
“Happy is the man whose house has a narrow footpath to his farm and the farm a busy highway to the market, for his abode shall be of precious possession”
KEY-WORD:  Trade
N500 Oil Platform
Parable of Depth
“Nothing is lost on a man who is bent upon growth; nothing wasted on one who is always preparing for his work and his life by keeping eyes, mind and heart open to nature, men, books, experience.  And what he gathers serves him at unexpected moments in unforeseen ways.”
KEY-WORD:  Preparation
1000 CBN in Abuja
Parable of Height
Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful, that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity
KEY-WORD:  Success  

Poverty is Expensive


I changed my  residence at Owerri recently, but I had reasons to go visit my former neighbors,
 with excitement I busted into the gate and I yelled “OYENEKU” meaning: who is that? 
A funny way we announce our self to fellow ‘Yarders’. And if someone recognizes your voice
 they’ll say your name. Say “Faith”. I really enjoyed my stay there…men it was fun! That was 
just one of those funny thing we do back there.
But this fateful evening the yard was dead silent… I shouted OYENEKU a couple of time and since nobody answered…I went blank, thinking what could be wrong because I can notice life…I went closer and knocked on Mama Marvelous’ door, a little daughter opened the door for me and told me her mother is not around…that they went to….to….to…(started crying). I immediately suspected what went wrong! Where is Ada? I asked her “ADA is DEAD”! She replied. I couldn’t help the ache in my stomach.
Ada is a young, intelligent, and beautiful mid secondary school girl, who was running on Imo State. She was very only, hardworking and respectful…I sincerely saw greatness somewhere ahead of her, I encouraged here to join the choir in her local church because her sonorous voice was my alarm clock most days, as she graciously strokes palm front sweeping our open court every morning!
All that came like a flash and the thought that I wouldn’t see her again made tears drop but I had to hold it back because, the little girl need some comfort first.
But as I laid my hand on her shoulders he asked a question, that I couldn’t answer immediately “Uncle, why do bad things happen to poor people?” Maybe you could answer that question on the spot if you were in my shoe but I couldn’t!
I just did my bit to console her and made off! The question kept banging my ribs though. I was so shocked when I later learnt all that could have probably saved ADA’s live was about #25000!
Rest ‘N Peace ADANNE CHOICE OKORO

Character Counts


Let’s face it, it’s not easy to become a person of character. It takes a good heart, but it also requires wisdom to know right from wrong and the discipline to do right even when it’s costly, inconvenient or difficult.

Becoming a person of character is a lifelong quest to be better.
A person of character values honesty and integrity and pays whatever price is needed to be worthy of trust, earning the pride of family and friends and self-respect.
A person of character plays fair even when others don’t and values no achievement unless it was attained with honor.
A person of character has strong convictions, yet avoids self-righteousness.
A person of character believes in the inherent dignity of all people and treats everyone with respect, even those whose ideas and ideologies evoke strong disagreement.
A person of character deals with criticism constructively and is self-confident enough to take good advice, admit and learn from mistakes, feel and express genuine remorse and apologize graciously.
A person of character knows what’s important, sacrifices the now for later, is in control of attitudes and actions, overcomes negative impulses and makes the best of every situation.
A person of character willingly faces fears and tackles unpleasant tasks.
A person of character is consistently and self-consciously kind and empathetic, giving generously without concern for reward.
A person of character feels and expresses gratitude freely and frequently.
A person of character is not defeated by failure or dissuaded by disappointment.
A person of character seeks true happiness in living a life of purpose and meaning, placing a higher value on significance than success.

Thursday 8 November 2012

HOMOSexUALITY...a thought

I got a text from ma Lil'bro (@NYSC camp Lagos) last weekend, it says ''BABA HOW U DEY...CAN'T WAIT TO LEAVE HERE OH, HERE IS sodom&gomarra RELOADED, I OPENLY EMBARRASSED 1 GAY DISTURBING ME TODAY..." Have you seen homosexuals lately? If not maybe u'r living in some Kirikiri underground cell...or maybe you have not been observant to be fair. Strangely homosexuality is no more an american/western phenomena  its fast breaking like fashion-waves into our societal capillaries, sadly more predominant among young-adults and elites. 
The NIGERIAN ANGLICAN COMMUNION and other Nigerian churches (pls tell them) need to do more than just condemning some English priest and take the preaching of moral-sexual sanctity to their Pulpit. 
We have heard of ladies being sexually pressured 4 sex by to-be-boss for job opportunities are u aware the same obtains for homosexual relationship now? 
An elderly woman in ma church testified how God rescued her son from the bondage of an homo-pst. 
Just before I went to bed last 9t I felt the heart-cry of a woman whom her 6yr blissful matrimony was crumbling under her very nose as her husband got unusually engrossed with a gay-guy...she actually caught them pant down dis last time. 
Ladies flavor of HOMO-lesbianism is no more a news; their all over our ivory-tower and executive work place, even high govt corridors. 
FOOTNOTE  
the Bible-God's manual for nature and living is totally against it Rom. 1:21-28. Let's pray against this inferno and harm yourself with preventive measure. May God Keep His Own!

Bob's Story

BOB Ireland crossed the finish line on thursday Nov 6, 1986 as the New York Marathon 19413th and final finisher. The first person to run a marathon with arms instead of legs! Bob who was 40 had his leg blown off at Vietnam. He recorded the slowest time in marathon history: 4days, 2hours, 48minutes, 17seconds. 
When asked why he ran at all, he gave 3 reasons 
(a)To show that being a chriatian is a plus 
(b)To encourage other in some ways 
(c)To promote physical fitness. 
"success isnt based of on where you start" he said "it is where you finished and I finished" 
Don't give up!!

HAPPINESS

For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time to still be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.

This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time and remember that time waits for no one, so stop waiting . . .
  • until you finish school
  • until you go back to school
  • until you lose ten pounds
  • until you gain ten pounds
  • until you have kids
  • until your kids leave the house
  • until you start work
  • until you retire
  • until you get married
  • until you get divorced
  • until Friday night
  • until Sunday morning
  • until you get a new car or home
  • until your car or home is paid off
  • until spring
  • until summer
  • until fall
  • until winter
  • until you are off welfare
  • until the first or fifteenth
  • until your song comes on
  • until you've had a drink
  • until you've sobered up
  • until you die
  • until you are born again
Decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

Written by Alfred D. Souza
He was an inspirational writer/philosopher from Brisbane, Australia and he died in 2004. He's referred to as Father Alfred DSouza.