Happy New Year!!!

It is going to be 2016 in a minute and even though some other people in other parts of the world have already ushered in the new year, we Nigerians no go carry last. LOL!.

We all had our fill of 2015 with our different experiences. While some are dancing into 2016, unfortunately others, like those in the hospital with one illness, sickness, ailment or the other do not have the luxury. Its even worse for those on life support. Personally, 2015 for me was one heck of a year. I almost literally went through shit. It was filled with so many challenges and trials that I almost gave up, but God saw me through it all and as we end the year, I can boldly and confidently say I'm ending 2015 on a positive note and with a wide smile on my face as I look forward to a better year 2016.

Some people had it rough and tough, while for some it seemed easy peasy. Whatever the situation was for you, one option you don't have is giving up. Some people have got it worse. As long as you're alive and not bedridden, you gotta keep holding on, doing more, trying new ways and again, never giving up. Don't continue 2016 the same way if things weren't working for you. Try other options, It definitely will work out at some point. The worst thing you can do is not do at all. Playing the victim and always having people throw you pity parties will never get you anywhere but keep you stagnant while others around you move ahead.

With all that being said, I want to be the first to wish my fellow Nigerians a Happy New Year 2016. I pray that this new year brings in new opportunities, more blessings and 12 more positively fruitful months of testimonies all to God's glory. I hope that all the hardwork you put into 2015 will begin to yield positive fruits for you in 2016. I pray that whatever the situation of the economy or the state of the country, your own testimonies will be according to God's will for your life. I pray that your heart's desires will come to pass one by one as The Lord God Almighty takes all the glory. AMEN!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

New Year's Eve 2015 live: Fireworks and pictures from around the world as we welcome in 2016

Taiwan, China

It's time to bid farewell to 2015 and celebrate the New Year 2016. Some countries are already in 2016 and are celebrating in different ways and of course not forgetting the huge fireworks on display. A 238 second display was launched from the enormous skyscraper Taipei 101, watch here

Samoa was one of the first to mark the new year with New Zealand following an hour later. Due to different time zones, here are the other countries that have celebrated or will celebrate the new year first before the rest of the world.

Large parts of Australia including Melbourne and Sydney
Queensland area of Australia including Brisbane
Japan and South Korea
China, Hong Kong and Singapore
Indonesia and Thailand
India and Sri Lanka
Pakistan
Russia
Greece and Egypt
Germany, Spain, France and other European countries.
United Kingdom and Ireland
Brazil
Some parts of Canada
Parts of US including New York and Washington
Outlying islands of US

Other cities around the world including Tokyo and Sydney have celebrated 2016 in the past few hours. Sydney earlier celebrated the new year in style with a huge firework display. More than a million people lined the streets to watch what some described as 'the best fireworks in the world'. An incredible display took place over the Sydney Harbour Bridge accompanied by music.

Stunning images were broadcast around the world. Parts of Australia follow New Zealand and Samoa in welcoming in the new year. Below are some of the latest videos and pictures of celebrations from around the world.

Taipei, China

Sydney, Australia

Watch Australia's fireworks below:

Watch below as Thailand welcomes 2016

In Auckland, an impressive fireworks display lit up around the Sky Tower. Take a look:

And Samoa, the first country to usher in 2016, celebrated the new year with their traditional festivities. See video:

Instead of spectacular fireworks like many cities across the world, North Korea celebrated 2016 with bizarre broadcast. Their broadcast featured a woman talking to camera. See a clip of the video below:

In the UK, extra armed police officers have been drafted onto London’s streets tonight over fears of a terror attack. A huge fireworks display will take place on London’s South Bank which has already sold out.

With all these firework displays from around the world, makes me wonder what my dear country Nigeria has in store for us. Will there be firework displays or...LOL!

New Year's Eve 2015: Taiwan celebrates 2016 with spectacular 238 seconds of fireworks from skyscraper

Some countries have already said bye-bye to 2015 and begun 2016 and they did it in style. This spectacular video above shows how Taiwan saw in the New Year with an incredible fireworks display. A 238 second display was launched from the enormous skyscraper Taipei 101.

Dumb Relationship Questions!

Have you ever wondered why some people ask some very dumb questions especially when it is relationship related?. During the getting-to-know-each-other stage, instead of actually getting to know each other, you hear very irrelevant questions that make you go HUH???. Some of these questions make you want to slap them or hang them. LOL!. You're like "WTF is this one asking?"

In a series of posts, I'm going to be putting out there and sharing my thoughts on some dumb relationship questions some people ask and why such questions are totally uncalled for and extremely irrelevant to the possible future of the relationship.

Some of these questions are so irritating, some are clueless and some are just plain funny!, so stay locked to NaijaVampire and don't miss any of the Dumb Relationship Questions posts!

Man arrested for ‘having sex with goat’ on Christmas Eve

Hahaha!. Ok so while everyone was busy getting ready for Christmas day by readying presents or going shopping for food items or decorating their homes, this uncle pictured above, 53 year old Darryl, was busy having sex with a goat. I find this very hilarious because its just plain funny. I mean, with all the horny women out there, with all the single women out there, with the option of masturbation available, he chose to have sex with a goat? LOL!. Below is how Metro UK is reporting it:

Police say they were called to Chisholm Road in Oklahoma City following a report from a witness who said he had seen a man with his trousers round his ankles holding a goat down on CCTV video.

According to the witness, the man was ‘obviously having sexual intercourse with the goat.’ The witness grabbed his gun and ran to the barn, where he held Scoggin at gunpoint until police arrived.

The witness said this was not the first time something like this had happened to their goats.

53-year-old Darryl Gene Scoggin was detained on suspicion of animal cruelty.

This man reportedly had been carrying out the act on the goats of his neighbors. So, parents protect their daughters from men, but in this case, neighbors have to protect their goats from this man. LOL!. As they say, "wonders shall never end"

The Word For Today: Don’t Look Back!

‘Remember Lot’s wife.'

Luke 17:32

Before God destroyed the city of Sodom, He sent two angels to rescue Lot and his family from it. Their instructions were clear: ‘Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed…But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt’ (Genesis 19:17, 26 NKJV).

Jesus recalled this story in three words: ‘Remember Lot’s wife.’ Here are two lessons you should learn and remember:

1) Don’t look back with longing to your old sinful pleasures and pursuits. The promise sin made was false then, and it’s still false now. ‘Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren’ (James 1:14-16 NKJV).

2) Don’t look back with regret on the mistakes you’ve made. Lot’s two sons-in-law wouldn’t heed the message of the angels or the pleading of their father-in-law, so they stayed behind. Perhaps that’s why his wife looked back. But it was fatal then, and it’s fatal now. Don’t wallow in the regrets of your past. Stop dwelling on the injuries inflicted on you by others. Get your eyes off the rear-view mirror and onto the road ahead.

God has great things in store for you; that’s what the battle in your life is about. Jesus referred to Satan as a ‘thief’ (See John 10:10). He has already stolen too much from you; don’t let him steal any more.

Today commit your life to Christ, and watch His blessing begin.

Malachi 1-4, Rev 22

CBN's ban of ATM Credit and Debit Card use abroad

Are they kidding us???

First these guys come up with the cashless policy, then they come up with BVN and now this???. Seriously???.

Is is just me or are these guys trying to control the monies of each Nigerian citizen?.

First they said moving money around was risky and people were prone to being robbed hence the introduction of the cashless policy where everyone was advised, if not forced, to retrieve their ATM cards. Nigerians being Nigerians didn't welcome this at first but succumbed to the pressure of not being attended to at the bank and went ahead and got their ATM cards. Even I hated the idea of having an ATM card because it made feel that my money I was trying so hard to save was now almost being put back in the palm of my hands at just the slot in of the ATM card in an ATM machine. I soon embraced this new development as I saw that I could actually just withdraw cash as low as N1,000 and could even pay for stuff directly with my card...ok, seen!

Then these guys came again with the BVN registration brouhaha. I wrote about my experience here. They literally denied people access to their cash for failure to register for a Bank Verification Number (BVN). Deadlines came and went and people still haven't registered to this day. Instead of let's say closing the bank accounts of the people that had not done the registration, these guys restricted our access to our cash, again!. They were other ways they could have made people go through with the registration other than restrict them from their cash.

Now, they are banning the use of the same ATM cards abroad. The same cards they asked us to get for the sake of the stupid cashless policy they came up with earlier. This is insane!.

Aren't there much more important things to take care of in Nigeria???.  So, now if a person wants to travel to have to buy the foreign currency of the country they are travelling to?. Isn't that just senseless?. What about people who just recently traveled and are dependent on money being sent to them?. What about people who have just recently traveled for medical reasons and depend on their cards for payment of the medical services they have gone for?. What about students over there who are dependent on funds from their folks back here?. Did they really think this through?. Is it for the benefit of all Nigerians or a selected high classed few?. This new development is just uncalled for and has to be taken back!. The Nigerian government needs to better start focusing on much more pressing issues like constant power supply, fixing of bad roads, supply of water and electricity to rural areas, tackling Boko Haram, bringing to justice corrupt politicians, eradicating poverty, creating employment for the unemployed, etc. The government needs to start putting Nigeria back on the map for the right reasons not wasting money, time and resources on baseless things.

The government is just trying to control the monies of Nigerians but they forget that they are blowing the very same breeze that will open their anuses giving way to exposing their lies and deceit. Banning of ATM credit and debit cards use abroad will do nothing for Nigeria but instead give room for the God given resources of this country to be taken for granted by other countries.

Dear Fat People: World's fattest man, Andres Moreno dies at just 38

A while back, a Youtuber by the name Nicole Arbour made a video titled Dear Fat People where she talked insensitively about fat people. She claimed it was supposed to make overweight people changed their eating habits and stick to eating healthy to lose the excess weight. I watched it and even though it was funny in a way, it was still very insensitive of her to subtly bash fat people while also making fun of them. Maybe she meant no harm but clearly touched nerves and I think its because it was a joke gone wrong. Clearly, everybody deals with one body issue or the other and its not easy dealing with it. Now, if she was slightly fat or a little overweight, no fat person might pick offence, but she's on the slim side and that made it not funny at all. Till date, she has refused to apologize and said there was nothing wrong with the video she made. 

With that being said, while Nicole meant to make people laugh but ended up doing the opposite, in a way there is some truth in some of the things she said. The man pictured above is Andres Moreno, who weighed 980lbs at his heaviest. He was only 38 years old and passed away on the morning of Christmas Day while he was being rushed to the hospital from his home in Ciudad Obregón in Sonora, Mexico, after suffering from a fatal heart attack. He was the world's fattest man. 

Fat is an important foodstuff for many forms of life, and fat serves both structural and metabolic functions. They are necessary part of a diet. With fat's importance clearly stated, everything has its advantages and disadvantages and fat isn't excluded. 

I don't support fat-shaming or making fun of fat people but truth be told, being fat is not healthy at all. In Nigeria, when you're chubby, have lots of flesh or are even fat, you are considered living well. As a married man or woman in Nigeria, when you're seen a year or two after marriage, it is required you must have added a little weight to prove you are living well in your matrimonial home. 

Being fat shouldn't be a thing of pride. It is not healthy. Yeah, you are told to love yourself however you are, but let's be honest, when you look in the mirror, do you truly like what you see?. All that fat in areas of your body dropping and looking unattractive?. Fat slows you down. You feel heavier and more tired easily. You look good on the outside but if only you knew what was going on inside your body. When you're fat, you give your body more work and it tires out easily thereby reducing your life span. Sadly, if you don't take care, you might end up like Andres, dead at a very young and prime age. 

This is not meant to bring down any fat person, but instead to encourage them to begin to take second looks at what they eat, start working out and living healthy. It is for your body's good. Embrace exercising and make it a daily habit, inculcating it into your everyday or weekly activities and with time see how your body transforms and trust me, even you will feel good with yourself.

Andres may have been talked to time and time again about his weight and maybe even decided to start eating and living healthy but the damage had already been done within him. Let his story not be your story. Start living healthy today. Trash out the excuses and ignore the fat shaming.

Remember, you weren't born fat, you became fat. So, same way you chose to start eating so much, you can choose to embrace and start eating healthy. You wouldn't be doing it for anybody but yourself.

The Word For Today: Seeing Your Work as God’s Will (1)

‘I must work the works of him that sent me.’

John 9:4

You’ll experience a new level of fulfilment when you begin to see what you do for a living as an important part of God’s will for your life. Jesus preached and healed, but He saw it all as ‘work’ given to Him by His Father. You must too. Instead of seeing church as a place where you meet with God on Sunday morning, see it as a place where you’re fed and strengthened so that you can carry the presence of God with you into the workplace. ‘Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him’ (Colossians 3:17 NIV 2011 Edition).

Notice two words here:

1) ‘Word.’ That covers skills of communication and information.
2) ‘Deed.’ That covers skills such as creativity and building.

Whatever you do, you’re supposed to do it with a thankful heart, as though the Lord were your boss – because He is. When you work with that attitude, you come alive. One person comes alive when they pick up a musical instrument, another when they lead a team, another when they counsel someone who’s hurting, and another when they’re looking at a financial spreadsheet. When each of us is doing what God designed and called us to do, the world around us is enriched.

All skill is God-given, and we’re invited to live in conscious interaction with the Holy Spirit as we work, so that we can develop the skills He gives us. Work is a form of love. We cannot be fully human without creating value.

Luke 24:36-53, Psalms 140-150

5 days to the end of 2015, What changes are you willing to make?

Happy Boxing Day!

5 more days to go before the end of this year 2015. For me, its been a year of both challenges and breakthroughs. I remember earlier this year, I had nothing. Nothing to my name. Except for the fact that I was alive. Alive, breathing and physically fit. Besides that, It seemed everything was going so low that I began to question a lot of things. But I never stopped believing and hoping that one day, soon, It was going to start getting better...and it did!

So many people saw me and didn't really understand what I was going through because on the outside, I seemed fine but on the inside?...It wasn't easy.

When I look back at how this year went for me, I have no other explanation but to say God saw me through. From no shelter or roof over my head to being accommodated by a complete stranger who has now become my family, from no job or income to being employed by one of the most beautiful hearts that exists, from being dumped by somebody who didnt know the blessing that God put in his life to being loved and cared for by one of the smartest men in the world, from penniless to some change and from depression to progress in every area of my life...and it keeps getting better...I owe it all to God. Without God, I cant even refer to this handful of clay as me...God brought me out of everything that seemed to be going in the wrong direction at the time, turned things around for my good, made them right and He still got me and is still seeing me through.

People go through shit, trust me, I've been there. From being broke to being helpless to being homeless to being jobless to being totally hopeless...But the good thing is, you can get out that situation, whatever it is, you can sail through. But it only begins with you. You have to be willing to get out of your comfort area or zone or whatever you call it. You have to see beyond the challenges and grab a screenshot of how better it can be ahead if you make that bold move, take a step forward and make a change.

Life is what you make it...Do you know how or why?. Because God has put you in charge. HE has given you dominion and control of every single thing on earth and when I say every single thing, I mean every single thing, from to health to wealth to possibilities to breakthroughs to success and much more, But you still need Him to guide you because in truth, you cant do it on your own but you can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens you.

Change, taking a step forward and/or making that bold decision may look hard but you wont know until you try.

Is it financial problems?
Get a job or start a business. You may not get a job that pays you enough but its still a starting point. You may not have the money to start a business, then try writing a business plan for the business you intend to do and then source for investors. Trust me, as long as the business looks lucrative, somebody will either finance the business or become a partner with you. Just do something.

Is it a relationship with that guy/girl that isnt working?
Simple!. Get out of it. The truth is, being single is not a bad thing but another truth is, people are often scared of being alone so they'd rather just stay put in that forward never relationship. Thing is, if you cant get out of it, then take a break from it and take time out to redefine what you really want in a relationship. Just do something.

Is it being stuck in a job you hate? 
First, ask yourself, does this job you hate pay your bills?. if yes, then quit hating and find areas in that job where you could be more useful, explore them and better your skills in other areas outside your job description. if no, my dear friend, start job hunting for something else. Yeah, it wont be easy, but try. Just do something.

Is it depression?
TF???. Hello?. Depression is just a word like every other word invented by somebody like you. Now, I dont mean to sound insensitive but I was once "depressed" that I almost took my life. Depression is one of the devils tools which he uses to make you see no hope and see your self as worthless, useless and pathetic. You have to find the strength somewhere inside you and be strong and fight it. Find something you love to do and stop being idle. Just do something.

Folks, 2015 is almost gone. Can you look back at this year and say "I made it" wholeheartedly but end up continuing 2016 the same way you've lived 2015? Dont play the victim. Dont be idle. Dont try so hard to give yourself reasons why you cant try...Just do something, not just anything, but something different!.

Kick out those old habits that do nothing for you and start ushering in the change your life deserves.

The Word For Today: Stop Putting Yourself Down

‘Jesus asked him…What is thy name?’

Luke 8:30

Remember the man in Scripture who was possessed by demons? ‘Jesus asked him… “What is thy name?” And he said, “Legion”: because many devils were entered into him.’ (A legion in the Roman army comprised some six thousand troops.) ‘Legion’ wasn’t this man’s real name; it was merely a label. But he’d battled his problem so long that he accepted the label, and defined himself by his experience.

Perhaps you’ve labelled yourself ‘Fatso’ because you’ve battled weight for so long with no apparent victory in sight. Or you define yourself as a ‘victim’ because you were abused or taken advantage of by others. Maybe you see yourself as a ‘failure’ because you’re divorced, or your kids have gone off the tracks. If so, it’s time to lose the negative labels and start seeing yourself the way God sees you.

Jesus set this tormented man free, gave him back his self-worth, and restored him to his family. And He wants to do the same for you! Satan will take you from one extreme to the other. He’ll make you either boastful or bashful; make you think you’re ‘hot stuff’, or convince you that you’re worthless. Don’t buy it! Self-deprecation is often disguised as humility, when in reality it’s a rejection of God’s Word, which assures you that you ‘can do all things through Christ who strengthens [you]’ (Philippians 4:13 NKJV).

What others call you doesn’t matter; what you call yourself does!

The bottom line is: ‘God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work’ (2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV 1984 Edition).

Zech 7-8, Rev 18

Celebrating Christmas in Nigeria and other countries in 2015

Unlike so many oth­er holidays that are specific to individu­al countries — Thanksgiving in the United States, Bastille Day in France — Christmas is a tradition that can be seen across the globe, with children of many cultures waiting on the night of Dec. 24 for their own version of the fat man in the red suit. Christmas is cele­brated both as a religious hol­iday, when Christians attend midnight masses and sing songs celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and a secular hol­iday, filled with rushed shop­ping and plenty of eggnog to go around, leaving a lot of room for a wide group of people to find their place around the hol­iday season.

While many symbols of Christmas are associated with the United States — Charlie Brown’s not-such-a-bad-lit­tle tree, Rudolph’s shiny red nose, running over someone in Toys “R” Us to get the last doll on the shelf — many Christ­mas traditions have their or­igins elsewhere, especially in Europe. These traditions have been modified, adapted or just plain ignored throughout the world.

Nigeria: Christmas in Nigeria is a family event, a time when lots of family members come together to celebrate and have fun. Most families that live in cities travel to the villages where their grandparents and older relatives live. Many different languages are spoken in Nigeria. In Hau­sa Happy/Merry Christmas is ‘barka dà Kirsìmatì’; in Yoruba its ‘E ku odun, e ku iye’dun’; in Fulani it’s ‘Jabbama be salla Kir­ismati’; in Igbo (Ibo) ‘E kere­simesi Oma’; in Ibibio ‘Idara ukapade isua’ and its Edo its ‘Iselogbe’. Happy/Merry Christ­mas in lots more languages. Many families will throw Christmas parties that will last all night long on Christ­mas Eve! Then, on Christmas morning, they go to church to give thanks to God. Homes and streets are often decorated. Most homes will have an artifi­cial Christmas tree. Children love to play with firecrackers at Christmas. The church choir may visit the church congregation in their homes to sing Christmas car­ols to them. Christmas cards are sent to friends and fami­ly members. Presents are ex­changed amongst family mem­bers and some families may take their children dressed in new outfits to see Santa Claus. In addition to serving turkey, a traditional Christmas meal in Nigeria may include beef, goat, sheep, ram or chicken. Other dishes might include pound­ed yam, jollof rice, fried rice, vegetable salad and some type of stew.

Christmas day church service in Nigeria

Foods eaten during Christmas in Nigeria: Fried Rice with Turkey/Seasoned Jollof Rice

Germany: The ultimate sym­bol of Christmas is, of course, the Christmas tree, which has its origins in Germany. Bring­ing evergreen trees inside dur­ing the winter had long been a winter tradition and by the 1820’s, the tradition had made its way to the United States by way of German immigrants in Pennsylvania. In some homes across Ger­many, parents are known to decorate a specific room in the house for Christmas, but lock it up so the children of the home can’t see it, according to the BBC. The parents then ring a bell and the children are al­lowed to go in and see for the first time.

France: The French are known for their love of ex­tended dinners of some of the world’s greatest dishes and Christmas is no different. The big dinner in France is actually held on Christmas Eve, and is known as Reveillon. The meal can last up to six hours, and is a sacred tradition around France. Great care is given to the decorations put on the long table, and the menus vary across France. While Parisians are known to dine on luxuri­ous dishes such as oysters, foie gras and caviar, residents of Alsace and Burgundy take a route more familiar to Ameri­cans with a stuffed turkey often seen as the dinner centrepiece.

Ethiopia: Ethiopians actually celebrate Christmas later than December 25. Following the Ju­lian calendar, Ethiopians host Christmas celebrations Jan. 7each year, a day that typical­ly starts with a fast, according to One.org. A church service is then followed by a feast quite different than what is typically seen in the United States. The meal involves stew and sour­dough bread most of the time, and most families in Ethiopia actually don’t exchange gifts, but instead fill it with games and sports.

Argentina: Fireworks and balloons are at the centre of it all during the Christmas cele­bration in Argentina. Children delight in the fireworks most of the time and at night, Ar­gentineans are known to light the inside of paper lanterns and release them into the sky, speckling the South Ameri­can night. Children in Argen­tina put their shoes out to get gifts in them. Some children have adopted this old tradi­tion for modern times, placing their shoes beneath a Christ­mas tree instead.

Mexico: Piñatas hold a spe­cial place in the Mexican con­sciousness during Christmas­time. Piñatas can be filled with everything from wrapped candies to fruit, and are often shaped as the Star of Bethle­hem, which helped the Bibli­cal Magi to find Jesus on the night of his birth. “It’s not re­ally Christmas time until I’m surrounded by hundreds of [star] piñatas,” Joshua Cruz, a third generation piñata maker in Mexico said to the Christian Science Monitor.

*Culled from www.authorityngr.com with added content*

Watch this SHOCKING video that will leave you SPEECHLESS!

This is more than just a film, it is a major choice for your life. Watch and be inspired.

Silent Night: Despite violence, Christmas in Bethlehem goes on

A giant Christmas tree is erected at Nativity Church Square in Bethlehem

Despite months of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, the largest Christmas Eve celebration in Bethlehem went on as planned Thursday, though crowds were reportedly thinner than in years past.

The annual festivities in Manger Square was held as usual, but other celebrations in the city were canceled or toned down. Earlier Thursday, Israeli authorities said three Palestinian assailants were killed as they carried out or tried to carry out stabbing or car-ramming attacks against Israeli security personnel elsewhere in the West Bank, and a fourth Palestinian was killed in clashes with Israeli troops, a Palestinian hospital official said. Two Israeli security guards and a soldier were wounded.

"There's lights, there's carols, but there's an underlying sense of tension," Paul Haines of Cornwall, England, who arrived in Bethlehem following a four-month trek from Rome, told the Associated Press.

Crowds came out to Bethlehem's Manger Square to celebrate Christmas

Lisette Rossman, a 22-year-old student from Albuquerque, New Mexico, said the violence made her think twice about visiting a friend studying in Jerusalem. She said she was glad she made the trip because "it was one of my dreams to come here."

In Manger Square, local activists placed an olive tree they said was uprooted by the Israeli army in a nearby village, and surrounded it with barbed wire and decorated it with spent tear gas canisters fired by Israeli troops and photographs of Palestinians killed or arrested in recent violence.

"We're in Bethlehem celebrating Christmas, celebrating the birthday of our lord Jesus Christ. This is the birthplace of the king of peace, so what we want is peace," said Rula Maayah, the Palestinian tourism minister.

In the evening, several thousand people crowded into Manger Square, admiring the town's glittering Christmas tree and listening to holiday music played by marching bands and scout troops. Palestinian vendors hawked coffee, tea and Santa hats. Young children sold sticks of gum.

But at 9 p.m., traditionally a bustling time of the evening, there were few tourists to drink local wine sold on the square or to eat freshly fried falafel.

As the festivities got underway, Miral Siriani, a 35-year-old publicist from Jerusalem, said she was relieved to get a break from three months of tension that has included numerous attacks in her city.

"I feel safe in Bethlehem," she said.

In recent years, Bethlehem had enjoyed a relative calm and thousands of revelers and pilgrims poured into Manger Square each Christmas. But vendors and hotel owners complained of sagging business this Christmas season.

Xavier Abu Eid, a Palestinian official, said hotel bookings were down 25 percent from last year, which itself was weak following a war between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip several months earlier.

Some Palestinians hoped holiday cheer would replace the gloom. Said Nustas, dressed in a Santa Claus suit, rang a Christmas bell on a narrow asphalt street as he prepared to deliver gifts from a toy store to children nearby.

"The situation is what it is, a war and intifada," Nustas said. "But God willing, we'll overcome it and celebrate."

Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal led a procession from his Jerusalem headquarters into Bethlehem, passing through a military checkpoint and past Israel's concrete separation barrier, which surrounds much of the town.

Israel built the barrier a decade ago to stop a wave of suicide bombings. Palestinians say the structure has stifled Bethlehem's economy.

In Bethlehem, Twal wished "peace and love" for all.

Twal led worshippers in a Midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity, built atop the spot where Jesus was born.

In his homily, Twal expressed sympathy for the plight of Palestinians, Syrian refugees and "victims of all forms of terrorism everywhere," according to a transcript issued by his office. He wished "all inhabitants of the Holy Land" a happy and healthy new year.

"We pray to change the face of the world, that our world be a safe dwelling place and refuge, where justice prevails over rivalry and conflict, mercy over vengeance, charity over hatred," he said.

Culled from www.foxnews.com

Photo of the day: A Nigerian Father Christmas posing with his "I-pass-my-neighbour" generator LOL!

With the recent irregularity in power supply in Nigeria and today being Christmas Day, a man wearing a Father Christmas costume decided to pose with his generator, showing that even on a merry day as this, there is no NEPA light. LOL!

Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari's Christmas message to Nigerians

In the spirit of Christmas, The President of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, has delivered a message to Nigerians. Read below:

I felicitate with all Nigerians, especially our Christian brothers and sisters, on the joyous occasion of this year’s Christmas. On this occasion of the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, let us all rededicate ourselves to the virtues of peace, love, honesty, justice, equity, piety, humility and service to others which he taught. 

There can be no doubt that a greater manifestation of these virtues and ideals in our lives will immensely help us to become a more united, peaceful, secure and progressive nation.

Let us also reach out in love and compassion to fellow Nigerians who are in distress at this period of our nation’s history.

I particularly urge you all to remember victims of terrorism and insurgency in the country, especially Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The Federal Government will continue to collaborate with state governments and other stakeholders to ease the harsh conditions in IDP camps, while the ultimate objective remains to quickly put an end to insurgency and return the IDPs to their homes.

We must never again allow any group to hold the nation to ransom under whatever guise.

Let us also not allow current socio-economic and security challenges to dampen our expectations for a better Nigeria.

This administration has taken a number of measures to restore hope to our people. The 2016 Budget defines our commitment to giving Nigeria a new lease of life.

Our change slogan is not a campaign gimmick but a promise that must be kept. We are determined to bring about tangible changes in the lives of our people.

In this regard, efforts will be intensified to recover stolen funds, block revenue leakages and enthrone due process, transparency and accountability.

Public office is a public trust that must be held to the highest ethical standards.

I wish all Nigerians a Merry Christmas.

Please drive carefully.

MUHAMMADU BUHARI

If only he lived by example and openly is a doer of his own words.

Photo: Christmas Day in Badagry, Nigeria, in 1923

Check out the pose in this picture. I'm pretty sure the guys posing on the ground are from Ibadan!. LOL!. Goes to show that the awkward posing we see today in some pictures goes way back.

Final change: June Ndukwe's Blog to Naija Vampire Blog

What's wrong with her?
Is she even serious?
How long is she going to continue changing changing changing?

I know. Those are some of the questions that must be crossing your mind as your read this. Thing is, I didn't think about this until some days ago. I was like, heyyyyy!, why didn't I just change it from KayJay's Korner to Naija Vampire?. Well...I didn't think about it at the time. Truth is, it didn't even stroll through my mind until a few days ago and you will not guess where I was when I had the idea...well, maybe you guessed right...I was in the toilet. Shyting hehehe!. Was just busy doing my thing when it dawned on me. Now I feel like even I am not serious sef. I should have thought about it a lot more before going ahead to make it official, posting and putting it out there.

I'm sorry, guys!. Yeah, I feel like I should apologize because it might get a little confusing and tiring but don't give up on me because of this. Big concepts went through this stage of indecision before they became what they are today and I believe I am one of them.

So, in the spirit of Christmas and the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, let's please embrace this change whose intention is for the best.

Merry Christmas! *kisses*

The Birth of Jesus Christ: Born, Growing and Living in You

‘Let it be to me according to your word.’

Luke 1:38

The story of the virgin birth illustrates how close God wants to get to us. In a sense He’s asking you the same question He asked Mary: ‘Are you willing to let Me in?’. Just as Mary conceived the Christ Child, Jesus can be born in you and live His life through you. What an amazing thought. What a privilege!

Paul prayed ‘…that Christ may dwell in your hearts…’ (Ephesians 3:17 NIV 2011 Edition). John said, ‘Those who obey…live in him, and he in them’ (1 John 3:24 NIV 1984 Edition). Jesus promised, ‘If anyone…opens the door, I will come in’ (Revelation 3:20 NIV 2011 Edition).

All God asks is an invitation and an open heart. God was with Adam in the garden. He was with Abraham and called him His friend. But as a redeemed child of God, Jesus is in you. And He will keep growing in you until He comes out in your words, your attitudes, your lifestyle, and the choices you make each day.

Are you struggling with bitterness? Or worry? Or unforgiveness? Or bad habits? ...

Since Jesus lives in you, you have access to His awesome power. That’s why Paul talks about ‘striving according to His power, which mightily works within me’ (Colossians 1:29 NASB). God isn’t looking for great talent, He’s looking for simple trust. Mary must have felt overwhelmed and inadequate when she heard what God had in mind for her. Nevertheless she said, ‘Let it be to me according to your word.’

Do you want to have a great Christmas? Make that your prayer too.

Zech 5-6, Rev 17

Why is Christmas Day on the 25th December?

Christmas is celebrated to remember the birth of of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God.

The name 'Christmas' comes from the Mass of Christ (or Jesus). A Mass service (which is sometimes called Communion or Eucharist) is where Christians remember that Jesus died for us and then came back to life. The 'Christ-Mass' service was the only one that was allowed to take place after sunset (and before sunrise the next day), so people had it at Midnight! So we get the name Christ-Mass, shortened to Christmas.

Christmas is now celebrated by people around the world, whether they are Christians or not. It's a time when family and friends come together and remember the good things they have. People, and especially children, also like Christmas as it's a time when you give and receive presents!

The Date of Christmas
No one knows the real birthday of Jesus! No date is given in the Bible, so why do we celebrate it on the 25th December? The early Christians certainly had many arguments as to when it should be celebrated! Also, the birth of Jesus probably didn't happen in the year 1AD but slightly earlier, somewhere between 2BC and 7BC (there isn't a 0AD - the years go from 1BC to 1AD!).

The first recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th was in 336AD, during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine (he was the first Christian Roman Emperor). A few years later, Pope Julius I officially declared that the birth of Jesus would be celebrated on the 25th December.

There are many different traditions and theories as to why Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. A very early Christian tradition said that the day when Mary was told that she would have a very special baby, Jesus (called the Annunciation) was on March 25th - and it's still celebrated today on the 25th March. Nine months after the 25th March is the 25th December! March 25th was also the day some early Christians thought the world had been made, and also the day that Jesus died on when he was an adult.

December 25th might have also been chosen because the Winter Solstice and the ancient pagan Roman midwinter festivals called 'Saturnalia' and 'Dies Natalis Solis Invicti' took place in December around this date - so it was a time when people already celebrated things.

The Winter Solstice is the day where there is the shortest time between the sun rising and the sun setting. It happens on December 21st or 22nd. To pagans this meant that the winter was over and spring was coming and they had a festival to celebrate it and worshipped the sun for winning over the darkness of winter. In Scandinavia, and some other parts of northern Europe, the Winter Solstice is known as Yule and is where we get Yule Logs from. In Eastern europe the mid-winter festival is called Koleda.

The Roman Festival of Saturnalia took place between December 17th and 23rd and honoured the Roman god Saturn. Dies Natalis Solis Invicti means 'birthday of the unconquered sun' and was held on December 25th (when the Romans thought the Winter Solstice took place) and was the 'birthday' of the Pagan Sun god Mithra. In the pagan religion of Mithraism, the holy day was Sunday and is where get that word from!

Early Christians might have given this festival a new meaning - to celebrate the birth of the Son of God 'the unconquered Son'! (In the Bible a prophesy about the Jewish savior, who Christians believe is Jesus, is called 'Sun of Righteousness'.)

The Jewish festival of Lights, Hanukkah starts on the 25th of Kislev (the month in the Jewish calendar that occurs at about the same time as December). Hanukkah celebrates when the Jewish people were able to re-dedicate and worship in their Temple, in Jerusalem, again following many years of not being allowed to practice their religion.

Jesus was a Jew, so this could be another reason that helped the early Church choose December the 25th for the date of Christmas!

Christmas had also been celebrated by the early Church on January 6th, when they also celebrated the Epiphany (which means the revelation that Jesus was God's son) and the Baptism of Jesus. Now Epiphany mainly celebrates the visit of the Wise Men to the baby Jesus, but back then it celebrated both things! Jesus's Baptism was originally seen as more important than his birth, as this was when he started his ministry. But soon people wanted a separate day to celebrate his birth.

Most of the world uses the 'Gregorian Calendar' implemented by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. Before that the 'Roman' or Julian Calendar was used (named after Julius Caesar). The Gregorian calendar is more accurate that the Roman calendar which had too many days in a year! When the switch was made 10 days were lost, so that the day that followed the 4th October 1582 was 15th October 1582. In the UK the change of calendars was made in 1752. The day after 2nd September 1752 was 14th September 1752.

Many Orthodox and Coptic Churches still use the Julian Calendar and so celebrate Christmas on the 7th January (which is when December 25th would have been on the Julian calendar). And the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates it on the 6th January! In some part of the UK, January 6th is still called 'Old Christmas' as this would have been the day that Christmas would have celebrated on, if the calendar hadn't been changed. Some people didn't want to use the new calendar as they thought it 'cheated' them out of 11 days!

Christians believe that Jesus is the light of the world, so the early Christians thought that this was the right time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. They also took over some of the customs from the Winter Solstice and gave them Christian meanings, like Holly, Mistletoe and even Christmas Carols!

St Augustine was the person who really started Christmas in the UK by introducing Christianity in the 6th century. He came from countries that used the Roman Calendar, so western countries celebrate Christmas on the 25th December. Then people from Britain and Western Europe took Christmas on the 25th December all over the world!

So when was Jesus Born?
There's a strong and practical reason why Jesus might not have been born in the winter, but in the spring or the autumn! It can get very cold in the winter and it's unlikely that the shepherds would have been keeping sheep out on the hills (as those hills can get quite a lot of snow sometimes!).

During the spring (in March or April) there's a Jewish festival called 'Passover'. This festival remembers when the Jews had escaped from slavery in Egypt about 1500 years before Jesus was born. Lots of lambs would have been needed during the Passover Festival, to be sacrificed in the Temple in Jerusalem. Jews from all over the Roman Empire travelled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival, so it would have been a good time for the Romans to take a census. Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem for the census (Bethlehem is about six miles from Jerusalem).

In the autumn (in September or October) there's the Jewish festival of 'Sukkot' or 'The Feast of Tabernacles'. It's the festival that's mentioned the most times in the Bible! It is when Jewish people remember that they depended on God for all they had after they had escaped from Egypt and spent 40 years in the desert. It also celebrates the end of the harvest. During the festival, Jews live outside in temporary shelters (the word 'tabernacle' come from a latin word meaning 'booth' or 'hut').

Many people who have studied the Bible, think that Sukkot would be a likely time for the birth of Jesus as it might fit with the description of there being 'no room in the inn'. It also would have been a good time to take the Roman Census as many Jews went to Jerusalem for the festival and they would have brought their own tents/shelters with them! (It wouldn't have been practical for Joseph and Mary to carry their own shelter as Mary was pregnant.)

The possibilities for the Star of Bethlehem seems to point either spring or autumn.

So whenever you celebrate Christmas, remember that you're celebrating a real event that happened about 2000 years ago, that God sent his Son into the world as a Christmas present for everyone!

As well as Christmas and the solstice, there are some other festivals that are held in late December. Hanukkah is celebrated by Jews; and the festival of Kwanzaa is celebrated by some Africans and African Americans takes place from December 26th to January 1st.

Culled from whychristmas.com

The city where it is Christmas every day

Yiwu wholesale market is the centre of the world's supply or Christmas decorations

In the Chinese city of Yiwu, Christmas comes 365 days a year. But you have to look for it.

Yiwu could be anywhere in workaday urban China. It is a smoggy, swarming, unremarkable place some 300km (186 miles) south of Shanghai. Except for one thing - a series of vast halls that constitute what is claimed to be the world's biggest wholesale market. That's where Christmas happens every day, even if most Chinese people themselves do not really believe in it. There's nothing grand about it - but inside the utilitarian buildings there's a dazzling cornucopia of festive stuff ready for the world's consumers. There are hundreds of booths, with thousands of different glittering things to buy by dozen, or the hundreds, or the container load. There are cascades of plastic flowers, and batteries of singing Santas, there are life-sized reindeers, and twinkling LED garlands in more colours than a rainbow. There are dozens of cuddly soft toy stalls, with characters bearing a peculiar familiarity to well-known global trademarks.

There are ribbons and baubles, and lights everywhere. Dazzled, the eye does not know where to look, what to take in. You amble on, floor after floor of glittering stuff ready for the export market. Each of the more than 60,000 booths seems to represent a separate business. Each of them specialises in a very particular product, often from far away factories. It's not just toys and baubles. There are hundreds of booths of festive gloves and hats, tools, car accessories, bicycles, and pots and pans. Most of the products are gaudy and low tech. They say that 1,700,000 different things are on show. Effectively this mind-boggling place is the shop window for the great Chinese industrial revolution, the extraordinary rush to turn the country into the global manufacturing powerhouse that has transformed China's cities over the past 30 years. It's one of those statistics which nobody can prove, but they say that more than half of all the world's Christmas decorations are made in China. A huge proportion of them are on sale to global buyers in the endless booths of the Yiwu wholesale market.

Chicken Feathers

But why did Yiwu become the centre of China's Christmas goods industry? As in other Chinese cities, capitalism seems to have broken out in Yiwu as an ingenious response to abject poverty.

The santas come in all different shapes, sizes - and colours

They tell you that farming was always dirt poor here. For hundreds of years, ambitious locals seeking another income equipped themselves with trays of small household items to peddle round surrounding small towns and villages. These were the so-called stick men, who still exist across China. Their sole asset (apart from physical strength) is a long pole, to which they attach two balancing loads at either end. They then balance the sticks on one shoulder, and walk to the load to where it is wanted - for a very small fee. Yiwu's stick men did not wait to be hired. Instead they bought goods, crammed them into bamboo trays, balanced them on their sticks, and walked out to sell them in the surrounding region, announcing their arrival in a village by twirling a toy drum on another, tiny, stick.

Yiwu's historic traders are celebrated in statues

It was very small scale. The itinerant traders of Yiwu would even accept chicken feathers in exchange for their goods, a commodity many farmers produced. The feathers were light to transport, of course. And they were valuable to make feather dusters with, or sold for use as fertiliser dug into the soil on other people's land. The chicken feather traders became famous, a symbol of the enterprise of the area. In Yiwu there are life-sized statues of them. Restaurants have replicas of their trays on show as a talking point. From 1949, under Communism, even this minor private enterprise was frowned upon. But it broke cover again at the end of the 1970s, inspired by the sweeping economic reforms ushered in by President Deng Xiaoping, under the banner "To Be Rich is Glorious". In 1982, traders opened market stalls in the open air. And buyers began to flock to the city, for the sheer convenience of being able to sample the fruits of the Chinese industrial revolution, put in an order and wait for their goods to be shipped all over the world. It was a year-round trade fair, and what it showcased was the labour-intensive, low-cost products that any developing country starts by making in hundreds, and then thousands.

Supply chain

So 33 years after the Yiwu wholesale market started, what does it tell us about the state of the Chinese economy whose hell-for-leather growth it represents? The official figures show that China's growth rate is slowing down, and the wholesale market traders admit that times are harder than they used to be.

The market has now turned its attention to Christmas 2016

Overseas buyers say that after many years when Chinese prices stayed the same, they're now on the rise. Not by huge leaps, but yearly increases of 3% or so are more than foreign customers are used to. The price rises are not just a response to market forces. They reflect the official Five Year Plan policy to allow the workers who've powered the new China to share in the gains... at least a little bit.

Non-Christmas goods are also on sale

But for China's customers, rising prices pose a problem. Some buyers are talking of looking to other developing countries for the goods they need - India perhaps, or Indonesia. But in Yiwu there are trusted local agents who for as modest fee can supervise overseas orders and get them on the ships, even when the buyers have long gone home. And the Chinese supply chain is now well-established, from factory, to packing supplier, to dock, to a long container ship voyage, and then through local customs on to the domestic warehouse. This season's 2015 orders started arriving in Britain in August. Overseas buyers in Yiwu a month or two ago had Christmas 2016 on their minds. Next year's novelties will feature LED-illuminated liquid filled displays. Very cheap voice-controlled toys are on the way, too.

Some manufacturing work can also be witnessed at the market

You would think you would get a vivid picture of the violent variations of world trade from a day mingling with the merchants in Yiwu Wholesale Market. But if the salespeople know what's going on, they are not giving much away. Perhaps the sheer momentum of the Chinese manufacturing machine swamps all other considerations. In the wholesale market booths where the finished trees, and so many other things, are on offer to global buyers, there is little gossip about industry trends or supply and demand. The salespeople sit there, waiting for orders. The factories make it, and at Yiwu they wait for the orders to come in. It's worked for more than 30 years of ever-increasing activity. What could possibly go wrong now? How many plastic singing Santa Clauses does the world need? One day in Yiwu they will probably find out.

Culled from www.bbc.com

Yaaaaay! it is Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas!!!, Everyone!.

Today, we celebrate the birth of the Son of GOD, our Lord and Saviour, The Lord Jesus Christ. On this day many years ago, Jesus was born. His birth gave way for direct access to God. He left his heavenly glory and riches to become take the shape of a man. He lived among us as one of us. His coming into the world was foretold and many expected a much grander entry with heaven shaking and angels singing to the hearing of everyone...But no, our Lord Jesus came as a baby as every other human born of a woman. His birth was one of wonder as there was no sexual relationship between His virgin mother, Mary and His carpenter earthly father, Joseph.

Jesus Christ lived as a human and grew the growth of a human child, growing from a young child to a young boy to a man. He had a mission and never deviated from it. As a true son of His Father, God, He followed the path prepared for Him. Not moved at all by worldly materials, He went around preaching God's word and turning souls around for God. His mission was to build a connection and bridge the huge gap that existed between man and God...and he succeeded in His mission.

As a christian, I believe strongly in the power of that day Jesus was born, the purpose for which He was sent here and all the blessings He has in store for all who choose to follow Him. It is sad that the world has come to believe in itself and its strength, forgetting we have no power of our own.

Jesus Christ is our everything. Our Source, our Sustainer, our Protection, our Provider, our Hope and our All. He is the only one who truly understands us and our nature.

Without Jesus Christ, we are nothing, so on this day, the day He was born, let us celebrate Him. Let us reflect on why we are really here and ask for His guidance where we feel lost, confused or hopeless.

In the midst of the eating, drinking and merrying, let us not forget the reason for the celebration of this day, this season...Jesus Christ!

The Word For Today: This Christmas, Look for Jesus

‘They saw the child…and worshiped him.’

Matthew 2:11

The Wise Men couldn’t have imagined humbler circumstances than those surrounding the birth of Jesus. Max Lucado paints the picture: ‘The ground is hard, the hay scarce. Cobwebs cling to the ceiling…Mary looks into the face of her Son. Her Lord. His Majesty. At this point the human being who best understands who God is and what He’s doing is a teenage girl…She remembers the angel’s words, “His kingdom will never end.” Majesty in the midst of the mundane. Holiness in the filth of sheep manure and sweat. Divinity entering the world on the floor of a stable.

This baby had once overlooked the universe. His robes of eternity were exchanged for the rags keeping Him warm. His golden throne room abandoned in favor of a dirty sheep pen. Worshiping angels replaced with shepherds.

Meanwhile the city hums, unaware that God has visited their planet. The innkeeper would never believe he’d just sent God out into the cold. And people would scoff at anyone who told them the Messiah lay in the arms of a teenager on the outskirts of their village. They were all too busy to consider the possibility. But those who missed His Majesty’s arrival that night missed it not because of acts of evil or malice. No, they missed it because they weren’t looking for Him!’

This Christmas, in the midst of the toys, the tinsel, and the tumult, stop and look for Jesus. If you know Him as your Lord and Saviour, take time to worship Him. And if you don’t, make Him your Lord and Saviour. If you do, it’ll be the best Christmas you’ve ever had :)

Zech 3-4, Rev 16

The Word For Today: Learn to Say ‘Enough!’

‘After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.’

Matthew 14:23

Jesus dismissed a crowd of listeners and fans in order to spend time with His Father in prayer. As a result, when He returned to the crowd He was empowered to work miracles. Think about it; before an airliner takes off, the attendant tells you that if the plane gets into trouble you should secure your own oxygen mask before attempting to help others with theirs. After all, unless you’re getting enough oxygen, how can you help them?

So, are your own needs being met? If not, it’s time to start taking care of yourself before you burn out. You can’t travel quietly through life hoping people will recognise when your plate is full. Speak up, or they’ll just keep pouring on more problems and responsibilities. Personal empowerment begins by taking control of your life. Overloaded people fail at marriage, ministry, and management. They fail at parenting, partnership, and personal endeavours.

Like an airplane, if you carry too much baggage you won’t get off the ground. When you’re motivated by the need to please others or impress them, you’ll take on too much and fail to reach the heights God planned for you. Or you’ll crash because you ignored your limitations. Every situation that arises doesn’t warrant your attention! Was Jesus misunderstood when He dismissed the crowd? Probably. And you’ll have to make that same decision too.

People who don’t recognise your needs and respect your goals will drain you, divert you, and keep you grounded. So what’s the answer? Give what you can, and learn when to say ‘enough!’

Amos 7-9, Rev 5

The Word For Today: Share Your Life

‘They shared everything they had.’

Acts 4:32

When you read the story of the New Testament Church, you tend to get caught up in its explosive growth and amazing miracles. But here’s a component you shouldn’t miss: ‘No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had…There were no needy persons among them…those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money…and it was distributed to anyone as he had need’ (vv. 32-35 NIV 1984 Edition).

You say, ‘If I just had more money I’d be happy.’ You might feel more secure and have fewer worries, but you wouldn’t necessarily be happier. In the Journal of Happiness Studies, researchers looked at what distinguished quite happy people from less happy people. One factor consistently separated those two groups. It’s not about how much money you have; it’s not about your health, security, attractiveness, IQ, or career success. What distinguishes consistently happy people from less happy people is the presence of rich, deep, joy-producing, life-changing, meaningful relationships. 

Social researcher Robert Putnam writes: ‘The single most common finding from a half-century’s research on life satisfaction, not only in the U.S. but around the world, is that happiness is best predicted by the breadth and depth of one’s social connections.’ But you can know a lot of people without really being known by any of them, and end up lonely.

Those folks in the New Testament Church got it right: it’s in sharing with one another spiritually, emotionally, financially, and relationally that you achieve your highest level of joy.

Amos 4-6, Rev 4

The Word For Today: The Cure for Spiritual Boredom

‘Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.’

James 1:22

Why does the Bible say, ‘Be doers of the word, and not hearers only’? Because hearing without doing becomes boring - every time. You can get to the place where you’ve heard so much preaching and teaching that you say to yourself, ‘Oh no, not another sermon!’. The problem isn’t the Word; it’s that you’ve become oversaturated and spiritually numb. You’re bored because you aren’t putting it into practice and reaping the rewards of what you’ve heard.

Jesus said, ‘If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them’ (John 13:17 NKJV). Once you start doing what you’ve been told to do, you won’t have time to be bored. The phrase ‘hearers only’ is from the Greek noun akroates. Today we’d use it to describe students who sit in on a class just to hear the teaching, instead of taking any assessment or being graded. These folks weren’t interested in learning, passing exams, earning a degree, and going out to make a difference in the world. They were there because they found it intellectually stimulating, and they loved the excitement of being with the crowd. Often they followed their favourite teacher from one town to another; they loved new speakers, and when the class ended they’d get together to eat, drink, laugh, and discuss what they’d heard. Mostly, they just wanted to look knowledgeable in each other’s eyes.

Don’t let that happen to you. ‘Remember…knowing what is right to do and…not doing it is sin’ (James 4:17 TLB). Open your heart to the truths you’ve heard preached and begin to put them to work in your life. When you do, rest assured you’ll never again suffer from spiritual boredom.

Amos 1-3, Rev 3

Video: Touching short story about the importance of family

Blood is sure thicker than water, but even if though water can not totally replace blood, its almost as important. Family is everything. Some people are blessed to come from a family that they can totally rely and depend on, while others. . .well.

This video opened my mind to some things. Sometimes, its not like parents don't care for their children or vice versa, its just that life happens. Some parents still see their grown children as kids and take almost forever to adjust, while some continue being supportive parents regardless of how old their children are. Parents are supposed to raise their kids to be old enough to start taking responsibility for themselves and sometimes children think they are old enough even before they are actually old enough. In some families, the relationship between the parents and the children deteriorated because of one or many reasons. Regardless of that, good parents never stop being parents. As a parent, you cannot resign from your responsibilities even when your children have grown and gone on to have their own family. You have to be there to keep supporting them. Children in turn aren't supposed to neglect the counsel of their parents, except in cases where the counsel becomes an abuse of some sort. Parents are supposed to keep their children together not tear them apart. Parent are supposed to be there for their children instead to send them away based on whatever baseless reasons. When children drift so far away from home, there could be so many reasons and in some cases, the parents have got a hand in it.

Bottom line, if you are blessed to have parents who would still go to the moon and back for you, then cherish them. No matter how busy one gets, family is important and time should be spared out of whatever busy schedule to communicate and/or spend time together.

Sometimes, its not really the fault of the children though. If only some parents made it easy to love them.

Let death never be a reason for a family reunion, Amen. I hope this video inspires you :)

The Word For Today: Control Your Anger!

‘Don’t sin by letting anger control you.’

Ephesians 4:26

Uncontrolled anger is like jumping into your car, revving the engine, and discovering too late that the brakes don’t work. The Bible says, ‘Don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life’ (vv. 26-27 MSG). Did you get that? Uncontrolled anger opens the door to Satan – and it’s all downhill from there! So before you say something you’ll regret and can’t take back, ask yourself:

1) Is the relief I’ll get from venting worth the aftermath? The Bible says, ‘A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger’ (Proverbs 15:1 NIV 2011 Edition). By sounding off, you run the risk of making the finest speech you’ll ever regret. By its very nature anger encourages exaggeration, and makes you say things you can’t retract. Long after you’ve moved on, harsh words maintain their power to wound and divide.

2) Is it really worth dragging other people into it? Anger inevitably affects those around you because it’s human to want to take sides, even if you’ve ‘no dog in the fight’. Involving other people is usually a way to feed your ego and justify bad behaviour. Don’t do it.

3) Is my anger appropriate? Anger over ignorance and injustice has always led to progress. But it’s easy to let small stuff like thoughtless comments and cranky kids make you overreact. For anger to have a healthy result it needs to be measured and constructive.

Paul says, ‘The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace’ (Romans 8:6 NIV 2011 Edition). It comes down to a control issue, and a controlled response is a Christlike response. It always wins.

Joel 1-3, Rev 2