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*

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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