BEAUTY, BRAIN & STARDOM – CELEBRATING EUNICE OLUMIDE!

Dear Friends,

One of the professed objectives of this blogsite is to celebrate the best in entertainment and news. I am dedicating this post to a young Nigerian, making waves in Europe, America and Asia. Born, brought up and living in the United Kingdom, Eunice Olumide remains a true ambassador not only to Nigeria, but Africa in general. I trust you will find her life inspiring.

At 25, next birth day, Eunice Olumide is rather young. But her achievements so far belie that age. Born to Nigerian parents in Scotland, United Kingdom, she is a model, broadcaster, actress (starred in Brad Pitt’s movie, World War Z), DJ, musician, fashion designer; and to give back to society, goes into schools to teach children confidence through rapping. This string of roles is backed by sterling academic qualifications – first class degree in Communication & Mass Media, MA in Metaphysics, and a PHD program in the works!

With a height of 5”9 and a dress size of 6, it is not too surprising that Eunice is a model, especially with the addition of an androgynous look and peculiar lips. As a model, she has featured on runways in different countries from Paris to Japan and has graced the covers of magazines in Paris and New York.

As they say, success has many friends. And yes, Eunice is my friend, and neighbor…. vicariously though. Apart from identifying with her on the platform of her professional exploits, her Dad, Engr. Stanley Olumide is my friend and for over 15 years, we were neighbors. More than a neighbor, Engr. Olumide is a mentor and business partner, who helped me cross the bridge from paid employment to business owner. He exemplifies the foundation, we as parents; need to lay for our children. He has sown good seeds and they are being reaped not just by him, but by the children.

I guess when he was leaving the UK to return to Nigeria, he would have wondered how Eunice and the sibling would survive in a foreign land. But I have never seen the righteous, or his seed begging for bread! There is no doubt that apart from God, Eunice’s exploits are traceable to the solid and godly foundation laid by her parents. It is no mean feat to remain calm and humble even with her academic and celebrity excellence.

Well done Eunice. Go on; fly the Nigerian, nay, African flag in Diaspora! And as my alma mater would urge us, work hard, play hard, keep straight! The sky is certainly your launch pad.

Last Line: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverb 22:6).Training up godly children requires a divine relationship. To find out more about God and how you can have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, visit any Bible believing church near you, or: CHAPEL OF DESTINY RESTORATION CHURCH, 2 Akinlabi Lane, off Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, by Round About Bus Stop, Ikeja. Lagos.

THE HEART OF THE MATTER: MATTER OF THE HEART 2

Dear Friends,

Though the Valentine season has come and gone, I urge you to take good care of your heart – physically, psychologically and spiritually- because therein lies the issues of life. Dr. Anigbogu concludes his two-part guest series by offering ten tips for a healthy heart.

“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick. Who can understand it? – Jer 17:9.

*The heart is desperately sick – almost at the point of failing as a pump
*Deceitful – despite its failure, BP, HR and CO can be near normal (!)
*Who can understand it? – to avoid being fooled by the deceit, the physician must evaluate myocardial function, not just pump action.

TEN TIPS FOR A HEALTHY HEART

Avoid smoking
Smoking reduces life expectancy by 15-25 years. If you are a smoker, you are twice more likely to have a heart attack than a non-smoker. The moment you stop smoking, the risk of heart attack begins to reduce.

Cut down on salt
Too much salt can cause high blood pressure, which increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease.

Watch your diet
Try to have a balanced diet. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, starch foods such as wholegrain bread and rice.

Monitor your alcohol
Too much alcohol can damage the heart muscle, increase blood pressure and also lead to weight gain. Avoid intake of alcohol or at least limit it to one to two units a day, gradually decreasing the consumption.

Get active
At least aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day. Keeping yourself fit, not only benefits the heart but also improves mental health and well-being.

Monitor your BP, blood sugar and cholesterol levels
Routine medical check-ups will ring an alarm, if you need medical help.

Manage your waist
Cholesterol deposition in blood vessels begins in the first decade of life. Carrying a lot of extra weight as fat can greatly affect your health. Make small but healthy changes in your diet.

Manage your stress level
If you find things are getting on top of you, you may fail to eat properly, smoke and drink too much. This may increase your risk of a heart attack. Practice yoga/meditation. Take a vacation.

Check your family history
If a close relative is at risk of developing coronary heart disease from smoking, high BP, high cholesterol, lack of physical activity, obesity and diabetes, then you could be at risk too.

Laughter is the best therapy
Laughter any time will work wonders for you. It is an instant way to unleash the pressure and it makes you feel light.

SOME HEART CONDITIONS: Hypertension, Angina, Heart Block, Ischaemia, Myocardial
Infraction, Heart failure, Heart attack”
- Chikodi N. Anigbogu PhD, FIUPS.

Last Line: What shall it profit you if you gain the whole world and lose your soul? To find out more about God and how you can have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, visit any Bible believing church near you, or: CHAPEL OF DESTINY RESTORATION CHURCH, 2 Akinlabi Lane, off Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, by Round About Bus Stop, Ikeja. Lagos.

THE JOY OF SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY(IES)!

I am not used to birthday parties, at least not as the celebrant. The only evidence that I have of such is a childhood picture of mine in front of a table with cake, drinks and surrounded by friends of similar age in our Cameroon Road, Aba, house. I guess I was seven then, and my parents thought it significant, having survived that far! Other birth day parties where I was closely involved, were those of my children; usually the first year, and then as they mark the teenage age.

Of course, when I made a reference to February as my birth month in an earlier blog post, I was not expecting a party. There was no special age to mark as such, but certainly every reason to show gratitude to God who not only sustains me, but has called me into His service. The other consideration was that we were on schedule to deliver a turnkey project to a major client. But my wife had other plans….

Without telling me, she had managed to scroll my phone book and taken the numbers of my close friends known to her, added some of her own and family, plotted and staged a surprise party with me as the chief celebrant! To qualify for a surprise, all the ingredients had to be right. I was completely kept in the dark as to the goings on while she engaged my attention with other issues. The party was even brought forward to Saturday 23, before my birthday on Monday 25, February. The reason according to her was to ensure all her invitees turned up, since it was a more suitable day.

While she thought everything was under control, something happened on the D - day that temporarily put the plans out of course. It was convenient for me to leave the house that morning after the usual Lagos State imposed environmental seat-in till 10 a.m. each last Saturday of the month. She knew I was going for lectures at the bible school and should be back about 4 p.m. That was enough time to put together all the party logistics, including decorations, arrival of food, drinks, and of course her invited guests. And sure, all these were present well before 4p.m.

The surprise party could not start in the true sense of the term until the celebrant arrives; and by 4.30 p.m. going on to 5 p.m. I was not anywhere in sight. My best friend that had been detailed to ensure I returned home directly was not much help because he couldn’t drag me out of class and the lectures took longer. Finally as I emerged and met him, an emergency call over the health of my wife, which later turned out to be contrived, came through my phone. My sister-in-law was the one used for this ploy to get me home at all cost! Expectedly every manner of emotions and thoughts flushed through my mind and I quickly alerted my friend that we should hurry home. Driving through traffic with him in tow was like a movie chase scene. I learnt later that he called home and was wondering what they told me that caused the frenzy!

You can imagine the joy and relief when I burst into the sitting room ( and learnt that the scare was just a ruse to get me home), to the warm embrace of family, friends, and a world class surprise birthday party by all standards, replete with drinks, food, songs, music, speeches. Was I surprised? Yes. Was I pleased? Yes. Except of course, the false 911 call! My wife’s explanation that only such a call will take me away from the things of God did not offer much relief.

Incidentally, the following Saturday, my mentee and protégé in one of the banks I worked in, got a taste of that ‘medicine’. He turned 40, and his wife of over a decade, decided to celebrate him with a surprise party. I got the invitation through a text message and she called a few days later to confirm my attendance. I assured her I would be there, (both to see his reaction and for the close relationship our families have developed over the years).

I will say his own party had much more drama. For one, the venue was at an upscale event centre. Secondly, he had cause to be at his office that same day, and got home well over three hours after the time the party was scheduled to start! While guests have been seated and everything ready, the challenge for the wife was how to convince him to leave home and head for a dinner (the venue), located over five kilometres away. Reckon, of course, that he was not privy to the arrangements. Being of a focused, conservative hue, he would rather take a nap and let the day go by. It took all the wife’s marketing skills, including whipping up sentiments that her parents who flew in from their base in the United Kingdom, will be there. At the end of day, she had her way, her husband had his surprise, shock and appreciation, and we the invited guests had a great party. Thank God for virtuous wives….!

Friends, I have a word for you: ‘He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord’ Proverbs 18:22 (NIV). May that be your testimony as it is indeed mine!

Every good and perfect gift comes from God. To find out more about God and how you can have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, visit any Bible believing church near you, or: CHAPEL OF DESTINY RESTORATION CHURCH, 2 Akinlabi Lane, off Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, by Round About Bus Stop, Ikeja. Lagos. I invite you to join us tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. Interestingly, I will be preaching a message, “Wanted: Men of Valor and Women of Virtue”

ENCIRCLE, LIQUIDATE, AND MOVE UP!

Dear Friends,

We are into the last lap of the first quarter, 2013. It is possible that there are some challenges you are facing in your personal and work life.

You may not have, as it were, seen the way out of those challenges. But I recommend a simple strategy of over comers i.e. ‘encircle, liquidate, and move up’.

Surround or encircle the challenges with revelational knowledge, hope, faith and relevant action, squeeze the life or strength out of them; and then move on and up with your life to greater manifestation.

It worked for Joshua (Joshua 6:1-20, Deut. 2:3), and I bet it will work for you.

Welcome to the month of March!