Enjoy Life, 360° …. It’s Possible!

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Friends, I would love so much to post a blog everyday on Kingdom Street! And it’s quite possible. The only thing though, is that some other issues may suffer. For instance, I probably would not be able to drive, as much as I want to, the execution of a contract just awarded to my firm to build a branch for a prime Nigerian bank. I may miss some schedules with the engineers, architects, quantity surveyors and other such professionals on the team. The required funding for the project may not be released on time except I followed up with my bankers and insurance brokers. My beat at my local church may endure some deficiency of attention; and back home I need to keep up the communication channel with my wife and children; and in fact arrange a much anticipated trip for her. Perhaps you may find this picture very trivial; but that is a peek into the daily schedules we all face. Modern management calls it multi-tasking … the need to handle and play different roles and be the best at each! An all –round, success, you would say.

The other side of the coin is the possibility to live a “triangular” life, or as a matter of fact be regarded as a “triangular” person. So we have a triangular student – class, canteen, hostel; triangular Christian – work, church, home, all not necessarily in that order. The probability exists that the triangular student could make a first class, and the triangular Christian will make Heaven, which is not only desirable, but the ultimate for us as children of God. However, triangular life is one of limitation. The reason is that while it allows excellence and promotion in a particular area, one is found deficient in other but equally important issues of life. This is why we have a public success being a private failure; a very good wife being a poor mother; an excellent boss being a poor husband. Such men have reached the pinnacle of political power both in their nation and the world, but made poor choices in relationships with the opposite sex; others had successful acting and political careers, but had their marriage end in divorce due to affairs they should not have entered in the first place. At the peak of their individual successful careers, spouses have “grown apart” and missed the enduring joy of a blessed marriage. A triangular person is a friend to treasure, but a son or daughter that brings reproach. The triangular life also manifests when we are so rich towards the things of the world, but poor towards God or things of God. That is why the Bible asks the question, “ For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).

But Friends, the 360° life is possible. In fact it is a reality, which the devil recognizes, and questions God about in Job 1:10. It is the life that ensures all round good success and all round enjoyment. That life is also found in 3 John 1:2. God desires that we prosper in every good area, whilst our soul and spirit also prosper. The choice is yours to make – a triangular life or 360° life.

To choose right, and obtain the grace to achieve that choice, you need the help of God which only comes through a relationship with Him. 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.

MUHAMMED ALI VS PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE... ON WOMEN'S DRESSING!

Muhammad Ali's advice to his daughters..............Inspiring An incident transpired when Muhammad Ali’s daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were quite revealing.

Here is the story as told by one of his daughters:“When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father’s suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged many hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day. My father took a good look at us.Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Hana,everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to.

Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground,covered and protected.Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean,covered up and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You've got to work hard to get to them.”

He looked at me with serious eyes. “Your body is sacred. You’re far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too.” #### Little wonder the Lord said the people of the world are wise in their own ways...WHAT ARE THE DAUGHTERS OF ZION( or are they just 'so called daughters') doing?

Friends, today’s post has been made so simple for me. You recall, on “The Future of Entertainment” (see my blog archives), I had said amongst other things, that “… we need fashion and clothes that cover…. Of greater importance is that we should employ only God’s standard as a benchmark for what is good!”

My post is made very simple because I will now ride on the back of Pastor E.A. Adeboye, a great father in the land, revered around the globe, to further amplify these views. I have reproduced verbatim below, or rebroadcast, if you will, his devotional piece of Friday October 12, 2012 ( I recommend the devotional,” Open Heavens”, to anyone who requires a daily guide to close fellowship with God. For me, it is a required daily to do…).

“ Memorise: But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 1 Peter 3:4 (Read: Isaiah 3:16-26).

It is one thing to be clothed physically and another one to be clothed spiritually. Like the Laodicean church, many who think they are clothed are really naked before God. The Lord told the church that with all their affluence and sophisticated clothes, they were naked. You will observe that being sparsely dressed is more common among the wealthy and enlightened. If you look at what the world regards as fashion today, particularly in the western developed countries with all their wealth and level of comfort, a greater percentage of such fashion styles tend towards nakedness. If the lady’s breasts are not exposed, that dressing is regarded as old fashioned. So much havoc has been done to the church of God in the name of fashion. Instead of the world to look to the church for healthy, sane dressing, it is the church that is looking to the world for fashion.

Copying the dress styles of the world that promotes promiscuity and nakedness is worldliness. 1 John 2:15-17 says believers in Christ must not love the world. Whatever you do in terms of dressing should not defeat the purpose for which God created it in the first place, which is to properly cover nakedness(Genesis 3:21). You will notice that Adam and Eve made themselves aprons(loin covering belt) from fig leaves to cover their nakedness(Genesis 3:7), this is synonymous to the scanty clothes of today; but God saw this as inadequate therefore He made them coats ( a long shirt-like garment). Therefore let your dressing be moderate and covering your nakedness. Look decent and presentable; glorify God in your dressing.

If you see nothing wrong with transparent or perforated clothes, or clothes which reveal your nakedness or clearly shows your laps and accentuate or emphasize the size of your buttocks, you are being carnal. In those days, believers were very mindful of their dressing so that they did not cause their brothers to stumble. But today, provocative dressing is all over the church of God. There are some churches you will go to and will be wondering whether you are in a brothel. Some sisters feel we are too hard on them and so they want to be free. Are you then walking in love, if you know what you are wearing is seductive and will cause someone else to stumble in lust? We are commanded to walk in love (Galatians 5:2); if you want to make Heaven, you have to judge your motives and actions by this standard. Judge yourself and make amends fast before God’s judgment descends on you.

ACTION POINT: Examine your wardrobe and fish out any dress that violates the code of decency. Do not give such out but destroy them”

Friends, we can easily extrapolate Pastor Adeboye’s views here to music and entertainment. We need to take a stand, we need to make a change in many areas of our lives and by so doing point the world to a better direction!

To take a stand with the corresponding action, you require the discerning spirit and grace that only come through a relationship with 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.

"The Bridge"..... Solution to the nation's problems!

Friends, I was privileged to watch a command performance of "The Bridge", a musical dance drama by the National Troupe of Nigeria. Held at the National Theatre, Lagos, it was perhaps a befitting contribution to the independence anniversary and celebration of nationhood at 52, whilst it sought to proffer solution to our myriad problems.

Ensconced in the belly of the Cinema Hall 2, National Theatre, on that Saturday evening, I knew as the plot unfolded, that "The Bridge" was the story of Nigeria. It told it eloquently from the platform of a man who was promoted to the position of a bank manager. However, the disturbing aspect of this promotion is his transfer to Tanfo – a failed metropolis with high level of insecurity, corruption, civil strife, rancor and power struggle amongst the people.

Against persuasions from his wife and kinsmen, he resolves to go to Tanfo, to make a change. On arrival, he witnesses all the greed and avarice associated with power play. At the end, he intervenes and is able to resolve the people’s differences. He brings a new order which ensures that everybody is given the same opportunity as the other. The desired new order of peace and harmony is enthroned in Tanfo.

"The Bridge" is a metaphorical interplay of chaos and peace, struggle and attainment, denial and opportunity, inequality and equality, disunity and unity, negative and positive, etc. usually associated with the challenges of nationhood and mutual existence. It also shows the good that can be achieved when individuals take a principled stand and backs that with affirmative action.

The production drew on the potent use of dance, songs and music as instruments of national re-orientation and transformation. It was an experiment in inter-cultural communication, enlightenment, education and entertainment. It is indeed auspicious to use Nigeria’s 52nd Independence Anniversary to spread such message of peace, tolerance, and mutual existence to break the yoke of terrorism and bloodletting now besetting the land!

On another level, the production evoked a lot of memories for me. For one, Arnold Udoka, Director, Dance, National Troupe, who wrote and choreographed "The Bridge", is a graduate of Theatre Arts, University of Calabar, from where I took the same degree, though at different times. Mike Anyanwu, Deputy Director, Dance, was in Theatre Arts, UNICAL, though he has gone on to take a Law degree and is now a barrister. Lol! He actually invited me to the event. Secondly I did the mandatory National Youth Service at the National Theatre, many years ago. It was thus a sort of home coming where I met many friends and associates in the theatre and entertainment world. The icing on the cake was meeting Sir Peter Badejo OBE, Nigeria’s dance export to the world (I hope to celebrate him soon on this blog)….

Friends, what a great joy to make a desired change, in our environment and society today. Wouldn’t it really be nice to be an instrument, an arrow head for positive change in our nation today? We seem to have graduated from the much touted corruption and ineptitude on the part of government, to wanton destruction of property and waste of human lives! The people as it were, are now killing themselves.

Apart from the physical manifestation, there is a spirit behind this extermination tendency. And the things of the spirit are best dealt through a relationship with God. He also, will give the required grace to take a stand and affirmative action. If you will like 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.

WHAT’S YOUR DREAM?... Share and pursue your dream!

Friends, dreams are essential for a triumphant earthly existence. They are divinely inspired and released( Joel 2:28) to enable us excel and make a mark during our lifetime, and I dare say, ensure that we are counted with our creator, in the hereafter. The challenge is that whereas we all have dreams, most of us stop short at that, some go on to share them, and only a few take the step of faith to pursue and actualize them. It is that last minority, which is acclaimed during, and even after their generation.

What is your dream, have you shared, and are you pursuing it? Sharing is as important as pursuit. I have heard people say that you should not share your dreams, because people will discourage, or out rightly work against the manifestation. This is easy to say, and the story of Joseph in the Bible, may give support to this view. If we assume this view is correct, it is also true that it helped Joseph to clarify his opposition – his brothers. It attracted a free transport, courtesy of the Midianite merchants, to Egypt. This meant that Joseph had left his native land to Egypt, then capital of the known world. He was no longer a local champion. Sharing that dream was what stopped him from falling into the trap of Potiphar’s wife. ( If people don’t know what you stand for, it is easy to compromise, or in the common parlance, fall for anything!). Even when he got to prison, sharing his dream, not only attracted destiny helpers, it gave him the much needed practice to horn his skills for his eventual manifestation at the palace and kingdom of Egypt.

In our contemporary world, Martin Luther King Jnr, shared, stood by and died in pursuit of his dreams, and today the world has been left a better place! Amak Igwe is living her dreams in movies, and I have not stopped to share my dream for kingdom entertainment, one that truly inspires, edifies, and does not conflict with your faith. As far back as 2006, we set out to achieve this dream through a funfair for children. We continued between 2007 and 2009, with the platform of our headline Valentine show – Love Bananas. Our dream of owning a radio/television station is being made easier by internet platforms. And along the way, we have attracted like minds and destiny helpers who consistently encourage and walk with us on the journey.
Friends, there is a seed of greatness in every one of us. Your dreams are divine vehicles to ride into and manifest this greatness. Whatever is your dream, share, pursue them – don’t allow opposition in any form to stop you!

Dreams are divinely inspired and only a relationship with God will guarantee their accomplishment. If you will like 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.

DON’T INSULT MR. PRESIDENT!

Friends, the new or so called social media has made publishing a piece of cake.
Along my checkered career, I had worked as a reporter at The Guardian newspapers, Lagos. And I remember the excitement of going out to cover an event, and coming back to craft a story; only to have it dumped for lack of space. Certainly, not that it was not good, but due to a lot of competing interests, including the almighty adverts (that pay the bills).
But in the new media, anyone with a facebook (and other such platforms) address, can log on and publish any opinion or whatever catches their fancy. Another fact is that the audience is global –wherever you have “friends”, or anywhere they google a subject. And so that has given us a license, so wantonly abused by some. Some have wished in such media that they were Americans, and that President Obama was their President. Perish the thought! He is the President of America and Americans. And the Americans would not wish your country and President were theirs.
Let us take a positive action - anytime you want to insult the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, yes that is who he is, and run down Nigeria as a nation, stop and say a prayer instead (1Timothy 2:1-2). I am certain a lot of people kept a virgil watching the first round of election debates between President Obama and the Republican candidate, Mitt Romney. How I wish we spent that virgil interceding for Nigeria! In addition to prayer, let us go further and take a confirming action. As a matter of course, impact positively, your own piece of the universe, your immediate sphere of influence. And together, we will get the leaders, and the nation we so earnestly deserve; and we will all be the better for it.
Getting the leaders we want is only possible if have a relationship with the God who has the heart of kings and queens in His hands (Proverbs 21:1) and can turn it to our favour. If you will like 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. We will be glad to have you join us this Sunday, October 7, at 9 am. I will be preaching a message, titled: “Hannah 101: Lessons in Hope & Expectation”