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

Dear 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! Amaka Igwe is living her dream on 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. I would be preaching a message, “The Eleventh Commandment…”, this Sunday @ 8.30 am, and would personally welcome you!

Take A Holiday …. Travel By Road! - Part 2

Bedazzled Photography




Dear Friends,

I appreciate so much your comments and feedback on the first part of this blog and do welcome such in future blogs. In response to some of the comments, I am not sure it was deliberate that I did not mention the name of my home town. Perhaps I am waiting for Google to refine their tracking software to Google Earth Ancestral. If they did that and you ‘googled’ my name, you’d probably come up with this: Basil Chukwuezi (name), Umudoji/Umuorihe(kindred), Abo(village), Uzoagba (town), Ikeduru (local government area), Imo (state), Nigeria (country). Don’t expect the West Africa, Africa, Southern Hemisphere part! And ,Google, please ensure you credit me with this idea when it becomes reality! As for kidnappers, who is afraid of them!? Jokes apart (no pun intended on Julius Agwu’s new book of the same title), I would like to conclude the series on travel and holiday.

Village Experience/Human Development Index

In some aspects my village appeared the same, but in a lot of other ways, quite a lot has changed. I will always hold constant memories of the village as a platform where I spent the formative years of my life shortly before the Nigerian civil war ended, then migration to the cities – Aba, Abakaliki, Owerri, Calabar, Jos, Yola, London etc. I remember going to the stream to swim and fetch water, the farm, chasing or at least watching the bigger boys chase squirrels, play with self hand- made toys… These are novel experiences some of the children of today may never have. What with school in major cities of the world, and toys such as iphones and tablets! Of course if you pursued squirrels in the ‘developed economies’ animal rights enthusiasts and the law on animal cruelty will catch you....

My village has witnessed a lot of development. There is I am told, regular public power supply, though during the three nights I spent there, some houses had and others didn’t; depending on how many lines supplying them! The roads are more motor able and a few families have sunk water boreholes to complement the only one done by an NGO, which hitherto served the whole village. My senior brother who resides in Europe had paid a recent visit during which he did a similar thing. In the traditional African hospitality, he also ensured that a pipe through the wall supplied water to others.

There has also been much physical development in terms of buildings springing up in the village. Our own particular house, initially standing alone on a precinct, has been surrounded by new buildings; some by young men I can only relate by who their parents and older siblings are. This of course means that the village is being transformed by the younger generation.

At the relationship level, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that my little cousin, Martina was on the way to become a grandmother. Her first daughter got married recently and the first son can qualify to take a wife if only by his height and size! I was also glad I could make it to Urualla Ideato, where I witnessed the traditional wedding between my friend Chimezie and his spouse. We had become family friends both in London, where he is based and Lagos which he visits frequently on business. Though I didn’t let him know I was coming, I thought it was one way to show appreciation for his friendship over the years we have known each other. It turned out that the wedding was a major highlight of my trip as it combined the elements of tradition and tourism in one breath. The colorful ceremony confirmed that the Igbo wedding tradition has been elevated to the mainstream of our people’s contemporary life style.

Friends In Ministry

On the return leg, my trip afforded me the opportunity to touch base with my friends in ministry – Pastors Obi, Sam, John (Onitsha) and Nduka (Asaba). I am particularly thrilled by what God has done through the hand of Pastor Nduka since he founded a church. This is against the trying circumstances that saw him leave the ministry he had served in for over ten years.

Lessons Learnt

When I arrived back to Lagos, the car mileage showed I had done a total of 1,305kms. I don’t need statistics to confirm that this was enough to traverse the length and breadth of some other smaller African countries – an indication of the size and abundance of this great country called Nigeria. However the government and people need to do more to realize its great potentials.
Whereas the Benin-Asaba by pass reduced travel time by one hour, the congestion at Niger Bridge, especially at festive periods extended it by four hours! A second Niger Bridge, long overdue and highly politicized would have made the delay totally unnecessary. The economic waste and human torture due to the current position is better imagined than experienced. I heard the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan had sworn he will ensure a second bridge is built under his tenure. I pray he keeps to his words.

The roads are much better but high accident rate remains a concern. Before I travelled a major accident was reported which claimed lives; and on my return another one involving a tanker and luxury bus was even more devastating - all on the same stretch of road!

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed my travel cum holiday and got really refreshed. The only regret I would say is that my schedule did not allow me to visit my alma mater, Government Secondary School, Owerri, to relive some of the sweet memories of growing up .Of course on return, the hustle and bustle took over…. That is life you would say!

Last Line: In the journey of life you need divine covering and protection to arrive destination. ‘For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone’. Psalms 91:11-12 NIV. You can activate that cover and covenant of exemption if you know how!

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.

Take A Holiday …. Travel By Road! (Part 1)

Dear Friends,

I’d like to wish you my sincere compliments of the Easter season… of course in arrears. As a practicing Christian, Easter for me, is significant for two major reasons, both of which are closely related. The first is that it demonstrates God’s perfect love in giving up His son to die on the cross for the propitiation of our sins. Secondly, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead makes it clear that whatever is dead in our life and circumstances is capable of coming alive – including our relationship with God. We only need to believe and appropriate this mystery by faith!

The Easter season provided an opportunity for me to take a holiday and I would like to share my experience with you in this two-part blog post.

Preparation

I have three places I call home on earth; each located in Lagos, London and my village. The last holds a special place, because it is my family foundation, where it all began and where my father lives in retirement. I have not been home to the village for close to a year, and the ancestral pull was too strong to ignore, particularly for some family issues that required urgent attention. Furthermore, business pressures have mounted so much in Lagos that I had to just get out for some air! Located in the eastern heartland, it was quite a journey from Lagos and I had to make adequate preparations including checking all the essential fluids of the car and replacing a tyre. The trip across six states – Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, and Anambra – to Imo, my home state, was daunting especially as I have not travelled long distance by road in a long while. I was determined, however not only to go by road, but also drive myself.

Lagos

All set, I drove out from my Lagos residence exactly at 6am on Good Friday. My calculation was to start early and cover much ground before the sun came up and weariness set in. Joining Ikorodu Road, the main artery out of town and linking it with the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was not much of a problem; in spite of the early morning traffic.

Ogun

For anyone who has travelled out of Lagos, once you left Berger Bus Stop, you were already in Ogun state, though the seamless development would not allow you know the difference. This stretch of the road will get you through the numerous church camps including those of Deeper Life, MFM and of course Redeemed (RCCG), up until the Shagamu interchange, where a right turn takes you off the Lagos- Ibadan express way and positions you firmly on the Shagamu-Benin Expressway. At this point the journey to the East is fully underway and I enjoy it because the traffic is less of those heading to Ibadan, and the Abeokuta k end of Ogun State. The road network is also much better, and the major landmarks are the old Shagamu and Ijebu Ode toll gates.

Ondo

Ondo State tells the traveler that he has made considerable progress and being at Ore by 9am was remarkable for me; though some speed could do that within a shorter time. I did stop at a travel centre to refresh and stretch my legs. From this point, you get the feeling that you are on the second half of the trip and this is true enough.

Edo/Delta

For me crossing into Edo State means the beginning of the home stretch, as I quickly reached Okada university town, Benin and then soon on the Benin-Asaba by pass which effectively reduced the travel time to the East by at least one hour. Delta State is familiar ground and after the border communities with Edo, Agbor and Umunede, Asaba the state capital increased the comfort level that the trip was already on the last lap. By 1.26pm, and just about 3 kilometers to access the Niger bridge and then enter Onitsha, Anambara State, I was on phone giving my wife a progress report. What happened within the next 2 minutes was unexpected, to say the least. I entered the ‘mother of all hold-ups’, and could only access the Niger bridge by 4.45pm! .....

Anambara/Imo

After the harrowing vehicular pile up, entering Onitsha was such a big relief. It is home to me: having spent 5 years of my working career as a branch manager there, it is my wife’s home town, and I could decide to spend the night there. However, I continued to Owerri, being very comfortable with the terrain. I got into the Imo State capital by dusk and not being in any particular hurry, had dinner in one of my favourite restaurants, before heading to my village. At Emekuku, where a turn off the Owerri – Umahia road takes me twenty minutes to my country home, I called my parents to expect me… and by 8pm was home!

Last Line: Was the journey worth the effort? What were my experiences? Any learning points? Is there a journey you have been planning, or a step you want to take? (“There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off”. Prov. 23:18 NIV) I strongly recommend you find possible answers in part two of this blog!

Our hopes are realizable through divine intervention. 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.

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!