The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sunday magazine

  • Cocktail ring: Timeless finger piece

    Cocktail ring: Timeless finger piece

    COLOSSAL, colourful cocktail rings are everywhere at parties, on the red carpet and for casual wears. The cocktail ring is the ultimate accessory that brings out the glamour and shine in your outfit and draws attention to your hands, whether you are wearing a colourful whimsical dress or a little black dress [LBD], with so many rings to choose from, ranging from the bold and crazily crafted to the bling-bling.

    A simple, yet elegant cocktail ring is basically defined as oversized rock design with precious or semiprecious coloured stones.

    For you to make a gallant statement with your cocktail ring, it has to be chunky {bold], sexy and at the same time stylish; this is the ultimate cocktail ring golden rule.

    Believe it, the big rock is a solid way to highlight your individual style, you can never go wrong with one. Get as many as possible, different rocks with different colours; you can wear a different one for each day, it all depends on your attires.

    They are the classic and timeless finger piece.

  • ‘Jonathan’s reelection bid is not God-ordained’

    ‘Jonathan’s reelection bid is not God-ordained’

    The Spiritual Head, Episcopal Church of Zion, Abuja branch, Rev Babatunde Oguntimehin, spoke on why President Goodluck Jonathan should not seek reelection and sundry national issues. Excerpts:

    Some of the nation’s prominent preachers have said the elections of 2015 will be hitch- free and peaceful. Do you share their optimism?

    The honest truth is that there will be violence and bloodshed. What I must tell you is that God is not happy with the way our President is running the affairs of the nation. The Almighty God wants our President to purge his administration of corruption, impurity and criminality. His matter will be like the first King of Israel, King Saul.

    The poor masses are getting poorer and their cries have got to the throne of the Almighty. Instead of our President listening to their plight, his is only listening to the looters, deceivers and the propagandists who are only stampeding him into reelection just because of their own political and economic interests.

    Are you saying the President should not re-contest?

    If some of us cannot understand the things of the Spirit, they should be able to understand the physical things. If you give a man a job to do for you and he collects your money and does not do it or does it very poorly, would you give him another job to do for you?

    The answer is no. Spiritually speaking, he should not re-contest. If he goes ahead to re-contest, the consequences are terrible. He should organise fear and free elections, hand over to the elected ones, gives thanks to the Almighty God who brought him up from nowhere to this enviable position.

    But some religious leaders have given him the go ahead to re-contest that he would win and without any problem….

    … Look, who are these big pastors and prophets you are referring to? Most of them are not known in the spiritual realm as pastors but politicians, merchants and businessmen and women. If you read your bible very well and you fervently pray, God will reveal them to you.

    How can serious men of God get the time to be found always at the corruptive corridors of power? Do you see Pastor W.F. Kumuyi of the Deeper Life Bible Church, hobnobbing with these corrupt politicians? Go and study Samuel, Elijah, Elisha and the Apostles of New Testament, they never moved intimately with the corrupt people of this world.

    If you do not preach holiness and you do not even believe in it, how would your members apply it? Look, the bible says it without ambiguity: follow peace with all men and without holiness no one will see the Lord.

    All pastors must not only preach it but must ensure their members practise it. That is the only ticket to get to heaven. Unfortunately most of the people you call big pastors today would not preach it because they are merchants.

    They are just extorting their members. Unfortunately, judgment would start from them says the Lord. If you are Holy, there will be transformation in your life- in the way you dress, talk, behave and doing things generally.

    But serving God does not mean we must be poor and wretched, isn’t it?

    Are you saying if you are Holy, you will be poor? Infact, if you are Holy, you will be blessed by God exceedingly. You may not be superrich but you will be contented and comfortable. There will be peace and joy of God in your life.

    Most of the super rich people fraudulently got them and will lead them into hell fire. Therefore, what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and loses his soul?

    You said earlier that you saw bloodshed and violence in next year’s elections. What efforts are you making to avert these? Is it not proper for the men of God to arrange prayer summit?

    I don’t believe in prayer summits because it may lead into political prayer or hypocritical prayer which God will not answer. It may even compound the problems. Late General Abacha tried it and failed. Obedience is better than sacrifice.

    Let President Jonathan have a flashback into how God brought him up and shun all the sycophants, undesirable elements and the political jobbers around him and do the needful. Then, it shall be well with him and the nation.

    There are a lot of genuine men and women of God who are painstakingly interceding even crying unto the Lord for mercy. As you are doing this, the most expected beneficiaries of these prayers keep on committing evils and atrocities. It will be difficult for the prayers to be heard. Do not forget that righteousness exalts a nation but sin reproaches it.

  • Church donates blood to LASUTH

    Members of Agape Generation International, Maryland Lagos last week donated blood to support countless injured Nigerians requiring blood transfusion.

    The exercise, which held at the church’s headquarters, had officials of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) on ground for screening and collection of the samples.

    The General Overseer, Pastor Toyin Kehinde, said the gesture was to demonstrate that Christianity is more than preaching and holding services.

    Apart from providing a pool for those in dire needs of transfusion, he said that blood transfusion is a healthy exercise for donors.

    According to him: “Blood donation has many benefits for the body. If life can be given, how much more blood?”

    The church, he stated, is aware of hospitals such as LASUTH always in needs of blood for emergencies, stressing that the donation was to fill in the gap.

    Expressing delight over the turnout of donors, he encouraged Nigerians to discard the fear associated with blood donation, saying it is a small price to pay to save others.

    Mr. Aile Kingsley, who led the team from LASUTH, called on the healthy Nigerians to see blood donation as their civic responsibility and do it as often as they can, to help save lives.

  • Stop dividing Christians, cleric warns politicians

    The Executive Director of the Voice of Christian Martyrs, Rev Isaac Newton-Wusu, has called on politicians to avoid setting Christians against themselves.

    He spoke against the backdrop of criticisms trailing a CD by Pastor Bosun Emmanuel on alleged plans to Islamise the nation.

    Addressing reporters in Lagos last week, Newton-Wusu said:

    “We wish to express our dissatisfaction about the purported statement by politicians on Pastor Bosun CD on the state of the nation which is misleading, unfair and undemocratic.

    “We condemn it as it is aimed at distracting well meaning Nigerians from the truth that would help build our nation.

    “Serious issues that affect Nigerians were revealed in the message and the Pastor has the right to express his apprehension about issues that affect Christianity, more so, considering the lethal persecution of Christians in the northern parts of the country.”

    He noted while the constitution guarantees every citizen the right to personal belief and joins any political party of their choice, nobody should be hunted or persecuted because of what they believe in.

    While stating that Christianity promotes peace, the cleric added: “We also acknowledge that there are moderate Muslims, particularly in the South West, who are willing to practice their religion and allow people freedom of religious beliefs.

    “It is the Islamic extremists that are responsible for the insecurity in the nation and they are the causes of the apprehension. This is condemned around the world.”

    He challenged politicians to put an end to carnage ravaging the nation rather “than raising issues with godly pastors like Emmanuel whom I know can never be purchased to be mischievous.”

  • Total freedom

    God loves and cares for you and wants you to communicate with Him always, not when you feel like. Your communion with God should be like the Hart that pants after the water brooks, so let your heart and soul pant after God. The Hart is an animal who when is thirsty will forsake everything to look for water to drink. As soon as it finds the water it jumps inside and begins to drink. As the water is so important to the Hart so is our prayer to Him.God is never tired of prayer of His people because He loves fellowship. Prayer is fellowshipping with God.

    Many believers are frustrated because of unanswered prayer. Is it because God is wicked or on holiday? No! After all, He permits us to call upon Him (Jeremiah 33:3). The more you fellowship with Him, the better you are known of Him.

    The reason why certain prayers don’t receive answer is due to the following: (1.) lack of knowledge of the principles of prayer(2.) We abuse His sovereignty and take God for granted forgetting that He is just as loving and also a terrible God if foolishly proved.(3.) We see God as a spare tire, only used when needed. (Proverbs 1:24-30). God will always be God. No one can remote control Him.

    Last week we taught on Step Four “Adoration”. Today is the fifth step “Communion”. Communion

    What is Communion?Communion means sharing, participation,intimacy, friendship and comradeship. We collectively share the grace after fellowship by declaring (2 Corinthians 13:14): (a.) Jesus – grace (b.) The Fatherly love of God (John 3:16) (c.) A deepening fellowship with the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14c). If this three-fold reality is our abiding blessing, then our everlasting salvation will be assured.As you move from adoration into Communion, your prayers are no longer just words. True prayer comes from the heart and is based upon relationship. It is the language of heaven, the avenue by which we enter the throne room of heaven and commune with our loving heavenly Father.

    Who are you in communion with? You can either be in communion with God or with the devil, depending on the attitude of your heart (Matthew 5:8). Who do you submit to? Who do you obey? A wicked heart cannot communicate with God. All believers are meant to be in communion with the Lord.

    Communion is communicating with God. Wonderful reader, can you believe the love, faithfulness and awesomeness of God? Isn’t it exciting for a mortal man to communicate with a living God in the supernatural and who at the same time dwells in us in the person of the Holy Spirit?

    Communion is the key and without communion there will be no true breakthrough.

    Who are those who can communicate with God?

    It is only those who are genuinely born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. No believer can communicate with God without the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:9, 26-27).

    Total freedom can only come if you are connected to God. You get connected to God as you give your life to Christ. You can be born again today by saying this prayer:

    Lord Jesus, I confess to you that I am a sinner. Forgive my sins and wash me with your blood. Deliver me from sin and Satan. I invite you into my heart. I accept you as my Lord and personal saviour. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus for saving me. Write my name in the Book of Life. I am born again in Jesus name, Amen.

    Write and share your suggestions, questions and testimonies with me through: Pastor Amanda Ogunro, Rivers of Living Water Ministries at 540, Ikorodu Road, Maryland, Lagos or call number 07064733154.

  • The Covenant Of Rewards! (5)

    Welcome to this last part of our teaching for the month. So far, I know God has touched you positively, during the course of this teaching.

    As I conclude this teaching, I will be doing a recap of all I told you this month, because of the sensitive nature and the importance of the covenant of rewards.

    In the first week, I said God is neither a task master nor the user of people. He is a Rewarder! He has not called us to serve Him in vain. When we serve Him accordingly, His reward and blessings are inevitable in our lives and families (Exodus 23:25-26). God does not speak empty words! He means what He says and says what He means! Remember that we serve a covenant-keeping God

    A covenant, as it were, is like a contract. So, it involves two or more people. In this case, it involves just you and God. God is the Covenantor and you are the covenantee – you are the beneficiary of the deal. All you need then is a good understanding of what the covenant entails, and you’ll be a beneficiary of God’s rewards for your service to Him.

    Also, I showed you a fundamental requirement of the covenant of rewards, which is faithfulness. If you are faithful in your stewardship, God will reward you accordingly (Ephesians 6:6-8).

    During the second week, I showed you three requirements of the covenant of rewards – diligence, continuity and consistency. If you sow sparingly, you reap sparingly; but if you sow bountifully, you reap bountifully. When you serve God diligently, you will be rewarded lavishly (Hebrews 11:6).

    For continuity, I said rendering your service unto God on a continuous basis, is a requirement for the covenant of rewards. Recognize that as you embark on your continuous service unto God, there could be temptations from your mockers, relations and circumstances of life (Luke 22:28-29). They would rear their ugly heads, just to discourage you from your continuous services to God. Don’t forget that continuity is a vital rule of the game.

    Also, on consistency, I said Abraham was strong in faith giving glory to God, not casting aspersions on God or people. “He staggered not,” which connotes consistency! Never get to a point where God becomes untrue to you! I know for long that God does not need me; it is me that need Him! So, remain steadfast (1 Corinthians 15:58). That is the rule that entitles you to the rewards. I am too sure of God’s reward system; no devil can confuse me of this reality in my life. So, receive grace for steadfastness, in the name of Jesus!

    On the third week, I taught on two requirements of the covenant of rewards – rendering your service cheerfully and letting your stewardship be love-motivated. Recognize that our rewards are reserved for us, until we are properly positioned. We need to be joyful, while rendering our services to God (Joel 1:11-12). There are many whose rewards are just wasting, simply because their joy level is nothing to reckon with (Joel 1:11-12).

    Also, if you must qualify for God’s rewards, your stewardship must be love-motivated. The Bible says: And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries…and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor… and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2-3).

    Your love for God must be the livewire of your stewardship. Love is a facilitator of all the vital forces required. Whatever service you are rendering, let your love for God be your primary motivator. Love should be the motivation for your stewardship. Please let your stewardship be love-motivated, if you must be entitled to God’s rewards without hindrance.

    During the fourth week, I considered two requirements of the covenant of rewards – rendering your service sacrificially and the need for endurance in your quest for rewards. Note that every great season of reward is preceded by a great season of sacrifice in your stewardship. So, do not expect to reap rewards until you are prepared to offer genuine sacrifice in tour service.

    Also, endurance is the identity of men of prominence. It is a required quality in your stewardship for rewards in life.

    Friend, the grace to key into the above, is for those who are born again. You become born again, by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Say this prayer in faith: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You, for saving me! Now, I know I am born again!” I will continue this teaching next week.

    Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge. For further reading, please get my books: Born To Win and Understanding Your Covenant Right.

    From December 9-13, the story of many lives will be re-written at SHILOH 2014 tagged, Heaven On Earth. Shiloh is a historic and prophetic gathering of the Winners’ family, coming up at Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Idiroko Road, Ota. Come for a change of status! Jesus Is Lord!

    I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

  • Anglican choir thrills worshippers at 30

    The auditorium of the Church of Pentecost Anglican Communion was filled to capacity recently at the 39th choir festival with the theme “Let the people praise thee o God”.

    The choristers thrilled the worshippers with diverse instrumentalist and orchestra.

    Though made up of aged men and women, the choristers rendered their songs with beautiful voices.

    The women were adorned in blue gown and a black bow while the men wore black suit, shirt, trouser and a blue tie.

    The church’s Director of Music, Babajide Odedeji played the organ.

    Biodun Adebiyi aka ‘Batik’, a lecturer in the department of Theatre Arts and Music (Music Unit) at Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo Campus entertained with sounds from the trumpet.

    He played Concerto in E flat major.

    The choristers sang songs, including Ibom traditional song (Boma Natumini) produced by Batik.

    The soprano singers’ added beauty to the songs with head voice and descant.

    Odedeji said music is a universal language adding that the church is the foundation of most singers we have in the world today.

    “The church stands as a platform for singer in which we have both contemporary and classical music and that is what we are doing here today,” he said.

    The Vicar of the church, Ven. Isreal Owoyele, said the role of church music cannot be overemphasised because it brings out God inside man.

  • 2015 Schools sustainability challenge

    The Trust for Sustainable Living is pleased to announce a new international contest for schools, alongside our International Schools Essay Competition & Debate.

    Participating schools are invited to create a short (max. 3 minute) video showcasing their best sustainability-related project or collection of projects.

    The Schools Sustainability Challenge will recognise and reward the sustainability action and leadership of schools around the world and the winning school will receive the Trust for Sustainable Living’s Schools Sustainability Challenge Trophy, together with a cash prize of £500 or equivalent.

    As with our essay competition, schools will participate in the Schools Sustainability Challenge through Teacher Champions (please register here). The participation of schools in the Challenge will be judged independently of the essay competition.

    Judging Criteria

    The Schools Sustainability Challenge will be judged on the quality of the projects featured in the videos, and their potential replicability around the world. The number of views of the videos on Youtube will also be taken into account during the judging process.

    Submissions deadline

    Videos must be entered no later than 23rd January 2015. Each Teacher Champion may submit one video (maximum length: 3 minutes). Please note that videos longer than three minutes will be disqualified and only one video can be submitted per school.

    Video submissions must be uploaded to Youtube and Teacher Champions will be asked to provide the relevant Youtube link. Please ensure that the following information is included in the title of your Youtube video:  “SCHOOL NAME – COUNTRY – Submission for the 2015 Trust for Sustainable Living Schools Sustainability Challenge”

  • ‘Transformation more than material prosperity’

    The General Overseer of Christ Salvation Christian Centre (a.k.a Son of Jehovah World Outreach), Ikorodu Lagos, Prophet (Dr) Adesoji Abegunde, has debunked insinuations that divine transformation has to do with material prosperity.

    Speaking during the church’s 11th annual Shiloh’s thanksgiving last week, he said transformation is not about wealth that one acquires but an inner experience with outward results.

    He said: “If you’re not transformed inward, you can’t be transformed outwardly. Many Christians today don’t think and until you change your thinking, you can’t leave where you are.”

    The former Vice chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kosofe chapter decried the commercialisation of the gospel by some he dubbed as dubious characters.

    The characters, he said, have enriched themselves at the expense of the gullible public.

    The cleric blamed poor transformation in the country on the fraudulent style of governance by corrupt leaders since independence.

    He added that though history will not forget the nationalist leaders for gaining independence for Nigeria, he lamented they failed to make proper provision for the masses.

  • Oluwatobiloba marries Oluwole

    Oluwatobiloba marries Oluwole

    THE wedding between Oluwatobiloba and Oluwole took place at Immanuel Baptist Church, New Akeetan, Oyo. While reception followed at Labamba Hotel Oyo. Taiwo Abiodun was there.