t IPOB is terroBiafra Protesters storm US embassy, insisrist organisation

Biafra Protesters storm US embassy, insist IPOB is terrorist organisation

A group of protesters wielding placards, hit the US embassy to insist that IPOB is a terrorist outfit.

play Protesters take to the US embassy to carpet America's stance on IPOB
(Wale Odunsi)

A group of protesters under the aegis of the Coalition for the Defense of Nigeria's Sovereignty, hit the US embassy in Lagos on Friday,September 29.

Chief amongst the grouse of the placard wielding protesters was the United States' position that it doesn't yet consider the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) a terrorist organisation.

On September 20, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted the Federal Government an interim injunction proscribing IPOB, following recent skirmishes between separatists and the army in Southeast Nigeria.

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdul Kafarati, granted the injunction in chambers following an exparte application filed by Attorney General Abubakar Malami.

play IPOB separatists (South East Sun)

However, On September 24, a spokesperson for the American Embassy in Nigeria, Russell Brooks, told local newspaper, The Punch, that IPOB isn't yet proscribed within America's borders.

“The United States Government is strongly committed to Nigeria’s unity.  Important political and economic issues affecting the Nigerian people, such as the allocation of resources, are worthwhile topics for respectful debate in a democracy.

“Within the context of unity, we encourage all Nigerians to support a de-escalation of tensions and peaceful resolution of grievances.  The Indigenous People of Biafra is not a terrorist organisation under US law,” Brooks said.

play US President Donald Trump (Getty Images/Pool)

ALSO READ: US says pro-Biafra group isn't yet a terrorist organisation

In taking to the streets today, Otunba Bolaji Alabi who is National President/Convener of the Coalition, said the US erred in its position on the lingering separatist agitation in Nigeria.

"We are here today to protest against something that we know threatens not just our dear country, Nigeria, but also poses a risk to our culture as Yoruba. It is a culture we cherish as passionately as we respect our nationality as Nigerians", said Alabi.

play Protesters at the US embassy in Lagos (Wale Odunsi)

He added that: "Our compatriots in south-east Nigeria, our Igbo brothers, have a challenge on their hands by way of some errant persons that are advocating for a forceful breakup of Nigeria. They are pursuing this evil enterprise under the name of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, which the Federal Government of Nigeria has properly designated to be a terrorist group. This decision has been confirmed by the court in accordance with what the anti-terrorism law prescribes.

"We were taken aback when the United States of America said IPOB is not a terrorist organization. We find the position of the United States abhorrent and highly condemnable in the light of the psychological and emotional trauma that this terrorist group has caused us collectively as a people. Even in the US, every single thing that members of this terrorist group have done in recent weeks will lead to jail terms.

play Protesters at the US embassy in Lagos (Wale Odunsi)

"The United States should desist from making decisions from the comfort of its echo chamber, in which it only hears itself without the benefit of appreciating what the end recipients of the situation under consideration go through. In this regard, the hate speech hurled at Yoruba by IPOB members online alone qualify as terrorism. They have repeatedly referred to us as "yorobastards" "yoropigs" "yaribads"and other derogatory appellations.

"The disdain with which this terrorist organization hold us as a people was deplorable to the extent that IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, directed his members to kill Yoruba after branding us as colluding with the Hausa/Fulani.

"Below are a few instances of him threatening us as a people:

"No Igbo man should attend any Church where the pastor is a Yoruba man, they are criminals and fools"​;​ "Any Igbo Person who attends any Church Pastored by a Yoruba Man is an Imbecile"​;​ "Pastor Kumuyi should be stoned and dealt with thoroughly if he comes to Aba for his planned crusade"​;​ "Nigeria is a zoo and everybody living in that Godforsaken zoo deserves to die"​;​ "Nigeria should prepare for war, we are coming to annihilate you, my secret service are already studying the zoo and strategising."

"IPOB has also been attempting to recruit and radicalize Yoruba youths to create a version of the terror group in the south-west of Nigeria oblivious to our nationalistic spirit and staunch belief in the unity of Nigeria. It was these brainwashed youths that had unsuccessfully attempted making demands for Oodu'a Republic, which does not enjoy any backing among us.

play Protesters at the US embassy in Lagos (Wale Odunsi)

"The culture of hate speech being promoted by IPOB, which it is teaching these youths is alien to us as we are taught to be respectful and considerate of other humans.

"We wonder what would be the fate of anyone that repeatedly incite others to violence through the promotion of hate speech and go the extra mile to actualize the threats as we witnessed in Rivers State when IPOB terrorists were stopping commercial buses and singling out non-Igbo passengers, including Yoruba, for attacks.

"These IPOB's activities have already negatively affected the economy and unleashed hardship on the population from which Yoruba are not immune. This situation is unacceptable and we do not see why any country will offer support to a terrorist group that is responsible for human suffering on this scale.

"We have decided as a people that our lot is in a united and indivisible Nigeria. It is inconceivable that we change who we are as Yoruba because some terrorists have been bolstered by the US.  To be so insulted, derided, attacked and killed by IPOB terrorists for this conviction is unacceptable".

The Coalition for Nigeria's Sovereignty also added that the United States will be labelled a sponsor of terrorism in Nigeria if it doesn't review its position on IPOB.

play IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu (AFP/File)

"It was on this note that we commended the court's declaration of IPOB as a terrorist organisation; if the United States thinks and says otherwise then we have no option than to begin to treat that country as a state sponsor of terrorism.

"May we also point out that stakeholder may know the start of this contention but no one knows where it would head or where it would end. IPOB is already exporting its violence as seen in Bengaluru, India on September 24, 2017 when violence by members of the terror group left one person dead and property destroyed.

"The US is home to many Nigerians and it is a matter of time before IPOB export its violence to that country and we boldly warn the US to watch out in Houston, Texas, where IPOB has vibrant cells.

"Our thoughts are that the United States corrects its mistake within reasonable time so that IPOB would not use its position as an excuse to spread its violence and hatred to other parts of the world. We are closely monitoring to see how soon the US would do the right thing by distancing itself from a terror organisation that has the Yoruba in its cross-hairs".

The activities of IPOB have been banned in Igboland by Governors of the region.

The army has also taken a tough stance against the Nnamdi Kanu led group, labelling their actions as constituting terrorism

Serious Indictment 'Police officer demanded sex from me in exchange for bail' - Female robbery suspect

Serious Indictment 'Police officer demanded sex from me in exchange for bail' - Female robbery suspect

A female trader who was arrested during a raid has indicted her IPO of demanding for sex before he could release her.

  Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris
(Nigeria Police Force)

A 27-year-old woman who is standing trial for armed robbery, Victoria Amodu, shocked a court sitting in Lagos State when she revealed that an Investigative Police Officer [IPO], framed her for refusing to have sex with him in exchange for her bail.

The suspect indicted the IPO attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad [SARS], Ikeja Division, of asking her to offer him sex so he could release her from custody but when she refused, he charged her to court.

Punch reports that Amodu, a trader, and mother of four, was giving her evidence in chief before Justice Kudirat Jose when she was arraigned for alleged conspiracy and armed robbery.

ALSO READ: "Thank Your Stars: Female armed robber saved from lynching by police in Calabar"

The lady who was charged alongside one Hammed Isiaka, on a six-count charge of conspiracy to commit robbery and armed robbery, said she was arrested in the Badagry area of the state while hawking bread and when she was taken into custody, the IPO demanded sex in exchange for her freedom.

While being led in evidence by her counsel, Nelson Onyejaka, Amodu told Justice Jose that she was unjustly arrested by the police on August 12, 2014, at Church Bus stop, Badagry.

She narrated that she was selling bread at the bus stop when policemen raided the area and arrested her and others, bundled them into their truck and took them to the SARS headquarters.

“I was arrested by the police while I was selling bread and taken to the station at SARS, Ikeja. An IPO there told me to call someone that would come for my bail.

I called a neighbour, a lady that helps me look after my kids. When she arrived, the IPO said a woman could not sign my bail bond, which he put at N400,000.

I became worried because I didn’t know any man to call since I was no longer living with my husband and I was also new in Lagos.

I decided to call my father but he refused to come to the station. He said since I was married, he had no hand in anything concerning me.

I didn’t know what else to do at this time, so I started begging the IPO to let me go and take care of my kids since I didn’t commit any offence.

The IPO took me outside the cell to a corner and said that I am a pretty lady and that if I submit myself to him, I would be freed.

I got angry and shouted at him, asking why he would make such a statement to me. He immediately dragged me back to the cell.

Some others who were arrested that day were released after they paid money, though I don’t know how much they paid.

Nights after, the IPO brought out some case files and told me and others in the cell to sign them. He said that when we were done the signing, we would be released.

I agreed to sign the documents on the condition that he would not touch me. But the other men refused, saying they couldn’t sign what they didn’t know.

The IPO immediately brought out his gun and threatened to shoot them if they didn’t sign and they fearfully signed it. After signing the documents, we were all taken to a Magistrates Court and from there, to Kirikiri Prison,” Amodu explained.

ALSO READ: "What A man Can Do...: Female robbery gang leader nabbed, stripped naked in PH"

After hearing her testimony, Justice José referred the case file to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions [DPP], for advised while she adjourned the case till November 29, 2017, for adoption of final addresses.

27 Awesome Quotes About Freedom for Independence Day (and Every Day)

What do Gloria Steinem, Ronald Reagan, Bob Marley, Greta Garbo, Stephen King, and many others have in common? A burning desire for liberty, and a healthy respect for what it takes to be free.

 

Independence Day is one of the best American holidays, both for what we celebrate and how we celebrate it.
It's easy, however, to take liberty for granted, and to misconstrue just how difficult it was to gain our freedoms 239 years ago. The Revolutionary War was long and costly--arguably the second-longest conflict in American history. While the 50,000 or so casualties on the American side are roughly equal in number to the total dead and wounded in Afghanistan, this was at a time when there were fewer than three million people were living in the former British colonies.
So by all means, march in a parade, host a barbecue, have a few beers, head to the beach, light off some fireworks. My family and I will be right there with you. But take a minute or two to reflect on why we celebrate as well. Here are some of the best things ever said about freedom--some poignant, some rebellious, some even funny--to get you thinking.
(By the way, did you know that the Founding Fathers weren't just great leaders? They were also true entrepreneurs.)
1. "It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them."
--Mark Twain
2. "The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off."
--Gloria Steinem
3. "The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion."
--Albert Camus
4. "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."
--Ronald Reagan
5. "If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter."
--George Washington
6. "Liberty has never come from the government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of it. The history of liberty is a history of resistance."
--Woodrow Wilson
7. "For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."
--Nelson Mandela
8. "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."
--Voltaire
9. "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
--Thomas Jefferson
10. "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
--Benjamin Franklin
11. "[W]e look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression--everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way--everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want--which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants--everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear--which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor--anywhere in the world."
--Franklin Roosevelt
12. "Freedom lies in being bold."
--Robert Frost
13. "Some birds are not meant to be caged, that's all. Their feathers are too bright, their songs too sweet and wild. So you let them go, or when you open the cage to feed them they somehow fly out past you. And the part of you that knows it was wrong to imprison them in the first place rejoices, but still, the place where you live is that much more drab and empty for their departure."
--Stephen King (From "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption")
14. "Better to die fighting for freedom then be a prisoner all the days of your life."
--Bob Marley
15. "Liberties aren't given, they are taken."
--Aldous Huxley
16. "The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty."
--James Madison
17. "I never said, 'I want to be alone.' I only said, 'I want to be let alone!' There is all the difference."
--Greta Garbo
18. "Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide."
--Napoleon Bonaparte
19. "A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself."
--Jim Morrison
20. "I prefer liberty with danger to peace with slavery."
--Jean-Jacques Rousseau
21. "If you're not ready to die for it, put the word 'freedom' out of your vocabulary."
--Malcolm X
22. "Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed."
--Martin Luther King Jr.
23. "I'd like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free and wanted other people to be also free."
--Rosa Parks
24. "Humanity has won its battle. Liberty now has a country."
--Marquis de Lafayette
25. "It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men."
--Samuel Adams
26. "We hold our heads high, despite the price we have paid, because freedom is priceless."
--Lech Walesa
27. "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils."
--General John Stark

Dealing with Despair

Dealing with Despair:

Dark Moments of the Soul…

I picked up the bottle of iodine, focusing on the skull and cross bones symbol. I did not have a cut that needed disinfecting. I was hurt on the inside. I had just returned to my room from a meeting. A long time friend had said something that cut deep. Holding the bottle, the thought that came to my mind was, “I could drink this!”
The thought was serious, but just for a moment. I was hurt, tired, and so discouraged that despair seemed to rush in. I’ve never forgotten that moment and have never told anyone until now. Maybe it is so vivid because my normal view of life is optimistic. I often tell people, “I don’t have problems, I have opportunities…”
Despair can have many sources and can be more profound combined with other factors. A friend’s 18 year old daughter attempted to take her life. The combination for her was the knee operation that took her out of her last year of high school sports, the friend who had criticized her harshly, a broken relationship, alcohol, and physical/emotional tiredness. Late one night, after everyone went to bed, she picked up her pain medication and downed the whole bottle. Fortunately for her and my friend, despair did not win. Others are not so fortunate.
Despair is dangerous and can be deadly. I remember reading once, “People can live weeks without food, days without water, minutes without oxygen, but not a moment without hope.” On a personal level I have found it helpful to identify factors that contribute to despair and also cling to the things that give me hope.
Some of these factors may seem insignificant. When I’m hungry and tired I’m more prone to lose perspective. The best thing I can do is eat and sleep.
I know that when I have emotional highs from lots of people contact or events, this can result in my emotional bank account being over extended. When that happens I can expect an emotional low to follow. When I know and anticipate this cycle I find I’m much more able to deal with it. Despair is held at bay.
Another warning signal of emotional tiredness can be emotions being closer to the surface. This can show up through angry “blow ups” or tears. You might even think, “Wow! Where did that come from?” These all give despair a foothold.
Another fertile soil for despair to take root in is the words of trusted friends. Words of close friends can be so powerful either for good or bad. I don’t care much about what people say who do not know me, but the words of my trusted friends carry significant weight. This is why divorce can be so profound. The person who knows you the best has just said, “I do not value or want you.”  Wow! That is painful! Despair is swift and can be suffocating.
Hope becomes an antidote to despair. A variety of things can bring hope. Perspective can bring hope. The following story illustrates this point…
On a foggy morning in July 1952, Florence Chadwick waded into the chilly waters off Catalina Island. Her goal was to swim the Channel to the coast of California. The numbing cold of the water hit her right away, and she could barely see the boat that accompanied her in the dense fog. Several times during her swim, a rifle was fired to keep sharks away. She swam for 15 hours before she asked to be taken out of the water. Her trainer encouraged her to keep going, saying she was very close to land. Florence was no stranger to long distance swimming. She had been the first women to swim the English Channel in both directions. But this day, as she neared the coast of California, all she could see was the fog. She was exhausted, and began to feel discouraged, thinking she was not going to be able to make it… Florence gave up, just a half mile from her goal! In the interview after the swim, she was quoted as saying, “I’m not excusing myself, but if I had only been able to see the land, I might have been able to make it.”
What was it that caused Florence to give up that day? Was it the cold water, exhaustion or fear? No, the reason she failed to reach her goal was the fog. Two months later, she swam that same Catalina channel and set a new speed record in the process.
I need fog clearing moments, times when I take stock of my life and circumstances. Sometimes this comes through stopping activity and taking stock or it might involve finding an objective listener who can help you clear the fog. This might mean a trip or two to a councilor or a wise, trusted friend.
Faith can bring hope, ultimate hope. King David once stated, “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Confidence that there is a God who loves me and has a good plan in the mist of pain, and hurt is a profound defense against despair. I was once removed from a position of leadership suddenly without warning. I was flooded with deep emotions at the unjustness of this decision. As my mind was reeling trying to make sense of this I remembered the words of a friend. In describing a similar set of circumstances she was buoyed by the understanding that God was not wringing his hands in heaven. He had a plan. Those words hit me. A significant sense of confidence settled in. Confidence that God loved me and even in this he had a plan for a way through. There was still pain, confusion and hurt but knowing God’s love and presence provided a foundation to handle the pain.
A person cannot live long with despair. Dealing with despair takes two forms, prevention and long term cure. Prevention is the strategy of dealing with conditions that lead to despair which can include simple things like enough rest or talking out discouragement with a trusted friend.
Prevention involves finding a foundation that gives hope; especially in the mist of circumstances that are despair producing. God can provide that foundation. His love can hold you in the midst of any storm. His wisdom can guide you through it and his strength can steady you as you move forward.  Despair need not overtake you. Why not open the door of your despair and invite God into it. Ask him to walk with you. Don’t try to live independently from him. He invites you to share the journey with him. Why not choose God as your foundation today?
By Mike Woodard

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If you would like to invite God into that place of despair today why not pray this prayer right now:

Dear God, My despair is overwhelming. I don’t know what to do. I need your strength to anchor me and your wisdom to guide me. I need you to give me a firm footing as I work through this. I invite you into my life right now. Forgive me for living independent from you. I need you. Come into my life and bring me hope today. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer let us know. A mentor can help you in this new journey of faith.

If you prayed this prayer we would love to hear from you . If you would like to know God deeper we can connect you with an email mentor and/or send you some great links.

YES! I prayed this prayer

Health

Doctor goes into labour while delivering patient’s baby

PHOTO: Dr. Emily Jacobs, 28, an OB/GYN resident at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, gave birth hours after delivering another patient's baby. Seen in this photo is Emily Jacobs, her husband ryan Jacobs, 28 and her son, Jett, now 1 month old. (Emily Jacobs )

A 28-year-old pregnant doctor unexpectedly went into early labour while delivering another woman’s child.

Emily Jacobs, an OB-GYN resident at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, welcomed a baby boy, Jett Jacobs.

Jacobs told the ABC News that she thought the amniotic fluid she noticed during the delivery was that of the patient.

She said, “I noticed what I thought was amniotic fluid of the patient as the baby was delivering.

“It wasn’t until I left the room when I realized that it was my water that had broken.

“I was freaking out a little bit because we were still seeing patients and [my supervisor] just kind of smiled and told me to go back in one of the triage rooms and wait for her to confirm that it was my water.”

Keely Ulmer, Jacobs’ colleague,  mentioned that she was surprised Jacobs had gone into labour a month earlier, adding that it was a pleasure helping her with the delivery.

Ulmer who is also 28 years old said, “I happened to be on Labour and Delivery, so it was a pretty special experience to share with a special classmate.

“She did a wonderful job and her husband was very supportive. I am grateful to be part of the experience.”

A first-time mom, Jacobs believes her unique birth story has made her a better doctor who is “more understanding” of her expectant patients, she said.

“It’s definitely made me more empathetic and more aware of what it’s like going through some pregnancy complications.

“People will come in [who are] in preterm labour often … very worried about the health of their baby and health of themselves. Until [I went] through it, I can definitely appreciate just how worried and nervous you get.”

The baby is now 7-weeks-old, at home and doing well.

Why Nigeria entered recession’

A former Minister of Finance and one-time High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, has identified high overheads in governance and other expenses associated with Nigeria’s federal system as the reason why Nigeria fell into recession.

Abubakar stated this in Sokoto on Tuesday while hosting the Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debt, Senator Shehu Sani.

The former Nigeria High Commissioner to the UK also said the creation of states under the federal system had heightened the level of corruption among its units.

He said, “Now, you have 36 states, you also have 36 governors. You have 36 state assemblies and may be you have 36 commissioners in each state.

“Then, all the money will be for payment of overheads. Now, all our money is used to settle political office holders.

“The more states we have, the more corruption we have. Creating more states won’t solve our ethnicity problem.”

 

How To Be Sure God Listens To Your Prayers

• How To Be Sure God Listens...

There are certain requirements we must fulfill before God will listen to our prayers.

We Must Belong to God.
“There is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus” (1Timothy 2:5). Because Jesus is the mediator between us and God, we must give Him our total allegiance.
Before I yielded the control of my life to Jesus Christ, I would pray, but I was never sure if God was listening or would answer. After I asked Him to be the Lord of my life, I had confidence that God was hearing and answering my prayers.
We Must Pray to God the Father in the Name of His Son Jesus Christ.
Only the name of Jesus Christ gives us credibility with the Father — not our education, our wealth or poverty, our church, our background or our position — only Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “If you ask anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:14).
Sometimes I use my husband’s name, or my church, or my work to gain credibility with people I meet. But only Jesus’ name gives us credibility with the Father.
We Must have a Clean Heart.
Psalm 66:18 says, “If I had known of any sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened to me.”
It is very important to keep a clean heart before God. Someone said, “I ‘fess them as I does them, I don’t bunch them.” Don’t wait until you go to church or a crisis arises in your life to confess your sins to God. As soon as you become aware of an attitude or action that is displeasing to God, admit that it is wrong and thank God for His forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 tells us that if we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
We Must have a Forgiving Spirit.
In Mark 11:25, Jesus says, “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven my forgive your transgressions.”
Jesus makes it very clear that we can’t carry anger, hatred, or bitterness in our hearts toward anyone if we expect God to forgive us and/or hear our prayers.
We must Pray in Faith.
Jesus said in Matthew 21:22, “And everything you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.”
The very fact that you are asking God for your needs demonstrates your faith.
The answers come every time, but not always in the way we expect.  There are times when God answeres prayer as soon as we pray. Other times we have to wait for them to be answered. Sometimes is anwer is “No”, like all good parents, He gives us what is good for us, but not what is harmful to us, but He always  listens and answers.

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If you want to be sure God is listening to your prayers, consider if you have ever asked Jesus Christ into your life, you can do so right now by submitting to him with a simple but powerful prayer.
“Lord Jesus, I want you to listen and answer my prayers, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.”
If you prayed this prayer, we would love to hear from you . Perhaps we could connect you with a mentor or provide resourceful links that could help you in your journey to know God in a deeper way.

YES! I prayed this prayer

What Christians Get Wrong About Sex

How many of these did you believe?

 Talking about sex is uncomfortable, especially for Christians. We are taught in our faith communities absolute abstinence outside marriage, and have few conversations about what sexual pleasure looks like, even within a marriage context. Because of this inflexible approach, we often disengage, disconnecting our sex lives from our lives of faith which can be problematic. Here are five things Christians get wrong about sex that it’s time for us to rethink:

1. Believing the Bible Prohibits Sexual Pleasure

Can Christians express sexuality in positive and realistic ways still aligned with our faith? Yes. When it comes to sexual pleasure in the Bible, it is often spoken of in the context of marriage. There are some Christians that feel that the only reason for sex is reproduction and there are others that believe that there are higher reasons for sex, including the ultimate joining together of a married man and woman – joining their two spirits, joining their two minds, and joining their two bodies. The Bible is not explicit on sex practices between married people. In Hebrews 13:4 we are told that the marriage bed is to be undefiled, it does not say what it means. There are a number of practices of love and sexuality in which the Bible is silent. Because of this, it is difficult to determine what is right and this is wrong. The general rule here is if it’s not from faith, it is sin. In the Old Testament, the term for sexual intercourse was “to know” a husband or a wife. The most intimate knowledge of a partner comes through this joining. Rather than prohibit sexual pleasure, the Bible shows that it is a gift from God.

2. Believing Men Marry for Sex, Women Marry for Love

This just isn’t true. People marry for all types of reasons. Sex and love aren’t the only reasons people get married. There isn’t a reason that’s specific to any gender. If many men have lost their way and have reduced marriage down to a simple contract for lifelong sex, then such men are badly mistaken as to their calling and purpose. For life must be much more than a bundle of connected neurons stimulated by hormonal and electrical impulses. Intimacy and pleasure should be important, but it should pale in comparison to what God is calling you to in marriage; a lifelong of service to your partner and family. God says choose Me, and by doing so, He gives you all Jesus has to offer in this life and the next.

3. Believing Marriage Makes Sex Amazing for Everyone

Sex can be amazing after marriage. It can also be pretty bad. In fact, your wedding night may be an awkward, fumbling sexual experience – and that’s ok. Good sex requires intimacy, trust, transparency and mutual satisfaction. These things are amplified by a marriage. Despite what some Christians say, being a Christian won’t make your sex life amazing. You may run into some issues along the way. Sex doesn’t magically become the best thing you’ve ever experience after you sign a marriage certificate and walk down the aisle.

4. Believing Women Must Fulfill Men’s Needs

There’s often a double standard in how the church talks about sexual relationships. It’s one that usually favors the men and centers their needs over their female partners. The church espouses that women must be ready to fulfill their man’s needs at all times. But this argument does little to encourage men to fulfill their partner’s needs, sexual or not. It’s time for all God-fearing men to realize that women are not just there to meet their needs. When it comes to sex, God’s ways are very clear that with husband or wife, your body is not your own and belongs completely to your spouse when it comes to the marriage bed. We are to please each other, and by pleasing each other it does not mean withholding sex, but rather entering into God’s design where husband and wife put aside all their cares and focus on being with, and uniting with their spouse on a regular basis. Marriage isn’t about fulfilling one person’s needs over the others. Marriage is mutual.

5. Believing God Doesn’t Forgive Sexual Sin

No sexual sin is beyond God’s forgiveness. Thankfully, He doesn’t withhold forgiveness or grace from those who ask for it. 1 John 1:9 promises that if you confess your sins, that He is faithful to forgive and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. This includes all sin, and does not exclude sexual sin. Psalm 103:12 also promises, “As far as the easy is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” In addition to forgiveness, God wants you to embrace His grace that will help you embrace the promises He has for you with joy. In spite of your choices, God wants to bring you relational fulfillment.
The way we think about sex, pleasure and sin has an impact on our understanding of what good Christian sex looks like. Many Christians have long thought of temptation to pleasure as the work of the Tempter when pleasure is really a gift from God. However, sexual pleasure is a nearly universal experience. It is important how we interpret that pursuit of pleasure. Sexual pleasure does not always mean turning away from God. Sexual pleasure does not always incite lust or incline us toward sin. As Christians, we don’t have to interpret that pursuit as sinful and worthy of shame. Pleasure is itself a good. Moral discernment will help us know when sexual pleasure needs to be sacrificed to other goods but it is not in itself wrong or shameful.

Ongoing Recruitment at Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)

The Federal Inland Revenue Service as part of its consolidation strategies, wish to engage the services of early starters with integrity, drive and desire to win professionally, to strengthen its workforce.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates/firms to fill the vacant position below:

Job Position: Consultant - Peer Review Analysis on the FIRS Corporate Headquarters Revised Cost -to- Complete Estimate

Job Location: Abuja


Detailed Description

• The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) wishes to draw the attention of the general public to its advertisement for expression of interest for “The Engagement of Consultant to Conduct Peer Review Analysis on the FIRS Corporate Headquarters Revised Cost -to- Complete Estimate”.

Criteria (Weighted)

• Size of company, number of staff must be provided (Attach relevant documentary proofs), Quantity Surveyors to be used for the project are to have minimum of eight years’ post-registration experience (NIQS and QSRBN).
• The company should have handled at least three verifiable projects of similar magnitude with total contract sum of not less than N 10 billion within the last 5 years, one of which must have a contract value of not less than N40 billion (Attach letter of award, completion certificate or interim payment valuation as evidence)
• This Procurement notice is strictly for Quantity Surveying firms.
• The company should be a registered member of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), with not less than 25 years’ post registration experience, and should be financially up to date with the institute (providing supporting documentation)

Application Deadline
13th September, 2017.

Application Method 
Interested and qualified candidates/firms should submit their Tenders (Hand delivered) accompanied by a forwarding letter on company's letterhead, showing registration number as issued by CAC, contact telephone numbers, valid email address, official company address and names and nationalities of the Directors of the company at the bottom of the page to:
The Director,
Procurement Department,
Federal Inland Revenue Service,
Revenue House (Annex III),
Sokode Crescent,
Off Michael Okpara Street,
Wuse Zone 5,
Abuja.

Note

• Each tender shall be submitted in a sealed envelope indicating the project name, appropriately marked "Engagement of Consultant to Conduct Peer Review Analysis on the FIRS Corporate Headquarters Revised Cost -to- Complete Estimate” and on the reverse side of the envelope, the name and the address of the company. Only one copy is required, please.
• Any tender submitted after this deadline shall be rejected.
• Tenders shall be opened immediately after submission on 13th September, 2017 in Procurement Department, FIRS Revenue House, Annex Ill, Wuse, Abuja.
• Submitting tender documents does not commit FIRS to awarding a contract to a firm.
• The Federal inland Revenue Service reserves right to verify claims made by any firm
• Tendering with false document is an offence, which will lead to disqualification and prosecution
• For inquiries, please contact us on 08074983355; email: firsprocurement@firs.gov.ng

Reason for hope

Reason for hope

Posted By: Agbo Agbo In: Campus Life 

The year was 1981, and I was seated in front of our black and white television set with my father. We were watching an exciting documentary from National Geographic channel on NTA Jos. There was no satellite/cable TV way back then then so we relied solely on the NTA which begins broadcast by 4pm and closes by 12 am. The documentary was about a young lady deep in the forest of Gombe, Tanzania; she was studying the ways of Chimpanzee. In my young mind, I wondered what a beautiful young lady would be doing sitting from sunrise to sunset simply observing chimpanzees.

That documentary brought me into the world of Dr. Jane Goodall – for the first time. I have been fascinated by Goodall ever since and have to admit, I didn’t know the details of her life until over ten years later through a book. As a lover of animals and nature I began seeing more of Dr. Goodall when satellite TV came on board through NatGeo Wild channel.

In the book “Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey” – which I “borrowed” as title for this article, I learned about Jane and her revolutionary studies of  chimpanzees which forever altered our definition of “humanity.” In this intriguing book, Jane Goodall explores her deepest conviction that takes her from the comfort of her London home to the forests of Tanzania.

When I partially read the book my mind flashed back to the documentary and to the unforgettable moment when a wild chimpanzee gently grasps her hand. The baby chimp first touched her nose, ran away, came back and touch again before grasping her hand. The fact that she comes each day to simply sit and observe perhaps made the chimps to trust her and take her as “one of them.”

Another reassuring message of her book was the sorrow over her husband’s death. Here, she thoughtfully explored the challenges of both science and the soul; she offers an inspiring, optimistic message as profound as the knowledge she brought back from the forests and that gives reason for hope. From her childhood, to how she was chosen to observe the Chimps and what those initial goals were, to how she experienced nature and the chimps.

Her insights into spirituality and human moral evolution set her stories brimming with emotion and her philosophical views so unpretentious and calming that one has the impression of sitting cozily with a friend. Dr. Goodall portrays the events of her life as building upon each other and pointing her directly toward Africa, chimpanzees, and her work in environmental preservation.

Early on she felt a deep empathy for animals and a desire to study them unobtrusively in their natural habitats. She relates a delightful memory of hiding out in the straw of a henhouse at the age of four to experience first-hand how a chicken lays an egg.

When Dr. Louis Leakey offered her a job studying the chimpanzees of Tanzania, it began what later became her life’s work. Her chimpanzee observations are captivating, as are the comparisons between them and humans. The chimpanzees have tender, caring relationships, but can also be ruthless toward members of the “outgroup.” She sees human precursors to both altruism and savage brutality in the chimpanzees.

Religion and spirituality factor greatly in Goodall’s life. She feels God all around her, but especially in the jungles of Africa. What makes her book such a delight is her unbridled, intelligent optimism.

Although deeply affected by the genocide, terrorism, animal cruelty, deforestation, and other horrors of our age, she has faith in the potential goodness of the human race, and in the benevolence of God. Her strong views are delivered so rationally, and in such a serene way, that not a trace of condescension or bitterness shows through. She is a beautiful role model for these sometimes ugly days.

I share her optimism, especially in times like this in our nation. There’s so much hatred and bitterness around us that sometimes scares me; and this is more evident on social media where the hate and misinformation is sometimes palpable. A friend called me after Nigeria’s 4-0 defeat over Cameroon and said we’ve simply lost it. Surprised, I said wasn’t he happy we won? That wasn’t the issue, he said, but the fact that some people input the ethnic origins of the players together to justify the need for the restructuring of the country, is the issue!

I understood where he was coming from and going. I know people who deliberately avoid the social media, not because they’re “old school,” but because of the immaturity of most people. If you’re to believe everything you see or read there, we’d be at war right now. The social media – to me – should serve as a barometer on how to measure the mood of people. In the past we wouldn’t have known how bitter people were because there were no platforms to “vent their bitterness,” now they can do this at the touch of a button.

This notwithstanding, social media has its importance and has become an important part of our lives. We can be constantly informed on anything and everything. That’s the positive part, but the thing is today’s society has taken it too far. Children nowadays are spending way too much time online. Many don’t study, don’t go out, and don’t even talk to their own family members.

All they care about is getting likes, being informed on the latest trend and immediately fall in love with it because, well it’s what everyone else likes. They get their self-esteem off of fake Facebook and Instagram likes. Its little wonder that today’s youth has turned into this big crowd with no diversity. Where there’s diversity, it’s probably rallying round divisive figures with some utopian belief to share.

This has really affected character. We have lost the appreciation to uniqueness and the imperfect. All we want is the conventionally praised perfection. I find that sad. Social media is social; it depends on other people’s influence on your life and your influence on their lives. That is what scares me and that is what should scare you, it is based on others rather than yourself. What it is essentially doing is turning us all into robots that are constantly worrying about others rather than ourselves.

Let me use an American example to make a point. According to ProCon.org, in the month of July 2012 alone, Americans spent 74 billion minutes on social media via computer, 40.8 billion via apps and 5.7 billion via mobile web browser; that’s a total of over 2 billion cumulative hours Americans spent in a single month on these social media platforms. That’s over 228,000 years’ worth of time spent ‘liking,’ tweeting and commenting within a single month – and that’s only in America!

I believe this can apply to Nigeria as well. Some look for possible excuses to take time off from what actually need to get done and waste time on something that has no relevance. Think about how many times you have sat there and had a task you had to do, but instead wasted hours checking the same feed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram?

What social media brings us is a recess, and we constantly spend hours of our precious time on something that is artificially created by people who are sometimes imaginary people. Of course, that’s not to say there are no good uses of social media, that’s certainly not the point as there are.

Prof Pat Utomi left social media platforms after his accounts were hacked and used to send anti-government messages. He had to come out to let Nigerians know he wasn’t the one sending the messages. After that, he excused himself from social media until such lapses are corrected by providers. He came out recently again to draw attention to a fake facebook purportedly opened by him soliciting for funds.

Our challenge is to call out such individuals and those spreading divisive messages on social media and believe – like Jane Goodall did – that there’s a reason for hope.

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Arms of Spirit - Daily Inspiration - Daily Quotes

Arms of Spirit - Daily Inspiration - Daily Quotes

May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields.
And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.
- Irish Blessing

May a thread of comfort be woven through your difficult days.
- Mary Anne Radmacher

Your life within God's arms,
Your dance within God's arms,
Is already Perfect!
- Hafiz

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather,
always bring your own sunshine.
- Anthony J. D'Angelo

Know that to find comfort, relax into the arms of Spirit.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Further reading: Comfort on Difficult Days

Give Thanks for the Small Miracles

The Secret of Happiness

Beyond Your Worries

Ten Little Tips to Feel Happier Right Now
    

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May the world be kind to you,
and may your own thoughts be gentle upon yourself.
- Abraham A. John

Soar Your Dreams - Daily Inspiration

Soar Your Dreams - Daily Inspiration

Choose to soar. Choose to fly your dreams.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

You are the Michelangelo of your own life.
The David that you are sculpting is you.
And you do it with your thoughts.
- Joe Vitale

No one should negotiate their dreams.
Dreams must be free to fly high.
You should never agree to surrender your dreams.
- Jesse Jackson

Every day is a new beginning -
a day for a new plan and new action.
If today, in conscious awareness, you choose
the same plan as yesterday, you are wise.
If you choose a different plan, you are equally wise.
Whatever you choose, choose with intention.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie