President Goodluck Jonathan, the President of Nigeria – as the world’s most populous black nation today celebrates her 51st independence anniversary, says the future is bright and assures that the many challenges facing the nation will be eventually overcome.

The President, who gave the assurance in a televised address declared that his administration would spare no effort in tackling crime and building peace and likens the blockers of great nationhood to Goliaths and Pharaohs that will just not fade off as easily as many Nigerians will wish.

Many citizens observe that things are far from perfect and strain their imagination to observe or appreciate the new dawn that is breaking as an environment of improved governance and accountability, economic and fiscal discipline, a more professional and committed leadership team is slowly but surely emerging to transition an impatient citizenry with huge but yet to be realised potential.

Joseph Chamberlain once said “Great men are like mountains; we do not appreciate their magnitude while we are still close to them “even as Jonathan insists that there is much to celebrate declaring… “We must also take pride in our scientists. This week, Nigeria released 8 new high yielding cocoa varieties. This will help to transform cocoa production, across the 14 cocoa producing states in the nation,” he added.

The Bible records that the emergence of Jesus Christ and dawning of God’s very greatest revolution was received with even far less appreciation.

Luke 9 [9] And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.

Every new dawn comes with three vital elements. First, the element of Herod … the Goliaths, Jezebels and Pharaohs that represent spiritual battles that must be won to permit waning of powerful influences. Elijah and Elisha combined to anoint and empower Jehu to destroy the apparently invincible influence of Baal by a massacre of Ahab, Jezebel, seventy sons and many evil priests. It seems every great civilisation has had its political and socioeconomic revolutions – be it the Industrial Revolution in Britain, the storming of the Bastille, 14 July 1789 during the French Revolution or George Washington, leading the American Revolution.  The element of Herod is neutralised or vanquished.

The second element of new greatness is successful Transition. John the Baptist represented the transition that must identify, introduce and make way for Christ although he was not the Lamb of God, only a friend of the heavenly bridegroom. Transition elements must be tough, determined, selfless, impatient and perhaps even bold and courageous to be sacrificed as divine decoys to permit the concealed and fledgling revolution to eventually mature. Herod, after beheading John the Baptist, was surprised that someone even greater than John could be alive and thriving. Even Christ needed this element to prepare the way for Him. John the Baptist – the transition who prepared the way was perhaps disappointed, offended and beheaded, Herod was unable to stop Christ … and the new revolution that is Christianity still breaks out.

The third element is the New Dawn, the desire of all. I envision a new dawn breaking in a nation challenged with fighting many battles never been fought for fairness, justice, economic growth and new order of truth. New dawns do not just happen … For illustration, the American Revolution was the result of a series of new social, political, and intellectual transformations in early American society and government, collectively referred to as the American Enlightenment. Americans rejected the oligarchies common in aristocratic Europe at the time, championing instead the development of new enlightened paradigms of fairness.

Remember Nigeria in your prayers as she goes through unique transitions. Indeed Goliaths and Pharaoh will not be permitted to stop her …

According to Baba Toma (one of the eye witnesses) to this incident, the first gun shot was heard at around 2.00pm. This was reported to the soldier men who were at the road block in Miango town but nothing happened then until night time. Toma said at around 11.00pm his community was suddenly woken to sounds from gun shots within the village.

The villagers were terrified, wailing and rushing out of their houses. Mr. Toma said, looking through his window (which was still open at that time) he was terrified, seeing his neighbor’s house on fire but when he saw many people standing by the entrances of their homes; that gave him confidence to come out.

Most witnesses, who spoke to Stefanos Foundation, testified that the attackers were speaking Fulani language. When asked if any fulani lived in the village, Mr. Toma said they use to have Fulani neighbors but since the 2001 Jos crisis, they all left the village. Although he said they do come to graze their cattle around the village from time to time but he noticed that the Fulani headsmen did not come around much the week before the attack.

Losses

Stefanos Foundation recorded the following losses from the village.  Mr. Umaru Hole lost his wife and 3 of his children; One Bitrus Peide lost his mother; an older woman who couldn’t escape the attackers. He also lost 9 rooms of his home to the fires; Monday Gazah’s house was also burnt, his little daughter was shot on the leg and his son was lucky that one of the bullets only brushed his leg; One young boy brutally macheted ; Sunday Audu and Sunday Rogo both lost one cow each, as the attackers also targeted and killed the animals; 21 houses burnt. In all, this community has lost 6 people; an old woman, a younger woman, a young boy and 3 other children. They were all buried in one grave in the morning of 26^th October 2010.

Many sympathizers turned up for the funeral and gave words of encouragement. Many Clergy spoke to console the people. One who read from 2Cor. 4: 7 – 11, encouraged the villagers to eschew violence and leave vengeance to God. He said. “We are not abandoned. Although struck down, but not destroyed and that though we are always given to death for Jesus’ sake, His life is being revealed in our mortal bodies.

The State Governor also sent his condolences through the Permanent Secretary on security. The Commander of the Military was also present and spoke to assure the people of their commitment to bringing lasting peace in the state. The village head who spoke through a representative, pleaded with the villagers not to think of revenge and appealed to the government to help the victims of this incident and consider fixing the dilapidated road to the village. The Youth leaders and other top people in the Local Government Area also spoke to calm the villagers.

Stefanos Foundation is presently seeking for support to help provide emergency relief to the victims and to also organize some trauma counseling workshops for them. We urge supporters to stand with us as we seek to visit these victims in their afflictions.

Mark reports from Jos.  Please contact Mark of Stefanos Foundation directly at mail address below.

Mark Lipdo,Stefanos Foundation

Nigerian politics has no dull moments even as former President Obasanjo pronounces that even “Jesus Christ” will be unable to conduct free, fair and accepted elections … a statement that chagrined the religious and must have given little hope to poor Jonathan now expected to wave the magic wand.

Worse things have been said about my Lord. The former President perhaps innocently sought a suitable metaphor to describe his perception of the character of the Nigerian electorate … who of course would rather take solace in seeing themselves as blameless sufferers in the hands of ruling ex-military and strong family cabals…and will react quickly against any reporting that portrays them as anything short of angels.

Isaiah 6 [1] In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. [2] Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. [3] And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. [4] And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. [5] Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

I do sympathise with any prophet of unclean lips who must wait for the death of King Uzziah to really see His Lord after so many years in ministry…but much worse still are the many others who do not receive this grace from God and continue to analyse Uzziah or his predecessor and now his successor …or just continue with status-quo. As for the people of unclean lips speaking from deceived hearts, who will bring the live coal required for cleansing?

Perhaps a good new beginning for all people is to cease looking to men (even Presidents) and instead to seek God again with all our hearts, ready to accept the corrective scalding that is required to get right in our hearts…and our tongues.

Meanwhile, my condolences are to the family of the well-meaning President –perhaps (who knows) the real victim in the unfolding opera … and pray history when written will not be harsh on the memory of Umaru who told Time Magazine in an interview “I think people should know that you derive the greatest satisfaction from serving others, rather than serving yourself,”

Serving a people of unclean lips did not get him far…

Isaiah 6 [8] Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

God is seeking those who will serve him..

God bless you.

Bode

Nigeria should be divided into two nations to avoid further bloodshed between Muslims and Christians, said Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, according to a BBC report. He made this call in a speech to students, where he praised the example of India and Pakistan in 1947 saying the “partition saved the lives of millions of Hindus and Muslims.” According to the Libyan leader, splitting Nigeria “would stop the bloodshed and burning of places of worship,” Jana, the Libyan news agency quoted him as saying.

 I Kings 3 [25] And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. [26] Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it.

The harlot woke up one day after a long night of adventures we do not want to hear about to discover something unusual. The baby in her arms did not look so healthy…the skin was pale and there was no reaction to any cuddling or pinching … only the infant just staring at the ceiling.  She had not fed her baby with milk for over a day and had overslept in the usual drunken stupor – this time she was not awakened by the normal cries for deserved attention from a mother.  And then suddenly this woman screamed seeing the baby was too still … dead.

This was not the promise that was made to her.  Her baby was to grow to become great, a source of joy and inspiration.  Indeed she knew and always believed strongly she held a star in her arms and would one day repent her wicked ways. Then as she cleaned the tears from her face she looked again to observe the tiny stiff open hands. The birth mark of greatness was no more on the tiny finger. She called to her silent friend, busy nursing her own baby, who shared the room and her eyes immediately caught the mark she had told no one about. In the arms of another she saw her star alive looking somewhat puzzled as though uncertain of the future.

Her trusted neighbour and friend had, in her drunken and careless moments, seized her baby and replaced her dream with a corpse. Now her trusted friend held firmly to her child…her dream…her star…stolen from her.

The case was taken to the Palace of the Judge.  As the different perspectives were presented a voice came saying “Divide the child…and give half to each…”  But the true mother could only see the bloodshed, the continued defenceless struggles, the endless battles and the final whimper as her star was eventually silenced by the axe. Then she screamed as one waking from a nightmare “O my Lord. Give her the living child.”  She would rather volunteer a poverty of spirit and pleasure than consider the snuffing out of her dreams. Without her dream alive she would lose all peace and would have elected for herself a greater sorrow and perpetual anguish. Perhaps someday she would have the opportunity to bring her case forward again before the Lord who surely lives. She accepts to be today’s loser and shuddered as she imagined her future star …nurtured in the cold arms of a thief…but then who can pull down a true star?  Who can stop the ordained will of the King of kings who reigns for ever. 

Then she hears the voice again as her Redeemer looked at her..I Kings 3[27] Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.

Today, her star is now back safe and protected by the justice of God … and growing to be what God has promised.  Meanwhile she has stopped her harlotry and drunkenness … her Redeemer will truly henceforth be her first husband.  Her joy is now full. The story has a blissful ending … finally her dreams come true even as  “ … kings, princes and princesses come out of her loins.”

Her baby is her nation. Do not be quick to judge her and disdain her experience …

I know my Redeemer lives and reigns forever.

Bode

Matthew 2[18]  In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

The video below is quite graphic and captures acts of Genocide in Jos, Nigeria.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFpYc_mUqCQ

Please also find below pictures of the 2am attack of 7th March 2010 over Zot and Dogo-Nahawa villages of Jos south Local Government areas.

For more details on Religious Crisis in Jos please see “The Jos Crisis – Terror in the Recession“.

Please note that you may find these pictures disturbing.

Watch and Pray … and be alert.

Mark Lipdo

Program coordinator

Stefanos Foundation

Jos, Nigeria

]]> http://recessionproofchristianlife.com/genocide-of-the-future-generation-of-christians-in-zot-and-dogo-nawaha-villages-jos-nigeria/feed/ 14 http://recessionproofchristianlife.com/is-your-president-dead-or-alive/ http://recessionproofchristianlife.com/is-your-president-dead-or-alive/#comments Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:47:41 +0000 Bode Ososami http://recessionproofchristianlife.com/?p=1822 Continue reading →]]> The recession has been hard on the nations and we look for the healing of the land in 2010 and opening of the heavens that the promised blessings may fall.

In Nigeria, the question that seems prevalent among many is if the President – not seen for over a month – is alive … as rumours of comatose hospitalisation spread and many go on a protest march requesting for clarity on where the leader is and how he stands on the many issues.  Debates on the situation continue in the political arena and some simply resign to the suspense.  A few await his arrival…

The Bible say in 2 Chronicles 7[14]  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

For the healing of the land, the word of God focuses on the state of the church (my people called by my name) rather than the politics. The responsibility for repentance (if the land is to be healed) is on His people and not unbelievers, leaders, presidents or prime ministers…though of course we are also commanded to pray for our leaders. Perhaps a neglected question that really should be top on our minds is if our “Personal fellowship, relationship and consecration” is dead, alive or comatose? Others may protest..where is the church in all the ethical and many other battles of faith? Why is she so silent?

The Book of Revelation points at a church in Sardis with fame and reputation but really dead. This I compare to a celebrity kept barely alive only by skilled doctors, advanced technology and expensive leading-edge medical life support and facilities.

Revelation[3:1]  And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. [2]  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. [3]  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

S. Michael Craven  (Christian post Columnist) in a recent post concerning the American Church  writes  ”… the “wound” apparent in the American Church is indeed serious and our natures are such that we tend to minimize the spiritual complacency present in our own lives and among God’s people. We say to ourselves, “peace, peace” as if all is well with the world because the reality makes us too uncomfortable; such a view of reality inevitably demands more of us than we are often prepared to give. If we are honest, our inclination is to just get along with our lives rather than throw ourselves unreservedly into the cause of Christ. We assume that such selfless devotion will erase all comfort in our lives never realizing that this is where joy unspeakable and real freedom is ultimately to be found.”

This post is not remotely qualified to comment on the health of the church in the nations. However, somewhere there is the church worship centre, parish, house cell group, or youth fellowship apparently recuperating or seriously wounded or already comatose in the “Worldliness Specialist Hospital” intensive care ward closely supervised by Snr. Consultant, Mrs Feel-Good and eminent surgeon, Mr You-will-make-it  and connected to the best lifesaving technology in the “Religious activities Unit”  watched by the best anaesthetist, Mr Prosperity and other expensive equipment/specialists. She does seem to be doing quite well as has been reported but the land in which she dwells cries for healing.   Like the church in Sardis, although the name continues to thrive and the reputation remains intact, the angel of the Church cries for Revival.  The protest march of the Christian can be different and is often on our knees in a different form of militancy campaign.

Solemn Assemblies

Among already ongoing solemn campaigns is the Pray Daily America’s 40 Days of prayer and fasting that began Jan 4 and will run until Feb. 12. Participants meet daily online at www.praydailyamerica.com to pray, seek God, confess personal and national sins and reaffirm the founding fathers’ covenant with God for the United States. Each day a different prayer topic is posted on the web site.

For the entire month of February, the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Nigeria  is also requesting Christians all over the world to fast and declare a solemn assembly of prayers and watchfulness, repentance and rededication … We need the ultimate physician -The Holy Ghost – to visit His people afresh and send us ablaze again as His soldiers on the field of faith.

God promises to heal the land … if the church humbles herself, repents, fasts and prays.  You can join in the prayers by visiting the sites and reflecting on posted topics and points. Take time out to personally seek God and repent…stand in the gap for weaker brethren, unbelievers and for your nation. We also should continue to pray for complete physical and spiritual healing and divine direction and alignment of our leaders in the nations … according to the will and purpose of God.

Pray also for Christians in nations where faith costs the most (World watch-list 2010)  (North Korea tops this list) because of intense persecution. Pray especially for Haiti and against future natural disasters in all the nations. Pray also against outbreaks of killer diseases and divine protection against terrorism in all forms. Pray for a steady but sure economic recovery all over the world and an end to global recession…  Remember this site in your prayers…

Jesus reigns and He says in John 14[27]  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

God bless you as you let Jesus win and rule in your heart in 2010.

Enjoy this audio teaching  (click)  Five steps to genuine Revival .

Bode

Isaiah 6 [1]  In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

I dare confess to my more spiritual mentors that I thoroughly enjoyed recently watching “One Night with the King” featuring great actors like Omar Sharif and Peter O’Toole.  One Night With the King is an epic motion picture set in an ancient and exotic world of gripping adventure, intrigue and romance, that follows a young beautiful Jewish orphan who rises from peasant to Queen of Persia only to face the annihilation of her people. The film had it all – beauty, morality, lavish wealth, fantastic dreams coming true, exciting and witty conversation, suspense, wisdom and intellect, joys and thrills, honour, courage, valour, music, art …and Queen Esther had it all. Can we not have it all ?… Read on. 

The most important part of the plot was when she suddenly found herself facing the loss of all her dreams and her life suddenly threatened by the unmatchable intrigue of Haman the Agagite. Her response was to risk it all for God. She breached a protocol that demanded her very life. Mordecai informs Esther that the Jews only hope is for her to risk her life and go before the King unsummoned (a crime punishable by death) to intercede for her people. It is then that Esther utters those fateful words that have rung through the centuries, “If I perish, I perish,” as she races off with one last chance to save her people.

Esther saw her “King Uzziah” dead as she obeyed God. This did not just save her from a tragic end, but ushered a greater wealth and eternal honour in the annals of the history of her people. The greatest lesson was not her achievement to emerge as royalty but her short speech ending in “…If I perish I perish”.  The perishing of “I” in Christ… is the end of Uzziah and the beginning of divine wealth…the treasured secret of all those who will see God’s Heaven.

The Apostle Paul said in I Corinthians 15:31(amp) [31] I assure you by the pride which I have in you in your  fellowship and union with Christ Jesus our Lord, that I die daily  – I face death every day and die to self.

King Uzziah will not be ignored and Isaiah could not help but see him and certainly could not kill him. The Lord will not reign in our finances or indeed in anything else until He has helped us to dethrone Uzziah. The end of Uzziah is the beginning of eternal and limitless possibilities in all spheres for God. Only a few categories are listed as follows – they all tend to revolve around “self” in different ways. Uzziah was a king who came to the throne at the age of 16…started well but ended badly. What are the manifestations of Uzziah – the bewitching attractions of the modern era?   

1. Human intellect and civil perfection producing great and “humble” well meaning performance imagined as pleasing to God. Humanism and traditions enslave the mind through corrupted education and media brainwashing. These are mental comforts that mask hidden ambitions and corruptions to enthrone man in all spheres even in the religious church and more so in the new so called post-church “free” movements now apparently emerging with new internet gurus.
2. Subtle deviations to God’s complete word – propagating new and more palliative truths, beliefs and thought bondage supernaturally supervised and upheld by invisible overpowering hierarchies of spiritual wickedness.  Man is enthroned in scripture interpretation and revisions abound to serve different thirsts and evil agenda.
3. Negative self promotion (thinking mankind is too bad for God‘s mercy and restoration) also enthrones man…opens channels for self-condemnation and Pharisaic accusation and silences divine compassion and intercession for revival.

Favour from men can be a bewitching culprit.  Ask another Queen, Ann Boleyn – one of the six wives of King Henry VIII described as “ a giddy woman of no stability of character, her success turned her head and caused her to behave with insolence and impropriety”  She did not have the help to say “if I perish I  perish” but nevertheless died a very involuntary and wicked death on Tower Green, her head being struck off with a sword by the executioner of Calais brought to England for the purpose.

The Holy Spirit is our helper and He helps us die daily. Without Uzziah’s death, Isaiah may have prophesied many things but not fulfilled his destiny. If Esther was not helped to see the dethronement of her dreams she would have surely ended up butchered sooner or later by the wicked schemes of Haman – not very different from Anne Boleyn.  If we do not go to the word of God and seek help from the Holy Spirit to die daily…wealth will become an executioner’s sword that studies all our passions and knows when best to strike.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, God helps us to die and then can freely give us what we can have…knowing it is for keeps…and He can very well decide not to…reserving a better resurrection.

As Esther lived the life of a peasant orphan, a queen in the palace and God’s heroine for all time.  Our life can also be seen in 3 segments.  First, before we knew Christ. Second, invitation into royalty as we surrender to Him and ultimately maturing into a life of daily death in Him. 

Let me end with a famous quote from my missionary friend, Sam Kputu. “The real danger of drifting from Christ and Biblical Christianity is not that we will struggle to come back; the real danger is that we end up creating new “truths”, new values, new targets and new pivots for our lives. And we even begin to celebrate and propagate them. “Read your Bible and pray every day, if you want to grow…” Remember that Sunday School rhyme?”

And another local saying from a speech by another Nigerian friend – Pat Utomi  - speaking on the difference between leadership and management and the inevitable outcomes of bad leadership or absence of leadership in any nation… I found a link to face book for the article…

“The King that was enthroned and the city flourished, we know him – while, the king that was enthroned and the city diminished, we also know him” Nigerian proverb.

I am a poor politician to suggest that we let the Holy Spirit lead. In Recession or in the best of times we can stop managing ourselves … and soon we will surely see the difference.

Read more in Wealth out of Ashes. Also, for more reflections and related articles and free subscription to articles by the author please click icon below.

Bode

Nigeria and China share the same independence anniversary on October 1. But while China is 60, this year, Nigeria is 49.  In Nigeria the celebrations have been low key…perhaps not so in China. Why then have I titled this blog 49 years of greatness? Are we talking about the same country?

I offer words of comfort to everyone who has ever been left wondering – why was I created thus?  Why am I the subject of so much ridicule, disdain and reproach? Why do I feel so despised though I know there is still so much good in me? Why do I have this conviction that greatness is my destiny – yet can only find evidence of decay, barrenness and corruption?

These were frequently the thoughts of David.  Indeed when he showed up at the battle with his brothers’ lunch pack, his older brother yelled at him. I Samuel 17[28] What are you doing here! Why aren’t you minding your own business, tending that scrawny flock of sheep? I know what you’re up to. You’ve come down here to see the sights, hoping for a ringside seat at a bloody battle!”

David learnt to celebrate God and what God had etched in his soul and not what was evident. He wrote these words.

Psalm139[14]  I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Psalm 139 [16]  Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. [17]  How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

Of all the characters in the Bible, David was perhaps the most denied, humiliated, desperate and terrified…so much that we read in 1 Samuel 21 [11]  And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? [12]  And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. [13]  And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. [14]  Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me? [15]  Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?

But “mad” David was the one God called the man after His heart, the one whose life replicated so much the sacrifice of the coming Messiah and whose praises, songs and obsession with God earned perhaps (apart from Jesus Christ himself) the most celebrated and prestigious title in the annals of scripture –  for Christ is called the son of David.

Join me in celebrating 49 years of greatness.  Nigeria, I pray that everything that was absent from God’s plan, on that day - before the foundations of the earth when you were conceived, will soon fade away. I do say the same prayer for someone out there reading  –  you will yet be celebrated in Christ Jesus. Amen.

More on God’s perspective on contemporary issues can be found in my recently published book Wealth out of Ashes .

For related articles and free subscription to articles by the author please click icon below.

Bode Ososami