Tag Archive for 2011

President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign promises

January 25, 2013 #NigeriaDecides, #RSVP, #whataboutus, Elections, Nigeria Politics, The Future, Women No comments
President Goodluck Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan

Sources: February & March 2011 editions of Daily Trust, Champion, Punch, Thisday, Vanguard & The Guardian newspapers; February & March 2011 editions of The News, Tell and Newswatch magazines; transcript of Goodluck Jonathan lone TV debate [1] as obtained from African Independent Television (AIT); Inaugural Presidential address of Goodluck Jonathan.

><>This was released by the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria                           

 

Infrastructural development

  • To revive  the rail system in the country
  • To complete Lagos to Jebba rail project
  • To intervene and revitalize the moribund Nigeria Machine Tools and other infrastructure owned by the federal government.
  • Government has budgeted N50b for job development and infrastructure
    • To modernize the ports
    • To complete the second River Niger bridge before the expiration of the tenure
    • To make the Minister of Works to immediately start repairs of the road  leading to Murtala Mohammed International Airport
  • To transform all major routes in Damaturu to federal roads
    • To assist in resuscitating all the collapsed industries in Kano state
    • To work towards making Akanu Ibiam airport in Enugu an international airport
    • To seek alternative funding means to repair the Benin-Ore road.
  • To set up a committee to review Federal government landed properties in Lagos, hand over those that should and retain those that should be in possession of the Federal Government.
  • To give Sokoto-Kotangora road unfettered attention Read more

2011–12 UEFA Champions League quarter-final fixtures

March 16, 2012 Perspective No comments

27 Mar 2012

19:45 Apoel Nicosia v Real Madrid

19:45 Benfica v Chelsea

28 Mar 2012

19:45 AC Milan v Barcelona

19:45 Marseille v Bayern Munich

3 Apr 2012

19:45 Barcelona v AC Milan

19:45 Bayern Munich v Marseille

4 Apr 2012

19:45 Chelsea v Benfica

19:45 Real Madrid v Apoel Nicosia

17 Apr 2012

19:45 Benfica/Chelsea v AC Milan/Barcelona

19:45 Marseille/Bayern Munich v Apoel Nicosia/Real Madrid

24 Apr 2012

19:45 AC Milan/Barcelona v Benfica/Chelsea

19:45 Apoel Nicosia/Real Madrid v Marseille/Bayern Munich

Open Heavens Devotional: WISDOM IN MERCY Saturday, December 31, 2011

December 31, 2011 Open Heavens, RCCG No comments

By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

 

MEMORIZE: “The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.” (Prov. 11:17).

 

READ: Proverbs 11:16-18

 

God’s wisdom is full of mercy (James 3:17). Matthew 5:7 says it is the merciful that will receive mercy. This means that mercy responds to the principle of sowing and reaping. If you want mercy, show mercy to those in need and you will reap its harvest. No wonder Proverbs 11:17 says the merciful is only being merciful to himself or herself. Has someone offended you and you feel like descending on the fellow with all your wrath? Remember that if only you can restrain yourself and show him or her some mercy, mercy will await you at your point of judgement. A lion was asleep one day when a little rat which was playing, mistakenly climbed over it and woke it up. Annoyed, the lion decided it would have the rat for breakfast. But the little rat pleaded for mercy reminding the lion that it might be its turn to save the lion someday. The lion was surprised at that rat’s effrontery and released it. The following day, while the rat resumed its play, it saw the lion in a serious pain, caught in a net. So, it chewed up the net and helped the lion to escape. The saying goes: ‘One good turn deserves another’. That housemaid, driver, cleaner, or messenger you do not regard today, may be your saving grace tomorrow. How merciful are you?

 

Any advice or strategy that abhors mercy is not of God. If it emanates from God, it will bear the nature of God – mercy. This is another way of testing if a counsel is from God or not. In addition, the wisdom of God is full of good fruits. If you are full of God’s wisdom it will show in the overflow of love, gentleness, joy, peace, etc., that will be released to the outside world (Gal 5:22-23). If you have wisdom, you will retain your joy. If you allow the troubles around to steal the joy inside you, your loss will be colossal! People have asked why I often laugh or crack jokes about the disturbing events taking place in our nation. The reason is, if you don’t laugh it off, you could develop hypertension. Learn to laugh about very disturbing events: “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones” (Prov. 17:22). The joy of the Lord is your strength. As long as you retain your joy, nobody can defeat you. The day you lose your joy, your vision, hope and future may go with it. Happy New year!

 

ACTION POINT

Your friends do not need your mercy; your enemies and offenders do; give it to them. Thank God for seeing the end of this year. Ask for grace to enter 2012 peacefully and victoriously.

 

Bible in One year: Gen 23-26

 

Open Heavens Devotional: AVOID FALSE DOCTRINES – Friday, December 30, 2011

December 30, 2011 Open Heavens, RCCG No comments

By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

MEMORIZE: “And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Tim 4:4).

READ: 2 Timothy 4:3-4

In His letter to the Church at Sardis, the Lord warned that they should be watchful (Rev. 3:2). Believers in Christ must watch against satanic wiles and temptations. Another area to watch against is false teachings and doctrines. In Acts 20:29-30, Paul warned the brethren that after his departure, some false teachers would rise up in their midst, targeting the flock. You would be amazed to know that many who are spearheading erroneous doctrines today, used to be sound in doctrine. They once wined and dined with genuine believers. They were numbered among the disciples of Jesus Christ. So, what brought about the change from truth to error? “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” (2 Tim 4:3). Those who go into error have their individual lusts-personal secrets they frolic with. If you find it difficult to accept the truth and instead of asking for grace, you decide to believe the alternative, you will end up in error. Besides, if you want to constantly apply common sense to interpret or understand God’s commands, you will end up with an alternative notion that runs contrary to God’s Word.

“Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes” (SOS 2:15). The margin between truth and error is very slim. Unable to see why God will put His children in the fire for ‘mere’ disobedience, some teachers and preachers that propagate common sense refuse to accept the doctrine of hell fire as taught in Scriptures. Rather, they say that after an individual dies, he or she goes into eternal sleep or becomes extinct. Unfortunately, God will not recognize His eternal set-up based on the opinions of men. Hell is real and people are there right now. More people go to hell every day. If you do not repent, you will end up in hell. There are some people who were told hell and Heaven exist only on earth, and that the rich are in Heaven while the poor are in hell. After death however, they found themselves in hell. They are now convinced, but sadly, when they begin to repent and confess their sins, they were told it was too late. The door of mercy is forever closed to them. Avoid anyone who adds to or subtract from God’s Word. Avoid those who want to give you an easy gospel. The way of Christ is narrow.

ACTION POINT

Teachers of the Gospel must be careful with what they are teaching lest they mislead others. Thank God for seeing the end of this year. Ask for grace to enter 2012 peacefully and victoriously.
 

Bible in One year: Gen. 20-22

Open Heavens Devotional: CHRIST FOR YOU – Thursday, December 29, 2011

December 29, 2011 Open Heavens, RCCG No comments

By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

MEMORIZE: “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

READ: Romans 8:31-33

There are different relational possibilities you can have by considering these phenomena: ‘Christ for you’ and ‘Christ with you’. Christ for you signifies divine approval or support. This has a tremendous implication because Romans 8:31 says, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us who can be against us?” When Christ is for you, no curse placed on you will work. When Balak tried to make prophet Balaam to curse the children of Israel, he met with a brick wall. In Numbers 23:8, Balaam confessed that it was impossible to curse the one God has blessed. If a Christian is affected by a curse, it is doubtful whether he or she has God’s support. If God is for you, there is no need to spend sleepless nights over enemies. Whenever I am faced with opposition, I turn to God to ask if I have His backing for what I am doing. As soon as He assures me that He is for me, I joyfully continue whatever I am doing. If God is for you, the whole world may be against you, yet you have nothing to worry about.

James 4:8 says to get God’s support; you must learn to draw closer to God. If your service to God is just lip service, you may never have His support. You must engage your heart in God’s service. In addition, when offering your services to God, do not think or say that you are serving a particular Church, or the General overseer of the Church. No Church or GO. can adequately compensate you. Also, do not claim to be serving God because He needs you, because He has billions of people who would serve Him if you do not. You are only serving God for your own sake. How are you serving God today? You will easily know those who have misconstrued their purpose of service. If you are easily discouraged by men, location, lack of provision and challenges in the face of an assignment, it shows you do not yet know why you are serving. If you truly understand that serving God is only an opportunity to help you access God’s blessings on earth, and live with Him eternally, there is nothing anyone will do that will stop you. It was with this understanding that Paul asked: ‘What shall separate us from God’s love?’ Nothing except you.

PRAYER POINT

Father, because you are for me, reverse every curse placed against me and my family.

Bible in One year: Gen. 16-19

Pictures from Calabar Carnival 2011

December 28, 2011 Entertainment, Events One comment

Pictures via @calabarfestival

Open Heavens Devotional: NO FOOLISH SPEAKING! – Wednesday, December 28, 2011

December 28, 2011 Open Heavens, RCCG One comment

By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

 

MEMORIZE: “The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.” (Eccl. 10:12).

 

READ: Ecclesiastes 10:11-14

 

“He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool” (Prov. 10:18). A mark of foolishness is slander. Engaging one’s lips in such a way as to damage the good opinions people hold about somebody through falsehood, is sin. God never gave you that tongue to pull down others but to build them up. Using your tongue to say false things about others, just because you want them to lose favour with those you are telling, is tongue abuse. It is only a fool who will lie against his or her neighbour. If what you want to say will not edify others, you are not under compulsion to speak: keep quiet! Gossiping, backbiting, and being talkative are injurious to the speaker. Ecclesiastes 10:12 says a fool’s mouth will swallow him or her up. It is a fool that is always having something to say even when there is nothing to say or reason to say it. Remember that you will account for every idle word that leaves your mouth (Matt 12:36-37). Many people are experiencing the limitations caused by their words (Prov. 6:2). Have you netted yourself up with such statements like, ‘I cannot achieve this or that?’ Release yourself today by speaking wholesome power-filled words, or else you will never get beyond that point your mouth has pegged you to.

 

In addition, the person who interferes in other people’s matter is a fool. Proverbs 20:3 says, “it is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling”. Some people are not at ease until they get involved in matters that do not concern them. A right thinking individual will happen on a scene and mind his or her business, but a busybody will come on the same scene and forget where he or she was headed. The distraction will suddenly become his or her major concern. It is foolishness. Are you a busybody? Do you get involved in matters that you were not invited into? Repent and mind your business. Get a direction for your life and apply your time wisely in achieving laudable goals. Stay out of foolish acts!

 

ACTION POINT

Father, erase the consequences of every verbal indiscretion in my life.

 

Bible in One year: Gen. 12-15

 

Open Heavens Devotional: GOD AND THE WISE – Tuesday, December 27, 2011

December 27, 2011 Open Heavens, RCCG No comments

By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

MEMORIZE: “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” (Prov. 2:6).

READ: 2 Chronicles 1:6-12

One thing we learn from the account in 2 Chronicles 1:6-12 is that wisdom is relative or comparative. This means, the wisdom of one person can be compared with that of another. If wisdom is relative, then it can grow. As a young boy, Solomon was wise enough to offer God an unprecedented sacrifice. He was wise enough to ask for wisdom. This is a display of unusual wisdom. However, by the time God granted his request, he had such wisdom that made him incomparable to other wise people across the globe. This means that if you are already wise, you can be wiser. You can never have too much of wisdom! The more wisdom you have, the more successful you will be.

Similarly, there are two kinds of strength. The natural and the supernatural strength. The natural strength is the one possessed by youths. 1 John 2:14 says, “I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one”. Natural strength comes from eating the right food and resting. Yet, there is supernatural strength. In Mark 5:1-4, the demons in the Gadarene demoniac so empowered him that no one could tame him. With bare hands he could tear chains and handcuffs apart. In the same way, the Holy Spirit can empower His own vessel like it happened to Samson. When a lion attacked Samson in Judges 14:5-6, the Holy Spirit came upon him and he tore the lion with ease.

God is wiser than the wisest men and His foolishness is higher than man’s wisdom. Daniel says, He is the One who gives wisdom to the wise (Dan. 2:20-21). If He gives wisdom to the wise, He should definitely have more wisdom than those He gives. Isaiah 40:28 says His understanding cannot be found out. He is far too clever for you to comprehend. When someone has a Ph.D. in Mathematics, he only knows so much about so little. However, God is the One who knows everything about every subject on the face of the earth; hence, He is the God of knowledge. He can give you knowledge and wisdom. Are you willing to receive from Him? Ask Him today!

PRAYER POINT

Ask God for unsurpassed wisdom, knowledge and understanding in every facet of your life.

Bible in One year: Gen. 10-11

Open Heavens Devotional: FORGIVE YOUR DEBTORS – Monday, December 26, 2011

December 26, 2011 Open Heavens, RCCG No comments

By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

 

MEMORIZE: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” (Matt 6:12).

 

READ: Matthew 6:9-15

 

The wisdom of God is pure, peaceable and gentle. Another attribute of divine wisdom according to James 3:17 is that it is easily entreated. That means it easily forgives. In the Lord’s Prayer recorded in Matthew 6:9-15, our Lord Jesus Christ spoke about forgiveness. Verse 11 and 12 are key here. Verse 11 says, “Give us this day our daily bread”. This scripture tells us how much we ought to depend on God. An outstanding truth here is that no matter your size or strength, without God’s assistance, you cannot provide yourself with your daily bread. This is why I always smile when I hear someone address a particular individual as the ‘bread winner’. If you want to go to work and God withdraws His support for your legs, they will not be able to function. There are many people who have legs but cannot walk with them. People say they have a stroke. If God withdraws His hand from your intellect, you will suddenly lose all your faculties. If you have even executed a contract and God withdraws His support, you may never be paid or you may not be alive on the date of payment. There are many people who staked all they had on a project only to be told there was no money after completion. God is the true Bread Winner, not your husband or wife or your parents.

 

 

The fact that you need Him everyday is the reason you cannot afford to live in un-forgiveness. Matt 6:12 says, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”. It did not say, ‘Help us to give’. If you want to forgive, it is in your power. The grace is available. The issue is whether you are willing or not. Contrary to the prayers of some, you do not require any further assistance from God to forgive. He has already put what you need to do so in place. If fail to forgive others, your sins will be recorded and held against you, starting from that moment you failed to forgive. In addition, you will observe that there is a tendency to begrudge those who owe you financially or materially. If someone has owed you some amount of money for several years, and your mind is still on it and you feel bad towards debtor all the time, it is time you wrote off that debt and ask God to pay you instead, so that your way to Heaven will not be unhindered? Many people may go to hell for holding grudges against their debtors.

 

KEY POINT

Is anyone owing you and causing you bitterness and resentment? Forgive the fellow and write off the debt.

 

Bible in One year: Gen. 6-9

 

Open Heavens Devotional: EARNEST IN PRAYER – Sunday, December 25, 2011

December 25, 2011 Open Heavens, RCCG No comments

By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

MEMORIZE: “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.” (James 5:17).

READ: James 5:17-18

God expects a lot from His servants and true representatives. Leadership transcends title or honour; it is a matter of exemplary service in all areas of life. Apostle Paul was a good role model for Timothy hence, he instructed him to reciprocate such exemplary lifestyle in all activities (1 Tim 4:12-13). One veritable area that the Christian leader should not joke with is his or her prayer life. The prayer life of an ecclesiastical leader must be worthy of emulation by members of his or her congregation. A prayer-less pulpit is not only powerless but also useless. The progress the Early Church recorded in their day was because of the level of prayers they invested into it. Ministry, or any spiritual assignment, cannot move forward without the oil of prayer. How prayerful are you? To what extent do you pray for your family, Church members, leaders or ministry? Or have you stopped praying, hoping that you are totally covered by past prayer efforts?

If prayers were evaluated, you would discover that not everyone who prays receives result. A leader who prays like just any other member may have very little to show for his or her efforts. God calls us to earnest prayers like that of our Lord Jesus Christ. To get results, leaders must arise and pray earnestly, forcefully, purposefully and productively. At the Garden of Gethsemane, the Lord gave us an example of earnest prayers, although He had followed that pattern all through His lifetime. Earnest prayer involves the spirit, soul and body. It enables you to bear serious burdens and present them to God through intensive intercession. You will know when you are engaged in this kind of prayer because it will take something from you. Your body must pay a price whenever you engage in this kind of prayer. At Gethsemane, the Lord’s body emitted sweat as thick as blood while engaged in this kind of prayer.

In other words, Jesus had started shedding His blood while engaging in earnest prayer before He went to the Cross. Jacob lost a leg while wrestling with God during such a prayer. Elijah also had to pay a price during such fervent prayers. It is a type of prayer that when you are through, you will need to pray to God to be able to recover what you have lost. Earnest prayer reaches Heaven at the fastest speed. How often do you do this?

ACTION POINT

Believers are not just called to pray but to pray in a way that Heaven cannot turn down their requests. How do you pray? Lead a soul to Christ today!

Bible in One year: Gen 3-5

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