Monday 27 April 2015

THE DEATH SERIES: EPISODE 3: THE HEAVEN DILEMA

Hello family... Top of the morning to you,  it's getting hotter as this series goes on... several people have called to chastize me while some others have called to agree with me...
However i owe anyone who disagrees no apology, we are sometimes so entrenched in the status quo that we find it hard to understand Truth even when it's light shines directly on us.

Anyway i will be glad to answer any questions, simply direct them to tgbamila@gmail.com

Today we go straight to EPISODE 3: THE HEAVEN DILEMA

As usual a strange title, but if I must be honest to myself I am really in a dilema as regards the existence of Heaven to the believer.( Hold on, I have not back slided yet) but everytime I see a death and the attendant reactions from christians I am forced to wonder if Heaven is real.



I grew up hearing stories about the beauty of Heaven, how the streets are paved with gold and how there are crowns waiting for the believer who gets there.  However the only downside to it is that it is not immediately accessible to us. we have to wait for either death or for the rapture.
I remember a particular sunday school where a little boy stood up, raised his hands and said, "Aunty, why can't we all go to heaven now?" the adults burst into laughter.

Herein lies my Dilema; if heaven is real with all the attendant glory, and the only two ways to access it is either death or rapture, how come those are the two occurences most dreaded by the church today. the mention of the second coming of Christ in some churches today seems like taboo, whilst every prayerband is praying against the spirit of death. A secular musician who got puzzled had to sing "...Nobody wan die but them wan go heaven..."

As much as Christ has conquered death and given us access to life, if death is the only way to get to heaven for now, since Christ tarries, then why are christians so terrified of dying? does it mean they do not really believe what they confess about heaven being a better place? does it mean some believers do not really believe what they profess?

Apostle Paul was so happy to die, he said he had fought a good fight, had finished the race and was now ernestly waiting for the crown Christ will give him on the day of reckoning and then he made a profound statement that not only him, but a prize also awaits those who look forward eagerly to the day of Christ's coming.

I was listening to Benefit of Death recently, a message preached by Archbishop Benson Idahosa before he passed on to glory and I heard this "Pa Elton said to me Don't raise me from the dead when I die infact 6hours after I die bury me.. I have served God for 56years... I have done every thing God asked me to do. Don't buy a coffin, wrap me in a cloth and bury me; use the money for coffin to buy tracts and share to people And that's exactly what we did" -
Archbishop B.A Idadosa.

in my opinion that was a man who firmly believed in Heaven, and wanted to go there. his instruction "...Don't raise me from the dead when i die" is instructive. he knew he had lived a life of purpose and he was ready to go home to be with the lord.


My conclusion is this, The minute you truly believe Heaven is real and heaven awaits you when you die, you stop being afraid of death and concentrate on making maximum impact here on earth because you know your time here on earth is limited. that way when the master comes to take you home, you stretch your arms to him lovingly saying "Receive me."

Inspiration is the Gateway to Transformation
#GetInspired

Saturday 25 April 2015

THE DEATH SERIES: EPISODE 2: WHY LONG LIFE?

I hope you enjoyed Episode 1 and i hope you got blessed? if you want me to expantiate more on how you can prepare for death like i suggested in episode 1 stay tuned and i'm sure by the end of the series you will be better educated.


Today's episode is titled Why Long Life?

First of all please don't get me wrong i am not against people having a full and long life, what i am against is having a long life void of impact. i feel like of what use is it living till 120 years of age as a liability being carried about, what use is it being 75years old and you are a security man on a street earning less than 5,000 a month and you are still praying for long life? i feel somehow when you see 80years old men living under the bridge or on the streets(you think i'm exagerrating? you need to visit Lagos) and still praying for long life. Long life is good, but why not make it worth it?

Many times i thank God that he doesn't think like man, because if he did i'm quite sure many who have failed to discover purpose would have been withdrawn from the earth long ago... however that's a conversation for another day.

Why long life? when next you decide to pray for long life, imagine God asking you why do you want to live long? and watch out for your answers

i came across a post by a Pastor Friend of mine that asked a factual question that i throw to you today...
Which is the better prayer: TO DIE OLD
                                              or
                                      TO DIE EMPTY


in other words it is possible for one to live to very old age and yet not use up to 30percent of the potentials deposited in him. to me that is a wasted life; however one can  die at a relatively young age and yet have lived life to it's fullest capacity, emptying all his/her God given ability into the world in the time spent here on earth.

Jesus Died at the age of 33 and yet you would agree with me that  he had fulfilled purpose on earth
Archbishop Idahosa died at the age of 60 and you would agree with me that he had lived life to capacity.
Myles Munroe also died at the age of 60 and if you think he didn't fulfill purpose then think again

Now while i would personally have loved that these people had lived longer(so i could get to meet them personally and get impacted more) yet their minisrty proves they left lasting legacies behind.

hence, a long life does not automatically mean a fulfilled life. neither does the fact that a person doesn't live to be 80, 90 or 100 years old mean that he didn't fulfil destiny.



My conclusion on the matter is this, longlife is good, but make sure it's purpose driven, in the words of Myles Munroe(1954-2014) " the greatest tragedy in life is not death, but life without purpose"
so when next you open your mouth to pray ask yourself, Do i pray to to die old or to die empty?
God Bless You.  have a great weekend

Inspiration is the Gateway to Transformation
#GetInspired

Thursday 23 April 2015

THE DEATH SERIES: EPISODE 1: PREPARE FOR DEATH

Calvary greetings to my very lovely friends, family, well wishers and fans, and even first time readers,

I know the topic seems kinda scary but I must say it is a topic that needs to be talked about.


I'll be talking from several perspectives during these episodes and I hope you all flow along with me as I attempt to look at things from an angle that defies the status quo. The articles will also not be lengthy but just enough to spark up new patterns of reasoning

Disclaimer: Please I know I might offend the Religious sensibilities of some people, please pardon me, it is not a religious post and I am simply committed to viewing things as they are:
Finally my aim is to Demystify Death and thus making death lose it's power on the child of God. Join me on this series
EPISODE 1 is titled: PREPARE FOR DEATH


What exactly is death? the Dictionary defines death as- the action or fact of dying or being killed; the end of the life of a person or organism.
 and truly for all intent and purposes this definition serves

Now the truth is this: even from primary school days or was it early secondary school days when we were taught attributes of living things (MR NIGER D) we have all known that death is the final end of man. however, although intellectually we all know that one day we shall die, generally we are so reluctant to think of our death that this knowledge does not touch our hearts, and we live our life as if we were going to be in this world forever.

As a result the things of this world – such as material possessions, reputation, popularity, and the pleasures of the senses – become of paramount importance, so we devote almost all our time and energy to obtaining them and engage in many negative actions for their sake. We are so preoccupied with the concerns of this life that there is little room in our mind for genuine spiritual practice. When the time of death actually arrives we discover that by having ignored death all our life we are completely unprepared.


My dad's favourite saying on death is: "It is only a fool that does not prepare for what he cannot avoid"


he would at intervals call us and say, when I die, I want you to do this and do that... as at the time I was 15years old, I knew my father wanted to be buried anywhere he died, he didn't want any transporting of his body from one state to the other and most importantly he didn't want anyone to borrow even a kobo to bury him. by the way i'm in my late 20's now and my dad is still very much alive and well, but we all know what to do and what steps to take if he dies, or if his wife(of course my mum) dies or if they both die.

Another recent case is that handled by one of my Pastors(I won't say his name for confidential reasons) where by the time the man died, his family rushed in with a list of all the man's proiperties to make sure the wife didn't hide anything. they stripped this woman empty even before the burial, then proceded to put her through all sort of inhumane experiences in this age and time all in the name of culture.


There have been several other scenarios of people who die unexpectedly leaving their family with huge bills to settle in burial and other things, there have been cases of people who have numerous assets but die without disclosure hence their family live in poverty after their deaths.


Hence my first conclusion for today is simple: I won't in anyway stop anyone from praying for longlife  but While Praying For Long life and prosperity, start preparing for death... make physical plans to have your estate in order, to take care of family and children (if any) basically do all you can to make life easier for those you will leave behind...

Inspiration Is The Gateway To Transformation
#GetInspired

Thursday 16 April 2015

IT COMES AROUND

 
Good Afternoon guys, Trust you are all having a great day, i decided to share this inspiring true life story so you can realize it is good to be good.
His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his toolsand ran to the bog.
There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death

The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.
'I want to repay you,' said the nobleman. 'You saved my son's life.'
'No, I can't accept payment for what I did,' the Scottish farmer replied waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.
'Is that your son?' the nobleman asked.
'Yes,' the farmer replied proudly.
'I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own son will enjoy If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of.' And that he did.
Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.

Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia.
What saved his life this time? Penicillin.

The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill .. His son's name?
Sir Winston Churchill.

Someone once said: What goes around comes around. If you are passionate about helping others get what they need, you will abundantly get what you want.

Work like you don't need the money.

Love like you've never been hurt.

Dance like nobody's watching.

Sing like nobody's listening.

Live like it's Heaven on Earth and right beside you is God in person....

#GetInspired

Wednesday 1 April 2015

Busy Being Productive

***peeps in ***
 Anyone in here???
***Dusts cobwebs***
oya make una no vex... i know say some of una go don dey boil for me, mhen una Minister Effizey don go thru plenty plenty stress in this season all in a effort to become better...

i must tell you, it has not been easy,  I just finished three major events,
1. First Semester Exams(Yesso i am a M.A Student of Christian Religious Education) surprised? not at all, The bible Instructs us to Study to show ourselves approved so i have been doing Just that. and i can tell you that mhen, even studying the bible no easy ooo, if you see the tough tough questions the lecturers set i almost began doubting their annoinging, (as in like Pastors no suppose harsh like secular lecturers na)
2. I told you all earlier in the year that i was through with the manuscript of my book. Well i just finished the interesting process that turns a manuscript to a finished work. the book has been shipped off for publishing and will let you know as soon as we have a date for the official Launching

3. In the midst of all these My birthday came...(awww) yea i know i was supposed to have talked about it, but at times i was so busy i even forgot to eat... and as usual with every birthday of mine(the ones i remember ooo, cos attimes i dey forget my birthday, but that na story for another day)

well all in all, i am back and committed to giving you the best of inspirational blogging money can't buy.

Just before i sign out for tody, i realized something, i have been busy these past few months but with notable improvements(even my pidgin use don improve abi?) but a lot of people in my generation are very busy doing nothing. we are caught up in the hustle and bustle of the day and nothing to show for it afterwards. a very close friend once told me, effizey, sincerely i am so tired because i have been running around all week, but i can't even place my finger on what i have achieved.

 and my conclusion is the nugget i'll leave you with tonight...
 " You cannot afford to live life going with the flow, you have to learn to live deliberately"- Minister Effizey

have a fabulous night rest. God bless you.

Inspiration is the Gateway to Transformation
#GetInspired