Tuesday 29 December 2015

HAVING POWER TO MAKE MONEY NOW! By Felix N.Jarikre.




One elusive secret that your soul’s adversary is not eager for you to mentally grasp is that money, seemingly harmless and neutral, actually has power to control and oppress your thoughts. If you are ignorant of this, you will struggle with slave labour, flirting with poverty. And when you are shy of the solution, you’d find that making money to you is a perplexing, dicey adventure on a stormy sea.  The challenge for many today is how to degrade money, and abolish its power to control our thoughts.  Really, it takes even a certain audacity to contemplate sharing your thinking along that line.

Now Jesus was under no illusion that the battle for souls was between God and money-power otherwise called Mammon. Money is not just a neutral and harmless piece of paper or coin. What makes money dangerous and deadly? It is because money has power to control and oppress people’s thoughts. If this power is not abolished or neutralized in our heart and mind, we become worthless and useless in the hand of the Maker of the Universe.

Prophet Isaiah said something in chapter 55 of his book in the Bible that was challenging and clearly subversive of human thought pattern:
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness? ... Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts... For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD...For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

The late crime-novelist, James Hadley Chase, popularised a saying many years ago through a title of one of his fast-selling novels: “You are dead without money.” Like someone that has caught onto some great intuition, we repeated that statement at the drop of a hat with a rueful smile. It was so realistic and unarguable. The harsh reality of being without money is so brutal and unsparing. It’s an experience to be desperately avoided by many who want to retain their hold on sanity. For example, who’s that child of a poor, struggling parent that could forget the shame and humiliation of being sent away from school for not being able to pay school fees at a particular term? Have you ever woken up, and not knowing where the next meal would come from to survive the day?  To suffer the indignity and tension of being harassed by your landlord for non-payment of rent when it is due is not a scenario that you want to experience. Definitely, for many, it’s fool-hardy and unrealistic to argue James Hadley Chase’s “You are dead without money.”

Though it made sense to us, Isaiah the prophet clearly repudiated that saying. As far as he was concerned, the saying that “you are dead without money” went to expose a wicked, unreasonable, rebellious thought. He says YOU CAN PURCHASE WHATEVER EXPENSIVE AND COSTLY THING THAT YOU DESIRE WITHOUT MONEY AND WITHOUT PRICE. He was not quibbling or equivocating. The scripture was emphatic: DON’T LET THE LACK OF MONEY STOP YOU FROM PURCHASING AND USING WHAT YOU THIRST AND CRAVE FOR.  Hmmm, this is serious! Can I just walk into a car dealer shop, pick the latest brand of Toyota or Ford, and drive off, without money exchanging hands? Would I just memorize the selected scripture of Isaiah, quote it loudly and clearly to the car salesman, praying he would come into understanding?
Realistically, no! It does not work that way. The immediate aim of Isaiah was to DEGRADE money, resist, paralyze and destroy its POWER to control and oppress the hearts and minds of men and women everywhere. Why? 

The dreams and visions of many to transform their lives and communities have crashed while taking-off on the altar of poverty and inadequacy. Due to lack of money, the dreams of many to achieve something worthwhile for their lives have suffered stillbirth. Many have learned to cope and adjust themselves to poverty and scarcity because they are afraid to be disappointed. Desperate to survive, many have turned to prostitution of bodies and souls. Over the ages, some smart, diabolical intellectuals, idolised as giants of faith, have even crafted their own theology to justify why people should embrace poverty  while hoping for the paradise that awaits them on their departure from earth. Poems have remained unwritten, songs unsung, books unwritten, films languishing in the realm of day-dreams and vain positive thinking because their protagonists are perplexed as to where to get the money to finance their dreams. 

Hear Jehovah’s inexorable counsel from Isaiah’s writing: INSTEAD OF KEEPING YOUR LIFE IN SUSPENDED ANIMATION, WAITING FOR MONEY TO PURCHASE WHAT YOU DESIRE, FOCUS INSTEAD WITH LASER-INTENSITY ON DOING SATISFACTORY LABOUR. Your labour is the only bread that can satisfy (i.e. leaves nothing to be desired) you and others. SATISFACTORY LABOUR IS SUPREME. Forget the classical Economics that you learned from school. SATISFACTORY LABOUR IS CAPITAL!! When you focus on producing something of value, or providing a service to empower, and not defraud others, you are doing a satisfactory labour. 

You see, our lives can only have meaning when we spend our time trying to resolve the challenges of others. Now that sounds simple, and even appealing, but it cannot be accomplished in our own natural strength. You require the power of God to resolve the challenges of others, which indeed is the satisfactory labour. To put this in place, you must jettison, abandon or reject the conviction or mental persuasion that you need money to make things happen! I can even see you now, shaking your head with incredulity.  Of course, I can relate if that sounds incredulous in your ears. Still, we can’t escape that conclusion. 

To the people’s enquiry as to how they might work the works of God, Jesus said: “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
How can you believe the Word of God, and remain stagnant and powerless? Is it not hypocrisy to claim you believe the Word of God while wrestling with destitution? How can you say you believe the Word of God, and have no hesitation to embrace and justify your poverty with religious platitudes? No, you certainly cannot retrogress by believing God!

Truly, if the storm of confusion in our heads can be cleared, and we come to the mental persuasion that it takes only the inexorable power of God to make things happen, making money will be easy breeze!

Felix N.Jarikre.
If you are encouraged and empowered by this post in any way,please feel free to share it. SHARING IS CARING! We welcome your comments as your stories,testimonies or questions relating to the topic can help to enrich the conversation. Thank you!





Sunday 27 December 2015

Relocate To Sambisa Forest,Fayose Tells Lai Mohammed. By Felix N.Jarikre.

Ayo Fayose.



Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has advised the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, to relocate to Sambisa or Maiduguri in Borno State and move around there without heavy military security to prove to Nigerians that indeed Boko Haram had been defeated.
Relying on divine intervention as last resort, the governor also appealed to Nigeria to pray for President Mohammed Buhari to find solution to the country’s security and economic challenges.

Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor said: “Only God’s intervention can save Nigeria from the present economic and security problems as it is glaring that the man running the affairs of the country at the federal level does not have any answer to the problems. Even the Holy Bible said in James 1:5 that if any one lacks wisdom, he must ask God and as it is, Nigerians must assist the President in asking for wisdom and understanding to tackle the country’s economic and security problems before Nigeria is further plunged into more woes with the Federal Government’s decision to borrow N2.2 tn, which translates to N6.066 bn per day to finance the 2016 budget.”

Fayose described the Federal Government’s announced reduction of petrol pump price from N87 to N85 per litre as a continuation of the All Progressives Congress government’s governance by deceit.
He said, “Even secondary school students of economics know that you cannot deregulate and regulate at the same time. It is only in a confused and clueless economy that government will plan to spend more when revenue has reduced by more than 50 percent.”

Maintaining that petrol would not sell below N100 per litre in 2016, Fayose added: “Even now that the price is N87 and subsidy is yet to be removed, Nigerians are buying at between N130 and N300 per litre, What will now happen when they remove subsidy and allow market forces to determine the price?”

Describing as “strange” the claim by the Information Minister that Boko Haram insurgents had been defeated, the governor said Nigeria would only take the minister serious if he relocates to either Sambisa in Borno State or Maiduguri and stay there till the end of March next year without heavy military presence. 

He said, “To show their level of confusion, two days after the Minister of Information declared that Boko Haram had been defeated, President Buhari said the government would persuade Boko Haram to abandon their fight.”

Wednesday 23 December 2015

GARLAND OR GALLOWS FOR LINDA IKEJI? By Caleb Jarikre.

Linda Ikeji.



If you are looking for a classic original bad belle masquerading as a brave, patriotic investigation on corrupt media practices in Nigeria, look no further than Madam Kemi Olunloyo’s recent incoherent rant on Twitter. This self-acclaimed international journalist tweeted angrily that she was prompted to talk because Linda Ikeji blocked her on Twitter. She brazenly claimed without providing concrete evidence that Linda Ikeji was allegedly paid N240m by Dudafa Waripamo (SA Domestic to former President Goodluck Jonathan) to kill a certain story.

Accusing Linda Ikeji of using blackmail money to acquire a N600m house in Banana Island, she wrote that the top blogger should quit fronting that it was her hard-earned money from honest blogging that brought her this far. With her experience of 20 years as an investigative journalist, she claimed she had the story that Linda Ikeji allegedly killed, promising to publish it only when Dudafa Waripamo is caught.

Linda Ikeji.

Unable to hide the fact that she was afflicted with a bad case of envy towards Linda Ikeji for “flaunting her wealth,” Madam Kemi Olunloyo went on to tweet that EFCC should invite Linda Ikeji for questioning, and seize her assets. Despite trying unsuccessfully to manufacture a public outrage against Linda Ikeji with Dasukigate, Madam Kemi Olunloyo was not able to connect how money meant to kill terrorists ended up in Linda Ikeji’s pocket.

Clearly, this is not investigative journalism, but a parody of a low-grade witch-hunt brewed in the envy-soaked brain of a desperate woman looking for unmerited attention. Her unsuccessful attempts to prosecute, persecute and convict Linda Ikeji on Twitter by tenuously linking her famed affluence to Dasukigate is malice taken too far. Working hard for your money is an admirable trait that should be emulated, not derided, minimized or criminalized. Linda Ikeji worked hard for her money; and favour apparently has kissed her efforts!

That Madam Kemi Olunloyo has not been able to translate her so-called international journalism and blogging into a measurable financial success is no reason to think every other blogger out there should be like her. Falling into the category of those who labour without favour like her is not a prayer to be wished on your worst enemies. Yes, it is still possible to earn more than a “modest income” from blogging, and if that goal appears to be impossible for Kemi Olunloyo, may she continue to labour under her delusion!

Not one to be reticent or shy about defending herself, Linda Ikeji has since come out with a public statement. She wrote: “ Seriously for the record, no party registered or unregistered, no human being dead or alive gave me N240m for anything. The only advert I did for PDP was a page background take-over for former President Jonathan, and they asked for the space after I did a page background take-over for APC’s Akinwunmi Ambode. I had a politics advert rate which I sent to everyone who wanted to advertise on LIB.”

 
Madam Kemi Olunloyo.
  
In the Bible, Haman, out of blind hatred and envy, prepared a gallows to hang Mordecai, but his diabolical scheme was disappointed when  Haman instead  was hanged on the gallows, and his entire wealthy estate transferred to Mordecai, his worst enemy! One can only hope Madam Kemi Olunloyo does not turn herself into another Haman of her generation! As for me and my house, I think Linda Ikeji deserves a garland for her gallant success, and not gallows!

Sunday 6 December 2015

WISDOM: PRIMAL DESIRE OF A HUMAN HEART. By FELIX N.JARIKRE.


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Noel is heart-broken, struggling not to be depressed because his life appeared to be surrounded by failure and stagnation. The fight it seems has been beaten out of him, his zeal and enthusiasm drained. He is unable to pay his children’s school fees when they fall due. His health is not too good. His marriage is strained due to his constant struggle to make ends meet with his low-level salary that is resistant to an upgrade. He has gone on several long fasts to change the story of his life for good, but the results he gets seems to be mocking his efforts. “Where have I gone wrong? I am not even sure if I understand faith anymore. What sin have I committed that is preventing me from promotion and laughter?” He asked.  I listened to him attentively, and suddenly it occurred to me that despite his zeal, Noel had a wisdom problem.

When your prayer requests are neglected without explanation, that’s a clear message that you have a wisdom problem. When your expectations are serially disappointed, despite investing your best efforts in prayer and fasting, God is driving you towards the arena of wisdom. Yes, for those who think it strange that God is a Master Specialist at disappointing believers, I come as a disrupter  to burst your bubble of illusions.

Now it takes affliction to provoke your desire for wisdom. As painful and unwanted as it is, affliction, being the “leaven” of the earth, has only come to expand your capability and influence. To despise or neglect wisdom when you are afflicted – mentally or physically- is to be oppressed. To embrace wisdom when you are afflicted is to be exalted and empowered. So how do you comprehend and grasp wisdom? Where can wisdom be found?  Left alone, without being prompted by affliction, it is easy for anyone to neglect wisdom because there is no way it could be located, talk-less of being recognized, based on whatever level of knowledge that you have.

Psalm chapter 119 verse 67 says: “Before I was afflicted, I went astray...” When your rent is due, and your capability to settle is zero, what do you do?  When you are threatened with being drowned in a sea of debts, is it money or wisdom you should ask for? Let me quickly say this, before we go further, that at the onset of affliction, to be full of praise, instead of getting depressed, makes wisdom available. 
 
In his book, James wrote that we should steadfastly rejoice when we fall into diverse temptations. Temptation, another word for affliction, here means that whatever you have learned is prevented from solution when you are challenged  - health-wise, monetary-wise etc. That indeed whatever level of knowledge you have acquired is stalemated, suffering the paralysis of analysis, and a resolution is far from you, elusive. James counselled that we should let rejoicing replace our offended mentality when we are afflicted. By our jubilation instead of complaining, we welcome the intervention of wisdom. TO HAVE WISDOM IS TO WANT NOTHING ELSE! Solomon asked for wisdom, yet abundant wealth and riches, long life, health, influence, and other good things he never asked for came to him! For the point of emphasis, as if he was eager to destroy our cluelessness, James pressed further to say: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God...” WISDOM COMES TO THOSE WHO REHEARSE THEIR PRAISE INSTEAD OF ADVERTIZING THEIR PAIN. WISDOM COMES TO THOSE WHO WAIT! 

It takes wars, insurmountable challenges or conflicts for wisdom to stage a counter-attack. Make no mistake. Christianity is not a palliative, consolatory religion for the insecure, timid and cowardly heart. And contrary to Karl Marx’s speculation that it is an “opium of the masses” Christianity is a wake-up call, a marching order for its adherents to do battle against malevolent forces who threaten to downgrade their capabilities and minimize their impact. As simple as it is designed to be, serving God has never been an enterprise for the timid, unadventurous soul who is perpetually afraid of troubles and persecutions. If you are afraid of troubles and persecutions, you will lack the ability to register your impact. To be fearful of conflicts will neutralize your potential, leaving it unexplored.

For those who take the responsibility to serve God after heeding the divine call, it has always been an uneasy, painful, and even perilous journey, an exercise in perplexity and stress management. 

For Adam and his woman, the need not to violate the divine command forbidding them to eat the tree of knowledge kept them fasting – deprived temporarily of their sustenance in order to dress and keep the garden – until the Serpent took the stage, pretending to resolve their perplexity and end their pain. Abraham, the inheritor of the earth, was told his seed would be afflicted in a foreign land for 400 years; later, as a test, he was instructed to kill his long-awaited seed, Isaac, on the altar of sacrifice! Isaac, the true heir, had the blessing with nothing to show on the surface that he was wealthy beyond measure. Rejecting his fear and under-cover life, it took his sowing during famine in the land of Gerar for his wealth and greatness to manifest. Jacob who had the Abraham’s blessing started from zero in Syria, having fled there to escape the wrath of his brother, Esau.  Holding the sceptre of ruler-ship through his dreams, Joseph was enslaved and imprisoned. Israel was commanded to conquer and take-over the rich land of Canaan owned by seven greater and mightier nations. If you ask me, this is big trouble!

It should be clear now that God does not mind how many times you are disappointed, afflicted or conflicted until you embrace wisdom. Why?  According to God’s original purpose, it takes wisdom for you to be productive and fruitful without being injurious to your environment. So how do we locate and appropriate wisdom?
Job chapter 28; from verse 12 says: But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living. The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me. It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. The gold and the crystal cannot equal it; and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold. Whence then cometh wisdom, and where is the place of understanding? Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air. Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears. God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.

Man does not know the value or price of wisdom because it cannot be found in the land of the living. The value of wisdom cannot be exchanged with the pricey treasures of the entire earth. Nobody but God knows the place where wisdom can be found. It is not found in the sea. You cannot find it in the depth of the earth. Destruction and death cannot handle wisdom. It is this kind of wisdom that will make you to have wealth and success that cannot be explained. When people close to you have given up on your ability to get married as a woman, it takes wisdom to rescue you from shame. Truly, it takes wisdom, not even money, to satisfy the desire of the human heart.
Felix N.Jarikre.