How Important Are You?

It is good to be important before men, and especially before God. It is good to be singled out among men who called upon God on a daily basis. Everybody wants to be eligible to receive, but not all are willing to do that which is required. Everybody wants to be privileged, but not all want to do what it takes to be privileged.

What exactly makes a man important before God?

How important is your God to you? Is God a Nokia 3310 that can fall anytime and you pick it up or an iphone 6 that you are so careful with? How important? Because the more the importance you apportion to God, the more the importance God apportion to you. Therefore, the blessing of a man is determined by the importance of God in His life. In the book of Genesis, it was written that Abraham saw those three men and ran from the tent door to meet them-a lesson we must all learn. Many of us in that position will not move an inch seeing those visitors in the heat of the day, many will walk majestically and few, very few will run! That same day, Sarah became a woman blessed with the ability to give birth.

Many of us break our fasting because we have visitors, many receive calls in the church, many ping in the presence of their God, and many chat on social sites while they are in the fellowship before God. If you honour Him, you should not pick your calls when having a quiet moment with your God. How important is your God to you?

It is not just our righteousness that put us in favour with God but God’s goodness and mercy; His generosity towards mankind. How can we then make God exceedingly willing to bless us? I realized recently that one of such ways is how you love and reference him. responses to questions like chief, how did you make it? Aha it is the lord’s doing before adding your other activities moves God more! David understood this secret when he wrote the song in Ps 16: 5,6 that God is the portion of our inheritance, and that God maintains our lot.

As we reference God more in lives, may His blessings continue to rain on us in Jesus name.

The Strategy that Worked

I have heard the story many times. I have read it myself a couple of times, but I have never thought of this until recently. Though, the atmosphere was new as he was just arriving in this village, he immediately fell in love with this beautiful damsel but like all love stories, there was a price or better still prices to be paid to get the love of his life.

He recognized this line that price (s) are attached to every endeavour in human life, so the young man told his potential father in-law that he would work for him  for 2,555 days and at the end would expect him to pay by given him his daughter’s hand in marriage. Both parties signed and the contract was sealed. After the 2,555 days as expected, humans are liable to disappoint, rather than give him the daughter agreed on, he gave him her elder sister which was not mentioned in the agreement. To summarize the story, he had to serve for extra days all over to get the love of his life. So, destiny gave him two wives from the same father which he never prepared for. Then unfold another new story.

This new story in the old one is not new but new because relative to the old one to an extent has never been told, so that is what makes it new. The deal that went sore was fixed because this man had to work for another extra 2,555days but it generated another situation for someone who had never wished to be part of the problem. The first wife who had been unprepared for, battled a lifelong problem, she was faced with a day to day hatred from the man who was supposed to love her, the man who was her husband.

As she struggled with the present situation, one day, she made up her mind to do whatever it takes to make the man she was married to love her in return. She would wake up early to give him food, respected him, eulogise him when he was angry, adore him all the time, but it did not work rather, the hatred her husband had for her grew beyond measure. Then she looked inward and asked herself an important question on what her sister did not have that she can provide to cushion the effect of the hatred she faced on a daily basis; what searched for what would make her have an edge over her rival. Sooner than later she gave birth to a baby boy and named him love because she believed her husband would now loved her for given him a boy, but the hatred did not change levels. She gave birth to another bouncing baby boy while her rival has no child of her own. So she decided to name him affection because of the same reason. But no, there was no change in the degree of hatred she faced. She gave birth again, as usual, a boy and said this time my husband would be forced to be attached to me because of her three sons, so she named him unity. Like love and affection, Unity neither helped to alleviate nor reduce the problem.

She was tired in her trial, but she did not lose hope and gave birth to yet another one. This time her strategy changed. She told herself. Love did not do it, Affection failed, likewise Unity, but one thing is certain. The lord God is worthy to be praised and she named her fourth child Praise.

When everything fails, try praises. Somebody said praising God or not does not change the status of God. God will always be God in all situations but praising him can draw his attention towards us, putting us in his favour.  The psalmist said in all things praise him. When the situation seems to remain the same, God is already working out a solution and the situation will not remain the same.

Etiquette, Civility and Citizenship

Chris was trembling with fear as he narrated the story. It was a sunny day, and Chris (not his real name) left his house at Maryland, Lagos in order to submit a document for an employment opportunity at Victoria Island in another part of Lagos. As he stood under the bus stop shade waiting for a Bus, sooner than he expected, a commercial bus stopped and Chris who could not waste any more minute boarded it. Though Chris is from the Eastern part of Nigeria, experience had taught him that Yoruba people value courtesy, greetings and respect a lot, so seeing two older persons already seated in the bus; a man and a woman in their 60s, he greeted them ‘E ka san oo’ (good afternoon) in a funny ibo accent and they gave him a warm welcome ‘ka san’ which is interpreted good afternoon.

As he settled down, the woman who was sitting closer to Chris turned to the other passenger and said ‘e fi le, eleyi o ki n se eran wa’ interpreted ‘leave him, this is not our meat.’ Chris did not understand much of what was uttered and therefore did not bother much on what was being said, as the bus moved on, it stopped to take in another person at another bus stop, as the young man settled in the bus, he neither recognized nor greeted any of the passengers already seated. As the bus sped on the free road, the woman said ‘eleyi, eran wa ni’ meaning this one is our meat, she brought out a voodoo from her bag and struck the new passenger on the head and the young man became unconscious. Immediately, she ordered the bus driver to stop and let Chris who was already shaking from fear and anxiety out, telling Chris to continue to respect his elders.

Etiquettes are rules of acceptable behaviours. Even though, the word etiquette was said to have originated from France, in the court of king Louis XIV in 18^th century, etiquette in today’s society has covered civil virtues such as truthfulness, self-control and kindness towards one's fellow beings. With etiquette, we are indeed ladies and gentlemen.

Who is a gentle man? Who is a gentle lady?

A gentle man is that senator who withheld the urge to punch another man on the face when he felt the urge,  he is that man who did not disregard the traffic light on the road, she is that lady who did not slap his driver even though she determines his take home pay, he is that man who stopped at the  police check point to be checked, and he is that police officer who refused to slap a suspect even when the suspect was at his mercy. The list cannot be exhausted but if one has done contrary to these, he or she has disobeyed the rules of ethics and has undermined his citizenship. Day by day, we see these principles being broken, in fact, I have broken some myself many times, but the fact that I do it or you do it does not make it right. Never right the wrong!

These basic principles of etiquette, and civility or manners guide us through all of our activities. Moreover, it lets us present ourselves with confidence and authority in all areas of our professional and personal life. It may include: being gracious, being pleasant, being courteous, and being considerate.

When you are driving: in the process of claiming your right, accidents do occur; etiquette prevents a lot of mishaps from happening to us.

Every citizen should have a high standard of behavior, high standard of civility which include not only courtesy but everything which has to do with good citizenship.

A gentle man is a man of good breeding, courtesy and kindness; hence, a man distinguished for the sense of honour, strict regard for his obligation and consideration for the rise and honour of others. (Anonymous).

Thank you for reading today’s episode

DO NOT JUST WORK HARD, WORK WISE!!

I was in attendance at an inaugural lecture delivered by a friend and mentor, Prof. Ademola Ajuwon of the University of Ibadan on the 27^th of June, 2013 and the rope that tied my zeal for success became loosed again. New inferno of success was rekindled in me; I was consumed with the desire to work more. As the icon unraveled his path from scratch to present, his contributions toward the health of the world’s adolescents made me yarn for more achievements. I want to work harder; I want to be seen at greater heights like my mentors and two lessons struck my mind!

From his lecture, it was clear and seen through that the professor was never a jack of all trades. I saw the word focus in action. He was a man who started with adolescents researches, exploring health issues related to them, until he has made an indelible path in that direction.

Secondly, from his admonition to us youths, I discovered he started like many people by placing his leg on the lowest rung of the success ladder but unlike many, he accepted all the jobs both odd and hard, learning to do things in a better and more efficient way without complaints or resentment for any, he climbed the success ladder by obeying his mentors. Unfortunately, as I made plans to work and learn more, I discovered another lesson that is more important than the two lessons.

I heard the calm, gentle voice saying working hard is never enough!

Working hard is not working wise. If I rise early, do my biddings as required, if I pay my dues in seasons, get educated as usual, follow the success principles the men of old had written, if luck shines on me and I have what I desired, if I am famous for my achievement like Louis XIV and popular for my physique like Denzel Washington, if I sing with the voice of angels and people sob in passion like Michael, if I make people laugh like Bill Cosby or if I am 94 years old and people prayed for me to live long like Mandela Nelson then I would have worked hard, but is it enough?

Therefore, I wondered what it will take to work wise. As I pondered on this, the book of Isaiah 51 verse 5 and 6 came to my mind and what I saw in 6 captured by attention

lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the Earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner BUT my salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be  abolished.

These four sentences got stuck on my mind:

•  The heaven will varnish 
•  The earth will grow old 
• Those who dwell in it will die.
• BUT my salvation will be forever

One day, when the soul is too heavy to be clothed by the body, when the conflict between the soul and the body can no longer be resolved, when the madness of Omoyeni can no longer be hidden, the heavens will varnish, my expertise will no longer be available if needed, my voice will no longer be heard even if it made people cry, my popularity will dwindle, and I will be alone.

Alone with the creator, alone with my works, alone where no lawyers answers for me, where no defence attorneys can speak for me but that blood, that salvation, that righteousness.

No matter the achievement, you will leave them all one day, and something else will speak for you. That is definitely not your friends, neither is your popularity but the blood of the lamb. Consider these things! They are what matters most! Tell Jesus you are sorry, tell him to save your future, tell Him to wash you anew and you can talk about securing the future and working hard and wise. A word they said….

Where are You

Hey, where are you? No, is not about your physical presence, am talking about the promise you made to yourself, the desires, the goal, the plan you made in the first week of January 2013. Are you achieving that resolution? Are you in pursuit of that excellence?

The Roman writer said “I can do ALL things through Christ that strengthen me.” For most of us, we do not need to do all but FEW things! Few things that are done properly and consistently will get us there for consistent exercise on a low scale shapes the body better.

Where are you? It is the same question that God asked Adam – the first man, and do you remember what his answer was?

“…and I was afraid…..”                        

Like Adam, fear and doubt prevent us from achieving much in life, they are enemies of man, and many will continue to say “I do not think I can do it,” “can I do it?” it is not enough to dream but to act.  

John Mason said “Doubting yourself is like committing treason against your own life and purpose,” he quoted James Allen to say that you are the handicap you must face. You are the one who must choose your place. Frank Tyger said “your future depends on many things, but mostly on you.” Therefore, doubting yourself is a foundation for failure, please shake off that foundation and build another one. 2Tim1:7 says God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, love and sound mind.

MAN- A CALL to manAGE

It was a beautiful morning morning and Chief Ade was set for work. As usual, he was elegantly dressed, with the features of a perfect gentle man until his phone rang.

Ade: Honey, please, I need help with my tie, I think am getting fatter

Wife: Your phone sweet! You have a call

(As Caroline adjust and re-adjust the tie on Ade)

Ade: (speaking into the cell phone mouth piece): Good morning, Chief Ade on the line

Voice: Quite unfortunate that you are unable to finish the wheat bread and the Chinese slim tea because you are mindful of your look

Ade: Who are you Mr.? Go straight to the point, I am a very busy man

Voice: of cause, my apologies which may not really be necessary because after today, you will not be so busy any longer! Spirits do not do business.

Ade (now getting more impatient has Caro left him): ok, whoever you are, you are neither doing any of us any good by stalling. What do u mean I will not be so busy? How did you get my number? Are you God? Even if you are, I do not think that anything will make me less busy! I worked for what I earn; it took me years and hard work to get to this position in life and I am not done until I say so!

Voice: You are not done, of cause; you only need to move on! Nobody is ever done, they only need to relocate!

Ade: Relocate to where? What kind of game is this, you know I like games

Voice: Ask your beautiful wife! Even if you don’t want to relocate, somebody wants you relocated. Your bread and your Chinese tea had given you the ticket for relocation. All thanks to your angry wife

Ade: What!

Voice: She was aware; she saw the content of the will before and after you made the change! She saw how you have distributed your properties.

Ade: OMG

Voice: which God? The last time I Checked, you said you do not believe in God.

Ade (trying to vomit): threw his phone away, shouting: Carol, Caroline

Has he was trying to vomit, he saw a man at the entrance of his beautiful house with a long white beard

Old man: Better do not waste your time. That poison was bought with your money from Dubai with an exorbitant amount of money which you have gotten from different government construction contract you refused to finish.

Ade: please give me the antidote, call somebody, call my doctor old man.

Old man: Which antidote?  Is late already, even if you shout, no one can hear you now. Your doctor will make it look like hypertension and heart disease. Poor you!

Ade: Who are you? How did you entered here?

Old Man: Not even your body guard can hear you! Imagine all the money you have stored, the houses you have built, imagine all the resources you have worked for, you will be leaving them for your illegitimate children.

Ade: Ah, you are calling my children bastard?

Old man: Yes Ade, Tomiwa and Michael who you changed your will to favour that earn you your relocation are not your biological children! Just like both wives are not your wives.

Ade: what do you mean?

Old man: The woman you called your first wife abandoned her husband because you are rich, the second wife which you think you married; she is not your wife because the father of her children which you fathered is still alive.

Ade: (Sobbing): Aha old man, what is then my gain?

Old man: nobody gains anything in life except death. We all don’t gain a thing in life for whatever a man thinks he has gained in life is a mirage because nothing leaves the earth with him. Naked we came, naked will leave.

(The old man started walking toward Ade’s bedroom, Ade ran toward him with the remaining energy left in him)

Ade: Where are you going, that is my bedroom.

Old man (Checking through his cloths): Is a pity you will not need any of these again! Yet the ones you don’t wear before this time, you refuse to give out. Your drivers, your security men, your messengers are not blessed with them.

Ade (sobbing): I need a second chance! I do not know that life can be empty

Old man: Life indeed is empty at least if not for today, it will be empty one day. You had your share of it, it is time to let go. Man, why is it difficult to let go what you are borrowed? The money, properties, cloths, time and even life are not your own, they are given you and you are privileged to manage them before they are taken from you.

It was a dream!! Ade woke up from his single bed, in his two room apartment where he has rented for himself and his wife.

Ade (talking to himself): So, it was a dream! The beautiful apartment, elegant furniture,…. He looked at his wife who was in deep sleep and told himself. So life can be so empty?

The Success Manual

Sometimes, books do fail, theories will have no use and laws seem like beautiful words without any meaningful use! As it not occurred to you before? Haven’t you faced some bottlenecks in life that the solutions to them seemed not to exist in theories or in what people teach that you have heard? There are tapes, books on how to and what to… but sometimes, the challenges will face appear to have eluded the explanations we have in books, what our friends advise or what our mentors know. I heard you say ‘true talk.’

Really, I have faced such situations in life when it seems all the acquired knowledge and facts are hopeless in solving the problem. Even at times, you can have all the wisdom at your disposal in solving a matter or counseling others, yet, the depression oozing from the depth of your heart; the disarray of facts and truths on your mind can prevents the solution at the time you need it most.

If you have not noticed, let me quickly say this happens in all facets of life and more often in our relationship with others.  At a time when all indicators are pointing to the fact that a particular relationship is parasitic; sucking away your ability to smile, love and care, raising your temperature, yet, the ability to quit such relationships sometimes seemed to have long stolen away. 

I met a friend on a social site, he was depressed at the time I got to know him because he was passing through some bottlenecks. When I saw the gravity of his bottleneck, and I could not provide a solution, I introduced him to a friend higher up who I know can solve his problems because he has solved many more!

In every facet of life, as leaders, we are faced with problems to solve, sometimes entangled by the challenges surrounding our goals in our respective positions. In my last article, I wrote that limitations sometimes are required to make us stronger, in this article, I want to share my opinion that at times when all hope is lost, there is one more thing to do, there is one more step to take.

I always remember this, a book cannot know more than its author, and nobody can give what he does not have! Now, the whole grammar boils down on the fact that “preparations of the heart belong to man but the answer of the tongue is from the source.” Books may fail, theories may not work, and mentors may disappoint you! One strategy that has 100% effectiveness is to remember that orders, in this world, the laws, the inspirations, the histories and the historians, the principles of life and life itself are all from one source!

The question is not to question its effectiveness but to ask if you know the source and if there is an established relationship.

What is your source called? I have compiled a book that explicitly dealt with this strategy of solving all bottlenecks of all areas of life. It is titled ‘The Creator’s Success Manual.’ You can order your own online. Call +2348038462097 or email: samcokerwrite@gmail.com for your copy The Creator’s Success Manual - a proven strategy for the present generation.

Others books are also available by different authors but I will start recommending books or other resources that have been read, reviewed and with proven strategies therefore, J’BEC is introducing this new page called King Books and Resources for your reading pleasure and training for the old cliché still hold for the present generation; A reader is a leader.

If I have 8 hours to chop a tree, I will spend 6 hours sharpening my axe