Five Tips on Happy Christian Family

Happy Family Secret No. 1: Enjoy Each Other
The essence of a happy family is that they truly uplift each other and that all comes down to how they treat each other, says Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, a New York-based family and relationship counselor and host of The Learning Channel's Shalom in the Home. "There is a joy that characterizes their interaction," says Boteach, father of eight children and author of several books, including the forthcoming Shalom in the Home. "Parents come home and the kids are happy to see them and when kids come home, the parents are happy to see them."

Happy Family Secret No. 2: Swap Stories
"When your kids come home, ask them what happened in school and have a story for them," he says. "If you come home dejected and not really interested and then five minutes later the TV is on, why would they be happy to see you?"
The bottom line, he says, is that when you come home, your kids have to come first. "You must drop everything you are doing and always come home with something to share with your kids, whether a story or even the smallest vignette," he says. "This way you give your kids something to look forward to. The great bane of family life is boredom and that is what leads to dysfunction, affairs, and kids wanting to be with their friends over family."

Happy Family Secret No. 3: Put the Marriage First
"Set a real example of love," Boteach says. "The relationship and marriage must come first." Think Carol and Mike Brady of the Brady Bunch and Cliff and Clair Huxtable of the Cosby Show.
There are many families where kids always come first, says Boteach. Then they become substitute providers of love, he says. "That's an unfair burden to put on a kid." It's also bad for families, he says, "because kids will move out of the house eventually."

Happy Family Secret No. 4: Break Bread Together
Families that eat together, stay together. It's that simple. "Family dinners are essential," Boteach says. "It's a time to connect." Have a minimum of four family dinners per week, he suggests.

Happy Family Secret No. 5: Play Together
"Have one or two unifying activities that the family does together on a nightly basis," Boteach says. He suggests bedtime stories for young children or reading a chapter from a novel to an older child.

What does Resurrection mean to me?

1. It assures me that my convictions are true, for He is risen as He said, and all He said will come to pass. It is pure silliness to believe in a God and not believe He could rise from the dead. Rom 4:17
2. It means I am forgiven of my sins and my conscience is right in being pure. “If He is not risen, I am yet in my sins.” His resurrection proves the acceptance of His payment. “It is finished” means “paid in full”...and I have peace with God. 1st John 5:18, Rom 4:25
3. It confirms my confidence of my own resurrection from the dead. 1st Corinthians 15:23, Romans 8:11,
4. It gives me the hope of seeing my Christian family and friends again 1st Corinthians 15:18 (If Christ is not raised.)
5. It confirms my life has meaning and purpose 1st Corinthians 15:29-32, “29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? 30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage the it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.”
6. It assures me that I am enabled with the power to live a victorious life Ephesians 1:19-20, “19

General Question???

What’s the best way to bring up sensitive issues with my spouse? I’m concerned about things that are going in our marriage, but I’m afraid to talk to my spouse about them because I don’t want to start a fight and make things worse.
Feel free to share...............ok

PROPHET OBADARE IS DEAD

The Christ Apostolic Church leader, Prophet Timothy Oluwole Obadare is dead. The man of God who lived over two scores doing evangelism died today. We shall give you full detail soon

Pastor's Business Card

A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door. Therefore, he took out a business card that he had printed "Revelation 3:20" on the back of it for just such an occasion, and stuck it in the door. When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, "Genesis 3:10." Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter. Revelation 3:20 begins "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." Genesis 3:10 reads, "I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked."

"A cheerful heart is good medicine" (Prov. 17:22)

Christian Lifestyle – Unchanged

What’s the purpose of living a Christian lifestyle? Choosing to make Jesus Christ the Lord of our life changes our lifestyle dramatically. Friendships, activities, and even health issues receive careful evaluation. While we formulate reasons for the way we live our Christian lives, God’s purpose for our lives never changes.
• To remain connected to God through Jesus Christ (John 15:4–8). A life that’s cut off from God withers and dies -- physically as well as spiritually. God desires to reproduce His Son’s life through our fruitfulness.
• To remain faithful through persecution and to resist false doctrine (2 Timothy 3:12–17). The apostle Paul expected situations to become worse as worldly pressures increased. Our testimony and knowledge of the Scriptures arm us against any deceivers or deceptive ideals.
• To present the Good News to a lost world (Mark 16:15-16; 1 Timothy 6:12) Like an athlete or soldier, we present our best efforts to further the faith. Our transformed lives compel us to share the Gospel’s impact not just for our “today,” but for our eternity.

Bill Gates Cancels Trip To Nigeria Over Ex-Convict Pardon By President Jonathan

America’s richest man, Bill Gates, has cancelled his scheduled March 27 official visit to Nigeria, in response to the controversial pardon granted by President Goodluck Jonathan to ex-convicts Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and Shettima Bulama, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report today.
Mr. Gates was due in Nigeria March 27 and 28 to meet President Goodluck Jonathan, state governors and officials of the Federal Ministry of Health concerning the aggressive polio eradication campaign his Bill and Melinda Foundation is undertaking in the country.
That trip, authoritative diplomatic sources said, has now been cancelled, two days after the U.S. government expressed disappointment with its Nigerian counterpart for pardoning convicted money launderers and warned it might cut aid meant for the country.
“I can confirm to you that Mr. Gates won’t be coming as scheduled,” one of our sources told PREMIUM TIMES Monday morning. “The body language of Washington D.C. does not support his travelling to Nigeria.
The thinking here is that the Nigerian government has high tolerance level for corruption and should be ostracized in all ways possible.”
Our sources said Mr. Gates has already instructed his staff to inform the Nigerian presidency, the secretariat of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Federal Ministry of Health that he was no longer coming.
Presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, did not answer or return calls seeking comment. Contacted, the Director General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Asishana Okauru, said he would have to check with his staff whether any such communication had come from Mr. Gates’ office. He did not answer or return subsequent calls. Mr. Gates’ office is not opened as at the time of this report as calls were unanswered.
But checks by this newspaper indicate that the U.S. government has dissuaded Mr. Gates from coming to Nigeria.
“The State Department has advised him that Nigeria is not conducive for such visit at this time,” another source said. “We hope that the Nigerian government will get the message and return to the path of sanity.”
The controversial pardon granted Messrs Alamieyeseigha and Bulama had on Friday sparked fierce diplomatic row between Nigeria and the United States, with the Americans threatening to punish Nigeria over Mr. Jonathan’s action and Nigeria accusing the Americans of meddlesomeness.
“We see this as a setback for the fight against corruption, and also for our ability to play the strong role we’ve played in supporting rule of law and legal institution-building in Nigeria, which is very important for the future of the country obviously,” State Department spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, had told reporters in Washington.
“We have made clear to the Nigerians that this puts a question mark on the kinds of work that we’ve been trying to do with them.”
The U.S. is the world’s top donor. In 2012, it spent about $226 million on health and governance programmes in Nigeria. And about $600million has been requested for 2013, according to U.S.government data. That is apart from what American private foundations such as Mr. Gates’ spend on Nigeria’s government and non-governmental organisations.
Mr. Gate is the biggest foreign supporter of the campaign to eradicate polio in Nigeria and has worked consistently with the Nigerian authorities since 2009 over the matter. His foundation has developed a six-year strategy through 2018 that will help combat polio in Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan and has set aside $1billion per annum for the purpose.
The bulk of that money is meant for Nigeria which currently has the highest cases of polio in the world. Mr. Gates’ efforts has seen improvements which helped Pakistan reduce the number of polio cases from 198 in 2011 to 56 in 2012; and Afghanistan from 80 to 35 during the same period.
The situation in Nigeria worsened during the same period, increasing from 62 in 2011 to 119 in 2012.
Mr. Gates last visited Nigeria in November 2012. During that visit, his foundation entered into a four-year alliance with the Dangote Foundation which promised to provide funding, equipment and technical support to the Kano state government to strengthen polio immunisation.
He had scheduled this March’s visit to consolidate that alliance, meet with President Jonathan, state governors and other stakeholders with a view to generally revving up the war against the pandemic.
[Source: Premium Times]

Woman Dies In Sleep Two Days To Her Wedding In Warri, Nigeria

Internet Photo
Tragedy struck in Effurun, near Warri, Delta State on Thursday, when a bride-to-be, Ejiro died in her sleep. The sad incident occurred two days to her wedding.

Ejiro, a graduate of chemistry from the University of Benin (UNIBEN), sources said had her traditional marriage on Wednesday and had complained after the marriage of slight headache to her parents who told her to take some medications.

However on Thursday night, she allegedly started talking more than usual and created panic among her family members, who rushed her to a nearby church, where the pastor prayed for her. She died later that same night.

Prior to their traditional marriage, LEADERSHIP WEEKEND learnt that there were fierce squabbles between the family of the bride and the groom over inexplicable issues as the mother of the groom allegedly vowed to make life unbearable for the bride.

On several occasions, she was said to have discouraged her son from marrying the girl; as a result of which the traditional marriage was done amid disagreements.

The groom, a medical doctor, had reportedly been having running battles with his parents especially his mother, who allegedly described the bride to be saucy and disrespectful vowing to frustrate the marriage.

Sources had it that the bride’s parents were pressured to cancel the wedding, especially as it was clear that the groom’s mother was not in support of it, but went ahead after the lady in question threatened to kill herself if she were not allowed to marry the doctor.

With palpable tension currently rocking both families, the late bride’s mother-in-law in the early hours yesterday allegedly confessed to be responsible for her death, an act which left neighbours including onlookers in confusion, while some policemen and family members were seen discussing the issue.

According to eye witnesses, a woman from Isoko North extraction sudden outburst attracted neighbours to the scene, where she allegedly confessed to have killed the bride in her coven through headache.

Culled from LEADERSHIP

Three different schools in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital were on Monday, attacked by gunmen suspected to be terrorists, killing three teachers and injuring three female students.

The separate incidents which took place in the early hours of Monday, resulted in temporary close down of schools in Maiduguri, while parents were seen rushing to various schools to take hold of their wards.

Unconfirmed report has it that three female teachers were killed in the Shehu Sanda Kyarimi Secondary School around Ruwan Zafi ward of the metropolis, in addition to the killing of two teachers in Mafoni Primary and Secondary Schools.

Vanguard gathered that at about 9:10am on Monday around Ruwan Zafi area of Maiduguri, six suspected Boko Haram sect laid ambush to Shehu Sanda Kyarimi Secondary School, and shot dead yet to be identified teacher, while three female students sustained injuries from stray bullets.

It was also gathered that at about 11:20am at Mafoni area of Maiduguri, another gang believed to be terrorists stormed Ali Askiri Primary School and shot one Mallam Abdullahi, before moving to Mafoni Day Secondary School and kill a female teacher identified as Hajja Yagumsu.

When contacted on phone, the spokesman of the Joint Task Force, “Operation Restore Order” Lt Col. Sagir Musa said he was compiling the details of the attacks and will respond officially as soon as he was done with the preliminary reports.

Culled from Vanguard

US considers visa restrictions on govt officials(State Pardon)

There was indication on Sunday that United States might slam visa restrictions on some Nigerian government officials in protest against the state pardon granted a former Bayelsa State Governor Dieprieye Alameiyeiseigha, and an ex-Managing Director of the defunct Bank of the North, Mr. Shettima Bulama.
A diplomatic source said the US was miffed by the Federal Government’s decision to summon its Deputy Head of Mission for flaying the reprieve granted the two men.
He said, “There are a lot of options open to Washington. For one, if this matter is not resolved, they can issue visa restrictions on government officials and then follow it up with other sanctions within international law.”
The source said that Nigeria currently stands at a disadvantage should the visa restrictions be imposed.
He said, “Your country stands at a disadvantage because international opinion weighs heavily against it on this issue state pardon.
“Financial crime, especially money laundering, is closely linked to drug trade and drug trade is linked to terrorism; the whole world is affected by it.
“So, if any government is seen to be condoning financial crimes in any form, it stands the risk of international isolation.”

FG suspends Dana Air’s licence again

The Federal Government has once again suspended the operating licence of Dana Air pending the resolution of certain safety issues, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has said.
This is coming barely three months after the airline resumed operations following a seven-month suspension after its Boeing Md-83 crashed in Lagos, killing 163 people
The Acting Director-General, NCAA, Mr. Joyce Nkemakolam, who confirmed the statement by saying the suspension followed a directive from the Ministry of Aviation, asking the airline to stop operation until “some safety issues that cropped up over the weekend were resolved.”
The acting DG said the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, had invited officials of Dana Air to a meeting in Abuja today (Monday) over the development.

Oja at the Top Saga

Following the "Oga at the Top" saga, I came across this and I ask myself that could this be real or Photoshop

Agent Jack Bauer in ACTION

Christian Marriage Romance Ideas

Our hectic schedules made it easy for us to fall short in this area, and perhaps you're the same way. But don't worry; that's all going to change. Today we're going to give you a few playful ideas for romance.

For a long time, romance and sex have been taboo topics in the church. But here at Christian Marriage Today, we think it's about time romance and sex were openly discussed in the Body of Christ.

romance ideas

After all, the Bible instructs husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25).

How does Christ love us, the church? He's passionate about us. In fact, He's so passionate about you, He gave his life for you.

Talk about Christian romance ideas? That's the ultimate!Did you know romance is actually a vital part of your relationship? Romance is one of those things we take for granted when it's there, but we miss it when it's gone.

Think about it this way, when you go to the produce department of your local grocery store, you sometimes see an occasional mist falling on the vegetables to keep them crisp.

Well, romance is like that mist that falls, it keeps your relationship fresh and crisp!

President Jonathan congratulates Pope Francis

Pope Francis has warned the Catholic Church would become "a compassionate NGO" without spiritual renewal.

In a Sistine Chapel Mass with cardinals on his first day as Church leader, the pontiff said: "If we do not confess to Christ, what would we be?

"We would end up a compassionate NGO. What would happen would be like when children make sand castles and then it all falls down."

President Jonathan congratulates Pope Francis

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina on his election on Wednesday as the first Pope from the Americas and the 265th successor to the chair of St Peter.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati.

Jonathan noted Cardinal Bergoglio’s glowing antecedents as a great scholar, teacher, Catholic philosopher and very humane leader of the Church.

He said Bergoglio’s emergence as successor to Pope Benedict XVI was a divinely inspired choice by the College of Cardinals and an unequivocal testimony of God’s abiding presence in His Church and the world.

The President joined Catholics in Nigeria and other countries in praying for God’s blessings and Divine guidance for Cardinal Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, as he assumes the papacy.

He expressed the hope that the new Pope would put his acclaimed qualities and devoutness to the best possible use in resolutely guiding the Church through the many challenges facing it.

Jonathan said ``the Federal Government look forward to further enhancing the already cordial and excellent relationship between Nigeria and the Vatican under the leadership of Pope Francis, the beloved champion of the underprivileged and renowned crusader for global equity and social justice''.

He said he also look forward to collaborating with Pope Francis and the Holy See in working towards the realisation of ``a much more secure, peaceful and just world order''.

Jonathan prayed God Almighty to grant Pope Francis continued good health and strength, and even greater knowledge, wisdom, understanding and divine insights he requires to successfully maintain the positive traditions of the Catholic Church and discharge the sacred Petrine Mission entrusted to him.

He wished Pope Francis a blessed and successful tenure

Francis is the first Latin American - and the first Jesuit - Pope.

Pope Francis is regarded as a doctrinal conservative, but he is also seen as a potential force for reform of the Vatican bureaucracy, analysts say.

Shunned special car

On Wednesday night, Pope Francis endeared himself to the crowds in St Peter's Square - and underlined his reputation for humility - when he asked them to bless him before blessing them in return from the balcony of the basilica.

The Vatican's account of his first hours in the top job on Thursday also emphasised Pope Francis's humility, describing how he shunned a special car and security detail provided to take him to the Vatican, travelling instead on a bus with the other cardinals.

Following his first outing as pope to the Rome basilica on Thursday, Francis went back to the clergy house in a city centre side street where he had been staying ahead of the conclave that elected him on Wednesday.

"He packed his bags and then he went to pay the bill for his room so as to set a good example," said Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi.

He also broke tradition by remaining standing to receive cardinals' acts of homage after his election, instead of sitting in the papal throne, Father Lombardi said.

On Friday, Pope Francis will meet all the cardinals, including those aged over 80 who did not take part in the conclave.

On Saturday he will meet the world's media at a special papal audience, an opportunity perhaps to set out some of his global vision, says the BBC's James Robbins in Rome.

A visit to his predecessor Benedict XVI at his retreat at Castel Gandolfo outside Rome is also planned, but will not take place in the next couple of days, Father Lombardi said.

The visit to Benedict is important, correspondents say, as the existence of a living retired pope has prompted fears of a possible rival power.

Francis will be installed officially in an inauguration Mass on Tuesday 19 March, the Vatican added

Jonylah Watkins Dies Baby Shot Dead Chicago
Six-month-old Jonylah Watkins was shot five times Monday. She died of her wounds in the hospital Tuesday and no arrests have been made in her shooting death.

The 6-month-old infant girl shot five times on Chicago's South Side Monday died in the hospital Tuesday morning.

Jonylah Watkins was rushed to Comer Children's Hospital Monday afternoon in serious-to-critical condition after being shot in the 6500 block of South Maryland Avenue in the city's Woodlawn neighborhood around 12:48 p.m. Her father, Jonathan Watkins, had been changing her diaper in the front passenger seat of a Chevy Venture minivan when a gunman approached them and opened fire. He fled in a waiting van.

Jonylah had sustained wounds in her lung, liver, leg, shoulder and bowel or intestine, according to DNAinfo Chicago, and had undergone at least five hours of surgery. All this occur on the 03/12/2013 9:52 am

joke for 2day

Man: Is this seat empty?Man:
Woman: Yes, and this one will be if you sit down.

New Pope Elected: Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio f...

Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio has greeted crowds in Rome's St Peter's Square after his election as the Catholic Church's new Pope.

Appearing on a balcony over the square, he asked the faithful to pray for him. Cheers erupted as he gave a blessing.

The first Latin American and the first Jesuit to be pontiff, he will call himself Francis I.

An hour earlier, white smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney announced the new Pope's election.

Pope Francis, 76, replaces Benedict XVI, who resigned last month at the age of 85, saying he was not strong enough to lead the Church.

Church Jokes...........

1.    Free Trip to heaven. Details Inside!

2.    Try our Sundays. They are better than Baskin-Robbins.

3.    Searching for a new look? Have your faith lifted here!

4.     An ad for a Church has a picture of two hands holding stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments are inscribed and a headline that reads, "For fast, fast, fast relief, take two tablets.

5.    When the restaurant next to the Church put out a big sign that said, "Open Sundays," the church reciprocated with its own message: "We are open on Sundays, too."

6.    Have trouble sleeping? We have sermons -- come hear one!

7.    Come in and pray today. Beat the Christmas rush!

8.    Sign broken. Message inside this Sunday.

9.    Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long and the pay is low. But the retirement benefits are out of this world.

10. If you're headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns.

Are You A Strong or Weak Leader?

Look over this short checklist to see how you measure up on the strength of your leadership:

A leader looks strongest and respected when:


– He listens and values the opinions of his people.


– He creates a transparent company with nothing to hide. A poor leader wants to control information. A great leader shares information.


– Creates an environment where all employees are comfortable offering ideas and suggestions. Creative companies are collaborative companies. You never know: The next idea of the lowest paid intern might be the idea that saves the company.


– Gives people the freedom to grow. Only secure leaders can empower others.


– Understands that real leadership is influence. You aren’t a leader because you order people to follow you. You’re a real leader when they want to follow you.


– Understands that “activity” is not necessarily “accomplishment.”


– A leader must give up to go up. The higher he rises, the more he has to turn over to others.


– He doesn’t have to constantly apologize to people, because he knows how to control his reactions and behavior to begin with. A leader is the face of the company. In his personal life he can afford to argue or get upset with others. But not in his business life. You never win by humiliating or defeating employees, vendors, or other relationships.

– He isn’t afraid to surround himself with people who are smarter, more gifted, and more talented than he is.

A leader looks weakest when/poor

– He wants control of everything. (It reeks of insecurity).

– Doesn’t listen to his people. (It creates resentment).

– Puts employees in awkward or inappropriate situations.

– Doesn’t allow his people to stretch, grow, and try new ideas.

– He’s afraid of change.

– Hires people on the basis of friendship or loyalty rather than expertise.

Fire at Ketu Area (Alapere Plank Market,

Precisely around 9pm yesterday, there was a terrific inferno at ketu area of lagos, I was close to tires when I walk close by to see what was happening. May God grant the unfortunate ones involved the heart to bear the lose and a quick recovered from the shock IJN.

Keep Love

Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead.