C'mas wish-list!

(took this 1 at a Catholic Church my aunt took me to in Conyers, Georgia. April, 07)


In this case, they're not only wishes.

Here is what I am going to (by faith and God's grace) accomplish this Christmas
(now for us, our team's Christmas season officially started in the middle of November, so let's hope I've already done some of these things):

--Do my part to lead at least 30 ppl to Jesus this Christmas (my cut of 100 souls for home goal)

--Get out 750 Christmas books & CD/VCD cards before the 20th of December. (this was an unspoken (yet somehow said) pact between Richard & myself who vowed to get out the entirety of our home's proposed 1500 Christmas products between the 2 of us this season--of course, the reality is that everyone will help & my total of actual products out, will more likely be around 500)

--Subscribe about 10 ppl to the activated magazine (roughly my portion of our homes 50 subscriptions goal for the Christmas season, divided by the about 5 main outreachers).

--Organize a Christmas fellowship for our small group of 12 FS students.

--Conduct an aip wrap-up/visitation for the young people homes neighbouring Nigeria (which should involve between 7 & 10 days in Ghana & Togo).

--Somehow find Christmas gifts for the ppl in my home (scratches head wonderingly).

--Succesfully find sponsors 2 stock the gift bags I'm helping prepare for our fun day with toys, snacks &/or clothing items, school supplies, drinks, etc.

Said fun day's venue also needs canopy & chairs, sound system & DJ, entertainers if we can manage & of course, drinks for all...
The event is the Saturday after this on, on the 8th of December. Pls. pray that it will go smooth as it could, sponsors & friends attending, plenty of gifts for the kids & the best Christmas witness we could give them.


TTL, half of these goals have already been met, including a good portion of the needs for the fun day already allocated/promised. I'm so excited about this program for what reason I can't quite figure. The Christmas party I helped the team in Lagos conduct was about the funnest thing I did last Christmas (& I holidayed at a 4 star hotel, all meals included for a week).
The immediate reward of seeing the joy & fun that comes out of these kids when we take time to make their Christmas special--basically give them a good C'mas, is unprecedented...some people bungee for rushes, I like to do fun-days & special events for village children, orphans, etc.--Bible studies & helping build vocational training centers for hospitals come in at a close second ;)

I'll post pics...stay tuned...




(at our Primary school during an event Citigroup sponsored the Saturday b4 last--not to be confused with next Saturday's event for our Secondary school)

Giving Thanks!

It's that day again...

Great! Personally, Thanksgiving is the most worthwhile American holiday...every country should have Thanksgiving, really...

For me, every day is meant to be Thanksgiving, GHM (guess...)!

But yes, today is a perfect day to be thankful & I'm thankful for:

The Christmas season that's just starting (it started about a week ago for us in earnest...) & for all that we want to do with that.

My computer, so that I can post this post.

The chickens I stuffed & served for my home tonight, as well as the gravy, rice, veggies & salad & of course the stuffing (that I stuffed up the chicken's ____!--which I mentioned..).

The city of Abuja which is a bright, throbbing, tropical, lively capital, with so much potential & even more kind & hearty souls in need of the Word.

The team I stay with now: Angela, Arturo, Abner, Anisa, Ayla, Chloe, Mary, Michelle, Rianna, Rod, Richard & Simon.

My family back home (that would be in UK, US, Iceland & Belgium to be more precise).

The Nigerian people. Because of all that I learn daily from their ingenuity & fervor & because of all that I'm able to impart to them in return that they appreciate & thank me for continuously.

That I'm able-bodied, young, in my peak (go figure)& healthy. I take so much for granted that I'm able to do, but it's time to really be thankful for that which benefits us daily & greatly, but that we never had to go without, so never fully appreciate.

I could go on & on, but I'll not drone too long (although one can never Give Thanks too much).

Interestingly enough, it was a year ago this month that I posted the Positive Praise Post, which was later turned to a Reflection, which later (this month) was posted in the activated mag of the month...na-wow for me-o!!! I'm seeing a pattern here...maybe if I write another Reflection out of this one it'll come out in November 2008's activated mag.

Give Thanks, people! Peace!

P.S. I'm thankful for this blog, because through it I keep in touch with my fam & friends & I have honestly made several good friends, whom I have learned so much from & that I wouldn't have known otherwise, because of this blog.

Re: debate below!

So what's my take on all this killing business? If you read Curly Cel's comment on the last post you'll know exactly what I think...

I know that there are times when one has to defend themselves or loved ones from an attack by some evil person...this, I think, is a different story...

But revenge, I feel, is what Jesus is so against.

I'm reminded of when Jesus said:

Mat. 26:52 (Jesus talking to Peter said) "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."

Jesus also said we should love our enemies...

Mat. 5:43 & 44 You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor & hate your enemy.' 44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you & persecute you.

Forgiveness is so much more powerful than revenge & has healing power, I feel...

Here are a few things Jesus said about forgiveness:

Mat.6:14 & 15 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Mat. 18: 21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"
22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."

I stand with Jesus....

Granted, if one of my loved ones was viciously, or maliciously killed by someone, I know it would take a huge, unearthly measure of grace for me to stop myself from harming them back...but that's where I trust having Jesus in me will be my salvation in a situation like that...I have faith that His Grace & Spirit of Love will take over at that time & that I'll be able to rise above (God, help me, please....)

Debate...

k, so it's tomorrow....

the issue: Simply put= is it right for Christian's to kill? If so, when? What was Christ's main take on violence, killing etc.

Ok, I'll get into a little more detail...the main issue in our debate which followed the viewing of this movie was revenge killings, specifically...as in, someone kills one of my loved ones (be it by a mugging or robbery, rape killing, or some killing with some kind of motive, don't ask me what...). Would it be right for me to try & get revenge, killing the killer...?

I'm sorry for sounding stupid & this may seem like the very basics of right & wrong (to me it actually does...) but there are many Christians with views on this that would surprise you...

What do you ppl. say...?

1x I have a few comments, I'm gonna post my general take on this, scriptures to back my view, etc....I just wannna see what folks have to say first...

Debate coming....

How many of you viewers have seen The Brave One (Jodie Foster, Terrence Howard)?

hmmmmmmmmmmm.....

many a heated discussion sprang among us on the topic of 'killing' after viewing that one...

I propose a debate..tomorrow..stay tuned..