For those of you who watch what you eat... Here's the final word on
nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all
those conflicting medical studies.
1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart
attacks than the British or Americans.
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks
than the British or Americans.
3. The Japanese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart
attacks than the British or Americans
4. The Italians drink excessive amounts of red wine and suffer
fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.
5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and
fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.
CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is
apparently what kills you.
Saturday, 13 March 2010
GREAT INFO
DID YOU KNOW THAT
1. Coca-cola was originally green.
2. Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than for the US Treasury.
3. Smartest dogs: 1) border collie; 2)poodle; 3)golden retriever.
4. Dumbest dog: Afghan
5. Hawaiian alphabet has 12 letters.
6. Men can read smaller print than women; women can hear better.
7. Chances that an American lives within 50 miles of where they grew up: 1 in 2
8. Amount American Airlines saved in '87 by taking out 1 olive from each salad served in first class: $40,000
9. City with the most Rolls Royce's per capita: Hong Kong
10. State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska
11. Chances of a white Christmas in New York: 1 in 4
12. Portion of US annual rainfall that falls in April: 1/12
13. Percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28%
14. Percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%
15. Estimated % of American adults who go on diet each year: 44%
16. Barbie's measurements if she were life size: 39-23-33
17. Average number of days a West German goes without washing his underwear: 7
18. Percentage of Americans who say that God has spoken to them: 36%
19. Percentage of Americans who regularly attend religious services: 43%
20. City with highest per capita viewership of TV evangelists: Washington DC
21. Percentage of American men who say they would marry the same woman if they had it to do all over again: 80%
22. % of American women who say they would marry the same man: 50%
23. % of men who say they are happier after their divorce or separation: 58%
24. % of women who say they are happier after their divorce or separation: 85%
25. Number of different family relationships for which Hallmark makes cards: 105
26. Cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $6,400
27. Average number of people airborne over the US any given hour: 61,000.
28. Percentage of Americans who have visited Disneyland or Disney World: 70%
29. Average life span of a major league baseball: 7 pitches.
30. Portion of ice cream sold that is vanilla: 1/3
31. Portion of potatoes sold that are French fried: 1/3
32. Percentage of Americans that eat at McDonald's each day: 7
33. Percentage of bird species that are monogamous: 90%
34. Percentage of mammal species that are: 3%
35. Number of US states that claim test scores in their elementary schools are above national average: 50%
36. Portion of Harvard students who graduate with honors: 4/5
37. Chances that a burglary in the US will be solved: 1 in 7.
38. Portion of land in the US owned by the government: 1/3
39. Only President to remain a bachelor: James Buchanon
40. Only first lady to carry a loaded revolver: Eleanor Roosevelt
41. Only President to win a Pulitzer: John F. Kennedy for "Profiles in Courage"
42. Only President awarded a patent: Abe Lincoln, for a system of buoying vessels over shoals
43. Only food that does not spoil: honey
44. Only person to win $64,000 Challenge and $64,000 Question: Dr. Joyce Brothers (subject is boxing)
45. Only bird that can fly backwards: Hummingbird
46. Only continent without reptiles or snakes: Antarctica
47. Only animal besides human that can get sunburn: pig
48. Ostriches stick their heads in the sand to look for water.
49. An eagle can kill a young deer and fly away with it.
50. In the Caribbean there are oysters that can climb trees.
51. Polar bears are left-handed.
52. Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
53. Eskimos never gamble.
54. The world's youngest parents were 8 and 9 and lived in China in 1910.
55. The youngest pope was 11 years old.
56. Mark Twain didn't graduate from elementary school.
57. Proportional to their weight, men are stronger than horses.
58. Pilgrims ate popcorn at the first Thanksgiving dinner.
59. Your nose and ears never stop growing.
60. Jupiter is bigger than all the other planets in our solar system combined.
61. Hot water is heavier than cold.
62. The parachute was invented by da Vinci in 1515.
63. They have square watermelons in Japan. They stack better.
64. Cream does not weigh as much as milk.
65. Starfish have eight eyes-one at the end of each leg.
66. Iceland consumes more Coca-cola per capita than any other nation.
67. First novel ever written on a typewriter was "Tom Sawyer."
68. There are more collect calls on Father's Day than any other day of the year.
69. Heinz Catsup leaving the bottle travels at 25 miles per year.
70. It is possible to lead a cow upstairs but not downstairs.
71. Men get hiccups more often than women.
72. Armadillos can be housebroken.
1. Coca-cola was originally green.
2. Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than for the US Treasury.
3. Smartest dogs: 1) border collie; 2)poodle; 3)golden retriever.
4. Dumbest dog: Afghan
5. Hawaiian alphabet has 12 letters.
6. Men can read smaller print than women; women can hear better.
7. Chances that an American lives within 50 miles of where they grew up: 1 in 2
8. Amount American Airlines saved in '87 by taking out 1 olive from each salad served in first class: $40,000
9. City with the most Rolls Royce's per capita: Hong Kong
10. State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska
11. Chances of a white Christmas in New York: 1 in 4
12. Portion of US annual rainfall that falls in April: 1/12
13. Percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28%
14. Percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%
15. Estimated % of American adults who go on diet each year: 44%
16. Barbie's measurements if she were life size: 39-23-33
17. Average number of days a West German goes without washing his underwear: 7
18. Percentage of Americans who say that God has spoken to them: 36%
19. Percentage of Americans who regularly attend religious services: 43%
20. City with highest per capita viewership of TV evangelists: Washington DC
21. Percentage of American men who say they would marry the same woman if they had it to do all over again: 80%
22. % of American women who say they would marry the same man: 50%
23. % of men who say they are happier after their divorce or separation: 58%
24. % of women who say they are happier after their divorce or separation: 85%
25. Number of different family relationships for which Hallmark makes cards: 105
26. Cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $6,400
27. Average number of people airborne over the US any given hour: 61,000.
28. Percentage of Americans who have visited Disneyland or Disney World: 70%
29. Average life span of a major league baseball: 7 pitches.
30. Portion of ice cream sold that is vanilla: 1/3
31. Portion of potatoes sold that are French fried: 1/3
32. Percentage of Americans that eat at McDonald's each day: 7
33. Percentage of bird species that are monogamous: 90%
34. Percentage of mammal species that are: 3%
35. Number of US states that claim test scores in their elementary schools are above national average: 50%
36. Portion of Harvard students who graduate with honors: 4/5
37. Chances that a burglary in the US will be solved: 1 in 7.
38. Portion of land in the US owned by the government: 1/3
39. Only President to remain a bachelor: James Buchanon
40. Only first lady to carry a loaded revolver: Eleanor Roosevelt
41. Only President to win a Pulitzer: John F. Kennedy for "Profiles in Courage"
42. Only President awarded a patent: Abe Lincoln, for a system of buoying vessels over shoals
43. Only food that does not spoil: honey
44. Only person to win $64,000 Challenge and $64,000 Question: Dr. Joyce Brothers (subject is boxing)
45. Only bird that can fly backwards: Hummingbird
46. Only continent without reptiles or snakes: Antarctica
47. Only animal besides human that can get sunburn: pig
48. Ostriches stick their heads in the sand to look for water.
49. An eagle can kill a young deer and fly away with it.
50. In the Caribbean there are oysters that can climb trees.
51. Polar bears are left-handed.
52. Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
53. Eskimos never gamble.
54. The world's youngest parents were 8 and 9 and lived in China in 1910.
55. The youngest pope was 11 years old.
56. Mark Twain didn't graduate from elementary school.
57. Proportional to their weight, men are stronger than horses.
58. Pilgrims ate popcorn at the first Thanksgiving dinner.
59. Your nose and ears never stop growing.
60. Jupiter is bigger than all the other planets in our solar system combined.
61. Hot water is heavier than cold.
62. The parachute was invented by da Vinci in 1515.
63. They have square watermelons in Japan. They stack better.
64. Cream does not weigh as much as milk.
65. Starfish have eight eyes-one at the end of each leg.
66. Iceland consumes more Coca-cola per capita than any other nation.
67. First novel ever written on a typewriter was "Tom Sawyer."
68. There are more collect calls on Father's Day than any other day of the year.
69. Heinz Catsup leaving the bottle travels at 25 miles per year.
70. It is possible to lead a cow upstairs but not downstairs.
71. Men get hiccups more often than women.
72. Armadillos can be housebroken.
FOLLOW SOMEONE
“Nowadays, everybody wants to be in control, trying to be a leader when they have never really followed; (they have) got no information and no direction ... too much pride.” This is the lyrics of a song I love so much as it portrays one fundamental truth and error of this generation – pride.
Ask any tourist and you will be told that the best way to enjoy any voyage in an unknown territory is to have a guide. This is equally true of life as life is a series of journeys. The best way you will be able to meander through successfully is to consult those who have gone ahead.
Paul Harvey said “in times like these, it is helpful to remember that there have always been times like these.” An understanding of this truth will save you a lot of headaches and heartaches. And the knowledge that there have been times like these should move you to seek counsel from those who have gone through the path before.
We all agree that experience is the best teacher, and a wise man added, but it isn’t necessary that the experience should be yours. As I said earlier, you will be saved a lot of heartaches if you follow the example of others. There are people around who can help out, seek them. Have mentors for yourself; the Bible stated the need for counsellors (mentors) in Proverbs 11:14 and went ahead to repeat it in Chapters 15:22 and 24:6; in the mouth of two or three witnesses, the truth shall be established.
Apart from persons nearby, you also have people who have gone ahead to put down their experience so as to help you start from where they stopped. Let what was once said that “if you want to hide a thing from a black man, put it in a book because he will search everywhere for it except in a book” not be true of us. There are many books that have been written on almost every area of life, let’s avail ourselves of this vast opportunity. Hear this, no generation has ever had the luxury of the great mass of knowledge we have access to, even Aristotle would have begged for the opportunity to live in this age.
Think of how backward the world will be if every scientist rather than build on the works of earlier scientists decides to start all over from the beginning. This is what some people are trying to do by not having anyone as a guide; the journey of life will be very harrowing without a guide.
In conclusion therefore, I am encouraging you to read books on specific subjects as well as biographies. I also advise you to have mentors for yourself, people you can look up to (not to imitate). My spiritual father, Bishop David O. Oyedepo said “leaders are ladders; they are not to be copied but rather to be followed.”
The problem of our generation is pride. Many people feel too big to say they are following after someone but remember that if you are too big to serve then you are too small to lead. Even the Apostle Paul enjoined us to be ‘followers of him, even as he followed Christ’ in 1 Corinthians 11:1. If you want to lead, start by following someone today.
Ask any tourist and you will be told that the best way to enjoy any voyage in an unknown territory is to have a guide. This is equally true of life as life is a series of journeys. The best way you will be able to meander through successfully is to consult those who have gone ahead.
Paul Harvey said “in times like these, it is helpful to remember that there have always been times like these.” An understanding of this truth will save you a lot of headaches and heartaches. And the knowledge that there have been times like these should move you to seek counsel from those who have gone through the path before.
We all agree that experience is the best teacher, and a wise man added, but it isn’t necessary that the experience should be yours. As I said earlier, you will be saved a lot of heartaches if you follow the example of others. There are people around who can help out, seek them. Have mentors for yourself; the Bible stated the need for counsellors (mentors) in Proverbs 11:14 and went ahead to repeat it in Chapters 15:22 and 24:6; in the mouth of two or three witnesses, the truth shall be established.
Apart from persons nearby, you also have people who have gone ahead to put down their experience so as to help you start from where they stopped. Let what was once said that “if you want to hide a thing from a black man, put it in a book because he will search everywhere for it except in a book” not be true of us. There are many books that have been written on almost every area of life, let’s avail ourselves of this vast opportunity. Hear this, no generation has ever had the luxury of the great mass of knowledge we have access to, even Aristotle would have begged for the opportunity to live in this age.
Think of how backward the world will be if every scientist rather than build on the works of earlier scientists decides to start all over from the beginning. This is what some people are trying to do by not having anyone as a guide; the journey of life will be very harrowing without a guide.
In conclusion therefore, I am encouraging you to read books on specific subjects as well as biographies. I also advise you to have mentors for yourself, people you can look up to (not to imitate). My spiritual father, Bishop David O. Oyedepo said “leaders are ladders; they are not to be copied but rather to be followed.”
The problem of our generation is pride. Many people feel too big to say they are following after someone but remember that if you are too big to serve then you are too small to lead. Even the Apostle Paul enjoined us to be ‘followers of him, even as he followed Christ’ in 1 Corinthians 11:1. If you want to lead, start by following someone today.
DON'T ABORT THAT BABY
There is no need hiding the fact that I am a pro-lifer. In the debate on abortion there are two sides to the argument, those who are opposed to abortion, the pro-life group, and those who are in support, the pro-choice group. Here is a secret, just between you and me, I am moved to write this article because I just found out that I am pregnant (with ideas, though)! I am quite sure that some guys having seen the caption of this piece would have jumped to the conclusion that there is nothing in it for them. However this article is not really concerned with the abortion of a foetus but rather the abortion of a mental child in you – an idea. I believe that you are also pregnant, irrespective of your sex, and that is why I write to you because I don’t want you to suffer a miscarriage or abort the child.
By the way, in abortion matters, there are two major types namely spontaneous and induced. Spontaneous abortion is the type that occurs on its own will, or what is generally termed miscarriage while the induced abortion results as a response to human action. The induced abortion could be self-inflicted or otherwise, where it is self-induced it means that the carrier deliberately wrecked havoc on the foetus while in the other case it is as a result of another party, say a kick sustained in the stomach.
With regards to your mental child, I believe that there can only be induced abortion. What can seem like a spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) of your idea will still be your fault, either as a result of your inaction or carelessness. You can suffer a self-induced abortion on your mental child by terminating the dream yourself or it could be externally motivated, where for instance you allow the opinion of people to make you shelve the idea. I use the word ‘make you shelve the idea’ because I don’t believe that the antagonizing forces against you can be strong enough to terminate it on their own, it will ultimately take your approval for them to survive. People and circumstances may want to abort your plans for you, but don’t allow it.
Every man who has ever birthed an innovation did so by not paying attention to detractors. For example, the man who started Federal Express courier services was told by his professor in school that his idea of an overnight mail delivery was a whimsical wish of a young man. There will always be people who will want your mental child aborted either because they are short-sighted or because they don’t want the best for you.
Don’t forget that the Biblical Nehemiah was also patronized by professional ‘abortionists’ in Nehemiah 2:19 and 4:2. If you are pregnant with ideas, be sure that ‘abortionists’ will swarm around you but vehemently reject to abort that mental child as long as you are sure it is God-motivated.
See you at the top!
By the way, in abortion matters, there are two major types namely spontaneous and induced. Spontaneous abortion is the type that occurs on its own will, or what is generally termed miscarriage while the induced abortion results as a response to human action. The induced abortion could be self-inflicted or otherwise, where it is self-induced it means that the carrier deliberately wrecked havoc on the foetus while in the other case it is as a result of another party, say a kick sustained in the stomach.
With regards to your mental child, I believe that there can only be induced abortion. What can seem like a spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) of your idea will still be your fault, either as a result of your inaction or carelessness. You can suffer a self-induced abortion on your mental child by terminating the dream yourself or it could be externally motivated, where for instance you allow the opinion of people to make you shelve the idea. I use the word ‘make you shelve the idea’ because I don’t believe that the antagonizing forces against you can be strong enough to terminate it on their own, it will ultimately take your approval for them to survive. People and circumstances may want to abort your plans for you, but don’t allow it.
Every man who has ever birthed an innovation did so by not paying attention to detractors. For example, the man who started Federal Express courier services was told by his professor in school that his idea of an overnight mail delivery was a whimsical wish of a young man. There will always be people who will want your mental child aborted either because they are short-sighted or because they don’t want the best for you.
Don’t forget that the Biblical Nehemiah was also patronized by professional ‘abortionists’ in Nehemiah 2:19 and 4:2. If you are pregnant with ideas, be sure that ‘abortionists’ will swarm around you but vehemently reject to abort that mental child as long as you are sure it is God-motivated.
See you at the top!
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
THE TIME IS NOW
There were many memorable days during my undergraduate days in the university that I recollect with nostalgia, some of them wonderful and some absurd but all the same I remember them as part of the good old days. I had the rare privilege of attending a school that stood for courage and strong will, even though you may term it radicalism, – “greatest Ife.” Not that I was into aluta but I like it when people are able to stand up for their right notwithstanding whose ox is gored. I want to narrate one of those instances of my good old days now, it happened on one of those occasions when you have a big star come to perform on campus, and the star in this instance was Gbenga Adenuga who brought the show “headroom Africa” to us for free. It happened that he was making a point which was rather long and the outspoken set of students popularly called “Awo boys” at a point could no longer stomach the delay and being eager for the show proper to begin started chanting one of the popular numbers of Dipo Sodipo which goes thus:
“se ohun to se ore mi ojo nlo ×2(do what you have to do, time is clicking
Eyi to ba se la o royin, (you will only be remembered for what you do
se ohun to se ore mi ojo nlo” (do what you have to do, time is clicking).
I had to recount this scene particularly because of the song which drives home a salient point – that the world will only remember you for your actions rather than inactions. No one cares about whatever excuses you offer in trying to justify your inactions.
This is a clarion call to every one of us to begin doing those things we ‘feel’ called to do because we don’t have the luxury of time. Indeed, time is not on our side. No matter your anointing you have only got 24hours in a day, no more, no less. This ultimately means that your total number of years on the earth is being used up gradually. For instance, if you have 120 years on earth, before you know it your family will be at your burial side singing “a o pade leti odo or ile lo lo tarara” because your time on earth is up. However, the use to which you put it matters a lot. The song and the scenario narrated above came to my mind and brought with it the call for me to be up and doing, and it is that same message that I pass along to you.
More importantly, this message comes to you aptly if you are delaying in starting because you feel your little steps won’t make much impact. The truth is that you have to start now! The time will never come when buildings are built from the top, they must always begin from down. Start doing that thing now. Remember that we are been enjoined not to despise the days of little beginnings. Your little steps are the seeds that you sow. All of the big corporations that we see today started small and grew big. Take your mind to any of the Fortune 500 companies and you will realize that none of them started big, not even Ford or General Motors, MacDonald’s started small even our own Dangote started small!
A child first learns to crawl before walking; it is always one thing leading to the other. Never be afraid to take those little steps of yours, even the world’s fastest runner started in life by taking little steps! Call to mind the fact that while walking you can’t take two steps at the same time (the result is that you will find yourself on the floor!); it is always one step before the other. I believe it is safe to draw my conclusion on this piece with the words of Martin Luther King Jr. who said ‘if you can’t fly, run; if you can’t run, walk; if you can’t walk, crawl; just make sure you keep moving.’ This is the essence of life, never be stagnant nor afraid to take little steps. If you can’t fly today, why not try running? Today, you may not be able to take those big steps you desire – you can’t secure big loans because you are not known; you are not offered the juicy contracts etc but don’t be afraid to start where you are and in a short while you would have grown into that “big boss” you desired.
If you are still wondering on when best to start, it is now. The time is now.
“se ohun to se ore mi ojo nlo ×2(do what you have to do, time is clicking
Eyi to ba se la o royin, (you will only be remembered for what you do
se ohun to se ore mi ojo nlo” (do what you have to do, time is clicking).
I had to recount this scene particularly because of the song which drives home a salient point – that the world will only remember you for your actions rather than inactions. No one cares about whatever excuses you offer in trying to justify your inactions.
This is a clarion call to every one of us to begin doing those things we ‘feel’ called to do because we don’t have the luxury of time. Indeed, time is not on our side. No matter your anointing you have only got 24hours in a day, no more, no less. This ultimately means that your total number of years on the earth is being used up gradually. For instance, if you have 120 years on earth, before you know it your family will be at your burial side singing “a o pade leti odo or ile lo lo tarara” because your time on earth is up. However, the use to which you put it matters a lot. The song and the scenario narrated above came to my mind and brought with it the call for me to be up and doing, and it is that same message that I pass along to you.
More importantly, this message comes to you aptly if you are delaying in starting because you feel your little steps won’t make much impact. The truth is that you have to start now! The time will never come when buildings are built from the top, they must always begin from down. Start doing that thing now. Remember that we are been enjoined not to despise the days of little beginnings. Your little steps are the seeds that you sow. All of the big corporations that we see today started small and grew big. Take your mind to any of the Fortune 500 companies and you will realize that none of them started big, not even Ford or General Motors, MacDonald’s started small even our own Dangote started small!
A child first learns to crawl before walking; it is always one thing leading to the other. Never be afraid to take those little steps of yours, even the world’s fastest runner started in life by taking little steps! Call to mind the fact that while walking you can’t take two steps at the same time (the result is that you will find yourself on the floor!); it is always one step before the other. I believe it is safe to draw my conclusion on this piece with the words of Martin Luther King Jr. who said ‘if you can’t fly, run; if you can’t run, walk; if you can’t walk, crawl; just make sure you keep moving.’ This is the essence of life, never be stagnant nor afraid to take little steps. If you can’t fly today, why not try running? Today, you may not be able to take those big steps you desire – you can’t secure big loans because you are not known; you are not offered the juicy contracts etc but don’t be afraid to start where you are and in a short while you would have grown into that “big boss” you desired.
If you are still wondering on when best to start, it is now. The time is now.
HOW SEEST THOU?
The title of this piece is a paraphrase of Jesus’ reply to the rich young ruler in Luke 10:26 where he said 'how readest thou'.
What you see is not ultimately determined by what you are looking at but more as a result of your judgment or perception of the object. Let me break this down a bit so you can get a clearer picture – a cup of one (1) litre filled with half (0.5) litre of water can be described by two different persons differently. One may say ‘the cup is half empty’ while the other will see the cup as ‘being half full!’
Perception to things in life has made human beings to be divided along two lines – pessimists and optimists. While the first see things negatively the other are able to see inherent good in anything whatsoever. There are certain persons that will always be able to give you one thousand and one reasons why a business or venture will not succeed. They are well aware of the government policies and detractors that will ensure that the venture doesn’t see the light of day – they are bad to hang around with, because you will never progress by being around them. The other set, though aware of the roadblocks, are able to devise logical and legally allowed means of overcoming the difficulties. One group magnifies the problem, while the other proffers solutions.
I recall the story of two men who went to a country where the people walked bare footed and I believe this will drive the point home, better. The friends were both looking at the same thing but saw differently. While one of them saw a bad business environment, or else what do you think is the work of a shoe maker in a land where shoes are not worn? The other saw a goldmine, endless opportunities to make shoes for the entire population. I believe this is what prompted a wise man to say “that the eyes that look be many, but the eyes that see few!”
There are many today who have eyes but are blind and that makes me believe the words of the great woman of insight, Helen Keller when she said “what is worse than blindness is having sight without vision.” Many are in the midst of plenty and yet complain of lack. I challenge everyone out there to begin to see rather than look.
What you see is not ultimately determined by what you are looking at but more as a result of your judgment or perception of the object. Let me break this down a bit so you can get a clearer picture – a cup of one (1) litre filled with half (0.5) litre of water can be described by two different persons differently. One may say ‘the cup is half empty’ while the other will see the cup as ‘being half full!’
Perception to things in life has made human beings to be divided along two lines – pessimists and optimists. While the first see things negatively the other are able to see inherent good in anything whatsoever. There are certain persons that will always be able to give you one thousand and one reasons why a business or venture will not succeed. They are well aware of the government policies and detractors that will ensure that the venture doesn’t see the light of day – they are bad to hang around with, because you will never progress by being around them. The other set, though aware of the roadblocks, are able to devise logical and legally allowed means of overcoming the difficulties. One group magnifies the problem, while the other proffers solutions.
I recall the story of two men who went to a country where the people walked bare footed and I believe this will drive the point home, better. The friends were both looking at the same thing but saw differently. While one of them saw a bad business environment, or else what do you think is the work of a shoe maker in a land where shoes are not worn? The other saw a goldmine, endless opportunities to make shoes for the entire population. I believe this is what prompted a wise man to say “that the eyes that look be many, but the eyes that see few!”
There are many today who have eyes but are blind and that makes me believe the words of the great woman of insight, Helen Keller when she said “what is worse than blindness is having sight without vision.” Many are in the midst of plenty and yet complain of lack. I challenge everyone out there to begin to see rather than look.
Friday, 5 March 2010
YOU MUST PAY THE PRICE
“I have camped around some great men and I know that
there is a price to pay...”
- Bishop David O. Oyedepo.
I am a young Nigerian who is aiming for the top; I am also surrounded by many young people who equally want to make it to the top. I, however, notice that while many people aim for the top not many know what to do to get there. Our nation is one in which people make all sorts of complaints and excuses as reasons for not making it in life, regrettably, many up and coming young persons are already arming themselves with these excuses as possible alibis should they not make it. Hence, this write-up.
It was Archimedes (a preeminent Greek mathematician and inventor best known for discovering the law of hydrostatics, often called Archimedes' principle) who said “Give me a firm place to stand, and I will move the earth”. The answer he was said to have been given by one of his contemporaries is worthy of note, which is that “let him that will move the earth first move himself!” This dialogue above is one I love so much, particularly the answer to Archimedes’ desire that a place be created for him. I love the dialogue because it echoes a universal and eternal truth –that space won’t be created for you! Throughout the ages, not once has space been created for anybody, rather you demand and fight for it yourself!
Whenever I consider the issue of a person getting an opportunity for the world to make way, my mind quickly races to the unique story of Joshua in the Bible who had the sun stand still for him to complete his work, but did you notice that the sun didn’t stop at its own accord? He spoke to the Lord concerning that issue; notably, however, the Bible says that there will be no day like it ever again! Thus, every man will always do and achieve all within the bounds and limits of the world – amidst challenges and difficulties. You will always need to create your space yourself!
No nation is totally free of troubles, neither is there any life that is absolutely devoid of challenges. Everyone that has made it did it within the bounds of limits and odds placed against them. There is no success story without its challenges. All over the world people always work their way to the top because there is no short cut. Whatever challenge thrown at you only makes your ascent unique. Every problem is a solution in disguise. Do you remember the story of the donkey that used the sand thrown at it in rising rather than for its burial as intended?
There is no challenge you will face that will be enough reason to justify your failure. I can re-echo the word of the apostle Paul that there is no situation you will pass through that someone hasn’t passed through. With courage, determination and resilience you will be smiling at the other side. A great story of determination is that of Helen Keller who went blind and deaf at the age of 19 months (and thus lost contact with the world) and yet went ahead to graduate from Radcliffe College with honours and also become a public speaker. Napoleon Hill said that “nature could send me [an affliction] but nature could not induce me to accept the reality of the affliction.” It therefore means that you are the architect of your life and you can turn around any evil to your own good. A wise man said “who you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.”
I will tell you a firsthand story about determination. While in the university I had this friend who, during one of our discussions as freshmen, told me confidently that he was going to make a 1st class. Now, this was a high dream because during that time only one person had made a 1st class in our faculty in it’s over forty (40) years of existence. He indeed went ahead to make a 1st class. The faculty didn’t lower its standard for him, rather he worked towards it. He paid the price.
The world won’t create space for you but the world will give you your space if you pay the price, that’s what is called your niche. Your niche is that space the world has conceded to you because you paid your price.
There is a man in our country who is affecting his generation from his niche. He was born Ahmed. Ahmed was only armed with a National Diploma (ND) when he set out to do what he was created for, the world didn’t make room for Ahmed but rather he forced his way to limelight. Today, he is called when decisions that will affect our nation and the globe is to be taken, in fact he was instrumental to the electoral success of Barack Obama! Ahmed’s story is one for another day.
I hope the point I have set out to make is clear, that the world won’t concede success to you unless and until you have paid the price, hence don’t complain about your challenges as every man has a dose of his own.
I will like to conclude with this poem that summarises the irony of life:
“I bargained with Life for a penny,
And Life would pay no more,
However I begged at evening
When I counted my scanty store.
For Life is a just employer,
He gives you what you ask,
But once you have set the wages.
Why, you must bear the task.
I worked for a menial’s hire,
Only to learn, dismayed,
That any wage I had asked of Life,
Life would have willingly paid.”
See you at the top.
there is a price to pay...”
- Bishop David O. Oyedepo.
I am a young Nigerian who is aiming for the top; I am also surrounded by many young people who equally want to make it to the top. I, however, notice that while many people aim for the top not many know what to do to get there. Our nation is one in which people make all sorts of complaints and excuses as reasons for not making it in life, regrettably, many up and coming young persons are already arming themselves with these excuses as possible alibis should they not make it. Hence, this write-up.
It was Archimedes (a preeminent Greek mathematician and inventor best known for discovering the law of hydrostatics, often called Archimedes' principle) who said “Give me a firm place to stand, and I will move the earth”. The answer he was said to have been given by one of his contemporaries is worthy of note, which is that “let him that will move the earth first move himself!” This dialogue above is one I love so much, particularly the answer to Archimedes’ desire that a place be created for him. I love the dialogue because it echoes a universal and eternal truth –that space won’t be created for you! Throughout the ages, not once has space been created for anybody, rather you demand and fight for it yourself!
Whenever I consider the issue of a person getting an opportunity for the world to make way, my mind quickly races to the unique story of Joshua in the Bible who had the sun stand still for him to complete his work, but did you notice that the sun didn’t stop at its own accord? He spoke to the Lord concerning that issue; notably, however, the Bible says that there will be no day like it ever again! Thus, every man will always do and achieve all within the bounds and limits of the world – amidst challenges and difficulties. You will always need to create your space yourself!
No nation is totally free of troubles, neither is there any life that is absolutely devoid of challenges. Everyone that has made it did it within the bounds of limits and odds placed against them. There is no success story without its challenges. All over the world people always work their way to the top because there is no short cut. Whatever challenge thrown at you only makes your ascent unique. Every problem is a solution in disguise. Do you remember the story of the donkey that used the sand thrown at it in rising rather than for its burial as intended?
There is no challenge you will face that will be enough reason to justify your failure. I can re-echo the word of the apostle Paul that there is no situation you will pass through that someone hasn’t passed through. With courage, determination and resilience you will be smiling at the other side. A great story of determination is that of Helen Keller who went blind and deaf at the age of 19 months (and thus lost contact with the world) and yet went ahead to graduate from Radcliffe College with honours and also become a public speaker. Napoleon Hill said that “nature could send me [an affliction] but nature could not induce me to accept the reality of the affliction.” It therefore means that you are the architect of your life and you can turn around any evil to your own good. A wise man said “who you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.”
I will tell you a firsthand story about determination. While in the university I had this friend who, during one of our discussions as freshmen, told me confidently that he was going to make a 1st class. Now, this was a high dream because during that time only one person had made a 1st class in our faculty in it’s over forty (40) years of existence. He indeed went ahead to make a 1st class. The faculty didn’t lower its standard for him, rather he worked towards it. He paid the price.
The world won’t create space for you but the world will give you your space if you pay the price, that’s what is called your niche. Your niche is that space the world has conceded to you because you paid your price.
There is a man in our country who is affecting his generation from his niche. He was born Ahmed. Ahmed was only armed with a National Diploma (ND) when he set out to do what he was created for, the world didn’t make room for Ahmed but rather he forced his way to limelight. Today, he is called when decisions that will affect our nation and the globe is to be taken, in fact he was instrumental to the electoral success of Barack Obama! Ahmed’s story is one for another day.
I hope the point I have set out to make is clear, that the world won’t concede success to you unless and until you have paid the price, hence don’t complain about your challenges as every man has a dose of his own.
I will like to conclude with this poem that summarises the irony of life:
“I bargained with Life for a penny,
And Life would pay no more,
However I begged at evening
When I counted my scanty store.
For Life is a just employer,
He gives you what you ask,
But once you have set the wages.
Why, you must bear the task.
I worked for a menial’s hire,
Only to learn, dismayed,
That any wage I had asked of Life,
Life would have willingly paid.”
See you at the top.
WISDOM
Proverbs 4:7 clearly says that ‘Wisdom is the principal thing,’ this is a passage we all are familiar with and I have been familiar with it for a long time but the truth is that I get more and better understanding of that eternal truth thought after thought.
Many times we put knowledge and wisdom in the same class or even as substitutes/synonym (using them interchangeably), but alas wisdom is not in the same class with knowledge because wisdom is higher and better than knowledge. Wisdom is knowing what to do and doing it. Knowledge, on its part, is ‘just’ knowing what to do; knowledge is limited and shallow. No wonder it is now said that knowledge is not power but rather that applied knowledge is power! Knowledge is an abridged version of wisdom. Applied knowledge is wisdom.
A good scenario to drive home this point is this – a professor of finance is highly knowledgeable about finance but that does not translate to him being financially wise, after all there are many poor professors of finance.
Many times we put knowledge and wisdom in the same class or even as substitutes/synonym (using them interchangeably), but alas wisdom is not in the same class with knowledge because wisdom is higher and better than knowledge. Wisdom is knowing what to do and doing it. Knowledge, on its part, is ‘just’ knowing what to do; knowledge is limited and shallow. No wonder it is now said that knowledge is not power but rather that applied knowledge is power! Knowledge is an abridged version of wisdom. Applied knowledge is wisdom.
A good scenario to drive home this point is this – a professor of finance is highly knowledgeable about finance but that does not translate to him being financially wise, after all there are many poor professors of finance.
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