adeyemi

Welcome 2011

2010-12-31T21:10:00.000-08:00

Slept and woke up 365 mornings; thank You
Hung(er) and had enough to eat at least 1095 times; thank You
Had my heart beat about 38 million times without getting weary; thank You
Had a pillow below my head and a roof over it; thank You

Headache's time eventually elapsed; thank You
Sored throat lingered and then smothered, thank You
Abdominal upsets raged but never forever; thank You
Every bodily pain was a sign of living; thank You

For payers answered; thank You
For whisperes that seemed to have gone unattended; thank You
For 2010 gone; thank You
For 2011 here; thank You LORD.

Nigeria @ 50: What Are We Celebrating?

2010-10-01T07:59:00.000-07:00

I have attended several birthdays that the celebrant could not -if asked to- point fingers at a single achievement his entire life. But we all go ahead and bring cards and other gifts, cut and eat the cake with him and felicitate for a couple of hours. No one cares to ask, "So celebrant, what have you achieved in the last 30 years of your life that today is worth celebrating?" Haha, test yourself too, what was worth celebrating about your last birthday? It's not the case for everybody though...

But for those who really cannot point at a thing, all we are doing is celebrating their lives because we know in certainty that if there is still life there is still hope. Though the person might be a zero today he might be a hero tomorrow. I think it's worth it to celebrate the existence of Nigeria till today. Yes there is still poverty. Yes we still don't have basic amenities. Yes there has been a backward trend. Yes there is hostility and civil unrest. Yes a bomb blasted, killed and maimed people. Yes, it is one of the most corrupt countries in the world... Nigeria is still alive and if people like you and I will contribute our quota, we will have the Nigeria of our dream. Someday.

Nigeria has not been ruling herself. It has been ruled by humans, our brothers. Your fathers and mine are the ones who made a mess of it. We celebrate those who misruled the country yet we don't see any sense in celebrating the resilience of the victim of tyranny. We should celebrate Nigeria and call the bluff of the corrupt leaders.

Nigeria has given us a place to call home. Nigeria has given us an identity. Nigeria has given us shelters oblivious of major natural disasters. Nigeria is rich in resources. Nigerians are poor but we are still one of the happiest people on earth. Nigeria has a future. Absolutely fantastic.

Happy anniversary Nigeria. Rejoice Nigerians...

Adeyemi Adeleye

Two Coaches

2010-08-16T23:03:00.001-07:00

"Success on any major scale requires you to accept responsibility . . . . In the final analysis, the one quality that all successful people have is the ability to take on responsibility."

— Michael Korda
Editor-in-Chief, Simon & Schuster

I love football (and of course, basketball). I love it when a team plays entertaining football and of course, winning always leaves you with a cool feeling when it’s your team.

Coaches are certainly an important part of the game that we do not see so much of during the game like the players; except of course those that gymnastically gesticulate with as much vigor as the boys kicking the ball around. But because pressmen know how much a coach matters to the team they always try to get their opinion after each game. And many times, before the game.

I have listened to a number of post-game comments and I can classify what most coaches have to say after a defeat into two groups: One of them generally goes “…the boys refused to play according to instructions… and what you saw today is what happens when that occurs”. And the other, “we had a very bad day here today, we just couldn’t get ourselves right... we will go back to the drawing board and…”

The former coach is clearly letting us know that he knows his job and did it but the players were just stupid! The latter coach is saying we know our job but we didn’t seem to have done it well! The former coach is simply showing he is so good that all fingers should be pointed to the players while the latter is saying if anyone must die, kill me first.

No single raindrop believes it is responsible for the flood.

Many a time, we all behave like the blame-shifting coach who wants to appear to have perfectly played his role. “I am the coach and not the player.” We don’t want a share of the blame, “it was him- he completely jeopardized the team’s effort.” Worse still, we point fingers at our subordinates- those we are supposed to be leading. How silly!

When a leader shifts the blame to the follower he is simply saying “I’m not truly the leader, someone else is!” The coach that claims publicly his players didn’t play according to instruction is simply saying “I have no control over those boys; I ask them to do A, but they do B- I’m not in charge. I’m just a figure head!”

Leaders do not come out shifting the blame to their subordinates; they take responsibility for whatever happened. They accept the blame on behalf of the team even if they had played their role pretty well. Great leaders know this: the team wins together and losses together. When the coach says “we had a bad day”, he means “I led them and I led them wrong, I am the leader and I am at fault.” Great teams go directly at one another inside; but outside, they are a team.

I remember making a big blunder during my last full time job; I mean a big blunder. I played into the hands of a General Manager who was three positions (about 5-10 years work experience) above my direct boss. While the last I heard about that was when the General Manager made me realize I messed up, I know my boss had taken most and all of the heat. He may have even been tongue-lashed in the next management meeting for negligence but he kept all that away from me- maybe because he knew I realized the gravity of what I did. I respect you, Habila Amos!

The cool thing about the coaches that accept/share the blame for/with their team is that when it’s praise time they shower it –almost completely– on the team. When they are interviewed after a victory you hear things like “we all did our homework pretty well, the boys gave their all…” But our dear blame-shifter has just one same phrase too, however, in the opposite direction this time- “the boys strictly followed instruction and you can see the result for yourself.” Huh, infallible ultimate warrior!

Whenever we did great jobs for Habila that precipitated commendations from his bosses, we would always get the commendation forwarded to us and he tells you, “you did it, it’s your job.” Even in meetings he would not cease to sing your praise; men, that was an incentive to work harder! But he is never going to vilify you openly when you do wrong- that’s a private business.

So evaluate the kind of leader you have been? Are you taking responsibility or are you always denouncing your leadership when things go wrong? What kind of leader do you want to be? Is it the coach that points his finger outward when it’s bad and inward when it’s great? Or is it the coach that shares both the good and bad?

Yahoo! I just saw some grate examples of how we all play these coaches in Blame Shifter: Spineless Cousins of Shapelifters (http://www.selfhelpdaily.com/blame-shifting-blame-shifters/):

· They spill a drink down the front of their top…. the server filled it too dang high!

· They can’t afford something they’d like to have…. Obama! Bush! War! Wife!

· A bad day at the office means that their co-workers are “losers” and the boss is a “jerk.”

· A college exam didn’t go as well as hoped for…. stupid test!

· Someone’s weight is out of control… it’s everyone’s fault except the one with the fork in their hand.

· Their kids misbehave and/or talk back…. it’s all thanks to the school system, television, and the music they listen to.

Attraction is a response!

2010-08-14T11:29:00.000-07:00

Living at the McLaughlin Reserve for over two months so far has brought me across some botanists and ecologists. Interesting enough, a lot of them are interested in plant-pollinator relationships. This is such an interesting topic because the relationship is so mutual one might not survive without the other.

One of the things I've learnt from them is while some plants are capable of self-propagation; the bulk of plants will only reproduce through cross-pollination. Besides, cross pollination increases genetic variation, and thus, survival.

In order to ensure cross-pollination, birds and insects (pollinators) are of utmost importance to plants, which would otherwise pay any amount to develop muscular limbs to be able to throw and catch pollen grains themselves. And to ensure the pollinators come around, the plants cook very tasty meals which the pollinators cannot resist- nectar. While having delicious nectary meals, the pollinators carry pollen grains from one plant to another- exactly what the plants need.

Different plants use different recipes for their nectar preparation hence it differs from one plant to another. The nature of the nectar determines what pollinator comes around. That is the power of choice the plants have- they choose who they want around by what they produce. That is the same power of choice you have- you choose whom you want around you by what you produce. People rarely just want to be your friend for no reason; they want to be your friend because they see in you what/who they want.

Like we all know, every lady had an idea the kind of guy she wants; just any guy wouldn't do. A guy also has an idea of the specifications he wants in his girl and he will do everything to get the one that meets them most. Equilibrium is when demand meets supply. Lol!

The kind of nectar you exhume determines the type of pollinators you attract! So just in case you are wondering why on earth you are surrounded by the kind of people that surround you, stop wondering; check inwards. And if you don't want the kind of people surrounding you, don't run away or chase them away, just change you. Attraction is not a choice, it is a response.

Ponder on This...

2010-08-05T19:40:00.000-07:00

Dear All,

Trust today is going well!

The accompanying piece was sent in by a close friend (Adeyemi Adeleye)
and these ideas are really thought-provoking and inspiring.

Reminds me of a popular commercial that rode the airwaves last year
and the year before it in Nigeria…

Ponder on them!

A baby is not thrown away for falling several times while starting to
walk. But learning is in fact, not limited to childhood: While many of
us learned to drive as early-privileged teenagers or late-privileged
adults, we definitely sucked so badly at first. We may have even
recorded near-fatal accidents all the name of learning to drive… So
why did you not just stop learning since it might kill?

Who ever thought humans can move at 65mph without going unconscious or
our blood freezing up with fright. In fact, speed breakers and speed
limits are today used to slow man down even though he was once
imagined not to be able to move fast at all. Who ever thought humans
could compete with the eagles in the air and beat the ‘natural kings
of the air’ to traveling speed and distance, despising gravity? Today
humans can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner in three different
continents if they so wish. Does the impossible really exist?

Like Walt Disney says: "It's kind of fun to do the impossible."

Let’s wrap it up:
That you sucked at starting it does not mean it is not meant for you.
It does not mean you cannot.
That men said it is impossible does not make it a no-go area.
Be like the bumble-bee, which totally ignorant of the laws of
thermodynamics, does not know its wings are too small to lift its body
size. In its ignorance it flaps its little wings like other well-built
insects and it does fly.
Be ignorant to the laws and principles that say ‘it is impossible’.
Set your targets, go for them… impossible does not exist.

For me, Impossible really is like the dinosaurs of the ages
past...perhaps only comfortable in our history and archives.

Step out of the hold of “Impossibility” and take charge of your
life...Steer your life to fulfillment!

(Culled from Ponder on This)

ExamTension!

2010-07-27T23:16:00.000-07:00

“5 + 5 = 20” is not the type of mistake you expect from a graduate student who spent about a year learning pre-primary school Arithmetic, six years learning primary school-level Arithmetic, another six years learning secondary school Mathematics and having an A in WASSCE O-level, and an excellent year of university Mathematics, including Calculus. But such happens under examination conditions even though that is the time it just should not happen; not at all! I laughed at myself for days when I got a mid-term script and I had written that two fives will add up to twenty. I guess the other option would be to be mad at myself and for missing the answer but it is not the kind of question I cannot miss even if I just woke up from a nightmare. But I did.

We were (I think) to determine the total amount of nitrogen ions (or something) present in a water body pollutes by several species of nitrogen. My interpretation was spot on. The stoichiometry was without blemish. I had determined all the N-equivalent of all the species and just when I was to do the easiest part of the answering, my hand decided to be independent of my brain.

I’d let it go until today again something similar repeated itself: I have just missed a question in a driving test because in my mind the question had “…younger…”, but it was actually “…older…” I was expecting to miss one or two questions in all, but not the first question that I knew well like the back of my hand- asking about the BAC limit for drivers older than 21. I quickly checked the “accurate answer” but what I checked was an answer to what I thought the question was: BAC limit for drivers younger than 21. I missed no other question but that and it struck me how easy it is for us to fail exams and perform below our potential.

In both cases I will identify ‘exam tension’ as the chief suspect. That is what makes your hand shake uncontrollably when you hear “start”. That is what turns your pant to your handkerchief because you just cannot stop sweating even on this cold day. That is what pushes many people to start tilting their necks to a minimum of ninety degrees either way because it makes them even forget what they know. That is what makes you hold your pen like you are just learning how to write and all the sweat pores in your fingers just woke up from their long-time sleep. Exam tension does not only shake the hand, it also shakes the mind and you start to write, at times, the opposite of what you meant. Or the question suddenly looks twisted and there is no answer in the objectives. Perhaps, like me, you start to see something else other than what was asked and you are brilliantly answering the questions in the wrong way. Worse still, it could temporarily disconnect from your brain sockets the nerves that join your hand to your brain and connect it to your heart instead (which is beating like 500 times in a minute!)

It probably does not affect some people so badly; they just make one or two mistakes here and there and that’s it. But if you think of the fact that the difference between one grade and the next is usually a mark you would understand how important just one mistake could be. I guess I've not been badly hit thus far but it has nonetheless created a gap between my potential and my performance. And before the gap gets wider than it is already I’m going to have to plug it up! I know it affects you too every once in a while but here comes help. Yahoo!

But, I'm I in the right position to advise a victim of what I'm suffering from myself? Can I tell you how to overcome exam tension when I just fell a victim a couple of hours ago? I will assume I'm talking to myself henceforth… Adeyemi, you have to stop fidgeting in the exam hall so you stop missing questions cheaply. I will prescribe the following medicines and watch how you do in the next couple of days:

· Study well. Study well and cover all you need to cover to increase your confidence in the exam hall. One of the major promoters of tension is lack of confidence- full confidence that you are ready for this;

· Take it easy! You remember what you did that exam that your hand just couldn’t stop shaking? Stop writing! Drop your pen! Sit back, relax and chant some TONGUES! Ha!

· Don’t be in a rush to finish so you can read questions and write answers carefully. But if it’s a time-constrained exam and you have to rush; rush. But ensure you spend some time going through your answers again before submitting it. When going through assume you were wrong all this while, so be on the lookout for things to correct;

· Alright people, that’s all I know and I still need more advice from you guys. Please help so I don’t repeat this mistake again. Thanks.

· (your comment) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Try Ignorance

2010-07-19T21:57:00.000-07:00

Imagine how many people were killed!

There was this case in Kenyatta National Hospital Intensive Care ward
where patients always died in the same bed on Sunday morning at 11am,
regardless of their medical condition.

This puzzled the doctors and some even thought that it had something
to do with the supernatural no one could solve the mystery.... as to
Why the death at 11.00AM.

So a world-wide expert team was constituted and they decided to go
down to the ward to investigate the cause of the incidents. So on the
next Sunday morning few minutes before 11am, all doctors and nurses
nervously wait outside the ward to see for themselves what the
terrible phenomenon was all about.

Some were holding wooden crosses, prayer, books and their
Objects to ward off the evil.....Just when the clock struck
11......Guess what happened...... Mukhobero Wepukhulu, the part-time
Sunday sweeper entered the ward and unplugged the life support system
so that he could use the socket for the vacuum cleaner.

If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.

JUN2710 Lawmakers pay

2010-06-26T17:26:00.000-07:00

JUN2710 Lawmakers pay

PRODIGY OR CLONE?

2010-06-23T19:21:00.000-07:00

You walk like me. You talk like me. You dress like me. You even laugh like me. You still are not me. The best all those can make you is ‘like me’, not me. The best they will make you is a near copy or perhaps, a carbon copy. I am still me, you are still you.

Those are some ranting from my annoyed mind. I’m pissed at those who have turned their mentors to their molding block, their creator. They have moved from prodigy to clones; ah! We knew them as A but after a while of mentorship under B, they are now more of B than A. But mentor B should help you to become a better A, not a worse B!

Receiving mentorship is a powerful tool to being guided to the kind and aspect of greatness one desires. We all need mentors, we all should be mentored. But mentors are like teachers, they only should pass some things across, not all things, including how they use the bathroom. Copying how your mentor talks, is groomed, walks, or dresses does not increase the mentorship; neither does it increase the essentials you derive from him. It only tells us you are not very sure of exactly what you want of or from him.

All these physical efforts take your mind off exactly what you should be focusing on into the art of looking like him. Mentors add to making us, they don’t make us. Mentors help us become better us, not a worse them.

Catch his character, not his characteristics. Know why he talks, not how he talks. Understand why he laughs, not how he laughs. What he wears is less important than why he wears it. Learn his skills, not his swags. Learn his discipline, not his gesticulation. Learn his attitude, not his magnitude. Learn his perspiration, not his articulation. Know the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ will be an easy task.

A Hypothetical Paper to the Special Adviser...

2010-05-23T14:29:00.000-07:00

From: Adeyemi Adeleye

To: Special Adviser on Power and Energy

Subject: Natural gas: From GHG to Power Generation

Date: May 20, 2010

Dear Special Adviser,

Natural gas occurs together with crude oil in most Nigerian oil reserves. Oil and Gas Journal (OGJ) estimates that Nigeria had 184 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven natural gas reserves as of January 2009 which could total 300 trillion cubic feet, making Nigeria the seventh largest natural gas reserve holder in the world and the largest in Africa. Nigeria faces a number of difficulties in harnessing its abundant gas reserves mainly because it lacks the necessary infrastructure. When most of its oil facilities were built in the 1960s and 1970s, at a time when gas was not a popular energy source in the world, little thought was given to gas collection facilities. Because many of Nigeria’s oil fields lack the infrastructure to produce and market associated natural gas, it is often flared. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Nigeria flared 593 Bcf of natural gas in 2007, which, according to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, cost the country US$ 1.46 billion in lost revenue. Every day in southern Nigeria, almost 2 million cubic feet of natural gas is burnt during crude oil production, more than is flared anywhere else in the world and according to the World Bank, gas flared in Nigeria is equivalent to total annual power generation in sub-Saharan Africa. Gas flaring not only wastes a valuable resource for the past 40 years, but is also a major cause of environmental pollution in the Niger River Delta, where most of Nigeria's oil output is produced. There is growing anger among local inhabitants at the damage caused to their health and ecosystem by oil production activities, especially gas flaring and crude oil spillage. Moreover, flaring is a global source of greenhouse gas emissions, contributing immensely to global warming. The World Bank estimates that gas flaring in the Niger Delta releases some 35 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. If pursued vigorously via international bilateral agreements, this massive gas flaring in Nigeria can qualify the country to participate in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) with one of the European Union Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading System (EU ETS) countries, while financial and technical assistance can be received in exchange for utilizing this large-scale resource, especially in the generation of cleaner power which the country is in dire need of.

At present only 10% of rural households and 40% of the country’s total population have access to electricity from the national grid. And in the urban and semi-urban areas, three out of every five household relies on electric generators for powering their homes and businesses. This has continually led to an upsurge in the use of gasoline and diesel engines which are also major sources of VOCs, carbon monoxide and of global concern, carbon dioxide. Nigeria has 5900 MW of installed generating capacity; however, the country is only able to generate 1600 MW because most facilities have been poorly maintained and more importantly, old. Since the current government has a plan to increase access to electricity throughout the country to 85% by 2020, it will be necessary to consider the most cost-effective and least impactful way to go about it.

The contribution of Nigeria to global warming through petroleum exploration and use by industry, automobiles, electricity generation (both local and industrial) and gas flare definitely makes the country one of the highest carbon contributor in Africa. If the country thus decides to participate in a global carbon cap-and-trade scheme it will be given a considerably high cap based on historical emission. But since the country may not be technically ready for that right now, the CDM option could be pursued as it is a gain to the country on all sides- mitigation, power and revenue. The worst case scenario might be for the government to seek foreign investment for the natural gas capture and power generation. This will be a good policy approach to mitigate the nation’s emission which is increasing on an annual basis, reduce wastage from flaring, and increase power generation, albeit, cleaner power compared to coal and fuel-powered plants present today. In a national energy demand projection simulated that for 13% GDP growth rate by 2030, the demand projections rose from 5,746MW in the base year of 2005 to 297,900MW in the year 2030 which translates to construction of 11,686MW every year to meet the demand. The corresponding cumulative investment (investment & operations) cost for the 25-year period is US$ 484.62 billion, which means investing US$ 80.77 billion every five years within the period. Financial returns from the CDM and export of power and natural gas can definitely surpass this estimated cost. The expected life-span for the nation’s natural gas is about 88 years, which gives the country ample time to develop much cleaner alternative energy on a national scale while completely phasing out fossil fuel power production.

Thank you.

Adeyemi Adeleye

Adieu

2009-12-29T09:18:00.000-08:00

It came, quietly

It slipped, gradually

It goes, finally

Adieu 2009

Tons of goals, unachieved

Lots of missions, unaccomplished

Many a promises, unfulfiled

Adieu 2009

Lots of prayers, more than answered

Lots of health, better than ever

Lots of love, more than more

Adieu 2009

With thanks and praises, we bid you bye

For life and love, with peace and joy

With hopes and dreams, for years to come

Adieu 2009.

CHAPTER TWO- The Dullard Mentality

2009-07-06T11:24:00.000-07:00

I once heard the story of an eagle that laid its egg among those of a hen. The hen incubated the eagle's egg alongside hers till they all hatched. The eaglet grew among chicks, ate what they ate, went where they went, spoke the way they spoke, grew as they grew, and did what they did. Each day it looks up and thinks aloud, “I wish I could fly like those strong eagles up there.” But it never knew it could fly - it had the mind of a fowl. That unfortunate eaglet had the body and ability of an eagle but it had the mind of a fowl. A chronic disease, called 'Fowl Mentality', struck it.

This generic disease once ravaged the Israelites at the point of their entrance to Canaan and it was medically described then as 'Grasshopper Mentality'. This epidemic, which has despised every attempt by mankind to nip it in the bud, is today known as the 'Dullard mentality'.
Oh, it sounds strange right? But it is more of a syndrome. Do you like to know the symptoms the patients usually complain? “I'm not smart”. “I'm a dullard”. “I'm an average student.” “I’m a C-student.”

Now you know what the sickness is all about right? But I know someone wants to argue that it is not a sickness after all, it is only normal and it is good to be real. Anyway, one of the definitions a dictionary gave to the word sick is 'mentally affected or weak.' This, at least, buttresses my submission that people suffering from 'Dullard Mentality' are as sick as those in the various health institutions.

That eaglet I talked about was mentally sick. It had everything required to fly except the knowledge that it could, and it never did despite its daily wish to soar. So also have some people unfortunately relegated themselves to the base line of the intelligence pyramid. Although they have the ability of an eagle, they are plagued by their mindset of a fowl. They have everything required to fly except the knowledge that they can, and they never will until they are convinced they can.

There is the general notion that humans don't generally have the same intelligence capacity: While some are said to be geniuses, some excellent, then those that are good, then the average (better put, mediocre) and then the unfortunate dullards. A big question to be answered here is, 'is there any adequate, consistent and all encompassing basis for this classification?'

Culled from 'The Academic god'

The Wise King

2009-06-05T10:46:00.000-07:00

In a far away land, there was a beautiful kingdom with a unique rule, which said, "Anyone may become the king, and he will be given all rights to govern the country for 5 years. But after the 5 years, he will be detained, his body will be tied, and he will be thrown away to a remote island, [where the jungle is thick and there are plenty of wild animals and no humans.

The first who came forward said, "OK, I am ready to be the king. And he was a king for 5 years, and enjoyed his position. He threw big parties, went to many beautiful places, married many women, collected many luxurious things and did whatever pleased him.

This went on till one day he woke up, to find soldiers in his palace who said, "We came here under the order of constitution. You were a king for 5 years, and now the time has come when we should seize you and take you to the remote island.

The king knew that this time would come, but had not realized how quickly the time had passed. He had enjoyed himself in the past 5 years but now he had to leave everything, and would be thrown in the very dangerous island. He was very scared but could do nothing and had to accept his destiny with tears in his eyes. The soldiers put the dethroned king in jungle and did not care about what would happen to him. All they heard were the voices of wild animals and the long scream of the former king. And then silence again.

Back in the kingdom, the constitution was still effective. And now, there was a 2nd king. He too behaved like the 1st king, enjoying an extravagant life, and was faced with the same fate, till the voice of wild animals mixed with his scream was heard after he was thrown in the island. This went on for a long time, with each person becoming King, and following their predecessors. Laugh in the beginning, and cry in the end.

One day, a young man came and declared his wish to be a King. By constitution he was granted his wish. He would be a king for 5 years before being thrown away to the island. But he being wise realized that his time was short, and all luxuries and power would come to an end.

So after much thinking, he decided that he will use all of his power, resources, time etc, to prepare his life at the remote island. In the 1st year he sent troops, veterinarians, and animal trainers to the dangerous island. The mission was to control the population of wild animals there or domesticate them for good use.

Well the mission was so huge that it consumed a lot of the country's resources. But it was the king's decision and he had the power. So, all resources that had been used by previous kings to have fun, now was used by the new king in this strange mission. He really dedicated all of his energy to the mission which became successful.

In the 2nd year, he sent a lot of farmers to the island to start agriculture there. In the 3rd year, he made a lot of facilities on the island - from electricity to a hospital. In the 4th year, he sent a lot of educated people like engineers, accountants, and many others to the island. In the 5th year, he sent his friends and his relatives to the island. And finally the time came when the king had to be thrown away to the island. In the morning of the big day, the king smiled his widest smile ever in 5 years. When many strong soldiers caught and roped him, his smile grew wider. And finally he laughed a great laugh when the soldiers threw him to the island.

Now, why wouldn't he laugh? While the previous kings found a thick jungle and many wild animals when they were thrown there, the last king found everything he needed for a comfortable and happy life with his dear ones.

So many people are tricked by their life in employment/the world. All they do in this is have fun, and forget that the time will come when they will face a very different situation. No amount of regrets and pleading can change the situation then.

But the wise, people ensure adequate provisions for their life in retirement, just like the wise king. These people will face the future with a smile, because a pleasant life is awaiting them.

HARD WORK vs. DILIGENCE 2

2009-04-07T14:09:00.000-07:00

As I defined in The Academic god, hard work simply means working hard; while diligence is working hard in the right direction. The major difference between the two ‘synonyms’ is the direction factor which hard work might lack.
Every student goes to class. Most students have class notes. Several students have textbooks and other relevant materials for their courses. Many students go to tutorials. Most students have photocopies of past questions (PQ). No student never reads at all throughout the semester. All students prepare for their exams one way or the other. All students go to the examination hall hoping to do well, somehow. All students hope to see a nice pass when the results are released. But not all students pass, several fail. So the question is why do all students sow but not all reap?
It is simply because most students are hard working, and only a few are diligent.
Diligence is sensible perspiration. It is optimum dissipation of energy with cerebral application. Diligence is working smart; hard work is working hard. That is why the results are never a true reflection of who worked hardest! The As are not given to those who read most; the Fs are not given to those who read least.

Round 1- Direction
The first thing that differentiates a diligent student from a hard working one is vision. Vision serves as a guide to those who have it, bringing about a sense of direction. Hard working students concentrate more on their ability than how they apply their ability. They put in all their energy, particularly aiming at nothing; and that is what they get at the end of the day. But when a hard working student adds to his hard work, vision, he shoots high to the sky.

I was once so upset with a classmate when I found out she really never had clearly defined goals. My sermon on this fell on deaf ears. Pity, she said it was like counting one’s chick before they hatch. It pained me particularly because I knew how much she was putting into her academics. We read in the place in the nights in part 3 and she never closed her books before me. I understand she was using me as a source of inspiration on the stage, but she refused to do what I was doing back stage. She would stay in the colds of the night, reading hard, but aiming at nothing. To say the least, her hard work did not improve her performance considerably as much as it would have if she had a target.
It is so good to have academically better students as your mentors. But what you have to learn from them transcends where they read, how long they read, when they read, how they read and all worth not. What you need to know are the fundamental principles they use which you would adopt to suit your personality and nature. Success is personal, same pattern might not work for you! That is why you are a protégé, not a clone.

Round 2- Individuality
Deji Omitogun graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University with a First Class in Management & Accounting. He was also a chartered accountant well before he graduated. But while we were roommates in Part 1, Deji was consistently in bed by 10.00pm, when I was probably just getting ready to go and do my study till the early hours of the next day.
Diligence is defining yourself and working the best way that suits you. “Suits you” does not necessarily mean convenience; it means the best way you work by nature. Thomas Edison could work on for days taking only occasional naps on his office sofa but Albert Einstein would work best after nine solid hours of sleep. A diligent student works most when he works best. He has taken time to discover his best time to read, his best place to read, his best way to read and he sticks to it. A diligent student is not found amidst an ‘undefined’ crowd, he is an individual.
Some students trace their class-bests to the reading rooms, probably to simulate them- hard work! For some, rather than concentrate on the lecturer in the class, they keep watch on the class-bests to see if their secret is in how they listen in class- hard work! Some still, without an obvious need, collect the notes of the class-bests to see if that’s where the mystery lies. Again, that is vain hard work! These steps might give up some tips though, but what is a spoon of sand from the seashore. Diligence is sitting down the class-bests and asking them, “How do you do it?” From whatever they say, you can point out some fundamentals which you can now personalize. You make those fundamentals the bedrock upon which you build, you own way. This does not leave room for laziness as diligence is by standard, thorough, in fact, very thorough.

Round 3- The Mirror Check
On the average every lady has a mirror, at least, in her room. “Why”, an average guy wonders? Ladies generally, do a self-check before leaving the home and as occasion permits outside, a re-check might just be a much-needed miracle. These checks help a lady to assess her dressing and more importantly, her make-up. She needs to see if the eye-liner is perfectly curved. She needs to be sure the powder is evenly lavished on her face. She’s got to ascertain the mascara is at its best. She has to verify the lip stick is just fine. She has to be certain her hair is still gorgeous, and so on.
These checks enable the lady to do the proper adjustments and if time permits, she will ensure everything is perfect before she leaves home. This helps the lady to walk head-up she is when she goes out. Such a lady will ignore every condescending look or remark because she just checked the mirror. On the contrary, a lady who couldn’t check the mirror before leaving the home suspects every look and remark, however nice.
Hard working students just dress up; diligent students ensure they check the mirror after dressing up. A diligent student appraises what he has achieved after every reading session because that is what counts. But a hard working student is more concerned about how long he has spent reading and how far he has gone in the topics. A diligent student stops once in a while and asks himself, “What can I deduce from what I’ve been reading?” He browses past questions to fetch to fetch questions that bother on the topic he is studying. He sees himself as in the exam hall, plays the role of the examiner and scores himself in the most stringent manner. This helps him to see himself clearly as the examiner would have seen him. With this he can tell what to adjust, where and how. Failing many times time on your own during a self-check prevents you from failing in the hands of your examiner.

Round 4- Representation
One other thing that differentiates geniuses from average students is knowledge representation in the brain. Representation in the brain could be memorization or cramming. Cramming is an attempt to commit something to memory without understanding it. A diligent student is too thorough to be a crammer; but a hard working student is too hasty not to. The thoroughness of a diligent student makes him go beyond reading to understanding and from understanding to memorization. Hard working students are always in a car race. What matters more to them is ‘how far’, not ‘how well’.

Memorization is often confused with cramming just as diligence is often confused with hard work. A crammer does not seek to understand what his book is saying, he just wants to have it ‘upstairs’. On the other hand, memorization is built on a proper understanding of the subject matter. Cramming is usually forced! It is utilizing the brain under duress. Memorization on the other hand, comes natural. It comes in place, having spent enough time to study again and again to the point of understanding.
A hard working student successfully crams the formula, but he cannot solve a problem with it in the exam hall because he does not even understand the formula. A diligent student however can solve all the problems because even if he forgets the formula, he can derive it.

Knowledge is not glued to the brain, it is stored in it. This is why the manner of storage (representation) is of high importance. Cramming makes the hard worker’s brain a jumble of data while memorization stores information in an orderly manner. Because forgetting is a natural phenomenon to both geniuses and dullards; remembering is easier for diligent students than for crammers. Or who will find a dress she bought last year faster: the lady with a neatly arranged wardrobe, or the one that heaps unfolded clothes haphazardly?

Long live Bachelors

2009-03-01T14:02:00.000-08:00

Every man should get married some time; after all, happiness is not the only thing in life!!
--Anonymous
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Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men shouldbe happier than others.
--Oscar Wilde
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Don't marry for money; you can borrow it cheaper.
--Scottish Proverb
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I don't worry about terrorism. I was marriedfortwo years.
--Sam Kinison
( i loved this one )------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---

Men have a better time than women; for one thing, they marry later; foranother thing, they die earlier.--H. L. Mencken
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When a newly married couple smiles, everyone knowswhy. When a ten-year married couple smiles, everyonewonders why.
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Love is blind but marriage is an eye-opener.
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When a man opens the door of his car for his wife,you can be sure ofone thing: either the car is new or the wife.
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I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back to home always.
--Anonymous
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I asked my wife, "Where do you want to go for ouranniversary? " She said,"Somewhere I have never been!" I told her,"How about the kitchen?"
--Anonymous
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We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.
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My wife was in beauty saloon for two hours.That was only for the estimate.
--Anonymous
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She got a mudpack and looked great for two days. Thenthe mud fell off.
--Anonymous
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She ran after the garbage truck, yelling, "Am I toolate for the garbage?"Following her down the street I yelled, "No, jump in."
--Anonymous
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Badd Teddy recently explained to me why he refusesto get to married.He says "the wedding rings look like minaturehandcuffs... .."
--Anonymous------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---

If your dog is barking at the back door and yourwife yelling at the frontdoor, who do you let in first? The Dog of course... at least he'll shut up after ulet him in!
--Anonymous
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A man placed some flowers on the grave of his dearlyparted mother and started back toward his car when his attention was diverted to another man kneeling at a grave. The man seemed to bepraying with profound intensity and kept repeating, 'Why did u have todie? Why did you have to die?" The first man approached him and said, "Sir,Idon't wish to interfere with your private grief, but this demonstration of pain in ismore than I've ever seen before. For whom do you mourn so? Deeply? Achild? A parent?"The mourner took a moment to collect himself, thenreplied "My wife's first husband."
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A couple came upon a wishing well. The husbandleaned over, made a wish and threw in a coin .The wife decided to make a wish, too. But she leanedover too much, fellinto the well, and drowned. The husband was stunnedfor a while but thensmiled "It really works ! "

7 Moves That Will Make You a Better Dad

2009-02-19T12:23:00.000-08:00

Tips for raising happy, well-adjusted kids.

By Craig Playstead

1. Dig deeper.

A nice house, cool clothes, and grub on the table just aren't enough. Providing for our kids is in our DNA, but how well do you know yours? Do you know who your kids play with at recess? What subject they really struggle with? What they love to eat for hot lunch? If you don't know these things, you need to. While all of us are busy as hell with work and everything else in our lives, we need to make time for our kids and get to really know them -- especially the odd, everyday things that make them tick. I make it a point to talk with my kids about what happened at recess before asking about what happened in class. I want to know about the relationships they're forging, and also what they're up to with their only free time of the day. It's not easy to get this from them. But here's a fun way to spend a little time with them that they'll think is awesome: When your son or daughter is standing at the bus stop ready to be picked up for school, drive up, stop, and tell them to get in. Kidnap them for breakfast and they'll think it's the coolest thing ever. When kids are really impressed or excited by something (like this) there's a much better chance of them opening up and telling you about their lives. Don't preach, don't gasp, just listen.

2. Teach your kids to stand tall.

One of the most important things a father needs to teach his kids is how to stand up for themselves. You will not get far in this world if you become a doormat, and the longer you let it happen, the harder it is to turn it around. This can be anything from just learning how to speak up in class, or confronting someone who's being unfair to them. Our offspring need to be heard, defend what they believe in, and not be bullied. Yes, we want them to be nice and to treat people well, but there is also a time to be assertive instead of like a punching bag. Teaching them how to do all this in a scary world is one of the basic duties of being a father.

3. Get off your rear.

While we may be proud of our lecturing skills, most of the time when we talk all our kids hear is, "Blah, blah, blah." So that makes our actions even more important. You can tell the kids that it's important to be healthy and active, but if all they ever see you do is sit on the coach shoveling Doritos into your mouth as you watch "Celebrity Rehab," they're going to do the exact same thing. Kids should always be learning, exploring and trying new things. It's all part of how they find out what they're passionate about and who they are.Dads can help fuel this exploration by doing the same thing; getting involved in new sports, musical instruments, and activities. This keeps dads fresh and active, and also shows kids that it's cool to try new things. Want to crank up the enthusiasm? Get junior's buddy and his dad in the game too -- kids will do almost anything if their friends are involved. If you want to start golfing, make it a foursome and it'll be even more fun.

4. Prepare for your death.

This should be something that I shouldn't even have to write, but it's amazing how many men skip this to save a buck. We can all sit here and think that it's not going to happen to us, but death happens to dads every day. Protecting your family should be number-one on your responsibilities list as a father. If you're not taking care of your family you run the risk of ruining their lives if the worst should happen. This encompasses a lot, including having a life insurance policy and a will, and knowing who's going to be there to teach your son about being a man. Another aspect of this is keeping yourself healthy with regular physicals and, for God's sake, exercise. I used to work out to look better, but now it's all about longevity. My ultimate goal is to live long enough to make sure my daughter doesn't marry some jackass. They don't say "hope for the best and prepare for the worst" for nothing.

5. No worshipping heroes.

There are parents out there who absolutely worship their kids and think they can do no wrong. But those kids will grow up with a distorted view of how the world works. Every parent should love the hell out of their children, but thinking that they are flawless is setting all of you up for disaster. The kids end up with unreal expectations on how the world works, don't understand defeat, and can't figure out why everyone doesn't think they walk on water. And the parents end up devastated when you finally come to the realization that little Tony actually is capable of throwing his classmate into the girls' bathroom or stealing the neighbor's mail. We all have flaws, and there's nothing wrong with that. Let them learn to deal with the disappointment of losing, and even the brilliance of constructive criticism. It'll prepare them for the real world.

6. Remember why you married her.

I've said this before, but a lot of people still scratch their head when I do. One of the best (if not the best) things you can do for your kids is to be a good husband to their mother. This can be difficult to do, but it just might be the most important item on the list. We pay so much attention to not screwing up our kids that we sometimes neglect the one relationship that plays the biggest role in the person they turn out to be. And if you're divorced, remember that the way you treat their mother will have an enormous impact. It will help them respect her, and also show them how to deal with challenging relationships as they get older.

7. Imitate Clark W. Griswold.

Clark was on to something when he loaded up the family truckster and headed west to Wally World. A couple times a year, we all need to bust out of that rut that our daily routine puts us in -- and getting out of Dodge is the only cure. It's not just us either; every member of the family needs to get away and put a little adventure back in their life. As painful as the family vacation can be while it's happening (with the constant potty breaks, spilled juice boxes, and annoying comments from the backseat), I run into more adults who claim that vacations were the parts about their childhood that they'll never forget. It doesn't have to be expensive -- you don't have to go far -- you just need to have a family experience to remember, for better or worse.

Crucial Characteristics of Lasting Love

2009-01-21T11:42:00.000-08:00

Crucial Characteristics of Lasting Love

By Dee Anne Merriman

First comes that split second of physical attraction. Next, that thrilling feeling of chemistry. But when the veil of romance starts to lift, what's life really like off the dance floor?

Too often, love is blind
When Jenny and Michael met, they were instantly attracted to each other. Those electrifying sparks started flying. In an exciting whirlwind of parties and romantic dates, they swept each other off their feet. They decided to get married and live happily ever after. Years later the hormones had calmed down (and so had the fireworks). When the smoke cleared, the mismatches started to emerge. Her passion to shop and his questionable money decisions created constant financial stress. He liked to hang with the guys at the bar. She loved to go to the theater with friends. They disagreed on children and family values, especially religion. Communication broke down. Eventually, they grew apart.

Sound familiar? A physical and chemical match is essential at the start, but the excitement of a budding new romance eventually wears off. Making thoughtful dating decisions can mean the difference between revolving relationships and finding lasting love.

Dating experts outline seven match areas to consider:

Physical appearance
While physical appearance and attraction draw two people together at first, these aspects will affect the rest of their lives. If working out and staying fit is important to you, will it bum you out if your mate doesn't share your quest for rock-hard abs?

Emotional maturity
Is this person emotionally mature and centered or still lugging around some trunk-sized baggage? How does your sweetheart relate to family and friends? Is he or she emotionally supportive or have control issues? Is your mate aware of his or her own issues and interested in addressing them?

Lifestyle choices
This includes career and social lives, common interests, leisure time activities and energy levels. Would she rather join the bowling league or the metropolitan symphony? Does he have lots of energy for activities with friends while she'd rather rest and chill out at home?

Financial style
This is a hot bed for most couples. It includes income levels, financial goals and views on handling money. How do you each want to spend, save and invest? Is one person a spender while the other saves? Is one person financially responsible while the other plays catch-up with child support and bills?

Value structure
This match area is often overlooked but has a tremendous impact on your life. It includes the big values: Honesty, integrity, loyalty, views on family and children, religion and spirituality, life goals and the treatment and care for others. Does your mate follow through on her word? Would you say he's trustworthy? Will she always be there for you in a pinch?

Marriage and sex
Everyone does not share the same idea of marriage. The big questions to address are: What do you and your mate expect from marriage and sex? Is he or she looking for a soul mate? Do you both want close intimacy in friendship, communication and sex?

Intelligence
Having similar education levels increases your chances of sharing matching school and social experiences, intellectual interests and career goals. What topics do you and your honey like to talk about? Conversation limited to sports or shopping may get boring to someone who likes to ponder philosophy and bluster about business.
While you don't have to match exactly in each area, look at the big picture and make sure you match closely enough in the important areas of your life.

HOW I FARED...

2009-01-19T11:40:00.000-08:00

For all my friends that follow my blog, i set some targets for myself last year and promised to do a public appraisal this year. Well, here we are:

Please find below the candid assessment of how i fared, not too good, if i may say!

- Start working DONE

- Do my PG study NOT DONE

- Get engaged to my Miss World HMMM, DONE KINDA

- Publish my 2nd book NOT DONE

- Do at least a seminar in a month PARTLY DONE

- Become a millionaire... FAR FROM IT

Well, success is never-ending; failure is never final! All the stuffs undone last year are automatically priority this year (read my lips) while fresh goals for this year will be rolled out soon.

Watch out!

WELCOME 2009

2009-01-17T11:22:00.000-08:00

Hey folks, it's right here with us- 2009!

Funny enough, it's no more as fresh as i make it sound, sixteen whole days have drifted by; could that still be new?

Folks, 2008 is gone, forever! We all had certain things we should have done in that dead year!!!!!! But we never did. Those we shall never again be able to accomplish in 2008. But thank God another chance is here to right the wrongs- 2009.

This is my perspective of another year; IT IS ANOTHER CHANCE, so take it and run with it.

As promised last year, i will be doing a run-down of my goals for 2008 and i will be frank to admit all failures, hoping my success will be cellebrated in due course. I will do the assessment in my next post, soon! So don't go far.

For now, i wish you a successful year this yeear. A year you will set God-ordained goals and achieve them all. A year you willtake all your chances and do all the unimaginables. A year of great harvest.

Adeyemi.

LET IT GO!

2008-11-09T08:33:00.000-08:00

Let it go for 2008 By T. D. Jakes

There are people who can walk away from you. And hear me when I tell you this! When people can walk away from you: let them walk. I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you, staying attached to you. I mean hang up the phone. When people can walk away from you let them walk. Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left. The bible said that, they came out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not for us. For had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us. [1 John 2:19] People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay. Let them go. And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person it just means that their part in the story is over. And you've got to know when people's part in your story is over so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead. You've got to know when it's dead. You've got to know when it's over. Let me tell you something. I've got the gift of good-bye. It's the tenth spiritual gift, I believe in good-bye. It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful, and I know whatever God means for me to have He'll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it. Stop Begging people to stay! . Let them go!! If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life, Then you need to...... LET IT GO!!! If you are holding on to past hurts and pains ...... LET IT GO!!! If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth..... LET IT GO!!! If someone has angered you . LET IT GO!!! If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge...... LET IT GO!!! If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction...... LET IT GO!!! If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents LET IT GO!!! If you! U have a bad attitude....... LET IT GO!!! If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better...... LET IT GO!!! If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new level in Him...... LET IT GO!!! If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship....... LET IT GO!!! If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help themselves...... LET IT GO!!! If you're feeling depressed and stressed ......... LET IT GO!!! If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling yourself and God is saying 'take your hands off of it,' then you need to...... LET IT GO!!! Let the past be the past. Forget the former things. GOD is doing a new thing for 2008!!! LET IT GO!!! Get Right or Get Left .. Think about it, and then . LET IT GO!!! 'The Battle is the Lord's!'

2008-11-09T07:44:00.000-08:00

THE INDIAN LETTER
A letter from an Indian mother to her SonMy dear Jagjit, I am in a well here and hoping you are also in a wellthere.I'm writing this letter slowly, because I know you cannot read fast.We don't live where we did when you left home. Your dad read in thenewspaper that most accidents happen 20 miles from home, so we moved 20miles.I won't be able to send the address as the last Sardar who stayed heretook the house numbers with them for their new house so they would not have tochange their address.Hopefully by next week we will be able to take our earlier address plate here, so that our address will remain same too. This place is really nice.It even has a washing machine, situated right above the toilet.I'm not sure it works too well. Last week I put in 3 shirts, pulled thechain and haven't seen them since.The weather here isn't too bad. It rained only twice last week. The firsttime it rained for 3 days and second time for 4 days.The coat you wanted me to send you, your Aunt said it would be a littletoo heavy to send in the mail with all the metal buttons, so we cut them off and put them in the pocket.Your father has another job. He has 500 men under him. He is cutting thegrass at the cemetery.By the way I took Bahu to our club's poolside. The manager is Badmash. Hetold her that two piece swimming suit is notallowed in his club. We were confused as to which piece should we remove?Your sister had a baby this morning. I haven't found out whether it is agirl or a boy, so I don't know whether you are an Aunt or Uncle.Your uncle, Jetinder fell in the nearby well. Some men tried to pull himout, but he fought them off bravely and drowned. We cremated him and he burned for three days.Your best friend, Balwinder, is no more. He died trying to fulfill hisfather's last wishes. His father had wished to be buried in the seaafter he died. And your friend died while in the process of digging agrave for his father.There isn't much more news this time. Nothing much has happened.Love Mom.P.S : Jagjit, I was going to send you some money but by the time Irealized,I had already sealed off this letter.

KNOCKED DOWN, NOT KNOCKED OUT!

2008-09-22T08:59:00.000-07:00

"To be knocked down is not to be knocked out"

This summarises the football game i watched on Saturday between Bolton and Arsenal.

Bolton had scored a superb header early in the first half while the visitors were still trying to find their rythm.

But as soon as that goal was scored, it was as if Bolton decided to let Arsenal have a feel of the game as the gunners dominated and kept piling pressure on the home team.

How i wish this is our attitude each time we meet an obstacle. How i wish we learn to take the battle to the gates of the enemy each time they strike at us successfully.

A whole lot of us give up at that point when the best thing to do is to rise and fight.

How many times did fail that course before you wrote yourself off ?

How many aptitude tests did you fail before resentment set in?

How many relationships didn't work out before you discovered your gift of celibacy?

How many businesses failed in your hands before you decided to become a house-husband/wife?

What many of us don't realise is that the point of failure should be the point of greatest strength! It should be the time of highest courage! It should be the period of highest optimism!

Arsenal piled up enough pressure on Bolton and within two minutes, they scored twice. When you have the right attitude, you get double for your trouble; you get better for your mess up!

Arsenal went on to seal the win in that match with a third goal... Won't you get back to where you failed and pass before every reasonable doubt? To be knocked down is not to be knocked out dear.

ATTITUDE SERIES 1

2008-09-16T09:24:00.000-07:00

I once heard, “ No man is born with a perfect attitude!” At first I disagreed, but after some sane thought, I realized that no statement can be more true.

That fact simply compels us all not to think that someone else is better than us attitude-wise but that such one has perfected his attitude more… The right attitude is built consciously, it is neither inherited nor bestowed on anybody. That is why people whose attitudes are celebrated will even tell you that they still have a long way to go… not there yet.

Also, nobody should give up on his attitude problem, we are all working towards perfection. Run a TH of your character, when was the last time the credit side had an input? Until you move, nothing moves dear.

Let us all do an audit trail of our attitude, pick out the “small foxes that spoil the vine” and consciously, assiduously, and resiliently work on them.

How can a Pastor’s self-control be proved when a “sister” in a micro-mini does not seat in the front pew? How can your attitude be tested when you don’t have an ‘unattitude’ colleague or boss?

Forgive me

2008-06-28T13:15:00.000-07:00

Oh me,
how could i do this?
I tot i was more than this?
I just messed it all up?
Why did i break it up?
I'm so sad!
So sad that it will take time to be happy again...
But can i be happy again?
It will take so much more effort...
Or how do i explain it?
That everybody will understand.
Will understand i can do such a thing!

Please forgive me...

...i abandoned my blog!

HIS SUBSET

2008-03-11T04:28:00.000-07:00

Light, so bright
Heat, so intense
Fume, so strong
Existense, so real
Arrival, so assured
Life, so sustained
The SUN, so explained
Yet it too, so created
The CREATOR, so AWESOME.

-adeYEMI adeLEYE
08/06/07

YDi and I

2008-02-18T18:37:00.000-08:00

My first contact with YDi was that of a challenge: I had completed my secondary school education and had been hit by the normal University Matriculation Examination failure. I had nothing more to do than to visit a couple of friends in Lagos while waiting for the next UME and the release of my WASSCE results.
There was this friend I always visited who almost practically deafened my ears about one so-called YDi. She would start all our discussions and end them with YDi; and whenever I asked her what it was all about, she would reply, “It is where youths like you challenge you. Come and see youths like you preaching on the road without shame. Come and see youths challenging ladies dressed provocatively on the road...” And I also kept wondering if I could do all those things.
The YDi talk got to its peak the day she told me that there was a member who was just out of secondary school (like me) who was earning over Twenty Thousand Naira (as at 1999-2000). I just wanted to come and see the guy that was earning that much without a higher education! I wanted to come and ask him what he was doing to earn that much! I wanted to come and ask him if I could do the same!
But funny enough, I never saw him on my first visit. In fact, I forgot that that was what brought me to YDi. I was carried away by the sight of youths using their talents so well. The drama that day was so funny that I forgot I was in a fellowship. The choir also gave a number; I think there was also a dance by a youth. In one word, I was just too thrilled by what people like me were doing that I completely forgot about the big earner I came to see.
And by the time the Pastor came on to share from the Bible, I was lost in the word. I wondered what YDi members would have become hearing this sort of word every Sunday. I mean, fellowshipping in my local church then had been an endured task and here was I in the midst of lively spiritual beings...
I did not need follow-up to come back the next Sunday. In fact nobody could have followed me up as my house was at the end of the Ikotun-Ijegun axis (Ijagemo). The transport fare was enough to discourage me, but I did not mind spending my entire One Thousand Naira monthly allowance then on going to YDi every Sunday, usually after a long strenuous church service as a worker in my local church.
Let me quickly share a lesson I also learnt which was never taught with mouth- promptness. YDi meetings started at the dot of 2.00pm whether or not we were up to ten! That was the first place I would see a meeting, a ‘church programme’ for that matter start as scheduled. Silently, I learnt to keep to time, and it quietly became my habit till date. Today, when I see youths that do not value time, I just tell myself, “This guy missed YDi...”
Funny enough, the more I came to YDi, the less I saw the lady who introduced me. It was like a substitution reaction! But I never minded because I was getting blessed day-by-day. Before long, I joined to choir...
One great thing that endeared me to YDi is that fellow youths were allowed to come out and challenge you, so it was not theoretical! You don’t hear about a youth doing exploits in YDi, you see the youth live and you are moved to buckle up. You would see yourself and then see a fellow youth that is where you desire to be; something within just tells you that you are sleeping, and can also get there if you would up from your slumber like that youth.
YDi’s Champions Forum was of tremendous impact. It was a customised forum for secondary-school leavers that were still seeking admission into the higher institution. That was like a training ground for soldiers, because I learnt a number of my skills there.
“I am perceived to see far ahead of others, because I am standing on the shoulders of giants.”
Wednesday after Wednesday, undergraduates would come and give us gist about school; I mean that was enough to wake up the sleeping giant inside you! They went further to give us tit-bits on how the university system operates, the course unit system, ensuring success in school, career talk, fellowships, handling relationships et al.
Having not been to the four walls of a university, I was already loaded to succeed because via the Champions Forum, I knew what to do and what not to do in school. Of a truth a number of those things I paid attention to in Champions Forum in 2000 made me an academic god in school eventually. Champions Forum was a total package that formed a vital part of the meal I lived on that made me so fat that, today, people can draw out of me.
As a matter of fact, my admission came late, but I was giving my friends who got into school ahead of me effectual keys to success (I learnt at Champions Forum) that most of them wrote me back to say ‘thank you.’ And before long, I became I student of Obafemi Awolowo University, where I began to put all I had learnt from the forum into practise, and they worked wonders.
It was so exciting to find out that YDi also existed in O.A.U. when I got there. I quickly joined in and became committed. But YDi-O.A.U. was quite different from YDi in Lagos for obvious reasons. While in Lagos, I sat back getting fed, in YDi-O.A.U., demand was quickly placed on me; and I either had to be dedicated or quit.
Before long, I became an executive and I had to come to the front many a time to talk to members. As uncomfortable as I felt at first, I gradually developed confidence and today, I owe my ability to speak eloquently in the public to YDi.
YDi also helped me by celebrating my little successes. For the first time after my UME failure, YDi gave me my first academic award for having the highest CGPA in Camp Joseph 2002. That restored courage in me and also gave me an additional reason to be diligent in school.
So, in school, aside trying to be the best I could be, I did extra work so as to receive the next YDi academic award. The extra work the award caused me to put in culminated into a First Class result on graduation in 2006.
This means YDi played two important roles in making me the First YD with a First Class: One, YDi equipped me through the Champions Forum to succeed; and Two, YDi motivated me along the line to finish tops with the several annual awards.
When God asked me to write The Academic god in 2004, I was a bit pessimistic, wondering what a little boy like me could offer. But God reminded me of Joseph Principle, written by Dr. George, a YDi member, which was so much celebrated by Pastor Joe-Jesmiel Ogbe and all YDi members, and I summed up courage. And of a truth, The Academic god came into existence and has spread far and wide today as a reason of the network I have built through YDi, what more can I ask for?
It is suffice to say therefore that YDi is the greatest singular entity that has made the greatest influence and impact in my life; And Pastor Joe-Jesmiel Ogbe is the greatest man that has made the greatest influence in my life.

The Husband Store

2008-02-18T18:30:00.000-08:00

A store that sells husbands has just opened in New York City, where a woman may go to choose a husband. Among the instructions at the entrance is a deion of how the store operates. ""You may visit the store ONLY ONCE! You may choose any man from a particular floor or you may choose to go up a floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the Building!"" So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband. . .

On the first floor the sign on the door reads: Floor 1 - These men have jobs and love the Lord. The second floor sign reads: Floor 2 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, and love kids.

The third floor sign reads: Floor 3 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, and are extremely good looking. "Wow," she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going.

She goes to the fourth floor and sign reads: Floor 4 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, are drop- dead good looking and help with the housework. "Oh, mercy me!" she exclaims, "I can hardly stand it!"

Still, she goes to the fifth floor and sign reads: Floor 5 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, are drop- dead gorgeous, help with the housework, and have a strong romantic streak.

She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor and the sign reads: Floor 6 - You are visitor 4,363,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please. Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store. Watch your step as you exit the building, and have a nice day!

The Robot

2008-02-15T09:42:00.000-08:00

One day Kyle's dad brought home a robot. The robot was special in that it could detect a lie and would slap the person who lied on the face.Kyle returned late from school that day and his dad asked him, "Son why are you late from school?" Kyle answered, "Dad, we had extra classes today". Much to his astonishment the robot jumped up and slapped Kyle on his face. His dad told him, "Son this robot is special in that it can detect a lie and will then slap the person who lied. Now come on tell me the truth. Why are you late?" "Dad, I went to a movie" "Which movie?" "The Ten Commandments" Immediately, Kyle got a slap on the face from the robot. "Sorry Dad, I went to see the movie Sex Queen". "Shame on you son, when I was your age I never watched obscene movies or misbehaved" Immediately, the dad gets a tight slap on the face from the robot.Hearing the last sentence, Kyle's mother comes walking out of the kitchen and sarcastically says to her husband, "After all he is YOUR son!!!" To which the robot steps up and gives Kyle's mother a resounding slap on her face! Hnnnnnnn?

A Note From Hell

2008-01-26T07:09:00.000-08:00

A man checked into a hotel in Pretoria . There was a computer in his room,
so he decided to send an e-mail to his wife. However, he accidentally
typed the wrong e-mail address, and without realizing his error, he sent
the e-mail. Meanwhile ........somewhere in Cape Town a widow had just
arrived home from her husband's funeral. The widow decided to check her
e-mail, expecting messages from relatives and friends. After reading the
first message, she fainted. The widow's son rushed into the room, found
his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which Read:

To: My Loving Wife
Subject: I've arrived
Date: June 3, 2005

I know you're surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now, and
you are allowed to send e-mails to your loved ones. I've just arrived and
have been checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your
arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then!
Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was.
P.s. It is damn hot down here!!

Happy New Year

2008-01-05T08:37:00.000-08:00

So sorry to my usual viewers that i didn't really live up to expectation in 2007 in updating my blog, it was such a busy year... Can i make a promise to do better this time? Hmm, i keep my fingers crossed!

Let me say a belated happy new year to all and sundry. I hope to see a greater you this new year.

For me, watch out! I have quite a number of things on my agenda:

- Start working

- Do my PG study

- Get engaged to my Miss World

- Publish my 2nd book

- Do at least a seminar in a month

- Become a millionaire...

I'm sharing it here so that you can help me say at the end of the year if i did well or not. I only shared a few here, there is much more.

YDi-OAU Alumni

2007-11-23T09:14:00.000-08:00

A new group has been created on YAHOO! for all...hmmm, nope, it's just for a privileged few. It is for all alumni of YDi OAU: ydioaualumni@yahoogroups.com.

I happen to be the humble moderator.

So guys, join up NOW!

Adeyemi Adeleye

5 LOAVES & 2 FISH- The Story of Yemi Adeleye

2007-09-01T08:44:00.000-07:00

FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISH (THE TESTIMONY OF ADEYEMI ADELEYE)
Born in one of the many slums of the popular city of Lagos, Musin. He grew up under average income-earning parents.

Like other ghetto brood, he also rolled tires on the streets, and wandered through automobile-repair shops in search of used spark-plugs to manufacture local knock-outs, he started just as one of them.

When he attained school age, his parents could not afford to enroll him in a private nursery school. He, like other kids in the slum, attended to an alternative ‘lesson’ so as to avoid the shame of staying put at home while other kids are out cladded in their beautiful school uniforms.
At the lesson, he was taught by a number of teachers who did not believe in him. "He was too quiet to be a smart kid", they thought. Even at that tender age, he was flogged badly- with cane on his chest and wooden ruler on his knuckles.

At six, he moved to a public primary school in Lagos where he started shinning. But who cares about a star from the ghetto. Bad enough, he was taught from primary one to six in his mother-tongue, Yoruba. This of course retarded his performance, but he was still able to shine in his First School Leaving Certificate Examination- thank God for a supportive mum.
He then moved to Euba Boys High School, a converging point of slum boys in Musin. That school had more touts than scholars, with many teachers who cared less. The principal was alone in his quest to bring sanity to the school. His strength was waning. More and more students were losing their heads. The classrooms were more like boxing rings. This star is dimming, gradually…

Then God’s intervened: Miraculously, in JSS 2, he was admitted to a more scholarly school, Federal Government College, Idoani. He had to start learning the rudiments all over again. He, though, could not really communicate fluently in English; he kept following the teachers as they taught in ‘an unknown tongue’ in the classroom And by JSS 3, with much work and determination, he could find his feet and measure averagely well with his peers.

In the Senior Secondary class, this young lad made up his mind to make a name for himself. But at this point, it was almost too late to do much as WASSCE was just a couple of months away.
However, in reading, he read. In praying, he prayed. And the hitherto nobody sprang a surprise by coming the fifth best in the entire school’s WASSCE result.

So something good can come out of Nazareth?

Gaining admission into the higher institution was another nightmare. Declared unqualified by JAMB in 1999, he also stayed at home after school waiting the next UME.

"And having done all to stand, he stood therefore" in the next UME. But again, they said his score was not good enough to guarantee him a place on the admission list. This was his climax of disappointment. "I did my best, or what else can one possibly do to perform better?" he quizzed himself.
This heightened disappointment made him to take a decision not to be an ordinary student if he was eventually admitted. He resolved to perform so superbly to the extent that the admission system would be proved erroneous. And with much doggedness, many prayers, much God, and many contacts, I, Adeyemi Adeleye was admitted to study Microbiology in Obafemi Awolowo University in 2001.

After my dad dropped me with my belongings, and I went through all the necessary clearance and registrations, I walked into my hostel with one thing clear on my mind: "I will not go the way I came. I came in a humbled manner, but I will go with my head high up. I came in on my knees, but I will leave on my feet. I will do so well in Part 1 and crossover to Medicine; or graduate with an overly First Class (Hons.) if not allowed crossing."

I was so sure of this that I shared it with my first classmate I met on that same first day in school, September 3, 2001. I ruminated over this till it was engrafted on my mind. I already had that First Class in my mind from the first day; I was only waiting for my convocation day to see it come to pass.

Hmm! It is truly easier said than done. By the time work started, my ship was beaten here and there; to and fro. (Part 1 seems specially designed to be the toughest, so that by Part 2, everybody already belongs to a class which they may find difficult to leave. Men that survive Part 1 can survive any class. Men that excel in Part 1 cannot be stopped if they do not lose focus.)
I had old cynical professors. I had strange topics too hard to understand. I had large workloads with little or no time. I had bizarre courses no lecturer is ready to explain. I had 6.00 am lectures with 1,000 others in a lecture room that can only seat 500 with lecturers that will only talk to themselves and the board. I had difficult tests in a row. I had tough assignments that can occupy the entire day. I faced days of water scarcity, yet, fine boy must bathe. I faced nights bereaved of electric power, yet, man must read. I had disappointing responses from home when SOS messages were sent. I had emotional distress. I had huge fellowship responsibilities. I had unalloyed commitment to YDi. I had these and several other reasons to have been an ordinary or even a poor student.

But in all these, two factors were important to my resounding success. These factors made it look like those obstacles were non-existent: GOD; and a tenacious, resilient vision:
God always provided me with the grace to do the extras (that counted), face the challenges, climb my mountains, swim the waters and shut the mouths of the lions. Many of my colleagues looked at me back then and thought I would kill myself with the way I worked. They were sorry for me that I would suddenly collapse for excessive hours of studying. But the truth is that I was running on grace. Grace was like cocaine in my blood, I could make up my mind to do in a day what I won’t ordinarily dare in three days. I was drugged on grace and my performance was really enhanced.

God also made the lines to fall unto me in pleasant places. I always came across the relevant materials. I always solved the right questions before the exams. I always had the right people around to help me.
See; chase God, not gold; because when you find God, gold will chase you.
That tall (day-) dream I had on my first day in school never faded. I just could not let go of it. I shared it with people. I wrote it down. I sand it to myself. I just kept it alive.
Each time I went to class to study I would tell God that great vision. I ruminated over it so much that the vision was engrafted on my heart, in-built into my system and I myself became the vision personified. I knew from the onset that I would graduate with a First Class, and then, the people around me too began to now. And finally, on December 16, 2006, everybody knew what God and I had settled since September 3, 2001. Truly there hurdles, but the tenacity and the resilience of the vision kept it for over five years before it came to pass.

Work was one important factor I cannot overemphasize. But just as a house could not have been built without a plan and a foundation, I could not have worked without His grace supplying the energy to move with the momentum generated by my vision. Grace was the foundation, vision was the plan; little wonder the building was (is) magnificent.

My success has proved the admission system totally wrong. It has also proved that a man’s background cannot necessarily keep his back to the ground. But above that, it has proved many christians wrong. Fellowship pastors and other highly-committed believers are content with average results, giving the amount of time spent for God as an excuse. I have been able to tell them (including you) that christianity is not an excuse for mediocrity. Service in His vineyard is not an excuse for failure in our classrooms. In fact, the extent to which you serve God should be the extent to which you should excel.
This was the revelation I had in school that changed my total mentality. But for that, I would have ended up like one of them.

When God saw that I had learnt and imbibed this lesson, He instructed me back then in Part 2 to pick my pen and write one more epistle to the saints in schools. The task was beyond me though, both in substance and in finance. But He who is able to bring to performance whatever He says, supplied both and even more.
This epistle is what culminated to ‘The Academic god’, a book that has changed thousands of lives of believers. God- through the book- used my pen to teach His sons (the gods) that they ought not to fail and/or struggle through school. He used it to teach them that a saint would fail only due to ignorance. He used it to teach them that they should not only put the devil under their feet, but also their books.

Also, God has also used me to speak in several academic seminars in schools and churches, liberating men from the fetters of ignorance.
Just like the five loaves and two fish the young lad gave to Jesus; my life was meant to be insignificant, but I gave it to Jesus, and it has today become a model of astonishing magnificence.

CLUB FREEDOM

2007-06-30T06:51:00.000-07:00

get your copy here!

2007-04-23T05:32:00.000-07:00

COPIES OF The Academic god ARE AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLWING PLACES:

ABUJA (F.C.T.)

Winners’ Chapel, Abuja
Ife Olagbaju (08032295760)

LAGOS

Unilag Chapel Bookshop
Young Disciples International, Unilag. (Olumide 08062633201)
Young Disciples International, Yabatech (Wale 08052360070)
Grace Baptist Pentecostal Church, Jakande, Isolo ( Ladi 08028628306)
YDi Youth-House Bookshop, Igando (Rachael 08025925596)
SOS Publishers, Abule-Egba (Pastor Sam 08023415875)

OYO

LAUTECH, UnderG Area (Tolu 08032351002)
LAUTECH (Dolapo 08035223000)
Young Disciples International, U. I. (Jimi 08034467687; Taiwo 08028014098)

OGUN

Young Disciples International, O.O.U. (Moji 08055812986)
RCCG, Maranatha Parish, Ago-Iwoye.
Winners’ Chapel, Ago-Iwoye
Redeemed Christian Fellowship, O.O.U.
Redeemer’s University of Nigeria, Redemption Camp. (Temitope 08051679694)

OSUN

Obafemi Awolowo University Booshop, University Secretariat.
Young Disciples International, O.A.U. (Cyril 08034317210)
Obafemi Awolowo University Moremi Hall (Tola 08050946743)
Redeemed Christian Fellowship, O.A.U.
UJCM, OAU Pre-Degree School, Ipetumodu.
Amazing Love Bookshop, Sports Market, O.A.U.
Bible Palace Bookshop, Sports Market, O.A.U
Gloryland Bookshop, Sports Market, O.A.U
GTM Bookshop, Sports Market, O.A.U
Wisdom House, Sports Market, O.A.U

EKITI

Young Disciples International, UNAD (Wande 08038057227; Damilola 08038168364)

EDO

University of Benin (Omon 08020921437)
Winners’ Chapel, Ekpoma.
Ambrose Ali University (Yetunde 08052106089)
Intercontinental Bank, Benin-City (Yemi 08052000992)

DELTA

Unity Chapelry (Anglican Communion) Effurun.
Babsad International Ltd, Warri (Mr Babs 08033523209)
Dominion Bookshop, 2 Eke Avenue, Off Jakpa Road.

RIVERS

Young Disciples International, Uniport (Ben 08023016051)
Young Disciples International, RSUST (Faith 08037801768)
RCCG Port-Harcourt (Deaconess Sobayo 08033892133)

NIGER

Young Disciples International, FUT Minna (Demas 08054180756)
Young Disciples International, Bida Polytechnic ( Pius 08039125254)

KWARA

Young Disciples International, Kwara Polytechnic Offa (Wale 08060869849)

Brain Pricing

2007-04-16T07:59:00.000-07:00

In the hospital the relatives gathered in the waiting room, where their family member lay gravely ill.
Finally, the doctor came in looking tired and somber.
"I'm afraid I'm the bearer of bad news," he said as he surveyed the worried faces.
"The only hope left for your loved one at this time is a brain transplant.
It's an experimental procedure, very risky but it is the only hope.
Insurance will cover the procedure, but you will have to pay for the
brain yourselves."
The family members sat silently as they absorbed
the news. After a great length of time, someone
asked, "Well, how much does a brain cost?"
The doctor quickly responded, " R5,000 for
a male brain, and R200 for a female brain."
The moment turned awkward. Men in the room tried not to smile, avoiding
eye contact with the women, but some actually smirked. A man unable to
control his curiosity, blurted out the question
everyone wanted to ask,
"Why is the male brain so much more?"
The doctor smiled at the childish innocence
and explained to the entire group, "It's just standard pricing
procedure. We have to mark down the price of the female brains, because
they've actually been used, the male brains are hardly ever used by the
owners. so they are as good as new"

THE ACADEMIC gOD 1

2007-03-05T05:04:00.002-08:00

theacademicgod@yahoo.com

A certain rich man once lived in the East with his family. He lost his life on his way back from one of his usual business trips…what a colossal loss!

Not too long after, all the wealth and glamour his immediate family once knew fizzled out –his wife never worked. The penury was as intense as the wealth they once enjoyed, even much more.

Bills piled up. Debts heaped. Hunger plagued. Diseases ravaged. And one after the other, the three children dropped dead: The woman was too poor to settle their hospital bills. She was herself sick to the point of death but she couldn’t afford to get a proper medical attention. So, she remained in their grand, but once glamorous house, waiting for death.

Her lawyer brother, who had been oblivious of her misfortune, came visiting one day. While they talked, he observed that some striking framed papers hung all around the living room. He took a closer look, only to receive the shock of his life. “…These are share certificates of choice multinationals in the country!” he managed to exclaim at last.

The illiterate woman had taken them for mere wall decorations. She did not know her husband –before his demise- had made investments that would suffice for their standard of living even if she never worked all her life. But due to her ignorance, they lived in penury amidst plenty.

Aren’t you another ignoramus?
Before Jesus died, He bought us shares so that we never have to lack a thing. He got us equity in the ‘Bank of Health’ so that we might dwell in health. He even went as far as making us decision makers in the ‘Prosperity Incorporated’ so that our souls prosper. So much more, He got us shares in the ‘Success Holdings’ that we might be the head and not the tail. So, be it the business, the profession, or in the academic sphere, you are not to fail –as long as you dwell in the house, named salvation.

Academic success is your heritage. You call the shot in the company it is produced. You are not to beg for it or slave for it; you are to work it into being.

There is no way you can be what you don’t know you are. You can never be a success when you don’t know you are one. You are not trying to be a success you are a success. He said, “I have said,“ Ye are [academic] gods…”” Let it settle in your mind because until you are in the heart, you can’t be on the earth…
To be continued

THE APPLE OF MY EYE

2007-03-05T05:04:00.001-08:00

THE APPLE OF MY EYE

Gorgeously wrapped in the white lining as the angels
Pierced by a large ebony adorning circle
Edged above and beneath by sulcus flesh as the Queen
You glow in the morning like the eastern sun
And close up in the night as a crying baby his mouth.

You are the dearest to me of all of me
That with all dexterity I protect you
Not even any other part of me can reach you
I clothe you up in a twinkle of yourself
The huge arms of my lids hugging you tightly.

The most costly soaps can’t clean you
Even its fragrance doesn’t move you
With my tears only do you bathe up yourself
You are refreshed in the fruit of my sorrow
You feel me just like me.

Still will I keep you
Still will I admire you
Still will I protect you
Still will I cry for you
Still will you be the apple of my eye.

By Adeyemi Adeleye

TRUE BEAUTY

2007-03-05T05:04:00.000-08:00

TRUE BEAUTY

Beauty is not how you dress
But what dresses the heart

Beauty is not good looks
It is good thoughts

Beauty is not a spotless face
It is a blameless heart

Beauty is not make-up
But the make-up of the heart

Beauty is not what you do
It is why you do them

Beauty is not fluency
Beauty is transparency

Beauty is not appearance
Beauty is character
The character of the heart

Only the Porter really knows
Just how beautiful the clay is

Man looks outwards
But God looks inwards

So true beauty is not what man sees
But what God sees…the state of the heart.

By Fisayo Opeyemi

Prescribed by the Great Physician

2007-02-08T07:14:00.000-08:00

Prescribed by the Great Physician
*****************************
The next time you feel like GOD can't use you, just remember...
Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
Mary Magdalene was...
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer..AND
Lazarus was dead!

Now! No more excuses!
God can use you to your full potential.
Besides you aren't the message, you are just the
messenger.

The Academic god- BOOK REVIEW

2007-01-24T01:44:00.000-08:00

BOOK REVIEW

Title: The Academic god

Author: Adeyemi Adeleye

Publisher: S.O.S. Publications, Lagos

Foreword: Joe-Jesmiel Ogbe

No of Pages: 96

Review: Seun Alade

A first look at the title of the book may give you an impression that here comes another blasphemous book probably to tell us of a god that controls the academic world, but a journey through this God-inspired book will make you dispel such a thought within seconds.
A book written out of a clear understanding and revelation of Psalm 82:6 that “ye are gods” as not only a reference of your ‘godship’ to Pharaoh or problems as Moses was, but that you are also an ‘academic god’, i.e., a god over academics.

Though a debut, the author was able to talk extensively on the topic of academics as it affects the children of God with such dexterity a John Maxwell will handle leadership or a Robert Kiyosaki will handle finance.

A first-class graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife where he graduated as the overall best graduating student in both his department (Microbiology) and the faculty of Science and a teacher of the word in the Redeemed Christian Fellowship, OAU, Adeyemi Adeleye was able to share a lot of the insights he has that made him the winner of the Young Disciples International’s Academic Excellence Award four consecutive times while in school.

This six-chapter book takes you on a journey through a sphere, the academic, where believers are yet to experience their God-given unquestionable enthronement while also equipping them with the wherewithal to ascend their rightful throne in their academics.

While Chapter One tells you the ‘truth’ as God promises, Chapter Two helps you discover and dispel the dullard mentality which may be the reason why many are performing below God’s expectation. The third Chapter takes you to the mirror to ask yourself, ‘who are you?’ This is because until you discover yourself you cannot recover (from your failures). Chapter Four takes you on a ‘mission with a vision’ while ‘on the mission’ in Chapter Five, the author makes you aware of how to run the race and the last chapter, six tells you ‘the place of God’ in your academics.

A fast page-turner undoubtedly, it is an illumination on the area of academics, a journey

to self-realization and dream-actualization sure to be a lovely companion for anyone desirous of

the much needed positive change in the academic sphere.

Fully loaded with experience of great men like Albert Einstein, Ben Carson, and the author’s, and well juxtaposed with the word of God, the book is a best-seller.

11 LOVE Lessons

2007-01-10T02:16:00.000-08:00

1.To My Friends Who Are...........SINGLE...Love is like a butterfly . The more you chase it, the more it eludes you. But if you just let it fly, it will come to you when you least expect it. Love can make you happy but often it hurts, but love's only special when you give it to someone who is really worth it. So take your time and choose the best.

2.To My Friends Who Are............NOT SO SINGLE...Love isn't about becoming somebody else's "perfect person." It's about finding someone who helps you become the best person you can be.

3.To My Friends Who Are............PLAYBOY/GIRL TYPE...Never say "I love you" if you don't care. Never talk about feelings if they aren't there. Never touch a life if you mean to break a heart. Never look in the eye when all you do is lie. The cruelest thing a guy can do to a girl is to let her fall in love when he doesn't intend to catch her fall and it works both ways...

4.To My Friends Who Are............MARRIED...Love is not about "it's your fault", but "I'm sorry." Not "where are you", but "I'm right here." Not "how could you", but "I understand." Not "I wish you were", but "I'm thankful you are."

5.To My Friends Who Are............ENGAGED...The true measure of compatibility is not the years spent together but how good you are for each other.

6.To My Friends Who Are............HEARTBROKEN...Heartbreaks last as long as you want and cut as deep as you allow them to go. The challenge is not how to survive> heartbreaks but to learn from them.

7.To My Friends Who Are............NAIVE...How to be in love: Fall but don't stumble, be consistent but not too persistent, share and never be unfair, understand and try not to demand, and get hurt but never keep the pain.

8.To My Friends Who Are............POSSESSIVE...It breaks your heart to see the one you love happy with someone else but it's more painful to know that the one you love is unhappy with you.

9.To My Friends Who Are............AFRAID TO CONFESS...Love hurts when you break up with someone. It hurts even more when someone breaks up with you. But love hurts the most when the person you love has no idea how you feel.

10.To My Friends Who Are............STILL HOLDING ON...A sad thing about life is when you meet someone and fall in love, only to find out in the end that it was never meant to be and that you have wasted years on someone who wasn't worth it. If he isn't worth it now he's not going to be worth it a year or 10 years fromnow. Let go.....

11.TO ALL MY FRIENDS.......My wish for you is a man/women whose love is honest, strong, mature, never-changing, uplifting, protective, encouraging, rewarding and unselfish.

mEgAsTaR

Women!

2007-01-07T15:30:00.000-08:00

I recently read that love is entirely a matter of chemistry
That must be why my wife treats me like toxic waste.
David
Bissonette
When a man steals your wife, there is no better revenge than to let
him keep her.
Sacha Guitry
After marriage, husband and wife become two sides of a coin; they
just can't face each other, but still they stay together.
Hemant Joshi
By all means marry. If you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you
get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.
Socrates
Woman
inspires us to great things, and prevents us from achieving
them.
Dumas
The great question... which I have not been able to answer... is,
"What does a woman want?
Sigmund Freud
I had some words with my wife, and she had some paragraphs with me.
Anonymous
"Some people ask the secret of our long marriage. We take time to go to a
restaurant two times a week. A little candlelight, dinner, soft music and dancing. She goes Tuesdays, I
go Fridays."
Henry Youngman
"I don't worry about terrorism. I was married for two years."
Sam Kinison
"There's a way of transferring funds that is even faster than electronic
banking. It's called marriage."
James Holt McGavran
"I've had bad luck with both my wives. The first one left me and the
second one didn't."
Patrick Murray
Two secrets to keep your
marriage brimming 1. Whenever you're wrong,
admit it, 2. Whenever you're right, shut up.
Nash
The most effective way to remember your wife's birthday is to
forget
it once...
Anonymous
You know what I did before I married? Anything I wanted to.
Henny Youngman
My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met.
Rodney Dangerfield
A good wife always forgives her husband when she's wrong.
Milton Berle
Marriage is the only war where one sleeps with the enemy.
Anonymous
A man inserted an 'ad' in the classifieds: "Wife wanted". Next day he
received a hundred letters. They all said the same thing: "You can have
mine."
Anonymous
First Guy (proudly): "My wife's an angel!" Second Guy "You're lucky,
mine's still alive."

The ONLY exception to this is my wife... ask her.
Megaster.

Goldman Sachs Spring Internship Program - The Africa Initiative

2007-01-07T15:04:00.001-08:00

This program is for undergraduate students studying in Ghana,
Nigeria and South Africa. If studying in a Ghanaian or Nigerian
university, you must currently be in the first year of a three year
course or the second year of a four year course. If studying in South
Africa, you will be in the second year of a three year course or third
year of a four year course.
In order to provide program participants with an insight into our
businesses and culture, program attendees will be flown to London to
spend up to 10 days in our offices during April 2007. The program
features seminars, divisional rotations, interesting assignments and a
range of social events. High-potential participants will be invited
back to the firm the following year for an 8-10 week fully-funded
internship during June/July 2008. The purpose of these internships are
to identify strong candidates to whom we may ultimately extend
fulltime Analyst offers in 2009.
There is a two-step application process - both stages must be completed:
Step 1: Apply online (www.gs.com/careers) and upload you CV and cover
letter. Select Internship = New Analyst.
Step 2: Visit the Upcoming Events in Europe page and register using
the "Goldman Sachs Africa Initiative" link where you will answer two
essays:
1. What are your key strengths? (300 words)
2. Why should you be selected for this program? (300 words)
The application deadline is 31 January 2007.
Please note that you must be studying at a university in South Africa,
Ghana or Nigeria to apply to participate in this initiative.

Free academic counselling

2006-11-06T10:56:00.000-08:00

I'm now offering a free professional academic advice/counselling to all those who care for it. Just send your question to me at theacademicgod@yahoo.com and expect your answer in days. It's totally free.
Megaster.

i luv football too

2006-10-05T16:45:00.000-07:00

This is one side of me only people really close to me know...i love football. Besides being a licensed football referee, i'm a die-hard fan of Arsenal FC of England. I joined the ever-growing fans of the North London team about 4 years ago and since then, no turning back.
Arsene Wenger is still our greatest asset at the Emirate.
I admire Henry a lot and i also respect Lehnmann.
I've come to appreciate the contribution of Van Persie, Ebuoe and Rosicky of recent.
Megaster.

The Academic god

2006-10-05T16:34:00.000-07:00

There is something happening. It is my greatest invention ever, a big package in form of a book, 'The Academic god'. It is a must-read for every student who desires to be at the top. It reveals the secrets of geniuses and how you can make yourself one.
Just keep your fingers crossed...it cometh soon.
Megatser.

Favourite Quote

2006-09-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

The Origin of MEGASTER!

2006-08-22T02:38:00.000-07:00

The name was got in my secondary school, FGC Idoani, within the first week of admission!
Just before i resumed, my hostel had experienced some domestic criminal activities so everybody was at red-alert.
I met this guy in the room whose bunk was next to the door and was surprised to see someone sleeping with a torch and a stick (more like a club) kept beside him. On being probed he said he was guarding against robbery and i quickly called him "Meguard" (a local name for a night guard). Not caring to know his real name i continued to refer to him as Meguard days after. Also, not knowing my name, he and other room mates turned the table round and started calling me Meguard which was always on my lips.
With time, evolution set in and Meguard metamorphosized to Mega and then i adopted MEGASTER which means a public entertainer. Or, i'm i not one?
Now u know it, keep your lips sealeddddddddd!!!!!!!!Its only for my blog visitors.

Who I'm I

2006-08-22T02:21:00.000-07:00

Science is all about seeking knowledge, trying to explain all natural occurences with known principles.
But inasmuch as men are discovering places, things, knowledges, resources, new planets et al, there remain still the most important thing to be discovered! That's man himself. Do you know as much about youself compared to the course you study? Do you know more about yourself than u know history? Business? The Bible? Biographies?
The greatest discovery a man can make is to know himself.
Hey! Just before you go explore the next on your list of adventure, seek answers to this question you direct to yourself: WHO I"M I?
Megaster.

Welcome

2006-08-18T14:10:00.000-07:00

welcome to my blog... u sure can find anything you want here but SIN! Why? Because it stinks!
Explore, enjoy and refresh yourself.
It's all about mEgAsTaR.