Making The Right Move – Decision-Making To The Top

https://www.scribd.com/doc/169083775/Making-the-Right-Move-Decision-Making-to-the-Top

The hour of decision is the most crucial moment of any life on any day.

Surprisingly many people live day by day by taking chances, banking on Mother Luck, or just by being passive about most vital issues of life.

This is the major reason most lives are just mere subsistence ordinary lives, so many people living barely on threadbare, without a purpose, without joy or happiness, and sadly without any sort of achievement or accomplishment from cradle to the grave.

In the golden words of Theodore Roosevelt, “In any moment of decision,

The best thing you can do is the right thing,

The next best thing is the wrong thing,

And the worst thing you can do is nothing.”

Most people usually choose to do nothing, and no wonder, they always get the worst outcome.

Your fate is sealed and your destiny is determined during those crucial and vital moments of decision-making.

However, so many people are very complacent about what to do when vital decisions are to be made and crucial choices are to be taken.

All true success story has a struggle before the prize, decision-making comes before every purposeful action.

Your decision today determines your destiny tomorrow.

Every one of us comes now and then to some crossroads in life.

While many failures in life take difficulties, disappointments, and life challenges as hard blows and hindrances, successful people accept hindrances and life burdens as opportunities to make the most important decision they will ever make.

While failed people cry over their hindrances and burdens of life, successful men and women take moments of disaster and times of hardship and difficulties as their defining moments and the turning point for a decisive life change.

‘Making The Right Move’ is the common denominator separating those who live their dreams from those who live in regret.

Life’s greatest rewards are reserved for those who could show a never-ending commitment to make bold decisions, and could act and harp on their resolutions until they meet their life dreams.

This level of resolve can move mountains, but it must be constant and consistent.

Because these traits are not necessarily inborn, anyone with resolute determination can work on acquiring them.
People, who can, always can! This is the main focus of this little treatise.

https://www.scribd.com/doc/169083775/Making-the-Right-Move-Decision-Making-to-the-Top

FAITH, ABSOLUTE FAITH IN GOD. wp-1583300625133.jpg

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Memories of A Great Dad

Photo by Samuel Silitonga on Pexels.com

“Any man can be a Father but it takes someone special to be a dad.”

Olivet Heights, teach ’em Soccer!!!

Olivet Heights, teach ‘em Soccer!!!

Popular slogan of Olivet Baptist High School .

In the Swinging 60s through the Super 70s, Olivet Heights was great in academics, fantastic in sports, and scintillating in social activities. Her grounds are hallowed, a Mecca to students from other schools and colleges. It was always a pride to put on her uniform.

As the nation was ebbing out of the infamous Biafra War, and I was getting ready for life in the secondary school. Olivet Heights was my only choice.

When you have a great Dad, growing up becomes meaningful, and learning appears a great virtue.

Dad was well schooled, and a very serious Catholic, maybe more Catholic than the Pope!

Born in 1900 to prosperous Emmanuel Ojelabi, a prominent Lagos and West African Coast merchant, contemporary of Andrew Thomas, the wealthy Lagos trader and auctioneer – father of erudite lawyer, Chief Bode Thomas.

Dad was also very close to Chief P.A. Afolabi, grand-father of Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie. He was warmly welcome at any time in the palace of Alaafin Adeniran, father of present Alaafin Adeyemi.

Dad schooled at the Holy Cross School, Lagos, a premier Catholic School founded in 1871. He trained to be a teacher, and taught in schools in Lagos and Ibadan.

He later joined the Railway Corporation in Ibadan, was sent abroad for further training. He was the Railways Station Manager at various Loco Running Sheds, and retired as Senior Stations Manager, Nigeria Railway Corporation, Jebba.

Though adjudged to be brilliant and well-behaved from my primary school reports, Dad admonished me to study hard and prepare well when he paid and got me the Common Entrance Examination Admission Form into Olivet Baptist High School.

As admission to Olivet Heights was usually keen, tight, and highly competitive for candidates from many parts of the country, a peripheral staff in the school requested that I provide him with my name and examination number for him to give “unfailing assurance” that my admission to the school was guaranteed.

Thinking he was doing my parents a favor and great kindness, rather, this man caught the ire of my father.

In his rage, Dad did not only scold the man and rebuke him in public for perpetrating corrupt practices, he banished him from our compound, and warned him never to get close to me ever again.

Mother was in full agreement.

My parents then took me into Dad’s study, made me read chapter 1 of the Book of Proverbs. They both exhorted me on good manner, honesty, and a life devoid of cheating and untrustworthiness. I was made to memorize Proverbs 1: 8, 9 that day, and to read the Bible daily.

“My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 

For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.” (Pro 1:8,9). 

That timely admonition continue to have a lasting effect and impact upon me till this day.

Joseph Babajimi Ojelabi died at the age of 75, on June 15, 1975, after a brief illness, when I was just settling down in Secondary school.

Jay Bee was a father like no other Dad because, though very many years older than me, yet he taught me so much within such a little time, showed me life, led me through practical Christianity unto Christ Himself, and gave me a good stead and platform to live by.

No words to express how important and loving my Dad was to me,

No words to describe his continuous positive powerful influence in my life and family,

He lived, and let me watch him learn how to live better.

A Dad like no other, J. B. Ojelabi. Adieu.

Thanksgiving

“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;

who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;

so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psa 103: 1 – 5).

At in-gathering offerings and celebrations, we give thanks to God for bountiful harvests and joyfully celebrate as family and congregation worship the Lord for the successful completion of another season.

Though their first winter in the New World was hard, tough and difficult, the Pilgrims and many early settlers took the spring to learn from Native American Indians how to cultivate their new lands and adapt to their new home.

The peace pact between the settlers and the natives gave a peaceful atmosphere that colored their first in-gathering celebrations in the fall of 1621, and thus the first American Thanksgiving.

In truth, and indeed, there was always something to thank the Lord for.

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Php 4:6,7)

https://www.scribd.com/document/187976349/Thanksgiving

THANKSGIVING

At in-gathering offerings and celebrations, we give thanks to God for bountiful harvests and joyfully celebrate as family and congregation the successful completion of another season.

Though their first winter in the New World was hard, tough and difficult, the Pilgrims and many early settlers took the spring to learn from Native American Indians how to cultivate their new lands and adapt to their new home.

The peace pact between the settlers and the natives gave a peaceful atmosphere that colored their first in-gathering celebrations in the fall of 1621, and thus the first American Thanksgiving.

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Php 4:6,7)

In 1881, the great historian the Rev. Samuel Johnson, Pastor of Oyo, described great-grandfather, Pa Jonathan Ojelabi, as “the foremost Christian gentleman” in his town. Grandfather Emmanuel left his wealth and immense connections, prepared a trust and care for his family, and went on Christian evangelistic campaigns. He died in the course of these missionary works, and was buried within the courtyards of one of the churches he helped to set up. His offspring thrived and stay in Christianity till this day.

Dad and Mum were Roman Catholics, and so were we, the children. It pays to serve Jesus!

I give thanks to God today for a good life, a happy family, a kind, understanding, and loving wife and godly children.

It has been a wonderful experience in life for salvation, justification, and the great hope of eternal redemption. The greatest experience of any man is his transformation from a Gentile into one of the partakers of the blessings and covenants of God through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is. “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”( Eph 2:12,13).  It is great to understand that God loves me so dearly and gives me the wonderful gift of Jesus Christ.

Life has provided me with caring tutors, wonderful schools and a very rich education, to touch and gladden other lives and people. This is not just a coincidence but also the wonderful benevolence of God to His undeserving child. God I thank you. Jesus I praise you.

God cares, and performs His wonders in mysterious ways.

Heikki Koivu was once the MD of Perusythyma, the Finnish Civil Engineering Construction Company, where I started my working career.

Armed Robbers attacked one of the project sites of the organization where I was the Accounting Officer. The Police arrested me and locked me up as their prime suspect. Heikki Koivu trusted me, flew down to site, and went through a rough ride with the police to get me released.

However, the police vehemently refused but Mr. Koivu spoke glowingly of me and stuck out his neck to sign all necessary papers that led to my release from detention.

Three months afterwards the robbers were caught in their attempt to cash some Thomas Cooks traveller’s checks stolen from us. Heikki Koivu was proved right and I was vindicated. Had Mr. Koivu not taken that risk my life would have gone in a different direction, probably pitched with gangsters and criminals.

“An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.” “The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.” (Pro 17:11, Psa9:15).

Dr. Donald Eickner, in his inaugural address to college freshmen, taught me how to value time, and make best use of every passing moment. “Write down your achievements in the past five years, and then explain what you seriously want to achieve in the next five years. Work hard and pray hard about it!”, the college President taught new college students.

Though I was born into a family of strong dedicated Christians and strong believers, Professor Johnny Manassian opened my understanding of the Good News that no one get saved or converted into Christianity by virtue of religious background or lineage, but through personal encounter with Jesus Christ. Dr. Manassian led me to Christ!

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (Joh 8:32

Not much of a swimmer, I was caught off-guard once at an ocean brook and within a quiet sea beach. Drowning and almost lost at sea, I owe my life to the grace of God and prompt intervention of friends who rushed and swam deep to rescue me and revived my life. For what else are friends and friendships, than ‘that a man lay down his life for his friends’? There is no greater friend like Jesus Christ.

As a Graduate Assistant at the Lebanese American University to Professor Robert Polhill, the famous American Professor of Accounting and kidnapped in Beirut in January 1987, I became a prime subject for kidnap because of my closeness to the American Professor.  Polhill was very fond of me as a lecturer, boss, friend and counselor.  Well, I graduated from school in fine colors, and Professor Polhill came out of captivity in April 1990 after 39 months in captivity. All things are possible with God.

Talking of friends, I surely have them plenty, and across the nations. Friendship is good when your friends are true. Korion came from Armenia, Barn is from Lebanon, Newborn is an American, Phillips is from Trinidad and Tobago, Murray is a Canadian, Tabingo is from the Philippines, Balcha Gizaw came from Ethiopia, Takeo is Japanese, Burgess is English, Emilio is Argentine, Gramkow is German, Luigi is Italian, Zekry is from Egypt, Sonig is from Syria, and so on.

John called to see me, immediately he flew in from London, and would be very glad to meet my family; our last meeting was in 1987.

Of my friends, I can truly say, “That man had nothing and gave me half of it, and we both had abundance”.

You may not be rich or wealthy, but if Jesus makes a great difference in your life, then you must be living a rich, peaceful, virtuous and abundant life. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

God’s only begotten Son came to change your gloom to brightness. He has come on wounded feet to roll out your ailment and smooth your scattered sickbed.

Christ enters your life with spike-pierced hands to soothe your pain with His balm and His precious blood shed on the cross at Calvary.

Jesus Christ washes away your grief and discomfort with His undefiled living waters.

At in-gathering offerings and celebrations, we give thanks to God for bountiful harvests and joyfully celebrate as family and congregation the successful completion of another season.

Whatever need or challenge you may have in life, you only need to “taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”

Oh give thanks to The Lord; Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the people!
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His steadfast love endures forever! (1 Chr 16:8,34).

How to Gain Enduring Success

There is always a formidable rush to be successful.

Yet, the wise Man declared out of His ken of intelligent knowledge and seasoned wisdom “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill;, but time and chance happeneth to them all”. (Eccl. 9: 11).
Initially, one is poised to reason that above quote lend credence to indolence. Others might surmise that the quotation buttresses the opinion of people who crave chance and sheer good luck to make a break in every attempt in life.

Each of us has the time and space to dispense with, for opportune projects and assignments. How well and profitable you make use of that opportunity depends upon you. But in this Time and Opportunity there is Incident, what may fall in; and Occurrence, what may meet and frustrate an attempt. These things should be wisely weighed, and seriously balanced; for those four things belong to every human action. (Sounds like the strategy, in all matters).
While you have Time, seek an Opportunity to do what is right; but calculate on hindrances and oppositions, because time and opportunity have their Incident and Occurrence.

While attending the high school reunion, we discovered that one student who led the class from the beginning to the last year was not the richest or most prominent of the reunion. She is still doing well as a university lecturer. But it was Ronald, the “dreg” of the class, who managed to make his last papers with us. He came in a remarkably expansive and expensive way. He is now an oil magnate in the Middle –East. In his story, he actually decided to travel with his girl-friend who found a job in the Arabian Gulf ten years ago. They later married and settled down there. “I grasped the rare opportunity the moment I saw it, and the rest is history”, he declared.

Wonder why the infamous Big Ben chose nothing apart from executing the Great London Robbery.
Why should artists, athletes and politicians cheat and deceive in races and competitions, knowing full well that they would be disgraced when caught.
Why should Generals who work by the rule, fight by the rule, and won battles by the rule fail to live by the rule, risking and losing all honors, glories, and accolades on the laps of a lousy tart, women of easy virtues.
Wonder why politicians, businessmen, corporate executives steal from the wealth and covers of everybody.

Cheats and dishonest people never succeeded in the true sense of it. They merely made money or fame by greed and selfishness, always to be haunted by conscience and judgment. But many people are carried away by their dishonesty and greed, seeking to do likewise.

Warren buffet became wealthy because Buffet obeys the law of frugality and investment to the letter, taking opportunities of time, occurrence and incidence from his early life.
Steve Job lost his company to new investors, but returned more than twelve years later to take over because he kept doing what he knew to do best, taking opportunities of time, occurrence and incidence.
Bill Gates led the pack of richest men across the globe because he took advantage of time, opportunities, occurrence and incidence.
John F. Kennedy was less expected to become the towering success he eventually turned out to be. Many doubted his difficult health. The daring man threw his fears to the winds, forged ahead as a Congressman, Senator and one of the most beloved Presidents of the United States of America. Why? JFK had learnt early in life to take the utmost advantage of time, opportunities, occurrence, and incidence, even at the point of death.
Forget the book makers, President Obama took full advantage of time, opportunities, occurrence and incidence to win re-election and made history for self and mankind.

How do you rate yourself on this all-important score sheet?

It is the key to your discovery and bigger success!

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
1 – Be Proactive: Form the habit of having a dream, define your vision, and set goals that are quantifiable and measurable as you move progressively towards the mark of dream attainment while using your time adequately
Habit 2 – Begin with the End in Mind: Define what is critical to you and set about its attainment working around all essential limits for and against that goal.
Habit 3 – First Things First: Plotting the concepts of urgency and importance against each other defines where you spend your time and upon what you dissipate your energy. Set your priorities and follow through.
Habit 4 – Think Win Win: A win win attitude is the habit of settlement between two opinions without a compromise.
Habit 5 – Seek First to Understand, then be Understood: Seek to understand the other party in the effort to make the opposition read our clear intentions. Though our mind is oft to seek suspicion and misunderstanding, this habit guides one to apply quality time and effort to understand the other party, and thus get good interpersonal relationship as the two parties end up understanding each other in a win win situation.
Habit 6 – Synergize: This habit involves brainstorming with colleagues or other parties, seeking a solution to a problem in the win-win spirit. Synergy – the marvelous idea whereby the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
Habit 7 – Sharpen the Saw: As the Saw, become better, keener and more effective. Highly Effective People always take time to fine-tune themselves, to keep their wits, intellect, abilities, and capabilities as most effective as ever.

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HR Africa – Youths, looking up to you!

Human Resources Management is, to the lay man, a management practice which employs and organise staff and workers in such a way that the employer obtains the greatest possible benefit from the abilities of the employees.In return, Human Resources practice equally makes sure that commensurate and adequate provision of material and psychological rewards from such engagement goes to the employees. Sounds a fair deal!

Scientific Management came out of the Industrial Revolution era through the studies of Frederick Taylor. The theories of Motivation, promoted by Abraham H. Maslow and his contemporaries, open the flood gates of care and concern for the employee. All humans seek to meet the following needs:

Physiological needs.

Safety needs.

Love needs.

Esteem needs.

Self-actualization needs.

Human Resources Management brings succor and hope to the employee at a fair cost to the employer. Despite criticism and attacks, the theory of motivation remains a rallying point in the practice of human resources management.  It blends well with the economic and physical needs theory of Karl Marx, the physical and love needs of Sigmund Freud, the esteem needs theory of Alfred Adler, and the self-actualization theory of Goldstein. Every right thinking person seeks to meet certain needs in his life. The United States of America, Western Europe and other true democracies properly understood the theories of motivation and apply them as useful tool in obtaining their respective egalitarian societies.

Most of Africa still try to forge fair and just leadership and governance since the assassination or schematic removal of our founders such as Patrice Lumumba, Kwame Nkrumah, Obafemi Awolowo and such true sons of Africa who put the interest of the populace ahead of their own personal pursuits and desires. Other good leaders emerged, but their good intentions have not transformed Africa as desired. Nevertheless, the continent produces continuously brilliant minds and talents that shape the advancement and progress of the world in terms of technology, education, health, international relations, business and the arts, and other facets of our life.

Monopolistic tendencies and oligarchy entrenched by the elites make up the ruling class, leaving the masses far behind in wanton need and abject poverty. This brought about corruption and deprive Africa of badly needed growth and development.  How could many Africans dream of meeting the needs of self-actualization when the basic needs of life – job, health and shelter, are far from being met?  Yet to their chagrin, and rape on their psyche, the élite display brazenly their ill-gotten wealth without shame. This explains why many Africans have left the shores of the continent in pursuit of greener pastures in other lands. “All I’m saying is simply this, that all life is interrelated, that somehow we’re caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. For some strange reason, I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. You can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

From the city councils, to the local governments, at the state level and within the central government system, corruption is rife because of greed, and the effect of round pegs in square holes. Nevertheless, hope is not lost. A core aspect of the practice and rules of Human Resources Management is Training and retraining. HR Africa should think along this path as they congregate in Lagos, Nigeria for the HR 2012 Leadership Strategy. The African youth are the vital part of the African population, but they stay disenfranchised from the political system that affects them most. HR Africa is well placed to think beyond employees, and look at the vast potentials inherent in the African youth, desirous of a great future. HR Africa should encourage African youths:

1. 1.     Votes: Support the training of youths to value the power of their votes. HR Africa should support and engage their organizations to promote programs and activities that would wake up the African youth to the values and privileges inherent in his right to vote and be voted for.
2. 2.     Votes: Youths from 18 years and above in schools, colleges, universities, trade and training centers, employments and non-employments should understand that the power of true democracy lie in their positive attitude to vote.
3. 3.     Votes: Support training programs and seminars that withdraw youths from cultish gangs and groups, hooligans, violence and social vices; and encourage them to work with non-governmental and non-partisan associations to promote awareness about correct voting patterns at school, on campuses, and their immediate wards or communities.
4. 4.     Votes: Encouraged young people to imbibe irreproachable manners and decent attitudes to life and society, to hold themselves in high esteem and dream of a better future while working for it through engagement is social services and positive lifestyle.

With such support from professionals like you, exceptional candidates gets elected, political terrain get transformed, corruption get curtailed, while  productivity and development will improve across the land.  A remarkably efficient and productive public service would emerge to help and support more  productive corporate culture in Africa. This is growth and success – this will prove that HR Africa could transform the continent, not just employees and corporate bodies.

Self-confidence – the mark of man

Trust children, they would literally jump into the waiting arms of their parent from a higher place sure they would never fall off. Their confidence was so strong and sure without any iota of doubt.

A man determined to get along in his life and career till he attains his goals and dreams is confident in self.  The fact that many people do not have  well-defined goals is due to lack of faith to beat the situation or overcome challenges.

A racist American gang man, tired of his lifestyle, decided to change. But all over him were tattoos of hate for the black people. He ran away from the gang, but the ostrich has nowhere to hide. Anywhere he went, the gang always find him.  With a wife and child he crisscrossed many towns and cities in determined dump the old lifestyle, to clean up and get decent. Confident he would win through, a competent tattoo cleaning surgeon was found with a willing donor to foot the bill. The medical treatment spread over a long period through excruciating pain. Self-confident, he went through it, beaming courage to his supporting spouse.How many have the heart.

New starters in business and some worthy courses often display interest in their course at the beginning but usually fail to go through the process, especially when challenged or in time of crisis. Challenges and difficulties would come for the man, but he uses self-confidence to face and conquer them. Once he has defined his goal and decide his course, the self-confident man hardly willy-nilly, but go straight into action so as not to disappoint self and the people who count on him. He looks within, rely upon inner strength and will to  forge out a winning way. Every great encounter of life, and small ones sometimes, need a good douse of self-confidence.  Unbounded, unshaken faith in oneself makes one bold, which is a great prerequisite in all great undertakings. Excellence is not attained by looking over and over at the self, rather by plunging self with resolve into doing those things critics thought you could not do, doing it with a master stroke.  The estimate a man passes on himself defines the man, and there lies his self-confidence.

How to Develop Self-confidence

1. Discover the Inner Self, the true personae

To everyone is a talent or gift in a special area or unique field. It is very essential to discover these talents and build on them. Know yourself and discover the bundles of talent endowed unto you. It is great gain to discover and decide the basis of the gift of a lad as he set forth early in life. He would grow into it and become a master of that aspect later in life.Rather than scatter your energy in areas that do not sell or sound the best for you, take time to discover your great potentials and build on it. Missing this golden opportunity as a child does not prevent us from the search as adults.

a. Take stock of your stand and status at regular intervals in life.

b. Analyze your findings and make move for positive change and improvements.

c. Determine you profound gifts and qualities and make abundant use of them.

d. When at a crossroad, stoop low to think and wake up to forge ahead.

e. Never despise good counselors and valuable mentors.

2. Make full use of your great potentials

The major purpose of examinations is to find what happened or went wrong, and the next step to take. Once you have discovered your great potentials, you have struck your diamond mine. The next phase is to start to mine. Focus on your potentials and not allow your limitations to stare you in the face. Sir Winston Churchill focused on his great potentials for the wonderful career as a public speaker and a statesman, that he hardly notice his obvious limitations. Never allow your limitations as a hindrance, you must rather view them as stepping-stones to success.

3. Always strike a harmonious cord between your talent and your work

Dedication has its rich blessings. but dedication and commitment to a course in which one is naturally gifted resonate as if one is born with excellence and mastery of that particular job or service. That natural tendency always resonate and ring though almost anybody could learn and do any job. This defines the masterpiece from the general works. Always strive to produce a masterpiece.

4. Be optimistic and positive minded

The self-confident man is a positive minded person because he strongly believe that his well-set dreams and goals will come to pass He works hard at it believing in it and trusting himself unto its realization. Daily affirmations in this regard would guide us closer to  our dreams.

Naked Princes and the Whistleblowers!

Naked Princes and the Whistleblowers!.

Naked Princes and the Whistleblowers!

The age of adolescence is a very traumatic period for the teenager as it extends from the tail end of childhood and the spur of puberty into the early stages of manhood. Disturbed and often caught off-guard, the young fellow suddenly burst into improved physique and development all over his body. He becomes vulnerable because of the biological, psychological and social change that goes within him and around his environment. His condition and confusion is further compounded by the larger society which want him to behave and shape up, and not understand his plight with an open arm of support.

Growth and development is never easy, yet it sets the pattern for our lifestyle and the way we relate with the society at large. The Age of Enlightenment set reason as the code that defines the basis of our relationship. Enlightenment embraced reason over and above religion and its excesses. It trampled and relegated culture. However, no matter how you look at it, the cultural element remains an essential fabric within the clan and the people, within the family and the public. Every cultural group or clan has its morals and mores. Religion only comes to play around it. Wonder how Christianity graduated into a religion, when all The Master came to do was to point us to The Father, and lead us into a blissful life with God after death. Christianity is a way of life, patterned after the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, which also underscore the Plan of God as laid out in The Bible.

Scared by the Ten Commandments, we took off to live life in our own way. To our surprise, the tenets we found so scary formed the basis of the laws of the government, exposing our deep hypocrisy. Jesus Christ simplified and summarized the same laws. Rather than appreciate Him,  the rulers arrested Him, tried and crucified Him, leading to the spread of Christianity upon His resurrection. God gave man the freedom of choice from creation, from birth; but we are accountable for our choices.

The world came into pandemonium when the picture of a naked noble prince, within the confines of his hotel room, in a popular city circulated in many quarters. Though back-stabbed by friendly foes, he was largely responsible for his actions. Meanwhile the whistleblowers had a busy day sharing the news and making money out of his misjudgment. The hypocrite exposes the fault in other people while covering up his own failings.

Michael Jackson could have been 54 years old today if he had not died in 2009. He was greatly successful as a man, musician and philanthropist. He fulfilled his dreams within the 50 years of his earthly sojourn. Jackson was recently polled as the fourth greatest musician of all time, coming only behind Ludwig Van Beethoven and the The Beatles. Yet the gossips were mostly about his misdeeds and what he failed to do, leaving out the great accomplishments. That is the lot of the hypocrite.

Galileo Galilei was a great physicist, philosopher, mathematician, astronomer, and inventor. Tormented and persecuted by “The Inquisition”, the influential religious body of his days, Galileo almost failed to produce the great works of inventions and discoveries that advanced the course of civilization.

Christopher Columbus was almost prevented from the discovery of The Americas by the influential charlatans and whited sepulchers that filled the courts of Queen Isabela of Spain as they wrongly advised the monarch from granting Columbus the vital support required for the great project.

Martin Luther had his own field day in the hands of obnoxious edicts, decrees and Papal Bulls that put his life in jeopardy among the people he wanted to liberate. He risked a lot for the sake of the Reformation.

Growing up was never easy, therefore schools exist to engage the growing child in useful works and knowledge. Yet hypocrites would not understand the inner pains and feelings of the inner man, the core personae. But God does. Despite obvious moral standards and mores, we could not do without deviant tendencies and discordant steps and moves among the people. The adulterous woman at the well, the prodigal son, the tax collector, and the woman caught in adultery were glaring instances of the encounters of Christ with people who mirrored the secret image of most of us. Knowing full well that we are equally guilty, we go all the way to condemn the person caught of the same offense.

.Jesus Christ expressed the love of The Father in the Parable of the Prodigal son. Unlike “the Inquisition”, the scribes and the Pharisees, the Papal Bulls, God is ever ready to take back and restore hope to the wasteful and reckless son who came back home.

Rahab, the prostitute, heard of God’s goodness and greatness, so she partnered with God’s people. That choice eventually made her of the lineage of The Messiah.

We all want to live when life is beautiful. But some moments come when we would rather die than live. When ashamed and dejected like some naked princes, Jesus stands at the door of our heart and ask if we would let Him into our lives.

She was undeniably caught in the very act, in adultery; and they were ready to stone her to death. Somehow, they brought her to Jesus. “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone”, and they left her one after the other. “Neither do I condemn thee, go, and sin no more”.