lundi 31 mars 2008

April 1st "Poisson d'Avril", or "April Fish."

April Fools' Day, sometimes called All Fools' Day, is one of the most light hearted days of the year. Its origins are uncertain. Some see it as a celebration related to the turn of the seasons, while others believe it stems from the adoption of a new calendar.
Observances Around the World
April Fools' Day is observed throughout the Western world. Practices include sending someone on a "fool's errand," looking for things that don't exist; playing pranks; and trying to get people to believe ridiculous things.
The French call April 1 Poisson d'Avril, or "April Fish." French children sometimes tape a picture of a fish on the back of their schoolmates, crying "Poisson d'Avril" when the prank is discovered.
Way to go, Judge!
In Florida, an atheist became incensed over the preparation for Easter and Passover holidays and decided to contact his lawyer about the discrimination inflicted on atheists by the constant celebrations afforded to Christians and Jews with all their holidays while the atheists had no holiday to celebrate. The case was brought before a wise judge who after listening to the long, passionate presentation of his lawyer, promptly banged his gaveland declared, "Case dismissed!"The lawyer immediately stood and objected to the ruling and said, "Your honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? Surely the Christians have Christmas, Easter and many other observances. And the Jews--why in addition to Passover they have Yom Kippur and Hanukkah...and yet my client and all other atheists have no such holiday!" The judge leaned forward in his chair and simply said "Obviously your client is too confused to know about or to celebrate the atheists' holiday!"The lawyer pompously said "We are aware of no such holiday for atheists, just when might that be, your honor?" The judge said "Well it comes every year on exactly the same date---April 1st!"
"The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'" - Psalm 14:1, Psalm 53:1

samedi 22 mars 2008

Happy Resurrection Sunday!!!

What does Easter mean to you?

For some, it means Tears ------ Ref: women crying by the tomb John 20:11

For others it simply means disappointment. ------Ref: Two friends were disappointed because they had trusted that Jesus will help them Luke 24:21

Hope is said to be the oxygen of life, when you run out of hope you run out of life!

Lack of Hope can make you forget the promises of God Luke 24:6-9, John 20:13

Jesus brings Hope. Easter simply means HOPE, what you gave up on, thinking that it has died, will suddenly resurrect. Do not give up; your miracle is around you.

A story was told of an old woman who told her Pastor how her burial/funeral should be. One of the things she requested for was an eating fork; she demanded that this eating fork be placed in her hand!

Her confused Pastor asked why? She answered that when ever she went out for big diners, the servants clearing the tables always say "Madame, keep the fork" while they clear the plates used for the main meal - keep the fork because some delicious sweet and giant desserts are coming. They will soon be on your table.

This old lady told her Pastor to explain to every one that "what ever your present situation is, the best is yet to come, it is not over"

Beloved, I encourage you today, do not give up, your miracle is on the way, God is working things out for you, He is resurrecting all your buried virtues and blessings. I pray that the Lord will help us to persevere in what ever situation He has allowed to come our way and that He will open our understanding Luke 24:45 so we can behold and possess our blessings in Jesus Name, Amen. It is well with you.

Your sister,

Grace Obaigbona.

May heaven smile upon you and may God bless your day light as never before.

Psalm 118:24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Philippians 1:3

I thank my God every time I remember you.

"J'exprime à Dieu ma reconnaissance chaque foi que je pense à toi ; je prie pour toi en toute occasion,et c'est toujours avec joie que je le fais." Philippiens 1 : 3-4.

Psalm 128:5 May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life; Amen.

mardi 4 mars 2008


What's your reflection about the way you see things? Is God glorified by our thoughts and actions. The following challenged me. Hope we ask and seek for wisdom like Solomon did. Remain forever blessed saints!!!


THE ILLUSION OF REFLECTION.

Once there was a king who had presented his daughter, the princess,
with a beautiful diamond necklace. The necklace was stolen and his people
in the kingdom searched everywhere but could not find it. Some said a bird
may have stolen it. The king then asked them all to search for it and put a
reward for $50,000 for anyone who found it.
One day a clerk was walking home along a river next to an industrial area.
This river was completely polluted and filthy and smelly. As he was
walking the clerk saw a shimmering in the river and when he looked, he saw
the diamond necklace. He decided to try and catch it so that he could
get the $50,000 reward. He put his hand in the filthy, dirty river and
grabbed at the necklace, but some how missed it and didn't catch it. He took
his hand out and looked again and the necklace was still there. He tried
again, this time he walked in the river and dirtied his pants in the filthy
river and put his whole arm in to catch the necklace. But strangely, he still
missed the necklace! He came out and started walking away, feeling depressed.
Then again he saw the necklace, right there. This time he was
determined to get it, no matter what. He decided to plunge into the river,
although it was a disgusting thing to do as the river was polluted, and his
whole body would become filthy. He plunged in, and searched everywhere for the
necklace and yet he failed. This time he was really bewildered and came out
feeling very depressed that he could not get the necklace that would get him $50000.
Just then a saint who was walking by, saw him, and asked him what
the matter was. The clerk didn't want to share the secret with the saint,
thinking the saint might take the necklace for himself, so he refused to tell
the saint anything. But the saint could see this man was troubled and
being compassionate, again asked the clerk to tell him the problem and
promised that he would not tell anyone about it. The clerk mustered some
courage and decided to put some faith in the saint.
He told the saint about the necklace and how he tried and tried to
catch it, but kept failing. The saint then told him that perhaps he should try
looking upward, toward the branches of the tree, instead of in the filthy
river. The clerk looked up and true enough, the necklace was dangling on the
branch of a tree. He had been trying to capture a mere reflection of the real
necklace all this time.
Moral of the story:
Material happiness is just like the filthy, polluted river; because
it is a mere reflection of the TRUE happiness in the spiritual world. We
don't achieve the happiness we are looking for, no matter how hard we
endeavor in the material life. Instead we should look upwards, toward God, who
is the source of real happiness, and stop chasing after the reflection of
this happiness in the material world. This spiritual happiness is the
only thing that can satisfy us completely. May the Lord help us LOOK UP TO HIM.
Good day.

LA RUMEUR!!! GOSSIP IN THE SOCIETY !!!

LA RUMEUR!!! GOSSIP IN THE SOCIETY !!!

Introduction:

1. Définition de la rumeur

* Socialement => parler contre une personne qui ne peut pas se défendre ; répandre la calomnie, médisance.
* Point de vue Chrétienne => comparable aux péchés de meurtre, adultère, mensonge... ; jugement des autres, de leurs actions (Lev.19/16, Prov.11/13, Rom.1/29, 1Tim.5/13, Matt.7/1, Prov.18/8).
o C’est grave dans toutes les sociétés.
o Rumeur peut être vraie ou fausse ou un peu des deux.

* Façon de propager => personne à personne non concernées directement.
* Coupable – celui qui propage ce qui est intime.
* Rumeur est condamnable quelque soit le point de vue.

2. Ce que la rumeur est

* · Raconter des histoires
* · Parler dans le dos de quelqu’un
* · S’occuper des affaires des autres
* · Dénigrer quelqu’un => calomnier
* · Commérer, bavarder
* · Elle n’est pas officielle
* · Elle n’a pas de source sûre et elle ne sert pas à l’édification.

3. Ce que la Rumeur n’est pas

* · Corriger les péchés et erreurs des autres
* · Dire la vérité aux personnes concernées
* · Vérifier l’enseignement d’un prédicateur (lui en parler)

4. qu’est-ce qui est à l’origine d’une rumeur (but => pourquoi les gens propagent les rumeurs)

* · Se rendre intéressant « je sais quelque chose que vous ne savez pas »
* · Orgueil / vanité (montrer son pouvoir de connaissance)
* · Amertume, colère, ressentiment, hostilité => pour faire payer quelqu’un même innocent
* · Mauvaise estime de soi => descendre les autres pour les mettre à son niveau
* · Jalousie => détruire
* · Influence des pairs => se joindre à la foule pour être accepté dans la société (le regard des autres)
* · La sensation
* · Fouineur

5. Excuses pour justifier le commérage

* · Commérage déguisé en ‘recherche de conseils’
* · Requête de prière
* · Veiller les uns sur les autres

C’est la manière et le fruit qui importent

6. Conséquences

* · La personne concernée par la rumeur est:
* a) blessée et souffre
* b) gêne, embarras, confusion
* c) destruction de sa personnalité ou son intégrité
* d) division
* · Révélation de la vraie nature du cœur de la personne qui répand la rumeur
* La personne qui entend la rumeur :

a) confusion et mauvaise influence

b) répétition d’un erreur et piégée dedans

7. Quand peut-on répéter une rumeur ? et avec qui ?

· Lorsque c’est nécessaire ! Seulement !

Quels sont les critères de nécessite :

a) besoin de corriger un péché

b) éclaircissement d’un enseignement reçu douteux

c) risque de division d’une communauté (Eglise/entreprise…)

Avec qui en parler :

· Avec Dieu ! en premier.

· Normalement la personne concernée si intime

· Avec un ancien ou le pasteur ou un proche ET C’EST TOUT !

Avec qui ne pas en parler :

· un inconnu

· une personne non concernée directement

· un nouveau chrétien de l’église (ayant juste donné son cœur ou arrivant juste d’une autre église)

Comment en parler :

· Après avoir prié

· Avec amour, dans le but de faire du bien

· Sans condamnation, chacun est responsable devant Dieu.

· Avec la vision de Dieu pour l’Eglise : unité de l’esprit par l’Esprit

Comment régler une rumeur :

· Ne pas la propager

· Quand c’est possible, dire de s’arrêter => remettre à sa place selon la vérité biblique

· Si c’est un vrai problème, chercher à le régler selon la Bible et dans la mesure de nos pouvoirs sinon, prier.

Précautions :

· Ne pas s’associer à quelqu’un (fouineur ou « les parlent partout ») qui répand des rumeurs 1Tim 5 :13

· Garde le problème pour toi-même à l’intérieur – intercède pour le gossiper et pour l’objet (une personne)

· Ne laisse pas les paroles (non saines) indignes sortir de ta bouche => nos paroles devraient toujours servir à guérir et apporter la grâce pour construire et édifier ceux qui écoutent

Que faire si vous participer à une rumeur :

· Se repentir authentiquement

· S’engager à sceller les lèvres => penser avant de parler.

· Mémoriser les versets suivants : Ps 19/14, Eph 4/29, Matt 7/12

Conclusion

* Il ne faut pas être à l’origine d’une RUMEUR
* Il ne faut pas propager une rumeur
* Vérifier si on peut répéter
* Régler les problèmes dont on prend connaissance
* Veiller sur nos paroles.

Cher tous, permettez-moi de vous exprimer, avec ma très sincère reconnaissance, mon émotion pour la réception que vous m’avez accordé dans ce forum, émotion redoublée par vos paroles/contributions généreuses. Ma reconnaissance va aussi aux leaders [Pasteur Gérald, Hélène, Frère David...] et tout particulièrement à Philippe Monnereau qui m’a beaucoup aidé surtout avec la traduction. Thank you.

Merci à tous.

Cordialement,

Grâce Obaigbona

16 janvier 2008.


Foyer Évangélique Universitaire, Poitiers, France.

samedi 1 mars 2008



Integrity.
We live in a world where honesty is not celebrated!


An aging king woke up one day to the realization that should he drop dead, there would be no male in the royal family to take his place. He was the last male in the royal family in a culture where only a male could succeed to the throne - and he was aging. He decided that if he could not give birth to a male, he would adopt a son who then could take his place but he insisted that such an adopted son must be extraordinary in every sense of the word. So he launched a competition in his kingdom, open to all boys, no matter what their background. Ten boys made it to the very top. There was little to separate these boys in terms of intelligence and physical attributes and capabilities. The king said to them, "I have one last test and whoever comes top will become my adopted son and heir to my throne." Then he said, "This kingdom depends solely on agriculture. So the king must know how to cultivate plants. So here is a seed of corn for each of you. Take it home and plant and nurture it for three weeks. At the end of three weeks, we shall see who has done the best job of cultivating the seed. That person will be my heir-apparent. “The boys took their seeds and hurried home. They each got a flower pot and planted the seed as soon as they got home. There was much excitement in the kingdom as the people waited with bated breath to see who was destined to be their next king. In one home, the boy and his parents were almost heartbroken when after days of intense care, the seed failed to sprout. He did not know what had gone wrong with his. He had selected the soil carefully, he had applied the right quantity and type of fertilizer, he had been very dutiful in watering it at the right intervals, he had even prayed over it day and night and yet his seed had turned out to be unproductive. Some of his friends advised him to go and buy a seed from the market and plant that. "After all," they said, "how can anyone tell one seed of corn from another?" But his parents who had always taught him the value of integrity reminded him that if the king wanted them to plant any corn, he would have asked them to go for their own seed. "If you take anything different from what the king gave you that would be dishonesty. Maybe we are not destined for the throne. If so, let it be but don't be found to have deceived the king," they told him. The d-day came and the boys returned to the palace each of them proudly exhibiting a very fine corn seedling. It was obvious that the other nine boys had had great success with their seeds. The king began making his way down the line of eager boys and asked each of them, "Is this what came out of the seed I gave you?" And each boy responded, "Yes, your majesty." And the king would nod and move down the line. The king finally got to the last boy in the line-up. The boy was shaking with fear. He knew that the king was going to have him thrown into prison for wasting his seed. "What did you do with the seed I gave you?" the king asked. "I planted it and cared for it diligently, your majesty, but alas it failed to sprout." the boy said tearfully as the crowd booed him. But the king raised his hands and signalled for silence. Then he said, "My people behold your next king." The people were confused. "Why that one?" many asked.

"How can he be the right choice?" The king took his place on his throne with the boy by his side and said, "I gave these boys boiled seeds. This test was not for cultivating corn. It was the test of character; a test of integrity. It was the ultimate test. If a king must have one quality, it must be that he should be above dishonesty. Only this boy passed the test. A boiled seed cannot sprout." Never!!

We live in a society that has become obsessed with success and many show success at any cost. We say the end justifies the means. It is the tragedy of life. You see, failure often is an invitation to God to show that he is all powerful and does not need help to make us great or to bless us. You know, sometimes God looks for people who will trust him completely no matter what so he could show the world that it is not by might or by power but by his spirit. God sometimes ordains failure. But many seek to circumvent divinely ordained failure by resorting to dubious means. When a minister of state is able to sustain a lavish mistress and at the same time put up houses from his income as minister, is that not a case of a boiled seed coming to life? That is a case of boiled seed yielding hundred folds! We should stop cheering rogues in WORLD! I believe that we have all been given lives to lead according to God's plan and if we are living faithfully, we should all have different results. The Bible says the race is not for the swift and the battle is not for the strong. So how come, that in the WORLD the swift wins the race and the strong the battle? It is because we are refusing to remain faithful to God and refusing to allow God to be God in all things and in our affairs.

Boiled seed does not sprout. Never!!! Next time you see a successful person, find out what kind of seed he was given and ask him, "how come your boiled seed has sprouted.

Source: Dear all, a friend of mine emailed this write up to me. I hope you enjoyed it.

Best regards,

Grace.