HISTORICAL VIEW

Considerations Figure demonstrating the concept of topographic prominence: The prominence of a peak is the height of the peak’s summit above the lowest contour line encircling it and no higher summit. For example, vertical arrows show the topographic prominence of three peaks on an island. A dotted horizontal line links each peak (except the highest) to its key col. The dividing line between a mountain with multiple peaks and separate mountains is not always clear (see also Highest unclimbed mountain). A popular and intuitive way to distinguish mountains from subsidiary peaks is by their height above the highest saddle connecting it to a higher summit, a measure called topographic prominence or re-ascent (the higher summit is called the "parent peak"). A common definition of a mountain is a summit with 300 m (980 ft) prominence. Alternatively, a relative prominence (prominence/height) is used (usually 7–8%) to reflect that in higher mountain ranges everything is on a larger scale. The table below lists the highest 100 summits with at least 500 m (1,640 ft) prominence, approximating a 7% relative prominence. A drawback of a prominence-based list is that it may exclude well-known or spectacular mountains that are connected via a high ridge to a taller summit, such as Eiger or Nuptse. A few such peaks and mountains with nearly sufficient prominence are included but not numbered in this list. It is very unlikely that all given heights are correct to the nearest metre; indeed, the sea level is often problematic to define when a mountain is remote from the sea. Different sources often differ by many metres, and the heights given below may well differ from those elsewhere in this encyclopedia. As an extreme example, Ulugh Muztagh on the north Tibetan Plateau is often listed as 7,723 m (25,338 ft) to 7,754 m (25,440 ft), but appears to be only 6,973 m (22,877 ft) to 6,987 m (22,923 ft). Some mountains differ by > 100 m (330 ft) on different maps, while even very thorough current measurements of Mount Everest range from 8,840 m (29,003 ft) to 8,850 m (29,035 ft). These discrepancies serve to emphasize the uncertainties in the listed heights. Though some parts of the world, especially the most mountainous parts, have never been thoroughly mapped, it is unlikely that any mountains this high have been overlooked, because synthetic aperture radar can and has been used to measure elevations of most otherwise inaccessible places. Still, heights and/or prominences may be revised, so that the order of the list may change and even "new" mountains could enter the list over time. To be safe, the list has been extended to include all 7,200 m (23,622 ft) peaks. The highest mountains above sea level are generally not the highest above the surrounding terrain. There is no precise definition of surrounding base, but Mount McKinley, Mount Kilimanjaro and Nanga Parbat are possible candidates for the tallest mountain on land by this measure. The bases of mountain islands are below sea level, and given this consideration Mauna Kea (4,207 m (13,802 ft) above sea level) is the world's tallest mountain and volcano, rising about 10,203 m (33,474 ft) from the Pacific Ocean floor. Ojos del Salado has the greatest rise on Earth—13,420 m (44,029 ft) from the summit[citation needed] to the bottom of the Atacama Trench about 560 km (350 mi) away, though most of this rise is not part of the mountain. The highest mountains are also not generally the most voluminous. Mauna Loa (4,169 m or 13,678 ft) is the largest mountain on Earth in terms of base area (about 2,000 sq mi or 5,200 km2) and volume (about 10,000 cu mi or 42,000 km3), although, due to the intergrade of lava from Kilauea, Hualalai and Mauna Kea, the volume can only be estimated based on surface area and height of the edifice. Mt. Kilimanjaro is the largest non-shield volcano in terms of both base area (245 sq mi or 635 km2) and volume (1,150 cu mi or 4,793 km3). Mount Logan is the largest non-volcanic mountain in base area (120 sq mi or 311 km2). The highest mountains above sea level are also not those with peaks farthest from the centre of the Earth, because the figure of the Earth is not spherical. Sea level closer to the equator is several kilometres farther from the centre of the Earth. The summit of Chimborazo, Ecuador's tallest mountain, is usually considered to be the farthest point from the Earth's centre, although the southern summit of Peru's tallest mountain, Huascarán, is another contender.[1] Both have elevations above sea level more than 2 km less than that of Everest.

DID YOU KNOW???

In Japanese, there are at least 20 different ways to say "sorry." There are 5 planets you can see with the naked eye, not using a telescope: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Saltless surfing takes place in winter months on the Great Lakes, with waves exceeding 30ft (9m).

POEM: If You Forget Me - Poem by Pablo Neruda

If You Forget Me - Poem by Pablo Neruda poet Pablo Neruda #5 on top 500 poets Poet's Page Poems Quotes Comments Stats E-Books Biography Videos Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Poems by Pablo Neruda : 39 / 142 « prev. poem next poem » If You Forget Me - Poem by Pablo Neruda Autoplay next video I want you to know one thing. You know how this is: if I look at the crystal moon, at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window, if I touch near the fire the impalpable ash or the wrinkled body of the log, everything carries me to you, as if everything that exists, aromas, light, metals, were little boats that sail toward those isles of yours that wait for me. Well, now, if little by little you stop loving me I shall stop loving you little by little. If suddenly you forget me do not look for me, for I shall already have forgotten you. If you think it long and mad, the wind of banners that passes through my life, and you decide to leave me at the shore of the heart where I have roots, remember that on that day, at that hour, I shall lift my arms and my roots will set off to seek another land. But if each day, each hour, you feel that you are destined for me with implacable sweetness, if each day a flower climbs up to your lips to seek me, ah my love, ah my own, in me all that fire is repeated, in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten, my love feeds on your love, beloved, and as long as you live it will be in your arms without leaving mine. Pablo Neruda

OPINION/ARTICLE:The Aches and Pains of Explaining Nigeria, By Okey Ndibe

The Aches and Pains of Explaining Nigeria, By Okey Ndibe One of the burdens of being a longtime commentator on issues Nigeriana is that people frequently search me out, via email, text messages, and phone calls to ask questions about Nigeria. These questions come from Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike. For me, what’s fascinating is not that so many people feel tempted to put questions to me; it is that, as a rule, they expect me ALWAYS to offer a coherent response, if not the answer. Yet, the most insightful of my fellow labourers in the vocation of analysing Nigeria would tell you that the country is one of the most impossible to have a grip on. As a friend of mine once said, with less malice than admiration, Nigeria is a place where absurdity makes sense. I mean, how do you explain this confounding entity whose people, all too often, defy predictions? It’s a country where a famished pickpocket who steals N50 to eat is garlanded with a tyre, doused with fuel, and set on fire. If you extrapolate from this that Nigerians must be outraged by their politicians’ billion naira heists, think again. No, lots of Nigerians venerate those who steal hundreds of millions from them. They’d festoon the paunchy robber with church knighthood and flamboyant sounding chieftaincy titles. When you hear the phrase “s/he is a major stakeholder” applied to a Nigerian, look out. Chances are that the object of such adulation has scraped all the way to the bottom of public funds entrusted in their care. If any “disgruntled element” as much as casts an angry eye at the embezzling politician, he is thoroughly dressed down. He’s accused of not being a “constructive critic.” He’s dismissed as an ethnic jingoist. Those who would not demand that public officials live up to their oath as custodians of public trust will be quick to lecture the critic on the imperative of according respect to a thief-in-chief. In the odd event that anti-corruption agents arrest a billionaire thief, you can count on all manner of people rallying to the beleaguered thief’s cause. His pastor, imam or chief dibia would declare him a God-fearing philanthropist. A delegation of traditional rulers would plead his case, proclaiming him “a proud son of the soil.” A gang of hired writers from his ethnic group, church, state or hometown would ask whether he’s the first corrupt person, or the most. And they would point to all the drivers he’s hired to drive his fleet as proof that the man was not greedy but a creator of jobs, not parochial and self-centered but a generous apostle of trickle down economics, a deliverer of the dividends of democracy. On a recent vacation in St. Petersburg, Florida, I had a funny exchange with an African American. Once he discovered I was Nigerian, he asked, “Didn’t you guys win the happiest people on earth survey or something?” I confirmed that, some years ago, a European pollster had indeed named Nigerians as the happiest people on planet Earth. “But I hear there are lots of poor people in the country,” he remarked. “Yes. And they’re some of the happiest,” I responded, inciting him to roaring laughter. Seriously, though: How does one explain a country that has one of the world’s vastest reserves of crude oil, but whose citizens continue to wallow in levels of squalor and privation impossible to believe unless encountered? Yet, these same people, crushed to the ground by the actions and inactions of their rulers, continue to intone, “No wahala,” “God is in control,” I full ground,” “Nothing spoil”? How, in other words, do you analyse a people who (appear to) take such ludicrous delight in their impoverishment? Nigerians fare worse than the residents of several war-ravaged countries in certain social indices. Numerous state governments and companies owe their workers months of unpaid salary at any given time. Even so, the workers dutifully report to work month after unpaid month. When they see oga, the man who quaffs and gorges while denying them their salaries, they genuflect and hail him as “Baba.” How does one explain that behaviour, that cooperation with one’s oppressor? After President Muhammadu Buhari’s official trip to the US, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who was on the delegation, claimed that American officials had exposed a case of a former minister who pocketed $6 billion of Nigeria’s public funds. In many other countries, public fury would have been instant and sustained. Different sectors of society would demand that the government name and shame the looter—and then bring him/her before a magistrate. Not in Nigeria. So some greedy former minister allegedly stole $6 billion of Nigerians’ collective patrimony? Madam, ejor, bring another bottle of Star. And another plate of nkwobi. In recent weeks, the trending questions for me have pertained to Boko Haram, the terrorist group that has a quarrel with western education and well nigh everybody and everything else. Why, people ask me, have we seen a resurgence of the group after Mr. Buhari’s inauguration in office? The question has come from those who believed the silly fiction that Buhari was a sponsor of the group. It has also come from those who were certain that his election would scare the insurgents into retreat. A few days ago, one person asked a question that I had been thinking about myself. He recalled that, soon after Nigeria’s 2015 general elections were postponed for six weeks, troops went on an offensive against Boko Haram. Day after day, we were told that Boko Haram had fled another town they had captured months before. In fact, the soldiers went into the infamous Sambisa forest, routing the insurgents and rescuing hundreds of women they had seized. So, this friend asked, if Nigerian troops had indeed dominated Boko Haram, how did the group manage to regroup to menace targets and victims in Borno State and other parts of the North-East? As I often do, I told this questioner that I was just as mystified. I confessed to not knowing the answer. Last Saturday, Boko Haram fighters reportedly ambushed the convoy of Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai. From the military’s account of the encounter, the terrorists were worsted, losing more men and ammunition than the army did. But here’s what I know—or think I know, at any rate. That the Islamist fighters felt emboldened enough to take on the military’s top man is a grave sign. That daring, if suicidal, attack tells me that Boko Haram is feeling more confident, not less. When you factor in news that the group had strengthened its alliance with ISIL, then you have a potentially explosive scenario. What’s the solution? I’ll tell you, honestly: I don’t know. But here’s what I know, or think I do: the Buhari administration and the Nigerian military have their work cut out for them. They must out-think, out-strategise Boko Haram—to be able to triumph. Please follow me on twitter @ okeyndibe

QUOTE OF THE MOMENT

We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future. George Bernard Shaw

His word: The Eternal Redemption by Rev. Paul C. Jong (pt2)

The Eternal Redemption

The Woman Who Was Caught in the Act of Adultery How many people in the world commit adultery? All of them In John 8, there is a story of a woman who was caught in the act of adultery and we see how Jesus saved her. We'd like to share the grace that she received. It isn't too much to say that all human beings commit adultery at some point in their lives. Every single person commits adultery. If you don't think so, it is only because we do it so often that it appears as though we don't. Why? We live with so much adultery in our lives. Taking a look at the woman in John 8, I contemplate on whether or not there is a person among us who hasn't committed adultery. There is no one who has not committed adultery, just as the woman who was caught in the act of adultery. All of us have done it, but we pretend that we haven't. Do you think I am wrong? No, I am not. Look carefully within. Everyone on the face of the earth has done it. They commit adultery while gazing at women on the street, in their thoughts and in their acts, anytime, anywhere. They just don't realize they are doing it. There are a lot of people who don't realize until the day they die that they have innumerably committed adultery throughout their lives. Not just those who have been caught, but all of us who have never been caught. All people do it in their minds, and in their acts. Is this not a part of our lives? Are you upset? It is the truth. We are just discreet about it because we are embarrassed. The truth is that people these days commit adultery all the time, but do not realize that they are doing it. People commit adultery in their souls, too. We, who were created by God, live on this earth without ever realizing that we also commit spiritual adultery. Worshiping other gods is the same as committing spiritual adultery because the Lord is the only Husband of all mankind. The woman who was caught in the act was a human being, just like the rest of us, and she received the grace of God, just as we who were redeemed did. But the hypocritical Pharisees made her stand in their presence and pointed fingers at her as if they were judges, about to throw stones at her. They were about to rebuke and judge her as if they themselves were pure, and had never committed adultery. Fellow Christians, those who know themselves to be a mass of sin do not judge others before God. Rather, knowing that they, too, commit adultery all their lives, they receive the grace of God which has redeemed us all. Only those who realize that they are sinners who have committed adultery all along are eligible to be redeemed before God. ...to be continued

HISTORICAL VIEW: Tallest Structure

Tallest structures Main article: List of tallest structures in the world Warsaw radio mast, the height record holder from 1974 to 1991. The CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, was the world's tallest freestanding structure from 1975 to 2007. This category does not require the structure be "officially" opened. The tallest artificial structure is Burj Khalifa, a skyscraper in Dubai that reached 829.8 m (2,722 ft) in height on January 17, 2009.[2] By April 7, 2008 it had been built higher than the KVLY-TV mast in North Dakota, USA.[3] That September it officially surpassed Poland's 646.38 m (2,120.7 ft) Warsaw radio mast, which stood from 1974 to 1991, to become the tallest structure ever built. Guyed lattice towers such as these masts had held the world height record since 1954. The Petronius Platform stands 610 m (2,000 ft) off the sea floor leading some, including Guinness World Records 2007, to claim it as the tallest freestanding structure in the world. However, it is debated whether underwater height should be counted in the same manner as height below ground is ignored on buildings. The Troll A platform is 472 m (1,549 ft), without any part of that height being supported by wires. The tension-leg type of oil platform has even greater below-water heights with several examples more than 1,000 m (3,300 ft) deep. However, these platforms are not considered constant structures as the vast majority of their height is made up of the length of the tendons attaching the floating platforms to the sea floor. Despite this, Guinness World Records 2009 listed the Ursa tension leg platform as the tallest structure in the world with a total height of 1,306 m (4,285 ft). The Magnolia Tension-leg Platform in the Gulf of Mexico is even taller with a total height of 1,432 m (4,698 ft). Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan, set records in three of the four skyscraper categories at the time it opened in 2004; at the time the Burj Khalifa opened in 2010 it remained the world's tallest inhabited building 509.2 m (1,671 ft) as measured to its architectural height (spire). The height of its roof 449.2 m (1,474 ft) and highest occupied floor 439.2 m (1,441 ft) had been surpassed by the Shanghai World Financial Center with corresponding heights of 487 and 474 m (1,598 and 1,555 ft). Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) was the highest in the final category: the greatest height to top of antenna of any building in the world at 527.3 m (1,730 ft). Burj Khalifa broke the height record in all four categories for completed buildings.

DID YOU KNOW???

A secret radio belonging to a British POW in WWII was kept so well hidden that, when he visited the camp 62 years later, it was still there. In 132 AD, a Chinese inventor built a seismograph which, at the moment of an earthquake, expelled a copper ball out of the mouth of a dragon and into the mouth of a frog. The Guinness World Records stopped awarding the fattest cats or any other animal to discourage deliberate overfeeding.

Opinion/Article: Can Nigerians Lynch Corrupt Politicians Likewise?, By Ahmed Oluwasanjo

Can Nigerians Lynch Corrupt Politicians Likewise?, By Ahmed Oluwasanjo I reiterate not being an advocate for petty thieves. However, placing the jungle justice they face in Nigeria side-by-side the pat-on-the-back justice cum sheepish support from the public that our administrative and political thieves enjoy, one would be tempted to ask if Nigerians truly loathe stealing. I suppose if petty thieves are to be lynched, corrupt politicians irrespective of their regional, religious or political affiliations deserve to be guillotined because they are responsible for most of our problems in Nigeria. But, in Nigeria we rally support for them instead, why? It’s good that I make it clear from the start that I’m not holding brief for any criminal, be it a petty shoplifter, an armed robber or a pen-robber. A thief is a thief. The pathetic story of a young man who was mobbed for allegedly stealing a pot of soup in Calabar on August 23 resonated a lot of questions in my mind. According to reports, while his two partners in the act luckily escaped, he was caught by a raging mob who butchered, doused him with petrol and set him on fire. Gory! First, I wondered, what sort of hunger or poverty could have led a thinking young man to steal a pot of soup? Well, since common sense is not so common after all, I assume he lacked it. Second, what degree of hatred for stealing could have made the mob react in such an outrageous manner, knowing well that handing him over to the police after the beating would have taught him a lesson of his life? But, several cases of criminals who were handed over to the police only to be seen on the street the next day moving about freely could probably be one reason people have no confidence in formal prosecution and the justice system. Despite the warnings against this barbaric act of ‘jungle justice’, it seems to be gaining more acceptance. Sadly, this is not peculiar to a region in Nigeria – from the North to the South, East to the west, the story is the same. But it appears more common in Lagos. I recall the killing of four students of University of Port Harcourt in 2012 was well condemned by the public who called for their killers to be brought to book, which unfortunately hasn’t happened till date. This dastardly act shouldn’t have bugged anyone if it confirms that Nigerians genuinely loathe thieves, but the way we have deified some set of thieves over the years is contradictory. In simple words, we are good at celebrating administrative and political thieves while we mob alleged petty thieves. Our religious, political and regional sentiments often debar us from collectively taking a stand against our kleptomaniac leaders, whose leadership as brought us to the sorry state we are in today. Such sentiments are usual expressed as follows: Are you saying he is the only corrupt person among our politicians? Are you saying that there are no corrupt politicians in other parties? This person, that person na saint? The only thing they would not say is, a politician cannot be a thief once he or she is from my region or a party I support. Yet, these sentiments are never considered when an alleged petty thief is to be lynched. No wonder, we still rank among one of the most corrupt countries in the world, according to Transparency International. Some years ago during my National Youth Service year in Bayelsa State, I was posted to Amasoma to assist in the conduct of the 2011 elections, which was later postponed due to issues of logistics. I recall the euphoria that engulfed the atmosphere when the erstwhile governor of the state, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha came to where we were assembled to get election materials. I was surprised to see both the old and young cheering out loudly: Alamko! Alamko!! Now, I’m not talking about any other Alamieyeseigha besides the one who was sentenced and served time for money laundry! Today, he enjoys state pardon courtesy of his political son and I can bet that he commands significant followership in Bayelsa State’s political landscape. Similar to this was the manner in which some Omoluwabis, who ordinarily pride themselves as custodians of sound morals, participated in celebrating criminality. According to reports, they adorned themselves in aso ebi to attend one Peoples Democratic Party chieftain’s thanksgiving service at the Cathedral Church of Christ Marina, Lagos, shortly after his sojourn in Kirikiri Maximum Prisons. Their excuse for such shameful act was that their party man was politically imprisoned. Today, from one of the south western states in Nigeria, an alleged drug baron is a serving Senator of the Federal Republic. If jungle justice must be abolished in Nigeria, our justice system must be improved by creating strong institutions within and around it that no one can circumvent. This would boost public trust, make Nigerians sheathe their impulsive swords and become more willing to report cases of theft to the appropriate authorities, rather than recourse to self-help in savagely lynching thieves when caught. Likewise, the same institutions would be emboldened to go after corrupt politicians and duly prosecute them, since a thief is a thief. In the case of an ex-Aviation Minister from the South-East who served under the Goodluck Jonathan administration and was embroiled in an extra-budgetary scandal involving the purchase of two armoured cars for her office, youths in Enugu protested vehemently against her sack, after all, she was prudent enough not to have bought armoured shoes and headgears. Today, she is also a serving Senator. Coming up North, a few weeks ago, we saw how the Northern talakawas thronged the airport to welcome an erstwhile governor of one of the Northern states and his two sons, shortly after they were granted bail from Kano prison where they had been remanded for an alleged contract kickback racket worth N1.35 billion. Some of the jubilant supporters even said he was the best thing that happened to their state, not minding that, according to the National Bureau Of Statistics, their state is one of the poorest in Nigeria, with over 70 percent of its people unable to afford daily meals, lacking access to potable water, healthcare and education. Good enough, this survey was done during the accused governor’s administration. To trivialise it all, they claimed his prosecution was a mere witch-hunt. But, why are we like this? I reiterate not being an advocate for petty thieves. However, placing the jungle justice they face in Nigeria side-by-side the pat-on-the-back justice cum sheepish support from the public that our administrative and political thieves enjoy, one would be tempted to ask if Nigerians truly loathe stealing. I suppose if petty thieves are to be lynched, corrupt politicians irrespective of their regional, religious or political affiliations deserve to be guillotined because they are responsible for most of our problems in Nigeria. But, in Nigeria we rally support for them instead, why? If jungle justice must be abolished in Nigeria, our justice system must be improved by creating strong institutions within and around it that no one can circumvent. This would boost public trust, make Nigerians sheathe their impulsive swords and become more willing to report cases of theft to the appropriate authorities, rather than recourse to self-help in savagely lynching thieves when caught. Likewise, the same institutions would be emboldened to go after corrupt politicians and duly prosecute them, since a thief is a thief. Ahmed Oluwasanjo writes from Abuja and can be reached on ahmedoluwasanjo@gmail.com.

POEM OF THE MOMENT: Towards the land by Afolabi Oluwaseun

In arcade of rigorousness that brought the use of scrupulousness walking in the valley of rectitudeness with a pure mind of purity which truncate not, witting truthfulness to a steadfast adherence of walking uprightness showing the way to an unfailing trustworthiness in the great mind of Chastity road to life for righteousness with moral ethics of great sense truthful footstep of Kosher dispense the land that makes a good person’s life easy the real estate of deed in geniuses giving the pathway to a man of faithfulness bringing the concord of a sincere hearts to the apex of wholeness connecting the plainness and condor in harmony location where everyone should be and dwell in virtuousness through the conduit of righteousness gathering station for the board of trustees discussing on the role of decency Watch! insincere hinkers will scorn you because of your uprightness but be of good cheer in your doings for the light shatters every plan of the scorners this is not just word but an homily that’s what it takes to get to the promise land of trusty if you are not on the road yet, quickly change your theory but if you are one the road already Welcome! to the land of HONESTY

Quote of the moment

To be connected with the source of the light is by connecting to His word, have life in Him and the light illuminates

His word: The Eternal Redemption pt1 by Rev. Paul C. Jong

The Eternal Redemption Sermons on important subjects

< John 8:1-12 > "But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, 'Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?' This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, 'He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.' And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, 'Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said to her, 'Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.' Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'" How much sin did Jesus blot out? All the sins of the world Jesus gave us eternal redemption. There is no one in this world who cannot be redeemed if anyone believes in Jesus as his/her Savior. He redeemed us all. If there is a sinner who agonizes over his/her sins, it is because of the person's misconception of how Jesus has delivered him/her from all sins with His baptism and crucifixion. We should all know and believe in the secret of salvation. Jesus took over all our sins with His baptism and has born the judgment for our sins by dying on the Cross. You should believe in the salvation of the water and the Spirit; the eternal redemption from all sins. You should believe in His great love that has already made you righteous. Believe in what He has done for your salvation at the Jordan river and on the Cross. Jesus knew about all our concealed sins, too. Some people have a misconception about sin. They think that some sins cannot be redeemed. Jesus has redeemed all sins, every single one of them. There is not a sin in this world that He has left out. Because He has blotted out all the sins in this world, the truth is that there are no more sinners. Do you realize that the gospel has redeemed all your sins, even your future sins? Believe in it and be saved, and give all of the glory to God. (to be contiuned)

Aphorism POEM of the moment: Fire And Ice - Poem by Robert Frost

Fire And Ice - Poem by Robert Frost Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I've tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice.

Aphorism city QUOTE of the moment

"Act Changes Things"

His word: God's Word vs. Your Feelings by Joyce Meyer

Every day, we are faced with a decision: Will we respond to life's circumstances according to God's Word or will we react emotionally? The initial temptation is to react emotionally, but in every circumstance, it's truly your decision. Let's examine three circumstances you're going to have to face at some point in your life. I've also included some questions to ask yourself, which I encourage you to answer honestly. They will give you a good idea of how big a part your feelings play in these circumstances. Circumstance #1: Change Everything changes except God, and letting all the changes in our lives upset us won't keep them from occurring. People change, circumstances change, our bodies change, our desires and passions change. Most changes take place without our permission. But we can choose to adapt. Adapting doesn't change the circumstances, but it does keep you living in peace and joy as you go through change. First Things First Our thoughts are the first thing we need to deal with during change because thoughts directly affect emotions. When circumstances change, make the transition mentally, and your emotions will be a lot easier to manage. If something changes that you are not ready for and did not choose, you will more than likely have a variety of emotions about it. The Power of God's Word “Emotions rise up and then move out, wanting us to follow them. When I feel that, I know I need to take action.” By acting on God's Word and not merely reacting to the situation, you'll be able to manage your emotions instead of allowing them to manage you. I strongly recommend confessing the Word of God out loud. Even though what you confess may be the opposite of how you feel, keep doing it. God's Word has inherent power to change our feelings, bring comfort to us, and quiet our distraught emotions. Ask Yourself How do I respond to change? Do I act on God's Word or merely react to the situation? After the initial shock, am I willing to make a transition mentally and emotionally? Circumstance #2: Waiting If you have not developed patience, then having to wait may bring out the worst in you. At least that was the case with me until I finally realized my emotional reactions were not making things go any faster. We would all like to be patient, but we don't want to develop patience because that means behaving well while we are not getting what we want. And that's hard! The Road to Peacefulness The more we want something, the more our emotions will act up if we do not get it. Common sense tells us it is rather foolish to get into a rage over a parking space or other simple things people tend to get upset about. As you develop patience, don't merely think about how hard and frustrating it is, think about how peaceful you will be when waiting never bothers you (see James 1:4). Ask Yourself How do I behave when I have to wait? What situations are difficult for me? How do I act when I'm working with someone who is really slow? How do I act if someone takes the parking space I've been waiting for? On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do I handle myself when things don't go my way? Circumstance #3: Difficult People No one likes being around difficult people. I think there are a lot of people in the world like that today, largely because of the stressful lives most of them have. People are trying to do too much in too little time and have more responsibility than they can realistically handle. When someone is rude to me, I can feel my emotions rise up and then move out, wanting me to follow them. That's when I know I need to take action. I have to remember that the person being rude probably has a lot of problems. She may not even realize how she sounds. Working with the Holy Spirit I certainly remember lots of times in my life when people asked me why I was being so harsh. I didn't realize that I was. I just had a lot going on and felt pressured, so the pressure came through in harsh voice tones. That didn't excuse my bad behavior, but it was the root of the problem. I am very thankful I know the Word of God and have Him in my life to help and comfort me. But a lot of difficult people don't have that. I have had to work very hard with the Holy Spirit for the ability to act on God's Word when people are rude…instead of merely reacting with a behavior that matches or tops theirs. Jesus teaches us how to respond to those who treat us well and those who do not (see Luke 6:32–35). If you are in a situation that requires you to be with one of these hard-to-get-along-with people every day, I urge you to pray for them instead of reacting emotionally to them. Our prayers open a door for God to work through. Ask Yourself How do I react to people who are rude? Do I respond in love as the Word says we should, or do I join them in their ungodly behavior? Will I act on the Word of God and love them for His sake? Or will I react emotionally, perhaps acting worse than they act? Have I ever let a rude person ruin my day? Live Beyond Your Feelings Feelings will come and go. We can't escape them, but we can choose to live by God's Word and not our feelings. Even when it doesn't feel right, we can live with an incredible peace and joy. I encourage you to go through the questions again and search God's Word in every circumstance you face. He will help you live beyond your feelings!

Historical View: List of largest church buildings in the world

Seville Cathedral, the third largest church building in the world and the largest cathedral. This article lists the largest church buildings in the world as measured by various criteria. Contents 1 Scope 2 Measurements 3 By height 4 By length 5 See also 6 References Scope The term church is open to interpretation and debate. In this article, it means any building that was built for the primary purpose of Christian worship, for any recognised denomination of Christianity. This includes every cathedral (the seat of a bishop), basilica, and other type of church. It does not include temples of other religions, such as mosques, synagogues, and so on. It does include at least one building, Hagia Sophia, that was built as a church and later became a mosque (it is now a museum). Measurements Whilst claims are made about the relative size of churches many of these claims are not easily substantiated. "Largest" is at best a vague term, which is often not qualified by claimants. Accepted measures of largeness could include area, volume, length, width, height, and/or capacity, although the last is far more subjective. It is important to note therefore that churches may claim to be "the largest" based on only one of these measurements; and thus that there may be several churches that have equal claim to be "the largest church". Since there is no official body governing these claims, there is no generally accepted criterion for being "the largest church". The list below attempts to rank churches by different (more-or-less) objective criteria, and thus may generate different orders depending on the measure used. Churches for which claims are made but dimensions cannot be found are not included on the below lists. For length, width and height, there is usually a definitive statistic for each church, which can easily be compared. However, for area and volume, the situation is often more complex. It is often possible to find multiple values quoted for the area/volume of a church in references. Many values appear to be estimates or approximations (especially for volume), or may have been calculated by multiplying lengths, widths and heights. In the latter case, the exact dimensions used (internal vs. external, etc.) may give very different figures. Therefore, although area and volume are the most common 'largeness' measures, they are also apt to be the least reliable. This should be borne in mind when comparing church sizes. Area in m² Gross volume in m³ Name Completion City Country Denomination Comment 15,160 (interior)[1][2] 21,095 (exterior)[1] 1,200,000[3] St. Peter's Basilica 1506–1626 Vatican City Vatican City Catholic (Roman Rite) Area can be verified on a plan printed as 205% size in 1:1000 scale to match a 41.47 m dome internal diameter 12,000 1,200,000[4] Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida 1955-1980 Aparecida Brazil Catholic (Roman Rite) Dimensions of the church given as 173×168 m yielding a maximum area of 29,000 m²[5] 11,520[6] 500,000 + Seville Cathedral 1401-1528 Seville Spain Catholic (Roman Rite) The largest Gothic cathedral in the world[7] 11,200[3] 480,000[8] Cathedral of Saint John the Divine 1892–present (unfinished) New York City United States Episcopal (Anglican) Unfinished, lacking transepts among other components 10,186[9] 440,000 Milan Cathedral 1386–1965 Milan Italy Catholic (Ambrosian Rite) According to Touring Club Italiano, 11,700 m² (earlier sources state 8,406 m²)[2][10] 10,090 300,000[11] Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń 1994–2004 Licheń Stary Poland Catholic (Roman Rite) 9240 m², enclosed main floor includes transept and apse at 290 m², enclosed tower floor at 560 m², open tower and gallery floor at 23,000 m² (which excludes the porticos at 530 m²), total area includes all floors[11] 9,687[12] 450,000 + Liverpool Cathedral 1904-1978 Liverpool United Kingdom Church of England (Anglican) The largest Anglican cathedral and church in Europe 8,700[13] 130,000 Church of the Most Holy Trinity 2004-2007 Fátima Portugal Catholic (Roman Rite) Area given as 12,000m²[4] 8,318[14] Basilica-Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar 1681–1872 Zaragoza Spain Catholic (Roman Rite) 8,300 Florence Cathedral 1296-1436 Florence Italy Catholic (Roman Rite) 8,260 190,000 Ulm Minster 1377-1890 Ulm Germany Lutheran Tallest church in the world 8,162[15] 170,000[15] Cathedral of Saint Sava 1935-2003 Belgrade Serbia Orthodox Largest Christian Orthodox temple and church in the world 8,000 Basilica of the Sacred Heart 1905-1970 Koekelberg (Brussels) Belgium Catholic (Roman Rite) 8,000 Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe 1974–1976 Mexico City Mexico Catholic (Roman Rite) The dimensions of the basilica with its circular base is given as 102 m in diameter yielding an area of 8,167 m²[16] 8,000[17] Cathedral of Our Lady 1352–1521 Antwerp Belgium Catholic (Roman Rite) 7,989 (interior) 30,000 (exterior)[18] Basilica of Our Lady of Peace 1985-1989 Yamoussoukro Ivory Coast Catholic (Roman Rite) The enclosed area approximately 8,000 m²[19] 7,960 255,800 [20] Hagia Sophia 532-537 Istanbul Turkey Orthodox Was the largest church in the world for a millennium, now a museum 7,920 San Petronio 1390–1658 Bologna Italy Catholic (Roman Rite) 7,914 407,000[21] Cologne Cathedral 1248–1880 Cologne Germany Catholic (Roman Rite) Gross volume without buttresses 7,875[2] St Paul's Cathedral 1677–1708 London United Kingdom Church of England (Anglican) 7,712[22] Washington National Cathedral 1907–1990 Washington, DC United States Episcopal (Anglican) 7,700[23] 200,000 (interior only) Amiens Cathedral 1220-1270 Amiens France Catholic (Roman Rite) Gross volume slightly below 400,000 7,097 (interior) 12,069 (exterior)[24] 76,396 Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception 1919–1961 Washington D.C. United States Catholic (Roman Rite) The largest Catholic church in the United States; interior decoration remains unfinished 6,825 660,000 Saint Joseph's Oratory 1904-1967 Montreal Canada Catholic (Roman Rite) The largest church in Canada 6,650 Reims Cathedral 1211-1275 Reims France Catholic (Roman Rite) The longest church in France 5,400 Sagrada Familia 1882–Present Day Barcelona Spain Catholic (Roman Rite) Unfinished 5,170 New Cathedral, Linz 1862-1924 Linz Austria Catholic (Roman rite) 5,017 Westminster Cathedral 1895-1910 London United Kingdom Catholic (Roman Rite) 4,968[25] Winchester Cathedral 1079-1525 Winchester, Hampshire United Kingdom Church of England (Anglican) The longest Gothic Cathedral in Europe. 4,320[26] Basilica de San Martin de Tours (Taal) 1856-1878 Taal, Batangas Philippines Catholic (Roman Rite) The largest Catholic church in Asia 4,273[27] Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire 1083–1375 Ely United Kingdom Church of England (Anglican) Third-largest medieval Cathedral in the United Kingdom 3,822 Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, Yerevan 1997-2001 Yerevan Armenia Armenian Apostolic Church The largest Armenian Apostolic church in the world 3,170 Alexander Nevsky Cathedral 1882-1912 Sofia Bulgaria Orthodox The second largest Orthodox church in the world 2,800[28] Medak Cathedral 1914–1926 Medak India Church of South India The largest Cathedral church in India 2,135 64,040[29] Basilica of St. John the Baptist 1839-1855 St. John's Canada Catholic (Roman Rite) The largest church in eastern Canada 1,760 32,162[30] All Saints Cathedral, Halifax 1907-1910 Halifax Regional Municipality Canada Anglican Church of Canada The largest Anglican cathedral church in Canada

DID YOU KNOW???

Did you know macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs Did you know when lightning strikes it can reach up to 30,000 degrees celsius (54,000 degrees fahrenheit) Did you know spiders are arachnids and not insects Did you know each time you see a full moon you always see the same side

Opinion/Article: What Did We Do To Deserve This By Femi Fani-Kayode

What Did We Do To Deserve This

By Femi Fani-Kayode Sometimes last year, I watched the Hollywood blockbuster titled ”12 Years A Slave” starring Brad Pitt and the Nigerian-born actor Chiwetel Ejiofor. After watching the film I was at a loss for words. It was a masterpiece. It was a powerful rendition of a true and heroic story. After watching the film I could not help asking myself the following question: what did the black man ever do to deserve such wickedness and suffering? What did our forefathers do to deserve such barbarity and mindless torture in the hands of those that held them captive in a distant land? May God forgive those that brutalised and enslaved us. I cannot hate them. I can only love and forgive them because only love and forgiveness can drive out hate and heal the wounds that they inflicted on the souls of our people. What they did to us was far greater, far more damaging and far more devastating than the Germans ever did to the Jews. Though we are compelled to forgive by scripture, we must never forget. And never must such a thing be allowed to happen again. No minority, whether he or she be black, brown, yellow, red, white or in any other way ”different” should be allowed to suffer like that or to feel the pain of humiliation, indignity, servitude, persecution and the denial of the most basic and fundamental rights because we are all God’s children. It is incumbent on us all to stand up for the weak, the vulnerable, the deprived, the despised, the enslaved, the voiceless, the ”different” and the persecuted wherever and whoever they are because to love others as we love ourselves is God’s primary law. They must never be allowed to walk alone because it was that spirit of standing up for others and fighting for the weak and helpless and the display of such love and selflessness that eventually freed the so-called ”slave” from his hideous captivity in the film titled ”12 Years A Slave”. It was the goodness, love, kindness courage and inherent power of those who refused to remain silent and who were ready to take a risk and stand up for truth and justice that caused the man to regain his freedom and to be returned to his family in Washington after being enslaved for twelve long years. What a man. What a film. What a great and powerful rendition of truth and what a testimony of man’s inhumanity to man. What compelling evidence and confirmation of the eternal truth that tells us that no matter how dark the night may be, ”joy comes in the morning”. What an affirmation of the undeniable fact that ultimately good always triumphs over evil. What a magnificent example of God’s power, grace, manifold blessings and great mercy. I urge as many as possible to find the time to watch ”12 Years A Slave”. You will never be the same again. Having watched this film I believe that the case for reparations for the slave trade must continue to be made. If the world can give the State of Israel back to the Jews as compensation for persecuting them for thousands of years and killing 6 million of them during the Second World war alone why can’t that same world pay reparations to the African for enslaving him for thousands of years and for killing at least 30 million of our people over the ages. Why can’t the western powers be made to pay reparations to Africa for what they subjected our people to even after the institution of slavery and the slave trade was formally abolished and particularly during the colonial era? As a glaring example of the sheer cruelty of the Europeans during that period, King Leopold 11, who ruled Belgium from 1865 to 1909, actually owned the Congo and all that was in it as part of his personal estate. By virtue of his supposedly blue blood, one man owned millions of Africans and all their land and chattels even though he resided thousands of miles away in a distant Europe. Such was this man’s inate brutality and monstrous power that he orchestrated and directed the slaughter of no less than 15 million Congolese Africans whilst he ruled from Brussels. This was so even though he never set his foot in Africa throughout his long reign. Yet the world sat by silently and did nothing. As a matter of fact many of his fellow Europeans actually applauded his actions and described him as a good example and indeed the epitomy of all that was noble and all that ought to be expected from the very best of European royalty. I ask again, what did the black man do to deserve this? What about Cecil Rhodes, the Englishman man who, according to European historians, ”literally and lawfully bought” a large part of southern Africa and all that was in it and who named that new frontier after himself by calling it ”Rhodesia”? He also sent millions of Africans to their early graves. This is the same Cecil Rhodes who established the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship for Oxford University and whose money has helped, and still helps, to educate some of the western world’s most distinguished and celebrated leaders by paying for their fees at Oxford. One of those leaders was a young man by the name of Bill Clinton who took immense pride in being a Rhodes Scholar and who later became the President of the United States of America. Little did Clinton and all those other ‘’great’’ future leaders of the western world know that the money that was used to pay for their ‘’Rhodes scholarship’’ at Oxford was in fact blood money which had it’s origins and roots in the suffering of the tormented souls, wasted lives and barbaric slaughter of millions of dispossesed and enslaved southern Africans that were bought, sold, maimed, enslaved and butchered in the diamond mines of Cecil Rhodes’ De Beers company. It was this pernicious state of affairs that provoked Mr. Ronald King to post the following words on his Facebook page on august 3rd 2015: ‘’Every black child in grade school is taught that Adolf Hitler killed 6 million Jews and is the worse human being that ever lived. On the other hand our children are taught that the ‘’Right Honorable’’ Cecil Rhodes, the founder of the De Beers diamond company in South Africa, who killed ten times that number of Africans is a hero and a statesman and if they study hard and do well in school they may win the Rhodes Scholarship, the oldest and most celebrated international fellowship award in the world. They don’t mention that those scholarships are paid for by the blood of their ancestors’’. Such was the power of Rhodes’ sinister, evil, pervasive and malevolent legacy that it took over 100 years and a bitter and prolonged 15 year civil war (from 1964 to 1979) for the black Africans of that country to secure their rights, to be recognised and acknowledged as being human beings, to win the right to vote and to install democracy and majority rule. It was only after all this was achieved, in 1979, that the name ”Rhodesia” was dropped like a hot potato and was changed to ”Zimbabwe”. I ask again, what did the black man do to deserve this? We need not go into the sufferings of our black brothers and sisters in apartheid South Africa at the hands of the white Boers from the day that the Dutchman, Van Riebek, arrived on the southern African coast in 1604 and saw what he graphically described as ”stinking black dogs”. We need not talk about the humiliation and enslavement of our fellow black Africans at the hands of the Arabs of the Sudan, whether it be in Darfur or Southern Sudan for over 500 years. We need not go into the sheer barbarity and inhuman suffering that our brothers and sisters were subjected to in the sugar cane fields and the coffee and bannana plantations of the West Indies and South America for many centuries. Everywhere we look throughout world history the story is the same: Africa and Africans have been pillaged, raped, tortured, humiliated, enslaved, butchered, wrenched from their families, scattered, bought and sold, considered as chattel and treated with the most explicit and extreme forms of brutality and violence by those who have a different skin color to us and those from outside our shores. Yet still there have been no reparations and no formal apology. Instead what they have given us today is the the ”second slavery” of foreign debt and humiliating servitude by every single African country to the western monetary agencies such as the IMF, the Paris Club, the Bretton Woods Institutions and the World Bank. Those evil and opaque bodies and their paymasters and agents are today’s slave masters and they have turned successive African governments into little more than desperate pimps, shameless prostitutes and indebted and pliant little beggars. They have squeezed the very life out of our people, destroyed the future of our respective nations and blighted our collective destinies. This is neo-colonialism in it’s most primitive and raw form. I ask again, what did the black man do to deserve this? Yet thankfully there is still hope and God’s power still remains sure and ever present. He is ever faithful and His promises are ever sure. Nothing drives that point home more than the fact that despite all we have suffered over the centuries in the hands of those that enslaved us and that viewed us as nothing more than worthless chattel, today it is a black man of free African descent, whose forefathers were never slaves and whose proud ancestry can be traced to modern-day Kenya on the east African coast, that is the most powerful man in the world. That man’s name is Barack Obama, President of the United States of America. The fact that such a man with such a heritage can be President of a nation that once prided itself on slavery and that once regarded the black man as nothing more than a glorified chimpanzee is a testimony to the power of God. Yet the African is not alone in this respect. Apart from the Jews, the Red Indians of North America, the Armenians of Asia and the Aborigines of Australia there is only one other group of people that have suffered almost as much as the African in the hands of other races in human history. Those people are those that were once known as the ”serfs”- the slave under-class of slavic Russia. Like the African, the serfs and peasants of Russia were also treated with disdain, regarded as chattel and viewed as being sub-human by the Tsars and ruling class of the Russian Empire. They also suffered immeasurably in their millions for thousands of years under successive Russian governments and rulers. Like the African, they were also ”owned” by their rulers and they lived or died at the pleasure of the nobility. It is yet another irony of fate and another testimony to the awesome power of God that today the second most powerful man on the planet is a proud, confident and strong-willed Russian whose ancestry can be traced directly to the serfs of mother Russia and who comes from equally humble origins. His name is Vladimer Putin, the President of the Russian Federation. The world has indeed been handed over by God to the seed and lineage of those that were once oppressed and that were once treated as sub-human by others. The meek and the once despised have indeed inherited the earth. Yet that is not good enough. We have far more to do. The case for reparations can and must still be made for Africa and Africans in particular and we must begin to make that case without fear or favor right from today. We must pick up the gauntlet and take over the baton from where others left off. We must acknowledge the fact that if we, as men and women of color, do not do it ourselves no-one will do it for us. May the souls of all those that suffered and perished as slaves continue to rest in peace. God bless Africa.

Aphorism city POEM of the moment: Justice - Poem by Rudyard Kipling

Justice - Poem by Rudyard Kipling Your browser does not support the audio element. Autoplay next poem October, 1918 Across a world where all men grieve And grieving strive the more, The great days range like tides and leave Our dead on every shore. Heavy the load we undergo, And our own hands prepare, If we have parley with the foe, The load our sons must bear. Before we loose the word That bids new worlds to birth, Needs must we loosen first the sword Of Justice upon earth; Or else all else is vain Since life on earth began, And the spent world sinks back again Hopeless of God and Man. A People and their King Through ancient sin grown strong, Because they feared no reckoning Would set no bound to wrong; But now their hour is past, And we who bore it find Evil Incarnate hell at last To answer to mankind. For agony and spoil Of nations beat to dust, For poisoned air and tortured soil And cold, commanded lust, And every secret woe The shuddering waters saw. Willed and fulfilled by high and low. Let them relearn the Low. That when the dooms are read, Not high nor low shall say:- ' My haughty or my humble head Was saved me in this day.' That, till the end of time, Their remnant shall recall Their fathers old, confederate crime Availed them not at all. That neither schools nor priests, Nor Kings may build again A people with the heart of beasts Made wise concerning men. Whereby our dead shall sleep In honour, unbetrayed, And we in faith and honour keep That peace for which they paid. Justice Rudyard Kipling

Aphorism City Quote of the moment

"Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself

His word: Accessing Heaven’s Order of Financial Fortune! by Bishop David Oyedipo

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him (1 Corinthians 2:9). Heaven is the epitome of wealth and splendour. According to scriptures, the walls of heaven are made of jasper and the city is of pure gold. Also, the foundations of the walls of the city are of precious stones. Furthermore, the gates are made of pearls and all the streets of heaven are paved with pure gold (Revelation 21:11, 18-21). It is important to understand that God will be visiting the earth with heaven’s order of wealth before Christ returns. This is why God has reserved a time when He will be releasing His wealth to His church, so she can rule in the midst of her enemies. Thus, the end-time Church is ordained a ruling and super wealthy Church, and God’s plan for the saints is to manifest in financial fortune after the order of heaven (Malachi 3:17-18, 4:1-4; Haggai 2:6-9; Psalms 110:1-3; Proverbs 22:7). But, how can we partake of this rain of financial fortune? Everything great has a great foundation. Therefore, a discovery of the foundation of the rain of financial fortune is very crucial to accessing it. As it is written: If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalms 11:3) We discover from scriptures that a genuine love for God and His Kingdom is the biblical foundation and our covenant access to heaven’s order of financial fortune. For instance, concerning Solomon, the Bible records: And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places (1 Kings 3:3; see also 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, 13:13). After he reared that altar of sacrifice, God told him to ask whatever he desired and he requested for wisdom in ruling God’s people. This, also, was based on his love for God and the affairs of His Kingdom. As a result, God said: And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days (1 Kings 3:13). According to scriptures, Solomon overlaid the house of the Lord with pure gold and all the drinking vessels in his house were also of gold. The love of God was the launching pad of Solomon into the Heaven on Earth order of wealth and extraordinary abundance (1 Kings 6:21-22, 10:21). Furthermore, David was referred to as a man after God’s own heart and he emerged as a financial giant. He was virtually wealthier than the entire nation in his days. He said: Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house. Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal: The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers… (1 Chronicles 29:3-5). We must understand that love for God and His Kingdom are the two-fold platforms where giants rise. It is also the covenant launching pad into a world of financial fortune. The Bible says: Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:31-33; see also Psalms 102:13-15). No wonder all true lovers of God, not only in Bible times but also in the contemporary, flowed supernaturally in financial fortune. For instance, John D. Rockefeller who was the first American billionaire in history was a highly blessed man. He was a church addict and he served God with everything at his disposal. He served as a church warden thrice and was a humble steward in the house of God. When he was 52 years old, he was told by doctors that he had a short time to live due to failing health. Then, he parted with 50% of his stakes in business to service the needs of humanity. Miraculously, there was a turnaround and he lived to be 93 years old. Today, his work speaks louder than in his life time. Therefore, love-motivated stewardship is the platform for the rise of financial giants in the Kingdom. However, God’s love is not theoretical but practical. That is, it is impossible to love God and not know. What, then, are the Proofs of our Love for God? If we love God, we will love people: Our love for God naturally finds expression in our love for people. As it is written: If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also (1 John 4:20-21). If we love God, we will naturally love people, their well-being and like to be part of their joy. Moreover, we will love to see them rescued, delivered and blessed. Therefore, if we don’t love people, then we don’t love God (Galatians 6:10; 1 John 3:17-18). If we love God, we will pursue after souls for their salvation, deliverance, breakthroughs and restoration: Obeying God’s commandments is the biblical proof of our love for God. It is written: For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous (1 John 5:3; see also John 14:21). One of God’s commandments to us is commitment to soul-winning. We must understand that one of the proofs of our love for God is passion to see souls saved, established in the faith and begin to live a new life in Christ. Jesus said: Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you (John 15:16; see also John 21:15-17). When we are not bothered about the salvation of souls, our love for God becomes questionable; particularly when we have the two-way opportunity of praying for souls to be saved and also reaching out to them. However, when we commit to seeing souls saved, we commit God to release His blessings on our lives and secure speedy answers to our prayers. Also, when we engage in soul- winning, we have committed God to manifest Himself to us. Thus, obeying the commandment of soul-winning is a proof of our love for God (John 14:21). If we love God, we will not be ashamed of Him or His Word: David, a man after God’s own heart said: I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed (Psalms 119:46). When we truly love God, speaking about Him to others is a delight. Paul the Apostle’s love for Christ was as strong as death. He said: For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). He also said: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth (Romans 1:16; see also Romans 8:35-39). Remember, Jesus said that if we are ashamed of Him and His Word, He will be ashamed of us before His Father and His angels. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach (Hebrews 13:13; see also Psalms 69:9; Mark 8:38). If we love God, we will obey Him and that will lead us to the realms of supernatural blessings: Keeping God’s commandments launches us into realms of supernatural blessings. As it is written: Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever (Psalms 112:1-3; see also 1 John 5:3). We must, therefore, be excited at every commandment that comes our way, take delight in keeping them and then, we gain access to realms of supernatural blessings. Let’s examine the example of father Abraham He was a friend of God: But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend (Isaiah 41:8). Remember, love is the cord of friendship and Abraham walked in financial fortune by being a friend of God, which also means the love of God. As a result, he became very rich in cattle, silver and gold. When we become God’s friend by reason of our love for Him, we become blessed in return like Abraham was (Genesis 13:2). He was a liberal soul: Though God blessed Lot as He was blessing Abraham, nevertheless, he liberally gave Lot all that he wanted. It is written: The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself (Proverbs 11:25). Abraham was a liberal soul; no wonder he was blessed and prospered supernaturally (Genesis 13:5-13). He was a lover of men: When Lot was captured, Abraham rescued him even though he (Lot) previously cheated him (Genesis 14:12-16). Abraham was also a tither: The tithe that Abraham paid to Melchizedek brought Abraham into the realms of supernatural blessings (Genesis 14:19-20; Hebrews 7:1-8). Abraham was a lover of souls: When God confided in Abraham that He would destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, he interceded for the rescue of souls in that city (Genesis 18:23-33). For these reasons, Abraham was supernaturally blessed in all things and he became a symbol of blessing. We are told from scriptures that Christ died to bring us into the Abrahamic order of blessings by redemption (Genesis 24:1; Galatians 3:13-14). Abraham commanded financial fortune not only in his lifetime, but also secured it for generations after him. We must understand that obedience to God’s commandments today is an investment into posterity (Psalms 112:1-3). As we all know, it is following the steps of giants that makes a giant. Thus, if we are Abraham’s children, then, we must walk in his steps to command the same order of financial fortune that he commanded (John 8:39). God is not an enemy of the prosperous; He is the Author of prosperity. Riches and honour come from God and it is released on the basis of our genuine love for Him. Therefore, let us establish real, unquestionable and undefiled friendship with God beginning from now and we would be launched into realms of supernatural blessings after the order of Abraham. Remain ever blessed! Jesus is Lord! Prophetic Blessings Your obedience to God’s directives will manifest in testimonies! It will be clear to everyone around you that you are in favour with God! Your zeal for God and His Kingdom is restored today! For your shame, expect double restoration of glory! For the breakdowns you may be suffering in your business and career, expect double restoration of breakthroughs! I decree seven-fold restoration of whatever the enemy has robbed you of through satanic or diabolical manipulation! No matter where you are today, your generation will be far greater! Anything resisting your marital destiny is cursed! By the end of your journey on earth, you will be called “The Blessed One!”

Historical View: General Sherman (tree)

The

is a giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) tree located in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park in Tulare County, in the U.S. state of California. By volume, it is the largest known living single stem tree on Earth.[1] The General Sherman Tree is neither the tallest known living tree on Earth (that distinction belongs to the Hyperion tree, a Coast redwood),[2] nor is it the widest (both the largest cypress and largest baobab have a greater diameter), nor is it the oldest known living tree on Earth (that distinction belongs to a Great Basin bristlecone pine).[3] With a height of 83.8 meters (275 ft), a diameter of 7.7 m (25 ft), an estimated bole volume of 1,487 m3 (52,513 cu ft), and an estimated age of 2,300–2,700 years,[4][5][6] it is nevertheless among the tallest, widest and longest-lived of all trees on the planet. While the General Sherman is the largest currently living tree, it is not the largest tree known to humans. The Crannell Creek Giant, a coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) near Trinidad, California, is estimated to have been 15 to 25% larger than the General Sherman tree by volume. The tree was cut down in the mid-1940s. And another larger coast redwood, near 90,000 cu. ft., the Lindsey Creek tree, was reported in a 1905 Humboldt Times Standard article.[7][8] History In 1879, the General Sherman was named after the American Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman, by naturalist James Wolverton, who had served as a lieutenant in the 9th Indiana Cavalry under Sherman. In 1931, following comparisons with the nearby General Grant tree, General Sherman was identified as the largest tree in the world. One result of this process was that wood volume became widely accepted as the standard for establishing and comparing the size of different trees.[1][9] In February 1978, a four-foot diameter, 140-foot-long (43 m) branch collapsed from the tree.[citation needed] This collapse better revealed its largest branch, which was a little higher on the tree and, curiously, had a similar size, shape and position on the tree (leaving the appearance of the tree relatively unchanged). The remainder of this branch is visible from the classic viewpoint as the second large stump up the trunk on the right. In January 2006 the largest branch on the tree (seen most commonly, in older photos, as an "L" or golf-club shape, protruding from about a quarter of the way down the trunk) also broke off. There were no witnesses to the incident, and the branch—with a bigger circumference than the trunks of most trees, a diameter of over 2 meters (7 ft) and a length of over 30 m (98 ft)—smashed part of its enclosing fence and cratered the pavement of the walkway surrounding the sequoia. The breakage, however, is not believed to be indicative of any abnormalities in the tree's health, and may even be a natural defense mechanism against adverse weather conditions.[10] Dimensions Looking upward from the base of the General Sherman located in California's Sequoia National Park Height above base[1] 274.9 ft 83.8 m Circumference at ground[1] 102.6 ft 31.3 m Maximum diameter at base[1] 36.5 ft 11.1 m Diameter 4.5 ft (1.4 m) above height point on ground[11] 25.1 ft 7.7 m Diameter 60 ft (18 m) above base[1] 17.5 ft 5.3 m Diameter 180 ft (55 m) above base[1] 14.0 ft 4.3 m Diameter of largest branch[1] 6.8 ft 2.1 m Height of first large branch above the base[1] 130.0 ft 39.6 m Average crown spread[1] 106.5 ft 32.5 m Estimated bole volume[11] 52,508 cu ft 1,487 m3 Estimated mass (wet) (1938)[12] 2,105 short tons 1,910 t Estimated bole mass (1938)[12] 2,472,000 lb 1,121 t

DID YOU KNOW??? ...This FACT!

Earth and universe The order of the planets, starting closest to the sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. The one place where a flag flies all day, never goes up or comes down, and does not get saluted, is the moon. Earth is not round; it is slightly pear-shaped. The North Pole radius is 44mm longer than the South Pole radius. A green diamond is the rarest diamond. The ozone layer averages about 3 millimeters (1/8 inch) thick. A diamond will break if you hit it with a hammer. The crawler, the machine that takes the Space Shuttle to the launching pad moves at 3km/h (2 mph). Summer on Uranus lasts for 21 years – but so does winter. The Sahara desert expands at about 1km per month. Oceanography, the study of oceans, is a mixture of biology, physics, geology and chemistry. More than 70% of earth’s dryland is affected by desertification. The US has one of the highest fire death rates in the industrialised world, with more than 2 million fires reported each year. The sun is 330,330 times larger than the earth. The largest iceberg ever recorded was 335km (208 miles) long and 97km (60 miles) wide. Luke Howard used Latin words to categorize clouds in 1803. Hurricanes, tornadoes and bigger bodies of water always go clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. This directional spinning has to do with the rotation of the earth and is called the Coriolis force. Winds that blow toward the equator curve west. Organist William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus in 1781 with the first reflecting telescope that he built. He named it Georgium Sidium in honour of King George III of England but in 1850 it was renamed Uranus in accordance with the tradition of naming planets for Roman gods. Planets, meaning wanderers, are named after Roman deities: Mercury, messenger of the gods; Venus, the god of love and beauty; Mars, the god of war; Jupiter, king of the gods; and Saturn, father of Jupiter and god of agriculture; Neptune, god of the sea. During a total solar eclipse the temperature can drop by 6 degrees Celsius (about 20 degrees Fahrenheit). The tallest waterfalls in the world are Angel Falls in Venezuela. At 979 m (3,212 ft), they are 19 times taller than the Niagara Falls, or 3 times taller than the Empire State Building. Although the Angel Falls are much taller than the Niagara Falls, the latter are much wider, and they both pour about the same amount of water over their edges – about 2,8 billion litres (748 million gallons) per second. There are 1040 islands around Britain, one of which is the smallest island in the world: Bishop’s Rock. All the planets in the solar system rotate anticlockwise, except Venus. It is the only planet that rotates clockwise. Earth is the densest planet in the solar system and the only one not named after a god. Earth orbits the sun at an average speed of 29.79 km/s (18.51 miles/sec), or about 107 000 km/h (about 67,000 miles/hour). One year on earth is 365.26 days long. One day is 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds long. The extra day in a leap year was introduced to compensate for the discrepancy in the Georgian calendar. Plates carrying the continents migrate over the earth’s surface a few centimetres (inches) per year, about the same speed that a fingernail grows. On average, 13,000 earthquakes are located each year. The magnetic north pole is near Ellef Ringes Island in northern Canada. The magnetic south pole was discovered off the coast of Wilkes Land in Antarctica. There is zero gravity at the centre of earth. the deepest mine in the world is Western Deep Leve

Article/Opinion: Peace and the Nazarene Peasant, By Pius Adesanmi

Peace and the Nazarene Peasant, By Pius Adesanmi The Nazarene peasant whose earthly father was a carpenter rose to international fame for so many reasons. He was born in a manger among goats and sheep. Today, over a billion people swear by his name. They swear by his name because his life is a compass, a total compendium of examples, a mirror of definitions. His life answers every question, illuminates every riddle, and provides definitions for everything. We must examine such an exemplary life for a lasting definition of peace. The Nazarene peasant had two definitions of peace. One is the absence of conflict and chaos. Chaos could be a function of wars or of the anger of the elements. That is why he told the raging tempest and winds: “Peace, be still.” And they all sweetly obeyed his will. And no water swallowed the ship where lay the master of ocean and earth and skies. And no grave in an angry deep had power over him. Another day, another time, the Nazarene peasant gave the world a second definition of peace. The second definition should be the most important for his followers in the corrupt backwaters of Africa and the Third World. He defined peace as the absence of corruption. He defined peace as zero tolerance for corruption. And this is where he adds a class dimension to his conceptualization of peace and fair. He says there can be no peace and no fair in the land when a class of people is perpetually allowed to corrupt the land. For him, peace is when you take decisive and resolute steps to deal with corruption; fair is when you deal with corruption in an all-encompassing manner, with no possibility of a soft landing for anybody. To avoid any misunderstanding of this second definition of peace, the Nazarene peasant gave a practical demonstration. He took a koboko and went to the greatest haven of corruption in his day – the Temple. And he flogged and drove away all the moneychangers. And swept the Temple clean of corruption. No moneychanger was left unflogged and unpunished. Had a euphemism committee appealed to the Nazarene peasant to “be fair” to the moneychangers, it would not have worked. He would have said that he sees fair from the perspective of the victims of the moneychangers, the victims of their corruption. He would have told them that his definition of fair is appropriate punishment for corruption without fear or favour. Had he encountered goats and sheep as he furiously flogged corruption out of the Temple, my spirit tells me that he would not have developed a soft spot for the only companions he had in that humble manger. Goats and sheep were his benefactors because they shared their abode with his mother when she was in labour. Yet, goats and sheep would not have benefited from nepotism and special favours. Oju wa ni won se bi – goats and sheep are the singular owners of this eye witness narrative of his birth but had he encountered them during his anti-corruption sweep through the Temple, he would not have treated them differently from the moneychangers. Every goat and every sheep would have had to account for every yam eaten. These are the issues for President Buhari to reflect upon as he is subjected to one and the repeated visit by the Soft Landing-General of the Federation, Abdulsalami Abubakar. This retired General is a clear and present danger to President Buhari’s integrity narrative. How Buhari handles him will determine whether we can take his anti-corruption war seriously. It will determine whether Professor Itse Sagay will be allowed to function and deliver. President Buhari went to the United States and talked the talk about the Halliburton bribery scandal. He said he would reopen that file. The creme de la creme of Nigeria’s leadership received and shared USD 180 million in bribes from Halliburton. Three former Heads of state were fingered in this bribery mess. Abdulsalami Abubakar is one of them. And that is not mentioning the monumental disappearance of funds he presided over in his short spell as Head of State. President Buhari, how are you going to proceed with the Halliburton case when one of the indictees is constantly visiting you on soft landing (fairness is a euphemism) missions? He started with Hajia Desinatu. President Buhari, how is Professor Sagay to feel when he sees you in photo-ops with a man who may soon come to the attention of his committee? You have said that there will be no sacred cows in this new anti-corruption business. No sacred cows means no photo-ops with potential subjects of investigation and prosecution. The Nazarene peasant would never have entertained a handshake from any of the moneychangers he drove away from the temple. President Buhari, one of your visitors owns a private jet. Recently, that jet was involved in a very messy affair in South Africa. That messy affair was supervised by the corrupt and discredited former national security adviser. Because the owner of that jet was untouchable under your immediate predecessor, an official lie was fabricated to cover up the mess and dissociate him from the money laundering and gun running scandal his jet was used for. Needless to say, nobody is satisfied with the tall stories told about how his jet came to be involved in such a messy affair. It is a file that you will have to reopen. This man should not be doing photo-ops with you until we are sure that we have no yams to retrieve from him. The Nazarene peasant would have been particularly harsh on this man. Did he not warn that “many shall come in my name?” When next a committee visits you, look at the composition and receive only the credible people in it. There are unassailable public role models in that committee. Stick with those names and the public will not be jittery that they are visiting you. But the two I have mentioned make me nervous. They make the country nervous. One last word for you, President Buhari. Do not joke with your personal security. Corruption is powerful. Corruption fights back. If corruption pleads and cajoles and appeals and you refuse to play ball, corruption will try to take you out – especially if you truly and genuinely move beyond talk and body language to actually touch that deadly Halliburton file. Stop your foolish populism of breaching your security instructions to mingle while you are fighting corruption. Corruption fought the Nazarene peasant. Corruption elevated Barabbas the thief above him. Corruption conspired with the political leaders of the land to hang him on the cross. Unfortunately for corruption, burdens are lifted at Calvary.

Aphorism City POEM of the moment: Respectability - Poem by Robert Browning

Respectability - Poem by Robert Browning Your browser does not support the audio element. Autoplay next poem I. Dear, had the world in its caprice Deigned to proclaim ``I know you both, ``Have recognized your plighted troth, Am sponsor for you: live in peace!''--- How many precious months and years Of youth had passed, that speed so fast, Before we found it out at last, The world, and what it fears? II. How much of priceless life were spent With men that every virtue decks, And women models of their sex, Society's true ornament,--- Ere we dared wander, nights like this, Thro' wind and rain, and watch the Seine, And feel the Boulevart break again To warmth and light and bliss? III. I know! the world proscribes not love; Allows my finger to caress Your lips' contour and downiness, Provided it supply a glove. The world's good word!---the Institute! Guizot receives Montalembert! Eh? Down the court three lampions flare: Put forward your best foot! Respectability Robert Browning

HIS WORD: Christ in the Capital of the World

Christ in the Capital of the World How global Christians are revitalizing NYC far beyond Manhattan. Mark R. Gornik and Maria Liu Wong Christ in the Capital of the World On a brisk October Saturday in 2012, hundreds of teenagers, young adults, and youth leaders gathered at Battery Park in Manhattan. In earlier days, the historic public park facing New York Harbor was the first place to receive immigrants from Europe and elsewhere. But this morning, it received members of black and Latino Pentecostal churches nestled throughout Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. The crowd donned T-shirts and jerseys proclaiming God Belongs in My City (GBIMC). They were embarking on a rolling prayer meeting that would make its way from the southern tip of Manhattan up to Times Square. The youth were not tourists. They did not gape at architectural landmarks like the Flatiron and Empire State along the way. Instead, they sang and laughed as they walked and talked, texted, and tweeted about their journey. Many stopped to scribble GBIMC and John 3:16 in chalk on the sidewalks. They walked the city with purpose and possibility. They knew where they were going. They intermittently bowed their heads and lifted their arms, blessing and praying for "this great city," for "the unity of the church and the city," for "the government and leadership," and for Mayor Michael Bloomberg. They prayed for public officials and city employees, especially for teachers, firefighters, and police. A sister contingent of New York youth started from Central Park up in Harlem. A few hours later, the two groups met in Times Square at the TKTS discount Broadway ticket booth. Cheers, prayers, and improvised signs went up as the youth watched themselves on a giant video screen overlooking the bustling median. Now one entity, they moved eastward to Grand Central Terminal. The few hundred ... How global Christians are revitalizing NYC far beyond Manhattan. Mark R. Gornik and Maria Liu Wong/ August 30, 2013 Christ in the Capital of the World Image: Photo by Mark Gornik and Daniel Gornik On a brisk October Saturday in 2012, hundreds of teenagers, young adults, and youth leaders gathered at Battery Park in Manhattan. In earlier days, the historic public park facing New York Harbor was the first place to receive immigrants from Europe and elsewhere. But this morning, it received members of black and Latino Pentecostal churches nestled throughout Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. The crowd donned T-shirts and jerseys proclaiming God Belongs in My City (GBIMC). They were embarking on a rolling prayer meeting that would make its way from the southern tip of Manhattan up to Times Square. The youth were not tourists. They did not gape at architectural landmarks like the Flatiron and Empire State along the way. Instead, they sang and laughed as they walked and talked, texted, and tweeted about their journey. Many stopped to scribble GBIMC and John 3:16 in chalk on the sidewalks. They walked the city with purpose and possibility. They knew where they were going. They intermittently bowed their heads and lifted their arms, blessing and praying for "this great city," for "the unity of the church and the city," for "the government and leadership," and for Mayor Michael Bloomberg. They prayed for public officials and city employees, especially for teachers, firefighters, and police. A sister contingent of New York youth started from Central Park up in Harlem. A few hours later, the two groups met in Times Square at the TKTS discount Broadway ticket booth. Cheers, prayers, and improvised signs went up as the youth watched themselves on a giant video screen overlooking the bustling median. Now one entity, they moved eastward to Grand Central Terminal. The few hundred ...

Opinion/Article: Reading the Tea Leaves, By Soji Apampa

Reading the Tea Leaves, By Soji Apampa It will not take a soothsayer to predict that the entire set of actors involved in the value chain of corruption in Nigeria should be worried by the “slow” but methodical approach of the Buhari administration. Professionals such as accountants, auditors, bankers, lawyers are key to the successful concealment, movement and delivery of looted funds once those stealing have perfected the internal supply chains needed to pry it from the public sources. Nigeria’s private sector does not need to indulge in the ancient art of tasseography to foretell that the emerging pattern of President Buhari’s anti-graft war carries a distinct prophesy for them as well. There is indeed a new Sheriff in town, and it is appearing more and more unlikely that it will remain business as usual. The dire financial straits that Nigeria is in can be inferred from the knee-jerk policies reeling off the operating table of the Central Bank of Nigeria – a most unfortunate mid-wife of our times, struggling to revive what many increasingly fear may be still-born directions they are taking the economy. An angry regime, realising a systematic attempt by a very corrupt cabal to turn the people’s hard fought mandate into something of a pyrrhic victory, now seems out to ensure that they change the way things are done around here, vowing strict punishment for all concerned. Many have accused the President of being “slow”, forgetting that the stealth with which a tiger moves does must never be misinterpreted as cowardice – an enormous amount of work has been done and is being done in the background to enable the right kinds of preparations to be in place to set the right course for his administration as early as possible. One of such areas is the work that has now culminated in the announcement of a Presidential Advisory Committee on anti-corruption. The same “slow” approach seems almost by “magic” to have given rise to a situation where civil servants in many quarters are working more diligently than they have in the last sixteen or so years, resulting in increased power generation, production of an appreciable quantity of refined petroleum products from the Kaduna refinery, saving Nigeria $5.3m per day and the renewed zeal and vigour from our anti-corruption agencies, to list just a few things. The President appears keenly interested in the sequence of processes involved in the production and distribution of looted funds. His spotlight is beamed on key actors within the supply chain of corruption and elements around the activities, which support that chain and areas within the rules that make that chain thrive. So for instance, he has directed that all outstanding audit queries be resolved within 30 days and thereafter must be replied within 24 hours. He has directed that a Treasury Single Account be operated, he has restructured the NNPC from which Nigerians believe a lot of funds leaked in the last six years, he has launched a probe into the diversion of $1bn meant for development of rail infrastructure, he has officially put Nigerians on notice he would soon start the trial of those who stole public funds. It would appear we are in a time of national renewal where those who do not subscribe to business models founded on corruption can step up to take the lead in their various sectors and use their levels of compliance as a tool to achieve strategic advantage in the current market place. There may well be a lull to business at the moment but it wont last forever, so it is time to do what it takes to be well positioned for the upswing when it comes. However, it has also been announced that the administration is identifying banks through which the illicit funds have flowed and the destination countries as well. This is perhaps the clearest indication that all processes or activities by which stolen loot is disguised and exported to destination countries are unlikely to escape the hot gaze of this administration. It will not take a soothsayer to predict that the entire set of actors involved in the value chain of corruption in Nigeria should be worried by the “slow” but methodical approach of the Buhari administration. Professionals such as accountants, auditors, bankers, lawyers are key to the successful concealment, movement and delivery of looted funds once those stealing have perfected the internal supply chains needed to pry it from the public sources. In other words, it only stands to reason that the role of the private sector in the systematic looting of public funds in Nigeria will also be of interest to the regime. The time is ripe for the private sector to hold a summit to examine the question of how to grow revenues sustainably whilst remaining compliant (not just in word and on paper but in practice) in the emerging new Nigeria. This is a time to fashion out how to access finance, markets and know-how in ways that set the sector free from the bonds and shackles of corruption and the corrupt. Since this administration will not tolerate corruption from regulatory bodies and is “slowly”, “silently” but definitely firmly demanding performance from public institutions, this is a great opportunity for the private sector to push for that “enabling environment” that eludes it and the absence of which makes a nonsense of their investments. It would appear we are in a time of national renewal where those who do not subscribe to business models founded on corruption can step up to take the lead in their various sectors and use their levels of compliance as a tool to achieve strategic advantage in the current market place. There may well be a lull to business at the moment but it wont last forever, so it is time to do what it takes to be well positioned for the upswing when it comes. Ribadu said, “when you fight corruption, corruption fights you back” so I expect it will be something of a roller coaster ride for Buhari’s anti-graft war however, now that the times of decay and largesse seem to have been paused, the private sector should look down into its cup and carefully read the tea leaves.