Weightier Matters: April 2015

69 Bible Verses on Hardwork for You to Celebrate May Day

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President Goodluck Ebele A. Jonathan, no1 Employee of the Nigerian State celebrating May Day in 2014

Posted by Ambassador T. Brikins

International Workers' Day, also known as Labour Day in some places, is a celebration of laborers and the working classes that is promoted by the international labor movement, anarchists, socialists, and communists and occurs every year on May Day.

Ben Carson, a retired surgeon popular with Tea Party conservatives, waits to speak at a luncheon during the Republican National Committtee's "Building on Success" meeting in San Diego, California, January 15, 2015. The RNC was gathered at the Hotel Del Coronado for their winter meeting.

By Ray Nothstine , Christian Post Contributor

Potential presidential candidate Ben Carson was recently disinvited from a speaking invitation at a Southern Baptist Pastor's Conference in Columbus, Ohio, in June, because of concerns raised by some Baptist pastors.

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(Screengrab: NHCLC)Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush delivering remarks in English and Spanish before the conference of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference in Houston, Texas on April 29, 2015.

By Michael Gryboski , Christian Post Reporter

Former Florida governor and potential Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush stated that Christians in America and abroad should have protection to act upon their beliefs.

In a speech at a major Hispanic evangelical gathering, the former Florida governor shared his thoughts on religious liberty and other issues.

(Photo: Reuters/Mike Segar/Files)

By Sami K. Martin , Christian Post Reporter

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during a news conference at the United Nations in New York in this March 10, 2015, file photo. Hillary Clinton announced her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 on Sunday, April 12, 2015.

Hillary Clinton wants to be president of the United States, but what actually guides her? The only currently declared candidate for the Democratic ticket was raised in the Methodist tradition and continues to practice that faith today. Here are six interesting facts about Clinton's faith as it relates to her candidacy and personal life.

Nigerian Army Rescues More Women, Children From Sambisa Forest

Channels Television. Updated April 30, 2015

The Nigerian army on Thursday confirmed the rescue of more women and children from Sambisa Forest barely 48 hours after the rescue of 200 girls and 93 women from the alleged stronghold of the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists.

71 get life sentences for torching Christian church in Egypt

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi

Egypt, President

Cairo (CNN)

An Egyptian court has sentenced 71 people to life in prison for their role in the August 2013 burning of a Christian church in the Giza province village of Kafr Hakim, state news reports.

Govt shuts 24 churches over noise pollution

Thursday 30, April 2015

Image result for Lagos state Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello

TWENTY four churches and some mosques in Lagos have been shut in the last one year, for disobeying environmental laws in the state. The churches, especially faced the full wrath of the law over noise pollution nuisance, often blaring from loud speakers during day service and vigils.

Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija is a Nigerian businesswoman who has replaced Isabel dos Santos as the richest African woman, and also is the richest woman of African descent in the world. Find out her inner secret to success.

Image result for the sanctity of marriage

By Todd Starnes

“We will not obey.”
That’s the blunt warning a group of prominent religious leaders is sending to the Supreme Court of the United States as they consider same-sex marriage.

"We've Just Rescued Over 200 Girls In A Daring Attack On Boko Haram Hideout In Sambisa"- Nigerian Army

Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Nigerian Soldiers Storm Sambisa, Rescue 300 Females... Identities yet to be confirmed

Image result for nigerian army in sambisa forest

Posted by Ambassador T. Brikins

In a daring and precise operation the Nigerian troops have stormed the Sambisa Forest and rescued about 300 women and girls.

It was gathered that about terrorists camps have been destroyed in the attacks that include the destruction of the notorious Tokumbere camp in the Sambisa Forest.

The Director Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade said he could not confirm the identity of the freed victims and their origins and he could not state categorically if any of them was from Chibok until thorough screening and investigations are done.

He said: “I can only confirm the rescued this afternoon of 200 girls and 93 women in different camps in the forest. We are yet to determine their origin as all the freed persons are now being screened and profiled. Please don’t misquote me on their origin. We will provide more details later.”

An arial view of the burnt-out classrooms of a school in Chibok from where Boko Haram seized the teenages (AFP)

Living Faith Church Worldwide, a.k.a.Winners' Charpel Celebrates 34 Years of Impactful Ministry

Nigerian Schoolgirls Who Escaped From Boko Haram Offer Hope to Captives: 'Always Believe in God, That God Is There for You'

By Sami K. Martin , Christian Post Reporter

(Photo: The Christian Post / Samuel Smith)

Four Chibok girls, who were kidnapped by Boko Haram in April 2014 and later escaped, acting as silent witnesses during a Hudson Institute discussion on Boko Haram in Washington D.C. on March 23, 2015.

One year after Islamic terrorist organization Boko Haram raided an all-girls school in Chibok, Nigeria, and took 200 young girls captive, three of them who managed to escape are now offering hope to the remaining captives, with a message that God is there for them.

"The message is be brave and courageous," said Deborah, one of the three escapee escapees who spoke to Al-Jazeera marking the one year anniversary of the event which drew international attention. "Be a hard worker and always believe in God, that whatever you are going through, God is there for you, He will help you. Have ambition that you are great and you were made to be a great person."
Boko Haram, reportedly targeted the school because it was educating young women, including 163 Christians and 15 Muslims. The organization wants to establish an Islamic caliphate and return to Sharia law, often described as oppressive to women and girls.
"Chibok local government is 90 percent Christian," Evangelist Matthew Owojaiye of the Old Time Revival Hour Church in Kaduna, told the group International Christian Concern. The "majority of the girls abducted are Christian! Why did Boko Haram visit Chibok local government? Why didn't they visit so many other local government girls' secondary schools in Borno State?"
The other escapees, Mary and Blessing now attend the University of Nigeria in Yola with Deborah and want to effect changes in their community.
"I want some changes in Chibok, like the environment," Blessing told Al Jazeera. "I want to be a lawyer. I want to fight for justice."
Mary wants to "become a medical doctor" and "to go to Chibok and build clinics and hospitals because we don't have educated doctors there. I will try hard."

(Photo: Reuters/Jon Nazca)

A Nigerian woman is comforted by a man as they take part in a protest, called by Malaga's Nigerian women Association, for the release of the abducted secondary school girls from the remote village of Chibok in Nigeria, at La Merced square in Malaga, southern Spain, May 13, 2014.

The leader of the Nigerian Islamist rebel group Boko Haram has offered to release more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by his fighters last month in exchange for its members being held in detention, according to a video posted on YouTube on Monday.

Deborah also wants to go back to Chibok and help the people of her hometown, to empower them to rise up and be able to fight if necessary. Mainly, however, she wants to continue countering Boko Haram's message of keeping women uneducated.
"It was said that if you educate a girl, you educate the whole nation," she explained. "It is very important. They haven't stopped me. That's why I am going back when I graduate. The education there is very poor. So I want to help by building a school. I want to empower women by creating centers that will teach them things."
Leaders from Boko Haram have said the missing girls have been converted to Islam and married off to locals.
"I abducted your girls," Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau said in a video released in May and translated by CNN. "I will sell them in the market, by Allah. There is a market for selling humans. Allah says I should sell. He commands me to sell. I will sell women. I sell women."
In another video released in November, Shekau asked, "Don't you know the over 200 Chibok schoolgirls have converted to Islam? They have now memorized two chapters of the Quran. We married them off. They are in their marital homes. If you knew the state your daughters are in today, it might lead some of you … to die from grief."
Despite efforts from local government and assistance from the United States, the girls were not located, leading to international outrage and frustration. Numerous people gathered on April 14 and 15 to remember those who have not been found and are still being held by Boko Haram, which has led a war on Nigeria's government for over five years now and targeting Christians.

U.S. Consul General to Nigeria Poses 4 Questions to Nigerians

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Jeffrey J. Hawkins, Jr. U.S. Consul

Posted by Ambassador T. Brikins

Jeffrey J. Hawkins, Jr. U.S. Consul General Lagos, Nigeria wants Nigerians to answer four questions.
1. Why are Nigerians good at identifying problems and not solving them?.
2. Why are your political parties indistinguishable?
3. Why such a disconnect of the incredible quality of your people(referring to the distinguished academics, entrepreneurs etc at the event) and the political class?
4. Why so little accountability in government?

What are your answers to these questions.? Comment below.

Jeffrey J. Hawkins, Jr. was speaking at the 5th year anniversary of #EiE(Enough is enough) in Lagos, West Nigeria yesterday, 27 April, 2015. The event with the topic "#EiEat 5. Building the office of the Citizen, An Intergenerational Conversation about Citizens & Governance in Nigeria" had as key speakers, Dr. Christopher Kolade(CON) and Oby Ezekwili,. a Nigerian chartered accountant. She was a co-founder of Transparency International, serving as one of the pioneer directors of the global anti-corruption body based in Berlin, Germany. and founder of #BringBackOurGirls movement.

Executive Director of EiE, 'Yemi Ademolekun, said,"This is not the Nigeria I was was raised in, neither is it the Nigeria I expected to live in or want to leave for my children. We have no excuse to be where we are and we are all responsible for whatever for whatever we think is wrong with Nigeria.

For me, it's not about politicians or government, its about citizens".

EiE in its sixth year intends to focus on what Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili calls the "Office of the Citizen".

EnoughisEnough Nigeria (EiE) is a coalition of individuals and youth-led organizations committed to instituting a culture of good governance and public accountability in Nigeria through advocacy, activism and the mobilization of the youth population as responsible citizens. We are non-partisan, neither are we a platform for the actualization of any individual’s political ambitions.

More reports on the event soon.

Hillary Clinton:"...the Bible, ...the Biggest Influence..."

"At the risk of appearing predictable, the Bible was and remains the biggest influence on my thinking. I was raised reading it, memorizing passages from it and being guided by it. I still find it a source of wisdom, comfort and encouragement."

What one book made you who you are today?

Your comments please.

Posted by Ambassador T. Brikins

Christian Printer Punished by the Gov’t for Refusing to Print Gay Pride T-Shirts Just Scored a Major Victory

Billy Hallowell, The Blaze

A Christian printer who was previously found guilty of discrimination for refusing to print T-shirts for a gay pride parade won big Monday after a court ruled that he can decline to print messages that run in opposition to his religious views.
The Fayette County Circuit Court’s ruling overturned a previous decision by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Human Rights Commission, finding that Blaine Adamson, owner of Lexington printing company Hands On Originals, was within his rights when he declined to make shirts for the Lexington Pride Parade, according to a release from Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal firm.
The court found that Adamson did not violate the law in citing his religious convictions as the reason for the refusal, and that his decision was based on his personal freedom not to be forced or coerced to print messages that contradict his views.
“The court rightly recognized that the law protects Blaine’s decision not to print shirts with messages that conflict with his beliefs, and that no sufficient reason exists for the government to coerce Blaine to act against his conscience in this way,” Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Jim Campbell said in a statement.
He added, “In short, [Hands On Originals'] declination to print the shirts was based upon the message of [Gay and Lesbian Services Organization of Lexington] and the Pride Festival and not on the sexual orientation of its representatives or members.”
As TheBlaze previously reported, Adamson’s case began when he refused service to the Gay and Lesbian Services Organization of Lexington and the organization subsequently filed a complaint against Hands on Originals in March 2012, alleging that he had discriminated based on sexual orientation.
But Adamson and his attorneys consistently argued that Hands on Originals is a Christian business and that the views presented on the T-shirts — which advertised a gay pride festival — violated his religious beliefs; these arguments were initially dismissed.
Greg Munson of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Human Rights Commission announced last fall that Hands on Originals discriminated against the Gay and Lesbian Services Organization of Lexington when it refused to print the shirts. A recommended ruling at the time called for Hands On Originals to take two specific actions.
“First is don’t discriminate against individuals because of gender identity or sexuality,” Campbell told TheBlaze at the time. “If someone else from [Gay and Lesbian Services Organization of Lexington] comes to you for the pride festival, you have to [print again in the future if asked].”
The second demand was that at least some staffers at Hands on Originals — a company with around 30 employees — would need to participate in diversity training within the next 12 months. Campbell did note that Hands On Originals has both employed and served gays and lesbians, but that when it comes to the messages presented on products, Adamson draws a line.
“Blaine’s position is that he can’t print something if it conflicts with religious convictions,” Campbell said. “Over the two years leading up to this case, Hands On Originals had denied at least 13 orders all for the reason [that] they didn’t want to print and convey the message they were being asked to convey.”
He said that one of these orders was actually from a Christian organization — a T-shirt that had a blood design on it; Adamson felt that it was too racy, so he declined it.
In arguing for Adamson’s rights, Alliance Defending Freedom has raised another related issue: if Christians like Adamson are forced to print shirts that violate their religious beliefs, this would also mean that gay and lesbian-owned businesses will be forced to print messages from groups that they, too, disagree with — something the firm believes violates the First Amendment.
“In America, we don’t force people to express messages that are contrary to their convictions,” Adamson‘s co-counsel Bryan Beauman of Sturgill, Turner, Barker & Moloney, PLLC said last year. “America should not be a place where people who identify as homosexual are forced to promote groups like the Westboro Baptists and where printers with sincere religious convictions are forced to promote the message of the Gay and Lesbian Services Organization.”
This is the very issue that was also raised last year by Kathy Trautvetter and Diane DiGeloromo, a lesbian couple who own and operate BMP T-shirts, a New Jersey-based printing company.
Trautvetter told TheBlaze that she and DiGeloromo — who spoke with TheBlaze.com and appeared onThe Glenn Beck Program — launched their part-time business back in 2003 when they began doing graphic design and visual arts work for gay pride events.
Despite disagreeing on the finer details surrounding homosexuality, they support Adamson’s right to defend his Christian views and his business.
“The idea is that when you own your own business, it’s your own art and creation — it’s very personal … it takes a long time to build a business,” Trautvetter said. “When someone wants to force you to go against it — that’s what stuck me right in the heart. I really felt for Blaine.”

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