Solomon2day

Many Pharisees were good and upright people, who Jesus Christ counted among his friends. But it was those who misused religion who angered him so much, particularly when they excused unjust actions and unfair attitudes with pious platitudes. People might be scrupulous about small details of religious observance, giving to the temple a tenth of all their produce, even to the smallest herbs. But if they were unscrupulous in their treatment of others, Jesus condemned them in no uncertain terms. Which sins do religious people tend to condemn most readily today? How much prominence do we give to justice, humility, and reverence as the most important values? How often do we speak out against hypocrisy, greed and self-indulgence ?

Presently, many parents are unable to take good care of their children in different parts of Nigeria. Prostitution,homosexuality, sodomy pedohphilia, cultism, ritual killngs child and women trafficking, hard drug usage are among the several social maladies plaguing society. Sadly, a number of those in religion have not helped matters by focusing mainly on prosperity for selfish interests. Anointing and blessings for questionable characters mouth-watering fees now dominate the space, just as doctrines are twisted to suit their diabolic design. Places of worship have now become destinations for all manners of people who ordinarily have no business there. Sadly, the compilicity of the 'revered' have only worsened the situation. The words of the holy book are now misinterpreted to suit satanic motives and agenda.

Once you become born again, avoid the temptations of backsliding. In the present world, temptations abound; everywhere you go, it is now left for you as a true believer to resist such temptations. Do not become an enemy of yourself; meditate on the word regularly when you notice you are treading the wrong path. Look up to God, and painstakingly avoid looking up to man. Resist any attempt to backslide by anyone; it could be your friends, your colleagues at your place of work, your relations, or anyone close to you. Be steadfast. Hosea 11:7

It is disheartening to come to terms with the fact that intimidation, threats, attacks, and manipulation are now tools of governance at all levels of government. Very strange and laughable. Leadership has been redefined to include deceit, manipulation, and lies, among other things.

You have to realize that the people you pay to keep watch over you and your property can only function to the maximum of their human ability. Their watchcare is not absolute, and therefore you must look to the greater Guardian, God, who is your keeper and your helper. If you are lying down in your home, you will sleep securely because the God who keeps you will not slumber, nor will He allow anyone to move your feet from their resting place. In these times, out of envy, jealousy, and hatred, men attempt to dig a pit under your feet in order to cause you to fall or in order to make you lose your position, your balance, your honor, or your office; but if you look up to God who dwells in heaven, if you trust in Him through Christ, no one will ever be able to move your feet away from security to destruction. He will keep you as the shepherd keeps his sheep so that you do not become the prey of wolves.

We want our heroes to remain on their pedestals so that we who aspire to be like them may hope one day to share in the honor and privilege they enjoy. Jesus Christ's humility shows itself in his readiness to serve us. Ours shows in our readiness to receive His service. It is said that it is better to give than to receive. But it is sometimes harder to receive; it puts us in debt to the one who gives and robs us of the pride of being in the position of giving to others. Read Proverbs 18:12

You must always pray fervently to God to come to your aid, by giving you the strength, courage, and means by which you will meet all the burdens of this life. If you are burdened by an unconfessed sin, then your life will bring forth fruits of sin. And to regain joy and happiness, the sin must be confessed to God. For if you confess your sins, God is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. As you shoulder your burdens, give your heart to Christ, for it is when you truly do this that your heart will know peace, in your home, society, church, and wherever you worship God. Read Isaiah 30:6

There is hope that sustains you. In these times, the only thing that sustains you as a believer is the hope in the living Lord. Regardless of the damaging activities of those with evil intentions, you must keep hope alive. There a lot the Lord has in stock for you that will keep you going through the journey of life. When your hope is yet to be fulfilled, do not despair; you must keep your hope in Him until He executes it in a way that is in accordance with His own will for you. Your hope must be strengthened by your faith in the living Lord, who stands by His own at all times. Hope sustains you in the crises of threats and adversities. Read Lamentations 3:24

There is a striking contrast between carefree disciples strolling through cornfields on a peaceful Sabbath day and the stern Pharisees clearly looking for some way of trapping Jesus Christ. It is not likely that the disciples plucked the ear of corn out of any deliberate defiance of the law. It would seem a natural thing to do as they brushed past it and admired the ripe golden fullness. But the Pharisees turned the occasion into one of legalistic confrontation. Jesus Christ calmly responded, appealing to their tradition. People in authority are sometimes tempted to use legalistic arguments to ensnare others, even when they willingly commit only minor transgressions. But the Son of man came to show a more humane way of treating one another, with understanding, compassion, and a sense of proportion.

A syndicate that specializes in the stealing of electric service wires from residential buildings now operates in Ibadan, Nigeria. The criminal group comprising some unscrupulous elements in the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) co-opted financially indisposed individuals to give out vital information that would be of mutual benefit. On Tuesday, 17 December, 2024, between 2:45 pm and 3:10 pm in the afternoon, a marketer and a technician, both workers of the IBEDC, stole the four service wires that supply electricity to the four apartments at No. 3 Kehinde Aderibigbe Street, Olorunsogo, Molete. Before the ugly act, the criminals had sat down and strategized at a shoemaker's shop at No. 6. The shoemaker had in turn entertained them. After the act, the criminals, who brought along a ladder, made away with the stolen items while residents of the community watched with keen interest. In recent times, cases of the theft of the DISCO's equipment and materials ha...

Christians all over the world have been advised to live in peace and avoid provocation. This advice was given by a Christian cleric, Pastor Opeyemi Ajayi. ''As we go into the festive period, Christians all over the world should seek and live in peace for the expected cohesion. In these times of odd happenings, there are very many satanic agents whose utterances and actions have led to tragedy through provocation. Let us refuse to be provoked. In due time the satanic agents will wither away like grass in the dry season.

We can sometimes harbor romantic illusions about what the Church should be like, a company of saints in shining armor! But then we meet some local congregation, and we become disillusioned. It is never a good thing to live with illusions. The reality about the Church is much more splendid. It is among this frail, struggling, sinful community of folk that we find heroes and heroines of the faith who outshine and outshame those whom the world admires for their power, their wealth, and their strength. The gospel speaks its word of liberation, not through the powerful but through the oppressed. May God make us humble enough to receive it from them.  Read Hebrews 11:7

  Nigerians have expressed visible worries over the activities of criminals operating in commercial motorcycles, vehicles with tinted glasses, vehicles with foreign plate numbers, and vehicles without number plates. They argue that most crimes in different parts of the country are committed through these motorcycles and vehicles and express surprise over the way the criminals beat the scrutiny of law enforcement agents along the road. Innocent citizens who reside in Lagos, Ibadan, Benin City, Port Harcourt, Warri, Onitsha, Aba, Kaduna, Kano, and Abuja, among others, have continued to recount their tales of woe to whoever cared to listen. Sadly, the law enforcement agents, saddled with the responsibility of ensuring law and order and the adherence to the road safety rules and regulations, have for long adopted a conspiratorial attitude, mainly because of the benefits that would accrue from aiding and abetting criminals. Nigerians are now of the opinion that the laws of the land ...

  Chief Obafemi Awolowo was a political leader of Yoruba extraction who lived by example. His leadership impacted positively on the Yoruba people in all spheres of life. However, it is doubtful if those who hold sway in this dispensation followed in his footsteps. Chief Awolowo had a formidable political structure that outlived him. In his time, political meetings were held at his Ikenne home in Ogun State. After the passing on to glory of Chief Awolowo, in the days of military rule, Chief Adekunle Ajasin took over the mantle of leadership, and meetings were held at his Owo home, Ondo State. During this period, the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) came into being. After Chief Ajasin did his beat, Pa Abraham Adesanya  took over the structure up till the end of the military era. In the course of Pa Adesanya's leadership, those who could best be described as pseudo-Awoists and pseudo-democrats were accepted into the fold; sadly, the true and real progressives were barr...

Cultists have, for over 5 years running now, taken over most of the communities of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. These cultists, who operate with impunity, boast of their untouchable status openly, to the consternation of members of the public. Their presence in the midst of unscrupulous law enforcement agents has not helped matters. Indeed, residents have decided to keep quiet when all their complaints have never attracted any uplifting response from those in charge. Of great worry is the nonchalance of the state government and the state legislature towards breathing constitutional and statutory life into the anti-cultism law in the state. The cultists have, for long, broken into the houses of residents and forcefully made away with property documents. On Monday, at about 7.40 am in the morning, cultists led by one Lekan Adewale made a failed attempt to break into an apartment at 3, Kehinde Aderibigbe Street, Olorunsogo, Molete. Sadly, occupants of No. 5 (a two-story buildi...

  We want our heroes to remain on their pedestals, so that we who aspire to be like them may hope one day to share in the honor and privilege they enjoy. Jesus Christ's humility shows itself in his readiness to serve us. Ours shows in our readiness to receive His service. It is said that it is better to give than to receive. But it is sometimes harder to receive; it puts us in debt to the one who gives and robs us of the pride of being in the position of giving to others. Read Joshua 1:6

  Psalm 55-22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.'' Discouragement is a life threatening state of mind, as it renders an individual vulnerable to attacks by enemies of the soul. In most situations, discouragement is inevitable in the life of a believer, however, Jesus Christ is the solution. It destroys the faith of a believer and wrecks havoc on an individual's will power to live. The enemy always makes use of the weapon of discouragement, but it is left for you to ward off same, by having a mindset devoid of resentment and bitterness. The devil makes use of discouragement to destroy initiative and render an individual useless and disillusioned. For these reasons, you must be strong in faith and reassure yourself that all things will continue to be good.

  The consensus among Nigerians is that the arms build-up in different parts of the country has its background woven around the aspirations of actors in the socio-political scene in the land. The arms build-up festers side by side with poverty, hunger, and brigandage, while the land has over time become fertile for trading in illegal arms with evil deeds as the major focus. Indeed, state actors are familiar with the negative effects of injustice, inequality, nepotism, and favoritism, but are, sadly, handicapped by self-centered interests and incurable greed. Interestingly, the competition for power and privilege has resulted in the loss of precious lives and the wanton destruction of the properties of innocent and harmless citizens.  The debate among Nigerians now is on what constitutes the major functions of state actors. The illegal influx of arms and ammunition has continued unabated through constitutional and unconstitutional channels with the active connivance of those wh...

  Mao Zedong, popularly known as Chairman Mao, was successful with his noble goals for China through despotic means. His leadership was severe, dictatorial and personalized. For as long as Chairman Mao's Cultural Revolution lasted, thousands of Chinese died of starvation and inhuman labor. Mao and his co-travelers argued that the same was the price their people had to pay for re-education. This brand of governance ensured the extermination of the heroes of the civil war and the old party chieftains by the President's armed squad. Chairman Mao is perhaps the role model of those who hold sway in Nigeria today. Indeed, some state governors, are  among several other political office holders, who adore the President. Those in support of this argument insist that on a number of occasions, kneeling  down to greet and/or consult with the President are common place.  They maintain that this is only a sign of respect in the traditional African setting. However, those against t...

  There is no distinction between the vine and its branches. From the moment it emerges from the soil, the vine begins to spread. It is its branch. To belong to Jesus Christ is to be part of the true vine. For this reason, we can pray in complete confidence, because when our wills are united with his, we will pray as part of the living vine. The image of Jesus Christ is all about growth, which happens organically, from within the very substance of the vine. Nourished by the sun, by rain and chemicals which feed it from the soil in which it is planted, the vine forces its way into the light. We have here an image of growth which gives us a powerful understanding of what it means to belong to Jesus Christ

  Teachers in Oyo state have pledged their continued loyalty to the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde for his good deeds to them. The teachers made this pledge on Saturday through the chairman of the state wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers(NUT), Comrade Raji Oladimeji during the 2024 World Teachers Day celebration in Ibadan, Nigeria. ''On behalf of all the teachers in Oyo state, I say thank you father, we will remain loyal. We appreciate the governor for so many things he has done for us. Kindly permit me to mention a few of the laudable achievements so far recorded since the assumption of office as the Executive Governor of Oyo state: 1)Prompt and regular payment of teachers' salaries on the 25th day of every month or earlier should that date fall on a holiday or weekend; 2)Payment of N25,000 palliative to teachers since October 2023, to cushion the negative effect of the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government. 3)Mass promotion of qualifed secondary school tea...

  Thomas Birch Freeman, who was the son of an African father and an English mother, was born in 1809. At an early age, Birch Freeman was accepted into the Methodist Church. He began a missionary career on the then Gold Coast (now Ghana). On his arrival in Badagry, Nigeria, he discovered that there was no Church. Without being discouraged, he started his evangelism under a tree. Afterward, he built a missionary house, while he was among those assisting him build a place of worship. Having spread the gospel satisfactorily in Badagry, he moved on to Abeokuta, where he conducted the first Christian service in the ancient town, in front of Oba Sodeke's palace.

  Teachers in prim ary and secondary schools in Nigeria have expressed worries over their poor salaries and despicable conditions of service. The teachers, who lamented that they were experiencing great difficulties in meeting up with their domestic obligations, stressed that the new minimum wage of N70,000 may not be realistic in a number of private schools in the country. Mrs. Memuna Ibrahim, a teacher in the Lube area of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) disclosed that salaries in private schools were very ridiculous,''most of these schools pay below N25,000'' However, Ejembi Ada, a teacher in a private school in Akwanag in Nasarawa state, maintains that most private schools don't issue letters of appointment and conditions of service, these schools treat teachers like casual workers.'' Interestingly, Matthew Audu, a teacher in a private secondary school in Lokoja, Kogi state, noted that the poor treatment of teachers in private schools has...

  People are uncomfortable with language, which suggests hierarchies and power relationships. However, we are happier with the language of equality. None of us is entirely happy with the thought of being a prisoner of a servant. These are words which have few honorable associations with us.  So what is the mystery which Christ proclaims ? It is precisely the liberty we most desire, a liberty which is a mystery or infinite treasure because it makes us all members of the body of Christ. In Christ, we are offered the true equality of belonging. These days it is very difficult for people to feel that they belong to anything. We are deeply scarred by the kinds of greed or apathy which set whole communities against each other. Let us pray for global healing between nations which have made servants of each other and prisoners of debt; let us pray for world unity.  

  Workers in Nigeria have every cause to celebrate being alive and faced with the excruciating economic hardships in the country. The assertion was made by the chairman of the Non-Academic Staff Union and Associated Institutions(NASU) University College Hospital(UCH)branch, Ibadan, Nigeria, Comrade Kehinde Abiona. ''My own position is that anyone that is alive today has every cause to celebrate, basically for the gift of life in the present harsh economic climate in the country. Workers in Nigeria have every cause to celebrate being alive. The economy is biting very hard. However, one thing I want to appreciate the Federal Government for, is the prompt payment of the new minimum wage of N70,000. We at UCH have already received the new minimum wage for September. Comrade Abiona also appealed to the Federal Government to take urgent steps to salvage the very disturbing economic situation in the country, saying ''I appeal to the government to ensure good livin...

We should not give room for our faith to falter, for God our creator will continue to guide and protect us. He will make provision for all we need. Exodus 16:1-10 1 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt. 2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: 3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. 4 Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in...

  A leader with focus must possess the sensitive perception of the feelings of the people, to serve as an input to do what is required, graceful and considered things in every situation.

  The guidance and protection of God led God's people out of Egypt to the promised land.  Psalm 136   1O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. 3O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. 4To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. 5To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever. 6To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever. 7To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: 8The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever: 9The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever. 10To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever: 11And brought out Israel from among them: for hi...

The people were poor and suffered a lot of persecution. But God in His infinite mercy delivered them from the hands of the Egyptians. Exodus 3:11-22 11 And Moses said unto God, Who  am  I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? 12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this  shall be  a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. 13 And Moses said unto God, Behold,  when  I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What  is  his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your father...

In 2002, President Gnassinbe Eyadema of Togo ordered the release of 5000 prisoners. 174 of the prisoners were from Lomé Civil Prisons, 82 from Kara in the North and 62 from Aneho in the South. Although a cross-section of Togolese citizens insisted that most of those freed were political detainees, the government stressed that they were common law offenders. President Eyadema took over the reign of power in a coup in 1967.