HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Hey there! How are you,
Fears like the one expressed by Pastor Emmanuel Obu may not be totally be misplaced. The murky waters of Nigerian politics should make the best of men to shudder. However, it is also true that politics in other climes, including what operates in the celebrated democratic developed nations are not without spots and wrinkles. Indeed, Peter Edelman, a notable American Policy maker and a Professor of Law who served as a top adviser to Senator Robert F. Kennedy once observed that "Our (American) politics has been corrupted by money and suffused with meanness". The existence of corruption and meanness are not enough justification for good and well meaning leaders to abdicate governance to charlatans and vampires.
Many Christians have argued that the pastoral commitment of Professor Osinbajo should preclude him from aspiring to the second highest office in Nigeria. This pious argument is borne out of the misunderstanding that a pastor is only a leader within the narrow precincts of the four walls of a church. The reality, from the days that God appointed judges for Israel, is that a Pastor is a leader saddled with the responsibilities of allocating scarce resources based on divine dictates. In the Old Testament era this often involved the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs.
I totally align with the views expressed by Boye Adeboye (in his Facebook post on Friday December 19, 2014). Adeboye wrote: "Having said that, Professor Osinbajo, to the best of my knowledge, has no dedicated, purpose calling of the likes of Kumuyi, Adeboye, and Oyedepo, who's calling are reminiscent of the biblical ones.
That is why unlike these three I just mentioned (who all left their vocations/ professions) to strictly heed the call of church leadership, Osinbajo has continued with his secular job as a partner at a law firm, and combined it with his pastoral duties. I see no unsavoury fallout of his selection to run along a highly disciplined man such as Buhari on the horizon."
Some people have even stretched the argument further by comparing Pastor Prof. with Pastors Tunde Bakare and Kris Okotie respectively. I proudly submit that these highly revered clergies did not, in my understanding, compromise their divine call when they contested fir elections. Moreover, the nature of Pastor Osinbajo's calling is different from their calling. He is an apostle in governance and in the marketplace while the duo are in the apex leadership of the church.
For those who have anxiety that Pastor Prof. may be compromised we need to know his antecedents. He has been working with Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (a leading politician and a Muslim) since 1999. Yet he has remained true to his calling as a Servant of God. By his own admission, Pastor Prof. enjoys a warm mutual relationship with Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who is an avowed Muslim (Pastor Prof. accompanied Aregbesola to attend the graduation of the son of the latter in Cuba some years ago) yet he has not been known to compromise his faith as a Christian.
It must be noted that God did not wire all of us in the same way for the same purpose. Every dispensation demands specific gifting. We must take delight in doing the will of God (Heb 10:7 and Psalms 40:7-8).
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Sorry I have been out of sight, crucify me not, but be merciful.
let's get busy and make a difference. It is a new year and we are all expected to have new year resolutions and all, the thing is, I was never into it, usually I would pray and ask God to take control of the new year and keep hope alive
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Thanks to the ever loving father of mine, he made me realize new year resolutions help to keep Faith alive, now that's the difference, Faith....... With faith am able to love God more, walk in accordance with his Will and prayerfully work hard to achieve the things I have planned. Meaning, I am not just working on my own with what I think I want..... I plan prayerfully, so penning down my dreams and goals, is not just a usual act, it is something I do with instructions and faith, Not the norm, it's a life changing exercise, never too late to make plans and pen them down. Start now! Not tomorrow👍
Habakkuk 2:2-3 KJV [2] And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. [3] For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. …
That said, on to the next issue, 2015 is so loaded for me, it's here, going,and soon to be gone. I have plans o, great plans and thank my father in heaven, things are sure going as planned (smiles). Moving on, No digression!
Politics, 💪👥election,👉👈 violence🔫💣🔪,death, do these words ring a bell, of course they do, why am I even asking? The responsibility is on us, you and I, let's pray for this nation, let's pray for protection, and please let us vote!!! Yes, I wish you all can feel my pain, I want to scream it out loud , as loud as I can, please people vote. This also applies to me because I do not have my PVC and I am in the process of getting it, be responsible for the actions of your leaders, We need people who can act, who cares for the less privileged, in tune with the people and above all, gives us peace.
Nigerian economy needs improvement, not just the economy, everything about Nigeria needs change and growth. Make up your mind and take a stand. We want you in or we want you out, just vote. Everybody is out there preaching for change or continuity, let the change begin with us, but I am taken aback, furious to say the least! I mean how on earth will our so called wannabe leaders insult themselves and dig up negative things from the past, some even go as far as digging out horrific things from your future, Ha! The Yorubas will say "eyin aye" they are so not needed, quit the violence and give us a free and fair election, let our votes count, these amongst others is all we ask.
So with those few points of mine, I am leaving y'all with this write up, pretty long but please read, it was written by my dad and I thought to share with you guys. Please leave your comments below or better still share your own thoughts or ideas. Thank you..... Have a great week ahead and see you on Sunday, I promise💝
"The nomination of Professor Yemi Osinbajo as the running mate of GMD should not give the Christian community any cause for alarm. Many well meaning Christians have either expressed misgivings or anxiety about the appropriateness of Professor Yemi Osinbajo, a notable Pastor, accepting to contest for the position of the Vice President of Nigeria under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Emmanuel Obu, a respected advertising practitioner, who is also a Pastor, expressed his worry on his Facebook page on Thursday December 18, 2014. The highly creative and cerebral Pastor could not conceal his anxiety as he wrote, "I am personally convinced that by the selection of Professor Yemi Osinbajo, a Pastor in the RCCG, as the running mate of General Muhammadu Buhari, the church has been seriously compromised and I cry for our future."
Fears like the one expressed by Pastor Emmanuel Obu may not be totally be misplaced. The murky waters of Nigerian politics should make the best of men to shudder. However, it is also true that politics in other climes, including what operates in the celebrated democratic developed nations are not without spots and wrinkles. Indeed, Peter Edelman, a notable American Policy maker and a Professor of Law who served as a top adviser to Senator Robert F. Kennedy once observed that "Our (American) politics has been corrupted by money and suffused with meanness". The existence of corruption and meanness are not enough justification for good and well meaning leaders to abdicate governance to charlatans and vampires.
Many Christians have argued that the pastoral commitment of Professor Osinbajo should preclude him from aspiring to the second highest office in Nigeria. This pious argument is borne out of the misunderstanding that a pastor is only a leader within the narrow precincts of the four walls of a church. The reality, from the days that God appointed judges for Israel, is that a Pastor is a leader saddled with the responsibilities of allocating scarce resources based on divine dictates. In the Old Testament era this often involved the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs.
I totally align with the views expressed by Boye Adeboye (in his Facebook post on Friday December 19, 2014). Adeboye wrote: "Having said that, Professor Osinbajo, to the best of my knowledge, has no dedicated, purpose calling of the likes of Kumuyi, Adeboye, and Oyedepo, who's calling are reminiscent of the biblical ones.
That is why unlike these three I just mentioned (who all left their vocations/ professions) to strictly heed the call of church leadership, Osinbajo has continued with his secular job as a partner at a law firm, and combined it with his pastoral duties. I see no unsavoury fallout of his selection to run along a highly disciplined man such as Buhari on the horizon."
Pastor Osinbajo (fondly called Pastor Prof.) has been a bi-vocational Minister of the Gospel. Although he is called and anointed by God, he is not a full time Pastor and head of a Mission like the Biblical Elijah, Isaiah, Elisha etc. For the purpose of reference, Moses, David and Deborah were God's servants who also effectively combined political leadership with their Ecclesiastical calling.
Some people have even stretched the argument further by comparing Pastor Prof. with Pastors Tunde Bakare and Kris Okotie respectively. I proudly submit that these highly revered clergies did not, in my understanding, compromise their divine call when they contested fir elections. Moreover, the nature of Pastor Osinbajo's calling is different from their calling. He is an apostle in governance and in the marketplace while the duo are in the apex leadership of the church.
For those who have anxiety that Pastor Prof. may be compromised we need to know his antecedents. He has been working with Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (a leading politician and a Muslim) since 1999. Yet he has remained true to his calling as a Servant of God. By his own admission, Pastor Prof. enjoys a warm mutual relationship with Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who is an avowed Muslim (Pastor Prof. accompanied Aregbesola to attend the graduation of the son of the latter in Cuba some years ago) yet he has not been known to compromise his faith as a Christian.
The real issue that should preoccupy Christians should be to pray that God will raise more Christians who will not compromise their faith. This is germane because we know that quite a lot of fetish practices and voidooism happen among politicians. However, don't they happen in corporate business environments and the marketplace?
It must be noted that God did not wire all of us in the same way for the same purpose. Every dispensation demands specific gifting. We must take delight in doing the will of God (Heb 10:7 and Psalms 40:7-8).
Frantz Fanon in the book, "The Wretched of the Earth" puts it succinctly, “Each generation must discover its mission, fulfill it or betray it, in relative opacity.” One thing is however certain: Nigeria needs a Common Sense Revolution at this point in time.
Pastor Prof himself has cautioned us, long before his nomination that "We discredit our treasured platforms such as this when we mask our political preferences with a religious veil. The vast majority of our people need to be delivered from terrible want and deprivation, what is required now are capable, honest men and women of all faiths, who know that this country may not long survive the daily punishment of its own people."
More importantly, Christian leaders should refrain from throwing caution to the wind by turning the pulpit into a political rostrum. Christ, not political ideologies or parties, should be preached on our pulpit. Politics, unlike Football, has a tendency to divide God's people".
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