Wisdom Series: Day1

It does no good to spread a net within the sight of any bird (GW)
Nobody robs a bank with everyone watching (MSG)

Consider setting a snare for a bird when it is watching,  you would expect the bird to stay away from the looming danger of being caught. Foolishly the bird ignores the snare and goes for the bait and it it ensnared.

Its no surprise that people do things that  have grave consequences that are well known to them and they still go ahead without any thought of it. They look at the immediate satisfaction of their needs without the end in view.
BE WISE!

Lost Generation - Poem

I read this poem sometime ago and I thought to share...
This poem has a read-and- reverse  style and was written by Jonathan Reed. It is a  pessimistic monologue of how this generation looks. When read in the reverse, it paints a brighter future

I'm a part of Lost Generation

and I refuse to believe that

I can change the world

I realize this may be a shock but

"Happiness comes from within"

is a lie, and

"Money will make me happy"

So in thirty years I'll tell my children

They are not the most important thing in my life

My employer will know that

I have my priority straight because

Work

Is more important than

Family

I tell you this

Once upon a time

Families stay together

But this will not be true in my era

This is a quick fix society

Experts tell me

Thirty years from now I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce

I do not concede that

I will live in a country of my own making

In the future

Environmental destruction will be the norm

No longer can it be said that

My peers and I care about this earth

It will be evident that

My generation is apathetic and lethargic

It is foolish to presume that

There is hope

*READ IN REVERSE*

Don't Give Up on 2010...

Hello people, it’s the 17th of December, 2010. 8 Days to Christmas and 15 Days to the New Year, 2011.

2010 has been a great year with ups and downs, accomplishments, achievements, victories, disappointments, challenges and a year of great opportunities.

I had a couple of things I planned to achieve in 2010. Some accomplished, while some are yet to be achieved, but I'm not giving up on them yet. I believe some of the goals can still be attained in the 15 days left.

What have you planned to do in 2010? Don’t carry it over. It is still possible and this may be in the form of: approval for that project, funds release, moving into that new house/ apartment, writing that exam, buying that new car, acquiring that skill, writing that story, reading that book, visiting that friend, applying for that job, making that phone call, signing up for that course, paying that debt, making that neighbour smile, helping the needy, .....

Procrastination is the hallmark of failure.

Are you faced with an opposition, a setback on goals, targets, dreams, achievements and you have told yourself 2010 is gone and have decided to wait till 2011, maybe it has something better to offer.

If you wait till 2011, remember it will also come with its own challenges.

I believe it takes a 'second' to change a situation.

Don’t quit yet, a big break is coming your way.

Season’s Greetings...NBB

The Will to CHANGE....

Your Story taught me a lesson
Never to give in
On hope, my dreams, faith, or life in general
Your will to change inspires me
You sought to have a better life
Tired of living the mediocre life.

Late last year I met this young guy who had a story in which I saw the will of a person to change.

He was born and he also grew up in the UK. He grew up thinking nobody liked him coupled with the fact that his parents were separated so he knew little of a fatherly and motherly care. All they provided him was the money he needed to do the things he wanted The only love he seemed to find is amongst his friend who engaged in a lot of unwholesome activities. He had joined a gang. Gangs are not just meant for fun. He was exposed to gang fights, violence, drugs and other social vices. The marks on his body can tell a lot of stories

At a particular point in his life, he got to a point where he did not find satisfaction in the things he did, he wanted a change but knew nowhere to find it. He wanted to commit suicide but I believe it was God that made this impossible. The change actually started when one of his gang mate was killed and some went to jail for other offences. I really don't know how he escaped that. 

He then realised that his association with this gang would not change anything in him. He craved for a change but he did not know how. His environment was not helping either. All the influences were putting pressure on him to return to his ways. 

During summer in the particular yeah he came to Nigeria with his mum and since then has been around. It was an escape from the influence and his old ways.

Now starting a new life is not easy. Habit are not just things that we can easily drop. But with the help of God this guy got back to school in Nigeria. now he should be studying law in one of the universities.

He is doing very well now. He has his priorities right. He has the oppurtunity to live a life of affluence now but he has chosen not to. He now knows his boundaries and things that can influence him.

Things can change, change is inevitable

But note that change can be for better or worse.

The willingness to change, to life a better life is what moves me in this story. You need to hear him speak. He has been through a lot.

His story taught me a lot. For a person to say "I want to change", This  is a major step but dont stop at saying you must believe in the change. Can you remember the "Change We Believe in"  campaign of President Obama in the last American presidential election campaign? That was a great change in the history of American politics

I have not been involved in social vices. I don't have any habits I'm dealing with. So does that make having some things change about me easier? I don t think so.

The will to change is key. But the natural man resists change. He is used to having things work the way they are. He is used to the status quo.  Tell him its going to change you might just create more problems for him.

There are changes we can control and there are changes that we cannot influence the outcome.

We live in an ever changing world.

Only those with the will to change and are prepared for the change will weather the storm a change might bring.

.

Change is coming, Be prepared

What is your Perception of Change?

I'm April Wise!

April Fool in Denmark. Source: Wikipedia

Every 1st of April is  marked as April Fools Day . A day that is recognised for the playing of pranks on people, friends, family,etc commissioning hoaxes or sending people on a fool's errand like wikipedia puts it
The day started off with a follower on  twitter waking me up from my sleep to play a prank on me. It was a good one.
 Secondly, I fell for  Vera's prank saying she was moving to Nigeria.  Until I got to the end of the story. I should have known Vera better and I promise not to take her seriously again. (at least on April 1st).

Thirdly, it was a news I read about the Pope resigning. I had to go check CNN and BBC when I did not find it there then it dawned on me that I had been pranked.

After these 3 pranks I fell for no other. I guess I got April wise or I had mastered their prank pattern. Some other people tried but I was expecting it so I never fell for it. he he
At a point i thought of pulling a fast one on someone but I think I was nice enough to call it off
This April is going to be a great month for me, better than March. For me March was a very fast month probably because I had a lot of things I had to do in a limited time.
This April I need wisdom to do all I will be laying my hands on this month cos wisdom is very key.

Wisdom is the main thing; get wisdom, and with all your getting, get understanding. - Prov 4:7

Wisdom is the correct application of knowledge, but you need to understand, that is know the purpose of the things  you do.
I pray God guides our path this month.
I'm APRIL WISE!
Have a great month.
With Loads of Love.
-NBB

YES or NO!

There are times in our lives when decisions are made by us or for us. Decisions we may be limited to either a yes or a no.

A few days ago I accompanied someone to the Lagos US embassy on Walter Carrington Crescent, VI, The road is well known cos its majorly occupied by embassies of US, UK, Germany, Italy, India, Finland, Bulgaria.

The US embassy is a place where as a visa applicant, the response you get is an approval or a denial in the form of a yes or a no.

It was an experience. I got there as early as past 7am cos the appointment was scheduled for 7.30am.
At this time the place was already full . I was only allowed to wait under a tree while I also enjoyed the view of the Lagos lagoon watching speed boats passing bye and also caught a view of Femi Otedola's £12 million yacht.

I waited for 4hrs before she was called in and she spent another 3hrs plus in the embassy all for a yes or no.

While I was waiting, as people came out of the embassy, you could easily say from the look on their faces and the way they walked the response they got. They could laugh, smile or just have a blank face. But for some people you just can't tell They hid their emotions and expressions.

Decisions can make or break us.
It is more natural to say yes. Its least confrontational its just agrees to wishes of other or going along with them and cos its not easy to say no so we comply.
Saying yes can also mean accountability on the respondents part it means you give your support and you are saying its ok.

Every choice you make has an end result- Zig Ziglar

Life is full of choices

Even living life is a choice

What to eat and how we eat it,

What to wear and how to wear it

Where to go and when to go

Who we love and how we love them

You choosing to read this blog is a decision.

Choosing life over death

Choosing to do right over wrong

Choosing good over evil.

Marriages are made on decisions

Business deals are sealed on decision

We live in a world where you have to make decision or It will be made for you.

Make you choices carefully especially when under pressure

Never be in a haste

Seek God's choice and counsel

A bad or wrong choice can be devastating

Choose right!

Life is Long term

Life is long term in the sense that what we do today goes a long way affecting how our future would be. A lot of people just think short term just because the do not see the end in view. They do things just because of the present gain and they do not think of how today's decision can affect tomorrow's events.
Even if the decision you make does not pay in the short term, its like an investment for the future. A very good example is the relationships we heep. A lot of people can't keep relationships for long because they only think of what they can gain presently and once that is achieved, they move on to look out for another one and most times looking for how to be the only to gain, that in a way being a parasite.
The gain is supposed to be in both ways and not one-sided.
Even if it is not paying now learn to delay gratification.
Always think long term, because it pays before you know it.
Selah.