Living with a disability

Living with a disability has its tough times... but lots of lighter moments too. We interviewed people all over the country to hear their insights; these frank and funny conversations reveal the truth about disability and today we bring you the best moments from that series.

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CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

Well, it has all kicked off again. This weekend marks the beginning of December and with it the countdown to Christmas. For the last month or so, more and more festive-related messages have been appearing in the newspapers, on the street, on TV, in shopping centres and on Facebook. Chances are you’ve already posted some Christmassy updates yourself. And from this weekend until December 25th, it will be full steam ahead. Everybody wants to talk about the holidays.

Nevertheless, alongside this festive cheer, one can already witness the upsurge of the never-ending ‘Christmas Wars.’ The typical disputes over Christmas trees, manger scenes and crosses in public spaces are causing plenty of ink to flow (and plenty of tempers to flare). Should we say ‘Merry Christmas’ or ‘Happy Holidays’? Is Brussels’ new Christmas tree a vile abomination or a stunning symbol of aesthetic art and culture? Did Santa Monica’s federal judge do right in banning the church’s nativity display in the local park or did he mess up? Is Christmas nothing more than a Christianized pagan tradition? Is it not just a lame excuse for shame-faced commercialized materialism in the capitalist world? The debates seemingly never end.

My concern about all the aforementioned is how we as the church are acting in the midst of this social argy-bargy (sorry, that’s an old Scottish term: it simply means a verbal dispute or a lively argument). Are we acting within the sphere of Christendom or Christianity? There is a world of difference. Christendom seeks for an authoritative space within society. Its desire is public power and influence because its only longing is to survive. Just last week the Spanish evangelical Jaume Llenas wrote that the institutional church, “wants its name on the streets, its Christmas symbols in the public sphere, it wants subventions and benefits from the State, it wants crosses in public schools, it wants big buildings to symbolize its power.” This mentality, he argues, is wrong. I agree. It is resurrected Christendom.

Christianity is markedly different. Its focus is not institutional, but missional. Its identity does not reside in socio-political symbols of power and statistics, but in the Great Commission of the resurrected Christ. Such a church does not need worldly glory and honour to get a sense of satisfaction; but the approval of the Lord Jesus. Jesus didn’t seek to make a name for Himself in the social arena. He was committed to doing His Father’s will, and that certainly didn't entail Pharisee-like glory hunting from men. Jesus lived above that nonsense. He had His eyes set on that which was before Him. And that destiny involved the cross i.e. death- that’s right- raw, cold, spine-chilling and bloody death. Try convincing an institutional Christian to die! 

Back in the sixteenth century Luther made a sharp distinction between theologians of glory and theologians of the cross. And the same two spirits are at work today. The theologian of glory only sees God in the power structures of this world; whereas the theologian of the cross sees the glory of God in the bloody mess of the cross. Only the theologian of the cross has true saving faith. And therefore, only the theologian of the cross is enabled to carry out Christ’s mission on earth of preaching the Gospel to every creature in the correct Spirit.

The theologian of the cross is not bound by church budgets and financial capacities, but he is set free in the liberty with which Christ has set him free. And the only socio-political ‘symbols’ he has are passion in his heart, a fire in his belly, a consuming love for lost men and women and the constant infilling of the power of the Holy Ghost. After all, is that not what Jesus’ coming to this world was really all about?

*Join  @ Will Graham

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Imprisoned Pastor in Iran

Idaho pastor, imprisoned in Iran, can meet with family, officials say. Praise The Lord for this!!!!!!!! But please keep praying for him and this whose situation.

BOISE, Idaho –  Human rights officials say an Idaho pastor who is being detained in a notorious prison in Iran has been allowed to visit with family.

Officials with the American Center for Law & Justice say Monday's visit marked the first time Saeed Abedini was able to see family since his transfer to Rajai Shahr prison more than two weeks ago.

The 33-year-old Christian pastor who had been living in Boise. But he's been in Iranian custody since September 2012 and is serving an eight-year sentence for undermining state security.

ACLJ Executive Director Jordan Sekulow says the family visit is a positive sign that international pressure on Iran is helping keep Abedini alive.

Human rights groups say Rajai Shahr prison is rife with violent criminals and high rates of inmate-on-inmate violence.

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WHY PREACHING MUST BE SIMPLE

One of the greatest temptations for preachers is to speak high and haughty words in the pulpit that unlearned folk are unable to understand. Flowery words and lofty concepts may astonish the congregation’s mind but they don’t feed their needy souls.

There is something about the nature of man that desires to be praised. It is as if we instinctively seek the glory of our fellow men. And many times we feel we must speak in such a manner so as to attract attention to ourselves and to gain public approval as deep thinkers or top notch theologians. But this- my friends- is not the Gospel way.

Paul may have been an academic giant; but he veiled his learning every time he stood up to preach in God’s name. His knowledge was always there- of course it was- but he spoke in such a way so that all could understand him. He didn’t long to be lauded; he craved to be comprehended. Thus he translated his vast erudition into simple discourses that even simple slaves could mull over. His theology was practical with a capital ‘P’.

Luther brought the same style of preaching back into vogue during the Protestant Reformation. Rather than rhyming off mind-blowing messages in the Latin tongue to the forty something doctors and magistrates that attended his church (which he very well could have done had he so desired), Luther proclaimed the Word of God both plainly and powerfully in the most down-to-earth manner imaginable to the two thousand young people, children and servants that fed off his every word. Luther remarked, “An upright, godly and true preacher should direct his preaching to the poor, simple sort of people, like a mother that stills her child, dawdles and plays with it, presenting it with milk from her own breast.” It was such unpretentious preaching that ultimately turned Medieval Europe upside down.

A preacher, then, is to be moved for the welfare of God’s people. His goal must be the edification of the church; not the exaltation of his own ego.  The truly God-honouring messenger will feel God’s heart beat when he steps into the pulpit and, rather than aiming at getting applause from men, he will labour to convey Gospel truth in modest terms so that Scripture is driven home into hungry hearts and minds. Simple preaching is powerful preaching.


-Will Graham

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EASY BUSINESS A STUDENT CAN DO

While I was in the university, I was involved in a number of businesses. One of them that was very easy for me to start and of course, put some money in my pocket, was the bulksms business. Even though the business did not make me a millionaire, it sure helped me while I was in school. For those of us that don’t know, bulksms is simply a web to phone sms, sent in large quantity.

How Did I make money from the Bulksms business?
1. I got an affordable and reliable bulksms service provider. This is important because there are so many fakes out there and you don’t want to disappoint your customers. I fell a victim and I don’t want you to. Maybe I should tell you this. There are two major providers of this service. The Indian providers and the European Providers. While the first providers are quite cheap but very unreliable (they don’t deliver), the European providers are quite reliable. So when you want to get yours, look for the European providers. If you ask me, I would recommend the one I know and use, coolzone.com.ng

2. I fixed my price to get a reasonable profit. What’s business without profit? However, it is important to fix a reasonable mark-up. For me, I bought at N2 and charged my clients N4.

3. Marketing. I targeted majorly Christian groups on campus. Nonetheless, you could also reach out to Churches, Secondary Schools, Supermarkets, your department etc. Please note, I did not tell the people I met that bulksms looks professional. No! I told them how the service would be of benefit them. I told them that the service, apart from the fact that it is cheap, would make their members feel loved and become more committed. Now, the benefits may differ depending on the group or organisation you have in mind. Just remember to talk about the benefits of the service you are rendering.

4. Prayer. I am a Christian and I did not leave God out of my business. He is my father and as a child, it is only proper for Him to be aware of what I am doing, as well as make His input. When my clients started testifying of the improved commitment of their members, I knew it wasn’t just because of the bulksms. God’s hand was involved. 
To manage the phone numbers you send to, you can make use of the “phone book” facility available on the website earlier recommended. It would interest you to note that I did not use a laptop, but my phone, to provide this service. Just to tell you how easy this service is. Moreover, you can even start with just 500 units and grow from there.

Summary
Get an affordable and reliable bulksms service provider (coolzone.com.ng recommended).
Calculate your cost and fix your price to get a reasonable profit.
Market. Talk more about the benefit of your service to your client.
Prayers. God’s hand in your business can make the difference. 

That was all I did to put some money in my pocket as a student, using the bulksms business. You can also do the same. I hope this write-up was useful to you. Now you know that making money as a student is quite easy. The decision to make money, whether now or later is up to you. All the best!
Have a nice day!

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