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HOW YOUNG PEOPLE CAN MAKE A CHANGE

How Young People Can Make A Change

Many of us do not like what we see around us but the last thing we ever do is to change it. I think that is the beginning of failure and that is why what we hate still remains around us. If you do not want the things you see around you, don't just watch and hope it will change. There must be a work plan that will determine what you are going to do to change it.
We have such an amazing power of creativity inside us to change the way things work around us. Only lazy people go about and say that is the way things have been working and that is the way
they are going to continually work.
I have come to discover that things around us are dependent on our actions and inactions. What I mean is that the circumstances that we like depend solely on the things we do and the things we do not do.
Do you want your country to change?
Start by changing the small things around you.
Before you think too far about any small thing to change, let me help you by saying that your habit should be the first thing to change. Change what you think about and change what you talk about.
Change the things that get your attention before you plan to change a nation.
Can you remember how difficult it was for you to break a habit that you desired to break some years back? Do you remember that habit of yours that you are still struggling to break? If so, then
you must accept that things are not just going to change by the stroke of a magic thought.
If it is not so easy to change yourself when you want to, it is not going to be so easy to change the people around you. Many people do not find it easy to change themselves yet they want to change a nation.
I think the best way I have changed people around me is that I changed myself.
People are watching you. Some of them do not expect you to change so your change is going to be like a miracle to them. When you change, they will change. Just change yourself and see how many people will tell you later that you were the one who changed them. That is one simple way young people can change their nations.
Go ahead now. Do it!

REMEMBER THE SMALL THINGS

Remember the Small Things

Some of my sisters work in Australia.
On a reservation, among the Aborigines, there was an elderly man. I can assure you that you have never seen a situation as difficult as that poor old man's. He was completely ignored by everyone. His home was disordered and dirty.
I told him, "Please, let me clean your house, wash your clothes, and make your bed."
He answered, "I'm okay like this. Let it be."
I said again, "You will be still better if you allow me to do it."
He finally agreed. So I was able to clean his house and wash his clothes. I discovered a beautiful lamp, covered with dust. Only God knows how many years had passed since he last lit it.
I said to him, "Don't you light your lamp? Don't you ever use it?"
He answered, "No. No one comes to see me. I have no need to light it. Who would I light it for?"
I asked, "Would you light it every night if the sisters came?"
He replied, "Of course." From that day on the sisters committed themselves to visiting him every
evening. We cleaned the lamp and the sisters would light it every evening.
Two years passed. I had completely forgotten that man. He sent this message: "Tell my friend that the light she lit in my life continues to shine still."
I thought it was a very small thing. We often neglect small things.

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TOO TO PURSUE YOUR DESTINY

It's Never Too Late to Pursue Your Destiny

As a professional speaker, I speak to tens of thousands of people of all ages from all walks of life. I constantly get feedback from those in their 50s, 60s, and 70s, advising me that it is too late for them to create their own destiny.
They believe they are too old, too broke, too out of shape, and too tired to do anything about their future. They stubbornly believe achieving prosperity is only for those still in their 20s and 30s. Many of these people do not believe it is possible to create their own destiny. Limited by their own personal
beliefs these people settle for less and never achieve prosperity.
The question I always ask my audience is the same question I pose to you: Are you creating your own destiny, or are you creating someone else's destiny?
What do I mean by this? Consider the story of Cliff Young, a humble potato farmer in Australia, who consciously decided at age 57 to create his own destiny. Up to this point his destiny was running the family farm and settling for a life of hard work; however, Cliff was quietly harboring a passion for long- distance running.
He came to the decision to live his own life and create his own destiny. Soon he was seen in the wet Australian countryside training in a rain coat and gum boots. It did not matter to him that he was 57 years old, ill equipped and drastically out of running shape. What mattered most to him after all these
years on the farm was pursuing his passions and creating his own destiny.
He ignored those who mocked him and the drivers who tried to run him off the backcountry roads. He continued to train and built up to running 20 to 30 miles per day, day in and day out.
In May 1983, after four years of constant training, Cliff Young shocked the world.
At 61 he won the first Sydney-to- Melbourne ultra-marathon - a distance of 875 kilometers (nearly 545 miles). To run this distance at any age is quite a feat, but to run it at 61 and beat some of the world's best-conditioned athletes in their 20's and 30's, is absolutely incredible!
For years, running experts believed that the body needed a certain amount of sleep per night when running a grueling 100 miles per day. However, after falling so far behind on the first day of the race,
Cliff awoke at 1:00 AM and started running throughout the night. He surpassed the leaders, who slept to the usual 5:00 AM. Cliff's strategy worked so well that he continued to wake and start running each morning four hours earlier than all of his competitors. As a result of using this bold racing strategy, he astonished the world by crossing the finish line in first place. After five days, 15 hours, and four minutes Cliff Young was the victor, at 61 years old!
The news of Cliff Young's shocking victory quickly traveled throughout Australia. At his age, with his lack of experience, and facing the country's best long-distance runners no one thought he had a chance. He became a living legend, and the nation fell in love with this 61-year-old potato farmer who saw the invisible, and achieved the impossible. When talking about the prize money, Cliff was quoted as saying "$10,000, wow that is a helluva lot of potatoes!" He then proceeded to share
his prize money with the other competitors acknowledging their preparation and hard work.
In 1984 and again in 1987 at 62 and 65 he competed in the cross country race, continuing to use his 1:00 A.M. start time routine. Now this strategy of waking at 1:00 AM, instead of 5:00 AM is
a widely accepted practice in this event.

Cliff Young broke a paradigm, overcame self-doubt, and accomplished what no one in the world thought remotely possible. Of greater significance is how he created his own destiny. He created
a legacy of innovation and inspiration simply by following his passions, and was not limited by the beliefs held by so many others in their 50s, 60s, and 70s.
Despite his age at 61, Cliff Young become prosperous as he created his own destiny. Regardless of your age and physical condition you too can take charge of your life and pursue prosperity.
You do have the power to achieve prosperity at any age. You alone must be willing to take charge of your future by following your heart, pursuing your passions, and creating your own destiny.
No matter your age and in spite of your current challenges, be more like Cliff Young and take control of your future.
Embrace the belief that it is never too late to create your own destiny and achieve prosperity. I challenge you at any age to dream, plan, execute, and soar to a life full of prosperity!

NEVER LOSE HOPE!

Never Lose Hope!

Into each life a rain must fall
There's joy and pain you can recall
Life's full of challenge; big and small
But you can overcome them all.
Put everything in perspective
See things clearly, be positive
Life's wonderful, plenty to give
More goals and dreams you can achieve.
Leave the past, to the future move on
No regrets, just wisdom and vision
Everything happens for a reason
It's your new dawn, change your direction.
Look at life on a brighter scope
No burden's too great, you can't cope
In time; wounds will heal, do not mope
You'll rise and shine, never lose hope!

HELPING OTHERS

Keep Helping Others; The World Needs Us

Allan Paul, a final year Engineering Student, was considered a safe driver by all who knew him. One sunny morning,
Allan was on his way home from his friend's house on his favourite bike. All of a sudden, due to a major mistake by a truck driver near a traffic signal, Allan's bike collided with the huge truck.
Poor Allan lost his legs and was laying in the middle of the road, trembling.
He cried out for help but no one bothered to pick him up. They were afraid of the consequences they could face if they gave Allan a helping hand.
There was a huge crowd gathering, watching Allan like he was an alien.
Allan kept crying and shouting aloud and finally he crawled to the sidewalk all by himself. Then he saw a man getting out of a car. Allan pleaded with him and cried out, "Please help me. I want to
live. Save me, I am dying".
The man ran over and helped. He picked up Allan and took him to the hospital.
Allan gave him his contact number and the man then called Allan's house to inform his parents about the accident and their son's situation. Allan's parents rushed to the hospital; the doctors told them there was no hope and asked them to take Allan home since it was impossible for him to survive.
Allan asked his parents to only call one person when he died, the man who had helped him. He also requested that they not inform or allow anybody else to see his dead body. Allan passed away the
same night. As was Allan's last wish, his father called only that MAN and informed him about Allan's death.

HOW DO YOU HANDLE SUCCESS

Sometimes People Can't Handle Success

"I tried 1000 different ways to find a solution, but 1001st was the best solution"
- Thomas Alva Edison, when asked about his experience in inventing the light bulb.
The first question is "What is Success?"
The dictionaries provide various definitions of success as 'an occurrence that accomplishes its intended purpose' or 'a state of prosperity or fame' or 'a realization that a person is successful', but success is broader than what we define. Achieving success means you became famous; you can have enough money to buy the luxuries you longed for so many years, you are being a darling of the masses.
Anybody can achieve success, however for that one has to have the self-belief within him that he can; this is the primary step towards success. If you do not believe in yourself, then creating that feeling is your first assignment. Secondly, we have to focus on what we are going to do to achieve success, something we already have and something we have to attain from others.
There are many factors that contribute to success or failure, the most important of which is a person's mindset. One cannot create and sustain success, if his thoughts, beliefs and emotions are not adjusted to success. If one believes in oneself, money or what success means for them are in dissimilarity to a successful life, he finds it difficult or impossible to create one.
Some of the key factors for people who want to be successful, are determination, decisiveness, continuous learning, constructive planning, hard-work, relentless practice (regain the mettle even when things are going against his wishes), have to have the ability to recover and learn from
failures. One requires a strong vision of his future, planning and setting achievable goals - all can play important roles in becoming successful.
There is no need to worry if one does not have all the above characteristics, or thinks success is not a heavenly fruit, as if one can only dream of it. Everybody can achieve it with various techniques. One can set goals and objectives, which may be inherited qualities, however learning some advanced techniques for success can only be learned from schools/people. You have to develop mental strength to succeed, which will enable you to recover from setbacks more easily.
For some, success has an unexciting aspect but to others, it is an energizing factor to achieve more. We are surprised when we hear news about famous people who suffer from alcoholism, drug abuse and serious emotional problems. We see that success can bring different kinds of discomfort along
with it.
Diego Maradona, Mike Tyson and Princess Diana are perfect examples of people who
have faced serious problems as they became famous. It's as if people think they have everything, but they suffered at different levels and they felt they were alone in the midst of fame.

First example: Diego Maradona.
He is former captain of an Argentine football team. He played in four World Cups, won a World Cup in 1986, received FIFA Player of the Century and was voted in 2000 by FIFA the best football player of all time - surpassing the great footballer ever, PELE.

Since the 1990s, Maradona has been battling cocaine addiction, which included spells in Swiss and Cuban clinics. After retirement, Maradona spent most of his time in Cuba (can say in hospital) and after returning to Argentina, suddenly he suffered a major heart attack following a cocaine overdose and was admitted to intensive care in a Buenos Aires hospital. After he showed improvement, Maradona was taken off the respirator on April 23 and remained in intensive care for several days before being discharged.

Second example: Diana, Princes of Wales
From the time of her engagement to the Prince of Wales in 1981 until her death after
a car accident in 1997, Diana was one of the most famous women in the world, a pre-eminent celebrity of her generation. During her lifetime, she was often described as the world's most photographed woman.
To her admirers, the Princess of Wales was a role model. After her death there were even calls for her to be nominated for sainthood, while her detractors consider her to have been suffering from a mental illness; it has been suggested that Diana was, according to one biographer, possibly suffering from borderline personality disorder. Diana herself admitted to struggling with depression and the eating
disorder bulimia, which recurred throughout her adult life.

Third example: Mike Tyson
At the height of his fame and career in the late 1980s and throughout the '90s, Tyson was one of the most recognized sports personalities in the world. Apart from his many sporting accomplishments, his outrageous and controversial behavior in the ring and in his private life as well as the drug and alcoholic abuses has kept him in the public eye.
Tyson retired from competitive boxing in 2005. He has since engaged in a series of exhibition bouts in a tour across the US to pay his numerous debts. Despite receiving over US$30 million for several of his fights and $300 million over his career, Tyson declared bankruptcy in 2003. Now, Tyson
appears in countless popular media in either cameo appearances or as a subject of parody or satire.
So why are these people addicted to drugs, alcohol and suffering from various disorders? And the answer is "Sometimes people can't handle success". The reasons may be that they fear success and self- sabotage their lives. That's what happened to Maradona, Mike Tyson and Princes Diana.
They were throwing the fame away. No one has been able to break through this massive self-sabotage. No wonder that people are afraid of success. To achieve success, one needs of a lot of self-
examination along with changes in lifestyle and a facelift of behaviors.
We are NOT just talking about some personalities here; we are talking about every successful person, including you.

Success is like a hard rock, not everybody is able to crack or pull it down easily.
Chances are that anybody who tasted success in any field can face such problems at any moment of time; it is not a fault of ours but a phenomenon people around the world face.
Satisfaction is an important ingredient of success. When becoming successful, you have to learn to be satisfied. This often means giving up wanting and longing, two feelings that don't go with satisfaction.
Let us hope we will not become addicted to drugs and alcohol like Maradona did, but almost everyone is limiting their lives because part of him is afraid of success. If it applies to us, then we should look back in retrospect about preceding factors and do some soul searching to know what pulled us back, so that we can rectify the wrongs and find the rights.
Success requires discipline, determination and a strong belief in oneself. It's a whole lot easier to stay where you are than to move into a new state of being.

LEARN TO HANDLE PRESSURES

Learning to Learn

"This is a two-day course with a 40-
question test at the end," the teacher
barked.
I groaned. It had been a busy week. I
wanted to spend the weekend alone. I
wanted to relax and make a good meal
for myself and prepare for next week.
But I had to take this course I was
attending once every two years and
without pay. Why the test when we had
taken this course before? Why not just
review? And I discovered there was a
practical aspect to the test as well. I
wasn't up to it.
But life had taught me many things and
at forty-four, I was finally learning how
to handle pressure. I immediately got
out my pens, several colors of them.
Highlighters also appeared out of
nowhere. I began to write everything the
teacher was saying. The notes he gave
us with all of the power point slides on
it would be reviewed later. I was going
to create a second set of notes.
Secondly I asked questions. Classes are
always dynamic when I am in them.
Teachers rarely have to have anything
structured - I create the structure with
question after question after question.
Thirdly I talked on the breaks to the
other students - about the material. "If
you don't know it, teach it," is the old
adage, it works.
Forget about the weather or the latest
movie. I began to ask questions. And
the other students responded. Now we
were both learning and that felt even
better.
I had been told, while getting my
certificate to teach English, that it takes
a person about seventeen occurrences
to learn a word in another language.
Repetition is very important in learning.
In writing my own notes, in asking
questions of the teacher and in turn
asking questions of my fellow students -
I had already reviewed the material
three times. That evening I would make
up and administer a test for myself.
That would be two more times. And
more opportunities would arise as the
students pleaded with me the next day
to study with them.
That weekend is over. I passed the
tests, both written and practical. But I
also passed another test, the test of
stress. I've never handled stress well.
Having had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
during the earlier years of my life was
not helpful but I am learning to take
things once step at a time, to break
things down and make them smaller
and manageable.
More and more aspects of my life are
being handled this way. If a payment is
too much, divide it into chunks. If a
course of study is too long, divide it into
days. If an art project is too big, divide it
into modules of some kind.
I am also learning how to handle myself
and understand how I learn, how I feel
and what works for me. I am learning
also that sometimes I should I ignore
my feelings for a while. I was weary on
Saturday morning. I was excited on
Sunday afternoon.
Life was good that weekend. Life is
good.

A PRICELESS PEARL

A Priceless Pearl

On the March of 1976, Tanya Brown was
informed of the death of her best friend.
She was broken-hearted and overcome
with tearful emotions.
"I'm very sorry for your loss," said Dr.
Peterson. "We tried to do everything we
could…," he continued - his voice
sounding very low. "It just wasn't meant
to be," he finished.
Unable to hold back her resentment at
his words of consolation, she turned
towards the double doors of the hospital
corridors and fled past the reception
room and out in to the warm, tangible
air. There, she tumbled her helpless
body upon the cold stone ground and
sinking her head in to her hands, she
sobbed and sobbed.
This is Tanya's recount of the death of
her dearest friend and loving soul mate.
Life is filled with surprising events. They
are sometimes rejoicing and other
times, they are painful yet each one
carries an important lesson to be learnt.
You see, when a person is afflicted with
news of glad tidings, he or she marvels
at this and has a natural gratification
and contentment embedded deep within
their locked heart but when news of a
sad occurrence arrives, then this
penetrates the heart and the individual
is overwhelmed by a sense of
emptiness. This emptiness I too felt
when Selene passed away but MY
sadness was veiled by anger.
When the doctors informed me that my
friend had only a fortnight to live, I felt
my world turn upside down. Here was
my friend, so full of energy, the
'University of Life,' bound to a bed being
nursed by a stranger and unable to
move without any assistance. I felt so
ashamed and so utterly helpless. You
see, Selene was told that she was
suffering from a terminal illness which
was irreversible and which had passed
the stages of treatment. She was
connected to a food drip and injected
intravenously. The doctors told her that
they were no longer able to save her.
She was dying. Selene was dying and
the doctors could not save her. This
was my anger.
I would visit Selene every day and some
nights, I would remain with her taking
her flowers and the finest assortment of
chocolates. We would both sit for hours
and talk, reminiscent of our collective
experiences. I would tell her about all
the times she made me laugh and she
would tell me about my sense of
humour (or its lack thereof).
She was my inspiration. I was her
motivation.
She was my aspiration. I was her
encouragement. We kept each other
going, I think.
Time passed us by so fast until there
was only twenty-four hours remaining
to Selene's existence. My world sank
fast as the disease deteriorated her
condition further and made her weaker.
She was just able to speak some words
and then would become tired. She would
pause, then resume again.
That day was peculiar, not because it
was our final meeting, but because I had
somehow accepted Selene's dying and
this made me feel frustrated. No, not
frustrated, it made me feel resentful
towards my own feelings. How had I
come to live with the fact that
tomorrow, Selene would no longer be
with me… but that I would?
On my arrival at the hospital, I did not
want to venture any further. I almost felt
that I could go on home and not have to
face this tragedy but then that was
cowardice. She needed me the most at
this time and my turning away would
simply be a foolish denial of the reality.
As I entered upon her, my teary eyes fell
upon a cold, stale, fragile figure
crouched on the side of a dingy bed with
so much longing. Our eyes met. My
heart was filled with a hope that Selene
would miraculously survive and we
would both go on that world tour that we
had promised each other. It would be
the Middle East to start with and then
the Americas.
But would it?
"Hey…," she finally whispered.
"Hi, Sel. You seem perky today," I
untruthfully uttered.
"Yeh," she boldly chuckled.
Selene was no amateur. She was in full
contact with the effects of her condition
from its very start and she knew what
today meant. She was braver than I. I
felt jealous.
It was quiet as I sat there beside her
bed. It was not the usual conversation.
That had stopped for a few days now as
the disease had worsened. The only
sound was the rain hitting against the
window pane, 'Pitter, patter…" and then
the occasional groan from Selene. I was
trying to drown all this reality. It was
too hard. I tried to make some
conversation and with no luck, I
eventually gave up.
Evening soon fell and I had remained
seated in my position for the entire day.
I would not leave Selene, not even for a
moment. It would mean that I had
abandoned her. So I continued to sit and
I felt awful because I felt as though I
was waiting for death to come and take
her. But this was not what I really felt. I
hated death. It was far too painful.
Then, the moment entered upon us, the
one which haunts me each terrible night.
A small groan and beads of perspiration
trickling down her cheeks and neck, her
eyes closing tightly and then with great
difficulty, trying to open but failing to.
The piercing pain was penetrating
Selene's body and then resounding.
A moment later… she died. It had
clenched her soul and clenched my
friend. Death had come at its appointed
time.
She had died that day and I felt
satisfied that I was there with her but I
felt angry that I was so helpless. I'm
truly sorry Sel; I miss you so very
much.
They say that when a person loses their
loved one, they soon learn to live with
this. Not I. I know they are liars. I still
pray that each day that I see the sun
rising, that Sel could too see it rise.
Maybe she does, from up above. I wish I
could see it from there too.

WHEN YOU KNOW THE TRUTH

When You Know The Truth
The train has started moving. It is packed
with people of all ages, mostly working men
and women and young college guys and
gals. Near the window, sat an old man with
his 30-year-old son.
As the train moves, the son is overwhelmed
with joy because he is thrilled by the
scenery outside.
"See dad, the scenery of green trees moving
away is very beautiful."
This behavior from the thirty-year-old son
made the other people on the train feel
strange about him. Everyone started
murmuring something or other about this
son.
"This guy seems to be a crack," newly
married Anup whispered to his wife.
Suddenly it started raining. Raindrops fell on
the travelers through the opened window.
The thirty-year-old, filled with joy said, "
See dad, how beautiful the rain is..."
Anup's wife became irritated with the
raindrops, as they were dropping on her new
suit and spoiling it.
"Anup, can't you see it's raining? You. Old
man. If your son is not feeling well, get him
to a mental asylum soon and don't disturb
the public henceforth."
The old man hesitated first and then in a
low tone replied, "We are on the way back
from hospital. My son was discharged this
morning. He was blind at birth. Only last
week he regained his vision. Rain and
nature are new to his eyes. Please forgive
us for the inconvenience caused.

The things we see may be right, from our
perspective, until we know the truth. But
when we know the truth, our reaction to that
will hurt even us. So try to understand the
problem better before taking a harsh action.

Motivation Starts from within

Motivation Starts Within

Life does not come with an instruction book but managers alone cannot
help you with everything. Life is like a card
game. Everyone is dealt a set of cards. It
does not matter how you play the good set
but what matters is how well we play the
bad ones.
I don't know what you are referring to as
"pressure" because to me without pressure
life is boring.
If you are calling "the need to achieve
targets within a certain timeline" as
pressure, then you are mistaken. The entire
world moves at a certain pace. If you are
not faster than the rest, then you will only
get where everyone else gets.
You need to be faster than to rest to make
a difference. You need to have that constant
urge to look for something new and what
you can achieve in a quick span of time.
Learning is a very interesting process. You
are at one of the best phases of your life.
Keep taking the pressure till it actually
bores the person who is giving you the
pressure.
You have seen me with my work. I took all
the pressure that was given to me till it
came to a point when I asked him, "What
else?"
At your age, Nothing and No One should be
able to discourage you. If you don't have an
external source of encouragement, kindle
your internal source. Sit over a bottle of
beer and encourage yourself. Tell yourself
that nothing can shatter your dreams.
Aspire for the best. Leave no stone
unturned. Life is too wonderful to be spent
worrying.

MOTHER

Mothers - One of the Greatest Gifts of God
A Mother is one of the greatest gifts of God.
There are many precious things that God
has bestowed on us however a Mother is
one of the unique gifts of God. She is the
embodiment of sacrifice and love.
When a child is born, a Mother is born…and
from that moment onwards, she sacrifices
everything for her child.
Mama, as we all call her, is indeed an
adorable person. From the time immemorial,
the selfless love of a Mother is known all
over the world and is a universal truth.
Have we ever thought about this unique gift
of God?
In this maddening race for success and
position, we are losing our values and are
worried only about our goals and ourselves.
In this journey of life, in some way or the
other, are we not losing our values?
Yes we are, because nowadays some of us
are hardly respecting this unique and pure
relationship. However, it is very essential to
follow these values in our lives.
Nowadays we hear many instances about
mothers abandoning their children for the
sake of money or for their personal benefits
and there are some children who leave their
parents in old age homes. These have
become common in our day-to-day lives.
Let us not be one among them. Let us learn
to revere our parents and of course our
mother, who has given us this beautiful life
by undergoing pains.
"Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn
But only one mother, the wide world over"

I AM ME

I AM ME
I am me.
In all the world, there is no one exactly like
me .
There are persons who have some parts
like me,
But no one adds up exactly like me.
Therefore, everything that comes out of me
Is authentically mine because I alone
choose it.
I own everything about me
My body, including everything it does;
My mind, including all its thoughts and
ideas;
My eyes, including the images of all they
behold;
My feelings , whatever they may be...
Anger, joy, frustration, love, disappointment,
excitement
My mouth, and all the words that come out
of it
Polite, sweet or rough, correct or incorrect;
My voice, loud or soft.
And all my actions, whether they be to
others or to myself.
I own my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes,
my fears.
I own all my triumphs and successes,
All my failures and mistakes.
Because I own all of me I can become
intimately acquainted with me.
By doing so I can love me and be friendly
with me in all parts.
I can then make it possible for all of me to
work in my best interests.
I know there are aspects about myself that
puzzle me,
And other aspects that I do not know.
But as long as I am friendly and loving to
myself,
I can courageously and hopefully, look for
solutions to the puzzles
And for ways to find out more about me.
However I look and sound, whatever I say
and do, and whatever I think
And feel at a given moment in time is me.
This is authentic and represents where I am
in that moment in time.
When I review later how I looked and
sounded, what I said and did,
And how I thought and felt, some parts may
turn out to be unfitting.
I can discard that which is unfitting, and
keep that which proved fitting,
And invent something new for that which I
discarded.
I can see, hear, feel, think, say and do.
I have the tools to survive, to be close to
others, to be productive,
And to make sense and order out of the
world of people
And things outside of me.
I own me, and therefore I can engineer me.
I am me and I am okay.

The Bus To Nowhere

The Bus To Nowhere
As I was sitting on a bench at the bus
station, trying to figure out where I was
going to go, I overheard a man ask the clerk
for a ticket to nowhere.
Seeming a little confused, as the man
walked by I decided to stop him and I asked,
"Sir, I was not being nosey but did I hear you
ask that lady for a ticket to nowhere?"
The man turned to me and said, "Yes, that
is where this ticket shall take me, yet I have
second thoughts of going."
I then asked the man, "Why are you having
second thoughts of going?"
He replied, "Here I am now, in a place where
everything around me is what I am used to,
know of many people, have many friends,
you know all the things that make us
comfortable in life. Once I get on this bus, all
of that will be gone. I do not know if I will
like were I end up, nor do I know if it shall be
better then here or worse."
I thanked the man for his response and
shook his hand.
As I approached the wicket, I began
questioning if this was the ticket I would
purchase. Standing in front of the lady
staring at the departure board, I felt a tap
upon my shoulder. When I turned around I
saw the gentlemen I was speaking to
moments before.
He said to me, "I have no idea where you
are planning to go, but if it is where I was
planning to go, you can have this ticket.
So I asked the man, "Why have you changed
your mind?"
He replied, "I cannot handle not knowing
where I may end up or how far I will go, so
here is where I will stay despite all that is
wrong with this place. So, if you would like
this ticket, it is yours."
The man handed me the ticket and turned
away before I could thank him.
Sitting waiting for this bus, I begin to think
of all this man had said. I then began to
question if I was ready to get on this bus
myself. What will I do? What will be there?
How bad will it be? How good will it be?
Before I knew it a man came over the loud
speaker and said, "Now boarding the bus to
nowhere. All passengers please go to gate
#1."
I got up from my seat and began the walk
down the corridor to gate #1. Halfway down
I looked over my shoulder to see how many
where coming on this bus. I saw no one.
I handed the driver my ticket and asked,
"Sir, how many are on the bus?"
He replied, "It is only you today, no others."
So I asked," Do many take this bus?"
He replied, "Many have bought tickets, but
most seem to never show. And if they do,
this is as far as they get."
A little startled, I asked, "Why do you think
that is?"
He replied, "Son, I have been driving this bus
for many years, never have I seen two days
the same, driven millions of miles, only to
have seen nothing. My guess is, many of us
are lost and the only place its seems we
must go is somewhere. So people come buy
a ticket to nowhere, thinking, hoping it will
lead them to somewhere.
Those who have gotten on I have never seen
again, yet those who haven't have been back
to this very spot, at this very gate, time and
time again. That being said, this bus is
leaving. Shall I rip this ticket? Will you be
joining me?"
I hand the man my bag and get on the bus
headed to ………somewhere!

Let it Go - by TD JAKES

There are people who can walk away from you.
And hear me when I tell you this!  When people can walk away from you, let them walk. I don’t want
you to try to talk another person into staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you,
coming to see you, staying attached to you. I mean hang up the phone.
When people can walk away from you let them walk. Your destiny is
never tied to anybody that left.
The bible said that, they came out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not for us.
For had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us.
People leave you because they are not joined to you.  And if they are not joined to you, you can’t
make them stay.
Let them go.
And it doesn’t mean that they are a bad person it just means that their part in the story is over And
you’ve got to know when people’s part in your story is over so that you don’t keep trying to raise the
dead.
You’ve got to know when it’s dead.
You’ve got to know when it’s over.  Let me tell you something. I’ve got the gift of good-bye. It’s the
tenth spiritual gift, I believe in good-bye. It’s not that I’m hateful, it’s that I’m faithful, and I know
whatever God means for me to have He’ll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don’t need
it. Stop begging
people to stay.
Let them go!!
If you are holding on to something that doesn’t belong to you and was never intended for your life,
then you need to……
LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to past hurts and pains…
LET IT GO!!!
If someone can’t treat you right, love you back, and see your worth…..
LET IT GO!!!
If someone has angered you …….
LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge……
LET IT GO!!!
If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction…..
LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents
LET IT GO!!!
If you have a bad attitude…….
LET IT GO!!!
If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better……
LET IT GO!!!
If you’re stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new
level in Him……
LET IT GO!!!
If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship…
LET IT GO!!!
If you keep trying to help someone who won’t even try to help themselves…..
LET IT GO!!!
If you’re feeling depressed and stressed …..
LET IT GO!!!
If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling yourself and God is saying “take
your hands off of it,” then you need to…
LET IT GO!!!
Let the past be the past. Forget the former things. GOD is doing a new thing
LET IT GO!!!
Get Right or Get Left .. think about it, and then ..
LET IT GO!!!

Nigeria Independence Day Celebration

 Nigeria 54th Independence Anniversary
In the spirit of patriotism we felicitate with our dear Country

Leadership

Leadership 1

Attitude

Which Of These Acts Are You Guilty Of While In The Church? (be honest)

1 Pressing your phone in the church during service.

2 Answering/Making call during service

3 Sleeping/Dozing during service.

4 Sitting down when you are instructed to stand

5 Opening your eyes and looking at those
praying instead of praying with them

6 Wearing Headphones while in church

7 Sagging to church

8 Checking out a lovely and cute sister

9 Checking out a brother

10 Discussing with a brother/sister while the service is on instead of concentrating

11 Gossiping about choristers, pastor, a sister or a brother

12 Murmuring when they call for much
donations after the normal church offering

13 Toasting a sister in church

14 Toasting a brother in church

15 Flirting with a sister/brother in church

16 Telling yourself in your mind "Oh this pastor should finish up this sermon na so that one would go home"; especially during prolonged sermon

17 Telling yourself "This man should finish this unending announcement".

18 Coming to church so late, maybe shortly before sermon or during sermon.

19 Leaving the church immediately after
praises, worship and choir ministration, just as the pastor wanna mount the pulpit to commence the sermon.

20 Carrying 'CD' inside your wallet and go to church

21 Checking out what others are wearing; consciously monitoring the dress, fashion and style of others.

22 Forcing yourself to speak in tongue just because others are speaking in tongue

23 When the pastor calls for first timers and you refuse to step out when you are very sure you are actually visiting that church for the first time

24 When the pastor calls for alter call for those that are not yet born again and you refuse to go for whatever reason when you actually know that you are not born again

25 Walking up and down frequently like 2/3 or more times when you are not an usher

26 Disobeying ushers/church workers, e g when they direct you on where to sit

27 Looking at your watch mid-sermon, especially during long sermon.

27 Lusting after the pastor

29 Sitting in front and spreading your legs apart, consciously or unconsciously.

Which number are you guilty of? Lol

God is perfect

A King had a male servant who, in all circumstances always said to him; My king, do not be discouraged because everything God does is perfect, no mistakes. One day, they went hunting and a wild animal attacked the king, the servant managed to kill the animal but couldn't prevent his majesty from losing a finger. Furious and without showing gratitude, the King said; if God was good, I would not have been attacked and lost one finger. The servant replied, 'despite all these things, I can only tell you that God is good and everything He does is perfect, He is never wrong'. Outraged by the response, the king ordered the arrest of his servant. While being taken to prison, he told the king again, God is Good & Perfect. Another day, the king left alone for another hunt and was captured by savages who use human beings for sacrifice. On the altar, the savages found out that the king didn't have one finger in place, he was released because he was considered not "complete" to be offered to the gods. On his return to the palace, he ordered the release of his servant and said; My friend, God was really good to me. I was almost killed but for lack of a single finger, I was let go. But I have a question; If God is so good, why did He allow me to put you in prison? His servant replied; My king, if I had not been put in prison, I would have gone with you, and would have been sacrificed, because I have no missing finger. Everything God does is perfect, He is never wrong. Often we complain about life, and the negative things that happen to us, forgetting that everything happens for a purpose. God knows why you are reading this message today, please bless someone with it by sharing it. God is good and perfect!!
The song "It Is Well With My Soul" was written by a successful Christian lawyer Heratio Spafford,his only son died at age 4 in 1871,in 1872, the great Chicago fire wiped out his vast estate made from a successful legal career, in 1873 he sent his wife & 4 daughters over to Europe on a summer trip on the ill fated ville du Havre. Since he had a lot of work to do, he planned to follow them later.The Ship sank & he lost his 4 daughters with the wife being the only survivor,she sent him a famous telegram which simply read,SAVED ALONE....  On His return home, his Law firm was burned down and the insurance refused to pay, they said "It's An Act Of God".  He had no money to pay for his house and no work, he also lost his house.  Then while sitting and thinking what's happening to him, being a spiritual person, he wrote a song - whatever my Lord, you have taught me to say - It is well, it is well with my soul.  My dear friend, a good attitude will determine your altitude.  When you look at your life, career, job or family life, what do you say?  Do you praise God? Do you blame the devil?  A good attitude towards God makes Him move on your behalf.  Just sit down and say, Today God, it is well with my soul, I am thankful I had a peaceful sleep, I am thankful I am alive with possibilities, I am thankful I have a roof over me, I am thankful I have a job, I am thankful that I have Family and Friends.  Above all, I am thankful that I have the Lord Jesus Christ on my side.  Be blessed and don't be envious or shocked when others are prospering because you don't know what they have been through to get there (test, trials and tribulation) so thank God for what you have.  "Little is much when God is in it. Remain blessed

Prayer Illustration by Elder Farris Long