PAINTED CHRISTIANITY

I shut the gate behind me in a bid to engage in my "usual"evening stroll but got bagged by the hurried foot steps of members as they streamed into the Anglican Cathedral adjacent my house.

The evening service was just beginning(obviously) as echoes of the opening prayer resounded from the distance. This sound hastened the footsteps of the members further and I stood and looked on with apt admiration at the physical measure with which these members were taking just to make up for their lateness. What a devotion! I envied.

I was about to head on with my walk when I unintentionally overheard d conversation between two ladies who were almost running but laughing as they hurried on. One of the ladies teased,
"This bishop na him fit us, See as people dey run. I no know say no be only me wan avoid to pay that fine for late coming ooo..."
What?? Like seriously???? I muttered to myself. And to think I was admiring their devotion and "supposed  remorse" for their lateness. I grew cold.

Awoken to inner consciousness, I began pondering on our Painted Christianity as I walked. I thought about MYSELF, YOU and OTHER CHRISTIANS at large. What is our actual MOTIVATION in running this race? What influences our services, devotion, commitment, punctuality and regularity in our  walk with God. Are we after the recommendations, praises, observations, punishments or selfish benefits we stand to gain or suffer...

... OR...

...are we truly hungry to build a personal relationship with God. i just wish we could be BETTER CHRISTIANS  not having to live a life of hypocrisy and feign holiness just to gain merits from neighbours, friends, family, pastors and members...

The truth is WE ARE GUILTY! MOST OF US ARE!!

We hide within the confines of Religion clouded with our biased laws, doctrines, motives, principles and interests yet proclaim CHRISTIANITY.
Let's stop deceiving ourselves dearies... GOD CANNOT BE MOCKED.
To still remain with the brethren, Most of us have become deceptive orators.
We study the Bible not for Edification nor Sanctification but for Biblical knowledge and quotes we can always brag with so other Christians would admire our scriptural knowledge and competence.
We are always quick to lift up our hands in praise, Tears would always flow down our cheeks and our Voices would always spread like Virus during Worship, speaking in tongues and prophecying in the name of the same God we slander through our hypocrisy.
We put on iniquity as an everyday garment that we comfortably lie, commit fornication and adultery, steal, gossip, blaspheme, keep malice, hold grudges, envy and hate, YET proclaim Christianity.
I wish we could be BETTER CHRISTIANS not having to rush to the alter with deception and selfishness.
I wish we could be BETTER CHRISTIANS not having to sing in the choir when all we want to do is show off Or get hitched.
I wish we could be BETTER CHRISTIANS not having to function as an usher just  to make fashion statements.
I wish we could be BETTER CHRISTIANS not having to counsel, teach, pray and function as a worker in Hypocrisy.
I WISH!

I WISH!

I WISH!!
           
How do we define Christianity when we walk around in pretense lifting up our Filthy Fingers in Holy Greetings saying "God Bless u Dear" and our brethren would always see a God-fearing us not knowing we are sinful and camouflage innocence like a teddy bear...

CHRISTIANITY in this contemporary times SUCKS.
A Pastor cannot visit a female member (esp singles) without being trapped in d nest of immorality,
Members cannot pray/encourage fellow backsliding or tempted members without being judgmental,
Pastors cannot lead their sheep selflessly without exploiting them financially, Neighbours can no longer see a living Christ in our lifestyle,
Our conversations and cell meetings can't be void of Gossip, detrimental remarks, and slander against fellow brethren,
Opposition groups and parties are being formed in churches where power, wealth and class are  battled for,
Tithes and offerings are being squandered and fund raised for d church are being diverted for personal use,
"Thus says the Lord" has become a code language used in deceiving d lord's sheep,
Pastors clamor  for Titles, wealth, Luxury and connections more than they strive in winning more souls for God.

I just do wish we could be BETTER CHRISTIANS not having to look out for our brothers mistakes, flaws, shortcomings, downfall and weaknesses. I wish we could be BETTER CHRISTIANS so we don't have to clutch our Bibles under our armpits religiously.
I wish we could be BETTER CHRISTIANS not having to compliment each other with fake smiles meanwhile, the HATE in our heart stinks.
I wish we could be BETTER so our lives would reflect God's kind of Love, Spirit, tolerance, accommodation and lifestyle..

CHRISTIANITY IS AN ATTITUDE! IT'S A LIFESTYLE! IT'S A CALLING! IT'S A MESSAGE!!
It would be penny wise, pound foolish to live a hypocritical life of Christianity here on earth and still miss our Reward. MOST OF US ARE GUILTY But there is still room for a TURN AROUND!!

Written by #Dinma#The Gifted....

( Coiled few lines from Iroh Okechukwu Livinus spoken words- "DEAD IN HEAVEN")

A LITTLE FACT ABOUT CREATIVITY

Think about this for a second. If Steve Jobs, Bill Gates or Sergey Brin hadn’t lived, I wonder… Would we have had the kind of technology we happily use every day?

If Walt Disney, J.K. Rowling or Dan Brown, hadn’t lived, I wonder… Would we have had the incredible pieces of art and entertainment we are happy to enjoy every day?

Here is my view on creativity...

Everyone is born with a high creative spirit. It’s embedded in our genetic make-up. You can see it clearly in very young children. Each child shapes a unique perspective of life, in their own creative manner, from the first moments they can understand what the world around them is all about.

Some of us are lucky to have people who will nurture our creativity skills since early childhood. People who will motivate us, who will build our self-confidence, who will give us the gift of knowing what is self-expression without limitation. These are the builders of young generations of great minds shaping the world for every one of us.

Have a look at any object you can see right now. Take a look at the desk you have your laptop on, or at the chair you’re sitting on, or the building you are in. Each object came from someone’s momentary sparkle of inspiration, who decided to transform that inspired thought into a physical object. With a bit of creativity, they managed to do it right.

Why do we focus so much on improving your creativity skills?

Creative people are an important pillar in 21 century society. They come with innovative thinking, new perspective, out-of-the-box solutions for problems stuck in repetitive, old patterns.
We tend to think of creative people as those curious, very eccentric or highly sensitive people, which, in a smaller or higher degree, I believe we all are. But creative is everyone of us, each in our own unique way. Together with personal interests and some special skills, each of us forms a set of abilities, which we will refer to as ‘profile ’ in this article.

Your own unique ‘profile ’ defines you as an individual, and sets you apart from other people. You may have some special interest in science, or astronomy, or music, or writing. And to every single one of these the centerpiece is creativity.

In fact, what is creativity? Combining existing patterns in new ways to form new patterns.
At least this is a creative way I can put it.

You may be an astrophysicist, or a teacher, or a musician, or a gardener, or a tailor, or a chef, or a writer, or a researcher. You can be any of these. My point here is that each of these require you to have a minimum of creativity skills.
There is a growing interest – I might say that it’s growing exponentially – towards highly creative people, growing in the same pace with the exponential development of technology in more and more aspects of daily life.
Your creativity skills are more valued today than 3 years ago. And in 3 years’ time your creativity will be valued even more in the business environment.

Next, you can read a very thought-provoking observation the German historian and philosopher of history Oswald Spengler could make in modern society:
“It only takes 2% of the population to create basic ideas that everybody else applies ”.

More and more studies and researchers start focusing on the role creativity plays in modern civilization, both individually and collectively, and they come to conclude that art and creative expression play an important role in the learning process for young people, since early childhood. This translates later on in life as an increased ability to reach much more of their potential, leading to higher chances of success in life.

With this aspect in mind, let’s have a look at a very intriguing study conducted by George Land, an author, speaker, consultant, and general systems scientist. In 1965 he founded a research and consulting institute to study the enhancement of creative performance.
What is so intriguing about his decades-long study on creativity is the end result.

Let’s have a look:
George Land’s Creativity Test
In 1968, George Land distributed among 1,600 5-year-olds a creativity test used by NASA to select innovative engineers and scientists. He re-tested the same children at 10 years of age, and again at 15 years of age.
Test results amongst 5 year olds: 98%
Test results amongst 10 year olds: 30%
Test results amongst 15 year olds: 12%
Same test given to 280,000 adults: 2%

“What we have concluded,” wrote Land, “is that non-creative behavior is learned.
What does this mean for every one of us?

Well, the conclusion is staggering. What we have learned here is that there is a significant influence in the way we are educated – referring to the educational system, in general – which inhibits creativity skills, until they somehow vanish in most people until they reach adulthood.

Now, how can we use this information, especially students reading this, and perhaps, understanding the need for creativity in their future development?
The answer lies within each reader. This information may have triggered within you a will to nurture your creativity skills more for performance enhancement. Or it may have determined you to look further deep into who you are, or what kind of personal development you wish to experience. In any case, you have the answer in knowing how you can put your
creativity skills at work to support you into becoming the kind of person and professional you can only picture yourself now.

Please like, and drop your comment if you've learnt from this point.

EVERY MAN NEEDS A WOMAN-SHAPED TRUST

When it comes to Commitment and long term goal in relationships, it's been observed and noted how guarded men keep their hearts. To state the obvious, an average man really wants to commit. He really wants to share himself and offer his heart but most times feels repugnant to take a step because HE IS AFRAID!

Now, let's forget about his Ego. Lay aside his achievements and personality, look beyond his stature, muscular fitness and bulging biceps. A man tends to hastily chicken out when Commitment stares him in d face. He tends to freeze when matters of d heart are raised. He wants to Hide and shy away because HE IS IN DOUBT! He needs a MOTIVATION! 

Strangely, a man wants more than the satisfaction he gets from a G-string possessor. He wants more dan that round ass which winks seductively at him every now and then. He craves for more than those succulent breasts that feed his lustful hunger at the snap of his fingers. He needs more than that Domestic super-woman who runs his domestic chores uninvited. A man searches for MORE!! 

Listen, If a man is to get the courage to unlock the vault of his affections, it will require a GREAT PRICE! This price is nothing short of ABSOLUTE TRUST! A man knows he needs a woman; for men cannot do without women (General assertion), but where can he find HIS WOMAN? A woman He can trust. A woman he can call HOME! A Man is earnestly and endlessly searching for a Trusted Shoulder he can lean on and a confident Lap to purge His stress and fears but He is AFRAID!! He doesn't want another DELILAH! Who does anyway??? 

Men  are like  lost sheep who have no place to lay their heads. They have been searching for Trust in the Shape of a woman and they are still searching. They are Looking at every corner.... at work, online, in the shopping mall, on the sports field, in their places of worship, in social gatherings, on the roadside, in books and magazines, in d bottom of a glass (winks), in the arms of a random painted woman whose name they don't know and most unfortunate, even in their Marriages. YES!! IN THEIR MARRIAGES!!!
         
For a woman to gain a man's trust means he is not inhibited in her Presence. He has examined her thoughts and knows that they are aligned with His. In her arms, He is all things he cannot be with others. In her arms, he feels like a giant, a warrior, a protector, so strong and fierce. Every man is like a lamb looking for shelter against the storm. Men are like whimpering, trembling Children in need of an embrace where there is peace and reassurance.

A man wants a woman he can hold and be held by her. He looks for an arm where He can find TRUST. It is this Trust that enables him whisper his deepest fears in her ears and tell his darkest secrets. He needs a woman who will be too wise to laugh at him and too concerned to condemn him. A woman who will not betray His confidence, discuss his secrets with the sisters' folk or air his weaknessses. A woman who will respect him, defend him and not speak ill of him neither scorn him in public even when the world is against him. A man wants a woman who will be on his Side. His very own Rib would feel strongly connected to. A woman he can vouch will be there for him in the crises of his life. A man searches for a Woman of morality who lets him know that she will not be moved, not by others' opinions nor their ideals. A woman who would be so proud of him. A woman who can scold and correct him yet her love remains unfailing. A woman who believes in him even in his messed up state. A woman who will be a safe haven; d harbor where he docks his fears and finds shelter from d storms of life.

If a man finds THIS TRUST in a woman, He can never let her go regardless her shortcomings and flaws as a human. He would defend her and sacrifice his ALL for her. Even when their relationship is tested by life's Topsy-turvy or attacked by internal/external forces, He will fight for it with all he's got because THE TRUST he found in her is built to stand against the winds of adversity. It is as STRONG AS A ROCK. A Man would climb through the clouds for a TRUSTWORTHY WOMAN But HOW CAN HE FIND HER???

>>OPPRESSIVE TRADITION ON THE FEMININE GENDER<< WOMEN ARE HUMANS TOO!!

Feminity is an exquisite breed. There is beauty in the feminine gender. Being a woman is a calling because a lot is expected from her as such, she is embedded with so much strength that is yet unknown but one of the greatest ribaldry to the feminine gender is in some AFRICAN TRADITIONAL PRACTISES I term THE OPPRESSIVE TRADITION. 

Do not  get me wrong. I believe in culture and tradition. The tradition of a people  gives them an  aesthetic value. Undoubtedly, the place of Tradition and Culture of a people can not be ruled out in the existence of the african society. It is their symbolic identity. It is what they Represent. It influences a people's way of life and gives them confidence and the right  footing to their heritage and subsequent transitions. I am one who strongly promote the Culture of a people especially when it's relational to their values. The tradition of a people tends to map out layed out rules that influence their lives, judgements, behaviours, and belief . 

In other words, it poses as a coordinating cord that governs their lifestyle be it an organization, village,State, city, country or globe.  People are governed by certain rules, ordinances and instructions that coordinates their existence  and these rules stretch out to their symbol, pride and Identity.

Bear in mind, I am proudly an african  Igbo woman, wife and mother.  I am one who loves to promote africanism and the black heritage. I am proud to come from the black race where so much beauty is fined and nurtured into an embodiment of great Values. Also, I am a proud specie of the feminine gender with a double edged personality. I am PROUD to be a WOMAN who was created to be submissive to the leadership and directives of a Man as HIS WIFE.

Now here is the Twist 👉 As much as I take pride in the african identity, I scowl at some of its believes and practices. Those practices that promote FEMININE DEGRADATION! Get this Clear, I am not a FEMINIST. NO! I do not believe in tussling power and superiority with the masculine gender even though I believe in HUMAN EQUALITY. Whether male or female, Treat all human with love, kindness and respect. 

Everywoman woman has a place in the life of a Man. She is a support system, a helpmeet, an Assistant, a Co-manager as well as a Worker. A woman was not created to COMPETE with a man but to SUPPORT and as Supporters, we esteemed as well because it is not good for A MAN TO BE ALONE.. 

I have come across women from different tribes and traditions and one factor is common amongst our traditions and that is FEMININE DEGRADATION. Haven placed issues on a palate of evaluation, I have come to observe that  some african practices have  made women  nothing but OBJECTS who cannot  survive without Men. The world has made it seem like men do more favour to the women and as such Women are not volatile . As arguable as that is, do not buy into it neither can I keep quiet about the disparagement of the Feminine Gender. 

I detest and frown at Some Traditional believes and practices that regard WOMEN AS SLAVES!  It is so apalling and abusive.

*I do not believe in a tradition that describes a woman as incomplete because she has not birthed a Child nor has a MALE CHILD.

*I do not believe in a tradition  that silences  the VOICE OF A WOMAN even when Oppressive rulings are meted against her.

*I frown at any tradition  where a woman is expected to live in fear and timidity or where she is expected to tremble at d voice  and sight of her husband and is not permitted to air out opinions or ideas freely.

*I do not believe in a tradition where widows  are made to swear and go through heartbreaking rituals but widowers just move on with their lives.

*I hate a belief system that blames a woman when she is being beaten, cheated on  or domestically violated. They tell her "It's your fault".

*I do not believe in a tradition that confines a woman to a domestic worker just to prove she is hardworking.

*I spit at any tradition where the husband's family of a woman insult, abuse and maltreat her yet she is not permitted to complain.

*I do not believe in a tradition that terms a woman a "Witch" just because she protects the interests of her immediate family and children.

*I frown at any tradition where Women are made to swallow their words, live in pretense and eye service so she is not termed A BAD WIFE.

*I do not buy into any belief  that blames the misfortunes of a man on his  wife.

*I do not believe in a traditional belief where it is accepted for a man to be promiscuous , flirtatious and unfaithful but a woman is forbidden to even think of it.

*I do not believe in a tradition where a woman is not suppose to enjoy the comforts of life or the wealth of her husband until every member of her "in-laws" are comfortable and settled.

*I do not believe in a tradition where fathers in-law, mothers in-law, brothers in-law, sisters in-law and other extended family members think they  have the rights to issue the rulings of a nuclear family dictating to them how to run their home. They believe they have the rights to call the shots in a woman’s home and she is expected to keep quiet and die in silence. It Sucks!

*I do not buy into the practise in a family where everyone gather to judge and condemn a woman without giving her a fair hearing and she is expected to swallow her words.

*I do not believe in a tradition that describes a Learned woman as proud , non submissive and promiscuous.

*I do not believe in a tradition that subjects a woman into a baby making machine yet she doesn't enjoy Sexual pleasure.

*I do not believe in a tradition that tells a woman  "Who are you to talk, Are you not Afraid"???

*I frown at a tradition that permits a family to connive and send a woman out of her matrimonial home against her husband's wish.

*I do not believe in a tradition where male children are given more favorable treatments than the female children because women are seen as commodities to be sold out.

*I hate and detest any belief system that NORMALIZES THE OPPRESSION AND MALTREATMENT OF A WOMAN and when she cries out, you hear statements like ; YOU ARE NOT THE FIRST TO GO THROUGH IT. IT IS NORMAL.

FOR HOW LONG would women continue to be treated badly all in d name of TRADITION?

For how long are we expected to keep quiet when things ain't done right?

For How long are we suppose to wallow in silence and pretense?

For how long would the feminine gender be seen as non-essential and inconsequential?

For how long would women keep quiet and watch themselves being treated as SLAVES?

For how long would women keep accepting these traditions as NORMAL?

Listen, IT IS NOT NORMAL for a woman to live in fear and constant Pain.

IT IS NOT NORMAL to keep apologizing when she is being victimized.

IT IS NOT NORMAL for a woman to satisfy everyone's needs yet no one cares about her needs or feelings.

IT IS NOT NORMAL to shut up when she is  being Oppressed.

WOMEN are HUMANS! We are not OBJECTS!

We go through Pains too. We have feelings. We have a VOICE. We have SOMETHING TO SAY! We have the free will to Say NO when things ain't done properly.

Dear WOMEN, Please stop living in fear. Stop suffering and smiling. That Our mothers  went through it doesn't mean IT IS OK. Stop being afraid. SPEAK OUT! THERE IS A VOICE IN YOU!

What are you afraid of? 

The name callings, The insults, The attacks, The Hatred? The Isolation? The Curses??? What are you afraid of?

All those doesn't and shouldn’t define your personality. 

VOICE OUT when you Cannot take any maltreatment. 

Refuse to be Silenced into timidity. Stop pretending while you die  in Slience!

We are not asking for too much. 

The times have changed. Things are alot more different than the primitive days of our forefathers. They were humans. They set up those stale traditions  that degraded the Feminine gender. We are much more learned and wiser now. We are more knowledgeable. 

Marriage should be between a MAN AND A WOMAN not a WOMAN and A FAMILY like we are being made to believe.

Remember, For this reason shall a man LEAVE his Father and mother and CLEAVE to his wife and they TWO shall become ONE!

Dear MEN,  Please learn to Protect your wives. LOVE her and shield her from those babaric tradition of yours. Stop joining hands with your family to maltreat your Wives. Stop taking sides with the world to Oppress her. YOU should be her HERO!

I am not promoting power tussle. This is not about the Feminist goals. We know our place. We know our role but some traditions do not treat us right SO we are saying NO TO FEMININE DEGRADATION!!

There is so much Beauty in FEMININITY but Some Traditional practices are sucking out our BEAUTY AND OUR FEMININE STRENGTH!!! 

WE ARE WOMEN! 

WE ARE HUMANS! 

WE ARE NOT OBJECTS!!

#Voice4TheVoiceless...

#EssentialMovement..

#SayNoToFeminineDegradation..

#SayNoToOppressiveTraditions..

OFFICIAL PENSWORLD LOGO

When ever you see this logo, creativity should come to your mind first. PENSWORLD, the world of creativity.

TEARS IN MY DAUGHTER'S EYES (IV)

The lunch was boring and lengthy. The dining was as quiet as a graveyard even as I and Kamsi slowly scooped our food from our plates. Neche just sat and watched us, she must have eaten enough from my hit the previous night.
To break the silence, Neche stood up and dragged a seat close to Kamsi who then looked up with both pity and shyness to meet Neche's pitiful gaze, and then back to her almost empty plate. Neche nestled close to her and gently carressed her left palm over the hairdo on Kamsi's little scalp.
"Dad promised to take you out this evening, sweetie. Do you mind the Kechi's ice-cream outlet?"
I raised a brow almost immediately. Neche and I never discussed that. She gave me a rather sharp look which communicated to me that I just had to do it. Kamsi just waved her head to the left and to the right, and then looked at me. I quickly smiled and then said, "finish up sweetie so we will get u dressed up for this date."
My little baby felt a little relieved with that, and of course I was happy. I quickly took my plates to the kitchen since Neche was busy with our daughter's hair. I dashed upstairs to prepare for the perfect impromptu date.

Neche stood at the door post when we drove in. She wore a vague smile which I guessed was for Neche alone or maybe she was learning how to smile again. Because it had been long since we last experienced a happy home and good things were becoming very strange and abnormal.
Kamsi hopped down as soon as I opened the door, and ran straight to my wife's opened arm. Neche lifted and carried her, and all I could hear was their chuckling as I brought out the goodies I bought for her. As I approached them, Kamsi was all about her kiddie narration on how the evening date went, mentioning the few places we spent time in and at. I walked past them with the light loads that almost occupied the much my hands could carry to open the door for them.
Kamsi's tiny and appealing voice saturated all over the sitting room. She was obviously narrating in glee as I put the loads in their designated places. I brought Neche's portion to her of which she appreciated with smile; though her smile was ambiguous because I didn't know if it was well received or Kamsi girlie talk made her smile at that instance. I grew jealous because she seemed to pay more attention to our daughter.

Lying beside my wife that night as we laid to sleep, I wanted to say many things to make sure everything has been settled indeed, but how to begin became a problem. I just lied still with my eyes glowing in the dim light in our room, and wondered. I decided to move my hand slowly to touch her but it seemed like it suddenly became static. Just then I did move the hand and it rested on hers. It felt so strange touching my wife that way, I couldnt even remember, let alone talk about when we kissed, romanced or made love. She spoke up when I made an attempt to start caressing her hand.
"Buchi, please let's rest for tonight I beg." she said like she was irritated by my touch.
"Baby, I know you are..."
"Buchi." she called out interrupting me like she doesn't want to hear my voice. "Do u want sex?"
"Haba, you are not a sex toy baby." I replied in defence.
"Then leave me alone to sleep." She readjusted and covered herself with the blanket.
I just looked at her in disappointment, and then sat up not too long after that with much confusion; that was when I remembered the divorce case this afternoon, and then the invitation to meet with the lawyer. I became restless. I looked at her once again, she was then sleeping obviously.
I left the room shortly after that and plodded down the stairs and collapsed into a single seater chair in the sitting room. So many things were running through my mind. I was already seeing myself as a divorcee. "How would I face life becoming a bachelor again after several years with a queen. The fear of meeting another woman who would be less angelic enveloped me strongly. Only God could save me from the mess that I've gotten myself into." was all that I was thinking about. I was just taking deep pitiful breath intermittently until I fell asleep.

A tap from Neche woke me up,
"Are you not going to work today?"
I looked at the large wall clock that was made with Kamsi's picture behind me, it was already twelve minutes past six o'clock.
"I'm not going to work today." I said sinking the more into the chair trying to go back to sleep.
"Then go upstairs and sleep. You know you will have to take Kamsi to school and it won't be nice if she discovers you slept here."
I opened my eyes to watch her talk but she was already leaving. She hadn't taken up to four steps when I spoke up.
"Is it all about Kamsi?"
She stopped in her tracks the moment I asked that question, turned and asked like a teacher asking the dullest student in her class a question.
"Who is it all about then?"
"Us!" I said almost screaming.
"It's all about us!" I continued. "Me, you, and Kamsi!"
She raised a brow as she watched me try to prove my point. I continued;
"We are a family, and that's a fact!"
She cut me off immediately I said that with a calm voice that was rather a mockery.
"Well, I have to prepare Kamsi's breakfast because she will be up any moment." She turned and walked towards the kitchen.
It was as if the beast in me was reawakened. I stood up almost immediately as she left and walked into the kitchen, and there she was trying to light up the gas cooker. I stood some steps away behind her. She noticed my presence and turned to face me.
"You want to come hit me again?" I could see the tears gathering already in her eyes. "Hit me,  I'm ready." the tears dropped now.
I became weak. My wife now sees herself not just as my sex toy, but also as my punch bag.
"Tomorrow by 12noon would be the time for the meeting with the lawyer."...

Stay tuned for episode V...

MY DISGUISED NAKEDNESS

My Twisted and serpentine Personality winces with my Height and Age. To some, am tall while to others, am Average in height. To some persons, am younger than 25 while to some others am older than 30.

I love to Smile yet am seen as strict.
I love to be Happy even though ve had my share of pain..
I love to Play yet can be very serious minded and principled.
I love to Sing yet not many people know I actually Sing.
I love to Write yet dont wanna take writing as a Profession.
I love to Argue (Lol) but can be a very good listener.
I love to chat with Responsible People yet am quite conservative.
I love to joke and fool around yet  can be very uptight.
I love to Hang out with "The Girls" yet I Cherish my PRIVACY.
I love to groove yet I don't  Goof.
I love to pamper yet I love being Pampered.
I love being catered for yet I love being independent.
I love to research even when I exhaust my time doing so.
I love to lazy around yet i hate being Lazy and Idle.
I love to scatter my room (Tongue out) but I hate it when Leboo litters his stuffs around d room.(Troublemaker).
I love to read even though Sometimes, my Eyes "Bleed Tears".
I love listening to Music even though I Can't Dance.
I love to drive around even though am always Headed for somewhere.
I love to windowshop  though I always end up buying Something shaaa..Lol
I love to experiment with food and i love to eat good Food even though am trying  soo hard to Diet.
I love to teach but I love to learn more.
I love to counsel yet I also need counselling.
I love to Pray so I don't Fall Prey.
I Love to Love even though Am deeply in Love.
I am quite peaceful even though I don't hesitate to give Anyone a piece of my mind.
I can be quiet but am not quiet.
I am not Proud but I Take so much Pride in Myself.
I can sacrifice for love, friendship and Family but will never make myself a lamb of Sacrifice.
I can be Selfish yet so Selfless.
Am a very shy person yet can be very Bold and fearless.
I love to lend out my Voice even when it's not loud enough.
I love being blunt and straightforward yet am unpredictable.
I can be patient and tolerant yet am quite temperamental.
Am very hard to impress  yet simple  gestures impresses me easily.
I can go out of my way to make anyone happy but will never live my life to please anyone.
Am slow to love but very quick to turn off.

Most Times, I MEAN WHAT I say and at same time, can SAY WHAT I DON'T MEAN.
Conclusively, I AM ACTUALLY WHAT I AM NO!. THIS is my DISGUISED NAKEDNESS.

Written by Dinma#TheGifted..

6 Tips to Improve Your Creativity

CREATIVITY

Who doesn’t know that feeling: You need to come up with a great idea, solve a finicky problem or create an inspired design, but your creativity seems to have gone on vacation without you. Everyone faces this problem at some point, which is why we’ve put together a list of six simple ways to improve on your creativity, which should help you get unstuck in no time. Take a look!

1. Try working in a coffee shop or restaurant

A study from 2012 has proven that a moderate level of ambient noise, which can be found in a coffee shop, quiet bar or restaurant, enhances performance on creative tasks.
The researchers theorize that “a moderate (low) level of ambient noise is likely to induce processing fluency or processing difficulty, which activates abstract cognition and consequently enhances creative performance".

2. Give yourself time to daydream

A study conducted by a group of American and Canadian researchers in 2009 has shown that, letting your mind wander may evoke a unique mental state that allows your brain to come up with more creative ideas. Letting your mind wander is often not a conscious choice, it usually happens while you’re going through menial tasks such as weeding, showering or washing the dishes. The effect it has on your creativity seems to depend on your being unaware that you are in fact daydreaming.

3. Taking a walk (strolling)

A recent study at Stanford has shown that
walking is a great way to improve creativity . It’s not about the change of scenery though, so it doesn’t matter whether you walk on a sidewalk with a picturesque scenery or on a nice path through the forest. According to the study, “Walking opens up the free flow of ideas , and it provides a simple and robust solution to the goals of increasing creativity and increasing physical activity.”

4. Pretend to be someone else, somewhere else

Various studies have proven to a reasonable extent that we get better at creative problem solving when the problem is removed from us through something they call psychological distance . You can create a psychological distance by projecting the problem into the distant future, by imagining it to originate in a place far away, or by pretending that the person experiencing the problem isn’t you, but somebody else entirely.

5. Use a mind map to find new ideas by association

When it comes to developing creative ideas,
mind mapping is one of the most well-known techniques apllied today. Research has found mind maps to be helpful when it comes to curing writer’s block and creative problem-solving , as well as generating, visualizing and organizing ideas. It's radiant structure enables you to develop new ideas by association and placell them anywhere on the map. Additionally, they offer a visual overview of a topic that can help you see connections between ideas you might have missed otherwise.

6. Collaborate with friends or colleagues

In her book “Creative Collaboration” Dr. Vera John-Steiner finds that “humans come into being and mature in relation to others, new skills are acquired, participants develop previously unknown aspects of themselves, and they increase their repertory of cognitive and emotional expression.” She concludes that “social interactions are crucial ,” because “they provide a non-judgmental ear for emerging ideas .”

Next time you have a problem that requires a creative solution, grab a pen and paper, talk to a friend
and head to the nearest coffee shop. Project your problem into another, far-away time or place , then open up your mind map and start scribbling down ideas. If that doesn’t work, go for a walk or begin a menial task such as washing the dishes, and simply
let your mind wander .

LEARNING

Life is simple, so is everything about it. But people think you have to work the hell out of yourself to make a head way. I got to know that we are all wired differently, so my likes and dislikes, passions, talents, skills and personality are totally different from even if I had a twin brother.

But so many things affect a man's life; his family background, his clique of friends, his environment, the books he reads, the movies he watches, even the food he eats and the clothes he wears.

Is it hard for you to digest? Now take a little time to think about it.

Are we good to go now?

These things which affect a man's life help him to structure everything about himself  like mentioned in the first paragraph.

Now let's get down to the point here...

One very important feature of living things is ADAPTABILITY. Which means man, as a living thing, can learn. And one can't learn if he doesn't have a picture of what he is to learn at heart; which means he sees it and starts trying to live accordingly. That is why one of the fastest way to learn is by using pictures or images.

Do not forget, "what a man sees with his heart, that he thinks of.

Here is the conclusion of it all...

To change a man, change the way he thinks. When you change the way he thinks, you've changed what he sees. When you change what he sees, you've changed what he tries to live out. When you change what he tries to live out, you've changed his personality, you've changed him!
They use this concept in the force (army, navy, and air force), terrorism, religions and psychology.

You must learn to learn...
Learn to unlearn...
And learn to relearn.

It takes courage...

SPARK'S VIEW

Here is a fact like I've always told people, all you need is a little creativity. In all we do, in our various business, excluding none.
There are a few guys who are good in what they do. You probably have known or heard about them, yes, but they exist. Let's take a little time to see what this young song writer, a rapper and a poet wrote on creativity. He calls himself SPARK!!!

"They ask me why is your name Spark?
Are u a one hit wonder, what do you spark?
So I had to show them u can't take me off like sickle cell,
Sickle into their cells like am holding d reaper's weapon to free them.
I say, I say, Spark is Creativity, Creativity is Spark!
A fire starts with a Spark.
Even d flames of hell stand with a spark,
That spark of pride in Lucifer lead engulfing flames for unbelievers.
Creativity is older than the Egyptian civilization.
Ancient as d beginning of time,
Creativity was in motion when the Almighty chose light over darkness,
Creativity was seen when he sent his son to die so we can be redeemed
Creativity is a personality
That can be found in anybody's mentality,
Provided they show the capability
To use the 6th sense of their humanity."

This young chap got my interpretation almost correct. So if God explore creativity to create, why not you, His image? Com'on do think the unthinkable, see the solution, and commence on the healing process. Humanity needs you to see and safe her.
But Please just be creative.

LOVE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING

D'banj repeated a known fact, "LOVE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING" at the beginning of his hit track, fall in love.

The BIBLE dedicated the 13th chapter of 1Corinthians to portray and explain the importance of love.

Then I ask myself a question; "If love is a beautiful thing,
Why has it left so many people shattered, battered, or even scattered?
Why has it ended so many lives who believed in and sought it?
Why are people afraid to venture into it?
Why does it cause more harm than good?"

...So many WHYs...

But then, LOVE is still LOVE despite all the mishaps.
Now, studies have it that the word, LOVE, is one of the most abused words. That's reminds me of a popular cliché, "when purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable."
We simply do not know the reason and purpose of love, we do not know when and when not to love,
to say it,
when to embrace it,
whom to love,
why we should love,

so... The abuse is inevitable.

Now let me liken it to something we all are familiar with. I believe most of us have favorite food. You can use mine to appease me when you get on my nerves: my mom knows this too well...smiles.

Let's try fathom the way we feel when we eat or about to eat it. To me, I always feel like a man who is about to make love with his wife for the first time on his wedding night. So you see, the feeling is just so sweet, SO IS LOVE.

What if it wasn't prepared by an expert, or trampled on the ground, or has become sour, you won't be able to have a taste of it. SO IS LOVE, that's why most  victims get the hit from the after effects.

One might taste a spoon or two, but would stop eating after noticing or observing the bad taste. SO IS LOVE.

One problem people have is that they don't know
Why,
Where,
How, and
When to quit any feeling that isn't love but appears to be it, that's false hope.
Some believe it would later turn out to be it, that self deceit.
Some fight and search  for it where it can't be found, that's a lost battle.

Hey, come on, wake up!
Do the needful, for whether you believe it or not, hurt yourself or not, die or not, it doesn't stop LOVE from being A BEAUTIFUL THING.

THE PEACOCK IMAGE

The Peacock is a bird that is known for it's beautiful and colorful feathers, whenever he displays them in his usual fashion, one can't help but stare in amazement at the wonders of God's handiwork, this colorful feathers are really a sight for sore eyes, and the Peacock probably knows what he has, hence he spares no time in displaying it, and this usually gets the peahen(s) drooling.

Why am I even talking about a Peacock? Am not really into birds, but I saw something yesterday that inspired me to write this.

During summer, the Peacock sheds off all it's beautiful feathers, this leaves him looking bare and somewhat ugly, you could mistake him for a peahen, except for the bluish-green color on his neck and the slender strips on his head that clearly distinguishes him.

This Peacock had a few feathers left but they weren't in any way close to being colorful, but it didn't stop him from displaying it in his usual fan-like pattern, I was amazed that despite the fact that he had shed his feathers, it didn't prevent him from showing anyone who cared to see that he was, and is and will continue to be a Peacock, he didn't start behaving like a peahen, he knew his identity and the loss of his beautiful feathers didn't diminish the picture he had about himself.

This can be related to a Christian who is only a Christian when the tides of life Favour him, when the tides go contrary, they begin to complain and give a long list of reasons why they shouldn't be in that situation, they allow their present situation to determine their reaction to life, the fact that you are passing through a difficult time doesn't make you less of who you are, you are made in the image and likeness of God, what that means is that what God would normally do, you can as well do if you know who you are, whether it's in Autumn, Winter, Summer or Spring, it doesn't change what's inside, it's only the outside that can change. Take a cue from the Peacock and stop allowing what's happening without to determine what happens within, it should be the other way round.

Dominion always starts from within.

        Written by: CHIKE AMADI