Quote for the Day 18Dec2009

Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there. - John Wooden

Quote for the Day 15Dec2009

Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them. – W. Clement Stone

WHAT DOES THE CHRISTMAS MEAN TO YOU?

Dearly Beloved,
WHAT DOES THE CHRISTMAS MEAN TO YOU?
“[Mary] will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21 NIV).
One of the most celebrated seasons in the year is the Christmas season. The season is here again. Many people, especially the children, have been caught the “fever” of the season. There has been this controversy about the origin of season. Many are of the opinion that it originated from a pagan festival. This has made some Christian denominations and sects to distance themselves from the season. Other people would argue that there is no such celebration in the Bible. Many people believe that the Christmas day is the birthday of Jesus Christ, although, this has been disproved from many evidences. However, what does the Christmas mean to you?
Christmas is just a festive season to some people. Therefore, such people are ready to celebrate it just as they celebrate any other festive period. They see the season as a time to entertain themselves. Among such people are the ones that believe in taking their children to visit Father Christmas who will entertain the children and gives them gifts for a token. Christmas season is a period that some people feel they can make quick profit in their business or enterprise. Therefore, they inflate the cost of their wares and services. Most people, especially Christians, attach the season to the first coming of Jesus Christ into this world. However, some people are indifferent. To them, Christmas season or even the Christmas Day is like any other season or day.
However, one has to consider the popular opinion about Christmas – the birth of Jesus Christ. Why did He “made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:7 NIV) by coming to this wretched world? The main reason is to save people from their sins (Matthew 1:21; John 1:29; Acts 13:38-39; 1 John 3:5; Revelation 1:5-6) so “that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV). This singular act entails many other things that give Christmas different meanings to different people.
Regardless of any other meaning attached to the Christmas or any controversy about it, the paramount thing is that Jesus Christ came to this world in a time in history for the salvation of humankind. Have you been saved by Him? What does the Christmas season mean to you?
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

CONDUCT, NOT CONDOM

Dearly Beloved,

On December 3, 2006, I first sent out the message below to commemorate that year’s World AIDS Day. There were many reactions both for and against the message. However, I decide to resend it again to commemorate year’s World AIDS Day. Here is it:

CONDUCT, NOT CONDOM

"It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable" (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, NIV).

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a clinical syndrome (a group of various illnesses that together characterize a disease) resulting from damage to the immune system caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), has been on the rampage since early 1980s. The unfortunate thing about it is that no cure has been found for it. Therefore, there have been many campaigns to prevent it and to manage it in the lives of those that it has infected or affected.

Because it is contacted mainly by sexual intercourse, the use of condom has been one of the ways advocated by many people to prevent the spread of this deadly disease. This has made many people to be more promiscuous. It even seems that people are promoting the use of condom to the detriment of being faithful to one’s spouse, or total abstinence from sexual intercourse till marriage, which is the original will and purpose of God. However, research has shown that the use of condom is not totally safe to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. This new discovery has vindicated some religious organizations that preach total abstinence for unmarried people or faithfulness to one’s spouse for married people as one of the ways to prevent the spread of the virus.

Recently, I was in a gathering where some representatives of an organization came to enlighten us more about the prevention and management of HIV/AIDS. These people were the first non-religious people to say it openly to my hearing that they do not advocate condom but conduct as a way of preventing the spread of the virus. To them, since condom is not totally safe, it is better to switch from condom to conduct – a manner in which an unmarried person will totally abstain from sexual intercourse, and where a married person will be faithful to his/her spouse.

Yes! Conduct is better than condom because apart from preventing you from that deadly virus and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), it will make you to do according to the will and purpose of God (Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:20; 20:10; Proverbs 6:24-35; Matthew 5:27-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Ephesians 5:3-5; Colossians 3:5-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; Hebrews 12:16; 13:4).

HIV/AIDS is real! Conduct yourself in godly ways and take note of other prevention of its spread so that you will not be infected by it.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 04Dec2009

You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense. – Rick Warren

Quote for the Day 03Dec2009

You're not making the most of your potential when the standards set for you by others are higher than the ones you set for yourself. - Bob Gass

Quote for the Day 01Dec2009

God is aware of what you are going through and He will bring solutions to all your difficulties before the end of this year in Jesus name. Amen. Welcome to the last month of the year! - Bayo Afolaranmi