SPECIAL FEATURE | C. S LEWIS

His favorite books as a kid were Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson and the secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

As a teenager, he loved Poetry especially the works of Virgil. He was said to have made these statement.

"I can't imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only ones"

"It is a good rule after reading a new book never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between".

"No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally and often far-more reading at the age of fifty and beyond".

Born on November 29, 1898 C.S Lewis grew up around books and loved to read. He felt that finding a book to read was as easy as walking into a field and finding a new blade of grass.

According to history he was one of the intellectual giants and arguably one of the most influential writer of his days.

A first class graduate in Greek, Latin , Literature, philosophy and Ancient History and English literature.

He thought English at Magdalene College, Oxford were he worked for 29 years.

He wrote books like;
Pilgrims Regress in 1933, which was about his spiritual journey to christian faith.

"Allegory of love in 1936. This book won the Hawthorn den Prize, and is still considered as a master piece today. It's a work on the history of love literature from early middle age to Shakespeare's time.

Out of the silent planent 1938 was the first of trilogy of science friction novels.

His book, the chronicles of Narnia fantasy series was adapted into various films for big and small screen.

These are some of his works among other great books he wrote both for adult and children.

C.S Lewis life tells the story of how reading can touch a man and add colour to his career.

BEYOND THE COVER | REINVENTION BY BRAIN TRACY

How often have you looked in the mirror and thought, “Everything is perfect.” My job is fulfilling and pays me enough to enjoy the lifestyle of my dream. The people I work with are ideal colleagues who share my vision of success, and my business or company is poised to capitalize on new opportunities and dominate its market.

Never? Perhaps it’s time for a change. A reinvention! It may sound radical, and it is. But more important, it’s possible. Human beings-every one of us-are built to succeed, and if we haven’t yet charted our own unique course towards satisfaction and success, it’s only a question of when we take the plunge. The process begins when you wipe out the unsatisfying elements of the present so you can move onward and upward-quickly and decisively-toward the wonderful, bright future that awaits you.

Internationally renowned expert Brain Tracy has helped countless thousands of people literally reinvent themselves- just as he has reinvented himself over the years to achieve astonishing result in his own life and career. In Reinvention, he shares with you the same secrets he and others have used to embrace the future and create invigorating, low-stress, supersuccessful new lives.

As Tracy reveals, your own blend of talent, knowledge skills, experiences, insight, and ambition is unique to you. Once you recognize your singular gifts and path to your singular gifts, the; path to your new life will be clear. With Reinvention, Tracy takes you through a powerful 7-step process that you can use right now- and, if you like, again and again throughout your life, at any age and stage- to consciously create positive change in your life. The Seven R’s that hold the key are:

REEVALUATING: Learn when and how to take a step back and look at what id different ways.

RETHINKING. Learn how to ask the right question and get the facts about any situation.

REORGANIZING. Discover secrets for secrets for streamlining every aspect of your work and life for maximum efficiency.
RESTRUCTURING. Just as business restructure to economize, you’ll learn how to channel your time, energy, money, and other resources toward your highest priorities.

REENGINEERING. Reduce and simplify the steps in any process, and learn how to identify those tasks that are best delegated to others.

REINVENTING. The heart of the matter. If you could (or had to) start your life and career over from the ground up, what would you do differently? Learn how to embrace this mentality- and live it.

REGAINING CONTROL. Understand how you and you alone control your own life and destiny. Far from being a burden, this control is your greatest gift in remaking your life.

With our world in a constant state of flux, those who find success and true happiness will be those who not only change, but master change, create it, and leverage it. Profound, practical, and life-altering, Brain Tracy’s Reinvention will be the key to building your ideal world and securing your place in it.

Reinvention is a guide for anyone looking for success, fulfillment , and a fresh start.

A PEEK FROM A BOOK | WHAT'S SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE

God is a God of grace. This means that, whatever we get from God is not given to us based on merit. It is a divine nature of God to be good to all.  The church is called to be like Christ. If Christ is graceful. How does the church display grace in a society that seem graceless? These three different stories from the book, ‘What’s So Amazing About Grace’ would give you a hint.

STORY ONE
A prostitute came to me in wretched straits, homeless, sick, unable to buy food for her two-year-old daughter. Through sobs and tears, she told me she had been renting out her daughter-two years old!-to men interested in kinky sex. She made more renting out her daughter for an hour than she could earn on her own in a night. She had to do it, she said, to support her drug habit. I could hardly bear hearing her sordid story. For one thing, it made me legally liable-I'm required to report cases of child abuse. I had no idea what to say to this woman.

At last I asked if she had ever thought of going to a church for help. I will never forget the look of pure, naïve shock that crossed her face "Church!" She cried. "Why would I ever go there? I was already feeling terrible about myself. They'd just make me feel worse."

STORY TWO
In church the other Sunday I was intent on a small child who was turning around smiling at everyone. He wasn't gurgling, spitting, humming, kicking, tearing the hymnals, or rummaging through his mother's handbag. He was just smiling. Finally, his mother jerked him about and in a stage whisper that could be heard in a little theatre off Broadway said, "Stop that grinning! You're in church!" With that she gave him a belt and as the tears rolled down his cheeks added, "That's better," and returned to her prayer.

Suddenly I was angry. It occurred to me the entire world is in tears, and if you're not, then you'd better get with it. I wanted to grab this child with the tear-stained face close to me and tell him about my God. The happy God. The smiling God. The God who had to have a sense of humor to have created the likes of us..... By tradition, one wears faith with the solemnity of a mourner, the gravity of a mask of tragedy, and the dedication of a Rotary badge.

What a fool, I thought. Here was a woman sitting next to the only light left in our civilization-the only hope, our only miracle- our only promise of infinity. If he couldn't smile in church, where was left to go?

STORY THREE
Peter Greave wrote a memoir of his life with leprosy, a disease he contracted while stationed in India. He returned to England, half-blind and partially paralyzed, to live on a compound run by a group of Anglican sisters. Unable to work, an outcast from society, he turned bitter. He thought of suicide. He made elaborate plans to escape the compound, but always backed out because he had nowhere to go. One morning, uncharacteristically, he got up very early and strolled the grounds. Hearing a buzzing noise, he followed it to the chapel, where sisters were praying for the patients whose names were written on it's wall. Among the names, he found his own. Somehow that experience of connection, of linking, changed the course of his life. He felt wanted. He felt graced.

"Doesn’t the bible say we must love everybody?"

"O, the Bible! To be sure, it says a great many things; but, then nobody ever thinks of doing them"
HARRIET BEECHER STOWE, UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

We speak of grace often. But do we understand it? More importantly, do we truly believe in it....? And do our lives proclaim it as powerfully as our words?
Keep in mind you are the church and no matter where we run to grace can be found only in Christ.

To read and understand how to live a grace filled life get PHILIP YANCY's book WHAT IS SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE

BOOK COVER

SPECIAL FEATURE | TREASURED STORY: MOTHERS ROCK

"We just don't have the money, Bennie"

BEN CARSON AND HIS MOTHER

In the months Dad left, Curtis and I must have heard that statement a hundred times, and, of course, it was true. When we asked for toys or candy, as we'd done before, I soon learned to tell from the expression on Mother's face how deeply it hurt her to deny us. After a while I stopped asking for what I knew we couldn't have anyway.

In a few instances resentment flashed across my mother's face. Then she'd get very calm and explain to us boys that Dad loved us but wouldn't give her money to support us. I vaguely recall a few times when Mother went to court, trying to get child support from him. Afterwards, dad would send money for month or two- never the full amount- and he always had a legitimate excuse.

One reason I didn't hold any grudges or harsh feelings towards Dad must have been that my mother seldom blamed him- at least not to us or our hearing. I can hardly think of a time when she spoke against him.

More important than that fact, though, Mother managed to bring a sense of security to our three-member family. While I missed dad, for a long time, I felt a sense of contentment being with just mother and my brother because we really did have a happy family.

My mother, a young woman with hardly any education, came from a large family and had many things against her. Yet she pulled off a miracle in her own life, and helped in ours. I can hear Mother's voice; no matter how bad things were, saying, “Bennie, we’re going to be fine." Those were not empty words either, for she believed them too, and they provided a comforting assurance for me.

Part of Mother's strength came from a deep-seated faith in God and perhaps just as much from her innate ability to inspire Curtis and me to know she meant every word she said. We knew we weren't rich; yet no matter how bad things got us, we didn't worry about what we'd have to eat or where we'd live.

Our growing up without father put a heavy burden on mother. She didn't complain - at least not to us- and she didn't feel sorry for herself. She tried to carry the whole load, and somehow I understood what she was doing. No matter how many hours she had to be away from us at work, I knew she was doing it for us. That dedication and sacrifice made a profound impression in my life.

Abraham Lincoln once said, "All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my mother." I'm not sure I want to say it quite like that, but my mother, Sonya Carson, was the earliest, strongest and most impacting force in my life.

BEN CARSONS' FAMILY 

It would be impossible to tell about my accomplishments without starting with my mother's influence. For me to tell my story means to beginning with hers.

Ben Carson's testimony of his mum Sonya Carson as found in the book 'Gifted Hands.

GUEST COLUMN | TRULY FAITHFUL : "THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOVE LIKE CHRIST!

Most times your spouse would do things that would get on your nerve. And as it is with the natural man, the first thing that comes to mind is to react. Pastor Vance says, it’s an opportunity to love like Christ did. But is it really easy to love like Christ did? Find out in this thought provoking read from Truly Faithful.

"The Opportunity to Love Like Christ"! ~ PAV

I remember once when we had no vehicle and I was in school, that I had to walk to school with all of my heavy books in the rain. That was almost 2 miles of walking in the rain. Before I left school, I messaged my wife on Facebook because we didn't have phones at the time and asked her did she need anything before I came home. She gave me a list of things we needed for the house so I tried finding a ride. I couldn't so I decided to foot it once again. This time I had to walk all the way from school to the store not far from our house which was a little over two miles. So I got to the store and picked up the things we needed. Well believe it or not, all that walking was the easy part as many of my past jobs required me to walk for hours at a time. The hard part was carrying all those things home as it has started back raining. I had several heavy bags and stopped frequently as the bags felt like they were cutting my hands. It was very discouraging to say the least but I kept thinking how I just wanted to come home to my wife and children, relax and eat a home cooked meal. I was tired and hoping my wife would reward me for all of the things I had done for her and our children.

When I got to the front door, I was thinking she was going to open it as she had done many times before. Because once she knew I was headed home, she would normally time how long it took me to get there, open the door, greet me and then the children are next. But this was not to be this time around. So I put all the bags down, wiped my head with my shirt which was drenched from sweat and rain and opened the door. What I saw when I walked in literally drained the little energy I had left. I saw food all over the floor, spilled milk, toys, piles of cheerios and more. My wife was on the phone, my daughters hair were not done and my son was making another pile of cheerios. I was a man on fire at that very moment.

I put everything down and in my mind, I had already refused to help do anything as I was tired and felt like my wife should have done her part in keeping our home and children in order. My wife put whoever she was talking to on hold and whispered to me, "I'm sorry I don't have anything done but I have been on the phone with this lady all day. She's been crying about this, that and the other. I will get things done as soon as I'm off". I was not happy that the house looked a mess. I was not happy that our children looked a greater mess with food all over their clothes and in their hair and I was not happy that no food was cooked or even made for me. I was like, can a brother get a sandwich? Can that woman on the phone wait? I was mad and walked away so that I would not act out in my flesh.

You see, I felt I deserved a clean house, clean children and a meal when I got home. Any of you would agree. This is what a husband is to come home to everyday. But when I got to myself, the Lord said, "Here is your opportunity to love your wife as I love the church". I stopped. Here I am mad as a raging bull and the Lord is telling me to love my wife? I was like, "But Lord, she hasn't done ANYTHING that she normally does. What about ME? What about that I have to wake up early just to walk and make it to school on time? What about the fact that she asked me to go to the store and I went with no complaints even though I had to walk over two miles to get there after walking almost two miles just to get to school IN THE RAIN? What about having to walk home in the rain carrying all these heavy bags AND MY BOOKS? In other words I was asking the Lord, "WHAT ABOUT ME"? And all He said was, "This is an opportunity to love your wife at this time".

I paused. I thought. I pondered. My flesh wanted to reject what the Lord told me but my spirit man was ready, willing and able to go and love my wife ANYWAY! I prayed a little more because I needed that strength from the Lord. I then went to get the children cleaned up. I cleaned the kitchen but left a pile of Cheerios so that my son could continue to play in while I made myself and my wife food. As I began to clean up and make food, the Lord then revealed to me that my wife had not eaten all day. I overheard the conversation that my wife had been ministering to a woman who was at her wits end in her marriage and was ready to walk out on her husband and children. And in order to keep the children occupied, she allowed them to mess up a little which was a lot in my sight (LOL) so that she could minister to a woman who was on the edge. By the time my wife was off the phone which was over an hour later, I could tell she too was exhausted (Yes for those that do not know, ministry can be very draining but God refreshes those who refresh), hungry and drained. So I served her food, made her a nice drink, pulled up the chair so she could kick her feet up and let her pour her heart out about the day she had.

Listen husbands, I'm not a perfect husband by far. There have been many times I missed the opportunity to love my wife and operated in my flesh instead. There have been times I came home and felt things should have been done a certain way and let my wife know, which started an argument between us. But THAT TIME I heeded to the Holy Spirit and listened to my Savior and loved my wife even when my flesh pushed against doing so. But look what happened? My wife got up after all of that to go lay down and then she said, "Thanks for not being upset with me. Tell me, how was your day"? Shouldn't that have been the first thing she said to me when I came home? Yes! But just because it wasn't and just because things were not in order as they should have been, does that mean she is not worthy to be loved like Christ loved the church?

The sad part about that question I just asked is that too many "believers" would have said "No she was not worthy" but that means you missed the commandment God gave us husbands. The word didn't say, "Husbands, love your wives like Christ ONLY if they submit to you as unto the Lord". It didn't say, "Husbands love your wives like Christ loves the church ONLY if she reverences you like the word says". It also didn't say, "Husbands love your wives ONLY if your wife is a good and Godly wife" or "Husbands love your wives when she does what she is supposed to do". NO! It says, Husbands LOVE YOUR WIVES...PERIOD! We don't get to choose when we love our wives when we are in obedience to Christ although we can choose not to love our wives when we are in disobedience to Christ.

My point is not to bring ANY attention to what I did that day because remember initially I DIDN'T WANT TO! I wanted my wife to drop that phone and get our our home in the way it should have been done. I wanted my food. I wanted my reward, my respect for all I had done that day, BUT GOD! God reminded me that His daughter needed to be loved even when she is not perfect, even when she is slacking in her role. The point I'm trying to make is IT WAS CHRIST who strengthened me to love her when I was justified in my feelings. Husbands, you CANNOT love a wife like Christ without Christ. I have said this time and time again, IT TAKES CHRIST to love a wife like Christ and to give up your very life for her. That day, I gave up my way in order for her to have her way and be loved like she deserved. Yes she is worthy of and deserves to be loves in spite of her shortcomings. Why? BECAUSE GOD SAID SO! It does not matter what she does or does not do, My Lord said His daughter is worthy of love ALWAYS!

It was not easy and since then I have missed the opportunity to love my wife when she needed it. But with Christ, I am getting better and better and hopefully I am perfecting my love towards her as Christ enables me to do so. Husbands I give this word to you as Christ has given it to me and all Godly husbands, don't miss the opportunity to love like Christ even in times where you don't feel your wife deserves it. Rely on Christ in order to do this because I am telling you, you cannot do this on your own or you will fail every time! Be encouraged husbands, pray and ask God to help you to never miss "The Opportunity to Love (Your Wives) Like Christ"!

Eph 5:25 (ERV), "Husbands, love your wives THE SAME as Christ loved the church".

Only if you have Christ can you do this! Do you have Him?"

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Truly Faithful, which originally started in 2006, is a ministry that focuses on helping couples to become and stay Truly Faithful in their marriages and helping singles to prepare for Godly marriages according to the word of God.  Their motto for the ministry is, "Married couples, in order to be Truly Faithful to your spouse, you first must be Truly Faithful to Christ.  And singles always be Truly Faithful to Christ"!  The ministry is overseen by husband Pastor Antonio Vance, and his help meet Octavia E Vance known to many as "PAV & OEV".

The Vances have been married a little over 10 years and have 4 children ages 7, 5, 4 and 1 with another little one currently on the way.  PAV and OEV believe in being transparent about their ups and downs in marriage as led by the Holy Spirit in order to teach and encourage couples and singles who want to do marriage God's way.  They base every teaching off the word of God as the word is their governing authority.  You may find them on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, google+ and their personal website all listed below.

www.TrulyFaithful.com
www.Twitter.com/BeTrulyFaithful.com
www.youtube.com/BeTrulyFaithful
google.com/+Trulyfaithful
www.TrulyFaithful.com

MEET THESE AUTHORS | AUTHORS OF GIFTED HANDS; BEN CARSON AND CECIL MURPHY

BENJAMIN SOLOMON CARSON

Benjamin Solomon Carson was born on September 8th, 1951 in Detroit. He is the second son of Soya and Robert Solomon Carson.

He received his M.D from the university of Michigan Medical school and became a Director of Neurosurgery at John Hopkins at age 33.

He is well known for being the first surgeon to successfully separate Siamese twin joined at the head.

He was awarded the the presidential medial of freedom by president George W. Bush.

In 2013, he became a popular figure in conservative media after delivering a widely publicized speech at National Prayer Breakfast on social issues and federal government.

At the moment, Ben Carson is a columnist and a retired Neurosurgeon.



CECIL MURPHY

Cecil Murphy was born in Hobart, Oklahoman on January 28th 1933. He grew up in Davenpot.

In 1954, he became a christian through reading Magnificent Obsession by Lloyd C. Douglas.

He obtained a Bachelor in Religious Education from Chicago Bible college and BA in Education from Pestalozzi- Froebel Teaching College. IN 1970, he received his MA in Education and masters in Divinity. He was ordained that year by the Presbyterian church.
He also has a Ph. D from Emory University. He thought at Beulah Height university for 25 years.

He began writing in 1971 and in 1984, he left the pastorate to become a full time writer.

He wrote 90 minute in Heaven; A true life story of life and death. including other titles and devotionals.

He worked with Ben Carson to make Gifted Hands a reality.

BOOK COVER

BRAIN FOOD | THE IMPORTANCE OF READING GREAT BOOKS

Written By Gbanaibolou Burutolu

“A rule of thumb for predicting future success is to know the number of books in the home.”

What's the Big Deal About Reading Lots of Great Books?

C. S. Lewis once said, "We read to know we are not alone." What this means to me is that, through books, more than through any other medium, I can have conversations with the minds of other people--how they think, what they believe, what they value. And more important, I can find out more about myself. There is something identifying and affirming to realize that other people have thought the same thoughts, had the same struggles, felt the same longings.

Reading also provides a window on the world. Robert Lewis Stevenson wrote, "There is no frigate like a book," meaning books can take you to times and places that you could never go in real life. I can read Perelandra and be on Venus or Ben Hur and be in the Roman Empire at the time of Christ or Cold Sassy Tree and feel what it was like to live in a small town in Georgia in the early 1900s.

From an educational perspective, being well-read places you in the small percentage of people who have a broader perspective of life--the movers and shakers of the world. Why? Because readers have superior language and thinking skills. They also know about life outside their narrow slice of it. They can see both the "big picture" and the details and keep a sense of perspective because they have read enough to expand their minds beyond the parameters of their own lives.

What Do We Want to Communicate About Reading?

There are four main concepts we want to communicate to our children about reading: (1) Written words have value because they are a vital communication tool; (2) Written words can be personally enjoyable; (3) Written words increase understanding and power over the world; and (4) Reading is something most people can easily learn to do. We communicate these concepts through:

Having a print rich environment. This simply means our house is full of good things to read.

Reading aloud to the child from an early age, pointing out simple words, running a finger from left to right under the lines of print, and encouraging the child that soon he will be able to read these books himself.

Letting the child see you read. Children take their cues about what is worthwhile from their parents. If the parents seldom read, the children assume reading is not a valuable activity. Boys need to see their fathers read.

Letting the child see you attach value to books. This not only means that you have your own library of personal “treasures,” but it also means that the child sees you enjoy reading and knows you go to books for answers to questions you have.

If books are to become an important part of your child's world, they must appear to be important to you. It is difficult to convince a child who never sees his or her parents with a book that reading a pleasurable activity, and self-education is a worthwhile use of time.

Many parents lament that their daughters become avid readers, but their sons are totally disinterested. Our question to these parents is: Do your children ever see their father read? Boys who only see Mom read begin to associate reading with feminine activities.

Fathers we have posed this question to give all sorts of excuses for not reading--they don't have time, they are slow readers, they can't find anything they want to read, they don't like reading, and so on. If you are a father who doesn't enjoy personal reading, consider reading aloud to your children books that they enjoy. This way they can see you interacting with books, even if you don't read much yourself.

The Benefits of a Print Rich Environment

It has been proven that children who grow up in homes where they have access to lots of good books for them to read whenever they choose have naturally superior language art skills.

For those reasons, we say READ, READ, READ; WRITE, WRITE, WRITE; and TALK, TALK, TALK. A child who hears English properly used at home and consistently reads well-written literature will automatically internalize correct grammar, word usage, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling and will also develop an extensive vocabulary.

If that weren't enough to convince you that reading is one of the most important activities your child can do, Cradles of Eminence studied common factors in the childhoods of 400 eminent men and women and concluded: “A rule of thumb for predicting future success is to know the number of books in the home.” With this in mind, you may want to slowly but surely build your own home library of proven favorites.

Although it may seem easier and cheaper to simply check books out from the library, children love to read and read and reread their favorites, and they take pleasure in having copies of books that have become their special friends. Also, if you have a large family, the books become an investment to be passed down to each succeeding child, and perhaps even to grandchildren.

Gbanaibolou Burutolu is a passionate lover of Christ and studied at University of East London.

BEYOND THE COVER | LOVE CODE BY PASTOR NIKE ADEYEMI

Love is the most transforming force know to man. We are created in God's image and have the potential to love accept love and love others. When people have experienced rejection, they tend to look for love in the wrong places. It is therefore important for us to have a deep understanding of the nature of love.

In Pst. Nike Adeyemi's book, 'Love Code', she explains to us in simple terms,
»How to find security in God's love
»How to became a channel of compassion
»The practice of endless forgiveness
»How to overcome negative emotions.



CONTENT

Introduction.                                                              9
Chapter One
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR
And Who Is My Neighbor?                                     16
Love Takes Responsibility.                                       18
Pity Versus Compassion.                                          20
Become An Institution of Compassion                      24
The Heart of Gold.                                                   25
Are You Doing The Will Of God?                            27
Shun Insensitivity.                                                      29

Chapter Two
LOVE IS POWERFUL
Be Secure In God's Love.                                           34
Love Is The Greatest.                                                  37
Love And Motives.                                                     38
Love In The Family.                                                     41
Leadership And Love.                                                 42
Love In The Nation.                                                    43
Loving By The Word.                                                 44
Love and Victory.                                                      46
The Love Walk.                                                         48
Charity Begins At Home.                                            52

Chapter Three
LOVE IN THE WRONG PLACES
A Solid Foundation.                                                   58
Stand Strong.                                                             59
People Need Love.                                                     60
Two Are Better Than One.                                          64
Love Gives.                                                                 66
Love Forgives.                                                             67
Accept God's Love.                                                     71

Chapter Four
WALKING IN LOVE
Pursue Love.                                                              81
How To Pursue Love.                                                82
1) Be Like Christ.                                                      82
2)Set Love As A Goal.                                              82
3)Practice Endless Forgiveness.                                 82
4) Live Above Temptations.                                      83
Love As Our Brand.                                                 85
Love Pleases God.                                                   85

Chapter Five
LOVE AND MONEY
Agape.                                                                     89
Phileo.                                                                       91
Eros.                                                                        92
Settle Your Destiny With God.                                  93
Women And Finance.                                               95
Money.                                                                    99
My Testimony.                                                        101
A Word For Young Christians.                                105
Live By Faith.                                                         106
Walk With The Lord.                                              107

BOOK COVER

A PEEK FROM A BOOK: REDEEMING LOVE

This is a peek from the book REDEEMING LOVE written by FRANCINE RIVERS
 A story on what a perfect love from God looks like and how it can heal the broken spirit. Romance read have never been this good! An amazing novel to read.

ENJOY THIS BIT OF THE STORY

The rose bushes Michael had brought home for Angel bloomed early. She touches the scarlet buds and thought of her mother. She was so much like Mae. She was good for growing flowers, looking pretty, and giving a man pleasure. Beyond that, what good was she?

Michael should have children. He wanted children.
She knew on Christmas night what she should do, but it was unbearable to even think of leaving him, of living without him. She wanted to stay here and forget the look in his eye when he held Benjamin. She wanted to cling to him and bask in the happiness he gave her.

It was that very selfishness that made her realize she didn’t deserve him.
Michael had given her everything. She had been empty, and he had filled her to over flowing with his love. She had betrayed him, and he had taken her back and forgiven her. He had sacrificed pride to love her. How could she discard his needs after that? How could she live with herself knowing that she has ignored the desires of his heart? What of Michael? What was best for him?
The dark voice spoke often: Stay! Don’t you deserve some happiness after all the years of living in misery? He says he loves you, doesn’t he? So let him prove it!
She couldn’t listen any more. She closed her mind to it and thought of Michael instead, and she thought of Miriam, sister of her heart. She thought of the children Miriam and Michael could have, dark and beautiful, strong and loving. Down through generation to come. She reminded herself that nothing could come from her. If she stayed, Michael would remain faithful until he died, and that would be the end of him.
She couldn't let that be.
When Michael told her he was going into town with Paul, she made her decision. John had remarked only yesterday that the town had grown so big a stage came twice a day. It travelled on high road not two miles from the cabin, just beyond the lines of hills. She still had the gold she had earned from Sam Teal and Joseph Hochschild. Michael had insisted she keep it for herself. It was enough to get her to San Francisco and keep her for a time. She would not think beyond that.


I have to think of what’s best for Michael
when Michael came in from the field, she had a sumptuous venison dinner for him. The cabin bedecked with flowers, the mantel, the table, the bed. Michael looked around bemused. “What are we celebrating?”
“Life,”she said and kissed him. She drank in the sight of him, setting every angle of his face and body to memory. She wanted him desperately, loved him so much. Would he ever know how much? She couldn’t tell him. If she did, he would come looking for her. He would bring her back. Better that he think her carnal and base. But she would have this last night to remember. He would be part of her no matter where she was and even if he never knew it. She would carry the sweet memories to her grave.
“Take me up the hill again, Michael. Take me to the place where you showed me the sunrise.”
He saw the hunger in her eyes. “It’s cool tonight”
“Not too cold.”
He could deny her nothing, but there was a strange uneasiness in the pit of his stomach. Something was wrong. He took the quilts from the bed and led the way. Perhaps she would talk to him and tell him what preyed on her mind. Maybe she would open up to him finally.
But her mood changed, swinging from pensive to abandon. She ran to the top of the hills ahead of him and spun around, her arms spread wide. All around her, crickets sang, and soft breeze stirred the grasses. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it? The vastness of it all. I’m utterly insignificant.”
“Not to me.”
“Yes,” she said, turning to him. “Even to you.” He frowned, and she turned again. “There shall be no gods before me,” she cried out to heaven. “None but you Lord.” She turned and looked at him. None but you, Michael Hosea
He frowned. “Are you mocking me, beloved?”
“Never, ” she said and meant it.
She look her hair down. It spilled on her shoulder and back, white in the moonlight. “Do you remember reading to me of the Shulammite bride dancing for her husband?”
He couldn’t breathe as he watched her in the moonlight. Every movement drew his gave to her and made her aware. When he tried to take hold of her, she moved away again, her arms outstretched in invitation. Her hair floated about her, her voice came husky and enticing in the wind.
“I’ll do anything for you, Michael. Anything.”
And suddenly he knew what she was doing. She was saying good-bye, just as she had the last time. She was deadening his mind with physical pleasure.

When she came close again, Michael caught hold of her. “Why are you doing this?”

“For you,” she said, pulling his head down and kissing him.
Digging his finger into her hair, he slanted his mouth across hers. He wanted to consume her. Her hands were like flame on his body.
God, I won’t let her go again. I can’t!
She moved against him, and he had no thought except for her, and it was enough.
God, why are you doing this to me again? Do you give to take away?
‘”Michael, Michael,” she breathed, and he tested the saltiness of his own tears on her cheeks.
“You need me.” He could see her moonlit face. “ You need me. Say it, Tirzah. Say it.”
Let her go, beloved
God no! Don’t ask it of me!
Give her to me
No!
They clung to one another, seeking solace in sweet oblivions. But sweet oblivions doesn’t last.
Michael held her tightly when it passed away. He tried to hold onto all of it, but they were two separate beings again. He had not the strength to hold them together forever.
She was trembling violently, whether from cold or spent passion he didn’t know. He didn’t ask. He drew quilt. Around them both and still felt her resolve like a raw wound.
It was growing colder, and they needed to return. They dressed in silence, both tormented, both pretending not to be. She came to him as a child would, looking for comfort.
He closed his eyes against the fear uncurling in the pit of his stomach. I love her, Lord. I can’t give her up.
Michael, beloved. Would you have her hang on her cross forever?
Michael let out a shuddering sigh. When she lifted her face, he saw something in it that made him want to weep. She loved him. She really loved him. And yet, there was something else in her moonlit face. A haunting sadness he couldn’t take away, an emptiness he could never fill. He remembered her anguished words on the night Benjamin was born. “I wish I was whole!.”
He couldn’t make her so.
Lifting her, he held her cradled in his arms. She put her arm around his neck and kissed him. He closed his eyes. Lord, if I give her up to you, will you ever give her back to me?
No answer came.
Lord, please!
The wind stirred softly, but there was only silence.

AUTHOR;FRANCINE RIVERS

SPECIAL FEATURE | TREASURED STORY;GROWING UP OR GROWING OLD

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know.

I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a Smile that lit up her entire being.

She said, "Hi, handsome! My name is Rose. I'm 87 years old. Can I give you a hug?"

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze.

"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked. She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel."

"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.

"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop.

I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her 3x5 cards on the floor.

Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order, so let me just tell you what I know." As we laughed, she cleared her throat and began:

"We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor everyday. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead, and they don't even know it!" she said.

"There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn 20 years old. If I am 87 years old, and stay in bed for a year, and never do anything, I will turn 88. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability," she added.

"The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."

She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose." She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.

At the years end, Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.

-----

Remember these 'inspiring words' in loving memory of ROSE...

"GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY, GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL."

Author Unknown.

SPECIAL FEATURE| HOW DO I DEAL WITH THIS?

It was a love affair with some sort of godly romance. None planned that their emotion would get a better part of them, but it did in the end. From a hand shake to a kiss, from a kiss to a hug, the touch went further and the hands roamed places it shouldn't. They both felt the urge to stop for they knew it was wrong but at last they didn't obey the voice of caution and they eat the fruit they vowed never to eat till their wedding night.

Her case was different. She didn't ask for it. She was forced to satisfy a man’s urge. A man she never knew.

Two different cases, same result, faced with same kind of choice to make but they both choose differently.

Two different books, written by two different authors with a desire to help those who were raped or gone through the process of aborting a child, find healing.

The Atonement Child by Francine Rivers

AND
Shades of Blue by Karen Kingsbury

These novels can be read by
• Anyone who went through abortion as an escape from shame of unwanted pregnancy.
• Someone who was raped in the past seeking to forget the past, forgive their offenders and reach out to a brighter future.
• People who minister to teenager on abortion and rape issues
• Teenager and youth in a study group activity. It’s an easy way to teach sex education the godly way.
• Parent raising kids
• Adventurous reader.

MEET AN AUTHOR | NIKE ADEYEMI

Nike Adeyemi is the Founder and President of 'The Real Woman Foundation. An organisation dedicated to empowering women and children economically and socially through seminars, skills training, rehabilitation programs, women's shelters and orphanages.

She is the host of 'Real Woman with Nike Adeyemi' a teaching and interactive programma which airs weekly on various TV stations across Nigeria, South Africa, United Kingdom, USA and other countries, with discussion on various issues that affect women and children.

She is passionate about God, Charity and Education. She is a gracious helper and problem solver, anointed to bring emotional healing to hurting women through the teaching and preaching of God's word.

She is at the forefront in the reformation of dysfunctional families and societies with the belief that right parenting and godly values shapes children into exceptional leaders.

She fosters and cares for many more at the Love Home Orphanage.

Nike Adeyemi, formally trained as an architect with an MSc in Architecture from Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria and an MBA from Business Studies Netherlands, She further trained in Strategic Perspective for Non-Profit Management at Harvard Business School. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Researchers and Administrators of Nigeria, a member of the Nigerian Institute of Social Workers among others. She is a recipient of many awards; also serves as a Board member of other non-profit and for profit organizations.

She is married to Sam Adeyemi, Senior Pastor Daystar Christian Centre and CEO Success Power

She is a dedicated mother of three gracious children.

In her writings, you would see her desire to impact a loving heart to the next generation.

Anyone who hungers to serve effectively with love for and of God as the bed rock, must read her books.

 

BRAIN FOOD | JUNK BOOKS?

It's a known fact that in the physical, food is necessary for growth to occur and at every stage in life, the dietary requirement differs. Therefore, it would be odd to find a child feeding on solid meal.

It's same with books. Book helps us to achieve mental growth, such that we are able to relate intelligently with our society and people living in it based on what we know.

In the words of Jeremy Collier,

"A man may as well expect to grow stronger by always eating, as wiser by always reading".

Back to foods. Health practitioners tell us that there are Junk meals. These meals have no nutritional content. They cause unhealthy increase in body weight and are a number of reasons why the body malfunctions.

Having established these facts, could it be possible that, since healthy food exist alongside Junk foods, healthy books and Junk books could also exist?

Let's look at it in the light of Jeremy Collier's statement and health facts available.

If we grow stronger by eating good food, weaker by eating junk food, than when it comes to books, one expects to grow wiser by always reading good books and remains stagnant by reading junk books.

So what are junk books?

Junk books are books that do not add value to us. They leave us certainly not better than we first began reading. They sap us emotionally and distort our value system. They render us useless positively and stagnates our intellectual capacity. 

Note that as a junk food, junk books can be read sparingly and not as a life support.

What makes a book Junk?

Human needs are different, therefore when it comes to reading, what is junk for one may not be for another. For example, an expert in a field may find a material useful to enable him practice his work efficiently but someone else would look at same book and call it junk.

That notwithstanding, some books can still be termed as a Junk generally.

Here are a number of factors that could make a book Junk

1) An individual's value system.

2) An individual's belief or faith.
3) Books that are irrelevant to one's purpose and field of endeavour

A note of caution; People's books are their ideas. Except it is immoral and extremely provocative to sound judgement, avoid calling the book junk.

Understand that people write according to how they see things and you must not always agree.

I trust that this would help you identify a junk book and be careful with its/their consumption.

AUTHORS BOOK LIST | Robert T. Kiyosaki

Do you want to get smarter with money? Then Robert Kiyosaki is an author you must read his books.

Here are list of books he has authored that you could select from.

1) Rich dad, poor dad.

2) What the rich teach kids about money that poor and the middle class do not.

3) The cash flow Quadrant; rich dad's guide to finacial freedom.

4)Why we want you to be rich.

5) Why 'a' students work for 'c' students and why 'b' students work for the government.

6) Unfair advantage.

7) Rich Dad's guide to investing- What the rich invest in that the poor and middel class do not.

8) Rich dad's Retire young, retire rich.

9) The Business school for people who like helping others.

10) Rich Dad's increase your finacial I Q

11) Rich Dad's prophecy

12) Rich Dad Poor Dad for Teens.

13) The Business of the 21 century.

14) Rich Dad's conspiracy of the rich; The 8 rules of money.

15) Rich Dad's before you Quit your job; 10 real life lessons every Entrepreneur should know about building a multmillion Dollar Business.

16)Rich Dad, Poor Dad 2.

17) Who took my money? Why slow investors lose and fast money wins.

18) Rich Dad's success stories.

19) Guild to Becoming rich without culting up your credit card.

20) Rich brother, Rich Sister

21) If you want to be rich and happy don't go to school?

22) The Real book of Real Estate; Real Experts, real stories.

23) You can choose to be rich.

24) Increase your financial IQ.

25) Rich Dad's plan for finacial success.

26) 8 Rich Dad Scams

27) Be rich, Be happy.

28) Shooting the sacred cows of money.

29) Real Book of Real Estate (volume 2 of 2). 30) The Business school: for people who like helping people.

31) Rich Dad's Escape from the Rat race; How to become a rich kid by following Rich Dad's advice.

SPECIAL FEATURE | Soul. Lifting Story From An Author

A woman I know tells a story about the time she burnt out the engine of her father's car, which he had loaned her when she was in college. It was the end of semester break, and she was going to head back to school on the bus, a seven-hour ride with a lot of stops on the way. Ellen had been given a lot of christmas gifts that were bulky, including a down-filled comforter and a new desktop computer. Her dad told her that rather than deal with many big items on the bus, she could drive his car back to school and return it the next time she came home for a visit. What a gift.

The trip back to college was a breeze. Ellen parked the car in a safe spot and planned to drive home and return it within a few weeks. In the meantime, every now and then she'd drive to the grocery store or the mall. Pretty soon, she was taking her friends on a short trips here and there just for fun.

One of those trips, Ellen noticed a red light blinking on the dashboard. She didn't think it was anything serious; after all, her father took great care of the car and it was in good condition. She just kept driving.

Soon she noticed some smoke coming out of the hood and decided she better get the car to campus. Next came a few loud sputters, and then the engine died. When the tow-truck driver arrived, it didn't take him long to figure out the problem: That read light on the dash was an oil indicator. Ellen had neglected to check out the light, and now the engine was beyond repair.

A few days later, when her father arrived (in his remaining car) and she met him at the gas station where the car had been towed, Ellen was terrified. She had abused a privilege and ignored a simple warning. There was no excuse for her neglect, and now she'd destroyed hert father's car. She knew he was furious, and there was no defense for her behavior. Ellen told her father how sorry she was for her carelessness, but he just told her to sit in the car while he assessed the damage.

After learning that the car was now worthless, Ellen's father arranged for the gas station to dispose of it. He actually had to pay them to take it off his hands! Now it was time for Ellen to face his wrath.

As they drove off from the trash car, his father asked Ellen, "Where's the best restaurant in town?" That was the last thing she'd expected to hear, but she directed him to it. As they sat at the table and looked at the menu, Ellen couldn't think about food. Fortunately, her father ordered for both of the: broiled trout almondine. They sat in silence while they waited for their food, every minute feeling like hours.

When the trout arrived, Ellen's father said to her, "Tonight I want to teach you a lesson that you'll never forget." She knew she deserved whatever she got. Would he make her pay him for the car? That would take forever. Would he yell at her? Maybe he would just tell her how disappointed he was in her. In some ways, that would be the worst punishment.

Then he took his knife and fork in hand and said, "I am going to teach you how to remove the skeleton from cooked trout." Not a word was said about the car that night- or ever again.

Ellen's father had been angry about her behaviour-who wouldn't? But he also knew that Ellen had learned her lessons without retribution from him. Ellen is nearly sixty now, and her father died many years ago. But she tells this story as if it happened last week, and she is still in awe of her father's forgiveness. His grace made a greater impact on her than his punishement ever would have.

God's word says that He behaves the same way towards us that Ellen's fther did towards her.

"The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Might One, a Saviour (who saves)! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest (in silent satisfaction) and in His love He will be silent and make no mention (of past sins, or even recall them); He will exult you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17.

From Joyce Meyer's book: GOD IS NOT MAD AT YOU.