It's My Birthday

Are people there yet?

Wait, what!

What you mean are people there yet?

Who are you coming here to see?

Me or the people who aint here yet?

That's what annoys me about people these days

Especially on birthdays

It's a celebration of a special day for your friend

Who cares if anyone else is here!

A real friend will visit or wish happy birthday before the night end

It's about making that special individual happy

Not about clubbing or meeting the invited people you fancy  

Nah that is messed up 

People you gotta fix up                                                                                          

You know who you all are

The true friends always shine as the brightest star

In the end only one person came

With no alternative aim

A model of true friendship

Calming the storms of life’s hardship

All I ask for is one day in the year

Don’t blow your chance to show that you care

Make that special someone feel like they won the lottery

Having a friend who loves them unconditionally

Temptations

I may look calm, collective and in control externally

But within all hell is breaking loose internally

Wherever I turn a collage of eye balls look my way

Analysing my every step and waiting to judge away

Growing up is like a constant roller coaster

The highs of friendships to the lows of starting over

Innocence of childhood is bliss

For once their eyes are opened their world suddenly becomes a myth

As Adam and Eve had an enlightenment when they ate the fruit of good and evil

We too share a similar fate that is real

Exposure to sin clouds our minds and thoughts

Causing compromisation

From even the ones who ought to be Christ's affirmation

Of the word of the Lord that is out of our scope of interpretation

Therefore only divine intervention from the Holy Spirit propels us into a glimpse of His realm of understanding

We as children of God should watch our backs

For the devil like a hungry lioness stalking her prey never slacks

He comes to steal, kill and destroy

For he does not concern himself with the lost but stealthy launches assaults on the Lord’s convoy

But do not fear

For the Lord preserves and shelters us from the wicked snare

Watch over your brothers and sisters lost in the ether

For you are their keeper

That wolf in sheep’s clothing

That devil in angelic dressing

Never revealing its true nature

Is temptations’ true character

Not all that shines is gold

And not all that sparkles fills that empty void in your soul

Be weary

For once temptation has lured you into its clutches

It deserts leaving behind a broken, empty world full of regrets and wishes

Children do not forget your siblings

Guide them out of the dark into the lights dwellings

And with the Lord as our strength

Freedom will be our reward in the end

AMEN

CHAINS OF ADDICTION

Life is a roller coaster

People always on the move with the coffee mugs overflowing in Costa

In my travels I have come across many experiences

But there is one that seems to always shock my senses

This is the tale of the young man facing the world of addiction

And whether or not he managed to escape this seemingly perilous situation

Young man:        Good morning world, what shall I occupy my time with today

Mind:                    How about we educate ourselves today

Young man:        Certainly sounds like a good idea

Body:                    Screw that man, let’s gamble!

Young man:        Ooo Barcelona are playing tonight, it will be good odds. I could make a few bucks

Body:                    Yeah man, let’s make that MONEY!

Mind:                    What! No, do not waste your time with such trivial and easy money method ways. The satisfaction gain from them is purely temporal, education lasts a lifetime 

Young man:        That is true; they do say knowledge is power

Mind:                    Yes, so let us ignore these irrelevant thoughts of get rich quick tactics

Body:                    Forget you, what about all the people out there that are millionaires from gabling. Don’t chat nonsense, it works if you have the guts to do it…..I never thought you were a little girl, what the boys going to think?

Young man:        Ahh jheeze the boys are going to tease me if I tell them I’m backing out of a bet. Yo you know one bet aint going to hurt now right?

Body:                    That’s the spirit, we got this!

Mind:                    No, do not give in. This is exactly how it starts, you do a little and it leads to a lot, and before you know it you’re addicted!

Young man:        Addicted! Nah don’t worry I can handle myself, I am not one of those desperate gambling dependent people

Mind:                    Yes, now you are not, but how do you think those people got there in the first?

                                They started off just like you are now, thinking that they can handle the odd bet here and there and  then when they make a tiny profit they believe they are God’s gift at gambling and carry on gambling blindly

Young man:        What do you take me for, an idiot?

                                Of course I will be able to control myself; once I make a profit I am done and will walk away.

Body:                    Yeah, you tell that fool of a mind of yours to stay out of this. LEGO!

Mind:                    Ok, well I tried. 

The first stage of addiction I found is the easiest to be caught up in

The person goes through a phase of self-reassurance to counter the feeling of vulnerability that begins creeping

In order to prove to ones’ self and brethren that they are man enough to handle the craze

But what they fail to realise that proof of male dominance is overrated in addiction’s case

Once one tastes the sweet nectar of victory

They are entangled in the chains of addictions clutches of authority

To be reborn into a world of financial and emotional misery

Where escape is an impossibility

Now unto the next phase

Young man:        YES! I won, FULL HOUSE BABY!!

Body:                    See, told you bro. You got this! Round 2 bro!

Mind:                    What happened to playing only until a profit is made and stopping after that?

Young man:        Ahh stop being a party pooper, feels like my lucky day today. What could go wrong? Bring it!

Mind:                    I pray you don’t regret that statement.

FEW MOMENTS LATER…

Young man:        Come on, just need a 21 and I have broken even

                                Nooooooooo! That’s all my savings down the drain. What am I going to do!!

Body:                    Credit card? You could get lucky and win it all back with interest.

Mind:                    No man, stop while you are ahead (well actually, behind). It is not worth it.

Young man:        Look man, I am screwed I need to make the money back somehow. I am down for anything right now, all I need is one lucky break and I am rich!

Mind:                    Remember that time when you said you would never become one of those dependent desperate people? Look at you now, seems like fate had a different set of plans for you. Pathetic!

Body:                    Ignore him, just do it you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Wow, what a crazy turn of events in that young man’s life

You would imagine and hope that this illustration is a special twist of fate of a man’s strife

But how delusional you would be

This is the recognised outcome an addict is expected to see

Now you may be asking, “So why even take part?”

Well that is the question for the ages, that it doesn’t matter how smart

Or how much monetary value one has within their possession

Once the claws of addiction infiltrates, it grips your very being

Let us see how the story concludes

Body:                    Dude, I had no idea this would happen.

                                I am really sorry.

Mind:                    Sorry does not take it all back.

His life has been destroyed, that is what addiction brings to one’s life….takes you from HERO to ZERO.

Young man:        Why did this happen to me? I was only supposed to spend a few quid and then walk away.

                                But I could not physically command my body to cease from the action it was taking and walk away

                                Now I have lost it all

                                I am empty and drained

                                Financially, emotionally and in life

Old man:              Hello young man, I can tell from your current location at the foot the payment and the rugged state of your clothes that you are yet another victim of addiction.

                                Here is some advice, take at your own discretion, you are still young, take this chance to start afresh and move forward in life.

                                Just make sure you LEARN from your MISTAKES.

                                And pass your story unto those contemplating on taking upon the addiction challenge.

Life is packed with many trials and tests

Do not allow this take away your rest

The addiction challenge is not to be taken lightly

It is a real threat that can affect us all greatly

Rise above the testosterone desire to prove ones invincibility

The results of such conquests always end in calamity

Leave your fate in God’s hands

And don’t sell your life to addiction’s demands

Take heed

And succeed

1

DG

 The acronym that expands out to spell

Da Generation

Created 2 years ago by a group of determined, Christ loving, maniacs that we all love and know

When you think of DG, what kind of image springs to mind?

A number of the members of DG were asked that same question; this is what they said…

Crazy Nigerian nonsense talking and weirdly spiritual people

Happy people

Committers, Goal achievers, God sent

Weird people with common sense

Crazy, weird in a good way, insanely creative who actually LOVE God

Playful, funny, BUSH, time-wasters, SUPER TALENTED, Warriors for Christ

Loving, caring, God fearing and most of all fun to be around with and I wouldn't change them for the world because it’s all that madness that makes them unique in their own way

Peculiar, Passionate, Special, Spontaneous, Unpredictable,

Go-getters, Energetic, Liveliness, Tough love, Real, Zealous,

United

A family

Yes a family,

And it is that sense of family that constantly brings me back

 Whenever I begin to stray from the pack

It is that same sense of family that ties us all together in love

Now from my experience with DG

When I came to this church I felt like a lost sheep

Didn’t know how I would fit in and had my own personal battles

So it took me a while to open up and show my true colours

But that’s the beautiful thing about DG

They waited for me patiently, always there when I needed them 

Until the time I opened up to them and at last felt at home

To me the name DG is incomplete

I believe it should be called DGG

Meaning ‘Da Greatest Generation’

Let me tell you what DG means to me

They are my Friends, My Support, My Comforters, My Allies, and My Comrades

People who I wouldn’t think twice to jump in front of a moving car or a bullet for

People who even if the whole world was against even a single one of them I would stand FOR them

Some of the most important people in my life

I watched a Hillsong sermon with Brian Houston last Sunday and he said this,

We have to find and appreciate the God People in our lives

For they will carry you through your Journey called the Path of Righteousness

I see these crazy diverse people as My God People

We are One

United

Family

As a brother to me says

Imole

IT HURTS

Pain, pain
All of it is pain
I'm not good enough,
I can't do it
So what's the point in me even trying ??
Ever had it when you put in so much effort
And yet
You come out with complete nothingness as a reward
After you have spilt your blood, sweat and every other spectacle of energy into something
Just to have it brushed aside
Like your effort is credited as much as the next guy who didn't even do not do a thing
Do you know how that feels?
Let me tell you how it feels
It hurts.... A lot
And I dont have it in me to carry on much longer
My efforts are worthless
My voice falls on deaf ears
Oh this hurts sooo bad
My mind is troubled to the extent that I Cannot sleep
I cant eat because Swallowing hurts
My emotional pain is becoming more and  more physical day by day tormenting my every thought with negativity and self hateMy eyes flood uncontrollably as I am being bullied  by my very own  mind Before I asked myself why
But now I know I have to accept my new reality This is me
My fate
My dreams were a mere over eager reflections of a naïve young man
I'm wasting my time here .... It's time to move on
Off I go
Where to?
No idea
Maybe I'll find a place where I can live in peace with the failure that is me
Oh Lord it hurts !!
It hurts

by Toyin Said and echoshimix

SUMMER TERM

This is the term that most students dread to go through

But cannot wait to go through it

For they know that without a shadow of a doubt the rewards to these trials 
are beautiful blues skies and glorious sunshine

As if the planet itself is congratulating you and your endeavours during this time

As the saying goes

“The Sun always comes after the rain”

So even if you are in pain

And it feels like the world is just swallowing up your existence little by little

Remember this,

Pain is temporary but

Gain is forever

Whenever I feel down

I look to Christ to give me the strength

But I know not everyone shares my beliefs

So here are the words of one of the greatest and most respected actors to ever step foot on this Planet

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.

You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward.

How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth.

But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody.

Cowards do that and that ain't you.

You're better than that!”

So we should not let the harsh feedback, marking of the examiners and seminar tutors bring down our spirits

For all their pressures are their way of showing they care

To prepare us all for the battles of the outside world

We should always remember that

“We are powerful beyond measure…and that we are all meant to shine…”

Our light ties us to the light at the end of the tunnel

We were made for Success

It is designed within our DNA

Never lose sight of your goal

Only you can do it

And finish the race with a great big smile and self-satisfaction

With your trusted friends that have supported you throughout it all

Because you know you gave every last bit of strength and gave your best

That’s PERFECT

Now enjoy your SUMMER

GREATNESS OR LAZINESS....You Decide

Over the many centuries Human Beings have evolved to become the most intelligent and dominant force on this planet

But it is a known fact that the average Neanderthal only uses a small fraction of their brain’s processing power

Leading to the question…

WHY is this so?

However over the existence of the Human race

The exceptional gems have blossomed

Polished and redefined through life experiences

They explode into our world and as the old cliché quotes…

“A star is born”

These beings just like you and I

Analyse, calculate and see the world through the eyes of a child

Where impossibility is a joke and the stars truly are the limit

Through them countless theories and ground breaking discoveries have been unravelled

Ones such as the sphere of the Earth, Gravity, Science, Newton’s law, the Solar System, Geometry and many more

Their expeditions have and will live long in our history

For without them our lives would be somewhat different

Dare I say…primitive?

Resurfacing the question once again

How are they able to accomplish these feats?

It is said that these legends had an intellect that was worlds’ apart from that of an average human

Could it be that they somehow accomplished the utilisation of both parts of the human brain?

If so, then what does that entail for the likes of We mere mortals

Will we ever be able to achieve such things?

From the words of the iconic 1^st Black President of USA …

YES WE CAN!

Our main obstacle to success is ourselves

We have succumbed and mastered the character that is the Art of Laziness

The comfortable feeling of doing just enough to get by,

Never pushing ourselves that extra mile to unveil our true potential

It's not that we're incapable of great things; many of us are so powerful beyond our thoughts.

However Laziness keeps us from discovering how great we are!

Laziness is that habit that keeps our dreams as dreams!

Laziness is decay of power, laziness is the diminishing of worth, and laziness is the road to poverty.

Whatever excuse it is for your laziness let it cease now

For whether it is fear of failure, of becoming a laughing stock or that minuscule feeling of rejection and inadequacy

The rewards will far exceed those fears

Do you think the great legends of the past were not persecuted?

No, they all had their own trials but they dug deep and held tight to that childish attitude of

“I WILL NEVER GIVE UP”

Tell me something,

Is it better to live a life of just enough, always wishing to do more, and saying “If only…?”

Or taking the leap of faith and saying;

“I can be more and I will be more!”

I always tell myself;

It’s better to have died living than to have lived in regret

When you are lazy, people will hate your company! Let us rid ourselves of laziness.

We could all make history

Do More & Be More!

(Inspired by the Unknown Mentor of Grace Olajide)