Senegal: Last Surviving African WWI Veteran Dies at 108 Years Of Age

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Dakar| Senegalese authorities have announced this morning the tragic death of Siem Bene M’Bokolo, Africa’s last surviving WWI veteran and possibly the World’s last witness to the horrors of what some have described as the ‘War to End All Wars’.

Mr M’Bokolo’s dramatic involvement in the Great War begins when at the tender age of 12 he is recruited, as other young men of his native village of Mboundou, to enroll in the 83rd Senegalese battalion under French command in 1918, at the height of the final moments of the war.

“My Grandfather was already 6’6″ feet tall when he was 12, so the French enrollment officer took him away even though he was just a child” explains his oldest grandchild. 

Mr M’Bokolo and two of his brothers served at the historical and decisive Battle of Reims, also called the Second Battle of the Marne (15 July – 6 August 1918), where French forces gave a fatal blow to the last major German Spring Offensive on the Western Front.

The German defeat at the Battle of Reims marked the start of the relentless Allied advance which culminated in the Armistice about 100 days later

If Siem was lucky enough to survive the gruesome battle that killed or wounded no less than 95,000 soldiers only amongst the French troops, it was still a bitter consolation as he would be the only survivor of the 83rd Senegalese battalion to return to his native home, leaving behind two of his older brothers.

More than 600,000 soldiers were forced to enroll in the French Colonial Forces between 1914 and 1918 and at least 81,000 died on the battle field. Despite their contribution to the war effort, they received half of the pension of the white soldiers

Siem Bene M’Bokolo was born on august 16th, 1906. He served for 18 months under French command and went on to participate in France’s 1919 Occupation of the Rhineland, where between 25,000 and 40,000 colonial soldiers took part of this force. He later returned home, where he married his brothers widows and leaves behind him 16 grandchildren.

 

No One Is Born Gay – by Michael Brown

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No One Is Born Gay – by Michael Brown

If there were reputable scientific evidence that some people were born homosexual, I would have no problem accepting this. After all, my theology tells me that as human beings, we are all created in God’s image and yet we are a fallen race, and so all of us carry aspects of that fallen nature to the core of our being, and that could theoretically include homosexuality.

But the fact is that there is simply no reputable scientific evidence that anyone is born gay.

As stated by gay activist and history professor John D’Emilio, “‘Born gay’ is an idea with a large constituency, LGBT and otherwise. It’s an idea designed to allay the ingrained fears of a homophobic society and the internalized fears of gays, lesbians and bisexuals. What’s most amazing to me about the ‘born gay’ phenomenon is that the scientific evidence for it is thin as a reed, yet it doesn’t matter. It’s an idea with such social utility that one doesn’t need much evidence in order to make it attractive and credible.”

In other words, because the “born gay” idea has proved so useful, the fact that there’s virtually no scientific support for the theory hardly matters. It’s an idea that has worked wonders for gay activists and their allies.

As noted years ago by gay scientist Simon LeVay, “There [was] a survey in The New York Times that broke down people on the basis of whether they thought gays and lesbians were born that way or whether it was a lifestyle choice. Across the board, those who thought gays and lesbians were born that way were more liberal and gay friendly.”

And so, the argument goes, “If I’m born this way, how can my attractions be wrong? And if I’m born this way, how can you expect me to change?”

Of course, even if no one is born gay, that doesn’t mean that homosexual attractions are not deeply rooted. In most cases, those feelings are very deeply rooted to the point that many gay men and women truly believe they were born gay.

And even if no one is born gay, that doesn’t mean that homosexual attractions are easily changed. In most cases, they are not.

But why base a so-called civil-rights movement on lies? Why not tell the truth?

One of the most gay-friendly professional organizations in our country is the American Psychological Association, and yet even the APA states that, “There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay, or lesbian orientation.”

Similarly, in England, the pro-gay Royal College of Psychiatrists recently backtrackedon an earlier statement that homosexuality was biologically determined, now sayingthat “sexual orientation is determined by a combination of biological and postnatal environmental factors.” And while they stated clearly their belief that homosexuality was not a mental disorder and that it should be accepted, they added, “It is not the case that sexual orientation is immutable or might not vary to some extent in a person’s life.”

That’s why psychiatrist Nathaniel S. Lehrman, former chairperson of the Task Force on Religion and Mental Health said in 2005, “Researchers now openly admit that after searching for more than 20 years, they are still unable to find the ‘gay gene'” (in theJournal of American Physicians and Surgeons).

Why then do we constantly hear about people being born gay? First, it has worked wonders for gay activism; second, many gays and lesbians believe it to be true, since as far back as they can remember, they felt that they were different.

But political expediency and personal feelings do not change the facts, and those facts remain the same: There is no clear scientific evidence that anyone is born gay

According to lesbian researcher Lisa Diamond, “The queer community has been obsessed with cultivating the idea that we all have fixed sexual identities. We’ve crafted terrific narratives and political platforms based on the notions that all gays are ‘born that way.’ But what if sexuality is more complex? What if biology actually intersects with environment, time, culture and context? Could we possibly be more fluid than we’ve supposed?”

… READ MORE

 

Michael Brown is author of Can You Be Gay and Christian? Responding With Love and Truth to Questions About Homosexuality and host of the nationally syndicated talk radio show The Line of Fire on the Salem Radio Network. He is also president of FIRE School of Ministry and director of the Coalition of Conscience. Follow him at AskDrBrown on Facebook or at @drmichaellbrown on Twitter.

‘Christianity Is No Longer a Religion,’ Turkish Minister Declares

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‘Christianity Is No Longer a Religion,’ Turkish Minister Declares

Some Christians have long insisted that Jesus didn’t come to start a religion—He came to establish a relationship. But that’s not what a Turkish minister meant when he declared Christianity is no longer a religion.

“The biggest three countries in the world are not Muslim countries. China, India—only the U.S. believes in a single God. Spirituality and religious feelings are weakening,” Turkish Environment and Urban Minister Erdoğan Bayraktar said at a recent conference hosted by the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) Women’s Group, according to the Hurriyet Daily News.

“There are 2.5 billion Christians in the world,” Bayraktar said. “Christianity is no longer a religion. It’s a culture now. But that is not what a religion is like. A religion teaches; it is a form of life that gives one peace and happiness. That is what they want to turn [Islam] into as well.”

 

Source : Charisma News

4 Sexual Sins Every Christian Should Avoid

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4 Sexual Sins Every Christian Should Avoid

Bert Farias, founder of Holy Ghost Ministries wrote on 4 Sexual Sins Every Christian Should Avoid

Excessive sexual sin and nakedness is one of the marks of our Western culture and much of the world today. Everything is sensual. Everything must be sexy. We live in a sex-crazed world, and nakedness jumps out at us from everywhere. It is becoming more and more difficult for men and women to keep themselves in a state of moral purity.

Sexual sin and neglecting the laws of purity in the body of Christ is one of the elements that can potentially bring weakness, sickness, and even premature death to many in the Church. It is one forgotten aspect of not discerning the Lord’s body (1 Cor. 11:29-31).

Those last statements sound so primitive in today’s contemporary church. There is a lack of ministry from pastors in this area because of the fear of forthcoming accusations of being unloving, judgmental, legalistic, and ministering guilt and condemnation. Frankly, we’ve lost our way in this regard. Correction, rebuke and reproof are clearly missing from our counsel in these new crooked days of false comfort and unscriptural mercy.

In days of old it was rather common for correction to be made not only using the Scriptures but through the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. For instance, it was observed by one old timer that in praying for the sick, individuals who had been unfaithful in their marriage and had not repented, but who nevertheless sought healing, had been rebuked sternly by the Spirit of God. Back then they understood that only deep repentance and cleansing through the precious Blood of Christ could the gravity of such a crime be pardoned.

Today, as I said, we are considered condemning and judgmental if we minister in such a manner. Yet it is common for many to get in a healing line and seek deliverance, or submit prayer requests while living in gross immorality without any earnest desire for genuine repentance. Those who practice sexual sin, or any other sin for that matter, and profess Christ, are partaking of the body of the Lord unworthily; and in doing so they are receiving a curse rather than a blessing.

“For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep” (1 Cor. 11:29-31).

I realize that sexual temptations are great, no one is exempt from them, and none should boast of their self-righteousness. I’m also aware that in seeking to turn someone from the error of their ways we must do so in gentleness and humility (Gal. 6:1; 2 Tim. 2:25). But if there is to be victory in this area, it must begin with a reverent understanding and a scriptural estimation of the defiling and degrading nature of sexual sin and its terrible dangers. Before people obey God, they must be thoroughly awakened. Only then will they overcome counteracting forces.

Carefully read these words of one of America’s greatest evangelists, Charles G. Finney:

“Worldly desires, appetites, and feelings prevent true Christianity—the human will is, in a sense, enslaved by fleshly and worldly desires. It is therefore necessary for God to awaken people to a sense of guilt and danger and thus produce an opposite excitement or feeling and desire. This counter-feeling breaks the power of worldly desire and leaves the will free to obey God.”

That ideology, my friends, is clearly absent from the mainstream of contemporary Christianity, yet it is so sorely needed.

As in modern-day America, sexual sin and nakedness were celebrated in the city of Corinth too and was infiltrating into the church there. Thus Paul had to remind the Corinthian saints that their bodies were now the temples of God and not their own. Their bodies, as ours, are now members of Christ, so a sin against our bodies is a sin against Christ.

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor. 6:15, 19-20).

As far back as the Mosaic books we find some interesting references to sexual immorality and nakedness.

  • The first recorded human curse was over nakedness (Gen 9:20-23).
  • Nearly two entire chapters along with many other references were a code of ethics on nakedness and sexual immorality (See Lev. 18 and 20).
  • Exposed genitalia or nakedness were common in Canaanite demonic worship. Instructions and prohibitions to Moses were so Israel’s altars would not be like the Canaanites’ (Ex. 28:41-43; 20:26).
  • When Moses returned from the mountain, Aaron had lost control of the people as they worshiped a golden calf, “unrestrained” (Ex. 32:25), as the New King James says it. The Old King James says “naked,” and the Living Bible says “committing adultery.” And all this happened shortly after a move of God.

One of the keys to overcoming sexual sin lies in the meditation of the Word of God concerning it. This will nurture the fear of the Lord in you. For example, in Gal. 5:19-21 the works of the flesh are divided into four basic categories 1) sexual sins, 2) sins connected with pagan religion and the occult, 3) sins of the temper, and 4) sins of drunkenness. It is interesting that sexual sin is listed first, not only here, but also in several other scriptural references in the New Testament.

  • Romans 1:24, 6:19 – Uncleanness is singled out.
  • 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – Sexual sins listed first.
  • Galatians 5:19-21 – Sexual sins listed first.
  • Ephesians 4:19 – Lewdness and uncleanness singled out.
  • Ephesians 5:3 – Fornication and uncleanness singled out; let it not once be named among you.
  • Colossians 3:5 – Fornication and uncleanness listed first.
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:3 – Sexual immorality singled out in our walk of sanctification.
  • 1 Peter 4:3 – Lewdness listed first from our past life
… Read More 

 

Bert M. Farias, founder of Holy Fire Ministries, is the author of The Real Gospel and co-host of the New England Holy Ghost Forum. He is a missionary evangelist carrying a spirit of revival to the church and the nations. Follow him at Bert Farias on Facebook or @Bertfarias1 on Twitter.

Unless otherwise specified, the opinions expressed are solely the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of Christian Mail.

UK Charity, Open Doors Steps Up Aid to IRAQ

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UK Charity, Open Doors Steps Up Aid to IRAQ

Open Doors , a UK charity has stepped up its relief work in northern Iraq in response to the growing humanitarian crisis in the region. Thanks to the generous response to our Iraq appeal, our partners are now providing support to 3,000 displaced families.

“Seeing what is necessary, at present we provide food parcels, containing basic non-perishable foods, like noodles, cooking oil, beans, canned fish and rice,” one fieldworker explained. “Next to this we also distribute hygiene parcels which contain toothbrushes and toothpaste, but also soap and disinfectants.” Most families include four or five individuals and parcels like this will last about a week.

Over A Million Iraqis Displaced

An estimated 1.2 million people have now been displaced in Iraq this year, including 600,000 who have been forced to flee from their homes in the recent conflict. Louis Sako, the archbishop of Iraq, told Aid to the Church in Need that some 70,000 Christians have arrived in Ankawa, a Christian neighborhood in Erbil, and 60,000 refugees are in Dohuk.

In Erbil, one fieldworker told us that many homes are filled with relatives who have escaped from other parts of Iraq, and churches are beginning to run out of space to house people. “When the church is full, the people go into other buildings or the halls of the church. If these are full too, then it flows over in the gardens or courtyard of the church […] They are everywhere!”

“I was deeply shocked to witness the seriously poor conditions these people have to live in,” another local partner told us. He described one church hall where 200 families were lined wall to wall, and reportedly two babies had even been born there.

Church Feeds A Thousand

Open Doors has been able to support thousands of these fleeing families through partner organisations and local churches. One fieldworker went to visit a village on the Nineveh plain with food and hygiene kits because he had been told that 13 families were staying there – when he arrived he found 200 people. “Most had to sleep on the ground, so I returned to Dohuk quickly and bought over a hundred mattresses and pillows.” He told us. “It was hard to see that old people and children were sleeping on the ground. Now at least most had a better place to spend the night.”

Lydia is currently visiting a church in Erbil on behalf of Open Doors. The church is helping 260 families, 216 of which are staying in the courtyard of the church. Every day they give breakfast, lunch and dinner to over a thousand people. “The thought came into my mind is that this is a lot of food and others supplies, which must cost a fortune. Then I realised that the help this church can give is supported financially by Open Doors and the church worldwide,” Lydia told us. “Prayer and giving money often feels like it is too easy, but it’s not! It is making a huge difference in places like this.”

IRAQ: OPEN DOORS STEPS UP AID TO IRAQ

“Pray For Change”

Iraqi refugees are still very much in need of our support and our prayers. “I have spoken with several people who want to leave Iraq now,” one fieldworker says, “but there are not a lot of places they can easily go to. The Iraqi’s are losing hope that anything will change. The thing for the body of Christ to do now is to pray. Pray that God will make himself known to the many who are now wondering if He will ever help. Pray for a change.”

SUPPORT IRAQ’S FLEEING CHRISTIAN – Click here to Support

SUPPORT IRAQ’S FLEEING CHRISTIANS

Source: Open Doors; Aid to the Church in Need; the Guardian

Please Pray

  • For provision and protection for the many refugees in Iraq
  • That God will give displaced Christians hope for the future
  • For safety for Open Doors partners as they travel to villages and remote places to bring aid
  • For wisdom as world leaders consider how to respond to IS and the crisis in Iraq.

Garbage Truck Driver Finds 500,000$ In Junk

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Garbage Truck Driver Finds 500,000$ In Junk

New-York – Over a period of 15 years, Jamal Brown, a Brooklyn garbage truck driver, has amassed a sweet little fortune from the junk he’s been sweeping off the streets all along.

Jamal “Smiles” Brown, as his co-workers know him, is not even 40, but he’s already ready to take off for retirement. The young man has constantly been collecting stuff other’s threw away, a hobby that started to become a second job, 15 years ago. “I started for fun, but it soon became clear that I was making more money with this than what the city was paying me” he explains.

The 37 year old city employee says he’s always had a thing for finding value in what others wouldn’t even want to touch. “When I was six, I found a golden ring in a pile of dog crap. I could’ve walked away that day, but I dug into the dog shit and got the ring with my bare hands. I smelled bad for a week thereafter, but that ring changed my life from thereon” admits Jamal, a glint of nostalgia in his eye.

Now Jamal is taking his life to the next level and starting his own business. “I’ve always dreamed of owning my own bowling alley, so that’s where I invested my money” he explains with a large smile. “I just always loved wearing bowling shoes, I just can’t explain it” he adds, laughingly.

Jamal’s Bowling Alley on 61 Driggs Ave, (at North 11th St) is scheduled to open this fall.

 

Source : Content and post by WorldNewsDailyReport

New Study Claims Bad Breath is Hereditary

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New Study Claims Bad Breath is Hereditary

Montreal  –  Researchers at the University of Montreal announced this morning a major breakthrough in our modern understanding of bad breath, a condition known to afflict one american in five.

The study in question involved a total of 6,000 newborn babies and was conducted over a little more than seven years.

“The implications are profound, a genetic unbalance of the thyroid gland could just be the main culprit of this terrible affliction” explains Dr. Jean-Pierre Caron, head of the research project.

“We have found that the problem starts at birth and does not imply bad nutritional choices or an unhealthy lifestyle. People with excess production of a certain type of bacteria that strives in the mouth and larynx area of the body are definitely  at a very high risk of developing this tragic symptom” he adds. “Removal of the gland proved successful in 60% of treated cases, but we expect to develop a new vaccine shortly” he also notes.

The Canadian Halitosis Foundation quickly reacted to the announcement, calling the news “unexpected and groundbreaking”. “Bad breath is a social taboo and, as a result, perceived or genuine halitosis can sometimes trigger social anxiety and depression. It can lead to job loss, social isolation and in extreme cases, even suicide” explains Jeanne St-Pierre, spokesman for the foundation.

Halitosis, colloquially called bad breath, is a symptom in which a noticeably unpleasant odor is present on the exhaled breath. Concern about halitosis is estimated to be the third most frequent reason for people to seek dental care, following tooth decay and periodontal disease (gum disease), and about 20% of the general population are reported to suffer from it to some degree.

 

Source : WorldNewsDailyReport

 

German Scientists prove there’s Life after Death

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German Scientists prove there’s Life after Death

Berlin – A team of psychologists and medical doctors associated with the Technische Universität of Berlin, have announced this morning that they had proven by clinical experimentation, the existence of some form of life after death. This astonishing announcement is based on the conclusions of a study using a new type of medically supervised near-death experiences, that allow patients to be clinically dead for almost 20 minutes before being brought back to life.

This controversial process that was repeated on 944 volunteers over that last four years, necessitates a complex mixture of drugs including epinephrine and dimethyltryptamine, destined to allow the body to survive the state of clinical death and the reanimation process without damage. The body of the subject was then put into a temporary comatic state induced by a mixture of other drugs which had to be filtered by ozone from his blood during the reanimation process 18 minutes later.

The extremely long duration of the experience was only recently made possible by the development of a new cardiopulmonary recitation (CPR) machine called the AutoPulse. This type of equipment has already been used over the last few years, to reanimate people who had been dead for somewhere between 40 minutes to an hour.

The team of scientists led by Dr Berthold Ackermann, has monitored the operations and have compiled the testimonies of the subjects. Although there are some slight variations from one individual to another, all of the subjects have some memories of their period of clinical death. and a vast majority of them described some very similar sensations.

… Read More

Source : Original Content from WorldNewsDailyReport

Unless otherwise specified, the opinions expressed are solely the News Source’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of Christian Mail.

Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds to move HQ’s to London after Yes vote

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Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds to move HQ’s to London after Yes vote

Heraldscotland reports – Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group, which owns the Bank of Scotland, is to move its headquarters from Edinburgh to London in the event of a Yes vote in the independence referendum.

Lloyds, which also owns Halifax and Scottish Widows, has along with the Royal Bank of Scotland already been involved in discussions with The Treasury over such a move following next week’s poll.

RBS is due to confirm its plans in a statement at 7am, before the markets open.

Lloyds said it was announcing the move following a rise in inquiries from customers, its employees and other investors about its plans post-September 19, when the result is due to be announced.

The move will end more than 100 years of heritage for the Edinburgh based Bank of Scotland, which has its head office in St Andrew Square.

Both banks received billions in state aid from Labour at the height of the 2008 financial crisis, when Alistair Darling and Gordon Brown were Chancellor and Prime Minister. Mr Darling leads the Better Together campaign against independence. Mr Brown is playing an increasingly important role in the pro-United Kingdom fightback as the campaign reaches its conclusion.

Lloyds said: “Lloyds Banking Group has seen an increased level of enquiries from our customers, colleagues and other stakeholders about our plans post the Scottish Referendum on Thursday 18th September.

“While the scale of potential change is currently unclear, we have contingency plans in place which include the establishment of new legal entities in England. This is a legal procedure and there would be no immediate changes or issues which could affect our business or our customers.

 

“There will be a period between the referendum and the implementation of separation, should a ‘yes’ vote be successful, that we believe is sufficient to take any necessary action.”

The group said it would remain committed to its customers on both sides of the Border, regardless of the result.

RBS, which has a sprawling headquarters employing thousands of staff at Gogarburn, to the east of the capital, would not comment on its plans, but it is understood that a statement is due to be made in the early morning.

The Treasury was quick to seize on the Lloyds announcement.

A spokesman said: “Lloyds’ contingency plan to relocate to London in the event of a yes vote is understandable. As a general matter, the Government believes any company should be free to choose where to locate its base, in the light of what best suits the stability and competitiveness of its business.”

“The Government is not making contingency plans for a yes vote. However, as the Governor of the Bank of England has made clear, the UK authorities are responsible for financial stability in every part of the UK and will do everything necessary to work closely in all circumstances with all financial institutions who are based or wish to be based in the UK.”

A Treasury source added: “As you would expect, RBS have also been in touch with us and have similar plans to base themselves in London”

Source : Content and Report by Herald Scotland

Who is a Pharisee ?

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Who is a Pharisee ?

Have you ever asked yourself why Jesus never had a Pharisee on His core team? Why was not at least one Pharisee on His Board? Let me introduce to you the Pharisee.

He is one properly schooled and thoroughly bred in the law of Moses. The Pharisee is a philosopher per excellence; call him a Doctor of Philosophy [PhD] if you would; sound and knowledgeable in the doctrines of scripture and the traditions of men; and able also to keep the sanctity of customs, rites and religious practices.

The Pharisee’s posture and stamina portrays him as one with an ability to provide answers to virtually every question relating to the law of Moses. He is a disputer and a custodian of the law- very versed in it. You must give it to him. He can be described in today’s language as your concordance; chain reference; or more contemporarily and succinctly put, your “Google” (biblical search engine).

With this background, one would have thought that Jesus would have considered having at least one Pharisee to consult with on His team, maybe as His legal adviser of some sort or special assistant on religious matters as it were. Moreso that Jesus, among other things came to fulfil the law of Moses. But that was not the case.

Despite the intimidating resume and staggering profile of these very well read and learned colleagues, one wonders why not one Pharisee was able to make it to Jesus’ “first eleven”. Instead what you have were ignorant men; men who were never schooled in the law of Moses. Beloved, this speaks volumes.

But what was Jesus looking out for? Why would He not consider choosing any of the Pharisees to be part of His lieutenants? That would have been a plus to His ministry. Those guys can preach. They know what is written. They know where it can be found. “They must therefore be an asset,” some of us are quick to conclude. But no. Jesus didn’t see it that way.

Instead He prayed some countenance altering prayers to select His team. He did not only take time to pray, He fasted to locate His helpers in ministry. There must be no assumptions here. There must be no playing the way to gallery. As He tarried before God in prayer and fasting, God delivered to Him the secret. God told Him what to look out for to locate those who would help Him fulfil His assignment.

Beloved, in asking for help, you must look beneath the surface of things. There is obviously more to everything than meets the eye. You would be deceived to think that all there is, is all that eyes can see. It’s not in appearances my dear. Whatever is apparent is only a tiny fraction of all there really is. You can’t afford to not get it right. I’d rather spend 30 years in search of the secret for locating helpers of my destiny than run around from pillar to post for nothing. It is that crucial.

Good morning!

Please stay tuned as I will be unfolding the secret in subsequent postings.

Follow Wale Arowojolu on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wale.arowojolu

Wale Arowojolu is the Senior Pastor of Hiltop House in Lagos Nigeria.

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