LITTLE DECEPTION AT AIRPORT WORKS

By Vic Odarve

Sometimes a little deception works! Jonathan observes that religious personalities like evangelists, pastors, priests, nuns, sisters and brothers of Christian congregations are less likely interrogated during inspections at the airport.

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After the snake like cordoned queuing in the immigration checkpoint inside the international airport, Jonathan was told to replace his blue card with a yellow card in a nearby clinic. So he did! With only few people inside the clinic office, Jonathan immediately handed his blue card to one of the officer and said” Good day Sir, can I change this one to a yellow card”. “Your passport, visa, and valid ID please!” the officer replied. He complied. After 5 minutes, the officer asked” You are a foreigner, what are you doing here in Nigeria?” “Am a missionary here working with Faith Ministry in Port Harcourt, Rivers State” Jonathan said with a smile. “So you are a priest” the officer said. Thinking for a while, he said, “Ah…..ah…yes Sir”. The officer looked please and seemed very courteous. Then silence for a few minutes! The officer fixed his signature and handed back the documents. Then Jonathan said,” Thank you very much, God bless you all”. Then the officer and his fellow workers said in chorus” Thank you, Father, Amen”. 

International Airport

Then Jonathan went to the domestic airport for another flight. This time he was met by a Rev. Sister. After queuing for almost an hour in a baggage and weighing stations, Jonathan was again called up by one of the officer to finally check and confirm his baggage before transporting to a waiting cart nearby.” Come here, show me your baggage and let me inspect what’s inside!", the officer said. Sensing that the baggage would be opened again for inspection, he pointed to Reverend Sister as the owner. The sister was few meters away. She was in religious attire! “Okay”, the officer said. No inspection was done. The baggage was actually his. He was again lying! A little deception worked!

Passengers at terminal

Actually Jonathan is not a priest. He really owns the baggage. He is a mere employee in one of the great school in Nigeria. Outright lying works! A little deception is needed! While lying can leave us indelible torture in our conscience but the same goes for being too honest and open. Why? Telling the truth may entail too much delay in interrogation or may end with solicitation. Remember the airport greeting “Do you have something for me?”

Lying is hurting us. God hates lying. Bible says in Colossians 3:9-10, NIV. "Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." Colossians 3:9-10, NIV

. "The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in men who are truthful." Proverbs 12:22, NIV

Though lying is not considered to be the right thing to do, sometimes it produces favorable result as what Jonathan did.

Lying also happened in the biblical history. Facing a horrible evil, Hebrew midwives lie to the Egyptian Pharaoh and save the lives of many newborn baby. Read the passages in Exodus 1:15-22 NIV, as follows;

15 Then the king of Egypt gave orders to the Hebrew midwives - one of whom was called Shiprah and the other Puah -

16 that when they attended Hebrew women who were on the birthstool and saw that it was a boy, they were to kill it, but if it was a girl they were to let it live.

17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded but let the children live.

18 The king called the midwives and said, "Why have you acted like that and let the children live?"

19 The midwives replied, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women. They are vigorous and give birth even before a midwife arrives."

20 God blessed the midwives, and the people increased and became even more numerous.

21 Because the midwives revered God, he made them mothers of families.

22 Pharaoh then gave this order to all the people: "Every infant boy born to the Hebrews must be thrown into the Nile, but every girl may live."

That’s it how my friend Jonathan has learned to lie at the airport! And a little deception works!

NEW YEAR'SDAY WITH FATHER EDEH

 New Year’s celebration is everyone’s party. It is the most unifying moments on the planet. Televisions’ are beaming the festivities at the vibrant and high tech pubs on major cities at 12 MN December 31 across the globe thru satellite. Even non- Christian countries who are not accustomed on this celebration particularly Middle East, the pull to join the celebration from the outside world is strong. Their large expatriate communities celebrate the season in streets, hotels bars, and restaurants. The outside culture brings fresh perspective to their way of life.  In most part of the world people do some spectacular fireworks display, dance after midnight, pop champagne, and wish happy new years to their families and loved ones. They simply are enjoying celebration with others.  People are always in motion and tend to do so even after 4 am defying the laws of Physics.

National Pilgrimage Center of Nigeria welcomes 2014

But here at National Pilgrimage Center of Nigeria, Elele, Rivers State, one man fondly called by the people as Father Edeh led the Christian faithful to a big and unique New Year’s celebration. An estimated 6000 people, young and old alike, flocked to join the celebration. After a Eucharistic mass to greet the day with merrymaking with a bang, Father Edeh had prepared packed lunch, soft drinks, and money. All were distributed to everyone

Pack lunch for everybody

who attended the celebration.

Thus all the people were filled and each one received money ranging from N 200.00 – N 500.00.

This is truly the work of a man in Christ. “Feed my lamb,” Christ commanded to one of his apostles. It means spiritually, physically, and everything a brother can do to live one’s life in Jesus. The celebration was one of the few I have seen in my life. To celebrate your New Year’s Day by sharing your life and wealth to the service to our poor  and needy brothers and sisters  is a remarkable one. Only few people who lived in this planet do share their blessings. And this is the work of God. He had done what our Lord has commanded to us. Jesus said” What you have done to the least of your

Drinks for everybody

brothers, you have done it unto me.”He had done it.

Father Edeh is the director and Father Founder of the National Pilgrimage Center of Nigeria. With his headship he truly did wonders to his fellowmen in the name of Christ. God has extended His arm to stretch to the poor thru Father Edeh by means of gospel and charitable works.

I saw him personally distributing foods and money right after the Eucharistic mass. With his charismatic leadership, he has melted and kindled the hearts of our poor brothers and sisters and in the process has strengthened their faiths to our Lord Jesus. It’s a wonderful job. I remember the words from one statesman” No good cause is ever lost.”

That is why I wrote and documented these things before my very eyes to let the world see how some African people welcome their New Year. It really captured my imagination!

 Happy New Year and healthful 2014 to everyone!

MOUNT HERMON- A MYSTERIOUS MOUNTAIN

        By Vic Odarve

Let us discover Mount Hermon. Known for its majestic beauty, this mountain is approximately 2,814 above the sea level. It borders Israel, Syria, and Lebanon. It is the main source of the Jordan River. Mount Hermon is a very large triple peaked mountain. One of its three summits is the highest point on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea. This mountain is believed to be the site of the transfiguration of Jesus Christ. In the book of Enoch, this mountain is also the site that the 200 fallen angels descended from heaven. These events have profound impacts among the religious faithful; Christians, Muslims, and Jews. Why these events happen on this mountain remain a mystery.

Mount Hermon,Israel

 

TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS

Transfiguration is a dramatic change in appearance. In mathematical language, this is similar to transformations! A change of forms in expressions or formulas that makes our mathematical calculations simpler and easier! That’s why we have logarithms, Laplace, Fourier, Mellin and Z transformations!

Jesus also does transformation. A dramatic change of appearance or transfiguration! It was witnessed by the apostles. He transforms to other dimensions – from earthly

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appearance to spiritual or heavenly dimension of existence. Among the twelve disciples, only Peter, James, and John had witnessed their Master dramatically transfigured. This transfiguration reveals his glory as the son of God. A true nature of his divine existence!

By transfiguration, Jesus gives his disciples a glimpse of what he looks like when he will be on his kingdom with his Father. Just a glimpse! See what happened! Jesus face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light! Below are the verses taken from Matthew 17: 1-2;

1 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James   and his brother John and led them up a high mountain

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    where they were alone.
2 Jesus’ appearance was changed before them: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became bright as light.

This thing happened at Mount Hermon….a mysterious mountain!

THE FALLEN ANGELS

There were two hundred fallen angels descended to Earth at the summit of Mount Hermon. These watchers as they are called in the book of Enoch mated with humans. This class of spiritual beings was in charged with the observance and study of creation. And what happened? They transgressed by intermarrying with humanity and introducing forbidden technologies to earth.

They saw that daughters of Adam were beautiful and good looking. All of them took unto themselves wives. This was against God’s law as angels did not need to procreate like humans. As a punishment they could not go back to heaven anymore. These angels violated both their own nature and their office. God cannot forgive their sins. Having families, these angels taught their human wives charms, enchantments, astrology, cutting of roots and acquainted with plants, sorcery, and others.

Since then, these fallen angels were living on and around the area of Mount Hermon. Their hybrid children were monstrous giants called Nephilim. The aftermath of these giants was awful. Upon their death, they would release evil or demonic spirits that will remain bound to the earth. Since then, mankind won’t have any peace. That’s why we have demons and evil spirits.
 

It was believed that the tribe of Dan which the Antichrist will come from moved to this area during the days of the Judges. They adopted the Canaanite worship of these angels. Caanites Gods, Baal and Ashtaroth, have the origin at Mount Hermon! Following are taken from the book of Enoch 6: 1-3;

And the angels, the children of the heaven, saw and lusted after them, and said to one another: ‘Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men and beget us children.’ And they were in all two hundred; who descended in the days of Jared on the summit of Mount Hermon, and they called it Mount Hermon, because they had sworn and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it.

Again, this happened at Mount Hermon…. A mysterious mountain!

Today this mysterious mountain is one of the hot spots in Middle East. Christians, Muslims, and Jews have contested this mountain for thousands of years. After the 1967 Six-Day war, both Syria and Israel administered military posts on Mount Hermon’s slopes.

Today, thousands of visitors come and visit this mysterious mountain! Some folks believe that this mysterious mountain is one of the Earth’s portals to other universes. Perhaps a wormhole or entanglement!  A gateway to another world! Nobody knows!

A CHRISTMAS VISIT AT ELELE MONASTERY

A CHRISTMAS VISIT AT ELELE MONASTERY

by Tagamayana

I am always fascinated with the life at monastery. Here, the monks spend their lives in solitude, in reflections and prayers, and retire to a hermit life and seek truth in contemplation, and abandon the outside world for religious reasons. That is, living in harmony with nature and to the one in the Highest!

Monastery at Elele, Rivers State, Nigeria

 

A day after Christmas we visited the monastery. When we arrived, the place was calm and serene as if nobody was around.

A sharp contrast to the outside world where humming Christmas carols are often heard, people are seen shopping lazily in malls, and children’s laughter are heard everywhere you go.

Rev. Fr. Pius

“Nobody is around,” I told my colleagues. But a few minutes later, Father Pius opened the entrance door and greeted us Happy Christmas. He was a Saviourite priest in charge of the seminary. Happy and smiling, he thanked us for coming. We knew then that the monastery opened its doors for expats for a visit and for those who don't have anyone to share the holiday with or to people who don't have family or would feel lonely to celebrate Christmas.

Life was so simple. Monks were hospitable. With some foods and the special recipe they offered, we dined together and had a pleasant conversation. We enjoyed the meal.  I had learned that besides from daily reflections and prayers, their times were also devoted to reading books, raising animals, and cultivating plants and fruit trees. We spent several hours touring their gardens and livestock raising projects. It was enjoyable to see several of the fruit trees were bearing fruits and hundreds of chicken jostling each other over the feeds at the poultry. After we saw these things, we come to a conclusion how the lives of the monks are being spent in the monastery.

Expatriates visited the monastery

As we left them, the place returned to a quiet and serene as their world would be. We bade goodbye as the sun sunk to the deep of the sunset and the surrounding air began to cool. Then they would be living with nature and to God.

A visit to the monastery and share a Christmas moment with our monks seem spending our life back to the old medieval periods. Monastery is a good place for those who retreat from the heavy traffic of our everyday life and embrace solitude and for those who found the vices of the world intolerable.

Life is too short and sharing some moments to our brothers living in solitude especially Christmas is good and memorable. That is, peace to our soul, minds, and heart! A visit will lighten your heart and re-frame your perception of the holidays. Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all!

VULTURES: NATURE'S DEDICATED SCAVENGERS

 VULTURE- NATURE’S DEDICATED SCAVENGERS

BY Tagamayana

 I have not seen these birds in the Philippines. These are African vultures-one of the icon of the African skies soaring over the vast land of the continent.

Vulture soaring high at African skies

A few months back, I saw some of these birds scavenging a carcass of dead animals near the doorstep of my room. “What a big bird… a new on my sight. Bald head …devoid of feathers! This is a vulture.” I got my camera and then took a shot.

Few weeks ago our school campus had a year- end celebration where numbers of cows/cattle were slaughtered 

 

Smells the leftover of the slaughtered cows

as part of the preparation. A day after I saw a dozen of vultures sniffing and crowding the area looking for leftovers. They were jostling each other over the carcasses of the slaughtered cows. Then these birds frequently visited the area as the surroundings still filled the smell of the rotten dead animals. They were then my daily visitors for a week. It was always a thrill to see them circling and soaring first in the air for few minutes before touchdown to the ground. Now the area is already stripped clean from carcasses left behind.

 Continental flight - Africa to Asia is soaring like a vulture

Vultures are one of the icons of the African skies. They are part of nature and doing their job on our ecosystem. They are the dedicated scavengers and play their role by scavenging dead and rotten animals that no living creatures simply do. If there are any dead animals out in the open areas, vultures can be relied to clean it up. These birds are soaring at great heights and position themselves in thermals with excellent eyesight. At high altitude they can scan for rotten, dead animals over great expanses of terrain. Though fearsome in their appearance, they rarely kill animals by themselves for these birds have no sharp beaks or talons. They are also patient. If an animal is obviously about to die and a potential meal, vultures will typically wait patiently nearby until the animal dies. Without these birds who will take care the wastes like the rotten/dying/disease animals in the vast African desert, savannah, and plains?Nobody does!

Vultures are nature’s purifiers by recycling the wastes into useful one. Every living creature has its role to play to make our planet habitable. If the role is to eat the rotten carcasses, it is still a vital function so that others may survive and live. God is a great designer and the role that vultures played in an environment is a remarkable one. God truly cares the planet He created.

We may ponder the role the vulture played and how the nature works. No wonder vultures are icon in African skies and the nature’s great and dedicated dead animal’s scavengers!