Lucky Dube Shot Dead

Reggae musician Lucky Dube was shot dead in a hijacking on Thursday in Rosettenville, Johannesburg police said.
Captain Cheryl Engelbrecht said the incident took place at around 8.20pm when Dube was driving a blue Polo in the Johannesburg suburb.
She said Dube was dropping off his son in the area when he was attacked.
“His son was already out of the car. When he saw what was happening, he ran to ask for help.”
The hijackers were still at large.
The boy was too traumatised to provide police with any information, Engelbrecht said.

[Via - Sapa]

I AM SO AMAZED

Recently, I have begun to discover the other side of God.
There are a lot of time we hold on so much to our own things without giving God the chance to do HIS work in us.
A thousand times I fail, still HIS mercy remains, should I stumble again, and still I am caught in HIS Love. HIS love is everlasting. HIS love shines when all else fails, never ending, HIS glory goes beyond all things.
I don’t even know how to serve my God, and how to worship him any better. Because of this, I prayed to the Lord and said,
“I give you control of my heart and soul, to consume me from the inside out, let justice and praise become my embrace, to love you from the inside. I want to loose myself in bringing you praise” The cry of my heart is to bring praise to my created from the inside out
I feel so amazed by God and as days go by, I see glimpse of HIM and I feel shot of words to describe this God and how much I feel about HIM and all what limitations will allow me to say is “HOW DEEP, HOW WIDE, and HOW GREAT IS YOUR LOVE FOR ME”
There is a lot more to God than Christians can SEE, READ, HEAR AND EXPERIENCE, but it’s my prayer that we experience and get to know HIM More. I just can’t be bothered about what the atheist think. I am just too AMAZED by GOD.
I want to continue to see a glimpse of GOD.
All I need is HIM

REFLECTING AND BEING GRATEFUL

There are times we focus so much on our struggles and tend to forget about the greatness of the Lord in our life.
What have we got that the Lord did not give to us?, what about the strength?.
Sometimes when I think about the greatness of the Lord Lord in my, I dont even know how to express my gratitude to Him
(2Ki 4:37) She fell at his feet and bowed before him, overwhelmed with gratitude. Then she took her son in her arms and carried him downstairs.

As most of my friends will know, I just started study this February. Before this I was studying back home in Ghana, but came here to continue my degree. Unfortunately things turned around the wrong way. Could not pursue my degree due to financial restrained (International student fees).
I had to work for about 3 yrs to have enough money to continue in February 2007.
Before the semester begun, I told the Lord, that I want to be faithful while I study. I don’t want my study to be an obstacle in serving the Lord as I have always been since becoming a Christian in 1997.
I never knew what that prayer meant until half way through the semester, when having to readjust myself to the new study life after about 4yrs away from lecture room, essays piling up, test dates approaching, having to serve the Lord faithfully (worship leading, leading my care (cell) group, following up on people, going to prayer meeting and Care (cell) group, spending hrs in church on Sunday. Beside all the above, I was working about 20 hrs every week.
Stress level begun to rise during this time, begun to mourn to myself, always complaining to the Lord. I can’t count the number of times I regretted coming to New Zealand. I thought coming to New Zealand was a wrong move, and I should not have been here in the first place.
The Lord brought people into my life who could detect the change of personality, because of reduction in my energy level, disappearance of the beautiful smile on my face, etc.
They were such a great blessing. It was so encouraging when I had a message from Gali in Singapore that Tamar has been praying for me because the Lord “placed” me on her heart.

After all these, what did the Lord do for me for my faithfulness?1)I prayed to the Lord that I want a Lap Top for my study. I went to work few days later and a colleague asked me “Kojo, do you have a Lap Top?” I said “No”, She said “do you want one?” I don’t mind I replied. Thank God for his provision
2) I prayed to the Lord and ask HIM “if its you who gave me the Lap Top, I want a printer as well”. Exactly one week after the request, a colleague offered me a printer. That’s just awesome.
3) I requested for the Florence Nightingale’s memorial scholarship for books. Provide by the NZ Nurses organization, I it got approved.
4) The most importantly, I had good grades for my end of semester exams. This qualified me for a STUDY AWARD.

I don’t even know how to say thank you to my created, but as psalmist said, “Psa 116:12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?”
I have learned a lot from this. When we are faithful to the Lord, HE will not short-change us. He will provide strength for the weak, because they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they will run and never be weary, they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).
What the Lord has done for me, I can not tell it all.

chocolate is 'better than kissing'

Couples in their 20s had their heart rates and brains monitored whilst they first melted chocolate in their mouths and then kissed.
Chocolate caused a more intense and longer lasting "buzz" than kissing, and doubled volunteers' heart rates.
The research was carried out by Dr David Lewis, formerly of the University of Sussex, and now of the Mind Lab.
Experts, concerned at growing levels of obesity throughout the developed world, warn that chocolate should only be consumed in moderation.
Dr Lewis said: "There is no doubt that chocolate beats kissing hands down when it comes to providing a long-lasting body and brain buzz.
"A buzz that, in many cases, lasted four times as long as the most passionate kiss."
The volunteers, all aged in their 20s, had electrodes attached to their scalps and wore heart monitors during the two tests.
The researchers compared their resting heart rates with those during the chocolate and kissing tests.

The study also found that as the chocolate started melting, all regions of the brain received a boost far more intense and longer lasting than the excitement seen with kissing.

Psychologist Sue Wright said: "Chocolate contains phenylethylamine which can raise levels of endorphins, the pleasure-giving substances, in the brain.
"It also contains caffeine which has a stimulatory effect on the brain.
"This would explain why chocolate can give people a buzz, and why people can become addicted to it."

requesting the Korean hostages be freed. Will you

I thought you would like to know about this urgent campaign to free the remaining South Korean aid workers who have been taken hostage by Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. The Taliban have already executed 1 hostage and are threatening to execute the rest this week, an action that could trigger a mass evacuation of life-giving humanitarian aid from all of Afghanistan.

The situation is desperate, but there is hope. The Taliban are all from the 'Pashtun' ethnic group, and observe a strict code called Pashtunwali. This code demands, above all else: "hospitality to all, especially guests and strangers". There are rumours of infighting among the Taliban over these kidnappings, because they clearly violate the code.

A global outcry for the Taliban to follow their own code would certainly be covered by media in Afghanistan and Pakistan where the Taliban are based – creating massive local pressure on them to free their prisoners. But these hostages are living under a 24 hour death sentence. We have seconds not minutes to act. Sign the petition below and invite your friends to do the same.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/honour_the_afghan_code/tf.php/?CLICKTRACK

What Will You Do?

If You Are The Minister of Health with $40,000 to spend on one of the scenario below. How will you spend it?


Sarah is one of 1000s of school aged children with otitis media attending school. She is often in trouble because she can’t hear properly what the teacher is saying. She also feels really embarrassed because her spelling is poor. She cannot hear the sounds of the letters.
$40.000.00 would pay for over 500 children like Sarah to have grommets.



Meet Marcus and his grandmother Rebecca, Rebecca is 84 years of age. She served in the second world war and has always taken in homeless children and looked after them. She has always worked and paid taxes. Rebecca needs a hip operation. Her operation plus rehabilitation in a private rest home is estimated to be $40,000.00.



Here is a photo of someone’s baby. His name is Desmond. Desmond needs a heart transplant or else he would die. The operation would cost about $40.000.00..

How would you spend the $40,000.00?

STANDING-IN (interceding) FOR OUR GENERATION

Hi Guys,
Today, i spoke about the need for Christians to intercede(stand in) for our generation.
Trying to improve the sound quality, but so far good comments.
enjoy that. God bless you
Go to the link below to enjoy the wonderful encouragement
http://www.musicwebtown.com/ogyacious

SHALOM

COMING SOON

Hey Guys,
Watch out for outcoming features
You will be able to listend to my own inspirations and Godly encouragement from my page. http://www.musicwebtown.com/ogyacious
What about that?? in MP3 format.
Hope it helps Sara.
Hope to keep you happy
SHALOM

Ghana: Accelerating Growth to Halve Poverty

Ghana is currently one of the best-performing economies in
Africa. By improving policies and institutions, and investing in
infrastructure and basic services, Ghana has brought down poverty
levels from 52 percent in 1992 to 35 percent in 2003. It is likely
to surpass the Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty
by 2015. Economic growth has averaged 4.5 percent from 1983
through 2000, but accelerated to 5.8 percent in 2004 and 6 percent
in 2005 in response to the government’s program of reforms. Ghanaians’
access to electricity is the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa
outside South Africa. All of this augurs well for Ghana to achieve
middle-income country status by 2015.

COUNTRY ACHIEVEMENTS:
1)
GDP growth has been around 6 percent in
2004, 2005, and 2006—signifi cantly higher
than averages over the past decade. The
domestic debt-to-GDP ratio fell from 23.7
percent at the end of 2002 to 10.8 percent by
the end of 2005.

2)The government has strengthened public
fi nancial management through improved
regulation, as well as more timely audits.
Reporting on budget execution has become
more frequent and of higher quality. Stronger
fi scal management has contributed to
lower interest rates, thus lowering the
government’s interest costs and increasing
the availability and affordability of credit to
the private sector.

Health.:
3) Ghana’s overall medium-term health strategy
exceeded its targets in increasing outpatient
visits and pre-natal services. Ante-natal
care visits now cover 98 percent of pregnant
women. Also, over the last few years Ghana
has registered increases in the use of mosquito
nets and in births attended by a health
professional.

FUNNY THOUGHTS

One day a college professor of Psychology was greeting his new college class. He stood up in front of the class and said, "Would everyone who thinks he or she is stupid please stand up?"
After a minute or so of silence, a young man stood up.

"Well, good morning. So, you actually think you're a moron?" the professor asked.

The kid replied, "No sir, I just didn't want to see you standing there all by yourself.

Are Ghanaian Men Romantic?

One area of great interest in animal behaviour studies is courtship. While some birds are known to jump on tree branches for hours, displaying their ability and colourful feathers, others sing beautifully, build artistic nests and decorate them just to attract female partners.

It is also known that some animals stay as partners for life and continue to display their deep affection openly by gestures.

Romance and women
Romance is especially important to women because they identify themselves by their friendship, relationship and emotions. Women love warm, comforting and sharing relationships. They hunger for emotional connection, intimacy and love.

These can be found in small intangible and non-sexual activities like hugging, comforting words, holding hands or sharing quiet moments with a lover.

In all talks on relationships, our women complain that Ghanaian men are not romantic at all. How many Ghanaian men hold their wives' hand as they cross the road or take a pleasure walk with their wives?

Why Ghanaian men are not romantic
Studies across the world indicate that most women in relationships feel they are not getting the kind of love they deserve. The situation is worsened in Ghana where traditional and cultural practices make it hard for men to show open affection by gestures.

A man is expected to associate with men and those who show open romantic gestures may be ridiculed.
Thus at social meetings it is common to see husbands and wives sitting separately, with no communication. It appears almost a taboo for a Ghanaian man to show open affection to his wife. The cold attitude of Ghanaian men is more pronounced in those who grew up in broken homes or homes devoid of affection.

If such men never learnt how to show affection by reading or going through counselling, they find it extremely difficult to show affection to those they love

The way forward
A relationship without romance is not worth it. Women must know that no man is born romantic. It is the special treatment men get which opens them up to express their true love openly.

Hug frequently
Scientists tell us that hugging produces a chemical which sustains lasting relationships. We must spend quality time just to connect to ourselves as we speak words of appreciation, motivation, love, comfort, kindness, hope and acceptance.

Allow your wife to express herself and her emotions freely and remember to use the magic words - "I love you, thank you, sorry, you have been good to me."

In addition, you can create signs and terms understood only by the two of you. You can make your home romantic. Hang a family picture. You can listen to your favourite songs or watch films together as you share a drink.

A man can join his wife to cook and do other house duties. We can also send small gifts and love notes. A walk, a drink or weekend travels are helpful. Above all, we must be honest with ourselves and ensure that our actions are real and not deceit or flattery. This is because in some instances romance doesn’t guarantee true love

There is one particular thing the world day after day are seeking for.
Huge amount of money is spent every day and inocent lives are lost just because of this. That thing is called WORLD PEACE.
If we can learn to respect one another's culture, belief, openion and learn to show love, see each person as an individual and stop all stereotyping, Wolrd Peace is achievable.
May God bless this wonderful world.
Shalom