LIFT UP YOUR EYES!
Transcription
LIFT UP YOUR EYES!
Volume 2 edition 1 january 2011 Lift up your eyes! HOP 2010 IN PICTURES Divine Inspirations Wisdom for Possessing the Land Real Estate Today! The Benefits of Home Ownership pastor wale akinsiku: the man behind the VISION Get Ready For A New Beginning! Pastor Wale opens up to L.I.F.E. about ministry, mentorship and his personal interests a par ish of the r edeemed chr istian church of god empow er ing you to achiev e your dr eams and fulfill your destin y! house house of of pr praise, aise, mississauga, mississauga, canada canada THE PERFECT FIRST IMPRESSION CAREER CORNER Adapted from Anthony Tjan’s article in the Harvard Business Review Blog (November 23, 2010) to school. Find an online image of the person. It is always more comfortable (not to mention easier to spot the person) when you know what he or she looks like before the meeting. The more unknowns you eliminate before a meeting, the less anxiety you’ll have in the actual meeting. When you have seen the person’s face, you will go into a meeting feeling like you have met the person before and feel more at ease. This is also helpful to do for phone calls. After months of trying, you have finally secured an important meeting with a top-level business executive or an interview for your dream job. How do you prepare to make that all-important first impression? Here are six things you should do prior to any important meeting to ensure that you get the desired results: Start with the company website and google the person you are to meet with. On the company website, look up the person’s bio and also google the person to get additional profile information. With the person’s bio in hand, you should lock in your mind the following facts: where they grew up, where they last worked, and where they went Get the latest news or analysis on the company. For a public company, find the latest analyst report and look up the recent stock trading price and trends. At the minimum, make sure you can fill in the following blanks: “The company I am seeing does/makes _________ and it is different because _________.” Find out who is connected to the person or firm you are meeting and talk to them. The best way to get a good first meeting is to be introduced to the firm. Find someone familiar with that person or company, and ask him or her to share as much background information as possible. Go in knowing your top objectives for the meeting and the top one or two questions you would like answered. Ensure that you know what you hope to accomplish with the meeting and don’t be shy about asking the executive what their goals for the meeting are. They usually welcome the directness. With your top objectives and top questions in mind, also understand the expected time frame of the meeting. Know this information but don’t show off. One of the dangers of doing even a little background research is that you can come across as obsequious, i.e. a suck up. One business expert has a great line — act stupid, win smart. Be armed with the data so that you can answer or direct the conversation appropriately; your goal is not to demonstrate what you know of the person or company but what you had in mind when you first set up the meeting. WALK THE TALK “We must be willing to get rid of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is awaiting us.”Joseph Campbell STARTING: THE GREAT SEPARATOR Adapted from John Maxwell’s article on the ‘John Maxwell on Leadership’ website (December 6, 2010) Start With Yourself As a leader you must first obtain what you need in order to help others succeed. Start Early It cannot be overstated how much you gain from starting early. Consider the ant (Proverbs 6:6-8). The activity of any individual ant seems to have little impact. After all, it can only carry one grain of sand and it’s not clear what any single grain has to do with what is being formed. But regardless of how it looks from the outside, something is developing. In building a business, you must start one grain at a time. The earlier you begin, the more grains of sand you can accumulate. Do you want to be a success? As you know, many obstacles can keep even a highlymotivated person from succeeding. However, the ONLY obstacle that will ALWAYS keep us from success is not starting! If desire were enough, everyone would own a business. But success is like a book and starting and finishing are the front and back covers. Until you open that front cover, you cannot experience anything from the pages within. So how do you get started? 2 Start Small Most of us would love to see the entire path from where we are to the top. But life does not work that way. Like a person carrying a lamp, most of us only see the small portion of the path ahead. Our best response is to just take the next step. Starting small will encourage you to start and allow you to prioritize and concentrate. Start With the End in View First, pursue your passion. A goal that you ENTREPRENEURial intelligence feel strongly about gives you energy. Next, let planning give you direction. The beginning of the journey is the place to study the map. You may not always know the entire route but your planning should always point in the direction of your destination. Start Now It is too easy to say, “I’ll start tomorrow.” We promise that tomorrow, we will start a diet, studies, a career, or a relationship. But until we actually begin, a dream remains a dream. It may be a cliché to say that every journey begins with the first step, yet it is still true. Successful people do not wait for everything to be perfect to move forward. They do not wait for all the problems or obstacles to disappear. They do not wait until their fear subsides. They take the initiative. They know a secret that good leaders understand: momentum is their friend. As soon as you take that first step and start moving forward, things become a little easier. If the momentum gets strong enough, many of the problems take care of themselves and talent can take over. But it starts only after you have taken those first steps. L I V E S I N S PI R E D F OR E XCELLENCE house of pr aise, mississauga, canada pASTOR’S COLUMN exercising your faith in God. Make a decision to cross the line today. Learn from the Woman with the “issue of blood” in Mark 5:25-34. Though she had many previous treatment failures, she maintained her confidence that she would be healed. When the opportunity came for her to connect with the power of God, she was ready. WISELY ENGAGE YOUR PRESENT Your future depends on the choices you make now! What will you do with what you presently have? Your present time, talent, treasures are all available for you to use as seeds to sow into your future. Are you consuming the seeds or investing them? Do not fall into the deceitful trap of the enemy to think you do not have anything. No matter how things might look today, the key to your glorious future is hidden among your present inventory (2 Kings 4:2). GET READY FOR A NEW BEGINNING! BY PASTOR WALE AKINSIKU D o you need a fresh start? Do you desire a higher level of blessing? God is a God of new things (Isaiah 43:19). He is prepared to bring you into a higher level of greatness. You might have made some wrong choices in the past that are presently affecting your progress. Some decisions might have gone against you. Certain things might have turned out contrary to your initial plans. Take Courage. God is a God of New Beginnings. Life is in seasons and each season ushers in different opportunities and challenges. If you have not maximized the opportunities that have come your way (or have not even seen them), or you have been overwhelmed by the challeng¬es of this season…God is able to change the season in your favor (Daniel 2:20-21). God changed the season of pain and unbearable challenges of Daniel to a w ww.houseofpr aise.c a season of promotion and rewards. Daniel was threatened with death. He was under a lot of pressure but God gave him a new beginning and gave him a great opportunity for promotion despite his fierce challenges. What the enemy meant for evil turned out to be the platform for his next level of progress. I decree that the enemy’s plans to stop you or frustrate you will turn out to favor you and bring you into astonishing greatness. Start getting ready for a New Beginning. Things are set to change in your favor. How to get ready: FORGET THE PAST (ISAIAH 43:18) Make a conscious decision to forget the past. Do not allow your past mistakes to rob you of your confidence. There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Do not allow the emotional pain of past disappointments to rob you of presently Take stock of what you have: your time, talents and treasures and determine to exchange them for your desired future. You cannot continue with your present routine and expect things to eventually work out. It rarely does! Take responsibility and wisely sow something in your present for your desired future. EMBRACE THE FUTURE (PSALM 37:37) Your future is peace. There is joy in your future. Your future is colorful. Therefore, rejoice! Refuse to be oppressed by depression, despair and sorrow. Wow! I see a great future ahead of you. The challenges you face today will be tomorrow’s testimonies. Something great is prepared for you (1 Corinthians 2:9). Go ahead and rejoice. It is the season of new things. You are about to be launched into unparalleled greatness. I see you having unprecedented testimonies. Get ready for New Beginnings! 3 house of pr aise, mississauga, canada DIVINE INSPIRATIONs Strategies for Possessing the Land The Spirit of Wisdom We need God’s wisdom and revelation knowledge to be able to possess this land. God is the only wise God (Jude 5) Jesus is the wisdom and the power of God. As children of The Most High God, access to the wisdom of God is our heritage. This Spirit of Wisdom generates unending results. It brought Joseph from the prison to palace and allowed Daniel to take over and prosper in captivity. WISDOM FOR POSSESSING THE LAND BY DEACONESS PATIENCE OLISEMEKA G od’s Word for us for 2011 is ‘Possessing the Land’. Deuteronomy 8:1 says: “Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers.” food to eat. However, verse 27 says: “So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and grew and multiplied exceedingly.” Thank God that Deuteronomy 8:7-10 describes the land that He is bringing us to possess this year. “AS CHILDREN OF THE MOST HIGH GOD, ACCESS TO THE WISDOM OF GOD IS OUR HERITAGE” In every land there are two lands. A land of no limit and a land of limitation, a land of no lack and a land of lack, a land of no struggles and a land of struggles, a land of plenty and a land of scarcity. This is clearly seen in Genesis 47:1327. The Bible records that there was severe famine in the land of Egypt, money failed and people sold their livestock, lands and themselves to get 4 It is a good land, a land: • Where there shall be no more scarcity • Of no limitations • Of honour and dignity • Of no struggle • Of no lack Characteristics of God’s Wisdom 1. An excellent spirit (Daniel 6:3) 2. A sound mind (2Timothy 1:6-7) 3. Empowers your mind for discretion (Psalms 112:5) 4. Enables you to make sound decisions 5. Innovative, inventive and creative 6. Generates practical solutions 7. Gives you access to the secrets of God Access to the Wisdom of God The love of God is our covenant access to the Spirit of Wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:7-9). • Joseph loved God and refused to sin • Daniel loved God and would not stop praying • David loved God and was called a man after God’s heart • Paul the apostle loved God and was the wisest apostle Every lover of God flows naturally in the Spirit of Wisdom. Your love level determines the level of wisdom you access. In conclusion, if this Spirit of Wisdom took Joseph from the prison to the palace and enthroned Daniel in the land of captivity, it definitely will empower us to ‘Possess the Land’ this year. L I V E S I N S PI R E D F OR E XCELLENCE house of pr aise, mississauga, canada ADOPTION LEGAL CORNER BY BUKY OWOTOMO aybe God is leading you to give a child a hand, to provide a fresh start, M a loving, safe and nurturing home. Maybe you are ready to make a commitment to helping a child grow and develop. Here is some information on adoption. This fresh start has profound legal and social consequences. Adoption is “…the total extinguishment of the birth parents rights and the establishment, legally, retroactively and permanently, of a parentchild relationship between a child and a person who is not the biological parent of the child” (Justice Nevin in K. v. B. (1995)). Subject only to certain appeals, adoptions in Ontario are absolute, final, irrevocable, unquestionable and cannot be reviewed in any court. Adoption is a social and a legal process; it is detailed, fatiguing and form-heavy (not to put you off but to prepare you). The rules and regulations of the province of residence govern the process. Beware though, you cannot adopt in a hurry, you must develop the capacity to contend with the legal minefield of petitions, hearings, consents, documents, deadlines, withdrawals, notices, government and court forms, fees, meetings, phone calls, etc. There are three primary sources of adoption in Ontario, each regulated through clearly defined governmental laws and regulatory bodies: International Adoptions With a larger pool of children, it is the most costly and complicated; it accounts for the majority of adoptions in Canada. It involves provincial laws, federal immigration laws and laws of the child’s country of origin. The costs are borne by the adoptive parents and can reach upwards of $30,000. They are governed by the Ontario Child and Family Services Act and Ontario Intercountry Adoption Act; Public Domestic Adoption These are adoptions within Canada arranged by a public or government agency such as the Children’s Aid Society. The costs are borne by government funds and regulated by the Ontario Child and Family Services Act; Private Domestic Adoption These are adoptions within Canada, where birth parents voluntarily choose to place a child up for adoption. They are regulated by the Ontario Child and Family Services Act also. The costs are borne by the adoptive parents and can reach up to $10,000. An adoption may be ‘Open’ or ‘Closed’. ‘Open’ adoption is a form where the birth parent and the adoptive parents discuss the adoption and the child, whereas in a ‘Closed’ adoption the adoptive parents and the birth parents have no contact. Two main components of the adoption process are: • • Remember that every waiting child needs a stable and fostering home. All the best! Book Club: maximise destiny With chapter titles like attitude is fundamental, vision is vital, insight is essential and the mind is crucial, just to mention a few, there is no reason not to pick up this life changing book. Bishop David O. Oyedepo states in the introduction that we are redeemed to make a difference, to stand out and to be outstanding. God paid such a high price for our redemption that to die a failure would be a slap to His face. He indicated that we are in the success-age of the church and that God’s people should not only amaze and astound the world but that that same w ww.houseofpr aise.c a Completing a HOMESTUDY, i.e. an investigation and assessment of your home, your suitability and readiness, medical, employment and financial histories, criminal background checks and discrete interviews with neighbors or collaterals; and Completing the Parent Resources for Information, Development and Education (P.R.I.D.E.) training. A mandatory course on parenting an adopted child. david o. oyedepo and you need spiritual, mental, emotional and physical strength to maximize destiny. Here is a small peek into chapter Discipline Operating as one (Attitude is Fundamental). demanded not as is convenient, There are 12 fundamental it is also cultivated. attitudes that guarantee impactful living, here are the first Determination - The “If I perish, I perish” mentality is a catalyst of five: destiny Decisiveness - Indecision is a cancer of destiny. Decisiveness Focus - To “run here and there” is births greatness because to lose ones place in destiny. whatever is not decided cannot be delivered. It is cultivated and Are you not excited to read on? not a gift. This is more than a motivational Strength - You need bravery book; it will put in your hands to dare and you need daring to the keys and practical steps as conquer. Till you are stretched to how you can maximize your the star in you cannot manifest destiny. success will be a sickle to harvest souls for the Kingdom. 5 house of pr aise, mississauga, canada real estate today! Are You Ready to Buy a Home? First – do you have the financial resources? You should have five percent of the purchase price of a home for the down payment, but ideally even more. Are there other priorities in your life e.g. starting a new business, which require your savings? If not, buying a home should be on your radar. Second – do you expect to stay in your new home for some time? Moving can be expensive and you will want to build some equity before having to relocate. Your job and home life should be stable. THE BENEFITS OF HOME OWNERSHIP Adapted from ‘First Time Home Buyer’s Guide’ Buying a home is one of the biggest emotional and financial decisions you will ever make, so prepare yourself to make a knowledgeable decision. Here are a few benefits to home ownership: Pride of Home Ownership Pride of home ownership is the number one reason why people desire their own home. There is no landlord looking over your shoulder. You are able to make home improvements knowing that any appreciation that results will be to your benefit. Home ownership gives you and your family a sense of stability and security. It is making an investment in your future. Appreciation In Canada, especially in the last few years, homes have appreciated considerably and in doing so have added substantially to owners net worth. Unlike stocks and bonds, you get to live in your real estate investment. Also, in Canada your principal residence is exempt from 6 capital gains taxes. Mortgage Reduction Builds Equity Each month, part of your monthly payment is applied to the principal balance of your home loan, which builds your equity. You can borrow against a What Can You Afford? If you have not already gone through the mortgage pre-qualification process, you will need to meet with a lender or mortgage broker. They will establish how much of a mortgage you will qualify for. Mortgage rates vary considerably and it is paramount that you shop around for the best rate, terms and options. At www.remax-western.ca the affordability calculator will help you determine what monthly mortgage payment and the maximum mortgage you can manage. Note: if you are buying a condo, the amount of your monthly assessment has a direct impact on how “HOME OWNERS ACCUMULATE WEALTH FOR THE FUTURE WHILE ENJOYING BENEFITS OF A SHELTER THEY CAN USE” home’s equity for a variety of reasons such as home improvement, sending your kids to university or college, or starting a new business. Why pay-off your landlord’s property when you can own your own? Homeowners accumulate wealth for the future while enjoying the benefits of a shelter that they can use, improve and sell. Their home is a safe haven for investment. much you can afford to spend on your mortgage. First time homebuyers may want to take advantage of the federal government’s Home Buyers’ Plan. Under this plan, you may use up to $25,000 of your RRSP towards the purchase of a home. The money is tax-free as long as you pay it back in the next 15 years. Look out for questions to ask when assessing home features in a future edition of L.I.F.E. L I V E S I N S PI R E D F OR E XCELLENCE house of pr aise, mississauga, canada BIBLE STUDY kingdom service BY DEACONESS AGNES NKEMDIRIM Do you want to give people a place to connect with other believers in fellowship? To grow in their understanding of the Bible, as Jesus’ own small group of disciples did? To become equipped for evangelism? Then the Bible Study Department is the place to meet that goal. of each class is to effectively teach and discuss the Word of God. In addition, we discuss the previous lesson and how it was applied to individual lives since taught. With the focus of getting as many people interested in the Word of God, the Bible Study Department at House of Praise is a teaching ministry that conducts Bible study between first and second service. There are currently three adult classes and one young adult class. An important skill necessary to be a part of this team is knowledge of the Word of God and the ability to communicate in an effective manner to the small group. The teachers in this department explain and communicate the Word of God to their class and encourage them to apply the Word to their daily lives. The people are encouraged to practice what they hear so that they can fulfil their God-given purpose. The goal The teachers communicate by narrating a story in a sequential order, describing, comparing and contrasting. Students in the class are persuaded with concrete examples from the Bible and everyday life. This department meets on an on-going basis to review and receive instructions regarding how to structure the class so that the teaching is consistent and smooth although teaching-styles differ amongst the teachers. Classes are small and people are encouraged to ask questions and be involved. This is a forum for everyone to participate and contribute (Proverbs 27:17). The manual used for teaching the classes is the North American Redeemed Christian Church of God Bible Study Guide. The lessons are not taught in the sequence that they appear in the book, but rather according to the prophetic theme of the month or in line with the current teachings from the pulpit. Champion’s Profile: Isaiah Ogunsiji (ID) Gender: Male Birth Date: August 11 Birth Place: Canada Profession: Business Intelligence Hobbies / Extracurricular Activities: Sports, reading and singing Years at House of Praise: Four Department: Technical How has House of Praise impacted your life? Where do I begin? Before I came here, I basically had no concrete plans for the future. It was more of finish school, look for work in my field of study and then whatever happens, happens. I was somewhat set in my ways. w ww.houseofpr aise.c a All that changed in March of 2006. From the teaching and the push to continually improve yourself, there was no place to go but forward. Talents that I didn’t really know I had are now being used for God. Nothing could be better than that. I am comfortable stepping out of my comfort zone now. I have learnt to stop figuring out how things will happen but just do my part and let God do the rest. What makes you unique? Quiet strength they call it, but I believe it is my ability to stay calm under pressure and still have a focus on the final outcome. Some say I am a Jack-of-alltrades as well. Favourite quote: “The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment” –Lady Dorothy Nevill 7 house of pr aise, mississauga, canada THE MAN BEHIND THE VISION I n the relaxed atmosphere of his office, L.I.F.E. magazine was welcomed and privileged to interview Pastor Wale Akinsiku, Senior Pastor of House of Praise, Mississauga, Canada. An inspirational leader, dynamic preacher and exceptional mentor, Pastor Wale opened up to L.I.F.E. Magazine and its readers about the vision that God has given him for 2011 and the next 5 years. He discussed with us his strengths as a pastor, most memorable moments to date in his ministry, how he prepares and delivers his messages and much more. 8 What message do you have for the people of God for 2011? 2011 is going to be a very fantastic year! I see a strong wave of restoration, generally, for the Body of Christ. Restoration, not only in material things, but for people to be in the position that God originally created them to be in Dominion. Dominion in the areas of academia, politics, business, religion, sociocultural worlds and fields of communication. I see that most of the very influential positions, all across the board, will be occupied by Christians. In order for people to take part in this, they will need to correctly position themselves. You are known for your prophetic insight into the future. How would you recommend that the people of God position themselves to benefit from God’s plan for the church in the next 5 years? First, people must position themselves spiritually by being planted in the right church. The soil in which the seed is planted determines the nutrients that goes in the seed and also determines what will happen to the future of that seed. People are encouraged to make up their minds to stay in the church and align themselves with the teachings in the church. Secondly, they must take individual responsibility to build up their own spiritual capacity by studying the Bible systematically, reading and praying. L I V E S I N S PI R E D F OR E XCELLENCE house of pr aise, mississauga, canada Thirdly, people must have a personal developmental plan and become experts in their field of endeavours. In addition, they need to pick up books on management and stay abreast of the principles of management. Finally, they should position themselves in the community by giving back through volunteering. Volunteering, for example, in the church, hospital, shelters and for good causes such as the CIBC Run for the Cure or Multiple Sclerosis just to mention a few. How do you memorize the verses of the Bible and how are you able to recall them with such accuracy? Naturally, I have the gift in the area of academia. I am also very grateful to God for the gift of a photographic memory. When I became a Christian, I decided to apply these gifts to the Bible. I love the Word. Therefore, I take time out, consciously, to study the scriptures systematically, and to not just memorize them but to understand them. The Holy Spirit then brings the scriptures to my rememberance. There are a lot of painful memories but there are also pleasant memories. When you have the opportunity to be part of a person’s journey - you know where they are coming from and get to see how they are moving forward - you get to share their joy and be part of their great destiny, these are pleasant moments. On a balance, the pleasant moments far outweigh the painful moments but they are both there. What is your greatest strength as a Pastor? I have very few strengths but I have chosen to develop those areas of strengths. I am able to think, plan, strategize and envision. God has given me the capacity to see the abstract and communicate it in a very real manner. Taking very difficult and abstract concepts and making them interesting “I PREPARE WITH THE MINDSET THAT IT MIGHT BE SOMEONE’S LAST OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO CHURCH AND HEAR ABOUT CHRIST” You have been a pastor for 10 years. During this time, have you had second thoughts about leaving the pharmacy profession to become a full-time Pastor? I have had second, third, fourth and, hundreds of thoughts. The role of a Pastor is very challenging; Pastors are one of the most endangered species in the world (laughs). Yes, there are days and moments that I question my decision but then I go back to the reasons that I chose to answer the call of God originally and those are the reasons that keep me going when the days look dark. In your ministry, what is your most painful memory and what is your most pleasant memory? In ministry, there are mixtures of both moments. I have gone through betrayal, false accusations and misunderstandings. w ww.houseofpr aise.c a and understandable to people is one of my God-given gifts. Which well-known preachers do you hold in high regard? First and foremost I look up to Pastor E.O. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and my father in the Lord. He is the one that God used to ordain me and to position me where I am today. I have tremendous and awesome respect for him, he has influenced me greatly. There are a host of other preachers who have influenced me, to mention a few, my mentor Reverend Sam Adeyemi, Dr. Mensa Otabil, Bishop David Oyedepo, Dr. Bill Winston, and Bill Hybels. I have a lot of regard for them and what God has used them to do. Pastor Wale is a visionary leader, committed to biblical principles and personal development. How do you prepare your messages? I prepare with the mindset that there might be someone who is attending a service and it might be their last opportunity to come to the church, hear about the gospel and make a decision. I have 45 - 60 minutes to preach a message that will help them make the right decision or they might regret it for life. Therefore, I give it my all. I try to cut across the different segments, from the old to the young, from people doing well to those coming up, from strong/ mature Christians to new believers and unbelievers. This mindset disciplines me to put in a lot of work. To get the sermon, for me, is not the problem; it is the spiritual preparation to be able to make the sermon effective and this takes days for a one-hour sermon. How do you make sure that your sermon speaks to a wide range of people? I understand the people that attend this church and I fellowship with them. Meeting and mingling with them is a very important part of my role. I endeavour to stay connected with them, find out what they are doing in life and this allows me to understand them and their challenges. I also live in this country and I am aware of the number of challenges the average 9 house of pr aise, mississauga, canada person can face. I read newspapers and magazines to understand various challenges and peculiarities. Based on all that, a platform is formed for me to deliver my message and make it relevant to the audience. Having led a church from 15 people to over 1200 people, what is your one advice for pastors with a growing congregation? In addition to other good things that you are doing, find a mentor with a good heart. A mentor that has been through what you are going through and that has succeeded. Follow them, submit yourself, be a protégé. Let them show you the principles and let them mentor you (Jeremiah 6:16). You do not need to struggle on your own. The rest of the other things you can read through books but you need a mentor to help you, lift you up and show you a lot of things. I would encourage pastors coming up, just like I have a mentor, to have a mentor (2 Chronicles 26:5). On a lighter note, which two TV shows do you like to watch? I like watching documentaries on businesses and people. I also enjoy watching programs where complex problems are solved (e.g. Sue Thomas F.B.Eye and Inspector Columbo). I will add that I watch soccer a lot! and really enjoyed was the remake of The Karate Kid starring Jaden Smith. “FIND A MENTOR WITH A GOOD HEART, FOLLOW THEM, SUBMIT YOURSELF. BE A protégé. ” 10 What are some of the best movies that you have seen? My interest is war films (e.g. Black Hawk Down, Six Day War, Raid On Entebbe). The most recent movie that I watched What is your favourite African and non-African dish? Fried plantain, my son calls it ‘Do-Dos’. Non-African, I enjoy steak (medium). Which two places would you like to visit in the next 5 years? I would like to visit Greece/Turkey and go to some of the places mentioned in the New Testament. Secondly, I would like to visit Mount Everest. w w. L Iw VE S ho I Nu S se PI of R E pr D aise.ca FOR E XCELLENCE house of pr aise, mississauga, canada ORAL HEALTH healthy living BY DR. ODUSANYA Many people strive for good health but most ignore their oral health. It has been scientifically established that you cannot claim to have good health without good oral health because “the mouth is the gateway to the body and the mouth speaks for the body”. There are 3 main keys to good oral health: 1. Good Oral Hygiene 2. Good Eating Habits 3. Regular visits to the Dentist (Professional Intervention) Good oral health is the practice of keeping the mouth and teeth clean to prevent dental problems and bad breath. It involves the The following are ways to control plaque: control of bacteria. Plaque is the main culprit in dental • Brush your teeth twice a day (in disease. the morning and last thing in the evening before going to bed) with a What is plaque? It is the soft soft or medium bristle tooth brush white sticky deposit, made and fluoride-containing toothpaste. up of bacteria and food Never use a hard bristle tooth debris, that forms on teeth. brush. Hard tooth brushes, apart Uncontrolled plaque starts from cleaning your teeth also brush hardening within 48 hrs away your gum and the outer and turns to calculus (Tartar) covering of your teeth leading to gum recession and tooth sensitivity. in about 10 days. Once plaque becomes hardened • Floss your teeth at least once a day there is no amount of brushing that can – this is to clean the areas between remove it except by a professional at the your teeth which cannot be reached dental office. Hardened plaque (Tartar) also causes more plaque to accumulate by a tooth brush. on the teeth leading to a vicious cycle. • Use a mouth rinse e.g. Scope or Why control plaque? As stated earlier, Listerine. Note that using a mouth plaque is the main culprit in most dental rinse should not replace brushing diseases such as Caries (Tooth Decay) and flossing. and Gum Disease (Infection). Plaque can also complicate some medical conditions • Visit your Dentist at least twice a like Diabetes, Heart Disease etc. year for check-ups and cleaning for removal of any hardened plaque How to Control Plaque (Tartar) and to make sure that Plaque cannot be totally removed but can there are no other dental issues you be controlled to a manageable level where are not aware of. it will not have any negative effects. CRUNCHY STIR-FRY Preparation Time: 30 minutes Makes: 12 servings Preparation of Red Curry Sauce Place Coriander, Cumin and Red chili seeds in a dry frying pan and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add Onions, Cilantro, Cloves, w ww.houseofpr aise.c a Vegetable Oil, Lime Zest, Turmeric, Paprika Coconut, and cook for another 1-2 minutes and cool. Place the roasted spices in a coffee grinder and grind to a crunchy paste. Sauce can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated. Steps/Method: 1. Wash and cut the vegetables into bite-size pieces. 2. Stir fry vegetables in an open wok till all the water dries. 3. Add the red curry sauce for flavoring. 4. Cook the Noodles. 5. Spread vegetable/red curry sauce mix on noodles to serve. 6. Garnish with fresh cilantro. healthy KITCHEN Ingredients: Vegetables and Noodles: Red Curry Sauce: 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 tbsp Coriander seeds 2 tsp Cumin seeds 1 tsp Black Peppercorns 12 Red chilies 1 Cup Fresh green onions 2 tbsp Vegetable Oil 12 Cloves Garlic – chopped 2 tbsp Cilantro – chopped 2 tsp Lime zest – grated 2 tsp Turmeric 2 tsp Red spinach paprika ½ Cup Desiccated coconut lbs lbs lbs lbs lbs lbs lbs lbs lbs lbs 500g 500g 500g 500g 500g 500g 500g 500g 500g 500g Carrots Red sweet peppers Green peppers Yellow peppers Long egg plant Zucchini Green beans Yellow beans Cauliflower Noodles 11 house of pr aise, mississauga, canada POWER OF SACRIFICE PASTOR SAM ADEYEMI PASTOR MATTHEW ASHIMOLOWO MAKING OF CHAMPIONS THREE NIGHTS OF WONDER DR. EASTWOOD ANABA DR. MENSA OTABIL 7 WEEKS OF FITNESS MAXIMIZE DESTINY WITH REV. GEORGE ADEGBOYE HOP 2010 IN PICTURES MAXIMIZE DESTINY WITH REV. GEORGE ADEGBOYE HOP FC ACHIEVE! WITH DR. BEN CARSON ENTREPRENEURSHIP BOOTCAMP 12 L I V E S I N S PI R E D FOR E XCELLENCE house of pr aise, mississauga, canada YOUNG CHAMPIONS! Alpha Teens Celebrate Christ in Christmas 2010 w ww.houseofpr aise.c a L I V E S I N S PI R E D F OR E XCELLENCE 13 house of pr aise, mississauga, canada Prophetic Declarations of the Month 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Your shame is converted to glory Begin to experience unique and undeniable proofs Your dryness is converted to greatness You will go ahead and go very far Promotion is coming Welcome to the realm of pleasant surprises Pastor Wale Akinsiku events announcement house of praise begins three services Sunday January 16, 2011 First Service: 8:30am Bible Study: 10:10 - 10:40am Second Service: 10:45am Third Service: 12:30pm Celebrations “Rejoice with those who rejoice“ (Romans 12:15) Birth Announcements Parent’s Name Sex Date of Birth Mr & Mrs Ogbebor Girl November 10th Mr & Mrs Igbinoba Girl December 1st Are You a Gifted Writer? We are now accepting contributions (original articles, essays, short stories, poems, cartoons, jokes, etc.) to the L.I.F.E. Magazine. Interested? Please send an email to [email protected] 14 Testimonies L.T. I was a Muslim before I joined House of Praise in February 2010. I received a letter from Immigration to come for an interview in March 2010. The interview was to decide if I would need to go for a full hearing or not. When I got there they postponed the interview to June. In May of 2010 the interview was postponed to August. I went for the interview in August but I received a phone call from my lawyer that the Immigration Officer was not satisfied with my testimony and that I would be going for a full hearing in December 2010. As the date came nearer I was scared but the Deaconess you assigned to pray with me encouraged me and built up my faith. She taught me how to pray and the verses to read in the Bible. As God will have it you announced the ‘Showers of Blessing’ program. I took part in the fasting and prayer and, just like you said, I left everything I was thinking aside and just concentrated on the prayer and fasting. I completely denied myself from watching TV and deactivated my face book page. I was just focusing on my prayers and reading my bible. I did not even open my Immigration documents at all. After service one Sunday, Deaconess bought the CD for ‘Outpouring of Prophetic Blessings’ for me and I continued to listen to it from the moment I got home till the morning I went for my hearing. I even recorded it on my phone so that on my way there that was what I was listening to while receiving all the blessings. As the hearing started God was just answering all the questions the judge asked me and I was talking with confidence. When the judge asked my lawyer to give his submission, I knew God was at work because as my lawyer was talking and quoting the law even the judge was just coughing and clearing his throat. The judge asked us to give him a 15 minute break to give his decision. During the 15 minutes I went into the washroom to pray and I called the Deaconess but she had gone to work but her husband prayed with me and told me not to worry that the Lord had done it. I walked back into the room with renewed confidence, so the judge came in and he started to talk but the only thing I heard him say was “I HAVE ACCEPTED YOUR CLAIM, CONGRATULATIONS”. From the moment I left that building till I got home I could not stop thanking God and laughing. Even the people that sat down beside me in the public transit were wondering what was wrong with me. The only song I continued to sing was ‘Have you seen what the Lord has done? He has destroyed the works of satan, He has given me victory!’ L I V E S I N S PI R E D FOR E XCELLENCE house of pr aise, mississauga, canada Entertainment December 2010 Solution I VIII IX VI II II III VIII IX II VI III IX V IX V IV I VIII VI I IX I IX I V III III VII VIII IV IV II I V IV VIII V VII VIII I IV VII VII VI III V IV VII II VIII IV I V QUOTE OF THE MONTH Difficulty Level: DIFFICULT Lookout for solution to this sudoku in the February 2011 edition. The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time. Abraham Lincoln 15