17
Apr
Posted by AgapeFocus in Current Affairs, Tribute To The Duke. Tagged: commitment, consort, Duke of Edinburgh, gentleman, handsome, HRH, humble, patriotism, poised, Prince Philip, Psalms 90:12. Leave a comment
I remember in 1956 during the visit to Nigeria by Her Majesty The Queen. He was immaculately dressed and stood beside her as Consort. As a young boy in the Primary school, I watched with admiration from a distance at the Lafenwa Train Station in Abeokuta. There a Civic Reception was held for the august visitors. It was a brief stop over, enroute to Ibadan, the then capital city of Western Region.
From the memorable occasion at Abeokuta, a great interest was aroused in me. However, there came several other times of views from afar, brought nearer home by courtesy of the television services across the globe. There I could see a tall, handsome, well- dressed, stockily built and well-poised gentleman. His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh.
I could talk about several other occasions during which I watched the Duke. Talk of his graceful and confident walk, accompanying Her Majesty The Queen for the State Opening Ceremony of Parliament and the Speech from the Throne. Each annual event was indeed made unique and impeccably splendid by his visibly humble commitment and patriotism.
Scenes which I remember with admiration include the Flypast watched from the Balcony during the Annual Birthday of Her Majesty The Queen. He stood with the distinguished combined poise of the consort, father, grandfather and leader of the family.
Dear LORD, So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalms 90:12. As the Queen leads the Royal Family, at this period of mourning, we join in condolences and prayers for grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Adieu Your Royal Highness, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh.
30
Jul
Posted by AgapeFocus in The Pope On Homophobia. Tagged: apostle peter, archbishop desmond tutu, church and society, current affairs, current-events, desmond tutu, dividing, God hates homosexual acts of sin, God hates sins, God loves all, God loves the homosexual, God not homophobic, homosexual orientation, humble, Isaiah 45:22, issues, John 3:16-17, Mary of Magdala, Pope Francis, pragmatic, Priscilla and Aquila, roman catholic church, Romans 16:3-5, uniting, view, women as priests. Leave a comment
The Pope, considered one of the most humble and pragmatic of all Popes is highly respected. After his short visit to Brazil Pope Francis has expressed his views on another current, but raging issue in the Church and Society. Homophobia has caused stirs across the world, uniting and dividing people. Archbishop Desmond Tutu spoke on homophobia recently saying that he was ready to go to hell rather than serve/ follow a homophobic God! However, we at Agape Focus affirm that God Almighty does not hate Homosexuals. God hates homosexual acts of sin. Similarly God does not hate anybody. God only hates all acts of sin.
The news media including the BBC carry this message prominently:
Pope Francis has said gay people should not be marginalised but integrated into society.
Speaking to reporters on a flight back from Brazil, he reaffirmed the Roman Catholic Church’s position that homosexual acts were sinful, but homosexual orientation was not.
He was responding to questions about whether there was a “gay lobby” in the Vatican.
“If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge them?”
He also said he wanted a greater role for women in the Church, but insisted they could not be priests.
Jesus said: God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it[John 3:16-17].
God said: Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God ; there is no other[Isaiah 45:22]
Jesus never prevented anyone from being a priest! Mary of Magdala was the first to proclaim the resurrection to the Apostles! Priscilla and Aquila, tent-making couple as Paul, were fellow leaders of the early church with Paul, having a local church in their house[Romans 16:3-5]. The Apostle Peter, married leader of the early Church also teaches about the priesthood of all believers[1 Peter 2:9-10]. In the Roman Catholic circle, the late Mother Teresa did exploits greater than that of many male priests!
To all homosexuals we say: Let the Word of God and his counsel lead you to make a U-Turn back to God. God loves you and so do we!
17
Nov
Posted by AgapeFocus in AGAPE NUGGETS, Marriage and Family, On Relationship. Tagged: Christ and the Church, Christ as the head, christian marriage, Church as the body, Colossians 3:18-19, Deuteronomy 24:1-4, discipline children, disciplined, enjoying sex together, Ephesians 5:21-33, Ephesians 6:1-4, eternal doom, experience victory, faithful, foolish man, forgive, free of challenges, good and healthy body care, headless silly woman, helpmeet, highest level of human relationship, humble, husband as head, inseparable entity, keep boundaries, lay down life, lord jesus christ, mutual esteem, natural body, no couple, no room for bitterness, not neglect, permissive will, Proverbs 13:24, Proverbs 22:6, religion, respectful, sanctity of marriage, set boundaries, specific and joint responsiilities, take, theology, true husband, unbroken communication, union, wife as body. Leave a comment
The Christian Marriage is likened to the union between Jesus Christ and the Church. The Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the Church which is called his body.As the natural human body cannot exist without the head, so can the church not thrive without Jesus Christ. In like manner,our Lord,Jesus Christ needs and cherishes us all who are his by redemption, through faith in his blood,shed when he stood in our place to rescue us from present and eternal doom. In the Christian marriage, the man,as husband and head;the woman as wife,body and helpmeet,form an inseparable entity! Any man who dishonours or abuses his wife is maltreating his own body. For such a man, there is no wisdom,peace or joy. Such a man is foolish.A true husband must be ready, if need arises, to lay his life down for the wife! Similarly the woman who disrespects or undermines her husband behaves as a headless, silly person! That woman is a walking spectacle or abnormality! A true wife must be humble and submissive(not as a slave),to the husband! In the early church,upholding the sanctity of marriage, any couple who break up their marital vows were treated as outcasts! However,some Twenty-first Century Christians think they are wiser than God,the Maker of marriage!Jesus taught and upheld that from the begining no permission was given for divorce. Moses gave his people instruction to divorce based on the stubborness of their hearts Deuteronomy 24:1-4!It is better not to marry than to take marriage as a Hollywood gamble or a scientific experiment!Divorce is the permissive will of God in case of fornication.In cases of deception on fidelity issues,divorce was permitted,if the person so wronged is legalistic and not gracious! There is no sin beyond pardon, when there is repentance. Otherwise,marriage the highest level of human relationship,becomes second rate;taking it so-so;managing it as you have stubbornly and disobediently made or found it. God is very loving and does not want you to go through hell in your marriage, if you follow his manual,the Bible and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you day by day.A couple that pray together,read and study the Bible together in obedience to God,must find peace,joy,purity ,power and courage to live successfully.Part of walking the road to success involves mutual esteem, selfless giving,unbroken communication,enjoying sex together,taking specific and joint responsibilities,based on your abilities or gifts.Never neglect to take good and healthy care of your bodies;better than you did during courtship days.In addition to these,forgive your spouse and give no room for bitterness.(Ephesians5:21-33; Colossians 3:18-19). Before and when children arrive to make you a family,set and keep boundaries with authority in the home.Everyone should be disciplined. Jointly discipline and train the children together (Proverbs 22:6; Proverbs 13:24; Ephesians 6:1-4;Colossians 3:20-21). Problems would surely face any couple. No couple is free of challenges,but the obedient,loving,respectful and faithful ones would experience victory.
AgapeFocus 
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