Monday, January 14, 2008

THE FOREX INVASION OF THE CHURCH

The Scriptures record in more than one account how the Lord Jesus Christ, consumed by the zeal for the House of God, brought in physical whips as he overturned the tables of the money changers who were turning God's house into a place for merchandise. Well, 2000 years after, the money changers are back - literally and physically too!

It is certainly no news (and of little interest to us) that virtually all radio and TV houses have been taken over by FOREX trainers, promising a steady mouth-watering income for all who would just log in to an e-mail account for about 5 minutes every day, and the wonder robot and ingenious software would do the rest. Hundreds of dollars would begin to flow in every blessed day just by trading foreign currency on the Internet. Since this steady flow of money represents gains from trading, it follows that some presumably less-trained or more gullible traders must exist elsewhere in cyberspace, steadily losing all this money. It is no wonder that considerable 'investment' must be made for such wonder, less-than-1-week training, that turns barely computer literate fortune-seekers into more than match for the professional FOREX-traders out there in cyberspace!

Where the story has become infuriating to us, is the steady massive infiltration of the Church in the search for more candidates to recruit into a probably saturating market. It's amazing that godly and sincere men of God could prove so gullible in their fear not to miss a God-sent rescue from poverty for their Church members. So it becomes that what is done in places like the US involving recruitment of the ethnic minorities through trusted leaders is being replicated in (South West) Nigeria, using trusted pastors.

The questions pastors should have asked themselves, or these so-called trainers, include:
* If this is really a training motivated by brotherly concern and not mammon, why couldn't there have been some Trainers willing to give it FREE? Afterall, much more better-packaged trainings litter the Internet, FREE, for those who know how to do a little search!
* Or at worst, why don't these super trainers with super softwares just recruit the hapless fellows, paying them the standard stipend, and having them do the trading on behalf of the trainers. Afterall, what is a N10,000 MONTHLY salary compared to the (typically promised) guaranteed gain of $300 or more DAILY?

The truth of the matter, as has been pointed out on several fora (some cited below), most of these so-called trainers have never even done any actual trading themselves. The business of training being far more lucrative than attempting any trading in the highly volatile FOREX market where as many as 90% of small-scale retail traders, are guaranteed to abandon the business in frustration, sooner or later! Reportedly, it takes only a minute of bad judgement to wipe out a month's gain in the market!

While recognizing that FOREX trading could be a legitimate and worth-while activity for well-trained professionals who are well acquainted with the risks, and discipline required; it is spiritually inappropriate for people who would use the activity as a get-rich quick scheme. It works purely on lusts just like its near-relatives: gambling, pools betting, etc. These are activities where people who have no professional skill to back the speculations they make; people who are not ready to discipline themselves by hard study and work; and in any case, who have no concern about making any useful contribution to society, nevertheless dream of making it big - overnight! The negative consequences of FOREX trading include getting hooked, time wasting (including relegation of spiritual activities to the background!), veering off into actual illegalities/sinful activities out of desperation (such as pornography, 419, etc). As a matter of fact, it has been suggested that just as is often the case in 419 stories, many of these would-be Trainers, were people who have lost out heavily in actual trading and hope to at least recoup somehow!

This is to passionately appeal to our Church leaders not only to stop immediately their facilitation of such FOREX training sessions [let those seriously interested go to business schools], but they should actually start to warn against it!

Joshua.

PS. This article is a quick draft, to be revised with real data to be collected via questionnaires to current dealers in FOREX in Ile-Ife. By writing this draft and posting it, hopefully, I will have to find the time to complete the other aspect and revise it asap. This blogspot is not yet advertised, but in case someone stumbles on it, happy reading!



References: http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2007/09/18/forex-trading-in-nigeria-your-link-to-fabulous-wealth/
http://naijagist.blogspot.com/2007/10/nigeria-myths-about-online-forex-html
http://ezinearticles.com/?Forex-Scams:-How-to-Spot-Them-A-Mile-Away.....

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Do Moslems really believe they serve same God as Christians?

This question stands out, begging to be asked, considering the attitudes of Moslems to their folks who attempt to convert to Christianity.

In one of the articles published in the recent edition of Church Arise! (Vol 10 No 6), a whooping 35% of BRITISH Muslims aged between 16 and 24 years believed that those who converted away from Islam should be killed! The figure was cited by TimesOnline with respect to the daughter of an Imam whose brother is threatening with death if she does not return to Islam, 15 years after she made the decision to become a Christian. (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article3007677.ece). In the same article, we mentioned the case of 41 Christian leaders in Indonesia who were sentenced to 5 years imprisonment just because they openly prayed that Muslims would "come to know Christ". (http://www.worthynews.com/christian/indonesia-sentences-41-christian-to-five-years-imprisonment-report/)

Now, if really Muslims hold that it is the same God of the Bible that is worshipped by them, why go to this extreme length of actually prescribing death for anyone who merely seeks a different "theology" to serve the same God?

It seems quite plain that all the interfaith posture of Islamic leaders (for instance the recent "A common Word" letter,) is all a ruse to get Christians to contaminate their faith. Once that is accomplished (and God forbid!), the only means of overcoming the world (1 John 5:4-5) is lost. The salt is then only good for the dunghill. Christians beware!

Let everybody serve whichever god (or nothings) as they wish. As well, people should also have the right to change religious convictions as they also may wish. It is the height of mischief to insist that the only condition we can live together in peace is for me to revise my faith to conform to somebody else's desire - even when I have been severely warned in my Scriptures against such a move!

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Seventh Day of Violence in Orissa; Six Christians Dead, 400 Houses Burnt

(December 30, 2007) The Washington-DC based human rights group,
International Christian Concern (ICC) www.persecution.org has learned that
state police and federal armed forces have failed to contain the
anti-Christian violence that began on the eve of Christmas and has led to
the killing of at least six Christians in Orissa state’s Kandhamal
district.

A local Christian, on condition of anonymity, told ICC that 600 Christians
had to hide in a Baptist church in Udaigiri village in Mallikapur area the
night of December 28, as they anticipated attacks on their homes.

“Extremists tried to attack them during the night, but they were not more
in number than the Christians, who could scare them away,” added the
source.

According to a fact-finding team led by Dr. John Dayal, Secretary General
of the All India Christian Council (AICC), six bodies of Christians were
found, 400 Christian homes and 60 churches were burnt down in the last six
days in Baliguda Block of Kandhamal district.

“Young and healthy Christians have left their villages to flee for their
lives, children, women, old and sick, who could not flee for their lives,
are in great danger of their lives,” Dayal said in a statement.

“Remnants are starving for the last four days, and sick are suffering
without medical attention. They are being forced to convert to Hinduism if
they are to get food, medical attention and shelter, and their heads are
[shaved],” Dayal quoted a victim as saying.

Meanwhile, The Indian Express newspaper reported that on December 22,
local Christian leaders met the District Collector (administrative
in-charge) and the superintendent of police, seeking protection.

“They handed over a letter which said they felt ‘insecure and paralyzed’
and requested that their ‘life and day-to-day livelihood should be ensured
at least from 24th to 26th of December’,” it said.

However, the administration did not heed the cry of Christians.

“The fundamental rights provided by the Indian Constitution to protect
lives has failed to reach the minority Christians in the state of Orissa.
State security forces have been at the hands of guns and fundamentalists.
No complaint from victims and Christian individuals has been filed by any
police station,” said Dayal.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Credits: International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941 Washington DC 20006-1846
www.persecution.org / Email: icc@persecution.org
www.persecution.org. Contact Jeremy Sewall, Policy Analyst,
1-800-ICC (422)-5441, jeremy@persecution.org

A NEW YEAR, A GREYER WORLD, A BRIGHTER YOU!

A big welcome to the new year, 2008, in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Even though, in the physical, time is adjudged to be homogeneous, and therefore one day does not really differ from another; spiritual considerations approve that we take note of certain times. Psalm 90:12 suggests that numbering our days will help us in applying our hearts to wisdom. Afterall, whether we put mind to it or not, our days are certainly numbered. Not just as individuals, but according to 1 Cor 7:29, "the time is short" for the human race as a whole!

Moreover, noting that "set times" do exist when certain landmark events are just perfectly suited; it is important to be watchful lest one misses such appointed "times of visitation" which might be difficult if not impossible to again replicate once lost (cf Psa 102:13 and Luke 19:41-44).

In addition to all these, the beginning of a new year offers a good opportunity for self appraisal, and making a fresh start in ways where we might have missed it. With the help of the Holy Spirit, one could make new bold resolutions involving one's career, the company one keeps, etc. So again, I bid you a warm welcome into the year 2008 in the name of the One Who is the Alpha and the Omega!

What does this year hold for the world? In the first instance, paraphrasing one of the stanzas in the hymn Peace, perfect peace.
"we can have peace, even though tomorrow seems uncertain, since we are sure Jesus lives forever.. and is going to be in charge, even tomorrow"! For the child of God, there is certainly no cause for alarm as to what the future portends.

Nevertheless, looking at the clear 'environmental signals'(cf Mat 16:3/Luke 12:56), it is not so difficult to discern what to expect in 2008. Considering the strident, almost desperate moves by advocates of interfaithism (proclaiming all religions serve the same god), to increasing efforts to further blur the gender-line among other signs of the times, it is clear that the year 2008 will be a year of Intense Greying of the World. Hence, it is year that needs to be navigated under the leading of the Holy Spirit, making use of one of the gifts He has made available for this period - discernment (cf 1 John 4:1, 1 Cor 12:10).

The Bible makes it clear that a darker world only means a world where the children of God are to shine even more brightly than ever before (see Isa 60:2, Dan. 11:32ff, Eph 5:13, Phil 2:15, etc). Dear child of God, as you determine to embrace the ways of the Lord this year and make a clear stand for Him, using the gifts of discernment, this year then will be your best ever, to date.

Joshua