Wednesday, December 4, 2013

HIJAB PALAVER: SHARIAH GOONS BEAT UP PRINCIPAL, TEACHERS AT BAPTIST SCHOOL IN OSUN STATE


In the first major fall-out from Governor Aregbesola’s hide-and-seek religious games in Osun state, Shariah proponents roundly beat up Mr Layi Oguntola, principal at Baptist High School (BHS), Ejigbo on Monday 25th November.  A number of other Christian teachers in the school (including one Phillip Oke) were also beaten to a pulp and it was the timely intervention of the town’s monarch that prevented possible bloodshed. The principal was hospitalized for three days following the severe beatings.  Allegedly, Mr Oguntola had, a few days previously, disallowed some Hijab-clad girls from coming to school. Surely, Moslem faithfuls could not let such an incident go unavenged!
As was evident later on however, though there have been vigorous Islamic protests against the clearly articulated position of the Baptist Convention that the hijab is not acceptable in any of the schools established by her, no student had actually yet come to BHS donning the hijab.  And of course the Principal could therefore neither have forcibly removed any such hijab nor sent any student out of the school for wearing one. Clearly, the already hyper-excited Hijab-militia are finding it rather difficult to hold on till more politically expedient climes before pushing forward with their sworn Islamist agenda. 
In April last year, leading advocate for hijabs in Osun public schools, Prof Ishaq Akintola from Lagos state, referred to the issue as a “sword of Damocles hanging over our heads” and an “imbroglio” waiting to escalate.  As we pointed out in our rejoinder, although Ishaq Akintola could not really articulate why moslems have suddenly come to realize that the standard female school uniform is “only fit for night clubs”, he concocted the incredible story that Christian teachers were beating up hijab-donning moslem girls on the streets, just for wearing the hijab!  While apparently conceding to Governor Aregbesola’s plea for restraints at that time, Akintola warned ominously, “the last may not have been heard of the (matter)” (Please see http://churcharise.blogspot.com/2012/05/hijab-seeks-headway-in-osun-state-sw.html)
Mr Oguntola of Baptist High School got a first-hand experiential understanding of that statement on Monday 25th November. According to Mr Oguntola, about 250 Muslims youths pounced on him on that day, pounding him to a pulp right in his office. THISDAY newspaper reported that “dangerous weapons such as axes, cutlasses and charms were liberally used by the irate Muslim youths”; while the media house InformationNigeria insisted that the mob was actually led by some moslem parents identified as having been very vocal in the advocacy for the hijab in the school.(http://www.informationng.com/2013/11/parents-beat-principal-to-a-pulp-in-osun-over-use-of-hijab.html)
The first full-fledge secondary school in Ejigbo, the Baptist High School was established by Baptist missionaries in February 1960, and it remains one of the top schools in the State.  When Gov Aregbesola first introduced his educational reform policy, all public schools (including those established by religious missions - most of them Christian missions) were to lose their traditions and identity.  Common sense however prevailed as it was clear that the re-classification of schools as Lower, Middle or High School for administrative effectiveness does not have to wipe out the identities and values of the Christian proprietors. Although Governor Aregbesola has strongly criticized the beating of Mr Oguntola and the other Christian teachers at BHS, all eyes are on him to see what exactly becomes of his vow to make the attackers face ”the wrath of the law”.
Initial signals are however not encouraging. It is already being reported that the state government feels the way to soothe currently frayed nerves and ease the palpable tension in the state would be to transfer the brutalized principal to another school. Although the Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly who is reportedly anchoring such moves has issued a statement to deny it, he at the same time announced a donation of a bus to the local branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria at Ejigbo, the major opponents of such a move. What astute timing!  The staunch-moslem Speaker, Honourable Nojeem Salaam, is both an indigene of Ejigbo as well as an alumnus of Baptist High School.
On another note, Mr Aregbesola has proved himself to be a man who can passionately pursue diametrically opposed viewpoints without batting an eye.   For instance, for all his many apparent islamizing agenda (including his turning Osun to the only state in Nigeria, perhaps in the whole world, that gives a public holiday to mark the Islamic new year), many pious moslems would insist that the governor is nothing more than a cultist, especially in his ardent fervor to revive the dying ancient idols of Yorubaland.  The undeniable truth is Mr Aregbesola needs the Islamic establishment in his battle against Christianity and Christian influences which he is unable to fight using the traditional religion platform alone. If he could succeed against Christianity (and of course he can never!), it would be a picnic subduing his Moslem “brothers” later on.
Mr Aregbesola’s “double-speaks” and actions on the social level is even more blatant. For instance, while he vaunts himself as the vanguard of the Omoluwabi culture (the Yoruba-cherished concepts about virtue), many will swear that the governor’s reported actions and roles during the Ondo state governorship election were hardly omoluwabi (see http://www.nairaland.com/892011/aregbesolas-verbal-mess-vituperation-political, or even the state’s official news organ, www.osundefender.org/?p=27647 ). The story only got worse in the recently concluded governorship election in Anambra state, where the only armed thugs arrested in the otherwise peaceful event were people (over 180 of them) sent all the way from Osun State. (see http://www.elombah.com/index.php/special-reports/19079-how-rochas-imported-fake-osun-election-observers-to-anambra-state-jega). One shudders to imagine what could happen in 2014 when Mr Aregbesola himself would be standing as the governorship candidate seeking the people’s votes.
While governor Aregbesola might indeed not be particularly interested in hijabs coming to public schools at this juncture, certain highly placed Islamists whose political support the governor considers indispensable (particularly the so-called Teblics), certainly feel the time is ripe to stamp such Islamic authority on the State.  And they undoubtedly hold the issue as a major negotiating card with the governor.
So can Mr Aregbesola afford to wield the big stick against his determined Islamist constituency as he moves into election year? Does he have the capacity to prevent his scheming brethren from fanning into a conflagration, the smouldering embers of Hijab militancy?
As reported by the NigerianMonitor, the governor has declared that he would not respect any status of any group found to be involved in the mauling of Mr Oguntola.  According to the governor, “We will not tolerate any act of lawlessness from any group or individual, irrespective of their status. ….No individual or group is allowed by the constitution to take laws into their hands. We won’t tolerate that. We will not treat such case with kid’s gloves and anyone caught with such uncivilised act will be made to face the law.” http://www.nigerianmonitor.com/2013/11/29/hijab-governor-aregbesola-vows-to-deal-with-principals-attackers/). So we say, good talk.  Now let’s see the actions!.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

And two new ex-gays associations emerge


A day prior to the announcement by Exodus International that it was folding, an announcement for the First Annual Ex-Gay Pride Month, was released.  To be launched as part of the Month are two new organizations to advocate for the rights of  former homosexuals – Voice of the Voiceless (VoV),  and Equality and Justice for All.
According to the June 17 Press release issued by Voice of the Voiceless, the Ex-Gay Pride will be a "time to recognize the unique experiences of ex-gays and former homosexuals and celebrate their existence in American culture."  The VoV further explained that the timing of the Ex-Gay Pride was strategically planned for "July, after June’s annual gay pride month, in order to draw attention to the ever-increasing phenomenon of ex-gays or former homosexuals; that is, individuals who formerly had unwanted same-sex attractions and/or lived an LGBT-identified life, but now do not. These individuals may be in heterosexual relationships, pursuing heterosexuality, or living celibate lives as former homosexuals."
The existence of ex-gays is the ultimate bad news for the Gay Lobby.  All their arguments of homosexuality feelings being akin to the colour of one’s skin fall flat in the face of tens of thousands real people who once practiced homosexuality, but have now successfully come out of it!  The VoV therefore did not think the powerful gay lobby would fold its hands and watch the Ex-Gay Pride events take place. In fact, according to press notes, one reason why organizers chose Washington DC as the venue of ”at least one event” during the Ex-Gay Pride Month, is “Because Washington, DC is the only jurisdiction that recognizes ex-gays as a protected class against discrimination in the United States” and thus likely to provide “ a safe place to gather and celebrate free from any threat of intimidation."
They were wrong!  By July 12, the VoV had to announce a change in the programmes “due to some anti-ex-gay extremism that has occurred since we first announced Ex-Gay Pride 2013.”  According to the release, “the July 31 Lobbying Day on Capitol Hill and Evening Dinner/Reception at the Family Research Council has had to be moved and postponed to an undisclosed location in September. The harassment has caused several security threats which has forced us to change plans, and that is unfortunate."
The VoV is taking a positive attitude to all the harassment from the Gay Lobby.  The announcement continued:  "On the bright side, this harassment and anti-ex-gay extremism has reminded us just how intolerant some individuals and organizations are about the existence of ex-gays and former homosexuals.”
The VoV had tried to seek the involvement of the White House in the ex-Gay Pride, via a Presidential Proclamation, as has been “issued in previous years, including this year, for June’s Gay Pride Month”.  This must certainly be some joke on the part of VoV, given Obama’s unhidden absolute support for the homosexuality lobby.  Despite its claim to represent  “tens of thousands of former homosexuals” and the fact that “former homosexuals are now recognized as a legally protected class in Washington, D.C.”, VoV efforts drew a blank from White House Officials.  In a letter written directly to President Obama on June 18, the VoV began:
"Dear Mr. President, Our office has left multiple voice messages for the White House Office of Public Engagement.”
It went on to request for discussion with relevant officials on the issue of “tolerance for the ex-gay community and how The White House can ensure equal access for ex-gays in the nation’s capital, which is the only jurisdiction that recognizes ex-gays as a legally protected class. "
The unofficial response was the series of intimidation and security threats that forced the change in date and venue of the events!  In offering its apologies to attendees for the shift, the Voice of the Voiceless emphasized the security situation:
"For all of our supporters that have made travel plans to attend the July 31 event, we sincerely apologize for having to change plans, but we thought it was in the best interest to ensure the safety and security of all participants and speakers."
Meanwhile, all that is heard on mainstream media is how homosexuals are being persecuted with no mention of the ex-homosexual minority! (For related materials, please see the Exhortation in this edition of CA!)

Exodus International Backtracks on Homosexuality!


The end times are here, and if anyone still doubts how close we are to the finish line, the ‘U turn’ recently made by Exodus international should be a clear eye-opener!  For 37years, the Exodus International has been one of the foremost organizations highlighting the unprofitableness of homosexuality, and offering to help ex-gays live not just a healthy sex-life, but a holy one.  The organization is famous for its slogan that the opposite of homosexuality is not heterosexuality, but rather holiness.
Now Exodus international ( current Board membership, that is), is saying it has been making a mistake all along in condemning homosexuality, and that homosexuals should just go ahead with their lifestyle!  On his blog, on 19th June, President of Exodus International, Alan Chambers, profusely apologized to homosexuals for the past activities of the Organization, and recanting, said though he still considers the practice of homosexuality as wrong, he has come to realize there is nothing wrong with having same-sex attraction.  Chambers said he was sorry for so many things.  Basically he was sorry and ashamed of the Gospel.  For instance he said: “I am sorry that when I celebrated a person coming to Christ and surrendering their sexuality to Him that I callously celebrated the end of relationships that broke your heart.”  In short, Mr Chambers is apologizing for causing godly sorrows which indeed led to repentance and positive change in people!  Henceforth, rather than try to help people change their sexual orientation, Mr Chambers said the new organization they are starting will seek to help people “manage” it one way or another
In a statement posted on its website, Exodus International's board of directors said the decision to close the doors of the ministry came "after a year of dialogue and prayer about the organization's place in a changing culture."  Many observers noted that Exodus International had been losing big funding partners  in recent years, and Mr Alan Chambers had become increasingly inconsistent and confused. 
Speaking on the development, Russel Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention said: "I think there's a tendency to see Exodus folding as a parable of Christian capitulation and ethic, that is not what's happening. Instead what you have is an organization that has some confusion about its mission and purpose.... What is not happening here, is an evangelical revision of a biblical sexual ethic."  http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jun/21/local/la-me-0621-exodus-international-gays-20130621.
One of the lively comments on the closing up of Exodus International, as reported by Christianity Today,  was from one James Aist.  Mr Aist wrote:  “My initial withdrawal of support for Exodus came last year when Chambers embraced a re-worked, gay version of an ancient heresy called ‘antinomianism.’ The gay version, called the "gay gospel", holds that one can be a Christian, never turn away from the sin of homosexual behavior, and still enjoy eternity in heaven with Jesus. Satan is using the “gay gospel” to get Christians who are homosexual to continue to practice homosexuality, feel good about it, and end up in hell, rather than repent of it. Read more about the "gay gospel" at http://rethinkingtheology.com/2012/12/16/the-gay-gospel/  that there are still hundreds of ministries and therapists who adhere to a Bible-based approach to providing help for dissatisfied homosexual people. You can link to them at http://rethinkingtheology.com/2012/07/11/homosexuality-good-news/  
Unfortunately, this turn around by Exodus is only the latest of key conservative groups caving in to the intense pressure from by the antichrist’s new world order goons. The other time, it was Dr James Dobson being forced out of Focus on the Family, largely due to his unwillingness to soft-pedal on homosexuality ( http://churcharise.blogspot.com/2010/03/james-dobson-forced-out-from-focus-on.html ).  To continue with the work God had called him into, Dr Dobson had to leave the organization he had started and ran for 33 years to start a brand new one; while the old Focus on the Family turned into a shadow of itself – chiefly with respect to view on homosexuality and abortion.
Let nobody think it a child play, the enormous pressure being asserted by new sexuality people on organizations opposed to their evil agenda!  Months earlier, some Board members of Exodus International, seeing the handwriting on the wall as their president began to make ambivalent statements concerning homosexuality, began to  quietly jump ship.  For instance, John Warren the former treasurer, in resigning on  September 6, 2012  said as sad and disappointed as he was, he still understood the enormous pressure that brought down his president.  In his words: "I believe that Alan Chambers is a good man with good intentions. It is his messaging that concerned me recently and prompted me to resign….Alan is in an extremely difficult position, and I don't want to disparage him”  A few days earlier, Jeff Buchanan also had  resigned his position as executive vice president .
We can identify two major weaknesses exploited by the enemy to bring down Exodus International. First was its resolve to use man-made solution, the so-called reparative therapy, as the principal means of securing deliverance from homosexuality. Other prominent organizations helping ex-homosexuals who see the problem as more of a spiritual problem are having far better results than the now defunct Exodus International.  Indeed, according to John Warren, several other ministries under the Exodus Global Alliance are producing excellent results in the work in helping ex-homosexuals to exit a  destructive lifestyle
The weakness of Exodus’ proffered solution for dealing with homosexuality, with the resulting failures and disappointments, contributed to the frustration of Mr Chambers, who in admitting to the failure of reparative therapy, unfortunately concluded that there is no hope of (and consequently no need for) dropping the homosexual lifestyle. He consequently adjusted his theology to fit in this position.  Stoking this sad belief was Chamber’s close interaction and sympathy for Justin Lee, founder of the Gay Christian Network.  It was on account of Alan Chamber’s comments on  Mr Lee, that John Warren felt he had to resign his Board position on Exodus.  In an interview with Janet Mefferd, Chambers had insisted that Lee, a celibate but foremost advocate for homosexuality, is a fellow Christ follower, and will be with him in heaven.  An incredulous Janet Mefferd demanded of Chambers: "If you believe that you have to turn from your sin and turn to Christ ... how can you simultaneously hold that somebody who is an unrepentant homosexual can go to heaven?"
In the novel Piercing the Darkness, Frank Perretti, graphically demonstrated the enormous societal pressure on American Christians who are forbidden to identify demon possession among people.  Without a correct diagnosis, how can the appropriate remedy, deliverance in the name of the Lord Jesus, be applied?  The Bible explicitly says that intense demon possession will characterize the end times, just like it happened in the days of Noah, when demonic entities came down to copulate with human beings. Numerous evidences from both victims of homosexuality, desperately seeking a way out, and the Pastors who ministered to them, make it abundantly clear that homosexuality falls squarely within the realm of this phenomenon.
Founded in 1976, Exodus was an umbrella organization which grew to include over 120 local ministries in the United States and Canada and over 150 ministries in 17 other countries.[7] While local affiliated ministries can continue to operate, they cannot use the Exodus name, according to a statement from the group.   http://abcnews.go.com/US/exodus-international-gay-cure-group-leader-shutting-ministry/story?id=19446752

Sensational Soccer Scorelines in Nigeria: 79 – 0; 67 – 0!


While a suspect was being arrested in Milan on allegations of Soccer Match-fixing  (http://www.voanews.com/content/soccer-matchfixing-suspect-arrested-in-milan/1607824.html) authorities in Nigeria were completely perplexed as to who to arrest or punish when results of two soccer matches played produced outrageous scorelines of 79 – 0 and 67 – 0, respectively!  The last two games that would determine which team moves into the fifth tier o the Nigerian football league were played simultaneously at two different centres, to prevent the outcomes from influencing one another.  However, the team managers from the two teams competing for elevation monitored match progress at the other venue by phone, and the result was a shameful, all-decorum-dumped race to outscore the other team, producing those record-breaking scorelines! (see an account here: htt;://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/11/sport/football/football-nigeria-scandalous-scorelines).  Ironically, one of the teams represents the Nigerian Police!
The same principle of doing all that is necessary, damning decency, to outscore the opponent was also shamefully displayed in the Rivers State legislature where honorable members resulted to a free-for-all fight that was televised nationally. (see some details and video at http://www.toksdam.com/20013/07/09/video-rivers-state-house-of-assembly-legislators-in-gang-fighting-jumping-each-other/ )
Worst of all is the on-going repetition of this same principle in the lives of multitudes of individuals who continue to pursue certain passions of life as if the Maker of Heavens and Earth is either non-existent or fast asleep.  According to the Scriptures, all who live such lives are fools and they can look forward to shame as the promotion they seek (Proverbs 3:35 )