TheNewsGuru

Tag: Reconciliation

  • Contradictions that do not contradict [2] – By Femi Aribisala

    Contradictions that do not contradict [2] – By Femi Aribisala

    By Femi Aribisala

    “Must we reconcile ourselves to God or will God reconcile Himself to us?”

    Paul says: “Nothing shall separate us from the love of God.” (Romans 8:38-39). I disagree, saying: “Sin can separate us from the love of God.”

    Am I not contradicting the scriptures? No! There is no contradiction whatsoever. The Bible says both and we need to know why. It says nothing shall separate us from the love of God, and it also says sin can separate us from the love of God.

    Jesus says: “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.” (Matthew 18:16). These scriptures agree with Paul that nothing shall separate us from the love of God:

    “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end.” (Lamentations 3:22).

    “‘Though the mountains be shaken, and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” (Isaiah 54:10).

    “The Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5).

    Nevertheless, when we hear that God loves us with everlasting love, we must make sure this everlasting love does not come to an end. Why? Because other scriptures tell us it can. They tell us sin can separate us from the love of God:

    “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2).

    “Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favour and good success in the sight of God and man.” (Proverbs 3:3).

    Note here that although God’s love is steadfast, nevertheless it can forsake us.

    “My anger shall be aroused against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide My face from them, and they shall be devoured.” (Deuteronomy 31:17).

    Here is the icing on the cake. God says:

    “All their wickedness is in Gilgal, for there I hated them. Because of the evil of their deeds, I will drive them from My house; I will love them no more.” (Hosea 9:15).

    “I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and cast your carcasses on the lifeless forms of your idols; and My soul shall abhor you.” (Leviticus 26:30).

    The bible is full of these seeming contradictions that are not contradictions at all. They are kingdom dynamics. You see, before we can internalize the scripture that says nothing shall separate us from the love of God, we must first recognise that sin can separate us from the love of God.

    Ministry of reconciliation

    Look at this for starters. Must we reconcile ourselves to God or will God reconcile Himself to us? The bible says both will happen, and that is seemingly contradictory. It says God in Christ reconciled Himself to sinners, and it says sinners must be reconciled to God.

    “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them.” (2 Corinthians 5:19).

    “We implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

    Now that is a contradiction. If Jesus reconciles Himself to the world, then we do not have to be reconciled to God. And if we must be reconciled to God, then God does not have to reconcile Himself to us.

    But here is the solution to the contradiction. The wisdom of God says Jesus reconciles Himself to the world so that the world can then be reconciled to God.

    Jesus teaches that His disciples must deny themselves. (Matthew 16:24). But Jesus never asks us to do what He does not do. (Acts 1:1). He denied Himself by reconciling the world to Himself. He relinquished His divinity and glory by coming down to our level as a man, associated with sinners and tax collectors, and agreed to die a shameful death on the cross for our salvation.

    “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” (Hebrews 12:2-3).

    We are equally required to deny our humanity by becoming holy and divine. So doing, we reconcile ourselves to God. Jesus endured the hostility of sinners to show us the way of righteousness.

    Similarly, there are disagreeable people that, as the redeemed, we must reconcile ourselves to, not because we agree with them, but because we want them to learn from us the righteousness of God.

    Assurance of salvation

    Last week, I said God told me personally in unambiguous terms that nothing will separate me from His love. The question then is this: “Why did He do this?” How am I supposed to react to God’s assurance of His unfailing love?

    Will it not make me complacent? Since I know that whatever happens, I will be saved, does that not mean I can live as I want, and sin as much as I want since my salvation is guaranteed?

    Certainly Not!

    When I realised that my salvation is guaranteed, I dropped everything to serve God. When I realised my salvation is guaranteed, I became fanatical with God. When He rebukes me, I burst into tears and beg for forgiveness. The law of my conscience tells me: “Femi, don’t allow sin to separate you from the love of God.”

    Thereby, the scripture is fulfilled in me: “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19).

    Responding to prophecy

    In the 1990s, I owned a video shop called Videonet in Victoria Island, Lagos. For three years, it never made more than N7,000 a day. But then in 1996, God showed me in a dream that my shop would make N23,000 in one day. How did I react to this prophecy?

    I did not relax, waiting for it to happen. I worked extra hard on the shop. I ploughed more investment capital into it. Then God said to me: “Because you believe me, I will tell you when my prophecy will come to pass. It will be fulfilled on 29th December 1996.”

    But on that date, the income of Videonet, Victoria Island, was not the N23,000 that God predicted. It was N29,000. When I asked God about that contradiction, He said to me: “Femi, you exceeded the prophecy.”

    I exceeded the prophecy because I was not complacent. I believed in the love of God, and in the word of God. However, I dare say, most Christians have yet to receive the love of God. They say they love God; they think they love God, but they do not love God.

    But then they quote the scripture: “Nothing shall separate us from the love of God.” In that confidence, they continue in sin. But when we continue in sin, it means that scripture does not apply to us.

     

    (CONTINUED)

  • APC constitutes National Reconciliation Committee

    APC constitutes National Reconciliation Committee

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has approved the composition of a National Reconciliation Committee to be headed by Sen. Abdullahi Adamu (APC-Nasarawa).

    Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, National Secretary, APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Akpanudoedehe said that Otunba Moses Adeyemo would serve as the committee’s secretary.

    He named some members of the committee as- Sen. George Akume, the Minister for Special Duties, former Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu, former Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, Alhaji Suleiman Argungun and Dr Beta Edu.

    The scribe said the committee would be inaugurated at a later date.

    The APC held its local government congresses on Sept. 4 to elect officials at that level.

    The party had also fixed Oct. 2, for State Congresses across the 36 states of the federation.

  • LG Congresses: APC opens doors of reconcilliation for aggrieved members

    LG Congresses: APC opens doors of reconcilliation for aggrieved members

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday in Abuja said it has instituted internal mechanisms to address differences and grievances that may arise from its just concluded nationwide local government congresses.

    Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe and Chairman, APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) said this in a statement in Abuja.

    Buni said that the party’s doors of reconciliation were always open to its members.

    He advised party members to take advantage of the open doors of reconciliation to build a strong and united APC.

    He assured that the party would be transparent, just and fair to anybody or group of persons with complains that were forwarded to it.

    “We should therefore explore and exploit the opportunities available to settle all differences.I am highly elated that we are progressing at every stage of the congress.

    “l am optimistic that the party will at the end of the congresses, produce a generally acceptable and credible leadership that will build on the successes recorded for a strong, united and a winning APC,” the chairman said.

    He congratulated the party faithful, stakeholders and congress officials on the peaceful and successful conduct of the exercise across the country.

    Buni said reports reaching his office indicated that the congresses were conducted peacefully and successfully across the country.

    He lauded the party’s members, stakeholders, candidates and their supporters for the peaceful and rancour free exercise.

    “You have done the party proud and remain a role model to other political parties,” Buni said.

  • Separation: A Question That Threatens Reconciliation, By Michael West

    Separation: A Question That Threatens Reconciliation, By Michael West

    By Michael West

    September 25, 2020

     

    Life is full of challenges. Howbeit, it takes challenging circumstances to drive people to attain their goals. Many are lackadaisical or complacent in the face of daunting situations that must be surmounted to lay hold on their goals. Marital crisis is a serious emotional trauma that must not be handled with levity. It often leads to loss of peace of mind, loss of concentration, it breeds nervousness, insomnia, anger, high blood pressure, loss of appetite, weariness, mental disorder, self-abuse, irrational behaviours and, in extreme cases, suicide, among other side effects that marital frustration can inject into people’s lives. Notwithstanding the economic and political uncertainties, people still care so much about their family and love life. It takes emotional stability to function optimally at work.

     

    Let me update readers with development on the last week’s issue. The man, whose wife alleged that he rejected the pregnancy, eventually responded with apologies. He has retracted his earlier threat by accepting full responsibility for the pregnancy. He hinged his decision on the need for him to break the jinx of “rejection” which he said was becoming a negative trend in his lineage.

     

    “Truly, I’m not prepared for another baby under the current economic climate. More so, I don’t want to have a large family. I desire a manageable family size I can satisfactorily care for without stress. But when this happened, it threw me off the balance. I don’t like to quarrel with my wife over anything at all. I’m faithful in my marriage and she knows that. That’s why I unleash my urges on her to the fullest.

     

    “I feel sorry for my initial rejection of the pregnancy when I considered my own background. According to my mom, my late dad also rejected my pregnancy initially. She said she got pregnant while they were dating. My pregnancy hurried them to settle down much earlier than they had planned. Throughout the period, my dad, according to her, was not happy with the development. He did everything at that time reluctantly. So, if I reject this pregnancy now, it will continue as a curse in my family circle. That’s why I changed my mind and I fully accepted the pregnancy with love and fatherly care.”

     

    In view of the above response from him, the matter came to a happy denouement. Like I noted last week, all is well with the family. Case closed.

     

    A young woman called early this week to seek the way out of a seeming impasse her elder sister’s marriage is experiencing. I asked her to detail the scenario in a written form so I can summarise the issue. About five hours later, she sent a fairly lengthy story, the summary of which goes thus:

     

    “My sister and her husband had been separated for two years. Just like the account of the couple you published a fortnight ago in your column, her husband, who moved in with his woman friend, decided to reunite with his wife after the lockdown. All the while, he was threatening to divorce, asking that his wife and children should vacate the house for him alone to live in. We advised my sister to leave the house for him but she refused, saying they both contributed to building the house. Besides, he was the one that chose to quit. So, he is the one that should leave.

     

    “Almost two years later, he returned home unannounced. He settled with his wife quietly and we are happy about it. Barely a week later, my sister and her husband are back to the trenches. This time around, the acrimony appears to be fiercer than the previous one. I enquired from my sister what the matter could be again and I couldn’t believe what she told me.

     

    “She said her husband demanded to know if she slept with any other man while they separated for two years. My sister’s response seems to have irked the man. She told him that he lacks the moral right to ask such a silly question from her. I tried persuading my brother-in-law to discard whatever may shatter the peace he initiated but he’s not listening to me.

     

    “Is his question really necessary at all? His claim is funny. He said, ‘everyone knows that I have a relationship, so, I have nothing to hide. But I need to know if she dated another man while we were staying apart. I just wanted to satisfy my curiosity in that regard, that’s all.’ I’m wondering how that will contribute to the healing of the already broken family which is now being amended by the same man. I’m trusting that he will see reasons from a rational point of view and drop his needless inquisition of an imaginary affair. That’s why I seek your opinion, sir.”

     

    I asked to speak with her sister and her husband, she obliged her sister’s contact but declined the man’s. “It may worsen the already fragile situation, sir. Please bear with me that I won’t be able to give you his contact.” She said.

     

    Her sister, too, was initially reluctant to speak because she didn’t want her private life in public space. However, she responded eventually by insisting that “I will deny him the answer to that useless question. It is very provoking and insulting. Is it because people say ‘it is men’s world?’ Whether I dated another man or not is not his business. Everyone knows he’s living with other women for two years and heaven did not fall. He even flaunted one of his side-chicks to hurt me, yet, I kept my cool. I will never give him the answer he’s itching to get from me. The question is disgusting and provocative. If he’s not ready for reconciliation he should go back to his side-chicks. I didn’t beg him to return. I need my peace and space. I didn’t fight him over his sexcapade all these years, why should he insult me with such a stupid question? He has never been faithful in our marriage. He sleeps outside at will over the years and I didn’t make noise about it because I was praying and hoping he would encounter God someday. Having the gut to ask whether I dated another man while he’s away is the most unthinkable, annoying and disrespectful utterance from him.”

     

    Like the sister-in-law asked, does that question really worth asking at all? Of what use is “satisfying his curiosity” to the reunion? Should we persuade the wife to oblige him the answer to allow peace to reign? What do you think please?

     

    From the Mailbox

     

    Re: “Unwanted” Pregnancies

    It’s a good thing to agree with one’s spouse on the number of children to have, regardless of their gender. It is also a good thing for couples to enjoy intimacy and sexual pleasure but how could what they both enjoyed throwing caution to the wind now becomes a problem for the woman only? Expiration of a family planning method does not mean the couple cannot use other methods to prevent pregnancy as sex is even more for pleasure than for pregnancy. Their inability to explore other pregnancy preventive measures was the problem. – Ms. Olubunmi, Lagos

     

    So sad, the lockdown did more harm than good. – Mrs. N. Olaosebikan

     

    The only solution to a nagging wife is to get her seriously beaten. Some men are too weak to handle their wives. Avoid mixing discipline with love. When my wife deserves beating, I will surely give it to her. I am still single but this is how I will operate when I’m married. My girlfriend knows this. – 07036998206

     

    Quote:

    “Whether I dated another man or not is not his business. Everyone knows he’s living with other women for two years and heaven did not fall. He even flaunted one of his side-chicks to hurt me, yet, I kept my cool. I will never give him the answer he’s itching to get from me.”

  • We are ready for genuine reconciliation – Kashamu

    A leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State who was also its gubernatorial candidate in the 2019 elections, Senator Buruji Kashamu, has stated that he is ready to reconcile and work with aggrieved members of the party in the state to ensure its success.

    Kashamu, who stated this in a statement he released on Thursday in Lagos as a follow up to the earlier one released on April 14, 2020, called on all aggrieved members of the party to come together to forge a strong front.

    According to him, “I have the mandate of all the altruistic leaders and elders of the party in Ogun State to declare once again that we are willing, ready and available for genuine reconciliation that will reposition our party and move it forward.

    “Let me also publicly declare that I have no interest in any elective position, including the governorship and therefore have no reason to oppose the ambition of any member of the party aspiring to be governor of the state because I know that all powers belong to the Almighty Allah. My fight has always been against illegalities, injustice and imposition.”

    The former legislator also reiterated his willingness to cooperate with national and zonal leaders of the party to strengthen the opposition party.

    He said, “It should also be borne in mind that the PDP as well as our respectable national and zonal leaders belong to all of us. While trying to protect our various interests, we may have roughened feathers in the past. But, that does not mean we cannot bury the hatchet and move ahead. As it is said, ‘to err is human and to forgive is divine’. Henceforth, we will all be attending meetings called by the national and zonal leadership of our party in order to forge a more united front.”

    Senator Kashamu in his reaction to the allegations leveled against him by the suspended state party chairman and secretary, Chief Bayo Dayo and Semiu Sodipo respectively, described the allegations as a product of confused minds.

    He said having worked for the success of the party at the state, zonal and national levels, he could not now work against the interest of the party. He described those behind the allegations as men “ruled by the gods of their stomachs.”

    According to him, the duo had lost their powers to speak on behalf of the party having been suspended by the proper organs of the party.

    He said, “It is most ludicrous that Engr. Adebayo Dayo and Semiu Sodipo who are parading themselves as genuine members of the Ogun State PDP Executive Committee recently suspended each other at different times. While the Dayo-led State Exco suspended Sodipo on the 28th of February, 2020; Sodipo and former members of the State Exco suspended Dayo on the 29th of February, 2020. Dayo’s suspension was even ratified by the South West Zonal Committee of our great Party on the 3rd of March, 2020. Afterwards, Dayo’s fate was literally sealed on the 26th of March, 2020 when he was suspended by the authentic State Executive Committee of our party – the same State Exco members that sat with him to suspend Sodipo in the first instance. How then can he now turn round to deny the same Exco?

    “Indeed, Dayo in a letter dated 3rd of March, 2020 to TRLP Law firm, listed the names of the authentic Ogun State PDP Executive Committee. He also attached several letters which showed former state officers who either resigned to contest elections or left for another party and were subsequently replaced. Some of the letters were jointly signed by Dayo and Sodipo while others were signed by either of them. All these facts have been deposed to in affidavits filed in Suit No. FHC/AB/CS/24/2020 in a case instituted by Dayo (in his capacity as the then Chairman) alongside other members of the State Executive Committee.

    “For Dayo, Sodipo and their co-travellers to be claiming that they are the authentic State Exco shows the level of their desperation, deceit and fraudulent tendencies which are geared towards causing chaos in Ogun State. This has now become a matter for investigation by the relevant security agencies.”

  • Okorocha’s son-in-law, Nwosu hints on reconciliation talks with APC

    Imo state governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) in the just concluded general elections, Uche Nwosu, Tuesday said that his former party, All Progressives Congress (APC) has realized its mistakes after its poor showing in the governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    However, Nwosu who came second in the governorship election, after the contentious declaration of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Emeka Ihedioha as governor-elect, stated that he has put aside the injustice visited against him by the leadership of the APC and is willing to form a coalition with the party to reclaim his mandate.

    According to him, “the national leadership of the APC made a mistake by not giving the party’s ticket to me, we warned them against giving the ticket to Hope Uzodinma but the leadership of the party ignored our warnings, but the outcome of the elections has justified us. We joined the AA two months to the election and I won the governorship election if not for the manipulations, we also got two Federal House Representatives seats and eight seats in the State Assembly but now that they have realized their mistakes we are ready to form alliance with APC to reclaim our mandate”.

    Nwosu, who addressed selected journalists in Owerri, disclosed that he has petitioned the Tribunal against the declaration of Ihedioha as governor-elect, adding that he is confident that the election will be upturned.

    He pointed out that the declaration of the PDP candidate as the governor-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was an aberration to the Constitution and will not stand.

    In his words, “I have petitioned the Tribunal and I am sure that the issues raised which bothers on Constitution cannot be swept away, I am certain that I will reclaim my mandate in no distant time”.

    Nwosu, who attributed his success in the election to Imo youths, stated that power has temporarily left the masses.

    He however urged the youths to remain calm and law abiding, stating that “what is happening is an interim setback, it will soon be over and power will once more return to the people.”

    Nwosu also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for presenting level playing ground for all political parties during the elections.

     

  • Imo APC crisis: We have move on, reconciliation no longer possible – Okorocha

    Imo APC crisis: We have move on, reconciliation no longer possible – Okorocha

    Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state has said the current situation in the Imo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has made reconciliation impossible.

    He said that Imo people were short-changed in their choice of who to govern them in 2019, stressing that it is too late in the day for the party correct the wrongdoing.

    Speaking when the Governor Abdullahi Ganduje-led APC Reconciliation Committee visited the state on Thursday, Okorocha noted that Imo people have decided to move.

    He however said that he, on his own part, remained a loyal and committed member of the party and would contest the Imo West senatorial seat under the APC

     

  • Video/photos: Makarfi arrives Ibadan, commences reconciliation of aggrieved members

    …As Ladoja makes move to return to party

    The National Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi on Thursday arrived Ibadan, Oyo State for the reconciliation of aggrieved members of the party in the South-West.

    Makarfi, who had earlier inaugurated a reconciliatory committee headed by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State said the party was determined to bring back to its fold all aggrieved members who had joined other parties, particularly the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

    The PDP Chairman also met with former governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja who dumped the PDP to found Accord Party.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Ladoja had earlier given conditions to return to the former ruling party.

    Ladoja, who also doubles as the national chairman of the Accord Party requested for ‘amnesty’‎ from PDP.

     

     

    However, Makarfi assured the former governor that he had committed no offence to be granted amnesty to return to the party. He urged the former governor to join leaders of the party to rebuild it.

    In his words: “Politics is dynamic. The convention we planned, there is going to be constitution amendment to address the issue of internal democracy. Only last week, during the primary of our party in Anambra, we granted a waiver to a gubernatorial aspirant. These issues you have raised.

    ‎”Don’t nurse any fear, let’s start together. We have a committee which seeks to harmonise everybody; let’s start afresh.

    “You have not committed any offence to get amnesty. We want to integrate you back. It is better they get integrated under our leadership before the convention. The earlier the better”, he said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Makarfi was welcomed by leaders of the party in the region. They include former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former Minister of State (FCT) Mrs. Olajumoke Akinjide and a host of others.