IK's Archive

LABARINA : THE UNEXPECTED LESSON FROM CALABAR A friend shared a startling story with me about a media crew in Calabar. During an event, the power supply was interrupted, and when it was restored, a team member plugged his phone into the system. But what appeared on the screen shocked everyone - explicit images from his phone were displayed for all to see. The crew quickly removed the phone, but the damage was done. The incident highlighted a crucial lesson: church media is not just about what we display on screens, but also about our personal lifestyle and habits. As church media representatives, we must be mindful of what we consume, post, and share online. Our actions and choices reflect not only on ourselves but also on the church and our faith. Church media encompasses more than just technical aspects; it's about living a life that honors God in every aspect, including our online presence and personal habits." Inspired by The Holy Spirit  🖊️ Ojo Sunday Ikponmw...

THE OLDER ONES AND THE NORM Good evening, everyone. Today, I had a profound experience while teaching that made me reflect on our behavior towards others. One of my students was acting stressed or abnormal, and I initially wanted to react harshly. However, I took a moment to calm down and responded gently instead. Later, during a discussion with fellow youths, we shared concerns about the way older generations were treating us. I recalled an incident involving an elder who seemed to be targeting the youths, and I wondered why he behaved that way. It dawned on me that perhaps his behavior was shaped by his own experiences when he was young. This realization made me understand that the way we were treated in the past can influence how we treat others, especially those younger than us. If we were treated harshly or unfairly, we may unintentionally pass on that behavior to the next generation, creating a cycle of hurtful behavior that's challenging to break. The incident wi...

TRAIN YOUR CHILD ONE MAN'S FOOD IS ANOTHER MAN'S POISON (A Script by Ojo Sunday Ikponmwonsa Oritsemiegbegbemi) (The Celebrity Show) [The camera pans across the audience, showing their excited faces. The host, a charismatic emcee, welcomes everyone to the show.] Host: "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to 'The Celebrity Show'! Tonight, we have a very special guest, a world-renowned celebrity who has made a name for himself in the entertainment industry. Please give a warm welcome to [Celebrity's Name]!" [The audience erupts in applause as the celebrity walks onto the stage, waving to the crowd.] Host: "Our guest tonight is not only a talented artist but also a philanthropist who has given back to his community in many ways. Let's get started with our first question from the audience." [Audience Member 1 raises hand and is handed the microphone.] Audience Member 1: "What inspires your music?" Celebrity: "Life experie...

LABARINA : KEEP TRYING  As I walked back through the community, I overheard a conversation between two young people. One of them, a teenager, was expressing his determination to not give up, to keep trying. The other person was encouraging him, urging him to persevere. As I listened, I realized that the teenager's efforts were focused on winning over a girl. He was trying to convince her to be his girlfriend. It struck me as a burdensome pursuit, one that seemed to be driven by a desire for validation rather than genuine connection. I couldn't help but feel a sense of concern, wondering about the values and priorities that were driving this young person's actions.  Inspired by The Holy Spirit  🖋️ Ojo Sunday Ikponmwonsa Oritsemiegbegbemi ®Ik's Archive #PutGodFirst

LABARINA : TEENAGERS IN MY COMMUNITY  As I took a stroll around the community this evening, I couldn't help but notice the same patterns of behavior that have become all too familiar. Groups of teenagers were gathered, discussing girls and indulging in idle chatter. I struck up a conversation with some of the young people, offering words of guidance and encouragement. My message was simple: the community has already laid out a path for you, one that is fraught with distractions and pitfalls. It's a pattern that has been repeated for generations, and one that has yielded few success stories. In fact, it's a challenge to find even a single graduate from this community who has gone on to achieve their full potential. The distractions are numerous, and they can be overwhelming. But I urged the young people I spoke with to recognize that they have a choice. They can choose to follow the pattern that has been laid out for them, or they can forge their own path. It...

Title: Uncovering the Truth Behind a Missed Wedding A conversation with a friend who missed a mutual friend's wedding left me pondering the complexities of human relationships. Initially, he claimed he simply hadn't wanted to attend, but as we talked, he revealed a deeper connection with the bride. He had been aware of their relationship from the start and knew intimate details about her feelings and plans. This level of involvement hinted at unrequited romantic feelings, and his absence from the wedding suggested jealousy or regret. What struck me most was that his emotional unavailability and financial instability made him an unsuitable partner. His reluctance to attend the wedding seemed driven by unresolved emotions rather than genuine happiness for the couple. This encounter raised questions about secret feelings, unrequited love, and navigating complex emotions.  Inspired by The Holy Spirit  🖊️ Ojo Sunday Ikponmwonsa Oritsemiegbegbemi ®Ik's Archive  #Pu...

LABARINA : INSTANTANEOUS GROWTH "While watching Arsenal's match yesterday, I reflected on my previous thoughts about evaluating performance. In football, the end of the season provides a clear benchmark to measure a team's success. I wished for a similar framework to assess my personal accomplishments. Yesterday's match made me realize that even a simple to-do list can serve as a daily benchmark. If Arsenal lost, it would be clear that they didn't meet their goals for that day. This made me wonder how I can measure my own daily success. As a teacher, I've noticed that students often underestimate their knowledge until they're tested. Education's impact may not be immediately apparent, but it becomes clear when they're able to apply what they've learned. This realization reminded me that the results of our efforts may not always be immediate. Unlike football matches, where results are instantaneous, personal growth and progress can ta...

LABARINA : FUTURE LEADERS "As I walked past the town hall last night around 10pm, I overheard a disturbing conversation among some young boys. One of them was defending his desire to be with multiple women, saying: Person A: "You get fine girlfriend, why you come dey look for another girl again? You be ashawo?" Person B: "Wetin concern you? I no be ashawo. Wetin dey bring that kind talk come? I just like dey with another woman.".' This conversation raised several red flags: 1. The boy's actions contradict his words, as he's essentially behaving like a harlot. 2. His mindset may lead him to establish a polygamous household in the future. 3. The fact that teenagers are casually discussing girlfriends suggests they may be engaging in premature relationships, possibly even intimate ones. 4. His attitude indicates a lack of commitment and a likelihood of dumping his current partner for someone else. This conversation was a stark reminder that...

The Heart of Church Media: Reflecting Christ Beyond the Screens As I reflect on church media, I'm reminded that it's not just about using gadgets, cameras, and software. It's about being a medium – a bridge – between Christ and the world. Every member of the church is part of the media team, as we're all called to be ambassadors of Christ. However, I've noticed a disconnect between our online presence and our personal lives. Some members of the media team may have conflicting content on their personal devices, which can affect their work and witness for Christ. It's easy to present a polished image on social media, but what about our daily lives? As Christians, we're called to integrity and authenticity. Our personal lives should reflect the same values and principles we promote through church media. We can't expect to effectively share the Gospel if our own lives don't demonstrate its transformative power. I recall working with a media t...

LABARINA : LOVE PROMOTES ORDER "Today was a challenging day, and for the first time, I felt like quitting. Despite my willingness to face difficulties head-on, I was discouraged by the lack of effective leadership and poor management. It's clear that any institution will eventually fail if its leaders are not committed to excellence. "I'm reminded that love is essential, but it's not enough on its own. The Bible teaches us that God has given us a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). Even in relationships where love is present, such as within the Trinity, there are still principles and order to follow. "As I reflect on today's events, I don't sense God telling me to quit. However, I do feel a strong desire to step away. I'm concerned that if the current leadership issues persist, the system will eventually collapse. I'll continue to seek God's guidance and wisdom in this situation." Inspired by The Ho...

LABARINA : PLANNING AND FORESIGHT  "I'm a proactive person who values planning and foresight. I've learned from Dr. Myles Munroe the importance of anticipating potential issues and warning others ahead of time. However, I've noticed that some individuals prefer to do things their own way, disregarding advice and warnings. "My approach is to inform and alert others about potential problems, and if they choose to ignore my warnings, I won't be held responsible for the consequences. I prioritize my tasks and manage my time effectively, and I expect others to do the same. "If someone chooses to procrastinate or disregard advice, they should not expect me to compensate for their lack of planning. I will not apologize for the consequences of their actions. Instead, I hope that they will learn from their mistakes and develop a greater appreciation for the importance of planning, foresight, and responsibility. "As the saying goes, 'we learn f...

LABARINA : VIOLATED  "The recent case of a man who raped a 13-year-old child is a disturbing reminder of the evil that exists in our society. What's even more shocking is that this man has two children of his own and a wife. It begs the question: what could he have possibly seen in that child? We believe that there are forces beyond human understanding that drive people to commit such heinous crimes. However, this does not excuse the perpetrator's actions, and he must face the consequences of his crime. But what about the child? The damage has been done, and the stigma will follow her for the rest of her life. She will be pointed at, ridiculed, and ostracized by society. The trauma will haunt her, and she may struggle with mental health issues, trust issues, and intimacy issues. This experience can shape her worldview, leading her to develop a deep-seated hatred for men. She may vow never to have anything to do with men again, and who can blame her? Inspired by...

DO BEFORE YOU SAY "Today, I witnessed a poignant moment that reinforced a valuable lesson. A mother was instructing her child to go inside, but her approach caught my attention. She was using force and verbal commands, which made me reflect on a fundamental truth: As parents, we often expect our children to behave in a certain way, but do we model the behavior we desire? Do we demonstrate kindness, patience, and understanding, or do we exhibit the opposite? It starts with us. Our children learn from what they see, and if we want them to develop positive habits and values, we must lead by example. We cannot expect them to do what we say if we don't do it ourselves. Inspired by The Holy Spirit  🖋️ Ojo Sunday Ikponmwonsa Oritsemiegbegbemi ®Ik's Archive #PutGodFirst

BLOODLIES Mr. Alade stood towering over his kneeling son, Tomiwa, his massive frame radiating an aura of authority. His wife, Mama Tomiwa, rushed into the room, positioning herself between her husband and child. "Beat me instead," she pleaded, her eyes locked on Mr. Alade's. "Why would I?" Mr. Alade retorted, his deep voice firm but controlled. "Woman, would you please step aside? Let me do my job." Mama Tomiwa hesitated for a moment before stepping aside. Mr. Alade took a few deliberate steps forward, his eyes fixed on Tomiwa. "Do you want to beat me?" Mama Tomiwa asked, her voice laced with a hint of defiance. "A woman?" Mr. Alade's expression remained unreadable. "Same trick you use all the time. I'm not going to beat a woman. I'm going to take her aside." With a swift motion, Mr. Alade gently carried Mama Tomiwa away to a nearby chair. As he turned back to Tomiwa, he heard Mama Tomiwa's crie...

FATHER IS DESTINY : AGAINST HER WILL Two hefty men were seen carrying a lady, walking some steps ahead of them was the lady's father. Not satisfied with the pace at which the guys were walking, he told them to hurry. The lady on the other hand was shouting on top of her voice "put me down". After a while, they arrived at the compound of a man, Mr. Kingsley. At the compound, Mr. Kingsley was seen in the company of his wife and daughter (who was wearing the NYSC Khaki). At the sight of the men carrying the lady (who was later identified to be Monica), Mr. Kingsley's daughter couldn't help but shout, "drop her down" as she couldn't fathom how on earth a lady would be treated in such a manner. On hearing her talk, the men eventually released the lady they were carrying, Monica agreed to what Mr. Kingsley's daughter had said, in her words: 'Aunty, help me tell them o’. Then facing the men, she said 'una get luck, if to say una no p...

Here is the full story with the edited section: FATHER IS DESTINY : THE SHERIFF  Sheriff David, renowned for his compassionate patriotism, had dedicated his life to saving the lives of young men and women through his words and actions. Beyond rescuing them, he mentored them, engaging in one-on-one conversations and hosting gatherings through his foundation. Occasionally, he invited motivational speakers and preachers to inspire them. One day, during a counseling session with arrested youths, Sheriff David was taken aback by the next individual who walked in. It was Solomon, his son, accompanied by his mother, Jamie. Jamie explained, "We came to see you since you weren't available at home." Sheriff David, shocked and pained, struggled to find words. He summoned the courage to ask, "What crime has Solomon committed?" Jamie revealed, "Solomon robbed a store." Sheriff David, dumbfounded, asked, "Why would you do that, Solomon? I provide ev...

FATHER IS DESTINY  Father's Shadow A police station. A young man is dragged out of a cell by a policeman. Policeman: Stand here! Do you know that man? (The policeman points to an aged man with grey hair standing outside the police counter.) Young Man: (looking down) Yes, he's my father. Aged Man: Albert! Why?! Do you want to kill your wife? A voice from behind: Of course, yes, just like you killed yours. The aged man recognizes the voice, turns around, and sees a lady. Policewoman: Shut up, you lady, and get inside there! (The policewoman drags the lady inside the counter.) Aged Man: What has she done? Lady: (from inside) What your wife refused to do when you were beating her every day. Policewoman: Do you know this woman? Aged Man: Yes, she's my daughter. Lady: (bitterly) Was my daughter. You ceased to be my father the day you killed my mother! Aged Man: But you know it was a mistake. Lady: Same mistake your son is about to make. Foolish man! The policemen and ...

Title: "The Wrapper Conundrum: Why Men Stray in Marriage" "Hey everyone, welcome back to my channel/content! Today, I want to share with you a fascinating discussion we had in Sunday school. It was about the dynamics of marriage and relationships, and I must say, it was really eye-opening. We had two individuals with differing opinions on why some men tend to stray from their marriages. One gentleman suggested that some women tend to let themselves go after getting married. He argued that these women often compare unfavorably to other women outside their marriages who take care of themselves and look attractive. Specifically, he mentioned that some women have a habit of wearing 'rapper' (a type of wrapper or cloth) all the time, even at home. He felt that this can get tiresome for men, leading them to seek attention elsewhere. On the other hand, a married woman in our group offered a different perspective. She pointed out that married women often have a multitude...

LABARINA - A CERTAIN PREACHER "A preacher shared a cautionary tale about another preacher who, during his school days, prayed by a river and anointed the water with oil, declaring a separation between himself and the devil. Unbeknownst to him, the devil retaliated by sending a beautiful but HIV-positive woman to work as his secretary. Eventually, she infected the preacher, who gradually succumbed to the disease. The moral of the story is that, as 2 Corinthians 2:11 says, 'We should not be ignorant of the devil's schemes.' We must recognize that our struggles are not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:12). We need the Holy Spirit's guidance and protection in all aspects of our lives. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of being aware of the devil's schemes and seeking God's protection and guidance in all aspects of life. It highlights the need for discernment, spiritual warfare, and caution a...

LABARINA- FEARFUL OF CAREFUL? "The difference between being fearful and being careful is important. Some people might say, 'I'm being very careful,' but in reality, they're fearful. They might be overly skeptical, thinking, 'If we start something new, like going online, it could backfire and hurt what we're doing.' On the other hand, we need to have the faith to face the world. What I'm saying is that we need to distinguish between being careful and being fearful, and understand the difference between the two." "We need to recognize when fear is holding us back and learn to be careful without being controlled by fear. Being careful is about being prudent, thoughtful, and prepared, whereas being fearful is about letting anxiety and doubt dictate our decisions. By understanding this difference, we can learn to navigate challenges with confidence and wisdom, rather than letting fear hold us back." Inspired by The Holy Spirit ...

LABARINA - SELLING OR EXPLORING? "Today, I witnessed something that left me surprised and concerned. I saw a group of youths from my community gathering and slicing old streetlight poles that had been replaced. They planned to sell these poles, and it was striking to see so many of them gathered together for this purpose. I couldn't help but wonder why these young people were so focused on selling rather than exploring more innovative and meaningful opportunities. It's disheartening to see them settling for a life of scavenging and selling, rather than striving for something more substantial and impactful. I hope that in the future, we can encourage and empower these youths to pursue more sustainable and fulfilling endeavors." Inspired by The Holy Spirit  🖋️ Ojo Sunday Ikponmwonsa Oritsemiegbegbemi ®Ik's Archive #PutGodFirst

LABARINA The Five Children: A Tale of Ignorance and Superstition In my community, a shocking event occurred when a woman gave birth to five children in the hospital far away from the community. However, what happened next was even more astonishing. The chief priest, in our community, declared that the land needed to be cleansed. I was perplexed by this announcement, as I didn't understand the reasoning behind it. Giving birth to multiple children is seen to everyone as a sign of good fortune, not a cause for cleansing. It seemed to me that the chief priest's decision was rooted in ignorance and superstition. This incident reminded me of the story of Mary Slessor, a Scottish missionary who worked in Calabar, Nigeria, in the late 19th century. During her time, the local culture believed that twins were a curse, and as a result, they were often abandoned or killed. Mary Slessor fought tirelessly against this practice, advocating for the rights and dignity of these chil...

The Hidden Dangers of Excessive Drinking: A Cautionary Tale As we begin a new year, many of us reflect on our habits and resolve to make positive changes. Recently, I was reminded of the importance of being mindful of our habits when I heard a tragic story about a young man in my community. The young man, who had been diagnosed with epilepsy, had attended a party on New Year's Day and got drunk. He was left alone and, two days later, he went else to repeat the same exercise and this time met his end. He fell headlong on the concrete ground, and this resulted in his untimely death. While the cause of his death is still debated, with some attributing it to his epilepsy and others to his excessive drinking, one thing is clear: excessive drinking can have devastating consequences. What's striking about this story is that one of the people arguing that epilepsy was the cause is also a heavy drinker of Ogogoro, a local liquor. This raises questions about the tendency to j...

LABARINA : PLAN! PLAN!! PLAN!!! "A life without a plan is like a body with its parts out of place - the eyes where the nose should be, the hands where the legs should be. It's chaotic and unfulfilling. The Bible says in Habakkuk 2:1-2, 'I will stand upon my watch and wait to see what He will say to me... Write the vision; make it plain.' This emphasizes the importance of planning and goal-setting. We must pray and plan, not just go through life without direction. Don't let your life be like a puzzle with missing pieces. Take control, plan, and set goals. Write down your vision and make it plain. Then, you'll be on your way to achieving your aspirations and living a purposeful life." Inspired by The Holy Spirit  🖋️ Ojo Sunday Ikponmwonsa Oritsemiegbegbemi ®Ik's Archive #PutGodFirst

LABARINA - IF YOU HAVE DONE WELL "As the year ends, leaders may expect gifts or appreciation from followers. However, leaders should reflect on their performance before expecting recognition. Followers should also appreciate leaders who serve them faithfully (Galatians 6:6). The Bible encourages sharing good things with those who instruct and lead us. Leaders, remember that recognition follows serving with integrity. As Genesis 4:7 says, 'If you do well, will you not be accepted?' Serve with excellence, and appreciation will follow naturally. Let's prioritize genuine, voluntary appreciation and recognition, rather than obligatory or manipulative gestures." Inspired by The Holy Spirit  🖋️ Ojo Sunday Ikponmwonsa Oritaemiegbegbemi ®Ik's Archive