EBAL's Blog: June 2015

Tuesday 30 June 2015

Bieber finds God "I'm glad to know him. He's changed my life." - singer reveals

Justin Bieber credited a Pentecostal pastor with turning his life around as he joined thousands of Christians at a five-day church conference in Sydney, Australia.

The pop star, 21, gave thanks to Hillsong Church's New York City pastor Carl Lentz when he spoke to Ten Network television: "I'm glad to know him. He's changed my life."....

We have been raised in a society that expects us women to be all sweet and soft.
Sure, it’s a gender stereotype everyone has come to expect but times are changing. Women have now come a long way from just being the sweet and soft gender into a full blown force of nature, which I argue we’ve always been all along.

Still, even though women have come a long way, there are still expectations for us to be the gender that waits for the opposite sex to come hollering first. Well, there are now thousands of strong women out there who take their love lives into their own hands, and there are a lot of reasons why you should do so, as well....

Not everybody is a conformist, some people prefer to go their own way.
Usually brides wear shoes and heels on their wedding days but Mrs. Juliet Azedi decided to switch it up by wearing AirWalk sneakers on her wedding day... more photos after cut......

“NIGERIAN DESIGNER YESIDE LAGUDA SHOWCASES FIRST READY TO WEAR COLLECTION “BLOSSOM” See more photos after cut....

President Muhammadu Buhari said the enormity of the billions stolen during the administration of his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, will be exposed when the loots are recovered, and returned to the national treasury soon...

The I Am Cait star was pictured getting her legs out in New York City
Caitlyn Jenner looks as if she’s been taking some style tips from the Kardashians, as she stepped out in a leopard print wrap dress...

She is one of the world's most successful models but Kendall Jenner was just a typical tourist as she took to the streets of London on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old catwalk queen - who is a favourite of Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld - hired a bicycle to explore the city on two wheels as the English capital's heatwave continued. ...more photos after cut...

FACT 1
Amina Bala Zakari, Nee Husaini Adamu, was born on the 23rd of June 1960.
FACT 2
She hails from Kazaure Local Government of Jigawa State.
FACT 3
Mrs Amina Bala Zakari
Mrs Amina Bala Zakari
She completed her elementary education at Shekara Girls Primary School, Kano in 1971 and proceeded to the prestigious Queens College Yaba, Lagos for her Secondary Education where she obtained her School Certificate/WASC in 1976...

Unidentified gunmen in army uniform have kidnapped the former acting First Lady of Bayelsa State, Mrs. Martha Binabo.
Martha, the wife of a former acting Governor of the state, Chief Nestor Binabo, was whisked away at her warehouse located between Azikoro Village and Agbura on Monday.
Binabo, a former Speaker of the state House of Assembly was inaugurated the acting governor in 2011 following a court judgment that sacked Chief Timipre Sylva’s administration.
The bandits numbering about five reportedly stormed the warehouse of Mrs. Binabo at about 11:30am.
The victim, who is a major distributor of Guinness products, was reportedly seized by the gunmen and driven away to an unknown place in a Toyota vehicle.
A source said the hoodlums arrived the expansive warehouse when their target was plaiting her hair.
“Two of the gunmen alighted from the vehicle and accosted the woman. They told her that they were sent by the Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield to bring her to JTF headquarters.....

“I HAVE served as INEC chairman for five years and it is okay for me. I have given my contribution for success of the country. If I am given any appointment, I will completely reject it. At least, somebody (else) should be given a chance”...

SUPER-RICH Nigerians who move around the world in their private jets, enjoying ostentatious lifestyles may now have something to worry about, as the Federal Government has perfected plans to tap from their enormous reservoir of wealth, from which it hopes to rake in N38 billion yearly...

The award-winning actress arrived Kenya for a homecoming tour to a rousing welcome. The visit is termed #LupitaHomeComing which kicked off a few hours ago with a press conference.
This is is her first official visit since winning an Oscar in 2014. Lupita Nyong’o will be charging Sh10, 000 per person at a gala dinner she will be hosting next week. The gala dinner tagged "An Evening with Lupita" is part of the itinerary in her homecoming tour in Kenya.

Although the 10k Kenyan money goes to charity (Elephants conservation efforts) some Kenyans are bashing the organisers over it. more photos after cut...

This happened around the Muson Centre/TBS area of Lagos a few minutes ago. The bus driver was stopped for a traffic offense and as LASTMA and VIA officials tried to seize his bus, he went under it and refused to come out, causing traffic on the road. Don't blame him though. That's his source of livelihood. more photos after cut...

They just enjoyed a romantic European getaway, and Kris Jenner and her toyboy Corey Gamble are back on U.S. soil.
The 59-year-old momager and her 34-year-old beau were joined at the hip as they touched down in LAX on Monday....more pics after cut...

The Ondo State Government has restated its commitment to enforcing the rights of the people living with HIV and AIDS in the state.

The government warned that anybody caught discriminating against the PLWA in the areas of employment, medical treatment, hiring, assignment, promotion, demotion, transfer, retirement, among others, would face the law...

When u use ur tithe to buy heels and God decides to punish u.....Imao

Yvonne Nelson Was LONELY At The BETs, John Dumelo Kept Snubbing Her All Of The Time

We know they used to be best of friends but now, we cannot say that at least for the time being. You do remember Yvonne Nelson said something about John Dumelo, which she obviously regretted after the harm those words caused her friendship. Sometime back in May, when she was campaigning for her #DumsorMustStop, she termed John Dumelo as someone who loves to kiss the as* of the Ghanian government. Yvonne’s dress to the 2015 BET After several days, John Dumelo let out his anger, extremely shocked that someone he considers a good tight friend would insult him that way on Social media in the name of Dumsormuststop, just because he(John) had asked Ghanaians to be patient with the president in solving the problem..
Yvonne Nelson was at this year’s BET and announced it in the most ridiculous way with the below photo and caption....See pics After the cut...

But when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un showed off his country’s newest building he failed to mention that it seems its chief architect was executed because Kim didn’t like the design.
North Korea’s propaganda machine has spent days promoting a new airport in Pyongyang, showcasing the building’s sleek glass walls and espresso stations...

Kylie Jenner unveiled a peek of her newly purchased $2.7 million Calabasas home on Saturday.
And the 17-year-old couldn't wait to gush about the new digs after leaving her mother Kris Jenner with an empty nest...

IS IT AS TO THE LORD?
Memorise:
Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
Ephesians 6:6
Read: Ephesians 6:5-8
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
1 Chronicles 5:23 -- 7:13
Luke 14:12 -- 35
Message
The story was told of a preacher who went to church one Sunday morning, fully prepared to deliver his sermon, only to find out that the bad weather had prevented members from coming to church except one little boy. This preacher, as the story goes, preached as if the whole auditorium was full of members. After the sermon, the preacher made an altar call and the boy gave his life to Christ that glorious Sunday morning. It was one morning, one preacher, one-member congregation and one convert. That little boy became a world-renowned evangelist.
Today’s Bible reading encourages us to render our service, either in church or outside of church, as to the Lord, not with eyeservice or as men-pleasers. Unfortunately, there are men-pleasers today in Church, who would rather offend God instead of offending the feelings of people, even when this is unscriptural. Such an attitude affects our service to God negatively. It taints our holy service to God. Paul in Romans 12:1 says thus about Christian service: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
The work ethics in our church organisations should require little or no supervision. This is one of the first things we were taught when we applied as volunteer workers in church. There is danger in working with eyeservice, because when the one you intend to impress is not around, you will do something else.
Some civil servants short-change themselves when they think that government work is not to be done wholeheartedly as if one’s life depends on it. If you work in any organisation, particularly a government establishment, and you think you can loaf around and still get paid at the end of the month without repercussion, you must have been deceived. The law of natural justice and equity establishes the fact that if your work is worth 50,000 of your country’s currency but you receive 1,000,000, by the time you have spent the last unit of the money, you will realise that the value of what the 1,000,000 obtained is not more than what is obtainable with 50,000.
Prayer Point:
Father, deliver me from eyeservice, and please help me to serve You acceptably from now onwards in Jesus’ Name.

We murdered former vice chancellor because of his jeep – Security guard, former driver.

The domestic staff of the late former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, Professor Albert Ilemobade, have narrated how the late university don was killed...

On Saturday, June 27, 2015, Nollywood actors Emem Isong and rocked the above look for the 2015 edition of the Golden Movie Awards.
Emem Isong's award winning movie 'Knocking on Heaven's Door' won the 'Golden Movie' and 'Best Soundtrack' award.

Okonjo-Iweala spent FG $2.1bn without approval

The National Economic Council, chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday accused a former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, of spending $2.1bn from the Excess Crude Account without authorisation.

“We looked at the numbers for the Excess Crude Account. The last time the former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, reported to the council, and it is in the minutes, she reported by November 2014 that we had $4.1 bn....

Flo Rida and 2 Chainz and squared off at this weekend's BET Awards ... and one of them won by a neck....

Facebook has opened its first sales office in Africa, in Johannesburg, South Africa, the company said Monday. The goal is to capitalize on Africa's 200 million internet users, 60 percent of whom are already on Facebook...

US gay marriage Robert Mugabe asks Obama to marry him

The US Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex marriage is a legal right across the United States President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe has challenged President Barack Obama by asking his hand in marriage....

Forbes has just released this year's edition of the 100 Highest Paid Superstars of 2015, and guess who topped it?....

A 19-year-old student accused of defrauding several people using a fake Facebook account in the name of Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pleaded not guilty in court.
Emmanuel Eto, a 19-year-old National Diploma (ND) II student of the Delta State Polytechnic, Oghara, was arraigned on Monday on a three count-charge of impersonation, conspiracy and cyber fraud at an Ikeja Magistrate's’ Court...

The 2015 BET Awards held at the Microsoft Theater last night on June 28, 2015 in Los Angeles, California and the event was star-studded as several celebrities stepped out for performances, to receive awards or to simply have a good time.. More pics after cut...

It's people who are broke that are moved by money and they always want to spent to show off. If you are a truly wealthy man, at heart or in your bank accounts, you will just see yourself living a simple life.
Africa’s richest man and foremost business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has disclosed that despite his huge wealth, he has no residential property outside his fatherland, Nigeria...

It’s Not Over Yet
Memorise: Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:12

Read: Philippians 3:10-14 (KJV)

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Bible in One Year: 1 Chronicles 3:1-5:22; Luke 13:31-14:11

MESSAGE:
The Christian journey is more often than not a long distance race. This is particularly true because of the long life that our Heavenly Father has promised us (Psalm 91:16). We therefore need a lot of patience to run the race. Apostle Paul in today’s Bible reading gives insight in the nature of the race we are engaged in. it is a non-stop marathon. Once you start, you cannot go on sabbatical leave. Because you are already grafted into Jesus Christ once you start the race, you must ensure that you don’t pull yourself away from Him who first ran this race and finished well (Hebrew 12:2). How do we sustain the tempo and determination to finish well? Paul answers this question in Philippians 3:13-14:

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this once thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Many Christians live in the glory of their past achievements, and this has resulted in their undoing. The various indictments Jesus levelled against the seven Churches in Asia in Revelation 2-3, should be food for thought for all end-time Christians. In the past, when a Christian mistakenly said something that was not untrue but also not 100% true, he quickly corrected himself with an apology. For example, in the days when my father-in-the-Lord was still alive, I remember travelling to Ilesa, a city in south-west Nigeria, and forgetting to buy some oranges along the way as I used to. I remembered after I got to Lagos and quickly bought some in Lagos. I gave them to my father-in-the-Lord and he asked if I bought the oranges on my way. I said “yes sir”. Immediately, the Holy Spirit rebuked me that I was not telling the whole truth. I bought them on the way, yes, but not on the way from Ilesa as the old man meant to ask. I quickly corrected myself and he exclaimed “Holy Spirit” in adoration of the Holy Spirit’s rebuke of love. Today, many children of God tell lies with impunity and they do not feel the pain of lying even against the Holy Spirit. Their first love is all gone. Be warned that the race is not over yet. Ezekiel 18:24 says:

“But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.”

Prayer Point: Father, please uphold me to the very end of my Christian race.

Unknown Assailants Kill Patience Jonathan’s Ex-Security Aide

A Deputy Superintendent of Police, Tamuno Jacob Igbomie, who was Principal Security Officer to the wife of the former President, Patience Jonathan, has been shot dead by unknown assailants.
Igbomie’s corpse was found in his Honda Accord car last Friday along the Airport Road, Abuja...

President Muhammadu Buhari has allegedly ordered Nigeria’s security agents to arrest his brother-in-law for allegedly extorting money from an unnamed businessman. According to SaharaReporters,a close confidant of the president said the suspect, named Musa Yola, was the immediate younger brother of Mr. Buhari’s wife....

The future Cristiano Ronaldo: Real Madrid star's five-year-old son Cristiano Jr showcases talent in beach kickabout. more pics and video after cut...

Bill Cosby's lawyer is fighting to keep his 2005 sexual assault settlement confidential, claiming it would be "terribly embarrassing" if details of the allegations came to light.
Cosby's fighting a media request to unseal Cosby's settlement with Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee. Cosby's lawyer was in court Friday, arguing Cosby's deposition in the case contains info about his marriage, sex life and Rx drug use, which should remain confidential.
Constand accused Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting her....

A Beninoise, Kwenume Ojo, aka Abiodun, has been arrested by men of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly killing her husband, Jimoh Ojo, 32, in the Yaba area of the state.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Kwenume put poison in her husband’s soft drink and forced it down his throat while he slept on the bed...

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, on Sunday said that a court process instituted by 30 All Progressives Congress members stopped him from acting on a letter from the party’s leadership, nominating four principal officers for the lower chambers of the National Assembly...

Tunisia hotel attack: My fiancé took 3 bullets for me and said 'tell our children daddy loves them'

Brits, Belgian and German nationals are among 37 people who have been killed at Tunisia's resort of Sousse, the country's interior ministry has said
A heroic Brit used his body as a human shield to save his beloved fiancée as gunmen massacred at least 37 tourists in the Tunisia hotel attack.
Courageous gas engineer Matthew James was shot three times as he put his life on the line to protect wife-to-be Sarah Wilson...

Stylish Nollywood actress, Rita Dominic looked chic in a pair of faded jeans and white shirt as she stepped out yesterdat...

HAUNTED BY YOUR PAST?
Memorise:
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:11
Read: Romans 8:1-3
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
2 Kings 23:36 -- 25:30
Luke 12:49 -- 13:9
Message
Some Christians allow their past to haunt them so badly that they have no confidence in their heritage as children of God. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, is an example of someone who did not allow his past to haunt him or prevent him from fulfilling his destiny. He gave the following testimony about himself in Galatians 1:15-17: “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood. Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.”
One noticeable reason why the past haunts some children of God is their lack of knowledge and understanding of the word of God. It is necessary for every child of God to possess very sound knowledge of who they are in Christ through God’s word. As revealed in our Bible reading, any individual who is born-again is free from every form of condemnation of past sins. The past should therefore not torment you if the reality of this scripture has been received in your spirit. Let us look at this passage very closely and learn one or two truths about our new life in Christ.
Before you can escape the evils of your past life, the first thing you should ascertain is whether or not you are indeed in Christ, because some people are in Church but not in Christ. The evidence of a life in Christ is outlined in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
This new life is not by our power but by the power in the Blood and Spirit of Jesus Christ. The Bible says the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16). Part of the cardinal truths distinguishing the Christian faith from all other faiths is the grace which brings salvation to us without imputing our past sins, and the power given to us to live above those past sins. Beloved, if you are still struggling with your past life of sin, you need to check your background. Are you genuinely born-again? If yes, are you still living your past life? If not, your past will not haunt you again. Demolish the bridge that links you with the past and be free.
Action Point:
Cut away from activities, friends and habits of the past, so that you can be free indeed.

PHOTOS:Laide Bakare goes on shopping spree in US, acquires G-Wagon

Laide Bakare whose husband is on the run from the EFCC is living large in the states. She is preparing to return to Nigeria after having a long holiday and a break from the movie industry. In preparation for her journey home, she took out yesterday to go on a shopping spree in New York. She also got herself a new G-Wagon 2015 model. She spent so much at Louis Vuitton store to the extent that they served her a glass of champagne for being a good customer. Trust Americans, they know how to collect your money..

Pregnant actress Stephanie Okereke-Linus and husband Linus Idahosa shook hands with her Majesty the Queen of England at the Buckingham Palace during the Queen Young Leaders Award recently on Monday June 22. She attended the event with her obvious baby bump in sight and captioned this...

Sometime ago, I listened to Ms Grace Zemaye Egbagbe, lawyer and television personality, on Metrofile, Channels Television. Her hostess asked her the secret of her youthful looks. She responded that two reasons make women age faster: husbands and children. In other words, she looks young partly because she does not have a husband (Although she said she still nurses the hope of getting married someday if the right man comes along) and has only two children to contend with....

Toolz and other African celebrities like Majid Micheal,John Dumelo and FallyIpupa were all hosted at the International BET Nominee reception in LA..
Toolz shared the pics..Lovely outfit!....

Pretty actress, Alex Okoroji, was once married to Omar Captan, Ghanaian ‘fine boy’ actor. Not so many people would know the marriage packed up almost as soon as it was contracted.
Indeed, speaking to Saturday Beats on the phone recently, Alex admitted her marriage lasted for a short time though she was not ready to reveal how long she was married...

Engagement of individual intellectual capacity is the only way to solve Nigeria’s nagging socio-economic problems, says the Chancellor of Covenant University, Otta, Ogun State, David Oyedepo.
Oyedepo who spoke at the Covenant University and Industry Partnership Luncheon said the solution to the impediments to Nigeria’s growth and development lies in collaborative public and private engagement of individual intellectual capacity...

Mariah Carey and her billionaire boyfriend are taking a giant leap -- jetting to Israel for what they call a "pre-engagement spiritual meeting" with a religious muckety-muck....

The Federal Government has started tracing looted Nigerian funds to foreign nations with the aim of recovering and repatriating them.
The Federal Government specifically targets the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland and other European jurisdictions where it believes corrupt officials have been stashing public funds...

PHOTOS: Kate Henshaw Narrowly Escapes Death, As Her House In Lekki Guts Fire

According to information reaching the news desk of Nigeriafilms.com, the Lagos residence of veteran Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw has been razed by fire. more pics after cut...

NO FOOD FOR THE LAZY MAN
Memorise:
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
2 Thessalonians 3:10
Read: 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12
10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
2 Kings 23:1 -- 35
Luke 12:22 -- 48
Message
Laziness is not a Christian virtue in any way. Our Lord Jesus Christ made this clear by His lifestyle of hard work while here on earth. A lifestyle of laziness is outrightly rejected in Scriptures typified by today’s Bible reading. It is amazing that some people are still expecting God to rain manna on earth! It does not work that way anymore. After the children of Israel had settled in the land flowing with milk and honey and they had eaten the old corn of the land, the manna ceased (Joshua 5:11-12). What the Lord expected of them going forward was to cultivate the land and expect His abundant harvest. Some people don’t know that working is a divine attribute. They think the idea of work came as a result of sin. This is far from the truth because God worked, and Jesus Christ even said this in John 5:17: “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.”
It was reported to Paul that some so-called brethren were not working in the early Church. Paul quickly responded to the situation with the example of himself, because he was hard-working. Read his testimony in Acts 20:33-34: “I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.”
Some Christians claim that they do not work for a living because they cannot get a job. From personal experience, the truth of the matter is: it is the job of their dreams that they are looking for, and because it is not forthcoming, they stay at home or loaf around, living on other people’s sweat. Such people should look for an alternative job, not only to keep busy but also to earn a modest living. Proverbs 12:11 declares that: “He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.”
Apostle Paul did not depend on any person but God for survival. Despite his extraordinary anointing, he was a still a tent maker (Acts 18:3). I pray for someone reading this devotional who is currently unemployed: the Lord will provide you with a good job that will enable you to support the work of God and bless the brethren, in Jesus’ Name.
Action Point:
If you are looking for a white collar job and it is not forthcoming, prayerfully try your hands on something else, and God will bless your effort in Jesus’ Name.

Tuesday 30 June 2015

Monday 29 June 2015

Saturday 27 June 2015

Friday 26 June 2015