5 Ways the Prosperity Gospel Is Hurting Africa

I'm not an African, but in 2008 some Nigerian friends gave me a Yoruba name ("Akinwale") because I have been to that country so often. My visits there, along with trips to Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa and Egypt, planted a deep love for Africa in my heart. My first grandson's arrival this year from Ethiopia made the connection even stronger. 

I'm often asked to describe how God is moving in Africa today. Since I'm an optimist, I usually tell of the large churches, the passionate praise and the intense spiritual hunger that characterizes African Christianity. But there is also a dark side, and I think it's time we addressed one of the most serious threats to faith on the continent.

I'm talking about the prosperity gospel. Of course, I know a slick version of this message is preached in the United States—and I know we are the ones who exported it overseas. I am not minimizing the damage that prosperity preaching has done in my own country. But I have witnessed how some African Christians are taking this money-focused message to new and even more dangerous extremes. 

Here are five reasons the prosperity message is damaging the continent of Africa today:

1. It is mixed with occultism. Before Christianity came to Nigeria, people visited witch doctors and sacrificed goats or cows to get prosperity. They poured libations on the ground so the gods would hear their prayers. Today similar practices continue, only the juju priest has been replaced by a pastor who drives a Mercedes-Benz. I am aware of a pastor who buried a live animal under the floor of his church to win God's favor. Another pastor asked his congregants to bring bottles of sand to church so he could anoint them; he then told the people to sprinkle the sand in their houses to bring blessings. The people who follow these charlatans are reminded that their promised windfall won't materialize unless they give large donations. 

2. It fuels greed. Any person who knows Christ will learn the joy of giving to others. But the prosperity gospel teaches people to focus on getting, not giving. At its core it is a selfish and materialistic faith with a thin Christian veneer. Church members are continually urged to sow financial seeds to reap bigger and bigger rewards. In Africa, entire conferences are dedicated to collecting offerings in order to achieve wealth. Preachers boast about how much they paid for suits, shoes, necklaces and watches. They tell their followers that spirituality is measured by whether they have a big house or a first-class ticket. When greed is preached from the pulpit, it spreads like a cancer in God's house.

3. It feeds pride. This greedy atmosphere in prosperity churches has produced a warped style of leadership. My Kenyan friend Gideon Thuranira, editor of Christian Professional magazine, calls these men "churchpreneurs." They plant churches not because they have a burden to reach lost souls but because they see dollar signs when they fill an auditorium with chairs. A selfish message produces bigheaded opportunists who need position, applause and plenty of perks to keep them happy. The most successful prosperity preacher is the most dangerous because he can convince a crowd that Jesus died to give you and me a Lexus. 

4. It works against the formation of Christian character. The prosperity message is a poor imitation of the gospel because it leaves no room for brokenness, suffering, humility or delay. It offers an illegal shortcut. Prosperity preachers promise instant results and overnight success; if you don't get your breakthrough, it's because you didn't give enough money in the offering. Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and follow Him; prosperity preaching calls us to deny Jesus and follow our materialistic lusts. There is a leadership crisis in the African church because many pastors are so set on getting rich, they can't go through the process of discipleship that requires self-denial.

5. It actually keeps people in poverty. The government of Malawi is currently under international scrutiny because of fraud carried out by top leaders. The saddest thing about the so-called "Cashgate" scandal is that professing Christians in the administration of President Joyce Banda have been implicated. One of these people stole millions of kwacha from the government and hid the cash in a teddy bear! Most people today in Malawi live on less than $1 a day, yet their leaders have been known to buy fleets of cars and huge plots of land with money that was not theirs. Sadly, the prosperity gospel preached in Malawi has encouraged pastors and leaders to follow the same corrupt pattern. As a result, God's people have been financially exploited.

When Jesus described false prophets as wolves in sheep's clothing, He warned us to examine their fruit. Matthew 7:17 says, "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit" (NASB). What is the fruit of prosperity preaching?

Churches have been growing rapidly in many parts of Africa today, yet sub-Saharan Africa is the only region in the world where poverty has increased in the past 25 years. So according to the statistics, the prosperity gospel is not bringing prosperity! It is a flawed message, but I believe God will use selfless, broken African leaders to correct it.

J. Lee Grady is the former editor of Charisma and the director of the Mordecai Project. You can follow him on Twitter at @leegrady. He is preaching in Kenya this week.

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Original Page: http://www.charismamag.com/blogs/fire-in-my-bones/19113-5-ways-the-prosperity-gospel-is-hurting-africa

How Your Anger Is Really Impacting Your Children

I am long familiar with the Golden Rule, yet it's only in the last month that I've thought of it particularly in terms of my children—not treating them as they are but as I would have them be. As often is the case, God used my son's little secular hippie preschool to bring this home for me. 

 

At a parent meeting, the speaker asked parents their main concerns for their children's behavior right now. Parents yelled out things like sibling rivalry, angry tantrums, hitting, general snotty attitudes and so forth. Then she asked what character qualities we hoped they'd have when they headed to college. 

 

The group suggested empathy, perseverance and self-confidence, among others. As a believer, I would add grace, service and love. I really want my boys to have personal confidence in who they are in Christ that equips them to extend grace to others. I want them to love as 1 Corinthians 13 defines it—with patience, with a long fuse, not rude, not keeping a record of wrongs, giving the benefit of the doubt and so on. I want them to serve like Christ. 

 

Then the speaker led us in an exercise. She said, "Put your feet squarely on the floor." She did it, and we did too. "Sit up straight." She modeled, and we did it too. "Touch your thumb and first finger in an OK sign." 

 

We did it with her. "Put the OK sign on your chin." But she put hers on her cheek. And every last one of us in the room without thinking put ours on our cheek too. She had made her point effectively. We say we want one thing with our kids, but so often we model something else. And they will always pick up what we model over what we say. 

 

God got my attention. My son has an anger problem because I have an anger problem that I have well modeled for him. And when I get angry at him because he got angry and threw a toy, I'm not helping anything. Apart from Scripture, my default belief system is that when he sins, I need to get really angry in proportion to the seriousness of the offense—that the angrier I get, the more effective it will be at deterring him from doing it again. 

 

The only problem is that my anger is not a deterrent to him doing it again. It just models anger for him and educates him in more sophisticated ways to act on it. That's not how God transforms me, and it's not how He intends me to disciple my children. 

 

Here are Jesus' instructions from Luke 6:

 

"And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful" (vv. 31-36).

 

As I wish that my boys would do to me and others, I should do to them—not do to them in a reactionary response to what they just did. It's my job to break the cycle of act and react. I should just act. Stay on course. Love. Grace. Compassion. Endurance. Act on my vision of what I want them to be, and model consistently for them my end goal. 

 

My angry little boy sure can make me angry. But my job in Christ is to stop the cycle, correct him and model for him with my life as well as my words a new and better way through gospel grace to deal with conflict. 

 

Of course, the Golden Rule transcends child-rearing. I had just never thought of it in those specific terms. It applies to my children, my husband, my friends and my enemies. Do to them not in reaction to what they just did to me, but do to them with a vision of where God is calling them. And that is the essence of being salt and light in the places God has called me to function.

 

Adapted from Wendy Alsup's blog, theologyforwomen.org. Wendy has authored three books including By His Wounds You are Healed: How the Message of Ephesians Transforms a Woman's Identity. She is also a wife, mom and college math teacher who loves ministering to women. 

 

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Original Page: http://www.charismamag.com/life/women/19121-how-your-anger-is-really-impacting-your-children

Why Exercising While You're Pregnant May Make Your Baby Smarter

Moderate exercise during pregnancy may boost your baby's brain development, according to new research. 

The study involving 18 moms-to-be and their babies found that "at 10 days, the children have a more mature brain when their mothers exercised during the pregnancy," says study researcher Elise Labonte-LeMoyne, a Ph.D. candidate in kinesiology at the University of Montreal.

Other studies have found health benefits for newborns and older children whose mothers worked out during pregnancy, the researcher says. And while animal studies have shown that exercise during pregnancy alters the fetal brain, she believes this is the first study to look at exercise's effect on human brain development.

For the study, which was scheduled for presentation Sunday at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in San Diego, the researchers randomly assigned 10 pregnant women to an exercise group and eight to an inactive group at the start of their second trimester. The active group was told to engage in at least 20 minutes of cardiovascular exercise three times a week at a moderate intensity—meaning it should lead to at least a slight shortness of breath. They typically walked, jogged, swam or cycled, Labonte-LeMoyne says.

On average, the workout group clocked 117 minutes of exercise a week; the sedentary group 12 minutes weekly. Using an EEG, which records the brain's electrical activity, the researchers measured the newborns' brain activity while sleeping when 8 to 12 days old. They focused on the ability of the brain to recognize a new sound, Labonte-LeMoyne says, noting this reflects brain maturity.

The babies whose mothers exercised showed a slight advantage, the investigators found. "The brain is more efficient; it can recognize the sound with less effort," she explains.

The differences may translate to a language advantage later in life, she speculates. The researchers are continuing to track the children's development until age 1 to see if the advantage remains.

It's possible that exercise speeds up a process known as synaptic pruning, whereby extra nerve cells and connections are eliminated, helping brain development, Labonte-LeMoyne says.

The study findings didn't surprise Dr. Raul Artal, professor and chair of obstetrics and gynecology and women's health at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He has long touted the value of exercise for healthy pregnant women.

"It's known that babies respond to stimuli in utero," he says. The new research reinforces the belief that "pregnancy is not a state of confinement or indulgement." 

"It has been documented that pregnant women who lead a normal life, exercise and eat judiciously have better pregnancy outcomes," Artal says, while a sedentary lifestyle, obesity and some diseases can hurt the unborn baby.

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that women with uncomplicated pregnancies who are recreational and competitive athletes can remain active during pregnancy, modifying their routine when medically necessary. Women who were inactive before getting pregnant or who have medical or pregnancy-related complications should be evaluated first by their doctor, the guidelines say.

Research presented at meetings is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

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Original Page: http://www.charismamag.com/life/health/19103-why-exercising-while-you-re-pregnant-may-make-your-baby-smarter

‘It helps in burning fat’: 10 glasses of water a day to cut fat

by Seema Sinha

Being adequately hydrated is the best way not to feel lousy and grouchy after a late night party. Drink a couple of glasses of water hours before the event. 

1. Water could lower your BMI.

If you drink eight to 10 glass of water everyday you will end up eating less and also drink fewer calorie-laden beverages. Drinking about 500 ml of water before meal can cut the calories and help in losing weight and as a result lower body mass index (BMI).

2. Water helps in burning fat.

You can burn about 50 per cent more fat after drinking water compared with a higher calorie beverage.
3. Water helps you play your sports better.

Sweating away just two per cent of your body's water content affects the performance of a sportsperson to a great extent. Drinking enough water can improve your game and save you from the risk of dehydration.
4. Water can fight hangovers.

Being adequately hydrated is the best way not to feel lousy and grouchy after a late night party. Drink a couple of glasses of water hours before the event. Even when you are flying a long distance flight, staying hydrated helps you fight hangover.

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Read this article in Times of India

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

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Original Page: http://www.ynaija.com/it-helps-in-burning-fat-10-glasses-of-water-a-day-to-cut-fat/

7 (extremely important) things every couple should STOP doing

by Corina Dondas

This tip is a bit related with the first one because by always wanting to be right means that you don't accept the fact that your other half is a different person, that he (she) has their own opinion and that sometimes their opinion might hurt you, but that doesn't mean that you always have to prove them wrong, especially if you aren't, in fact, right.

1. TRYING TO GET EVEN

In my opinion this is one of the most important things every couple should stop doing. I know that you may feel hurt sometimes because of something that your partner did, but you should know that revenge isn't the best way to solve a conflict and it will definitely not help your relationship heal. If your better half made a mistake, talk about it, find out the reasons behind his (her) actions and if it turns out that they never intended to hurt your feelings, try to forgive and forget. Forgiveness is one of the major ingredients in every successful relationship.

2. BEING TOO BUSY TO SPEND TIME WITH EACH OTHER

I know how busy everyone is now days and how much everybody needs to work in order to be able to support themselves and also provide to their families. But, even if sometimes you feel like you don't even have enough time for yourself, let alone for your partner, try to organize your schedule, learn how to manage your time more efficiently and always make time for the one you love. In those moments, give your partner your full attention, be present and don't think about everything that worries you, about what you have to do the next day at work or what are you going to cook for dinner. Spend time with your better half and you'll see how all those worries will magically go away.

3. FORGETTING TO COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER

I know you feel comfortable with your partner (and you should feel this way); after all he (she) is the only person in the world that knows you best. But, even though you think your loved one already knows how you feel about them, it doesn't hurt if you would remind them more often how special they are or how much you love them. Compliment your partner more often! Say something nice to them every single day, no matter how tired or busy you might be and then prove them your beautiful words are true.

4. WANTING TO ALWAYS BE RIGHT

This tip is a bit related with the first one because by always wanting to be right means that you don't accept the fact that your other half is a different person, that he (she) has their own opinion and that sometimes their opinion might hurt you, but that doesn't mean that you always have to prove them wrong, especially if you aren't, in fact, right. Express your opinion in a polite manner and respect your partner's point of view, even if you don't agree with it.

5. HIDING PROBLEMS FORM EACH OTHER

I know that out of love, you may always be tempted to try to protect your partner because you don't want to see them upset and this might make you hide a few problems or difficulties you might be facing at work or even some personal issues. You should never do that. Just allow your partner to be there for you, to be able to help and support you. Even though the things you're going through might make him (her) feel sad, they might even be sadder if they didn't have the chance to do something to help you smile again. Remember that you're not alone and you partner might definitely make things more easy for you.

6. HIDING FLAWS FROM EACH OTHER

Everyone has flaws and nobody's perfect but I'm sure you already know this. If you think you always need to hide your flaws because you might scare your partner or you fear you might even lose him (her), I must tell you that you might be mistaken. By always trying to hide your little imperfections, you won't give your partner the chance to truly know you and to decide for himself (herself) if those so called imperfections are not in fact features that make you interesting and unique.

7. RESISTING COMPROMISE

Every relationship takes a lot of time, effort and hard work in order to be fairy-tale perfect. You should be both working on it equally and you should know that sometimes you'll have to make some compromises or small concessions in order to solve a few conflicts that may appear along the way. Don't let your stubbornness get in the way and find a solution that will work best for both of you. Learn to cooperate and don't resist compromise out of pride! Do what's best for your relationship, thus for yourself!

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Read this article in All Women Stalk

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

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Original Page: http://www.ynaija.com/7-extremely-important-things-every-couple-should-stop-doing/

Opinion: Whatever happens, dont stop. Keep moving

by Ifeanyi Igbokwe

Have you ever wondered where your state governor was twenty five years ago? He probably was like every other man out there on the street working hard to make ends meet. But he kept moving.

Many times, people find themselves in the downside of life. Most times, they didn't basically drag themselves down there. While many have the privilege of being born in places where all they would ever need has been made provisions for, others would have to work really really hard, if they are to see the light of day.

No matter which side of the coin you may find yourself, my submission for you today is keep moving. Is life hard and harsh today? Keep moving. Do you hate where you are at the moment, keep moving. Do you hate your life? Keep moving. Keep moving because the graph of life may be very undulating, but its trend is always upward. Keep moving because this too shall pass.

Childhood was not so sweet for little Miles Munroe- life was hard and rough, for he woke up morning after morning with roaches bites from sleeping on a mat on a wooden floor in a village in Hawai. It was the 'bed' he shared with his 6 sisters, who equally didn't like it either but the day came when he had to choose between mere fate and a bright future. He had to choose between inheriting poverty and breaking away from lack and staying away. Knowing fully well that his chances of success are slim to none, he stuck with education and excelled knowing it was his best bet to the success he desired.

Little by little Dr Miles Munroes, kept at it, rising to become a choice consultant and pastor that today consults for heads of state around the world having become renowned author and teacher whose program benefits hundreds of thousands each year.

One thing is certain, if Miles Munroe had not woken up to the realities of his life and decided to work hard and change the direction his life was headed, he may have remained in poverty all his life.

Have you ever wondered where your state governor was twenty five years ago? He probably was like every other man out there on the street working hard to make ends meet. But he kept moving.

Long ago, I met a young man who told me a story I would never forget in a hurry. It was about a man who had once lived in hiscommunity. As a child, he parents were poor. It wasn't the kind of poverty we are used to. It was a case of extreme poverty. So impoverished was the family that they could not afford to keep him in school, so he was withdrawn and kept permanently in the farm. But the young child's spirit was too strong to give up on education. Being that he didn't have the privilege of siting in a classroom with his peers, what he did was to borrow the notebooks of his friends during holidays and digest them. This he continued until his peers got to SS3. By what time, he had both studied hard enough and has saved enough money to sit A-level exams, papers he cleared with so much distinction that he got a scholarship to study medicine in the UK.

Who would imagine that Tyler Perry would ever get to become a celebrated billionaire in Hollywood?He wasn't rich. He was the boy who was bullied for several years by his father. He was the opportunist who felt that he could write a play after watching Oprah's Show. Actually he wrote those script, but by the time he took it from one studio to the other, it was always the same story. It was always thrown out the window. He was a fresher and worse still, he wrote stories that featured black people with religious undertone and the big names were not interested.

Instead of giving up, he decided to produce his stories himself and was even more shocked when few people showed up. All of these experiments were with his hard-earned life savings. Eventually he ran out of money, went broke and began living in his car. But he was not one to give up on his dream. He still tried again and this time, fortune smiled at him.

Things may not be moving in your direction yet, but keep moving. It may not well yet, but keep on keeping on. In time, you will look back and be grateful to God that you found the courage to keep at it even when all else suggested otherwise.

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Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

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Original Page: http://www.ynaija.com/opinion-whatever-happens-dont-stop-keep-moving/

You need to hear this: Marriage is not for you

by Seth Adam Smith

It was in that very moment that I knew that Kim was the right person to marry. I realized that I wanted to make her happy; to see her smile every day, to make her laugh every day. I wanted to be a part of her family, and my family wanted her to be a part of ours. 

Having been married only a year and a half, I've recently come to the conclusion that marriage isn't for me.

Now before you start making assumptions, keep reading.

I met my wife in high school when we were 15 years old. We were friends for ten years until…until we decided no longer wanted to be just friends. I strongly recommend that best friends fall in love. Good times will be had by all.

Nevertheless, falling in love with my best friend did not prevent me from having certain fears and anxieties about getting married. The nearer Kim and I approached the decision to marry, the more I was filled with a paralyzing fear. Was I ready? Was I making the right choice? Was Kim the right person to marry? Would she make me happy?

Then, one fateful night, I shared these thoughts and concerns with my dad.

Perhaps each of us have moments in our lives when it feels like time slows down or the air becomes still and everything around us seems to draw in, marking that moment as one we will never forget.

My dad giving his response to my concerns was such a moment for me. With a knowing smile he said, "Seth, you're being totally selfish. So I'm going to make this really simple: marriage isn't for you. You don't marry to make yourself happy, you marry to make someone else happy. More than that, your marriage isn't for yourself, you're marrying for a family. Not just for the in-laws and all of that nonsense, but for your future children. Who do you want to help you raisethem? Who do you want to influence them? Marriage isn't for you. It's not about you. Marriage is about the person you married."

It was in that very moment that I knew that Kim was the right person to marry. I realized that I wanted to make her happy; to see her smile every day, to make her laugh every day. I wanted to be a part of her family, and my family wanted her to be a part of ours. And thinking back on all the times I had seen her play with my nieces, I knew that she was the one with whom I wanted to build our own family.

My father's advice was both shocking and revelatory. It went against the grain of today's "Walmart philosophy", which is if it doesn't make you happy, you can take it back and get a new one.

No, a true marriage (and true love) is never about you. It's about the person you love—their wants, their needs, their hopes, and their dreams. Selfishness demands, "What's in it for me?", while Love asks, "What can I give?"

Some time ago, my wife showed me what it means to love selflessly. For many months, my heart had been hardening with a mixture of fear and resentment. Then, after the pressure had built up to where neither of us could stand it, emotions erupted. I was callous. I was selfish.

But instead of matching my selfishness, Kim did something beyond wonderful—she showed an outpouring of love. Laying aside all of the pain and aguish I had caused her, she lovingly took me in her arms and soothed my soul.

I realized that I had forgotten my dad's advice. While Kim's side of the marriage had been to love me, my side of the marriage had become all about me. This awful realization brought me to tears, and I promised my wife that I would try to be better.

To all who are reading this article—married, almost married, single, or even the sworn bachelor or bachelorette—I want you to know that marriage isn't for you. No true relationship of love is for you. Love is about the person you love.

And, paradoxically, the more you truly love that person, the more love you receive. And not just from your significant other, but from their friends and their family and thousands of others you never would have met had your love remained self-centered.

Truly, love and marriage isn't for you. It's for others.

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Read this article in Seth Adam Smith

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija

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Original Page: http://www.ynaija.com/you-need-to-hear-this-marriage-is-not-for-you/