NYSC Orientation Camp Preparation

Preparation Tips you should know before going to camp:

This piece was compiled to educate the prospective Corps Members and any other  interested party on what to expect in and outside the NYSC Camp. You can share with your friends too.

Let's go!

MIND PREPARATION :

You need to prepare your mind that you are leaving home for a regimented life in the camp. Life in the camp is deliberately made stressful so as to prepare you for any challenge that may confront you outside the camp. You will not find it too comfortable, It' s a camp and not your flat! Just be ready for anything.

ITEMS YOU WILL NEED

1. Very Important Ones

a. Statement of Result

b. School ID Card

c. Passport photographs (30 copies, Surplus is better than inadequacy)

d. Call-Up Letter (DO NOT laminate it please).

e. A Clear Bag file (To house the above items)

f. Most importantly, Your Bible.

NB: Get 10 photocopies each of items A,B, and D above. The copies may be surplus.

2. Important Ones ( For your Convenience)

a. Stapler, pin and office gum (will save you the stress of 'borrow-me')

b. Two or three white T-shirts and shorts (You will be given two sets but you may not like the quality).

c. Two or three pairs of socks and a white rubber tennis shoes (for d rainy days).

d. Bathroom slippers. Dettol

f. Two plastic buckets (You can buy it in the camp but it will be more expensive) and a permanent marker.

g. Sponge and its case, bath-soap and detergent

h. Bedsheet, towel and wrapper and two pairs of casual wear. Just have them.

i. Mosquito Net (not compulsory)

j. Handkerchiefs (very important especially for those dat sweat like xmas ewu)

k. Waist bag (very very important for housing your phones, ID Cards, Handkerchief, biros, etc)

l. Novels

m. Small-sized Torchlight/Rechargeable lamp (small one please)

n. Your ATM card(s)

o. Cooler (not a party cooler please) cup and spoon. Fork is not allowed

p. Phone and charger

q. Beverages

r. Ladies could add any other few conveniences. I believe you understand me

s. Money! Money! Money! Hold good cash please depending on how you spend.

GO EARLY!

Even if the camp is on your street, go early. If you are posted to a far state, go the day before the camp opens. They will allow you in. Going late will make you go through registration stress. Be warned !

SCREENING

It starts at the gate. They dont want u to bring in prohibited items like iron, knive, bombs, etc.

REGISTRATION

The first one is for hostel/bedspace. Then the paper registrations proper. Make everything ready. Look out for information pasted on walls. Follow instructions strictly.

YOUR KITS

During the registration, you will get your kits - shirts, shorts, etc. Use the marker to write your Code Number (CN) on them 'sharp-sharp" You will also be given a tag that will show your CN. That will be your ID Card temporarily. You take it EVERYWHERE in camp. You will be given a meal ticket. Misplace it and forget about NYSC food (hunger will finish Ʋ if Ʋ no get moni) 

DURATION

You will be in the camp for 20 full days. The 21st day is the day you will leave camp.

THERE YOU GO!

Immediately you have your kits, only your T-shirt and shorts with the tennis shoe are allowed on you. No room for casual wears. Parade/ marching training starts immediately. The soldiers will not give you breathing space at all. You will have the first one that same Day One. Watch Out! people could be fainting on the Parade Ground. You won't faint, calm down... 

So eat well. It's the stress that causes their fainting. Don't form superman o, EAT !

YOUR MORNINGS

A small trumpet wakes you at 5am. Everybody gathers at the Parade Ground (PG) at 5:30am. You have your praise, worship and prayer the Christian and Muslim ways. Blah-blah-blah till the day breaks finally. Breakfast follows!

After eating, you will be called out again for the series of programmes lined up for you. Then you have your lunch. Rest a little and you are out again for evening parade. Then later your dinner. This will repeat itself everyday perhaps except on Sunday.

THE FOOD

You may not like the food. You can always go to the Mammy Market (MM) i.e the Camp Market to fill your 'tank' with delicacies at your cost.

STEALING

This is 'legalised'. They can steal anything. Be wise.

SOLDIERS

Hmmm, Obey them o. They can punish you. No walking, its all jogging wen they call u. Dont postrate or kneel down greeting a soldier. Do it the soldier way. They could be friendly anyway. Be wise.

ALLOWEE

Your first allowance will be given to you in the camp cash. All other ones will be through the bank. You will get Bicycle Allowance.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Photographers are ready to snap you every minute. Manage your cash.

...............

NOW, YOU ARE ABOUT GOING OUT OF THE CAMP YOUR POSTING

You will be posted from the camp to where you will work. The place you work in is called your Place of Primary Assignment (PPA). Hear this: most Corpers, I mean about 90% of the Corpers will be posted to schools (especially primary and secondary schools). Only VERY FEW will be posted to the universities, polytechnics and Colleges.

Please! Don't lobby for your posting. Don't pay ANYBODY for assistance. Pray rather than pay. Gone are the days when Corps Members are posted to Banks and Co. Receive the shocking or expected postings as you receive your letters with joy. It's a clarion call to service; that's what dey call it.

GOING OUT: TRANSPORTATION

When you get your Posting Letter, the first place to go to is your PPA. If you are identified with the Fellowship in camp, you may first report at the TEMPORARY lodge they will provide. Then you could report at your PPA later same day or the following day.

Please, when you leave the camp, home-sweet-home will be on your mind, having been used up in the camp. But please, don't go home straight. Please!

Very few of your employers (i.e. PPAs) will send down vehicles to convey you from the camp to their workplaces. Private and some Govt higher education institutions do. The Fellowship too make arrangement for you at your cost.

Commercial transporters will likely be available at the gate too. Be wise.

ACCOMMODATION ::

You don't know anybody in Damaturu or Ekiti! Where will you sleep on the first day? The Fellowship may give you a TEMPORARY accommodation pending the time you will HAVE TOGET YOURS. You could be lucky if your employer gives you a room. Many of them don't give Corpers accommodation anyway. So be prepared to rent one at your cost. Your first 'allowee' which you received in the camp is already going down!

REGISTRATIONS

This is why you don't have to go home straight. Your registration at the NYSC Office in the Local Govt you will be posted to is important. Failure to complete it before going home is the beginning of a Corper's cup of tea. He may begin to have problems with his subsequent monthly allowances. Do all registrations first. Then you can take permission to go home. Permission to go home? Long process! You will know why it's so. Well, I hope dese few tips will go a long way. 

All the best 2-b-Corps, One love!

However, you might want to read my ownpersonal Experience at my Camp. Well, here they are:

Part I: http://goo.gl/DOPOEx
Part II: http://goo.gl/mGyGe8

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO LOVE LETTERS?

If you are looking at this topic in a strange manner, then it's safe to say, you were born in the late 90s and maybe your secondary school education was later in the millennium. Or how else can we explain your ignorance of the word Love-letter? Haven't you written or received a missive of this kind:

Dearest Bolanle,

                         How are you doing? Hope yourself and every member of your family are doing fine, if so, doxology!

                       My aim of writing you this missive is to express my love for you. You are the butter in my bread, the sugar in my tea, the egg in my egg-roll, blah, blah, blah...

                       My love for you is as deep as the 5 oceans in the world poured into one, it has no size, no volume, it cannot be measured. Bolanle love, my love for you dries only when the water in all the oceans dry.

Blah...

Blah...

Blah...

                       Dream sweet dreams my love, as I must stop. Every letter, unlike every love, must end. Do not close your mind to the content of this letter. In any case, I will be forced to write again. And I shall not close my eyes until I read from you, as I know you will write.

                         Looking forward to an affirmative reply from you.

Till very soon,

Your unsuspected love,

Adewale Bambo

Pardon me if I missed some lines that are pro'ly running through your mind right now, I only wrote such letters like twice and received like five.

If you have never written or received a letter of this kind, then *LipsSealed* for you ni o. The thing is, we don't get to see these in modern day wooing. Gone are the days you deliberately give a lady a letter on Friday after school only to anticipate all weekend what your fate is with her since there was no means of communication. Approaching school on Monday morning, your heart begins to race, several questions running through your mind. What will her reply be? How did she take the revelation? Has she mentioned it to her friends? Will she report me to our class teacher? Is she going to say yes to me? Does she feel the same about me? All these and many more keep running through your mind all through the assembly ground. A mere eye contact with her sends cold shivers down your spine.

It's so sad this doesn't happen these days. As we now have everything modernized. Even the fragile feeling called LOVE has had it's own share of modernization. These days, relationships are birthed, sustained, consumed and terminated...ALL on the social network platforms, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, 2go, Y!Msgr, mobile phones, voice messages, etc. These may in their own way have advantages, but trust me, the glamour, intrigue and suspense of asking a lady out has drastically reduced. Nowadays, even the use of the word LOVE on social platforms will almost drive you crazy. You will be a learner for you to think that a tweet at you that reads “Good Morning Love @holyparcel” actually means the person who dropped the tweet has affection for you. The concept of modernization, technology and indeed social networking platforms have undermined the romantic feeling that accompanies the period of asking a lady out.

You ask a lady out during the day and before nightfall that day, you have bombarded her cell phone with a deluge of messages, tweeted at her, sent her FB messages. She on the other hand has tweeted about it (maybe in codes), called like 3 or more of her friends to inform them about the latest development and before we say Jack Robinson, the eye of the world is on you both.

Every new development has it's own advantage and disadvantage. While social networks and mobile phones afford lovers more communication, to me, it has made the process of wooing a lady less interesting.

A friend of mine once told me that there was a time herself and her landlord's son do not communicate physically, but guess what, every night, they are both locked in lengthy conversations on Y! Messenger, talking from around 9pm till the early hours of the next day. Yet in the morning, when their paths cross, they just walk by each other smiling sheepishly. I tell you, that's one of the wrongs of social networking platforms.

I also had a friend that will talk all night with her boyfriend during the time Xtracool (Free-all-night) calls started. They will talk all night from 12:30am till 4:30am. 4 good hours of only God knows what they discuss every other day of the week.

My opinion, I think I enjoy the days of love letters better. It however has it's disadvantage. Imagine seeing the letter you wrote a lady a few months ago in an awkward place. Probably on the floor in a public place or in the hands of younger ones.

As I write this post, I have a letter in my possession, written by a female coursemate of mine, pro'ly to be given to an admirer, but which she forgot in her note, a note which I borrowed and saw. I have since kept the letter, one day, just maybe one day, I'll return it to her.

Bottom line, if the lady is the care-free (careless) type, writing her a love-letter wont be a good idea, just stick with the calls and messages, at least everyone jealously guard their mobile phones.

Mr Experience or Mr Example: Who teaches better?

It is said that experience is the best teacher, but to learn consciously through wisdom may even be a better and more convenient way...hence the latest saying “Example is the best teacher.” Really, I wont make the decision for you, I'll rather dabble round the two sayings and leave the ball in your court to decide.

To learn by experience is to learn by mistakes but to learn by example is to learn from the doings of others. For me, I ask myself, why do I have to make the mistake or fall a victim of the circumstance before I learn my lesson, when someone, somewhere, somehow has actually gone through the same predicament and hence could be an example for me to learn from? I believe having to experience the pain and agony can be a tough, costly and inconvenient way to learn. We can easily learn by going out of our way to acquire knowledge and wisdom rather than leave our learning to chance.

Let's paint a scenario, I believe we all at one point or the other attended a Mathematics or Quantitative Analysis class, when a new topic is to be introduced, what does the instructor start with, Examples or Experience? No instructor takes a student through the experience without an example. So eventually, when you go through the experience, you come out triumphant. I therefore think our crave in every situation of life should be example and not experience. There is nothing new under the sun, this tells us that there is nothing we are presently going through or about to go through that doesn't have an example which we can take a cue from. Surely, we can learn from mistakes, but why wait till when we make mistakes before we learn? My opinion, we should give more premium to learning by wisdom than by experience.

To do this, i.e. learn by example, one will have to make up ones mind to be decisive in learning. We must decide to learn consciously and not necessarily from negative experiences. In the football world, when a fixture pitches you against an unfamiliar opponent, what do managers do? They travel down to watch them play (learning by example) or pick up a tape (recorded match), thereby learning their moves and operations before going into the match proper. Someone actually said certain things wont be effectively learnt until you experience it, I doubt that though.

There is a common saying...”Fool me once, shame on you...Fool me twice, shame on me!”. This shows that having experienced it myself, nothing of such can ever pull me down again. However true this is...is left for your imagination. Life is simply the outcome and outplay of our decisions, and our future will therefore be determined by the decisions of today.

Life, as you know is measured in time. I therefore ask the question, do you want to spend your lifetime making mistakes before learning or just live by examples and move on gallantly across phases? As you know, life (time) waits for no man, while you are busy making mistakes and perhaps truly learning, some others are scaling heights simply by riding on the shoulders of those that have gone ahead.

Have you ever seen a mad man enter into fire? Even a mad man knows fire and never enters into it...simply because by example (not necessarily experience), he knows the outcome of a fire burn.

Conclusively on my part, it is much easier and cheaper to learn consciously by wisdom than to learn by experience. Learning by experience, the deed is done and we are just picking p the pieces – learning in regret how to avoid such predicament next time.

Take a stand on your choice...Mr Experience or Mr Example. I look forward to hearing your mind on the subject matter...perhaps your perspective might shed more light on the discussion.

Week II Intercessory Prayer Guidelines for 21days Fasting & Prayer

WEEK TWO

DAY8: MONDAY January, 14th 2013

Prayer 1: Father, once again we lift up our hearts in appreciation for the glorious and precious gift of this New Year Double portion 2013.
Prayer 2: Father, by the Double Portion of the spirit at work in the lief of your servant, let there be replication, duplication and multiplication of grace for every Winner this year. John 14:12
Prayer 3: Father, by reason of your double portion agenda for us this year, let every Winner break new grounds, accomplish great feats and achieve what eyes have never seen nor ears heard. I Cor. 2:9; Hab. 1:5
Prayer 4: Father, empower the statutory bodies and leaders in our local assemblies with wisdom for healthy growth and establishment.
Prayer 5: Father, stretch forth your hands and destroy every yoke of stagnation in the career and business of your people.
Prayer 6: Father, heal the economy of Nigeria and restore our lost glory.

DAY9: TUESDAY January, 15th 2013

Prayer 1: Father, thank you for the unprecedented harvest of souls in all our churches worldwide in 2012 and even already this year.
Prayer 2: Father, cause a mighty outpouring of the spirit of sanctification upon every winner worldwide resulting in double portion next levels experiences for everyone. Pro. 14:34
Prayer 3: Father, by your Holyspirit, drive every Winner in the right direction in order to take full delivery of their double portion blessing.
Prayer 4: Father, by your Spirit, let every Winner be established in the faith this year. Acts 14:21-22
Prayer 5: We decree fresh apostolic grace upon your servant in all his global impact his year that will result in lasting encounters for the people.
Prayer 6: Father, grant the Presidents and leaders of nations across the globe the right heart and the Wisdom of Solomon in running the affairs of the government. Prov. 8:15

DAY10: WEDNESDAY January, 16th 2013

Prayer 1: Father, we thank you for miracles, signs and wonders that you have prepared for your people this year.
Prayer 2: Father, make this double portion 2013 a year of strange works and strange acts by your mighty hand all across this commission. Is 28:21
Prayer 3: Father, let this year double portion 2013 be a year of divine surprises indeed for every Winner. Hab. 1:5
Prayer 4: Father, by the spirit of just men made perfect at work in your servant, let every closed gate lift up their heads for us this year. Ps. 24:7-10
Prayer 5: We release the fire of the HolyGhost to burn every affliction such as moving objects in the body, unusual heat, nightmares, etc, in our midst.
Prayer 6: Father, increase the manifestations of signs and wonders in our midst leading to extra-ordinary church growth.

DAY11: THURSDAY January, 17th 2013

Prayer 1: Father, thank you for the unusual, supernatural strength you gave your servant - spirit, soul and body and all through the year 2012.
Prayer 2: EXPLOSIVE BLESSINGS. Father, cause every Winner worldwide to be overtaken by the blessings of the Lord in every area of our lives this year.
Prayer 3: We decree double portion of the spirit of love leading to an unusual hunger for God by all Winners all throughout this year.
Prayer 4: We render helpless, we declare null and void and of no effect, all the arrows of the wicked against the saints of God this year. Is. 8:9-10
Prayer 5: Father, by your Spirit give fresh insight to all our pastors to know what to do to provoke supernatural church growth and development this year. John 6:6-11
Prayer 6: Father, cause your mighty hands to rest upon all our educational institutions (Universities, Secondary Schools) for excellence.

DAY13: SATURDAY January, 19th 2013

Prayer 1: Father, we thank you for the helps you have reserved for the leadership of this commission. by your helps, he shall accomplish all your good pleasure.
Prayer 2: Father, convert every issue of concern in the life of every Winner into double portion testimony this year. Lk. 21:13; Phil. 1:19
Prayer 3: Father, make year 2013 a sickness-free year for all winners worldwide. There shall be no loss.
Prayer 4: Father, let the plan of the wicked fall on their head and let them not be able to carry out their enterprise against any winner this year. Job 5:12
Prayer 5: Father, let the breathe of the HolyGhost rest upon all the publication of this commission bringing about dramatic turnaround in the life of every reader.
Prayer 6: We decree judgment on kidnappers, ritual killers and terrorists in the nation in the name of Jesus. Arise oh God to the defense of the innocent and set confusion in their camp.

Note: Friday will be Breakthrough Night while on Sunday, prayers will be made during service.
Also, be sure to follow this blog to be aware of the release of the prayer guidelines for the final week as well as other Church programmes.

Double Portion 2013 Intercessory Prayer Guidelines for 21days Fasting & Prayer

WEEK ONE

DAY1: MONDAY January, 7th 2013

Prayer 1: Father, I thank you for confirming the waves of Glory agenda 2012 to the fullest in the Winners family worldwide.
Prayer 2: Father, let your glory be evident in every area of the life of every Winner this year as you restore double portion glory and honour to us. Is 61:7; I Cor. 3:18
Prayer 3: Father, make your people the envy of everyone by reason of the double portion dimension of unlimited breakthrough in all their endeavors. Is 60:15; Gen. 26:14
Prayer 4: Father, take your churches both at home and on the foreign field to the next levels by making us kingdom attractions resulting in unprecedented multitudes this year. Zech. 2:4-5
Prayer 5: Father, according to your double portion agenda, let every local assembly double it's present size (100%) minimum before the end of this year. Is. 61:7
Prayer 6: Father, reveal your perfect counsel to your servant the Apostle over this commission, concerning all aspect of the commission this year.

DAY2: TUESDAY January, 8th 2013

Prayer 1: Father, we thank you for your good word to us this year because we know none of them shall fail. Josh. 21:45
Prayer 2: Father, in this year of double portion, supernaturally catapult every Winner from the low places to the topmost top of our pursuits in life with amazing promotions of all kinds. Ps. 75:6
Prayer 3: Father, let this turn out to be our Isaac order of year by giving every Winner a change of level in our businesses, careers and academic pursuits. Gen. 26:12-14
Prayer 4: Father, establish every convert in the faith and in the green pastures of the Living Faith Church Assemblies worldwide.
Prayer 5: Father uphold your servant, the shepherd over this commission and infuse him with supernatural strength, spirit, soul and body to carry through the mandate on his life.
Prayer 6: Father, in this year of double portion, for every confusion in this nation we decree double peace and rejoicing is our portion in Jesus name. Is. 61:7

DAY3: WEDNESDAY January, 9th 2013

Prayer 1: Father, thank you for covering our lives, families, properties and businesses in 2012 and for delivering us from the hand of the enemies.
Prayer 2: Father, destroy the yoke of bareness in our midst and cause everyone expecting the fruit of the womb to bring forth double his year. SOS 4:2; Ps. 127:3
Prayer 3: Father, for everyone that is set for marriage this year, grant double dimension speed, with honour, joy, peace, fruitfulness and fulfillment. Ps. 68:6
Prayer 4: Father, defend all our local assemblies nationwide, there shall be no evil occurrence anywhere throughout the year.
Prayer 5: Father, establish a wall of fire around all members of the Winners' family against all forms of assault. Ezek. 34:25
Prayer 6: Father, let your hedge of protection be strong around your servant and his family. Let every arrow shot against them return back to the sender. Ps. 89:20-22

DAY4: THURSDAY January, 10th 2013

Prayer 1: Father, we thank you because you will make all the places round about your people a blessing and there shall be showers of blessings upon every Winner this year. Ezek. 34:26
Prayer 2: Father, beyond everyone's imagination, give to everyone called jobless double of whatever miracle job they expect this month. Matt. 20:1-7; Ps. 37:25
Prayer 3: Father, destroy the forces of limitations and stagnation in the life of every Winner in this year of double portion and propel us by your power to our next levels. Ps. 144:1-3
Prayer 4: Father, this year again, send your word with power making every of our churches worldwide a green pasture where the sheep will be well nourished and established. Acts 6:7
Prayer 5: Father, trouble every troubler of Nigeria and let their wicked deeds return on their heads and their children. II Thess. 1:6
Prayer 6: Father, grant the leadership fresh oil of wisdom and new depth of revelation to match the demands of this year double portion assignment. Judges 6:14

DAY6: SATURDAY January, 12th 2013

Prayer 1: Father, thank you for the explosive church growth recorded, both in the spiritual and in the numerical.
Prayer 2: Father, cause every Winner to supernaturally scale unimaginable heights of accomplishments in every field in a double portion dimension. Is. 60:18, 22
Prayer 3: Father, let this year be a year of supernatural enthronement for every Winner. Rev. 5:10; Ps. 105:20-21
Prayer 4: We condemn, resist and destroy every interruption of hell in all our church operations this year that may slow down church growth.
Prayer 5: Father, we decree the release of angels to the highways and the hedges, compelling the influx of souls into our churches and satellite fellowships.
Prayer 6: father, we decree the establishment of all our foreign mission operations and greater open doors this year.

Note: Friday will be Breakthrough Night while on Sunday, prayers will be made during service.
Also, be sure to follow this blog to be aware of the release of the prayer guidelines for next week as well as other Church programmes.

Prophetic Declarations for 2013 for the Winners Family!

WELCOME ON BOARD THE DOUBLE PORTION FLIGHT II Kings 2:9

Double Portions Greeting to you all in Jesus Name.

Our Lord Jesus Christ once said;

“I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.” – Jn 4:38

This verse of scripture is a most graphic illustration of the mystery of the transference of spirit.

Again, it is written; “And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakers of the root and fatness of the olive tree;…Be not highminded, but fear:…” Romans 11:17-21

The above further clarifies what happens when transference of spirit takes place. The beneficiary is spiritually grafted into the spirit upon the carrier thereby generating same effect!

To this end, following your encounters with the double portion Spirit that is upon God’s prophet set over this commission, expect the supernatural manifestation of the same in your life with undeniable proofs this year.

As it is written; “For your shame, ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their landthey shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.” – Isaiah 61:7

Therefore the year 2013 shall answer in double portion dimension for every Winner that believes.

Remember that:

• Your Elijah does not have to die to manifest the spirit that is upon him
• Joshua had the spirit of Moses working in him before Moses was taken away (Num 27:18)
• Elisha also knew that he had the spirit of Elijah working in him; he was only craving for a double portion of that spirit.
• As you will also recall that the mantle was earlier cast on him and what he had later was only a second mantle. II Kings 2:14
• For instance, God transferred the “spirit of Hagin to me” while he was still very ,much around; when God said, “My son David, the baton (spirit) has been passed over to you” This was in July 25, 1986.
• As earlier stated your Elijah doesn’t have to die before you manifest the spirit upon him.
• Therefore watch out for the supernatural manifestations of your double portion encounter at Shiloh all through the year 2013 and far beyond.
• However, remember it is your responsibility to keep this fire burning – Leviticus 6:12-13 / II Timothy 4:5-7
• Because no one can continue to be a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive except he stays connected. (Romans 11:16-17)

Therefore expect the following manifestations in your life in the year 2013:

v  For every shame in any area of your life – Double portion of glory and honour shall be restored to you (Isaiah 61:7)

v  Everywhere you may have been pitied hitherto, you shall become the envy of men in a double portion dimension (Isaiah 60:15)

v  Double promotion shall be your portion in all your endeavors in the year 2013 (Psalms 75:6)

v  Everyone called barren is bringing forth Double (SOS 4:2)

v  Everyone set for marriage; double honour awaits you in terms of divine speed, peace, joy, fruitfulness and fulfillment (Psalms 68:6)

v  Everyone on the line for miracle jobs, double dimension of what is expected shall be released with speed (Matt. 20:1-7 / Psalms 37:25)

v  Every Winner shall be scaling new heights supernaturally (Isaiah 60:8, 22)

v  Every Winner shall be breaking new grounds; accomplishing new things that eyes have not seen nor ears heard (I Cor. 2:9-10)

v  It shall be a year of supernatural enthronement for all (Rev. 5:10)

v  The hand of God shall be evident upon every Winner which shall be generating supernatural speed in everyone’s endeavor (Gen 24:12-15)

v  Just like the hand of God was upon Elijah and he outran the chariot of Ahab to the gates of Jezrel, divine speed shall be the portion of everyone in this new year (I Kings 18:46)

v  By the operation of the Spirit of just men made perfect at work in us, closed gates shall lift up their heads for every Winner this year (Psalms 24:7-10)

v  The Spirit of Faith shall destroy all the gates of brass and cut asunder the bars of iron (Isaiah 45:1-3)

v  Everything that used to be a concern to you shall become a testimony (Phil 1:19 / Luke 21:13)

v  Get ready; the year 2013 shall be our most enviable year both as individuals and as a Commission (Isaiah 62:1-7)

v  This year shall be full of humbling testimonies for all (Isaiah 28:21-22)

v  It shall be a year of release of the Joseph order of grace upon every Winner turning us to breadwinners of families, communities, nations and the world at large (Gen. 22:17-18)

v  If shall be a year of divine surprises indeed for every Winner! (Hab. 1:5)

v  Again, I welcome you to 2013, your double portion year (II Kings 2:15)

v  It shall be a year of replication, duplication and multiplication of grace for every Winner (Jn 14:12)

v  Therefore, expect the HolyGhost to drive you in the right direction in taking full delivery of your double portion blessing (Mark 1:12)

v  Every Winner is entitled to at least Double of wherever he/she may be now. (I Kings 8:15)

v  Many Winners shall be making headline news across the nations of the earth this year (I Chron. 29:10-12)

v  God shall be turning the mourning of every Winner into dancing (Psalms 30:5-6)

v  Because every Winner shall be far from oppression (Isaiah 54:14-17)

v  It shall be said of everyone of us ‘What manner of man is this! And what manner of woman is this!’ (Mark 4:41) saith the Lord of Host.

In  conclusion, we must continue to engage the spirit of just men made perfect in battles as Elisha did at Jordan.

“He (Elisha) took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; and he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, where is the Lord God of Elijah? And when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither; and Elisha went over.” – II Kings 2:13-14

Remember that our God is the God of the Living and not the dead and His gifts and callings are without repentance – Matt 22:32, Acts 3:13, Exodus 3:6; 4:5; 6:3, II Kings 13:20-21, Romans 11:29

Therefore as the Lord lives, no Winner shall be stranded in the course of the year 2013 as we continue to engage the spirit upon this commission in battle against all opposing forces of life.

Welcome on board your Double Portion 2013 Flight!

Jesus is Lord!

David O. Oyedepo

President/Founder

The Menace Called New Year Resolutions

It’s that time of the year when friends and family look through their life and because they regret one or more of the steps they took during the course of the year, they draw up a list of things they would like to change or implement in the new year under the heading “My New Year Resolutions”. Let me start by plainly declaring that I’m not criticizing those that make New Year Resolutions, rather, it is the motive behind it and the captive life it offers it’s victims that I speak against. More often than not, it is the heart behind such resolutions that I have issues with.

Before you make that New Year Resolution, have you stopped to think about what facilitated such erroneous move you made in the concluding year? Do you really think it was because you never really included it as a resolution the previous year that brought about such error? Havent you heard “…it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth, but of the Lord that showeth mercy…?”, “…not by power, not be might, but by my Spirit saith the Lord…?”, these should tell you that your will-power alone cannot successfully guarantee adherence to a decision made especially if it is for the progress of a life. Your will-power is not enough to change a life for the better.

Many have been held captive by the menace called New Year Resolution. Imagine one with a resolution to make up to 2000friends on Facebook and over a thousand followers on Twitter. And I ask myself, to what end is this kind of New Year Resolution?

More often than not, our New Year Resolutions are fuelled by the desire to meet up to a standard, be like a friend/colleague of ours or most importantly, acquire possessions for our own interests.

If at all you have to make New Year Resolutions, let them be credible and then commit it into the hands of the Lord and ask for Grace to successfully accomplish them.

For me, I dont do New Year Resolutions. I just commit my ways and life into the hands of the Creator daily, I live by His percepts, principles and instructions...and I can tell you it is the sweetest thing you can ever do...the loveliest decision you can ever make.

Before you send the next BC

BC is one menace every Blackberry user like me detest, yet some users cant just have enough of it. Maybe I should start by making everyone understand what a BC is. Well, it’s short for Broad Cast and it is an unrestricted message/information sent in bulk to more than one of your contacts per time. Originally, it used to be in form of bulk e-mails and sent on unique days (01/01/01, 02/02/02, …, 12/12/12), special celebrations (New Month, New Week, New Year, Christmas, Easter, etc) and important occasions (Graduation, Weddings, Birthdays), but these days, it has become rampant and unpredictable that we get it every other day for every other reason. BCs occur on mobile (as bulk SMS), Whatsapp, and most annoyingly on BBm.

I’m sure the original intent of BCs was to share important and valid information with your contacts (e.g. your forthcoming wedding ceremony, birthday party, etc), but as we all know, things are abused in this part of the world. People now send BCs for the wrongest reasons at the oddest of times. It has gotten so bad that people now forward BCs directly without stopping to think thoroughly on the content of the message. As I write this piece, one just came in claiming “There has been an accident by a bus going from Sapele to Warri, having all passengers dead, please broadcast till it gets to their family members”. I don’t mean to be rude and callous, but for all I care, it aint my business. While I sympathize with the family of the deceased, surely they wont hear the bad news from me. The transport company is in charge of notifying next of kins…that’s why every traveler registers at bus-parks before take-off, that much, I know. Different BCs everyday, “I am Jesus…, send it to 12 people and watch what happens in 12 minutes…”, “…Adenuga’s Mum is celebrating 80years, send to 25 contacts and get 1000 recharge card free…”, “A telecommunication company is celebrating 10years of impact in Nigeria, send to 20 contacts and get 750naira recharge card…”, etc.

Before you start pointing accusing fingers, do you know our Network Providers also send us BCs? Which makes me wonder if it was stated in their terms and conditions of service (You can refer to my Note on Terms and Conditions Apply for reference). These days, it has become so rampant that I feel like smashing my phones anytime the BCs come in, and I wonder if they send same to the likes of the Otedolas, Dangotes, Momodus, etc on promos and what have you.

Sincerely, I find it hard differentiating amongst a learned individual, a learner, an illiterate and a stark illiterate. Someone said our problem in this part of the world is that we don’t think. I definitely agree with such claim. Please, please and please before you send the next BC, THINK…for heaven’s sake, just give it a thought…perhaps for two minutes, the effect the BC you are about sending will have. If it is a joke you are sending, have you considered the mood of the recipient? For heaven’s sake, not everyone enjoys a joke especially at odd times.

Well, if you care to know, I delete BCs as soon as they come in, I don’t even read them. Be it on mobile, Whatsapp, BBm, or whatever platform, I just delete them without giving it a thought. Imagine a graduate, someone who passed through the 4walls of a University sending BCs about Whatsapp or BBm shutting down because they have reached a limit and then the solution to that problem is that you must send a BC to all your contacts. How can you see such and fall for it by sending it to all your contacts? Are you a LEARNER? Was it in the terms and conditions that we must help them send BCs? Who told you they don’t have a monitor that observes both active and dormant accounts? Please wake up and stop disgracing your generation. Prove to the world that you are a learned person.

Think! Think!! Think!!! Don’t just interrupt people’s daily lives by sending them irrelevant messages. If you have an announcement, contact the radio house or TV station closest to you, call a Press conference and make your announcement. If there has been an accident, dial 911 or call the nearest hospital. If there is a robbery going on, call the nearest Police Station…that is how to be of help and not spreading bad news…especially one that you have not confirmed?

The energy and time you expend sending BCs can be channeled into imparting lives positively with words of grace. Use the resources at your disposal for more productive things than being a nuisance. Imagine someone you haven’t heard from for over a month and the next beep you get is a BC! Not even a good morning, good afternoon or good day as the case may be.

I can bet it with you, someone, somewhere is composing another BC and I can imagine the wry smile on his/her face when he/she begins to trend. Wake up today, distinguish yourself, don’t be a learner, don’t be an illiterate, say no to unreasonable BCs.

Before you send the next BC, please think about the content, or just be like me and desist from sending such. Friends, the message is simple and straight-forward, we shouldn’t be found doing some things as learned individuals. Say no to BCs today!

Terms and Conditions Apply

Every product from every manufacturer has terms and conditions for its usage. Both Hardware, Software and Firmware products have terms and conditions, but in this part of the world, nah, we dont have time for that. Ask yourself before we proceed further, have I ever COMPLETELY read the terms and conditions of a product BEFORE using the product? Little wonder, we have been cheated severally and we do not know it. Virtually all modern day youth crave for the use of sophisticated gadgets like iPads, iPhones, Blackberries, and the crave is so intense that upon purchase of the utility, we start using it immediately without even going through it's terms and conditions of use. Well, maybe some people do actually read these terms and conditions of hardware products, just maybe. I can say that 99% of software and firmware users do not read through the terms and conditions of these utilities before installation and usage, especially considering the fact that if you do not agree to it, the software cannot proceed to full installation.

Truth be told, some of these terms and conditions are always too lengthy and may take hours to completely go through them, but isn't it worth the time? If I'm so desperate to use a software, shouldn't I be patient enough to go through the rules and regulations of it's use?

I saw an inscription on a platform that reads “...if you think you are bored, just remember that someone somewhere is sitting at a desk, typing the Terms and Conditions of a utility...”. Really, this is an intriguing inscription that got me thinking that in this part of the world, we see Terms and Conditions as useless as the last four letters of the word Queue. If not for anything but to appreciate the efforts of the person that typed the write-up, please let's always go through the Terms and Conditions of products before installation.

In a bid to force people to read through them, manufacturers have placed the “I Agree” or “Disagree” button at the base of the write-up, but we all know how we circumvent that, we just scroll to the base of the write-up and click our desired choice.

Enough said already in generalization, let's come home and to our very own country, Nigeria; let's start with the telecommunications industry, how many of us read through the terms and conditions of the particular telecommunication service provider before we started using their SIM? Was it in the Terms and Conditions that they will keep sending us irrelevant text broadcast messages or even calling us with promos, etc? How many of us read through the terms and conditions for Blackberry Internet Service of our telecoms service provider before subscribing? Chances are 0%.

Truth is, in this part of the world, we suffer in silence not primarily due to ignorance, but due to foolhardiness. We take a lot of important things for granted and expend so much energy on irrelevant matters. In a situation whereby you didnt even go through the terms and conditions of service, how do you even know your right from wrong? Do you know for every service you paid for, you deserve your money's worth? You do BIS subscription for 30days and you were only able to use it for 20days, the remaining days of the subscription went to network failure from service providers, and then you come on Facebook, Twitter, 2go, etc and start cursing the network providers, swearing under your breathe. My dear, nothing evil will happen to them, infact you will be surprised they'll keep making net-breaking profits while you sit there complaining and languishing in agony.

Truth is you need to wake up and learn your rights. You're going to bed in the night with an account balance of N100.25 and then you wake up and find a balance of N100.00 (a ghost has made midnight call abi?) and then you laugh it off cursing them and their company...**yimu**...nothing will happen to them, absolutely nothing. Until you wake up and stand for your right, they'll keep exploiting us and we just die in silence cursing them imaginarily.

Enough said about telecommunications company, let's take a look at banks and insurance companies. Infact, those ones ehn, their mode of operation/Terms and Conditions are not even open to the public. They just tell you the little you need to know and then you register with them...and the exploitation begins. Oftentimes, I receive alert from my bank of a CR of N52.75 and a few days later, a DR of N73.82. I ask myself how these calculations are done an what facilitated such CR and DRs. But guess what? Anytime I visit the bank, it's either I forget to ask or I'm too timid to ask. The Pension Fund companies is another story entirely. They only tip you on the little you need to know and convince you to register. Of recent, I was told that the pension fund company I signed up with wont eventually give you your money outrightly, even at the specified age limit. Only a fraction will be paid and worst of all, in installments again, I felt like crying.

Friend, before you take that next step in signing up and registering with a company, thoroughly go through the Terms and Conditions and be sure you are okay with it, else dont sign up with them.

If we dont start doing this, then I guess it's Aluta Continua!

INSTRUCTIONS: They are thy Life!

If ever you have moved from a level of your life to another, then you must have successfully completed a phase, written an examination and come out successful. Which makes me presume that as an academia, you must have come across something of this Nature:

INSTRUCTIONS:

SECTION A: Answer ALL the Ten questions.

SECTION B: Answer questions 1, 2 and any one of 3, 4 and 5.

Imagine two student, a brilliant and an average one. Average student follows the instruction to the letter while brilliant student shows skill and confidence and answers just two questions in section A and ALL the questions in section B. which of them do you think will score the highest? Your guess is as good as mine!

As it is with the scenario painted above, instructions are a vital part of our life and existence without which life will be meaningless and unbearable. Even the holy scriptures acknowledges the fact that Instructions are very necessary for a fulfilled life. Prov. 4:13.

The truth is, for every phase of your life, there are specific instructions to be considered and strictly adhered to...that is what guarantees a colorful destiny. When the instructions in a phase are not adhered to, and by chance you move on from that phase, then there is a dent already in the road to fulfillment of destiny.

Now, it is a different thing to be aware of the instructions and another thing to deliberately ignore them. Ignorance though is not an excuse in the court of law...therefore ignorance cannot be feigned as to the awareness of instructions.

Are you still worried about the source/location of the instructions? Well, dont look too far, the instructions manual is ever with you, the Bible. Whenever products are released into the market, the manufacturer releases with it the manual/instructions for operation. So also is the life we live, the Creator himself has created us and sent us into the world, but not without a manual/instruction guide for operation. Everything the Lord does is orderly and therefore, every phase you will ever be has specific instructions and guidelines to follow for triumph in that phase.

The instructors manual is made up of 25% principles and 75% instructions as highlighted in II Tim. 3:16 (Doctrines – Principles; Reproof, Correction & Instructions – Instructions).

If therefore, three-quarters of the manual is filled with instructions, then it is advisable to locate the specific instruction for your life at a point/phase, utilize it and see the dramatic turnaround in your life.

During the time I was seeking admission, frustration nearly set in until instructions came from His word (the manual) and through someone's testimony. The person went through the same predicament and was victorious through the application of principles and instructions...he fed himself daily with scriptures from Psalms 102:13 and Jeremiah 29:11 and then added to that, he started rearing a monthly altar of sacrifice tagged “Admissions Offering”. I immediately tapped into the testimony and applied the same instructions and principles. That same year, I secured my admission. This brings me to the conclusion that certain phases of life may actually require the same instructions to conquer but more often than not, you may need to locate your own specific instructions to become victorious in that phase.

As painted in the testimony above, instructions are not limited to the manual alone, as with the Admission Offering, there are times when products malfunction, they are taken straight to the manufacturer for specific instruction and maintenance operation, so it is with life issues, there are certain instructions you dont get in the manual, you have to take the situation to the manufacturer and hear directly from Him. Yeah, that's the place of the HolySpirit. He instructs, guides, teaches as illustrated in John 14:26. There are instructions you hear directly from Him concerning certain issues at certain crossroads of life.

Ignorance is not an excuse else you keep languishing in your problem and remain at the spot or phase for a long time.

Your heart must be receptive enough to accept the instructions else you remain in that phase for a long time.

Doing it as instructed is also very vital in a successful attempt. No matter how long you have been walking on a wrong path, it never leads to a right destination until you retrace your step and start walking on the right and instructed route.

Friends, for a colorful life and a glorious destiny, the importance of instructions cannot be over-emphasized. I therefore admonish you to guard your heart with all diligence, accept instruction, utilize them as instructed, and then a colorful flight is guaranteed. See you all at the topmost top.

WE LOST OUR PRIVACY ALREADY

Lets quickly do a count (with your fingers:)

Are you on any of these social platforms (Facebook, Twitter, 2go, Whatsapp, Linkedln, Skype, Gtalk, Y!Msgr, Meebo, Google+, MySpace, hi5, Lagbook, Blogspot, Wordpress, etc)

How many mail address have you got?

How many phones and SIMs have you?

Are you on Bbm?

Enough! A modern day proverb says if you are not on at least three of the aforementioned platforms, you are not fit to be in this modern age. I tell you, if a random sample is taken, over 60% of the world population belong to at least one of these.

Question now suffice, do we still think we have our privacy? My answer is an emphatic NO. Virtually ALL of these social platforms require that you upload recent pictures of you into the application and then when your parent knocks on your door, you seat in the corner of your room and claim “...I dont wana see anyone today, I want my privacy...”. Your picture and indeed your profile is travelling across borders, countries and indeed continents. What then is the privacy you claim you desire?

I have seen several inconsistencies on these social platforms we sign up with where pictures can be uploaded and downloaded without restrictions. A scenario once occurred where a lady saw her picture as the profile picture of a guy she claims she doesnt even know at all. Which court is she gonna charge the culprit to, I ask myself. I once checked a lady's profile on FB and was amazed at the number of albums she uploaded to her profile each with over a hundred  pictures in them. Relationships have been shattered, marriages broken and several other engagements wavering due to inferences from these Social platforms.

Even the so-called secure platforms arent that secured cos they are vulnerable to what we Computer geeks call “Cross-Site Scripting” attacks. This is a situation where the Javascript of your browser is invoked when you click on external links on your profile exposing your login details to the hacker...and GBAM...they are into your account. Did I hear you say “I cant fall for that...”? Well the good news is as much as I know about XSS attacks, I fell for it on my Twitter account a couple of days back. If not for timely discovery and immediate change of password, God knows what would have happened.

The truth is we have lost our privacy...no doubt about it. There was an argument at my IT office a couple of months back where a client was bragging he could do something awful and get away with it. Immediately, I googled his name and guess what? His full profile was online, including his picture, residential address and phone numbers. He left our office that day with his tail between his legs.

Are you still in doubt you lost your privacy? Well, that you aint a victim yet doesnt mean you are not vulnerable to attacks.

Also, dont forget that we are in an era of Photoshop experts, where Mr A's head can suddenly be found on Mr B's body and vice versa.

Days after days we keep signing up on different other social platforms some of which even award you imaginary stars for uploading several pictures. In no time, you become “Masters” and “Generals” in the platform and you smile forgetting that all these pictures you upload are being sent to a central server million of miles away. I said it jokingly a couple of years back that a time will come when we will have to pay to download  our very own pictures from these social platforms. I still see that happening in the nearest future.

Did you just say NEVER? Well, how about this, Did you read/go through the Terms and Conditions before you clicked “I Agree” when you were registering or downloading those applications?

Just admit it, we have lost our privacy and thousands keep selling off day after day. Don’t get me wrong, these applications have their advantages but when you weigh them against the disadvantages, you'll know better.

Although technology is not yet as sophisticated as the developed countries, believe me we are fast losing our privacy.

I was watching a Nollywood movie where a fetish man told a client of his to bring a picture of a certain rich man he wanted to harm. The client had to go to the man's house in pretense to get the rich man's picture. I laughed and felt Nollywood has not improved, all the client had to do was go online to the rich man's website or FB profile, download the picture that suits his purpose and print it, then give to the fetish man to use for whatever he desires it for.

Take a break and ask yourself where all your pictures are at this very moment. Can you account for them all? Well then, I think the Holy Book is right afterall. “...if it had not been the Lord on our side...”

REACHING OUT...in d Real World!

Tiz good to be back again after a long while away on academic pursuits. This enforced break just brought back a feeling of boredom, loneliness and forgetfulness which many students and indeed youths cry about these days. In a time like this, I cant but imagine the power and effect of a word of grace from a friend/colleague will bring either in form of a call or text message. Now, this vary amongst youths, while some favour the virtual world (Social Network platforms), some favour calls, a huge number actually prefer text messages amongst whom I belong.

Back then, just when we were settling and getting to know each other, I received a text message from a fellow coursemate of mine on Saturday, 22^nd November, 2008 at 1:27pm (U surprised I committed the details to my photographic memory?), really there was nothing special about the message, just a word of advise, but I have kept that message intact and gone over it over and over again despite changing phones severally since November 2008.

I dont know if tiz me alone but the effect text messages have on me is overwhelming. As in the scenario painted above, the message she sent reads:

“There are 3 enemies of peace, avoid them,

*Regret over yesterday's mistakes

*Anxiety over 2moro's problems

*Ingratitude for today's blessings

HAPPY WKEND”

I'm sure she cant remember sending me that text but I so much treasure that message. Most times, when alone, I pick up my phone and scroll through my inbox, and it just brighten my moment. Often times, the intrigue that comes from TEXT ANALYSIS is just indescribable. This same pleasure I derive in going through my inbox is thesame I take in sending out messages to folks.

However, one thing that surprises me is that the number of people I reach out to dwindles every day and dats becos I expect people to reciprocate that gesture when they receive a beep from me, but that's not really the case.

Notwithstanding, on several occasions, I have sent out bulk sms and one or two replies came in with the message “...that was the word I was waiting for...” all through the rest of the day, I feel elated and fulfilled...I have impacted a life positively today!

The cheapest way to endear people to yourself is to reach out to them in and out of season. Maybe through beeps, calls, notes or text messages, just make sure you are reaching out to someone or your clique. Dont leave it to birthdays, holidays or festive seasons to reach out to someone, either in nthe virtual world or in the real world, I prefer the real world though.

I asked a lady one day why after receiving over 3 messages from me all through the week, she has not deemed it fit to reply one or even beep my mobile. Guess what her reply was? “I cant compose a message...”. My surprise could only be imagined at such response. Really? Are there such people around who find it hard composing text messages? For God sake, just 160 words of grace is hard for you to put together? Quite Alarming!!!

the reason many ladies dont send message to guys is because one thing is peculiar to the guys, “TEXT ANALYSIS.” we begin to imagine the motive behind such text, the situation that warranted such texts and the next point of action as a result. Someone said, it's actually a 2-way thingy, the ladies also perform the same experiment...I care less though.

Bottom line is this, always try as much as possible to reach out to loved ones in the real world (Calls, Flash, Voice and Text messaging). If a life is affected as a result of over 10messages sent, I think that's mission accomplished!

Finally, one thing pisses me off about messages though, hearing my message tone beep and excitedly running to pick it up only to find out it was from my service provider...GOSH, I always feel like smashing the phone to the wall (never tried it though). Have you felt/experienced that lately?