God and Chickenpox

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

This past week, my son had chickenpox. It was a most uncomfortable experience for him, and for all of us; 'helplessly' watching him go through something he did not understand - excruciating pain all over his body with hard blisters showing up here and there. To make matters worse, the otherwise trusted onlookers (his parents) were admonishing him not to scratch - how else should he deal with the pain, just bear it?!

Of course, we wanted to do better than give seemingly unreasonable advice, but all the information available on the subject point to the reality that the infection will run its course. What was somewhat soothing however is the belief that you can be infected only once in a lifetime, other things considered. Oh, the comfort that gave me! It seemed irrelevant to the emotions and pain of the present moment, but I was relieved that he would not have to go through the experience later, especially since children had that experience in a milder form. In addition to my faith, I could attend to the young man without fear of contracting the virus because I had gained immunity from having dealt with it earlier in my life.

The science of it in simple terms is that the virus, when it has run its course, becomes an antibody which our body systems recognize and use as some sort of vaccine against future threats. This, for me, explains the above scripture as follows:
1) The temptation (uncomfortable situation) which you are confronted with is not the lot of 'bad people', it is 'common to man'.
2) God creates a way TO escape it (KJV); not avoid it, but to have that situation as a medium to make the condition bearable for you.
Please note that you can actually get vaccination for chickenpox (and a good number of infections) way before exposure, and that is a description of grace and its provisions.

The summary is this: God allows us to go through some unpleasantness sometimes and ultimately turns it into a much-needed vaccine for other times later in our lives. On top of that, the comfort you get from your situation becomes a tool of comfort to others who would go through similar situations after you.
2 Corinthians 1:3‭-‬4 AMPC

So, do not lose faith, or worry that your immunity is low simply because something unexpected hits you, rather rejoice for God ensures that it ultimately becomes a testimony for you!

The Creative Process

Considering that a good measure of creativity is required to make constructive impact on any endeavour in today's world, it can be upsetting for some that one industry is termed "creative". It appears to disregard the sheer innovation it takes to stay ahead of the pack in all other sectors. To make matters worse, the practitioners in the so-called creative industry look the least serious, the most unruly and apparently lacking in basic discipline. So why call them creative?

Psychologists over time have explained that creativity comes from divergent thinking - a process which factors many possible views to a single problem - as against convergent thinking which employs the use of different rules and principles into arriving at a "single" solution. Convergent thinking is employed mostly by left brain thinkers - the analytic and rational while divergent thinking comes more naturally to the right brain thinkers. Convergent thinking is what the system of education most of us grew by is based on, so the larger percentage of society has picked up skills for what is also known as linear thinking. That is what a good chunk of the white collar jobs are based on too.

Divergent thinking, also known as lateral thinking, is more intuitive and spontaneous. It is often regarded by some as disorganised, to the degree that some of the most innovative solutions produced by this method came about when the mind was distracted from the problem. In fact, creativity is often linked to abstracts including humour, sleep, awareness of the supernatural and triggers such as alcohol and drugs. Some proclivities even show up within that category.

The "creative industry" is one created based on the economic value placed on the input of unconventional jobs - driven largely by lateral thinkers - to the society. To achieve some structure, white collar jobs were created in the industry.

The typical creative industry practitioner is a lateral thinker, and that is not just a problem-solving technique for him; it is the way he approaches life. While his counterparts in other sectors (say finance, for example) see him as scattered and laid-back, he fancies himself as free and expressive! In this industry, it is not unusual to find the combination of different shoes to make a pair, or workspace that's perpetually in a state of apparent chaos. You will find the artist who would rather not comb his hair because it is "naturally beautiful", the young lady who wants all her fingernails to have different colours, or the geek that will pick shorts over trousers any day. But largely, the solutions that they have provided to the problems of our ever-changing world are undeniable.

For optimum performance, every individual requires both lateral and convergent thinking. The skill to know when to switch from one to the other is the distinguishing factor between those who are exceptionally productive and everyone else - knowing when to follow the norms and when to be the trailblazer - is the ultimate wisdom. There are times to follow the training we have received (sometimes through heavy financial and time investments), and there are times to defy the rules for the sake of innovation. Divergent thinkers need to upgrade by adding more conventional processes to their ways of life while linear thinkers need to set themselves loose sometimes.

As we get to the point of intentionally birthing new ideas, the following points should be helpful:
1) You must recognise that there is phenomenal power greater than yours or another's optimum best. Therefore inspiration is not something you make happen, rather it is something you become aware of when subject to a higher power. Your ability to depend on that power determines the extent to which you are creative.
2) Keep your primary work tools perpetually close. If you're an artist, you will be killing creativity you went around without at least carrying paper and pencil to work with when the flow of inspiration comes.
3) Carry with you a vision of the end-product - your desired result - and set a goal before starting. This gives you a direction and helps your subconscious mind to work in that direction.
4) Allow yourself to make mistakes. Things will not always work perfectly the first time. The fear of not getting it right has always been a major obstacle to progress. Get your hands dirty, fail and in that failure learn the invaluable lesson of success.
5) Evaluate your previous performances, celebrate them and improve on them.
6) Find mentors - some persons whose life and/or work you can pattern yours after. If you have a close enough relationship with them you might be able to discuss with them, if not, their work will serve as reference. You can always contrast your work with theirs and identify further working points.

Just as we have different temperaments, each with advantages and disadvantages, and the onus lies on the individual to maximise the positives at the expense of the weak points, so it is with thinking patterns. Each of us should identify where we belong and evaluate the merits, and then pick the advantages the other class has over it. We can all be creative while staying grounded in the principles convergent thinking has taught us, where necessary.

2015: Let's Have a Desire

Mark 11:24 KJV
"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word "desire" as a "conscious impulse toward something that promises enjoyment or satisfaction in its attainment". This is a different meaning from what the average person would say of the same word. According to Merriam-Webster, it's a lot more than something you hope/wish to have; it's not just a better result which you would like to achieve, rather that hope/wish is stepped up to calculated steps through your impulses. It becomes something you're always thinking about, talking about and planning for - your waking thoughts; your 'must-have'. It becomes the angle from which you see everything.

Christ says when you have achieved the full extent of desire, switch to engage the immense power of the supernatural and pray, and believe, and then you will have your desire.

May your desire and faith tanks stay continually full in 2015!

Just Like Joshua by Fisayo 'Check' Odebode

I know a man
A living legend
Miraculously preserved
As the elders obtained
The good report of him

Just like Joshua
He’s not just a seer
But a smooth nourisher
And a zealous zealot

A bump is an encounter
Despite all disjoint
Refrains from discord
To create the harmony
Percussing the refrain

A symbol of fulfilment
A symbol of restoration
Arousing with passion
A well of expertise

I know a man
Competent and skilful
He’s just like Joshua
He's a slave driver
Wired to inspire

As my fives sits
Strictly '4' signature
I outro my salute
Irregular, yet in time

This poem is written in honour of a Mentor, Model, Slave Driver and Living Legend; Dr Kunle Joshua Pinmiloye, popularly called 'Ksticks'Ksticks is a lecturer at the Department of Music, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife. He is also the Music Director at Daystar Christian Center. He had his Association Board of Royal School of Music, London and had a degree course in music which enabled him become the first drummer to major in drums. Having a PhD in drums was a challenge as he's the first of the kind. Ksticks has a wide scope and impact on the world music both home and abroad. This is so because he has trained people musically within and outside Nigeria in vocals, music conducting, music business and african drumming!

Ksticks is undoubtedly a genius and a classic. His impact on Nigerian and African music cannot be overemphasised.Ksticks will be Live in Concert/Launch of his DVD "INSIGHT INTO AFRICAN DRUMMING". A one of it's kind sensational and electrifying event that features great men like Kore, Nathaniel Bassey, Wole Oni, Mike Abdul, Holy Mallam, Wale Oba, Laide Sax, Mike Aremu, Simone Keys, Sheyi Kehnny, Samson Conga, African Master Drummers (AMD) and many more.Knoelwedge; Inspiration; Entertainment!
You won't want to be told!!

Date: Sunday 6th July 2014
Venue: Sheba Event Centre, between Briscoe Motors and FCMB, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Kingsway Bus Stop, Maryland Ikeja, Lagos.
Time: 5pm
Regular Ticket : =N=5,000

For registration, other info and booking, visit: www.k-sticks.com
Contact:Niyi: 08032161770, 07052264644Tola: 08082563063Toyin: 08034086723, 07040190858BBM: 7BB5E6D5Twitter: @ksticksFB: facebook.com/kunlepinmiloyeEmail: kaysticks@yahoo.com, ticket@k-sticks.com

Lessons from "The Karate Kid"

Happy new year everyone! I believe strongly that 2013 would be a major milestone in this journey of L-I-F-E for us all. May God help us to make the most of the opportunities we have.


The first time I saw this Harald Zwart movie, it was born out of the euphoria of a a few things - new movie, theatre experience (it was my first time at that particular cinema) and I was newly married to the love of my life! This excitement transcended any disappointment that could have cropped up at any point in the process of seeing the movie (not that there was any); I enjoyed the movie thoroughly and vowed to see it again. However, the fact that the running time goes beyond 130 minutes did not encourage me to embark on this early enough. And then I caught the movie on TV recently and I could not help but take a few notes.



Set largely in China with the permission of the Chinese government, The Karate Kid was produced by Jerry Weintraub, Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith, James Lassiter and Ken Stovitz. The movie stars Will's son Jaden, Taraji P. Henson and kungfu expert, Jackie Chan.

A remake of the 1984 movie of the same title, The Karate Kid is the story of a strong-willed 12 year old who relocated to China with his mother and soon runs into trouble with a kungfu prodigy and his group. Of course, there is a love-story twist as Dre, the karate kid, has a crush on a Chinese girl who is friends with his tormentor.

Some of the lessons I learnt are listed below:

1) A resilient spirit is a raw material for success. Dre was obviously in no position to win his first fight with Cheng, his tormentor, but he was not too afraid to get up again each time he was beaten to try again.
2) Warfare isn't about fighting to win or inflict pain, it is about making peace.
3) Discipline: To succeed, Dre had to first learn to take instructions.
4a) Learn to stick to a routine - Dre's coat-hanging drill
4b) Add some flair (attitude) to your routines. You will find it interesting too.
5) Be respectful: You need to show respect to everyone.
6) Don't intrude on others' territories; seek their permission
7) Focus; always fix your eyes on the goal
8) "Everything is kungfu; how we treat other people, how you put your jacket off and on". Your warfare is a function of all your habits.
9) You need to believe that your are unconquerable. How you see yourself on the inside determines the results to get on the outside.
10) At the top of your act, being still in your head & mind are essential tools for success - you can move mountains. The lady from Dre's expedition with his mentor, Mr Han, was able to get the cobra to imitate her.
11) When you think you know to focus, check again!
12) Learn anticipation; expect the otherwise unexpected.
13) Too much of anything is not good. Take a break - learn to have fun!
14) Learn empathy; be compassionate!
15) 'Be angry and sin not' - Never be so angry as to losing control! [The scripture was not quoted in the movie, that is just me]
16) It is okay to make mistakes; but you must never stay defeated! Life will knock you down, but you must make the choice to get up.
17) Sometimes the things you love can be distracting; learn to create a balance.
18) To win, you do not necessarily need to know all the rules of the game, the well-grounded principles will do.
19) When you begin to win, do not get carried away; remember the ground rules - your guiding principles.
20) Fear exists, only where you let it.
21) Empty your mind; focus!
22) Even when you are broken, it is not over until you give up
23) The greatest enemy you have to fight is the fear of failure!
24) Abide by the truth, in the end, even evil will bow to the more honourable approach to things.

I know the above is quite a list and to relate with them all, you would probably need to see the movie (again! if you have seen it before).

It is interesting to note that these lessons are based on scripture and many principles of psychology. Taking them to heart will definitely be useful and productive for 2013.

Cheers!

Christmas: An Everyday Season

Season's Greetings everyone!

I have a new Christmas material called "Everyday Season".

I wrote this song last year while I was getting angry that the carols that we sing at Christmas are the same old songs that we have had for ages, only re-arrangements. Thankfully, I was blessed with this in response to my anger. *smiles*

The lady whose voice carries the song is an amazingly talented young woman whom you would hear a lot about soon. Her name is Mercy Oluwayemisi.

Please feel free to download the song and share with friends and family members.

Merry Christmas!

PS: I am not absolutely sure the download widget below is working fine, so kindly use the link http://www.hulkshare.com/xwuetu9qqpkw if you are not properly directed. Thanks.

Uniformed Madness

Much against the stereotype of analogies that have been made, I fancy myself as one of the few from the male-folk who can combine more than one activity successfully! As a result of this 'talent', it is not difficult for me to answer or make a phone call while driving a car, without any thing about my driving being changed by my engagement in the phone call. It took a while of study for me to arrive at this conclusion, and so I am very confident of this. And before you think I break the law at will, I try (*wink*) to ensure that I answer phone calls with my hands-free kit while driving, and I discourage a few other people whom I do not think handle the two activities well (e.g my Jewel) from doing so.

Given the background above, you will understand my shock on Friday afternoon while I was making a turn off Ozumba Mbadiwe road. I had been on a call for about eight minutes but I was entirely focused on the road too. I was driving on the third lane had just engaged the trafficator to indicate my intention to turn to the right, and then this commercial bus decided to overtake everyone else on the fourth lane. He was coming so fast I had to stay on the third lane to let him go first. As if he had not done enough wrong, he went past me and gave me the 'open-palm' sign, which some people refer to as 'waka' in these parts. I convinced myself to disregard his folly and move on. Then came this bike going at top speed, riding so close to the bus that had just gone past me that he could not have been aware of anything else happening on the other lanes of the highway. Of course, he had to turn off the road to avoid hitting the raised culvert just ahead of him. It turned out that he was a military man - he was wearing the army uniform - and thought to exert his authority. The first thing he asked me is, "Why you know use trafficator?". Of course, I was taken aback, and then I rationalised that my trafficator bulb must have been burnt, so I apologised and stated this. After trying unsuccessfully to create a scene, he went his way.

It was only at this point that I could respond to the friend on the other end of my telephone conversation who was worried that I had been in an accident. All the time I was talking to the military guy and his passenger, I had obeyed the rule of the male stereotype - focused on just on thing - where the phone call was concerned, at least.

So, I parked the car, left the trafficator on and came out of the car to check the status of the lights that had failed me only to discover that it was working fine. What is it then that the arrogant military guy was talking about? It was he after all that was riding on the 'blind spot' of a busy road and was oblivious to the fact that he was a danger to other road-users.

How often do we suffer in the hands of uniformed people in our country? They abuse the citizens of our country at will and at no consequence. Not long ago, the world got wind of this ill when the phone coverage of a lady's abuse by military men on a popular street on Victoria Island was sent by a passer-by to CNN's I-Report platform.

Help! We need to be saved from the Uniformed Madness in our nation!