CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AND THE GAME OF LIFE.

The story is told by the winners while the wound is licked by the losers. That is the replica of a Champion’s world. Indeed, in Champion’s league, the goats are separated from the sheep, the chaff is separated from the wheat and in stark reality, the boys are separated from the men. Champion’s league is a replica of the game of life.

          Being a champion is a way of life. A way of living, where everyday counts and where unit efficiency ultimately gives rise to an impeccable team spirit. It is not a game of chance but rather a game of resilience, coordination and expertise. What really matters is how good you are. Indeed, champions are not made champions in the field o play, they are only recognised there which shows that they have been champions long ago both in their mind and in their way of life.

All these were the truth as Barcelona Football Club of Spain walloped the almighty Manchester United Football Club of England and expressly won them by 3 goals to 1. Barcelona's Pedro scored the first goal while Man United's Rooney followed with an equaliser. Then came the second goal from the Barcelona's talismanic Messi and later a third goal from the Villa to wrap it up for the favourites.

From the previous track record of the two clubs, the reality of being a champion is further understood. With the past and recent successes of the two clubs and reaching the finals of this league of champions, they are really great clubs with ample character.

Yet the way in which Barcelona FC won the game leaves one with enough lessons in this game of life. Throughout the game, Barcelona showed coordination, character, strength and finesse. They were a side to behold as they were in control of the game, distributing passes with unmistakable accuracy

Well, every Champion must have haters, especially in the game of football, no matter how good the champion is. However, it is not as important to have haters as it is to be a champion.   Amidst the hostile London fans and the teeming Man United supporters, Barcelona walked tall, Barcelona won the match and Barcelona stole the show. This will surely endear Barcelona to the hearts of many football lovers and this continues to make the likes of Lionel Messi a mystery to be demystified.

To be a champion, build the foundation, get the coordination right and make the focus sharp. Becoming a champion is not magic, it’s called excellence; it’s not partiality, it’s reality. Anybody can be a champion. Are you willing to pay the price? Now, the choice is yours!

         WORDS OF THE GREAT MOTIVATOR.

1) If you can not make a First Class Honours, make a good grade and become a World Class Personality then you can even rule those with the First Class; but if you can have a First Class Honours and combine it with a World Class Personality, you will become a master of opportunities. It’s up to you, define your Class.

2) I do not look at the past to press on it or to judge myself but I look at the future to appraise myself and to fix it knowing that my consolidation of today determines what will be in my tomorrow.

3) Learn to ward off the wrong influence. Wrong influence fills your life with lies and doubts and offers you unworthy alternatives to the truth you believe. “Guard your heart with all diligence because out of it are the issues of life”

4) What you have now is not the only thing you can have. How you handle what you have now will determine what will be added unto you.

5) Live your life with a consciousness that stems from the fact that life can only be lived once. Oswald J. Smith said, “Lord, this one life of mine, let me live it for you.”

6) Passion involves pouring our lives like a libation on the altar of sacrifice. Only the sweet smelling savour of our lives can convict men for a permanent change in their lives.

7) One day begins a story; hence always think of new possibilities in each day of your life. If you can conquer SIN, FEAR and POVERTY, you will be a great man.

8) Never hide yourself in a crowd.

  

9) Pay attention to details because often times, the thing is not the thing; the thing behind the thing is the thing.

10) Arise; be on the watch, time is a precious commodity. Always invest it. Your ability to contend and overcome today means tomorrow will not be a problem.

Together, we'll fly to hieghts unlimited and by sheer determination, we shall break old records and set new ones. Once more friends, See you at the top!

JIDEOFO.

The Sun has just risen in full blast, streaming realities upon busy souls below. The road is stuffed with a traffic jam that gives the traffic warden a terrific job and some little concern for the day; hefty young men are seen in some obscure corners battling with a plate of Rice and Beans with a sizeable lump of meat to impress their ego. The day has just broken!

Ogwi! New Haven!.Ogwi! New Haven!...This is a common sight in the coal city, the Enugu State capital  in Nigeria on a normal busy day. The buses painted yellow and black clump together like soldier ants in a happy parade. Bike men are driving past in some deadly speed and many pedestrians are having a hard time finding their way through the traffic while lamenting poor remuneration.

Akpa! Akpa! Akpa…! This is the shout from the hasty mouth of Jideofo, a conductor attempting to mention Abakpa!Abakpa!Abakpa! with some maddening haste. He hangs at the door of the bus and beckons on passengers, battles briefly with a fat woman trying to occupy the position meant for two persons and then collects the fares with some humorous dexterity without minding whose ox is gored.

Well, in his mind, he is fulfilled. At most, when market booms highest, Jideofo goes home with about three thousand naira. He is exceedingly happy. He smiles broadly as the driver counts the money into his hands; some notes are torn following rough handling from some women selling Crayfish and Stock fish. He sighs, looks sarcastically at the money and utters, “When did I become a crayfish seller?” Then, he wipes the money in the air and carefully puts it into his back pocket. His face brightens as he thinks of the very prospects of the money in his pocket.

Few hours after, he is refreshed and cooling off with his girlfriend at Cool Joint. Jideofo spends the money in reckless abandon, impresses the girl thoroughly and smiles home, bankrupt; mesmerized by love.

Jideofo repeats the same thing over and over again and suddenly after many years, he finds out that he’s above 30 and marriage is knocking. He manages to corner a girl in one dark corner and does a shabby deal in less than 5 minutes and next few months, the girl is pregnant. He is quick to convince the girl for marriage since he cannot afford bride price. Somehow, he manages his way though, getting finally screwed up by life.

A lot of people are like Jideofo. They expect things to change and get rosy someday but they do nothing about the change they expect. Anything you are doing that you are not happy about, you are unduly over-worked and poorly remunerated is not worth your time. Whatever you do, do it with a great mindset. Keep the dream big but have an absolute action plan. Even if you are working for a small firm now, it’s only a matter of time. Dare to dream and pursue the dream!

The world gives way to those who know what they want and dare to demand it from life. You’ve got to work on your mind. Your mind is your most potent tool. As a man thinks in his heart, so he is. When you develop your mind, you develop your world because you cannot grow beyond the capacity of your mind. Remember, no one giant step does it all; success is made up of the small steps we take day by day.

Would you dare to be different? Take a step today.  That one step might make all the difference.

Stay on Top of your Game!

Chijindu. 

CHECKMATE!

It’s coming, its advancing

The Chariot and the Army

Of an impending adversary

Lurking in the Sanctuary

Of my life with fearful Armoury

How would I let a thing so dreary

Sap the strength of my life so merry?

Have you ever played Chess? Hmm…It’s one of my favourite games. It teaches a whole lot from the beginning of the game to the end. It’s a game of defence and attack, just like a war. The Pawns, Knights, Rooks, Bishops, Queen and then the King; with each movement, you try to kill the opponent’s pieces. One by one, stage by stage, the ones of lesser strength give way to those of stronger abilities

In reality, life is like a chessboard. You try to win while it tries to put the worst studs on your way. You try to succeed but it tries to read your next line of action and tries to haunt you down.

However, any good Chess player understands that the most important piece on a chess board is the king. To checkmate the king is to win the game. An expert chess player playing with an amateur can win the game in just three steps and the next thing is Checkmate!

As Christians, the most important person in our life is our King. The Bible says that Christ in us is our hope of glory. He is the King of our life but the enemy tries to sap us and milk us dry. The enemy battles for our king because his sole aim is to kill, to steal and to destroy what we have within us.

Hence, subtly, cunningly, he advances but you must watch, he’s aiming for your king. If you are not careful, the next few steps he takes, you are gone.

Yes, Sleeping around does not really matter,

Alcoholism does not really matter 

Smoking does not really matter,

Pornography does not really matter,

Backbiting does not really matter,

Envy and jealousy don’t really matter,

Yes, they all don’t matter, but the next moment the enemy makes them the main matters arising. Soon they all become the crux of our problem. Beware; a little fly can spoil the whole beautiful perfume. Don’t give the enemy a chance. A little leaven leavens up the whole lump. Be strong, lest what is lame is put out of joint.

Samson gave his lust a chance and gradually, one step after another, it ended his life. Judas gave his greed a chance and he did not live to tell the story. What wrong things are you giving a chance in your life?

It’s time to take your steps back and embrace Jesus before the enemy takes you on a bumpy ride that the only thing that will end it is CHECKMATE!

I’ve been thinking of you!

Yours in active service,

Chijindu.