Punch news headlines today

Group rejects Ondo ambassadorial nominee

Reps grill Adeosun, Udoma on forex crisis, rising inflation

Why LASG rejected transfer-seeking pupils

BBOG visits air force base in Adamawa

Theresa May to outline Brexit plans in key speech

Kebbi releases N5bn for pensioners' payment

European Parliament votes next president

Toyota to test hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in UAE

NASS flays FG intervention projects in Bakassi over poor
execution

Europeans contemplate free money for all as robots take
over jobs

Saudi declares emergency after mass food poisoning

Court rejects Jammeh's move to stop President-elect's
inauguration

NASS inspects N300m FG intervention projects in
Bakassi

Toyota Motor to begin testing of fuel cell vehicles

Boko Haram claims responsibility for University of
Maiduguri attack

Doing business in Nigeria takes guts ' Sijibomi Ogundele

Malaysian 2017 palm oil output to rise 12% ' Report

British American Tobacco buys out US firm Reynolds for
$49.4bn

Magboro light: Ibadan disco risks sanctions, says Rep

Lassa fever hits seven states, kills six

Please shelve strike, minister begs university workers

Van Gaal quits football

The world has failed children ' UN

Eugene Cernan, last man to walk on moon dies at 82

Dealing with Nigeria's worst enemies

Why you don't have to exercise every day

Medical school dropout bags 1st Class in UNILAG

Soyinka's comment on religion unfair, unkind, say CAN,
JNI

I can't see you in chambers, judge tells Fani-Kayode's
lawyer

We flew 6,773 hours in 2016 fighting Boko Haram ' NAF

No plan to punish protesting students ' Oyo govt

JTF kills suspects escaping with sack of guns

Osinbajo in N'Delta, says region long neglected

How Justice Ademola's son collected N8.5m car from
SAN ' Witness

IMF predicts 0.8% growth for Nigeria's economy

Professor, two others die in UNIMAID suicide bombing

Underfunding stifling Nigerian varsities

UNILAG alumni commend Ambode on youth development

Two prisoners, 5,973 others bag NOUN degree

Grant more private varsities licences, Ali tells FG

30 students of Crescent University get scholarships

Rerun: Court declines Wike's application to stop police
probe

Community pickets Indorama

Ize-Iyamu, Edo PDP tender evidence at tribunal

I stand by my design, says Uyo church architect

Dickson canvasses peace

Fayose installs new king for Fayemi's town

Separating criminality from Niger Delta agitation

External reserves rise by $1bn in two wee

The Secret Place II – A Principle.

_He that dwelleth in the SECRET PLACE of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. *Psalms 91:1*_

This is a great day for you, this day God would look upon you to do you good for he is absolute good.

In this week’s edition, we would proceed by a detour to our destination ‘The Secret Place’. This week’s post is dedicated to bringing to our awareness the need to live by principles and how God is the respecter of principled people.

_What is Principle? How does Principles connect with the secret place?_

*A principle is a law or rule that has to be, or usually is to be followed, or can be desirably followed, or is an inevitable consequence of something* – Wikipedia.

*A fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behaviour or for a chain of reasoning* – Oxford dictionary.

*A basic idea or rule that explains or controls how something happens or works* – Cambridge dictionary.

One word stands out in the above definitions – ‘rule’. Principle is a rule that must be followed, it builds the foundation for all reasoning and actions. Principles forms the basic foundation for our actions and beliefs. Principles are the only type of subject which correspond to "truth" in any meaningful way.

Unlike facts and procedures and concepts which can either be learned or invented and which are only limited to a particular group. Principle produce the same result for everyone irrespective of your race, gender, beliefs, location or qualifications. One important attribute of principle is that it is universally relevant.

Dwelling in the secret place is a principle – a fundamental truth that’s active, producing results world over. It doesn't matter who or how you chose to use the principle, it works for all. It is God’s utmost desire for His sons to take advantage of the principle of dwelling in the secret place. Since the following of principle would produce results for anybody who would only follow, the world are most beneficiaries of the principle because they had done wisely: “for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light” - Luke 16:8

Have you ever wondered why witches, wizards, sorcerers, the occult and workers if wickedness are called principalities and powers? Have you ever wondered why all the activities of the aforementioned are always in the secret? Have you ever wondered what authority awaits all who would only go into the secrets to war? Witches, wizards and the occult would meet in the secret but cause lots of havoc in the physical. It only a handful of believers that understands this principles are commanding results.

Anyone who is taken to following principles in his/her given sphere becomes a principality in that sphere.

It is generally acceptable that a metal or steel becomes magnetic when it spends much time with a magnet. The longer you dwell in the presence of God, the more like God you’d become – the more of His essence would be rubbed on you, the more your god nature would be given ascendance [Psa. 82:6], the more your reach and influence would grow.

Anyone who desires the fulfilment of Genesis chapter one verse twenty eight mandate must be a principled man/woman in the secret place, if you are one, you must embrace the principle of waiting, this is where you mount up strengths to run your race to the finish.

The secret place works for both the godly and the satanic. Our failure came only because we had forgotten and ignored our ideals and principles. The point we gave up following the principle of dwelling and spending time with the Father was the point our downward plunge as a church began. We became a people that valued rights and privileges above principles and responsibility – our rights and privileges keeps evading us.

This is a call to take back control of your given sphere of influence by following the principle of dwelling in the secret place of God fervently and vigorously. The secret place is a principle, it worked for generals of old, it is working for our contemporary generals, it would work for you. It is not enough to become aware that secret place dwelling is a principle, it must a form a major part of your daily rituals.

Love
AE Paul.

WORD BANQUET INT'L(WOBIC) 17TH JANUARY TUE 2017 TODAY'S PRAYER

      DEAR ULTIMATE FATHER, I Thank You for giving me the heart to believe You daily, teaching me that with faith alone I'm pleasing You(Heb11:6).

I pray that my heart will long after You; giving me a broken heart and seeking You undoubtedly(Matt6:32).

Today, I'm walking in the atmosphere of peace, glory and sound mind which is my birth right(Jh10:10)! My heart beats for You undividedly.

Amen

Sunday message by Gana Daniel aka Thepasserby-Why You Should Meditate On God's Words.

Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Meditation as an act of deep thinking about something has been an age long tradition and secret to success. Just like every other exercise carried out by the body, there are benefits attached to meditating on the words of God. The words of God is true and stands the test of time and the only way to unlock the blessings attached to these words is to strictly meditate and obey them.

Here are the benefits attached to meditation on God's words.

1. God will be felt (Mat 17:1-6, Jer 29:13)
When you meditate on God's words, HE takes out time to commune with you. HIS presence is felt each time we meditate diligently on HIS words. All men who have felt the presence of God, meditated on HIS words. God's presence is not far from HIS words.

2. God will reveal HIS actions to us
"Then the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?" (Gen 18:17)

3. You labor less (Acts 13:2)
Meditation on the words of God gives you a direction and it helps you to labor less.

4. It increases your strength (Isaiah 40:30-31)

Tools needed for a life of meditation
1. A thirst and hunger for GOD (Psalm 42:1-2, 119:9,11)

2. Fervent prayers (Luke 6:12)

3. Study of the word (Joshua 1:8-9)

REMEMBER: JESUS LOVES YOU

MMM Nigeria returns, promises to pay the poor before the rich

The Ponzi scheme, which froze participants’ accounts for a
month, was scheduled to return on January 14, 2017, but
returned at about 11 am on January 13, 2017.

In a statement announcing its return, MMM said it was setting
a limit on daily withdrawals, in order to control panic
withdrawals.

“The holidays are over, and we’re now open. Just as
promised. (You might have already noticed that we always
stick to our promises),” Sergey Mavrodi, MMM founder, said
via the statement.

“Actually, we promised to be open on January 14, but we’re
open now, January 13, as you can see, which is a day earlier.
(Well, I hope, the members of the System will forgive us for
that).

“It’s related to the hysteria raised by the authorities and the
mass media around MMM. By joining forces, they’ve
managed to nearly give the members of the System a heart
attack and have frightened them out of their wits.

“Poor souls don’t know what to expect. Will we open again or
not? This is why we’ve decided, considering the situation, to
reach out to the members, reassure and cheer them up by
opening a little earlier.”

Citing panic withdrawals as a reason, MMM Nigeria said
payments would take a few days. It called on the media to
“leave the scheme alone”.

“As of this notice, MMM resumes its usual operation. You can
now create your GH-requests. However, it’s obvious that
panic will reign in the first few days after the re-opening of
the System. We’re likely to be deluged by GH-requests.

“Therefore, we’re going to make gradual paybacks by setting
internal output limits. In other words, we will only pay a
certain amount per day. Please, be prepared to wait for a
couple of days. We are certain things will then calm down,
and the System operation will return to normal.

“We’re the ones setting the limits, so it’s completely under
our control, and we are not expecting any emergencies in
principle. Have no fear and go on about your business as
usual.

“As the System is socially oriented, we will make paybacks to
the poor and the economically disadvantaged in the first
place: it means to the members with small PH amounts.

“The richer can wait. Moreover, we’ve warned you repeatedly
to only provide help with amounts that are not critical for you.

Therefore, if these large amounts are not critical for them (the
richer), they can wait a few days. No need to be tragic about
it.

“This is the way it’s going to be. I’d like again to call on the
authorities and the mass media: Please, leave us alone! Have
mercy on people.”

Source - Thecable

I've seen parties organised just to celebrate the return of MMM ( lol)

Don't understand why everyone is backing out : It's All Over: 'Dreamgirls' star Holliday backs out of Trump inauguration performance

Broadway star Jennifer Holliday is telling
President-elect Donald Trump she's not going -- to his
inauguration.

A publicist for the the "Dreamgirls" diva said in a
statement Saturday that Holliday, who was slated to sing
at an inaugural event on Thursday, changed her tune
after the inauguration committee pre-emptively
announced her appearance before she decided to
perform. The statement also cited outcry from fans and
people in the LGBT community who expressed
disappointment at her participation.

"It was presented to her as a concert that would heal the
wounds of the election season. She was asked to
perform 'Hard Times Come No More,' originally recorded
by Bob Dylan. The inaugural committee released the
information before she officially made a decision,"
Holliday's publicist, Bill Carpenter, said in a statement.

"Her rep also says that upon the (announcement),
Holliday started getting letters from fans that they were
disappointed. The LGBTQ community, amongst others,
were some that were most upset. In the past, her rep Bill
Carpenter explains that she performed for Pres. Reagan,
George W. Bush, George H. W. Bush, and (Bill) Clinton,
but when Jennifer saw the outcry, she pulled out of the
inauguration."

A message left with Boris Epshteyn, the director of
communications for Trump's inaugural committee, was
not returned Saturday afternoon.

The Wrap first reported Holliday's decision to pull out of
the performance and published a letter penned by her and
addressed to her fans.

"In light of the information pointed out to me via the
Daily Beast article on yesterday, my only choice must
now be to stand with the LGBT Community and to state
unequivocally that I WILL NOT PERFORM FOR THE
WELCOME CONCERT OR FOR ANY OF THE
INAUGURATION FESTIVITIES!" Holliday writes in the
letter.

Last month, sources told CNN the transition team was
struggling to book big names for inauguration. At the
time, Epshteyn acknowledged to CNN the lack of A-
listers appearing at the ceremony.6

"This is not Woodstock," Epshteyn said. "It's not summer
jam. It's not a concert."

The committee has since booked some high-profile
groups, including Toby Keith, The Rockettes, The Mormon
Tabernacle Choir and Jackie Evancho, to preform for the
inaugural ceremonies.

CNN 

Just wanna inspire someone on this Sunday morning

A a man was passing by some elephants, he suddenly stopped,
confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by
only a small rope tied to their front leg.

No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not.

He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood
there and made no attempt to get away.

“Well,” trainer said, “When they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away.

They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break
free.”

The man was amazed. These animals could at any time break free
from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they
were stuck right where they were.

Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a
belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it
once before?

Failure is part of learning; we should never give up the struggle.

Why not leave that comfort zone of yours and get your hands on something new.

It doesn't matter how long you've prayed, fasted and waited, just know that in no time and in God's time, you will begin to see dividends.

With this, I will like to end with this chat between a man and God.
A man walked to the top of a hill to talk to God.

The man asked, “God, what’s a million years to you?” and God
said, “A minute.”

Then the man asked, “Well, what’s a million dollars to you?” and
God said, “A penny.”

Then the man asked, “God…..can I have a penny?” and God said,
“Sure…..in a minute.”

And I rest my case.

#OneLove