PEOPLE MAKE PEOPLE SIN

I believe that people make people sin. Some acts are sinful and unintentional and are response actions. Sometimes people act before thinking.  Just because you want instant revenge, retaliation, we SHUT our conscience and do the wrong things. Because the guy left you for another, you set him or the new girl up; just because she slapped you, you were awake all night planning a wonderful revenge that turned out to be a drastic action. While you are busy planning and fuming with anger, the fellow you are planning against is probably having fun and doesn’t know. So he/she stole from you? Are you not living and all your basic needs provided for? It is said that it is not only through our actions we commit sin but through our thoughts.

 You go out and see a chic wearing a mini dress or see an endowed babe wearing a bikini and you start having lustful thoughts, it is wrong. But he couldn’t help it because he is not blind, he looked and admired and the thought crossed his mind and it became a sin. Remember this commandment: “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife.” But she tempted the man, trouble came to him. It takes a lot to clear your thoughts and make it clean, but that is exactly what you need to do, CONTROL YOUR THOUGHTS.

Control your thoughts!

Letting hurts go is the best gift you can give yourself because it makes you burden free. Why carry so much weight in your heart, your heart is primarily to pump blood, why use it as a waste air bag? YES! Waste air bag, it is like putting air in a balloon, the more air you blow into it, the more it expands till it blows up and there is no remedy. That is where all the bitterness comes from. It is draining and saddening. It is good to breathe and let it all out. It is written in the bible, Luke 6:29, Matthew 5:39, that revenge is for GOD and you have to be patient, might not happen while you are alive but will happen somehow. BUT we know all these and really wish to retaliate, we want the now action not the later one. We want to win and have the last laugh and not feel oppressed or have bruised ego.

Just leave it and don’t listen to the saying that “REVENGE IS BEST SERVED COLD”. It’s best to LET GO.

IF A MAN WANTS YOU

IF A MAN WANTS YOU

If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away.  
If he doesn't want you, nothing can make him stay.  
Stop making excuses for a man and his behavior.
Allow your intuition (or spirit) to save you from heartache.  
Stop trying to change yourselves for a relationship that's not meant to be.  
Slower is better.  
Never live your life for a man before you find what makes you truly happy.  
If a relationship ends because the man was not treating you as you deserve then heck no, you can't 'be friends.' A friend wouldn't mistreat a friend.  
Don't settle. If you feel like he is stringing you along, then he probably is.  
Don't stay because you think 'it will get better.' You'll be mad at yourself a year later for staying when things are not better.  
The only person you can control in a relationship is you.  
Avoid men who've got a bunch of children by a bunch of different women.  
He didn't marry them when he got them pregnant,  
Why would he treat you any differently?  
Always have your own set of friends separate from his.  
Maintain boundaries in how a guy treats you.  
If something bothers you, speak up.  
Never let a man know everything. He will use it against you later.  
You cannot change a man's behavior. Change comes from within.  
Don't EVER make him feel he is more important than you are...even if he has more education or in a better job. Do not make him into a quasi-god.  
He is a man, nothing more nothing less.  
Never let a man define who you are.  
Never borrow someone else's man.  
Oh Lord!? If he cheated with you, he'll cheat on you.  
A man will only treat you the way you ALLOW him to treat you.  
All men are NOT dogs.
You should not be the one doing all the bending...compromise is a two-way street.
You need time to heal between relationships................there is nothing cute about baggage... deal with your issues before pursuing a new relationship.
You should never look for someone to COMPLETE you...a relationship consists of two WHOLE individuals...look for someone complimentary...not supplementary.  
Dating is fun...even if he doesn't turn out to be Mr. Right.  
Make him miss you sometimes...when a man always know where you are, and your always readily available to him- he takes it for granted.  
Don't fully commit to a man who doesn't give you everything that you need.  
Keep him in your radar but get to know others.  
Share this with other ladies..... You'll make someone SMILE, another RETHINK her choice and another woman PREPARE.  
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them and an entire lifetime to forget them.  
 
BY THE WAY, THIS WAS WRITTEN BY A MAN, SO TAKE A HINT..............

ANONYMOUS 

CHOLESTEROL Part 2

What causes high cholesterol? 

• Nutrition - although some foods contain cholesterol, such as eggs yolks, kidneys, dietary cholesterol does not have much of an impact in human blood cholesterol levels. However, saturated fats do! Foods high in saturated fats include red meat, organ meats (liver, kidney, sweetbread, and brain), liver, kidney, some pies, sausages, pastry, cakes, most biscuits, dairy products.

• Sedentary lifestyle - people who do not exercise and spend most of their time sitting/lying down have significantly higher levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) and lower levels of HDL (good cholesterol). 

• Bodyweight - people who are overweight/obese are much more likely to have higher LDL levels and lower HDL levels, compared to people who are of normal weight. 

• Smoking - this can have quite a considerable effect on LDL levels. 

• Alcohol - People who consume too much alcohol mostly beer regularly, generally have much higher levels of LDL and much lower levels of HDL, compared to people who abstain or those who drink in moderation. 

Fat content is not a good measure of cholesterol content. For example, liver and other organ meats are low in fat, but very high in cholesterol.

What are the treatments for high cholesterol? 

Most people, especially those whose only risk factor has been lifestyle, can generally get their cholesterol and triglyceride levels back to normal by: 

• Doing plenty of exercise (check with your doctor).

• Foods of plant origin (vegetables, fruits, grains, cereals, nuts, and seeds) contain no cholesterol.

• Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, oats, good quality fats, nuts, beans, dark chocolate.

• Avoiding foods with saturated fats.

• Getting plenty of sleep (8 hours each night).

• Bringing your bodyweight back to normal.

• Avoiding alcohol if at all, then red wine.

• Stopping smoking.

Many experts say that people who are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease will not lower their risk just by altering their diet. Nevertheless, a healthy diet will have numerous health benefits.

High Risk Groups who need to limit or eliminate Cholesterol Consumption

• Individuals with a family history of high cholesterol - Regulation of cholesterol blood levels are hereditary and it is advisable to find out if relatives have high cholesterol levels. 

• Older Adults - Cholesterol levels rise with age, particularly in post-menopausal women. 

• Over weight Individuals - Being over-weight increases risk of heart-disease and tends to correlate with high cholesterol levels.

• People with Low Physical Activity Levels - Exercise is an effective way to lower bad cholesterol levels (LDLs) and raise good cholesterol levels (HDLs). People who are not physically active are at risk for high cholesterol levels.

• Individuals with high blood pressure - High blood pressure in combination with high cholesterol levels greatly increases the risk of heart disease and heart attacks.

• Smokers - Individuals who smoke cigarettes have a higher risk of heart disease and should avoid high cholesterol foods.

Thanks for reading. Please leave a comment.

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH YOUR CHOLESTEROL LEVEL

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH YOUR CHOLESTEROL LEVEL

Cholesterol is a fat (lipid) which is produced by the liver and is crucial for normal body functioning. It is a soft, waxy substance found in all parts of the body. Your body makes some cholesterol, and some cholesterol comes from the food you eat. Cholesterol is needed for the body to function properly. But too much cholesterol can clog your arteries and lead to heart disease. There are two main types of fat – saturated and unsaturated. Eating foods that are high in saturated fat can raise cholesterol levels in the blood.

Cholesterol helps the body produce hormones (cortisol, corticosterone, aldosterone, androgens, estrogens and others), bile acid, and vitamin D. Cholesterol moves through the bloodstream to be used by all parts of the body. It also insulates nerve fibers.

The amount of cholesterol in human blood can vary from 3.6 mmol/liter to 7.8 mmol/liter.
Below is a list of cholesterol levels and how most doctors would categorize them in mg/dl (milligrams/deciliter) and 5mmol/liter (millimoles/liter).

 Desirable - Less than 200 mg/dL
 Bordeline high - 200 to 239 mg/dL
 High - 240 mg/dL and above

• Optimum level: less than 5mmol/liter
• Mildly high cholesterol level: between 5 to 6.4mmol/liter
• Moderately high cholesterol level: between 6.5 to 7.8mmol/liter
• Very high cholesterol level: above 7.8mmol/liter

High cholesterol levels can cause:
o Atherosclerosis - narrowing of the arteries.
o Higher coronary heart disease risk - an abnormality of the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart.
o Heart attack - occurs when the supply of blood and oxygen to an area of heart muscle is blocked, usually by a clot in a coronary artery. This causes your heart muscle to die.
o Angina - chest pain or discomfort that occurs when your heart muscle does not get enough blood.
o Other cardiovascular conditions - diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
o Stroke and mini-stroke - occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or vein, interrupting the flow to an area of the brain. Can also occur when a blood vessel breaks. Brain cells begin to die.

Symptoms of high cholesterol do not exist alone in a way a patient or doctor can identify by touch or sight. Symptoms of high cholesterol are revealed if you have the symptoms of atherosclerosis, a common consequence of having high cholesterol levels. These can include:
• Narrowed coronary arteries in the heart (angina).
• Leg pain when exercising - this is because the arteries that supply the legs have narrowed.
• Blood clots and ruptured blood vessels - these can cause a stroke or TIA (mini-stroke).
• Ruptured plaques - this can lead to coronary thrombosis (a clot forming in one of the arteries that delivers blood to the heart). If this causes significant damage to heart muscle it could cause heart failure.
• Xanthomas - thick yellow patches on the skin, especially around the eyes. They are, in fact, deposits of cholesterol. This is commonly seen among people who have inherited high cholesterol susceptibility (familial or inherited hypercholesterolaemia).

How is high cholesterol diagnosed? 
Cholesterol levels may be measured by means of a simple blood test. It is important not to eat anything for at least 12 hours before the blood sample is taken. The blood sample can be obtained with a syringe, or just by pricking the patient's finger.
The blood sample will be tested for LDL (bad cholesterol) and HDL (good cholesterol) levels, as well as blood triglyceride levels. The units are measure in mg/dl (milligrams/deciliter) or 5mmol/liter (millimoles/liter).

People who have risk factors should consider having their cholesterol levels checked. Men have a greater chance of having high blood cholesterol levels than women.

Causes and remedies to be continued. GO and check your cholesterol level, it is so important. IT IS ALWAYS BEST TO KNOW. Yes i have done mine, glad i did.

LIFE AS WE KNOW IT

WHAT CAN YOU EXACTLY SAY ABOUT LIFE?
It serves you love for breakfast(young and dependent)
Trash for lunch(adult and independent) and
For dinner(aged), gives you pain.
Life can be incredible and painful at the same time; a bumpy road,
Hope and Motivation is what keeps you going,
Depression is what kills you faster,
Love is what makes you happy especially when it is reciprocated,
Almighty God keeps you alive cause HE uplifts your Mind and Soul that is if you let HIM.
Nothing is easy and nothing is also difficult,
Remember being blessed by Almighty God is better than being lucky.

PEACE!

THE DAY I SAW THE SUN by EKENE UMEIKE

The Day I Saw the Sun

For a long time I have wondered how any human being could take time to watch the sun. Rising or setting it has never made a difference. What’s the big deal? After all it’s always there, usually managing to cause me great discomfort. But … but today I saw the sun.

I was walking casually back from lectures when suddenly I looked up and there it was – the sun. Probably for the first time I could see its beauty and magnificence radiating majestically. As if spellbound and probably looking a little crazy, I walked with my eyes fixed, gazing upwards at the rather robust and orange looking sun as it disappeared into the horizon to make way for the moon.

My only regret was that I did not have a camera to record what I had seen. Then, I remembered and smiled because I realized that the sun would most definitely return the next day.

It is sad, that though the everyday of my life the sun had been there, I had never actually seen it until now. For each day that I have left, I will make the effort to appreciate the beauty not only of the sun, but even the weeds, water, sand and all the little things around that are always taken for granted.

Ekene Umeike

31st August 2004

BOKO HARAM!

BOKO HARAM!

Everyone is condemning their recent attack calling it barbaric and animalistic, to mention a few. Yesterday President GEJ, Senate President David Mark and others told us (public) how disheartened they are by the act. They fail to realize that Boko Haram is the “robot” they created that turned against human race.

This deceit should be STOPPED by our leaders. Canada and other countries are against this act and want those responsible found and brought to justice, we have heard this storyline before as they will never be found. They know who is behind this rebellious sect and can take proper actions against them but won’t. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was said to have visited their (boko haram) headquarters, where they said they could have killed him if they wanted to, they have a base and some government officials know where it is.

The act is truly sad but it is a lesson that we shouldn’t depend on our government for security. For some years now, multinational oil and gas companies have bomb detectors to check every vehicle at point of entry. The first “letter bomb” in Nigeria was delivered to a journalist, meaning media houses should ensure the safety of their staff is of paramount importance as the job is very risky.

At the just concluded SOUTH SOUTH SUMMIT, we need not ask how well secured the venue was because we are all aware the government usually safeguards themselves and foreigners than its citizens. Recently, the first lady, Mrs Dame Patience Jonathan, visited Lagos, for security measures, they used armored vans to block the roads. There was no movement for hours; I particularly pitied those who were heading to hospitals and seriously in need of medical attention. Does our government even think in this regard?

When can we finally trust our government? 

Anonymous.

THE FAMOUS QUESTION: WHEN IS YOUR WEDDING?

I was chatting with an old school mate of mine recently, told her my brother is married and the FAMOUS QUESTION was asked; “WHEN IS YOURS?”

This is a question asked after graduating from the University by anyone and anywhere. When some family friends come to the house they ask the same question and when you tell them you don’t know, they won’t even ask if you are dating anyone, the next thing you know they start praying for you. Oh YES! PRAYERS. “Ti e na ma de”, “a maa se ti e o!” (Yours will come, we will do yours). Then they also start preaching “You know you are not getting younger…..” They forget that no one can marry oneself. I am also guilty of this as I have asked friends; it is funny because am also not married.

I wonder why they don’t ask “Are you happy?”, “What are your future plans?” or “How is life with you?” I don’t know why we do it but I know it has to stop. SERIOUSLY. If one is getting married, its joyful news so it will be announced, so no need asking. The question is like a constant reminder that marriage is a necessity and takes place just right after graduation from the university (especially for ladies).

I guess this is one reason a lot of ladies are desperately getting married just after University. There is no reward given for getting married at any age. Some ladies marry before knowing the man and some have not helped themselves to be independent so they depend on the men a lot, he is their backbone.

Marriage is an institution; you need to be prepared before you enter it. It is a LIFETIME INSTITUTION, there is NO graduation only matriculation which is the wedding ceremony. Do not feel pressured or try to pressure anyone to get married. Everyone has different destiny and not everyone’s is to get married. Have an impact in the lives around you and make the most out of life. Live to the fullest and try to be as independent as much as you can be. Marry for the right reasons not the wrong ones.

Please and please, if you are among those that ask the famous question, endeavor to STOP. It is really not a nice question and it is EMBARASSING!