Whispers in the Desert Wind

PREVIOUS MUSINGS....

2012-01-27T09:35:00.002+01:00

Some musings of mine.....in times past (forgot to put 'em up)

JUST WONDERING ....(July 25th, 2011)

You don't have a champion that has not been challenged.

It's overcoming the challenge that brings out the champion in you.

It is said that it's the hot water that brings out the content of the tea bag.

Honestly, it's smart to get up, dust yourself and move on after you've been knocked to the ground

But how much knockin's can one take?

Is it that life delibrately hits leaders harder than others.

Just wonderin'..........

How soon will the day break again?

When will the tide turn....to what its supposed to be?

Just wonderin.........

Just Wonderin....

MAY DAY!!!! (April 9th , 2011)

The reopened wounds of my childhood

The anguish of the absence of fatherhood

Casting a brood upon my moods

Makin me feel like i’m lost in the woods

Thought dat after these years i had healed

Now ‘tis like those years of need

When i longed for someone to lead & trim my weeds

Come around once again a’ hauntin my noble deeds

Behind the polished exterior of a gentleman

Lies the wishes of a lad whose Pa didn’t give the plan

I hurt & sometimes glisten my face with the tears

But since He’s there, i’ll let go of the fear.

30 Random Things about This Dude..... (June 22nd, 2010)

In the spirit of continuity, kindly put up ur own version of this write up if u've ben tagged.

1. I am so special to God, the name He gave me and the one my parents gave me are the same! (Jedidiah & Oluwafemi) NOTE: My parents were not close to God when they had me.

2. As a result of 1- above - I love God so much....a times, i just blank out everything/everyone around me to be alone with Him...

3. My nickname - APEX was given to me in 1992 by a friend and it was derived from my last name APESIN and it fully describes how far i'll get in life - (ministry, marriage, career & purpose)

4. I had a crush on my Pry. 1 teacher Mrs. Ladejobi in UNILAG staff school - (please don't trip, i am being real & don't ask how old i was) - I loved her so much i passed my exams very well cos i didn't want her to be angry

5. The comments on my Pry. 1 report card read - He's a BRIGHT, CONFIDENT, LITTLE CHATTER-BOX, so if i u wonder why i talk...sry...its bn a long time comin.

6. People say i am an alpha - male with a strong personality, what they don;t know is whenever i worship God deeply, i cry pints of tears and when it comes to people i love, i can be really, really soft & mushy..y'know. lol (THE STRONGER A MAN BECOMES, THE MORE GENTLE HE CAN AFFORD TO BE)

7. I am a voracious reader, i have a way with words and someday i hope to be doing what Frank Edoho's doing on WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE. (I guess i love the spotlight - well a part of me)

8. Once upon a time, 80% of the ladies i dated were older than me ( Haba, Pastor Femi.....well, i wasn't born again from mama's womb nevertheless...look up 2 Cor 5:17)

9. My prayer for the family God will bless me with is that we will be described as - "and they lived happily ever after"

10. If i was in the US, I would have been a US Marine or a Navy SEAL.

11. I find fulfillment in helping people discover their uniqueness & the greatness that lies within them.

12. I am very handy in the kitchen, hey Miss, lookout for numerous breakfast(s)-in -bed when we eventually hook up for good.

13. I have a tendency to spoil my wife...I guess i will, afterall she's my wifey (y'know, fragranced bubble baths, hide an expensive diamond in a her favorite pie i bake, dote on her,luv, luv & luv her)

14. Something about me scares me - THERE'S NOBODY/NOTHING I CANNOT DO WITHOUT (apart from God of course) if you think u can hold me to ransom cos u gat me locked down, ur mistaken

15. I detest nagging , people who nag tick me off big time.

16. I used to have a thing for very fair ladies...

17. I love managing people - based projects , look out for me in the near future - APEX, the foremost project manager in Africa.

18. I love writing, infact, capturing memorable events/happenings by chronicling them. I have all the relevant prophecies, divine instructions, action plans from 2004 till date. Phew.

19. I have a good voice, just that God has not permitted me to do music, years ago, i used to to do Hip Hop & Rap, but i had to give it up. (MC PINTU - PINTU)

20. I love adventure a lot....I hope to sky dive and also buy a power bike someday.

21. I'd love to have a getaway condomium somewhere in the Bahamas or Barbados.

22. If i could turn back the hands of time i wouldn't have studied Biochemistry, i won't have even been in the Science dept....

23. Deep down within me, i feel i might end up in ministry even though i love entrepreneurship and i long to be the CEO of a multinational someday

24. My dream ride is a custom - made BMW... BMW - APEX...(Inbox me if ur interested in the details of the model)

25. I know what i want out life and i always go for it.

26. It sounds odd, but i don't have best friends, i guess that's just me, (20 kids can't play for 20 years)

27. In addition to (26) above, when i meet people, i try to locate why they are in my life for that season and i simply fufill the purpose with them.

28. When i consider the magnitude of what God has called me to do, atimes in my closet, i sigh & cry. Then i pray, receive strength from Him...then step into the public to deliver.

29. Ladies with a chip on their shoulders (all in the name of appearing polished) tick me off.I simply appreciate ladies who are real......

30. I am a focused young man, my motto is "Live & let live, and in all things, put God first" !

GOD PASS DEM.

2011-12-25T15:06:00.005+01:00

Knock, Knock....

Checking in again....

Alright, It's Xmas day and I'm chilling at home with a can of Pepsi and fried turkey.

Had church online : www.cozanigeria.tv. The service was brief but on point.

Well been a while peeps since I last put stuff on this wall and a lotta things have happened.

I guess one of my resolutions in 2012 will be regular blogging.

GOD PASS DEM!

It's funny how people tend to pay lip service to glaring issues in life....

I've been working in a place for close to 21 months now and I have witnessed how painfully short - sighted people can be.

I came into the system at a time when the firm was in disarray - animosity, pettiness, sharp practices etc. were the order of the day.

Like a knight in shining armour, I led a crusade of Hard Work, Professionalism, Transparency.

Coincidentally, my HOD who had served for 18 years stepped out. (retiring honourably)

I was next on line, she (HOD) had trained me well and after a lotta dilly dallying, the management directed me to step into her position as acting HOD.

A lotta beef resulted from my "promotion". But trust your boy.. I held my own, I confronted when I had to, laid low when necessary, more importantly, divine grace was at work for me.

But what pissed/pisses me off more are the "so called plans" the management say they have in store for me.....

It's been 5 months and despite the "acting allowance" they mercifully bestowed on me, my take home is still less than one - third of what my predecessor used to earn (they don't know I'm privy to this info)

In fairness to the management, they put some things in place for me - once a month supply of beverages - Milk, Tea etc - , Increase of my monthly phone airtime allocation from 1500 to 3500 or so.( ridiculous right? lol)

Dem try abi? But considering the fact that a car is attached to that position alongside some major perks - which they haven't deemed me fit to enjoy....

Well I ain't complaining, just saying 'cos I am young, that don't mean you should pay lip service to the benefits I am entitled to"

Coupled with the fact that I have been instrumental to the restoration of some values in the firm as a whole viz. professionalism, honesty, diligence, team work etc, I honestly feel I should be appreciated more than what is being done and if you ain't gonna appreciate me via my remuneration....For Chrissakes, DON'T PATRONIZE ME VIA LIP - SERVICE.

But guess what? After praying about the situation and reporting them (management) to God.

The Most High told me to stay focused, keep on keeping on and expect my reward from Him not them (management).

Guess what? I'm about to shock them BIG TIME!

All in All.....GOD PASS THEM

Stay tuned to the jaw dropping testimony......

Been a while

2011-09-19T16:37:00.002+01:00

Alrite,

It's been a while since I put pen to paper.

But seeing a friend of mine put up her blog spot and commit herself to it, is kinda inspiring/challenging me to resume writing.

Last time i put up something was in January 2010, Between then and now, a lot has happened.

Keep in touch.. I sure will fill you in .

I get the point...Lord

2010-01-07T15:33:00.002+01:00

The Prayer - Have your way Lord may sound religious or good,

But when God is really having His way, it could be painful.

Especially when He is "circumcising" your heart, your life and attitudes.

Circumcision involves, cutting off, removing e.t.c.

In natural terms, it is NOT a pleasant experience...it involves a great deal of blood, tears, pain and endurance.

When i prayed sometime ago - Lord , have your way, i didn't know i was setting myself up for a "massive attitudinal circumcision".

I took some privileges for granted, i strutted like a prize bull with a chip on my shoulder, forgetting that God resists the proud...

Well this process has lasted for months and i can confidently say that:

I get the point...Lord

IDEAS RULE THE WORLD

2009-08-26T11:52:00.000+01:00

From the time of the great philosopher Plato until now, Ideas have proven invaluable to humanity and the progress of the quality of life. According to The Merriam Webster dictionary ”an idea is a formulated thought or opinion”

The importance of ideas cannot be overemphasized. Every notable invention started with an idea, the best books written, the best musical pieces composed, the most effective movements and revolutions, the best speeches given can all be traced to an idea. A man’s greatest asset is his mind; therefore refusing to develop one’s mind is absolute disservice to one’s destiny because when you sow an idea or thought which develops in your mind, you reap an action, when you sow an action you reap a character, when you sow a character you reap a destiny.

Nelson Mandela had an idea which later became an ideal which he lived and was ready to die for. It was the actualization of a democratic and freely elected government. Though the idea suffered massive opposition, it initiated the birth of an apartheid – free South Africa. The idea Nelson Mandela believed in and fought for has not only liberated South Africa from oppression but also conferred on him a status that very few attain in history. He is unarguably one of the most respected personalities ever and this can be traced to a major source; the idea of a free and democratic South Africa.

Orville and Wilbur Wright, the two brothers credited with the feat of inventing and building the first ever airplane described their experience with a toy they had children as the initial spark that created their interest in flying. This spark can be referred to as ‘an idea’. The brothers nurtured this spark and the whole world is grateful to them for the aeroplane.

The statue of David in Florence, Italy is an example of the far reaching effects of ideas, the legendry sculptor, Michelangelo Buonarroti had a block of marble standing over seventeen feet high in his studio for close to twenty – five years. However, when a committee of artists of the ancient city of Florence commissioned the sculpting of this statue, the idea came into Michelangelo’s mind. While looking at an almost abandoned piece of marble, he saw with his mind the finished statue of David. This statue is the most popular of all the sculptures he worked on during his brief life, truly a statue of global recognition.

It is worthy to note however that a lot of people treat ideas with levity, they scorn inspirations and thoughts that if valued could generate millions monetarily. Many people fail to understand that money, people, power and generations answer to men who think up and cultivate ideas.

In conclusion, the popular “spark of genius” or “waoh effect” that a lot of organizations nations and institutions seek is simply a great idea that any disciplined mind can generate. How I wish that my active, fast – paced, impatient, present day Nigerian youth would slow down, be still and stir up some stupendous world – changing ideas after the order of Philip Emegweali the father of the internet.

Wetin b ur Nomba? (What is your Number)

2009-08-22T11:59:00.002+01:00

I was returning from Ilesha where I had gone to give moral and spiritual support to 2 friends who had lost their father.

We journeyed down the Ibadan – Ife Highway and along the high way we came across nothing less than 4 checkpoints manned by mobile policemen “armed to the teeth”.

Some of these checkpoints are legal while some aren’t, legal in the sense that they serve the purpose of monitoring the speed of motorists and also stopping and searching suspicious vehicles / drivers for smuggled/ banned goods.

The illegal points however are simply “unauthorized extortion posts” for shameless policemen who have gotten their priorities WRONG.

Well we journeyed further, got to Ibadan and accessed the Lagos – Ibadan Highway and surprisingly, there were no illegal checkpoints along that road. I thought inside me “maybe there’s hope after all”

My positivity was short lived because, alas, we arrived Lagos and I had to get a bus to my crib (Eric Moore Rd) from Ojuelegba Bus Stop.

What alarmed me was not the number of illegal check points (2) between Adeniran Ogunsanya and Bode Thomas (a brief distance of 200m)

What disappointed me was not the bumpy, pot hole – ridden surface that characterised the aforementioned roads.

What really pissed me off was the audacity, credibility & stupidity with which these shameless, armed men of the Nigerian Police were demanding for money from the commercial bus drivers.

If any driver attempted to drive by, a mobile policeman was sure to raise his rifle, cock it and attempt to shoot if he did not stop “to pay his debt“ (There have been cases of policemen shooting commercial transporters over refusal to consent to extortion)

Along Adeniran Ogunsanya, the dude driving the bus I sat in told his conductor “ Go give am 100 naira, make you collect nomba”. I was still trying to figure that out when we approached Bode Thomas and a policeman jumped in front of our cruising vehicle brandishing his gun asking “Wetin be your Nomba , Wetin be your Nomba” The driver and his conductor quickly answered thus, he let us go.

Therefore, questions arose in my head.

Do these policemen understand "dignity in labour" at all?

Were the guns purchased by the government to protect the citizens or to harass them?

What if any of these policemen was my brother, father, uncle e.t.c. How would I describe this undignified conduct of his to him?

The policemen give various excuses ranging from low salaries, late payment to rising cost of living for their actions.

I do not concur, I choose to believe that they (bribe collectors & extortionists) have gotten their priorities wrong. I think it is a mindset issue, there is no difference between the shameless policeman at the illegal checkpoint and the bribe – collecting legislators I the corridors of power or the gap – toothed, former Head of State who looted this country to the tune of billions of dollars.

Despite all these, I choose to be content with what I have, I choose to travel the narrow but legitimate way because sooner or later, a time will come that, patriotic, honest citizens will have the opportunity to lead this country and her states, parastatals, states, ministries e.t.c. until then, let us live our lives with a sense of accountability putting this in mind, we will sow what we reap and some day, GOD WILL JUDGE US ALL.

IS THIS LUV OR “HAVE I GOT IT BAD”

2009-08-22T11:55:00.000+01:00

I had seen her once or twice before without occasion

Guess I was working thus I didn’t notice her

But even now when I “saw” her, I was working, wasn’t I?

I can’t even explain, Is this luv or Have I got it bad?

Her expressions, her choice of words, her lady – like carriage

Her piety, her attitude, her ambitions, her background, her genotype

Her humility, willingness to step into His service “a higher calling”

All these combine and even make her already beautiful self “more beautifuller “

No….The right word is EXQUISITE

I had shut my heart, built a wall (fortress around it)

Reinforced the concrete of the wall, with reasons why I should NOT be involved

But a brief glimpse at her exquisiteness melted my seemingly fortified walls.

I didn’t dat kinda love yet, I had concluded,,,,,,

Physically, it is said that if u wanna know if a woman is really beautiful,

U need to see her when she is just waking up

Well, I did see her early in the morning right after she woke up

And she looked like a rare flower about to fully bloom.

I coulda sworn that we exchanged glances intermittently and sparks flew.

I wanna bet the chemistry exists, cos though its been a while ,I felt them butterflies

Also, one to many times, I think I caught her looking/ glancing at me

Is there a possibility that, Is this the real thingy,

The discussion was brief, but I bet the connection was deep.

Okay Lord, what do I do?

Have I got it bad or is this love?

All I ask is before u sink this wall to its foundations, is ; please Lord

Give me a Word…………….P – L- E – A –S - E

HRH Sam

2008-12-06T22:21:00.000+01:00

An angel read to me,
On a warm sultry nite....
Though she was far away in the cold of ATL
While i was in the tropical region of Lagos.

The clear voice and distinct pronunciation
could compare to that of a queen.
infact, it belonged to a queen

the sweetness of her laughter and tingling of her giggles
made her vocal chords more and more desirable
The consistent interuption of a naughty but lovely sister
made the reading more interesting.

Definitely, my sleep will be sweet, my rest will be pleasant
with a smile on my face will i fall asleep because i've had an angel read to me.

No, she was more than an angel, more like a queen,
Hmmmn, either angel or queen, one thing i am sure of
Sam, read with such a captivating voice, warm dignified and attractive
such that even with the distance, am still ........................

Thanks Sam, if i had to choose a queen/angel's voice ever again,
I'll choose yours.................................

You are appreciated

MMWAAAH

Analyse yourself, "Who are you really" Part 1 - You are capable

2008-12-05T05:51:00.004+01:00

There are 3 individuals you need to deal with in you, yes you staring at the screen reading this post

1. The man others think you are.

2. The man you think you are.

3. The man you really are.

1. The man others think you are.

A lot of people think they can determine your future or destination, based on where you are coming from, truly to an extent "the further back you look, the the further foward, you may see"

However, theres nothing about the caterpillar that indicates that someday, it will be a butterfly

When Barack Obama's father was buying drinks for his friends while celebrating the birth of his little son , nothing in his wildest dreams would have indicated that the little boy yelling and "pissing" in his mother's face while his diapers were being changed, will someday sit in the Oval Office and be the a crusader of "Hope and the Possibility mentality" globally.

A lot of people want to look at where you are coming from to determine how far, you will go and the dimension of the legacy you will leave behind.

When a lie is repeatedly said , it tends to want to sound like the truth, don't let what folks think about you define your limits, As a matter of fact, your spirit is limitless...Ask the guy who was born in an animal's feeding manger, obtained a Phd in carpentry and went into consulting for just 3 years..........2000 years later, his legacy still lives on, do you know who i am talking about?

Prove them wrong!!! Folks cannot limit you without YOUR consent. They only think, they don't know who you are. To know who you are , ask your creator, He says you are "A Creative Masterpiece, you can achieve anything"

You, yes you reading, you are capable of acheiving ANYTHING, someone like you invented that keyboard you are typing on, the phone you just finished a call on was "thought up" like you, stop wasting time .............get off your b&** and do SOMETHING

The worst thing that can happen to you ... is live your life like a snake moving on a rock (it leaves no trace). MAKE YOUR LIFE COUNT. Give people a tangible reason to miss you........

Is it fair?

2008-12-02T07:52:00.000+01:00

I come from the South - Western part of Nigeria,

i am part of a people credited with having a rich cultural heritage,

Our flamboyancy, women, hairstyles, food and most importantly, proverbs

Yes proverbs..........meditating on indigenous proverbs has given a me a measure of depth,

check this one out.....

"What an elder sees while sitting down, a youth cannot behold even if he climbs the tallest of trees"

So i begin to wonder that if the elder has a sight that sees further than the youth , it means they can see potentials in its untapped form, Hmmn..............

Alright,

what if the elder proceeds to exploit that potential, make so much money and still deprive the youth (custodian of brains and talents) what is due to him forgetting that you do not muzzle the ox that threshes the corn, also God doesn't approve of depriving a man of what rightly belongs to him.

The gospel a lot of people preach is, "you must pay your dues" ...YES! accepted, but for how long will one keep on paying dues? Hmmn? until the potential becomes fully exploited and another reaps all the rewards or is it till the youth's destiny is permanently fixed to the bottom rung of the progress ladder ?

God Forbid!

That's why i like this next proverb, it says when the fly keeps on biting the sore of an injured man, nobody complains, but when the injured man grabs the fly and throws it in his mouth, everybody exclaims and complains in ooohs and aahs.

Similarly, when the opportunistic elder was "spoiling" the youth, no one spoke, but when the youth seeks justice and what is due to him, they start making faces, shifting their feet.

But is it fair?

Do people have to be taken advantage of because they are young in age, experience, finances or virtue?

Is it fair ????????

The day privileged people begin to see the lives & potentials of underprivileged/inexperienced ones as an opportunity to build and invest in a destiny, rather than a mine field to exploit and "spoil"....that very day,that day.. our nation begins to attain its true greatness.

Is Single - Parenting or Divorce meant for me?

2008-11-30T20:06:00.000+01:00

I walked into my hotel room around 7:00pm

Been livin in various hotels for the past six months,

wonderin if i am a sex - worker , nope,

i am on a tv production that has failed to wrap up

This production has resulted in me being absent from home

for 6 months

my little nephew who was 61/2 months old when i left

for this production has clocked 1, Waoh

On my way home, the prospect of seeing him run into my arms

made my chest swell in pride (i love him a lot)

To my utter dissappointment and dismay, as i arrived home

and stretched my hands out in anticipation, he shrank away from me

My attempt to explain who i was to him worsened the issue,

On his face was an expression of consternation , his eyes clouded

with confusion, running to his momma away from me his

uncle, i could almost decipher a hint of fear

Then it struck me, my absence for six months.... has gotten my nephew confused,

It's sown fear for me in him,

then i began think, "Is this how it is with children who grew up with their father doing..

"the dissappearing act"

Or even those whose fathers walked out on them and their mothers only to resurface,

like James Bond?

Consternation, Fear, Distrust, Confusion, Depression, Low Self-esteem all these ills atimes characterize the lives of children who have bore the brunt of absent fathers and broken homes.

Do i want my children to ever go through these as a result of my absence, or separation from their mother ? The thought of it alone.....makes me shudder....

The confused look in my nephew's eyes still haunt me, more than haunt me i sincerly hope they inspire me to

......be patient with my wife

......always be there for my wife and kids

......protect, shield and pray for my home

As a result, neither single - parenting nor divorce is a choice for me.

Afterall, the greatest gift a man can give his children is to love their mother.

Darling, i love you and i always will, I will be your Knight, Comfort, Shoulder, Support, King and most importantly your friend & teammate.

I wz wondering

2008-11-29T22:19:00.000+01:00

I guess i did a lot of thinking today......well i decided to add one of my previous

write - ups , i wrote this for a dear friend, hmmnn.

I wz wonderin...

Do we have to condescend so as to accomodate mediocres
Do we have to dilute the quality of our flavour because....
...those around don't taste so good.

I wz wonderin...

Don't people know....that
If they do not stand for something,
They'll fall for anything.

I wz wonderin...

Do people realise that
What you fail to kill now
Will end up destroying you

I kept on wonderin....

Will people ever understand,
That if you live your life pleasing others,
but contradicting time - tested principles & values

You'll simply be like a flag - on - a - pole
that is blown to & fro by every gust of wind
And finally blown to shreds

I am still wonderin...

Does my generation realise ...
That some issues, people, ideas & mindsets..
belong to your past.

If you bring them into today, you make your present sour
And the future bleak
If you carry 'them" along, they WILL slow your pace.

I am still baffled

About,
What prevents people from ..
Putting their foot down for what is right
Despite who's ox is gored or
whose toes are trampled

Is it "Fear of the Unknown"
Or is it "Unresolved Issues"
Or is guilt or a case of inadequacies

No,
now i get it, It is "Lack of Faith",
In God & their God - given abilities

The moment they begin to look inwards & upwards,
They will realise...

That they are NOT duty - bound to
Live their lives....dancing to someone else's tune, commands & demands.......

I finally thought.............

Do the Knights,Kings,Amazons & Queens understand.

That they are NOT supposed to submit the dignity & loyalty of their minds & personalities to mediocre personalities and weak mindsets

Do they realise that "If u are in a position of honor and do not know it, you are like a confused personality ( A beast that perisheth)

I wz just wonderin, simply wonderin.

A Voice in The Desert ?

2008-11-29T21:56:00.000+01:00

I cannot attempt to describe myself as

A Voice in the Desert,

No! John the Baptist alone qualifies to be described as such

But the Desert , yes a desert, a people, my people ,

my generation lacking the proper VALUES and VIRTUES.

Occassionally, we stumble upon an oasis of ingenuity,

a spark of principled living in a people replete with moral degradation

Priorities aren't gotten right, Motives are saturated with selfishness

An attitude of indifference that is best described as

"Every man for himself, God for all of us and .......

may the devil take the hind most hmnnnn [sighs...]

But i choose to stand amidst a bowing multitude,

I refuse to be blown by every gust of wind.

I may not have a voice (yet) like Martin Luther King or

the height of the audacity of hope to cause an instant change

But bit by bit, inch by inch, gradually we as a people will get there

The greatness of Nigeria and my generation will be revealed.

Despite the dryness of the desert,

Irrespective of the gust of the winds,

Though my voice isn't loud enough,

I WILL still whisper through the desert wind

and remind all and sundry

that to arrive at El -Dorado and see the nation and world we desire.

We must put proper values in place.