Happy New Year, Even Though The COVID 19 Will Follow Us To 2021

With faith, hope, and courage, we shall cross over to see the new year of 2021

Every New Year is always accompanied by many events, including sadness, tragedies, and happiness. The year 2020 has been a very terrible year, as we began with a terrific impact of COVID-19 from Wuhan, China. Unfortunately, the pandemic is still following us into the new year of 2021.

As we all know, apart from natural calamities due to geographical reasons, the majority of global suffering is caused by man. Politics, based on power, corrupts the minds of politicians to do whatever they wish, whether it's good or bad, mostly affecting innocent people.

The chase for money in society has also increased violence and crimes, taking its toll on people, leading to poor health, depression, and suicides. 

The devastation of the coronavirus has affected many businesses and the economies of many countries, causing many worldwide to lose their jobs. Many have lost their loved ones to COVID-19 and, therefore, live in fear and anxiety. 

However, if you are living now, you are ready to cross to the new year, which means that God loves you. Yes, the invincible supreme ruler, Jehovah, Yahweh, who is mightier than every rock and ammunition, loves you.

Despite the impact of the coronavirus, you’ve made it to this point, ready to crossover to the new year; therefore, what are your hopes, dreams, and aspirations? I strongly believe that your dreams can be a reality in the year 2021.

 

How prepared are you to improve the sour relationship with the members of your family? How prepared are you to change your bad habits to enjoy your professional career? How prepared are you to be humble and respectful, to get the right gentleman or lady as your partner?

 

How prepared are you to make this world a better place for our present and future generations in a world where many think violence, crime, and terrorism are the only solutions for common problems? We can’t remake the world, but our good deeds can change it.

 

There is every reason to be happy among those who made it this far. Your success, happiness, destiny, and good health are in your own hands. Don’t commit any crime when you know that you will be punished and also affect others.

Don’t live in the realms of destructive drugs when you know they may affect your health. Instead of blaming others for the destruction of the world, we should take it upon ourselves to restore our nation’s dignity. 

The problem is that most people find it hard to overcome their fears because they’re part of who they are. That’s actually a mistake. “No one drinks medicine on behalf of a sick person,” a Ghanaian proverb, meaning your happiness is in your own hands.

 

At times, sadness, loneliness, and depression make us feel miserable and scared because we don’t know what tomorrow may bring, but if you are not dead, then there is always hope for you. Take your time to look for it.

If the blind can play the piano, someone without hands can open the chapters of a book with his toes or tongue to read, and birds can survive both the winter and summer, then why do you have to grumble when you are very close to seeing the new year?

There are many opportunities there for you. Let God be your guide to choose wisely, and let your hopes and dreams be a reality in the year 2021.

“Finally, brothers, rejoice, aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Corinthians

YOUR LIFE, HAPPINESS AND PURPOSE ON EARTH

Life becomes meaningless in times of crisis

Many times in life, we ​​find ourselves wondering, what is the purpose of our existence on earth? Why do we have to get up in the morning? What is the real reason after disappointments, pain, hard life, sadness, and joy, we leave this world into our graves?

Is life actually a burden that makes it not worth existing in a world full of wickedness, diseases, depression, poverty, misery, and crime? Why are many rich and others very poor? Many people often ask this question, but do wealth, riches, and luxury bring happiness?

Today, in the era of consumerism, we are continually bombarded by what others used to influence people as real happiness: having a lot of money, a beautiful mansion, and a luxurious car or fleet of cars.

The fact that thousands of people believe that happiness actually lies in the possession of those materials enables them to make wrong choices to inflict pain on themselves. 

It seems that it has become a real obsession, an obligation; almost everyone wants to be rich overnight.

As a matter of fact, there is nothing wrong with being a rich person, especially if one acquired the money through hard work. Everyone who works hard must enjoy his fruits of labor, but there are those who often want to be rich without hard work.

Some people admire rich people and wish to be them, but whatever means they acquired the wealth don't mean anything to them. However, be careful what you wish for because if luxury indeed brought happiness, many rich people wouldn't commit suicide.

Too often we are led to think that life is meaningless and as such should be lived to the maximum. That’s where some people begin to waste their precious lives, forgetting that along the line, when becoming old, the bad, wasteful life they led can take its toll on their health.

Whatever excess things one does with his body, the type of food you eat, and the large volume of alcohol one consumes may affect your health. As we grow older, our system becomes weaker and, therefore, may not be strong enough to fight certain ailments.

We human beings tend to identify our being alive with our body and forget that we are much more than matter itself. 

We have embodied souls that choose matter to spend a part of their life in a dimension that can help us evolve, grow, and repair mistakes made in other lives.

Life and death are an integral part of a great project that goes far beyond the decades that we live as human beings. Life is a passage, and death is a transformation that takes place, which allows the soul to continue its evolution.

Happiness doesn't lie only in riches or luxury but in your purpose on earth, which reflects on the good things you did. There is so much happiness in doing good. What you wouldn't like anyone to do to you, don't do to others; that will bring you happiness too.

When it comes to the Bible, many think it's another storybook full of false stories. No one can force someone to believe in the Bible, but if you do, your happiness will be infinite. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,” said Jesus.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE IS HAPPINESS NOT A BURDEN IF YOU MAKE GOOD USE OF IT

Life is happiness, not a burden, if you make good use of it.

Life always has a story to tell. As children before adulthood, we were fortunate that our parents toiled for us in both hard and unique ways. But do we sometimes take into consideration how our parents suffered for us to give them the respect and love they deserve?

Well, many had it rough in life because they were neglected by their parents, yet be thankful to God, because that bitter experience of neglect gave you the courage and motivation to carry on daily in life, and that will and determination you embraced were the keys that shaped, molded, and educated you to success.

We are positive because we believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. We are hopeful because life never stops dreaming of wonders in spite of the blunders.

She sings of happiness because there is always someone out there at any moment who loves you, who prays for you, who wants to thank you for something, or because you played a significant role in their life.

Thus, it is only proper that you live purely, patiently, and peacefully. Free yourself from the slavery of ‘fitting in,’ for you are more blessed than you look, more amazing than you appear, more intelligent than you sound, more spirited than you seem, and exquisitely precious than you think.

You are God’s masterpiece, rise to every occasion. As a gift to the world, refresh our sensations. If anyone misunderstands you, let them wallow in their ignorance; to be great is to be misunderstood. That’s part of life if you fully understand the aspects of life.

ONLINE DATING: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY PART OF IT

Online dating

Life can be boring sometimes. Frustration, depression, loneliness, and anxiety are some of the problems that have taken their toll on many people today, forcing them to use ‘Dating Sites,’ hoping that’s the right place to find love and happiness they are looking for. 

The internet has enabled us to see the world through the window, facilitating business, creating easy communication, and making friends easily throughout the globe. But the question is: Is ‘Dating Sites’ actually the right place for someone to look for his or her dream partner? 

Frankly speaking, dating sites harbor all kinds of dangers that many ignore or don’t see because they are simply following their heart's desire.

I don’t see the distance between two people dating as one of the disadvantages of online dating if one person lives in Canada and the other lives in England, but the dangers of falling into the wrong hands, which have prematurely ended the lives of many, and added names of missing people to the missing people.

While on a ‘Dating Site,’ you aim to find a lover, but the man on the other side doesn’t want love; he wants to harm or kill you. How will you know? This is the reason many who answer to online dating mysteriously disappear without any trace. 

This makes ‘Dating Sites’ or ‘Blind Date’ more dangerous than imagined. Once in Amsterdam, I contacted a lady who wants a non-smoker. 

We made an appointment at the central train station, asking me to be at a very famous point that everyone knew. She was late. I watched my time and I realized it was over ten minutes. 

Then, after fifteen minutes, I saw a pretty woman smiling at me. She was gorgeous. Her tall, slim figure was the exact choice of a woman I was looking for.

I don’t see the distance between two people dating as one of the disadvantages of online dating if one person lives in Canada and the other lives in England, but the dangers of falling into the wrong hands, which have prematurely ended the lives of many, and added names of missing people to the missing people.

While on a ‘Dating Site,’ you aim to find a lover, but the man on the other side doesn’t want love; he wants to harm or kill you. How will you know? This is the reason many who answer online dating mysteriously disappear without any trace. This makes ‘Dating Sites’ or ‘Blind Date’ more dangerous than imagined.

Once in Amsterdam, I contacted a lady who wants a non-smoker. We made an appointment at the central train station, asking me to be at a very famous point that everyone knew. She was late. I watched my time, and I realized it was over ten minutes. 

Then, after fifteen minutes, I saw a pretty woman smiling at me. She was gorgeous. Her tall, slim figure was the exact choice of a woman I was looking for.

“Are you Joe?” She asked, and I nodded.”I have been here already, but spying on you to see if you are a handsome man. I really hate ugly and shabbily dressed men.” She said. “What a bad woman? 

Is that what men or women do to each other on a blind date?” I asked in my mind. Now I know the reason many dates end in disappointment. They came and probably saw the person unattractive and quietly sneaked away? 

Who will be happy when treated like that? In fact, the statement she made ruined my day. After eating and a walk through the city, I didn’t request a second date. That’s how we lost contact.

There is nothing wrong when doing online dating, but be extremely careful, because what you are looking for might be completely different from what the person you are communicating with wants. 

Some recommended steps can keep one far from loneliness and depression. Reading interesting books as a hobby can capture your imagination to avoid depression and loneliness.

If you love to stay at home, please cultivate the habit of taking a walk through the gardens, doing window shopping, and joining social clubs. Going to the gym to exercise once or twice a week not only keeps you fit but also psychologically healthy. 

Who knows, you will meet the right person in those places? You may have a hidden talent, but you don’t know. Find out what you are very good at, follow it, and start blogging to create your happiness.

DOES MONEY GIVES COMFORT IN LIFE?

The Holy Bible

Money is something that no one could have a better life without. Money rules our daily lives in eating, education, clothing, accommodation, the shoes we wear, and almost everything that gives comfort in life. However, does money bring happiness? 

Many people think and believe that money, fame, and beauty would make them happy. Therefore, they follow such things eagerly, only to be miserably disappointed when they couldn't get the happiness they were longing for. 

If happiness could be derived from money and material things, it wouldn't have been necessary for Jesus to identify the key to happiness.

Jesus said, "Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need". Matthew 5:3. Genuine happiness can only be found if people depend heavily on spiritual needs rather than material needs. 

One may ask, how can spiritual need help me when I can't pay my bills with it? Spiritual need builds faith, trust, comfort, and hope, which will make you survive those difficulties you are facing. The assurance of faith and hope gives you a happy mind to live a happy life.

But those who depend heavily on material things and money easily get disappointed, frustrated, and mentally disturbed. The next thing many try is to kill themselves. 

The truth can be found in the Bible. There are many rich people as miserable as a church mouse, while the poor who struggle to eat live happily.

Building your spiritual faith through the Bible leads to a more meaningful life.

GIVE THE CHILDREN LOVE, CARE AND HAPPINESS THIS CHRISTMAS

Lovely children


It`s great to be young. As a child growing up in Africa, I could remember how happy I used to be when my father shared a bottle of Fanta or Coca-Cola with his children. 


Even though we were four in number, we were happy and proud of our father for providing us with a bottle of Fanta.

We didn`t derive our happiness from the Fanta given to us, but the love our father had for us to buy that bottle of Fanta was what made us happy. 

There is nothing a child likes more than love, care, happiness, toys, and a healthy environment, yet many children in both Third World Countries and other Advanced Countries have yet to experience what happiness is about.

Many children sometimes find themselves facing severe, diverse problems more than the adults who brought them into the world.  Children are violently separated from their parents, ending up in foster homes, the orphanage, and other health institutions.

In the United States, the National Runaway Switchboard estimates that about 1.3 million runaway and homeless children are living on the streets, and in Britain, the Children's Society is responsible for such issues, while in Belgium, the Child Focus is also actively dealing with truancy and other problems affecting children.

Many children are suffering worldwide, without any parents to cater to their welfare, yet many people are looking for a child without success. It`s the responsibility of parents to make a child happy. Children are national assets for development. 

They are the leaders of tomorrow; therefore, they must be well-treated. 

Children's Rights That Are Constantly Abused By Adults

Children's Rights

Every child has the right to live, but how many children are killed worldwide before and after they are born? Every child has the right to information, but how many are prevented from knowing the truth?

Every child has the right to education and social amenities, but how many are denied access to education and happiness? We are witnessing the cruelties against children today worldwide. 

Every child has the right to medical care, but thousands are dying every day from diseases, such as Aids, kwashiorkor, etc, in painful ways. Every child has the right to decision and opinion, but how many are victims of injustices every day?

Every child has the right to be named and to have a nationality, but there are thousands of children denied nationality by many countries. 

Every child in this world has the right to eat and drink enough. Unfortunately, thousands of children are dying as a result of hunger, famine, and lack of water every day.

When children are trained to take an interest in reading, they benefit greatly from the wider knowledge they gain from learning about people and places outside their own narrow world. Unfortunately, so many children do not know what education is about.

A child shouldn't be a victim of war or be used as a soldier. But today, thousands of children are drawn into conflicts, tribal uprisings, and wars to fight with adults.

A child shouldn't be abused, burdened, or sold into slavery for child labour. But today, thousands of children are being trafficked, forced into prostitution and hard labour in every horrific manner to make money.

A child can never fight for himself. They depend on parents or adults because they easily trust people, but today, the same adults that the children trust are making them miserable, unhappy, and even killing them. 

So, who must children depend on now for a better future? Children are an asset to national development in every part of the world. It's the responsibility of adults to give them every care, help, and education in their growth and development.

THE EXOTIC PERFORMANCE OF LUCKY DUBE

The Great Lucky Dube

The fully air-conditioned bus carrying Lucky Dube, the famous South African-born reggae star, his manager, Mr. David Jacobs, and the entire musical group arrived at the premises of the festival at Linkeroever-Antwerp. 



There was another group playing on stage, and Lucky had to perform with them. He arrived on time. He sat in the bus for about thirty minutes, and suddenly he came down in a grey leather cap, covering his dreadlocks, a pair of blue jeans, and black shoes.

He went straight to the makeshift cafeteria and asked for some hot water. They couldn't provide him. He was directed to the next place. There, he had one for his tea. I followed him humbly and said, "Sir, I have an appointment to interview you." 

"Who did you ask for the interview?" Asked Lucky Dube, "Els please," I responded. Lucky identified the name immediately as the lady who has the program of all the artists who are performing at the festival on July 4th. "I will interview performing," Said Lucky. He went back into the bus.

I stood at the back of the stage for about thirty minutes, and Lucky came out again. This time, he has a different attire on, signifying that it is time to go and do what he likes best, to put up a musical show. 

In a long-sleeved light cotton black shirt and the same kind of material for the trousers, I followed him as he walked towards the platform. Lucky didn't walk straight to the platform. He grabbed one of the iron bars of the platform, holding it close to it and moving his body in gymnastic movements.

During the short period, Lucky did that, my instinct told me that he was praying before going on stage. He did it in a way that nobody could see or barely understand what he was doing. As he climbed up the stage, a thunderous scream of love, devotion, and happiness greeted him. 

He grabbed the microphone, and serious reggae business started. Lucky's Peter Tosh-style voice was like a magnet pulling everyone behind the stage to dance.

Lucky Dube Live -War and crime


He sang a couple of his old songs like "Money money money" taken from the album "Soul Taker," But things went differently when he sang "One people different colours." 

The people were filled with mixed feelings of sadness and joy. I saw some weeping, swinging their hands in the air. Some carry bands with bold inscriptions, "Lucky We Love You." "Lucky Dube, welcome to Antwerpen," etc. I have never seen this anywhere before.

Get a copy of 'The Passion Of Reggae And African Music' to know more about this great musician who was brutally killed because of his car. 
https://www.amazon.com/Passion-Reggae-African-Music-ebook/dp/B013L9A1JQ?