Continued Strike Causes South Africa's Anglo American Platinum Standstill...

The head of the union behind the strike, Joseph Mathunjwa, said on Wednesday that workers downed tools last Friday in protest at Amplats’ plans to cut 4,800 jobs, laying off 3,300 workers and paying off the rest, as the world’s largest platinum producer and unit of Anglo American strives to restore profits. “The strike is continuing. We had marathon meetings with the employer last night and will have another tomorrow and I believe that meeting should get us closer,” Joseph Mathunjwa, president of the Association of Mine-workers and Construction Union (AMCU), told Reuters.

Mathunjwa said AMCU wanted the company to provide voluntary separation packages for older miners near retirement and spare the jobs of younger workers, which the union says will bear the brunt of the lay-offs. Much of AMCU’s membership in the platinum belt consists of younger miners.

Dangote Lays Foundation Stone Of 2 Billion Naira Hospital In Kano...

Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the medical facilities, named Mariya Sanusi Dantata Ultramodern Theatre Complex and a diagnostic laboratory, situated within the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano, Dangote, the foundation’s chairman, said: “It is not just about creating a modern, new sorely needed medical facility in this great city of ours. It is about our broader commitment to systematically improving the health and well-being, which is one of our areas of focus. We believe that every Nigerian has a right to quality healthcare. We also believe that it is our collective duty to rally our resources to improve health infrastructure, support the development of health care professionals and improve preventive health measures in Nigeria. “Today we are pleased to be able to stand with the governor as he lays the foundation stone for the five-storey ultramodern theatre complex.”

US Pharmaceutical Giant Merck Cuts 8,500 Extra Jobs!!!

The pharmaceutical giant says, it will be shifting its focus to areas it sees as high growth, such as cancer treatment. It is also pulling products in late-stage trials it estimates will not be so successful, and licensing other products to alternative companies. The company’s shares rose 2.35% to $48.73 in New York trading after it announced the cuts. The new losses, combined with 7,500 job cuts announced in 2011 and 2012, amount in total to 20% of its workforce, the BBC reports.

[source: businessdayonline]

Vatican Bank Publishes Its Annual Report For The First Time Ever!!!

The Vatican’s bank has published its first annual report in its 125-year history as part of an attempt to become more financially transparent. In the report, President Ernst Von Freyberg, said the Institute for Religious Works (IOR) needed to be a well-respected member of the global financial community. “The annual report seeks to contribute to the transparency which the Catholic Church, our customers, our correspondent banks, our authorities and the public rightfully expect,” he said. Von Freyberg added that the bank had “been engaged in a process of far-reaching reform” to improve its organisation, compliance and transparency.- Business day.

Photos: Dramatic Moment Of Armed Robbery Attack Caught On CCTV

The cash-in-transit guard pictured with the box was leaving the shop and heading towards his van when he was attacked by the armed rogue. The guard dropped the box full of cash at an armed raider who confronted him at a petrol station. The suspect fled the scene in a stolen white Ford Fiesta with an accomplice after the robbery at around 11.30am on Monday September 23.  - daily mail. 

'I'll Breastfeed My Daughter Until She's Ten If That' What She Wants'

Maha AI Musa, 51, mother of three, who still breastfeeds her 5-year-old daughter in public, whenever she asks for milk says, #'Aminah took to breastfeeding easily and the moment I felt that bond, I was instantly hooked.' #'I will allow my daughter to breastfeed until the age of 10, if that's what she wants.' 'I believe it helps boost her immune system. #To this day, she is very rarely ill and her temperament is calmer and more relaxed than the other children.' Maha was said to had weaned her two previous children, Kailash, 16, and Tariq, 13, (Pictured Herein)off of breast milk when they were two. 

According to Uk's daily mail, She follows in the footsteps of Jamie Lynne Grumet, the 26-year-old Los Angeles mother (pictured on the magazine cover) who caused shockwaves around the world when she posed on the cover of Time magazine with her four-year-old suckling from her bare breast. Gurmet said she would not stop breastfeeding her four-year-old until he turned five.

President Jonathan Constitutes A 13-Man Committee On National Dialogue...

The national dialogue which most Nigerians had since longed for was yesterday given a straight nod by Mr. President and here are list of members and terms of reference of the advisory committee on the national dialogue:

1.  Dr. Femi Okurounmu   -   Chairman

2.  Prof. George Obiozo   -   Member

3.  Prof. Ben Nwabueze   -   Member

4.  Senator Khairat Gwadabe -  Member

5.  Senator Timothy Adudu   -  Member

6.  Col. Tony Nyiam (rtd) -  Member

7.  Prof. Funke Adebayo  -  Member

8.  Dr. Mairo Ahmed Amshi - Member

9.  Dr. Abubakar Sadiq  -   Member     

10. Alhaji Dauda Birma    -   Member

11. Malam Buhari Bello -  Member

12. Mr. Tony Uranta  -        Member

13. Dr. Akilu Indabawa -    Secretary

Terms of Reference:

(i.)  To consult expeditiously with all relevant stakeholders with a view to drawing up a feasible agenda for the proposed national dialogue/conference;

(ii.)  to make recommendations to government on structure and modalities for the proposed national dialogue/conference;

(iii.) to make recommendations to government on how representation of various interest groups at the national dialogue/conference will be determined;

(iv.) to advise on a timeframe for the national dialogue/conference;               

(v.) to advise government on a legal frame-work for the national dialogue/conference;

 (vi.)  to advise government on legal procedures and options for integrating decisions and outcomes of the national dialogue/ conference into the constitution and laws of the nation; and

 (vii.) to advise government on any other matters that may be related or incidental to the proposed national dialogue/conference.

  The committee shall have one month within which to conclude its assignment.  

  The committee will be inaugurated by the President at the State House on October 7, 2013 by 10.00 a.m.

A Two-Year-Old Gives Birth To His Twins...

 Xiao Feng, from Hauxi, China was brought to hospital after his stomach had become so distended that he was having difficulty breathing. When later admitted, doctors took x-rays and MRI scans which discovered Feng was carrying the undeveloped feotus of his own twin inside his stomach and immediately he was rushed to surgery where his twin was removed from his stomach in a rare case of crytodidymus or conjoined twins. The feotus (twin), according to doctors was nearly 8 inches wide and had developed a spine, fingers and toes. It had grown so much that it was taking up almost two-thirds of the boy's stomach. - foxnews

It Also Helps Us Deal With Everyday Problems

SO THEN FAITH COMES BY HEARING, AND 
HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD. 
          ( Romans 10:17 *NKJV )

Dear Brethren,
Just as our bodies' hunger and thirst, so do our souls.
However our souls need Spiritual food and water.  This food
and water may be found in God's Word, the Holy Bible!
FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND POWERFUL, AND 
SHARPER THAN ANY TWO- EDGED SWORD. 
                                    ( Hebrews 4:12 )

However, reading the Bible not only nourishes
our souls, it also helps us deal with everyday problems.  We
also gain knowledge and wisdom from God's Word.  It even
helps to bring us out of depression, anguish, and
worry as well.  What a wonderful book it is!  Why not spend
a little time each day reading it?  You will find that each page
you read will bring you a little closer to our Heavenly Father,
and what a wonderful journey that is!  After all Jesus' said;
"MY MOTHER AND MY BROTHERS ARE THESE WHO HEAR
THE WORD OF GOD AND DO IT."    ( Luke 8:21 )

SO NOW, BRETHREN, I COMMEND YOU TO GOD AND TO 
THE WORD OF HIS GRACE, WHICH IS ABLE TO BUILD YOU 
UP AND GIVE YOU AN INHERITANCE AMONG ALL THOSE 
WHO ARE SANCTIFIED.  Amen.      ( Acts 20:32-33 )

All My Love & Prayers,
    Pastor Allen 

And He Gives Us Chance After Chance,...

Love In A Hate Filled World

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” - John 13:34-35

Christians can really be mean to each other. We are quick to point out faults. We gossip and envy one another. It is not a pretty picture, yet Jesus says when we love each other—the world will know that we belong to Him.

So, how do we fix this? John Piper, a great Bible teacher, taught on these two verses and he said, “Look. This is a new commandment. This is not this idea of Christians loving each other just like Christ loved us. This is a commandment. It’s not a suggestion. We are to love one another."

You see, when you came to Christ, you realized at that point that your life was on the wrong path. And you turned and said, “Jesus is the right path.” You agreed to Him being the boss. So you said, “Thank you for saving me, but also thank You for being in charge of me now. I submit to Your commands.” So we are commanded, it’s not optional, that we as Christians love each other. He died for us, and He forgives us unconditionally. And He gives us chance after chance, and grace after grace. Then we mess up again and what does He do? He comes and holds us close to Him. Why can’t we love each other like that and say, “You know what? I know that you’re a mess” and then show them we love them?

Jesus is so concerned about us being right with each other that He said, “It’s better for you to stop worshiping and ask forgiveness than it is just to keep worshiping and doing your church thing.” Is there somebody you need to forgive? Somebody you struggle to love? Get it right, so folks outside the church can say, “Those folks really love each other. I guess that’s what it means to be a Christian.” ...Right From The Heart!!!

I Couldn't Depend On The Belief Of My Parents To Save Me...

Following Jesus In Faith

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." - Mark 8:34

Are you really a Christian? You may think you are, but you may not be. After all, Jesus Himself said that some people will do seemingly "Christian" things in His name but will not truly know Him. Or maybe you know you are not a Christian and you wonder what it really means to be one.(1)

When I was sixteen, I would have told you I was a Christian because I grew up in a Christian home. But at a Young Life camp in Colorado, I heard a message about God's love for me through Christ's death on the cross. Realizing all He went through convicted me that I believed in God by convenience and association. Oh, I called on God before a big game or a big test, but I was basically using Him when it was convenient for me.

After realizing God's love for me, I decided to follow Jesus as the number one priority of my life and began a personal relationship with God through Christ. I realized that I had to make that decision for myself and couldn't depend on the belief of my parents to save me.

He loves you just as He loves me. He gave His life so you can know Him personally and be sure of eternal, abundant life with Him. If you just believe in God by convenience, like I used to, consider committing your life to following Jesus in faith. It's a life you'll never regret. It's a life of ultimate meaning and purpose...Right From The Heart!!