HEALING FOR THE BLIND PARENTS

BY ALLEN OLATUNDE

“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:14)

In the midst of crisis, everyone looks for whoever that will save or redirect unto safe haven. So also is the relationship of parents to children especially teenagers who look up to the guiding parents for values and principles for life. It is a pity today that some parents are purely blind, though they have physical sight but cannot differentiate what is right from wrong. Parenting is more than changing of status quo - having names such as ‘Dad’, ‘Mum’, Father of …” etc.  It is a ministry of role modeling of future leaders. Parents are leaders. It is expected of a leader to lead with clarity of vision, purpose, direction and will-power that is sandwiched with values and integrity.

However, we have blind leaders as parents who do not see what their children do as wrong. They have accusing fingers for other children in their churches, schools, neighbourhood and society, but they never see anything wrong in their own children. Wrong is renamed right in their homes. Such parents are absolutely blind to plans of God for such children in their care. They are ostrich who buries her heads under the feather and she forgets that the whole body is outside. They ignore what they know is wrong.  They capitalize on minority. They fight anyone who guides and correct their children. They are modern parents with wrong civilization. They have these ideologies: “It doesn’t matter”, “They are still small”, “It is their time”, etc.

NEED FOR CHILD’S DISCIPLINE

By Allen Olatunde

The word discipline denotes: control of excess; guide through the lifetime career; and orderliness.

• Discipline is control that is gained by requiring rules or orders that must be obeyed and punishing bad behaviour (Merriam Webster Dictionary - paraphrased).

• Discipline is used as a career. Why? Because career involves discipline of what must be done and what must be avoided.

• Discipline is the main word that maintains dignity and order in military. No chance for lawlessness.

WHY DO WE NEED TO DISCIPLINE OUR CHILDREN?

1.       Children want to control their parents. They have scripts to act by their knowledge and feeling and they want your undisputed approval and covering.

2.       Society is becoming a free world without control on the disguises of child’s right.

3.       God gave all parents assignment to do. We must not fail Him.

EXAMPLES OF DISCIPLINE AND CONSEQUENCES IN THE BIBLE

•  Moses ran away from Pharaoh’s discipline in the palace and met stricter discipline in the desert for 40 years. What we fail to do now will still come up but with another disciplinarian who might be stricter and annoying.

CHILD’S FREEDOM MANAGEMENT

BY ALLEN OLATUNDE

INTRODUCTION
All children are growing to do what adult can do. They crave for freedom to do it as they want. Nevertheless, the parents have roles to play in management of such liberty. Your absence is dangerous and your presence is challenging. We must manage the two. According to Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Act. 19:  “Everyone (Children inclusive) has the right to freedom of opinion and expressions; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers” (Paraphrase). Freedom of expression is rarely part of children’s right, yet it is critical for realization of all children rights. (Source: CRIN). Children have right to have an opinion different from their parents while taking into account their age, as well as their degree of maturity and discernment, children have right to have their opinion considered (Source: Humanium). This paper is not promoting independence spirit for our children as civilized worlds are. In Africa, we live collectively. Individualism of advanced countries has caused excess freedom without control due to strict enforcement of the law without culture bias or religious consent. We shall look into the diverse views of child freedom and management of this freedom scenario as responsible parents that want better future for our responsible and cultured children.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR EXAMINATIONS

BY ALLEN OLATUNDE

All students learn, read and study to write examination. Studying for an examination should be more than just a cramming session; successful studying is an ongoing process that begins in the first day of classes and it involves managing your time and learning effectively. It also involves developing a foundation for pre-exam review. The exam supposed to show the intelligence of the students on paper. African educational system puts more effort on final exam than continuous assessment test. It is 70:30 ratios. That is why students read extensively and tirelessly for final exam. However, the strength of a student goes beyond the exam. As for you, do not read for examinations; read for life consumption. To pass examination, it starts from your mind perceptive. Some fail before they failed. Cowardice dies many times before his death. You need to believe in yourself, your reading and God. However, in my research I got some strategies to prepare and pass examinations from an online page (paraphrased).  It actually guides on examination preparations (the points were paraphrased for student’s consumptions). This site outlines several tips and strategies that students can use to enhance their studying during university, secondary or primary school time.

FOREWORD WRITE-UP FOR THE MIND OF STUDENT

BY Rev. Dr. S.A.K. OLALEYE
Wao!!! This is classic. Here is a book well written to address something very crucial to Youth and Student Ministry. Are you working with the Youth? Are you ministering to teenagers and students? You need to know The Mind of Student. One major reason why many of us in Youth and Student Ministry often mishandle our assignment is because we lack understanding of the mind of the generation we are mandated to minister to. While our brain is focusing on the right side, our “congregation” is thinking to the left. We wonder why these young people would not understand and obey simple instructions while they wonder why we are “misbehaving” and we cannot see “reality” from their own perspective. We want them to behave normal at this stage but Anna Frend says “to be normal during the adolescent period is by itself abnormal.” The generation gap is getting widened because we have not taken a conscious effort to study the operation of the mind of our target audience. This is a major reason we are losing this generation of people to other contending forces outside the church.

The Mind of Student is not just a book for student workers; it is also a useful material for students themselves. Many students are confused and take rash decisions they later regret in life. Majority of the youths cannot explain the reasons for their decisions because their minds work so fast and react so quickly to their environment to the point that they take a short time to think and disregard many factors before they rush into action. Many have been displaced today because of the wrong actions they took yesterday. With this book, young folks can have a better understanding of the working of their minds so as to take right decision at this stage for future fruitful life.

THE SECRETS OF THE BEST STUDENTS

By Allen Olatunde

‘Best’ is not a word in everybody’s dictionary. It is for the few who are ready to sacrifice short term for long term. They know the pain and the gain therein. If you know, you should have been above average since. Now, I will discuss some secrets with you. Not really secrets, but unveiled truths about those who lead their classes, groups, communities, nations and continents in all things they believe they can do. They never play when others are playing. In fact they never have friends without purpose. We shall look into ten proofs why some students excel in their academic pursuit to the top position in life.

1.    Approach
The approach of best students (genius) is different from other people. The genius brain works differently. Ideas are not eliminated based on efficacy or practicality. Everything is considered. Thoughts are not immediately disqualified. A genius often tries many different avenues to arrive at a desired result, rather than simply deciding which ones will work and which ones won’t.  They do not give up in time. They study hard to reach the end of any situation. They put their teachers on the run. Their approach to learning is for success and nothing more.  They are too loaded with ideas because they never stop learning, attempting and studying. Think of the creative geniuses who were high school drop-outs – Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg. Because their thinking is different, they often express the idea that standard ways of learning and teaching are not always helpful and may even be distracting, and that they prefer to learn on their own. Your approachto your teachers, classwork, assignments and examinations will determine your position among the best students. Do you prepare before examination or when it comes you run pillar to post and stillwant to lead the class? Your approach must change.

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