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Tag: #Peter Obel Abue

  • One Of The Greatest Lessons I Learnt This Holy Week And About Life In General Is That Some Of The People Who Hate, Betray And Oppose What You Stand For, Also End Up Leading You To Victory Without Meaning To Do So BY PETER OBELE ABUE

    VICTORY

    One of the greatest lessons I learnt this Holy week and about life in general is that some of the people who hate you, betray you and oppose what you stand for, also end up leading you to Victory without meaning to do so. If you agree with me on this, then you are about to define the meaning of Victory in your life; you are about to redesign a new strategy of happiness. Victory happens when you stop expecting the world to affirm you as a person; because in this world, half of the people will like you and the other half will hate you, no matter what you say or do.

    Let’s take the story of Jesus Christ for example (as Peter recalls in Acts 10: 34, 37-43), who came into the world and went about doing good (v. 38). He recruited a few confidants, with the hope of using them to establish a kingdom of love, but some of them betrayed him, while others stuck with him till the end. He was consequently handed over to be crucified. They mocked, scourged and finally crucified the very man who had the power to give life (v.39). At last the cross he was crucified on became the symbol of Victory after he rose again on the third day (vs.40-41). That’s victory for you.

    Some have likened the story of Jesus to some leaders in the recent past. In 2015, the then Nigerian President Jonathan lost election to his opponent. He had the power to manipulate himself to win, but he did not. Rather he accepted the humiliation of his defeat and turned around to congratulate his opponent. That’s Victory. Nelson Mandela of South Africa spent 27 years in prison, came out to forgive his jailers and subsequently became President himself. That’s Victory.

    Lets focus again on Jesus and how his story effects our life. In the gospel we hear about a certain unnamed disciple who followed Jesus to Calvary and remained with him throughout his Passion while others like Judas betrayed him and Peter ran away. After the resurrection, this unnamed disciple ran faster than Peter, “saw and believed” whereas Peter though seeing the same thing did not believe. Confronted with the signs of death (the tomb, the linen cloths and the shroud) the unnamed disciple recognized the victory of life while Peter could not (John 20: 1-9).

    You are that unnamed disciple. You will see Victory if you endure the pain of whatever humiliation you have been through and will go through if you look ahead. Victory will be yours if you forgive those who betray you and focus your mind on something rather positive. Victory will be yours if you accept the fact that life is not all about you, but about the peace and happiness of the people you serve. Victory will be yours if you stop deceiving yourself that everyone must like you and agree with you and affirm you because that can never happen.

    Begin now to understand the meaning of the Cross and how it can lead you to your resurrection (Victory) as it did to Jesus. Happy Easter !

  • Do Not Wait For Leaders, Do It Alone, Person To Person”. This is one Of My Favorite Quotes Of My Mentor Mother Theresa of Calcutta BY PETER OBELE ABUE

    PERSON TO PERSON

    “Do not wait for leaders, do it alone, person to person”. This is one of my favorite quotes of my mentor Mother Theresa of Calcutta.
    Person to Person has become a philosophy I have come to imbibe in my own life and it simply means; you have to value the people you live and work with; those who value and respect you and can collaborate with you to achieve goals. In the gospel, we see the person to person ideology working among the disciples of Jesus: the two disciples(Andrew and Philip) did not know Jesus until they were brought to know him by John, for it was John who pointed out: “There is the lamb of God”. Thereafter, another one; Simon was led to God by his brother Andrew, while Nathaniel finds Jesus through Philip (Read John 1: 35-42). Simon later grew to become Peter the rock (Cephas) and head of the church; Person to Person.

    Another way of saying it is: do not build castles in the air. A lot of people wonder around burning bridges and depending on evil godfathers to change their fortunes, instead of combining their efforts at the local level with real people on ground to make a difference and to help themselves. The world we live in is mysterious and it is only when we learn to appreciate the ordinary people who live and work with us that miracles begin to happen. Choose your team mates carefully if you want to make it in life and avoid making enemies. Person to person is the one philosophy that can change your fortune and with God on your side all things are possible.

    In the Christian circles, our goal is to decipher God’s call and answer it through commitment to working amicably with those God has placed in our cirlcle. God will not come down to dictate in black and white what his will is for you so that you can follow, but through the ordinary people you live and work with: friends, co-workers, parents, mentors, superiors, etc God can direct your future for greater things. If you don’t value the people you work with or respect them or listen to them, don’t expect God to come down and do it for you. The young Samuel was ready to learn and answer God’s call and that’s why he went to live with Eli as his mentor. It was through Eli person to person that he was able to understand how God calls people, by listening to his advice (Read 1 sam 3: 3-10, 19).

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Peter Obele Abue, and does not represent TheLumineNews or its agent 

  • Holy Innocents: The Children Whom Herod Slaughtered In An Attempt To Kill The Baby, Jesus BY PETER OBELE ABUE

    HOLY INNOCENTS

    Every 28th day of December we remember the Holy Innocents: The children whom Herod slaughtered in an attempt to kill the baby, Jesus. Herod had (dubiously) given instructions to the wise men to find out about the child and return the news to him so that he could go and do the child homage. That was a lie. In truth what Herod wanted was to eliminate the child.

    As God would have it, Herod realized that his trick failed when, after two years, the wise men never returned. In a rage, Herod commanded the killing of all the male children two years old and younger, in order to protect his kingship. Herod did not know that Jesus was not an earthly king interested in worldly power.

    Lessons to be learnt:
    1. Evil does not pay. Do not plan evil against your neighbor because it will boomerang on you
    2. Ĺeadership is a bait. Sometimes we leaders can be used by the devil to perpetrate evil. Be careful
    3. Avoid the PHD (pull him down) syndrom in life. Do not be threatened by the success of others to the extent of doing all in your power to pull them down. That’s pettiness
    4. Do not defame the character of other people in the name ‘telling the truth’ Which truth? Defaming people’s character, or blackmailing just to look good will not get you far in life
    5. Children and other vulnerable individuals are innocent and need our support and protection. Do not harm innocent people in order to perpetrate your agenda.

    My conclusion
    The death of the Holy innocents gives us a glimpse of the darkness that filled the earth before Christ brought light to the world. We Christians are reminded especially during this Christmas season that we must show the light not spread darkness and there are many ways we can do this

    As part of my ministry , I have been involved in (among other many apostolates), protecting the lives of innocent children for the past 38 years having been ordained on this day. There is no doubt I have faced many Herods in my ministry; misunderstandings, defamation of my character, temptations as a leader etc. In all, I pray to God for the grace to persevere, to be holy and to be innocent knowing that the God I serve will NEVER LET ME DOWN

    Please pray for me!

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Peter Obele Abue and does not represent TheLumineNews or its agent.

  • Ogoja Diocese Welcomes V.C. For Development From USA

    The Catholic diocese of Ogoja recently hosted the Vice Chancellor for Development of one of America’s famous Catholic Universities, The Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio State, Mr. Stephen Rasche.

    Mr. Rasche was in Ogoja following another recent visit to the USA by the Vicar General of Ogoja diocese and Chairman of the Further studies Commission, Fr. Peter Abue.

    In August 2023, in his travels, Fr Abue had appealed to Franciscan University of Steubenville Ohio, USA through Mr. John Stilley to enable a partnership that would enable the upgrade of The diocesan Thomas McGettrick Institute of Technology (TMIT) possible and faster.

    In his interaction with the University Council headed by Fr David Pivonka TOR and his Council, Fr Abue discussed the Partnership, which would attract funding towards this initiative and open more doors for other project areas in the diocese.

    Both Franciscan University of Steubenville (FUS), Ohio and the proposed Thomas McGettrick University (TMU), Ogoja would have missions to educate Nigerian priests/seminarians through a rolling mentorship programme with FUS personnel. The topics for the programme would include: Building financial reporting processes, Designing Budgets and Projections, Admissions and Enrollment Modeling, Campus Master Planning as well as Legal and Compliance Matters. The concept would be for the Priests to spend time in each functional area and learn how FUS operates in order to come back and build up TMU.

    The Thomas McGettrick University Project was a mandate by the Bishop of Ogoja diocese Most Rev Donatus Akpan to the Further studies Commission of the diocese headed by Fr Peter Abue to oversea modalities that would ensure among other things, the upgrade of the present TMIT to the status of a university by raising funds to meet the requirements of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

    In his response to the Bishop and the team of selected Priests who welcomed the august visitor, he emphasized the willingness of the Franciscan University of Steubenville to support the initiative of the diocese and mentioned one of the key stakeholders John Stilley who is particularly interested in this partnership.

    He thanked the Bishop for receiving him and promised to set to work to make this vision possible in the nearest future.

  • CORAfrica Opens John Bosco Academy Adagom, Ogoja

     

    Children of Rural Africa CORAfrica Nigeria, a non profit and nongovernmental organization, founded by Rev Fr Peter Obele Abue PhD, opened a new academic institute in Adagom – Ogoja, Cross River State, Nigeria.

    The institute is intended to be a world class institute that will address most of the socio economic problems confronting most vulnerable and indigent child of our communities.

    Speaking with the TheLumineNews, the Founder/Chief Strategist of Children of Rural Africa, Very Rev Fr Peter Obele Abue PhD, noted that “the burning desire and the dream to help children and community thrive has placed a burden on me especially in this technical age to conceive this institute.

    “The institute is going to have a world class vocational training center where children and youth will be trained in addition to the education there will acquire to prepare them for the tasks ahead”

    Speaking further, Fr Obele noted that “despite been born in rural areas, Africa children desire the right to qualitative education, research and the rights skills to compete favourably with their peers from other parts of the world.

    “It is for this reason that we have designed our institute to house the nursery, primary, and secondary sections. We will incorporate vocational education into our scheme in line with government assistance to ensure that once you graduate from the school, you should be prepared fend for yourself without necessarily depending on government for white kola job”.

    According to the plan of the institute, it is expected to house hostels staff quarters, a worship center, health facility and a demonstration farms for hands on practical.

    As academic activities begins for the 2023/2024 session, the school commenced with over 400 pupils comprising of 80 percent refugees children and 20 perfect Adagom children.

    CORAfrica acquired over 70 plots of land for this institute.

  • It’s Time We Realize That God Is Not Our Business Partner; He Is Not An Accountant To Record Our Deeds In Order To Pay Us According To Our Merits BY FR PETER OBELE ABUE

    THE GOD OF LOVE

    Some people prefer the god of revenge and punishment than the God of Love. They believe other people who are not as good as them are destined to receive no reward from ‘their’ god. But was Abraham our father in faith not called while still a pagan? Was David not forgiven while he was at his worst sin of adultery and murder? Was Moses who murdered an Egyptian while ‘defending’ his people not still called to lead his people? If you read this and think I am taking God for granted, encouraging tolerance for evil, laziness, or sloth, then think again.

    Jesus addressed his disciples in the gospels, saying: “Friend, I am doing you no wrong … take what belongs to you and go…Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Why are you envious because I am generous? “ (Matt. 20: 1-16). Our God is a generous God, even when we know he has zero-tolerance for sin. He lavishes his love on both saint and sinner
    alike. He forgives sinners unconditionally so that they may find it in their hearts to repent or even forgive those who sin against them. All so we may understand his true nature and seek to be like him; a God of love.

    The Babylonians, in exile, had this false image of God; only as a punisher of evil, and Isaiah tells them in very plain language that they were wrong and needed conversion of heart. This time, it was not a conversion from sin and corruption, but a radical change from their myopic way of thinking ( and looking at God): “Let the wicked forsake his ways and the unrighteous man his thought … I will abundantly pardon you, for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, says the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8).

    It’s time we realize that God is not our business partner; He is not an accountant to record our deeds in order to pay us according to our merits. Seriously, we merit nothing from God; we can only receive …forgiveness, generosity, love, and indeed salvation from him. A DOG is the only creature you can train to obey you and work in accordance with your dictates, not GOD. It’s time we begin to change our mentality of the God we serve and relate to him like a G-O-D, not a D-O-G

  • Your Position Is To Enable You Serve Others, Not Lord It Over Them. You Have Become A Father To Those In Your Care. Yours is a Privileged Position To Make Life Meaningful For Others And Not To Cause Them Pain BY FR PETER OBELE ABUE

    THE KEYS

    In ancient times, keys were very heavy and had to be carried on the shoulder. When a prime minister, for example, was to be crowned, the king would take the mantle and belt and put on him and then would place on his shoulder the key of his palace. To receive the keys meant to have full powers in the palace of the king and authority from him to administer his property, to decide who was to be received and who would be kept outside the palace. Such was the authority that was given to Eliakim, son of Hilkiah, as we read in Isaiah 22; 19-23.

    Worthy to note here is verse 21, which described Eliakim the new appointee in these words: “He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the House of Judah”. These same words were applied to Peter in the gospel of Mathew 16: 13-20, especially verses 18 and 19 where Jesus hands over the keys to him saying: “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church…I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”.

    The lesson(s) to be learnt here about leadership, power, and authority are very simple and instructive; to be in power is to possess keys from God. These keys are heavy; they are a burden, not a joy. You are burdened with other people’s problems, and so there is no reason for you as a leader to celebrate and call a party because you have been selected to a position. It is service, not an elevation, and you are appointed by a higher power (the king) to serve in his palace. It is not your palace. Whatever your position, IT IS NOT YOUR PALACE. It’s the kings palace.

    Secondly, your position is to enable you to serve others, not lord it over them. You have become a father to those in your care, not a Lord. Yours is a privileged position to make life meaningful for others and not to cause them pain and separation.

    At this stage in our history, we are looking for leaders at various levels; community leaders, church leaders, youth leaders, constituency leaders, ward leaders, etc. Recently, keys were handed to certain people. What would they make of their positions of authority? Whichever direction they may want to go, remember the words of Jesus to Peter: It is not flesh and blood that gave you that power, but my father in heaven” (Matt. 16: 17).

  • Two Pillars: A Lot Of Good Can Be Achieved If Leaders Work Together To Build Up Community, The Church And Society In Spite Of The Differences BY FR PETER OBELE ABUE

    TWO PILLARS

    Two people (Pillars) with totally different upbringing and character patterns. One a cradle Christian with official authority and power of the keys to bind and loose (Matt. 16:19). The other a convert and former persecutor of the church turned apostle of pagans (Acts 22: 3-16). Both died a martyr’s death and today are revered as the two main pillars of the church.

    Why are they remembered together? Because both combined their efforts to lead the early church irrespective of their differences. No one put down the other. Both put aside any fear or suspicion of each other to champion the cause of leading the early church to maturity.

    A lot of good can be achieved if leaders work together to build up community, the church and society in spite of their differences. The problem is often that we see differences more than similarities in one another and so don’t make much progress.

    Today, whole communities have launched themselves into irrepressible blunders because of bad leadership that arose first and foremost from the inability of leaders to see themselves as brothers in the struggle.

    Why do you castigate your colleague who can contribute to the system because in your mind he does not belong to the inner class, he does not possess the mandate like you do, he was not there from the beginning when you formed the party. You are afraid your colleague will wield so much power if you let him in and so you are ready to malign him so only you will appear relevant. You are very well misled because your own time will soon expire. If Peter and Paul feared each other that much they would not been the pillars we are celebrating today.

    The greatest problem and most dominant emotion of leaders today is fear. Fear has a tendency to imprison us. Fear stops most people from doing something incredible with their lives than lack of ability, contacts, resources, or any other single variable. Fear paralyses the human spirit and because of fear, when talented leaders sometimes do emerge, we we make their paths almost impossible.

    For the Christian, part of your witness is never to allow yourself be suppressed by another or feel inferior no matter the intimidation to the extent that you withhold your proclamation of truth. Be a pillar wherever you find yourself, remember that “it is not flesh and blood that has revealed this to you but Your heavenly father ” (Matt 16:17).

  • Do Not Fear: What You Really Need Now Is The Fortitude To Carry On BY FR PETER OBELE ABUE

    DO NOT FEAR

    Some things in life instill fear in us: a bleak and unkown future, dwindling resources and increasing list of needs, those who are our backbone dissappearing and we feeling alone, everyone mocking us and friends deserting us, the list goes on. At times like this, we run helter skelter looking for protection, but what we really need is fortitude to carry on. Fortitude is not only needed when we loose a loved one, it is the strength of mind or character in times of adversity. It ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of virtue. In this odd world, we need to be strong and fearless or else we will lose it.

    Jeremiah was one such character imbued with fortitude. He was not afraid and was able to conquer the glaring obstacles he faced. He spoke the truth and his adversaries were after his life. His truth got him in trouble with the leading army officers who wanted him dead at all cost. But would God allow his innocent servant suffer humiliation? No! God intervened and Jeremiah won at the end because he did not give up in the face of trials (Jer. 38: 4-10 also read Jer. 20:10-13). At the end he was able to exclaim: “The Lord is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble, they will not overcome me. They will be greatly shamed.”

    Like Jeremiah, Jesus pronounced the words “Do not fear” to his disciples several times in the scriptures to remind them that he cares for them and will defend them at every step of the way: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt.10:28). What Jesus means here is that we should not be scared of those who threaten our lives with demonic powers. You fear that if you go home your village people will end your life. You fear that if you terminate that occultic deal you got involved in, you will die. You fear that you must consult a soothsayer to fortify your life with charms for protection. Listen to this: no mortal being is capable of harming you who did not create you. What harms you is the fear in you. God assures you like he did to Jeremiah when he prayed “O Lord of hosts…, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause”

    The good news as says the book of Hebrews is that: we are not alone in the struggle. “We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses… and so we must persevere in running the race that lies before us, while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Heb 12: 1-4). Fear is not your portion. Any Christian who still lives in fear or doubt of God’s divine protection over witches and wizards should listen again to the words of the Psalmist: “Sing to the LORD; praise the LORD! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers.” May you be truly delivered from all your fears and anxieties

  • Holy Communion: Body and Blood of Christ BY PETER OBELE ABUE

     

    Holy Communion is the spiritual food recommended for us by God especially in times of adversity to keep us in close union with him. Its Holy because its food for our souls and Communion because it unites us as we all come together as one body to receive. Our forefathers in faith received Holy Communion as they prepared to leave Egypt the land of their captivity into the promised land (read Exodus 12ff). They needed to be sustained in the journey ahead. Down in the desert, their difficulties were huge and they were physically hungry, thirsty and beset by poisonous snakes. Again God gave them Holy Communion; this time “Manna” from heaven that they had never seen before to refresh and even heal them. (Deut. 8: 3ff).

    Jesus Christ our Lord and saviour the day before he suffered, knowing fully well how much his disciples would need it, shared Holy Communion with his disciples and told them to always do this in his memory (Jn 6: 25ff, Matt. 26: 26ff). Later on in Corinth, the disciples of Jesus when they had a problem. When most of them were being converted from paganism, some still had relatives and friends who offered sacrifice to idols and this resulted to tensions. Paul used Holy Communion (also called the Eucharist) to convince them not only on how to respect others beliefs but also to unite themselves irrespective of their differences (1Cor 10: 16-17). “The fact that there is only one loaf means that, though there are many of us, we form a single body because we all have a share in this one loaf” (v. 17).

    Jesus meant every word of it when he said he gives us his body and blood to eat and drink as Holy Communion. He meant this to keep us in close together in union with him, irrespective of our differences. He also meant it to prevent us from branching off our own wayward ways; feeling we can detach ourselves from him at will. Our questioning of this doctrine does not change the fact. (read Jn. 6: 52). Our decision to participate or not, does not change the fact either. Truly God means to come down to our level. The food of angels has become the bread of life and the saving grace for sinners. What a marvel in our eyes!

    What happens when we eat this bread? It is assimilated by our bodies and becomes part of us. Jesus says he is the bread of life and it His Body (Corpus Christi) we receive at Holy Communion. It is his person that we are eating and assimilating and it is his existence that must become ours. It’s all a matter of faith.