GNOMIC October 2017 by Gnomic Magazine

“

POIEMA

For we are God’s

MASTERPIECE

THINGS TO STOP DOING IN YOUR 20s.

EPHESIANS 2:10

ABOCHIE-RELLA AND THE SEVEN DWARFS

UPCLOSE AND PERSONAL

DR. WILLIAM OKYERE-FREMPONG

Smoothies for B reakfast. Krif and crisp

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AND THE BEATS GO ON: ATWT 5 THINGS TO STOP DOING IN YOUR 20s HOW SMART IS YOUR SMART PHONE?

MASTERPIECE

09 10 18 SEVEN CURES FOR A LEAN PURSE

24 THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. NABEEL QURESHI

46 WHEN THE BRIDE BECOMES A MAKE-UP ARTIST UPCLOSE AND PERSONAL

FIRST WORD

BAE HAS NOT CHANGED

ABOCHIE-RELLA AND THE SEVEN DWARFS

SMOOTHIES FOR BREAKFAST

THE FIFA WORLD CUP

THE LAST WORD

POIEMA

FIRST WORD

POIEMA

ook around you. Look at the trees , the seas, the birds with plummage gay... Is it too difficult to appreciate the handiwork of a Master artist? He made time, and in time, everything else that ever was. God. “In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth...” The way the rest of the creation story unfolds is almost as though every other thing God made was so that man would have the best. He did all this to prove a point-that we are His Masterpiece! He made us, and being satisfied with what he had done, rested. But almost like clockwork, the party crusher showed up on the scene, his motive being to mar the creator’s true reflection-- us. Doesn’t he always? But he’d be disappointed. Brother Paul records in his letter to the Church in Ephesus that we are God’s workmanship [ His masterpiece, His Poiema ], created in Christ Jesus unto good works...”

a few more verses to go. The plan was elegant. Through the womb of a woman, He would come to earth to make that ultimate upgrade to his creation; He would come as a man to die (the consequence of man’s actions) in mankind’s stead so that whosoever believed in Him will have eternal life. And He did. The way God loves you, only He can stop Himself from loving you the way He does! And the day He does, He will cease to be God! “Now if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation’. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus. You are God’s Masterpiece. And yes, the Master has pieced you back together for a peculiar purpose. He is intentonal like that. In this edition, I very much hope that you’ll be thoroughly convinced of your position in Christ. And once you have, that you’ll be inspired to walk confidently in that path God has specifically designed for your life. Poiema-- simply, you are the best God can do. And He is really counting on you!

You know, God’s creative activity did not come to an end in the garden. It had only began. And the poem he had written with clay had

GNOMIC A Christian Youth Magazine

OCTOBER 2017

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POIEMA

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AND THE BEAT GOES ON: ATWT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER

Bo noo ni. I wasn’t really surprised when Joe Mettle’s latest single, only days into it’s release, topped the apple music charts in Ghana. The track was all over. The live recording of the song was the number one trending video on youtube for a while until ‘One [insert a word which rhymes with Lorna here]’ took over. But it’s still a masterpiece, unlike the latter, and probably one of my favourite songs of 2017. Congrats, Joe!

that last line yet. lol. Shakespeare said that, I think]. Music. If you were on here last week, you would have probably chanced on our little argument: Why should we draw a line between Christian music and secular music? What really makes a song sacred? Lecrae recently released his “All things work together’ album, and the album is lit! When asked whether he intentionally quoted Romans 8:28 for an album title, this was what the hip-hop rapper (who doesn’t want to be labelled a Christian rapper) told Billboard: “Yeah, it was intentional. It was personal...For me, it’s the idea that God has a purpose and a bigger plan for everything that I’m going through so I just gotta get to the end of this and hopefully it’ll reveal itself” The issue of how hip-pop can be used as an evangelism tool has been the question of several debates in recent years. In ATWT, lecrae features the likes of Ty Dollar Sign, Tori Kelly, Verse Simmonds and Kierra Sheard in his most ‘daring’ work. “I hope that they understand there is hope in the chaos. I hope that they get that God loves them and there is nothing they can do about it - it’s an unrelenting pursuit of you - and I want people to feel that. I want people to feel that they can make it. I don’t care how crazy it gets, we are resilient people and I want people to know that’. -- Lecrae, about what he’d like fans to take away from the album.

You know, music is more than the lyrics and beats put together.It’s culture. It’s a way of life. It’s that which speaks when words fail. [Don’t quote me on

SIDE-EFFECT Joe Mettle’s Bo noo ni is a blend of English and Ga and tells of God’s greatness to humankind and his ability to rescue the perishing. It was recorded live at the Accra International Conference Centre in June 2017, during Joe Mettle’s live album DVD recording.

Prior to his ‘One corner’ break, no one knew who this Patapaa guy was. And now only months into it’s release, it’s all over social media and radio for all kinds of reasons.

Since it’s release it’s been number one on the Apple Music Charts.

Quite recently two teenagers have been reported dead on trying to dance to the song on their motorbikes.

Joe Mettle made history at the 2017 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards by being the first Gospel Artiste to have won Artiste of the Year in the award.

OCT17

Na who cause am?

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THINGS TO STOP DOING IN YOUR 20S. Your 20s are an amazing time of life. That’s why it hurts me to see that many flounder in the deep end. Frankly, many of us are doing things we shouldn’t. The truth is that the foundation you build in your 20s will shape the rest of your life. Studies back this up: 80 percent of life’s most defining moments happen before the age 35, researchers have found. Here are five things you should stop doing:

STOP LOOKING FOR EVERYONE’S APPROVAL. Some call you part of the “Me Me Me Generation.” Truthfully, many 20-somethings are plagued with the need for constant approval. You don’t need everyone’s approval. Sure, validation makes you feel good, but when this becomes your end goal, you arbitrarily change yourself in order to please everyone. Some people will like you. Some will dislike you. Keep doing what you were called to do. Your self-worth is not based on social media “likes.” Take a breather. It’s OK if you didn’t break 100 likes.Triple-digit “likes” do not make you enough. You are more than a social media profile. Don’t let your age limit you. 1 Timothy 4:12 said it best: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” One classic example is William Wilberforce. At the age of 21, still a student, Wilberforce was elected a Member of Parliament. Don’t allow others to determine your future. Don’t let others tell you what you can or can’t do especially when it comes to accomplishing your biggest dreams. Shoot for the stars. Don’t sell yourself short. The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, usually end up changing it. Think Steve Jobs! Don’t play the comparison game. Oscar Wilde was right: “Be yourself, everyone else is taken.” Stop comparing your behind-the-scenes with someone else’s highlight reel. You are handcrafted and custom-made by a perfect Creator.

STOP SETTLING FOR THE EASY WAY—IT WON’T TAKE YOU WHERE YOU WANT. Don’t be lazy. Everyone knows being lazy has negative consequences. But

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why you do you keep being lazy? No one has become successful by being lazy. Take ownership. Take initiative. Put in the hard work. Show up early. Work in pursuit of your calling, not just money. Don’t fall into the trap of the American Dream. Most people end up becoming a slave to money. Rather, embrace your vocational calling and become the best at what you are called to do. Money will likely follow. Leave your comfort zone. Show me someone who never leaves their comfort zone, and I’ll show you someone immersed in mediocrity. Nothing great happens in the comfort zone. It’s where dreams go to die. Stretch yourself. Experiment and explore. The more you engage in calculated risks, the more you’ll learn about yourself and how to succeed. Don’t play victim. Have you ever said this to yourself? “I honestly am the victim in this situation!” Being a victim is the viewpoint that something is being done to you. Being responsible is not about whether or not you were victimized. It’s about your outlook on the situation. You can choose to take the responsible point of view. This will create the incredible

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liberty for you to move forward in life and create boundless opportunities. STOP THINKING THE LIFE YOU WANT WILL COME WITHOUT INTENTIONALITY. Don’t be passive. Passivity won’t get you anywhere. Don’t let life just happen to you. Be intentional, not accidental. Go get it. If you don’t stand for something, you’ll eventually fall for anything.

Talk less about improving your life and actually do more. Talk is cheap. A mentor told me, “What you do speaks so loudly, I can’t hear what you say.” Your choices, not your talk, will determine your destination. Write a list. Prioritize everything you need to get done to reach your vision. Hold yourself accountable. Push yourself. Be a doer. Procrastinate less. When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that in itself is a choice. Stop procrastinating. Be less busy. Yes, having too much to do can be a form of passivity. Being busy is easy. In the 21st century, it’s a badge of honor. But being busy doesn’t translate into high productivity. In a world that’s deluged with to-dos, focus on working smarter, not harder. Focus on your stop-doing list instead. This will help you focus on what matters most.

STOP EXPECTING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS TO JUST HAPPEN. Do away with casual dating.

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Don’t get me wrong. I’m not against dating, but if you have zero intentions of marrying the person you’re dating, you probably should stop dating. You may stay in a relationship because you’re scared to be alone and pray things will somehow get better as life goes on. Face it: Dating with no vision is a recipe for failure. Leave toxic people alone. Motivational speaker Jim Rohn famously said that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Cut the cord and let those toxic people go. It’s not easy to walk away from these relationships, but that is part of the process of adulting. Don’t gossip about others. This isn’t Mean Girls. We’re not in high school anymore. Look for the best in others and talk about that. Allow yourself the potential to feel pain. Suffering is part of life. Sure, no one wants to constantly be in a state of suffering. But if you’re not in pain, you’re probably not growing. It is said that growth equals change, change equals loss, and loss equals pain, so therefore, growth equals pain. If you’re scared to take the risk, you’re most likely not going to grow. Embrace the pain.

reality because I also experienced it. Instead, submit yourself under a leader worth following. Grind it out. This might take a year, five years or 10 years. Sooner or later, you’ll be an expert. Dream bigger. Mark Batterson said, “If your dream doesn’t scare you, it’s too small.” As you grow up, the realities of life will convince you otherwise. Safe will never get you to awesome. Your 20s are the time to explore and experiment. Go big or go home.

Paul Sohn

is a leadership coach, bestselling author and speaker. Formerly employed by both a Fortune 50 company and a Top 100 Great Place to Work Company, Paul is the founder of QARA.

STOP EXPECTING YOUR IDEAL FUTURE TO HAPPEN WITHOUT WORK. Accept that you don’t know everything. You don’t. Just because you watched 17 YouTube clips on one topic doesn’t make you an expert. I know this is a harsh

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RELATIONSHIPS

Bae has not changed.

It started out on a rather exciting note. Your sweetheart seemed to be the only person in your life. You just couldn’t wait for the lecture to end to give “bae” a call. You were almost always on the phone talking about anything and everything. Two years down the line, the excitement seems to have died down. Gone are the days when you felt the tingles strike anytime you saw each other. You see other people’s “seemingly blossoming” relationships and you wonder what went wrong with yours. “I think I’m with the wrong person”, you say to yourself, and yet you can’t really point a finger at any major issue. The love is still existent, but truly, “bae’ has changed. Before you consider giving up on this special person, allow me to sink it in: “Bae” has not changed. There are 2 stages in every boy-girl relationship: the EUPHORIC stage, and the INTENTIONAL stage. In the EUPHORIC stage, which is the initial stage of the relationship, little effort is required to keep the love alive. You’re in a state of ecstasy. You freely do things for each other without giving thought to cost or sacrifice. The person you love seems to be perfect (at least to you), and you tend to overlook certain imperfections without notice. You seldom have misunderstandings, and you will go the lengths to make this person happy. This stage, rhapsodic as it is, has an average lifespan of 2 years. God, in his wisdom, made it this way lest we accomplish absolutely nothing in the name of ‘being in love’ . A typical student in the euphoric state wouldn’t give a whim about impending exams, because “Bae needs my attention “. *wink*

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The second stage, which is the intentional stage, requires much more effort to keep the relationship going. Here, the reality of love by choice hits you, and you consciously have to decide to make the journey exciting, lest you lose that wonderful person to trivial issues. Here are a few tips to guide you… • Keep communication lines active. Loves grows cold as communication dies down. There may be times you wouldn’t feel like talking to each other, but try as much as possible to call or text regularly. Certain times, you may actually have to plan what to talk about. • Be deliberate about things. Unlike the euphoric stage where things were spontaneous, this stage needs much more planning and deliberate attempts to make things happen. The warm, bubbly, tingly feelings may have reduced. You have to be intentional about visiting each other, hanging out and saying “I love you” every now and then. Do this, or face the consequences of turning into siblings rather than lovers! • Break the monotony Variety is the spice of life. Don’t be too predictable. When your “Good morning” text pops up, I bet the rest of the conversation flows like this: You: Did you sleep well? Bae: Yeah, I did. The formular must change! “Hi boo, I woke up feeling blessed this morning because I thought of you and I realised how good God has been to me by giving me someone like you. Just saying good morning. I sure hope you slept well” Receiving a text like this on a seemingly monotonous morning, will be a great boost to kickstart your day! The caution here is not to abuse it, lest it loses its touch. Know and apply each other’s love language.

•

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By nature, we tend to grow up speaking a language and a dialect we best understand, or were brought up with. True love works the same way. Everyone has a primary love language. Whatever makes us feel loved is what we do for the other person, but if it’s not their love language, it may not mean to them as much as it means to us.

to this stage even without knowing. Do you now understand me when I say ‘Bae’ hasn’t changed? You’ve only grown out of the euphoric stage.

There are 5 love languages: Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Receiving gifts, Quality time and Physical Touch (I will expound on this in my next piece).

Most importantly, don’t forget that principles work, but God makes the difference. “A threefold cord(God+you+bae) is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

You may put effort into buying stuff for your sweetheart just because you like receiving gifts. The feedback may not be what you expect, and you may think the person is being ungrateful. Quality time might be his/ her love language. Put your phone away and give the undivided attention so much sought after, and watch the wonders it will do for your relationship.

Credit: Gary Chapman in “Things I wished I knew before I married”

Before you plan on breaking up, take time to apply these tips. You will see a massive improvement.

So you see, your relationship may have gotten

OCT17

Gloria Wiredu

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DESTINATION

THE FGMSA MENTAL HEALTH PROJECT. In the face of the recent surge in incidence of reported suicides in Ghana, the Federation of Ghana Medical Students Association (FGMSA) felt the need to do more to get it under control, thus, the mental health project. More hope, no more rope. Activies undertaken as part of the project included a launch, an awareness health screening and walk, as well as a district tour.

#MoreHope #NoMoreRope

HOT RIGHT ABOUT NOW

Suicide: facts and figures Suicide is the

second leading cause of death among

Lupita Nyong’o accuses Harvey Weinstein of harassment

15-29 year-olds

Over

800 000 people

High-income countries

75%

die by suicide

every year

of suicides occur in low- and middleincome countries

1 death every

seconds

Where people are taking this ‘one corner’ thing dier...

There are more deaths from suicide than from war and homicide together

OCTOBER is Breast Cancer awareness month

57%

Pesticides, hanging and firearms are the most common methods used globally

Suicides are preventable Restricting access to means Responsible media reporting Introducing alcohol policies

Effective preventive measures

Early identification and treatment Training of health workers Follow-up care and community support

It’s been a while since we had a good laugh.

Key is a comprehensive multisectoral approach Most countries currently do not have a national suicide prevention strategy

Ghana goes digital. No longer shall we say ‘..the house behind the kooko seller...”

Media

Government

Civil society

10% reduction of suicide rates is the target in the Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020

TECHNOW HOW SMART IS YOUR SMARTPHONE?

Smartphones are so common today. Almost everyone has one. But it hasn’t always been like that. The very first concept of a smartphone is said to have been envisioned back in the 1970s, but that idea didn’t come into fruition until almost 20 years later when IBM’s Simon Personal Communicator was birthed. Since then, it’s been a competitive ride to the recent iPhone X. Smartphones have come a long way.

the steering wheel) could do the trick. 3. Ever tried Photomath? This app allows you to take a picture of any math problem and get an immediate answer. How cool is that? Plus it’s absolutely free for iphone and android.

4. The iBobber, a small spherical device, paired to your waterproof phone like the Samsung galaxy s7, works as a sonar in both salt and freshwater, helping you to locate fish up to 135ft under the surface of water.

What is a smartphone?

A smartphone “is able to perform many of the functions of a computer, typically having a relatively large screen and an operating system capable of running general purpose applications’, the Oxford Dictionaries say. Here are 5 things you didn’t know you could do with your 5. Our last pick this round is AliveCor’s smartphone. Kardia mobile heart monitor. It takes just 30s to capture your EKG and tell 1. Your smartphone camera may already be perfect for you if your heart rhythm is normal and selfies and snapshots of your family and friends, but did all you need to do is press your ingers you know that with some smart tweaks you could to the touchpads and the Kardia app will actually turn it into a microscope? do the rest. Awesome, aren’t it?

With about GHC40 , you could turn your phone into a micrscope with magnification up to 375x!

Smartphones have come a long way, and there’s no stopping them now.

2. What about figuring out exactly why your check engine light is on? Connecting a device like the Automatic pro into your car’s ODB-II port (located under

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CURRENT

THE PORN-LEGACY: HUGH HEFNER DIES AT 91. Hugh Hefner, the founder of the Playboy magazine, died on September 27, 2017, at his Beverly Hills-area home, the Playboy Mansion, at age 91.He is believed to have died of natural causes. The magazine was founded more than 60 years ago, and created a niche for men to enjoy images of nude women, with in-depth articles, interviews and fiction.

HARVEY WEINSTEIN, ACCUSED BY DOZENS, OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT. Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o has accused movie mogul Harvey Weinstein of harassment.

In an article for the New York Times, she said she was lured to his room under false pretences. He then said that he wanted to give her a massage, she claimed, saying she initially thought he was joking. Weinstein faces allegations of sexual misconduct and assault from dozens of women. He has “unequivocally” denied having “non-consensual sex”.

Ghana has finally joined the list of nations that are hooked on to a digital property addressing system, following the launch of ‘ghanapostGPS.’ The digital addressing system is a modern approach to allocating addresses within a defined space with the aid of the latest geocoding technology.

#JACK WHERE ARE YOU? OCT17

The AsaaseGPS app, developed by Vokacom – a local Ghanaian software developer – has been handed over to Ghana Post to manage. The app takes one to every nook and cranny of the country with a unique postcode, using the initiator, #Jack where are you? as slogan. - ghanaweb

Iphone X Various reports suggest that device sales are much lower than expected, and there are currently no signs that they’ll turn around anytime soon. - Fortune

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WEALTH FROM THE INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLER ‘THE RICHEST MAN IN BABYLON’

‘SEVEN CURES FOR A LEAN PURSE’. PART II H

ello, thou seekers of wealth!

Everybody wants to be rich – not just rich, but to have wealth that is sustaining, increasing and enduring. The theme for this edition of GNOMIC, ‘Poiema’ means ‘that which has been made or is the result of someone’s work’. Money does not grow on trees, and it certainly does not grow in the backyard of an idle man! That’s the point of this series – to help us begin the journey to a lifestyle of financial independence. In the last edition of GNOMIC, we began a series on financial independence based on some lessons from the third chapter of the 1927 masterpiece – The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason. We’ve seen the first two keys. Let’s tackle the rest, shall we? You’ve cut expenses, drawn up a budget and learned to live on 80% of your income. Your lean purse is fattening. What next?

Rule 3: Make thy gold multiply

“The gold we may retain from our earnings is but the start. The earnings it will make shall build our fortunes.” – Arkad, The Richest Man in Babylon pg. 31. No one gets rich simply by hoarding money. Let your money work for you. Put it in a profitable business or Investment. Repeat this cycle with your earnings. Take advantage of compound interest and start now. It is the continuous inflow of the “children of your gold” that adds up to create your wealth. There are different types of investments (which is a topic for another day), so do some research and select a few. For beginners, treasury bills and mutual funds like Databank’s ‘Epack’ are good places to start. Once you get a stable footing, you can explore riskier options.

Rule 4: Guard thy treasures from losses

So, we are all about putting our money to work for us and getting some investments stored up for the future. Be careful, though, that you don’t give your hard-earned gold to a brickmaker to buy jewels from Phoenicians! (If you don’t get it, you’ve not read the book!) Only invest in ventures in which your principal is secure and from which you’re sure to get a good return. Of course, the greater the return, the higher the risk of loss but you still need to be careful. This is where consultation matters. Read books, walk into any trustworthy bank or investment company, and talk to their customer service personnel, browse the internet cautiously. Seek knowledge about a venture before you throw your hard-earned cash away. In short, invest in something you are knowledgeable about or have consulted an expert about.

Rule 5: Make of thy dwelling a profitable investment

The focus of this rule is the benefit of owning one’s own home, thus, cutting out rent payments. While this may not directly apply to someone still in school, it’s still not farfetched. Remember those gold coins you saved up and put in investment? How about directing a percentage of that toward the purchase or building of your future home? Imagine the amount of rent that will save you in the not-sodistant future. Once again, I say, take advantage of your JHS lesson in compound interest!

Rule 6: Insure a future income

Apart from your future dwelling, another area to consider for long term investment at this stage is the period you will not be working anymore – your retirement. “Oh-hoh, Akoma! I’ve not even started working and you’re already talking about retirement!” Relax. We are still within your 10% savings. We are still taking advantage of time and the principle of compound interest. In view of this rule and its immediate predecessor, I think a worthy investment to save toward will be the purchase of land. Land as an investment appreciates in value over the long-term.

Rule 7: Increase thy ability to earn

“The man who seeks to learn richly of his task may be rewarded” – Arkad, The Richest Man in Babylon pg. 41.

This concludes our series on the Seven Cures to a Lean Purse. Just in case you’re still not convinced of the need for all this trouble, here’s one more reason: ‘Poiema’ is a reminder that we are created to do good works (Ephesians 2:9-10). It’s true you don’t necessarily need money to do those; but can you imagine how much more you can achieve with the right amount and flow of cash? Finally, let me leave you with the words of Arkad, our able teacher, the richest man in Babylon, “Go thou forth and practice these truths that thou mayest prosper and grow wealthy, as is thy right.” (pg. 42) And oh – the next time you pass by a bookshop or booksales, do well to grab a copy of this amazing book.

“As a man perfecteth himself in his calling, even so doth his ability to earn increase.” – Arkad, The Richest Man in Babylon pg. 40. “Observe people who are good at their work— skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don’t take a backseat to anyone.” – Proverbs 22:29 (MSG) It stands to reason that as one’s skills and knowledge increase, one’s market value and earning capacity increase. Study to be the best at what you do. Plan and invest toward furthering your education. Invest in yourself. Develop your other interests and talents; you never know what doors they will open for you. Above all, develop the right attitude toward work (Colossians 3:23). Again, increase your financial knowledge, so that as your gold increases, you will know how better to put it to work for you.

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Akoma Essuman

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FAITH

MASTERPIECE

“

God doesn’t play dice.

-Albert Einstein

In history-taking for Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the pregnant mother is queried as to whether the pregnancy was planned and is welcome. While some pregnancies may not be planned, there is nothing as unplanned children and no child in God’s definition is an accident. Long before you were conceived in your mother’s womb, he thought about you. You are exactly who he wanted you to be, and are custom-made for the

how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. --Psalm 139: 13-16

Our God made no mistake. He knit you together within the womb, You’re just what he wanted to make.

Your place and boundaries are made to fit into His purpose.

No, that trauma you faced was not easy. And God wept that it hurt you so; But it was allowed to shape your heart So that into his likeness you’d grow.

From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they shouldW rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. -- Acts 17: 26 The universe you are in was created just to fit you. YOU ARE THE MASTER’S BEST. The value that God places on man is evident in the price He pays in order to get us back to Himself- the price of JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF. Master’s assignment. -- Jeremiah 1:5 I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart And appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—

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This makes us wonder with the Psalmist “What is man, that you are mindful of him?”. Rick Warren summarizes this with a poem by Russel Kelfer in his book, Purpose Driven life;

The parents you had were the ones he chose, And no matter how you may feel, They were custom-designed with God’s plan in mind, And they bear the Master’s seal.

You are who you are for a reason You’ve been formed by the Master’s rod. You are who you are, beloved, Because there is a God!” Live life to the fullest, knowing that you are your Master’s best: His perfect piece, the exact replica of His hands. YOU ARE NOT AN ACCIDENT.

Priscilla Kyei-Baffour Emeth Forum

You are who you are for a reason. You’re part of an intricate plan. You’re a precious and perfect unique design, Called God’s special woman or man. You look like you look for a reason.

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OCTOBER IS

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

DETECT IT EARLY WITH A SELF-BREAST EXAM.

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INTERVIEW

UP-CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH

DR. WILLIAM OKYERE-FREMPONG version of what I do. The P-version: Physician, Presenter of Positive Pulse on 3FM, Preacher, President of Human Development Group [HuD Group]. M-version: Medicine, Media, Ministry. Q: You are known to hit on purpose a lot when you talk. How did you get this ‘purposeconscious’?

Q: Who would you say Dr. William Okyere-Frempong is? A: I’m a medical practitioner by training, a radio show-host, an itinerant preacher and a leadership coach by divine design. I believe I’m called of God and blessed with gifts and talents for God’s purposes and his people. I usually say there is a ‘P’ and ‘M’

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A: I think it is a fundamental question of life that everyone needs to discover in order to give meaning to life. For example, Jesus’ purpose was to die and he got it right from the beginning. At age 12, he spoke about doing His father’s business when he should have been playing. I got to understand these things quite early, and it led me to living a pointed life. It motivates my actions, defines what’s important, clarifies my goal, and keeps me at peace because success is defined as the realization of my assignment and not what others consider as important. If all of us could understand that purpose is not about making a name for ourselves but to carry out God’s will, we won’t have a problem serving under people. Many ministries divide because they are concerned about egos and logos. Our calling is to declare God’s name and

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spread His fame. I’m driven by both concepts. God doesn’t call us to stardom but He calls us to sainthood. Not being exceptional doesn’t mean you are not significant. Come on, Jesus’ life of ministry was about three and a half years long but His impact is still remarkable and all of history is defined by Him. Q: How early did you discover your purpose? A: I think it was after secondary school. Most of my curious questions got answered in that period. Some people helped me out. One of such contacts is Dr. Newman-Arthur. When I was laid back, he provided the drive. He exposed me to preaching in lecture theatres, dawn broadcast etc Another person is Dr. Yaw Perbi. I met him when some senior colleagues recommended me to him for a leadership assignment in medical school. He trained me under the Maxwell leadership programme. I used to have my lessons online over Skype at midnight because internet services were better then. He gave me the opportunity to facilitate some of his training sessions. Q: How practical can we be as far as purpose is concerned? A: Purpose is not abstract. People who don’t even believe in a God-sense seem to have an agenda in life. Purpose comes in when you know who you are, what you’ve been given—your talents and abilities—and know how to apply these for God’s glory

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“

Our calling is to declare God’s name and spread His fame. and His people. Purpose gives meaning to how we live our lives daily. I see Christ as an example. He got it right and said ‘it is finished’ at the end. It’s almost like he was sending a text message to the Father. Many people are rather saying ‘I’m finished’ instead of ‘it is finished’ on their death bed. Our lives are time-bound; we can’t spend them experimenting. Q: You mentioned the will of God and accomplishment. Looking at people like Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, would you term their successes as having accomplished purpose? A: I believe purpose is fulfilling God’s design for your life. Concerning [that parable], those ‘Christians’ missed their purpose although they made impact. They deviated. However impressive things may seem, they won’t matter if God doesn’t appreciate them. I don’t think people who don’t know God can talk about purpose because purpose starts from having a relationship with the Maker. Purpose comes after a relationship with God, and works come after faith in God. Q: How did the CLINS group start for you? A: CLINS is an acronym for Club Inspiration. It was my first call into ministry. I had this desire to reach out to people of faith to encourage them to use their gifts for God’s glory. This was a student youth development organization. It was in my second year in medical school. We had three

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divisions— Literature Inspiration, Pro Inspiration and Out Inspiration. We did extensive outreaches especially during vacations to encourage people. It’s an organization that sought to empower young people to discover their God given talents and maximize their potential. Q: Did you face any specific challenges in school combining your spiritual leadership roles as CMF President with academic duties? A: Absolutely! I actually served as Legon Coordinator for CMF before I became President when CMF turned 40. My younger self was driven by passionate purpose without balance. All my energy then was skewed towards building CLINS to the neglect of my primary responsibility in school— studying. In my third year in medical school, I got so heavily referred that I was almost repeated. It came as a blow to me since I had become some sort of ‘figure head’. That was when it dawned on me that balance was essential and that the practice of our faith is not an excuse for failure. God does not delight in failure; He’s able to turn it around for good. There are things He establishes in principles. He works with seed, time and harvest. If you do not put in a seed and He doesn’t intervene, it’s likely you will fail. It was a moment of awakening , especially with the possibility of repeating that year. I couldn’t see how I would stand before God if I became an object of mockery. I got challenged to make very good use of my time and resources. Q: What are your hobbies? A: I enjoy reading. I love chess…I like doing things that involve thinking and planning. I like speaking and I could never get tired of that. I used to like football too—not watching, but

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Dr. and Dr. Mrs. Okyere-Frempong

“

Purpose comes after a relationship with God, and works come after faith in God. 31

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The OkyereFrempong Family.

playing. I made a few appearances for the Akuafo hall team and in one of our leagues, my goal was credited as goal of the season. I played in ‘tokrom’ as well. I enjoy watching tennis too. Till date, I am a Nadal fan. I respect Federer for his class and Nadal for his passion. My love for Barcelona has been since the days of Ronaldinho and I think he brings beauty to the art of football. I love good movies and theatre as well… I have a biased affection for movies with an investigative, legal, espionage, combat touch. I make time every quarter to watch a play. I was head usher when Uncle Ebo Whyte staged his first play in 2008—‘Unhappy wives, confused husbands’. Q: Congratulations on your nomination for the ’Forty under 40 awards.’ Are there any other awards you have received? (Forty under 40 celebrates 40 influential Ghanaians under age 40 who are making a mark in the various

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business sectors) A: I got nominated in two categories: Health and Wellness and Human Resource and Development. In 2015, the Speaker’s Bureau of Ghana ranked me as third young speaker. Advance media, which profiles 50 young Ghanaians excelling in various roles under 40 yearly shortlisted me. I ranked 14th out of 50. In the most recent one, I placed 2nd to the Vice Chancellor of Valley View University, Prof. Daniel Kwame Bediako in the Human Development category. Overall, I ranked 18th. Other recognitions have been from the New Accra Report in the 2015 publication. I have been a recipient of Noble International Awards by West African Nobles Forum for Selfless Leadership and Integrity in 2014. I’m the youngest recipient so far. Q: The Wife…. A: She has been great. There is no way

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I can do this without peace at home to share our lives and sometimes our cash. She assists with my power point preparations especially when I’m running a busy schedule. There is a clear certainty that she’s bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. We have 2 kids together- Sumpa and Asempa. We met in school in a not so dramatic story. During my tenure as CMF Legon Coordinator, CMF Legon was 20 years and she was pivotal with anniversary preparations, which is how our cordial relationship began. When I called later to appreciate the efforts of the committee members, she was the only one who recognized my voice and called me by name and this struck a significant chord. Interestingly, there was a particular place I used to chance upon her about three times in a row where we exchanged pleasantries. That was the beginning of a personal relationship. I admired her passion, zeal for the Lord and her Christ-like character… Q: Would you ever want to be involved in politics? A: An honest answer will be ‘I don’t know’. I don’t have any convictions about politics. What I am convinced about is to impact and raise leaders. I see myself as a Samuel who would walk into the corridors of the palace or Flagstaff house to direct the king or the president. I’m persuaded about shaping the leadership potential of the next presidents. If I get a burden for presidency, I will pray about

“Dr. Will is On The Bill”

it and take it up from there. I look forward to any new challenge. Q: What is your advice for this upcoming generation? A: Life is all about God. Let’s find Him early. Let’s cause our lives to bring Him glory. God seeks to continue what He started in Genesis. When he had created from the first to the fifth day, He said it was good. But when He created man, He said, ‘This is very good.’ Man brings Him the greatest pleasure and He yearns to take pleasure at our works and say again, ‘this is very good’.

“

Man brings Him the greatest pleasure and He yearns to take pleasure at our works and say again, ‘this is very good’.

ABOCHIE-RELLA AND THE SEVEN DWARFS

[Borderline Personality Disorder]

Master: Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the prettiest of them all? Mirror: I beg you, Master, please forget it. Even if I show her to you, it will be a futile whetting of your appetite. Her class, you cannot maintain. Her fervour, you cannot contain. *

Abochie was suffering. The thirty-four-year-old in Level 400, had finally found himself accommodation on campus, only to battle the strongest temptation of his life. His biggest challenge was this : the campus girls were too fine. Smokin’ hot! Gorgeous! Inviting! He was spellbound by the variety, smitten by their sophistication. Though he had managed to avoid those intelligent course mates of his during lectures, he couldn’t help but internalize and ruminate on the wondrous blessings that roamed the winding streets of the campus. His mouth always run dry anytime he tried to talk to them. He basically froze: He had endured years of mockery from his schoolmates; embarrassing pressure from his family; intense self-rebuke; and had assumed rejection from those he’d barely spoken to.

But the austere look was a decoy, from the appallingly rampant erections that bedevilled this prayer warrior. He kept to himself, and made sure his nose was always buried in one book or another. All this, was to suppress this age old handicap. But the month of February has a way of resurrecting buried feelings and disappointments. And though he cleverly conjured alibis as a renowned no-show, Abochie’s deepest desire was to have a lady give him attention, for once, in his life. The eve of Valentine’s Day saw him lock himself up, and fold up in his mattress. He read, to himself, the sixtythree or so letters he had written to many a lass, but never had the guts to post. He finally fell asleep at ten.

This intense urge, desire and drive, coupled with his firm principles, led him to assume a disposition of sorts...

It happened like a dream. No, even better... A little old lady, dressed in blue, winged, bright as a lamp, holding a wand, appeared to him, floating in one corner of his room, and smiling.

He wore a bushy goatee, only competing in size with his Adam’s apple; and shades he did not need, to hide his ever roaming gaze. Dimunitive as he was, his belt was always above his navel.

‘Behold, Abochie, thou favoured one! Hark! I am here to grant thee one wish, this very day. Whatever it is you wish for, up to the ends of the Multiverse, I

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will fulfil. But thou shan’t wish for more. I will...’

The old lady sighed and shook her head in disbelief.

“Madam Fairy Godmother, speak no further... I want a woman! A well endowed, fair complexioned, sexy brunette. I want a clingy lady, someone who will follow me around campus. I want her jealous, and possessive. I want her to do all I say, and, without question, fulfil my wildest fantasies. I want her educated, yes, but obviously less intelligent than I am; tall with long legs; evident for all to see. I want her to give me nothing but that pleasure I have never tasted. Every blessed day.

‘Your wish is my command...’, she said, as she shook her wand, and then vanished.

“I want her to worship me, yes, to serve me. Willing to sacrifice her grades for my whims. Oh yeah, I don’t want someone who is always talking...about marriage, and I don’t want someone who will drain me financially. In fact, I want her to be of notable wealth, and willing to spend on me at all times. I want her to give me her all. “Yes. I want a woman in whose arms I WILL GLADLY DIE!” The old lady looked disappointed. She descended from the height and landed softly on the ground. Her light dimmed. ‘Lo! Abochie, art thou certain about...’ “Madam Fairy, were you sent to ask me questions? If you cannot do it, return from whence you came!”

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Abochie was rudely awoken to persistent knocking on his door the following morning. It was the dreaded Valentine’s Day. He plodded slowly, as he opened his door reluctantly. Standing on his porch was a curly haired, superbly endowed, lipsmacking beauty. Faultless, and flawless. His mind realigned all the vibes he had gathered over his twenty celebate years. She smiled, biting one corner of her lower lip and staring seductively at him. With nothing but a towel wrapped loosely around her, and dripping wet, what could she possibly want? Abochie did not waste time with words. He did not step out of his room that day. She took good care of him. She taught him things he needed to catch up on, did everything Abochie wanted, and more. She had to be his soul mate. Wow! So the dream was for real.

She was fantastic. That Val’s Day was THE Val’s Day. Abochie had been reborn. He cleared his goatee and got rid of the glasses. He updated his fashion sense and reignited his campus life. She followed him everywhere; tagging along his skimpy arms; always rubbing his heavy bald head; wiping his mouth after every meal; dutifully cleaning his apartment and doing his laundry on weekends. He drove her car, ate her food, and enjoyed her sinfully. She defended him everywhere; picked up and won fights for his sake. She kept reminding him of all her seven evil exes, and why he was the best ever. They were an obvious mismatch... but they were... in love. She wanted to go everywhere with him. She even wanted him to follow her to the salon. But soon Abochie needed some privacy. Going for group discussions was now a problem; she didn’t want anyone talking to her man. She accused him of cheating on her several times, even when he showed her proof to

“Yes. I want a woman in whose arms I WILL GLADLY DIE!” 35

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the contrary. There were times she would confront these other ladies, to the point of fist fights. If he returned to his hostel a few minutes late, it meant he was flirting with someone somewhere. It seemed to Abochie, that her life revolved around him. She did not have a church or mosque to attend; she did not follow soap operas; and she did not fancy beauty pageants. It was all Abochie by day, and Abochie by night. He dare not point this out to her, for his closest attempt had led to hours of irrepressible tears. Then she started threatening to kill herself, if Abochie continued to refuse to send her for lectures; she was feeling lonely, desperate, without Abochie’s kisses.... as though she was not in the same school, heading for terminal exams. And, indeed, she had readied herself several times for suicide. Abochie was always there in the nick of time. Now it was exam week. She wanted him to sing her to sleep every night. She woke him up several times at night for sex... something he initially enjoyed... After only three months, Abochie realized that he could not handle her. He wanted his old life back. He was crumbling - in fact afraid of the woman who gladly offered herself to him every night. He began to pray again, as he did during his lonely years.

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Once again, in his dream, the same old woman appeared, winged, floating in a corner of the room, and with her wand. But she was not glowing, and she was not smiling. ‘What is it you want with me, young man? I have done your bidding, and I have made you the envy of many brokenhearted on this land.’ “Madam Fairy. Hmm. All-knowing and all-wise. Errm. Omnipotent. Can you please reverse the wish? Can you take this back? I do not wish for another. I only want things to be the way they once were...” ‘Fool! You could have asked for world peace, an end to global warming, a cure for AIDS, or a vaccine for malaria. You could have asked for insight into life, or for the presidency of the land, to gain some status or even financial wealth beyond your pitiful wardrobe. How many people get this rare opportunity in a millennium? ‘Now your grades have tanked. You are spending no money, but you are spent. You have lost all your friends, and she has no depth to quench your lovethirsty soul.

fantasy. ‘But this lady, who is lying naked beside you, is real. Every inch of her exists. And, until every ounce of your wish is fulfilled, she will remain beside you.’ “Madam! What do you mean by that?...”, Abochie cut in. ‘Your wish would not have been granted, if you do not DIE in her arms!...Now summon me no more.’ The fairy godmother vanished.

Dr. Kofi Seffah

‘What do you take me for? A fairy? An angel? No! I am nothing more than a figment of your repressed imagination. I am you, thinking to yourself. A mere manifestation of your desires. A

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FOOD

Smoothies for B reakfast

As medics, we are supposed to know the importance of having breakfast, yet many of us, caught up in the great rush of life associated with our profession, start our day without a bite. Our excuse? - there’s no time. Here at GNOMIC, we believe in defying the odds, and that’s why we bring you simple, easy recipes which are quick to prepare and nourishing to your body.

Smoothies are a creative way to stay healthy without investing too much time. All you need is a blender, fruits, ice and a bottle to carry on-the-go! For those who like their smoothies thick, chop and freeze your fruits before blending to cut out the extra water from melted ice.

Check out these ideas for quick yet healthy 3-ingredient smoothies:

1. Lettuce, cucumber, pineapple

One great benefit of this green smoothie is its hydrating power from the lettuce and cucumber. Your skin will thank you very much. Vary the amount of pineapple used according to taste.

2. Banana, avocado, groundnuts

After blending the banana and avocado, add some roasted groundnuts to make your smoothie a little more interesting. You can crush them in or leave them whole. Really, it’s about how you like it.

3. Pawpaw, coconut, banana

The meat (the white flesh) of the coconut alone can be used but you can also add the juice in varying quantities to obtain the consistency you desire. Combine any of these with our sardine omelette from the last edition of GNOMIC and two slices of pan-toasted bread and you have a balanced healthy breakfast in under 30 minutes for less than GHc10. It’s really that simple! Till next time, eat healthy! Akoma.

BRIDE MAKE-UP ARTIST.

WHEN THE BECOMES A

It was a beautiful Saturday morning; 10am to be precise. The Amazing grace temple was filled with friends and family of Kuuku and Aseye. They were there to witness this well anticipated ceremony. Kuuku was looking resplendent in his navy blue suit and matching kente bowtie. His best man, Ato, was laughing heartily with him over a joke. Ato could make a widow laugh at the graveside of her husband on the day of burial, and that was why he was Kuuku’s best friend. Kuuku looked at his golden Seiko watch for the umpteenth time and wondered why his bride was running late. They had spoken about it because they didn’t want to be embarrassed by the nononsense Rev. Dr. Teiko. His mum smiled at him when their eyes met. To say she was overjoyed would be a huge understatement. She looked 10 years younger, but he found her headgear ridiculously high. The newly acquired pipe organ disrupted his thoughts when the organist, with fine dexterity, began playing Beethoven’s ‘Fur Elise’ in A minor. His head shot up and his heart did the flip. Everyone rose. His eyes were dancing in their sockets, his fingers tapping in tune with each key the organist played. It was the first classical piece his melancholic-phlegmatic-self had learnt to play, and he loved it. Aseye, accompanied by her dad, took her first step on the 150meter long white carpet that led to the altar.

“Aseye, give us the discharge

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summary!” her consultant said a few decibels below the threshold for shouting. She had been distracted by the young man who walked into the VIP section of the fourth floor of the medical block. His Chris Adams perfume wafted through the room, and his mum, the patient, knew he was around. Aseye was a final year student’ and Mrs. Asafo-Adjaye was her patient. She quickly gave her summary and told her patient to come see her consultant in 14 days for a review. The consultant left the room with her colleagues, talking in hushed tones about the gentleman who walked in dressed like he had just stepped out of a G8 meeting. “Kuuku, you’re here. Meet my doctor,” said his mom. He stretched his hand to give a warm handshake to Aseye. She smiled and shook her head. “Would have to wash my hands first-- and please, I’m just a medical student. The lady who just stepped out is my boss, Prof. Federiques.” ‘Aseye’, Kuuku quipped. She quickly folded her arms and gave him the how-did-you-know-myname look. He chuckled and pointed to her name tag. She laughed, throwing her head backwards, and that was when his virtual slow motion began. The sun had never been this dim. Kuuku’s analytical mind (that earned him a very enviable spot at Ernst & Young, a multinational professional service firm headquartered in London), went into action. Her dark hair was in a bun, and he scanned for any additions: none. She was 5’4, and she was in flats. She had these eyes that could look into your soul. She looked like a beauty queen

with her naturally chiseled face. But there was something more to her than just the looks… an aura of flawless grace. Kuuku’s eyes doubtlessly caught the sway in her hips as she walked towards the sink, still laughing. “Common sense has started leaving you abi?” he could almost swear he heard in Ato’s voice. He chuckled to himself. “Please, take my card. Thanks for taking good care of my mum. I have a 1 o’clock, and we have to get going. Please call; I’d like to be friends with a doctor. They say it’s healthy.” Kuuku’s mum was enjoying the dialogue. She stood up and hugged Aseye after the latter had insisted on removing her lab coat first. “Do you always dress beautifully?” Kuuku asked, as he picked his mum’s suitcase. “I must always look good. I don’t know where I’ll meet my husband”, she replied with raised eyebrows. The smile made his tummy rumble.

[A week later] “…In summary, patient presented with a two-day history of swelling of both legs, a day’s history of abdominal distension and headache. There were palpitations, dizziness, easy fatiguability, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea and tender hepatomegaly. Patient is currently on Furosemide and is responding well. Today is admission day 3.” Aseye presented. The resident asked her to brief her colleagues about her

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diagnosis and management plan. A hand shot up at the back. No wonder the ‘Chris Adams’ scent which she had been trying to put a finger on, lingered. “He came!”, she muttered to herself, all the while suppressing the smile. Her roommate Adeline winked at her and mouthed, “I told you”. “Ah Kuuku AsafoAdjaye, is that you?” Dr. Theresa asked. “Theresa ‘the shark’ Thompson, you force oo; you do your “shakara” tins come dey here!” “Your question please?” Aseye quickly interrupted their little banter. The place was silent. Dr. Thompson looked at Aseye and then to Kuuku. “Can someone get heart failure secondary to broken heart syndrome especially when a lady who makes you weak in your kness intentionally refuses to call you?” Kuuku asked. “It depends on what he decides to do… starve himself and get severely anemic, leading to congestive heart failure.” Aseye said. “How did you know there was something called broken heart syndrome?” Dr. Thompson quizzed, forcing Kuuku to break eye contact. “Ato oo… so he was right? That guy dieer…” “Hahaha! You are still friends with that hilarious fellow”, said Dr. Thompson, their classmate from high school. A year and half later, on Aseye’s birthday, Kuuku proposed to her at a surprise party he organized.

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‘You can take off the veil, Mr. Asafo-Adjaye.’ Rev. Teiko said, in a rather commanding tone. Kuuku took the veil off, and the smile on his face dropped! ”Who are you?!” He asked. “Is she not your bride?” a confused Rev. Teiko asked. “No! I don’t know her! The silence in the room was deafening. “Kuuku, please don’t do this. This isn’t a joke.” Aseye said in shock, fighting the tears that stung her eyes. “If you think I’m lying look at yourself in this mirror” Kuuku said. She didn’t believe he had a mirror for this fiasco. She took it. “Hell no!” Her makeup was in disarray. She looked like a masquerade, and her gown was stained. “Where’s daddy when I need him most?” she thought. She turned to see an empty auditorium. She looked up only to see a man in a radiant white robe in front of her… Aseye woke up from her sleep. Her heart was thumping. It was 3 am. She picked up her diary and knew the exact message the doctors’ fellowship had to hear for the upcoming retreat. She fell asleep praying for a message, and this was it! That evening, she went for the fellowship meeting with her fiancé, and with great trepidation, began to share the dream and the resulting message; When the bride becomes a make-up artist “….In the book of Esther, we

are told the girl Hadassah was given to Hegai, the keeper of the maidens. She was the only one who adhered to the beauty therapy offered to her by Hegai. She won the king’s heart and went on to become queen. We are that girl Esther… the bride of Christ and we are waiting for our king but in the interim we have been handed over to Hegai, the Holy Spirit, to prepare us for the King. Are we obeying him fully? Today, we choose what we want from the Word and decide which one is archaic and which one is not. We are so dead to his promptings… we don’t care that we grieve him. Instead of the make-up kit He offers, we go for our own because His is so expensive. Yes! It is! Jesus spoke about carrying a cross… yes… there is a price to pay. He never promised a smooth ride. In fact, we are assured of floods, storms and fires, but He promised to be with us. You are not the only one who needs more money because your family size is increasing. You decide to carry out that abortion with no medical indication, because you carry your own make-up kit. You decide to go after that young girl or married man because you carry your own make-up kit. We have our own understanding of fornication and we argue out why we can sleep with each other before marriage. Jesus Christ!! There’s no question about it! Period! Funny thing is, we don’t know what we look like because we refuse to look into the mirror, that mirror He gave us. His word. So we go about with our own warped understanding

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of what we need to do for that day of the King. When Jesus said, “I do not know you.” He meant he couldn’t recognize the bride because the make-up was different and the gown, stained. It is not about whatsapp statuses and facebook updates. It is not about some camouflaged Christianity that looks like the beautified temple after the resurrection of Christ. The curtain was rent in twain. God had left. They just put a new and perhaps heavier curtain and went about as if nothing happened. God wants a relationship with you; one full of total obedience to the Word and the Holy Spirit. It is so effortless. Which bride are you? Are you one who will be made up or one who is busily making up??

WRITE FOR GNOMIC feedback.gnomic@gmail.com

Kwasi Antwi Koranteng

BE INSPIRED TO INSPIRE

SPORTS

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OCT 17

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It’s a historical romance novel set in the 1850s Gold Rush in California. The story is inspired by the Book of Hosea and Its central theme is the redeeming love of God towards sinners.

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THE LAST WORD Dear Readers, Thank you for taking time off to criuse through this edition of the GNOMIC magazine “Purpose’ is the seam that runs through this piece. I hope in earnest, that everyone who has read this issue has picked up a few lessons from it (I have personally learnt a great deal). Please let us know your thoughts on this edition. We’ll be grateful to have some feedback from our cherished readers. Until we meet in the next edition, may God keep us all.

Ama Ekem Issue Editor

THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE RICK WARREN [Zodervan]

The book offers readers a 40day personal spiritual journey and presents what Warren says are God’s five purposes for human life on Earth.

02 ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING MAX LUCADO

BO NOO NI [NO ONE ELSE] JOE METTLE FT LUIGI MACLEAN

[THOMAS NELSON]

Lucado focuses on the heavy burden of anxiety carried by so many Christians, and then carefully explains what he views as God’s remedy for this anxiety.

The tune is a combination of English and Ga and the result, a breathe-taking tune that will linger on in your mind for days on end.

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ABNORMALLY BORN, ABNORMALLY SCORNED, ABNORMALLY TORN, ABNORMALLY GONE. THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. NABEEL QURESHI.a apologist, and the two young men formed a friendship and engaged in debate that lasted for several years From December 2004 to April 2005, Nabeel experienced three vivid dreams that strongly suggested to him that Christianity is true and that Christ should be followed. Nabeel described for Christianity Today his final conversion to Christ, while a medical student, and the effect it had on his world: And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings. -- Acts 17:26-27

t is beautiful how God works in the shadows of our lives in order to fulfill His purposes in us. God took Moses from the palace to the desert in order to use Him in the desert. He trained David in the field so He could use him in the palace. He made Paul the apostle of Jewish birth, gave him Roman citizenry, and made him learn Greek in order to reach Gentiles. One such beautiful life is that of the Late Dr Nabeel Qureshi, born in Carlifornia to devout Pakistani immigrants, raised as a Muslim. He sought Allah and found Jesus. His mother taught him Urdu and Arabic before he learned English at the age of 4. By the age of 5, he had read the entire Qur’an in Arabic and had memorized many chapters. In August 2001, while a student at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, Nabeel observed fellow student David Wood reading the Bible in his free time. Nabeel regularly read the Qur’an, but it struck him as odd to see a Christian reading the Bible on his own. Nabeel challenged David’s belief in Christianity, beginning with the charge that the Bible had been corrupted over time. Wood aspired to be a Christian

“I began mourning the impact of the decision I knew I had to make. On the first day of my second year of medical school, it became too much to bear. Yearning for comfort, I decided to skip school. With nowhere left to go, I opened up the New Testament and started reading. Very quickly, I came to the passage that said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Electric, the words leapt off the page and jump-started my heart. I could not put the Bible down. I began reading fervently, reaching Matthew 10:37, which taught me that I must love God more than my mother and father. “But Jesus,” I said, “accepting you would be like dying. I will have to give up everything.” The next verses spoke to me, saying, “He who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for my sake will find it” (NASB). Jesus was

release for No God But One, Nabeel wrote the following on Facebook, announcing that he had been diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer: Dear Friends and Family,

being very blunt: For Muslims, following the gospel is more than a call to prayer. It is a call to die. I knelt at the foot of my bed and gave up my life. A few days later, the two people I loved most in this world were shattered by my betrayal. To this day my family is broken by the decision I made, and it is excruciating every time I see the cost I had to pay. Nabeel went on to study Christian apologetics at Biola University, graduating with an MA in 2008, while completing his medical degree at Eastern Virginia Medical School, graduating in 2009. In 2012, he completed an MA in religion at Duke University, and then entered an MPhil and PhD program at Oxford University in New Testament studies. In 2013, he became an itinerant

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speaker with the Ravi Zacharias International Ministry. In February 2014, Nabeel published his first book, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity (Zondervan), In 2015, Nabeel’s wife, Michelle, gave birth to their daughter, Ayah Fatima Qureshi, named after a Christian martyr. In March 2016, Zondervan published Nabeel’s book Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward. Five months later, in August 2016, Zondervan released No God But One: Allah or Jesus? A Former Muslim Investigates the Evidence for Islam and Christianity

Cancer

On the day of the book

“This is an announcement that I never expected to make, but God in His infinite and sovereign wisdom has chosen me for this refining, and I pray He will be glorified through my body and my spirit. My family and I have received the news that I have advanced stomach cancer, and the clinical prognosis is quite grim. Nonetheless, we are going to pursue healing aggressively, both medical and miraculous, relying on God and the fact that He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” Nabeel believed that he would have a miraculous healing. He believed that despite the odds, God would save his life. But when things were at their worst, and when he probably knew that he was going to die, he never surrendered his faith. He will be counted among those who hope in God even to the point of death. In one of his final videos, he talked about his struggle with faith and his unanswered questions. But even as he was dying, he offered this insight: “I do not have to perform.” This reminded me of the psalmist who would lament his struggles and confusion but still entrust himself to God.

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In October 2016, his wife, Michelle, suffered a miscarriage, and in May 2017, Nabeel announced that the radiation had not worked and that the cancer had spread to his chest. In September 2017, he announced that doctors had resorted to palliative and on 16th September, we had the news of Nabeel’s departure to be with the Lord. “I have never seen any faith like his. His hunger for the truth endeared him to many. He was a man who built bridges whereever he went” said Ravi Zachariah His closest friend, Dr Jim Thor also remarked “he testified of Jesus even till his last breathe” “Before I led him to Christ, he was an ardent Ahmadiyya. But he got hold of the truth of Jesus and he exclaimed “I HAVE BEEN SET FREE!” , David Wood narrated. Nabeel sought for the TRUTH, and when he found it, he followed it with all he had, regardless of the cost. It reminds us of the fact that we have no excuses in our worship of God even till the point of death. It strengthens our convictions and the passion we need to develop for our faith. The gospel we preach deserves all we’ve got: in life or in death.

What About Those Unanswered Questions? Why Did He Have To Die? If you think about Nabeel’s story from our perspective, the conclusion can raise a lot of questions. He was this young, vibrant man in the prime of his life. He was pursuing a doctorate at Oxford University to further the gospel. If he had lived, he would have contributed a lot more rigorous, scholarly content, won debates and shown love to those who needed it. So for someone like that to die does not make any sense. God could have used him. There’s nothing that comes as a surprise to God. We may be stunned. But our God has already made the provision even before the foundation of the world. “I believe in the God of the Israelites. Because he has shared in the sufferings of his creation.”- he added in his last sermon. So if God says “we won’t be tempted beyond our strength, I completely trust him. “Death is simply another transition. And for those in Christ, we only sleep with a living hope that He will wake us up when he returns in his glory” How about the extremists who say it is a punishment for his conversion? Well, death comes to both the

good and the righteous, and if this is a punishment for his conversion, then what happens to other scholars of staunch faith who have died, was God punishing them? And our prayers for his healing... what happened to them? Let us believe in prayer, whether we see results or not, and continue to pray for the sick, proclaiming God to be Our Healer. In life and in death, may Jesus be glorified. Death has still lost its sting.

Nabeel’s Last Words

He said, “As you consider my ministry, I hope it leaves a legacy of love, peace, truth and caring. Our God is a God of love. That should be foremost in our mind.” “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.” John 11:25-26 a- Title of Dr Ravi Zacharias eulogy of Nabeel’s funeral. Credit: http://www1.cbn.com/ cbnnews/us/2017/september/nabeelqureshi-dies-at-34 https://blogs.thegospelcoalition. org/justintaylor/2017/09/16/nabeelqureshi-1983-2017/

George Akoto,

Emeth Forum

YOUR MOVE

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