Friday, 2 March 2012
Thursday, 1 March 2012
Bible's Viewpoint
What Is
the Bible’s View of Divorce and Remarriage
Let it be well acknowledged that the Bible
does not advocate divorce on just any ground, as marriage union was
expected to be permanent. God made man and woman to enjoy each other’s company
indefinitely, without any provision for divorce. As we can see in the account
of Genesis 2:24 which states:”That is why a man will leave his father and his
mother and he must stick to his wife and they must become one flesh.”
The marital arrangement was to bring together
man and woman in an unbreakable union, this was instituted to enhance blessing,
happiness and for the bearing of righteous offspring, all to the glory of God.
However, that perfect arrangement in the
original paradise was disrupted. Because, rebellion entered the hearts of the
first pair and they were cast out from paradise. With this development, there
is no guarantee that they would they maintain their perfection state anymore.
Degeneration of mind and body set in, this imperfection or sin becomes the only
inheritance they would pass on to all their offspring.
With man and woman no longer walking in God’s
ways, they lost their position as God’s son and were put outside the Garden of
Eden Where they began to introduce their own regulations and traditions. It was
not long before marriage bonds began to break. How true this has been down
through the centuries, and especially so in our times! Divorces and separations
have become commonplace and the reasons for such have been many. But, according
to the laws of the Universal Sovereign, Jehovah, who makes allowances for human
imperfection, there are no well established reasons for breaking the marriage
tie. The prophet Malachi presented this as God’s viewpoint: “He has hated a
divorcing.” (Mal. 2:16) Then Jesus Christ reemphasized the validity of the
original marriage arrangement, as recorded by historian Matthew in the book
mentioned by his name, Matthew 19:3-9.His Son Jesus said: “I say to you that
whoever divorces his wife, except on the ground of fornication, and marries
commits adultery.” this shows that Scriptural divorce was limited.
According to The New American
Bible (in a rendering similar to that of other Catholic versions),
Matthew 19:9 reads: “I now say to you, whoever divorces his wife and marries another,
commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
A footnote explains the words in parentheses,
stating: “Literally ‘except for porneia,’ i.e., immorality, fornication, even
incest.” But theologian-priest Alcides Pinto da Silva reiterated the common
Roman Catholic interpretation, saying: “If after the contract, but before
living together with her husband, a girl has illicit relations with someone,
then she can be sent away without there being adultery.”
Of course, Jesus did not say that this was
the only situation meant; nor does the context contain implication to this
effect. This view was to support the
Jews for permitting non-Biblical base divorce, “the sending away of a marriage
mate on any grounds”. However, Jesus stated that ‘only on the ground of por·nei′a’
could this be done acceptably before God, who instituted marriage. So, what
does por·nei′a mean? It designates all forms of immoral sexual
relations, perversions and lewd practices. The verb por·neu′o means “to
give one’s self to unlawful sexual intercourse.”
Jesus was against adultery and any other form
of illicit relations. (Matt. 5:27-32; 15:19, 20) But if one marriage mate
committed a gross sexual sin against the other, the marriage bond could be
broken because of the adulterating of the union of ‘one flesh.’ Therefore,
marital unfaithfulness could result in dissolving the marriage vows, union and
contract. For this reason, the innocent and wronged mate would be free to get a
divorce and marry again. Of course, he or she might want to forgive the erring
mate and maintain the marriage bond. That would be his or her privilege.
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
CO-OPERATIVE CORE VALUE
3.1. The core value of a cooperative enterprise
system is called, “coordinated cooperation," which enables human with
equal rights and mutual respect for each other work together, for the welfare
of the group. This differs from "subordinated cooperation," where
people work individually or collectively but are under other people's
supervision. Subordinated cooperation occurred in state socialist communities
that were formed through forced collectivization. True coordinated cooperation
does not exist as a prevailing value in any present economic system.
The cooperative system cannot function
effectively in an environment of exploitation, corruption, and materialism, nor
where they are forced to compete with themselves or with large corporations for
marketing and supplies. For cooperatives to succeed, they must have morality
among the working-members, strong management of the enterprise, and community
support for the cooperative system. Furthermore, cooperatives need ready access
to suppliers and markets for their goods and services. And the members of a
cooperative must be able to work in a collective spirit and must share similar
material aspirations.
For a cooperative Society to function
properly, it requires decent people with cooperative values, people with
similar material/economic needs. Most importantly, people with mutual respect
for each other. Having the sense of
appropriate organizational and management structures; to function conveniently
in this politically dominated society. Demonstrating neutrality can help to
create an environment where the government and other interest groups will come
in to support small and medium scale cooperative industry for the development
of a local economy.
|
PROCESS OF REGISTRATION
2.1a. After
submitting the application of registration to the Director of co-operative thro
the co-operative officer, the officer is expected to keep an eye on the
activities of the group in the area of regularity and making sure that the
vision behind the formation of the group is maintained. During this period, the
members are taught the Bye-Laws. They may be shown a copy of the Bye-Law and
ask to read through in order to ascertain whether they understand and is
satisfied with the contents.
2.1b. Because they are new in the
co-operative business, it will be fair to show them a copy of the Bye-Laws as
it will serve as a guard to them, in case they intend to correct the content of
the general Bye-Law to suit their interest. Hence the suggestion in section
2.1a.
2.1c. Some words used in the Bye-Law which might
seem strange to them, are:-
i.
“Director”
ii.
“Regulation”
iii.
“Financial Year”
iv.
“Laws”
v.
“Board or Committee”
2.1d. The words written in italics in section 2.1c above which is defined below,
Needs to be thoroughly explained to the new Co-operators in order for them to
be well sentient in the structure and activities of the Co-operative society.
i.
DIRECTOR-
Means; the registrar of Co-operative societies Edo State Nigeria. If the group
is doing the registration in Edo State.
ii.
REGULATION- means; The Bendel State Co-Operative Societies Regulation, 1976,as amended from
time to time (as applicable In Edo State) if the Co-Operative Society is to be
registered in Edo State.
iii.
FINANCIAL YEAR- means; the period of twelve months beginning on 1st January and ending on the following 31st December.
iv.
LAWS- means; the Co-operative Societies Law, Cap.
45 Bendel State of Nigeria Laws 1976 as amended from time to time (as
applicable in Edo State) if the Co-operative Society is to be registered in Edo
State.
v.
BOARD OR COMMITTEE- mean; the
Board of Director of the Co-operative Unions/Societies, of the Local Government
Union Limited.
2.1e. After which they should be taught the actual
definition of co-operative society. The definition below will help the new
co-operative society member to be well acquainted with the terms and conditions
of setting up a co-operative society, and running it. At this point, the new
co-operators will be given the opportunity to make up their minds whether they
are still willing to continue with the process of registration or to terminate
it. As the Director of Co-operative will ask them what they know about the
co-operative society, before registering the group.
APPLYING THE CO-OPERATIVE FORMULA
Most people have been made to coggle about and
waste their precious time and effort by some wolves in sheep’s clothing, just
because don’t understand the actual process of setting up a co-operative
society. This is neither strange nor funny as persons from almost every aspect
of life fall victim to traits like this, as an amateur. To benefit from what we
are actually discussing about in this book, which is “STEPS TO SETTING UP
CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES” this book will not just help those intending to set up
co-operatives alone, rather, it will add to the knowledge of managing
co-operative societies, which you already know.
Most of the information’s you will find here
might be what you already know, but if you remind yourselves of it and act on
it, you will see the true benefit you’ll obtain as a co-operator. To start up
this entertaining TRIP, let’s consider the words used in the co-operative
society BYE-LAWS. They are expected to guard you through this trip.
What You Must First Do, Before Your
Co-operative Group Is Set Up:
1.1b. The
Co-operative officer is expected to visit the group during their meeting, to ascertain whether they have
been pre-informed or not. This visit by the officer will display the
authenticity of the existence of such group. In the visit, the officer is
likely to educate them on the primary guidelines of setting up a co-operative
society, what a co-operative society is, how a co-operative society is expected
to function, its financing and the ways they generate funds.1.1c. The requirements to meet up with before
setting up a reputable co-operative society are made known to them. The reason
of thrift payment by co-operators is decisively explained to them in detail.
The need not to be in a hurry in running a co-operative society is brought bare
before them.
1.1d. The co-operators will then be expected to
start some savings in which part of it will be used to register the
co-operative after which on routinely, the officer visits them and check their
various record books to make sure they are acquainted with the understanding of
book keeping and how to record them.
1.1e. During these several visit by the officer in
charge, who is certain that they have gradually saved enough money to register
the group and alsovery sure that after the registration that the co-operative
group will still have some money left, he/she will then advice the co-operators
to write an application to the Director of Co-operatives through the registrar
of the co-operative societies, which he/she will attest to that he is
recommending them for registration.
Some Facts about Comerade Adams Alhiu Oshimhole, Edo State Governor
|
|
When the result
that brought the former governor to power was read, Comrade Governor came out
roaring it was obvious to every body that he was the winner of the election. As
a matter of fact it was easy for him to acclimatize to the system because
majority of the people of the state were already tired of the domineering
nature of the previous leaders of the state particularly when it was clear that
these leaders don’t have good vision for the people of the state.
During his electionary
campaign, Comrade Oshiomhole promised a lot to the people of the state and in
particular, he vowed to end the politics of godfatherism rampant in the state.
Because there was nothing on ground in the first six months of his
administration apart from the stoppage of illegal levies in the markets, people
were apprehensive. His opponents in the state were quick to describe him as a
failure and said that his attitude at that time meant that he was never
prepared to actualize his promises for the people. Some, among his opponents in
a rally, said the Governor had achieved nothing in his first year in office
instead embarked on the planting of flowers at Ring Road
However,
the Governor came to defend his action, explaining that the problems of the
state particularly in the areas of flood and erosion required proper planning
and that it would be suicidal to commence work on them without tackling the
problems holistically. He said he would not be rushed into taking decisions
that would lead him into doing a bad job. He insisted to be given enough time
to plan before rolling out bulldozers in the streets. Besides, he said that if
his challengers had planted flowers during their time as leaders in the state,
he would have used the funds for something else. Governor Adams Oshiomhole
lamented that the successive governments has ruined the state in the past ten
years they were in power.
However, there
is no doubt that as the Oshiomhole’s administration clocks about three years
now, Benin City that was once famed as an ancient city, has been modernized.
True to his words,
Governor
commenced dualization and construction of roads in all three senatorial
districts of the state shortly after the design
for the new city was released. The roads in the cities were equipped with
street lights, walkways and waste disposal centers. He also commenced the
electrification projects in communities that did not have electricity in the
three senatorial districts. And recently, he imported city buses popularly
known as Comrade City Bus. The truth of the matter is that the State has not
seen such a transformation since the second republic when Prof. Ambrose Alli
was governor.
Recently, Governor Adams Oshiomhole
has declared that agriculture is a credible factor that can be used to address
unemployment and to transform the state. In his speech, the governor said what
has been causing delay in identifying this sector, was the rot in civil service
especially in the agricultural sector. But now he (The Governor) is willing to
address the inhumanity faced in that sector. This assurance was given in the
retreat which has as its theme “Sustaining reforms, Expletive from a
Development Partner” held in AGANE-BODE.
To benefit from this book, please
read with concentration.
Thanks,
The
writer.
Preface to Understanding Co-operative Society
|
|
The purpose of writing this book is as good
as your guess. To create an opportunity where those in the grass root will be
heard, noticed and assisted. This book is designed as a document which is aimed
towards informing, educating, comforting, and enlightening the general public
of what co-operative society is all about.
in our
bid to make co-operative society what it should really be, we have tirelessly
work all through the time to find ways to make the setting up process real and
valuable.
We are
very sure that this book, UNDERSTANDING CO-OPERATIVE will help the reader learn
and understands the Standard Process of Setting up a Co-Operative Society. This
book will also go a long way to making the intending co-operators understand
the business they are going into, what is required of them as members of the
group, and the benefit they will derive if they participate fully in the
process.
We will like also to use this opportunity to
thank S. Owojuyigbe for his book "Co-operative Administration in
Nigeria" as the book was very useful to us during our research. Parts of
the quotations used are from the aforementioned titled book by S. A Owojuyigbe.
We thank you all so much for having interest in this book. We are sure
you will really benefit from it. Mostly the Farmers, small scale traders,
professionals in their various line of businesses, the elderly and children. But
we respect the farmers so much because they are the food producers who toil day
and night to make sure there is quality food for us to eat.
|
For
more information about Goftagroup, consult the book ”Goftagroup and you” or
visit www.goftagroup.info.ms the guidebook that give detailed information about Gofta
limited will also be useful to people who would like to know something about
people in the grass root. i.e Farmers, ()production and processing of cassava
products, other matters relating to child abuse, and how useful thrift and loan
operations will be for every co-operatives. If you also want to learn new
skills or develop your farming skills you will also see a need to have a copy
of the Gofta guidebook. for questions and support, email us on goftagroup@yahoo.com
We encourage Organic
farming!
Once again, we thank you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)